Governor Chet Culver kicks off his re-election campaign on Monday, May 17. The governor, First Lady Mari Culver, and Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge will hold events in 41 counties over five days. Members of the public can RSVP to attend the Culver campaign events here.
Details on those and many other events can be found after the jump.
Bike to Work week also begins next Monday and runs through May 21. According to the Iowa Bicycle Coalition,
In 2009, 716 employers, 114 cities, and 2,395 commuters (22% first-timers) participated. Approximately 63,188 commuting miles were pledged, 3,510 gallons of gas saved, and $7,336.83 saved in fuel costs. Contact Mark Wyatt at (515) 309-2867 or mark@iowabicyclecoalition.org.
Here’s hoping the bicycle commuters will get warm, dry weather next week.
Tuesday, May 11
From the Iowa Environmental Council newsletter:
Be sure to tune into [Iowa Public Radio] on May 11 at 10 a.m. to hear Dr. Jim Pease, a renowned Iowa naturalist and a regular guest on Talk of Iowa. The broadcast is the second Tuesday of each month from 10-11 a.m. Learn more about Jim Pease and his show on Talk of Iowa. Click here to download podcasts that include Jim’s April show on frogs and toads. INHF is a sponsor of Pease’s show.
One Iowa is holding an event at Centro (10th and Locust in Des Moines) from 6 to 8 pm to welcome Troy Price, the new political director for the organization. The party will also be a send-off for Brad Clark, who is leaving to become executive director of One Colorado. RSVP: amanda@oneiowa.org or 515-288-4019 x214.
U.S. Senate candidate Tom Fiegen will attend the Fayette County Democrats Central Committee Meeting, Two Brothers Pizza, 2 South Frederick Avenue in Oelwein, beginning at 7:00 pm.
An event to support Roxanne Conlin’s Senate campaign will take place from 5:30 to 7 pm at Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Avenue in Des Moines. Suggested contribution $25. To RSVP or for more information please contact Jordan at 515.697.3729 or rsvp@roxanneforiowa.com
Wednesday, May 12
From the Iowa Environmental Council:
Volunteers Needed for Polk County Spring 2010 Water Quality Snapshot
May 12, Des Moines area
We’ll start the day at 8:30 a.m. at Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, 4343 George Flagg Parkway (formerly Valley Drive), with instructions for new volunteers. We’ll end the day by 3 p.m. Professionals and volunteers around Polk County will help collect water samples at 70 sites on rivers, streams and lakes. We invite you to join in the fun and help us learn more about the water quality in Polk County. Three main goals of the project are: involve the public and re-energize volunteer water monitors in Polk Co.; determine bacteria levels in small urban streams; and evaluate nutrient impacts to water from lawns, gardens, golf courses, etc. Sampling kits and monitoring instructions will be provided, along with a brief training session. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. If you can help, please call Susan Heathcote at 515-244-1194 ext 205. Also consider bringing a friend along. It is a great way to introduce others to urban water quality issues and environmental stewardship.
Tom Fiegen will attend the Des Moines County Democrats Award Dinner & Central Committee meeting, Big Muddy’s, 710 North Front Street in Burlington, beginning at 5 pm.
Thursday, May 13
Tom Fiegen will attend the Floyd County Democrats fundraiser, Floyd County Historical Museum, 500 Gilbert Street in Charles City from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
Saturday, May 15
Iowa Interfaith Power and Light is holding a Cool Congregations Workshop in Coralville. Cost is $20. From 9:00 – 12:00 at Community of Christ Church, 2121 South Ridge Dr. Participants will learn how to form a Green Team within your church to begin a program to reduce your carbon footprint and those of your fellow congregants. Register now to get the materials you will need to measure your carbon footprint at the workshop. For registration and more information about this event, click here or contact Lisa Martin at (319) 338-9930 or (319) 330-4565.
Tom Fiegen will attend the Clinton County Democrats Hall of Fame Dinner at Buzzy’s, 414 Main Street in Welton, beginning at 5:00 pm. Later he is scheduled to be at the Lee County Democratic Eppers-O’Malley Banquet & Awards Ceremony, Community Room, Pilot Grove Savings Bank, 506 North Main Street in Donnellson. That event runs from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.
There will be a fundraiser for Bob Krause’s Senate campaign in Dunlap from 7pm – 8pm. Contact the Krause campaign for more details.
Sunday, May 16
One Iowa and committees from the Urbandale United Church of Christ and the First Unitarian Church are holding the LGBT Family Pride Potluck from 4:00 – 6:00pm at the Urbandale United Church of Christ. Click here for more details.
Monday, May 17
Bike to Work week begins. The event is designed to promote cycling for its many benefits including like increased health and fitness, reducing our environmental impact, and promoting outdoor enjoyment. The event is statewide with multiple local Bike Month events occurring all over the state. Learn about them here. Join other Iowans to bike to work, or register even if you don’t work or can’t ride there. Find more about Bike Week, Bike Month, and other BikeIowa events and programs at www.bikeiowa.com. Sponsors include BikeIowa and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
The Culver/Judge re-election campaign is holding several kick-off events:
WHAT: Polk County Kick-Off Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver, Lt. Governor Patty Judge, First Lady Mari Culver
WHEN: 10:00 AM
WHERE: Hoover High School
4800 Aurora Ave.
Des Moines, IAWHAT: Story County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver, First Lady Mari Culver
WHEN: 12:15 PM
WHERE: American Country
327 Main Street
Ames, IA
Main Street Walk: Café Diem
229 Main Street
Ames, IAWHAT: Jasper County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 12:30 PM
WHERE: DMACC – Newton
Room 210 A
600 N. 2nd Ave. W.
Newton, IAWHAT: Marshall County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver, First Lady Mari Culver
WHEN: 2:30 PM
WHERE: American Legion
1301 S. Center St.
Marshalltown, IAWHAT: Poweshiek County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 2:30 PM
WHERE: Grinnell College
Joe Rosenfeld Center, Room 209
1115 8th Ave.
Grinnell, IAWHAT: Black Hawk County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver, Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 5:30 PM
WHERE: UAW
2615 Washington St.
Waterloo, IA
Tuesday, May 18
Bob Krause’s campaign is planning a Muscatine event from 6 to 7pm. Contact the campaign for more details.
It’s another packed day of events for the Culver/Judge campaign:
WHAT: Linn County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver, Lt. Governor Patty Judge, First Lady Mari Culver
WHEN: 12:00 PM
WHERE: Greene Square Park
Cedar Rapids, IAWHAT: Johnson County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver, First Lady Mari Culver
WHEN: 3:00 PM
WHERE: IMU River Terrace
125 N. Madison St.
Iowa City, IAWHAT: Jones County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 3:00 PM
WHERE: Lawrence Community Center
600 E. Main St.
Anamosa, IAWHAT: Jackson County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 5:15 PM
WHERE: Maquoketa Public Library
126 S. 2nd St.
Maquoketa, IAWHAT: Scott County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 5:30 PM
WHERE: Figge Art Museum
Dining Room & Bar
225 W. 2nd St.
Davenport, IAWHAT: Clinton County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 7:30 PM
WHERE: Clinton County Democrats Headquarters
224 22nd Pl.
Clinton, IA
Wednesday, May 19
The Culver/Judge re-election kickoff events continue:
WHAT: Dubuque County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 8:15 AM
WHERE: Grand River Center
River Room
500 Bell St.
Dubuque, IAWHAT: Muscatine County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 8:30 AM
WHERE: Muscatine Community College
Larson Hall
152 Colorado St.
Muscatine, IAWHAT: Clayton County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 11:00 AM
WHERE: Old Man River Restaurant and Brewery
123 A St.
McGregor, IAWHAT: Henry County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 11:00 AM
WHERE: Tazza Bella Coffee House
120 S. Main St.
Mt. Pleasant, IAWHAT: Jefferson County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 12:30 PM
WHERE: Revelations Cafe and Bookstore
Meeting Room
112 N. Main St.
Fairfield, IAWHAT: Winneshiek County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 1:15 PM
WHERE: Hotel Winneshiek
104 E. Water St.
Decorah, IAWHAT: Mahaska County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 3:00 PM
WHERE: Smokey Row
109 S. Market St.
Oskaloosa, IAWHAT: Floyd County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 3:45 PM
WHERE: Iowa Title & Realty Company
101 N. Main St.
Charles City, IAWHAT: Marion County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 5:00 PM
WHERE: VFW Meeting Hall
413 S. Lincoln St.
Knoxville, IAWHAT: Cerro Gordo County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 5:30 PM
WHERE: The Rose Bowl
15079 Partridge Ave.
Mason City, IAWHAT: Warren County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 7:00 PM
WHERE: TBD
Thursday, May 20
More Culver/Judge events around the state:
WHAT: Hamilton County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 9:00 AM
WHERE: Webster City Fire Department
919 Superior St.
Webster City, IAWHAT: Woodbury County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 10:15 AM
WHERE: Sioux City Art Center
225 Nebraska St.
Sioux City, IAWHAT: Greene County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: First Lady Mari Culver
WHEN: 10:30 AM
WHERE: Uptown Cafe
108 W State St
Jefferson, IA 50129WHAT: Webster County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 11:00 AM
WHERE: Best Western Starlite
Jupiter Room
1518 3rd Ave. NW
Ft. Dodge, IAWHAT: Monona County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 12:30 PM
WHERE: Onawa Library
707 Iowa Ave.
Onawa, IAWHAT: Boone County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: First Lady Mari Culver
WHEN: 12:30 PM
WHERE: Colorado Grill
South Marshall Street
Boone, IA 50036WHAT: Kossuth County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 1:30 PM
WHERE: Algona Public Library
Meeting Room B
210 N. Phillips St.
Algona, IAWHAT: Harrison County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 3:00 PM
WHERE: Home of Jay Schaben
805 Remsen St.
Dunlap, IA* (private, invitation-only event)WHAT: Clay County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 4:00 PM
WHERE: Spencer Senior Center
Dining Room
1900 N. Grand, Ste. A
Spencer, IAWHAT: Pottawattamie County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 5:30 PM
WHERE: Bayliss Park
530 1st Ave.
Council Bluffs, IAWHAT: Carroll County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Patty Judge
WHEN: 7:00 PM
WHERE: Charlie’s Restaurant
Polly’s Room
1730 N. US Hwy 71
Carroll, IA
Friday, May 21
The week-long Culver/Judge kickoff tour concludes at the Polk County Democrats’ big spring event.
WHAT: Louisa County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event Flood Recovery Drive
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 8:10 AM
WHERE: Oakville City Hall
601 2nd St.
Oakville, IAWHAT: Des Moines County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 9:15 AM
WHERE: Dankwardt Park
Small Shelter
700 Block of Dankwardt Park Drive
Burlington, IAWHAT: Union County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Judge
WHEN: 10:15 AM
WHERE: Restored Depot
City Council Chambers
116 W. Adams St.
Creston, IAWHAT: Lee County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 11:30 AM
WHERE: The Corner Tab
300 4th St.
West Point, IAWHAT: Clarke County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Judge
WHEN: 12:15 PM
WHERE: Southern Hills Winery
1400 W. Clay St.
Osceola, IAWHAT: Wapello County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Governor Chet Culver
WHEN: 2:30 PM
WHERE: UFCW
1305 E. Mary St.
Ottumwa, IAWHAT: Monroe County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event
WHO: Lt. Governor Judge
WHEN: 2:30 PM
WHERE: White Buffalo Restaurant
100 Hwy 34 East
Albia, IAWHAT: Polk County “Choosing a Better Iowa” Event Tour Wrap-Up
WHO: Governor Chet Culver, Lt. Governor Patty Judge, First Lady Mari Culver
WHEN: 5:30 PM
WHERE: Vittoria Lodge
7200 NW 2nd Ave.
Ankeny, IA
Saturday, May 22
From the Iowa Environmental Council newsletter:
Dedication of 200-acre addition to the Boone Forks Wildlife Management Area
May 22, northeast of Stratford, Hamilton County
The public is invited to experience and celebrate this property with a scenic oak-hickory woodland that also features prairie remnants, wet meadows and riparian woodland. It is slated to be part of one of Iowa’s next Bird Conservation Areas for its importance to species such as the rapidly declining cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea). The site’s quarter mile of the Boone River will also help preserve one of Iowa’s highest quality stream segments. Hosted by the project’s primary conservation partners, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Watch www.inhf.org/events for more details or call Ann Robinson at 515-288-1846.
From I’M for Iowa:
May 22 – Flood Recovery Day Trip (Cedar Rapids)
Volunteers will do light labor in service to neighborhoods still suffering from the 2008 floods, All skill levels welcome. Carpool to Cedar Rapids, leaving at 7:00 am from Plymouth United Church of Christ, 4126 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines. Arrive back in Des Moines by 6:00 pm. Bring a sack lunch and register by May 6th at www.iowaipl.org/crfloodrecovery or contact Stephen Lauer at iowa.actioncorps@gmail.com or (515) 343-0553.
Sunday, May 23
Calling all central Iowa parents and grandparents of young children: Des Moines native Justin Roberts, creator of fantastic music for kids and adults, is playing a free concert in the lower bridge court of Merle Hay Mall at 3 pm. Bring money, though, because you’ll probably want to buy some of his CDs afterwards.