Parks & Rec

August 4, 2015 by admin

The cities of Waukee, West Des Moines, Urbandale and Clive provide a wide array of opportunities for enjoying the outdoors. Whether you’re gathering family members together for a weekend celebration, or seeking solitude and greenery, you can find it throughout the western suburbs of Des Moines.

Read on to learn more about the unique park offerings around the metro.

Waukee

Sugar Creek Golf Course is a nine-hole, par 34 course. Its new practice facility features a driving range, putting green, and chipping area. Leagues for men and women, personal instruction, and camps for junior and peewee golfers are offered.

Location: 1505 6th Street, Waukee
Phone: 515-987-5247

Sugar Creek Trail begins at the intersection of Warrior Lane and University Avenue. The trail winds through Glynn Village and the Spyglass neighborhood. Trail walkers and riders are treated to picturesque views of Sugar Creek Golf Course.

Centennial Park covers 33 acres and offers sand volleyball, three playgrounds, a basketball court, baseball diamonds, and most notably, a 13-hole disc golf course. For those who throw, the course offers a wide variety of long- and short-distance holes in the setting of a well-maintained park. Shelters and charcoal grills are available for picnics and gatherings.

Location: 1255 S. Warrior Lane, Waukee

Windfield Park is newly renovated, featuring play areas for different ages, a full basketball court, and a new backstop for baseball and softball. The shelter offers enclosed bathrooms, and charcoal grills are available for use.

Location: 114 Windfield Parkway, Waukee

For more information about these parks and many more, visit Waukee’s Parks & Rec website.

West Des Moines

Raccoon River Park, the crown jewel of West Des Moines parks, covers 631 acres. It features Iowa’s first and only outdoor public archery facility, a dog park, and the Raccoon River Nature Lodge, which hosts educational and private events. Blue Heron Lake offers boat access for fishing, and the beach is open to the public throughout the summer. The playing fields at the park host the West Des Moines Soccer Club, as well as the West Des Moines Adult Softball Leagues. Picnic shelters are the perfect place to watch all of the action and can be reserved for private parties.

Location: 2500 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines

Brookview Park is the result of collaboration between the cities of West Des Moines and Waukee. Trails connect to the Jordan Creek trail system, and there’s a large playfield that’s perfect for organized sports or a pick-up game of ultimate frisbee. A picnic shelter with restrooms and a charcoal grill are also available. Because of its proximity to Brookview Elementary School, alcohol is not allowed.

Location: 400 81st Street, West Des Moines

American Legion Park, covering nearly ten acres, is another favorite in West Des Moines. It offers mature trees, a picnic shelter with restrooms, play areas, a softball field, a seasonal sprayground, courts for horseshoes, shuffleboard, tennis, and basketball, and a six-foot half-pipe for skateboarders.

Location: 301 Vine Street, West Des Moines

For more information about these parks and many more, visit West Des Moines’s Parks & Rec website.

Urbandale

Walnut Creek Regional Park, which sprawls over more than 200 acres, features the burbling Walnut Creek as well as many trees and an open area. With one playground and a basketball court, the park provides a peaceful setting in the midst of the metro hustle and bustle.

Location: 153rd Street and Horton Avenue, Urbandale

Walker Johnston Park offers a skateboard park with a pair of 20-foot, escalated quarter pipes, two sets of stairs with rails, a 90-degree bank street hip, a fun box, and a street spine. Other Walker Johnston Park amenities include a pavilion, picnic area, playground, and softball/baseball diamond.

Location: 9000 Douglas Avenue, Urbandale

For more information about these parks and many more, visit Urbandale’s Parks & Rec website.

Clive

Clive Aquatic Center is a great place to cool off this summer. Splash around with the little ones in the leisure pool, swim a lap in the lap pool, or relax in the lazy river. The Special Events Center is the perfect place to host a birthday party or event, and best of all, its pool passes can also be used at West Des Moines’ Valley View and Holiday Aquatic Centers.

Location: 1801 NW 114th Street, Clive
Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 AM to 7 PM; Saturday & Sunday 11:30 AM to 6 PM

Stonegate Park features a few holes for miniature golf, so bring the clubs and practice your putting game. The four-acre park also includes a shelter, walking trail, play area, and basketball court.

Location: 15280 Boston Parkway, Clive

For more information about these parks and many more, visit Clive’s Parks & Rec website.

Small Town Feelin’, Big City Dreamin’

August 4, 2015 by admin

Photography by Laura Wills

The growth of Waukee—dubbed the fastest-growing city in Iowa—has fascinated outsiders and thrilled its residents. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city’s population stood at about 13,800 people in 2010 and grew to 17,077 in 2013—an increase of 22 percent. With housing and commercial developments in the works, Waukee is poised to continue its rapid growth in both residential population and economic growth. Despite the challenges presented by fast expansion, the city has managed to maintain its small-town feel and family-friendly aesthetic, while providing services to citizens.

Three city leaders recently shared their insights on the reasons for the city’s growth and its future direction.

“Any forecast we’ve put out, the population growth has always blown it away,” said Rick Peterson, city councilman. Peterson is a six-year resident of the city. When he and his family made their home here, it was “still kind of country” but growing quickly.

Dan Dutcher is the Community and Economic Development Director for the city and a 23-year resident. Dutcher and his family moved here because of the educational opportunities, although the shape of the school district was much different at the time.

As the Development Services Director, Brad Deets has worked for the city for nine years and is a three-year resident. He’s in charge of the long-term planning for the city, which includes the development review process. “When I came to Waukee, we were right around 8,000 people,” said Deets. “We’ve more than doubled since then.”

Top-Notch School District

There are a number of reasons for the growth of Waukee, but all three leaders agree the school district is the main component. “It’s a big drive for the residents that come here,” said Peterson. As a parent of two kids, Peterson feels it’s the high caliber of teachers and the curriculum they deliver that sets the school district apart.

Deets agrees. “Our school district is second to none in the Des Moines area as far as the instruction provided, and that generates interest from young families who want to move to our community,” he said.

Waukee’s school district is known for its innovative approach to education, and with the new Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program, students have even more opportunities to prepare themselves for a bright future. “The program is designed for high school students, and it opens up a number of incredible opportunities for them to participate in professional studies. They learn with a diverse group of people from academia, the business world, and the community,” said Peterson.

The CAPS program began in 2014 and enrolled 120 students. After the completion of the program’s stand-alone facility in 2016, the program will have room for upwards of 500 students. Students get real world experience through collaboration with community business partners. Inquiry-based learning, combined with hands-on projects and experiences, allow students to explore career possibilities in finance and insurance, technology, engineering, human services, and bioscience and value-added agriculture. Students have the chance to earn college credits or certifications while earning high school credit.

Location, Location, Location

Waukee’s location is also attractive to many. The western suburbs of Des Moines have seen a lot of growth in the last few years. As sites and homes have been filled and sold in West Des Moines and Urbandale, growth and development has moved further west. “The nice thing about Waukee is that we’ve been able to work with our neighbors and establish some growth boundaries to grow collectively and in an orderly way,” said Deets.

According to Dutcher, most of the economic development has happened on the residential side. “Builders look for the lower-cost, easier place to develop, and that just happens to be Waukee,” he said.

This year is shaping up to the best year yet. With projections of 500-600 new single family lots, and 400 new building permits for single family townhomes, Waukee will continue to expand its housing options. In 2014, the city issued 279 permits for single family townhomes. As of this past May, 200 permits had already been issued, and that number will likely climb to 400 by the end of the year. “The nice thing about it is that we have a good variety of developers and pricing points, so it allows a lot of different people to have the opportunity to move here,” said Deets.

It’s not just single-family homes and townhomes that are booming. Plans for multi-family complexes are in different stages of development throughout Waukee. Autumn Ridge, a complex that will include 13 two- and three-story buildings, will be open for rental as early as August, and the final phases will be complete in 2018. Springs at Prairie Crossing, a 260-unit apartment complex, will also open this summer.

Impact of Growth

Are there downsides to rapid growth? “It does put a lot of strain on the infrastructure, even with good planning,” said Dutcher. There’s a lag in time that puts a strain on the financial capability of the city. “It takes a while for the city to receive the benefit of the additional taxes collected from new residents, but they need immediate service.” As a result, the city has to be conscientious about which capital projects it puts into place. “It forces prudence and solid work with the city council. We can’t do everything at once,” said Dutcher.

And then there are the infrastructure improvements that need to be made. “As we build more, we create more traffic. We need more roads, and the roads we already have need to be widened and improved with traffic signals,” said Deets. “Those aren’t cheap; that’s a lot of investment.”

“Balance is what we strive for,” said Peterson. “We need to continue the growth we’re experiencing, but ensure that we maintain the services the city provides to residents. Our residents expect a high level of services, and we want to maintain that.”

It’s not just citizens that demand a high level of service—it’s the builders and developers, too. From Deets’ point of view, levels of staffing and service need to be maintained so projects can move through the process quickly. Deets’ department has grown over the years. “From the planning side, we’ve added a full-time planner, which has really helped with the application and review process.” He added that they also anticipate hiring another building inspector within the next 18 months.

Anticipating Future Needs

The key is being proactive about the areas that will grow next. “We have to plan ahead on the safety side with police and fire; we don’t want to have houses built that we can’t service,” said Dutcher. The last comprehensive plan was done in 2008, and the city council has plans to update the comprehensive plan and focus on development in the areas west of R-22. “We’re already seeing a lot of residential plattes out that way, and that’s going to continue,” said Dutcher.

In the next five years, Waukee will continue to develop its residential areas with an eye to bringing in commercial and retail developers. “Retailers depend on rooftops and people, and we’re starting to see the critical mass needed to shift us out of being a bedroom community,” said Deets. “We’d like to see those residential areas continue to develop, and then provide more personal services for them so they don’t have to go elsewhere in the metro,” Dutcher said. The goal is to make it easy for people to live, work, and play in Waukee.

The new interchange along Highway 80 will be the key to development. “With that road open, that will be the push for commercial development,” said Dutcher. “Developers want to see that open before they commit to Waukee.” The connection to Grand Prairie Parkway will encourage retail and commercial developers to start putting down stakes and provide access to over 1,200 acres of land.

“Kettlestone is the city’s big push to develop. We’re in the process of marketing the property to potential developers,” said Deets. Dutcher believes Kettlestone will have enough unique aspects that if just one area of the plan were developed, it would foster growth in all areas of Waukee. “We hope it puts Waukee on the map,” he said. The 1,500-acre, multi-use development is still in the early stages, but will include housing, retail, and offices, as well as a network of trails and parks.

“The Kettlestone area is just one of the pieces. We’re also looking at the Triangle business area—downtown Waukee—the epicenter of our small-town feel,” said Peterson. The city hosts a lot of festivals there, and a lot of small businesses are focused around that area. Peterson said the council likes to focus on attracting new developments into the area and exploring ways to redevelop.

“Another area that’s ripe for development is the Hickman corridor,” said Peterson. “If you look at Waukee, other than a few places along Hickman corridor, we don’t have a lot of areas that provide immediate development opportunities for people,” said Dutcher. Beyond R-22, the city is looking at a few areas that could be sites for a business park. “Right now, we’re working with the landowner of a 93-acre site to develop a plan,” said Dutcher. “We’re also looking west of 10th Street on the north side of Hickman, with the idea of designing something similar to Aurora Business Park.”

Keeping the Small-Town Feel

Despite its explosive growth, Waukee has managed to maintain its small-town, family-oriented feel. “There’s a certain type of feel to Waukee,” said Deets. “It’s a family-oriented community, with parks, trails, and amenities, and the city does a good job of putting on events and festivals for families.” The small-town feel of Waukee also appeals to those moving in from surrounding rural communities.

With this balance of growth and small-town feel, it could be said that Waukee residents are enjoying the best of both worlds. “We have something really special right now in Waukee. It’s an exciting time,” said Peterson.

Waukee Softball State Champs 2015

July 27, 2015 by admin

myWaukee would like to congratulate the Waukee Warriors high school softball team on their Class 5-A title win this past Friday. Read all about the white-knuckle action from The Des Moines Register here.

Read our profile on their Coach, Carrie Embree

Taming the Anger Beast

July 6, 2015 by admin

Recently, a scene began to unfold at my house that has been all too familiar over the last couple of years.

Perhaps some of you can relate: My soon-to-be 4-year-old son was watching a cartoon on our tablet. I gave him a heads up that in 5 minutes, it was going to be time to put the iPad away. (Some of you can already see where this is going.) At the end of five minutes, I said, “Connor, it’s time to put the iPad away.” He glanced up at me briefly, returned his gaze to the iPad, and replied, “No, I don’t do that right now.” I persisted, “Connor, it’s time to put away the iPad. Please turn it off.” No acknowledgement from my son this time – he continued watching his cartoon as though I’d said nothing at all. In the interest of giving him one last chance to make a better choice, I said to him, “Connor, I will give you to the count of three to turn the iPad off, or I will do it for you, and you won’t see the iPad tomorrow.” I hadn’t even uttered the word “one” before my son exasperatedly crossed his arms in a defiant pose and screamed, “NO!!!”

The Hulk was awakened …

More often than not, once Connor crosses his arms like that, a tantrum of epic proportions is what follows. For the past couple of weeks, however, my husband and I have been working on a different approach with Connor. When I saw him start to get angry, I asked him, “Are you angry right now?” This by itself is an approach – helping him to label the emotion he is experiencing before he’s too caught up in the midst of it to think and listen. With his arms still crossed and his lower lip stuck out in a distinctive pout, Connor shook his head to indicate “yes.” Then, I said to him, “What should we do when we’re angry?” He looked at me as though contemplating the question, and then slowly took in a breath through his nose. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, and continued taking in deep breaths – in through the nose, out through the mouth. With a few additional re-directing statements from my husband and I, Connor was on his way to the bathroom to get ready for bed. NO TANTRUM!

For the last two weeks, we’ve been working with Connor on deep breathing. We practice it when he’s not angry or upset, and talk about how to use it when he is. Last night, that work paid off ten-fold. Connor calmed himself down and was able to move on without all the drama and stress that often characterizes bedtime in our household. We all fell asleep happier that night.

Try It Out

Practicing deep breathing, or ‘calm breathing,’ as it is sometimes also referenced, with a young child can be challenging. Therefore, we are practicing with bubbles. If your child is like mine, he gets so excited at the sight of bubbles that he quickly blows and blows and blows, without producing many bubbles. In order to really get those bubbles flying, you have to give a long, slow and controlled exhale – the same kind used in deep breathing.

Be sure to explain to your child what you’re doing and why, otherwise, it’s just play time with bubbles. For Connor, we tell him this before we pull the bubbles out, otherwise he gets distracted by the desire to get his hands on that wand. If you can, illustrate the difference between the quick breaths and the longer ones. Your child will know they’re doing it right when they see all those bubbles floating through the air – instant gratification!

Practice Makes Perfect

As with anything else, it takes practice to get really at the deep breathing. Be sure to spend a few minutes everyday until your child gets the hang of it. If you see him start to get the hang of it and actively use it when getting upset, that’s probably a cue you can back down the amount of practicing. If some backsliding occurs, increase the frequency. Every child is different, and so is every family, so figure out what works best for you.

I truly subscribe to the ‘it takes a village’ philosophy, so please share your thoughts and suggestions for helping kids stay calm!

Additional Information

To learn more about deep breathing and other relaxation techniques for kids, check out these useful sites:

AnxietyBC
Kids Relaxation
Fit Jr. – WebMD

photo credit: The 2012 Central Canada Comic Con – Hulk via photopin (license)

Waukee Arts Festival: Community day for Celebrating Art, Music, Food

June 16, 2015 by admin

On July 19th the senses will be ignited with the vibrant sights and sounds at the Waukee Arts Festival. Hosted by the Waukee Area Arts Council the event will converge with Jazz in July and Sundays in Centennial. Artists of all mediums—taste, handiwork, performance, creativity, instrumental—will highlight the rich variety of arts and culture from across the metro.

Waukee Area Arts Council board member and festival artist and musician coordinator, Cody Kilgore said that the growing community of Waukee is poised well to host this type of event.

The Waukee Area Arts Council has been looking for a signature event we could create which would show more support for the visual arts in our community and contribute to the thriving culture of the Waukee area,” Kilgore said.

Just about any visual artist is welcome, Kilgore said.

“This first year is a non-juried show, and we have had a goal of making it accessible and available to a wide variety of artists,” Kilgore explained. “Making this an artist-friendly event is what will also give people attending a wide variety of art to browse, shop, and enjoy.”

At noon the first musician will take the spotlight, each act with an hour to perform. With a full agenda to come artists will include singer/songwriter Dan Medeiros and fellow singer/songwriter Jess DeWitt.

Among others, Moar Tacos, Agri-Cultured and Fresh Mediterranean Express will be selling delicious bites. Moar Tacos—recently an attendee at the Des Moines Social Club Food Truck Throw Down—features Korean-infused tacos (think beer battered tofu, kimchi salsa, and spicy pork). Agri-Clutured is all about handcrafted, fermented kombucha, sauerkraut, natto-hummus, salsa and other gut-positive foods. They have a food stand that incorporates these elements into specialty sandwiches like grilled cheese. Fresh Mediterranean Express serves up sandwiches like falafel, fresh salad, sides with fresh hummus, meat and veggie kabobs as well as delicious desserts like baklava.

Little ones will love the chance to run around like a tiger or butterfly after visiting the Queen Bee Face Painting stand.

Kilgore said the Waukee Area Arts Council would like this to evolve into an annual regional showcase for artists and music.

“Certainly we’d like to see everyone in the local community there to enjoy and support it, but we think the art and music that we’ll have there that day will certainly be interesting to people across the metro and surrounding area,” Kilgore said about the draw of the lively event.

Tying up the night will be the rousing jazz sounds of the John Morgan Big Band from 6:30-8 p.m. Grab a spot on the lawn with a blanket or chairs, bring the entire crew and lest we not forget carry-in beer and wine are permitted.

Kilgore said that while the event will be just one day this year, they hope to expand the event with even more music and arts into a two-day festival.

Interested in joining the event and sharing your skills? Contact Kilgore at 515-490-8669 or via email at blackcapphotography@gmail.com.

All artist applications, found online at waukeearts.org must be received no later than July 4, 2015

Waukee Arts Festival
When: Sunday, July 19, noon-8 p.m.
Where: Centennial Park, 1255 S. Warrior Lane, Waukee, Iowa 50263
Price: Free, food and drink for purchase

Kicking Poverty from Waukee

May 28, 2015 by admin

Waukee Christian Church Shoe Drive runs through July 31

Everyday we lace up, Velcro on and zip up shoes to take us from point a to point b. Each means something a little different, sneakers for a workout, heels for the workplace, casual kicks for a movie night out. Now, shift the paradigm. What if shoes meant more than sole protection and style? When something as simple as a pair shoes can perpetuate a business and produce capital that is when the true fashionable impact begins.

Waukee Christian Church, living on the western edge of blossoming Waukee where the rural countryside meets metropolitan development, wanted to break out beyond their four walls of worship. Making a difference for the constituents meant short and long-term impact. Which is why they began the Shoe Drive to collect gently used pairs of shoes.

Near and Far
In 2014 over 7,240 pairs of shoes were donated and this year the Church is out to top that number. 200 pairs of youth shoes were allocated to Waukee Christian Services and the rest were donated internationally through Funds2Orgs.

Woods explained why keeping part of the drive local was important.

“This church is one of the original founding churches of Waukee Christian Services and so we knew that our vision for providing care and support to those families struggling to make ends meet were compatible.”

Word of this easy yet important fundraiser has spread.

“Other touching stories include the widows and widowers who contact us and ask us to take their loved one’s shoes,” Woods said. “Unable to part with them before, they are able to give them to the Shoe Drive because they know they will make a huge impact on the world; it is a small gift, but it is so meaningful to them.”

Once again the Church is partnering with the Des Moines Color Run and will be collecting shoes at the 5k race on July 11.

Woods said individuals and entire communities are communing around the Shoe drive.

“We have been contacted by people from across Iowa and beyond: Panora, Osceola, Woodward, Council Bluffs, Ankeny and Minneapolis!”

Osceola, Iowa has adopted the mission as their Make a Difference Day project and a small college in suburban Chicago is collecting. A Mahjong Club in Ankeny and local Drake and Grandview Universities join them in donations.

Participants of the Iowa Gladiator Assault Challenge in Boone donated muddy shoes to the Drive.

It is a fundraiser for all ages.

“The church’s summer camp program is encouraging all youth to bring a pair of shoes to camp to donate,” Woods said. “Our youth group went to Boone last night to clean and match a pickup truckload of shoes.”

A Shoe Cycle
The life cycle of donated shoes just begins after they exit your closet. Donation bins are located at Waukee Christian Church and the Waukee Family YMCA. The bins will then be collected and the shoes will be consolidated before being dispersed to the network of micro-entrepreneurs in nations with developing economies.

These micro-entrepreneurs then repurpose the shoes. Often they clean, repair or melt down the material to create a good-as-new-pair of shoes. These micro-business owners, with minimal employees and capital, can also use the shoe materials in other producible goods.

“In developing countries, micro entrepreneurs represent the vast majority of the small business sector–due to a lack of formal jobs and training available,” Woods explained. “This means that people are not only given much needed clothing, but that they are given the tools to make a lasting change for the better.”

A simple donation spurs a cogwheel of impact. The entrepreneurs can then sell the in-demand shoes to their communities in return for payments or trades that allow them to fulfill the basic needs of their families.

Woods said that the Drive’s influence was visible when the denomination’s Regional Administrative Coordinator for Ministries, Connie Derby Dicks, recently embarked on a mission to Haiti.

“While there she saw our shoes lined up along the roadside and for sale by one of the many micro-entrepreneurs who benefit from the Drive; she said that the mission trip changed her life, and it was wonderful to see a connection to rural Iowa so far from home.”

Green Feet
The Shoe Drive is rooted in ecological impact as well. Woods said many of the founding members of the church were farmers, hence with a deep connection to the land.

“We thought that this was another way we could impact the world in a positive way and protect the land we love,” Woods said.

In the U.S. alone approximately 600 million pairs of shoes are thrown away annually, not only does this add to the massive overflowing landfills, the chemicals and materials used in the manufacturing process can create health hazards when left to break down in the garbage.

Used shoes needing a place to go? Donate to the drive through July 31.

Donation bins:

Waukee Christian Church, 29043 T Ave, Waukee, Iowa 50263
Waukee Family YMCA, 210 North Warrior Ln, Waukee, Iowa 50263

Contact info:

waukeechristianchurch.com
515-987-4937

Bike MS: C.H. Robinson Iowa Ride

May 25, 2015 by admin

Sign up for the Bike MS: C.H. Robinson Iowa Ride on Saturday, June 27, 2015.

This ride is a one-day, fully supported ride starting at the Ankeny Fire Station and finishing at Firetrucker Brewery in Ankeny. This ride features 25-, 50-, 75-, or 100-mile route options and is open to cyclists of all levels of expertise. Riders will enjoy online fundraising tools, snacks and refreshments at rest stops occurring every 10-15 miles, mechanical and medical support, and a finish line celebration with free beer, food trucks, and festivities!

Register today at www.bikeMS.org and search for Iowa.

The National MS Society is collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now, and are working toward a world free of MS. We mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS. The National MS Society, through events like Walk and Bike MS, raise critical funds for research, drive change through advocacy, and support local programs and services to help people with MS and their families live their best lives.

The Upper Midwest Chapter supports people with MS living in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and offer services such as support groups, financial assistance, medical equipment recycling, scholarship programs, information and referral programs, and much more. We work to get one step closer to ending MS forever.

To learn more, please visit our Chapter homepage at www.MSsociety.org

Under Construction: Hawthorne Plaza Expansion

May 20, 2015 by admin

Photos by Laura Wills Photography

With the addition of a new building, Hawthorne Plaza will be expanding into an 85,000-square-foot complex.

Located at 9250 University Avenue in West Des Moines, the newly constructed 29,000-square-foot space will house multiple tenants. According to Andy Hodges, Vice President of Signature Real Estate, the new building will include a retail location for CenturyLink and two new restaurants. Both restaurants will use state-of-the-art technology to bring fresh concepts to metro diners.

Slated to open in the spring of 2015 as of press time, 7 Stone Pizzeria will occupy a 2,300-square-foot space. The owner, Kara Horn, has a long personal history with pizza. She previously owned a pizza franchise in northeast Iowa and decided to go her own way in order to branch out and get more creative with her own ideas. After looking for about a year, Horn settled on this location. “I really like the area, and the timing for it was good,” she said. The name of the restaurant is in homage to Horn’s roots; her previous store was located at 7th Avenue in Cedar Rapids.

The pizzeria isn’t just your average pie place, either. Although they will have a traditional oven, the kitchen will also be equipped with a high-tech Italian oven that uses both gas and electric heat to cook pizzas on a constantly rotating stone. They’ll serve up pizzas made with house-made ingredients, and wine and craft beers will also be available.

The other new restaurant, Guttenburgers, will specialize in—you guessed it—burgers. “We chose this location because the surrounding area is growing very rapidly,” explained Manager Rob Riley. When searching for sites, Riley recognized a need for more diverse dining options in the area. “We think this is going to be a very high-traffic area and a very close-knit community, and we want to be a part of that,” said Riley.

Guttenburgers will also use new technology to cook a better burger. As Riley explains it, most burger restaurants throw their patty on a flat-top griddle or a grill, which causes the meat to lose weight and size. In contrast, they’ll be using a method that combines heat and steam, resulting in a perfectly cooked, juicy burger. They’ll use Black Angus beef bought locally, and their menu will feature some unusual creations. Take, for example, the Bluff Top Orchard Burger, which features a locally bought Black Angus burger topped with cinnamon, apples, and bacon, and is finished off with brie cheese and a touch of garlic mayo.

As a family-friendly place, Guttenburgers will offer sundaes, milkshakes, malts, and floats made with 24 different flavors of house-made ice cream. There will also be a spacious outdoor patio for those who prefer al fresco dining, and diners will be able to watch the game on several 60-inch TVs with Bose surround sound.

It seems Waukee and West Des Moines will continue to evolve. “University Avenue is a strong corridor for retail office space, and that particular area is one of the faster growing areas in the state of Iowa,” explained Hodges. “It’s in a great location, given the growth that Waukee and West Des Moines are seeing.”

Featured Teacher: Dale Sandquist

May 18, 2015 by admin

Dale Sandquist cares about his students, and it shows. “You can tell he really loves his job,” said Riley Anderson, one of his former students.

Sandquist spends his days teaching physical education at Waukee Middle School, and he makes sure that his classes are fun. “I looked forward to P.E. because of him,” said Anderson. For this reason, Anderson felt compelled to nominate Sandquist for recognition in myWaukee.

Sandquist grew up in southwest Iowa and describes himself as “a farm boy from Emerson.” He originally began teaching because he wanted to be a coach. He taught and coached every girls’ sport at the high school in Treynor, Iowa, for ten years during the 1970s. He then moved away from education, opening a clothing and sporting goods store in Shenandoah. He owned the store for 25 years and did part-time radio work as a local sportscaster. After moving to central Iowa to be closer to his family, Sandquist began teaching middle school physical education in Waukee, where he has been for the past eight years.

It’s a busy workweek for Sandquist, with 950 students at the school. He and the two other physical education teachers at Waukee Middle School each have six class periods a day with 90 students in each class. The teachers emphasize physical fitness with daily activities and a fit log program in which students can monitor their physical activity.

A big part of Sandquist’s job is to help his students as they learn and grow. “There’s a lot of transitioning and learning going on for middle school kids,” he said, “so we just try to get them headed in the right direction and make them feel safe and happy.”

Sandquist said his favorite part of being a middle school teacher is interacting with the students. He’s also inspired when he receives a letter from a past student expressing appreciation for his teaching. “It’s always satisfying when students feel like they’ve made progress,” he said.

When he’s not working, Sandquist enjoys spending time with his family and following his favorite sports teams, including the Huskers.

Sandquist plans to retire from teaching at the end of this school year, after a total of 18 years in education. However, if his varied and vigorous career is any indication, Sandquist will remain active even after he says farewell to Waukee Middle School.

Celebrate Waukee: A Festival For All

May 18, 2015 by admin

The Downtown Business Association had no idea that the seed of a small shindig would bloom into a bustling celebration.

Beginning around 1987, before the conception of the Chamber of Commerce, area businesses lined up yard sale tables around the Waukee Triangle, calling the event the Waukee Fall Festival. Their goal was to illustrate the alliance of local business.

The Waukee Chamber of Commerce swept through the festival plans in 2000 in order to grow the annual event. Several years later, the City of Waukee took the reins.

This year, the Waukee Leadership Academy reinvented the event as its class project, changing the name to “Celebrate Waukee” and scheduling it for June 5-6.

Kathryn Sandie, event co-chair and a member of the Waukee Leadership Institute’s 2014-2015 class, said the idea to transform the festival into a signature city event originated from a proposal by Mayor William Peard.

“The class unanimously decided to make this our class project,” said Sandie. “We wanted to kick off summer and give folks the opportunity to see what Waukee is all about. This event will feature our Historic Downtown Triangle and our beautiful Centennial Park.”

Part of the reason for shifting the event to the spring was to give families an opportunity to attend before schedules fill up with summer youth sports and vacations.

The family factor was essential in development of the Celebrate Waukee agenda. “In the planning of Celebrate Waukee, activities were planned with all ages in mind,” said Sandie. “We want everyone to celebrate the history and growth of Waukee.”

Terry Snyder, a 2012 graduate of the Waukee Leadership Academy, currently serves as the president of the Waukee Area Historical Society. She got involved with the planning of Celebrate Waukee through the “Amazing Race,” which will take participants on a history-focused journey of the area.

Snyder recalls, “The Lions Club always had the tent between the hardware store and the bank for dinners and entertainment during the day, followed by a dance at night, and then the band was moved to the street.”

“The Jaycees always had the beer garden until they disbanded,” said Snyder. “I’m not sure when the city took the festival over from the Chamber, but I believe it was around 2005 or 2006. So this will be the fourth group to take on the festival.”

The event will begin at dusk on Friday, June 5, with a movie in the Historic Downtown Triangle, hosted by the Waukee Parks and Recreation Department. Vote for your film of choice May 4-8 at Waukee.org.

On Saturday, June 6, also at the Downtown Triangle, the Waukee Rotary Club will hold a pancake breakfast followed by a 6k (about 3.75 miles) fun run.

Kids and business will parade down the street from Vince Meyer Learning Center toward Centennial Park beginning at 11 a.m., and Waukee businesses will be present in the Downtown Triangle as a nod to the event’s early years.

Free transportation will be available between the Triangle and Centennial Park.

There will be a mixed bag of activities in Centennial Park from noon until 10:30 p.m., including arts activities supported by the Waukee Area Arts Council, inflatable bounce houses, local vendors, and a Waukee-centric Kids Challenge.

Emergency vehicles from the fire department, police department, and Public Works Department will have equipment at the ready for kids to experience.

After the kids have had some fun, adults may head to the beer garden to compete in a bags tournament from 2-4 p.m.

The American Legion will serve up a sizzling steak dinner from 5-7 p.m. while The Herd performs from 4-6 p.m. Flipside, a self-described “ultimate variety band,” will wrap up the night with hot tunes 7-10:30 p.m.

Put on your party pants and get ready for some fun! Follow the latest event news on Twitter at @CelebrateWaukee or on Facebook.

Main Details

When: June 5-6, 2015 beginning the evening of June 5

Where: Centennial Park and Triangle