A special thanks to everyone who made the ~ Dollars for Dreams Auction ~ The dream is almost a reality! As the Community Dreams project is nearing completion, we realize how wonderful it is to call Edgewood-Colesburg home. This year, this site will be alive with activity. Little league teams will be hustling onto their diamonds, the soccer team will be running to the goals, and the track will be ready for students and adults to use. This fall, the Ed-Co Vikings will dedicate their new football field. This project began because a need was identified. Just to name a few issues: our soccer team couldn’t host other teams because we didn’t have a large enough field; our track teams practices on Edgewood city streets and cannot host track meets; and we have inadequate fields for the number of little league teams that we have. Basically, Edgewood-Colesburg students need safer facilities to practice on and to invite surrounding communities to compete on. The students are not the only ones that will benefit from this wonderful project. Quality of life issues are affecting every community. Health and fitness are becoming more of a necessity than a want. We will now be able to offer a track that will be used for adults and children to train and exercise. The downtown will potentially see increased revenues due to our new ability to have track meets, soccer matches, and little league tournaments. As increased revenue benefits our local businesses, it in turn helps the school district because of increased tax revenue. Amenities like this will also help attract and keep new families. The opportunity for a new housing project can only help our community prosper and grow. A large part of any small town life is high school sporting events. This is a place where people can come together and cheer on the students in a safe and fun atmosphere. We are so close to our goal! Last fall we were awarded a $150,000 Vision Iowa grant to put towards this project. The grant states that we must complete the project components identified in the grant application within one year of the grant award. The areas that need completed by September are:
We are having a soup and sandwich supper and benefit auction at Graffitti’s on Saturday, April 8th. If you have anything that you would like to donate, we are looking for new or quality used items. Items donated thus far include: office furniture, prints, the privilege of turning on the football field lights at the first football game, fruit/dessert of the month for a year, flower arrangement a month for a year, delivered breakfast for 4, Cal Ripken, Jr. autographed Baltimore Orioles jersey, 2 hour DJ services (private or public) provided by Bill Stock, and an antique dining room table. Many more items are being pledged daily. In conjunction with the live and silent auctions, we will be having a bake sale. Anyone wishing to donate your baked goods, please drop those items off at Graffitti’s anytime after Thursday, April 6th. Please contact Kevin Kleis at 563-928-6412 or Karen Schmitz at 563-928-6241 to pledge your items and be included in advertising/press releases. We would like to begin collecting the items March 15th, however, will accept them earlier if that is more convenient for you. Please let us know if you need any items to be picked up. So, mark your calendars for Saturday, April 8th. The night will be filled with food, fun, and friendship. What a wonderful way to support our children and community! Sincerely, Mike Putz |