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LivingUrbandaleaugust 2015

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NEW BUSINESSES, EXPANSIONS HELP PROPEL URBANDALE AS A MODEL FOR COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

EconomicGROWTH

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www.iowalivingmagazines.com/urbandale AUGUST | 2015 Urbandale Living 3

WELCOME

LivingLivingIowaIowam a g a z i n e sm a g a z i n e s

Darren TromblayEditor515-953-4822 ext. [email protected]

Becky [email protected]

Y ou don’t have to drive far in town to see growth in commercial and retail business. Those who are making the investments and taking the risks should be commended, as well as those who help to make these,

and all of Urbandale’s businesses, succeed. So just how many businesses does Urbandale have? You could check with the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, and the helpful staff there would certainly share the amazing number of members in their organiza-tion, but that doesn’t include the non-chamber-member businesses in town. You could check on property tax information with the city of Urbandale, but that would leave out the many work-at-home businesses. You might even ask the Des Moines Business Record how many paid subscribers the paper has in the city of Urbandale, but that would likely only net a few hundred.

The best way to measure the number of businesses in Urbandale, or any city, is to check with the United States Postal Service, as it breaks out mailing addresses by residential and business and lists out post office boxes the same way. I know this firsthand because I pay to have this magazine mailed to every residence and every business every month. So what is the exact number of busi-nesses in this community of 20,118 mailing addresses? Is it 500? Or 1,000? Or 5,000? For comparison sake, let’s take a look at the numbers of some nearby communities first. Grimes has a total of 5,245 mailing addresses, of which 577 are businesses. So about 11 percent of the total addresses are for businesses. Waukee has 7,209 mailing addresses with 612 listed as businesses for about 8.5 percent. The community of Johnston has 8,723 addresses with 1,052 noted as businesses, placing the percentage at 12. Clive, with its 7,685 addresses, has 1,174 businesses. That’s 15 percent. Ankeny has 24,754 total addresses with 1,895 noted as businesses, making its percentage 7.6 percent. West Des Moines, with its 31,061 total addresses, has 2,950 business addresses, placing it at 9.5 percent. Urbandale’s numbers are quite good, besting the business count of all those listed above, with the exception of West Des Moines, at 1,966. As a percent of total addresses, Urbandale is at 9.8 percent. Urbandale is reaping the benefits of seeing both residential and business growth. In this month’s cover story, we share some of the reasons for the success of Urbandale businesses, and we share comments from business owners on why they chose to locate here. Thanks for reading.

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FEATURE

U rbandale is on fire. No need to call the fire department, however, because this is the kind of fire you want to continue

to fuel. Businesses are popping up all over the place in Urbandale, creating jobs and economic security to the well-being of the entire com-munity. According to the Urbandale Economic Development Department’s website, the pur-pose of the department is to protect business and citizen investments and improve quality of life by designing and implementing strategies for tax base expansion and employment opportu-nities in Urbandale. Curtis Brown, director of the EDD, says the first priority and principal way they seek to promote growth in Urbandale is by supporting the success of existing Urbandale companies. This may initially involve answering questions or helping to resolve concerns. The depart-ment is also there to support major expansion projects. “City staff from multiple departments offer guidance through the development process, facilitate access to state, county and local tax incentives or assist companies in access to workforce development training funds,” Brown says. “We share success stories in our e-news-letter and our special section in partnership with the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce in the Business Record each month.” Economic Development Specialist Katie

Gieszler says the Urbandale City Council has identified economic development as one of its top strategic priorities. “The mayor and council established an Economic Development Advisory Board com-posed of 10 members who live and work in Urbandale,” Gieszler says. “The Advisory Board developed an Economic Development

Plan that guides the staff’s work to promote economic growth within the community.” According to Gieszler and Brown, the EDD meets regularly with commercial and industrial brokers and developers to understand their needs for their own projects and for their cli-ents. “We respond to many inbound inqui-

By Lisa Verhey-Budding

Delta Dental has grown substantially since it moved its headquarters to Urbandale in 2010. The company now employs 140 people. Photo by Dan Hodges.

NEW BUSINESSES, EXPANSIONS HELP PROPEL URBANDALE AS A MODEL FOR COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

EconomicGROWTH


ries for available sites and build-ings to locate new businesses in Urbandale and facilitate resources locally to make the process go as smoothly as possible for the busi-ness owner or developer,” they agreed. Gieszler and Brown also say that access to infrastructure is often a key factor in the decision-making process when choosing where to locate a business. “The Iowa Department of Transportation issued a press release indicating that a draft Interchange Justification Report for the proposed safety improve-ment project at the interchange of I-35/I-80 and Iowa 141 and the addition of a new service inter-change at 100th Street in Polk County is available for review. If approved, this project could result in new interstate access at 100th Street and Meredith Drive, providing increased access to Urbandale’s business parks, which helps to support both existing

businesses and those seeking to invest in new facilities,” they said.

All smilesDelta Dental of Iowa is a prime example of a business that has been beneficial to the economic growth in Urbandale. According to Jill Hamilton, marketing com-munications director for Delta Dental, since the company moved its headquarters to Urbandale in 2010, it has grown substantially. Delta Dental of Iowa now has 140 employees. “We have more than doubled our workforce during the past five years,” she says. “Our employ-ees enjoy the benefits of being in Urbandale every day by sup-porting nearby stores and restau-rants. Earlier this year we gave our employees more ways to enjoy all that Urbandale has to offer when we started a ‘bike-at-work’ pro-gram. By offering employees use of bicycles on their lunch hours and breaks, we are encouraging them

to exercise and enjoy the trails and amenities of the community around us.” Convenience and curb appeal were key factors in choosing the location for the company’s expan-sion needs. “When we were looking to expand, we liked what we found in Urbandale,” Hamilton says. “The space on North Park Drive gives us the ability to grow — as we've recently done — and it is conve-nient to Interstate 80/35. We also like the opportunity to showcase Delta Dental's presence and com-mitment to Iowa, and to everyone who drives by our headquarters.” According to the June 2015 edition of Business Connection, a city of Urbandale publication, Northpark Drive has been notably enhanced visually with artwork, such as the 65-foot-long sculpture of Hills, Fields, Wind and Rain by Mac Hornecker. The piece was installed in 2005 by developer Mid-America Investment Company.

Also, according to Urbandale’s Business Connection, the 2013 biennial National Citizen Survey attributes Urbandale with an “exceptional built environmental score.” And then, in 2014, fur-ther enhancement of the area happened with the widening of a roadway on Northpark Drive.

Jump in new home sales John McCleary, of Urbandale, works with new home construc-tion. He says there has been a tre-mendous jump in new home sales in the past two years in Urbandale. “People get a good feel-ing when they see the city of Urbandale spending money on city beautification. It seems like as soon as you put your house up for sale, it sells right away around here,” he says. McCleary’s wife, Leslie, agrees with her husband and his testa-ment on the economic boom in Urbandale, “Even just in the past year, I

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have seen it, and I have lived it. I work at a bank and have seen first hand the growth here,” she says.

Proud to be here“Delta Dental of Iowa is proud to call Urbandale home,” says Jeff Russell, president and CEO, Delta Dental of Iowa. “From our groundbreaking in 2010 to our expansion this year, Urbandale has been the perfect fit for our growing business. The strategic decision to build and expand our facilities here demon-strates our commitment to our customers — and to this community. Our growth represents increased service to — and investment in — our fellow Iowans.” Hamilton says giving back to the com-munity is at the core of what Delta Dental, a not-for-profit insurance company, does as a business in Urbandale. “Delta Dental of Iowa invests in oral health and wellness projects through the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation that focus on access to care, prevention, education and research,” she says. “Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation’s mis-sion is to support and improve the oral health of Iowans.” Hamilton also says it is equally as important for their employees to give back to the com-munity as well. “We work each year on our employee engagement efforts,” she says. “From walk-ing in the Healthiest State walk to collecting donations for the United Way and more, Delta Dental of Iowa employees love giving back. In May, as part of our corporate Giving Back and Bringing Smiles to Iowans program, Delta Dental of Iowa recently presented $5,000 to the Des Moines-based Meals from the Heartland organization. Delta Dental of Iowa employees also gathered at the Urbandale headquarters to package meals for delivery to hungry people in Iowa and around the world.”

Running with scissorsIf you see a woman walking down the street with a giant pair of scissors in her arms, you might want to step aside. Contrary to popular belief, this particular pair of scissors is not a prop; it really does cut. Ribbon cutting is a familiar ceremonial component to celebrate grand openings of businesses, ground breakings and just about anything else one can imagine. Kimberly Baeth, owner of Golden Openings in Urbandale, is the creator of said scissors. “My father made me my first pair of prop scissors that could cut, with wood and razor blades, for my 26th birthday,” she says. “They were all the rage. 3-M, General Mills, airports, other chambers and their members were call-ing me and our chamber to rent or buy those scissors.”

Baeth says that her “entrepreneur life” began 20 years ago, while working at the North Hennepin Chamber of Commerce. She would have to go coordinate ribbon cuttings, using her desk scissors and a thin ribbon to help the new members celebrate their openings. “Seeing all the people, press, VIPs, governors and business owners get so excited about this, I thought, ‘There has to be more,’ ” she says. In 1997, Baeth told her newlywed husband she was quitting her job and going into the rib-bon cutting business. “He sighed, cringed, and said ‘You have one year to make a profit, or you are going back to work.’ My first job was $50, I was ecstatic. Since 1997 that idea and passion for creating a niche business of helping the businesses get their doors open for the first time, grew into a $2 million business with a two-story custom-built office in Urbandale,” she says. Baeth says she chose to base her business operation in Urbandale for several reasons. “Urbandale is a most excellent place to live, work and play,” she says. “It is close to everything, very centralized and connected perfectly within the Des Moines metro area. Our home is in northwest Urbandale, one mile from our overflow warehouse in Grimes, and our office/warehouse is five miles from both, in Urbandale. It allows us to be close to everything, and that is important, as we are requested and expected to move at the speed of light, always putting out fires and meeting deadlines, 24-7.”

Golden Openings has four full-time and 12 part-time employees. The company also hosts interns and work study students. “We have shipped to all seven continents. Fun people include but are not limited to Oprah, Disney, the White House, Donald Trump, Warren Buffet, Facebook, Microsoft, celebrities, movies, TV shows and 41 of the top 50 Fortune 500 companies. Regulars include airports, hotels, chambers of commerce — we have sold scissors to over 8,000 chambers — universities, colleges, national sports teams, churches, restaurants, schools, cities, park and recreation departments, retails stores, fran-chises, one-up openings, gas stations, grocery stores and more. Even people that change their name, merge or celebrate work anniversaries use our products and event services,” Baeth says. Baeth says she has had a positive experi-ence working with the city of Urbandale staff, elected officials, chamber and employees. “These are some of the best and most pas-sionate people around,” she says. “They were the quickest to respond and had the best offer at the time for what we needed to accommo-date our steady growth. In general, I feel lucky to be in Iowa where everyone cares, networks and helps each other grow and learn every day. Passion is everything. Golden Openings is setting the standard and leading the way, and it all comes from a passion to help people open their doors and Urbandale helps create open doors.”

FEATURE

Leslie and John McMcleary of Urbandale see the economic growth of their city. Photo by Lisa Verhey-Budding.


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M any of us consider a pet to be a member of the family. They provide companion-

ship, keep us active and teach us about unconditional love. If you were to die, who would care for your pet? How would the caregiver pay for the expense of food, shelter and medical visits? Iowa allows for honorary pet trusts which can be incorporated into traditional estate planning. Iowa Code 633A.2105 allows a person to make a provision for an amount of money to be set aside for the care of a beloved pet. Traditionally, the law consid-ered pets as property. Trusts previ-ously weren’t allowed for pets for a variety of reasons, including that the pet had no standing to try to

enforce the trust. The Iowa stat-ute authorizes the creation of the trust and appoints the caregiver to enforce its provisions. The trust needs to be in writ-ing, contained in either a revocable living trust or in your will. You should designate a caregiver, set aside an amount of money and give instructions on the type of lifestyle you want for your pet. The trust terminates when there is no living animal covered by its terms but the trust must terminate after 21 years. Pick a caregiver carefully. Consider such matters as his or her interest in the welfare of your pet and the caregiver’s health. You should also try to ensure that your pet is compatible with any pets the caregiver may have.

Make sure the amount placed in trust is enough to cover the pet’s expected costs over time. Consider both your pet’s life expectancy and any future health issues. In Iowa, there is no limit on the amount you can place in trust, but you should spell out what happens to those funds when the pet dies. Pet owners can also provide

for the continued care of pets in a durable power of attorney, making it clear that the agent is expressly authorized to expend funds for the pets. The power of attorney should incorporate by reference the stan-dards of care that are set forth in the trust agreement. This allows the caregiver to meet the immedi-ate needs of pets, before the will or trust can be triggered. When you are completing your estate planning, don’t forget about your pets.

Information provided by Ross Barnett, attorney for Abendroth and Russell Law Firm, 2560 73rd St., Urbandale, 278-0623, www.ARPCLaw.com.

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W e recently vacationed in northeast Georgia and, as luck would

have it, we were there during prime peach season. I like peaches but let me tell you, when I had my first fresh Georgia peach I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. As we were preparing to start back to Iowa, I told my husband that I wanted to get some peaches to take home. It didn’t take long to run across a local produce stand, and then I had to make a difficult decision. Knowing that we weren’t taking the most direct route home, and would be on the road several days, I had to decide whether to just buy a few to eat; buy a bag and hope they were good when we arrived; or take a huge chance and buy a lug to freeze or can. I opted for the middle ground, bought a sackful and we headed north. At every stop I toted the sack of peaches from our air conditioned vehicle into air con-ditioned accommodations and, when we arrived home five days later, I was thrilled to find all of my peaches in perfect condition. I wanted to just eat two or three every day until they were gone. But knowing how much he and my in-laws love peach pie, I ate a couple and then, using my mom’s recipe for strawberry pie, I switched a couple of ingredients and made the best peach pie I’ve ever had.

Rather than using ordinary pie crust, I made a “cookie dough” pie crust from a recipe my mother-in-law shared with me several years ago. What makes it so fool-proof is that you don’t even have to roll it out. Simply mix the crust ingredients together, dump it in a pie pan, pat it out and up the sides of the pan and bake it. How simple is that? And it pairs perfectly with any sweet fresh fruit pie.

Fresh peach pieRosie’s cookie dough pie crust1-1/2 cups flour1-1/2 teaspoons sugar1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 cup canola oil2 tablespoons milkMix all ingredients together. Dump and press by hand on the bottom and up the sides of a 9” pie pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 12-14 minutes.

Hilda’s fresh peach pie1-1/2 cups sugar2 tablespoons flour3 tablespoons cornstarch1/4 teaspoons salt1-1/2 cups water1 small package peach Jell-o

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Fresh peach pie

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M ost people work the majority of their adult lives. The money that is

earned enables us to have our basic needs met and then some. At a certain point during your working life, you look beyond the basics and are able to start saving some of your paycheck. You also start to build a professional team to assist in guiding and direct-ing you. The team may include a financial advisor, banker, an attorney and your partner, if you have one. Together, you develop a plan and eventually a “financial plan” for retirement. This all is a process which is gradual and hap-pens over time. Beyond your professional team, there are also a number of resources you can explore on your own through reading. Do your homework. Become familiar with options. Everyone in the industry has an opinion. You’ll need to apply some personal strategy to make your financial plan what you need and want it to provide. When it’s time to retire, replacing your work paycheck with a retirement income isn’t as simple as it sounds. Creating a plan can help ensure your money will last through all your retirement years. During retire-ment there is a shift from sav-ing money to managing income from what you saved. This is when your plan becomes vitally important. Having had a personal strategy and knowing your needs will have helped you prepare. Personal strategy may include paying off personal debt. Carrying

debt into retirement adds a whole different consideration when making your plan. The plan would also include how to best convert your savings into an income. Investigating your options here is critical and is something your financial planner can provide direction. Where to begin making the plan? First, evaluate what your retirement goals are. How do you envision life during retire-ment? In a previous article, we explored continuing to work on a part-time basis or in a completely different field which might be less stressful but something you’re passionate about. Of course there is always the option of not working at all. Perhaps your goal is to travel or go on a mission trip. Once your goals have been evaluated, your professional team can begin to assist you in what you’ll need in savings to reach these goals. No matter when you begin the process of preparing a financial plan for retirement, be involved, review regularly with your professional team, and stay focused.

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CALENDAR

Thursday Aug. 6

Senior Morning Fitness Class, 9-9:45 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior “Get Creative” Craft Group, 9:15 -11:30 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Mixed Cards & Games, 10:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Friday Aug. 7

Senior Beginning and Continuing Tai Chi, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 9:15-9:55 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Line Dancing, 10-10:55 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Saturday Aug. 8

DMCS Choir at Wartburg All-State Camp, Wartburg College

Skateboard Xtreme Challenge. All ages are welcome and competition will be divided by age level. No pre-registration is required. 11 a.m., Walker Johnston Skateboard park

Victorian Birthday, Visit the Flynn House for a glimpse of childhood’s pleasures from times past. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Living History Farms

Sunday Aug. 9


Monday Aug. 10

Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting 6 p.m., City Hall

Senior Morning Fitness Class 9 - 9:45 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Seniors Amateur Artists Group, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Monday Bridge Club. 10:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Taking Control with Exercise Class, 2-2:55 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center


Greater Des Moines Community Band Concert. Bring lawn chairs. 7-8 p.m., The Reserve Independent Living

DMCS Cross Country Practice Begins

DMCS HS Football Practice Begins

DMCS HS Volleyball Practice Begins

Tuesday Aug. 11


Senior Timely Talkers Group, J10-11 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Mixed Cards & Games, 10:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Singers. Open to both men and women. 1:45-2:45 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Blood Pressure Checks, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

City Council Lunch & Learn Work Session, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., City Hall

Booked for Dinner, 6-7 p.m., Urbandale Public Library-Chapters Cafe

Junior Schedule Pick Up & Pictures, 8 a.m.-noon, Urbandale High School

Wednesday Aug. 12

Senior Beginning and Continuing Tai Chi, 8:30 and 9:15 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Taking Control with Exercise Class, 10-10:55 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Knitting & Thread Group, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Zumba Gold, 1-1:45 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Yoga, 2-3:15 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Free Fit Club, all ages and fitness levels welcome. Bring a towel and a

bottle of water. No registration is needed. 6-7 p.m., Lions Park Shelter

Sophomore Schedule Pick Up and Pictures, 8 a.m.-noon, Urbandale High School

Thursday Aug. 13Senior Morning Fitness Class,

9-9:45 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior “Get Creative” Craft Group, 9:15-11:30 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Mixed Cards & Games, 10:45 a.m.-3 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

DMCS New Parent Orientation, 6:30 p.m.

Freshman Schedule Pick Up and Pictures, 8 a.m.-noon, Urbandale High School

Friday Aug. 14Senior Beginning and Continuing

Tai Chi, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 9:15-9:55 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center


DMCS New Teacher Orientation/Inservice

Monday Aug. 17Senior Morning Fitness Class


Seniors Amateur Artists Group, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Monday Bridge Club. Reservations are required. 10:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center


DMCS ABC (Athletic Booster Club) Meeting, 7 p.m.

UHS Golf: Boys JV/V vs. Indianola, 10 a.m. @ Indianola

Tuesday Aug. 18Senior Morning Fitness Class,


Senior Timely Talkers Group, 10-11 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Mixed Cards & Games, 10:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Urbandale Senior

Recreation Center Senior Singers. Open to both

men and women. 1:45-2:45 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Wednesday Aug. 19






Free Fit Club, All ages and fitness levels welcome. Bring a towel and a bottle of water. No registration is needed. 6-7 p.m., Lions Park Shelter

On the Same Page, 7:30 p.m., Urbandale Public Library

Bickford of Urbandale’s “Walk to Remember” Backyard BBQ Fundraiser, $10 donation is requested with RSVP with 100% of the proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Bickford of Urbandale

Thursday Aug. 20




DMCS All Faculty Inservice DMCS JH Volleyball Team Camp Blood Pressure Checks, 10-

11:30 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

UHS Golf: Boys JV/V vs. Valley, 10 a.m. @ Willow Creek

Friday Aug. 21



DMCS All Faculty Inservice DMCS JH Volleyball Team Camp DMCS “Meet the Teacher,”

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CALENDAR

Sunday Aug. 23

DMCS Convocation, 4:00 p.m.

Monday Aug. 24

Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, 6 p.m., City Hall

Senior Morning Fitness Class 9-9:45 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Seniors Amateur Artists Group, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Monday Bridge Club, Reservations are required. 10:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center


Urbandale Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting, 5:30-7 p.m.

UHS First Day of Class

Tuesday Aug. 25


Have a calendar entry for the next issue of Urbandale Living? Send your information to: [email protected].

Promote your event!

Senior Timely Talkers Group, 10-11 a.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Mixed Cards & Games, 10:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

Senior Singers. Open to both men and women. 1:45-2:45 p.m., Urbandale Senior Recreation Center

DMCS First Day of School DMCS Boohoo/Yahoo Welcome

Gathering–Parent-Teacher Fellowship, 8:15 a.m.

Brown Bag Book Club, noon Urbandale Public Library

UHS Volleyball: Varsity Invitational, 4:30 p.m. @ DCG

UHS Swimming: Girls JV/V vs. Johnston, 5 p.m. @ Ames

Wednesday Aug. 26






Free Fit Club, All ages and fitness levels welcome. Bring a towel and a bottle of water. No registration is needed. 6-7 p.m., Lions Park Shelter

UHS Golf: Boys JV/V vs. Johnston, 9:30/10 a.m. @ Jester Park

UHS Golf: Boys 9th vs. Southeast Polk, 3:30 p.m. @ Toad Valley

Thursday Aug. 27Senior Morning Fitness Class,




DMCS Cross Country vs. Guthrie Center High School @ Guthrie Center

UHS Cross Country: JV/V Invitational, 4:30 p.m. @ Marshalltown

UHS Volleyball: 9/10/JV vs. Dallas Center-Grimes, 5 p.m. @ DCG

UHS Football: 10th vs. Hoover, 6 p.m. @ Hoover

UHS Football: 9th vs. Hoover, 6 p.m. @ Urbandale

Friday Aug. 28



DMCS Parent-Teacher Fellowship Tailgate, Johnston Senior HS field, 5:00 p.m.

DMCS Football: Varsity vs. West Central Valley,7 p.m. @ Johnston Senior HS field

UHS Football: Varsity vs. Hoover, 7 p.m. @ Urbandale

Saturday Aug. 29

DMCS Volleyball: Varsity @ Bondurant-Farrar Tournament

UHS Volleyball: Varsity Invitational, 9 a.m. @ Ames HS

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E very so often, you see them being offered for taking a small step, such as visiting a furni-

ture showroom (no purchase nec-essary). The two-night, three-day hotel stay seems too good to be true, so what’s the catch? Well, as you probably know, hotels are not 100 percent full all of the time, and they’re happy to give away the open rooms for just the cost of room tax, hoping that once you’re there, you’ll stay an extra night, eat in the restaurant or pay for use of the spa, casino or other amenities. Of course, you’re not obligated to do any of these things, but they know that a certain percentage of their guests likely will, and others will enjoy their stay so much, they’ll be back as paying guests at some point in the future.

It’s not as convenient as simply calling a hotel and booking your stay, because you’ll need 30 days advance notice, and you need to give the agency three choices of locations/dates. Eighty percent of the time, you’ll get your first choice… but not always. Then there’s the real cost. We’ve broken it down as follows: (Once you get the free certificate, you’ll need to redeem it.) of $15 to $30. This pays the company that negoti-ates with the hotels for setting up your reservation. Anywhere from $12 to $33 per night, paid at time of reservation, usually at $33 per room per night, and the difference is refunded to you after your stay.

deposit, to guarantee your room. This is sent back to you after your vacation. However, if you don’t show up, the hotel has the right to keep the deposit since they held the room for you. If you’re taking children with you (the certificate covers two adults only) it’s an addi-tional $5 per night per child. So, here’s what a hotel stay will cost if you redeem a five-day, four-night hotel stay:

tax, at four nights, $132

($0.00 if you’re not) That’s $237.95 for a five-day getaway for a family of four. After the $50 back, your total cost is $187.95. Not a bad price for some family time and summer fun. So is it free? Of course not. But if you can find a hotel that will give you four nights for four people for just $187.95, we want to know about it.

Information by Holly Bernal, CCUFC, Chief Operations Officer at Midland Credit Union, 2891 106th St., Urbandale, 515-278-1994.-

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PET HEALTH

T aking pets on vacation is a fun way to experience new things as a family. It

is important to consider several things before travelling with your pet.

First, not all pets enjoy a change of routine. Most cats and some dogs become very anxious when they are away from home and their normal routines. If possi-ble do a short trial run. For some, finding a pet sitter or a boarding facility may be more comfortable. During peak travel seasons, it may be hard to find care for your pets, so schedule with pet sitters or make boarding reservations early.

Secondly, consider the des-tination and method of travel planned. Visits to relatives or camping trips may be very enjoy-able and comfortable for pets. If your planned activities require your pet to be left alone for long periods of time, they may be hap-pier at home. Please remember it is not safe to leave pets unat-tended in vehicles during warm months and extremely cold times.

Make sure your pet is up to date on necessary vaccines and preventatives before you leave. Get appropriate health cer-tificates and carry proof of vaccina-tion wherever you go. Check with airlines about specific require-ments. Discuss your travels with your veterinarian. They may rec-ommend additional vaccines or products to help protect them when travelling to new areas. Be sure to stock up on medications your pet takes.

Motion sickness can be a prob-lem for some pets also. There are medications, supplements and

essential oil options for pets who suffer from this uncomfortable problem. It is best to start treat-ment prior to travelling, so ask your vet for specific recommenda-tions. Always carry a current pic-ture of your pet, and make sure appropriate identification is with your pet. Collars and tags are helpful in case your pet becomes lost. Microchips are a great form of permanent identification, even if collars are lost. If hotel stays are needed, pets should be comfortable in kennels, and they should not be left out alone. It is important to check the pet policies at each area. Not every place is pet friendly, so investigate before you leave. Be a responsible pet owner by always keeping pets secured on a non-retractable leash, and keep plenty of waste bags handy to clean up after them. Travelling with pets can be a fun experience. Don’t forget plenty of food, water, bowls, toys and bedding from home to top off your pet’s vacation experience.

Information provided by Kristin DeVries, DVM, Pet Medical Center, 4450 128th St., Urbandale, 331-9035.

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FAITH

R ainy Lake in northern Minnesota is a remnant of Lake Agassiz, a 700-by-

200-mile lake of the Pleistocene Epoch, when glaciers carved the northern Great Plains. Their retreat scoured the earth down to bedrock and created the vast Canadian Shield which extends to Hudson Bay. This shield consists of countless lakes where glacial-ly imbedded boulders have left gouges in the exposed granite. My introduction to Rainy Lake came when our family built an island cabin, and I was instantly wooed by its rocky shoreline and pristine bays. With 1,000 islands dotting 360 square miles, I also discovered Rainy Lake is moody and even dangerous. The fiercest storm of my life pushed our cabin from its foundation and uprooted trees that had stood for more than a century. Reefs, however, are the persistent danger, and we once watched workmen extract a houseboat just north of our cabin — it took two days — and convinced us that good maps and adherence to channel mark-ers are essential. When going upstream stay left of a red mark-er — without exception. So I watch the channel mark-ers and have discovered that in daily living, Jesus is the best chan-nel marker we have. Not only is he the smartest person who ever lived, but also has the best advice on the most important topics. Ignoring him is like boating at high speed while oblivious to the hidden reefs: Disaster is close at

hand. Name your topic, and Jesus offers the best advice. For mar-riage, “Leave home and cleave to each other.” For violence, “He who lives by the sword will die by the sword.” For wealth, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, and not on earth.” For better relationships, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” For condemnation, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” For salvation, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” But we miss the beauty of knowing Jesus if we only see him as a channel marker, just as we miss the beauty of the lake by only avoiding the rocks. There are shorelines and bays to be explored, and Jesus woos us, and we are amazed at every turn. He invites us into a relationship that brings us far beyond just rules or rituals, and by trusting him, we engage the highest quality life — beautiful and even dangerous — but always compelling.

Channel markersBy Pastor Alan Johnson, Urban Heights Covenant Church

Jesus offers the best advice for any topic

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number on your scale? Does it make or break your day? If you’re work-ing out and your only measure of success is that number, you should reevaluate.

Eight years ago, I lost a lot of weight due to a personal crisis. I was not eating and not taking care of myself. I went from about 125 pounds to 108 in a very short period of time. I felt tired all of the time and had no energy. At 5’4” and 108 pounds, I was definitely what I would call “skinny fat.”

At that time, I made a com-mitment to take care of myself. I started working out twice a week plus walking on my off days and made an effort to remove most processed foods from my diet. I started seeing changes in my body and energy level, which was all the encouragement I needed.

After about a year, my weight was up to 120 pounds. Did I get depressed? Nope. I was thrilled.

The clothes that I wore when I weighed 108 pounds were too big for me. I had gone down several sizes because lean muscle takes up less space than fat. Jeffrey A. Dolgan, a clinical exer-cise physiologist based in Miami Beach, Florida, says, “When you exercise, as is essential for a well-rounded weight loss program, your body begins to lose fat while build-ing muscle. This can be very con-fusing for some people when they step on the scale and notice that they weigh the same or more even though their body is looking and feeling more toned. A pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle; however, the volume of muscle is denser than the volume of fat, and therefore heavier.” I don’t judge my success by the number on the scale. I go by how I feel, my energy level, what I’m physi-cally able to do that I might not have been able to do before, and how my clothes fit. As a 50-year-old woman, I want to enjoy food and treat my body well so that I’m able to func-tion as I move through to my 60s, 70s, 80s and, hopefully, beyond.

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Scale obsession and fatBy Julie Bautista

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I magine a group of children play-ing on the swing set in your backyard. One of the kids falls

off and is seriously hurt. Her par-ents sue you, claiming the swing set is defective, and they are seek-ing $1 million in damages.

An accident like this can hap-pen in the blink of an eye, and it can happen to anyone. Today, more people are pursuing liability claims, and courts are awarding expensive verdicts at an alarming rate. Remember that woman who sued the fast food chain after she spilled coffee on herself? She was awarded $3 million. The fact is, just one lawsuit could cause you a lifetime of economic hardship.

But an umbrella policy could protect you from financial disaster.

What is an umbrella policy?Personal umbrella insurance applies if the liability limits on your regular home or auto insurance are exhausted. In some situations the umbrella policy might offer protection when your auto or home policy does not.

The cost for a $1 million umbrella policy averages between $150 and $300 annually, accord-ing to the Insurance Information Institute. Each additional $1 million of coverage costs about an addi-tional $100 annually.

That means for less than the cost of a dinner out — $13 to $30 per month — you can purchase extra coverage to help protect

against a financial catastrophe.

Who needs an umbrella policy?While everyone could benefit from extra liability protection, an umbrella policy is especially impor-tant for:

his or her property. A person may have to sell his or her home or other property to pay for a law-suit.

If you’ve worked hard to save money for retirement and you get involved in a lawsuit, that money or other assets could be taken. Some accidents might be out-side of your control, but don’t let an unfortunate incident put you at serious financial risk. Prepare for life’s storms with an umbrella.1

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EDUCATION

W hile she always dreamed of being a teacher, Michele

Loggins didn’t take a conventional path. Loggins teaches second grade at Jensen Elementary. She grew up in Des Moines, eventually moving to Atlanta, where she fostered a career in corporate America. “While I did enjoy a successful career, I’ve always felt that I was meant to be in the classroom,” she says. In 2007 Loggins moved back to Des Moines, and by 2010 was enrolled at Drake University. Loggins graduated in 2013 with a bachelor of science in elementary education and an endorsement in reading. After substitute teaching, Loggins began looking for her own classroom. “It truly was a God thing that landed me at Jensen,” she says. The interview itself was a sign she was in the right place. “My interview with Jensen was the first interview where I felt relaxed and not stressed,” she says. “I felt at home.” Loggins says her coworkers and students are the best. “I couldn’t imagine being any place else,” she says. For Loggins, teaching is a pas-sion. “It’s a part of who I am. It is where I get the most energy and enjoyment,” she says. Her passion for teaching has turned into a mission.

“Whether it’s spending time with my own children, teaching Sunday school, or simply (being) around children, it’s something I feel and know I am meant to be doing,” she says. In the classroom this past year, Loggins’ students worked hard to accomplish personal and academic goals. “I feel a sense of pride as I see how successful my students became this year,” she says. One standout moment occurred when a student who started the year with a dislike of reading ended the year interested in chapter books. Loggins tries to infuse a pas-sion for learning into her stu-dents and aims to lead by example through her own love of learning. “Seeing the smiles each day, watching students grow, and knowing I had an impact on our future are the things I love most about teaching,” she says.

Michele Loggins teaches second grade at Jensen Elementary. Photos by Morgan Parkhurst.

Teacher passes love of learning on to students

By Morgan Parkhurst

Meet Michele Loggins

What do you like best about Mrs. Loggins’ class?

Caroline Morris:“She smiles a lot and makes you dance.”

Kayla Smith:“She’s a fun teacher.”

Blake Smith:“Having fun.”

WHERE WE LIVE

E ven when their two boys were young, they loved liv-ing in Urbandale. Dick and

Elaine Mueller lived at 66th and Aurora for almost 40 years. Ready to upsize — when most people their age downsize — this couple moved into a 1,900-square-foot brick ranch with a walkout lower level, agreeing that Urbandale was the only thing that must not change. They enjoy the small-town friendliness Urbandale has to offer. “Anybody would do anything for you,” Elaine says. “No one is nosey, but they are there for you.” They enjoy hearing school kids laughing on the playground at Valerius Elementary in the spring and listening to kids splash-ing in neighborhood pools in the summer. Fireworks in July are just around the corner. Their six grandchildren frequent the pond at Walker Johnston Park. The Muellers don’t have to go far to enjoy the simple beauties in life. Their front yard is meticu-lously manicured, boasting hydran-geas, lilies, weigela, golden privet, holly and rose bushes. Butterfly ornaments and bird feeders adorn

this space. Deer like it here, too. They have been known to make their way under the trees and take morning naps. Their bay window in the kitch-en is the perfect spot to sit and take in all the happenings. The backyard is a quiet para-dise professionally landscaped, showcasing a variety of bird and squirrel feeders with bright emer-ald grass in the middle of the yard. The wrap-around deck walks you to a lower level octagon deck. Dick trims 75 bushes annually, and this time of year they are all at their peak form. Like the front yard, deer gather back here, too. Last winter the couple woke up to seven deer having their own kind of reunion right there in their backyard. Not surprisingly, when Urbandale started its “yard of the month” award about five years ago, the Muellers were one of the first to be recognized. The picturesque 105-foot by 165-foot backyard and seasonally decorated front yard would have been a straightforward choice. “He’s the one with the green thumb,” Elaine says of Dick. “I help with trimming and watering.”

Proud to be hereCouple happy to call Urbandale homeBy Rainey Cook

Dick and Elaine Mueller outside their 1962 brick ranch-style home in Urbandale. Photos by Rainey Cook.

Contact Darren Tromblay at 953-4822 ext. 304 or [email protected] to be featured in a future “Where We Live” column of Urbandale Living.


FINANCE

Information provided by Matt Stahr, president, VisionPoint, 1601 Westlakes Parkway #200, West Des Moines, (800) 282-4032.

R etirement used to conjure up images of lazy days spent in a rocking chair. Today’s retire-

ment is very different. What does this redefined retirement mean to you? There is no one answer. In the coming decades, “retirement” will mean something different to each of us.

Income is keyA good starting point might be to examine your sources of retire-ment income. If you pay atten-tion to the financial press, you’ve probably come across at least a few commentators who speak in gloom-and-doom terms about the future for American retirees, decry-ing a lack of savings and warning of the imminent growth of the elderly population.

This makes it even more impor-tant for individuals to understand their goals and have a well-thought-out financial plan that focuses on the key source of retirement income: personal savings and investments.

As you move through the vari-ous stages of the new retirement your plan may require adjustments along the way. Consider these fac-tors:

You can project peri-ods of retirement, reeducation and full employment. Then concentrate on a plan to fund each of the sepa-rate periods. The number of years until you retire will influence the types of investments you include in your portfolio.

While lower-risk fixed-income and money market investments may play an important role in your investment portfolio, if used alone they may leave you susceptible to the erosive effects of inflation. To help your portfolio

keep pace with inflation, you may need to maintain some growth-oriented investments. Over the long term, stocks have provided returns superior to other asset classes.1 Keep in mind that stocks generally involve greater short-term volatility. Even after you retire, taxes will remain an important fac-tor in your overall financial plan. If you return to work or open a business, for example, your tax bracket could change. In addition, should you move from one state to another, state or local taxes could affect your bottom line. Tax-advantaged investments, such as annuities and tax-free mutual funds, may be effective tools for meeting your retirement goals. Tax deferral offered by workplace plans — such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans — and IRAs may also help your retirement savings grow.

Prepare today for the retirement of tomorrowTo ensure that retirement lives up to your expectations, begin estab-lishing your plan as early as pos-sible and consider consulting with a professional.

Source/Disclaimer:1Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Stock investing involves risk including loss of principal.

Income is the key to your plans

Are you prepared to retire?By Matt Stahr

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J im Jacobson, 53, and his wife, Jane, 55, are in love with cars. “I have had collector cars all of

my life,” Jim says. “My dad had old cars when I was little; my father bought, sold and traded cars all the time.” For fun, Jim bought Jane a gor-geous 1967 Ford Mustang convert-ible at the Mecum car auction at the fairgrounds in Des Moines in 2012. “Jane said if I brought home any more cars it had to be a convert-ible, and she preferred a Mustang,” he says. “Plus, it had to be red. I met all of her requirements, and boy was she surprised when I start-ed bidding on it.” According to Jacobson, the Mustang has a 289 V8 automatic, and is a stock vehicle, except for 18-inch Riddler wheels. He upgrad-ed it to four-wheel power disk brakes during the winter in 2014. “I call it ‘Jane’s car,’ as I bought it for her,” Jacobson says. “She has always gone to shows and car out-ings with me, but never had a car of her own. Now she does. We are active members of the Central Iowa Mustang club. Jane does the newsletter for the club, and I am a board member and the show chair for the car show the first weekend in June in Valley Junction. Jane just loves driving it. She always says it’s

the girly car boys get to watch as we drive by them.” Jacobson says he purchased his 1950 Pontiac at an auction in Adel in 2002, but he wasn’t really look-ing for this particular car. “I was there, and no one want-ed it, so I bought it cheap,” he says. “The car is all original with only 58,000 miles, with all original paint and interior and had seat covers on it ever since new. I had to finally take the seat covers off of it last year as they had deteriorated and I was afraid it would damage the seats. It has an oil change sticker on the driver’s door from 1972 with 53,000 miles.” Jacobson says his fascinating find has a 265 straight eight-cylinder flat-head engine three-speed transmis-sion and is the Silverstreak model, commonly referred to as a slope or slant back, as the roof flows back into the trunk. Then, there is this odd looking object that hangs out-side of the passenger driver’s door. “The black thing on the pas-senger’s window is a swamp cooler or evaporative air cooler,” he says. “It is the air conditioning of the ’40s and ’50s. You fill it with water, and it has a sponge-like drum inside, and an air scoop on the front. When the car is moving, the air flows over the water and cools the air coming inside.”

Jim Jacobson and his 1950 Pontiac and his wife, Jane, with her 1967 Mustang. Left: Jim’s car is complete with a “swamp cooler,” the air conditioner of the era.

Couple shares love for classic cars

By Lisa Verhey-Budding

Silverstreak vs. Mustang

Contact Darren at 953-4822 ext. 304 or darrenatdm-cityview.com to recommend someone for an upcoming issue of “What’s In Your Garage?”

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T he Urbandale Public Library is undergoing a renovation project through the end of

October. The construction project will be completed in phases:

New carpeting in the children’s and media area and a new main service desk and display area.

New carpeting in the adult and reference area.

New carpeting in the meeting rooms and new tile in the lobby and café.

We will do our best to pro-vide complete access to our collec-tion during construction, but some materials may not be immediately available. These items will have to be placed on hold and it could take up to three days for them to become available.

Some library services will be affected by construction as well. Story times and other youth pro-grams will not be held during phase 1. The study rooms and test proc-toring will be unavailable during phase 2. We will also have a lim-ited number of public computers available during this phase. Meeting rooms will be unavailable for the duration of the construction project as they will temporarily contain our collection.

The library will remain open during the majority of the construc-tion project but may have to close for a short time during phase 3. We will post information about this throughout the library and our webpage.

Online learning toolsWith the beginning of the school year just around the corner, it’s

time to start thinking about study-ing again! Although our study rooms and test proctoring service will be unavailable for a couple of months, you will still have access to all of our materials and online learning tools.

Need that extra boost to help improve test scores? LearningExpress Library is an inter-active online learning platform fea-turing more than 770 practice tests, tutorials and eBooks related to col-lege entrance and graduate school admissions exam preparation and basic skills improvement in reading, writing and math for all ages. You’ll get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations and an indi-vidualized analysis of your results. LearningExpress Library isn’t just for students — it also offers job search and workplace skills improvement and career certification and licensing exam preparation. Trying to learn a new language for school, career or just because? Try out the online database, Mango Languages. Mango is an online lan-guage learning system teaching practical conversation skills for real communication. It’s the fast, easy and effective way to learn to speak a foreign language. Your library card barcode number is required for remote access.

LIBRARY NEWS

Urbandale Public Library3520 86th St.278-3945Hours: Mon. - Thur.: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Fri. - Sat.: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday: 1-5 p.m.

Renovations underway at Urbandale Library

By Urbandale Public Library staff

Under construction

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OUT AND ABOUT

2015 Chamber Chair Karen Goldsworth and her family at the 60th Fourth of July parade in Urbandale.

New Hope Assembly of God youth group at the 60th Fourth of July parade in Urbandale.

Urbandale Community Action Network (UCAN) at the 60th Fourth of July parade in Urbandale.

Pet Medical Center at the 60th Fourth of July parade in Urbandale.

Tanya Riewer, Evelyn Varley and Julie Bautista at the 60th Fourth of July parade in Urbandale.

Hy-Vee at the 60th Fourth of July parade in Urbandale.

BU Dance Company at the 60th Fourth of July parade in Urbandale.

Iowa Auto Repair celebrated its 25th anniversary at the 60th Fourth of July parade in Urbandale.

Clint Dudley at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

Brooke Christian, Dick Christian and Brian Christian at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

Jeana Schultz and Mary Harken at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

Erin Andeweg, Mayor Bob Andeweg, Tom Gayman and Bill Northup at the 60th Fourth of July parade in Urbandale.


OUT AND ABOUT

Jarod Snover and Michael Dunne at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

Emily Meng and Jolene Goodman at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

Kim Stevens and Terry Ebke at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

Gabe Dickerson at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

Jessica Marcantel and Sherry Ryan at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

Brenna Young, Debra Prentice and Jon Dickerson at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

Tom Rice and Jill Creveling at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

Nick Elliott, business development manager, cuts DISTek Integration Inc.’s ribbon at the ceremony hosted by the Urbandale Chamber on July 10.

Jim Langin, Heather Campney and Debra Gray at the Liberty National Bank ribbon cutting on June 24.

Tom Morgan cuts the ribbon for F & O’s grand reopening on June 25.

Kyle Freeman and Amy Poutre at the Chamber’s High 5 hosted by Shade Tree Auto on July 9.

Mary Russell, David Russell and Mike Kelley at the Chamber’s Business Expo hosted at Urbandale High School on July 15.

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