Welcome to an extra edition of the mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by readers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.
“I really enjoy your columns running now in the Kossuth County (Algona) Advance (Nature listens, Nov. 13, 2024). This week your thoughts on snow and seasonal silence made me think of a wonderful short story by Conrad Aiken, and I wondered if you had read it: Silent Snow, Secret Snow. It is a stunning piece of writing you would enjoy. Thank you for your work and congratulations on all your success.” - Scott
Thank you, Scott. I don’t recall reading Aiken’s short story, but I did find the short film and watched it online. Powerful writing and filmography — and a but unsettling. Daydreamers are often misunderstood and, sometimes, misdiagnosed. In some ways, we can all relate. In every way, we can all listen to our surroundings. - Shane
“This was sweet (No. 4 is gone, Nov. 25, 2024).” - Samantha
So are you. - Shane
“Your article about Layla, the Goodman family dog No. 4, and her reaction to cats, small dogs, and babies, reminded me of a story from my childhood (No. 4 is gone, Nov. 25, 2024). At the time my mom and dad were married, and my dad had a dog named Mickey. According to Mom, when I was old enough to start walking, Mickey became jealous and started nipping at me. The fact that I was caught pulling his tail might have something to do with this, but I don't remember that part. Since they couldn't have a dog that might bite me, Mom said that Dad had Mickey put to sleep. In later years, she admitted that Dad had actually found Mickey a new home with a farm family. I always felt pretty lucky. After all, they had the dog first. They could have had me put to sleep!” - Bob
And the nightmares about the dog coming after you? How long did those continue? - Shane
“They also take personal responsibility for what goes wrong (Boomers, Nov. 26, 2024). No bailouts or hesitation looking for a scapegoat.” - Chuck
You are correct, except for “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” Nobody wants to take responsibility for that. - Shane
Thank you 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 past columns here. |
|
|
FROM KCCI: Truck driver who led 75-mile chase had ‘visible body tremors’ and ‘convulsions,’ court documents say. New Jersey truck driver Jose Ariel Rosa Rivera has been charged with eluding for Tuesday's 75-mile chase on Interstate 80. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s masked killer after ‘brazen, targeted’ attack on NYC street. NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. ...READ MORE
FROM WOI: Metro cities experiencing water main breaks. Woodward officials say the city currently does not have active water service, but service will be restored by 5 p.m. ...READ MORE |
|
|
Clear Mortgage meteorology
Colder weather has moved in today for a brief stay. Warming into the weekend.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
|
|
| Read the latest CITYVIEW | | | FEATURE STORY
Favorite Holiday Songs
By Cyote Williams
Christmas music floods the airwaves through our radios, Spotify and Apple Music playlists, or however you choose to listen to the holiday tunes year after year. While some think it criminal to start jingling bells before Thanksgiving, others begin rocking around the Christmas tree in their Halloween costumes. And all some want for Christmas is a silent night with holiday tunes regulated to the shadows for another year. We respect each of these opinions, but one way or another, Santa Claus is coming to town — and so is his music.
We, at CITYVIEW, sat down and discussed our favorite Christmas classics. From old to new, from good to bad. We noticed the classics rose to the top with not many newer songs making the list of favorites. Sure, a few crept in, like Mariah Carey’s, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Michael Bublé’s cover of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree,” which, having been released in 1994, 2011 and 2013, will soon be classics, too. Meanwhile, nearly every pop star, rapper, rock band and everything in between has released Christmas albums over the years.
... | | | READ MORE |
|
|
The Restaurant Biz
Top restaurant consultant Toast released their annual "Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey," which gathered insights from 755 industry decision-makers. For the third year in a row, inflation is still the top concern for restaurant operators. While nearly 63% of respondents said their profits were up in 2024 compared to 2023, rising costs are "forcing operators to rethink their supply chains and pricing strategies." In response, 37% have adjusted their number of food suppliers, 36% are keeping a closer eye on ingredient prices, and 34% have raised menu prices. Fewer restaurants surveyed raised prices this year than last, "signaling that many are finding smarter ways to manage costs without fully passing the burden onto guests." Instead, 32% are trimming inventory, and 26% are simplifying menus to maintain profitability. Despite those challenges, the survey found that only 4% of respondents have seen profits decline. Further, 28% hope to open a new location within the next year; 26% of operators plan to roll out new tech solutions in 2024, a 7% jump from last year; 70% of operators are “extremely interested” or “very interested” in how dynamic pricing (letting demand determine menu prices) could help them manage demand and boost revenue.
Thursday specials
• Irina's Steak and Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) offers a steak special with choices on Thursdays. Choose one: prime filet mignon, New York strip or baseball cut sirloin, plus one selected side, $25.
• Sirloin steak dinners are featured specials today at Sully's Irish Pub (860 First St., West Des Moines), Front Row (9956 Swanson Blvd., Clive), and Winn’s Pizza and Steakhouse (122 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola)
• Thursday nights, Moroccan couscous — lemon chicken, beef keftas, five vegetables, harissa — are $17 at Purveyor (505 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines).
• Sprockets (2314 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a breaded pork tenderloin special on Thursdays for $9.99.
• Kids eat free at Scornovacca’s (1930 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) on Thursdays.
• Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) offers $2 off all sushi on Thursdays.
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) has karaoke tonight from 6 p.m.
• ShortE's BBQ (8505 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) has $1 smoked wings Thursdays.
• Cyd's Catering has a football "pre-game meal deal" that includes crudité with tomatoes, shrimp cocktails, corn chips and three dips, bourbon meatballs, dry rubbed chicken wings and fudge brownies to feed four, $100.
• It's prime rib night at Flying Mango (4345 Hickman Road) and burnt end pork belly night at Whatcha Smokin’ (Luther).
• Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special of beef stew and cornbread Thursdays for $13.
• Fareway is offering USDA Choice T-bones for $8.88/pound and navel oranges for 99 cents a pound, not a piece, through Saturday. They begin a three-day sale today on Granny Smith apples at 77 cents/pound plus special deals on sugar and flour in case the apples ask to be pies.
• Amruth Indian Grill (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive), a recent Tuesday Tout, offers an all-you-can-eat dosa (gram/rice flour crepes) buffet on Thursdays, 5:30-9 p.m. for $18.95. This locally owned store is the raj of south Indian cuisine and dosa is its prophet.
• Southridge Hy-Vee has a $10 steak dinner special on Thursdays with $1 going to Southside Cares.
• Aldi has 69 cent avocados, $1.29/half pound package Baby Bellas and boneless chicken thighs at $2.29/pound through Tuesday.
• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) is having a one-day sale on wild snow crab clusters for $7.99/pound beginning at 10 a.m. today. To illustrate how good that deal is, Hy-Vee is having a month-long crab sale with snow crab clusters going for $17.99/pound.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
|
|
The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Home Builder
1. Elevated Builders
2. Elevate Homes Inc.
3. Happe Homes
The 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll is now closed. Results will be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW. |
|
|
| Featured home for sale | | | |
$369,900 4339 N.E. 35th St. Des Moines, IA 50317 Norwoodville Neighborhood
3 bedroom 2 bath with many extras on almost an acre. All appliances stay including 2 dryers & newer washer, kitchen has Viking commercial 48" gas stove with double oven, extra wide refrigerate and freeze combo. Large master suite with its own bathroom, and walk-in closet, and 2 remaining bedrooms. ...
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
|
|
| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 129 S.E. 18TH ST., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-08-23
SALE PRICE: $1,100,000
SELLER: SIEGWERK USA INC
BUYER: HOLT SALES & SERVICE LLC
ACRES: 3.641
SQUARE FEET: 37,852 |
|
|
Featured in the current
issue of Ankeny Living magazine | | | ON THE MAP
Landmarks add to the community’s character.
By Ashley Rullestad
Artworks. Architectural delights. Stunning homes. Monuments. Ankeny abounds with well-known sights — historic and new — that serve as landmarks and add to the community’s character. They catch the eyes of visitors, spark memories in longtime residents, and embed themselves in the minds of those who use them as guideposts as they traverse the town. As street scenes change with the times, the landmarks remain steadfast reminders that Ankeny is one of a kind.
Bike art installment on Irvinedale: Ankeny city staff created the bicycle sign to welcome RAGBRAI through Ankeny last year. The sign, which spells out ANKENY in big block letters surrounded by a pyramid of bicycles, sits at the northwestern trailhead off Northwest Irvinedale Drive. ... | | | READ MORE |
|
|
| Road closings | | | Des Moines: Water Street from Walnut Street to Court Avenue will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11. This street closure is necessary for crane work. |
|
|
| Weekly fuel report | | | The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 5 cents, averaging $2.70 across Iowa according to AAA. Prices were down 18 cents from a year ago. The national average on Wednesday was $3.03, down 4 cents from last week’s price.
Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 2 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.28. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $4.00 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 26 cents lower than the national average of $3.54.
Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16. The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $1.80 for U87-E10, $2.01 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.15 for ULSD#2, $2.37 for ULSD#1, and $1.77 per gallon for E-70 prices.
Natural gas prices fell 48 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.99/MMbtu.
Propane prices averaged $1.55 per gallon in Iowa.
Home heating oil prices had a statewide average of $2.90 per gallon. |
|
|
FROM ESPN: Ravens suspend WR Diontae Johnson for refusing to enter game ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: MLB Insider Hypes Up Yankees’ Chances of Landing Juan Soto With Decision Looming ... READ MORE
FROM Yahoo Sports: Mavericks' Kyrie Irving sued after allegedly stiffing therapist on $390K bill for 150-person family retreat, where someone died ... READ MORE |
|
|
1945: Aircraft squadron disappears in the Bermuda Triangle. At 2:10 p.m. on December 5, 1945, five U.S. Navy Avenger torpedo-bombers comprising Flight 19 take off from the Ft. Lauderdale Naval Air Station in Florida on a routine three-hour training mission. After having completed their objective, Flight 19 was scheduled to take them due east for an additional 67 miles, then turn north for 73 miles, and back to the air station after that, totaling a distance of 120 miles. They never returned. … READ MORE
1933: 21st Amendment is ratified; Prohibition ends. The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment and bringing an end to the era of national prohibition of alcohol in America. At 5:32 p.m. EST, Utah became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, achieving the requisite three-fourths majority of states’ approval. Pennsylvania and Ohio had ratified it earlier in the day. … READ MORE
1952: Smog kills thousands in England. Heavy smog begins to hover over London, England, on December 5, 1952. It persists for five days, leading to the deaths of at least 4,000 people. It was a Thursday afternoon when a high-pressure air mass stalled over the Thames River Valley. When cold air arrived suddenly from the west, the air over London became trapped in place. The problem was exacerbated by low temperatures, which caused residents to burn extra coal in their furnaces. … READ MORE
|
|
|
| Birthdays and notables | | | Happy Birthday Patrick Clemmons and Diane Goodman.
These celebrities were born on this date: Lauren London, Alexandra Beaton, Keri Hilson, Frankie Muniz, Catherine Tate, Kali Rocha, Christian Yelich, Anthony Martial, Josh Smith, Quinnen Williams
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
|
|
The answer to the last riddle: What do you call a bear with three ears? A BEAREAREAR! - Gail Tomlinson. Or, Tri-ear-a-tops! - William Snyder. Or, Tough to get close to. - Rex Post
Today's riddle:What do you call a meme that makes you happy?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
|
|
To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Ankeny, Altoona or Bondurant Living magazines, contact:
Angela Ossian
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 307
Mobile: 515-979-5585
angela@iowalivingmagazines.com
©Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc., all rights reserved.
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! |
|
|
This email was sent to:
email@example.com
Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc.
8101 Birchwood Ct Suite D
Johnston, Iowa 50131
|
|
|
|
