Posted December 06, 2023in Your Neighbors
Cynthia Hunafa, or Miss Cynthia as she was referred to by fellow volunteers inside of the Creative Visions building, has her influence interwoven throughout Des Moines. Hunafa was born in Queens, New York City, raised in Harlem and spent time in each borough. From the time she was 2 years
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Posted November 01, 2023in Your Neighbors
Maurice Hoffman’s story takes him all over the globe during his time in the military, which began at a young age. At 17 years old, he needed his parents’ signature in order to join the Navy in 1944. Hoffman traveled the world as a result, lasting from 1944 to 1976
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Posted October 04, 2023in Your Neighbors
Whether they’re screaming, shouting, or popping up, down, or from around the corner, someone is behind the costume and makeup of the character that just sent you and your heart rate into orbit. At The Slaughterhouse Haunted Attraction, one of those scarers is Lydia Polzen. Polzen got into the scaring
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Posted September 06, 2023in Your Neighbors
Teammates are often associated with your counterparts in the sporting world, but the word can take on a separate meaning. What started in Lincoln, Nebraska, under legendary University of Nebraska football coach Tom Osborn, has started to spread throughout the country. A total of 22 of Osborn’s players began mentoring
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Posted August 02, 2023in Your Neighbors
Chris Sullivan and Jordan Sandquist both grew up in the Des Moines metro — Sullivan on the east side of Des Moines and Sandquist in Johnston. While their paths into the world of art are from different perspectives and directions, the meeting of the two has resulted in several murals
Read More →From May 20-25, the National Veterans Golden Age Games made their way into the heart of central Iowa at various locations around the metro, with the main venue being the Iowa Events Center. More than 700 veterans participated in the 2023 games. The Golden Age Games give veterans who are
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Posted May 31, 2023in Your Neighbors
A city not generally known for its spice, Des Moines has been welcoming to new flavors, ideas and experiences. Downtown has welcomed food and culture festivals of various backgrounds such as CelebrAsian, Italian Fest, Greek Food Fair, Latino Heritage Festival and the World Food and Music Festival. This month, it
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Posted May 03, 2023in Your Neighbors
Viewed in the millions and cherished by the thousands, mascots are just as much a part of athletics as the athletes. Maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement, but the reality remains that most every sporting team and event will have a mascot, and each mascot will have its own
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Posted April 05, 2023in Your Neighbors
The beloved face of Drake University has a protruding jaw, wrinkly scowl and sad eyes. George, whose official title is Griff II, is the latest in a growing line of live mascots serving the school. It began in 1910. Until then, the university mascot had been the Drakes (a male
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Posted March 01, 2023in Your Neighbors
Turning struggles into strength Antonio Roddy is dedicated to progressing. Raised on the south side of Chicago, he grew up in the shadow of skyscrapers and yachts along the affluent Lake Shore Drive. He wondered: Where was the divide? “Coming from that, it always inspired the vibe to better myself,
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