Progress Edition - 2010 by Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

progress edition How we got here: A look back at 2009

H1 SUNDAY JANUARY 31, 2010

WATERLOO www.wcfcourier.com CEDAR FALLS

inside this section:

TAKING SHAPE Waterloo riverfront projects move forward page H2

SUMMER FUN Cedar Valley offers entertainment options page H3

inside PRESENT: STANDING AT A CROSSROADS John Deere continues to invest in the economy, people of the Cedar Valley page I1

GOOD BUSINESS C.F.’s new Target store anchors retail plaza

FUTURE: WHERE WE’RE HEADED Price Lab school implements state-issued research and development project page J1

page H4

Jim Walsh: Making downtown ﬂy By PAT KINNEY pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — Some might have suggested, years ago, that downtown Waterloo would prosper again when pigs fly. Appropriately, Jim Walsh has sculptures of flying pigs in his downtown law office. He also has converted several dilapidated downtown properties into destination locations for a growing, regenerated entertainment district along East Fourth Street. It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t happened exactly as planned or as rapidly as he hoped. But it has happened. From the buildings housing Cu restaurant, to Jameson’s Public House, to the historic Fowler Building that is home to Screaming Eagle bar and grill, to a reconditioned former Walker Shoes building and a work in progress in the former Newton’s Jewelers location, and his involvement with Iowa Irish Fest, Walsh has put some very big oars in the waters of a current many said was flowing against the future of downtown Waterloo. Walsh has been Waterloo city attorney 19 years. He’s been an executive with Van G. Miller and his home medical supply empire for about 30 years He didn’t have to invest in downtown Waterloo, and he’ll be the first to tell you he didn’t do it for totally altruistic or charitable reasons. But Walsh, who grew up in Chicago, and has been in Waterloo since the mid-’70s, lets negativity roll off his big shoulders like the Windy City native he is and moves in one direction — straight ahead. He and his companies are involved in some 25 downtown properties — his fourth career, he says, after the law, the home medical supply business and city government. To longtime downtown developers like Donna Nelson, who’ve been fighting the good fight since the late 1960s, Walsh’s entry into downtown revitalization has provided some long overdue and much appreciated muscle to downtown revitalization efforts. “He’s done great things down-

RICK TIBBOTT / Courier Staff Photographer

Waterloo city attorney, VGM Group executive and downtown developer Jim Walsh is shown here in his downtown Waterloo law ofﬁce. town. We’re delighted,” Nelson, of Nelson Properties, said of Walsh. “There’s been a lot of people that have really helped, and Jim is one of those. You need people like the Hollens (Mike and Joni, operators of Cu) and the new mayor (Buck Clark, former Jameson’s proprietor) in addition to what we’ve been doing with the Black’s Building. And with Jim coming through, it’s great.” “It’s not entirely charitable,” Walsh said of his efforts.”I mean, I don’t do this just to help out in an area I thought needed help. But at the same time, it did need help. And it is what I consider my hometown. And I want to help it. “What it really needs is concentration of force,” Walsh said. “You’re familiar with that as a military concept; it’s also true as an economic concept. If you take a limited amount of dollars and investment effort and spread it all

over, it doesn’t make any difference. But if you concentrate that and put it in one neighborhood — in this case I started out with just half a neighborhood, the east side of Waterloo — and if you concentrate it, you can make a difference. “Everybody sees that now. These three or four blocks between the (Cedar) river and the (Lincoln) park have gotten appreciably, noticeably and visually better,” Walsh said. “It’s a nicer neighborhood now than it was before. “I think it’s a long way from being economically solid yet,” he added. “We still need to mix in a few other businesses and give it a little time to mature.” He’d like to bring back a pharmacy, a men’s clothing store and some of the smaller retailers that used to be common downtown. Walsh started turning his attentions to downtown redevelopment in 2001-02. “I would have thought

when I started, in ﬁve years I would have done everything. Well , it’s now close to 10 and I’m still just right in the middle of it,” he said. “It takes a long time to do the planning that’s necessary and raise funding.” The key now is to deepen the concentration of businesses and residences to sustain business and foot traffic downtown through the week and the day, and not just for weekend celebrations such as “Friday’loo” concerts. “People come down and see a big crowd down here and say ‘that’s a pretty good deal.’ Try coming down on a week night,” he said. “Without a concentration of residences and other complementary businesses down here it’s hard for a single business to keep enough traffic. Particularly week nights.” For example, he’s also trying to generate traffic earlier in the day with an establishment planned

for the Newton’s building: Newton’s Paradise Cafe. “It’s going to be mainly a breakfast place,” patterned after a similar establishment in Louisville, Ky. “We’ll give it a shot,” he said. “I’m looking for a friendly neighborhood place,” with an upscale menu. “That corner (East Fourth and Sycamore streets) needs some activity,” he said, located at the same intersection as the Black’s Building, First National Building and Regions Bank park. He wants downtown Waterloo to develop the concentration of businesses Cedar Falls has, to the point where the downtown itself becomes the destination and visitors come to “wander around” among the various shops and attractions. “That’s one of my goals for this neighborhood,” he said. “We don’t have quite the density of businesses here and variety for that yet. But we’re getting there.”

PAGE H2

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PATH OF PROGRESS

www.wcfcourier.com

•

THE COURIER

Riverfront Renaissance projects continue By TIM JAMISON tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — Downtown workers and visitors have grown accustomed to the sight of bulldozers, back hoes and barricades. And those construction sights will be back again in spades when spring hits this year, as key elements of the downtown Riverfront Renaissance finally begin taking shape. “I think there will be a lot going on this year and a lot of the amenities the public will see,” said Doug Schindel, of AECOM, which designed and is overseeing many of the downtown projects. “I really think this will be a fun year.” It’s been more than six years since the city of Waterloo was awarded a $7.3 million Vision Iowa grant to help finance more than $20 million in downtown public projects, including an inflatable bladder on the existing dam between Park Avenue and Fourth Street, riverside trails and a performance area, and an elevated pedestrian plaza near the Waterloo Center for the Arts. While the projects were supposed to be done by now, some early legal issues delayed the start, while high Cedar River levels in 2007 followed by record floods in 2008 knocked construction crews off track. Vision Iowa board members granted the city a two-year extension in November, giving the city until the end of 2011 to wrap up work. “Riverfront Renaissance: I’m almost tired of hearing that phrase because we’ve been talking about that ever since I was on the council,” said newly seated Mayor Buck Clark, who was the Ward 3 City Council representative when the Vision Iowa grant was first approved and has since opened several downtown businesses. “We will see some of those things completed down there this year, and that’s exciting,” Clark said. “And I think we’re starting to see the results, as we have some individuals who are investing their own money downtown.” The whole push behind the Riverfront Renaissance plan came from John Deere and other major industries indicating the city needed an exciting central business district to attract the next

RICK CHASE / Courier Staff Photographer

Peterson Contractors Inc. continued to work on a downtown Waterloo dam project on Jan. 12 despite frozen conditions. Flooding in 2007 and 2008 knocked the project off schedule. generation of workers to keep the When the rubber bladder being funded with federal stimulus While the Expo is expected to local economy viable. inflates, it will raise steel panels dollars. And it’s possible another host everything from large tractor And Clark is hoping the mix of and elevate the river level by four trail project, covering the stretch shows that won’t fit in the Five public and private investment will feet upstream, hopefully encour- between Mullan and Park Avenue Sullivan Brothers Convention keep Waterloo on the map. aging the return of river recreation. on the east side of the river, could Center to smaller weddings, the “We have to have a vibrant The dam will be deflated when the start this year. key will be getting it used to build downtown,” he said. “Every city river is high naturally. Finally, an elevated upper plaza momentum. that is going to succeed has to have Another ongoing project involves is slated for construction in 2011. “Your first step is always the a vibrant center.” the construction of overlooks and That would be constructed over hardest one,” said Stoddard, who “Each part of this project may a trail on the river’s east side from the former US Bank parking lot is working to book events this year. individually not make you say the dam to Sixth Street, includ- next to the Youth Pavilion. “We do have some traction, but ‘wow,’ but together they will have ing work on Paramount Park. That But the Vision Iowa projects it’s hard work to get events down a huge wow factor,” Clark added. should be finished in the spring. don’t represent all of the public there. “Our downtown is going to be a A separate project in that area projects going on in downtown “There may be more local-type destination.” expected to be under construction Waterloo. of events in the beginning, but we Elements of the project are this spring would create portages A $4 million RiverLoop Expo need those to show activity,” he already done, including portions of for canoe users to get around the and Public Market, funded largely added. “We’re targeting out-ofa downtown riverwalk loop, essen- downtown dams. with a Community Attraction and town events and businesses that tially recreational trails on both Schindel said bids are expected to Tourism grant through the Vision would help us get momentum, sides of the Cedar River through be opened in February on a lower Iowa board and more than $2 mil- but the economy is complicating the downtown. A segment from plaza and amphitheater to be built lion in gaming revenues from the things a great deal.” Sixth to 18th streets on the east on the west side of the river from Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, should The completion of the riverside is finished, while a trail from the Waterloo Center for the Arts be fully operational in 2010. front plaza and amphitheater area, 18th Street to the Riverview Rec- and Phelps Youth Pavilion downThe Expo, located in the area which will tie into the Expo, should reation Area on the west side is stream to Park Avenue. An adja- bounded by Park Avenue, West also help create more of a commucomplete. cent children’s play area known as Third and Commercial streets and nity gathering place. A key aspect of the Vision Iowa Mark’s Park, including water fea- U.S. Highway 218’s frontage road, Meanwhile, organizers continue project — installing a rubber blad- tures, and a performance structure hosted My Waterloo Days and sev- to look for an anchor tenant in the der on the existing Cedar River would be built in conjunction with eral smaller events in 2009. Some public market building. dam between Park Avenue and the lower plaza. brickwork and landscaping remain “That public market is probably Fourth Street, including riverwall “It’s a sizable project,” said to be done this spring. the most difficult aspect of the reconstruction — nearly is com- Schindel, noting the hope is to “It’s been a struggle with the entire RiverLoop area,” Stoddard plete. Flooding has hampered have it done by the end of 2010. flooding and construction holdups said. “It’s meant and designed for work for more than two years. Another planned 2010 project is to get the whole area up and run- the butcher-baker-candlestick “We’re trying to finish up on the the trail construction from Sixth ning,” said Jay Stoddard, River- maker theme … and the hope, dam before spring, and we should to 18th streets on the west Cedar Loop Expo executive director. “But desire and plan is that it will be be substantially complete this River levee. A contract has been the landscaping really is coming bringing people to the downtown area daily.” winter,” said Schindel. let for that construction, which is together now, and it looks great.”

Downtown Cedar Falls keeps moving forward CMS events and promotions director. Andersen points to major restoration projects over the years, including the Oster Regent Theatre, Black Hawk Hotel and the Oddfellows building, as giving others inspiration to invest in downtown as well. “We’re pretty happy not to see too many empty storefronts right now with the way it’s going around the country,” Andersen said. While downtown has typically focused on aesthetics, business retention and attracting new businesses, it has worked more at promoting tourism in recent years. At the heart of that is downtown’s connection to premier

By JON ERICSON jonathan.ericson@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — Brent Johnson bought out his employer, Bike Tech, in downtown Cedar Falls three years ago. This past year, he bought the building in the 100 block of Main Street that the business has occupied for 13 years. He saw it as a natural progression, a way to control the future of his business. “We’re in this for the long haul,” Johnson said. It’s that kind of investment downtown that continues the renaissance of the Parkade. Despite the economic downturn, Community Main Street reports activity downtown resulted in a net gain of 47 jobs in the past 15 months. “Existing businesses are constantly investing in their buildings,” said CMS Director MaraBeth Soneson. In 2009, downtown continued building on the growth it has experienced in the past 20 years. While the developer of the big State Street mixed development backed away from the project, existing businesses downtown had a good year and some new shops popped up to continue the variety of offerings.

DAWN SAGERT / Courier Staff Photographer

A crowd ﬁlls downtown Main Street in Cedar Falls during the Holiday Hoopla celebration Nov. 27. The role of downtown as the community gathering place was reinforced in November, when thousands turned out for the Holiday Hoopla event to kick off the Christmas season. The district prides itself on operating around the clock, from the pre-sunrise opening of Cup of Joe to bar close in the wee hours. It attracts all ages with a variety of shopping and entertainment options.

Co Contact us for Corporate Wearables & Workwear.

1808 East Street . Cedar Falls Phone: 277-2385 or 1-888-652-8316 . Fax: 266-4057 www.coverall-embroidery.com www.coverallembroidery.com www.coverallembroidery.com

Serving the Cedar Valley for Over 29 Years

Free Catalog Available!

Part of the charm of the downtown business district is the fact that it’s not easy to deﬁne. The entertainment and dining options get a lot of attention, as do all the specialty retail shops. Together, those categories make up half of downtown, but the other half is the domain of businesses, bolstered by ﬁnancial and technology companies, and residential.

All of that mix ﬁts in with the historic heritage of the district, with restoration projects constantly under way. “There’s an ethic that those buildings are more valuable preserved than they are modernized,” Soneson said. The success of the past few years piggybacks on the transformation of downtown many years before. “We’ve had a good 20year run,” said Jan Andersen,

bike trails. From downtown, bicyclists can spread out in all directions on trails, and the more recent city initiative to promote on-street bicycling started with a route that goes downtown. “The bike trails are huge. It’s more subtle, you don’t see it, but the trails have had a huge impact,” Andersen said. The downtown streetscape project in 2004 put a more finished and refined touch on the district. Now that type of makeover is onto its final phase in the College Hill business district. The city also is planning a streetscape project on Center Street in North Cedar.

WATERLOO MILLS COMPANY Manufacturing and Distributing Quality Ag and Pet Products Since 1924 2050 E. Mitchell Ave. PO Box 1227 Waterloo, IA 50704 Phone: 319-234-7756 Toll Free: 800-772-2045 Fax: 319-234-5007

THE COURIER

•

www.wcfcourier.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PATH OF PROGRESS

•

PAGE H3

Big-city attractions found in Cedar Valley By META HEMENWAY-FORBES meta.hemenway-forbes@wcfcourier.com

This summer, before your family spends a fortune on airfare and hotels so you can see world-class shows, splash at the grandest of water parks and visit oneof-a-kind museums, take a minute to look around. You can do all of those things and more right here in the Cedar Valley. “I’ve always said that we have everything a big city has to offer, just in a smaller, easier-to-navigate package,” said Aaron Buzza, executive director of the Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have performing and visual arts, history, athletic events and outdoor activities. We have the largest water park in the state. We have something that can fit every taste, and that really puts us on the map.” On the map, indeed. In May, Cedar Falls received the state’s first official Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the American League of Bicyclists. In July, ABC’s “Good Morning America” showcased the resilience of the Cedar Valley from the floods of 2008. In October, Cedar Falls received the Iowa Tourism Office’s Community of the Year Award for the second time (the first was in 2005) for its outstanding economic impact, effective marketing and a wellrounded mix of local events and attractions. Not stopping there, the Phelps Youth Pavilion in Waterloo received the Iowa Tourism Office’s Tourism and Arts Award. “These awards are for the whole Cedar Valley because

COURIER FILE PHOTOS

A cyclist bikes on the area trail system.

Slot machines at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo.

Brianna Sturtz, left, Danielle Chelf and Megan Chelf race down the Ta’ Kotipo slide at Lost Island Adventurepark. when either Waterloo or own backyards. The uptick in entertainCedar Falls is recognized, it “Look at all of the things ment options has increased works well for everybody,” we have here,” said Billie foot traffic in downtown said Kim Burger, director of Bailey, executive director of Waterloo. the Cedar Falls Tourism and the Grout Museum District. New establishments Visitors Bureau. “Maybe you can’t go to like Roux Orleans, Bourre “You can’t buy that kind Chicago and watch a play Lounge and Screaming of advertising. It helps step or see an exhibit at the Eagle have joined Cu Resup the awareness of the area Field Museum. But you can taurant, Jameson’s Pubas a quality destination.” see a play at the Waterloo lic House, the Cellar and And while the plug is good Center for the Arts and go Paco’s as favorite gathering for outsiders looking in, it’s over to the Grout Museum. spots among locals. also a reminder to local res- And it’s all within walking “The opportunities are idents of the gems in their distance.” almost endless as we open

Architects & Builders LEED Accredited Geo-Thermal & Green Buildings Turnkey Associates is a single source provider specializing in designing, building, and furnishing all types of commercial, retail and medical office buildings and complexes. We provide Architecture, Construction, Furniture & Furnishings, Interior Design, Signage, and Security services all under one contract.

216 E. 4th St. Waterloo, IA, 50703 877-226-5852

www.tkaweb.com

“The Key to Facilitating your Building Needs”

up riverfront area,” Buzza said. “The event opportunities and gathering opportunities are absolutely fantastic. With the building restorations and new businesses, there is an energy you can feel in downtown Waterloo. You can feel the progress.” The Lost Island Adventurepark, Grout Museum, Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Phelps Youth Pavilion, GallagherBluedorn Performing Arts Center, Hearst Center for the Arts and the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo all make the short list of places to go and things to do.

And let’s not forget the 100-plus miles of nature trails that wind through the Cedar Valley. It was a much different scene in the 1980s, Bailey recalls. The farm crisis, massive layoffs at John Deere and the closing of Rath Packing Co. saw the arts and entertainment options take a dive. Bailey is proud at how far the Cedar Valley has come. “What does that say about our community? It says we are resilient. It speaks volumes about the kind of people who live here,” she said.

PAGE H4

•

Sunday, January 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com • THE COURIER

path of progress

MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

New Camaros adorn the showroom at Rydell Chevrolet in Waterloo. Dealers say they anticipate a better year in 2010.

Auto dealers look for smoother ride in 2010 By JIM OFFNER

jim.offner@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — The economic downturn blew through the Cedar Valley automotive industry, as dealers scrambled to sell vehicles and, in a couple of cases, stay alive in the face of a contracting industry. The Car Allowance Rebate System — the “cash for clunkers” program — dominated the headlines during the summer, as the government poured about $4 billion into what became a threemonthlong initiative to lure customers into showrooms. “In terms of last year, it was a hard year for everybody with the deal in consolidation, but cash for clunkers got everybody back on track with a huge surge,” said Matt Halbur, executive manager of Rydell Chevrolet in Waterloo.

Nationwide, cash for clunkers helped car dealers reach 10 million unit sales for the year — compared to 14 million to 17 million in a typical sales year, according to Bruce Anderson, general counsel for the West Des Moines-based Iowa Automobile Dealers Association. Iowa dealers sold about 9,000 units and issued $37 million in vouchers — at $3,500-$4,500 apiece, depending on the upgrade in fuel efficiency obtained in the transaction — in the clunkers program, Anderson said. “There’s some thinking that it just expedited sales that would have occurred anyway, but I think it brought people in who weren’t in the market,” Anderson said. “It definitely cleared some lots. It really got us through a tough time, because sales were sluggish.” Halbur said all local new-vehicle dealers got a needed boost from

the program. “It was a huge, absolutely phenomenal success,” he said. “We simply ran out of new cars. They couldn’t have kept it going for another month because inventories were so light. Everybody had all these gas-saver cars sitting all over their lots.” But the year was bumpy in other ways, particularly for sellers of vehicles bearing General Motors’ Pontiac and Saturn badges. As part of its bankruptcy reorganization, GM announced it was discontinuing Pontiac and doing the same to Saturn if it couldn’t find a buyer for that brand. “Most Pontiac dealers have a GMC, Buick and perhaps Chevrolet, and they’ll continue with those,” Anderson said. “The Pontiac closure is going to feel a lot like when Oldsmobile went away.” Stand-alone dealers of those

brands likely were in greatest peril, Anderson said. Chrysler also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the last year and, like GM, announced it was culling hundreds of its dealerships, including Holdiman Motor Inc. in Cedar Falls. GM took a different approach, Anderson said, pointing out that all GM dealers were notified that the company had to cull its roster of stores. All dealers were given time to respond. But many dealers were given a reprieve, of a sort, when the federal government told dealers chosen to be cut that they could have an opportunity for neutral binding arbitration. “So there may be an opportunity to come back,” Anderson said. The upcoming year is loaded with promise, Halbur said. “I think this year’s definite-

Opening of new Target store, distribution center among year’s highlights By JIM OFFNER jim.offner@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — Color 2009 red in the Cedar Valley, which saw the opening of Target Corp.’s perishable distribution center and a new store in Cedar Falls during the summer. The Cedar Falls store was one of 23 new units across the country that the Minneapolis-based retailer opened more or less at the same time. The store is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The store’s first six months have exceeded expectations, said David Fisher, the store’s team leader and former manager of the SuperTarget in Waterloo. “Business has been very good, although I can’t give you any specifics,” Fisher said. “It’s just been very good over here. The only challenge we’ve had is snow.” The new 140,000-square-foot store is the second in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area and soon will serve as the anchor tenant of a new $40 million East Viking Plaza retail development, which is slowly taking shape at the southeast corner of the Iowa Highway 58-Viking Road intersection. The Cedar Falls store, which employs about 140 workers, is not a SuperTarget with a full-blown grocery store, like the Waterloo store. However, the store does carry meats, produce and other fresh foods, as well as sporting a pharmacy and one-hour photo department. The store also features a Starbucks and a Target Cafe. But the Target store’s opening was only half of the splash Target made in

Tyler Duda

319-240-4797

Smile Cedar Valley!

It is going to be a beautiful day. This message brought to you by: CnL Promotions, LLC

BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

Kiara Buyrd stocks T-shirts at the Cedar Falls Target store. The store opened last summer, just ahead of Target’s new perishables distribution center. Cedar Falls during the summer; the company officially christened its new 420,000-square-foot perishable food distribution center in October. Political and business leaders from across Iowa, including Gov. Chet Culver, attended the opening ceremonies. “It’s a great day for the Cedar Valley and a great day for the state,” Culver said during the festivities. The distribution facility created 150 jobs, and general manager Carson Landsgard said the company still is looking to add to the payroll at the new facility and the 6-year-old dry-goods distribution center next door. The new center, at 2115 Technology Parkway, supplies frozen and refrigerated food and fresh produce directly to 98 Target stores in the Midwest, according to company officials. Company officials attending the

Jason Guthrie 319-961-0389

Summerland Park

Iowa Development has sold 15 homes and completed 6 of them since September.

ly going to be more stabilized in terms of sales increases,” he said. “Obviously, the service and collision business has been very good for us over the past at least a year. I think sales are definitely going to pick up, with new vehicle launches and hopefully Chrysler and GM having public offerings midway through the year.” This year also will mark GM’s introduction of its first plug-in hybrid car, the Chevrolet Volt. The vehicle’s official launch date is set for Nov. 10. “It’s not going to jump the sales volume by a whole lot, but it’s definitely going to boost people’s interest in new car technology,” Halbur said. “It’s not going to be like the launch of (a typical model), but it’s a new concept, and it will catch on. As they roll out more models, it’ll be a much more widespread deal.”

• Private Subdivision offering two ponds, commonground, country feel in city limits • Community Barbeques and get togethers make it feel like home • Located just south of the casino with quick access to Hwy 20 and San Marnan Dr.

Iowa Development would like to take this opportunity to thank the city of Waterloo and everybody that’s contributed to Summerland Park.

kickoff ceremonies in October said the new warehouse would serve as a model for future expansion of the company’s distribution system. “This campus has become the incubator for tomorrow’s technology for our entire supply chains,” Mitch Stover, senior vice president of Target Distribution Services, said at the ceremonies, during which guests were offered tours of the plant. “We have several buildings, but previously because we didn’t have a lot of supply chain experience, they employed somebody else to do it. And this is the first step where we’re doing the whole thing. And we’re going to be building more of these around the country to complete the network.” Between the new retail store and the distribution center, Target has invested nearly $200 million in the projects.

THE COURIER

•

www.wcfcourier.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PATH OF PROGRESS

•

PAGE H5

COURIER FILE PHOTOS

Paco Rosic painted the ceiling of his restaurant, Galleria de Paco, to look like the inside of the Sistine Chapel.

Dish it up

ng: “People’s tastes are always changing, and people are always on the lookout for new food. It’s deﬁnitely taken a step up in the last ﬁve years, the value people place on their food.”

By MELODY PARKER melody.parker@wcfcourier.com

“Let’s go out to dinner tonight.” “OK. Where do you want to go?” “I dunno. You pick.” “I dunno. I picked last time. You pick.” It’s the classic “Chip and Dale” conundrum that can confound many Cedar Valley residents nearly every night of the week. Now that the metro area is gaining a reputation for privately owned ﬁne dining establishments, making that decision has become easier — or harder, depending on your viewpoint. To get to the heart of the Cedar Valley dining experience, we went straight to the source — chefs — to tell us what’s been happening on the restaurant scene. We spoke with Waterloo chefs Mark Widman, chef at Cu Restaurant; Brice Dix, executive chef at Roux Orleans and Sky Event Centre; and Paco Rosic, handling chef’s duties at Galleria de Paco; Cedar Falls chefs Andrew Ung, executive chef at Ferrari’s and Park Place Event Centre; Jordan Brakow at My Verona; and Bryce Lutjen, chef at Bourbon Street, as well as Melissa McKean, who offers regular cooking classes on international cuisine at her downtown Waterloo business, Classic Kitchen and Bath. ■ What’s your take on the kinds of cuisine now available in the metro area? What’s been your reaction to the inﬂux of new restaurants offering great dining experiences?

ng: “I’m excited about it. People are valuing their food more and are more willing to accept new restaurants opening in Cedar Falls and Waterloo. I think cable’s Food Network has helped open people’s eyes a little bit. People like the idea of locally owned, that there’s a local place they can support.”

idman: “It’s on the upswing. You get real, true creativity from locally owned restaurants, and it opens people’s minds to new and exciting food. Because there’s competition, as a chef it keeps my style from getting stale and it encourages me to experiment with new dishes.”

rakow: “The Cedar Valley has done a great

Industry workers discuss Cedar Valley dining scene

osic: “It’s only the beginning. Downtown Waterloo needs more nice clubs, Asian cuisine, maybe some Greek food.”

utjen: “People have choices because there’s a wide range out there.”

downtown makes the pie bigger and everyone gets a bigger slice.”

rakow: “It’s absolutely vital. I’ve lived in the Cedar Valley all my life and it’s nice to see what’s happening. Cedar Falls’ Community Main Street has done a good job beeﬁng up this area, especially nightlife and restaurants, and fresh ideas keep coming. Downtown Waterloo is starting to grow and the nightlife is starting to boom and as long as it keeps improving, it’s turning into a great place to go. You have to have a good blend of retail, restaurants and nightlife.”

rakow: “I’d like to see more small restaurants, and we’re lacking in French cuisine. We’re an Italian place, but I’m doing a litBill Guernsey performs with Deja Vu at the Screaming Eagle in downtown Waterloo. osic: “This is good for tle French cuisine because Waterloo. We have placit’s missing. I’d also like to job expanding outwards leria De Paco, the Brown ly taking off. We’re com- see more homegrown steak es to eat that are drawing in the types of cuisine. At Bottle and for fun, Doughy ing out with a lunch menu houses serving Iowa beef. people downtown. It makes My Verona, we’re a from- Joey’s, Cottonwood Canyon with four different seafood it feel alive and that’s nice. scratch kitchen, and I think and Jameson Public House. items.” ■ How important is fine I hope it’s going to happen this area has become a ‘loca- Everyone is stepping up more and more.” dining to development? ix: “I’ve seen it — look vore’ — buying local produce their game. People are really idman: “I think Cu ix: “It’s very important at the alligator we and having an innate sense into food now, and we’ve Restaurant showed to have a group of places of where our food comes had a lot of success with our offer.” that it was possible to have that are all clustered togethfrom and how it’s prepared, cooking classes every other ng: “When people a successful restaurant in er. That brings people to a a knack for knowing when Thursday, taught by chefs.” see new things on the downtown Waterloo, and centralized location, and the something is made from ■ How are metro area menu or food they’re famil- other entrepreneurs set up more restaurants you have, scratch.” diners becoming more iar with prepared in a new their businesses to get the the more people will come utjen: “I like the fact adventurous in their food way, they’re more apt to try ball rolling. Everyone wants because we all like choices.” that there are so many choices? it.” a booming downtown, and utjen: “The kinds of resnon-chain eateries because it’s important to keep the rakow: “I think people cKean: “There’s great spark going.” taurants we have now it helps me keep up with are branching out a reaction to the variety add culture to the Watertrends in foods and what cKean: “Cu and I were loo-Cedar Falls area. We’re other chefs are doing. That little more. We offer com- that’s offered. There’s more really the first to ven- not that huge of a metrogives me a lot of ideas and petitive prices with food upscale dining, more ethnic ture into down here, and politan area, so the amount keeps me motivated. I like chains and our food is very, variety.” I was nervous at the time. of choices we have is pretty to see what they’ve come up very good. The Cedar Valley does a good job of pro- ■ What do you think is It was a little scary almost special.” with on their menus.” moting chefs at presenta- missing from our food five years ago. Now it feels ix: “Competition is tions in large venues and landscape? good to see how hard everygood. It forces everyone events. They’ve celebritized one is working to make our ix: “I’d like to see downtown a destinato be good and get better. the chefs, which is kind of Pasta Diablo some sushi in down- tion. Bringing We have places around here nice for us, and at the same at Roux Orleans that offer great fine dining time, people are starting to town Waterloo, some more p e o p l e in downtown Waterloo experiences, but the econo- understand and appreciate themed restaurants.” my right now isn’t allowing good food. idman: “I’m not sure for it to be as appreciated as idman: “There are anything’s missI think it should be.” more options avail- ing, between all the osic: “I think it’s good able that people are willing nice privately owned for the metro area and to try. They’re gravitating to r e s t a u r a n t s , downtown Waterloo to have seafood more than before. m o m - a n d different flavors and differ- It’s interesting that the pop diners ent types of food to choose more adventurous offerings and chain from. The restaurants each we have tend to be higher re s ta u have their specialty and dif- sellers than safer options.” rants.” ferent menus. That offers osic: “Everyone is being variety that people want.” more educated about cKean: “In down- food, and I like to offer a town Waterloo, I can unique menu that no one truly say we’re becom- else has.” ing a restaurant district. utjen: “I didn’t eat a lot Cedar Falls has had that for of variety until I got in a while and now Waterloo is coming of age. Cu was this business, then I started the first fine restaurant to sampling, preparing and venture into the eastside experimenting with food downtown development. items, so I know what it’s Now the downtown has like. People are stepping Roux Orleans, Screamin’ away from typical beef Eagle, La Chiquita, Gal- and pork. Seafood is real-

R L

PAGE H6

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com

PATH OF PROGRESS

•

THE COURIER

Green Belt, Greenhill, Ansborough grow By JOHN MOLSEED john.molseed@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — Some of the newest development in Waterloo and Cedar Falls isn’t on the fringes of the cities, but closer to the center. The Green Belt Centre saw a development hat trick in 2009 with the opening of two businesses, groundbreaking of another and the closing on a sale of a lot in the center. All this in a recession year. Deer Creek Development president Harold Youngblut said the location at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 63 and U.S. Highway 20 is another selling point. The new Social Security office opened, Craft Cochrane consolidated its facilities into a new building there and Turnkey and Associates broke ground on its new office. Three businesses are up and running in the development including the Mauer Eye Center and Gold’s Gym. “I don’t think the recession was as deep in Iowa, especially in Waterloo and

Cedar Falls,” Youngblut said. “The area has diversiﬁed.” The TIF district declaration — in which future property tax money can be borrowed to go toward development — and tax rebates for businesses there, were enticing factors for the businesses, Youngblut said. The location, next to two major highways between Waterloo and Cedar Falls, was another, he said. Greenbelt Centre sits on the west side of U.S. 63, south of Ridgeway Avenue and just east of the Katoski Greenbelt. “It is in the heart of the Cedar Valley,” Youngblut said. For some companies, a location on the edge of town is ideal. Others look for a more central location, said Steve Dust, president of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance. “Any community has to be able to offer multiple products,” Dust said. The U.S. 20 and U.S. 218 corridors offer four-lane highways with controlled access. “Those become focal points for any develop-

MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

Morgan Paulson runs on a treadmill at Key West Fitness in the Greenhill Village in Cedar Falls. ment,” Dust said. The next interchange on U.S. 20 heading east was constructed to help spur development — which it has. Grainger, a Fortune 500 industrial supply company, opened a new

41,000-square-foot call center in June. It was the fourth business to begin operations in the Country Club Business Plaza east of Ansborough between San Marnan Drive

and U.S. Highway 20. “We started it because of the Ansborough interchange,” said Gene Leonart, president of Cardinal Construction. “It’s a premier location.”

The four-lane Iowa Highway 58 corridor in Cedar Falls also is spurring growth. Greenhill Village on Greenhill Road east of Hudson Road saw a boom in 2009 and will continue to expand in 2010. Four builders will be working on projects in the development this year. The 19,000-square-foot Greenhill Market is 90 percent occupied, said Darryl High, CEO of High Development in Cedar Rapids. A 5,500-square-foot additional business space will be added this year. If weather permits, crews will break ground on that phase in March. “We’re hoping to get some food and beverage there,” High said. “Maybe a sandwich shop or a coffee shop. We’d love to have a small grocery store there.” Those businesses could serve the people who live in the 25 residential properties that have been built in the development. A 120-unit development also is planned for construction there this year.

Veridian CEO sees good things around, ahead for area WATERLOO — As the CEO of Veridian Credit Union, a board member for Allen Hospital and a key figure in the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, Jean Trainor has long had her finger on the pulse of the community, business and otherwise. “In 2009, the Cedar Valley fared pretty well compared to the rest of the nation. Not having the housing boom, we didn’t have a housing bust,” she said. “And the credit union had a very good year. Our members are working. We are monitoring unemployment. The significant thing is that John Deere is doing well, so other dependent companies are doing well. “We did have some additional loan losses last year,” Trainor said, “but for the most part fared very well.” Looking ahead, Trainor recognizes there is a lot of uncertainty. “The Cedar Valley may see more layoffs, and, I suspect, other companies will have a difficult year in 2010. That’s what occurs in an economic downturn. “So much of it is psychological,” she said. “It is largely consumer driven. With what consumers see in the media, they are pulling back, being more conservative in their spending, taking a wait-and-see approach.” While Trainor said the Cedar Valley may see some cutback in terms of lending, Veridian will continue to loan funds. “We have the funds to lend, and interest rates are low. We’re doing a lot of refinances on mortgages. We have had more foreclosures than we’ve had in the past, but not a significant increase, and our delinquencies are in line with what they should be.

MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

Jean Trainor, Veridian Credit Union CEO, stands outside the Ansborough branch in Waterloo. “Our collections department prides itself on working with our members,” she said. “It may be the situation that they can’t afford the car or home they committed to. We want them to be able to remain a member in good standing. We were able to help a number of John Deere employees in the 1980s when they went through that round of layoffs, and they have become loyal, long-term members.” Trainor advised those who ﬁnd themselves having trouble keeping up with their payments to contact their lender. “You may be embarrassed, but it is important to contact them right away. Most lending institutions will try to work out an arrangement,” she said. “It is so important to stay in touch. We can’t help if we don’t know what the situation is.” Trainor also is quick to

Cedar Valley’s Oldest Natural Products Store

2 off

$20 minimum purchase

point out some highlights from 2009. First and foremost is the Cedar Valley TechWorks project, “a private, not-forproﬁt organization dedicated to economic development activities within the Waterloo-Cedar Falls region.” “The corporation is committed to increasing employment, enhancing the tax base and making visual and aesthetic improvements via cooperation of the private sector and all levels of government,” Trainor said. The TechWorks facility is located in downtown Waterloo, in buildings donated to the Waterloo Development Corp. by Deere & Co. “The vision is for a cam-

pus focused on bio technology, bio fuels and bio products,” Trainor said. “And we have our ﬁrst tenant. It is very exciting. Our goal is to re-energize, and, in the future, it will be a hub for education, research and advanced manufacturing. “Additionally, it is fun to see the growth in downtown Waterloo and on the Parkade in Cedar Falls, from a retail standpoint,” she said. Trainor pointed out that the progress has not been limited to 2009. “I am encouraged by how Waterloo and Cedar Falls are working more together around economic development. We have merged the chambers, and even Waverly is becoming a part

Owned and Operated by the Moore Family for 3 Generations

• Gluten Free Foods • Vitamins & Minerals • Natural Skin Care • Natural Cleaning Products • Natural Weight Loss Solutions

One coupon per customer. Expires 2/28/10.

Elmo R. Moore Patrick R. Moore Mason P. Moore FOUNDER

CHAIRMAN

PRESIDENT

OVERHEAD DOOR CO. OF WATERLOO 800 Commercial St. • 233-0471 www.overheaddoor.com

of the greater community. We all beneﬁt if we work together.” Trainor believes the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, which “focuses on expanding and diversifying the economic base of the Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa Metropolitan area,” is key to the area’s success. “We are looking forward to fulﬁlling the organization’s vision,” she said. “And I am so thankful for the support we have received. The businesses have been very supportive of the alliance, and our work has been well received. “We need to come together as one community,” she said. “Sometimes, the Cedar Valley is its own worst enemy in that regard, but that is changing. “We need to build alliance relationships in 2010,” Trainor said. “I have seen a lot of progress. Our Main Street organizations and visitors bureaus continue to build and solidify. We want to build synergy with all the organizations to do things more efficiently and reduce

the redundancy. “For businesses, there is a lot of uncertainty out there,” she said. “Budgeting has become an art form. We have to look at best-, worst- and most likely-case scenarios.” Trainor believes the Cedar Valley will have a year similar to 2009. “There won’t be quite the growth in deposits and loans, and the interest rate may inch up, but it should be a good year as we move toward economic recovery, nationally as well as locally.” And Trainor sees a silver lining to the economic challenges the community, state and nation have been facing. “We all have had to look at controlling our costs,” she said. “We’ve needed to take a look at everything. I think that should continue, become systemic as we grow. It would be beneﬁcial to us and to other organizations. I see this as a key opportunity for us, the state and all organizations to look at how they do business.”

827 West 5th St., Waterloo: (319) 232-0900 Cedar Falls: (319) 277-1091 www.mikeferedayheating.com

Serving the entire area 87 years.

BY HOLLY HUDSON holly.hudson@wfcourier.com

“Thank You” for making 2009 a great year for everyone here.

Check out our website: www.prairieconstruction.net

321 West 18th Street Waterloo • 319-233-2669

THE COURIER

•

www.wcfcourier.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PATH OF PROGRESS

•

PAGE H7

Downtown evolution continues with streetscape By JOHN MOLSEED john.molseed@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — Fourth Street in downtown Waterloo still follows its familiar route but has come a long way in the last year. The streetscape project, delayed by the 2008 flooding, was officially completed last year. Besides a complete repaving and utility work, the project included replacing stamped concrete with real bricks, planting beds near the intersections, new benches and matching bike racks and repainting the light fixtures along the street. The project has made the street more inviting to more than just drivers, said Sindee Kleckner, executive director of Main Street Waterloo. “It’s a public right of way that can be used for more than just driving,” Kleckner said. Outdoor seating at downtown venues has flourished since the project was completed. Diners can eat in the fresh air at the Screaming Eagle and Cottonwood

Canyon. They joined Cu restaurant, Jameson’s, and La Chiquita, which already had seating on the sidewalks when the project got under way. “The road looks good, the sidewalk looks good, the street is well-lit and people feel safe here,” said Tony Eischeid, manager of Cottonwood Canyon Coffee. “It’s nice to see people walking around here.” The streetscape project wrapped up in June. A September event, “Takin’ it to the Street” marked the occasion. The celebration came nearly a year after the estimated completion date when the project started in 2008. Flooding in 2008 delayed work and pushed the completion date back several months, upping the price of the estimated $1.26 million streetscape. “It’s really important, with the ﬂood, to think about the recovery that has happened in downtown,” Kleckner said. The city is still working with contractors for a ﬁnal tally on the cost of the project, staff at

New businesses

COURIER FILE PHOTO

Mariel Mugge, left, takes a minute from displaying her handmade Hula-Hoops outside Cottonwood Canyon in downtown Waterloo to instruct Renae Savage, center, and Marley Rieff, both of Denver, during the “Takin’ It To The Streets” event. the city engineer’s office said. The street isn’t the only visible change in downtown Waterloo. The main ﬂoor of the Black’s Building reopened to the public as Roux Orleans. A $2 million renovation project, the former department store was restored and transformed into a restaurant and lounge. The eighth-floor ballrooms were also renovated as part of the project.

The Union Block building, at 114 E. Fourth St., owned by Jim Walsh, was renovated inside and out in a $3 million effort. The upper floors serve as home to the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation. Several other business opened or relocated in downtown Waterloo including Iowa Hospice which, along

with 25 full-time jobs, moved to 624 Commercial St. The changing landscape of downtown is exactly what Kleckner hoped to see when she took the position as executive director of Main Street Waterloo at the beginning of 2009. “That’s the thing about a downtown,” she said. “It’s always changing, always evolving.”

Businesses new to the neighborhood in 2009: ■ Iowa Hospice, 624 Commercial St. ■ Jaylin corporation, 501 Sycamore St., Suite 736 ■ Beau Monde Beauty Salon, 224 E. Fourth St. ■ Brejes Handbags and Accessories, 607 Sycamore St., Suite 100 ■ Nuestra Raza, 630 Sycamore St. ■ New Living Church, 524 Mulberry St. ■ Heal the Family, 212 E. Fourth St., Suite 125 ■ Dyton Media, 212 E. Fourth St., Suite 107 ■ Two for Tots, 622 Sycamore St. ■ Roux Orleans, Bourre, Sky Event Centre, 501 Sycamore St. ■ Kramer and Kehe Accounting, 212 E. Fourth St., Suite 108 ■ Wild Sides, 312 W. Fourth St. ■ La Moderna, 632 Sycamore St. ■ Cohesive Creative and Code, 516 Lafayette St. ■ Protech, 221 E. Fifth St. ■ Butt Ugly Saloon, 728 Commercial St. Source: Main Street Waterloo

City Builders continues post-ﬂood rebound in North Cedar By JOSH NELSON josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — The mess left from 21 inches of floodwaters was enough of a nightmare. But having the 2008 floods hit City Builders right in the midst of its busiest time of the year only served to compound the problem. The company had to find a way to meet all their customers’ demands while attempting to recover from the disaster. “It was just one thing after another,” said Denny Wildeboer, company vice president. More than 18 months later, the company did that and more. City Builders has added a showroom to its North Cedar office and has seen their share of the remodeling market in the area grow. And it now employs 20 people in the state, split up between the Cedar Falls office and a Des Moines showroom. City Builders began 24 years ago as a siding company before expanding into windows, doors and now sunrooms and luxury bath systems. “We keep adding when we see something that’s really nice,” said president Dwight Wielenga. The company, like many others in the area, was busy helping tornado victims in Parkersburg and Dunkerton rebuild on top of the usual summer work when the flood hit. After the Cedar River receded, City Builders realized that about 40 percent of their business records had

RICK TIBBOTT / Courier Staff Photographer

City Builders’ Luther Hougen ﬁts a piece of sheet metal on to a door frame at a construction project in Cedar Falls. been damaged. Computers with vital customer records were inundated. A truck with equipment for gutters was also ruined. “That’d have been really

the ﬁrst time we had water problems on our properties,” Wildeboer said. Most of the equipment and other supplies were stored off-site at the time, so it

wasn’t nearly as damaging as it could have been, employees said. The rest of North Cedar saw similar levels of destruction. Many homes were torn down to the frame, while others were leveled all together. The company worked temporarily out of space in its warehouse, behind its main office off Center Street. Charlie Thurston, who keeps track of billing and repairs, said some data off three ﬂooded computers was able to be rescued with help from his son, a computer technician.

“Without that, it would have been a nightmare,” Thurston said. Despite the damage, Wildeboer and Wielenga said they decided to stay in North Cedar. The location was good, and they had a lot of space for storage. The ﬂood also allowed City Builders a chance to update their building with in-ﬂoor heating, more efficient insulation and better windows, Wielenga said. “We just got the trim done on our windows last week,” he said.

City Builders has seen its share of the market grow in the area, thanks in part to government stimulus aimed at stemming the economic recession. Tax credits for energy-efficient products have caused many people to seek out the products sold by City Builders, Wildeboer said. Many also see products like good windows and doors as an investment that will save in the longrun. “When times get tougher, people tend to buy higher quality,” Wielenga said.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of a New Generation of Power John Deere Fall Festival September 9 - 11, 2010

STEPHEN D. KNAPP MANAGING BROKER

Memorabilia Auction * Tractor & Equipment Auction * Tractor Parade * Tractor Show *

319-277-8000 OFFICE 319-493-4000 CELL SKNAPP@LOCKARDONLINE.COM WWW.LOCKARDONLINE.COM

“Steve Knapp is an excellent agent and person. It was a pleasure to work with and get to know Steve. He went to every length to make our home-buying experience memorable!” - P.B.

"Producing Successful Results!"

IOWA’S DINING & ENTERTAINMENT LEADER SPORTS BARS

University Ave.

College Hill

Thunder Ridge

RESTAURANTS

NIGHTCLUBS/LOUNGES

John Deere Fall Festival CATERING & EVENTS

900 TECHNOLOGY PKWY., SUITE 100, CEDAR FALLS, IA 50613 www.barmuda.com

TechWorks 360 Westfield Avenue Waterloo, Iowa 50701 888-453-5804 JDWLOOVisitorServices@JohnDeere.com For auction information go to www.Aumannauctions.com

PAGE H8

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com

•

THE COURIER

100 Years of Scouting in America The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2010. This is an accomplishment that not a lot of organizations can claim. For 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has created a strong foundation of leadership, service, and community for millions of America’s youth. Since February 8, 1910, Scouting has been helping the youth of America find - in themselves and in the world around them more than they thought possible. A century of building confidence and character is worth celebrating. For details on the 100th Anniversary events and activities, please go to www.winnebagobsa.org or call the Winnebago Council Scout Office

Winnebago Council, Boy Scouts of America 2929 Airport Boulevard Waterloo, Iowa 50703 319-234-2867; Toll-Free 877-754-4049; Fax 319-234-0153

progress edition Standing at a crossroads

I1 SUNDAY JANUARY 31, 2010

WATERLOO www.wcfcourier.com CEDAR FALLS

inside this section:

STEADY GROWTH Team Technologies expands in Midwest page I3

Photos by MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

Workers assemble a John Deere 8000 series tractor at the John Deere production plant on East Donald Thursday in Waterloo.

Deere: Waterloo’s strong, silent success By PAT KINNEY

Dunkerton Co-op continues to see proﬁt

pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — If companies can be compared to movie idols, John Deere in Waterloo is the strong, silent type. No hoopla. No ribbon cutting. No brass band. No chest thumping. But a presence that can fill the room, or, in this case, the community. In Waterloo, Deere is a company which does not seek attention. But Deere has not shied away from reinvestment it its Waterloo operations and in the community at large. “All in all, we are pleased with the progress in the Cedar Valley community and in our business,” Deere Waterloo operations general manager Dave Rodger said. While cutbacks have occurred in other areas, in Waterloo Deere has kept its pedal to the metal. In three years it has blown the doors off a local-investment milestone it took the company most of the past decade to accomplish. On Dec. 7, 2000, Deere launched what would end up being a $140 million reinvestment in the redevelopment of its downtown Westfield Avenue and East Donald Street facilities. The project was expected to take about seven years. That project was substantially completed about three years ago. But Deere hasn’t stopped there. Since then Deere has invested more than double that amount in less than half the time in its Waterloo operations. Major improvements included: ■ A new melt operation at the Waterloo Foundry. ■ Improvement in drivetrain operations at Westfield. ■ Most recently, an ongoing reconfiguration of production lines and a new high-tech paint operation installed this past year at the East Donald Street Tractor Works. Just a project to install improved, energy-efficient lighting at the Foundry represents an investment of $1 million alone. Deere’s multiple Waterloo-area facilities are the Moline, Ill.based company’s largest North American manufacturing complex. Deere, in Waterloo since 1918 when it bought the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co., produces large row-crop tractors here. Its Cedar Falls Product Engineering Center is a hub of the company’s research and development operation. And its Engine Works produces more increasingly energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive engines for a host of applications. Deere has continued to invest in its people, too. Deere’s Waterloo employment remains comfortably above 5,000 — its highest level in a decade or more — despite a nonunion salaried-employee voluntary separation program about 200 workers took advantage of in the company’s ag and turf division over the past year. On the union wage employ-

EFFORTS PAY OFF page I4

COMMUNICATION Faster Internet service comes to Waterloo page I6

Jeff Samuelson, left, and Steve Meyer, work on the assembly line for a John Deere 8000 series tractor at the John Deere production plant.

Russell Speirs works on the construction of a John Deere 9000 series tractor. areas but in general our work force needs are being met with the work force we have today,” he said. “Our customers will ultimately determine that by their demand for ag equipment — and we are prepared to meet that demand.” Rodger also noted Deere conDennis Stifﬂer works on the assembly line for a John Deere 8000 series tractor at the John Deere production plant. ee side, the company has hired a net several hundred additional workers over the past decade in Waterloo, far exceeding the rate of retirements. As of this past September, ﬁgures compiled by UAW Local 838 in Waterloo show 1,075 unionwage workers have retired since 2003, and 1,742 have been hired, an approximate net gain of 667 workers over six years. Rodger projects stable employment in Waterloo for the foreseeable future. “We continue to hire small numbers in several critical skill

John Deere 9630T trak drive tractor

tinues to work with the University Northern Iowa, Hawkeye Community College, Wartburg College and local school districts on course offerings

and training programs that will allow the community to cultivate and maintain a skilled work force. Deere also supports community “quality of life” initiatives that will make the Cedar Valley an attractive place to recruit new workers. For example, the celebration of Deere’s 90th anniversary in Waterloo in the fall of 2008 was one of the inaugural events at the new RiverLoop Expo plaza downtown. And Deere and the UAW have teamed to make record contributions to the Cedar Valley United Way, exceeding $1 million each of the past two years. Business has been good for Deere and the Waterloo operations in particular. The company racked up a record-tying five consecutive years of record profits, culminating in the company’s first $2 billion profit year ever in 2008. Deere’s Waterloo-designed and manufactured large row-crop tractors have been a big part of the company’s success — and sustained the company’s profitability through a large part of fiscal 2009 when the economy became tight. Other Deere facilities in Ottumwa, Dubuque and the Quad Cities cut back and laid off workers, and a plant in Canada closed. However, on the cusp of a recession, Deere did not retrench in Waterloo. It retooled and reloaded with new product lines. The Waterloo operations and the Cedar Valley caught the wave of popularity of a new tractor

See DEERE, page I6

PAGE I2

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PATH OF PROGRESS

www.wcfcourier.com

•

THE COURIER

DAWN J. SAGERT / Courier Staff Photographer

Sara Blackstock, right, a client service associate at Lincoln Savings Bank in Waterloo, assists Blaine Benham of Waterloo at the drive-up banking window.

LSB ofﬁcials say growth in difﬁcult times a sign of quality By ANDREW WIND andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com

DENNIS MAGEE / Courier Regional Editor

Eric Bertch and his family opened Lost Island Waterpark a decade ago and have turned the property into a world-class attraction. As general manager, Bertch’s tasks this winter included repainting garbage cans.

Lost Island ready to unveil its biggest water ride so far By DENNIS MAGEE dennis.magee@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — The Bertch family took a chance in 2000 — backed with reasoned conﬁdence, of course — but a risk nonetheless. At the time, Bertch Cabinet was already a wellestablished manufacturer with a solid reputation. Naturally, the next logical step in the business plan was ... a water park. Not counting the parking lot, the proposal was for an attraction covering 17 acres in a portion of the country better known for exporting corn and soybeans than importing tourists. “I can tell you, all of us were thinking, ‘I really hope this works out,’” Eric Bertch says. He remembers being there even before the beginning, thinking about rides and themes, researching other successful operations. Eric was 19 and in college when he helped his parents, Gary and Becky, launch Lost Island Advanturepark on Waterloo’s south side. Technically, he was a lifeguard, but his duties included whatever needed to be done. That meant checking water chemistry, taking inventory of food supplies and trouble shooting. Initially, the Bertch family hired an outside agency to manage the property. Within two years, though, Eric was in charge of the lifeguards. “It was really a trial by ﬁre.” After another 12 months, Eric had essentially assumed control of the operation. “By 2003, I was a hardened veteran of the industry,” he says. By any measure, Lost Island is a force in the business community. The company hires 130 seasonal employees and this year will need 76 lifeguards. About 1 million gallons of water circulate through the elaborate system, kept moving by 1,000-pound pumps. Kim Frost is food and beverage manager at Lost Island. She also happens

“We’re going to be having a pretty big party this summer.” EricBertch

to be Eric’s cousin and has been at the park since opening day. “He’s in charge of everything,” Frost says. “He’s not a behind-thescenes kind of guy,” she adds. “He’s right in there.” Eric continues to train all the lifeguards but ﬁlls in wherever and whenever necessary. Some days that might mean helping cook french fries or, as he did in January, repainting garbage cans festive colors. According to Frost, Eric runs a tight ship but is willing to listen to employees. “He’s attuned to letting them express their ideas,” she says. While other water parks in Iowa folded, Lost Island has kept growing. In an average year, the park attracts about 100,000 guests. And with that kind of pull, Lost Island ranks as a world-class attraction and among the largest outdoor water parks in the country. Eric believes their “go big or go home” philosophy paid dividends. The approach continues in 2010. Lost Island is adding its largest thrill ever, the Wailua Kapua, which translates from Hawaiian as river dragon. “This is the biggest expansion we’ve put in the park. The ride itself is over 900 feet, which is 100 feet longer than the current longest ride, the Calypso Cascade,” Eric says. Lost Island will continue to grow, though at a somewhat slower pace in the immediate future. “Without letting too much information go, it will be a few years before we do anything major new,” Eric says. Still, there will be continual updates, and by 2015 another major expansion will be in place. “It will expand the footprint,” Eric hints. This season is scheduled

to begin June 4. Hours will be from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. Expect ﬁreworks on the 10th of each month and other special events. For information as details fall in place, go online at www.thelostisland.com. “We’re going to be having a pretty big party this summer,” Eric says. “It’s gratifying coming up on the 10-year anniversary that we get a chance to celebrate and thank the people who have helped keep us around.”

WATERLOO — For more than 20 years, Lincoln Savings Bank has been steadily adding branches and growing as an institution. That didn’t stop last year when the nation’s economic struggles hit the banking industry hard. Lincoln’s President and CEO Steve Tscherter said the bank grew by 10 percent in the past year. The bank also landed on Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the top 5,000 fastest-growing companies in the U.S. Lincoln came in at 4,608. Tscherter said there is a reason Lincoln has weathered the economic downturn so well. “It’s a combination of the image we’ve built and the ﬂight to quality,” he said. “I would bet not many banks grew 10 percent in our area. People just respond better to honest treatment.” The 108-year-old Lincoln has 14 banking branches, an insurance agency and is the only bank in the nation with a Century 21 real estate franchise. Lincoln grew in asset size to $530 million during 2009, an increase of $100 million since 2007. The bank had two branches in Lincoln and Reinbeck

with assets of $36 million 31 years ago, when Tscherter became president. It needed to increase that to at least $150 million in assets for “long-term viability,” he said. The Allison branch was added in 1987 with others acquired in Aplington, Garwin, Greene and Nashua throughout the 1990s, “It was about mid-’90s where we decided we needed to diversify into urban areas,” said Tscherter. Eighty-ﬁve percent of the bank’s portfolio was agriculture-based at that time. Metro-area branches were opened when Lincoln acquired banks in downtown Cedar Falls and Hudson in 2000. Since then, branches have been added in Waterloo, Cedar Falls industrial park, Tama, Grinnell and Waverly. The real estate and insurance agency offices also were acquired during the past decade. Today, the largest portion of Lincoln’s assets is the 44 percent in commercial loans, followed by 32 percent in individual and municipal loans, and 28 percent in agricultural loans. Tscherter drew a contrast between Lincoln and its competitors. “We’re quite different from most banks,” he said, noting that all bank officers

find a way to be involved in civic organizations. “Passionate community stewardship is one of our six values.” In addition, the bank has an unusually large employee ownership stake. A program to encourage employees to buy stock in the company started in 1986. Now 21 percent of the bank is in the hands of the employee stock ownership plan. “There aren’t many ESOP banks in Iowa at that level,” said Tscherter. “They are usually 10 percent or less.” He said Lincoln strives to provide “complete financial solutions” to customers from banking to financial planning to real estate. The bank’s involvement in real estate sprang from the need in rural communities, where “mom and pop” real estate companies began disappearing. “So we’ve expanded in a variety of ways, diversified the organization,” said Tscherter. That has required recruiting the right people to lead those efforts as the company opened up new ventures. He believes that has been the key reason for the company’s ongoing growth. “I think our success comes from our quality people, the experts we have,” he said.

More Ways Than Ever to Stay Healthy, Right Here at Home.

You don’t have to travel far to get specialized health care, diagnostic testing, surgery and other treatments for you and your family. From prenatal care to cardiology, orthopedics and oncology, we’re bringing new technology to already exceptional services. This past year Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare installed the area’s only 64 slice CT scanner, opened an Electrophysiology Lab and invested in digital mammography.

Local health care choices expanded with the recruitment of 17 health care providers to Northeast Iowa. All of this right where you live. Watch what we will achieve next. Visit www.WheatonIowa.org

THE COURIER

•

www.wcfcourier.com

PATH OF PROGRESS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

•

PAGE I3

RICK CHASE / Courier Staff Photographer BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

Bob Fontanini, president and CEO of Blackhawk Sprinklers in Cedar Falls, shows off old, left, and new sprinkler heads.

Mark Kittrell, a vice president at Team Technologies, stands alongside a long row of secure servers in the company’s Cedar Falls complex this summer. The center handles 10,000 servers.

Sprinkler company Team Technologies continues to grow marks record year By JON ERICSON

jonathan.ericson@wcfcourier.com

By JEFF REINITZ jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — For 35 years, Blackhawk Sprinklers has been keeping Iowans safe. And the company plans to keep at it for years to come. The business, which installs and services ﬁre suppression systems, saw spectacular success in recent years, marking 46-percent growth between 2005 and 2008. This earned it a special notice in Inc. Magazine’s list of 5,000 fastest growing companies in the nation last year. CEO Robert Fontanini chalks up the company’s success to doing good work. “You have to stand behind your job and use quality materials,” Fontanini said. Parts providers get dropped from Blackhawk Sprinklers’s list if they can’t stand behind their products, he said. Blackhawk Sprinklers was started in 1974 by Don Warner as a family-owned business in Waterloo. Within ﬁve years, the company was posting $1 million in annual sales. When Warner retired in 1996, he and his silent partner were looking to sell the business. He approached his son-inlaw, Fontanini. Fontanini, who had run his own father’s heating and air conditioning business in Ankeny before joining Blackhawk Sprinklers as a designer in 1982, said he was scared by the proposal. In the end, the employees decided to buy the company. “We thought it would be better if everyone had a piece of the pie; that way everyone would work harder,” Fonta-

nini said. The business continued to grow over the years and was looking to buy property surrounding its 1104 Sycamore St. base in downtown Waterloo with an eye toward expanding. Company officials slammed the brakes on that plan when they heard of the city’s interest in developing a housing complex in the area as part of the Riverfront Renaissance master plan. Instead of growing downtown, Blackhawk Sprinklers sold the Sycamore Street building to the city and found a new home in the former H&H Machine Tool building on 18th Street in Cedar Falls in 2003. Employees spent nights and weekends renovating the space for their needs. Over the years, Blackhawk Sprinklers has worked in several hospitals, schools and businesses in Iowa and Illinois including landmarks like John Deere, Covenant Medical Center and Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Maytag in Newton, Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City and the Meskwaki Casino in Tama. The company posted $12.9 million in sales in 2009, making it a record year. As far as prospects for Blackhawk Sprinklers, Fontanini admits the future is unclear. A year ago, the company had about 100 employees and was considering branching out. But as the economy hit bottom — after the Inc. Magazine list came out — business has slowed. The company still has jobs, but it’s down to 89 workers, Fontanini said. Builders are waiting for the economy to recover, he said. And when it does, Blackhawk Sprinkler will be ready.

Dr. Kontos and Staff

are pleased to announce EXTENDED HOURS INCLUDING EVENINGS AND SATURDAY HOURS, and the addition of two new Physician Assistants:

Allison Berns, PA-C and Shaun Grammer, PA-C. The office of Annie M. Kontos is now accepting new patients. We wish our Patients and Colleagues a Safe a Successful 2010.

Located at 305 E. San Marnan | Waterloo

319-235-3158

CEDAR FALLS — In the recent climate of penny pinching and contracting, many companies have become more lean in recent years. That’s not the case for Team Technologies of Cedar Falls. The company has taken a ﬁrm hold on the secure data storage industry and been branching out in the Midwest. The company expanded from its Cedar Falls base to open a center near Madison, Wis., another in Illinois and, most recently, in Des Moines. “It’s a fact that IT systems need to operate in good times and in bad. These systems have in a very real sense embedded themselves in the fabric of our lives. Stock markets operate, cell phones communicate, even deliveries get made based upon those systems,” said Mark Kittrell, Team vice president of business develop-

ment. “Not surprisingly our business was much less affected by 2009’s economic downturn than a lot of other industries. We remain committed to our growth plans and are pleased that we were able to complete our Des Moines data center during such challenging times.” Team provides leased data center space, keying on reliable power and cooling systems and high performance network services for business. It serves large and medium businesses, educational and government institutions and service providers. The security and stability of Team’s offerings bring in clients who place a premium on both. “We have ﬁnancial services customers who have a lot of data that is highly private. We provide those companies secure, highly reliable data center space that they can lease for their IT equipment. These systems operate 24/7 for customers doing electronic banking, insurance claims,

and related transactions.” In a similar vein, Team also hosts IT services for the health care industry, where reliability and security are again of utmost importance. Team data centers now serve customers in four Midwest states. “Our data centers provide customers in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota with a safe, economical alternative to running their own internal data centers. And they can also balance their equipment over two locations to prevent interruptions from natural or man-made disasters,” Kittrell said. The EF-5 tornado and ﬂoods of the past few years drove home the importance of keeping tech equipment in two places to insure critical business information isn’t wiped out.

For the past two years Team has been included on Inc. Magazine’s list of fastest growing companies. In 2009, the company came in at 1,187 of 5,000 companies on the list. The previous year, Team rated number 212 out of 500. Kittrell noted Team has been around for 55 years and expects continued growth in the future. “We have been a technology leader throughout that time and have continued to grow and look for new customers/markets,” he said. “We are very excited to be growing rapidly throughout the Midwest and anticipate continuing that growth in the coming year. We are working very hard to position ourselves for that growth and anticipate making several key announcements in the next few months.”

ROTH JEWELERS Downtown Waterloo

Thank You! To all our loyal clients, customers, and hard working sales associates for a great 2009! Thanks to you we finished the year almost 20% over our previous record year set in 2008!

4501 Prairie Parkway, Cedar Falls, IA

277-8000

THANK YOU to our staff for your hard work and dedication to customer service and to our valued loyal customers for allowing us to serve you in 2009 and in the future.

'RZQWRZQ :DWHUORR

Solid as a Rock6LQFH Since 1931

229 E. 5th St. • Downtown Waterloo www.lockardonline.com

319-234-6979

w w w. ro t h j e w e l e r s . c o m

PAGE I4

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PATH OF PROGRESS

www.wcfcourier.com

•

THE COURIER

Dunkerton Co-op continues to see growth By KAREN HEINSELMAN karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com

COURIER FILE PHOTO

Fertilizer falls more than 50 feet from a conveyor belt into the new warehouse expansion at the Dunkerton Cooperative in December 2008.

DUNKERTON — Efforts to respond to the needs of farmers and trends in agriculture appear to be paying off for a Northeast Iowa cooperative. Expansions in recent years have allowed the Dunkerton Co-op to receive, dry, store and move higher volumes of grain more quickly. Efficiency measures keep the single-site cooperative competitive and the customers coming, according to Harlyn Vander Linden, general manager at the Dunkerton elevator. Last year, the Dunkerton Co-op saw $68 million in sales and a local proﬁt of $1.6 million, according to Vander Linden. Figures suggest the co-op will see $57 million in sales this ﬁscal year. In 1946, two years after Dunkerton-area farmers banded together to form the co-op, the organization listed $134,000 in sales, said Vander Linden, citing an audit. Though the co-op has endured good times and hardships throughout its

66-year history — including adverse weather, natural disasters and a ﬁre — overall, things are looking up as of late. “We’ve been on a pretty steep growth pattern in the past 10 years,” Vander Linden said. Trends in agriculture fueled many of the changes. These days, fewer farmers are tending to more territory, said Bill Beierschmitt, president of the cooperative’s board of directors. Larger pieces of farm machinery harvest bigger yields more rapidly. Simply put, cooperatives have to keep up, officials say. “Fewer people are farming more and more acres,” Beierschmitt said. “You need to ﬁnd a way to get rid of (the grain).” Recent additions to the farmer’s co-op include a new grain drying system and additional dump and storage space. Prior to the $2 million dryer expansion, farmers coming to Dunkerton to drop off their crop might have had to wait. Now, that wait time is reduced. “We went from long lines

and turning away and shutting lines at noon, to being able to dump truck after truck,” Vander Linden said. On the largest collection day, the co-op took in 140,000 bushels of wet grain and had it all dry by 9 a.m. the next morning, Vander Linden said. A computerized system allowed the dryer, which Vander Linden thinks is one of the largest in the state, to operate overnight unmanned. In the last 10 years, the co-op also purchased Landmark Ag in Dunkerton, built a new fertilizer facility and brought rail service closer to home by adding a line nearby. The co-op also sells feed and fuel and offers dust control services. Beierschmitt sees a connection between progressiveness and longevity. The wants and needs of farmers are taken into consideration when implementing changes and expansions at the coop, Beierschmitt said. “We’re trying to keep up with farmer member needs and make a proﬁt for the members here,” he said. Officials also strive toward diversity, offering a variety

of products and services so long as they prove worthwhile. For instance, the coop offers multiple types of feed and does business with several seed companies in order to offer more choices to farmers, Beierschmitt said. “We are not a one-line type of company,” he said. However, the co-op got out of the propane business about four years ago, Vander Linden said. Dunkerton just wasn’t a big enough player, he said, and decided to focus their resources elsewhere. Vander Linden predicts additional expansions are in store for the Dunkerton Co-op. He’d like to see even more storage space added. Feed department manager Doug Wheeler said a grain storage expansion project about 30 years ago had its skeptics. Some questioned whether the added space would be fully utilized and suggested they might instead end up home to birds looking to roost, he said. “Now we are over double, triple that size and wonder how much more of that we are going to need,” Wheeler said.

First tenant moves Techworks from vision to reality By JIM OFFNER jim.offner@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — Once idea, now reality, TechWorks is poised to build on the Cedar Valley’s agriculture-based economy, combined with 21st century technology, officials behind the project say. Last year marked the watershed moment for the technology-based business campus, said Cary Darrah, Techworks’ general manager, because the center welcomed its first tenant. In the last week of December, the University of Northern Iowa’s National Ag-Based Lubricants program made its long-anticipated move into “Tech 1” of the TechWorks site. Tech 1 is the former “R” building of John Deere’s Westfield Avenue site, a major portion of which Deere donated for development of TechWorks, a bio-based agri-industiral product research, development and exhibition center. NABL had been in Waverly since its launch in the early 1990s. “It’s a dream come true for Lou (Honary, NABL’s founder and director), as far as the kind of space he always intended to have,” Darrah said. “The beauty of it is everybody is working together.” As momentous as bringing in its first tenant was for TechWorks, the next year looks even more promising, Darrah noted. “What we have realized is that TechWorks was a vision; now it’s reality,” she said. “I mean, our first tenant, NABL, moving in certainly articulates that. In the meantime,

we’ve also established great relationships with our K-12 institutions, with Hawkeye Community College, with UNI and with regional economic development groups that realize that we physically can provide the space. And, we’ve just really branched out and established relationships with stakeholders that can use TechWorks as a physical place, where a lot of that research and progress can happen.” This year, TechWorks will take another step from theory to reality Sept. 9-11, when Deere & Co. holds its Fall Festival, marking the 50th anniversary of its “new generation” of tractors introduced in 1960 — a transition from the 2-cylinder models to the 3000 models and up — at the site of the future TechWorks’ AgriTech Exhibition Center. “There will be something for everybody,” said Terry Johnston, facilities manager at TechWorks. Darrah reported in December that talks were under way for a second tenant for Tech 1, although she has declined to identify the party involved in the talks. Not that there won’t be challenges for the project in the upcoming year, as the search continues for state and federal funding. Steve Dust, chief executive officer of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, said Jan. 6, after having met with several members of the state Legislature, that there are concerns that the funding momentum for TechWorks could hit some roadblocks in the upcoming year due to constraints on the state budget.

“It has already caused us some concern because, with the reduced state budget, then we had reduced funds available for capital projects and business plan improvements in TechWorks, getting some of those services started or delivered that we have been planning on,” Dust said. But TechWorks supporters will continue to lobby for the project, because it remains a vital component in the region’s economic future, Dust said. “Investment in TechWorks is a high priority for us, and we’re going to continue to ask for it,” he said. “The practical aspect of that is it’s going to be a crummy budMATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor get year and we’re mostly playing defense, rather than Lab specialist Meghan Reynolds, left, and lab annalist Stephany North move a large oven used looking for more funding for dehydration Jan. 19, as University of Northern Iowa’s National Ag-Based Lubricants Center continues the process of moving into its new ofﬁces at the TechWorks building. opportunities.”

FOR SALE Government Building 904 W. 4th Street Waterloo, IA 50701

SOFT CLOSE TO BEGIN JANUARY 12, 2010 1-Story Building 8,880 gross square feet +/- on .6 acre lot FOR ON-LINE AUCTION INFORMATION VISIT

https://propertydisposal.gsa.gov OR CALL

Laura McGinnis, Project Manager . 816-823-5355 U.S. General Services Administration

Progressing for the Cedar Valley We Offer. . .

> Farm Management > Auctions > Consultations > Real Estate Sales > Appraisals > Insurance > Commodity Marketing > Oil and Gas Management > Lake Management > Huting Lease Network

We >Value. . .

Integrity and Honesty > Trustworthiness > Outstanding Service > Excellence

PDCM Insurance

Personal and Commercial Insurance

319.234.8888

Congratulations to joining partners Steve Clabby, Chris Fereday and Bart Harms.

Our Local Representatives Roger Johnson Bob Regenwether 319.277.9464 319.833-7088

THE COURIER

•

www.wcfcourier.com

PATH OF PROGRESS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

•

PAGE I5

Next Generation Wireless has winning formula By TINA HINZ tina.hinz@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — The secret to success at Next Generation Wireless is no secret at all. The cell phone retail company’s business motto is simple: Satisﬁed customers plus satisﬁed associates plus a good product equals growth. If one of those elements is missing, the formula fails, said owner and president Bill Bradford. Next Generation Wireless has the equation mastered and has far exceeded growth expectations, said Bradford, who founded the company with one partner and six sales associates in 2001 after working for U.S. Cellular. The exclusive agent for U.S. Cellular has grown to include 75 associates and 12 stores, nine in Iowa and three in Illinois. At one time, Next Generation also had stores in Missouri and Nebraska. “Whenever it’s a viable market for us to go into, we’ll consider” opening a new store, Bradford said. For two years in a row, Next Generation Wireless has made New York-based Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the country. It jumped a few spots from 3,331 in 2008 to 3,265 in 2009. Company revenue more than doubled from $7 million in 2004 to $14.1 million in 2007. “Each year our gross sales continue to climb, even in today’s economy,” Bradford said. He attributes some of the company’s success to the continued boom in the communications industry. “People will forfeit their car payment or utility payments before they’ll forfeit their cell phone payment because their cell phone is now their lifeline,” he said. “They have to have a cell phone.” But Next Generation’s strong foundation of customer service is what keeps people coming back, he added. That’s why director of sales Jay Pfalzgraf has committed his front-line associates to providing the best in customer satisfaction at each step of the sales process. To do that, he said, open lines of communication are key. “We have to challenge them, reward them, make sure we create an environment where they can focus on the customer,” he said. This involves contests to boost associates’ pride and morale and recognizing the top performing store each month. Twice the company has hosted a “two-day retreat,” where an associate from each store attended an offsite

TIFFANY RUSHING / Courier Staff Photographer

Dylan Bishop, left, and Sunni Swoarbrick paint baseboards in the basement of a Habitat for Humanity house on Solar Drive in Waterloo earlier this month. Every Next Generation location, including the corporate ofﬁce, participates in a charitable event each month. meeting to learn about Next Generation’s vision and what’s happening within the industry as well as to offer their input on how to shape the future, Pfalzgraf said. Area managers plan a weekly leadership conference call for status updates and to share ideas and successes from the different

on the latest products and equipped with new phones for personal use so they can better answer customers’ questions. “When our customers come in, they’re dealing with somebody that’s not just reading a manual,” Pfalzgraf said. “People know within 30 seconds of walking into our store what kind of an organization we are.” Bradford said the Cedar Valley is a great place to establish Next Generation’s headquarters. He’s originally from Sumner and has grown to love Northeast Iowa. “Just being able to do business with your family and friends and neighbors and see how our products

and services can really impact people is a great sense of pride,” Pfalzgraf added. Bradford makes community service a priority. According to Next Generation’s Web site, the company contributes to more than 30 area charities and organizations. Each month, every Next Generation location, including the corporate office, participates in a charitable event, donating more than 3,000 man hours a year. “I whole-heartedly believe that you need to give back to the communities that you work and live in,” he said. “It’s our civic duty. It’s our responsibility as citizens of that community.”

stores. Also, everyone in the company now has their own e-mail addresses. Associates are trained to focus on the smallest details, like opening doors for people, immediately greeting customers and asking the right questions to meet customers’ needs, Pfalzgraf said. They are constantly being educated

r for e m m u s y! his Join us-ytear anniversar our 10 rts this summert’ss even include:

Concetmas in July Chris volleyball s sand tournament golf o contest tatto

NOW g! Hirin

check our updated calendar or download an application at:

www.thelostisland.com

PAGE I6

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com

PATH OF PROGESS

•

THE COURIER

Cedar Valley Internet service on the fast track By JOHN MOLSEED john.molseed@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — If telecommunications technology is to the 21st century what the railroads were to the 1800s, Waterloo is getting a bullet train. The city will be home to the fastest residential Internet service in the nation through a program launched by Mediacom. The company is still testing its Ultra 105 package that offers download speeds of up to 105 megabytes per second. For customers that can mean quicker Internet, streaming video and online games. For economic development officials, the service is another recruiting tool for the Cedar Valley. “Everything is about access, speed and cost,” said Steve Dust, Greater Cedar Valley Alliance president. “Broadband access is the qualification for technology-related businesses.” “People have come to expect it,” said Betty Zeman, spokeswoman for Cedar Falls Utilities. CFU offers business packages of 100 mbps download and upload speeds. Residential packages range from 10 mbps with one mbps upload speed, to 50 mbps download and 10 mbps upload. CFU installs to-thehome fiber-optic cable in new developments. Mediacom is expanding its fiber network as well. The perception that rural areas

are cut off from broadband isn’t the case in Iowa, said Phyllis Peters, spokeswoman for Mediacom. “We keep telling people how ﬁber-rich we are,” she said. The Ultra 105 package is the company’s way of showing what they’ve built. The 100-mbps service in Waterloo is, for now, the fastest of its kind offered to residential broadband users in the nation. Some testers signed up for the service beginning in December. Dust and his family are one of the households testing the high-speed product. Dust said he and his family have put it through its paces by having up to ﬁve computers at a time on their home network and by downloading movies and uploading photos. After the testing phase, the product will be offered to most Waterloo residents later this quarter, said Phyllis Peters, spokeswoman for Mediacom. Waterloo was chosen to host the high-speed product after city leaders agreed to the proposal and Mediacom moved some cable channels onto digital cable to make room for the technology, Peters said. Customers have reported sustained high speeds including one that reported downloading 20 gigabytes of information in less than two and a half hours, Peters said. “Maybe there aren’t many applications to take

MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

Mediacom employee Jeremy Hovey hooks up cables for return connections from homes to Mediacom. The company is offering the highest-speed residential Internet service in the nation to some Waterloo customers. advantage of that right now, but things change so fast,” Peters said. Things will need to change in some areas to allow people to use the capacity of the bandwidth available to them. Older home routers may slow the service. Peters said Mediacom is working with

a vendor to get routers that handle capacities that normally are reserved for business internet service. The Ultra 105 service isn’t available in Cedar Falls and only in certain areas of Waterloo. “We still have to see how far and wide we’re going to deploy that,” Peters said.

DEERE Ofﬁcials are optimistic about company’s future From page I1 product line — Deere’s “8R” series large row-crop tractors, replacing what was known as the 8000 series. “We continue with a full pipeline of new products,” Rodger said. “This (8R series) tractor line has been exceptionally well received by customers. Additional model lines will be introduced in the near future as we improve our tractors to provide value to our customers and to meet mandated emission requirements.” Also, despite current economic conditions, Deere and the UAW managed to hammer out a new six-year collective bargaining agreement in about a month of direct negotiations. “Always good to refresh and renew our relationship with the UAW,” Rodger said. “The agreement reached in 2009 is a fair and equitable one for both parties, particularly given the national and global economic climate.” UAW Local 838 president Scott Grapp agreed. “This deﬁnitely was an agreement geared toward the times, and our (negotiating) group did a good job of seeing the importance of that,” Grapp said. “I don’t think we pleased everyone, but that’s where we’re at. When people take into stock everything else that’s happening in America, they would feel lucky at what they’ve got, appreciate what we do have, appreciate that we’re still working. “Most of us are optimistic about where we’re headed,” Grapp said. “There’s a certain amount of wondering in the back of everybody’s mind, are we going to roller coaster or will it be status quo. All signs point to staying the course that we’re at now.” The company has seen rebounding business and employment at other Deere plants which are more geared to the company’s construction and forestry business, such as Dubuque and Ottumwa. “Around the (Deere-UAW) chain it looks real optimistic,” Grapp said. “Keeping people working, that’s what

Is this in your future? Work with the best! We know 96 Years how to Of get the Experience job done! Phone:

319.235.6006 Fax:

319.234-1751 2862 Wagner Rd. Waterloo, IA

Family Heritage Since 1914 MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

Tim Lawrence works on the assembly line for a John Deere 8000 series tractor at the John Deere production plant on East Donald this month. we’re here for. We were all to remain competitive on a optimistic coming out of global basis.” bargaining that this was the Rodger said, “We all road we were headed down, remain focused on what we

do best — meeting customer needs with the world’s ﬁnest tractors built right here in Waterloo, Iowa.”

AUCTIONEERS & APPRAISERS

Come visit us and see our progress in

Evansdale

Proudly serving the Evansdale Community for over 26 years!

Groceries & Gas

3452 Lafayette Evansdale

232-8201

THE COURIER

â&#x20AC;¢

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com

â&#x20AC;¢

PAGE I7

Celebrating

70 Years In The

Cedar Valley

319-277-2490

-ARTIN "ROS &OOD -ARKET s s 6IKING 2D -ARTIN "ROS $ISTRIBUTING #O )NC s s -ARTINS.ET COM

www.hawkeyecollege.edu

8IFO :PV -PWF :PVS +PC

*U 4IPXT - F U V T TIPX ZP V U IF MP W F PHIL KENEALY

FELICIA CASS

DAVE SEAWEL

RACHELLE HAHN

JIM ALLEN

MATTHEW DOCKTER

BRIAN STEINMEYER

TARAH DALZIEL

AMEL RAMIC

BRYAN BURTON

JULI CAMARIN

MEGAN SIMONSON

TAYLOR SEAWEL

SHEILA SEICHTER

1007 Technology Pkwy Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 E: info@acesiowa.com

P: 319-266-9800 F: 319-266-6740 W: www.acesiowa.com

PAGE I8

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com

•

THE COURIER

progress edition Where we’re headed

J1 SUNDAY JANUARY 31, 2010

WATERLOO www.wcfcourier.com CEDAR FALLS

inside this section:

TAKING THE REINS New Waterloo mayor faces challenging year page J2

SHAPING UP Construction industry ready for strong 2010 page J4 Photos by BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

Andrew Stone, right, learned to play the guitar online. He is using what he learned to teach his classmate Taryn Moyer. They are both using this experience for their two-week J-term pilot program at Price Lab School.

Price Lab moves forward with state project By EMILY CHRISTENSEN emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — Jody Stone is used to watching experiments unfold in her Northern University High School chemistry class. Usually they include students mulling over beakers bubbling with liquid or initiating tests designed to determine the name of an unknown metallic ion. But earlier this month, all 11thgrade students took two weeks away from their traditional math and science coursework to pilot a J-term project. If all goes well the program could be among the ﬁrst official programs to come from the state-designated research and dissemination school. In 2008 Gov. Chet Culver signed legislation that charged Price Lab with testing and implementing new teaching methods that could be passed on to educators around Iowa and eventually the nation. Though the transition team heading up the official changeover is still in the early stages, Stone said teachers were asked to brainstorm potential pilot programs last fall.

Lyn Countryman, right, and Alex Pircer, right, help Terry Nielsen create a Web site for winter runners. She and Leasha Henrikson, the business education teacher, had always wanted to try a J-term or May term, a shortened school term often used at the college level for internships, study abroad experiences and even some coursework. “I’ve seen the concept in high schools before, but not in Iowa. And those that I have seen use it usually do service or foreign lan-

guage trips,” Stone said. Price Lab students in elementary, eighth and 11th grades are piloting the project now in hopes of having the whole school participate in May. The 11th-graders are working on student-driven projects ranging from developing a school wide day of service to rewriting the ﬁght song to researching string theory.

Stone said the laboratory school setting gives teachers more flexibility with these kinds of projects, allowing them to work out some of the kinks before a larger school would attempt to roll out a similar plan. The ideas have PLS Director Bridgette Wagoner excited about EXPANSION the possibilities of what could come for the school, and in turn Western Home readies education in Iowa. for wave of new arrivals “What we want to see is a much more flexible learning page J7 environment that is responsive to students’ needs and interests, but where they still come away for partnerships. with the essential skills,” she ■ Establish reciprocal relationships with surrounding districts. said. The entire transition is expected Moving forward to take three years. Wagoner said The state of Iowa has asked the so far, the team has focused on “the transition team to complete six big picture.” tasks in the coming years. They One of their first tasks is creatare: ing a policy for student enroll■ Create a student enrollment ment. Currently, the school draws procedure. mostly from the Cedar Falls school ■ Redefine faculty and adminis- district. Elementary students who trative roles and responsibilities. live within the Price Lab buf■ Establish a management model. fer zone and all middle and high ■ Develop a strategic plan. See PRICE LAB, page J8 ■ Define roles and responsibilities

20 Under 40 winners see region as magnet for young entrepreneurs By JIM OFFNER jim.offner@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — Through the prism of youth, the Cedar Valley’s future looks pretty bright, because the region is in many ways building on its past. That is the collective assessment of eight Cedar Valley Business Monthly 2009 20 under 40 recipients who gathered at the newspaper’s offices to discuss the Cedar Valley’s business climate at the dawn of a new year. Downtown redevelopment is a key to the success of the region, the group said. “ S p e c i f i c a l ly with the stuff I’m doing right now with my profession, both Waterloo and Cedar Falls, in particular, I’m doing a lot to revive the history of the towns,” said Chris Reade, vice president of property development with Barmuda Cos. Reade was directly involved in the recent renovation of the Black’s Building in downtown Waterloo. “The history of the building is what I love most about it,” he said. “Bringing back that history is a neat thing. It brings you back to your grass roots. That’s what everybody is having to do right now, having to go back to the basics.” But the Black’s project is merely emblematic of the renaissance of

a once-moribund downtown district, Reade said. “I like what the people and governing bodies are doing to improve these downtown areas and making them a draw and improving some of the heritage of what’s here,” he said. Downtown revitalization is a healthy move as well, said Brittany Argotsinger, community program coordinator of the Black Hawk County Health Department. “One thing that’s really, really important to vital communities is walkable communities, making sure you have vital services within walking distances so that people are getting out and not relying on modes of transportation that are bad for the environment, but also encouraging physical activities and the connectedness you feel in a community that you feel when you can just walk to shop and work,” Argotsinger said. “So some of that downtown revitalization really promotes walking and getting out there and really finding out what our community has to offer in terms of small businesses and shops and improving our community’s health.” It’s been a proactive process, Reade said. “That’s what I like about this community,” he said. “We saw it with the floods and the tornados. People kind of draw together.” Young people are drawn to communities with dynamic downtown areas, and the Cedar Valley is providing just that, said Maggie Burger, financial analyst with Speer Financial Inc. “I think those are huge,” she said.

Chris Reade

Brittany Argotsinger

Brooke Burnham

Ben Squires

Maggie Burger

Crystal Buzza

Allison Parrish

Amber Jedlicka

“I know just personally coming back, that was a huge drive. I even looked into living in the downtown area because that was a big draw. There are a lot of services offered there. When you talk about young people wanting to branch out and go to a metropolitan area like Chicago or Minneapolis, they’re living in the downtown area. So they’re looking for those types of services here and to keep them here, and our communities have done wonderful jobs to revitalize the downtown areas.” The group in the discussion shared an optimistic outlook on the region’s near- and long-term outlooks, its present amenities and the heritage on which it can build; the group also said young people need to step up and contribute to that progress. “I think we really need to see the younger generation step up a lot

more to be able to take the reins, especially if the older generation is going to be willing to step out of the work force,” said Crystal Buzza, assistant vice president/marketing project coordinator with Lincoln Savings Bank. “I see a lot of people that are older that are waiting to retire, and I think part of that is they’re concerned.” The Cedar Valley is a compelling draw for young blood, the group said. “Being a lifelong resident of the area, I had opportunities to leave and chose to stay,” said Allison Parrish, communication director with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. “I travel all over the place and love to travel to different places, and the Cedar Valley continues to feel like home. It has everything we need. It’s got good schools and has culture, but it has all these things on a much smaller

scale. It’s a really neat location and there’s things going on here, and it feels like home. As you travel you have a sense for that.” Amber Jedlicka, director of Landmark Commons of Friendship Village, noted that the bigcity-small-town combination is an essential draw for young families. “It has a small-town feel, but it has everything you’d want in a larger community,” Jedlicka said. “It has traditional values. You feel like your neighbors care about you. You feel like the community cares about the people that are here and the success of young people.” Brooke Burnham, director of convention development with the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau, said she also returned after having been gone for years. “To be here, where people are catching that entrepreneurial bug and thinking about innovating things and environmental and community innovations, it’s exciting to be around that,” Burnham said. “The Cedar Valley is one of the most diverse communities in Iowa, and that’s an asset. We have a lot to teach our young people, to learn ourselves and to experience, racially and economically, but with the university in town, the two communities can build on each other’s strengths. It’s right at our ﬁngertips in a relatively small community.” Ben Squires, a Waterloo dentist and native of Waverly, said he liked the character of the region. “It seems the standard of work ethic is a little higher here,” he said.

PAGE J2

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PATH OF PROGRESS

Baptism by ﬁre New Waterloo mayor faces economic challenges in 2010 By TIM JAMISON tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — Local government in Waterloo has a whole new look heading into a new decade. Buck Clark is starting his tenure as mayor, having taken the reins from three-term incumbent Tim Hurley. And the start of what promises to be string of departures in the department head ranks has begun. A new city clerk and building official are now on the job after replacing longserving retirees, while the search for a new police chief is well under way. But with the economy putting pressure on the city’s tax base and with state budget cuts threatening to let the woe from Des Moines trickle down to municipal budgets, City Hall’s fresh faces may face a baptism by fire. “Absolutely it’s going to be a challenge,” said Clark, who took office officially Jan. 2. “I’ve been told by several legislators several times that the enormity of the issues the state is facing will not have a direct effect on the city.” Despite those assurance, Clark, who has four years of political experience on the City Council from 2002 through 2005, expects some fallout from the current legislative session will find its way to the city’s doorstep. “I don’t think the city is in as dire a situation as the state,” he said. “We’re going to try very hard, and I think we’ll be successful, in maintaining service levels people expect” from city government. “We are looking forward to 2010 as a new beginning for flood recovery and economic recovery,” Clark added. “We are working feverishly to bring forth new development, new jobs, new opportunities for all, and new hope to the community.” At-large Councilman Steve Schmitt, who lost to Clark in a tight mayoral election, also expects 2010 to be difficult for local governments but shared Clark’s sense of optimism. “It’s going to be a challenging year given what’s going on in Des Moines and Washington, D.C., both due to the economy,” Schmitt said. “By the same token, I think what’s going on also presents us with some new opportunities. “With the stimulus money and everything going on in that regard, we have a once-in-manydecades opportunity here,” Schmitt said. “Some of these (potential stimulus) projects we never would have considered doing

BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

Waterloo Mayor Buck Clark has moved into his new ofﬁce in City Hall, promising to tackle challenges presented by a tough economy and ﬂood recovery with a smile.

“I don’t think the city is in as dire a situation as the state. We’re going to try very hard, and I think we’ll be successful, in maintaining service levels people expect.” Buck Clark Waterloo mayor

before because of the price tag.” That includes money available for road and bridge projects and disaster recovery the city can use to purchase pumps to avoid a repeat of damage caused in the 2008 ﬂoods. “It’s incumbent on us as local governments to stay on top of this,” he said. A vocal proponent of government consolidation and sharing, Schmitt also sees a silver lining in the current economic struggles. “I think it’s going to force government to start doing what the private sector’s been doing,” he said, suggesting various levels of government may need to share services to survive. “One way or another, we’re going to be forced or coerced to come together, take the time and make the effort to do some things we should have been doing in the ﬁrst place,” he said. “I’m real optimistic we’ll see some movement this year.” Clark also sees the positives of the city being forced to learn to do business more efficiently. “I’ve had two or three conversations with Mayor (Jon) Crews in Cedar Falls and I’ve had contact with

stop by our booth at the

Home Show | Feb. 12-14

More than 100 member companies make up the professionals in your community who provide quality homes, reliable service, and professional building expertise to thousands of families in northeast Iowa.

cedarvalleyhomebuilders.com

the (Black Hawk County) Board of Supervisors,” Clark said. “I’m talking about sharing, not combining services.” And turnover in the department head ranks can also have an upside. “Once you get over the initial shock of all that knowledge and experience you see walking out the door, you get excited about the young persons you’ve hired,” Clark said. “They bring new energy and new ideas; we’re looking at it as an exciting opportunity.” One thing Clark is promising for 2010 is a smiling face. “We’re going to be a much more customer-friendly city in all aspects,” Clark said. “Hopefully when that garbage truck goes by, the driver will wave at you.” Efforts to reinstitute community-oriented policing — a philosophy where police officers spend more time getting to know residents and business owners on their beats — are already on the drawing board. And Clark has eliminated a timer and buzzer for those making presentations at City Council meetings. Clark said positioning

Waterloo to capitalize on the national and state economic recovery will be a factor in 2010. But Councilman Ron Welper said “focusing on economic development and jobs is going to be the driving force” behind much of what the City Council strives to accomplish over the next 12 months. “I don’t think we have any choice,” Welper said. “If we can put people back to work and bring new industry in the community it will generate new housing and investment. We have to deal with putting people back to work.” A thriving economy trickles throughout other areas of city government, he added, including a lower demand on public safety. That economic recovery will be sharing time with flood recovery this year, as the city works to acquire 48 homes damaged in 2008. Business assistance programs for flood victims are ongoing, and the city is preparing to administer more than $17 million in grants for lift stations to prevent areas from flooding behind levee walls.

www.wcfcourier.com

•

THE COURIER

Cedar Valley pulls together to be named a ‘Great Place’ By AMIE STEFFEN amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — In 2005, when the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance first applied to be designated one of Iowa’s Great Places, the myriad o rg a n i z a tionshelping Bob Justis to decide on Greater Cedar which proj- Valley Chamber ects to fea- president and CEO ture weren’t completely in agreement. After all, as Greater Cedar Valley Chamber president and CEO Bob Justis will tell you, there’s a lot to be proud of about the Cedar Valley. But since there’s a better prospect of projects in the Great Places application funded by the state, many of the organizations involved naturally wanted to include their own projects. In summer 2008, favoritism was no longer a problem. “Everything changed after the flood,” Justis said. “Then, it became very easy to hone in on those things that were damaged (and) destroyed by that flood.” Francis Boggus, state coordinator for the Great Places Initiative, said the program, part of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, focuses on communities that rally around their diverse organizations. “We are the community development program that encourages — almost mandates — all segments of the community to come up with a vision for the community,” Boggus said. “Communities that are coming together are more progressive. They want to make their place better.” Five projects were selected for the 2009 application, all either affected by record flooding in 2008 or highlighting the Cedar River. They included the Island Park Beach House, Ice House Museum and Washington Park in Cedar Falls; and the Cedar River Boat House and River Renaissance Trail in Waterloo. The full application, available online, frames the narrative as a conversation with a French fur trader named Gervais, the first white settler in the Cedar

“No question, there’s some sizzle to the steak when you can claim to be a Great Place.” Bob Justis Greater Cedar Valley Chamber president and CEO

Valley, according to historical documents. That was the brainchild of Kevin Blanshan, director of transportation and data services with the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments. Blanshan wrote much of the narrative as a trip down the present-day Cedar River with Gervais, who remembered the river of the past. “Since we were focusing on the river, why not have a dialogue and ﬂoat down the river with this guy?” Blanshan said. “It was totally different than what I had done in the past, (and) I had a lot of help.” Last fall, the Alliance presented its proposal to the Great Places Citizens Advisory Board. Though the board includes Waterloo City Councilman Quentin Hart, he excused himself from voting in order to avoid a conﬂict of interest. “(Hart) was obviously one of those people (who) encouraged the Cedar Valley to apply,” Justis said. In October the results came in: After four years of applying, the metro area can now officially be called a Great Place. On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be much to the designation: Signs can be placed by the road, logos can be used in marketing and the projects featured in the Great Places application become slightly more eligible for state funding. But those who worked for it say it’s a huge honor. “I was certainly pleased, not just for me but for our area,” Blanshan said. “I believe we are a Great Place and we should be designated as such. I’m happy for everyone in this area. I think it’s well deserved.” “No question, there’s some sizzle to the steak when you can claim to be a Great Place,” said Justis. “Those are the kinds of things that attract businesses and tourists to a community.”

THE COURIER

•

www.wcfcourier.com

Young at heart By NANCY JUSTIS newsroom@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — Hawkeye Community College is spearheading a national program that helps middle and senior high students become better problem solvers. In partnership with area businesses and the national Project Lead The Way program, nearly 500 students are involved, up from 350 students in the local initiative’s ﬁrst year last year. All but a couple of schools in Hawkeye’s service area — covering 23 school districts in 10 counties — have students participating. PLTW began in the 1980s as a way to increase the quantity and quality of engineers and engineering technologists graduating from higher education institutions. HCC program coordinator John Winter said the purpose behind the initiative has broadened in scope. “PLTW principally is a way for students to better understand and be able to apply math and science principals to problem solving,” he said. “It does this in a program of study that is focused on engineering and engineering technology of various disciplines. It’s an articulated program that includes college-level course work that students as early as ninth grade can take part in, receiving college credit if they meet the academic standards. “What we’re trying to do here is create a balance between the need to get people into those technological ﬁelds and the need to just have people be better thinkers, regardless of whether

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PATH OF PROGRESS

BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

Nate Beyrle, left, discusses the ﬁrst run of a manufactured simulation with his team in the West High intro to engineering design class Jan. 15. they choose engineering or technology as a career ﬁeld. The biggest challenge for kids is this really is collegelevel work. It’s rigorous, and it requires a lot of discipline to keep up.”

STEM schools Recent emphasis in education has focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning programs. The newly constructed George Washington Carver Academy in Waterloo has been designated the state’s ﬁrst STEM school. Though PLTW is not officially linked with STEM, much of the curriculum is similar.

“Hawkeye got involved because (PLTW) is a great way for us to help in facilitating this whole process,” Winter said. “We saw PLTW as a keystone in helping to apply in a practical way our enthusiasm for creating better STEM education in the schools overall. We put the program in place so that we could help enable the schools to provide the ﬁrst level of courses, and then we could provide the levels which are more specialized, requiring more equipment, more facilities and more expertise in the instructors.” HCC has been the point for writing partnership grants and providing the funding

The University of Northern Iowa works to build the reputations of the Cedar Valley and Iowa as places with an exceptional workforce and a high quality of life. We’re pleased to contribute to life in the Cedar Valley. Nearly 500,000 guests attend athletic and non-athletic events at the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center annually. Last year, these visitors consumed: • 21,850 pretzels • 34,000 hot dogs • 7,450 pounds of popcorn • 107,920 20-ounce drinks More than 75,000 guests attend the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center’s Artist Series and the Kaleidoscope Series for Youth annually. UNI Museums reached more than 78,000 people through in-house and outreach programs last year. Thousands of other guests enjoyed performances at the Strayer-Wood Theatre and exhibits at the UNI Gallery of Art. UNI employs approximately 1,850 faculty and staff and more than 4,000 students. Faculty and staff volunteered 299,483 hours to local schools, non-profits and businesses last year.

www.uni.edu

•

PAGE J3

Hawkeye making technology training available to prep students

to bring PLTW to schools. It has aided in identifying teachers, training teachers, helping with in-service work and providing resources to get the program moving. Though many schools do teach early-level classes on site, the four Hawkeye centers, including outreach centers in Waverly, Independence and Grundy Center, are holding classes when schools aren’t. “The ideal model is where four schools, part of the Western Outreach Center — Grundy Center, Aplington-Parkersburg, Dike-New Hartford and GladbrookReinbeck — come together for the second- and/or thirdlevel classes at the Outreach Center after receiving ﬁrstlevel education at their own campuses,” Winter said. In fact, the Western Outreach Center recently was constructed partially for the purpose of hosting these classes. There is a classroom engineered speciﬁcally for PLTW.

Teachers volunteer Classes are elective, and teachers volunteer to add the class load to their responsibilities. Teachers must pass an online exam that qualifies them for a two-week summer training institute. They also need to be certified industrial tech, math or science teachers. Each school must be certified by PLTW. If the school is certified, the students can earn college credits. The state’s Department of Education has a program leader, as do the University of Iowa and Iowa State Universities since they offer engineering majors. HCC is

bringing the University of Northern Iowa into the fold since it offers industrial tech, math and science teaching degrees. The idea is to create a program to qualify UNI students graduating with these degrees who would already qualify to teach the first three courses, saving on future training time, identification and expense. A requirement of PLTW is to recruit partnerships. HCC has chosen to build regional partnerships covering all its districts. About a dozen business leaders have stepped forward, primarily for financial support but also for career networking. “Getting better students out of the high schools into the community colleges and university programs helps businesses get better employees,” Winter said. “First, it increases the strength of the labor pool and second, it makes companies more visible to those graduates — seeing that there is a viable career option for them. In the end, hopefully we can keep these skilled people local.” Do high school students engaged in PLTW score better on exiting exams in math, science and literacy? “In fact, they do,” Winter said. “Research shows that students who graduate from PLTW score even higher

than students who have chosen one of those majors and have taken all the college prep classes. PLTW isn’t meant to take students away from the (traditional) math and science classes, it’s meant to enhance so students see more relevance to those subjects and have more of a desire to take the upper-level classes.” Winter expects further growth in the program. “I see more classes being offered. I see more competition where the students come together and compete with projects. I see more support from the Department of Education. I see industrial tech teachers coming out of UNI already qualified to teach PLTW, reducing financial burdens on the schools. “You don’t have to be in love with technology in order to do problem solving,” he added. “We need to have basic technology literacy in our society that makes people confident to make decisions about what they buy, how they use it — everything from recycling to energy. You can either embrace it and understand it and be a part of it, or be victimized by it. I don’t think there is any middle ground. We want kids to be intelligent and aware and able to participate.”

OPEN AT 7:00 A.M. DAILY

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 232-7660

1415 E. San Marnan Dr. Waterloo - LOCATED BEHIND SHERWIN WILLIAMS -

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

PAGE J4

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com

PATH OF PROGRESS

Rebuilding year By MATTHEW WILDE

The right price Construction of homes in the $200,000 to $300,000 range appears to have much of the early building momentum in 2010, said Ron McCartan, president of the Home Builders Association of Northeast Iowa. “As far as the larger homes, the ones over $400,000, banks are not as free with money as they used to be, so we’re seeing a slowdown in that area,” he said. There also appears to be some construction activity on houses in the $180,000 range, McCartan said. “There’s a lot of those going in in both Cedar Falls and Waterloo,” he said. Don’t expect to see spec homes — houses built before they have buyers — in the near future, McCartan added. “The banks are not big on spec homes right now; they want to see them pre-sold,” he said.

Not a bad year All in all, it has been an acceptable year in the Cedar Valley housing construction business, McCartan said. “I feel fortunate to be in the Cedar Valley to make it through last year,” he said. “I know other areas of Iowa — Des Moines and Cedar Rapids — were much worse than the Cedar Valley. Was it as good as it has been? Probably not. Was it better than other areas? Absolutely.” There isn’t a lot of building activity now, but there

TIFFANY RUSHING / Courier Staff Photographer

Brian Freed, left, and Corey Scott of Freed Construction put the ﬁnishing touches on a roof of a house on William Drive in Waterloo on Jan. 15. are signs of work to come, McCartan said. “There’s a lot of people kicking the tires,” he said. “Hopefully, this spring, they’ll dig a lot of holes. But right now, there’s not a lot of holes out there.” Work has been “steady” so far this year, said Craig Fairbanks, past president of the home builders association and owner of Craig Fairbanks Homes LLC in Cedar Falls. “I think we at least see it staying steady,” Fairbanks said. “There does seem to be some interest out there.” He said the timing is right for new projects because of current government incentive programs for ﬁrst-time buyers, current homeowners looking to “move up” and energy assistance packages that are available. “Quite frankly, it’s just a great time for potential building customers to move forward,” he said. Figures released Jan. 6 show Iowa’s economy improved in November compared to the same month a year ago. The Iowa leading indicators index jumped .4 percent, marking the second month of increases after 18 months of declines. Six of eight indicators were up, including permits for residential housing units at 9.9 percent compared to November 2008.

Besides the economy, building officials say historically low interest rates and tax credits and grants to encourage first-time home buyers and homeowners to upgrade have contributed to the resurgence. First-time home buyers can qualify for an $8,000 tax credit, while people who have owned a home for at least five years can get a $6,500 credit to upgrade. Waterloo is disbursing $1.6 million in state grants to build new houses of about 1,300 to 1,400 square feet — covering the down payment, or up to 30 percent — for first-time buyers and homeowners displaced by the 2008 weather disasters. “I have no doubt it’s helping. Young people are buying and taking advantage of it (credits),” said Craig Witry, Cedar Falls building official. At the midpoint of fiscal year 2009, Witry approved 78 permits for single family homes. At the end of December — the midpoint of fiscal year 2010 — 101 permits had been issued. Construction permits were valued at nearly $53 million for the first six months of FY 2010, Witry said, or $400,000 less during the same time last year. That means commercial building is still down, he said. Cutwright is confident Waterloo will end up writing

THE COURIER

2010 is shaping up to be a strong year for construction industry

matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — 2009 wasn’t a banner construction year in the Cedar Valley, though builders believe hammers will be pounding at a more furious pace in the coming months. Waterloo failed to break the $100 million mark for building projects in fiscal year 2009 for the first time in seven years. Only $74 million worth of permits were issued, according to building official Louis Cutwright. Cedar Falls also reported a decline, writing permits for $86.9 million in construction value for the year ending June 30. Approximately $111.5 million in permits were issued a year ago. Judging by the recent flurry of permit activity and steady calls and office visits to contractors, 2010 is shaping up to be a better year. “I think it’s going to be,” Cutwright said. “Things were down, but we recently issued permits for two large apartment complexes (96 units each). Builders are saying the economy is showing signs of coming out of it (recession). “I talked to my permit specialist (in early January) and he said there were three permits for houses,” he continued. “I said, ‘You have to be kidding.’ January is generally very slow.”

•

about $80 million in permits by June 30, or about $6 million more than FY 2009. Cutwright said downtown Waterloo will be teeming with contractors this spring finishing up Riverfront Renaissance projects and building new businesses. “Waterloo is poised to have a good downtown entertainment center,” he said. Brooke Klunder, president of Klunder Homes Inc. in Cedar Falls, feels conﬁdent enough in the local housing market to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to build

them on spec. It seems to be pretty successful.” Fairbanks, the home builder and real estate broker, believes 2010 will be a good year. He said more people are stopping by the office and checking out his Web site — www.buildbuyorsellhomes.com — lately. Fairbanks said he’s met with four or five couples in the past 40 days to discuss building plans. He expects to build four or five homes this year compared to three in 2009. Many of his clients these days are nearing retirement age. Fairbanks constructs homes geared toward this demographic, with features like no-step entries and wide doorways. “The economy doesn’t affect them (50-plus age group) as much. And they have good homes to sell,” Fairbanks said. “My real estate business has been tremendous.” The inventory of existing homes for sale is low, according to Bob Reisinger, president of the WaterlooCedar Falls Board of Realtors. Normally there are 1,400 to 1,500 homes on the local market compared to about 900 currently. Reisinger said some homeowners reluctant to sell want more confirmation the economy is recovering. He hopes housing tax incentives will encourage more to sell this spring. “Our economy is good, unemployment is good and interest rates are good. All we’re missing is a good selection of homes,” he said. “I think it will get better.

town homes on speculation. The project, which started last year on Greenhill Road, has 108 units. He builds a few at a time, sells them and constructs some more. The local economy, thanks to John Deere and other businesses, remained stronger than other parts of the country during the recession, Klunder said. With interest rates still low — in the 5 to 5.5 percent range — he thinks people will want to spend this spring. Jim Offner, Courier business “People don’t want to miss out,” Klunder said. “I’ll build editor, contributed to this article.

THE COURIER

•

www.wcfcourier.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

•

PAGE J5

Thank you to all of our dedicated employees! The World’s Leading Manufacturer of Boneless Lean Beef! • Established in 1981 • 4 plant locations, including Waterloo, IA • 1,400+ employees • Industry leader • Highly automated with state-of-the-art facilities • Products are found in the majority of all ground beef produced in the United States • Continued expansion and growth at all locations • Encourages promotion from within • Competitive compensation and benefits package • Fast-paced, rewarding careers For more information or to Apply Phone: 319-291-3330 E-mail: hr@beefproducts.com Website: www.beefproducts.com Post offer physical and substance testing required. EOE/AA

PAGE J6

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com

PATH OF PROGRESS

‘Having a riot’ By TINA HINZ

Phantom EFX The company’s slot and casino games for Windowsbased PC systems rose to No. 1 in North America about five years ago. Today, as technology advances, the company has risen to other challenges. While fans can find games for nearly every type of simulation wagering — slots, poker, sports book, bingo, dog racing or horse racing — Phantom EFX has more recently ventured out of its comfort zone. No longer can you simply make a game and put it on a store shelf, Schurman said. Many younger players aren’t buying games from retail stores, but instead are taking advantage of downloadable Web sites. The company also is taking steps to synchronize games for other mediums. Among the past year’s largest accomplishments, Phantom EFX and its Cedar Valley sister company, 8monkey Labs, launched the hit first-person shooter

COURIER FILE PHOTO

Business partners Darin Beck, left, Arron Schurman, Martin VanZee and Danny Stokes were given the title of Gaming Software Company of the Year in Cedar Falls on March 6. game, “Darkest of Days,” in September for both PC and Microsoft Xbox 360 systems. The game took three years to build. The premise of the historically based game involves time travel and someone who’s been messing with events of the past. Gamers have to set the record straight by saving key individuals, thus preserving the future. Hollywood quickly came calling for rights to the story. Schurman can’t disclose details other than to say a producer and writers have been selected for a full feature, worldwide release movie. “It’s going to the studios here fairly quickly,” Schurman said. “They’re even looking at doing it at a pretty big budget. They’re huge people out there. Everybody has heard of these guys’ movies.” Phantom EFX has numerous other recent releases and more projects in the works. Reel Deal Live!, a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, went live during the past year. Millions of dollars was invested in the “virtual Las Vegas,” and tens of thousands of people check it out each month, Schurman said. Teams currently are working on a Las Vegas-themed Facebook application, which will be on the level of FarmVille or Cafe World. They also anticipate their ﬁrst Xbox Live and PlayStation

Network casino application, with the content downloadable through game consoles. During the past year, the company went mobile, releasing applications for iPhone, Google Android and BlackBerry. “What’s going to be cool is all your play, going into the future, is going to be linked together,” Schurman said. “So if you like Reel Deal Live! on the PlayStation, but you also want to play on your computer sometimes, or if you’re waiting for an airplane and you’re playing on your iPhone, it’s not like you have to start over. Everything kind of dumps together. “We’re really trying to step it up with whether you play Facebook, mobile, PC, console — it all fits together,” he added. “There’s really nobody out there doing stuff this advanced.” Having a new facility has been a dream come true and fits where they’re going in the future, said Schurman, who started the company in 1998 with his high school friend Danny Stokes. All music composition, performing, programming, art, voice acting and manufacturing for games is done in-house, so having everyone in the same spot makes things easier. “We had a pretty swank place before, but we couldn’t have done what we’re doing in our older facility and we couldn’t have done it being spread out after the flood,”

IOWA

WALL SYSTEMS, INC. Serving NE Iowa for over 54 years! Complete Plastering, Drywall, Steel Stud, Exterior Insulation Finish Systems

• Remodeling • New Homes Office • Commercial & Residential (319) 296-1663 • Steel Stud Framing • EIFS www.iowawallsystems.com

PROUD TO BE THE DESIGNERS OF THE PFG, BEST NEW HEADQUARTERS

he said. “There’s no way that we’d be able to tackle stringing all these things together, which is obviously very heavy server-based and wireless and all that.”

T8 Webware Arnold, T8’s CEO, wants to grow into the company’s

new space. T8 builds Web presences for about 200 community banks and credit unions to help the smaller banks compete with national ones. The company helps banks with their online bank equity, ability to cross-sell products and services to existing customers and ability to transfer people from other institutions. The company’s sales strategy formerly involved driving to regional banks and visiting with employees there, though staff has since migrated to doing all of its sales over the phone or Internet. This year Arnold would like to broaden its sales coverage to all 50 states instead of cherry picking about half of them. “Selling something that’s $40,000 to $60,000 over the phone is kind of wild,” Arnold said. “It’s not like they aren’t buying things in those other states. We just don’t have people calling there yet.” Despite a tight economy and reserved decisions, nine salespeople were hired in 2009. Nearly three-fourths

of T8’s business comes from financial services, and last year wasn’t a good year to sell to banks. But business seems to be turning around. “The last three months were almost half the sales for the entire year, to put it into perspective how slow the first half of the year was,” Arnold said. “Every bank in the nation wasn’t going to spend 10 cents on coffee, let alone lots of money with us. “We managed our way through it,” he added. “(Banks) were the first group into the recession, but they’re the first group coming out of the recession, so we’re poised to do a lot of growth as the rest of the economy is struggling.” By mid-January, T8 was above quota for the month. If the spike in business continues, T8 will be looking to fill three or four new positions for its sales team this year, including graphic designers and Web programmers. About 30 employees are currently with T8. “We’ve got 11 open seats, so plenty of room to grow,” Arnold said.

Thank You The Waterloo Mayoral race is over, finally, and the list of people to thank is long. So, to my committee, especially Tavis Hall, thank you. To every single person who allowed me to put a sign in their yard, thank you. To every single person who contributed to my campaign, thank you. To every single person who voted for me, thank you. To Reggie Schmitt and to Steve Schmitt for being involved in the process and for stepping up and putting your name on the ballot, thank you. To Steve Schmitt especially, thank you for running a fair and spirited campaign and I am looking forward to your leadership on the City Council. Never has it been more evident in a Waterloo Mayoral election just how important every single vote is, so thank you to every voter who found it important enough to get involved in the process. I am now looking forward to being a mayor for all of Waterloo. Very sincerely, Buck Clark

WATERLOO - WEST DES MOINES 319.234.1515 www.struxture.com

THE COURIER

Phantom EFX, Barmuda Corp. and T8 Webware happily sharing digs at the new Phantom Park

tina.hinz@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — Phantom Park has created a new business culture. In August, Phantom EFX, Barmuda Corp. and T8 Webware moved into a new 54,000-square-foot building at 900 Technology Parkway. The companies vacated their old headquarters at 209 S. Roosevelt St. after it ﬂooded in 2008. They had been split up temporarily, with Phantom EFX and T8 setting up operations in property owned by Mudd Advertising in the Technology Park and Barmuda operating in the River Plaza Building in downtown Waterloo. According to Darin Beck, owner and CEO of Barmuda and owner/partner in Phantom EFX and T8, Phantom Park was created to “allow the companies to grow and be a showcase facility for national and global clients.” And the building has become exactly that. “We’re just having a riot out here,” said Wade Arnold, CEO of T8. “It’s a really fun and energetic place to work.” Beck and Phantom CEO Aaron Schurman make for a great executive team, Arnold added. Having three companies under one roof enables them to capitalize on their synergy. “T8 does some work for Phantom; Phantom does some work for T8 next door,” Schurman said. “It’s just nice. They have different expertise than we have.” All three companies seem unstoppable as they continue to grow.

•

THE COURIER

•

www.wcfcourier.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PATH TO PROGRESS

•

PAGE J7

Western Home expands to reach more seniors ■ Organization ready to welcome wave of baby boomers. By MARY STEGMEIR mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com

RICK TIBBOTT / Courier Staff Photographer

Mary Moothart throws and catches a ball during an exercise class at the Windridge retirement community. The facility is part of the Western Home.

CEDAR FALLS — When the Western Home ﬁrst opened its doors to retirees in 1912, it was ahead of its time. Nearly 100 years later, the organization strives to remain a cutting-edge provider of services for senior citizens. And as the Cedar Valley’s ﬁrst wave of baby boomers starts to move into retirement communities, the Western Home is poised to welcome new residents to its three campuses. “Our progress and our building has been based on the demographics here in Black Hawk county and the surrounding counties,” said Jerry Harris, chief operating officer. “We are trying to offer products and services that are attractive to those folks 55 years and older.” Today, more than 800 people live in Western Home communities, which include assisted-living and skilled

nursing options as well as independent-living apartments, townhouses and villas. The organization also runs a memory-care unit and offers in-home care and companion services. The organization is expanding its Windhaven assisted living facility and upgrading units at the Stanard Family center, which also provides part-time nursing care. New townhouses are being built in the Windcrest community. But meeting the needs of Cedar Valley seniors goes beyond building projects, said Harris. The organization plans to change the way it provides nursing care with “smart homes.” The facilities would house 10 to 15 residents in a homelike environment. “The same staff would take care of those same residents every day,” Harris said. “Instead of staff that do one thing, you would have staff that do everything, just like you would if you were a caregiver for your spouse, or mother or father.” The Western Home also plans to incorporate more

technology to care for seniors. Motion detectors could help staff members keep tabs on residents 24 hours a day, while machines would dispense medications at the same time every day. Two-way video cameras could allow staff members to check in with seniors on a daily basis, a service that would be offered to both residents and retirees who still live in their own homes. “We could communicate every day and respond to the senior’s needs,” he said. “We will continue to build and upgrade our facilities, but we know that there is a movement to help seniors, if they choose, to stay in their homes. “We want to be at the forefront of those new technologies and be able to deliver those new services.” Still, for those who choose to move to a retirement community, Harris wants

to provide the best possible care. In 2004 Dale Halupnik and his wife, Marty, moved into the Western Home’s Windcove complex, a 70-unit apartment building. They choose the facility because it allowed them to keep their independence while leaving the worries of home ownership and upkeep behind. “For me this is stress-free living,” said Halupnik, 75. “For a cardiac patient, that’s pretty important.” The couple also considers their decision a gift to their three adult daughters. “At ﬁrst our kids probably questioned why we were doing this so young, but now I think they are thankful we planned ahead,” said Marty, 72. “We were able to enjoy moving in together and decorating our apartment. We did this together, which is one of the reasons we are so happy here.”

Need it Printed? Leave it to Maas For a quote, give Jim a call at 234-8969

visitthecedarvalley

WATERLOO I CEDAR FALLS

It’s been a fabulous year for tourism in the Cedar Valley! Visitor spending in the county amounted to over $275 million and we have been officially recognized as Iowa’s Tourism Community of the Year, an Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Great Place, and the state’s first Bicycle Friendly Community. 2010 Cedar Valley Visitor Guides are in and we invite you to stop in at the Cedar Falls Visitor Center on Hudson Road or Waterloo’s brand new office at 500 Jefferson Street to pick up a copy. While you’re at it, ask about how we can help you host your next family reunion, hobby convention, business meeting or sports tournament right here in the Cedar Falls, Waterloo area. Thank you to our partners and the wonderful people of the Cedar Valley for making this such a wonderful place to work a, live and visit.

Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau 500 Jefferson St. (800) 728-8431 TravelWaterloo.com

Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitors Bureau 6510 Hudson Rd (800) 845-1944 CedarFallsTourism.org

cedarvalleytourism.org

PAGE J8

â&#x20AC;˘

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PRICE LAB R&D projects may have tough challenges ahead From page J1 school students are free to attend the school. Cedar Falls elementary students living outside the buffer zone would have to pay a â&#x20AC;&#x153;tuitionâ&#x20AC;? amount equal to the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s per pupil aid to attend. Students from surrounding districts who wish to attend the school can open enroll based on their districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy. Wagoner said the policy must help the district achieve a student population that mimics the racial, language and socioeconomic diversity in the state. The team will also work to develop the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategic plan. Wagoner said they are looking to schools like the P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, operated by the University of Florida, and the Downtown School in Des Moines for models. Cedar Falls Superintendent David Stoakes said the team is off to a bit of a slow start â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in part because weather has forced them to cancel a meeting â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but he believes they can make some progress yet this year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The school has real potential to help inform school districts what the latest research says about

www.wcfcourier.com

PATH OF PROGRESS

BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

Alex Pircer created a canvas collection for her student-driven J-term project at Price Lab School.

Stoakes estimates Cedar Falls residents will see a $.24 per $1,000 of taxable property value increase in their taxes when the school officially transitions in 2012. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you take that $.24 and spread it across every taxpayer, then the increase would be miniscule. To me, that is the only way to be ďŹ nancially equitable,â&#x20AC;? Stoakes said. Even the Iowa Association of School Boards has taken a stance against a change in how the lab school is funded. It hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spoken out against the school, but has included concerns about including the institution in the Iowa School Finance Formula on its 2010 Legislative Resolutions.

teaching and learning,â&#x20AC;? est of education and the taxpayers could be an uphill Stoakes said. battle. Rough patches ahead Stoakes believes a research State legislators and the and development school governor have said every- could beneďŹ t the people of thing is on the table as they the state. That is exactly why work to balance the 2011 he thinks all Iowans should budget. Wagoner knows share in the cost of running that this means funding the school and educating Already working Though the transition for the school could be cut, the students. Right now, but she is moving forward and hoping for the best. Currently, the state allocates money to the University of Northern Iowa through the Board of Regents to fund the school. In 2011, funding will begin to follow all students, except from Waterloo, who open enroll into the school. In 2012, the school will completely transition to traditional K-12 school funding. Even with the funding Where your wishes have governed for four generations in place convincing other educators and administrators that the state-approved 1519 W. 4th Street, Waterloo â&#x20AC;˘ 233-6138 guidelines laid out for the www.lockefuneralhome.com school are in the best inter-

isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t complete, Wagoner said the school has wasted no time in living out its mission. This fall the Center for Disability Studies in Literacy, Language and Learning opened inside Malcolm Price Laboratory School. The school also hosted the Characteristics of Effective Instruction workshop for the Department of Education. The event brought about 175 people to the school to learn more about the Iowa Core Curriculum. Each one had the opportunity to spend time in a classroom.

â&#x20AC;˘

Another classroom was set up to live stream video into the Field House where the other half of the participants were able to watch. The North Iowa Cedar League also hosted its annual professional development day at the school this fall, which included about 1,000 teachers from 16 districts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having these events here shows we can do the mission of a research and development school,â&#x20AC;? Wagoner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We intend to shake things up. We just hope others can learn from our trials.â&#x20AC;?

Serving the Community For 65 Years

$79

SUPER TUNE-UP

One Hour is offering a $99 furnace tune-up for only $79! The One Hour technician will examine your system to make sure it is operating safely and efficiently.

($99 VALUE)

Call Now 287-9200 Coupon must be presented at time of service. Cannot be combined with other offers. Offer expires: February 7, 2010. ST2010

Locally Owned for 34 Years!

Complete Transmission Work

Top Name Brands Audio/Video Sales & Service Specializing in Home Theater

Over 30 Years Combined Experience Using The Latest Technology â&#x20AC;˘ Insurance & Warranty Work Welcome â&#x20AC;˘ Auto - Light Truck - 4 x 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s *OD â&#x20AC;˘ Free Diagnosis In Most Cars 2125 Falls Ave. â&#x20AC;˘ All Work Guaranteed â&#x20AC;˘ Front Wheel Drive Specialists Waterloo â&#x20AC;˘ Clutch Replacement

233-7649

Curran Curran Plumbing Inc. Since 1996

O -$% 57 O 1MBTNB 57 O /BWJHBUJPO

O 1SPKFDUJPO 57 O )%57 O .PCJMF 7JEFP

â&#x20AC;˘ Water Heaters â&#x20AC;˘ Remodels â&#x20AC;˘ Repairs Commercial â&#x20AC;˘ Residential

FREE ESTIMATES $PSOFS PG 6OJWFSTJUZ BOE 'MFUDIFS r Serving the Cedar Valley for over 35 years!

THE COURIER

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Plumber Your Friends Callâ&#x20AC;?

319.233.0353

THE COURIER

•

www.wcfcourier.com

PATH OF PROGRESS

Lucky charm By KAREN HEINSELMAN karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com

WAVERLY — The corners of her mouth turned up merely at the mention of the dog’s name. The smile remained as long as Charm, a service dog at the Waverly Health Center, stayed within Violet Haddock’s sight. Physical therapy is much more fun and productive for Violet, age 4, of Shell Rock when the exercise involves Charm, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever. Standing on a raised, pliable surface that resembles half of a sphere, Violet repeatedly throws a stuffed toy down the hall. The game helps Violet, who experiences weakness on her left side, improve her balance, said Leah Thier, a physical therapist and Charm’s handler. More often than not, Charm caught the projectile before it passed over her head. After awhile, the dog with a yellow coat insisted on a brief game of tug-of-war before relinquishing the object. “She just likes to chew on it,” Violet said. Waverly Health Center added animal-aided therapy to its list of services last August. Doctors at the Waverly-based health center donated funds to purchase and train the dog, said Heidi Solheim, director of community relations at the hospital. While a service dog isn’t an essential for tool for physical therapists, it offers physical and emotional beneﬁts to patients, Thier said. “It’s a lot more motivating and interactive and fun for the kids,” Thier said. Adults enjoy the dog, too, she added.

Patient-friendly Charm is just one way the Waverly Health Center is striving to back its commitment to be a patient-friendly facility. Last year,

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

PAGE J9

Waverly Health Center’s therapy dog indicative of patient-centered approach

“We just believe that patients and families are partners in their care, so our delivery model includes them as a part of the team.”

important thing is patient education,” Solheim said.

Electronic records

Mike Trachta chief executive ofﬁcer Waverly Health Center

Waverly Health Center received recognition for their efforts from Planetree, an internationally-recognized nonprofit that works with health care providers to advance patient-centered approaches to care. After working under the Planetree model for six years, Waverly Health Center earned a formal designation last June as a “Planetree Patient-Centered Hospital.” The administration considers the Planetree designation the health center’s crowning achievement of 2009. The honor signifies that the hospital has met a rigorous set of criteria and has fulfilled Planetree principals in areas such as information and education, architectural and interior design, arts and entertainment, social support and spirituality. Efforts to improve facilities, practices and programming continue at the Waverly Health Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital, Solheim said. The process includes considering the needs and wants of health care consumers, said Mike Trachta, chief executive officer of the health center. “We just believe that patients and families are partners in their care, so our delivery model includes them as a part of the team,” Trachta said. Staff at the Waverly Health Center also embrace this philosophy, he added.

•

RICK TIBBOTT / Courier Staff Photographer

Violet Haddock, 4, of Shell Rock, works with physical therapist Leah Thier and Charm, a service dog, in January at the Waverly Health Center. “We want to deliver care in the way we feel is the right way to do it,” Trachta said. Practices and services designed to improve a patient’s hospital experience include the issuing of personal health binders to help

organize medical information and instructions; the availability of volunteers who research patient medical questions, aroma therapy and complimentary massages, Solheim said. “As a Planetree affiliate, the most

In February 2009, the hospital launched its electronic medical records system, a $3.5 million overhaul. The system can alert staff to a patient allergy, for example, and also aids the process of recordkeeping, Solheim said. Instead of having nurses transcribe handwritten notes at the end of a shift, they can enter data electronically as they go, she said. The Waverly Health Center continues to expand its facilities. The hospital opened a walk-in clinic and an observation center last March. This April, the health center plans to open its first hospital-owned, family practice clinic in Waverly. “We know there’s a strong need,” Solheim said. Officials can also measure growth by comparing staff levels. In 2004, the Waverly Health Center counted almost 270 employees, Trachta said. Currently, 385 employees are on the payroll, he said. The Waverly Health Center hasn’t been immune to financial challenges. About a year ago, the hospital faced a decrease in revenue and an increase in bad debt and financial aid requests, which officials associated with a struggling economy. In an effort to pre-empt a projected $700,000 shortfall, administrators implemented a series of cost-reduction strategies. This included closing the hospital’s fitness center and the voluntary reduction of senior management salaries by 4 percent. The strategy apparently worked. “The changes helped get last year into the black,” Trachta said. Six months into fiscal 20092010, things look brighter. The Waverly Health Center is on budget, with a 3 percent positive operating margin, Trachta said.

Cohesion Productions turns out a sharp product By AMIE STEFFEN amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — You may not know about Cohesion Productions, but you’ve likely seen their work. Remember the Holiday Hoopla commercials for Community Main Street? Watched a couple of episodes of the now-defunct reality show “Rally Round the House?” Nodded your head to a music video from Tech N9ne? A Cedar Falls high-definition video production company had a hand in all of it. Cohesion Production’s work over the years has included producing music videos, reality television episodes, local commercials and full-length documentary films. Today, Cedar Falls native Judd Saul, who started the company in 2001, works mostly in commercial lending. Yes, commercial lending. The film business in Iowa isn’t what it used to be, said Saul, and that’s due to the state’s recent film tax credit fiasco. “The whole tax credits thing kind of screwed me pretty bad,” he said. “I lost two feature films: a $5 million comedy, and a $2 million horror film. ... Once they shut it down and the government’s in limbo, it’s harder for investors and producers to want to commit dollars.” Nevertheless, Saul’s still working. Commercial lending and insurance take up most of his time now, but he still works on future projects for Cohesion. He does local commercials for organizations like Community Main Street, Jaynie Mo’s and Alternatives, and continues to plan feature films and documentary projects — though most of the work will be done out of state.

“I just warn people to watch out, ’cause we are gonna be coming out with some weird stuff in the next few years.” Judd Saul founder, Cohesion Productions

“For investors right now — investors that put their money into film — if I don’t move shop (out of Iowa) it’s throwing money away,” Saul said. Saul, the son of PIPAC owners LeaAnn and Greg Saul, went to film school in Florida and started Cohesion after discussing his plans with his parents. After investing in equipment, he began to do lots of work for hire, including the Tech N9ne video, another hiphop project with Prozak and a few episodes of “Rally Round the House.” Saul said being one of the first in Iowa to use high-definition cameras helped him find work, as did interacting with a wide variety of players in the industry. “I get around a lot and meet a lot of weird people — it’s networking, networking, networking,” he said. His first full-length documentary film, “Frag,” which has appeared in numerous film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival in France, delves into the world of professional video gaming. “‘Frag’ was the biggest project we’ve done by far,” Saul said, noting Cohesion was currently “cutting deals” with various distribution services like On Demand, Netflix and Blockbuster. Annette Henninger, an associate producer with Cohesion and Saul’s long-

COURIER FILE PHOTO

Left to right, Frank Bowman, Brian Pratt, Judd Saul and Andy Erickson of Cohesion Productions in Cedar Falls. time assistant, said it’s been fun and informative working at Cohesion. “You see something on TV or in a movie after you actually see how that’s done, (you say), ‘Oh, I know how they did that shot,’” she said. Saul admitted to being “addicted” to producing ﬁlms and said there will be more projects for Cohesion both in and out of Iowa. “It’s a creative, ﬁnancial challenge against time to get things done at the end of the day. You either love it or hate it, but you can’t stop doing it,” he said. “I just warn people to watch out, ’cause we are gonna be coming out with some weird stuff in the next few years.”

PAGE J10

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com

The Beck’s factor By MARY STEGMEIR mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — It’s the start of a new era for Darin Beck’s Barmuda Cos. In 2009, the organization relocated its headquarters to the newly constructed Phantom Park, and opened the Sky Event Centre, Roux Orleans Bourbon Street Grille and the Bourre Lounge in downtown Waterloo’s historic Black’s building. “This really sets the stage for a whole new decade for us,” Beck said. “We opened Beck’s on University on April 1 of 2000 — prior to that we were just the Barmuda Triangle and Bars. “When you think in those terms, the company we were 10 years ago is completely different than the company we are today, and with this new infrastructure that we have, I’m sure the next 10 years will be even more interesting than the last 10.” Today Barmuda operates

•

THE COURIER

Barmuda looking forward to future projects after busy 2009

locations around the Cedar Valley is Darin’s way of saying he believes in the entire Cedar Valley,” said Bob Justis, president of the local chamber of commerce.“He’s demonstrated time and time again that he believes in the whole community.” And just as Barmuda has grown, so has the Cedar Valley. When Beck arrived in Cedar Falls in 1986, the area was is the middle of the decade’s farm crisis. As employers issued layoffs and land prices cratered, entrepreneurs helped rebuild the region’s economy. Today, the community is the picture of economic growth, Beck said. The Cedar Falls and Waterloo downtown areas are attracting new businesses, and bike MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor trails and arts opportunities have improved the region’s Darin Beck, Barmuda founder, inside the new Roux Orleans Bourbon Street Grille. quality of life. 17 restaurants, nightclubs, company Phantom EFX, a Webware. All are based in Many of Beck’s busilounges and event venues. business that has one-third Waterloo-Cedar Falls. nesses were instrumental in Beck also is a one-quarter ownership of Technical “I think that the fact that the conversion, said Sindee owner of the video game Technologies, also called T8 he has so many different Kleckner, executive direc-

tor of Main Street Waterloo. The Black’s building renovation illustrates how historic buildings can continue to serve the community in the 21st century. “People like Darin Beck, who put their money where their mouth is, make visions come true,” Kleckner said. “That’s an asset that doesn’t compare to anything else — buildings, TIFF districts … none of that matters without people who are willing to invest in their community.” This spring, another Beck’s restaurant and bar will open in Cedar Falls. The company hopes to be selling franchises outside the area by the summer. But Beck says he remains committed to serving the Cedar Valley. “Twenty years ago we were the armpit of the state, and today we’re kind of the model community of rebuilding,” he said. “It think that can be attributed to the people here, and it feels good to be a part of that.”

PFGBest CEO Wasendorf sprints through 2009 By JENS MANUEL KROGSTAD jens.krogstad@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — After 30 years of expansion, acquisitions and yes, marathons, Russ Wasendorf shows few signs of slowing. Amid the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, 2009 turned out to be a banner year for the 61-year-old founder, chairman and chief executive officer of PFGBest. Wasendorf has fearlessly defied conventional wisdom throughout his career. As financial groups racked up huge profits in the high-flying early 2000s by collecting interest on their customers’ money, the Cedar Falls native saw a flawed business model. He directed his brokerage firm, founded in 1980, to build profits on modest transaction fees. The key to a healthy bottom line: Use technology to enable millions of transactions. When the Federal Reserve lowered the nation’s interest rate to zero in late 2008 — collapsing the profits of many competitors — PFGBest, formerly Peregrine Financial Group, swooped in to pick over the remains. In the past year, the company has acquired two brokerage firms, including its largest competitor, Chicagobased Alaron Trading, and a financial book publisher. Wasendorf said he plans to

MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Staff Photographer

Russ Wasendorf, CEO and sole shareholder of PFGBest, stands outside his company’s building. move the publishing house, Traders Press, from South Carolina to Cedar Falls, where he bought a warehouse in the city’s industrial park. “By pure happenstance, we came into this ﬁnancial crisis fairly well capitalized. Therefore, not only did we feel we could ride through the crisis and recession, but we thought it would provide

us with some opportunities to acquire some weaker firms that would fill in some of the gaps in our firm,” Wasendorf said. Wasendorf also opened My Verona, a restaurant in downtown Cedar Falls, and gave $2 million to University Northern Iowa’s athletic program. Even Wasendorf’s highest profile accomplishment

this year proved unconventional. Not only did he shift his company’s headquarters from Chicago, the Midwest’s ﬁnancial capital, to a small Iowa college town, the $18 million glimmering glass, steel and cement building is unlike any in the Cedar Valley. Environmentally friendly construction materials and methods were used in nearly

every aspect of the 50,000square-foot, two-story structure built on a 26-acre site neighboring Beaver Hills Country Club. “We set out to create a desirable building. By that I mean desirable to the employees, desirable to the environment, desirable to the location, desirable to the community,” Wasendorf said.

A Romanian construction company owned in part by Wasendorf provided inspiration for the modern design. In areas of Europe, commercial office buildings by law must provide natural light to at least 95 percent of employees. The long and narrow building allows for abundant windows, a feature Wasendorf said has helped increase worker productivity. Construction minimally disturbed the surrounding 60-year-old woods, and oak trees tower only feet from workers’ offices. Built into a hill, passers-by can’t spot the building from a distance, leaving the natural landscape undisturbed. Not surprisingly, most neighbors are pleased. “I think it’s a beautiful building. There are pine trees in the parking lot, and lots of large oak trees. It looks different than anything else in the area,” said Chad Hoffman, general manager of Beaver Hills Country Club. With so much accomplished in 2009, Wasendorf said he looks forward to expanding his company further. But he has put on the brakes in one area. After running 10 marathons, he has down-shifted to triathlons. He’s now training for a half ironman in Orlando, Fla., in May. “I don’t know why I don’t slow down,” he said.

TechWorks bringing virtual reality to Cedar Valley high schools By ANDREW WIND andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com

WATERLOO — Advanced technology being used everywhere from medical ﬁelds to manufacturing industries may someday be a reality in Cedar Valley classrooms. Cedar Valley TechWorks is partnering with the Waterloo and Cedar Falls school districts to create virtual reality laboratories on its developing campus and in three high schools. Virtual reality creates computer-simulated threedimensional environments used for a wide variety of purposes. The John Deere Product Engineering Center donated a full-room virtual reality system to TechWorks that was originally valued at more than $4.5 million. TechWorks is seeking grant funding to install the system at its downtown campus and purchase introductory virtual reality equipment for use in computer labs at Cedar Falls, East and West high schools.

“It just opens all kinds of doors. It’s exciting. Both superintendents were responsive.” Cary Darrah TechWorks’ general manager

TechWorks is being developed as a regional innovation center that will provide space for start-up businesses researching and creating bio-based products. But organizers saw an opportunity to involve students in their efforts with the virtual reality donation. “We began this project because we realized the importance of virtual reality understanding for our high school and middle school students, and how it can help them with problem solving in a different way,” said Cary Darrah, TechWorks’ general manager. “It just opens all kinds of doors, it’s exciting. Both superintendents were responsive.” She described the equipment to be purchased for

the three schools as “table top” models that use software downloaded for free from the Internet. “It will be a pretty scaled-back version, but it will contain enough information to get people hooked on the possibilities.” Students would work on school-based equipment and then have opportunities to use the virtual reality lab at TechWorks. Along with the lab’s educational focus, Darrah said it could be used by the start-up businesses that move into TechWorks to expand or enhance their products. Eventually, the equipment could become available to other schools as well as students at Hawkeye Community College and the University of Northern Iowa. School district and TechWorks officials looked at the example of East Marshall High School, one of eight school systems across the state that have virtual reality technology. “They’ve had a VR system in place for several years,” said Darrah, locat-

ed in a room that holds no more than 12 to 15 students. The school’s system came through a donation from the Mayo Clinic with the help of Rockwell Collins engineer Jack Harris. Darrah said East Marshall’s system is being used in a variety of classroom settings, often to help students “visualize things that are hard to comprehend.” For example, classes have used the equipment to show students a three-dimensional model of a heart that they can walk through and trace blood circulation patterns. Cedar Falls Superintendent David Stoakes said “whenever you can look at something in three dimensions, whether it’s a cell or other organ of the body,” it’s better than when you see it “on a flat piece of paper.” Stoakes has worked with Darrah on developing the partnership between TechWorks and the school districts. He sees a lot of benefit for the schools in the virtual reality laboratory. “I think the benefits are two-fold,” said Stoakes.

“First, that we expose our students to technologies that they’re currently not exposed to. We’re always looking for ways to bring advanced technologies to our students. He said other Iowa schools that have used virtual reality technology are ﬁnding that students learn more quickly and have longer retention when it is incorporated into the course content. In East Marshall, Darrah said the virtual reality lab has boosted students’ interest in engineering and technology careers. The lab is used with a project-based curriculum that encourages students to problem solve more effectively in workplaces that rely heavily on technology. TechWorks needs $500,000 to set up its lab and purchase equipment for the schools, part of its $10.42 million ﬁrst phase of development. Installing and upgrading the virtual reality lab at TechWorks will cost $215,000 plus another $220,000 to prepare space for the equipment. The high

school equipment would cost $15,000. Start-up operations for the ﬁrst year would cost $50,000. “I guess for us the challenges are to identify the funding,” said Darrah. “These aren’t huge expenses or huge acquisitions.” “We’re looking at a couple of funding options now,” said Stoakes. Among those are the U.S. Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation Fund and the National Science Foundation. “Getting the VR system in the schools is very minimal compared to the entire project,” said Darrah. Supporters may develop public-private partnerships to purchase the school equipment before any grant funding comes through. While TechWorks won’t rely on the schools for operational funds at the beginning stage, she said sustaining the program may require districts to take part in those costs. “It will be a creative funding stream that is identiﬁed to get this done,” said Darrah.

progress edition Standing at a crossroads

K1 SUNDAY JANUARY 31, 2010

WATERLOO www.wcfcourier.com CEDAR FALLS

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Quakerdale Breaking down walls ... Changing Lives! www.quakerdale.org

McGregor Furniture Co.

Bloom Mfg., Inc.

Meyers Nursery

Hydraulic Cable Winches.

We are a Family Business Everything you love about Serving the Cedar Valley Visit our website: home. for 87 years. www.bloommfg.com 2410 Crossroads Blvd. Waterloo 319-234-7575 1443 220th St., Independence 1685 Independence, Waterloo www.mcgregorsfuniture.com 319-232-3954 319-827-1139

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Black Hawk Hotel Nat’l Reg. Historic Places Distinctive Accomodations Best of the Best 2009 Best Hotel in Cedar Valley www.blackhawk-hotel.com 115 Main, C.F. 277-1161

Jerald Sulky Co. 3050 Wagner Rd. Waterloo, Iowa 234-6195

National Cattle Congress 257 Ansborough Ave. nationalcattlecongress.com Celebrating our Centennial Birthday September 16th - 19th

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 The Courier

Palace Clothiers

WATERLOO CEDAR FALLS

It’s you the customer who makes us successful, Thank you.

W. Park Ave. & Commercial

Waterloo 234-7537 Cedar Falls 266-1958 www.palaceclothiers.com

The Sinnott AGENCY, INC. Bill, Steve, Tom and Dan Sinnott Insurance and Financial Services 622 West 4th St., 233-6103

:&"34

National Cigar Store Rainbow Florists and Greenhouses Your Complete Newsstand Featuring quality pipes, cigars, tobaccos, and liquor 617 SYCAMORE, W’L0O 234-5958

2005 Westﬁeld Ave. Waterloo 319-234-4635

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 :&"34 FOUNDED IN 1862

Richardson Funeral Home 615 Main St., C.F. 266-3525 Noble-Brown-JungKunzNelson-Richardson

Woolverton 6714 Chancellor Dr. Cedar Falls, IA 800-670-7713

Hudson Printing Co Waterloo Mills Co. Publishers of the Hudson Herald 988-3855

“Helping You Move Forward”

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Matt Parrott & Sons Co.

Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home

• PRINTING/FORMS • OFFICE • SUPPLIES/FURNITURE Waterloo and Cedar Rapids

Denver, Readlyn, Shell Rock, Waverly 319-352-1187 www.kaisercorson.com

Viking Pump, Inc. A Unit of IDEX Corp. Manufacturers of positive displacement rotary pumps. 266-1741 406 State Cedar Falls www.vikingpump.com

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 YMCA “We Build Strong Kids, Strong Families and Strong Communities” 669 S. Hackett Rd. 233-3531

Denver Savings Bank

Western Home Communities

“Better People Mean Better Banking”

Fullﬁlling Lifestyles for Seniors

www.bankdsb.com Denver, IA 984-5635

420 E. 11th St. Cedar Falls 277-2141

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Edward Jones

MH Equipment

Making Sense of Investing J. Robert Mundell 319-236-8546

Full Serv. Forklift Dealer Parts/Service Sales/Rental of Hyster Forklifts.

211 E. San Marnan Dr. Waterloo, IA 50702

829 Westﬁeld

235-7035

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Black Hawk Mutual INSURANCE ASSOCIATION

Black Hawk Electric

Providing Farm and Home Insurance for Black Hawk and adjoining counties.

Waterloo’s Oldest Electrical Contractor

Hwy. 63 and Eldora Rd. Hudson 988-4101

PDCM Insurance Locally Owned Since 1916

1507 Commercial 233-3387

3927 University Ave. Waterloo, Ia 50701 234-8888

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Bremer Co. Mutual Ins.

Cedar Valley Bank & Trust

Insuring, Protecting and Investing in N.E. Iowa since 1875

Member FDIC 321 Main St., La Porte City 319-342-2850 405 W. 3rd St., Vinton 319-472-2930 www.cedarvalleybank.com

111 1st Ave. S.E. Waverly 352-1863

John Deere WATERLOO OPERATIONS

3105 Airport Blvd. Waterloo, IA 50703 800-537-1193 www.waterlootent.com

Serving Iowans w/com’l real estate loans/investments since 1906. 3346 Kimball Ave., Waterloo 236-3334

Wapsi Valley

Creamery, INC. Builders of Special Machines and General Machine Work. Since 1906 ... looking forward to another 100 years. 206 Edwards, Waterloo Mark Nielsen, President 233-3918 300 10th St. N.E. Independence 334-7193

HWY. 63 SOUTH WATERLOO, IA 234-6615

Cardinal Construction, Inc.

Carpenter’s Local 678

“Build with the Best”

1638 Central Ave. Dubuque, IA 563-582-8521

Recovery Service 9716 University Ave. Cedar Falls, IA 277-3802

Wobbeking Tjernagel INSURANCE Complete Insurance Since 1920 2920 Falls Ave. Wloo, IA 50701 319-235-6719

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Michael Painting Levi Bros. Jewelers AND DECORATING CO. Painting and Decorating Quality Since 1895 1008 JEFFERSON 232-3755

“JEWELERS SINCE 1908” 306 E. 4th, Waterloo 233-6951

Farnsworth Electronics “Electronic Parts Distributors” 201 E. MULLAN 234-6681

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Plumbers & Pipe Fitters LOCAL 125 Raymond Dochterman Business Manager Jack Good-Organizer 1695 Burton Ave. Waterloo - 233-7551

Fereday Heating and Air Conditioning Always Dependable, Honest Services & Fair Prices 1010 BROADWAY 233-8411, 268-9110

Since 1939 232-5927 or 232-1747

Farm, Fleet, Industrial Contractor Lubricants 1-800-475-4645

Martin Brothers DISTRIBUTING CO., INC.

Regal Plastic Supply

“There goes Martin”

1310 Grandview Avenue Waterloo, IA 50703

Specializing in Commercial and Residential Renovation

406 Viking Rd., Cedar Falls

319-233-9000

1405 Center St., C.F. 266-2598

117 Industrial Drive Evansdale 232-8757

:&"34

Petersen & Tietz Waterloo Kennel Club

Schuck Realty Co.

City and National Employment

Answers your Dog and Dog Breed questions. Classes start soon. Dog Show in W’loo April 24 and 25 277-6194

Short’s Travel Management Professionally Serving Iowa Since 1946

SINCE 1950. REAL ESTATE OUR ONLY BUSINESS

People who “WORK” for you!! One call does it all!!

Waterloo, Kansas City, and the nation

www.schuckrealtyco.com PARKERSBURG 346-1364

221 E. 4th, Waterloo 232-6641

:&"34

Bowers Masonry, Inc.

Evansdale Pharmacy

Waterloo, Iowa

“For all your healthcare needs.”

800 W. Parker

220 W. Hoover, Denver 984-5602

234-1753

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 BDI-Bearing Service Co.

Residential and Commercial Glass and Custom Mirror World Class Since 1925 World Wide Owners: Ronald & Judy Burr 1826 Black Hawk St. 1417 Falls Ave., W’loo Waterloo, IA 319-234-6845 234-5509

Lister Concrete PRODUCTS

Manatt’s Inc.

Concrete Steps Custom Steel Handrails Septic Tanks 2116 Commercial Waterloo 232-4727

84 W. Mullan Ave., W’loo 234-6122

Stoner Radiator

UAW Local 838

:&"34 Cedar Valley Culligan

Young PLUMBING & HEATING CO.

:&"34

Van Meter Industrial, Inc.

Schumacher Elevator

Sales/Service Freight pasFull Color Com’l Printer senger and home elevators Electronic Pre-Press One Schumacher Way, Direct Mail Specialists Denver 800-779-5438, 984-5676 316 W. 5th, W’loo 234-8969 schumacherelevator.com

Dunkerton Co-op

:&"34 employee-owned Farm and Ranch Management, Real Estate and Ag Services company since 1929. www.farmersnational.com

:&"34

See Us For Your Block, Brick, and Landscaping Needs. 110 Dunham Pl. 233-8421 www.marquartconcrete products.com

Owners: Andy Miller and Chuck Schulte 232-4535

3 Generations of Fine Floristry 410 5th Street NW, Waverly 352-1910/1-800-473-1910 www.eckersﬂowers.com

“1937-2010”

Grin & Grow Day Care

Your one source for sucQuality Childcare cessful business facilities. Scholarship available www.kirkgross.com United Way Agency 4015 Alexandra Dr., W’loo 1407 Independence 291-2424 234-6641 608 W. 4th St. 236-2063

:&"34

Roth Jewelers

Shawver Well Co., Inc.

SPECIALISTS IN DIAMONDS (Established 1937) AND FINE TIME PIECES Water well, Geothermal drillling Farm, Home, Municipal 229 E. 5th, Downtown W’loo Free Estimates Fredericksburg, Dyersville, Waukon 800-568-4449

Where your wishes have governed for four generations. 1519 West 4th., W’loo 233-6138

2225 Lincoln Street Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-277-5900

:&"34 :&"34

315 Park Rd., Waterloo 233-9111

:&"34

Jewell’s Body Shop

Stetson Bldg. Prod., Inc.

Frickson Bros. Excavating Family Owned Bob Frickson, owner Specializing in sewers, waters, basements and demolition. 235-0080

Ethel, Steve and Jim Jewell

We are committed to products and service which exceed our customers expectations. 236-5074 305 N. Evans Rd., 320 W. 18th, W’loo Evansdale (next to City Hall) 233-4407 www.stetsons.com

:&"34

Peoples Appliance Louise Montgomery Advanced Systems, DDS Inc. Amana • Maytag Tappan • Frigidaire Brad-Fred-Morris Adam Morris

Quality Care One Patient At A Time

451 LaPorte Rd., W’loo 232-0140

1010 Mitchell Ave., Waterloo 319-232-5096

We Sell the Best and Repair the Rest

Andy’s Plumbing & Heating, Inc. 4435 TEXAS St. 296-3050

:&"34

From 1957-2010 2945 Airport Blvd. W’loo 232-6621 www.asiowa.com

:&"34

Nichols Home Community Foundation Improvement Center of NE Iowa Helping you help and Coutertop Shop 3311 Lafayette Rd. 319-232-8588

your community. For good. For ever. 319-287-9106 www.CFNEIA.org

:&"34

Rapids Dalton Family Management, Reproductions, Inc. Plumbing & Heating 58 Years of Delivering Inc. In Business Since 1949 Cedar Falls 266-3513 or Waterloo 234-2150 5536 Nordic Dr., C.F.

Manpower Contemporary Working 1004 Decathalon Dr., Waterloo 233-8473

:&"34 :&"34 Locke Funeral Home

Taking care of your furry friends for 59 years. 1799 Ansborough, W’loo 234-7511

725 Center, C.F. 266-2641

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Kirk Gross Co.

Pawsitive Pet Care Grosse Steele Co., Drs. Reilly, Kneeland Inc. and Keller

Full service Residential and Commercial Builder www.ramker.com builders@ramker.com 352-4286

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Ecker’s Flowers & Greenhouses

:&"34

“Best Darned Ribs in Town...

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Frederick Furniture

:&"34

3506 Lafayette Rd., Evansdale 233-3395

Serving the Metro Area for 62 Years

:&"34 :&"34 Pioneer Graphics

59 Years in Business Concrete, paving brick, block 233-0168

Benton’s Ready Mix D&K Hickory House Ramker Construction Concrete, Inc. & SUPPLY, INC. Family Owned Since 1952

:&"34 :&"34

Treating your water since 1936. Locally owned by Serving the community Kevin and Susan Gillett. and industry for 83 years. “Your Choice for Comfort” 7th and Commercial, W’loo 24 hr. Emergency Service 750 S. Hackett Rd., W’loo on all brands 232-6861 319-234-4411 207 Ansborough 235-0351

Iowa Business Machines

Ready Mix

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

Fred Rewoldt and Martha New heaters, gas tanks and “We celebrate the past, we Bockholt Rewoldt started the radiators. Heater-air cond. cherish the present and we - gas tank, radiator repair, challenge the future” bank in Feb., 1926 Recoring. We sell new and FDIC. No Service Charge 2615 Washington St., used radiators. www.frederikabank.com Waterloo Frederika, IA 319-275-4301 724 Jefferson 235-9529 319-233-3049

:&"34

Wedding cakes-Decorated Cakes, Cookies, Mufﬁns

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

allenhospital.org

125 Courier St. Waterloo 319-235-9313

:&"34

Paul G. Christensen Constr.

6521 Production Dr. 277-5520 www.bossard.com

“Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things”

4017 UNIVERSITY 234-0344

Huff Contracting, Inc.

“We Mend Your Shorts” 24 Hr. Emergency Calls

:&"34

Sony • Bose

:&"34

Containerboard Packaging and Recycling

Standard Glass Company

New and Used Forklifts, Parts, Service All Brands, Rentals 2950 West Airline Hwy., Waterloo 319-235-6741

:&"34

Intelligent Solution for High Productivity

:&"34

Big River Don’s TV Maximum Equipment Co., Inc. Sight and Sound

820 W. 5th St., Waterloo 232-8154

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Ottsen Oil Co.

:&"34

All types of professional coatings. 4357 Texas St., W’loo 319-296-2728 www.mcelmeelpainting.com

515 Main Downtown C.Falls 266-3535 www.SimpsonFurniture.com

“The Heart Of Your Healthcare”

Innovation to Design Professionals 6201 Chancellor Dr., C.F. 319-277-5538 www.rapidsrepro.com

Financial Credit Counseling Roger Goldsberry-Director Janet O’Connell-Counselor Katy Hackett-Counselor 1409 W. 4th, W’loo 234-6695

:&"34

Aikey Auto Salvage OVERHEAD DOOR Inc. CO. OF WATERLOO Owned and Operated by the Moore Family Since 1957

1524 Independence Ave. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 266-4763/800-722-4763 For All Used Parts Needs.

800 Commercial 233-0471

:&"34

Petersen Hudson Allen Glass Co., Inc. Iowa Wall Systems, Hdwe. Inc. Plumbing & Heating Owners: Don and Matt

Int. and ext. Plastering, Nolting Family Owned and Operated Drywall and Metal Stud Tom Petersen, Owner Framing. Painting and Commercial Doors/Windows 520 Main St. 988-3231 Staining. 296-1663 Glass Replacement 800-296-0594 4601 CRESTWOOD DRIVE 1620 JEFFERSON 303 Main,Reinbeck 345-6427 www.iowawallsystems.com 232-0461

:&"34

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

:&"34

Varsity Cleaners

University Book and Supply

Smitty’s Tire & Appliance

Stickfort Electric

• Full shirt laundry service • Dry Cleaning • Shirt Laundry • Alterations • Drapes and More 216 W. 11th, Waterloo 233-3571 www.varsitycleaners.com

:&"34

Carney Alexander Prairie Construction Co. Marold & Co., L.L.P., CPAs

Commercial, Industrial, Institutional Construction 321 W. 18th St., W’loo 233-2669

“We’re the People Store”

Denver Electric

The Rasmusson Co. Marquart Concrete PRODUCTS Towing and

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

800 Waterloo Building Waterloo, IA 232-5400

www.acefogdallrv.com Hwy. 20 and 58, C.F. 277-2641

Iowa Securities Schoitz Farmers National Co. Service Rooﬁng Co. Since 1936 INVESTMENT CORP. Engineering, Inc. The Nation’s largest

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Iowa Custom Machine

Serving the Traveling Public Since 1933

:&"34

Wilber Auto Body Simpson Furniture Johnson’s Bakery McElmeel Painting & Line Bakery & Salvage and Floor Coverings SweetA Full DECORATING Goods, Bread, Buns

Fine Home Furnishings Your full service fertilizer, Est. March 1918. Tractor “Selling today’s technology and Floor Coverings grain and precision Cab & assembly operations the old-fashioned way.” Grundy Center Ag Center. • Svc. • Parts • Drivetrain iowabusinessmachines.com 319-824-5235 Operations-Product Eng. 1009 Decathalon Dr., W’loo Toll Free 1-800-827-1613 Dunkerton Ctr. Engine Works Foundry 235-0346 800-545-3383 www.FrederickFurniture.com 822-4201

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Waterloo Tent & Tarp Co, Inc.

Fogdall R.V.

International Paper

General Sheet Metal Superior Welding SUPPLY CO. “CUSTOM FABRICATION” 217 Rath, Waterloo Ph. 234-5428 Fax 234-5026

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

Bossard

Farmers Savings Bank

151 combined years of family auctioneering. “Since 1914” www.hilpipre.com Cedar Falls 235-6007

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Formerly Schuerman’s Phillips 66 Serving Automotive Needs Since 1945 1505 West 1st, C.F. 277-5343

Allen Hospital

The Powers

Hilpipre AUCTION CO.

131 Tower Park Dr., Suite 100, Waterloo www.cbejobs.com

Commercial • Industrial • Residential Interior • Exterior • Spray Paintings • Paper Hanging • Vinyl Wall Coverings 1010 Upton Ave., Waterloo 319-234-7225

Schuerman Auto Repair

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 :&"34

:&"34

Complete and Accurate Mfg. Co. Records and Complete 1340 Sycamore 233-6118 Closing Services. Supplying America’s Finest 291-4000 Quality Special Order www.blackhawkabstract.com Athletic Uniforms 614 Sycamore, Waterloo

The CBE Group, Inc. Modern Painting, Inc.

Florists & Greenhouses “Design With 2050 Mitchell Ave., A Magical Touch” (at Highway 218 and I-380) 234-7756 800-772-2045 2275 Independence, W’loo 234-6883 1-866-280-4084 family owned and operated www.petersenandtietz.com

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

Black Hawk County Abstract & Title

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

500 E. 4th St., Ste. 300 233-3318

Midwest Pattern Co. Warren Transport, Inc. Wood, Metal and Plastic Patterns

1009 W. 23rd St. Cedar Falls 266-7581 Shop online: www.panthersupply.com

Full CAD/CAM Services and Laser Digitizing 84 W. 11th St., W’loo 319-232-7993

Waterloo-Warren Transport’s Home

Same Day Service And Delivery

210 Beck Ave., W’loo 233-6113

6912 University, C.F. 268-0491

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Blue Line MOVING & STORAGE, INC AGENT: United Van Lines 5614 Nordic Dr., Cedar Falls 266-3591 800-728-3591 www.bluelinemoving.com

Peterman and Haes WBC Mechanical Carpet One Floor and Home 4003 University, W’loo 233-6131 www.carpetone.com

More Years In Business on next page.

1801 Falls Ave. Waterloo, IA 319-233-6101

Full Service Electrical Contractors Since 1957 201 E. 22nd St. Cedar Falls 266-5438

:&"34

Art Carter and Son C.F. Lutheran Home Electric Enchancing lives through Residential and Commercial Wiring

a commitment to individualized care in a home empowered by God’s love.

725 Adams St., W’loo 319-232-9808

7511 University Ave. 319-268-0401 www.cﬂh.org

progress edition Standing at a crossroads

K2 SUNDAY JANUARY 31, 2010

WATERLOO www.wcfcourier.com CEDAR FALLS

:&"34 :&"34 D & J Oil Co. Home Fuel Delivery Contractor • Industry • Farm Fuel • Oils • Lubricants • Competitive Prices • Family Owned 1145 W. Donald St., W’loo 319-234-6286

:&"34

Goodwill Industries Kramer Sausage Co. of Northeast Iowa Wholesale-Retail “Our business works so people can” 2640 Falls Ave., Waterloo 234-4626

:&"34 :&"34

Custom Processing

:&"34 Municipal Pipe Tool Co., LLC Sewer Maintenance and Rehabilitation Contractors

322 Main St., La Porte City 515 5th St., Hudson, IA 50643 342-2693 319-988-4205 www.KramerSausage.com

:&"34

Hawkeye Alarm Magellan Midstream Dave Bartlett Parkview Nursing AND SIGNAL CO. PARTNERS CONSTRUCTION, INC. and Rehab Iowa’s Oldest UL Listed Burglar Alarm Company 16 River Rd., W’loo 232-0490

5360 Eldora Rd. Waterloo, Iowa 50701 (319) 988-3269

:&"34 :&"34

Specializing in Remodeling, Additions and New Home Construction Call Dave with Conﬁdence 268-9501

:&"34

Our PRIDE is Our CARE

:&"34

Mead Construction Co., Inc.

Weber’s Cycle Center YAMAHA • HONDA • TRIUMPH

New Homes, Additions and Remodeling New Hartford, IA 319-983-2243

www.weberscycle.com 809 ANSBOROUGH 235-6703

:&"34

Ray Mount Wrecker Service 829 Sycamore Street Waterloo 232-4444

:&"34

SNOW PLOWS TRUCK & TRAILER PARTS 4537 Texas St. 296-1363

:&"34 Lander German Shepherds Puppies for Sale Year Round Black/Tan and Black 13273 Jay Ave., Greene 641-823-4747

Fish-Johnson Insurance 1215 W. 4th 319-233-3335 Call Us First!

:&"34 Harris Cleaning Service Family Owned and Operated Since 1960 Fred J. Harris Brian-Tim-Ronda Waterloo, IA 235-6647

K&S

Specialists in the Art of Travel 277-2202 125 Main St. Cedar Falls

The Business Service Built • Motor Homes • Travel Trailers • 5th Wheels www.painesrv.com 190 Plaza Dr. 234-3039

1216 Commercial, W’loo 235-1463 www.milroystuxedos.com

:&"34

Silver Spur Saddle Shop

Gary’s Body Shop Ski-doo & Can-Am ATV

“One of the Largest Dealers Your Full Service Western in the Midwest” Store 1704 1st St. West 3574 W. Shaulis Rd., W’loo Independence 988-4539 319-334-3731

“Making your home beautiful is what we do best.”

Town & Country HOME IMPROVEMENT

Supplying Over 300 Midwest Locations

Murphy’s Auto Service, L.L.C Since 1969 414 East 7th Street 319-234-9752

105 BMC Dr., Elk Run Heights 319-833-7648

A.L. Buseman Industries ALSO Kesley Welding & Farm Equipment Kesley, IA Serving Farmers for 47 Years 319-347-6282

:&"34

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Euchner Tool Co., Inc. MACHINES, TOOLS AND CABINETS

Still under the same management Larry Ayers 422 13th Ave., Gilbertville 296-1464 827-6133

3731 Kimball Ave., W’loo 319-232-1143

:&"34

1107 Technology Parkway Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 266-0161

Full line dinner and sandwiches 2719 Center St., C.F. 277-1508

Waterloo • Grundy Center Independence • Waverly 319-272-2002 800-617-1972 www.cvhospice.com

:&"34

493-4000

Sash Auction Company

Hoffman & Hoffman Rubber Trenching, Inc. Development, Inc.

:&"34

Cunningham Construction

“We Are Right There With You” 6301 University Ave. Cedar Falls (319) 277-3033

:&"34

Newport & Short Peoples Community Carl Schuler Masonry HEALTH CLINIC, INC. PLC Construction Co. 905 Franklin, W’loo

“More Than You Can Imagine” hawkeyecollege.edu 319-296-HAWK Waterloo 277-7603 Cedar Falls

:&"34

It’s The Home Of Your Dreams It’s a Wausau Home Waverly 319-352-1013

:&"34

Europa Cycle & Ski Headquarters for Your Bicycling and Crosscountry Skiing Needs 4302 University Ave., C.F. 277-0734 www.europacycle.com

Windsor Nursing John Deery Motors AND REHAB CENTER Nissan • GMC • Lincoln

4325 University Ave. 319-277-1210 www.holdimanmotor.com

For Your Rehabilitation • Mercury • Saturn Needs. “We’re There When www.deery.com You Need Us” 6823 University, Cedar Falls 2305 Crescent Dr., C.F. 277-6200 319-268-0489

:&"34

:&"34 Mad Hatter Brake & Mufﬂer

Cedar Falls Mobile Home Village

Cedar Bend Humane Society

“We are committed to Now your complete building providing humane care, supply & hardware center educating the community Quiet Park-New/Used Sales Rod Cordes-Larry Willmsand advancing the cause of 1 mile W. of the UNI-DOME Curt Johnson kindness to animals.” 266-6093 635 Main St.,Dike 1166 West Airline Hwy. cfmobilehomevillage.com 319-989-2222 319-232-6887

1134 220th St. Jesup

Cole Photography

319-827-1463

:&"34

Norby’s Farm Fleet Custom Auto Sales Manchester • Oelwein OF IOWA INC. • Independence • W. Union

Watco Construction, Inc. 2920 Texas St. Waterloo, IA 319-233-7481

Aspro, Inc.

3613 TEXAS ST. WATERLOO, IOWA 319-232-6537

525 E. 18th St. Cedar Falls 232-7721

All Car Transmission Quality and Service You Can Depend On All Work Guaranteed 407 E. Mullan, W’loo 235-6300

Chase Auto Quality used auto parts 1041 Shefﬁeld Waterloo, IA 234-2445

Automotive Service Solutions

Christie Door

Harmony House

Bertch Cabinet Mfg.

Ph. 319-296-2987

Grant Insurance Agency

Health Care Ctr. Proviging individuals with the 112 W. Bremer Ave. opportunity to succeed. Waverly, IA 50677 Barbara Murphy-Administrator 352-1211 2950 W. Shaulis R. jgrant@thewebunwired.com 234-4495

:&"34

Iowa Fence Masters “Know The Company That Knows Fences”

Harwood LAWN GROOMING, INC.

3927 W. Airline Hwy. Waterloo 234-7320

Lawn renovation and irrigation and sprinkler installation. 232-5129

Seishin Ryu Karate Club

:&"34 :&"34

:&"34

Sandee’s

Hellman Creative Solutions Superior Results

Sewing Machine Clinic

Cornbelt Auctions

Division of LSS Mgmt., Inc.

5201 Lafayette Rd. Elk Run Heights 233-2054

Day, Employment and Area’s Only OlympicSupported Community Equipped Facility, 950 Living Services Sheerer Ave., W’loo for adults with disabilities (319) 233-2533. Web site: 3420 University Ave., W’loo 236-0901 blackhawkgymnastics.com

Call us for all of your Auction and real Estate needs. 3520 Lafayette Rd. Evansdale 233-9258

1437 Falls Ave., Waterloo 234-0451

:&"34 :&"34 Power Engineering Manufacturing LTD www.pemltd.com 2635 W. C.F. & N. Dr. Waterloo, IA 50703 e-mail info at pemltd.com 319-232-2311

More Years In Business on next page.

:&"34

Cedar Valley Podiatry

Allison Drug Store

Specializing in disorders and Prescriptions, cards, surgery of foot and ankle, proTeleﬂora viding family footcare needs. Hardware & computers 4508 Chadwick Rd. C.F. 319-277-4508 “Allison’s mini mall” 1-800-362-4180 305 N Main 319-267-2505

:&"34

Dierks Tree Transplant, Inc.

B & R Quality Meats, Inc.

:&"34

Dennis Eslick

Cover-All Embroidery, Inc

999 Home Plaza, Suite 201 319-833-5555 www.eslickﬁnancial.com

Corporate Wearables and Work Wear 1808 East St., Cedar Falls 277-2385

North Star Black Hawk Community Services Honn’s Auto Body Gymnastics & Cheer “Formerly Adults, Inc.” and Trim

(Also known as Cedar Falls Karate Club) Call for class schedule. 266-5923 www.seishinryu.com

:&"34

Eslick Financial Group 4747 Crestwood Dr. Waterloo, IA 50702

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

In Business Since 1967 Jim and Sandy Denning 901 Birmingham Ave. Waterloo 232-0517

5205 University Ave. Cedar Falls 319-277-4323

Retail & Wholesale A special thanks to dba Automotive Electric Specializing in large tree all our customers Serving N.E. IA transplanting. Nursery stock 200 Park Rd, W’loo Gary Gilbert, owner available. 232-MEAT(6328) Dennis Rogers, svc advisior Cedar Falls 277-7173 www.b-rqualitymeats.com 500 W. 5th, W’loo 233-4466

:&"34

• Elkader • Decorah Recognized • Respected • Waverly • Grundy Center • Recommended • Sumner • Lebanon, KY 3321 Cedar Heights Dr., C.F. Your Hometown Place To shop (319)277-2121 www.norbysfarmﬂeet.com www.trapprealtors.com

www.hellman.com 1225 W. 4th St. Waterloo 319-234-7055

Blackhawk Automatic Sprinklers, Inc.

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

www.colephotography.com Asphalt Paving Contractors Over 40 year in business

:&"34 :&"34

Company P.O. Box 1942 Waterloo, IA 50704 Raynor quality garage 319-233-3942 doors/openers. prolawncare@mchsi.com Service/parts for all brands. Lawn care and snow removal Locally Owned/Operated Dennis Lickteig 1905 State St, C.F. 266-1627

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 B&B Farm Store, Inc.

1728 W. 8th, Cedar Falls 277-2437

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Professional LawnCare

Dan Deery Motor Co.

Complete Auto Service

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

Holdiman Chrysler • Jeep

:&"34 Chrysler • Jeep • Dodge • Toyota • Scion www.dandeerymotor.com 2 Locations to Serve You 277-4500 233-5000 Cedar Falls Waterloo

“We Care For The People You Care About”

:&"34

1025 Center St., Cedar Falls 277-3001

2130 Commercial St. Waterloo, IA 50702

2125 FALLS AVENUE WATERLOO 233-7649

:&"34

Hwy. 218 South, Waverly 319-352-3590 cousincustombuilders.com

Scheel’s

4192 Logan (Hwy. 63 N.) Family Owned 319-232-6263

:&"34

“We can build your dreams”

:&"34

Cedar Falls Health Care

:&"34

111 South St., W’loo 235-1681 Fax: 235-9770

:&"34

Cousin Custom Builders, Inc.

:&"34

Transmission Rebuilders, Inc.

Ubben Building Supplies, Inc.

Stamps-Signs-Seals Stencils-Promo Products

P & J Equipment

Vernon Gidley, President 701 Technology Place Waverly, IA 50677 352-5600

Ranchero Saddle & Western Wear

:&"34

:&"34 :&"34

Maidrite

Accounting Services, 272-4300 For ﬁne Italian dining Income Tax & Electronic Filing “Providing quality primary and beyond. K.Blair Newport LPA-EA health care to the medically 1111 Center Street, C.F. Cory A. Warmuth CPA underserved residents of 319-266-2616 1315 Knoll 234-6559/233-4843 the Cedar Valley area.” www.thebrownbottle.com

2637 Wagner Rd. Waterloo, IA 50703 235-9537 Highway and Concrete Paving Contractors cedarvalleycorp.com

:&"34 Cedar Valley Hospice

Cedar Valley Corp.

:&"34

1708 State St., C.F.

:&"34

RC Systems

A radio communications company. Telephone Systems Always on time or you don’t -Alarms -Video Survelliance pay a dime! -Access Controls 287-9200 We Service All Major Brands onehourair.com 1657 Falls Ave. 234-3511

“Proudly serving a world in motion”

STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENT

Cedar Falls Brown Bottle

:&"34

Stephan D. Knapp Helland Engineering Mr. G’s Restaurant & Surveying LTD and Pub REALTOR

Bin Sales, Construction FAMILY OWNED Grain Handling Specialists and Crane Service OPEN FOR BREAKFAST! www.BurcoFarms.com shane@burcofarms.com Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. La Porte City 342-3542 1537 Kentucky 334-6682 Independence 334-4717 116 E. 4th St., Cedar Falls 8 mi. S. of W’loo 277-9748 on Dysart Rd.

:&"34

Fine Funiture Restoration

Providing the Cedar Valley 6818 Streeter Rd. with CD Juke Boxes, Pool Cedar Falls www.midwestboatrepair.com Tables and Electronic Games 232-1371 319-232-1268 Milton Horak, President

:&"34 :&"34

319-342-2125

Monte McCunniff

Engineering and Surveying 2705 University Ave., W’loo 319-235-6294

Live a Healthy Life

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Burco Tractor Sales

1701 Waterloo Rd. Cedar Falls 319-277-8137

Vanderloo Midwest Boats Automatic Chiropractic Clinic SALES AND REPAIR Amusements, Inc.

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Action Garage Builders

:&"34

La Porte Lodge A Care Initiatives Facility Devoted care to older Iowans

3533 W. Airline Highway Waterloo, IA 50703 Family Owned Highway Construction Business (319) 235-6746

Morg’s Diner

Wayne Claassen Engineering AND SURVEYING, INC.

Lattin Photography

POLE BUILDINGS “Quality isn’t somethingit’s everything Commercial-ResidentialAgricultural Ph 233-4718 Fax 233-4185

:&"34

1916 E. Mitchell Ave. Waterloo, IA 50702 319-235-6711

520 Mulberry St., W’loo 319-234-2416

GMAC REAL ESTATE

110 Clay St., Cedar Falls 277-2528

& Red’s CB We do siding, insulation, windows, doors, roofs and Family Oned and Operated remodeling Come visit our Showroom 232-6282 296-3006 800-728-5729 245 Fletcher Hwy 218 S. (6031 LaPorte Rd.)

:&"34

La Porte City Nursing Carquest Auto Parts Cedar Falls CONSTRUCTION CO. & Rehab Center

:&"34 :&"34

Trapp, Realtors

Ye Olde Strippery

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Gubbels One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning

United Concrete, Hawkeye Steere Inc. COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOME BUILDERS

:&"34 :&"34

:&"34

Milroy’s Tuxedos

In State

214 Byron 233-9618

:&"34

334-2868 342-2207

Paine’s RV SALES & SERVICE

:&"34

8-5:30 Tues-Fri; 8-1 Sat. No Appointment Necessary Pete Christensen Steve Fratzke

The Sound Room

Toby’s Tax

Gilbertville Locker

Humble Travel Service, Ltd.

:&"34

Andy’s Barber Shop

:&"34

Kimble Insurance Group, TrueNorth

:&"34

4920 Dubuque Rd., W’loo 235-9565

High Performance Moving Mike Jensen-Owner 266-0925 961-1088

:&"34 Midwest Buildings, Inc.

:&"34

Family Owned w/50 Stores Crossroads Mall Upper Level. One of the largest selections of jewelry in Eastern Iowa www.riddlesjewelry.com

Wray’s Moving Service

:&"34

Denny Staebell

Wheels Alignment Services, WIC, Family Development, Imports, Front Wheel Siding-Windows “If You Need a Garage Real Estate, Farm Machinery, Underground Utility and and Community Services Drives, Domestics George Skarlis You Want ACTION!! Antiques and Estates Directional Boring Mark Ott 301 West First St. contractors Free est. Bank Financing Central Ofﬁce: 291-2065 500 Ansborough, Waterloo 1127 Jefferson, Waterloo Gladbrook, IA 3822 W. Airline 232-4807 232-1477 or 1-877-488-1477 232-9991 232-6665 1-800-728-6665 www.operationthreshold.org 641-473-2561

:&"34 :&"34 Riddles Jewelry

:&"34 :&"34

:&"34

Independence www.truenorthcompanies.com LaPorte City

Waterloo Oil

Company, Inc. David E. Loy, Susan J. Loy Enrolled to practice before Where customer and quality IRS Tax E-Filing, Receive info on CD. Full service acct’g comes ﬁrst offering customblended renewable fuels. 2615 Rainbow Dr., C.F. 319-234-4693 319-268-9802

Division of Simpson Furniture Kathy Flack A.S.I.D. (319) 266-3537 www.ﬂackinteriors.com

Hours: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Call for an appointment 115 Main St., Cedar Falls 277-2183

:&"34 :&"34

226 Main St., Cedar Falls 319-268-2034

:&"34

Countertops by Terry Custom Woodworking Corian Maintenance Custom Shower bases Waterloo, IA 234-2527 www.schuttesdesign.com

3020 Minnetonka Dr., C.F. 277-4220

Ready Rooms Storage Co.

:&"34

Design, Inc. Loy and Associates, Flack Interior Design Schutte’s Custom Corian LLP Associates

Selected Best of Best in the Cedar Valley www.lattinphoto.com 3429 MIDWAY DRIVE CEDAR FALLS 277-7100

Community Builders Operation Threshold SUPPLY CO. Housing and weatherization

:&"34 :&"34 School Bus Sales

The Squire Barber Shop

310 Upland Dr., Waterloo 234-4423

in truck camping Denver Sunset Home Holmes Welding Of adventure Serving long-term care needs Paulson Electric Co. Northstar AND FABRICATION R.C. Willett Co., Inc. of our community. Rooms: OF WATERLOO Semi-priv. $123-$133/day; LTD. Electrical Contractors Priv. $131-$141/day; Super The Truck Camper People Single $141-$151/day. “Knowledge and experience 3040 Leversee Rd., C.F. 1915 Jefferson St., W’loo 225 N. Mill, Denver make the difference” 233-3461 233-3543 984-5372 Hudson 319-988-3727 northstarcampers.com

:&"34

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

KBBG-FM 88.1 918 Newell St., Waterloo “Communicate To Educate” realmanagement@kbbg.org www.kbbgfm.org 319-234-1441 888-weR-KBBG 888-937-5224

:&"34

Lindgren Glass Products

Diamond Body Shop

511 Washington St., W’loo Specializing in collison repair “Quaity Is Never An Accident” 233-5291 3419 Lafayette, Evansdale 235-0479

:&"34

Nagle Signs, Inc. Iowa Metal Spinners Quality Sign and Awning Manufacturing 1020 Wilbur, W’loo 233-4604 (800) 728-4604

Metal Spinning for the Industry 7314 Chancellor Dr., C.F. 266-1771

:&"34

Pat’s Auto Salvage Koch Construction I Care Certiﬁed Environmentally Friendly. We sell Quality used parts and buy wrecked or unwanted cars. 945 Lowell Ave. 232-0704

Satisfaction... Today and Tomorrow Since 1980 215 E. Main St., C.F. 319-266-0807 319-277-8877

:&"34

Sunrooms By Team

Mike Mills

Performance Bodies

Quality windows/sunrooms “Black Hawk County’s most trusted home improvement www.performance bodies.com company” 800-722-4641 Cedar Falls 266-3922 319-277-2066

progress edition Standing at a crossroads

K3 SUNDAY JANUARY 31, 2010

WATERLOO www.wcfcourier.com CEDAR FALLS

:&"34 Rainsoft Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proud to be part of the community. 319-233-2038 3130 Marnie Ave. Waterloo

:&"34 Vorland Photography Making Memories Last Forever 2609 Rainbow Dr., C.F. 319-277-7141 www.vorlandphoto.com

:&"34

Casa Montessori Manchester Livestock School AUCTIONS, INC. 215 W. 9th St. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 277-8121 Serving Families For 28 Years

manchesterauction.com Since 1983 Manchester, Iowa 563-927-2540

:&"34

:&"34 Bill Colwell Ford - Isuzu

Voted Best of the Best for several years. Largest DJ and Karaoke Co. in NE IA. Over 2000 shows per year. 319-266-0717 Hwy. 63, Hudson 988-4153 www.billcolwellford.com www.ultimateentertainment. com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trust the Professionalâ&#x20AC;?

Commercial â&#x20AC;˘ Industrial â&#x20AC;˘ Institutional

2110 Logan Ave. 319-291-6464 Hours: Mon-Sat 9-7

:&"34

221 W. 4th St., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 319-232-0508

Tim & Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Auto Repair

:&"34

Since 1982. Automotive elec. repair/cars and light trucks. S.S. polishing 478-8351 503 2nd, Traer www.qualityauto56.com

Civil/Structural Engineering and Surveying 1501 Technology Parkway Cedar Falls 266-5829

:&"34 Waterloo Warehousing

Craigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vac Shop Sales and Service All Makes of Vacuums 111 West 4th., C.F. 266-0105

:&"34

:&"34 American Automotive

Complete Auto Center Thank your for trusting us to Late Model Used Cars And care for your family pets. Trucks Full Service Dept. www.taylorvet.com â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honest Work for a 315 State St.,Cedar Falls Fair Priceâ&#x20AC;? 277-1883 1645 Lafayette St. 233-5665

:&"34 Youngblut Motors Dave, Tadley and Mike 120 Vinton Waterloo â&#x20AC;˘ 232-6849

:&"34

Kennedy Insulation Systems, Inc.

Andrews Auto Supply

Commercial-IndustrialPower Process Steve Kennedy 714 Ansborough Ave., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 234-4048

232-6353 114 E. 10th St. Waterloo, IA 50703

:&"34 Classic Hardwood Floors

Q & T Pharmacy Pharmacy plus full Home Health Dept. 920 W. 5th St. 233-5216

1310 Grandview Ave. Waterloo, Iowa 50703

319-833-9428

:&"34

:&"34 :&"34

Transportation Brokerage 209 Main St. Cedar Falls 319-266-2845

Emergency Practice Dusk to Dawn Sales Precision Motors Sukup Dealer ASSOCIATES Specializing In Quality Retail Gift Shop

Red Line Auto AUTO REPAIR formerly Finchford Auto Transmission Rebuilding

4245 North Ave., Waterloo 296-2755

306 N. Main, Clarksville 278-1011

:&"34

Farris STEREO

City Builders

Let Us-Help You 208 E. Bremer Ave., Waverly Save Transportation Dollars! 319-352-5104 Waterloo, Iowa 744 Ansborough, Waterloo 1-800-234-3930

:&"34

Great Food and Reasonable Prices 204 Main St., Cedar Falls 266-3507

Harting & Hunemuller B.W. Contractors, CONTRACTORS, L.C. Inc. Complete service from Design to Finish. 516 Bluff, Cedar Falls 277-0627

:&"34

Manchester Construction Design Monument Works, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Building Your Dreamsâ&#x20AC;? LLC Monuments â&#x20AC;˘ Markers Bronze â&#x20AC;˘ Vases 416 W. Main Street Manchester 563-927-3597

6511 Dysart Rd. Waterloo 232-4958

Northside Auto Salvage

Brothers Construction, Inc. Remodeling New Construction

Distek Integration 6612 Chancellor Dr. Cedar Falls, IA

6919 Chancellor Dr. 277-2003 â&#x20AC;˘ www.mudd.com

:&"34

OfďŹ ce Concepts, Ltd. Karenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Print Rite

Hair Replacement System

Potterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hearing Aid Services

D & L Subways, Inc.

Sales and Repair of All Major Brands 1416 W. 4th St., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 232-7133

Specializing in submarine sandwiches and chef salads. Open late seven days a week!

:&"34

Business and Personal Printing Color Copies

319 Boradway, Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo, IA 234-1221 Fax 234-6506

2515 Falls Ave., Waterloo 235-6085

Call for a Free Color Brochure or Consultation 2309 Main St., C.F. 277-5040 1-800-642-6720

:&"34 :&"34

:&"34

2221 Main St., Cedar Falls 277-8822

:&"34 :&"34 Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Electric Inc.

319-342-3534

Industrial Standard Reedyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Auto Sales Tooling, Inc. Mike and Derrick Reedy

319-859-3600 www.distek.com

:&"34

K Properties

Quad State Gauging & Measurement, Inc.

Accurate Gear & Machine Inc.

Evansdale, IA 319-234-0883 Real Estate Leasing Self Storage

:&"34 Greg Kastli Auctioneering

STORE & RESTAURANT Fax Service, Notorizing, Money Wiring, Authentic Mexican Products, Food and Dancing. 235-2947 301 E. 4th St., Waterloo

Metro Area Redemption

Calibration, Inspection, Manufacturing, etc. 622 Enterprise, C.F. 319-277-4429 www.quadstate.net

CNC Machining and Gear Cutting www.Accurategear.com 2864 Burton Ave., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo

:&"34 :&"34 Timbuck 2 Communications Whether you are in town or out in the boonies, we have your connection. Dish Network â&#x20AC;˘ Wildblue â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ Qwest 319-291-6342

The Federal Pub Open Every day at 11:00 a.m. for lunch 317 5th St. Hudson 319-988-3846

:&"34 :&"34 Tri-State Tool Sharpening

Gulbransonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Appliance Service

Industrial Tools We Stand By Our Word... 954 Dale Dr., Hudson 319-988-3528

Fast professional service on all major brands. Warr. authorized on GE brands. 2509 Valley Park Dr., C.F. 266-1437 or 231-0765

:&"34

Trunckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Country Foods

Nooren REALTORS

606 Grundy Ave. Reinbeck, IA 50669 (319) 345-2211

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Saw The Signâ&#x20AC;? 3510 Kimball Ave. Waterloo, IA 50702 319-232-5000

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 Plumb Tech Inc.

Aalii Country-Kennel

Plumbing, Heating Commercial, Residential

Dog and Cat Boarding

3261 W. Airline Hwy., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 233-5616

7611 N. Union Rd. Janesville 319-987-2656

Selesky Manufacturing â&#x20AC;˘ Machining â&#x20AC;˘ Welding â&#x20AC;˘ Fabricating 339 Rath St., Waterloo 234-1388

IAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only award-winning 9-hole Public Golf Course Agency and Premier Source 2 mi. N. of Hwy 18 or 2 mi. for Male-Female Entertainers 800-638-9262 S. of Wapsi Valley High. 236-1701 2652 Vine Ave., Fairbank www.3192361701.com 638-4653

AJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eatery & Spirits Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Happy Hours Daily 1415 E. San Marnan Dr. Waterloo 232-7660

Cabinets Galore

We meet by accident! 1701 E. Bremer Ave. Waverly 319-352-0831

We Tote the Note Used cars of all types 232-4667 1835 Independence Waterloo

:&"34

:&"34 :&"34

Rydell

Pamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Little B & B West Conoco Hair House â&#x20AC;&#x153;Service is Best at

2420 K-Line Dr. Waterloo 233-8813

150 Second St., Dike 319-989-2041

:&"34

The Bench Company

Lichty Auto Repair

Stuber Trucks

Restoration Services

Rileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Floors

Iowa Engraving

European Car Specialist

Full Service Truck Repair Center. Used Truck Dealer. New Truck Equipment.

Exterior Building Maintenance

Wood â&#x20AC;˘ Carpet â&#x20AC;˘ Sheet Vinyl â&#x20AC;˘ Ceramic Tile â&#x20AC;˘ Laminate

For Industry Business, Sports

B & B West.â&#x20AC;? 3105 Hudson Rd. 2 blocks south of the UNI-Dome 266-7344

1930 Main C.F. 319-266-6654

319-988-4051 Scott, Judy and Joe. wwwbreakenridgememorials.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cabnitry at itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ nest.â&#x20AC;? Specializing in Bertch Cabinets.

:&"34

Carpet Network

ConAgra Foods 2701 Midport Blvd. Waterloo, IA

2806 Falls Ave. 319-233-9580 www.creboot.com

Traveling Floor and Window Store Carpet, vinyl, window treatment, woods and ceramic 266-7660

:&"34

DC Industries

Cedar Valley Mobility

Contract Manufacturer of Large Castings

Canes, Walkers, Lift Chairs, Ramps, Scooters Sales and Service

East Iowa Plastics, Inc.

200 Ida St., Waterloo 234-1075

:&"34 :&"34

3804 Hammond 291-7210

Maker of Huntâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Snack Pack Pudding

601 17th Street S.E. Independence, IA 50644 319-334-2552 www.eastiowaplastics.com

:&"34

Dickeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Printing

Cup of Joe

See us for all your personal and business needs.

102 Main St. 319-277-1596

Harrison Truck Centers

1313 South St. www.dickeysprinting.com 1722 Commercial, Waterloo 3230 Marnie Ave., Waterloo LaPorte City 319-342-2405 308 E. 7th Street, Waterloo 233-5947 233-9911 email: iaengrav@netins.net 319-234-1777

More Years In Business on next page.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let us show you the differenceâ&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;˘ 233-4157 â&#x20AC;˘

SJ Construction, Inc. Computer Reboot

High quality tools, dies, ďŹ xtures, molds. 105 E. 9th, Waterloo 235-9200

Angie Cox and Pam Stansbery

Heart Throbs ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

Breakenridge Memorials

:&"34 :&"34 Fairbank Floor Covering, Inc.

Wapsie Ridge Golf Course

A-1 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;?

General Contractor Best of the Best in 2004 Carpet-Vinyl-Wood-Ceramic Room additions, siding, Service & Installation custom decks, rooďŹ ng. 301 E. Main St., Fairbank Free Estimates BBB 319-635-2056 232-9178 Visa, Mastercard

955 W. Airline Hwy. Waterloo 233-2286

In Waterloo 1607 La Porte Rd. 232-0351 3819 University 236-1111

Appliance Service Over 35 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in the Waterloo, Cedar Falls area.

Home of Bottom Line Pricing Nobody Sells Like Rydell Across From The Crossroads 234-4601 Waterloo www.rydellauto.com

7735 Ansborough Ave. Waterloo, IA 50701 (319) 296-2994

A #1 Cleaning Service

KC Auto Body LTD

COMPLETE HAIR CARE 111 2nd Ave. N.E. Independence, IA 319-334-6130

Bus Stop Bench Advertising www.bench-sign.com 1-800-234-2204 email: benchman@netins.net cell 290-4006

:&"34

Hawkeye International Trucks

Steve or Scott Jordan 232-6870 235-7343

:&"34

Chevrolet

Serving Cedar Valley Area For Comâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l and Resâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l wiring

5746 Westminster Dr., C.F. 277-9000 Visit one of Iowaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Largest Kitchen Supply Showrooms

:&"34

Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Santos Hair Design

S. Jordan Electric

1506 Audubon Dr. 319-233-3280

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 :&"34 :&"34

821 Dearborn Ave. Waterloo, IA 50703 234-1595

Waterlooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leader in OfďŹ ce Supplies, Furniture and Printing

Siding â&#x20AC;˘ Concrete work

Comâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l and Residential Construction Clean Up Quality Service. Free Est. Call Bob or Geri for appointment Waterloo 291-7243 Cell 269-9166

Offering Financial Estate Planning for Business Professionals & Seniors 2310 Falls Ave., Waterloo 319-833-2031

Industrial Machinery Moving Come to us with all and Rigging Heated Storage your bottles and cans. Shrink Wrap Services 522 1/2 E. 18th., 18 Years of Excellence 277-4518 Family Owned 987-2070 Cedar Falls

:&"34

Karrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Construction Wilson Restaurant Supply and New Homes â&#x20AC;˘ Kitchens Remodeling â&#x20AC;˘ Additions Equipment Service

Heartland Financial Priority 1 SERVICES LTD AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

:&"34 :&"34

â&#x20AC;˘ Custom embroidery â&#x20AC;˘ Silk Screening â&#x20AC;˘ Uniforms 301 Main St., La Porte City 319-342-2880-Fax 342-2883 greggs@netins.net

Exp. and certiďŹ ed technicians. Complete car/truck service. 2701 Falls Ave. 233-9201

Enthusiastically Serving the Cedar Valley Since 1994. Selling Boats, Motors, and trailers. We service all of them. 2909 Airport Blvd, Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 233-1000

Toadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar & Grill La Chiquita Mexican

Sand and Gravel in Waterloo-Cedar Falls and the surrounding Cedar Valley area. 319-235-6583

Kurt W. Olson

:&"34

Chain of Lakes Marine, Inc.

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

Kellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Furnishings

Kuennenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Automotive

:&"34 :&"34

:&"34

Gray Transportation, Inc.

Olson Financial Services

3533 W. Airline Hwy. 235-9356

Pre-Owned Toyotas and Lexusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Full Service Estate Auctions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Something for Everyoneâ&#x20AC;? Service Center Now also buying estates. Auto Body Center 8912 N. Raymond Rd., For Non-obligatory 1405 Logan Ave., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo Dunkerton consultations 236-1592 319-822-7345 Call 234-0051

Elevator Industries, Inc.

control devices for sales or rental.

Storage, GasLight Villa, San Marnan and Kimball by Prairie View Acres, Falls Ave. the Tower Mobile Home Courts 236-6802 Ken Syhlman Jim Cook 233-6325

Specialists in Emergency Department Physician StafďŹ ng and Management 3840 W. 9th St., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 319-236-3858

â&#x20AC;˘ Hillside Incline Lifts â&#x20AC;˘ Industrial Manlifts â&#x20AC;˘ Vertical Freight Lifts P.O. Box 1175, C.F. 319-277-7952 www.elevatorindustries.com

Mudd Advertising BMC Aggregates LC Greggâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sporting Goods Advertising, Marketing, Supplying Crushed Stone,

1425 West 5th Street Waterloo

GuideOne Insurance 3826 Cedar Heights Dr. Cedar Falls, Ia 50613 319-277-2320 1-800-800-8818

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Stand Behind Our Workâ&#x20AC;?

:&"34

Kvale Insurance

We carry carpet, vinyl, wood, ceramic, laminate Sales & Installation 422 Washington St. Hudson 988-3587

Magee Construction Bealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sheet Metal

Hypercasting, Production, Direct Mail, PR

Christone Concrete, Inc.

D & W Floor Covering, Inc.

:&"34

Cedar Falls 277-6603 www.expresspros.com

Douglas Trunnell L & N Transportation Agency Services, Inc. Insurance and Financial Services

:&"34

Helping People Succeed 3014 Rownd St.

:&"34 :&"34

1705 Waterloo Rd., C.F. mageeconstruction.com 319-277-0100

Express Employment Professionals

:&"34

Remote car starters car video- car stereo car alarms Professional Installation 211 W. 18th, Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 232-0119

Sheet Metal Fabrication Commercial and Industrial 233-8224

Carl Luze Real Estate

236-0300

Locally owned by Dwight Wielenga and Dennis Wieldeboer. Patio rooms, replacement windows, luxury bath systems. 277-4000 www.citybuilders.com

Design/Build Industrial, Commercial, Residential

:&"34 :&"34

504 Sycamore Street Waterloo 319-232-7330

Waterfalls Full J.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Enterprises, Inc. Service Signing LC J.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mobile Home & Service Car Wash Transport, Complete line of trafďŹ c Northside Mini

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 :&"34 :&"34

Specialists in Uni-body and â&#x20AC;˘ Land clearing for new con- & SERVICE CO., INC. collision repair. struction â&#x20AC;˘ Haul snow away. Warehousing We work year round 6th & Washington Free estimates Cedar Falls 324 Duryea St. 236-0467 319-236-1956 277-5661 319-269-1544

Owners: Joel and Jeff Cizek Drawtite hitches Western & boss snow plows Blue Ox Towing Equipment 1714 River St. 232-4741

Craig Holdiman REAL ESTATE APPRAISER

Farm â&#x20AC;˘ Business â&#x20AC;˘ Estate

319-277-9355

Specializing in Acreages, Residential and Comâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l Real 216 7th St., Janesville Estate. Serving Tama, 319-987-2271 Specializing in Residential Benton, Black Hawk Counties 24-hour towing Real Estate Appraisals 329 Main St., Dysart, IA Tim Ward 319-987-2875 209 Graceline, 236-2942 319-476-4949 Mike Paul 319-987-2545 tamacountymls.com www.holdimanappraisals.com

VJ Engineering

C & C Welding Drs. Taylor, Smith AND SANDBLASTING & Bixby

111 Washington St. Raymond 277-7603

:&"34 :&"34

Quality Auto Repair

:&"34

Katherine Doyleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pub

Designer Clothing Shoes and Accessories

:&"34

Eternal Ink Tattoos, Inc.

Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beauty Supply

Joel Harris-Owner â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because WE are the differenceâ&#x20AC;? 432 Locust St., Waterloo 319-291-3991

AND STUMP REMOVAL

:&"34

Black Hawk Roof Co., Inc.

USED-NEW-REBUILT 1501 GRANDVIEW, Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LOO 1-800-728-5207 319-234-5207

Anderson Collision

:&"34

Ceilley Insulation

ServiceMaster by Harris

Schaefer Tree

233-0353

Oh So In Boutique

Waterloo Auto Parts

:&"34 :&"34

726 S. Cherry Street Shell Rock 319-885-6267

:&"34

2825 MidPort Blvd., Waterloo â&#x20AC;˘ 232-5221 2839 Burton Ave., Waterloo â&#x20AC;˘ 232-0745

Arends Auctions

Rod Curran, Owner Since 1996 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Plumber Your Friends Callâ&#x20AC;?

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

:&"34

Advanced Heat Treat Corp.

New Image Hair Designs

Wheelerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Auto Body Supply

50 Units

:&"34

:&"34 :&"34

319-235-9698 sweerinbrothersmasonry.com

Curran Plumbing, Inc.

:&"34

234-0652

202 Glendale St., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 234-7715

Concrete and Masonry

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Storage

Where friends meet and people gather.

987-3418

319-291-7200 1615 Jefferson St., Waterloo

1001 Industrial St. Waverly 319-352-3333

:&"34

Express Parts 100 E. 5th, Waterloo Hospital sterilizations. Wayne Arends 240-2931 319-234-3414 State Licensed/inspected. Mark Arends 231-0246 Serving the Midwest Multi-national award winning with 5 locations. tatoo artists, Juno and Pete â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your success is our successâ&#x20AC;? 314 Commercial 236-8746

1445 Ansborough Ave., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 319-232-9436

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why Buy New When Used Will Doâ&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inovation, Not Imitationâ&#x20AC;?

Sweerin Brothers Masonry

:&"34

Family Hair Care Thanks for Your Patronage Visit Janet, Karen, Bev 3425 W. 4th, Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 234-8124

106 E. 3rd St. Waterloo, Iowa 50703

Ready and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aableâ&#x20AC;? to serve you!

Waverly Plastics

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34 :&"34

5708 W. Cedar Wapsie Rd. Cedar Falls

Aable Pest Control Quailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Auto Salvage

Ultimate Entertainment

Clearly A Better Place

Ebert Chiropractic Mallon Construction Cedar River Tower Clinic SERVICES, INC. Senior Apartments Dr. Robert Ebert, D.C. Dr. Chad J. Buss

:&"34 :&"34 :&"34

Harrision Family Ownership Freightliner Truck Dealer Specializing in direct trade, Sales-Service-Parts-Collision 101 Plaza Dr., Elk Run fair trade, organic and 234-4453 htctrucks.com shade grown coffees.

progress edition Standing at a crossroads

K4 SUNDAY

JANUARY 31, 2010

WATERLOO www.wcfcourier.com CEDAR FALLS

:&"34 Pro Sign Design and Graphics Banners, door and window lettering, screen printing and embroidery 233-2255 2519 Falls Ave., Waterloo

:&"34 Reliable Lawn Care â&#x20AC;&#x153;QUALITY SECOND TO NONEâ&#x20AC;? WATERLOO 234-6721

:&"34 Royal Turf 319-277-5032

:&"34 Montage Make Your Mouth Dance 222 Main Street, C.F. 319-268-7222 www.montage-cf.com

:&"34 :&"34 McLaughlin Investment Best Buy Waterloo SERVICES 2541 Crossroads Blvd. Casey McLaughlin, Registered Principal-Since 1984full service brokerage 209 W. 5th St., Ste. A 287-5080 877-811-5080

:&"34 :&"34 Phantom EFX 900 Technology Parkway Suite 300 Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-266-1999 www.phantomefx.com

:&"34 Professional Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, Inc.

Palace Theatre 2010 W. 4th St., Vinton, IA 52349 www.vintonpalace.org 319-472-9958

:&"34

Aspire Therapeutic Horseback Riding

Wrage Realty

Cetek, Inc.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where the dreams of children and the magic of horses come together to create memories of a lifetime.â&#x20AC;? 8100 Kimball Ave. 296-3096 www.aspiretrp.org

Farms, Residential and Acreages David J. Wrage, Broker 315 Main St., Dysart 319-476-7070 1-800-796-8488

:&"34 :&"34

:&"34

ABC Embroidery and Screen Printing

MaidPro

Cedar Industry Corp.

Industrial Controls Integration Microprocessor Based Control Systems Circuit Board Design Passenger Elevator Controller Manufacturing Cedar Falls 290-3910

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about timeâ&#x20AC;?

105 Industrial Drive Evansdale 319-232-0094 800-500-0199

518 Broadway St. Waterloo 319-287-6280 www.maidpro.com

:&"34

Open for Lunch and Dinner. Brick oven Pizza - Pasta - Seafood Steak - Sandwiches 205 E. 18th, C.F. 277-3671

319-291-2850

Where K9 kids come to play

Kool Kids Child Care

5222 Weiden Rd., Waterloo 319-296-2553

Mulliganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brick Oven Grill and Pub

:&"34

The Solution to Your Cleaning Needs

K9 Playhouse

:&"34

Waterloo, 50702 319-833-9261 bestbuy.com

Blue Sky Disposal, Inc. OPEN TOP DUMPSTERS FOR CLEANUPS â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fast, Courteous Service, Rain or Shineâ&#x20AC;? 319-226-4665

â&#x20AC;˘ Lawn â&#x20AC;˘ Landscape â&#x20AC;˘ Snow

:&"34

:&"3

Thunder Ridge Ampride

Dura Deck

V Twin Legacy

:&"34

Protective Matting Systems Sales-Rentals Buy-Sell-Trade Gas and Convenience Store Temporary FloorSpecializing in Harleys and 2425 Whitetail Drive Portable Access Roads Old School Custom Bikes. Cedar Falls 319-987-2070 2015 Commercial Waterloo Questions@bwcontractors. 319-277-1141 319-232-5834 com

Dan Gable International

WRESTLING INSTITUTE AND MUSEUM Custom machining and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Promoting the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s controls, CNC tube bending Oldest and Greatest Sportâ&#x20AC;? and dynamic balancing. 303 Jefferson St., Waterloo 549 Center St., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 233-0745 wrestlingmuseum.org 234-1248

Locally owned, operated â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cash In A Flashâ&#x20AC;? We Pay You $50

Towing and Auto Repair REASONABLE RATES

618 Brandilynn Blvd., Suite 6 Cedar Falls 266-6500

319-464-4070 www.hovatterandsons. webs.com

.POUIT

:&"34

Pro Liner

Midwest Auto Parts

The Olde Kountry Kottage

Spray on Bedliners and Truck Accessories

â&#x20AC;&#x153;One Stop Auto Shopâ&#x20AC;? Call Jamie, Eric or Cory for a quote

Double Lung Archery

233-0778 115 W. Gilbert Dr. Evansdale, IA

275 Rampart Ln., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 319-287-4600

:&"34

Jensenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ultimate Taekwondo

Snipz Hair Studio

:&"34

:&"3

Tranquil Escape

Bio Life Plasma

604 Baltimore St., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo Judy Kay Burr-Cert. Res. 419-234-3334 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where Faith & Knowledge Appraiser. http://judykayburr. Black Belt is Our Goal Grow As Oneâ&#x20AC;? The most important thing in com â&#x20AC;&#x153;Order your appraisal 4520 Rownd, Cedar Falls YWCA Waterloo 464-2221 life besides being fascinating onlineâ&#x20AC;? 319-230-1704 319-266-4565 www.jensensultimatetkd.com is having a good hairdresser. FHA, VA Approved

:&"34

Classic Kitchen & Bath

Hermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen & Bath Design

WafďŹ&#x201A;e Stop Grill

Bickford Assisted Living

Cedar Valley Hospice Home

Chapman Electric, Inc.

Created to care for our family devoted to serving yours. www.enrichinghappiness.com 5101 University Ave., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 319-266-6800

2001 Kimball Ave., Waterloo, IA 319-272-1771 www.cvhospice.org

941 Dale Dr. Hudson, IA 50643 319-232-5228 www.chapmanelectricinc.com

:&"34

:&"3

Glass Tech

Direct

Extreme RC

Dennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Automotive

Pablos Mexican Grill

B&B Lock & Key

Two Friends Tap

The Golden Paw

310 Main St. Cedar Falls 319-277-8226 pablosgrill.com

Residential, Commercial & Auto Over 25 years experience 2200 Falls Ave., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 319-234-5397

Private Party Room 4 Pool Tables Darts â&#x20AC;˘ Foosball 210 Main St., La Porte City 319-342-2262

Pawn Loans We Buy Gold 714 W. 1st St., Cedar Falls 266-6003

:&"34

:&"3

Fazolis

Silver Eagle

Auto glass installation and Appliance & TV â&#x20AC;&#x153;We put the Extreme in RCâ&#x20AC;? repair. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quality and We service everything professional work make we sell. our customers happy.â&#x20AC;? 202 W. Gilbert Dr. www.directapplianceandtv.com Locally owned Evansdale 5424 University Ave., C.F. Ron & Jodi Watson 234-6000 319-553-0171 268-9850

:&"34 :&"34 King Automotive AND â&#x20AC;&#x153;Complete Auto and Truck Repairâ&#x20AC;? 425 La Porte Rd., Waterloo 319-234-8822

Iowa Home Improvements Helping you build value into your home. www.iahome improvement.com 319-239-4341

:&"34 Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Archery Bow Tech, Diamond, and Bear Authorized Dealer 1904 Falls Ave., Waterloo 319-233-7443

Cabinetry, Countertops, Closets, Tile, Hardwood, Carpets, Gifts. Cooking Classes, Access. 220 E. 4th St., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo www.classickitcheniowa.com

CertiďŹ ed Technicians Full Service Repair 2401 4th St. S.W. Waverly 352-0002

130 W. Fayette, Denver 984-5262 hermanskitchens.com

Open 7 days a week 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Koeppel Family Enterprises Corner of Rainbow Dr. and Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo Rd., C.F. 277-1729

Jenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Needleworks

Harley Davidson-Buell Hwy. 63 S. & 20 900 Parriott St. (Hwy. 57) Aplington, IA Pickup or Onsite Catering 4022 Sergeant Rd., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 235-6505 319-347-2793 Dine in or Drive Thru www.silvereageleharley. 411 E. Tower Park Dr. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When life hands you com Waterloo 319-236-2731 The Experience Starts Here! scraps, make a quilt.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;fast-fresh-italianâ&#x20AC;?

Parker Place Retirement Community

5 styles of apts avail. We carry Matthews, Hoyt, Country Primitive Home Decor. Includes 3 meals day, Recently relocated from laundry, hskping, no buy in, Mission, Elite and PSE bows Hwy 218 N., La Porte City Jesup. Doors open Feb. 2nd mo. rent, util., basic cable. Grand Re-opening Feb. 13 Social activities. Staff 24/7 319-342-4550 www.doublelungarcheryinc. 212 Main St., La Porte City 707 Hwy 57, Parkersburg 346-9771 319-342-2400 com

Professional Real Estate SERVICES

:&"34

.POUIT

Liberty Tax Service Hovatter and Sons

:&"34

Schmitt Telecom Valley Lutheran Middle PARTNERS, INC. and High School Full telecommunication services; telephone/ voicemail systems thru Avaya. Voice and data networking thru Qwest 232-3701

4024 Alexandra Dr. 319-226-5278 koolkidschildcare inc@mchsi.com

:&"34

Therapeutic massage with Services relaxing environment and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donate Plasma. Save a Lifeâ&#x20AC;? individualized treatment. www.biolifeplasma.com/ea602 State St., Cedar Falls syscheduler 319-269-4224 802 Brandilynn Blvd. www.tranquilescape.vpweb. Cedar Falls 319-277-1981 com

Everlast Car Truck 900 S. CanďŹ eld Rd. Dunkerton 319-822-4000 Collision, Restoration and Repair

Think N Think, Inc. (TNT) 170 W. Mullan 319-291-6000

THE COURIER

•

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com

•

PAGE K5

TRANSMISSION

REBUILDERS

319-233-8473 What do you do? 6

Visit the Caring Professionals at

Evansdale Pharmacy 3506 Lafayette Rd. Evansdale

319-226-4000 - Waterloo 319-277-4000 - Cedar Falls or 800-798-4000 2009 Center St. • Cedar Falls www.citybuilders.com

233-3395

DR. DJ

Music For Any Occasion Something For Everyone Great Lighting Massive Song Selection

319-240-3878 Waterloo Email: drdjward@mchsi.com

INC.

3613 Texas St. Waterloo

Recognized Respected Recommended

Your Comfort is Our Promise 5536 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls

319-235-6583 1-877-540-ROCK • AG Lime • Gravel • Roadstone • Sand • Recycled Concrete

Custom Wood Building Products See us for all your hardwood flooring and molding needs.

7910 Winslow Rd., Janesville www.fishsticks.biz

319-987-3091

19 Celebrating Over 50 Years

101 BMC Drive Elk Run Heights, 50707

232-6537

Cedar Falls: (319) 277-1091

www.mikeferedayheating.com

Learning Center and Day Care

Ages 6 weeks - 13 years 4828 University Ave., C.F. 307 E. Donald, W'loo 3823 W. 4th St., W'loo 3243 University, W'loo

266-6755 232-4325 234-1919 232-2624

She is the winner of our Logo Contest and the recipient of a year's subscription to the Waterloo Courier. The following businesses participated in our contest last month. How many were you able to identify?

Website: iowawallsystems.com

15. Bradford Lee Financial Services 16. Fishsticks Mill Work 17. Spicoli's Grill & The Reberb Rock Garden 18. Aable Pest Control, Inc. 19. Iowa Wall Systems, Inc. 20. Wolfe Eye Clinic 21. Tony's Trattoria 22. Schmitt Telecom Partners, Inc. 23. Advanced Pet Care Clinic 24. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing 25. Pat's Auto Salvage 26. Jim Linds Service 27. Matthias Landscaping Co.

Tony's Trattoria 3251 W. 4th, Waterloo 232-TONY (8669)

2nd Location Opening Soon 407 Main St., C.F.

Schmitt Telecom Parters, Inc. 722 Water St., Suite 400 Waterloo, IA

Full Service Furnace and Air Duct Cleaning www.onehourair.com

319-287-9200

232-3701 27

226-6000

JIM LIND BP SERVICE 31

• Complete Landscaping Service • Retaining Walls • Brick Patios • Hydroseeding and Soding www.matthiaslandscaping.com

Best Live Music and Sound Around Every Weekend 3555 University Ave., Waterloo www.thereverb.net - www.spicolis.net

The Reverb 277-4404 Spicoli's 287-5747 Mon. 4 PM-2 AM Tues-Sat 3 PM-2 AM 28. Professional Compounding Center of Iowa, Inc. 29. People's Appliance 30. Dolphin Gymnastics 31. Arrowhead Kennels 32. Der & Associates 33. Sherri Kayser Design 34. Hellman Creative Solutions 35. Big River Equipment Co. 36. K&S Wheel Alignment 37. Farnsworth Electronic 38. Dave Bartlett Construction 39. Huff Contracting Inc. 40. Phelps Youth Pavilion

Securities offered through LINSCO/PRIVATE LEDGER, Member NASD/SIPC

PEST CONTROL, INC • Residential • Commercial • Guaranteed Services • Free Inspections

291-7200

1615 Jefferson St., Waterloo

"Better vision for a better life"

999 Home Plazz, Waterloo

287-5890 516 S. Division

(Sartori Professional Building)

Cedar Falls, 2770103

PATS AUTO SALVAGE If There's Any Delay It's You We Pay!

236-2236

www.benfranklinplumbing.com

• Full line of auto parts • Full computerized inventory • Nationwide parts location • Ask about out guarantee We Tow Junk Cars! 945 Lowell and Mitchell, Waterloo 319-232-0704

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL

24 Hours

319-277-7675

319-266-0096 Phone 319-464-7796 Cell 319-266-0097 Fax 866-554-5577 Toll Free bradford.lee@lpl.com 1810 West 8th Street, Suite B P.O. Box 847 Cedar Falls, IA 50613

We're ready and "Aable" to serve you

Dr. Tammy Stevenson 4507 Algoqin Dr.

APCC@AvancedPetCareClinic.com www.advancedpetcareclinic.com

cvhospice.org Waterloo | Grundy Center Independence | Waverly | Hospice Home

(Under Panther Water Tower) Cedar Falls IA, 50613

319.272.2002 | 800.617.1972

1. Manpower 2. Evansdale Pharmacy 3. Sandee's 4. Dalton Plumbing, Heating & Air Cond. 5. Transmission Rebuilders 6. City Builders 7. Dr. DJ 8. BMC Aggregates L.C. 9. Mike Fereday Heating & Air Conditioning 10. Cedar Valley Hospice 11. Trapp Realtors 12. Aspro Inc. 13. A to Z Learning Center 14. Gubbels One Hour Heating & Air Cond.

• PLASTERING • DRYWALL • METAL STUD SYSTEMS • EXTERIOR INSULATION FINISH SYSTEMS You Deserve The Best • KALKOTING Waterloo • PAINTING AND 319-296-1663 STAINING

233-7649

2125 FALLS AVE., WATERLOO

827 West 5th St., Waterloo: (319) 232-0900

Congratulations to Carole J. Gray of Waterloo "You Dream It...We'll Make It"

Over 40 Years Combined Experience USING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY

Serving Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Surrounding Areas

Cedar Valley Logo Contest

CEDAR FALLS 266-3513 WATERLOO 234-2150 WAVERLY 352-1405

1111 South St., Waterloo 235-1681 - Fax 235-9770 www.sandeesltd.com

4130

277-2121 www.trapprealtors.com 50 Years of Service

COOLING

Aggregates L.C.

A division of LSS management, Inc.

HEATING

1004 Decathlon Drive Waterloo

Contemporary Working

PLUMBING

LOCALLY OWNED Complete Transmission Work • Auto • Light Truck • 4x4s • Free Diagnosis In Most Cases • Ask About Our Warranty • Front Wheel Drive Specialists

The Professional Compounding Center of Iowa, Inc.

Sheila Ford

224 Byron Ave. Waterloo, IA 50702 319-433-0393

2398 Midway Ave., Denver, IA 50622 319-238-FINS (3467) dolphingymnastics@yahoo.com www.dolphingymnastics.com

Darwin E. Rittgers Conﬁdential • Civil Legal • Professional

K&S

Sherri Kayser CKD, CBD

DER & Associates

124 E. 18th St., Cedar Falls, IA For appointment call

www.piiowa.com P.O. Box 304 Waverly, IA 50677 319-352-9253

Specializes in kitchen and bath design for both new construction and remodeling projects. Featuring custom and semi-custom cabinetry, granite, quartz and Corian counter tops and custom closets.

319-493-0260

Creative Solutions. Superior Results

A leader in material handling service since 1949 2950 W. Airline Hwy. Waterloo 319-235-6741

Hellman.com 319-234-7055 39

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

DOMESTIC and FOREIGN

GOODYEAR TIRE CENTER

#1 in Tires 232-9991

500 Ansborough Ave.Waterloo

201 E. Mullan Avenue Waterloo, Iowa 319-234-6681 www.farnsworthelectronic. com

Dave Bartlett Construction, Inc. Residential General Contractor

Huff Contracting Inc.

Specializing in new homes, additions, and remodeling.

1310 Grandview Ave. Waterloo, Iowa 50703

Visit our website at www.davebartlettconstruction.com

319-233-9000

Sign up for Winter classes and workshops TODAY. Ceramica, digital arts, jewelry-making. Valentine's workshops and more. www.waterloocenterforthearts.org

PAGE K6

â&#x20AC;˘

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010

www.wcfcourier.com

â&#x20AC;˘

THE COURIER

Preschool and Toddler Sessions 2 1/2 - 5 year olds

Regular Program Sept.-May

CALL TO ENROLL NOW!! We have openings! A non-profit, parent supported, Christian-based, farm preschool.

Accepting enrollment for fall â&#x20AC;˘ Toddler 2 day â&#x20AC;˘ Preschool 3 and 5 day

Community United Child Care Centers, Inc. Westridge 234-5920 â&#x20AC;˘ Valley Park 277-7303 â&#x20AC;˘Nordic 266-4477 www.cuccc.org â&#x20AC;˘ 3 locations to better serve you.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Partnering with families to nurture and educate tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadersâ&#x20AC;?

St. John Lutheran Church 715 College St., Cedar Falls

Evansdale

236-6632

We provide quality child care for ages 6 weeks and up. Our highly experienced teachers are well trained and provide a loving and caring environment for your child. We have security cameras in every room. We offer: * Infant/toddler program with age appropriate activities for individual needs, parents get a daily record of your babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day. * Two year old preschool program to jump start learning. * Three â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ďŹ ve year old morning preschool to ensure your child is ready for kindergarten. * School age before & after school with transportation and summer care with ďŹ eld trips and fun. Learn & Play Preschool is a partner with the Waterloo School District and is now offering FREE preschool for children turning 4 years old by September 15, 2009.

268-0165 Call now to register for the 2010/2011 school year. Preschool learning activities to expand the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perception of self, God, other people and environment.

Serving Since 1970 CertiďŹ ed Experienced Teachers Fee scaling available. - Ages 2 Weeks - 10 Years Old

Quality Programs for all ages.

â&#x20AC;˘ CertiďŹ ed teachers â&#x20AC;˘ Extended daycare available for enrolled preschoolers - 6:45 am-5:30 pm daily â&#x20AC;˘ Three separate programs for 3-5 yr. olds â&#x20AC;˘ Summer daycare available

Hours: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

352-4664 1600 W. Bremer Ave., Waverly

(319) 277-6781

Pre-School 3 Day or 5 Day Pre-School 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. CertiďŹ ed Teachers - State Licensed

277-8121 215 W. 9th St., Cedar Falls cassamontessori@cfu.net Non proďŹ t and non-sectarian

4024 Alexandra Dr., Waterloo, IA 50702 (319) 226-5278 â&#x20AC;˘ Caring for children ages six weeks to school age in a quality, loving atmosphere â&#x20AC;˘ Preschool learning activities for all ages â&#x20AC;˘ State Licensed â&#x20AC;˘ Certified and Experienced Staff

CEDAR VALLEY PRESCHOOL and CHILD CARE CENTER

â&#x20AC;˘ Classes for 3s, 4s and 5s â&#x20AC;˘ A progressive educational program â&#x20AC;˘ Social interaction and directed instruction â&#x20AC;˘ A great learning environment and lots of smiles

Walnut Ridge Baptist Church 1307 W. Ridgeway, Waterloo www.wrbc.net 233-3545

Small World Preschool

Educated teachers provide nuturing and educational experiences to prepare preschoolers for long term success in and out of the classroom.

Now enrolling 3-5 Year Olds for Fall 2010. 2-3-5 day Pre-School Programs available.9AM - Noon with 8AM early drop off available. Located at the southern entrance of

Central Christian Church 3475 Kimball Ave., Waterloo Director: Erin McGrane

319-235-6808

DHS licensed preschool. QRS Rating Level Four

1737 Cornwall Ave.

Ages 6 Wks.-3 Yrs. Center Hours: 5:30-5:30 Mon.-Fri.

Center Hours: 5:30-5:30 Mon.-Fri. Preschool 9-12 Noon Mon.-Fri. Ages 2 yrs. thru school-age

287-6094

833-0053

Every child should experience Immanuel Lutheran â&#x20AC;˘ Superior Christ-Centered Education â&#x20AC;˘Certified Teaching Staff â&#x20AC;˘ Quality Academic Programs â&#x20AC;˘ Extra-Curricular Activities â&#x20AC;˘ Before and After School Care â&#x20AC;˘ Pre-K thru 8th Grade Kindergarten Roundup Mon., Feb. 22 - 6:00-7:00 PM March 7th All School Open House Pre-8th - 1-2 PM 207 Franklin Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50703 Phone: (319) 233-3967 Fax: (319) 232-6184 E-mail: ilscyclones@mchsi.com www.immanuelwaterloo.com Immanuel Lutheran School does not discriminate on the basis of race,creed, color, or national/ethnic origin in its admission policies

3900 Orchard Hill Drive, Cedar Falls

www.orchardhillchurchpreschool.org Phone 277-0564 for further details

Please visit us for our Registration Night February 1st, 5-7:00 pm Our Mission: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Helping children grow in a nurturing environment that promotes a lifelong relationship with Jesus.â&#x20AC;?

4UBUF -JDFOTFE q -JNJUFE 4DIPMBSTIJQ 0QUJPOT XXX DWQDDD DPN " 6OJUFE 8BZ "HFODZ BOE TVQQPSUFE CZ $FEBS 7BMMFZ 1SPNJTF

Montessori System School of Black Hawk County, Inc.

* ENROLLMENTS BEING ACCEPTED FOR AGES 2 MO. - 12 YEARS * OPEN FROM 5:45 AM 6 PM MON. - FRI. * 1/2 DAY, FULL OR WEEKLY RATES

3220 Terrace Drive Cedar Falls, Iowa

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICANTS

266-0745

OPEN HOUSE AND REGISTRATION FOR 2010/2011 TUESDAY Feb. 9th, 4:30-6:00 P.M. INFANT THROUGH PRESCHOOL O O Young Preschool O Preschool O Extended Day School O Childcare O Enrichment Programs O

A Z

A to Z Learning Center 4828 University, C.F. 266-6755 3823 W. 4th, Waterloo 234-1919 307 E. Donald, Waterloo 232-4325 3243 University Ave., Waterloo 232-2624 __________

Casa Montessori School 215 W. 9th, Cedar Falls 277-8121 __________

Learning Center and Day Care Preschool Open Houses Sunday, January 31, 2010 SACRED HEART 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - 234.6593 BLESSED SACRAMENT 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - 233.7863 ST. EDWARD 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - 233.6202 â&#x20AC;˘Catholic Christian setting â&#x20AC;˘CertiďŹ ed teachers delivering curriculum-based instruction â&#x20AC;˘Spanish, Music, and Physical Education with certiďŹ ed specialist teachers â&#x20AC;˘Three programs to choose from: three-day, four-day, and ďŹ ve-day

Limited Availability Registration opens January 29, 2010

Cedar Valley Catholic Schools Educate. Engage. Empower.

8FOEZnT %BZ $BSF q 4UBUF 3FHJTUFSFE q &EVDBUJPOBM "DUJWJUJFT q *OGBOUT 8FMDPNF

Clip and Save This Handy Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Directory

Building Bright Beginnings 202 Byron Ave., Waterloo 287-6094 1737 Cornwall Ave., Waterloo 833-0053 __________

3243 University Ave., Wâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;loo 319-232-2624 3823 W. 4th, Waterloo 319-234-1919 307 E. Donald, Waterloo 319-232-4325 4828 University, C.F. 319-266-6755 Hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Monday through Friday Ages: Infants (6 weeks) thru 13 Vistors Always Welcome

2 Locations: 202 Byron Ave.

1SPWJEJOH RVBMJUZ DIJMEDBSF GPS BHFT UISPVHI GPS ZFBST

Come Join The Fun

Where Learning Is Always An Adventure!!! â&#x20AC;˘ Year Round Preschool and Day Care â&#x20AC;˘ Kindergarten Readiness Program â&#x20AC;˘ School aged program with Transportation Available Before and After School â&#x20AC;˘ CACFP ENROLL NOW FREE Annual Registration With Ad

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A loving atmosphere â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Quality child care ages 6 weeks thru school age â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Development of each childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emotional and physical abilities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All staff members CPR and First Aid certified â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Nutritious meals and snacks

Classes available for 3-5 yr. olds

SMALL WONDERS LEARNING CENTER

Have FUN with the FUNdamentals!!!

Building Bright Beginnings

A United Way Agency

802 Main St. â&#x20AC;˘ Cedar Falls, IA 50613

â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

Where everyday is a field trip! The Farmstead Preschool does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s educational and admission policies.

St. John Preschool admits students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin. Jessica Finnegan, Director jessica@stjohncf.org www.stjohncf.org

WAVERLY CHILD CARE and PRESCHOOL CLOVER PATCH PRESCHOOL AND DAYCARE

Stephanie Hansen, Director 3603 Skyview Dr. Cedar Falls 277-1094

Cedar Terrace Learning Center 315 Oakridge Road, Waterloo 296-9221 __________ Cedar Valley Catholic Schools St. Edward â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 233-6202 Sacred Heart â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 234-6593 Blessed Sacrament _________â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 233-7863 Cedar Valley Preschool and Childcare 724 Lantz, Cedar Falls 268-1944 __________ Community United Child Care 3610 Ansborough, Waterloo 234-5920 5109 Nordic Dr., Cedar Falls 266-4477 1026 E. Seerley Blvd. Cedar Falls __________277-7303

Farmstead Preschool 3603 Skyview Dr., Cedar Falls 277-1094 __________ Immanuel Lutheran School 207 Franklin St., Waterloo 233-3967 __________ Kool Kids Child Care Inc. 4024 Alexandra Dr., Waterloo 226-5278 __________ Learn & Play Preschool and Daycare Evansdale 236-6632 __________ Montessori System School of Black Hawk County 3220 Terrace Dr., Cedar Falls 266-0745 __________ Orchard Hill Church Preschool 3900 Orchard Hill, Cedar Falls 266-9796 __________ St. John Preschool 715 College St. St. John Lutheran Church 268-0165 __________ St. Patrick Catholic School 802 Main St., Cedar Falls 277-6781 __________ Small Wonders Learning Center 1307 W. Ridgeway, Waterloo 233-3545 __________ Small World Preschool 3475 Kimball Ave., Waterloo 235-6808 __________ Waverly Child Care and Preschool 1600 W. Bremer, Waverly 352-4664