Des Moines County naturalist Jacklyn Goodman has been stomping around local creeks since she was tall enough to swim in them.

But the Mount Pleasant native didn’t realize her love of the outdoors could translate into a career. Not at first, anyway.

“After high school, I went to Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids. And that’s where I discovered there are jobs like this, like what I get to do,” she said.

Goodman has been a naturalist with Des Moines County Conservation for the past two years — first as an Americorps worker, then as an official Des Moines County employee.

It wasn’t a perfect fit at first. Goodman loves the outdoors but isn’t that comfortable with public speaking. As a naturalist, most of her job revolves around outdoor education. That means speaking to groups of children or a classroom when giving presentations and leading events.

“It (the public speaking) always freaked me out a little bit,” she said.

So when it came time for Goodman to present to her first classroom, she gritted her teeth, started talking, and hoped it all made sense.

It did, thanks in large part to fellow DMC Conservation worker Marcus Nack and former DMC naturalist Kelly Rundell.

“They were super helpful and helped me really get into the public speaking side of things and make me more comfortable with it,” she said.

Goodman said it helps that she mostly talks to children, though she’s made surprising connections with local adults with her Hike-A-Park series of programs. She’s taken people on walks who haven’t been hiking for years, just because they didn’t know where to hike or how to get started.

Turns out they just needed a friend. That’s the most important hiking accessory.

“It’s been really cool to try different things. Aside from the education itself, being out in the field and helping our field staff is really fun too, whether it’s clearing out duck boxes or helping with prescribed burns,” she said.

Though few people know it, Starr’s Cave Nature Center has been renting skis out for over a decade. Trying out the county’s programs is one of the perks.

“I got to try cross-country skiing. We tag Monarch butterflies every year, and I had never tagged a Monarch before,” she said.

Goodman is 24 years old and isn’t quite sure what the future holds. The naturalist position started out as a seasonal job.

“This is definitely something I didn’t think I would be doing,” she said.

&nbsp;It became much more than that, and Goodman doesn’t plan on switching careers anytime soon.

“I did some different seasonal jobs in this field before this. I worked for the city of Coralville, where we would basically care for all the plants in the city. Then I had the chance to go out to Colorado, and work as a boat inspector for invasive species,” she said.

Goodman returned to Iowa to work at Rathbun Lake near Centerville. Another outdoor job Goodman enjoyed.

“I worked on a boat, so I would go out and find fishermen, basically interview them, ask what they were catching, measure their fish, that sort of thing,” Goodman said.&nbsp;

“After that, I wasn’t quite sure what my next move would be.”

Goodman also worked a few “normal” jobs, like Lowes and UPS. Her fiance, who just proposed a few weeks ago, moved back to Mediapolis for his job at Tri-Oak Foods.&nbsp;

She wanted a job that was close, but also to her liking.

It was former teacher Lori Carnes, who does a bald eagle presentation for DMC Conservation every January, that encouraged her to apply.

Being a naturalist fits Goodman as well as her shoes, and she’s grateful the public speaking aspect of the job has encouraged her assertiveness.

“I definitely do not have life figured out,” she said. “I really like what I’m doing right now and I’m super happy I’ve had the chance to work here and gain all of this experience.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/3/1710120940318.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithDes Moines County naturalist Jacklyn Goodman has been stomping around local creeks since she was tall enough to swim in them.But the Mount Pleasant native didn’t realize her love of the outdoors could translate into a career. Not at first, anyway.“After high school, I went to Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids. And that’s where I discovered there are jobs like this, like what I get to do,” she said.Goodman has been a naturalist with Des Moines County Conservation for the past two years — first as an Americorps worker, then as an official Des Moines County employee.It wasn’t a perfect fit at first. Goodman loves the outdoors but isn’t that comfortable with public speaking. As a naturalist, most of her job revolves around outdoor education. That means speaking to groups of children or a classroom when giving presentations and leading events.“It (the public speaking) always freaked me out a little bit,” she said.So when it came time for Goodman to present to her first classroom, she gritted her teeth, started talking, and hoped it all made sense.It did, thanks in large part to fellow DMC Conservation worker Marcus Nack and former DMC naturalist Kelly Rundell.“They were super helpful and helped me really get into the public speaking side of things and make me more comfortable with it,” she said.Goodman said it helps that she mostly talks to children, though she’s made surprising connections with local adults with her Hike-A-Park series of programs. She’s taken people on walks who haven’t been hiking for years, just because they didn’t know where to hike or how to get started.Turns out they just needed a friend. That’s the most important hiking accessory.“It’s been really cool to try different things. Aside from the education itself, being out in the field and helping our field staff is really fun too, whether it’s clearing out duck boxes or helping with prescribed burns,” she said.Though few people know it, Starr’s Cave Nature Center has been renting skis out for over a decade. Trying out the county’s programs is one of the perks.“I got to try cross-country skiing. We tag Monarch butterflies every year, and I had never tagged a Monarch before,” she said.Goodman is 24 years old and isn’t quite sure what the future holds. The naturalist position started out as a seasonal job.“This is definitely something I didn’t think I would be doing,” she said.&nbsp;It became much more than that, and Goodman doesn’t plan on switching careers anytime soon.“I did some different seasonal jobs in this field before this. I worked for the city of Coralville, where we would basically care for all the plants in the city. Then I had the chance to go out to Colorado, and work as a boat inspector for invasive species,” she said.Goodman returned to Iowa to work at Rathbun Lake near Centerville. Another outdoor job Goodman enjoyed.“I worked on a boat, so I would go out and find fishermen, basically interview them, ask what they were catching, measure their fish, that sort of thing,” Goodman said.&nbsp;“After that, I wasn’t quite sure what my next move would be.”Goodman also worked a few “normal” jobs, like Lowes and UPS. Her fiance, who just proposed a few weeks ago, moved back to Mediapolis for his job at Tri-Oak Foods.&nbsp;She wanted a job that was close, but also to her liking.It was former teacher Lori Carnes, who does a bald eagle presentation for DMC Conservation every January, that encouraged her to apply.Being a naturalist fits Goodman as well as her shoes, and she’s grateful the public speaking aspect of the job has encouraged her assertiveness.“I definitely do not have life figured out,” she said. “I really like what I’m doing right now and I’m super happy I’ve had the chance to work here and gain all of this experience.”

52 Faces: The call of the wild

Vicki Stoller&nbsp;has kept a watchful eye on the Mississippi.

There are not many jobs in the country like the one Vicki Stoller has had for decades.

As administrator of the Two Rivers Levee and Drainage District, she watches over 50,000 acres of farmland, nature preserves, and private homes in northern Des Moines County and southern Louisa County.

Stoller ensures that land doesn’t get flooded, using levees and three pumping stations. When the river gets too high, as in the record-setting flood of 2008, she works with local officials to minimize and mitigate the damage.

“It seems like I’ve always been involved with the river,” Stoller said.

Stoller is a Burlington native and grew up along the Mississippi River. She was a city girl until summer and turned into a female Huck Finn when school let out. She never wanted to leave it.

“My family bought a cabin in the Tama area back when I was in first grade, and that’s where we spent our summers,” Stoller said.

Stoller is retiring from her position within the next month — a job that only she has ever held. Southeast Iowa’s unique position and relationship with the Mississippi River make the job one of a kind. Gaining the respect of landowners and farmers was the only way Stoller was able to manage 37 miles of levees.

That respect extends into every corner of the county, through county, city, and state offices. She thanked all of them during the Jan. 30 Des Moines County supervisor meeting.

“I would like to thank all of you, over the last 27 years — and that’s how long it’s been that you’ve had to put up with me. I’ve learned to know most of you through flood fighting, through conservation, camping issues, tax assessments, and law enforcement helping up with flood-fighting,” she said. “I have learned that over 27 years, you are just not business acquaintances. You have become friends.”

Stoller did her best to hold back tears during the meeting. Everyone in the room applauded her.&nbsp;

“You look in the dictionary under the term ‘irreplaceable,’ it would have your picture. You have the biggest shoes in Southeast Iowa to fill,” Des Moines County Supervisor Tom Broeker said.

Long before she monitored the river, Stoller taught reading at the long-defunct Central Avenue School in Burlington. She was extremely shy as a child but overcame it by working the checkout lanes at Hy-Vee. She attended Southeastern Community College after graduating high school in 1966 and went on to Western Illinois University before teaching.

“I was teaching children from kindergarten to sixth grade in small groups. I was helping with kids that needed an extra boost or a little more structure in their education,” she said.

Stoller got married, had three children, and moved to St. Louis for a time. She later divorced and moved back to Burlington. She embarked on a series of jobs after that and remarried.

“Here I was with three children and no job,” she explained. “I had to do something, and that was when I became a customer representative for the C &amp; E Furniture Co.”

She later worked part-time at Iowa Job Service interviewing job applicants and then stumbled upon a much greater opportunity.

“U.S. Congressman (Jim) Lightfoot had just been elected and was looking for a caseworker to work in his Burlington Iowa office. I didn’t think I had much of a chance, but I applied anyway,” she said.

Stoller dealt with Lightfoot’s constituents and gained experience working with government agencies. Burlington was hit hard by the Flood of 1993 when Stoller was working for Lightfoot, and she grew accustomed to asking for disaster aid.

“I walked the Tama levee with our then attorney, Scott Power. And when you walk to the top of the levee, there are sandbags piled up so high that you’re looking up,” she said.

Behind those sandbags was a wall of water straining to burst through. It was eerie, Stoller said.

“When you’re looking up and you see water, that’s unreal. That really gets to you,” she said.

The flood of 1993 convinced the independent drainage and levee districts to form an umbrella organization.

Stoller made an impression working for the congressman and was offered a new job overseeing the districts.

When Stoller started, the levee district was still separate from the three drainage districts that served the area known as the Kingston Bottoms. Stoller became the administrator of the reorganized organization.

“I found myself responsible for each district, with their clerks and budgets. I was attending five board meetings a month, and the paperwork was tremendous. But I was lucky because I had a great hands-on board that was very knowledgeable, and going into the Flood of 2008 we were all working together,” she said.

As bad as flooding was in 1993, the Flood of 2008 was the worst flooding disaster to ever hit the area.

Stoller remembers how quickly a northern levee break flooded the north part of the district, all the way down to the Big Ditch. The water was supposed to take three to four days to fill the area if the levee broke.&nbsp;

It took less than 24 hours, Stoller said. A hole had to be punched in a levee to the southeast to ensure the rushing water didn’t overtop the levee south of the break. Stoller’s husband was on the scene with an excavator, scooping sand as the water rose.

“We found ourselves really needing a temporary levee to cut off the inflow of the Iowa River so we could begin pumping out the flooded area,” she said.

U.S. Senators Harkin and Grassley were in the district to observe the flooding, which was a blessing.

“We were on the phone talking to the commanding officer of the Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley Division out of Vicksburg. We explained how desperately we needed a temporary levee,” Stoller said.

The officer didn’t seem to understand the urgency until the senators got involved.

Those days of chaos certainly don’t define the job, though mitigation from the Flood of 2008 lasted years. The result was perhaps Stoller’s greatest accomplishment — an even stronger levee and drainage district.&nbsp;

Stoller won’t be spending her retirement years too far away from the Two Rivers office in Kingston.&nbsp;

She is a river bottoms girl at heart. She remains fascinated by the Mississippi River and the land that surrounds it.

“I’m going to move into looking at old documents and newspapers and pictures and maps. Documents that date back to the 1800s that are on onion-skin paper. They need to be digitized, categorized, and saved for future generations,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/2/1708037830931.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Vicki Stoller&nbsp;has kept a watchful eye on the Mississippi.By William SmithThere are not many jobs in the country like the one Vicki Stoller has had for decades.As administrator of the Two Rivers Levee and Drainage District, she watches over 50,000 acres of farmland, nature preserves, and private homes in northern Des Moines County and southern Louisa County.Stoller ensures that land doesn’t get flooded, using levees and three pumping stations. When the river gets too high, as in the record-setting flood of 2008, she works with local officials to minimize and mitigate the damage.“It seems like I’ve always been involved with the river,” Stoller said.Stoller is a Burlington native and grew up along the Mississippi River. She was a city girl until summer and turned into a female Huck Finn when school let out. She never wanted to leave it.“My family bought a cabin in the Tama area back when I was in first grade, and that’s where we spent our summers,” Stoller said.Stoller is retiring from her position within the next month — a job that only she has ever held. Southeast Iowa’s unique position and relationship with the Mississippi River make the job one of a kind. Gaining the respect of landowners and farmers was the only way Stoller was able to manage 37 miles of levees.That respect extends into every corner of the county, through county, city, and state offices. She thanked all of them during the Jan. 30 Des Moines County supervisor meeting.“I would like to thank all of you, over the last 27 years — and that’s how long it’s been that you’ve had to put up with me. I’ve learned to know most of you through flood fighting, through conservation, camping issues, tax assessments, and law enforcement helping up with flood-fighting,” she said. “I have learned that over 27 years, you are just not business acquaintances. You have become friends.”Stoller did her best to hold back tears during the meeting. Everyone in the room applauded her.&nbsp;“You look in the dictionary under the term ‘irreplaceable,’ it would have your picture. You have the biggest shoes in Southeast Iowa to fill,” Des Moines County Supervisor Tom Broeker said.Long before she monitored the river, Stoller taught reading at the long-defunct Central Avenue School in Burlington. She was extremely shy as a child but overcame it by working the checkout lanes at Hy-Vee. She attended Southeastern Community College after graduating high school in 1966 and went on to Western Illinois University before teaching.“I was teaching children from kindergarten to sixth grade in small groups. I was helping with kids that needed an extra boost or a little more structure in their education,” she said.Stoller got married, had three children, and moved to St. Louis for a time. She later divorced and moved back to Burlington. She embarked on a series of jobs after that and remarried.“Here I was with three children and no job,” she explained. “I had to do something, and that was when I became a customer representative for the C &amp; E Furniture Co.”She later worked part-time at Iowa Job Service interviewing job applicants and then stumbled upon a much greater opportunity.“U.S. Congressman (Jim) Lightfoot had just been elected and was looking for a caseworker to work in his Burlington Iowa office. I didn’t think I had much of a chance, but I applied anyway,” she said.Stoller dealt with Lightfoot’s constituents and gained experience working with government agencies. Burlington was hit hard by the Flood of 1993 when Stoller was working for Lightfoot, and she grew accustomed to asking for disaster aid.“I walked the Tama levee with our then attorney, Scott Power. And when you walk to the top of the levee, there are sandbags piled up so high that you’re looking up,” she said.Behind those sandbags was a wall of water straining to burst through. It was eerie, Stoller said.“When you’re looking up and you see water, that’s unreal. That really gets to you,” she said.The flood of 1993 convinced the independent drainage and levee districts to form an umbrella organization.Stoller made an impression working for the congressman and was offered a new job overseeing the districts.When Stoller started, the levee district was still separate from the three drainage districts that served the area known as the Kingston Bottoms. Stoller became the administrator of the reorganized organization.It was a lot to take on.“I found myself responsible for each district, with their clerks and budgets. I was attending five board meetings a month, and the paperwork was tremendous. But I was lucky because I had a great hands-on board that was very knowledgeable, and going into the Flood of 2008 we were all working together,” she said.As bad as flooding was in 1993, the Flood of 2008 was the worst flooding disaster to ever hit the area.Stoller remembers how quickly a northern levee break flooded the north part of the district, all the way down to the Big Ditch. The water was supposed to take three to four days to fill the area if the levee broke.&nbsp;It took less than 24 hours, Stoller said. A hole had to be punched in a levee to the southeast to ensure the rushing water didn’t overtop the levee south of the break. Stoller’s husband was on the scene with an excavator, scooping sand as the water rose.“We found ourselves really needing a temporary levee to cut off the inflow of the Iowa River so we could begin pumping out the flooded area,” she said.U.S. Senators Harkin and Grassley were in the district to observe the flooding, which was a blessing.“We were on the phone talking to the commanding officer of the Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley Division out of Vicksburg. We explained how desperately we needed a temporary levee,” Stoller said.The officer didn’t seem to understand the urgency until the senators got involved.Those days of chaos certainly don’t define the job, though mitigation from the Flood of 2008 lasted years. The result was perhaps Stoller’s greatest accomplishment — an even stronger levee and drainage district.&nbsp;Stoller won’t be spending her retirement years too far away from the Two Rivers office in Kingston.&nbsp;She is a river bottoms girl at heart. She remains fascinated by the Mississippi River and the land that surrounds it.She will always be Huck Finn.“I’m going to move into looking at old documents and newspapers and pictures and maps. Documents that date back to the 1800s that are on onion-skin paper. They need to be digitized, categorized, and saved for future generations,” she said.

52 faces: Ever vigilant

When Ralph and Pauline Ritter started Ritter’s Garden Center in 1969, their son Steve Ritter was just a child. But once school let out, he practically lived in that garden center. It was his job. It was his hobby.

“My folks actually moved to Fort Madison when I was in seventh grade, back in 1969. They bought a feed store there and transformed it into a garden center. My dad did commercial landscaping,” Steve Ritter said.

It was a boom time for garden centers and landscaping businesses, and Ritters Garden Center eventually grew into three locations – including West Burlington.

Ritter’s hobby of hanging out at the garden center looked like it would become his destiny. And he did everything he could to fight against it. So he tried to become an engineer.

“I went off to college to be an engineer, and as I got into that, I really didn’t care for that as much. I said, ‘God, there’s got to be an easier way to make a living than this,’’’ Steve said.

That led to a revelation. Steven married his high school sweetheart Lynn halfway through college and moved back to Fort Madison to work with his father.

“By 1981, we were doing an awful lot of work in Burlington. And so at my father’s suggestion, we decided to open a garden center here,” Steve Ritter said.

Located near Walmart, the garden center was located on the edge of town. But Walmart wasn’t there in 1981, and neither was much of anything else. The town was growing quickly, though.

“The buildings started popping up around us,” Ritter said.

Lynn was pregnant with their youngest son at the time. He’s now one of the store managers, while Steve just entered semi-retirement at the start of the year.

“It’s a little bit tougher than it was with all the competitors to compete with. There wasn’t a Walmart. There wasn’t a Lowe’s. There wasn’t a Menards at that time,” Ritter said.

That has changed the business dramatically, Ritter said.

“When we opened, we were a garden center that did landscaping. I would look at us now as we’re a landscape company that has a garden center. Landscaping is the biggest revenue generator, and the garden center helps feed that business,” Ritter said.

Ritter’s two sons – Chris and Ryan Ritter – run the business now. Steve has been around to help with the transition, but he’s winding everything down. He just recorded the final episode of his weekly, Saturday morning gardening radio show that ran for years on KBUR.

“My two sons have very complementary skill sets,” Ritter said. “I have one who’s an excellent designer (Chris Ritter) and so he does all the design and sales. My other one (Ryan Ritter) is a little bit more of a problem solver and probably follows along my strengths. He’s the one who runs all the landscape crews. The two of them work really well together, which makes me one lucky fellow to have two sons that actually work together and still like each other,” Steve Ritter said.

Steve made sure they were qualified through a trial by fire – so to speak. He wanted each of them to work at another landscaping company for at least two years so they could figure things out on their own, without the advantage of being the boss’s son.

So they did. Steve wasn’t sure if they would come back to Ritter’s, and he didn’t pressure them. If they found something they loved doing elsewhere, he would have been just as happy.

But what the Ritter boys loved was already at home. They did as their father asked, and returned with more confidence and a plethora of ideas to work in the family garden center.

“I think it was real important for both of them,” Steve Ritter said.

For years, Ritters Garden Center sold flowers for Valentine’s Day. That market has been gobbled up largely by retail and grocery stores, leaving the rest to dedicated florists. Ritters no longer has flowers, focusing entirely on landscaping and gardening.

Bedding plants are the hot trend in gardening right now. A bedding plant is a flowering plant that provides a few months’ worth of color and can be planted in a flower bed, a border, or even a container/hanging basket.

“The bedding plants just keep growing, and that’s kind of a fun thing. As I’ve gotten older, that’s kind of what I’ve evolved into, is the greenhouse sort of work,” Ritter said.

Now that he’s retired, Ritter will finally get to do what he never had time for before — taking care of his plants. Decades of gardening for other people hasn’t stifled Ritter’s passion for the hobby, and now he can do it for fun.

“I’ve turned all the landscaping over to my sons. It’s more of a construction company than it is a plant company,” Ritter said.

Ritter is excited to see where the future of the business goes under the direction of his two sons. He doesn’t plan on interfering, nor does he have any desire to.

“Their strength is obviously the landscaping part of it. But at one time, that was all that I wanted to do as well. Now they’re being exposed to the garden center part, and we’ll just see which direction they go,” Ritter said.

Ritter believes his sons will have the direction of the store set within the next three to five years. The business is one of Ritter’s children, and much like his flesh and blood, he would like to see it grow beyond his vision.

“They have to make the company what they want to do, not what their mother and I wanted to do,” Ritter said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/2/1707438187140.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithWhen Ralph and Pauline Ritter started Ritter’s Garden Center in 1969, their son Steve Ritter was just a child. But once school let out, he practically lived in that garden center. It was his job. It was his hobby.“My folks actually moved to Fort Madison when I was in seventh grade, back in 1969. They bought a feed store there and transformed it into a garden center. My dad did commercial landscaping,” Steve Ritter said.It was a boom time for garden centers and landscaping businesses, and Ritters Garden Center eventually grew into three locations – including West Burlington.Ritter’s hobby of hanging out at the garden center looked like it would become his destiny. And he did everything he could to fight against it. So he tried to become an engineer.“I went off to college to be an engineer, and as I got into that, I really didn’t care for that as much. I said, ‘God, there’s got to be an easier way to make a living than this,’’’ Steve said.That led to a revelation. Steven married his high school sweetheart Lynn halfway through college and moved back to Fort Madison to work with his father.“By 1981, we were doing an awful lot of work in Burlington. And so at my father’s suggestion, we decided to open a garden center here,” Steve Ritter said.Located near Walmart, the garden center was located on the edge of town. But Walmart wasn’t there in 1981, and neither was much of anything else. The town was growing quickly, though.“The buildings started popping up around us,” Ritter said.Lynn was pregnant with their youngest son at the time. He’s now one of the store managers, while Steve just entered semi-retirement at the start of the year.“It’s a little bit tougher than it was with all the competitors to compete with. There wasn’t a Walmart. There wasn’t a Lowe’s. There wasn’t a Menards at that time,” Ritter said.That has changed the business dramatically, Ritter said.“When we opened, we were a garden center that did landscaping. I would look at us now as we’re a landscape company that has a garden center. Landscaping is the biggest revenue generator, and the garden center helps feed that business,” Ritter said.Ritter’s two sons – Chris and Ryan Ritter – run the business now. Steve has been around to help with the transition, but he’s winding everything down. He just recorded the final episode of his weekly, Saturday morning gardening radio show that ran for years on KBUR.“My two sons have very complementary skill sets,” Ritter said. “I have one who’s an excellent designer (Chris Ritter) and so he does all the design and sales. My other one (Ryan Ritter) is a little bit more of a problem solver and probably follows along my strengths. He’s the one who runs all the landscape crews. The two of them work really well together, which makes me one lucky fellow to have two sons that actually work together and still like each other,” Steve Ritter said.Steve made sure they were qualified through a trial by fire – so to speak. He wanted each of them to work at another landscaping company for at least two years so they could figure things out on their own, without the advantage of being the boss’s son.So they did. Steve wasn’t sure if they would come back to Ritter’s, and he didn’t pressure them. If they found something they loved doing elsewhere, he would have been just as happy.But what the Ritter boys loved was already at home. They did as their father asked, and returned with more confidence and a plethora of ideas to work in the family garden center.“I think it was real important for both of them,” Steve Ritter said.For years, Ritters Garden Center sold flowers for Valentine’s Day. That market has been gobbled up largely by retail and grocery stores, leaving the rest to dedicated florists. Ritters no longer has flowers, focusing entirely on landscaping and gardening.Bedding plants are the hot trend in gardening right now. A bedding plant is a flowering plant that provides a few months’ worth of color and can be planted in a flower bed, a border, or even a container/hanging basket.“The bedding plants just keep growing, and that’s kind of a fun thing. As I’ve gotten older, that’s kind of what I’ve evolved into, is the greenhouse sort of work,” Ritter said.Now that he’s retired, Ritter will finally get to do what he never had time for before — taking care of his plants. Decades of gardening for other people hasn’t stifled Ritter’s passion for the hobby, and now he can do it for fun.“I’ve turned all the landscaping over to my sons. It’s more of a construction company than it is a plant company,” Ritter said.Ritter is excited to see where the future of the business goes under the direction of his two sons. He doesn’t plan on interfering, nor does he have any desire to.“Their strength is obviously the landscaping part of it. But at one time, that was all that I wanted to do as well. Now they’re being exposed to the garden center part, and we’ll just see which direction they go,” Ritter said.Ritter believes his sons will have the direction of the store set within the next three to five years. The business is one of Ritter’s children, and much like his flesh and blood, he would like to see it grow beyond his vision.“They have to make the company what they want to do, not what their mother and I wanted to do,” Ritter said.

52 FACES: Ritter retires from garden center – but not gardening

Everyone loves Amari Bailey. And she knows how to give that love back.

The 18-year-old Burlington High School senior is best known for her charity and ability to chuck a shot put. But she’ll soon be known for her latest accomplishment.

Bailey will fight fires with the West Burlington Fire Department beginning next month. She joined the department after her 18th birthday in December. She was a junior firefighter for the department for three years before that.

“You don’t get to do much as a junior firefighter. You’re just there to watch and learn. And that’s okay,” she said.

Bailey has been learning a lot. When she passes her firefighter certification test this month, it will be the culmination of daily hard work. Lifting hoses, lifting ladders, lifting dummies. That’s where her expertise in shot put and natural strength come in handy.

Bailey is also taking EMT certification classes at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, and most of her freshman year of college is already finished. She graduates high school this May.&nbsp;

“I’ve had a lot of people tell me, ‘You can’t do this. This is a man’s job,’ ” Bailey said. “I’m very determined. I’m going to show them that a girl can do it.”

Though she loves to prove doubters wrong, spite isn’t what motivated Bailey to pursue a career as an EMT.

It was love. Love for her fellow human beings. That’s why Bailey is a certified lifeguard instructor at the West Burlington Swimming Pool. When a man was shot in the neck/jaw area in the parking lot a couple of years ago, Bailey was one of the first to jump to the scene to stop the bleeding.

“I’ve always loved helping people. That’s been my main goal,” she said.

Amari’s parents, Stephanie and Antonio Bailey are known in Burlington for their charity efforts, but Stephanie attributes her daughter’s kindness strictly to Amari. Stephanie and Antonio provided the loving household, but it was Amari who wanted to spread that love beyond the front door.

“She’s always been like that,” Stephanie said.

When Amari was in elementary school, around the third or fourth grade, she gave her birthday presents to a girl with Down Syndrome. She befriended the girl while attending Blackhawk Elementary School together, and Amari warned her friends where their gifts were going before the party.

“She didn’t get birthday or Christmas presents, and I thought she deserved to have them,” Bailey said.

That became a theme for Bailey — giving away her birthday presents to others. She hosted donation drives for those who are homeless and raised $150 to buy stuffed animals for the pediatric ward at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center on her 16th birthday.

Amari became interested in an EMT career after repeatedly watching the TV show “Chicago Fire.” Her mother, who watched the show with her, never questioned Bailey’s desire. When Amari wanted to be a firefighter, Stephanie said, “Okay.”

West Burlington fire and police chief Jesse Logan cited Bailey’s dedication during a recent council meeting. He said she would be an asset to the fire department.

Stephanie Bailey always knew her daughter could do whatever she set her mind to. She saw that firsthand when Bailey sprung into action at an accident scene.

“It was on Mason Road in front of Edward Stone (Middle School),” Bailey said. “We kind of crept up on it, and we were going to turn around. But there were seven cars behind us, so we were stuck.”

So Bailey watched. She wanted to help the firefighters on the scene, but that would have been a big “no-no.”&nbsp;

She’s been with the junior fire department for three years and knew she would have gotten a talking-to if she helped without certification.

So she watched them attend to what looked like a car crash. One of the vehicles was tipped on its side.

“I’m kind of nosy, so I was looking,” Amari said.

An elderly couple walked to the scene and stood by the Baileys’ car. Amari didn’t think anything of it until the lady collapsed.

As the only one trained to help, Amari leaped into action. She didn’t need CPR or any life-saving techniques, though she is trained in those. The lady had fainted because her grandchildren were in one of the vehicles.

No one was injured in the accident, which Bailey checked on personally. Bailey didn’t need bandages. Just her natural kindness.

“I told her everything was going to be okay. Nobody was hurt. She was having a panic attack,” Bailey said.

By then, Bailey’s adrenaline was surging. Her parents were on the verge of exploding with pride. And all she could think of was chasing that high for the rest of her life.

The high of saving lives and making the world a better place. That’s Bailey’s hobby.

“I don’t have a lot of downtime because I’m always running,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/2/1706835678208.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithEveryone loves Amari Bailey. And she knows how to give that love back.The 18-year-old Burlington High School senior is best known for her charity and ability to chuck a shot put. But she’ll soon be known for her latest accomplishment.Bailey will fight fires with the West Burlington Fire Department beginning next month. She joined the department after her 18th birthday in December. She was a junior firefighter for the department for three years before that.“You don’t get to do much as a junior firefighter. You’re just there to watch and learn. And that’s okay,” she said.Bailey has been learning a lot. When she passes her firefighter certification test this month, it will be the culmination of daily hard work. Lifting hoses, lifting ladders, lifting dummies. That’s where her expertise in shot put and natural strength come in handy.Bailey is also taking EMT certification classes at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, and most of her freshman year of college is already finished. She graduates high school this May.&nbsp;“I’ve had a lot of people tell me, ‘You can’t do this. This is a man’s job,’ ” Bailey said. “I’m very determined. I’m going to show them that a girl can do it.”Though she loves to prove doubters wrong, spite isn’t what motivated Bailey to pursue a career as an EMT.It was love. Love for her fellow human beings. That’s why Bailey is a certified lifeguard instructor at the West Burlington Swimming Pool. When a man was shot in the neck/jaw area in the parking lot a couple of years ago, Bailey was one of the first to jump to the scene to stop the bleeding.“I’ve always loved helping people. That’s been my main goal,” she said.Amari’s parents, Stephanie and Antonio Bailey are known in Burlington for their charity efforts, but Stephanie attributes her daughter’s kindness strictly to Amari. Stephanie and Antonio provided the loving household, but it was Amari who wanted to spread that love beyond the front door.“She’s always been like that,” Stephanie said.When Amari was in elementary school, around the third or fourth grade, she gave her birthday presents to a girl with Down Syndrome. She befriended the girl while attending Blackhawk Elementary School together, and Amari warned her friends where their gifts were going before the party.“She didn’t get birthday or Christmas presents, and I thought she deserved to have them,” Bailey said.That became a theme for Bailey — giving away her birthday presents to others. She hosted donation drives for those who are homeless and raised $150 to buy stuffed animals for the pediatric ward at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center on her 16th birthday.Amari became interested in an EMT career after repeatedly watching the TV show “Chicago Fire.” Her mother, who watched the show with her, never questioned Bailey’s desire. When Amari wanted to be a firefighter, Stephanie said, “Okay.”West Burlington fire and police chief Jesse Logan cited Bailey’s dedication during a recent council meeting. He said she would be an asset to the fire department.“She’s a good kid,” Logan said.Stephanie Bailey always knew her daughter could do whatever she set her mind to. She saw that firsthand when Bailey sprung into action at an accident scene.“It was on Mason Road in front of Edward Stone (Middle School),” Bailey said. “We kind of crept up on it, and we were going to turn around. But there were seven cars behind us, so we were stuck.”So Bailey watched. She wanted to help the firefighters on the scene, but that would have been a big “no-no.”&nbsp;She’s been with the junior fire department for three years and knew she would have gotten a talking-to if she helped without certification.So she watched them attend to what looked like a car crash. One of the vehicles was tipped on its side.“I’m kind of nosy, so I was looking,” Amari said.An elderly couple walked to the scene and stood by the Baileys’ car. Amari didn’t think anything of it until the lady collapsed.As the only one trained to help, Amari leaped into action. She didn’t need CPR or any life-saving techniques, though she is trained in those. The lady had fainted because her grandchildren were in one of the vehicles.No one was injured in the accident, which Bailey checked on personally. Bailey didn’t need bandages. Just her natural kindness.“I told her everything was going to be okay. Nobody was hurt. She was having a panic attack,” Bailey said.By then, Bailey’s adrenaline was surging. Her parents were on the verge of exploding with pride. And all she could think of was chasing that high for the rest of her life.The high of saving lives and making the world a better place. That’s Bailey’s hobby.“I don’t have a lot of downtime because I’m always running,” she said.

52 Faces: Heeding the (fire) call

Carlie Dunbar grew up in Philadelphia, and his partner Jennifer Sheets grew up in Colorado.&nbsp;

They lived in Denver and Thornton, Colo., before coming to Burlington in late 2022 to start Heritage Gardens Event Center at 620 Washington St.

But Dunbar and Sheets have found Burlington far more appealing than living in the bigger cities.

“The small town aspect, the community piece of it, it feels more, for me, more comfortable,” Dunbar said.

“The big city is the big city. There’s the pace that moves. But we wanted to step down and be able to function and focus on our own business.”

The previous business was also a wedding venue, Majestic Estates. Before that, it was the site of the Art Center of Burlington, but it was built in 1868 as St. Paul’s German Methodist Episcopal Church, and it’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

In their first full year, Dunbar said they did 35 events, “which is amazing for year one.”

Dunbar said the couple made some major changes to the place.

“This entire lower level has been redone, from the paint, the lighting, the furniture, the bridal and groom suites,” Dunbar said. “The upstairs has been painted as well.”

But the outside beauty of the building “is what attracted us to come here. The infrastructure was already in place,” Dunbar said.

There is also a garden area west of the building. “A lot of couples opt to have their weddings in the garden space and then transition upstairs for the reception,” he said.

The downstairs area is more for smaller parties and receptions. “This is where we can host about a party of 50, so we do a lot of baby showers, graduation parties, and bridal parties,” he said.

But Dunbar continued to extol praises on his and Sheets’ new hometown.

They bought the place from Ben Brinck, and Dunbar said he did a “wonderful job as an ambassador,” showing them the positive aspects of the city.

“There’s actually a lot to do,” Dunbar said. “If you think about amenities that were attractive to Jen and me, there’s a lot of golf courses here. There are great restaurants downtown. There is Starr’s Cave Nature Preserve.”

He said, “As you can see, the downtown is happening. We love the small pockets and communities that we’ve learned.”

In some ways, Burlington is not much different than where he grew up.

“Philadelphia is in fact a river town,” Dunbar said. “We have the waterfront, Columbus Boulevard, a lot of old, brick homes. Honestly, transitioning here felt a lot familiar.”

Dunbar owned a wedding venue in Philadelphia.&nbsp;

“It was a very small Vegas-style chapel without Elvis,” he said.

“But we pined for a larger venue, so during our time in Colorado, we were always on the hunt.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/1/1705884612420.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Carlie Dunbar, of Heritage Garden Event Center, sets out seat cushions while setting up for the upcoming BHS Music Boosters Adult Prom at the Burlington business located at 620 Washington St. The adult prom will take place Saturday, Feb. 10 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., featuring a live DJ, appetizers, cash bar, raffle, and silent auction. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Carlie Dunbar, of Heritage Garden Event Center, sets out seat cushions while setting up for the upcoming BHS Music Boosters Adult Prom at the Burlington business located at 620 Washington St. The adult prom will take place Saturday, Feb. 10 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., featuring a live DJ, appetizers, cash bar, raffle, and silent auction. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerCarlie Dunbar grew up in Philadelphia, and his partner Jennifer Sheets grew up in Colorado.&nbsp;They lived in Denver and Thornton, Colo., before coming to Burlington in late 2022 to start Heritage Gardens Event Center at 620 Washington St.But Dunbar and Sheets have found Burlington far more appealing than living in the bigger cities.“The small town aspect, the community piece of it, it feels more, for me, more comfortable,” Dunbar said.“The big city is the big city. There’s the pace that moves. But we wanted to step down and be able to function and focus on our own business.”The previous business was also a wedding venue, Majestic Estates. Before that, it was the site of the Art Center of Burlington, but it was built in 1868 as St. Paul’s German Methodist Episcopal Church, and it’s on the National Register of Historic Places.In their first full year, Dunbar said they did 35 events, “which is amazing for year one.”Dunbar said the couple made some major changes to the place.“This entire lower level has been redone, from the paint, the lighting, the furniture, the bridal and groom suites,” Dunbar said. “The upstairs has been painted as well.”But the outside beauty of the building “is what attracted us to come here. The infrastructure was already in place,” Dunbar said.There is also a garden area west of the building. “A lot of couples opt to have their weddings in the garden space and then transition upstairs for the reception,” he said.The downstairs area is more for smaller parties and receptions. “This is where we can host about a party of 50, so we do a lot of baby showers, graduation parties, and bridal parties,” he said.“Upstairs we can host 150.”But Dunbar continued to extol praises on his and Sheets’ new hometown.They bought the place from Ben Brinck, and Dunbar said he did a “wonderful job as an ambassador,” showing them the positive aspects of the city.“There’s actually a lot to do,” Dunbar said. “If you think about amenities that were attractive to Jen and me, there’s a lot of golf courses here. There are great restaurants downtown. There is Starr’s Cave Nature Preserve.”He said, “As you can see, the downtown is happening. We love the small pockets and communities that we’ve learned.”In some ways, Burlington is not much different than where he grew up.“Philadelphia is in fact a river town,” Dunbar said. “We have the waterfront, Columbus Boulevard, a lot of old, brick homes. Honestly, transitioning here felt a lot familiar.”Dunbar owned a wedding venue in Philadelphia.&nbsp;“It was a very small Vegas-style chapel without Elvis,” he said.“But we pined for a larger venue, so during our time in Colorado, we were always on the hunt.”

Making any occasion memorable

Danette Baier has long wanted to own a business in downtown Fort Madison, her hometown.

But she also wanted to be a stay-at-mom, which she has been to her six children — five daughters and a son — these past 22 years.

But the youngest, 11, is old enough that Baier decided it was time to open a store, and she knew what type it would be.

“I noticed a need, because we don’t have a bookstore anymore, and I love books,” Baier said.

So she opened Bent Oak Books at 619 Seventh St. on Friday, Dec. 15.

She sells new and used books, some games, and gift items and is open six days a week, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The draw to her location was, “I love the downtown buildings,” Baier said. “I love the architecture.”

Her first job was at 14 at Taylor and Bryan’s Ice Cream shop downtown.

“I fell in love with the regulars each day,” Baier said.&nbsp;

“Seeing the same people and chatting with them.” She babysat the children of the Eisentraut family, which ran the Fox Theatre, and she got to know the Young family of Dana Bushong Jewelers, so she saw a tie between family and small-town businesses.

Baier said the store will open Thursday nights for any book clubs that want to meet.&nbsp;

She will have story time at 11 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays for preschool and home school families.

The store will only be open on Sundays when the cruise line ships make a weekend docking in Fort Madison.

The name of her store comes from a cabin owned by her in-laws, Jim and Linda Baier — Bent Oak Lodge. It’s where her husband Jamie proposed to her.

“We spent a ton of time there with his parents while dating,” Baier said. “It’s a way to include them and all those wonderful memories.”

She and her husband purchased the building, and there is an upstairs apartment.

“It’s not a large building,” Baier said, “but I love the tin ceiling and the tin walls and the light coming in. When I walked through this building, I knew this was the time, and we had to try to make this work.”

All along, she said, she wanted to have the store within a block of Swed &amp; Co. coffee shop, “because I feel coffee and books go well together,” Baier said.

Bent Oak Books looks more like a home library, and that’s why she has a leather couch and chairs.

“I love bookstores where there are rows upon rows and rows, and they’re amazing and you’re weaving through books,” Baier said. “Those are so fun.

“But I knew I only had so much space, and my goal was to get as many books as I could without getting overcrowded; because I really wanted to provide a seating space, a comfortable place where people would sit down, flip through their book, chat with their friend, have a cup of tea.”

Most of the new books come from Ingram Publishing, Baier said, “and that was suggested to me by Bonnie (Howard),” who ran the Book Mark in Fort Madison for many years. But when Howard wanted to step down from the business, she didn’t find any takers.

“She was wonderful enough about a year ago to sit down with me and let me ask what I’m sure were a lot of stupid questions,” Baier said. “I loved stopping in there. I love to give books as gifts. I’m hopefully going to be able to provide that.”

She plans on offering a variety of genres “with the idea that I will intentionally cater to what people are asking for,” she said.

Baier has a notebook up front for suggestions. “I’m encouraging my customers to put down genres and authors they’re hoping to see, and I’ll consider that when I put my orders in,” she said.

As for her preferences, “I probably like suspense and mysteries the best and non-fiction,” Baier said. She added she doesn’t have a favorite author.

Most of the used books have been donated, and “I anticipate I’ll be looking at sales, estates sales and going that route to keep them stocked,” Baier said.

“A lot came from our personal library, my mother- and father-in-law’s personal library, and friends have donated handfuls of books here and there.”

But what about Amazon and the easy online access for prospective customers?

“We’ve bought books on Amazon. We’ve done that a lot,” she said.&nbsp;

“But my favorite is going to small bookstores and looking in person. I can spend hours in a bookstore, touching the pages, looking at the different covers.” Baier wanted to offer that experience here.

“I don’t think I’m competing with Amazon, because if you’re going to buy from Amazon, you’re going to buy from Amazon, and that’s OK,” she said.&nbsp;

“But maybe you’ll come here for a different vibe, and you’ll want to look around and see the different options.”

Baier said her store is “something different. You come to a small, independent bookstore, you’re looking for something different.”

Baier will offer a small selection of games, with Quirkle and Wings among the choices at her stores.

In addition, “My favorite bookstores always have a little section where we provide gifts. We have finger puppets, stuffed animals, and little bunny blankets as a gift for a shower.”

Her daughters recommended she has an area for bath bombs and other beauty products. Her son, Chris, said she should get manga books.

Baier said she had thought she would offer magazines, but, “My space is only so big, so as I started to get my inventory in, I decided to start with books, re-evaluate in a month or so, and if I have a lot of interest in magazines, I’ll find a spot for them.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/1/1705594486574.jpeg" alt="Bent Oak Books owner Danette Baier wanted to have a bookstore that had a seating area for patrons to browse their books before deciding to buy and enjoy a cup of tea and good company. Bent Oak Books is located at 619 Seventh St. in Fort Madison. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Bent Oak Books owner Danette Baier wanted to have a bookstore that had a seating area for patrons to browse their books before deciding to buy and enjoy a cup of tea and good company. Bent Oak Books is located at 619 Seventh St. in Fort Madison. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerDanette Baier has long wanted to own a business in downtown Fort Madison, her hometown.But she also wanted to be a stay-at-mom, which she has been to her six children — five daughters and a son — these past 22 years.But the youngest, 11, is old enough that Baier decided it was time to open a store, and she knew what type it would be.“I noticed a need, because we don’t have a bookstore anymore, and I love books,” Baier said.So she opened Bent Oak Books at 619 Seventh St. on Friday, Dec. 15.She sells new and used books, some games, and gift items and is open six days a week, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.The draw to her location was, “I love the downtown buildings,” Baier said. “I love the architecture.”Her first job was at 14 at Taylor and Bryan’s Ice Cream shop downtown.“I fell in love with the regulars each day,” Baier said.&nbsp;“Seeing the same people and chatting with them.” She babysat the children of the Eisentraut family, which ran the Fox Theatre, and she got to know the Young family of Dana Bushong Jewelers, so she saw a tie between family and small-town businesses.Baier said the store will open Thursday nights for any book clubs that want to meet.&nbsp;She will have story time at 11 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays for preschool and home school families.The store will only be open on Sundays when the cruise line ships make a weekend docking in Fort Madison.The name of her store comes from a cabin owned by her in-laws, Jim and Linda Baier — Bent Oak Lodge. It’s where her husband Jamie proposed to her.“We spent a ton of time there with his parents while dating,” Baier said. “It’s a way to include them and all those wonderful memories.”She and her husband purchased the building, and there is an upstairs apartment.“It’s not a large building,” Baier said, “but I love the tin ceiling and the tin walls and the light coming in. When I walked through this building, I knew this was the time, and we had to try to make this work.”All along, she said, she wanted to have the store within a block of Swed &amp; Co. coffee shop, “because I feel coffee and books go well together,” Baier said.Someone’s LibraryBent Oak Books looks more like a home library, and that’s why she has a leather couch and chairs.“I love bookstores where there are rows upon rows and rows, and they’re amazing and you’re weaving through books,” Baier said. “Those are so fun.“But I knew I only had so much space, and my goal was to get as many books as I could without getting overcrowded; because I really wanted to provide a seating space, a comfortable place where people would sit down, flip through their book, chat with their friend, have a cup of tea.”Most of the new books come from Ingram Publishing, Baier said, “and that was suggested to me by Bonnie (Howard),” who ran the Book Mark in Fort Madison for many years. But when Howard wanted to step down from the business, she didn’t find any takers.“She was wonderful enough about a year ago to sit down with me and let me ask what I’m sure were a lot of stupid questions,” Baier said. “I loved stopping in there. I love to give books as gifts. I’m hopefully going to be able to provide that.”She plans on offering a variety of genres “with the idea that I will intentionally cater to what people are asking for,” she said.Baier has a notebook up front for suggestions. “I’m encouraging my customers to put down genres and authors they’re hoping to see, and I’ll consider that when I put my orders in,” she said.As for her preferences, “I probably like suspense and mysteries the best and non-fiction,” Baier said. She added she doesn’t have a favorite author.Most of the used books have been donated, and “I anticipate I’ll be looking at sales, estates sales and going that route to keep them stocked,” Baier said.“A lot came from our personal library, my mother- and father-in-law’s personal library, and friends have donated handfuls of books here and there.”But what about Amazon and the easy online access for prospective customers?“We’ve bought books on Amazon. We’ve done that a lot,” she said.&nbsp;“But my favorite is going to small bookstores and looking in person. I can spend hours in a bookstore, touching the pages, looking at the different covers.” Baier wanted to offer that experience here.“I don’t think I’m competing with Amazon, because if you’re going to buy from Amazon, you’re going to buy from Amazon, and that’s OK,” she said.&nbsp;“But maybe you’ll come here for a different vibe, and you’ll want to look around and see the different options.”Baier said her store is “something different. You come to a small, independent bookstore, you’re looking for something different.”Baier will offer a small selection of games, with Quirkle and Wings among the choices at her stores.In addition, “My favorite bookstores always have a little section where we provide gifts. We have finger puppets, stuffed animals, and little bunny blankets as a gift for a shower.”Her daughters recommended she has an area for bath bombs and other beauty products. Her son, Chris, said she should get manga books.Baier said she had thought she would offer magazines, but, “My space is only so big, so as I started to get my inventory in, I decided to start with books, re-evaluate in a month or so, and if I have a lot of interest in magazines, I’ll find a spot for them.”

Baier opens Bent Oak Books

For the past decade, Mike Hoffman has been selling an invention that has yet to catch on.

He is hoping that will change soon. The invention is simple enough to understand — a toilet that can be raised and lowered with a button. A godsend for a portion of an aging population that doesn’t want to go into assisted living, but may have trouble getting up and down from the toilet.

“This could keep someone out of the nursing home for a few more years,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman came up with the idea when his elderly father was having toilet issues at home. Those issues persisted at his nursing home, where two nurses had to lift him on and off the toilet.

Hoffman’s father stood 6 feet, 3 inches tall, which made hitting the toilet even harder. But the bigger problem was getting up when he sat down on the toilet. There was just too much weight, and his center of gravity was too low.

It took Hoffman and engineer Wayne Salzwedel six years to develop the product, which has continually become more streamlined in the past decade through the engineering process. Unfortunately, his father didn’t live long enough to see the result.

“He didn’t know about it, and he would have been mad that he didn’t get to use it,” Hoffman said with a laugh.

Under the company banner of MikeWay LLC, Huffman has sold more than 20 of the toilets. He’s almost sold dozens more to nursing homes but has been undone by how new the product is. Citing Hoffman’s lack of experience in installing toilets in commercial areas, many companies are leery to invest in a newly invented project.

The toilets sell for about $10,000 each, due in large part to the hydraulic pump that lowers and lifts the toilet. That part of the product is built into the wall behind the toilet, so the flushing sound is minimal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/1/1705020521634.jpeg" alt="Mike Hoffman, owner of MikeWay LLC, invented the Warren Lift — a toilet that rises and lowers with a push of a button. His invention makes life easier for those with mobility issues. Photo/Chris Faulkner" />
 <figcaption>Mike Hoffman, owner of MikeWay LLC, invented the Warren Lift — a toilet that rises and lowers with a push of a button. His invention makes life easier for those with mobility issues. Photo/Chris Faulkner</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithFor the past decade, Mike Hoffman has been selling an invention that has yet to catch on.He is hoping that will change soon. The invention is simple enough to understand — a toilet that can be raised and lowered with a button. A godsend for a portion of an aging population that doesn’t want to go into assisted living, but may have trouble getting up and down from the toilet.“This could keep someone out of the nursing home for a few more years,” Hoffman said.Hoffman came up with the idea when his elderly father was having toilet issues at home. Those issues persisted at his nursing home, where two nurses had to lift him on and off the toilet.Hoffman’s father stood 6 feet, 3 inches tall, which made hitting the toilet even harder. But the bigger problem was getting up when he sat down on the toilet. There was just too much weight, and his center of gravity was too low.It took Hoffman and engineer Wayne Salzwedel six years to develop the product, which has continually become more streamlined in the past decade through the engineering process. Unfortunately, his father didn’t live long enough to see the result.“He didn’t know about it, and he would have been mad that he didn’t get to use it,” Hoffman said with a laugh.Under the company banner of MikeWay LLC, Huffman has sold more than 20 of the toilets. He’s almost sold dozens more to nursing homes but has been undone by how new the product is. Citing Hoffman’s lack of experience in installing toilets in commercial areas, many companies are leery to invest in a newly invented project.The toilets sell for about $10,000 each, due in large part to the hydraulic pump that lowers and lifts the toilet. That part of the product is built into the wall behind the toilet, so the flushing sound is minimal.“If they had these units in nursing homes, in assisted living, in hospitals, it would free up the CNAs,&nbsp; free up their backs from getting injured, free up medical claims,” he said.Hoffman recalled talking to one of the nurses caring for her father, and she admitted she had hurt her back trying to pick him up from the toilet.“I think this can be a real life changer,” Hoffman said. “It has certainly been a life changer for all those people that have units.”One of Hoffman’s customers told him how she had to stay up all night to help her husband get on and off the toilet, forcing her to sleep in the daytime. With the Warren lift, her husband was able to get up and down from the toilet on his own.He still used the toilet on an hourly basis. But now she could sleep at night.“She said it changed her life a great deal,” Hoffman said.&nbsp;After the toilets were engineered,&nbsp; phase two of the project consisted of in-house testing. Between two electric units and a hydraulic unit, the company performed 200,000 cycles of testing.&nbsp;After that, the electrical units were scrapped in favor of the hydraulic units.“When you have fewer parts, you have fewer problems,” Hoffman said. “What has amazed me is how well Wayne has engineered the product. I think we have a very cool-looking product.”MikeWay also revamped its original switches used to operate the Warren Lift. Rather than be located on the wall behind the stool, the switches are located on the side of the stool for easy access to the user.&nbsp;MikeWay’s market for the Warren Lift includes homes, hospitals, assisted living complexes, and nursing homes.&nbsp;“It can lift a thousand pounds. That’s what it’s rated for. It (the hydraulic system) is used in dental chairs, hospital beds, and the industry.&nbsp; So that’s what we use,” Hoffman said.The money saved on nursing home bills could easily pay for the Warren Lift in a few years, Hoffman said.&nbsp;He plans on increasing his marketing and advertising to get the word out.“Nobody wants to go to the nursing home,” he said.

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