Hello Granger: Aug. 7- 13 Local Highlights

Happy Hwy. 141 Garage Sale weekend! If you're heading out, keep an eye out for bargain hunting pedestrians...and maybe a few moms in minivans slowing down because they just spotted another garage sale sign. 😄 No judgment—I may or may not be one of them.

This week's newsletter has back-to-school reminders, a business spotlight you'll want to check out, and a few other things happening around town.

Have a wonderful week! 🌻

Friday, Aug. 7
Hwy. 141 Garage Sale Weekend
The Hwy. 141 Garage Sale kicks off today! Click here for a map of the Granger sales. Click here for the seller listing. Good luck and have fun! And tag @HelloGranger on Instagram with your favorite finds or your biggest sale so we can all check it out!

Burritos for a Cause
Across from Casey’s, next to Granger Motors | 7 a.m. | $7 (burrito + bottled water)
Fuel up before the Highway 141 Garage Sale with a fresh-made breakfast burrito from the Granger Public Safety Auxiliary. Look for the big red fire truck—and support a great local cause.

Walking Taco Fundraiser
Granger Community Center | 10 a.m. -2 p.m. | $7 (walking taco + bottled water + cookie)
Take a break from garage sale shopping (or hosting!) with a walking taco meal and support the Granger Women's Club. The GFWC supports community projects and events throughout Granger, so your lunch helps give back locally.

Picket Fence Creamery Ice Cream Fundraiser
Corner of Main St. by EBANK, Woodward | 10 a.m. -12 p.m.
Stop by for ice cream from Picket Fence Creamery. Half-pint servings (two dips) are available for a free will donation. Proceeds support Woodward Lions Club community projects.

Roller Skating in Dallas Center
Dallas Center Mound Park |  7-9 p.m. | Free
Free family fun—15 minutes away from Granger. Bring your own skates or borrow free quad or inline skates, available in toddler through adult sizes. Enjoy music, games, prizes, budget-friendly concessions, and it’s 1980’s night—dress up and get a special treat.

Saturday, Aug. 8
Hwy. 141 Garage Sale Weekend
Day #2 of the Hwy. 141 Garage Sale—still plenty of treasures out there. Click here for a map of the Granger sales. Click here for the seller listing.

141 Sales: Drink Delivery
Delivery from 7 a.m. - noon |  Granger City Limits + Homesteads
Vintage Road Coffee Co. and Granger Fire & EMS have teamed up to bring coffee and breakfast right to your garage sale! FREE delivery from 7 a.m.–noon within Granger city limits and the Homesteads. All tips and a portion of proceeds benefit Granger Fire & EMS. Click here to order.

Yoga in the Park
Centennial Park | 8 a.m. | Free
Open to all experience levels, this outdoor class, taught by Jessica Bilbo Yoga, is a great chance to enjoy fresh air, movement and a relaxing start to the weekend. Bring your own mat if you have one, though extras will be available.

Sunday, Aug. 9
Visit Forest Park Museum & Arboretum
14581 K Ave. in Perry | Open 1 - 4 p.m. | Free
Take a trip to Forest Park Museum & Arboretum—just 18 miles from Granger, near Perry. The museum has cultural artifacts, ancient bones, rocks and minerals on display. There's also a one-room schoolhouse and an 1863 log cabin to explore. If you can't make it today, they're open weekdays from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 

Monday, Aug. 10
New Middle School Walk-Through
2601 Sycamore Street | Time TBD
Superintendent Mark Lane's July letter mentioned a tour of the new Woodward-Granger Middle School on Monday, Aug. 10. Additional details have not yet been announced. Keep an eye on the district's Facebook page here—hopefully more information will be shared soon.

Tuesday, Aug. 11
Adult Yoga
Granger Community Center | 10-11 a.m.
Yoga for adults with beginner to intermediate experience.

Blue Hour Watercolor Workshop
Granger Community Center | 6-7:30 p.m. , ages 7+ | $25/ REGISTER BY MON. AUG. 10
Squeeze in one more summer activity with the kids—or enjoy a little creative me time! Granger mom and local artist Kiely Frazier Merrill is hosting a beginner-friendly watercolor workshop where you'll create laminated back-to-school bookmarks, learn watercolor basics, and take home your creations. All supplies are included.

Woodward Community Food Pantry's Summer Food Pickup
Pick up at designated location 5-7 p.m. 
Eligible families in Granger, Woodward, and Bouton can pick up food at their community's designated pick-up location. This is the last food pickup for the summer. Click here and scroll down for more info.

Wednesday, Aug.12
Dallas Center Farmers Market
Heritage Park, Dallas Center | 4-7 p.m.
Dallas Center’s just a short drive away and has locally grown produce, handmade goods, and a food truck or two.

Thursday, Aug. 13
Senior Social Time
Granger Community Center | 1-3 p.m.
A chance for older adults to get out of the house and connect with cards, games, movies, conversation and occasional ice cream socials: hosted by Granger Parks and Recreation.

Perry Farmers Market
2nd St., South of Willis Ave. in Perry | 4-7 p.m.
Shop local produce, flowers, baked goods, handmade crafts, and food vendors, then explore downtown while several local businesses stay open later. About 20 minutes from Granger.

🏪 Local Business Spotlight: Polka Dot Shop

One thing I learned quickly after moving to Granger is that school spirit is a big deal around here. 😄 I waited too long to figure out where to buy Hawks gear and ended up scrambling. Learn from my mistake—a local WG mom is taking orders now, and her story of how she got started is pretty inspiring, too. 💚

Jen Aquila’s business began with a dream of staying home with her child after years of struggling with infertility. Wanting to contribute financially while still being there for her family, she combined her creative background as a cosmetologist with her accounting experience and started a business making T-shirts and tie-dye designs. What began as a small creative outlet has grown into a busy custom apparel business.

Today, she designs, prints, and presses most of the spirit wear herself, creating custom T-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, blankets, tie-dye apparel, and more. One thing she loves most is working directly with customers to create the style, color, and design that fits them best. “My motto is your style, your way,” says Jen.

While her standard turnaround time is about two weeks, she works hard to get back-to-school orders completed as quickly as possible—sometimes in just a few days.

If you're looking for Hawks gear before the first day of school, now is a great time to place an order. 

👉 Join Jen's private Facebook group for her latest designs and to place an order. Click here  (it’s easy to join!)

📱You can also browse examples of her work on her Facebook business page. Click here. (She doesn't update this page as often.)

📍 Pickup is available from her home in Bouton (12 miles from Granger).

• FREE Flag Football Clinic (Ages 4–6)
Some of Woodward-Granger's youngest future Hawks are about to hit the field! Kids ages 4–6 are invited to a free two-day flag football clinic on August 17 and 19 from 6–7 p.m. at Centennial Park. The clinic is designed to introduce young athletes, or kids with a little too much energy, to learn football through fun, age-appropriate games and activities.

Led by parent volunteers and WG High School football players, the clinic helps young athletes build confidence, practice teamwork, and have fun alongside positive role models. Also, every participant receives a free jersey. A special thank-you to Jack Manning and Granger Parks & Rec. for helping bring this opportunity to WG's youngest players. 💚

Click here to register!

• Back-to-School Reminders
August’s here, which means back-to-school information is starting to roll in. Keep an eye on your inbox for emails from the school (and don't forget to check your spam folder!). Below are a few important reminders, but this isn't an all-inclusive list—expect more info. as the first day of school gets closer.

1. Register your student + pay school fees.
If you haven't already, complete your student's registration. Click here to access registration.

2. Turn in health forms.
Make sure your student's immunization records (or exemption form), along with any required dental and vision screening forms, are submitted to their school. (This is the one I always forget!)

3. Sign up for fall activities.
If your student is participating in a Woodward-Granger sport or activity, register through Bound—practices begin next week! Click here to access Bound.

4. Incoming 6th graders: Attend Transition Camp.
Students may attend one of the following sessions: Friday, Aug. 14: 10–11:30 a.m. or Monday, Aug. 17: 4–5:30 p.m. There’s also a parent meeting during the last 30 minutes.
Questions? Contact Middle School Principal William Dotson at (515) 999-8140.

5. Check class schedules.
Middle and high school families should review schedules in Infinite Campus for any errors. If something doesn't look right, contact your child's school counselor as soon as possible.

6. Pick up school supplies.
Now's a great time to start shopping before the back-to-school rush. Each school’s supply list is listed below. If getting school supplies is a financial challenge this year, Stone Bridge Church in Granger would like to help! Click here to sign up. While they can't guarantee every item on your supply list, they hope to help supplement your family's needs. 💚

School Supply Lists:
ELC: click here
Elementary: click here
Middle School: click here
High School: click here

🗓️ Save The Dates:

🎉 Aug. 28-29 — Granger Days

🎃 Oct. 17 — Granger Fall Festival & Fishing Tournament
Click here for the Facebook event page to stay up-to-date on the exciting details!

📌 Community Board

🍗 The Granger Public Library shared that the community refrigerator has been especially busy lately. If you're able, consider picking up an extra source of protein—dairy, meat, etc.—during your next grocery trip and drop it by.

🚒 Serve with Granger Fire & EMS
A chance to serve close to home: Granger Fire & EMS is looking for residents within 10 minutes of the station to join its paid-per-call volunteer team and help support local emergency response efforts. Click here for contact info.

🚘 Volunteer Drivers Needed
Volunteer Community Services of Woodward & Granger (VCSWG) is looking for volunteer drivers to help local residents get to appointments, pick up groceries, and run errands—helping neighbors stay independent. Students, this is also a great opportunity to earn Silver Cord hours.For more information, call 515-978-8114 or visit vcswg.org.

❓Do you have a volunteer opportunity, job posting or another local announcement you’d like included here? Reply to this email and let me know.