The Imagine Grinnell fundraiser and annual event, Prairie Burn 100 gravel bike ride is scheduled for Saturday, June 10th, 2023 in Grinnell, IA. New this year, a 5K Fun Run. Registration is still open for both activities and is the primary fundraiser for the non-profit Imagine Grinnell, a group that supports environmental, sustainability, and health initiatives in the community. Imagine Grinnell is also looking for volunteers to help with the fun run, and other family activities at Central Park.

Community members are encouraged to join Imagine Grinnell in Central Park for all the activities. Alongside the gravel rides and run, there will be Yoga in Central Park at 9:00 AM, the Grinnell Farmer’s Market from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Storytime Art in the Park presented by the Drake Community Library and the Grinnell College Museum of Art from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM, a family bike ride taking off at 12:00 PM from the starting line in Central Park and a smoothie bike station throughout the day. Grinnell Craft Brewhouse will offer beverages and area food trucks, Dari Barn On the Mooove, Bloom, and Kulinary Khaos will serve food at the event starting at 11:00 AM.

“We launched our first Prairie Burn 100 event in 2019 and we look forward to it each year. Imagine Grinnell has been part of the local landscape since 1985 and this fundraiser goes towards our healthy initiatives such as, Marvin Giving Garden, Plate to Plant Compost, and the 1000 Trees programs,” says Tim Ellsworth, Imagine Grinnell President. “We are excited to introduce a 5K Fun Run as part of our line up this year. Realizing that not everyone wants to ride a gravel bike, but they want to participate in a healthy and fun activity.”

Individuals interested in participating in the fun run can sign up in Central Park before the 9:30am start on June 10 or they can register in advance at https://www.bikereg.com/prairie-burn. Cost to participate in the Fun Run is $10.

Cyclists riding the Prairie Burn 100 event can choose to ride 25, 50, or 100 miles along predetermined routes around Grinnell, ending back in Central Park. The map of the route can be found on the website, https://www.prairieburn100.com/event-info. Registration is $40 per cyclist with a discounted family rate. The first 100 sign-ups earn a free Prairie Burn 100 tote bag.

Volunteers are needed to assist with set up, registration of participants, route guidance for the 5K runners, and help with the family activities. “We could not have a successful and fun event without of the help of volunteers. We are so thankful to everyone that can give a few hours of time,” says Katy Wells, Imagine Grinnell board member. “It will be a fun day with the different activities, riders and runners to cheer on, and food and beverages!” To volunteer please sign up by following the link, https://bit.ly/3WlSYaH, visit the Imagine Grinnell website at https://www.imaginegrinnell.org/ or call 641-236-5518.

The Build a Better Grinnell 2030 Community Visioning Project has completed our “Visioning Survey” – a broad-based and open-ended survey requesting input on community perceptions of strengths and needs and will now be asking the community to rank its top needs. Future project phases will examine possible solutions to the prioritized issues and develop working groups and action plans.

If you’re looking to learn more about the data collected in Community Visioning Survey, how issues will be prioritized through community participation, or how to get involved with the project, you are invited to attend an upcoming Build a Better Grinnell Update event in May and June (dates to be announced). You can also find this information on the website.

From the Visioning Survey to Prioritization

The visioning survey – which ran from December through March – asked individuals who live or work in Grinnell, or rely on Grinnell for key resources, twelve open-ended questions concerning what they felt were the strengths and needs in the community. In total, 603 surveys were completed, and 120 additional individuals provided a response to a single question posed on Facebook or in person. Since many surveys were taken by groups (as large as 15-20 people), it is impossible to know precisely how many participated, but we feel confident that it was over 10% of the Grinnell population.

The research team has now processed three thousand plus responses from the five survey questions related specifically to community needs and organized responses by theme (e.g., healthcare) and issue (e.g., more mental healthcare services).

Any issue that was identified in more than 1% of the responses will be carried through the prioritization phase.

To see the full list of issues, please refer to the attached document, or take the survey.

For the community prioritization process, which will run until the end of June, people will be asked to select and rank up to seven issues. The top issues identified by the community will then be examined for possible solutions. Finally, working groups – broadly open to and seeking community participation – will be organized to select among possible options, develop specific action plans, and begin implementing change.

The Rotary Club of Grinnell invites the community to attend its Annual Chicken Barbecue fundraiser on Thursday, June 1, 2023. Tickets are $12.00 per meal and are available from all Rotarians and at the following local businesses: Brown’s Shoe Fit, Medicap Pharmacy, Grinnell State Bank, and Total Choice Shipping and Printing.

The chicken barbecue meal includes a charcoal grilled half-chicken, potato chips, water, and pudding.  Meals are available for curbside pick-up at the United Methodist Church on Park Street during the following time periods:  11:30 AM to 1:00 PM or 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM.

Funds raised through ticket sales are augmented by business sponsorships.  Three levels of sponsorships are available: Supreme Grill Master at $300; Grill Master at $200; and Griller at $100.  Sponsors receive a number of free tickets, recognition in a flyer inserted in every chicken meal package, and banners at the barbecue and at Rotary’s Kites Over Grinnell in Sept.

Proceeds from the Chicken Barbecue will support the Rotary’s various local community projects such as Kites Over Grinnell, the Rotary’s community garden, scholarships for graduating high school seniors, Rotary international exchange students; attendance of two high school students at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program in the summer; and numerous grants to local non-profits.

Funds raised through the Chicken Barbecue have also made it possible for Rotary to apply for matching Rotary District 6000 community service grants, thereby funding such projects as the Ahrens Park Foundation Rotary Outdoor Classroom currently being built; a high-flow oxygen machine for UnityPoint Health-Grinnell purchased during the height of the Covid pandemic; equipment and materials for the Grinnell Community Early Learning Center; a laser projector for the Public Safety Building; basketball hoops for Ahrens Park; non-fiction books for K-4 at the Grinnell School District; and two ellipticals at the Ahrens Fitness Center.

For more information about the Chicken Barbecue and sponsorships, or to learn about becoming a member of the Rotary Club of Grinnell, please visit the Rotary’s Facebook page or call the Club’s secretary Bruce Blankenfeld at 641-990-1152.

Grinnell United Way invites local organizations that serve Grinnell residents to apply to receive funding for 2024.

The Grinnell United Way is helping build a stronger and more supportive community by partnering with local organizations that share our common goal of developing solutions for dealing with education, financial stability, and health for residents in the Grinnell area.

Ashley Grundler, secretary of the board, indicates the organization focuses on the community’s toughest challenges and strives to partner with organizations that are actively developing solutions to provide a better quality of life. “Grinnell United Way wants to advance the common good in Grinnell by providing a coordinated fundraising effort to support a number of non-profits in our community,” says Grundler. “We currently support the efforts of 11 organizations that serve more than 3,500 Grinnell residents. We are always interested in seeing applications from new or different partners, so we encourage you to apply.”

Any organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c)(3) as tax exempt and provides services to individuals in the greater Grinnell area is eligible to receive funding from Grinnell United Way. Applications are due Friday, June 16, 2023. To submit an application, please visit https://www.grinnellunitedway.org/for-non-profits.

Grinnell United Way is managed by a volunteer board committed to advancing its mission, with 97% of all funds raised going directly to its partner agencies. Last year the organization granted more than $110,000 to 11 different local agencies serving more than 3,500 residents of Grinnell.

For more information about Grinnell United Way or to make a donation, please visit www.grinnellunitedway.org.

CHICAGO — The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has awarded the 2023 ALSC/Baker & Taylor Summer Reading Program Grant to Drake Community Library in Grinnell, Iowa.

This grant is designed to encourage outstanding summer reading programs by providing financial assistance, while recognizing ALSC members for outstanding program development. The program must be open to all children from birth to age 14. The grant encourages summer programming that provides for inclusion of children with physical and mental disabilities. This $3,000 grant is made possible by Baker & Taylor, a leading distributor of books, videos, and music products to libraries, institutions and retailers.

Drake Community Library serves a community of more than 9,000 residents. Nearly 34% of school age children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Many of the children who rely on these meals at school face food insecurity challenges over the summer months. Funding from the Baker & Taylor Summer Reading Grant will allow Drake Community Library to bring comprehensive literacy opportunities to children and families through their inclusive summer reading program format and outreach programs like Storytime Art in the Park, In Your Neighborhood, and visits to the Grinnell Area Summer Camp and other organizations. Grant funding will also be used to increase food access for families.

“The committee was impressed by the number and variety of community partners,” said Stephie Luyt and Maren Ostergard, 2022-2023 Programs and Services Recognition committee co-chairs. “Funding from this grant will allow the library to bring innovative programs that combine literacy and art to a wider audience and to fight food insecurity by providing fresh food to area families.”

“We’re so pleased that this grant can go to support the initiatives of the librarians at Drake Community Library,” said Bobbie Bensur, director of Children’s and Teen Services (CATS) at Baker & Taylor. “It was clear from their summer reading programs proposal that they are not only passionate about building a love for reading and art, but also ways to make direct impact in the lives of their patrons. These type of community outcomes are exactly what we value at Baker & Taylor and CATS, and we are excited to see their programming unfold this summer.”

ALSC, a division of the American Library Association, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more, visit ALSC’s website at www.ala.org/alsc.

100+ People Who Care–Grinnell Funds Directed to Local Foods Connection

At the April 25 meeting of 100 + People Who Care–Grinnell, members voted to support a request from Local Foods Connection. The donations will help the organization expand and grow, which will enable more food access in the Grinnell community.

The funding decision was made by vote of the members in attendance at the meeting, held Tuesday evening at Grinnell Mutual. New members were welcomed, bringing the total membership to 139. This means that, as each member pledges to support the project with a donation of $100, a total of $ 13,900 or more should be available to benefit the Local Foods Connection.

100 + People Who Care – Grinnell began its mission of pooled philanthropy in January, 2017. Since that date, the group has grown through 23 quarterly funding cycles, with now over $300,000 being given or pledged to area causes. The premise of membership is very simple. Each member pledges to support a selected cause with a check for $100, four times each year.  The members meet quarterly, hear three request presentations, and then vote. They then write checks directly to the organization receiving the plurality of votes.

Membership remains open to all. For further information regarding 100 + People Who Care – Grinnell, please contact any of the current board members:  Ashley and Chris Grundler (641-236-7227), Marta Miller (mjo_miller@yahoo.com), John McCleery (mccleery_john@yahoo.com), Lance and Megan Veldboom (veldboom@iowatelecom.net).

GRINNELL, Iowa — The moon and the Orion Nebula will be the featured celestial objects at an open house at Grinnell College’s Grant O. Gale Observatory on Thursday, April 27 at 8:30 PM.  Robert Cadmus, professor emeritus of physics, will lead the free, public observation.  If the weather is cloudy, the program will consist of computer imaging demonstrations and recorded views through the telescope.

The Grant O. Gale observatory is located on the north perimeter of the Grinnell College campus, north of 10th Ave. and adjacent to Les Duke Track. To receive notification of future observatory open houses, contact Robert Cadmus at cadmus@grinnell.edu.

WHEN:         

Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 8:30 PM

WHERE:       

1203 10th Ave, Grinnell, IA 50112

WHO:

This event is free and open to the public.

DETAILS:

Grinnell College welcomes the participation of people with disabilities. For information, contact Conference Operations at 641-269-3178.

Important: Minors under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Grinnell College is not responsible for supervision of minors on campus.

Photo: The setting sun illuminates clouds as they roll in over the Grinnell College baseball field and the Grant O. Gale Observatory. Photo by Justin Hayworth.

In the final session of the spring series of Bucket Courses, Grinnell College Professor of Russian Todd Armstrong will talk about how he has integrated experiential learning in a kitchen lab into his teaching of literature and culture. The presentation, entitled “Food Stories,” will take place May 3 in the Caulkins Room at Drake Community Library from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Bucket Courses are open to everyone in the community; no preregistration or fee required. Donations toward refreshments are welcome.

Describing the focus of his talk, Armstrong says, “I will describe the evolution of ‘Comrades in the Kitchen,’ a course in which my students and I use the methodologies of literary and cultural analysis, and the evolving field of food studies, to research, write, and speak about how food reflects the human experience during the Soviet era. I’ll also describe how cooking with students in Grinnell College’s Marcus Family Global Kitchen brings a new and exciting dimension to the traditional classroom—how we ‘cook to learn.’”

Armstrong notes that he came to his recent understanding about the importance both culturally and politically of food from personal experience: “I plan to discuss one of my own food stories, which involves soup, and a recipe I learned in Moscow in 1983. The soup–borscht—was something I had always thought of as Russian, and I’ve been making it for students for years, calling my version Moscow-style borscht. However, that name is now called into question, not only by the UNESCO designation of Ukrainian borshch as ‘an item of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding,’ but even more so by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine—a war that has caused the entire field of Russian studies to confront the unpleasant reality that our discipline is in dire need of rethinking and decolonization.”

He adds that food stories include stories of hunger, starvation, famine—globally and locally. He asks, “If we are cooking for each other, shouldn’t we also think how we might cook for those who are hungry? In that context, I will discuss howmy students and I respond to food insecurity in the Grinnell community.”

Members of the sponsoring Community Education Cooperative include Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell College, Drake Community Library, Grinnell-Newburg School District, Grinnell Area Arts Council, Mayflower Community, Grinnell Education Partnership, Read to Lead, and Iowa Valley Community College. Videos of previous Bucket Courses are available on the YouTube channel Grinnell Community Education Cooperative.

For more information, contact Judy Hunter judy586@gmail.com.

April 21, 2023:  Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation (GPCF) is pleased to announce the 2023 Poweshiek County Alliance grant recipients.  $161,109 will be distributed to support 37 community projects across Poweshiek County, reaching residents and organizations in nine communities.

A total of 46 complete applications were reviewed and evaluated by 11 committee members representing different perspectives and communities throughout the county.  The total amount requested among the applications exceeded $318,000.

“We commend the committee members for their efforts this year.  They had great discussion about each application and were very prepared for the challenge to stretch the funding as best they could according to the proposals submitted,” said Amy Blanchard, program manager of GPCF.  “We saw proposals from six organizations that have never applied before, five of which received funding.  We are happy the grant program is getting known by more organizations, and we’re also excited to see how these projects will impact our community.”

PCA seeks to fund new initiatives as well as support continuation or expansion of existing programs in Poweshiek County, helping to fill critical funding gaps of many local organizations. Among the 37 projects, 16 projects were funded at 100% of the requested amount, 11 were funded over 50% of the requested amount, and the remaining 10 projects received less than 50% of the amount requested.  Two projects were funded at $10,000, the maximum amount allowed from the PCA grant program.

This year, PCA grants were supported by four funds administered by GPCF.  The Poweshiek County Alliance Fund is an endowed fund designated by the Iowa Legislature to receive an annual portion of gambling revenues.  The endowment distribution paired with the disbursement from the State of Iowa totaled $133,648.  The Carl and Joann Orr Fund, established in 2017, immortalizes the generosity of the late Grinnell community member, Joann Orr.  With the intent of empowering and aiding women, children, and other at-risk community members within the Grinnell area, the Orr Fund awarded $23,703.49 across five projects.  Montezuma and Brooklyn each have a designated community fund which yielded $1,147 and $2,610 respectively.

The Orr Fund supported $10,000 for new pediatric care equipment for UnityPoint-Grinnell Regional Medical Center Foundation, requested in response to recent RSV outbreaks.  The Grinnell Community Early Learning Center received $5,130 for replacing old strollers to ensure safe toddler transportation. The Grinnell College Museum of Art received $2,000 for a summer art and literacy program targeted at children in Grinnell, while Ahrens Park Foundation received a total of $1,570 for outdoor musical instruments in a new natural learning environment. Lastly, $5,003.49 of the $5,280 request from Local Foods Connection was granted to support administrative costs for the expansion of the organization. The request was fully funded with additional support from the PCA fund.

Three other Grinnell-focused projects received funding this year.  The Grinnell Historical Museum Society received $5,000 to support a security system for their new museum site at the former Uhlmann’s Furniture location.  LINK Grinnell was granted $2,250 for a pilot music program and the Rotary Club of Grinnell was awarded $2,000 for insulated holding cabinets for use during their annual chicken barbecue fundraiser.

The Brooklyn Community Fund and Montezuma Community Fund are endowed, donor-supported funds. This year, the Brooklyn Community Fund supported the entirety of the $1,500 request for Bear’s Closet and $1,110 of the $3,000 grant award for BGM Bear Bags.  The BGM Bear Bags provides students in Brooklyn who are in need with food bags, which includes milk, eggs, cheese, bread, and meat.  The Bear’s Closet program supports students in need with items such as sporting apparel, seasonal clothing, and personal hygiene items. On the other hand, the Montezuma Community Fund supported $1146 of the $2,300 grant award to the Montezuma Public Library for a Beanstack mobile app to help young patrons track reading progress.

The Brooklyn community will benefit from six additional PCA grants this year.  East Poweshiek Ambulance Service will receive $7,000 for a new power cot to aid in transporting patients.  The Brooklyn Community Food Bank will receive $4,686 to support increased operational costs, the Brooklyn Fire Department will receive $4,000 to support a new washing machine to help maintain firefighter equipment, and the Brooklyn Public Library will receive $3,500 for the digitization of roll and film collections in the library.  PCA grants will support $2,500 for new flooring costs at the Manatt Community Center and $1,500 for new attractions for the annual Flag Festival event.

Seven more projects in Montezuma will be impacted by PCA funding.  The Montezuma Fire Department will receive $8,562 for new protective equipment for firefighters such as face masks, fire side lighting kits and LED lights for low light situations.  The Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society will receive $6,311 for repairs and preservation efforts at the museum.  Poweshiek County Extension will receive $5,981 to maintain and expand a variety of youth outreach programs.  Roots of Home, a newly established nonprofit in Poweshiek County, was granted $5,000 to support the construction of a new transitional home to assist teens as they transition from foster care to entering college or the workplace. The Blakely-Stevens American Legion Post 169 was granted $5,000 for ADA compliant bathrooms, part of the overall construction project for a new facility.  The Poweshiek County Pioneer Cemetery Commission will receive $4,800 to replace the fence at Beason Cemetery and Montezuma Community Development will receive $4,800 for bathroom upgrades at East Park.

The Deep River community will benefit from two PCA-funded projects.  The fire department will receive $10,000 for new air packs and air tanks to replace old equipment that is no longer serviceable.  The city will receive $2,625 to repaint the exterior of the Deep River Community Center.

Guernsey was awarded $5,200 to cover the costs of grinding tree stumps in Guernsey Town Park, an ongoing effort to fully recover from the derecho.  The city of Hartwick will receive $9,063 to outfit a new multi-purpose vehicle to assist in medical, extrication, and brush fire calls as well as $5,000 to support efforts to make Hartwick City Park more accessible in accordance with ADA guidelines.

Malcom community members will benefit from a $9,000 grant to the Malcom Food Pantry to assist with increased demand, $2,500 for the Malcom Volunteer Fire Department for Community Safety Outreach which includes providing fire extinguishers and smoke detectors for families that need them, and a $2,000 grant that will support new solar streetlights.

The Searsboro Community Fire/EMS Association will receive $1,800 to replace old specialty foam firefighting equipment with upgraded systems.  The town of Victor will receive $2,500 to support renovation of Waterworks Park.

Three grants will impact multiple communities across the county. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank was awarded $5,000 to support backpack programs in multiple school districts to provide nutritious meals and snacks for students over weekends.  Poweshiek County Emergency Management was granted $2,750 to assist replacement of outdated hazmat suits.  Families Helping Families of Iowa, a new applicant this year, requested and was awarded $1,500 to support children and teens in foster care in Poweshiek County.

“Poweshiek County Alliance is committed to the sustainability and vitality of all our communities in the county.  The committee takes that very seriously and tries to ensure that all organizations in Poweshiek County can access these funds,” said Blanchard.  “I think that is reflected well in the 37 projects they were able to fund this year.”

Organizations with the 501(c)(3) designation and/or governmental entities and public schools are eligible to seek grant assistance. The 2024 grant application period will open in December 2023. Organizations may contact GPCF at 641-236-5518 for information on how to apply. A complete list of grants awarded can be found on the GPCF website at www.greaterpcf.org.

The Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that assists donors in supporting local charitable organizations to improve the lives of people in the area. Individuals who wish to support the Poweshiek County Alliance Fund, Poweshiek Community Fund, Carl and Joann Orr Fund, Brooklyn Community Fund, or Montezuma Community Fund may contact Nicole Brua-Behrens at GPCF, mail checks to GPCF, P.O. Box 344, Grinnell, Ia., 50112, or donate online at www.greaterpcf.org.

At their April 8, 2023, meeting the Grinnell Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution honored Edith Renfrow Smith by presenting her with the DAR’s Women in American History award.

Edith Renfrow Smith was the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College in 1937.  She has recently been honored with the naming of Renfrow Hall, Grinnell College’s newest building.

The DAR Women in American History award acknowledges outstanding contributions of women who have made a contribution or a difference in their communities. Awardees may be historical figures or currently living women who are, or have been, intellectual, educational, social, religious, political, scientific, or cultural innovators. Other Grinnell women who have received this honor include Cornelia Clarke, Fannie Buchanan, and Abby Williams Hill. 

A program entitled, “The Renfrow Sisters,” was given by Monique Shore who spoke about Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s life, and Barb Lease, from the Grinnell Historical Museum, who shared the stories of Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s sisters. The Women in American History certificate and medal were presented to Mrs. Renfrow Smith in absentia.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible to join. The Grinnell Chapter is named after Josiah B. Grinnell, the founder of the city of Grinnell. Members come from Grinnell, Newton, Montezuma and surrounding communities.

For information about membership in DAR, contact Nancy Bender, registrar, 641-236-7065.

BarbAndMonique.jpg:  Barb Lease and Monique Shore presented a program on the Renfrow sisters

RitaAndMonique.jpg: Rita Mertens, Vice Regent of Grinnell Chapter DAR, presents the Women in American History award to Edith Renfrow Smith in absentia. Receiving the award on behalf of Mrs. Renfrow Smith is Monique Shore

Tilly Woodward, GCMoA Curator of Academic and Community Outreach, discusses an exhibition of recent work by Grinnell College Assistant Professor Jeremy Chen with students from Grinnell College Preschool.Photo by Justin Hayworth.

GRINNELL, Iowa – If you think of art museums as a quiet place for adults, think again. Over the past 30 years, museums have been increasing their engagement of young children. Research shows that the brain grows 90% in the first 5 years of life, so this is a crucial time to provide outreach programs for preschoolers.

Museum-going habits formed in early childhood can shape how a young child views, supports, and contributes to museums in the future. According to the American Alliance of Museums, a good museum experience for a young child “starts with community, relevance, and meaningful engagement.”

Tilly Woodward, Grinnell College Museum of Art Curator of Academic and Community Outreach, has been welcoming Grinnell community preschoolers to the museum for more than a decade. Woodward engages the youngsters in lively conversations about museum exhibitions and then guides participants in an art making activity related to the art they have discussed. Woodward, who was recently recognized as a Grand Grinnellian because of her outreach programs, currently works with Grinnell College Preschool, Loving Hands Daycare, and the Grinnell UCC Community Preschool. During the past six months, she has provided 18 different opportunities for these young audiences to experience art in the museum and make related art of their own.

Museums are ideal spaces for young children to learn because participants can explore their interests through authentic objects and participatory activities. Programs such as the one Woodward leads at GCMoA can also help young audiences expand their thinking as they encounter objects that help them understand abstract ideas.

Information for visitors

Grinnell College Museum of Art, Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, 1108 Park St., Grinnell. Information about the museum is available at: grinnell.edu/museum or call 641-269-4660. The museum is open to the public and always free. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 am to 5:30 pm and Saturday from 12 to 5 pm. Visitors may use the west (Park Street facing) or north (campus facing) doors to the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts. Minors under age 18 need to be accompanied by an adult.

Grinnell College welcomes the participation of people with disabilities. Information about parking and accessibility is available on the college’s website: grinnell.edu. Accommodation requests may be made to Conference Operations at 641-269-3235 or calendar@grinnell.edu.

Tilly Woodward, GCMoA Curator of Academic and Community Outreach, discusses an exhibition of recent work by Grinnell College Assistant Professor Jeremy Chen with students from Grinnell College Preschool.Photo by Justin Hayworth.

Students from Grinnell College Preschool participate in a tour of Devices, Tools, Objects, and Props: Recent Work by Jeremy Chen at GCMoA. Photo by Justin Haworth.

Scroll to the bottom for more pictures and indents.

The Link Mentoring Annual Bowling Event: We’re on a Roll took place on Saturday, April 1. During the bowling event, over 100 bowlers hit the lanes at the Bowladrome in Grinnell.

“This year’s event was a true celebration of mentoring,” says Ashley Grundler, mentor coordinator for LINK Mentoring. “This school year our mentoring program has more than doubled in size, and our annual bowling event was a great time to celebrate this growth.” Grundler adds, “It’s amazing to see all of the businesses, organizations, and individuals who support our program by sponsoring this event, bowling with us, or donating prizes. Seeing so many people gathered in the Bowladrome is so special. We are thankful for all of the support.”

Three bowling sessions were held over the course of the day, and prizes were awarded to the highest scoring team, as well as the highest scoring individual. The highest scoring team from the entire event was also recognized. Various prizes were also given out during the sessions for strikes and gutter balls. A separate Crazy Bowl game was held in between sessions, and winners were entered into a drawing for prizes. There were also door prizes given out during each of the sessions. Prizes were donated by various local businesses.

During the first session, the Grinnell State Bank team took the top prize for highest scoring team with a score of 136.3. The team members were Jessica Dillon, Hannah Gregory, Tammie Gregory, Niesje Licht, and Jamie Murphy. Todd Zell, bowling for the Grinnell Fire Department, received the highest score for an individual with a score of 207.5. Zell was also the overall high scoring individual of the event. There were four bowlers who bowled three strikes in a row (also called a turkey). Those bowlers were Scott Collins, Autumn Flanagan, Josh Jameson, and Todd Zell.

Team Biggest Lebowski was the highest scoring team in the second session with a score of 122.9. Team members were Scott Collings, Lisa Hart, Luke Kotz, Adam Laug, and Rachel Stensrud. Shane Hart, of the Bigger Lebowski team, was the highest scoring individual with a score of 174. Shane Hart, Angela Kennelly, and Gaige Kenoyer took home turkeys.

The winning team of the third session and the overall event was reigning champs Andy’s Auto with a score of 160. Wyatt Crawford, of the Andy’s Auto team, was the top scoring individual with a score of 202. Justin Beach, Laura Manatt, and Olivia Sandquist took home turkeys. Corey Latcham won the Crazy Bowl drawing.

Local businesses that sponsored this year’s event at the platinum level were Claude W. Ahrens Charitable Trust, GreenState Credit Union, and Grinnell College. Additional event sponsors include Bayer Crop Science, Claude W. & Dolly Arenas Foundation, Inc., Grinnell Herald Register, Grinnell Ministerial Association, and Total Choice Shipping and Printing. The Mayflower Community provided lunch to the bowlers.

Proceeds from the event benefit the local LINK Mentoring program, which matches elementary and middle school students with mentors in their school-based program.

For more information on LINK Mentoring, please email mentoring@linkgrinnell.org or visit www.linkgrinnell.org.

Grinnell State Bank was the top scoring team for the first session. (Pictured L to R: Tammie Gregory, Hannah Gregory, Niesje Licht holding Emma Gregory, Jamie Murphy, and Jessica Dillon)

The highest scoring team of the second session was the Biggest Lebowski. They are pictured with team Bigger Lebowski. (Pictured L to R: Jen Kotz, Luke Kotz, Molly Campe, Adam Laug, Scott Collings, Kara Collings, Shane Hart, Lisa Hart, Rachel Stensrud, and Kevin Stensrud.)

The top scoring team of the third session and overall event was reigning champs Andy’s Auto. (Pictured L to R: Wyatt Crawford, Andy Beach, Karen Moore, Josh Burns, and Justin Beach holding the tournament trophy.)

Our youngest team was a group of GMS 5th grade students. (Pictured L to R: Claire Grundler, Ariana Edsen, and Audrey Norris.)

The Norris Hall renovation project, completed in the fall of 2022, has won the Masters Award at this year’s Master Builders of Iowa winter conference held Feb. 28 through Mar. 1.

The Masters Award is given annually in recognition of “exceptional efforts of a construction team in executing the process of completing a project,” according to MBI’s webpage. The award is presented in three different cost categories, with the Norris project falling in the “$10 million to $25 million” range.

The Norris Hall renovation project was a collaboration between Grinnell College, the Weitz Company, CPMI, and OPN Architects. Among the many alterations to Norris included the addition of new windows, a newly designed kitchen and lounge spaces. As well as new ADA rooms and adding an elevator to make the building accessible for all.

Rick Whitney, assistant vice president for Facilities Management, is grateful for the acknowledgement that the Norris project is receiving.

“After seeing the hard work that all of the collaborating teams put into this project last summer, it is great that everyone involved is getting well-deserved recognition,” Whitney said. “Ultimately, we are most thankful that the renovations have made Norris a more comfortable and accessible space for students.”

About Master Builders of Iowa

Master Builders of Iowa is the recognized leader of the construction industry in the state of Iowa. Founded in 1912, MBI is one of 89 chapters of the Associated General Contractors of America, the most influential and widely respected construction association in the country. MBI’s members perform the majority of the state’s commercial, industrial, and public works building projects. The association provides its members with a comprehensive array of educational, safety, environmental, labor, legal, professional development, and legislative services.

Students studying in the newly renovated Norris Hall Lounge Spaces Photos by Haileigh Steffen ’26

The City of Grinnell and its Parks & Recreation board are planning an extension of all-inclusive playground equipment onto the Central Park playground. Fundraising efforts have begun to build a play area to the south of the existing playground. This extension will allow all children, regardless of abilities, to play together freely. The proposed design will include sensory-rich components throughout. It will allow all children to play without the help of their parent/guardian to access the equipment. The six proposed new features will have interactive capabilities including a large arch feature that mobile app users can use to play hundreds of different games to improve motor and cognitive skills. This feature would only be the third one of its kind in the state of Iowa.