Ellsworth, IA

Ellsworth High School colors were purple and Gold. The Horizons Project has made bright yellow the communication color. Now…when something is mailed on yellow paper…people read it.

70 People enjoyed a meal catered by Hickory Park of Ames and cookies from Subway in Ellsworth. 50 meals were made for people to take home. Left over meat was donated to be served as sandwiches at Ellsworth Bingo. Leftover cookies were taken to some of the shut-ins in our community.
The circle continues to be drawn wider in our community as some of the participants were there for the first time.
The Noon Meals on Wheels Program was announced as the first project to be started in our community as a result of the Horizons Project.
Brainstorming was done to gather ideas for events that can be done yet this summer to gather us as community…to help us know each other better as we work together as Ellsworth Citizens In Action (Ellsworth CIA) toward shared goals partnered with established organizations to better our community. Many ideas came as a result of this session and citizens left hopeful of action.

Sweet Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream Cones!! 130 ice cream cones were eaten on Thursday June 12th! It was a great evening on main street…the first night it had NOT rained in a long time. “Let’s do this again!” was heard over and over. Flyers were given out that invited people to The Community Supper on Tuesday, June 24. The weather was nice on the weekend also, when we joined in the events of Jewell Jubilee in the neighboring community.

Following the Leadership Plenty training, citizen attendance at City Council Meetings has increased. This has become an important link in our community. This is good for the community and our leaders. Hearing things first hand and having things clarified helps to have Ellsworth citizens informed instead of just assuming the facts are known. The council is receptive to having citizens attend.

Friday the 13th’s have become special in Ellsworth, but because of a neighboing community’s town celebration Ellsworth has planned an “Almost Friday the 13th” community event for Thursday June 12th. Free Ice Cream Cones on Main Street!! We will use this opportunity to tell people about the upcoming Citizens in Action meeting on June 24.

Concerned citizens attended the recent City Council meeting to give voice to a concern about a proposed change in responsibility of who pays for what if there is a water break or leak in household water systems. In light of the poverty level in our community, it was felt that making citizens responsible for what has been the city’s responsibility made no good sense. The city then clarified their plans and no changes were made. It is good to have a voice…but so much better to use our voices together.