Dear Friend,
Welcome to the April, 2010 issue of the DiscoverAdel Newsletter. Recently I was asked about our process for putting together the
Newsletter each month.
Have you ever set out to make a
"little" sandwich to hold you over? You open the fridge, thinking, "a bit of this, a bit of that, oh, that's good too, look at that-can't leave it out".
When you're done your "little" sandwich is half a foot tall, takes two
hands too eat and is perfect! You enjoy all of it with no apologies.
That best describes what happens with the DiscoverAdel
Newsletter and this issue stays within that tradition. We have an interview with Brenna Young from Italian Villages Catering, Easter Fun and Easter Worship in Adel, more of Terry's Travels, New Businesses, a Great Networking and Discussion Venue is starting up, a recipe from home, and great information from around town. If you notice some Adel information I forgot to add, let us know and we'll post it on website. If you have a "little something" to add to the next newsletter, send us that also. Truth be told, I like a good sandwich! Enjoy!
ChrisAs a supporter of Adel you are receiving the DiscoverAdel.Com monthly newsletter. If you are having trouble viewing this document or it's images, you can view the Newsletter at the DiscoverAdel.com site. |
 Brenna Young - Italian Villages Catering
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There is a new catering option available in Adel! Italian Villages now offers catering for all your event needs. This month we sat down with Brenna Young, owner of Italian Villages and Catering.
 Brenna attended college in Indiana, first receiving her Associates Degree at Holy Cross College at Notre Dame then transferring to Indiana University South Bend to complete her BA in Communications with a minor in Graphic/ Video Production.
During her time in Indiana, Brenna managed the University of Notre Dame catering company, Catering By Design.
"It was a great job, most of my philosophies [on catering] come from Notre Dame. My dad loved it; our family is pretty big Notre Dame fans. When I decided to move back my parents were supportive, as long as I kept getting the tickets!"
Father and Son team, Bob and Perry, became owners of Italian Villages in August 2000. Both men spent hours renovating the restaurant. Brenna moved back to Adel in 2008 with big ideas of her own for Italian Villages. Rather than just working for the restaurant, Brenna bought into the business and became part owner in May, with catering starting that September.
Italian Villages now has new chairs, table clothes, menus, and table tents thanks to Brenna's changes. The table tents are used to display upcoming events, fundraisers, and specials. The new menus are easy to read, with a calendar on the back outlining each day's specials and deals.
Brenna believes strongly in networking and supporting the local community. Brenna has joined networking groups and the Chamber of Commerce in the cities she serves stating "its a great way to get our information out." You can also find information on catering at the new website.
Here you will find information on the restaurant, customer reviews of the catering service, and a complete catering menu. Brenna plans to add photos of catering events to showcase her class, style, and cuisine. You can also find upcoming events and specials at the Italian Villages Facebook page by searching username "Italian Villages/ catering Adel Iowa."
Italian Villages Catering is proud to announce that 10% of all catering events associated with the Adel- DeSoto- Minburn High School will be donated to the school. "We want the community to know we aren't just thinking of ourselves."This includes Alumni dinners, sports luncheons, even graduation catering. To take advantage of this promotion, please call 515-371-1993.
Brenna also believes in fund raising. In the past, Italian Villages has been taken over by groups like the TLC Dance Team, Lutheran Services, and Dylan Book family looking to raise money. Fund raisers take over waiting tables while the restaurant offers a full buffet. All tips made are given to the cause, including 10% of the sales made that evening. 
"It's a great opportunity for the kids. They may be nervous for the first table or two, but after that they have a lot of fun serving their family and friends!"
Brenna's catering philosophies are well received. For example, many catering companies include a mandatory 15% or even 20% gratuity.
Italian Villages Catering doesn't. "I'm not going to tell [my clients] how to spend their money. I can't justify forcing them to tip if they don't want to!"
Italian Villages Catering offers Full Service catering. Unless you want the food dropped off, Brenna is prepared to set up, serve, and clean up the mess. She considers her labor part of the cost. This opens her up to assist when needed.
At events Brenna and her staff will be found opening wine bottles, pouring coffee for guests, and clearing tables. Italian Villages Catering offers served meals, buffets, Cash and Open Bar services.
When selecting buffets, Brenna plans to set up the line for you, complete with seasonal table clothes and chaffing dishes to keep the food hot. For weddings, she offers free services such as cutting the cake and a free bottle of champagne for the head table.
 Brenna suggests buffets because it helps event planners to save. When
selecting flatware and plates, Brenna offers disposable items that look
so real your guests will have a difficult time telling the difference.
Italian Villages Catering selected these patterns as a cost saver for
their clients, cutting the labor costs for a dishwasher/ busboy.
Italian Villages Catering is upfront and honest in its approach to customer service. The catering telephone number and email are sent directly to Brenna's Blackberry to assure that all your questions will be answered promptly.
Italian Villages Catering is able to fill all your catering needs, from a small office party for 10 to a large wedding reception for 500 guests. They even offer boxed lunches with Pasta, Pizza, and Deli Sandwich options.
Brenna is incredibly well organized, which event planners have been happy to take advantage of. Working back from the date of the event, she outlines the daily, weekly and monthly tasks to take place for a successful catering experience.
Italian Villages Catering will be a vendor at Wine Fest, June 19th. Brenna plans to use the event to showcase her catering skills and welcomes potential customers to see what she has to offer. While the menu has not been finalized, Brenna plans to serve her homemade Strawberry Shortcake, which is a crowd pleaser!
Brenna keeps just as busy with her hobbies as she is the catering! In her spare time Brenna volunteers with the Rotary Club, enjoys video production and graphic design projects, and is becoming an avid golfer.
 Brenna has also managed an R&B music career for Taya Revella. Brenna discovered Taya's talents while in South Bend and knew the moment she heard her sing that Taya had the talent to go far in the music business.
Brenna found she had the passion and drive to showcase Taya's talents to the local community and the nation.
Taya battles Juvenile Diabetes, losing eyesight in her left eye to the disease. Taya and Brenna were able to raise $10,000 for Diabetes research with her singing. Taya's songs can be found on iTunes and in Target stores.
Brenna wants the community to know that Italian Villages and Catering is a family business. "It's me, my brother Perry, and my dad Bob. My dad delivers, Perry cooks, and I am the salesperson. It's pretty cool. We're a good partnership. We all have what the others need. The best thing is that were all teaching and learning- that's why it works so well!"
To find out more about Italian Villages Catering, specials, and fund raising activities, visit www.italianvillagescatering.com or call 515-371-1993.
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Easter Fun and Worship in Adel
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Fun Easter Facts
Did you know? ❁ 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made for Easter each year. ❁ Americans buy more than 700 million Peeps during the Easter season. ❁ In 1885 Russian Czar Alexander III commissioned Master Jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé to make a fabulously bejeweled Imperial Easter Egg as an Easter day surprise for his wife, Czarina Maria Gydorovna. She loved the gift so much, the Czar commissioned 56 more. The current value for a single Imperial Egg is about six million dollars!
❁ According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 600,000,000 eggs are usually sold in America during the Easter season.
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Traditional Easter Recipes
Last year we featured Hot Crossed Buns. This year we found another iconic Easter recipe for the dying of red eggs
or in Greek, κόκκινα αυγά, pronounced KOH-kee-nah ahv-GHAH. This
old-fashioned method creates red eggs with a deep rich color and a great
chemistry experiment for the kids to see!
Supplies You'll Need
4 or 5 cups of yellow onion skins
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 dozen eggs
Large saucepan with lid Water
Directions
Put 5 cups of water and the vinegar in a large saucepan. Press the onion skins down into the water. Heat, and bring to a boil.
Turn the heat down, and simmer the dye for about 40 minutes with the lid on the pot. The dye may look orange, but it is capable of dying the eggs a dark, rich, orange red.
Let the dye cool in the pot. Once cooled, strain the dye into a bowl. Discard the onion skins. Put the dye back into the large saucepan. You are now ready to dye your eggs.
Place the eggs in the pot. Use as many eggs as you can as long as they are completely covered by the dye. Turn the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil.
Once the dye comes to a boil, cover the pot, and turn the heat off. Do not lift the lid for at least 20 minutes. Leave the eggs in the dye for at least the 20 minutes.
Leave the eggs in the dye until you achieve the color you want. Cool the eggs, and refrigerate them, whether or not they remain in the dye. When they can be handled, coat eggs lightly with olive (or other edible) oil and polish with paper towel.
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The Easter Bunny Shops Adel!Are you like 90% of American adults who will be putting together Easter baskets for family and friends? Shop locally for all your chocolate, candy, and toy needs! Find a full list of Adel businesses in our Directory! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Easter Sunday Worship
Churches in Adel will be holding Easter services. Below you will find the complete list of Adel churches including special Easter events!
Rapid Street Baptist Church
1601 Rapids St, Adel Celebration Family Church2919 Prospect Cir, Adel Faith Lutheran Church
602 S 14th St, Adel
First Christian Church 218 N 9th St, Adel
First Southern Baptist Church
702 Nile Kinnick Dr S, Adel
United Methodist Church
606 N 12th St, Adel
St Johns Catholic Church
2405 Pl 302th, Adel · Phone: 515-993-4482
April 3rd Easter Vigil 7:45 pm followed by a wine and cheese
reception in the parish hall, all are welcome!
Peace Lutheran Church
3414 L Ave, Adel
New Hope Church
25712 Hwy 6, Adel - 515-993-5325
Panther Creek Church of The Brethren
24529 J Cir, Adel
Grace Lutheran Church
23932 Meadow Rd, Adel
Sunrise Service at 6:30 am · Services at 8:00 am and 10:00 am
Breakfast served between services!
Happy Easter from DiscoverAdel.com!
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Terry's Travels - Adel Auto Parts
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Each month, Terry journeys through our community enjoying the sights, sounds, deals, and meals that make Adel great! This month, Terry was on the hunt for a hard to find car part.
Happy April! It's great to see the grass and sunshine! Like many people, this last winter was very hard on my car.
My car is one of a kind. Most mechanics have never worked on my particular model, making simple repairs not so simple. I like to make the repairs myself when I can, which can also be problematic. It's hard to find the right parts, let alone a store that has them in stock.
Recently the thermostat went out on my car so I stopped by Adel Auto Parts - NAPA, and talked to John. Not only did they have the part in stock, John gave me pointers on what to expect when replacing it myself.
The store, located on the Square in Adel, reminds me of the kind of
place my grandfather would have trusted his classic cars with. They have a knowledgeable staff with a huge database of parts and information. The employees want to get you back on the road, with your problem solved.
The store, located on the Square in Adel, reminds me of the kind of place my grandfather would have trusted his classic cars with.
My car is running again, thanks to another happy visit to Adel Auto Parts.
Keep them in mind for your next auto part!
- Terry
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Adel Auto Parts Incorporated
809 Main Street, Adel
Phone: 515-993-3212
Cell: 515-979-5976
www.napaonline.com
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Harvey Floral Company: Farmer's Market
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June 15- September 28
Every Tuesday
4 pm-7 pm
Rain or Shine
If raining, everything will be moved indoors
Multiple Vendors offering:
· Locally Grown Produce, Entertainment, Crafts
· Baked Produce, Full and Partial Season Vendors
· Non
- Certified Organic Produce, Farm Fresh Eggs
· Brick Street BBQ
· Berry Fresh Farms
Vendor spots are still open! If you're interested in
becoming a vendor, contact Debbie or Mary at 515-993-3916.
Harvey Floral Company
611 Nile Kinnick Drive S. Adel, IA.
(515) 993-3916
www.harveyfloral.com
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| Cafe in the Park & Russell House - Now Open |
Cafe in the Park Catering and BBQ has returned. Kayla Hawkins is now running the catering business out of her home. Enjoy your favorite BBQ and desserts at your next special event.
Kayla and Mark are also opening The Russell House B&B and Tea Room on April 1st. Built in 1904 by Adel attorney Burton Russell, the beautiful Victorian Four Square home offers traveller's a relaxing, historic destination.
Cafe in the Park Catering and BBQ
Russell House B&B and Tea Room
1312 Grove St., Adel, Iowa
515-993-4121
or 515-993-3707
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Adel Flower & Gifts - Mother's Day
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"Children and mothers
never truly part - Bound in the beating of each other's heart." - Charlotte Gray
Adel Flowers can help you show your love and gratitude this Mother's Day. Call us today to order flowers, plants or gift items.
Adel Flower & Gifts
611 Nile Kinnick Dr, S. Adel IA.
(515) 993-4884
(866) 866-ROSE(7673)
www.AdelFlowers.com
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| Around Town |
March Adel After Hours Hosted By Sharing Is Healing
 On Tuesday March 23rd, Michelle Roling of Sharing Is Healing hosted an open house with the Adel Chamber of Commerce.
Michelle also hosted an open house Saturday, March 27th.
Michelle and her husband Shawn were on hand to give a tour of the newly remodeled facility and to answer questions. Both open houses were well received by all who attended.
Sharing Is Healing
Michelle Roling, M.Ed., LMHC, CEDS
1412 HyVue Street, Adel
515-231-3918
michelle@michelleroling.com
www.michelleroling.com
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John D. Gomke Charity Incorporated Launches Web Site  The John D. Gomke Charity, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was created by John's parents Steve and Jessica Gomke. John became an angel on January 6, 2010. The site's goal is to promote awareness, education, and support to all who have suffered such a loss. You can find more information at: www.johndgomkecharity.org----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Please join the Dallas County Children's Advocacy Council for a Service of Remembrance for children who were victims of abuse.
Wednesday, April 28 at 4:30 pm
Waukee Middle School
905 Warrior Lane, Waukee
To find out more about this special event, continue reading...
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Well, that wraps it up the DiscoverAdel.Com newsletter for this month! We hope that you've enjoyed this issue and will share it with your friends. We always appreciate any comments or article suggestions, please email those to info@DiscoverAdel.com.
Sincerely,
Chris Brocka
DiscoverAdel.Com |
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Featured Article
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Each month we
showcase a
business, person, or organization that makes Adel special.
This month we interviewed Brenna Young of Italian Villages Catering.
If you have a business or organization you would like to see featured, please contact us at
info@DiscoverAdel.com
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Adel Partners
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Adel Partners
Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber recently announced funding of two partial scholarships for ADM high school students to attend a business/ entrepreneurial camp, Business Horizons, at Simpson College. Student teams will live on campus for a week. They will develop a product; make financial decisions about business operations; create a marketing plan and infomercial; and prepare and present an investor presentation. The dates are July 25 - 30 on the Simpson College campus. More information is available at BusinessHorizonsIowa.com.
Join the CSI Team
Adel Partners is excited to launch a new
networking
and discussion venue
for our members.
Adel Partners "CSI"
(Chamber Sharing Ideas) will meet on the 1st Tuesday of every month for
lunch. (Dutch Treat)
Those attending will have
an opportunity to share
ideas, network, ask questions, and make suggestions or requests
for the
next meeting.
Our first "CSI" will
be held on
Tuesday, April 6th
from
11:30-1:00 at
Patrick's Meeting Room.
Lunch will be ordered off the
menu. Feel free to come and go as your lunch hour allows.
Bring your ideas and questions and
Join the CSI Team.
Together
we can make a
difference for Adel.
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Volunteer Opportunities Available
Volunteering is a fun way
to meet new people and learn new skills.
You can gain a sense of achievement while helping provide a meaningful and positive impact on your community.
There are multiple ways to volunteer through the Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce for the various programs and events.
Plans are now being formed for the 2010 festivals and projects.
· Iowa Book Festival Committee
· All Iowa Wine Festival Committee
· Sweet Corn Festival Committee
· Adel Partners Design & Beautification
Committee
· Adel Partners Marketing Committee
If you would like to get involved in our community, contact Linda
Boettcher or "Van" Van Buren, at the Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce
office for more information.
Chamber@adelpartners.org
or 515-993-5472.
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Recipe of the Month
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Black Beans and
Tequila Pork
When I was about eight, my Grandmother, "Cookie" came in with a cast iron skillet and asked me to hold it at arms length without letting it drop.
At the same time, Cookie flipped over an old fashioned, sand- filled egg timer and said "you can put it down when this runs out."
As the last grain of sand fell through, she said "You're ready" and marched me into the kitchen and taught me how to scramble eggs.
That was my first of many cooking classes with Cookie. She had done the same with my Dad and my uncles.
I've carried on Cookie's tradition with my own children.
This is one of my daughter's favorite dishes to make.
It requires some planning ahead, but it is well worth it!
Marinade:
2 shots Tequila OR
1 bottle Corona Beer
2 tsp Cumin
3 cloves Garlic, minced
2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
Dash Salt and Black Pepper
Juice of 1 Lime
1 tsp Lime Zest
2 tsp Onion Powder
You can either add 2 tsp Steak Seasoning
OR
1/2 tsp Thyme
1/2 tsp Rosemary
1/2 tsp Coriander
Ingredients:
2 Pork Chops, diced
2 c Prepared Rice
2 c Chicken Stock
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 c Black Beans, drained
1 Red Onion- chopped
1/2 Yellow Pepper, diced
1/2 Red Pepper, diced
1 Jalapeno, minced
24 hours before
planning to serve
dish, prepare pork
and marinade.
Take fork and tenderize pork chops to help absorb flavors, then dice into medium sized cubes.
Combine all marinate ingredients and pork chops in sealed plastic bag. Refrigerate overnight.
Directions
Prepare rice as desired.
In large stock pot heat Oil. Add Pork, Marinade, and Chicken Stock. Cook over medium heat until pork is fully cooked.
Remove from heat and add Black Beans, Red Onion, Peppers, Jalapeno, and Rice. Stir to combine. If stock has cooked away, add another 1/2 cup.
Return to low heat for 15 minutes.
Enjoy! |
Library News
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April Newsletter:
Thursday, April 8
1:30 p.m.
Something New for
Your Garden
Mary Harvey of Harvey's Greenhouse will give
you new gardening ideas
for growing herbs, vegetables and starting
a butterfly garden.
Tea and goodies will be served. Plus there will be door prizes!
Tuesday, April 27
6:30 p.m.
"Spring" for the Adel Historical Museum
See what's new at our historical museum! Curator Jan Price will lead the tour.
Meet at the museum at 1129 Main Street.Door prizes will be given away!
Wednesday, April 21 2:00 p.m.
Early Out Game Day
School age kids can spend their early out afternoon playing a variety of Wii and board games at the library.
Storytimes
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings
at 10:30 a.m.
Preschool storytimes and toddler storytimes are available during the week.
We look forward to seeing you at the Library!
Laura Guth-Hanson
Youth Services Librarian
Adel Public Library
303 S. 10th St.
Adel, IA 50003
To find out more, please contact the library at
515-993-3512
Adel Public Library
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What is DiscoverAdel.com?
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DiscoverAdel.com is a destination website.
Our goal is to inform everyone of the benefits of Adel. Not just those who live in Adel, but also our friends in the surrounding communities.
From unique shopping and award winning events, to the outstanding services, you can find it all in Adel!
Be sure to bookmark
DiscoverAdel.com to check out new businesses, changing events, and local stories.
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