During today’s ribbon cutting, Chamber Ambassadors extended a warm welcome to Home Revisions, a construction company that is committed to their clients. Their motto? Protect and provide.
In August 2020, Home Revisions owner Nick Darland began the company with a vision to not only renovate homes, but to “transform the client experience within the construction industry.” Darland, who grew up in Grinnell, has since purchased a building on Penrose Street (formerly Ashing Machine & Tool) as the company’s headquarters, and now offers a subscription service that includes gutter cleaning, exterior inspections, and 10% off future remodeling projects.
Ultimately, says Darland, “we’re carpenters aspiring to be artists.” Darland and his team of two — Kolton and Kevin Werner — have done beautiful work on numerous historical and Victorian homes. Together, they’ve built a reputation for taking on complex, large-scale projects around the town of Grinnell, preserving charming features of older homes while introducing the functionality of modern ones.
Today, Darland continues to catch tea with one of his former clients every week, having spent time between August 2022 to May 2024 reconstructing her home — another nod to their client-centric approach to business. Meanwhile, HomeRevisions has maintained good working relationships with similar companies around Grinnell and has built an impressive clientele. HomeRevisions is a company with deep roots in the community, one that Darland has grown to appreciate since he has “found his way back home” to the Grinnell community.
For more information on Home Revisions’ work or their approach, visit their website homerevisionsiowa.com, email info@homerevisionsiowa.com or give them a call at 641-260-1079.
Pictured left to right:
Ambassadors met with LINK Grinnell today to learn about all the arms of their programming. Mentoring Coordinator Ashley Grundler shared that they’re always looking for mentors for the elementary and middle school mentoring program. They also have a few team spots left for their upcoming bowling fundraiser on April 13.
LINK Executive Director Ashley Risting touched on their after school programming, currently in session. In addition to after school, they also offer full day programming on Professional Development days. Yesterday’s theme was cooking, the kids made ice cream and flat breads, played knock out in the gym and spent time building with legos, magnatiles and blocks.
Summer programming is now open for registrations. This 10 week theme based programming is geared towards kids age 5-12 years old. Each week features a different topic that leads up to a Friday field trip. This year’s topics include; cooking, Celebrate (4th of July & Christmas in July), playwriting, Ninja U, Discover Curiosity (science) and more! They’re also working to partner with Grinnell Sports Camps and offer a videography and cooking camp for older kids.
While LINK does require registration, it’s a pay as you go program with no contract. They work hard to keep costs affordable for family by utilizing community partnerships and grants when possible. They offer a sliding fee scale and take DHS child care assistance if needed. If you’re interested in learning more, signing up for any program, or making a donation to support programming, visit their website at www.linkgrinnell.com or email director@linkgrinnell.org
Pictured L-R: Cynthia Alberts - OnMedia, Hannah Warnell - Warnell Real Estate, Rachael Kinnick - Grinnell Chamber, Bri Gaunt - Community 1st Credit Union, Matt Moyer - Bayer Crop Science, Ashley Grundler - LINK Mentoring, Monica St. Angelo - Grinnell Area Arts Council, Ashley Risting - LINK Grinnell, Jordyn Loiselle - LINK Grinnell, Trent Arment - MCG - Mahaska Communication Group, Lisa Cirks - Cirks Financial Services, Fran Conn, Jennifer McAlexander - JM Consulting & Hawkeye Lock & Security , Whitney Bair Crawford, Agent with New York Life, Keith Jay - Advantage Seamless Gutters Iowa
Ambassadors visited with board members from the Tiger Baseball and Softball Club to hear about changes to the youth program. Board members Steve Gant, Sabrina Edsen and Phil Culham shared that the new version of the program is designed to work closely with the middle and high school programs in preparing students for team play. The younger leagues are more focused on skill development. T-Ball will transition to a Sunday evening only with group practice and games combined. The higher levels will combine students of all skill levels based on grade level instead of age to mirror the school teams. TBSC is excited to have 350 kids registered to play this year and are still taking sign ups if your child is interested in playing.
As part of their transition away from the Little League framework, TBSC is able to start the program later in the spring. Games will start in May and the season will end in June. Grinnell Parks & Recreation T-Ball league will begin in July and both organizations are excited about the opportunity to reach more kids through the adjusted scheduling. This new scheduling will also allow for more opportunities for middle school and high school players to assist with programming.
One of the new additions to TBSC is their Give & Take Program. Families are able to donate gently used equipment for other kids to use. It’s a great opportunity to swap cleats that are too small for a larger size or for a kid with no access to gear to be able to have equipment for the season. This program is open to any participants regardless of need. In addition to this, TBSC is also offering financial assistance to families who may need help with registration feeds.
If you’re interested in learning more about TBSC, registering your kids, donating gear or your business is interested in sponsoring (business names will again be on the backs of shirts), visit their website at https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/grinnellball or email tigerbaseballandsoftballclub@gmail.com
Pictured L-R: Cynthia Alberts - OnMedia, Fran Conn, Charlie Isaacs - Theisen's, Dorothy Spiggs - Carriage House Bed & Breakfast, Whitney Bair Crawford, Agent with New York Life, Lisa Cirks - Cirks Financial Services, Donnette Ellis - Grinnell College Community Connections, Stephanie Lair - UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Rachael Kinnick - Grinnell Chamber, Sabrina Edsen & Phil Culham - TBSC, Trent Arment - MCG - Mahaska Communication Group, Monica St. Angelo - Grinnell Area Arts Council, Hannah Vos - UnityPoint at Home, Jennifer McAlexander - JM Consulting & Hawkeye Lock & Security, Hannah Warnell - Warnell Real Estate, Donna Fischer - UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center Foundation, Marissa Pronschinske - Grinnell Chamber, Keith Jay - Advantage Seamless Gutters Iowa
Ambassadors were able to hear a unique story today with a visit from local author Monique Shore. Monique shared more about her journey to self publish a book on local Grinnellian Edith Renfrow Smith. Smith was born in 1914, graduated from Grinnell High School and was the first black woman to graduate from Grinnell College in 1937. She then went on to work in academic institutions, elementary education and volunteered prolifically in the Chicagoland area where she still resides today at 109.
Monique met Edith when she was 101 years old as part of a project to digitize the Renfrow family photos and Dan Kaiser’s project to collect an oral history from one of the oldest Grinnellians. They reconnected many times over the years and with the announcement of the naming of the new downtown residence in Edith’s honor, Monique took that as the final sign to share Edith’s incredible story with the world.
Over the course of a year, Monique worked with Edith and her daughter Alice to develop the text of the story with the focus being on Edith and her mother Eva Pearl’s message “no one is better than you”. She launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to pay an illustrator to develop the images. She was connected with Erica Lauren Butler who worked with her, Edith and Alice to ensure the illustrations accurately reflected Edith’s life.
Monique self published the book, "No One Is Better Than You: Edith Renfrow Smith and the Power of a Mother's Words", with the help of a company out of Chicago who then printed the books overseas and shipped them back to Des Moines. Originally, the books were to be delivered to Monique in Grinnell but with delays from the January snow storm and cold temps, Monique and her husband drove to Des Moines and loaded all the books into their vehicle!
Edith received an early copy of the book in December and was delighted with the results. Monique is working hard to get the book in the hands of children across the state of Iowa and throughout the country. If you’d like a copy, Pioneer Bookshop, Grinnell College has books available for purchase. If you know of a private bookstore, a library or an elementary school who would like a copy, reach out to Monique!
Monique is sharing more of Edith’s story and the story behind the book tonight at Drake Community Library starting at 6 PM. This event is free and open to the public. If you’d like to learn more about this incredible story, please attend!
Pictured L-R: Nathan Beck - Community 1st Credit Union, Dorothy Spriggs - Carriage House Bed & Breakfast, Rachael Kinnick - Grinnell Chamber, Fran Conn, Rachel Arseneault - Ramsey-Weeks Inc., Lisa Cirks - Cirks Financial Services, Donnette Ellis - Grinnell College Community Connections, Hannah Vos - UnityPoint at Home, Monique Shore, Monica St. Angelo - Grinnell Area Arts Council, Keith Jay - Advantage Seamless Gutters Iowa, Hannah Warnell - Warnell Real Estate, Matt Moyer - Bayer Crop Science, Marissa Pronschinske - Grinnell Chamber, Jennifer McAlexander - JM Consulting & Hawkeye Lock & Security, Donna Fischer - UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center Foundation, Cynthia Alberts - OnMedia
Ambassadors got an update on the Water Treatment Plant project today. Many of you may remember the updates we shared last year about the status of the water softeners and deteriorating piping. Water director Keagan Richmond shared that the emergency connection (picture 2) is complete should the pipes in the plant fail before the new plant is online. This emergency connection will allow the staff to bypass the plant and treat the water so it is safe to drink before sending it into the community.
A new well, Well 10, will be located just off the west side of Broad St at what will be the rear of the new building. Drilling for this well is expected to begin in early summer and will drill nonstop for 3 months. While there will be some noise, it’s anticipated to be roughly 70-80 dBa or roughly the equivalent of a generator. There will be lots of equipment on site and intermittent closures on the streets surrounding the water plant.
The new water tower will be located at East & Ogan and plans are currently awaiting DNR approval but construction is slated to start this summer. The new tower will hold 1 million gallons of water (current tower holds 300,000 gallons). The current tower is still in good working order and will stay online until it needs major repairs.
The Raw Transition Main construction, which will feed water from Wells 8 & 9 on the east side of town to the water treatment plant, will begin this summer. This main will run in the right of way of 1st Ave and Keagan anticipates there may be some temporary detours or lane closures.
The New Water Treatment Plant is scheduled to be 90% designed by the end of this month. The new plant will use a nano filtration system, similar to reverse osmosis, as opposed to the old sodium based softener systems. The new system will filter water through spiral membrane filters, like what Keagan is pictured holding (photo 3) but larger, that will provide soft, safe drinking water for the community. The new plant will be able to put out roughly 2.1 million gallons per day, the current plant is at 1.3 mil. Construction on the new facility will begin after DNR approves the plans and will hopefully be completed in late 2026.
The Water Department team continues to make other updates and repairs to Grinnell’s water supply and its infrastructure to ensure Grinnellians maintain access to safe drinking water. We’re excited to continue to see updates on this project!
Pictured L-R: Fran Conn, Shane Hart - Grinnell College Golf Course, Rachael Kinnick - Grinnell Chamber, Keagan Richmond - Grinnell Water Department, Charlie Isaacs - Theisen's, Hannah Vos - UnityPoint at Home, Trent Arment - MCG - Mahaska Communication Group, Cynthia Alberts - OnMedia, Matt Moyer - Bayer Crop Science
Not Pictured: Donnette Ellis - Grinnell College Community Connections
