WEST BEND—What comes to mind when you think of Iowa food? Everyone has an Iowa food story, and Lake City, Iowa author Darcy Dougherty Maulsby will bring these stories to life on Friday, October 6, at 1:30 p.m. for the “Adventures in Iowa’s Culinary History” program the West Bend Library. This free event will be hosted by the West Bend Public Library and the West Bend Friends of the Library.

ALGONA—The first ever International Delight dinner featured authentic Cuban food made by Marta Pavón and helping her were from left: Maikel Periche, Alejandro Barranco Pavón, Rodolfo Galvez, Marta Pavón and Mariledia Galvez. They were kept busy as they had a lot of hungry mouths to feed and curious minds to satisfy.

Energy Dance and Tumbling Company won the The Association of Dance Competitions and Conventions Studio of Excellence at CRU Dance this past competition season.

KOSSUTH COUNTY—Anyone can join this family-friendly volunteer event to plant native pollinator seeds at recently restored wetlands in Kossuth County on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will spend the day outside spreading native seeds by hand around the top banks of beautifully restored wetlands. Seeding will add valuable habitat for pollinators and other wildlife and stabilize the soil from erosion. After the event, stay to enjoy a free lunch.

TITONKA—The Kossuth County Democrats held their 1st Annual Pie and Cookie Auction Fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Titonka City Shelter House. The event was organized to help fund county Democratic activities, including support for local candidates. Kossuth County Democrats also support the Dolores Mertz Scholarship which is awarded to deserving Kossuth County graduating high school seniors each spring.

The film Silent Night in Algona, was just recognized at the Red Letter Awards winning for Best Screenplay, Best Writer and Best Film Overall coming out ahead of such films as Devotion and Jesus Revolution. There were six categories that members of the cast and crew were nominated for.

The rain may have forced the Last Call Before Fall celebration indoors but that didn’t dampen the fun. More than 150 people attended the annual family fun festival on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the VFW in Algona.

The Algona Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at Pam’s Final Touch during the Algona Area Chamber of Commerce coffee last Friday, Sept. 22 to celebrates it’s new location. Owner Pam Bonnstetter talked about the evolution of her business over the last 26 years and introduced her employees; Steve Wolter, Kathy Dakken, Melissa Rash, Judy Besch and Sherry Dykstra. She first opened her store in West Bend before moving it to Algona at the corner of Call and Jones Streets.

Kindergarten Bulldog Heroes from left are: Reed Rice, Bodhi Kollasch, Hattie Schutjer, Ellie Hansen and Nora Fell. Submitted photo

North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom educator Kay Kern visited Lucia Wallace Elementary School in Algona on Wednesday, September 13 to start an embryology lesson with 3rd graders.

AITC educators will be back in the school in October after the chick’s hatch to review with the students to find out what they learned. Submitted photo

Families descended from William and Anna Kueck Dodds gathered for a reunion and potluck on their 140-year-old ancestral farm on the evening of August 21. The farm, named White Pine Farm, was most recently owned by James and Helena Dodds and now is home to their daughter Julie. The farm, located northwest of Algona, was homesteaded in 1882 by William and Nancy Ward Dodds.

FENTON—Fenton Quasquicentennial books are now available with all book sale proceeds going toward the quasquicentennial celebration set for July 2024. Gene Miller of Fenton is the author of the 105 page paperback book.

Miller said the book highlights events that have happened in each year of the town’s existence  and also goes back to the formation of Fenton Township which occurred in 1873.

The Fenton Public Library recently hosted an Instrument Petting Zoo where kids in the reading program could try out a variety of unusual instruments. They then made their own harmonicas and decorated rhythm shakers.

Kymber Peterson uses the traditional method of playing the Appalachian dulcimer. Submitted photos

International Pirate Day was celebrated at the Fenton Public Library. During Pirate Week the Homeschool STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) session had a special mission: to create wind powered sail cars that could travel on land in search of buried treasure.

The kids were able to create their sail cars using materials from the new TeacherGeek STEM cart, which was obtained through a generous State of Iowa Scale-Up grant.

DES MOINES—The Iowa Tourism Office launched the latest edition of the Iowa Travel Guide packed with fall and winter travel ideas.