Ankeny Event Planner: St. Anne's Pancake Supper, Adopt-a-Flower Garden Kickoff, After-Prom Fundraiser and More

We're a day late this week due to President's Day, but don't worry — your weekly event planner is still chock full of things to do this week.

Now you could find all these events in our events calendar, but we at Ankeny Patch thought we would make it easy for you by putting the highlights of this week all in one, convenient place.

Here's what is going on in Ankeny the week of Feb. 20-26:

• Debbie Mascaro from Iowa Workforce Development will present a job search strategies class at the Ankeny Public Library today. This class will teach you how to deal with issues of the job search, like finding new and unique places to find job openings, getting organized, the stress of job searching and preparing emotionally for job loss. This four-hour workshop will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  This workshop is free and no advance registration is required.

• Do your kids love reading? Take them to Kirkendall Public Library at 3:15 p.m. today for this month's Read to a Rodent. Pre-registration is required so make sure you visit the children's desk at the library prior to the event.

• St. Anne's Episcopal Church will hold a "Fat Tuesday" pancake supper tonight at 5:30 p.m. In addition to the meal, there will be live music from the Southeast Polk High School jazz band.

• Kirkendall Public Library will hold its Sit and Knit program on Tuesday night at 6:15 p.m. All ages and skill levels are welcome for a relaxing and informal evening of knitting. Participants can bring a project in progress or beginners can learn the basics. Crocheters are also welcome. There is no cost to attend the program.

• On Wednesday, the Ankeny library will host a special program called, "Discovering America Jazz." The program will be held twice — once at 12:15 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. This program is led by Joan Jamison and will feature a different music program each month. A short DVD will provide basic information and major musical works will be presented and discussed.

• The Ankeny Christian Academy will hold another meeting for its Run/Walk for Christ event at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The group is still in need of volunteers for the event. If interested, meet at the teacher's table in the cafeteria. Information will be determined at this meeting for registrations and deadline purposes.

• On Thursday, take the little ones to Tot Time at the library. Tot Time is a time set aside for kids and moms/caregivers to gather, play and get to know one another.  Tot Time is held in the library meeting room and begins at 10:15 a.m.

• On Thursday night, the city of Ankeny will hold its Adopt-a-Flower Garden Kickoff Open House at the city's Outdoor Education Center, located at 610 NE 36th St. The Kickoff open house will include an introduction to the new volunter program coordinator, information about the 2012 program timeline and an opportunity to ask questions. All previous volunteers and any interested participants are encouraged to attend. For those unable to attend, please contact Vince Knoot at 515-963-3579 or vknoot@ankenyiowa.gov.

• The Ankeny library will host a free "Eagles in Iowa" program Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. The program will feature a slide show of Decorah Eagles, Central Iowa Eagles and other threatened species. The event also will feature special displays, a guest speaker and a Q & A session.

• The Ankeny City Council will participate in a budget retreat Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pinnacle Club at Otter Creek Golf Course. The council will discuss matters pertaining to the fiscal year 2013 budget. The meeting is open to members of the public.

• On Friday night, Kirkendall Public Library will host a teen movie night at 5 p.m.. The movie for the evening will be "The Smurfs", which is rated PG. 

• U.S. Cellular, 1805 S.E. Delaware Ave., is hosting a free workshop today to guide attendees through all of the features and functions of the company's smartphone and mobile tablet lineup, including the Android-powered Motorola ELECTRIFY, HTC 7 Pro Windows Phone and BlackBerry Torch 9850. All questions are welcome from current and potential smartphone and tablet users. Attendees don't have to be a U.S. Cellular customer.

• The Ankeny Writer's Group will meet Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Kirkendall Public Library. Back by popular demand, Jane Vallier will lead the group through writers workshop exercises.  Jane Vallier spent 45 years teaching at Iowa State University in the Department of English. The meeting is open to everyone.

• If your New Year's Resolution was to get your family pictures organized, then mark your calendars for Saturday. Ankeny First United Methodist Church will hold a "Cheaper by the Dozen" scrapbook event from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Christian Life Center. For $50 you will get the supplies to make a dozen 12x12 scrapbook pages. You do not need to attend AFUMC to be a part of this scrapbook day so invite your friends and neighbors.

• Sign your kids up for Tail Waggin' Tutors on Saturday at 10 a.m., held at Kirkendall Public Library. Kids can meet and read to L.B. the therapy dog.

Week-Long Events

• The Ankeny After Prom Committee is partnering with Chili's Feb. 20-23 to raise funds for after-prom activities at Ankeny High School. Bring the voucher found on the event listing to Chili's and receive 10 percent off your meal, which will be donated to the committee.

• The Ankeny High School Media Center will host a “Tip Your Hat to Reading” Scholastic book fair Monday, Feb. 20, through Friday, Feb. 24.  Middle and high school reading-level books will be on display daily during the week from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.  Books will also be on display during parent/teacher conferences on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 4:30-8:30 p.m. In addition, students can participate in a “Let’s Pass the Hat” fundraiser and contest on Friday, Feb. 24.

• Need help on your income taxes this year? DMACC in Ankeny is offering free income tax help by appointment through April 13. Individuals can call 2-1-1 to schedule an appointment. DMACC accounting students who have been certified by the Internal Revenue Service will help prepare federal and Iowa individual income tax returns for qualified residents.

• Are your kids fans of story time at the Kirkendall Public Library? If so, story time is scheduled every morning at the library. You can check out our events calendar for details on when story time is held and how you can register your kids for the fun event.

• The Ankeny Art Center will continue the first exhibit in its K-12 Art Exhibition this week with works of art by students from the Bondurant-Farrar School District. The exhibit will run until Feb. 28. Bondurant, North Polk, and Ankeny Schools are all participating in the exhibition. The Ankeny Art Center’s K-12 exhibits are part of the facility's extended outreach programming, intended to introduce and familiarize students with the gallery setting.