CNA-SS-3-27-2017

Monday, March 27, 2017

Misha Curtis shows her

Women in Business

Sweet Side through 3 businesses

By SCOTT VICKER

CNA managing editor svicker@crestonnews.com

LENOX – When the alarm clock sounds in the morning, the daily rat race begins for Misha Curtis.

“Some days aren’t easy, but I just do what I can,” she said. “My main thing that I’ve learned is at the end of the day, when my girls are out of school, I shut it all off and just go be with them, whether it’s in their activities or whatever. They’re my main priority, no matter what. I’m able to let work go

“SOME DAYS aren’t easy, but I just do what I can. My main thing that I’ve learned is at the end of the day, when my girls are out of school, I shut it all off and just go be with them, whether it’s in their activities or whatever.”

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MISHA CURTIS

Lenox business owner

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

INSIDE Karleen Stephens

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Becky Kramer

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Callista Wilkey

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Melissa Ford

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Jamie Miller

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Jessica Wilson

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Jennifer Shirbroun and Darlene Riley

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Elizabeth Green

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Chris Robins

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Misha Curtis of Lenox stands at the counter of Lenox Hardware in Lenox. Misha, along with her husband, Mark, own Lenox Hardware, Curtis Heating and Cooling and Lenox Hardware Sweet Side.

She gets herself ready, gets her three daughters – ages 16, 10 and 8 – up and ready, fixes them breakfast and sees them off to school. And then, she departs for work.

But what she does in a given day is always an adventure for Misha, who with her husband, Mark, co-owns Curtis Heating and Cooling, Lenox Hardware and Lenox Hardware Sweet Side, all in Lenox.

Mixed in with operating all three businesses in Lenox, Misha, 41, still works as a nurse at Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston two days a week and is clinical nursing instructor at Southwestern Community College, and also coaches volleyball during the fall.

“It’s just a rat race every day,” Misha said.

“People, they do ask me how I do it. I always say, ‘You only live one time. I’m going to do what I love because you never know if you’re going to have tomorrow.’ I have a big book that tells me everything I have to do, but I don’t worry about next week. I get through the day and see what I have to do.

I prioritize my to-do list on what I have to have done and what can I shove off until tomorrow.”

It’s almost a full-time job just trying to keep track of her daily schedule and to-do list. But still, Misha finds a way to balance all three of her businesses, while also being a mother once the work day is done.

at that point. I always know it’s going to be there the next day no matter what.”

Three businesses Misha grew up in Winterset and graduated from Orient-Macksburg High School before earning a degree in animal technology and eventually getting a degree as an RN from

Southwestern Community College.

After marrying her husband, Mark, she found herself living in Lenox. After she graduated from nursing school, Mark started Curtis Heating and Cooling.

Mark always wanted to buy the hardware store in Lenox. Finally, in 2012, Misha gave in and the couple purchased the hardware store.

Part of the reason she caved and purchased the hardware store, Misha said, was there was an empty storefront next door to the hardware store being used for storage that she had an idea how to utilize.

“It always drove me crazy there was a nice storefront window and a store but nothing in it as far as retail,” Misha said. “I always thought Lenox needed a bakery or a cafe, so I think in about six months’ time after we bought the store, we tore it completely up. We tore up seven layers of flooring and there was suspended ceilings that we tore out, and we created the Sweet Side.”

Earlier this month, Lenox Hardware Sweet Side began its fourth year in business at 110 N. Main St. Owning a bakery was something Misha always thought she’d enjoy.

“When (Mark) wanted to buy the hardware store, part of the reason I said OK was I had something I could do,” Misha said pointing in the direction of Sweet Side.

“Originally, our plan had been we hired someone to run heating and cooling, Mark was to run (the hardware store) and I was to MISHA | 2A

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Misha Curtis, owner of Lenox Hardware, helps a customer locate the materials he needs.

Curtis and her husband, Mark, purchased the hardware store in 2012.

Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

MISHA: CONT. FROM | 1A

do Sweet Side. It wasn’t very long before that whole thing shifted.”

Changed plans Things didn’t work out at Curtis Heating and Cooling with the hired help, so Mark went back to running that business.

That left Misha in charge of both Lenox Hardware and Sweet Side. And, with Mark learning how to do solar panels, Misha is managing all three.

“It wasn’t my plan in the beginning, but now I’m happy with it,” she said. “I like diversity.”

Managing three businesses can be hectic at times.

“It’s very crazy for her, but she loves it,” said Taylor Foster, who has worked for Misha at Lenox Hardware Sweet Side since December 2015.

“She loves every bit of being in all different places all the time. We all know she’s either a phone call or a text away to make sure we’re all in our right positions.”

Misha’s mother started

helping at Sweet Side, keeping that business going while Misha devoted more time to the hardware store, which she said is her biggest investment of the three – both in money and time.

“This is something that has to stay open six days a week,” Misha said about the hardware store. “I have to keep this going. The Sweet Side is open four days, and that is sort of a fun, side thing.”

Misha was quick to point to her employees as a big reason the three businesses continue to run smoothly while she has so much on her plate.

“I always try to stay somewhat organized. It’s never a real thing,” she said with a laugh. “But I couldn’t do it if I didn’t have good people working for me. That’s the biggest thing. Debbie (Sweeney) has been at the hardware store for, I think, 24 years before we bought it. We’re going on our fifth year. Jerry (Henderson) has been here a couple of years. They’re very dependable people. I’ve got good high school kids who work for me. I have good girls at Sweet Side and Chris Draman works for me at heating and cooling. I couldn’t do it if I didn’t have

people work for me.”

Lenox Hardware Mark and Misha purchased the hardware store from Denny and Judy Bunch, who had established the business in Lenox after owning and operating it for 33 years.

With it having already been an established business with loyal customers, taking over Lenox Hardware presented challenges for Misha and Mark.

“They were very big shoes to fill,” Misha said. “Of course, they had worked hard to build what they had. It was a huge learning experience. A lot of times I hear, ‘Well this is what Dennis and Judy did.’ So, you just try to make people happy.”

Both Dennis and Judy stayed on to help Misha and Mark through the transition of ownership. They took Misha and Mark under their wings and taught them how to order the store and how to order from a show in Minneapolis.

Another challenge of running the hardware store is facing misconceptions as a woman in a predominantly male business.

“I think there is a stigma, such as, ‘Maybe she doesn’t re-

ally know what she’s doing,’” Misha said. “I don’t think they realize what I’ve learned through the years or what I do learn every day. I would say the people who know me know my strong personality and know I may not know exactly, but I’ll figure it out and get them what they need. I’ll bend over backwards to make them happy.”

Misha is proud to have raised her daughters around the hardware store, where they have seen the hard work she has put in.

“I raise them to be responsible for their actions and to work really hard,” Misha said. “I think my girls may see me work hard and put in long hours, but they also see a woman is capable of doing this and hard work will benefit you in that way. That’s how I want them to be raised.”

Sweet Side

Misha’s work with Lenox Hardware Sweet Side is some of her favorite, as it allows her to be creative and express herself.

She recently started catering with Sweet Side, which has become her favorite part of the business.

Open Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sweet Side offers bakery items for breakfast, a salad bar and full menu for lunch, as well as a daily special. Sweet Side caters for Rotary each week, as well as several other businesses around town.

Sweet Side is also known for ice cream, cupcakes, cookies, rolls and flips. Being able to decorate the cupcakes is one way Misha is able to express her creativity.

“I’ll get a call from someone at the hospital saying, ‘When are you coming next?’ wanting cupcakes,” Misha said.

“They’re impressed because they’re big-time things you see on TV. They’re not just something simple you might find at CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER Wal-Mart.”

Misha Curtis of Lenox fills a bag with seeds at Lenox Hardware in Lenox. Misha manFoster added: “We have lots ages the hardware store, along with Curtis Heating and Cooling and Lenox Hardware going on all the time. We run

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Pictured is a cupcake at Lenox Hardware Sweet Side.

Misha Curtis, who owns the cafe and bakery, said her business is known for its cupcakes.

pretty well like a day-to-day basis, because we never know who is going to order something by the next day. We like to be able to have someone walk through and they need 20 cupcakes today and we’ll have them to them by 3 o’clock this afternoon. We like that quick pace.”

Misha said a lot of the menu items, and particularly items available through the catering, are ideas brewed up in her own head.

For example, on Valentine’s Day, she served stuffed chicken.

“I didn’t really have a plan, but I just whipped it together,” she said. “Right before we opened, I thought, ‘We need a sauce for that,’ so I just came up with something in my head.

Over there, they’re always like, ‘Well, I need a recipe.’

I’m like, ‘Well I don’t really have one. A little of this, a little of that. Figure it out.’”

Happy people Through all three of her businesses, Misha’s main goal is helping people and making them happy.

“She does exactly what she’s supposed to and she’s always

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working for the customers, making sure they’re happy,” Foster said.

That’s also the biggest reason she loves being a nurse – caring for and making people happy.

“If I could just greet the people and help them, that’s my favorite part in all my jobs,” Misha said. “It’s about bigger things. It’s about having something for the people, especially in a small town. You get to know people. That’s one of the greatest things.”

But at the end of the day, Misha’s biggest priority is making her family happy.

Misha aims to spend as much time as possible with husband Mark, 43, and daughters Emily, 16, Izabelle, 10, and Avalyn, “8 and kind of going on 20,” as Misha put it.

“At the end of the day, the mother has always been the most important thing beyond anything else because I only have so much time with them,” Misha said. “I try my best to do whatever I can to make them a priority. Raising the three girls is the hardest job. It’s the most challenging, but it’s the most rewarding.”

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Hometown loyalty and leadership Diagonal graduate serves as school superintendent n

“I THOUGHT I would start as a teacher and retire as a teacher. And, I would have been satisfied with that.”

By LARRY PETERSON CNA senior feature writer lpeterson@crestonnews.com

DIAGONAL — When Karleen Cronbaugh was a first-year elementary teacher in Stanton, a 6-year-old student told her why she also wanted to be a teacher someday.

“I like to talk a lot and boss people around,” the girl told Karleen, who would become Karleen Stephens one year later after marrying Diagonal classmate John Stephens, a local farmer who attended Northwest Missouri State University with Karleen.

Stephens laughs when she equates the girl’s response to her own childhood. Now in her 39th year of working in public education, the superintendent of Diagonal Community Schools said her own path was set very early, too.

“All I did as a kid was play school,” Stephens said. “I wanted to be an elementary teacher. I thought I would start as a teacher and retire as a teacher. And, I would have been satisfied with that.”

But, other needs arose in her hometown school dis-

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KARLEEN STEPHENS

Diagonal superintendent

trict as time went on. She was hired by her high school basketball coach, Dennis Tassell, as sixth-grade teacher in 1991, the same year fellow 1973 Diagonal classmate Larry Teply was hired as a special education teacher after teaching one year in Olin in eastern Iowa.

Stephens became elementary principal in 1991, but remained teaching half-time in Title I reading. Teply, meanwhile, was promoted to high school principal and athletic director. He retired four years ago, but remains on staff part-time as technology coordinator.

After Tassell left the district in the mid-1990s, the district had several short-term superintendents and it be-

came obvious that if Diagonal Community School was to remain viable, more consistent leadership was needed.

“Larry and I were both approached and he decided it wasn’t for him,” Stephens said. “We both could see the stress on a district when you don’t have that continuity. I got my educational specialist degree to become superintendent. I feel this community has been really good to me.

Dennis gave me an opportunity when it was harder to get a teaching job. I felt like I owed them my loyalty.”

So, in 2000, Stephens became one of the state’s first female school superintendents. She said there remains less than 20 statewide. She now owns the distinction of Contributed photo by DARLA SOBOTKA presiding over the state’s Diagonal Community Schools superintendent Karleen Stephens with husband John and smallest district with an en- granddaughter Alice Elliott at a Diagonal home basketball game rollment of 115 in preschool through 12th grade, along ucation. While located in one up on technology for all of them to say they don’t want with 28 youngsters in Tina’s of the state’s poorest regions, our students.” to support that anymore.

The original school build- But one woman recently told Tots daycare operated by the voters consistently approve school district on the school levies that translate into high- ing was constructed in 1914. me that she felt things were er property-tax bills.

An elementary addition was done for her and her husgrounds.

The levy is currently $17.31 built in 1957, and a separate band when they were young Financial support per $1,000 valuation and has gymnasium was erected ear- and had children, so now it’s While other small districts been as high as $19. Special ly in Tassell’s career in 1974. their turn to do it for the next around the state have yielded measures such as Instruction- There have been no major generation. That’s the kind of to mergers and consolidation, al Support Levy and Physical building projects since then. support we feel here.” the Diagonal community Plant and Equipment Levy There is pride in upkeep Class sizes range from five remains steadfast in its comare routinely approved by lo- and refurnishing when neces- in fourth grade to 12 in this mitment to offer its own edcal voters. sary, with much of the labor year’s senior class. The pre“Our levy is probably one donated by local residents. school has classes of 10-12, of the higher ones in the “Like when we had to fix so total enrollment should restate,” Stephens said, “but we up the ball field, we general- main steady for a time. don’t put it any higher than ly buy the materials and we “We’re fortunate in that we have to. We take care of don’t pay a lot of labor, be- there are young families what we have and we pinch cause the people do it,” Ste- here that came back and repennies to make it work. The phens said. “Even the people modeled old homes, or built levies that get passed keep who don’t have children in homes,” Stephens said. “It’s our buildings looking nice the school, maybe retired and we’ve been able to stay now, it would be easy for STEPHENS | 4A

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Even the superintendent of schools chips in to help at Diagonal basketball games, as Karleen Stephens sweeps the floor after a halftime performance by young cheerleaders.

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Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

STEPHENS: CONT. FROM | 3A

always going to be a challenge, but it’s a challenge for everybody now. Everybody is feeling the (financial) pinch.�

Versatile staff There are 14 full-time teachers on staff, along with four special education paraprofessionals. It takes versatility to make it work. The district also shares a business manager and maintenance director with East Union, transportation director with Mount Ayr and curriculum director with the Mormon Trail district out of Garden Grove. “Our math, science and history teachers teach grades 6-12,� Stephens said. “You have to be flexible in Diagonal. That’s what keeps us going. They are their own department. In PE, vocal and band, they teach K-12. While we combine some instruction in two grades, we keep them in their own group for math and reading. I think the parents appreciate that.�

Every morning, high school students board buses to travel to Mount Ayr for advanced elective classes. That agreement has been in place since 1991 and the Mount Ayr district receives about $64,000 a year to teach those classes to

Diagonal students.

The students return to Diagonal by noon to take core subjects. “Again we are flexible with that,� Stephens said. “If someone wants to take something else like modern drafting that doesn’t fit in that schedule, we’ll come and get them later.

We’ve made several trips in a day, if necessary.�

Stephens said it would have been impossible to staff the local district for that variety of classes for under $70,000 a year. “How do you find one person who can teach Spanish, chemistry and physics?� Stephens said. “If we wanted to, we could have offered more of our own classes, but not as many as the kids deserved.

This gives them a bigger choice. It’s been good for us.�

She noted that many upper-level high school students make the transition from Mount Ayr classes to courses from Southwestern Community College. Being within driving distance for either advanced high school classes or college classes has been fortunate for the district’s survival. “We feel our students are prepared for whatever they choose to do after leaving us, and the (college) test scores indicate that is true,� Stephens said.

Rather than feel at a disad-

vantage, Stephens said, she considers the district’s size to be ideal in many respects for a well-rounded education, including extracurricular activities. “You start with the advantages you get with small class size and attention from the teachers,� Stephens said. “In the state’s new reading initiative, we can spend the time on a child who needs to get from 40 percent to 80 percent proficient in a prescriptive plan.

When you have 35 kids, that’s more difficult. Our students have the opportunity to participate in all kinds of activities, from sports to music and drama. We just try to push opportunities. I always like it when I look up and see someone playing in the pep band in their ball uniform. It’s neat to have different backgrounds like that.�

None of this would be sustained without sound fiscal management, a skill Stephens did not immediately have as an elementary teacher. “I have had good business managers and I go to a lot of business workshops on school finances,� Stephens said. “Iowa has one of the most complicated school finance formulas in the nation. That’s just something that has to be attended to. We have combined things and we’ve had to make cuts over the years, but for the most part we just keep a real close eye on our unspent balance and how we spend it.

The concession stand at our

activities funds a lot of activities for the kids and things that they need.�

Technology plan Teply oversees a technology system that provides iPads for kindergarten through third grade; Chrome Book computers for fourth-eighth grades and MacBook laptops for high school students. “Larry is really good about staying up on all of that. He knows what the best buys are,� Stephens said. “Our community wants the best for their kids. You just have to be smart about how you spend your dollars.�

Teply said his high school classmate has been a good leader for the school district. “She looks out for every penny,� Teply said. “We have dry-erase desks in math class so the students can write on the desk and erase it without going through a bunch of paper. We don’t waste anything.

Karleen always does what has to be done to keep things going. We have always felt it’s such a great place to teach.

The board and the parents are always behind you.�

At age 62, Stephens has no immediate career changes in mind. Part of her positive outlook pertains to the good fortune she had after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer while in her 40s. “I am a 17-year cancer survivor,� Stephens said. “So, I feel really blessed to be here.

I’m lucky in that it (cancer)

Contributed photo by DARLA SOBOTKA

Diagonal superintendent Karleen Stephens smiles as students finish playing the national anthem prior to a home basketball game.

was caught really early. I treasure life a little bit more. I feel good and I really enjoy the kids. I enjoy what I’m doing.

As long as I have good health and support from the board and community, I’ll probably work for awhile.�

Through the course of a school day, Stephens makes sure school-owned items are properly put away and that the school is respected by its students. She isn’t above grabbing a broom to help keep the basketball court clean on game night. “I think they call that ‘other duties as assigned’ or something like that,� she said,

laughing.

In return, she sees that same pride exhibited by the community’s adults, who aren’t shy about helping as needed. “The other night after our reading celebration in the gym called After School Cool, where we had a bunch of activities for the kids,� Stephens said, “we saw two dads coming in afterward to support an open gym for the elementary and middle school kids. They do that two nights a week so the kids can come in and shoot. That kind of buy-in helps. It’s their school, not the school.�

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Karleen Stephens in her office as Diagonal school superintendent. She began her career in her hometown as an elementary teacher in 1978, became elementary principal in 1991 and superintendent in 2000.

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Larry Teply, left and Karleen Stephens were part of the 1973 graduating class at Diagonal High School and together spent more than three decades on the Diagonal Community School staff. Teply retired four years ago as high school principal but remains on staff part-time as technology coordinator. Stephens has been superintendent of schools since 2000.

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Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

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Kramer’s Cafe in Orient brings ‘more life to the community’ The lunch and dinner restaurant, owned by Becky and Brad Kramer, is run by Becky, who’s also a mother of two young children.

and local people in the area. I would say, on a normal lunch, we sell anywhere from 30 to 80 meals. With farming, it depends on the weather,” Kramer said. “There’s no ‘normal’ day.”

n

Learning curve

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Becky Kramer stands behind the bar at Kramer’s Cafe, 101 E. First St. in Orient, a lunch and dinner restaurant she co-owns with her husband, Brad, in December. She wears many hats, from waitress to cook to bartender, as she runs the cafe mostly by herself.

By KELSEY HAUGEN Special to the CNA

ORIENT – Becky Kramer works as waitress, cook, bartender and every job in between as she nearly single-handedly runs Kramer’s Cafe, all while being a wife and mother of two young children.

When she was laid off, she went an entirely different direction career-wise and opened the restaurant in Orient – with no previous cooking experience.

Currently, Kramer and her husband, Brad, own the only restaurant in town.

Changing directions Originally from Truro, Kramer, 32, graduated from Iowa State University with her bachelor’s degree in agriculture communications.

“We moved down here right before my daughter, Aubrey, was born in January 2011, and I had just gotten laid off from my job in advertising with The Des Moines Register, so I was looking for work,” she said. “Brad came up with the idea of opening a restaurant all of a sudden one day, and I guess we just ran with it.”

That was more than four years ago now in December 2012. The decision came as a shock to some who knew Kramer, especially knowing she had never taken an interest in cooking, but family, friends and the community fully supported the endeavor.

“My mom says, ‘You were my child least likely to do anything like this,’” Kramer said.

“I was horrible; even Brad still tells people he had to teach me to cook some things.”

At first, the Kramers knew nothing about the logistics of owning and running a restaurant. A big question was where to buy ingredients. And, she would need to learn how to cook numerous types of food, as she knew she would be running the cafe mostly on her own. Brad is a row crop farmer in the Orient area, and they used to have cattle, too.

“When we first started out, we had a lot of help from different people trying to show us the ropes,” she said. “And then, as time has gone on, it’s been a lot easier to make my own decisions and know what I want to do and know what I need to do to accomplish it.”

if it’s a weekend and I’ve got to come back in, I’ll get them shifted to where they need to go – a babysitter or family member – and then come back in about 4 and get ready for the night.”

On the days the cafe is open for dinner, Thursday through Saturday, she prepares meat throughout the day. Each Thursday is taco night, rib-eye steaks are served on Friday night and prime rib is served on Saturday night.

“I recently printed off new menus. We added a few new things,” Kramer said. “Our big-ticket items are our breaded loins and cheeseburgers.

Those are probably what we go through the most of. And, our ‘Brad special’ – something Brad came up with – which is a grilled loin with onions, bacon and cheese. We go through a lot of those. And, people like our onion rings quite a bit.”

The menu features appetizers, such as jalapeño poppers, sweet potato fries and clam strips; salads; baskets with hot wings or shrimp; entrees, like a double bacon cheeseburger or Philly cheese steak; desserts; and beer and wine coolers.

Some of the food comes off

a food truck, but the Kramers try to keep the menu items as homemade as possible.

“Our breaded loins, I get those local from Fareway in Creston,” she said. “They cut and tenderize all my loins.

But, we hand-bread them in there, and same for the onion rings.

Some other things, like our burger patties, we order on the truck, but there’s Kramer quite a bit we do in house. Most of my desserts are homemade.”

Wearing so many hats at the restaurant can be exhaust-

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Becky Kramer, co-owner of Kramer’s Cafe in Orient, prepares beef before taco night on a Thursday in December.

She usually cooks about 10 pounds of beef for tacos on Thursdays.

ing, Kramer said.

“It can get very overwhelming. We just have to power through it sometimes and take it one day at a time,” she said. “Most of my regulars understand. If we get swamped, they completely understand the situation and know how it is. So, it’s not too bad, usually.”

Customers from the Orient area are especially understanding because the cafe is the only place to eat in Orient.

Otherwise, people have to travel to Greenfield or Creston for a sit-down restaurant.

“And, luckily, we have a lot of very good friends and fami-

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One-woman show Kramer does the bulk of the work for both lunch and dinner, with her husband coming in to help as he’s able during the busiest time: the weekend.

“It’s just me and Brad, mostly, but we’ve got a lot of friends that come in and help us out,” she said. “I’m here day in and day out. He will come in when we get real busy. We’re looking for a parttime cook but no luck yet.”

No full-time staff means no days off and still taking care of the children. For Kramer, weekdays begin with dropping off her children, 6-yearold Aubrey and 3-year-old Cooper, to school or day care.

“Then, I usually get in (to work) about 9 or 9:30 in the morning – get the special going, get loose ends tied up from the day before or night before, sweep, that kind of thing,” she said. “And then, I usually get out of here about 2 or 2:30, go get the kids picked up, and then, depending on

ly that support us really well,” she said. “It’s nice to have that support system.”

One of those is Amy Zellweger, a friend who waitresses there part time and helps in any way she can – sometimes even watching the Kramers’ children briefly when necessary.

Zellweger works full time for Iowa Select Farms Inc. “I just help out with whatever Becky needs help with,” Zellweger said.

The most help is needed from January through March, which are the busiest months at Kramer’s Cafe.

“Our main base is farmers

In the four years since opening the restaurant, there has been a steep learning curve for Kramer. She had to quickly learn the ins and outs of the business and how to cook well.

“Now, I enjoy it. I enjoy the people,” she said. “When it gets crazy and hectic, it gets a little overwhelming. I could do without those days sometimes. But, for the most part, it’s rewarding and I enjoy it.”

The new career path has also helped her become more sociable. She used to consider herself shy before stepping into the role of owning and running a restaurant.

“This has kind of forced me to come out of my shell and to start talking to people,” Kramer said. “It has gotten me to be more outgoing and adventurous and take bigger risks.”

For her, the most rewarding part has been her relationship with the community as a whole.

“I think the community is really happy that we’re here and that (the cafe) gives a little bit more life to the community,” she said. “Seeing my regulars come in day in and day out and supporting me is huge to me. It kind of validates that I must be doing something right.”

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Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

Kansas Street Deli and Purple Cow Antiques offer nostalgic experience

By KELSEY HAUGEN Special to the CNA

AFTON – When Callista Wilkey purchased the building that previously housed Afton’s ‘50s-era pharmacy and soda shop, it was important to her – and the community – that she maintain much of the former business’ character.

After the pharmacy closed in the early 1990s, the building was empty for close to 20 years before Wilkey and her husband, Nick, decided to buy it.

In September 2010, Wilkey opened her business, Kansas Street Deli and Purple Cow Antiques, while keeping some of the original signage on the exterior and, inside, the initial soda-shop style bar with stools and original booths.

“A LOT of people grew up in the ‘50s and ‘60s, coming in here having cherry Cokes, so they remembered coming in the building. There was a lot of nostalgia that way.”

__

CALLISTA WILKEY

Owner of Kansas Street Deli and Purple Cow Antiques

“The community was excited when we opened,” said Wilkey, 33, of rural Afton.

“A lot of people grew up in the ‘50s and ‘60s, coming in here having cherry Cokes, so they remembered coming in the building. There was a lot of nostalgia that way. Then, it sat empty for so long that once it was back open, they were pretty excited to be able to come in and share the experience now with their grandkids, like, ‘That’s where I used to sit when I was in high school.’

And, one lady found her initials carved into one of the booths.”

An East Union High School and Iowa State University graduate, Wilkey previously worked at Kelly’s Flowers and Gifts in Creston before the opportunity arose to open her own shop in her hometown.

It proved to be a better option, as she and her

husband, a cattle and row crop farmer, were wanting to start a family. Owning a business, Wilkey knew child care wouldn’t be an issue; when the children weren’t in school, they could be in the shop with her.

Shortly after opening Kansas Street Deli and Purple Cow Antiques, now 5-year-old Nash came along, and later 6-monthold Ethan. “(The business) is a combination of things I like – the flowers, the antiques, the deli,” Wilkey said. “Nash was here with me since he was a baby, and I’ve got Ethan here now. I wanted a job where I could have family here while working.”

Deli At first, ice cream was the main food item Wilkey sold, but as ice-cream business would die down during the winter months, she decided to create a deli menu.

“We do a pretty basic menu with sandwiches, and then I’ve got a soup every day and usually a hot special, like a barbecued beef or something like that,” Wilkey said. “The ice cream is ordered in, but all the soups and everything else is homemade.”

A few of the soups include chicken and rice, cheeseburger and chili. She also offers baked goods.

Wilkey said the biggest challenge of serving food in a small town is never knowing from day to day how many people will stop in to eat.

“It’s hard because you don’t want to have too much but you don’t want to run out,” she said. “But, having the food, the flowers, the framing, all that stuff, helps carry. Say, if one day is pretty slow flower-wise, then the food or the other things will kind of help you carry over.”

Wilkey does most of the cooking but often has help from her sister, Sarah Long of Afton, who also farms with her husband, William.

“My sister helps me a lot with the lunches and if we have any special events or things like that,” Wilkey said. “We do not really do catering, but if people have Christmas parties and stuff, we’ll do bigger, sit-down meals. She helps whenever and wherever I need her.”

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New baby onesies hang by other gift items at Kansas Street Deli and Purple Cow Antiques in Afton in December.

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something Long said she wouldn’t trade for anything.

“We are kind of opposites, and that probably helps us work together,” Long said. “She’s a very creative person; she’s the free spirit. I’m more structured.

We complement each other that way. I don’t know that I could do what she does, but she does it well. She’s a talented person.”

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Pictured are Callista Wilkey, owner of Kansas Street Deli and Purple Cow Antiques, and children Nash, then age 4, and Ethan, then 3 months, sitting on a bar stool at the 50s-style shop in Afton in December.

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Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

Women in business photo package

CNA photos by KELSEY HAUGEN

ABOVE, new tables and chairs are pictured at Kramer’s Cafe in Orient in December.

Co-owner Becky Kramer continually decorates the restaurant with auction items and pieces of decor that members of the community drop off to be put on display.

WILKEY:

Flowers

CONT. FROM | 6A

a poem called “The Purple Cow” by Gelett Burgess.

The poem is written on a wall in the business.

“My grandma had an autographed book from when she was little, and that old poem was written in there. She also had some of the purple cow creamer and salt and pepper shakers, so that’s where the name came from,” Wilkey said.

She also sells new gift items, such as baby clothes, candles, gift baskets, wine and greeting cards.

“Apparently there was a lack in this town of greeting cards,” Wilkey said.

“When we first opened, we didn’t carry those. But people asked for them, so we’ve added those since.”

With a longtime interest and experience in making floral arrangements, Wilkey wanted to offer that service, as well, at her business.

She has both fresh and artificial flowers and balloons, and she does deliveries. She also offers picture framing.

Family focus Wilkey gets to the shop around 7:30 a.m. and doesn’t leave until 5:30 p.m. at the earliest. Some evenings, it isn’t until 6:30 p.m.

So, being able to have her children with her has been a perk, she said.

“It usually works well.

Ethan is a pretty good baby, and Nash was a good baby, too,” Wilkey said. “And, people are pretty understanding. They want the baby to cry so that they can hold him! I’ve got a play pen in the back, a buggy and

7A

swing out here, and Ethan has a space in the back.”

There is also a sense of family in the Afton community, and that’s something both Wilkey and Long have appreciated in serving the community. It often comes in the form of “regulars” consistently supporting the business.

“In a small town, you get to know people who come in the door and you know what to bring them when they sit down,” Wilkey said.

“She has a neat business with a lot of diversity, and there’s a definite little group of loyal daily diners,” Long said. “It’s been interesting to learn about those people, and those people have taken a great interest in both of us, our kids, our families. We’ve seen a lot of life changes with those people. It’s a nice little group and nice to be a part of that community.”

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

ABOVE, Jessica Wilson of Corning flicks orange ribbon into a large bow in March at her flower and gift shop, LONE ARRANGER. BELOW, Chris Robins adjusts a studio softbox while preparing for a shoot at Chris Photography.

The poem “The Purple Cow” by Gelett Burgess is displayed on a wall at Kansas Street Deli and Purple Cow Antiques in Afton. The poem is the namesake for the antique part of Callista Wilkey’s business.

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Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

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Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

9A

Trinity Salon brings new services to Greenfield

By BAILEY POOLMAN “I ALWAYS thought, CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com

__

MELISSA FORD

Owner of Trinity Salon in Greenfield

at her options.

Whereas before, Ford rented a chair at a salon in Des Moines, she did not want to do that this time around.

“I decided I just wanted to open my own,” Ford said. “I’d had people calling me at home asking me to give massages or cut their hair, different things. So, I thought, ‘Well, I need to find a place for myself.’”

CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN

Building

Melissa Ford smiles for the camera in March at her business, Trinity Salon and Day Spa, located in Greenfield. Ford opened the business and immediately offered massage and spa services alongside the regular nail services and hair care.

“We had been looking at different locations and nothing fit price-wise and fit for what we wanted to do,” Ford said. “So, my realtor friend had said, ‘Why don’t you just drive around and look at buildings and see, if you could have any building, which one it would be.’ So, one day, I was driving around and I thought, ‘Oh, this would be a perfect spot.’”

Ford called the owner, who had a heating and cooling business there previously.

“He didn’t know who I was. So, I told him who I was and what I was wanting to do,” Ford said. “He didn’t really use his storefront anymore.”

The owner told her to figure out what the building needs in terms of repairs and refurbishments, as well as the costs, and get back to him. From there, Ford went

home and began outlining the various details of the renovation. Being in the industry previously gave her inside knowledge into the cost of some of the renovation, while her husband, who had construction experience, helped her map out the construction costs and such.

“I met with him again, and he said, ‘Well, why don’t you buy the building?’” Ford said.

The owner then rented the space behind the original business for five years until he retired, and also did the plumbing and electrical in the building, which went toward the purchase.

“We had an 18-monthold and a 2-year-old and we worked nights until midnight,” Ford said. “My parents would watch the girls or we had a babysitter and we pretty much gut-

ted the entire front of the building.”

The couple worked day and night. Leading up to Christmas, which is a busy time for salons, Ford went to a craft show and sold gift certificates rapid fire.

By the time she opened the doors, she was booked solid.

After purchasing the building in September 2009, Melissa and her husband opened the doors to Trinity Salon and Day Spa that Dec. 1.

on working every day. I just wanted something to do,” Ford said.

However, Ford was much busier than she originally planned. She went from setting her own hours and being her own boss in Des Moines to working 12-hour

Business Trinity Salon and Day Spa originally had two styling stations, a manicure and pedicure station and a massage room behind the main open area.

“I always thought, ‘Oh, I don’t need that much space, it’s just me. If I’m busy three days a week, that’s plenty.’ I didn’t plan

G

days with no lunch break.

“At that time, there wasn’t anyone really offering all of those services in one space. And, I think the fact that I had been working in Des Moines for 10 years FORD | 12A

imes, Great Fo T d o oo

d

GREENFIELD — When Melissa Ford went back to work after having her two daughters, she decided driving to and from Des Moines wasn’t something she wanted to do.

Instead, she opened her own business.

Ford, 37, graduated from Nodaway Valley High School in 1998. She then moved away to begin college at La James in Des Moines, where she learned the art of being a stylist, then finished school at Iowa College of Natural Health in Ankeny, where she learned massage therapy. She graduated from both in 1999.

From there, she and her husband, Gary, who is formerly of Orient, moved back to southwest Iowa.

Their two daughters, Ava and Kenna, were born nine and eight years ago, respectively.

“It just seemed like a good idea to move closer to family,” Ford said.

Before moving back, Ford worked various stylist and massage therapist jobs, focusing on Swedish and deep tissue massage and hair. She was also a color educator for several years, teaching patrons about salon hair color.

“We moved back to Greenfield,” Ford said. “It wasn’t really what we were planning on doing.”

The couple sold their house and found something different.

“I stayed home with my kids for about 18 months and just worked at the diner here in town, which is no longer here,” Ford said.

“And then, I decided that I needed to go back to work.”

Instead of driving to Des Moines to work, which Ford did not want to do, she and her husband began looking

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10A

Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli first of its kind in Mount Ayr Jamie Miller, business owner and dabbler in woodworking and design, renovated the 1900s building 10 years ago for her business.

■

By KELSEY HAUGEN Special to the CNA

MOUNT AYR – Intimate wooden booths enclosed by old windows, beams from old barns and sheeting from an old hog buying station – used as floor boards – are just a few personal touches in Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli in Mount Ayr. Owner Jamie Miller herself renovated the building, formerly a 1910s creamery and feed mill, 10 years ago and opened her business there.

The building stood empty for about 11 years before she and her husband, Keith, bought it.

Now, it’s a larger building with an interior featuring Jamie’s woodworking, restored pieces from rural Iowa and beyond and 1900s and newer antiques, it’s nearly unrecognizable from pictures of the old creamery and feed mill currently hanging on a wall in the cafe.

“She did quite a bit of the work as far as renovating and restoring,” Keith said.

“I buy power tools, but they’re not for me. They’re for her. She’s the one that’s handy.”

Renovating and decorating the business is a never-ending project for Jamie, who says the best part of her job is creativity – both in interior design and food.

“I can be creative and find out if the public likes

Introducing frappés

Restoration The process of restoring the century-old building required hours upon hours of labor.

But, as a dabbler in woodworking and design, Jamie en-

Building the menu

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Jamie Miller of Mount Ayr stands outside of her business, Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli, at 118 W. Adams St. in Mount Ayr. She and her husband, Keith, own this building and two others that she has restored and decorated.

joyed the challenge.

“We had to do the booths in one weekend, so I designed them, and (a friend) put them in within a weekend,” Jamie said.

She also covered some of the walls with old barn boards.

“People will call me and tell me, ‘I’m getting ready to tear a barn down. You better get here in a day,’ and I go strip the boards off,” Jamie said. “I’ve made barn-board cabinets and such out of old windows. It’s just my personal taste – rustic.”

The original building was much smaller. The Millers added on both the east and west rooms of Jamie’s business. “(The east room) was go-

Among her gift offerings, the candles are likely the most unique to her store, Jamie said.

“I’ve got a really good line of candles,” Jamie said.

“Some candles you buy, you’ll notice the smell will kind of end after you burn it a couple times. My candles last forever; they’re made of soy, and they’ve got really good scents. I’ve had them for 10 years; they sell really well.”

She also sells figurines painted by Jim Shore with Enesco, as well as a range of items from greeting cards to rustic furniture.

“The farmers co-op has a little gift shop and there’s a couple places on the square that have gifts, and I try not to step on their toes be-

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

The area where customers order at Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli in Mount Ayr features old wooden doors cut in half.

you’ve got to pay your help good or they’re not going to stick around. I’m very picky about having good help.”

But overall, Jamie’s been able to keep the majority of customers happy, she said.

“You’re not getting rich by no means down here in the middle of nowhere, but I’m happy with the way it’s going,” she said. “You can always be busier, I guess, but I’m happy.”

Honoring memories.

Our Caring Staff

Funeral Homes

Joe Powers

Brian Cramer

CRESTON 641-782-7036 Afton 641-347-8725

We provide our residents with Therapies to help each resident reach their highest level of functioning. Seventy-five percent (75%) of our admitted residents return home to live independently after a rehabilitation stay.

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Pictured are wooden booths enclosed by old windows designed by Jamie Miller, located in her business, Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli, in Mount Ayr. She and her husband also go to auctions and collect antique items she uses to decorate.

Powers

Rehab to Home Services

Karla Powers

Desirae Davis

Ask about feeding trials

Debbie Angelo

Sam Beaty

www.powersfh.com

• Post-Op Surgicals • CHF/COPD • Aerobic Exercise in Aging Adults • Pain Management

Veryl Wynn

Paul Somers

Ernie Burke

Eloise White

Lamona Bilderback

TRUST SERVICES • Manage and safeguard your assets • Ensure beneficiaries are treated fairly • Assist with financial planning • Handle your agreement and information with discretion • Consistently manage through generations

RECOVERY: More rapid recovery of muscle cell integrity after exercise to help horses bounce back faster PERFORMANCE: Increased exercise capacity for higher performance over a longer period of time MUSCLE MASS: Supports muscle development for a more athletic body type

1-800-845-7202 1-800-342-1556

IOWA STATE SAVINGS BANK

Our features and amenities include but are not limited to: • Fall Prevention • Continence Improvement • Contracture Management • Osteoarthritis of the Joints • Stroke Recovery

Gift shop

cause it’s not that big of an area,” Jamie said. “And, I’m right across the street from Shopko, and they’ve got similar things to what I’ve got, but unfortunately I can’t price them to what Shopko prices because they buy in such bulk. It’s just hard in a small town.”

Jamie said another challenge of selling both food and gifts in a small town is getting the price point set right.

“People assume it’s going to be cheaper since it’s in a small area compared to Des Moines, but they don’t understand the stuff comes off the same truck here that it does in Des Moines,” she said. “Yet, if I put my prices at Des Moines’ prices, I wouldn’t have any business. So, you’ve got to find that price point. And,

SM-CP42160400331

Care Services

• Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy • Tracheostomy Care • Tube Feedings • Hospice Care • Daily Restorative Programming • Respite Care • Wound Vac Therapy • Routinely Scheduled On-site Physician Visits

While Jamie’s initial idea for a business was selling items she built from wood as well as other gift items, her business slowly morphed into coffee, food and gifts.

The current menu has numerous coffee drinks and made-to-order food items:

and when I bought it, my husband threw a fit because it was fairly pricey. But, I get a lot of people coming off the highway because they see my sign.”

ing to be the seating for peo- the west side of town. So, that’s every four or six months.” ple to eat,” Keith said. “Well, what the floor boards are, and JAMIE | 11A it wasn’t big enough, so we then she polyurethanes them expanded the gift items into there and added on that west room for seating. The beams 804 S. Mulberry — Creston — came from a guy that tore down old barns; she got those 641-278-1044 from him. The floor was the (on the south side of Hwy. 34 sheeting, the roof, off an old

by Cook Video & Appliance) hog buying station out here on

Skilled Care & Rehab Services Our residents have a variety of abilities and needs, which we recognize by providing care and a variety of services that are not limited to:

CONT. FROM | 1A

The rooms are also filled with antique decor. The Millers purchase many of the items – including enamel ware, granite ware, old pictures and calendars – at auctions.

“A lot of them go back as far as 1910,” Keith said.

“And then, we had a 10-foot harvest table initially before putting in the booths. So, it’s been kind of a continuing work.”

Jamie’s business location is the third building the Millers own that Jamie has renovated.

it,” she said.

Originally from Tingley, Jamie, 53, attended Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and became sheriff’s deputy in Ringgold County in 1999.

“I think it was time for a change,” she said. “I was still involved with the sheriff’s office as a reserve officer for a while and then quit that recently. I was in the sheriff’s office from ‘99 to ‘06; you just get kind of burnt out.”

Around 2003, Jamie opened a gift shop, selling soy-based candles and other items, in the back of Keith’s veterinary clinic.

Then, she moved into another location behind Mount Ayr City Hall for more than a year. That’s when she started selling espresso drinks.

In 2006, The Millers bought the current building and Jamie officially launched Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli at 118 W. Adams St. “At the time, Mount Ayr didn’t have any frappés or lattes or anything, so I brought that to town,” Jamie said.

“And then, I started paninis and grilled wraps. I just wanted to bring something different into town. It’ll work in a small town if you have your own little niche.”

JAMIE:

salads, paninis and wraps.

“It took a while for people to get used to the food because this is more of a steak-and-potatoes town, so to speak,” Jamie said. “It took a while for them to get the concept of a panini being grilled with meat in between it, and I roll stuff in tortilla shells and grill them. It was different for them, but it took on.”

Most of the items are homemade, with meats purchased locally, and Jamie does the cooking. She has help from a couple of employees each day; she keeps about six people on staff.

“One thing I had to convince the public was that the food is made to order,” Jamie said. “They thought I peeled Saran wrap off the sandwiches and threw them on the grill because they’re used to Casey’s, I suppose.”

The busiest time at the cafe is over the lunch hour.

“I get a lot of out-of-towners,” Jamie said. “I bought a DOT sign on Highway 2,

www.united-farmers.com

Come see us for all of your Purina equine equine feed fee needs!

It is the goal of our Trust Department to give you piece of mind and provide you and your family with personalized service and support. *Non-Deposit Investment Services are not insured by FDIC or any government agency and are not bank guaranteed. They are not deposits and may lose value.

1000 E. HOWARD STREET • CRESTON, IA • 641-782-5012

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RESTON UTOMOTIVE

11A

Lincoln Continental 1941 - 2017

Ford Mustang 1965 - 2016

www.crestonautomotive.com • 410 W. Adams • Creston, IA 50801 • 641-782-2179 • www.crestonlincoln.com

Ford F100/F150 1950 - 2017

10A

Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli first of its kind in Mount Ayr Jamie Miller, business owner and dabbler in woodworking and design, renovated the 1900s building 10 years ago for her business.

■

By KELSEY HAUGEN Special to the CNA

MOUNT AYR – Intimate wooden booths enclosed by old windows, beams from old barns and sheeting from an old hog buying station – used as floor boards – are just a few personal touches in Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli in Mount Ayr. Owner Jamie Miller herself renovated the building, formerly a 1910s creamery and feed mill, 10 years ago and opened her business there.

The building stood empty for about 11 years before she and her husband, Keith, bought it.

Now, it’s a larger building with an interior featuring Jamie’s woodworking, restored pieces from rural Iowa and beyond and 1900s and newer antiques, it’s nearly unrecognizable from pictures of the old creamery and feed mill currently hanging on a wall in the cafe.

“She did quite a bit of the work as far as renovating and restoring,” Keith said.

“I buy power tools, but they’re not for me. They’re for her. She’s the one that’s handy.”

Renovating and decorating the business is a never-ending project for Jamie, who says the best part of her job is creativity – both in interior design and food.

“I can be creative and find out if the public likes

Introducing frappés

Restoration The process of restoring the century-old building required hours upon hours of labor.

But, as a dabbler in woodworking and design, Jamie en-

Building the menu

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Jamie Miller of Mount Ayr stands outside of her business, Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli, at 118 W. Adams St. in Mount Ayr. She and her husband, Keith, own this building and two others that she has restored and decorated.

joyed the challenge.

“We had to do the booths in one weekend, so I designed them, and (a friend) put them in within a weekend,” Jamie said.

She also covered some of the walls with old barn boards.

“People will call me and tell me, ‘I’m getting ready to tear a barn down. You better get here in a day,’ and I go strip the boards off,” Jamie said. “I’ve made barn-board cabinets and such out of old windows. It’s just my personal taste – rustic.”

The original building was much smaller. The Millers added on both the east and west rooms of Jamie’s business. “(The east room) was go-

Among her gift offerings, the candles are likely the most unique to her store, Jamie said.

“I’ve got a really good line of candles,” Jamie said.

“Some candles you buy, you’ll notice the smell will kind of end after you burn it a couple times. My candles last forever; they’re made of soy, and they’ve got really good scents. I’ve had them for 10 years; they sell really well.”

She also sells figurines painted by Jim Shore with Enesco, as well as a range of items from greeting cards to rustic furniture.

“The farmers co-op has a little gift shop and there’s a couple places on the square that have gifts, and I try not to step on their toes be-

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

The area where customers order at Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli in Mount Ayr features old wooden doors cut in half.

you’ve got to pay your help good or they’re not going to stick around. I’m very picky about having good help.”

But overall, Jamie’s been able to keep the majority of customers happy, she said.

“You’re not getting rich by no means down here in the middle of nowhere, but I’m happy with the way it’s going,” she said. “You can always be busier, I guess, but I’m happy.”

Honoring memories.

Our Caring Staff

Funeral Homes

Joe Powers

Brian Cramer

CRESTON 641-782-7036 Afton 641-347-8725

We provide our residents with Therapies to help each resident reach their highest level of functioning. Seventy-five percent (75%) of our admitted residents return home to live independently after a rehabilitation stay.

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Pictured are wooden booths enclosed by old windows designed by Jamie Miller, located in her business, Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli, in Mount Ayr. She and her husband also go to auctions and collect antique items she uses to decorate.

Powers

Rehab to Home Services

Karla Powers

Desirae Davis

Ask about feeding trials

Debbie Angelo

Sam Beaty

www.powersfh.com

• Post-Op Surgicals • CHF/COPD • Aerobic Exercise in Aging Adults • Pain Management

Veryl Wynn

Paul Somers

Ernie Burke

Eloise White

Lamona Bilderback

TRUST SERVICES • Manage and safeguard your assets • Ensure beneficiaries are treated fairly • Assist with financial planning • Handle your agreement and information with discretion • Consistently manage through generations

RECOVERY: More rapid recovery of muscle cell integrity after exercise to help horses bounce back faster PERFORMANCE: Increased exercise capacity for higher performance over a longer period of time MUSCLE MASS: Supports muscle development for a more athletic body type

1-800-845-7202 1-800-342-1556

IOWA STATE SAVINGS BANK

Our features and amenities include but are not limited to: • Fall Prevention • Continence Improvement • Contracture Management • Osteoarthritis of the Joints • Stroke Recovery

Gift shop

cause it’s not that big of an area,” Jamie said. “And, I’m right across the street from Shopko, and they’ve got similar things to what I’ve got, but unfortunately I can’t price them to what Shopko prices because they buy in such bulk. It’s just hard in a small town.”

Jamie said another challenge of selling both food and gifts in a small town is getting the price point set right.

“People assume it’s going to be cheaper since it’s in a small area compared to Des Moines, but they don’t understand the stuff comes off the same truck here that it does in Des Moines,” she said. “Yet, if I put my prices at Des Moines’ prices, I wouldn’t have any business. So, you’ve got to find that price point. And,

SM-CP42160400331

Care Services

• Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy • Tracheostomy Care • Tube Feedings • Hospice Care • Daily Restorative Programming • Respite Care • Wound Vac Therapy • Routinely Scheduled On-site Physician Visits

While Jamie’s initial idea for a business was selling items she built from wood as well as other gift items, her business slowly morphed into coffee, food and gifts.

The current menu has numerous coffee drinks and made-to-order food items:

and when I bought it, my husband threw a fit because it was fairly pricey. But, I get a lot of people coming off the highway because they see my sign.”

ing to be the seating for peo- the west side of town. So, that’s every four or six months.” ple to eat,” Keith said. “Well, what the floor boards are, and JAMIE | 11A it wasn’t big enough, so we then she polyurethanes them expanded the gift items into there and added on that west room for seating. The beams 804 S. Mulberry — Creston — came from a guy that tore down old barns; she got those 641-278-1044 from him. The floor was the (on the south side of Hwy. 34 sheeting, the roof, off an old

by Cook Video & Appliance) hog buying station out here on

Skilled Care & Rehab Services Our residents have a variety of abilities and needs, which we recognize by providing care and a variety of services that are not limited to:

CONT. FROM | 1A

The rooms are also filled with antique decor. The Millers purchase many of the items – including enamel ware, granite ware, old pictures and calendars – at auctions.

“A lot of them go back as far as 1910,” Keith said.

“And then, we had a 10-foot harvest table initially before putting in the booths. So, it’s been kind of a continuing work.”

Jamie’s business location is the third building the Millers own that Jamie has renovated.

it,” she said.

Originally from Tingley, Jamie, 53, attended Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and became sheriff’s deputy in Ringgold County in 1999.

“I think it was time for a change,” she said. “I was still involved with the sheriff’s office as a reserve officer for a while and then quit that recently. I was in the sheriff’s office from ‘99 to ‘06; you just get kind of burnt out.”

Around 2003, Jamie opened a gift shop, selling soy-based candles and other items, in the back of Keith’s veterinary clinic.

Then, she moved into another location behind Mount Ayr City Hall for more than a year. That’s when she started selling espresso drinks.

In 2006, The Millers bought the current building and Jamie officially launched Jamie’s Coffee Mill and Deli at 118 W. Adams St. “At the time, Mount Ayr didn’t have any frappés or lattes or anything, so I brought that to town,” Jamie said.

“And then, I started paninis and grilled wraps. I just wanted to bring something different into town. It’ll work in a small town if you have your own little niche.”

JAMIE:

salads, paninis and wraps.

“It took a while for people to get used to the food because this is more of a steak-and-potatoes town, so to speak,” Jamie said. “It took a while for them to get the concept of a panini being grilled with meat in between it, and I roll stuff in tortilla shells and grill them. It was different for them, but it took on.”

Most of the items are homemade, with meats purchased locally, and Jamie does the cooking. She has help from a couple of employees each day; she keeps about six people on staff.

“One thing I had to convince the public was that the food is made to order,” Jamie said. “They thought I peeled Saran wrap off the sandwiches and threw them on the grill because they’re used to Casey’s, I suppose.”

The busiest time at the cafe is over the lunch hour.

“I get a lot of out-of-towners,” Jamie said. “I bought a DOT sign on Highway 2,

www.united-farmers.com

Come see us for all of your Purina equine equine feed fee needs!

It is the goal of our Trust Department to give you piece of mind and provide you and your family with personalized service and support. *Non-Deposit Investment Services are not insured by FDIC or any government agency and are not bank guaranteed. They are not deposits and may lose value.

1000 E. HOWARD STREET • CRESTON, IA • 641-782-5012

SM-CP2864970331

Judy Weinkoetz

SM-CP4215650331

Betty Wallace

Annette Rice

641-782-1000 | issbbank.com

SM-CP4377940327

Quality Never Goes Out of

RESTON UTOMOTIVE

11A

Lincoln Continental 1941 - 2017

Ford Mustang 1965 - 2016

www.crestonautomotive.com • 410 W. Adams • Creston, IA 50801 • 641-782-2179 • www.crestonlincoln.com

Ford F100/F150 1950 - 2017

12A

Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

FORD: CONT. FROM | 9A

and had experience,” Ford said. “I mean, I had people who drove from here to Des Moines when I worked in Des Moines. So, people already had an idea of who I was.”

Product Ford built a clientele and employed a second stylist and third before she found a product line she wanted to carry for her patrons.

“I was in Des Moines getting a pedicure at a salon that I used to work for, and I was talking to some of the gals there that I knew,” Ford said. “They were like, ‘Oh, you know, our friend, she opened an Aveda salon in Indianola and they’re really looking to expand in smaller towns.’”

After looking into the product line, Ford was hooked. Over spring break

she called a friend who covered the Midwest area with Aveda. From there, a representative of Estee Lauder got in touch with Ford, visited Greenfield and before she knew it, Ford had brought Aveda to the small Adair County town.

“Bringing Aveda in, it really opened up even more people coming because people came just for the product. We had people driving from Creston just to buy the products,” Ford said. “Then, that entailed people coming here for the services as well.”

In 2014, Ford ended up with the entire building.

She and her husband remodeled the whole back section, which allowed them more space as they had outgrown what they had at the time.

The front area has a sitting room, several styling stations and the front desk.

CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN There are two massage Lines of brightly colored nail polish are on display at Trinity Salon and Day Spa, a business opened by Melissa Ford rooms and a back room for in Greenfield. The business boasts massage therapy and spa services alongside hair care and nail services.

spa and nail services.

“We’re able to do so much more,” Ford said. “I mean, we get quite a bit of business from the Creston area. But, we also draw from our local communities. We draw from all the neighboring towns, and then the hotel now being open in Greenfield, we’ve drawn people from the hotel who are here for the weekend or weddings.”

Despite the obvious differences from being her own boss and worrying only about her family and hours to having to worry about her family and hours as well as each of her employees’ families and availability, Ford has enjoyed the additions, changes and stresses owning a business has brought.

“I’ve always liked being around people and I just like how I make people feel,” Ford said. “I’ve got quite a few massage clients CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN Pictured is the spa and nail care room for clients of Trinity so they come to me because Salon and Day Spa in Greenfield. Patrons of the salon can they have sites that are givhave services in hair care, massage, spa and nails. ing them trouble or pain.

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CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN

The mantra, “Breathe, relax, escape” is on display at Trinity Salon and Day Spa in Greenfield. Owned by Melissa Ford, the salon and spa has massage therapy and spa services alongside the regular hair care and nail services available.

Just knowing that they are getting relief from that. Or, somebody says, ‘Oh my gosh, my hair was great for the last four weeks. I was able to make it look like you did it.’ There’s not a better feeling than that.

“I have a great team right now, so we all work really well together and that helps. There’s no problem that can’t be fixed.”

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Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

13A

Corning woman builds business on history

By BAILEY POOLMAN Arends and renamed it Pe- those. Then you go and pick CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com

CORNING — Jessica Wilson, 38, knew what she wanted to do with her life very early on.

Wilson purchased Peterson Floral Gifts and Antiques two years after graduating from high school and changed the name to LONE ARRANGER. While in high school, Wilson worked for Ros and Darlene Peterson at their flower and gift shop. The shop, called Peterson Floral and Gifts, sat on Seventh Street in Corning. Then, Rita Arends purchased the business after working with the Petersons for a short period of time. “I guess I’m not sure what interested me. I did start in high school,� Wilson said. “So, one class period, I would come down to the shop and work during school.�

Graduating from Corning High School in 1997 led to Wilson continuing her education by attending Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids and earning her degree in floriculture. “I just like being creative,�

Wilson said. “There’s kind of an artistic factor to it.�

During college, Wilson did two internships at Peterson Floral Gifts and Antiques. On Feb. 1, 1999, after completing her degree at Kirkwood, Wilson purchased the store from

terson Floral and Gifts.

Two and a-half years later, the store moved to 615 Davis Ave. Instead of sitting off the main drag in Corning, the store then sat along the downtown area, next to other prominent businesses in the small Iowa town. “That’s part of the Kirkwood training. They train you to be an owner,� Wilson said. “You can certainly just do the designing part of it, but you really get the whole thing. You get everything in that schooling.�

Two years after her move to Davis Avenue, Wilson was awarded the 2003 Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for dedication and commitment to the community at the Adams Community Chamber of Commerce awards banquet.

Projects In 2007, Wilson was asked to make some floral arrangements at Terrace Hill, the mansion of the Iowa governor located in Des Moines. The governor at the time was Chet Culver, and Wilson introduced boughs of pine to her section of the mansion, while other florists gave their take on the flowers. “It used to be done by one guy, took him a month to do it. Then they asked us to come in,� Wilson said. “We take our own things, so that takes things out of your inventory that you can’t sell that year, and decorate with

them up.�

Since then, Wilson has expanded her knowledge of the floral universe by becoming a master florist. “Part of it was hands on, like designing, and a lot of it was book, learning the plants and processing and handling fresh flowers,�

Wilson said of her class. “I mean, it kind of covered everything.�

After becoming a master florist in 2009, Wilson has continued being active in the florist community, even donating her time to help with the float for Rain Bird, a company that manufactures sprinkler systems and Contributed photo other commercial products, to be displayed during the Jessica Wilson decorates stained glass with boughs of pine in 2007 at Terrace Hill, the 2010 Tournament of Roses Iowa governor’s mansion in Des Moines. parade in California. “It was long hours. Not as cess. The flower part was the other floats, but were “The other space, I didn’t long as they made it sound about a week or so. It’s en- unable to stay to watch the have everything out. Part of it was in storage and you like it was going to be. Not tirely covered in evergreen, parade in person. it’s not just flowers.

I mean, On Jan. 3, 2011, Wiljust rotated things. But now as messy; they said you’re it could be anything, from son decided to expand her I have a better display of going to ruin a pair of jeans seeds to anything.

So, they business and found a new things and really only seawith glue and whatever, but get the different colors and space at 627 Davis Ave., sonal is in storage.� it wasn’t as bad,� Wilson textures.�

Wilson currently lives in one block from her previsaid. “Obviously CaliforAfter doing the float, she Corning with her husband, ous spot. nia is nicer in the winter so and the other volunteers Kyle Chafa, and 3-year-old “This is twice the size of it wasn’t like bundling up walked around to look at where I came,�

Wilson said. son, Maddux. here, and you’re in a big warehouse building. So, it was sweatshirt or jacket still. But better than being here. “I think we were there for a week. I mean, it’s a yearlong process. They start immediately after the parade for the next year’s parade. They tore it all off; it’s iron rod. For the companies, it’s a yearlong proJennifer Jane Joyce Val Whether recovering from an injury, illness or surgery our rehabilitation programs are tailored to your needs. Working one-on-one with a member of our professional staff ensures you’ll get the best possible treatment.

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CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN

Jessica Wilson of Corning smiles for the camera in March inside her business, LONE ARRANGER. Wilson purchased the business in 1999 after working there in high school and college.

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14A

Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

Main Street Corning and Adams Community Chamber of Commerce CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

April 3: Highway Cleanup April 7: Belles & Whistles – Corning Opera House April 15: Donovan Johnson – Corning Opera House April 17: Cash Mob April 23 – Opry Show – Corning Opera House

May 1: Rotary Scholarship BBQ May 5: First Friday BBQ May 6: Ladies May Day Tea – French Icarian Village May 6: Reconciled – Corning Opera House May 16: Cash Mob May 27: Youth Fishing Clinic – Lake Icaria June 2: First Friday BBQ June 2-4: City Wide Garage Sales

June 16-17 Alladin, Jr. – Corning Opera House June 20: Cash Mob June 25 – Opry Show – Corning Opera House July 3: Lake Icaria Kid Treasure Hunt July 3: Fireworks over Lake Icaria July 4: Chamber Flight Breakfast July 7 First Friday BBQ July 7-12: Adams County Fair

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Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

15A

Mother, daughter duo boosts retail in Creston

By BAILEY POOLMAN and worked with the of our stores. At that time lege of Business in Des working, still in retail, time management, not beCNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com

Jennifer Shirbroun grew ​ up around business. So, it surprised her mother, Darlene Riley, when she decided to continue in those footsteps and open her own business.

Riley, 61, of Creston is an Eagle Grove High School graduate. She was in factory management before becoming self employed 30 years ago with Central Plains Electric in Creston.

“Back then, it was a jungle. I had a 1-year-old and a 5-year-old. So, you’re juggling trying to work. I tried helping with some of the clerical stuff and then gradually went into hands-on out there somewhat,” Riley said.

After deciding she wanted a more “clean-hands” job, Riley opened the Wishing Well, a women’s and children’s clothing store on North Maple Street, 20 years ago.

“Retail versus service, they’re two different ball games. There was still a lot to learn, but it was fun,” Riley said. “Actually, before I started the Wishing Well, we did a little stint out at the lake

kids.”

Shirbroun got her start in business at Green Valley Lake, when she and her family ran the convenience store near the beach, which consisted of bait and concessions sales and cleaning.

“That was my start, really. I went and helped around the shop, cleaning.

I got paid to clean. We grew up in business, you know, helping wherever, helping clean,” Shirbroun said. “We worked out there everyday during the summer. You know, checked people out that were buying stuff, and ran the concession stand that was on the beach side.”

After working the shop for two years, the family was asked to continue with another five years on contract; however, they declined.

“They (the kids) always enjoyed being around us doing business, and I thought it would be a deterrent in a way, because of all the hours involved, but it wasn’t,” Riley said.

Wishing Well The Wishing Well opened in 1996, with the 21st anniversary scheduled in September.

“We were losing a lot

we had Sernett’s and Spurgeon’s, and I always liked dressing Jen up nice, but unfortunately some of the other places, I wanted the nicer things,” Riley said.

“So, we started with the kids’ clothes, a little bit better brands of kids’ clothes so somebody in town had them.”

Wal-Mart came into Creston around this time, phasing out some smaller, independent stores and decreasing the shopping options for local patrons.

The store offers a variety of women’s and children’s clothing options. Riley described the store as a bit “country,” but the brands are a little higher class than what may be available at other places.

The Wishing Well is currently undergoing a renovation, and is in the third of three phases. An open house in celebration for the 21st anniversary is scheduled in September.

Moines. She worked various retail positions before deciding to open a new business, Hazel Marie’s, in her hometown.

“While I was in school I worked in sales, in cell phone sales, so I kind of got some experience in sales and working in retail that way,” Shirbroun said.

“Then, I kind of started

but in an office job. And pretty much decided that 9 to 5, every single day, Monday through Friday, ultimately didn’t make me happy.”

With her mother’s help, Shirbroun decided to start a business. Thus, Hazel Marie’s was born in 2009.

“A lot of it is having my own schedule. You know,

ing under somebody’s time jurisdiction, punching the time clock,” Shirbroun said. “One thing that I really valued as a child was my parents attending every activity I was in. It didn’t matter what time of day or what time of night. They made sure they made it to HAZEL | 18A

Hazel Marie’s Shirbroun, 31, who now lives in Coon Rapids, is a 2003 graduate of Creston CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN High School. She earned From left, Jennifer Shirbroun and Darlene Riley smile for the camera in March in the an associate degree in front of the boutique, Hazel Marie’s, in uptown Creston. The store was opened in 2014 business management and on North Elm Street, but has since moved to a larger space. leadership from AIB Col-

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These shirts, covered in various floral prints and solid colors, boast the Hazel Marie’s name and are on display at the store in uptown Creston. Jennifer Shirbroun and her mother, Darlene Riley, envisioned the boutique before renting a space on North Elm Street. The store has since moved to West Adams Street.

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Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

Green continues tax services under new name

By BAILEY POOLMAN she worked for six months ed to quit teaching, but we

Taxes While working at Diagonal, she assisted Ruth Long during the 2011 tax season in 2012. After leaving Diagonal,

Green Accounting Since that first year, the name changed to Green Accounting and Tax, and they held a ribbon cutting after their soft opening.

“We had talked quite a bit prior to. The decision to buy this wasn’t until after I decid-

CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN

Elizabeth Green with Green Accounting and Tax assists a client in February at the office in Creston. Green does a variety of services, including payroll and taxes.

had talked long and hard before I stopped teaching that this was something we were going to do,” Green said.

“That first year, there was a lot of learning. It was really great to have that experience still here, the experienced Vern and June, to support us.

“I know there were a couple of times I was doing something stupid, and I could tell by both of their behaviors that what I was doing was a poor decision, so we backed up and tried again. But, they were really great to help with.

They were very much invested in me being successful.

They wanted their clients to be taken care of and the best way they could do that was to make sure I was doing what needed to be done. ... I still call Vern, maybe once, twice CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN or three times a month to Elizabeth Green smiles for the camera in February at her desk at Green Accounting and bounce questions off him.”

Tax in Creston.

Since 2014, Green, EA (enrolled agent), has been and here are their hours and mostly on her own. She em- we process it from there, to ploys an office manager and where they process it themtwo part-time staff members selves and we do the quarthroughout the year. During terly reports or the quarterly tax season, one part-time payments or part of it.” staff member goes full-time Also throughout the year, and three other part-time Green is an adjunct instrucstaff members are added tor at SWCC. to the roster, including one “June and Vern had a college student. The ex- fantastic business. They did tra staff allows them to be a good job, they had loyal open more often during tax customers, they were just season, including nearly 12- excellent, they still are exhour days and Saturdays. cellent,” Green said. “And, “It gets very stressful because of that, the people during tax season, that’s for that came to get their taxes sure,” Green said. “We walk done just kept coming.” out the door on the last day Green serves on several of tax season every year and different community boards it’s like, ‘Oh, my gosh, how and enjoys being part of the did we even get through all community in more ways than of that?’ But, then come De- owning a business. She also encember, I’m excited again, joys being at work and spendit’s going to be so much ing time with her coworkers. smoother. Never is.”

“I very much like the peo“We’ve been busy. It’s ple I work with. Eric and I definitely been a busy few were just talking about that, years,” Green said. “There’s we spend more time with the been a lot of retirements people we work with than with and, unfortunately, some each other, so I’m glad that I people have passed away.” like them all,” Green said.

The majority of her work, Green also likes the flexthough, is filing income tax- ibility being her own boss es, with a bit of payroll, sales brings. Though, while she can tax reporting, state tax work take time off as she needs, she and book-keeping services knows she still has to come sprinkled in. back to a pile of work she “I would say 75 to 80 per- may not have finished yet. cent of what we do here is “At the end of the day, it’s filing income taxes,” Green great that I have the flexisaid. “That’s the majority of bility, but at the end of the our work. We process pay- day, if I take three days off, I roll for people, we go every- have to work on Saturday,” where, from where the client Green said. “I like working calls us once a week or once with people, and I don’t every other week and says, have a boss. But, on the oth‘Hey, here are my people er hand, I have 100 bosses.”

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For Elizabeth Green of rural Creston, working with numbers has always been in the stars.

The 34-year-old graduated from East Union High School in Afton in 2000 and continued her education from there. She earned an associate degree from Southwestern Community College in 2002, a Bachelor of Science in high school math education in 2004 from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, a Bachelor of Arts in accounting in 2011 from Simpson College in Indianola, and a master’s degree in accounting in 2016 from American Military University, an online college.

Before deciding to own her own business, Green taught middle- and high-school math in Missouri for three years and Diagonal Community Schools for two years until 2012. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2009 and has one step-daughter, Sadie.

“I liked teaching OK, but I did not love teaching,” Green said. “So, while Eric was deployed to Afghanistan, I got my bachelor’s in accounting as well. I used my free time, ‘cause I had lots of it that year, to get my accounting degree.”

Green had a business minor while still in college but never completed it. She enjoyed her accounting classes enough, and decided if she didn’t want to teach, she wanted to still do something with numbers.

doing temporary jobs such as substitute teaching.

“From there, Ruth, at that time, wasn’t ready to retire.

I knew she wanted to but she wasn’t there yet, and Vern and I had talked previously that he would be looking to retire,” Green said.

Vern Eblen and his wife, June, had Eblen Accounting and Tax, a small business located along West Taylor Street as you head to the west edge of Creston. Together, the couple worked full-time and were planning to retire soon.

“I knew I was kind of looking to do something, so it just really worked out for everybody,” Green said.

“They stayed on with me for one year, so they stayed on and worked with me fulltime. ... They pretty well retired after that first year.”

Green purchased the business from the Eblens Jan. 1, 2013, but it remained under the Eblen name that first year to prevent confusion with clients.

“Vern literally sat side by side with me when we met with people. He pulled up a chair and sat here,” Green said with a gesture, “and I sat there, and pretty much walked me through with every client, ‘This is Elizabeth and she’s going to be doing your taxes.’ So, if we ran into a road block, he was there to answer that question and really hold my hand that first year.”

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Chris Photography dealt with disaster without missing a beat n

By HILARY FERRAND OST news editor hferrand@osceolaiowa.com

OSCEOLA – A Murray transplant with an artistic eye and a passion for people, Chris Robins never considered abandoning her business once its original location burned down. The site wasn’t done smoldering before Robins had moved operations to its current home on the north side of the square.

Through the years, Chris Photography has been a mainstay for Clarke County, with schools, businesses, organizations and families relying on the studio to fill various needs.

Murray born and raised While Robins’ shop is located in downtown Osceola, the owner makes her home in Murray, where she got her roots. Strong ties to the sports programs there have fostered lucrative partnerships.

“I have a contract with Murray schools,” said Robins. “I do all of their photography.”

From prom to sporting events, Robins has had a chance to photograph most Murray alum.

“I graduated in Murray and went to Creston to SWCC – Southwestern Community College,” said Robins. “I grew up a farm kid. You can’t beat that.”

Her parents, Gary and Delores Robins, still farm in the area. In addition, her mother worked for Osceola Foods for many years. Her father is known for his acrylic and oil paintings.

“Not bragging on him,” she said. “He’s a pretty decent painter.”

Robins considers her father

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the source of her artistic eye.

Her parents’ home is testament to the fact. As many of his paintings line the walls as portraits do in her studio.

That presence helped fuel her interest and develop her artistic focus. She encourages people to make no mistake.

“Photography is an art,” she said. “There’s a difference between a snapshot and a real good portrait.”

Robins has the experience to see the difference. She studied media for two years at college, learning about newspaper and television processes. Photography was a part of the program, though she was already a veteran behind the camera by the time she got there.

“Somewhere around sixth grade, I begged my folks for a little 35 point-and-shoot for Christmas,” said Robins. “I drove my three brothers crazy with it.”

The interest persisted into high school, where she worked on the yearbook and other visual projects. After graduation, Robins played basketball at SWCC for two years. By chance, the wife of one of her classmates owned the photography studio in Osceola.

“Her husband had gotten hurt on the railroad, so they sent him back to school. He was in my classes, and I knew he was headed to Kansas City. That’s how the Osceola area kind of opened up,” said Robins.

At age 20, she seized the opportunity. With her sights set on Osceola, Robins struck out on her own with her photography business and hasn’t spent any time looking back.

“My folks actually went to get a loan at the bank with me,” said Robins. “I had to have a camera. I had to have lights. I had to have some backgrounds.”

While today, her photos are shot with a professional digital camera, at the beginning of her career, Robins used a

17A

645 Mamiya. The 2-by-3-inch negatives it created allowed photographers to enlarge photos while retaining quality. It wasn’t long before families across Clarke County were commissioning her to have their photos taken.

“I might have got along well because I was a hometown girl,” said Robins. “If it hadn’t been for my family and friends, getting started would have been kind of tough. I have been pretty fortunate.”

It’s a surprising statement coming from someone who watched her studio burn to the ground.

Disaster strikes

OST photo by HILARY FERRAND

Chris Photography spent 23 years in the block-wide brick building, nestled in alongside Boyt Harness Company. Named the Snowden Building, it was once a lingerie factory, manufacturing high-quality slips, bras and panties.

“That whole building was sitting empty,” said Robins.

“Boyt’s was on the south end of it.”

One day in June 2003, the harness company thought they had a small electrical fire inside the walls. What started as a puff of smoke turned into a catastrophe.

“The whole building was down and to the ground in two-and-a-half hours,” said Robins.

The blaze made statewide headlines. Fifteen fire departments from across Central and Southern Iowa sent reinforcements.

“They had Indianola, Humeston, Creston, there was tons of them,” said Robins. “It was huge. We had me and 12 fireman just packing just as fast as we could pack it. In fact, I was the last one to come out of the building with the fireman. We were literally just putting it out on the highway.”

People off the street started pitching in, carrying goods to the corner and loading them onto trucks ready to haul

Chris Robins poses in front of senior, family and wedding portraits with her Nikon D600 professional digital camera. After a session, Robins runs the photographs through editing software to adjust lighting, crop the pictures and size them before shipping them to the film lab.

wherever Robins needed.

“My folks said, ‘Chris, if you’d been in a big city, you would have never seen that stuff again.’ That’s living in a small town,” said Robins.

She was fortunate to be left with a fair amount of equipment, but it’s likely a total loss wouldn’t have stopped her.

“There was no doubt in my mind that I wasn’t going to open it up again right away,” she said.

Rebuilding the business “Joann Taylor told me she had a mini-storage building empty, and I could take stuff there and use it until I could sort through it,” said Robins.

Several people stepped up to offer space or help with sorting. One, Betty Wells, the owner of Chris Photography’s current building, offered Robins a place to set up shop on the square.

“She got wind of me on the same day,” said Robins, though it wasn’t the first time moving had crossed her mind.

Three years before the fire, she said, Robins had looked at rental spaces on the square.

At the time, they didn’t make financial sense for the increase

in price.

“I wasn’t a walk-in type of business,” she said. “That’s really why I never moved up here.”

Nowadays? She couldn’t be happier. Wells was looking for a dependable, long-term renter. That was nearly 15 years ago.

“I get along real well with my landlady,” says Robin. “I like it uptown. I love my location.”

People in Osceola seem to love it, too. Robins has had the chance to photograph generations of families’ members — outdoors, in their homes and at her studio over the years. She’s contracted work with businesses and publications, too.

“I’m more into portraits than anything else,” Robins said. “I love people. I love working with people. I love meeting new people.”

That passion has lent itself to volleyball and basketball coaching gigs with Murray’s Lady Mustangs.

A photographer’s free time It’s hard for small business owners to work in free time, but Robins makes her hectic

schedule work. “(The basketball season) starts in November, and I’m done in February,” she said.

“It’s just a short thing. I’ve always loved it.”

Clients are usually accommodating when it comes to working around the players’ schedules, too. Other than sporting events, however, Robins is usually found behind a camera — or a computer.

“I went from film to digital, of course,” she said of industry changes. “I would say digital is a lot more work. Before, with my film, I would literally drop it in a bag, go out the door at 5 o’clock every night and drop it in the mail, and I was done for the rest of the night. Now, I’m the one that gets on the computer, crops the prints, sets the color, sends the photos to the lab. A lot of my friends don’t understand.”

Robins said she tries to take Mondays off after the weekend, when most weddings and family events happen, but time doesn’t always allow for time off. Still, she said, all in all, it’s been worth it.

“I’ve enjoyed working for myself,” said Robins, “and I’ve been very successful at it.”

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18A

Creston News Advertiser Monday, March 27, 2017

HAZEL: CONT. FROM | 15A

every single game, home, away. And I was involved in a lot.”

The flexibility has allowed Shirbroun to spend time with her family while also working her Hazel Marie’s dream.

Hazel Marie’s originated on the World Wide Web, where Shirbroun and her mother sold accessories.

However, that ended when they discovered the work involved and their preference to working in a storefront.

“It was very difficult trying to figure out how to drive people to the website,” Shirbroun said.

“You almost needed a physical location to feed off of, and we did not have that,” Riley added.

Storefront Before opening the storefront to Hazel Marie’s on North Elm Street, the mother-daughter duo began attending buying markets, where they purchased goods to sell online.

“It was a good experience as to maybe what we didn’t want to do,” Shirbroun said. “Even though that is the direction that retail is pushing for, to try to capture the online sales, we’ve been there and done that and we know the amount of work.”

They discovered the work in measuring product and taking good-quality photographs to post on the website that they eventually began selling their product, which comes from mostly American companies, through vendors at different locations.

“I’m a very touchy-feely person and I feel like the atmosphere for me is very important to building your brand, building your business, building your boutique,” Shirbroun said. “For me, it’s important to have a very nice, aesthetic atmosphere despite the size of

your building, even if it’s small or if it’s big. I want it to look and feel and be a luxury experience.”

The first boutique for Hazel Marie’s opened Aug. 28, 2014, in the 100 block of North Elm Street. They also made the website inactive, preferring to work in person with customers.

They immediately preferred this experience, having the customers be able to touch and feel the product, see the size and feel how it would fit before purchasing.

Shirbroun and Riley also enjoy being more involved with the brands at buying markets and working with manufacturers this way.

New space Eventually, a family member discovered a new space available for the pair, located on West Adams Street.

The space allows for more product to be displayed and more storage in back.

“It’s allowed us to put in a lot more stuff and display a lot better because of the extra space,” Riley said.

“And to be more organized.

I mean, we have a lot more space.”

The store has an open, airy feel with wooden floors and racks of modern, chic clothing alongside tables of sparkling earrings and shimmering necklaces.

“It continues to evolve constantly. We always have thoughts and visions. We kind of rebranded from when we came from over there to over here,” Shirbroun said.

“I redid my logo and kind of changed up. Still the same vision, but just kind of changed it up a little bit and I think that helped.”

After moving to the new space, the duo utilized the previous space with a new business called The Reclaimed Wardrobe, a consignment shop filled with children’s and women’s clothing.

“We invested a lot into the space because we really feel investing into our space,

CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN

Decorative items and merchandise are on display in March at Hazel Marie’s, located on West Adams Street in Creston.

The store, which contains clothing items and accessories, came to Creston in 2014 because of a vision Jennifer Shirbroun and her mother, Darlene Riley, had.

even if it isn’t our own space, investing into our vision is a good thing,” Shirbroun said.

“We knew, most likely, if we left that it would turn into an office of some type and the goal is to revitalize the downtown.”

The pair wanted to bring something to Creston that wasn’t currently being offered, but maintain the retail aspect. So, the idea of a consignment shop came about.

“It keeps more money in town and provides work for more girls because we employ a lot of the college girls,” Riley said. “We feel pretty good about being able to employ them.”

The consignment shop offers gently worn or new clothing for women and children marked at a price Shirbroun and Riley think is fair.

In the end, the mother-daughter duo have brought Creston, a small Iowa town, retail with a bustling city feel.

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Senior Life Solutions program referrals can be made by anyone, including a patient’s physician, family member, or other healthcare professional.

If you know someone that you feel could benefit from this program please call.

641-743-7202

www.adaircountyhealthsystem.org

SM-CP4215630331

100 YEARS

Styles Have Changed Over The Past 100 Years.

AVAILABLE NOW THRU APRIL 7TH

101 NORTH WALNUT • CRESTON, IOWA 641-782-4193 • MON. - FRI 8AM - 5 PM • WWW.AHDC.US

Stop In & See Us!

1917

2017

But OUR LOCATION & GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE Hasn't!

Family Owned & Operated Since 1917

COEN’S FURNITURE, INC.

121 N. Maple • Creston • 641-782-2121

— Monday - Saturday 9-5 or by appointment —

MIKE COEN — Owner —

FREE

Delivery in our Area

SM-CP3387000327

“Your Complete Home Furnishings Store”