River Valley

by B.J. Tomlinson

A new "self-help" group for youth is being started in Lansing at the United Methodist Church (UMC). The group is called “Cope-a-Cabana” and provides a faith-based curriculum that will be led by UMC Pastor Kevin Smith and Lisa Fruechte.
"We recognize it’s tough being a kid!” says Cope-a-Cabana co-leader Fruechte. "Thus, the name Cope-a-Cabana. We want to provide a safe place for the kids to learn to cope with the issues they are facing daily."
The goal of the program is to help children identify feelings and find healthy ways to express them, with the understanding that all kids have feelings of anger, happiness, frustration, sadness and many more and that it can be challenging to know what to do with these feelings. Children will learn skills to manage these feelings and can also learn they are not alone in what they feel; there are other kids out there who have similar issues.

Whole Hearted Productions has announced that the Lansing area will be the focal point of an upcoming horror film called, “The Burial.” Filming for the movie is set to begin next summer.  Writer/director Jack Meggers and President of Whole Hearted Productions, Kristine Hrycun, will host a meet and greet for the general public Thursday, November 6  at the Kerndt Brothers Community Center in Lansing at 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Meggers and Hrycun will explain the concept of the film and the general locations planned for filming the movie.

The Ferryville Tourism Council is hosting the second annual Fall Migration Day from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, November 1 at River View Park in downtown Ferryville, WI, right along highway 35. Dan Jackson, president of the Coulee Region Audubon Society, will be on hand to help identify the many ducks, geese, swans and other migrating birds on their journey to warmer areas.
The Mississippi Flyway is the gateway to seeing this awesome spectacle in the bird world. This day will also be a celebration of the one-year anniversary of Ferryville’s recognition as the smallest Bird City in Wisconsin.
This event is open to all families and individuals who are interested in birds. Wisconsin is the second-leading state in the nation for birdwatchers, and this is a hobby everyone in the family can enjoy together.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The City of Lansing is accepting applications for the Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program through October 31, 2014. All applications postmarked by that date will be considered.
The rehabilitation program can assist homeowners with up to $24,999 to help make repairs to their homes. The homes must meet Iowa’s Minimum Housing Standard’s upon completion. Rehabilitation may include items such as replacing shingles or siding that is in poor condition; and/or to aid in energy efficiency such as adding insulation to the attic and walls, replacing drafty old windows, and updating the electrical and plumbing.  
To determine if you are eligible for the grant funds: you must own and live in your home for a minimum of six months, you must be income eligible and your property cannot be located in the 100-year flood plain. Income eligibility is based on household size and annual (gross) household income:
Household Size/Gross Income
1    33,400

New Albin Improvement League (NAIL) held a successful first Neighbor’s Day Saturday, October 4. With around 20 volunteers, the event was considered to be a big success.
Although the weather was a challenge, all the volunteer jobs were completed and a few random acts of kindness were added to the list. The volunteers did a lot of raking, window washing and small jobs for elderly people in New Albin. NAIL plans to hold a similar event in the spring to help with winter clean up for the elderly of New Albin.
“The day went well,” NAIL volunteer Kersten Meyer said. “All of the New Albin ‘neighbors’ that received help were so grateful and appreciative! I can’t tell you how many times they said thank you! It was very rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when the jobs were done. I am looking forward to what next year’s Neighbor’s Day has in store.”

by B.J. Tomlinson

by B.J. Tomlinson

The Friends of Pool 9, Upper Miss Refuge, Inc. held its annual dinner and meeting at the New Albin Community Center Saturday, September 27th. Approximately 120 members and guests enjoyed an evening of good dining, conversation and fund raising for Friends of Pool 9 activities and events.
Nancy Wortman and her committee organized the event; this is the third time she has chaired the dinner and silent auction. Auction items ranged from paintings, signed prints, food baskets, get-away weekend packages and a wide variety of items donated by area businesses and individuals. The catalog of items for the silent auction listed 121 items for bidders to review.  The dinner was catered by Mike Conway and his Milty’s staff.