Wherever he looks inside Mundt Piano and Organ, Bill Mundt Jr. sees his late father — Bill Mundt Sr.

He remembers the numerous hours he spent working alongside his father, traveling as far as Keosauqua to tune pianos alongside him.

Bill Jr. didn’t go to school to learn the art of tuning. He was already busy attending junior high. He learned on the job.

&nbsp;“My dad started waking me up at 14 on Saturdays and said, ‘You’re coming to work,’ ” he said.

The history of Mundt Piano and Organ stretches back to Bill’s great-grandfather, who came to the U.S. from Germany to tune pianos. That soon became a business.

“He started the piano service. For years, it was just a service business. And then my grandpa opened the retail when he was 61,” Bill said.

Bill was born in Burlington in 1954 and was not thrilled about going into the family business when he was a teenager.

“I wanted to be a Major League Baseball player. But I realized if you don’t make the local high school team, you’re probably not going to make a Major League team,” he said.

But then something strange happened as Bill worked on pianos. He started to like it. That led to piano lessons –&nbsp; though Bill would never consider himself a musician — more of a hobbyist.

“I played the piano a little bit; when the organ business was good, I liked that. I played quite a bit so I could demonstrate the pianos,” Bill said.

The store itself hopped around Burlington for decades, moving to a new location every few years. It finally settled at its current location on Jefferson Street.

Bill still remembers specific conversations with his father in the break room. He treasures the years he spent working side-by-side with Bill Sr. When Bill got older and bought his own house, his father spent every free moment helping him renovate it.

“In all those years, I think we only got into an argument a few times. Whatever it was, it was forgotten the next day,” Bill said.

Those days didn’t last forever. Bill took over after his father passed, working six days a week tuning pianos and running the store. The 1980s was a strong era for music sales of any kind, and Mundt sold everything you needed to make music. Clarinets, pianos, organs, guitars. He still does.

However, the piano market has shrunk considerably over the past few decades, and the organ market is nonexistent. Mundt said he was able to survive the downturn through diversifying. His biggest moneymaker comes through instrument rentals for local students.

There are at least a couple of hundred Mundt instruments in students’ hands right now. The instruments are tuned and serviced every time they return to the store, giving Mundt’s an advantage over retail stores with no service plan.

“We take care of all routine maintenance unless, your kid hit his sister over the head with the trombone,” Mundt said with a laugh. “We don’t cover that.”

Despite working nearly every day, Bill’s personal life was just as full as his business. He got married, got divorced, and got custody of his three children. Raising three children at the ages of eight, five, and four wasn’t easy, and Bill remarried a woman with three kids of her own.

“People used to call us The Brady Bunch,” he said, laughing again.

That marriage later ended, but Bill only had kind words about both his ex-wives.

“I don’t regret any of it,” he said.

Bill’s heart was scarred more profoundly by the loss of his son, who died of cancer. Just like his father, Bill worked alongside his son every day.

“It was a tumor up here,” Bill said, pointing to his head. “They couldn’t operate on it. It wasn’t even a tumor. It (the cancer) was just all spread out.”

These days, Bill is semi-retired and is having the time of his life. He joined some local pool leagues after his kids grew up and moved out. He also installed a gym on the bottom floor of the shop, which he treats like a second home.

“I can’t just sit around at the house and do nothing,” he said. “I’m still having fun.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2024/12/1733799463225.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithWherever he looks inside Mundt Piano and Organ, Bill Mundt Jr. sees his late father — Bill Mundt Sr.He remembers the numerous hours he spent working alongside his father, traveling as far as Keosauqua to tune pianos alongside him.Bill Jr. didn’t go to school to learn the art of tuning. He was already busy attending junior high. He learned on the job.&nbsp;“My dad started waking me up at 14 on Saturdays and said, ‘You’re coming to work,’ ” he said.The history of Mundt Piano and Organ stretches back to Bill’s great-grandfather, who came to the U.S. from Germany to tune pianos. That soon became a business.“He started the piano service. For years, it was just a service business. And then my grandpa opened the retail when he was 61,” Bill said.Bill was born in Burlington in 1954 and was not thrilled about going into the family business when he was a teenager.“I wanted to be a Major League Baseball player. But I realized if you don’t make the local high school team, you’re probably not going to make a Major League team,” he said.But then something strange happened as Bill worked on pianos. He started to like it. That led to piano lessons –&nbsp; though Bill would never consider himself a musician — more of a hobbyist.“I played the piano a little bit; when the organ business was good, I liked that. I played quite a bit so I could demonstrate the pianos,” Bill said.The store itself hopped around Burlington for decades, moving to a new location every few years. It finally settled at its current location on Jefferson Street.Bill still remembers specific conversations with his father in the break room. He treasures the years he spent working side-by-side with Bill Sr. When Bill got older and bought his own house, his father spent every free moment helping him renovate it.“In all those years, I think we only got into an argument a few times. Whatever it was, it was forgotten the next day,” Bill said.Those days didn’t last forever. Bill took over after his father passed, working six days a week tuning pianos and running the store. The 1980s was a strong era for music sales of any kind, and Mundt sold everything you needed to make music. Clarinets, pianos, organs, guitars. He still does.However, the piano market has shrunk considerably over the past few decades, and the organ market is nonexistent. Mundt said he was able to survive the downturn through diversifying. His biggest moneymaker comes through instrument rentals for local students.There are at least a couple of hundred Mundt instruments in students’ hands right now. The instruments are tuned and serviced every time they return to the store, giving Mundt’s an advantage over retail stores with no service plan.“We take care of all routine maintenance unless, your kid hit his sister over the head with the trombone,” Mundt said with a laugh. “We don’t cover that.”Despite working nearly every day, Bill’s personal life was just as full as his business. He got married, got divorced, and got custody of his three children. Raising three children at the ages of eight, five, and four wasn’t easy, and Bill remarried a woman with three kids of her own.“People used to call us The Brady Bunch,” he said, laughing again.That marriage later ended, but Bill only had kind words about both his ex-wives.“I don’t regret any of it,” he said.Bill’s heart was scarred more profoundly by the loss of his son, who died of cancer. Just like his father, Bill worked alongside his son every day.“It was a tumor up here,” Bill said, pointing to his head. “They couldn’t operate on it. It wasn’t even a tumor. It (the cancer) was just all spread out.”These days, Bill is semi-retired and is having the time of his life. He joined some local pool leagues after his kids grew up and moved out. He also installed a gym on the bottom floor of the shop, which he treats like a second home.“I can’t just sit around at the house and do nothing,” he said. “I’m still having fun.”

52 Faces: A legacy  in tune

Southeastern Community College’s men’s soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit and ousted Iowa Central, 4-3, in overtime in the Division 2, Region 11 quarterfinals at Bracewell Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Juan Lagares scored in the 98th&nbsp;minute off a pass from Felix Martin for the sudden victory.

SCC (11-7-2), the tournament’s No. 4 seed, advances to Tuesday’s semifinal round at Norfolk, Neb., facing top-seeded Northeast (17-1-1). Western Iowa Tech (10-6-3) plays No. 2 seed Iowa Lakes (12-1-3) at Estherville in the other semifinal. The Region 11 championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, to be hosted by the higher seed.

“It was a really difficult game,” SCC head coach Jorge Sierra said. “It was a good opponent coming in so it was whoever wanted it more. Thankfully for is we wanted it more. We just have to be ready for Northeast Nebraska on Tuesday.

“I feel they (the Tritons) really wanted to advance,” Sierra said. “They wanted to win, same way we wanted to win. This conference is the best one in the country and any team can beat the other on a given day. Thankfully, today it went for us.”

The Blackhawks struck first with a goal by Timeo Cordiez in the 14th&nbsp;minute, Diego Lozano assisting, but Iowa Central tied the score two minutes later. The Tritons scored twice more in the first 23 minutes of the second half for a 3-1 cushion.

Cordiez scored, this time unassisted, in the 80th&nbsp;minute, and Lagares added the tying goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Javier Hernandez. That set up overtime and Lagares's game-winner.

Sierra is expecting pressure from Northeast in Tuesday’s semifinal. “They just beat the No. 1 team (Iowa Lakes) in the country,” Sierra said, “so it’s going to be a difficult game for us. But we’ll be ready for it.”

No. 1 ranked Iowa Lakes fell at home to Northeast, 3-2, on Oct. 23. On Sept. 28, the Lakers visited Bracewell Stadium and tied with the Blackhawks, 3-3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1730041733126.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe GerenSoutheastern Community College’s men’s soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit and ousted Iowa Central, 4-3, in overtime in the Division 2, Region 11 quarterfinals at Bracewell Stadium Saturday afternoon.Juan Lagares scored in the 98th&nbsp;minute off a pass from Felix Martin for the sudden victory.SCC (11-7-2), the tournament’s No. 4 seed, advances to Tuesday’s semifinal round at Norfolk, Neb., facing top-seeded Northeast (17-1-1). Western Iowa Tech (10-6-3) plays No. 2 seed Iowa Lakes (12-1-3) at Estherville in the other semifinal. The Region 11 championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, to be hosted by the higher seed.Iowa Central ended its season at 4-11-2.“It was a really difficult game,” SCC head coach Jorge Sierra said. “It was a good opponent coming in so it was whoever wanted it more. Thankfully for is we wanted it more. We just have to be ready for Northeast Nebraska on Tuesday.“I feel they (the Tritons) really wanted to advance,” Sierra said. “They wanted to win, same way we wanted to win. This conference is the best one in the country and any team can beat the other on a given day. Thankfully, today it went for us.”The Blackhawks struck first with a goal by Timeo Cordiez in the 14th&nbsp;minute, Diego Lozano assisting, but Iowa Central tied the score two minutes later. The Tritons scored twice more in the first 23 minutes of the second half for a 3-1 cushion.Cordiez scored, this time unassisted, in the 80th&nbsp;minute, and Lagares added the tying goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Javier Hernandez. That set up overtime and Lagares's game-winner.Sierra is expecting pressure from Northeast in Tuesday’s semifinal. “They just beat the No. 1 team (Iowa Lakes) in the country,” Sierra said, “so it’s going to be a difficult game for us. But we’ll be ready for it.”No. 1 ranked Iowa Lakes fell at home to Northeast, 3-2, on Oct. 23. On Sept. 28, the Lakers visited Bracewell Stadium and tied with the Blackhawks, 3-3.<figure>
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 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>

SCC rallies for regional win

Notre Dame struggled against No. 3 Holy Trinity in volleyball action on Thursday, and the Nikes' late surge down the stretch of the third game wasn't enough to avoid a sweep at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.

The Nikes trailed the third set 15-9, but over the next five servers cut the lead to 18-17. The Nikes then took the lead at 20-19 and soon led 22-20. After trading side outs, Notre Dame led 23-21, but Adalyn Kruse for the Crusaders made a kill to return the serve. Presley Myers served out the set and the match, with Kruse making another kill to end it.

It didn't help that Notre Dame missed six serves in the first two sets. But Holy Trinity missed six serves in the final set.

Notre Dame drops to 18-10 overall, 4-2 in the South and plays in the New London Tournament Saturday.

Holy Trinity remains unbeaten at 5-0 in the South and is 19-5 overall. The Crusaders host Central Lee next Thursday.

“We've got some young players, and we couldn't get in system some times,” Notre Dame coach Susan Reid said.

“We had a pretty good game plan, and when we're in system, that game plan works.”

It's never easy taking on HTC on its home court.

“It's a big environment to play in,” Reid said. “They have some good players, and they're a tough team to play.”

HTC coach Melissa Freesmeier said, “We were doing the little things we've been working on in practice.

But in the third set, Freesmeier said there were “a lot of mistakes on our end that shouldn't have happened. But we still overcame it. We still stayed in the set, and we were able to pull it off.”

Freesmeier said that Notre Dame is a “great ball club. They continue to have a good season.”

So even though it was a three-and-out&nbsp;match, “you know it was a better match than that,” Freesmeier said.

Notre Dame had a balanced hitting attack. Addi Brockway made nine kills, Madelyn Knapp eight and Chloe Wenzel seven. McKenna Kipp added two.

Mallory Lily had 23 digs, Brockway 11, Knapp nine, Elmore five and Bella Drew and Addison Reid two each.

Wenzel made two blocks and also served an ace.

For Holy Trinity, Kruse had 14 kills and Myers 13 to lead the team. Anna Bendlage made 16 assists, and Elizabeth Griffith had 12.

Myers served four aces, and Olivia Bendlage three. Kruse led in digs with 12. Myers had three blocks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1728060843131.jpeg" alt="Photo by Chris Faulkner" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Chris Faulkner</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerNotre Dame struggled against No. 3 Holy Trinity in volleyball action on Thursday, and the Nikes' late surge down the stretch of the third game wasn't enough to avoid a sweep at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.Holy Trinity 25-12, 25-20, 25-23.The Nikes trailed the third set 15-9, but over the next five servers cut the lead to 18-17. The Nikes then took the lead at 20-19 and soon led 22-20. After trading side outs, Notre Dame led 23-21, but Adalyn Kruse for the Crusaders made a kill to return the serve. Presley Myers served out the set and the match, with Kruse making another kill to end it.It didn't help that Notre Dame missed six serves in the first two sets. But Holy Trinity missed six serves in the final set.Notre Dame drops to 18-10 overall, 4-2 in the South and plays in the New London Tournament Saturday.Holy Trinity remains unbeaten at 5-0 in the South and is 19-5 overall. The Crusaders host Central Lee next Thursday.“We've got some young players, and we couldn't get in system some times,” Notre Dame coach Susan Reid said.“We had a pretty good game plan, and when we're in system, that game plan works.”It's never easy taking on HTC on its home court.“It's a big environment to play in,” Reid said. “They have some good players, and they're a tough team to play.”HTC coach Melissa Freesmeier said, “We were doing the little things we've been working on in practice.But in the third set, Freesmeier said there were “a lot of mistakes on our end that shouldn't have happened. But we still overcame it. We still stayed in the set, and we were able to pull it off.”Freesmeier said that Notre Dame is a “great ball club. They continue to have a good season.”So even though it was a three-and-out&nbsp;match, “you know it was a better match than that,” Freesmeier said.Notre Dame had a balanced hitting attack. Addi Brockway made nine kills, Madelyn Knapp eight and Chloe Wenzel seven. McKenna Kipp added two.Emma Elmore made 23 assists.Mallory Lily had 23 digs, Brockway 11, Knapp nine, Elmore five and Bella Drew and Addison Reid two each.Wenzel made two blocks and also served an ace.For Holy Trinity, Kruse had 14 kills and Myers 13 to lead the team. Anna Bendlage made 16 assists, and Elizabeth Griffith had 12.Myers served four aces, and Olivia Bendlage three. Kruse led in digs with 12. Myers had three blocks.

ND falls to HTC

Southeastern Community College's Taryn Havener took on  Northeast Community College on Wednesday at  SCC's Loren Walker Arena. SCC defeated Northeast 3-1. First set 25-20, second set 23-25, third set 25-15, and fourth set 25-21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726806669986.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Photos by John LovrettaSoutheastern Community College's Taryn Havener took on Northeast Community College on Wednesday at SCC's Loren Walker Arena. SCC defeated Northeast 3-1. First set 25-20, second set 23-25, third set 25-15, and fourth set 25-21.<figure>
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SCC vs. Northeast Community College

West Burlington's ninth-ranked (Class 2A) volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit at No. 5 (1A) Holy Trinity Catholic and sent the match into a fifth set.

But the host Crusaders defeated the Falcons 15-11 in the deciding set to win the two-hour, 10-minute match at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.

West Burlington (14-2) plays Saturday in the Williamsburg Tournament. Holy Trinity improves to 3-2.

HTC won the first set 25-17 and had West Burlington down 20-11 and 22-15 in the second set. But the Falcons stormed back with five service points from Jayonna Hiley – including two from aces – to make it 22-20. West Burlington was serving match point, but Holy Trinity managed to stay alive and finally won 27-25.

West Burlington won the next two sets, 26-24, 25-17, getting big help from Brenna Beggs, who had 11 kills and a couple of big blocks in those two sets.

In the fifth set, through the first five rotations, West Burlington led 6-4. But HTC soon led 10-8 and pulled out the victory.

There were a number of long rallies in the two-hour night. West Burlington finished with 139 digs and Holy Trinity 124.

“I'm very, very pleased with the way they battled,” West Burlington coach Maureen Heath said of the Falcons. “That was a very good match. It didn't go our way, but that's going to make our team grow and grow.

“Everybody got their money's worth, that's for sure.”

Coach Heath praised Beggs for her contribution on the night. Beside Beggs' team-high 17 kills and six blocks, she also served 20 of 20 with two aces and added 15 digs.

Beggs' strength as a middle hitter is her swift windmill motion on her attacks that are hard for opposing defenses to dig up.

“No, I taught myself,” Beggs said. “It's just something I caught on.”

Taryn Snodgrass plays a big part in that as her setter. “We've been playing togther since like the sixth grade,” Beggs said. “We have a good connection.”

Coach Heath praised Snodgrass for her abilities.

“Snodgrass is like a workhorse out there,” Heath said. “You know you're going to get every maximum effort from that girl. She tries to move the ball around, running things down, but with control.”

Jayonna Hiley had 12 kills and served 14 of 14 with five aces, Mady Hamelton had 10 kills, Isabella Callison five and freshman Kaylee Webb four.

Webb came into the game as a middle hitter, “trying to mix things up,” Coach Heath said. “In this big of a game, she was very in tune, she was asking questions, the girls were helping her, I thought she did a great job.”

Hiley had a block and Webb and Snodgrass had one each.

Carli Cline led in digs with 42, Hiley had 31, Hamelton 20 and Snodgrass 15. Baylee Woodsmall added 12.

Cline served 21 of 22 with an ace, Hamelton was 16 of 16 with an ace, Snodgrass 11 of 12 with an ace and Woodsmall 12 of 12.

The Falcons served 94 of 96 on the night.

Holy Trinity is tough to beat at home, especially in the fifth set, but Crusaders coach Melissa Freesmeier didn't take anything for granted.

“When you play a team like West Burlington, and they're going to dig the ball, and they're going to keep the ball in play, they're not going to make a lot of mistakes, we're just going to have to go at them. Our hitters did that in set 5.”

HTC's 6-2 standout in the middle, Presley Myers, had a career high 23 kills and six blocks. Adalyn Kruse had 21 kills and Olivia Bendlage 13. Anna Bendlage made 38 assists. Teagan Snaadt had 33 digs and Elizabeth Griffin 32.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726584171021.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Falcons rallied from 2-0 deficitBy Chris FaulknerWest Burlington's ninth-ranked (Class 2A) volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit at No. 5 (1A) Holy Trinity Catholic and sent the match into a fifth set.But the host Crusaders defeated the Falcons 15-11 in the deciding set to win the two-hour, 10-minute match at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.West Burlington (14-2) plays Saturday in the Williamsburg Tournament. Holy Trinity improves to 3-2.HTC won the first set 25-17 and had West Burlington down 20-11 and 22-15 in the second set. But the Falcons stormed back with five service points from Jayonna Hiley – including two from aces – to make it 22-20. West Burlington was serving match point, but Holy Trinity managed to stay alive and finally won 27-25.West Burlington won the next two sets, 26-24, 25-17, getting big help from Brenna Beggs, who had 11 kills and a couple of big blocks in those two sets.In the fifth set, through the first five rotations, West Burlington led 6-4. But HTC soon led 10-8 and pulled out the victory.There were a number of long rallies in the two-hour night. West Burlington finished with 139 digs and Holy Trinity 124.Falcons can grow from this“I'm very, very pleased with the way they battled,” West Burlington coach Maureen Heath said of the Falcons. “That was a very good match. It didn't go our way, but that's going to make our team grow and grow.“Everybody got their money's worth, that's for sure.”Coach Heath praised Beggs for her contribution on the night. Beside Beggs' team-high 17 kills and six blocks, she also served 20 of 20 with two aces and added 15 digs.Beggs' strength as a middle hitter is her swift windmill motion on her attacks that are hard for opposing defenses to dig up.Did someone teach her to do it that way?“No, I taught myself,” Beggs said. “It's just something I caught on.”Taryn Snodgrass plays a big part in that as her setter. “We've been playing togther since like the sixth grade,” Beggs said. “We have a good connection.”Snodgrass had 40 assists.Coach Heath praised Snodgrass for her abilities.“Snodgrass is like a workhorse out there,” Heath said. “You know you're going to get every maximum effort from that girl. She tries to move the ball around, running things down, but with control.”Jayonna Hiley had 12 kills and served 14 of 14 with five aces, Mady Hamelton had 10 kills, Isabella Callison five and freshman Kaylee Webb four.Webb came into the game as a middle hitter, “trying to mix things up,” Coach Heath said. “In this big of a game, she was very in tune, she was asking questions, the girls were helping her, I thought she did a great job.”Hiley had a block and Webb and Snodgrass had one each.Carli Cline led in digs with 42, Hiley had 31, Hamelton 20 and Snodgrass 15. Baylee Woodsmall added 12.Cline served 21 of 22 with an ace, Hamelton was 16 of 16 with an ace, Snodgrass 11 of 12 with an ace and Woodsmall 12 of 12.The Falcons served 94 of 96 on the night.HTC shines in Set 5Holy Trinity is tough to beat at home, especially in the fifth set, but Crusaders coach Melissa Freesmeier didn't take anything for granted.“When you play a team like West Burlington, and they're going to dig the ball, and they're going to keep the ball in play, they're not going to make a lot of mistakes, we're just going to have to go at them. Our hitters did that in set 5.”HTC's 6-2 standout in the middle, Presley Myers, had a career high 23 kills and six blocks. Adalyn Kruse had 21 kills and Olivia Bendlage 13. Anna Bendlage made 38 assists. Teagan Snaadt had 33 digs and Elizabeth Griffin 32.

HTC outlasts West Burlington in five sets

Notre Dame swept Van Buren County 25-9, 25-17, 25-22 in volleyball Thursday night at Father Minett Gym.

Madelyn Knapp made 13 kills, and Addi Brockway 11 to lead the winners. Chloe Wenzel added six kills, McKenna Kipp five, Addison Reid four, and Emma Elmore three.

Knapp made 13 digs, Mallory Lillie and Brockway 12 each, and Bella Drew 10.

Elmore served 13 of 14 with an ace, Brockway was 12 of 12 with an ace, Reid was 12 of 13 with two aces, Lillie was 11 of 12 with three aces, and Lexi Korschgen served an ace on her only attempt.

The team plays at Central Lee next Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726252360221.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsNotre Dame swept Van Buren County 25-9, 25-17, 25-22 in volleyball Thursday night at Father Minett Gym.Madelyn Knapp made 13 kills, and Addi Brockway 11 to lead the winners. Chloe Wenzel added six kills, McKenna Kipp five, Addison Reid four, and Emma Elmore three.Emma Elmore made 36 assists.Knapp made 13 digs, Mallory Lillie and Brockway 12 each, and Bella Drew 10.Wenzel made four blocks and Reid two.Elmore served 13 of 14 with an ace, Brockway was 12 of 12 with an ace, Reid was 12 of 13 with two aces, Lillie was 11 of 12 with three aces, and Lexi Korschgen served an ace on her only attempt.The team plays at Central Lee next Tuesday.<figure>
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NDHS Volleyball vs. Van Buren 

Indian Hills spoiled Southeastern Community College’s soccer home openers, sweeping the Blackhawks at the Burlington Regional RecPlex Monday afternoon.

Indian Hills won the women’s match 5-1 and the men’s game 6-0. Indian Hills is an NJCAA Division I school; SCC is Division II.

In the women’s match, Kevynn Siefken scored SCC’s lone goal on the rebound of a Myah Rehman shot in the 50th minute. Rehman was awarded an assist. It was the first goal scored this season by SCC, now 0-4.

Siefken and Rehman were freshmen and teammates at Burlington High School last spring.

“We’ve been struggling with injuries the past couple of weeks,” Siefken said, “but we’re slowly getting those girls back, and we know we deserve it. We worked hard, that’s for sure.”

On her goal, she said, “It was good. It was well deserved. That first half was hard-fought, and that second half, we wanted it, and we got it.” 

          In the men’s game, SCC managed just five shots, three on goal. The defense held Indian Hills scoreless for the first 33 minutes. SCC fell to 1-4. 

It was the first time former SCC coach Zac Newton coached against the Blackhawks. He coached SCC to its spring 2021 national championship. Newton is currently in his first year as head coach at Indian Hills. 

“It’s a weird experience,” Newton said of his return to West Burlington, “and then to have the sort of result we had was tough because this place always has a special place in my heart. It’s very, very weird, but it does bring back a lot of good memories.”

The Indian Hills men improved to 5-0; the women are 3-1.

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 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1725582340335.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsIndian Hills spoiled Southeastern Community College’s soccer home openers, sweeping the Blackhawks at the Burlington Regional RecPlex Monday afternoon.Indian Hills won the women’s match 5-1 and the men’s game 6-0. Indian Hills is an NJCAA Division I school; SCC is Division II.In the women’s match, Kevynn Siefken scored SCC’s lone goal on the rebound of a Myah Rehman shot in the 50th minute. Rehman was awarded an assist. It was the first goal scored this season by SCC, now 0-4.Siefken and Rehman were freshmen and teammates at Burlington High School last spring.“We’ve been struggling with injuries the past couple of weeks,” Siefken said, “but we’re slowly getting those girls back, and we know we deserve it. We worked hard, that’s for sure.”On her goal, she said, “It was good. It was well deserved. That first half was hard-fought, and that second half, we wanted it, and we got it.” In the men’s game, SCC managed just five shots, three on goal. The defense held Indian Hills scoreless for the first 33 minutes. SCC fell to 1-4. It was the first time former SCC coach Zac Newton coached against the Blackhawks. He coached SCC to its spring 2021 national championship. Newton is currently in his first year as head coach at Indian Hills. “It’s a weird experience,” Newton said of his return to West Burlington, “and then to have the sort of result we had was tough because this place always has a special place in my heart. It’s very, very weird, but it does bring back a lot of good memories.”The Indian Hills men improved to 5-0; the women are 3-1.

Warriors sweep SCC soccer teams

The Southeastern Community College volleyball team scrimmaged against three other teams on Saturday, and the optimism in the Blackhawk camp is sky-high. 

“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals,” said McKenna Marlow, a sophomore from West Burlington.“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals.,” said Taryn Stephens, a freshman who played for Burlington’s Notre Dame High School last season. 

“That just seems like so much fun. We all want to go so bad. We’ve been working for it.”Read Joe Geren's story in this Friday's print edition of The Beacon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/8/1724023610717.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Photos by John LovrettaThe Southeastern Community College volleyball team scrimmaged against three other teams on Saturday, and the optimism in the Blackhawk camp is sky-high. “I expect us to take it all the way to nationals,” said McKenna Marlow, a sophomore from West Burlington.“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals.,” said Taryn Stephens, a freshman who played for Burlington’s Notre Dame High School last season. “That just seems like so much fun. We all want to go so bad. We’ve been working for it.”Read Joe Geren's story in this Friday's print edition of The Beacon.<figure>
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Spike in Optimism

By Joe Geren Beacon Sports When you’re already a national champion, perhaps only one goal remains. Perfection. That’s the goal for Odessa Cornick in the upcoming indoor archery season. Odessa, 16, of Burlington, and her sister Alina, 12, are three-time national champions. Their most recent titles occurred in July at the Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) Eastern Outdoor National on the University of the Cumberlands campus in Williamsburg, Ky. Odessa won the female young adult (age 15-18) championship, and Alina captured the female Eagle division for ages 10-12. In June, Alina won an indoor national title in Rend Lake, Ill. “They shoot their first couple rounds, and that’s how they get into the shoot-off,” their dad, Zach Cornick, explained. After the shoot-off, “there’s a bracket-type system where they shoot against each other. It’s two full days.” In young adult competitions, “the top three finishers get academic scholarships,” Zach said. “There are probably 15 scholarships around the country. They’re adding up.” Last March, Odessa won the national title in the Eastern Indoor S3DA in Owensboro, Ky., and won several scholarships, including some to the University of the Cumberlands, Kentucky Christian, Southeast Illinois, and Lindenwood. With the win in Williamsburg, some of the scholarships were duplicated. Odessa, who soon begins her junior year at Burlington High School, has not decided which scholarship she’ll use. “I haven’t started looking too much yet,” she said. Zach and his wife Denissa founded the Flint River Archery Club in late 2020. Last Sunday, the Cornick sisters were among four Flint River Archery Club members who won state titles in the Iowa State ASA championship in Iowa City. Odessa won the young adult female pins division, and Alina captured the Eagle girls’ pins. Isaiah Mendenhall won the Eagle boys open division and Brody Foley won young adult male pins. Other club members competing in the state meet were Timothy Burns Jr. (2nd, Eagle boys open), Addison Ewinger (2nd, Eagle girls open), Raelle Miller (2nd, Eagle girls pins), and Abigail Foley (3rd, Eagle girls pins). Miller also finished 10th in the Eastern Outdoor National in Kentucky last month. According to a Flint River Archery Club Facebook post, Miller’s sights were going low left the first day of the competition. Coaches fixed the problem, and Miller shot a personal best the second day. “In a couple weeks, the ASA Outdoor National is in South Dakota,” Zach Cornick said. “We’ll be going to that.” Both Cornick girls have played other sports, but archery is their preference. “I did golf for a little bit, but mostly archery is what I do,” Odessa said. She played on the BHS girls’ golf team. “I started (archery) when I was four years old.” “I played volleyball and soccer, but not right now,” Alina said. In archery, “I like outdoor targets better. It’s cells (in 3D animal-shaped targets). Basically, it’s upper and lower cells.” Odessa has goals. “I want to win some more things, obviously,” she said, “get some more scholarships collected. Indoor season is next, so right now, my goal is to shoot an absolutely perfect score, a 150 with 30 Xs.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/8/1723517598554.jpeg" alt="Photo by Joe Geren Odessa Cornick, left, and her sister Alina won national championships in archery recently. Alina won two in the Eagle (age 10-12) Division and Odessa captured a national outdoor championship in the Young Adult (15-18) Division. " />
 <figcaption>Photo by Joe Geren Odessa Cornick, left, and her sister Alina won national championships in archery recently. Alina won two in the Eagle (age 10-12) Division and Odessa captured a national outdoor championship in the Young Adult (15-18) Division. </figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe Geren Beacon Sports When you’re already a national champion, perhaps only one goal remains. Perfection. That’s the goal for Odessa Cornick in the upcoming indoor archery season. Odessa, 16, of Burlington, and her sister Alina, 12, are three-time national champions. Their most recent titles occurred in July at the Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) Eastern Outdoor National on the University of the Cumberlands campus in Williamsburg, Ky. Odessa won the female young adult (age 15-18) championship, and Alina captured the female Eagle division for ages 10-12. In June, Alina won an indoor national title in Rend Lake, Ill. “They shoot their first couple rounds, and that’s how they get into the shoot-off,” their dad, Zach Cornick, explained. After the shoot-off, “there’s a bracket-type system where they shoot against each other. It’s two full days.” In young adult competitions, “the top three finishers get academic scholarships,” Zach said. “There are probably 15 scholarships around the country. They’re adding up.” Last March, Odessa won the national title in the Eastern Indoor S3DA in Owensboro, Ky., and won several scholarships, including some to the University of the Cumberlands, Kentucky Christian, Southeast Illinois, and Lindenwood. With the win in Williamsburg, some of the scholarships were duplicated. Odessa, who soon begins her junior year at Burlington High School, has not decided which scholarship she’ll use. “I haven’t started looking too much yet,” she said. Zach and his wife Denissa founded the Flint River Archery Club in late 2020. Last Sunday, the Cornick sisters were among four Flint River Archery Club members who won state titles in the Iowa State ASA championship in Iowa City. Odessa won the young adult female pins division, and Alina captured the Eagle girls’ pins. Isaiah Mendenhall won the Eagle boys open division and Brody Foley won young adult male pins. Other club members competing in the state meet were Timothy Burns Jr. (2nd, Eagle boys open), Addison Ewinger (2nd, Eagle girls open), Raelle Miller (2nd, Eagle girls pins), and Abigail Foley (3rd, Eagle girls pins). Miller also finished 10th in the Eastern Outdoor National in Kentucky last month. According to a Flint River Archery Club Facebook post, Miller’s sights were going low left the first day of the competition. Coaches fixed the problem, and Miller shot a personal best the second day. “In a couple weeks, the ASA Outdoor National is in South Dakota,” Zach Cornick said. “We’ll be going to that.” Both Cornick girls have played other sports, but archery is their preference. “I did golf for a little bit, but mostly archery is what I do,” Odessa said. She played on the BHS girls’ golf team. “I started (archery) when I was four years old.” “I played volleyball and soccer, but not right now,” Alina said. In archery, “I like outdoor targets better. It’s cells (in 3D animal-shaped targets). Basically, it’s upper and lower cells.” Odessa has goals. “I want to win some more things, obviously,” she said, “get some more scholarships collected. Indoor season is next, so right now, my goal is to shoot an absolutely perfect score, a 150 with 30 Xs.”

Cornick sisters claim national titles

Bryce Brown’s two-run double to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Burlington Bees to a 7-6 win over Clinton in a Prospect League baseball game at Community Field Saturday night. It was the third win in the last four games for the Bees, who are now 11-7 in the season’s second half.

Clinton went up 2-0 in the first half-inning, but Burlington tied it in the second and led 3-2 after three innings. The score was knotted at 3-3 and 4-4, then the LumberKings scored twice in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bees came to within a run of Clinton at 5-6 on Cedric Dunnwald’s RBI double.

Both teams had 12 hits. Brown and Landon Akers had three hits each for the Bees. Jeremy Figueroa tripled for the Bees and Logan Reidelberger doubled. Catcher Noah Gordon went 3-for-5 to lead Clinton.

Erik Kiewiet (2-1) pitched the final inning and picked up the win. He allowed no runs on one hit and two walks. Clinton’s Kieran Bailey (2-1) took the loss.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/7/1722270737475.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsBryce Brown’s two-run double to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Burlington Bees to a 7-6 win over Clinton in a Prospect League baseball game at Community Field Saturday night. It was the third win in the last four games for the Bees, who are now 11-7 in the season’s second half.Clinton went up 2-0 in the first half-inning, but Burlington tied it in the second and led 3-2 after three innings. The score was knotted at 3-3 and 4-4, then the LumberKings scored twice in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bees came to within a run of Clinton at 5-6 on Cedric Dunnwald’s RBI double.The LumberKings wouldn’t score again.Both teams had 12 hits. Brown and Landon Akers had three hits each for the Bees. Jeremy Figueroa tripled for the Bees and Logan Reidelberger doubled. Catcher Noah Gordon went 3-for-5 to lead Clinton.Erik Kiewiet (2-1) pitched the final inning and picked up the win. He allowed no runs on one hit and two walks. Clinton’s Kieran Bailey (2-1) took the loss.&nbsp;

Brown’s Double Lifts Bees

Tanner Gebhardt captured the 305 Winged Sprints class on Saturday, July 20, at 34 Raceway. 

Cole Helmerson of New London came in second and points leader Cody Wehrle finished third. John Barnard of Sherman, Ill., came in fourth, followed by a trio of Burlington drivers: Dugan Thye, Nathan Murders, and Nick Guernsey. Chase Young of Altoona was eighth, Travis Pence of Stronghurst, Ill., was ninth, and McCain Richards of Burlington 10th.

Wehrle leads the standings with 326 points, and Gebhardt is 14 back at 312. Guernsey is third at 278, Helmerson fourth at 264, and Thye is holding onto a top-five spot, ahead of Chase Richards, 259-252.

Because of rain late in the night, the features for Sport Compacts, Modifieds, and Stock Car didn't run. There will be double features this Saturday, which will be 34 for Kids Night, presented by the New Mix, 107.3. Kids 10 and under get in free with a paid admission. Pits open at 4 p.m., and the gates open at 5 p.m. All seven classes will run.

The Sprint Invaders event will run on Aug. 16, and the Pepsi Season Championship will run on Aug. 24.

John Oliver Jr. of West Burlington won the Sports Modified class, narrowing the gap to within one point, 299-298, of Sean Wyett of Danville. Wyett came in fifth. Oliver Jr. beat out Logan Cumby of Quincy, Ill., and Matt Thomas of Danville. Brian Schrage of Creston was fourth.

There's a tight race for third: Matt Tucker of Lomax, Ill., is third with 235, but Thomas is next at 234 and Kevin Goben of Sherrard, Ill., is fifth at 232.

Trenton Witt of Oskaloosa took the checkered flag in the Stock Car class. Chad Krogmeier of Burlington was second, Blake Woodruff of Knoxville, Ill., was third, Jerry Jansen of Plainville, Ill., fourth, and Doak Allen of West Burlington fifth.

Oliver Jr. holds a solid lead in the standings with 311 points. Krogmeier is a point ahead of Wapello driver Kirk Kinsley, 280-279. Corey Strothman of New London is fourth at 224, and David Brandies of Wilton is trying to hold off Derek Schwandt of Burlington, 155-153, for a top-five spot.

In the Modifieds class, Michael Claeys of Knoxville won the first heat, followed by Bill Roberts Jr. of Burlington. Dustin Smith of Long Grove came in third, followed by Blaised Lewis of Kewanee, Ill., and Zach Dockter of Norwich, North Dakota.

Austen Becerra of Carthage, Ill., won the second heat, and Jadin Fuller of Memphis, Mo., was second.

Roberts Jr. has an eight-point lead in the standings, 265-257, over Chris Zogg of New Liberty. Claeys is third at 241, and Becerra is a distant fourth at 191.

Brian Tipps of Wapello won the Mini Hauler class, with Sheldon Brockett second. Grady Jones of Monmouth, Ill., was third, followed by Darin Ronner of Gladstone, Ill., in fourth, and Lyle Timmerman of Wapello fifth.

Tipps leads Brockett in the standings, 198-189. Roger Brockett has 181 points, Ronner is fourth with 171 and Eric Detlefsen of Burlington is fifth, four points ahead of Jones for a top-five spot.

Larry Miller of Burlington won the first heat of the Sport Compact class, with Tim Schnathorst second. Noah Kayser won the second heat ahead of Darrian Hammitt of Burlington, T.J. 

Weyls of Burlington, and Barry Taft of Argyle.Kayser barely leads Dylan Bonk of Hannibal, Mo., in the points standings 226-225. Darin Smith of Columbus Junction has 219 for third, and Shane Vancil of Salem is just a point ahead of Miller for fourth, 200-199.

In a tight race for sixth, Weyls has 187 points, and Schnathorst is tied with Hammitt at 186 each.In the Dirt Late Models class, Ray Raker of Danville leads Jay Johnson of West Burlington, 218-211.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/7/1722269489994.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerTanner Gebhardt captured the 305 Winged Sprints class on Saturday, July 20, at 34 Raceway. Cole Helmerson of New London came in second and points leader Cody Wehrle finished third. John Barnard of Sherman, Ill., came in fourth, followed by a trio of Burlington drivers: Dugan Thye, Nathan Murders, and Nick Guernsey. Chase Young of Altoona was eighth, Travis Pence of Stronghurst, Ill., was ninth, and McCain Richards of Burlington 10th.Wehrle leads the standings with 326 points, and Gebhardt is 14 back at 312. Guernsey is third at 278, Helmerson fourth at 264, and Thye is holding onto a top-five spot, ahead of Chase Richards, 259-252.Because of rain late in the night, the features for Sport Compacts, Modifieds, and Stock Car didn't run. There will be double features this Saturday, which will be 34 for Kids Night, presented by the New Mix, 107.3. Kids 10 and under get in free with a paid admission. Pits open at 4 p.m., and the gates open at 5 p.m. All seven classes will run.The Sprint Invaders event will run on Aug. 16, and the Pepsi Season Championship will run on Aug. 24.John Oliver Jr. of West Burlington won the Sports Modified class, narrowing the gap to within one point, 299-298, of Sean Wyett of Danville. Wyett came in fifth. Oliver Jr. beat out Logan Cumby of Quincy, Ill., and Matt Thomas of Danville. Brian Schrage of Creston was fourth.There's a tight race for third: Matt Tucker of Lomax, Ill., is third with 235, but Thomas is next at 234 and Kevin Goben of Sherrard, Ill., is fifth at 232.Trenton Witt of Oskaloosa took the checkered flag in the Stock Car class. Chad Krogmeier of Burlington was second, Blake Woodruff of Knoxville, Ill., was third, Jerry Jansen of Plainville, Ill., fourth, and Doak Allen of West Burlington fifth.Oliver Jr. holds a solid lead in the standings with 311 points. Krogmeier is a point ahead of Wapello driver Kirk Kinsley, 280-279. Corey Strothman of New London is fourth at 224, and David Brandies of Wilton is trying to hold off Derek Schwandt of Burlington, 155-153, for a top-five spot.In the Modifieds class, Michael Claeys of Knoxville won the first heat, followed by Bill Roberts Jr. of Burlington. Dustin Smith of Long Grove came in third, followed by Blaised Lewis of Kewanee, Ill., and Zach Dockter of Norwich, North Dakota.Austen Becerra of Carthage, Ill., won the second heat, and Jadin Fuller of Memphis, Mo., was second.Roberts Jr. has an eight-point lead in the standings, 265-257, over Chris Zogg of New Liberty. Claeys is third at 241, and Becerra is a distant fourth at 191.Brian Tipps of Wapello won the Mini Hauler class, with Sheldon Brockett second. Grady Jones of Monmouth, Ill., was third, followed by Darin Ronner of Gladstone, Ill., in fourth, and Lyle Timmerman of Wapello fifth.Tipps leads Brockett in the standings, 198-189. Roger Brockett has 181 points, Ronner is fourth with 171 and Eric Detlefsen of Burlington is fifth, four points ahead of Jones for a top-five spot.Larry Miller of Burlington won the first heat of the Sport Compact class, with Tim Schnathorst second. Noah Kayser won the second heat ahead of Darrian Hammitt of Burlington, T.J. Weyls of Burlington, and Barry Taft of Argyle.Kayser barely leads Dylan Bonk of Hannibal, Mo., in the points standings 226-225. Darin Smith of Columbus Junction has 219 for third, and Shane Vancil of Salem is just a point ahead of Miller for fourth, 200-199.In a tight race for sixth, Weyls has 187 points, and Schnathorst is tied with Hammitt at 186 each.In the Dirt Late Models class, Ray Raker of Danville leads Jay Johnson of West Burlington, 218-211.

Gebhardt wins in Winged Sprints Class

Lawrence DuCharme was surrounded by hundreds of potatoes Tuesday morning inside the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry — and he couldn’t have been happier.

Each potato will find its way to the hands of a local person in need. But that’s just a side dish. For over a century, the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry has provided every kind of food a family could need.

DuCharme, who heads up the pantry, started volunteering for the organization about a year ago. He had retired from a long career at CNH (Case New Holland) and was looking for a way to give back.

He never imagined that a local organization like St. Vincent DePaul would have such an intricate network of volunteers. He was stunned – and impressed.

“I became very interested when I realized just how big of an operation it was and how many families it served. We’re serving people who maybe don’t have a good source of food. I felt like it was doing some good for the community,” he said.

The pantry, one of about a dozen in Burlington and the largest, exists entirely through a network of 70 volunteers. The pantry is open 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday to local families who meet income requirements.

“We use the same income requirements the Food Bank of Iowa uses,” DuCharme said.

About 70 percent of the food in the pantry is purchased at cost through the Food Bank of Iowa, which supplies hundreds of other pantries across the state. The rest comes from donations or direct purchases by the pantry to fill any food gaps. Clients are allowed to get food once a month.

DuCharme puts in about 20 hours a week, and some of the other volunteers put in as much as 10 to 20 hours a week. That’s not counting all the special helpers, like the Boy Scouts.

The pantry used to operate out of the church basement but was moved upstairs to a parish building after the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for local families grows monthly and has become even more significant since the pandemic.

“Last year, we served over 7,700 families. That’s over 600 a month. Last year, we saw a continued growth of need, and this year, we’ve seen the same thing,” DuCharme said. “It looks like we’re going to have another record year.”

DuCharme moved to Burlington six years ago with his wife and three children. He was born and grew up in Wisconsin, and he worked for CNH there before taking a job at the Burlington plant in 2016.

DuCharme has the pantry running like a finely tuned automobile. A network of 70 volunteers ensures that the pantry never goes unattended. During shopping hours, about a dozen volunteers work to fill carts from tables stacked with food items. Taller stacks of food boxes sit behind the tables, allowing volunteers to re-stock the tables as they go.

“We have nine different bread teams. Their job is to every day go to the two Hy-Vee stores, pick up whatever day-old bread they’re donating. I’ve got a team of folks that come in just to help with food bank delivery. We get that twice a month, so I’ve got a team for that. I’ve got a couple of teams that pick up Walmart a couple times a week. I’ve got five different teams, one for each day of the week, for distribution. Then I’ve got a few extra individuals that help me with ordering and stocking and those types of things,” DuCharme said.

A walk-in freezer makes it possible to meet the protein demands of clients, and all clients get extra food in December — a benefit that replaces the Christmas food baskets the organization used to put together.

The joy of giving to others practically makes DuCharme giddy – but he isn’t the only one. Frank Paolo has also volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry for over 20 years. He still hasn’t grown tired of it.

“I got into it because one of my buddies was working here,” he said.&nbsp;

“It actually makes you feel good because you’re getting to be a part of the community. And when you get as old as I am, you’ve got to find things to do.”

Though he’s been at the pantry much longer, Paolo has seen the same increase in need as DuCharme. He’s just seen it growing since he arrived two decades ago.

“Instead of getting better, it’s getting worse,” he said.

Paolo is surprised to see people he knows using the food pantry. People he thought would never have to. He hasn’t had to use the pantry himself and thanks God for his good fortune.

DuCharme has made a few tweaks to the organization in his year as president and has enjoyed welcoming new volunteers into the food pantry.

He hopes to welcome many more. Feeding the hungry is a job that never ends — it just gets passed on. DuCharme is delighted he picked up the baton.

“It’s been very fulfilling,” he said.

The St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry on Division Street is open from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2024/11/1732488955601.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithLawrence DuCharme was surrounded by hundreds of potatoes Tuesday morning inside the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry — and he couldn’t have been happier.Each potato will find its way to the hands of a local person in need. But that’s just a side dish. For over a century, the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry has provided every kind of food a family could need.DuCharme, who heads up the pantry, started volunteering for the organization about a year ago. He had retired from a long career at CNH (Case New Holland) and was looking for a way to give back.He never imagined that a local organization like St. Vincent DePaul would have such an intricate network of volunteers. He was stunned – and impressed.“I became very interested when I realized just how big of an operation it was and how many families it served. We’re serving people who maybe don’t have a good source of food. I felt like it was doing some good for the community,” he said.The pantry, one of about a dozen in Burlington and the largest, exists entirely through a network of 70 volunteers. The pantry is open 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday to local families who meet income requirements.“We use the same income requirements the Food Bank of Iowa uses,” DuCharme said.About 70 percent of the food in the pantry is purchased at cost through the Food Bank of Iowa, which supplies hundreds of other pantries across the state. The rest comes from donations or direct purchases by the pantry to fill any food gaps. Clients are allowed to get food once a month.DuCharme puts in about 20 hours a week, and some of the other volunteers put in as much as 10 to 20 hours a week. That’s not counting all the special helpers, like the Boy Scouts.The pantry used to operate out of the church basement but was moved upstairs to a parish building after the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for local families grows monthly and has become even more significant since the pandemic.“Last year, we served over 7,700 families. That’s over 600 a month. Last year, we saw a continued growth of need, and this year, we’ve seen the same thing,” DuCharme said. “It looks like we’re going to have another record year.”DuCharme moved to Burlington six years ago with his wife and three children. He was born and grew up in Wisconsin, and he worked for CNH there before taking a job at the Burlington plant in 2016.DuCharme has the pantry running like a finely tuned automobile. A network of 70 volunteers ensures that the pantry never goes unattended. During shopping hours, about a dozen volunteers work to fill carts from tables stacked with food items. Taller stacks of food boxes sit behind the tables, allowing volunteers to re-stock the tables as they go.“We have nine different bread teams. Their job is to every day go to the two Hy-Vee stores, pick up whatever day-old bread they’re donating. I’ve got a team of folks that come in just to help with food bank delivery. We get that twice a month, so I’ve got a team for that. I’ve got a couple of teams that pick up Walmart a couple times a week. I’ve got five different teams, one for each day of the week, for distribution. Then I’ve got a few extra individuals that help me with ordering and stocking and those types of things,” DuCharme said.A walk-in freezer makes it possible to meet the protein demands of clients, and all clients get extra food in December — a benefit that replaces the Christmas food baskets the organization used to put together.The joy of giving to others practically makes DuCharme giddy – but he isn’t the only one. Frank Paolo has also volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry for over 20 years. He still hasn’t grown tired of it.“I got into it because one of my buddies was working here,” he said.&nbsp;“It actually makes you feel good because you’re getting to be a part of the community. And when you get as old as I am, you’ve got to find things to do.”Though he’s been at the pantry much longer, Paolo has seen the same increase in need as DuCharme. He’s just seen it growing since he arrived two decades ago.“Instead of getting better, it’s getting worse,” he said.Paolo is surprised to see people he knows using the food pantry. People he thought would never have to. He hasn’t had to use the pantry himself and thanks God for his good fortune.“It just blows my mind,” he said.DuCharme has made a few tweaks to the organization in his year as president and has enjoyed welcoming new volunteers into the food pantry.He hopes to welcome many more. Feeding the hungry is a job that never ends — it just gets passed on. DuCharme is delighted he picked up the baton.“It’s been very fulfilling,” he said.The St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry on Division Street is open from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

52 Faces: A hunger for helping

Burlington Vintage &amp; Co., owner Chelsea Stevens knows the difference between shopping and browsing.

She sees that difference in her customers’ faces. Relaxed smiles and kind words that spill from their lips. They aren’t just there to look at the antique merchandise.

As Stevens put it, they want to be with their people.

&nbsp;“If you want to feel what it felt like decades ago, before the Internet, shopping small brings you back there. It’s just people again, you know — the best parts of people. We don’t argue in real life like we do online,” she said.

Stevens loves people more than the various “antiques” that decorate her shop. She uses the word “antique” loosely. These days, old-fashioned stereos and record players fit the bill. The word “vintage” covers a broader swath of nostalgia — anything 20 years old or older.

“So you get people that come in here, and they find their yearbooks, and that’s always really funny. Because they’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m in a shop, and my yearbook is here,’ ” Stevens said.

Most of the items in the shop — the ones that need it — are refurbished by Stevens. She has four sons who help run a train museum in the downstairs portion of the building. Most items come from local sellers, but Stevens and her family like to stock up at auctions and estate sales.

“My 16-year-old, he just gets filthy digging through all that stuff at sales,” Stevens said.

Stevens was just like him at her age. She grew up in Argyle – a small Lee County town about 45 minutes outside of Burlington – and moved to Burlington at the age of 12. That’s when she started attending Notre Dame and met her future husband there.

“We started dating my senior year of high school,” she said.

Chelsea’s mother and local business owner, Becky Anderson, also has a passion for rehabilitation and led a capital campaign to restore the once-defunct Capitol Theater.

“When we first moved here, my mom bought a super dilapidated house. She refinished the whole house and made it beautiful. So it was kind of in my upbringing —&nbsp; taking the things that other people didn’t want and making them desirable again,” Stevens said.

Despite her knack for restoration, Chelsea didn’t consider it a career. She was interested in advertising coming out of high school — an interest that dampened once she started college.

“I didn’t know how good I would be at it if I’m not excited about the product that I’m supposed to advertise. So then I ended up switching to economics because I like numbers and I like business,” she said.

Chelsea held several jobs and was interested in becoming a city planner. She interned for the city, just as current parks and recreation development director Eric Tysland was starting his job for the city.

As life moved on and Stevens grew her family, she stumbled upon an old hobby — a hobby she could use to turn a buck.

“When my children were little, and I was looking for furniture for their room, I didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a new piece of furniture that was fake wood,” Stevens said. “You could get a solid wood dresser for $5. It might need to be scrubbed, it might need painted, it might need refinished. But I had the time to do that because I could do that with the kids.”

So Stevens started flipping furniture from home and selling it on Facebook. Ironically enough, it was similar to how she operated during the pandemic. She would refurbish a piece for a customer, then have them pick it up on the sidewalk.

Stevens has long been fascinated with Burlington and has applied that focus to her shop. Many of the items have a specific Burlington connection.&nbsp;

The building itself has housed many businesses before, including an upholstery store and the Happy Mutant bike shop.

Stevens just happened to know the owner of the building.

“My mom owns this building, and this space opened up. So she and some friends kind of pushed me into it,” she said.

That was eight years ago. What started as an experiment has become a vital ventricle of downtown Burlington’s beating heart.

“I feel like small business owners are just an interesting group of people because they put all into what their interest is. I just think that’s fun,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2024/11/1732488851049.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithBurlington Vintage &amp; Co., owner Chelsea Stevens knows the difference between shopping and browsing.She sees that difference in her customers’ faces. Relaxed smiles and kind words that spill from their lips. They aren’t just there to look at the antique merchandise.As Stevens put it, they want to be with their people.&nbsp;“If you want to feel what it felt like decades ago, before the Internet, shopping small brings you back there. It’s just people again, you know — the best parts of people. We don’t argue in real life like we do online,” she said.Stevens loves people more than the various “antiques” that decorate her shop. She uses the word “antique” loosely. These days, old-fashioned stereos and record players fit the bill. The word “vintage” covers a broader swath of nostalgia — anything 20 years old or older.“So you get people that come in here, and they find their yearbooks, and that’s always really funny. Because they’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m in a shop, and my yearbook is here,’ ” Stevens said.Most of the items in the shop — the ones that need it — are refurbished by Stevens. She has four sons who help run a train museum in the downstairs portion of the building. Most items come from local sellers, but Stevens and her family like to stock up at auctions and estate sales.“My 16-year-old, he just gets filthy digging through all that stuff at sales,” Stevens said.Stevens was just like him at her age. She grew up in Argyle – a small Lee County town about 45 minutes outside of Burlington – and moved to Burlington at the age of 12. That’s when she started attending Notre Dame and met her future husband there.“We started dating my senior year of high school,” she said.Chelsea’s mother and local business owner, Becky Anderson, also has a passion for rehabilitation and led a capital campaign to restore the once-defunct Capitol Theater.“When we first moved here, my mom bought a super dilapidated house. She refinished the whole house and made it beautiful. So it was kind of in my upbringing —&nbsp; taking the things that other people didn’t want and making them desirable again,” Stevens said.Despite her knack for restoration, Chelsea didn’t consider it a career. She was interested in advertising coming out of high school — an interest that dampened once she started college.“I didn’t know how good I would be at it if I’m not excited about the product that I’m supposed to advertise. So then I ended up switching to economics because I like numbers and I like business,” she said.Chelsea held several jobs and was interested in becoming a city planner. She interned for the city, just as current parks and recreation development director Eric Tysland was starting his job for the city.“I learned a lot,” she said.As life moved on and Stevens grew her family, she stumbled upon an old hobby — a hobby she could use to turn a buck.“When my children were little, and I was looking for furniture for their room, I didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a new piece of furniture that was fake wood,” Stevens said. “You could get a solid wood dresser for $5. It might need to be scrubbed, it might need painted, it might need refinished. But I had the time to do that because I could do that with the kids.”So Stevens started flipping furniture from home and selling it on Facebook. Ironically enough, it was similar to how she operated during the pandemic. She would refurbish a piece for a customer, then have them pick it up on the sidewalk.Stevens has long been fascinated with Burlington and has applied that focus to her shop. Many of the items have a specific Burlington connection.&nbsp;The building itself has housed many businesses before, including an upholstery store and the Happy Mutant bike shop.Stevens just happened to know the owner of the building.“My mom owns this building, and this space opened up. So she and some friends kind of pushed me into it,” she said.That was eight years ago. What started as an experiment has become a vital ventricle of downtown Burlington’s beating heart.Stevens has found her people.“I feel like small business owners are just an interesting group of people because they put all into what their interest is. I just think that’s fun,” she said.

52 Faces: Shopping small, smiling big

The West Burlington School District doesn’t have a combined elementary and high school. The two schools are separated by just a few blocks, each with its own roster of teachers.

But Jeremy Henman, the new band director of the West Burlington Junior High and High School, has been teaching some of the same students for six years straight.

“It has such a joyous experience, getting to teach them,” Henman said.

Henman took on the role of band director at the high school at the beginning of the year, but taught music at West Burlington Elementary for six years prior to that. That means that he will have taught music to some West Burlington students for the entirety of their school experience once they graduate.

“I was very fortunate to get a job at the elementary,” Henman said.

By the age of five, Henman knew he wanted to be a trumpet player. Before getting a real trumpet, he carried a toy version everywhere. By the time he was in high school, Henman knew he wanted to be a musician — and possibly a teacher.

“I went into college thinking I wanted to be a jazz trumpet player,” Henman said. “Then, early on in college, I get exposed to a lot more orchestral music and found a love for the classical side of the trumpet.”

Unlike many of his peers, who pined for a life far away from their hometown, Henman wanted to come back home and teach. He applied for every job in pretty much every state he could and jumped at the elementary music teacher job when it became available.

As a Burlington High School graduate, he also found it a bit ironic. He credits BHS band director Derrick Murphy, who is still teaching, for helping to expand his love of music.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/11/1731221597781.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithThe West Burlington School District doesn’t have a combined elementary and high school. The two schools are separated by just a few blocks, each with its own roster of teachers.But Jeremy Henman, the new band director of the West Burlington Junior High and High School, has been teaching some of the same students for six years straight.“It has such a joyous experience, getting to teach them,” Henman said.Henman took on the role of band director at the high school at the beginning of the year, but taught music at West Burlington Elementary for six years prior to that. That means that he will have taught music to some West Burlington students for the entirety of their school experience once they graduate.“I was very fortunate to get a job at the elementary,” Henman said.By the age of five, Henman knew he wanted to be a trumpet player. Before getting a real trumpet, he carried a toy version everywhere. By the time he was in high school, Henman knew he wanted to be a musician — and possibly a teacher.“I went into college thinking I wanted to be a jazz trumpet player,” Henman said. “Then, early on in college, I get exposed to a lot more orchestral music and found a love for the classical side of the trumpet.”Unlike many of his peers, who pined for a life far away from their hometown, Henman wanted to come back home and teach. He applied for every job in pretty much every state he could and jumped at the elementary music teacher job when it became available.As a Burlington High School graduate, he also found it a bit ironic. He credits BHS band director Derrick Murphy, who is still teaching, for helping to expand his love of music.“That was kind of a neat thing for me, going through college and getting my degree and then getting to come back home to teach where I grew up,” he said.Henman’s future was always going to be dictated by music. Both of his parents are accomplished singers, and all three of his older siblings went through band and choir, as did he.“I just grew up with it,” he said.Before taking the music job at West Burlington, Henman was hesitant to teach younger children. He has no children and recalls how his first pack of kindergartners trampled his plans on the first day.But Henman learned, and so did the kids. Like any good music teacher, Henman’s ultimate goal is simple: to instill a student’s love of music.Everything that follows is a natural extension of the students’ interest. Band is an elective in high school, so Henman now has the luxury of teaching students who want to be in the music room. They like talking about music theory and improving their skills.“I’m able to get them to think even more critically about the music they’re creating. We’ll be rehearsing, and I’ll cut them off, and I’ll ask them, ‘What instrument has the melody here?’ And you’ve got some students who are paying attention, who’ve been listening not just to their own part but to the entire ensemble. And they’re able to pick out,” Henman said.Now that he’s settled into high school, Henman is laying the groundwork for a long-term project.&nbsp;He wants to increase the size of West Burlington’s marching band and its exposure and importance — perhaps even competitive contests someday.But to do that, he needs interested students. Most of his band students have expressed disinterest in marching band, but Henman has found a middle ground at the school’s Friday night football games.“I like to call it a Friday night football band,” he said. “We are there specifically to build the school spirit for the football games.”The West Burlington-Notre Dame football team won its first-ever playoff game last Friday. Henman’s students celebrated with their synchronous instruments.“It was such an exciting experience, getting to play for a playoff game. I think it was great for the students to witness a bit of school history,” Henman said.Despite the hours he spends teaching others, Henman has always maintained his passion for the trumpet. Of course, he doesn’t play for the money.“A lot of my students, they think, ‘Well, after I graduate high school, I’m done with music,” he said.But that’s just not true.Burlington and the surrounding area are pretty musical, and Henman has found plenty of opportunity for this trumpet.&nbsp;He plays with the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra, the Burlington Municipal Band, and several other organizations,&nbsp; including a salsa band he just joined.Henman has everything he could want, and it was always just a few miles from his doorstep. It takes some a lifetime to realize their heart is at home.&nbsp;Henman had it figured out before he ever started.“I’m happy where I’m at. I really love teaching in West Burlington,” he said.

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