Welcome to 
The Golden View
​December 2025 Edition

Hillcrest Reflections in the Park
by Greg Birkett,
​Steering Committee Member & Volunteer,  Hillcrest Reflections in the Park

It's that time of year again!! Time for Hillcrest Family Services Reflections in the Park presented by Fidelity Bank and Trust! From Thanksgiving through January 4th, Murphy Park in Dubuque will once again be transformed into a Christmas winter wonderland, sparkling with intricate and animated light displays including the ever popular Tunnel of Lights, the Faley family sponsored 30’ Digital Christmas Tree, Memory Lane and many new and returning favorites – all with LED lighting.

This annual event has become a family tradition over the last three decades with those that visited as children now bringing their children and grandchildren. “This event is about more than holiday lights–it’s about hope”, said Hillcrest Family Services CEO Mike Fidgeon. “People visiting the park help provide crucial behavioral health services to over 7,000 individuals in our community who rely on Hillcrest Family Services.”

Your admission fee and donations directly fund life-changing therapy, counseling, and support services for those who need it most. Reflections in the Park, “A Hillcrest Lights Festival”, presented by: Fidelity Bank and Trust; is a family tradition for so many in the Tristate community. “It is awesome to see the faces of the little ones especially,” said Greg Birkett, Steering Committee Member and Volunteer for Reflections. “It puts everyone in the Holiday spirit and is an important fundraiser for Hillcrest Family Services”.

Hillcrest is blessed with approximately 500 community volunteers that put in over 3,500 hours making Reflections in the Park  happen, from handling the promotions, refurbishing lights year-round, doing everything from set-up, to volunteering while the show is up and running, to taking down the displays when the show wraps up. 

Tickets for Reflections in the Park are priced at $12 per vehicle at the gate. Discounted $10 tickets are available at tri-state area Fidelity Bank and Trust locations and at Hillcrest Family Services throughout the event.  Tickets make wonderful stocking stuffer gifts.

“We want to thank all of the sponsoring businesses for making this a reality for the tens of thousands of visitors each year. This year in addition to our principal sponsor, Fidelity Bank and Trust, the Diamond Jo is a platinum sponsor,” said Birkett.

​Additional details about Reflections can be obtained by calling Hillcrest at 563-583-7357. 

Why do we turn down help?

All too frequently we seniors don’t ask for help when we need it, using as an excuse that others need it more. Sound familiar?

Our local senior center decided to host a free holiday dinner a few weeks before Christmas this year. It was to be a full turkey dinner, with several courses, a sit-down affair with table service from the Community Club at the high school. They needed to limit it to 100 people, and advance signup was required. Color them amazed when a full week after the announcement, there were still well over 50 dinner slots available.

Staff starting manning the phones, calling senior center members to ask if they’d heard about the dinner. Yes, people had heard. Yes, it sounded lovely. But no, they wouldn’t be signing up for it. Other people, many stated, needed the free dinner more.

This did not surprise me. After all the times I’ve talked to seniors around me about how it was OK for them to go to the food bank, that it was OK to ask for help — no, I wasn’t shocked that many were turning down a free holiday dinner at the senior center.

Does this describe you? Someone who would turn down free things, saying that others might need it more?

There’s more to it when we decline help, other reasons, if we’re going to be honest with ourselves. Mostly we fear loss of independence. Somehow we equate getting help at the food bank — or a free turkey dinner — with not being able to take care of ourselves, thus possibly inviting scrutiny from others who might start questioning our ability to manage our lives.

I was not surprised when the senior center changed their promotion for the free dinner to say they would welcome donations, and the rest of the slots filled up.

​© 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

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DuRide: 
Good for the Whole Community
​ by Kathy Loch Klein, DuRide Volunteer

Bill and Jean

According to Mimi, “DuRide is the best thing to happen in Dubuque since the floodwall.” 

Mimi is one of 784 DuRide members that have used the service since it began in 2008. Like the floodwall, DuRide makes life in Dubuque better for everyone.

DuRide members gain independence. They have safe, reliable transportation that is available 365 days a year. Residents of Dubuque, Asbury, and East Dubuque who are over age 65 can join. Members pay a yearly fee, and $7 per ride. Those with limited incomes pay less and get free medical rides. No money is needed during the actual rides. Rides are billed monthly.

DuRide drivers are volunteers who enjoy meeting people and helping others. Many are retired. All appreciate the flexibility that DuRide offers. Volunteers use their own vehicles and choose when, where and how often they want to drive. 

They can call the office, wait for a call, or consult a daily list of available rides. Some volunteers give regular rides, often to church. These recurring rides have resulted in lasting friendships. Since 2008, a total of 378 volunteers have driven more than a million miles, providing 156,336 rides as of October 31. 

Our entire community benefits when more people are actively engaged. Local businesses profit from DuRide since it brings customers to their doors. Several members use DuRide to get to their jobs! 

Rides can go anywhere within Dubuque, Asbury, and East Dubuque. Besides riding to stores, banks, and doctors, members use DuRide for fun things, too. Riders enjoy movies, lunches, exercise, and visits with friends. Family members take comfort in knowing that their loved ones have dependable transportation whenever they need it, wherever they want to go. 

DuRide members say that, just like the floodwall, “we don’t know what we would do without it.” 

DuRide is always welcoming new members and new volunteers. 

​Call DuRide at 563-451-4999. Email at [email protected]. Visit the web site at www.duridedbq.com. 

Debbie and Jean

Bell Tower Theater Presents the Area Premiere of the New Comedy
Every Christmas Story Ever Told
(And Then Some)!
by Miki Robinson, 
Operations & Marketing Manager,
​Bell Tower Theater

The Bell Tower Theater, your hometown theater, is pleased to announce their final Subscription Series comedy of the 2025 Season, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)! by Michael Carleton. The performance will be directed by Bell Tower Theater Artistic Associate Michelle Blanchard.

Tired of performing Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic year after year, three actors decide instead to perform every Christmas story ever told—plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to now, and every carol ever sung. This madcap romp through the holiday season will have you in stitches!

The show features Bell Tower veteran Stephen Green, alongside Melissa Goranson in her first Bell Tower show since 2013 and newcomer to the Bell Tower stage Nathan Kinkade.

The Bell Tower Theater is conveniently located in Fountain Park at 2728 Asbury Road in the city’s vibrant West End just minutes from both Highway 20 and the Northwest Arterial. Performances are every Thursday and Friday evening at 7:30 pm; Saturdays, December 6 and 13 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, December 20 at 2 pm and every Sunday afternoon at 2 pm from December 5 to 21. The performances on December 5 & 6 are the Early Bird Special performances when tickets are just $13. Tickets for all other performances are $26. Thursdays are Girls’ Night Out; all audience members, 21 and over, get a free glass of wine.

For information and to purchase tickets call 563-588-3377 or visit tickets.belltowertheater.net.

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