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Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024
Good morning to you!

Good neighbors can help make your house a home. If you have had good neighbors, you know this. If you have had bad neighbors, you also know this.

Jolene and I are fortunate to have great neighbors today, and we had some wonderful ones in past homes, too. One was a marvelous man named Duane. He and his wife, Rochelle, lived a few doors down from us, smack dab in the middle of suburbia with kids continually running through the neighborhood. Duane and Rochelle were both nearing 80 when they moved into their two-story home. He mowed his own lawn and shoveled his own driveway until my friend and fellow neighbor, Cory, and I insisted we take this on for him. A six-pack of our favorite beverages would often appear on our doorsteps.

Duane and Rochelle appreciated the help, and we learned they were also grateful for home-cooked meals. Jolene would bring food to their home from time to time, and they were both so genuinely appreciative.

Duane kept busy in retirement, making wood projects including those little free library boxes. He had a talent. He also took great care of his ailing wife, which wasn’t always easy. Duane had suffered numerous heart attacks through the years. Consequently, he appreciated every day, knowing well that it could be his last. He talked openly about death, and he was OK with it. He had lived a good life.

When Rochelle died in their home, my friend Cory was there with Duane. Cory told me how seeing that happen was one of the saddest moments of his life, but he also saw the peace that Duane had knowing Rochelle would now be free of pain. When Jolene and I attended Rochelle’s funeral, we were greeted by Duane in the church. He was smiling and strong, but a tear ran down his face as we gave him a hug.

Not too much later, Duane decided to sell that two-story home and move into a more manageable townhome. At age 85, his vision was quickly failing, and he could no longer drive. He soon moved into a senior living facility. Cory and I stopped by to see him a few weeks ago. When we went to his room, it was empty. An employee told us Duane died two days prior. Cory and I had a quiet drive home. Our only solace was knowing that Duane was looking down at us and laughing.

This scenario with Duane was a stark reminder for me to make time now to connect with those who are important in my life. I immediately made a commitment to reach out to some who I have failed to stay in touch with, especially those who are dealing with serious health issues. I think Duane would be happy about this. I hope his story inspires you to do the same.

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 other columns here.

 

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Scattered shower chances move in today and intermittently through early Friday morning. More rain chances are ahead Saturday through Monday as temperatures cool.

For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage.

 
 
Featured on the CITYVIEW website
 

STRAY THOUGHTS
Keeping public in dark on school shootings is wrong

By Randy Evans

I have fielded a bunch of emails, text messages and phone calls in the days since the school shooting in Winder, Georgia.

Each one is from Perry, Iowa. Each one had the same question for me and the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Each one came from a parent, teacher or other concerned person asking, why isn’t the public allowed to read the official findings by state agents about the shooting at Perry High School and Middle School last January 4?

High School Principal Dan Marburger and Ahmir Jolliff, 11, a sixth-grader, died from their gunshot wounds. Two school employees and five students were wounded but survived. The shooter, Dylan Butler, 17, took his own life before police could reach him.

The school shooting in Perry was the first in the United States in 2024. Eight months later, Perry residents received a painful reminder of that awful morning, this time when news flashed across the nation of another school shooting. A 14-year-old youth is charged with killing two students and two teachers at the high school in Georgia. His father is charged with providing the gun the boy used.

 
READ MORE
 
 
The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines®
 
Best Local Place to Have an Adult Birthday Party
1. Your Private Bar
2. Smash Park Des Moines
3. AJ’s on East Court
 

Read all the 2024 results.

Cast your votes in the 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll now! Open until Nov. 22. Results to be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW.

 
 
Featured home for sale
 
Attention, Realtors, post your listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.

$355,000.                                                           3737 S.W. 33rd St., Des Moines, IA 50321

Welcome home to this beautifully designed floorplan built by legendary Bloodgood Architects. Nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac in desirable southwest neighborhood, you will discover your own tranquil oasis. Boasting over 2, 000 square feet of finished living space, this home offers abundant room for comfortable living and entertaining.

See the listing here.

 
See More Homes For Sale
 
SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction
 

1900 ARLINGTON AVE., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-06-27
SALE PRICE: $48,000
SELLER: STARLINK LLC
BUYER: BROWN, ANGELA
ACRES: 0.183
SQUARE FEET: 4,153

 

Talk to your worms, mate. Researchers at Flinders University of South Australia announced they can now assess the quality of soil by listening to the ants, worms and beetles that live in it, USA Today reports. In other English speaking countries, researchers concluded that Australians speak a very different English language, similar to that of ants, worms and beetles. 

I scream, you scream... Museums have traditionally been single entities in a single place. Sure, the Smithsonian lends its name to other places in different parts of the USA and Ripley's Believe It or Not travels the world like a circus, but the Museum of Ice Cream decided their place in New York needed extra scoops. The newest Museum of Ice Cream opened in downtown Miami recently joining others in Chicago, Austin and Singapore.

Deals today 
Irina’s Steak and Seafood (650 South Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) now offers a USDA prime version of steak night. Choose a filet, New York strip or sirloin with a side for $25.
• Ribeye sandwiches are tonight's feature at The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines), and chicken fried steak or liver and onions dinners are at Mickey's in Yale (217 Main St., Yale).
• Firecracker shrimp are $6 on Thursdays, and five pasta dinners are just $12.99, including fettuccine chicken Alfredo, at Bianca’s Grill & Vineyard (410 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny).   
Red Lobster (3838 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines) offers a Thursday special of Maine lobster tail with shrimp scampi and a side for $20.
Price Chopper delis offer eight pieces of bone-in fried chicken for $9.99 through Monday.
• Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) has fried chicken on special every Thursday with the ice-cooled salad bar.  
• Whatcha Smokin (Luther, Iowa) offers its decadent pork belly burnt ends today. 
• Hy Vee Market Grill has a Thursday special sirloin steak dinner with potato and green beans for $10.                                                                                                                                         • Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) has 13-15 per pound shrimp for $5.99/pound through Tuesday. Those are the "colossal shrimps" for oxymoron fans. 

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

 
53rd Annual Octagon Art Festival
Sunday, Sept. 22,10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Main Street, downtown Ames
85 artists from all over the Midwest. 

Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival 
Sept. 21-22 at Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines. This celebration is the only two-day Latino Heritage festival in Iowa. 

All-Iowa Writers’ Conference – featuring Harry Smith, NBC journalist
The 12th All-Iowa Writers’ Conference will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21. Former CBS and NBC journalist Harry Smith headlines the conference. Smith, a Central College grad, is returning to his alma mater to teach a class and will be the opening speaker at 9 a.m. Also speaking will be Phil Hester, a comic book artist and author from North English. Joining them will be Leigh Michaels, Misty Urban, Jackie Haley and Zachary Michael Jack. 

Beaverdale Books Hosts First Stop on National Banned Wagon Tour
Sunday, Sept. 22, noon to 4 p.m. As book bans continue to rise across America, the Banned Wagon — powered by Penguin Random House and in partnership with Unite Against Book Bans (UUAB), Little Free Library and First Book — is hitting the road during Banned Books Week. Its first stop will be Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Ave. in Des Moines. Local advocates will be available to answer questions. To learn more, click here.

NYC JAZZ COMES TO CASPE TERRACE IN WAUKEE
Sunday, Sept. 22, 2 p.m.: ANDREA DOMENICI & STEVE DAVIS. Since moving to New York City in 2012, pianist Andrea Domenici has performed with musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Dave Douglas, Gary Bartz. Steve Davis is widely regarded as one of today’s leading voices on the trombone. His lyrical, hard-swinging style has gained him worldwide recognition.Tickets available from Abe Goldstein at abegold1951@gmail.com or by calling him at 515-279-6452.

 
— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz
 
Featured in the current issue of Johnston Living magazine
 

Trip to Ivuga
Residents share a story of a unique vacation.

Johnston residents often take special vacations, but some recently traveled to Tanzania to maintain and improve a decades-long relationship.

Saint James Lutheran Church was founded in Johnston in 1959. As that church grew, it sought ways to better serve its mission. In 2002, it entered into a companion congregation relationship with the Lutheran church in Ivuga, Tanzania. That included signing a Companion Congregation Covenant with Ivuga in which both congregations agreed to regularly pray for each other, develop individual relationships, and learn about the other congregation and its state and country. They also agreed to participate in each other’s activities and encourage visits to the other congregation.

 
READ MORE
 
Weekly fuel report
 

The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 9 cents, averaging $2.97 across Iowa according to AAA. The price is down 87 cents from a year ago. The national average on Wednesday was $3.22, down 3 cents from last week’s price.

Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 5 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.34. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $4.34 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 26 cents lower than the national average of $3.60.

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

Natural gas prices fell 1 cent at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.31/MMbtu.

 
News headlines

FROM KCCI: Dobson Pipe Organ Builders move into new building three years after fire  ...READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Busy ERs make room after wave of shooting victims last weekend. DES MOINES, Iowa — Local emergency rooms are always busy, with something new every day. But with a wave of victims from shootings this last weekend local hospitals had to deal with extra chaos.   ... READ MORE

FROM WOI-DT Local 5: Teens charged with threats made against schools in Pella, Centerville. Both teens were charged with Threat of Terrorism, which is a felony.  ....READ MORE

 
Sports headlines
ESPN: Brewers clinch third National League Central title in four years ...READ MORE 
 
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:  Five MLB Managers Who Could Be on the Hot Seat This Offseason  ... READ MORE
 
CBS Sports: Miller Time? USC QB Moss off to historic start, could have 'Heisman moment' when Trojans face Michigan  ...READ MORE
 
1957: Nevada is site of first‑ever underground nuclear explosion. On September 19, 1957, the United States detonates a 1.7-kiloton nuclear weapon in an underground tunnel at the Nevada Test Site (NTS), a 1,375-square-mile research center located 65 miles north of Las Vegas. The test, known as Rainier, was the first fully contained underground detonation and produced no radioactive fallout.  ... READ MORE
 
1893: New Zealand first in women’s vote. With the signing of the Electoral Bill by Governor Lord Glasgow, New Zealand becomes the first country in the world to grant national voting rights to women...... READ MORE
 
1959: Khrushchev barred from visiting Disneyland. In one of the more surreal moments in the history of the Cold War, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev explodes with anger when he learns that he cannot visit Disneyland. The incident marked the climax of Khrushchev’s day in Los Angeles, one that was marked by both frivolity and tension. ... READ MORE
 
 
Birthdays and notables
 

These celebrities were born on this date: Danielle Nicole Panabaker, Jeremy Irons, Jimmy Fallon, Trisha Yearwood, Alison Sweeney, Katrina Bowden, Sanaa Lathan, Bill Medley, Cheri Oteri, Twiggy, Soledad O'Brien, Bruce A. Evans, Columbus Short, Eva Marie, Kevin Zegers, Kim Richards

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

 
Morning chuckle

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

Why did Darth Vader go to the music store? HE WAS LOOKING FOR A REBEL BASS! - Gail Tomlinson. Or, Because he was "force"d to! - Mike Chiston

Today's riddle:

What do you call an annoyed lobster?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Indianola, Urbandale or Clive Living magazines, contact:

Gina Chandler
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 323
Mobile: 641-750-6485
gina@iowalivingmagazines.com

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