Coralville Courier

Find what you're looking for in the Corridor!

Whether you're a lifelong resident of the Corridor area, a University of Iowa student, or just visiting the area, you've come to the right place if you're looking for information about lodging, dining, activities, finding a good mechanic, a lawyer and otherwise in the Metro area! Looking for a refreshing dinner experience? Find a restaurant that intrigues you in Metro Pursuit. Have some relatives coming into town and need some entertaining ideas? Find some in Metro Pursuit. Need to move? Find a house or apartment to your liking in Metro Pursuit. Serving the entire Corridor and the metro areas of Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, Riverside, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion and surrounding communities!

Repurpose ordinary materials during the Upcycling Convention

Challenge your creativity during our Upcycling Convention. This competition is meant to encourage locals to solve a problem by creating an invention made of primarily recycled or upcycled materials. 

The Upcycling Convention will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the East Side Recycling Environmental Education Center, 2401 Scott Blvd. SE. 

Participants must sign up prior to the Convention to compete. Winners will be determined from four different categories:

• Adult
• Student
• Most Creative
• Most Recycled Materials Used

Sign up to participate in the Upcycling Convention to showcase your own upcycled invention by contacting Rachel Oswald at 319-339-5399 or rachel-oswald@iowa-city.org.

Note: Projects made at the Upcycling Series events will not be accepted.

Politically Correct B.S. strikes Iowa Basketball again - Gary Dolphin suspended for innocent "King Kong" comment

By Mike Thayer

Gary Dolphin has been suspended for the rest of the season for making a totally innocent comment that has been deemed politically incorrect by some seemingly very anal people in sports management.

Here's the Dolphin comment in question, a five-seconds long, matter-of-fact statement about a Maryland player who was kicking some butt:

“They (the Terrapins) had some pretty good long range shooting and then (Maryland big man Bruno) Fernando was King Kong at the end of the game.”

I got what he was saying, Fernando was blocking shots, pulling down rebounds and scoring big buckets, just like King Kong swatted down planes from the top of the Empire State building.  King Kong kicked some butt, so did Fernando.

Maryland beat Iowa 66-65 in large part, because of Fernando's tenacity.

Here's the official Statement from Hawkeye Sports Properties, a division of Learfield Sports: 

Feb. 22, 2019 — Hawkeye Sports Properties, the multimedia rights manager for University of Iowa Athletics, today announced it has suspended play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin indefinitely through the remaining basketball season. The decision follows an inappropriate comment made by Dolphin during Tuesday’s broadcast of the Iowa men’s basketball game against Maryland.

Gary Dolphin issued the following statement: “During the broadcast, I used a comparison when trying to describe a talented Maryland basketball player. In no way did I intend to offend or disparage the player. I take full responsibility for my inappropriate word choice and offer a sincere apology to him and anyone else who was offended. I wish the Iowa Hawkeye players, coaches and fans all the very best as they head into the final stretch of the season. I will use this as an opportunity to grow as a person and learn more about unconscious bias.”

For the remainder of the basketball season, Jim Albracht and Bobby Hansen will serve as the radio announcers for Iowa’s men’s basketball games.

So what we have here, is the comment police.   Hawkeye Sports Properties has taken something totally innocent and turned it, no, morphed it into something faux racist.  It's absurd what HSP has done.  There was NO "unconscious bias" in Dolphin's words and I don't think anybody that's intelligent is upset by what he said.  Some in management at Hawkeye Sports Properties are anal.  Period.  Unconscious bias my butt.  HSP puts those words in that statement and Dolphin had to attach his name to it in the name of politically correct appeasement, perhaps even job preservation.  

Question:  Was Fernando offended by the comment?  Was ANYBODY offended by the comment?   We haven't heard from anybody on this except HSP and a supporting statement issued by the Iowa Athletic Department, a.k.a., Gary Barta.

Dolphin was suspended for two games earlier this year for telling the truth.  I'm thinking somebody high up just doesn't like the guy.  What's next, suspend him for sneezing and accidentally getting some snot on the microphone?

Dolphin has twice been selected as Iowa Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association and was recently presented with the 2018 Distinguished Service Award by the Iowa Hawkeye Football team.

 

Senior helps bring more hearing assistance to Senior Center

The Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center (The Center) has installed additional hearing assistive technologies to better serve community members with hearing loss. The new technology was made possible thanks to a generous donation from George Khal, Olga Sassine, and an anonymous contributor. These three donor helped add assistive listening FM receivers to several rooms in The Center, so patrons could have improved hearing in the Assembly Room, Room 202, and Rom 208. The devices bridge the gap between listener and the sound source by eliminating the effects of distance, background noise, and reverberation.  Devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants are frequently not enough to help users hear clearly. After Kahl learned there were listening systems in only two classrooms at The Center, and after he struggled to hear in the large Assembly Room, Khal set out to equip the space with similar systems by spearheading the donation. “I am an advocate for better hearing so that we can truly understand and enjoy the programs, and especially to reduce the isolation that many seniors experience because of their hearing loss,” Kahl said. Each of these spaces are also available to the public to rent for special events. The Center offers a large lineup of diverse programming, access to professional services, and fitness equipment to help community members age 50 and above stay active, curious, and connected. The Center is located in the heart of Iowa City at 28 South Linn Street. To learn more, view the current program guide or become a member visit icgov.org/senior/ or call 319-356-5220.

Shooting Incident in the 1700 Block of Wilson Avenue SW

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Cedar Rapids police officers responded to the report of shots fired near Wilson Avenue and 18^th Street SW at 1:04 p.m.  When officers arrived, they found a garage and a vehicle had been struck by gunfire in the 1700 block of Wilson Avenue SW.  Officers also determined that a 19-year old male sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound to a lower extremity and went to a local hospital by private vehicle prior to officers’ arrival.

Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears several gunshot rounds were discharged from a passing vehicle.  Investigators believe that this was a targeted incident.

There is an active, ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Cedar Rapids Police Department at (319) 286-5491 or Linn County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-CS-CRIME (272-7463) or text CRIMES (274637) and in the message/subject, type 5227 and your tip.  You can continue to trade information with an investigator.  Text STOP to opt out at any time. 

Disclaimer:  Any arrest information included above is based on the legal conclusion that, as with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Girl Scout Cookie Door Dash

Girl Scouts Plan Special Door-to-Door Campaign on March 2, 2019 

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA. -- It’s been a long winter for everyone, including Girl Scouts who are eager to find customers looking to purchase cookies. Girl Scouts across the 38-county-council region are making plans to visit their neighbors and sell cookies door-to-door. On March 2, Girl Scouts will be taking their “Walking Cookie Booths” around town to sell cookies, work towards their goals, and make fun memories.

If you’re wanting to purchase Girl Scout Cookies, you may have a Girl Scout Troop visit your home this upcoming weekend or you can visit www.GirlScoutCookies.org to find where a “Cookie Booth” will be hosted at a local retailer or community event near you. Just put in your zip code to find scheduled cookie booths through the end of the sale on March 24, 2019. 

About Girl Scout Cookies

The tradition of Girl Scouts selling cookies has been around for more than 100 years. Proceeds from your purchase stay local and help ensure quality, local programming for girls and support for volunteers. From offering financial assistance to girls in underserved areas to building a premier summer camp, the Cookie Sale Program has brought many positive initiatives to our communities. The Cookie Sale Program also provides troops the opportunity to raise funds and fuel the exciting opportunities they have planned for the year. Whether it’s a trip she’ll never forget, a service project that will change her community forever, or the opportunity to build a lifetime of memories at camp, Girl Scout Cookies help make it all happen!

Traditional flavors are $4/box and the S’mores cookies and gluten free Toffee-tastic cookies are $5/box. To find Girl Scout Cookies, visit www.girlscoutstoday.org or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app, free on iOS and Android devices. Cookies will be available for purchase until March 24, 2019.

About Girl Scouts

Through the Girl Scout Program, girls learn to face challenges head-on, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, create lasting relationships, and find dynamic solutions to social issues—all while building the skills and courage they need to take the lead every day and empower themselves for life. To join or volunteer, visit www.GirlScoutsToday.org.

City Circle Theatre Company announces its 2019–2020 season

City Circle Theatre Company of Coralville has announced its 2019–2020 season.

The 2019–2020 season opens in September with The Christians by Lucas Hnath, a riveting drama about the complicated fallout when personal faith clashes with institutional doctrine. The New York Times describes Hnath as “one of the freshest playwriting voices to emerge in the past five years.” The Christians runs September 20–22, 2019.

In December, the heartwarming musical Annie is sure to be a holiday treat for the whole family! With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie will charm your heart in this Tony Award-winning musical based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray. Filled with wonderful characters and unforgettable songs, Annie runs December 6–8 and 13–15, 2019.

A concert version of Evita will electrify your Valentine’s Day weekend. Winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s tour-de-force musical with an electrifying score is filled with unforgettable Broadway numbers including its grand anthem, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.” Evita runs February 14–16, 2020.

In May a beloved blonde will take the stage by pink storm in the fun, upbeat Legally Blonde The Musical based on the adored movie of the same name. Join Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams in this family friendly musical exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances. The show will run May 1–3 and 8–10, 2020.

City Circle’s annual teen show, Disney’s High School Musical, caps the 22nd season on June 12–14, 2020. Join Troy, Gabriella and the Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes at East High in this fun musical filled with catchy songs and exciting dance routines.

City Circle Theatre Company is the community theatre of Coralville and the resident theatre company of the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. For ticket information go to coralvillearts.org.

Today's Weather Outlook for the Corridor

Today's weather forecast and a four day outlook.  Check this page for the latest weather reports in the corridor area.  Up-to-date weather conditions for the Iowa City area are observed at the Iowa City, Iowa City Municipal Airport, IA.  For weather conditions specific to other cities outside the corridor area, just type in your zip code below.

Type in your zip code for your weatherecast

 

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Smokehouse/Chophouse Style Challenge: Reviewing a BBQ pizza from Pizza Hut - Bachelor on the Cheap

By Mike Thayer

I recently wrote about what to look forward to in 2019 from fast food.  Trending, are smokehouse/steakhouse style burgers and sandwiches and the meat of the year is predicted to be brisket.

Consumers are clamoring for something more, creations beyond the ordinary realm of classic burger and sandwich flavors.  People want smokey, they desire more than just ketchup and mustard, folks are calling for cheeses with deeper flavors and buns with a little more tease than run-of-the-mill sesame seeds.  And it's no different when it comes to other meat on bread options, a.k.a., pizza, consumers are looking for more, something beyond the traditional flavors.

Tonight for dinner I opted for another 'other' meat on bread option, deciding on a BBQ pizza from Pizza Hut.

Pizza Hut doesn't have a BBQ version for a Meat Lovers pizza on the menu, but you can customize your own pizza to create one.  Here's what I crafted using their online menu for a carry-out order:

• Thin & Crispy crust
• Garlic butter brushed on the crust
• Honey BBQ sauce (The only BBQ sauce offering available)
• Extra Cheese
• Beef
• Pork
• Grilled chicken
• Bacon
• Red Onion

Read the full review at www.bacheloronthecheap.com

Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center has amazing opportunities!!!!

18003JDJ                   Audio Visual Ops Supervisor

18003JDF                   Starbucks Barista

18003JBO                  Lead Night Auditor

18003JC5                   Guest Service Representative

190000HD                 Restaurant Supervisor

190009CH                 Dishwasher (PM Shift)

19000C7Z                  Banquet Operations Supervisor

19000BEL                  Loss Prevention Officer

19000DP6                  Banquets Event Set-Up

19000AF3                  Server Attendant-Dining Room

19000FCE                  Cook (Breakfast) 

Apply by using the following link: www.marriott.com/careers [marriott.com]  Search by job number

Parks and Recreation to hold Seasonal Job Fair

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – February 21, 2019 –The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department will hold a seasonal job fair on Saturday, March 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Public Library’s downtown branch. The job fair will allow potential employees to learn about more than 250 spring and summer seasonal openings in the divisions of Parks, Recreation, Aquatics and Golf.

“We have positions that are great for first time job seekers, college students, teachers and retired individuals,” said Scott Hock, Parks and Recreation Director. “Many are outdoor positions at parks, golf courses and pools so people can still enjoy their summer while earning extra money.”

Most positions are open to individuals ages 16 and older, however, certified lifeguards can be hired at 15. Applicants will be able to fill out applications and interview at the fair. Find more information about seasonal jobs at www.cedar-rapids.org.