X APRIL 2020 CITYVIEW Your city. Your style. Your news. This is Des Moines. (AND SOON, PLEASE?)  With Minor League Baseball on hiatus, fans may have extra time to prepare for the 2020 season.  The mysterious juice of philanthropy DES MOINES FORGOTTEN The Butler House BELLY UP That Dam Pub APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 1 FEATURE STORY NEWS & COMMENTARY PUBLISHER’S NOTE By Shane Goodman Challenging times 2 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 We made the difficult decision on March 24 to suspend the printing of CITYVIEW for two issues. We all have to face things outside of our control. It is the cold reality of life — and, unfortunately, death. The current situation with the COVID-19 is causing fear, anxiety and uncertainty for most everyone. And rightfully so. The government regulations that have been implemented to minimize the spread of COVID-19 are also, unfortunately, affecting businesses in ways few people could have ever predicted. CITYVIEW depends on people coming together for events, concerts, food, drink, movies and more. And when it most all of it goes away at once, we are left with an immense challenge. As such, we made the difficult decision on March 24 to suspend the printing of CITYVIEW for two issues, and to then regroup and determine how to move forward starting with our June issue. Since that time, we have received hundreds of comments from readers and advertisers asking what they could do to help ensure that CITYVIEW not only returns but is here for the long haul. We have been touched by your generosity and loyalty. With that in mind, we decided to move forward with this digital-only edition for the month of April. It has been emailed to our digital subscribers and is available for free to everyone on our website. I thank you all for helping to make this happen, and I hope you enjoy it and share it with others. I have been asked if the digital-only version will be the future of CITYVIEW. I doubt it, and here’s why. • Our print version has more than 86,000 monthly readers with 97 percent of the copies consistently picked up each month. Those are huge, verifiable numbers. • Our website (www.dmcityview.com) has 22,803 unique monthly visitors, according to Google Analytics. Even so, many reports state that half of all website traffic is now fake (bots). That is concerning. • We have 8,835 digital email subscribers with an open rate of 24 percent. Even the most successful email campaigns rarely exceed an open rate of 30 percent. That is also concerning. • Our Facebook page has 9,924 likes and 10,394 followers. A Facebook business page would be outstanding if it had a 5 percent reach of its organic audience. That is a little-known fact that is maybe the most concerning. So as you can see, the printed publication still rules. There is no doubt that readers want content on their phones. There is also no doubt that readers will go to great lengths to avoid receiving advertising in that format, which explains why digital advertising often struggles to provide measurable results in selling products or services. So if advertisers want results, if readers continue to seek out our publication, and if stores are physically open to carry our copies, we will be printing magazines — and hopefully again soon. Now back to the subject on most everyone’s mind. I don’t take the health risks of COVID-19 lightly, and you shouldn’t either. There are no easy decisions to be made, and there will be fallout no matter what happens. We simply all must play with the cards we have been dealt and do what we feel is best while looking out for the well- being of ourselves and others, too. You should follow the advice from the CDC to prevent the spread of the virus, and you should also continue to shop local in a smart manner. Please resist the temptation to buy on Amazon. Jeff Bezos will be just fine when this pandemic ends, but I am not so confident about many of our local businesses. Continue to find ways to buy from them. They need your support. We need your support. Now take a much-needed break from all the coronavirus coverage and enjoy this month’s stories about the people and places that make Des Moines and central Iowa great. Be safe, be smart and be supportive. And, as always, thanks for reading. n STAFF CITYVIEW Your city. Your style. Your news. This is Des Moines. EDITOR / PUBLISHER Shane Goodman VICE PRESIDENT Jolene Goodman MANAGING EDITOR Jeff Pitts ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dan Juffer EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Nathanial Brown Douglas Burns John Busbee Kristian Day Brian Duffy Jim Duncan Janet Eckles Randy Evans Michael Gartner Hunter Gillum Josh Harper Autumn Meyer David Rowley Herb Strentz Melissa Walker Joe Weeg Jackie Wilson Sally Wisdom Shelby Young ADVERTISING & EVENTS MANAGER Shelby Bobbett ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Aaron Burns DESIGN MANAGER Celeste Tilton ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Karen Ericson Jordan Huxford ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Kathleen Summy DIGITAL / BUSINESS OFFICE Brent Antisdel DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Patrick Clemmons ADDRESS: 5619 N.W. 86th St., Suite 600, Johnston, Iowa 50131 PHONE: 515-953-4822 FAX: 515-953-1394 WEB: www.dmcityview.com EMAIL: editor@dmcityview.com CITYVIEW is a monthly magazine published by Big Green Umbrella Media Inc., an Iowa corporation. Contents 2020 Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without permission of the publisher. Editorial Policies: Contact the publisher for permission to reprint articles, cartoons or any other portions of the paper. CITYVIEW is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form and to edit them for libel. CONTENTS CITYVIEW APRIL 2020 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES 14 18 (AND SOON, PLEASE?)  26 THE MYSTERIOUS JUICE OF PHILANTHROPY Where would Des Moines be without it? PROMISES KEPT Des Moines officials say they’ve kept their word to taxpayers on sales tax spending. PLAY BALL (AND SOON, PLEASE?) With Minor League Baseball on hiatus, fans may have extra time to prepare for the 2020 season. 34 ART NEWS Chris Vance growing up 35 36 IOWA ARTISTS Coffee artist 37 39 CENTER STAGE All the world’s a stage? NEWS & COMMENTARY FEATURE PLAY BALL (AND SOON, PLEASE?) 26 With Minor League Baseball on hiatus, fans may have extra time to prepare for the 2020 season. 6 7 STRAY THOUGHTS There should not be a price tag to vote RANTS AND REASON Iowa’s 2020 legislative crops: Hate, fear and scorn 8 CIVIC SKINNY A family fight at Noah’s. Furloughs at the Register. Brownell, Van Oort have opposition. Updating stuff. 11 POLITICAL MERCURY Scholten makes second bid for King’s seat EAT & DRINK DIGITAL SNEAK PREVIEW For details, visit www.dmcityview.com LUNCH WITH... Chad Elliott at Ritual Café 31 FOOD DUDE Patience on the edge 32 THE DISH Food in the year of the virus 33 BELLY UP TO: That Dam Pub BOOK REVIEWS “A Good Neighborhood” and “Cactus League’” MUSIC 40 41 41 THE SOUND Delbert McClinton SOUND CIRCUIT Theory comes home SOUND ADVICE Dust Radio, “Zenith” and Tom “T-Buck” Buckmiller, “River City Blues Attack.” PERSONALITIES 44 45 46 48 49 50 51 JOE’S NEIGHBORHOOD Dog lovers everywhere DES MOINES FORGOTTEN The Butler House PEOPLE & PETS Pet sitter snuggler YOUR NEIGHBORS Burrito slingers AT HOME WITH... The Baers WALKS OF LIFE Iowa podcasters COLLECTIONS & HOBBIES Build nights for space robots APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 3 Sign up to receive a sneak preview of CITYVIEW content via email by joining our select mailing list. 30 FILM “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot” NEWS & COMMENTARY ASK CITYVIEW Home equity line of credit Facts. Figures. Nuggets. Morsels. When Google gets you nothing, ask CITYVIEW at: editor@dmcityview.com. Q. A. MONEY WHEN YOU NEED IT! special intro rate 2.49 % APR* 4 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 for the first 6 months *Annual Percentage Rate. 2.49% APR rate for first 6 months of loan. After that, will adjust to the prime lending rate based off of risk based model. Floor rate of 4.0% APR and ceiling rate of 18.0% APR. Payment example, pay only $100/month on a $10,000 balance. Consult your tax advisor regarding deductibility. Federally insured by NCUA. By CITYVIEW staff As a lifelong central Iowan, April brings a batch of news regarding the Drake Relays. How big of a deal (on a national scale) is the event?  — Bulldog fan in Des Moines   As of CITYVIEW’s press deadline, the 2020 Drake Relays had been postponed to an undetermined date, but be sure to watch for updates. The answer to your question is somewhat subjective, but here are a few objective truths, courtesy of Drake Relays super-fan Rich Hoidahl, who has attended every Drake Relays since 1958, missing only one day of the weekend-session action during that span.  The initial Relays event — also known as  “America’s Athletic Classic” — was run in 1910, making it the second-oldest major track and field meet in the U.S. The next Drake Relays will be its 111th. The event’s Saturday session has sold out every year since 1959, and many of track and field’s biggest names — Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, Herschel Walker, Gwen Torrence, Jim Ryun, Al Oerter, Steve Scott, Alan Webb, Ryan Crouser, Jeremy Wariner, Bob Hayes and many others — have competed. In 2017, 68 former Olympians competed at the event, including 10 gold medalists from the 2016 Rio Olympics. In addition, attendees at the event have witnessed 17 world records, plus numerous American and collegiate records.  Notable Iowans have competed at Drake, include Natasha (Kaiser) Brown, Kevin Little, Clyde Duncan, Tim Dwight, Lisa (Kohl) Uhl, Jenny Simpson, Kim Carson, Lolo Jones, Shelby Houlihan, Karissa Schweizer, Kip Janvrin, A.G. Kruger, Randy Wilson, Joey Woody, Blake Boldon and others. The Drake Relays is one of only a few U.S. track meets where athletes can experience the atmosphere that makes the sport so popular in Europe — the track is so close to the stands that fans can exchange high fives, get autographs and take selfies with world-class athletes as they take victory laps.  Due to its high-quality competition and the availability of prize money to athletes, Drake’s event will now be a “Silver Level” competition on the World Athletics Continental Tour, according to Relays Director Blake Boldon in an announcement made on March 11. This elevation in status was made possible in large part by its new presenting sponsor, Xtream powered by Mediacom. The Drake Relays event is the first meet to be recognized with any of the three levels in continental North America. This is expected to elevate Drake’s prestige even further, especially among elite athletes and those attempting to qualify for an Olympic team.   NOTE: Rich Hoidahl is an avid collector of Drake Relays memorabilia. If you have Relays items for sale, you can email him at: skoder@earthlink.net. n Poll Position Results from last month’s polls at www.dmcityview.com Are you shaking fewer hands? ReTweets NEWS & COMMENTARY YOUR VIEW (comments unedited) @DocAtCDI: My wife told me to take the spider out instead of killing him. Went out. Had a few drinks. Nice guy. He’s a web designer.  Do you wear a watch? @Jandalize: I haven’t vacuumed since two thousand and twitter. @FredTaming: [ day 2 of self quarantine ] No No 14 percent me: i’m bored 27 percent   Yes my cat: have you tried dropping something into a shoe Yes 86 percent   73 percent  @joeheenan: Someone on the radio said Britain will remain calm about the Coronavirus. People phoned the police when KFC ran out of chicken @lisaxy424: Passed a gym sign that said “Have those new yoga pants been to yoga yet?” and I feel personally attacked. Did you ice skate this winter? How many hot dogs do you eat in a year? 51 or more Yes 7 percent 8 percent  No 92 percent   6-12 1-5 17 percent   30 percent   13-50 20 percent   None 26 percent   @stephanieboland: On the sofa and hear boyfriend start laughing to himself in the kitchen. Turns out he’d just learned that 88 couples have come out of quarantine in China and immediately filed for divorce @AzureDoo: Husband and I reminiscing about the time I texted him on my way home: “Can you start cooking those sausages?” Then added < 3 as a cute little heart. He cooked 2 sausages. @nachosarah: apparently this year was written by stephen king @Spaziotwat: What’s the optimum number of puppets for a job interview? I know it’s not seven @junejuly12: My husband annoyed me last night so I adjusted the toaster settings slightly this morning. cityview magazine (comments unedited) Cityview Magazine: What do you think of Presidential Pardons? Derek Grittmann: It takes power away from juries, but is necessary for wrongful or unnecessary convictions. without licenses or insurance? Mark McDowell: Need a 10 year loan to afford one. Wolvers Steve: Trump’s megga economy Chivas Rivas: people are broke these days Michael Wombat Walrod: Corona Virus Cityview Magazine: How long do you wait to respond to a text message? Julie Luepke: Depends on when I get it, when I know how to respond, and whether I want to respond (altho’ i usually do.) James Goforth: I never respond to them. And yet people never stop wanting to converse that way -- rather than talk in real- time... you know, because it’s a freaking PHONE? Kollan Kolthoff: Oh a week or two.... if it’s important they will call me in a day or so... lol jk Jeffrey Guynn: Fairly soon usually. If you call me, sometimes I’ll sit and watch it ring. I’d much rather get a text. Dennis Long: That heavily depends on whom the text is from. Steve Qui Vive: Usually between right away and never. Derek Grittmann: I wait until I notice the notification and read the message. Brad Floden: What’s a text message? Jeff Schoen: Usually a week Chuck Russell: Respond? Chad Schwartz: 5 days. Give or take. Unless it’s my wife! APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 5 Cityview Magazine: New vehicle registrations in Iowa dropped to the lowest point since 2011, according to the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association. Why do you think this is? Mya Solem: I’d rather drive an older car with lower fees than give up more of my money I paid the sales tax on my car, transfer fees, titling fees, registration fees each year. I’m driving the wheels off it. Its eight years old, has plenty of years left. Tim Bush: Because of the higher cost of vehicle and a longer length of car loan. What’s more people are leasing vehicles the most leases are at least four years. Jeffrey Guynn: The meter fees downtown. By the time you pay for gas and parking for 8 hours, you’re way ahead by bussing or Uber John-Paul Maresch: Because they are way more than a person’s average yearly salary and massive lay offs Chad Schwartz: Vehicles are made to last longer now. And many are paid for. Makes sense to keep the vehicles longer. Ronald Bougher-BigRon: 30k car 4 years ago is at least 40k now... 40k truck 4 years ago is 57k now.... Steve Qui Vive: More people driving NEWS & COMMENTARY STRAY THOUGHTS BY RANDY EVANS There should not be a price tag to vote Requiring full payment of restitution before a felon can vote again creates a bigger burden for lower-income people to meet than higher-income people.  6 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 Iowans take considerable pleasure in enumerating the various ways our state stands apart from the other 49 states — beyond our endangered first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. For many years, we pointed with pride to the fact that Iowa’s high school graduation rate was tops in the United States. We like to remind friends from other states that Iowa farmers produce more corn, hogs and eggs than farmers anywhere else. Sports fans beamed over the University of Iowa wrestling team’s success from 1978 to 1986, when the Hawkeyes won the NCAA title a record nine consecutive times. That is a longer string of NCAA team championships than any other Division 1 university in any other sport. But there’s another category where Iowa stands atop the 50 states, and this one should embarrass us instead of filling us with pride. Iowa now has the distinction of being the only state in the Union that permanently bars convicted felons from ever again participating in an election unless they can persuade the governor to restore their right to vote. This requirement has left an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 Iowans unable to vote. Gov. Kim Reynolds deserves praise for trying to remove this blemish on Iowa’s good name. She has asked the Legislature to begin the process of amending the state’s constitution to automatically restore felons’ right to vote once they complete their prison terms. But Republicans in the Iowa Senate stopped the constitutional amendment last year. This year, senators tossed a monkey wrench into the amendment process with a bill that would require felons to pay in full any court-ordered restitution to their crime victims before their voting rights could be restored. That’s a tougher burden than the current requirements for reinstatement of voting rights. Now, felons must show Gov. Reynolds they have finished their prison terms and are on track with payments to cover the court fees and victim restitution they owe. The restitution requirements in Senate File 2348 are misguided. The right to vote should not have a price tag hanging from it. Congress, and the voters, ripped off a similar price tag nationally 60 years ago when the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. That amendment ended the poll tax as a back-door way of disenfranchising poor people and people of color.  Whether Iowa senators care to admit it or not, requiring full payment of restitution before a felon can vote again creates a bigger burden for lower-income people to meet than higher-income people.  In the past two years in Iowa, the average restitution debt of Iowa prisoners has totaled about $11,600. That’s a significant amount, because studies have shown that many people in the criminal justice system have incomes below the poverty level. Arthur Rizer, an official of the R Street Institute, a public policy research organization in Washington, D.C., wrote recently in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, “Eligibility to vote is no more related to a person’s ability to pay off a court debt than it is their ability to pay off student loan or credit card debt.” He added: “Making voting eligibility contingent on the repayment of legal debts will create two classes of people with past criminal convictions: Those who can afford to pay (and therefore vote) and those who cannot. This kind of wealth discrimination is anathema to fundamental American principles of fairness and equality, not to mention a violation of the U.S. Constitution.” No one wants to forget about crime victims in this discussion. No one wants to minimize the effects of crime on them. And no one wants to be perceived as soft on crime.  But senators have presented no evidence to show that felons are more likely to pay the restitution they owe to their victims, if that is what it takes to regain the right to vote, or that they will pay the restitution sooner.  A much bigger factor in paying this debt is income — whether the felon can find a job after leaving prison that pays enough so they can feed, clothe and shelter their family and have money left to chip away at their debt. There are thousands of former prison inmates in Iowa who are living and working in our communities. They are supporting their families, paying their taxes and trying to get their lives back on track.  They deserve to be able to vote — just as felons in 49 other states are able to vote. n Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. He can be reached at IowaFOICouncil@gmail.com.  Create responsive emails in minutes with our Email Studio Email Marketing For Your Business † Account setup and integration † Create monthly campaign and schedule launch † Real-Time Reporting † Unlimited database import † Free strategic email marketing review † Easy-to-use TOLL FREE: 515-480-1703 | GREENMAILINC.COM FREE Up to 100 Active Names BY HERB STRENTZ Iowa’s 2020 legislative crops: Hate, fear and scorn NEWS & COMMENTARY RANTS AND REASON Awful proposals are introduced every legislative session, but not with the frequency and with the support they have this year. Forget about corn and soy beans. The Iowa bumper crops being sowed by the legislature are hate, fear and scorn. We really won’t know of any harvests until late April or early May, when the legislative session ends, or at least the end of the per diem compensation of $169 for most legislators and about $127 for those in Polk County. (In addition to base  pay of $25,000.) Judging from the news and reports from public-interest organizations, there is not a single impoverished, suffering or vulnerable person or family that has not been targeted with hate and scorn by the fear-driven, GOP-dominated legislature. So much so that it may be legislative action that helps put an end to Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, more so than foul-ups and delays in tabulating the results as happened this year and in 2016. After all, various associations and organizations have boycotted some cities and states in protest against dumb things a legislature did.  Thanks to our legislature, Iowa may be a candidate for such disfavor. Consider a few of the lowlights and punitive actions that have been introduced or the pleas for help scorned by the 2020 legislature. • If a woman suffers a miscarriage within 12 to 20 weeks of the beginning of pregnancy, Iowa legislators would add to her anguish by requiring a death certificate and burial or cremation of the fetus (Senate File 2478). And there are joint resolutions in both the Senate and the House for a constitutional amendment against abortions (SJR2001and HJR2004). • If a patient and the patient’s family suffered from medical malpractice, civil-suit compensation would be limited to $750,000 even if a jury determines there  is substantial or permanent loss or impairment of bodily function, substantial disfigurement or death that warrants more money than that (SF2338). • Lower income families and decent, affordable housing seldom go together. To Iowa legislators, that’s “Iowa nice.” When out-of-state folks bought mobile-homes sites, they promptly gouged Iowans with high rent increases. GOP legislators apparently thought that was free enterprise at its finest. So they ignored any pleas resembling rent controls (SF2238). In another instance, legislators want the state — despite Marion County, Mason City and Des Moines ordinances to the contrary — to say it’s fine if landlords refuse to deal with potential renters who are on public assistance (Senate Study Bill 3178). • Legislators think so highly of Iowa’s 60,000 ex- felons who have paid their debt to society that they want them to also pay whatever debts were suffered by their victims. It’s a “poll tax” before the ex-felons can vote.  So Iowa, by law or in practice, likely will remain the only state in the nation that denies ex- felons, usually poorer people, the right to vote — for the rest of their lives (SF2129). The list of fear- and hate-driven bills goes on and on and includes measures to use the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of religion as a weapon against the gay community, among others (House File 2130, HF2273, SF2193 and SF2194). In what may be an understatement, the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa characterized SSB 3181 as “one of the most bizarre pieces of legislation ever introduced.”  In essence, the now-dead measure, authored by Sen. Brad Zaun, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wanted to eliminate the judiciary as an effective third branch of government, putting it under the oversight of the legislature. Lack of understanding or appreciation of the importance of an independent judiciary is a genetic strain in the GOP these days. That is evident in the work of Zaun, Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sen. Charles Grassley, former chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and President Trump, all who consistently undermine the judiciary and the rule of law. Yes, of course, awful proposals are introduced every legislative session, but not with the frequency and with the support they have this year. Yes, of course, one can find reassuring signs of common sense in what the legislature does. The wiser legislators recognize that serving the public interest is their job — not beating up some more on the impoverished, suffering or vulnerable, as easy as that is to do in times of fear and hate. n Herb Strentz is a retired administrator and professor in the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication and writes the monthly Rants and Reason column for CITYVIEW. CURRENTLY OPEN FOR DRIVE-THRU ONLY At Ashworth Road Animal Hospital, PETS ARE family! Buy one 1/4 pound BACON CHEESE DELUXE and medium soft drink and get one 1/4 pound BACON CHEESE DELUXE Limit one per person. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 4/30/2020 including preventative medicine, laser surgery, ultrasound, dentistry, internal medicine and more 515-225-1807 5508 Ashworth Road, WDM www.AshworthPet.com NEW - 855 E. Hickman Road, Waukee 6135 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines 1105 - 73rd Street • 3815 14th Street • 4820 SE 14th Street 4500 Fleur Drive , Des Moines • 4565 - 86th Street , Urbandale 2205 SE Delaware Avenue , Ankeny • 3635 - 8th Street SW , Altoona WWW.B-BOPS.COM APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 7 FREE! COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR SMALL ANIMALS AND EXOTICS NEWS & COMMENTARY 8 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 CIVIC SKINNY A family fight at Noah’s. Furloughs at the Register. Brownell, Van Oort have opposition. Updating stuff. There’s a family fight at Noah’s Ark, and it has spilled into the courtroom. Two grandchildren of Noah Lacona — who founded the well-known and bustling Ingersoll Avenue restaurant in 1946 — are suing an aunt who is trustee of their grandparents’ trust, which owns the land and building housing the restaurant. And they say another aunt should be cut out as a beneficiary of the trust because she took an unspecified action challenging the trust or the Laconas’ wills. In a lawsuit filed in Polk County District Court in March, the grandchildren also allege that their aunt the trustee “claims [the property] has been sold but has failed to provide credible evidence thereof.” While the trust owns the land and building, it apparently does not own the restaurant business. That is owned by Noah’s Management, LLC, and the lawsuit says it operates under a lease signed in 2010. Noah’s Management alleges that the trust isn’t paying expenses required by the lease, isn’t keeping beneficiaries of the trust (presumably, the grandchildren) apprised of what is going on and “has used some of the trust assets for her own benefit” while maintaining ”an adversary relationship” with the grandchildren. The grandchildren are James N. Lacona II of Des Moines and Tiffany Beth Mobley of West Des Moines, the children of James Lacona. James Lacona was a son of Noah and Sally Lacona and was the trustee of the trust from the time his parents died — Noah Lacona died in 2017 at age 93 and Sally in 2018 at age 91 — until his own sudden death from an aneurysm at age 70 last July. James Lacona II is the registered agent for Noah’s Management, LLC. After James Lacona’s death, his sister Anntoinette M. Erickson of Kansas City, Mo., became the trustee. Things apparently haven’t gone well in the family since then. A second sister, Theresa C. Lacona, is the aunt being accused of acting against the interest of the trust. The grandchildren are represented by West Des Moines lawyer Louis Hockenberg. Hockenberg declined to confirm the relationships of everyone involved, declined to say who owns Noah’s Management LLC, and declined to say how Theresa Lacona has allegedly violated provisions of the trust. “No comment,” he replied to CITYVIEW’s questions. Neither Erickson nor Theresa Lacona could be reached for comment. At the time of Sally Lacona’s death, the trust called for assets to be distributed equally to the four Lacona children or if they were not alive to the grandchildren. But, with certain exceptions, no assets could be distributed until 2023. Presumably, Erickson and Theresa Lacona and another sister each has a quarter of the estate while James Lacona II and Mobley share the other quarter. No hearing date has yet been set for the suit. ... The Des Moines Register, already decimated by layoffs and resignations, is in for another round of corporate-mandated cutbacks. The Register’s parent company, Gannett, has decreed that all news department employees making over $38,000 a year must take a week off without pay in April, in May and again in June. Coming at a time of unprecedented thirst for news — news of the coronavirus, news of the economic collapse, news of the political year — this is as awful for readers as it is for reporters and editors. Nationwide, it affects journalists at 250 daily newspapers; in Iowa, it affects not only the Register but also the Press- Citizen in Iowa City, the Tribune in Ames, the News Republican in Boone and the Hawk Eye in Burlington. Gannett also owns five weeklies in the Des Moines and Ames areas. Gannett was purchased by New Media Investment Group last year for $1.1 billion, and the combined company took the Gannett name. The market value of the combined company today is about $250 million. ... Marty Tirrell is out of jail in Massachusetts. While awaiting sentencing in federal court in Des Moines for mail fraud, the sports talk guy and con man was given court permission to spend the holidays in Massachusetts, where his mother and sister live and — as it turns out — where he first honed his talent to lie and cheat and steal. He was promptly arrested in Massachusetts on larceny charges stemming from yet another ticket scheme — promising to get big-event tickets for a guy and then keeping the money but not coming up with the tickets. He couldn’t make his $5,000 bond, but after spending several days in jail he got it reduced to $2,500 and was released. He’s due back in Iowa before that case comes to trial in Massachusetts. Tirrell, 60, is scheduled to be in federal district court in Des Moines on May 13 for sentencing by Judge Stephanie Rose, who the other day moved the sentencing date back from April 7 because of the coronavirus pandemic. His crime — he pleaded guilty to the one count in return for getting nine counts dismissed — carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In the guilty plea, he admits he stole more than $550,000 in schemes from September of 2016 through December of 2017, but court records document a years-long trail in which he scammed and schemed to steal several millions of dollars from friends, acquaintances, employers, wives, advertisers and about anyone else he ran into. Sometimes, they were sham business deals, but usually they involved getting people to put up money so he could buy blocks of tickets to big sporting events with the idea that he’d resell them at a profit. Usually, though, Tirrell kept the money or the tickets, and the “investor” got nothing. He lived large as a conman, but in recent months was broke and homeless. Awaiting trial, he had been staying at a Door of Faith Rehabilitation Center, but he was kicked out of that before he went to Massachusetts, court records show. Chip Ainsworth, a veteran reporter in Massachusetts, says Tirrell was once very popular in Franklin County, “an energetic play-by-play voice who honed his craft as a youngster broadcasting high school games into a tape recorder.” But there were early signs of trouble. At a high-school game, it appeared to Tirrell that a local boy was fouled on what would have been a last-second, game-winning shot. “Without saying anything, he ripped off his headset and stormed on to the court and chased the officials into the locker room,” a fellow broadcaster told Ainsworth. “It was a glimpse of trouble to come.” Indeed, the owner of one Massachusetts station called him “a station manager’s worst nightmare.” … From Warren Buffett’s 2020 letter to stockholders of Berkshire Hathaway: “Three decades ago, my Midwestern friend, Joe Rosenfield, then in his 80s, received an irritating letter from his local newspaper. In blunt words, the paper asked for biographical data it planned to use in Joe’s obituary. Joe didn’t respond. So? A month later, he acts. On June 13, Conlin, represented by Monty Brown, pled not guilty. On Feb. 20, a jury found him guilty. Interference with official acts is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $65 to $650 and jail of no more than 30 days. Sentencing is set for March 27. … Death and visitations and funerals are rarely easy, but the coronavirus situation has made them even more challenging for everyone, including the friends and family of these two. Kate Mattes, a 1965 Roosevelt alum, died of a heart attack on March 25. For many years, she ran Kate’s Mystery Books out of her victorian home in Cambridge, Mass., one of the most renowned book stores in America. She wrote book reviews for the New York Times and was a close friend of author and filmmaker Stephen King. She had been in failing health for awhile and was living in Vermont when she died. She was 73. Ned Rood also died March 25. He wrote the music column for CITYVIEW and its predecessor, The Skywalker. Rood also hosted a TV show for the paper in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He died of natural causes at his home He was 59. ... An Internet conversation: Herb Strentz: “Given the springlike day, Joan and I took a walk around the Kruidenier Trail at Gray’s Lake and for the first time saw that one of those small plaques on the bridge is “IN MEMORY OF STRUNK AND WHITE.” Randy Evans: “Obviously the plaque is intended as a warning to people crossing the bridge to not dangle their participles there.” … In October of last year, CITYVIEW reported on the complicated lives of criminal-defense lawyers John and Katherine Sears. We reported: “John lost his law license for at least two years. Katherine filed a potential class- action lawsuit against the brothel in Nevada where she was working part-time. John pleaded guilty of assaulting his ex-wife, Kelsey Sears, and John and Katherine sued Kelsey for the return of a crockpot and two vibrators. Meantime, Katherine has kept busy tweeting under the nom-de-prostitute Morrigan Eris.” Life goes on. The suit over the crockpot and vibrators was settled out of court, and Katherine Sears seems to have taken a break from her part-time Nevada job. But the lawsuit she filed against the brothel continues. Despite her claim to Channel 8 that she earned $55,000 as a prostitute in three weeks at Sheri’s Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada,, she and a co-worker a year ago sued the brothel alleging that they were paid less than the minimum wage, that they were not paid overtime, and that the ranch illegally kept half of the tips given to the prostitutes, who are referred to as “courtesans” in the lawsuit. The suit goes on in federal district court in Nevada. The brothel is seeking dismissal of the case, but the judge has not yet ruled. ... Twenty years ago, Republican Bob Brownell easily won a primary for an open seat on the Polk County Board of Supervisors, and he hasn’t had an opponent since — not in a primary, not in a general election. Now, that is about to change. Betty Devine, who recently retired as director of the county’s community, family and youth services after working nearly 35 years for the county, has turned in papers to run against Brownell as a Democrat in the November general election. She has a chance. Democrats now have a slight edge in registration in the county, and Devine is reasonably well known in the district, which encompasses Grimes and Urbandale and Johnson and other western areas. There are 22,731 registered Democrats in the district, 22,380 registered Republicans and 20,854 registered Independents. The area has been trending Democrat, and turnout is likely to be strong. Meantime, Supervisor Steve Van Oort will also face opposition this year for the first time. Van Oort, a Republican who represents Ankeny and Altoona and other areas to the east, will face a primary and, if he wins, a Democratic opponent in November. A former mayor of Ankeny, he was elected to the Board of Supervisors without opposition in 2012 and 2016. This year, though, he’ll face Pleasant Hill Mayor Sara Kurovski, the popular young mayor of Pleasant Hill. She’ll make a strong run against the laid-back Van Oort, who is seeking his third four-year term. A third Republican, Wes Enos, has also entered the primary. Enos is a conservative councilman in Bondurant who is campaigning to, among other things, “vigorously defend our rights against liberal efforts to undermine the Second Amendment at a local level.” He isn’t given much of a chance to win, but he could end up being the spoiler. The winner of the primary will face Democrat Nick Barton, a salesperson with Apple and once, briefly, the communications director of the Iowa Senate Majority Fund. The district has 23,952 registered Republicans, 23,072 registered Democrats and 24,914 registered Independents. And once again no one is challenging County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald in a Democratic primary or in the general election. Appointed in 2007 to fill a vacancy when Michael Mauro was elected Secretary of State, Fitzgerald has never had an opponent. He is seeking his fourth full four-year term. … And happy 100th birthday to Neal Smith — farmer, soldier, lawyer, politician, statesman — who as a Congressman showered Iowa with wisdom and money and who continues to give us wisdom and perspective. He is our living textbook. n APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 9 got a second letter from the paper, this one labeled “URGENT.” ... Chris Godfrey’s never-ending lawsuit against the state of Iowa and former Gov. Terry Branstad alleging discrimination and retaliation now is idling at the Iowa Supreme Court. To recap: In January 2012, Godfrey, then the head of the Iowa Workers Compensation Board, sued the state, Branstad and several members of his administration alleging discrimination and retaliation because he was gay (and happened to be a Democrat, too). Appointed by Gov. Tom Vilsack and reappointed by Gov. Chet Culver — both Democrats — Godfrey had a fixed term that didn’t expire when Branstad beat Culver in 2010. Nevertheless, Branstad tried to fire him, and when Godfrey refused to leave, Branstad reduced his salary. The cut amounted to about $150,000 over the remaining four-and-a-half years of the term. Godfrey then sued, and late last year an eight- person district court jury ruled in his favor, granting him $1.5 million. Branstad wanted to be represented by private lawyers, not the Attorney General’s office, so as of a few days ago the taxpayers had paid two law firms a total of $2,807,051.13 in the $150,000 case. In addition, since Godfrey won, the state is required to pay his law fees, too, and by the end of the trial those totaled $3,078,268.74. The state has appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court, which means two things: The case will continue to drag on, and the bills from both sides will continue to mount. So far, nothing has been filed with the Supreme Court because the court reporter from the district-court trial has not completed the whole transcript. “It will be years” before this case is over, says a person involved. Godfrey is represented primarily by Roxanne Conlin — who lost the 1982 gubernatorial race to Branstad, which adds a little spice to the case. Branstad and the state initially were represented by George LaMarca, but he retired and the case then was given to the Nyemaster law firm and is being managed by Frank Hardy. … The trial started out in the old Polk County Courthouse, but after Conlin was hospitalized with lung problems tied to dust from reconstruction, it was moved to Jasper County. There was a big dust-up (though that’s a poor choice of words) over moving the trial — after agreeing to the move, Hardy then objected — and there was an argument over whether the courtroom really was polluted. So on June 10, Conlin’s son, J.B. Conlin, showed up during business hours in the courtroom — it by now had been vacated — with air-measuring equipment. A deputy sheriff was called, and he ordered Conlin to leave. Conlin refused and was arrested and charged with interference with official AROUND TOWN PHOTOS BY AUTUMN MEYER Dan Schmitz and Lance Welsh Korey Marsh and Eric Cannon Cody Aldrich and Mackenzie Kaplan Pujan Lama and Mo Hasan Lindy Van Dike and Adam Van Dike GLOW PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT Smash Park March 6 10 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 Amelia McGee and Bailey Saal-Lanning Ron Coe and Dean Nihart Steve and Amy Boom Angela and Jesse Veenstra BY DOUGLAS BURNS Scholten makes second bid for King’s seat NEWS & COMMENTARY POLITICAL MERCURY It is a unique race as the incumbent has a primary and the challenger doesn’t. J.D. Scholten campaigns recently in Exira. The Democratic candidate for Congress thinks he can cut into Republican margins in rural Iowa. Photo by Douglas Burns issues, as he has spent three years in regular day-to-day involvement with farmers and rural issues. “The more you talk to farmers, the more pain you feel,” Scholten said. “The more you look at what’s happening in D.C., the policies dictate almost everything in agriculture. The No. 1 thing I try to work with folks on is that we need to enforce our anti-trust laws in agriculture.” Scholten said he consulted with several of the Democratic presidential candidates on rural policy. So far, in the 2020 cycle, according to the non- partisan opensecrets.org, Scholten has raised $726,528 to King’s $258,455. Scholten supports Sen. Mitt Romney’s plan to send a one-time, $1,000 check to every adult American to buoy the economy during the coronavirus outbreak. Scholten also backs even more aggressive temporary- income-boosting legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, to provide a check between $1,000 and $6,000 to every American who earned less than $65,000 last year. More than three-quarters of American workers would qualify for this tax relief. “We need to get cash into people’s hands right now,” Scholten said in a follow up email. “It’s short-sighted for us to encourage workers to stay home if we know we’re leaving them without options to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads.” Americans most likely to be impacted by the public health crisis — including hourly workers, independent contractors and gig workers — would get a much- needed emergency boost during an economic downturn with the checks, Khanna and Ryan have said. Scholten agrees because that’s what he’s hearing around western and central Iowa. “Just a few days ago, I talked with a trucker who’s self-employed,” Scholten said. “If he and his wife can’t work, they can’t put food on the table. That’s why I’m fully supportive of Ro Khanna and Tim Ryan’s proposal to give between $1,000 to $6,000 to folks who made under $65,000 last year — folks like that trucker and his wife. These are the people who are feeling the brunt of this crisis. While I believe we should be targeting assistance to those most in need and not the Jeff Bezoses of America, I would also be supportive of Sen. Romney’s proposal to give every American $1,000. The bottom line is that these proposals would be extremely effective at stimulating the economy while keeping Americans safe and healthy.” n Douglas Burns is a fourth-generation Iowa newspaperman. He and his family own and publish newspapers in Carroll, Jefferson and other neighboring communities. APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 11 J.D. Scholten — an Iowa Democrat who rose from obscurity to national prominence with a near-miss challenge to U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, two years ago — has filed nomination for a second run in the sweeping, 39-county 4th Congressional District. Scholten, 40, a former minor league baseball player from Sioux City, faces no primary opposition. King is in a five-way race in the June primary, although early polling shows the veteran conservative congressman with strong margins against his Republican opponents. “It’s a unique race in the fact that it’s probably the one race in America where the incumbent has a primary and the challenger doesn’t,” Scholten said in a phone interview with this newspaper as he filed. “We’re out here just building and waiting to see who we’re going to face.” King is being challenged in the Republican 4th District primary by State Sen. Randy Feenstra of Hull, Jeremy Taylor of Sioux City, Bret Richards, the former mayor of Irwin, and Arnolds Park businessman Steve Reeder. In recent weeks, Scholten stopped in Exira, and later Dedham, where he drew a crowd of 20 at the American Legion. It’s part of the Democratic congressional candidate’s “Don’t Forget About Us” tour in which he hits communities of fewer than 1,000 people. Scholten sees the early campaigning as vital to getting past the 3-point margin by which he lost to King in the last election. “We created this grassroots movement here in western and northwest Iowa that not too many saw coming,” Scholten said. He added, “A lot of people thought it would take two times to beat an incumbent like that.” Scholten said the support at the beginning of the campaign this cycle is “night-and-day” different, as fundraising and policy backing is coming quickly. Scholten said his issues would be “fix, fight and secure.” “It’s fix health care, fight for an economy that works for everyone and secure a democracy by cleaning up the special interests that are dictating things out in D.C. these days,” Scholten said. “That goes from stopping in these local towns and seeing a donation box (for health care costs) to all these grocery stores that are struggling in these small towns to survive.” Scholten said one major improvement in his campaign will be his own greater fluency on agricultural 12 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 NEWS & COMMENTARY DUFFY’S VIEW BY BRIAN DUFFY Craftsmanship Passed Down From Generation To Generation... 3201 100 th Street, Urbandale Between Hickman & Douglas On 100 th Street  www.AmishHausFurniture.com (515) 270-1133 Facebook: @amishhausfurniture APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 13 C R AF TSM A N S HI P YE S , B U T N O T J U ST T H E ST Y L E S Y OU MI G H T I MAG I NE! The mysterious juice of FEATURE STORY philanthropy Where would Des Moines be without it? 14 14 | | CITYVIEW | | APRIL 2020 CITYVIEW APRIL 2020 By Jim Duncan What’s in a word? A rose may smell as sweet by any other name, but the gift of money doesn’t smell so much as speak. And it speaks the difference between magnificence and mediocrity, health and sickness, pride and shame, survival or death. Derived from the Greek words for “love of mankind,” the word peaked in the English language, as far as usage goes, around 1850. That was the decade of the Crimean War when Florence Nightingale’s good works, whether exaggerated by the media or not, popularized the profession of nursing and led to the creation of the first nursing schools. It was also a time of great wealth, led by the expansion of railroads, manifest destiny, modernization of steel through Bessemer processing, the laying of the trans- Atlantic telegraph, and the inventions of the sewing machine, fractionization of petroleum, and the elevator. Philanthropy thrives in times of wealth creation and Pappajohn Sculpture Park then carries over to assuage harder times. The 1850s were also an era of rising social consciousness, particularly regarding anti-slavery movements, concern for orphans, rehabilitation of prostitutes and promotion of wellness. This led to possibly the greatest philanthropic gesture of modern times. In 1863, Henry Durant, whose fortune derived from colonial exploitation, devoted his wealth to establish The Geneva Society for Public Welfare, which would soon become the International Committee of the Red Cross. Personally devoted to the treatment of wounded soldiers, he would win the first ever Nobel Peace Prize. Philanthropy is often a road to redemption. Philanthropy purists distinguish its differences from charity (more about treating a problem rather than eradicating its root cause), business initiatives (good but with material gains) and public initiatives (focused on providing services). If such distinctions confuse you, welcome. For the purpose of this story, we are going to lump these things together, because they usually are all lumped together these days to create good works. Local individuals, businesses and governments all came together to accomplish things like the building of the skywalk system, the restoration of the Temple for the Performing Arts, the new YMCA, the 1979 version of the Civic Center, the Blank Park Zoo, Orchard Place, the Food Bank of Iowa, Mainframe Studios, and the Animal Rescue League — to name a few. To save the Temple for the Performing Arts, Harry Bookey put together a group of some 80 different sources of support. Even then, he told us the endeavor was dependent on creating a destination restaurant (Centro) and luring Starbucks to the city. It doesn’t take a village to accomplish good works these days, but you better have individual, business and government support in coalition. FEATURE STORY Francis Marion Drake was a swashbuckling rail baron who bought a college and moved it to Des Moines. The biggest gift? good works are of three kinds — income stability through teaching job skills, health care through a five- point plan, and education by increasing the percentage of kids who graduate from high school on time. Volunteer mentors and book distribution help with the latter. While working on other stories, I have been impressed with their programs for teaching job skills to cons and ex-cons. Far more now than a middleman for donations to other groups, UAI is an agency employed directly with the practice of good works. Among their achievements, the United Way Human Service Campus is ranked No. 1 in the nation. But they are no longer the sine qua non they used to be. It’s probably Prairie Meadows, which has given $1.8 billion since 1996 and last year gave grants to almost 200 organizations. That’s a big change since the casino and racetrack first lobbied for existence. The track is owned by Polk County, so it isn’t fair to compare its giving to private and business foundations. The Grantsmanship Center, a Los Angeles organization that connects donors with causes they care about, says Iowa’s leading giver is the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, which has a similar mission statement as the Grantsmanship Center. They give just shy of $28 million a year. Their March newsletter focused on disaster relief in response to the coronavirus. Second on the list was the Roy Carver Charitable Trust, the legacy of the Muscatine businessman who built Bandag into the leading producer of retread tires. Carver’s soft spot for the University of Iowa is well known, but his trust gives more than $15 million annually. With a $14 million annual gift is the West Iowa Foundation. They have associations with racing and gambling in Council Bluffs. Next up come the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation ($8 million), the Fred Maytag Family Foundation ($6 million) and the Principal Finance Group Foundation ($6 million). The Maytag group lists its priorities as arts and culture, public affairs, social services, and health, including cancer research and aid for the handicapped. Principal’s web page makes note of 100 years of association with United Ways across America. John Ruan Foundation Trust, Wellmark Foundation, Meredith Foundation and EMC Insurance Foundations are local benefactors also mentioned among the state’s top givers. APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 15 Within this unlimited definition of philanthropy, who is the biggest giver in town? That was an easy question to answer 30 years ago but not so much anymore. Then United Way was the dominant player in all things generous and supportive. William Aramony was CEO of United Way of America for more than 20 years and helped build the organization into the largest charity in the United States. His organization was so big that many people only made one donation a year, assuming their money was spread around to many good causes. Aramony retired in 1992 amid criminal charges of fraud and financial mismanagement, for which he was subsequently convicted and sentenced to prison. Details of the scandal made things worse. He lived lavishly and treated his mistresses, one as young as 17, to decadences. Though his United Way of America had little to do with the finances of the many local United Way organizations, it didn’t matter. Organizations around America rethought their fundraising strategies with United Way on the sidelines. United Way is still respected in central Iowa. Their 16 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 FEATURE STORY Built it, and they came How do you rate the top gifts ever? A million dollars in 1900, when Des Moines’ original Civic Center (Library, Court Avenue Bridge, Post Office, Municipal Building, Municipal Court House, War Memorial Armory and Des Moines River walls) was built was worth exponentially more than it was when the new Civic Center was built in the late 1970s. The money that helped build that is worth several times less now. A new way of looking at value has been coming into vogue since The Grantsmanship Center rose to prominence. Visions are evaluated for their potential contributions to community enhancement and welfare. Business foundations, in general, understand return of investment. With that in mind, I came up with a few examples of prime returns to life as we know it in Des Moines. People helping with this list are anonymous because they don’t want to rate giving, all of which is good. The original Civic Center (1900-1928) connected the east and west sides of downtown and created a Beaux Arts style architecture that was the envy of the rest of Iowa for decades. It also enforced flood protections for downtown, attracting realtors, insurance companies and professional offices. Think about that original vision. It connected the eastside of government to the westside where the financial power was. That cemented Des Moines as the most powerful hub in the state. Francis Marion Drake made his fortune guiding wagon trains to California, then buying coal mines and railroads in southern Iowa. After serving in the Civil War as a general, he bought a religious college in Oskaloosa and moved it to the outskirts of Des Moines. He later became Governor. Drake University just kept growing as Des Moines’ college. Drake Stadium was built in the two years after the Drake football team went undefeated in 1922. The whole thing was financed by a consortium of private businessmen who thought a new state-of-the art stadium could catapult Drake and Des Moines into a major college sports center. It paid immediate dividends with Drake playing a series with Notre Dame. UCLA, Hawaii, Florida and Ole Miss all played Drake. The stadium now is best known as a track-and- field venue with the Drake Relays and Iowa high school championships annually and the NCAA finals coming The original Des Moines Public Library was the jewel that crowned Des Moines as majesty of Iowa. Now it’s the World Food Prize center. on a regular basis. The skywalk system and the new Civic Center saved downtown. The original intent was that parking garages, linked to buildings by elevated skywalks, would alleviate street parking and traffic congestion, which were driving businesses out west. The first skywalk linked JC Penney’s to a garage. Without the skywalks, John Ruan might not have built his Marriott Hotel nor John Fitzgibbon the Financial Center. The Civic Center, still one of the world’s top-attended theaters in its size group, attracted better restaurants and clubs, creating the Court Avenue District out of what had been a desolation row of flop house, brothels, dive bars and vacant buildings. Both those projects were ramrodded into existence by relentless, charismatic Mayor Dick Olson and his allies. It’s hard to imagine any other politician assembling the coalition of business, labor, politicians, construction companies and investment support Olson did. John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park has made the Western Gateway a giant success. Real estate around the park has gone up in value 10 times since the park The Court Avenue Bridge connected the eastside government to the westside’s financial institutions. opened 11 years ago. The 25 sculptures and 4.4 acres of the park give a new life to a former eyesore of old garages, empty buildings and dive bars. The restaurant scene that has grown up near the park since is perhaps the best in Iowa. The gift is the greatest ever to the Des Moines Art Center, which administers the park. But would the Art Center be viable, let alone brilliant, without its original endowment from the James D. Edmundson trust? That trust has kept admission free at almost all times since 1948 while many other art museums have been costly. More donors made it possible to build two wings, by two illustrious architects, on to the original building. Henry Brunnier gave up major league baseball for a career in architecture and engineering. He built the Oakland Bay Bridge, Seals Stadium, the Embarcadero sea wall, the Santa Cruz Wharf, the San Francisco Library, the Standard Oil Building and many other Bay-area landmarks. He left his art collection to Iowa State, his alma mater, and enough money to create the Brunnier Museum there. The World Food Prize today has super corporate sponsorship with Monsanto, the State of Iowa, the FEATURE STORY The Blank family name may be the most well-known of philanthropists. health led to the gift of Blank Children’s Hospital to Des Moines in 1944. His wife, Jackie Blank, helped start the University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development. The family gave $5 million each to build the Iowa Honors Center and the Iowa Science Center and $7 million for the zoo. The new century Of all the visions turned real in the current century, nothing stuns those old enough to remember the last century more than the Blank Zoo and the campus of Grand View University. The zoo bears the Blank name for good reason, but the three generations of former Meredith CEO Robert Burnett’s family, giraffe lovers Don and Margo Blumenthal, and Jo Ghrist have also made the zoo one of their charitable priorities. The zoo, under first leader David Allen, worked on a six-year plan to become nationally significant. Since Kent Henning became the Grand View president on Jan. 1 of 2000, more than two-thirds of the current building space has been constructed, acreage of the campus has more than doubled, students in residence have more than quadrupled, and enrollment has more than tripled. The area around the school has also been revitalized. Henning says he only takes credit for his own donations, but Dan Krumm of Maytag, Chuck Johnson of Pioneer and Kurt Rasmussen have been active supporters. The mysterious juice Most good works operate less visibly than the things we have been noting so far. Former Meredith executive Steve Lacy used to call the lifeblood of such good works “the mysterious juice.” Most good works are earmarked for health and education service and human welfare including the arts. Chief contributors include most people already cited here, plus Catholic Charities Diocese Des Moines, which became conspicuous during the infamous Postville raids; the Junior League of Des Moines, which was almost as well-known half a century ago as United Way; Barry Griswell; Susie Burt; the Tom Urban family; BRAVO; Greater Des Moines Partnership; Michelle Book of Food Bank of Iowa; Charlotte and Fred Hubbell; Jim And Ellen Hubbel and so many others. Since visions have been a thread in this story, what does the future look like for philanthropy? I went to Tracy Levine, a longtime fundraiser for good works, for an answer. “Water Trails are still happening,” she said. “Ever since Principal kicked them off, they have been significant to Des Moines. We have more than 20 now. “Credit Unions are being recruited to a bigger role. Others see them as crucial going forward. More than anything, though, the new mantra seems to be ‘Get to know their passions.’ That is the way to cultivate new good works,” she said. n APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 17 Iowa Economic Development Council, Kemin, Dupont Pioneer, John Deere, Land of Lakes, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Buffet Foundation and nearly 100 other charitable organizations on board. Yet, this was the vision of one man – John Ruan. He imagined it, created it and financed it. It now supports six different youth programs and focuses worldwide attention on Des Moines each autumn. It also restored the original library of the first Civic Center project. The Knapp Center, named for generous real estate developer Bill Knapp, gave the Drake campus a home court for sports events and the city a great venue for lectures, political rallies, graduation ceremonies and concerts. Ohio State graduate Maddie Levitt gave Drake much of its other enhancements over the last 40 years. Her daughter Susie Burt continues that largess. East Village and the Western Gateway have remade downtown in a kinder, gentler vision. Many visionaries worked to make these things viable, but no one pushed harder and contributed more than Jim Cownie. He was primary in enlisting Princeton visionary Mario Gandelsonas to design the plans. Sometimes visions are real. They were in these two places. No name is more associated with good works in Des Moines than that of the Blank family. Myron Blank made his fortune in movie theaters and personally invented machinery and cooking oil that made popcorn the No. 1 food of the movies. Coconut oil had an enticing aroma and left fewer hulls. Blank wanted a healthier treat than candy. That concern for children’s A free resource for the central Iowa business community BUSINESS JOURNAL CITYVIEW’S PROMISES kept Des Moines officials say they’ve kept their word to taxpayers on sales tax spending. CITYVIEW APRIL 2020 18 18 | | CITYVIEW | | APRIL 2020 By Melissa Walker Des Moines City officials say the first six months of state payments from a voter-approved sales tax have helped clean up more blighted properties, fix roads, staff fire departments and reduce property taxes. The Iowa Department of Revenue has projected it will pay the City about $37 million during the first year of the Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST), which voters approved in March 2019. That number is based historically on the amount of sales tax that is collected within an area. FEATURE From August 2019 to February 2020, the original estimate decreased by about $4 million. Des Moines City Council members last month (March) approved a budget amendment to allocate $37 million in revenue — up from the $27.8 million that was originally estimated — from the Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST) to reduce property taxes by paying off taxpayer debt, fix streets, improve storm water retention, purchase floodplain properties, tear down blighted residences and employ more neighborhood inspectors and firefighters. “I think it’s doing what we said it’s going to do,” says Councilwoman Connie Des Moines City Councilwoman Boesen, who represents the entire city. Connie Boesen The largest chunk of the money, $18.5 million, is designated for paying off debt in order to reduce property taxes, says Nick Schaul, the City’s interim finance director. As a result of the sales tax, property taxes declined about $62 for a home assessed at $121,000, which is the average assessment of a Des Moines home, he says. The sales tax money went toward paying off debt, which Schaul says resulted in a 90-cent cut in the City’s portion of taxes. About $5.9 million the first year has been saved in a reserve fund to prepare for fluctuations in future tax payments. “What we’re trying to do is build a reserve to withstand some of the downturns or lower payments,” Schaul says. Sales tax payments change with economic conditions. As a result, City officials were already preparing to reduce their 2020-21 fiscal year LOSST budget from $46 million to $43.9 million. That amount is likely to be further reduced with the current economic downtown caused by the global pandemic COVID-19. Sales tax money boosts “Blitz on Blight” FOR LEASE ASHLAND POINT 2900 100th Street, Suite 309 • Urbandale Quality upscale architecture • 3rd floor location Approximately 140’ of glass • Full time on-site maintenance Opening NOVEMBER 2019 Starting SPRING 2020 NEW FLEX SPACE LEGACY PARK 45,000’ new flex showroom 4500’ bay size dock or drive-in door 22’ clear height 5 year graduated property tax abatement Easy access to Hwy 141 and I-35/80 4401 NW Urbandale Drive • Urbandale Lot 1 • Grimes 18’ clearance height with 12x14’ overhead doors with openers Phase I 6250-50Ksf • Phase II 5625-45Ksf Tennant improvement allowance included Quality, local ownership that makes a difference. Pride of ownership adds value for our clients EVERY DAY. Jeff Saddoris 515.371.3023 jeff.saddoris@theandersonproperties.com 515.270.6104 3401 Justin Drive in Urbandale • TheAndersonCompanies.com APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 19 Des Moines City leaders have been able to demolish 42 nuisance houses with another 22 scheduled for demolition in a program referred to as “Blitz on Blight.” “We’re moving houses pretty rapidly,” says SuAnn Donovan, the neighborhood inspection zoning administrator. The city council had declared some of these houses public nuisances more than a decade ago, according to city records. City officials have earmarked $3 million in sales tax money a year toward the “Blitz” initiative. Previously, they were limited to spending $200,000 a year in grant money, which could only be used in particular areas of the city depending upon the neighborhood income level. As part of the effort, the council designated about $700,000 in sales tax revenues for a property maintenance program to address homes before they get to the level of public nuisance. Donovan says this is the first step in preventing a house from slipping into further decline. The money is not to conduct the repairs but to connect the homeowner with resources that can further assist them. The City will hire four inspectors in July and another four in January 2021 to implement the program and work with community groups, neighborhood associations and others to improve properties, Donovan says. Office Space CITYVIEW’S BUSINESS JOURNAL FEATURE “We’re trying to improve the general neighborhood feel,” Donovan says. “If you have those houses that need paint or just aren’t being cared for, it drags down the whole neighborhood. If you can get people to invest in the exteriors, it stabilizes the street. If it’s vacant, we want to get to it before it becomes a nuisance and turn it over to a different owner or get the current owner to get it up to code from the exterior so it doesn’t become a blight.” Through Blitz on Blight, 17 properties are under agreement for rehabilitation. Another 160 have either been declared nuisances or had council or court action taken against their owners. About $1 million had been spent on the program as of mid-March. On average, it costs about $30,000 to tear down a nuisance house. About six or seven houses were torn down each year under the previous budgeted amount of $200,000. Money improves streets, neighborhoods The amount of money spent on street improvements in the city increased to $5 million for the current fiscal year and $7 million for subsequent years, beginning with the new fiscal year on July 1. The street improvements include a variety of roadway rehabilitation and construction projects, Public Works Director Jonathan Gano says. City officials plan to increase the amount of overall money — from LOSST revenues, grants, other taxes and additional revenue sources — that are budgeted for streets projects from about $30 million to more than $90 million by 2023. Boesen, the councilwoman, says once residents see street work happening, such as the road work near 47th Street and other areas of Beaverdale, they’re pleased with the results. “The conditions of our roads is such that it’s an ongoing issue,” she says. “We’re trying to catch up on things that have been put on the backburner because we didn’t have the funding to do it.” Portions of the sales tax also will go toward other projects that are designed to improve neighborhoods. This includes $800,000 to the Neighborhood Development Corp. About $400,000 is designated this fiscal year and for future years to create a fund for flood prevention buyouts. Schaul, the interim finance director, says there are about 240 homes that lie within the flood plain area, 62 of which are in the Four Mile Creek area. Des Moines Fire Chief John TeKippe “This will put money off to the side so that, when the opportunity presents itself to be able to purchase houses that are in the flood plain, we will so that we don’t have people being inundated with flooding,” he says. The plan is to purchase a few more homes within the Four Mile area, remove the infrastructure and turn over the area to Polk County Conservation to maintain as a green space, Schaul says. Information about the specific homes that are targeted for the buyout was not available. CENTRAL IOWA’S FULL SERVICE ELECTRICAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR 20 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 Electrical Construction • New Construction • Design-Build • Facility Expansion • Modernization & Renovation Renewable Energy • Wind Turbines • Solar Installations • Underground Collection Installation • Vertical Tower Wiring Structured Cabling • Consultation • Design • Testing • Certification • Maintenance Audio/Visual • Conference Rooms & Board Rooms • Video Conferencing • Digital Signage • Sound Masking 515-288-7181 / WWW.TRICITYELECTRIC.COM FEATURE Sales tax pays for firefighters, frees up other money for department About $1.3 million each year is used to pay for 13 firefighter positions. Those positions had originally been paid for through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants program, but the grant expired June 30, 2019. The grant had paid for the positions for two years. “The LOSST money gave us the capacity to maintain those positions later,” APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 21 Crew members from Iowa Demolition tear down a house at 1126 11th St. in the Cheatom Park Neighborhood in Des Moines. City records show the house had been damaged by a fire. Photo by Melissa Walker. Fire Chief John TeKippe says, adding that city officials had already committed to not increasing property taxes to pay for the positions when they applied for the SAFER grant. “We were going to look for new means of revenues.” The 13 positions are the number the department needs to fill frontline apparatus in order to meet response times set by industry standards, he says. Each position costs about $100,000, which includes salary, benefits and personal equipment. By using a portion of the sales tax money to alleviate current debt, the city has allocated other money to pay for a new Station 11 in northeast Des Moines to improve response times. Construction will finish in 2021. It will be staffed with a new ambulance and its crew, and an existing fire engine and its firefighters will shift from another station. Station 3 at Easton Boulevard and Hubbell Avenue will be repaired, as will other stations during the next few years. With each station, department officials and City leaders will consider whether to remodel or replace the building, either at its current site or another location to meet response time needs, TeKippe says. The sales tax vote was a challenge to voters to decide what level of service they wanted for their fire department and to authorize the cost to make it happen, he says. “They went out and voted and said, yes, they want that, and we’re following through on that promise,” TeKippe says. Boesen, the councilwoman, says this is another example of repairs and updates being done sooner than later. “Those kinds of improvements may have happened, but when would they have happened?” she says. n CITYVIEW’S BUSINESS JOURNAL BUSINESS PHOTOS The West Des Moines Chamber celebrated a ribbon cutting for Benchmark Physical Therapy on Jan. 23. Mira Smajlovic, Amanda Innis and Taylor Fredrickson at the Grimes Chamber ribbon cutting for Sun Tan City on Feb. 25. The Polk City Chamber celebrated a ribbon cutting for Polk City Liquor on Feb. 29. 22 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 The Ankeny Chamber celebrated a ribbon cutting for Vine Street Cellars on Feb. 5.  Kristin Bailey, Don Enright, Grant Farrell and Meagan VanDeMaat at the Johnston Chamber ribbon cutting for F45 Fitness, 5500 Merle Hay Road, on Feb. 27. Stephanie Bonanno, PK Christopherson and Emily Huffman at the Ankeny Chamber ribbon cutting for Vine Street Cellars on Feb. 5. Grimes Chamber celebrated a ribbon cutting for Sun Tan City on Feb. 25.  Maureen Cahill, Lynette Krambeer and Nicole Mulbrook at the Grimes Chamber New Member Reception held at Kennybrook Village on March 5. Devan Maki, Stephanie Wubben and Lindsey Taylor at the West Des Moines Breakfast Before Business hosted by West48 on Feb. 19. CITYVIEW’S BUSINESS JOURNAL SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION LOANS Borrower Name City County Cong. District $ Amount Jobs Created Jobs Retained Existing Jobs New vs. Existing Business Type Robson Investments, LLC CEDAR FALLS BLACK HAWK  01 $352,000 4 0 0 NEW BUSINESS Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services Thrive Chiropractic, LLC Cedar Falls BLACK HAWK  01 $50,000 1 1 1 NEW BUSINESS Offices of Chiropractors Sharpness Inc. WATERLOO BLACK HAWK  01 $110,000 6 93 93 EXISTING BUSINESS Barber Shops Susie Chiropractic PLLC Clinton CLINTON  02 $90,000 0 1 1 NEW BUSINESS Offices of Chiropractors Active Chiropractic, P.C. CLINTON CLINTON  02 $12,000 0 2 2 EXISTING BUSINESS Offices of Chiropractors Hari Swamy LLC Burlington DES MOINES  02 $1,507,000 0 20 20 EXISTING BUSINESS Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels CORY J YOUNG STUART GUTHRIE  03 $15,000 1 1 1 EXISTING BUSINESS Site Preparation Contractors The Olympic South Side Theater, LLC CEDAR RAPIDS LINN  01 $400,000 3 1 1 NEW BUSINESS Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Miniwarehouses) Eric S. Phillips and Stephanie A. Phillips Marion LINN  01 $1,308,000 6 0 0 EXISTING BUSINESS Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers HWY 169 Ag Services, LLC Winterset MADISON  03 $1,000,000 0 4 4 NEW BUSINESS Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers LC Trucking OCHEYEDAN OSCEOLA  04 $50,000 0 0 0 EXISTING BUSINESS Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance COSMETICS 86 INC ANKENY POLK  03 $20,000 1 4 4 EXISTING BUSINESS Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Stores Jam Investments of Altoona, LLC Des Moines POLK  03 $3,922,000 35 30 30 EXISTING BUSINESS Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Miniwarehouses) Nixon Business Enterprises, LLC Des Moines POLK  03 $1,450,000 1 14 14 NEW BUSINESS Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring Dhani Ahar Holdings, LLC Des Moines POLK  03 $439,000 0 8 8 EXISTING BUSINESS Limited-Service Restaurants QC Senior Care Bettendorf SCOTT  02 $650,000 20 143 143 EXISTING BUSINESS Home Health Care Services Quad City Performance, Inc. Bettendorf SCOTT  02 $330,000 3 4 0 NEW BUSINESS All Other Personal Services MLC Real Estate Holdings LLC DAVENPORT SCOTT  02 $755,000 0 50 50 EXISTING BUSINESS Limited-Service Restaurants MLC Enterprises, LLC DAVENPORT SCOTT  02 $755,000 0 50 50 EXISTING BUSINESS Limited-Service Restaurants Chrono Pop LLC Davenport SCOTT  02 $250,000 3 10 10 EXISTING BUSINESS Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities MLC Enterprises, LLC DAVENPORT SCOTT  02 $50,000 0 50 50 EXISTING BUSINESS Limited-Service Restaurants EKD Enterprises, Inc. Fort Dodge WEBSTER  04 $2,227,000 0 26 27 NEW BUSINESS Automotive Transmission Repair Jerry’s Nextgen, Inc Sioux City WOODBURY  04 $217,500 1 15 15 NEW BUSINESS Limited-Service Restaurants February 2020 FOR ALL YOUR BUSINESS CATERING NEEDS SPECIALIZING IN • POWER BREAKFASTS • CORPORATE EVENTS & LUNCHES from boxes to buffets keep you focused and energetic • EFFECTIVE P.M. GATHERINGS cocktail receptions that work Cyd Koehn, Chef Established 1994 • EXECUTIVE LUNCHES • HIGH-END CLIENTELE CATERING • NON-PROFIT EVENTS • FUND-RAISING EVENTS 515-208-2091 || cydney@cateringbycyd.com || cateringbycyd.com APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 23 • FRESH-FORWARD LUNCHES CITYVIEW’S BUSINESS JOURNAL COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Commercial real estate transactions in Polk County from Feb. 12, 2020 - March 9, 2020.  ADDRESS: 8901 PLUM DRIVE, URBANDALE  SALE DATE: FEB. 12, 2020  PRICE: $1,276,310  SELLER: PARAGON BEST, LLC  BUYER: BMP HOTEL MANAGEMENT INC  SQUARE FEET: 0  ACRES: 2.93 ADDRESS: NEAR E. 28TH AND HUBBELL, DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 13, 2020  PRICE: $30,000  SELLER: HANNAN, DANIEL J.  BUYER: TOM, JAMIE  SQUARE FEET: 0  ACRES: 0.218 ADDRESS: 7200 HICKMAN ROAD, WINDSOR HEIGHTS  SALE DATE: FEB. 13, 2020  PRICE: $1,243,900  SELLER: QUIK TRIP CORP  BUYER: HY-VEE, INC.  SQUARE FEET: 4,514  ACRES: 1.37 ADDRESS: 3809 100TH ST., URBANDALE  SALE DATE: FEB. 13, 2020  PRICE: $146,000  SELLER: QUIKTRIP CORP  BUYER: HY-VEE, INC.  SQUARE FEET: 0  ACRES: 0.347 ADDRESS: 6315 HICKMAN ROAD, DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 13, 2020  PRICE: $1,176,000  SELLER: GRAND STRATFORD LLC  BUYER: MY IOWA HOMES LLC  SQUARE FEET: 19,344  ACRES: 0.515 24 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 ADDRESS: 203 FIFTH AVE. S.W., ALTOONA  SALE DATE: FEB. 14, 2020  PRICE: $977,950  SELLER: JRG GROUP LLC  BUYER: JRV BROTHERS, LLC  SQUARE FEET: 1,792  ACRES: 0.8 SELLER: MCCONNELL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT LC  BUYER: JAM INVESTMENTS OF ALTOONA LLC  SQUARE FEET: 2,630  ACRES: 0.758 ADDRESS: 6230 S.E. 14TH ST., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 19, 2020  PRICE: $1,162,800  SELLER: MC CONNELL REAL ESTATE DEV LC  BUYER: JAM INVESTMENTS OF ALTOONA LLC  SQUARE FEET: 2,584  ACRES: 1.219 ADDRESS: 250 S.W. BROOKSIDE DRIVE, GRIMES  SALE DATE: FEB. 19, 2020  PRICE: $4,825,000  SELLER: KIM RUETER COMPANY  BUYER: HCII-250 SW BROOKSIDE DRIVE LLC  SQUARE FEET: 14,568  ACRES: 2.51 ADDRESS: 1510 S.W. VINTAGE PARKWAY, ANKENY  SALE DATE: FEB. 20, 2020  PRICE: $2,225,000  SELLER: DRA PROPERTIES LC  BUYER: BENNETT REAL ESTATE COMPANY LLC  SQUARE FEET: 4,686  ACRES: 0.859 ADDRESS: SOUTH OF THE HALL ON LINCOLN STREET, WEST DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 21, 2020  PRICE: $650,000  SELLER: WEST GREEN INDUSTRIAL PARK LLC  BUYER: NELSON DEVELOPMENT 1, LLC  SQUARE FEET: 8,040  ACRES: 1.507 ADDRESS: 120 MAIN ST. S.E., BONDURANT  SALE DATE: FEB. 22, 2020  PRICE: $200,000  SELLER: DEBORAH A CAIRNS LIVING TRUST  BUYER: FREE RANGE LLC  SQUARE FEET: 3,200  ACRES: 0.333 ADDRESS: 904 S.E. 10TH ST., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 14, 2020  PRICE: $1,220,000  SELLER: GNS INVESTMENTS LC  BUYER: DRUPPEL INVESTMENTS, LLC  SQUARE FEET: 11,740  ACRES: 1.691 ADDRESS: 1441 E. VINE ST., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 23, 2020  PRICE: $140,250  SELLER: VINE STREET GOSPEL CHAPEL  BUYER: IA MO CONFERENCE ASSOCIATION OF 7TH DAY ADVENTISTS  SQUARE FEET: 1,776  ACRES: 1.033 ADDRESS: 1115 RAILROAD AVE., WEST DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 15, 2020  PRICE: $150,000  SELLER: WEST DES MOINES AUTO BODY INC.  BUYER: STEFFES HOLDINGS LLC  SQUARE FEET: 1,800  ACRES: 0.155 ADDRESS: 2450 S.E. OAK TREE COURT, ANKENY  SALE DATE: FEB. 25, 2020  PRICE: $8,250,000  SELLER: LGI BUSINESS PARK INC.  BUYER: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES INC  SQUARE FEET: 59,996  ACRES: 10.416 ADDRESS: 203 FIFTH AVE. S.W., ALTOONA  SALE DATE: FEB. 18, 2020  PRICE: $419,120  SELLER: JRG GROUP LLC  BUYER: ALTOONA RV & BOAT LLC  SQUARE FEET: 1,792  ACRES: 0.8 ADDRESS: 401 N.E. TRILEIN DRIVE, ANKENY  SALE DATE: FEB. 26, 2020  PRICE: $3,375,000  SELLER: NORTH TRILEIN APARTMENTS CO-OP INC.  BUYER: 317 NE TRILEIN DRIVE, LLC  SQUARE FEET: 42,588  ACRES: 2.525 ADDRESS: 3831 EIGHTH ST. S.W., ALTOONA  SALE DATE: FEB. 19, 2020  PRICE: $1,215,680  ADDRESS: 2501 WESTOWN PARKWAY, UNIT 2000, WEST DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 27, 2020  PRICE: $305,500  SELLER: FAB III INC.  BUYER: GREENSTATE CREDIT UNION  SQUARE FEET: 0  ACRES: 0.895 ADDRESS: 233 UNIVERSITY AVE., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: MARCH 02, 2020  PRICE: $3,818,930  SELLER: LTC PROPERTIES INC.  BUYER: REALCO UNIVERSITY PARK, IA, LLC  SQUARE FEET: 56,544  ACRES: 1.454 ADDRESS: 7031 DOUGLAS AVE., URBANDALE  SALE DATE: FEB. 27, 2020  PRICE: $14,933,000  SELLER: FIRST AMERICAN BANK  BUYER: GREENSTATE CREDIT UNION  SQUARE FEET: 51,578  ACRES: 6.057 ADDRESS: 200 SEVENTH AVE. S.W., ALTOONA  SALE DATE: MARCH 02, 2020  PRICE: $2,925,282  SELLER: LTC-JONESBORO INC.  BUYER: REALCO ALTOONA, IA, LLC  SQUARE FEET: 31,803  ACRES: 4.546 ADDRESS: 3508 S.E. 14TH ST., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 27, 2020  PRICE: $800,000  SELLER: BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH  BUYER: WALNUT CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH  SQUARE FEET: 5,597  ACRES: 4.547 ADDRESS: 2110 26TH ST., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: MARCH 02, 2020  PRICE: $540,000  SELLER: KARMA PROPERTIES IOWA LLC  BUYER: 2110 26TH STREET LLC  SQUARE FEET: 8,208  ACRES: 0.664 ADDRESS: 6217 WILLOWMERE DRIVE, DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 27, 2020  PRICE: $210,840  SELLER: CORNERSTONE FAMILY CHURCH OF DES MOINES  BUYER: MDM EQUITY-2010 LLC  SQUARE FEET: 0  ACRES: 1.169 ADDRESS: 1315 UNIVERSITY AVE., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 27, 2020  PRICE: $23,000  SELLER: RALLY CAP PROPERTIES LLC  BUYER: TESFAY, GHEBREHIWET  SQUARE FEET: 0  ACRES: 0.155 ADDRESS: 3225 ADVENTURELAND DRIVE, ALTOONA  SALE DATE: FEB. 27, 2020  PRICE: $3,135,000  SELLER: G6 HOSPITALITY PROPERTY LLC  BUYER: CLOUD 9 ALTOONA INC.  SQUARE FEET: 49,710  ACRES: 2.503 ADDRESS: 915 S.E. 14TH COURT, DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 28, 2020  PRICE: $250,000  SELLER: SCHALL, ARLENE  BUYER: CAPITOL HOLDINGS LLC  SQUARE FEET: 6,080  ACRES: 0.485 ADDRESS: 1206 39TH ST., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: FEB. 28, 2020  PRICE: $240,000  SELLER: LEONARDO, JAMES S.  BUYER: GRANTHAM, DARSON  SQUARE FEET: 4,780  ACRES: 0.329 ADDRESS: 1002 W. WASHINGTON AVE., POLK CITY  SALE DATE: MARCH 02, 2020  PRICE: $1,885,269  SELLER: LTC-JONESBORO INC.  BUYER: REALCO POLK CITY IA LLC  SQUARE FEET: 19,765  ACRES: 3.4 ADDRESS: 3100 DIXON ST., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: MARCH 04, 2020  PRICE: $2,900,000  SELLER: ENGMAN 3100 LLC  BUYER: QTC INVESTMENTS LLC  SQUARE FEET: 27,498  ACRES: 11.296 ADDRESS: 1425 METRO EAST DRIVE, UNIT 115, PLEASANT HILL  SALE DATE: MARCH 04, 2020  PRICE: $105,000  SELLER: BARKER FINANCIAL LLC  BUYER: CENTRAL IOWA LOCK & SAFE SPECIALISTS LLC  SQUARE FEET: 20,000  ACRES: 0.12 ADDRESS: 1930 S.E. SIXTH ST., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: MARCH 05, 2020  PRICE: $240,000  SELLER: LJQBLDG LLC  BUYER: REVOLUTION PROPERTIES LLC  SQUARE FEET: 1,842  ACRES: 0.516 ADDRESS: 1601 ARMY POST ROAD, DES MOINES  SALE DATE: MARCH 06, 2020  PRICE: $190,000  SELLER: GENE U ROSENDAHL REVOCABLE TRUST  BUYER: MCFADDEN HOLDINGS, LLC  SQUARE FEET: 1,288  ACRES: 1.532 ADDRESS: 5670 N.W. BEAVER DRIVE, JOHNSTON  SALE DATE: MARCH 07, 2020  PRICE: $1,850,000  SELLER: GOLDEN ENTERPRISES LLC  BUYER: 5670 BEAVER DRIVE LLC  SQUARE FEET: 20,000  ACRES: 3.603 ADDRESS: 2100 N.E. 60TH AVE., DES MOINES  SALE DATE: MARCH 09, 2020  PRICE: $1,480,000  SELLER: NORMAN WALEN REVOCABLE TRUST  BUYER: 2100 NE 60TH AVE LLC  SQUARE FEET: 25,000  ACRES: 3.13 APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 25 FEATURE STORY (AND SOON, PLEASE?)  With Minor League Baseball on hiatus, fans may have extra time to prepare for the 2020 season.  26 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 By Jeff Pitts  Fireworks are on the agenda following each of the Iowa Cubs Friday home games. Photo by Dylan Heuer/Iowa Cubs Relaxing at Principal Park while sipping something cold and watching America’s hottest up-and-coming baseball talent is a summer staple in central Iowa. Triple-A baseball usually begins in April and runs through August and into September, but due to the spread of Covid-19 as CITYVIEW went to press, Minor League Baseball’s first pitch was put on hold.  In a press release, Pat O’Conner, president and CEO of Minor League Baseball, stated Minor League Baseball’s position: “With the health and well-being of the players, umpires, team employees and our fans in mind, we will continue to monitor the developments and follow guidelines set forth by public health agencies and our partners at Major League Baseball… Once the public health experts and agencies have decided it is safe to begin the 2020 season, and the players are physically ready to begin the season, we will do so.” Likewise, the I-Cubs will follow the lead of MLB, Minor League Baseball and the CDC, according to a team spokesperson.  As such, this 2020 I-Cubs season preview might be a tad early, but what better way to spend some unexpected downtime. Play ball! (And soon, please?)  The top 8 questions regarding I-Cubs baseball for 2020 1. Going from worst-to-first and winning a division title, how did last season happen? Can fans expect the winning to continue? BACKGROUND: Last season’s Iowa Cubs rolled to a division championship while posting a regular season record of 75-65. The team was eventually eliminated by the Round Rock Express in Game 5 of the PCL semifinals, but it was the franchise’s third 75-plus-win season in the last decade, and it was a major improvement from the team’s dismal 2018, when the team finished with the worst record in all of minor league baseball.  QUESTION: How did that happen? ANSWER: “Last year was a really impressive season for the I-Cubs,” says Alex Cohen, I-Cubs broadcaster and radio voice.  Of course, many factors play into a turnaround of that magnitude, but Cohen points out that last season’s squad had an abundance of world-class talent. Thirty- one players suited up for both Iowa and Chicago in 2019, including big league All-Stars Craig Kimbrel, Carlos Gonzalez, Cole Hamels, Willson Contreras and Ben Zobrist. Other big leaguers who suited up for Iowa included Ian Happ, Brian Duensing, Carl Edwards Jr., Albert Almora Jr., David Bote, Mike Montgomery, Daniel Descalso, Victor Caratini, Pedro Strop and Xavier Cedeño. Iowa also produced three players who made their Chicago debut in 2019: Adbert Alzolay and Danny Hultzen, both pitchers, and infielder Robel Garcia.  BACKGROUND: Having that much big-league firepower is a good problem to have, no doubt, but only five I-Cubs players were active for the entire regular season, and the I-Cubs made a franchise-record 232 transactions. The ever-revolving roster tallied 72 different players, in all, and getting that many moving parts to mesh means someone did a top-notch managerial job.  3. Will the I-Cubs’ Big 5 be back?  BACKGROUND: The 2019 I-Cubs team had a lot of turnover, but five players went coast to coast, playing for the team all season. QUESTION: Will any of those fantastic five be back?   ANSWER: Cohen says each of the five played a big part in 2019’s success, but the nature of minor league baseball makes it impossible to know for sure who will land where until after spring training, but here are a few quick thoughts.  • Pitcher Colin Rea went 14-4 with a 3.95 ERA in the regular season and earned PCL Pitcher of the Year honors. The Cascade, Iowa, native and right-handed starter was originally a 12th-round draft pick by San Diego in 2011 before signing with the Cubs as a free agent before the 2019 season. He will battle to make the big league club and could end up in either Iowa or Chicago.  • Pitcher Matt Swarmer joined Vida Blue, Bill Brennan and Paul Abbott by notching 137 strikeouts last season. The fireballer is only the fourth I-Cub ever to accomplish that. He figures to play for Iowa this season.  • Infielder Trent Giambrone led the I-Cubs with 17 stolen bases and belted 23 home runs in 2019. Giambrone possesses rare talent but is predicted by many to spend another year honing his skills in Iowa.  • Infielder Phillip Evans moved on to the Pittsburgh Pirates organization during the offseason.  • Outfielder Donnie Dewees will most likely begin the season as an I-Cub in 2020.  Marty Pevey returns for his eighth consecutive season as I-Cubs manager. During Pevey’s tenure, the team has notched 479 regular season wins, which is a franchise record. Photo by Dylan Heuer/Iowa Cubs Weekly promotions (NEW) Tuesdays: TWOsday offering of two Reserved Grandstand tickets, two hot dogs, and two beers or sodas on any Tuesday home game ($22).  (NEW) Wednesdays: 6-4-3 Double Play Wednesdays offer participants six different food items for $3 each for one hour after gates open. Concession items include popcorn, peanuts, soda, domestic beer, malt cups and kettle corn.  Thursdays: Mug Club  Fridays: Fireworks Saturdays: Pre-Game Catch on the Field Sundays: Post-game Kids Run the Bases  Sundays: Pedal to the Park  Sundays: Family Fun Pack includes four reserved grandstand tickets, four pizza slices or hot dogs and Kids Zone wristbands ($60). Additional tickets can also be purchased ($15 each). 4. Who is the most talented player who could be in an I-Cubs uniform this season?  BACKGROUND: Nico Hoerner is the most talented player within the Cubs farm system, according to most experts. Chicago’s 2018 first-round draft pick makes good contact, drives the ball hard to all fields and generally looks to be as good or better than originally thought.  QUESTION: Can fans expect to see the young shortstop playing at Principal Park in 2020?  ANSWER: After the big-league club was decimated APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 27 2. Who makes it all mesh?  QUESTION: Who was the managerial mastermind melding the team together, and will he be calling the shots for Iowa again this season?  ANSWER: Marty Pevey returns to skipper the I-Cubs for his eighth consecutive season in 2020. Pevey is the longest tenured manager in Iowa’s history and has notched a franchise record 479 regular season wins.  “You don’t normally have minor league baseball managers in one place for this long of a period of time,” says Cohen. “The common conception is that, if he’s here that long and not in the big leagues, then he’s not good enough to be in the big leagues. That’s not the case… Marty has the perfect demeanor and the perfect mindset to mold Triple-A minds.”  One key to Pevey’s success, according to Cohen, is communication.  “You have to keep the guys motivated,” he says. “You’re as much a psychologist as you are a manager.”  Another important attribute for minor league managers is temperament. With so many roster moves, managers must recognize the franchise’s role is to further the success of the big league club.  “You have to be able to adjust,” says Cohen. “ I think Marty does that better than anybody in the business.”   FEATURE STORY The opening date for the upcoming season at Principal Park may be unknown, but sooner or later — hopefully sooner — players adorned in classic blue, red and white uniforms will sprint onto the field to the delight of hometown fans. When that happens, it will mark the 52nd year of Triple-A baseball in downtown Des Moines. Located near the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, Principal Park, along with its two predecessors, have hosted professional baseball games since 1947.  In anticipation of fastballs, knuckleballs, homeruns, hotdogs and seventh-inning stretches, CITYVIEW gathered answers to the top eight preseason questions for I-Cubs fans.   FEATURE STORY by injuries late season, the young shortstop made the jump from Double A all the way to the MLB and performed relatively well considering his age and experience level. During his 20-game stint in Chicago, Hoerner hit .282 with three home runs. As a result, Cohen says Hoerner is contending to earn a Chicago roster spot, but, most likely, he figures to be a year away from making a big-league opening-day roster. “I think the organization is going to try and get him every day at bats,” says Cohen. “If that’s up in Chicago, then great. But if it’s in Iowa, I think the fans will be very happy about that.”  5. Who is the next curious case of Robel Garcia? BACKGROUND: Infielder Robel Garcia emerged from seemingly nowhere this past year. After the switch hitter was released by the Indians following the 2013 season, he fell off the face of the baseball map until he grabbed the Cubs’ attention in fall of 2018 while playing for Team Italy. The 26-year-old began last season with Double-A Tennessee and stroked five home runs in his first 15 games. The diamond-in-the-rough was then promoted to Iowa where he caught fire in Infielder Robel Garcia emerged from being completely removed from big league baseball’s radar to playing for the Chicago Cubs in 2019. Photo by Dylan Heuer/Iowa Cubs late-May and eventually ascended to Chicago, where he remained until August. Garcia received a second call-up in September and was named Minor League Baseball’s co-Breakout Prospect of the Year during this past off- season.   QUESTION: Which relatively unknown player could emerge from nowhere to contribute at the sport’s highest level?  ANSWER: “It’s hard to find the next Robel Garcia,” admits Cohen. “Those guys don’t fall off of trees. But I think Trent Giambrone fits that mold. He has big- league potential.”  28 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 6. Where in the world will Ian Happ and Addison Russell be?  BACKGROUND: Ian Happ and Addison Russell — two highly regarded young talents with serious big- league experience — spent significant time in Iowa in 2019.  QUESTION: Will they be back?  ANSWER: The switch-hitting and highly regarded Happ endured a three-and-a-half-month stint in Triple-A, but the slugger eventually found his stroke and returned to the bigs. The 2015 first-round pick is expected to continue producing at the plate and stick in Chicago, probably as a starting outfielder. On the other extreme, Russell is no longer employed by the Cubs organization, and he hadn’t signed with a new team as of CITYVIEW’s press deadline.  7. Statistics, improvements, promotions... How popular is Principal Park, and what’s new?  DES MOINES, IA - JUNE 15: Colin Rea #22 of the Iowa Cubs pitches during the game against the Oklahoma City Dodgers at Principal Park on Monday, July 15, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Dylan Heuer/Iowa Cubs) QUESTION: Just shy of a half million people rolled through Principal Park’s turnstiles last FEATURE STORY summer. The ballyard now boasts an all-time attendance total that tops 13.5 million, which brings the central Iowa 51-season total attendance to nearly 18 million for Principal Park and its two predecessors. But that’s in the past. What’s new at the ballyard?  ANSWER: This offseason, in an effort to increase fan safety, the I-Cubs completed construction on additional protective netting. The netting runs nearly the length of each foul line. The precautionary additions were not required and cost roughly $90,000, but the Iowa Cubs, in conjunction with the City of Des Moines, decided it was the right thing to do. The addition won’t hinder the fan experience, according to Cohen, but it does enhance safety significantly.  “(Principal Park) is the best,” he says. “It’s exactly what Triple-A baseball is supposed to be… Its atmosphere is unparalleled in minor league baseball.”  8. Dogs Days, hotdogs and other promotions to look forward to. QUESTION: What promotions can fans look forward to for the upcoming season?  ANSWER: When someone originally pitched the idea of the I-Cubs hosting a “Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark” night, not everyone immediately saw the logic, but Dogs Days has been a grand slam so far for Iowa’s canine- loving baseball fans.  “We usually have somewhere in the 400-450 range,” says Shelby Cravens, Iowa Cubs director of media relations. “Of course, everything is weather dependent.”  Dogs get in free during these dates and enjoy the pre- game pet parade on the field when each canine’s name is announced through the P.A. system. Prior to the season’s postponement, the team was set to host two such Dogs Days dates this summer.  As CITYVIEW went to press, much of the schedule and specific promotions were still in flux. Be sure to check online for updates and changes, but the team’s original home schedule included the following highlights. All dates, times and other details are subject to change. n Furry friends invade Principal Park during the team’s Dogs Days, one of the team’s most popular events. Photo by Dylan Heuer/Iowa Cubs Selected promotional highlights (Subject to change)  Sportsman’s Channel. Fans will be able to interact with local conservation groups and outfitters at tables throughout the concourse and win prizes throughout the game. July 25: Colin Rea bobblehead giveaway, reigning PCL Pitcher of the Year and Iowa native. Aug. 8: Clark the Cub travels from Wrigley Field for his Principal Park debut.  Aug. 10: Furry friends invade the ballpark for Dogs Days and Dollar Dogs. The I-Cubs plan to expand their wardrobes this year, wearing three unique specialty jerseys, beginning with Boy Scouts uniforms on May 3. The game-worn jerseys will be auctioned in the concourse during the game with proceeds benefitting local Boy Scouts. The team then transforms into the Demonios de Moines on May 5, June 7, July 12 and Aug. 23; and the Iowa Caucuses on May 16 and Aug. 20. APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 29 Fireworks: After every Friday home game — and on the Fourth of July — fans are treated to fireworks at the ballyard. Dollar Dogs Nights: April 30, June 1, July 6, Aug. 10 and Aug. 31 Saturday, May 2: Iowa plays at 4:38 p.m. to make way for screening of “A League of Their Own” following the contest. Fans are invited to bring blankets to sit on the outfield grass during the film. May 4: Star Wars Night — May the 4th Be With You!  May 30: MARVEL’s Black Widow and Iron Man guest star at Principal Park.  June 1: Furry friends invade the ballpark for Dogs Days and Dollar Dogs. June 6: Princesses  July 11: Outdoors Dan from 1350 ESPN Radio will host Outdoors Night with special guests Larry and Dan from Respect the Game TV on the LUNCH WITH... Chad Elliott at Ritual Café Iowa musician was on the road 235 nights last year. 30 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 EAT & DRINK BY JIM DUNCAN Chad Elliott is an old-fashioned troubadour. He lives in Lamoni but spends two thirds of his nights each year on the road. His songs are often personal stories, and he sings them with an enthusiasm that builds audiences. He reminds me of a younger Greg Brown, whom Elliott calls a friend and role model. We asked him to lunch recently, and he selected Ritual Café, a Western Gateway spot where Elliott has shown his paintings and sculptures. Those are mostly big canvasses with a Thomas Hart Benton look. “I love this place. It’s got really positive energy and good vegetarian food. I have a vegan bent, but I can’t cook,” he explained. Was he born in Lamoni? “Actually, I was born in Mount Ayr. Lamoni doesn’t have a hospital,” he explained. Lamoni is a Mormon stronghold. Was his family Mormon? “I come from an RLDS family. They have reorganized now as the Community of Christ,” Elliott said. The chief distinguishing factor between the Latter Day Saints and the Community of Christ is that the latter rejects polygamy, right? “Yes. Actually, American feminism inspires my spirit more than the church,” he said. One of Elliott’s most popular songs is called “Chicago 92.” Is that autobiographical? “Oh, yes. I graduated from high school that year in Guthrie Center. I was dating a foreign exchange student from Rio de Janeiro. I almost followed her home, but I headed out immediately to Chicago instead,” he said. That song is about a red-headed girl. Was she the Carioca? “No, she was Canadian. I was into skater culture then. She wasn’t. She was into punk.” The song begins “I said ‘You remind me of a young Janis Joplin.’ I meant it as a compliment, I swore up and down, but I knew I was getting nowhere with that girl with the red hair. The summer of ’92, and that’s when I found that misunderstandings between 18-year-old hearts are as common as anything going around.” The song also says “I was the sculptor. You were the queen.” It also talks about easels and Chagall’s palette. Was Elliott more into fine art than music then? “I was a professor of sculpture. In 1997. I worked with at-risk youth. It took me awhile to find this path,” he explained. What were the hardest times? “Right after 9-11, I flew into San Francisco with $20 in my pocket. I lived on the streets. Made a ukulele out of dish pans and started busking with locals. I played for vodka on the wharf. Fished chicken out of dumpsters and Dungeness crab out of the Bay,” Elliott recalled. What were his musical influences? “Greg Brown and Dave Moore in Iowa. I started playing with some old Fort Madison guys who formed the Ozone Ramblers and had a good run the Nashville in the ’60s and ’70s. They play on my album. Tom Waits, Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, of course. Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, James MacMurtry and Townes Van Zandt from Texas. Lyle got me into that world. I met Clark once in Memphis at a Poet’s Conference. I remember it was raining so hard on the tarp that I could barely hear. Yet I hung on every word. I was such a fan of Townes that I composed a song at his grave,” Elliott remembered. Do any places inspire him? “Oh, yes, Memphis and Muscle Shoals are like going home. Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Missoula, Ontario, San Francisco. I just love the American West. Boulder and Nederland are special to me. Last week I was in Bristol at the same studio where The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers got started. Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City is a great venue. Touring lets you get to know a place in a special way. I feel like a trucker,” he said. How many nights a year is Elliott on the road? “I can tell you exactly. In the last year, I was on the road 235 nights,” he replied after checking his phone. That must be hard on a marriage? “Oh, yeah. My first wife divorced me. Then I married my booking agent. She’s understanding, maybe even complicit,” he said. What are some of the stranger places she has booked him? “Felton, California. It was a club where Rambling Jack Elliott had played, but it had changed ownership and turned out it had become a strip club. One person showed up to see me. Then there was The First Universalist Church in Lanoka Beach, New Jersey. I showed up at an Italian restaurant there, and people started asking for autographs and selfies. There is no way they could have been familiar with the music. Same thing happened at the performance. At least one guy there looked like he was a made man. “Once in the Ozarks, I was lodged in a cabin in the woods. After dinner, it was dark and I got lost. Finally found the place and couldn’t sleep all night because of all the growling outside. There was a black-and- white TV with VHS but only one tape — ‘War of the Worlds.’ I found out that the ghosts I thought were haunting the place were just mountain lions outside,” he said. Elliott has done some writing for IPBS documentaries. What’s that like? “I did a show about immigrants found in rail cars in Denison. It’s really a breakthrough if you make someone else’s story feel personal,” he recalled. What is the “One Horse Town” tour? “That’s something I did with a grant. I limited it to towns with 3,000 population or less. I played for tips. Those towns don’t see a lot of entertainment, and they responded really well. I recall bandstands and American Legion halls in Elgin and West Union. In “Bible Belt Saturday Night” Elliott sings about Jerry, who stutters and spits when he talks to pretty girls, and Jenny, who calms him down. Set in Guthrie Center, is it autobiographical? “Jerry was a classmate. I met him many years later on his first date. I just love the idea that a girl can endow a boy with grace,” he explained.” n FOOD DUDE BY JIM DUNCAN Patience on the edge Euclid-Douglas corridor is still the cutting board edge of Des Moines. EAT & DRINK Cassava green at Patience African Cuisine turborgue (similar with beans dominant) are also featured. Palavo (similar to biryani) and fried fish dishes complete the menu. The soft drink menu includes Vimto, a drink that is sold on tap in some Scottish and English pubs. It’s called a tonic and mixes carbonation with corn syrup, black currants and raspberries, plus secret herbs. It’s worth a try and a good complement to the spicy entrees. Patience does not provide much ambience. Try their carryout. Bottom line: Douglas/Euclid is still the cutting board edge of Des Moines. n Jim Duncan is a food writer who has been covering the central Iowa scene for more than two decades. PATIENCE AFRICAN CUISINE 3811 Douglas Ave., #3652, Des Moines; 515-279-6158 Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 31 The Euclid-Douglas corridor was long considered to be on the edge of town, then Des Moines expanded beyond the borders of its city limits. Now the corridor remains a border space between the tried-and-true restaurants in the ilk of the woe begone Knox Café and the still thriving Iowa Beef Steakhouse, and ethnic and immigrant experiences like the divine Pho All Seasons and the original Michoacan-Jalisco (M-J) style restaurants that have captured Des Moines. Including addresses within a block, the corridor runs from the nostalgic Eastside Eddie’s on one end to El Rodeo. In the midsection are classics like Chuck’s, Chicago Speakeasy and Tasty Tacos. It passes trend setters such as Wasabi Chi, India Star and Flix Brewhouse. In the rearview mirror, one can glimpse the wind-grieved ghosts of legends like The Silhouette, Vic’s Tally Ho, Gianni’s, Helen & Pat’s, The Husker, Pollos Rotizados, Dowie’s and Garcia’s of Scottsdale. The Bishops Cafeteria in Merle Hay Mall for many years served more meals than any restaurant in Iowa. The only café ever here devoted exclusively to Philly steak sandwiches sat near the only bowling alley with a volleyball court and a full-service café. The corridor has always supplied a glimpse of the future and a grip on traditions like the Highland Park Country Club, which should be on everyone’s bucket list of lunch dives in town. Chicago Speakeasy provides, at least until press time in the latest virus panic, the last ice- chilled salad bar in town. East Side Eddies still features old-fashioned classics like chicken and noodles. Pho All Seasons goes further into cosmopolitanism than any Vietnamese café in town. The corridor today reflects the latest local trends. Two excellent immigrant-centric markets — Saigon and Golden Land — fill their parking lots. The Safari African café is closed now next to Golden Land. A sign in the window suggests it has moved to Franklin Avenue and renamed itself Amira Somalia restaurant, which features Ethiopian, Turkish and American coffee drinks, plus injera (spongy teff flour bread) breakfasts. The new African café on the corridor is a West African style place called Patience. It inhabits a property that had previously been home to an excellent soul food café, a pan African restaurant and a Bosnian-Greek joint. All served great food but were short lived. Patience, now 3 years old, might have what it takes to endure at this venue. Unlike the long-lived Taste of Africa and Amira, this African café features Central and West African foods. That means no injera but lots of rice and fufu, described by servers as cassava flour and plantains pounded with water. It is served here as a soup with fish, turkey, chicken and beef. It’s as spicy as most East African dishes around town, which means it has a kick. My favorite dish is called cassava leaf, which means a spinach-like green is cooked with palm oil and served with chicken, turkey and beef in a spicy sauce with a huge serving of rice. There is also a dish simply called palm oil with the same proteins. Fried okra, steak and THE DISH BY JIM DUNCAN 32 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 EAT & DRINK Food in the year of the virus Things got really crazy in the restaurant world last month. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calling for a two-month ban of congregations of more than 50 people and for maintaining more than 6 feet of distance between people, The Wu Han virus claimed victory in the Pearl Harbor stage of the new war of the world. Gov. Reynolds ordered all restaurants and bars closed till at least March 31. Simultaneously, Bloomberg warned that national labor laws prevent employers from asking a worker if he’s tested positive for the virus, from asking one to take a test, or from asking infected workers to go home and quarantine. We really hope that changes before restaurants reopen. Surely, with emergency powers being used to cancel and limit so many things, even an iron clad labor law can be ditched in the interests of public health. The idea of restaurants only serving at drive-up windows blew minds. Anyone who has ever used a drive-up window knows that they are only designed to serve one person at a time. They will not get faster. Or will they? Restaurant and catering margins are tiny, and any enduring drag on business will surely cull the herd. Remember, every Iowa restaurant has at least one food safety manager who is certified. And Iowa Restaurant Association chief Jessica Dunker reminds that Iowa restaurants will always come to your car with orders. Restaurants, and particularly bars, were more upset with the timing of the state’s decree. St. Patrick’s Day, the biggest of the year for many bars, was shut down at noon on the very day. A few days’ notice would have helped a lot. Inventories had been bought and paid for, from the state, no less, in the case of booze. No word yet if the state is refunding. Restaurants were generous with their perishable inventories. Flying Mango donated all theirs to shelters. Sodexo at 801 Grand gave them to employees and shelters. The Bristol in Chicago gave them all to employees. Table 128 prepared meals SHOP ONLINE FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP for the many medical workers in their neighborhood and fed their staff. SOME GOOD NEWS Joe Tripp of Harbinger was once again the only Iowa semifinalist in the James Beard Awards voting. That was despite an expansion of the number of chefs chosen. Tripp was selected as one of the Midwest’s best chefs. The second and third rounds of voting were delayed, till summer in the case of the final announcements… Lynn Pritchard worked toward an opening for a new restaurant. It will be in the former Red Rossa a couple bays east of his popular Table 128. SOME MORE BAD NEWS Maria’s Mexican Restaurant in West Des Moines closed its 24-hour Grand Avenue shop permanently. The venue, a long time Burger King, will be replaced with a new building… Salad bars began disappearing from the local scene. This is usually explained as a safety precaution, but the self- service stations created a lot of waste, and the new virus might be a catalyst for their permanent demise… Granite City closed its Clive store. Famous Dave’s will buy some assets… Steak & Shake postponed the opening of its West Des Moines store by several months. THE BIG NEWS Hy-Vee announced the closing of all the system’s Market Grille cafés. They will transition to Wahlburgers, the Planet Hollywood of the new millennium. Hy-Vee already had an interest in the Wahlburgers chain, and Market Grille seemed a little redundant. But Hy-Vee so rarely makes a bad move, and this was a 21-store miscue, that it took people by surprise, even though the crowds never seemed to be there at stores. Hy-Vee said that Wahlburgers will offer counter service, and that Market Grille will still offer its menu for pick-up and delivery through their app. n CITYVIEW 2020 2761 100 TH STREET, URBANDALE (515) 331-8008 • LEARNINGPOSTTOYS.COM BELLY UP TO: EAT & DRINK That Dam Pub Retro Beaverdale bar inspired by 1980s and 1990s BY JACKIE WILSON areas. The dining room is ideal for larger groups. The game room contains several vintage all-ages video and arcade games. The menu borrows a similar item from The Angry Goldfish, including seasoned oyster crackers for $1. Pizza is half price on Mondays. A unique offering is the Monte Cristo. This pumped-up Texas toast, served with ham, turkey and Swiss, is deep fried, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with spicy strawberry jam. The unique flavor combination is reminiscent of a state fair funnel cake and Cheese Frenchee from the iconic King’s Food Host. Instead of happy hour, they have all-day drink specials — because “people want to be happy after 6.” Fridays include $4 Deep Eddy Vodka drinks. Throwback Thursdays get you $2 cans of Busch, Old Milwaukee or Coors Banquet. But no worries, they still have local beers — Exile, Confluence and more on tap. Wine drinkers — who don’t always need high-end bottles — will appreciate the decent selection, with bottles in the $25 drinkable range. A popular shot flight lets you pick four spirits from a list for only $14. This summer, the rooftop patio will open, along with a street-side patio. As Marky Mark sang on the overhead music, “Good Vibrations” are found right in Beaverdale, and it’s a sweet sensation. n APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 33 Gnarly, dude! A totally rad pub located in Beaverdale offers a bar, dining area and a game room. Sweet! The Dam Pub opened in 2019, boasting a 1980s and 1990s theme throughout the place. Music CDs, along with movie quotes and posters from “Top Gun,” “Ghostbusters” and “Terminator” are part of the décor. The black paint with pink, turquoise and neon reflects a retro vibe. Although the wait staff didn’t have Aqua Net- teased bangs, they did serve up some unique food and drink options. The owners, Renee and Clark Way, also own The Angry Goldfish. Searching for another venue, they found a family-friendly location with a strong neighborhood connection. For the current theme, Renee says the inspiration came after watching a trio of movies, including “The Breakfast Club,” “The Goonies” and “16 Candles.” “We happened to be opening the place at the same time I saw the movies. It gave us the inspiration to do something completely out there,” she says. She noticed new restaurants in Des Moines popping up with an overabundance of barn wood and tin décor. “We wanted the complete opposite,” she said. “At first we questioned ourselves, but thought it felt good to reminisce and others might feel the same way.” The inside is a combination of pieced-together building, along with an old alley separating the three ART NEWS Chris Vance growing up Check websites before venturing out to the world that remains socially undistanced. 34 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BY JIM DUNCAN CITYVIEW has been following Chris Vance for nearly 20 years now. His paintings attracted us with an affinity for glee and an amazing sense of color and design. He has become the most popular painter in Iowa, at least in terms of the number of collectors also attracted to the fun times he expresses. That glee, which fires a remarkable productivity, possibly stems from his large family that has grown up on the canvasses of his many shows. Vance created a universe of fascinating characters who always seemed childlike. Vance’s family has largely grown up now. That is likely reflected in his latest show, “Dazed and Amused,” at Moberg Gallery. The artist has largely traded in his painting family of young-at- heart amusements for more serious meditations on geometrics and dimensions. He called this show “my time to throw a curve ball.” In “In Search of Highland High,” Vance’s shapes sometimes look as if they began as portraits of characters, dunce caps and all, before morphing into abstractions that are no less playful and bright than a farm full of children. Michela Mullin, who wrote the catalogue for the show, calls “Dragon Lair” the generative and culminative work of the show. Like many Vance works, it employs many smaller pieces put together to comprise a larger work. The pieces are hung away from the wall, giving the overall work a chance to flirt with the third dimension. It seems to float toward the viewer, away from the surface. “The text-like elements evoke graffiti, the galactic boxes and pyramids float as if deconstructed obelisks objects turned linear — angular, contour,” in Mullin’s words. In “Bodhi” (Sanskrit for enlightenment), Vance’s intermingled shapes come together to resemble a lotus, the traditional symbol of enlightenment. In “Vibes from the Ocean Park” geometric shapes give way to some that look more like protozoa and other things known through the microscope. Even so, the glee of Vance is celebrated in a dance that cannot sit still for its portrait. Vance uses archival paper as medium for a series of new pieces. In “Out on the Open Road,” his expressive inclination to curvature and form flatten into multiple horizontal lines, stacked and crossed, meeting at the center of the lower and upper halves of the piece. Layering and composition lend a view that divides groundways and skyways, while turning the viewers’ heads in a way that Mullin calls “a gesture that feels like looking for traffic before a crossing.” The curve ball with the most break in this show is a series of paintings to be viewed in a backlit ultraviolet room where five works in fluorescent colors are displayed as gleefully as popsicles or M&Ms. Also displayed with Vance are four other compatible artists. TJ Moberg returns to the medium of dried paint skins, the stuff that forms on lids. “Lost Keys” has a more literal connotation the most abstractions. Keys are so often misplaced that some people think that “lost” is their first name. With dried paints most people toss in the dumpsters, he fashions a commentary of obsolescence. Robert Schulte, Jr.’s series of “Frisky Felines” complements Vance’s show like a pet complements most kids. It places portraits of cartoonish cats in lineups within geometrically diverse shapes. Dennis Wojtkiewicz’s oil painting, “Citrus Series #21,” is a detail of fruit, seeds and all, which seems like a colorful lesson in microbiology. Artist Pref’s “You” and “Me” are a green and blue couple whose relationship with each other is their story. At press time, this show was being shown by appointment only. That was the case all over town to one degree or another. Check websites before venturing out to the world that remains socially undistanced. n “It’d Be A Lot Cooler If You Did” by Chris Vance 48x48 mixed media on panel – photo from Moberg Gallery “Randall Pink Floyd” by Chris Vance 36”x60” mixed media on panel – photo from Moberg Gallery IOWA ARTISTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Betty Walker says people mistakenly think she paints with the same coffee she drinks with. Coffee artist Paints with coffee; art at Starbucks corporate BY JACKIE WILSON blend has more yellow tones; Guatemalan contains more tan. Walker, a self-taught coffee artist, says, “It’s something you have to experiment with. Coffee has a naturally occurring oil, and you have to be cognizant of how it dries. If you rush it, it brews into a blob on the paper.” She avoids canvas paper, since coffee repels on the surface. To make the paint color lighter, she simply adds water. When finished, she seals the painting, as humidity and other factors affect drying time. Coffee shops gravitate toward her artwork. She was one of 31 artists selected for the New York Coffee Festival last year. Her painting was part of Project Waterfall, a fundraiser to bring clean water to coffee- growing countries. Her artwork was a painting of a map of the world, with green tones in the heavily concentrated coffee growing belt regions. The whole project took 25 hours and was sold for charity. “I was very excited to be selected. It turned out beautiful,” she says. Last year, she painted live in Chicago at a Starbucks employees conference. For three days, she painted a 5-foot by 3-foot mural, with 15,000 Starbucks employees walking past her. The completed painting now hangs in Starbuck corporate office in Seattle. “People know their coffee. It’s a different experience when you’re drilled by the vice president of Starbucks,” she says. Small coffee shop owners send her their beans, and she paints unique custom artwork. During art shows, some people are confused and think she spilled coffee. “I started showing my paint container. People are intrigued and drawn to it,” she says. Artwork is her passion and not just a side job. “It’s been a great, wonderful and amazing ride. I’m excited to see what happens next,” she says. n APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 35 As a regular coffee drinker, I spill a lot on my notes and stain my clothes. However, artist Betty Walker likes how coffee looks on paper. As a coffee artist, her art doesn’t consist of a coffee cup ring splattered by accident on paper. Walker explains more about her coffee art and how her painting landed at Starbucks corporate office. While at the Dreiberge Coffee shop in Des Moines, the owners returned from Europe and asked Walker if she’d heard of coffee painting. She said no, and they gave her a bag of coffee beans for an Instagram challenge. It took her nearly two weeks of chemistry experiments to come up with a thick solution, dark enough to paint with. She micro grinds the coffee beans, then boils it for 20 minutes. She strains the water through a coffee filter, and what’s left at the bottom of the pot, often known as sludge, is how her paint is created. Different beans produce different minerals, depending on where the beans are grown. The Sumatra FILM REVIEW PREVIEWS “Promising Young Woman” 36 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot” R | 105 minutes Director: Kevin Smith Stars: Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Harley Quinn Smith ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot’ It’s less a movie and more a string of skits tied together with the flimsiest of plots. BY DAVID ROWLEY Note: Due to the impact of COVID-19, this month’s review will look at streaming services. This movie is available on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, and Vudu. It’s fascinating to look at the reception to Kevin Smith’s latest film, “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot,” the long-awaited seventh chapter in the 25-year old franchise known as the “View Askewniverse.” “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot” is often messy, at times unfocused and, at its worst, forced (looking at you, Loki). It’s less a movie and more a string of skits tied together with the flimsiest of plots. But on the other hand, after the first 15 minutes of plot building, it’s a lot of fun. I laughed, was won over by the heart of what story there was, and had a wonderfully warm feeling of nostalgia throughout. I enjoyed the experience. It’s just, unfortunately, a bumpy ride at times. Hetero-life partners, Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) must set out to Hollywood once again when they discover a new film is being made out of the old comic-book, “Bluntman & Chronic,” which is based on their likeness. After a comical explanation of the differences between a reboot and a remake, the duo vows to get to Hollywood to stop the reboot from happening so they can get their names back. Jay comes across his old girlfriend Justice (Shannon Elizabeth) who reveals he is the father of her daughter Millennium Falcon (Harley Quinn Smith). He promises not to reveal himself as the father, but when she finds out that the two are going to Hollywood, she makes them take her and her friends, too. As the crew makes haste to southern California, Jay starts to understand what it takes to be a father while Millennium Falcon has her own dreams with the “Bluntman & Chronic” reboot. Along the way, they get into various misadventures, as Jay, Silent Bob, Milly and her “youthful and diverse” group of friends get into a tangle with the Ku Klux Klan, beat up a pedophile and steal a few cars, all on the way to infiltrate a massive fan-convention where a key scene from the film is being shot. Oh, and there’s cameos galore as many familiar faces from the “View Askewniverse” make appearances, often in very surprising ways. Part of the great appeal of the film is having one more chance to catch up with the characters we love, and it’s a genuine pleasure to see them again. We get references to pretty much every single one of his movies from “Clerks” and “Mallrats” to less cherished favorites such as “Jersey Girl” and “Tusk.” “The Dogma” scene with Matt Damon is hilarious but very clearly a joke Smith couldn’t fit within the story he was telling. Despite having aged quite a bit since their last outing, Mewes and Smith slip right back into the shoes of their stoner alter-egos seamlessly — though clearly not much has really changed. Silent Bob is vegan now (after Smith’s real-life heart attack) and has a newfound way to communicate using his smartphone and emojis. Appearances from frequent Smith collaborators including Jason Lee, Brian O’Halloran and Ben Affleck are welcome and help tie the film — and the series — together. Some fans might be caught off guard by the emotional payoff of the “Chasing Amy” callback. Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams reprise their roles and give a peek at what these characters are doing 22 years later. Affleck delivers a wonderfully stirring monologue about love and family and death, giving the film even more of an appealing and lovely sense of nostalgia. For all the film does right in the nostalgia department and humor, it’s just not well made. You can tell they had a lower budget this time around, and Smith doesn’t make the most of it. It’s often flat looking and doesn’t have a sense of scope. For a road-trip movie, it feels like it was shot on studio-backlots and sets. While the emotional storyline of Jay and his daughter Milly is genuinely well- executed, the rest of the script is patchy and uneven. As wonky as the execution may be, the charming cast and good humor make the experience worthwhile. I laughed at the jokes. I enjoyed the film’s emotion. And I really enjoyed the nostalgic throwbacks to the earlier films. n R | 113 minutes Director: Emerald Fennell Stars: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Laverne Cox Suspiciously unambitious Cassie (Carey Mulligan) leads a quiet existence as a barista on the brink of 30 who lives in her parents’ (Jennifer Coolidge, Clancy Brown) house since dropping out of medical school. She and her friendly boss, Gail (Laverne Cox), gab away days at the cafe. She has no professional ambitions, no boyfriend, no other standard interests. The way she spends her evenings, however, reveals a boiling vendetta. Men who cross her path are in serious danger, as beautiful and brutal Cassie seeks to heal from past trauma by doling out scathing lessons. When Ryan (Bo Burnham), a former classmate, re-enters her life, so does the possibility of healing — until new details about the death of her best friend infuriate Cassie and inspire her most potent confrontation yet. “Bad Education” 103 minutes Director: Cory Finley Stars: Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Alex Wolff Hugh Jackman plays Dr. Frank Tassone, the superintendent of the Roslyn School District in Long Island — one of the most prestigious districts in suburban New York at the time. After inheriting an administrative mess, Tassone was caught stealing millions from the district and spending the money on holiday trips, gambling, a swanky apartment and a vacation home. The total amount embezzled was somewhere around $11 million — the largest single public school embezzlement scandal in history. The film’s writer and co-producer Mike Makowsky has a personal connection to the massive embezzlement scandal at the center of the story: he graduated from Roslyn High School, where the crime went down in the early 2000s. With a cast led by Jackman, plus TV mainstays Allison Janney (both an Emmy and Oscar winner) and Ray Romano (also an Emmy winner), it’s an enviable ensemble. “Trolls World Tour” PG | 90 minutes Directors: Walt Dohrn, David P. Smith Stars: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, James Corden Poppy and Branch discover that they are but one of six different Troll tribes scattered over six different lands devoted to six different kinds of music: funk, country, techno, classical, pop and rock. Their world is about to get a lot bigger and a whole lot louder. A member of hard-rock royalty, Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom), aided by her father King Thrash (Ozzy Osbourne), wants to destroy all other kinds of music to let rock reign supreme. With the fate of the world at stake, Poppy and Branch, along with their friends — Biggie (James Corden), Chenille (Caroline Hjelt), Satin (Aino Jawo), Cooper (Ron Funches) and Guy Diamond (Kunal Nayyar) — set out to visit all the other lands to unify the Trolls in harmony against Barb, who’s looking to upstage them all. n CENTER STAGE All the world’s a stage? Dark times hit performing arts, but it’s not the final curtain. BY JOHN BUSBEE A poignant abandoned umbrella signifies the untimely close of the Des Moines Community Playhouse’s “Singin’ in the Rain” after only two performances due to COVID-19. Photo credit: The Des Moines Community Playhouse OVERHEARD IN THE LOBBY Although the lobby chatter has gone silent for now, continue supporting our local theater scene when the situation allows all to begin performances again. Check for specifics with each company regarding auditions, shows and how to support them. • Ankeny Community Theatre — www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com • Carousel Theatre of Indianola — www.carouseltheatre.org • Class Act Productions — www.captheatre.org • Des Moines Community Playhouse/Kate Goldman Theatre — www.dmplayhouse.com • Des Moines Performing Arts/Temple Theater — www.desmoinesperformingarts.org • Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre — www.dmyat.org • Iowa Shakespeare Experience — www.iowashakespeare.org • Iowa Stage Theatre Company — www.iowastage.org • Pyramid Theatre Company — www.pyramidtheatre.org • Tallgrass Theatre Company — www.tallgrasstheatre.org • Urbandale Community Theatre — www.urbandaletheatre.com n John Busbee is a creative project developer, critic, playwright, author, producer and media professional. He has produced his weekly show, The Culture Buzz, on KFMG since 2007. APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 37 from ticket sales, projected at more than $100,000. Add the volunteer time investment of more than 6,000 hours to create this production, the very foundation of any community theater operation. Supportive patrons who had tickets for “Singin’ in the Rain” are considering the cancelled show ticket cost as a donation. A flood of such cultural generosity will have a strong impact for this venerable organization and for all cancelled local shows. The Playhouse situation is amplified by the other producing companies in Greater Des Moines, which proportionally are coping with similar challenges. While their budgets, numbers of performances and total ticket sales may be smaller, the impact is nonetheless sharp. Iowa Stage Theatre Company is considering how and when to postpone “The Cake,” scheduled to open March 27. “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre’s next show, scheduled to open April 10, is weighing its options, as rehearsals cannot happen. Tallgrass has an incomplete set, and all of their equipment is locked in a West Des Moines Schools building, their home, until that quarantine is lifted, leaving “Wonder of the World” a missed theatrical journey. For Des Moines Performing Arts, it will assess its full schedule of shows for the Civic Center and Temple Theater stages with regular updates on their website. With its leading role in bringing Broadway’s best national tours to central Iowa, this industry leader will find its path to share the experiences of great stage productions as soon as possible. The overriding factor is when it will be safe to resume producing live theater for our community. When that time comes, be ready to respond not only to support our excellent live theater scene, but also because we all will be ready to enjoy the marvels of live performing arts again. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT This month’s column was going to cover the opening of three metro stage shows — “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” (DMYAT); “Pippi Longstocking” (DMP- Kate Goldman); and “That Golden Girl Show” (DMPA-Temple). COVID-19 changed those plans, along with the plans of countless businesses, cultural events and personal lives. David Kilpatrick, the Des Moines Community Playhouse executive director, shared his observations and the sobering repercussions of these times and how they affected their operation. The Playhouse made the conscientious choice to close “Singin’ in the Rain” after only two performances. His perspective is a micro-view of a bigger picture and shows how swiftly this situation changed. By the time you read this, everyone hopes that the initial actions to halt the spread of this virus will be lessening, the infection curve flattening, and us on the path to societal recovery. “What can be done now?” Kilpatrick posed. “Stay safe and keep distance so we can get to the other side faster. Once restrictions are lifted, support your local artists as much as you’re able. Volunteer, donate, purchase tickets, rally and let them know you know it is important. Even something as simple as don’t ask for a refund and just let the arts organization keep your ticket will be so helpful.” Kilpatrick echoes a growing sentiment among the arts community, as creatives are rallying together during this unprecedented event. This one filters right down to the personal level. This is not some health crisis on the other side of the world. This crisis swiftly circumnavigated the globe, while intruding into all 50 U.S. states and into our community. Rather than being overwhelmed by the global scope, consider what can be done in your community. For the Playhouse, they are confronted with the initial loss of income PUZZLES Find answers at www.dmcityview.com/the-games 38 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 FUN & GAMES THE THIN, THE FLAT, AND THE ROUND ACROSS 1 Reddish-brown pigment 7 Nitpicky know-it-all 13 Fleet leader 20 Instead (of) 21 Win over 22 Bishop’s district 23 User’s storage component 25 Gives approval 26 Rock’s Brian 27 “My true love - see” (“Oh! Susanna” lyric) 28 Without, to Jean-Luc 30 Shrubby expanses 31 Disorder 33 NBAer - Gasol 34 Occasion to say “King me” 36 Pasty luau food 38 Baseball card stat 40 - flight (go by jet) 41 Zing 42 Ship-deck diversion 48 Sauce giant 50 Brew source 51 Hotsy- - 52 Crown 54 Diver’s gear 59 “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” heroine Salander 61 Prefix with dose or ton 62 Less lenient 64 “Entertaining Mr. Sloane” dramatist Joe 65 Participant in the sport Ultimate 68 Yellow transport 69 Draw - on (take careful aim at) 71 - Brothers (“It’s Your Thing” group) 72 Hanoi’s home, briefly 73 It enables a motorist to stop 76 Bog bird 78 Naive 79 Brazilian soccer star 80 Tending to wear away 82 “Hmm, let - ...” 83 Former NBA star Ming 84 Spiro who served with Nixon 86 False tale 87 K-P hookup 91 45’s place 94 “Mickey” singer Basil 98 Gives help 100 In the style of 101 “Try - might ...” 102 It includes the sacrum 106 Nellie of social reform 108 Film-rating org. 112 Paris’ mother 113 Author Jaffe 114 He defeated Romney 116 Put- - (deceptions) 117 Like space debris 119 Commonality of seven answers in this puzzle 122 Turn loose 123 Gathering, as bees 124 Lie sheltered 125 Fair- - (blond) 126 Dictation-taking pros 127 Mad Hatter’s party pieces DOWN 1 Words to an attack dog 2 - ear and out the other 3 “St. - Fire” 4 Small swig 5 Nine, in Nice 6 Avation aid 7 Agitates 8 Within: Prefix 9 Women’s patriotic gp. 10 Mennonite subgroup 11 Bursting stars 12 GI’s ditch 13 “The Piano” pianist 14 Kitchen cloth 15 Hurdler Edwin 16 Frigid stretch 17 With 65-Down, video store charge 18 Allergic affliction 19 Decrease 24 Special span 29 Hershey candy bar 32 Tanning lotion stat 34 Spy org. 35 Cleanup org. 37 Quite a lot 39 Tarzan’s son 42 French battle site of ‘44 43 Clairol’s area 44 Newly rich people 45 Ordinal suffix 46 GPS options: Abbr. 47 Wound from a mutt 49 With 65-Down, charge to log on 53 Bel - cheese 55 Witches 56 In a careless manner 57 Animated film featuring Seinfeld’s voice 58 JFK landing: Abbr. 60 Fumble 61 Around June or July 62 Sault - Marie 63 Your, once 65 See 17- or 49-Down 66 Grating 67 Elegant tree 69 Smallish batteries 70 Bibliophile’s love: Abbr. 73 It takes vids 74 Film holder 75 Wild plum 76 Wolf cries 77 - -do-well 80 Goal 81 Lender’s expectation 84 Co. that owns Moviefone 85 Potpourris 88 Discomfort 89 Cage of film, informally 90 Smell 92 Fire 93 Goal 94 Simple top 95 First act 96 Kidman of Hollywood 97 Accustoms 99 Sluggish tree-dwellers 103 PLO head Mahmoud 104 Missed, as a bull’s-eye 105 Writer Binchy 107 Loo, briefly 109 Mile markers 110 Body part below a shin 111 Useful thing 114 “This is bad!” 115 “Zip- - -Doo-Dah” 118 Knight of TV 120 Yang go-with 121 “That - lie!” WHAT THE... Think you’re funny? Send us your best caption... Email to: celeste@dmcityview.com Next month’s photo: “This was not the destination Marissa was thinking of when Mike got them tropical shirts.” Courtesy of Beaverdale Books ‘A Good Neighborhood’ Oak Knoll, a racially diverse suburban North Carolina neighborhood of modest ranch houses and mature trees, is upended when Brad Whitman, who is white, builds a mansion for his family on the lot behind the home of Valerie Alston-Holt, a black professor of forestry and ecology, and her musically gifted, biracial 18-year-old son, Xavier. Whitman has gained local fame as a TV-commercial star for his successful HVAC company, and he has an ego to match his celebrity. Neighborhood tension smolders when it becomes evident that the new construction has damaged a centuries-old oak tree on the Alston-Holt property. When romance blossoms between Xavier and Brad’s step- daughter Juniper, who, with her parents’ By Therese Anne Fowler encouragement, has taken a purity pledge, events St. Martins spiral out of control until reaching a tragic conclusion. Published: March 10, 2020 With the Oak Knoll neighborhood acting as the $27.99 320 pages narrator, author Therese Anne Fowler negotiates a host of social issues including prejudice, class, gentrification, teen sex, sexual violence, environmental destruction and racism in both the justice system and the media. Book discussion groups will find no end of topics to explore in this thoughtful and timely novel. n ­— Review by Sally Wisdom FUN & GAMES This month’s winner BOOK REVIEWS ‘Cactus League’ Jim McCool Runners-up “American Goofic.” Terry Horn “Jeeze, so I forgot the camera. It’s not the end of the world. That was last week.” Patricia Reeves Mark Alvord Send your “What The...?” caption and image entries to celeste@dmcityview.com. Be sure to include your name. By Emily Nemens Farrar, Straus and Giroux Published: Feb. 4, 2020 288 pages APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 39 “The new reality series titled ‘Falling behind the Kardashians’ features spectacular fashions and this glorious mansion.” In “Cactus League,” Emily Nemens tells the story of Jason Goodyear, star outfielder for the Los Angeles Lions, as he reports for spring training. Goodyear has won many accolades in his professional life, but his personal life is falling apart. Nemens focuses on all the people who are pulled into the orbit of someone like Goodyear. Through agents, coaches and broadcasters, the reader watches the rise of young talent and the seeming fall of once great stars. “Cactus League” is 100 percent a baseball book but is expertly crafted to showcase all that happens off the field. It is the perfect book to read between innings and during pitching changes this season. n ­— Review by Hunter Gillum MUSIC THE SOUND Delbert McClinton Blues Grammy winner touring more than six decades. 40 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 BY JACKIE WILSON When Delbert McClinton comes to Hoyt Sherman Place on April 24, he’ll be in his 62nd year of touring. The accolades didn’t stop early on in his career after his first Grammy award in 1992. Just this year, McClinton won a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album for his “Tall, Dark and Handsome” album. He tells CITYVIEW how special this Grammy was. “It feels good. I did it with my band — the people I admire the most — to win it,” he says. “We deserved to win. We made a great record.” His band, “Self Made Men+Dana,” sings bluesy rock songs such as “Giving it Up for Your Love.” At age 79, he’s hit his stride of six decades on the road with no chance of slowing down. “That’s what I do — sing. It feels good. There’s a song in my head all the time. This is where I find joy. It keeps me going and excited,” he says. Early in his career, he launched a blues cruise. For the past 26 years, a cruise ship sails with McClinton and a dozen other blues and rock musicians. The Sandy Beaches Cruise starts in Florida and heads to Mexico. Nearly 1,700 folks enjoy sun, cruising and live music. Delbert says they were the first musicians to offer a live music cruise. “We started it and were the first ones to do a blues cruise. Now, everyone is doing it — metal, oldies, ’70s. Ours is the best. Just ask anyone. It’s like we’re all family. It’s magical because it’s taken a life of its own,” he says. As a seasoned blues singer and guitarist, McClinton noticed shifts in music over the years. “Back then, not everyone in the world was in a band. There are guitar owners who aren’t really players. You’ve got too many people. They can’t all be good or creative,” he explains. “I’m not a fan of guitar masturbation. A lot of blues players do that. It’s maddening.” He’s played with many great musicians, including a duet with Bonnie Raitt, “Good Man, Good Woman,” which earned them a Grammy. McClinton says his ultimate duet would be to sing with Tina Turner or Lady Gaga, who he says is the “real deal.” On the heels of his last Grammy, McClinton continues to write songs. He invites band members to his place in Mexico for two-week writing sessions. “I’m writing all the time. It’s a good life, what can I say,” he says. Connecting with fans is important, simply through his music. “When people are jumping up and down, dancing, it doesn’t get any better than that,” he says. McClinton knows not many musicians his age succeed and admires anyone those who “hang in there.” “They have a passion for it like I do. It’s not that you want to do it, you have to do it. It’s like it’s in there, and it’s got to come out. It’s exhilarating working with the caliber of my band. I’ve never thought of quitting. My life is charmed because of music. I’m the luckiest guy I know,” he reflects. n SOUND CIRCUIT Theory comes home Des Moines holds fond memories for band. Photo by Jimmy Fontaine BY JACKIE WILSON Since we’re unsure of live music venues in April, we’ve featured two local band’s new albums, so you can continue to support local music. A new album by Dust Radio, “Zenith” is available as both a vinyl and a CD. Zenith is a Midwest rock and roll sound and includes songs such as “Hazy” and “I Saw You Walking.” The album, written by members of Dust Radio, includes James Nicholson, Aaron Winters, Rob Short, Chuck Stroud and Dan Tripp. Zenith was recorded at the Establishment Recording Studio, with Phil Young as engineer. Nicholson, co-founder of the band, says it’s been a childhood dream to cut a vinyl record. He says, “We’re old souls. We all listen to record players.” The album is available for digital download through various streaming devices. Tom “T-Buck” Buckmiller, a blues singer and guitarist who plays solo acts and in the groups Tom Buckmiller and the Tone Tailors and Jimmy the Weasel, released his album, “River City Blues Attack.” Buckmiller, a Drake professor, wrote all the songs, ranging from jump blues, Elmore James style to the Rolling Stones. It features guest musicians including five Iowa Blues/ Rock & Roll Music Hall of Famers: Bob Pace, Heath Allan, Philip Herbert, Dwight Dario, and Scot Sutherland. Matt Woods produced the album, which was recorded at Central Iowa Music Lab and Spacement Studio. Buy the album streaming: https://tombuckmiller.hearnow.com/. n FRONT ROW MUSIC Iration  At Wooly’s, March 1 Photo by Josh Harper  BoomBox  At Wooly’s, Feb. 27 Photo by Josh Harper Casey Donahew  At Wooly’s, Feb. 20 Photo by Nathanial Brown Susto  At xBK, Feb. 21 Photo by Janet Eckles APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 41 For the band Theory (also known as Theory of a Deadman), performing in Des Moines is like coming home. Theory is scheduled to perform at the Val Air Ballroom on May 5, with special guest opener, 10 Years. Tyler Connolly, lead singer, explains to CITYVIEW why Des Moines holds fond memories. “Des Moines has a lot of nostalgia. It’s the first place we toured in 2000,” he says. “Lazerfest was always supportive of us, and it’s great to go back. That’s a lot of history.” Theory’s “Say Nothing World Tour” is based on their latest album, “Say Nothing.” The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Alternative Album list. One of their songs, “History of Violence,” portrays a woman, fed up with domestic violence, who takes matter into her own hands and ends up in prison. Tyler says the lyrics are important. “It’s a multidimensional rock song,” he says. “It impacts lives.” They also hope to raise awareness of domestic violence. During their tour, they’ll donate $1 per ticket to support organizations dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence. “We thought ,why not help people and raise awareness at the same time,” he says. Lyrics to their other songs are highly emotional and affect not only the listeners but the band as well. Fans approach the band, sharing personal stories of how their music helped them. “That’s the stuff that chokes me up,” he says. “It’s not expected. We didn’t make music to get a specific response. We just like to make music. “We’ve had fans tell us they wanted to kill themselves or gotten into drugs. Our music helped them get through dark times,” says Connolly. “People are crying, telling us their stories, and here I am, trying not to cry. It’s an amazing bonus to help people out with our songs.” Connolly says it’s interesting how lyrics either provide escapism or reality, as portrayed in another song, “World Keeps Spinning.” “Sometimes music is an escape from reality. Escape is what makes sense. It’s good to have a reminder of what’s going on, what’s more realistic,” he says. Connolly confesses to a non-traditional songwriting experience. “Sometimes the lyrics fit. It’s important to talk about tough things. Honesty comes from an unconscious place. I’m not always sure what the hell I’m talking about or what will come of it,” he admits. A strong bond with the band is they view themselves as family. “We actually like each other. Bands come on our tour bus, saying they hate their band. That must suck,” he says. “We lucked out, and we all get along.” n SOUND ADVICE AROUND TOWN PHOTOS BY AUTUMN MEYER Freddy Koke, Bailey O’Donnell, Hanna Hanson and Zach Hanson Jenni Davis and Luke Davis Nick Larson, Cody Lycke and Marcus Uhlenhopp Rachel Monahan, Liam Larkin and Christie Ewing ST. PADDY’S PARTY The Hall March 14 42 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 Diana Rada and Jordan Haege Mark Runkel, Spencer Meyer and Kelsey Meyer Amy Hegarty and Drew Wright Jeff Coder, Sarah Runkel and Nick Hargens APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 43 JOE’S NEIGHBORHOOD BY JOE WEEG Dog lovers everywhere 44 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 PERSONALITIES Hundreds of people. Hundreds of dogs. Even 100 dog groomers. “No!” It seems a simple enough word. Sure, I love my daughter and her notorious criminal accomplice, my wife, but the answer is clear. “No, never, no way will we get another flea-bitten dog!” But my adult daughter is wonderfully persistent in everything. Especially when it comes to dogs. “It will be my dog. I’ll take care of it. I’ll only keep it at your house until I get my own place. I’ll pay all the vet bills. I’ll do all the training.” That was six years ago. Long before my daughter moved a continent away. Long before my wife decided she loves dogs just a fraction more than she loves her husband. Yup, even long before I forgot I once had hair. The Iowa State Fairgrounds is packed. Twelve rings are up and running at the Cyclone Country Kennel Club Dog Show. Hundreds of people. Hundreds of dogs. Even a hundred dog groomers. There are sellers for every dog gizmo you’d ever want. And a passel of judges, tons of awards, and plenty of blue ribbons. Everywhere you look, it’s a dogpalooza. But no beer tent. Trust me. I looked. My wife is competing today. Yup, she and Charlie, my daughter’s German Shepherd, are in four events each day for three days. As I sip my 45th coffee, I wonder who all these people are? What drives them to spend their weekends standing on concrete floors and scooping up dog poop? Are they actually one dog biscuit short, as I secretly suspect? Let’s start with Julie King. She’s never going to be able to hide her dog inside a celebrities’ spangly purse, or even under a biblical bushel basket. “I grew up with large dogs and horses. Leisel is my third Great Dane. I have a wonderful trainer, Anna Childs, and she helped me with Leisel when I became frustrated. Anna is so positive about Leisel, I was encouraged to compete. So here I am.” Julie smiles, shaking her head at the turn of events. “And how’s Leisel at home?” “When she goes outside, she spends most of the time playing with my horse. If the horse is not paying attention to her, Leisel will go up and yank on his tail. And if she’s not paying attention to my horse, he will go over and grab Leisel by the scruff and kind of pick her front end up and take off. And Leisel will chase him.” Hah! Where’s that competitive event anyway? And what about their easing of interspecies hostilities? Don’t Leisel and Julie deserve a blue ribbon for that? I think so. And look, here’s a mother-daughter-dog combo that looks like it might be a silent cry for help or a truly loving family. “This is our golden retriever, Lovie. She will show in novice obedience category,” says Amanda Lepper with her daughter Margot. Great. But how can you juggle family, dog shows, and all that pink and red? “I have four kids, so getting to a show is pretty hard because we’re usually doing soccer and basketball and dance and all that. But I have a mentor, Tanja Frye, one of the leaders at the Cyclone Kennel Club in Ames. She pushed me along to try class after class. And now here I am.” Really? “I had two kids when I started. The dog was a way for me to work hard and achieve at something. As a stay-at-home mom, wonderful as that is, you don’t get a lot of ribbons for your effort. So dog training became my therapy for child raising.” Amen to that. OK, a blue ribbon to Amanda, Margot and Lovie. But then let’s not forget Gary Shaffer. “Been doing this 30 years. My wife and I love dogs. We have a small boarding kennel in Jesup, Iowa. We usually have Newfoundlands and Pomeranians, which is quite a combination. We love Pomeranians.” No kidding. Gary moves around the competition ring with a gentle spring and a barely contained smile. “I try to keep the dogs happy. Honestly, it’s our escape from home. We just enjoy it. There’s no money except spending it. It’s just for pleasure.” Seriously? “I was in Vietnam for a tour and a half. Then I was in the car business in Seattle, Washington. And now we go to probably 20-25 dog shows a year. Then we take care of dogs when we go home. We are known as the dog people of Jesup. I love it.” OK, OK, a blue ribbon for the dog people of Jesup. So here we are. Ribbons for everyone. But what about my wife and Charlie? How did their day go? “Amazing.” And she shows me their ribbons. “Let’s get another German Shepherd!” she gushes. I’m sure there’s a beer tent somewhere around here. n Joe Weeg spent 31 years bumping around this town as a prosecutor for the Polk County Attorney’s Office. Now retired, he writes about the frequently overlooked people, places and events in Des Moines on his blog: www. joesneighborhood.com. DES MOINES FORGOTTEN The Butler House Tudor Revival style of architecture was prevalent from the 1910s into the 1920s BY KRISTIAN DAY used for the kids coming home from college, and the concrete floors were there to keep the noise from seeping down to the grown-ups. I don’t know if that was true, but when we lived there, it was party central and apparently our noise didn’t bother our neighbors... They never complained. The best thing is that we spent a lot of time in the Art Center gardens. In those days, there were concerts at the reflecting pool. We were all too broke to buy a ticket, so we would go sit outside the bushes and listen. There were some great names there: Peter Duchin, George Shearing, Josh White and Miriam Makeba, to name just a few.” The Butler House remained as apartments for several decades until 1996 when Clark Smith and his wife, Lauren, decided they wanted to open up a bed and breakfast. “A buddy of mine drove by The Butler House one day and told us about it,” Smith said. “There wasn’t even a For Sale sign in the front. We reached out, and lo and behold, it was actually for sale.” The Smiths moved in that year and renovated the entire place. The couple completed renovations in 1999, and, that September, the Des Moines Symphony used the newly remodeled property as a “show how.” Each room was designed by different groups around town. Sticks had the master suite. Meredith was also involved. In October of 1999, The Butler House officially opened as a bed and breakfast. “The first year was great,” said Clark. “B&Bs were very popular back then, and all of our guests were fabulous. We had thousands of them over the years with lots of repeat business.” As the decades passed, Airbnb became a common option for travelers, and the bed-and- breakfast industry took a hit. “I saw the writing on the wall early on,” Clark said. “Our business started to slow down, and it gets really hard to compete.” Lauren passed away in 2018, and Clark took it as a sign that it was time to move on. The Butler House is on the market, and he hopes someone sees what he and his wife saw in the place all those years ago. n Photos by Jake Boyd APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 45 Kristian Day is a filmmaker, musician and writer based in Des Moines. He hosts the syndicated Iowa Basement Tapes radio program on 98.9FM KFMG. PERSONALITIES These are strange days for us all, but we will push ahead. Like Mathew McConaughey said in a YouTube video, “Right now we are at a red light, but there is a green light on the other side.” Leave it to McConaughey to take a break from massaging the new 2020 Lincoln Aviator to fill our country with hope. My column this month focuses on a famous home in our city that many of you have likely driven by. This Des Moines icon sits on a small hill at 4507 Grand Ave. Robert Butler moved his family to Des Moines from Chicago after making his money as an attorney for Cyrus McCormick, who patented the mechanical reaper (a big deal for the farming industry). The Butlers were a quiet family that didn’t have much to do with Des Moines aside from buying properties and building all around town. The Butler grandchildren don’t have any recollection as to why they moved to Des Moines, except that the land was more affordable than Chicago real estate. The house was designed and built by architect Norman Vorse. Leo Landis, state curator at the Historical Society of Iowa, said, “Norman Vorse left many imprints on the neighborhoods west of downtown. From Hoyt Sherman Theater, to St. Augustin Church, to his family’s home at 4222 Woodlawn, our city’s character benefits from Vorse’s work. The Butler House, designed by Vorse, is an exceptional example of the Tudor Revival style of architecture that was prevalent from the 1910s into the 1920s.” Robert Butler and his wife, Edith, moved into the house in 1923 and raised their family. His brother Earl Butler built the Butler Mansion located at 2633 Fleur Drive. The brothers did not see eye to eye, and Robert controlled the family trust. A fallout occurred, resulting in the two not speaking to one another ever again. After Edith passed away, the property was sold and converted into apartments in 1963. The management company that purchased the property converted the bedrooms to single- room efficiencies, and the third floor became one large apartment. “I lived on the top floor with four roommates,” said Jeanie Sheldon of Waukee, who resided at the Butler House during the early 1960s. “One remarkable thing about the apartment was that it had concrete floors on the third floor. The story was that the area had been PEOPLE & PETS Pet sitter snuggler Passionate about animals, educates animal safety BY JACKIE WILSON 46 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 PERSONALITIES When Abby Strong gets up in the morning, she pours herself a cup of coffee, awaiting her morning pick-me-up. It’s not only the caffeine that gives her a jolt, but it’s the plopping of three cats on her lap who eagerly anticipate their morning cuddle session. Her three rescued cats, Luke, 13, Cole, 13, and Lucy, 5, provide Strong with furry companionship. Due to her love of animals, Strong recently opened her own fulltime pet-sitting business. She grew up with dogs at home, including a German wirehair, which her dad took hunting. Then, at age 18, she brought home a kitten. “Ever since then, I fell in love with cats,” she says. After college, she became a nanny. Her passion with kids and animals took her one step further, and she began volunteering with the Animal Rescue League. There, she assists with programs in the Des Moines Schools and preschools, educating kids about animal safety. She instructs children to ask the owner — and the animal — if it’s OK to pet them. She also facilitates ARL children’s camps. “I’m very passionate about animal welfare and talking about the importance of helping care for animals until they are adopted by forever families,” she says. Abby Strong poses with Phoebe, one of the cats she routinely pet sits. Because of her love of animals, Strong finally took the plunge to become a full-time pet sitter. “I wanted to do it for years,” she says. “I decided to just go for it. I wasn’t sure what to expect.” Her business, Auntie Abby’s Professional Pet Sitting service, has taken off. She goes beyond that of a typical pet sitter, who might hire a teen to scoop food in pet’s bowl. For her service, Strong is bonded and insured. She’ll stay overnight, drop by to walk a dog, bring in the mail or administer meds. Her logo says it all: “Your pet’s family — when you can’t be.” “Pets respond better when they’re cared for at home,” she says. “I treat them like they’re my own. I often send pics of their pets to my clients.” The pets remember her, too. Once they see her, tails start wagging excitedly. Strong says her pet sitting job is rewarding Luke and Cole, both 13 years old, were adopted by Abby because she’s around animals all Strong. day. “It’s the best feeling. I always leave with a good feeling, that I did something that mattered,” she reflects. “It’s good to be around like-minded people who also love their animals.” Strong’s pipe dream is to open an animal sanctuary where she could take in “all the animals she could.” Animals lift her up, provide enjoyment. “They bring me a sense of joy and calm. I’ll come home after a long day, and they’re happy to see me. Snuggling with them is pure goodness,” she says. n CITYVIEW NEW ADDITION NOW OPEN IN BEAVERDALE! 2020 VOTED BEST LOCAL SENIOR LIVING 2018, 2019 AND 2020! CITYVIEW Closer Care is an opportunity for your loved one who may have higher care needs or be in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease to have an especially safe, secure option. With increased staffing and a more structured environment, our goal is to provide an area with increased autonomy and quality of life. Apartments are filling up quickly! 2020 $3,900 STUDIO AVAILABLE NOW! BEAVERDALE GREEN MEADOWS 3410 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines welcomebd@edencrestliving.com 6750 Corporate Drive, Johnston welcomebd@edencrestliving.com INDEPENDENT, ASSISTED LIVING, CLOSER CARE & MEMORY CARE (515) 250-3052 • WWW.EDENCRESTLIVING.COM WELCOMEBD@EDENCRESTLIVING.COM APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 47 INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | CLOSER CARE | MEMORY CARE YOUR NEIGHBOR Burrito slingers Radical hospitality served one burrito at a time. 48 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 PERSONALITIES BY JEFF PITTS “So there was one cold rainy night about five years ago, and I found myself with a crazy man with a backpack full of burritos and some fruit and some water and we were looking for homeless people...” How did this happen to Curt Carlson? Several years prior, Joe Laslo — a co-worker and friend — approached him, asking for a minute to talk. “He asked to talk about a message God gave him,” remembers Carlson. “(Laslo) was in church and he got this message,” remembers Carlson. “ ‘Use your bicycle to feed the homeless.’ ” Laslo was Dumbfounded and wondering what to do next, but he didn’t receive further explanation from above. As such, he did what anyone would, he did a Google search. Online, Laslo learned of a Memphis seminary school student known as “Pastor Tommy.” While pondering how to complete a social justice assignment for a class, Tommy thought, “Well, I love biking, and I have a good burrito recipe,” thus Tommy started delivering burritos from his bicycle to the homeless. “That’s what I’m called to do here,” thought Laslo. Originally working on his own, Laslo delivered 30 or so burritos his first night out and was encouraged by the results. That’s when he decided he needed to expand. But Carlson wasn’t some adventure seeking, throw- caution-to-the-wind type. “My mom always said, ‘Roll up the windows and look straight ahead,’ when we go through this (certain) neighborhood,” remembers Carlson. Now here was Laslo, asking him to ride directly into these same types of neighborhoods on a bike and loaded down with burritos. “I’m pretty conservative,” says Carlson. “I don’t usually jump at opportunities like that.” But there he was on that cold and rainy March night five years ago, lured by Laslo’s infectious enthusiasm and eccentric exuberance. “We rode downtown and we found some people and asked if they’d had supper,” he says. At first they received skepticism and confusion, but the two pressed forward. “If you’re hungry,” they reiterated, “we have some burritos. Next thing, you know, we’re laughing and joking and having a good time and trading names. It was so gratifying. People were just moved to tears that some stranger would want to come up and feed them and find out their name. It was just an awesome experience.” That meant the burrito-slinging duo would return the next week. And the next. And the next. Urban Bicycle Curt Carlson is a Burrito Slinger for Urban Bicycle Food Ministry - Des Moines. The group meets weekly on Thursdays to serve food and personal care items to people. In 2017 alone the burrito slingers served more than 31,000 burritos and 8,000 peanut-butter-and- jelly sandwiches. The group also shared donated items like batteries, water, home-baked goods, fruit, bug-spray, blankets, hats and gloves. Urban Bicycle Food Ministry - Des Moines is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and donations are tax deductible. To learn more about how to become involved or to offer radical hospitality, visit www.ubfmdsm.com. Food Ministry - Des Moines became a weekly event, 52 Thursdays a year, barring crazy weather or other circumstances. The food preparation originally took place at Laslo’s house, but after receiving permission from John Deere — both of their employers — they moved the culinary operations to the engineering lab. As the ensuing aromas wafted throughout the building, their co-workers started following their sniffing to find the mouth-watering origin. “We’d tell people what we’re doing,” remembers Carlson, “and the next thing you know, they’d say well, ‘I’ll give you some water,’ or, ‘Can I ride with you?’ One by one people started coming and joining us.” Most of the food is donated or bought with donated money. “That first year, enough people started joining us that we had to break into two teams,” Carlson remembers. “Then Joe ran into someone with Capitol Hill Lutheran Church who offered the church’s space and year after year this crazy thing just kept on growing.” Currently, about 60 volunteers gather at the East Village church to make the 700 burritos and 200-300 sandwiches — either peanut butter and jelly or turkey and cheese — to be delivered by eight teams — most adorned in the group’s signature yellow shirts. “So many people have said, ‘We get through the winter because you come on Thursday and Joppa is here on Saturday with heat for our tents, and somebody comes and feeds us on Sunday. That’s the only way we get through winter.’ ” The nonprofit group welcomes any who are willing to serve, regardless of religious beliefs. “When you go to give, you often get so much more in return,” says Carlson. “Now I show up and the volunteers are all friends, and they are all salt-of-the-Earth kind of people that show up with a giving heart. So every Thursday it is fun to just come and meet my friends and hang out with some really wonderful people.” n AT HOME WITH... The Baers Small town offers big support. BY SHELBY YOUNG Bridget and Dennis Baer and their sons, Carson and Parker, have found Bondurant to be a tight-knit community. Bondurant High School last year.  To this day, at age 23, Carson is still undiagnosed. The family has come to terms with the fact they may never have the answers they are looking for. They continue focusing on the positive and taking each challenge head-on.  “We lost all nursing care for Carson two years ago when he turned 21,” she says. “We went from having a home nurse eight hours a day, seven days a week, to nothing because he turned 21.” Bridget, a hairstylist, moved her business to her home and continues to care for her son. She focuses on the fact that she is fortunate to spend time at home with her “special guy.” “I’m blessed. He is such a sweet guy,” she says. “Parker is such a great little brother. They are the best boys I could ask for.” The support they have received from the community is unlike anything they hoped for when they first moved to the “small town” 25 years ago. n APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 49 Bondurant school district did not have the ability to help Carson within the its school system, but they took responsibility for his schooling. He was transported to and from school at Southeast Polk, and the district supplied him with the equipment he needed. “They never told us no,” says Bridget. “They supplied Carson with a bus driver that loved him like her own son. Bondurant schools really went above and beyond for our family.” Southeast Polk schools did the same, she says. When class sizes were expanding, they were assured that Carson, who was open enrolled, would be able to stay at school no matter what.  “We were extremely blessed with two local schools that took such great care of our guy,” she says. “They loved him and treated him like the special guy he is.” Carson graduated from Southeast Polk at age 21. His younger brother, Parker, graduated from PERSONALITIES Bridget and Dennis Baer moved to Bondurant 25 years ago. They knew they wanted to live in a small, tight-knit community like their hometown of Schleswig. They had no idea how the Bondurant community would support their family in the years ahead.  The couple has two sons, Carson, 23, and Parker, 19. As their sons have grown, so has the once small town of Bondurant. Parker started kindergarten with about 60 other kids. His graduating class last year was nearly double that size.  “It’s hard to believe that all of the cornfields have now turned into communities,” says Bridget. “But, we still feel like it’s a small town. Everyone still knows everyone.”  Watching the town grow is something the Baers have enjoyed. They have lived in the Cove neighborhood for the past 15 years. At one time, more than 50 kids lived on their street. “We just love our neighborhood,” says Bridget. “Watching all the kids grow into young adults has been so much fun.” The family designed and customized their home and moved in when the boys were in grade school. Carson has special needs, so it was important to design the home with his health in mind.  “Raising a child with special needs has not always been easy,” says Bridget, “but I always say, if I have to have what I got, I’m pretty lucky.” When Carson was a baby, Bridget and Dennis knew something was wrong. He wasn’t sitting up or walking like other babies his age. They took him to hundreds of doctor appointments, the Mayo Clinic, and other out-of-state children’s hospitals, but test after test came back without conclusive results.  “The hardest part was never getting any answers,” says Bridget. “We had every test imaginable and nothing. After seven years of testing, we decided that he had taken enough of all the poking and prodding with no answers. We had taken enough, too. We were done.” Instead of focusing on the lack of information, the family focused on all the things Carson can do. He attended Southeast Polk schools for 16 years. The WALKS OF LIFE 50 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 PERSONALITIES BY JEFF PITTS JOHN “ST. JOHN” WEDGEWORTH Nerd Noise Radio: A “mixtape-style video game music podcast.” Brevity is not John “St. John” Wedgeworth’s strongsuit, but you’d never know it from Nerd Noise Radio. The “mixtape-style video game music podcast” carries listeners along the winding, twisting waves of the diverse sonic spaces of video game music, but the show has minimal talking. Instead, Wedgworth curates a carefully crafted uninterrupted music block. “I spend more time trying to decide track order for the optimal journey than I even do in figuring out which tracks to include,” he says. “The show makes for great background noise, as well as for active listening to see where the music will take you, or all the various little Easter eggs I usually bake into episodes.” Wedgeworth suggests visiting his Facebook group, Podcasters of Des Moines, to find other local podcasts. You can find Nerd Noise Radio at nerdnoiseradio.blogspot.com, iTunes, Stitcher and other platforms. Iowa podcasters When people want entertainment on their terms, on demand, in-depth and in regards to almost any topic, Americans are increasingly tossing out the antenna and tuning in online to podcasts. Right now, there are more than 850,000 active podcasts, according to MusicOomph.com. CITYVIEW tracked down four local podcasters who shared who they are, what their shows are about and a little insight into other local podcast options — in case you have some extra down time to fill this month. MICHAEL LIBBIE Insight On Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie: Local, regional and national business news and long- form business interviews. “People don’t have time to sit and wait for the news at 5 o’clock,” informs Michael Libbie, a local business person and journalist who has been podcasting or providing other forms of on-demand content for nearly 15 years. Libbie’s daily podcast allows listeners to consume business news content at their leisure. You can find Libbie’s podcast at Podbean, Stitcher and other platforms, or by Googling Insight On Business the News Hour. If you are looking for other local podcast shows, he recommends visiting https://podcastia.com/shows. Some options include: The Audible Farm Podcast: An Iowa based effort to help musicians gain exposure and give artists a platform to showcase their talent. RoadWorthy Drive: Automobiles, technology and transportation. Unbecomong of Age: Conversations of two dudes, one from Iowa and one from New Jersey, who have never met one another. SASHA J. LITTLE RoadWorthy Drive: Where mobility and technology meet the road. Entertaining listeners while informing them about transportation and its ever- increasing level of technology is the goal at RoadWorthy Drive, hosted by Sasha J. Little and Ken Chester. The fun-talking duo reviews cars, trucks, technology and anything involved in getting you where you need to go, because mobility is ever- changing. “We have listeners from pretty much all age groups,” says Little. “We have teenagers who like the technology, and we also have some of your older garage or mechancial people who used to work diesel and who used to work on engines.” When Little is out-from-behind her own mic, she prefers to unwind with fictional drama podcasts, such as the first season of Limetown, or any of the old-time science-fiction shows, such as “X Minus One” or “Dimesion X.” You can find Little’s podcast at https://open.spotify.com/ show/7tMb1XZEnSc2bOblyawLDp. PARKER REED Pretty Fort Weekly: Every week, Chase Schweitzer and Parker Reed catch up on what they’re listening to and take a “deep dive” into local releases. Parker Reed is an entertainment specialist and podcaster. The former CITYVIEW intern, writer, music expert and contributer to The Consequence of Sound co-hosts Pretty Fort Weekly and Pretty Fort Interviews — the latter consists of conversations with the musicians making the local music reviewed on the former. Other than his own, Reed suggests two other local podcasts. Des Moines and Dragons: A local Dungeons and Dragons podcast for role players and people who like role-playing games. In the Birdroom: The Des Moines Music Coalition’s offical podcast, consisting of interviews with musicians and then music performed by those musicians. Both Pretty Fort Weekly and Pretty Fort Interviews are available to download at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ pretty-fort-weekly/id1451561204. n COLLECTIONS & HOBBIES Whether you are looking for builds involving quick clips, snaps and nothing fancy, or something quite a bit bigger, all walks of life are packing snapped- off Xacto blades and heading to Iowa Gundam Builders build nights. The club meets regularly. For more information, visit www.iowagundam.com.  PERSONALITIES Dylan Black helped found Iowa Gundam Builders. The Des Moines group now exceeds 300 members and hosts build nights every month at area hobby shops.  Build nights for space robots Snapping together models based on space robots, Iowa Gundam Builders has gone from zero to 300 members in two years.  BY JEFF PITTS “It is based on the Japanese anime franchise,” he explains. “The original kits were released in 1980, so this is the 40th anniversary.” The hobby appeals to people of all walks of life, but he says the models are especially popular with people fond of Cartoon Network’s classics.  As his passion for the hobby grew, Black and some friends wanted to share their love.  “Building models, while it can be very stressful, is actually very stress relieving,” insists Black.  Two years ago, Iowa Gundam Builders was founded, and, fueled by passion, the group has grown from zero to 300 members in less than two years.  “We enjoy the hobby and bringing people together,” says Black.  Time and patience are the key ingredients to becoming a good Gundam builder, according to Black.  “I sit down every Sunday for 4-5 hours on a Twitch stream, and I build,” he says. “Then I’ll build a couple hours off stream to just de-stress from the day.”  An average-priced kit cost between $20-$50. Some of the less expensive ones start at $5, but, like many hobbies, a person could spend about as much as they want. At the extreme, models sell for $300 or more.  Some people collect the kits without putting them together, but many have a passion for the construction aspect of the hobby, too.  “I’m pushing well over 100,” smiles Black, admitting that he has a room in his basement that has been overtaken with colorful and awe-inspiring builds. “Some guys have over 500.” n APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 51 As a kid, Dylan Black didn’t care for putting models together. His experience with the hobby had been a tedious one, and it ended with a disappointing and gluey mess. But during one of life’s rough patches five years ago, Black needed a stress-relieving outlet, and he was introduced to Gundam models.  “There’s a lot less of the gluing and a lot less of the taping,” he says. “These are snapped together.”  Working with tiny parts and aligning microscopic pieces to fulfill precise designs by way of handheld tools, Gundam model building can definitely be a challenge. However, the allure is knowing that, on the other side of said challenge, is a magnificent superhero, villain or some other form of awesomeness. Gundams are plastic models based on space robots, says Black.  NATIONAL MARKETPLACE DISCLAIMER: This publication does not know- ingly accept advertising that is deceptive, fraudu- lent, or which might otherwise violate the law or accepted standards of taste. However, this publication does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of any advertisement, or the quality of the goods or services advertised. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all claims made in any advertisement and to use good judgment and reasonable care, particularly when dealing with persons unknown to you who ask for money in advance of delivery of the goods or services advertised. AUTOMOBILES CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 and Newer. Competitive Offer! Nationwide FREE Pick Up! Call Now For a Free Quote! 888-366-5659(MCN) DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. CALL 1-855-977-7030 (MCN) BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES $1,380 WEEKLY or more mailing our sales let- ters from home. FT/PT No experience needed. All supplies provided. Genuine Opportunity! Free Information 1-888-989-8588 (24/7). (MCN) TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-960-0997. (M-F 8am-6pm ET) (MCN) CABLE/INTERNET BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 855-824-1258. (MCN) Get NFL Sunday Ticket FREE w/ DIRECTV Choice All-Included Package. $59.99/month for 12 months. 185 Channels PLUS Thousands of Shows/Movies On Demand. FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Call 1-844-245-2232 or satellitedealnow. com/MFCP. (MCN) Earthlink High Speed Internet. As Low As $14.95/month (for the first 3 months.) Reliable High Speed. Fiber Optic Technology. Stream Videos, Music and More! Call Earthlink Today 1-855-679-7096 (MCN) DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-844-316-8876. (MCN) High-Speed Internet. We instantly compare speed, pricing, availability to find the best service for your needs. Starting at $39.99/month! Quickly compare offers from top providers. Call 1-855- 399-9295 (MCN) COMPUTERS & SUPPLIES COMPUTER ISSUES? FREE DIAGNOSIS by GEEKS ON SITE! Virus Removal, Data Recovery! 24/7 EMERGENCY $20 OFF ANY SERVICE with cou- pon 42522! Restrictions apply. 1-844-938-0797. (MCN) EMPLOYMENT/HELP WANTED Start Now! Need farm help/ CDL / OTR No smoking. Full- time Call Stan 785-545-5966. (MCN) 52 | CITYVIEW | APRIL 2020 FINANCIAL Over $10K in Debt? Be debt free in 24 to 48 months. No upfront fees to enroll. A+ BBB rated. Call National Debt Relief 855-995-1557. (MCN) ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 855-211-8684 (MCN) Struggling With Your Private Student Loan Payment? New relief programs can reduce your payments. Learn your options. Good credit not necessary. Call the Helpline 855-238-4594 (Mon- Fri 9am-5pm Eastern) (MCN) FOR SALE Trailer Sale: 20,000lb. bumper-pull skid loader trailer; 6X12 V-nose ramp door: Single axle Steel & Aluminum utility trailers; DUMP trailers 13 mod- els in-stock. 135 trailers in-stock and ready to go! www.FortDodgeTrailerWorld.com for prices & information or 515-972-4554. (MCN) HEALTH & MEDICAL Are you or a loved one suffering from Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, Bipolar Disorder, Addictions or other mental or behavioral disor- ders? Our inpatient treatment services can help you reclaim your life and get back on track. We work with most PPO insurances. Please call 319- 900-6879 (MCN) Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-372- 3080 or visit www.walkintubquote.com/midwest (MCN) DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. Call 1-855- 973-9175 for details. www.dental50plus.com/ midwest 6118-0219. (MCN) Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long- lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 844-716-2411. (MCN) VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150. FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! 1-866-306-9928 (MCN) Lung Cancer? Asbestos exposure in industrial, construction, manufacturing jobs, or military may be the cause. Family in the home were also exposed. Call 1-866-795-3684 or email cancer@ breakinginjurynews.com. $30 billion is set aside for asbestos victims with cancer. Valuable settle- ment moneys may not require filing a lawsuit. (MCN) Arthritis, COPD, Joint Pain or Mobility Issues on the Stairs? **STOP STRUGGLING** Give Your Life A Lift! An Acorn Stairlift is a perfect solution! A BBB Rating. Call now for $250 OFF your purchase. FREE DVD & brochure. 1-877-358-0034 (MCN) INCOME OPPORTUNITIES NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why wait? Call now: 855-623-8796 (MCN) Become a published author! Publications sold at all major secular & specialty Christian bookstores. CALL Christian Faith Publishing for your FREE author submission kit. 1-888-981-5761. (MCN) MISCELLANEOUS DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive max- imum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 855-752-6680 (MCN) FREE AUTO INSURANCE QUOTES for uninsured and insured drivers. Let us show you how much you can save! Call 855-648-7642. (MCN) SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Let us do the shopping & save you time & money. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year! Call 855-697-1892. (M-F 8am-8pm Central). (MCN) Unable to work? Denied benefits? We Can Help! Strong recent work history needed. Call to start your application or appeal today! 1-866- 276-3845 --Steppacher Law Offices LLC Principal Office: 224 Adams Ave Scranton PA 18503. (MCN) Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter pro- tection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-577-1268. (MCN) FREE CASH That’s right! WE will send you $5.00 by cash app free right now! Text the words SAPA CASH to 706-761-1745. (MCN) PERSONALS Meet singles right now! No paid operators, just real people like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and connect live. Try it free. Call now: 855-651-0114. (MCN) AUTO DONATIONS Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398 (NANI) EDUCATION/CAREER TRAINING AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Get FAA approved hands on Aviation mechanic training. Financial Aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-686-1704 (NANI) AUTOS WANTED CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! 2002 and Newer! Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Offer! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-416-2330. (NANI) HELP WANTED AVON - FREE SIGNUP! REPS WANTED! Earn cash! Receive 25% off CHI Haircare, The Face Shop cosmetics, Belif skincare. Visit www.sellbeautyu- sa.com (NANI) HEALTH/FITNESS VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 100 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol (NANI) EDUCATION/CAREER TRAINING MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEEDED! Train online to get the skills to become a Medical Office Professional at CTI! 1-833-766-4511 AskCTI.com (NANI) COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train at home to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Call CTI for details! 888-449- 1713 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) (NANI) MISCELLANEOUS CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 and Newer. Nationwide Free Pick Up! Call Now: 1-800-864-5960. (NANI) Only the Highest quality CBD products from AceWellness! We guarantee highest quality, most competitive pricing on CBD products. Softgels, Oils, Skincare, Vape & more. Coupon Code: PRINT20 1-855-681-3113 (NANI) SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year! Call 866- 695-8390! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) (NANI) A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted, local advi- sors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. Call 855-741-7459 (NANI) AT&T Internet. Starting at $40/month w/12-mo agmt. Includes 1 TB of data per month. Get More For Your High-Speed Internet Thing. Ask us how to bundle and SAVE! Geo & svc restrictions apply. Call us today 1-888-796-8850 (NANI) DIRECTV NOW. No Satellite Needed. $40/ month. 65 Channels. Stream Breaking News, Live Events, Sports & On Demand Titles. No Annual Contract. No Commitment. CALL 1-866-825-6523 (NANI) BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 866-951-7214 (NANI) DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-833-872-2545. (NANI) TRAVEL/MISCELLANEOUS DISCOUNT AIR TRAVEL. Call Flight Services for best pricing on domestic & international flights inside and from the US. Serving United, Delta, American & Southwest airlines. Call for free quote now! Have travel dates ready! 855-638-3462 (NANI) HEALTH/MISCELLANEOUS DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. NOT just a dis- count plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. 888-623-3036 or http://www.dental50plus. com/58 Ad# 6118 (NANI) Recently diagnosed with LUNG CANCER and 60+ years old? Call now! You and your family may be entitled to a SIGNIFICANT CASH AWARD. Call 877-648-6308 today. Free Consultation. No Risk. (NANI) FINANCIAL/MISCELLANEOUS ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-626-3581 (NANI) HOME IMPROVEMENT/MISCELLANEOUS Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-534- 6198 (NANI) MEDICAL/HEALTH WELLNESS ATTENTION DIABETICS! Save money on your diabetic supplies! Convenient home shipping for monitors, test strips, insulin pumps, catheters and more! To learn more, call now! 844-698-4858 (NANI) MEDICAL/MISCELLANEOUS ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inoen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. FREE information kit. Call 877- 929-9587 (NANI) AUTOS WANTED CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!!   All Makes/Models 2002-2019! Any Condition. Running or Not. Top $$$ Paid! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-985-1806 (CADNET) HEALTH & FITNESS GENERIC VIAGRA and CIALIS! 100 Pills $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-889-5515 (CADNET) MISCELLANEOUS Earthlink High Speed Internet. As Low As $14.95/month (for the first 3 months.) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology. Stream Videos, Music and More! Call Earthlink Today 1-855-520-7938 (CADNET) Applying for Social Security Disability or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys, 1-855- 498-6323! FREE Consultations. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)] (CADNET) Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submis- sions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author’s Guide 1-877-626-2213 (CADNET) Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long- lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 888-609-2189 (CADNET) DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for [350 ] procedures. Call 1-877- 308-2834 for details. www.dental50plus.com/ cadnet 6118-0219 (CADNET) Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless! Ask how to get the Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e FREE. FREE iPhone with AT&T’s Buy one, Give One. While supplies last! CALL 1-866-565-8452 or www.freephonesnow.com//cadnet (CADNET) Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-481- 3969 or visit www.walkintubquote.com/national (CADNET) **STOP STRUGGLING ON THE STAIRS** Give your life a lift with an ACORN STAIRLIFT! Call now for $250 OFF your stairlift purchase and FREE DVD & brochure! 1-866-471-1334 (CADNET) HughesNet Satellite Internet - 25mbps start- ing at $49.99/mo! Get More Data FREE Off-Peak Data. FAST download speeds. WiFi built in! FREE Standard Installation for lease customers! Limited Time, Call 1-855-973-9254 (CADNET) Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter pro- tection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-402-0373 (CADNET) Lung Cancer? Asbestos exposure in industrial, construction, manufacturing jobs, or military may be the cause. Family in the home were also exposed. Call 1-866-795-3684 or email cancer@ breakinginjurynews.com. $30 billion is set aside for asbestos victims with cancer. Valuable settle- ment monies may not require filing a lawsuit. (CADNET) Cross country Moving, Long distance Moving Company, out of state move $799 Long Distance Movers. Get Free quote on your Long distance move. 1-844-452-1706 (CADNET) Call Empire Today® to schedule a FREE in- home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today! 1-855-404-2366 (CADNET) DIRECTV - Switch and Save! $39.99/month. Select All-Included Package. 155 Channels. 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand. FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Premium movie channels, FREE for 3 mos! Call 1-855-781-1565 (CADNET) DISH Network $59.99 For 190 Channels! Add High Speed Internet for ONLY $19.95/month. Call Today for $100 Gift Card! Best Value & Technology. FREE Installation. Call 1-855-837-9146 (some restrictions apply) (CADNET) WANTED TO BUY Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201 (CADNET) EXPERIENCE THE ART CENTER WHEREVER YOU ARE! Visit desmoinesartcenter.org/visit/virtualtours to tour seven gallery spaces! DES MOINES ART CENTER VIRTUAL TOURS ARE PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EMC INSURANCE COMPANIES. ENTIRELYUNEXPECTED FOR EVENTS / EXHIBITIONS / CLASSES / VISIT DESMOINESARTCENTER.ORG APRIL 2020 | CITYVIEW | 53 The Des Moines Art Center launched virtual tours of their permanent collections and special exhibitions in March 2020. The tours allow visitors to click through the extensive collections as if they were at the museum, walking through the galleries.