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Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025
Good morning to you! 

You know the routine. The garbage can in the kitchen is nearly full, but you push another item or two into it, delaying the inevitable. Eventually, after the garbage falls over the edge a few times, you pull the plastic bag out of the plastic garbage can, cinch it up with the a plastic tie and take it outside to the plastic trash container — hopefully, with the recyclables in their own bin.

We have been doing this process for decades now, and we rely on all that plastic more than we want to admit. But, prior to our obsession with plastic, how did we dispose of our trash?

My mother had a small (plastic) trash tub under the sink in my childhood home, and she would put the plastic bags from the grocery store in it. Each night after supper, she would tie up that little bag, walk it out to the garage, take off the metal trash can lid and place it in that metal can. It was one of her many daily routines. Admittedly, she was more disciplined than most of us.

Prior to that, I recall paper sacks being the trash collector of choice. Of course, no liquids or food went in there, or the ugly break-through would occur.

Mom used to tell me how, when she was a young girl on the farm, the scraps from each meal (and there weren’t many) were scraped into a heavy metal bowl that was kept outside for the farm cats — and that bowl was licked clean. That seemed efficient on a farm, but I really don’t want the neighborhood critters at my back door today.

Generations of Americans also had a burn barrel. We shared one with our neighbors, and anything that could be burned did get burned — and even some things that shouldn’t have, like the occasional aerosol can that made quite an amazing explosion.

Some of you may recall burying your garbage. A few of you may have even tossed your trash in roadside ditches or bodies of water. I am sure this seemed reasonable at the time, much like how using all these plastic bags does today.

I am aware of the environmental concerns about burning. I also certainly understand the impact that plastic bottles, plastic wrappers, plastic packaging and plastic garbage bags are having on our planet. I can’t help but think we have simply traded one evil for another. Meanwhile, the routine continues.

How about you? How did you and your family dispose of garbage in years gone by? Send me a note and let me know.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thank you for reading.

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

See more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

 
News headlines

FROM KCCI: Why more Iowans are living past 100 and their secrets to a long life. Millennials make up the largest population in Iowa, but an unsuspecting portion of the population is becoming the fastest-growing. Iowa ranks among the top 10 states in the country with the most centenarians. Centenarians are people over the age of 100. The most recent 2020 U.S. Census counted 1,032 centenarians living throughout the state. In 2010, there were only 846.  ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Miss Kitty’s owner apologizes for ‘just a costume’ comment about man dressed as a Nazi in his bar.  After photos circulated online of a man dressed as a Nazi in a bar on Halloween night, the bar owner is responding to criticism he was met with online. The incident took place inside Miss Kitty’s Country Bar in Clive. Viewers shared some images of a man dressed in a Nazi soldier uniform embellished with a swastika and wearing a cropped mustache. The same viewer who sent those photos was also at the bar last Friday night. She sent WHO 13 News a video of herself confronting the bar owner about the man’s costume where the owner appears to defend the man wearing the garb. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: DMARC Food Pantry Network sets records on Monday. The Urbandale Food Pantry is one of 14 overseen by DMARC Food Pantry Network. It saw record-breaking numbers Monday, as did the network as a whole, with just over 2,300 visitors stopping by one of the 14 locations. ... READ MORE

 

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Powerful 6.3 earthquake hits northern Afghanistan, killing 20 and damaging historic Blue Mosque. A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 640 others, as well as damaging the historic Blue Mosque, officials said. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in US history, dies at 84. Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative who became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq, has died at age 84. Cheney died Monday night due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, according to a statement from his family. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Iowa teens charged in Halloween night shooting near elementary school. Two teens have been charged in a shooting that injured one person near a Cedar Rapids school during trick-or-treating Halloween night, KCRG reports.  ... READ MORE

 

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Mostly dry and mild this week. A rain chance late Thursday evening into early Friday, then another one on Saturday. Turning colder Sunday.

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

 
Pollen tracker
 
Tree pollen: None
Grass pollen: None
Ragweed pollen: Moderate
 
 
The 2025 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®
 
 
Best Local Hair Salon
 
1. Hair by Ashley Haack
 
2. Ethereal Beauty Lounge
 
3. Salon Vici
 
See all of the results
 
 
Tuesday touts
 

Several places offer specials featuring a burger and a beer. We think Angry Goldfish's is the best deal. Two patties smashed, brioche bun, lots of fixings, choice of a side and a full pint of anything on tap, $10 on Tuesdays. That's this week's Wonder Bargain. 

The honeycrisp is not like other apples. As its name suggests, it's both sweet and texturally satisfying. Its fans will eat few other apples raw. It's also a very difficult fruit to raise. "Too big, too easy to bruise and a magnet for disease,” according to Wall Street Journal. "Honeycrisp's thin skin can be easily pierced by its stem, so it must be hand-clipped and that reduces productivity by half." 

And it produces too many apples — so many that they need to be thinned for the sake of the trees. Honeycrisp has the highest mortality rate of all picked apples. About 25% of healthy Honeycrisps in December will be ruined by summer. Cosmic crisp was invented by Washington State University scientists to replace honeycrisp with a less difficult apple in 2017, but consumers still demanded the original. Honeycrisps should cost two or three times more than other apples, yet they don't, at least not in autumn when they are abundant. Last month, Price Chopper put honeycrisps on sale for 99 cents a pound, less than all other apples.
 
Deals of note
 • Fall squash dinner is tomorrow at the Wallace House (756 16th St., Des Moines). Duck confit will feature with Blue Hubbard soup, Delicata, pumpkin, and butternut squash courses.  

• Hy-Vee Market Grilles offer a Tuesday special America's cut pork chop dinner for $8.

Mullet’s Norwalk offers a free kids meal per adult meal on Tuesday’s 4 p.m. to close.

• Mickey's Irish Pub (50 S.E. Laurel St., Waukee) has a special $7 half-pound burger with a side all day Tuesday. 

• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers a "Tendy's Tuesday" pork tenderloin basket with a drink for $11.50.

 Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) has a Tuesday special cheeseburger with fries, tots or salad and a drink for $10.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $7 breakfasts and $8 burgers Tuesdays.

• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) offers a special smashburger with cheese, fries and a draft beer for $10 on Tuesdays.

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a beef stroganoff special on Tuesdays, $14 including beverage.

Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road) hosts 222 BBQ today from 5-9 p.m.

Red Robin stores are featuring a $10 cheeseburger with an "endless side" on Tuesdays.

 Jethro's Tuesday special is 2 pounds of bone-in smoked wings for the price of one. 

Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) runs a Tuesday special hot beef sandwich for $13.50. 

• Kids meals are half price till 2 p.m. today at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale).  

• Taco Tuesday brings serious discounts to Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines), La Familia (1610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines), all Taco John's, all Abelardo's, all Fernando’s, Malo (900 Mulberry St., Des Moines), Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines), Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines), The Continental, (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines), Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines)  and Faustino's. 

• Today is beef and noodles day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines).

• Django (1420 Locust St., Des Moines) has happy hour all night Tuesdays. That means super deals on oysters, shrimp, duck frites, poutine, charcuterie, cheese boards, beers, wine and classic martinis.

• Sully's (806 First St., West Des Moines) has a burger basket special for $12 today.

• Destination Grille  (2491 E. First St., Grimes) hosts a Tuesday burger and beer special - half-pound burger, chips and dip, with a tap beer of choice, $15. 

 The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a tenderloin Tuesday special with BPT and fries for $10.

• Curbin Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor Drive, Ankeny) offers cheeseburgers and fries for $7.99 on Tuesdays.

• G Mig’s (128 Fifth St., Valley Junction) offers a Tuesday special BBQ night with ribs or brisket dinners for 19.95.

 Ruby Tuesdays offers $5.95 burgers with fries on Tuesdays.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

 
 
Featured in the current issue of CITYVIEW
 

FEATURE STORY
Raw talent

By Cyote Williams

DES MOINES BUCCANEERS

After a mechanical issue before last season prevented the Des Moines Buccaneers from playing at Buccaneer Arena last season, the Buccaneers will once again call the MidAmerican Energy RecPlex in West Des Moines home for the 2025-2026 season.

The Bucs missed out on the playoffs, finishing the season on 55 points with a 25-32 record. The team made several changes to its staff following the season.

Derek Damon was named the 18th head coach in Des Moines Buccaneers history, as well as president of hockey operations. ...

 
Read more
 
Featured home for sale
 
Post listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.
 
$1,350,000
14031 Willow Drive
Clive, IA 50325
 
This one is a show stopper, sprawling, flowing plan. From beautiful foyer to gorgeous stairs leading to second floor, formal dining room, formal living room with fireplace. Chef's delight kitchen with two center islands, two dishwashers, Dacor stove with warmer, sub zero fridge, walk-in pantry. ...
  
See the listing here.
 
See more homes for sale
 
SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction
 
519 S. 18TH ST., WEST DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2025-06-18
SALE PRICE: $1,450,000
SELLER: COMPASS GROUP USA INC
BUYER: DYNAMIC MACHINING & MANUFACTURING LLC
ACRES: 1.800
SQUARE FEET: 14,250
 
More transactions
 
Featured in the current
issue of Waukee Living magazine
 

Meet Cody Saveraid
Enjoys seeing the positive growth in students

By T.K. West

A native Iowan, Cody Saveraid has lived in Waukee with his wife and two sons for the past decade. After graduating from the Adel-DeSoto-Minburn School District, Saveraid earned a degree from Iowa State University, and he is about to graduate once again with a degree in teaching special education from Western Governor’s University (WGU).

Saveraid currently works at Trailridge School and is completing his student teaching with an expected graduation date at the end of 2025.
“I began as a substitute teacher in the district in 2021 and absolutely loved it. I became a long-term sub for a special education associate and really enjoyed working with the students,” Saveraid says. ...

 
Read more
 
Sports headlines
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: NFC North is wide open after Packers, Lions show key weaknesses. The Packers (5–2–1) might be pretenders after losing to the Panthers. The Lions (5–3) don’t appear as mighty as last season. And J.J. McCarthy and Caleb Williams are far from being busts after guiding the Vikings (4–4) and Bears (5–3), respectively, to statement wins on Sunday. ... READ MORE
 
FROM ESPN: Cardinals snap losing streak, beat Cowboys in Dallas. It's over. Finished. Done. The Arizona Cardinals' five-game losing streak was snapped in rather impressive fashion with a 27-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on "Monday Night Football." ... READ MORE
 
FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Red Sox 3B Alex Bregman, Mets closer Edwin Díaz, 1B Pete Alonso reportedly opting out of deals. Just days after the conclusion of the World Series, MLB free agency is beginning in earnest — and three of the top players in the league have officially become free agents. Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman is opting out of his contract after only one season with the team, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has opted out of his contract, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. And Mets first baseman Pete Alonso has also opted out, per the New York Post's Jon Heyman. ... READ MORE
 

 1924: California legalizes professional boxing after 10-year ban. On Nov. 4, 1924, California voters pass a measure to legalize professional boxing, a sport outlawed in the state because of safety concerns since 1914. "Manly Art Returns," reads a headline in one newspaper. ... READ MORE

1922: Entrance to King Tut’s tomb discovered. British archaeologist Howard Carter and his workmen discover a step leading to the tomb of King Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt on Nov. 4, 1922. When Carter first arrived in Egypt in 1891, most of the ancient Egyptian tombs had been discovered, though the little-known King Tutankhamen, who had died when he was 18, was still unaccounted for. A ... READ MORE

1979: Iran hostage crisis begins after U.S. embassy in Tehran is stormed. Student followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini send shock waves across America when they storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, 1979. The radical Islamic fundamentalists took 90 hostages. The students were enraged that the deposed Shah had been allowed to enter the United States for medical treatment and they threatened to murder hostages if any rescue was attempted. Days later, Iran’s provincial leader resigned, and the Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran’s fundamentalist revolutionaries, took full control of the country—and the fate of the hostages. ... READ MORE

 www.history.com

 
Birthdays and notables
 

Happy birthday, Brian Buethe!

These celebrities were born on this date:  Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Macchio, Kathy Griffin, Bethenny Frankel, Jeff Probst, Laura Bush, Chris Greene, Curtis Stone, Gregory Porter, Loretta Swit, Delbert McClinton, George Huff, Heather Tom, Markie Post

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

 
Morning chuckle

The answer to the last riddle: Why did the corn go to therapy? IT WAS BEING STALKED! - Anne Lentz-Gagen, Carolyn Rogers, Sharon Hill Watkins. Or, Because it was constantly telling stories containing no "kernels" of truth! - Carolyn Rogers. Or, Because his Colonel (kernel) told him to! Sharon Hill Watkins.  Other answers by Gail Tomlinson, Scott Holmgren, Judy Anderson, Rex Post.

Today's riddle:  What is the biggest difference between a turkey and a chicken?

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

 

 

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