Oct. 4-10, 2024

The Polk City Kiwanis Club has named Ava Driscoll and Morgan Meiners Seniors of the Month.

Ava Driscoll
“During my high school career, I have been involving myself in as many activities as I can. Thanks to these activities, I have met amazing people that I hope will stay in my life for as long as possible. Being involved is a great way to meet people and become the best you can be. At the beginning of high school, I was surrounded by people who weren't good for me, but because I joined color guard, I was able to separate myself from them and become a happier, healthier person. From freshman year to senior year, I have grown in great ways. Color guard got me to be more active. I now go to the gym and take classes for jiu-jitsu. Color guard also introduced me to people that got me involved in other activities such as speech. Speech has gotten me to be far less awkward, and I'm able to talk to people that I'm not already connected with. For me, high school has been an opportunity to grow.”

Ava’s parents are Monica Driscoll and Travis Driscoll, and siblings are Corbin Driscoll and Madisen Lee. Her honors include: state for speech, state for winter guard solo, gold honor roll, state for band, and leadership for color guard. She works at Caseys, Center Grove Orchard and an in-home daycare. After graduation, she plans to attend DMACC for culinary arts and participate in a tattoo apprenticeship at Electric Diamond Des Moines.

Morgan Meiners
“I have been going to North Polk since kindergarten. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, as well as doing activities outside such as running and biking. A favorite memory of high school was when my track coach put myself, along with my friends who run distance events, in a JV 4x100 meter relay. Our relay team ended up winning the heat by over 50 meters, and we were all so excited!”

Morgan’s parents are Matthew Meiners and Allison Meiners. Siblings are Carver, Sidney and Lainey. She is involved in cross country, track, Key Club and Environmental Club. She is in Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, DMACC’s Dean’s List and Gold Honor Roll all four years. She works at Scooter’s Coffee in Polk City and plans to attend college and study pre-health.

Bake Sale, White Elephants and Dinner

Polk City O.E.S. Chapter 361 will host a bake sale, white elephants and dinner on Saturday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Masonic Temple, 106 Third St., Polk City. Dinner is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-10, and free for kids 4 and younger. Carryouts will be available. The bake sale features homemade mincemeat and apple butter, cashews, pecan halves, mixed nuts, butter toffee peanuts, chocolate amaretto pecans and chocolate covered peanuts.

Sign up now for upcoming sports programs

Adult Fall Indoor Bags League: Join Polk City Parks and Recreation for its fall indoors bag league. The regular season will be followed by a double elimination tournament to crown a champion team. Teams of two play three games to 21 each week. Registrants must sign up as a team. Deadline to register is Thursday, Oct. 3. Must be 18 or older. The league plays Thursdays, Oct. 10 - Nov. 14, 6-9 p.m. at American Legion Post 232. Cost is $30.

Youth Flag Football: Deadline to register for Youth Flag Football, for ages 6-8, is Tuesday, Oct. 8. The program is an introductory program where participants practice passing, catching, punting and kicking. They learn the basic rules and participate in organized scrimmages. Play is Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 15-31, 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Kiwanis Park. Cost is $50. Register online at https://www.polkcityia.gov/parks-and-recreation/pages/online-registration.

Celebrate the season at Polk City Fall Fest

Join Polk City Parks and Recreation and Go Polk City Saturday, Oct. 12, 2-6 p.m. at the Town Square to celebrate all things fall. Kids' activities will include pumpkin painting, face painting, inflatables, character appearances and more. Seasonal vendors will be selling their best fall treats and food. Fenders Brewing will be holding its Fenders-Fest as well.

Senior event: Explore Winterset on a day trip

Join Polk City Parks and Recreation on Friday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a day trip to explore Winterset and Madison County. The event is for ages 55 and older. Cost is $35. The trip departs from Miller Park. Points of interest will include the John Wayne Birthplace and Museum, Winterset Town Square, Covered Bridges Winery and the Cutler-Donahoe Bridge. Registration includes museum admission, winery tasting and transportation. Bring money for lunch. Registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 11. Register online at https://www.polkcityia.gov/parks-and-recreation/pages/online-registration.

Babysitting Basics

Become a better babysitter with Iowa State University Extension. Participants ages 10-18 will learn about the responsibilities of a babysitter, what employers expect, and how to care for infants and toddlers. Youth learn about age-appropriate toys and activities, safety and basic first aid. Participants receive a book filled with information about childcare as well as a certificate of completion at the end of the course. Registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 18, and the class is Friday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Miller Park. Cost is $45. There is no school that day for North Polk. Register online at https://www.polkcityia.gov/parks-and-recreation/pages/online-registration.

Get your frozen chicken and noodles and more

The Sheldahl United Women in Faith invites the public to stop in at their Fall Festival bazaar and bake sale Saturday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. to noon, at Sheldahl United Methodist Church, Sixth and Hubbell, Sheldahl. Frozen quarts and pints of homemade chicken and noodles will be available, as well as a large inventory of denim rugs, nuts, cards, baked goods and craft items. Enjoy the coffee corner while there.

Enjoy BiketoberFEST Oct. 12

Polk City Friends of the Parks is hosting its third annual BiketoberFEST on Oct. 12, starting in the town square of Polk City. Check-in is from 11 a.m. to noon at Fender's.  After the ride, stay to enjoy Polk City's Fall Fest, where there will be live music, kids activities and overall fun for the whole family. Register online at www.polkcityfriendsoftheparks.com/biketoberfest.

Donate blood on Oct. 18

Polk City Eastern Star is hosting a LifeServe Blood Drive Friday, Oct. 18, 1-4 p.m., at the parking lot on the corner of West Broadway Street and South Fourth Street, Polk City. Sign up on LifeServe’s website, www.lifeservebloodcenter.org, or by calling LifeServe at 800-287-4903.

Radio play explores historic murders

“Murder!” a radio play, will be presented Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. by the Big Creek Historical Society. The play is about the 1882 and 1883 murders that arguably changed the course of Polk City’s history. The town lost two leading citizens and devastated other local lives. This is storytelling at its best, just in time for Halloween. 

Coming up at the Polk City Community Library

Polk City Community Library, 1500 W. Broadway St., 515-984-6119, www.polkcityia.gov/library.

Crafternoon: Monster Candleholders, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2 p.m. We’ll be making monster-themed candle holders out of wine glasses for a creepy touch to your table decor. Ages 17 and older, registration required online at polkcitylibrary.org.

LEGO Club, Oct. 8, 3:45 p.m. Suitable for ages 8-16. Meets monthly. Registration required online at polkcitylibrary.org.

Coloring Night at Fenders Brewing, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 4-9 p.m.

Family Storytime, Saturday, Oct. 12, time TBD. Join us at FallFest on the Polk City Square for a family storytime event.

Comets Kids Club K-fifth graders, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 4 p.m. Meets monthly. Create your own “spell” book for a Halloween decoration. Sorry, real spells are not included. Registration required.

Adult Coloring, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 5-7 p.m. Ages 17 and older.

Area events

Email your event information to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

Des Moines Community Orchestra Concert

Sunday, Oct. 6, 2 p.m.; pre-concert talk at 1 p.m., Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University
The concert will feature two guest pianists from Lyon, France, Haley Myles and Matthieu Bergheau. The program will include Piano Concerto No. 3 by Ludwig Van Beethoven and Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Admission is free. Donations are welcome. A reception will follow the concert. All ages are welcome to attend this family-friendly event. For more information, visit desmoinescommunityorchestra.org.

Covered Bridge Festival

Oct. 12-13, Winterset and Madison County
Celebrate Madison County’s history while also taking in its iconic covered bridges alongside food and art vendors, a car show, a parade and more. Starting at 9 a.m. at the Winterset Square, Winterset. For schedule and more, visit www.madisoncounty.com/covered-bridge-festival-2.

Spirit Seekers Fair

Oct. 18, Unity of Des Moines, 414 31st St., Des Moines
Vendors featuring healing arts, intuitive readers, gifts, stones, jewelry and more. Experience a welcoming environment to sample Iowa’s rich spiritual community. For more information, visit www.unitydesmoines.com.

Kicking off October

• Oct. 5: Flannel Fest. Local vendors inside the Dogpatch Urban Gardens will be stocked with all things autumn. Dogpatch Urban Gardens, 4600 N.W. 51st St., Des Moines; www.dogpatchurbangardens.com
• Oct. 5: Worldwide Food Truck Tour. This food-filled tour stops in Des Moines with a wide range of food trucks and entertainment for the whole family. Cowles Commons, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines; worldwidefoodtrucktours.com
• Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20: Apple and Pumpkin Festival, Wills Family Orchard 33130 Panther Creek Road, Adel. Wagon rides, corn maze and corn pool and of course, apple and pumpkin picking. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. www.willsfamilyorchard.com/apple-pumpkin-fest.
• Oct. 5: Middlebrook Fall Festival, Middlebrook Farm, 4300 Cumming Ave., Cumming. Food trucks, free face painting, farmers market and adult beverages.
• Oct. 5: Wauktoberfest, Downtown Waukee Triangle, Ashworth Drive and Sixth Street. Put on by the Waukee Area Historical Society, this is a day full of fun with live music, German food, beer and an exciting stein-holding contest. Don’t forget to wear traditional attire if you can.
• Weekends through Oct. 27: Phantom Fall Festival, Adventureland, 3200 Adventureland Drive, Altoona. Adventureland hosts its fall festival with several haunted houses, ghosts, ghouls, goblins and more.
• Oct. 7, 14: Zoo Brew. Have a brew at the zoo. Blank Park Zoo, 7401 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines; www.blankparkzoo.com
• Oct. 11: Preseason NBA game. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Philadelphia 76ers. Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St., Des Moines; www.iowa.gleague.nba.com/preseason24
• Oct. 11-13: Capital City Gaming Con. Back with a new name is Des Moines’ very own board game convention. Buy, play, test and enjoy board games of all types. Hilton Garden Inn, 205 S. 64 St., West Des Moines; www.cardboardcaucus.com
• Oct. 12: Indigenous Iowans Day. Explore the early cultures that shaped Iowa. Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale; www.lhf.org
• Oct. 13, 26: 5K Fun Run. The 2024 Iowa Brewery Running series continues through the fall at various breweries in central Iowa. All beginning at noon; www.breweryrunningseries.com
• Oct. 18-20, 25-27: Family Halloween, Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale. Enjoy a Halloween event designed for families amid the historical Living History Farms. For more information, visit lhf.org/event/halloween.
• Oct. 19-20: Great Iowa Pet Expo. Adopt, shop, learn and contests for all pet lovers to enjoy. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. 2100 N.W. 100th St., Clive; www.greatiowapetexpo.com
• Oct. 20: IMT Des Moines Marathon. Since 2002, the annual marathon has been taking participants on a run through Iowa’s capital. 1001 Grand Ave., West Des Moines; desmoinesmarathon.com
• Oct. 26-27: Des Moines Comic and Toy Show. This Halloween-themed event starts at 10 a.m. at Merle Hay Mall, 3800 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines; www.quadcitycon.com
• Oct. 27: Des Moines Jazz Hall of Fame Gala. Celebrate some of the city’s jazz heroes from over the years, including John Krantz, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Community Jazz Center of Greater Des Moines, 1326 Walnut, Des Moines; www.cjc-dsm.org

(Family Features) Many busy weeknights come down to one decision for frazzled families: cook at home or give in to takeout cravings. Instead of stressing over a decision, enjoy the best of both worlds and make Asian-inspired dishes from the comfort of your own kitchen.

Featuring a blend of chilled, freshly chopped vegetables; ready-to-eat, pre-cooked noodles; gourmet dressing sauce; and crispy toppings, Fresh Express Hot or Cold Salad and Noodle Meal Kits offer two meal options in every bag — hot or cold — so you can make your salad, your way. Available in Teriyaki, Asian Sweet Ginger and Korean Sesame flavors, they’re the perfect inspiration for making takeout-style dishes at home.

Consider this Marinated Teriyaki Steak with Teriyaki Noodle Salad recipe, which combines juicy steak with crisp vegetables and pre-cooked Udon noodles for the ultimate at-home comfort food in an effortless meal.

Marinated Teriyaki Steak with Teriyaki Noodle Salad

Prep time: 1 hour
Cook time: 24 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup dark soy sauce
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
• 1/2 cup unsalted chicken stock
• 1 pound flank steak
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 bag (16.9 ounces) Fresh Express Hot or Cold Teriyaki Salad and Noodle Meal Kit

Directions:

• In saucepan, add soy sauce, brown sugar, Sriracha sauce and chicken stock; bring to simmer while whisking. Simmer 4 minutes.

• Cool mixture down until cool to touch, about 20 minutes.

• Slice steak into thin strips and place in bowl. Pour marinade over steak and marinate for 1 hour.

• In large pan over medium-high heat, stir-fry steak 2 minutes.

• Remove steak from pan and allow to rest.

• In same pan used for steak, add oil and cook hot or cold kit according to instructions on bag.

• Add steak back to pan and stir to incorporate.

• Garnish with toppings from hot or cold kit and serve.

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