The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 139

DES MOINES TO Inside today Christ the King School celebrated 50 years with activities on a special day. See photos of the fun. Pag 2 Coming Friday Dozens heard a Vietnam veteran speak about 911 in a Patriot Day event at the Fort Des Moines Museum. i Volunteers gladly no sprvinp work in memory of 91 1 i rm '1 r.K 'ffi-i' ''i DM's swim program rides wave to success Parks and recreation expands program, and participation swells 60 percent over last year; 1,450 people took part. By JARED STRONG jstrongdmreg.com A Des Moines program that teaches kids how to swim has flourished since the city took over operation last year.

"Learn to Swim" participation swelled more than 60 percent this year compared with last year, when the American Red Cross of Central Iowa relinquished control of the program to the city's parks and recreation department. "Our number one goal is to provide the Des Moines community with a safe environment for recreation and there is no higher priority in meeting this goal than to teach the lifelong skill of swimming," said Don Tripp, director of parks and recreation. Tripp's department expanded the program by offering three swimming lesson sessions during the summer one more than last year and by creating classes for adults and infants for the first time in the program's history. Each session lasted two weeks and consisted of eight 35-minute lessons. Each of the city's five swimming pools and aquatic centers offered sessions.

More than 1,450 Children and adults participated this year, compared with 890 last year. Last year's participation was lower than expected because of record flooding that closed the Birdland Family Aquatic Facility, said Marlene Anderson, a spokeswoman for the parks department. She said she expects next year's participation to exceed this year's because people may not have been aware of the additional session. "The numbers dwindled a bit on the third session this year," Anderson said. "There will definitely be more people participating in the third session next year." SWIM, PAGE 6 fti riilO A'Vil JARED STRONGREGISTER PHOTOS Volunteers Dan Valencia and Wendy Hartz, both of Des Moines, add mulch to the landscaping at the Nahas Aquatic Center on Des Moines' south side Friday as part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Top: Pat Rogers, who lives on Des Moines' south side, unloads mulch. 4 They say it's a way to remember the victims and survivors of the attacks eight years ago. By JAREO STRONG jstrongdmreg.com About 20 people spruced up the landscaping at Nahas Aquatic Center last week at a day of volunteerism in memory of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The volunteer effort on Friday was part of the first National Day of Service and Remembrance, a service day promoted by the U.S.

government. The Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department chose to use the occasion to spread a truckload of mulch over the landscaped areas of the aquatic center, 1101 Porter Ave. The national day encourages all types of community service it doesn't need to be tied to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Many of the day's volunteers at the south-side SERVICE, PAGE 6 6 Cheryl Kieffer, right, and Becca Hendricks of Des Moines unload mulch at the Nahas Aquatic Center on Des Moines' south side Friday as part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance. Competition doubles the talent, fun and winnings Life Line Resources and Thrivent Builds Neighborhoods collaborate on a talent show for all ages Saturday.

I Show your talent Iowa's Thrivent Has Talent contest, open to all ages, will be Saturday at All Play arcade, 615 Third St. TIME: Doors open at 5 p.m. PRIZES: Money, trophies and photography sessions SIGN UP: Today is the deadline to register as a performer. Sign up online at www.iowasgottalent.net; in person at Life Line Resources, 100 E. Euclid Ave.

in the Park Fair Mall or at All Play; or call Dwight Miller at the Grubb YMCA, 246-0791. SEATING: VIP seating still is available. For information, call Trivell Hill at 256-8001. eligible to compete for prizes in that event. Dwight Miller, teen program coordinator for the John R.

Grubb YMCA, is working with Trivell Hill, Life Line Resources activities coordinator, to plan the event. "To me, it's a beautiful thing because it's allowing the community to really collaborate," Miller said. More than 20 individuals or groups were registered earlier in the week for the event. Deadline TALENT, PAGE 6 Six winners will be selected: three in the 13-and-younger age division and three in the 14-and-older division. For children 13 and younger, savings bonds will be awarded: $100 for first place, $75 for second and $50 for third.

Contestants in the senior division will be awarded $500 for first place, $400 for second and $300 for third. Other prizes also are available for older participants. Thrivent also is sponsoring a statewide talent show Sept. 26 at Valley West Mall. Winners from this competition will be agency that helps under-served children in Des Moines.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for Life Line Resources. Originally, Thrivent was going to hold a talent show, in conjunction with the John R. Grubb YMCA, on Saturday. Life Line Resources had its own show planned for that day.

They decided last week to join forces and combine the two into one event. By JANET KLOCKENGA jklockendmreg.com Iowans are talented folks, and this weekend brings a competition to showcase their talents in two age divisions. On Saturday evening, a talent show called Iowa's Thrivent Has Talent will be held at All Play arcade, 615 Third St. It's planned as a joint effort by Thrivent Builds Neighborhoods and Life Line Resources, a social services Smokin' Bucks' 5 irr 1 1 ONLY s4" ONLY s549 ONLY 54" -Ji Kansas City Kansas City Kansas City o.ir'..-.'.i Not vid with tnv other offer I I Not with nv other offer I I Nor valid with nv other offer I i r-yi yr7.t fc 1 o..