Aug. 21-27, 2026

A crowd enjoyed the Polk City Farmers Market on Aug. 6. Among the vendors were Zach, Ken and Jennifer Callahan with their popcorn. 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.

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.
• Mah Jongg Open Play: Thursday, Aug. 27, 5 p.m. Open play for all skill levels. Learn the game or enjoy casual play. One set will be available; participants are encouraged to bring their own if possible. No registration required. Ages 17 and older. Not instructor led.
• 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.

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 Council Meeting, Aug. 24, 6 p.m.
• 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 County Conservation events

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

• Restorative Hike at Jester Park: Thursday, Aug, 27, 6-7:30 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center. Take a moment to step away from the hubbub of regular life and join other adults each month this summer season for a guided hike. We’ll breathe in the fresh air, get in some healthy movement, and explore what beautiful parks Polk County has to offer. We will be hiking over 2 miles on uneven surfaces, up and down hills, on shaded and unshaded trails. Must be able to keep pace with minimal accommodation. Free, no registration required, ages 18 and older.
• Full Moon Forest Bathing: Friday, Aug. 28, 7-9 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center. Join us at Jester Park for a guided forest bathing experience timed with the full moon. This program will offer participants a chance to slow down and observe the natural transition from day to night. During this session, you’ll take part in simple, sensory-based invitations designed to help you notice your surroundings. No prior experience is needed, just comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and an openness to slowing down. Ages 18 and older, registration required by Aug. 24.
• Sunrise Inclusive Yoga: Saturday, Aug. 29, 6-7 a.m., Easter Lake Event Center. Begin your day as the sun rises at Athene North Shore with instructor Dr. Stacey Huffman, OT/L. This mixed-level class welcomes every body and meets you where you are, with chair-supported and standing options offered throughout so you can move in the way that feels best. Every posture is an invitation, never a requirement — you are always the expert on your own body. Drawing on Stacey’s background as an occupational therapist with over 600 hours of training in yoga, trauma-informed yoga and Nature and Forest Therapy guiding, the class blends gentle movement, breath awareness, and nervous system regulation to help you greet the day grounded and present. This Rooted in Nature program is offered in sponsorship with UnityPoint Health. Items to bring: yoga mat, comfortable clothing and water bottle. Class will be held on the beach or inside the Event Center dependent on weather conditions. Registration required by one day before program. Ages 12 and older.
• Needle Felting: Sunday, Aug. 30, 1-3 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center. Learn the art of needle-felting. You'll learn techniques to create beautiful felted wool art using just wool and a needle in this beginner-friendly workshop. Fiber artist Megan Hammer will teach the basics of needle-felting before you create your first work of art. Registration includes step-by-step and creative guidance, tools and supplies for use during the workshop, and a needle-felted prairie landscape created by you. Registration required by Aug. 26. Ages 10 and older with an adult.
• 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 (age 4+) and archery (10+), 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.

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/.

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, 515-294-2624, or visit www.ankenysquares.com.

Halfway to St. Pat’s Charity Car Show
Sunday, Sept. 20
Charlie’s Filling Station, 305 Grand Ave., West Des Moines
www.friendlysonsiowa.com
The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick are holding a fundraising car show to benefit the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Bring your classic or unique vehicle. Registration is 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m. Vendors and food will be available.

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.

Heartland For Kids benefit concert for Mary’s Meals
Thursday, Aug. 27, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Jasper Winery, 2400 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines
Heartland For Kids presents a benefit concert for Mary’s Meals. Enjoy a family-fun evening with Nashville musicians Phoenix Mendoza, Josh Leo and Kitty Steadman. Any monetary donation will help the world's most vulnerable children receive an education and provide them with enough to eat. Fun activities will be available for the kids. Food, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, will be available for a free will donation. To donate online, visit www.marysmealsusa.org.

(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.

For example, The Little Potato Company’s new A Little Homestyle Ranch Microwave Ready Kit is a perfect foundation for this easy, all-in-one Sheet Pan Chicken and Little Potatoes recipe. It’s ideal for busy weeknights as a balanced, flavorful meal that requires just 10 minutes of prep and minimal cleanup. Plus, you can customize with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice for extra zest.

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

Sheet Pan Chicken and Little Potatoes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30-35 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds Little Potatoes
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 red onion
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2-3 teaspoons of your favorite seasoning blend
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• fresh parsley or cilantro (optional)
• lemon wedges (optional)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 F and line baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  Slice Little Potatoes in half. Slice broccoli florets, bell pepper and onion into bite-sized pieces.
• In mixing bowl, toss veggies with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1-1 1/2 teaspoons seasoning.
• Spread veggies evenly on baking sheet.
• In same bowl, add chicken, remaining seasoning and remaining olive oil. Toss to combine then place chicken between veggies in single layer.
• Roast 30-35 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through to internal temperature of 165 F and potatoes are tender. Flip veggies and chicken halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
• Let chicken rest 2-3 minutes. Divide Little Potatoes, veggies and chicken into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro and squeeze of lemon juice, if desired.

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!

FOR SALE: 2007 21’ Lowe Suncruiser BIMINI 214 pontoon boat. Great for family lake days, fishing fun or evening sunset cruises. 50 hp Mercury 2-stroke outboard. 55 LB Thrust Minn Kota trolling motor. Shoreland’r trailer with recently replaced bumpers and tires. Lowrance depth and fish finder. Front trolling motor (with foot pedal) and mount included. Built-in tackle storage and “live well.” Lots of storage and accommodates 12 people. Three life jackets and three buoys. Newer Boss Bluetooth radio. Recently serviced by Lake Panorama Marine and ready for the water. Recent maintenance includes new spark plugs, fuel filter, primer bulb, fuel line, water pump and impeller kit. New stern light installed. $12,000 or best offer. Call Tom Woody 515-778-1231.

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