🌱 Patch AM: Which Urbandale holiday light displays are worth a drive this week?

Hi there, Urbandale! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Which Urbandale holiday light displays are worth a drive this week?
• Why Urbandale made a list of Hallmark-worthy Iowa Christmas towns
• How a regents meeting in Urbandale could reshape Iowa universities’ budgets

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Very windy; colder, with a high of 42 and low of 12 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 34, low: 30.
• Saturday: Clouds yielding to sun, with a high of 41 and low of 19 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. 'Tis the season: Holiday light displays around central Iowa (weareiowa.com) — Urbandale residents have several nearby holiday light displays to explore, including drive-through shows at Living History Farms and a free walk-through display at Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park. The guide also highlights major attractions in Des Moines, Ames, Windsor Heights, Ankeny, and beyond, with dates, locations, and prices so you can plan festive evenings out.
   

2. This Iowa city is the most likely to host a Hallmark Christmas movie (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Urbandale makes a fun cameo on a new list of Iowa towns that could host a Hallmark-style Christmas romance, though Winterset tops the rankings. The piece explains why Winterset scored highest, from its covered bridges to its snowy charm, and notes that other Iowa communities, including Urbandale, also fit the cozy holiday-movie vibe.
   

3. Iowa regents aim to revive efficiency review at universities (thegazette.com) — Urbandale readers should know Iowa’s Board of Regents, meeting in Urbandale, is restarting a major efficiency review that could reshape how the state’s public universities spend money. Leaders from Iowa, Iowa State, and UNI outlined recent cost-cutting moves and new revenue efforts as they brace for tight state funding and enrollment challenges.
   

4. Marilyn Louise Ketcham Newman Obituary (westerniowatoday.com) — Urbandale residents are invited to honor Marilyn Louise Ketcham Newman at a memorial service and luncheon at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on Aurora Avenue this February. The longtime Iowan, formerly of Adair, died December 16 at age 87, and her family suggests memorials to Gloria Dei in Urbandale or the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
   

📸 Around Urbandale

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• CHOW Chamber Happenings, Opportunities & Wisdom
  Country Lane Lodge , 29300 Prospect Ave , Adel
  11:30 am
• Clive Emerging Leaders: Getting It Together: Build Your Life Admin System
  ServiceMaster by Rice - Construction Division , 7605 University Ave , Clive
  1:00 pm
• Boys Wrestling: Triangular – DM Roosevelt DM Lincoln Fort Dodge (Junior Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  5:30 pm
• Boys Wrestling: Triangular – DM Roosevelt DM Lincoln Fort Dodge (Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  5:30 pm
• Boys Wrestling: Triangular – DM East DM North-Hoover Ames (Varsity)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  5:30 pm
• Boys Wrestling: Triangular – DM East DM North-Hoover Ames (Junior Varsity)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  5:30 pm
• Park Board Meeting
  Waukee, IA Calendar , 230 W. Hickman Rd. , Waukee
  6:00 pm
• Canceled - Board of Adjustment Meeting
  Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
  6:30 pm
• Board of Adjustment Meeting
  Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
  6:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Boys Basketball: Des Moines East vs Ottumwa (JV1)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  4:45 pm
• Boys Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines Lincoln (JV1)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  4:45 pm
• Girls Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines Lincoln (JV1)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  4:45 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• If anyone has found a stray this winter, and has no where for them to go, let me know !!
  I live in an apartment so I’d only be able to take one, I also have two other animals! Trying to help somebody out, I know how packed shelters are. (Nextdoor Parkview - Urbandale)
• Okay, here's what I'm looking for.
  A restaurant or person that makes HOMEMADE soup that I could buy by the quart or half gallon. I've tried the soups at Perkin's, Panera, Machine Shed… (Nextdoor Walnut Creek)

• The Cleaning Authority posted a job opening for Housekeeper House Cleaner in Urbandale. Apply here.
• Zirous posted a job opening for Senior Audio Visual (AV) Engineer in Urbandale. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Urbandale here.

Ok Urbandale! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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