Hazleton, IA

Apprx. 20 people seeking information gathered on Feb 1 to get one-on-one advice from UNI small business specialist Maureen Collins Williams of the UNI Regional Business Center. She spoke on low-cost startup ideas, resources to tap into, and the benefits of being an entreprenuer. Those present represented small business owners, people wanting to start a business, and those who jut wanted to gather information for the future. Many ideas were generated for those attending. This very informative meeting was sponsored by ISU Extension, the Horizons program, and MyEntre.net program in addition to UNI’s Regional Business Center.

In order to help those people desiring to start a business of their own, earn extra money, or improve the business already being operated, the Horizons group is sponsoring an “EntreBash”. All are encouraged to enjoy a free meal and hear the director of the UNI Regional Business Center give ideas on low cost startup for new businesses, resources to tap into, and the benefits of being an entrepreneur. Everyone interested is invited to the Legion Hall on Feb. 1st from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. For further information or the RSVP contact Vicki Buckman at 319-636-2821 or v_buck50@hotmail.com.

Seeing the sparkle in the eyes of the youngsters as they chose gifts for their families gave all of the adults helping with the project a feeling of extreme pleasure. Approximately 40 children participated in selecting something from the items donated by community members. Designed to provide a low cost shopping experience, the Christmas Shoppe drew smiles from the youngsters when they realized that they could give a small cost gift to their loved ones on Christmas Day. Volunteers helped wrap the gifts while the adults enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies as they waited for the shopping to be completed. A total of $114 was collected from the shopping. This money will be used for a yet to be determined purpose.

Santa Claus visited the Hazleton area children at the Legion Hall. Besides hearing the children’s wishes and desires for Christmas, Santa gave each child a sack of candy furnished by the Commercial Club. If the children had not been able to shop at the Christmas Shoppe the week before, they could visit it when they were finished visiting with Santa. An additional $40 was garnered from the children’s shopping. Their smiles when they were done shopping told it all!

To enhance the support for a healthy lifestyle and provide a family activity, the bike trail committee has worked on a statewide enhancement grant for C57 shoulder work which would be the widening of the shoulders of C57 and the paving of the shoulders. The tentative working name is Hazleton-Amish Trail. Much of the funding will be through the County Engineer’s department. The grant is an 80% cost share grant.

Work continues on connections to the Oelwein trail system, with property owners being contacted for easements.

The Christmas Shoppe was such a success in 2008, it will be repeated this year in 2009. Designed to help families with limited resources have a place to shop for Christmas gifts for others, the donated gifts range in price from $.25 to a $1.00. Community members have been saving items since last year to provide gifts for this year. Gifts are wrapped with donated wrapping paper before the children leave for home. Helpers have commented on what a wonderful feeling they have from being a part of making smiles happen for children when they can buy gifts for their family members! This “Shoppe” is only open for children, but while waiting, the parents can enjoy free coffee.

One of the local citizens who has a plot of land in the center of Hazleton has committed to preparing a portion of the land to be used for a garden location next spring. The Lamont Community Garden Committee will be mentoring Hazleton’s committee so that the group will be ready to offer garden spaces to residents for the coming growing season. It is hoped that funds for seed purchase and other needs of the committee can be secured via a grant from the Buchanan County Community Foundation or perhaps a Theisen Community Grant or donations from private citizens. Mentoring from Master Gardeners in the community will help those preparing gardens for the first time. Other skills necessary for helping people to grow and process their own food could come from the Extension Service personnel.

One of the members of this committee recently presented the City Council with information of what this committee has been doing and asking for their support in pursuing the free use of the Legion Hall for activities planned by the committee. It is hoped that several evenings of family game nights, a card party for seniors, mentoring of school students, and other activities can be planned for this winter. This would give the committee insight into what kind of activities are wanted and would be used by the community. it is hoped that the city would put in internet servie at the Legion Hall so that donated computers could be put into use.

Interest in the municipal elections set for November 3, 2009 is shown by the number of candidates that have filed papers to serve their community. Two people, the imcumbent and the former mayor, have chosen to run for the mayor’s position. Eight people are running for the three vacancies on the city council. Two incumbents are among the eight. The other six have never chosen to run for election before this year. Both the mayoral candidates and four of the council candidates have participated in various phases of the Horizons program. All the other candidates expressed interest in assisting with the different committees of Horizons when questioned last night during the “Meet the Candidates” night sponsored by the Hazleton Commercial Club.

The Hazleton Highlights continues to be published monthly and is sent to each household in the city. Recent features included locations of where people could receive help for any type of need. Most of these locations have been in existance for some time with the purpose of helping people who might need some assistance during tough economic times.