Welcome to an extra edition of the mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by subscribers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.

“What you described in your column more than makes the case for every business, including yours, to have a business continuity plan (Outage, June 3, 2024). Even a rudimentary plan puts you a leg up in time of need. The more detailed the plan, the more help it will be, but it is something that needs to be maintained. A surprising number of people don't think they need one. There can be a lot of good reasons to have one at some level. I'll leave it at that.” - Chuck

Agreed. That’s why I am hanging on to the fax machine… and the waxer. - Shane

“One of my most memorable summer smells (though not my favorite) is hot asphalt (Scents of summer, June 4, 2024). When I was young, we lived on an asphalt street. I remember when it used to get really hot, it would start to melt just enough to make the bottom of your shoes stick to it and just enough to emit the odor of summer!” - Lori

Ah, yes. I remember that as well — and learning the hard way how hot was too hot to go barefoot. - Shane

“Another great and engaging column today, Shane (Scents of summer, June 4, 2024). I had not heard the term ‘geosmin’ before. The smell of rain I referred to in a story I wrote a few years ago was petrichor. Any way you label it, there are rain-associated smells that will trigger a myriad of summertime memories.” - John

Geosmin? I made up that word. Ha! Actually, petrichor might have been the better choice. Thanks, John. - Shane

“Another smell that every farm kid and kid who baled hay remembers is the fresh cut alfalfa as the old baler churned out rectangle after rectangle of cow fodder (Scents of summer, June 4, 2024).” - Shane

Oh, yes. My nose is clogging just thinking of it. - Shane

Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

See Shane Goodman's previous columns here.

CIVIC SKINNY
Polk County revenues, expenses are down. Internet costs are up. Home inventory improves. And Iowans pass more gas in airplanes?

By CITYVIEW staff

RSM US LLP released its audit of Polk County for the year ending June 30, 2023. The financial report highlights the County’s revenues, which totaled $476,155,345, a 2% decrease from 2022. The decrease is primarily due to “$26.6 million in charges for services and $17.6 million decrease in operating grants and contributions primarily due to the receipt of federal emergency rental assistance funding and receipt of the second half of ARPA grant funding the prior year.”

Expenses for County operations for 2023 totaled $370,623,029, also a 2% decrease from the previous year. The decrease in expenses is due primarily to “$66.1 million in administration expense related to emergency rental assistance expense in the prior year.”

[...]

Curtain call
Residents share their experiences on stage.

By Becky Kolosik

For many people, public speaking is their worst fear. They recall suffering from butterflies in the stomach or worse before stepping out on the stage for their elementary school programs and the terror of having to speak in front of their peers in high school speech class. For them, the thought of performing before the public in a stage production sounds as appealing as being tarred and feathered. Others actually seek the spotlight, volunteer to memorize lines and create play props, eagerly awaiting the day the curtains are drawn back and the show begins. Some of these people share their reasons why center stage is the place they want to be.

A tale of two Hades
Joel and Deb Hade not only share their lives but also their love of theatre.

Joel says there are personal benefits to being involved in community theatre, including learning new skills and working within a group to achieve a goal as well as the fun of playing “make believe” and entertaining people.

[...]

The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 8 cents, averaging $3.15 across Iowa according to AAA. Prices are down 22 cents from a year ago. The national average on Wednesday was $3.45, down 5 cents from last week’s price.

Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 5 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.49. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.64 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 30 cents lower than the national average of $3.79.

Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.

Natural gas prices rose 28 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $3.01/MMbtu.

Happy Birthday Eric Goodman!

These celebrities were born on this date:  Ally Sheedy · Ban Ki-moon · Chris Evans · David Gray · Ethan Embry · Gesaffelstein · Hannah Storm · Jason Michael • Melissa Gisoni • Aaron Taylor-Johnson • Ashley Olsen • Mary-Kate Olsen • Daniella Perkins • Tim Allen • Rivers Cuomo • Violet Chachki • Cody Walker • Richard Thomas • Stellan Skarsgård

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

Are all math puns bad? NO, JUST SUM! Or, No so we should get to the root of your negativity! - Gail Tomlinson. Or, Not necessarily. "Sum" are good - others are "obtuse." It depends on a "number" of "factors." (It "figures"!) - Carolyn Rogers. Other answers from William Snyder.

Today's riddle

What do you call a convicted painter?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or CITYVIEW, contact:

Megan  Pugh
Account Executive
c: 515-360-1225
megan@iowalivingmagazines.com

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