🌱 Patch AM: How is UNI’s Patrick Luensmann boosting Cedar Falls entrepreneurs?

Good morning Cedar Falls! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How is UNI’s Patrick Luensmann boosting Cedar Falls entrepreneurs?
• How Cedar Falls stacks up in the latest girls’ hoops rankings
• How a Cedar Falls event spotlighted Iowa’s most conservation-minded farmers

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Becoming very windy; flurries, with a high of 37 and low of 4 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Colder; breezy in the p.m., temps: high: 28, low: 24.
• Saturday: Clouds and sun, with a high of 37 and low of 14 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Patrick Luensmann: Entrepreneur support is focus of work by director of UNI center (wcfcourier.com) — In Cedar Falls, UNI entrepreneurship leader Patrick Luensmann is being recognized in The Courier’s 2025 20 Under 40 list while helping guide local innovators through the university’s JPEC center. His work focuses on mentoring startups, connecting them with resources, and strengthening the Cedar Valley’s small-business ecosystem.
   

• Area high school girls' basketball Super Ten and standings (Dec. 17, 2025) (thegazette.com) — Cedar Falls girls’ basketball is off to a strong 5-1 start, sitting 2-0 in the MVC Valley Division after a key win over Iowa City West. The Gazette’s latest Super Ten and conference standings highlight how Cedar Falls stacks up against top programs like Cedar Rapids Prairie, Iowa City West, and Clear Creek Amana across all classes.
   

• Iowa farmers honored with 2025 Leopold Conservation Award (farmprogress.com) — Cedar Falls recently hosted the Big Soil Health Event, where Franklin County farmers Landon and Anne Plagge received Iowa’s 2025 Leopold Conservation Award for their conservation-focused operation. Their work includes no-till practices, diverse rotations with oats, cover crops, and a new farmer-owned oat mill, along with efforts to keep small-town grocery options and rural communities thriving.
   

📸 Around Cedar Falls

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Cedar Falls

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Friday December 19

• Movie Matinee.
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
  2:00 pm
• Remember to put the trash out for Friday garbage pickup!
  Cedar Falls Calendar Cedar Falls, IA 50613
  7:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Gift of Giving -- Hand-stamped Drawstring Giftbags (Morning Session)
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
  9:30 am
• Gift of Giving -- Hand-stamped Drawstring Giftbags (Afternoon Session)
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
  2:00 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Remember to put the trash out for Tuesday garbage pickup!
  Cedar Falls Calendar Cedar Falls, IA 50613
  7:00 pm
• Garbage day is Tuesday this week! - 12/23/2025
  Cedar Falls Calendar Cedar Falls, IA 50613
  7:00 pm

📣 Cedar Falls Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• BHC Emergency Management Commission
  EMA Building , 1925 Newell Street , Waterloo
  4:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Illuminate The Gardens
  Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens , 1927 E Orange Rd , Waterloo
  5:00 pm
• Dike-New Hartford Boys Varsity Basketball @ APHS
  Aplington-Parkersburg High School , 610 N Johnson St , Parkersburg
  7:45 pm
• Hudson Boys Varsity Basketball @ Columbus Catholic
  Columbus High School , 3231 W 9th St , Waterloo
  7:45 pm

Saturday December 20

• Tea Parties at the Snowden House
  Snowden House , 306 Washington St , Waterloo
  10:00 am

Monday December 22

• Oelwein Boys Varsity Basketball @ Hudson
  Hudson High School , 245 S Washington St , Hudson
  7:45 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers posted a job opening for Cashier - Morning Shift in Cedar Falls. Apply here.
• Fleet Farm posted a job opening for Convenience Store Manager in Cedar Falls. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cedar Falls here.

🗞 Nearby News

Waterloo

• Waterloo's Battery Building revamp aligns with 2030 vision plan (kwwl.com)
• Salvation Army seeks Christmas donations for eastern Iowa shelter residents (kcrg.com)
• Main Street Waterloo IMPACT Grant boosts downtown vibrancy projects (kwwl.com)

Janesville

• After 0-2 start, MFL MarMac boys win three straight games (pdccourier.com)

Ok Cedar Falls! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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