14 minute read
WAUKEE ATHLETIC CLUB
Last year, board members also worked to raise the necessary funds to turf the indoor facility. “Without the efforts of current board members Dave Couch, Brian Schueller, Josh Nuss, Rick Sanger, and Ryan Galles, we wouldn’t be in the position we are now with the facility,” Hackett said. “Having turf instead of a concrete floor is a game-changer!” “The board was very excited for this to take shape and be a success — job well done by everyone involved,” Crawford added. As a volunteer-led organization,
Hackett points to WAC’s coaching staff as a vital component of its success. “Coaching is a thankless job,” he said. “Keeping teams running smoothly and finding different ways to develop players is hard as a volunteer.” Crawford agreed, highlighting the role of team parents. “All parents involved in WAC take time out of their already hectic work schedules to put practices together and help run the club.” Many WAC participants get their start in softball through the Waukee Parks & Recreation softball program.
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Both Hackett and Crawford have daughters whose introductions to softball began in Waukee Parks & Rec. “The Waukee Parks & Rec program was a great start for my daughter,” said Hackett. “Several girls who started on my daughter’s Parks & Rec team are still in WAC.”For their part, the Waukee Parks & Rec department enjoys the close relationship that developed with organizations like WAC.
“The Parks & Rec Girls softball program is a good feeder program for the more competitive programs in our community,” Josh VandeKamp, assistant parks and rec director said. “The City has a good relationship with the WAC and a like-minded mission to provide opportunities for all girls to play the game of softball.”
Charley Crawford Quinn Crawford
WAC also cultivates a close relationship with both Waukee high schools.
“It’s been a pleasure working with WAC since I started as the Waukee softball coach,” Andy Pals, head softball coach at Waukee High School, said. “We have worked together to grow the game of softball and support our Waukee softball players.”
Carrie Eby, head coach of the Waukee Northwest High School softball program, echoed Pals. “Northwest softball has continued its growth through the investment and development of young girls in the WAC program,” she said. “It is the skills training and coaching of the youth that will determine future successful Northwest High School teams." Regardless of which Waukee school they attend, WAC provides a great opportunity for girls within the school district to participate in a competitive weekend tournament season. “I encourage young players to join a competitive team,” said Hackett. “WAC is the perfect fit for young and developing players to take their skill set to the next level.” Crawford agreed, noting, “WAC was a new organization to me and my family. I had not yet heard of WAC until friends mentioned the club in passing. We made the right decision to move our daughters from Parks & Rec to a more competitive setting.” Participation in WAC is open to all girls who attend school within the Waukee Community School District. Currently, WAC has teams from 8-and-under to 14-and-under, totaling 13 teams with 160 players between them. “Our numbers within the club are strong and will continue to grow,” said Hackett. Tryouts to join WAC are held in mid to late June, and selected players receive their offers to join the club via email shortly after. The season takes place from August through the following June. The club’s annual tournament will be held this fall at Waukee’s Triumph Park. Most WAC teams play their games in the Des Moines metro area, so travel for athletes and families is often minimal. The cost to participate is generally between $800 to $1,100 for the season, according to Crawford. Hackett and the rest of the WAC board look forward to more changes as WAC continues to succeed. “We have a lot of ideas that would continue to develop our players and teams, but will also strengthen the club,” Hackett said. “As a club that prides itself on developing these young ladies into competitive players and teams, we know that WAC will continue to grow as our name continues to spread throughout the community.” Most important, though, are the lessons and friendships that extend far beyond the softball diamond. “Some of my daughters’ closest friends have been made playing for WAC,” said Crawford. “Softball is a great sport. It teaches life lessons,” Hackett said. “We are not just teaching girls the game of softball, but the game of life, and how to be a good person on and off the field.”
Charley Crawford and Haley Hackett practicing
For more information on the Waukee Athletic Club, please go to: wacsoftball.club
Matt Hackett, Charley Crawford, Haley Hackett (L), Chris Crawford and Quinn Crawford (R).
From the Dietitian: Chip, Chip Hooray!
5 Protein Chips I’m Obsessed with for Summer
More recently, there’s been an unfortunate rise in disordered eating and binge eating episodes. Despite being aware of portion sizes, the challenge with many of our favorite salty snack foods is they lack one super important and SATISFYING nutrient: protein. Think about it:
Pretzels? 2 grams of protein
Potato chips? 2 grams of protein
Tortilla chips? 2 grams of protein
Keep in mind, protein is best absorbed if spread out throughout the course of the day. After the age of 30, adults lose about 3-8% of muscle mass per decade. As a general rule of thumb, aim for 25-30 grams of protein per meal to ensure you’re meeting your daily protein goal and preserve your muscle mass.
“Bet you can’t eat just one!”
Lay’s potato chips probably couldn’t have come up with a more accurate description in regards to the addictiveness of eating salty, crunchy chips. Hy-Vee Registered Dietitian, Erin Good, shares her top 5 protein chips she’s obsessed with and why you’ll want to include them at your next picnic, barbecue, or holiday event.
Crunch On and Enjoy the Powerful Filling Power of Protein-Rich Chips:
1. Beanitos Hint of Lime: The OG protein chip in my career! I was first introduced to these bean-based chips over 9 years ago, and they’ve become a family-favorite (picky Dad-approved even)! Choose from white bean, black bean and pinto bean chip varieties.
2. Quest Protein Chips Ranch Tortilla Style: The title gives it away, but these tortilla style chips are packed with protein (19 grams per bag to be exact).
3. Safe + Fair Hickory BBQ Pea Protein Chips: Not only allergy-friendly, these delicious, hickory BBQ-flavored chips are popped and baked, so you can enjoy a satisfying serving of 23 chips with 9 grams of plant-based pea protein.
4. Harvest Snaps Lightly Salted Green Pea Crisps: Not technically a chip, but with all the “veggie” straws and chips on the market providing minimal nutrition this is the real deal when it comes to a veggie-inspired snack. Listing green peas as the 1st ingredient, these crisps will leave you pleasantly content and not overly thirsty due to their low sodium content (yay, heart-healthy snacks FTW)!
5. Wilde Chicken Chips - Chicken & Waffles: It was only a matter of time for someone to take American’s favorite lean protein (chicken breast) and turn it into a chip! Get your sweet and salty fix satisfied along with 10 grams of protein.
Follow your favorite Hy-Vee Dietitians now on Instagram AND Facebook! @HyVeeHealth
Give us a “Like” or Follow Us Now on Social Media!
Erin Good, RD, LD Hy-Vee Inc., Registered Dietitian
EGood@hy-vee.com • (515) 216-2770
is the Best Time to Paint Summer
The weather can be unpredictable in spring and fall. That’s why summer is the best time to refresh your exterior. The longer days of summer offer more opportunities to repaint your home or business. However, the summer heat can be challenging for any paint job, but we’ve got you covered.
DRYING TIME
Spring and fall in Iowa tend to be rainy for long periods of time. Fortunately, summer takes longer and more frequent breaks from the weather. After a hard rain, the surface you intend to paint needs a day to dry out. If you try to paint on a wet surface, the paint can run, smear, crack, or dry unevenly.
Wet surfaces can also be deceptive. You might think a surface is dry, but it could be saturated underneath from a long rain or high humidity after a storm. Evaporation and morning dew can also affect paint drying time and ruin the finished product. We can tell when your property is ready for painting and can schedule the right time to get the job done
TEMPERATURE TROUBLES
Along with the wind and rain, hot temperatures in the summer can cause their own problems. Paint dries as the solvents evaporate from the coating, which leaves the paint to cure, or harden, over time. On a very hot day, paint can appear dry but the lower layers are not. It can also cause the paint to blister, bump, lift, or discolor. It’s also a bad idea to paint on a hot surface. Professional painters have been in the business for a long time and know the best times of day to paint your exterior and avoid these problems. They paint with a plan and a schedule, and that saves a lot of trouble.
THE RIGHT MIXTURE
When you’re outside on a hot day, you sweat. If paint is out in the heat, it can sweat too. We call this evaporation. Paint is a delicate mixture of water, pigment, and solutions that make it work. When water evaporates out of the paint, it can thicken and change the way it behaves. When the water leaves, you have less paint, and the paint left behind might be unusable.
The best way to combat this is to reconstitute your paint. Adding a percentage of water can help replenish the moisture and guard against drying out. It’s best to do this with small batches of paint so that you don’t ruin an entire bucket. If you water the paint down too much, it won’t adhere or cover properly. There are also products made by paint manufacturers that help with reconstitution and cut out a lot of the guesswork.
Hot days, evaporation, and dry paint cans don’t have to be a part of your summer painting job. At GLS Painting, we handle these challenges and more throughout the summer and do the job for you. Let us take care of the painting and you can get back to having fun in the sun.
THE STANDARD IN PAINTING
COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL DES MOINES PAINTING SPECIALIST
CALL TODAY 515.441.1048
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Predatory Practices of
Storm Chasers
Storm damage is one of the most stressful situations Waukee homeowners must deal with. After a terrible storm passes, homeowners are left stressed, confused, and vulnerable. As soon a hail or heavy winds hit an area, contractors from several states away enter the impacted areas into their GPS and start driving. The last thing you want to worry about is the reliability of your contractor.
Here are some things you can do to prevent storm chaser scams.
LOOK AT THEIR LICENSE PLATES: If they have license plates from a state in a different time zone, it is a sure sign they are a storm chaser. Simply having attire with a construction company logo on it does not ensure they are local.
THEIR ADDRESS IS A PO BOX: This means there is no way to track a contractor down in a few years should there be any issues or need to reach out in any way.
UNABLE TO PRODUCE LOCAL REFERENCES:
If the only names and phone numbers of homeowners a contractor can provide are from several states away, it is likely they are a storm chaser. Reputable contractors quickly book up and have many local references to share.
OFFERING TO PAY YOUR INSURANCE
DEDUCTIBLE: This is a fraud. An insurance policy is a legally binding contract between a homeowner and their insurance company.
JOSEPH SMITH
Home Solutions of Iowa Owner 515-954-3555
Home Solutions of Iowa has established itself as a trustworthy and reliable source for homeowners looking for all sorts of exterior remodeling solutions. We’re a full-service exterior remodeling company specializing in LeafGuard® gutter protection, seamless gutter systems, rain barrels, roofing, insulation, windows, doors, siding, and decking. We started as a one-man show at the Iowa State Fair in 2003 and have since grown to have more than 50 employees serving the entire state of Iowa.
NO BUILDERS/CONTRACTOR LICENSE NUMBER:
A contractor’s license number shows they adhere to industry standards.
UNABLE TO SUPPLY DOCUMENTATION OF BEING
LICENSED & INSURED: If a worker is injured working on your property and the contractor they’re working for does not have insurance or lacks proper limits, the homeowner can become liable for their medical expenses. This can end up in a stressful situation.
As a fully licensed and insured contractor with an established track record of helping homeowners restore their storm damaged home, we are the company to trust with all your storm damage restorations. From the initial inspection of the storm damage to the final touches, we will take care of everything. Home Solutions of Iowa is the contractor to trust for your Waukee storm damage restoration.
HOME IMPROVEMENT Colby's Lawn & Landscape
Get the best out of your lawn this summer.
Every lawn can thrive with early and preventive care. Iowa summers can be brutal. Glaring heat, intense humidity, and wild thunderstorms can damage any yard at any time. With proper prevention, you can mitigate some of the most common lawn problems this summer.
The weather is unpredictable, but your lawn doesn’t have to be. You can make sure your lawn is properly fertilized, treated for weeds, and irrigated for stable watering. Early fertilization can set your lawn up for success over the hottest months of the year. Proper weed treatment at the proper time can help your lawn look clean and clear all summer long. Lastly, keep your lawn healthy with a hassle-free irrigation system.
EARLY FERTILIZATION
The key to a sturdy lawn is quick and early growth. Fertilization helps the grass grow thicker and stronger in a shorter amount of time. This early boost can fortify the yard in a few different ways. By getting a jump start, the grass is thick and grown in enough to handle those sweltering summer days. If the heat sets in before a lawn is established, it can’t survive. Likewise, a sturdier lawn with early growth can weather a drought much better than a yard just getting started. By giving the yard that early fertilization, you’re making sure it has a great head start.
WEED PREVENTION
Weeds love summer. It’s hot, humid, and there’s plenty of room to grow. Before you know it, there are weeds popping up all over your freshly green and growing yard. Nipping those weeds in the bud can go a long way in keeping your lawn looking clean and clear.
With early treatment, you can prevent most weed growth and spend your time on fun summer activities rather than weeding. We understand that there’s nothing more frustrating than getting your yard treated, only to have a thunderstorm wash it all away. We watch the weather and time our chemical applications for maximum impact.
PROPER IRRIGATION
Want a thick, green lawn all summer? The trick is to have an irrigation system that delivers water on schedule. Every lawn is different and needs water at different times. It’s important to know how much sun and shade the lawn gets and to water properly during those times. We offer a full-service irrigation system, including installation, start-up service with back flow testing, maintenance, mid-year check-ups, and winterization in the fall to protect the system from Iowa’s icy winters. In the event of a drought, you will have a more stable and study lawn that isn’t waiting for the next unpredictable rainstorm. Give your lawn what it needs and enjoy a lush, green yard all summer long.
CALL TODAY FOR YOUR QUOTE!
Aeration • Reseeding • Dethaching Yard Rolling • Fertilizing • Weed Control
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