 Meredith Hines-DochtermanMeredith Hines-Dochterman is a multimedia journalist focusing on food and community features. Meredith previously worked at The St. Joseph News-Press in St. Joseph, Mo.; The Messenger in Fort Dodge, Iowa; and The Aledo Times Record in Aledo, Ill. Her work has been honored with awards from the Iowa Newspaper Association, the Missouri Better Newspaper Contest, the Missouri State Teachers Association and the Illinois Press Association. She was a 2004 recipient of a Journalism Fellowship in Child and Family Policy from the University of Maryland. An Iowa native, Meredith graduated from the University of Iowa. |
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Traveling for work, fresh produce
When I started working for The Gazette in January 2008, I was the community reporter. My job was to write feature stories about interesting people and places in Eastern Iowa. It was a broad job description, but one I enjoyed because I was forced to leave the comfort of the newsroom behind and into small towns [...]
Take a shot at a new salad recipe
Yara Shoemaker worried her husband the first time she experimented with shot glass salads. “My husband came home and he saw all those shot glasses on the counter,” Shoemaker says with a laugh during a recent phone interview. “He said, ‘Are you OK?’” A former model, aesthetician and boutique owner, Shoemaker grew up in Syria [...]
Going green — and red and black and blue
“Don’t forget, I have to work Friday night.” I said that to my husband as we were loading the dishwasher on a recent Sunday evening, enjoying the final few hours of the weekend before the busy week ahead. He noted it on the family calendar hanging in our kitchen, and then added it to his [...]
Eat fresh: Eastern Iowa’s farmers markets
Fresh produce, baked goods and live entertainment are on the agenda for Eastern Iowa’s farmers markets. Iowa City marketgoers have a new destination this year. A Mercer Park Farmers Market replaces the Sycamore Mall Farmers Market. Market attendees can expect to see some of their favorite vendors from the Sycamore Mall market, as well [...]
National Czech & Slovak Museum receives national award for service
Less than five years after a devastating flood caused $11 million in damages to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, it is being honored for its service to the community. The museum is a recipient of this year’s National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honor given to museums and libraries. [...]
One book at a time
‘Excuse me. Are you a big reader?” I asked that question several times Tuesday. The responses ranged from “Not really,” to “I used to be.” I had fewer odd looks than I expected. Most people were curious to know why I asked. Twenty paperback copies of Lisa Genova’s “Still Alice” were my answer. I was [...]
Who is tougher than a Boy Scout?
‘Be prepared” will soon have new meaning for members of the Cedar Rapids and Coralville police departments, former University of Iowa athletes and local celebrities. These groups will form teams of three and take on area Boy Scouts in the Hawkeye Area Council’s “Are You Tougher than a Boy Scout?” competition. Based on the [...]
Is it pizza? Is it a cookie? It’s both!
I went to my son’s last parent teacher conference as a middle schooler this week. He’ll be a freshman in the fall. Wow. I don’t want to say my parents were right, but kids really do grow up fast. The teachers pulled a 12-hour+ day on Monday, so parents volunteered to bring in food so [...]
African American Museum of Iowa celebrates 20 years
CEDAR RAPIDS –— The African American Museum of Iowa will celebrate its 20th anniversary next week, but Executive Director Tom Moore remembers when it was a simply an idea. “We started out very small at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church,” Moore says. “It was an idea to educate our children about African American history [...]
When the moon hits your eye …
Pizza is one of the few foods everyone likes in my house. Of course, none of us like the same toppings. B likes cheese only while E is OK with plain cheese or pepperoni. I prefer vegetarian or taco, while Scott likes meat combinations. I make homemade pizza pretty regularly, but decided to try something [...]
