Serving up history at the Iowa State Fair
Long before the days of funnel cake and deep-fried Twinkies, church-run dining halls dished out home-cooked meals at the Iowa State Fair. The West Des Moines United Methodist Church began [...]
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Posted August 03, 2022in Your Neighbors
Posted July 06, 2022in Your Neighbors
Promoting diverse arts and dance in Des Moines
When Penny Thomas arrived in Des Moines to study at Drake University, she thought she’d return home to India after earning her pharmacy degree. Sixty-six years later, she is still [...]
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Posted June 01, 2022in Your Neighbors
Media icon is also community hero
In 1999, a dog named Louie was severely hacked by a machete. How did radio host Lou Sipolt respond? He locked himself in a casket, entombed for three days. “We [...]
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Posted May 04, 2022in Your Neighbors
Educator champions accessible science
Sarah Borzo’s life trajectory changed because of one impactful teacher. Growing up, Borzo loved being around children. Until the age of 22, she hoped to have her own elementary school [...]
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Posted April 06, 2022in Your Neighbors
One-man show
For nearly 50 years, Tom Milligan has immersed himself in the theater industry in and around the Des Moines area. His roles have included actor, director, scene designer, producer and [...]
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Posted March 02, 2022in Your Neighbors
A passion for turning pages
“I’ve always liked reading,” says Hunter Gillum, which is an obvious understatement. Almost every room in his house has books in it. Some of those rooms have multiple shelves of [...]
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Posted February 02, 2022in Your Neighbors
Perched atop ‘Piety Hill’
Once upon a time, toward the beginning of Des Moines’ timeline and very near what is now the city’s heart, a cluster of churches once stood around the space still [...]
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Posted January 05, 2022in Your Neighbors
Living the American Dream while uneasy about a nightmare in Afghanistan
From a rural village to Kabul to Johnston Once upon a time and a half a world away, there was a little boy in rural Afghanistan named Nabi Mohammadi. It [...]
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Posted December 01, 2021in Your Neighbors
It’s the holiday season!
Mary Jo Ragaller, 85, sifts through the seasonal donations at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. Deep within a forest of fake Douglas fir Christmas trees, and somewhere within the [...]
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Posted November 03, 2021in Your Neighbors
Meet the Des Moines Women’s Novice Hockey League
Mondays the women take the ice at Urbandale’s Metro Ice Sports Facility. Des Moines Women’s Novice Hockey Club is a group of “amazing women” who want to learn more about [...]
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