Catch Up Fast: Last Week on Urbandale Patch

FRIDAY: Check out the cool holiday events the city's Parks and Recreation Department has planned for Urbandale kids this month. Registration deadlines are coming up..

THURSDAY: KGGO's morning DJ Steve "Round Guy" Pilchen is among the layoffs at the Urbandale radio group Wednesday morning. 

Waukee students create a moving YouTube video to stop bullying at the school via Facebook and Twitter.

Our weekly Patch Poll was on the increasing use of speed and red-light cameras. As of Friday, 88 people had voted and 80 percent oppose them. Most interesting comment: "So, if it's not about the money, I would LOVE to see the city donate 100% of fines gathered into a fund to help wounded veterans." - Todd Bailey.

WEDNESDAY: A sad and scary article about the arrest of a former West Des Moines Valley student from Urbandale who allegedly choked an Iowa City police officer.

The Urbandale City Council gave first-round approval to a zoning ordinance change that would allow neighborhood restaurants to apply for a permit to have live entertainment. The new ordinance was prompted because the newly-reopened Irina's Restaurant and Bar wants to offer live music.

The number of  people using the Urbandale Food Pantry has tripled in three years, and officials with the Des Moines Area Religious Council said they are seeing the most growth in suburban food pantries during this recession.

TUESDAY: Chapters Cafe in the Urbandale Library is failing under its third owner. The library board may use the space another way.

MONDAY: A great Des Moines Register article had an Urbandale connection. The couple who each donated a kidney to a sick person attend Urbandale New Hope Assembly of God church.