Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How Valley’s legendary coach just earned national coach-of-the-year honors
Coming up: Cozy Onesie Time (Ages 5+) on the West Des Moines Patch calendar

Hey there, West Des Moines! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How Valley’s legendary coach just earned national coach-of-the-year honors
- Which vintage Christmas scenes still charm Des Moines and West Des Moines?
Today's riddle: What did the balloon say to the doctor? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in West Des Moinesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From our Partner
Today's West Des Moines Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near West Des Moines.![]()
Find out what's happening in West Des Moinesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Sunday: Sunny to partly cloudy, with a high of 43 and low of 33 degrees.
- Monday: Breezy in the morning, temps: high: 54, low: 35.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high of 48 and low of 34 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• West Des Moines Valley boys soccer coach earns national coach of the year award (kcci.com) — West Des Moines residents can celebrate Valley boys soccer coach Aziz Haffar being named the 2025 National Coach of the Year after guiding the Tigers to another state championship. The longtime coach, who recently surpassed 600 wins in more than 30 years at Valley, will receive the national honor at a January ceremony in Philadelphia.
![]()
• Look back on Des Moines' Christmas past in these archive photos (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Step back into decades of central Iowa Christmas memories, from Des Moines’ Community Christmas, Inc. to vintage home-lighting contests and church pageants. One highlight for local readers: West Des Moines’ Marie Steward, whose hand-crafted miniature Christmas scenes were featured in a 1979 Register photo spread.
![]()
📸 Around West Des Moines
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
📣 West Des Moines Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Cozy Onesie Time (Ages 5+)
Painting with a Twist , 3753 86th St , Urbandale
10:30 am - Pick Your Project Workshop (All Ages!)
Board & Brush Creative Studio - Clive , 12871 University Ave Suite 150 , Clive
1:00 pm - Holiday Paint Your Pet — Make a Gift!
Painting with a Twist , 3753 86th St , Urbandale
2:00 pm - John Primer
The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand , 558 28th St , Des Moines
2:00 pm - NW Winter Cheer Youth Clinic
Waukee Northwest High School , 655 Northwest North 10th Street , Waukee
2:30 pm - The Playhouse Production of Disney's Frozen
Des Moines Community Playhouse , 831 42nd St , Des Moines
5:00 pm - Johnston Public Library closing early for Christmas holiday
Johnston Public Library - Johnston IA 50131
5:00 pm - No City Council Meeting
Grimes, IA Calendar , 410 SE Main ST , Grimes
5:30 pm - Season of Stillness Sound Bath
All Love Wellness (Yoga+Health) , 8527 University Blvd , Clive
6:00 pm - Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting
Waukee, IA Calendar , 230 W. Hickman Rd. , Waukee
6:00 pm - Winter Wonderland Holiday Pop-Up
Wilson's Orchard & Farm (Des Moines) , 3201 15th Ave , Cumming
10:00 am - Candlelight: Holiday Special Featuring 'The Nutcracker” & More
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates , 100 Locust St , Des Moines
4:30 pm
Sunday December 21
Tuesday December 23
Saturday December 27
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- I had salt and dirt on my almost new car.
Zach did a great job in making it look new again. (Nextdoor Zelda Acres 1.0) - I’ve seen so many lost cats recently, when winter is getting tougher.
This is an amazing idea. If anybody would be willing to do it, I’m down. I’ll be back in DSM next week. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRpfdULFDJs/… (Nextdoor Woodland Hills)
- Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Bakery Wrapper / Clean Up in West Des Moines. Apply here.
- Arby's Restaurant posted a job opening for Team Member in West Des Moines. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near West Des Moines here.
🗞 Nearby News
Urbandale
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 feel lightheaded!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.