DiscoverAdel Newsletter Vol. 8 Jun. 2009

Vol. 8 June, 2009

Dear Friend,

You are viewing the monthly DiscoverAdel.Com newsletter online. If you would like to have the Newsletter delivered to your Email Inbox, you can sign up on the Newsletter page.

June is a great month, not too hot and everything is green and in full bloom. Graduations are behind us, the kids are playing outside and Summer is finally here!

This month we interviewed Chad Bird, Adel's City Administrator and Jacque Johnson of Adel Quilting and Dry Goods. We have articles on the 5th Annual Brick Street Car Show, Flag Day, filming downtown, a recipe from home, and more.

Enjoy!

In This Issue

Feature Article - Chad Bird

Adel Quilting and Dry Goods Co

Adel Brick Street Classic Car Show

Filming in Adel

Doll & Bear Days

Recipe of the Month

June 14th is Flag Day

What is DiscoverAdel.Com

Get to Know the City Administrator

This month we interviewed Chad Bird, City Administrator of Adel.

Chad, an Iowa native, works in Adel as the City Administrator. He oversees members of city government to make sure the Utilities flow as needed, the budget is handled responsibly, and assists the City Council and service boards, such as the Adel Partners, accomplish their goals.

Q. What can you tell us about yourself?
A. I am from Waverly, Iowa - born and raised. I love being from Iowa and strongly believe that Iowa has the best to offer in this country, great people, schools and small town life. After my high school graduation, I attended Valparaiso University for my bachelors in Communications with a minor in Business. My wife Sally and I (high school sweethearts) both attended Valparaiso and after graduation, moved to Indianapolis where I took a job with Indiana University in the athletic department managing sport facilities in Indianapolis.

Chad Bird 1 City Adel Administrator

We loved living in Indianapolis and enjoyed the many events and activities we were involved with while there. One of the highlights of my career in Indianapolis is that I was appointed to work on a very select crew for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. I was part of the team that worked the track and field events; setting up and taking down the various pieces of equipment for the track meet such as the Pole Vault, High Jump, Long Jump, hurdles etc. It was an awesome experience and the highlight of my career in sports management. I was a track and cross county athlete in high school and college so to be involved at that level was pretty exciting.

Q. What responsibilities does position include?
A. This position reports to the City Council and is basically the Chief Administrative Officer for the City. I am responsible for the budget, carrying out council directives, implementing policies, and recommending code changes for council consideration. I am also responsible for the work of the staff and general administration of the City.

Q. Are you an elected official with another job?
A. This is my career, I am not an elected official - I work full time for the City. In fact, City Code prohibits me from having another job without prior council approval, not that I have time for another job!

Q. Do you have any projects you are currently working on for Adel?
A. Oh, there are a few things in the hopper right now. I am working on the creation and implementation of a storm water utility; we are developing a brick street renovation plan to begin to address rebuilding our brick streets, the City is in the midst of a substantial sewer study in which we are looking at possible sources of inflow and infiltration into the sanitary sewer system. Inflow & Infiltration can cause undo stress on the sanitary system which can cause sewer backups and flooded basements.

Q. How did you become a City Administrator? What lead to this position? Chad Bird 2 City Adel Administrator

A. When we moved back to Iowa it was for me to take a position as the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of DeWitt. This was following my continued love for sports and recreation. While director in DeWitt, I became good friends with the City Administrator who hired me. He began to mentor me in my profession and his. I began to really enjoy all aspects of municipal government and, at my mentor's encouragement; I applied to the Masters of Public Administration program at Drake University with the idea of advancing my career. Once I granted with my Masters, I began to explore options in the field - although excited about the possibilities, I really loved Parks and Recreation so I was picky about the jobs I applied for. I also thought that maybe one day my mentor would retire and I would be suited for his position. The position in Adel became available and the rest is history.

Q. Have you always been interested in city government?
A. I have not always been interested in government, I did not start taking an interest in it until I learned about Indianapolis' unique form of government in the late '90s and then obviously when we moved back to Iowa in 2000 and I worked for the City of DeWitt.

Q. Has the vision of the city changed during your time in office?
A. I would not say the vision of the City has changed much. There is awareness that Adel has more metro influences than in the past. This has changed the way civic leaders have discussed long term planning and growth issues. The challenge is to maintain our small town charm yet embrace the growth that is coming from the east.

Q. Is this position a stepping stone towards other political/ government aspirations?
A. I really like Adel and love small town living. Having lived in the big city (Indianapolis, for ten years), I believe that small town living is the best environment for raising a family, contributing to society, and for peace of mind. Right now, I do not see myself moving on, but I am open to God's leading in my life and will go where He sends me.

Q. What hobbies do you enjoy?
A. I enjoy running, football, and getting involved with state legislative issues when they come around. I am also an avid reader and enjoy many different genres of books.

Q. Other than your career, in what ways are you involved with the community?
A. I am involved in Adel Lions and Adel Rotary. I am just completing a one year term as the Lions' president and I am starting a one year term as the Rotary's president. I am very active in church and also try to get my family active in community service projects when they are available.

Q. Is your family involved with the community as well?
A. My wife, Sally is on the school board and very active in our church. My daughters, Jenna (17) and Lauren (15) are active in church and school activities.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
A. I wish more citizens would become involved in their local government. I see so many times, people do not have an interest or take the time to educate themselves on government issues until a big issue hits or it is too late for action. I believe there are many opportunities for residents to become involved in their local government; Adel has many boards and commissions that oversee everything from Parks and Recreation, to Zoning, to the Library. There are also special committees that meet from time to time that offer an opportunity for residents to become involved.

For more information, you can contact Chad at cbird@adeliowa.org

Adel Quilting and Dry Goods Co.

This month we interview Jacque Johnson of Adel Quilting & Dry Goods located at 909 Prairie St. in Adel. Her shop is famous for her spring quilt show when her quilts are displayed in the front yard of her shop, as well and many other special events held throughout the year.

Adel Quitling and Dry Goods Adel IA 2

Q. What is the history of your company?
A. We built the shop on the front of our home in 2001. My great grandparents were proprietors of Blohms Grocer in Dexter, which was a grocery, meat locker and dry goods store in late 1800s to mid 1900s.

I come from a long line of seamstresses and quilters so, this was a smooth transition.

Q. What services does your company provide?
A. We are a retail shop with fabric, notions, patterns, books and gift items. We also teach quilting and sewing related classes and sponsor two quilt retreats each fall. We also participate as vendors at quilt shows and hold our own outdoor quilt show each year in June. From that show, we produce our own calendar of quilts.

Q. Who are your employees?
A. Colleen Tauke is the Assistant Manager. Rozetta Fiscus is a part time clerk. My husband, Frank, does the banking and sidewalks. We have several others who either teach or help intermittently.

Q. How did you get involved with quilting?
A. Grandmother, aunts, mother - all avid quilters. I've had my own sewing machine since I was 12 and I've always really liked to sew. Assistant Manager, Colleen Tauke, has a degree in Home Economics and I was an HR manager for several years so, we make a good team.

Q. How do you get new quilting ideas?
A. We attend wholesale quilt markets, peruse quilt magazines watching for trends, pay attention to quilters wants, needs and comments, search websites.

Q. What can you tell us about the Quilting Retreats?
A. Quilting retreats vary. All are Mecca to quilters. Some are sponsored by guilds on low budgets and held at church camps. At these retreats, attendees bring whatever they want to work on and have a wonderful time.

Adel Quitling and Dry Goods Adel IA 4

We conduct two each fall at Lake Panorama near Panora. Because our retreats are sponsored by a quilt shop (us), we can really pamper the guests. We can provide a group project with lectures, speakers, mini workshops, experienced leadership, door prizes, contests and a vendor booth. We even bring in a masseuse. Our guests have meals from the local restaurant and stay in the comfortable on-sight motel. Our retreats have become very popular and are now sold out well in advance.

Q. Do you have any upcoming events/ sales/ activities you would like to community to know about?
A. Our next big event is our outdoor quilt show. It will coincide with other outdoor events that weekend including the Atherton House Teddy Bear Picnic and Marble Show. Customers will bring their quilts to hang in the yard and guests will vote on their favorites. The winning quilts are photographed for our annual calendar of quilts. Next will be vending at a very large quilt show in Ankeny in July, sponsoring a round robin bus tour to our shop and 11 other shops in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas in September and our two retreats at Lake Panorama in October.

Q. Will you be involved with the Adel Sweet Corn Festival in August?
A. Not as a business. We are fairly land-locked during the festival so, we usually just enjoy it with our neighbors and friends. In the past, we created a quilt to commemorate the 25th annual festival which was raffled off at the festival as a fundraiser.

Q. How is your company involved with the community? Do you sponsor any charitable events/ groups?
Adel Quitling and Dry Goods Adel IA 3

A. We have a group that meets in the shop once a month, Quilt Circle of Friends. This group has developed quite a sisterhood over the years, sharing our show 'n tell, quilting news and working on charitable projects together. Our shop also sponsors "Comfort Quilts". We solicit blocks. Customers make and bring them in and we facilitate putting them together into a quilt top. I provide the service of quilting the pieced top and the quilt is presented to the designated recipient in an effort to comfort. We also donate a quilt to a wine and cheese auction once a year for Candeo, a non-profit organization providing services to persons with disabilities and handicaps, facilitating their independent life style. At Christmas, we sponsor an Angel Tree. Customers adopt an "Angel" from our tree and make them a pillowcase filled with gifts. These "Angels" are people we have identified as being someone with no one.

Q. Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about yourself or the company?
A. We have been here for 8 years and plan to be here for another 80!

Stop by Adelquilting.comand adelquilting.blogspot.com for more information!

Adel Brick Street Classic Car Show

Brick Street Classic Car Show in Adel IA

June 6th is the 5th Year for the Adel Brick Street Classic Car Show and it's promising to be better than ever.

Adel Brick Street Car Show 3

Hosted on Adel's historic downtown square and famous brick streets, this annual event showcases more than 100 great cars.

The Brick Street Show attracts some of the best cars in their class.

If you get the classic car bug while viewing these high quality rides, be sure to check out Brick Street Muscle's showroom, just across the street.

Adel Brick Street Car Show 2

They have a fantastic showcase of classic cars for sale. If you don't see what you're looking for, Gary has the connections to help you find what you want.

In addition to some of the finest cars at a show this summer, there will be food, craft vendors and live music by VooDoo3.

Adel Brick Street Car Show 5

Free Grounds Admission. Registration is from: 11-1 pm.

Car show entry fees are $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Awards will be presented at 4 p.m.

It's a great way to spend a Saturday.

Sponsored by Adel Partners.

For more information, contact John Standley at (515) 993-4248 or by email at jpstandley@aol.com
or Questions@BrickStreetMuscle.com.

Filming in Adel

Big Field Productions was in Adel Friday and Saturday, May 29th and 30th to shoot a few scenes for their new feature film. Shooting was on the South side of the Courthouse Square and in Cool Beans.

Filming started at Noon on Friday. Main Street between Nile Kinnick Drive and 9th Street had restricted parking access for the remainder of the day on Friday and from
Noon to midnight on Saturday.

City staff was on site to assist with traffic and parking as needed.

For further information or questions please call City Hall (993-4525) or the Adel Partners / Chamber of Commerce (993-5472).

Article Headline

Doll & Bear Days June 19 & 20th

Stop in and see our New Collection of Porcelain Dolls for 2009.
Check out our cute and reasonably priced Bearington Bears.
Enter our door prize drawing. We will be giving away a beautiful porcelain doll.
Plus gifts, home decor, antiques and more!

Cameo Rose is located on the Square at 107 N. 9th St., Adel.
Open Tues. - Sat., 9-5

www.camerosecollection.com

So, to wrap it up, this is the DiscoverAdel.Com newsletter! We hope that you've enjoyed this issue and will share it with your friends.

Sincerely,

Chris Brocka
DiscoverAdel.Com

Featured Article