Get Into Grinnell
 
April 10, 2014

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Submit Announcements

Email submissions of 2-3 sentences for next week's newsletter to chamber@getintogrinnell.com. Submissions are due by NOON on Tuesdays.

Grinnell Games

Enter an event at grinnellgames.com.

 

The Strand Theatre
Exhibits

 

BAX (Bachelor of Arts) is from April 4 - May 4 at the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, Faulconer Gallery

 

THE COUNTRY IS MY HOME featuring water colors by Larry Rosenow will run from April 3 - 25 at the Grinnell Arts Center.

 

COMPLEX CONVERSATIONS: WILLIE COLE SCULPTURES AND WALL WORKS is from April 4 - June 1 at the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, Faulconer Gallery

 

Employment Opportunities
See a full list of jobs at getintogrinnell.com

 

AVENTURE STAFFING: Production, Warehouse, Concrete Workers, Call Center, Clerical, Experienced Welders

 

BIKES TO YOU: Part-time employees, weekend hours required. 

 

BROWNELLS: Sr. Business Intelligence Analyst, Retail Store Manager, St. Net Developer, Purchasing Intern, Fulfillment Manager

 

CENTRAL IOWA FAMILY PLANNING: Bookkeeper

 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Events & Marketing Summer Internship

 

GALAXY INC. YOUTH PROGRAMS: Part-time Program Assistant, Summer Program Assistant

 

GENESIS DEVELOPMENT: Part-time Staff Members 

 

GERMAN PLUMBING HEATING AND COOLING: HVAC Installer

 

GRINNELL COLLEGE: Administrative Support Assistant (Des Moines), Catering Staff, Coordinator of Peace & Conflict Studies Program, Development Assistant, Financial Assistant II, Interpreter/Classroom Aide, Temporary Custodian, Web Developer, Web Systems Architect

 

GRINNELL COMMUNITY DAYCARE & PRESCHOOL: Lead Teacher, Teacher Aides, Bus Driver, Assistant Cook

 

GRINNELL MUTUAL REINSURANCE COMPANY: Claims Adjuster/Telephone - Farm Team, Product Analyst

 

GRINNELL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER: Medical/Surgical, Nutrition Services, Radiology, Rural Health, Surgical Services, Worksite Nurse Health Coach

 

INTEGRITY CLEANING & RESTORATION: Administrative Assistant, Sales Marketing Representative

  

JACOBSON STAFFING: Forklift, Production, HR Associate, Customer Service

 

JENSEN OPTOMETRISTS: Optometric Assistant 

 

KEY COOPERATIVE: Custom Applicator/Operations, Sales Agronomist, Semi Driver, Dispatcher

 

MANATTS: Equipment Operators, Truck Drivers, Laborers, Mechanics

 

MAYFLOWER COMMUNITY: Full-time Nurse (LPN or RN), Part-time CNA - CMA, Full-time Housekeeper

 

MESKWAKI CASINO 

 

OURGRINNELL.COMFreelance Contributor

 

PENNYSAVER: Carrier

 

PRAIRIE CANARY: Part-time Dishwasher 

 

QPS EMPLOYMENT GROUP: Assembly Tech, Patient Staff Representative, Scale Operator, Picker/Packer, Welder/Fabricator, General Labor, Machine Operator, Call Center, Warehouse & Packaging

 

ST. FRANCIS MANOR: CNA (full-time or part-time positions), Culinary Director

 

TASSEL RIDGE WINERY: Chef, Part-Time Tasting Room Staff, Part-Time Wine Ambassadors 

  

TEMP ASSOCIATES: Industrial Custodian, Injection Mold Operators, Industrial Maintenance, Janitorial Positions, Production, Assistant in Laser Dept, Customer Service.

 

WES FINCH AUTO PLAZA: Automotive Technician/Automotive Mechanic, Sales

Volunteer 
Opportunities

 

See a full list of volunteer opportunities


 

AHRENS FOUNDATION: Community Support

 

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS: Mentors

 

FAULCONER GALLERY: Community Outreach

 

GRINNELL AREA ARTS COUNCIL. Call-In Gallery Docent, Marketing & Administration Assistant, Teacher's Aid, Performance or Reception Usher, Monthly Volunteer Day, Jack/Jill Of All Trades.  

 

GRINNELL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER: Clinic Courier, Patient Tray Favors, Patient Activity Projects, Information Desk, Mailings, Auxiliary Gift Shop, Surgery Waiting, Breakfast Services Cashier, and Pediatric Orientation. 

 

IMAGINE GRINNELL Local Foods, Energy & Conservation, Grinnell Area Recreation Trail Expansion

 

IOWA TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM: Information Desk Docent

 

MICA: Head Start and Early Head Start Classroom volunteers, EITC Tax Preparer, EITC Translator, and Food Pantry Volunteer.

 

PALS. Dog Walker, Clean/Feed Animals, Play with Animals 

 

POWESHIEK HISTORY PRESERVATION PROJECT: Historical Preservation

 

SIGNAGE INNOVATIONS: Project Manager/Customer Service

 

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS OF GRINNELL (SEG): Loan Recipient Partners, SEG Committee

 

TOUR GUIDES AT THE LOUIS SULLIVAN BANK/ GRINNELL VISITOR CENTER: Docents 

 

Realty
See more listings at 
downtown
Vacancies
I get emails frequently about vacancies downtown from people concerned that there are more than ever. This is just not the case. The issue is that the vacancies that do exist are for the most part larger properties that catch your eye more than small spaces do. Big spaces are hard to fill because most services and retailers in a town of our size that want to locate downtown want small spaces, or they want to buy the real estate that their business will go into so that they can capitalize on other rental opportunities in other parts of the building to make the whole financial picture go. I've had so many inquiries lately about vacancy rates that I decided to find out what our actual rate is.

I added up all the spaces in the Central Business District from the Third Ave. railroad tracks to Highway 6 and from West St. (Highway 146) to Broad St. There are approximately 822,857 square feet of street level spaces inside that perimeter. I say approximately since parking lots are included in that number. Currently, we have 33,837 square feet of vacancy. That means that our vacancy rate is about 4%. Nationally, the vacancy rate for office space is 14% and retail is about 10%. 
 
Also consider that the Biz Nest building (four-story building on Fifth Ave.) added 15,000 square feet of additional office space to our downtown. In the last 24 months, adding the Biz Nests downtown along with Sports Page, Pizza Ranch and Cost Cutters at MidTown tells me that Grinnell's vacancy rate has actually declined substantially over the last five years. 

It's an exciting time of year. Nine new businesses have either opened in the last month or will open in the next few months. These include six new additions to downtown, two at Midtown and one somewhere in between. The new Solera wine bar has desserts that are out of this world and The Purple Cucumber lets you get a deliciously healthy smoothie and brings a fresh perspective to quick service. And wait until you see what the entrepreneurs at Flowers By Dezyne and Memories Maid have in store. The floral and event shop on Fourth Ave. is taking prom tux and flower orders now, and will be open for full business very soon. (They were placing an order for chocolates this morning, so you'll be able to cure your sweet tooth there as well). 
 
It's an exciting time in Grinnell. Please go out and patronize these new businesses, welcome them, embrace them with your pocketbook. While you're at it, visit all of our fantastic retail, restaurant and service small businesses who are hoping you'll stop in this week. 

Thanks for reading!  I appreciate it very much as I do your many emails.
-Angela Harrington
Events
See the full community calendar at  http://getintogrinnell.com/events.cfm

 

 

WINE DOWN SOCIALS are every Thursday at Van Wijk Winery.

 

INTERNATIONAL GAMES AND ACTIVITIES is April 10, 17, 24 from 3:30-4:30pm in Drake Community Library.

 

VOCAL STUDENT RECITAL is April 11 at 4:15 pm in Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, Sebring-Lewis Hall

 

OPENING RECEPTION FOR BAX, the Bachelor of Arts Exhibition is April 11 at 5pm at Faulconer Gallery.

 

WINE, LUNCH & VINE WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP is April 12 from 10:30am-1pm at Tassel Ridge Winery

 

WINE&CHEESE AND WINE&CHOCOLATE PAIRING EXPERIENCE is Saturday 10-6pm and Sunday 12-6pm at Tassel Ridge Winery

 

MAMA'S HAPPY SPACE OPEN HOUSE is April 12 from 10am to 4pm

 

PRAIRIE WILDFLOWERS AND POLLINATORS is April 12 at 2pm at Drake Community Library .

 

BOWL FOR KID'S SAKE is April 12 at the Bowladrome.

 

GRINNELL COLLEGE MEN'S TENNIS HOME GAME is April 12 1pm against Monmouth College

 

GRINNELL COLLEGE BASEBALL HOME GAMES 

- April 12 at 1,3pm against  Monmouth College

- April 15 at 3pm against Coe College

- April 26 at 1pm against Knox College

- May 4 at 12pm against Cornell College

 

COMMUNITY DAY AT FAULCONER GALLERY is April 12 from 1:30 to 3pm. 

 

CONCERT: COLLEGIUM MUSICUM is April 12 at 2pm in Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, Sebring-Lewis Hall

 

2014 EARTH DAY VOLUNTEER EVENTS:

- Little Bear Creek Cleanup: April 12, 9-11am

- Arbor Lake Cleanup: April 12, 1-4pm

- Storm Day Labeling: April 19, 26, 1-3pm 

 

DINNER & A MOVIE - HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE is April 12 at 6:30pm at Van Wijk Winery.

 

LIVE BAND PERFORMANCE by The Funk Upstairs at Prairie Canary is April 12 from 9-11pm.

 

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT LINDEN HOUSE is begins April 13 from 10:30am to 1pm. 

 

PRAIRIE STUDIES SERIES by Matt Nonnenmann is April 14 at 7:30pm in Grinnell College Alumni Recitation Hall, Room 102. 

 

9-WEEK PROGRAM FOR 5K RUN begins April 14 and meetings Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:15pm at GRMC. Free to the public. 

 

SE*ED PROGRAM is from 10-11am in Drake Community Library

- April 14: "Physical Therapy"

- April 21: "Imagine Grinnell's Tree Inventory Project."

- April 28: "Just How Important Are Nutrients to Your Diet     Anyway?"

 

GRINNELL MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOK FAIR is April 14-18 at the Grinnell Middle School

 

STORYTIME is April 15 from 10:30-11am at Drake Community Library.

 

PRESENTATION ON VIDEO GAMES FOR LANGUAGE LEARNERS is April 15 at 4:30pm in ARH 102 of Grinnell College. 

 

CLASSES AT IOWA VALLEY CONTINUING EDUCATION

- Dog Obedience: It's all in the Communication: Tuesdays, April    15-May 20 from 5:30-6:30pm; Saturdays, April 19-May 24  11-      12pm

- Start Your Own Worm Bin: April 16 from 6:30 to 9pm 

- Digital Storage: April 23 from 6:30 to 9:30pm

 

BUCKET COURSE "The Rise and Fall of a Grinnell Giant" is April 16 from 10-11:30am in Drake Community Library

 

SCHOLARS' CONVOCATION ON AMERICAN INDIANS is April 16 at noon in the Rosenfield Center, Room 101.

 

MUSIC FOR HOLY WEEK is April 16 at noon in Herrick Chapel. 

 

RELAY FOR LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING is April 16 from 5-8pm in Drake Community Library.

 

HARP STUDIO RECITAL is April 16 at 7:30pm in Bucksbaum Center.

 

BOOK TALK: KARLA ERICKSON is April 17 at 4:15pm in Burling Library. 

 

FRESH FLUTES CONCERT is April 17 at 7:30pm.

 

GRINNELL COLLEGE JUNIOR VISIT DAY is April 18. 

 

PRESENTATION: HOLLYWOOD HAS-BEENS is April 18 at 4:15pm in the Alumni Recitation Hall, Room 102. 

 

STAGED READING: HEART OF DARKNESS is April 18 at 7pm in Bucksbaum Theatre. 

 

SHOWCASE: SALSEROS DE GRINNELL is April 18 at 8pm in Harris Center. 

 

HYVEE EASTER EGG HUNT is April 19 at 9am at HyVee Grinnell. 

  

 GRINNELL COLLEGE SOFTBALL HOME GAMES 

-April 19, Knox College @1pm

-April 21, Greenville College @3pm

 

CHAMBER ENSEMBLE PRAGUE CONCERT is April 19 at 2pm in Bucksbaum Center. 

 

IMAGINE GRINNELL'S TREE INVENTORY PROJECT. Sarah Smith to speak at the SE*ED program on April 21 from 10 to 11am at Drake Library. 

 

THE BALANCING ACT is April 21 at 3pm in St. Francis Manor/Seeland Park.

 

BEGINNING SPANISH CLASS begins April 21 from 6 to 7pm at Iowa Valley Grinnell. 

 

FIREARM MAINTENANCE CLASS is April 21 from 6 to 9pm at Iowa Valley Grinnell. Cost is $45. 

 

PRAIRIE STUDIES PRESENTATION. "Will China Save the World?" is April 21 at 7pm in Noyce Science Center.

 

GRINNELLIANS ABROAD is April 21 at 7:30pm in Burling Library. 

 

PRIDE WEEK KEYNOTE: JANET MOCK is April 21 at 8pm in the Stonewall Resource Center of Grinnell College. 

 

HOW TO HARVEST RAINWATER. Class is April 22 from 7 to 8:30pm at Iowa Valley. 

 

APOLLO PROJECT FOOTPRINT TO THE MOON TALK is April 23 at 6:30pm in Spaulding Center for Transportation

 

BUCKET COURSE "Emotional Well-Being: From Depression to Happiness" is Wednesdays from April 23-May 14

 

COACHING AUTHORIZATION CLASS is April 24 and 25 at Iowa Valley Grinnell. Online course also available. 

 

SMART TOOLS FOR THE FARM & GARDEN. Class is April 24 from 6 to 7:30pm at Middle Way Farm.  

 

BUCKET COURSE "Emotional Well-Being: From Depression to Happiness" is Wednesdays from April 23 to May 14 from 10-11:30am in Drake Community Library.

 

POWESHIEK COUNTY JOB FAIR is April 24 from 4 to 7pm in the Poweshiek County Fairgrounds. 

 

TRANS IOWA BIKE RACE is April 26. 

 

DESIGN YOUR OWN BUTTERFLY & POLLINATOR GARDEN is April 27 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. 

 

OPENING RECEPTION & GALLERY TALK for Between These Pages: A Study of Collective Memory in Art is April 28 from 4:15 to 5:15pm at Grinnell College Burling Library.

 

GALLERY TALK: SHARING COMPLEX CONVERSATIONS is April 30 from 4:15 to 5:15pm at Faulconer Gallery.

 

OPENING RECEPTION for the Grinnell Elementary Art Show is May 1 from 5:30 to 7pm at Grinnell Arts Center. 

 

PLP GOLF OUTING is May 2 hosted by the Poweshiek Leadership Program.

 

CHAMBER FORUM is May 6 at 9:30am at Drake Community Library.

 

MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS: OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD are May 9-10 at Grinnell College. 

 

GRINNELL AREA GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE is May 10 at 8am at the Elks Club.

 

SPRING WILD EDIBLE PLANT WALK is May 10 at 10:30am at Jacob Krumm Preserve.

 

GPCF SPRING AUCTION EVENT is May 10 at 5:30pm at Grinnell College and is a fundraiser for the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation.

Announcements 

 

'HAPPY HOUR & A HALF' AT PRAIRIE CANARY is Tues. - Sat. from 4:30 to 6:00pm. 1/2 price on ALL 6 draft beers, ALL 11 wines by glass, house spirits, hand-cut truffle fries, and fried brussels sprouts.  

 

POWESHIEK COUNTY BOARD BANK. GPCF is looking for individuals with the expertise and experience to serve of boards in the county. Find out more information at greaterpcf.org


GRINNELL HIGH SCHOOL FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
 is due April 18th. Forms are available at the Arts Center or at www.grinnellarts.org.

 

FLOWERS BY DZYNE AND MEMORIES MAID OPENING SOON. Now taking orders for prom tuxes and prom flowers. The store's complete services will be available soon. Contact the shop at 641 236-7554 for prom-related orders. 

 

CALLING ALL SHOPPERS. If you are interested in saving dough then go to grinnellonthego.com Click on "Scratch & Save" Instant Savings then click on your favorite participating merchant. You will save money shopping in Grinnell.

OURGRINNELL.COM has a NEW facelift. Go take a look, if you like it great, if you don't send us a comment, and thanks for looking. 

 

GRINNELL TAEKWONDO welcomes new members; young and old and everything in between. 

 

GRINNELL UNITED WAY FUNDRAISING GOAL MET. This year the group raised $130,000 to support local programs. 

 

EXIT HULS NEWSLETTER. Get housing tips and find out the latest news on properties in the area. 

 

GET YOUR SPRING CLEANING UNDERWAY with the help of Integrity Cleaning and Restoration. Carpet and duct cleaning is a great way to start your spring off fresh. 

 

$995 CLOSING COSTS AT UICC. $995 Closing Costs and Origination Fee at University of Iowa Community Credit Union. Apply before May 31, 2014 and closing costs will be no more than $995. There is no 1% origination fee either. Subject to credit qualifications. $995 costs do not include escrow, prepaids, or home inspections. 

 

EASTER COLORING CONTEST is open to children ages 12 and under. Deadline is April 3. Pick up and drop off pictures at participating businesses including McNally's Foods, State Farm-Bob Larson, Anytime Fitness, HyVee, Giggles & Bows, Brown's Shoe, Gosselink's Gifts & Interiors.

 

DJ COUNTRY TOURS. Great trips to Branson, Nashville, Canada, and D.C. Call 641-990-1925 to reserve your seat. 

 

SCRATCH & SAVE SAVINGS CONTINUE WITH NEW DEALS. Grinnell On The Go has added Beckman II Gallery with savings on CALOT cotton towel products. Grinnell's Hy-Vee and Bikes To You have changed their deals.

About Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau 

Whether you are stopping by for an hour, a weekend or the rest of your life, Grinnell is truly the "Jewel of the Prairie." We thank you for your support and continued interest in the town of Grinnell!

Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
833 Fourth Avenue
Grinnell, Iowa 50112
641-236-6555