April 3-9, 2026

Reagan Petersen has been named a Kiwanis Senior of the Month. She is the daughter of Chris and Gina Petersen of Polk City and sister of Cale, Drew and Emery. Her favorite subject is anatomy.

“Some things that I enjoy doing in my free time are reading, exercising, staying busy and spending time with family and friends. I continue to stay involved in school through National Honor Society and the Gold Honor Roll. After this school volleyball season, I was awarded Second Team All-Conference and was leading the state in blocks at the start of the season. I’m so excited to attend Central after graduation, where I’ll get to play college volleyball while starting my journey toward a career in nursing. My goal after college is to become a travel nurse.”

Regan is also a member of the Spanish National Honor Society and on the Gold honor roll. She is active at church and works as a nanny, babysitter and at Ziggi’s.

Historical Society Programs coming up

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

• How Iowa Met Baseball; the myths, the history, the players: Presented by John Liepa DMACC educator of the year 2004 on Tuesday, April 14, 6:30 p.m. at the Big Creek Historical Society, 116 S. Third St., Polk City. He will be bringing a great program and his extensive collection of memorabilia and baseball cards. Iowa had 225 Major Leaguers and seven Hall of Famers. The story is much bigger than Bob Feller. This is a program from the Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau. 
• 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

Announcements:
The library will be closed Saturday, April 4.
National Library Week is April 19-25.

• Not-A-School-Day: Monday, April 6, 1 p.m. Join us each month for a special activity on Monday, teacher in-service days when North Polk Schools are out.
• Adult DIY: Fairy Garden Planter Houses: Tuesday, April 7, 6 p.m. Join us for a relaxing evening of crafts. All supplies will be provided. Ages 17 and older, registration required.
• Balance and Books with Rock Valley Physical Therapy: Wednesday, April 8, 10 a.m. Join Rock Valley Physical Therapy for an informative program focused on balance, fall prevention and healthy aging. Includes a balance assessment.
• Friends of the Library Meeting: Wednesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. All meetings are open to members and the public. Anyone interested in supporting the library is welcome and encouraged to attend.
• Tiny Tot Art: Thursday, April 9, 10 a.m. Let your little ones explore creativity through process art designed just for toddlers. This hands-on program focuses on fun, sensory-friendly activities where messiness is encouraged, and imagination leads the way.
• Lego Club: Monday, April 13, 4 p.m. Engage in learning through stacking and building with these deceptively simple bricks and enhance your problem-solving skills and teamwork. Registration is required, Register online at polkcitylibrary.org.
• Comets Kids Club: Tuesday, April 14, 4-4:45 p.m. Join us in April when we make a bird feeder. Register online at polkcitylibrary.org.
• Setting Up Your Phone for Success (with Sarah the Tech Tutor): Wednesday, April 15, 10 a.m. This hands-on class focuses on simple changes that personalize your phone to your needs and make it easier to use. We will focus on functional features that will improve your smartphone experience. Registration required.

Recurring events at the Polk City Public Library

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

• Geri-Fit® Strength Training Workouts. Mondays 9 a.m. Ages 50 and older. Stretch bands and a Zoom link are available upon request.
• STEAM Storytime. Mondays 10:15 a.m. Designed for ages 3-5.
• Chair Yoga. Tuesdays, 9 a.m., Join the zoom meeting on our website at polkcitylibrary.org.
• Tiny Tots Storytime. Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. Designed for ages 3 and younger.
• Qigong/Tai Chi. Wednesdays at 9 a.m. Tailored to ages 50 and older.
• Ladies’ Wednesday Coffee. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to noon.
• Sit N’ Stitch. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m.
• Zumba/Low-Impact Dance. Fridays, 9 a.m. Workouts tailored to 50 and older.
• Men’s Friday Coffee. 10 a.m. to noon

Polk County Conservation events

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

• Songkran. Saturday, April 4, 10-11:30 a.m. Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Songkran is a spring festival marking the New Year in Thailand. Held in April every year, the festival highlights water as a way to wash away the old and celebrate the fun and joy of the new. Come prepared for a short presentation, hands-on crafts, games and activities to make a splash. Registration required by April 3.
• Geocache Egg Hunt. Monday, April 6, 1-2:30 p.m. Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Learn how to use GPS then go search the park to find some “eggciting” treasures. Space is limited, so register early. Ages 8-16. Registration required by April 3.
• Hands In Clay - Beginning Hand-Built Forms. Saturday, April 11, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Create a bowl, flower pot and/or tile while learning simple hand-built clay techniques. Finished work will be fired at our studio and be available for pickup at the Nature Center after May 1 (check website for hours). All materials and tools are provided. The class is open to adults, no experience required. Bring a sack lunch and refillable water bottle as we will take a short break to eat. Ages 16 and older. Registration required by April 3.
• Sandhill Crane Count. Saturday, April 18, 6-8:30 a.m. Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, 8700 N.E. 126 Ave., Maxwell. Experience the comeback of midwestern cranes by participating in this exciting wildlife monitoring event as part of the International Crane Foundation’s Annual Midwest Crane Count. In partnership with the International Crane Foundation, Polk County Conservation is calling all bird lovers, newcomers and avid hobbyists to assist in our annual Sandhill Crane count. Driving and walking routes will be available at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt to encourage encounters for all types of accessibilities. Participants will need to be familiar with using GPS to record locations of sightings on their phones or other devices. This event is appropriate for all ages. Younger than 16 require adult supervision. No experience necessary, and all training is provided. Registration required by noon the day prior.
• 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 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 1: Phenology; April 8: Birds; April 15: Spring Ephemerals; April 22: Critters; April 29: Trees. Free, ages 16 and older, no registration required, but RSVP appreciated here: https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b9Onxnuc7QSqVVk.

Area events

Email your event information to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

Des Moines Art Center Museum Highlights Tour
Saturdays, 1-2 p.m.
Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Discover the vast variety of the Des Moines Art Center’s permanent collections during the Museum Highlights Tour. This tour offers a unique journey through the galleries, featuring a selection of timeless paintings, sculptures and more. Join knowledgeable guides to uncover the stories, techniques and inspirations behind the art on view, and experience the highlights of the Art Center in a fresh and engaging way. This guided tour is perfect for art enthusiasts of all ages. Free to all, no registration required.

Bill Owens: Work and Leisure
Through April 19
John Brady Print Gallery, Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Bill Owens documented the suburbs in the 1970s, capturing the lives of prosperous, predominantly white Americans at a moment after the cultural shifts of the 1960s but before the dawn of the digital age of computers and video games in the 1980s. His photographs were compiled in the best-selling coffee table books “Leisure” (1972), “Our Kind of People” (1975), and “Working: I Do It For the Money” (1977). The images in this exhibition, taken from all three of these series and shot mainly in California and the Midwest, reveal Owens’ unique comedic eye as he seems to lightly poke fun at his subjects while clearly enjoying their company, finding both the genuine and the absurd in everyday life.

The Iowa Files: A History Series
Various dates, 3 p.m.
Online and in-person at the Community Room of the West Des Moines Public Library, 4000 Mills Civic Parkway
This joint West Des Moines Historical Society and West Des Moines Public Library program is free and open to the public, thanks to the generosity of West Des Moines Historical Society members, Bravo Greater Des Moines and the Friends Foundation of the West Des Moines Library. All programs are streamed on the WDMHS Facebook page and YouTube channel.

• April 12: Colfax, the Spring City. In the 1870s, underground mineral water, which was a cure-all health craze at the time, was discovered in Colfax. The water sparked health resort and bottling industries which made Colfax a world famous destination at the turn of the 20th Century. Kevin Williams, Cofax Historical Society’s board president, will share information and pictures about this little-known boom in Colfax.

The Ingersoll Shows
The Ingersoll, 3711 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
The Ingersoll announces some exciting additions to its spring performance lineup. Spanning world-class traditional music and beloved musical theater, these new shows promise unforgettable moments of live entertainment in the heart of the community.

• April 2-5 and April 9-12: “Church Basement Ladies” Matinee performances will have dining at 11 a.m., and the show beginning at 1 p.m. Evening performances will have dining at 5:30 p.m., and the show beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Scam Prevention Seminar
Thursday, April 16, 10 a.m.
Ramsey Village Continuing Care, 1611 27th St., Des Moines
Every day someone becomes a victim of fraud. Don't let it be you. Learn common scam tactics, prevention tips, and how to report scams. Presenter is The Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Refreshments and pastries will be served. RSVP to Kelly, 515-802-0822, or Kelly.Baughman@ramseyvillage.org.

Middle River Arts Festival
Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Madison County Conservation Center, 2508 Pammel Park Trail, Winterset
The Middle River Arts Festival will take place at the Madison County Conservation Center in Pammel Park, hosted by the Winterset Art Center. This event is scheduled for one day, is free of charge, and open to the public.

Central Iowa Wind Ensemble presents FEAST!
Sunday, May 3, 3 p.m.
Staplin Performing Arts Center, 3650 Woodland Ave., West Des Moines
Join the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble with a musical feast, literally. Its final concert, FEAST!, pairs amazing music with the flavors of the metro. With spicy selections like Wine Dark Sea, Party Potatoes (yes, you heard that right, a tuba concerto about potatoes), and Godzilla Eats Las Vegas, the group is serving up a musical menu like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. Purchase tickets at www.ciwe.org/feast/.

(Feature Impact) Once the Easter baskets are put away and the main course is cleared from the kitchen, you can liven up the dessert table or send guests off with a thoughtful treat thanks to these Chocolate Easter Egg Cupcakes. Moist cake, creamy frosting and chocolate-coated

(Feature Impact) While most people think of dirty kitchens, cramped closets and grimy garages when they hear “spring cleaning,” the popular phrase can apply to your menu, too. Refresh your family’s regular dining routines with fresh ingredients that call to mind the flavors of the season.

When it’s time to put the slow cooker away, consider this spring greens salad with mozzarella. Paired with an easy homemade lemon vinaigrette, it’s a delicious way to swap out heavier meals for a lighter lunch.

To find more springtime solutions, visit Culinary.net.

Spring greens salad with mozzarella
Recipe adapted from Organic Authority
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 cups baby arugula or spring mix
• 1/2 cup cubed mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• sea salt, to taste
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• halved cherry tomatoes (optional)

Directions:

• In large mixing bowl, combine arugula or spring mix, mozzarella and lemon zest; set aside.
• In small bowl, whisk olive oil and lemon juice vigorously with fork until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Pour vinaigrette over greens; toss gently to coat. Top with halved cherry tomatoes, if desired.

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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