friday takeout

Residents in Decorah and Calmar have reported black bear sightings in the area of Trout Run Access Area in Decorah and crossing Iowa Highway 9 at a nearby quarry site. (KCRG-TV news story). The Decorah Police Department and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are tracking the bear.

The bear visited Pivo Brewery and various downtown businesses. A local resident took a photo (pictured at left) when the bear was exiting the student parking lot at the Calmar campus and heading to the retention pond. Photo was sent to Marti Leiran, NICC Groundskeeper.

The Iowa DNR recommends bringing in garbage and keeping garages and sheds shut. DNR officials also say residents should not approach the bear.

Take Charge of your Indoor Air Quality.

Did you know that the average American spends 90% of their time indoors? And if that statistic doesn't blow your mind, how about this - according to Rich Corsi, dean of engineering and computer science at Portland State University: “Americans spend more time inside buildings than some whale species spend underwater.” What?!! You can (literally) breathe easier while spending time indoors by taking a few simple steps to educate yourself about potential toxins, and making choices to ventilate your house. Download the Silent Spring Institute's Detox Me App for environmental health guidance at your fingertips!

The Environmental Protection Agency also has awesome guides on their website for how to improve your indoor air quality at home and in your schools and workplaces. Check out these articles from the EPA: Asthma Triggers: Gain Control, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home, Protect Indoor Air Quality in your Home.

Sarah Corey

Library Specialist | Peosta

Do you have a dream vacation you want to take someday when the timing, money or circumstances allow?

I would love to go to Norway. I started studying Norwegian in high school and try to keep up with it still. It’d be fun to test out my language skills. Also Norway is an incredibly beautiful country and I want to see reindeer in real life.

Who is your favorite author and what genre do they write? What are a few of your favorite works of theirs?

I guess I have to answer this one since I work in the library. Recently I’ve gotten into the works of Olga Tokarczuk, a Polish writer who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2018. I really enjoyed both Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead and The Books of Jacob. Tokarczuk doesn’t really belong to a particular genre, but her works are quite imaginative and I recommend that people check her out. (I also have to plug Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier because that’s my favorite book).

What was your favorite afternoon snack as a kid?

Is it weird to say green olives?

What are your favorite activities to enjoy the seasons – spring, summer, fall, winter? (Choose one season)

Late spring is my favorite time of year. My husband and I love to garden, and we have a pretty big vegetable garden. I get so excited when it’s finally nice enough out to start planting. I also love sitting outside and reading.

What was your favorite class or subject in middle school or high school? Did it influence your career in some way?

My favorite class was world history. I majored in history in college, with the hope of someday teaching history in a college setting. Plans changed, though, and now I work in a library surrounded by a ton of history books, so I’m pretty content.