St. Patty's Day in Ankeny

Good morning Ankeny! If you could go back and tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Probably something about investing in Apple or not getting that haircut. Anyway, here's this week's digest

In today’s digest:

Lets get started.

— Chance

What ever happened to walking? How about riding a normal bike? Mayor Bobbi Bentz says the top issue residents bring to her isn't potholes or taxes; it's kids riding electric motorcycles (e-motos) on city trails and sidewalks.

Ankeny's solution? Police sergeant James Wilson is proposing a simple 20 mph speed limit for everyone on trails and sidewalks—bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, all of it. The current code tries to classify e-bikes by motor power, but officers say it's impossible to enforce because people just modify their bikes to go faster anyway.

The plan isn't to ticket 8-year-olds, Wilson says. The city wants to start with informational signs on trails, printed materials, the whole deal. Fines would be a last resort.

The City Council is expected to vote on the ordinance March 16. It needs to pass three readings to become official. Axios

The bridge across Deer Creek at NE 38th Street and NE 108th Avenue (east of Ankeny) closes March 9 for replacement. Crews are swapping it out for a reinforced box culvert, which sounds fancy but really just means "a stronger way to cross a creek."

The closure is expected to last several months. NE 108th Avenue will also be closed at the intersection with NE 38th Street, so if this is part of your usual route, now's the time to find a new one. Detours will be posted, or you can check the ICEA Service Bureau website and pretend you planned this all along.

If you’re debating selling your home and want to know what its worth. Inquire at [email protected] to get a free home value report.

Ankeny Parks & Recreation just opened registration for spring and summer programs. If you've been looking for a way to tire out your kids before summer officially hits, this is it. Tee ball, soccer, parkour, breakdancing, cheer, martial arts, and wait for it… fencing. Yes your kid can learn to duel. Register Here.

It seems as if I have been living under a rock. The other day I saw that you can apply for permits to throw block parties. If you want to be the cool neighbor, I recommend doing so. This way you and your neighbors can actually talk to each other instead of waving from across the street and giving them an Iowan soft smile.

Damon Dotson @ Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille | 🕰️8PM

Red Dirt Renegade @ Good Times | 🕰️9PM-12AM

🎲Trivia Night @ B&B Theaters | 🕰️7:30-8:30PM | Think you know your early 2000s Disney Channel? Put your knowledge to the test. Covering the shows, songs, and moments that defined a generation. (Details)

🍪Snack Attack @ Ankeny Public Library | 🕰️5-6PM | A hands-on program where grades 5-12, learn to make easy, low-or-no cook snacks, taste what you make, and take the recipe home. Show up hungry and ready to have fun. Register here.

🎲Bingo Night @ Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille | 🕰️7-9PM | Bingo night with drink and food specials. (Details)

🍷Winery Spotlight Night @ Winestyles | 🕰️6-7:30PM | An exclusive wine tasting featuring Black Stallion Estate Winery. Poured by Gary Long of Johnson Brothers and Cory Benson with Delicato Family Wines, this is an evening worth savoring. $20 per person. (Details)

👖Denim Days Event @ Mainstream Boutique Ankeny | 🕰️10AM | Starting March 11th through the 15th get $15 off all denim. In store and online. (Details)

🎲Trivia Night @ Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille | 🕰️7-9PM | Weekly laid back trivia night with fun competition, drinks and prizes. (Details)

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

🧩Puzzle League @ Uptown Garage Brewing | 🕰️6-8PM | 4 friends and 2 hours to finish a puzzle. A great excuse to get together every week. Give it a shot! (Details) 

🎲Jeopardy Night @ 36th Street Tavern | 🕰️7PM | Gather a team of 4 and play 3 rounds for the possibility to win money off your tab at the end of the night. (Details)

🎤Karaoke Thursday @ Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille | 🕰️8PM | Come sing your heart out. Whether you're a shower singer or a stage hog, all are welcome. Enjoy food & drink specials all night long. (Details)

🍀AYP St. Patty’s Party @ Magee’s Irish Pub | 🕰️5:30-7:30PM | Ankeny Young Professionals! → Wear the best green you got and spend the evening networking and connecting with like minded and somewhat closely aged peers. (Details)

🍀Stem Day Camp @ The Little White Schoolhouse | 🕰️8AM-3PM | No school day? Kids will design and take home their own leprechaun trap, make St. Patty's Day slime, and build a leprechaun house. K–5th grade. Get more details (here)!

🍻St. Patty’s Day Trolley | 🕰️6:30-11:30PM | A St. Patty’s Day party bus sounds like a blast. Charter leaves and returns to Whiskey River. Must be 21+, tickets are $45. Get them while you still can. (Details)

🍻St. Patty’s Party @ Cabaret Sports Bar & Grille | Wear your favorite green shirt, grab a drink or a few and sing Don’t Stop Believin’ all night long. (Details)

Thanks for reading this weeks Ankeny Digest. If you found something useful, please share this with a neighbor that always takes forever to bring their trash cans in from the curb.

See you next week,

Chance