This week, Ambassadors did a little light beautification of downtown. Last week, our team had the opportunities to attend the Iowa Downtown Conference where we heard Iowa Economic Development Authority director Debi Durham say two things that really struck a chord:
1. Be a community of do-ers and dreamers
2. Weeds in your sidewalks are not welcoming to visitors
So in that spirit, we took an hour to walk up and down Broad and Main Streets pulling weeds. Turns out there was a bit more than we anticipated so we didn’t make it everywhere but the parts we did get to look so much better! There’s a lot of improvements that have happened around downtown and more coming and we don’t want those to be overshadowed by unkept sidewalks. We encourage everyone to take pride in what our community looks like. If you see a weed, and you’re able, pull a weed!
Pictured L-R: Fran Conn, Jennifer McAlexander - JM Consulting & Hawkeye Lock & Security, Donnette Ellis - Grinnell College Community Connections, Marissa Ylagan - Grinnell Chamber, Matt Moyer - Bayer Crop Science, Trent Arment - MCG - Mahaska Communication Group, Jeff Finch - Wes Finch Auto Plaza
Not Pictured: Kody Bigelow - Walmart Grinnell, Monica St. Angelo - Grinnell Area Arts Council
Today Ambassadors visited the Burling Library's Special Collections with the Grinnell College Libraries. The Burling Library is open to the public and will frequently host events in their lounge space located inside the main entrance. There is also a few exhibits that house pieces pulled to highlight from the special collections throughout this main level as well. Currently on display in their Magic Box is materials pulled from the Salisberry House acquisition.
The Special Collections located downstairs is home to many different acquisitions from around the world, as well as archives kept about the Grinnell Community, Grinnell College and Poweshiek County. The special collections teams works to find other acquisitions that tell new stories from within the Western World, looking to add more materials from minority voices in history, as well as adding materials that tell stories from outside the western world, currently displaying a few southeast Asian based materials. The special collections at Burling Library is considered a teaching collection- meaning they allow and want people to interact with the materials.
In addition to what is on display the special collections department has a reading room, a working room, a vault as well as off site storage all temperature controlled to protect the materials inside.
The Special Collections is open to the public, stop by during their open hours, which vary based on the academic schedule or reach out to make an appointment 641-269-3350.
Pictured L-R: Brianna Gaunt- Community 1st Credit Union, Stephanie Lair- UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Rachel Arseneault- Ramsey-Weeks Inc. Real Estate, Lisa Cirks- Cirks Financial Services, Trent Arment- MCG - Mahaska Communication Group, Donnette Ellis- Grinnell College Community Connections, Sarah Smith- Grinnell College, Chris Jones- Grinnell College- Special Collections, Jennifer McAlexander- Hawkeye Lock & Security & JM Consulting, Donna Fisher- UnityPoint Health- Grinnell Regional Medical Center Foundation, Matt Moyer- Bayer Crop Science, Allison Haack- Grinnell College- Special Collections, Fran Conn, Rachael Kinnick- Grinnell Chamber
Ambassadors welcomed UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center's new president, David-Paul Cavasos this week. David-Paul shared more about his background and journey to Grinnell and also gave an update on hospital projects.
After getting into the medical field through radiology as a surgery x-ray tech, David-Paul gained experience in a variety of clinical settings and administration roles throughout the Kansas City region. His most recent position was as CEO for Hodgeman County Health Center in Jetmore, KS. Cavasos and his family have happily settled into Grinnell and have enjoyed getting to explore and learn more about the community.
David-Paul is passionate about having a thriving hospital to ensure a thriving community and is excited to share about many of the projects that are happening and coming soon to the Grinnell campus. They’re currently working on roof renovations and the lab is getting ready to undergo an expansion and update. The ER & Radiology waiting areas will begin renovations this year and later this fall, the Obstetrics Unit will begin its expansion and renovation project. Many of the projects are funded by local donations along with state and federal grants. David-Paul pointed out that it’s unusual to have this many concurrent projects happening at one time and it speaks to the progress UnityPoint Health - Grinnell is making.
With the updates, the hospital hopes to continue to grow its regional footprint and provide quality healthcare to more rural Iowans. If you’re interested in learning more about the services provided or making a donation to the Foundation, visit their website at www.unitypoint.org/grinnell.
Pictured L-R: Marissa Ylagan - Grinnell Chamber, Trent Arment - MCG - Mahaska Communication Group, Donnette Ellis - Grinnell College Community Connections, Matt Moyer - Bayer Crop Science, Stephanie Lair - UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center, David-Paul Cavasos - UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Jennifer McAlexander - JM Consulting & Hawkeye Lock & Security, Fran Conn, Jeff Finch - Wes Finch Auto Plaza, Donna Fischer - UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center Foundation, Lisa Cirks - Cirks Financial Services, Jack Mathews - Our Grinnell, Rachael Kinnick - Grinnell Chamber
Ambassadors officially welcomed Spoiled Dogs Co. to the Chamber today. While they’ve been a member since 2022, schedules finally aligned to have Ambassadors visit the store and hear from owner Patty Kalvelage about her journey to launch this business.
Patty opened Spoiled Dogs Co. in November 2022 to help provide healthy food and education to pet families in the area. After encountering her own pet health challenges, Patty dove headfirst into educating herself on different ways to feed your pet. From fresh food to raw diets to low ingredient snacks, Spoiled Dogs Co offers a variety of meal options for dogs and cats. They also carry CBD and hemp products for your animals and Patty is working to get certified in aromatherapy for pets.
Spoiled Dogs Co will be offering some fun activities in the coming months - a Waffle Day in August where customers can make pet friendly waffles with toppings and Secret Santa Paws during the holidays. Make sure to follow them on Facebook or Instagram to keep up to date with upcoming events.
Stop in to shop the great selection of toys, pet bakery items, their treat chew bar, supplements and more. Spoiled Dogs Co is located at 821 4th Ave and is open Monday-Friday 10 AM - 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM - 2 PM.
Pictured L-R: Trent Arment - MCG - Mahaska Communication Group, Marissa Ylagan - Grinnell Chamber, Matt Moyer - Bayer Crop Science, Hannah O’Polka - Cleanfoodfix Wellness Studio, Charlie Isaacs - Theisen's, Lisa Cirks - Cirks Financial Services, Rachel Hansen - Cleanfoodfix Wellness Studio, Carl Meck - GreenState Credit Union Grinnell, Patty Kalvelage - Spoiled Dogs Co., Stephanie Lair - UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Ashley Symbol - First State Bank, Fran Conn, Donnette Ellis - Grinnell College Community Connections , Sarah Smith - Grinnell College, Rick Jacoby - Grinnell American Legion, Dorothy Spriggs - Carriage House Bed & Breakfast, Shane Hart - Grinnell College Golf Course, Rachael Kinnick - Grinnell Chamber, Jack Mathews - Our Grinnell
Ambassadors met at the Grinnell Area Arts Council to learn more about their new photo exhibit Connections: Combining History & Art To Explore Grinnell's Past. The photo exhibit is in partnership with Drake Community Library and the Poweshiek History Preservation Project from Drake Community Library's digital archive.
Both Monica St Angelo of the Arts Council and Monique Shore of DCL wanted to share the photos that had been collected with a wider audience and start conversations & connections about both the similarities and differences of Grinnell over time. Tying in the fact this year was Edith Renfrow Smith's 110 year birthday as well as the Arts Council celebrating 15 years in their historic building it seemed like a wonderful time to create the exhibit. Photos in the exhibit came from the library existing archive collection but also from current and former Grinnell community members. The Arts Council is also working on a mural project that will be a continuation of this exhibit.
The photos and banners will be at the Grinnell Arts Center through August 10 and can be visited during their regular gallery hours Tues-Fri 11AM-5PM and Sat 10AM-12PM. After August 10 the banner portion of the exhibit will be moved to the Library, then potentially on Grinnell College's campus for a brief period before settling in at their new home the Grinnell Historical Museum.
Pictured L-R: Lisa Cirks- Cirks Financial Services, Monique Shore- Drake Community Library, Jeff Finch- Wes Finch Auto Plaza, Kailee Shermak- Grinnell College Intern for GAAC, Matt Moyer- Bayer Crop Science, Monica St. Angelo- Grinnell Area Arts Council, Trent Arment- MCG - Mahaska Communication Group, Donnette Ellis- Grinnell College Community Connections, Donna Fisher- UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Sarah Smith- Grinnell College
