Certified Tour Guides

Two of our Bell Tower staff have become certified tour guides.   Joyce Kurth, newest member of the Tower staff, and Pat Richards, Tower staff coordinator, attended a day-long session on tour guide training put on by Iowa State Extension in early April.   They  worked through the guide book they were given to fine-tune their tour-giving skills. In early May,  each gave a sample tour to Diane Van Wyngarden, ISU Extension Specialist in Tour Guide Training and Certification at the Mahanay Bell Tower.  Diane commented that she thoroughly enjoyed the tours, learned more about what we have to offer tourists in Greene County, and thought we were far and above many other towns in Iowa!  And….Joyce and Pat are now officially certified and working on a list of tips for our staff. Congratulations to both of the ambassadors to the community!

 

Mahanay Tower Staff

We are so pleased to introduce our Mahanay Bell Tower staff for 2019 with many returning for multiple years. These ambassadors for the community are often the first people visitors meet and feel so welcomed.

Mahanay Bell Tower opens this weekend.

The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower will open officially for the 2019 season on Saturday, May 4th.  Hours will be 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. each weekend in May and then daily beginning Memorial Day weekend.  With the increased visitors during the month of September, the Bell Tower Foundation Board decided to remain open daily for the month of September and weekends in October.  The Tower is also available by appointment by calling the Greene County Chamber & Tourism office at 515-386-2155.  Pat Richards continues as the Tower Staff coordinator with an experienced group of staff returning for the 2019 season.

The Mahanay Memorial Carillon expanded to 47 bells on Memorial Day weekend in 2017.  The Mahanay Music committee has a list of musicians with at least 2 years of piano experience to volunteer to play the bells for the daily Tower Tunes Live concerts from 12:15 – 12:30 p.m.  These concerts will begin on Memorial Day weekend and continue through Labor Day weekend.  Musicians can choose their own music.  The bells are played on a digital keyboard connected to the bells.  The musicians who played last year enjoyed the experience of playing such a large instrument.  Becky Greiner, Peg Raney and Pat Richards are collecting names and contact information for anyone wanting to be added to the list.  Musicians can also email mahanaybelltower@gmail.com  An electronic calendar will be sent out for musicians to choose when they would like to play.   

2019 Season Passes will again be available at the Mahanay Tower for $15.  This allows the individual to visit the Tower for the entire year. 

The website www.mahanaybelltower.org and Facebook page are also kept up-to-date with information and pictures about the Mahanay Bell Tower.  The Bell Tower Community Foundation  encourages people to check these out and share with visitors.  

Santa & Mrs. Claus visit kids on Dec. 6.

Santa & Mrs. Claus will arrive in Jefferson at 6:15 pm on Thursday, Dec. 6 at the Thomas Jefferson Gardens.  Everyone is invited to watch this annual tradition!  They will light the community Christmas tree in the Gardens at 6:30 pm. This tree will remain lit through the Christmas holidays.  Santa & Mrs. Claus will then make their way to the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower to visit with youngsters and their families from 6:45 – 7:30 pm. With the lights of the bells in the observation deck, this is a special location for kids to tell Santa their Christmas wishes.  The admission to the Tower is free for all during this special evening!

Christmas Tower Tunes Live Concerts

Local musicians will play the Mahanay Memorial Carillon during the Christmas season.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas, special Tower Tunes Live Concerts will be played from 5:15 – 5:30 p.m.  Musicians involved are Rick Morain, Pat Richards, Danille Curtis and Bonnie Orris.  Each musician will select their own music so expect a great variety of wonderful holiday music.