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Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
Good morning to you! 

Welcome to the Friday mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by readers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.

“Good morning, Shane. My wife of 52 years has a few habits that I've never understood nor been able to break (Candles, Nov. 5, 2025), like buying lettuce when we're not out of it or days before it's needed. It gives it a head start on turning brown. Not treating her phone as a necessary item of survival when we leave the house. She depends on me keeping mine attached 24/7. Despite her natural beauty, the house can't be left until she's done her hair and makeup. Optional trips should be optioned due to wind. Candle-burning is verboten. They are a decoration as soon as they arrive. Someday, if the utilities go out and we freeze to death, we'll be found bundled in our blankets with decorative but unburned candles about us.” - John

But you will still both smell like autumn pumpkin. - Shane

“Shane, I read your recent column (Company Christmas parties, Nov. 10, 2025) with a lot of enthusiasm. You might consider a great idea that my wife's office does yearly at Christmas. Not being from this area, I don't know if any other companies do this. It involves having an auction of creations from the people she works with. The money raised goes to charities like homeless shelters, the Ronald McDonald house, shut-ins or similar causes.” - Scott

That’s a great idea that promotes creativity and helps others. Thanks for passing this along. - Shane

“I have learned that when it comes to Christmas parties, the greatest ones are family-friendly (Company Christmas parties, Nov. 10, 2025). The best ones are more traditional. They have Santa handing out gifts, Christmas games, a large family-style meal — just a relaxed and fun atmosphere so people can enjoy themselves and not feel like they are out of place. My favorite Christmases were the old Union Christmas Parties. Thanks.” - Kristal

Can I come to your Christmas parties? - Shane

“Gotta say, it took me forever to figure out what NFM was (What’s in a name, Nov. 12, 2025).” - Brad

Yes, Nebraska Furniture Mart is a great store, but the one here is certainly not in Nebraska. It’s in Iowa. And it doesn’t sell furniture! - Shane

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

See more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

 
News headlines

FROM KCCI: SNAP benefits resume after shutdown as Food Bank of Iowa faces record demand. Relief is finally on the way for the more than 130,000 Iowa households that have gone nearly two weeks without Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services says November payments will begin hitting cards Thursday, ending a stretch of uncertainty that forced many families to seek help for the first time. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Name of man killed in shooting at Des Moines home released. The name of the man who was shot and killed at a Des Moines home early Wednesday morning has been identified. At around 4 a.m. the Des Moines Police Department and Des Moines Fire Department responded to reports of a shooting at a home in the 600 block of E. Hackley Avenue. When first responders arrived at the scene they found a man dead inside the home. On Thursday, the Des Moines Police Department confirmed that the victim was Gilberto Rios Martinez. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Iowa THC and CBD businesses prepare for change amid new hemp restriction. The same spending bill that was signed into law Wednesday, reopening the government, might close the doors of local businesses selling hemp products. That's because it includes a restriction on hemp-based items, prohibiting the sale of products that contain over 0.4 milligrams of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). At CBD American Shaman in West Des Moines and Altoona, that's a majority of what they sell. ... READ MORE

 

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Iran seizes tanker in Strait of Hormuz, US official says, as tensions remain high in region. Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker as it traveled through the narrow Strait of Hormuz on Friday, a U.S. official said, turning the ship into Iranian territorial waters in the first-such interdiction in months in the strategic waterway. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Trump’s next immigration crackdown will target Charlotte, North Carolina, a sheriff says. The latest city bracing for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is Charlotte, North Carolina, which could see an influx of federal agents as early as this weekend, a county sheriff said Thursday. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Authorities investigate fourth fatal Amish buggy crash in decade. The hit-and-run crash in rural Clarke County is now the fourth fatal collision in the state involving a horse-drawn buggy in the last ten years, according to statistics from the Iowa Department of Transportation. The crash occurred just south of Murray on Wednesday evening on 130th Avenue, also known as Route 15. The Iowa State Patrol crash report indicates that a vehicle struck the rear of a horse-drawn buggy on the road about 1,000 feet south of the intersection with Forest Street. ... READ MORE

 

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Staying mild through Saturday. Cooler air starts to move in Saturday night. Rain chance Monday into Tuesday.

For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage.

 
Pollen tracker
 
Tree pollen: None
Grass pollen: None
Ragweed pollen: Low
 
 
The 2025 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®
 
 
Best Local Physical Therapy Clinic
 
1. Core Physical Therapy
 
2. Integrated Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
 
3. Rock Valley Physical Therapy
 
See all of the results
 
 

When are sandwiches weapons?
A DC jury contemplated that mystery this month in the case of Sean Dunn vs. Customs and Border Protection. Dunn was charged with misdemeanor assault for hurling a footlong Subway sandwich into the bulletproof vest of a Customs and Border Protection agent who was patrolling a bustling nightlife corridor on the night of Aug. 10. Prosecutors sought a felony charge but backed down. The confrontation was captured in a most viral video, played for the jury in court, that turned the fired Justice Department employee into a symbol of resistance. According to Wall Street Journal, "when pressed by the defense for more specificity on the toppings — lettuce? ham? turkey? —  (the officer who was hit by the sandwich) appeared to hold himself back from laughing but said he absolutely ended up with mustard on his uniform and an onion on his radio antenna. Dunn was found not guilty.

Cheba Hut thinks sandwiches are cause for thanksgiving. The counterculture toasted sub brand celebrates "Nugsgiving" on Nov. 18 with free subs for everyone. 

Weekend deals
• Hy-Vee stores with hot food service will provide free meals for kids and $3 meals for parents 4-7 p.m. today and tomorrow.

• ShortE's BBQ (8805 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) offers 20% discounts to first responders and military on Friday and Saturday. They have a Friday special pulled pork sandwich, fries and fountain drink for $12.

• Table 128's Saturday chef's menu will include wild salmon ceviche, pork loin and cranberry crumble. $58.


• Amruth (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive) has 20 dishes on their new Saturday and Sunday buffet, noon to 4 p.m. Of course, there will be dosas.

• Waterfront stores' Saturday special includes cocktail shrimp or raw oysters on the half shell for half price until 4 p.m.



• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) does Saturday and Sunday brunch buffets for $24.99 for adults. Kids 6 and younger eat free.

• The Station on Ingersoll has a Friday special patty melt: burger, pepper jack cheese, grilled onions, thousand island dressing on marble rye, served with tator tots, $14  

• Rube's steakhouses offer a prime sirloin special on Sundays only, $29.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $9 Philly cheesesteaks or hot honey chicken plus $8 biscuit and gravy breakfasts on Fridays.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) offers walleye or steak dinner specials tonight and karaoke after 9 p.m. They have a ten for $10 wings deal on Sundays. 

•  Jethro's Sunday special is papa cheeseburgers and side for $9.95. Today they have BBQ melt and side deal for $9.95. 

• G Mig's has Friday prime rib dinners with chipotle mashed potatoes and asparagus for $32 or bay scallops and sweet corn risotto with asparagus for $28.95. Saturday's special is fried chicken dinner for $18.50.

• Heavenly Asian (225 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has an all-day Friday sale on orange chicken served with soup, crab Rangoon, egg roll and rice, $14, available for dine-in and phone carry-out.

• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a $40 prime rib dinner special Friday and Saturday. 

 Court Avenue Brewing Company (309 Court Ave., Des Moines) hosts Saturday and Sunday breakfast buffets for $23.99.

• Aldi stores haves sales through Tuesday on avocados at 55 cents, racks of lamb at $9.99/pound and USDA choice beef tenderloin at $10.99/pound.  

Fareways have specials through Saturday on AE yogurt at 58 cents, navel oranges at 99 cents/pound and free turkeys (up to 14 pounds) with $75 purchase at the meat counter.

• Price Choppers have sales through Monday on blueberries at $1.99/pint, catfish nuggets at $1.99/pound and Hickory Country bacon at $2.99/pound.  

• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) has sales through Tuesday on large king crab legs at $29.99/pound, boneless NY strip roasts at $13.99/pound and grapefruit at $2.99/5-pound bag. 
 


• Hy-Vee stores have sales on frozen vegetables at 88 cents, Hy-Vee pasta at $.97/pound plus a buy a ham, get a turkey deal. 

Music


El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True has live music from The Juan and Only on Friday from 6 p.m... Willie James Shay plays Sonny’s Pizza Bistro Friday at 5:30 p.m... Brittany Sword play Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 p.m. Friday... Brad Seidenfeld will be at Caffrey’s Irish Pub, Waukee,  at 5 p.m. Friday. … Fred Gazzo Quintet plays Anna Dolce Ristorante, WDM, at 6 p.m. Saturday... The Soul Searchers play Middlebrook Mercantile, Cumming, at 2 p.m. Sunday... Willie Shay plays Simon’s at 7 p.m. Friday... John Krantz / Randy Ward and friends play Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m. Sunday... 5 Below plays Mickey’s Irish Pub, Waukee, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

 
 
Featured in the current issue of CITYVIEW
 

ART NEWS
Blood brothers — art and surprise

By Jim Duncan

Last month, Steve Logsdon turned the sesquicentennial architecture of his Lucca café into evidence of a personal awakening. Two years ago, Logsdon told us it would be absurd to put art on his restaurant’s brick walls. In October, he covered the walls, upstairs and down, with more than 50 supersized paintings from a collection of “hundreds of them.”

All the paintings were by one artist — Logsdon. All have been painted in a little more than one year. We call the artist’s inspiration an awakening because that’s easier for us to comprehend than an obsession. The paintings are not just a middle-aged crazy’s midlife panic. They are so brilliant that Italian design companies are interested in them, they are selling briskly and Steven Vail is representing Logsdon. Vail is a Des Moines gallery owner who also represents Chuck Close’s estate and deals mostly in art investments for coastal brokers. ...

 
Read more
 
Featured home for sale
 
Post listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.
 
$630,000
723 53rd St.
Des Moines, IA 50312
 
Nestled on a quiet street in the highly sought-after Waterbury neighborhood and described by the owners as a little village—this beautiful brick home offers timeless character. The main floor features a rare setup with an additional master bedroom and en-suite bath, ideal for guests, multigenerational living, or a private retreat. You’ll also find a dedicated office, a spacious living room, and an inviting kitchen and dining area. ...
  
See the listing here.
 
See more homes for sale
 
SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction
 
2000 MEADOW CHASE LANE, DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2025-06-26
SALE PRICE: $2,437,500
SELLER: DSMIA LLLP
BUYER: HGIG LYN HOLDINGS LLC
ACRES: 5.687
SQUARE FEET: 43,496
 
More transactions
 
Featured in the current
issue of Winterset Living magazine
 

Building connections through history
Larison brings the subject to life.

By Lindsey Giardino

For high school social studies teacher Jess Larison, teaching is all about the students.
“You never know what you are going to get from high school students,” he says. “Sometimes they make you laugh, and sometimes they make you want to pull your hair out, but, at the end of the day, I am always left knowing that I am building positive relationships with students, and that makes my heart smile.”

This year marks Larison’s third year teaching history at Winterset High School and his seventh year teaching overall. He’s currently pursuing a master’s degree in history teaching from Northwestern College, which takes up much of his time outside the classroom. ...

 
Read more
 
Sports headlines
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Everything the Patriots could want is right in front of them. After Thursday night’s win, Mike Vrabel was doing something which has become familiar this season: standing in the tunnel and congratulating his players on a job well done. With his team now 9–2 after beating the Jets 27–14 at Gillette Stadium, Vrabel was beaming. He should have been. The Patriots look like a team coasting toward the playoffs and perhaps the No. 1 seed in the AFC. ... READ MORE
 
FROM ESPN: MLS switching schedule to align with world soccer. The Major League Soccer board of governors voted to align with the international soccer calendar by shifting the regular season to a summer to spring campaign beginning in 2027. ... READ MORE
 
FROM YAHOO SPORTS: All-MLB awards: Shohei Ohtani, Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge lead league's first team. The 2025 All-MLB teams were revealed Thursday, honoring the best and second-best players at their positions regardless of league. Introduced in 2019, the All-MLB teams are intended to recognize the best players at each position. Unlike All-Star Game recognitions, which only apply to the first half of a season, these recognize accomplishments from the entire regular season. ... READ MORE
 

1832: NYC’s first mass transit debuts: a horse-drawn streetcar. On Nov. 14, 1832, New York City’s New York and Harlem company premiered the nation's first horse-drawn street car. Making its debut on Bowery and Fourth Avenue in Manhattan, between Prince and 14th Street, it marked New York’s first-ever mass transit offering. Within two weeks, passengers were charged 12.5 cents a ride. ... READ MORE

1851: Herman Melville publishes “Moby-Dick” in the U.S. On Nov. 14, 1851, Moby-Dick is published. Now considered a great classic of American literature—with one of the most famous opening lines in fiction: “Call me Ishmael”—the book about Captain Ahab and his quest to catch a giant white whale was originally a big flop. ... READ MORE

1969: Apollo 12 lifts off. Apollo 12, the second manned mission to the surface of the moon, is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with astronauts Charles Conrad, Jr.; Richard F. Gordon, Jr.; and Alan L. Bean aboard. President Richard Nixon viewed the liftoff from Pad A at Cape Canaveral. He was the first president to attend the liftoff of a manned space flight. ... READ MORE

 www.history.com

 
Birthdays and notables
 

Happy birthday, Darren Tromblay today and Martha Kester Nov. 16!

These celebrities were born on this date: Patrick Warburton, Olga Kurylenko, Josh Duhamel, Vanessa Bayer, James Young, Yanni, Reverend Run, Brian Yale, Travis Barker, Brian Dietzen, Tobin Esperance, Graham Patrick Martin

SUBMIT: Send your local birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 
Morning chuckle

The answer to the last riddle: What type of glass does a turkey drink from? A GOBLET! Carolyn Rogers, Paula Becker, Kris Laurson, Sharon Hill Watkins, Scott Gonzales. Other answers: Irving Stone, Gail Tomlinson, Chuck Golliher, Anne Lentz-Gagen

Today's riddle: If Pilgrims traveled on the Mayflower, what do college students travel on?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Ankeny, Altoona or Bondurant Living magazines, contact:

Angela Ossian
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 307
Mobile: 515-979-5585
angela@iowalivingmagazines.com

 

 

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