Summer Campaigns and Autumn Nuts

An important role of newspapers in a community is that of public service. With Leading Voices: Iowa, I constantly keep my eyes open for projects that can benefit from a partnership with a newspaper. One such project with which I am involved is the Chrysalis Foundation’s Women’s Alliance. Often, information I come across while researching articles turns out to be useful to the project. In turn, discussions among partners has provided me with content for my bi-weekly publication. For example, at one meeting we debated what it meant to be self-sufficient and what it meant to be empowered.

Planning for the Women’s Alliance project has been underway for about a year and a half. It will provide grant money to help organizations work collaboratively to improve the lives of women and girls in the greater Des Moines area. The latest meeting of partners narrowed down lists of priorities in four areas, set benchmarks to reach, and identified strategies to use.

As I was walking from that meeting to have the latest issue of Leading Voices: Iowa printed, I passed by Principal’s offices on Seventh Street, north of High Street, in downtown. I discovered that the white oaks were full of acorns, a sign of autumn’s approach. Then I noticed a robin whose speckled breast indicated a bird new to the world just this spring past.

Over the weekend, as I was waiting for Barack Obama to stop speaking so I could interview women attending the event, I decided to take a picture of the cookie lady’s basket. Ann wanted to be included, though. She has become an emblem of what it means to be around Des Moines in a presidential campaign summer. Her cookies carry the pie chart of Sensible Priorities, a group that has field workers at nearly all, and possibly every, event  here a presidential candidate appears. The group also has a vehicle with the symbol that is driven around town.

Guest Author: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.

ABC’s of School Board Elections

Here are some questions for readers of this blog: What was your favorite trick to avoid going to school? How excited were you to receive your diploma? Do you believe you were given every opportunity to reach your potential? Do you think current students in grades kindergarten through the 12th are being given the best possible education?

Do you duck and cover when people start talking about school board elections? Do you tune out to school discussions because you don’t have children or don’t work in the system? Do you believe schools are essential to democracy and deserve as much respect as any other election? More specifically, what is your opinion of the current school board in your community?

What would you like to see your community accomplish? Is anyone working on it?

In Iowa, elections for school boards are held every year. These elections are on the second Tuesday in September. In Des Moines, due to the low turnout of voters, polling sites were consolidated a few years ago. This means that many residents of the school district must go to a different location to vote for school board directors than where they go to vote in every other election.

Nomination papers for school board candidates must be turned in by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, August 2. The Iowa Association of School Boards has very good information about running for a school board seat on its web site, including the number of voters’ signatures required.

In Des Moines, all school board directors are elected at-large. There are six members with two up for election each year. This year, Marc Ward’s and Phil Roeder’s terms expire.

As I was writing this item, I was watching local television news. The station I had on reported that Roeder is resigning from the school board, effective July 31, to become the spokesperson for the school district. Demonstrating why Des Moines residents give little respect to established news media, the news anchor did not bother to note that Roeder’s term was expiring this year or that nominations for school board candidates are due a week from today. All the anchor said was that Roeder would be resigning his position. This makes me wonder who knew this was going to happen and who’s been planning on running to take Roeder’s place? I don’t have time to follow the school board, but I still want to know.

Meetings of the Des Moines school board are held the first and third Tuesdays of most months, starting at 6:00 p.m. Public forum comments may be made from 5:45 – 6:00 p.m. The location of the meetings is 1800 Grand Avenue. The #1 bus route will get people to the meeting, but depending upon how far and which direction the person needs to go after the meeting, public transportation may not be available. The next scheduled meeting is on August 7, 2007.

Guest Writer: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa and has been using the bi-weekly publication to alert Iowans to opportunities for running for school board and city council seats in 2007.

Enjoying RAGBRAI

Jack Welch of Des Moines and Team Cow enjoys RAGBRAI on Sunday.

Photo by Rodney White/The Register

Coming Soon: ENDURANCE CHALLENGE Regional Event in Des Moines

 

 

 

 

Register for the Regional Event Today!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Big Creek State Park Marina
Polk City, IA

The North Face®, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative, and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment, and footwear, announced The North Face Endurance Challenge, presented by Gore-Tex, hosted by internationally recognized endurance athlete Dean Karnazes.

The 2007 Endurance Challenge Series will include (4) regional events and (1) Championship event. From August through December 2007, five endurance events will span the country, starting in Washington, DC, passing through Connecticut, Washington, and Iowa, and culminating with the Championship in San Francisco, California. Each offers options for runners of all levels at an array of distances, including: 50 Mile, 50K, Half Marathon, and 10K.

The Endurance Challenge is expected to attract some of the country’s top ultra-endurance runners. In addition to host Karnazes, several The North Face Endurance Team athletes will attend, including 50K national trail champion Kami Semick, 50-mile national trail champion Nikki Kimball, and 25-time Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run finisher Tim Twietmeyer. Many other runners are expected to embrace The North Face Endurance Challenge as an opportunity to complete a distance they have never previously covered.

You might remember in 2006, Karnazes ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days for the The North Face Endurance 50. Over the course of the event, thousands of runners from across the country and around the globe took part, many running farther than they ever had. The Endurance 50 helped inspire The North Face to challenge all athletes to seek their own definition of endurance. Many other runners are expected to embrace The Endurance Challenge as an opportunity to complete a distance they have never previously covered.

As part of its commitment to community and conservation, The North Face, in partnership with The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program, will be planting trees to zero out the carbon emissions of this event, including set-up, break down, and transportation.

The Downtown Farmers’ Market

 

Summer can be a hectic time. Which is why, somehow, I sped through the 2006 season without a trek to Des Moines’ Downtown Farmers’ Market. This past Saturday a return visit reminded me what I’ve been missing.

When I think of a farmers’ market, the first thing that comes to mind is produce, fresh off the farm and bursting with flavor and color. But the annual Downtown Farmers’ Market is all that and so much more. It’s about seasonal flowers, home-baked pies, handcrafted textiles, lawn and garden art. The market is street corner music and the sound of kettle corn popping. And it’s a showcase of the melting pot that is Des Moines with street-side cuisine from Pakistan, Asia … and nearby Iowa destinations.

My husband Frank and I began our shopping experience by seeking out breakfast. While tempted by the sugary scents of baklava and cinnamon rolls, we made our way to Breakfast Guys & Gals for quick English muffin sandwiches. Our choice was prompted by short lines and cold Cola Cola, the latter iced down since four o’clock that morning, the Huxley-based owner assured me.

While enjoying our meal on park benches, we noted a trend; one the the nicest surprises after a year’s absence from the event, was the increase in the number of organic produce stands. And, after finishing breakfast, we stopped to chat with the vendor from chemical-free Blue Gate Farm. While Blue Gate didn’t have the largest display of produce, their selection was quite unique with its bouquet of multi-colored carrots. A canning jar of a faint green herbal syrup caught my eye. We were offered a sample of a lemonade mixed with the syrup; the combination of lemon with hint of rosemary and other herbs was a surprise hit and we quickly purchased a jar.

Familiar vendors were still on hand, as well. We headed to Scavo’s location for more Iowa grown produce. There we talked with John. His family has been growing and selling vegetables in Des Moines since Frank was a boy. As I selected the choicest ripe tomatoes, John inquired after Frank’s many cousins who have now moved away from the south side of the city.

I looked around at the people chatting across from the curbside musician. At those admiring the huge samoyed dog. These folks weren’t in a hurry to snap up groceries and go. Because, ultimately, the Downtown Farmers’ Market is about connecting, community. And that’s a great way to begin a weekend.

Get the most out of your market experience with these quick tips:

• Before heading out, grab sunglasses and ball cap.
• Consider sun screen.
• Wear sturdy walking shoes.
• And download a map from the Downtown Farmers’ Market Web site.

Guest Writer: Brenda Friedrich is an Iowa-based writer and business
communications consultant. You can also find her blogging at Enroute365.

 

Walk to Re-Energize Iowa

Oil your hiking boots or break in those new walking shoes. The Sierra Student Coalition has put together a march from Ames to Des Moines to draw attention to global warming solutions.

The march is scheduled from Thursday, August 2 to Sunday, August 5, 2007. There will be speeches in the morning, entertainment in the evenings, and school buses to help carry equipment. People are invited to march the entire path, from Reiman Gardens in Ames to Nollen Plaza in Des Moines, or as much of it as they can. If you cannot join the march, you are still invited to share in evening entertainment and to participate in the final rally.

The action starts at 9:30 a.m. on August 2 and the march begins at 10:30 a.m. The first day ends 10.4 miles away in Huxley, where there will be an evening program from 5:00 – 6:15 p.m. at Railroad Park.

Day 2 will cover 6.1 miles, from Huxley to Alleman. The evening program at North Polk High School runs from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Day 3 ends at Saylorville, 11.0 miles from Alleman. The evening program will be at Saydel High School from 5:15 – 6:45 p.m.

Day 4 (August 5) will cover the last 7 miles. There will be a stop for lunch at Birdland Park where, starting at 12:00 noon, the final leg will carry marchers on down to Nollen Plaza for a rally from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Organizers ask that people who join the march for a day or less bring their own lunch. Marchers who camp overnight will be furnished meals, but they are asked to bring their own tents and related items. A lunch break is scheduled for each day. The third day (August 4) has two breaks scheduled. Marchers who need to return to their starting points at the breaks or at the end of the day will be shuttled back on a school bus.

Preferably people will car pool or take public transportation to their starting points. Although, public transit will only be possible for people starting off in Ames. Smaller communities do not have public transit options and buses do not yet run on Sundays in Des Moines.

Visit www.climatesummer.org to read about planning for the march, and a concurrent march in New Hampshire, and to register to walk. Organizers encourage registration, particularly for overnight marchers, to help them coordinate logistics effectively. Efforts are being expended towards making
the march carbon neutral.

Performers already scheduled include Brian Joens on August 2 in Huxley. The Nollen Plaza entertainment on August 5 will include BeJae Fleming and Tubabu. Issue workshops will be held in Saylorville.

On a personal note, when I first encountered the Sierra Student Coalition in Des Moines, I refused to sign the group’s petition. My objection was that it only called for clean energy in terms of cars and homes, omitting the needs of buses and rental units.

If you join the march, feel free to share your observations of the fun and the issue with Around Des Moines.

Guest Author: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.

WALK – DON’T WALK

Last week a pedestrian and a local bus heading towards downtown Des Moines met up at the corner of East Grand and Sixth. The bus driver was paying attention to traffic headed in the opposite direction as he made a left-hand turn. The pedestrian was crossing the street at the light, although the police report indicated that the “Don’t Walk” light was lit. Neither the bus driver nor the pedestrian was charged with any traffic violation and a police officer said it was just an unfortunate accident. (News reports indicated that the pedestrian was taken to a hospital in critical condition.)

I have seen my share of pedestrians acting as though the world revolves around them. One instance in particular remains sharp in my mind. I was in Chicago in 2002, standing at a corner with several other people waiting for the light to turn green. A young, tall, blonde woman and her male companion, strode right through the gathered group as the woman commented loudly that she didn’t know why people were just standing there. I shouted to the woman as she arrogantly crossed the street and forced motorists to stop that we were standing around because cross-traffic had the right of way.

I also have seen my share of motorists barely considering pedestrians. Shortly after moving to Des Moines, I concluded that the most dangerous place to be is in a crosswalk on a street that leads directly to an Interstate on-ramp. I have observed Des Moines drivers barely slow down, let alone pause at Stop signs. Similarly, signed pedestrian crosswalks are not a high priority for motorists as a KCCI Channel 8 TV reporter discovered a few days ago when she counted 70 cars pass through a downtown crosswalk where she was standing.

Despite the frequency with which most people use roadways, I find that the vast majority of people have no clue how the various parts of the transportation infrastructure are integrated. In other words, motorists don’t understand when pedestrians need to walk in the street. Bicyclists get yelled at by both motorists and pedestrians, and do plenty of their own yelling, too. Pedestrians don’t realize how many other factors motorists must consider. One of the transit safety buttons I created for MRF Communications states very simply that Rock-Paper-Scissors, when applied to cars, pedestrians, and bicycles, is no longer a child’s game.

Instead of trying to one-up each other, we need to start working together on transportation issues. Roads receive most of the attention, as well as most of the money. Meanwhile, pedestrian pathways, e.g., sidewalks, are vastly underfunded and often poorly maintained. Attention given to bicyclists is closer to that for pedestrians than for motorists. Somewhere, somehow, but now, not just sometime, we need to make comprehensive transportation discussions part of our routine communications.

Guest Author: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.

Treasures of the Around

 

Geographically speaking, what is considered to be around Des Moines? I suppose the answer depends on the amount of time it takes to travel and the time available to spend on activities after travel. Certainly what I consider to be an appropriate range varies depending on my schedule and if I am traveling by foot, on bicycle, via local bus, or in an airplane. If I am going out for a meal or for general entertainment, I probably would say places within half an hour travel time are around Des Moines. For events that are unique or otherwise worth some effort, I would say anywhere from an hour to two hours distance is around Des Moines.

I asked this question of myself as I sat down to write about some places in Pella and that were stops on an indirect route to Cedar Rapids recently. The communities are to the east of Des Moines at distances of approximately 130 miles for Cedar Rapids, 80 miles for New Sharon, and 43 miles for Pella. At these distances, they are around Des Moines only by private automobile, or similar mode of travel. (An intercity bus company serves Cedar Rapids, but it routes trips to and from Des Moines through Iowa City with a long delay built into the schedule.)

Pella is known for its Dutch heritage and receives economic benefit from its proximity to Lake Red Rock. It is close enough to Iowa’s capitol that even a person riding a bicycle could include the community as an around Des Moines option. Pella, like Lake Red Rock, is a modern construct of history. The lake resulted from a dam being built to keep the Des Moines River from flooding. The town was founded by Dutch immigrants, but many of the symbols of that heritage were added to draw tourists. Pella is best known for its Dutch bakeries and the Tulip Time Festival in early May. There is much more to see, to eat, and to buy, though.

As I passed through New Sharon a motorist behind me was not happy that I was driving the speed limit. Just after that car passed me I spied an interesting store and decided to stop. Crows Feet Antiques (116 S. Main Street / 641-637-2388) is a fun place to stop and to shop. There is glassware, furniture, household linens, and lots of other things, too. There is also a nice range of prices so those people who have more adventurous spirit than well-paying work can find something to help them smile or to fill that empty spot on their shelf or wall.

Here is my advice for those longer around Des Moines trips: Pace yourself. Drive with an eye towards gas conservation and against road rage. Keep your eyes open and you just might find a treasure chest.

Guest Author: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.

Ingersoll Art Review

The Moberg Gallery is on Ingersoll between 29th and 30th Streets. A
sculpture was placed outside the gallery recently, which fits in with the
streetscape idea for more public art. The current outdoor sculpture is
titled “Daredevil” and was created by Robert Craig. Craig is one of several
artists whose work is featured in the contemporary sculpture exhibit at the
gallery through August 18. I attended the artist reception for this show on
July 13.

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

“Daredevil” was inspired by handheld utensils, such as a putty knife and a
whistle, and has been described as having nautical and kettle themes. When I
first saw it, I thought of a duck. The title of the piece only serves to
reinforce my interpretation, especially when I think of Howard the Duck.

Tom Moberg’s landscapes sculpted with plaster can transport a viewer to
another land quite easily. T J Moberg’s “Crip Ambush” shows an ability to
create commentary using non-traditional art materials. Yet his warped and
broken ladder seems but an echo of the beauty and grace that nature creates
through entropy.

Tom Penny’s sculptures with wax, recycled fabric, and other materials appear
to be the work of an amateur when compared with the reality of images it
seeks to represent. Part of the problem comes from the impression of
ceramics sans the elegance that the finished pieces bring to mind. The
presentation of the sculptures on shelves that let roots hang below while
leaves stand above the symbolic ground is interesting. In addition, I found
his “Anemone” to be eye catching, partly because it did not seem quite so
rough as the land plants and probably partly because I am not so familiar
with anemones that the piece must compete with standards I have in my mind.

My interpretation of sculptures by John Phillip Davis’ also are different
than what the artist sees. For instance, Davis describes his “Compulsion for
a Perfect Movement” as “cooperation and strife. The competition in an age of
reason. Striving for perfection in heavy movements.” When I saw the piece, I
thought of Egypt, mummies, steamship travel, and Agatha Christie meeting
Cruella de Ville. Although, Christie’s mysteries were about the power of
reasoning and the character of de Ville was about perfection in fashion.
Maybe my reaction to the sculpture is not that different from what the
artist intended.

The single most intriguing piece on display was “Table Top” by Chris Vance.
The most interesting collection was by Frank Hansen. The fact that I am not
sure what these works say to me, while the balance of colors, shapes, and
textures lets my eyes decide where they want to go, and gives them something
new to see wherever they move, is why I find these items worthy of note.

Guest Author: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.

Ingersoll Delays

A new streetscape will be created along Ingersoll Avenue starting Monday,
July 16. This means the street will be reduced to one lane of traffic, on
and off, through November 2007. The block between 28th and 29th Streets is
undergoing work first and changes are planned only up to 31st Street. News
reports were not clear on how long any particular part of Ingersoll will
have lane closures. Just be aware that delays may occur and take them in
stride. The street work may also cause delays on the #1 bus line.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

I have not been involved in any of the public hearings or discussions about
this project and only know of it from what I catch in passing through
assorted news outlets. The reason the new streetscape is desired is the
belief that it will be more attractive for customers of retail stores and
restaurants. However, there is also sewer work along 28th Street that may be
tied into the project being done at this time. Here are links to the
Ingersoll Avenue Association, the designers, and a report on scope and costs
from the Des Moines City Council.

Guest Author: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.

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