Referral Program??

Good morning Ankeny! Last Sunday was National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, which makes it officially acceptable to eat comfort food for breakfast this week. Not that you needed permission, but validation is always nice.

In today’s digest:

Lets get started.

— Chase & Chance

The city is hosting an Earth Day Watershed Cleanup on April 18th, 8 to 11am. They're even sweetening the deal with free trees. Show up, grab a trash bag and some gloves, and help clean up local waterways. It's family-friendly, drop-in style, so you can stay as long as you want. Boots are recommended because things might get a little messy; you can choose to take that as a warning or a selling point depending on your kids.

While supplies last, the city is also giving away free saplings: Black Oak, Norway Spruce, River Birch, and Eastern White Pine. The free saplings will be a first-come, first-served basis at check-in. One per household.

You know Casey's, that place where you grab a slice of pizza on the way to the game? Turns out our little local convenience store is kind of a big deal. Casey's General Stores, headquartered right here in Ankeny, was added to the S&P 500 on April 9. The S&P 500 is one of the most watched financial indexes in the world, tracking the stock performance of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States. It's widely considered the best single gauge of the overall U.S. stock market and a strong indicator of the broader economy. So yes, your hometown pizza shop now runs in the same circles as Apple, Google and Amazon.

Casey's got its start in 1968 as a converted gas station in Boone, Iowa, where the founder simply called "a general store with gasoline." Today. the company operates more than 2,900 stores across 19 states, making it the third largest convenience store retailer and the fifth largest pizza chain in the United States. With a beautiful stock curve and their name on the arena in Des Moines, it’s safe to say Casey’s is no longer just a small town pit stop. (more)

Ankeny is getting a new water tower, and it's a big one. The Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a height variance allowing a 180 foot tower near NW 36th Street and NW Irvinedale Drive. The contract was awarded to Gerald Tank & Steel, Inc. for a whopping $8.6 million dollars. The tower will hold 2.5 million gallons and is needed to keep water pressure steady while the southwest tower gets taken offline for repainting.

A few nearby residents weren't thrilled about the view from their backyard, raising concerns about the tower's impact on the Uptown area and the High Trestle Trail. The city considered three different sites before landing on this one, and the board ultimately gave it the green light. It'll even sport three City of Ankeny logos… because if you're going 180 feet into the sky, you might as well represent. (more)

The northbound I-35 entrance ramp at NE 36th Street near Costco closed Monday night and will stay shut until late November. Drivers will be detoured to southbound I-35, over to the East 1st Street interchange to turn around, and then back onto northbound I-35 from there. Not exactly ideal, but it's all part of the larger project to expand I-35 between Ankeny and Huxley from four lanes to six as Ankeny continues to expand.

The Ankeny Centennial High School Theatre Department is hitting the stage this week with their spring musical, named “Big Fish: School Edition”. The play is a heartfelt story about family, tall tales, and the power of imagination. This one is worth your Friday night. Shows run April 17 & 18 at 7:00 p.m. and April 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the Centennial auditorium. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, available online or at the door. (more)

The Ankeny Community Chorus is marking a big milestone this month, celebrating 25 years of making music together right here at Lutheran Church of Hope. Their spring concert "Let Us Sing" takes the stage next Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. at 520 NW 36th Street. Admission is a freewill donation, and there's no reason not to go enjoy a great evening of live music and support a quarter century of community harmony. (more)

Ashley Joens, Iowa State's all-time leading scorer with 3,060 points, three-time Cheryl Miller Award winner, and Las Vegas Aces championship ring holder, is coming to Ankeny High. The newest Hawkette head coaching hire was announced last week, pending school board approval. She played professionally in New Zealand, Greece, and France after her time in the WNBA. Not to mentioned she was recently inducted into the IGHSAU basketball hall of fame. I guess you could say she's trading passport stamps for practice schedules.

For the Hawkettes, this is a massive get. Joens is the only player in history to win the Cheryl Miller Award three times, which is the award given annually to the best small forward in the entire country. That kind of resume doesn't walk through your gym door every day.

Claudia Coltrain @ WineStyles | 5:30PM 

The Sheet @ Cabaret | 8PM

🤝Mentoring For Women @ The District Venue | 8AM-1PM | A fast, fun event where you'll connect with influential local mentors over quick sessions, enjoy lunch, and walk away with real insights and new connections! This one sells out every year, you may be able to still register if you’re quick. (Details)

🐕Hounds & Hops @ Firetrucker Brewery | 5:30-7:30PM | Meet adoptable greyhounds, chat with experienced owners, and learn about adoption and fostering over a cold pint with the Heartland Greyhound Adoption community! Spend your evening with some long-legged loungers, everyone is welcome. (Details)

🍷Winery Spotlight @ WineStyles | 6-7:30PM | Boutique Sonoma County winemaker is back for an intimate small-batch tasting you won't want to miss, tickets are $20/person ($10 for club members) and RSVP is required! (Details)

🎲DJ Bingo @ The Other Place | 7PM | Free, weekly bingo with… A DJ! (Details)

🧘‍♀️Sound Bath @ The Tight Club | 6-7PM | Show up, lie down, and let the sound do the rest to help your body and mind fully unwind! Bring your yoga mat and anything that makes you cozy, arrive 5–10 minutes early. (Details)  

🥂Parrothead Social @ Uptown Garage Brewing | 6-10PM | Come out and enjoy drinks with your fellow Parrot Heads as the Des Moines area chapter presents a check to the Alzheimer's Association from January's "Growing Older But Not Up" fundraiser. Good company, good cause, and plenty of Jimmy Buffett spirit to go around! (Details)  

🛍️Blossoms & Bubbly @ Uptown Ankeny | 5-8PM | Celebrate spring with a night in Uptown Ankeny. Shops open late, specials and surprises around every corner. Over 20 participating businesses! 

✂️Spring Bulb Needle Felting Class @ Slick Designs | 6-8PM | Join artist Megan Hammer for a fun, hands-on needle felting class where she'll walk you through the basics and guide you in creating your own lovely spring bulb felted piece from start to finish! (Details) 

🐕Spring Fling for Pets @ Bone-A-Patreat | 10AM-2PM | Bring the whole family… pets included for caricatures, raffle prizes, freebies, a Paw-Casso Art Station, and exclusive event-day sales! Free to attend, no RSVP needed, and all ages and pets are welcome. (Details) 

Thanks for reading today’s Digest. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who spent their whole weekend watching the Masters or listening to Luke Combs.

See you next week.