Everywhere you look, Iowans are uniting like never before. While times may be tough right now, we’re seeing it won’t stop the great people in the state from supporting one another. Many have taken to social media to help those in their communities, share helpful resources or to simply highlight something positive to bring joy to others. The Week in Social will round up the best of #IowansUnite and share these uplifting stories.
Happy (almost) Halloween, QC! @smartasset listed Davenport, Iowa in the top 2??5?? Best Places to Celebrate Halloween in 2020, highest ranked for our candy and costumes! ????????
— Quad Cities (@VisitQuadCities) October 22, 2020
Read more ??https://t.co/VOviCEwd73@cityofdavenport @DtownDport @Travel_Iowa pic.twitter.com/L2BaXkd2yY
SmartAsset, a site that provides free interactive tools to make smart financial decisions, ranked the Best Places to Celebrate Halloween in 2020. Davenport landed at number 24 and was the highest ranked city in the category of candy and costumes. The rest of the ranking’s categories were calculated by family friendliness, safety and Halloween weather. The site analyzed the data from more than 200 cities in the U.S., making Iowa one of only three Midwestern states in the top 25.
As colder weather sets in (snow in October?!), many restaurants must adapt or completely alter their outdoor seating arrangements. Restaurants across the country have embraced open-air seating to combat COVID-19, but as the temperatures take a turn and the winter months approach, that is becoming a less tenable option for consumers. In Des Moines, thanks to Extend the Season Grants from the Greater Des Moines Partnership, more than 60 restaurants will receive 300 outdoor heaters to use for their existing outdoor seating. The Partnership is also encouraging diners to BYOB – bring your own blanket.
Thanks to the Extend the Season grant, more than 60 restaurants from across #DSMUSA will be receiving 300 outdoor heaters to use for their existing outdoor seating. We also encourage residents to ‘BYOB,’ or ‘bring your own blanket,’ to enjoy outdoor seating. #DSMstrong #DSMlocal pic.twitter.com/9HE2VFjN0S
— DSMpartnership (@DSMpartnership) October 22, 2020
We're launching a free, online video series that provides new hunters- or hunters wanting to try something new- the information, skills, and resources needed to get out in the field!
— Iowa DNR (@iowadnr) October 22, 2020
DNR's launches new learn to hunt Iowa online video series: https://t.co/naJzJE9awy#IowaHunting pic.twitter.com/2c1EiT6OKZ
For new hunters or hunters that are wanting to try out something different, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting new series to offer. The Learn to Hunt series, in partnership with Iowa Safari Club International and other organizations, is a free video series that provides hunters with the information, skills and resources that are needed to get into hunting.
With 23 videos in the series, viewers can find out how to purchase a license, how to select a bow or shotgun, how to call duck and geese, basics on hunting small game, how to handle fur, places to hunt and much more.
“Self-help resources and videos have been continuing to grow in popularity,” said Megan Wisecup, hunter education coordinator for the Iowa DNR. “We wanted to be able to offer those interested in hunting and trapping some credible resources to help expand their knowledge and skills as they grow and develop as a hunter and/or trapper.”
Those interested in learning more can visit www.iowadnr.gov/learntohunt.
In Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau’s latest promotional video, the story of two lost dogs and their boys’ search to find them will have you reaching for a tissue. According to the bureau’s Adam Bolander, the video is about “finding your happy place.”
The video shows the dogs wandering around Cedar Falls, exploring the downtown district’s Scratch Cupcakery, the Cedar River, a park and the University of Northern Iowa. The boys reunite with their furry companions by the video’s end.
The idea for the video came from a recent COVID Response Tracking Study from the University of Chicago, with only 14% of Americans saying they were “very happy.” The video team also noticed a newspaper article about the increase in pet adoptions throughout the pandemic.
“Feedback has been great. People are saying it makes us so happy and describe it as a roller coaster of emotions. So far, it’s all been positive, and I can’t wait to continue the campaign,” Bolander said.
Heartwarming Cedar Falls tourism promotional video about lost dogs is generating social media buzz. https://t.co/j8aG7Psimm
— The Courier (@wcfcourier) October 15, 2020
