Our Hometown • Jan. 24

OURhometown Daily Freeman-Journal

HAMILTON COUNTY

The

January 2024

First State Bank Prestige Club Join The Club!

NO DUES OR ANNUAL FEES! One Interest Earning Checking Account Free Personalized Checks Exclusive Newsletter Planned Group Travel AND MORE!

Prestige Club Members must be age 55 or better and have one or more qualifying First State Bank Account. Visit fsbwc.com for more information or conatct a Personal Banker to learn more.

Upcoming 2024 Travel Opportunities The Best of the Emerald Isle September 12-22, 2024

Christmas at the Opryland Resort December 1-6, 2024

Looking ahead to 2025 Cherry Blossom Time in Our Nation’s Capital April 11-16, 2025 Unless otherwise noted, non-members are welcome to travel with the Prestige Club. If you would like more information on any of these upcoming Prestige Club adventures, please contact the First State Bank Prestige Club Coordinator, Kim Peck, contact information below.

Contact Kim Peck, Prestige Club Coordinator for details. kimp@fsbwc.com | 515-832-2520 | 800-557-0520 505 2nd St | Webster City, IA 50595

fsbwc.com

MEMBER FDIC

Webster City | Stanhope | Jewell | Fort Dodge | Eagle Grove | Clarion | Humboldt | Lake View 2 OUR HOMETOWN | JANUARY 2024

V.10 Issue 1 | January 2024

On The Cover: Maile Carter, left, and Rilee Scheuremann ring in 2024 during the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce's New Year's Gala.

OUR hometown PUBLICATION INFORMATION

CONTRIBUTORS

EVERY ISSUE : 12 City Scene 14 Let’s Eat

EDITOR

JANE CURTIS

16 Landmarks

PUBLISHER

TERRY CHRISTENSEN

ADVERTISING

TREVOR CHRISTENSEN

18 Savvy Senior

GRAPHIC DESIGN

MICHELLE COLSHAN

STORY

JULIE COLEMAN

PHOTOS

DAVID BORER

Direct inquiries to: 720 Second Street, Webster City, Iowa 50595 515-832-4350 Our Hometown is published monthly by The Daily Freeman-Journal, with all rights reserved, Copyright, 2023.

23 Parting Shot

FLOWER CART “Your Complete Florist” www.flocart.net

1-800-286-4630 832-4630 800 Second Street • Webster City, IA

JANUARY 2024 | OUR HOMETOWN

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Susan and Mark Andrew enjoyed the Gala.

Adalie Hayes and her husband, Harrison Hayes, pose for a New Year’s Eve portrait.

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Looking Back Surging Forward

By Julie Coleman

Our Webster City Area Chamber's

2023 Achievements at a Glance

Volunteer Engagement:

A total of 572 volunteer hours contributed towards community enrichment.

Community Calendar Events:

Hosting 594 events, creating vibrant local interactions New Businesses Welcomed:

Celebrated growth with 8 ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Strong Membership:

Our family grew to 210 chamber members, strengthening our network.

Information Reach:

Distributed 5,000 regional destination guides to promote our area.

Chamber Initiatives:

Successfully organized 32 Chamber events, fostering business connections.

Digital Footprint:

Garnered 38,000 website views, a testament to our growing online presence.

Online Engagement:

Achieved a significant 7700 increase in page views, highlighting increased interest in our activities.

Market Night Success:

Supported 78 Market night vendors, showcasing local talent and products.

Membership Growth:

Witnessed an impressive 11% membership growth, reflecting our community’s thriving business ecosystem.

Brent and Gayle Odland enjoyed the evening.

Lynn McKinney, Jodie Casey, Niki Kumm and Dan Casey, from left, dressed for the Black & White theme.

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Billed as An Evening to Remember:

Webster City Area Chamber’s New Year’s Eve Gala, the event delivered.

The Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce threw itself into the year-end splash, which was presented by American Sanitation and featured a stylish Black and White theme.

Set in the inviting ambiance of the Briggs Woods Conference Center, the event offered a blend of casual elegance and festive charm.

Guests were encouraged to embrace the theme with their attire, adding a touch of black and white to their festive outfits, while enjoying an evening of gourmet dining, lively entertainment

by Dirty Champagne, and a shared commitment to community betterment.

This has been a spectacular year for the Chamber, which reinvented itself a few years back into a force that consistently promotes all things Webster City and prepares for the bright horizon that the town has always deserved.

The gala was not only a celebration to welcome the New Year; it was also the Chamber’s most significant fundraiser of the year to support the Chamber’s initiatives and community projects.

To that end, it was successful.

The evening’s entertainment was headlined

by Dirty Champagne, a Des Moines-based band with strong ties to the Webster City area.

Known for their captivating performances of Rock & Roll and Country Classics, Dirty Champagne promises an energetic night filled with music that gets everyone dancing. The band’s lineup includes drums, electric guitar, keyboard, tambourine, and saxophone, ensuring a dynamic musical experience. Sponsored by Webster City Custom Meats and Peoples Credit Union.

The culinary highlight of the evening was a diverse and mouth-watering menu. Guests indulged in an array of appetizers such as tomato pesto mozz crostini, balsamic caprese skewers, and bacon wrap new baby potatoes.

The charcuterie cups/fiesta station offered a selection of fruits, berries, and assorted dips, while the seafood table featured shrimp fondue, shrimp scampi, and smoked salmon.

Slider enthusiasts enjoyed a variety of options, including chicken, ham, brisket, and beef & brie sliders. To top off the night, a decadent dessert station offered cheesecake, creme brulee, bread pudding, and angel food with almond custard.

As the clock struck the magic moment, a complimentary Midnight toast sponsored by Neighborhood Realty capped the evening.

Karl Webster City provided a safe ride home service from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., ensuring all guests enjoyed the evening with peace of mind.

“Our mission: Building business and community through economic growth, promotion, and access to leaders, education and networking,” said Anna Woodward, Chamber director.

Mission accomplished.

Now it’s on to 2024.

JANUARY 2024 | OUR HOMETOWN

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Dr. Jim and Heidi Tesdahl paused for festive photo.

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Hunter and Miranda Hayes dressed up for the Gala.

JANUARY 2024 | OUR HOMETOWN

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Shawn and Brad Schmidt toasted the New Year.

American Sanitation, Schmidt’s company, was an evening sponsor.

The band Dirty Champagne, from the Des Moines metro, entertained at the Gala.

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Sarah Ostlund Anderson got into the vibe.

JANUARY 2024 | OUR HOMETOWN

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LET’S EAT

Our Hometown Recipe Corner

Celebrate chocolate with a rich, homemade cake The dawn of a new year presents plenty of opportunities to look to the future. Resolutions are made each January, with most centering on ways to get healthy. Not all resolutions need to be of the healthy, however. Once in a while it is fine to indulge, so a resolution to entertain more or to explore new baking opportunities can spice things up in the year ahead.

People aspiring to spend more time in the kitchen can celebrate winter baking and National Chocolate Cake Day (January 27) simultaneously. This recipe for “French Silk” from “Classic Stars Desserts” (Chronicle Books)

by Emily Luchetti is for serious chocolate lovers. This fudgelike mousse cake pairs plenty of rich flavors and showcases the chocolate in this decadent cake.

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French Silk Serves 12

Crust 3⁄4 1 1⁄2 4

cup walnuts, toasted cup pecans, toasted cup firmly packed brown sugar ounces (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted

Filling 1 1⁄4 6 3⁄4 6 1⁄4 1⁄2

pounds bittersweet chocolate, chopped ounces (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature cup granulated sugar large eggs (use pasteurized eggs if you are concerned about eating uncooked eggs) cup heavy whipping cream teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping 1 2

cup heavy whipping cream tablespoons granulated sugar

To make the crust: In a food processor, combine the walnuts, pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon and pulse until the nuts are coarsely chopped.

Pour the nuts into a bowl, add the butter, and stir until the nuts are evenly moistened. Press the nut mixture evenly onto the bottom of a 9-inch round springform pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

To make the filling: Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. While the chocolate is melting, combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and add the eggs two at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, increase the speed to medium-high, and whip until well blended, about 2 minutes. The mixture will look curdled.

Remove the melted chocolate from the heat and stir until smooth and warm but not hot. With the mixer on low speed, add the chocolate to the egg mixture. Scrape the sides and along the bottom of the bowl and then continue to mix on low speed until the chocolate is fully incorporated. Add the cream and vanilla and mix until blended. Spread the filling over the crust. Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.

To make the topping: In a bowl, whisk together the cream and sugar until soft peaks form.

Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Using a spatula, spread the topping over the top of the cake. Run a hot, dry knife around the inside edge of the pan to loosen the cake, then remove the pan sides and set the cake on a serving platter. Slice the cake with a hot, dry knife and serve chilled.

JANUARY 2024 | OUR HOMETOWN

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LANDMARKS

DO YOU

How well know Hamilton County?

Look at these photos and see if you can identify these local landmarks.

Photo #1

Winner

Helene Silverstein

December Answers: 16 OUR HOMETOWN | JANUARY 2024

Photo #1: The Webster City water tower (south tower).

Photo # 2: The Elks Club Building (ceiling detail).

Submit your entry Correct answers will be entered into a drawing for

2 FREE MOVIE PASSES

to the Webster Theater

Photo #2

Please include the name of the building icon on which the Landmark is located, your name & phone number.

Submit your entry jcurtis@freemanjournal.net or deliver to The Daily Freeman-Journal at 720 Second St., Webster City, IA JANUARY 2024 | OUR HOMETOWN

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SAVVY SENIOR

by Jim Miller

Essential Topics You Need to Discuss with Your Aging Parents Dear Savvy Senior, My siblings and I don’t know much about our elderly parent’s financial situation or their wishes if and when something happens to them. They are both in their mid-eighties. What’s the best way to handle this and what all should we know?

Apprehensive Daughter 18 OUR HOMETOWN | JANUARY 2024

Dear Apprehensive,

Many adult children don’t know much about their elderly parent’s financial situation or end-of-life plans, but they need to. Getting up to speed on their finances, insurance policies, long-term care plans and other information is important because some day you might have to help them handle their financial affairs or care, or execute their estate plan after they die. Without this information, your job becomes much more difficult. Here are some tips that can help.

Have the Conversation

If you’re uncomfortable talking to your parents about this, use this column as a prompt or see TheConversationProject. org, which offers free guides that can help you kick-start these discussions.

It’s also a good idea to get all your siblings involved too.

This can help you head off any possible hard feelings, plus, with others involved, your parents will know everyone is concerned.

When you talk with your parents, you’ll need to collect some information, find out where they keep key documents and how they want certain things handled when they die or if they become incapacitated. Here’s a checklist of areas to focus on.

• End of life: What are their wishes for organ or body donation, and their funeral instructions? If they’ve made pre-arrangements with a funeral home, get a copy of the agreement.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

• Will: Do they have an updated will or trust, and where is it located?

• Power of attorney: Do they have a power of attorney document that names someone to handle their financial matters if they become incapacitated?

• Advance directives: Do they have a living will and a medical power of attorney that spells out their wishes regarding their end-of-life medical treatment? If they don’t have these documents prepared, now’s the time to make them.

FINANCIAL RECORDS

• Financial accounts: Make a list of their bank accounts, brokerage and mutual fund accounts, and any other financial assets they have.

• Debts and liabilities: Make a list of any loans, leases or debts they have – mortgages owed, car loans, student loans, medical bills, credit card debts. Also, make a list of all credit and charge cards, including the card numbers and contact information.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Company benefits: Make a list of any retirement plans, pensions or benefits from their former employers including the contact information of the benefits administrator.

• Medical information: Make a copy of their medical history and a list of medications they take.

• Insurance: Make a list of the insurance policies they have (life, long-term care, home, auto, Medicare, etc.) including the policy numbers, agents and phone numbers.

• Contacts: Make a list of names and phone numbers of your parent’s doctors, lawyer, accountant, broker, tax preparer, insurance agent, etc.

• Personal documents: Find out where they keep their Social Security card, marriage license, military discharge papers, etc.

• Secured places: Make a list of places they keep under lock and key such as safe deposit boxes, safe combination, security alarms, etc.

• Digital assets: Make a list of their digital assets – everything from social media accounts to online banking. It should include usernames and passwords.

• Pets: If they have a pet, what are their instructions for the animal’s care?

Sendr you or seni ions t questo

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• Property: Make a list of the real estate, vehicles or other properties they own, rent or lease and where they keep the deeds, titles and loan or lease agreements.

• Taxes: Find out where they keep copies of past year’s tax returns.

You’re probably not going to get all this figured out in one gathering, so it’s important to keep the conversation going to ensure your parent’s wishes will be accurately executed.

Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

JANUARY 2024 | OUR HOMETOWN

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PeT pix

3 Cart sizes available!

Submit your pet photos to

tanderson@freemanjournal. net Please include pet’s & owner’s name

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Parting SHOT JANUARY 2024 | OUR HOMETOWN

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