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Most 17-year-olds are figuring out prom. Sydney Rider is figuring out payroll.
The Ankeny Centennial High School junior just opened Syd's Sweet 'N Sips in Uptown Ankeny — serving lemonades, dirty sodas, energy drinks, and to-go drink kits. She's running a real brick-and-mortar business while still turning in homework. If that doesn't make you rethink your week, nothing will.
Let's roll. 🚲
🏛️ Monday Mayor Minute with Mayor Bobbi Bentz
Mayor Bentz dropped some big updates this week:
🗳️ Budget Hearing April 6 — The tax rate setting budget hearing is coming up fast. This is your chance to show up, listen, and weigh in on how your tax dollars are spent. Mark your calendar.
🚦 New Traffic Signal: SE Oralabor & Four Mile Drive — A permanent traffic signal is coming to the SE Oralabor Rd and SE Four Mile Drive intersection, along with road widening on the east and north legs for long-term capacity. Construction is expected to kick off in May.
💧 Water Tower #4 — Bidding closes today (March 31) for Ankeny's fourth elevated water storage tower. This is a major infrastructure investment to keep up with our city's growth and maintain reliable water pressure.
🍔 Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — It's not a rumor anymore. Freddy's is coming to Ankeny! Steakburgers, shoestring fries, and frozen custard — we'll share more details as they come.
#construction #ankeny #Iowa #MAYOR
🔥 Ankeny Fire Department Awards Ceremony
Huge congratulations to the Ankeny Fire Department! Mayor Bentz attended the Spring Fire Awards Ceremony this week, celebrating promotions, life saving award recognition, and the Firefighter of the Year. Thankful for our strong Ankeny Fire team today and always. 🙏
🚧 West First Street Construction Starts Monday
Heads up, Ankeny drivers. Phase 2 of the West First Street Widening and Improvements project starts Monday, March 30.
Here's what to expect:
⛔ Eastbound lanes closed from SW Cedarwood Drive to NW College Drive
🔄 Head-to-head traffic in the westbound lanes
🚫 SW Cedarwood Drive and SW Linden Street closed at West First Street
✅ Access maintained to businesses and homes
This is a two-year project that will widen West First Street from four lanes to five with a center turn lane (from ~250 ft east of NW Greenwood Street to just west of NW/SW State Street). It also includes new water main, storm sewer replacement, a new traffic signal at West First & NW/SW Linden Street, and ~13 new streetlights.
👉 Learn more: ankenyiowa.gov/construction
Source: City of Ankeny
🏀 March Madness — Iowa's Wild Ride Is Over
What a tournament for Iowa teams:
Team | Seed | Result |
|---|---|---|
Iowa Men 🦅 | #9 | Elite Eight — lost to Illinois 71-59 |
Iowa Women 🦅 | #2 | 2nd Round — upset by Virginia 83-75 (2OT) |
UNI Men 🟣 | #12 | 1st Round — fell to St. John's 79-53 |
The Hawkeye men made it to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987. Tip your cap — that's a season to remember. 🎩
🌤️ This Week's Weather
Bundle up midweek — spring is taking a detour through thunderstorm season.
Day | High / Low | Conditions | Rain % | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tue 3/31 | 64° / 40° | Mostly Cloudy/Wind | 18% | 22 mph |
Wed 4/1 | 47° / 39° | Rain | 64% | 16 mph |
Thu 4/2 | 52° / 35° | Thunderstorms | 91% | 15 mph |
Fri 4/3 | 53° / 36° | PM Thunderstorms | 85% | 14 mph |
Sat 4/4 | 42° / 31° | AM Showers | 40% | 19 mph |
Sun 4/5 | 53° / 33° | Mostly Sunny | 8% | 15 mph |
Mon 4/6 | 60° / 35° | Partly Cloudy | 14% | 13 mph |
Thursday and Friday are a washout. But Sunday and Monday? ☀️ Gorgeous. Hang tight.
✂️ Ribbon Cuttings & Events This Week
🎀 Baxter Heating & Air — Ribbon Cutting
📅 Wednesday, April 1 | 12:00–12:30 PM
📍 6864 NE 14th St, Suite 5A, Ankeny
🔗 baxterheatingandair.com
🐰 Hop Into Uptown — Easter Bunny in Uptown Ankeny!
📅 Saturday, April 4 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 Uptown Ankeny, SW 3rd Street
The Easter Bunny is hopping through Uptown Ankeny — and making stops at six local shops! Snap a photo with the Bunny and your kiddo gets a filled egg at each stop. 🥚
🐣 Bunny Stops Schedule:
10:00–10:30 — Uptown Dairy
10:40–11:10 — Carmen's Flowers Uptown
11:20–11:50 — Uptown Confections & Curiosities
12:20–12:50 — Gladdies Bake Shop
12:55–1:20 — The Funky Zebras Boutique
1:30–2:00 — Sweet Swirls Rolled Ice Cream
Free photos + a filled egg at every stop? That's a Saturday morning the kids won't let you forget. Support local while you're at it. 🐰
🍖 BBQ Invasion at Outside Scoop Ankeny
📅 Thursday, April 3 | Whatcha Smokin BBQ rolls up to the Scoop!
Grab BBQ + ice cream — the perfect combo to kick off the season.
🔗 Facebook Event
🐾 Doxie Dash + Dog Night — Des Moines Buccaneers
📅 Saturday, April 4 | Doors 5:05 PM, Puck Drop 6:05 PM
📍 RecPlex, 6500 Grand Ave, West Des Moines
Dachshund races at intermission! ALL dogs welcome this year. Benefits the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
🍹 Local Bites & Deals
Mojitos Mexican Restaurant — Happy Hour just got better!
Mon–Fri | 4–6 PM | Margaritas $4.50
📍 802 SE Oralabor Rd, Suite 102
TJ's Bagels — Bagel Bite Challenge is LIVE on their Facebook. Guess the count, win a free half dozen. 👀
📍 127 N Ankeny Blvd | Opens 6 AM | 515-965-1004
🏥 Business Spotlight: Lymphatic Care and Wellness
Lymphatic Care and Wellness held its official ribbon cutting with the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce on Monday, March 30th — marking the opening of Ankeny's only dedicated lymphatic therapy practice. Located just by The District in southwest Ankeny, we specialize in manual lymphatic drainage, post-surgical recovery, and care for people managing lymphedema or lipedema. If you've had surgery, are dealing with chronic swelling, or just want to feel better in your body — this is the place.
📍 1108 SW 11th Ln, Ankeny, IA 50023
📞 515-257-6572
🔗 lcw.rehab | 📱 @lcw_rehab
💼 Also Worth Knowing: Uncommonwealth Financial Partners
Most financial advisors want to talk about retirement. The team at Uncommonwealth in Ankeny wants to talk about today.
Their approach flips traditional planning on its head: instead of only focusing on "Later Money," they help you leverage your "Now Money" — building wealth while actually living a life aligned with your gifts, talents, and dreams right now. Not someday. Now.
Whether you're reclaiming a dream you shelved, starting something new, or just want a plan that doesn't make you wait until 65 to enjoy what you've built — Uncommonwealth brings a fresh set of tools to the table.
📍 3914 SW Sawgrass Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023
🔗 uncommonwealth.com/ankeny-financial-advisors
📱 @uncommonwealthpartners
❤️ Nonprofit Spotlight: Ankeny Community Foundation
Since 2012, the Ankeny Community Foundation has been powering the projects that make this city special — from Miracle Park to the Market & Pavilion to dozens of local nonprofit grants.
They run three grant funds: Educate Ankeny, Enhance Ankeny, and Serve Ankeny. And here's a reason to pay attention: every dollar donated may qualify for the Iowa Endow Iowa Tax Credit — a 25% state tax credit on top of your federal deduction.
💡 Key Takeaway
A 17-year-old opened a business. Firefighters got their well-deserved flowers. A new traffic signal, a water tower, and Freddy's are all on the way. Ankeny isn't slowing down — and neither should you. Support local this week. Buy a lemonade from a teenager. Show up to a ribbon cutting. That's how we keep rolling.
🔮 Coming Next Week...
The full April events calendar, your updated spring road construction guide, and a Parks & Rec registration roundup so you don't miss signups. You'll want to open that one.
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