Living Norwalk january 2017 50211 magazine Tracing your ROOTS LOCALS DIG DEEP TO RESEARCH THEIR ANCESTRAL BACKGROUNDS MEATBALL SUPPER RECIPE ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER BIG GREEN UMBRELLA MEDIA 5619 N.W. 86th St., #600 Johnston, Iowa 50131 SHERRI’S MUSTANG GARAGE BIG GREEN UMBRELLA MEDIA PAID MEET RUSSELL PLACE U.S. POSTAGE www.iowalivingmagazines.com/norwalk PRSRT STD EDUCATION Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living www.iowalivingmagazines.com/norwalk WELCOME Just the facts T he word “audit” doesn’t have a positive connotation for most of us. In fact, it is one of the last things we want to hear, especially if the letters “I,” “R” and “S” are included with it. In the case of this publication and the other 19 Iowa Living magazines we publish, news of an audit brings a smile to our faces. That is, when it is accompanied by the letters “C,” “V” and “C.” Every two years, the circulation and readership of our magazines are inspected by the Circulation Verification Council (CVC), an independent, third-party com- pany that audits thousands of editions nationwide with a combined circulation of more than 55 million. We don’t pay CVC to administer the audit, and that’s important, as we cannot impact the results in any way. The report includes rate card and mechanical data, net press averages, distribution by community, ZIP code and county, circulation history, website reporting, and a lot of other things that will put most of you to sleep. But through CVC’s careful inspection of printing invoices, postal reports, questionnaires and spreadsheets, we receive some important statistics including these: • 97.7 percent of the households surveyed indicated that they receive their Iowa Living magazine. The fact that nearly 98 percent of the homes even know our brand is impressive, but for them to say they receive it is outstanding. • 76 percent of the households report they regularly read or look through their Iowa Living magazine. No newspaper can claim that. No TV station can. No radio station can. And certainly no web- site or other form of digital media can. • 72.8 percent said they frequently purchase products or services from ads seen in their Iowa Living magazine. We can boast about receivership and readership numbers all day long, but advertis- ers want to know if our readers can become their customers. That answer is an astounding yes. When a newspaper or magazine has its circulation and readership audited, it separates itself from competitors who make fraudulent claims with nothing to back it up. You can be sure that our circulation is what we say it is. We are committed to our distribution systems. We are commit- ted to our local editorial content. We are committed to our timely and consistent publishing cycle. And we are committed to you — our readers and our advertisers — and we will never take that for granted. As always, I thank you for reading. n ’ N T E ! O S TH INE Y! D S L DA I M EAD TO D ALL C ACCOUNTING & TAX SOLUTIONS Ricardo J. Alverio, CPA 1017 MAIN ST., STE. 2 515.981.5222 Se Habla Español IN NORWALK YOU ’ VE GOT A LOT MORE GOING FOR YOU WITH HANK! HUGE SALE NOW THROUGH JANUARY 20% TO 50% OFF ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE STORE BIG SAVINGS ON GRILLS AND OTHER ITEMS! SEE STORE FOR DETAILS BRING IN YOUR SNOW BLOWER FOR A TUNE-UP! Shane Goodman Publisher Darren Tromblay Editor 515-953-4822 ext. 304 darren@dmcityview.com Living Iowa magazines SEE STORE FOR DETAILS NORWALK HARDWARE 729 Main Street, Norwalk • 515-981-0909 www.iowalivingmagazines.com JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 3 CITYVIEW’S WINTER EVENT IS BACK! INSIDE FIRE & 5 Tracing your roots 10 Calendar A list of things to do 12 Education Meet Russell Place 13 Garage Sherri’s Mustang Advice from professionals 18 Insurance An interactive WINTER PUB CRAWL in General insurance tips 19 Recipe Meatball supper SATURDAY, JAN. 28 1-5 P.M. | $20 IN VALLEY JUNCTION 20 Faith You get 10 tickets to sample winter specialty drinks! 24 Chamber p Bring a grou of friends! Shop in Valley Ju nction Play games and win prizes! ! ks ! Try new drin GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY AT WWW.DMCITYVIEW.COM Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 Page 5 16 Health Q & A 4 Cover story www.iowalivingmagazines.com Page 13 A patient winter 21 Library A new year Happy New Year! Page 19 On the cover: Ralph and Karen Lane. Photo by Melissa Walker. PUBLISHER: EDITOR: SALES TRAINER/RECRUITER: ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Shane Goodman Darren Tromblay Jolene Goodman Ashley Sohl Ashlee Walton Nicole Berger Shelby Bobbett Reagan Maher Michael Harrelson ADDRESS: 5619 N.W. 86th St., Suite 600, Johnston, IA 50131 PHONE: 515.953.4822 EDITORIAL: ext. 304 ADVERTISING: ext. 319 DISTRIBUTION: ext. 316 DESIGN: ext. 313 ACCOUNTING: ext. 316 FAX: 515.953.1394 WEB: www.iowalivingmagazines.com DESIGN MANAGER: GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: CONTRIBUTORS: BUSINESS OFFICE MGR: DISTRIBUTION: DIGITAL: Celeste Tilton Karen Ericson Jordan Aust Kathleen Summy Melissa Walker Lisa Verhey-Budding Brent Antisdel Dan Hodges Brent Antisdel Circulation and readership audited by Norwalk Living magazine is a monthly publication of Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc., an Iowa corporation. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without permission of the publisher. Norwalk Living magazine is mailed free of charge to every household and business in the 50211 ZIP code. Others may subscribe for $18 annually. Copies of past issues, as available, may be purchased for $3 each (plus shipping if required). FEATURE Tracing your ROOTS LOCALS DIG DEEP TO RESEARCH THEIR ANCESTRAL BACKGROUNDS By Melissa Walker K aren Lane has long been fascinated by her family’s roots. Some of her earliest memories are of her asking her grandfather about his parents, brothers and sisters. “I took a lot of interest early on,” she says. Lane had an aunt who put together a family history book about her grandfather’s family line. That was the catalyst that sparked her to conduct her own research. “I was lucky enough to get a copy of that,” she explains. Lane’s research didn’t begin right away. She had her aunt’s book and looked through it. On Jan. 1, 1989, she decided it was her turn to continue the work. She wrote in her journal: “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” www.iowalivingmagazines.com Ralph and Karen Lane show some of the historical informa- tion Karen has put together from researching their family histories. Karen is holding a picture of her grandmother Margaretha Werder Herbers at her wedding in 1912. JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 5 FEATURE Family members, artifacts, websites help researchers get started Those interested in researching family history should start with their own family members. That’s what Lane did, and it wasn’t easy. She started with her grandparents and worked step by step back to her great-grandparents. “It was very time consuming,” she remem- bers. “One thing led to the other. I had so many family lines involved.” Lane’s research now occupies several dozen binders in her home that are labeled by genealogical line. The information inside each binder contains family worksheets, census records, photographs and other documents she has uncovered during her research. She began her research before the Internet was popular or accessible. “It was the time when you had to go to the courthouses to get information or church records,” she explains. At first, all of Lane’s documentation was kept in paper form. Eventually, she switched to a computer program that allowed her to click on an individual’s name and see all of their family members and detailed informa- tion. Websites such as ancestry.com also can help fill in details or lead researchers to more information or more sources, but sometimes the information is inaccurate. Ancestry.com offers a free trial for 14 days and then costs anywhere from $19.99 a month to $44.99 a month depending on the access to data. Lane says access to ancestry.com opened up a new world of available research opportu- nities for her. “I had this huge online library of resources at my fingers at any time of the day,” she explains. “I could do it at night and didn’t have to restrict myself to courthouse hours or travel to towns.” There are other online research sites such as www.findagrave.com, which is free and has 154 million records of graves. A slow process Rosemary Hoover is working on creating a digital archive of the obituaries of those who are buried in cemeteries. “It’s a very slow process,” Hoover says. “I’m interested in putting together a history of who’s buried in these cemeteries because most of these people are forgotten.” Hoover’s goal is to collect obituaries for each individual in order to create an archive of the information and add it to www.findagrave. com. She says familysearch.org also is a good website for researchers. 6 Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 Karen and Ralph Lane hold one of the family history binders Karen has put together of the couple’s genealogy. Behind them are more than two dozen binders full of research. Genealogists caution that information from online sources can be inaccurate or incomplete. Sometimes a record can contain incorrect information, which is why more than one source should be used to authenti- cate information. Census records can contain mistakes, and obituaries can have fallacies depending upon the writer. That’s why it’s important to verify some- thing as fact, as three supporting pieces of information are needed. Death certificates, census records and obituaries are all ways to learn more, Lane says. For example, an obituary would have explained the individual’s career, and pos- sibly whether he or she immigrated to the United States. Local history books also have been good sources of information with details about where family members originated and even the name of the ship they arrived on. Lane has used findagrave.com and its vir- tual cemetery to help her uncover additional family genealogy information. She and her husband Ralph have traveled to Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Oklahoma to search docu- ments. “We have lots of other places we would like to go, but now the travel doesn’t seem to be quite as important,” she explains. “It was earlier when there didn’t seem to be quite as many records online.” Lane has been able to utilize the site to uncover more details about ancestors and their siblings. Anyone who posts or uses infor- mation on the website should keep in mind the rule of having three sources to support their research. “That is very, very helpful,” Lane says of www.iowalivingmagazines.com the sources and the website. “It saves a lot of walking through a cemetery to actually find a grave.” The Norwalk Easter Public Library has hosted genealogy classes that include speakers from the Iowa Genealogical Society for part of its adult class offerings. Lane has been involved in the Norwalk history project through the library. The group members have conducted research about their own family histories and other genealogy research. The library has some archived materials, including old high school yearbooks, records and reference books, and other books about the history of the area. Most of these materi- als are not available for checkout, but users can photocopy the items, says Mary Kay Johnson, the adult services coordinator at the Norwalk Library. Librarians can assist with research ques- tions tied to genealogy or direct patrons to books or resources that can help them get started with their genealogy research. “We’re more than willing to help people if they have a specific question,” Johnson says. Genealogists warn it can take time to uncover information. Lane has been research her family’s his- tory for almost three decades. During that time, she’s been able to uncover that her hus- band’s ancestors led a wagon trail from Iowa to Oregon. This summer, they were able to meet one of his distant cousins who shares a third great-grandparent. Right now, she’s researching her family’s connection to the Revolutionary War, which is the farthest back in history she’s been able to uncover. FEATURE A small sampling of Karen Lane’s family history research. Among the items are photos of her grandparents at their wedding, a picture of her grandmother as a baby and her grandmother’s World War II scrapbook. Websites offer search tips, additional free information Another free online source is the Warren County IAGenWeb through www.iagenweb. org. The websites contains a variety of genea- logical data, including more than a million Iowa gravestones throughout the state and message boards where researchers can con- nect with one another. Findmypast.com offers genealogical research tips, including how to search the census and what to do when seemingly no additional information is available. The website also suggests researchers start by interviewing their immediate family and recording their memories. They should ask about specific details such as nicknames; places relatives lived; birth, marriage and death dates; and occupations. These family members may have artifacts that can help in the search or could have conducted some of their own research. Other tips include: 1. Go through memorabilia boxes that may contain family scrapbooks, school records, Bibles, diaries, old letters and photographs that could give clues. 2. Create a family tree with the names, dates and places. This can be done online, though Larsen suggests writing it on paper in order to keep it more easily accessible. 3. Decide on a story, which can be a good focal point for one’s research. Newspaper archives and other records can be used to research an ancestor’s military service, The land deed for a section of property in New Vienna, Iowa, Karen Lane’s great-great grandfather purchased around 1856. He immigrated from Germany. occupation or education. Research also should be limited to one or two families at a time rather than trying to tackle the entire family. 4. Join family history websites, blogs or Facebook groups to get in contact with other family descendants to share infor- mation and gain insight. 5. Use a variety of public records, includ- ing the U.S. Census; birth, marriage and death records; newspapers; military records including draft cards and pension files; church records; passenger lists of an ancestor’s arrival to the United States; city directories, which can include infor- mation on address, occupation and more; court and prison records; immigration and naturalization records; photographs and scrapbooks; oral histories; workhouse and union records; tax records; cemetery records in situations where a tombstone has been destroyed or a grave lost; wills and probate records to identify siblings and children of ancestors; land records; and funeral home records, which could provide unique tidbits such as copies of funeral programs and lists of relatives. Have patience Sometimes a researcher comes to a dead end. Findmypast.com recommends stumped researchers explore any name variations they may have found in the course of their research. Sometimes names get written down incor- rectly and misspelled. Researchers can also use newspaper articles to find more details or a story to research. It may become neces- sary to research a different member of the family such as a sibling, which could uncover more information. If all else fails, the website says researchers can always try a professional genealogist or attend a class or webinar about researching one’s family history. It can take years for a break to occur, and sometimes it can come in the form of a fam- ily member dying and his or her possessions revealing more family history. Lane says she’s had trouble finding her husband’s great-great grandfather. He seems to have disappeared because she cannot locate a death certificate, obituary or any newspaper record about him. “We’re just kind of stuck from there,” she says. For Lane, DNA testing has helped take her family history research to the next level. She’s had 10 of her family members participate in the testing. The samples have been sent to a lab in Utah for analysis. She’s used the results to connect with other users of ancestry.com who are related to her. They’ve been able to assist one other with their research. The DNA results gave the Lanes some surprising results. They originate from differ- ent locations in Iowa but share DNA markers with each other. Ralph also showed up as a DNA match to one of Karen’s sisters and her brother. “To have known my husband more than 50 years and somehow we have a DNA match?” Karen says. “That’s what really makes me passionate about figuring this out. I don’t know if this is a puzzle I’ll ever be able to solve.” n www.iowalivingmagazines.com JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 7 LEGAL BRIEFS Medicaid and nursing homes Consult an estate-planning attorney By Tom Murphy T his subject comes up a lot in my practice. The conver- sation usually goes a little something like this. A child calls me in regard to his or her parents. The child’s parents have worked hard during their lifetimes and have saved up a sizeable nest egg. Mom or Dad’s physical and/or mental health begins to fail, which neces- sitates the kids to start thinking about an assisted living facility or a nursing home for Mom or Dad. Everyone involved is already under a tremendous amount of stress in making this decision, but then also having to navigate the complex rules and regulations of Medicaid eligibility (with the ultimate goal of preserving some of Mom and Dad’s assets) can be overwhelm- ing. Ultimately, the questions are “What is Medicaid?” and “Is there anything that can be done now?” Medicaid is primarily a “safety net,” state-run program, which can help people of low assets and low income qualify for, and receive, medical care. This can include pay- ment assistance for nursing home care. Medicaid eligibility guidelines show that to be eligible, an appli- cant must have less than $2,000 in “countable assets” and less than approximately $2,200 in monthly income. Nursing home care can be quite expensive as you may know, with some current average estimates being around $70,000 per year. It can be quite unsettling for the family to know that just a few years of nursing home care can wipe out a lifetime of saving. The asset-preservation strate- gies that are available in the above scenario greatly depend on timing. Iowa, like many other states, has what is called a “5-year lookback” period. The goal of this “lookback period” is to prevent a person from transferring assets for less than fair market value to his or her children and then applying for Medicaid benefits shortly thereaf- ter. This article is nowhere near long enough to go into very much depth on strategies that may be implemented. It is a good idea to consult an estate-planning attor- ney knowledgeable in Medicaid law if this situation arises in your family, or even better, before it arises before certain planning options are eliminated. n Information provided by Tom Murphy, attorney at law, Hopkins & Huebner P.C., 1009 Main St., Adel. SERVING OUR NEIGHBORS IN NORWALK A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM WITH OFFICES IN DES MOINES, ADEL AND THE QUAD CITIES KARLA J. FULTZ BRENT HINDERS ERIC UPDEGRAFF 2700 Grand Avenue, Suite 111 Des Moines, Iowa 50312 1009 Main Street Adel, Iowa 50003 515.244.0111 | 1.800.383.0111 www.hhlawpc.com 8 Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 www.iowalivingmagazines.com FITNESS Ask the Anytime Guy Expert answers to your health and wellness questions By Joe Nguyen Q: How come I never see anyone else doing a warm-up prior to working out? A: That’s a great question and one that’s relatively easy to answer. Most people simply don’t make time for a warm-up. Lots of folks just want to “get in and get out” and don’t really consider the benefits of properly preparing the body for exercise. Here are a few of these benefits so you have jus- tification for incorporating it into your workout. • Warming up increases the temperature of your muscles and joints, which makes movement more efficient and reduces the risk of injury. • Warming up causes blood vessels to dilate, which shuttles oxygen and nutrients to the mus- cles, allowing you to achieve peak performance. • Warming up prepares you for exercise mentally, heighten- ing your senses and allowing you to focus and concentrate on the work at hand. There are lots of other ben- efits, but no matter why you do it, a simple fact remains: You will feel better and perform bet- ter if you include a warm-up in your exercise session. Take five minutes and do some light car- diovascular exercise along with a few basic bodyweight strength exercises. Try the elliptical or some fast walking, and throw in some lunges, push-ups, squats or planks. And don’t forget, it’s best to try and mimic your actual workout if possible. Q: It’s obvious to me that women see their physicians much more frequently than men. As a guy, I want to be proactive about my health, but I really don’t know how often to schedule regular check-ups. Any advice? A: That’s a great question and one that lots of fellas have probably been curious about. Every doctor is different, and I’m sure they all have an opinion when it comes to this issue. My advice would be to ask your physician first. You can also follow something I like to call the five-year rule. This means that you should schedule a doctor visit at least every five years, starting right after high school and con- tinuing through to age 50. After that, more frequent visits may be in order in hopes of catching any health issues early on as you get older. Ideally, the visits should include a basic physical exam as well as comprehensive blood work. This should be enough to keep you healthy and happy for years to come. But again, ask your doctor what he/she thinks as well. n Information provided by Joe Nguyen, club owner, Anytime Fitness, 1101 Chatham Ave., 515-953-0004. (515) 953-0004 • Norwalk@anytimefitness.com 1101 Chatham Ave, Norwalk STAFFED HOURS Monday – Thursday 11am – 7pm, Friday 9am – 5pm Saturday 9-11am www.iowalivingmagazines.com JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 9 10 CALENDAR To submit calendar items for consideration, send information to darren@dmcityview.com THINGS TO DO IN TOWN Jan. 12 JV/Varsity wrestling dual Norwalk vs. Grinnell Norwalk H.S. gym JV 6:30 p.m., varsity 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 Jan. 24 Eighth grade boys basketball Norwalk vs. Bondurant-Farrar Norwalk Middle School gym 4:30 p.m. Varsity basketball games Norwalk vs. Indianola Norwalk H.S. gym Girls 6:15 p.m., boys 7:45 p.m. www.littlehawkeyeconference.org Jan. 19 Jan. 31 Ninth grade boys basketball Norwalk vs. DC-G Norwalk H.S. gym 6 p.m. Varsity basketball games Norwalk vs. Pella Community Norwalk H.S. gym Girls 6:15 p.m., boys 7:45 p.m. www.littlehawkeyeconference.org Jan. 20 www.littlehawkeyeconference.com Jan. 13 Seventh grade boys basketball Norwalk vs. Winterset Norwalk Middle School gym 4:30 p.m. Varsity basketball games Norwalk vs. Grinnell Norwalk H.S. gym Girls 6:15 p.m., boys 7:45 p.m. www.littlehawkeyeconference.org Jan. 23 www.littlehawkeyeconference.com Adult craft night Norwalk Easter Public Library 1051 N. Ave. 6:30-8 p.m. Register with a $2 reservation fee at the library (refunded to participants at the event). www.norwalk.iowa.gov Jan. 24 Jan. 14 Community Chat Norwalk City Hall, 705. N. Ave. 9-10:30 a.m. Trending topics: digital photography Norwalk Easter Public Library 1051 N. Ave. 6:30-8 p.m. www.norwalk.iowa.gov Held the second Saturday of the month residents to visit informally with city representatives. www.norwalk.iowa.gov 10 Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 www.littlehawkeyeconference.com www.iowalivingmagazines.com www.littlehawkeyeconference.com CALENDAR To submit calendar items for consideration, send information to darren@dmcityview.com ... AND MORE IN THE AREA Jan. 9-13 “The American Revolution” Temple Theater 1011 Locust St. Des Moines 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Using only their bodies and voices, seven actors use imaginative physical theater to recreate the entire American fight for independence from Lexington to Yorktown. Recommended for grades 4-9. Applause Series tickets are $1. www.desmoinespeformingarts.org Jan. 13 Jan. 13-14 Explore beautiful Christiansen Forest Preserve. Bring your binoculars and a flashlight as we try our luck at calling and spotting owls while exploring the trails on snowshoes. Program will be canceled if snow conditions are insufficient. This program is suitable for ages 12 and up. Participants should dress for the weather. Fee of $5 with registration is required by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11. www.storycountyiowa.gov. Top professional cowboys are coming to Des Moines as a qualifier for the American, the world’s biggest one day rodeo, awarding $1 mil- lion to winner in each event. The show features bull riding, saddle bronc riding and bareback rid- ing with the top two competing a second time in the thrilling Winner takes all, Showdown Round. Racing. Tickets $20, $30, $40, $60; kids $10, $15, $20. www.iowaeventscenter.com Snowshoe Owl Prowl Christiansen Forest Preserve 55973 310th St. Huxley 5-6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 Jan. 15 A Visual Journey with Bill and Karen Greater Des Moines Botanical Center 909 Robert D. Ray Drive Des Moines 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Iowa Energy vs. Greensboro Swarm Wells Fargo Arena 233 Center St. Des Moines 4 p.m. In partnership with Moberg Gallery, “A Visual Journey with Karen and Bill” will feature works from their botanical series as well as iconic down- town landscapes. Displayed in the North Gallery of the Botanical Garden, the exhibit will extend through Jan. 29 and can be viewed as a regular part of admission to the Garden. www.dmbotanicalgarden.com www.dleague.nba.com Jan. 16 Jan. 13 Jan. 13-15 Iowa Home Show Iowa State Fairgrounds, Varied Industries Building Des Moines Friday 1-7p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m - 4 p.m. Shop hundreds of booths full of products and services to update your home at huge savings. Featuring How To demos with HGTV stars Tim McClellan and Jennifer Bertrand. Adults $7; ages 11-16 $4; 10 and younger are free. www.iowastatefairgrounds.org Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo Iowa Events Center 7:30 Third St. Des Moines 7:30 p.m. $5 Family Night Science Center of Iowa 401 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway Des Moines 5 p.m. Iowa Wild vs. San Diego Gulls Wells Fargo Arena 233 Center St. Des Moines 7 p.m. www.iowawild.com The second Friday of each month, explore SCI with your family with $5 per person general admission, documentary IMAX films and Food Chain Cafe specials. Kick off your weekend by building a rock- et, traveling through outer space in one of SCI’s dynamic experience platforms or experiencing a larger-than-life IMAX film with extended hours until 8 p.m. www.sciowa.org www.iowalivingmagazines.com JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 11 EDUCATION INSURANCE Meet Russell Place Winter driving Course corrections leads teacher to classroom survival By Kathleen Summy M any teachers will tell you they knew what their career path would be from the time they were in elementary school. It took Russell Place a little longer to find that path. Place teaches world history and U.S. History at Norwalk Middle School. He graduated from Simpson College with a degree in sports administration and took a graduate assistant position at Grand View University in the housing depart- ment. From there he started taking history classes, majoring in second- ary education with a social sciences endorsement. Spending time with the students at Grand View made him realize he wanted to be in edu- cation. “I thought I had missed my chance four years ago, so I correct- ed my career path the right way,” he says. “It was a course correction. Maybe I’ll use the sports administra- tion some day.” This is Place’s third year teach- ing in Norwalk. He taught high school for two years in the West Fork School District. He and his wife, Kim, were living in West Des Moines at the time and Place was commuting an hour each way every day. The teaching position in Norwalk opened up, but Place wasn’t sure if he wanted to make the switch. “My wife talked me into it,” he says. “I didn’t mind the commute, and I liked high school. I wasn’t even sure if i wanted to come back home, so it’s worked out well for me.” Plan ahead for winter driving By Kandy Paulson W Russell Place teaches world history and U.S. history at Norwalk Middle School. Photos by Kathleen Summy. Place says the only difference he’s found between high school and middle school students is their energy level. “Middle school is more ener- getic, and that requires more energy from me,” he says. Place is stressing a lot of writ- ing in his classes now. Students are learning to support a claim with evidence and with their own argu- ments. “I want to see hard-working, improving students,” he says. “I hope what I am assigning students has enough rigor that they’re work- ing hard. I’ve seen a lot of growth so far this year, and I’m looking to increase what they’ve learned from now until the end of the year.” Place also serves as the middle school culture lead. One of the things he tries to do in that role is recognize students who aren’t always recognized. “The students are genuinely happy for the other students,” he says. “It’s nice to see.” n Q: What do you like best about Mr. Place? Katie Fees: “He’s funny, and he’s nice, and he’s helpful.” 12 Norwalk Living Jojo Bice: “He makes learning really fun and exciting.” JANUARY | 2017 Jaden Albright: “He’s nice and funny and makes learning fun.” www.iowalivingmagazines.com inter driving condi- tions can turn treach- erous in an instant. Snow, ice, poor visibility and extreme cold can disable your vehicle or make roads impassable. Even on a relatively short trip, you can find yourself stranded for sev- eral hours. It’s important to plan ahead for such a situation. Prepare your vehicle for winter The best time to get ready for winter is before the first storm of the season. Some items to check include: • Hoses and fan belts • Spark plugs • Antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid levels • Battery strength Follow winter driving recommendations Winter driving has its own set of challenges from the moment you start up your vehicle. Here are some useful winter driving sug- gestions: • Never warm up your vehicle in a closed garage. • Keep your gas tank at least half full to prevent gas line freeze-up. • Make sure your exhaust pipe is not clogged with mud or snow. • Allow more time for braking when visibility is poor. Carry emergency supplies In addition to the just-in-case items you should always have in your vehicle, such as jumper cables tire-changing tools, flashlight and first aid kit, be sure to include these winter essentials: • Small folding shovel • Tow and tire chains • Basic tool kit • Bag of road salt or cat litter • Pack a survival kit In case you’re ever marooned in your vehicle, you might want to keep a small survival kit on hand, in case of emergencies. Some useful items include: • Compass • Ice scraper and brush • Wooden matches • High-energy, non-perishable food Stay calm if stranded If a winter storm strands you with your vehicle, follow these tips: Pull off the highway, if possible, turn on your hazard lights or light flares, and hang a distress flag from an antenna or window. Call 911 if you have a phone and describe your location as precisely as possible. Remain in your vehicle so help can find you. Run your vehicle’s engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm. Open a downwind window slightly for ventilation and clear snow from the exhaust pipe to prevent carbon monoxide poi- soning. n Information provided by Kandy Paulson State Farm, 800 Colonial Circle, Suite 200A, Norwalk, 515-981-5432. WHAT’S IN YOUR GARAGE? Retired dancing queen seeks passionate helper for tasks around the house. It takes a special person to become a Home Instead CAREGiver, not a special degree. Working with seniors in their homes can be challenging but, at the same time, tremendously rewarding. Enjoy training, support, flexible shifts that fit your life, and a job that nurtures the soul. SM • Flexible Scheduling • Robust Training Program • 401k and Paid Vacation Above: Sherri Zeliadt in her 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe. Right: Sherri and her award at a Madrid car show. Sherri’s Mustang She wanted her own cruising car, so she got one By Lisa Verhey-Budding N orwalk’s Sherri Zeliadt is proud of her 1968 Mustang Coupe with auto magic transmission and a 298 V8 engine. She previously owned a 1967 Cougar many years ago and then another during the summer 2008. But she didn’t like the front bench seat and wanted her own car for “cruising.” “I’m getting closer to retire- ment age, and one day in the spring of 2009, I found this one on Craigslist and thought it was such a pretty color,” she says. “So we went and took a look at it. It was still all original with 53,285 miles on it. It was bought new in Des Moines and lived at the same address on the east side of town its whole life. It still has its original spare tire in it.” According to Zeliadt, the car needed some work in order for it to be in “show quality” condition. “We touched up the engine compartment paint and drove it as it was for the summer,” she says. “In 2010, our friends commented that, although the original paint was good, it wasn’t show quality. So, they helped us build a rotisser- ie and dismantled it in our drive- way, cleaned every part, painted the undercarriage with single-stage Britney Blue and then applied the original color base and clear coat on the top side.” This was her husband’s first attempt at spraying automo- tive paint, and even though he had several “advisers,” he couldn’t get the clear coat to look good in the summer heat, so they found a paint booth and a professional to help him spray it on. It was block sanded down and polished, and then another friend took charge of the engine rebuild. “We were trying to mimic what the factory engine would have been,” Zeliadt says. “Then we added some new Crager wheels and tires to give it a little pizazz. A few years later, we added a Pertronix three-ignition, front disc brakes and power steering. It’s so much easier for me to drive it now.” Once finished, it was off to the shows, where success came quickly. “Probably my proudest moments were getting a silver award at the Mustang National event that was held in Des Moines one year, and our first-place tro- phy from the Madrid car show,” Zeliadt says. n Contact Darren at 953-4822 ext. 304 or darren@dmci- tyview.com to recommend someone for an upcoming issue of “What’s In Your Garage?” Each Home Instead Senior Care ® franchise office is independently owned and operated. © 2015 Home Instead, Inc. 515-978-7991 What’s In Your Garage? To suggest a garage, call Darren Tromblay at 953-4822, ext 304 or email darren@dmcityview.com www.iowalivingmagazines.com JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 13 CITY HALL 705 North Avenue 515-981-0228 Open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday MAYOR’S MOMENT 2016 Was a Very Good Year for Norwalk The City Council and I recently had a goal setting session where we reviewed the City’s accomplishments, talked about the challenges and opportunities we have before us, and set out some short term goals for the City. The council will be formally adopting these goals at an upcoming City Council meeting. In the meantime, however, I’d like to take a quick moment to look back at everything we have been able to accomplish over the past year or so. 2016 accomplishments include: Infastructure • Completed overdue bridge repairs on 50th Ave • Replaced the library roof • Worked on replacement of undersized water mains in the Founder’s District • Began much needed, overdue repairs at the pool • Did an overlay on Woodmayr, north of Lakewood Drive • Completed Cedar Street to Beardsley City Operations/ Facilities • Completed a comprehensive plan update • Updated the zoning code • Tightened up some internal policies around finances (one of the reasons our bond rating has been upgraded) and policies around economic development Economic Development • Negotiated the North Shore Development agreement • Negotiated an agreement for commercial development at Elizabeth Holland Park • Negotiated the Market Place development (which includes 2 four- unit strip buildings (one of which will contain a 1908 Draught House) and Mercy Clinic • Hired a new city manager • Handled record number of building permits • Bond rating has been upgraded 3 times and we are now rated AA by Standard & Poor • Showed a representative from Hy-Vee around Norwalk to show them the development we have going on and we verified they are still going to build in Norwalk (we just don’t know an exact date, yet) • Shifted to a rebate arrangement on TIF projects and created a school- carve out for TIF on residential areas • Partnered with United Properties to get the Des Moines Home Show Expo back to Norwalk in 2017 Public Safety • Increased Police staffing • Increased EMS to 24-hour staffing • Added living quarters for 24-hour staffing at the Fire Department • Awarded first place in our size communities in the National Law Enforcement Challenge for Traffic Safety Parks and Rec • Started on Elizabeth Holland Park, which includes a regional storm water detention facility • Facilitated the creation of the dog park in City Park • Established Orchard View Park, which is also a regional storm water detention facility. While this list is impressive, we still have a lot of work to do and I am looking forward to seeing everything we can achieve in 2017. Happy New Year Norwalk!! – Tom Phillips, Mayor OFFICER KOESTLER GRADUATES FROM THE ACADEMY Officer Kirstin Koestler has graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy as part of the 271st class. Koestler joined the department in August just before her academy training began. She is a native of Des Moines and a graduate of Simpson College, where she played on the Women’s Soccer team. While at Simpson, she earned two bachelor’s degrees; criminal justice and psychology. She also earned a minor in sociology. Prior to beginning her career with Norwalk, Koestler worked as a corrections officer at the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women in Mitchellville. In her spare time, Kirstin enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors. Officer Koestler is beginning her field training and when complete she will be assigned to the night shift. UPCOMING EVENTS • FEBRUARY Community Chat – Saturday, February 10, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers WWW.NORWALK.IOWA.GOV 14 Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 www.iowalivingmagazines.com PUBLIC SAFETY 1100 Chatham Avenue NORWALK EASTER PUBLIC LIBRARY 1051 North Avenue Administrative: 981-0228 515-981-0228 Non-Emergency: 222-3321 Emergency: 911 2017 CURB IT! CALENDAR MAGNETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT CITY HALL! UPCOMING GOALS FOR THE CITY NORWALK It does not matter if we are talking about personal goals or goals for a large organization, having goals and direction helps us achieve success. This past month Mayor Phillips and the Norwalk City Council met for a lengthy work session for the very purpose of outlining their goals and the goals for the upcoming year. Some of the new goals for the next couple years include: • Adopt a Highway 28 development plan • Revamp capital improvements program (CIP) format • Develop Master Parks Plan (consider the potential of additional regional • Evaluate use of technology to improve communication with residents storm water detention facilities as part of the plan) • Implement a formal performance review program for all staff • Explore the establishment of recreation/community center • More widely tap into the community volunteer pool (both individuals and • Develop a street improvement and repair schedule partnering with existing volunteer organizations) to gain intellectual capital, labor, and monetary donations for either one-off or ongoing projects • Maintain fiscal responsibility As you can see by the list, the Mayor and Council have set an aggressive agenda for 2017. While they understand that not all of this will be able to be accomplished in one year, the focus and determination of City staff and elected officials is clear. NORWALK COPS TAKE A BITE OUT OF HUNGER On Wednesday December 21st, the Norwalk Police Department (NPD) launched the “Cops With Carts” project to try and take a bite out of hunger in the Norwalk Area. Originally conceived to be a small gesture of good will from the Officers of the department to the community they serve, the project grew quickly. Born from a donation of $200 from an anonymous citizen, the NPD turned that into over $2,400 in food for the areas food insecure. The officers donated $300 collectively and then volunteered their time at the three hour event. Officers Koestler and Palmer were amazed at the generosity of the community that so willingly donated cash and purchased food items for the cause. “I never thought I could have so much fun grocery shopping”, Palmer noted. Chief Staples and the entire department want to thank the individuals and businesses that donated cash and food to the project. The Chief said that corporate sponsorship from Fareway, Anytime Fitness and City State Bank were very generous and that individual donations were “from one dollar to a hundred and from one can of fruit to a grocery cart full of items”. Chief Staples went on to say that the community “really is a small town with a big heart and this is just another example of Norwalk being noticeable. Thank you for helping us give back to those in need!” 2017 DOG LICENSES AND DOG PARK PASSES NOW AVAILABLE AT CITY HALL NORWALK PARKS AND RECREATION Spring will be here before you know it and that means it is soccer registration time! Norwalk Parks and Rec offers several divisions for your youth to have fun and play. Programs start as young has 4 years old and go up through 7th grade. Registration begins on Jan 30. See our fall brochure or website for further details. Spring also reminds us that it is time to take off those nasty winters pounds! Parks and Recreation offers a variety of choices for exercise; a step bench/interval class, circuit sensation and for those early birds folks, a body sculpting class. If you are looking for a different style of exercise, we offer a Family Taekwondo class as well. City of Norwalk has available several miles of linear bicycle/pedestrian trails. Breakout from the comfort of your home and explore the possibilities! With the city growing, you are bound to meet new people. Follow us! www.iowalivingmagazines.com JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 15 HEALTH H A P P Y N E W Y E A R SCHEDULE YOUR ANNUAL EYE EXAM TODAY CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT! Dr. Jonathan Anderson Dr. Michael O’Meara Dr. Craig Winjum ON-SITE SURGICAL CONSULTATION with (Indianola office) OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATES OF WARREN COUNTY, P.C. SINCE 1965 CARLISLE 515.989.0889 • 55 SCHOOL STREET INDIANOLA 515.961.5305 • 225 W. ASHLAND NORWALK 515.981.0224 • 1228 SUNSET DR. #A HAPPY HOLIDAYS! MAY THE JOYS OF THE SEASON BE YOURS Q: I’m a contact lens wearer and travel by air frequently. Do you have any advice about caring for my contacts while I’m away from home? A: Here are some tips to help keep you safe and comfortable while trav- eling by air with your contact lenses. First, make sure you pack your spare contact lenses and glasses in your carry-on bag. This can help you avoid a huge hassle if your checked bags are lost. Ask your eye care provider for trial-sized solutions to help you through security checks. If you can’t get trial-sized solutions, do not try to save space by repackaging your solution into smaller containers, as the potential contamination makes this a risk not worth taking. During the flight, consider that the air quality on board generally is not ideal for contacts lens wear. Daily disposable lenses are good option for short trips. For long trips, or if you plan on sleeping, it is best to wear your glasses. If you choose to wear your contacts, no mat- ter the length of the flight, make sure to bring re-wetting drops to keep your lenses comfortable. Finally, ask your eye provider for copies of your glasses and contact prescriptions to carry with you. n Information provided by Michael O’Meara, O.D., Optometric Associates of Warren County, P.C. Norwalk, 515-981-0224. Q: What are sealants? A: Sealants are a liquid coating a dentist applies to protect the pits and fissures of teeth. Back teeth, in particular, have pits and fissures because those teeth are designed for crushing and chewing food. The uneven terrain of those teeth is particularly vulnerable to the development of cavities. The good news, though, is that if cavities have not developed by the time a person is in his or her early 20s, it’s not likely they will. The procedure is perfectly painless — no needles and no drilling. The dentist will surround the tooth he or she is work- ing on with cotton balls and dry the tooth. The dentist will then apply a dilute acid liquid or gel that is used to etch slightly into the enamel. Over the etched area, the dentist will apply a liquid plastic that will seep into the etched surface, attach to the enamel and harden. Some sealants harden by themselves in less than a minute. Others harden after being exposed to ultra-violet light for a few seconds. The resulting seal prevents bacteria from getting into the protected pit or fissure. Talk with your dentist about whether you or your children might be candidates for sealants. n Come and see us! 1101 Chatham Avenue 256.9000 www.norwalkfamilydentistry.com Donna Grant, DDS n Maureen Winslow, DDS 16 Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 www.iowalivingmagazines.com Information provided by Norwalk Family Dentistry, 1101 Chatham Ave., 256-9000. HEALTH Whiplash: fact or fiction? A: Whiplash is “an injury resulting from a sudden sharp movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck from the rear). Several of the myths associated with whiplash injuries are: • If you’re hit from behind at low speed, you won’t be injured. • The more damage to your vehicle, the more severe your injuries. • If you’re injured, the injuries will completely heal within 1-3 months. In a human crash test study where the vehicle sustained an impact of approximately 8 mph, the researchers found some interesting facts: • The vehicle that was hit experienced acceleration of approxi- mately 2g (two times the force of gravity). • The occupant’s body experienced acceleration of more than 1½ times that of the vehicle (approximately 3g). • The occupant’s head experienced acceleration of more than 2½ times that of the vehicle (approximately 5g). As you can see, occupants experience much higher forces than the vehicle that they are riding in and are therefore are at much higher risk of injury/damage than their vehicle. At Norwalk Chiropractic, we have helped patients overcome the injuries they sustained in whiplash accidents, and not just by relieving pain, but by restoring function. If you or someone you know is suffering from whiplash injuries, a complete chiropractic evaluation may be the first step to freedom from pain. n Information provided by Dr. Jesse Stumbaugh, Norwalk Chiropractic, 1228 Sunset, Suite B, 981-9208, www.norwalk- chiropractic.com. Q: How can I help an elderly loved one or neighbor this winter? A: Concern for an elderly loved one or neighbor during the harsh winter months can be stressful. Here are some suggestions to help ensure their safety and your peace of mind. • Be sure and stock emergency resources, including water, batteries, radio, flashlight and blankets. They should also have a seven-day supply of their medications and a three-day supply of water and nonperishable food. • Make sure their home is properly insulated and windows caulked to prevent drafts. Thermostats should be set no lower than 68 degrees. • Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are in good working order. • Eliminate fall risks by creating slip-proof paths for them around the house both inside and outside. • If your loved one is still driving, make sure he or she has emergency snow supplies including heating packs, cat litter or sand, snow scrapers/ brushes, water, blankets and a phone charger. • Make sure he or she knows how to use a cell phone and has all your numbers programmed into it, including the power company in case of a power outage. • Always have an emergency winter plan in place. n Information provided by Norwalk Nursing & Rehab, 921 Sunset Drive., 981-0604. Have You Been Injured? Chiropractic can help with sprains and strains, slips and falls, auto accidents and sports injuries. Chiropractic can treat: • Low back pain • Neck pain • Whiplash • Headaches Most auto insurances will pay for you to see a Chiropractor if you have been injured. Dr. Jesse Stumbaugh 1228 Sunset Drive, Suite B • Norwalk 515.981.9208 Office 515.981.1155 Fax www.norwalk-chiropractic.com Official chiropractor to the N orwalk N ursiNg & r ehab “Caring For Our Community” S pecializing in S hort t erm r ehabilitation and l ong t erm c are . Our goal is to return our clientele to optimal independence. physical therapy • occupational therapy speech therapy • leisure activities • outpatient therapy c ontact uS or Stop by for a tour today ! (515) 981-0604 • 921 Sunset Drive, Norwalk www.iowalivingmagazines.com JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 17 INSURANCE General insurance tips Buy a policy with little or no stress By Mike Lane I nsurance need not be a frustrat- ing experience. With the right advice and the right knowledge, you can buy a policy with little to no stress. This article will help you with the process. Seek an agent who represents multiple companies so he or she can shop your insurance with a number of companies. You can often get discounts when bundling multiple lines of insurance with the same company. If you change your car insurer to chase a small savings, that savings may be nulli- fied by the increase in your home- owner’s insurance rates. Before you go into business, make sure every aspect of the business is covered. Most policies cover you for a wide range of risks, but if you have employees you will need to have workers comp cover- age. Another important coverage is business interruption. If the busi- ness location suffers a large loss such as a fire, business interrup- tion pays you a specified amount of reimbursement while you are rebuilding the property. Can your business survive six months with no income coming in? This will help your business stay afloat during that period. Whenever you file an insur- ance claim, keep notes and docu- mentation of the entire process. This will help to ensure the claim will be processed efficiently and smoothly. Have the adjuster’s name and phone number written down, along with details of an injury you have suffered. This will help you settle the claim quicker as you are able to show the docu- mentation. If you can avoid filing small claims, you should do so. It is probably cheaper to cover small expenses yourself, as making a number of small claims may cause your rates to rise. There are also many insurers we represent that offer very large discounts to cli- ents that have not filed a claim in three years. Lane Insurance is a locally owned independent agency found- ed in 1969. We represent many insurance companies to shop the market for the best rate. That is a very important aspect of our business. Some insurance compa- nies represent just one company, so if the rate goes up they have no other option for you. Lane Insurance works for you and not the insurance companies, so we are constantly checking the rates with other companies to make sure we are offering you the best price. Some of the companies that we represent are Allied, EMC, IMT, Progressive, Met Life, Auto Owners, Safeco, and State Auto. Please call us for a free, no obliga- tion quote at 981-4614. n Information provided by Mike Lane, Lane Insurance Agency Inc., 1225 Sunset Drive, 981-4614. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Get a FREE QUOTE at: 981-4614 or www.laneinsurance.com 18 Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 Mike Lane www.iowalivingmagazines.com RECIPE Meatball supper Hearty meal requires minimal effort By Josephine Main T his hearty recipe has stood the test of time: I got it from my aunt, who is 90 years old. She was making it for herself one afternoon, and it smelled so good I begged for a taste. After I tasted it, I had to have the recipe, and now I’m passing it on to the Living magazine readers. This is a good meal for a busy day. It’s got meat and vegetables all in one pan. It is easy to prepare and uses basic ingredients, so you don’t have to spend time hunting down hard-to-find items. The meal can be prepared with one bowl, one measuring cup, a paring knife and a spoon, so clean up is easy. Once the meal is in the oven it doesn’t need any more attention. And this is a meal you can customize for your family. I left the potatoes unpeeled this time and liked the results. If you don’t like celery, leave it out. I use plain tomato sauce — which was all that was available for many years — but a seasoned tomato sauce would kick things up a notch. Ground turkey could be substituted for ground beef. I used 93 percent lean ground beef and fat-free gravy for my latest batch and the sauce was still rich and satisfying. Put this in the oven, walk away and enjoy a homemade meal two hours later. n Meatball supper Ingredients 1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef 2 tablespoons dry spaghetti sauce seasoning 1/3 cup cracker crumbs 1/3 cup milk Salt, pepper, garlic powder 1 diced onion 3 or four large carrots, peeled ad cut into large chunks Two or three ribs of celery 4 medium-sized potatoes, peeled or not, cut into large chunks For the sauce 2 tablespoons dry spaghetti sauce seasonings www.iowalivingmagazines.com 1 12-ounce jar beef gravy 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce 1 8-ounce can mushrooms, drained Half a can of water Directions 1. Mix the meat, cracker crumbs, milk, spaghetti sauce seasoning and onion; season to taste with salt, pep- per and garlic powder. 2. Form into 12 meatballs and place in a roaster or other large baking dish. 3. Top with vegetables. 4. Mix sauce ingredients well and pour over the top. 5. Cover the roaster and cook at 350 F. for two hours. JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 19 FAITH A patient winter God’s work always takes time By Pastor Travis Stanley P Worship Services: Sundays 8:30 & 10:30 am Joining God’s mission to disciple all peoples for the sake of His name. Disciple City for Children: (18 months - 5th grade) Sundays 8:30 & 10:30 am Quality childcare provided for children under 18 mo. ‘Unshaken’ for Sr. High: (grades 9-12) Sunday Evenings, 6:00-8:00 pm Family Night Wednesdays: Free Dinner served 5:30 - 6:15 pm Fellowship Kids: 3 yrs. - 5th Grade, 6:30- 8:00 pm ‘Unstoppable’ for Jr. High: (grades 6-8), 6:30-8:00 pm Single Mom’s Group, 6:30 - 8:00 pm 225 North Avenue, Norwalk | 981-0699 | fccnorwalk.org facebook.com/FCCNorwalk | twitter & IG: @FCCNorwalk 20 Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 www.iowalivingmagazines.com arker Palmer writes, “Despite all appearances, nature is not dead in win- ter — it has gone underground to renew itself and prepare for spring. Winter is a time when we are admonished, and even inclined, to do the same for our- selves.” It’s a little strange that our new year — our new start, our “new you” — falls at the moment winter begins to show it’s fury. Winter can be a very unforgiving time, and survival — not renewal — is often the goal. Maybe that’s why so many New Year’s resolu- tions fail before spring arrives. Yet, Palmer says that winter is the perfect season to for renewal. I should clarify: Palmer actually suggests that winter is the time to prepare for renewal, as nature prepares for spring. But my garden is teaching me that “preparing for renewal” and “renewal” itself, are really two sides of the same coin. Right now, contrary to what’s seen on the surface, my vegetable garden is hard at work, renewing itself in the dead of winter. It’s not just asleep or twiddling it’s thumbs. The microorgan- isms in the dirt are busy making soil. The eggs laid by earthworms in the fall are developing. And the garlic I planted in the fall is not sleeping — it’s growing. Slow, yes, but it’s growing — in winter. The cycle of a garden never ends. It doesn’t sleep in winter. Though slow, it’s still hard at work, becoming what it will soon be. And so it is with us. I started to garden because I wanted to learn more about my food. What I didn’t prepare for is the harvest of lessons I would reap, things about my life that have more to do with my soul than the soil. This new year, as you set goals and make resolutions, remember this is winter, which means your renewal probably won’t spring forth in an instant. God’s work always takes time, and each season plays an important role in the renewal of our souls. So, don’t go to sleep. Start the work somewhere; slow, but sure. Begin something new; take up something old. Read more. Pray more. Workout more. Love more. Forgive more. Take the slow but intentional steps that will one day produce the harvest you long for. And be patient. So much of God’s work remains under the surface. But come summer, my garlic will be almost as tall as I am, and I hope my soul is as towering. n Information provided by Pastor Travis Stanley, Norwalk Christian Church, 701 Main St., 515-981-0176, www.nor- walkcc.org. LIBRARY NEWS A new year Something for everyone in 2017 A new year is here, and what better time to remind you of all the things the Norwalk Easter Public Library has to offer. For the kids. The library has a wide variety of program- ming for children and their par- ents/caregivers, including various story-times and after school lego, art and science activities. Here are a few upcoming activities: Rhyme Time. Thursday, Jan. 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m. A move- ment-focused storytime with songs and short books. Program is 25 minutes long and is followed by playtime. No need to sign up, and no age requirements. Pajama Time. Thursday, Jan. 12, 7-7:30 p.m. An evening storytime with funny stories for all ages. Pajamas are welcome. Program is 25 minutes long. Baby time. Saturday, Jan.14, 10:30 a.m. Lap bounces, songs and rhymes for babies and young toddlers, followed by bubbles and playtime. No registration required. Story Time. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 10:30-11:30 a.m. A book- focused storytime with books, songs and activities. Program is 25 minutes long and is followed by playtime. No need to sign up, and no age requirements. Adult Craft Night. Monday, Jan. 23, 6:30-8 p.m. Join other adults for a craft night. Register with a $2 reservation fee at the library (refunded to partici- pants at the event). Services for teachers. Teachers, home school parents, daycare facilities and licensed in- home daycare providers are eli- gible to apply for a Teacher’s Card. Materials for classroom use may be checked out with a Teacher’s Card for up to eight weeks without penalty or fines. If you have a Teacher’s Card, you can request to have materials pulled for pick up at the library. The filled request can be picked up at the circulation desk and checked out with a library card. It is requested that the topic, age of students, fiction/nonfic- tion, number of books needed and date needed be submitted to the library a week in advance. To make a request, call 515-981- 0217 or email the Youth Services Librarian. Classroom visits and book talks can also be arranged with the Youth Services Librarian through email. Norwalk Easter Library 1051 North Ave. 981-0217 Hours: Mon. - Thur.: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday: 1-4 p.m. Have a question? Text your questions to 515-207-4534 to chat with a librarian. You can easily renew your books, check the status of your account or ask a reference question. And that’s not all. The library provides a wide variety of materials and services, includ- ing adult programs, audiobooks, DVDs and blu-rays, children’s programs, ebooks and digital audiobooks, interlibrary loans, large print books, meeting rooms, newpapers, magazines (print and digital), computer access, refer- ence services and Wi-Fi. n ATTENTION SALESPEOPLE Frustrated in your current sales position? Tired of not getting paid what you are worth? Depressed by the lack of growth in your company? Then you should consider a career change. Our locally owned magazines exist for one reason – our massive audited readership drives results for our advertising customers. We have grown immensely in the last decade, and we are just getting started. Our award- winning publications are household names and are respected by readers and advertisers throughout central Iowa. If you love sales and want to make a difference in your community, then this is the career for you! Our sales professionals are actively involved in the 20 communities we publish in. We are currently seeking a motivated sales professional to join our team. We offer unlimited earnings potential for our advertising sales representatives with a guaranteed salary, paid vacation and sick time, an expense account, health and dental insurance, and much more. If you enjoy a fast paced working environment and have proven organizational, planning and networking skills, then you can succeed here. We will teach you the rest. Call me today for a confidential meeting to learn more about your next career. And be sure to visit us online at www.biggreenumbrellamedia.com. You will be glad you made the call. I guarantee it. - Shane Goodman President and Owner (515) 953-4822, ext. 305 Living Iowa magazines www.iowalivingmagazines.com JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 21 OUT AND ABOUT Holiday luncheon Norwalk Chamber hosted a holiday luncheon on Dec. 15. John Ludwig, Ed Kuhl and Nate Liedtke Ralph Schippers and Angela Cooper Joe Nguyen and Nicol Hoover Amy Dohlman, Haylee Gehringer and Amanda Reid-Raper Tammy Batterson, Ashley Smith and Desiree Claypool Zach Zuffa, Cali Wilson and Annie Balk Liza Albright, Nicole Smith and Dan Sherman 22 Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 www.iowalivingmagazines.com OUT AND ABOUT Legislative lunch Norwalk Chamber hosted a Legislative Lunch on Dec. 6. Jim Lane, Brent Hinders and Joe Murphey Brennan Ginder, Rachel Gocken and Hollie Askey Paige Godden, Luke Nelson and Mark Miller Terri Whyle and Brenda Easter Barbara Rasko and Andy Lent Yvonne Budd and Jean Schroeder www.iowalivingmagazines.com JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 23 CHAMBER NEWS Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce Happy New wishes everyone a Year! 2017 shaping up to be another great year By Deb Mineart A s we celebrate the ending of 2016 and look forward to 2017, I would like to take this time to reflect on some milestones we celebrated this past year. We Invite You to Join the Chamber in 2017 Celebrating 25 Years! The big news would be the announcement of Microsoft coming to Warren, Madison and Polk counties. The infra- structure this will cause will see those counties go through many changes in the coming years and add to the growth of our com- munities. It will be inter- esting to watch this happen during the next couple of years. We lost a big business early last year with the closing of Scott’s Foods, but we then welcomed Cappel’s Ace Hardware and other businesses such as Entity Nail Bar, State Farm Insurance, The Norwalk Shop, Bowen Design, Infinite Family Chiropractic and many more. Dr. Denny Wulf retired as the Norwalk Community School superintendent, and we welcomed DT Magee to the community. We also welcomed new city manager Luke Nelson, and many other new people moved or started working in Norwalk. Dirt has been moving around a lot in the Norwalk area as well. With two new housing additions, a new park and a new commercial development area north of town, 2017 looks to be very promising, especially if the school bond vote passes to build a new elementary west of town. On Jan. 27, we will be honoring people and an organization for making a difference in our community or within our cham- ber. The Chamber Member of the Year is Jon Niemeyer, the Business (Organization) of the Year is the the Norwalk Student Education Foundation, the Citizen of the Year is Sharon Ewell, the eacher of the Year is Christie Beving, and the Student of the Year is Amron Born. The public is invited to attend our annual awards banquet at Echo Valley Country Club to congratulate these winners. To reserve your spot for $40 per person, please call the chamber at 981-0619 or email us at norwalkchamber@ msn.com. I look forward to seeing what happens in 2017 in our community and wish everyone a great year! Shop local, shop Norwalk! n Information provided by Deb Mineart, executive director, Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce, 981-0619. 24 Norwalk Living JANUARY | 2017 www.iowalivingmagazines.com OUT AND ABOUT Holiday luncheon Norwalk Chamber hosted a holiday luncheon on Dec. 15. Matt Hayton and Jenni Whitaker Charlie Ochanpaugh, Eric Simon and Nathaniel Tagtow George Meinecke and Luke Parris David Lester and Eric O’Leary Kate Baldwin, DT Magee and Chad Stevens Jack and Dean Yordi Dave Albrecht and Jim Lane www.iowalivingmagazines.com JANUARY | 2017 Norwalk Living 25 CLASSIFIEDS DISCLAIMER: This publication does not knowingly accept advertis- ing that is deceptive, fraudulent, or which might otherwise violate the law or accepted standards of taste. However, this publication does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of any advertisement, or the qual- ity of the goods or services adver- tised. Readers are cautioned to thor- oughly investigate all claims made in any advertisement and to use good judgment and reasonable care, par- ticularly when dealing with persons unknown to you who ask for money in advance of delivery of the goods or services advertised. LEGAL *BEEN DENIED SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Thousands of disabled Americans are denied each year. 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