BY JUDY KRIEGER, COURIER EDITOR
July 07, 2009 01:09 pm
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Once again, some young Ottumwa students are offered a great opportunity — taking a bus trip to see some of our national sites.
In May, Evans Middle School eighth graders enjoyed the East Coast Extravaganza which included a visit and tour of Washington, D.C.
It’s a trip the school has sponsored for years, and many fundraisers are planned to help students earn money for the trip.
In the summer, Evans students can go on the Great Western Expedition.
Both trips are wonderful opportunities for these young students to experience our great country with their friends, teachers and chaperones.
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Three Ottumwa High School students got a chance to visit Europe.
OHS seniors Hailey Kurtz, Kristina Vongkaysone and Madelyn Gettings went with Mary Pat Pitzen, Geoff Kent and Sarah Horgen on a tour of Dublin, Ireland; Llangollen, North Wales; Stonehenge, Bath and London, England; and Paris, France.
They enjoyed, among other things, a tour of the Guinness factory in Dublin, a visit to Warwick Castle — a home of Henry Vlll — the home of Shakespeare’s wife Ann Hathaway, and also Shakespeare’s birthplace.
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Scott Black writes: “Not being a big baseball fan and meeting a large group of friends in Wrigleyville (three blocks from Wrigley Field) for an extended weekend a few weeks ago, I had to try to find something to do while the Astros were in town. It didn’t take me long to run across Chicago’s oldest and best known tattoo parlor where walk-ins were welcomed.”
Black said that he spent two out of four days enjoying Chicago in this parlor and showed the Courier to tattoo artist Josh.
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An Ottumwa gal sounds like she’s having a lot of fun with her business in the popular Door County area of Wisconsin.
Rachel Haas, daughter of Ted and Dianne Haas of Ottumwa, owns Drink Coffee in Sister Bay, Wis., where she specializes in cookies.
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writer especially liked Haas’ “wonderful cookies called Cherry Queens” which feature dried Door County cherries. She also included the recipe in her story.
Haas told the reporter that she went to Door County from Iowa with memories of childhood times spent in her Aunt Ruthie’s house… mainly in the kitchen.
Haas is quoted in the story: “It has a special place in my heart, always smelled of the most delicious homemade cookies,” she says. “Ever since I took my first bite, I’ve been hooked. Ruthie began to teach me all the secrets of cookie making when I was just a wee sprite.”
“Cookies are my passion,” she’s posted on her blog — the Cookie Lady Online. “Now, with years of practice, I can pass these cookies on to you.... Our cookies are made with only the finest ingredients and have a magical way of winning arguments, bringing smiles to faces and warming hearts.”
Part of her Monday blog said: “If you’re back to the old grind today, I hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather here during your stay! If it’s another day in paradise for you, it’s supposed to be another great Door County day. Keep watching for more improvements and changes to come. Today we have our delicious Asiago Cheese Bisque for soup.”
For a selection of her cookies and her new Cookie of the Month feature, find addresses on the web at — cookieladyonline.com. You also might want to check out — doorcountychefs.com
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A rainy Fourth of July, eh?
Everyone I’ve talked to really enjoyed the fireworks in Ottumwa Park. It takes more than a little rain and chilly weather to dampen the American spirit!
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Judy Krieger may be reached at (641) 683-5365 or by e-mail — j.krieger@ottumwacourier.com
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