April 24-30, 2026

Colton Bough is one of the Polk City Kiwanis Students of the Month for April.

“I am Colton Bough, and I am a senior at North Polk High School. I am the son of Casey and Amy Bough of Polk City and have one younger brother: a sophomore named Chase. I am the vice president of Student Council, president of Principal’s Council, a member of NHS, and a member of Math Honor Society. I play baseball, football, KBL, and was a two-time state qualifier for knowledge bowl.

“I have made the gold honor roll all four years in high school in addition to being awarded AP Scholar. In football, I was an Academic All-State, Academic All-District, a state champion, and voted Mr. Comet by my teammates. In baseball, I am a state champion and was awarded 3A Second Team All State Pitcher, 3A Central District First Team Pitcher, and RRC First Team All Conference Pitcher. My goal for this next season of baseball is not just to make it to state, but to inspire my fellow teammates to work their hardest so the team can reach its full potential.

“After I graduate, I am going to attend Eastern Oklahoma State Junior College to play baseball and study optometry.”

Memorial Day Ceremony

Join the Polk City American Legion Post 232 this Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 8 a.m. to noon, to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Organizers invite the community to reflect on the meaning of the day through tradition, tribute and shared remembrance. Breakfast will be served by the Sons of the American Legion from 8-10:30 a.m. at Post 232 114 W. Broadway St., Polk City. The Memorial Day Ceremony will take place on the Polk City Square at 11 a.m., followed by refreshments back at Post 232. 

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will move indoors at Post 232. For updates and additional information, visit the Polk City Iowa American Legion Post 232 Facebook page.

Everything You Wanted To Know About AI in Your Life

The Polk City Kiwanis Club presents “Everything You Wanted To Know About AI in Your Life” on Thursday, May 21, 6 p.m., at Luana Bank Community Room, 855 W. Bridge Road, Polk City. Alex Current, IT Security professional, will discuss how AI may affect our future, how to use it to enhance our lives, and steps for safeguarding ourselves. Open to the public.

Historical Society programs coming up

Big Creek Historical Society, 116 S. 3rd St., Polk City

• Home Away From Home: May 12, 6 p.m. Presented by Camp Dodge Museum Curator Mike Vogt. Camp Dodge was one of 16 training camps for WWI draftees. Period images, maps and letters will detail the first time many of these young men left home. This is a program from the Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau. 
• The Dragoon Trail as Hiked by Kevin Mason: June 4, 6 p.m. Presented by Assistant Professor of History at UNI Kevin Mason. The story begins with the 1835 expedition of the First U.S. Dragoons. With archival records, maps, indigenous histories and ecological data, Mason will explore how Iowa's prairies and wetlands gave way to farms, towns and transportation networks. 

Polk City Public Library news

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

• Pre-K Playday: Friday, April 24, 9-11 a.m. at City Hall. Parent/caregiver attendance is required.
• Comet Kids Cooking Club: Tuesday, April 28, 4:15 p.m. Learn some kitchen basics and enjoy a delicious snack. This month, we will chop strawberries and assemble a delicious strawberry shortcake. Registration required and limited to grades 2-6.
• Men’s Book Club (*NEW), “Chances Are…” by Richard Russo: Wednesday, April 29, 6 p.m. at Fenders Brewing. Consider joining us for our new Men’s Book Club located at Fenders Brewing. Swing by the library to pick up the first book: “Chances Are…” by Richard Russo. Book summary: One beautiful September day, three 66-year-old men convene on Martha's Vineyard, friends ever since meeting in college circa the 1960s. They couldn't have been more different then, or even today. Lincoln's a commercial real estate broker, Teddy a tiny-press publisher, and Mickey a musician beyond his rockin' age. But each man holds his own secrets, in addition to the monumental mystery that none of them has ever stopped puzzling over since a Memorial Day weekend on the Vineyard in 1971. Now, 44 years later, as this new weekend unfolds, three lives and that of a significant other are displayed in their entirety while the distant past confounds the present like a relentless squall of surprise and discovery.

Polk County Conservation events

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

• Wildflower Hike. Sunday, April 26, 1-2:30 p.m. Thomas Mitchell Park, 4590 N.E. 108th St., Mitchellville, meet at pond parking lot. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the woods as we discuss one of the most dazzling and diverse displays of native wildflowers in the county. Learn how to identify these woodland beauties and how they were used by early people. Free, all ages welcome.
• Full Moon Night Hike. Friday, May 1, 8:30-10 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Join us for an evening hike where we’ll discover the sights, sounds and wildlife that come alive after dark under the light of a full moon. Afterward, gather around a campfire to roast marshmallows and make s’mores. Registration required by April 30.
• World Migratory Bird Day. Saturday, May 9, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Join the Iowa DNR and Polk County Conservation for a high-flying celebration of World Migratory Bird Day. This is a morning of hands-on family fun. Get up close with majestic birds at our live raptor programs, sharpen your eagle eyes on a guided nature walk, and use binoculars to spot travelers stopping by the park. From interactive migration games for the kids to inspiring success stories for the grown-ups, you’ll discover the incredible superpowers these birds use to travel thousands of miles. Come find out how your family can help them thrive right in your own backyard. Free, all ages welcome.
• Creekology Hike. Saturday, May 9, 1-2 p.m., Mally’s Park, 5792 N.E. Berwick Drive, Berwick. Join a naturalist as they lead a hike down Four Mile Creek. We’ll explore the many sciences a creek walk offers, like geology, archaeology, paleontology, limnology and biology, to name just a few. Not sure what all those “ologies” are about? Then join us to find out. Wear old clothes and sturdy shoes/boots that can get wet, as we’ll be hiking in the creek/water. Free, all ages welcome.
• Wake Up with Spring. Wednesdays in April, 2-3:30 p.m. Jester Park Wetland Shelter, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Join ISU Polk County Extension and Polk County Conservation for this walking series. Polk County Conservation naturalists will lead participants on a walk through the park while discussing a new nature theme each week. Themes are: April 29: Trees. Free, ages 16 and older, no registration required, but RSVP appreciated at https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b9Onxnuc7QSqVVk.

Area events

Email your event information to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

Mothers Day Breakfast Buffet and Bake Sale
Sunday, May 10, 8 a.m. until noon
West Des Moines Elks Lodge, 2060 N.W. 94th St., Clive
Enjoy a delicious Mother’s Day breakfast, which includes biscuits and gravy, French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage patties, cheesy potatoes, and all-you-can-eat pancakes (including blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes), orange juice, milk and coffee. Cost is $11, $5 for children younger than 10. Enjoy a bloody mary or mimosa for $3.50. Proceeds support the Elks Hoop Shoot Program, other youth activities and veteran activities.

The Evening African Violet Club Sale and Show
Friday and Saturday, April 24-25
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 33, 2501 Bell Ave., Des Moines
The Evening African Violet Club of Des Moines invites the public to its 2026 African Violet Show and Sale, “Music in Bloom.” Members of area garden clubs and plant societies are especially welcome as club members share so many interests in indoor and outdoor gardening with them. This is a nationally sanctioned show and sale that will have judges from the African Violet Society of America. Hours are Friday, April 24, noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The judging of violets, gesneriads and floral design will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Hours follow from noon to 5 p.m. for sales. Only members of EAVC are eligible to enter plants and designs in the show.

Made In The Midwest: The Lubben Brothers
Saturday, April 25, 7 p.m.
Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St., Des Moines
Des Moines Performing Arts announces the return of Made in the Midwest at the Temple Theater for an exciting new season. The Lubben Brothers perform traditional/contemporary folk music. Opener is Courtney Krause. To purchase tickets, visit DMPA.org, call 515-246-2300, or stop by the Civic Center Ticket Office at 221 Walnut St. Night-of tickets will be available for purchase at the Temple Theater Ticket Office two hours before the performance.

Fauna 10K
Through April 30
Reagan Maher, a Des Moines kidney transplant recipient, is launching the Fauna 10K — a powerful initiative throughout the month of April aimed at registering 10,000 new organ, tissue and eye donors across Iowa and beyond. This is not a race. There is no finish line. There is no competition. This is a movement.

Held during Donate Life Month in April, the Fauna 10K invites everyone who is not registered as an organ donor to take part from anywhere, making this a statewide and nationwide movement, not confined to a single location. Through April, you can register on Fauna Transplant Support’s Facebook Page or through Iowa Donor Network at www.iowadonornetwork.org/register.

Celebrate Spring in the Park
Various dates
Water Works Park, 2201 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines

• Earth Day In The Park: Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. to noon. The free event includes educational information and activities from non-profit organizations in the area. Des Moines Water Works is also celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Arie den Boer crabapple arboretum with crabapple grafting demonstrations at 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. and guided tours of the arboretum at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The Des Moines Biergarten will be open along with Green Finds Cafe and select food trucks. Learn more at www.waterworkspark.org/event/earth-day-in-the-park.
• How to Build a Rain Barrel: Thursday, April 30, 6 p.m. Continue to celebrate Earth Day with How to Build a Rain Barrel workshops thanks to the Burnett Family Foundation Cultural Series. The Rain Campaign will present proper installation, benefits and maintenance of rain barrels and guide participants through the process of making their own rain barrel to take home. Tickets available at www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/WaterWorksParkRainBarrelWorkshopApril30.
• Dwight Yoakam and ZZ Top: Thursday, May 7, 6 p.m. with opening act Southall, bring the Dos Amigos Tour to Lauridsen Amphitheater on Thursday, May 7, to kick off the new Willis Summer Series at Des Moines Water Works Park. It's sure to be a mix of country honky-tonk and Texas rhythm and blues, along with good old rock n' roll hits. Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com/event/0600636DD02FEFA9.
• Styx with special guest Cheap Trick: Thursday, May 21, 6 p.m. Experience a legendary night of arena-rock anthems, powerhouse vocals, and nonstop hits from Styx with special guest Cheap Trick, two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame era icons. From “Come Sail Away” and “Renegade,” to “I Want You to Want Me” and “Surrender,” this is classic rock at full throttle as the Willis Summer Series heats up. Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com/event/06006383E039973A.
• Scheels Outdoor Adventure Series: Saturday, May 16, 1-3 p.m. The Scheels Outdoor Adventure Series continues in May with a bike theme. The experts at Scheels will help you get your bike ready for the season and showcase new products and gear. It's a great opportunity to incorporate a bike ride in the park while learning about the latest cycling trends.
• Live performances: Monday, June 15, 6 p.m. The Kerry and Linda Killinger Foundation Community Series features live performances on the Killinger Family Stage throughout the summer. The Des Moines Performing Arts takes the stage in June, featuring a national touring act in the park. Stay tuned for the performance announcement. Learn more at www.waterworkspark.org/events-in-the-park/community-series.

(Feature Impact) If clear skies and bright sunshine have you dreaming of a fresh meal outdoors, a picnic may be just the solution. Rounding out your spread of sandwiches and cold refreshments doesn’t have to be a trick. Instead, treat yourself to a light, simple side like this Picnic Pasta Salad.

Cooked rotini is mixed with fresh veggies, tossed with Italian dressing and topped with crumbled feta cheese for a zesty complement to your favorite al fresco meals.

Visit Culinary.net to find more ways to round out a perfect picnic lunch.

Picnic pasta salad
Recipe adapted from “Budget Bytes”
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 8 minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients:

• 1 pound rotini pasta
• 1 English cucumber
• 2 bell peppers
• 10 ounces grape tomatoes
• 1/2 red onion
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 bottle (16 ounces) Italian dressing
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Directions:

• Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain in colander and rinse with cool water; drain well.
• Slice cucumber into half-moons, chop bell peppers, halve tomatoes, thinly slice red onion and chop parsley. Set vegetables and parsley aside.
• Transfer drained pasta to large bowl. Add chopped vegetables, parsley and feta cheese.
• Pour dressing over pasta salad and toss until evenly coated. Add salt and pepper then refrigerate until ready to eat.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

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

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