Coralville Courier

Noelridge Greenhouse Easter Showcase is April 16 – 17

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Easter Showcase will be held this year on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Noelridge Greenhouse, 4900 Council Street NE. Admission is free. The first 500 children, ages 12 years and under, will receive a free plant.

Visitors will enjoy fairy gardens for sale and display by Friends of Noelridge, orchid information and sales by Eastern Iowa Orchid Society, and hosta information from the Hashbarger Hosta Society. House plants, birdhouses, and pressed flower greeting cards will also be available for sale. Call the Noelridge Greenhouse, 319-286-5762, for more information.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers updates Water Control Plan for Coralville Lake

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's new Water Control Plan for Coralville Lake was approved March 2022. The plan consists of operational parameters defining how, and when, water is stored and released from the reservoir. This includes a schedule of releases, conservation pool levels to be maintained during non-flood or drought conditions, and downstream water level constraints.

The following key issues were the primary purpose for updating Coralville Lake's Water Control Plan:

1. The Iowa River has experienced a significant increase in the magnitude and frequency of flooding.
2. Sedimentation within the reservoir has negatively impacted available conservation storage capacity.
3. Changes in land use and flood risk management infrastructure that effects the nature/start of flood impacts (e.g., levees within the City of Coralville, changes to Dubuque Street, etc.).
4. Several deviations from the previous water control plan that were approved and conducted over the years have demonstrated the need and viability of the changes to the plan.

As part of the plan update process, a feasibility study was conducted to identify ways to better meet mission objectives based on changes in flood frequencies, land use, and reservoir sedimentation. A final feasibility report with integrated environmental assessment was produced as part of this study and provides a detailed account of the planning, regulatory, and environmental considerations. The district began operating under the new plan in March 2022.

The Updated Plan Overview and Water Control Plan Documents can be found here.

Traffic Alert - Kimball Road

IOWA CITY -- Weather permitting, travel on the following street will be impacted on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. It is anticipated that normal traffic will resume by Friday, April 8^th.

• Kimball Road at its intersection with Gilbert Street
• Reduced to one lane of alternating traffic

This traffic pattern change will accommodate work on the Lower City Park and Kimball Road Storm Sewer Improvement Project.

Iowa City Police investigate reported assault

At approximately 1:46 a.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2022, Iowa City Police responded to the 400 Block of South Johnson Street for a report of an assault.

The female victim reported that as she was entering a residence she was approached from behind and attacked by an unknown male. The victim was transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for non-life threatening injuries. The victim described the suspect as a man with blonde hair.

The Iowa City Police Department recommends walking in pairs whenever possible and being aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid distractions such as cell phones if you area alone. If you believe you are being followed, go to a well-lit or crowded location and contact the police department at 319-356-5275. Always lock the doors of your residence, even when you are home.

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How you can help:

This incident is being actively investigated by the Iowa City Police Department and we are asking the public for assistance. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Iowa City Police Department at 319-356-5275. In addition, anyone in that area with security cameras is asked to review their recordings and contact the Iowa City Police Department with any potential footage or information about this incident.

Iowa City Area Crime Stoppers is also offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information about this incident that leads to an arrest. Crime Stoppers tips can be submitted via the P3 Tips app, online at iccrimestoppers.org, or by phone at 319-358-TIPS (8477). All tips and calls are held in strict confidence and anonymity is guaranteed. Individuals providing information are not required to reveal their identity to collect a reward.

CASE # 2022002427

Wendy's has the cheapest breakfast in town - Again

Best Fast Food Breakfast Deal in Town

By Mike Thayer

Wendy's first ran this promo back in December.  They're running it again.

What?  A Sausage, Egg & Cheese or Bacon, Egg & Cheese biscuit for just $1?

It's true, quite tasty and truly satisfying!

Wendy's is currently offering their Sausage, Egg & Cheese biscuit or their Bacon, Egg & Cheese biscuit for just $1.  DEAL!

You would be hard pressed to make a hot breakfast at home that cheap!  Never mind the work and time involved...

You can't go wrong with either the sausage or bacon biscuit

So on Friday, I had Wendy's for breakfast, ordering both the Sausage, Egg & Cheese biscuit and the Bacon, Egg & Cheese biscuit for breakfast.

Total cost: $2.15.  Talk about Bachelor on the Cheap wallet friendly!

The biscuits were warm and flaky, quite excellent.  The meats were prepared well, a nice portion in each along with a whole egg and the cheese is melted nicely.  Either one is a VERY GOOD breakfast biscuit and only costs $1!

Which one was my favorite?  I'm a sausage guy, but I would order either again without hesitation.

bacon in every bite

I'm giving the Wendy's breakfast biscuit deal 5 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  These breakfast biscuit sandwiches are darn tasty and the cheapest fast food breakfast in town!  It's SO worthy of a repeat buy, but only available for a limited time.

$pend Wisely My Friends...

A square sausage patty, OK, it's Wendy's after all, no matter, it's good sausage

Wendy's Locations Near You

Register Now for Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Summer Programs

Cedar Rapids, IA – Registration is underway for Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation summer programs and camps. The Department’s summer program guide is now available online at www.crrec.org and will be mailed to residents beginning April 4 inside the City’s Our CR magazine. The Play! guide has programs that run from April through August, pool schedules, golf information and lessons, summer camps, park information, and more.

Summer programs include activities for all ages at Northwest Recreation Center, Old MacDonald’s Farm, and Ushers Ferry Historic Village; sports; swim lessons; and lifeguard certification classes. New programs include Family Hayrack Nights, Story Time Nature Walks, Fantasy Foam Battle Camp, Paddle Pirate Adventure, Fannie Farmer Cooking School, and Paddle Explorers canoe and kayak classes at Ushers Ferry; Birds – Nurturing Nature; Little Yogis yoga; Free & Easy 5K; Little Hoopsters basketball; Rec United Summer Soccer; and Ultimate Frisbee Camp. Other new activities are ISU Extension Mini Camps: Babysitting Basics, and Art Investigators; and Master Gardener programs: Plant a Seed/Watch it Grow, The Monarch Life Cycle, and Make a Bee House.

Register quickly and conveniently online (www.crrec.org), in person at Northwest Recreation Center (1340 11^th Street NW) or City Services Center (500 15^th Avenue SW), by phone (319-286-5566), or by mail. Northwest Recreation Center business hours are weekdays from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. City Services business hours are weekdays from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Mail forms are available in the Play! guide and online.

Summer Season pool passes are available this year. Passes provide admission to any water exercise class, or age appropriate open, family, lap, or adult swim. Passes purchased on or before May 21, 2022, receive an early bird discount. Renew last year’s pass online (www.crrec.org); or purchase a new pass at the Parks & Recreation Office at City Services Center, or the Northwest Recreation Center. Schedules, pool pass forms, and more information are available on the Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation website: www.crrec.org.

Celebrate Earth Month with the City's Green Homes Challenge

Participants to be Recognized at EcoFest on April 23 

CEDAR RAPIDS -- April is Earth Month, and to celebrate, the City of Cedar Rapids is asking residents to participate in the City’s Green Homes program by completing sustainable actions or making future commitments and then logging them online. Cedar Rapids residents and neighborhoods participating in the program challenge will be recognized at EcoFest, held in person this year on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at NewBo City Market.  

The Green Homes program (formerly the Sustainable Neighborhoods program) was launched last fall, celebrating sustainable actions in neighborhoods and supporting the mission of the City’s Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The CCAP declares an urgency to take climate action in Cedar Rapids and to support the community’s most vulnerable residents while doing so.  

Green Homes encourages all citizens, including homeowners and renters, to complete sustainable actions, such as riding a bike or taking the bus; raising chickens or bees; planting a tree (see the ReLeaf plan for ideas) or pollinator plants; shopping secondhand; growing fruits and vegetables at home or participating in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program; picking up litter through the City Manager’s 1 Bag Challenge; and more.  

Residents are encouraged to view sustainable actions and future commitments on the City’s online interactive dashboard, which shows neighborhood and quadrant participation, sustainability actions, and commitments.  

At 12 p.m. noon at EcoFest, Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell will recognize the Cedar Rapids quadrant and top three neighborhoods who have logged the most participation on the Green Homes dashboard. To be counted toward the quadrant/neighborhood recognition, residents must complete the program survey and log their actions by Thursday, April 21, at 5 p.m. All Green Homes challenge participants who attend EcoFest can also receive a sustainability giveaway item at the event, such as an LED lightbulb or a countertop compost bucket. 

“The Green Homes challenge provides residents with an easy way to take stock of their sustainability actions and shoot for more,” said Eric Holthaus, Sustainability Coordinator at the City of Cedar Rapids. “The program is the first action in the City’s Community Climate Action Plan — which has a lot of actions in it. Amid the size and complexity of all that important work, I’m glad we can provide tangible actions for residents to take and keep moving, wherever they are, on their sustainability journey.” 

So far, over 100 homes have participated in the Green Homes challenge, and the neighborhood associations with the most participation are Taylor, Wellington Heights, and Cherry Hill. 

“The Green Homes program offers a tangible way for residents to become involved in sustainability efforts and the Community Climate Action Plan at their own homes, as well as start a discussion with neighbors on ways to make their neighborhoods more sustainable,” said Jeff Wozencraft, City of Cedar Rapids Planner of Community Development. “It’s a great way to reinforce that, together, residents can have a collective impact on the sustainability of Cedar Rapids.” 

The Green Homes program is represented in the CCAP’s vision to reduce carbon emissions by 45 perent by the year 2030 and to net-zero by 2050, listed as “Action 1: Build a Sustainable Neighborhood program to advance sustainability achievements in each neighborhood and provide an exciting neighborhood-building opportunity for Neighborhood Associations.”   

For more information on joining the challenge and ideas for sustainable actions, visit CityofCR.com/Green. For more on this year’s EcoFest event, visit EcoFestCR.org.  

Traffic Alert - Intersection of Center and Church Streets

IOWA CITY -- Weather permitting, travel on the following streets will be impacted beginning Wednesday, April 6, 2022. It is anticipated that normal traffic will resume by Wednesday, April 27^th.

• Center Street at its intersection with Church Street
• Church Street from Center Street to Reno Street
• Complete closure
• Access to residences will be maintained

These closures will accommodate sanitary sewer repair work in the area.

For information on road construction in Iowa City, visit www.icgov.org/travelalerts. 

Video Update: Your Best Lawn, Sculptors Showcase, and more

Iowa City Update is a weekly video featuring City of Iowa City projects, programs, and events. Topics this week include a rebate program to help residents develop a healthier lawn, a call for artists to submit to our Sculptors Showcase, and much more! Select the image below to watch Iowa City Update.

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Your Best Lawn Program

Iowa City homeowners can get a healthier, greener lawn without excessive chemical use. Learn how you can get up to 50% off the cost of soil quality restoration treatment.

Iowa City Sculptors Showcase

Submissions are open for Iowa artists interested in having their sculptures on display around Iowa City for a year. 

Hope and Climate Action Discussion

You can join this online discussion about the positive solutions and progress we’ve made through local efforts to combat climate change.

Electric Bus Bash

You’re invited to join our Electric Bus Bash, which will include a variety of family-friendly activities to celebrate the addition of four new electric buses to Iowa City Transit.

Iowa City Update - Your source for Iowa City news and information.

Rock Legends Night Ranger to Headline Coralville’s Free 4thFest Concert

Heavy-hitting rock legends Night Ranger will headline Coralville’s free summer outdoor concert in S.T. Morrison Park on July 3 as part of the 2022 4thFest celebration.

About the Band
With their well-known rock ‘n roll sound, Night Ranger has sold over 17 million albums worldwide, performed across more than 4,000 stages, and captivated a radio audience that exceeds one billion. Their popularity is fueled by an impressive number of instantly recognizable hit singles and signature album tracks, including legendary titles such as "Sister Christian," "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," "When You Close Your Eyes," and "(You Can Still) Rock In America," along with "Sentimental Street," "Goodbye," "Sing Me Away," and "Four in the Morning." 

Night Ranger continues to grow their ever-evolving fan-base. With killer melodies, intricate instrumentalization, and captivating lyrics, Night Ranger has earned widespread recognition that includes both multi-platinum and gold album status, all while leaving their indelible mark on the music industry with a long list of best-selling albums.

Over the years, the band's music has been featured in global media and pop culture. Night Ranger was one of the first big "video" bands on MTV, with over ten number one hit videos. Their songs can be heard in television shows like The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, American Dad, Glee, Grey's Anatomy, and Parks & Recreation.  The band’s music has been featured in video games such as Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and Grand Theft Auto; the hit Broadway musical Rock of Ages, the Oscar-nominated film Boogie Nights, and other feature films such as Friday the 13th, Teachers, Sixteen Candles, and The Secret of My Success. Most recently the band’s classic hit “Sister Christian” can be heard in a Dr. Pepper commercial. They can also be heard throughout JBL’s "Hear The Truth" brand campaign.

Night Ranger released their twelfth studio album, "ATBPO” (And The Band Played On), in 2021. Night Ranger is Jack Blades (bass, vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals), Brad Gillis (lead and rhythm guitars), Eric Levy (keyboards), and Keri Kelli (lead and rhythm guitars).

About the Concert
The annual free 4thFest concert takes place on the evening of July 3 in Coralville’s S.T. Morrison Park. The concert is one of many long-standing Coralville Independence Day traditions, which include a parade and fireworks. To learn more about 4thFest, visit www.coralville.org/4thFest.