Lefty’s holds Planned Parenthood concert

Jessie Spangler Opinion Editor jessica.spangler@drake.edu @jessiespangler3

Lefty’s gave their venue and performers donated their time to putting on a benefit concert to help raise money for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, which is right across the street.

“Together – A Musical Benefit for Planned Parenthood” was hosted by Ryan O’Rien. He is a social media strategist and performer. This was his first event running a show. O’Rien started planning it the day after the election.

“After the election last November, I found myself talking big about you know, wanting to resist, wanting to do something to help, wanting to be active and I felt that I actually needed to organize something,” O’Rien said.

First, O’Rien contacted a friend who is active with Planned Parenthood, who contacted the organization. O’Rien said that he basically got their “blessing” but that Planned Parenthood “doesn’t have their hands in this.”

“My first thought after the election was, Planned Parenthood is screwed,” O’Rien said. “And, it turns out, of course, that the government’s been going after them and fighting to defund them, so I’m glad I got this thing rolling.”

O’Rien started asking performers as soon as he could. He focused on those in the Des Moines community, and soon had people asking him if they could perform at the benefit concert.

“Once word got out, people were banging down my door practically. Everybody I asked to said yes right way. Then after that I had people approaching me,” O’Rien said.

Performers at the concert included Nella Thomas, Sara Routh, The Host Country, Jenny Kohls, Dang Felton and Diana and Alyse, plus various others.

Diana Weishaar, singer and keyboardist, wore a “Nevertheless, she persisted” t-shirt while performing on stage twice, once with her sister-in-law and again with her band, The Host Country.

“My first thought after the election was (that) Planned Parenthood is screwed. And, it turns out, of course, that the government’s fighting to defund them, so I’m glad I got this thing rolling.”

Ryan

Weishaar describes their music as “folk rock.” The Host Country started with just two members, Weishaar and Ty Wistrand, when they were students at the University of Northern Iowa. They are currently working on their second album. This is the first fundraiser the entire band has played in, and they plan on participating in more.

“We all feel passionate about it, and just because we feel passionate about the community,”

Weishaar said. “And the band itself, we’re kind of a family, and you know, we believe in that vision of community and taking care of each other and stuff.” that is funny, how blunt it is and how not-politically-correct it is,” Decker said. “That’s what I like about this piece, it has a pair of balls on it.”

The Host Country sold CDs at the benefit, with the plan to donate the profits to Planned Parenthood. A few artists did the same. Acanthus Apparel had a table set up to sell clothing to help raise money for Planned Parenthood as well.

The concert was split into two halves, with an earlier show from five to nine p.m. for those under 21, and another show from nine to midnight for those over 21.

As the night went on, more concertgoers flocked to Lefty’s to watch the live music and enjoy each other’s company, while supporting a cause they felt was worthy.

“These are things that we’ve taken for granted as rights for a long time and all of a sudden they’re things that are being questioned,” said Erika Bjorklund, an audience member.

Bjorklund said we need to fight to keep our basic human rights.

“The availability of funding for that is really important,” Bjorklund said.

The Sonic Factory recorded the event and will be putting songs together on an album from the best cuts of the day.

The proceeds from this album will also be donated to Planned Parenthood.

By becoming a social statement, this show seeks to offend in the best way possible.

“I think it’s just the absurdity of some of the things that come out of these characters mouths and you’re sitting there and going ‘oh my gosh I can’t believe they just said that’ but each of those lines just show you how dynamic this show is,” Gordon said.

Drake does a lot of student directed plays, in which students can take classes designed for directing and choose a play to perform.

“The theater department every year has a slot that’s open for student directed shows,” Decker said. “You have to do this whole written proposal and take the directing classes before being chosen.”

Decker chose this specific play because of how much it is intended to catch the audience off guard.

“It has a big shock factor that you don’t really see when you go to plays, you never know what the characters are going to say and most of the time it’s probably going to offend you and probably going to rub you the wrong way,” Decker said. “Most theater is wrapped up in a nice little bow and handed to the audience and this one is a punch in the face.”

DES MOINES New Hy-Vee location

Store removes coveted parking downtown, causes controversy

Elizabeth Adams Staff Writer elizabeth.adams@drake.edu

Hy-Vee is coming to downtown Des Moines with debate.

The Historic Court Avenue grocery store will neighbor restaurants such as “Legends” and “The Goldfinch”, as well as the Des Moines Farmers Market.

Some downtown locals are in anticipation of the grand opening.

“As a resident, I’m excited that I don’t have to drive 15 minutes to get groceries,” said Anna Hobart, manager of Molly’s Cupcakes.

She also explained how Molly’s isn’t concerned about the competition.

“If people are looking for a good cupcake, they’re going to come. We think our cupcakes are good enough that they’re going to come here instead of going to HyVee and buying a dozen,” Hobart said. “We believe in our product.”

Brenna Peterson, of Potbelly Sandwich Shop, echoed Hobart’s sentiments.

“You come here to get lunch. You don’t want to go to the grocery store for lunch,” said Peterson.

However, others in the community are more hesitant.

“The parking lot they’ve taken out is an important parking lot. I’m not kidding, that is the best parking lot,” sums up the concerns of locals like Steve Hay. In 2015, Concerned Court

Avenue Businesses launched a “Reconsider the Hy-Vee/Knapp Project on Court Avenue” online petition.

Supporters tallied 1,116 signatures with a primary concern over the loss of a key parking area.

“Downtown parking is already a premium and it isn’t that there won’t be something of some benefit to someone, but the point is you’re (removing) something that’s a benefit to a lot of people,” Hay said.

Hay raised a potential solution inspired by revitalized parking in San Diego, California.

“You could park there for free for three hours if you brought in a receipt from one of the businesses where you made a purchase,” Hay said. “In other words, they were working with the businesses to work with the parking.”

This concept is formulated with small businesses in mind.

“Wouldn’t you be willing, if you had a little shop, to underwrite a little bit of cost for parking but you were making sales more regularly,” Hay said. “ I just think that sounds like a winwin situation.”

The location officially opened yesterday.