Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Aaaand right back to frigid temps for the weekend
This week, the city shared a first look at how the existing convention center might be repurposed if a new one is built in the Riverline District – and how the future of the Arena is one of the big unanswered questions in the whole thing. You'll also get smart about how you can help support young readers from the comfort of your own home. And – fellow moms/women will appreciate this – I chatted with Dr. Marysa Warnhoff about how and why to strengthen your pelvic floor.
And now, news:
CITY
Why downtown convention center talks will push city to decide Arena's future
Simplified: As the city eyes the possibility of a downtown convention center and repurposing of the existing convention center into indoor recreation space, there's a question that remains: What happens to the Arena?
Why it matters
- The Sioux Falls Arena was built in 1960, and it's not aging very gracefully, according to an in-depth consultant report shared with the city this week. A handful of options were presented to repurpose the facility for public recreation, but there's also the option to just tear the whole thing down and start fresh.
- City Finance Director Shawn Pritchett said the Arena operates at a loss, and noted the facility was in the red by about $600,000 last year. And, because of the age of the Arena, Pritchett said the city hasn't invested in major upgrades or repairs due to its uncertain future.
- Of the four options presented to the city's Riverline Steering Committee and Events Center Complex Task Force, only one involves demolition. There are ways the building can be repurposed to house turf fields, ropes courses, playgrounds or even rock climbing walls.
- With those options comes the underlying decision the city must make: invest in preserving the history of the Arena, or tear it down and let future leaders decide what could fill that space.
"(The Arena) has a lot of infrastructure needs," said Tom Poulos, CEO of Williams Architects, noting that costs to renovate the facility compared to tearing it down bring "not a great deal of savings."
How did we get here?
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
These workouts will strengthen your pelvic floor
This is a paid piece from Barre3 Sioux Falls.
Simplified: The workouts at barre3 Sioux Falls are designed to create balance in your body with a mix of cardio, strength and mindfulness. An added benefit is a combination of movements that's particularly beneficial for pelvic health.
Why it matters
- Pelvic health is particularly important for women, who have a more vulnerable anatomic setup in their pelvis, said Dr. Marysa Warnhoff, physical therapist and owner of Uprise Pelvic Health.
- The movements in barre3 classes work muscles in the core, glutes, and hamstrings, all of which support the pelvic floor. The coordination between breathing and moving in class adds an even deeper level of support, too.
- Another important aspect of barre3 to pelvic health is that instructors encourage members to take modifications as needed.
- Workouts are designed to be accessible to people of any fitness level, and classes all end with a moment of mindfulness to release any tension.
"Those mental health pieces of fitness are really important and often overlooked in group exercise," Warnhoff said.
How do I know if my pelvic floor needs strengthening?
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Bye bye, Brockhouse. A city work group tasked with determining the future of the Brockhouse collection of taxidermy this week voted unanimously to recommend that the city gift the collection out-of-state. If the City Council ultimately approves the resolution during a meeting next month, the majority of the collection – 117 specimen – will go to the University of Notre Dame. An additional 33 specimen will go to the Oddities Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, and two specimen would go to the Institute of Natural History Arts. More background here.
- Chat with a councilor. Two Sioux Falls City Council members will be available to grab coffee and chat with the general public. You can see Councilors Jennifer Sigette and Ryan Spellerberg from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Prairie West Library.
- Meow-velous news. The Sioux Empire TNR Coalition received a $9,300 grant from a New Jersey nonprofit called Mission Meow. The funds will support the purchase of essential equipment for the organization's TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return) program to manage cat overpopulation. Learn more about the organization here.
- Get flood insurance. Sioux Falls residents can get a 15% discount on flood insurance premium rates, thanks to the city's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System. Sioux Falls is rated as a Class 7, which allows for the discount, and the city is on track to be upgraded to Class 6 as early as next year, which would bring along a 20% discount. Learn more here.
GET SMART
Get smart about helping young readers with Brooke Sieff
Brooke Sieff is the program director at REACH Literacy, and she also oversee's the nonprofit's "Bee a Reader" virtual mentorship program. The program started five years ago in a single classroom and now reaches all second graders at both Annie Sullivan and Hawthorne Elementary Schools. She sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified to chat about children's books, mentorship and the importance of getting kids comfortable with reading – especially in second grade.
Answers are edited for length and clarity. Responses are direct quotes from Sieff.
How did you get smart about reading?
I've always loved reading. As a child, I would read anything I could get my hands on – especially nonfiction. Reading was always, for me, a very personal endeavor to find more knowledge.
I became a high school science teacher (in Nebraska), and I loved helping reach out with the kids that I was teaching.
- I noticed how reading was so challenging for kids in the area of science.
Through the Omaha public schools, I got a masters degree as a reading specialist (after seeing) what a need there was for specialized reading education.
We moved to Sioux Falls about five years ago, and a little over three years ago, I started working at REACH Litearacy.
- I was finally able to put some of those reading strategies for younger learners into play, making reading accessible.
We're all about simplicity here. Can you describe the Bee a Reader program in 10 words or fewer?
Share love of books and reading with kids through mentors
Ok, now let's get deeper into it. How does Bee a Reader work, and what's the structure of the program?
Bee a Reader is entirely virtual, which is super unique for reading programs.
Adult volunteers sign up to be a part of the program. Then, they jump on Zoom with us during the kids' school day. The kids jump on Zoom in their classroom, and we all meet virtually, divide into breakout rooms, and each volunteer reads with one or two students.
- They all have the same book of the week, so everybody's meeting to read books together, share, laugh and have a fun time.
- We always end with a one-minute dance party.
We are really just there to support them while they show off their reading skills. They are so excited to showcase their skills to us.
See the full interview here
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
- Crazy days
- TikTok-o Bell (yeah, I'm a month late to this because I don't have TikTok. I'm a millennial, sue me.)
- Rush tickets
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Dakota Adventure Supply, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, Panther Premier Print Solutions, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Great Plains Zoo, and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
Oh, by the way
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