Bridges Magazine Summer 2014

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Bringing People Together Summer 2014

For the Runners, Aiding the
Mainly Community

CVB lands running Mercy auxiliary
enthusiast event member named
volunteer of the year
Inside Adcraft

A Clinton business
carries weight with
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contents

5 For the Runners, Mainly

CVB Lands Running Enthusiast Event

9 Building a City, One Project
at a Time

Vision 8 Members Commit to Brightening

Clinton’s Future


13 Dutch Days Photo Page

16 Aiding the Community

Mercy Auxiliary Member Named
Volunteer of the Year

19 Ashford Graduation Photo Page

21 Inside Adcraft

A Clinton Business Carries Weight with
National Sponsor

27 A Close-Knit Group

Clinton Women Gather to Share their Craft

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It is that time of year again — summer! Summer 2014 Vol. 7 Issue 2
A time to get out of the house, spend
an afternoon on the deck or the river, and Editor
enjoy the great outdoor amenities the Charlene Bielema
Gateway area has to offer.
In this edition of our Bridges magazine, Associate Editor
we focus on the updates made at one Scott Levine
such amenity, Clinton’s Riverview Park
Bandshell, which is undergoing a major Contributing Writers
renovation as it is being prepared for use for
concerts and local presentations. Charlene Bielema
Also featured are the Mainly Marathon Amy Kent
event that will take place in Clinton, Mercy Scott Levine
Medical Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year Margaret Pessman, and the
Clintonish Knitters that meet twice a week at St. Paul’s Lutheran Samantha Pidde
Church to share project ideas and good conversation as members Brenden West
work their needles.
This edition also takes a close look at Clinton’s Adcraft, a local Page Designer
business that has a national reputation for its work, as well as features Shanelle Jackson
photos from Fulton’s annual Dutch Days celebration that took place
in May and Ashford University’s graduation festivities that bring Advertising Sales
hundreds to Clinton.
So sit back and enjoy our Bridges magazine. And, as always, if you Kathy Huizenga
have an idea you think would make a great story, contact me at Nichole Kulas
(563) 242-7142, Ext. 155, or at [email protected]. Kindra Pedersen
Charlene Bielema Nick Teachout
Bridges editor Kevin Temperly

Do you have an idea for future stories for Bridges? We’re always looking for Advertising Designers
good ideas of people and places to feature. If you have a suggestion, give us a call
Leah Boutwell
at (563)242-7142, ext. 155, or e-mail to [email protected] Jeff Hake

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For55 the Runners,

Mainly

CVB Lands Running Enthusiast Event

By Brenden West

Bridges Staff Writer

Five days. Five cities. Five states. Five marathons.

That’s the process for the Mainly Marathons series, a On June 7, hundreds of runners
running fanatic’s event run by New Mexico-native, Clint will come to the Gateway area for
Burleson. Five events are scheduled to close out the Day 4 of the Mainly Marathons —
summer, meaning Burleson and others have roughly 25 Heartland Series. Other stops include
more places to visit — among them Clinton. Niles, Michigan; Anderson, Indiana;
Clinton Visitor’s Bureau director Carrie Donaire said Bloomington, Illinois; and Monroe,
Burleson scouted the site and visited her last summer. Wisconsin.
“He described the event to us and we thought, yeah you’re
welcome,” she said. “It caters to international runners, For Donaire, it’s another chance for the community to
runners from all over the U.S.” shine.
With a picturesque view of the Mississippi River and “This is another good training run,” she said. “Running
Midwestern essence, Burleson said selecting Clinton was has gained so much in popularity that this type of club is
easy. really becoming appealing to a broader audience. I think
“In arranging these events, I am always trying to keep the it’s great that Clinton can host and boost the popularity
driving miles as low as possible,” he said, through email of these runs.”
correspondence. “Clinton was in the right spot to work Most marathons route runners through an open, 25-mile
with the other states, but when I saw Riverview Park
and the path along the Mississippi, Clinton became the
perfect location for our type of events.”

6

Photos: Above: The Mainly Marathon Heartland Series is making its inaugural
stop in Clinton on Day 4 of the five-day event. Organizers say the event tries to
target smaller towns and new locations, making Clinton’s scenic views of the
Mississippi River the perfect scenic host. Right: Photos from last year’s Mainly
Marathons show runners trekking through new territory. Photos by Brenden West

course. Clinton’s route will take participants in a 1.64-mile loop
along the river from the Fifth Avenue South War Memorial to
the North Bridge. Runners have the option to run or walk a full
or half marathon. Cost of entry is $150 with a 5 a.m. start time.
Donaire credited the latest outside attraction to strategies
the CVB uses to market to “niche” hobbyists, such as running
enthusiasts. Building a solid tourism base is a major revenue
component for communities the size of Clinton and anytime new
people turn out, Donaire wants to make sure they come away with
positive first impressions.
“Organizers felt very welcomed here,” Donaire said. “They love the
view of the Mississippi River, the Discovery Trail. Visitors really

Photo: The Mainly Marathon Heartland Series logo demonstrates the casual event for runners
who trek across the country to participate. Photo by Brenden West

love that view of the river, and its something they don’t see every day.
“We work very hard to reach out to these groups and find great fits that Clinton
can host... Real niche enthusiast groups. There’s a long list of different target
audiences we go for, and what we do at the CVB is we craft our message to tailor
to these groups. Yes it’s deliberate, but of course you’re going to find that people
come to you as well.”
This is the first year of the Heartland Series. Mainly Marathons bills itself as
more casual than other distance running events, though it’s known to see die-
hard participants. San Antonio, Texas native Parvaneh Moayedi is considered
the top female endurance runner in the country having competed in 250
marathons in the last year. Another runner — 72-year-old Jim Simpson of
California — reached 1,000 lifetime competitions last year.
Some runners compete in all five events of the series. The field includes
participants from 30 states and several North American countries.
When they arrive in Clinton, they will be part of a series of weekend events.
Donaire said Free Fishing Weekend, the Lumberjack Festival and local musical
events will coincide with the marathon throughout the weekend.
“These are low key, for runners who just like to run all morning, relax in the
afternoon and do it all again the next day,” she said.
So far, 100 have signed up to run Day 4 of the series. The CVB hopes to use the
day as another platform for landing more events. ■

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9

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Vision 8 members commit to
brightening Clinton’s future

By Amy Kent

Bridges Staff Writer

CLINTON — An idea is a concept existing Photo: Contractors with Clinton Engineering, Leslie Electric and
within the mind, provoking mental understanding, Beckwith Roofing worked from the end of April through the month
awareness or activity in a person or a group. An idea of May to complete a $200,000 restoration project at the Riverview
can come from one or many minds, but it is only Bandshell at Riverview Park in Clinton. Photo by Amy Kent
ever as strong as those who compose it; the men and
women of the community task force, Vision 8, have a As the group continues to expand its community
lot of promising ideas for the city of Clinton. outreach and has lost and gained members
Built on the concept of replacing the culture of throughout different projects, a solid core always
negativity and fear that many residents associate remains. And, as Lott says, it’s not the number of
with the city of Clinton with a culture of positivity people who attend the monthly meetings or are
and forward momentum, Vision 8 is a unique group available for the neighborhood projects, it’s the
of individuals who are seeking to give the city a dedication they bring to the table.
brighter future. “During our very first meeting there was eight of us
Composed of business professionals, city leaders, who kind of started the conversation rolling,” Lott
church members, young entrepreneurs and anyone said. “When we did our first project at the riverfront
else aiming to make a difference in their community, there was about 30 people who showed up to help.
Vision 8 taps into a diverse society of inhabitants in So it just kind of varies. Sometimes we’ll have 20,
the river city, leaving behind any and all self-pride, sometimes we’ll have eight but it’s always about
arrogance or egotism for one common goal — building cooperation and trust within all of us.”
making Clinton the best place it can be. One member who has been there with Lott from
“Cooperation between all of us is really the most the beginning is Clinton National Bank Senior
essential thing,” First Baptist Church Pastor and Vice President David Helscher. As often as his time
Vision 8 member Ron Lott said. “This is our permits, Helscher is an active member of the Vision
initiative, it’s not one person’s brain child. We work 8 team who has committed his abilities in any way he
on common goals to benefit the community no can to continue to grow the community group.
matter who gets the credit for it.”
While he refuses to take any credit for the
arrangement of the group, Lott was one of the
forefathers of Vision 8 and what he had envisioned a
little more than two years ago has now exceeded even
his largest expectations.

His efforts within the group have included cleaning 10
up area neighborhoods with landscaping and small
construction projects; beautifying city parks by “Cooperation between all of us is really
planting trees, flowers and other site improving the most essential thing. This is our
features; and a whole range of other community initiative, it’s not one person’s brain child.
improvement projects. We work on common goals to benefit the
While those contributions were beneficial to Vision community no matter who gets the credit
8’s overall mission, there is one area that his expertise for it.” - Ron Lott
has gone unmatched. By using his financial knowledge
and background to his advantage, Helscher played a
big role in researching funding opportunities for
Vision 8’s largest community improvement project
to date — the renovation of the Riverview Park
Bandshell.
“My involvement with the bandshell project was to
help get it funded,” Helscher said. “We started with
an idea and came up with a rough design and layout
but once the engineering and mechanical work began,
there wasn’t much more I could do. Those areas are not
my expertise so I just helped in whatever way I could.”
His financial searching efforts ended with the Clinton
County Development Association and a request for a
grant to fund the estimated $80,000 project. However,
because the CCDA is a municipal organization, it
only is able to allocate money to Internal Revenue
Service- certified non-profit organizations, to which

Photo: Mark Sack (left) and Dillin Popkin cut out an area of plywood and siding to make way for
a brand new chair lift making it handicap accessible to be installed at the Riverview Bandshell at
Riverview Park in Clinton. Photo by Amy Kent

Fishing Vision 8 has yet to be accepted if they could take that $200,000 to
Enthusiasts: into. improve the bandshell and we said
Because they knew the importance yes.”
We Carry These of revitalizing the bandshell, which From that point the city took full
Top Brands... Lott said someone once compared ownership of the Riverview Park
to a “cardboard box laying on Bandshell project and decided
• Bigfoot its side,” Vision 8 then took the if they were going to do the
Goose Decoys bandshell project to the city of renovation, they needed to do it
Clinton to access the CCDA grant right.
• Shimano Reels funding. So, City Engineer Jason Craft took
• St Croix Rods Once the group reached out to the the Vision 8 design and did what
• Huge Lure city its request was met with an any engineer would do — gave it
outpouring of support, especially the structural updates needed to
Inventory when they realized the project withstand the elements and the test
• Live Bait could be funded completely on of time.
grant dollars and wouldn’t cost “An old structure like that needs
Archery Pro Shop • Bait taxpayers anything. CCDA officials a solid foundation so we designed
Tackle • Marine Products were encouraged to jump on board it and built it to withstand a heavy
Minnkota Repair Center with the project. wind load,” Craft said. “With those
“It is a long overdue Riverview things added, it added more cost
Indoor Archery Range Park improvement project that but we paid for it with grant funds
New and Used Guns was originally going to be a part of and I think to get something like
Vision Iowa that we funded about that done for no additional levied
2014 N. 2nd St. 10 years ago,” CCDA president tax is a good thing. I can’t think of
Clinton, Iowa Tom Fullerton said. “We had one a better thing to spend money on.”
563-243-4696 payment left to our $2 million Once the city took over the design
pledge to Vision Iowa and the city and construction of the project
came to us asking if they could it went from an $80,000 upgrade
use that for the bandshell project. to a $200,000 full restoration
(That) money was originally going and Vision 8 became sort of a
to go to the marina improvement silent partner, standing in the
project but the city told us that had background watching the concept
been completely funded and asked come to life — something its

members fully support. 12
The calling that Vision 8 volunteers
envisioned for themselves was “This is no longer a Vision 8 project. We are proud
exactly what became of the that we were able to get the idea rolling and get
Riverview Park Bandshell project: other entities involved, but this is a project for all
to work together as a cohesive of us, for the betterment of the people of Clinton.”
group, enlisting members from all
facets of the community for one - Ron Lott
common goal without individual
recognition. Photos: Above: Tony Azure with Clinton Engineering works on applying
“This is no longer a Vision 8 Spackle to the west tower of the Riverview Bandshell at Riverview Park in
project,” Lott said. “We are proud Clinton. Below: Members of the group Vision 8 stand proudly in front of their
that we were able to get the idea biggest project to date, the Riverview Bandshell restoration project at
rolling and get other entities Riverview Park in Clinton. Photos by Amy Kent
involved, but this is a project for
all of us, for the betterment of the
people of Clinton.”
It is that goal that keeps the Vision
8 group alive today, and what keeps
its members motivated. Living
by the creed of “we have a city; we
are seeking to build a community,” Vision
8 is an entity that will continue to strive
to improve the quality of life in Clinton,
whether or not that means getting noticed
in the process.
It will remain an ongoing challenge though,
and that is a challenge all Vision 8 members
have committed to fighting.
“The goal is to make a perfect city,”
Helscher said. “We’re never going to have
that, no one is, but it will be an ongoing
project. The bandshell is just one very, very
small item of things that need to be done for
this city but we continue to kick around a
number of different projects all aimed to the
improvement of this community.” ■

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9. 1 & 3. Paige Cramer (left) and Ella Holmbo, dressed in
traditional Dutch attire and wooden shoes, participate
in the Dutch Klompen dance during the first night of
Dutch Days in downtown Fulton.

2. Kelly Preston (left) and Ryan Dail execute a
traditional Dutch dance dressed in conventional Dutch
attire and wooden shoes during the first night of Dutch
Days.

4. Brianna Cramer (left) and Sara Houzenga take part
in a traditional Dutch dance at the Dutch Days Festival
in Fulton.

5, 6, 7, 8. Fulton residents and their families
participate in traditional Dutch Klompen dancing
10. during the Dutch Days Festival in downtown Fulton.

9. Kelly Cramer (left) instructs Kaedence Kreider and
Ella Holmbo during the Dutch Klompen dance at the
40th annual Dutch Days Festival in downtown Fulton.
The celebration continues with a variety of events
including another round of dancing and a classic car
show.

10. Ella Holmbo (left) and Kaedence Kreider give
it their all during the Dutch Klompen dancing
performance at Dutch Days in downtown Fulton.

Photos by Amy Kent

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15 A iCdoitnhmegmunity

Mercy Auxiliary member
named Volunteer of the Year

By Samantha Pidde Manning.
“Margaret (Pessman)
Bridges Staff Writer is an extraordinary
woman who is ex-
CLINTON — Margaret Pessman was working as the tremely dedicated no
secretary of a local church 20 years ago when her for- matter what project
mer high school speech teacher first recruited her to she decides to take
volunteer with the Mercy Medical Center Auxiliary.
Now, the 73-year-old is the auxiliary’s 2014 Volunteer Photo: Long-time Mercy
of the Year. Medical Center Auxiliary
Although living on a farm between Fulton, Illinois, Volunteer Margaret Pess-
and Morrison, Illinois, for years, Pessman has man was honored this year
continued to volunteer with the group. as the 2014 Volunteer of
“It’s better than sitting at home and watching soap the Year.
operas,” Pessman said. “I enjoy it. I enjoy what I’m
doing.” Photo by Samantha Pidde
Mercy Auxiliary volunteers work as liaisons between
the medical center and the community it serves. Peo- on, whether it is training new volunteers; being part
ple entering Mercy can see these women and men in of the gift shop committee; or serving on the auxiliary
their maroon smocks, operating the concierge desk, executive board for the past eight years in a number of
working in the gift shops and helping with admitting. capacities,” Manning wrote in a press release for the
The members also raise funds to provide for various award ceremony.
pieces of equipment and scholarships for area “Her strong leadership skills and friendly quiet dis-
students. position is why things run efficiently when she is
When Pessman first joined the organization, she was around.”
working at the information desk in admitting and in In the 20 years she has been serving the auxiliary,
the gift shop. Because of her job, she primarily volun- Pessman has completed more than 3,900 volunteer
teered in the evening and during the weekend. hours, an average of 195 hours per year. Manning
“And it was fun at night,” Pessman said. “You did a lot described her as “personable,”“kind,”“humble” and
more with the admitting department.” “caring.” She added that Pessman’s commitment to
Throughout the years, Pessman has made a great deal the auxiliary is evident in her willingness to remain
of friends among the other auxiliary members. She involved for so many years.
also enjoys interacting with those visiting “But I don’t want to take all the credit because it’s
the hospital. Another favorite activity is working in all of us working together that makes our auxiliary
the Mercy Medical Center North gift shop and going strong,” Pessman said.
on buying trips with Volunteer Coordinator Cindy The Mercy Auxiliary currently has approximately 250
active volunteers who have put in more than 35,000
volunteer hours throughout many years.

“If it wasn’t for these volunteers, I’d be Photo: Clinton 16
sunk,” Manning said. “There’s no way I Mercy Volunteer
could do it all.” Coordinator Cindy
Every March, the auxiliary holds its annual Manning (left) and
luncheon to induct the new officers and Margaret Pess-
highlight the previous year’s accomplish- man stand near a
ments. The auxiliary also presents dona- grandfather clock in
tions to the Mercy Healthcare Foundation the North campus
and scholarships to local students. Within lobby. This clock,
the past two years, the group has raised which is more than
$146,000. 80 years old, was
“They all work so hard together to donate standing inopera-
that,” Manning said. tional in the Mercy
Pessman is always excited to work on the South building for
scholarship committee. Last year, the group years until Pess-
gave away 12 scholarships. This year, 16 man and the Mercy
were awarded. Auxiliary Board
Pessman enjoys reading the thank you adopted a project
notes that many of the scholarship recipi- to get it in working
ents send the auxiliary. condition.
“You’re giving back to someone,” Pessman
said. “You feel like you’re doing something Photo by Samantha
worthwhile.”
Each year, the auxiliary’s nominating Pidde
committee sends recommendations to the
executive board for the volunteer of the year and other
awards. This
year, Pess-
man was
included in
these nomi-
nations.

17

Photos: Above-Left: Mercy Medical Center Auxiliary Volunteer Margaret Pessman (right) answers a question for Donna Galusha (left) in the hos-
pital gift shop. Pessman has worked in the shop since she first joined the organization, 20 years ago. Above-Right: The Concierge desk at Mercy
Hospital in Clinton, IA. Photo by Samantha Pidde

“They really have a tough time at that executive board telephone calls to repair men before reaching Don’s
deciding which one to choose,” Manning said. Jewelry.
She added that the board usually selects a member Representatives from the business assured her that
who has taken up a cause or a project within the past they could get the clock running again.
year. Pessman did just that recently, regarding an After taking the insides of the clock to Don’s Jewelry
old grandfather clock that has sat in Mercy Medical for repairs, Pessman and her husband, Gene, cleaned
Center South for years. and shined the clock. It now stands in the Mercy
The vintage clock is suspected to have been made North lobby where visitors can enjoy its beauty.
sometime between 1925 and 1929 and is formerly Pessman is excited to see the clock in the lobby, oper-
from the Clinton Masonic building, which had a fire ational. She also was happy to be named the Volun-
in 1958. Manning said that during the fire, members teer of the Year.
of the community saved the clock and brought it to “It’s an honor to be recognized by your fellow work-
the hospital. The clock sat in the south campus for ers,” Pessman said.
years and has not worked for many years. A few years “And it’s nice to see something of such nice work
ago, the auxiliary board agreed it wanted to see the appreciated.”
clock running again. While Pessman enjoys having free time to spend with
“The auxiliary members started saying, ‘Why don’t her three children and attend her grandchildren’s
we fix it?’ But nobody did anything, “ Pessman said. sporting events, she plans to continue with the auxil-
The first hurdle Pessman had to face was that the iary for many more years.
clock was locked, requiring her to meet with a lock- “Once you get started you can’t quit,” Pessman said.
smith and have keys made. Then she made countless “I’d miss it terribly.” ■

212 5th Ave South
Downtown Clinton



19

2014

1. Graduation
2. 3.

4. 6.
5. 9.

7.
8.

10.
11.