August 30th, 2010

Residents,

Seems like we are in the dog daze of not only summer but of the street project as well. The last two weeks since the Festival has seen much activity in the way of brick removal and storm sewer improvements.

Activity for this week will include:

• Storm sewer work at 9th and Court
• Sub-drain installation from Prairie to Court
• Sub-base installation with modified rock will start this week at Prairie and 9th and progress north.
• Cross your fingers but we are hoping the Courthouse lights are back on this week also.

No major surprises in this phase of the project other than the horse trough / fountain thing. For those that did not get to see it, here are photos of the mystery object. Can anyone date or identify the object?

Stay tuned for further updates through the week.

Chad

Chad A. Bird
City Administrator
City of Adel
515-993-4525 • Fax 515-993-4527

Adel Veterinary Clinic offers Acupuncture

Courtesy of Adel Veterinary Clinic

Serving clients is a top priority at Adel Veterinary Clinic!

The clinic is now open until 7pm on Tuesday evenings to offer clients additional evening hours for appointments.

Dr. Elizabeth Holland is also offering acupuncture appointments on Mondays from 2-6pm and Tuesdays from 2-7pm.

Acupuncture is commonly used in pets for arthritis, chronic pain, and injuries as well as for medical conditions such as liver or kidney disease.

For more information please visit the website or call the office at 515-993-4707.

Adel Veterinary Clinic PC
619 Greene St
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: 515-993-4707
www.adelvet.com

Cedar Creek Animal Clinic in Adel

Courtesy of the Cedar Creek Animal Clinic

Cedar Creek Animal Clinic, formerly known as H.T. Holcomb, DVM, is a full service small animal facility that strives to provide the highest quality animal healthcare in the area.

The facility offers personalized care and provides all basic veterinary services such as surgery, medicine radiology, and dentistry.

The clinic has a specialized interest in canine reproductive medicine with services ranging from evaluation to pregnancy detection. A full list of services is available on the website!

The skilled animal healthcare team holds a combined 29 years of experience and is made up of Dr. John Holcomb, Dr. Jennifer Hoffelmeyer, Crystal Sharp, Amy Hall, and Kara Christensen.

At Cedar Creek Animal Clinic, we are here when you need us. We look forward to serving all of your pet’s healthcare needs.

To find out more about this great Adel service, please contact the Cedar Creek Animal Clinic or visit www.cedarcreekanimalclinic.com.

Cedar Creek Animal Clinic
112 S 9th St
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: 515-993-3410
www.cedarcreekanimalclinic.com

Adel Sweet Corn Shucking Gallery

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Seven tons of sweet corn was shucked Friday evening on the 13th, in preparation for the Adel Sweet Corn Festival, which was held the next day.

It rained in the afternoon but cleared up shortly before the schucking started.

KIOA radio was on hand to playing music for the crowds as families and friends gathered.

In less than 3 hours all of the corn was prepped for the festival. Many thanks to all who turned out to help!

The Official Adel Fan Club Gallery

Traveling each year from California, the Official Adel Fan Club has become a much loved part of the Adel Sweet Corn Festival.

Jacqueline McLaughlin, Matthew Livingston, and Mary Wilcox (all from California) were introduced to the festival by Laura O’Brien (also from California) who is married to Jerry O’Brien (from Adel).

Over the years they and the town of Adel have adopted each other as family. This year the ladies even painted their toes to match the corn!

As you’ll see in the gallery, they were as energetic Sunday night as they were Saturday!

Adel looks forward to welcoming them back again next year!

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Terry Visits the Adel Sweet Corn Festival

Over the years I have been part of various festivals around the world. From the Pilgrimage in Rome to a Scandinavian Cheese Rolling Festival in 1984, I always have a great time celebrating with the locals.

In August I participated in the Adel Sweet Corn Festival for the first time in 10 years after being abroad.

I began my morning watching the parade. Kids lined the streets rushing for the goodies thrown from the float. I snagged a few pieces of candy that were good-naturedly tossed at my head from a fast moving dune buggy.

I then joined the crowd as we marched to the destination of the day, the Corn Tent! The lines moved quickly as I chitchatted with festival goers young and old. The kids, impatiently shifting from foot to foot, next to their parents who kept reassuring them it was worth the wait.

I got to the front of the line, and not wanting to be greedy, asked for just 8 ears of corn. I was served by the Adel Fan Club and got an Official Adel Fan Club 2010 bracelet I still wear with pride.

I joined a group of friends on the Courthouse lawn and devoured plate after plate of corny goodness. It was the best corn I’ve ever had, and I’m sure the other 10,000 people would agree!

Once full, I started taking in the sites. I bought my fair share of BBQ and handmade crafts before I stopped by the DiscoverAdel.com booth. Imagine my surprise to find a family posing for pictures with a, dare I say it, dashing cutout of yours truly! *A worthwhile disclaimer, I like to think I’m taller in person.

Before the family moved to the next booth, they registered to win the great prizes we had to offer. Shanna Anglin won the Atherton House Artisan Pitcher, with Mike Whisner and Troy Havener each winning a set of golf passes to the River Valley Golf Course.

As the sun started to retreat, we back to the DiscoverAdel headquarters to relax, just for a moment, before heading out to the Community Dance.

Even after a long day, the crowd was excited to hear some live music and enjoy a beer or two. I sat in my lawn chair and looked around, a smile moving across my face. In all my years of traveling, of finding the new and wonderful, nothing beats Adel!

– Terry

Tour the Adel Public Library- With Photo Gallery

Published: August 2010

A great library instills growth, thinking, and dreaming for all those in the community.

The Adel Public Library is a shining example of historic preservation, modern advancements, and small town charm.

Let’s tour this local gem and see what makes it’s visitors say “Wow!”

When you walk up to the building you will notice the modern design. The large glass wall is unlike any other architecture in Adel. As your view widens you will begin to see the traditional design elements that allow the new building to blend seamlessly into the historic surroundings.

First you will find the community room, available to rent for small gatherings. The library uses this room for exercise classes, scrapbook marathons, quilting groups, and more. Non-profit groups can rent it for free!

You’ll be greeted at the reception desk by a warm and friendly staff member eager to help you find the perfect book. Feel feel to ask for help finding a specific book, section, or the best spot to read.

The first floor is dedicated to Children’s books and Periodicals. The play area is decorated in an underwater theme with toys, puzzles, and places to sit and read. The bookshelves are full of book both old and new alike. They are also short, accommodating even the youngest of readers.

You’ll find magazines and newspapers at the far end of the library, as well as plenty of quiet, comfortable reading spots. The tinted glass wall allows soft light to fill the library. When the weather is nice, consider heading outside to the Garden Sitting area! Another great feature of the new library is that it is handicap accessible with automated front doors and an elevator.

Heading upstairs, you’ll find the books you were looking for. General Fiction is to the right, Non Fiction is across the back. If you’re not a friend of the Dewey Decimal system, don’t worry! Each bookshelf is labeled to show what you’ll find among the racks. To the left you’ll find the Teen Reading section, Biographies, and Paperback books.

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Head to the Mystery, Western, Science Fiction or Inspirational sections to find books of the same genre. Each section is clearly labeled, making your hunt for good literature much easier than at other libraries.

Not sure where your books might be? Stop by the computerized card catalog to your right. There you can search by Title, Author, Subject and more. Write down the call number and feel free to ask the second floor librarian to help you find it!

The Teen Reading area is one of the biggest draws for readers. There is a wide selection of books for young adults of different ages and interests. The floor is covered with fun chairs which granting a quiet, relaxing place to get lost in a book. The walls display volunteer opportunities, suggestions of books to read, and advertise upcoming events designed specifically for Teens.

Something the library is very proud of are the public use computer stations. Anyone is able to access the computers for free, just sign up at the second floor reception desk. Print your homework or resume for 10 cents a page.

The best thing about the Adel Public Library that sets it part from the rest, is the staff. Every person who volunteers or works for the library is friendly and helpful. Whether you need help finding a book, signing up for an activity, or learning how to use the internet, the staff is there for you.

While you are enjoying the library, take a moment to appreciate the artwork. There are paintings, prints, and weavings throughout the library created by patrons and students. Take a close look, you may know the artist!

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Taking a digital tour of the library is nothing in comparison to exploring it firsthand. So head out and experience the Adel Public Library for yourself!

Adel Public Library
310 S 10th St.
Adel, IA 50003
515-993-3512
www.adelpl.org

The Adel Fan Club

(Reprinted from the August 2010 Newsletter)

The Adel Sweet Corn Festival has been drawing huge crowds for over 3 decades. Each year the event grows, gaining recognition for Adel.

Fans of the festival are all ages and come from around the world to enjoy the spirit of the community, small town charm, and never ending hospitality.

One group, the Adel Fan Club, travels each year from California and has become as much apart of the tradition as the corn served.

We got the chance to speak with Jacqueline McLaughlin, Matthew Livingston, and Mary Wilcox about why they love the Sweet Corn Festival!

Q. What was your first Sweet Corn Festival like?

Matthew: My friend and partner in crime, Jackie, invited me to the festival in 2001. Her exact words were ‘No! You don’t want to go on a surfing safari. I know just the thing you need.’ The first thing I remember was pulling into the town square and seeing the Courthouse. It was magnificent. I thought, ‘We are on to something here!’

Mary: In 2003, my friend Laura O’Brien (from California) who married Jerry O’Brien (from Adel) invited me to join them for the Festival. My first view of Adel was driving in on the Saturday of the festival, in my rental car and Laura greeting me on the corner with an ear of sweet corn and a cold beer. Since then I have been back every year.

Jacqueline: My friend, Jerry O’Brien told me about the Sweet Corn Festival. My first trip to Adel was in 1996, and I’ve been coming back ever since.

Q. Why do you keep coming back?

Jacqueline: I truly love and adore my friends that I have made in Adel. Everyone is always so hospitable to us.

Matthew: The friends I’ve made and the chance to make new friends. Jackie and I met Mary in 2003 at the Rendezvous Lounge. It is about the Parade, the John Deere Tractors are my favorites, the sense of community at the corn shucking, and the corn!

Mary: Besides the best sweet corn I have ever tasted and the old school charm of the town of Adel, its about the most dear and wonderful people in my life that I met at that festival. They have made us feel not only like a part of the community, but a part of the family.

Q. Why are you fans of the Festival?

Jacqueline: To say we are fans would be an understatement! We love Adel, the residents, and the Sweet Corn Festival so much we started the Adel Fan Club.

Matthew: It’s about corn! One year we festooned my car with banners and streamers; the girls in fine evening wear and boas, me, driving in a tux & bow tie.We snuck my car down our friends’ driveway, entered the parade, and the Adel Fan Club was born.

Mary: We have been in the parade 3 times (unofficially and officially.) We formed The Adel Fan Club, of which I am the vice president, and now have a standing sweet corn serving shift right after the parade.

Q. What are you looking forward to this year?

Mary: I am looking forward to the Festival, shucking corn Friday evening, enjoying the parade, and of course our shift serving corn. Most importantly I look forward to seeing and spending time with our treasured friends.

Jacqueline: We proudly work the first corn serving shift every year, which is always a highlight of the day! Another thing we always do is help shuck the corn on Friday night in preparation for the big day. This is a fun time to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.

Matthew: When in line for corn, look in the back. I’ll be one of the guys bringing the fresh cooked corn to the girls… more corn!

Make sure to stop by the corn tent and introduce yourself and say hello to the Adel Fan Club August 14th!

Chad Bird – City Update on Brick Construction

Fellow Residents,

The latest on the 2010 Brick Street Project:

One street is done, Court Street was finished on Thursday and the crosswalks on Main and Court at Hwy 169 were completed last evening. The brick laying crew started on Main Street this afternoon and expect to work Saturday and be completed by Tuesday. It takes about three days to complete the laying of one street block.

Beginning on Tuesday the concrete crews will be back in town to finish the concrete work, sidewalks, and bumpouts.

Around the end of next week (August 6th) the brick crews will be back in town to finish the final brick details, the band in the sidewalk and the sidewalk brick in the bumpouts.

It is expected that the work in this phase will all be completed by Monday, August 9th.

Business owners, with today’s major rain down pour this morning it was noticed in one basement that there was a water leak due to the construction (a pipe / tile that did not get sealed off). If you have similar issues, and you think they may be related to the project, please let us know and we can take a look at it.

The contractor will be sealing the cracks along the buildings and the new sidewalk with a weather sealer. We discussed this today so that work should happen in the next couple of days.

In case you were wondering about the brick installation and method; the contractor is drilling 2 ½ inch “weep” holes in the concrete and filling them with pea rock, this will help with the drainage in the pan that holds the brick. Next goes the black geo tech fabric and then the sand. The fabric is designed to keep the sand in place and not let it escape through cracks or weep holes thus causing the brick to settle. Please feel free to walk down and review Court Street, we would be interested in knowing your comments on the finished product.

Trivia revisited:

I only had one entry submitted in the contest to see who could guess the correct number of brick in the entire project. The guess was not even close (sorry Rob!). Any other takers?

Second tidbit, we are on day 51 of the project and only have 91 more days to go.

As always – thank you for your patience and endurance during this project. I know it is tough on everyone involved.

Resources:

This website will allow residents and business owners a forum to ask questions, research schedules through an interactive calendar, and view photos of the project’s progress. www.2010brickstreets.blogspot.com

In addition to the above link, the local online magazine, Discover Adel is providing a daily project update with photos and schedule information. You may visit their link at well. www.discoveradel.com, click on the Hardhat.

Thanks again for your understanding and cooperation – please contact me for questions and comments.

Chad

Chad A. Bird
City Administrator
City of Adel
515-993-4525
Fax 515-993-4527

Dallas County Extension Welcomes Costa Rican Guests

Courtesy of Dallas County ISU Extension Office

The Dallas County ISU Extension office hosted a group of 15 students and 2 professors from the University of Costa Rica (UCR) located in San José, Costa Rica.

The tour was part of an 11-year tradition of student exchanges between ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with students from The Faculty of Agriculture at UCR.

Regional Extension Education Director Craig Hertel gave a presentation on the history of the ISU Extension and how it educational programs in counties throughout Iowa.

While in Dallas County the tour visited Turtle Farms, a certified organic Community Supported Agricultural farm near Granger and Penoach Winery of Adel.

Dallas County ISU Extension Office
28059 Fairground Road
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4281
Fax: (515) 993-1027
xdallas@iastate.edu
www.extension.iastate.edu/dallas

Chad Bird – Brick Street Update (Jul 23, 2010)

Fellow Residents,

Lots of concrete being poured in the last few and next few days.

The sidewalks along the south side of the square (along the store fronts) are scheduled to be poured at 5:30am tomorrow (Saturday).

If you don’t really have anything better to do, it might be fun to come out and watch them work.

The crosswalk area along Hwy 169 and Court Street was poured today along with some curb sections along the North side of Court St.

The brick subcontractor is scheduled to be on site first thing Monday morning – this is when the excitement really begins, the brick go back down.

For all you trivia buffs out there… any guesses as to how many brick will be put back into the new streets? We have the official count from the engineers and if you guess it or can find the correct number you’ll win a free commemorative Adel Street Brick.

Please note that the brick contractor will start on Court Street and then will more than likely jump to Main Street to finish that street before Court is done. All has to do with staging and congestion with so many contractors on site at once.

The City has worked out a special arrangement with the Dallas County Farm Bureau to allow public parking in their lot, south of the office, for the duration of the street project. Their lot will be available for free public parking beginning Monday. Signs will go up on Monday designating the lot as public parking. There will be five spaces in the back of the lot reserved for their employees and signs will be posted to that effect.

Also, regarding sidewalks, please note that the contractor has decided to NOT proceed with the sidewalk removal and installation on any part of Main Street west of 9th until after the Sweetcorn Festival. Due to unpredictable weather, they do not want to risk not having that section done for the Festival. Look for that work to commence right after the Festival.

As always – Thank you for all your patience during this project.

Please note the following:

This website will allow residents and business owners a forum to ask questions, research schedules through an interactive calendar, and view photos of the project’s progress. www.2010brickstreets.blogspot.com

In addition to the above link, the local online magazine, Discover Adel is providing a daily project update with photos and schedule information. You may visit their link as well. www.discoveradel.com/brick-street-updates

Thanks again for your understanding and cooperation – please contact me for questions and comments.

Chad

Chad A. Bird
City Administrator
City of Adel
515-993-4525
Fax 515-993-4527

Welcome to the Community!

July 22, 2010

Crews are working steadily to fill the coal chutes on Main Street. Front door access to those businesses are currently closed. Click here to view alternative access information for the affected businesses.

A reminder that there will be a Public Brick Street Project update meeting this evening at the Adel City Hall. The meeting will begin at 6:00pm. Please bring any questions or concerns you have about the project.

If you are unable to attend the meeting please contact Chad Bird at 515-993-4525 for questions or concerns.

Reminder: Brick Street Meeting Tonight

Set your alarms for 6pm tonight and meet us at City Hall for the public informational meeting regarding the Brick Street project.

This is a great opportunity to sit down with fellow residents, business owners, and city officials to discuss the ever-changing downtown Adel landscape.

Do you have questions about the repairs? How the upcoming Sweetcorn Festival will be effected? Then join us tonight, July 22nd at 6pm!

Chad A. Bird
City Administrator
City of Adel
515-993-4525
cbird@adeliowa.org

Update From Chad Bird On Brick Street Repair

Chad Bird, Adel’s City Administrator, has published a letter to the community outlining progress of the street repairs and upcoming changes.

You may read the full article by visiting the Brick Street Updates.

Rob Burditt Recognized For Governor’s Volunteer Award

27th Annual Governor’s Volunteer Award Presented • Rob Burditt Recognized

Rob Burditt of Adel, Iowa received a Governor’s Volunteer Award during a special recognition ceremony held July 16th in Ankeny.

The Governor’s Volunteer Awards (GVA) program was created in 1982, with inaugural awards presented in 1983. The program has grown from a small program only available to state agencies to its present function of providing all Iowa nonprofit, charitable, and government organizations with an easy and effective way to honor their volunteers with a prestigious state-level recognition award.

Volunteers may be nominated for an award in one of several categories: Individual, Group, Length of Service, or Disaster Volunteer. Nearly 800 volunteers were selected for awards in 2010.

Rob Burditt was honored with an Individual Volunteer Award by the City of Adel.

“The devotion of these volunteers has helped Iowa achieve the second highest state volunteer rate in the country,” said Governor Culver. “Lt. Governor Judge, the First Lady, and I are honored to have this opportunity to personally thank this year’s award recipients for donating their time, dedication, and talent to make a tremendous difference in our state.”

The most recent “Volunteering in America” study, released June 15, details the millions of hours that volunteers in Iowa collectively contribute. The estimated annual economic impact of that service is well over $1 billion. The entire report can be viewed at www.volunteeringinamerica.gov.

The Governor’s Volunteer Award program is coordinated by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and the Governor’s Office. For more information, visit www.volunteeriowa.org or call 515.725.3094.

A complete list of 2010 award recipients are available at www.volunteeriowa.org/awards.

For more information, contact:
Jody Benz, Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, 515.725.3094

July 16th, 2010

It’s been a busy week for the street crews. The center lanes were poured on both Court and Main. The parking has been graveled and the curb and gutter has been poured on Main.

Today the crews are removing the old cement next to the highway in preparation of starting on the sidewalks along Main Street. The sidewalk construction will incorporate bridges so that customers can still visit their favorite downtown businesses.

DiscoverAdel will have daily information on the business affected and their alternate access points during the sidewalk stage.

July 15th, 2010

Crews are side drilling in the cement today in preparation of pouring the parking along the streets.

Raccoon River Valley Trail

It’s a beautiful day in Adel to take a bike ride!

The Raccoon River Valley Trail features miles of natural beauty. Make sure you read the Rules of the Road for Bike Riders beforehand.

Interpretive signs along the scenic trail educate users about historic sites as Ortonville, once home to a traveling circus.

Want to read more about the trail? Read our March 2010 newsletter article! In it, we interview the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association board members Chuck and Carla Offenburger.

Raccoon River Valley Trail Association
402 Main Street – Suite 1
Cooper, IA 50009
515-386-5488