In September 2007 I wanted to see what would happen to readership numbers if I posted something daily. Readers reacted positively so I tried to keep up that pace for the past ten months. To help me provide a consistent product, I covered the local school board meetings and wrote a weekly column on upcoming weekend activities. I also provided regular information on activities at the state capitol during the legislative session and on issues of transportation in and around Des Moines. When the 2008 floods hit Iowa, because I had already been writing about floodplain issues and responded to readers’ demands for more news, AroundDesMoines.com recorded a significant number of unique visitors in one week. My Fourth of July posts produced another exceptionally high volume week.

Behind the scenes Sandy and I were talking about the format for and the structure of the blog for several months. There were also discussions about how to balance Sandy’s styles of blogs based on personal interests with the style of a general newspaper towards which I was aimed. I came to believe that this blend of styles can deliver a profitable business. However, for that success to be achieved there needs to be a solid foundation on which the two sides can flourish. The schizophrenia that exists in AroundDesMoines.com was visible to anyone who looked at the writer’s guidelines.

Sandy brought Internet networking to the site. I brought publishing experience. Other people made their own unique contributions. Sandy and I have different business goals, though, and we have not been able to reach agreement on how the site can fit into both of our plans. Since Sandy owns the site, I am the one who is leaving.

Because I finally reached the limit of my self-funded finances after trying for a few years to create a quality small-scale integrated media empire, I had to take a paying job. I do not have the time, the energy, or the money left to start another news blog and to continue providing the reporting people in central Iowa so desperately need. I look forward to having time to work on some fiction and poetry, as well as my MRF Communications website where I will once again post commentaries.

Yours truly,

M.R. Field.

July 4, 2008. For people who just want to know where to see fireworks displays in central Iowa, KCCI-TV has an easily-readable list. Personally, I am not as excited about fireworks as I once was. The two main reasons for this is the lack of artistry in many displays and U.S. military operations in Iraq.

In 2003 I stood on an apartment balcony, outside of Iowa, and watched fireworks in three different communities simultaneously. I could not help but compare the fun time Americans were having to the experience of Iraqi citizens caught in a shock-and-awe bombing campaign. On subsequent Fourths of July, I found myself thinking about soldiers and civilians who might be under fire. It’s not wrong to use fireworks to celebrate the independence of a nation secured through war, but it doesn’t feel right to accept them as an ordinary part of summer given the current status of so many members of the U.S. armed forces.

Fireworks displays are complex and dependent on nature. Clouds, humidity, and terrain will cause smoke from fireworks to disperse at various rates. One of the most amazing shows I ever saw was a July 3rd event where thick clouds kept the color of one round of fireworks in the background as the next round exploded. Not only was another dimension added to the show, the effect made it seem as though the explosions were rolling towards me.

The creation of fireworks involves secret family formulas, generations of production experience, and scientific advancements. The preparation for a show requires hours of physical labor, precise lighting of the product (frequently coordinated by computers), and knowledge of how atmospheric conditions affect all parts of the process. In addition, someone sets the length of time and the quantity of fireworks for the show. These are usually controlled by the available money but can also be tied to a certain piece of music (e.g., the 1812 Overture). Ultimately, one person makes a final decision about how the display will be organized. Even then, the observation point held by each individual viewer will factor into how the show is seen.

As I was researching material for this post, I discovered a wide range of events playing more off the themes of summer and fireworks than off of Independence Day. If you’re at Prairie Meadows or at Adventureland in Altoona on the Fourth of July, you might want to stick around for the fireworks. In Ankeny, fireworks come at the conclusion of Summerfest on Sunday, July 13th. Carlisle and Norwalk have more traditional July 4th activities, with parades and other activities. I could not find details about Carlisle’s 2008 activities as the links on the local government’s website don’t work and the Chamber of Commerce provides little more than a start time for the parade. Norwalk’s activities are similarly difficult to track down but, again, that community’s Chamber of Commerce has some basic information. In Norwalk, it is the Lions Club that sponsors the fireworks.

M.R. Field writes about local events for AroundDesMoines.com.

July 4, 2008. (Try 2009 instead.) Fireworks are not uncommon throughout the year. They are set off to welcome in the New Year. They provide enticement for weary baseball fans to stay until the end of a game. They can be part of almost any special event with the money to buy them and the permit to light them. Nevertheless, they still hold special relevance on the Fourth of July.

Spirits soar as the sky lights up with patriotic red, white, and blue colors. Hearts thump as tubes of exploding powder bring to mind the encouragement offered by a flag seen flying o’er the ramparts by the dawn’s early light. Emotions find closure as the last patterns fade from the sky. On the fifth of July, with celebrations over, comes the difficult task of making the country work.

Be cautious with fireworks, though. Some people and animals hear the boom of the explosions and have negative reactions. Other people do not respect the power of a firecracker and end up losing parts of themselves they’d rather keep. Even a sparkler can be a fire hazard.

Warnings also have to be given about the other dangers found around the Fourth of July. Be mindful of how long food sits out during picnics. Wear plenty of sunscreen protection. Do not drink and drive. This year you also want to make sure you have plenty of mosquito repellant on hand. Take these simple precautions, then sit back and enjoy the events around Des Moines.

Des Moines, July 3rd, 8:30 p.m.: Join the Des Moines Symphony for Yankee Doodle Pops on the west side of the state capital (East 9th between East Grand and East Walnut). Performers include Craig Schulmon, Simon Estes, and the Josh Davis Band. [Correction: The Des Moines Symphony performs at 8:30, the warm-up act, the Josh Davis Band, goes on at 6:30 p.m.]

West Des Moines, July 3rd, 6:30 p.m.: Watch politicians and other people as a parade moves from Ashworth and 39th Street to 4th and Maple. There will be a post-parade street dance in Valley Junction with music provided by the Heartbeats.

West Des Moines, July 4th, 7:00 p.m.: A community band concert will be held by the Coneflower Shelters in Raccoon River Park. A fireworks display over Blue Heron Lake in the park will begin at dusk. The city has morning activities listed, too.

Urbandale: What doesn’t Urbandale offer? The festivities kick off on Sunday, June 29th, at 6:00 p.m. with a Patriotic Concert at Lions Park. Activities for children are scheduled throughout the week. On Friday, July 4, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., a parade will start at City Hall and end at the Middle School. there are evening concerts and at 10:00 p.m. is the fireworks display. The fireworks can be seen from Aurora and Lions Park. There are still more activities scheduled for July 5th.

Windsor Heights: Fireworks are scheduled for August 2nd. Yep, August 2nd. That’s due to weather and a park under construction. But there will still be a parade on July 4th. On Thursday, July 3rd, watch acts that might make it to the Bill Riley Talent Show at the state fair (3:00 to 5:00 p.m.) and listen to the battle of youth bands (6:00 to 9:00 p.m.).

For a different take on Fourth of July community events, the Clive Historical Society has a description of a 1917 event on its website. To remind yourself of why we celebrate the fourth, read the text of the Declaration of Independence. As you wave your flags and enjoy your festivities, take a moment to consider the many facets of 232 years of history. There will be time tomorrow to chart the next 4, or 100, years.

M.R. Field writes a weekly Weekend Pick column for AroundDesMoines.com.  

For people who prefer less hype as they view the work of artists and artisans, Artfest Midwest, run by the Stookey Companies, will be held on Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free and the location is the Varied Industries Building at the state fairgrounds. There will be a silent auction, with proceeds going to Orchard Place.

A free shuttle will provide transportation between the Arts Festival and Artfest. For those people taking public transportation, DART has information on its website about the detour on the #1 bus route and for the free D-Line downtown shuttle. Set-up for Arts Festival has already detoured those two bus routes.

The 30th Triennial Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom wraps up this weekend at Simpson College in Indianola. Talk show host and author Amy Goodman will talk at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 27th. Cost is $15 and RSVP is required. Location is the Great Hall on the Simpson campus. On Saturday, June 28th, at 6:00 p.m. a dinner and tribute will be held featuring Fran Korten, publisher of Yes! magazine. Cost is $35 and RSVP is required.

The weather is expected to be in the low 80’s this weekend and dry. If you are looking to volunteer the people Parkersburg, Cedar Rapids, or another part of Iowa hit hard by a tornado or a flood, call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 800-447-1985. I never heard about this phone number until it started appearing in story after story about the 2008 floods. So, I searched the Internet for more information. The hotline is a service of Iowa State University’s Extension Service. It was started as a rural concern hotline in 1985 during a farm crisis. It now offers a 24-hour, 7-days a week resource for issues ranging from agriculture to volunteers. The extension service also has other hotlines, including ones specifically for teenagers and for people with gambling problems. There is also an Iowa Concern website.

Des Moines swimming pools are open but portions of bicycle trails are still listed as closed on the Parks and Recreation webpage.

M.R. Field encourages organizations and performers to send news about their upcoming events to events@AroundDesMoines.com. 

State Center has remained small. The 2000 Census put its population at 1,349. It has also retained its sense of community and community celebrations. The 2008 Rose Festival was held over the course of several days. The last day is June 22nd when there will be a church service in the rose garden, waterball fights at the volunteer fire station, and a concert by Jason Brown at the high school practice field. Fireworks will cap off the event.

A parade was held on Saturday. There were musicians, flags, queens, a rose bud, clowns, motorcycles, fire trucks, a horse drawn wagon, politicians, area businesses and organizations, Abraham Lincoln, and even Santa Claus. In honor of the 50th anniversary, several past queens participated in the parade, including the 1959 Rose Queen Chris Gamble Roskoff.

Several other activities also took place on Saturday. One local business hosted a display of quilts made by local residents over the years, including one dating back to the 1800’s. A spelling bee was held at a historic one-room school house. The local round of competitions was held for the Bill Riley Talent Show.

Greg Robinson was a toddler when the first festival was held and he keeps returning for them. Born in State Center but now living in Maneater, Robinson said he attends for “the parade itself” and for “the people, old friends.” Although, he added that as a child he would probably have answered that the attended for the carnival.

Another feature of State Center, although not one included in the festival schedule, are the coal trains. One older gentleman told me there are about 20 trains a day that pass through carrying coal from Wyoming. In about two hours I saw two trains with coal heading eastward and one train with empty cars heading west.

If you want to enjoy the festivaties in 2009, the Rose Fesitval is held the third weekend in June.

M.R. Field covers local events for AroundDesMoines.com.

(Des Moines, IA, July 21, 2008)

According to data from the Army Corps of Engineers on RiverGages.com, the Des Moines River at 2nd Avenue in Des Moines fell below flood stage (23 feet) during the past 24 hours. At 7:00 a.m. on July 21st the river is at 22.49 feet, down 0.79 since the same time a day earlier. I was in the area yesterday evening and thought the river would be higher. There are still trees surrounded by water and the smell of dead fish was strong. Saylorville Lake Reservoir was at 884.50 feet above sea level (cf. 892.03 record on July 11, 1993).

The Des Moines River below where the Raccoon enters it fell a foot during the past day but is still at 25.33, still above the 24 feet flood level. Stories during the past week have revealed many people who experienced water in basements when the river was near its peak. There were different reasons for the water, though. In some places water seeped in from the amount of water in the surrounding land. Other places had back-ups from storm sewers as rain water met a back-splash of river water.

Downstream, the river remains significantly higher although flood waters are receding. At 7:00 a.m. on July 21st, the Des Moines River is at 20.67 feet at Tracy (flood stage = 14), 18.65 at Ottumwa (flood stage = 10), and 27.79 at Keosauqua (flood stage = 22).

At Cedar Rapids, the Cedar River is at 12.03 feet (flood stage = 12), having dropped by 1.51 feet in the past 24 hours. The Iowa River remains high, though. It is measuring 27.34 (flood stage = 22) at Iowa City at 7:00 a.m. Coralville Lake Reservoir is at 713.72 feet above sea level, only slightly off the July 24, 1993, record of 716.71 feet.

The Mississippi River is still above flood stage at Dubuque in the northern half of the state (17.33 at 7:00 a.m., with a flood stage of 17.00). The record flood level at Dubuque occurred on April 26, 1965. In the southern half of Iowa at Muscatine, the Mississippi is at 22.29 feet (flood stage = 16, with a record set on July 9, 1993). At the southeastern tip of Iowa, the Mississippi was still rising. At 6:00 a.m. on July 21st the Mississippi was at 26.16 feet at Lock and Dam 19 (Keokuk), up 0.05, with a flood stage of 16.

M.R. Field writes about local events for AroundDesMoines.com.

Des Moines has had a community jazz organization dedicated to helping young musicians since 1988. You can catch jazz musicians at Java Joe’s Coffeehouse on 4th Street downtown on the first and third Sundays of each month. For more information, visit the Des Moines Community Jazz Center’s website.

Nitefall on the River has been challenged this year due to the level of the Des Moines River. The opening performance on June 5th had to be moved and the June 12th show was cancelled. The Parks and Recreation Department’s webpage for the city-sponsored event is silent on future shows but apparently the June 19th and the June 26th shows have been moved to People’s Court, upstairs at 216 Court Avenue.

The Des Moines Metro Opera starts its 36th Festival Season with A Masked Ball on Thursday, June 20, 2008. The season runs through July 13th. Other operas being presented are Regina and The Elixir of Love. Catch the performances at the Blank Performing Arts Center at Simpson College in Indianola. Tickets start at $40 but there are some $30 seats on June 20th and 21st. Curtain time is at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. There will also be a matinee of Regina on Friday, July 4th. For details about the operas, the dates of performances, and directions to Simpson College, visit the Metro Opera’s website.

If you can’t make it to any of the performances, the Des Moines Public Library has a collection of compact disks available for patrons to check out. Recently I borrowed a CD of Thelonious Monk performing with John Coltrane. For years I had heard comments about Monk but I had never listened to his music. The very first note of Ruby, My Dear demanded I pay attention. With the second bar I began to melt onto the floor. By the third bar I couldn’t move. The CD also included Ray Copeland on the trumpet. None of the high school concerts I’ve attended even came close to suggesting the instrument could sound that smooth.

M.R. Field writes a weekly Weekend Pick column for AroundDesMoines.com.  

The Hy-Vee Triathlon has been moved from Gray’s Lake with a finish at the state capitol to West Des Moines with a finish at Valley Southwoods High School. On Wednesday, June 18, 2008, officials announced that the bacteria count and water levels at Blue Heron Lake in the Raccoon River Park were at acceptable levels to include the swim portion of the event. This means the Hy-vee Triathlon will be an Olympic-qualifying event. Assorted amateur and professional swim-bike-run activities are scheduled for Sunday, June 22nd. Motorists and bicyclists should expect roads along the course to be closed or to have lanes reduced during the event.

Normally I wouldn’t pick something like the Swinefestival. First, it’s in Ankeny (DMACC Campus, 2006 South Ankeny Boulevard) on a Saturday night (5:00 to 9:00 p.m). Secondly, the event costs $35 ($30 in advance) but doesn’t seem to offer much that is unique. The theme of the event is “SWine…where cork meets pork.” It is funded in part through the Grape and Wine Development Fund of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The confined event piles on the hog to make it an attraction. There are ten chefs featured at Swinefestival, each offering a pork-based dish. I highly recommend one of the chefs, Cydney Koehn-Mull of Cyd’s Catering.

Summer arrives at 6:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Friday, June 20th. Drake University staff again offer talks and sky viewing at the Municipal Observatory in Waveland Park at 9:00 p.m. The first presentation is on June 20th and is about the moon and how it affects Earth and earthlings. The talks are every Friday through July 25th, except there is no program on July 4th.

If the weather is getting too hot for you, this will be the third Saturday of the month. That means there are tours of the vault at the State Historical Building. With the flooding finished in Des Moines, the downtown farmers market is back on Saturday and the Science and Botanical Centers are open.

This is the last weekend to catch Leading Ladies at the Des Moines Playhouse. The play is much better than a description of the plot would suggest.

On a personal note, I expect I will be helping a friend tear out flood-destroyed structures in her house. The Polk County Department of Public Health continues to offer free tetanus shots for those helping with clean-up around the county. Shots are available at 1907 Carpenter from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additional locations for shots and information on how to clean after a flood are available on a special county webpage. Even if you aren’t on a post-flood detail, make sure your yard is free of standing water. We don’t need more mosquitos in Des Moines.

M.R. Field encourages organizations and performers to send news about their upcoming events to events@AroundDesMoines.com. 

The public hearing for an early start waiver had no speakers and no board discussion. Even though DMPS historically starts before Labor Day the school board still needs to request a waiver from the state to do so each year. The request passed 7-0 and the 2008-2009 school year will begin on August 21, 2008.

On advice of outside counsel, the board voted not to pursue legal action related to a change in school board elections. Board Member Teree Caldwell-Johnson emphasized that the motion approved at the June 3rd meeting was to pursue gathering information on legal action, not on taking legal action itself.

Changes on Policy Governance items brought out some discussion and inquiries. The board voted to readjust the length of time in advance of meetings that it receives a packet with the tentative agenda and background material. When Policy Governance was adopted, it required packets to be prepared two days earlier than was then the practice. This led to many instances in which background information for action items was provided to board members in a red folder when they arrived at the board meetings. (Members of the public may also request copies of the background material and pick them up at the DMPS offices.) Caldwell-Johnson asked about a list of material district administration considered likely to be in the red folders in the future. She received an apology that the request had not been met for this meeting due to unexpected activities (i.e., flooding along the Des Moines River).

District counsel Beth Nigut read a list of recommended changes to the 200 series of the board’s policies. These were primarily administrative, such as removing the word “annual” from board orientation requirements since board members will not be elected annually after 2009. (Comment: I was glad to see the issue of president versus chair addressed. State law references a president of a board but Policy Governance prefers to use chair. Essentially, the change notes that the president is referred to as the chair.) Board Member Jon Narcisse asked about the recommendation provided that Roberts Rules of Order would not be used. Nigut replied that the Policy Review Committee thought Roberts was better used in large bodies, such as the state legislature. The committee felt there were other processes that could be used by the school board, according to Nigut, but she did not offer what those rules would be. Narcisse had expressed concern about not using Roberts Rules during at least one prior board meeting.

The board also discussed recommendations for 2009 legislative agenda priorities. This is an annual process and the recommendations will be passed on to the Iowa Association of School Boards (IA-SB). Discussion will continue during future summer meetings. There was general interest in issues identified as priorities for 2008. Board President Dick Murphy said he would like to see the state change the number of charter schools allowed and added he was thinking about Edmunds becoming a charter school. Superintendent Dr. Nancy Sebring urged board members to keep in mind that DMPS has more subgroups of students than smaller districts. Board Member Connie Boesen wants the state to fund the model core curriculum it passed this year, including paying for professional development. Narcisse said he would like to see a shift in the state’s formula to allow funding to include students served not just enrolled.

M.R. Field covers school board meetings for AroundDesMoines.com.

The demographic study was prepared by Ochsner Hare & Hare of Kansas City and reported on at the school board meeting by Ralph Ochsner. The purpose of the study was to look at a five-year population projection, with emphasis on the south side. The base demographics came from an organization that starts with 2000 Census data then updates it using U.S. Postal Service information on the number of households receiving mail delivery by census block. Before Ochsner spoke, background was provided by district staff. The average age of school buildings in Des Moines is 60 years. Changes that have occurred over those decades include more focus on special education and on pre-kindergarten students. The needs of the entire district have to be considered, especially since 28% of students do not attend neighborhood schools.

Ochsner described the Des Moines district as having “a fairly stable population.” Before his company prepared the report, Ochsner said he spent three days traveling nearly every street south of Raccoon River. In addition, he talked with property owners and developers. There is projected growth in population and student body along the edges of Des Moines, in all directions. The south side is expected to have the greatest growth, although that means only about 1,600 more people and 550 more children. This averages about 30 children per age group (from 0-17 years). According to a map in the executive summary of the report, the south side is considered to be the area south of the Raccoon River, stretching across the city from east to west. The central north part of the city is expected to have smaller growth.

The report anticipates the district-wide population to be 199,133, down from 199,746 in 2007. The number of children, up to 17 years of age, is expected to increase slightly from 47,683 to 48,202. For individual schools, the 2012 projections range from an increase of 5 students at Wright to 155 at Pleasant Hill.

A decrease in students is projected for the central north part of the district. The reduction in numbers for elementary schools range from 2 at Oak Park to 132 at Carver. Percentage decreases range from 6.3% at Carver to 0.2% at Monroe and at Oak Park.

The school board will pass the report on to a facilities committee that is expected to be operational by this coming autumn. That committee will make recommendations on how to use buildings. [Note: Although the projected increase averages 30 children per age group, that could equate to two more classrooms at the kindergarten level but maybe only 3 more students in each history class in middle school.]

M.R. Field covers school board meetings for AroundDesMoines.com.