DU Oct. 19: where to vote early; Carlisle recovery effort raises $30,000; musical instrument found in the bathroom?

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Good morning to you!

Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

I read a cartoon the other day showing a man and woman standing in a grocery store beside a pallet of Halloween candy. The man pointed at the candy and asked, “Should we pick up two bags of candy so that we can have a bag of candy to give out on Halloween?”

I laughed because I recognized the problem. I also recognized the solution. Buy three bags — one for Halloween, one for backup and one for quality control.

Jolene and I know better than to buy Halloween candy too early. If we do, we have to restock before the first trick-or-treater rings the doorbell. Some years, when she did purchase candy in advance, she tried to hide it deep in the pantry. This may sound like a sound strategy, but I am excellent at hide and seek.

Maybe you can resist those fun-sized Halloween candies. I can’t. They are small, convenient and available in enough varieties to make a convenience store jealous. M&M’s. Twix. Milky Way. And my personal favorite, Snickers. Then there are Skittles, Starburst and Life Savers. They come individually wrapped by the dozens in plastic bags that require a hedge trimmer, a blowtorch and a call to customer service to open. Even so, we eventually find ways to defeat that perilous packaging, and we reward ourselves by eating three pieces.

I remember trick-or-treating as a kid, making my way home and dumping my bag of candy on the living room floor. Then came the negotiations. This was not child's play. It was the commodities market with sugar as the currency.

Almond Joy bars had little trading value. Baby Ruth wasn't exactly blue-chip stock, either. But Rolos, Milk Duds and Whoppers could be leveraged for multiple other candies. We knew which treats were worth keeping and which ones needed to be moved before the market collapsed.

Of course, there were rules. Nobody wanted the candy that had been handled too much. And anything homemade required a level of trust that most children didn’t possess. We were willing to eat candy from strangers, but we had standards.

Today, I have a different problem. I no longer have to negotiate with siblings over my candy haul. I simply have to negotiate with myself. I tell myself I am eating a miniature Snickers because it is small. Then I eat another because the first one was small. Then a third because, technically, three small things are still small things. By Halloween night, the candy bowl is lighter, and I am left wondering how many neighborhood children actually came to our door.

This year, Jolene and I may try a new strategy of buying candy on the afternoon of Oct. 31. Of course, that assumes the stores still have Snickers. And if they don't, I suppose we will have to hand out Almond Joys. Yes, Halloween can be scary.

Have a memorable Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman

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

Read more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

FROM KCCI: Where to vote early in Polk County. Polk County voters can cast an early ballot at satellite locations ahead of Election Day. Here’s where to vote and when each site is open. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Carlisle recovery effort raises $30,000 to help businesses hit by water emergency. A community-led recovery effort to help Carlisle businesses recover from the city’s recent water emergency has raised $30,000 in just one week. Weeks ago, Carlisle went without water for days due to two broken water mains. The emergency forced some businesses to temporarily close or scale back operations, leaving owners with lost revenue, spoiled inventory and ongoing expenses. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: DMPD investigating reported vandalism of Metronet fiber lines that delayed Des Moines schools Friday. Des Moines police are investigating an act of vandalism to fiber optic lines that has affected thousands of metro customers and led some schools to begin two hours later than usual on Friday. Transportation to 16 schools was delayed two hours, Des Moines Public Schools said, though breakfast and lunch were still served. Metronet said Saturday morning that "restoration efforts have been completed at this time," but individual customers may still be impacted. They are asked to contact Resident Technical Support for further help. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Grass fire at Canadian military base kills 4 soldiers and critically injures 19 other people. Four Canadian service members were killed and 39 people injured, including 19 critically, when a fast-moving fire overtook soldiers conducting live-fire combat training at a military base in Alberta, officials said Sunday. Maj. Gen. Wade Rutland said military officials knew about the fire for hours but believed it was sufficiently contained to allow training to continue before winds suddenly shifted, sending flames racing toward the soldiers. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Oregon father is the latest armed civilian to confront a gunman in a US mass shooting. Few mass shootings in the U.S. end like the deadly attack on an Oregon elementary school: with an armed civilian opening fire on the gunman. President Donald Trump joined others Friday in praising a father of two girls who confronted a teenage gunman during the attack at Silver Rail Elementary School, which killed three students and a teacher. Kenda Freeman said her son, Kaylub Giamanco, intervened by firing his own weapon after the shooting began at his daughters’ school in the town of Bend. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Patrol car struck while responding to a vehicle vs. deer accident. Sac County authorities are reminding drivers to slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles. This comes after investigating a vehicle vs. deer accident on Highway 20 where a deputy’s patrol car was parked a safe distance behind the accident in order to slow down traffic on Saturday, Oct. 17. Law enforcement says, unfortunately, a distracted driver struck the deputy’s patrol car. ... READ MORE

Monday, Oct. 19

Mostly sunny
High: 66
Low: 44
Rain chance: 0%

Tuesday, Oct. 20

Mostly sunny
High: 69
Low: 50
Rain chance: 0%

Wednesday, Oct. 21

Sunny
High: 71
Low: 53
Rain chance: 0%

Allergy alert

Today: 3 low range

Top allergens:

Ragweed

See more: https://www.pollen.com/forecast/current/pollen/50301

The 2026 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®

Best Local Yoga Studio
1. Power Life Yoga Barre Fitness
2. Rooted Yoga + Fitness
3. DM Wellness & Yoga

See all of the results

Back to the Biz
Starbuck’s launched a bid to take over Chipotle, sending the latter company’s stock up nearly 5% in one day. Interestingly, Starbuck’s is now headed by the former CEO of Chipotle. Meddys of Wichita is moving into the former On the Border space in Jordan Creek Town Center with a 2027 opening and Lebanese recipes. Next door will be Yardhouse of Irvine, California, with a sports bar menu. Exotic Snack Guys opened in the mall’s southeast end, offering junk foods from all over the world. Chocolaterie Stam will close one store Oct. 31, ending a longtime run in Valley West Mall. The Ingersoll is opening up dates for dinner-only on occasions there is no show.

Deals today
• It's My Jam (7015 N.E. 14th St., Ankeny) has specials today on peach and butter cream pies, meat loaf lunches and sauerkraut soup.

• Hy-Vees offer meat loaf dinners for $7.99 Mondays.

• Guesthouse Tavern + Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moines) offers all-day happy hour prices Mondays.

• High Life Lounge (200 S.W. Second St., downtown) has a Monday special tater casserole for $8.99.

• Fong's Pizza offers a free crab Rangoon with a pizza Mondays.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) has $6 quarts of prepared soup on Mondays.

• The Empire's (223 Fourth St., Des Moines) Monday special is spaghetti Alfredo with grilled chicken for $10.

• Marianna's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers carnitas tacos for $2 Mondays.

• Centro (1003 Locust St., Des Moines) offers half-price pizza and Peronis on Monday.

• Cowboy (1234 E Euclid Ave., Des Moines) has a Monday special fajitas lunch for $11.99.

• The False Nine Social Club (206 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has British pies on sale Mondays for $10.

• District 36 (1375 S.W. Vintage Parkway, Ankeny) has a Monday special $60 dinner for two. Two entrees starring sea bass and NY strip de Burgo with soup or salads, a bottle of wine and a dessert to share.

• The Key (360 Sixth St., Waukee) offers a half-pound sirloin dinner for $19 Mondays 5 p.m. till sold out.

• Cottontail Lounge ( 3700 Dennis Drive, Urbandale) offers first Monday sirloin, filet and prime rib dinner deals.

• Today is copycat KFC bowls at Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni).

• It's catfish night at Waterfront stores. Dinners cooked any way you like it for $19.99.

• It's Meat Loaf Monday at Mickey's in Yale.

• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave.) Monday special is three for $25 on all appetizers.

•  Bubba (200 10th St., Des Moines) has a Monday night sirloin dinner special for $20.

• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers a "Monday grind" special grinder and fries basket for $9.50.

• Monday brings prime rib specials to both Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) and Christopher's (2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines).

• Trostel's Greenbriar (Merle Hay Road, Johnston) has a Monday burger with a side and beer deal for $14.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) has $8 omelets and $10 hot beef sandwiches or Mexican bowls on Mondays.

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken de Burgo special on Mondays before 4 p.m., $14 including beverage.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) hosts Shelby Smokehouse Soul Food on Mondays, 5-9 p.m.

• G Mig's (126 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has $11 smashburgers today including a side.

• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll, Des Moines) has a Monday special Graziano grinder with a side for $12.

• The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) offers a Monday special double smash burger and shoestring fries, $12.

• Jethro's have a Monday chicken tenders and fries special $9.95 in Altoona and West Des Moines.

• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) has specials on chicken Parmesan and lasagna today, $15 with garlic bread and salad.

• Eastside Eddie’s (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) Monday special is a burger with domestic beer, soft drink or well drink for $10.

• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special today on hot beef sandwiches.

• Tito’s Lounge (3916 Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) offers all-you-can-eat wings Mondays.

• Johnny's Hall of Fame (302 Court Ave., Des Moines) has $12 burger baskets on Mondays and Fridays.

• Urban Cellars (640 S. 50th St., West Des Moines) offers $60 wine dinners for two on Mondays including two entrees with soup or salad, a dessert and a bottle of wine.

• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) has a burger basket with fries deal Mondays for $9.

• Red Lobster's Monday special is lobster and shrimp scampi with a side for $20.

• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) has a Monday special loaded chicken on a croissant sandwich for $14.

• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a Monday steak night special, sirloins and truffle fries for $18.

• Price Chopper delis offer two-piece, bone-in fried chicken dinners with two sides and a roll for $8 on Mondays.

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on Iowa pork chops at $1.99/pound, hotdog or burger buns at $.99/package of eight, and fresh lake trout for $6.99/pound.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

Exclusively in West Des Moines / Jordan Creek Living magazine at www.iowalivingmagazines.com.

Locher creates art through paper quilling
Edgewater Holiday Mart Nov. 7

By Jackie Wilson

Working with intricate strips of colored paper, Tracy Locher rolls and shapes paper into different patterns. As she arranges the strips onto thick paper, a familiar shape is created. Flowers, trees and nature scenery, along with inspirational quotes complete the look.
This type of artwork is called paper quilling, and its roots go back centuries. Locher took up the craft about six years ago.

Locher admits to being a “serial hobby starter,” trying out different crafts and hobbies, but not always sticking with them. A bracelet-making attempt failed.
“Lots of the hobbies, I just didn’t enjoy or it was too expensive,” she explained.

As she researched origami and its intricate folded patterns, her mom bought her a paper quilling kit. She experimented with designs; some flopped while others stood out. She finally found a hobby to embrace. ...

Featured home for sale

Post listings here for only $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.

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Grimes, IA 50111

Destiny Homes presents its Eastham plan in Grimes, Hope Timber Villas. The plan features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and nearly 1,600 sq ft of living space. This 2 story home has everything a home should; including ample entertaining space within the open concept living, bumped out dining room, quartz countertops, peninsula island and pantry. ...

See the listing here.

See more homes for sale

SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction

4100 UNIVERSITY AVE., WEST DES MOINES
DATE: 2026-05-12
SALE PRICE: $45,241,699
SELLER: LOJA WTP LLC
BUYER: AAA WEST WATER TOWER PLACE LLC
ACRES: 24.740
SQUARE FEET: 276,735

More transactions

FROM ESPN: Steelers' Aaron Rodgers throws two TDs to tie Peyton Manning on all-time list. Aaron Rodgers threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns to rally the Pittsburgh Steelers from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to a 26-19 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. With the two touchdown passes, Rodgers tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning for third all time on the NFL's career passing touchdown list with 539. Only Drew Brees (571) and Tom Brady (649) have thrown more passing touchdowns than Rodgers and Manning. ... READ MORE

FROM CBS SPORTS: Rays take ALCS lead over Guardians: Winners, losers of Game 5 victory that has Rays one win from World Series. The Tampa Bay Rays are one win away from the World Series. The Rays scored early and often against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday, and held on for a 3-1 win in Game 5 of the ALCS at Progressive Field. Tampa leads the best-of-seven series 3-2. Because of the rainout Friday, there's a quick turnaround -- Game 6 is Monday night at Tropicana Field. ... READ MORE

FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Kings' Ben Simmons sustains torn Achilles tendon in practice, will undergo surgery. Ben Simmons' comeback might be over before it even began. The Sacramento Kings guard sustained a torn right Achilles tendon during practice, the team announced Sunday. Per the Kings, Simmons suffered the tear during a live drill in Sunday's practice, with an MRI confirming the injury. The team said he will undergo surgery, but did not provide a return timeline. ... READ MORE

1985: First Blockbuster store opens. On Oct. 19, 1985, the first Blockbuster video-rental store opens, in Dallas, Texas. At a time when most video stores were small-scale operations featuring a limited selection of titles, Blockbuster opened with some 8,000 tapes displayed on shelves around the store and a computerized check-out process. The first store was a success and Blockbuster expanded rapidly, eventually becoming one of the world’s largest providers of in-home movies and game entertainment, before eventually filing for bankruptcy in 2010. … READ MORE

1987: Stock markets have the largest-ever one-day crash on “Black Monday.” The largest-ever one-day percentage decline in the Dow Jones Industrial Average comes not in 1929 but on Oct. 19, 1987. As a number of unrelated events conspired to tank global markets, the Dow dropped 508 points—22.6 percent—in a panic that foreshadowed larger systemic issues. … READ MORE

1991: Fire sweeps through Oakland hills. On Oct. 19, 1991, a fire begins in the hills of Oakland, California. It went on to burn thousands of homes and kill 25 people. Despite the fact that fires had ravaged the same area three times earlier in the century, people continued to build homes there. … READ MORE

www.history.com

Birthdays and notables

These celebrities were born on this date: Ciara Renee, Evander Holyfield, Gillian Jacobs, Jennifer Holliday, John Lithgow, Jon Favreau, Rebecca Ferguson

Historical birthdays

1810: Cassius Marcellus Clay was an American planter, politician, military officer and abolitionist who served as the United States ambassador to Russia from 1863 to 1869.

1868: Bertha Ethel Knight Landes was the first female mayor of a major American city, serving as mayor of Seattle, Washington from 1926 to 1928. After years of civic activism, primarily with women's organizations, she was elected to the Seattle City Council in 1922 and became council president in 1924.

The answer to the last riddle: What did the hairdresser say when I asked if she ever gave a henna rinse? "No, but I once gave a duck a bath!" - Gail Tomlinson. Or, "No, but I once rinsed off a dirty rooster!" - Carolyn Rogers. Or, "I’d be happy to but I don’t know a Henna!" - Anne Lentz. Or, "No, but I did straighten its comb." - Dianne Berry. Or, "No but I have done a roostera rinse!" - Rex Post.

Today's riddle: What musical instrument is found in the bathroom?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com BY NOON to be sure your answer gets included!

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella, CITYVIEW, SENIORVIEW, HOMEVIEW, Explore DM or Relish DM, contact:

Mary Fowler
Account Executive
515-953-4822 x311
c: 641-485-0555
mary@dmcityview.com

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