Let's Catch Up! November '25

TRAINING TOWER FOR FIREFIGHTERS

Fire Marshal Jon Lund, left, and Captain Steve Kiburz stand outside the training tower that is part of the new Fire Station 4 under construction at 1505 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

The $15.8 million station is expected to open in early 2026.

The five-story training tower, shown in the background, will serve firefighters from all 11 Des Moines stations. The cost to build the tower and the covered trench (below grade) is estimated at $300,000.

The tower’s one-off interior serves as a training ground for combating blazes and rescuing people in high-rise and medium-rise buildings. Jon told me Des Moines has about 100 buildings classified as high-rises—seven stories or more—and estimated there are another 100 buildings three stories or more, each with at least one elevator.

“We put about 500 hours into designing and inspecting this tower,” Jon told me. “There’s really nothing like this in the U.S. We’ve already had inquiries from Texas A&M’s Fire and Emergency Services and from Lincoln, Nebraska, to tour our tower.”

At Station 4, all firefighters will train for basic stairway rescues. The most frequent users will be members of the technical rescue squads from Stations 4 and 7, on the East Side at 500 East 12th Street, just south of East Euclid Avenue.

“With the tower, we can do more reps on rescues that are difficult and dangerous,” Jon said.

“The goal is to make the rescue safer and faster,” he added. “You might only get one rescue a year that requires rappelling down an elevator shaft and entering the car from the roof. We want as many practice sessions as possible.”

Jon said the training tower has three railings: cables, as in a parking garage; metal railings, as on balconies; and a catwalk, as the one above Casey’s Arena.

Jon told me that Captain Tim Nemmers was in on the planning from the get-go. Captain Nimmers and a small committee of DMFD personnel worked on the design and maximizing training opportunities. One committee member visited training towers in New York City and elsewhere.

So, what’s it like to design a training tower? I stopped by Substance Architecture to talk to Leah Rudolphi and Paolo Orlando, the design team.

They don’t teach anything like this in architecture school! And chances are, the tower won’t be in the running for any prestigious design award from the American Institute of Architects. “This is the most interesting, unique, and complex project I’ve been involved with,” Leah said.

The firefighters knew exactly what they wanted, Leah recalled. “It had to have a durable surface; this tower needs to shed a lot of water—650 gallons a minute. And pump the water out,” she said, continuing:

“They wanted different window dimensions. Some windows next to a corner. And imagine trying to spec elevator doors, but no elevator. Trying to get someone to sell just the doors was a challenge.”

Paola talked about the tight conditions, inside and out. “Everything is smushed together,” he told me. “There are anchors on the floor to go down an elevator shaft. Anchors on the ceiling. Anchors in the corners. And all tested so they can rappel off ledges.

“And in the adjoining station, we designed a mezzanine, so they could reconfigure the space to resemble residential, business, storage, and utility spaces.”

When I circled back to Jon, he was quick to point out the value of Station 4. “Being located in the center of the city is important,” Jon added.

“This station does two really important things for the community. First, it improves service delivery to the residents. And second, it provides a prominent building in the neighborhood to be a fixture for years to come.

“Fire stations are safe spaces, and this building has features—like the classroom—that can benefit the neighborhood for the next several decades.”

More details.

I-CUBS BULLPENS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Since the end of the 2025 baseball season, crews have been working to build first-time bullpens on the Sec Taylor Field at Principal Park. The second week in November, crews were building a new concrete wall between right field and the new visitors’ bullpen.

Cubs general manager Randy Wehofer told me that moving the bullpens—where pitchers warm up—away from along the foul lines to protected, sealed-off areas will improve safety for relief pitchers and catchers, as well as outfielders chasing foul balls. Stumbling over the bullpen pitcher’s mound on the edge of the playing field has been a long-time hazard.

Origins of the bullpen.

The project, decreed by Major League Baseball, will reduce Principal Park’s seating capacity from 11,000 to about 10,000.

The City of Des Moines owns Principal Park. In June, the City Council awarded the $765,000 bullpen project to BallTeam LLC, a local construction firm that was the low bidder on other recent Principal Park improvements.

Opening day is Friday, March 27. Good seats still available!

ANOTHER FIRST: URBAN ORCHARD

Ward 1 Council member Chris Coleman, Beaverdale native Patrick Krohn, and Ed Fallon were among more than 20 volunteers who descended onto Drake Park, along East 24th Street just north of the MacVicar Freeway, on October 29 to plant 30 fruit trees that are to become the City’s first urban orchard.

Volunteers planted apple, apricot, cherry, peach, pear, and plum nursery stock. Volunteers also planted shrub and single-stem serviceberry varieties.

Trees Forever will regularly water the orchard stock for two years; the City’s forestry department, which paid for the trees, will prune them.

City forester Shane McQuillan told me it will be three or four years before the cherry trees bear fruit; four or five years for the apple trees.

Darn, no pies—yet. But the fruit will be available to the community for free when the trees begin producing.

Thanks to Ed Fallon and Kathy Byrnes for bringing this idea forward.

Any ideas for a second and third urban orchard? Don’t be shy! Contact City forester Shane McQuillan.

A taste of the future: This was the first tree-planting event I’ve attended with fruit pies for the volunteers.

TWO GENERATIONS OF TEACH GRADS

Cameras were clicking on October 30 when Danterell Lamar, right, and his dad, Carl, posed for photos following graduation ceremonies for Broadlawns Medical Center’s TEACH Program (Training and Education for Adults Seeking a Career in Healthcare).

Danterrell and Carl are the first father-and-son graduates of the apprentice program that guides adults to certified nursing assistant (CNA) degrees. Carl graduated in 2024. Dad and lad work in the Broadlawns’ Inpatient Behavioral Health Department.

Broadlawns developed the program in 2016, with the first graduates in 2017; 300 have completed TEACH and TECH (Training and Education for a Career in Healthcare for high school students) programs. In 2025, 19 out of 20 TEACH participants graduated, and 37 out of 40 TECH interns graduated—a 93 percent success rate.

FOOD COMMITTEE 3.0 EARNS APPROVAL

What began as the Food Security Task Force in December 2020 is about to transform into the Food Sustainability Advisory Committee, with new duties. The City Council approved the change, elevating the group to a standing committee, at its November 17 meeting.

Breann Bye and Nick Tarpey from Development Services will staff the monthly meetings.

The City Council is expected to approve many of the nine committee members at its December 8 meeting. Vannessa Silva, above, is slated to be one. Vanessa is the produce manager at Gateway Market, 2002 Woodland Avenue, overseeing fresh produce operations, focusing on local producers and inventory management. Vannessa was a member of Food Security Task Force 2.0 and provided insight on food distribution and retail in policy discussions.

After City Council authorization, the Task Force began work in 2021. Committee members created a rich resource of information, from growing fruits and vegetables, to improving soil and building garden structures, to foraging for food in an urban environment.

The second iteration of the Food Security Task Force launched in 2024. Their work focused on City codes and ordinances that liberalized the use and promotion of urban agriculture on residential, commercial, and industrial-zoned land.

Those changes broadened the definitions of City-allowed urban agriculture uses, expanded the agricultural-based activities residents could conduct on their properties, and clarified many agricultural activities that can now be conducted “by right” without discretionary/public approval.

Breann told me the proposed committee represents a balance of experience across local agriculture, sustainability, food access, small business, and health. She told me:

“It is anticipated the new committee will focus on initiatives that expand and support urban food production, advance local food entrepreneurship and market access, strengthen community gardens and orchards, promote food-friendly policies, and improve coordinated community food access and resilience across Des Moines.

“Committee members will help shape strategic priorities and specific implementation tactics when meetings begin.”

Nick added, “Breann and I are excited to continue the City’s work on food sustainability and be liaisons between the City staff and community experts who can help us all incorporate food sustainability efforts into our lives.”

Thanks to all who contributed to the first and second Food Security Task Forces.

And don’t forget to check the City website for information as you plan your 2026 garden.

EASIER TRIPS TO LIBRARY CAFÉ

Bess Lamoreux has good reason to smile about the four new bike racks in front of the University Library Café at 3506 University Avenue.

In early June, Bess proposed bike racks there for a selfish reason: She, her husband, Tom, and daughter, Hazel, enjoy pedaling to the Library Café for grilled cheese sandwiches. In her email to me and other council members, Bess suggested bike racks for pedaling patrons, such as her family. After a round of emails, City Engineering staff upgraded Bess’ suggestion to bike racks in the right-of-way (sometimes referred to as the parking).

Full Court Press, owners and operators of the Library Café, leveraged an Invest DSM grant to split the cost of the concrete slab. The City paid for and installed the bike racks.

“This is way better than I even imagined,” Bess told me. “We like coming here every 10 days to two weeks for the grilled cheese with Havarti.”

The Library Café is just the second location outside the downtown core with racks in the City right-of-way; the Waveland Café and Waveland Tap at Polk Boulevard and University Avenue were the first.

Look for bike racks to sprout outside Carl’s Place, 1620 Woodland Avenue, in the spring.

PAGENTRY AT DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

Monica Espinosa, above, dances at the Capitol Park neighborhood’s Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration on November 1 at the Ding Darling Shelter in Birdland Park. Monica, a Dowling sophomore, is a member of Danza Folklorica del Oeste that performs at local events.

Capitol Park Neighborhood Association President Dena Bennett reported that an estimated 300 attended this year’s seventh annual event.

Sophea Munguia, below, is the Danza Folklorica instructor for the program, which has 40 students. Their dresses are made in Guadalajara, Mexico, and each represents a different state.

Let's Catch Up! October '25

VOTE YES: OUR CITY NEEDS STRONG SCHOOLS

State and federal funding for public schools has taken painful cuts in recent years. And those cuts threaten the communities that depend on them for more than simply educating children without regard for ability to pay.

“Public schools often provide economic benefits for communities,” asserts the Learning for Justice program of the Southern Poverty Law Center, “including employment, economic opportunities, and encouragement for families to move to or remain in a community. Public schools, especially community schools, can promote stronger communities by building relationships among families and educators and partnerships with community organizations and businesses.”

Which is why the November 4 ballot includes an important item for Des Moines residents: a $265 million “Reimagining Education” bond issue to benefit our kids and schools. Renovating school buildings and creating career-focused programs are two key proposals.

In endorsing the initiative, the Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa (TACI) gave particular kudos to the district’s dedication to “addressing critical infrastructure needs, enhancing educational environments, and responsibly managing taxpayer resources.” TACI is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to fostering efficient, effective local government in the greater Des Moines area.

“We were particularly encouraged by the district’s commitment to transparency and accountability, including the establishment of an independent oversight committee tasked with monitoring expenditures and ensuring that bond proceeds are used as intended,” TACI Chair Michele Wilkie said in the organization’s endorsement letter, which was featured on the Des Moines Public Schools website.

Although a successful vote would require an additional $1.99 levy on property taxes, the proposed tax rate would still be lower than the rate Des Moines residents faced five years ago.

Our public schools need to remain competitive with suburban districts. Please vote “Yes” on this item!

Early in-person voting has already started. Or, find your Election Day polling place.

2025: INVEST DSM’S BIGGEST YEAR

This year has all the makings of being the busiest year for Invest DSM, the nonprofit agency focused on strengthening neighborhoods and funded by the Polk County Board of Supervisors and the City of Des Moines.

“With another 329 more grants in progress, we should blow the 2024 numbers [366 completed] out of the water in the coming weeks, and finish 2025 as our biggest year so far,” Christopher Civitate, Invest DSM’s neighborhood development manager, told me.

With projects in six targeted neighborhoods, homeowners have completed 353 projects this year, valued at more than $26.5 million. For every dollar Invest DSM granted, property owners invested $3.86 of their own. Homeowners kicked in $21,064,275; Invest DSM contributed nearly $5.5 million.

More than 90 percent of 2025’s completed projects are homeowner-led, reflecting the organization’s focus on empowering residents to reinvest in their homes and neighborhoods. The remaining projects include commercial improvements, rental rehabilitations, and new single-family construction.

The additional in-progress group Chris spoke of represents an estimated investment of $28.8 million — nearly $8 million from Invest DSM and just under $21 million from homeowners.

In the second half of 2025, Invest DSM expanded its work in two additional Special Investment Districts — North of Grand/Woodland Heights and Union Park. These new investment areas joined the existing districts of Drake, Franklin, Oak Park/Highland Park, and Columbus Park. The photo above shows two new 1,700-square-foot homes built on a once-vacant lot on East Granger Avenue in the Columbus Park neighborhood, south of downtown.

Mayor Connie Boesen, Mike Simonson, and I represent the City on the Invest DSM board of directors.

NEXT YEAR’S INGERSOLL IMPROVEMENTS

Phase 1 construction of the Ingersoll Avenue streetscape, from 31st to 35th streets, commenced in 2020. Yes, it’s been a journey.

Now, with Phase 5 scheduled to begin in 2026, the City’s Engineering Department, Kirkham-Michael & Associates, and The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand hosted an October 16 open house at Palmer’s Deli & Market to gather input for that stage.

The current plan adds two on-street parking places and eliminates five in/out driveways. The Engineering Department will host an online meeting in January for the public to learn more about Phase 5. More information. Email comments.

Lauren Kollauf, executive director of the Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand, reminded me that there are 280-plus free parallel parking spaces along Ingersoll. There is a two-hour parking limit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

And how many parking stalls in privately owned lots within a block north or south of Ingersoll (ML King to 42nd)? Lauren shared information from the Walker Consultants parking study, released earlier this year, which details 5,660 parking spaces. Not a typo! Pretty danged amazing. (The 45-page report is packed with helpful information.)

Now, if we could convince the property owners and shops to share off-street parking lots and expenses, everyone would benefit.

One positive step: Ben Landhauser, Artessa Living executive vice president, told me his group has worked out a shared parking arrangement for his company’s planned commercial space at 3121 Ingersoll with the adjoining office building at 3209 Ingersoll. Doing so eliminated two in/out driveways.

“Deb Lawrence at DML Management has been great to work with,” Ben told me. “We will share maintenance expenses for our shared parking area. It’s all about limiting the number of conflict points for drivers.”

FEDS HALT DMACC’S TSA TRAINING

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has paused DMACC’s national online training for TSA employees. TSA determined that funds that could be reallocated during the pause needed to be redirected toward TSA’s core mission.

DMACC offered the nation’s only TSA education program, which included three online courses: Introduction to Homeland Security, Transportation and Border Security, and Intelligence Analysis and Security Management. For TSA employees of six months or longer, TSA paid all fees, including tuition and books. TSA employees received college credits for completing courses.

Steve Barger, DMACC’s director of Homeland Security/TSA Programming, told me that in 2016, DMACC was training TSA employees from six states. “Then,” he continued, “we were asked to expand the program to the entire country! We accomplished that goal in three to four months. Thousands have completed our DMACC courses.”

According to the DMACC website: “Since the spring of 2018, over 2,600 employees have earned their TSA Certificate of Achievement in Homeland Security, with more than 6,200 participating in the program.”

Steve told me he believes 600–700 TSA employees were completing classes when the program was paused in late April. Many TSA employee students chose to continue program classes at their own expense during the pause.

DMACC’s TSA program.

DMACC has a sterling reputation for creating hands-on and online training to develop employee skills.

PROUD UNCLE

Retired Des Moines Police Department Captain Dave Seybert was all smiles on October 10 after pinning an officer’s shield on his niece, Luci Seybert. Officer Seybert served 18 months as a cadet before being selected for the 24-week academy, along with 19 other recruits.

Officer Luci begins her 16-week field training program with Senior Police Officer Peyton Mercer on the First Watch (9 p.m. to 7 a.m.) and will rotate to the Second and Third watches with other training officers. All new officers follow similar field training duties.

THE BUTT OF ALL RECYCLING

Since 2022, Operation Downtown has shipped more than 700,000 cigarette butts to an innovative company that transforms typically nonrecyclable items into useful products such as park benches and chairs. So far this calendar year, Operation Downtown has sent more than 200,000 butts to New Jersey-based TerraCycle.

“There’s no revenue from the program,” Operation Downtown executive director Amy Lego told me, “but there’s no shipping costs either.

“When people are given a proper place to dispose of litter,” Amy added, “they’re more likely to use it, allowing Operation Downtown to keep cigarette butts out of our waterways, streets, and landfills.”

TerraCycle’s Eric Ascalon told me that cellulose acetate in cigarette filters accounts for roughly 20 percent of the weight of its partner’s outdoor chairs, benches, and tables. Butt contributions from Operation Downtown — one of TerraCycle’s top recycling municipality partners, according to the program — are now part of 10 Adirondack chairs this year alone.

Recycling note: Imagine how much we could eliminate from the waste stream by banning plastic grocery bags (12 states and 500-plus counties and municipalities already do so) and Styrofoam carryout containers (nine states already do so).

ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Patrick Malone, a graduate of Hope Ministries’ one-year program at its Door of Faith facility, recently moved into a new Hope Ministries Supportive Housing for Men community at 3333 East University Avenue. The three-building facility, formerly home to Hope Ministries’ women’s and children’s program, currently houses 14 men in two buildings.

When contractors finish remodeling a third building — thanks to a $165,000 Lowe’s grant — there will be independent rooms for 24 men. The third building includes a community and fellowship room, case management office, pool table, table tennis, and fitness room. Private rooms include a bed, dresser, closet, and nightstand.

Residents pay $500 a month for a private room, with a shared adjoining-room half bath and semiprivate shower room. Patrick is responsible for his own grocery shopping, meals, and transportation to the Amazon warehouse in Bondurant, where he works as a delivery driver.

Cole Lindholm, Home Ministries’ president and CEO, told me residents can stay up to 24 months at the East University campus. The facility demonstrates “the importance of community in recovery,” Cole said.

“We introduced this supportive housing program to provide an affordable option as they transition into permanent housing. The Des Moines metro is in dire need of more affordable housing options, and our men have struggled to find and secure a place upon completing our program.

“The beauty of this East University campus is the community that is in place and which is fostered there. This two-year arrangement is a unique opportunity to practice what men learned at Door of Faith in an affordable and supportive environment, all while being a part of a community that is bigger than them.”

To qualify for the supportive housing, residents make a sobriety commitment, demonstrate secured income, and earn recommendations from their case managers. An on-site housing supervisor organizes social activities and a weekend shared meal.

Patrick, 40, was employed as a Target optician and living at an extended-stay motel when he went on a series of alcohol benders.

“I got out of the service in 2018 after serving four tours as a Navy corpsman [also known as a Marine Corps medic],” Patrick told me. “I suffered from PTSD and drank heavily. Some days, I drank 18 or more beers.

“I was never homeless and had plenty of good jobs. But I knew I had to make some changes. I was desperate.”

Patrick completed the Hope Ministries’ one-year program in September. He described his life as “working on myself.”

“I’m happy and content,” Patrick told me. “This housing is a good community environment for me.”

TWO RIVERS AND A VIEW

During a sneak peek tour earlier this month, BNIM architect Jonathan Ramsey described features of the new Two Rivers Park, on the east side of the Des Moines River and north of East MLK Parkway.

MidAmerican Energy developed and funded the nine-acre park on the southwest corner of the Market District and just north of the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. MidAmerican will retain ownership of the land, but the Polk County Conservation Board will operate it.

A formal dedication will follow in the spring, when additional native flowers and grasses are established. More details.

AIRPORT’S EZ-PICKUP WORKS GREAT

If you haven’t tried the new EZ-Pickup area at the Des Moines International Airport, I predict you’ll be amazed by how seamless it operates. The designated area inside the parking garage is a genius improvement that reduces curbside congestion. Uber/Lyft pickup has also moved to the garage.

The new EZ-Pickup area is located near the center of the parking ramp and at street level. Just follow the signage into one of the 26 stalls, directly across from the main terminal doors. Then text the stall number to your traveler(s). Just stay in your car and wait patiently.

Last weekend, Susan and I made seven trips to pick up family members who flew here for a reunion. Each time, it was effortless for us and our cousins. They agreed: EZ Pickup directions are well marked in the terminal. And did I mention EZ-Pickup is free for the first two hours?

Kudos to the airport’s in-house team — communications, electricians, and maintenance — for this improvement.

Let's Catch Up! September '25

NEW ELECTION OFFICES ALL ON ONE FLOOR

Cam Shannon, a machine tech assistant, and Assistant Polk County Auditor Carl Wiederaenders stand in front of 200 voting machines ready to roll out for the November 4 municipal and school board elections.

Earlier in September, Polk County officials showed off their shiny-new location for election workers, in Polk County Riverplace, 2309 Euclid Avenue (known by some as a former Target store). The new, 9,000-square-foot offices replace the Second and Court Avenue location.

An engineering firm estimated a $1 million cost to upgrade the former office; county General Services employees renovated the new space for a tick over $400,000.

The new location has about the same square footage as the previous one. But where equipment, offices, and storage sprawled across the Second Avenue location’s basement and three floors, all equipment and offices are now on one floor. Also, the new space features secure and recorded access for all areas, easy-access loading locks for voting machines, and training space for poll workers and volunteers.

“The new location has better parking and will ensure that voters will not have to wait outside when voting early,” Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald told me. “We focused on election security and voter convenience during the move. We are very excited for voters to experience these upgrades this fall.”

Voters will notice indoor queues on heavy voting days, additional in-person voting stations, and a fortified drop box for ballots.

For the November 4 general election, Polk County will hire 600 to 700 election workers for the 173 polling locations. The county will also pilot a first-in-the-nation program connecting precinct workers to election headquarters to report results via Unisyn’s unique and secure QR code via an election-only computer tablet.

Interesting tidbit: County election officials must store all ballots for 22 months. The new headquarters features tidy three-high storage racks in a secure area for nearly two years of ballots.

FORMER TRAILER PARK TRANSFORMED

Ward 4 Council Member Joe Gatto was all smiles on September 4 for the ribbon cutting of Park Indy Apartments, a four-building, 40-unit (12 one-bedroom and 28 two-bedroom) development at the intersection of Park Avenue and Indianola Road.

Joe had plenty of reason to beam: Eleven years ago, he started working to shut down the dilapidated Oak Hill Mobile Home Park (42 deplorable trailers), at this site on two acres. It was finally demolished in 2023. Gallery of 2021 photos.

“I’m pleased that everyone who lived there previously was relocated into a better environment,” Joe told me. “We should use this Park Indy all over the City for redevelopment. Park Indy is an amazing change for our community, and I’m so very happy for everyone involved.”

The square footage and rental rates fit squarely into what housing advocates describe as the “missing middle” — housing in walkable neighborhoods and scaled similarly to single-family homes. The 600-sq.-ft. one-bedroom units rent for $1,125. That rate is based on a qualified 60% area median income (AMI): a maximum $48,120 annual income for a single person. The 1,100-sq.-ft two-bedroom units rent for $1,550–$1,600 for 60% AMI-qualified families: a maximum $54,960 annual income for a two-person family.

The Neighborhood Development Corporation (NDC) teamed up with DEV Partners, an Iowa-based group, on this $9.2-million project; the City of Des Moines provided a $300,000 grant. NDC and DEV partners recently completed similar units at 3103-3109 Forest Avenue.

NDC partnered with Polk County’s Community, Family & Youth Services to relocate the former trailer park residents.

YELLOW BACKPLATES:  MAKING AN IMPACT

If you’ve driven around Des Moines the last few months, you may have noticed that at busy intersections, yellow frames now surround traffic signals on the long arms overhead. Those retroreflective backplates — in engineer-speak — are there to reduce auto crashes at our busiest intersections. And they are doing the job.

“We installed retroreflective backplates at 15 signalized intersections,” John Davis, City traffic engineer, told me. “At our five pilot sites installed in 2023, we observed a 20% crash reduction in 2024, compared to the 2018–2022 five-year average.” John added that Federal Highway Administration research shows such backplates reduce all crashes by about 15% nationwide.

The 15 signalized intersections are identified as part of the Des Moines’ High Injury Network (HIN) — the intersections with the most collisions. In the next five years, John says he expects backplates to be installed on about 205 signals (roughly 45 percent of all signals), including pedestrian hybrid beacons (HAWKs), and prioritizing HIN intersections.

Grants from the federal Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) program will fund the material costs: about $300 for each signal.

The photo above shows three signals at Sixth Avenue and westbound Euclid Avenue; a crew will install the backplate for the through-lane signal following completion of Euclid Avenue reconstruction.

PROUD MCCARTHY MOMENT

Maria McCarthy pins a sergeant’s badge on her husband, Zac, during a promotion ceremony for two officers on August 13 at Des Moines police headquarters. The McCarthy family has a long history with Des Moines public safety—another Des Moines version of Blue Bloods. Cornelius “Con” McCarthy joined the force in 1910; he was shot and killed in 1919 while on duty. Con’s son Edward became a police officer in 1941 and retired as chief of detectives in 1964. Con’s grandson Bill McCarthy joined the force in 1970, was named chief of police in 2003, retired in 2007, and later served as Polk County sheriff. Bill’s nephew Ben joined the DMPD in 2006 and was promoted to sergeant in 2023. Ben and Zac — Con’s great-grandsons — are brothers.

Sergeant Lori Kelly was also promoted to lieutenant during the same ceremony.

DEER RIDGE SAFETY SOCIAL

Stephanie Schillie, foreground, and Sarah Dudley serve up hot dogs and side dishes September 4 at a Safety Social at Deer Ridge Apartments, 6000 Creston Avenue. Sarah has served as Deer Ridge manager since 2016; Stephanie is a staff member.

Hosting an annual social gathering for residents is one of the requirements for the Des Moines police department’s Crime Free Multi-Housing annual certification. Deer Ridge, part of Conlin Properties’ portfolio, is one of the Des Moines apartment complexes participating.

Senior Police Officer Erin Costanzo, who directs the program, told me she has attended 25 safety socials this year, the most anyone can recall. “In my time running this program since 2022,” she added, “I’ve certified over 150 managers or staff in our eight-hour manager program.”

Contact SPO Costanzo for program details.

FREE PET FOOD DRAWS CROWD

Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Iowa’s Abbey Youker talks to a Des Moines resident next in line for the mobile Pet Food Pantry earlier in September. The event was held at the Animal Services building, 1441 Harriet Street, east of Southeast 14th Street and north of the Des Moines River. The ARL’s new mobile pantry, which opened in August, provides free pet food every week at locations sprinkled around the City. The August pantries served 332 households, representing 489 dogs and 587 cats.

Abbey told me that three volunteer police officers and ARL staff gave away 1,276 pounds of dry dog food, 243 pounds of dry cat food, 200 cans of cat food, and “a lot of kitty litter” at the September 3 event.

COLLECTIVE’S FIRST SUMMER INTERN

Thomas Muntz, left, had quite a summer. Thomas, now a Lincoln High School freshman, volunteered this spring at the Police Activities League at the Street Collective (formerly the Bike Collective) shop on East Sixth Street.

The Collective staff noticed Thomas was a good listener and was growing his skills. Shop manager Bobby Kennedy gave Thomas a little push to apply for the collective’s first paid summer intern position. Thomas already enjoyed riding his BMX bike, and he could complete some basic maintenance and repair tasks.

And wouldn’t you know it? The 14-year-old came out on top of the heap among eight or so applicants, several of whom were a few years older. He survived two rounds of interviews!

The job paid $12 an hour, and Thomas worked about 20 hours each week. “With my first check, I bought a new 20-inch BMX bike from Ichi Bike,” Thomas says. “I just fell in love with it instantly.”

Justin Guiter (right in the photo above) mentored Thomas through the summer weeks. “Thomas had a little more personality for this shop,” Justin reports. “He had an eagerness to learn bike mechanics and an ability to retain information. He actually drilled on the tasks we gave him until he got it right. And took notes. That was exciting.”

Thomas says he started out working on kids’ bikes. “Before long,” he went on, “I was working on 20-inch mountain bikes, hybrids, and even bigger mountain bikes. I even worked on brake bleeds for hydraulic brakes.

“I had a lot of firsts. I learned how to true a wheel and take apart a hub. And a headset, too!

“I like learning about bikes and how to take them apart. And I really like the environment and people at the Collective.

“I’ve heard it said that if you love what you’re doing, you don’t have to work a day in your life.”

And the story gets better. By summer’s end, the bikes Thomas rebuilt were sold on the shop floor — a lot of pride in those moments. Thomas did so well this summer that the collective offered him after-school hours. Paid, of course. He’s hungry for more. And it all started as a PAL volunteer.

CELEBRATING BRICK SIDEWALKS

Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a neighborhood interesting.

The Capitol Park Neighborhood, which spans both sides of the Des Moines River between 2nd Avenue and East 14th Street, celebrated the completion of new brick sidewalks at 1300 Fremont Street on September 7. Joining in for the celebratory photo above were Anuprit Minhas, Senior City planner in Development Services; Chelsea Lepley, Capitol Park Neighborhood Association vice president; Dena Bennett, the association’s president; and Jon Hanson, association treasurer.

Most of the bricks from the previous Fremont sidewalks were relaid for the new walkways. The brick pavers are constructed on a concrete base with a setting bed of sand for leveling the pavers.

The City has reconstructed brick sidewalks in front of a few homes, but no one in Engineering or Development Services can recall an entire block of brick sidewalks being rebuilt in the last 30 years.

Grants from the City, Polk County, and Prairie Meadows funded the $88,000 project.

CHEERS FOR SAFE BARS TRAINING

Amanda Frey, general manager of Ricochet Social in Capital Square, was among restaurant and bar managers from 10 establishments who completed Safe Bars training from the Polk County Health Department in July. Nine were Des Moines based, including Hessen Haus, The University Library Cafe, The Iowa Taproom, The Continental, Buzzard Billy's, Escape Lounge, Sleepy Hollow Sports Park, The Royal Mile, and The Purveyor.

The program, following the national Safe Bars training, teaches staff to recognize, respond to, and intervene in sexual harassment and related gender violence.

“It takes someone with a thick skin to talk about how a female can get the position of being sexually harassed,” Amanda told me. “Or worse. I have some experience in this.

“Our Polk County Health trainers told us we can’t allow staff to be complacent. To be a staff member, we need to protect the people in our establishment.

“Every small interaction with an inebriated customer can make a real difference in how the night can end for that person. We as people really have to look out for each other.”

“For a safe bar, the message should be: Be safe and have a good time. And realize our staff is there to protect them.”

The local Safe Bar program also includes training on how to deliver Narcan, a medication to quickly reverse an opioid overdose.

Addie Olson, the county’s public health communications officer, said he expects the next Safe Bars offering to be this fall. Details.

BIKE MORE TO MOORE

Quinlin Johnson, physical education at Moore Elementary, leads a “bike bus” of students on a 1.25-mile parent-supported route from Beaver and Urbandale to the school at 3716 50th Street. Along the route, the Wednesday morning caravan picked up a total of 17 students.

Kudos to the Moore parents who have done a fabulous job teaching basic cycling skills and riding in a group.

Hubbell Elementary parents and staff organize a similar bike bus that rolls twice weekly to the school.

Nationwide, only about 11 percent of elementary students bike or walk to school, with a measly 1 percent riding bikes. That’s a steep decline from the 1960s, when about 48 percent of kids walked or biked to their school.

How to start a bike bus.