This Sunday, May 1st, the Madison County Historical Museum will open for the season, featuring a new exhibit dedicated to our historic downtown square. If you haven’t toured it recently (or ever), you’d be amazed at the vast quantity of local history contained within 14 buildings on 18 acres of land, on the hill at 815 S. 2nd Avenue (near the hospital). The society was founded in 1904 and has existed in its current location for 36 years. Through October 31st, they’ll be open Monday – Saturday from 11:00 to 4:00 and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00.
This weekend is your last chance to experience the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre put on by The Winterset Stage this Friday and Saturday evening at 6:30 pm: “And the Winner is Dead.” The show has been a tremendous success with sellout crowds, and only a few tickets remain for the final performances. Call The Winterset Stage today to see if you can secure one of the last remaining seats.
To celebrate the close of Child Abuse Prevention Month, take the family to enjoy the Picnic 4 Prevention at the Arbor Shelter in Winterset’s City Park on Saturday, April 30th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The event includes bag lunches by Hy-Vee (first come, first served) and football and frisbee giveaways while supplies last. The kids can also enjoy Paint4Prevention, Bubble Pool, Plant4Prevention with the ISU Extension Master Gardeners, a Piñata, and Prevention Pledge. Bring your own blanket! Children must have an adult present to participate.
The Madison County Cycle Club is asking for volunteers to help with a “collective triage” this Sunday at 1:00 at Rich Mills farm, 1867 Hogback Bridge Rd. They need help with stripping bikes to reclaim parts for the collective that will be used on refurbished bicycles. Please bring your own tools. For many years the Madison County Cycle Club has had a good relationship with the Des Moines Bicycle Collective and the bikes you’ve seen on the Medicap parking lot in town is part of that effort. Hundreds of restored bikes have come back to Madison County residents from these two groups. For more information, call Rich at 462.9097 or email coveredbridge@yahoo.com.
Coming Soon
‘Tis the season to host all kinds of gatherings: baby and wedding showers, graduation and confirmation parties, family reunions and more. If you’re looking for an easy solution to host a group, you’re in luck! Upstairs at the Heartland Building and Heidi’s Kitchen have once again teamed up to provide you with your best option for a luncheon or dinner year round! Choose two of Heidi’s homemade soups (see her complete menu here), and you’ll also get French and Rosemary Garlic Sea Salt Focaccia breads as well as her Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies, all served in the best location with the best view on the Winterset Square. Sodas and water are also provided. All-inclusive prices are $120 for ten people, $155 for 15 people, and $190 for 20 people. Call Amy at Heartland Fiber to choose your soups and your date: 515-468-7490. Hosting a gathering couldn’t be easier!
The First United Presbyterian Church in Winterset is hosting its Annual May Breakfast on Tuesday, May 3rd from 6:00 am to 9:00 am. They’ll be serving eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, muffins, sweet rolls, coffee, and juice. This is their 78th annual event!
On Saturday, May 7th, the First United Methodist Church is hosting a Mother’s Day Brunch at the Historical Building from 8:00 to 11:00 am, or until the food is gone. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the church (call 515-249-1204).
Winterset High School is hosting 14 bands and 16 choirs on Friday, May 6th for the 2016 Iowa High School Music Association State Large Group Contest, and the Band Boosters need your help to create a successful event. The shifts have been planned to try to work around performance times. Click here to view the volunteer sign up sheet online. Volunteers should check in 10 minutes early at the high school’s main office to pick up your name tag and job description/location.
If your mom has “everything,” think about honoring her this Mother’s Day with a block on the Iowa Quilt Museum’s inaugural Red and White Quilt. For a $100 donation to the museum, your mom’s name will forever be displayed in the museum on this beautiful quilt. Now that’s love! Donations can be mailed or dropped off at Village Bootery with Terri Kuhns, treasurer of the IQM. The museum will have a soft opening on Memorial Day weekend, in time for the John Wayne Birthday Celebration, with a grand opening to follow in June.
Bring your coloring books and colors to The Cellar at 111 S 1st Ave. on Friday, May 6th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Coffee & Coloring will support the American Cancer Society with a tax deductible $25 donation for the 2016 Relay for Life of Madison County. Enjoy a dessert and a selection of cappuccinos or lattes while spending time with fellow coloring fans. Relay For Life of Madison County is Friday, June 3rd from 6:00 to 11:00pm at the Winterset High School. Sign up this week to reserve your t-shirt size. Register up online here.
Youth entering grades 1-8 in Dallas, Madison, Polk and Warren counties are invited to Taste of Camp June 22-25. This camp is located at the Iowa 4-H Camping Center in Madrid, Iowa. Membership in the 4-H Youth Development program is not required. Activities include archery, building a campfire, exploring a marsh, performing skits, singing songs, hiking in nature, splashing in the swimming pool and the option to zip line or climb a 65-foot wall (only available for “Full Camp” attendees). Youth entering grades 5-8 may attend “Full Camp” Wednesday, June 22nd through Saturday, June 25th. Youth entering grades 1-4 may attend “Mini Camp” Friday, June 24th through Saturday, June 25th. Family members are invited to attend the closing ceremony and campfire lunch on Saturday, June 25th at 10:30 am. Click here for more information or to register. Additional questions may be directed to Regional 4-H Youth Specialist Jeff Macomber at 515.975.2677 or jmacombe@iastate.edu. Registration deadline is Monday, May 9th.
Registration is now open for Summer Camps through the Madison County Conservation Board. Camps run June through August, and there are options for every age range. Register online at www.madisoncountyparks.org, or Click here for a printable application. Spaces are limited.
The next Writer’s Workshop at the Library will be Thursday, May 5th at 6:30 pm in the Library Meeting Room:
Network with local business owners at the next Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event on Thursday, May 5th from 5:00 to 7:00pm hosted by the Upstairs at the Heartland Building. Bring your business cards and feel welcome to stay for 20 minutes or for the entire two hours.
If you enjoy volleyball, join the Winterset Park and Recreation Department’s Coed Sand Volleyball Tourney. Sign up in teams of four: two men and two women. Champion T-shirts will be awarded to 1st place, and all proceeds go to the Winterset Dog Park fund. Registration ends Friday, May 6th. Fee is $40 per team.
The City-wide garage sale is coming May 14th! Ad information is due to The Shopper by May 6th if you want your sale included on the map.
The Winterset Wine Walk is next Saturday, May 7th. $15 gets you a souvenir wine glass, plus a $5 coupon to use towards the purchase of a bottle of wine that evening. Tickets are available at the Madison County Chamber of Commerce office, or buy them online here.
Madison County Health Care System is excited to partner with the Winterset Dog Park committee to co-host a 5K walk/run and Dog Jog on Saturday, May 14, 2016 in Winterset’s City Park. Proceeds from the event will help fund the proposed Dog Park for Winterset, and there will be events for the whole family (including the dog!). A bounce house, courtesy of Breedings Hardware, a sand volleyball tournament hosted by Winterset Parks and Recreation, The Hy-Vee Healthy You Mobile, and a variety of displays by Madison County groups and organizations will make this a celebration of healthy living. Registration begins at 7:30 AM with the events kicking off at 8:30 am. You may register online by going here. There is a fee of $25.00 (after April 22 the fee goes to $35.00). All registrants for the 5K will receive a commemorative tee-shirt if they register by April 30. Team registration for the sand volleyball tournament will be $40.00 and may be made by contacting Winterset Parks and Recreation Department, which will also contribute the net proceeds to the Dog Park Project. For more information contact Chris Nolte at the hospital (515) 462-2373, Beth McDonald at (515) 462-2951, or Winterset Parks and Recreation at (515) 462-3258.
Contact The Winterset Public Library if you are an artist/artisan who would like to participate in ArtFest:
Finally, thank you to all the Madison County Chamber members and the Madison County Conservation Board for volunteering on Earth Day to help with road-side cleanup! Thanks, also, to the many organizations who have adopted highway areas around the county and help keep them in good shape. Your efforts are appreciated.
Have a great weekend in Winterset, and thank you for reading The Winterset Citizen.
