Special to the Times Vedette

The 41st annual Readinger Reunion was held Sunday, July 14, 2024, at Mitchell Park in Guthrie Center with 52 in attendance.

Attendees from out of state included Roslyn Readinger of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; James, Shana, Erin, Eidind and Erika Wrzesinski of Centralia, Illinois; Jeff, Isaac and Zeke Wrzesinski of Radom, Illinois; Jennie Hug of Woodlawn, Illinois; and Sabrina Durham, along with Colby, Colene, and Jennie, of Woodlawn, Illinois.

Attendees from Iowa included Cathy Gomez of Bettendorf; Rick and Ella Crawford of Knoxville; Elizabeth and her children Timolin, Timaya, Timmeshia and Timon of Davenport; Mike Kelly and Braeden of Collins; Steve and Niki Readinger of Mt. Pleasant; Erin Readinger of North Liberty; Rhonda and David Mixon of Danville; Ethan, Jenna and their children Arya and Aurora of Danville; Maggie Miller and Philip Walsh, along with their children Arrow, Knox, Rosalie, and Sawyer of Burlington; and Chip, Dana and Ryan Readinger of Burlington 

Guthrie Center residents attending included Dan and Bonny Readinger; Dusty, Jen, Jacqueline and Gabe Readinger; and Matt, Heather and their children Ryan and Emma Martens.

Fun, fellowship and family updates were shared before, during and after the noon potluck.

Special to the Times Vedette

Join the Guthrie County Historical Village Foundation in Panora on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 5-7 p.m. for an evening of education, food, fun and fundraising for the Baker No. 2 School, located at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds in Guthrie Center.

Evening events will include a “History of Guthrie County Country Schools” presented by Rod Stanley – GCHV Foundation Board Member, a tour of our Cass 7 School, a view of rare country-school items from the GCHV collections, old-fashioned root beer floats, hot dogs and drinks, and entertainment by the guitar and fiddle duo, “Vintage Voices,” at 6 p.m.  Freewill donations will be accepted with all proceeds going to Baker No. 2.

Since 1958, the Guthrie County Fair has had a country school museum. The Guthrie County Historical Society was the first group to maintain and host the building during the fair. When the Historical Society folded in 1997, the Historical Village took the reins and has been hosting the school for visitors ever since. The Baker No. 2 schoolhouse is in need of relocation and repairs now. ​It’s the last historical building left in the floodplain of the fairgrounds, and efforts are underway to secure funding to cover the $14,400 needed to move the schoolhouse to the west side of the grounds.  Once in its new location, the interior will be restored so that this schoolhouse will be around for future generations who visit the fair. 

SCHEDULE:

• 5-7 p.m.: Explore the Village and Tour Cass No. 7.
• 5:15 p.m.: History of Guthrie County Country Schools by Rod Stanley, historian and GCHVF Board.
• 6 p.m.: Old-fashioned root beer floats by GCHV Foundation. Hot dogs and drinks by GCCB.
• 6-7 p.m.: “Vintage Voices” Guitar and Fiddle Duo. Bring a lawn chair to enjoy the music at the Village.

Contact the GCHV with questions at gchv@netins.net or 641-755-2989. The Guthrie County Historical Village is located at 206 W. South St. in Panora. 

Special to the Times Vedette 

Don’t worry. The petunias potted around Panora have not been vandalized. The Panora Garden Club members have simply given them a good summer trim, which helps to flush new growth and bloom late into the fall.

Special to the Times Vedette

After a year of fundraising, delicate site prep and hand-crafted, artisan construction by Beanstalk Builders, one of the most unique play spaces in the Midwest is ready to cut the ribbon. A Thursday, Sept. 5 opening of the Adele and Dean Bowden Treehouse Village at the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens in Madrid is now set, according to Mark Schneider, executive director. Children of all ages and abilities can take their appreciation of nature, and their imagination, to new heights.  

Treehouse Village is nestled in a quiet, wooded area across Peach Avenue from the Arboretum’s main campus. Paved paths through a tranquil setting slowly reveal play structures, treehouses, hammock and wheelchair swings, a ground-level zipline, a wooden suspension bridge over a ravine, a cargo net climbing station, quiet overlook gazebos and views of trees and an expansive valley. The main play structure features adaptive equipment for children.

“Treehouse Village is the first installment in a broader effort by the Iowa Arboretum to engage more young families’ appreciation of the natural world,” Schneider noted. “Beyond being a living collection of trees and plants that can be successfully grown in Iowa, the Iowa Arboretum is a place for families to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of play and enjoyment of beautiful outdoor settings.”

In addition to the lead gift from Dean and the late Adele Bowden, the project received the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant from the State of Iowa (Iowa Economic Development Authority). Sponsorship gifts for the play area were received from Fareway Meat and Grocery and Variety – the Children’s Charity. The project also received generous financial support from Arboretum members and the community at large.

Entrance to the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens which includes Treehouse Village is free to members, $12 for non-member adults and youth (13-17), $7 for children (3-12), and children ages 2 and younger are free. Admission ticketsgo on sale Aug. 7 and must be purchased on the Arboretum’s website at www.iowaarboretum.org

The Iowa Arboretum and Gardens and Treehouse Village are open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  An annual family membership is $85.

The Iowa Arboretum and Gardens features more than 5,000 living specimens with individually assigned accession numbers. Collection strengths include oaks, hardy nut trees, dwarf conifers, maples, irises and hostas.  The Arboretum’s trial garden program showcases new plants and shrubs under evaluation for hardiness from more than 20 plant companies. In addition to display, thematic, and genus-specific gardens, the 160-acre site also features natural woodland and native prairie trails.

The Iowa Arboretum and Gardens is a community-supported public garden inspiring curiosity, discovery, and appreciation of the natural landscape. Established in 1968 as a non-profit organization by the Iowa Horticultural Society in Boone County near Madrid, the Iowa Arboretum became a stand-alone organization in 1979. The Arboretum’s vision is to be a leading botanical, educational, and recreational destination fostering the value and enjoyment of nature. It features 160 acres displaying a unique collection of Iowa trees, landscapes and native ecosystems. To learn more, visit: www.iowaarboretum.org.