Your Community Spotlight

Special Free Performance of “First Lady Lou” Celebrates the Life of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover.

This March, we celebrate Women’s History Month. This March also marks the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, and March 29 is the 146th anniversary of the birth of Waterloo, Iowa native Lou Henry Hoover—also known as Mrs. Herbert Hoover.

The Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and Hoover Presidential Foundation will mark these momentous occasions with a series of public performances throughout Iowa—including a free performance at Waukee’s Prairieview Theatre Arts Center on Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m.! This performance will celebrate the life of Lou Henry Hoover, a remarkable pioneer of her time. Celebrating her during Women’s History Month and on the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage seems like an especially appropriate time to honor her many groundbreaking accomplishments. Not only did Mrs. Hoover excel in her role as First Lady, but she became the first woman to earn a geology degree from Stanford University. Before becoming First Lady, she led a very active and public life, leading and working in many new movements and organizations, including the early years of the Girl Scouts and helping with food relief efforts during China’s Boxer Rebellion and World War I. The performance features Jane Fellows, an actress who has performed the one-woman show “First Lady Lou” at numerous venues around the United States. Throughout the show, “Lou” takes the audience on the remarkable journey of her life. Set in a New York City hotel room, Act I takes place in 1914, the day before she sails to London to join Herbert. Act II takes place in 1944, at the end of her life. Throughout the play, the audience experiences history through the eyes of a smart, compassionate and visionary woman.

Leslie Hoover-Lauble, great-granddaughter of Lou Henry and Herbert Hoover, will attend the performance and join the 2020 Iowa tour. She provides first-hand knowledge of the Hoover family history and serves as a major selling feature for the show. She is, of course, Lou’s most significant advocate.

CONTINUE>>

The Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and Hoover Presidential Foundation will mark these momentous occasions with a series of public performances throughout Iowa— including a free performance at

Waukee’s Prairieview Theatre

Arts Center on Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m.!

“Learning about Lou Henry Hoover was an eye-opening experience for me. As a woman born in the late 1800’s, she was anything but typical of her times.”

LESLIE HOOVER-LAUBLE

GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF LOU HENRY AND HERBERT HOOVER

“Learning about Lou Henry Hoover was an eye-opening experience for me,” said Hoover-Lauble. “As a woman born in the late 1800’s, she was anything but typical of her times. She was a woman of many and surprising talents, with a high sense of integrity. I am a proud descendant of Lou Henry, and I thoroughly enjoy ‘First Lady Lou’ as performed by Jane Fellows.” Hoover-Lauble was too young to meet her great-grandmother during her lifetime, but feels Jane Fellow’s depiction of Lou Henry gave her the opportunity to meet her after all. Ms. Fellows first performed “First Lady Lou” in March of 2014 as a commissioned piece by Colonial Dames of America in Oregon and the HooverMinthorn House Museum. “Being able to share this part of history through the lens of this extraordinary woman is at once humbling as well as a distinct honor,” said Fellows. “First Lady Lou” touches on issues of ethnicity, diversity and identity, giving audience members great insights into the history of these important issues. For example, Lou Henry made great efforts to be inclusive while in and out of the White House. As First Lady, she coordinated the social functions at the White House, including inviting the wives of the members of Congress to the White House for tea. Mrs. Hoover faced an unusually delicate situation—for the first time in 30 years, Congress included an African American member, Oscar Stanton DePriest, the son of former slaves, elected from Chicago. Rather than bow to political pressure, she invited Mrs. DePriest to an intimate tea at the White House with the wives of cabinet members. Mrs. DePriest’s attendance as an invited guest at a White House social function accorded her social legitimacy, and by implication, equal standing with the white guests, something well ahead of her time. “First Lady Lou” was written by Des Moines, Iowa playwright Rebecca Christian. The Hoover Presidential Foundation has received a grant award from Humanities Iowa, a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, in support of “First Lady Lou.”

JOSEPH SMITH

Home Solutions of Iowa Owner 515-954-3555

Home Solutions of Iowa has established itself as a trustworthy and reliable source for homeowners looking for all sorts of exterior remodeling solutions. We’re a full-service exterior remodeling company specializing in LeafGuard® gutter protection, seamless gutter systems, rain barrels, roofing, insulation, windows, doors, and siding. We started as a one-man show at the Iowa State Fair in 2003 and have since grown to have more than 50 employees serving the entire state of Iowa.

Spring Gutter Maintenance Is A Must

Sunshine, storms, and warm weather are near. It is time to make sure your gutters are prepared for the spring showers to come. With the cold and snowy winter we experienced, your gutters and home may have experienced additional damage that you haven’t seen before. We have compiled a small list of helpful tips for inspecting your gutters before the first spring storm.

1.

2.

3. Inspect, Clean, And Check Your Gutter System for Damage

Before heavy rains begin to fall, inspect, clean, and check your gutter system for damage. Check the entire draining system: The downspouts play an equally important role in diverting rainwater quickly and safely away from your home. An easy way to check for clogs or leaks and clean the downspouts is, turn the water on and run a hose down from the top. If you notice water backing up into the gutter, your gutters have a clog somewhere.

Observe any hanging or fallen gutters and missing or damage downspouts

Damage could have been caused by fallen limbs, ice damming, clogs or even by the weight of snow. Make sure to check the seams of your downspouts and the elbow connections. Seam separation can be a result of swelling debris or freezing. Downspouts are installed with the seam facing your home and if they have separated, snowmelt and rainwater will leak against your home’s siding and foundation.

Call Home Solutions of Iowa:

If you feel uncomfortable climbing a ladder to maintenance your gutters or if you have found that your gutters need a little more attention than just some spring cleaning, it is best to call a professional contractor. We will gladly come out and take a look at your gutters for you.

With LeafGuard® Brand Gutters, we can provide you with a peace of mind and a maintenance-free solution!