Proboscis Theatre Company announces the regional premiere of Prospero’s Black Box, which will take place at the Three Dolphins Theatre in Waukon Saturday, November 8 at 3 p.m. Three Dolphins Theatre is owned and operated by Katie O’Regan of Waukon and is located at 501 3rd Street SW in Waukon.
Prospero’s Black Box is created and performed by Proboscis co-artistic director Jeff Mills, who is an alumnus of the (now closed) National Theatre Conservatory at the Denver Center Theatre Company, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree. Now based in Chicago, IL, Mills is returning to Denver, CO after performing Prospero’s Black Box at festivals in Hydra in Greece, Prague in Czech Republic, Verona in Italy, Santa Barbara CA, and Chicago, IL.
Midwest Veterans of America will be honoring area Veterans at an event this Saturday, November 8 at the new Fiesta Vallarta location (formerly AJ Bar & Grill) on Main Street in Waukon in celebration of Veterans Day, which is observed November 11 of each year. The free event will include an awards presentation that will begin at 1 p.m. honoring approximately 40 area Veterans.
Main Street Lansing hosts ribbon cutting event for Pinnacle Wealth Management ... Main Street Lansing hosted a Ribbon Cutting and First Dollar event October 15 to help welcome Pinnacle Wealth Management, operated by Lansing native Quincy Johnson, to its Main Street business community. Pictured above with members of Main Street Lansing and other family and friends at the event is Quincy Johnson (holding scissors) with his Pinnacle Wealth Management team of Jeff Breit (holding First Dollar certificate), and Scott Greening and Travis Rose (left to right to the right of Johnson in the above photo). Submitted photo.
submitted by Jackie Cooper, Main Street Lansing Executive Director
Main Street Lansing recently welcomed Quincy Johnson and Pinnacle Wealth Management to their new storefront at 224 Main Street in Lansing. A ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration was held Thursday, October 15 to officially introduce Johnson and his business to the downtown community.
A HOMETOWN RETURN
Johnson is no stranger to Lansing - he grew up there and has always admired the town’s strong sense of community. “The generosity of people here is unmatched,” he shared. “Neighbors are always willing to help those in need, and that’s something special you don’t find everywhere.”
The Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) will be hosting a Fall Migration Field Day Saturday, November 15. The day will include a guided hike out onto the spillway in Harpers Ferry to view migrating waterfowl in the main channel, and maps and directions to local birding hot spots that can be picked up at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing.
The hike will leave from the spillway parking area at the southern end of Red Oak Road, across the highway from Mohn’s Fish Market near Harpers Ferry, at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is not required. Following the hike, naturalist Erin Cubbon will be out on Red Oak Road in between Harpers Ferry and Lansing with binoculars and spotting scopes ready to talk birds with visitors until 3 p.m.
During Dyslexia Awareness Month in October, newly-certified dyslexia tutor Nikki Breimon was busy settling her St. Patrick preschool classroom into a new school year in Waukon. Even after she went home in the evenings, her work as an educator continued as she provided much-needed services to the community.
Breimon recently graduated from a 60-hour training course offered by Aspire Academy Northeast in partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College-Waukon Center, with funding support from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.
“I have always loved to read, and I want to share that love of reading,” she explains. “I already tutor during the summer, so what a wonderful opportunity to help a dyslexic reader become more confident.”
Breimon also plans to incorporate some of the strategies she’s learned into her classroom of young preschoolers beginning their literacy journey.
34th Annual Christmas Fantasy scheduled for November 14-17 ... The 2025 “Christmas Vacation” Christmas Fantasy will be magically displayed throughout the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion November 14-17, at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Health Care Foundation’s 34th annual event. Christmas Fantasy opens Friday Night, November 14, at 5 p.m. with the “Tingle and Mingle” happy hour event. Many hot and hearty hors d’oeuvres will be offered this year, plus desserts, candies, and spirits all served among the trees. Reservations for the Saturday Wine, Cheese and Dessert evening, the ‘Brunch with Santa’ Sunday and Monday’s Noon Luncheon are still being accepted by calling 563-568-4177. Again this year, over 100 Christmas gift options will be available on the silent auction, with a new live auction taking place at 7 p.m. Friday night. Submitted photo.
The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2025 will be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 14, 15, 16, and 17, at the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion. The fun-filled theme will be, “A Christmas Vacation!”
2025 Christmas Fantasy Schedule of Events:
“Tingle ‘N Mingle” Happy Hour
The Friday evening “Tingle ‘N Mingle” happy hour will be held November 14, from 5-8 p.m. This annual Friday night happy hour event is a special opportunity to meet socially with friends and co-workers after work. All-you-can-eat hot and hearty hors d’oeuvres will be served plus desserts, candies, and spirits. Each ticket includes all of the delicious food plus two beverage tickets, as well as a green jello shot to go along with the Christmas Vacation theme. The cost is $25 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Norplex-Micarta has awarded a $15,000 donation to the new Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Postville Clinic for the renovation of the new facility. This is the largest single donation made to this campaign to date. Pictured above, left to right, is Mike Gromacki, Chief Executive Officer and Dixie Doeppke, Human Resource Manager, both of Norplex-Micarta; Selena Perez, Medical Assistant; Sandy Lopez, Medical Assistant and Medical Interpreter; Hannah Kelly, Nurse Practitioner; Teresa Berg, Receptionist; Laura Baxter, Clinics Director; Alisha Henderson, Clinic RN; Beth Shafer, Growth and Development Coordinator, all of VMH and Clinics; and Dennis Ford, President and Scott Hagen, Director of Operations of Norplex-Micarta. The new clinic will have an additional three exam rooms for a total of five, plus a new procedure room and lab area.
The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Nursing Department was recently presented a donation on behalf of the non-profit organization, Buckets of Hope, Inc., to be used for patient needs as determined by the Nursing and Social Services Departments. Pictured above is Mandy Pettit, RN, presenting the donation to Jayne McCormick, Director of Nursing, at left, and Tatum Iverson, Social Services, at right, both of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Pettit shares the purpose of the foundation as the following, “Buckets of Hope Inc. was created in memory of our dear friend, Sue Mara, who lived her life with a heart full of kindness and a passion for helping others. Inspired by her legacy, we are committed to sharing hope with those who need it most - friends, neighbors, and even strangers walking through the challenges of healthcare struggles or life-changing hardships.
The Flu and COVID vaccines continue to be offered each Wednesday afternoon by appointment at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health. Flu shots are recommended for all those who have not yet received the vaccine and will be effective throughout the rest of the flu season.
A flu vaccine is the best way to help protect yourself and your loved ones against flu and its potentially serious outcomes. A flu shot can safely help prevent the flu and lessen flu symptoms if you do get sick. A flu shot also can help protect your baby from flu for several months after birth.
Every year flu puts thousands of children in the hospital. Getting your child a flu vaccine can lessen flu’s more serious symptoms - reducing the risk of serious illness and flu-related hospitalization if they do get sick.
Local farmers can support Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and save on taxes by donating grain or other commodities directly to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.
When a self-employed farmer donates grain instead of selling it and giving cash, the value of that grain is not counted as income - meaning no income or self-employment tax is owed. The Foundation sells the grain, and the proceeds go toward local health care needs.
To qualify, the grain must be delivered and ownership transferred to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation before it’s sold. To better illustrate this, a farmer donating 1,000 bushels of corn valued at $4,000 could save more than $1,700 in taxes compared to selling the grain and donating the cash. The farmer can still deduct all production expenses.
