🌱 Patch AM: How one West Des Moines mom is easing scary diagnoses

Hi there, West Des Moines! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How one West Des Moines mom is easing scary diagnoses
• How a former golf club is becoming a kids’ wonderland

Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 39 and low of 30 degrees.
• Wednesday: Cloudy, temps: high: 41, low: 15. ⛄️ Brr!
• Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high of 30 and low of 22 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Iowa mother supports families following her child's Down Syndrome diagnosis (kcrg.com) — A West Des Moines mom is turning her own difficult Down Syndrome diagnosis experience into support for other families across Iowa. After receiving a comforting Jack’s Basket from another mother in Rochester, she now volunteers with the nonprofit, sharing resources and reassurance with parents facing similar news about their children.
   

• KCCI Investigates: New dreams for Des Moines Children's Museum with move in 2026 (kcci.com) — A major family destination is coming to West Des Moines as the Des Moines Children’s Museum prepares a 2026 move from Valley West Mall into the former Des Moines Golf and Country Club on 12th Street. The $3.9 million project, backed by state and county grants, will add more hands-on exhibits, outdoor play areas, and potentially future daycare or preschool programming for local families.
   

📸 Around West Des Moines

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📣 West Des Moines Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 30

• Art Night with Art is Rad — 515 Brewing Company
  515 Brewing Company , 7700 University Ave Suite C , Clive
  6:00 pm
• Wings of Fire Trivia
  Clive Public Library , 1900 NW 114th St , Clive
  7:00 pm
• 12/30- Clive, IA- La Dolce Vita New Year's Eve
  Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant , 12801 University Ave , Clive
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 31

• Iowa Wild New Year's Eve Bash vs Texas Stars
  730 3rd St , Des Moines
  5:00 pm
• Library closes early at 5:00 p.m. for the New Years Holiday
  Johnston Public Library - Johnston IA 50131
  5:00 pm
• Live Music: The Get Down New Years Eve Party @ Middlebrook Mercantile
  Middlebrook Mercantile , 4125 Cumming Ave , Cumming
  7:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• City Buildings Closed New Year's Day
  Grimes, IA Calendar Grimes, IA 50111
• New Year's Day
  Urbandale, IA Calendar
• All City offices CLOSED in observance of New Year's Day
  Waukee, IA Calendar Waukee, IA 50263
  8:00 am
• Civil Service Commission- no meeting held
  Urbandale, IA Calendar , 3600 86th Street , Urbandale
  9:00 am

Friday January 2

• Snacks & Facts: Picking Priorities in the City Budget
  Waukee, IA Calendar , 950 S. Warrior Ln. , Waukee
  11:30 am

Monday January 5

• City Council Regular Meeting
  Waukee, IA Calendar , 230 W. Hickman Rd. , Waukee
  5:30 pm

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

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making West Des Moines PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Hi all, I'm looking for work and have a pretty open schedule this week!
  I run a Hauling and Landscape company but have years of experience in remodels, handyman services and much more! If theres anything you need done I'm… (Nextdoor Clover Hills)
• Lost a package this evening in the wind.
  It blew away before I realized it had been delivered. It’s a blue and white Amazon bubble envelope lost on the 46th block of Elm. If you find it, I… (Nextdoor Western Hills)

• McDonald's posted a job opening for McDonald's Janitorial in West Des Moines. Apply here.
• The Gap, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate - Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near West Des Moines here.

🗞 Nearby News

Urbandale

• What to expect in Iowa's state Senate special election Tuesday (kcci.com)
• Republicans could regain Iowa Senate supermajority in Tuesday special election (thegazette.com)

Grimes

• Urbandale assisted living facility extends holiday cheer with tree display (who13.com)
• Last Chance to Vote for the 2025 BroadwayWorld Des Moines Awards; SPONGEBOB THE MUSICAL Leads Best Musical! (broadwayworld.com)

Des Moines

Ok West Des Moines! 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 hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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