Around Des Moines

Sunday, May 11th, is Mother’s Day. You can celebrate with a brunch at the Botanical Center (909 Robert D. Ray Drive). Cost is $21.95 for adults and $10.95 for children 10 and younger. There will be seatings at 10:00 a.m. and at 1:00 p.m. with reservations required (515-323-6289). If your mother enjoys the Botanical Center but does not care for brunch, she can enjoy the scenery for free when accompanied by a child. Regular adult admission is $4.

If your mother is the type of person who thinks the best way to celebrate is to have fun with the young children, Second Saturday events will be held at the Art Center. Each month on the second Saturday, the Art Center (near 45th and Grand) offers activities for children accompanied by an adult from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. Sessions are free but limited space means reservations are required (515-271-0328). The May 10th program will be on spring flowers for children ages 5-10.

If your mother is elderly or otherwise prefers driving around in a car than doing outside activities, lilacs are blooming around town. It should be a good weekend to visit Ewing Park’s lilac arboretum on the city’s southeast side. Over 300 varieties of crab apples are blooming in the Arie den Boer Arboretum on the eastern side of Water Works Park.

For children who like to cook (and clean up the mess), makings of a meal might be found at the first farmers’ market on Saturday along Court Avenue in downtown Des Moines. Thursday, May 8th, is the second week for the Valley Junction market.

Louis Sachar’s Holes is playing at the Des Moines Playhouse (831 42nd Street) on Friday (7:00 p.m.), Saturday (1:00 p.m.), and Sunday (1:00 and 4:00 p.m.). Adult tickets are $15. It’s good entertainment for both young and old. The Viking Theatre’s (2811 East 14th Street, at Grandview College) performance of The Sunshine Boys ends on May 11th. Show times are Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm. and Saturday and Sunday at 4:00 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and are available through IowaTix.

On Thursday, May 8, 2008, the Drake Trombone Choir will give a free concert at 8:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Hall of the Harmon Fine Arts Center (25th and Carpenter). David Vining, a professor of trombone at Northern Arizona University is the featured guest.

Friday, May 9th, is the final night in the spring series of astronomy nights at the Drake Municipal Observatory. The topic this week is the future of stars. The event is free and begins at 8:00 p.m. at the observatory in Waveland Park.

On Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the State Historical Society Building (600 East Locust) is a celebration of Tet. This event in honor of the Vietnamese New Year will feature dancing dragons, food demonstrations, and more. It is free and family-oriented.

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

The Thoreau Center (35th Street and Kingman Boulevard) was a good choice for “Walk in Closet,” a display of artwork by Angela Warren and by Rebecca Gehm. The young artists’ bodies of work reflect experimentation in subject matter and in mediums. The layout of the center, formerly a house, allowed the different styles to be kept mostly separate, thereby focusing concentration on each piece during a reception held on May 2, 2008.

The title of the show is intriguing. It could mean a walk-in closet where special items are kept, easily accessible but not on public display. It could refer to the act of walking into or staying within a closet in terms of things a person wants to keep secret. It could also suggest a large space to hide all the detritus that allows a house, or section of a city, to be picture perfect.

In her artist statement, Warren said she wants to “show the time passing in layers, so that there is a sense of travel through every arrival and departure.” She achieves that goal superbly in her oils. “Opt for a Visit?” is a triptych, its scene a row of portable toilets in a muddy field. From the way lined up waiting their turn rest their hands on hips and lean in towards each other it is clear this is the end of a long day. Ghostly figures and a body seemingly trampled into the mud suggest all the people who have been there before. The mud holds the history of each footstep that helped transform the land. The texture of the oil adds a dimension that makes the scene seem more real than a smoother medium could.

Warren’s two-dimensional lithograph, “Overhang,” seems bland in comparison. Yet, there is feeling of suspense as a sole figure stands beneath an arch that could be a cave’s dome or a ledge on a cliff. Is the person safe, protected by the overhang, or in danger of being crushed by falling rocks?

Gehm’s artist statement reveals that she majored in drawing and many of her pieces seem to have been class assignments to showcase different styles of lines and shading. In her series on “The Woman and the Hand,” she uses charcol and gesso as a sculptor might use a rough red clay. The object is more the suggestion of a shape than a delicate recreation of a moment and proportions are not exact. In contrast, “Eye Tube,” in colored pencil and charcol, included many precise circles and proportionate lines. Nevertheless, the drawing still left interpretation to the viewer. The sketch reminded me of olives with pimentos placed as though they were grapes on a stalk, but also of the Martian eyes in War of the Worlds. There was a single figure, suggestive of a female, rising from a pool of water, which turned my thoughts to alien eyes watching humans rise from the oceans. Gehm describes the drawing as “a reaction to the realities of the Internet generation.”

M.R. Field writes reviews for AroundDesMoines.com.

A recommendation by the Des Moines Public Schools’ calendar committee led to a discussion on professional development and student achievement at the May 6, 2008, DMPS School Board meeting.

State law requires 180 days of education each school year. In addition, there must be 5.5 hours of instruction per day or 27.5 hours within a consecutive 5-day period. When the DMPS calendar is prepared, consideration must be given to major holidays. In addition, DMPS breaks need to be coordinated with breaks at local colleges and universities to accommodate student teachers’ schedules. Hot weather is also a concern since some school buildings do not have air conditioning.

One recommendation of the calendar committee was accepted with little discussion. The early dismissals (20 minutes early) on the days before the Thanksgiving and the Winter Holiday breaks will be eliminated starting with the 2008-2009 school year. This is an amendment to the calendar adopted last summer.

The recommendation that faced opposition was a proposal to let all schools out early every Wednesday starting with the 2009-2010 school year. The purpose of the proposal is to allow teachers time for required professional development and class planning. The weekly early release would replace ad hoc schedules created at elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Superintendent Dr. Nancy Sebring described the three levels of professional development. The first occurs at the individual level, when teachers set their own development goals and discuss them with their principals. The building level is next with decisions being made on how graduation ends, No Child Left Behind, and that school’s culture are promoted by all teachers. The district is the final level and it will also set some policies on government mandates and academic programs.

The 90-minute early dismissal would not all come from instruction time. It would be calculated from the time teachers are scheduled to leave. The Wednesday dismissals would replace other early dismissal days already in the schedule for professional development but would not replace full-day sessions, such as the one held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

District staff sent an electronic survey to teachers and queried parents via parent-teacher conferences on their support for a consistent professional development day. Those who responded were predominantly in favor of a weekly early-release day. However, there was much more support for such a schedule in the elementary grades. Sebring said if only elementary students were released early, the extra demand on buses and drivers would cost $1,000 each Wednesday. The superintendent added that another part of the reasoning for an across-the-board release time was so older siblings could babysit those students too young to be at home by themselves.

Several board members said that nearly everybody who sent them e-mails were opposed to the weekly development schedule. One teacher who spoke during public comments said that the Federal Aviation Authority insists upon a certain number of hours in the aviation program and that the proposal could jeopardize the program’s certification due to lack of instructional hours. Board President Dick Murphy said he had heard from music and art teachers concerned that their lessons would be cut out of instruction time under the plan. Sebring asked the board to request people contacting them to also copy district administration as the opposition was coming somewhat as a surprise, given the results of the teacher and parent surveys. Board members volunteered to forward messages they had already received.

Board Member Jon Narcisse said that $1,000 every Wednesday, for approximately 25 Wednesdays, would be worth the cost if it resulted in improved achievements for students. Murphy agreed with him on that point. Board Member Patty Link was concerned about comparing DMPS early dismissals to those of nearby districts, preferring to see how other urban districts handled professional development and early dismissal. There were frequent comments that teachers had told board members there already is enough professional development and class planning; what is considered more important is face time with the students.

Several board members stressed that the final decision had to be based on student achievement. The board also was insistent on having some way to measure the success of any professional development, both for individual teachers and for students. There was also concerned expressed in public comments and by some board members that not all professional development training is worthwhile. Would there be enough quality development to justify an early release every week?

The board wants to hear from the district’s professional development committee. If a weekly early out is needed, is Wednesday the best day? Board Member Connie Boesen, throwing out ideas, asked if maybe Friday would be better, which would give parents options for early weekends.

Sebring and her staff will gather more information and update the proposal before the board at the May 20th meeting.

M.R. Field reports on school board meetings for AroundDesMoines.com. 

Already behind on articles to write for AroundDesMoines.com, I chose to save time by watching the May 6, 2008, Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) School Board meeting on public access television. Unlike the first time I watched the board meeting on Channel 12, the picture quality and sound synchronization were not problematic. Alas, the 5:45 p.m. open speaking time for members of the public was, again, omitted. Instead of showing what concerns and ideas the public had, the district’s video staff chose to run another ubiquitous self-promotional piece. This attempt to control the message was repeated at the board meeting during a discussion on the 2009-2010 school calendar.

The board meeting was civil and proceeded relatively smoothly. The superintendent’s report was a series of recognition for various competitions DMPS students won, ranging from the debate team at Roosevelt High School to culinary challenges at Central Campus. One numbers-based comment reported was that the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) issues 60,000 college credits annually to high school students, with 11,000 of those going to DMPS students.

The chairman’s/president’s report consisted of informing board members that Jim Hiatt, a consultant on Policy Governance, would hold a training for the board on June 17. A scheduled monitoring report under Policy Governance on Financial Condition and Activities was postponed until the May 20th meeting due to the unanticipated absence of a key staff member.

The consent agenda consisted of items requiring more money due to rising costs. These items included construction of the front entry way at the Wallace-Homestead building, before and after school care fees, as well as increases in student meal fees, and other routine cost adjustments. For instance, the Food & Nutrition programs’ estimated milk, dairy, and juice products cost was $1,493,487 in the 2007-2008 school year. The actual cost has been $100,000 higher. On the regular agenda was a public hearing for the 2008-2009 budget due to an error in the original public notice that stated the hearing was to be held on April 1st instead of April 8th. There were no comments and no discussion at the hearing and the board quickly moved on to the 2007-2008 budget. The board needed to approve a public hearing (to be held on May 20th) regarding authorization for increased spending limits. Board President Dick Murphy said this is a routine matter that happens every year after detailed information is received. The description of this item provided in the agenda was that the costs relate to maintaining compliance with statutory requirements.

During requests for information, Board Member Teree Caldwell-Johnson asked for a summary on 2008 bills passed by the Iowa legislature that will have an effect on the DMPS and the board’s future decisions. The district communications official, Phil Roeder, said there are three areas relative to legislative action that the school board needs to consider in the near future. One are the new laws, including a statewide sales tax for school buildings, collective bargaining, and the model core curriculum. The second need is to review priorities for the 2009 legislative session to pass along to the Iowa Association of School Boards. The third matter the board must consider is election reform legislation that changes school board elections from every year to every other year and that changes terms of board members from three years to four years. The board must decide how it will implement this change and have a report to the Iowa Secretary of State by early August.

See Part 2 of this report for discussion on future school calendars and professional development.

M.R. Field reports on school board meetings for AroundDesMoines.com. 

The Des Moines Playhouse ends its 2007-2008 children’s season with the upbeat and fun Holes. Most of the story takes place at Camp Green Lake and campy is one of the descriptions for the play. Another theme is the adventure of discovering the story behind a local legend. For those people old enough to remember The Wonderful World of Disney, imagine one of those stories written with an extra touch of intentional humor.

The second show of Sunday, May 4, 2008, started out tentatively. The pace was fast, in keeping with the rest of the production, but without advanced knowledge of that context and without consistently strong performances by all the cast, the opening left the audience uncertain of the play. That quickly changed when Todd Buchacker, as Mr. Sir, strutted out on stage. A few of the adult audience members laughed loudly and the actors responded to the acknowledgment.

For shows at the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre, adults and youth are given different program books. The children’s books are geared towards helping them learn about theatrical performances by connecting with the actors. The adults’ books include information on all parts of the production. In Kathy Pingel’s director’s notes in the adult book there is a slight spoiler but I recommend reading it before the play anyway. As I left the theatre I felt as though the story was not fully explained through the action and the words of the play. A day later, as I write this review, I realize the components were all there. Think of the way Ellery Queen solved mysteries, with knowledge of words and memory of what people said. Much of what is said in the play is ordinary, yet a few of those words hold special significance in understanding the final course of events. Adults also receive an insert on how Carol J. Taylor, the retired education director at the playhouse, was challenged to create yellow-spotted lizard puppets. Read that item before the play, too.

Louis Sachar’s story looks at how family curses can offer opportunities for redemption. Stanley Yelnats picks up a pair of sneakers that fall at his feet. He is whisked off to court and sentenced to Camp Green Lake. The warden at the camp requires the boys in her charge to dig a hole a day. When Stanley first arrives, he is a stranger to be taunted. Common work and interactions build comradery and loyalty.

Karen Schaeffer (Warden), Mark Maddy (Mr. Pendanski), and Paula Krull (Kate Barlow) are the adult actors who deserve mention for their performances. They looked as though they were having fun but they also made their characters believable.

High school sophomore Abi LeBlanc, as Stanley, proves that an actor does not have to be a male to play a boy. The other boys were played by Caleb Fisher (Zero), Matt Pierick (X-Ray), Aaron Primrose (Armpit), Davon Lee (Zig-Zag), and Grant Goss (Magnet). They all worked well as an ensemble.

Angela Lampe’s costume design also merits praise.

M.R. Field writes reviews for AroundDesMoines.com.

(Des Moines, IA, May 5, 2008) The Polk County Board of Supervisors and George Davey deserve praise. The supervisors saw the public was not going to accept their original $186 million proposal for a new court facility. Consequently, they sent their staff and hired consultants back to the drawing board and Polk County residents were given a $132 million proposal on which to vote. For his part, Davey took his objection to more taxes and made attempts to provide alternative solutions for the supervisors to consider.

As many residents made clear in opinions expressed to the local print and broadcast media, the vote was about far more than a courthouse, though. The low voter turnout showed the vote also was about the needs of a court system few people understand or use. Pre- and post-election commentary reveal there is no answer, yet, for how to move past the growing deadlock. That barrier is a lack of public trust in the decisions of the county supervisors combined with the lack of people willing to serve on the board, or at least to run for a seat on the board.

Despite comparisons people have made, the courthouse vote was not the same as the vote against Project Destiny. Project Destiny was about a sales tax, something almost everybody understands. Moreover, Project Destiny was a reaction against the massive corporate tax breaks the measure would have created combined with large corporate donations to the Yes to Destiny campaign. However, there was also a significant feeling among voters in both last summer’s Project Destiny vote and last month’s courthouse vote that elected officials have regularly acted in favor of a few non-elected power brokers over the greater interests of the general public.

M.R. Field was editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.

(Des Moines, IA, May 5, 2008) Ask your elected officials if it is okay to use a cash advance check from one of your credit cards to pay the minimum amount due on another card. Then ask that same official if it is okay to use funds from one source of government to pay for a project by another level of government. Most likely the elected official would express concern about the former and praise for the latter. Yet, in the end, the source of all those government funds is the same: the taxpayer. In theory and in practice, I favor using taxes from one source to pay for essential needs in another part of a jurisdiction. For example, I have no problem with some of my federal tax dollars earned in Iowa going to pay for food stamps in Louisiana. However, I have major objections to one level of government telling me something is free because another level of government is paying for it.

Take the new D-Line shuttle that starts today in Des Moines as an example. This shuttle will run from the Des Moines Public School’s Central Campus at about 18th and Grand to the state Capitol at approximately East 13th and East Grand. The shuttle will run the loop in approximately 10-minute intervals, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. It will be free to riders. In contrast, riders of the regular DART buses that cover that same run and a few additional blocks on their regularly-scheduled hourly runs, from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and 7:00 to 6:00 on weekends, will see the fare for that zone go from $0.25 to $0.50 on June 1, 2008. DART and city officials sing the praise of this new simple-and-free shuttle. Alas, whether a regular DART route bus or a shiny new downtown shuttle, you and I are the ones paying the price and it is not free.

Similarly, I was not happy when the state legislature passed the $0.01 property tax/school construction bill this past session. If that sales tax were a permanent source of funding for operations of schools, I would have been a supporter. As it is, the construction tax bill has consequences not mentioned by its proponents. Yes, money from retail-rich parts of the state will help construct school-related buildings in less well-financed districts. However, if those districts do not vote in favor of the new school construction, they can use that money to lower property taxes that are already lower than those in many retail-oriented metropolitan areas. In other words, residents of Des Moines who shop within the city may soon be paying for property-tax reduction of corporate hog confinements across Iowa. Furthermore, another expense of the housing bubble was that governmental projects also cost more as construction workers and building materials went to residential construction, thereby raising prices for all projects. That means the General Assembly increased the cost of the Polk County courthouse reconstruction, should voters approve it at a later time. (Supporters of a new courthouse have been arguing since their defeat that the voters’ rejection of their plan increased the cost by millions of dollars due to the inevitable delay. One more thing on that school bill. Many of Des Moines’ big companies that supported Project Destiny have offices in those smaller communities whose property taxes may be reduced thanks to the state legislature.)

The April 2008 Polk County courthouse vote also suffered from the fact that it was about the prison system, something most people do not think about on a regular basis, unlike the sales taxes associated with Project Destiny. Why should county voters be taxed for something they don’t think they will use? I noticed that in the media discussions about the courthouse vote, the voices that were missing included jurors’ experiences, plus witnesses and victims who had to appear in court, a grieving survivor who had to struggle with probate, and even ex-offenders who were transported between the county jail and the courthouse. How would they improve the facilities? It is also possible that money being spent on new prisons in Iowa helped defeat the courthouse vote, at least subconsciously, but I don’t think that would have been a major factor in anybody’s decision.

The final part of this commentary is the tax levies themselves. I took a look at the levy maps and tables available on the county auditor’s website and was surprised at how much variation there is even within the city of Des Moines. A quick look at the table shows a range of rates from just over 25.13, including a sanitary sewer charge, in parts of Windsor Heights in the West Des Moines school district to over 49.92 in Des Moines in the SE Polk schools district.

M.R. Field was editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.  

Valley Junction’s first farmers’ market of 2008 was held on a humid afternoon. Fortunately, the rain and thunderstorms forecast for May 1st held off until the next morning. Fresh produce was scant but not absent. There was a handful of new rhubarb, greenhouse cucumbers, and hydroponic tomatoes. Other Iowa food was available as prepared items. These included preserved meat, jams and jellies, cheese, and wine. Someone was even selling aged garlic. There were also plenty of bakery products, from breads to cakes. Entertainment was provided by musical groups at two different locations. There was a band and a drinking tent at the depot and a more intimate group of musicians north of the community center. Many people seemed satisfied to spend their time admiring the numerous puppies that were being walked around the market. I chatted with a few of the vendors.

Kirk Sloan, owner of Sloan Brothers Iowa Organic Produce, wants to bring Fairfield’s riches to central Iowa. He had cucumbers from the Maharashi Vedic City Organic Farm and clarified organic butter from Spring Sunrise. Next week he expects to have basil and bell peppers, too. Sloan used to live in Fairfield but now resides in West Des Moines. He will be at the Ankeny and downtown Des Moines farmers markets, too.

Maria Burham and her husband, John, started a Knead to Treat about three years ago. Although the idea was John’s, Maria is the one who does the baking and selling. They supply bakery items to Fareway stores in Osceolo and Winterset. I asked Burham to describe her product. She said it is basic homemade, “the kind of bread you would buy that reminds you of your grandmother.” They have scones, breads, sweets, and croutons. Customers can call ahead to order breads and cookie baskets to be picked up at the farmers’ market.

The Harvest Barn, an Osceolo business that opened in 2001, sells naturally raised meats. The meat is packaged in a variety of styles from dried beef to cooked shaved brisket to raw pork loin. There is also homemade fudge. In addition, you can find Milton Farms cheese at the booth. If there is a particular product you would like, you can call Harvest Barn and then pick up your order at the market.

Gino’s sauces were on sale. There was marinara, garlic cream, and Italian. The person marketing the product described Gino’s as an Italian steakhouse. It is located at 2809 Sixth Avenue in Des Moines.

The Brain Injury Association of Iowa, based in Waterloo, was selling helmets for bicyclists and extreme sports enthusiasts. The group holds a walk around Gray’s Lake the first Saturday of October as an annual fundraiser. It also offers a monthly support group and hosts activities for survivors. The Family Help Line number is 800-475-4442.

The Valley Junction Farmers’ Market is held every Thursday (except July 3rd) through October 2nd. It is located in West Des Moines at approximately Fifth and Elm Streets. Hours are 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

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

Over the past few weeks I’ve realized that while the weather may not change every five minutes, the weather forecasts certainly do. Whether the weekend turns out to be sunny and dry or rainy and chilly there are a variety of activities around Des Moines to entertain you.

Most dependent on the weather is the Pella Tulip Time. Pella is just under 40 miles east of Des Moines on state highway 163. The town has a Dutch heritage and has built a tourism base on that theme. The festival runs all day every day from Thursday, May 1st, through Saturday, May 3rd. Besides delicious pastries for sale, there will be tours of historic houses, musical entertainment, parades, and, of course, tulips.

Weather will also matter for the running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, but that will be in Louisville, Kentucky. Des Moines’ local track is Prairie Meadows in Altoona (I-80 Exit 142, northeast of Des Moines). The racetrack/casino has three restaurants and lots of economic controversy. Prairie Meadows gets mentioned in national horse racing news due to its experience with slots and because Maggi Moss, a native Iowan and local trial lawyer, was nominated for the Eclipse Award as horse owner of the year.

If you want conversations on science, television, publishing, art, food, clothes, and an assortment of games, DemiCon will run from Friday afternoon through mid-afternoon on Sunday, May 4th. This is the 19th year of the science fiction and fantasy convention hosted by the Des Moines Science Fiction Society. Cost for all three days is $50 for adults; less for one-day attendance. It is to be held at the Hotel Fort Des Moines in downtown Des Moines.

The 2008 ICAN convention will be on Saturday, May 3, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Jim Hightower is scheduled as the keynote speaker. Join the Iowa Citizen Action Network for workshops on promoting progressive politics, including one about on-line organizing. The convention is being held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston, a few miles to the northwest of Des Moines.

Theatrical choices this week include The Sunshine Boys at Grandview College’s Viking Theatre. Tickets cost $10 and the theatre is located at 2811 East 14th Street in Des Moines (on the #4 bus route). Show dates are May 1-4 and May 8-11. Times are 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For children, Holes, based on Louis Sachar’s award-winning book, opens at the Des Moines Playhouse. Show dates and times are: May 2-18; Fridays at 7:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 1:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults.

On Friday, the 2nd, there will be a reception for “Walk in Closet,” a display of artwork by Angela Warren and Rebecca Gehm, at The Thoreau Center (3500 Kingman Boulevard from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. The Hentschel Art Gallery (835 42nd Street) is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. The current exhibit is “The Blues,” paintings by Davenport native Nancy Purrington. She looks at the unique features of the Mississippi River at Davenport.

Scrub Days for Des Moines residents start on May 3rd. The MWA Transfer Station at 4198 Delaware Avenue and the Compost Center at 1601 Harlett will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Guidelines on what can be dropped off by whom can be found on the city’s website. Throughout the next few months there will be scrub days scattered across the city.

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

Thursday happens to be May 1st, a date that has been selected for many different types of celebrations or awareness events over the years. This special Weekend Pick looks at traditional, modern, and one-time events for May 1, 2008.

Many people in modern society celebrate the seasonal Celtic holiday of Beltane on May 1st. It just so happens that the Valley Junction farmers market for 2008 will begin on May 1st. Depending on when the rain arrives, it could be an appropriate way to acknowledge the day, particularly when you consider that Beltane is a celebration of fertility and farmers want good crops.

May Day as celebrated among American school children also means a day for baskets filled with flowers. I remember gathering lilacs and iris, putting them in a basket made out of construction paper, and leaving them on the porches of elderly neighbors. I still like to make these simple gifts to brighten someone’s day. In Hawaii, May Day is known as Lei Day.

In 1987 Gloria T. Delamar’s book, Mother Goose; From Nursery to Literature, was published. To help promote the book and to share an appreciation of the nursery rhymes, Delamar established The Mother Goose Society and designated May 1st as Mother Goose Day. A list of ideas for celebrating the day can be found on the society’s website.

International Workers’ Day also is known as an international labor day. In the United States it was generally treated with disregard during the Cold War as the Soviet Union celebrated the day with a military parade in Moscow. It might be time for Americans to return to the traditional history of the day and remember its significance. On May 1, 1886, workers across the U.S. went on strike in support of an eight-hour work day. Many people I know are finding themselves working many more than eight hours a day thanks to cell phones, e-mail, and worker shortages.

The National Day of Prayer and its counterpoint, a National Day of Reason, are held on the first Thursday of May, which happens to be May 1st this year. For the Day of Reason, the Iowa Secularists will show The God Who Wasn’t There at 7:00 p.m. on May 1st at the Botanical Center (909 Robert D. Ray Drive). Admission is free. There are also events in Cedar Rapids and in Iowa City on the 1st.

The Love Foundation has designated May 1st as Global Love Day, an international celebration of humanity. This non-profit organization was founded by author Harold W. Becker in 2000. One Becker quote found on the group’s website is, “When we know we have love in our heart, unconditional compassion becomes as natural as breathing.” I’m trying to figure out how to apply the ideas of Global Love Day to a local school board, some county supervisors and county voters, and some people seeking to be the next president of the U.S.

John McCain will be in Des Moines on May 1st to promote his healthcare plan. The town hall meeting will be held at the Polk County Convention Complex (Fifth and Grand). Doors open at 12:00 noon.

The Polk County Suicide Coalition hosts a talk on “Protecting Your Dreams: College Suicide; Why It Happens and How to Prevent It” on the 1st. The seminar will be held at 1914 Carpenter Avenue, Conference Room B, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. For more information or for crisis help, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s website or call the lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. People considering suicide and their families might appreciate some unconditional love and May Day baskets.

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