NDN-MAG-03-29-2024

Shine Bright

The Jeweler’s Bench creates one-of-a-kind masterpieces Spring 2024

Our roots were established as far back as the 1920s. The providers of Newton Clinic have been caring for this community for more than 80 years.

Our

Michael Brooks, ARNP FNP-C Specialty Pediatrics

Kelsey Tish, ARNP, FNP-C Family Practice

Jodi Holloway. ARNP, FNP-C Family Practice

Steve Hill, M.D. Family Practice

Pat Edwards, M.D. Family Practice

T. Y. Chan, D.O. Internal Medicine

Orville Bunker, M.D. Family Practice

Min Pak, M.D. Family Practice Mureema Solberg, M.D. Family Practice

Andrew Cope, D.O. Family Practice

Duane Jolivette, M.D. Family Practice

Zack Alexander, M.D., CCD Family Practice

Nicole Ferguson, D.O. Family Practice

Luke Perrin, M.D. Family Practice

Tara Gravenstine, M.D. Family Practice with OB

Dr. Zach Bliek Podiatrist

Sarah Florence, M.D. Family Practice with OB

Dr. Patrick Cogley Family Practice

Laurie Siddall, ARNP, FNP-C Family Practice

Dr. Dennis Dornbier OBGYN

Beth Preston, ARNP, FNP-C

Practice

Sign time

The

Word

Newton

Red

The Jeweler’s Bench creates one-of-a-kind jewelry, soon in downtown Newton

Making unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry has become the family business for Jeff Roush. Owner of The Jeweler’s Bench, Roush, and now his son Mitch, meticulously create intricate rings, necklaces, bracelets and more out of the finest metals and jewels available, natural and lab created.

“Business is incredibly good,” Jeff said. “We are so thankful our community and everywhere around the nation are behind us.”

Jeff has been making jewelry for almost 40 years. He attended Gem City School of Horology in Quincy, Ill. and then opened his shop in Des Moines. During his busiest times, he employed 12 other jewelers and did work for all of the local jewelry stores as well as stores all over Iowa.

About 10 years ago, he decided to bring his talents home and opened up The Jeweler’s Bench in his Newton home. A few years later, after also

graduating from Gem City School and getting some experience, Mitch joined his dad and works on custom projects for clients.

“We’ve been averaging doing about 220 custom pieces a year. That is kind of our norm,” Mitch said. “In 2021, when the jewelry business really boomed, we did 250 pieces, which is one a weekday.”

Rings are by far the most popular item requested, bringing in about 98 percent of their business. Diamonds still rule the day as the center stone. What has changed is the type of diamond that is selected for the rings.

“We’ve sold several pretty big natural diamonds, but there has been a huge shift in the industry to lab diamonds,” Jeff said. “Last year we did 90-plus percent of sales in center stones of lab diamonds compared to naturally grown diamonds. They are beautiful. They are a diamond and the price break is way less than a natural grown one. It has been incredible.”

The duo also has a specific market that helps give past pieces of jewelry a new life.

“About 50 to 60 percent of our projects is taking stones from older jewelry and redesigning a new ring around those stones,” Mitch said.

Jeff said they can sometimes even use the metal from the old piece to help create the new one, too.

“Typically it starts with a sketch or someone brings in a screenshot of what they want,” Mitch said. “The nice thing about custom jewelry is we can take your budget and make your ring work within it.”

Mitch has a jewelry specific CAD program to design the pieces, which is newer to the business. Jeff said he never had that technology.

“Once it is approved we 3D print it and then cast it where the 3D print get

WHAT’S THE WORD OF THE DAY?

Monroe woman keeps her community engaged with daily word or phrase posted outside her home

What started as a fun way for longtime Monroe resident Natalie Pendroy to brighten the spirits of locals who needed a breath of fresh air from being cooped up inside their homes during the pandemic has since blossomed into something community members would be figuratively and literally lost without.

For the past few years, Pendroy has posted a word of the day near the east side of her home, which is located at the end West Washington Street. Locals have taken a liking to the benevolent act during their walks or when driving by the property. Pendroy said people even use it as a landmark when giving directions.

“Everybody was shut in but people were walking, so I thought, ‘Well, I can put up a word of the day.’ I didn’t know

if I was going to put it on the fence or what I was going to do,” Pendroy said of the crafty home decoration. “…For a lot of people it’s how they know who we are. It’s because of the ‘word-of-the-day house.’”

Using some dollar-store door mats as her backboards (cardboard proved to be too flimsy and would disintegrate during rainfalls), Pendroy paints select words or phrases she has written down in a journal to share each day. Oftentimes, Monroe residents will contact her for specific requests, and she obliges.

“I had a lady whose dad always said ‘carpe diem,’ which means ‘seize the day.’ Her dad always said that to her on her birthday,” Pendroy said. “But he has since passed. She came to me and asked if I would put that (phrase) up there on

her birthday. So I did, and that held a lot of meaning for her.”

There is a grandmother who walks by the house every day to take pictures of the word of the day and send it to her grandchildren, who remember seeing it when they stayed with her. Pendroy has even seen high schoolers coming from Highway F-70 slow down to see what the word of the day is.

Delivery truck drivers who know the area frequently pass by the Pendroy house, too. Churchgoers never miss a chance to catch the word of the day before participating in the Sunday services. The little gesture has only been around for a few years but it is already a community staple. And there is no sign of letting up.

Carl Hentsch of 3 Dog Design Co. and Betty J’s Mercantile in Newton shares how he got the itch to stitch

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to Iowa.

I was born and raised in Florida at a place called Merritt Island by Cape Canaveral. So it’s about an hour east of Orlando, between the mainland and Cocoa Beach. I went to school at the University of Miami, and then I joined the Air Force. When I was in the Air Force I was in Texas, Korea, California and D.C. Then I went to Indiana. Then I moved back to Florida. Then I went to Dallas. From there I went to Colorado, then back to Florida, then to St. Joseph, Mo. where I lived for 11 years. Then we moved to Iowa.

When were you first exposed to quilting?

My first exposure was during the bicentennial (1976) when they had that big resurgence and there were displays of quilts and stuff. I didn’t think anything more about it until the mid-1990s. That’s when I saw quilting shows on TV, lessons and stuff. That is where I started watching all of those shows. I finished my first quilt in 2001.

Is that when you became really invested in the craft?

Well, during all the moving I stopped a little bit. I brought my sewing machine with me and stuff, but I didn’t really start quilting again until I moved to Missouri. I was there for 11 years. I met a bunch of quilt shop owners and a bunch of fabric stores. One of the quilt shop owners is the one that talked me into doing my first book.

How many books have you published?

I have three published books right now. My first one is “Stars and Strips Forever,” which is no longer in publication. That came out in 2013. That’s also when I started my pattern company 3 Dog Design Company. My next book was for Kansas City Star, which was called “Amish Inspired Quilts for Today’s Home.” My most recent one is “New

York Beauties & Flying Geese,” which was published by C&T Publishing. I’m working on a fourth book for them now. A lot of quilts I’ve done have also been specifically designed for specific fabric lines for fabric companies.

Can you explain how that process works with fabric companies?

They send me images of the fabrics, and then I have to come up with a designed quilt. I usually come up with several different things and then I send it to them for approval. They say, “We like this one and this one” or “Can you change this fabric?” Then that is when they ask me if I can write this pattern. I get paid to write the pattern, and then they ask me if I can make it and then I get paid to make it.

How would you describe your style of quilting?

I call myself modern traditional. I like the traditional, but I tend to lean more towards the modern. Even in the Amish book, I take a traditional pattern and change it up.

What were you doing to hone your skills in the time it took you to make your first quilt

and then publish your first book?

I was collecting fabric, going to quilt shops, making other people’s patterns. After a while I decided I didn’t want to make everyone else’s patterns. I wanted to do my own. Then that’s why the quilt shop owner said I should publish.

What excites you about quilting?

Some people paint. Some people knit. I like to design and make quilts. That is kind how my brain works with all that calculus and geometry I had. I never thought I would be using my math background for quilting.

So what is 3 Dog Design Company?

I started that in 2013. Right when my first book was coming out. I actually named it after my three dogs at the time. I’m terrible at names, so I thought, ‘Three dogs? OK!’ That’s how I do my published patterns under 3 Dog Design. My patterns sell in Germany and Norway and Australia, as well as the United States. All my books sell overseas.

Jasper County Conservation is expecting to see more people make use of the Red Rock Prairie Trail this spring and summer, and even more so when the last section between the edge of Prairie City to Mitchellville is completed next year. Keri Van Zante, director of county conservation, is excited to see that traffic.

According to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, the Red Rock Prairie Trail is a 16-mile former rail corridor connecting Monroe, Prairie City and Mitchellville, and it is part of a longterm goal to link Saylorville Lake north of Des Moines with Lake Red Rock and Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.

The trail has been open to the public ever since the segment between Monroe and the entrance of Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City were completed in 2022. Van Zante said funding to complete the segment from Prairie City to Mitchellville has been secured, and construction could begin in 2025.

In addition to the commerce and economic benefits that come from connecting the wildlife refuge and Lake Red Rock to the highly populated Polk County, the trail is fostering plenty of recreational opportunities in Jasper County. Van Zante said many runners and cyclists have used the trails to their advantage.

“And I know there are some people that have been doing some rollerblading,” she said. “Obviously, in the winter we try to keep most of it cleared off. There could be potential — if we have the want or need — to keep part of it snow so people can do cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on it.”

TRAIL ON,

Red Rock Prairie Trail offers recreational

“We can keep that one open all winter, and that’s our plan — for now,” she said. “But if there are other opportunities people are interested in, it is something we can certainly talk about and leave part of it snow covered for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. But the bad part is that can also open it up to snowmobilers.”

Jasper County Conservation does not want snowmobiles on the trail, which could get damaged by the spiked tracks. It is the last thing Van Zante wants to see after all the time, money and effort that went into making the trail and connecting people to must-see spots like Neal Smith.

The federal national wildlife refuge was established in 1990 in order to protect and restore 6,000 acres of native prairie ecosystems. Red Rock Prairie Trail connects visitors to the refuge

Which is common on the neighboring Chichaqua Valley Trail, a 26-mile path that extends from Berwick in Polk County to Baxter in Jasper County. The trees along the path allow for a lot of natural drifting when snowfall occurs. Van Zante said since Red Rock Prairie Trail is fairly wide open, the snow blows off the trail.

for even more recreational opportunities. Van Zante said the trail also connects area schools between Monroe and Prairie City.

“Which is kind of a neat thing,” she said. “It opens up nice opportunities for field trips for kids or sports training for kids, too. It would be the wish to eventually connect with Red Rock through Marion County, too. In Mitchellville we’re hoping to connect to the Gay Lea Wilson Trail in Altoona or Chichaqua Valley Trail.”

Another great connection would be Thomas Mitchell Park in Mitchellville. Van Zante said it is also a favorite park among Jasper County residents since it’s so close to the county lines even though it is Polk County. To see the trail open to the public and coming so close to completion is an exciting feeling for Van Zante.

“It was open all last summer, and now we have trail counters on it so we should have some good numbers from our first year coming soon to us,” she

ADVENTURERS!

opportunities throughout county, even more so when it is completely finished

said. “When it gets connected, I suspect in 2025 we’ll see the next phase of it starting. I’m going through the process of hiring an engineer right now.”

Van Zante hopes people who use Red Rock Prairie Trail acknowledge and respect the nature and agriculture they are surrounded by. She also hopes people realize how much effort has been put into this new recreational opportunity and connector in Jasper County.

“I hope they spread the word about all the good things we have in Jasper County and what Jasper County Conservation does for the people here,” Van Zante said.

— Christopher Braunschweig

Natural, homemade dog treats from Newton resident Marianne Vriezelaar are not only tasty but a healthy option for man’s best friend

It must be “ruff” for the five pups of Five Dog Bakery. Benelli, Gunnar, Remi, Minnie and Archie work day in and day out as taste testers, letting owners Marianne Vriezelaar and Chelsea Bird, Vriezelaar’s daughter, know just what they think of any new creations. From donuts and cookies to cakes and bagels, the dogs are putting in the time to make sure all of their furry friends get the best when it comes to treats.

Already a cake baker, Vriezelaar was approached by a friend if she would be interested in making training treats for her new boarding and training facility. After a bunch of research Vriezelaar took the jump and started making a new kind of treat: for dogs.

“We are AG and state licensed, all recipes have full analysis and are 100 percent all natural ingredients homemade in our kitchen and tested by our five super experienced taste testers,” Vriezelaar said. “They take their jobs very seriously.”

Treats are made with ingredients people can eat including pumpkin, carrots, peanut butter, yogurt, applesauce and carob.

“Carob is good. I came home one day and had some red ones wrapped in foil and my boyfriend said ‘Those red candies you had on the counter, I think they are going bad.’ I didn’t know what he was talking about until I saw them and told him those are dog treats,” Vriezelaar said. “I eat it when I am making the treats. A lot of people eat it

when they are allergic to chocolate.”

For a special occasion or just because, Vriezelaar can personalize treats with the pup’s name. Cakes for birthdays or events are also available to be personalized.

Five Dog Bakery is available at Earthwise in Newton and Pella and online at fivedogbakery.com. Vriezelaar also attends a variety of craft and vendor shows to sell her treats.

Vriezelaar is continuing to add treats, as well, and her next creation will be a favorite for everyone.

“The next thing I am making is pizza crust,” Vriezelaar said. “It is all human food and it tastes just like real pizza crust.”

— Jamee A. Pierson

CONTINUED 5

surrounded by plaster. It is put in the kiln and it burns out and disintegrates the ring model. You are left with a negative mold in your plaster,” Mitch said. “That’s when we heat up the molten gold and pour it in the plaster to create the ring.”

The business is taking a big step and opening a storefront in downtown Newton. Located on the southeast corner, the shop will house everything to create the jewelry along with a variety of pieces available for purchase.

Continuing to grow and

evolve, one constant has stayed the same for The Jeweler’s Bench staff and it is probably their favorite part of the job.

“People are always getting married. That is a good thing for them and us,” Jeff said. “We get to be a part of so many different stories. It is personal with people and that makes it really unique. They don’t come in and buy something out of the case; it is just for them. It is their idea or thought and we make it work for their budget. We have a very good shop. We’re blessed.”

— Jamee A. Pierson

CONTINUED 11

You also teach quilting, right? And done a bit of traveling as a result?

Yeah I go around to quilt guilds and things like that. I lecture on my quilts and this quilting journey. I teach classes from either something out of my books or patterns. I’ve done a whole week in Presidio (of San Francisco), California, teaching a class. I’ve done an Alaska cruise, too. That was a week of

teaching on the cruise ship.

What do you truly love about quilting?

I like making something that is unique and different. And I like writing the patterns and seeing how people do. A lot of times I’ll look on Instagram and see people posting the quilts they’ve made from my designs.

How many quilts do you’ve made in your life?

*He laughs* Oh, maybe, 75 or 100? Maybe.

— Christopher Braunschweig

CONTINUED 7

When pandemic restrictions were lifted, she found herself still putting up new words-of-the-day, much to the delight of the community.

“They wouldn’t let me stop,” Pendroy said. “They tell me, ‘We go by every day to come and see the word of the day.’ If they miss the word of the day they want to know what was the word of the day. It’s something that is just a daily thing for lots and lots of people to come and see it.”

For the folks that do know Pendroy’s family, they are probably not surprised something like this would be posted outside their home. Every month Pendroy furnishes the interior and exterior of her home with seasonal decorations. By Christmastime, the lights and other ornaments

will all be on display.

Of course there is still Halloween to get through, too. Pendroy often transforms the more-than-century-old home into a haunted house for trickor-treaters. The master crafter and decorator does this for the same reason she posts new words of the day — out of sheer kindness for her community.

“It just brings joy to people,” she said. “Some words I put out there are to make people think about who we are, what we are and how we should be.”

If ever the day comes where Pendroy calls it quits, the community will know and it will likely be spelled out in front of her home. What will that word be?

Well, you’ll have to do what everyone else does: See it for yourself.

— Christopher Braunschweig

NEED FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT

As a volunteer based 501©3 organization, community support is essential to the continued success and sustainability of Newton Main Street. Without financial and volunteer support the district would not be able to accomplish the great things listed in the annual report and coming year’s priorities.

Be a part of something BIG!

BECOME AN INVESTOR

How your support of the Newton Main Street programs, small businesses and a growing historic commercial core that is the center of the life and activity in Newton. Newton Main Street has seen many improvements since becoming a designated Main Street in 2014. Help to keep that momentum going through monetary contributions. Operations are funded through donations from businesses, local governing bodies, and individuals that are passionate about seeing Main Street thrive and succeed. See the investors levels located on the tear out sheet below. Supporters are recognized in print and digital materials throughout the year.

INVEST YOUR TIME

The total volunteer hours dedicated to Newton Main Streets programs and services each year equals about 1/3 of the total operating budget. Volunteers are a huge asset to the organization and form a community of leaders within Newton. Be a part of the action by dedicating your time and talents to fun projects and events. Each of the Newton Main Street 4 committees aligns with one of the 4 points of approach list on the previous page. Contact the program executive director Erin Yeager, today to get involved.

Downtown Newton in Stagecoach Days

By Larry Hurto Newton Historic Preservation Commission & Main Street Design Committee

At the time of the Newton Centennial, a story was circulated about a noteworthy accident on the south side of the public square. It did not concern some out-of-control hot-rodder, but was supposed to have been one of the first traffic accidents in the city. The year was 1868.

The stagecoach driver who had driven up to the hotel had “tried to cut his coach too short on a turn” causing the vehicle to turn over. Among the passengers was B. F. Allen, of Des Moines, Iowa’s only millionaire at that time. No wonder this item grabbed the public attention!

The leading stage company in Iowa was the Western Stage Co. This concern bought out John Frink, of the old Frink & Co. firm (established as Frink & Walker in 1840), on May 26, 1854. The new stage company opened for business all across the state, announcing daily four-horse coaches running in and out of Iowa City (then the state capital) in all directions.

According to Inez E. Fitzpatrick, in Stagecoach Trails in Iowa (1975), the stage line from Iowa City through Montezuma in Poweshiek County to Des Moines was called the Diamond Trail. Fare was $10.

The Diamond Trail Southern Stage Route departed Iowa Avenue in Iowa City with stops in Frank Pierce (Frytown), Amish (Joetown), Foote (Hinkletown), North English, Millersburg, Deep River, Montezuma, Newton, and Parkersburg, before reaching Ft. Des Moines. Many of these places with unfamiliar names were post offices where mail also was collected.

From Montezuma the old stage coach trail came up E. North St. (N. 4th Ave. E.) past where Emerson Hough School is now, turning at N. Scott St. (E. 5th St. N.), down Washington Street (Third Avenue), and then into downtown Newton.

The distance from Iowa City to Newton was 91 miles.

In 1852, Frink &

Walker began twice weekly service between Ft. Des Moines and Iowa City. According to The Register and Leader, a Des Moines newspaper, driver George Conrad made a run from Des Moines to Newton in 1854.

Kathleen Bishop Webb has researched extensively the old hotels that accommodated the traveling public in Newton’s earliest days.

The Ault House, built in 1853 by Dr. Adam T. Ault, was where the stage office was located until about 1856 when the Phelps House was built. The old Ault House was located at the northeast corner of the intersection of E. McDonald St. (N. 2nd Ave. E.) and Mechanic Street (Third Street).

The Phelps House was constructed by Caleb Lamb and William Rodgers. This was the hotel located on the south side of the square. It was a two-story structure with 60 rooms and a deck on top, and was considered a first-class hotel in 1857 “with silver, glassware and knapkins.”

In that year, E. L. Peckham, a Rhode Island speculator who traveled by stage from Iowa City to Council Bluffs and back again, took a late lunch at an unnamed Newton hotel – undoubtedly the Phelps House – in a newly renovated dining hall operated in connection with the stagecoach office.

The Easterner was awed by the large crowd of guests and the presence of uniformed waiters and servants.

“The table was adorned with tumblers of radishes, and dishes of lettuce and sliced boiled eggs, filberts and almonds, articles which cost nothing and which no one eats, and as I expected, only a small piece of roast beef or boiled mutton, which was carved at a distant table by a tall man with white apron, were passed round.”

Lamb “kept hotel” for four years. He had

13 boarders when the 1860 United States Federal Census was taken:

Caleb Lamb, 38, Inn Keeper

O. Jane Lamb, 33

Jno. A. Lamb, 17, Printer

Jesse R. K. Lamb, 12

Henry Lamb, 11

Jesse M. Miller, 27, Farmer

Jno. J. Geiselman, 24, Merchant

Geo. R. Shays, 30, Lawyer

F. Mathews, 28, Stage driver

Chas. Johnston, 28, Stage driver

Jane Johnston, 29

Cora Cole, 3

Frank Reeves, 31, Tailor

A. A. Kellogg, 57

J. Rhinehart, 51, Stage driver

F. M. Hooker, 20, Stage driver

Thos. Woostell, 25, Stage driver

Wm. Billing, 28, Stage driver

Subsequent landlords of this hotel were Mr. Phelps, of Chicago; Mr. Caldwell, of Iowa City; and J. A. Dunham, of Marengo.

In 1860, the population of Newton was 1,617.

But times change, and new forms of transportation supplanted the stagecoach. The railroad, which could move people and freight much faster, extended farther west from Iowa City, entering Newton in May of 1867.

Accordingly, on July 1, 1870, the Western Stage Co.’s last coach left Des Moines, and, by month’s end, coaches that once cost $1,000 to make, were being sold for scrap for $10 each.

By 1870, the Phelps House was known as the Jasper House, with H. H. Jackson as proprietor.

The Newton Journal, March 6, 1907, identified two veteran stage drivers living in Newton at that late date, John Townsend and Charlie Coon, “both of whom were in the service of the stage companies for many years.”

The paper listed other stage drivers who formerly lived in Newton, “but they are either dead or living elsewhere.” They were John Montgomery, Jos. Denning, Charles Capple, James Connelly, and John Houck.