River Valley

Trees Forever was proud to recognize Ric Zarwell of Lansing with its Outstanding Advocate Award. Zarwell has been committed to conservation advocacy his entire life, primarily on behalf of birds. Over the past ten years, his involvement with Trees Forever has grown, and he has invested hundreds of hours working with Trees Forever staff and others to found Bird Friendly Iowa, a statewide bird habitat conservation and education outreach group. “Ric Zarwell has spent hundreds of hours in the last four years as a volunteer to help create Bird Friendly Iowa. He has participated in a number of Trees Forever programs and sees Bird Friendly Iowa as a way to carry the conservation message to more people in Iowa, and to call people to take action to protect and restore the environment,” Trees Forever Field Coordinator Patty Reisinger said. “His passion for trees and the environment are obvious as he steps forward to be the voice for trees and the environment.”

Iowa rivers and streams are swollen and swift with consistent rainfall most of last week, according to Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials. Some rivers are already dangerously high, and more rivers could rise fast with chances of rain forecast again through this week.

“We encourage all paddlers, especially new and inexperienced paddlers, to stay on lakes and flat-water while the rivers are high due to heavy rain,” said Todd Robertson, paddling instructor and Outreach Coordinator for Rivers Programs at the DNR.

“Swollen rivers are super powerful and have unpredictable current along with tons of wood debris coming downstream to form deadly ‘strainers’,” said Robertson. He said that even experienced paddlers should stay off of rain swollen rivers. “If you get into a situation where you are struggling and fighting the current, the river will win,” said Robertson.

The 65th Jubilee Mass of Father Donald Hawes has been scheduled for Sunday, July 1 at 12 noon in Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. In addition to celebrating 65 years as a priest, Father Hawes is also planning to celebrate his 90th birthday.

As part of the celebration, Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack of “Switchback” are planning to lead the music for the Jubilee Mass July 1. They will present “The Hibernian Mass,” one of six Mass settings they have written. The Hibernian Mass touches on Switchback’s Celtic roots and portrays the arrival of Christianity to the Irish people through the venerable Saint Patrick. After Mass they will also present a brief concert.

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council met in a very brief regular session Monday, June 18. Discussion centered around a new storm sewer being put in and approval of revised seal coat bids for City streets. Another agenda item pertaining to Hazard Mitigation was not able to take place and will likely be rescheduled for the next meeting.

There will be a new storm sewer put in place in the area of Main and Front Streets due to an issue discovered with the existing storm sewer in that area. The council also approved the bids to seal coat the City streets approved during the previous council meeting, with the exception of the pool parking lot due to a budgeting matter.

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center will be hosting the June Driftless Storytime Thursday, June 28 from 10-11 a.m. Storytime is open to all ages and will include a story, hands-on activities and a craft to take home.  The June Driftless Storytime topic will be pollinators and bees in the Driftless Region.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center is a National Great River Road Interpretive Center located at 1944 Columbus Road, Lansing. Programs for youth and adults are free of charge and all ages are welcome to attend. The Driftless Storytime will also take place July 26 and August 23 of this year.

For more information on this program or any program hosted by the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center or the Allamakee County Conservation Board follow them online or call 563-538-0403.
 

Chautauqua is defined as an experience that provides popular education and entertainment. The Ferryville Tourism Council will be presenting a Chautauqua Summer Series for 2018. Each event will be held at the Ferryville Village Hall at the south end of town beginning at 8 p.m. with refreshments and time for visiting.

The first program of the series will be Wednesday, June 20 at 8 p.m. Barbara Kailean Welsh will be the featured guest. She grew up just outside of Lansing, and she now lives in Viroqua, WI. She is the author of a biography of Harriet Hosmer, a woman whose name is forever connected to the Lansing area.

Harriet Hosmer never lived in Lansing, and in fact, only visited once for a short time.  So why, one might wonder, is one of the most famous landmarks in Lansing named Mount Hosmer? Those who come to the June 20 Chautauqua program in Ferryville, WI will find out.

Friday, June 22 - the day after summer solstice, the public is invited to hear Carl Bracken give the talk “Reasons for Seasons and Summer Skies” at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, located at 515 Main Street in Lansing. He’ll explain why planet Earth enjoys four distinct astronomical and climatologist seasons, helping listeners better understand the night skies.

Telescopes will be available for viewing the stars. This is a program for kids and adults. Bracken is a member of the Cedar Amateur Astronomers (CAA) in Cedar Rapids, whose mission is to share its members’ passion for observing, studying and imaging the cosmos.

The free program will begin at 7:30 p.m. - note the change in time due to viewing of the night sky. The program will be preceded by a light supper with a freewill offering. For more information about the program contact Library Director Derva Burke at 563-538-4693.
 

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing will be hosting Gary Eldred of The Prairie Enthusiasts for an interactive flint knapping demonstration Saturday, June 9 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Along with Eldred will be other Driftless Area residents who share a passion for flint knapping and bow making in traditional Native American styles.

Flint knapping is the art of making arrowheads, knives and other tools using chipped rock and stones in the same manner Native Americans have done for thousands of years. The demonstration will be free of charge and will be ongoing throughout the day. Visitors to the Driftless Center are encouraged to ask questions and interact with the demonstrators while they are working.

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center is located at 1944 Columbus Road, Lansing and is an interpretive center highlighting the Driftless Area of Allamakee County. The building is open seven days a week and is free for all visitors.

The community is invited to give back and help save lives by donating blood this Friday, June 8 from 1-6 p.m. at the Kerndt Brothers Community Center located on Main Street in Lansing. To make an appointment or to learn more about blood donation, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements in order to donate blood.
 

As part of the “Allamakee Libraries Rock” program, Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library in Harpers Ferry is hosting a series of events as part of its Kids Summer Reading Program. The following events are scheduled to take place at the library, unless otherwise indicated: