​      Emma Bankard, marketing coordinator at MCG in Oskaloosa, and Drew Van Rees, MCG telecom install tech, carry televisions for recycling at the eCycle event in Grinnell on Saturday, April 29.

By J.O. Parker
 
      Vehicles were lined up four or more deep at times as area residents participated in an eCycle event at the former Bayer (Monsanto) site in Grinnell on Saturday, April 29.
     Everything from old televisions to computers, laptops, printers, stereos, CD/DVD/VHS players, telephones and various other electronic devices were collected. The event, the second in Grinnell in recent months, was sponsored by MCG (Mahaska Communication Group), Bayer, Grinnell College and Imagine Grinnell.
     Volunteers with MCG, Bayer and others helped unload and package the electronic items on pallets or in large cardboard (gaylord) containers for trucking to Midwest Electronic Recovery (MER) in Walford.
Randy Long, a spokesperson with the company, said a final number of how much was collected at the Grinnell event was not known at press time.
     “We hold multiple collection events around Earth Day and once we process everything, we will report the number,” said Long.
      The company held a similar eCycle collection event in Oskaloosa the previous week.
MER, which was incorporated in 1999, is under the direction of Long, Ben Kuennen and Caleb Petit. The company also has a location in Clive.
     Between the two locations, the company collected between and 7 – 8 million pounds of electronic waste last year.
      “It’s keeping all of that weight out of the ground through recycling or reusing,” said Long.
E-waste can be broken down into four main material categories; scrap metal and wire, mixed plastics, printed circuit boards and leaded glass. MER separates e-waste into 29 specific types of materials for more efficient recycling.

• Metals such as steel, iron, and aluminum go to a local scrap metal processor.
• Copper and scrap wire is collected for reuse.
• Plastics are separated and sent to be granulated for making new products from recycled plastic.
• Printed circuit boards are sent to smelters for extraction of the precious metals.

      Leaded glass is not recovered for material value but is processed to reduce its environmental impact. The glass called cullet (broken or waste glass) is sent to a lead smelter for recovery.
     “In a nutshell, we are able to accept and process any electronic device or peripheral (keyboard, cables, routers, CD/DVD drives and other accessories),” said Long.
     “The e-cycle event is so important because if these old electronics are dumped in landfills and not properly disposed of, this causes those toxic chemicals, like mercury, to leach into the soil, rivers, and can harm so many things (including animals and crop land),” said Emma Bankard, marketing coordinator at MCG in Oskaloosa.
      Currently, MCG is involved in eCycle events in Grinnell and Oskaloosa.
     ‘’We are happy to be engaged in our community,” said Trent Arment, business account specialist with MCG in Grinnell. “If there is anything in our community we can help with, we want to be a part of it.”
     “Bayer is happy to partner with MCG, Grinnell College and Imagine Grinnell in making this event possible,” said Matt Moyer, production lead at the Bayer Production site. “We are happy to provide the location for this event and grateful for the planning and execution that our partners put forth to make this happen.”
    “I enjoy our e-cycle events because it gives us the opportunity to partner with other environmentally conscious companies in the community,” added Bankard. “We all come together for a really great event.”
For more information on electronic recycling, visit mcbia.com.

       The Grinnell RAGBRAI Committee is excited to announce the theme of the Grinnell RAGBRAI stop. Jubilee at the Jewel will take place on Thursday, July 27 as part of Day 5 of the 2023 RAGBRAI route. Grinnell is the final pass-through community on Day 5 before riders head to Tama/Toledo for their overnight stay. As of April 1, RAGBRAI has registered more than 24,000 riders for the week-long event. More than 60 percent of riders come from outside the state of Iowa, giving Grinnell the opportunity to showcase the community to the country and the world!
       Jubilee at the Jewel will feature live music, activities, food, a beverage garden and more as part of a great party on the last official stop of Day 5. All activities will be hubbed out of Grinnell’s beautiful Central Park and downtown Grinnell will be a highlight of the ride that day.
       “We are so excited to host the 50th Anniversary ride through Grinnell,” noted Jennifer Cogley, co-chair of the Grinnell RAGBRAI committee. “This event provides such a unique way to showcase our beautiful community to thousands of people from across the State and beyond.”
      The Grinnell RAGBRAI Committee is seeking businesses and organizations interested in sponsoring this jubilee. Businesses and organizations will have the opportunity to get their brand in front of 24,000 plus riders and volunteers. Interested parties should visit www.ragbraigrinnell.com to learn more, or reach out to a committee member.
      As part of the planning for this jubilee, the Grinnell RAGBRAI Committee is seeking businesses and organizations interested in being food vendors in Grinnell that day. Interested parties should fill out the contact form on the official RAGBRAI Grinnell website: www.ragbraigrinnell.com.
       All food vendors are required to submit permit applications to the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. A food safety course will be held for vendors on Thursday, June 1 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at Drake Community Library.
        “We have a dedicated committee of individuals who are donating their time and energy to help plan this anniversary event,” said Rachael Kinnick, event co-chair. “Our committee is composed of individuals who ride the event every year and folks who have never ridden a day on RAGBRAI! This balance is helping ensure we have a great event that the riders will enjoy but one that will also take into consideration the best ways to showcase our community.”
         Stay up to date on all of the announcements and plans for RAGBRAI Grinnell by following on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ragbraigrinnell or on Instagram @ragbraigrinnell. More announcements will be made as plans and details are finalized. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit the official RAGBRAI Grinnell website and complete a sign up form.
      The Grinnell RAGBRAI Committee is co-chaired by Jennifer Cogley, Katy Wells and Rachael Kinnick. Committee members include: Ashley Rozendaal, Austin Jones, Brian Paul, Carl Eggermont, Craig Cooper, Hannah O'Polka, Hannah Warnell, Heather Cox, James Kaup, Jen Adams, Jess Dawson, John Cox, Jordan Allsup, Kendra Vincent, Laura Ferguson, Laura Manatt, Marissa Pronschinske, Matt Karjahlati, Matt Moyer, Michael McClelland, Mollie O'Dell, Monica St. Angelo, Patrick Duffey, Rachel Hansen, Sarah Smith, Steve Langerud, Susie Pickhardt, Tammy Jones, Tim Ellsworth, and Trent Arment.
            Grinnellians are encouraged to reach out to any committee member to learn more and get involved.

​      May is National Bike Month. As temperatures continue to climb, more and more adults and children grab their bikes and go for rides.
    GRMC, Bikes to You and local donors partner each year to provide bike helmets to third graders in local schools. This program has been active since 1995 and it distributes roughly 450 bike helmets each year!
     Thank you to our PWA and Public Health team members for delivering the helmets to the local schools and encouraging students to stay safe while riding. If you or your loved one is wearing a bike helmet – make sure to take a picture and tag us to spread the message about bike safety. Thank you in advance for staying safe and wearing a helmet whenever there are wheels under your feet!
     Pictured are, from left: Holly Pettlon, Megan Jensen, Craig Cooper, Bikes to You owner; Kayley McCain, Grace Diehm and Stephanie Crawford.

                  Jim Powers                                            Kylie Rawlins                                          Tilly Woodward

      The Staff Council recognized three staff members with the spring 2023 Staff Council Grand Grinnellian Award. Each of the winners has demonstrated a commitment and dedication to the College through the excellent performance of their duties, while also representing the core values of the institution, our THRIVE principles, and the mission of Grinnell College. 
 
    Jim Powers, executive director of special projects for the Office of Communications and Marketing, has had a remarkable 35-year career with the College, spanning five decades and seven presidents. His nominator described Jim as a kind and generous colleague, always willing to listen, encourage, and assist anyone in any role.
     Jim personifies and practices the values and the mission of the College, both as an individual and as a professional. He cheerfully and effectively works with people across all areas of campus. Working on a project with Jim is exciting, because whatever you give him will come back to you so much better than you ever imagined. He’s a tireless practitioner and advocate for teamwork. He truly listens to the ideas of his collaborators. He shares the praise when things go well and will take responsibility when they don’t.
    Jim is a true artist, and his amazing visual style shows in everything he does. His artistic sensibilities, graphic skills, design aesthetics, keen eye, and visual imagination beautifully represent Grinnell to the world. He has a very genuine belief in the mission and values of the College and has played a primary role in developing the brand that helps communicate and personify the College’s distinctions to perspective students, alumni, the campus community, and the public.
    “After working at the College for over 35 years, it was a nice surprise to receive this recognition,” said Powers. “I credit the staff council for working hard to create opportunities for us to celebrate one another. Their efforts make a terrific place to work even better.”
 
      Kylie Rawlins, academic assistant II for the Dean of the College in the Science Division, was recognized for her tenacity, values, and principles. Kylie’s nominator spoke of her dedication to her job and willingness to lend a hand to others.
      Many of you are likely familiar with the invaluable work of staff in the academic support offices, which benefit not only faculty, but also staff and students alike. Every day, a team of dedicated individuals works tirelessly to ensure that these offices run smoothly. Recently, one office faced a challenge: the team went from three full-time staff to just one. Despite the overwhelming workload, Kylie rose to the challenge with admirable flexibility and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of those she supported. Even in the face of unimaginable stress, she never let it show to those she was helping. Instead, she encouraged them to bring her tasks, ensuring that the office’s impact was undiminished.
      Through it all, Kylie remained determined to get the job done, even if that meant asking for help from others. Her dedication to the office was nothing short of inspiring, and she continues to train and support new staff members with patience, kindness, and understanding.
     “It was a great honor to receive this award, and I am appreciative of the recognition from whoever nominated me,” noted Rawlins. “Our staff council does a really incredible job at putting together awards like this and it creates awareness of the different roles that staff have across the campus community.”
 
    Tilly Woodward, curator of academic and community outreach for Grinnell College Museum of Art, was recognized for her commitment to excellence in all her work with the campus and community. Her nominator shared that everything Tilly does is aligned with the College’s mission, core values, and THRIVE principles. Her programs are inclusive and make everyone feel welcome in the museum.
      In the past six months, Tilly has been working with 22 faculty members to create customized museum visits tailored to the course curriculum for Grinnell College students, organizing lunches for students to speak with visiting scholars, and collaborating with various departments to host events such as author talks and museum careers roundtables. Additionally, Tilly has been involved in coordinating a fall study break and virtual sessions; she is also currently teaching a session of First-year Experience.
       Tilly’s exceptional abilities extend beyond working with faculty and students to include engaging diverse community groups through a variety of outreach programs. Over the last six months, she has facilitated nine museum-based programs for neurodiverse adults, provided 18 art experiences for young audiences through local preschools, and mentored Grinnell College students in leading 16 programs for Mayflower residents with memory issues and 16 after-school art programs for the local middle school. She also coordinates a weekly yoga class in collaboration with Live Well Grinnell.
       “I'm honored by the award, and extremely grateful to be able to work with remarkable staff, faculty, student and community colleagues,” noted Woodward. “I'm lucking to have a job that allows me to connect with and serve people in creative and meaningful ways, and hopefully do some good in the world.”
         The Staff Council presents the Grand Grinnellian Award in collaboration with the Office of the President, the Office of Human Resources, and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

​     Architect renderings of The Reserves at South Lake development currently under construction on property directly south of the Grinnell Wal-Mart. The development will feature 48 units of affordable workforce housing and is slated for opening in early 2024.

​      Overland Property Group is excited to announce the commencement of construction on The Reserves at South Lake, the Developer’s latest community in the State of Iowa and its first in Grinnell. Forty-eight units of affordable workforce housing will be constructed this year, providing tenants with luxury amenities at reasonable and attainable prices.
    “We would like to thank a multitude of organizations for making this housing community a reality. Our architect, Jones Gillam Renz, Inc. and contractor, MCP Build, Inc. have been instrumental in the success of this development thus far, and our institutional partners, Midwest Housing Equity Group and Horizon Bank have expressed nothing but the utmost support for our endeavors in Grinnell. We also cannot thank local organizations like the Region VI Council of Governments and the Grinnell Housing Authority enough for the resources they have provided as we navigate the challenge of developing affordable housing in today’s climate.” – Austin Kack, Developer for Overland Property Group.
    The Reserves at South Lake is slated to complete construction at the end of 2023, and hopes to welcome residents in the first part of 2024. Inquiries about management and leasing can be directed to Weigand Omega Management, Inc at [email protected].
    The Reserves at South Lake joins nearby communities in Pella, Storm Lake, Washington, and Oskaloosa as Overland Property Group’s sixth development in Iowa. Founded in 2002, Overland Property Group has developed over $900 million and 70 plus multi-family and senior living communities across the Midwest. Austin Kack, Development Associate, is leading development efforts on behalf of Overland Property Group.