Listen to local Irish music and help our community!

Music for Meals is a benefit performance with refreshments, silent auction, and prizes to support the opening of a new local food pantry.

A new food pantry is opening in Coralville to help support the need for local food assistance. Between the flood and faltering economy, the Coralville region is reporting a rise in need by as much as 15 percent from last year.

On February 20, 2009 from 7-10 pm join your community at the North Ridge Pavilion in Coralville for “Music for Meals” and enjoy traditional Irish music performed b The Beggarmen.   They are renowned for their fierce playing of reels and jigs as well as for their elegant, layered renditions of beautiful ballads and slow airs. Opening for The Beggarmen will be soprano Dannye Frerichs and pianist David Evans performing Irish songs.

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Especially for You – 5k Recap

A friend of mine ran the Especially for You 5K in 28 minutes.  I walked it in 1 hour, 8 minutes.  But hey, I stopped to take pictures!

Last Sunday’s walk was awesome – more than 10,000 (10,194 to be exact) people came out to Mercy Hospital to show their support and raise money for breast cancer awareness.  The weather was perfect and the sense of community contagious. 

Here are some pictures I was able to snap during the walk.

More pics at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26661191@N04/sets/72157608034266620/

Here are some local stories recaping the event’s success:
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081013/NEWS/710139950/1006/NEWS

A cool little blog: http://sydneyri.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/especially-for-you-walk-for-cancer/

posted by: heatherjoy77

Labor Day Weekend in the Corridor – so much to do it’s hard to choose!

There are a number of fun, family-friendly events to choose from this weekend. Here’s a quick rundown.

Freedom Festival Parade & Fireworks

After the flood forced the cancelation of the Freedom Festival in July, dozens of coordinators and community volunteers worked to ensure we still celebrated this fall.  This weekend the Freedom Festival returns as a “Celebration of Community.”  This Saturday (Aug 30) at 9:00 there will be a free parade at Kirkwood Community College.

Bike riding and Bluegrass

Central City showcases two festivals this weekend – CC Rider and the 33rd annual Bluegrass Festival.

The decorated bikes have adorned lawns and businesses for weeks. Some were spray painted purple from rim to rim, some held flower baskets, and others sparkled in the summer sun. Regardless of the artist’s intention, each drew attention and encouraged passersby to participate in Central City’s 8^th annual CC Rider festival.  Finally, on Saturday, August 23^rd, the bid day arrived.

The Central City Main Street organization puts on the CC Rider Community Festival and Bike Ride every year, which began in 2001. The heart of the festival revolves around a number of bike rides. Participants could choose from either a 14, 34, 62 or the new 100 mile route through scenic Grant Wood Country. The Festival also features a 5k Run/Walk for adults as well as kids. There is also a bike safety “rodeo” and scavenger hunt for the kids.

I found the beef and it’s in Solon!

This weekend (July 18 and 19) the community of Solon will swell as residents return to this prideful hometown and others come to see what all the fuss is about.

Solon Beef Days features bands, pedal tractor pulls, hay bale throwing contests, carnival rides, and beef of course! Check out the website for a full schedule.

Beef Days got it’s start back in 1971 when four local organizations came together to start an “old time celebration.” Because the Johnson County Cattlemen’s Association cooked steaks for the event, it seemed like “Beef” should be in the event’s name.

Come enjoy the fun, get to meet some of your neighbors and witness another first-class community in the Corridor come together with pride.

posted by: danaengelbert