Reservations are required. This is a free workshop for Chamber members and Main Street businesses, otherwise $5/seat (to cover costs of materials).

Call us at (319) 372-5471 for more information.

Donation puts the total just over the $2 million mark for the $3.4M project.

January 27, 2012
Daily Democrat

The Sports Complex Committee kicked off its capital campaign this week and received a big fundraising boost from area banks in their efforts to “Field a Better Fort Madison.”

Five area banks came together and contributed $55,500 collectively to the project. Fort Madison Bank & Trust and Pilot Grove Savings Bank led the charge by contributing $20,000 each. Lee County Bank donated $10,000 while Farmers Savings Bank gave $3,000 and MidwestOne Bank added $2,500 to the total. “The contributions made by our local banks are a fantastic start to our capital campaign and hopefully the motivation to get others to donate as well,” said Committee Chairperson Marty Dean.

“Their contributionsreaffirm the importance of this project for our community and once again demonstrate that our local banks are committed to Fort Madison and its future.”

Adding the banks’ contributions to monies previously donated means the Sports Complex Committee has now raised just over $2 million dollars towards its $3.4 million dollar goal. Fort Madison Partners is assisting the committee’s fundraising efforts by applying for applicable grants and just recently applied for a CAT grant through the State of Iowa. While the committee is hopeful that they will be awarded monies from some of these grants, the project will still need support from local businesses, industry, organizations, and private donors to reach their goal.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Sports Complex or needing additional information may contact Tim Gobble in the Fort Madison Partners office, located at 614 Ninth St., or by phone at 372-5471. Information and donor cards can also be picked up at any of the area banks. All contributions are tax deductible and will be recognized in the complex’s new concession stand.

Daily Democrat
January 24, 2012, page 1 & 12

By Chuck Vandenberg for Fort Madison Main Street

“Fiddlehead: The coiled young frond of any of various ferns, some of which are considered a delicacy when cooked.” You wouldn’t knowingly call Abby (Garner) Siegel a “Fiddlehead,” but the young upstart has a blossoming business in New York City, and is making a special trip back to Fort Madison to help raise funds for the Fort Madison Main Street organization.

The 27-year-old daughter of Bill and Kitty Garner of Fort Madison will be one of the featured chefs at the annual Sensational Chefs dinner hosted by Martha Wolf and Sue Saunders at the nationally renowned Ivy Bake Shoppe, Saturday, Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. “I’m proud of my hometown, I always love coming back and was just happy to help out when the opportunity arose,” Siegel said.

Siegel is the proprietor and chef for Fiddlehead Foods, based in Manhattan, and said she fell in love with good food in her mother’s kitchen here in Fort Madison, where fresh sweet corn and juicy ripe tomatoes were a staple on the summer dinner table. Fiddlehead Foods combines Siegel’s passion for healthy cooking with her commitment to environmental responsibility. She believes one of the most powerful ways we can take care of our planet is by choosing seasonal, local, and sustainably produced foods. “Lucky for us, what’s good for the planet is also good for our health,” she said.

Her extensive training and work experience on the east coast will be put to the test with local Main Street supporters who are used to having their taste buds teased with unique four and five course meals. Past chefs have included Indian-cuisine expert Kumar Wickramasingha, District 8 Associate Judge Emily Dean, Japanese chef Hitomi Windorf and many others.

Siegel, who recently returned home for her wedding, is a seasoned vegetarian chef who honed her culinary skills in farm-to-table restaurants in Brooklyn. Now Siegel has started her own business catering to people looking for a more health-oriented diet, but who don’t

have the know-how or time to get it done. “New York is a great place to be a personal chef because people are often too busy to cook but still want a\ wholesome, home-cooked meal at the end of the day, and they’re willing to pay someone to make that happen. I like to cook classic dinners for people but with a healthier flair,” she said. Main Street supporters will get a taste of that flair themselves in January in the warm confines of the Ivy Bake Shoppe where a mood of intimate lighting, old wood and mirrors and the smell of apples and coffee and spice create that feeling only old kitchens can give, including the laughter of friends gathered for a meal. So what’s on the menu, one asks? “It’ll be an Indian theme with lots of spices and winter vegetables like beets, squash and potatoes.”
The Fort Madison native attended college at Boston University and Tufts University where she received a BS in Biology, and an MS in Animals and Public Policy. She later worked on sustainable food campaigns at the World Society for the Protection of Animals. Her business website is www.fiddleheadfoods.com.The entrée will feature a roasted acorn squash stuffed with quinoa (a protein rich grain), cashews and cranberries served alongside a white bean sausage with cilantro-mint chutney. Other courses will include a watercress salad with roasted beets, pickled red onions and a Tamron dressing. Diners will also sample a curried sweet potato and apple soup with lime sour cream and spiced pumpkin seeds. “And Martha’s making a molten chocolate cake to top it all off,” Siegel said.

To make your reservation for Siegel’s supreme dinner (and to help support Main Street’s efforts), call Main Street at 319-372-5471 today, as seating availability ($75/person) is limited.

Mayor Ireland supports Main Street by offering to be a Sensational Chef for January 14, 2012.

For Immediate Release

January 9, 2012

By Chuck Vandenberg
for Fort Madison Main Street

Not only can he navigate municipal budgets in tough economic times, help bring large scale employers to the city and champion a rail depot for downtown Fort Madison, but Mayor Steve Ireland is now pulling out his recipe book for the local Main Street group.

Ireland was part of a contingency that went to Des Moines three years ago to help Fort Madison become the first city in Iowa to rejoin the Iowa Main Street, which is an arm of the National Historic Trust for Historic Preservation and will be the featured chef on Jan. 14 for the Fort Madison Main Street’s annual Sensational Chefs fundraiser. The event starts at 6 p.m., at the Ivy Bake Shoppe.

“I went to Des Moines to the IDED and just went as a supporter to help pitch the idea, but just look what it’s done so far. Most everyone in town has rallied around this program. Donations are coming in and city participation is there,” Ireland said.

Ireland also commended the group’s director Mary Ottoson on her performance since taking over as director 18 months ago. “They couldn’t have found a better director in Mary. Her education in historical buildings and historical grant writing and what she does for Main Street as far as I’m concerned is just invaluable. She’s a real go-getter and is doing a great job.”

Ireland, who is the former chef at the Fort Madison Country Club, will bring an American flare to diners on Saturday, January 14, with original recipes and classic dishes in a four-course spread highlighted by the return of Beer-Cheese Soup to start things off.

“First we’re going to start with soup. And obviously the famous soup at the Country Club here in town was Beer-Cheese soup, in its original recipe served with fresh popcorn.”

 “Then we’ll follow up with a spinach salad with a hot-bacon dressing over the top.”

 Ireland won’t leave anything to chance with diners’ taste buds as he plans on a pomegranate-mint sorbet before the main dish to cleanse the palate. And then the main course will be Beef Wellington. And we’ll serve that with Duchess Potatoes and a glazed carrot and asparagus mix.

Ireland said he’s thinking of a Crème Brule for dessert, or he may just leave that to the sweet-tooth experts at the Ivy. Guests will surely be surprised with the final fare of the evening.

The mayor, who announced in the fall that he will be seeking election to the 42^nd District State Senate position, said this type of dinner fits his style because dinners should be events and not “a herding”.

“Usually when I seat people for dinner and I like it methodically served. I’m particular about the way the tables are set, the accompaniments as far as flowers etc. I don’t believe in something like this being bam…bam…bam. We want to have a dining experience here. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Main Street’s progress and ambition has also not escaped Ireland and he says he would help where he can in getting a streetscape scenario in place for the downtown.

 “I don’t know where this falls in to Main Street’s 3 or 5-year plan, but Keokuk got their Main Street through, I believe, national Main Street and government funding. But would love to see a streetscape in Fort Madison and I know that means ripping up a street 100-year-old sewer lines and of course all new utilities. And then have a streetscape like a Galena or some of these other cities and it’s beautiful,” he said.

“Some people who don’t like progress say you can put in a new sidewalk and it won’t change downtown. Well…it will. So if there was anything I could ever do to facilitate downtown revitalization I certainly would do that. We’ve done so many progressive things in downtown, why stop now,” he said.

# # # #

Great family movie! A Disney Classic from 1975!

Three orphaned siblings are forced upon confirmed bachelor Donovan (Bixby) in a 19th century boom town of Quake City, CA. After an earthquake shakes the area, the children find a large gold nugg…et worth tens of thousands of dollars. But their newfound wealth is causing more problems than it’s solving, so they agree to “give” the gold to two bumbling outlaws (Knotts & Conway). But they only way they can get the gold is to steal it from the bank vault where it’s being held for safe keeping.

Starring Don Knotts and Tim Conway.

Last year's Sensational Chefs, January 2011

For Immediate Release

December 20, 2011

Fort Madison, Iowa – This week, Fort Madison Main Street began accepting reservations for the long awaited 2012 Sensational Chefs events in January.  Seating is limited to the first twenty-five confirmed reservations, so area gourmets must act quickly or be left out of these fabulous evenings of sophisticated cuisine.  This year, the chefs selected to present their very best during three consecutive Saturday nights in January at The Ivy Bake Shoppe in Fort Madison are Mayor Steve Ireland, Kathy Fish, and Abby Siegel (formerly Garner). On January 14^th, 21^st and 28^th, beginning at 6 pm, one of these noted area chefs will prepare several courses of their favorite specialties for the area’s most devoted “foodies” to enjoy.   Tickets are $75 per person, per event, and include the full multi-course meal and wine pairings.

The first event on Saturday, January 14^th, will feature several of Steve’s creations based on the theme of Country Club Classic.  His love of cooking was developed early on, when his parents and grandmother not only taught him the basics of cooking, but taught him to experiment. Steve has worked in a variety of culinary environments in Fort Madison, but feels that he really developed his love of gourmet food when he went worked at the Fort Madison Country Club. “It’s at the Country Club where I could flourish in the art of fine dining,” states Ireland. Those who remember and miss Steve’s specialties will want to be sure to purchase tickets as soon as possible to be among the first twenty-five reservations to join Steve in this exclusive setting to benefit Main Street.

On the following Saturday, January 21^st, Kathy Fish (“Chef Kat”) of Fort Madison’s Wild Whisk Bistro will return to her culinary roots. Having graduated from the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Portland, her training is in Classic French cuisine. Her training is from the same program that bore internationally renowned chefs like Julia Childs and Giada DeLaurentiis! Her theme, an American in Paris, is sure to present a hybrid of traditional French countryside cooking with the elegant dishes that the French are revered for. “These days, more rustic, elemental French fare is the more popular presentation method,” noted Chef Kat. “The elaborate formal French presentations that were popular for 1960s dinner parties may have fallen out of fashion somewhat, but they are still unparalleled in style and taste.” To be among the fortunate few who will enjoy Chef Kat’s creative menu that she will develop specifically for this Main Street event, make your reservations now!

On the final Saturday, January 28^th, Abby Siegel (formerly Garner) is a certified chef from the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts in New York. She currently runs a personal chef business called Fiddlehead Foods which focuses on seasonal, local, and sustainably sourced foods. Prior to becoming a chef, Abby received a BS in Biology, an MS in Animals and Public Policy, and worked on sustainable food campaigns at the World Society for the Protection of Animals. Abby’s theme for Sensational Chefs will be an interpretation of India in Iowa. Known for her passion of fresh and natural ingredients, Abby is a true innovator in the kitchen.

This is an opportunity to enjoy a vegan menu based on classic gourmet recipes with a fresh twist. It’s not often that New York chefs come to display their cutting edge culinary techniques in Fort Madison, but Sensational Chefs is that prime opportunity!

In 2010 and 2011, Sensational Chef events sold out very quickly. Last year’s chefs were Kumar Wickramasingha, Hitomi Wendorf and Sarah Crabtree. Mary Ottoson, Main Street Director feels that “Sensational Chefs is a wonderful way to celebrate the gourmand in each of us, while enjoying an intimate evening with friends, and supporting downtown revitalization efforts.”

Tickets became available starting on Monday, December 19^th, at 9am. For reservations and more information, please call Mary Ottoson at 319-372-5471 or email mottoson@fortmadison.com.

By Robin Delaney, Managing Editor
Daily Democrat
12/16/2011

Fort Madison’s Rec Plex plan received a major boost Wednesday — a $1.2 million boost to be exact. Matt Morris of the Rec Plex Task Force, said Fort Madison SIRRC awarded the group up to $1.2 million for its construction costs. With the $175,000 donation from Pinnacle Foods announced earlier this month; the $500,000 pledged by the City of Fort Madison at the Dec. 6 meeting of the Fort Madison City Council; and the land donation from Tony Baxter, Morris says the group now has 65 percent of the “hard construction costs” needed for the Rec Plex, which is to be located on the west end of Fort Madison, near the intersection of 48th Street and Bluff Road and community’s new 4-8 school. “This is a really, really big boost,” Morris said when announcing the news Thursday. Fort Madison SIRRC’s contribution also puts Rec Plex coordinators over the 50 percent funding requirement needed to apply for additional state grants. “We still have a shortfall, so we’re still looking for funds,” Morris added.

The Rec Plex is to initially consist of three baseball/softball fields, three football/soccer fields, a concessions area located in the middle of the complex, a children’s play area, and a parking lot with single gate entrance. The board of directors from Fort Madison Community Hospital has agreed to a long-term lease for the land for $1 per year and Baxter donated six acres of his land to give access to the property. The Rec Plex is to be used by adult league teams during the week and for regional school and other tournaments on weekends, with the hope of bringing out-of-town teams and spectators to Fort Madison where they can spend money at local restaurants, gas stations and businesses.

Morris says the second reason for the Rec Plex is to attract prospective businesses looking to locate in the region. “We’ve had a couple of prospects in the last few years looking to locate here and we had the better incentive package, the better site, but they were concerned with recreational facilities,” Morris said last week. “When people look to locate here they look at schools, parks and these quality of life issues. Once we get them, they love it here, which grows our tax base and gives us more to work with.” Should the Rec Plex Task Force obtain a state Community & Attraction Tourism grant from Vision Iowa and more local contributions, the group hopes to break ground in May, be seeding the property in the fall and be operational in the spring of 2013.

Southeast Iowa Regional Riverboat Commission (SIRRC) is the nonprofit sponsor of the license for Catfish Bend Casino. Funds received from Catfish Bend Casino are directly dispersed by SIRCC to area governments. Fort Madison SIRRC administers a grant program for Fort Madison area not-for-profits.

The Fort Madison City Council was impressed enough with the idea of a rec plex in Fort Madison that it committed $500,000 from the city to aid the construction of the proposed facility.

Matt Morris laid out the plan for the city council as he had done earlier Tuesday at the Lee County Board of Supervisors meeting.

The council had several questions about the complex, including some concerns about the distance from the parking lot to the three soccer fields. Morris said there may be some space to add a parking lot closer to those fields later.

Councilor Bob Chesnut said he has been on the council for 12 years and the city hasn’t done anything major in the way of recreation and parks. He said there has been some new playground equipment, but nothing on this scale.

“We only get a chance like this once in awhile,” Chesnut said.

Councilor Brad Randolph said this seemed like a group to fund.

“You had me from hello, just about,” he said.

The money is going to come out of the city’s grant opportunity fund at $250,000 over the next two years. City Manager Byron Smith said he feels comfortable the city would be able to afford that.

One other concern was operating expenses. The council asked Morris how the facility would pay for operation. It didn’t want the facility managers coming back and asking for more money.

Morris said $300,000 of the estimated $3.4 million to build the facility is going to be put in the bank for operating capital.

 Click here to download the pdf of the article as it appeared in the newspaper.