River Bend Neighborhood

The Forest Avenue Library and book drop will be closed November 30 to December 13 due to replacement of the heating and cooling system.

The library will re-open Monday, December 14.

Items on hold will be available for pickup at the North Side Library. Please note that items checked out at Forest will have an extended due date.

Watch Des Moines Public Library’s website, www.dmpl.org, for further updates.

From the Des Moines Public Library:

Early Literacy Stations are now available at Forest Avenue Library. The special computers are set up specially to help kids and toddlers increase and improve their educational skills.

Each Early Literacy Station is a self-contained computer filled with programs specially designed for children ages 2-10, but are also available for older children wishing to improve on their literacy skills.

Each station features computer games that help kids learn as they play. Children are drawn into a variety of adventures with well-known mass media characters such as Sponge Bob Square Pants, Dr. Seuss, and Between the Lions.

The Early Literacy Station has been used at the Forest Avenue Library for over a year now and is funded by the David Kruidenier Funding. They have two stations available and are expecting two more within the next year.

The North Side Library also has two stations which were funded by the Gates Foundation. These two libraries are the only libraries in the Des Moines area that have the Early Literacy Stations. The North Side Library has a bilingual version and Forest Avenue Library will be getting a new bilingual version soon.

For more information about literacy stations stop by the Forest Avenue Library and the North Side Library.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend the upcoming River Bend Holiday Home Tour, Thursday, December 3 and Friday, December 4, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Houses include 1330, 1334, and 1429 9th Street; parking will be available at 9th and Forest.

Come enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays in these warm and inviting houses, which were once home to some of Des Moines’ most prominent families in Des Moines around the turn of the last century.

Hors d’oeuvres provided at each house, along with live entertainment by local talent.

Tickets are available at $25.00 per person, or $40.00 per couple.

Tickets can be purchased at Dahl’s at 35th and Ingersoll, or at iowatix.com, or by sending a check or money order to RiverBend Neighborhood Association, P. O. Box 408, Des Moines, IA 50302.  Tickets ordered via mail will be available at Will Call at any of the homes on the evening of the tour.

From Michael Baldus, via River Bend neighbor Laura Hansen:

Wednesday, November 18, at 7 pm, the local radio program “The Fallon Forum,” discusses the proposed North-South Metro Parkway. This project was formerly known as the NW 26th St. Interchange/MLK Extension.

As currently laid out, the roadway plan proposes to extend Martin Luther King, Jr. [MLK] Parkway north from Euclid Avenue to the Interstate 80/35 interchange.

The prospective project would also involve major roadway changes to MLK from Euclid south to I-235 near downtown.

Baldus, who will be a guest on the Wednesday evening show, says:

“The north section [of the proposed North-South Metro Parkway] would be destructive environmentally to recreational areas, the south section destructive to neighborhoods and homes. The entire thing would be destructive to Des Moines tax base and quality of life…

I’m writing also to ask that you pass this on…. A broad and much-needed public discussion about this project is about to begin, and the [Wednesday radio show] is the place where it will start. Please call in during the show…, and encourage others to do so.”

The River Bend Neighborhood’s monthly socials are on hiatus until January 2010.  Watch this blog for additional information as it becomes available…. and have a safe and happy holiday season.