West Liberty, Iowa - Building Together
West Liberty, Iowa - Building Together
July 2023 - Exploring Community Improvement and Unforgettable Experiences in West Liberty
Join us on this exciting journey where we uncover the essence of community improvement, the power of collective efforts, and the joy of simple pleasures in West Liberty! Your favorite panelists, Mayor Ethan Anderson, Clifford McFerren, Heather Wiseman, Jake Burroughs, Allie Paarsmith, Xiomara Levsen, Charles Brooke and Ken Brooks, come together to share inspiring stories, enlightening experiences, and a glimpse into our upcoming activities. We delve into the significance of beautification projects, the city's role in encouraging improvement initiatives, and the anticipation that surrounds the Ragbrai event.
Imagine the thrill of designing a submarine out of propane tanks, the exhilaration of yachting, or the euphoria of participating in a chainsaw party and grilling event! Our panelists bring these unique experiences to life by sharing their personal stories and insights. We also highlight the extraordinary accomplishments of our school district administrators, the noteworthy progress of the ELC project, and the impact of our library summer reading program.
In our zest to make each day memorable, we don't miss out on the exciting events lined up in West Liberty. From the Muscatine County Fair Parade to the big shindig at Kimberly Park, we have an array of activities waiting to be explored. So, why wait? Immerse yourself in the happenings of West Liberty and be a part of our vibrant community!
Hey there, Happy July and welcome to Building Together, A podcast about how people, businesses, organizations and local government are working together to make the West Liberty area a better place in which to live, work, learn, grow and play. I'm Ken Brooks. I have the privilege of serving as the executive director for Welead, the West Liberty Economic Area Development Corporation. I will introduce our panel here in just a moment, but first the Building Together podcast is a service of Welead and is brought to you in part by West Liberty Auto Parts, the Goodfellas Club and listeners like you. For more information, visit wwwweleadiowaorg. Alright, are you ready? Let's go? Happy July, Welcome to the Building Together podcast. Let's go around the table and meet our panelists.
Ethan Anderson:Hello, I'm Mayor Ethan Anderson.
Clifford McFerren:Hi, thank you, Geronimo. My name is Clifford McFerrin and I am the administrator of the nursing home here in town, simpson Memorial. I also work with the West Liberty Heritage Foundation.
Heather WIsman:Heather Wiseman with Midwest One Bank.
Ethan Anderson:Jake Burroughs school board president.
Allie Paarsmith:Allie Parsmith library director.
Xiomara Levsen:Smart Lufson. West Liberty index editor.
Charles Brooke:And Charles Brooke, chief operating officer for the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce.
Ken Brooks:My name is Ken Brooks. I have the pleasure of being the executive director for Welead, the West Liberty Economic Area Development Corporation. We've made it. It is July. That means it's time to hold on to her hats. We've got a crazy busy month, so let's talk about it. Mayor, what's going on?
Ethan Anderson:So many things going on, where do you even start? I think I would love to start just by saying how much I have been enjoying the farmers market and a lot of the events that have been happening here in town. We were at the farmers market last week, my family and I, and it was packed. There were so many people there. I think 14 vendors Charles correct me if I'm wrong 14 vendors. Artees from Wilton came over and was very popular for food, as well as the all of the the food options there. I know Lugos was there. Yeah, it was a great time and it's just kind of feels like summer to be there at the farmers market. So love that and excited to be back. That's just one little tidbit. You want me to dive into some other dive into it things that are on my mind.
Ethan Anderson:One thing that I mentioned a couple of months back on this podcast was talking about beautification, and so that's that's something that we're gonna be talking more about, and I think you'll be hearing more, more about going forward. There's definitely a need for us to talk about that and think about that as a community, and I would just, i guess from the get-go, just I would just invite people who are listening to, reach out to me or someone at City Hall with their thoughts about what the needs are for the kind of the aesthetics of the community. I think when you drive through the community, ideally you say to yourself wow, this is a really nice looking community And I think we have a little ways to go before we reach that kind of a reaction. And so there are definitely be there.
Ethan Anderson:There's been some some projects that City has done to encourage that, like the grants for downtown buildings, and those have been utilized. We look across the street here at Paul Rear's and it's looks great. They redid their facade, utilizing that that grant money, and many other businesses have done that as well. There's also going to be an enforcement component to it. That's that's going to, I think, be be ramped up. There's definitely some some eyesores around town that need to be cleaned up and, most importantly, i think it's it's a there's a vision piece to it that needs to be promoted, which is to say, we want our community to look nice, and so all of us play a role in that.
Ethan Anderson:And, you know, it might just be looking at my own property or the you know the property that I own and say, is what can I do to to improve this? I would just, yeah, i would just invite people to, kind of I would love to start a conversation about that. So any of you guys around the table or anybody listening, if you have thoughts about that, i'd love to hear from you. Just shoot me an email, you know, and kind of let me know what your, what your thoughts are, but we're definitely going to be talking more about that.
Xiomara Levsen:Can we make the sign over on the side of town viewable? You can't see it over by the garden.
Allie Paarsmith:Yeah, there's true trees growing in front of it. Okay, we are getting ready for some beautification projects at the library Excellent, there will be. When Adam and Nick have some time and staff available, they're gonna be starting to do some work on our sidewalks out front. We're gonna straighten things out, get rid of those two garden beds that have been kind of a perpetual issue It's hard, they're hard to maintain and people do tend to trample them pretty easily and making room for some more social spaces, which will then have to do some fundraising for some. I'd like to get some picnic tables and more trash cans out in front of the library and things like that, so that there's more socializing space besides right in front of the door.
Ken Brooks:I know all of our businesses take pride in their storefronts and their property, but with Raghuri coming through town with the fair and everybody from outside of town coming in here towards the end of this month, i know they're going to make a special effort to spruce up a little bit. So I think that's a good opportunity for all of us, whether we rent where we live or whether we own the property, to dig out the, the trowel and do some of that gardening we had been intending on doing, or making sure our grass looks good and whatever just kind of chip in and show off the community when we have all these visitors.
Ethan Anderson:It's a good opportunity to do that, for sure, and I think it's. I mean, it does take time, and property owners takes time and money, right, i mean. And so I definitely have some things that I need to do on my properties. We have some rental properties and it takes time always when you get a new property to get it kind of ship shaped. So there's a I don't know me to be too hard on people who need to get some of those things knocked out. I'm definitely have some things I need to do as well, but it is.
Ethan Anderson:It's a great opportunity to say, you know, right, bryce, coming, maybe, make that, make that our goal, you know to to get some of those things taken care of. I think it's yeah, when you, when you, when you drive through you know those communities, you've driven through a community before and you just say to yourself, wow, this looks really nice. So how, how do we get there right, what are, what are the things we need to do here, where you say, wow, this really looks nice. I think that should be our goal, yep.
Clifford McFerren:A lot of it is nuisance related or one of the simple things I found amongst different communities and we have control over it is all the trees and the medians. If those are pruned up to where you can see the properties, that conveys a much cleaner, neater appearance to any community. So your, your main drive is coming into town, since we control the trees when they go through and they do seasonal pruning and our, i think highway six down is looking pretty good because they went through and cleaned up a lot of that already but that's just a simple thing throughout town, anywhere but and I know I can.
Allie Paarsmith:In north liberty I think they've started to do some planting in the right of ways for like, wastewater mitigation or rain storm water mitigation and stuff, rain gardens and things like that and it looks beautiful and it's also helping with their infrastructure. So it'd be nice to see stuff like that happen here too.
Xiomara Levsen:Flowers would be nice.
Ethan Anderson:We lost a lot of trees recently ash trees so it'd be nice to get some of those replaced, and they have been replacing some of those for sure. What? other ideas, do you?
Charles Brooke:have. I've got a list that I could just talk about all day long, that we could add to any of our events throughout west liberty.
Ken Brooks:So we do have a local business owner that's met with Charles and I a couple times. They were out traveling in a different part of the state and noticed that when they drove into the historic downtown there was a beautiful iron sign that kind of stretched across the street there and that's something they're very interested in, working with the chamber and we lead in the city perhaps some service organizations in town to do some fundraising for, to put that here on third street. I think that's a fantastic idea. That would go a long way to making our downtown a little bit more beautiful.
Ethan Anderson:We had friends in town this week from muscatine and we ate downtown and they were raving about the flower baskets and how beautiful the downtown looks, especially because of those flowers. So it's, you know, there's definitely those are great, it just looks really good.
Clifford McFerren:It took a while to get those going and then, once we got it going, they started to become just a natural thing, and then everybody just part of the routine.
Ken Brooks:It's a routine? Yeah well, a huge thank you to the chamber of commerce for organizing that every year.
Allie Paarsmith:And I believe, is it the electrical department that puts them up, that puts them up.
Clifford McFerren:Yeah, ffa case, and the ones that plant them. They grow the flowers, yeah, and then we've got a few dedicated volunteers at water room every day Five a year.
Ethan Anderson:Yeah, every morning at 6am. Oh, six o'clock, six o'clock.
Charles Brooke:They try to get as early as they can. But yeah, there's a team of five. This year They've grown from four to five. But really, really pleased with, they just volunteer. I don't have to ask them, they just do it.
Ken Brooks:You know, it's a beautiful illustration of how the entire community is coming together to make West Liberty a more beautiful place. Yes, there's so many different moving parts to that, and it's not just that one organization. It's neat. We just talked about four or five different groups of people that come together every year to make that a possibility, so it's really cool.
Ethan Anderson:It is. It is very cool and it's noticed. I mean it really does. You can see right out the window. Here It's, it's. That adds a lot to the downtown aesthetic.
Ken Brooks:Clifford, what's going on in your life?
Clifford McFerren:Well, a couple things we got going on. One thing I wanted to mention at the Simpson Memorial home. What we've done is we have this is what I like about again the community in general. But in our, in our campus, there at the Simpson, we've got quite the camaraderie and we had a. We have a high school young lady that works for us in the afternoon. She's a, she's an aide and she's one of the female wrestlers at the on the wrestling team and she has been recognized and was awarded the opportunity to go to Disney World Yep To wrestle.
Clifford McFerren:And the residents and the staff got together and put together a surprise party for her and the the look on her face, i tell you.
Clifford McFerren:They all gathered down in our activity room, all the residents were down there in the tenants firm, the assisted living and a few from each man were there and and my job was to wait for her to come in and you know, tell her hey, i got a real, real emergency or problem and I can't find anybody and I need somebody to help me. Can you come along with me? you're, you look like you're strong enough. And so she's like yeah, yeah, i'll help you right away. So we go charging down the hallway and bust into the activity room where everybody just yelled surprise, and I'm not kidding, yet she just melted. It was so nice to see and everybody applauded and we had cake and ice cream, that type of thing. But she, she felt so appreciated for just being herself and the both the staff and the and the residents there recognize these things about how these folks, how hard they work, and so that's just really nice, just one of the things.
Clifford McFerren:We've had a couple of great employees of the month that we've done, all very happy that they've been recognized. So things are, things are coming along nicely. Covid really hasn't been much of a problem. It's a little bit more at bay. Vaccinations have really helped. There'll be a new one coming out this fall, so we'll be looking for that. It's always good to get stuck before you need to actually react to it, so we'll be promoting that. You've heard.
Clifford McFerren:Of course we've tried many different activities, extracurricular activities at the nursing home, And I appreciate the cities and the schools support of using the fields for our rugby team, which never really got out of practice mode without all the injuries that we've had. We tried gymnastics and that lasted a wee bit, But again a few injuries. Parallel bars was just, let's just say, very chaotic on the parallel bars And then when Ellen Wiedemeyer folded herself forward like a lawn chair on the palm of her horse, that pretty much did it. So everybody's pretty well healed now and recovering. And so after the great De'Ani surprise party we kind of sat down with the residents and said what do you guys want to do now?
Clifford McFerren:And the group is very progressive and they were watching some stuff on television the other night And one of them says we want to get into mixed martial arts, And I says that sounds brilliant, Let's do it. So we started to pair off a couple of teams and had a practice or two. Well, all I can tell you is that there's a throwing star accident, And so we kind of had to put a pause on the mixed martial arts at this point Put a pin in it, put a, literally put a pin in it.
Heather WIsman:So I'm more curious about what did you say? you had an issue with a throwing star.
Allie Paarsmith:Yes, throwing stars In mixed martial arts.
Heather WIsman:Yes, ok, i was unaware there were weapons used in mixed martial arts.
Clifford McFerren:In ours there was.
Heather WIsman:OK.
Clifford McFerren:And definitely in ours. There's an element of surprise. They tend to like to jump out at each other and surprise.
Heather WIsman:Do they also use num chucks? Of course yeah, Because I'm just imagining num chucks and throws. The walkers will occasionally get in the way of the num chucks They get tangled up.
Clifford McFerren:Then you've got a walker flying through the air, but for the most part Pinterest. Yeah, we're trying to limit some of the possibilities, Oh swords. Gotcha Swords. No too heavy, we're going to lighter things. So anyway, stay tuned, because we're hoping that we can get ourselves reorganized and come through next month with something maybe a little bit more manageable.
Ethan Anderson:Well, that does sound a lot safer than rugby.
Clifford McFerren:Well, yeah, it was, with all of the broken yet sincala bones and gauze.
Ethan Anderson:We'll stay tuned.
Clifford McFerren:Yeah, please do. One last thing, if I can say that we've been working on the Heritage Foundation, the storms that blew through last month did cause a little bit of damage. We have a big, beautiful barn down there that literally got moved off of it, almost off of its foundations. We're trying to get that put back on. We had a lot of tree debris across the trails which from a previous storm we were already cleaning up. So we're looking for volunteers that would like to do some community spirit stuff, where you get together and cut some trees down and have a chainsaw party. I know the noon Rotary Club is already excited about joining.
Clifford McFerren:Yeah, bring their own chainsaw, Bring their own chainsaw, And the city is graciously, and Nick Keith at the Parks and Rec has graciously volunteered that some of their folks would help And all I can think is we can get the woodchipper. I think we're going to have a good time And then Rotary's going to grill out down at the depot. So we're putting together something. It hasn't been announced yet. We're going to do it.
Clifford McFerren:Weather hasn't been conducive with all the heat, But we need to get in and get down and clean up at least the north side of the trail. And then we're just looking for volunteers in general that would like to patrol the trail for such things and be able to clean those items up when they do fall. Because we've got a lot of old trees, old growth, mostly just kind of scrubbed stuff to the north on that trail. The south side is looking pretty good. In fact we planted five or six, maybe seven trees along the right away where they tore out all that old scrub for the schools. So it'll be overlooking the new playing fields, the Olympic-sized swimming pool and the Olympic-sized track. It would be nice for people to stand on the trail and watch underneath some of these new trees in about 30 years, when they grow tall enough to give them shade. So that's really about all I got.
Ken Brooks:Ken.
Clifford McFerren:But I really appreciate you giving me the opportunity to speak a little.
Ken Brooks:Well, i had a question for you. You reported on the extracurricular sporting team, but I understand that Heather Wiseman here volunteered with the Simpson Memorial Engineering Club, using her expertise in yachting, to help the engineering team design a submarine out of the propane tanks, and I understand that they're going to be giving tours of the Wopsie. Is that right?
Clifford McFerren:I think so. I don't know, heather, have you gotten it squared away yet to where we've got the right measurements and drawings and such things? No, no Still in the works.
Ethan Anderson:Well, you don't really need to be that precise. I mean, you could just kind of eyeball it, I mean.
Clifford McFerren:I think it'd probably work out Well, Heather and I were talking about the sailing part of the yachting And once we get the submarine thing I'll figure it out. And I know recent news there's been some catastrophes which we all should pause for that.
Clifford McFerren:But once we get this all sorted out, I think the sailing club would be something that we could really be going for And with your help and the bank's help, of course, I think we can down Wopsie. We could probably get a couple of nice 30-foot yachts for big sails and such things. I think, we could really be going in that direction.
Ken Brooks:I guess my only bit of advice and I'm certainly no expert in this is just make sure that your Xbox controller is charged. Otherwise I think you're going to have a luck. I think you're right, thank you.
Ethan Anderson:I think the updated suggestion is to bring a spare battery just in case the batteries do die, for whatever reason.
Ken Brooks:OK, all right, very good, thank you, cliff Heather. How are you?
Heather WIsman:I am chugging along. Seems like everybody's feeling the busyness. We are trying to figure out what to have as our parade entry. Still, because I was graciously voluntold that I was going to be on a treadmill in the back of a truck.
Ethan Anderson:Seems pretty solved to me. Yeah, where was the question? Gee, who came up?
Ken Brooks:with that idea.
Heather WIsman:I don't even know.
Ken Brooks:I also heard you were going to make it rain.
Heather WIsman:Well, maybe Hail Hail.
Ethan Anderson:I believe we landed with hail. You do it with coins. No, no, no, no, that does not sound fun. Charles says no.
Xiomara Levsen:Charles doesn't want to make it. He says no.
Ethan Anderson:He says no, but he looks like he might think yes. You guys can't see that on the other side of the speakers.
Heather WIsman:I said I would compromise And if one of my staff members would get on an elliptical in a different truck then I would do it. But nobody wanted to step up. So Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, krista.
Clifford McFerren:Nice.
Heather WIsman:So we might have found another compromise. I won't give away the details.
Clifford McFerren:It'll be a surprise. You can beat some drinking beer in the back of a pickup truck. It's like skate shooting out in the back of a pickup truck.
Heather WIsman:We might see the yacht. Let's just say that, all right. Oh wow, getting crazy.
Clifford McFerren:Yeah.
Heather WIsman:Getting crazy.
Clifford McFerren:Our invitation's in the mail.
Heather WIsman:Yeah, yeah, get some floaties on. Anyway, we did have another meeting for our Run for the Schools Committee October 3rd, 3 pm. No, october 1st, i'm sorry. October 1st, 3 pm. Run for the Schools 5K. The funds will go to benefit the athletic complex, but we did select a winning design that was drawn by David Hernandez, who is a student at the high school. So we congratulated him and now have our design logo for the run. So we're hoping to make some flyers and get those out to the community. If anybody would like to donate to the cause, feel free. We are still looking for donations, but registration will hopefully open sometime We're thinking in August, So be looking for that.
Clifford McFerren:Otherwise, that's about it. What was the date of the run again?
Heather WIsman:October 1st, 1st 3 pm Sunday at 3 pm 3 pm. Starting at the school. I assume you'll be out there in your running shorts, absolutely.
Ken Brooks:Jake, how are you?
Ethan Anderson:doing well. So with the schools, i guess, as everybody always asks the ELC update we're nearly complete, still on track to be ready for the school year, so everybody's gonna be excited to be over in that building. It's gonna be a little bit of a transition. I mean, people that have been going to the previous building for so long it's gonna be some. It'll be tough to go to a place with less memories, but they'll be able to build some new ones, which I think will be fantastic. And I think they're excited for The athletic complex. They're finishing up the tiling for all the fields, you know.
Ethan Anderson:Obviously we're in the summertime now, so all the kids are enjoying that, going to camps and whatnot, and actually our administrators are spending time going to various, you know, learning opportunities, specifically one up at the professional learning community conference in Minneapolis, so they're gonna learn a lot of new stuff up there. It's one that Mr Kruger's been to a number of times, so he spoke extremely highly of it and I know that they had a great time. So, in addition to that, some awards that have been received by our district Brenda Arthur Miller received the Outstanding Administrator from Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators, so that's a pretty good accolade to get for the work she's done with the FFA programs and 4-H programs and whatnot. She also went with a number of the counselors up to Washington DC to receive an award from the National Postsecondary Strategy Institute for excellence in engaging counselors for students post-secondary success. That was the Power of Hope award that they won and were presented with, and they were one of two in the country that received that, the other one being, i believe, out of Austin, texas. So, and then also our iJAC program, the Iowa Jobs for Admit, america's graduates received a certification of recognition for excelling in the six areas that they're focused on. Right. So their missions and I'd like to congratulate Meredith Shans for her work on getting that done and working with those students, because this is only our second or third year with that program and already being recognized in the state for that.
Ethan Anderson:Heather and I met last week with the committee, the granting committee for the West Liberty Community Endowment Fund, and I can't let the cat out of the bag what decisions were made.
Ethan Anderson:But I will say that iJAC, which I wasn't very familiar with we talked about it in the room and so many people had really good things to say about that and about their experience with that program, so it just sounds really. It sounds phenomenal. Yeah, one of the things that I've asked for from the district is to have that group, some of the students and the teaching staff go around and meet with other organizations in town to kind of present who they are, what they've learned and really get that student experience piece that we so often miss with these things, because I think this one is a big one for our community. But I think it's just a really great opportunity for kids that might otherwise fall through the cracks or they just need one extra little push to give them something interesting and then they really excel. I mean, you can see it in their test scores, you can see it in the graduation rates and then their post-secondary success and so on and so forth.
Ken Brooks:I think the more opportunities we have to provide hands on experiences for students that's the way to get them engaged right The better. So hats off to everybody in that program, great work.
Heather WIsman:Well, and even the amount of information that they're given for post-graduation, not only with jobs and how to get them, but my stepdaughter went through it and some of the homework that she would bring home, i mean, it was what happens when you get a loan, what happens with your credit report, what happens with taxes when you get your paycheck, so just the depth that they go to in that program was astonishing and it was so beneficial for her to go through.
Ken Brooks:Yeah, that's some of that.
Heather WIsman:Adulting 101 that I wish I would have had as a high school student.
Ken Brooks:Yeah, never had that opportunity.
Clifford McFerren:You can still get it.
Ethan Anderson:You can still get it. I can pull some strings and get you an i-jag if you'd like, let's do it.
Ken Brooks:Sign me up. Done, hey Allie, how are you?
Allie Paarsmith:Doing great Things are hopping over at the library. We just started our second month of the summer reading program. As of last Thursday, we had 106 children or people from ages 0 to 18 signed up for the summer reading program, which was over more than half than we had last year. I didn't get the numbers on the adults, but we do have more than double what we had last year for sign up on that too.
Ken Brooks:You had more than twice as many participants in the summer reading program this year than last year. Yeah, that's amazing.
Allie Paarsmith:It is amazing. We love to see it. Summer reading programs are a staple of libraries across the country. They started out as ways to continue reading through the summer to help with that summer slide, and have really branched into kind of our ultimate, the ultimate programming of libraries. Every year It's the thing we start planning in like October for the next summer reading program. So we've had some really great people come and to the library. We've had an adult story time our first one, very successful And then we've had some virtual author talks. We had the insect zoo from Iowa State University and so we had like a tarantulas I know they dropped the case.
Clifford McFerren:I know right They did.
Allie Paarsmith:They did find the tarantulas. I think everybody who was working at the insect zoo had a stick bug on them at some point and so the kids were naming them. I think one was named Nancy at one point. They had the very cool looking like praying mantises. We had about 50 people attend that program and then we had a magician. Yeah, we had another about 50 people come to that program. I say about because Larry Miller missed Program. he was super excited about it.
Ken Brooks:I have never seen anybody more excited for a magician. I know it was so cute And then he forgot about it.
Allie Paarsmith:It's so sad, it's devastating. We're gonna have to have her back. We then also had a concert on the 23rd was like fireside songs and great American songbook kind of stuff. Followed by this past or last week was Mermaid Week, so we've had mermaid themed programming all week. Mermaid Storytime. We did an interactive little mermaid viewing of the original Disney movie. It was interactive, all like Rocky Horror Picture Show, so I think they were throwing stuff at screens and I don't know It was loud and exciting Throwing things at the little mermaid.
Allie Paarsmith:Yeah, or like you know, like how you should have to throw toast at Rocky Horror. I know that's a different. It's not. With children's program. Yeah No, we did an interactive viewing of Little Mermaid. We're having another one of those in July for Incanto. The day before earlier that week we'll have a program with Michelle Burns from the county conservation for about butterflies. And then we also are having a gentleman named Will Stuck who is doing a Choose Your Own Mess program. He's a performance artist and I believe does like some word-based activities, edutainment and things like that. Summer reading ends at the end of July And so you turn in your bingo cards by the 31st and then the drawings for the prizes will be announced on the fourth. And that goes for the adult and the children's programs.
Allie Paarsmith:We are participating in Charles's Wild Maki Weeks later this month. Thank you, you're welcome. Tv show right there For the final. But we'll be having an open house for the all school reunion from nine to 1030 on the 15th. We're gonna break out the archives and have lots of our all of the yearbooks out for people to look through, as well as other records that we've got downstairs. And then we're doing lotteria at the picnic in the park on the 16th and we will be doing face painting and arm painting for Bragg Bride. So those are all gonna be fundraiser events. We will be having library themed merchandise for sale and for prizes for lotteria And there will be kind of themed event or themed around those events merchandise for each event as well. So some comments and library themed stuff for the school reunion as well, as I have played lotteria at the picnic in the park and all I got was this tote bag kind of situations for the prizes for our lotteria event. Yeah, so much going on, so much. We have so much coming up.
Ken Brooks:So for next summer, if you need them, both of my children are willing to teach a masterclass in choose your own mess.
Xiomara Levsen:Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, i think everybody's child will Yeah.
Ken Brooks:Quick question with the summer reading program. Now that it's July, is it too late to sign up?
Allie Paarsmith:Absolutely not. Anybody can still sign up. You can claim prizes from previous weeks for the children's program, but you cannot work ahead. Yeah, so you can only claim a prize once that prize is available in a week.
Ken Brooks:Speaking of prizes, did we have any local businesses or individuals that donated?
Allie Paarsmith:Yes. So Shanghai donated some coupons for free French fries. We also had some money for some water bottles donated by West Liberty Foods. Fred's donated free Kelowna bars, and I know I'm trying to think of what else we had. Rosie's Massage Paradise is one of the prizes for the adult program is a gift certificate there. Midwest One had one of our group incentives was Popsicles for Everybody. Yeah, we do have. So this year we're doing a group incentive for however many hours the whole. Everybody who's participating reads, they get earned group prizes. So as of Thursday last week, we've now won the Nerf battle in the library, which will be on the 12th of July from 7 pm to 7 40. There was a debate as to whether or not it should be a half an hour or an hour, so they compromised 40 minutes. And who was invited to this Nerf battle? Anybody who participated in the summer reading program. Oh, i'm here. As far as I know, it is also open to adults. You'll have to ask Kelly and make sure. So can the police chief get all my name?
Xiomara Levsen:we should just say no And it will only be on the lower level, so it'll be in the basement, okay. That's not fun.
Ken Brooks:you can't hide in the basement, You've only got a few days now to register for the summer reading program so you can participate in the Nerf battle.
Allie Paarsmith:Yes. I'm about to sign up And then we are also. We also did just win a week full of escape room. So Kelly is gonna be setting up an escape room in the, I believe, in the meeting room downstairs And that'll be the last full week of July. People can sign up as groups to go through and solve it And I believe at least one family president at the table will be soon asked if they'd like to test the escape room.
Ken Brooks:Very cool.
Allie Paarsmith:Actually the podcast panel might have two.
Heather WIsman:Yeah, we just do this as a group?
Clifford McFerren:Yes, yep, absolutely. We would never get out of it.
Xiomara Levsen:That's not a good possible option.
Ethan Anderson:We should make sure to take the audio equipment with us.
Xiomara Levsen:Because the next podcast we will probably still have to do there.
Heather WIsman:Yeah, we should do a special edition Escape room after dark.
Allie Paarsmith:Okay, There we go. Yep, the library board does not meet in July so we had a very busy June meeting. We approved a couple of databases that we're getting. One of them is Rosetta Stone, which the library will have available for anybody who has a library account who lives within our service area, so that's rural Muscatine, County, adelaide, nichols and West Liberty proper. We're hoping to. As soon as we get that up and going and available for the public, we'll be reaching out to businesses who are interested in how that can help with their workforce.
Allie Paarsmith:With language learning. There will be 30 languages available through Rosetta Stone. They do distinguish between Latin American, spanish and Castilian, so we'll be able to offer that as well as English language learning. So come I believe we've talked October we'll be offering some classes. It's gonna be very self-guided, but we'll just be offering a space and a device to go through Rosetta Stone for English language learning.
Allie Paarsmith:We also hope to have kind of a rotating cast of volunteers to help out with any nuances about learning English, anything that comes up that doesn't quite sound right or colloquialisms and stuff like that, and then that will help people in town know that that person's gonna be a friendly face that they can use to practice their English with. We also hope to start doing that for Spanish language learning, as well as Spanish literacy for Spanish speakers. And then we're also going to be launching our How to Talk So Kids Will Listen workshop at the end of September. That'll be open to parents. We'll have one session available in Spanish and one session available in English, and I believe we will be having food provided for those, food and childcare provided at those events.
Ken Brooks:That's incredible. I think he just talks about nine different things. I know Wow here's my point nine different things that only one of them has to do with books. I know It's true, public library more than just books, absolutely. Is that all you got? Is that it? That's all that? Yeah, very cool. Great. Let's make it Jamara. what's going on in your world?
Xiomara Levsen:Oh, you know, there's a couple things in July, right, charles? Right, yeah. So I'm starting off with some profiles on citizens in West Liberty who moved here and are applying for their citizenship. So that'll be nice. Jan Koner teaches the class to somebody else to help them become American citizens. So it'll be kind of cool to start off the month of July. And then, of course, we have the all school reunion That's going to be out. And then July 20th, the paper is going to be super big because we have the back to school information, huge Eight pages of that. Thank you, care Cruise, for you being together. For me We have the ride bride. Now That's going to be in there and whatever else You know, because there's also baseball and softball playoffs going on. So we'll see how West Liberty does. Busy month, busy July, is going to be super busy.
Ken Brooks:All right, charles, you've made it, we're here. It is July.
Charles Brooke:So July 14th through the 16th it's the second weekend of July Is the annual? well, not the annual. It is the all school class reunion, which happens every five years. The last time it was 2019. But it's throughout all of West Liberty. They'll start Friday evening at the fairgrounds for a barbecue with, i believe there's going to be a car show car show On Saturday, like Ali was saying, there's an event happening at the library There's going to be an open house, there's going to be a historical conversation happening in Newstrand Theater, i know the depot will be open, as well as just a variety of things. And then the evening, that Saturday evening, there's going to be a banquet with I think right now we're close to 300 guests from all across across the United States, of classmates ranging from the class of 1943 all the way up and, well, my class, because I represent my class. But other than that, that happens on Saturday, as well as a few other things. I know our superintendents going to be speaking as well, as well as Adam, our activities director. Just a few things happening that weekend, but that's Saturday.
Charles Brooke:And then Sunday is The Muscatine County Fair Parade, which happens first, and that's at 2 pm On Sunday, july 16th. I still have time. You still have time to send in your application for registration. It doesn't cost a thing to be in the parade. All I asked is that you hand out candy, or hand out things, and not Hit people with candy. So at the end of July 15th is the banquet at the high school. July 16th is Sunday and it starts.
Charles Brooke:Sunday, sunday, sunday starts with Muscatine County Fair Parade, which kicks off that entire week with the Muscatine County Fair. But our parade Will start at the fairgrounds at 2 pm And it'll take the route that it has always gone up Calhoun, maxon to Elm and then back to the fairgrounds. But truly, after the fair parade Is the big shindig at Kimberly Park that starts at 3 o'clock. But truly, whenever the parade goes past your home or wherever you're at, we'll have I know, as of right now I believe I've got 10 vendors That have signed up or verbally said they're gonna be there. As Ali said, i've got Lotteria, which is new this year. It is Spanish bingo.
Charles Brooke:If you didn't know that, they'll be playing from three to five thirty in the shelter. I know the Chamber of Commerce is going to be selling desserts. It was one thing we didn't have last year and I think that was definitely a opportunity. So we'll be doing that free swim at Kimberly pool from three to five thirty. And we have Carl Beatty Beatty, excuse me acoustic. He's traveling from Bettendorf. Um, if you were, happen, if you happen to be at the comic gala this past March, he was our guitar player. We got him back, he was available, so I thought that would be nice.
Xiomara Levsen:Um, he did a good job calling music for the afternoon.
Charles Brooke:But other than that, we've got a lot started for. I can't wait for picnic. Truly, that's my big show, um, but then after the fair, which I'm sure there's plenty of events, um, i know Saturday is their big Country star. There it is, um, but she's, kelsey has got a lot of things new planned. I know there's I believe it's donkey basketball on Thursday. But after the fair is done, um July 29th, like many of us have already spoken about, it is rag bride rag bride starts July 23rd in Sioux City And we'll end Saturday, july 29th, in Davenport.
Charles Brooke:But before before that, um breakfast slash, brunch slash, whenever the bikers get here in the morning, um, we'll be stopping here in west liberty. So there's anticipated, as of right now, close to 30,000, which, from the other times that west liberty is hosted, this will be a record number of bikers coming through west liberty. I'm not panicking, everyone else is fine, but um, as of right now, i've got about 20 vendors. Um, truly, when looking at the numbers, i've got half and half. I've got half organizations from west liberty and then the other half, or Truly, from everywhere.
Charles Brooke:I've got a smoothie Stand from florida, i've got a group from Missouri, i've got a pickle stand, i believe, from west Des Moines, um, but I've got the arts council. I've got a couple of the churches, um, i've got the lions club doing pancakes, rotary club of west liberties doing, i believe, a breakfast sandwich. Yeah, um, truly, i can't wait to taste all of these, or even I'll just be able to see it, because I don't know how much time I'm gonna have Um lugo's gourmet popcorn. If you know, they're part of the farmers market. They will not be selling popcorn or lemonade. Um, they're going to be doing a banana crunch wrap. Looks amazing too Yeah.
Charles Brooke:The bikers when they did their pre-run in in june. Uh, she was our one vendor that wanted to try, because she doesn't typically sell a banana crunch wrap, um, and We had 95 bananas and we sold 80 of them in 20 minutes. So And that was just a group of 40 bikers excited. A lot of things are happening in the next couple weeks and Email me if you have questions.
Ethan Anderson:I may not be near the phone.
Ken Brooks:Today starts the new rotary year, so I know several of us who are on this table are our rotarians and um we, we actually have the president elect now sitting Man at this table, mr Jake boroughs and the president, mr Ken Brooks.
Ken Brooks:Uh, that's true, But you're a lot more important than I am, so I wanted to recognize you. Uh, we're, we're making a couple changes this year in rotary and I think it's important that we mention that here to the community. The Rotary last year started a, a noon satellite club that everybody's welcome to come check out, meets every friday Over at the liberty public house. That's a really neat opportunity to Hear about what's going on in the community on a daily basis. So there isn't any special program other than, uh, all of the members taking a couple minutes to share about what's going on in their life, whether it's at work, um, whether it's in the, the community, or Um, in their, in their volunteer life. So we got to, we, we get to. Ever we learn about what's going on. So that's a neat opportunity.
Ken Brooks:Every thursday, traditionally, rotary is also met in the evening. So the big change this next year is that we're going to be meeting once a month And we want to make it very clear that, uh, the, the entire community, is welcome to come out and participate in these meetings. Usually they will be the first thursday of the month and, starting out this year, we're going to be out at the country club meeting there. But the very first Meeting here in just a couple weeks is thursday, the thirteenth of july. It is not the first thursday of the month. In july because of the, the holiday week, people are going to be out of town. But uh, the thirteenth, we're all going to meet out there.
Ken Brooks:We have a special presentation by city manager league gertz, who's going to be Giving us an update on everything the the city is currently doing. So everybody listening to this right now is very welcome to come out and join us for dinner, starting at 5 30 And at six o'clock presentation from city manager gertz, where we're gonna learn a lot about all the steps the city is taking to Provide services to the community. We talk about some of the new things they're doing this year. So it's going to be really exciting. I'd like to encourage you to come out Again. Everybody is welcome, even if you have children. Um, a brand new thing is we're going to be offering A child care, so we want to make sure that there are no obstacles for anybody participating in this watery event. So Generally will be the first thursday of the month out there, starting at the uh, the country club, um, but again, it's going to be the 13th of july.
Clifford McFerren:Is is the first meeting, so can can you just clarify Are we still meeting every friday at noon?
Ken Brooks:Yes, also every friday at noon at liberty public house And then again once a month Um for for an evening meeting, and it's going to provide everybody more opportunities to participate.
Ethan Anderson:And follow the rotary facebook page to keep informed. Yeah, absolutely.
Ken Brooks:Okay for our final thoughts. Our question of the month is Since the fourth of july is just around the corner, you know the uh. The common question is what does it mean to be an american Right? the question i'm asking the panel today is What does it mean to be a west libertarian? Cliff will start with you.
Clifford McFerren:Let's be a community minded, spirit and person that's wanting to go above and beyond themselves. I think is is fair to say that if you're community minded, you're a west libertarian.
Xiomara Levsen:Heather.
Heather WIsman:Well, cliff, i feel like you stole my answer, because that's where my mind first went as a newer west libertarian within the last five years. Um, i would agree that it means to be very community minded, um, and just working together um to make sure that everybody in the community benefits from different events that we put on and That we participate in.
Ethan Anderson:So That's what I would say very good jake, i'm gonna tap into the school district for this one. I think everybody, uh that wants to be a west libertarian Are caring comments. I think that they care about the community, they care about each other and they do good things.
Xiomara Levsen:Jamara welcoming Just being saying hi to new neighbors and telling him what's here, what's there, and I don't even know what's going on in family events. I mean, that's what's the best part about a celebrity.
Charles Brooke:Charles, a sense of pride, whether it's, uh, your pride for the, pride for the comments, or pride for Part of the community, whether you're seeing a new business open, there's a sense of pride and sense of an excitement that we can all get behind, and pride for our own families. That's part of being a west libertarian. What about?
Clifford McFerren:you ken.
Ken Brooks:How do you feel? So I like, i like the pride answer. I think I take it a step forward and um, talk about unity, right, being proud about being a west libertarian, for sure, but, um, it doesn't matter what your background is, doesn't matter where you came from, or perhaps where your, your family came from. What matters is that you're here now, that you're engaged, right, like Heather said, you're participating. That's what matters. So doesn't matter how long you or your family has been here, doesn't matter where you were before. What matters is that you're on the team. I think that's what it means to be a West libertarian. I think it's really exciting to help each other.
Clifford McFerren:Support each other Absolutely.
Ethan Anderson:So you mean, like building together is What it means to be a West libertarian.
Ken Brooks:I think you're exactly right. Thank you, jake, for the friendly reminder. This is the building together podcast. We appreciate your time for tuning in this month. We look forward to the August podcast of building together. Join us again here in four weeks. We'll see you soon. Have a great month. The building together podcast is a service of we lead the West Liberty Economic Area Development Corporation And is brought to you by West Liberty Auto Parts and the Goodfellas Club and from generous support from listeners like you. Thanks for spending time with us. We'll see you next month building together. Dream it Planet, are you okay?
Clifford McFerren:No, the close answers gonna be pieced together as I have opinions. God is my witness. I thought turkeys could fly.
Ken Brooks:You know the the bloopers As they should be.
Ethan Anderson:We actually probably should do this pin-off, just a secondary podcast that nobody else knows about.
Ken Brooks:It's just it's just a bloopers.
Clifford McFerren:Anyhow.
Charles Brooke:I just want to talk about.
Ken Brooks:Was it hope or no hope? They also have a pulpy check in.
Clifford McFerren:I love it. Now you're gagging now you're gagging.
Ken Brooks:Happy July and welcome to the building. Together podcast. Let's meet this month's panel, starting with mayor Anderson.
Ethan Anderson:Hello, i'm Ethan. You are the mayor, glad to have you clip. I'm clever McFerrin, not Ethan Anderson. Wait, is that it? Can I go back?
Heather WIsman:Get some floaties on. It'll be a grand old time just floaties.
Clifford McFerren:Yeah, you and Jake, just floaties. That's all I got.
Ken Brooks:You had Jake at just.
Allie Paarsmith:Sorry, somebody's calling me.
Clifford McFerren:Um. Everything at the library is going really exciting when we start over.
Ken Brooks:well, i'm gonna say yeah, ali, how are you?
Allie Paarsmith:Good, i'm doing great. Everything at the library is pretty.
Xiomara Levsen:Ali, wait for clip to make a New copier, cutter, slash mall the bells and whistles that I really don't use but okay, what do the whistles sound like?
Clifford McFerren:Like training, and she's in the muscles again.
Heather WIsman:Train that really got off the rails. You know what kind of cream are we talking? anti-age.
Ken Brooks:I think all of you like, individually and collectively, you know what that's an achievement in and of itself, So I'm proud of that, you know but here's my question how, when we're on our yacht, do we then get the candy and goodies to the patrons on the sides?
Heather WIsman:somebody has to be walking.
Ken Brooks:It's, it's do you remember that thing that we used to have Nick canceled it, a little thing called slow pitch.
Xiomara Levsen:You know I have been in a slow pitch league before just channel, we just need to talk to Nick about having so pitch come back and we can use it in a fair.
Heather WIsman:Why doesn't it was Liberty have a slow pitch team, or do they Nick?
Ethan Anderson:hates the citizens of what's liberty I mean? that's the only thing I can drive.
Charles Brooke:I Mean there is a pickball team, but I don't know. I don't know about slippage. I guess slippage Slipage. You said slippage Slipage, i don't know It's with something everybody else around here has slow pitch soft.
Clifford McFerren:Sure, this is water slippage in the bedroom. It's not good.
Ken Brooks:I need to edit this tomorrow, tomorrow's the only day.
