Donna's Ramblings at R.V.E.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Jefferson is part of a national phenomenon of people returning to the
towns or neighborhood of their origins, or places similar. We have become
home to a populace that wants quality-of life amenities within an
authentic community. Those that have gone away and come back bring
with them the latest trends and expectations. Jefferson has many more of
these exciting returnees than most communities our size. Because of the
presence of a long-time resident’s privately held telecommunication
company, we are within easy and constant reach of the wider world of
Iowa, the nation and the world via state of the art equipment.
We have a forward thinking Mayor and City Council, and the County
Supervisors encourage citizen participation. Both the council and the
supervisors are active participants in regional economic development
through Midwest Partnership, Mississippi Missouri Divide Resource
Conservation and Development and Region XII Council of Governments.
As the county seat and at the heart of a major farming community, we
consider ourselves a prosperous and vigorous area. We have two large
grain cooperatives, a large implement dealer, and expert agronomists and
agricultural professionals. We tap into the sustainable agricultural
movements with a thriving Farmers Market and Greene County GROWS, a
local foods working group.
Jefferson’s downtown district has experienced a transformation in the past
five years with the completion of streetscape, landscape, lighting and an
alley renovation. Several buildings in the downtown have undergone
major renovation inside and out. A new public garden has been planted
with a nod to Thomas Jefferson, the namesake of our community. Along
with a professional live theatre, an updated movie theatre, a live music
venue, and an upgrade to a bowling alley, the downtown area is becoming
a vital, interesting and unique destination that serves as a social and
commercial center for the area. Though not located specifically in our
district, the construction of a long anticipated downtown Hy-Vee grocery
store has been completed, and Iowa’s newest Wild Rose Casino has been
built that also has a new three-story hotel. All of these things
combine to position Jefferson into a destination city.
Many of the buildings located in the Main Street district are contributing
buildings in the National Historic District. Several have upper-story living
possibilities. The Main Street district serves as the hub for the city and
county governmental services with city hall located just off the district to
the north. The county courthouse is on the list of National Historic Places
and sits predominately in the middle of the square. The iconic 168’ tall
Mahanay Carillon Tower is located next to the courthouse on the square
and is accessible to the public. The historic Lincoln Highway runs directly
through the Main Street district.
The district is flanked by the middle school; U.S. post office; Carnegie
Library; recreation center; a telephone museum; Greene County History
Museum; several outdoor public sculptures; the new grocery store; the
Raccoon River Valley Recreational Trail and historic train depot.

This is a picture of the Farmers Market held by the court house, one day a week, a "supper" is provided each week with different organizations preparing the meal.

This picture was taken at the Farmers Market, Our friend Barb Brooker, and my sister are seen here

this is a better picture of the MaHaney Carrilon Tower, the bells are played every hour, half hour, and quarter hour, several people play the organ during the lunch hour and the music from the MaHaney tower can be heard for a very long distance. It's beautiful to listen to.
Jefferson downtown has really changed, many stores have renovated fronts and it is quite beautiful. Hanging pots or baskets of flowers on each corner.

You will have to visit Master Furniture Maker, Robby Peterson. Uses only tools of the 1800's. He has made over 500 items. it's at 115 S. wilson in Jefferson. You can watch him as he hand crafts various pieces of furniture

I hope you will consider a stop in Jefferson. there's more to see than I have told about here you might wish to go to greencountyiowa.com for more info

Monday, July 31, 2017

July 31st

this little girl and Bobby and I have been to Iowa! We left last Sat. the 22nd and got home yesterday the 30th

Heidi had a great time playing with her cousin, a Bichon, her name is Bailey. I plan on doing a little slide show of the beautiful City that I grew up in, Jefferson.

Here in the park this last week there were 2 cards sent, one to Ron Zollar, loss of his Mother, and Henry Hryniw, who's under going chemo and radiation. Today we received word of Mary Lou Sirovy's Mother passed away.

Things look the same here in the park, extremely hot weather. In Iowa it was a chilly 55 to 65 most every morning, I needed a sweater in the morning to walk the dogs!!! The evenings cooling down so nicely. I brought Iowa sweetcorn and tomatos home, from a Orchard called Deals Orchard What a treat to eat a tomato that actually tastes like one lol My home town has a population of around 4400. Located in W. Central Iowa

Folks love visiting the MaHaney Memorial Carillon Tower, I met a couple different people who play the music at the tower. At noon quite a few songs are played and every 15min. and on the half hour . On the hour a song is played. You can hear it all over town.

Hope I get a slide show done, I took a lot of pictures around Jefferson
also met Bud and Lois Kraft, my former neighbors in Thor, Iowa at Unkies Entertainer Restaurant, my Mother and Aunt started the restaurant around 1980 or so. It was interesting to see the restaurant and all the remodeling that's been done.People come from all around to go there,some as far as 75 miles!

Later!!

Friday, July 21, 2017

July 21st

Bev & Del Telfer provided donuts this morning.

We are experiencing awful hot weather which ordinarily is more like August weather, today heat insex 105 to 110

We do have 2 cards up , one for Mary Hilde on the death of her husband, Richard. Also Frank Willard has been in the hospital for kidney infection.

You all probably get tired of me saying this but our park looks so very nice. The 99 section is kept mowed and weed eated, and all the lawn people are doing a great job. It's true we havent been having rain but those weeds really grow whether it's dry or moist.
Our flags in front are all new and look so nice.

Friday, July 14, 2017

July 14th

Sounds like everyone had a great time at Story City, Ia. for the R.V.E. get-to-gether. The last pictures on my slide show are of some of those who came the night before and are pictures of those "kids" on a carousel!
46 people attended this year.

Free picture slideshow created with Smilebox

Nancy Argo is at Valley Grande RE-hab, in house. She sprained her ankle and leg during a fall as I mentioned before. When I was there Wednesday she was doing pretty good and she got home Thursday She had a lot of swelling and bruising, and is not to put hardly any weight on the sprained ankle.
Gene Bouvet passed away, they live on lot #401

Our extra golf cart parking area!!!!!

Sure have done a lot of work here in the park this summer. All those ugly telephone thingys that were all along the back fence in the 99 section and lots more in the 99's were finally dug out!! Still have problems with ancient water pipes in the laundry room,
laundry room closed for now.

Cheryl and Ken Costly proved donuts this morning.

I got this picture from facebook. A great picture of some of our Canadian friends getting together!

that's about it for now!!!

Friday, July 7, 2017

July 7th

I almost forgot to write anything today.

Dorothy Ritter provided the donuts this morning.

No cards up to sign. We passed around a card on the 4th at our B.B.Q. for Nathan from Ranchero Village, he had some of his liver removed, was doing well, then had to go back in to the hospital. He's home now, in fact he was in the park this morning.

Nancy Argo fell and sprained her ankle and leg. She cant walk and so they're hoping she gets into Valley Grande Manor, for in house rehab and care.

Well, we are getting more golf cart parking West of the pool, right next to the shuffle board courts.

I suppose you all saw the picture of Mgr. Vicki holding one of the 3 puppys that some one dumped back by the dogggy area. I guess they saw people taking care of those other 2 strays and decided we are a good place to dump puppys.Carmen is being foster Mom for them at present.