(Photo by Roz Weis)
Decorah butterfly garden seeking volunteers
The Decorah Community Butterfly Garden is seeking volunteers.
The Decorah Community Prairie was established in 2002, and the butterfly garden was planted soon after, as a sample of the grasses and flowers which can be found in the prairie. It was designed to provide larval food plants for caterpillars and nectar sources for adult
butterflies. Many organizations, local businesses and individuals contributed both time and funds to make this city project possible. Decorah Parks and Recreation depends on volunteers to help in the maintenance of the butterfly garden.
Volunteers are invited to join organizers on Tuesday mornings beginning this spring. Work may be completed on each volunteer’s schedule, but organized work sessions will take place Tuesday mornings through the fall — from 9-11 a.m. May through June, 8-10 a.m. July through August, and 9-11 a.m. September through October.
Those who are interested in volunteering will be introduced to a specific plant plots which they may adopt. Organizers will help in identification. Volunteers are expected to care for their individual plot throughout the growing season and keep it weeded, watered if needed and mulched. Other tasks include transplanting, removing aggressive plants and collecting seeds in the fall. A few tools are provided, and volunteers may bring their own tools if they prefer.
For more information, contact the Decorah Parks and Recreation office at 563328-4158 or email parkrec@ decorah.iowa.gov.
Photo submitted
Winneshiek Energy District to host summer book club
The Winneshiek Energy District and First Lutheran Church invite the public to read and discuss the book
“What if We Get It Right? Visions of a climate future” by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. The group’s summer book club discussions will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 5 and Thursday, June 26 in the fireside lounge at First Lutheran Church, located at 604 W. Broadway St. in Decorah — participants can expect to discuss approximately half the book during each session. The events are open to the public. Those interested in joining for one or both discussions are encouraged to sign up online at energydistrict.org/events.
us that responding to climate change is a community effort that takes many leaders with different areas of expertise. We all have something to offer,” said Winneshiek Energy District Director Kristin Eggen.
Decorah Public Library prepares to kick off summer reading program
Emplify Health by Gundersen urges caution amid rise in pertussis cases
“Discussing these ideas with community members will be especially powerful, because at the end of the day all change starts at a local level.”
“Johnson’s book reminds
The book is available through local retailer Dragonfly Books at a 10 percent discount and other retailers. Johnson’s work is also available as an audio book through Libro.fm.The Winneshiek Energy District has a limited number of copies participants may borrow. The public may email kristin@energydistrict.org to inquire about borrowing a copy.
LifeServe to host trio of blood drives next month
LifeServe Blood Center will be holding several blood drives next month. The first will take place from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday, June 3 in the fellowship hall of Calmar Lutheran Church — 200 North East St. in Calmar. Another will be held from 12:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, June 9 at the Fort Atkinson Community Center — 303 Third St.
Northwest in Fort Atkinson. The third will take place from 12:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26 in the fellowship hall of Stone Ridge Community Church — 1111Montgomery St. For more information about blood donation or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 800-287-4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org.
Saddle club donates more than $3,600 to Camp Sunnyside
The Winneshiek County Saddle Club participated in the statewide Pony Express Ride last month, raising more than $3,600 for Camp Sunnyside, a camp near Des Moines for children and adults with disabilities. The club raised funds through donations, a benefit dance, selling raffle tickets and conducting a road block in Calmar on Good Friday.
This year’s raffle prize, a 2024 Massimo four-wheeler, was won by Jim Fredrickson of Atlantic. The Winneshiek Saddle Club has been participating in the annual Pony Express Ride since 1970 and has sent a total of more than $153,400 to the camp during the last 55 years. The club expressed its appreciation for those who have helped support the camp.
Organizers with the Decorah Public Library will be hosting a party to kick off its annual summer reading program. The celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 31 at the Carrie Lee Elementary field and playground. Attendees may enjoy bubbles with Absolute Science, lawn games, and the library’s mobile booth in addition to a free scoop of ice cream from the Sugar Bowl.
County conservation invites public to go on Driftless Safari
Driftless Safari is a free, county-wide scavenger hunt which helps people of all ages get outside and explore the natural treasures of Winneshiek County. The public may join the 2025 Driftless Safari by picking up a free guidebook at any public library in Winneshiek County. Each guidebook has information on the featured Driftless Safari sites, which participants can visit in any order and at any time between Earth Day and Halloween. Adventurers may explore the featured sites to find hidden rubbing posts and make crayon rubbings in their guidebooks. Winneshiek County Conservation hosts the Driftless Safari each summer in collaboration with Winneshiek County’s public libraries. Participants are asked to register for Driftless Safari when picking up a guidebook in order to help track the program’s success and prepare enough materials for future years. Questions may be directed to Winneshiek County Conservation at 563-534-7145, and registration may be completed online at www.winneshiekwild.com/driftless-safari.
Emplify Health by Gundersen is raising awareness about pertussis — or whooping cough — which providers there continue to see in the community. Officials at Emplify Health said staff is particularly focused on educating the community about pertussis, which Emplify described as a highly contagious airway infection. The illness primarily affects children but can pose serious risks to individuals of all ages, especially those with underlying health conditions.
Megan Meller, infection prevention specialist at Emplify Health by Gundersen, emphasized vigilance when it comes to whooping cough.
“Pertussis is not just a simple childhood illness; it can be dangerous and even life-threatening for vulnerable populations,” Meller said. “We urge our community to take precautions around sick individuals, especially if they or their loved ones are at higher risk of complications. Early recognition and treatment are crucial in managing this infection.”
Pertussis spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets, according to Emplify. Early symptoms resemble
the common cold, and health officials said stressed the need for the community to be aware of symptoms and steps to prevent its spread. Treatment is available for those exposed to prevent the infection from developing. While the disease is considered rare, with fewer than 200,000 cases reported annually in the United States, it often requires medical attention and can last several months if left untreated. Emplify encouraged the public to contact a healthcare provider promptly if symptoms of pertussis develop. To help the community navi-
Officials at Emplify also recommend vaccination to ensure — the DTaP vaccine is recommended for children, while the Tdap
er is advised for adolescents and adults. The public should also practice good hygiene by washing hands frequently. If
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Breckbill reflects on time farming at West Bank’s Tent of Nations
(This article originally published in the May 1 Decorah Leader, find past editions of the newspaper at decorahleader.com)
BY SETH BOYES
DECORAH LEADER NEWS EDITOR
Things weren’t entirely unfamiliar for Hannah Breckbill, even though she was about 6,200 miles from home.
Breckbill, who helps operate
Humble Hands Harvest north of Decorah, travelled to the West Bank earlier this year, and spent several weeks working alongside Palestinian farmers on an operation called Tent of Nations. Breckbill had previously visited the West Bank in 2008, and she had the opportunity to return after her brother took a position in France as the director of the Paris Mennonite Center — officials with the German Mennonite Peace Committee were seeking volunteers willing to work at Tent of Nations during the winter as part of an ongoing effort to deter the encroachment on the farm by neighboring Israeli settlements, and word of the opportunity soon reached Breckbill. Breckbill left the U.S. on Jan. 28 and arrived back in Iowa last month.
“The farm work basically kept us busy, but the point was — for us as international people — to be on the farmland itself 24/7 so that the surrounding Israeli settlements would not be emboldened to kind of appropriate pieces of the farm, destroy olive trees or beat up the Palestinian family,” Breckbill said, adding such behavior has previously been reported by those at Tent of Nations. “The presence of international people there is a pretty effective preventatives of that kind of bad behavior. The Tent of Nations family relies on international presence to maintain their land and be able to keep their land.”
Breckbill said, though she’s far from fluent in Arabic, she can pick out a number of words and phrases, and she could hear the excitement among the farmers at Tent of Nations when she told them she herself was a farmer.
“That felt good, and they entrusted me with a lot,” she said.
Breckbill said the Tent of Nations operation includes about 100 acres and produces olives, figs and almonds — all tree crops. She was part of a group of seven visiting volunteers who worked on the farm over the course of about 3.5 weeks
— four of her fellow volunteers were from the Netherlands, one was from Germany and another was from Australia. She said most of her time was spent on the farm itself, save for a weekly trip to attend church in nearby Bethlehem.
“That was really interesting, because my life in northeast Iowa is not that still,” she said. “I’m always — many times a week — going into town, going into Decorah or going out and about in my car, so to have that experience of just being in place with very little agenda other than to do some farm work really felt really kind of radical or beautiful. My purpose is to be human. I don’t have to be productive. I don’t have to be busy. I can just be. And I’m definitely wanting to incorporate some of that into my life to just remember I don’t have to do anything other than be a person.”
She said being able to see the very lands Jesus used as part of the many agricultural metaphors recorded in the Bible was a memorable experience for her as well. Breckbill described the Middle Eastern landscape as hilly and at times reminiscent of her own home in the Driftless Region. She said farmers in the West Bank have constructed rock walls to create terraces for their farm operations for generations, and she called the ancient stair-step structures on the the steep slopes a beautiful sight.
“I certainly don’t know how ancient it is, but to think about how long agriculture has been practiced in that place is pretty incredible,” she said.
Tent of Nations was still in what are considered the region’s winter months during Breckbill’s stay — temperatures ranged from 40-60 degrees with occasional rainfall. She said much of her work was geared toward preparations for the core growing season, and it wasn’t unfamiliar territory. Breckbill began renting land in the Dec-
orah area around 2013 for what became Humble Hands Harvest. The worker-owned cooperative farm continues to sell its produce locally, and Breckbill herself has spoken on topics such as regenerative agriculture, land justice and co-operative economics.
“The great thing about working with plants is that, once you learn how to do a thing, it’s pretty easy to transfer it over,” Breckbill said. “I know how to prune apple trees from being in Iowa, so that means I kind of have a fluency with tree crops. Even though different kinds of trees fruit differently, I can still pick it up pretty easily.”
Breckbill was also entrusted with what she described as other basic farm work — cutting larger tree prunings for use as firewood and planting produce inside a greenhouse.
“Even though I’m not there now — which is when things are actually growing in terms of vegetables — it was fun to feel like I was part of the beginning of their growing season,” she said.
But she indicated the solidarity she and other volunteers provided to the Palestinian farmers at Tent of Nations was the more important aspect of her visit.
Tent of Nations’ website says the farmland was purchased by Bishara Daher Nassar more than 100 years ago, while the country was still under Ottoman rule, and the family offered Palestinian Christians Bible study and prayer sessions during the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, according to the farm’s website. Israel occupied both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in 1967, according to information from the United Nations. The farm operation became what Breckbill called an agro-tourism destination many years ago, and today it is surrounded by several Israeli settlements, which Tent of Nations says “are growing to become cities.” The
Hannah Breckbill stood against the backdrop of Humble Hands Harvest in January, about two weeks before heading to the West Bank to work at a farm operation called Tent of Nations. (File photo)
farm’s website claims Israeli authorities declared the family’s farm and the surrounding area to be state land in 1991, and an estimated 1,100 trees were allegedly destroyed by outside parties between 2021 and 2022, while the family attempted to re-register its land with Israeli officials. Breckbill said one of the settlements being developed is located on nearby land which was believed to belong to Palestinians.
“The Tent of Nations isn’t allowed to have electricity and it doesn’t have water access, but those settlements nearby — including this place just over the fence from the farm — has those things supplied by Israel,” she said, adding she believes the settlement may be illegal under international law. “Everything was just so blatant.”
She estimated the settlement stood about 50 feet from the toilet she used during her stay, and she said it reminded her of the reason why Tent of Nations continues to be in need of volunteers like herself.
“If we weren’t there, this brazenness would probably extend over the fence and into this farm, which is a beautiful place and should not be destroyed,”
Breckbill said.
But she also said the Palestinian people have displayed resilience and sought peace in the face of their difficulties — Tent of Nations uses the motto, “We refuse to be enemies.”
“The amount of harassment that Palestinians have to deal with and learn to be human through is staggering,” Breckbill said. “It was interesting for me to be there during the first weeks of the Trump Administration and kind of watch what was happening in the U.S. and to feel how that stuff which horrifies me was nothing new at all to the Palestinians.”
She went on to say the experience demonstrated to her that one does not necessarily need to give up their connection to the land and their community under such circumstances — a thought she indicated may serve as a personal guide for years to come.
“In fact, if I am able to make my connection to those things stronger, it can help me get through the terrible things that happen,” she said. “I was honored to be able to witness that and witness people that are really powerful in their steadfastness.”
ELMER SCHMITT, 90, of Fort Atkinson, died Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 21 at St. John’s Catholic Church, 201 Oak St., Fort Atkinson, with Father Nicholas Radloff presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 at St. John’s Catholic Church and for one hour prior to the service at the church Wednesday.
CUSB Mortgage Team (pictured l-r): Dan Ollendick, Cresco; Deb Novak, Cresco; Brian McConnell, Cresco; Diane Schick, Ridgeway; Adam Munkel, Lime Springs; Deanna Halbach, Osage; Curt Hallett, Charles City; Michele Johnson, Osage; Levi Meier, Shell Rock; Jamie Jordan, Waverly.
How to help kids lose weight safely
Many people struggle with weight over the course of their lifetime. A study noted in a report in the Wall Street Journal indicates the obesity epidemic is global. Around 2.1 billion people across the globe, or roughly one-quarter of the global population, is obese. Although overweight and obesity are issues for adults, they also affect children.
Children gain weight as they develop and grow, so it can be challenging to tell if weight gain is problematic or simply something that will resolve on its own as a child grows. Parents and other caregivers want to ensure their children are fully healthy, and maintaining a healthy weight is vital to such efforts. However, WebMD says there is no single number on the scale that indicates if a child is healthy. What constitutes a healthy weight varies depending on age, gender, height, and other factors.
It is important for parents to speak with a health care provider first to determine if a child needs to slim down or simply maintain the current weight as he or she grows taller. If it is recommended that the child lose some weight, there are various safe and healthy ways to go about it.
Make small changes
Small changes can add up to big results. For example, if a child is consuming a lot of fruit juice, start slowly by diluting the juice with water and eventually switch over completely to water. Change white bread in lunches to a whole-wheat alternative that has more nutrients and fiber.
Encourage sleep
A child’s weight can be affected by the amount of sleep he or she is getting each night. Insufficient sleep can contribute to weight gain, indicates the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The Canadian Paediatric
Society says children need 12 to 16 hours of sleep a night as infants, and that need gradually decreases until adolescence, when youngsters need between eight and 10 hours a night.
Encourage physical activity
Children need physical activity to maintain a healthy weight. There is no magic formula to weight loss; the amount of calories burned should exceed the calories consumed. That can be achieved by helping children get the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day, according to the American Heart Association.
Revise family recipes
If everyone in the family is a bit overweight, chances are the menu needs changing. It’s not hard to revamp recipes to be more nutritious. Taking the skin off of poultry; eating more lean protein sources like seafood and beans; using low- or no-fat dairy sources instead of whole milk versions; and swapping whole grains for refined grains is a good start.
Limit consumption of fast and processed foods
Families are busy and it can be easy to go through a drivethrough or pick up convenience meals at the supermarket. But many of these foods are high in calories, saturated fat and sodium. Families should limit these types of foods and seek healthier alternatives.
Don’t snack and watch (or surf)
It’s easy to overeat when eating while watching television or scrolling through social media. Limit screen time and enjoy meals uninterrupted by digital distractions.
Kids may need a little help finding the tools to lose weight and some encouragement and cooperation as they seek to develop healthy eating habits.
Applications open for position on county VA commission
Winneshiek County is accepting applications for the appointment of an individual to the Winneshiek County Commission of Veterans Affairs Board. An applicant must be a veteran as defined in Iowa Code Section 35.1. Board member applications are available at winneshiekcounty.org, in the Winneshiek County Veterans Affairs Office and in the Winneshiek County Auditor’s Office. All applications and copies of the necessary DD214 forms must be returned to the Winneshiek County Veterans Affairs Office or the auditors office by May 29. The courthouse offices are located at 201 West Main St. in Decorah.
OPEN HOUSES
SATURDAY,
‘Our Bright Unfolding’ exhibition explores interconnectedness in motion
Lanesboro Arts recently announced the opening reception for upcoming group exhibition “Our Bright Unfolding,” showcasing paintings, photographs, quilted textiles and more. The reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 7 at the Lanesboro Arts Gallery in Lanesboro, Minnesota. The exhibition will run from June 7 through Aug. 9 and features work from Sarah Abdel-Jelil, Sophia Alhadeff, Marge Buckley, Kish Daniels, Candida Gonzalez, Avery Hunter, Prima Jalichandra-Sakuntabhai, Avigail Manneberg, Kelly Ristau and Dana Sikkila. This group exhibition embodies interconnectedness in motion, a much-needed light uplifting the power of artistic expression as a tool of practice for societal change. The artwork
in “Our Bright Unfolding” reflects personal and collective growth, resilience, radical acts of joy and the power of unapologetic existence. In a time of profound upheaval when marginalized communities are increasingly under threat, this exhibition serves as a necessary reminder to lean on community, roots of resistance and visions for change.
About the artists
In Avery Hunter’s acrylic paintings, he looks to expose vulnerability and to explore the depths within himself and others through self-portraits that seek the abstract of light, darkness and color.
Prima Jalichandra-Sakuntabhai (b. Bangkok, Thailand) is a transdisciplinary artist, curator and art worker, who uses their family archive to create a mythic origin story for their chosen exile from Thailand.
Avigail Manneberg processes current personal and political events in their work, including the destruction of households, homelands, and relationships.
The Olam Haba Quilt, a community quilt guided by artists Sophia Alhadeff and Sophia Munic, asks “How is Jewish safety and Palestinian liberation inherently intertwined?”
Kelly Ristau is a linocut printmaker exploring the concept of queer intimacy.
Sarah Abdel-Jelil is a Mauritanian-American filmmaker, dancer, musician and multimedia artist exploring the relational nature of home, movement, and liminal spaces.
Dana Sikkila’s work displays, through visual repetition, the obsessive relationship between the art-making process and final products.
Marge Buckley is an experimental artist who works with dramatic colors and surreal compositions as tools of optimism which assert that systems can be transformed in radical ways.
Kish Daniels is a Minnesota-based, first generation Liberian-American filmmaker and photographer whose photographs represent moments of introspection, simple pleasures and reclamation of time and space.
This show was curated by the Equitable Gallery Systems Review Program advisory committee, made up of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and disabled artists. Lanesboro Arts has launched this program as a commitment to further align practices with equity values and more deeply serve BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and disabled artists.
Candida Gonzales is a multimedia artist who uses collage, photography, found objects, text, video and sound to create interactive installations that hold space for complex emotions.
Accessible and free to the public, the Lanesboro Arts Gallery is located at 103 Parkway Ave N., Lanesboro, and is open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in May. Starting in June, the gallery will be open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.lanesboroarts.org.
“Another One Comes In” by Dana Sikkila