Aug. 28 - Sept. 3, 2026

Students and staff across the North Polk Community School District will have access to reverse osmosis drinking water this school year thanks to a donation of 11 systems from BrightWater Kinetico. The donation, valued at more than $26,000, was formally recognized during the North Polk Board of Education meeting by Superintendent Michael Kline.

Conversations about the project began this spring amid increased attention surrounding nitrate levels across Iowa and questions from parents about the water their children use to refill bottles during the school day.

The project will place a reverse osmosis drinking water station in each of North Polk's five school buildings, primarily near cafeteria areas where students can easily access them.

Then, the project grew.

While discussing the student systems, BrightWater owner Brook Haas suggested adding reverse osmosis systems to staff areas as well, including locations where teachers and staff make coffee. In total, BrightWater donated 11 reverse osmosis systems with a retail value exceeding $26,000.

Kline thanked Haas and BrightWater for the donation and for their "generosity and caring for the well-being and health of all of our students throughout the entire district."

For Haas, the project represents the kind of relationship he wants BrightWater to have with the communities it serves.

"I love North Polk Schools and being able to give back to my community and help them," Haas told the board. "We're very pleased and blessed to have the opportunity to do so. We have great customers, and because of those customers, we're able to do things like this and help others."

The Polk City Farmers Market is from 4-7 p.m. Thursdays until Sept. 24 at the Polk City Square. It features local produce, products and pastries while supporting local. You might find your new favorite bakery, some one-of-a-kind home decor, fresh produce for that recipe you've been wanting to try, fresh flowers for the kitchen table, and delicious treats to snack on. Also included are food trucks and live entertainment. The market is dog-friendly. Have your furry companion on a 6-foot leash. To keep up to date with weekly food trucks, live entertainment, vendor highlights and market updates, follow them on Facebook.

Ice Cream Smorgasbord and Auction

Sheldahl United Methodist Church, 609 Sixth St., Sheldahl, is holding its annual Ice Cream Smorgasbord and Auction Sunday, Aug. 30. Homemade ice cream, toppings and goodies are $8 a bowl, two for $15, at 4:30 p.m., with the auction starting at 5 p.m. featuring baked goods, garden produce, craft items and more.

Public meetings

• City Offices Closed - Labor Day, Sept. 7
• Parks Commission Meeting, Sept. 7, 6 p.m.
• City Council Work Session, Sept. 14, 5 p.m.
• City Council Meeting, Sept. 14, 6 p.m.
• Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, Sept. 21, 6 p.m.
• City Council Meeting, Sept. 28, 6 p.m.

Polk City Public Library news

1500 W. Broadway   |   515-984-6119   |   www.polkcitylibrary.org

• Announcements: The library will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day.
• Crafternoon: Fall Craft Stations: Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2 p.m. Create fall-themed crafts. Ages 17 and older. Registration required.
• Adult Coloring: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1-3 p.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 15, 5-7 p.m. Relaxing coloring sessions. Supplies provided. Ages 17 and older.
• Wednesday Book Club: Sept. 2, 7 p.m. “Deep South” by Paul Theroux
• Estate Planning 101: Thursday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m. Introductory session on protecting assets and planning ahead. No registration required.
• Take and Make: Sept. 4. Pick up a craft kit while supplies last. September project: Stained glass kites.
• Adult DIY: Calligraphy Workshop: Thursday, Sept. 10, 6 p.m. Registration required. Ages 17 and older.
• Comet Kids Club: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 4:15 p.m. For kindergarten through fifth grade. September project: Foil art. Registration required.
• Friends of the Library Book Sale: Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to noon. Fill a bag of books, DVDs and audiobooks for $5.
• Puzzle Master Competition: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2 p.m. Tournament Club of Iowa. Teams of four.

Polk County Conservation events

Visit www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/events for information about upcoming programs offered by Polk County Conservation and for registration links.

• Family Fun Night: Friday, Sept. 11, 6-8 p.m., Jester Park Outdoor Recreation and Wellness Center. Gather your friends and family together for a low-cost night of fun at Jester Park’s Outdoor Recreation and Wellness Center. Opportunities will be available for bouldering (ages 4 and older) and archery (ages 10 and older), playing a variety of family games and puzzles, and enjoying time outdoors, or in, by the fire making s’mores. Light snacks will be provided. Pay cash (preferred) or card at the door for this open-house style event. All ages welcome.
• Mindful Yoga with a View: Saturday, Sept. 12, 9-10 a.m., Easter Lake Event Center. This hatha-style yoga class is designed for participants exploring yoga for the first time, as well as for continuing participants who want to enhance their skills and dive deeper into the nuances of a holistic yoga practice. Explore essential yoga poses while connecting to the mind and breath. Build strength, flexibility and a greater sense of inner stillness. Come and learn something new while feeling immersed in nature. Suitable for all participants who can transition to and from the floor without assistance. Please bring your own yoga mat and blocks (optional). Space is available until the room reaches full capacity. This Rooted in Nature program is offered in sponsorship with Unity Point Health. Free, ages 12 and older.
• Caterpillar Craze: Saturday, Sept. 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Jester Park Nature Center. What happens to a caterpillar before it turns into a butterfly? Where do caterpillars like to hide? Join a naturalist for a family-friendly hike to learn more about these questions, then head back to the nature center for a caterpillar-themed craft. Free, all ages welcome.
• Nature Quest: Nature Journaling: Saturday, Sept. 12, 1-2 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center. Observe, appreciate, and learn more about the world around you through the art of nature journaling. Join a naturalist to learn the basics of nature journaling, and bring yours along on a guided hike. Each participant will be provided with a journal to take home. Ages 8-16. Registration required by Sept. 9.

Area events

Email your event information to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

Shrimp and Bingo!
Saturday, Aug. 29, 5:30-9 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 S.W. Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny
A Shrimp and Bingo Scholarship Fundraiser will be held to support scholarships for the DMACC Water Environmental Technology Program. Casual dinner, bingo games, raffles and more. Proceeds from the event benefit programs and initiatives that help remove barriers for students and strengthen access to education, workforce training and student support services. Cost is $100. Register at www.dmacc.edu/foundation/bingo.html.

Craft for Paws: Painting with a Twist
Sunday, Aug. 30, 2-5 p.m.
Painting with a Twist, 3743 86th St., Urbandale
Join the ARL at Painting with a Twist for a creative evening benefiting animals in need. Paint your own one-of-a-kind pet portrait, while enjoying a fun, relaxed atmosphere surrounded by fellow animal lovers. Once you are done, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase a Pink Poodle strawberry lemonade and champagne cocktail (available to participants 21 and older) or strawberry lemonade and snuggle with adorable, adoptable kittens. Buy tickets at https://arl-iowa.org/event/events/craft-for-paws-august/.

Autumn at the Amphitheater
Sunday evenings, 5-7 p.m.
Jamie Hurd Amphitheater, 4100 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines
Unwind in a picturesque natural setting while listening to talented local musicians. Food trucks will be available and guests are welcome to bring their own picnic baskets, blankets, family and friends. The lineup includes: Aug. 30, Andrew Hoyt; Sept. 6, The Carousel; Sept. 13, The Juan and Only; Sept. 20, Joshua Sinclair; Sept. 27, The Lamplighters; Oct. 4: Weary Ramblers; Oct. 11, Standing Hampton. Admission is free.

Square Dance Lessons
Sunday nights starting Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m.
Douglas Avenue Presbyterian Church, 4601 Douglas Ave., Des Moines
Ankeny Square Dance Club is sponsoring Square Dance Lessons. Cost is $20 per person for the entire session accepted at the third lesson. Attend with or without a dance partner. You will learn the calls, one at a time, taught by a caller (instructor) and volunteers. For more information, call Sandy Townsend at 515-294-2624.

Iowa Barn Foundation All-State Barn Tour
Sept. 19-20
The Iowa Barn Foundation is hosting the largest barn tour with a record 108 stops. The tour is free and open to the public, made possible by member donors. The tour will run both days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Iowa Barn Foundation is a volunteer-led nonprofit committed to preserving Iowa's rural heritage one barn at a time.

Des Moines Area Quilters Guild Quilt Show
Sept. 24-26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Iowa State Fairgrounds 4-H Building, 3000 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines
More than 600 quilts will be on display. Dozens of vendors will be displaying and selling their goods. Free demonstrations, quilt turnings and classes will be offered daily. There will be a raffle quilt and a Quilt Maker's Market. Admission is $12 at the door or $10 in advance; children 12 and younger are free. For more information, visit dmaqg.org or follow Des Moines Area Quilters Guild on Facebook.

CITYVIEW’s Martini Fest
Friday, Sept. 25, 5-9 p.m.
West Glen Town Center, 5465 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines
Enjoy CITYVIEW’s Martini Fest, featuring 10 tickets for sample-size martinis at participating stops for $25 ($35 at the event). Visit https://martinifest.dmcityview.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

(Feature Impact) Weeknights often feel like a race against the clock. Busy families feel the squeeze from school pickups, homework and social commitments, but dinner remains one of the few opportunities for everyone to slow down, reconnect and share important moments together at the close of a hectic day.

With a little planning and convenient ingredients like Little Potatoes – which come pre-washed, require no peeling and are small enough that they don’t need to be cut – families can spend less time in the kitchen and more time at the table.

If you’re in search of a simple side dish that can accompany a variety of family favorites, these flavor-filled Ranch Green Beans and Little Potatoes with Bacon are a great fit for a backyard barbecue or casual evening with your nearest and dearest.

To find more ways to bring loved ones together at the table throughout the school year, visit LittlePotatoes.com.

Ranch Green Beans and Little Potatoes with Bacon
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 1 package maple bacon
• 1/2 pound fresh string beans, washed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 1 package A Little Homestyle Ranch Microwave Ready Kit

Directions:

• On stovetop, cook bacon until crispy, reserving 1/4 cup bacon grease. Crumble bacon and set aside.
• In same pan, add fresh string beans, bacon grease, olive oil, garlic powder and rosemary.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Saute until soft.
• Peel back plastic on potatoes kit and microwave 5 minutes.
• Let potatoes cool 1-2 minutes and spread ranch seasoning over potatoes followed by bacon and string beans.

WANTED: Stereo and electronic radio stuff, receivers, speakers, guitar amp, etc. Any age or condition is OK. Call 515-238-3343.

FOR SALE: 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo SUV in good condition. 89,000 Miles, automatic transmission, AWD. Runs good, new starter, new tires, new battery. Black with gray interior. Call Jerry at 641-485-4297 for more info. $3,500.00.

DECLUTTERING AND ORGANIZING SERVICES: Overwhelmed by clutter? Let me help you create a calm, organized home for a healthier, happier living space. Services include home organization, decluttering, and tailored packages. Call Jennifer at (515) 991-2511 to book your consultation!

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