It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Ely's Stone Bridge gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Ely, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Ely City Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Odie's Bar & Grill or visit Ely-Winton Historical Society, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Ely, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Ely, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Ely, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
A University of Iowa student appeared on NBC’s “The Voice” Monday night and is moving forward in the competition under pop star Gwen Stefani’s tutelage.Eli Ward, 21, from Waterloo, Illinois, is a Division 1 athlete that ran track and cross country at UI. He also writes, records and produces music.Ward appeared on the final episode of blind auditions of Season 24 of “The Voi...
A University of Iowa student appeared on NBC’s “The Voice” Monday night and is moving forward in the competition under pop star Gwen Stefani’s tutelage.
Eli Ward, 21, from Waterloo, Illinois, is a Division 1 athlete that ran track and cross country at UI. He also writes, records and produces music.
Ward appeared on the final episode of blind auditions of Season 24 of “The Voice,” a singing competition where famous singers form teams of talented up-and-coming musicians who battle it out on stage to win the show.
“Leaving running for music my final year at college is definitely not the easiest decision, but I think it’s absolutely the right choice,” Ward said befor his performance on stage. “I think a chair turn would even validate that further.”
The student athlete manifested not one, but two chair turns from pop star Gwen Stefani and country’s beloved singer Reba McEntire.
Ward performed “Bruises” by Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, captivating “The Voice” coach and former One Direction singer Niall Horan seconds into his performance, evident by Horan’s, “Ooh.”
Stefani was the first to turn for Ward, followed later by McEntire. The country singer was the first to greet Ward after he completed his performance, visibly shaken by the experience and pressed a hand to his chest as the audience applauded.
“Hello, I’m good,” he told McEntire. “How are you?”
“I’m good,” she said with a smile. “You OK?”
“I’m great,” Ward said. “I’m sorry, that was crazy.”
“Well Eli, that was really wonderful,” McEntire said. “I liked your song that you sang and it's totally different than anybody else I've got on my team. I love your voice. It's a different tone. I loved your approach to everything. It really appealed to me. So that's why I turned around and I'd love to have you on my team. The Reba team.”
It was then that Horan noticed just how similarly he and Ward were dressed, both in white undershirts with light colored button ups and pants, and got up to stand by the UI student.
“We’re just two cool guys,” Horan said. “Look at us, we’re so handsome together.”
Stefani told Ward how well he started off in his performance, indicating to her his potential.
John Legend, another coach on “The Voice,” noted that he and the other coaches could feel Ward’s surprise when Stefani turned for him, and said that Ward will no longer have to experience that feeling again. Instead, Ward can just be on the show, be excited and “be the best performer you can be,” Legend said.
“I think that you're really, really talented,” Stefani said. “I love raw talent, and I would love to have you on team Gwen.”
Ward, who chose to join Stefani’s team and will continue to compete on the show, announced his involvement on his social media in September, sharing with followers that he was, “Excited to let you all in on a little secret.”
Ward’s music is available to stream on Spotify.
Watch Season 24 of “The Voice” on NBC or stream on Peacock the next day. “The Voice” airs Mondays at 7 p.m. CT and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. CT.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at PBarraza@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
Marc Franke usually charges his 2013 Nissan Leaf — the first globally mass-produced fully electric vehicle — in his garage in Ely.But during the winter, when the Leaf’s range of 72 miles between charges is reduced by one-third or more by the cold, Franke plans his outings based on where he can get a charge before returning home.“Suddenly in the winter, that infrastructure is important to me,” said Franke, 71, a retired engineer and project manager.The Iowa Department of Transportation this m...
Marc Franke usually charges his 2013 Nissan Leaf — the first globally mass-produced fully electric vehicle — in his garage in Ely.
But during the winter, when the Leaf’s range of 72 miles between charges is reduced by one-third or more by the cold, Franke plans his outings based on where he can get a charge before returning home.
“Suddenly in the winter, that infrastructure is important to me,” said Franke, 71, a retired engineer and project manager.
The Iowa Department of Transportation this month will submit a plan to the federal government for how Iowa would spend $51.4 million over five years to expand electric vehicle charging capacity along interstate highways, including I-80, I-380, I-35 and I-29.
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program will provide $5 billion nationally through 2026 for new charging stations at least every 50 miles and within 1 mile of interstates.
“We’re expecting these sites at convenience stores, maybe shopping malls, movie theaters,” said Stuart Anderson, Iowa DOT director of the transportation development division. “Some nice publicly-available spots with some of those amenities are already in place.”
Iowa already has 276 public charging stations, including 71 that offer fast charging, according to data from the U.S. Department of Energy. There are three types of charging stations:
Level 2 charging often is free at convenience stores, grocery stores and other businesses, which likely expect customers will spend money while waiting for their electric vehicle to charge.
In Iowa, Des Moines has the highest number of charging locations at 39, with Iowa City and Coralville combined having 33. Cedar Rapids has 16, Ames 12 and Davenport 11. Another 86 Iowa cities and towns have at least one charging station. Many of these sites have more than one charging port.
Iowa had more than 8,300 electric vehicles registered as of Dec. 31. Johnson County has the highest adoption rate, with 5.7 EV’s per 1,000 residents. The other top 10 counties are:
Iowa requires an additional registration fee for battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. In May 2019, Iowa had 1,200 battery EV’s and 2,100 plug-ins, but less than three years later, there are 5,000 battery EV’s and 4,400 plug-ins.
“The growth is definitely faster on the pure EV side,” Anderson said. “Four times the number in less than three years.”
With 276 public charging stations, Iowa has one charging station for every 30 electric vehicles registered in the state.
“Based on anecdotal information I hear, the system we have in Iowa right now meets the needs of EV owners in Iowa and those who travel through the state of Iowa,” Anderson said. “The challenge is we’re seeing accelerating growth in Iowa and across the country. There is a need to continue investment with public support. We are seeing some reluctance for folks to make longer trips — range anxiety.”
Franke was 23 in 1973, when Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries imposed an embargo on oil to the United States that caused gas prices to skyrocket amid shortages.
“You couldn’t even get gas,” said Franke, who was working as an engineer at General Motors in Michigan. “After a couple of hours, you’d finally get to the pump and it would run out. It got to the point where range became a big deal. Everybody wanted to buy cars that would go 400-500 miles on a single tank.”
Franke was appalled by the toll the embargo took on the U.S. economy. He sees many similarities between 1973 and 2022, when Russia’s war against Ukraine is part of the reason gas prices have spiked.
“We need to get off of petroleum as our primary fuel,” Franke said.
He moved to Iowa in 1985 and later joined the board for five year of the Iowa Renewable Energy Association, a Hiawatha-based nonprofit that seeks to expand use of renewable energy.
Franke and his wife, Cheri, bought the Leaf in 2013, the same year they added solar panels to their roof in Ely.
“It took about eight years for the payoff,” he said of the solar panels, which charge his car. “Now I’m driving around on free electricity from the sun.”
Franke is hoping this fall to upgrade his EV to a Chevrolet Bolt, which has a range of 259 miles per charge.
Franke knows where all the EV charging stations are around the Corridor. He knows he can meet his son for lunch at the North Dodge Hy-Vee in Iowa City and charge the car’s battery while they eat. Or if he drives into Cedar Rapids, the NewBo City Market or Cedar Rapids Public Library are good places to charge.
“The biggest places where there haven’t been many chargers is north of town, up in Hiawatha,” he said. “There is no public charger up there. Same things at Westdale Mall, no public chargers.”
Hiawatha could benefit from the new federal infrastructure funding for charging stations, which have to be within a mile of the interstate.
But Alliant Energy, an investor-owned utility that serves customers in Iowa and Wisconsin, also is looking at EV registrations and existing infrastructure to see where they can help install more charging stations, said Melissa McCarville, a spokesperson for the company’s electrification team.
“We have been looking at that same data and looking at our service area and seeing which areas might be willing to partner with us,” she said.
Last year Alliant joined the National Electric Highway Coalition, a group of 50 utility companies that commit to providing enough Level 3 fast charging stations to “allow the public to drive EVs with confidence along all major U.S. travel corridors by the end of 2023.”
Alliant is collaborating to help install a new charging station in Decorah and is looking for other sites, McCarville said.
Electric vehicle use is expected to increase tenfold by 2030, pushing Iowa and other states to prepare for a loss in revenue from gas tax, which brought in about $675 million in fiscal 2021.
The Iowa Legislature in 2019 approved an EV registration fee on top of regular vehicle registration. For battery EV’s the fee is $130 a year; plug-in hybrid EVs cost an extra $65.
The fee was designed to generate the same amount of revenue as what is lost from the fuel tax, Anderson said.
“That covers Iowa registered passenger vehicles,” he said. “What we don’t have captured are out-of-state EVs and we’re not capturing any user fees from large battery-powered semi trucks.”
Starting July 1, 2023, Iowa will start charging 2.6 cents per kilowatt-hour for charging at non-residential locations, such as convenience stores, truck stops and private trucking terminals.
The system isn’t perfect, Anderson said. The EV fee is the same no matter how many miles you drive, unlike the gas tax, which brings in more revenue from people who drive more. And the state’s charging infrastructure isn’t yet adapted to charging electric semis or buses.
“There are a lot more challenges to the ability to install that charging infrastructure and handle those heavy loads,” he said. “That will be an interesting transition.”
Comments: (319) 339-3157; erin.jordan@thegazette.com
Nearly two-thirds of voters opposed projectMarissa Payne ELY — Ely voters soundly rejected a $7 million bond referendum for a new Community Center — a facility that would have housed City Hall, the public library and recreational services.The new facility, proposed to be built where City Hall currently sits at 1570 Rowley St., off State Street, was intended to be more noticeable for residents and visitors, accessible to tr...
Nearly two-thirds of voters opposed project
ELY — Ely voters soundly rejected a $7 million bond referendum for a new Community Center — a facility that would have housed City Hall, the public library and recreational services.
The new facility, proposed to be built where City Hall currently sits at 1570 Rowley St., off State Street, was intended to be more noticeable for residents and visitors, accessible to trails and other amenities.
The bond issue failed with 61 percent of votes opposed, according to unofficial results.
In Iowa, bond issues — basically, loans that cities take out, typically for 10, 15 or 20 years — need approval by at least 60 percent of voters to pass. Voters must agree to repay the bond with interest through their property taxes.
Officials estimated property taxes would have increased, at most, $300 to $480 a year, depending on the assessed value of a resident’s property.
City Administrator Eldy Miller said he anticipated the vote would come in closer than it did, but residents showed they want more information.
He said the committee leading the charge on the project would assess a path forward and continue to engage residents. Miller said Ely is a growing community and unique in lacking a community center.
“As we grow, it’s going to become a higher and higher priority,” Miller said.
Before determining whether or not to proceed with the project or how, Miller said he wants to reconnect with the city council and with the project committee.
“It’s an opportunity for us to take a pause here for a moment, really evaluate this and make sure what we’re doing is what the majority of residents of Ely want,” Miller said.
The library would have been given more space — keeping its food pantry and including a room with the capacity for 500 people that the public can rent for special events. There was a proposed walking track, workout area, exercise classes, senior activity space and gym space that could be converted for pickleball, volleyball, basketball and more.
Residents would not have had to pay to use this facility and could have signed up for free memberships and access to the Community Center through 24/7 access cards for areas such as the walking track, gym and fitness area, according to the city website. It was planned to have monitoring systems for after-hour use.
Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com
by Misti Huedepohl, First Presbyterian Church Near Ely, Iowa | Special to Presbyterian News ServiceThe lines of 164 years of Czech history at First Presbyterian Church Near Ely, Iowa blurred with current day Ukraine and the result was unexpectedly amazing.How did such a thing happen at a small country church, where traditional mission activities have included monthly collections for the food pantry; “Tractorcade,” an annual group tracto...
The lines of 164 years of Czech history at First Presbyterian Church Near Ely, Iowa blurred with current day Ukraine and the result was unexpectedly amazing.
How did such a thing happen at a small country church, where traditional mission activities have included monthly collections for the food pantry; “Tractorcade,” an annual group tractor ride across Iowa’s countryside; and instructional “Kolach Kamps,” where the kitchen becomes the classroom and bakers learn to craft the perfect kolach?
The person who linked this rural Iowa church to an active Ukrainian warzone is a retired Presbyterian minister, the Rev. Jan Dus. Although he works as a professional genealogist and lives in Czechia, Dus studied at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and has helped families at First Presbyterian Church Near Ely and beyond with genealogical research. In addition, Dus has visited the historic First Presbyterian Church Near Ely, which is about 10 miles south of Cedar Rapids, the home of the Czech Village historic neighborhood.
In recent years, Dus helped form a humanitarian nongovernmental organization called Camino, which he serves as CEO. Camino volunteers regularly visit Ukraine to survey the needs of the people living there, using an app to receive live alerts signaling bombing to them safely navigate the violence. With most Ukrainian men fighting on the battlefield, volunteers find that many women and children are left to live in desperate conditions, with many of Ukraine’s elderly population living in bombed care centers.
Dus contacted friends around the world seeking financial support for Camino. Because Dus is a friend of the church, First Presbyterian Church Near Ely’s session considered its 2023 mission plans and decided to pivot by looking beyond the local neighborhood to neighbors around the world. Efforts to benefit Camino were undertaken over a few months. On Mother’s Day, the final collection was totaled and then electronically transferred to Camino as traditional mail service to Ukraine remains unreliable.
The Rev. Dr. Julie Schuett, pastor of First Presbyterian Church Near Ely, said that $2,300 was transferred to Camino. That’s 60% of the church’s designated mission budget, Schuett said.
A few days after the electronic transfer, Camino confirmed receipt of the funds. Dus reported that baby formula was purchased and distributed to women and children in Ukraine.
This mission effort is one way an Iowa church bridged international borders to serve the greater world, caring for people in need.
Click here to learn more about the work of Camino.
Facility would include City Hall, library, recreational servicesMarissa Payne ELY — Residents of Ely will be asked on the Nov. 7 ballot to consider supporting a $7 million bond referendum for a new Community Center — a facility with three uses that would house City Hall, the library and other recreational services.Located where City Hall currently sits at 1570 Rowley St., off State Street, City Clerk Tara Miller, the inter...
Facility would include City Hall, library, recreational services
ELY — Residents of Ely will be asked on the Nov. 7 ballot to consider supporting a $7 million bond referendum for a new Community Center — a facility with three uses that would house City Hall, the library and other recreational services.
Located where City Hall currently sits at 1570 Rowley St., off State Street, City Clerk Tara Miller, the interim city administrator, said that would make the facility more noticeable for residents and visitors — near downtown, accessible to trails and other amenities.
Miller said city officials have worked for a couple years to get the community's insight in surveys on what residents want in a facility. A special committee with representation from the library, parks and recreation and the city administrator came up with the community center.
“Love the history of our old school house, but it would take a lot of money to make it (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant and just updates that need to be done to the building,” Miller said. A 2022 city needs assessment found City Hall needs about $1 million in upgrades to bring the building up to code.
If approved in November, officials estimate property taxes would increase, at most, $300 to $480 a year, depending on the assessed value of a resident’s property.
Residents have wanted a walking track and a gymnasium, and the library needs more space, Miller said. She said other communities have seemed to have success with dual-use facilities.
The library would maintain its food pantry and a room with the capacity for 500 people that the public can rent for family gatherings and reunions or other special events. In addition to the walking track, there would be a workout area, exercise classes, senior activity space and gym space that can be converted for pickleball, volleyball, basketball and more.
Residents would not need to pay to use this facility and could sign up for free memberships and access to the Community Center through 24/7 access cards for areas such as the walking track, gym and fitness area, according to the city website. It would have monitoring systems for after-hour use.
Children under a certain age would have to be accompanied by an adult to use the facility. Other gym users of the gym who are not residents would need to pay for their membership or use of the facility.
“We thought that it would be a great opportunity for us,” Miller said.
A 2021 city needs assessment found the current 5,000-square-foot library should be 18,500 square feet to support the community’s growth needs, as officials project the potential to reach 3,000 residents by 2028 — an increase of about 30 percent.
There also is a demand for more space for events and programming. According to the city website, outdoor recreation program attendance saw a 60 percent bump from 2017 to 2022, and a 168 percent increase in library program attendance from 2015 to 2019. There have been 402 new library programs and 80 new recreation sessions offered, and 35 annual community events.
Miller said officials estimate it will take about a year for fundraising to secure additional money through grants or private contributions for what may be needed beyond the $7 million. Miller was unsure what that gap may be.
If approved, the project would be bid and construction would begin in mid-2024 after design and construction documents are finalized following the vote.
Crews would tear down the current City Hall building and take out the tennis courts next door. The facility would go on that land because the city owns this property, Miller said, or else the city would have to acquire other land. A nearby garage would be renovated into a temporary city office during construction.
After the existing structures are cleared, Miller said it would take about two years to build the new facility, until late 2025 or in 2026.
If the vote does not pass, according to the city website, the committee “would regroup to amend the scope of the project in preparation for a new referendum vote for residents.” Referendum votes can only take place in November in odd years.
More project information is available at www.elyiowa.com/city-updates/pages/community-center.
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