Happy Friday! Megan here.
First things first: This issue is brought to you by EmBe.
- Give your child the perfect blend of independence and fun with EmBe's before- and after-school care, now with part-time options for fourth and fifth grade students. EmBe can also help with care during days when there's no school (but you still have to go to work). Learn more here.
Weather check: A nice mild week before a Thanksgiving freeze
đź“ť A quick programming note: You'll only get one Simplified newsletter in your inbox next week on Wednesday. There won't be a Friday issue because I have every hope and intention of being deep in a turkey coma.
This week, I've got all the deets on the new ice ribbon downtown at Jacobson Plaza. Plus, you'll find details on the school board's discussion about the future of Renberg Elementary School, and, our friends at the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber have a little reminder about how shopping local not only benefits the community, but it also benefits you as a shopper.
And now, news:
CITY
What to know about the new downtown ice ribbon
Simplified: Sioux Falls is readying to open a new, refrigerated ice ribbon downtown at Jacobson Plaza as early as this weekend. Here's what you need to know before you go – and some bonus details on the adjacent Winter Wonderland lights display at Falls Park.
Why it matters
- The city first started talking about a refrigerated ice ribbon downtown when the vision for Jacobson Plaza was first shared back in early 2021. Nearly five years later, it's finally ready for skaters to hit the ice.
- The parks department is already at work making ice, which will be kept cool by miles of pipes under the 14,000-square-foot rink. The goal is to keep about 1.5 to 2-inches of ice for skaters.
- Folks who want to skate can reserve a time block of about 45 minutes for $5, plus an additional $3 to rent skates, according to Recreation Manager Jackie Nelson. And the city will have a number of events and programs at the ice ribbon throughout the winter.
"Our team works very hard to create experiences to make the most out of the weather and the colder environment," Nelson said.
Tell me more about downtown winter stuff
EDUCATION
School district considers closing Renberg Elementary after 2026-27 school year
Simplified: The Sioux Falls School Board this week discussed the pros and cons of closing the district's smallest elementary school. Here's a closer look at what's next for Renberg Elementary.
Why it matters
- Renberg Elementary has just over 100 students, and it's in an area that's not seeing the same level of growth as other parts of Sioux Falls. Assistant Superintendent Dan Conrad noted that much of the attendance area is either zoned for industrial development, flood plain or not on the city's 2050 plan for growth areas.
- Closing Renberg Elementary has potential to bring between $500,000 and $700,000 in annual savings for the school district, according to Superintendent Jamie Nold. The closure would also mean most of the kids at Renberg would spend less time on buses and attend school in a building closer to their homes.
- But parents of students at Renberg said the small school is a community worth preserving. Several parents spoke at Wednesday's board meeting, sharing what Renberg Elementary means to them.
"I think Renberg's thing that they do (best) is that one-on-one and that personal growth that (students) get from a tight-knit community that they’re not going to get elsewhere," said parent Joshua LaMar.
Tell me more
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
Why customers win when they shop local
This is a paid piece from the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.
Simplified: It's no secret shopping local is good for small businesses, but what's perhaps less obvious are the benefits customers get from shopping locally that they cannot get online. Here's a closer look at how some Sioux Falls retailers are working to create experiences that keep shoppers coming back again and again.
Why it matters
- Local retailers often bring years of expertise on the products they're selling. For Jane Taylor, owner of Prairie Road Yarn, that means the ability to guide customers to the types of yarn best suited for the specific projects they're working on. She can help crafters avoid being stuck with a product with a texture they don't like.
- Shoppers can also benefit from the element of surprise that comes with in-person, local shopping. Folks who walk in with one gift idea in mind may stumble on other ideas simply by looking around or getting advice from shop employees, Taylor said. That doesn't happen if you're searching online for one specific product.
- Shopping local also brings a level of customer service online and big-box retailers simply cannot match. Austad's Golf is just one of many examples of this. For third-generation owner Ryan Austad, it's about providing "unreasonable hospitality" to everyone who walks through the door.
"We recognize we’re not actually in the golf business," Austad said. "We’re in the people business."
Tell me more
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., Live on Stage, SafeSplash Swim School, Dakota State University, Redmond Prime Cuts, Great Bear Ski Valley, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion 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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Special thanks to EmBe!
EmBe's School Age Care program empowers kids to develop friendships, learn new skills and practice independence. Learn more here about options for care on no school days, as well as before- and after-school care.
