Elizabeth Wood

The tradition of writing messages to teachers in chalk at Cedar Rapids’ Hoover Elementary School began during the COVID pandemic, when families wanted to show appreciation for teachers.

The Iowa Arborist Association offered an intro to competitive tree climbing class Friday in Cedar Rapids. The organization will host its annual Tree Climbing Championship Saturday at Daniels Park in northeast Cedar Rapids.

Gazette photographers share their best photos from the second half of April 2025

Two hundred University of Iowa student athletes helped spread mulch, tend to garlic plans and do other community service projects around Johnson County for the Hawkeye Day of Caring.

Ackerman Winery enlisted the public’s help Sunday to harvest dandelion heads that will be used to make the Amana winery’s dandelion wine. Participants were paid $8 per one gallon of dandelions. The winery hoped to gather 100 gallons of them Sunday.

“I came across a local travel basketball team’s fundraiser while searching for a nearby gas station after covering the Iowa City Girls’ soccer game,” said Gazette photojournalist Elizabeth Wood. “Seeing the team out there, I decided to pull over and get a few photos of them washing cars.”

Photos: Boys Soccer Benton Community at Marion on Friday, April 18, 2025

Action from the annual boys and girls relay track meet at City High.

Volunteers planted 40 trees Friday at Prairiewoods Fransiscan Spirituality Center in Hiawatha through a partnership with Trees Forever and the City of Cedar Rapids. Prairiewoods lost 1,200 trees in the August 2020 derecho and has since planted 1,000 trees and shrubs.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels will take on the Beloit Sky Carp in a six-game series that kicks off Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids.