Brittany Jacobs, director of the Burlington Public Library is filmed by Allison Richert, youth service specialist at the Burlington Public Library, during a ceremony unveiling the newest library installation on Saturday at Crapo Park. The Story Walk installation features 21 panels that currently feature the book "Wonder Walkers" by Micha Archer. The installation will feature different books during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. The installation will be taken down during the winter months.&nbsp;

Photos by John Lovretta<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1682450741327.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Brittany Jacobs, director of the Burlington Public Library is filmed by Allison Richert, youth service specialist at the Burlington Public Library, during a ceremony unveiling the newest library installation on Saturday at Crapo Park. The Story Walk installation features 21 panels that currently feature the book "Wonder Walkers" by Micha Archer. The installation will feature different books during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. The installation will be taken down during the winter months.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1682450994038.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

PHOTOS: Burlington Library Story Walk

At long last, it’s that time of the year again when Mother Nature puts on her floral dress and starts playing peekaboo with the sunshine.&nbsp;

It’s springtime. The daffodils are in full bloom, the pollen counts are rising, and the birds are twittering more than Elon Musk.&nbsp;

If you got that last one, it’s a clear indication it’s time to put the phone down and go outdoors.&nbsp;

And don’t tell me there’s nothing to do. I can tolerate some “I’m bored” during the doldrums of winter when it’s dark outside during both daily commutes, but not anymore. Anybody who says that now should be throttled with a large bundle of daffodils.

In the interest of flower protection, here’s some of what you can do in the coming weeks to get outside.

First and foremost, it’s spring cleaning time, both for your garage and our community. I hope to see everyone out and about on Saturday, April 22 for the city-wide Earth Day Cleanup event. Join in the festivities down at the Port of Burlington starting at 8 a.m.&nbsp;

Get your supplies and head out to shine up your neighborhood or road corridor of choice. Re-join the community at noon for lunch and trading of found treasure stories.

In the meantime, lace up the walking shoes or hiking boots and put on some miles. Whether it’s a short walk around your neighborhood or a forest-bathing hike on your favorite local trail, a good stroll is just what the doctor ordered to soak up some sun, get the resulting hit of Vitamin D, and maybe even start shedding some of the winter weight we tend to pack on from holiday feasts and cold-night comfort food.&nbsp;

Des Moines County Conservation’s next “Hike A Park” program is April 27 at 3 p.m. at Hunt Woods just south of Burlington. This 50-plus acre park is a forest management demonstration area, so you’ll get to see various stages of forest management as you hike.&nbsp;

It’s also fishing time, and it will soon be paddling and boating time, so while you’re doing that spring cleaning, be sure to clean and inspect your life jackets.&nbsp;

Do they still fit? Kids grow fast, so last year’s jackets might no longer be the right size. Are there any rips or tears in the fabric or frays in the straps? If so, it’s time to replace them[. Life jackets can be cleaned with hot, soapy water. Don’t use bleach or harsh cleaning solvents. Allow them to dry fully before stowing them again to prevent mold.

Did someone say fishing? A fifteen-minute-or-less car ride gets you and the family to Big Hollow Recreation Area near Sperry.&nbsp;

In addition to the big lake, there are several smaller ponds throughout the county’s largest park. In town, kids can also fish Lake Starker in Crapo Park in Burlington. And the fish in Lake Geode should be reaching catchable size now. But take note that the beach and road to it at Lake Geode are closed for construction this year.&nbsp;

Speaking of kids, the signup for summer camps at Starr’s Cave Nature Center will open at noon on April 25.&nbsp;

Registration is done online and the link will be posted on the nature center’s Facebook page when it goes live. There are camps available for youth ages 3 through 13 with various camp dates from June to August.&nbsp;

And speaking of boating, now is also a good time to get the boat, canoe, or kayak out of storage, cleaned up, and prepped for the season. Is your registration up to date? Are the seats still tight? Are the paddles in good shape? Does the motor need a tune-up? With the warm temps, now might be a good time for a test run. That way, if something does need fixing, you’ll hopefully have time to get it into the shop before the full summer boating season.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t implore the bike owners to take to the trails as well. Our county has several great bike routes including a couple sections of the Flint River Trail — one along the river in Burlington and one from Flint Bottom Road up to Big Hollow.&nbsp;

For the more adventurous cyclists, there’s a rather extensive singletrack trail called North Gorge just across the road from Flint Hills Golf Course. This volunteer-built and managed trail zigzags up and down the steep bluffs overlooking the Flint Creek floodplain at the Leopold Recreation Area. While some sections are fit for the casual rider, there are segments complete with hairpin turns and jumps that only experienced riders should tackle.&nbsp;

So whether it’s an afternoon stroll, a community cleanup, or a white-knuckle ride on gravity-defying singletrack, there’s something for everyone to do outdoors in our community now that spring is in full swing. Daffodils are optional.&nbsp;

The Out &amp; About column appears every month in The Burlington Beacon courtesy of Des Moines County Conservation.&nbsp;

By Chris Lee&nbsp;At long last, it’s that time of the year again when Mother Nature puts on her floral dress and starts playing peekaboo with the sunshine.&nbsp;It’s springtime. The daffodils are in full bloom, the pollen counts are rising, and the birds are twittering more than Elon Musk.&nbsp;If you got that last one, it’s a clear indication it’s time to put the phone down and go outdoors.&nbsp;And don’t tell me there’s nothing to do. I can tolerate some “I’m bored” during the doldrums of winter when it’s dark outside during both daily commutes, but not anymore. Anybody who says that now should be throttled with a large bundle of daffodils.In the interest of flower protection, here’s some of what you can do in the coming weeks to get outside.First and foremost, it’s spring cleaning time, both for your garage and our community. I hope to see everyone out and about on Saturday, April 22 for the city-wide Earth Day Cleanup event. Join in the festivities down at the Port of Burlington starting at 8 a.m.&nbsp;Get your supplies and head out to shine up your neighborhood or road corridor of choice. Re-join the community at noon for lunch and trading of found treasure stories.In the meantime, lace up the walking shoes or hiking boots and put on some miles. Whether it’s a short walk around your neighborhood or a forest-bathing hike on your favorite local trail, a good stroll is just what the doctor ordered to soak up some sun, get the resulting hit of Vitamin D, and maybe even start shedding some of the winter weight we tend to pack on from holiday feasts and cold-night comfort food.&nbsp;Des Moines County Conservation’s next “Hike A Park” program is April 27 at 3 p.m. at Hunt Woods just south of Burlington. This 50-plus acre park is a forest management demonstration area, so you’ll get to see various stages of forest management as you hike.&nbsp;It’s also fishing time, and it will soon be paddling and boating time, so while you’re doing that spring cleaning, be sure to clean and inspect your life jackets.&nbsp;Do they still fit? Kids grow fast, so last year’s jackets might no longer be the right size. Are there any rips or tears in the fabric or frays in the straps? If so, it’s time to replace them[. Life jackets can be cleaned with hot, soapy water. Don’t use bleach or harsh cleaning solvents. Allow them to dry fully before stowing them again to prevent mold.Did someone say fishing? A fifteen-minute-or-less car ride gets you and the family to Big Hollow Recreation Area near Sperry.&nbsp;In addition to the big lake, there are several smaller ponds throughout the county’s largest park. In town, kids can also fish Lake Starker in Crapo Park in Burlington. And the fish in Lake Geode should be reaching catchable size now. But take note that the beach and road to it at Lake Geode are closed for construction this year.&nbsp;Speaking of kids, the signup for summer camps at Starr’s Cave Nature Center will open at noon on April 25.&nbsp;Registration is done online and the link will be posted on the nature center’s Facebook page when it goes live. There are camps available for youth ages 3 through 13 with various camp dates from June to August.&nbsp;And speaking of boating, now is also a good time to get the boat, canoe, or kayak out of storage, cleaned up, and prepped for the season. Is your registration up to date? Are the seats still tight? Are the paddles in good shape? Does the motor need a tune-up? With the warm temps, now might be a good time for a test run. That way, if something does need fixing, you’ll hopefully have time to get it into the shop before the full summer boating season.I’d be remiss if I didn’t implore the bike owners to take to the trails as well. Our county has several great bike routes including a couple sections of the Flint River Trail — one along the river in Burlington and one from Flint Bottom Road up to Big Hollow.&nbsp;For the more adventurous cyclists, there’s a rather extensive singletrack trail called North Gorge just across the road from Flint Hills Golf Course. This volunteer-built and managed trail zigzags up and down the steep bluffs overlooking the Flint Creek floodplain at the Leopold Recreation Area. While some sections are fit for the casual rider, there are segments complete with hairpin turns and jumps that only experienced riders should tackle.&nbsp;So whether it’s an afternoon stroll, a community cleanup, or a white-knuckle ride on gravity-defying singletrack, there’s something for everyone to do outdoors in our community now that spring is in full swing. Daffodils are optional.&nbsp;I hope to see you out there.The Out &amp; About column appears every month in The Burlington Beacon courtesy of Des Moines County Conservation.&nbsp;

Out & About: Springtime means it’s time to get back outside

Above:&nbsp;Maddox Matteson, 8, holds onto Jett before the start of the Doggie Easter Egg Hunt and Fundraiser sponsored by the Des Moines County Humane Society on Sunday, April 24, at the Community Field parking lot in Burlington. Dogs and their owners searched for plastic eggs filled with dog treats as well as numbers that won special prizes.

Above:&nbsp;Emily Moeller, gets a kiss from her dog Cyan before the start of the Doggie Easter Egg Hunt and Fundraiser sponsored by the Des Moines County Humane Society.

Above:&nbsp;Mac a Shih Tzu belonging to Terry and Minde Grant looks for eggs during the Doggie Easter Egg Hunt and Fundraiser sponsored by the Des Moines County Humane Society.

Above:&nbsp;Nick Dolan gives his dog Keta a treat found in an egg at the Doggie Easter Egg Hunt and Fundraiser.

Photos by John Lovretta<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1682293533777.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Maddox Matteson, 8, holds onto Jett before the start of the Doggie Easter Egg Hunt and Fundraiser sponsored by the Des Moines County Humane Society on Sunday, April 24, at the Community Field parking lot in Burlington. Dogs and their owners searched for plastic eggs filled with dog treats as well as numbers that won special prizes.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1682293560833.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Emily Moeller, gets a kiss from her dog Cyan before the start of the Doggie Easter Egg Hunt and Fundraiser sponsored by the Des Moines County Humane Society.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1682293634458.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Mac a Shih Tzu belonging to Terry and Minde Grant looks for eggs during the Doggie Easter Egg Hunt and Fundraiser sponsored by the Des Moines County Humane Society.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1682293844509.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Nick Dolan gives his dog Keta a treat found in an egg at the Doggie Easter Egg Hunt and Fundraiser.

PHOTOS: Doggie Easter Egg Hunt Was a Treat for Pets, Owners

Above: Matt Bormann, CEO of Western Smokehouse Partners, speaks on Thursday, April 20, at a ground-breaking ceremony for the company's Burlington plant at 3800 West Avenue. When the facility is up and running, it is expected to process 13.2 million pounds of meat a year.&nbsp;

Western Smokehouse Partners, also known as Western Smokehouse and Meat Market headquartered in Greentop, Mo., has leased the building that was vacated by Integra in February 2022.

&nbsp;Western Smokehouse Partners makes a variety of flavors of meat sticks.

Photos by John Lovretta<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1682041978984.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Matt Bormann, CEO of Western Smokehouse Partners, speaks on Thursday, April 20, at a ground-breaking ceremony for the company's Burlington plant at 3800 West Avenue. When the facility is up and running, it is expected to process 13.2 million pounds of meat a year.&nbsp;Western Smokehouse Partners, also known as Western Smokehouse and Meat Market headquartered in Greentop, Mo., has leased the building that was vacated by Integra in February 2022.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1682042289534.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Western Smokehouse Partners makes a variety of flavors of meat sticks.

Ground-Breaking Ceremony for Meat Stick Plant

Former Miss Burlington and current Miss Iowa contestant Olivia Keller wore her sash and crown to the airport Tuesday — her usual uniform for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

But she later admitted to an unspoken motive. The buy one, get one free sale that clogged the ticket counter at Southeast Iowa Regional Airport.

“I’m excited. I’ve never gotten to fly out of Burlington before,” she said. “When I heard this was happening, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve got to go and buy tickets.’ I love going to Chicago. My uncle lives there. I’m going to buy a couple of sets and jet off.”

The ribbon cutting for Southern Airways Express, held in conjunction with The Greater Burlington Partnership, packed the airport terminal with an eager local flying populace.

Southern Airways Express co-owner Mark Cestari could barely contain his excitement Tuesday morning as he stood in front of the red ribbon.

“Southern has only been here for 11 days. We now fly to over 50 cities coast-to-coast and in the Hawaiian Islands,” he said. “Our cities are usually smaller places, and in most of our cities, we’re the only airline in town. And when you’re the only airline in town, you have to do a good job. You have to be reliable.”

Southern Airways became the official airline for Southeast Iowa Regional Airport on April 1. Southern replaced Cape Air, which flew its final flights out of the airport on March 31.

“Hopefully, we’ll have a long relationship with them,” said Southeast Iowa Regional Airport Authority Board president Charlie Walsh. “We were with Air Choice One for 10 years, and the other one (Cape Air), 14 months.”

Walsh expressed his optimism about the future of Southern Airways Express.

“We’re one of seven airports in the state,” Walsh said. “So all the 24 flights that we’ll be having, those are two international airports that you can travel to anywhere in the continental United States and worldwide. I mean, Burlington is fortunate to have what we have, and we do welcome Southern.”

Southern Airways Express acquired Air Choice One in March of 2022, making it one of the largest commuter airlines in America. Southeast Iowa Regional Airport Director Sarah Sandburg thinks the airline will be a boon for the community, and has confidence in its longevity.

Sandburg was particularly pleased with the ticket promotion, which was helping rebuild the trust of the flying public.

“I had a call with a gentleman this morning who wanted to know if there was a limit to how many tickets you can buy. He wanted to buy eight,” Sandburg said.

Sandburg said the first 11 days of flights from Southern Airways Express went well, with the exception of storms and tornadoes that disrupted the entire state.&nbsp;

She said Southern Airways has pilots lined up for at least the next couple of years, which should protect against pilot shortages that impacted the previous carrier, Cape Air.

Those pilot shortages resulted in a multitude of canceled flights over the past year. Sandburg said Cape Air was averaging about six passengers per flight, but only made 64 percent of their flights.

“These planes are probably more sustainable, more reliable than what Cape Air’s were. And more room,” she said, noting that the planes will be carrying about eight passengers.

Cape Air’s 14-month tenure in Burlington was much shorter than expected. In May of 2022, Cape Air told the U.S. Department of Transportation that it planned on ending the four year-contract early due to a lack of viable pilots. Cape Air couldn’t pull out of Burlington, however, until the airport authority found another airline.

The DOT rejected a proposal from Boutique Air to become the new airline in October and received new proposals from Cape Air and Southern Airways Express.&nbsp;

The Southeast Iowa Regional Airport Authority voted to go with Southern Airways Express.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will compensate Southern Airways as an Essential Air Service with a subsidy rate of $3.4 million for the first year and $3.5 million for the second year.&nbsp;

Essential Air Service is a government program that guarantees small communities in the United States receive air service.

The essential air service will provide 14 round trips from Southeast Iowa Regional Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and 10 round trips to St. Louis-Lambert International Airport with roughly 8 to 9 Cessna aircraft. That’s 24 round-trip flights per week, with two flights leaving each day for Chicago, seven days a week. Flights to St. Louis will be daily, including two flights on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Tickets went on sale on Feb. 14, ranging from $39 to $89. Cestari said partnerships with United and American Airlines, Alaska, and Hawaii would take passengers anywhere they want to go.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1682043350345.jpeg" alt="Mark Cestari, the chief commercial officer with Southern Airways Express, talks with John Schulz on Tuesday, April 11, during a ticket sale and launch event hosted by Southern Airways Express at the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport in Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Mark Cestari, the chief commercial officer with Southern Airways Express, talks with John Schulz on Tuesday, April 11, during a ticket sale and launch event hosted by Southern Airways Express at the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport in Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithFormer Miss Burlington and current Miss Iowa contestant Olivia Keller wore her sash and crown to the airport Tuesday — her usual uniform for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.But she later admitted to an unspoken motive. The buy one, get one free sale that clogged the ticket counter at Southeast Iowa Regional Airport.“I’m excited. I’ve never gotten to fly out of Burlington before,” she said. “When I heard this was happening, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve got to go and buy tickets.’ I love going to Chicago. My uncle lives there. I’m going to buy a couple of sets and jet off.”The ribbon cutting for Southern Airways Express, held in conjunction with The Greater Burlington Partnership, packed the airport terminal with an eager local flying populace.Southern Airways Express co-owner Mark Cestari could barely contain his excitement Tuesday morning as he stood in front of the red ribbon.“Southern has only been here for 11 days. We now fly to over 50 cities coast-to-coast and in the Hawaiian Islands,” he said. “Our cities are usually smaller places, and in most of our cities, we’re the only airline in town. And when you’re the only airline in town, you have to do a good job. You have to be reliable.”Southern Airways became the official airline for Southeast Iowa Regional Airport on April 1. Southern replaced Cape Air, which flew its final flights out of the airport on March 31.“Hopefully, we’ll have a long relationship with them,” said Southeast Iowa Regional Airport Authority Board president Charlie Walsh. “We were with Air Choice One for 10 years, and the other one (Cape Air), 14 months.”Walsh expressed his optimism about the future of Southern Airways Express.“We’re one of seven airports in the state,” Walsh said. “So all the 24 flights that we’ll be having, those are two international airports that you can travel to anywhere in the continental United States and worldwide. I mean, Burlington is fortunate to have what we have, and we do welcome Southern.”Southern Airways Express acquired Air Choice One in March of 2022, making it one of the largest commuter airlines in America. Southeast Iowa Regional Airport Director Sarah Sandburg thinks the airline will be a boon for the community, and has confidence in its longevity.Sandburg was particularly pleased with the ticket promotion, which was helping rebuild the trust of the flying public.“I had a call with a gentleman this morning who wanted to know if there was a limit to how many tickets you can buy. He wanted to buy eight,” Sandburg said.Sandburg said the first 11 days of flights from Southern Airways Express went well, with the exception of storms and tornadoes that disrupted the entire state.&nbsp;She said Southern Airways has pilots lined up for at least the next couple of years, which should protect against pilot shortages that impacted the previous carrier, Cape Air.Those pilot shortages resulted in a multitude of canceled flights over the past year. Sandburg said Cape Air was averaging about six passengers per flight, but only made 64 percent of their flights.“These planes are probably more sustainable, more reliable than what Cape Air’s were. And more room,” she said, noting that the planes will be carrying about eight passengers.Cape Air’s 14-month tenure in Burlington was much shorter than expected. In May of 2022, Cape Air told the U.S. Department of Transportation that it planned on ending the four year-contract early due to a lack of viable pilots. Cape Air couldn’t pull out of Burlington, however, until the airport authority found another airline.The DOT rejected a proposal from Boutique Air to become the new airline in October and received new proposals from Cape Air and Southern Airways Express.&nbsp;The Southeast Iowa Regional Airport Authority voted to go with Southern Airways Express.The U.S. Department of Transportation will compensate Southern Airways as an Essential Air Service with a subsidy rate of $3.4 million for the first year and $3.5 million for the second year.&nbsp;Essential Air Service is a government program that guarantees small communities in the United States receive air service.The essential air service will provide 14 round trips from Southeast Iowa Regional Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and 10 round trips to St. Louis-Lambert International Airport with roughly 8 to 9 Cessna aircraft. That’s 24 round-trip flights per week, with two flights leaving each day for Chicago, seven days a week. Flights to St. Louis will be daily, including two flights on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.Tickets went on sale on Feb. 14, ranging from $39 to $89. Cestari said partnerships with United and American Airlines, Alaska, and Hawaii would take passengers anywhere they want to go.

Airline exceeds sky-high expectations

Eric Renteria can’t help but grin every time he looks out the front display windows of his new shop location in the former Sears building in Burlington.

Outside those windows, he sees parking. Lots of parking. Ease of access for his customers he’s been longing for. The kind of parking that just wasn’t available to Myrtle Vera’s Hallmark on Jefferson Street.&nbsp;

As much as he hates to leave downtown, Renteria said, the move was the only way to sustain and grow the business. He said he has cultivated only good memories of his time downtown and championed the idea of calling it the Snake Alley District.

“Parking standards generally call for three-to-seven parking spaces per 1,000 square feet. So we should have had somewhere between 20 and 32 parking spaces for the square footage of retail space that we had downtown,” Renteria said.

Hallmark had four parking spots before the TIGER Grant-funded reconstruction of Jefferson Street and was reduced to three spots after construction.

“We can’t get enough people through the doors to support the business that we want to have with that amount of parking,” he said.

Renteria said he has sold the downtown location to someone who he believes will do great things with the building.

“They’re going to be able to do far more than we could with it,” he said.

Eric has lived all over the country at one point or another but was born and raised in Burlington. He graduated from Burlington High School, and the freshly carpeted floor at his new location reflects that purple school pride.&nbsp;

Coming back to Burlington wasn’t a hard decision. This is home.

“I lived in Wisconsin, Washington, DC, San Antonio, and Miami. I was gone for 20-plus years. I came back, and I’ve been here since 2005,” he said.

The original gift store upon which Myrtle Vera’s is built, Country Friends opened its doors in 1989. Eric and his wife Donna took over in 2015, making the gift store into Myrtle Vera’s Hallmark and Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio. The shop moved from its original location in the 400 block of Jefferson Street to the 600 block of Jefferson Street five years ago.

The Renterias have doubled the greeting card selection, and continue to sell ornaments, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Simply Southern Apparel and Gifts, and hand-crafted cement sculptures by Davenport resident Isabel Bloom. Collectibles by Jim Shore are another vital part of the product line.

“We’re going to be adding a lot more Vera Bradley that will expand our perfumes,” he said. “We’ll have a much bigger, Simply Southern section, and I’m going to build a dressing room in the corner.”

Renteria is also launching a new T-shirt line based around the slogan, “Iowa Nice.”

“We just did our first design. So we’re starting to try to come up with our next lines and designs for that,” Renteria said.

Aside from the 3,500 square foot of recently installed purple carpet, the Renteria’s have spent the past month painting, changing out ceiling tiles and windows, and doing general cleanup.&nbsp;

The downtown location will be open through April 17, and the new location in City Center is set to open May 1.

That will give the Renterias and their employees enough time to move the inventory and other items, such as display racks. They’ve also hired two additional staff.

“The building was in pretty good shape,” Eric Renteria said, noting that it’s about twice the size of the downtown store.

The higher traffic count along Roosevelt Avenue neighboring businesses such as Billy Sims BBQ and Wing Stop will only elevate the Hallmark store, Renteria said.

“We love our customers, they’re so great to us. We’ve gotten to know so many of them. And we’ve built relationships with so many of them. They’re excited for us. They’re as excited as we are. They know we’re going to have a better selection and better stuff. And it’s just a fun shopping experience,” Renteria said.

A 50-percent off moving sale on select items will begin Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681863768692.jpeg" alt="Eric Renteria stands amid the new Myrtle Vera’s Hallmark space on Monday, April 10, in the City Center development in Burlington. The space, which is located next to Universal Therapy, is larger than its downtown location. Renteria hopes to have the store open by May 1. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Eric Renteria stands amid the new Myrtle Vera’s Hallmark space on Monday, April 10, in the City Center development in Burlington. The space, which is located next to Universal Therapy, is larger than its downtown location. Renteria hopes to have the store open by May 1. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithEric Renteria can’t help but grin every time he looks out the front display windows of his new shop location in the former Sears building in Burlington.Outside those windows, he sees parking. Lots of parking. Ease of access for his customers he’s been longing for. The kind of parking that just wasn’t available to Myrtle Vera’s Hallmark on Jefferson Street.&nbsp;As much as he hates to leave downtown, Renteria said, the move was the only way to sustain and grow the business. He said he has cultivated only good memories of his time downtown and championed the idea of calling it the Snake Alley District.“Parking standards generally call for three-to-seven parking spaces per 1,000 square feet. So we should have had somewhere between 20 and 32 parking spaces for the square footage of retail space that we had downtown,” Renteria said.Hallmark had four parking spots before the TIGER Grant-funded reconstruction of Jefferson Street and was reduced to three spots after construction.“We can’t get enough people through the doors to support the business that we want to have with that amount of parking,” he said.Renteria said he has sold the downtown location to someone who he believes will do great things with the building.“They’re going to be able to do far more than we could with it,” he said.Eric has lived all over the country at one point or another but was born and raised in Burlington. He graduated from Burlington High School, and the freshly carpeted floor at his new location reflects that purple school pride.&nbsp;Coming back to Burlington wasn’t a hard decision. This is home.“I lived in Wisconsin, Washington, DC, San Antonio, and Miami. I was gone for 20-plus years. I came back, and I’ve been here since 2005,” he said.The original gift store upon which Myrtle Vera’s is built, Country Friends opened its doors in 1989. Eric and his wife Donna took over in 2015, making the gift store into Myrtle Vera’s Hallmark and Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio. The shop moved from its original location in the 400 block of Jefferson Street to the 600 block of Jefferson Street five years ago.The Renterias have doubled the greeting card selection, and continue to sell ornaments, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Simply Southern Apparel and Gifts, and hand-crafted cement sculptures by Davenport resident Isabel Bloom. Collectibles by Jim Shore are another vital part of the product line.“We’re going to be adding a lot more Vera Bradley that will expand our perfumes,” he said. “We’ll have a much bigger, Simply Southern section, and I’m going to build a dressing room in the corner.”Renteria is also launching a new T-shirt line based around the slogan, “Iowa Nice.”“We just did our first design. So we’re starting to try to come up with our next lines and designs for that,” Renteria said.Aside from the 3,500 square foot of recently installed purple carpet, the Renteria’s have spent the past month painting, changing out ceiling tiles and windows, and doing general cleanup.&nbsp;The downtown location will be open through April 17, and the new location in City Center is set to open May 1.That will give the Renterias and their employees enough time to move the inventory and other items, such as display racks. They’ve also hired two additional staff.“The building was in pretty good shape,” Eric Renteria said, noting that it’s about twice the size of the downtown store.The higher traffic count along Roosevelt Avenue neighboring businesses such as Billy Sims BBQ and Wing Stop will only elevate the Hallmark store, Renteria said.“We love our customers, they’re so great to us. We’ve gotten to know so many of them. And we’ve built relationships with so many of them. They’re excited for us. They’re as excited as we are. They know we’re going to have a better selection and better stuff. And it’s just a fun shopping experience,” Renteria said.A 50-percent off moving sale on select items will begin Saturday.

Myrtle Vera’s is Moving

It has been 40 years since Bill Roberts moved his business — Roberts Tire Center — from West Burlington to Burlington.&nbsp;

As Roberts pointed out, that was several presidents ago. Since then, Roberts Tire Center has grown from two employees and 25 tires to 14 employees and over 2,000 tires.&nbsp;

The store on Mount Pleasant Street has been expanded four times over the past four decades.&nbsp;

“It’s been a good run,” he said.&nbsp;

Roberts had to shrink before he could grow – a symptom of the national economy that taught him the art of frugality. He opened up across from the school bus barn in West Burlington 43 years ago but was forced to leave the larger building due to economic woes.&nbsp;

Roberts was down but far from out. It was that downsizing that led him to Mount Pleasant Street, allowing him to turn an unfortunate situation into a new start for the business.&nbsp;

“I came down here and rented this building from Eddie Beckman, who had been here for years as a service station manager. And started here April 1, 1983,” Roberts said.&nbsp;

It was rather fitting, considering Roberts discovered a knack and a passion for the auto business while working at gas stations as a youth.&nbsp;

“Everyone had to fix their own cars back then,” he said.&nbsp;

Like the best of small businesses, Roberts Tire Center operates as a mix of metaphorical family and actual blood relations. At Roberts, there is no difference between the two. His two sons work there. His granddaughter, as well.&nbsp;

“It’s been a good run. We’ve had a good time,” he said. “We now do all kinds of tires, from the smallest little wheelbarrow tire to the biggest earth-mover. Plus, we do a lot of farm tire work and a lot of car tires, and a lot of truck tires. And, of course, we have full-service alignments, shocks, mufflers.”&nbsp;

The automotive industry is quite different than it was four decades ago, and those who didn’t roll with the changes got left behind. Roberts said he was initially stubborn about updating the office to computers.&nbsp;

“I drug my feet for a long time, but in 2000, we went to computers, and I don’t know how you would operate a business without one now,” he said. “We have nine computers here now.”&nbsp;

A head for business and respect for his employees has helped Roberts maintain an incredibly high staff retention rate.&nbsp;

Several of his employees have been there for over 25 years.&nbsp;

“We have a great crew that works here. Our newest employee has probably only been here for 10 years,” he said.&nbsp;

Roberts may have grown up working at a gas station, but he learned the ropes of the tire service industry through a 20-year career at Goodyear.&nbsp;

He didn’t hesitate to spread his wings beyond Goodyear when he saw the opportunity to be his own boss. Those wings cover an extended family of trusted associates now, and he doesn’t intend to leave them without a haven.&nbsp;

“I’ll be 80 in August, and I plan to work until I’m 93,” he said with a laugh&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1680552124971.jpeg" alt="Bill Roberts" />
 <figcaption>Bill Roberts</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By William Smith&nbsp;It has been 40 years since Bill Roberts moved his business — Roberts Tire Center — from West Burlington to Burlington.&nbsp;As Roberts pointed out, that was several presidents ago. Since then, Roberts Tire Center has grown from two employees and 25 tires to 14 employees and over 2,000 tires.&nbsp;The store on Mount Pleasant Street has been expanded four times over the past four decades.&nbsp;“It’s been a good run,” he said.&nbsp;Roberts had to shrink before he could grow – a symptom of the national economy that taught him the art of frugality. He opened up across from the school bus barn in West Burlington 43 years ago but was forced to leave the larger building due to economic woes.&nbsp;“I had to downsize,” he said.&nbsp;Roberts was down but far from out. It was that downsizing that led him to Mount Pleasant Street, allowing him to turn an unfortunate situation into a new start for the business.&nbsp;“I came down here and rented this building from Eddie Beckman, who had been here for years as a service station manager. And started here April 1, 1983,” Roberts said.&nbsp;It was rather fitting, considering Roberts discovered a knack and a passion for the auto business while working at gas stations as a youth.&nbsp;“Everyone had to fix their own cars back then,” he said.&nbsp;Like the best of small businesses, Roberts Tire Center operates as a mix of metaphorical family and actual blood relations. At Roberts, there is no difference between the two. His two sons work there. His granddaughter, as well.&nbsp;“It’s been a good run. We’ve had a good time,” he said. “We now do all kinds of tires, from the smallest little wheelbarrow tire to the biggest earth-mover. Plus, we do a lot of farm tire work and a lot of car tires, and a lot of truck tires. And, of course, we have full-service alignments, shocks, mufflers.”&nbsp;The automotive industry is quite different than it was four decades ago, and those who didn’t roll with the changes got left behind. Roberts said he was initially stubborn about updating the office to computers.&nbsp;Until he did.&nbsp;“I drug my feet for a long time, but in 2000, we went to computers, and I don’t know how you would operate a business without one now,” he said. “We have nine computers here now.”&nbsp;A head for business and respect for his employees has helped Roberts maintain an incredibly high staff retention rate.&nbsp;Several of his employees have been there for over 25 years.&nbsp;“We have a great crew that works here. Our newest employee has probably only been here for 10 years,” he said.&nbsp;Roberts may have grown up working at a gas station, but he learned the ropes of the tire service industry through a 20-year career at Goodyear.&nbsp;He didn’t hesitate to spread his wings beyond Goodyear when he saw the opportunity to be his own boss. Those wings cover an extended family of trusted associates now, and he doesn’t intend to leave them without a haven.&nbsp;“I’ll be 80 in August, and I plan to work until I’m 93,” he said with a laugh&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1680552471134.jpeg" alt="Roberts Tire Center in Burlington." />
 <figcaption>Roberts Tire Center in Burlington.</figcaption>
 </figure>

Decades of reliability; Roberts celebrates 40 years of business at same location

The much anticipated, handicap-accessible playground project in Dankwardt Park is inching toward reality.

But the race isn’t over quite yet. The city recently acquired a $200,000 CAT (Community Attraction and Tourism) grant from the state of Iowa, but that money will only materialize once the funding goal has been met.

The city has a 90-day timeline to hit that goal if it is to receive that money. Then the city will receive a contract for the money.

“We haven’t got the contract yet, but we were awarded (by Enhance Iowa) last Thursday. So we are $310,000 short,” parks and recreation director Eric Tysland said during the April 11 work session.

The good news, Tysland said, is the playground is going to be cheaper than initially projected. While initial costs were estimated at around $1.9 million for the playground and extra features, the new number is about $1.75 million, according to Tysland. The basic playground itself comes to $1.5 million, which is the number the city needs to meet.

“Currently, we have nearly $1.2 million in funding committed to the project,” Tysland said.

The playground equipment has already been ordered and is expected to arrive at the end of August. Tysland hopes the money will be raised by then so the city can fund the installation process as well.

The playground will be ADA-compliant with many site amenities, including innovative and accessible play elements.&nbsp;

The site will later be upgraded to include accessible parking and sidewalk connections, new seating, lighting, and bike racks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/8/1660247580471.jpeg" alt="Artist concept of the proposed playground at Dankwardt Playground." />
 <figcaption>Artist concept of the proposed playground at Dankwardt Playground.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffThe much anticipated, handicap-accessible playground project in Dankwardt Park is inching toward reality.But the race isn’t over quite yet. The city recently acquired a $200,000 CAT (Community Attraction and Tourism) grant from the state of Iowa, but that money will only materialize once the funding goal has been met.The city has a 90-day timeline to hit that goal if it is to receive that money. Then the city will receive a contract for the money.“We haven’t got the contract yet, but we were awarded (by Enhance Iowa) last Thursday. So we are $310,000 short,” parks and recreation director Eric Tysland said during the April 11 work session.The good news, Tysland said, is the playground is going to be cheaper than initially projected. While initial costs were estimated at around $1.9 million for the playground and extra features, the new number is about $1.75 million, according to Tysland. The basic playground itself comes to $1.5 million, which is the number the city needs to meet.“Currently, we have nearly $1.2 million in funding committed to the project,” Tysland said.The playground equipment has already been ordered and is expected to arrive at the end of August. Tysland hopes the money will be raised by then so the city can fund the installation process as well.The playground will be ADA-compliant with many site amenities, including innovative and accessible play elements.&nbsp;The site will later be upgraded to include accessible parking and sidewalk connections, new seating, lighting, and bike racks.

Dankwardt Park playground needs $300,000 in 90 days

Born in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation of Poland, Danuta Zamojska Hutchinsan escaped the horrors of war by leaving central Europe to attend college in America.

But the things she saw there will stay with her for the rest of her life.

Hutchinsan became much more than a wife and mother in America. She eventually became a professor at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake — where she still lives.

Hutchinsan was the guest speaker during the Burlington Public Library’s “Specifically for Seniors” program Friday, April 7, and she stressed the power of empathy. She spoke about the Ukrainian-Russian conflict and encouraged people to be better to each other.

“Out of fear, you have to help others,” she said. “I am anti-war, but at the same time if you don’t go and fight the hydra, it will come and eat you.”

After the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, Danuta started having nightmares of her own experiences during World War II.&nbsp;

She started writing down and drawing those nightmares, and those recollections evolved into her book — “Torn Out Memories.”

The book is comprised of stories of Hutchinsan’s youth, and she writes of the horrors she faced during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Seeing a woman’s dead body being fed upon by cats. A crying child was butted in the head by a rifle stock and killed by a soldier. His mother, screaming, was shot.

Hutchins and her family almost starved to death, and she recalled seeing her mother trying to dig for potatoes in the frozen Polish ground in her desperation to feed her family.

She credited FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and U.S. President Harry Truman (the American government) for taking care of her as a young child and feeding her family with relief packages.&nbsp;

She carries that kindness with her — always.

“I would not be here if not for them,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681743908051.jpeg" alt="Right: Danuta Zamojska Hutchinsan was the guest speaker during the Burlington Public Library’s “Specifically for Seniors” program Friday, April 7, and she stressed the power of empathy. Photo/Anthony Dewitt" />
 <figcaption>Right: Danuta Zamojska Hutchinsan was the guest speaker during the Burlington Public Library’s “Specifically for Seniors” program Friday, April 7, and she stressed the power of empathy. Photo/Anthony Dewitt</figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony DeWittBorn in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation of Poland, Danuta Zamojska Hutchinsan escaped the horrors of war by leaving central Europe to attend college in America.But the things she saw there will stay with her for the rest of her life.Hutchinsan became much more than a wife and mother in America. She eventually became a professor at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake — where she still lives.Hutchinsan was the guest speaker during the Burlington Public Library’s “Specifically for Seniors” program Friday, April 7, and she stressed the power of empathy. She spoke about the Ukrainian-Russian conflict and encouraged people to be better to each other.“Out of fear, you have to help others,” she said. “I am anti-war, but at the same time if you don’t go and fight the hydra, it will come and eat you.”After the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, Danuta started having nightmares of her own experiences during World War II.&nbsp;She started writing down and drawing those nightmares, and those recollections evolved into her book — “Torn Out Memories.”The book is comprised of stories of Hutchinsan’s youth, and she writes of the horrors she faced during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Seeing a woman’s dead body being fed upon by cats. A crying child was butted in the head by a rifle stock and killed by a soldier. His mother, screaming, was shot.Hutchins and her family almost starved to death, and she recalled seeing her mother trying to dig for potatoes in the frozen Polish ground in her desperation to feed her family.She credited FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and U.S. President Harry Truman (the American government) for taking care of her as a young child and feeding her family with relief packages.&nbsp;She carries that kindness with her — always.“I would not be here if not for them,” she said.

‘Out of fear, you have to help others’

Above: Grace Wirt dances on Tuesday (April 11) during a master class for ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance in Burlington. The master class was taught by members of the New York City-based dance company Ballets with a Twist.  The dance company was in Burlington to perform "Cocktail Hour: The Show" at Burlington Memorial Auditorium as part of the Burlington Civic Music program.

Above: Annabelle Hedges is shown during a master class for ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.

Above:&nbsp;Ballet students stretch during a master class taught by members of Ballets with a Twist.

Above: Lily Carlson participates in a dancing exercise during the master class.

Above:&nbsp;Jennifer Buonamia, a dancer with the New York City-based dance company Ballets with a Twist works with ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.

Above:&nbsp;Dorothea Garland, a dancer with the New York City-based. dance company Ballets with a Twist works with ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.

Photos by John Lovretta<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681670947005.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Grace Wirt dances on Tuesday (April 11) during a master class for ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance in Burlington. The master class was taught by members of the New York City-based dance company Ballets with a Twist. The dance company was in Burlington to perform "Cocktail Hour: The Show" at Burlington Memorial Auditorium as part of the Burlington Civic Music program.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681671067526.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Annabelle Hedges is shown during a master class for ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681671132616.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Ballet students stretch during a master class taught by members of Ballets with a Twist.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681671198038.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Lily Carlson participates in a dancing exercise during the master class.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681671310092.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Jennifer Buonamia, a dancer with the New York City-based dance company Ballets with a Twist works with ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681671371786.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Dorothea Garland, a dancer with the New York City-based. dance company Ballets with a Twist works with ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.

Poetry in Motion 

The city of Burlington is beginning a six-month process to acquire the former Klein Center on Madison Avenue from its absentee owner.

Burlington City Manager Chad Bird said developers are interested in retooling the building — but no one is able to contact the owner. He informed the Burlington City Council of the difficulties during a council work session on Monday, April 10.

“We have a local developer who is working on a building in the community who has expressed interest in the building,” Bird said.

Bird said that has been particular interest in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. The owner has not answered the calls of any interested buyers, and tax liens against the building make it a nearly impossible prospect for development.

Bird said that acquiring the building through the 657A acquisition now would mean the city gets the building in October, putting it in line for a potential developer application in April 2024. The owner could contest it in that six months, and a judge will make the final decision.

“The question is, what do we do with it?” Bird said.

Demolition of the building would be a worst-case, last-ditch scenario. The council, who informally gave the go-ahead to start the acquisition process Tuesday night, would prefer to see the building developed. So would Bird.

Eric Tysland, parks and recreation director, said demolishing the building would cost about $1 million. If the city were to raze it, about 20 housing lots could be installed on the land.

The building is a hotspot for vandals.&nbsp;

The city has spent $33,000 on nuisance abatement. Since 2018, there have been 74 nuisance actions for the property, typically requiring multiple trips to the site to verify or follow up on each issue.

“There’s a lot of activity going on there,” Bird said.

The property has been placarded by city staff as abandoned/unsafe per City Code Chapter 160, with no response from the current owner.&nbsp;

The city would be taking on the property and costs associated with maintaining it, which it pretty much does now.

“I don’t want to be Captain Obvious, but whether we have it on paper or not, we own the building. We basically do. We’re taking short-term measures on the abatements now, whereas if we owned it, we could take some long-term measures for security. I do agree that the only way we can do something with this is to acquire the ownership of it,” Burlington Mayor Jon Billups said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681609819337.jpeg" alt="The former Klein Center in Burlington is in disrepair. The city of Burlington is beginning a six-month process to acquire the property. Photo/Rebecca Gall" />
 <figcaption>The former Klein Center in Burlington is in disrepair. The city of Burlington is beginning a six-month process to acquire the property. Photo/Rebecca Gall</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffThe city of Burlington is beginning a six-month process to acquire the former Klein Center on Madison Avenue from its absentee owner.Burlington City Manager Chad Bird said developers are interested in retooling the building — but no one is able to contact the owner. He informed the Burlington City Council of the difficulties during a council work session on Monday, April 10.“We have a local developer who is working on a building in the community who has expressed interest in the building,” Bird said.Bird said that has been particular interest in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. The owner has not answered the calls of any interested buyers, and tax liens against the building make it a nearly impossible prospect for development.Bird said that acquiring the building through the 657A acquisition now would mean the city gets the building in October, putting it in line for a potential developer application in April 2024. The owner could contest it in that six months, and a judge will make the final decision.“The question is, what do we do with it?” Bird said.Demolition of the building would be a worst-case, last-ditch scenario. The council, who informally gave the go-ahead to start the acquisition process Tuesday night, would prefer to see the building developed. So would Bird.Eric Tysland, parks and recreation director, said demolishing the building would cost about $1 million. If the city were to raze it, about 20 housing lots could be installed on the land.The building is a hotspot for vandals.&nbsp;The city has spent $33,000 on nuisance abatement. Since 2018, there have been 74 nuisance actions for the property, typically requiring multiple trips to the site to verify or follow up on each issue.“There’s a lot of activity going on there,” Bird said.The property has been placarded by city staff as abandoned/unsafe per City Code Chapter 160, with no response from the current owner.&nbsp;The city would be taking on the property and costs associated with maintaining it, which it pretty much does now.“I don’t want to be Captain Obvious, but whether we have it on paper or not, we own the building. We basically do. We’re taking short-term measures on the abatements now, whereas if we owned it, we could take some long-term measures for security. I do agree that the only way we can do something with this is to acquire the ownership of it,” Burlington Mayor Jon Billups said.

City looks to take possession of the former Klein building

Emily Walker received a heart for Valentine’s Day.&nbsp;

Not a chocolate heart. Nor a heart-shaped card or those little hard candies with words on them. But a living one to replace the ailing 10-year-old heart Walker was born with.

Walker, a Fort Madison youngster who is a fourth-grader at Holy Trinity Catholic, underwent a heart transplant on Feb. 15. She came home two weeks later to begin recovery.

“After eight weeks, I can do whatever I want,” Emily said. “Mom and Dad (Maria and Brad Walker)have already signed me up for softball (in the Denmark League),” Emily said.

“She will be able to do anything and everything she ever wants. This (the transplant) gives her a second chance,” Maria Walker said.

“It’s been stressful to me, not putting her at risk for larger problems. We’re always going to run the risk of rejection.”

She is finishing her school year as a Holy Trinity Catholic student at home — the online version made necessary three years ago during the COVID-19 outbreak.

She will have physical and cardio therapy and doctor’s appointments that will keep her out of school too often. The therapy is because she’s been bedridden since the end of December.

“My teacher said whatever I can’t finish it’s fine,” Emily said.

Maria,&nbsp; a teacher at Holy Trinity, said the problems began well before Dec. 22, when she had to be sent to Iowa City.

“It started last summer,” Maria said. “We noticed she wasn’t as energetic. She was tired a lot. She just didn’t feel well.”

They went to the doctor, and he treated her for acid reflux, but that wasn’t the problem.

The next visit in September resulted in an asthma diagnosis because Emily had difficulty breathing, but that wasn’t the issue either.

The doctor. suggested it was “a socio-emotional situation,” Maria said, and he recommended counseling. “That didn’t seem to do anything.”

In December, Emily and her older brother Jacob got sick and stayed home from school for a week.

But on Dec. 21, Emily was sick again.&nbsp;

A day later, Emily began to get dry heaves and Brad took her to the emergency room.

A snowstorm had hit the area. Blizzard conditions and 60-mile-an-hour winds prevented Emily from being air-lifted to Iowa City. She was instead taken by ambulance and arrived at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital 3 a.m.

Maria thought it was a bad case of the flu, but she found herself talking to a myriad of doctors: “Cardiologists, kidney doctors, liver doctors, the on-staff doctors, the surgeons, everybody was in her room.

“We found out she had influenza A, pneumonia, and she was septic,” Maria said.

The cardiologist, Dr. Gary Beasley, said her heart had taken a big hit with the flu.

“Her heart was squeezing out only 15 percent of the blood,” Maria said, and that affected other parts of her body.

But while her kidney and liver recovered after a week’s rest, her heart condition still hadn’t changed.

Dr. Beasley recommended different medicines for another week.

But, “even at a resting heart rate, it was at 160,” Maria said. “That’s where most people are when they’re exercising. She was getting up over 200 if she was getting agitated.”

Medications given through a pic line didn’t help.

Emily was finally diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, and an enlarged heart and a transplant was deemed necessary.

So the family was presented with a few options for Emily to be able to go home, “To keep her safe and stable.

“The first was a defibrillator,” Maria said. “Any time her heart would get out of control, it would send a shock to her heart.”

Option No. 2 was the placement of a Left Vascular Assist Device, and that’s the road the family went down.

“A motor was placed into her heart and it would pump blood through the rest of her body,” Maria said.

A cord came out of her abdomen and connected to two batteries if she left the home or was hooked up to home power and plugged into the wall.

She had LVAD surgery on Jan. 11, and that put her on top of the list for a transplant.

Emily was sent home on Jan. 30. Two weeks later, the family got the call that a heart was available. It was the day after Valentine’s Day.

Throughout the ordeal, students and teachers at Holy Trinity Catholic put on fundraisers to help with the medical expenses, and not just members of the Holy Family parish but people in Fort Madison and surrounding towns reached out.

“A lot of people called,” Emily said. “Every minute, I’d hear a ding, ding, ding, ding, ding,’ ” as the phone made non-stop notification sounds.

“The first surgery, everybody sent me gifts and cards,” Emily said, “and I felt overwhelmed by the level of the stuff in my room. We didn’t have a really big room.”

“There were a lot of stuffed animals,” Maria said. “It was nice to know that everybody was thinking about (her).”

The hospital staff made a giant heart-shaped cookie that Emily said she couldn’t finish, and the staff also gave her a giant Happy Heart Day poster.

A few days before she left, Emily even received a visit from the University of Iowa women’s basketball standouts Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin; it was a surprise visit.

“I turned my head, and I basically jumped right out of my seat,” Emily said. “I got to take a photo with them. They signed my shirt, my water bottle, and my heart pillow.”

Regardless of what people say about sibling rivalry, Emily also said she missed being around her brothers, Jacob and Nathan.

When asked what she thought about the reality that someone had to die for her to get a heart, Emily said, “I thought somebody else was giving up their healthy heart for me, and then they would get a healthy heart too,” Emily said.

But such is not the case, so will there be a connection made between the Walkers and the family whose loved one gave up their heart?

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681399336476.jpeg" alt="Emily Walker, a fourth-grader at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Fort Madison, received a heart transplant the day after Valentine’s Day. Photo/Chris Faulkner" />
 <figcaption>Emily Walker, a fourth-grader at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Fort Madison, received a heart transplant the day after Valentine’s Day. Photo/Chris Faulkner</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerEmily Walker received a heart for Valentine’s Day.&nbsp;Not a chocolate heart. Nor a heart-shaped card or those little hard candies with words on them. But a living one to replace the ailing 10-year-old heart Walker was born with.Walker, a Fort Madison youngster who is a fourth-grader at Holy Trinity Catholic, underwent a heart transplant on Feb. 15. She came home two weeks later to begin recovery.“After eight weeks, I can do whatever I want,” Emily said. “Mom and Dad (Maria and Brad Walker)have already signed me up for softball (in the Denmark League),” Emily said.“She will be able to do anything and everything she ever wants. This (the transplant) gives her a second chance,” Maria Walker said.“It’s been stressful to me, not putting her at risk for larger problems. We’re always going to run the risk of rejection.”She is finishing her school year as a Holy Trinity Catholic student at home — the online version made necessary three years ago during the COVID-19 outbreak.She will have physical and cardio therapy and doctor’s appointments that will keep her out of school too often. The therapy is because she’s been bedridden since the end of December.“My teacher said whatever I can’t finish it’s fine,” Emily said.Unknown ailmentMaria,&nbsp; a teacher at Holy Trinity, said the problems began well before Dec. 22, when she had to be sent to Iowa City.“It started last summer,” Maria said. “We noticed she wasn’t as energetic. She was tired a lot. She just didn’t feel well.”They went to the doctor, and he treated her for acid reflux, but that wasn’t the problem.The next visit in September resulted in an asthma diagnosis because Emily had difficulty breathing, but that wasn’t the issue either.The doctor. suggested it was “a socio-emotional situation,” Maria said, and he recommended counseling. “That didn’t seem to do anything.”In December, Emily and her older brother Jacob got sick and stayed home from school for a week.But on Dec. 21, Emily was sick again.&nbsp;A day later, Emily began to get dry heaves and Brad took her to the emergency room.A snowstorm had hit the area. Blizzard conditions and 60-mile-an-hour winds prevented Emily from being air-lifted to Iowa City. She was instead taken by ambulance and arrived at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital 3 a.m.Maria thought it was a bad case of the flu, but she found herself talking to a myriad of doctors: “Cardiologists, kidney doctors, liver doctors, the on-staff doctors, the surgeons, everybody was in her room.“We found out she had influenza A, pneumonia, and she was septic,” Maria said.The cardiologist, Dr. Gary Beasley, said her heart had taken a big hit with the flu.“Her heart was squeezing out only 15 percent of the blood,” Maria said, and that affected other parts of her body.But while her kidney and liver recovered after a week’s rest, her heart condition still hadn’t changed.Dr. Beasley recommended different medicines for another week.But, “even at a resting heart rate, it was at 160,” Maria said. “That’s where most people are when they’re exercising. She was getting up over 200 if she was getting agitated.”Medications given through a pic line didn’t help.Emily was finally diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, and an enlarged heart and a transplant was deemed necessary.So the family was presented with a few options for Emily to be able to go home, “To keep her safe and stable.“The first was a defibrillator,” Maria said. “Any time her heart would get out of control, it would send a shock to her heart.”Option No. 2 was the placement of a Left Vascular Assist Device, and that’s the road the family went down.“A motor was placed into her heart and it would pump blood through the rest of her body,” Maria said.A cord came out of her abdomen and connected to two batteries if she left the home or was hooked up to home power and plugged into the wall.She had LVAD surgery on Jan. 11, and that put her on top of the list for a transplant.Emily was sent home on Jan. 30. Two weeks later, the family got the call that a heart was available. It was the day after Valentine’s Day.Large support groupThroughout the ordeal, students and teachers at Holy Trinity Catholic put on fundraisers to help with the medical expenses, and not just members of the Holy Family parish but people in Fort Madison and surrounding towns reached out.“A lot of people called,” Emily said. “Every minute, I’d hear a ding, ding, ding, ding, ding,’ ” as the phone made non-stop notification sounds.“The first surgery, everybody sent me gifts and cards,” Emily said, “and I felt overwhelmed by the level of the stuff in my room. We didn’t have a really big room.”“There were a lot of stuffed animals,” Maria said. “It was nice to know that everybody was thinking about (her).”The hospital staff made a giant heart-shaped cookie that Emily said she couldn’t finish, and the staff also gave her a giant Happy Heart Day poster.A few days before she left, Emily even received a visit from the University of Iowa women’s basketball standouts Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin; it was a surprise visit.“I turned my head, and I basically jumped right out of my seat,” Emily said. “I got to take a photo with them. They signed my shirt, my water bottle, and my heart pillow.”Regardless of what people say about sibling rivalry, Emily also said she missed being around her brothers, Jacob and Nathan.When asked what she thought about the reality that someone had to die for her to get a heart, Emily said, “I thought somebody else was giving up their healthy heart for me, and then they would get a healthy heart too,” Emily said.But such is not the case, so will there be a connection made between the Walkers and the family whose loved one gave up their heart?“We asked how that would work,” Maria said. “At this point our transplant coordinator said, if we would like to write a letter and reach out we can certainly write a letter to them, and they would be able to contact us.” It has to be a mutual agreement, she said.For now, Maria said, trying to hold back tears, “It’s hard to put into words how to thank them for this gift.”Of her daughter, she said, “She’s a miracle.”

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