Page Ten N/Warren Town and County News Thursday, October 24, 2013
Sunday, Oct. 20, Simon
Estes was in concert at the
Norwalk Performing Arts
Center. More than 650 cho:
ral students from the War-
ren County area per-
formed with Estes. Schools
participating included
Norwalk, Martensdale-St.
Marys, Carlisle, Indianola
and SE Warren. Estes was
accompanied by Jodi
Goble, a member of the
Iowa State University mu-
sic faculty.
Estes, an Iowa native
from Centerville, is em-
barking on a concert tour
of Iowa's 99 counties to
benefit the Simon Estes
Foundation. The founda-
tion supports scholarships
for high school seniors.
Seventy scholarships have
been awarded to students
across Iowa pursuing a
wide range of academic
studies in a college or uni-
versity of the recipients'
choice.
Sponsors for the Roots
& Wings tour included
Steve Albrecht of City
State Bank, Tom Coates of
Consumer Credit and
Scott Havens of Scott's
Foods, along with other
Norwalk businesses.
Roots & Wings With Simon Estes
Estes with the mass choir at the Roots & Wings Concert.
Estes with pianist Jodi Goble.
Estes signing autographs for students after the concert.
Keep Iowa Beautiful
"Creating Vibrant Communities"
A GRANT WOOD IOWA?
Iowans know of Grant Wood as an Iowa "son" and many know t.he significance of
his art. Much of his legacy reflects his rural farm background near Anamosa and the
love of the land and the people of this State. As a farm" boy he did all of the chores
that were required and filled his spare time drawing pictures and tinkering. Like
farmers, artists and other professions, they each have a special language of their
own, along with unique "tools of the trade" related to their profession.
The farmer has the implements required for farming and in the case of Grant
Wood - his "tools of the trade" and toolbox became an artist's palate, paint brushes
and a wide variety of paint types and colors. With this toolkit he prepared and pre-
sented some of the most beautiful images of our Iowa landscape and countryside.
These images remain with us today on canvas - his legacy for all of us.
The rural property owner and farmer have a totally different toolbox in working
the very same landscape and countryside that Grant Wood painted. Their toolbox
consists or farm equipment, tractors, livestock and tools to make all of them work in
producing the agricultural products that we all enjoy.
How each landowner and/or farmer deals with that landscape tends to be some-
what different. We are all hopeful that the legacy they leave is that of a beautiful
countryside. The image as that seen by Grant Wood. It is their choice and most of
them have the desire to leave the land in better condition than they received it. They
are also concerned with leaving a beautiful and attractive legacy for future landown-
ers and farmers and the public.
Providing some additional tools to the property owner and farme is the goal of
Keep Iowa Beautiful (KtB). KIB is developing a guide with tools that can be helpful
to every farmer and rural landowner in keeping their property clean and attractive.
This guide ranges from land restoration assistance, tree and prairie plantings, guid-
ance on the technology of farming that will enhance the property, to improvements
of waterways, wetland development and water quality management along with a
wide range of ideas and tips for beautification and other improvements.
A cleaner and more attractive Iowa is not only important to the landowner, but in
addition has economic and cultural values. Those values include raising pride and a
renewed respect for the land, decreasing blighted areas that have a negative impact
on land value, enhancing the environment and natural resources, providing a basis
for education and service learning, encouraging entrepreneurial development and
enhancing rural tourism, increasing recycling and reduction in waste and providing
a renewed connection to the land by absentee land owners.
The assembled "Rural Beautification Guide" is one that landowners, rural resi-
dents and farmers can utilize to increase the beauty and effectiveness of their prop-
erty and the countryside around them for future generations. These tools will help
property owners and farmers leave a Grant Wood countryside.
This guide is available on our web page at www.keepiowabeautifuLcom. To rural
residents and property owner s providing them with another set of tools expanding
their toolbox and helping to make Iowa the cleanest and most attractive State in the
nation. That is a legacy of pride and respect for the place where we live, work and
play - a Grant Wood Image!
Estes performing with pianist Goble. Staff photos by
Mary Lou Gray.
Disability Employment Awareness
At Genesis Development they know firsthand that the opportunity to work can
change a life. Every day Genesis staff members see people with significant disabili-
ties prove to themselves and others that they have more abilities than disabilities.
More than 300 people with disabilities participate in Genesis Employment Services
and Work Services programs annually.
Those in Employment Services programs either have a job in the community or
are preparing for and looking for community employment. Work Services encom-
passes all of the work opportunities at the four Genesis work centers: promotional
printing, redemption, remote work crews, box manufacturing, computer reclama-
tion, recycling, janitorial contracts, subcontract work and a commercial laundry. All
provide paid work experiences in real work environments with real paychecks. All
provide work skills and appropriate work place behavior training for people who
really want to work and to be gainfully employed.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) desig-
nated to focus on improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The 2013 NDEAM theme - Because We are Equal to the Task, speaks volumes about
the value people with disabilities offer businesses nationwide and emphasizes the
capable work force that is available in communities that have Genesis work pro-
grams. This is also a time for Genesis to recognize all those businesses that have
invested in an employee with a disability and have given them the opportunity to
take another step closer to personal independence.
Genesis currently assists individuals working in community jobs in Jefferson,
Panora, Perry, Boone, Adel, Winterset, Indianola and Storm Lake. This does not in-
clude the many individuals who have been in Genesis programs, secured commu-
a-dty employment and increased their skills and independence to the point that they
no longer need to rely on Genesis for assistance.
Warren County employers currently providing employment opportunities include
Burger King, McDonald's, Indianola YMCA, Affinity Bridal, Windsor Manor, Little
Caesars and Hy-Vee.
Employers providing opportunities for work experiences through career explora-
tion programs for high school students in Norwalk include Bedwell Gardens, Carol's
Child Care, City State Bank, Green Wood Stables, Harvey's Automotive and Ma-
chine, Haskin Chiropractic Clinic, Howling Hills Canine Campus (Cumming), Little
Hands Big Dreams, Maid-Rite, Main Street Montessori School, Norwalk Hardware
& Auto Supply, Norwalk Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Olson's Bread and Break-
fast, Optometric Associates, Regency Care Center and Assisted Living and Scott's
Foods.
For more information about giving a person with a disability an employment or
career exploration opportunity in your business, contact Kyle Bloom, Employment
Services Director at 515-961-6918 or email kyle@genesisdevelopment.com. Bloom
can also provide information about contracted labor options for your business.
