It’s mid-July, which means our youth baseball and softball teams have wrapped-up their seasons. Thanks to everyone who gave their time to coach, prep the fields, umpire and run the concession stand. It remains one of the best, long-standing aspects of small town living.

We had good participation in the clean-up day last month when we sent over 9,400 pounds of trash to the landfill. We plan to continue this going forward and appreciate the efforts of E-Z Trash and its employees in making this easier for all of us.

As I mentioned last month, Pickleball is coming to Marty Junge Memorial Park. The court is painted and the net will be installed soon. This is entirely a Lions Club effort, and another reminder of the good work they do in the community. I hope you’ll get down there and enjoy it.

Thanks to the American Legion and everyone who attended the flag burning ceremony last month. It was a terrific community event, and a great way to recognize some of the Veterans who live among us!

Lastly, I heard Van Horne’s Sesquicentennial (150 years) brought up for the first time this week. It’s eight years away, but probably not too early to start thinking about ideas to celebrate the occasion. Maybe get a jumpstart growing those beards gentlemen?

— Mayor Pat Gorkow

“People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.” – F.M. Alexander

Calendar

Beth Hoopes Appreciation Open House 7/17
Impact Life Blood Drive 7/24 Call 800-747-5401 for appt.
Community Pot Luck Luncheon on Tuesday 7/25
National Night Out 08/01
City Council Meeting on 8/14

Open House Honoring Beth Hoopes: Come show your appreciation to Beth for her outstanding service as owner/pharmacist of pharmacies in Van Horne, Belle Plaine and Marengo. Van Horne Community Center Monday July 17 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

ImpactLife Blood Drive Monday July 24 from 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. at the Van Horne Community Center. To schedule appt call 1-800-747-5401 or visit http://www.bloodcenter.org to schedule online.

Everyone is Invited to National Night Out Event on August 1 at 5pm at the Van Horne City Park, the purpose of the event is to strengthen the relationship between the community and law enforcement, as well as to bring awareness to the various social services available in the area for mental health and substance abuse?

MOSQUITO SPRAYING: The City of Van Horne is planning to spray for mosquitoes again this summer. State certified pesticide applicators will spray an ultra low volume non thermal aerosol (cold fog) to control adult mosquitoes in residential and recreational areas and other non-cropland areas where these insects are a problem. The City will use BIOMIST 1.5 + 7.5 ULV. Best results are achieved when the temperatures are cooler and the wind speed is below 10 mph. The city plans to spray on Thursday evenings or early mornings. If unable to fog on designated day, Tuesdays will be alternate days. No special precautions are necessary for residents normally, but you may call City Hall at 319-228-8238 for more information.

PUBLIC SWIM BUS: Will be running once again on Wednesdays in July (on the 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th). Children must be at least 7 years old and if you ride the bus to Belle Plaine you must ride the bus home. If the pool is experiencing bad weather the bus will not pick children up. Bus will pick children up 12:25 (no later so be a little early) at the Van Horne Elementary. The bus will leave Belle Plaine at 4:15 for the return ride. If you have any questions please contact Lance Hinschberger at 319-444-2200.

LIBRARY NEWS
FROM THE DIRECTOR:
Don’t forget Summer Reading Starts at 9:45 until 10:45 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays thru July.
Adult Fiction: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT by Sarah Adams, CROSS DOWN by James Patterson, THE SURVIVOR by Iris Johansen, NEAR MISS by Stuart Woods, FIRE STRIKE by Clive Cussler, TOM CLANCY’S OP-CTR: FALLOUT by Jeff Rovin, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER by Jenn McKinlay, TRAIL OF SECRETS by Lacy Williams, PRIVATE MOSCOW by James Patterson, BAD INFLUENCE by Robert B Parker
Adult Fiction Large Print Books: DEATH BY CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW PIE by Sarah Graves, CITY OF FORTUNE by Victoria Thompson, THE LIBYAN DIVERSION by Joel C. Rosenberg, SHE GETS JULY by Susan Page Davis, BLIND TRUST by Natalie Walters, DANIEL’S FINAL WEEK by Donna Vanliere, LITTLE PAULA by V.C. Andrews, ALL THE DAYS OF SUMMER by Nancy Thayer, THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND by Elin Hilderbrand
Children’s: WE ARE ONE by Jackie Azua Kramer, MY DAD IS A TREE by Jon Agee, WE ARE GOING TO BE PALS by Mark Teague, BIG SCHOOL PROJECT by Mike Berenstain, THE HORSEBACK LIBRARIANS by Jane Yolen, BOOP! By Bea Birdsong, A SMART, SMART SCHOOL by Sharon Creech
YA: FUNERAL SONGS FOR DYING GIRLS by Cherie Dimaline, IMOGEN, OBVIOUSLY by Becky Albertalli
Juvenile Non-Fiction: A BEETLE IS SHY by Dianna Hutts Aston, A SHELL IS COZY by Dianna Hutts Aston, THE MOON FROM A TO Z… AND BACK TO A by Mark Brown
Juvenile Fiction: THE FIRST MAGINFICENT SUMMER by R.L. Toalson, UNCLE FRED IS KNUCKLEHEAD! By Dan Gutman