River Valley

Don’t miss the chance to learn the techniques of nature photographer and naturalist Larry Reis Saturday, July 17 at 9 a.m. at the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre in Marquette. Reis is well known throughout the state for his beautiful nature photos and the thousands of photos he has shared on Flickr.

During this program, Ries will be talking about and demonstrating the camera gear he uses to take his bird and nature photos. He will give a short presentation indoors and then participants will head outdoors to practice taking photos of birds, animals and wildflowers around the Wetlands Centre. He will also share ideas on places to photograph birds during the different seasons of the year.

All Upper Iowa Audubon Society programs are free and open to the public.  Contact Connie Hvitved at 641-220-3890 for more information. This program is co-hosted with the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre in Marquette.

Friends of Yellow River State Forest will be hosting a free concert Saturday, July 10. Local band Big Blue Sky will be performing at 737 State Forest Road - the Sawmill Complex/Ranger’s Office - beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“Big Blue Sky is an eco/folk/bluesy band from the Driftless Region with a lot of amazing original music,” says Friends of Yellow River State Forest President Kelli Boylen. “The event is family friendly. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, if you wish.”

The concert is free but donations to Driftless Area Bird Conservation will be accepted. In the case of inclement weather, an announcement will be made on the Friends of Yellow River State Forest Facebook page. To learn more about Friends of Yellow River State Forest go to www.friendsofyellowriverstateforest.org.
 

The United Methodist Church in Lansing is sponsoring a non-denominational summer Vacation Bible School starting July 19 and running through July 23.

Those attending will be taking a cool step back in time were they will see Jesus changing water into wine, and Jesus helping a Samaritan woman at a well. Hear how Jesus instructed adults to “let the children come to me” and after his death and resurrection how Philip teaches the Ethiopian that Christ came for each and every one. Enjoy Bible explorations, cool crafts, sing new songs and enjoy Chadder’s Snow Show. A light supper will be served and games will be played.

Registration will begin at 5 p.m. Monday, July 19. There is no registration fee, but all are encouraged to bring a gift or two to be sent to Operation Kid to Kid sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse.

The Ferryville Tourism Council will be hosting the second in its Summer Series of Chautauqua Programs in Ferryville, WI Wednesday, July 14 at the South Shelter at Sugar Creek Park along Hwy. 35, The Great River Road. Dan Jackson will present a program entitled “Dragonflies and Damselflies” at 6:30 p.m.

This program will be outside at the park shelter, and not in the Ferryville Village Hall.

Jackson is an avid birder, outdoorsman, naturalist, nature photographer and citizen scientist for dragonflies, damselflies and birds of Wisconsin. He helps with Fall Migration Day as well as birding hikes on Sugar Creek Bluff. For this presentation, he will provide an introduction to the insect order Odonata, which includes dragonflies and damselflies.

There are picnic tables under the shelter, but feel free to bring a lawn chair and bug spray to keep other insects away. Dragonflies and damselflies do not bite.

The Harpers Ferry Fireflies took second place at the Iowa State Granny Basketball Games held June 11-12 in West Des Moines. The Fireflies were in Pool B and played the Oklahoma Rockers, winning by a score of 69-47 before also winning their second game vs. the Dubuque Cuties, 79-38. Their final game of the day was against the Wild Things and resulted in another win by a score of 59-37 to finish 3-0 for the pool play portion of the event. In Sunday’s championship round, the Fireflies first defeated the Center Point Model T’s, 55-42, advancing them to the championship game, where they ended up falling to the Cedar Rapids Sizzlers by a score of 56-43 to end up as the tournament runner-up.

Kerndt Brothers Bank will recognize volunteer First Responders who serve in law enforcement, emergency services and as firefighters at county fairs in Allamakee, Fayette and Winneshiek again in 2021. Kerndt Brothers Bank and each county’s 4-H organization will partner this summer to provide a meal for First Responders at 4-H food stands. Tickets will be donated in advance to all First Responders through their organization leaders.

In making this announcement, James M. Kerndt, the bank’s CEO and a former first responder, said, “We are excited to be able to participate in what was such a success in 2018 and 2019. We would like to show our gratitude again. We are also happy to be teaming up with 4-H members and volunteers for a third year and leverage this opportunity to support the many 4-H programs and development of youth in northeast Iowa.

Kerndt Brothers Bank in Lansing has announced a unique partnership with the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa. The project is titled “Adopt Where You Bank” and furthers the work spearheaded by the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa (HSNEI), a 501(c)(3) no-kill humane society founded in 1995 in Decorah.

With branches in or near the five counties HSNEI serves (Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties), a partnership between the bank and the humane society seemed like destiny. The first “Adopt Where You Bank” adoption day will take place from 2-4:30 p.m. Friday, July 9 at the Kerndt Brothers Bank office located at 820 Eleventh Avenue SW in Waukon and rotate from branch to branch going forward.

With a goal of increasing the exposure of animals in need to as many potential adoptive families as possible, “Adopt Where You Bank” is sure to make a Friday trip to the bank a bit more interesting.

Canoe/kayak series set to begin Thursday, June 17 at Harpers Ferry Public Boat Landing

Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) for a guided Mississippi River backwater paddling adventure Thursday, June 17 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Harpers Ferry Public Boat Landing and returning to the landing by sunset. Participants are welcome to use their own canoe or kayak but must follow all rules and regulations in accordance with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A limited number of solo and tandem kayaks will be available to use from the Allamakee County Conservation Board provided with paddles and life jackets.

Advanced registration is required for this series of programs. To register or reserve a kayak, call 563-538-0403. Solo participants are encouraged to register, but may be paired with other paddlers in a tandem kayak if using ACCB equipment.

Iowa lakes and streams are starting to become busy with paddlers eager to get on the water as summer is finally here. For many, it will be their first time out for the year, and experts advise they go through their equipment and review safety tips before heading to the water.

“The number-one hazard on the river is strainers,” said Todd Robertson, river programs outreach coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Strainers are piles of wood or trees that can appear anywhere on a river, especially after it rains.

“These wood piles can trap a boat and paddler with little chance of escape if sucked under,” Robertson said. “The best way to avoid these strainers is to know how to properly navigate your boat or by portaging around them.”

by Julie Berg-Raymond

“People who love to eat are always the best people.”
 - Julia Child

Evoking the charm and unpretentious beauty of an open-air market in the French countryside, Lansing’s newest retail addition to its Main Street is a dream-come-true for lovers of food and cooking - and for their gift-buying friends.

The Gourmet Traveler (located in the historic McGarrity’s building, next door to Red Geranium Floral and Gifts) opened May 20, and features a wide variety of cooking items from pots and pans, mixing bowls and tableware to salt cellars, utensils, handmade cutting boards - and measuring cups so pretty they could be mistaken for decorative counter pieces.