Dear Friend of Adel,

Every Thanksgiving I pull out all of the classic Christmas movies. "White Christmas", "The Ref", "Scrooged", "It's a Wonderful Life", and of course "A Christmas Story", to name a few.

I love "A Christmas Story", I relate well to Ralphie, it reminds me of being a kid. The Christmas float, decorated store windows, seeing Santa, carolers, and pressing my face up against the store windows.

That nostalgic time is replayed each year with the Adel Holiday Open House. We take the grandkids uptown, like we did their parents, and relive the past for a few hours while creating new memories with the ones we love.

This month we sat down with Shawn Roling of the ADM Fine Arts Booster Club. They do wonderful work with assisting in part of the trinity of a great school, education, sports, and fine arts. As you know, I believe ADM excels well at all of it.

Terry got a little reflective this month, in Terry's own unique way of course. It does explain the Rat Pack tattoo. Please, don't ask, I wish I hadn't.

So grab a cup of coffee, there's a lot to cover this month and we look forward to seeing you in Adel.

Shawn Roling - President of ADM Fine Arts Booster Club

The Adel-DeSoto-Minburn School District continues to be a bright star for our community.  

Each year, the school is praised for great academics standards, test scores, and graduation rates. In addition, the school is also successful with regards to the fine arts.  

This success is due to the continued support of community members. This month we spoke with the ADM Fine Arts Booster Club President Shawn Roling to learn more about ADM's tradition of stellar performances.

Studies have shown that involvement in extra curricular activities, especially music, can increase a student's test scores and grade point average.  

Luckily, ADM Schools agree and funds these programs to the best of their abilities. Once those funds are allocated, the ADM Fine Arts Booster Club steps up to subsidies remaining needs.  

The Fine Arts encompass Band, Choir, Art, Speech, Theater, Debate, Mock Trial, and Flag Corps for students age kindergarten through seniors.

The funds generated by the ADM Fine Arts Boosters are used by all grade levels. Each year, teachers submit their budgets for supplies such as sheet music, paint and clay, contest entry fees, travel, or costumes.  

These funds may be used to provide All-State camp scholarships, college scholarships to Fine Art majors, assist with equipment purchases, and more.  

In recent years the Booster Club has been able to purchase large ticket items as well. When purchasing these items, the board considers the need, longevity and accessibility.

ADM Schools are lucky to have a history of passionate Fine Arts Board members with an eye for the future. When the Board purchased band uniforms 15 years ago, their successors began setting aside funds to purchase replacements.  

The new uniforms offer different configurations so that they may be worn for marching and concert performances.  

The adjustable band shells are placed behind concert risers to help project sound into the auditorium.  

When more power is needed, or the shells would intrude on the scenery, the new wireless microphones may be used. The baby grand piano is a beautiful instrument, housed at the high school, which may be used by any grade during performances in the main auditorium.  

As new instruments are purchased, the older ones are rotated throughout the district.

The funding supplied by the ADM Schools and ADM Fine Arts Booster Club has allowed teachers to innovate, helping our students to soar. In recent years ADM has been proud to send multiple performers to All-State Band and Choir competitions, Individual and Large Group State Speech competitions, and Jazz Band performances.  

As these students are recognized for the highest honors within their fields, the ADM school district grows with pride knowing that their contributions have helped so many to experience a genuine love for the arts.

The ADM Fine Arts Boosters is made up of parents and community members who believe strongly in the role that fine arts plays with regards to education, and realize that the success of our teachers and students comes at a price.  

Through grants, and fundraising events like the Annual membership Drive in July, cookie dough, meat, and cheese sales, good will donations, and more, the Boosters are able to continue this tradition of giving. In addition to funding, the ADM Booster Club helps to provide chaperones, organize events, and provide volunteer services as needed for concerts, performances, art exhibits, and more.

"We have great teachers in our schools that can do great things with our kids- we focus on helping them anyway we can. It's rewarding to be able to say, "Yes!" when a teacher hands us a budget request. We provide the funds, but it's the teachers who are doing the work."

Community members are encouraged to join the Fine Arts Boosters or volunteer at upcoming performances.  

Monthly meetings are held at 6:30pm on the second Thursday of every month (except December) in the high school band room. These meetings are open to the public and everyone interested in the welfare of the Fine Arts Department is welcome.

If you would like to support the ADM Fine Arts Boosters, tax-deductible donations may be sent to the address below.

ADM Fine Arts Boosters

P.O. Box 252

Adel, Iowa 50003

Phone: (515) 834-2513

Website: www.adel.k12.ia.us/Activities/BoosterClubs/FineArtsBoosterClub/tabid/96/Default.aspx  

• Go to www.walmart.com/holidaymakeover
• Search and select "Adel Good Samaritan Food Pantry" by name or by zip code 50003, city Adel, state Iowa.
• Click on the "Vote" button.
• Log in with your Facebook account to complete your vote. Otherwise it won't count.

Operation Christmas Child was an incredible success this year!   

Thank you to everyone for your donations and support! Our drop-off sites in Dallas County, Adel United Methodist Church and Grace West Church, received a 50% increase, making our total an astounding 1,537 boxes!   

Way to go Dallas County!!

There were many churches and groups who participated throughout the county.  Adel churches made a tremendous difference in this outreach!  

Those who contributed to the effort include:  Faith Lutheran, First Christian, Fusion, Grace Lutheran, New Hope, and Adel United Methodist. Adel groups and clubs also filled many shoeboxes with gifts for Operation Christmas Child.

AWANA's, CIA (Christians in Action), Adel Girl Scouts, Genesis Development, and the Classy Clever Clovers did an outstanding job this year in producing more gift-filled shoeboxes than ever!  

Operation Christmas Child boxes from our area this year will be going to India, Belize, Trinidad, Tobago, Uganda, or Tanzania.  Many children are soon going to be filled with hope, joy, and excitement because of Dallas County's loving outreach!  

Thank you for participating in Operation Christmas Child!  Your loving donations will make a life-changing impact in the lives of many children.  Thank you for making such a difference!

God bless you and Merry Christmas!

Stefanie Wilderdyke, OCC Area Coordinator 

ISU Ext. Office - Market Beef Weigh In Dec. 13th

Any 4-H'er planning to show market beef at the Dallas County Fair, Iowa State Fair, Clay County Fair or AkSarBen in 2015 MUST

have their entries weighed, tagged and identified in 4hOnline.  

 

 

The Dallas County weigh-in is Saturday, December 13, 2014 from 8-11 a.m. on the Dallas County Fairgrounds. Each 4-H'er may weigh up to six steers or market heifers plus junior cattle feeder pens for county fair. From 8-9 a.m. county fair only animals will be weighed. All animals will be weighed starting at 9 a.m.  

 

Animals to be shown at the Iowa State Fair will need to have a retinal scan and those electing to go to AkSarBen will need to have hair samples pulled for DNA testing. To show at the State Fair, 4-H'ers must be in grades 5-12. The weigh-in fee for each animal is: County Fair $1.25, State Fair $5, AkSarBen $5.

 

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ISU Ext. Farm Succession: Determining Your Legacy Dec. 10th

Farm Succession: Determining Your Legacy - Taking on the challenge of land transition.

One of the greatest concerns for a family farm, according to the Iowa State University Extension Beginning Farmer Center, is the transfer of the farm from one generation to the next.

This process can create both opportunities and constraints on the sustainability of the farm business that other non-farm entities rarely experience.

Family farms are unique because the farm is not only the place of business for the family but also the place of residence and tradition-making it hard to give up.

Those who have not yet begun a succession plan could benefit from attending... Continue reading.

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ISU Ext. STEM - Multi Project Workshop Dec. 30th

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ISU Ext. Office - Strengthening Families Program in Adel

 Strengthening Families Program in Adel - Participants say 'best thing' for family.

It's an Iowa value which Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Dallas County believes in-the importance of family. Those who agree may benefit from and are encouraged to participate in Strengthening Families Program (SFP): For Parents and Youth Ages 10-14.

"Sometimes parents do not sign up for this program because they think their family is doing fine," says ISU Extension Educator, Lisa Mickelson. "But truly, every family, no matter what their situation is, can benefit by building upon their skill set, gaining new tools and techniques to enhance their family life and reinforce the bond they already have with their youth--especially during these critical adolescent years."

ISU Ext SFP Fall 2013SFP has proven effective in... Continue reading.

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December at the Adel Public Library is packed full of fun and we are excited for each and every day of it!   

To keep up-to-date on all of the events, news, and programs, please check our website,  www.adelpl.org,

and "Like" us on "Facebook! 

Crust:
Crush the Cookies or pulse in a food processor into crumbs.  

Combine in a bowl with Sugar and Butter until evenly dispersed.  

Press into the bottom of a 9x13" pan. Set Aside.

Filling:
Let Cream Cheese soften at room temperature while you prepare the crust.  

Once soft, combine with Pumpkin, Eggs, Sugar, and Cinnamon.

Pour Filing into the Crust and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.  

Check with toothpick for doneness, or internal temp of 160 degrees.  

Once cool, frost top with Cool Whip, sprinkle with light dash of Cinnamon.

*This recipe is so good I had to design a contingency plan should the flavored cream cheese be a passing fad.  

So, if needed, substitute 2 blocks of plain cream cheese, add 1 TBSP Vanilla, double the Cinnamon and Sugar, and combine with 1/4 cup Caramel Ice Cream Topping. Equally delicious.