The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce announces Mike and Doris Hotchkin will serve as the 2022 Fourth of July Grand Marshals.
      “We received many incredible and worthy nominations this year, and are excited to recognize Mike and Doris for their longstanding commitment to the community," said Rachael Kinnick, president & CEO of the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce.
    "Each year we receive wonderful nominations to serve as the Fourth of July Grand Marshal, and this year was no exception," added Kinnick. "We are glad to recognize Mike and Doris for their commitment to community service, good natured demeanor and genuine desire to better the Grinnell community."
      Known for their charitable work and contributions to many organizations throughout the community, including though certainly not limited to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Second Mile, Boy Scouts, Grinnell Area Housing Authority and the Grinnell Lions Club, the Hotchkins’ are dedicated volunteers. Whether it be volunteering in an organized capacity with the aforementioned organizations, or simply helping out neighbors, friends or strangers by sharing a meal or needed transportation, they are continually giving back to the community.
     As lifelong residents of the community, Mike and Doris serve as unofficial good-will ambassadors for Grinnell, according to one nominee. As another wrote, the Hotchkins’ beaming smiles and friendly waves will be familiar to all along the Fourth of July parade route.
    "We are honored to serve as Grand Marshals of this year’s parade," noted Mike. "Our family is planning to enter the 10th Avenue neighborhood parade with four generations of Hotchkins in the morning, and we would be thrilled to share this experience with them in the evening as well."
    The Fourth of July parade will be held Monday, July 4 beginning at 5 p.m. Those wishing to participate may still register by completing the entry form on the Chamber’s website. The Chamber is also in search of volunteers to help organize line-up for the parade; if interested, please contact the Chamber office at 641-236-6555.
      The parade will line up on High Street (those participating should enter from the north) where entries will be staged to line up on Hamilton Avenue facing west. The parade will begin at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Broad Street and turn north on Broad Street to 10th Avenue. From there the parade heads east to Penrose Street, finally turning south on Penrose. It will disperse at the Bayer parking lot at 7th Avenue and Penrose Street.
     A fireworks display will take place at dusk on Monday, July 4 at approximately 9:45 p.m. at Ahrens Park.

Abby William-Cleary, a nurse at UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center was recently honored with the DAISY Award for her work with patients at the hospital.

   UnityPoint Health® – Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC) has proudly honored medical/surgical team member, Abby Williams-Cleary, RN, BSN with The Daisy Award. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care that nurses provide patients and families every day.
      An excerpt from the nomination reads, “I’ve had 17 surgeries and hands down, Abby is the best nurse I’ve ever had the privilege to take care of me. She puts her whole heart into her career and she shows it in every way. The positive experience I had with her will remain with me forever. She’s an absolute rock star!”
     Williams-Cleary was surrounded by her team members and leaders during the Daisy award presentation during Nurse’s Week, May 6 – 12.
    A native of Rockford, Ill., Williams-Cleary earned a degree in Sociology and Neuroscience from Grinnell College. She then went on to graduate from Creighton University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2014.
      “I’ve been an RN for about eight years, which is also how long I’ve worked at UPH-GRMC,” Williams-Cleary said. “I also work at the Mayflower Health Center in Grinnell.”
When asked about the honor, Williams-Cleary said she went into nursing to help others and because it seemed like it would be a great challenge.
       “I am so grateful for the privilege to care for members of this community every day and to grow in my career with the guidance and example of my fellow nurses, physicians and other healthcare professionals,” she said. “Working on the medical-surgical floor means I work with a diversity of patients and conditions - I’ve been in the trenches of a pandemic, I’ve taken care of pediatrics to geriatrics to end-of-life.”
         Williams-Cleary said being honored with the Daisy Award has been amazing.
        “I have a passion to provide quality healthcare in a rural setting, and this feels like an affirmation that I’m where I’m supposed to be,” noted Williams-Cleary. “I’m so grateful to my patient who nominated me and the nursing administration at UnityPoint-Grinnell who gave me this great honor.”
         Williams-Cleary lives in Grinnell with her wife, Kalli, and their cats and dogs.
The DAISY Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Barnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of an auto-immune disease. DAISY is an acronym for “diseases attacking the immune system.”
      Congratulations to Williams-Cleary for this prestigious honor. To recognize a nurse who has gone above and beyond, visit https://www.unitypoint.org/grinnell/recognize-your-nurse.aspx. For more information about The DAISY Award, visit http://DAISYfoundation.org.
        Editor's Note: J.O. Parker contributed to this article.

​      The Brooklyn Opera House has announced several events to kick-off the summer months. As a cornerstone of the community since 1911, the opera house still provides a place for the community to gather and celebrate the arts. Please visit www.brooklynoperahouse.com for more information and to purchase tickets for all of these events. 
Upcoming events include:

​      Shameless, June 30: The opera house will host Shameless, the Midwest’s premier Garth Brooks tribute act, on Thursday, June 30th. This one-night-only show is made up of some of Omaha's finest musicians. Those attending will hear popular Garth Brooks songs such as “Much Too Young (To Feel This Old),” “Rodeo,” “That Summer” and many more. Tickets are $40. 

​      The Everly Brothers Experience, July 9: Catch this tribute performance by The Zmed Brothers on July 9. The Zmed Brothers are an Americana blood harmony duo. Zachary and Dylan Zmed perform original songs, hits by famous sibling acts from the 30s to 60s, and cross genre classics from the birth of Rock n' Roll in two- part harmony style. Tickets are $35.
      "Since 2015, we have been paying our homage to the career and influence of the greatest sibling Rock duo of all time, The Everly Brothers,” said Zach and Dylan Zmed. “As brothers ourselves, it's been an enormous educational experience. As musicians and performers, being able to celebrate the birth of Rock N' Roll with folks who love it as much as we do is an absolute dream come true.”
      Continuing in that spirit, Zach and Dylan are now further celebrating the rich tradition of family singing together in American music, first through their 2020 online video series called, "The Zmed Brothers Show," and now in their duo live show. 

​By J.O. Parker
 
     The City of Malcom turns 150 and the town is throwing a three-day party, June 24 – 26. The theme is “Small Town, Big Celebration” and the public is invited to take part in a myriad of activities.
    Take a ride on an old-fashioned locomotive, throw an ax or try your hand at an escape room, enjoy live music, take part in the town parade, participate in a beard and logo contest, try your luck at cow chip bingo, or take part in the dunk tank. Participate in the veterans ceremony, take a hot air balloon ride, get hypnotized, enjoy a variety of tasty food and attend church in the park. The above listed and more are part of the three-day Malcom 150th Celebration.
Calendar of events
Friday, June 24
              4:30 p.m. – Inflatables and 16-foot water slide
              4:30 – 6:30 p.m. – BASF Kid Science
              6:30 p.m. – Hot air balloon rides
            7 p.m. – Veterans ceremony hosted by Mayor Dawn Hamilton; Special presentation; Introduction of M.C. & Grand Marshal; Crowning of Malcom’s royalty; Beard and logo contest winners announced.
            8 p.m. – Movie at the Malcom Auditorium, “Encanto.”
            8 – 11 p.m. – Live music in the park by Paul Michael Davis Band
Saturday, June 25
            8 a.m. -   5K race
            8:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 2 p.m. – Locomotive rides
            9 a.m. – Vendor fair
            10 a.m. – Parade; Tractor and car show following parade
            11 a.m. – Home run derby, no entry fee for 12 and under
            11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Superheroes by Iowa League of Heroes
            11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Princesses by Little Princess Parties
            12 – 6 p.m. – Illusionist Keith West
            12 – 6 p.m. – Ax throwing and escape room, $5 per person
            1 p.m. – Dummy board tournament, $20 per team
            1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. – BASF tours
            1:30 – 4:30 p.m. – Family Fued; Fashion and talent show on main stage
            3 p.m. – Cow chip bingo
            Other events planned - Heartland Co-op tours; Dunk tank; Inflatables and 16-foot water slide; BASF kid science; Variety of food vendors; Heishman Ice Cream; Big Yellow Bike; Malcom Memorabilia; Silent auction at the fire station
            8 p.m. – Street dance featuring Blake Jack and Christian Williams followed by Tyler Richton and the High Bank Boys at 9 p.m.
             9 p.m. – Movie at the Malcom Auditorium, “Spiderman – No Way Home”
Sunday, June 26
            8 a.m. – Breakfast at Masonic Lodge by free will donation
         10 a.m. – Church in the park with Honeybee Ministries; Pot luck lunch following church service; Inflatables and 16-foot water slide

     The BGM Class of 1972 held their 50th class reunion on Saturday, June 11, 2022. First they enjoyed riding on a float in the Brooklyn Flag Festival Parade, then a tour of their school to see changes and finally a great meal.
     Pictured are front row, from left: Linda (Hendrickson) Lowry, Searsboro; Donna (Doty) Muntz and Linda (Luecht) Hamilton, Grinnell; Rochelle Brannian, Iowa City; Jane (Henry) Cline, Brooklyn; Cheryl (Fraker) Froelich, Brooklyn, Wis.; Pam (Hall) Cronbaugh, Hartwick; Doris (Van Ersvelde) Benson, Unionville, Mo.; Second row: Joy (Morton) Douglas, Brooklyn; Nancee (Nesselroad) Cook, Ames; Joan (Montgomery) Bonnett, Brooklyn; Sandra (Lamb) Greer, Nashville, Tenn.; Cindy (Story) Evans, Victor; Ruth (Lemke) Laverman, Indianola; Jane (Seye) Bazyn, Victor; Brad Braley, Cedar Falls; David Klein, Des Moines; Back row: Dale Douglas, Rick Morrison, Larry Ford and Jim Davidson, all of Brooklyn; Larry Dyer, Ozark, Mo.; Bob Kalinay, Chelsea; George Hiner and Dean Roth, Brooklyn; Eliatan Machado, class foreign exchange student of Brazil; and Curt Manatt, Johnston. Photo provided by Jane Cline. Submitted photo.