Community News

Weatherize Your Home Sooner Than Later

It won't be long before the weather turns colder and snow falls. Now is the time to winterize your home. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it does take effort and know-how. YouTube is a great source for many of these tasks. Below are several ways you can winterize your home:

  • Insulate: Add insulation to your attic and roof to reduce energy loss. You can also insulate exposed pipes outside. 
  • Seal air leaks: Use caulk and weather stripping to seal leaks around doors and windows, as well as where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, and ceilings. 
  • Install storm windows: If your home has single-pane windows, you can install energy-efficient external storm windows. 
  • Use ceiling fans: Set ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise to move warm air down and circulate it throughout the room. 
  • Check and clean gutters: Clean your gutters to prevent ice dams from building up. 
  • Check and maintain heating systems: Check, clean, or replace central heating filters. 
  • Flush your water heater: Flush your water heater. 
  • Prepare for emergencies: If severe winter weather is expected, prepare an emergency kit with a three-day supply of essentials for each member of your household. 
  • Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: Make sure your smoke detectors, fire alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly and replace the batteries. 
  • Trim trees and branches: Trim trees and remove dead branches to prevent them from damaging your home or injuring someone. 
  • Repair steps and handrails: Make sure steps and handrails are safe in ice and snow. 

You should start the process of weatherizing your home now, instead of when the weather turns cold, and the snow starts to fly.  If you're hiring a professional, you should schedule appointments as soon as possible. 

211 Helps Find Solutions

You may have heard about 211, but you might know that they can help you find solutions to almost any situation. 211 is a free information and referral system linking Iowa residents to health and human service programs, community services, disaster services and governmental programs. It is your a one-stop source of information for those who are looking for a specific service.

211 can offer referrals for the following services:

  • Basic Human Needs Resources: food pantries, clothing closets, shelters, rent assistance, utility assistance
  • Physical and Mental Health Resources: health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health care, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, substance abuse and intervention rehabilitation
  • Employment Supports: financial assistance, job training, educational programs
  • Support For Older Americans And Persons With Disabilities: adult day care, aging and disability resource centers, congregate meals, respite care, home health care, transportation, homemaker services
  • Support for Children, Youth and Families: child care, Head Start, family resource centers, holiday assistance, parenting, summer camps and recreation programs, summer meal programs, mentoring, protective services
  • Volunteer Opportunities and Donation Services

According to the website, these are just a few of the services available in the 211 database. Specialists can refer callers to a variety of service that best meets their needs. 211 is the number to call when you aren’t sure who to call.

To learn more about this service, visit their website.

Area Parks Offer Fun for the Entire Family

Our tri-city community is lucky to have so many parks to visit that have a variety of fun activities, and you don't have to travel fair to enjoy them!

The Cedar Rapids parks include:

  • Noelridge - Swimming Pools, Splash Pad, Pavilions, Trail, Playgrounds
  • Bever - Old MacDonald's Farm
  • Jones - Swimming Pool, Playground, Disc Golf, Pavilions
  • Ellis - Pavilions, Swimming Pool, Volleyball, Tennis, Playground
  • Cherry Hill - Swimming Pool, Playground, Trail, ball diamonds
  • Cleveland - Splash pad, Playground and Pavilion
  • Jacolyn - Splash pad and playground
  • Cedar Valley
  • Twin Pines - Plash Pad and Playground
  • And many more!

Hiawatha has three parks:

  • Fay Clark - Trail, Disc Golf, Playground
  • Tucker - Trail, Splash Pad, Pavilion, Playground
  • Guthridge - Splash Pad, Pavilions, Playgrounds, Trail

And Marion has six large parks and many smaller parks:

Willowood - Swimming Pool, Splash Pad, Pavilions, and Playgrounds

Thomas - Splash Pad, Playgrounds, Trail

Hanna - Pavilions, Playgrounds

Lowe - Center, Trail, Playground

Peg Pierce - Ball Diamonds

Tauber - Playground 

Waldo's Rock - Trail, Pond, Shelter

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Apples Great for Your Health, and Taste Good, Too

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."  Although it might take more than apples to keep you perfectly healthy, apples are actually a very good source of vitamins C, antioxidants, and necessary nutrients.

Apples also help with:

  • Inflammation: Quercetin, a natural pigment in apples, can help reduce inflammation. 
  • Allergy symptoms: Quercetin can also help reduce allergy symptoms. 
  • Digestion: Fiber in apples can help with constipation and diarrhea, and the soluble fiber pectin can promote regular bowel movements. 
  • Heart health: Apples may help protect against heart damage and blood vessel damage. The antioxidants and fiber in apples can help lower cholesterol levels. 
  • Cancer: The antioxidants in apples may slow the growth of cancer cells. 
  • Weight management: Apples are high in fiber and water, which can help you feel full. 
  • Blood pressure: Antioxidants in apple peels and the fiber in apples may help lower blood pressure. 

There are so many kinds of apples, too. Some are good for baking and others are good for baking. But most of them are great for both!  See our recipe for Apple Pie Bars at the bottom of the page, and happy eating! 

Apple Pie Bars

 

One of the best things about fall are the yummy apples! See below for a recipe soon to become a family favorite! 

Ingredients:

FOR THE CRUST
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
FOR THE FILLING
6 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
FOR THE TOPPING
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. chopped pecans
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted
Caramel, for serving

Directions:

Step 1 - Preheat oven to 350° and line a 9”-x-13” pan with parchment then
grease with cooking spray. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat
butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt and
mix until just combined. 
Step 2 - Press into prepared pan about 1/2” up sides. Bake until lightly golden,
20 minutes. 
Step 3 - In a large bowl, toss apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon,
vanilla, and salt together. Spread apples over crust. 
Step 4 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pecans, brown sugar, and salt.
Stir in melted butter until coarse clumps form.
Step 5 - Sprinkle crumb topping over apples and bake until top is golden and
apples are soft, about 1 hour. 
Step 6 - Let cool at least 15 minutes then slice into squares and drizzle with
caramel before serving.

Olivet Mission Is Closing

     A NW Cedar Rapids center vital to the community will soon be closing. According to KCRG News, The Olivet Mission 10th Street NW announced they will cease operations, though they did not give a specific date. 

     The article stated that according to Olivet Presbyterian Church, which owns the building where the mission operates, "the mission’s effort to offer clothes, food, and other assistance to those in need, has become too much for them to handle due to the increase in the amount of people that rely on its services."

     Many people depend on the mission for food and clothing and will be missed, according to several community members. "I wanted to cry," said one supporter of the mission. "There is such a need in our community. It's sad to think it will soon be gone. 

     One nonprofit in the community said they hope to be able to help in the gap the mission will leave when it closes, and added that they also have faith that the community will step up and do more about the growing problem our community is facing because of rising food, clothing, and housing costs. 

Willis Dady Homeless Services Opens New Supportive Housing Apartments

     Willis Dady Homeless Services celebrated the completion of the Chandler Pump Building, 13-unit apartments that will help homeless individuals find some stability in their lives.

     Although it took more than four years to complete, the units in the Chandler Pump building at 707 B Avenue NW are now ready for tenants. Each room in the building is unique, with furniture donated by Central Furniture Rescue. Criteria for the applicants state that they must have been homeless previously and have income less than 80% of the poverty level. The rent is then calculated by their current income. 

     A ribbon-cutting event was held Jan. 25, 2024, to celebrate the completion of the building. Tours of the building were given, followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was attended by several city leaders, including Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell. 

     The derecho that hit our community, Aug. 8, 2020, destroyed the top half of the building, which derailed the current plan for the building. Board members and the original planning committee had to decide to keep the building with only one floor and proceeded to call in experts to help them design and remodel the building. 

     Founded by J.A. Chandler in 1890, the Chandler Pump Company was among the most significant manufacturers in Cedar Rapids, with its Chandler Iron Pump water pump used on farms and homes for cisterns. The apartments will provide Willis Dady clients with "a safe and affordable place to live, and the case manager will provide one-on-one support to address barriers and build the foundation for long-term stability."

     Waypoint Services will soon follow suit. According to sources, Waypoint wants to make their now-closed shelter into six to eight apartments. They are collaborating with architects on what a floor plan might look like, deciding how much rent would be, and how many people they would be capable of helping. A timeline for the work has not yet been established.