myWaukee March/April 2017

MARCH/APRIL 2017

Painting the Full Picture MEET A FEW LOCAL ARTISTS & LEARN ABOUT THE UPCOMING ARTS FESTIVAL RETURNING THIS SUMMER TO WAUKEE!

MASTER BUILDERS Also FACES OF WAUKEE BOND REFERENDUM

POSTAL CUSTOMER PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE P A I D DES MOINES, IA PERMIT NO. 589

TWO STORES

ONE NAME TO BE T TER SERVE YOU

BUILT ON THESE CORE VALUES

HONESTY INTEGRITY TRUST CHARACTER HARD WORK LIKE THE BRANDS WE NOW OFFER

755 W. HICKMAN ROAD | WAUKEE, IA (515) 987-8575 | WAUKEECHEVY.COM

GREG SHOTTENKIRK OWNER

DOUG DEYARMAN

MANAGING PARTNER

“We look forward to being able to offer our current customers more and welcome new ones to the Shottenkirk Family.” — Doug DeYarman

2406 N. JEFFERSON WAY | INDIANOLA, IA (515) 961-8151 | SHOTTENKIRKFORD.COM

make your

Spring Meals Special sweet rosé with cherry on the nose, bright red cherries on the palate, and green apple on the finish; pair with your favorite spicy foods. Serve chilled.

refreshing, sweet, fruity wine with cherry and citrus on the nose and sweet cherry and candied fruits on the palate; pair with spicy Asian or Mexican foods and spring afternoons! Served chilled.

light, fruity, semi-sweet rosé with cherry and apple notes and a hint of cinnamon on the nose and cherry and apple flavors on the palate with a slightly spicy, tangy finish; pair with Asian stir-fry or chicken salad; perfect as an aperitif! Serve chilled.

dry, full-bodied rosé with bright cherry, strawberry, citrus, and peach on the nose and strawberry, raspberry, and cherry on the palate; pair this versatile rosé with a wide variety of your favorite foods. Serve slightly chilled.

a dry rosé with strawberry, raspberry, peach, and nectarine notes and a slightly drying finish; pair with Asian stir-fry, Mexican dishes, and other spicy foods. Serve slightly chilled.

semi-sweet, fruity rosé with pineapple and tropical fruit nose; green apple and citrus palate; pair with barbecue or picnic foods like cold meats or cold fried chicken; great sipping wine! Serve chilled.

Leighton, IA • www.tasselridge.com Tassel Ridge wines are sold at the Winery and about 400 retailers in Iowa. For a complete list of retailers visit www.tasselridge.com/retail. Order wine by telephone at 641.672.WINE (9463). We offer shipping within Iowa and to select states. Adult signature required for receipt of wine.

3

FROM The Publisher A few issues back, I wrote here about reinvesting in my artistic passions that I had put on the backburner for nearly 20 years. I enjoy producing art and seeing others get enjoyment from my work. In this issue, we shine a spotlight on some of the artists in our community, as well as a group that specializes in a different type of creativity—the Waukee Master Builders.

While I normally write here about the topic of our feature stories, I thought I’d share with you one of my other passions: history.

Soon, Governor Branstad will have his appointment confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to China, but did you know that he’s not the first Iowan to serve in this role?

In 1868, a Civil War veteran named Edwin H. Conger moved to Dallas County. He had attended law school in 1866 and practiced law in Illinois prior to moving to Iowa.

While in Iowa, he didn’t practice law; instead he was a banker and a farmer in Dexter, about 20 miles west of Waukee. In 1879, he was elected to serve as Dallas County Treasurer, a post that he held for two terms (four years). He then sought the office of State Treasurer, and won and held that post for two terms (four years).

He then went on to seek a seat in Congress, and was three times elected to represent Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1890, Conger ended his re-election campaign and resigned his congressional seat to accept a nomination from President Benjamin Harrison to serve as U.S. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary (today known as Ambassador) to Brazil. He served there until President Cleveland was elected, at which point Conger was replaced. When President McKinley was elected, he reappointed Conger to the role in Brazil in 1897.

MAR/APR 2017 Publisher Chad Airhart

Creative Directors Jason McArtor Zachary Kern

Lead Photographer Laura Wills

Copy Editor

Content

Marjorie Sandner

Mackensie Graham Sara Stibitz

Magazine Distributor Goldfinch Media

Address PO Box 1202 Waukee IA, 50263 Email info@myTownMagazines.com myWaukee Magazine is published bimonthly, six times annually, by myTown Magazines, a division of Goldfinch Media. For subscription and advertising information, go to myTownMagazines.com. ©2017 Goldfinch Media

McKinley then appointed Conger as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China. Conger arrived in China in July of 1898. This was a very unsafe time in China as the “Boxers Rebellion” would soon be underway. During the Rebellion, many foreign embassies would be under siege, and this was the case with Conger and the American Embassy. American press reported that Conger was “undoubtedly dead,” but in this instance, the media got it wrong. He was under siege with his staff and family for 55 days.

Upon his return to America, he received a hero’s welcome. He served in the China role until 1905, when President Roosevelt appointed him Ambassador to Mexico. That role was short-lived because Roosevelt found Conger to be more useful in China, and asked him to return to China to help with issues surrounding the Chinese Exclusion Act. Conger declined the appointment and would soon resign his position in Mexico.

On all accounts, Conger did an amazing job representing America to the Chinese people, and I have no doubt that Governor Branstad will do the same.

Chad C. Airhart, Publisher

Airhart Art & Rings Beautiful Handcrafted Wearable History & Custom Crafted Rings. www.etsy.com/shop/AirhartArtAndRings

4

March/April 2017

CONTENTS Mar/Apr 2017

View from South

STO R I E S

09 13

09 STORY Waukee Master Builders

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (also known as STEM) used to be the school subjects that made kids groan with dread. But for the Waukee Master Builders—a robotics team comprised of kids from the Waukee middle schools in grades 7 and 8—the team is a whole new way to explore STEM subjects and have fun doing it.

13 STORY Meet Waukee Artists

Conversing with artists about why they create, what inspires them and how their history impacts their art can be just as interesting as the artwork itself. Another aspect that could be equally thought-provoking is the likelihood that the artist works a “day job” like most of us. Meet local artists from right here in Waukee, and learn more about the upcoming Waukee Arts Festival this summer where you can meet them in person!

19

Contact Sheriff Chad Leonard at Chad.Leonard@dallascoun

19 COMMUNITY NEWS Referendum

On May 2, 2017, residents of Dallas County will have the opportunity to vote on a current bond referendum that, if passed, would create a new Dallas County law enforcement facility to the tune of $22.9 million.

According to Sheriff Chad Leonard, this no longer a “want” for the county.

22 FACES OF WAUKEE

Cynthia Shulman Meet Cynthia, owner of Kiln Time in Waukee.

24 FACES OF WAUKEE

Dr. David Robbins You may know Dr. Robbins from his work at Des Moines Plastic Surgery, but he’s branching out with an exciting new business here on the west side.

26 FACES OF WAUKEE

22

Kaisha Brown Meet Kaisha. She’s opening a new dental practice on Hickman Road, and is a basketball coach at Waukee High School.

24

S E C T IONS

26

0 4 F rom th e P ublisher 0 6 Ci ty of Waukee 1 9 Commu n i ty News 2 7 You r Wau kee Library 2 8 You r Wau kee Cham ber 3 0 Wau kee Hi story ON THE COVER Waukee Artists: (From Left to Right ) Jennifer Hoffmann, Cody Kilgore, & Emily Hartley show off some of their finest works of art. (Not shown: Eric Rolek) Photo by Laura Wills

CORRECTION A picture caption in our last issue within an article about the Waukee Public Library misspelled the last name of a guest speaker from Living History Farms. He is David Connon, not Cannon. We apologize for the error.

Drink Wine & Earn Income

Life can be stressful. Choosing great wine shouldn't be.

P R E M I UM WI NE C LUB

» Enjoy an amazing variety of premium wine, shipped right to your door, every month. » Customers who refer 3 members get theirs FREE! » Earn a residual income while sharing your love of great wine with others. www.TheWineStopDSM.com I Jillian@TheWineStopDSM.com 5

CONSTR U ZONE AHCTION EAD

Spring Brings the Start of Construction to Widen Alice’s Road

When Grand Prairie Parkway was completed in December 2015, it opened a new gateway to Waukee from the south and gave commuters a more direct connection to the Interstate. But, the City isn’t done improving this main thoroughfare quite yet.

The widening of Alice’s Road north of University Avenue will begin in April, taking it from two lanes to six.

“The widening of Alice’s Road has been in the planning phases for several years now,” said Waukee City Administrator Tim Moerman. “We often hear from residents who are frustrated that we did not widen Alice’s Road concurrently with the construction of Grand Prairie Parkway. While the City budget did not allow us to do both projects simultaneously, we built Grand Prairie with the future widening of Alice’s Road already in mind.”

City officials consider the Grand Prairie Parkway and Alice’s Road projects to be under one umbrella. The construction of Grand Prairie Parkway from Interstate 80 to University consisted of Phases 1, 2 and 3. The widening of Alice’s Road north of University will consist of Phases 4 and 5.

Phase 4 will begin this April and will be completed in late fall of this year. It includes the widening of the road from University Avenue to SE Olson Drive as well as construction of a new pedestrian underpass that will provide a safe place to cross Alice’s Road via the Heart of the Warrior recreational trail. Phase 5 will begin in April 2018 and will be completed in the fall of 2018. It includes the improvements from SE Olson Drive to just north of Hickman Road. And, the best news about the project is that Alice’s Road will remain open throughout construction!

“We know it would be detrimental for drivers and businesses to completely close down Alice’s Road for the better part of two years. The project’s designer [Foth Infrastructure & Environment] recommended a way to keep the road open,” said Waukee Public Works Director John Gibson. “At the beginning of the 2017 phase, the existing two lanes of Alice’s Road will remain open to traffic while three of the new northbound lanes are built next to the old road. Halfway through the summer when those lanes are completed, we will open those to traffic, tear out the two old lanes and build the three southbound lanes.”

Gibson noted that there will be some intermittent road closures near Alice’s Road. SE Olson Drive and Frontier Drive will both be affected by temporary closures, but not at the same time. City communications channels and large on-site signs will alert drivers of upcoming closures or traffic slow-downs.

“While the City budget did not allow us to do both projects simultaneously, we built Grand Prairie with the future widening of Alice’s Road already in mind.”

--Tim Moerman

6

March/April 2017

As with all construction, much is dependent on weather and other uncontrollable circumstances. The project timeline will change as needed. Here is a tentative timeline of what will occur in 2017’s Phase 4 of the Alice’s Road widening project: EARLY APRIL

JULY-OCTOBER

»» Anticipated start of Phase 4 construction.

»» SE Olson Drive to the west of Alice’s Road closed for reconstruction.

»» Grading east of Alice’s Road for fiber relocation.

APRIL-MAY »» Construct storm sewer main, laterals and intakes. »» Relocate and construct water main.

MAY-JULY »» SE Olson Drive closed to the east of Alice’s Road for reconstruction. »» Construct future northbound and auxiliary turn lanes. »» Construct eastern portion of pedestrian underpass and trail/ utility connections.

»» Traffic pattern shift to new northbound lanes and construction of future southbound lanes. »» Construct western portion of pedestrian underpass and trail/utility connections.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER »» SE Frontier Drive closed for reconstruction.

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

If all goes as planned, the new six-lane portion of Alice’s Road from University to SE Olson will open in its entirety in late fall of 2017 with the stretch from SE Olson to north of Hickman opening in fall 2018.

The estimated cost of Phase 4 is $9.8 million. The estimated cost of Phase 5 is $13.2 million. The project will be funded by a combination of GO Bonds and federal transportation funding.

The City of Waukee has several tools to help drivers stay up-to-date on Alice’s Road improvement progress: »» Sign up with the “Notify Me” tool on the www.Waukee.org homepage to receive project updates and upcoming milestones via email. »» Become a subscriber to the City’s monthly e-newsletter by visiting www.Waukee.org/NewsletterSignUp. »» Receive alerts when traffic will be shifting or closed by registering at www.Nixle.com for the City’s free notification and emergency alert text messaging system. »» Visit the City’s Facebook page (/CityofWaukeeIowa), and Twitter and Instagram (@CityofWaukee) pages for current news.

Thank you in advance for your patience and for being extra attentive when driving through what will soon be an area surrounded by construction workers and heavy equipment.

This project will take some time, but it will greatly improve the traffic flow within the City of Waukee.

»» Construct raised center median.

NOVEMBER »» Construct temporary pavement to Phase 5. »» Activate lighting and permanent public signals.

7

LAW Masterson & Bottenberg

WHAT IS PROBATE? Probate is the process in which a deceased individual’s property and assets are transferred to another party or parties. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about the types of situations in which property does or does not need to go through probate. We’d like to provide a brief explanation of what triggers probate and a few ways to avoid it, if that’s your intention.

This is by no means all-inclusive guide, nor is this specific legal advice. We highly recommend discussing these issues with an estate planning attorney as each situation is different and needs to be treated as such.

There are two main ways in which a deceased individual’s property and assets trigger probate.

CHARLIE BOTTENBERG Masterson & Bottenberg LLP Par t n e r

cbottenberg@dsmlawyers.com 515-216-0737 Masterson & Bottenberg is a Waukee law firm specializing in wills, trusts, and estates, probate, traditional and collaborative family law, elder and special needs law and including guardianships and medicaid planning, corporate and nonprofit law, and criminal and juvenile law. We strive to provide excellent service to our community and be “Your Law Firm When Life Happens.”

First, probate will be triggered if the individual owned real property (land) either as the sole owner or as tenants in common with other people. Generally speaking, a spousal couple will own their home or land as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, which is NOT the same thing as tenants in common, but checking your deed is the only way to know for sure. In the past year, we have seen several instances in which a spousal couple did NOT own their home as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, and a probate had to be opened.

Second, probate will be triggered if the deceased individual owned more than $25,000 in assets that do not automatically transfer to another individual upon death. Typically, this includes things like bank accounts, stock accounts, company ownership or retirement accounts that are owned solely in the name of the deceased individual and do not have a beneficiary designated. The only way to know for sure how assets are held is to check with the financial institution or the company that issued a specific policy.

There’s no set way to avoid probate, because each situation is different, but the most common methods involve setting up a trust or series of trusts, or retitling assets into joint ownership rather an individual ownership.

Of the two, the preferred method is using one or more trusts, because this can help avoid probate when a spouse dies or when the last surviving parent dies and assets are transferred down a generation.

Retitling assets into joint ownership is NOT the preferred method because adding a child or children as joint owners of an asset is a potentially taxable event (as you are gifting them part ownership of those assets), and it increases your risk of losing the asset(s).

By adding a child or children to a bank account, the child’s debts and obligations are also added to that asset. This can inadvertently subject the bank account to claims from litigation, bankruptcies or even a divorce proceeding involving the child.

The best way to develop a plan for your estate is to speak with an estate planning attorney and find the method that works best for your situation. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please give us a call. We would love to assist you!

“Your Law Firm For When Life Happens” Jeremy Masterson - Charlie Bottenberg Experienced Attorneys practicing in the areas of: Wills, Trusts, Estate and Long Term Care Planning Asset Protection and Succession Planning Guardianships and Conservatorships Corporate Law Family Law Masterson & Bottenberg, LLP 14225 University Ave., Suite 210, Waukee IA 50263 Phone: 515-216-0737 Fax: 515-216-0104 www.dsmlawyers.com 8

March/April 2017

STORY

WORDS Sara Stibitz PHOTOS Waukee Master Builders

Building their

Future The Waukee Master Builders

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (also known as STEM) used to be the school subjects that made kids groan with dread. But for the Waukee Master Builders—a robotics team comprised of kids from the Waukee middle schools in grades 7 and 8—the team is a whole new way to explore STEM subjects and have fun doing it.

And the best part: they get to build robots, which is pretty cool, whether you’re a kid or an adult.

The team is made up of seven kids: four boys and three girls. The Builders regularly compete in First Lego League challenges, where teammates practice teamwork and problem solving, research real-world problems and practice coming up with solutions and presenting them in front of an audience.

Sreehari Mogallapalli is the team’s head coach. He works for John Deere as an IT Analyst and volunteers through John Deere’s volunteer program, called Inspire.

“Inspire lets employees volunteer at different organizations and schools,” said Mogallapalli. As head coach, he mentors the students and helps them understand the STEM subject areas and activities. What’s more, if Mogallapalli spends more than 40 hours in a season (which is easily done given their level of activity), Deere will donate $1,000 to the school.

Mogallapalli has the privilege of teaching life skills and volunteerism at the same time. “I want to introduce them to challenges and how to use the technology in the industry to address them,” he said.

Parent volunteers help the kids evaluate problems, identify challenges and ways of solving them, delegate and follow through. According to Tracy Scott, a parent volunteer, it’s a partnership among the parents. Whoever is able to help, does so. “We’re not there to give them ideas or tell them how to solve the problem. We’re just there to facilitate the process,” said Scott.

Despite the fact the team formed only three years ago, they’ve done very well in the competitions they’ve entered. In fact, they won their first competition for the 2014/2015 season. (Each season runs throughout the previous year and culminate in a competition in January of the following year).

CONTINUE >>

9

“Being on the team has helped Owen reach beyond what he’s learning in school. More than likely, he’s going to school for a STEMbased profession. He’s learning about coding and wants to learn more languages he doesn’t yet understand.”

“The teammates work together collaboratively to get their projects done,” said Tricia Brock, the team’s assistant coach. “Sreehari presents the kids with ideas, and they decide which problems to address and how to come up with solutions,” she said.

Brock and Mogallapalli agree that teamwork is a major focus of the group.

The kids understand one another’s strengths and delegate tasks accordingly.

“Teamwork has taught us that no matter what, we can always solve our problems,” said 12-year-old team member Owen Scott.

The Builders have advanced through regionals twice and have had the opportunity to compete in the state competition. For the 2016/2017 season, they won “Best Innovative Project Solution” in January 2017 for an idea that would limit the amount of bird carnage produced by wind turbines (see inset for more information).

In 2015, they competed at regionals but did not make it out of the competition with a trophy.

They did, however, leave the competition with an idea.

The theme that year was “Trash Trek,” and the teams were tasked with addressing problems in their community around trash, recycling and waste.

As part of the challenge, the kids had to learn more about how the community handles trash and the common problems faced by the community when it comes to the way we handle waste and recycling.

10

March/April 2017

They did their due diligence: they interviewed officials at two Des Moines-area waste handling facilities and one non-profit. The team members learned what happens to the trash in their community and common problems recycling facilities face when it comes to community education (e.g., people don’t know what to recycle or how to recycle it). They also learned how one non-profit uses their website to educate Iowans about litter and the importance of recycling, and where they’re falling short.

A third organization showed them how industrial waste gets turned into products society uses on a daily basis, even when they’re not aware of it. In other words, the Builders got a crash course in how the Des Moines area handles waste.

They then turned to 100 community members to gauge interest, getting their input on their issues and questions concerning trash removal and recycling.

And so, Trash Companion—a simple mobile app—was born. The team wants to change the way you deal with your garbage by creating an app that will simplify and streamline the process.

The Trash Companion app will let community members easily access pick-up dates, find out what to do with hazardous materials and learn about any fees that may be attached to disposing waste. It will also allow users to set reminders that alert them of their scheduled trash pickup, tell users how they can dispose of old electronics (no more wondering what to do with that old VCR) and allow users to schedule curbside and bulk pickup of items. It will also provide a community calendar with dates for neighborhood-wide waste disposal events.

All three organizations contacted by the team were interested in the app and what they could do to facilitate more efficient recycling, waste disposal and trash removal. “They were all very supportive and wanted to see the app developed,” says Mogallapalli. The idea was also strongly supported by the community members who had provided their input.

The team had an idea, community buy-in and the support of the local businesses that deal with trash. So now what did they need? Programming help, and— most importantly—funding.

Enter the Verizon Innovative Learning App Challenge.

After realizing they didn’t have the funds or the expertise to develop an app, they researched how they could get it built.

“They saw the contest as a way to get their app implemented,” said Scott.

“They don’t have the resources to get an app built. It would take a lot of money to do that,” she said.

They entered the competition in August and were chosen as the best middle school in the state—no small feat, since there were 1,800 applicants nationwide.

Each state has two categories: grades 6 through 8 and grades 9 through 12.

The prize for winning best middle school in the state? A Verizon Ellipsis 10 tablet for each team member and $5,000 for non-profit STEM use.

Now the team is competing against 93 other teams to win “Fan Favorite.” The team that gathers the most votes wins $15,000 and a mentorship with MIT experts to make their project happen.

The Builders found out they won on Jan. 9, right after regionals, and just as they were in the middle of preparing their electromagnetic fence project for the state competition.

It was high excitement, and the kids hustled to keep themselves in the running. They had less than one week to create and submit a 30-second video for the Fan Favorite competition. “They were texting each other every day of the week to get their work done for both projects,” said Brock.

The parent volunteers have watched their children flourish with the team.

“Being on the team has helped Owen reach beyond what he’s learning in school,” said his mom, Tracy Scott.

“More than likely, he’s going to school for a STEM-based profession.

He’s learning about coding and wants to learn more languages he doesn’t yet understand.”

Brock agrees. “My son Griffen loves the challenge. He likes to think through the process, he enjoys presenting, he enjoys the programming. He likes the whole thing,” she said. “He really enjoys building the robots and thinking through the problem.”

The implementation of Trash Companion will benefit not only the Waukee community, but could have an impact within the greater Des Moines Metro area.

These kids are doing something we all wish happened more often in our schools: they’re thinking about and tackling real-world problems. They’re implementing real-world solutions. They’re learning about the STEM sciences in the process. And they’re researching and validating their products and ideas before they implement them—all very important (and entrepreneurial) activities that will serve them well down the road.

I am a vice president.

A volunteer. I know 12 ways to wear a scarf and I can check profit and loss statements in my sleep.

I rock heels. Running shoes.

And pink fuzzy slippers.

I’M A MOM. NOT A WINDOW / DOOR / CABINET / COUNTERTOP / FLOORING EXPERT.

When I want to update a room in my house I need someone who is honest and smart. Someone who knows exactly what I need. Not too pricey. Definitely not cheap.

Just perfect.

WE PROUDLY CARRY:

VISIT AN IDEA CENTER:

WAUKEE / ALTOONA / CORALVILLE / MARION

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS SINCE 1856.

www.GilcrestJewett.com

11

n with Chef Jaso Stop in to visit r ou of y a sample Scafuri and tr ay! fresh pasta tod

For centuries, people have been enjoying the simple combination of Semolina flour and water--otherwise known as pasta! Did you know pasta comes in literally hundreds of shapes and sizes? While most are sold in dry form, at the Waukee Hy-Vee, our executive chefs make fresh pasta by hand.

It's so easy to make a restaurant-quality meal at home with our fresh, handmade pasta! Simply toss it into boiling water for a mere few minutes, drain and sautĂŠ with your choice of ingredients--perhaps fennel, pepper, alfredo sauce and a splash of white wine. Add chicken or shrimp to up the protein if you like! The options are virtually endless.

Thousands of pasta meals are out there waiting for you to discover--make it your own!

WAU K E E 12

March/April 2017

STORY

WORDS Mackensie Graham

Jennifer Hoffmann

PHOTOS Laura Wills

Painting the Full Picture Cody Kilgore

Take a look at a piece of art near you. What do you see? How does it make you feel? Observing, analyzing and enjoying art is something we do every day, often without even noticing we’re doing it. But there’s another dimension to every piece of art: its artist.

Conversing with artists about why they create, what inspires them and how their history impacts their art can be just as interesting as the artwork itself. Another aspect that could be equally thoughtprovoking is the likelihood that the artist works a “day job” like most of us.

Emily Hartley

Eric Rolek

“Nearly every artist I know has other means of support,” said Cody Kilgore, owner of Black Cap Photography. “It’s a pretty big leap of faith to dedicate yourself to your art as your sole means of support.”

Kilgore is in the same boat. In addition to being an in-demand photographer of wedding and senior pictures (among other subjects), he helps his partner run Clarion Sage Farm, and he’s the current president of the Waukee Area Arts Council.

He says that for artists, it’s important to be “careful and disciplined with your time,” as procrastination isn’t the only potential pitfall—so is overworking.

“It’s very easy to work seven days a week if you aren't careful. You may not work full days all seven days, but between the creative side and business side, you can easily slide into a habit of never taking a day for yourself,” said Kilgore.

With a front seat view to art in Waukee, he feels the visibility of art and excitement about it is growing.

“Right now, everyone is looking downtown [Des Moines] for the art scene, and reasonably so. We have patrons in and around Waukee, but the rise of artists and the attention to art is just beginning to take shape here. We hope to impact that.” (The Waukee Area Arts Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life through the fine arts in the western suburbs of Des Moines and the surrounding area.)

CONTINUE >>

13

Jennifer Hoffmann, vice president of the Arts Council, said that being involved with the group really opened her eyes to the wide variety of people that live in Waukee.

Meet Artists in Your Community

“I never would’ve thought a belly dancer, organic farmer/photographer, puppeteer and jouster, singers, artists, and community band members would all live in Waukee and get together every month to plan events to bring the arts to this community,” said Hoffmann.

“Waukee is growing quickly and bringing a lot to the table. I’m excited for what the future holds.”

Cody Kilgore Photographer, Organic Farmer,

The impact for which the Council strives is certainly visible at the annual Waukee Arts Festival. Last year the family-friendly event saw 55 artists and over 3,000 visitors, as well as 10 different musicians and six local food vendors.

This year’s festival will feature more artists (75 are expected) and easier access to the artists’ booths along the park road. It will also be held on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. Mark your calendars for a fun-filled day on July 8 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Centennial Park, followed by a concert from 6:30-8 p.m.

“This year, our featured artist is Nash Cox, an extraordinary award-winning watercolor artist whose detailed works featuring vintage automobiles are something you have to see to believe,” said Kilgore.

“You’ll have to do a double-take on his watercolor paintings, as they have great detail and look like a photograph,” added Hoffmann.

For artists looking to exhibit at the popular event, the registration form can be found online at waukeearts. org. Student exhibitors were invited for the first time in 2016 and are welcome to register again this year. For Hoffmann, this is one of the most exciting aspects of the festival.

“The high school students of Waukee are very talented and it’s wonderful to see upcoming artists in this community,” she said.

Kilgore added that the Council works hard to find unique food vendors that offer a variety of options.

This year, visitors will also be able to buy a cold beer— perfect on a hot summer day or while enjoying the evening concert.

The Waukee Arts Festival is an optimal time to meet local artists in person, but in the interim, read further to get to know four locals with a passion for creating.

14

March/April 2017

President of the Waukee Arts Council What’s new in your world of photography?

Twig, stone, and stream photography. It centers on adventure weddings, where people do their engagement sessions or their weddings in remote places. The end goal is to land a wedding at Everest base camp someday!

Do you have any advice for aspiring artists in Waukee?

Develop a plan that’s realistic about how you will sell what you do, and what you can and can't live without, and then close your eyes and jump. There will be challenging times, hard times and times of doubt. But there will come a point where you will suddenly realize, ‘Wow! I'm making it!’

Visit blackcapphotography.com to get a better taste for Kilgore’s photography style and review his portfolio.

Jennifer Hoffmann Painter, Analyst at Wells Fargo, Waukee Area Arts Council VP Hoffman was first introduced to the Waukee community when she moved to West Des Moines from northwest Iowa about a decade ago, at which time she began working as a substitute teacher for the Waukee Community School District. While teaching, she saw a lot of talented students with a passion for art, and after leaving the school district, she needed to fill her art void. So, she got involved with the Waukee Area Arts Council and has served as Vice President since 2014.

How would you describe your aesthetic?

What artistic medium do you work in?

I enjoy creating abstract art and I also do still-lifes and the occasional portrait. I typically work with acrylic paints but I also use charcoals and other mixed media in my work. The abstract paintings I create are usually multiple canvases and part of a larger series. I like to create paintings that belong together and can be displayed multiple ways. This way, the person that buys my art and hangs it in their home can create a completely different piece of art than another person that has purchased the same series. In a sense, the buyer becomes a collaborator with my art!

How do you balance your day job with your time spent creating art?

I work at Wells Fargo and I’m an avid volunteer with many organizations. I try to focus on doing one creative thing per month. My house has an art/podcast studio in the basement, and my husband, Griffin, motivates me to work on my art while he works on his podcast.

Sometimes finding the right balance is about motivating each other and making one another accountable for their goals.

Speaking of motivation, what motivates you most?

What motivates me most is when my friends ask me to create art for their homes. I enjoy creating something that is personalized just for them. I feel so honored when they want my art to be a part of their home. It’s my ultimate goal for all of my friends to own a piece of my art.

Where can someone go to view or buy your work?

My Etsy shop is JH25thStreetStudio, or you can find me on Facebook at JH 25th Street Studio or contact me via email at jennhoffmann12@gmail.com.

(I make custom art as well.)

Eric Rolek Mixed-Medium Artist, Microvellum Engineer After graduating from Waukee High School in 2009, Rolek headed to Iowa State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He moved back to Waukee and brought with him an ever-expanding knowledge for beautiful works of art. When not working, he blows glass at the ISU Gaffers Guild (which he joined while in college. Rolek’s works have been in national and local exhibitions, and he’s received several awards and special recognitions at these competitions.

What inspires your artwork?

My body of work amongst the mediums wood, glass and ceramics is influenced by everything I’ve encountered through my travels and life experiences.

From geometric building structures to the most organic shapes in nature, I start with the original form and abstract it to create a new outlook that wasn’t perceived before. The work I create doesn’t portray a deep political or environmental meaning, but simply the essence of well-articulated design and craftsmanship.

What's your take on the art scene in Waukee?

Growing up in Waukee, I never saw much public art on display, so I’m really excited to see the push of public art developing in Waukee area.

What’s your “day job,” so to speak?

I work at Performance Displays and Millwork in Grimes as a Microvellum Engineer. At Performance Display, we produce a wide range of architectural millwork and commercial retail displays for clients all around the country.

How do you balance work with your time spent creating and making art?

I work a lot, but the best part of the day is when I get home and get to be in my own shop. I often find myself working late into the night without realizing it. Since I graduated college, I’ve started gathering a variety of tools that I wanted and now have a complete woodworking shop. In my shop, I get to build my own designs and explore my creativity.

You were in the Waukee Arts Festival last year.

How was that? What was your favorite part of the festival?

The Waukee Art Festival was the first public crafts show I’ve ever done. It was an amazing experience because of a tremendous amount of planning and preparation. My favorite part was selling a piece of my art to a complete stranger for the first time. The stranger was so amazed and full of joy about finding this piece, like she couldn’t live without it. It really gave me the true feeling of how my work can impact people. I plan on attending again this year with new work.

Do you have any advice for other aspiring artists, or students just starting out?

If you can dream it, you should build it! Spend equal time between designing and building because when you’re building, you’ll discover problems you never would have thought of in the drafting stage.

Where can someone go to view or buy your work?

The majority of my work can be seen on my website, ericrolek.com. (My website is in the process of merging into more of a sale-based site as opposed to portfolio style.) Everything is for sale and all commissions are welcomed.

CONTINUE >>

I have a love for working with all the different mediums because they all require a completely unique process to get a finished piece of art.

“What motivates me most is when my friends ask me to create art for their homes. I enjoy creating something that is personalized just for them. I feel so honored when they want my art to be a part of their home.”

Jennifer Hoffmann 15

Emily Hartley - Artist, Merchandising Coordinator

What’s your take on art, specifically in Waukee?

Hartley has lived in Waukee “long enough to remember North Middle School being the high school building at the time.” She graduated from Waukee High School in 2009, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking with a minor in painting from Drake University, and recently went from working part-time to working full-time as a merchandising coordinator for Right Stuf Anime. While she learns the ins and outs of her job, her studio time has shifted to nights and weekends.

My biggest art experience in Waukee was during school.

I love that the Waukee Arts Council offers art to everyone from preschool to adults! It doesn't matter whether or not you're good—it matters that you’re able to be creative, expressive and enjoy what you're making.

How would you describe your artistic style? What mediums do you work in?

My aesthetic tends towards the Oriental. Think ancient Chinese paintings and Japanese woodblock prints.

As for mediums, I do everything from printmaking, painting, calligraphy and graphic design to building and sculpture. If it's an art or craft, I want to learn how to do it.

“My best advice is to keep trying. Don’t give up. Go with what you want and what feels right to you. Enjoy it. There will always be someone who doesn’t like your work”

I've been participating at the Waukee Arts Festival since its first year. It was my first art show and I learned a lot from the experience. I enjoy talking to people about my art as well as to the other artists about their work. I will have my booth at this year's show.

Any lessons you would give to a fellow aspiring artist?

My best advice is to keep trying. Don't give up. Go with what you want and what feels right to you. Enjoy it.

There will always be someone who doesn't like your work—and sometimes that may be yourself—but stick to what you love.

How can we find out more about your work?

My website is emilyhartleyarts.com. I do custom works of art. If you have an idea, I'll do my best to bring it to life. If you order something and you live around the Des Moines area, I'd love to meet you and bring you the piece you bought!

Emily Hartley

The riskiest financial move is doing nothing.

The Market Street Group at Morgan Stanley Jim Miller, CFP®, CIMA® Senior Vice President Wealth Advisor Matthew Marckmann, CFP® Vice President Financial Advisor 505 Market Street, Suite 300 West Des Moines, IA 50266 515-224-5529 www.morganstanleyfa.com/marketstreetgroup jim.miller@morganstanley.com © 2016 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC588400 (12/12) CS 7338862 MAR014 04/13

16

March/April 2017

Your wealth plan should keep up with the changing circumstances of your life, as well as with the cycles in the financial markets. A new career, a new grandchild, a new business, a significant shift in your portfolio — any of these events could necessitate a fresh look at your strategy.

As Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors, we can work with you to develop a plan and then help you manage your investments and assets through life’s changes. Call today to arrange an appointment. We’ll work together to plan for what may come.

17

INSURANCE INSPRO Insurance TENANTS’ DAMAGE TO PREMISES: BEWARE UNINSURED RISKS Tenants, beware of the often-overlooked risk of uninsured damage to premises you lease.

A common misconception held by insurance buyers and real estate attorneys is that damage to leased premises is covered under the tenant’s commercial general liability (CGL) policy, under the policy’s each occurrence and general aggregate limits or under the policy’s “Damage to Premises Rented to You” sublimit.

MARK CURRIE INSPRO Insurance Acco u nt E xe c u tive

mcurrie@insproins.com 515-226-9565 ext 1106 INSPRO Insurance represents a wide variety of insurance carriers. Maintaining quality business relationships with our carriers is an agency priority and INSPRO has earned “Preferred Status” levels with many of them. INSPRO Insurance continually strives to cultivate relationships with financially strong insurance carriers for the benefit of our clients.

Because the CGL policy excludes damage to “property you own, rent, or occupy,” the only coverage available for such claims comes by way of two exceptions to that exclusion: (1) “fire damage legal liability coverage,” which undoes the exclusion with respect to fire damage to rented premises; and (2) an exception for short-term premises rentals—typically seven or fewer days—when damage is caused by anything other than fire. Under either of these exceptions, coverage exists only when the insured is liable in tort for the damage and only at the amount specified on the policy declarations page as the “Damage to Premises Rented to You” sublimit.

Liability imposed exclusively by terms of the lease agreement, such as the standard requirement that property be returned to the landlord in the same condition as at the beginning of the lease, is not covered by general liability insurance.

Many leases include provisions that obligate the tenant to fund damage to the leased premises even if the landlord insures the building. In their efforts to allocate risk to the at-fault party or protect the landlord by assigning the risk of loss to the tenant, lease drafters sometimes fail to realize the resulting practical implications and potential insurance coverage gaps. For this reason, it is important to review the lease in its entirety—not just the sections that are labeled “insurance” and “indemnification”—to properly identify the tenant’s risk of loss.

If negotiation is not possible, the tenant should be certain that they are adequately insured to fund such obligations. Legal liability coverage can be added under the tenant’s commercial property policy if the tenant’s obligation is limited to damages caused by its negligence. Note, however, that a standard commercial property policy contains an exclusion (in the applicable causes of loss form) of liability assumed in a contract unless the insured is also liable in the absence of a contract. If the tenant is responsible for damage to the leased premises regardless of negligence, full coverage—not just legal liability coverage—is needed, so the tenant should schedule and insure the premises under its commercial property policy.

It’s not just about price… it’s about protection!

PEOPLE YOU KNOW

2501 Westown Parkway Suite 1104 West Des Moines, IA 50266

INSPRO Insurance is an independent, multi-line agency representing a wide variety of insurance carriers.

P/ (515)

We are 100% employee owned, by your friends and neighbors, serving Waukee and Central Iowa for over 50 years.

F/ (515)

226 – 9565 226 – 9443

www.insproins.com

John Brummett

Wa uk ee hi gh sc ho ol gr ad ua te BUSINESS | PERSONAL | BONDING | HEALTH & MORE...

18

March/April 2017

Mark Currie

Joe Meyers

Brian Conway

Gary Lewis

COMMUNITY NEWS Dallas County Law Enforcement Center

On May 2, 2017, residents of Dallas County have an opportunity to vote on a bond referendum that, if passed, would create a new Dallas County Sheriff’s law enforcement facility. According to Sheriff Chad Leonard and local supporters, the passage of the referendum is no longer a “want” for Dallas County, but a “need.”

It is common knowledge that Dallas County is one of

omtheSouth fastest growing counties in the State, and nation.

“If Dallas County has one female prisoner,” in its existing jail “she takes up an entire cell block to herself.

It’s the same for a juvenile prisoner, or a prisoner with a mental illness. Segregation rules really tie our hands, and a new facility will help with that,” Powell said.

Why not let the other counties take care of it?

Why not keep allocating the work?

Contact Sheriff Chad Leonard at Ch

But, with the benefits of rapid growth come growing pains around infrastructure and the ability to police effectively and cost-efficiently. Due to the overcrowding of the existing law enforcement facility and a looming deadline to address the situation, it is now a need.

Why is there a “need” for a new Law Enforcement Center?

According to Sheriff Leonard, there are very real consequences for overcrowding, and many of those consequences come in the form of dollars. “It costs a lot of money to be in this situation,” says Sheriff Leonard. When the current facility is at max capacity, the county pays to have other counties shelter their inmates. “We’ve spent $237,000 in just 6 months in other facilities. That’s a lot of money that could be going to our own facility, our own infrastructure here in Dallas County,” he said.

The county also has to pay the wages and fees for the staff doing the transporting. “For a while, we had to take deputies off the streets to do transports. This hurts the average call time for citizens who need help,” said Sheriff Leonard.

According to Perry attorney, Mark Powell, the overcrowding of Dallas County’s existing jail is not a simple problem to solve. “You have to understand that Dallas County and all other law enforcement centers are regulated by state rules on the treatment of prisoners.

One of those rules relate to inmate segregation,” he explained.

Overcrowding is not a new problem. In 2000, the state jail inspector issued Dallas County a variance (in other words, permission) to add more jail beds to the facility, with the warning they had five years to correct the overcrowding issue. In order to do that, they had to build on to accommodate the population. When the original deadline rolled around, the county was facing more pressing issues and this got put on the backburner. 17 years later, it’s back to the forefront. The department has until 2018 to address the problem, or the state is revoking the extra beds – shrinking space even further.

Why are there so many prisoners?

“The obvious contributor to this situation is the growth of the county,” Sheriff Leonard said. “When the facility was built in the late 1980s, the population was less than 40,000 people. Nobody expected the county to grow another 40,000 in short order. We just have a major overcrowding problem,” he said.

What kind of criminals do you house?

“Ten years ago, we were housing people who mostly committed misdemeanor crimes,” Sheriff Leonard said.

“Now, we’re dealing with a lot more felony crimes.

We just sent one person convicted of murder to state prison, and we have another murder suspect waiting for trial.”

Other counties are also facing overcrowding. Sheriff Leonard frequently exports his inmates to Story County, but they too are getting close to full. “They’ve asked to reduce the amount of prisoners we send,” he said. Polk County is facing the same issue: has only one two of their two three wings is open, and that’s almost at are near that capacity. “At this rate, we’re going to have to enter into an agreement with three or four different jails,” Sheriff Leonard said.

“Transporting prisoners is only going to become more problematic the longer we put the issue off,” he explained. “We’re responsible for the prisoners regardless of where they are housed. We try to farm out prisoners that have already been sentenced, but sometimes we have to make a special trip just to get them back to our courthouse for a 10-15 minute hearing,” he explained. Last year alone, the transports made 158 round trips just to Story County jail. That costs in not only road time, but miles on cars.

CONTINUE >>

“In reality, there are very

real consequences for overcrowding, and many of those consequences come in the form of dollars. It costs a lot of money to be in this situation.”

19

COMMUNITY NEWS Dallas County Law Enforcement Center

And it has safety implications, too. ounty

ENT CENTER one prisoner escaped. “He took off running through the A few years ago, deputies were doing a transport and streets of Clive,” Sheriff Leonard said. “They got him back, but it was a safety risk for the public.”

“Any time you’re on the highway, you’re subject to risk,” explained Sheriff Leonard. He cited the case of two Des Moines Police officers who were transporting a prisoner to a court hearing. They were hit head-on by a drunk driver. Both officers and the prisoner were killed. “If you keep everyone under one roof, it’s safer,” he said.

“I’m looking at this as a long term investment. If we continue to do what we’re doing now for the next 30 years, we will spend $22 million over that time period,” Sheriff Leonard said.

Hasn’t there been another referendum on this?

This is actually the fourth time that this issue has been brought to the attention of the voters over the last three years. Every one of them has been structured in a different way.

Sheriff Leonard has support in getting this referendum passed. “We to keep Dallas d@dallascountyiowa.gov orwant 515.993.6941 County a safe place to live, work and raise a family,” said Mark Powell. Powell is with the non-partisan group Citizens for Dallas County, a group made up of 15 people from around the county who want to see the new facility built.

As an attorney and a former magistrate judge, Powell has worked closely with the Sheriff’s Department and has seen firsthand the issues the county faces. “The current facility isn’t meeting our needs now, and definitely won’t meet our needs in the future,” he explained. “It’s no longer a want, it’s a need.”

The Citizens for Dallas County have focused on sharing the need for the jail both on a safety level and a fiscal level.

“I don’t think people are aware of how much we, as taxpayers, spend on transport to house our prisoners. As it is right now, inmates spend too much time in vehicles rather than in their own jail cells,” said Powell.

20

March/April 2017

The first referendum proposed a joint facility which would contain other county offices. According to Sheriff Leonard, the objection was that residents of Adel didn’t want to see county offices leave their square.

14225 University Ave. Suite 110 Waukee, Iowa 50263

p: 515.225.3469 www.designallianceinc.com

The second referendum would have had the same result: empty buildings on the square.

With the third referendum, voters thought the proposed facility was too nice, and that it shouldn’t include windows. “I don’t think we did a good job of getting the word out that this was also going to be the Sheriff’s office, not just the jail,” Sheriff Leonard explained. “We weren’t able to get a lot of facts out to the public – we were short on time.” (For the record, they are legally obligated to provide prisoners with natural light and outside air a couple of times per week.)

This time around, Sheriff Leonard has support in getting this referendum passed. “We want to keep Dallas County a safe place to live, work, and raise a family,” Mark Powell said. Powell is with the non-partisan group Citizens for Dallas County, a group made up of 15 people from around the county who want to see the new facility built. As an attorney, and a former magistrate judge, Powell has worked closely with the Sheriff’s Department and has seen firsthand the issues the county faces. “The current facility isn’t meeting our needs now, and definitely won’t meet our needs in the future,” he explained. “It’s no longer a want, it’s a need.”

Powell indicated that the Citizens for Dallas County group came together to offer its support to Sheriff Leonard but asked that the County Board of Supervisors present their plan to them before deciding to advocate.

“We felt it important to have all the cards laid out on View from North the table, before taking this issue before the voters for a fourth time. We asked the Supervisors to present their plan, explain the need and the total cost.”

From there, Powell and the Citizens for Dallas County have focused on sharing the need for the jail both on a safety level and a fiscal level. “I don’t think people are aware of how much we as taxpayers spend to transport Dallas County inmates to other counties to house our prisoners.”

Would we house prisoners from other counties?

“The new facility isn’t specifically designed to accommodate other counties, so I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep,” said Sheriff Leonard. “However, if we have a lot of empty beds and another county needs room, we would be able to look at entering into an agreement to charge for that service.”

What will the new facility include?

“Many citizens think that they don’t need a new sheriff’s office, they have a police department. That’s not the case,” Sheriff Leonard explained. “We do all those things they don’t do, including housing their prisoners.” says Sheriff Leonard.

The new facility will house the sheriff’s office and all of the services that come with it, like administrative and civil services, highway patrol, investigations, gun permits, sex offender checks, etc. These are the things your local police department might not handle.

If the referendum passes, the facility is projected to open – optimistically – in May 2019.

How many new beds will there be?

The facility is projected to have 132 total beds. There are state rules that apply; every prisoner gets a certain square footage of “unencumbered living space.”

Will we be in this situation again?

The building will sit on 40 acres the county already owns – which is also the primary reason for the selection of its location. The building has been designed so that it can expand toward the west. “New pods can continue to be hooked right into the existing one,” he said. “You cut a new door and you’re in – it’s a very neat design and a very proficient jail.” The layout of the facility is such that officials can stand in the middle of the jail and see all prisoners at one time.

Curtis Pion, a Dallas Center City Council member who has been with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for 20 years added “The long term vision for this facility and this site is solid. This is the best plan that has ever been offered to meet the needs of today and tomorrow for all of Dallas County. It is well thought out, well designed, and will provide for the legal requirements of the prisoners. It will also provide much needed work space for all of the staff who aren’t assigned to a patrol car.”

What will happen to the old building?

Once the county reaches a population of 82,000, it will be obligated to build another courtroom. “The county has decided they’re going to turn the current jail into a courtroom and move criminal court to this building,” Sheriff Leonard said. They will maintain a few cells for easy transport and containment. This change will increase the security of court operations, as prisoners will no longer need to be walked across the street.

Final thoughts “This facility – the overall solution – takes care of all the problems we’re going to have with overpopulation,” Sheriff Leonard said. “There’s nothing here that’s fluff. We’ve designed it to fit the needs of the employees of the Sheriff’s Office, as well as the county.

And there will be no empty spaces on the Adel square.”

Sheriff Leonard has scheduled public tours of the existing jail, as well as town hall meetings throughout the county to discuss the Referendum.

For a list of jail tour and town hall dates, or for more information, go to www.dallascountyvote.com.

BANKING Luana Savings Bank

Bolsters your online security GRANT LANGHUS Luana Savings Bank I . T. Ma n a ge r g l a n g h u s@ l u a n a sa vi ngs ba nk .c om

Founded in 1908 in rural Northeast Iowa, Luana Savings Bank has created a significant lending presence throughout Northeast and Central Iowa, expanding to the Metro area in 2008.

Luana Savings Bank is one of the top performing banks in the nation and maintains stable growth by consistently providing the most competitive loan products and services in its market areas.

Chances are, your birthdate and social security number have been leaked publicly in one of dozens of government or high-profile electronic data breaches dating back to at least 2004.

Unfortunately, that’s still the same primary information used to verify an individual’s identity when applying for a bank account, credit card, job, or even when filing your tax return. As if that’s not bad enough, the choices we’ve made in software and devices connected to the Internet may have invited the digital “bad guys”’ into our devices where they could potentially access our information.

In today’s day and age, it’s best to assume you’ve already been hacked, and to take steps to mitigate the effects.

Why Luana?

New Since 1908!

Whether you are buying, “building or refinancing, we’ve got super competitive rates and the best financing options around.”

We are leading the Des Moines market with competitive rates and ZERO costs.

Our products go above and other financial institutions.

beyond

We retain servicing on all loans with local decisions and local processing.

Ask a mortgage specialist for details!

First, consider a security freeze on your credit report at each of the main credit reporting bureaus. This may prevent someone from stealing your identity and leaving you on the hook for their debt, but it could also prevent your obtaining credit legitimately, so do some research to fully understand the ramifications of a credit freeze first.

Next, check your financial statements at least monthly, including your retirement and other investment accounts. For most bank accounts, federal law ensures that if fraud is reported in a timely manner, you generally stand to lose very little, if anything.

Lastly, visit annualcreditreport.com once per year to get a free annual credit report from each of the nationwide credit reporting companies.

If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, obtain a police report. If a criminal has filed your tax refund fraudulently, contact the IRS for a copy of the return BEFORE notifying them of fraud, and then provide documents and details to local law enforcement. Once you notify the IRS of a fraudulent tax return, those records are sealed for the privacy of the criminal, and with budget cuts, only about half of cases are properly investigated.

Next, consider these steps to bolster Internet security in your home:

Brian Byrnes

Senior Residential Loan Officer NMLS 41854

Bbyrnes@luanasavingsbank.com

»» Install a WiFi router that supports a guest network, and refrain from connecting devices like computers directly to the Internet. Instead, connect them through the router (either wired or wirelessly). »» Attach only devices that contain sensitive data to your main password-protected WiFi (e.g., computers, tablets and smartphones). »» Use the guest WiFi network for all other devices, such as TVs, receivers, thermostats, video cameras, doorbells and appliances. This layer of isolation helps prevent a compromised non-essential device from attacking a device that contains sensitive data. »» Ensure all devices that are connected to the Internet are updated on a regular basis—automatically, if possible. Updates can break devices on a rare occasion, but consider the costs of a broken device versus months of dealing with identity theft. »» Avoid using websites or apps on your essential devices that aren’t absolutely trusted.

Even legitimate websites can infect via malicious advertisements, so limiting web usage in general reduces your risk. Consider purchasing a standalone tablet and connecting it to your guest WiFi for accessing news and entertainment.

To report fraud or security breaches, visit identitytheft.gov. For more information, visit luanasavingsbank.com and click the Education tab.

www.LuanaSavingsBank.com

515.987.2116

16390 Holcomb Court, Clive Waukee side of Clive | Across from Stiver’s Ford

Local People. Local Decisions. Local Investments.

21

FACES OF WAUKEE Cynthia Shulman

Tell us a little about your family.

I’ve lived in Ames for 23 years. My husband, Marc, is the team physician for Iowa State University. I have two children, Jennifer, who is 21 and a senior at Syracuse University and Mitchell, who is 17 and a junior at Ames High School. My daughter was a competitive figure skater for 14 years and my son plays hockey for the Ames Little Cyclones. I’ve spent a great deal of my time in Iowa visiting ice rinks.

How did you come to start Kiln Time?

I moved from the suburbs of Boston to Iowa. To me, the Midwest was vastly different from the East Coast. Massachusetts offers many things for all ages, but Ames, where I started this business, was missing a place where families, friends and groups could socialize and embrace their creativity. When another studio, which was not so strategically located, closed, I saw my opportunity.

“Ceramics, and more

specifically, wheel throwing, are a practiced craft, just like learning to play an instrument.”

22

March/April 2017

What made you decide to set up shop in the Waukee area?

I began my business on Main Street in Ames, and was there for eight years. When the economic crash happened, I realized that I needed to move my business to a more populated area. If people were going to visit me a couple times a year to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday or Christmas, I needed to be located in a more populated area. We have a very unique business. I felt that the Waukee area and the surrounding suburbs would benefit from our services.

In this issue, we highlight local artists who don’t hone their craft full time, but express their creativity when they can. Do you have any advice for those wanting to get into ceramics?

We have promoted two classes online over the past few years for guests to try their hand. One is for glass fusion and the other is for pottery wheel throwing. If you ask anyone who has thrown on pottery wheels, they will tell you they have a new respect for potters and their highly-priced pieces. Ceramics, and more specifically, wheel throwing, are a practiced craft, just like learning to play an instrument.

If you practice with the intent to get better, you will become proficient. Like everything, it just takes time.

Know someone we should feature? Let us know!

Email us at waukee@mytownmagazines.com

AUTO REPAIR Willard Garage Auto Care Class Is In Session

How confident are you when faced with a flat tire or an illuminated instrument panel warning light? Do you ever wish you had a better understanding of your vehicle or what a mechanic is talking about? Here at Willard Garage, we’ve received a number of requests to provide a class on basic auto care.

So here it is! Bring your own car, and if you like, invite a friend or two to learn with you on your car, or to bring their own. Six cars can fit in our warm, clean, heated shop and we can accommodate up to three students per car.

You will learn, in a mix of instruction and hands-on learning: »» How to leverage your best resource—your owner’s manual. »» How to check your oil level and why oil changes are important. »» How to check and service your tire pressure as well as tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) basics and TPMS stem maintenance. »» How to check your fluids, including engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid and transmission fluid. »» How to check your engine air filter and cabin air filter, and why this is important. »» How to interpret and respond to the various gauges and lights on your instrument panel, including those relating to the engine, oil pressure, temperature, charging system, TPMS, traction and stability, as well as the check engine light and the difference between red and yellow lights. »» How to maintain your battery and battery terminals. »» How to charge and jump-start a dead battery, and how to properly use jumper cables and jump packs. »» How to calculate your MPG (miles per gallon). »» How the basic vehicle systems operate, including the drivetrain, electrical system, suspension, steering system and brakes.

Class space is limited and reservations are required.

Our first class will be held Saturday, April 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Class cost is $40 per person. Class will break for lunch from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Lunch is provided and included in the cost of the class.

Participants must bring their own cars, although there is an option to register one or two additional students to learn with you on your car. Class will be taught by the Willard Garage owner and technicians. Minimum age for students is 14 years old; however, those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Participating vehicles must have owner’s manuals.

For more information or to register, call Willard Garage at (515) 987-9025.

23

FACES OF WAUKEE Dr. David Robbins

Brenda Bohnenkamp Director at Coachlight Clinic & Spa

Tell our readers about your business.

I’ve been in practice as a plastic surgeon for 13 years, and opened Des Moines Plastic Surgery 10 years ago. Des Moines Plastic Surgery offers cosmetic surgery of the face, breast and body. We also offer Neograft hair transplants, feminine rejuvenation treatments, Botox and wrinkle fillers. The popularity of plastic surgery and nonsurgical procedures has grown dramatically, so to meet the growing demand, we recently moved into an 18,000 square-foot facility in West Des Moines, where I perform cosmetic surgery in our private operating room, and where the Coachlight Clinic & Spa is located.

How did you come to choose your profession?

When I was in surgery training, I was exposed to all surgical specialties, but I didn’t want to limit myself to one type of surgery or one body area. I found plastic surgery to be a fascinating combination of reconstruction and cosmetic surgery, which would allow me to operate on any part of the body, on both adults and children. My practice initially involved mainly complex reconstruction after cancer surgery, pediatric birth deformities and trauma-related surgery. My practice is now 100 percent cosmetic surgery, and has been for several years, but my reconstructive background certainly helps me to be a better cosmetic plastic surgeon.

“My practice is now 100 percent cosmetic

surgery, and has been for several years, but my reconstructive background certainly helps me to be a better cosmetic plastic surgeon.”

24

March/April 2017

What is the Coachlight Clinic & Spa and how did it come about?

After I opened Des Moines Plastic Surgery 10 years ago, I quickly learned that many people were interested in nonsurgical treatments such as Botox, wrinkle fillers, CoolSculpting and laser treatments, which we have been offering for many years. Now, with our recent move to the new facility, we have also incorporated a 10,000-squarefoot, five-star spa, which offers herbal and organic facials, therapeutic massages (including couples’ massages), body treatments, private men's and women's locker facilities and a relaxation lounge. It’s something you can't find anywhere else in Iowa!

A spa sounds like a great way to relax when Iowa’s cold season is “uncooperative.” If you had to recommend one or two of Coachlight’s amenities, what would they be?

We have taken great time and care when planning the spa. We want people to feel comfortable and relax! One of our favorite amenities is the Relaxation Lounge, where you can curl up in your plush robe with a soft blanket and an herbal tea or infused water. Another is the Himalayan Salt Sauna, which provides great health benefits.

Other unique amenities include the Eucalyptus Steam Room and Circular Rain Experience.

Know someone we should feature? Let us know!

Email us at waukee@mytownmagazines.com

SENIOR LIVING The Lakeside Village

Key Questions About Assisted Living, including “What is Assisted Living?”

Assisted living is a combination of housing, supportive services, personal assistance and health care designed for individuals for whom, for whatever reason, living in their own home is no longer their best option.

Assisted living is often viewed as offering the best of both worlds, because residents can enjoy as much independence as they want with the comfort of knowing that personal care and support services are available if they need them.

The home-like atmosphere of assisted living communities is often very appealing to potential residents and their families. Apartment styles typically include studio and one- or two- bedroom floorplans, and kitchenettes usually include a small refrigerator and microwave.

Who benefits from assisted living? Assisted living residents are typically seniors who have had a slight decline in health and would benefit from assistance in performing one or more activities of daily living, such as bathing, grooming, dressing or medication management.

It’s an excellent choice for seniors who want to live in an environment with more social opportunities and fewer responsibilities, and/or a place in which care is easily accessible whenever they may need it.

What happens when the resident’s needs for care increase? Many assisted living communities allow the resident to age in place. If a resident’s need for services increases, an assessment is completed and the additional services are added to the resident’s service plan. The individual service plan care is billed in addition to the monthly rent, and varies based on the level of care needed.

Now is the Time at The Lakeside Village— Special pricing on newly available studio apartments!

$1,500/month

plus individualized Service Plan

Includes all assisted living amenities, plus— Three delicious “home cooked” meals daily, served restaurant-style Weekly Laundry and Housekeeping assistance Chapel, Fitness Center, Fireside Room, Library, Pool Table /TV Lounge Utilities and Wi-Fi , Pet Friendly, Private Indoor Mailboxes Scheduled transportation, Secure Entrances, Elevators The Lakeside Village

Independent Living, Assisted Living, & Memory Care

2067 Hwy 4

Panora, IA 641-755-3443 25

FACES OF WAUKEE Kaisha Brown

“We have a lot of talent coming up

and we improved tremendously throughout the year. I’m excited to see what the next couple of years hold for this young and talented group!”

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Storm Lake and moved to Spirit Lake, where I graduated high school.

When did you discover you wanted to be a dentist?

What inspired you?

After high school graduation, I attended college at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. I played basketball all four years while studying chemistry with a pre-health emphasis.

I always had aspirations to be in the healthcare field, but I didn’t know which route to follow. Throughout college, I career shadowed several physicians who suggested I look into dentistry if I was uncertain about becoming a practitioner.

Taking this advice, I shadowed Dr. Corte McGuffey of Bear Tooth Dental in Greeley, Colorado. He inspired me to explore the dental field more intensely. Both Dr. McGuffey and my hometown dentist, Dr. Eric Nielsen (a hometown hero in his own right), helped develop my passion. I would love to return the favor to the aspiring healthcare students of Waukee.

You’re a basketball coach here in the Waukee School District. Tell us about that.

I’ve been so fortunate to be a part of a tremendous program. Chris and Sheri Guess have created one of the best high school programs in the state of Iowa. They are two of the most dedicated coaches you could ask for, and they have a blast while doing it.

Their work ethic and the high level of care they demonstrate are rare in high school athletics. I look forward to seeing what they accomplish.

I was also able to work with Jodi Vogt and the junior varsity girls. We have a lot of talent coming up and we improved tremendously throughout the year. I’m excited to see what the next couple of years hold for this young and talented group!

26

March/April 2017

Why did you choose to set up your practice in Waukee?

I first heard of Waukee at the 2004 state softball tournament when we (Spirit Lake) played Waukee. Later, when I was in dental school, I was thinking about where in Iowa I could see myself living long-term, and Waukee sparked my interest. I love that Waukee feels like a small town in the large metro area. Waukee has been very welcoming and made me feel right at home. I look forward to meeting more people and getting to know more about the community, its history and where it’s going in the future!

In this issue, we feature local creatives. Do you have any creative hobbies?

We’re so fortunate to live in an area where art is thriving! I absolutely love to see the murals, sculptures and paintings created by some of the most talented artists in the country. My creativity isn’t as strong I’d like it to be, but I hope to spend more time taking advantage of the classes and events offered by our growing art community.

Some people fear a trip to the dentist. What would you like to tell these folks who are likely long overdue for a checkup?

We understand! Going to the dentist is a very common fear. It’s up there with the fear of public speaking—which is my fear! We’d love to help you get over this fear, and with small steps (or nitrous oxide sedation), you can. Stop in and meet us sometime.

We’d love to get to know you! After you get acquainted with us, we can schedule a check-up and talk you through every step of the appointment!

Know someone we should feature? Let us know!

Email us at waukee@mytownmagazines.com

FROM YOUR Waukee Library Great Programs Ahead at the Waukee Public Library!

The Waukee Public Library is kicking it up a notch by offering a variety of programs and classes for all ages!

Local History Series In partnership with the Waukee Area Historical Society, the Waukee Public Library is kicking off a yearlong program series about the history of the Dallas County area. All programs will be held at the Waukee Public Library unless noted.

Ghost Towns of Dallas County Sunday, March 26; 1:00 p.m.

Dexfield Amusement Park Sunday, May 7; 1:00 p.m.

Orton Circus of Ortonville Sunday, Aug. 6; 1:00 p.m.

Finding Your Roots: A Beginner’s Guide Sunday, Sept. 10; 1:00 p.m.

Bonnie & Clyde Shootout in Dexfield Park Sunday, Oct. 1; 1:00 p.m.

Superior Popcorn Company of Waukee Sunday, Oct. 8; 1:00 p.m. – Location TBA Dallas County History / Preserving Your Family History Sunday, Nov. 5; 1:30 p.m.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

World War I and the Black Officers’ Training Program Tuesday, April 25; 6:30 p.m.

Ghost Towns of Dallas County Sunday, March 26; 1:00 p.m.

In partnership with the Waukee Area Historical Society, we are proud to offer this program, presented by Rod Stanley.

New Book Clubs!

The library is introducing two new book clubs this year!

Books on Tap This book club meets at Mickey’s Irish Pub on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Stop in to get this month’s book and join us for food, drinks and discussion!

Spring Book Sale Saturday, April 22; 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

If you love books and are looking for great deals, head to the library to stock up on all kinds of used books, magazines, movies, and more! Taxdeductible book sale donations may be dropped off at the library during regular open hours.

Afternoon Book Club Beginning in March, the Afternoon Book Club will meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. at the library.

Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I with a presentation from Jack Lufkin, the History Curator at the National Historic Landmark Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center. Jack will discuss the Black Officers’ Training Program that took place at the Fort during World War I. A brief documentary film will be shown.

Nature Celebration Friday, April 28; 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Elementary students are invited to celebrate nature with fun activities and a special guest from the Brenton Arboretum!

For more library information go to waukeepubliclibrary.org or contact us at askme@waukee.org or (515) 978-7944

JUST FACTS. Vote YES for the proposed Dallas County Law Enforcement Center.

Special Election – May 2nd, 2017

Construction of a new law enforcement center has a projected savings of $22 million over the next 30 years. » Current jail facility only has 36 “actual” beds with the ability to house an additional 12 temporary inmates. This will be reduced to 24 “actual” beds in March 2018. » Dallas County’s average daily jail population from April 2016 through December 2016 was 55 inmates, and is growing. As a result, Dallas County has spent over $237,000 in outsourcing prisoners in the first half of the current budget year alone.

In addition to cost, transporting inmates to other jail facilities poses a public safety risk for our citizens. (Takes deputies off the road; increases amount of time with inmate outside of a secure facility; etc.)

» Building site is 40 acre parcel located on county owned property inside Adel city limits with room for expansion in future years if necessary. » The new law enforcement center will house the jail, jail services (kitchen/laundry/ etc.), jail administration, Sheriff’s administration, patrol, investigations, civil department, initial appearance court room, interview rooms, evidence room, records room, storage room, sally port, etc.

Donations can be made to: Citizens for Dallas County, PAC, Attn: Kellie Paschke, Treasurer, 204 Hickman Road, Waukee, IA 50263 THIS AD WAS PAID FOR BY THE CITIZENS FOR DALLAS COUNTY, PAC.

» $22.9 Million Bond Referendum.

27

FROM YOUR Waukee Chamber Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce 2017 Annual Dinner & Silent Auction The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce 2017 Annual Dinner and Silent Auction was held on Feb. 2 at the West Des Moines Marriott. Two hundred member guests enjoyed networking, presentations from Chamber leadership, award recognition and an amazing presentation by Iowa Nice Guy, Scott Siepker.

Thank you to our members for your participation and to our sponsors, staff and volunteers for helping to make this evening a success. Thanks also to Terry Snyder Photography for capturing photos of the event!

Congratulations to our award winners:

DON FRAZER

2017 B o a rd Ch a ir i nfo@ wa u ke e c h a mber.c o m Our Mission: An association of businesses, organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting growth and prosperity in our local economy.

»» 2016 Large Business Member of the Year: City of Waukee »» 2016 Medium Business Member of the Year: Design Alliance »» 2016 Small Business Member of the Year: Downing Development »» 2016 Ambassador of the Year: Nicole Berger of Waukee Living Magazine »» Gavel plaque: 2016 Board Chair, Charlie Bottenberg of Masterson & Bottenberg Law »» Outgoing Board Treasurer Bryan Rowland of State Savings Bank was recognized for his service to the Chamber.

28

March/April 2017

Welcome to Waukee!

The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated grand openings and/or ribbon-cutting ceremonies with the following new businesses. We’d like to extend our congratulations to each of them, and a warm welcome to Waukee! »» Broheim's Indoor Golf & Pub »» The Goddard School of Waukee »» Rangemasters (Welcome to the Waukee and Clive Chambers of Commerce!) »» Waukee Community Church (Congratulations on your new worship center!)

29

WAUKEE HISTORY Sue Ellen Kennedy

A WAUKEE FOUNDER: LEWIS ADDISON GRANT

Many of us already know that Waukee was founded in 1869, when General Lewis Addison Grant and Major William Ragan purchased 320 acres of land from Cyrus W. Fischer. But how much do you know about these men? Let’s take a closer look at the life of Lewis Addison Grant.

Grant was born to James and Elizabeth Wyman Grant on January 17, 1828, in Winhall Hallow, Bennington County, Vermont. The youngest of 10 children, he attended school at the Academy at Chester in Townsend, Vermont until he was 16 years old. He also taught school for five years while he studied law. He passed the bar in 1855 and practiced law in Bellow Falls, Vermont.

Grant married S. Agasta Hartwell on March 11, 1857.

The couple welcomed a daughter named Augusta Sarah in 1859. Unfortunately, his wife passed away on January 27, 1859. Lewis remarried four years later to Mary Helen Pierce—a niece of President Franklin Pierce.

Together, they had two sons, Ulysses Sherman, born in 1867, and James Colfax, born in 1869.

Grant left the firm of Stoughton & Grant to enter the Army at the onset of the Civil War. He was commissioned major of the Fifth Vermont Infantry Volunteers which was mustered into service on September 16, 1861 at St. Albans, Vermont to serve three years.

According to war department records, Major Grant participated in several important battles with his brigade in the confederate army, including those in Yorktown on May 5, 1862; Golding Farm on June 28, 1862; Savage Station on June 29, 1862; White Oak Swamp on June 30, 1862; and Fredericksburg from December 13-14, 1862. In the position of Brigade Commander or Division Commander, he battled Fredericksburg and Salem Heights from May 3-5, 1863; Gettysburg from July 2-3, 1863; and many more.

“The battle at Salem Heights, Virginia, on May 3, 1863, was the first taste of combat leadership for Colonel Lewis Grant, who had assumed command of his brigade only two and one-half months earlier. He was cited for his heroic leadership in that action wherein, having already crossed the river, he deployed his men along Hazel run, outside Fredericksburg. The Confederate army poured out of the city and attacked the Union forces near Salem Church, where Colonel Grant led his men is a brave defense during which he was himself wounded.

His forces held throughout the night, enabling the Sixth corps to cross the river the following morning.”

Grant was honorably discharged as a Colonel on May 20, 1864. He then accepted an appointment as Brigadier General of Volunteers. The same year, he was commissioned Major General of United States Volunteers for gallant and meritorious service in the campaign before Richmond, Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. From June 18 to July 10, 1864, he and his men were at the Siege of Petersburg; from Dec. 1864 to April 1865, they were at the assault on Petersburg; and from April 2-6, 1865, they were at Sailor Creek.

Our General Grant was a distinguished officer and a commander of the famed Vermont Brigade. Honorably discharged on August 24, 1865, he was approached to accept another commission in July of 1866. After four years of serving, he declined the honor, preferring to live a private life.

After his discharge, General Grant resumed practicing law in Moline, Illinois and later, in Des Moines.

In 1869, his land investment company, Grant, Ragan and Co., planned and laid out our Waukee. General Grant’s business ventures led him to the Twin Cities.

His real estate interests in the Twin Cities eventually demanded more of his attention and he and his family moved there.

From 1890-1893, he served as Assistant Secretary of War. During six weeks of this time (Nov. 5, 1891 to Dec. 17, 1891), he served as Acting Secretary of War, under President Benjamin Harrison, until Secretary Elkins entered office. On May 11, 1893, General Grant received the Medal of Honor for his part in the Battle of Salem Heights.

Lewis Grant died at the age of 90 on March 20, 1918, in Minneapolis. He is buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

National Archives: Civil War Records

30

March/April 2017

In 1869, his land investment company, Grant, Ragan and Co., planned and laid out our Waukee.

NOW AVAILABLE

Homesites in Fox Creek Estates • Waukee

Monterey Ranch 1, 757 Sq.Ft.

Artist’s conception Elevation and plans may be shown with options and are subject to change without notice.

PLAT 7

Artist’s conception Elevation and plans may be shown with options and are subject to change without notice.

(515) 440-1111 ParamountHomesIA.com

FOX CREEK ESTATES OFFERS SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS LOCATED IN WAUKEE, IOWA. The development is north of HWY 6 and east of Warrior Lane.

Fox Creek Estates is within close proximity to the Waukee YMCA, parks and the new Grant Ragan elementary school.

*Receive $2500 toward closing costs with an accepted Purchase Agreement with Paramount Homes or Destination Homes when you present this ad.

(515) 987-6708 destinationhomesia.com * Credit not valid with any other offer.

Expires May 1st, 2017

Stivers Lincoln Mercury, Inc.

4730 MERLE HAY RD DES MOINES, IA 50322-1963 515-987-3697 Dealer Website Address

*Sales ranking based on 2016 car and truck sales report of the Kansas City Region of Lincoln Motor Company.

Enter offer disclaimer. Expires XX/XX/XXXX