Eldon Does Something Cool - Plants Trees With Help From Trees Forever and Alliant Energy

Eldon— Volunteers and community leaders in Eldon are planting trees to provide shade and save energy through the Trees Forever and Alliant Energy Branching Out community tree-planting program.

“We’re looking forward to working with Trees Forever and Alliant Energy this year to plant trees,” says Jessica Strom. “Together, we are growing a better environment while making our community more beautiful and attractive.”

“Trees Forever and Alliant Energy are committed to improving the environment and our quality of life. Especially this year when many communities were hit hard by the late winter storms that damaged or destroyed so many trees,” says Shannon Ramsay, Trees Forever President and CEO. “We thank our local volunteers in Eldon for their dedication and hard work and look forward to helping with positive solutions this year--- tree by tree, neighborhood by neighborhood.”

Alliant Energy will award $64,962.00 in grants to assist 15 Iowa communities and groups with tree-planting projects this fall. Eldon will receive $5,000 for its ambitious tree-planting project.

Planting trees helps reduce peak electric demand, keeps communities healthy and vital, and provides long-term environmental benefits.

“Energy efficiency is important to us and we believe our investment in tree planting and education will help our customers become more aware of the benefits that trees have to offer,” said Tom Aller, president of Alliant Energy-Interstate Power and Light. “We care about the communities we serve and welcome the opportunity to help them.”

If you would like to volunteer to help plant and care for trees in Eldon, please call Jessica Strom at (641) 652-3352 or Trees Forever at 1-800-369-1269.

Branching Out grant applications are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year, but are considered for funding during two grant-making cycles (spring and fall). The next application deadline is November 1, 2007. Spring 2008 grant recipients will be announced in December. For more information, contact Trees Forever at 1-800-369-1269. Applications are available online at www.alliantenergy.com/branchingout or www.treesforever.org.

Branching Outis a nationally-recognized program where Alliant Energy, Trees Forever and Iowa communities work together to plan and create outstanding tree-planting projects. The program is designed to encourage energy efficiency, environmental awareness, and community stewardship in Iowa.

Branching Outis offered exclusively to Iowa communities where Alliant Energy provides electric and/or natural gas service. The utility provides grants of between $500 and $10,000 for community-based, tree-planting projects – like parks, gateways, cemeteries, nature trails, libraries, nursing homes, schools and more. Trees Forever administers the program, providing technical and planning support.

Behind Grant Wood’s canvas

"This couple doesn’t need any convincing. She dips her left foot gingerly into the patterned purple dress, pulling it up to her neck. Her husband hooks the Union Bay overalls at his chest and reaches to help her close the clasp.

“It almost fits me,” she says, while tying the apron behind her back."

$5,000 Alliant Energy / Trees Forever Grant Awarded

Eldon— The American Gothic House Center (AGHC) of Eldon, Iowa has been awarded a $5,000 Alliant Energy / Trees Forever grant through its Branching Out program. The check will be presented at the Eldon City Council meeting Tuesday, September 11, 2007.

The AGHC project will include planting a concentration of Oak trees, other non-Oak deciduous trees, Eastern Red Cedars and Serviceberries for a total of 36 trees. The goal of the project is to include a variety of trees native to Southeast Iowa. The AGHC is seeking additional funds to incorporate the Oak trees into a Prairie Oak Savannah restoration.

The trees will be planted by the Wapello County Conservation Board beginning Monday, November 12, 2007. Please contact Jessi Strom at 641-652-3352 if you would like to be a part of the tree planting.

Branching Out is a nationally-recognized grant program through which Alliant Energy, Trees Forever and local community leaders work together to fund and implement tree-planting projects. The program is designed to encourage energy efficiency, environmental awareness and community involvement in Iowa.

Since the start of the Branching Out program in 1989, more than 1.1 million trees and seedlings have been planted as part of 2,188 Iowa projects by a volunteer force of 111,117 people. Environmentally, the trees planted represent a kilowatt hour savings of 13,918,553—or enough energy to power more than 1,700 average-size residential homes for one year.

Struggling Iowa town finds hope in American Gothic painting

"ELDON, Iowa — The perfectly arched and cross-paned gothic window is everywhere.

It is among the blue ribbon winners at the Wapello County Fair crafts barn, built out of 16 Popsicle sticks. It's printed on yellow banners that hang from lampposts lining Elm Street. And down American Gothic Street, it sits atop the white cottage."

Thanks for supporting Gothic House Center

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community of Eldon and Wapello County for their support of our new American Gothic House Center. We had a successful grand opening Saturday, June 9, with about 300-350 visitors the day of the opening and another 350 since.

The enthusiasm for the facility and exhibit has been great. The committee responsible for raising the funds and grants for the building, the volunteers who signed up to help operate the gift shop, give tours and clean the facility, and the many visitors who have already stopped by show that there is a strong passion for Grant Wood and his American Gothic.

Visitors enjoy putting together the magnetic puzzles in the exhibit hall, putting on American Gothic costumes to take their own picture in front of the original house and watching the animated film “Dropping in on Grant Wood.”

A big thanks goes out to the contractors who worked so hard to have a parking lot, road and sidewalk done in time, the individuals who helped bake cookies for our opening reception, the many volunteers who raised the necessary funds to pay for this project (and continue to do so as new needs are discovered) and everyone who gave what they could — whether it was time, talent or money.

Thank you.

Jessica Strom

Great day planned at Gothic Days celebration

"ELDON — Grant Wood’s American Gothic painting will come alive today at the annual Gothic Days celebration."

New center a highlight of next weekend’s Eldon Gothic Days

"ELDON — This year, Eldon has twice as much to celebrate at Eldon Gothic Days. In addition to the traditional activities, supporters will celebrate the opening of the much anticipated visitor center."

Strom named Gothic House Visitors Center administrator

"ELDON — The American Gothic House Visitor Center has gained another friend — professional curator Jessi Strom."

Excitement growing in Eldon

"ELDON — Excitement is the only thing building faster than the construction crew at the Gothic House Visitor’s Center."

Construction of Gothic House Center under way

"ELDON — The building is going up “fast, fast, fast,” according to Brenda Kremer."

Gothic House Visitor's Center receives funding

"ELDON — What would have been “later” improvements for the American Gothic House Visitors Center will now be able to be done sooner thanks to the Iowa Legislature."

Wapello Co. Supervisors to look at Gothic House's 28E agreement between Eldon and county

"OTTUMWA — The American Gothic House in Eldon will be the main focus of the Wapello County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday."

Eldon receives $15,000 grant Visitor Center construction

"ELDON — A $15,000 grant has been awarded to the city of Eldon to help with the construction of the American Gothic Visitor Center."

Vacant 'American Gothic' house home to American art history

"Grant Wood's "American Gothic" is the most recognizable painting in the history of American art, which should make the modest Carpenter Gothic structure in the background the art world's most famous house."

'American Gothic': A Man, a Woman and a Pitchfork

"WHEN Steven Biel followed Route 16 (the ''American Gothic Parkway'') out of Eldon, Iowa, onto American Gothic Street to visit the source of his subject -- Grant Wood's painting -- it ''didn't occur'' to him at first to look at the house ''anywhere but straight on.''"

American Gothic

"In his home of Cedar Rapids, locals knew Grant Wood as the "town artist." A self-taught painter and devoted Iowan, Wood's early canvases, often meticulously rendered landscapes of fields of corn waving in the wind, showcased his love for his home state. But it's his most famous painting for which the majority of Americans will remember him. Need a hint? Here are four: a white house with a sloped roof, a sour-looking woman, a stern man... and a pitchfork."