Monday, April 8, 2013
Why you won't be seeing my mug on Ankeny Patch as much anymore.
Happy Monday, Ankeny. Whether or not you hate Mondays, the best part about them is the chance to start fresh. A new week. A do-over, or in some cases, a fresh start. In my case, it's the week I get to start a new role with Patch, but I'm not leaving you guys completely. I will still be working for Patch, but in a more regional role within the company. This means I'll be doing work for all six central Iowa sites, which includes Ames, Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee and West Des Moines. Jessica Miller, who has been our Ames local editor since she launched the site in 2011, will now be in charge of much of the local content that goes on Ankeny Patch. She'll be the one dropping by your business or snapping photos at a cool event, and I …
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Wedding week means time away from work, so here's what that means for you, Ankeny Patchers.
"Goooing to the chapel and we're...goooonnna get maaarrried." *Cue end of obnoxious music* No one really wants to hear me sing anyway. Well, Ankeny Patchers, the time has come. This is the week I've been working toward for the past six months, and some of you might already know since I had the pleasure of sharing with you many of the steps it took me to get here. That's right — it's wedding week, and this Saturday I will officially leave those single days behind and marry my best friend, the love of my life and, most importantly, the guy who puts up with all my crap. But since I'll be busy with hair appointments, praying I still fit into that dress and honeymooning, that means I won't be around Ankeny or Ankeny Patch. So what's that mean …
Monday, July 2, 2012
On July 7, Ankeny Patch is turning a year old. Local Editor Megan VerHelst reflects on the exhilarating ride also called the last 365 days.
My baby’s turning a year old. I know – I can’t believe it either. Sniff. I'm not talking about a real baby. What I am talking about is the site you’re on right now, reading (and hopefully enjoying) the latest news affecting this community, perusing the events happening this week and seeing who’s real kid made the honor roll in school. On July 7, Ankeny Patch is turning a year old. In that respect, this site really has been my baby. I was tied to it before it even came into existence, I nourished it before it was born and once it was here, I watched as it took its first fumbling steps, steadying as I (and with lots of help from you) watched it learn to stand on its own as it continues to grow every day. A little over a year ago, I set foot …
Thursday, June 7, 2012
An Iowa editor remembers the life of her sister (and the moments she missed) on the 10-year anniversary of her death.
You’ve missed a lot in the 10 years you’ve been gone. Most days, it doesn’t seem fair. Most days, I silently wish you could have been there through those milestones, the happy moments and the downright crappy parts of the last 3,653 days. But you weren’t. And that’s okay. Over those 520 weeks, I’ve accepted the fact you were taken from us too young. At 16, you barely had a chance to live. It didn’t stop us, though. We’re still here, thriving, living life and cherishing those moments in ours. We do it — I do it — in honor of the moments you never got the chance to cherish yourself. Today, I wanted to remember a few of those moments as a way of remembering you, as a way of sharing your memory with everyone else and showing them the life I …
Friday, May 18, 2012
Only 114 days untll my wedding! In this column, I talk about saying yes to the dress, how any bride can find her dream gown for less and how swearing is sometimes just as good as tears.
I probably should have been embarrassed when the various profanities started spilling out of my mouth. Should have being the operative words. But I wasn’t. I warned my bridal consultant the first time I let a four-letter word slip. I don’t cry, I told her. I’m not a bride who cries. If I start swearing, though, look out. We either have problems or we may have found the one. And no, I’m talking about Ben. He’s already a given. I’m talking about my wedding dress. Not just a dress. The dress. They always say you know it as soon as you put it on. I knew, but I almost screwed it up. When you’re a bride working on a strict budget, the price tag can stop those profanities (or tears … whichever) in their tracks. The dress of my metaphorical dreams…
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Weddings have been around for thousands of years, and so have some of the traditions accompanying them. According to a list on The Knot, there are 10 traditions brides are breaking these days. Guess how many I'm breaking?
Weddings are full of traditions — the groom can't see the bride the day of the wedding, the bride must wear white and the bride must walk down the aisle before her guests, friends and family. Many wouldn't dream of breaking these traditions. Me? I've never really cared much for traditions. At this point, we're 165 days away from my wedding. Yesterday, I received an email in my inbox from TheKnot.com, a super-popular wedding planning website among brides to-be. The email was called "10 Wedding Rules You Can Break." Hmm. This piqued my curiosity as I found myself wanting to know just how many rules I'm breaking for my wedding... Old School Rule #1: The Bride's Parents Pay for the Wedding While my parents are helping us out in little ways, …
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Six months and counting till I slip into that white dress, bid adieu to my single life and dive headfirst into matrimony.
I was never the little girl who played dress-up and pretended to marry my Prince Charming surrounded by all of my closest Barbies and stuffed animals. I never spent aimless hours perusing a bridal magazine, dreamily compiling a wish list in my head despite a future husband nowhere in the picture. I never picked out my wedding colors, my bridal gown or cake flavors before that ring was on my finger. Well, guess what? That ring is on my finger now, and although I’ve still actually done very few of the aforementioned things, now’s definitely the time to channel my inner-bride and get my rear in gear because that ring isn’t going anywhere and Sept. 8 is slowly creeping closer. In a little less than sixth months, I’ll bid adieu to checking "…
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Ankeny's newest online source for news and information launches today.
Two months ago, I had no idea what Patch was. After I learned about this opportunity, I did a little – OK, a lot – of research on Patch.com. What I found intrigued and excited me, and that made it extremely easy to sign the offer letter confirming my new position as local editor for Ankeny Patch. So what exactly is Ankeny Patch? It’s a question I’ve been asked a lot the past few weeks while out and about in the community introducing myself and meeting new people. First, Ankeny Patch is the community’s newest source for local news and information. And it's completely online. What kind of news will we be covering? You will see us at Ankeny City Council and school board meetings as well as at community celebrations such as SummerFest. You …
Kerry Walter-Ashby
3:34 pm on Thursday, April 11, 2013
Congratulations, Megan, and welcome, Jessica! Looking forward to seeing both of you around town and on Patch. more ›