Community News Stories

Becky Idstrom, Communications and Marketing Manager

bidstrom@vesterheim.org  •  563-382-9681

For Immediate Release

May 18, 2020

Vesterheim Museum Welcomes New Trustees

DECORAH, Iowa —Vesterheim, the national Norwegian-American museum and heritage center, is pleased to announce five new members to its board of trustees—Carol Birkland, Lindsay Erdman, Louise Hanson, Thomas Mannes, and Rachel Reitan. Vesterheim has a national board with 25 members from 10 states and the District of Columbia.

Carol Birkland, Decorah, served in a variety of positions with the national and international Lutheran Church. She was director of project planning, monitoring, and evaluation for the Lutheran World Federation’s Department for World Service in Geneva, Switzerland. At Luther College, she was director of church relations and at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, she was a new business developer. A graduate of Luther College, Carol has two Masters Degrees, one in Student Personnel Administration from Pacific Lutheran University and one in Systematic Theology from Luther Seminary. Birkland has served on boards for the Minnesota Chorale, Center for Victims of Torture, Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity, the Decorah Human Rights Commission, and Lutheran Services in Iowa. In 1992, she received Luther College’s Distinguished Service Award. She likes to be on the Decorah bike trails and volunteering with Decorah’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

Lindsay Erdman is a Decorah native. A graduate of Iowa State University in Civil Engineering, Erdman is a Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor licensed in the State of Iowa. For 30 years, he has owned and operated Erdman Engineering, P.C. Some notable City of Decorah projects completed by Erdman Engineering include Trout Run Trail, reconstruction of Luther College campus street and parking lots system, Decorah Water Street reconstruction, and the development of the Decorah Business Park.

Presently Erdman serves as Chair of Good Shepherd Church Facilities Improvement Committee and led the church’s remodeling project, is Co-Chair of Oneota Golf and Country Club Grounds and Greens Committee, and is a board member of Decorah Jobs, Inc. and Winneshiek County Development, Inc.    Louise Hanson and her husband Walter own The Nordic Shop, a Scandinavian clothing and lifestyle store in downtown Rochester, Minnesota, which includes an ecommerce website www.thenordicshop.net. They are a Premier Store for Dale of Norway Sweaters, the only independent store to have that recognition. Hanson has a BA in Art and Communication Arts from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. She has also studied industrial arts in Copenhagen, Denmark. Louise has participated on several boards in Rochester over the years. She is past president of Shops at University Square Merchants Association.

Thomas Mannes is from Aksdal in Tysvær, Norway, and also resides in Clifton, Texas. At present he is a project leader at Equinor (formerly Statoil), and he oversees operational aspects within a project upgrading Njord Bravo, a storage ship. He studied at the University of Stavanger as an engineer and has a Masters of Science degree in petroleum engineering. Mannes has led and participated in many different volunteer organizations. After a visit in 2012 to the Norse Historical District and the property where Cleng Peerson lived, Mannes helped develop a collaboration between Clifton, Texas, and Tysvær, Norway. Peerson, who emigrated from Tysvær, Norway, is known as the “Father of Norwegian Immigration to America,” and he lived on the Texas homestead beginning in 1854. Mannes and his wife Eldbjørg Djønne-Stuve became the owners of the Cleng Peerson homestead, which they had listed on the National Historic Register.

Rachel Reitan, a native of Decorah, lives in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Reitan is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of Minimally Invasive Division at Louisiana State University Healthcare Network in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is a Minimally Invasive Surgeon/DaVinci Surgeon. Dr. Reitan is a graduate of Luther College where she studied nursing and obtained her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Her residency was at Johns Hopkins in Dermatology and at Louisiana State University for Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Reitan is an Emmy-award winner for on camera talent as a medical reporter with ABC News in New Orleans for her show, “Dr. Rachel: The Teaching Doctor.” Her parents are Phillip and Ruth Reitan of Decorah.

Through 33,000 objects and 12 historic buildings, Vesterheim, the national Norwegian-American museum and heritage center in Decorah, Iowa, shares the most comprehensive collection of Norwegian-American artifacts in the world. This treasure is also a center for folk-art education, offering a wide variety of classes in authentic Norwegian folk art every year. For more information on the museum’s exhibitions, classes, events, membership opportunities, and ways to donate, check Vesterheim’s website at vesterheim.org, call (563) 382-9681, or write to Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 502 W. Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101-0379.

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For immediate release…

Voters are reminded that Friday May 22^nd is the last day to request an absentee ballot in the mail.  Voters are encouraged to use this option for the 2020 Primary to help minimize person to person contact.

In-person absentee voting will still be available in the County Auditor’s Office through Monday June 1^st.  Weekday hours are 8:00 – 4:00.  The Auditor’s Office will also be open Saturday May 30^th from 7:00 – 3:00 for early voting.

Voting on Election Day, June 2^nd, will be from 7:00am – 9:00pm.  There will be a reduced number of polling sites:

Voters that normally vote in Ossian or Calmar will be voting at the Calmar Lutheran Church.

Voters that normally vote in Ridgeway or Fort Atkinson will be voting at the Ridgeway Community Center.

All other voters will be voting at the Courthouse.

Voters using in-person voting options should practice appropriate social distancing when doing so.  For the safety of other voters and poll workers, please do not crowd the polling location and also consider bringing your own blue or black pen to use to mark your ballot.

Sample ballots, polling information, election forms, and other election information is available at www.winneshiekcounty.org. Questions can be directed to auditor@co.winneshiek.ia.us or (563) 382-5085.

Thank you,

Ben Steines

Winneshiek County Auditor

The SBA has issued guidance on calculating the forgiveness of PPP loans. The Loan Forgiveness Application includes several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers. The biggest change is the addition of a new exemption from the loan forgiveness reduction for borrowers who have made a good-faith, written offer to rehire workers that was declined. Previously, your eligibility for PPP loan forgiveness was dependent on maintaining your pre-COVID-19 payroll, with a business losing a percentage of loan forgiveness for each employee not rehired. Now, as long as you attempt to rehire your employees by June 30, you will not suffer a loan forgiveness reduction. This exemption also applies to employees who were fired for cause, left their jobs voluntarily, or voluntarily requested a reduction in hours. (NOTE: you still have to spend the funds on eligible expenses in order to receive forgiveness; all excess funds must be repaid).

If you have a PPP loan or are looking into one (there’s still $120 Billion allocated for the program), you will need to apply for forgiveness at the conclusion of your 8-week forgiveness period, which begins once funds are disbursed to you. Speak to your lender for more details. You can view the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application here: https://content.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/3245-0407%20SBA%20Form%203508%20PPP%20Forgiveness%20Application.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Also, as a reminder, the SBA is offering debt relief for current and new 7(a) and 504 loan borrowers. The SBA will automatically make payments to the lender on behalf of the borrower for 6 months, including principal, interest, and any associated fees. New loans made through September 27, 2020 will be provided the same debt relief benefits. If you have been considering starting a business or growing your business by using an SBA loan, now is a good time to explore that option since the SBA will cover 6 months of your payments. You can learn more about this here: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-debt-relief?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

ArtHaus works on beautification of their new location on the corner of Washington and Broadway with the help of grants from the Iowa Arts Council.  In June ArtHaus received a Capacity Building Grant which helped with new signs from Letterwerks and marketing materials with their new address of 107 West Broadway.  This May they received a relief grant to help with the financial impact of being closed during Covid-19.  While the space is not open to the public ArtHaus continues to work on projects led by volunteers beautifying the outdoor space and is doing online orders of art supplies and virtual classes.

“Iowa is becoming known as a culturally vibrant state with world-class arts and cultural offerings, where engaging experiences revitalize communities with unique characteristics and local charm,” said Chris Kramer, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

Art, film, history and culture are vital factors that business leaders, families and millennials consider when choosing where to set up shop or settle down to live, work and play. Cultural programs help boost the quality of life and promote economic growth.

To support those efforts statewide, the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has awarded more than 200 grants and designations that will serve as catalysts for new community initiatives, creative projects, cultural organizations and small businesses.

The $2,107,102 in grant funding was made through several programs overseen by the department’s divisions: the Iowa Arts Council, the State Historical Society of Iowa and Produce Iowa, the state office of film and media production. This year the department received a slight increase in funding from state and federal officials, a reflection of widespread support for Iowa art, film, history and culture. Grants announced in this release are funded with appropriations from the Iowa Legislature and through funding as a state arts agency from the National Endowment for the Arts.

These grant programs support community projects, artist-led initiatives, historic preservation, cultural education and more. The following summary is divided into three broad categories.

In addition ArtHaus received a relief grant to help with the substantial hit they have taken as a result of Covid-19.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (IDCA) awarded $191,000 in grants to Iowa artists and small nonprofit arts organizations who are reeling from the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The first-round relief grants were limited to artists and small nonprofit arts organizations.

The list of recipients includes community theaters, choirs, youth arts groups, a documentary filmmaker and a blues musician who has entertained Iowa audiences for more than 40 years.

In all,156 Iowa artists and creative workers each received a $1,000 award to support their artistic career. In addition, 14 Iowa nonprofit arts organizations each received a $2,500 grant to support their operations. The IDCA received a total of 285 applications in this funding round.

Applicants cited a range of financial losses resulting from canceled performances, festivals, residencies, commissions, teaching opportunities and more. Organizations lost revenue from admissions and gift-shop sales, as well as canceled classes, programs and fundraising events.

“Iowa’s creative professionals and cultural organizations have been deeply impacted by the current crisis,” Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Chris Kramer said. “Our industry is incredibly resourceful and resilient, but with so many revenue sources threatened at once, it’s extraordinarily challenging for the creative workforce to navigate.”

Kramer added, “The economic loss to arts organizations is estimated at over $4.5 billion nationwide. Here in Iowa in a typical year, the creative sector accounts for 2.3 percent of our economy and more than 42,000 jobs.”

This was the first round of grants from the new Iowa Arts & Culture Emergency Relief Fund, which is administered by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Grants awarded through this fund are intended to support the Iowa artists and nonprofits that have suffered the most, serving as a bridge between severe financial loss and other state and federal assistance.

“Artists and community arts organizations have been hit particularly hard by this emergency and are some of the most vulnerable members of our industry right now,” Iowa Arts Council Administrator David Schmitz said. “We want to help Iowa artists and these arts groups bridge the gap, so they can sustain a basic living until audiences and patrons return.”

In a recent survey conducted for Iowa by Americans for the Arts, 255 arts and cultural organizations across the state reported a total financial loss of $2.85 million as of April 7. On average, those organizations lost approximately $11,000 due to closures, cancellations and increased expenses.

Nearly all of the respondents reported that they have canceled performances and other events, affecting an estimated 100,000 audience members and participants.

Sixty-two percent of respondents expect the pandemic’s impact on their organization to be “severe” or “very severe.” A quarter of the organizations have reduced staff or payroll.

Round Two

The Iowa Arts Council will accept applications for a second round of emergency grants April 24 through May 1 from all Iowa arts and cultural organizations that have existed for at least three years, maintain a 501(c)3 nonprofit status and had an operating budget of at least $10,000 during the past fiscal year. The details and application will be posted online at iowaculture.gov.

Funding for this second round of grants comes from the National Endowment of the Arts, through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The grants are intended to help save jobs in the arts sector and keep the doors open to thousands of cultural organizations that add value to America’s economy and the creative life of its communities.

Thank you,

ArtHaus 

Connecting people through creativity. 

Shannon Dallenbach Durbin

Executive Director

Hours

ArtHaus facility is currently closed due to growing concerns over COVID-19.

ArtHaus staff will be operating remotely during this closure, but all activities, classes, and events have been canceled or postponed. Meetings will be rescheduled to remote formats.

Please get in touch if you have any questions or concerns you’d like to discuss.

107 W Broadway St.

Decorah, IA 52101

563 382 5440

arthausdecorah.org

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

ArtHaus is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

All contributions and donations to ArtHaus are tax-deductible.

Winneshiek County Development and Tourism Encourages Agricultural Producers to Check Out the New CFAP USDA Program, which will Help Producers Who Have Been Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic

DECORAH, IOWA—Winneshiek County Development and Tourism (WCDT) announced on Friday that they are encouraging all Winneshiek County agricultural producers to look into a new program that is designed to help any farmer/producer who suffered losses during the 2020 marketing year due to COVID-19. The new program administered through the local USDA FSA office is referred to as the “Coronavirus Food Assistance Program” (CFAP).

“This is a $19 million program. Unfortunately, the program name can be confusing.” noted Stephanie Fromm, Executive Director for WCDT. Fromm went on to say, “Some producers have ignored the program thinking it had to do with food distribution and they don’t need food. In reality, although the program will support the Food Box Distribution Program, it also is the program that will provide immediate and direct support to agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted. We know dairy, beef, pork, lamb and other producers in Winneshiek County who have been impacted.”

The USDA website notes that the CFAP will provide direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted. https://www.farmers.gov/cfap CFAP will assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs in the 2020 marketing year resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply caused by COVID-19. The CFAP funding is administered through local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. Producers must register with FSA to be eligible.

There is no size limit; all agricultural operations are eligible. Applicants who have received other forms of COVID-19 business relief (PPP, EIDL, or other FSA funding) are still eligible. Fromm noted that the required forms and program details are on the website but that farms already working with FSA may already have forms on file. She encouraged producers to call the Winneshiek County FSA office once the program opens as they may be able to complete the application by phone. FSA has streamlined the process. USDA has not announced a start date for CFAP (as of release), but producers may call or email FSA for updates.

Fromm noted that WCDT will have additional guidance on CFAP on their small business directory, which details all the available programs www.winneshiekdevelopment.org. The directory offers a searchable, organized list of available local, state, federal, public and private programs, including grants. “Farm businesses are a vital part of our economy, and we want to make sure they know about this opportunity,” said Fromm. “We care about our hardworking friends, neighbors and families in agriculture and recognize how important they are to our local and regional economy.”

Vesterheim Museum Extends Temporary Closure

DECORAH, Iowa—As part of its continuing response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Vesterheim, the national Norwegian-American museum and heritage center, has extended its dates of closure through June 30, 2020. The closure includes Vesterheim Folk Art School classes, on-site events, and the on-site Museum Store.

The online Museum Store is offering convenient secure shopping for mail order and store pick up. Check store.vesterheim.org or call 563-382-9682.

Everyone is invited to explore the museum’s many online resources at vesterheim.org, including engaging blog posts with folk-art features and immigrant stories. Another way to stay connected is through Vesterheim’s social media on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Electrical providers are reporting the following scams being targeted at their customers on a state wide basis:

· 1. Scam caller advising customer that if they are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 they are eligible to pay a portion of their past due balance upfront and defer the balance for up to 3 months. Customer provides payment over the phone to scammer.

· 2. Scammer advises payment arrangements are being cancelled or revised to assist with COVID-19 and that by providing them with account information, they can take care of outstanding payments by phone.

· 3. When asked why the caller ID shows up as “Unavailable” or “No Caller ID” the Scammer says they are working from home and the caller ID phone number will not appear as the utility company phone number. Seemingly reasonable response, caller provides payment information or account information by phone.

From Safeguard Iowa Partnership

Corps of Engineers reopens lock facilities to the public
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is removing the closures to its
facilities near the Mississippi River locks and dams from Lock and Dam 2, near Hastings, Minnesota, to Lock
and Dam 10 in Guttenberg, Iowa. The change is effective immediately.
The guide walls, loading docks and observation platforms were closed to the public April 6 to help reduce the
spread of COVID-19. Public restrooms at the locks and dams will continue to remain closed until further notice.
“Reopening these locations to the public is an important step in letting them view the Mississippi River up
close,” said Jim Rand, St. Paul District locks and dams chief. “While we are reopening the sites, we urge
everyone to continue practicing safe social distancing measures and to continue listening to local officials on
the best methods to protect yourself. The safety and health of our visitors and employees is our top priority,
and we want everyone to be able to experience the river for years to come.”
The St. Paul District navigation program provides a safe, reliable, cost-effective and environmentally
sustainable waterborne transportation system on the Upper Mississippi River for the movement of commercial
goods and for national security needs. To do this, the district maintains a 9-foot navigation channel and 13
locks and dams from Minneapolis to Guttenberg, Iowa. Keeping this system open is vital to the nation’s
economy. Nearly 16 million tons of commodities passed through Lock and Dam 10 in 2018. This included
nearly 8.5 million tons of farm products such as corn and soybeans. The industries making these shipments
saved approximately $430 million by using the inland waterways instead of overland shipping methods.
For up-to-date information on modifications, closures or other restrictions related to St. Paul District areas visit:
www.mvp.usace.army.mil.

Mail Cheer Program Launches in Winneshiek County

There is a new way to bring cheer to your neighbors here in Winneshiek County. The Mail Cheer Program is a safe way for community members to send or request a positive message through the mail to combat the loneliness and isolation many people are experiencing due to the current pandemic.

“While volunteering with Meals on Wheels, I learned how prevalent social isolation is for so many in our community right now,” said Jessica Hegdahl, coordinator of the program. “People here in Decorah have been so great at stepping up to help each other, and I’m so excited for people who might be isolated to get something fun in the mail to remind them that they’re being thought of as part of our community, even when they need to remain physically distant from others.”

Volunteers with Green Iowa AmeriCorps, in partnership with the Winneshiek Energy District, and the Decorah & Winneshiek Co. Mutual Aid Network have collaborated to create the program. Additional funding support comes from the Winneshiek County Development and Tourism office.

How to participate

Letters can be sent to Mail Cheer Program, PO Box 169, Decorah IA 52101. A volunteer will forward them to people who have requested mail. Anyone wishing to receive mail for themselves or a family member can e-mail Jessica at jessica@energydistrict.org or fill out the form at https://decorahnow.com/mutual-aid-network/ Guidelines for sending mail can be found on the website.

Looking for materials?

A tote box full of artistic materials, cardstock and envelopes is located in the Little Free Craft Closet at ArtHaus. Pick up what you need, and feel free to donate extra supplies you have at home!

Immunizations available at Gundersen La Crosse ExpressCare

Gundersen Health System is adding another convenient, option for patient immunizations in La Crosse.

Beginning May 18, patients 18 and older without respiratory illness can receive routine immunizations at the Gundersen La Crosse ExpressCare Clinic in the Village Shopping Center (2500 Hwy. 33).

• If you had appointments cancelled and are overdue for immunizations, your provider may contact you.
• Contact your primary care provider to schedule a visit. (We’re sorry, but no walk-ins are available.)
• Patients should remain in their vehicle at the La Crosse ExpressCare Clinic until their appointment time to aid Gundersen’s social distancing efforts.

In the coming weeks, immunizations at the Gundersen La Crosse ExpressCare Clinic will be expanded to patients 2-years-old and older for routine immunizations and immunizations that had previously been delayed due to Gundersen’s COVID-19 response.

“We have much evidence that immunization rates are falling nationally during the COVID-19 pandemic, including in our local communities,” shares Rajiv Naik, MD, Gundersen Pediatrics. “We know that receiving routine preventive care and especially timely vaccines is as important as ever during this unprecedented time. We cannot afford to have outbreaks of other vaccine-preventable diseases on top of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are going to do everything we can to help make sure patients get vaccines safely, conveniently and on time.”

Immunizations are still available at La Crosse and Onalaska Family Medicine and Pediatrics locations. For more information, patients should contact their primary care provider or call (608) 782-7300.

Gundersen is considering other new ways and sites to provide high-priority care during the COVID-19 pandemic. More information will be shared in the coming months.