It's not until you move away from Iowa that you realize what we have here is special....
Beggar's Night is coming...and for those of you not in Des Moines, Beggar's Night is the night that the kids take to the streets and go trick or treating. Though the 31st is Halloween, each town in the Des Moines area picks what night will be "Beggar's Night". Around the country kids are saying "Trick or Treat!" and claiming their candy prize, but we do things a bit differently here. We do things right....

New to Des Moines? Be prepared:
1) Kids in costume ring the doorbell
2) Homeowner answers...
3) Kids say "trick or treat!"
4) Kids then tell their BEST joke, usually something simple, and then wait to see if the homeowner is amused.
5) If the homeowner likes the joke, then...
6) The kids earn their candy!

Have a Joke to Share?

I can only think of one right now...if you know a good one, leave a comment with your joke!

Why did the boy bring the string to the game?

To tie the score

Des Moines Area Beggar's Night Times

Clive: 6-8 p.m. -- October 30

Des Moines 6-8 p.m. -- October 30

Grimes: 6-8 p.m. -- October 31

Granger: 6-8 p.m. -- October 31

Johnston: 6-8 p.m. -- October 30

Urbandale: 6-8 p.m. -- October 30

Waukee: 6-8 p.m. -- October 30

West Des Moines: 6-8 p.m. -- October 30

Windsor Heights: 6-8 p.m. -- October 30

For more areas around Des Moines, check here

Have more questions? There are definitely more answers. Feel free to connect with me via Facebook, Twitter, Text, Email, or by cell. I’m happy to help.

Thanks to kcci.com for the Beggar's Night Times

Photo Credit: ctk

Lovely split-level home. 3 nice bedrooms. Nice back yard. Wonderful neighborhood. Easy to get to places (close to Lawson Elementary School, Wallace Elementary School, Johnston Middle School, Johnston High School) cable and phone jacks in 2 of the bed rooms. 1/2 bathroom on main level. Good floor plan on both levels, neutral color throughout. To directly access this property, use this shortcut: http://www.fizber.com/iowa-buy-single-family-home-11648508.html

Rent To Own! 50% rent credit! 3 bedroom 2.5 bath 1368 sq ft home plus a finished basement in Ankeny, Iowa! The home sits on 1/4th of an acre lot with a huge landscaped backyard! The stone patio is attached to the huge deck and there is a playground in the backyard. There is a big eat in kitchen, fireplace, incredible open floor plan. There is efficient electric heat and A/C and there is city water and sewer. Rent is only $1500/mo and first months rent and money down required to move in. Please contact us with any questions at www.50statesrent2own.com. Until next time....

Pete Olsen

Rent To Own Homes, LLC

www.50statesrent2own.com

www.activerain.com/blogs/peteolsen01

This year, 2009, will mark the third year I've had the honor to volunteer to assist in the Memory Walk sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association-Greater Iowa chapter. Alzheimer's affect so many people which makes this a very important event. Just today I had a client in my office whom I invited to participate in the walk. He had to decline because the very same day, he would be attending his grandmothers funeral who was coincidentally, an Alzheimer's sufferer for many years.

The walk will commence at Des Moines Water Works Park. Walkers may enter the park by taking Park Ave south to Valley Dr. and by entering the south exit appx. 1 mile off Park, across from the Racoon Valley soccer fields. You will then go left appx. 1 mile more. The way should be clearly marked.

This year's 2009 Memory Walk is sponsored by Care Initiatives. All Memory Walk donations benefit the Alzheimer's Association, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. The walk begins Saturday, September 26, 2009 - 8:00 AM Registration Starts, 9:00 AM Opening Ceremony, 9:30 AM Walk Begins, Vendor booths open and activities continue until 11:00 AM.

You can register yourself or a team by clicking on this link, 2009 Memory Walk, or by just showing up! Last year Alzeimer's.org was able to raise $584,000 nationally through its Memory Walk initiatives. If you have the time and are able we'd love to see you there on Saturday!

Well it's that time again. Time to close the pools and elect four new members to serve four year terms to the Des Moines school board.

Since Des Moines has a fairly large district with 30,783 students anda budget of appx. $420,650,000 funded by local residents and homeowners, it behooves the general populace to get involved by participating in the selection of school board members.

This time around three incumbents are fighting to remain in their seatson the Des Moines School Board: Connie Boesen, Patty Link, Teree Caldwell-Johnson, against 6 challengers: Margaret Buckton, Felipe Galardo, Timothy Halsted, Veola Perry, Thalia Sutton, and Zachary Toillion, whom you can read about by following the link.

The board members elected on September 8 will serve four-year terms, new for the first time since the state law recently passed requiring four-year terms. As a result, school board elections will be held every two years thereafter.

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 8. Information for voters, including polling places, can be found here. Several other municipalities will hold elections for board members and or referendums for spending the .01 cent sales tax and various public measures. See the ballots here.

This year you can register and vote the same day at the polls. I will be serving as Precinct Chairperson at Precinct 75 in Des Moines at 2501 Park Ave. this year along with Shirley and Delores with whom I have worked several elections. One of them always brings some yummy baked goods and they are both lots of fun to work with and to talk to. Should be a great day. See you at the polls!