River Valley

Driftless Integrative Psychiatry recently opened its clinic doors at 20 North 2nd Street in downtown Lansing in an historic limestone building that once was home to a real estate office and, back in the late 1800s, an implement dealership.

Dr. Erica Burger, psychiatrist and founder of the clinic, and her husband had contacted the current owners, Dave and Josh Bourassa of Cresco, last winter to see if they had any interest in renovating the building, as there were not many other commercial buildings in the area suitable for a medical clinic. The Cresco pair agreed and worked tirelessly to convert the vacant building into a modern clinic space that opened August 1 of this year.

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center will host the Driftless Birding Fest November 12 and 13. The Driftless Birding Fest will include speakers, exhibits, and guided and self-guided field trips to area birding hotspots.

The self-guided field trips will include the Brownsville, MN overlook, Stoddard, WI overlook, New Albin’s Army Road, Red Oak Road near Harpers Ferry, and the Ferryville, WI overlook.

Friday, November 12 from 6-8 p.m. “Raptors of Iowa” will be presented at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center.  Following the presentation, from 8-10 p.m., there will be an “Owl Prowl” to find and hear owls on the bluffs surrounding the nature center.

VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 announces the kick-off of the VFW Auxiliary’s National Anthem Singing Contest, “Get Excited for the Red, White and Blue!” Local youth in grades K-12 can showcase their talent, display their patriotism and express their creativity while competing for their share of $2,000 in national awards.

Contestants must submit a video of their solo vocal performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Video must be saved to a DVD or flash drive, or uploaded to an online video platform (e.g., YouTube or Vimeo) and submitted to a local Auxiliary for judging.  The video must be recorded between July 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Entries will be judged on vocal ability, mastery of lyrics, originality or interpretation and entertainment value.

Free event scheduled for this Saturday to feature food and live music

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Long-time Lansing dentist Bruce Carlson, who retired last year, is throwing a party - and everyone is invited.

As a way of saying “thank you” for 42 years of patronage - “I’m thanking the community for kind of putting up with me,” he says - Carlson is hosting “Celebrate Lansing” this Saturday, October 9, from 1-6 p.m., at the Lansing Sports Complex. There is no admission charge for the event, which includes live music (Freaks of Nature performs at 1 p.m., followed by Joe and Vicki Price) and on-site food vendors. Attendees are invited to bring their own beverages; all alcohol must stay within the Sports Complex fence.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Carlson says he fell in love with this area the first time he drove into Lansing, in 1977.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Allamakee County residents who use, or are planning to use, childcare - specifically in Lansing and New Albin - are being asked to complete a survey aimed at investigating childcare needs in the county.

By request of Allamakee Economic Development Executive Director Val Reinke, notes containing a link to the online survey will be sent out with residential water bills this month, Lansing City Clerk Katie Becker announced Monday evening, October 4 during the regular meeting of the Lansing City Council.

Martha Dunlevy Peters, a native of Lansing, has recently published a book, “Extracting Wisdom”. This book is about supporting a culture of excellence in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is infused with wisdom from young, seasoned and retired surgeons. All dental and medical teams will benefit from the messages of compassionate patient care and leadership. The author also shares her own story as an oral surgery patient and as a seasoned surgical assistant, providing a unique perspective from both sides of the dental chair. Her surgical journey as an oral surgery patient many years ago was followed throughout her native surrounding communities. Her book can be found on Amazon. Submitted photo.
 

October 8-10, over 200 quilted items will adorn the New Albin Community Center, located at 137 Railroad Avenue SW in New Albin. There will be an array of quilts, including antique  quilts, baby quilts, t-shirt quilts, wall hangings, table runners and wool work on display. Hours for the show will be Friday, October 8 from 4-7 p.m.; Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, October 10 from 12-4 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the New Albin Public Library.

New this year will be a variety of quilts for sale. A portion of the proceeds from those quilts sold will also benefit the New Albin Public Library.

“Loose Threads,” the local quilting group, has created a challenge for its group members for this year’s show. Sixteen participating quilters were challenged to each create a Friendship Quilt using Christmas quilt blocks that were shared with each of the quilting group members. All of those quilts will be on display throughout the event.

Thursday, September 16, Thornton Manor in Lansing was honored to receive from Arlis Myhre of New Albin and Eileen Smith of Lansing 50 handmade quilts which the two ladies had made over the last year. The presentation started with a very special blessing of the quilts by Pastor Carter Jorgensen (photo below), husband of Thornton Manor’s new recreation therapist Alyssa Jorgensen.

Thornton Manor Environmental Services Director Diane DeLong had asked the two ladies if they would be interested in making some quilts to make each resident’s room more home-like. The ladies agreed without hesitation and got started right away.  

VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt  #5981 has announced the kick-off of the VFW Auxiliary’s annual Illustrating America art contest. Local students in grades K-8 can share how they view the world through their drawings and paintings while competing for national awards.

Students must submit an original two-dimensional piece of artwork. Coloring sheets, digital art and photography are not accepted. The entry must have been completed during the current 2021-2022 school year and the application must include a teacher or supervising adult’s signature in order to be complete.

Students begin by competing at the local VFW Auxiliary level. The first-place winner from each Auxiliary advances to the District competition with District winners advancing to the State competition. The contest consists of three grade divisions: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. The State first-place winner in each grade division will be forwarded to Auxiliary National Headquarters.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Following a special election Tuesday, September 14, Melissa Hammell was sworn in as mayor of Lansing immediately prior to the Lansing City Council’s regular meeting Monday, September 20. Hammell will serve out the remainder of the current four-year mayoral term through the year 2023.