Try the recipes Try the recipes To sample a few of Paige Putnam’s favorite recipes, see page 18. Pam Jochum didn’t initially feel called to politics. “It was a journey that started when I was maybe about 20 years old,” she said. “It wasn’t until Tom Jochum and I started going to caucus. The next...

A new month, new energy, new business. As we highlight women in business this month and salute those women who strive for success, I must salute myself as well. I love to share my life with those who continue to follow my work along this path I’ve found myself on. In September, just five months...

Try the recipes Try the recipes To sample a few of Paige Putnam’s favorite recipes, see page 18. Dawn Lueken had always been a voracious reader. “I still am to this day,” said the 49-year-old. “Nobody loves books more than I do. I just want to get my hands on everything.” So, it came as...

Try the recipes Try the recipes To sample a few of Paige Putnam’s favorite recipes, see page 18. Alycia Willenbring discovered a passion for the environment as early as her grade school science classes, opening her awareness to a new world. However, she never anticipated it would lead her in the direction it has. The...

Try the recipes Try the recipes To sample a few of Paige Putnam’s favorite recipes, see page 18. Ivonne Simmonds-Fals sees the community as fertile soil — an environment she has been able to plant roots, grow and continue to thrive in a plethora of creative ways. “Dubuque is a small community, but it’s one...

Try the recipes Try the recipes To sample a few of Paige Putnam’s favorite recipes, see page 18. For Paige Putnam, a healthy lifestyle always has been top of mind. The 19-year-old Dubuque native practices a what she describes as a plant-based diet — refraining from eating food items containing animal product in favor of...

Here are a few of my favorite plant-based recipes. I included breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and appetizers, and dessert. Some recipes are from my cookbook, some are from my collaboration with Plant-Based Putnams, and some are just a few I’ve compiled that I love. Breakfast Almond Oat Bake This vegan almond oat bake is a...

This time of year is special for Abigail Nauman. It marks a new beginning, as the energy shifts from one season to the next, and children prepare their annual return to the classroom. As an educator with a lifelong passion for molding young minds, it’s an energy she finds exhilarating. “I always wanted to teach,”...

Bob & Lou’s Coffee Bob & Lou’s Coffee Online: bobandlous.com Facebook/Instagram: @bobandlous Hours: 6 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Sarah Knabel has never been one to turn down a good cup of coffee. As an Iowa State University student, she fell in love with the atmosphere of the campus coffee house that provided respite...

Age: 38. Business & location: The Story Space (formerly Fig Leaf), Dubuque. Founded: 2024. Female you look up to: My mama and my sister. My mom is now retired, but she was a trailblazer in her prime — a true pioneer for making the way for young entrepreneurship. She saw her vision and jumped. My...

Age: 51. Business & location: Gordon’s Tuxedos and Suits, Dubuque. Founded: 1952. Female you look up to: Bethany Frankel. What inspired you to launch your business: The business was presented to me by the former owner (Dina Kempthorne) in February 2021, and I saw the opportunity to continue with this longstanding Dubuque business. Biggest thing...

Age: 53. Business & location: Wicked Dame Wine & Bar, Dubuque. Founded: 2018. Female you look up to: Any woman that breaks from the expected norm, whether famous or the hard-working mom next door. We are all “Wicked Dames.” What inspired you to launch your business: The desire to have a female friendly establishment, where...

Age: 39. Business & location: Soul Revolution Yoga + Cycling, Dubuque. Founded: 2018. Female you look up to: Maureen Mondanaro, my original yoga teacher and trainer. What inspired you to launch your business: I found yoga while in college a few years after my dad passed away. I was a little lost, unsure and unconnected...

Age: 43. Business & location: City Girl Farming + Prepared Meals, Dubuque; and Sinsinawa, Wis. Founded: 2019. Female you look up to: I look up to my late grandmother, who was fearless, funny and spirited in the most magical way. What inspired you to launch your business: Ultimately, the more I learned about our food...

Age: 34. Business & location: The Midwest Girl, Dubuque. Founded: 2015. Female you look up to: My sister and Sara Blakely. What inspired you to launch your business: My sister and our bond is what inspired the launch of The Midwest Girl. Being born and raised in Wisconsin, our love and deep appreciation for our...

Age: 39. Business & location: Centrally Rooted, Dubuque. Founded: 2021. Female you look up to: Pema Chodron, Dr. Becky and Brandi Carlile. What inspired you to launch your business: Witnessing how our lack of self-acceptance and love can lead to severe brain health issues. I’m inspired to use the creative mind as a tool to...

Age: 36. Business & location: The Health Spa by Vive + Select Balance Supplements + The Healthy Practitioner Podcast, Peosta and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded: 2016. Female you look up to: Dr. Nasha Winters (author of “Metabolic Approach to Cancer”) is someone I have loved having as a mentor and friend. She is making big...

Learn more Learn more For more information, visit lifesafeastllc.com. Beth McGorry always has had the itch to travel. The 49-year-old Director of Donor Relations at St. Mark Youth Enrichment in Dubuque, she also holds a part-time job with Kohl’s for the sole purpose of padding her travel savings account. “My parents were from New York,...

Learn more Learn more For more information, visit lifesafeastllc.com. This time of year has long been a favorite of Jenna Hirtz. “I grew up in the country, and my dad and mom were big veggie and flower gardeners,” she said. “From a young age, there was always a lot of love for nature and conservation.”...

Warmer weather, colorful flowers and gloriously sunny skies aren’t the only things that put spring on people’s lists as the best season. If you’re a cook, May is when you can look forward to a bounty of fresh herbs, tender lettuces and green vegetables not just in the grocery store, but at local farmers markets....

Learn more Learn more For more information, visit lifesafeastllc.com. Rose Steffes knew from an early age that she’d want to pursue a career in the beauty industry — specifically in styling hair. “I knew ever since I was a child,” she said. “Whether I was doing my Barbie’s hair, my sister’s hair or my own...

Learn more Learn more For more information, visit lifesafeastllc.com. As a nurse for the Galena (Ill.) Unit School District, Emily Rigopoulos is used to being surrounded by and working with youth. However, this month will mark a new chapter for the 27-year-old. Rigopoulos and husband Sam will welcome a new edition to their family on...

Learn more Learn more For more information, visit lifesafeastllc.com. There is something about whipping up a tasty concoction, watching guests sink their teeth into that first bite and hearing the silence before the collective chorus of approval that is music to Angela Linton-Canfield’s ears. “Mmm.” “It’s that sound that makes us do what we do,”...

Learn more Learn more For more information, visit OutsidetheLinZ.com or Outside the LinZ on TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. On Jan. 1, 2017, Jessica Abresch found her life coming to a crossroads. Her mother had just passed away. The following year, her father was diagnosed with cancer, eventually succumbing to his illness. “People don’t understand how...

If you’ve ever made cut-out cookies, you can make a gingerbread house from scratch. Did your cottage from a kit collapse like a house of cards? Homemade royal icing is easy to make and a better cookie caulk than the stuff that comes pre-packaged. And nothing smells better at Christmastime than gingerbread in the oven....

In the rural Peosta, Iowa, home of Stephanie Failmezger this time of year, you’re not likely to find garland draped from archways, elves on shelves or stockings hung by the chimney with care. Instead, she reserves most of her merry energy for one thing: Her Christmas tree. “It’s just always something I’ve done,” Failmezger said....

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the tri-state area as myriad nonprofits, community organizations and musical groups begin to prepare for the holiday season. From concerts to community dinners and a scuba-diving Santa, there’s a wide variety of merry and bright celebrations set to take place through the end of the year....

W hen it comes to fall fruit, it’s hard to beat the versatility of the humble apple. Gala and the ubiquitous Red Delicious tend to be the most popular for eating out of hand, but sweet-tart cultivars such as Honeycrisp and the bright green, citrusy-tart Granny Smith also are great for a quick after-school or...

if you go if you go Event: Her Night Out Time/date: 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16. Site: Grand River Center, Port of Dubuque. Cost: $40 for general admission, $75 for charcuterie contestants, $450 for corporate sponsors and Girlfriend Tables. Tickets are available at pro.pickurtix.com/e/her-night-out/tickets. If there was a silver lining to be found amidst the...

March 29, 2018, marked a pivotal turning point in the life of Callie Mescher FitzGerald. It was the day her longtime partner, Tom Howe, took his life, leaving behind Mescher FitzGerald and their daughter, Ruby, who was only a few months old. The Cascade, Iowa, native was living in Denver at the time, having studied...

Mae Hingtgen has lived a life defined by health and wellness. “I’ve been a social worker my whole life,” said Hingtgen, 53. “I think, for me, what it comes down to is the idea of advocacy and the belief that we all have a fundamental right to be treated with respect and dignity, no matter...

A. Alanda Gregory has never been one to sit on the sidelines, nor rest on her laurels. In addition to being named as the Her magazine and BizTimes.biz Woman of Innovation, in the past year, the 54-year-old mother of five also was honored with the prestigious Iowa Governor’s Arts Award, recognizing her as an emerging...

Leslie Shalabi believes in the power of good food. More than that, she believes in the power of community and how breaking bread can spark conversation, ideas and connectivity. “We all eat,” Shalabi said. “And food has a way of bringing people together.” As the owner and co-founder behind Convivium Urban Farmstead in Dubuque —...

The Grateful Gourmet The Grateful Gourmet Location: 204 N. Main St., Galena, Ill. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Contact: 815-777-1922, info@gratefulgourmet.com Online: GratefulGourmetGalena.com W hen Kimberly Thompson greets customers as they enter her shop, she’s often met with the question, “Is this just all you do?” Emphatically she answers, “Yes!” “Besides...

Autumn’s arrival means leaves change color, days grow shorter and artwork headlines tri-state area festivals and fairs. “Dubuque and the tri-state area, including Jo Daviess County and southwest Wisconsin, is such an amazing destination because we have so many activities to see and do,” said Keith Rahe, president and CEO of Travel Dubuque. “Fall is...

Champagne on Main Champagne on Main Location: 116 S. Main St., Galena, Ill. Contact: 815-777-6007, info@champagneonmain.com. Online: champagneonmaingalena.com, Champagne on Main Galena on Facebook, @champagneonmaingalena on Instagram. Natalie and Maria LoBianco have long been drawn to imparting knowledge to others, whether it has been in a classroom or in a theater, on stage or behind...

With August in full swing, and the upcoming new school year on the horizon, many parents are starting to think about preparing their children for their return to class. But that preparation goes beyond simply checking off the old school supply list. Local school officials claimed there are many steps a parent can take to...

Champagne on Main Champagne on Main Location: 116 S. Main St., Galena, Ill. Contact: 815-777-6007, info@champagneonmain.com. Online: champagneonmaingalena.com, Champagne on Main Galena on Facebook, @champagneonmaingalena on Instagram. GALENA, Ill. — Sisters Laura and Lisa Kempner know a good glass of Champagne when they taste it — almost as well as they know a good idea...

Locations House of Travel Phone: 563-556-0440 Email: info@houseoftraveldbq.com Mary Jo Klinkhammer and Melissa Engel have a lot in common. Not only mother and daughter, the two share a strong commitment to family, enjoy spending time in nature and connecting with new people. They also love to travel and help those people find opportunities to see...

Upon setting foot inside Steve’s Ace Home & Garden in Dubuque, one certainly will find much of what’s to be expected: Tools for inside and out, patio furniture and decor, grills, firepits, birdfeeders, flowers and assorted plants, and other home improvement essentials. But it’s the unexpected that sets the store apart, according to Sara Carpenter....

Locations Locations • Steve’s Ace Home & Garden: 3350 John F. Kennedy Road. • Steve’s Ace Hardware: 200 S. Locust St. • Steve’s Ace Home & Garden: 456 Peosta St., Peosta, Iowa. Upon setting foot inside Steve’s Ace Home & Garden in Dubuque, one certainly will find much of what’s to be expected: Tools for...

Momerella Location: 241 Main St., Dubuque.  Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.  Online: HonestJohnStores.com, Facebook.com/MomerellaLife  Phone: 563-584-9100 If you’ve ever been to Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, it’s easy to get caught up in the flurry of films, filmmakers and movie lovers hopping from one screening to the next. What...

If you are a resident of the tri-states and have yet to check out Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, you might be missing out, according to organizers. “Julien Dubuque International Film Festival brings together everyone,” said Executive Director Susan Gorrell. “All races, cultures, genders. It is for everyone. That’s really important. We screen all types...

Momerella Location: 241 Main St., Dubuque.  Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.  Online: HonestJohnStores.com, Facebook.com/MomerellaLife  Phone: 563-584-9100 When Anna Meadows found herself pregnant with her first child, daughter Amina, she was faced with a revelation she didn’t anticipate. “The world is not designed for moms,” Anna said. “And it’s not...

Valentine’s Day is an age-old tradition, and it falls on the same day each year, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve planned ahead for the occasion. The good news? There are more thoughtful ways to spontaneously express your love than ever before, thanks to new digital tools. In addition to the classic options, like flowers,...

Are you ready to celebrate Galentine’s Day on Feb. 13? Originating from a 2010 episode of the popular TV show, “Parks and Recreation,” Galentine’s Day celebrates some of the most important relationships in our lives: Our girlfriends. More than a decade later, the now-official holiday has skyrocketed in popularity. Here are tips on celebrating your...

Online Mistletones.biz Chrystina Morteo-Bowman always loved to sing. So, when she was scheduled to perform at Dubuque’s Smokestack during a talent showcase, she was hopeful it might lead to more opportunities to make music locally. However, she didn’t anticipate it would lead her to her future husband. “I needed someone to play piano for rehearsals...

Online Mistletones.biz Lindsey Mescher Topping always was conscious about her health. An athlete during her college days studying physical therapy at the University of Iowa, where she graduated in 2004, the Cascade, Iowa, native exercised and knew what foods were best for supporting and fueling her body. So in 2017, as she sat breastfeeding her...

It’s not unusual for the Ball family home in Peosta, Iowa, to be Ground Zero for a flurry of activity — shuttling kids between sporting events, running errands and juggling an assortment of overlapping schedules. But despite the busyness from one day to the next, Abby Ball wouldn’t have it any other way. She and...

Online Mistletones.biz Christmas always was a special time in the Goodman household. Decorating the Christmas tree; folding down page corners of the annual Sears catalog advertising the latest toys; staying up late to watch Perry Como’s Christmas special; hosting Christmas Eve gatherings of aunts, uncles and cousins, complete with a full spread of food; and...

Kerri Pomarolli wanted to be an actress. To put it more accurately, she wanted to be a famous actress. “I got my degree in musical theater and knew that Los Angeles — not New York — was the route that I wanted to take,” said the Michigan native who recently relocated to Sacramento, Calif., after...

As you make your way to holiday gatherings this season, be sure to show your hosts gratitude for opening their homes to you. There are many thoughtful ways to thank a holiday host, but the best gestures are those that include personalized touches to leave an impression on the recipient. For example, don’t just bring...

if you go Event: Her Night Out, featuring Kerri Pomarolli. Time/date: 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3. Site: Grand River Center, Port of Dubuque. Cost: $40 for general admission, $450 for a girlfriend table. Tickets are available through Thursday, Oct. 27, by visiting TelegraphHerald.com/HerNightOut. Online: kerripom.com Kerri Pomarolli wanted to be an actress. To put it more...

As you make your way to holiday gatherings this season, be sure to show your hosts gratitude for opening their homes to you. There are many thoughtful ways to thank a holiday host, but the best gestures are those that include personalized touches to leave an impression on the recipient. For example, don’t just bring...

Since 2018, Her magazine and BizTimes.biz have selected four women from a pool of nominations who represent the best of the past, present and future in local leadership, community involvement and volunteer efforts, and making a difference in the tri-states and beyond. It is never an easy task, as the number of deserving nominees always...

Age: 68. Location: Dubuque. Title and organization: Director of Strategic Partnerships, City of Dubuque. Number of years with organization: 25 years. Education: Graduated with a degree in history from Clarke University in Dubuque in 1976. Attended Institute for American Universities, Aix-en-Provence, France, 1974-1975. Career highlights: Iowa Democratic Party Voter Identification Program, 1978. Elementary school enrichment...

Age: 70. Location: Platteville, Wis. Title and organization: President, Inspiring Community, Inc. Number of years with organization: Inspiring Community, Inc. originated informally in 2013 and applied for 501(c)(3) status in 2017. Education and career background: Bachelor of science in economics, Missouri University of Science and Technology; master of business administration, Drury University; doctoral work in...

Age: 49. Location: Dubuque. Title and organization: Household manager, the Chandlee family. Number of years with organization: 22. Education and career background: Bachelor’s degree in teaching in Spanish, University of Northern Iowa. Community outreach and volunteering: Approximately 22. Family: Husband Chad; son Alec; daughters Ana, Leah and Maren. How did you get involved with your...

Age: 25. Location: Dubuque. Title and organization: Employee Benefits Consultant, Cottingham & Butler. Number of years with organization: Three. Education and career background: Bachelor of arts degree in business, marketing and public relations, Loras College, 2019; hired full-time at Cottingham & Butler after completing second summer sales internship. Now now an Employee Benefit Consultant focused on...

Crumbl Cookies Location: Warren Plaza, 3500 Dodge St., No. 202. Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday. Closed Sunday. Phone: 563-231-2198 Online: crumblcookies.com Aricka Hilton has a sweet spot for cookies. And it’s a good thing, too. On March 25, she and husband Michael opened Crumbl Cookies in Dubuque’s Warren Plaza, 3500 Dodge St.,...

For Jakyra Bryant, a calling to educate almost seems as though it was her destiny in life. A Chicago native, her mother worked for City Year of Chicago, a nonprofit organization that connects students with community service opportunities to help them rise to their full potential. “I remember her tutoring students and going on field...

Sauny Tucker never envisioned herself as the type who would one day lead a company. But she believes that is the plight of many women who find themselves in leadership positions. “We don’t always believe we’ve earned our place in the conversation,” she said. “We don’t always feel as though what we have to offer...

Hannah Gasper was born with a traveler’s heart. So, it’s a bit of an irony that the 24-year-old Dubuque native doesn’t credit abundant trips in her youth as part of what stoked that fire. “My family was always busy with the sports we were involved in as kids,” Gasper said. “So, I didn’t grow up...

Linda Schacht has an innate gift. Upon stepping into a space, she can almost instantly envision its fullest potential. “It’s just something I think I developed over time,” said the 42-year-old Chicago native. “I had a very creative father and I grew up watching him build. Watching that design process, it’s just in my blood....

Kate McIntosh likes to be surrounded by the beauty of what she loves most — and she finds it in places others might not think to offer a second glance. “I like to find recycled uses for older things,” she said. It’s evident as soon as one sets foot inside the space she has worked...

There are great women all around us at all times. And when you take a look through history, it becomes apparent very quickly that always has been the case. But unfortunately, too many of those trailblazers have gone too long without the recognition that is their due. Here is a list of a few of...

Valentine’s Day is no longer just for the happy couples. Whether you’re married, dating or content being single, there are ways for everyone to celebrate love of all kinds, including romance in 2022, regardless of relationship status. 1. Custom cards. SmashUps, from American Greetings, can help prioritize love and romance any day of the year....

Life has thrown a few surprises at Ashley Ayala. The 36-year-old Dubuque native grew up in a what many would describe as a traditional Midwestern household backed by strong family bonds, despite losing its patriarch in 2003. That loss would lead Ashley to discovering a passion for the practice of yoga, eventually tapping into the...

There is an Irish proverb that says, “A good friend is like a four-leaf clover — hard to find and lucky to have.” We all have friends through the stages of our lives. The grade school friends, the middle school friends, the high school friends, the college friends, the work friends. Our lives change as...

Josh White wants to make friends. He moved to Dubuque in September from the small tourist town of Lake Lure, N.C., with his wife, Amy, and their three children. But Josh, 39, is challenged by the adjustment. “Even though there are a lot of people here, I don’t have the greatest social skills, I guess,”...

Valentine’s Day is no longer just for the happy couples. Whether you’re married, dating or content being single, there are ways for everyone to celebrate love of all kinds, including romance in 2022, regardless of relationship status. 1. Custom cards. SmashUps, from American Greetings, can help prioritize love and romance any day of the year....

Those who are luckiest in life say they have one thing in common: They’ve found what they describe as their “calling” — that elusive “something” that gives them a sense of purpose in what they contribute to the world. Meg Rima counts herself among those individuals. “I was 100% called to open this,” she said,...

If there were one word to describe Whitney Sanger, “community” might encapsulate it. As the creative communications and development director at Hawkeye Area Community Action Program and co-founder of Project Rooted in 2019 — a Dubuque-based organization that aims to connect youth to the origins and importance of fresh, nutritious and locally sourced food —...

More than 400 women shopped, ate and laughed their way through the evening at Her Night Out on Thursday at Grand River Center in Dubuque. Elsa Weinert, of Dubuque, attended the annual Telegraph Herald and Her magazine event with a group of girlfriends who were once neighbors but have continued to stay in touch and...

If someone would have told Tiffany Jenkins as a teenager that she’d one day become a wife, a mother, an author and accumulate a devout following that amassed more than 42 million Facebook followers, chances are she wouldn’t have believed it. “I didn’t think I was meant to have the normal life that everyone else...

Ninety-one days. That’s how long Immaculee Ilibagiza took to hiding in a cramped bathroom with seven other women as her family was killed and the life she had known in her East African home was brutally taken from her. She was 24 when the Rwandan genocide took place between April 7 and July 15, 1994....

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Gabriella Kadjo wants to help all students feel included at Platteville High School. To do so, the 16-year-old and her friends launched a school club to bring together students across different races, genders and ages. “We just hope to continue to make an impact … and change the school system because we...

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a few changes in the life of Mary Rose Corrigan. “I highly value in-person conversations with people I run into — especially those I haven’t seen in person in a long time,” she said. “I rely on others’ expertise and assistance even more than previously....

There is a five-point list that Kelly Breitbach keeps within eyesight of her desk. It reads: 1. Put people before everything else. 2. Do your best work. 3. Be honest and considerate. 4. Make decisions and back them. 5. Speak up. Each has become a kind of mantra for Breitbach, who has served as the...

It’s not difficult to get caught up in the aroma that hits the nose upon setting foot inside of Big Apple Bagels. Freshly baked bread, sweet cinnamon rolls and a hint of just-brewed coffee waft freely through the air of the Dubuque location, no doubt making patrons second-guess what they originally thought they might order....

If home is where the heart is, Clara Lopez Ortiz need look no further than Cascade, Iowa. “I always seem to come back to Iowa, no matter how far away I go,” a pensive Ortiz said. “I’ve always considered myself an Iowan, even though I came from Mexico. I just always seem to find my...

Learn more Gino’s East of Dubuque Location: 333 E. 10th St., Suite 110. Contact: 563-582-3000. Online: www.ginoseast.com/dubuque Whether you are from Chicago, visit Chicago frequently or are just passing through and grabbing a bite, few things top the experience of a tried-and-true Windy City deep dish pizza. And no. We’re not talking about simply a more...

While in Whole Foods recently, I chuckled at the checkout lane sign for “Fewer Than 12 Items” rather than “less than.” How that would have pleased my dad. He is on my mind as the school year approaches, for he was my first and best teacher, as his mother was his. Though not a teacher...

Danielle Tuescher likes to see the immediate impact she’s making in the world, whether that’s through teaching yoga, working with families or connecting with the next generation. In fact, her LinkedIn profile lists her as “Social Worker. Educator. Difference Maker.” “Ever since high school, I wanted to have a career that mattered to the world,”...

While mentoring bright, ambitious younger women has given me abundant joy more than 40 years in journalism, I have come to realize how much my mentees have mentored me. Consider Lori, whom I met in a small writers group when I was a young mother writing freelance for newspapers and magazines, and she was a...

Julie Schulte’s devotion to service keeps her going places. The Dubuquer has responded to natural disasters and other crises 17 times since 2017 as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. “She is compassion in action,” said Jolene Carpenter, disaster program manager for the Red Cross in Dubuque. “She brings an unbelievable skill set and...

Shamika Rainer has never been one to sit idle. Nor is she the type to wait for opportunity to come knocking. Her motto: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” For Rainer, it’s a philosophy that has fueled her life’s work. “I create opportunities,” said the 35-year-old with an infectious and vivacious...

The etymology of the word “volunteer” began with the Latin word, “velle,” which means “to wish.” Originally, the word conveyed the feeling of wishing, but later, came to mean the action of wishing, or the will of doing something. The modern-day definition of volunteerism usually is associated with community and the actions of members who...

Julie Schulte’s devotion to service keeps her going places. The Dubuquer has responded to natural disasters and other crises 17 times since 2017 as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. “She is compassion in action,” said Jolene Carpenter, disaster program manager for the Red Cross in Dubuque. “She brings an unbelievable skill set and...

While mentoring bright, ambitious younger women has given me abundant joy more than 40 years in journalism, I have come to realize how much my mentees have mentored me. Consider Lori, whom I met in a small writers group when I was a young mother writing freelance for newspapers and magazines, and she was a...

Learn more Hoof It — Goat Treks Location: 616 S. Devil’s Ladder Road, Galena, Ill. Contact: 563-663-6944 | hoof.it.galena@gmail.com Online: hoofit-galena.com More ways to get your goat on While in Galena visiting Hoof It — Goat Treks, consider booking a class at Galena Goat Yoga. Located on a historic farm between Galena and Eagle Ridge Inn & Resort...

Julie Schulte’s devotion to service keeps her going places. The Dubuquer has responded to natural disasters and other crises 17 times since 2017 as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. “She is compassion in action,” said Jolene Carpenter, disaster program manager for the Red Cross in Dubuque. “She brings an unbelievable skill set and...

Katie Larson gave birth to her youngest daughter just as the world was shutting down. Blayke Larson was born on March 12, 2020, just days before Dubuque-area schools and businesses started to close en masse to try to slow the spread of COVID-19. While Larson was in the hospital after giving birth, the facility implemented...

Upon setting foot in Living on Main in downtown Dubuque, it’s evident that owner Kris Gorton has a keen eye for what makes a space work well. Her philosophy? “A space has to be functional,” Gorton said. “But it can also be aesthetically beautiful. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. You don’t have to trade in...

Upon setting foot into Spark On Bluff, one might be able to draw an unlikely comparison to the famous sitcom watering hole, “Cheers.” It might boast barbers instead of bartenders. And for what Spark lacks in sudsy brews it more than makes up for in hair care products. However, one key similarity is clear: Everybody...

DURANGO, Iowa — Jade O’Connell knew from an early age that she wanted to be a mom. Even when her son, Finnian, arrived 16 days ahead of schedule on Sept. 1, 2019, the 26-year-old Durango native could not have been more elated. “I already had names picked out when I was in high school,” O’Connell...

GALENA, Ill. — In honor of Women’s History Month, the Galena Center for the Arts will host its fourth annual Broad Ideas, with virtual events scheduled throughout March. Zoom links for all events are available by visiting www.broadideas.org. Schedule March 1-31: Broad Intentions Weather-grams. The activity will be done at home to decorate trees throughout...

C.S. Lewis wrote, “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art … It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” Life without a friend would indeed be life but such a sad one that it would barely count as life at all. Of course, some friendships are...

Despite all of the challenges that 2020 brought, Ally O’Rourke will always a have a reason to be happy when she reflects on 2020. The Dubuque resident got engaged to her fiancé, Adam Goerdt, in July, and the couple is now planning a wedding for November 2021. The occasion will serve as more than just...

Last year, Makayla Bellis got engaged to her best friend. It was an exciting moment for the 25-year-old Dubuque resident and her partner, Matthew, 26. “We got engaged at the end of February, right before all the lockdowns started,” Bellis said. As the couple began planning their wedding, they realized that it would be a...