Living Altoona october 2016 50009 magazine magazine Cast your BALLOT THE HOW, WHERE AND WHEN ON VOTING LOCALLY — AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES ENOUGH IS ENOUGH FAITH ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER BIG GREEN UMBRELLA MEDIA 5619 N.W. 86th St., #600 Johnston, Iowa 50131 1951 PONTIAC CHIEFTAIN GARAGE BIG GREEN UMBRELLA MEDIA PAID BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP U.S. POSTAGE PRSRT STD RECIPE www.iowalivingmagazines.com/altoona Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 Don’t Let Buying or Selling Your Home Be a SCARY Experience Let Altoona Iowa Realty Help! Call one of our SPOOKTACULAR agents today! Tracy Adams (515)360-4374 Steve Barnum (515)991-9255 Linda Burkhart (515)729-6572 Julie Campbell (515)554-2625 Craig Campbell (515)419-1480 Harry Clark (515)669-1799 Kristina Hilzer (515)554-0643 Sandra Clark (515)669-3262 Sara Elmer (913)481-8425 Chris Huffey (515)669-3743 Ernie Huffey (515)771-3338 Robin Jorgensen (515)480-8057 Jessica Kiester (515)208-7268 LaBrent Lawler (515)689-3600 Debbie Mascaro (515)314-5593 Liz McKinney III (515)419-9672 Theresa Wing (515)681-9962 Nancy Wood (515)249-9055 Lorrie McKinney (515)240-0357 Tony Palmer (515)681-0446 Vickie Stewart (515)238-8636 Risa Schamel (515)360-7464 Joe Thomas (515)554-4982 Diane Vogeler (515)314-3548 Lacie Sibley (515)669-9430 Carl Sprague (515)971-0983 Lea Sundeen • Managing Broker (515)991-5470 • lrfl eming@iowarealty.com Iowa Realty - Altoona OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 809 8th St SW www.iowalivingmagazines.com/altoona www.IowaRealty.com WELCOME I voted for Anderson I t was the fall of 1988, and our country was in the midst of a series of heated presidential debates between George H.W. Bush of Texas and Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts. Bush was the incumbent vice president, and Dukakis was the governor of Massachusetts. I was a junior at Buena Vista College, and this was the first presidential election that I was eligible to vote in. But I didn’t. Was I unpatriotic? Maybe, but unin- terested, uninvolved and unimpressed are probably better descriptors. I didn’t really understand the issues, the differences between the candidates or the core values of the parties they represented. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure where the polls were. As it turned out, Dukakis could have used my vote, along with 7 million or so more. Bush won the election in a landslide. That was 28 years ago. I have voted in every presidential election since — 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. I have been a registered Democrat, and I have been a registered Republican. Like many of you, some of my views don’t align well with either party. And, like approximately 40 percent of all American voters, I am now an independent. This may explain why I was the only one out of 300 students at O.B. Laing Middle School who cast a vote for John Anderson in our mock election that pitted Jimmy Carter against Ronald Reagan in 1980. That connection is what every candidate seeks to make, and it underlines why it is important to not only vote in every presidential election, but in every other contest in which you are eligible. State gov- ernor races. City council elections. School boards. We should all do the necessary research and vote for candidates we most closely align with. Every election is important, and every vote does matter. Unfortunately, according to national averages, only 60 percent of the eligible population votes during presidential election years, and only 40 percent votes dur- ing midterm elections. Those numbers are much lower in local elections. I am not sure why I didn’t vote in 1988. Looking back, I wish I would have. I probably wouldn’t have voted for Bush. I probably wouldn’t have voted for Dukakis. But Ron Paul ran on the Libertarian ticket in 1988, and the free spirit that I was at the time might have given him consider- ation — had I known who he was. Meanwhile, where was John Anderson when I needed him? Thanks for reading. n REAL ESTATE GROUP PLEASANT HILL 515-265-7200 932 N. SHADYVIEW BLVD. • PLEASANT HILL Each office independently owned and operated 483 TRANSACTIONS CLOSED IN 2015 www.dsmhomes.com TERRY ANDERSON 771-6601 Living magazines alice@gostacey.com BILL EISENLAUER 770-2455 BOB EISENLAUER 979-2883 JOHN EISENLAUER 783-4837 bill@eisenlauerteam.com bob@eisenlauerteam.com john@eisenlauerteam.com GARY J. GARVIS 229-3061 JOANA GUZMAN 238-9080 MARY HAMILTON ROSS 979-7359 DAVE CANNON 661-8314 garyj@consultant.com jguzman@dsmhomes.com maryhamiltonross@gmail.com dcannon@dsmhomes.com CAITLYN HESTNESS 321-3821 Marcia Brown Advertising 641-780-5848 marcia@iowalivingmagazines.com Iowa ALICE WINDERS 771-2329 stacey@gostacey.com BRIAN BURGETT 473-0962 peggy@harmeyerhomes.com chestness@dsmhomes.com Darren Tromblay Editor 515-953-4822 ext. 304 darren@dmcityview.com STACEY CARPENTER 202-2803 bburgett@dsmhomes.com PEGGY HARMEYER 208-8132 Shane Goodman Publisher DAVE AVERY 468-1328 terryanderson@dsmhomes.com davery@dsmhomes.com MARY MILLS-FOLEY 577-9187 TODD OMUNDSON 577-5099 mmills@dsmhomes.com todd@todd4homes.com www.iowalivingmagazines.com CHRIS LAMKE 339-9456 RYAN MATHEWS 202-1019 clamke@dsmhomes.com ryan@buyingwithryan.com Your Experts In Southeast Polk’s Real Estate Market! OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 3 FEATURE Cast your BALLOT THE HOW, WHERE AND WHEN ON VOTING LOCALLY — AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES By Dawn Sagario Pauls T his will be Beth James’ 18th year as an election worker. She’s been a precinct chair in Altoona for eight years, overseeing the voting at Altoona 4, located at Saints John and Paul Catholic Church. She’ll be there again on Nov. 8, one of a myriad of poll workers in Iowa and across the nation who will be helping ensure the general 4 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 election runs smoothly, as voters cast their bal- lots for the country’s new president and other government officials. “I just love to be involved,” James says. “I’m a curious person. I like to see how things work.” Going to the polls on Election Day is just one way Altoona residents can vote. Learn more www.iowalivingmagazines.com about your options and the voting process. Registering to vote Voters must first be registered. There are sev- eral ways to do that: Fill out a voter registration form. Download the form at the Polk County Auditor’s web- site, www.polkcountyiowa.gov/media/311406/ FEATURE voterreg_2016.pdf and submit it to the election office, 120 Second Ave., Suite A, in Des Moines. Voters can also call the office at (515) 286- 3247 and ask for a form to be mailed to them. Register online. Go to the Iowa DOT website, https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/Account/Login, and use an Iowa driver’s license or identification card number. The deadline for voter pre-registration for the general election on Nov. 8 is Oct. 29. A voter registration card, which lists the voting location, will be mailed out. “We do recommend that people register prior to Election Day,” says Jamie Fitzgerald, Polk County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections. Voters can also register at the polls on Election Day. To do so, voters must prove both who they are and where they live. The best way to do that is with a valid Iowa driver’s license with a current address on it. Those who don’t have an Iowa driver’s license can use a photo ID that is current, valid and has an expiration date. Some examples include an Iowa non-driver ID card, out-of- state driver’s license or non-driver ID card, or U.S. passport. If the photo ID doesn’t contain a current address, voters can show another document that does have it, along with the voter’s name. Acceptable proofs of residence include a utility or cell phone bill, bank statement or paycheck. Casting a ballot Polls statewide will be open on Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters must go to the correct polling place for their current address. Those who are unsure of where to vote can check the Iowa Secretary of State website, https://sos. iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/. Accommodations are available at polling places for those with disabilities, including handicap-accessible machines. Poll workers may also assist voters to vote. In addition, curbside voting is available, when election workers bring voting materials out to the car for those unable to make it into the polling place. Can’t make it to the polls on Election Day? Early voting is available and, in fact, began last month in Iowa. Here are other ways to vote: Cast your ballot at the election office, 120 Second Ave., Suite A, in Des Moines, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Nov. 7, and Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Go to a satellite location. Satellite vot- ing will be offered through Oct. 29, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations: East Des Moines Public Library, 2559 Hubbell Ave., Des Moines Central Senior Center, 2008 Forest Ave., Des Moines Polk County River Place, 2309 Euclid, Des Moines Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave., Des Moines South Side Senior Center, 100 Payton Ave., Des Moines Altoona Public Library, 700 Eighth St. S.W., Altoona Ankeny DMACC Student Center — Building No. 5, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny Clive Public Library, 1900 N.W. 114th, Clive Grimes Public Library, 200 N. James St., Grimes Johnston Public Library, 6700 Merle Hay Road, Johnston Urbandale Public Library, 3520 86th St., Urbandale West Des Moines Public Library, 4000 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines Additionally, a satellite voting station will be in the Skywalk (Kaleidoscope at the Hub Tower) through Oct. 28, Monday through ALWAYS THERE Nathan Olson NMLS #51315 Making You Feel Right at Home When you’ve found the right home, Bank Iowa will help you find the right home loan. You’ll enjoy honest, straightforward advice, low rates and fees, and fast, friendly service, from people who care about you. You’ll also have access to a variety of our affordable housing programs. Brad Parker NMLS #446562 Contact one of our experienced mortgage loan officers today or check rates or apply online at www.bankiowa.bank. LIVE IOWA. WORK IOWA. BANK IOWA. Altoona 515.967.7283 / Johnston 515.727.4484 West Des Moines 515.225.0710 / www.bankiowa.bank Member FDIC www.iowalivingmagazines.com OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 5 FEATURE “Some folks are worried about the safety. We can’t get hacked into because we’re only receiving information.” — Jamie Fitzgerald Friday, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vote absentee ballot. Fill out an absen- tee ballot request form, available at www. polkcountyiowa.gov/auditor/election/ absentee-voting. Those interested can also call the election office at (515) 286-3247 and request a form. Absentee ballots must be returned in person to the election office or by mail. If mailed, they must be postmarked by the Monday before the election, Nov. 7. Absentee ballots can be delivered to the election office until 9 p.m. the day of the election. If a voter with an absentee ballot wants to vote on Election Day at the polls, he or she must surrender that ballot to a poll worker. Counting the votes “Absentees are a big thing for major par- ties,” says Fitzgerald. “We’re estimating we’ll have 100,000 for this election. We had 93,000 four years ago, and we count those the day before. We count those at Hy-Vee Hall. Counting and tallying are two different things. We count them, but we don’t tally how many votes for this person and that person.” On Election Day, the votes are count- ed throughout the day on the machine, with that information transmitted directly to the office, he says. “Some folks are worried about the safety,” Fitzgerald says. “We can’t get hacked into because we’re only receiving information. The way it’s been explained to me is we’re only receiving packets, nothing (is) pushing out. That’s been an issue for awhile.” If a machine breaks, another is brought out to the polling place. If that one breaks, the ballots can be counted by hand since they are on paper, he says. The machine tracks who was voted for and how many people have voted. “We’ll test probably 20,000 to 25,000 ballots before Election Day,” Fitzgerald says. “We make sure we test them all here, and we take them to the polling sites and test them there. That way we make sure that everything is counted accurately.” As the auditor’s office receives the results, they are then sent to the public, he says. “Nothing is official until the canvass, which is usually a week later by the Board of Supervisors,” says Fitzgerald. “They go Thank You TO OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS & LOYAL CLIENTS Purchase a $100 gift card and receive a $20 gift card FREE! 616 - 8th Street SW • Altoona • 515-967-4787 6 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 www.iowalivingmagazines.com FEATURE through every precinct to make sure the vote totals add up.” A call for election workers In Polk County, 600 to 700 people will be hired to work on Election Day, says Fitzgerald. They’re always looking for help. Chairpersons at polling places get paid $200; the other workers are paid $8.50 an hour. Call (515) 286-3247 and ask for Steve Mauro or Janet Alessio for more information. James, the election worker, followed in the footsteps of her mother, who has been working the polls since James was 10. The first election James worked was with her mom, and the two are currently chairpersons at polling places, James says. She has always been an ardent believer in exercising the right to vote, describing it as not only her civic duty, but a “privilege.” Manning the polls takes it one step further. “It’s actually quite fun,” says James. Election workers are always in short sup- ply, but they’ll particularly need those who are more computer savvy if the voting pro- cess incorporates additional technology in the future, she predicts. “If they get to the point where they can work some technology into it, they’ll definitely This will be Beth James’ 18th year as an election worker. She’s been a precinct chair in Altoona for eight years, overseeing the voting at Altoona 4, located at Saints John and Paul Catholic Church. She’ll be working there again on Election Day on Nov. 8. Photo submitted. need those who grew up with computers to step up,” James says. Advice for voters James has a few pieces of advice for voters. Many people have misconceptions about the ballot. One is in regard to marking the “straight party” option, meaning everyone on the ballot who belongs to the party chosen will get one vote. (Marking a straight party vote does not include votes for nonpartisan offices or judges). Those who vote straight party but like a candidate of another party for a specific office can vote for that person, she says. Voters can write in a candidate’s name if they wish. The entire ballot doesn’t have to be filled in. To see what a ballot looks like, find sample ones by precinct at www.polkcountyiowa.gov/ auditor/election/2016-general-election/. James is also a proponent of early voting — at a satellite location, election office or via absentee ballot — because of its convenience. “It allows you to vote on your timeline,” James says. What James wants to stress to people is to vote. Don’t be afraid to ask for help at the polls — election workers are there to assist and answer questions. “It’s your duty, it’s your right, it’s your privilege,” James says. “We want everybody to be able to vote,” James says. “There are so many opportunities. Just please go and vote.” n come talk to us about the "suite life" we have 2 available. THANKS YOU! 620 - 8th Street SW • Altoona www.iowalivingmagazines.com OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 7 CITY HALL 407 8th Street SE Altoona, IA 50009 Phone: 515-967-5136 FAX: 515-967-0842 Open 8:00am – 4:30pm Monday – Friday Mayor J.M. Skip Conkling 515-967-5136 City Council Members Jeremy Boka 515-965-0951 Kyle Mertz 515-954-8470 Dean O’Connor 515-967-3895 Michelle Sloan 515-967-1570 Vernon Willey II 515-313-3307 City Administrator 515-967-5136 FAST FACTS ABOUT FIRE • Half of home fire deaths results from fires reported between 11pm and 7am when most people are asleep. Only 1 in 5 homes were reported during these hours. • 3 out of 5 home fire deaths happen from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. • On average, 7 people die in U.S. home fires each day. • Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half. • When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead. • Almost three-quarters of Americans do have an escape plan; however, more than half have never practiced the plan. Info provided from NFPA website ARE YOU READY FOR WINTER? City Clerk 515-967-5136 Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses Detaching the hose allows water to drain from the pipe so an overnight freeze doesn’t burst the faucet or the pipe it is connected to. Police Chief 515-967-5132 Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas Fire Chief 515-967-2216 It’s best to wrap water pipes in unheated areas (such as the garage or crawl space) before temperatures plummet. You can find pipe wrapping materials at any hardware or building supply store. Library Director 515-967-3881 Fax: 515-967-6934 Consider installing “heat tape” or “heat cable” Water Billing 515-967-5136 Building Department/ Code Enforcement 515-967-5138 Building Official 515-967-5138 Planning & Zoning Department 515-967-5136 Public Works Director 515-967-5136 Install “heat tape” or similar materials on all exposed water pipe (i.e. exterior pipe, or pipe located where the temperature might drop below freezing). It is relatively easy to install and can be found at your local hardware or building supply store. Be sure that you use only UL-listed products and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Seal off access doors, air vents, and cracks Winter winds whistling through overlooked openings can quickly freeze exposed water pipes. DO NOT plug air vents used by your furnace or water heater. Find the master shutoff valve Usually located where the water line enters your house (or near the water heater or washing machine), the master shutoff valve turns off the water to the entire house. Paint it a bright color and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is. Tips provided from the American Water Works Association City of Altoona v 407 8th Street SE v Altoona, IA 50009 v 515-967-5136 www.iowalivingmagazines.com OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 9 INSURANCE Home & Auto go together. Like you & a good neighbor. Watch out for animals in the road Tips to help you avoid collisions By Tim Forbes Some things in life just go together. Like home and auto insurance from State Farm ® . And you with a good neighbor to help life go right. Save time and money. CALL ME TODAY. Tim Forbes, Agent 325 8th Street SE Altoona, IA 50009 Bus: 515-967-6601 tim.forbes.icjp@statefarm.com State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas, Dallas, TX State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL State Farm Florida Insurance Company, Winter Haven, FL State Farm Lloyds, Richardson, TX 1601976 Becky’s Dance Studio H 4 Large Dance Rooms H Classes for Preschool through the Advanced Student H Family Rates Available H Certified Dance Masters of America Teachers on staff H Home of Justin Bieber Guest Dancers for his Purpose tour Tap H Jazz H Ballet H Pointe H Tumbling H Preschool Dance Hip Hop/Jazz Funk H Pom Pon H Lyrical H Boys Hip Hop Competitive Dance Team ENROLL NOW! 265-2711 4900 E. UNIVERSITY AVENUE Pleasant Hill For more information, visit: 8 Altoona Living www.beckysdance.com OCTOBER | 2016 www.iowalivingmagazines.com T here’s so much to think about when driving: sur- rounding cars, your speed, pedestrians, reckless drivers. It hardly seems fair that we have to worry about animals, too. But it’s a danger we can’t ignore. An estimated 1.3 million claims happened in the past year result- ing from these collisions. There’s no silver bullet to keep large ani- mals like deer, elk and moose off highways and roads. Some driv- ers insist that deer whistles work, though the Information Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says no scientific evidence supports that claim. Studies and field tests show that roadside reflectors do reduce crash frequency somewhat, but as of now there’s no foolproof meth- od to keep animals off our roads. What may help • Stay alert. Pay attention to “deer crossing” signs. Scan down the road and off to each side. Be especially watchful in areas near woods and water. If you see one deer, there are probably several others nearby. • Be especially vigilant during peak season. Though collisions can happen any time of year, fall is peak time for deer-car crashes because it’s both hunting and mating seasons, forcing deer to roam outside their normal ter- ritory. • Use headlights smartly. At night, use high-beams when possible to illuminate the road’s edges. If you see a deer far ahead, flick the brights on and off multiple times. Deer tend to fixate on head- lights, so flashing them may cause the animal to scurry away. • Watch out at mealtime. Pay particular attention between dusk and dawn, when these animals usually venture out to eat. • Brake as necessary. If you think you have time to avoid hitting the animal, reduce speed, tap the brakes to warn drivers behind you and sound your horn. If there’s no vehicle close behind you, brake hard. • Don’t swerve. If a colli- sion seems inevitable, don’t veer off to avoid the animal. Your risk of injury may be greater if you do. Maintain control of the vehicle. Report the accident to the police and your insurance company. • Always obey speed lim- its and wear seat belts. Disclaimer: The information in this article was obtained from vari- ous sources. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufac- turer or the advice of a qualified pro- fessional. Nor is it intended to effect coverage under any policy. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information. We assume no liability in connection with the infor- mation nor the suggestions made. n Information provided by Tim Forbes ChFC, CPCU, CLU, agent, 325 Eighth St. S.E., Altoona, , 515-967-6601, Tim@ Forbesins.com, NMLS# 946394. 10 CALENDAR To submit calendar items for consideration, send information to darren@dmcityview.com THINGS TO DO IN TOWN Oct. 29 Girls varsity swimming regional tournament Southeast Polk HS - Pool Noon Southeast Polk High School Girls Varsity Swimming. www.cimlcentral.org Oct. 30 Nov. 1 Nov. 15 Noon Networking Bianchi’s Hilltop Restaurant 2820 Hubbell Ave. 11:45 a.m. College and Career Planning Night S.E. Polk High School 7945 N.E. University Ave. 5-8 p.m. Altoona Area Chamber Association. www.altoonachamber.org The College and Career Planning Night will feature a college and career fair as well as breakout sessions. www.southeastpolk.org Nov. 5 4th Annual Nippy Hippie 5K West side of The Altoona Campus off 17th Ave. S.W. 10 a.m. Nippy Hippie 5K Charity Fun Run/Walk Race. $35 Individual. $30 each with team of six or more. www.altoonachamber.org Nov. 11 Beggar’s Night Citywide 6-8 p.m. Remember safety first while trick-or- treating throughout the city. www.altoona-iowa.com Splat Studio: Winter Theme Altoona Public Library 700 Eighth St. S.W. 6-8 p.m. Library supplies the canvas for dry paint- ing, acrylic paints, brushes, easels, aprons, and studio. Fee - $5. altoona.beta.libcal.com Nov. 11-12 “Beauty and the Beast” S.E. Polk High School Auditorium 7 p.m. Tickets: Adults $12, Students $6. VIP Enchanted Event: Adults $16, Students $12 www.cimlcentral.org Nov. 15 Girls eighth grade basketball S.E. Polk Junior High vs. Johnston MS Purple Southeast Polk JH - JH Gym 4:30 p.m. S.E. Polk Jr. high school girls 8th grade basketball www.cimlcentral.org Nov. 19 Grownup Game Night Altoona Public Library 700 Eight St. S.W. 5 p.m. Celebrate National Game Day. altoona.beta.libcal.com Nov. 22 Girls varsity swimming regional tournament Southeast Polk HS pool Noon S.E. Polk HS girls varsity swimming www.cimlcentral.org HAVE A RECIPE YOU ARE ALWAYS ASKED TO SHARE? Send us your recipe to be included in your local Iowa Living magazine Holiday Cookbook! Pick up the finished product around Thanksgiving at local stores, and share with your family and friends who are always asking for that recipe! SUBMIT YOUR RECIPE ONLINE AT www.iowalivingmagazines.com/cookbook 10 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 www.iowalivingmagazines.com MSRP $10.00 I OWA L IVING M AGA ZINES A collection of time less recipes from loca I OWA L IVING M AGAZINES l residents H OLIDAY C OOKBOOK CALENDAR To submit calendar items for consideration, send information to darren@dmcityview.com ... AND MORE IN THE AREA Oct. 27-30 Nov. 16 Nov. 5 17th Annual Fall Gala Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center 833 Fifth Ave. Des Moines 6 p.m. Family Halloween Living History Farms 11121 Hickman Road Urbandale 5:30-8:30 p.m. Horse-drawn wagon rides, storytellers, pumpkin bowling, scarecrow and jack-o- lantern displays. www.lhf.org A totally awesome ’80s event supporting Ronald McDonald House. Price: $100 per ticket or $1,000 per table. https://rmhdesmoines.org Oct. 30 Spooky Paws Parade East Locust Street Robert D. Ray and East Sixth Street 1:15 p.m. Registration at 1:15 p.m. Parade at 2 p.m. Awards for “Best in Show” furkid, “Best in Show” human, “Scariest” furkid and “Cutest” furkid. eastvillagedesmoines.com Nov. 11-12 Iowa’s Premier Beer, Wine & Food Expo Iowa Events Center 730 Third St. Des Moines Friday 4-9 p.m.; Saturday 1-8 p.m. This unique shopping and sampling area will include a large range of items including wine, beer, cheese, chocolate and much more. www.iowaeventscenter.com Oct. 31 Iowa Wild vs. Rockford Wells Fargo Arena 730 Third St. Des Moines 7 p.m. The Iowa Wild play host to the Rockford Ice Hogs. Price: $9-$45; Children younger than 2 are free. http://iowawild.com Nov. 17 “The Boxcar Children” Des Moines Community Playhouse 831 42nd St. Des Moines 7:30 p.m. Follow orphan siblings Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny as they run away from foster care to make a home for themselves in an abandoned railroad boxcar. www.dmplayhouse.com Nov. 23 Senior Life Conference Prairie Meadows Conference Center 1 Prairie Meadows Drive 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Disney on Ice Wells Fargo Arena 233 Center St. Des Moines 7 p.m. Central Iowa Senior Education Network sponsored expo. Opportunity to speak with experts and resources under one roof and enjoy more than 68 vendors and a free lunch. centraliowasenior.com Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure. Tickets: $15-$60. www.iowaeventscenter.com WHO HAS KEYS TO YOUR HOME? PLANNING YOUR NEXT VACATION? You might be surprised. Book completely online with the comfort of knowing there is personalized service waiting to help you if you need it! Or just give us a call — it’s that easy. Very few homeowners change their locks when they buy a different home. That could be a costly mistake. Have up to 3 locks rekeyed now in your home to the same key – 2 FREE keys included. Discounted from $99 Most standard residential ACT NOW locks included. before it’s too late. Expires 10/31/16. 69 95 $ 867-7778 www. 515LOCKSMITH .com www.iowalivingmagazines.com OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 11 CREDIT UNION Why are you buying a home? Becoming a homeowner is a personal decision By Brad DeHeer O ne of the biggest deci- sions anyone makes is when it’s time to buy a home. Are prices going to rise? Or will the buyer get a better deal if he or she “holds out” just another few months? Before answering that, let’s take a look at the question. Why are you buying a home? Is it because you want to rent it to other people and hopefully generate a profit? Are you buying a house to fix up and sell it for a profit? If you’re a real estate inves- tor, or want to be, the question may have some relevance. But if you’re looking to buy a home for yourself and your loved ones to live in, the real question is this: Did you find the home that has what you’re looking for? Do you qualify for a home loan at the credit union? And, most impor- tantly, are you comfortable with the payments? If you answered “yes” to all of those questions, you’re ready to become a homeowner, regardless of where the market is headed. No one can predict the future — at least not accurately. Whether prices are going up or down, noth- ing changes the fact that it’s nice to own the home where you live. Your payments (provided you choose a fixed interest rate, which is a good idea in any case) will never go up. You don’t have a landlord who may ask you to leave if he wants to move in himself. You can remodel, replace or redesign any part of your home. It’s yours. You probably don’t check out the commodities market before stocking up on pasta. And you don’t do research on how well appliances are selling this year com- pared to last year before buying a washing machine. Your family enjoys your fettucine Alfredo. And your old washer is on the blink. That’s how it is when you’re buying a home. It’s a personal purchase. It’s a personal decision. When you’re ready, that’s the best time to buy. Stop by Midland Credit Union or call 515-645-9334 and speak with a mortgage lender about your options for financing your home. While some pundits suggest that this may not be the time to buy a home, as your credit union, we’re here to support your decision to become a homeowner when the time is right for you — with a home loan that’s right for you. n Information provided by Brad DeHeer, Midland Credit Union, 1225 Copper Creek Drive, Suite M, Pleasant Hill, 278-5333. SACK YOUR LOAN PAYMENT! F or a limited time, move any non-real estate loan from another lender to Midland, and enjoy up to 90 days with no payments! Contact us for details, or go to www.MidlandCU.org to apply securely online now! Some restrictions apply, please contact us for full details and disclosures. Loans offered with qualified credit. New money only - existing MCU loans do not qualify. Federally Insured by the NCUA. Equal Housing Opportunity. URBANDALE 2891 - 106th Street Pleasant Hill 1225 Copper Creek Drive 515-645-9334 www.midlandcu.org 12 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 www.iowalivingmagazines.com SENIOR LIVING Senior wisdom Age brings a new perspective and insight By Shelly Charter I truly enjoy my job for many reasons, but I feel one of the benefits that I have is tapping into the wisdom of so many seniors. Wow, do they have some practical and useful advice on so many things. They truly have “been there, done that.” I had the opportunity recently to talk with a beauti- ful 94-years-young lady who is still living independently on our campus. She bakes, cooks, enjoys gardening and is a delight to visit with. It is obvious that she loves life — despite the challenges that sometimes comes with aging. I’d like to share some advice that I’ve been able to glean from our conversations. After all, she has “been there, done that.” • Stay social. Relationships are important, even as we age. Stay engaged with activities and people you enjoy. • Keep moving. Daily activity is crucial. Exercise and continue daily activities you can safely do,and enjoy doing. • Laughter. It truly is the best medicine. Laugh often and laugh much. • Faith. Faith is a huge aspect in the life of my friend. She spends a lot of time reading her Bible and staying involved in activities with her church. • Know your limits. Being able to recognize and understand that while you might not be able to do all you used to, there still is plenty of things you can do and enjoy. She is enjoying many crafts and hobbies that she previously hadn’t had the time to participate in. • Bloom where you’re planted. Sometimes life doesn’t always turn out the way we planned, but what’s the point in being bitter or resentful? Embrace the opportunities you have, and make the most of it. • Never stop learning. There is always an opportunity to learn something or to try something new. Do it! Don’t be afraid or fear change. I believe that saying is true — with age comes wisdom. n Information provided by Shelly Charter, Valley View Village, 2571 Guthrie Ave., Des Moines, 265-2571. Our stunning new health center is NOW OPEN! Call for a tour! A king and queen lived in a beautiful kingdom where they received loving and faithful support from healthcare professionals during each stage of their lives, including independent living, assisted living, respite care and skilled nursing care with therapy services. The grown prince and princess were happy that their parents were part of a vibrant adult community on the east side of Des Moines, on a campus that has been home to generation after generation of senior adults. The king and queen finally had time to enjoy their family, their friends and each other. And they all lived happily ever after. With the Valley View Village continuum of care, a royal lifestyle doesn’t have to be a fairytale. To begin your story, contact us today! 2571 Guthrie Avenue | Des Moines, IA 50317 | 515.265.2571 | ValleyViewVillage.org www.iowalivingmagazines.com OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 13 EDUCATION NEWS BRIEF Meet Chad Criswell Band director sees sense of accomplishment By Michelle Chalkey C Darrin Miedema is the pastor of the new Walnut Creek Church in Altoona. Renovations are being done to its permanent location at 107 Sixth St. S.W. Photos submitted. Walnut Creek Church holds opening service Walnut Creek Church, led by Darrin Miedema, pastor, held its first Altoona service on Sept. 11 at the Altoona Elementary School. Altoona’s newest church will meet at the school each Sunday at 10 a.m. until reno- vations at its permanent location are completed down the street at 107 Sixth St. S.W. The church purchased the historic building in August of this year. It was originally built in 1870, and it is one of the oldest standing buildings in the city of Altoona. Miedema is 33 years old. He was recognized as a pastor on Aug. 28. He said that renovations are on schedule and the work should be finished around Easter of 2017. “We have a core group of about 40 adults,” Miedema says. “We’re excited to continue the gospel work that this building has been used for nearly 150 years. We can’t wait to move into our new home.” This fall is the 31st anniversary of Walnut Creek Church, and the Altoona opening marks its fifth location in the greater Des Moines area. “Making disciples of Jesus Christ is our focus here,” Miedema says. “And everyone is welcome. It doesn’t matter if you’re unsure about your faith in God, or if you’re a new believer looking for authentic Christian fellowship, or if you’ve known Christ all your life. You are invited to check out what Walnut Creek in Altoona has to offer.” Free child care for babies and toddlers is available during the services which generally lasts 70 to 80 minutes. Kid’s classes take place for chil- dren 3 years old through fifth grade. Worship music is generally upbeat and contemporary. “Please don’t worry about what you wear,” Miedema says. “This is a casual environment where the emphasis is relationships and not formali- ties.” Founded in 1985, Walnut Creek Church provides a service-minded, family-oriented, gospel-focused atmosphere with Christ at its center. It is a part of Great Commission Churches, a member of the National Association of Evangelicals. Walnut Creek churches in the Des Moines-metro area are: • Altoona Elementary School: 301 Sixth St. S.W., Altoona • Downtown’s Historic East Village: 323 E. Locust St., Des Moines • Highland Park: 4100 Sixth Ave., Des Moines • Southridge Mall: 1111 E. Army Post Road, Des Moines • Windsor Heights: 900 64th St., Windsor Heights n 14 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 www.iowalivingmagazines.com had Criswell enjoys that he teaches a different kind of class — one that his stu- dents choose to participate in. But there is one caveat — most teachers might have 15-20 students in their class, but Criswell works with any- where from 250-300 in a given year. Criswell and Kris Joy are the two band directors from the Southeast Polk Community Schools. In his 10th year at SEP, Criswell loves the excitement and energy in teaching beginners. “Seeing them improve so much in just a few months is inspiring,” Criswell says. “At the beginning, I think they just love the feeling of accomplishment and being able to play the instrument for their family and friends. Once they are up and running, it lets them be creative and tends to be a lot of fun.” Music entered Criswell’s life at the early age of 5, when his mother signed him up for piano lessons. While he didn’t stick with it then, he joined the school band in fifth grade and was instantly hooked. Inspired by his band directors and thrilled with playing and conducting good music, Criswell pursued a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Northern Iowa fol- lowed by a master’s degree in edu- cational technology. Criswell was offered the position at SEP shortly after moving to the area and quickly came to enjoy the community. “I’ve always been impressed by the amount of community support that we have here for the music Chad Criswell is a band director at Southeast Polk Community Schools. Photos by Michelle Chalkey. programs in the district; you don’t see that everywhere,” he says. “The band parents’ organization at the high school level here is just amaz- ing.” While his class is different from typical academic subjects, Criswell understands that students learn music skills differently. One thing he feels will help all of his students is practicing at home. “I harp on it every week try- ing to point out that success in life doesn’t come from just sitting around,” he says. “If you want to be good at something you have to work at it.” The time constraint with the large number of students provides a struggle to give each student the amount of personal attention he or she needs to excel, but Criswell says his kids always seem to pull it off. “The success the students have is a testament to their dedication and enthusiasm for the activity as well as to the support from their parents at home,” he says. n Q: What do you like best about Mr. Criswell? Owen Hosler: “Band lets me learn more. He’s really good about explaining and going over everything.” Brock Appleby: “He’s patient with me, and I like learning something new.” Isaac Barton: “He helps us with the sounds of music and beats. I like the feeling of making my parents proud.” WHAT’S IN YOUR GARAGE? NEWS BRIEF Fire Fighters Association pancake breakfast set for Oct. 29 Skip Fraser and his 1951 Pontiac Chieftain. The front hood ornament on Fraser’s Pontiac lights up at night. Photos by Lisa Verhey-Budding. 1951 Pontiac Chieftain Fraser finds dream car close to home By Lisa Verhey-Budding T ickled pink, or baby blue, rather, is how Skip Fraser, 63, of Altoona felt six months ago when he found his 1951 Pontiac Chieftain. He says the car has only had one re-paint and that it has stayed the original baby-blue color all this time. “I found it on craigslist for sale in Des Moines,” he says. I really like the color and am glad it is mostly all original still. The bumpers have been rechromed and its has had one re-paint. The big white walls bring it to the original look for sure. I was thrilled to have found it so close to us. I like this one a lot.” Fraser says he often drives the Pontiac to school at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. He is taking auto col- lision classes just for fun, he says. He enjoys pulling up on campus with the Chieftain to show the younger students what a great old car looks like. “I had a GI Bill left, so I am putting it to good use,” he says. “I did 29 years in the military. For 16 years I flew for the Navy and did Vietnam and then did 13 more for the Army and retired from that at age 51.” While Fraser is in school he will be working on a 1975 Maverick Grabber. “It is an original little hotrod from ’75 that will be fun to see all finished,” he says. Besides driving the Pontiac to school to give it a little road time, Fraser and his wife, Betty, will hop in the car to go out for ice cream. Fraser says his wife genuinely shares his affinity for old cars, and that she has really good taste when it comes to picking one out. “I got our 1959 El Camino for her,” Fraser says. “The ’59 El Camino was the first year the El Camino was made.” Fraser said the El Camino was only made for two years on the bigger Impala frame. “It has the big fins and is really neat looking. This car is actually the most desirable of the lot,” he says. “I originally went to buy an old truck for like $5,000 or $6,000, and then my wife saw the El Camino on the Moyer lot on 14th Street in Des Moines and really wanted it, so there you go.” n Contact Darren at 953-4822 ext. 304 or darren@dmcityview. com to recommend someone for an upcoming issue of “What’s In Your Garage?” The Altoona Fire Fighters Association is hosting its annual pancake breakfast with the help of the Altoona Kiwanis on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 7-11 a.m. at the Altoona Fire Department, 950 Venbury Drive. Funds raised at the event will be used to purchase two Panasonic Toughbook CF20s at a cost of $3,825 each. These are Toughbook computers that detach and are stand-alone tablets that will be used for ambulance reporting and documentation. Modern Woodmen of America will sponsor the free will donation fundraiser and will match all proceeds up to $2,500 with its Matching Fund Program. Mercy One and Life Flight helicopters will fly in for some breakfast and tours depending on the weather and calls for service. Doctors Now of Altoona will provide flu shots at a cost of $25. The Altoona Police Department will also be represented. The names of club donors will be displayed prominently during the breakfast. Have your donation submitted by Oct. 21 in order to have your name or business name displayed. Monetary contributions can be made payable to Altoona Fire Fighters Association and can be dropped off at the fire department or mailed to Altoona Fire Fighters Association, P.O. Box 123, Altoona, Iowa 50009. If you wish your donation to be used specifically for a door prize or a silent auction, please indicate your request with the donation. To donate door prizes and silent auction items, contact Lynn Bedford at 967-2915 or Janice at the Altoona Fire Department at 967-7831. n Happy Thanksgiving from McManus Automotive Inc. McManus Automotive Inc. Tire Sales & Auto Service Locally Owned and Operated www.iowalivingmagazines.com 550 8th St. SW, Altoona 515-967-1020 mcmanusautoaltoona.com OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 15 HEALTH Ankeny Clinic Expert Medical Care Friendly Staff Doctors Who Listen Same Day Sick Visits Des Moines Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic Trusted Child Health Care Since 1958 New to the area, expecting a baby, or looking for a change? Join the other Altoona families that call our clinic their own. Call to make your appointment or to schedule a free get-acquainted meeting with one of our medical providers. We can’t wait to meet your family! 2785 N Ankeny Blvd. ◆ www.dsmpeds.com ◆ 515-964-2159 INTO VIBRANT HEALTH WITH CHIROPRACTIC CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS: RESTORE HEALTH --------- INCREASE ENERGY --------- IMPROVE IMMUNE SYSTEM FUNCTION Voted of East Polk County A: Halloween can be a fun holiday for a neighborhood and community. In addition to being a fun night, trick-or-treating can be a good opportunity to teach children a few safety lessons. Traffic, visibility and enjoying the candy in moderation can provide a safe Halloween. Being aware of traffic is critical on this night. Start talking to children ahead of Halloween about how they should only cross at intersections, and should avoid running across a street to the next porch light. If a vehicle has stopped at an intersection, teach children to make eye contact with drivers before stepping off the curb and into the street. Children should always look left then right then left again before crossing. Some costumes are made with dark materi- als, and it’s important for children to be seen easily as dusk approaches. Reflective tape and glow sticks, bracelets and necklaces are great choices. Finally, we all know that parents should inspect the candy. Toss out home- made items and make sure packaging has not been tampered with. Decide how many pieces of candy you want your children to eat each day and make a rule that’s easy to understand and enforce. For example, the candy will stay in a bowl on the top of the refrigerator and each child can choose a piece after school or after dinner. Have a safe and happy Halloween. n Information provided by Dr. Robert Fornoff, Des Moines Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic, 2785 N. Ankeny Blvd., Suite A, Ankeny, 515-964-2159. Q: How can I strengthen my immune system? FALL BEST Q: How can my family stay safe around Halloween? Dr. Kari Swain Celebrating 21 years of clinical excellence! 410 Center Place SW A: The symptoms of a cold or flu are our body’s natural response to eliminate the germ. By allowing our bodies to express symptoms natu- rally, we exercise and strengthen our immune system so it can fight off the other multitude of germs we are exposed to every day. We need a strong immune system. Germs are smart. When we do not allow our bodies to fight off germs naturally, germs change their identity so they can survive. We actually cause the germs to strengthen and create “super and deadly strains.” The only way that we can win is to work on building up our own immune systems by being as healthy as we can be. Below are the essentials for building a healthy immune system naturally. • Get adjusted regularly. Chiropractic adjustments boost the immune system and are a safe, natural option for healing and maintaining health. • Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. • Eat a wholesome diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially foods containing vitamin D (such as cod liver oil). A wholesome, immunity boosting diet contains a colorful assortment of fruits and vegetables with organic meats and fish. Avoid grains and sugar. • Get adequate rest. • Exercise on a regular basis. • Spend a few minutes a day in sunlight to help your body make and store vitamin D. Supplement with high quality vitamin D. • Manage your stress. It has been estimated that up to 90 percent of illness and disease is stress-related. Lower stress through meditation and other healthy lifestyle changes. n Altoona 515.967.9300 16 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 www.SwainChiropractic.com www.iowalivingmagazines.com Information provided by Dr. Kari Swain, Swain Chiropractic, 410 Center Place S.W. Altoona 967-9300. FAITH You will be warmly welcomed here! Enough is enough We’re a growing, friendly, Christ-centered church that loves God, loves others and serves the world. Children and youth activities • Weekday preschool Men’s and women’s ministries • Small groups Let God help you be satisfied with what you have By Steve Poole G od placed a Bible verse in my path recently, and it reminded me of this old idiom: enough is enough. Proverbs 23:4 says, “Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discern- ing enough to desist.” I would para- phrase it this way (this is the NSV, the New Steve’s Version): “Know when enough is enough when it comes to wealth.” I think this verse sheds light on one of our biggest struggles. We don’t know when enough is enough. We live in the capitalistic society, driven by the marketing machine and media. Just turn on your TV or radio and listen to a few commercials. We are constantly bombarded with the ideology more is better. It is such a quintessential idea that we have many phrases to describe it. “Keeping up with the Jones.” “The grass is greener on the other side.” In fact, this endless pursuit of more wealth is ruining our marriages. In a 2012 study, Dr. Sonya Britt concluded, “Arguments about money is by far the top predictor of divorce,” and “Results revealed it didn’t matter how much you made or how much you were worth. Arguments about money are the top predictor for divorce because it happens at all levels.” Even the research shows that it is not about how much you make, it’s about learning to say enough is enough and be satisfied with what God provides. Paul said it this way in Philippians 4:11-13: “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” In Matthew 6:24, during His famed sermon on the mount, Jesus says,“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” So, maybe you’re tired, beat from living paycheck to paycheck, and arguing with your loved ones about money. Presidential candidate Donald Trump made this statement: “Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that’s more productive.” Are you ready to say enough is enough and move on to a more gratifying lifestyle? Invite God to help you learn to be satisfied with what you have. n SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP 10:00 a.m. Praise band, singers and a relevant, contemporary message. Adventure KIDS children’s worship and nursery available. 1700 - 8th Street SW • Altoona • 967-5184 www.adventurelife.org Information provided by Steve Poole, director of youth ministries, Adventure-Life Church, 1700 Eighth St. S.W., Altoona, 515-967-5184. www.iowalivingmagazines.com OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 17 AUTO Avoiding car- deer collisions Be watchful when you’re on the road By A.J. Perez F all has officially arrived, bringing with it cool weather, the turn- ing of the leaves and pumpkin spice everything. Another thing that accompanies fall is rutting season for deer. If you’re a hunter, this is probably your favorite time of the year. But if you just bought a beauti- ful new car, you may be feeling a bit of anxiety about how the rutting season will affect travel conditions. While we truly do enjoy seeing our customers at Deery Chevrolet Collision Center, we care about your safety above all else. According to the DOT, Iowa drivers have a 1 in 68 chance of hitting a deer at some point in their lifetime. That’s the third high- est state in the U.S. Furthermore, your chances increase during certain times of the year; rutting season being one of those times. Deer are on the move, looking for a poten- tial mate and crossing roadways more frequently. While all Iowa drivers know to be on the look-out for deer year-round, it is especially important to be extra vigilant during the rutting season. There are numerous ways to help avoid a deer collision, some of which seem to be common sense, like simply being more watchful. Let’s take that a bit further, though. Keep your eyes peeled for moving shadows, signifying a running deer. You should also keep an eye on your surroundings. Are you driv- ing on a road that intersects with water? Creeks, lakes and rivers are popular places for deer to visit. Additionally, hill valleys and other low areas are hot spots for deer activity as they attempt to escape hot and muggy weather. In addition to knowing your sur- roundings, it is also wise to consider the time of day and temperature 18 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 www.iowalivingmagazines.com during your outing. According to the Skilled Motorcyclist Association, more than 90 percent of all automo- bile/deer accidents occur between 5-8 a.m. and 5-11 p.m. This is because not only are deer more active during those times, but your eyes have a harder time adjusting when it is neither dark nor light out, but a hazy in-between phase. If you do find yourself in a situ- ation in which colliding with a deer is unavoidable, try not to swerve. While deer may be momentarily stunned by your headlights, they will eventually dart away, often in a zig-zag pattern. Swerving only puts your vehicle in their line of escape. Additionally, do not accelerate. You should brake until just before the point of impact, then release. However, when you’re in this situ- ation, it’s hard to act quickly and remember what you’ve been taught. Be sure to have your hands at “10 and two” and remain in control of your vehicle. After the collision, do not attempt to help the deer. Their hooves are sharp and they’ve been known to attack. Check to be sure your passengers are safe, call 9-1- 1, and, of course, call us at Deery Chevrolet Collision Center when everyone is out of harm’s way, and we will arrange for a transport of your vehicle to our collision center for repair. n Information provided by A. J. Perez, Deery Chevrolet, 6000 E. University Ave., Pleasant Hill LIBRARY NEWS Retaining Walls, Patios, Sidewalks, and Flower Bed Edging Games and artistry Library has a variety of fun planned for fall By Dave Wanamaker M any people think fall is the best time of the year. It’s still nice enough to enjoy outdoors, but cool enough that you won’t feel guilty about sitting down and enjoying a book. Come to the Altoona Public Library for a whole variety of fun while you welcome in the fall season. C.L.A.S.S. is “in session” Join our “Creative Library After- School Squad (C.L.A.S.S.)” to have fun learning a skill or a game. It’s held every Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. for K-sixth grade. Activities vary from week to week, but include Legos, crafts, games and more. Third-sixth graders should also check out our Monday Fundays. Each Monday at 4 p.m. we’ll have games, coding practice, Perler proj- ects and other cool activities. PreK programs Check out Fun-Size Kitchen on Nov. 17 at 12:30 p.m. We’ll mea- sure, mix and make something amazing together. Preschoolers and their caregivers will prepare a snack based on a story you’ll love. We’ll also learn important kitchen skills like following directions, stirring, mashing, scooping, pouring and cut- ting (with supervision). This pro- gram is aimed at pre-K children, but siblings are welcome. Food aller- gies? Contact us for a full list of this month’s ingredients. Registration is required. Science comes alive at Tiny STEAM Team. Preschoolers are among the most curious people on the planet. At this program, we’ll nurture their natural inclinations to ask “Why?” with hands-on activi- ties and experiments. Children and caregivers will explore the world of science, technology, engineer- ing, art and math. This program is recommended for ages 2-7, but siblings are welcome. Registration is required. Harry Pottery On Nov. 17 at 6 p.m., come cre- ate miniature magical characters and creatures from polymer clay to celebrate the new Potterverse film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” For Muggles ages 12-18. ww. w snyderlawncare.com 515.957.8140 GREAT ESCAPE is THE PREMIER CHOICE for your next Holiday Party, Family Outing or Group Event! Our exclusive meeting space, multiple venues (bowling, laser tag and arcade) and delicious buffets provides an all-inclusive location that everyone will enjoy. Our staff will work closely with you to design your perfect event! Contact Great Escape today to book your memorable event – 515.263.1700 ext. 212 or whitney@greatescapeiowa.com 655 NE 56th St, PH • 515.263.1700 • greatescapeiowa.com Walk-Ins Welcome! Senior Set Stop by this open house style pro- gram on Tuesday, Nov. 1 and Nov. 15 from 1-3 p.m. We’ll have crib- bage, giant checkers, giant domi- noes, cards, backgammon and more. Bring your friends. We’ll supply coffee, tea and snacks. Glass ornaments Kil’n Time is back. We’ll be making glass fusion ornaments on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 6-8 p.m. Each partici- pant will make two ornaments; total fee is $21.20. Fee is payable to the library at the time of the event. If you want to create more than two ornaments (they are relatively small), please follow the instruc- tions in the registration email or email kkietzman@altoona.lib.ia.us with the names of the registered participant and the number of orna- ments you wish to create. Registration closes Nov. 6, and requests for additional ornaments are due at that time. Cancelations after Nov. 6 will be charged unless the spot can be filled from the wait list. n No Prescription Required Ages 6+ Want to defeat the flu this year? GETTING VACCINATED IS YOUR SUPERPOWER! Protect your loved ones (and yourself) with a flu shot from the experts at Medicap Pharmacy! • Mobile App • FREE Delivery • Immunizations • Rewards Program 950 28th Ave. SW • Altoona Call: 515-957-0001 Hours: M-F 8 - 6 • Sat. 9-1:30 Medicap Central Iowa www.iowalivingmagazines.com • Drive-Thru Window • FREE Kids Vitamin Club • Easy Prescription Transfers OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 19 OUT AND ABOUT Taste of Altoona Taste of Altoona, one of the largest business expos in the metro area, was held at The Meadows on Oct. 10. More than 1,400 tickets were sold. Chad Kinzie, Caitlyn Ferrin and Bill Stearns Hannah Sorensen and Arnie DeWitt “The Third” Whitney Thompson, Clint Papin and Ivy Miller Joe McChurch and Eric Mortenson Rick Bianchi, Anthony Bianchi and Janet Bianchi THAT’S NOT ALL! See even more photos from these events at www.iowalivingmagazines.com, or scan this QR code. Jeremy Boka and Brier Boka 20 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 www.iowalivingmagazines.com OUT AND ABOUT RECIPE Angie Brackett, Caden Brackett, Maddie Kasperbauer and Ashlyn Brackett at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Butternut squash soup Cool fall days call for warming comfort foods By Jan Allen Jim Hansen and Jason Dasch at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. A utumn….what a beautiful season! School is in full swing again with students eager to start a new year. Fresh, crispy apples, brilliant colored trees, mums, pumpkins and the return of tummy warming comfort foods. Each season has its own beauty, but there is just something special about fall. Squash is in abundance during this season, and butternut and acorn are two of my favorites. Soup is a warm and inviting part of a meal on cool, crisp days and evenings. When squash and soup are paired, something delicious happens. The recipe I am sharing this month came from my sister-in-law, Trish. She brought this soup to a family get-together, and it was a hit. I have always loved butternut squash, but mainly fixed it steamed and mashed with a bit of butter. Trish opened up a whole new world for me with her soup; it is now one of my favorites, and I make it several times during the fall and winter months. It has a bit of a kick to it with some cayenne pep- per, but can be adjusted according to your taste. One of Trish’s touches is the garnish of roasted sage. It has a warm, savory flavor that pairs well with the sweetness of the squash and the flavor of cream cheese. n Sherry Fix, Randy Fix and Oscar Juarez at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Butternut squash soup Ingredients 6 tablespoons chopped onion 6 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash 3-4 cups low sodium chicken broth ½ teaspoon dried marjoram ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 / 8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 1 8-ounce package cream cheese Directions 1. In a large saucepan, simmer onion, squash, chicken broth, marjoram, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil; cook until squash is tender. 2. Puree squash and cream cheese in a blender or food processor in batches until smooth. Return to saucepan, and heat through. Do not allow to boil. 3. Roasted sage: Spritz olive oil on fresh sage leaves, roast at 325 until crisp, but don’t burn. Crumble over soup. Julie Reed and Jenny Fermin-Reyes at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. www.iowalivingmagazines.com OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 21 MORTGAGE Things to consider before you refinance By Lori Slings B efore you decide you are ready, willing and able to refi- nance to lower the number of years remaining on your mortgage, your interest rate or your monthly payment, there are things you must consider. Refinancing a mortgage loan can be stressful. I often com- pare it to having your teeth pulled all at once, slowly. If you already have stress going on at work currently or in your home, you will want to delay refinancing your mortgage until you have some breathing room in your life. When you meet with your mortgage lender, you want to make sure that refinancing is in your best interest. You might know that you are lowering your interest rate, but with the closing costs and reduc- tion in your house payment are you coming out ahead? When I sit down with a borrower I will lay out the 22 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 costs involved in the refinance of the mortgage and how many months it will take to recover those costs before the benefits of the refinance can be enjoyed. For example, if it comes out that it will take seven years to benefit from the refinance of their mortgage, my next ques- tions will be, “Do you still plan on living in this home in seven years?” You should resist rolling money into your mortgage debt if you cannot pay off other debt. It is the cheapest money you can borrow, www.iowalivingmagazines.com but is it worth rolling that debt into your 30-year mortgage? How long do you plan to live in this home? Paying off other debt also creates a new loan type, called cashout refinance. How does this refinance affect your interest rate? If you refinance your mortgage now, how does your current sce- nario affect your interest rate? Are you going to be able to get the best interest rate available with your current credit score? When you sit to meet with your mortgage consul- tant, ask. There is a lot of documentation required for today’s market stan- dards on lending. Is your paperwork in order? You will need to provide the last two years of taxes, all W2s, 1099s and K-1s. Depending on your situation you may also have to pro- vide: • Paystubs from the last 30 days • Retirement income • Bank statements from the last 60 days • Most recent quarterly stock information • All pages of your 401k state- ment Finally, are you putting yourself in a better situation with the refi- nance than what you are in currently with your mortgage? Make sure you are not going from a fixed loan to a variable rate ARM. Sit down with your lender today and have the con- versation. n Information provided by Lori Slings, Bankers Trust, NMLS ID: 406021, 3820 Eighth St. S.W., Altoona, Iowa 50009, (515) 245-5624, lslings@bank- erstrust.com BankersTrust. com/LSlings Bankers Trust NMLS ID: 440379 OUT AND ABOUT John Eisenlauer, Myrna Eisenlauer and Bob Eisenlauer at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Hailey Brown, Kassie Cheers, Kendra Quinn and Patricia Bowman at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Brett McAllister, Jerry Chiles and Bill Ludwig at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Pennie Carroll and Loren Carroll at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Taylor Fjelland, Ayla Fjelland, Corbin Fjelland and Staci Fjelland at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Tamy Newberry and Julie Dawson at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. www.iowalivingmagazines.com OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 23 OUT AND ABOUT Beth Ehlers and Melissa Horton at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Kennedy Horton and Brittany Zimmerman at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Amanda Mittlestadt and Lance Riedl at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Mike Booth, Sarah Enos and Todd Lindberg at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Ashley Gumm and Katie Schwebach at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. Twila Shreves and Rhona Pierson at Taste of Altoona at The Meadows on Oct. 10. 24 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 www.iowalivingmagazines.com CHAMBER NEWS Chamber winds down 2016 Big developments and events are on tap for 2017 By Brett McAllister W e’re looking at one of the best years in the Chamber for 2016. And it wouldn’t have been possible without all our Chamber members. I also want to say thank you to all of our board members and our awesome Chamber staff (Melissa Horton and Julie Dawson). They have done a great job showing members in this organization the numerous benefits of their invest- ment and the trends in the com- munity. If you missed out this month, the Taste of Altoona was hosted on Oct. 10 from 5-8 p.m. at The Meadows. This is one of the largest business expos in the Des Moines area with 1,452 tickets sold. The large crowd had great comments about the food from all the sponsors. Not one person left hungry with all the awesome food that was served. The Eisenlauer Team’s grilled cheese sandwiches won Fan Favorite Food with Pennie Carroll in second for her tacos and Max’s Highway Diner third for their ribs. Thank you to everyone who participated and came to our huge event. Valley View Village won best decorated booth and the popular haunted graham cracker house. We close out 2016 with the fourth Annual Nippy Hippie Charity 5K Fun Run/Walk. There is a new route planned for this groovy race, and we’ll be warming up with a little Zumba this year. The new route starts and finishes on the trail just south of the Altoona Dog Park. Hippies will be trail racing through the neighborhoods this year, so come on out and cheer everyone on. We had 421 registered runners/walkers in 2015 — we want to see if we can hit 500 this year. A portion of our proceeds go to Ronald McDonald House, which provides a home-like environment for families with children receiving medical treatment. The Retailer’s Council has put together some great events for closing out the year. Mark your calendars for the Holiday Tour of Stores Nov. 10-12. Retailers throughout the community will open their doors, serve holiday treats and help you find that special, one-of-a-kind gift. They’ll be decorating their windows, and you get to choose the very best of the bunch. Saturday, Nov. 26 is Small Business Saturday around the country, and you can support our local merchants by making a conscious effort to “shop local.” Shopping bags can be picked up at local retailers with special discounts and information on the 2017 schedule of upcoming promotions and events! It looks to be a promising year of big developments and community events in 2017. Don’t miss out — like us on Facebook at www.facebook/ altoonachamber to be in the know. n Information provided by Brett McAllister, president, Altoona Chamber of Commerce, 967-3366. l a F l Holiday Tour November 10-12, 2016 Spend the day shopping through Altoona and find incredible holiday gift ideas for that special someone on your list. Then vote on the best decorated window display & win a cool prize. Thursday 10:00am-8:00pm (most stores) Friday & Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm www.iowalivingmagazines.com OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living 25 WHERE WE LIVE Eugene and Betty Gardner have lived in their 1997 Altoona townhome for two years. Photos by Rainey Cook. Easy living Retired couple enjoys the townhome lifestyle By Rainey Cook I t wasn’t until after they had lived in Ankeny, Runnells and a larger home in Altoona that Eugene and Betty Gardner landed at Falcon Ridge in a cozy townhome fit for two. When asked if it was hard to leave their 2,800-square-foot finished basement ranch home they agreed it was not. “This townhome is just the right size for us,” says Betty. “It fits our needs.” The almost 1,200 square feet of living space including a finished basement and two- car garage is perfect for their lifestyle. They are OK with moving a few pieces of furniture to make way for extra tables for a party of 15 for Father’s Day. New this year, they are also OK with making just the turkey for Thanksgiving and gathering 20 to 25 family members and their side dishes in their fin- ished basement for dinner. 26 Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 “Before we moved in we had it all painted, added fresh carpet and bought new furniture that fit our new space,” says Betty. “I even got my quilting corner in the basement.” One benefit of townhome living that Eugene likes is watching someone else do the snow removal in Iowa’s -4 degree winters. Having done it himself for years, he can relate to the hard work of it all, but doesn’t miss it now. The area townhomes seem to draw more retired folk than families. However, there is one couple across the street with two chil- dren. Whatever stage in life their neighbors are in, they all can easily throw good potlucks together to get to know each other. There is friendly talk at the mailboxes. The board of directors is responsive and friendly. When there is a townhome for sale, it’s not on the www.iowalivingmagazines.com market long. “It’s just a great area,” says Eugene. The neighbors are “Iowa-nice.” The ease of shopping in Altoona is convenient, traffic isn’t completely out of hand and restaurants are impressive and plentiful. The arrival of the new shopping center is the talk of the town right now. “I think Altoona has a lot to attract people here,” says Eugene. With comfortable space that is homey and elegantly decorated for two, it’s easy to see why the Gardners like calling Altoona home. n Would you like your home featured in this column in an upcoming issue of Altoona Living? If so, email Darren Tromblay at darren@dmcityview.com. Support when you need it. community • courtesy • creativity INDEPENDENT LIVING, ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE The Shores at pleasant hill Experience The Shores Life Schedule your private tour at 515.262.4444 TH E S H O R E S AT PLEASANT H I LL 1500 Edg ewater Drive • Pleasant Hill 515.262.4444 www.theshoreslife.com www.iowalivingmagazines.com/altoona Altoona Living OCTOBER | 2016 410 Oakwood Ct ALTOONA 418 25th St SE ALTOONA 314 35th St SE ALTOONA 1041 25th Ave SW ALTOONA 112 9th St SE ALTOONA 1000 Scenic View Blvd. ALTOONA $325,000 $222,500 $289,500 $362,500 $150,000 $350,000 SOL a D ys! 21 d SOL a D y! 1d SOL a D ys! 20 d SOL a D ys! 26 d SOLD! SOLD! 1040 25th Ave SW ALTOONA 209 35th Street SW ALTOONA 501 3rd Avenue NW ALTOONA 2401 6th Street NW ALTOONA 1309 9th Ave SW ALTOONA 103 7th Street NW ALTOONA $362,500 $252,000 $325,000 $180,000 $197,000 $229,900 SOL a D ys! 19 d SOL a D ys! 12 d SOLD! SOLD! SOL a D ys! 20 d SOLD! 112 9th St Sw ALTOONA 825 10th St NW ALTOONA 307 3rd St SE ALTOONA 104 35th St SE ALTOONA 1009 Rodewood Dr ALTOONA 1031 Eagle Creek Blvd ALTOONA $150,000 $174,000 $79,000 $289,000 $300,000 $298,000 SOL ay D s! 7d SOL a D ys! 11 d SOL y D s! 9 da SOL y D s! 3 da SOL y D s! 5 da SOL a D ys! 11 d 635 25th St SW ALTOONA 726 27th St SE ALTOONA 1204 1st St NW ALTOONA 2313 6th St SW ALTOONA 523 Village Ct ALTOONA 609 22nd Ave ALTOONA $200,000 $187,000 $180,000 $175,000 $175,000 $175,000 OCTOBER | 2016 Altoona Living www.iowalivingmagazines.com/altoona