Welcome to the Friday mailbag, where you will find comments, questions and ideas that were sent recently by subscribers of this newsletter.

“Thank you for the clean-up challenge… challenge accepted (Pollution, April 7, 2022)!  Love your publication!” - Mona

Glad to hear it, Mona. I bet that you will even pick up a few extras for those who don’t. - Shane

“Good morning, Shane; Enjoyed your column this morning (Pollution April 7, 2022). That is a goal of Keep Iowa Beautiful. Picking up litter is one of the missions of KIB making Iowa a more attractive place to live, work and raise a family.” - William H. Jackson, Associate Director, KEEP IOWA BEAUTIFUL

Keep up the great work with Keep Iowa Beautiful, William. We all certainly benefit from it. - Shane

“Your point is well made (Obituaries April 11, 2022). A lot of people I see on a regular basis do not read the obits; many don't read the local daily paper. They rely on friends, email, and/or Facebook to learn about a former co-worker’s death. When my mother passed in 2014, I was shocked at the nearly $500 the Register charged for what seemed like a modest obit — single insertion. Since then I have always been amazed when I see the really long ones that run multiple days and wonder what they must have cost. Somehow high costs and reduced readership don't mesh in my mind. I thought advertising was supposed to be based on audience exposure?” - Chuck

Thanks, Chuck. Meanwhile, obituaries serve a very important purpose for both the deceased and the living. – Shane

“Hi Shane. For some this could be a never-ending list (Obsessions April 13, 2022). For me it’s the spice cabinet. I do 95% of the cooking, therefore I organize the spices. All labels facing forward… of course. When my wife does occasionally cook, she digs through moving spices around on the shelf and even to other shelves. Never returning them to their proper place, and for some reason, the labels never face forward. On the bright side, when this happens, all spices come out, cabinet cleaned, put back in the proper place with labels facing forward.” - Mark

You are the spice of life, Mark. Without a label. – Shane

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305

CITYVIEW announced its 2022 Best Of Des Moines readers' choices Feb.1. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best Drake Area Store
1. Groovy Goods Daydreams
2. Ancient Ways
3. Zumi

Women tackle the grid iron

Alesch among those enjoying chance to play in women’s tackle football league.

Jill Alesch of Johnston is a new member of the Iowa Phoenix women’s tackle football team.

“I think playing football empowers women and encourages them to be strong both on and off the field,” she says. “Football is both mentally and physically challenging, and it teaches people how to work together as a unit. I encourage other women to get involved. Not every woman wants to play, but not every man does either. I think the biggest barrier for other women joining isn’t a lack of interest, but rather a lack of confidence that they can learn the game later in life.” 

From the April issue of Johnston Living magazine.

Happy Birthday Stevie LeWarne!

Happy Birthday to these celebrities: Emma Watson, Emma Thompson, Seth Rogen, Maisie Williams, Luke Evans, Chris Stapleton, Cody Christian, Cooper Barnes, Danny Pino

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to:tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com