Our Hometown • July 2023

By HANS MADSEN

Glamour Sweet Glamour

Glamping, an amalgamation of the words glamour and camping, isn’t the least bit of an insult to those who practice it.

In fact, according to Nick Smith, sales manager at Good Life RV in Webster City, they embrace it.

“Most people seem to be proud of it,” he said.

Unlike camping, which usually means a tent, a campfire, bugs, rain, heat, humidity, rough ground, soggy hotdog buns and cranky kids, glamping brings all the comforts of home to the campground.

“The stuff out there,” Smith said, pointing towards the large inventory outside, “that has everything under the

sun.”

The current generation of fifth-wheel campers and RVs are a collection of electronics, automation, and ingenious design elements that are mind boggling.

“You can control your camper with your phone,” he said. “We have one where you program the features you want, then one button does it all.”

That “all” includes leveling the camper, activating the slide out compartments, turning on the lights, starting the climate control and rolling out the awning. It will even turn on the stereo.

About the only thing it won’t do is cook dinner; that’s still on the owner.

The latest trend is going green.

“The big trend in the last three to four years is solar,” he said. “Almost everything out here has solar to create sustainable power. You could essentially go anywhere.”

He said the business has grown over the years. Twenty years ago, when he joined the company it was averaging about 100 units a year.

“Now we’re 500-plus,” he said. “We have two dealerships and we’ve expanded three times.”

The camper business was one of the few that grew during the COVID pandemic. He said that people were distrustful of hotels. People wanted something that nobody else had slept in.

Selecting a fifth-wheel camper or an RV can be a daunting process.

“You can order any brand we carry,” he said. “There’s a plethora of options. There’s probably over a million combinations of floor plans, options, colors and other features.”

Unless his customer has a specific model in mind, he said the sales staff will do an inventory with the customer to find out what features they consider important.

“We talk about their needs and wants,” he said. “We do an interview, show them what’s applicable to what they want. We also talk about their budget.”

Prices will vary depending on brand, options, size, and other features. Units can start in the $5,000 range and go over $200,000.

Glampers are pretty much everywhere.

“I’ve sold to Guam, Alaska, New York, California,” he said. “Lots of folks out West. You name it, they’re from all over the U.S. We’ve sold many to Canadians.”

They’re not just for retirement.

“The average is all over the map,” he said. “We’ve sold them to the young, middle-aged, retired and past retirement. I would be hard to say the average is, say, 35, although it’s harder financially buying one when you’re younger.”

Smith said that the units are financed. Ten to 20 years is the norm.

“It’s very affordable,” he said. “Your monthly payment is less than a hotel for the night.”

Another large group of buyers are individuals that use their camper as a residence.

“There’s a lot of folks that work on wind turbine projects, pipe lines and other projects,” he said. “They get a per diem, that will more than pay for a camper. It’s ideal for people that travel.”

So is there really any limit to what you can have in your camper.

“We sold one with a sauna,” he said. “We have a portable hot tub option. You can get marble and granite counter tops, real tile floors, heated floors.”

Size varies. He said weights range from 1,200 pounds up to 18,000 empty. Safety is a priority.

“There’s a lot of safety regulations,” he said. “They all have fire, CO and propane leak detectors. The LP detector is hard-wired to the battery. They’re all required. All of that is in every single camper. Some of these are safer than people’s homes.”

He said the trend is bigger.

“Campers have grown and grown,” he said. “Three slideouts used to be top end. Now there’s almost none that don’t have three. Now it’s up to six.”

The campers are mostly made in Elkhart County in Indiana. About 95 percent of the manufacturers are located there.

They keep up-to-date on things.

“They have teams that help decide what to offer — this wood, this fabric.”

Of course, if you really want a traditional camping experience, you can still make sure your hotdog buns get soggy; simply leave them outside.

Where can I “Glamp”?

in Hamilton County

Briggs Woods Park and Golf Course

Golf: 18-hole golf course with clubhouse and pro shop.

Camping: 82 sites, from tent camping  to accommodations for the large RV units.  Modern shower house with handicap accessibility is available. Two odorless pit latrines available in the off- season. WIFI is available within the park. The 70 acre lake offers swimming with a sand beach, fishing and boating with electric motor only.

42 Full Hook-up sites:  $30 per night

13 Water & Electric sites:  $25 per night

19 Electric sites:  $20 per night

8 Tent sites with electricity:  $20 per night

14-night maximum stay

Off season rate (when water is turned off):  $12 per night

Bell’s Mill Park

Canoeing along the Boone River

45 camp sites are electrical and there are four primitive sites

Electric:  $20 per night

Primitive:  $12 per night

There are no actual marked camping pads.

Eight Full Hookup Pull-thru sites

10 Full Hookup Back-in sites

13 Water/Electric Back-in sites

Two Electric Back-in sites

A group circle area of six sites

Trails: There are numerous walking and hiking trails throughout the rugged timber and prairie remnants in the park, plus a 10-foot-wide concrete multi-recreational trail designed for easy access. This trail winds follows most of the lake on one side and continues all the way into Webster City, a total trail length of 5.7 miles.

Canoes & Kayaks

10 canoes and four kayaks available for rent. No shuttle service, but park employees will take them to the lake.

Little Wall Lake Park

The park and lake are used for camping, hiking, water skiing, boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and many more outdoor activities. WIFI is available within the park.

Campers are free to set up their camping units or tents on the grass areas. Modern shower/restroom facility onsite.

14-night maximum stay

PETS must be on a leash, no longer than six feet, at all times. WIFI is available.

An open-air shelter is available for rent with electricity, water hydrant, tables, a playground and shower/restroom facility nearby. The cost for this shelter is $40 per day period plus a $100 deposit. Shelter has a Carry In-Carry Out trash policy.

Camping includes:

53 full hook-up sites (sewer, water, electric): $30 per night

53 water & electric sites: $25 per night

6 primitive tent sites: $12 per night

14-night maximum stay

Cabins:  Three modern cabins available for rent year round.  Two-story cabin will sleep 15 and the one-story cabins will sleep eight.

34 camping sites that can be reserved and there is a group camping circle of six sites.

Five Full Hookup Pull-thru sites

Five Full Hookup Back-in sites

Five Water/Electric Pull-thru sites

19 Water/Electric Back-in sites

PETS must be on a leash, no longer than 6 feet, at all times.

Canoes & Kayaks

10 canoes and four kayaks available for rent.

in Webster County

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area is one of the largest state parks in Iowa, showcasing native prairie, grassland, timber, river and lake habitats across its 6,500 acres. The lake is good for swimming, fishing and boating. With more than 45 miles of trails, the park is a popular destination for horseback riding, including two equestrian campgrounds.

Bike:  More than 45 miles of multi-use trails, including the 12mile gravel trail around Brushy Creek Lake. The trails can be explored by horseback riding, mountain biking or on foot, and snowmobiling and cross country skiing in the winter.

Fish:  The lake has 21 miles of shoreline including four boat ramps and eight fishing jetties. An accessible fishing pier is located on the west side of the lake. Boating is allowed at a “no wake” speed, and visitors can swim at the designated beach area.

Hunt:  For a variety of species at Brushy Creek including pheasant, quail, white-tailed deer and wild turkeys. Brushy Creek also has two shooting ranges nearby.

Camp:  There are equestrian and non-equestrian campgrounds. The north and south equestrian campgrounds contain a modern shower and restroom, electric and non-electric sites, a horse-wash area, and hitch rails. Both campgrounds feature picnic tables and grills at each site. All users are required to tie their animals to rails. The non-equestrian campground contains electric and full hookup sites with water and a sewer.

Four Boat ramps

Fishing pier; ADA accessible

Eight Fishing jetties

Fish cleaning station

Equestrian campsites, electric

Equestrian campsites, non-electric

Equestrian campsites, full hook up

Equestrian campsites, buddy

Full hook up campsites

Buddy campsites

Youth group only campsites

CITY SCENE CITY SCENE

National Night Out is quickly approaching!

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes community-police partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer and more inclusive environments for everyone. Through the National Night Out event, law enforcement agencies around the United States team up with the communities they protect to enhance relationships and bring back a true sense of community for everyone. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring law enforcement and neighbors together under positive circumstances to break down barriers and grow alliances.

Millions of neighbors take part in the National Night Out events across thousands of communities in all fifty states, US Territories and military bases throughout the world. National Night Out is always celebrated on the first Tuesday night in August. Texas and a few other areas celebrate another event on the first Tuesday night in October. Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events. Safety demonstrations, games, and celebrity guests are often included along with much, much more!

The Webster City Police Department has participated in the National Night Out since 2018. Each year the event has blossomed

into a bigger and more spectacular event. Police department personnel have spent their off time coming up with interactive games, purchasing prizes and creating handouts for participants. The positive relationships that come from these events can be seen daily on our city streets whether it be on a call for service, foot patrol, school patrol or DARE. Every day someone who participated in one of these events interacts with a police officer at a store or while playing football or hosting a lemonade stand!

Planning for National Night Out begins right away by meeting to discuss what worked and what to improve on. The dedicated members of the Webster City Police Department are committed to this event and hope to host the National Night Out yearly, well into the future. The goal is to spread out into the community through neighborhood gatherings where officers and staff visit each gathering to get to know the community they protect and serve.

If you have any ideas on what you’d like to see at a National Night Event or have ideas for other community events, please contact the Webster City Police Department at (515) 832-9166. This year’s National Night Out will be held on Tuesday August 1st and will be held in the West Twin Park complex.

CITY SCENE

LET’S EAT

Our Hometown Recipe Corner

Bountiful blueberries make treats even better

There are so many reasons to include blueberries in recipes. Not only are they plentiful in supermarkets and at fruit stands, blueberries often perfectly balance the sweet with the tart in flavor. These little berries also are one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits you can find, plus they are very high in fiber. That makes eating blueberries — whether they’re nestled in pancakes or served atop a slice of cheesecake — a little less indulgent.

Blueberries are right at home in many different dishes. Blueberries can make salads sing and desserts light up. They’re equally delightful in breakfasts and snacks. “HoneyLaced Blueberry Parfaits” can be enjoyed any time of day. Made with tasty layers of blueberries, yogurt and angel food cake, these parfaits are light, flavorful and refreshing. To tailor them for patriotic celebrations, add a few red berries, such as raspberries or strawberries, to embrace a red, white and blue theme.

Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of “Cooking Light® Fresh Food Superfast” (Oxmoor House) by The Cooking Light Editors.

Honey-Laced Blueberry Parfaits

Yield: 4 servings

1 6-ounce carton French vanilla low-fat yogurt

1 6-ounce carton blueberry low-fat yogurt

1 1⁄2 cups frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed

3 cups 1-inch cubed angel food cake

2 cups blueberries

1 tablespoon honey

1⁄2 cup honey-almond flax cereal, coarsely crushed

1. Combine yogurts in a bowl; gently fold in whipped topping.

2. Layer about 1⁄3 cup angel food cake, 1⁄4 cup blueberries and 1⁄3 cup yogurt mixture in each of four dessert glasses. Repeat procedure once. Drizzle honey evenly over parfaits. Top evenly with cereal. Serve immediately.

Photo#1

SAVVY

SENIOR

by Jim Miller

Best Meal Delivery Services for Seniors Who Don’t Cook

Dear Savvy Senior ,

Can you recommend some good healthy meal delivery options for seniors who don’t cook or get out much?

My 80-year-old father, who lives alone, has a terrible diet and I worry about his health.

Concerned Daughter

Dear Concerned,

There are actually a wide variety healthy meal delivery options that can help non-cooking seniors who live at home. Here are several top options to check into.

Community-Based Programs

A good place to start, is to find out if there’s a senior home delivery meal program in your dad’s area. Meals on Wheels is the largest program that most people are familiar with, but many communities offer senior meal delivery programs sponsored by other organizations that go by different names.

To find services available in your dad’s area, visit MealsOnWheelsAmerica.org which offers a comprehensive directory on their website, or call the area aging agency near your dad. Call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 to get the local number.

Most home delivered meal programs across the U.S. deliver hot meals daily or several times a week, usually around the lunch hour, to seniors over age 60 who have problems preparing meals for themselves, as well as those with disabilities. Weekend meals, usually frozen, may also be available, along with special diets (diabetic, low-sodium, kosher, etc.).

Most of these programs typically charge a small fee (usually between $2 and $9 per meal) or request a donation, while some may be free to low-income seniors who qualify for Medicaid. There are also some Medicare Advantage plans that cover limited meal service benefits.

Meal Delivery Service Companies

Another great option for your dad is to order him some premade meals online from a meal delivery service company. These companies provide a wide variety of tasty meal choices and will usually post the nutrition information for their meals right on their website.

Most companies will also cater to a host of dietary and medical needs, such as low-sodium and low-carb meals, diabetic meals, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options. Plus, the ordering process is very easy.

Depending on the company you choose, the food arrives either fresh or frozen and most deliver all across the U.S. Prices generally start at around $8 to $13 per meal, plus shipping, however many companies provide discounts or free shipping when you order meals in bulk. And most companies work with Medicaid and some Medicare Advantage plans to help reduce costs.

Some of the best meal delivery companies for seniors, as rated by Verywell Health for 2023 include:

Best Variety: Magic Kitchen (magickitchen.com)

Best Value: Mom’s Meals (momsmeals.com)

Best for Nutrition Consultation: BistroMD (bistromd.com)

Best Plant-Based Meals: Mosaic (mosaicfoods.com)

Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth (modifyhealth.com)

Best Chef-Prepared: CookUnity (cookunity.com)

Best for Customization: Snap Kitchen (snapkitchen.com)

For more information on this list and their testing methodology, visit VerywellHealth.com and search “Best Meal Delivery Services for Seniors.”

Grocery Stores and Restaurants

Depending on where your dad lives, he may also be able to get home delivered meals from local grocery stores or restaurants. Some grocery stores offer a selection of precooked meals and foods, including roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and fresh soups and salads. Contact the grocery stores in your dad’s area to inquire about this option. Or check with some of his favorite restaurants to see if they offer home delivery, or he could use a restaurant delivery service like UberEats.com, DoorDash.com or GrubHub.com.

PeT pix

Time for an afternoon walk!

Dog-Charli loved by Donna

Cat-Sophie loved by Esther

Parting SHOT