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March 7-13, 2025

 
 
Unforgettable sounds
 

You just can’t forget some sounds. At least I can’t seem to. Most of the ones I hang onto were implanted in my brain as a youth. Even after years of not hearing them, those familiar sounds bring back fond memories.

I was remined of this recently when hearing the cow-mooing sound from a Fisher Price barn door. If you had that toy as a child, you know exactly what I am referring to.

I also can’t seem to forget the annoying buzzer that would go off when I failed on the Operation board game.

I truly enjoyed my Electronic Football handheld game. I would sneak it under my bed sheets and play it at night, only to have my brother in the room next door yell, “Turn it off!” when he would hear the familiar touchdown tune.

Playing Rock ’Em, Sock ’Em Robots was a pastime in my childhood home. My brother and I would bob and weave and punch those buttons with our thumbs to try to defeat the other robot by knocking its block off. Boing!

Familiar sounds are not all about toys, though. How about hearing the snow crunch below your feet? Or a fishing line being cast in a lake? Or the “ding, ding” of the bell when driving into a service station?

Most all of us can recognize sounds of certain foods or drinks, too. Bacon sizzling on the griddle. A champagne cork going off. Popcorn popping on the stove. And the sound of fizzy soda poured on ice.

Some familiar sounds are also from technology of days gone by. The screech of internet dial-up. The clinking of coins dropping in a pay phone. The crackling and hissing of a vinyl record. The clicking of typewriter keys and the ringing bell from the return. And the dreaded sound of tape crinkling in a cassette player.

I also fondly recall the sound of static on the TV when no channels were available after midnight, the dialing sound of a rotary phone, and the familiar intro music to Pac-Man.

Yes, sounds can be meaningful, and I surely missed a few recognizable ones from your memory bank. Send me a note and let me know.

Have a great week, and thanks for reading.

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

 
 

Celebrate North Polk

Celebrate North Polk (CNP), is the biggest event of the year that raises money for all the additional expenses North Polk Community School has and creates opportunities for students, athletes and the arts. CNP distributes funds equally among Fine Arts Boosters, Athletic Booster Club, and North Polk Foundation. This year's event will be held Saturday, May 31, 5-11:30 p.m. at the FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 S.W. Prairie Trail Parkway in Ankeny. To purchase tickets, visit www.celebratenorthpolk.org

 

Coming up at the Polk City Community Library

  • Lego Club, Tuesday, March 11, 3:45 p.m. grades K-2; 4:45 p.m. grades 3 and up. Engage in learning through stacking and building with these deceptively simple bricks. You can enhance your problem-solving skills and teamwork. For ages, 8-16. Registration is required online at polkcitylibrary.org.
  • Nutrition for Heart Health Lunch and Learn Series with AHA HeartCorps, Wednesdays March 12, March 26, April 9, April 23, 11:30 a.m. Join us for this free lunch and learn series presented by the American Heart Association’s HeartCorps! We’ll be learning about the ways our diet can shape our heart health while enjoying a simple heart-healthy lunch prepared by the library. Aimed at adults, registration required. Register online at polkcitylibrary.org.
 

Polk County Conservation events

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

  • Story Tellebration, Wednesdays at 10 a.m., March 19, Spring is Sprung; April 23, It’s Raining. Join volunteer storyteller Carmen Epstein for a fun, interactive tale tailored toward children ages 2 to 6 that explores the wonders of the outdoors. During each program, participants enjoy interactive stories and an activity. No registration required for this free event.
 

Book club meetings

  • Graphic Novel Book Club, Monday, March 10, 4 p.m. Kids in grades 4-7 can dive into the world of colorful stories, amazing characters and thrilling adventures. Each month, we'll read a different graphic novel and discuss the art, plot and our favorite moments. Whether you're a comic book expert or new to graphic novels, everyone is welcome to join the fun. March: Create Your Own Graphic Novel. Join us for a special book club where we share the graphic novels YOU created! Stop by the library for your CYO kit. Registration required.
  • PCCL Homeschool Book Club, Wednesday, March 12, 2 p.m. This monthly book club is designed for homeschooling families with children reading levels 4.5-7. After completing your registration, visit the library to collect your copy of the book club book. March book: “I Survived: The American Revolution, 1776.” Registration required online at polkcitylibrary.org.
  • Monday Book Club, The Little Liar,” by Mitch Albom. Monday, March 24, 2 p.m. Eleven-year-old Nico Krispis has never told a lie. His schoolmate, Fannie, loves him because of it. Nico’s older brother, Sebastian, resents him for both these facts When their young lives are torn apart during the war, it will take them decades to find each other. Stop by the library ahead of the meeting for a free copy of the book.
 
 

Area events

Email your event information to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

“Jesus Christ Superstar”
March 7-23
Des Moines Playhouse, 831 42nd St., Des Moines
The Des Moines Playhouse presents the Broadway musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com and by phone at 515-277-6261. “Jesus Christ Superstar” tells the story of Jesus in the final days leading up to his crucifixion. Loosely based on the Gospels, Superstar focuses on the conflicts between Jesus, his disciples, the people of Israel, and the leadership of Rome. Told by his wavering disciple and ultimate betrayer, Judas, the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice features such songs as “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Gethsemane” and “Superstar.” Show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets start at $29.
The IRIS SensationTeam will provide audio description for the 2 p.m., Sunday, March 16, performance. The Playhouse offers closed captioning for this show. These services are free. Requests should be made through The Playhouse ticket office.

Elks Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Saturday, March 15, 5:30 p.m.
West Des Moines Elks No. 2752, 2060 N.W. 94th St., Clive
The Elks Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will begin with the Foy School of Irish Dancers performing at 5:45 p.m.  They will perform for about 20 minutes, followed by the Elks’ famous St. Paddy’s Day corn beef and cabbage with Irish potatoes meal for $12 per serving.

2025 Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Pre-Party and Parade
March 15 and March 17
The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick is back with its St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Join them on Saturday, March 15, from 2-6 p.m. at The Shop DSM, 901 Cherry St., Des Moines, for a Pre-Paddy Party, featuring live music from Black Dirt Ramblers, a food truck and cash bar for an at-will donation. The parade is on Monday, March 17, and begins at noon. Participants will proceed from E. First Street, west on Grand Avenue to Eighth Street, with the parade officially ending at Eighth and Grand Avenue. The after party will be in the Des Moines Marriott Downtown Hotel. Visit www.friendlysonsiowa.com for more information.

DSM Book Festival
Saturday, March 22, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Franklin Event Center, 4801 Franklin Ave., Des Moines
Readers and book lovers in central Iowa will be thrilled to find an outstanding array of authors appearing at this free, fun-filled event, presented by Beaverdale Books and Beaverdale Neighborhood Association. In addition to author programs, panels, workshops and children’s activities, the event will offer attendees the opportunity to have their books signed, visit with publishers, and enjoy mingling with fellow book lovers. For the complete schedule, visit https://beaverdalebooks.com/dsmbookfestival/. Four headlining presentations will be offered in the venue’s large theater, including fiction writer Claire Lombardo, historian Alexis Coe, award-winning Hanif Abdurraqib and AViD author C.J. Box.

Axe-throwing events
Ironside Axe Club, 2700 University Ave., Suite 100, West Des Moines
March 22: Pirate Take Over and Sea Shanty Sing Along featuring the Orkes and Trolls. $1 off drinks for all pirates. $10 axe throwing from 6-10 p.m. Sing-a-long from 7-9 p.m.

Dome After Dark
Fridays through March, 6-10 p.m.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines
dmbotanicalgarden.com
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s lush tropical conservatory and Gardeners Show House are colorfully illuminated for Dome After Dark. Flora, the botanical garden’s restaurant, serves food and drinks till 9 p.m.
  
Vendor Markets
March 15, April 19, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Outlets of Des Moines, 801 Bass Pro Drive N.W., Suite 315, Altoona 
Each show has a variety of vendors from Avon, Living Oils, Small Town Laser, Unicorn Clouds, MJ's Hometown Honey, 3D by LouAnn, Tupperware, Tastefully Simple, Good Vibrations Gems & Crystals, plus others. Come check out the vendors and buy local. If interested in being a vendor, email k2marketplacemagic@gmail.com for information.

 
 
Savory favorite to make St. Patrick’s Day Special
 

(Family Features) While some St. Patrick’s Day celebrations call for green beer and large gatherings, you may instead opt for a cozy evening at home with comforting foods and close friends. Whether your shamrock spirit leads you out for a local parade or you’re more of a stay-at-home leprechaun, there is one tradition all can agree on: delicious Irish food.

A hearty home-cooked meal loaded with flavor and sure to fill you with cheer, Irish beef and beer pot pie is made piping hot to warm up any St. Patrick’s Day party. Full of hashbrowns, carrots, peas and beef, it’s a twist on tradition served with puff pastry topping the tasty stew. A cup of your favorite stout beer, of course, will come in handy for deglazing the skillet to ensure you enjoy every bit of beefy flavor.

Irish Beef and Beer Pot Pie
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup stout beer
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato puree
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 bag (28 ounces) hashbrowns with peppers and onions
  • 1 can (14 ounces) carrots, drained
  • 1 can (14 ounces) peas, drained
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
  • 1 egg

Directions:

  • Heat oven to 400 F.

  • In large skillet or Dutch oven, brown ground beef; drain and set aside.

  • Over medium heat, deglaze skillet with beer and whisk in flour. After thickening, whisk in tomato puree and add Worcestershire sauce. Mix in ground beef, garlic powder and beef broth. Add hashbrowns, carrots and peas. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Place puff pastry sheet on cookie sheet. Beat egg and brush over pastry. Bake 10 minutes. Place hot puff pastry on top of beef mixture and serve.

 
 
 
From your North Polk Living magazine
 

Mailed to all residents of Polk City, Alleman, Elkhart and Sheldahl the third Thursday of each month.

This month's cover story:

A SPECIAL BOND

Local grandparents share why living close to their grandkids is so important to them.

These days, kids often grow up, move away and start family and careers far from where they grew up. Siblings are often scattered across the country and even the globe. Dinners with the extended family is now regulated to the holidays, when those who are able make the trip “back home.” But there is something about grandkids that brings about another family shift. Many young families decide their kids would benefit from having family close by, and many grandparents find retirement is the perfect time for making a move closer to family. Some of those grandparents who live close to their grandkids share what it means to them to form the special bonds that come from time spent together.

[...]

 
Read this month's issue
 

P.S. As a free newsletter, we rely on readers like you to grow our subscriber list. If you have friends or coworkers who you think would enjoy Polk City Living Weekly, share this email with them and they can subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

 

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Johnston, Iowa 50131

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