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Civic Skinny

Merry Christmas…..

12/19/2012

Twelve drummers drumming…

…but not as loud as the Isiserettes for new Drake basketball coach Jenny Lillis Baranczyk…for each and every Nada…and banker Kim Gillespie, now Kim Willis…for the two great teen-aged athletes in the Mike Grasso family — hockey player Patrick and golfer Victoria — and for police officer Grasso himself…and his boss, Chief Judy Bradshaw…for teen-ager Tyler Steinke…and the occasionally funny Stan Seidler…for Teresa and everyone else at Kitchen Collage…and Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger…

Eleven pipers piping…

….under the direction of conductor (and pollster) extraordinaire Ann Selzer… for the Des Moines Social Club’s Zach Mannheimer, who came to town with an idea — and made it happen, and for the Social Club’s Jessica Miller…for R.J. Tursi and Scott Carlson and all the other craft beer makers…for Pleasant Hill city manager Donald Sandor and police chief Tim Sittig…for Kelly Morris…and Fred Lorber… for Ag Secretary Bill Northey and Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro, nice guys both…

Ten lords-a-leaping…

CNA - Stop HIV Iowa

…or at least stretching for Pilates instructor Lisa Lewis…over a Subway sandwich sign for Rich Eychaner…for Brad Anderson, who ran Obama’s campaign — and will the Prez endorse Anderson for Iowa Secretary of State?…in celebration for the hard-working Ben Page, the city’s new parks director…and his boss Rick Clark, who stretches dollars…for Bob and Loral Kirke and all the other Kirkes and Dorweilers…for Bonne Finken and her band…and artist Buffalo Bonker…for Tim Albrecht, the governor’s guy…for Mollie Cooney and her husband…and her father-in-law, Jim…

Nine ladies dancing…

…at the Civic Center for Jeff Chelesvig…for Rachel McLean (and Ben and Jack), who is so nice…and for her mom and dad…in victory celebrations for coaches Bill Fennelly and Paul Rhoads and Fred Hoiberg, men of integrity…for new Iowa Senate president Pam Jochum — and this time we’ve spelled her name right…and Minority Leader Bill Dix, who will make things interesting…for Business Record columnist Dave Elbert, who has good sources…for the front line in Iowa First Amendment defense: Kathy Richardson and Herb Strentz and Mike Giudicessi and, in absentia, Gil Cranberg…for Steve Roberts, a good citizen…and for Federal Judge Bob Pratt, who knows right from wrong — and rights from wrongs…

Eight maids-a-milking…

…for Jim Erickson at Anderson-Erickson — and please make those milk jugs easier to open…for Jay Hubbell, who’s back in town…and his brother Andrew…for young councilman Halley Griess…for Chet Culver — is he really going to run again?…and Gov. Terry Branstad — and is he, too?…for ISU’s Steele Jantz, the quarterback with the movie-star name…and Dowling’s John Wisnieski, the tight end with the unpronounceable one…and for his buddy Nick Bernabe…for young George Nahas, a major-leaguer in a decade or two…for everyone in Slipknot…and Andrew Lynner…for Billie Ray and her husband…for entrepreneur Katie Miller, who can organize anything…and Celeste Jones, who enforces deadlines…

Seven swans a swimming…

…in crystal-clear water for the DNR’s Chuck Gipp….but not in ISU’s Lake LaVerne for Mike Draper, the T-shirt guy (our favorite: “Iowa City: All Our Creativity Went Into the Name”)…and, speaking of movie-star names, happy holidays to his lawyer dad, Hayward Draper, too…for UNI’s Ben Allen and his wife, Pat, who are counting the days till retirement…and UNI grad and supporter Mark Oman…and his brother David…for everyone at The China Hut in Atlantic, of course, and we miss Lin Ly…for all of Team Trib, where Troy McCullough is opening a Hong Kong branch…and MaryAnne Beno, who has resurfaced…

Six geese-a-laying…

…but not on the ball-diamond for groundskeeper Chris Schlosser…for The Des Moines Register’s Randy Evans, who somehow keeps his sense of humor (but what about that Mitt Romney endorsement?)…and the Register’s new sports editor, Chad Leistikow — welcome back to town…For Phil Roeder, the schools’ spokesman, and his wife, Judge Mary Tabor…and her brother Eric Tabor in the AG’s office…for Chris Godfrey, a good guy…and fairway mower Mike Glover, another good guy…for Ruth Harkin and Tom Harkin — and will he run again?…and Congressman Bruce Braley, who would like the answer to that question…for the city’s Mark Dingus, who gets things done…for 2-year-old Max Giller, who has more hair than his dad…

Five golden rings…

…linked together for Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas, of course, and for Liang Chow…for Dollie Pinegar, who can sing the National Anthem on one-minute’s notice…and Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss, who can sing it in less than one minute (and we hope she finds gainful employment next year)…for Beth Ehlers and the nice folks at Greenberg’s Jewelers in Ankeny…for Mike Mahoney…and Nate Teut, who is officially not the sexiest guy in town…for the wonderful Mona Houck, lawyer-teacher-editor-baseball fan…and her pals Sue and Audrey…for Drake’s Paul Morrison, who is closing in on 100…and charming young Christopher, who just closed in on two…and his cousins Zachary and Mackenzie…

Four collie birds…

…in a History Channel special for Chuck Grassley…for Jill June, who keeps fighting the good fight…for Valley High student Dylan DeClerck and all the other very young people making a difference…for state Sen. David Johnson and AFSCME’s Danny Homan (and those names aren’t often in the same sentence)…for Shane Goodman, the boss at Cityview…for young Marcus Clutter…and for Oliver and Nico and Wrigley and, especially, Reba, our favorite dogs…but not for any cats…or hamsters…for Earl Short, who remembers streetcars…and Gunnar Olson, who rides the buses…for Dante Campero, a kid with guts…and his mom, Mary Walker…and his lawyer, Gary Dickey…for unlikely buddies Bill Knapp and John Mauro…and Susan and Grace, too…

Three French hens…

…for Marc Hansen and Tom Witosky, who are writing a book about the Varnum case…for Ned Chiodo, our favorite curmudgeon…for Judge Eliza Ovrom in district court, and Chief Judge Art Gamble and his brother Beau…for Stuart Ruddy, who pays attention to detail…and Mike Messina in the federal court house…to the Martensdale-St. Mary’s baseball team, which is going for four titles in a row…for lawyer Charles Lavarato, who speaks out…for the ageless Neal Smith, and Bea, of course…for Marsha Wiggins and Marsha Ternus and Marcia Nichols and Marcia Wolff…

Two turtle doves…

…baked in a pie for the Food Dude…for everyone named Vilsack…to TV sports guy Chris Hassel and his cast of characters who are taking their talents to ESPN (and we’ll miss “Ask Gary Dolphin”)…to Doug Burns, who calls ’em as he sees ’em…and Tim McClelland, who does the same…for employee-of-the-year Beth Giudicessi, who can retire the trophy with one more win…and her brother the doctor-doctor…for Greg and Kathy Geoffroy, and all those new grandchildren…for Connie Wimer and Frank Fogarty…and radio’s Colleen Kelly and television’s Erin Kiernan…for Deputy Attorney General Jeff Thompson…for The Register’s editors, who have a tough job in tough times (but tell us: Is this a gossip column, as you wrote, or a column of hearsay, as you also wrote — or perhaps a tip sheet?)…for weather forecasters Ed Wilson and John McLaughlin (and there’s an 80 percent chance we spelled your names right)…

And a partridge in a pear tree…

…for John Bachman, who retired voluntarily…and Leonard Boswell, who didn’t. Thanks to both for being great Iowans…and Scott Raecker, who will be missed in the Legislature…and Dan Saftig, who is missed at Iowa State…and E.J. Giovannetti, our departing supervisor…and Steve Van Oort, his successor (and here’s to Van Oort’s wonderful and ageless mom, too)…and Norm Sterzenbach, a political pro…and Dan Miller, whose shoes can’t be filled (“He helped make Iowa Public TV the gold standard in public-affairs programming,” says Judy Woodruff)…and in memory of Ed Nahas and Mark Pearson and Chris Monsma and Lorraine Keller and LuVern Schiffler and Charlie Duchen and, especially, Barbara Mack. CV

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