See what's in this week's issue of Polk City Living Weekly!

April 4-10, 2025

The little black book

If you were watching TV in the 1970s, then you certainly have heard of Arthur Fonzarelli. And, if you remember the Fonz, then you likely also remember Richie Cunningham. And if you recall the Fonz and Richie, then you surely can recollect Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney.

These four were introduced to us, and to each other, in a 1975 “Happy Days” episode called “A Date with Fonzie,” in which the Fonz summons two girls from his “little black book” to go on a double-date with him and Richie.

Yes, a little black book. Or, in the Fonz’s case, a not-so-little black book. Most of you have likely heard the term, but, in case you haven’t, here’s the gist: A little black book is typically a personal notebook of contacts or a journal of secrets. It may also refer to an address book containing the names of past or potential romantic or sexual partners.

The phrase was first used in the mid-1400s, and it referred to a list of people who had committed crimes or fallen out of favor with leaders. King Henry VIII kept a black book with the names of people who were sinful. The phrase is sometimes still used today to mean a list of people who are in trouble with someone else. But, more often, it is referenced as a list of romantic partners.

Beyond “Happy Days,” the little black book has been part of our culture in other ways. Belinda Carlisle sang a 1992 song called “Little Black Book,” and so did Jimmy Dean in 1962. Brittany Murphy, Holly Hunter, Ron Livingston, Julianne Nicholson and Kathy Bates starred in a 2004 comedy film with the same name. And "The Little Black Book: Part 1" and "Part 2" was a 1968 two-part episode of one of my other favorite TV shows, “Get Smart.”

Although not a little black book, my college roommate and I had names of people we frequently called in the student directory highlighted. The resident director of the dormitory we lived in found it to be an interesting read.

Do you ever wonder what happened to all of the little black books? What’s left of them are likely gathering dust in an attic somewhere. Meanwhile, today’s smart phones have become the storage spot for many people’s list of lovers and other private contacts. Coincidentally, or maybe not, both would fit in the inside pocket of the Fonz’s leather jacket. Ayyyyyy!

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

Kiwanis Senior of the Month

Kiwanis Club of Polk City named Grace Livvie Anne Cory as one of its Seniors of the Month.

“My life is fully spent on loving people as I have been loved,” she says. “I dedicate my life to serving God and showing everyone around me the joy I have through Christ. Community is a huge influence in my life. I surround myself with people that support me and pick me up when I fall down. I can never thank my family enough for the love and happiness they have given me. They are truly the most important people in my life, and I can never say thank you enough. I love to be the person that helps other people. I try my best to make people feel seen and help them when they need it most.”

Grace’s parents are TJ and Shawn Cory of Alleman. Siblings are Joe, Cassandra, Grant, Claire and Janessa. Her favorite classes are literature and art, and she participates in Art Honor Society, artist assistant, rugby and tennis. She has received academic achievement awards and the All-Conference 2024 Art Team award. She participates in church, youth group, Student Leadership Team, Hearts for Des Moines, Students Offering Services, and VBS volunteer.
After graduation, Grace says, “I plan on staying in the workforce but plan on doing internships with missionaries around the world who are preaching the gospel to the nations. I am also debating an internship at my church to better understand the bible. My ultimate goal is to serve Jesus all throughout my life.”

Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt

The Polk City Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast is Saturday, April 12, 8-11 a.m. at Lakeside Fellowship Church, 1121 West Bridge Road. Come and support your Kiwanis Club at its legendary, yummy pancake breakfast. Bring a friend or two. A freewill donation will be accepted. All proceeds go toward three North Polk Senior Scholarships awarded at the Kiwanis May award banquet.

The Easter Egg Hunt will be at the North Polk West Elementary School, westside field at 11 a.m. immediately after the Pancake Breakfast.

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.

Curbside yard waste collection begins April 4

Easily dispose of leaves, grass clippings, and more right at your curb. Yard waste curbside collection in Polk City occurs on Friday, the regular garbage collection day. You can set out a variety of yard waste for curbside collection, including: twigs and branches, leaves, grass clippings and garden vegetation (such as spoiled vegetables on the vine or wilted flowers from landscaping).

Items that are not accepted include: dirt, mulch, rocks, food or pet waste.

You have two options for curbside collection with Metro Waste Authority:

Bags and Stickers: Place yard waste in Compost it! bags or store-brand bags with a green Compost It! sticker attached. Set bags at the curb by 6 a.m. on your regular collection day. Bags and stickers are available at many local retailers.
Cart Service: If you have a lot of yard waste, consider a Compost It! cart. Just fill the 96-gallon cart and place it at the curb on your regular collection day each week.

Logs, stumps, large branches, rocks and dirt are not accepted in the curbside Compost It! program, but they can be self-hauled to Metro Park East Landfill, where yard waste is accepted year-round.

Once collected, your lawn and garden debris is taken to Metro Compost Center at Metro Park East Landfill. There, Metro Waste Authority’s team turns and maintains the yard waste for four to nine months as it decomposes. The final product is Grow Gold Compost, a natural soil enhancer available for purchase for your home, garden or landscaping projects.

Have questions about yard waste or the Compost It! program? Visit www.WhereItShouldGo.com/YardWaste, or give Metro Waste Authority a call at 515-244-0021.

Coming up at the Polk City Community Library

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

Announcements:
• National Library Week is April 6-12.
• The library will be closed Saturday, April 19.
Lego Club, Tuesday, April 8, 3:45 p.m. K-2 grades; 4:45 p.m., grades 3 and up. Learning through stacking and building with these deceptively simple bricks, you can enhance your problem-solving skills and teamwork. Registration is required, Register online at polkcitylibrary.org.
Nutrition for Heart Health Lunch and Learn Series with AHA HeartCorps, Wednesdays 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. Enjoy a simple lunch prepared by the library or bring your own lunch. Aimed at adults. Register for each session online at polkcitylibrary.org.
Friends of the Library Meeting, Wednesday, April 9, 6:30 p.m. Anyone interested in supporting the Library is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Adult DIY: Book Fairies, Thursday, April 10, 6 p.m. Join us for a relaxing evening of crafts. We’ll be making cute fairies out of old library books. All supplies will be provided. Ages 17 and older, registration required.
Game Night with The Dealt Hand, Friday, April 11, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Polk City Community Room (new city hall). Drop in at any time for a fun evening playing games. The Dealt Hand will provide more than 200 games for your enjoyment. Play one of your favorites or learn something new. You are welcome to bring your dinner and eat while playing. The Friends of the Library will provide popcorn and a hot cocoa bar. Any and all ages are welcome.
Where My Peeps At? Peeps Diorama Decorating Contest. Pick up April 14 and return by April 18. Ready to get creative with Peeps? We’re providing the Peeps, and you bring the imagination. Decorate a diorama with the Peeps we give you and let your creativity run wild. The top two dioramas will win awesome prizes.
Adult Crafternoon: Quilled Flower Photo Frames, Tuesday, April 22, 2 p.m. Join us for a fun afternoon of crafting. We will be learning basic quilling techniques to make paper flowers to decorate a photo frame. All supplies will be provided. Ages 17 and older, registration required.
Plant Swap, Tuesday, April 22, 5-7 p.m.
Lights, Beats and Little Feets! Thursday, April 24, 10 a.m. Get ready for the ultimate baby dance at the library. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers can dance, groove and enjoy music under colorful lights.
Iowa’s Prohibition & Bootlegging Legacy, Thursday, April 24, 6 p.m. Join Iowa historical fiction writer, Ann Hanigan Kotz, as she takes you through the early 20th century in her new program. Registration requested but not required.

Book club meetings

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

Graphic Novel Book Club, Monday, April 14, 4 p.m. Join us for an exciting Graphic Novel Book Club at the library. 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. April Book: “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.
Monday Book Club, “Midnight at the Blackbird Café” by Heather Webber, Monday April 21, 2 p.m. It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother's estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father's side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can't stop talking about.

Polk County Conservation events

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

Global Migration - Barn Swallows, Saturday, April 5, 10:30 a.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Join us for a family-friendly program focused on the migrations of an amazing animal. We’ll travel around the world together as we learn animal facts and how climate change is affecting this species. The program will involve a presentation and hands-on fun. Stop by Critter Club afterward to meet one of the Nature Center’s amazing animals.
Critter Club, Saturday, April 5, 11:30 a.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Come and visit with Jester Park Nature Center’s resident animals up close. We’ll have one or two ambassador animals out to learn what special role they play in education. You may even get to touch them. This is an open house style program, so come and go anytime from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Attend the Global Migrations program beforehand to be an animal champion.
Dig Your Natives: Spring Garden Cleanup, Tuesday, April 8, and Friday, April 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, Easter Lake Park, 2830 Easter Lake Drive, Des Moines. Registration required by noon the day prior. Embrace the season of renewal this spring in Polk County Conservation native gardens. Gardens utilizing plants that are native to a region provide many benefits for biodiversity, wildlife and water quality, and positively impact our community. Timely spring garden cleanup sets up our rain and pollinator gardens for success during the growing season.
Knee High Naturalists, Wednesday, April 9, 10 a.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Registration required. Are you ready to get outside and explore? Come and hear a story followed by some outdoor fun. As naturalists we will hike, investigate and navigate through the trails and grounds of Jester Park as we learn what makes the outdoors such an amazing place. Come dressed to be outside.
Nature Center After Dark: Hawaiian Luau, Friday, April 11, 6 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Here’s your chance to visit the Jester Park Nature Center after dark. The hour will include storytelling, crafts, open Nature Center exhibits and a short program on the theme of the night. Feel free to wear your grass skirt, tropical shirt and Hawaiian leis.

Area events

Email your event information to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

Safe in the Sun 5K/10K Run
Saturday, May 3, at 9 a.m.
Ada Hayden Heritage Park, 5205 Grand Ave. Ames
The Central Iowa community is coming together for the third year to raise awareness and funds for melanoma research with the Safe in the Sun 5K/10K Run, hosted by the Cancer Bucket Foundation. Whether you’re a runner, a walker, or a supporter of the cause, the Safe in the Sun Run offers a meaningful opportunity to help in the fight against melanoma and skin cancer. To register, visit cancerbucket.org/events.

Elks Pancake Breakfast Buffet, Bake Sale and the Easter Bunny
Sunday, April 13, 8 a.m. to noon
West Des Moines Elks Lodge, 2060 N.W. 94th St., Clive
Yes, the Easter Bunny will be at the breakfast to greet the children and have treats to share. The breakfast buffet includes biscuits and gravy, French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage patties, cheesy potatoes, and, of course, all you can eat pancakes (including blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes), orange juice, milk and coffee. Enjoy a bloody Mary or mimosa for $3.50. Cost is $11 for adults and $5 for children 10 and younger. Proceeds support the Elks Hoop Shoot Program, other youth activities and veteran support activities.

WDM Elks Spring Style Show Fundraiser
Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
West Des Moines Elks Lodge No. 2752, 2060 N.W. 94th St., Clive
Tickets are $15 each or reserve a table for eight for $130 or a table for four for $70. The Style Show starts at 11 a.m. with a salad luncheon at 12:30 p.m. and door prize drawing at 2 p.m. Many fantastic vendors including K.A.B.E. & Co clothes and accessories will be available. Funds raised will benefit Veterans Children’s Christmas and other Elks approved charities and outreach.

Furry Friends Refuge “chilli” cookoff
Saturday, April 12
Tonic Bar, 5535 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines
furryfriendsrefuge.org
Chili, free drinks and excellent prizes will be at this “chilli” cookoff that raises funds for animals at Furry Friends Refuge. With your ticket comes one free Confluence Brewing Company beer, chili tasting, prizes and giveaways.

Middle of the Map Tattoo Convention
Friday - Sunday, April 4-6
EMC Expo Center, Iowa Events Center, 730 Third St., Des Moines
middleofthemaptattoo.com
Live tattooing, live music and prizes for more than 25 tattoo competitions. Miss Middle of the Map 2025 will be crowned in the Des Moines Premier Pinup Competition. The ink extravaganza will feature nearly 300 of the best tattoo artists from around the country, with many Inkmaster alum, including winners DJ Tabme and Bobby Johnson.

Des Moines Performing Arts
Various dates
Des Moines Civic Center, Cowles Commons, Stoner Theater, Temple Theatre, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines
desmoinesperformingarts.org

April 5-6: Des Moines Symphony, “O Fortuna - Carmina Burana”
April 11-13: “Hadestown”
April 17: Chicago Tap Theatre
April 23: Neil Degrasse Tyson: “An Astrophysicist Goes To The Movies”
April 26: Des Moines Symphony, “Music From Final Fantasy”
April 27: 360 ALLSTARS
April 30: The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight

Monster Jam
Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13
Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St., Des Moines
monsterjam.com/en-us/
Combining three distinct competitions — Racing, Two-Wheel Skills and Freestyle — into one incredible package, the Monster Jam offers a little something of everything to entertain monster truck fans.

Easter apps made easy

(Family Features) If you’ll be hosting friends and family for Easter this year, opting for an array of appetizers can help keep hungry people out of the kitchen until the main course is ready. Featuring easy prep and short cook times, these apps from “Cookin’ Savvy” can let you spend more time creating memories with loved ones.

Spinach bites
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Yield: 24 spinach bites

Ingredients:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup thawed frozen spinach
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1 package (2 1/2 ounces) real bacon pieces
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1 package (2 sheets) frozen puff pastry

Directions:

With hand mixer, blend cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, spinach, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella, bacon pieces, garlic powder, onion powder and salt and pepper, to taste.
Heat oven to 400 F.
Thaw and roll out puff pastry sheets. Cut each sheet into 12 squares. Place each puff pastry square into hole in muffin pan then spoon spinach mixture into each square and pinch corners together. Bake 15 minutes and serve warm.
Notes: Spinach mixture can be made in advance and kept in refrigerator up to five days before using. Recipe can be halved or doubled depending on needs.

From your North Polk Living magazine

Mailed to residential home addresses in Polk City, Alleman, Elkhart and Sheldahl the third Thursday of each month.

This month's cover story:

A WEDDING TO REMEMBER

Couple shares how they made their day special.

Few milestones are as momentous as a wedding. Family and friends often gather from near and far, the preparations may take months, and every detail is given thought. From the wedding attire to the decorations, music and venue, the couple makes countless decisions with one goal in mind: for theirs to be a wedding to remember. This month, one couple shares the scrupulous planning they did so their special day would be exactly as they envisioned. If a wedding is in your future, we hope you find inspiration from their story. Or, perhaps, their journey will spark memories of your own.

[...]

Read this month's issue

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