Adel Residents Are Heard During FDA’s CF Drug Hearing
Michelle Roling and Alex Hall
A follow up on the presentation Michelle Roling and her son, Alex made to address the FDA about a possible new drug in the fight of Cystic Fibrosis. – Editor
Guest Writer: Michelle Roling
On Tuesday, May 12, 2015 Alex Hall (19 year old Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Patient) and myself, his mom, had an amazing opportunity to speak at the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee (PADAC) in a Washington, DC suburb.
The committee public forum meeting was scheduled to discuss a miracle medication “orkambi” and for the committee to make a formal recommendation regarding whether to approve Orkambi for use in the United States for CF patients 12 and older who have a specific genetic code (Double Delta F 508). The FDA is not bound by the committee’s recommendation but often follows its advice.
If approved, ORKAMBI will be the first and only medicine to treat the underlying cause of CF for eligible people with CF ages 12 and older with two copies of the F508del mutation in the CFTR gene. People with two copies of the F508del mutation represent the largest group of people with CF. There are approximately 8,500 people ages 12 and older with two copies of the F508del mutation in the U.S. Alex and his younger brother Shade Hall (16) have this genotype!
Alex and I submitted our application to present at the hearing as soon as the hearing date was announced in April. I have been advocating for awareness, scientific breakthrough and advanced diagnosis of cystic fibrosis for all of Alex’s 19 years. I sat on the State of Iowa Health Board subcommittee for 3 years and worked to get all babies in the state of Iowa tested for CF at birth. CF newborn screening was implemented in 2007 and is one of the multiple tests conducted off the blood spot foot test! When Alex was 3, he was one of the first CF patients in Iowa to get a respiratory therapy vest approved through insurance. Our fight with the insurance company opened doors for other patients to have access to the equipment… I knew in my heart I was “supposed” to be in that hearing room while a historic decision was made, one which could change my boy’s lives in countless ways. I also knew there was no fiancial way to get there. A friend suggested I put together a “go fund me site”. I took their advice and Alex and I are so humbled by the support which got us to the east coast!
There were two rounds of the application process prior to getting notification we were given speaking privileges on the floor. 17 advocate slots were assigned– each of us being allowed 4 minutes to speak regarding the reality of living with this devastating illness! 5 CF patients who were involved in the clinical trials of Orkambi and still being allowed to take the medication while they wait for approval; 3 CF patients who were not in the trial. 3 parents of people with CF who spoke alone; 6 CF specialists. Alex represented the CF community so well. What an honor to be 1 of 8 of the 8,500 CF patients in the country given a voice!
The morning started with the pharmaceutical company presenting their data regarding the benefits of Orkami, the 13 member committee asked many questions. Then the FDA statisticians presented their interpretation of the data and the committee asked many questions. During this full discussion, the committee was caught on two details/questions—What does a 3-8% increase in lung function mean regarding quality of life? Is that minimal improvement worth any unknown long term side effects? The debate filled our hearts with fear and we sent out texts stating we didn’t think it was going to pass, yet sent up prayers to help guide our words to gain approval!
At the lunch break, we pulled out our well rehearsed speech, considered the areas the committee was struggling with and we scrapped a large section of the presentation and rewrote things to help the committee HEAR our answer- simply freezing lung destruction would be a miracle! Improving lung function 4-8% is unimaginable for us! The truly amazing thing is that the medication builds on itself and the improvement continues over time! Those involved in the studies have incredible stories of how their lives have done 180% turn arounds- people coming off the transplant list; CF patients running- really running ½ marathons! Decreased hospitalizations by 60%!!!
Orkambi is the first medication to treat the UNDERLYING cellular issue instead of treating a side effect of the CF. It is being likened to when insulin was first availble for diabetics.
As we presented and as we listened to the other advocates present, the energy in the huge ballroom began to change. We could “feel” the change in the room. We were elated beyond words when the voting revealed a 12 yes to move it forward with only 1 no vote!
Here are some clips from reporters attending the hearing:
The Boston Business Journal Writer: While no one expected recommendation to be a slam-dunk (and the full FDA has yet to officially approve the drug), the line of questioning regarding the practical value of the 3 percentage-point improvement in lung function after six months struck me as odd, considering that there are no other drugs that slow or stop the underlying cause of the disease. Those 3 percentage points don’t sound like much, but for a disease which gets progressively worse over years and decades, that slight improvement could conceivably be multiplied many times over in the course of a patient’s lifetime.
But it wasn’t specifically that argument which seems to have won 12 of the 13 panel members over on Tuesday. Rather, it was the 17 patient advocates who spoke passionately in favor of approval, at least according to Leerink Partners analyst Howard Liang, who called it “perhaps the most effective and best organized plea for the need of the drug, the differences it made in some patients and for approval of the drug that we have ever seen at an FDA advisory panel.”
There were total 17 patient advocates including patients, parents, and researchers who talked about the life-changing benefit of Orkambi, and it was one of the most powerful and convincing testimonies according to some of the panelists,”
The New York Times: Some family members or advocates, some of them crying, pleaded with the committee to endorse the drug.
Some patients who took the drug in clinical trials said it had made a huge difference in their lives, reducing their coughing, allowing them to exercise better, helping them gain weight or reducing how often they ended up in the hospital.
If the drug is approved, Vertex could still face challenges getting insurers to pay for it, given the somewhat questionable efficacy. Orkambi is expected to come at a price between $225,000 to $250,000 a year/ per patient.
The broach and button that Michelle wore at the hearing. Depicting her sons Alex and Shade Hall.
The final vote from the FDA will occur before July 5! Our family is hoping to have many, many things to celebrate over the July 4th holiday! We send our thanks to everyone who supported our go fund me campaign financially and with emotional encouragement! We will certainly let you know when the final FDA vote is complete!
Michelle Roling – Sharing is Healing
1412 HyVue Street
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: 515-231-3918
Email: michelle@michelleroling.com
Website: http://michelleroling.com
Thank You, Chief McNeil
(An open letter to retiring Adel Police Chief, Jim McNeil – Editor)
On behalf of the city council, staff, and the citizens of Adel I would like to express my sincere appreciation and deepest sense of gratitude for your 29 years of dedicated service to the City of Adel.
Although you are departing while I am still in office, I have always told you that you would be my legacy. I can honestly say that during 24 years as mayor, hiring you as Chief of Police was the best decision I have ever made as measured by the positive impact your service has had on the city.
You have the respect of your staff, other law enforcement peers and the public. This respect was earned through your leadership, reliability, expertise and the ability to follow through. This respect also translated into trust… the trust that you would always be consistently fair and firm… and you have been.
During your tenure the professional-ism of the department has been elevated through facilities, equipment and training. You increased the police office space by five times what it was and provided the department better working conditions. The vehicle fleet has transformed from four door sedans to SUV’s with the accessories, equipment and resources to compete with other police departments. And, most importantly, you increased your staff’s wages to make them competitive in the market place which helped reduce department turnover.
In your role of disaster coordinator you have seen us through our most common disaster – flooding. Next to the flood of ’93, the ’08 flood was the city’s biggest test. The mitigation efforts you put in place, including the berms throughout Kinnick – Feller Park and the portable dike system at the track / football field area gave residents there a feeling of security knowing you were in charge and flood damage would be held to a minimum.
And, of course, the McNeill spillway (by your design) near the dam and water plant where a permanent mitigation effort requires no sandbagging for most of our flood events. This properly designated spillway is your lasting legacy for flood protection in that part of the city.
And finally Chief, you have always, always looked out for the best interest of the city. Many times you have assisted staff in an open way, or other times, quietly behind the scenes to make something happen, or prevent something from happening with either a light touch, or if necessary, a firm hand. Only in your absence will I truly appreciate all you have done for the city. Simply said…
Thank you Chief,
Sincerely,
James F. Peters, Mayor
Adel City Hall
301 S. 10th Street
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4525
Website: www.adeliowa.org
Facebook: facebook.com/CityofAdelIowa
Terry Traveller – Travel Tips
Travel can be scary so make sure you know where your towel is with these helpful tips from world famous travel writer and author of the 1987 classic, “Terry-cloth Treasures: 101 New Ways to Use Your Towel”, DiscoverAdel.com correspondent Terry Traveler!
1. Atlas: Oh sure, you could use a smart phone but I wouldn’t hire Siri as my travel guide. Bring an atlas so you can see the big picture – the entire country or continent you are visiting. Then, procure local maps along the way as they may have great advertisements for local haunts worth checking out.
2. AM/FM Radio: You can stick your flash drive into the stereo and listen to your favorite Yanni songs any day of the week. Instead, tune into the sounds of the region. Listen to the commercials for funny moments to share back home, find new bands to explore, or hear about what’s happening locally to start a conversation with your next toll booth attendant.
3. Dramamine: The headiest travel can still be beaten by motion sickness. Consider the patches for long cruises or hours of swerving roads. A natural acupressure point is the underside of your wrist. Let your other thumb apply pressure about 2 inches below your palm in the center of your wrist. Find a solid horizon line and stare at it, not the ever moving parts of the landscape.
4. Travel Pillow: Use your towel if you like, otherwise bring along a compactible neck pillow. These bean-shaped beauties have saved my life during countless airport layovers, bouncy bus rides, and stranded in the desert situations.
5. Emergency Kit: Be sure it includes first-aid supplies, a thermal blanket, poncho, bottle of water, and a shelf-stable snack. I find it efficient and fashionable to use my fanny pack.
6. Survival Gear: For me, this includes my compass, bow knife, and Swiss Army knife. You never know when a corkscrew will come in handy as you blaze a trail 340 degrees North by Northwest towards your lost campsite.
7. Earplugs: You’d be surprised how noisy it is out in the world – those crickets and their buggy cohorts are plotting against us my friends, trust me.
8. Treat Your Body Right: Too much sitting, too much walking, too much indulgent food, too little water, too little sleep, too much beer can all day up. Remember to stretch often, drink plenty of water, and get some sleep. Taking it easy is the name of the game- you don’t want to miss out on all the fun because you had all the fun you could handle in the first day!
9. Know the Rules and the Language: If you’re traveling to a different state or country, know the rules. Can you turn right on a red light? Will your hands be cut off for jaywalking? Should you shake hands with someone who doesn’t use toilet paper? How do you say “where is the toilet?” These are important questions to ask before you find yourself in a foreign place innocently insulting everyone’s mother.
10. Pack Smart, Pack Light: Rolling your clothing will save you lots of room, but don’t let that extra space be used unwisely. If you can’t carry your luggage by yourself for 30 minutes, it’s too heavy. Consider outfits that can be rinsed out and dried quickly. I personally never leave home without my orange parka- perfectly suited for most climates (except the warm ones)- and easy transition for a day to night look thanks to the removable fur lining.
– Terry
Terry Traveller
Email: terry@discoveradel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverAdel.TerryTraveller?fref=ts
How Terry Traveller Became a “Writer”
I am often asked by my editor, “how did you ever become a writer?”
His question is understandable – talent like mine is not a product of education, but of deep soul searching and impossible charm.
So I will tell you, dear readers, what I have often given as a response to this inquiry of how I became a travel writer.
It was a late spring evening, a humid night in May, one of those twilights of impending thunderstorms and green clouds. I was working at a local market to make ends meet as one does when one is lost to the ways of their destiny. Or perhaps blind to the destiny that working as a cashier can hold.
In true Iowa fashion we had the weather radio on, and the customers who streamed in and out of the store each mentioned a tornado advisory was in effect. Those in charge dismissed the warnings as this happened every spring and the boy who cried wolf had surely worn out his welcome.
In true fictional fashion, the sirens began to ring out cutting off the manager’s words. The weather radio let out a horrific howl and the store stood completely motionless for a moment before a hoard of customers appeared at the checkout counter armed with groceries and demands for shelter.
I consulted with the manager as to the safest locations to hide only to discover his options to be the firehouse 8 blocks away, or the meat cooler-though he felt the firehouse was still our best option given the last building inspector’s report and subsequent bribery.
An old timer stood watch at the doorway and announced he could see the twister a comin’. The 12 customers and 3 employees dragged the man from his spot into the meat department only to realize the weekly truck had delivered three pallets of Oscar Meyer wieners that completely filled the cooler. (Our manager was what we used to call “crazy” but now refer to as a “hoarder” in politically correct society.)
Instead, we huddled under metal sinks, nooks, and crannies throughout the small butcher’s area just in time for the lights to go out. My manager began to complain that the hot dogs would surely rot without the compressor running, to which my fellow cohorts began pelting him with whatever materials were in our pockets. We assured him that, if we survived this dastardly event, they would too.
The minutes felt like hours, and indeed were, as we waited for signs of safety or distress. I swore I could hear a train passing by, though a nearby customer assured me that it was her husband George’s nervous flatulence acting up.
The old timer who thought himself a storm chaser stood up in the darkness and proclaimed if he was to die, he was going to do it looking mother nature straight in the eye and took off for the door. I felt the strange urge to follow him- not for his safety or mine, but for the adventure. We reached the doorway in silence and looked out at the most beautifully clear Iowa evening. Birds chirped, bugs buzzed, and aside from a displaced shopping cart some three feet away, there was no evidence that a tornado had passed by at all.
But then, a news van pulled into the parking lot. The smiling local anchor stepped out and adjusted his toupee before walking towards us. The old timer muttered something about tax evasion and took off running. The newscaster informed me, along with the viewers at home, that the funnel cloud had dissipated as rapidly as it had formed.
I was asked to recall the events of the evening: where had I been when the sirens rang out, was anyone injured during the frenzy, where could the crew buy a dozen packages of hotdogs for the Memorial Day picnic?
I told my tale as I have now shared it with you, my friends, and I knew I had found my calling. I was later fired from the grocery store for usurping the responsibility of management to speak with the press. I took this as a sign to travel, to seek out new civilizations, and to boldly go where so few have gone before.
– Terry
Terry Traveller
Email: terry@discoveradel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverAdel.TerryTraveller?fref=ts
Terry Traveller’s Foreign Correspondence – Woo Part 3
The legal team said something about an “homage” and freedom of speech… and due to a contractual agreement, the saga continues. – Editor
Back again readers of the most exciting travel journal since Betty Lou Grimes’ classic, “My Living Room in Flushings, NY- A Photo Essay”.
I have recovered from my recent malady, thanks to several overnight packages of aloe Vera, apple cider vinegar, Spam and peanut butter cups.
Thank you everyone for the kind words and support as I continue to share with you my tales of Waponi Woo- Part III.
At night the little island with the big volcano is filled with fire- a favorite of your favorite travel writer/ pyro-enthusiast. The lanterns burn, large woodpiles burn, small huts are doused in water.
The orange glow of the fire, reflecting off the orange glow of the soda cans produces euphoria not unlike cream cheese wedding mints. During the evening feast there are trials of strength, blinking contests, and poetry readings. They are far better than that of Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings of Essex.
The music of the Waponi tribe is spiritual, soulful, repetitive, and constant. The original composers of “The Song That Never Ends”, each villager adds his or her own rhythmic chant to the continuous sound. It is heard every moment: the 12 beat whistle as someone walks past, the 12 beat humming of children while their parents are talking to them, the 12 beat wheezing snore of the village lookout.
At first it was beautiful, but countless repetitions of the same song will wear down anyone’s nerves. Luckily the state secrets I once held have now been divulged with the FOIA. I attempted to add my own chant, to mix it up a bit, and I was told it sounded like a Jimmy Buffet song and was asked to stop.
It is the philosophy of the Waponi that every man is a volcanic island sprung from, and surrounded by, vast oceans of surprising depth. Left to his own devices, marooned on the island so to speak, he is bound to insanity and what they call The Dance of The Ants in the Pants. Defined by fanciful flights of fantasy, these delusions of grandeur often manifest into obsessions with the ukulele. Only by accepting that his vast ocean is comingled with the oceans of others can he find redemption.
They also believe that one person every 100 years must jump into the Big Woo (big, big volcano) or the whole tribe will lose that which they covet most. This time around it is the tasty orange soda like beverage known as Jump. I was asked to take the leap from the lizard’s head into the volcano, but my asthma began to act up amongst the steam and ash forcing me to return to my hut for my inhaler.
Noticing the time, I packed my belonging and ran to my water taxi returning just in time to make the redeye to LAX. As we left the volcano shook and rumbled, burped out a small glob of molten hot lava, and settled back into the peaceful calm of the night. Reports state that no one jumped into the Big Woo- the small eruption was no more than volcanic flatulence.
I have been honored to report from Waponi Woo, and hope to return once the rebuilding process is complete. If I have learned anything, it is simply this: it is only with new experiences that we learn what truly matters, and only with distance that we learn to truly appreciate what matters.
– Terry
Terry Traveller
Email: terry@discoveradel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverAdel.TerryTraveller?fref=ts
Terry Reviews Adel’s Island Park
Courtesy of Adel Park and Rec:
There is nothing I like more than camping.
Sure, I’ve slept under the stars in plenty of countries.
Witnessed the deepest darkness of the jungle, the dusty horizon of the desert, and those eerily loud nights under the power converters.
But an Iowa night under familiar stars, surrounded by trees, near a river, close to the smell of cornstalks, sleeping in an RV instead of a cave, is hard to beat.
When I’m in town I like staying at the Island Park Campground, located along the banks of the Raccoon River in Adel. The small park is welcoming throughout the summer to RVs and tents with a simple and traditional charm.
Located just on the north edge of town, Island Park is close to all the comforts of town should you burn the breakfast or forget the bug spray, but far enough away to offer clear skies and a genuine sense of tranquility.
To reach the Island Park Campground you can drive via 169 headed north at 2400 Nantucket Rd., or by foot using the historic railroad bridge spanning the top of the dam crossing the Raccoon River.
So close to the river, it is important to check that the park is open during wet summers. No sewer hookups (dump site only.) If you have any questions just call Parks & Recreation Director Nick Schenck at 515-993-4525.
Fires are allowed so bring the hotdogs and marshmallows. If you need electric hook-ups & water spots are available for $20 a night, tent camping is just $13 a night. Senior Citizens are eligible for a $1/night discount.
So grab your sleeping bags, flashlights, and camping gear, throw it in the back of the car with an armload of firewood, and head to Island Park Campground in Adel!
Island Park Campground
2400 Nantucket Road
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4525
Adel Parks & Rec.
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4525
Email: nschenck@adeliowa.org
Facebook: Adel-Parks-and-Recreation/1513050525640281
Terry Traveller’s Foreign Correspondence – Woo Part 2
From our… “illustrious explorer”. – Editor
Hello, hello fellow travelers! It is I, Terry Traveler here with Part II of my adventures traveling to the mostly unknown island of Waponi Woo or “Little island with a big volcano”.
I can say that homesickness has begun to show its menacing face upon the wrinkles of my lobster red face, neck, and scalp.
I ran out of sunscreen several days ago and have since been using a local remedy provided by the village Sage.
It is an unnaturally bright yellow with a thick consistency similar to that of butter. I spread the oily substance across my body for a few days, but the red only seemed to deepen from a rosy blush to an angry scarlet.
On day three I asked for the ingredients and was handed a tub of “Say It Ain’t So!” margarine. Thank goodness for my previous foraging experience that lead me to the location of aloe plants and natural anti-inflammatory herbs. The margarine is exceptional on toast.
Days on Waponi Woo are spent in the most relaxing manner possible. In my current condition I can do little but lie in my hut and wince at the topical breezes, but in the great days before sunburn, I would only move 15 feet outside my hut to a rattan lounge chair and do the same. As there is little commerce, there is a great deal of time available to necessity, and being highly efficient people, the Waponi have found several ways to accomplish all that is required in less than 3 hours of daylight, leaving them plenty of room for hobbies.
The men hunt and fish before retiring to the shade for countless hours of snail race gambling- coconuts, bananas, live squid are all used as currency (and the suckers give a great facial massage. I easily look 20 days younger.)
The women here have been weaving a garland of flowers for decades. One generation teaches the next until the single strand covers the village. Of course the flowers wither and die, as do the artisans, so each generation spends their life repairing and replacing the garland. When I spoke of plastic flowers an elderly member of the village called me a Hollywood hack.
Something in that compliment reminded me of home, and now, as I prepare to waddle in excruciating pain from the village hotspot back to the uncomfortable comforts of lying still and wincing, I can think of little else than my own bed, my own pillow, and my own prescription burn cream. (Third shelf behind the Tucks. Send care of T. Traveler, The Weird Guy’s Hut, Waponi Woo. Somebody, have a heart!)
Watch for Part III of my wild adventure on Waponi Woo! (Remember: burn cream.)
– Terry
Terry Traveller
Email: terry@discoveradel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverAdel.TerryTraveller?fref=ts
Adel Dental Group Ribbon Cutting & Open House June 19th
Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce:
Please join the Chamber in welcoming Adel Dental Group to Adel.
You are invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, June 19th at 4:30 pm.
Following the ribbon cutting there will be an open house.
We hope to see you there!
Adel Dental Group
Dr. L. Eric Anderson, DDS
Dr. Lona Kouri, DDS
Dr. Ames Cross, DDS
216 Nile Kinnick Dr S
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: 515-993-4333
Email: AdelDentalGroup@gmail.com
Phone: www.AdelDentalGroup.com
Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 73, 301 S.
10th Street, 2nd Floor
Adel, IA 50003
Email: chamber@AdelPartners.Org
Website: www.adelpartners.org
Facebook: AdelPartnersChamberOfCommerce
Terry Traveller’s Foreign Correspondence – Woo Part 1
Terry sent this one in a bottle. Written in yellow crayon and mailed to the office… “postage due”. – Editor
Terry here, and this time, I am truly traveling.
I was recently sent on assignment to a tiny gem of this world at the base of the Big Woo and from my small hut-like home base I send you this three-part greeting.
I am writing a small entry for a guidebook to the region, on behalf of the local tribesmen’s publicity department. I won’t get paid, per say, but I’ll return home with my pockets full of Macadamia nuts. My only requirement was that I be allowed to share the exclusive story with my dedicated fans of DiscoverAdel.com.
* Please disregard the occasional use of text language throughout the article; I am trying to appeal to the younger generation on behalf of the publicity department and it seems these youngsters can no longer understand the use of spelled out words and punctuation. I would worry about offending them by writing this, but they gave up at “disregard.”
The world here is simple- no TV, no Gluten-Free Vanilla Chai Soy Lattes in a reusable travel mug, no need for weather reports. I find myself enjoying the distance from the complications of the modern Iowan’s lifestyle.
No need to check on my stocks- 3 cans of green beans and a suspicious can of dog food in the pantry at home monitored by surveillance camera (where did that can of dog food come from?!?), to consider my bank account statement, or sleep in, drive fast, and show up 20 minutes late to work with a speeding ticket all because of someone else’s fault. No, here the pace is slow; an even cruising speed of 2.42 miles per hour that besets man, woman, child, beast, and the ticking hands of the clock.
Here, we are away from the things of man with few exceptions, such as the intermittent 56k Internet connection and a regular supply of a mighty tasty orange soda the locals call Jump. The flavor is delightful from a bottle; never under any circumstances, drink it from the can.
That’s all for now as the chief needs to make an important phone call and I’m holding up the phone line. Watch for Part II of my wild adventure on Waponi Woo coming soon!
– Terry
Terry Traveller
Email: terry@discoveradel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverAdel.TerryTraveller?fref=ts
Terry Traveller Series – The Story of the Orange Parka
I’ve always been a little nervous to ask Terry, “what’s up with the orange parka?” Anyone who’s followed Terry knows that thing is a hallmark of our “illustrious friend”. So imagine my delight when Terry carrier pidegeoned this to the office. – Editor
Dear Fellow Travelers,
My trademark orange parka has been with me for ages. I remember my previous jacket, a lime green affair with fur lining and leather cuffs. That unsightly apparel marked my youthful disregard for fashion and as I approached a new decade I felt it was time for something new. Not to mention the coat had recently been marred by a pack of ill-trained sled dogs with the taste for polyester.
I purchased my orange parka in a strange bazaar west of Calcutta in preparation for a three-week hike to the highest peak in the region. My Sherpa, Freddie, stood next to me as I selected backpacks, survival gear, and a switchblade comb- the essential needs of any professional traveler.
I stood confused for a moment, torn between two pairs of wool socks, unsure which would be better suited for our affair. I asked his opinion and he kindly quipped, “If we are to spend day and night together, I recommend more than one pair of socks, Stinky. Besides, socks are fundamental and unseen. A true hiker is defined by the coat they wear.”
I looked to my growing pile of merchandise and realized I had not yet selected the most important element of the ensemble. I certainly couldn’t decide which pair of socks to buy without having a coat to match them against, and staying warm was probably important, too.
Walking around the store I saw blobs of blue, grey, and black. These were not the coats of travelers. These were the coats of ski bunnies. Distinguished ski bunnies, but nonetheless. I wanted a coat of distinction. A coat with the dignity to loudly yell, “I am a Parka!” A coat that could be seen should an avalanche take place due to the Parka’s exclamation.
Freddie was reviewing the mileage charts of the available pack mules on the other side of the store. The shopkeeper was busy inventorying his latest shipment of imported sunflower seeds. I was beginning to give up hope. Suddenly I found it. The clearance rack- home to the most unique options available.
Amongst the irregular flannel tuxedos for the fashionable sportsman, my vision was drawn to a small patch of orange at the end of the rack. I had found it: a long, orange parka with fur-lined hood. Doubt crossed my mind. These things never came in my size, yet as I put it on I found it fit perfectly. The coat was long and boxy so it could double as a sleeping bag- duplicity has always been a passion of mine. I looked in the mirror and saw the distinguished figure my former lime green parka had only attempted to highlight. This was the look of an adventurer!
With Freddie’s help I selected the ideal pair of wool socks, grey with an orange argyle print, though I was forced at his knifepoint to pick up three additional pairs with superior wicking technology. I must admit I was thankful for this exchange not 10 feet from the store as I walked in a puddle of unknown origin and took on a skunk-like smell that hung with us for the remainder of our trip. I will remember Freddie fondly for his sage-like advice and share his final words to me so that they may be as inspirational as they were to me, chanted in his singsong style right in the middle of my popular medley of off-key melodies: “Avalanche! Avalanche! Avalanche!”
– Terry
Terry Traveller
Email: terry@discoveradel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverAdel.TerryTraveller?fref=ts
Harvey’s Ribbon Cutting & Open House (with Photos)
Courtesy of Harvey’s Greenhouse:
Valerie and Mike Sutton had a great turn out of well wishers at the Harvey’s Greenhouse Ribbon cutting and Open House last Friday, May 8th.
Valerie and Mike continue the tradition of the 114 year family business, previously owned by Valerie’s grandparent’s, Don and Mary Harvey.
Mike and Valerie are both originally from Adel and will be moving back this summer. They have 3 children, Paisley (8), Hoyt (4), and Krue (3). Valerie studied Horticulture in college and Mike studied Animal Science. They’re also the owners of Midwest Augers, Inc., a horizontal auger boring business.
- Harvey’s Ribbon Cutting
- Attending Members of the Harvey Family
- The Harvey’s Team
The Sutton’s plan to uphold the traditions and offerings of Don & Mary Harvey, but also plan to expand and grow the business.
Harvey’s currently offers a wide variety of Cactus and Succulents, Herbs, Annuals, Perennials, Tropicals, Scented Geraniums, Water Plants, House Plants, Vegetables, Trees, Shrubs, and a full service Florist.
Harvey’s prides themselves in growing the items that you won’t find elsewhere, including vintage, rare, and brand new selections. The greenhouses are open year round and visitors are always welcome.
Harvey’s Greenhouse
611 Nile Kinnick Dr. S.
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-3916
Website: www.harveyfloral.com
Facebook: harveys-greenhouse-and-garden-center/282785477002
Terry Traveller Series – Episode Two
Terry is back out in the field, and has sent in this recent report in Terry’s on going series.
Inspired by a visit to Terry’s 23rd class reunion (it’s Terry and I’ve quit asking.)
Nonetheless, with a respectful nod to Theodor Seuss Geisel, “this isn’t a story about Here. It isn’t a story about There. It’s a story about Everywhere”. – Editor
Dear Fellow Travelers,
And now, a wise fable by the prolific author and DiscoverAdel.com correspondent, Terry Traveler.
In a small town many miles from a large metropolis, sat a small town grocery store along a beautiful scenic byway. The store had been built in the earliest economic fervor by a wealthy family man and prominent community icon. The store was modest yet extensive, offering all that the local patronage could want and more: a meat department with highly trained butcher, hot and cold deli items, freshly made baked goods, quality produce and household odds and ends. The store was also a gathering place for all who lived nearby and soon became a wonderful hotbed for local gossip, politics, and general busybody activities.
Over the years the store prospered and became the best place for school kids to learn customer service and the meaning of hard work. The leadership was handed down from family member to family member and with each new generation changes were made to continue to meet customer needs. Soon the store needed to expand, and the town was a buzz as construction crews added hundreds of square feet to the store and parking lot. The ribbon cutting was well attended and all were awed by the clean, well-lit store.
Years past and times changed. The beautiful scenic byway became a popular tourist attraction and soon a fast food restaurant opened along the exit ramp. For the first time, the store was simply profitable, and bonuses were skimmed to meet margins. But fast food could never contend with the human need for locally grown produce and feminine hygiene products and the store prevailed. But dark clouds were churning on the horizon.
The profitable fast food drive-thru drew the attention of competing chains and soon the exit ramp was filled with various options of cheap, fast, and questionably good food. The family grocery store attempted to compete by extending its hours. Now open 24 hours, store management was tasked with employing the store at all hours, and with so many options, school age employees were hard to come by. In an attempt to satisfy everyone and the mighty dollar, 20-year veterans of the grocery store were forced to work long shifts and holidays. Soon the most dependable employees found reason enough to retire, and a new wave of management, no longer associated with the original family, set in.
This the grocery store could have withstood, had it not been for the dark horse of a big box chain opening just a few miles away. The small grocery store began to worry- it could not compete with the surprisingly low prices and blue light specials. Month after month customers were siphoned to the mega store as the grocery store struggled. Quality customer service remained the top priority, but dirty shelves and floors could not be ignored and the quality of products dropped sharply. Attempting to save money, management changed suppliers and limited the number of items ordered. Customers began to complain of rotten produce, overpriced meat, and limited selection. With each complaint frustration seemed to seep deeper and deeper into the staff and soon the high quality customer service was witnessed only by the loyal yet limited patronage.
For the first time in 52 years the store lost money, and the trend continued until the store mournfully announced it would close after 55 years of service. Loyal customers swept through the store and purchased all that the shelves contained at 80-90% off. On the final day the 5 customers who visited wept. They had been the first customers to walk through the doors 55 years ago; had stocked the shelves to pay their way to college, and the bare walls and vast emptiness erased all the happy memories of times past.
The land was purchased by another large chain and the building was demolished with nary a witness to its demise. Within a few months multiple chains had filled the space and few remembered the tiny grocery store that had been the backbone of the community. Soon the town began to atrophy, with large developments drawing attention away from the center of town and those who visited the beautiful scenic byway saw no need to tour its namesake.
Today valiant yet vain attempts, made by the few determined townsfolk, are made to drawn attention back to the community but the illuminated luster of the so-called convenient store cannot be beat. The townsfolk continue to ask where they went wrong; why their children have no ties to home and move from the community; what could have been done differently but few are willing to admit that the town had sold its soul for the reduced prices of greasy food and convenience.
– Terry
Terry Traveller
Email: terry@discoveradel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverAdel.TerryTraveller?fref=ts
Maximum Physical Therapy Ribbon Cutting May 19th
Maximum Physical Therapy in Adel will hold a Ribbon Cutting and Open House – Tuesday, May 19th at 3:30 pm.
Please come out and help welcome them to Adel.
Maximum Physical Therapy LLC
817 Main St.
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-2170
Kim Layland Real Estate Ribbon Cutting April 30th
Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce:
Please join the Chamber in welcoming Kim Layland and Orton Homes to Adel!
You are invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony for Kim Layland Real Estate.
Thursday, April 30th, 4:00 – 6:30 pm at 1017 Shelby Drive, Adel, IA.
Kim Layland with RE/MAX Precision is proud to be representing Orton Homes in Bailey’s Grove.
Please join us for a Ribbon Cutting and Community Open House.
Immediately following the ribbon cutting, Kim will be opening the new model home for tours, light refreshments, and door prize drawings.
For more information, call Kim at 515-669-4999 or email Kim@Kimlayland.com.
Need directions? Take Highway 169 South from downtown Adel to Bailey’s Grove Drive (West), follow to Shelby Drive, turn right (North) and follow to 1017 Shelby Drive.
We hope to see you there!
Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 73, 301 S.
10th Street, 2nd Floor
Adel, IA 50003
Email: chamber@AdelPartners.Org
Website: www.adelpartners.org
Facebook: AdelPartnersChamberOfCommerce
UMC Evening of Love Songs – Thank you!
Courtesy of Adel United Methodist Church
Let’s be honest, we know why it all came together!
Praise God for the wonderful weekend of the 25th Anniversary Evening of Love Songs.
Thanks so much to each of you who were there, for those of you who prayed, for the performers, for the cooks, for the youth, for…well, for everything.
Each and every one of you played a part in a successful weekend of beautiful music and beautiful friendship.
We have raised over $2500.00 to put toward the 2015 Mission Trip! So generous of all of you. Wow.
– peace and laughter, kb
Adel United Methodist Church
115 South Tenth Street
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-3791
Website: www.c-we.com/adelumc
Terry Traveller Series – Episode One
I’ve know Terry for longer than we’ve been publishing DiscoverAdel.com.
Terry’s business reviews are always clear and on the spot, so why wouldn’t I sign Terry to do a series of travel pieces?
Well, … we start a fascinating series (contractual agreement) of Terry’s unique travels. I suggest you take it with a grain of salt, I add lemon and ice to mine.
– Editor
Dear Fellow Travelers,
It was a hot, dry day in a country I found myself in after taking a wrong turn at Albuquerque. (Side note: never buy an ACME map from a guy named Bugs.) It may have been Scotland, but it was probably in Asia. The elephant I was riding may have been a clue.
My guide spoke with a British twang and his dry, silent wit reminded me of home. After hours of telling him my tales of adventure, his fingers in his ears chanting out in praise of my heroism, we reached the main intersection- a clearing in the wild filled with animals traveling just like me. Feeling a kinship to these four legged- winged migrants, we entered the clearing to join the pack.
Suddenly the animals scattered, right in the middle of my story about an altogether uneventful 8-hour layover at the Atlanta airport. My guide stood pointing at an approaching man imitating a Heisman trophy statue. Dodging left and right, he seemed desperate in his movements as what I thought were dragonflies, but later saw to be arrows, flew past, thrown by a dozen brightly clad, shouting angry men.
My guide and I froze- the circus of men flew past within a few dozen yards, oblivious to our existence. The football star in the fashionable archeologist hat had broken free of the hoard, yelling for his yak who must have run off, since the runner dived quickly into the nearby river and hijacked a fisherman and his WATERCRAFT- visible just to the left of the clearing. The angry men continued their screaming and throwing until the plane was well into the air. They ran, following its path.
The clearing had returned to its natural chatter. My guide, the nearby gossiping animals, and myself had been the sole observers of this exchange. A loud cry from my elephant startled us from thought; my guide looked back at me, shrugged his shoulders without smiling, and we existed the clearing, returning to the well trampled trail leading away from all the excitement and onward towards Albuquerque.
Happy travels!
– Terry
Terry Traveller
Email: terry@discoveradel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverAdel.TerryTraveller?fref=ts
Waukee Senior Residents Moved by Students’ Performance
Courtesy of Watermark Communities/VillageLegacyPointe:
North Waukee Middle School students in the eighth-grade jazz band put on a performance for 52 residents from The Village at Legacy Pointe in Waukee.
While all attendees enjoyed the youthful performance, some residents who live with memory loss or dementia were deeply moved.
One such resident, who was moved to tears, said he remembered the songs and listening to music like the music they were playing.
“Music stimulates many parts of the brain. It can bring back memories, increase socialization, relieve stress, calm and improve mood for those with memory loss,” said Tammy Olson, Executive Director at The Village at Legacy Pointe. “It is wonderful that these students shared their talent.”
The performance is one of many musical events The Village at Legacy Pointe hosts, with at least two planned every month for residents of the Memory Care neighborhood at the community. 
For more information contact The Village at Legacy Pointe at 515-987-4100 or visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/VillageLegacyPointe.
Media Contacts:
Amy Barth, Executive Director
The Village at Legacy Pointe
515-987-4100
Katelin Schwarck
Hanser & Associates (for Watermark Retirement Communities)
Office 515-224-1086 / Direct 515-421-4136
About The Village at Legacy Pointe Retirement Community of Waukee
Located at 1650 SE Holiday Crest Circle, The Village at Legacy Pointe retirement community of Waukee serves up to 186 residents, with levels of care including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Rehabilitation/Skilled Nursing. Watermark Retirement Communities Inc., one of America’s leading operators of senior living communities, owns and manages The Village at Legacy Pointe. Amy Barth is the Executive Director of the community. For more information, visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/VillageLegacyPointe or call 515-987-4100.
About Watermark Retirement Communities Inc.
Watermark Retirement Communities Inc. is the nation’s 16th largest senior housing operator. Watermark’s commitment to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive dates back 30 years to when it opened its first retirement community in 1987. Watermark manages
Garden of Grace – Grace Lutheran Adel
Courtesy of Grace Lutheran Church:
Garden of Grace is a new community mission to help feed the hungry in and around the ADM community.
A plot of land at Adel’s Grace Lutheran Church will be prepared by volunteers to receive produce seeds and/or plants.
Volunteer by sending an e-mail to Marty Radke at mtradke@gmail.com or call 314-5650.
Grace Lutheran Church
23932 Meadow Rd
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: 515-993-4766
Website: https://gracelutheranadel.wordpress.com
Facebook: Grace-Lutheran-Adel/108738569213888
BASE® ERISA Wrap Offers Another Layer of Protection!
Avoid $110 per-day per-employee Department of Labor penalty in the event of an audit with the BASE ERISA Wrap.
In March, BASE announced a new ERISA compliance service offered through the BASE ERISA Wrap.
The federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) mandates that employers/plan administrators must provide an SPD to each participant and that ERISA-covered plans be maintained in accordance with a written Plan Document.
Many businesses mistakenly assume that insurance contracts, certificates of insurance and benefits summaries fulfill the ERISA requirements for an SPD and Plan Document, but they don’t include the required or recommended provisions that protect the plan, the employer and plan fiduciaries.
Why do you need it?
ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) requires employers who are plan administrators of their health and welfare benefit plans to maintain and distribute Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) to plan participants, while maintaining a written Plan Document to be made available to plan participants and beneficiaries upon request for every benefit you sponsor. While BASE® currently provides an SPD and Plan Document for your Premium Only Plan, if you sponsor any other benefits such as health insurance you may be out of compliance.
Quick Facts
- Virtually all employers who offer or sponsor benefits, regardless of size or number of participants must have an ERISA Wrap.
- In a random-sampling of plans by the Department of Labor, 7 out of 10 plans failed to comply with some aspect of ERISA’s provisions.
- If you offer any type of health and welfare benefit plan (ie. medical plan, dental plan, Health Savings Account (HSA), prescription drug plan, etc.), you must supply your employees with Summary Plan Descriptions and written Plan Documents.
- Insurance contracts, certificates of insurance and benefits summaries do not fulfill the ERISA requirements for an SPD and Plan Document.
BASE is a local Adel company providing employee benefits and compliance services to businesses across the country. Let us help you make sure you are fulfilling DOL requirements in the event of an audit by calling 1-888-386-9680 or visit http://www.baseonline.com/ERISA_Wrap.html to learn more.
Base
601 Visions Pkwy
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5050
Website: www.baseonline.com
