Grinnell-Newburg schools to celebrate Walk to School Day on October 7, 2009

Grinnell-Newburg schools will be joining schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 7, 2009. Children and families are encouraged to walk or bike to school together.

Walk to School Day began as a simple idea – children and families, school and local officials walking to school together on a designated day. It is an energizing event, reminding everyone of the simple joy of walking to school, the health benefits of regular daily activity, environmental responsibility, and the importance of building connections between families, schools, and the broader community.

“Walk to School Day is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and have a single designated day to walk to school,” said Edie Eckles, superintendent of the Grinnell-Newburg School District. “It is my hope that this event will be a lasting positive experience and more children will walk or bike to school on a regular basis.”

Families should encourage their children to follow pedestrian safety rules or join in the event themselves to see children safely to school. Contests for both the students and teachers will be held in each of the schools. The classroom from each school with the highest percentage of bikers and/or walkers will receive a pizza party and their teacher will receive $100 in chamber bucks.

Grinnell-Newburg will be among one of the anticipated 5,000 schools from all 50 states. Grinnell walkers will join children and adults in 40 countries around the world.

Community supporters of the event include: Grinnell College, Grinnell Parks and Recreation, Grinnell Police Department, Grinnell Chamber of Commerce, Imagine Grinnell, and Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance.

Runners/Bikers Turnout for Wet August 2nd Saturdays Event

Check out these photos from our 2nd Saturday's event last week. Great start and then it poured. Thanks to all those who coordinated and attended the event, despite the rainy weather.

Here are the times recorded from the event:

Jennifer McCombs - 28:39

Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff- 28:40

Drew Cooper - 19:57
Jonathon McCombs - 28:15

Ben Finkelstein 26:48:39

JP Prouty 26:48.84

Lawrence McNaul 27:50

Mick McCombs 28:15

Tom Bachmann 25:16

Hope to see everyone at our season finale on Saturday, Sept. 12! Watch the blog for more details!

July 2nd Saturdays Event Results

We had 21 runners, walkers and bikers turnout this past Saturday for the third event of the season. Congratulations to our runners who showed great time this month!!! Here are the times from the event on Saturday, July 11th:

Ben Cunningham - 20:27
Jesse Lang - 20:47
David Michael - 26:49
Francesca Cunningham - 27:51
Annie Lang 28:37
Mike McCombs 28:52.41
Jonathan McCombs 28:52.75
Jennifer McCombs 31.14
Michelle Jensen 31:27
Lucy Chang 31:35.33
Maura Strassburg 31.35.68

There are only two more events left this season and remember every time you participate you are entered into a drawing for $150 from Bikes To You and a family four pass to the new Aquatic Center. The more you attend, the better chance you have to win!!! See you in August.

Imagine Grinnell Finds New Home at Ahrens Foundation

Starting May 1, 2009, the Imagine Grinnell office will be permanently located in the headquarters of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation at 1510 Penrose St. in Grinnell.

The move tells a story of how numerous community partnerships have linked together. The story began in the fall of 2007, when Imagine Grinnell and the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation developed a partnership born out of their shared missions to improve quality of life in the community. Founded in 1989, the primary goal of GPCF is to assist donors in efficiently and effectively supporting nonprofit organizations that make life better for people in Poweshiek County. Through its relationship with the Ahrens Foundation, GPCF has provided Imagine Grinnell with administrative and asset management services since January 2008.

“With such a close mission fit between the GPCF and Imagine Grinnell, moving the Imagine Grinnell office to the Ahrens Foundation is a natural next step,” says Denise Lamphier, current president of Imagine Grinnell. “We have already benefited from the expertise the Ahrens Foundation team brings to the table and look forward to this new ‘living arrangement.’ The entire board is excited because this move will help Imagine Grinnell achieve greater efficiencies in serving the Grinnell community. That means our board and executive director can focus on the good work that needs to be done to keep Grinnell one of the coolest communities on the planet.”

Imagine Grinnell’s new contact information is as follows:

Address: 1510 Penrose Street, P.O. Box 344
Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: (641) 236-5518
Fax: (641) 236-5590
Email: imaginegrinnell@iowatelecom.net

Grinnell Bike Week 2009 Highlights


Grinnell Bike Week kicked off on May 9th, with Imagine Grinnell’s first 2nd Saturdays bike/walk/run event of the season. The number of participants for our May event significantly increased over last year. In May of 2008, only eight people registered for the event. In May of 2009, twenty-three people took part in the event.


After 20 people registered with BikeIowa.com to commit to commuting to work by bike during Bike to Work Week 2008, we revamped our programming and aimed for a 50 percent increase in the number of people who registered with BikeIowa.com for 2009. This year, Grinnell ranked 9th in the state of Iowa with 72 registered riders indicating they were commuting from Grinnell to employment destinations. Grinnell ranked 8th for those commuting to Grinnell by bike with 70 registered riders.


The number of employers also rose significantly, with Grinnell College ranked 9th in the state overall with 38 registered riders. Grinnell Regional Medical Center had a solid showing with 7 registered riders, as did the City of Grinnell with 5 riders.

Way to go Grinnell Bikers!!!

Parks Spruced Up for Spring!

On Saturday, May 2, community members gathered to clean up Central and Jaycee's Parks to welcome the 2009 spring season to Grinnell. Thank you to everyone who came out to make the parks clean-up a success!

Check out some pictures from the event!

May is Bike Month!

There's a great slate of biking programs coming to Grinnell in May.

Friday, May 1st: Commuting by Bike 101
Mark Wyatt from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition will discuss all things related to commuting via bike. The class is FREE. Registration will start at 11:30 at the Veteran's Memorial Building with class running from noon until 1:30. Bring a sack lunch and join us for this great program.



Friday, May 8th: Bike Maintenance 101
Craig Cooper from Bikes To You will cover basic bicycle maintence. Like the commuting class, it will take place at the Veteran's Memorial Building. Running from 11:30 registration through 1:30.




The Bike Rodeo for kids, organized by the Grinnell Police and Recreation Departments, will be on Friday, May 15 on Commercial Street. This event is for Kindergarten thru 6th Grade. Registration will begin at 4pm and the rodeo will last until 5:30.

BIKE TO WORK WEEK


DAILY ACTIVITIES MAY 9-15

Saturday, May 9th - 2nd Saturday kick-off event
Registration 8:15 Event starts at 9am
Bike Trail head on Sunset Street, south of Grinnell High School

Get Movin' Monday: Ride your bike & bring your helmet into
GRINNELL COFFEE CO. OR SAINT'S REST
to receive a complimentary 12oz coffee

Taco Tuesday: Ride your bike & bring your helmet into
TACO JOHN'S
for a 69 cent crispy taco or bean burrito

Helmet Hair Wednesday
Stop into BIKES TO YOU with your helmet to have your picture taken
Most outrageous Helmet Hair wins a prize.

Thirsty Thursday: Ride your bike and bring your helmet to
PAGLIAI'S PIZZA for a free drink with entree or pizza purchase

Feeding Frenzy Friday: Ride your bike and bring your helmet to
LONNSKI'S and get 15% off your lunch or dinner bill


Be sure to register for Bike to Work Week at www.bikeiowa.org