Weekend in Winterset, April 15-17

usb-long-3

Here’s some news shared with me this week by Tom Leners, executive director of the Madison County Development Group (MCDG), from Katie Lippold of Iowa Workforce Development. MCDG will be working with Iowa Workforce Development’s Regional Research Bureau to complete a Laborshed employment study for the Madison County area. This study will examine the labor force from which Madison County area employers draw their employees, and is based upon commuting patterns into the area. The study will assist existing and potential businesses to better understand the size and characteristics of the area’s labor force regardless of political boundaries.

The Laborshed boundary is based on the place of residence of individuals commuting into the Madison County area for employment. For the success of this study, employers in the Madison County area will be receiving letters asking that they provide aggregate counts of their employees’ residential ZIP codes. This reporting will give the Bureau an understanding of where each community’s workforce resides.

Once that Laborshed area is determined, a confidential household telephone survey will be conducted in those identified areas. The questions will cover topics such as: employment status, current and desired wages, current and desired benefits, education level, and type of occupation. Survey results will be applied to demographic data to determine the size of the Madison County area labor force as well as various labor force characteristics. Iowa Workforce Development will not be asking survey takers any identifiable information such as: name, social security number, or date of birth.

ground2
Hard to believe this was well over a year ago! Tom Leners and the MCDG work hard to increase economic activity, increase employment and build the tax base of Madison County.

Leners said “The Laborshed Study is vitally important to attracting new businesses and helping current businesses to fill their needs. I would ask that local employers that are selected to participate do so and that local employees that are selected for a phone interview take time to do so. The goal of the study is to develop an accurate model of the local labor market.”

The results for each county and regional Laborshed analysis can be found here. If you have any question about the Laborshed workforce project, please contact Katie Lippold at 515-281-3035 or Tom Leners at 515-462-1891.

This Weekend

A sure sign of spring in Winterset is the seasonal opening of Groth’s Gardens & Greenhouses this Friday, April 15th. As usual, they have a great selection of hardy perennials and annuals for container gardening, and this weekend they are offering 10% off perennials with the coupon found on their website (print it off or show it to them from your phone or tablet). While you’re at their website, sign up for the free e-newsletter to stay updated on what’s new, including more special deals throughout the season, and like them on Facebook for some fantastic color in your news feed.

groths

Also this weekend, re:home is open Thursday through Saturday (next weekend, too!).

12961330_1033354836758139_4217581789959265697_o

The Winterset Stage returns Friday evening with the premier of their wildly popular Murder Mystery Dinner Theater at 6:30 pm: It’s the night of the annual Hugo Chubson Awards show and the hosts and celebrities are all decked out. Everyone is enjoying the spotlight until one award nominee turns up dead and everyone’s a suspect. Come enjoy a three course meal catered by the Winterset Hy-Vee and laugh until your face hurts. It’s sure to be a night you won’t forget! Tickets are $30 and must be reserved in advance.

Winterset Stage Dinner Theatre

Be a part of providing quality entertainment at The Winterset Stage by volunteering and earn a FREE ticket to a show! The Winterset Stage is looking for volunteers for a variety of positions including box office help and assistance running the cafe. They will need volunteers as soon as this Friday for opening night. When you sign up to volunteer, you’ll be thanked with a free ticket to a show! Sign up online here or by contacting The Winterset Stage.

Create unique pieces at Madhaus Gallery’s RAKU class this Saturday from 10:00 to 4:00. Participants will select and glaze a piece of bisque ware and then watch it being fired. There are many unique pieces to choose from. Cost is $50 to participate, but watching is free! Contact Madhaus Gallery for more information and to register.

12473543_1101289709913374_1732289308003147451_o
I made something cool at last fall’s Raku event on my first try! Great mother-daughter outing, or with friends.

Coming Soon

This jewelry sale on April 21st benefits the gift shop at the hospital that serves staff and many visitors. Check it out!

jewelry sale

Have some old-fashioned fun with Games at the Library! The next game time will be Saturday, April 23rd at 1:00 pm. There will be plenty of games provided, or you can bring your own to play and share. Game time is open to all ages who are able to learn and play the games. It is a monthly program hosted in the Library Meeting Room by David & Nicole Wiley, and it is free and open to the public.

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. 

Taste of Camp 2016 Winterset

4H Taste of Camp 2015 Winterset
Taste of Camp 2015 Attendees. In 2015, 30 of the 101 campers were Madison County youth.

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.

Summer Camps MCCB 2016 Winterset

 mad-co-healthcare
 Bridges-insurance-2

 

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and below is the lineup of prevention and awareness activities for the remainder of April (click here for a printable list). Thank you to CRISP and the many businesses and organizations contributing to this important effort in Madison County! All of these programs are open to the public, but please note that a few of them require registration in advance:

  • April 18th for adults: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention Training at the Winterset Public Library Meeting Room. FREE. A light meal will be included. Call 515.462.9400 or email crisp@familyresourcelink.org for more information.
  • April 18th for everyone: 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm, PIZZA 4 PREVENTION Fundraiser at Pizza Ranch in Winterset. Pick up dinner for the family. All tips and a percentage of sales are being donated by Pizza Ranch to CRISP for Child Abuse Prevention efforts.
  • April 22nd is BLUE OUT DAY! Wear Blue in Madison County! Make your CARING 4 KIDS heard!!
  • April 30th for families with younger children, Picnic 4 Prevention at the Arbor Shelter in Winterset’s City Park from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Includes bag lunches by H-Vee (first come, first served), and football and frisbee giveaways while supplies last. Paint4Prevention, Bubble Pool, Plant4Prevention with ISU Extension, Master Gardeners, Piñata, and Prevention Pledge. It’s a fun day! Join them as they close up the month’s celebrations.
12968052_1007562849293189_1397490890319952104_o
Thank you for leading our community’s child abuse prevention efforts, Carol and Lynette!

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.

And finally…. Are you ready for this?

12961232_460983034100819_4415464043473000960_o

ribbon-magnet-blue-awareness

Have a great weekend in Winterset, and thank you for reading The Winterset Citizen.

 

Subscribe to The Winterset Citizen
Print Friendly, PDF & Email