The Soultown! Volume III: Issue 2 FEBRUARY 2019 | Page 13

FINE AS WINE
listen. This bottle left such a mark on my memory
that I remembered the name on the label: it was
from Martin Ranch Winery. As I continued to
work for her, she would offer me a glass of wine
whenever she uncorked a bottle. I felt excited
each time and included in her life. One year, for
Thanksgiving, she gave me a bottle from one
of her shipments to take home and enjoy with
my family. It scarcely saw the light of day before
being poured into the glasses of several eager
participants. We hadn’t had anything quite like
it. There is a place for mass market wines, but
there is something truly special about a wine
designed by somebody who has an intimate
relationship with the vines, the grapes, and the
land from which the wine is created. Perhaps
that is where the soul of a wine resides.
Years later when my husband and I started
dating, we discovered a common passion for
wine. We started learning everything we could
about it. I soon discovered that I had the ability
“The wine. I vividly
remember, was sensational.
It was unique and different
from the wine I had been
used to drinking .”
name. Just as I had felt so included in Traci’s
life whenever we shared a bottle, I felt equally
welcome on the grounds of Martin Ranch. Far
from being an aloof, austere monument to
winemaking, Martin Ranch is a place where
anyone can come to enjoy the gorgeous
scenery, the soulful wine, and the excellent
company. The tasting associates are engaging
and friendly. Going to the winery is a real treat
and we look forward to every visit.
My knowledge of wine has grown a great deal
over the years, but there is still more to learn.
There are many attributes of great wine that I still
can’t adequately put into words. I believe those
magical characteristics are proof of a wine’s soul.
If not for the kindness and generosity of another
soul, I would not have understood this. Salud!
to identify certain flavors and aromas. Perhaps
I, too, could become a wine connoisseur. As we
continued searching for great wine, my mind
was seized by the memory of that luscious bottle
I shared with Traci. My husband and I decided to
I am Daniela Velasquez, with Fine As Wine
go to Martin Ranch. When we arrived, we were
warmly welcomed by Sharyn; the atmosphere in The Soultown, we thank Thérèse and Dan
was so welcoming. The winemakers, Thérèse Martin and all the wine lovers for having
and Dan Martin, know their customers by SOUL! ,
VOTING CHANGES • WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Iowa Legislature passed a new voter identifica-
tion bill in the spring 2017 session. Hereʼs what it
means for all voters, according to the Black Hawk
County Auditor's office.
Be Prepared:
1. Register to vote in the precinct where you live at
least 10 days before the election.
2. Always take your driverʼs license/non-operatorʼs
license with you to vote.
Voter Law Changes
• Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, registered voters must
show a driverʼs license or non-operatorʼs ID before
voting.
If you do not have your ID, in 2018 only, you will be
asked to sign an oath that you are who you say you
are. You can then cast a regular ballot. In 2019 and
on, a registered voter can verify/attest for two
people.
• If you do not have one of those IDs, you will
automatically be issued a free Voter ID card. The
state started mailing Voter ID cards in December
2017.
• If you did not receive the Voter ID card or lost it,
the BH County Auditorʼs Office can re-issue one. Call
833-3007.
Absentee Voting
An absentee ballot may be requested 120 days
before the election. Absentee ballots will be mailed
starting 29 days before an election (used to be 40
days).
Absentee ballots must be received 10 days before a
general election and 11 days before other elections.
Absentee ballot voters must include their Iowa
driver's license/non-operatorʼs ID number or their
Iowa voter ID card's PIN number on the absentee
ballot request form.
Registering to Vote
If you are already registered, you do not have to do
anything unless you move within the county or
outside of the county.
Online:
-
https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/Account/Login?
ReturnUrl=%2fVoterRegistrationRegister
By mail: Print the form, fill it out completely in
pen, and mail it to: Black Hawk County Auditor
Election Department, 316 E 5th St., Waterloo, IA
50703
Register In-person: Black Hawk County
Courthouse, 316 E 5th St., Waterloo, IA
Cedar Falls City Hall, 220 Clay St., Cedar Falls, IA
Other locations listed at: http://www.co.black-
hawk.ia.us/208/Registration-Locations
No straight party voting is available in Iowa now. Be
sure to vote for all of the offices/ballot issues listed
on the front and/or back of the ballot.
Special Groups:
High School Students - If you are 17, but will be 18
years old by the general election, you can register to
vote.
College Students - If you are going to school in Cedar
Falls or Waterloo, you can vote there. You must have
an ID that has an expiration date on it. A
college/university ID cannot be used.
Returning Citizens - Those convicted of a felony can
request restoring their voting rights after their
sentence is discharged. Complete the form on the
Iowa Governor's web sit under Services/Executive
Clemency (https://governor.iowa.gov/constituent-
services). Frequently asked questions about
restoring voting rights are on that same page.
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE NAACP?
Monthly Meetings:
2nd Thursdays
515 Beech St.
Waterloo, Iowa 50703
•
President -
LaTanya Graves
Blackhawk County
Branch
waterloonaacp.org
Email: waterloonaacp
@gmail.com
Facebook:
facebook.com/
waterloonaacp
P.O. Box 304
Waterloo, Iowa 50704
See what’s happening in thesoultown.com!
THESOULTOWN.COM • CELEBRATING 2 YEARS OF CONNECTING OUR CULTURE TO OUR CYBER & CONSCIOUS COMMUNITIES • FEBRUARY 2019
13