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OFFICIAL
NEWSPAPER FOR
AND
NORWALK COMMUNITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Vol. 44 No. 36 Norwalk, Iowa 50211USPS No. 395-120 Phone 981-0406 emaih news@norwalknewspaper.com Thursday, January 24, 2013
The TomorrowPlan
Draft of The Tomorrow Plan Set for Public Review
The Tomorrow Plan - Greater Des Moines' strategy
for crafting a vibrant, dynamic region of Iasting value,
equity and diversity - gets presented to the public,for
final feedback in a series of open ~aouses around the
metro in late January and early February. You can also
read and provide input on the draft plan at
www.thetomorrowplan.com.
"We are grateful for thee community involvement in
this plan, as we are all a part of making this important
work happen," said Polk County Supervisor and The
Tomorrow Plan Co-Chair Angela Connolly.
"More than 26,000 contacts have been made in the
development of the plan," notes Todd Ashb) Executive
Director of the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning
Organization. The MPO secured a federal grant to sup-
port the planning work in October 2010. "We intend to
maintain that energy around this plan," he adds.
Six meetings are scheduled, each from 5-7 p.m in
communities across the region to reflect the broad base
of support taking shape for the plan. Dates and open
house locations are as follows:
Tuesda) J m. 29: Altoona Fire Station; Wednesday,
Jan. 30: Des Moines Central Library; Thursday, Jan. 31:
Ankeny Public Services Building; Monday, Feb. 4:
Norwalk City Hall; Tuesda)9 Feb. 5: Raccoon River Park
Nature Lodge; Wednesda) Feb. 6: Johnston Public Library
Light refreshments will be served. The events are
free and open to the public.
Nearly complete, the plan pulls wide-ranging groups
from Greater Des Moines together to find common
ground on p6tentially contentious issues such as land
use, transportation and economic development with
action steps for today to prepare for 2050 and beyond.
The plan further outlines regional initiatives to move
the metro forward, including a regional greenways
strategy, healthy neighborhood development, economic
nodes and corridors, and more.
The Tomorrow Plan brings together all 17 cities and
four counties of the Greater Des Moines metro along
with a number of other public and private entities to
map the path to a lasting future for our region. The Des
Moines Area Metropolitan Plpnning Organization se-
cured initial funding of $2 million for this project
through the federal Sustainable Communities Regional
Planning Grant Program. Each and every citizen of the
Greater Des Moines region should be involved in shap-
ing the area's future. Join us for at least one of these
meaningful conversations!
Monday, Jan. 28
Friends of the Library, 5:30 p.m. Join us for our
monthly Friends of the Library group meeting. This
group, re-established in 2011, gives input for new pro-
gramming, special events and larger projects. This
month we hosted an app~ciation event for library staff
and board members! We are also working on details
for 2013 programs and events. New participants are
welcome at any meeting and your comments and ideas
are welcome via our Facebook page or via email with
Concluded p. 5
Host Families
Needed For
Performers
The Chinese perform-
ing groups will come to
Norwalk to perform the
traditional Chinesemusic
and dancing during the
2013 Iowa Chinese New
Year Celebrations Satur-
day, Feb. 2. We need help
to find host families for the
Performing Group from
China, January 31 to Feb-
ruary 4: four teen girls
(birth years of 1996, 1997,
1997 and 1997); two teen
boys (birth years of 1999
and 2001); three male
teachers (birth years of
1971, 1973 and 1973) and
one female teacher (birth
year of 1978).
. Also Performing Group
from Minnesota: February
2:10 male and female
adults.
Contact Swallow Yan
at the Chinese Association
of Iowa at 988-0901 if in-
terested.
VENDOR FAIR
FUNDRAISER
Norwalk 8th Grade
History class is going to
Washington, DC at the end
of the year. Several of the
students' mothers are do-
ing a vendor fair Saturday,
Feb. 2 at Fellowship Com-
munity Church, 225
North Ave from 9 a.m.-2
p.m. They have 31 Purses,
Tupperware, Pampered
Chef, Premier Jewelry,
Norwex, Vault Denim,
Scents)~ Tastefully Simple,
Grace Adele, Celebrating
Home, Discovery Toys,
the Body Bi Vi, Handmade
pens and several others.
NORWALK
].IBBAI Garrett to Host
Norwalk Forum
1051 North Ave. * 81-0217 Representative Julian
Garrett will hold a legis-
lative forum at the
Norwalk City Hall Satur-
day, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m. Rep-
resentative Garrett will
discuss the current legis-
lative session and answer
questions and entertain
comments from those in
attendance. The public is
- invited.
Photo subrt~tted.
Flags for Peace
The flags are flying on Main Street, though these are
not your typical flags.
Main St. Montessori and Middle School students have
been working on a special art project. The art teacher
at Main St. School, Suzanne LaTour Stevens, led all
classes in creating peace flags. These flags are based on
Tibetan prayer flags, pieces of fabric that are decorated
with prayers or wishes and hung on.a line in the wind.
They are used to promote peace, compassion, strength
and wisdom. The belief is that as the flags blow in the
wind, the prayers or wishes fly out into the world to
spread goodwill and compassion. Stevens modified the
idea to become peace flags.
"In reference to the recent incidences of violence, it
seemed a good idea to put our wishes for peace out into
the world," said Stevens.
The flags will be flown at the front of the school
through the end of February. The students and staff
invite the citizens to come and view the flags and add
their own wishes for peace. Blank flags will be avail-
able for the public to decorate on their own and turn
back into the school. These will then be hung alongside
the others to increase the positive message of peace in
our community. The flags will be available in a
Rubbermaid container on the front porch of the school.
You may pick them up, decorate and return at your
convenience. Main St. School is a private pre-K-8th
grade school and is located at 925 Main St.
Cross Talk 2013
Several churches in the Norwalk area will be par-
ticipating in Cross Talk 2013 this Easter, according to
Pastor Rob Jones of Fellowship Community Church
(FCC). Members of FCC, Crossroads Church and
Norwalk United Methodist will be joining with multi-
denominational churches across Iowa to display a
white cross in their front yards from Palm Sunday to
Easter Sunday. The 40-inch by 30-inch white crosses
will make a united statement of proclamation about
the resurrected Lord Jesus.
Pastor Jones stated the crosses will present a big
voice at Easter and encourage others to ask about the
crosses and their meaning, hopefully opening doors for
Christians to invite friends and neighbors to Easter ser-
vices.
Orders for the white crosses are due by Sunday, Feb.
3. The cost for each cross is $11.50 and churches and
individuals are invited to call and order from the
churches listed above.
For more information, call FCC at 981-O699, Norwalk
United Methodist Church at 981-4251 or Crossroads
Church at 287-8580.
Annual Lobster,
Shrimp Dinner
The Norwalk Lions
Club Annual Lobster and
Shrimp Dinner will be held
Saturday, Feb. 23, at St.
John the Apostle Catholic
Church Hall, 720 Orchard
Hills Dr. Doors open at 6:30
p.m. with dinner served at
-7:15 p.m. A dance will fol-
low until 11 p.m. with
music provided .by Music
& Moonlight Productions.
The cost is fresh Maine lob-
ster - $30 per meal; shrimp
- $25 per meal or steak - $25
per meal. The meal in-
dudes one main dish, plus
cole slaw, baked potato
and dinner roll.
Deadline for reserva-
tions is Wednesday, Feb.
13. Checks should be made
out to Norwalk Lions
Club and reservations and
-full payment sent to 1119
Skylane, Norwalk, IA
50211.
Participants should
bring their favorite bever-
age/cooler and a pair of
scissors or nut crackers if
you are a lobster lover, as
you will be served the
whole lobster.
For more information,
contact David Lester at
515-681-4929 or Linda
Bussanmas at 515-979-
8757.
Family
Bingo Night
Family Bingo Night at
the Norwalk Easter Pub-
lic Library is the first Sun-
day of the month with a
new time 5-7 p.m.
The next Bingo Nights
are February 3 and March
3. Norwalk Parks and Rec
and Norwalk Lions Club
are working together to
provide time to enjoy an
opportunity to meet
friends and neighbors of
all ages. Bingo cards are
one for .25 or three for .50
per game. Bring a snack to
share with all.
If you have any ques-
tions, you can reach Susan
Leverman at 771-2259 or
Linda Bussanmas with
the Norwalk Lions Club at
979-8757.
