By .O. Parker
Students, staff and family members packed the Grinnell Middle School gym to honor local and area veterans for their service and dedication in a special Veterans Day assembly on Friday, Nov. 11. The program opened with the presentation of colors by members of the Boy Scout Troop 313. The Star Spangled Banner was then performed by the eighth grade band. Rob Gibson, eighth grade Social Studies teacher at the middle school, then shared about the history of Veterans Day. This was followed by the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade choirs performing an Armed Forces Tribute. Veterans were asked to stand when their branch of service was called. The keynote speaker was U.S. Navy Veteran James Kaup of Grinnell. The sixth and seventh grade bands performed “Freedom Finale.” Following the retirement of colors by Boy Scout Troop 313, Tucker Adkins, an eighth grade student at the school, performed “Taps.” After the service, veterans and their family members were invited to the media center for a reception. “I felt the program was amazing and an outstanding tribute to the veterans in our community that have given so much in terms of their service to our country,” said Clay Harrold, GMS Principal. “The students and staff were honored to have the program back at GMS again after a few years without and we were thankful to all that could come and for everyone that participated in the assembly as well.” “It was such an honor to be a part of this event to celebrate the American Veteran,” said U.S. Navy Veteran Jame Kaup, the keynote speaker at the assembly. “The staff and students at Grinnell Middle School honored veterans in a beautiful way. The music, presentation of the colors and the words spoken were amazing and uplifting to the Veterans. Thank you for making us feel welcome and appreciated.”
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The BGM High School Drama Department presented, "Singing in the Rain JR." in the BGM Auditorium on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 12 - 13. Based on the 1952 movie of the same name, Singin’ In The Rain JR. takes place in Hollywood during the last days of the silent movie era. The story follows Don Lockwood, one half of the blockbuster celebrity silent movie star “couple” Lockwood and Lamont, and the extreme measures taken when his co-star’s high-pitched and nasal voice threatens the duo’s successful transition into talking pictures.
Kevin and Jennifer McAlexander of Grinnell are shown in the decorated antique sleigh on loan from Howard McDonough at last year’s Jingle Bell Holiday. The couple and a host of volunteers have been in charge of decorating Grinnell’s Central Park in time for Jingle Bell Holiday for five years. Jennifer handles the planning and organization while Kevin uses his many trades to make her ideas happen. By J.O. Parker Like magic, Grinnell’s Central Park comes alive with lights and holiday decorations to kick off the annual Jingle Bell Holiday. This year’s Jingle Bell Holiday is Friday, Nov. 18 from 5 – 8 p.m. It’s all possible thanks to the efforts and hard work of Kevin and Jennifer McAlexander and a host of volunteers numbering in the 50s. Kevin and Jennifer, owners of Hawkeye Lock and Security in Grinnell, have been in charge of decorating Central Park for the holiday season for five years. Jennifer handles the planning and organization while Kevin uses his many trades to make her ideas happen. Kevin, whom she affectionately calls Clark Griswold from the movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” hangs all the overhead lights. They are joined by the volunteers in setting up the rest of the decorations and displays. Jennifer said it all came about following completion of the Central Park remodel project in 2018. “The Grinnell Chamber held a planning meeting for holiday décor ideas for the park in conjunction with the Jingle Bell Holiday,” said Jennifer. “People at the meeting tossed around a few ideas to think about,” she said. “A couple weeks later, I presented some ideas to chamber staff on how to implement a plan for the park utilizing many of the ideas shared at the meeting.” That first year, Kevin, Jennifer and the volunteers pulled it all together in six weeks. And it has grown from there. “I recruited section leaders and then those section leaders recruited volunteers to help them,” said Jennifer. “Many of them are still with us today.” Section leaders include Michelle Butler, Kerri Olson, Time and Gailanne Dill, Bill Gruman, Esther Ware and Jim White. Volunteers serve in several capacities including hanging decorations, serving as Park Patrol and working as Handyman Helpers throughout the holiday season. “That is who I call when I need help with minor repairs,” said Jennifer of the handyman helpers. “We couldn’t do this without the awesome team and many volunteers.” The park features numerous decorations including many lighted trees and a decorated Central Park Gazebo. Other items at the park include: Photo cutout boards painted by Gailanne Dill of Grinnell An antique sleigh on loan from Howard McDonough Lighted and oversized wooden candy canes Evergreen Gnomes around the park And the big evergreen tree in the center of the park which lights at the start of Jingle Bell Holiday. New this year are two additional lighted arches, giving the park a lighted arch at all four entrances to the park. “I tell people I write my own Hallmark movie,” said Jennifer of getting ready for Jingle Bell Holiday. “I bring the community together to create the display,” she said. “We always have a few obstacles to work through. Then we bring the town together for the big reveal with the mayor doing the countdown to lighting at Jingle Bell Holiday.” Smiling, Jennifer said someone once asked if she decorated their own home for the holidays. “No,” she answered. “I decorate the town.” Jennifer said the greatest joys in the project are watching people enjoy the park and the many thanks of appreciation she and Kevin receive. Central Park decorations will be on display through Friday, Dec. 31. Jennifer McAlexander has some holiday decorating fun while her husband, Kevin, hangs lights in Grinnell’s Central Park in preparation for Jingle Bell Holiday and the Christmas season. The couple, along with a host of volunteers, has been in charge of decorating Central Park for five years. The lights in Central Park will be turned on at 5:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18.
Pictured are, from left, Cecilia Knight, Rita Mertens and Jane Mertens, volunteers and promoters of the Empty Bowls Fundraiser for MICA Food Pantry are shown with some of the ceramic bowls they made at the 2021 Jingle Bell Holiday. The bowls are sold for $20 with proceeds going to the local food pantry in its fight against hunger. By J.O. Parker Step into the Stew Markerspace on Broad Street in Grinnell and you might find someone in the open studio in the back of the building busy making ceramic bowls, lots of bowls. And it is all for a good cause. This is the fifth year that local artisans have joined forces and donated materials and time to make ceramic bowls for the Empty Bowls Fundraiser benefiting MICA (Mid Iowa Community Action) Food Pantry in its fight against hunger. The Stew Markerspace offers a space for local artisans to gather and create. There is a wood shop, animation studio, 3D printing, ceramics studio and metal shop. The Stew is part of the Grinnell Arts Council and is located at 927 Broad St. Jane Mertens of Grinnell said the local Empty Bowls Fundraiser is part of a larger movement across the United States to fight hunger. She learned of the fundraiser idea while taking college courses at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. “They (Earlham) did an Empty Bowls Fundraiser at the end of the each semester to raise money for the food bank of Indiana,” she said. “I thought we could use it here (in Grinnell) because at some point everyone could face hunger.” Jane and her sister, Rita Mertens, and mother, Cecilia Knight, spearhead the Empty Bowls project and are among 20 plus volunteers and local artisans who create the ceramic bowls throughout the year in preparation for Jingle Bell Holiday. All bowls are $20. Proceeds from the Empty Bowls Fundraiser nets anywhere from $2,000 - $4,000 each year for MICA. “We have grown each year,” said Jane. “It is really important at this time of the year to be thinking of others.” Bowls will be available at multiple locations during Jingle Bell Holiday on Friday, Nov. 18 and will remain on sale at the Grinnell Arts Center through Dec. 17. Available locations during Jingle Bell Holiday • Winter Farmers Market (Hotel Grinnell) on Friday, Nov. 18 from 5 – 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. • Relish (Iowa Kitchen) at 834 Park St., 5 - 8 p.m. (soup is available for $5 plus the cost of the bowl with proceeds to the Iowa Kitchen). Proceeds of the sale of soup will be used to fight hunger and offer nutritional classes at the Iowa Kitchen. • St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1002 Broad St., 5 – 8 p.m. during Jingle Bell Holiday. The church will have chili and corn chowder for $10 ($2 off with bowl purchase) with proceeds going to local charities. • Bowls will also be available at the Grinnell Arts Center, 926 Broad St., during Jingle Bell Holiday at local artist events through Dec. 17. Days and hours are for the GAC are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, noon – 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.grinnellarts.org. “They make great gifts,” added Jane. “A lot of people will use this fundraiser to give holiday presents to family and friends while also giving back to the community.” Pictured are, from left, Jane Mertens, Rita Mertens, Cecilia Knight and Barbara Ashby, who make ceramic bowls for the MICA food pantry fundraiser. They are shown with some of the 225 bowls being sold this year starting during the 2022 Jingle Bell Holiday on Nov. 18. Submitted photo. Some of the handmade ceramic bowls made by volunteers at the Stew Markerspace being offered starting with Grinnell’s Jingle Bell Holiday on Friday, Nov. 18 through Dec. 17. Proceeds from the sale of the bowls go to the MICA Food Pantry in Grinnell. Submitted photo.
It’s time to dust off your running shoes or dig the bike out of the back of the garage for the 11th Annual Turkey Trot in Grinnell.
Put the turkey in the oven and come on down to the Merrill Park west shelter house, 11th and Main, on Thursday, Nov. 24. for some early Thanksgiving morning exercise and fun! All runners, walkers and bicyclists should met at the park at 8:15 a.m. with the group picture being taken at 8:20 a.m. The Turkey Trot will kick off at 8:30 a.m. There are three routes available – 1 mile - (Main to 10th, 10th to East, East to 8th, 8th to Main, Main back to shelter house); 2 mile - (Main to 10th, 10th to Penrose, Penrose to 8th, 8th to Main, Main back to Shelter House); 5K - (Same as 2-mile route with loop around Ahrens). No sign up is required for this free event, which is hosted by the Grinnell Running and Recreation group. “We are a local group of runners/walkers who gather to start the holidays off healthy,” said Bill Ford, who spearheads the event. “We will collect food donations for MICA since we will all have plenty of food around that day and can help those less fortunate.” |
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