Iola is painting a new portrait of itself.
The Charley Melvin Run for Your Life covers the canvas with bright colors in a slightly zany scene. Literally thousands of runners and their camp followers now will conjure up memories of that midnight fun when they think Iola.
Charley Melvin, the drag race, the only 5K in the world that starts at 12:26 a.m. — these are all young colors that paint Iola as a place the young thrive.
That’s a welcome switch.
Thursday evening’s country market on the square is another feature of Iola’s new aspect; of its youngness, its different-ness. What other farmers market features amateur chefs giving demonstrations?
But maybe the new Iola is just the old gal with a new outfit, spiffy ear-bobs and a professional make-up job. The north side of the square makes the point. Same buildings. New cosmetics. Delightful. A place for young people to do business.
Farm City Days is refurbishing itself, too.
And the Bowlus Fine Arts Center stage brightens every new season with a catalog of events aimed at the thoughtful and fun-loving of every age.
Say Iola and these are the things that leap to mind. It’s a basket of goodies that never gets too full. Add your dream to it. Make Iola an even better place for young folks to live.
— Emerson Lynn, jr.
