We all have different reasons for choosing to live in a small town. Whatever it was that drew us to live here or keeps us living here, we are fortunate not to be lacking in the services that are at our fingertips in Mount Vernon and Lisbon. It’s really amazing when you think about all the needs that can be met just within our two towns.
Not only do we have great schools for children to attend and public works departments that keep our roads maintained, we also have a great police force and fire departments that are looking out for us to keep us safe if danger should occur. We have opportunities to go before our City Councils and School Boards to bring up issues that concern us and we can choose to run for seats on these platforms if we desire to extend our civic responsibilities.
I realize that many of us head to Cedar Rapids and Iowa City for work and shopping, but the fact of the matter is that we choose to call Mount Vernon and Lisbon home. We are extremely lucky to have so many businesses and services available to us right here. Not many small towns have the thriving business districts that we do.
When you get hungry, not only can you head to our two local grocery stores to stock up on food for your home, but you also have a plethora of restaurants to choose from if you would like to eat out. From pizza to pasta, soups to salads, wraps to wedges; there are restaurants that will accommodate every appetite. We’re even lucky to have specialty restaurants that feature barbecue and vegan menus.
On nice days when you want to get outside, there are 12 parks in the area. That’s quite a few parks to find in just 2 small towns! There are also Nature Trails for walks and I’ve always enjoyed just walking around town and getting a chance to enjoy seeing the features of our beautiful towns while I stroll around.
If you want more aggressive exercise, you can visit one of four different gym facilities. You might even think about taking a fitness class at one of the fitness studios or a dance class at the dance studio. You could also contact the Parks and Recreation Department to see about signing up for a sport with the recreation leagues or even volunteering to coach a team.
When you want to do some local shopping, both towns have several wonderful shops to choose from. You can find clothing, gifts, antiques, sweets, artwork, books, furniture, and other great products at more than 40 shops found in the two towns. I always like finding local gifts for loved ones since they are unique and give people a better idea of this wonderful place where I live.
When we get sick, we have two clinics to go to for medical care. We also have many other facilities for physical therapy, chiropractic care, eye care, dental care, mental health, therapeutic massage, assisted living, and nursing home care. Not only is all of this convenient, but it’s wonderful to have it all close by when emergencies arise. For children in school, doctor appointments close by cut down on the amount of school that is missed.
Of course many of the things I have mentioned take money, so Mount Vernon and Lisbon have us covered there as well. We have four different banks that we can choose from and a myriad of financial advisors to help us manage our money. There are also many accountant and bookkeeping services in the area. We can also take care of our insurance needs locally with local insurance agents ready to help us.
When we want entertainment, we can see a movie at the Bijou, see a play at the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre, try out The Escape Room, catch a concert at Cornell College, visit one of the many art galleries, tour the Lisbon History Center, see a sporting event or concert at one of the schools, or just look up at our brilliant night sky unencumbered by too many city lights.
Lastly, when we need to take care of ourselves, we have an array of 10 different beauty salons and barber shops that we can choose from. It is easy to find a stylist that works well for you with so many choices. Our pets can even get taken care of with a pet salon, pet sitting service, and several vet clinics in the area.
We hear the motto “Shop Small” and it is a wonderful way to support our local businesses and community. As I’ve reviewed all of the businesses and services available in the Mount Vernon and Lisbon area, it’s easy to see that using this motto not only will support our communities, but will make it an easy choice when there are a myriad of ways we can take care of our shopping and needs right here. Additionally, we’ll actually spend less without spending money on gas to shop in other communities.