You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.
That may be true, but it’s a prideful pig.
I was reminded of this popular saying recently when I saw several examples showing how impactful a simple coat of paint can be.
Many towns in our coverage area are “spruced up” around the time of their annual festivals, and that usually includes giving the curbs a fresh coat of yellow paint. It is amazing how something so simple can make a town look so much better, at least until a careless driver and a fresh set of Michelins leave their mark.
I also noticed several local businesses with new paint jobs, and what a great impression those clean colors make about the company and the owners or managers who make painting a priority.
Some of the first impressions of a small town are the welcome signs and the water tower. What kind of impression does your community make? Again, a fresh coat of paint can make a world of a difference, if anyone cares enough to make it happen.
I remember being at a public high school in another state several years ago for an athletic event. Light bulbs in the locker room were flickering. Locker doors were broken. Paint was peeling off walls. Cockroaches ran across the floor. Employees of this school district complained they were not respected like the other districts. What they failed to realize is that respect starts with personal pride, and changing out light bulbs, fixing broken doors, painting walls and spraying for bugs doesn’t take a whole lot of money or effort, but they do take pride.
In one of my first management jobs, I was making requests to my boss for improvements to our facility. He politely, but sternly, told me I should prove I can take care of what I have before I ask for more. That was great advice I heeded then… and I still do.
Meanwhile, I am saddened when I see neglected buildings being torn down that could have been saved with some regular upkeep. And I am dismayed when these are tax-funded buildings that are purposefully ignored to show how bad they are so elaborate new construction will be approved.
You can call it lipstick on a pig if you like, but I call it pride — and I am encouraged by the many local examples of this I am seeing today in both the private and public sectors. Have you seen some great examples of this, too? Send me a note and let me know.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com
View Shane Goodman's archived columns from past issues here. |
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| CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | CITYVIEW announced its 2023 Best Of Des Moines® readers' choices Jan. 31. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!
Best local distillery
1. Iowa Distilling Company
2. Foundry Distilling Company;
3. Revelton Distilling Company
SEE BEST OF DES MOINES® EVENT PHOTOS HERE... | | | Read More |
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Your Clear Mortgage forecast
Highs in the upper-90s to near 100 will continue today and tomorrow, along with heat indices in the neighborhood of 105-110 degrees. We "cool" to the 90s with a slight rain chance Friday, and to the 80s for the weekend.
For help with preapprovals or refinancing, get in touch with Carrie at carrie.mortgage. |
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| Featured home for sale | | | |
$1,075,000
21827 T Ave.,
Dallas Center, IA 50063
This is truly what dreams are made of! This massive modern farmhouse sits on just under 7 acres and boasts 2,800 square feet of living! The home maintains its original, 1881 bones but has been remodeled from top to bottom! The second you pull up, you'll be in awe with the new siding, windows, and roof as well as the front porch!
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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University of Wisconsin, using data from The Centers for Disease Control, announced that Wisconsin has the nation's highest percentage of binge drinkers and heavy drinkers. Iowa ranked second and all top five states were in North Central America. In Iowa, Dubuque and Buchanan counties led the way with 27% of the populations reporting problem drinking.
It's nearly football season. Cyd's Catering has a special pre-game spread that includes crudite, shrimp cocktail, tortilla chips with queso, chicken wings, meatballs and fudge brownies. 515-2280-2091.
Wednesdays are pork chop dinner nights ($10) at Triangle Tap (2506 Post St.). They also offer $3 craft pints.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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FROM KCCI: Iowa farmer gets wallet back a year after losing it in Minnesota lake
MOORHEAD, Minn. — A Minnesota teenager has a fishy story to tell — one with a happy ending for an Iowa farmer. Fourteen-year-old Connor Halsa was fishing for walleye when he says he hooked something that felt big. ... READ MORE FROM KCCI
FROM WHO-TV: New places to play! Des Moines adding new community center, park & trail improvements
DES MOINES, Iowa — These are good times for Des Moines Parks and Rec Director, Ben Page. The guy is finding new places for the city to play, and taking care of the old ones. At Monday’s Des Moines City Council meeting, city leaders approved the final donations for the upcoming Reichardt Family Recreation Center on the city’s north side. ... READ MORE FROM WHO-TV
FROM WOI-DT Local 5: Changes coming to Iowa schools as new school year begins
As many districts prepare to kick off the first day of school on Wednesday, there are several changes coming due to recent law changes. ...READ MORE FROM WOI-DT Local 5 |
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| Personalities | | | Put me in coach!
Residents recall the coaches who impacted their lives.
By Chantel Boyd
Coaching is about much more than teaching the fundamentals of a sport. It is about developing the heart and mind of an athlete. It is about encouraging, leading and building relationships. It’s about more than a winning season. It’s about developing the mindset of a winner — not only in competition but in life’s endeavors. Great coaches do that — and more, as the athletes whose lives they touched can attest.
“Just get up”
Ironically, Henry Tromba met his wrestling coach, Ryan Jenson, not in a wrestling practice room but on a flag football field. Jenson and Tromba’s dad, Bill Cooke, were coaching the sport at the time. Still, upon greeting Tromba, Jenson said, "Hi, I am Coach Jenson, your new wrestling coach."
Having never wrestled before, Tromba laughed and responded, "You need to talk to my mom about that!"
Read more in the August issue of Winterset Living magazine |
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| Birthdays and notables! | | | Happy Birthday Alysia Webster!
These celebrities were born on this date: Seth Curry, Jeremy Lin, Lil Yachty, Shelley Long, Barbara Eden, Keith Moon, Scott Caan, Rick Springfield, Julian Casablancas, Trixie Mattel, Chrissy Costanza
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to yesterday's riddle:
What do you call a wolf that can catch a deer with either paw? BAMBI-DEXTROUS! - Josie Siefken, Lori Bluml, William Snyder, John Zeitler. Or, Ambi"deer"xtrous! - Carolyn Rogers. And a close guess from Gail Tomlinson
Today's riddle
Why do old people tell the worst jokes?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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To advertise in this daily newsletter, contact Jolene Goodman at jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com, or call 515-953-4822 ext. 319.
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www.biggreenumbrellamedia.com. Add webmaster@dmcityview.com to your address book to ensure delivery. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Click here to get it delivered to your inbox for FREE! |
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