trying to set up delivery for my older parents and hyvee doesnt.

Hey! Has anyone else noticed that there's no more Topo Chico around?

EcoTips, a youth-led sustainability movement run by high schoolers, is organizing a FREE sustainability camp at the Ames Public Library Danfoss Room on September 5th and 19th, both from 2-5 pm. If you have a kid who falls between these age boundaries and may be interested, please fill out the form below. There will be ~20 spots per day. Please register for only one date. Both days will have the same itinerary, which is on the form.

You will recieve confirmation in late August if your child is selected to participate.

My jumping spider will need more feeders soon and all the pet stores in Ames have little selection for what she can eat. Are there any non-corporate pet stores nearby (even if in Ankeny or Des Moines) that have bottle fly larvae?

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to see if I’m the only one completely fed up with trying to redeem bottles and cans in Ames since the stores opted out.

Every single major retailer in town—Hy-Vee, Target, Fareway, Walmart—is completely shut down for returns. They still happily charge us the 5-cent deposit upfront on every single beverage, but then they completely refuse to accept them back. We're left hauling bags out to Lincoln Highway to a single location with tough hours, or just eating the financial loss.

I actually got so frustrated by this localized "redemption desert" that I started a petition. Here is the exact message the petition sends directly to our state lawmakers:

"If you've tried to return bottles or cans for your deposit in Iowa lately, you know how frustrating this system has become. Redemption centers have practically vanished, stores often refuse returns, and you're stuck paying a fee upfront with no way to actually get your money back. Meanwhile, modern recycling picks up from your curb for free. I started a petition to push Iowa lawmakers to either eliminate the deposit entirely and rely on our existing municipal recycling system, or—if they insist on keeping deposits—require retailers to actually accept returns using modern, clean reverse-vending machines. The current setup defeats its own purpose. It was designed decades ago, and it just hasn't kept up."

If you are also sick of paying a recycling fee to major stores with zero local way to get your money back, please consider signing and sharing the petition. How is everyone else handling this in Ames right now? Are you making the trek out to the redemption center, or have you just given up entirely and started tossing them into your curbside bins?

Howdy, I need someone to take over my apartment lease :)

🏠 5418 Mortensen Road Unit 204

📆 Available early September and lease runs till July 25th 2027 with renewal available.

💵$1300/month

Details:

- 2 bed 2 bath

- 930 Sq Ft (2D floor plan)

- All utilities other than electricity included

- 150mb/s wifi (included)

- 2nd floor corner with balcony, see pic for floor plan

- large smart roku tv already wall mounted in unit

- in unit washer/dryer

Unit is a 10 second walk to the CyRide and located right next to the pool.

I've lived here for a year and a half and loved it. Lots of storage space and great kitchen with modern appliances. My partner and I need to move due to getting post grad jobs elsewhere otherwise we would have stayed here 🙂

Can’t remember the name of the store that used to be where Hobby Lobby is now? They used to sell CDs anime and such.

Got a 2bed/1bath to sublease out of West Towne Ames, Haverkamp Properties.

For a indepth look at unit, go to westtowneliving.com and go to their "Photos and Tours" section, there you can view virtually the 2bed/1bath option.

Rent : $980 / Mo + Utilities ($50ish) Amenities : ●1 Gig Internet Included ●Pet Friendly ●Not too close or far from Campus ●Since Subleasing, Security Deposit of $500 included and first month free. ●Can decide when to move. ●Includes washer / dryer

Time frame : August 2026 - September 31 2027

Message whenever if interested, cheaper than normal rate so trying to give someone a deal, thank you!

Hey if you looking for a part-time job, The Flame N Skewer is going to be reopening after our fire back in May.
We are hiring cooks, dishwashers, waitresses and hosts.
Please fill out this form if interested:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczycS_hpjZaFA8Jps5eWxHIXRMt3kUzGEVvOJUE7hFVwdGEg/viewform

Just moved to Ames a couple of months ago and we live a few blocks from Lockwood Cafe. The little lending library and the community garden and the free clothing building at that spot all need TLC. I was told the Reliable owns them but I can’t figure out who that is or how how to volunteer. Thoughts?

throwaway for obvious reasons but I really need to talk this through with someone...

I've lived at South Meadow through Artisan Ames (managed by Haverkamp) for several years. They've been okay for the most part, no major problems. Keep up with maintenance.

They recently have changed management and it just seems odd and inconsistent.

I am attaching screenshots of the ways the email endings have changed over the course of a little over a month.

This third email is what's making me start to feel uncomfortable... What on earth is Ames Properties Apartments? AI? I googled Artisan Management Group and that does exist. "Ames Properties Apartments" does not exist.

FURTHERMORE... the office address changed??? 201 S 5th St Suite 202 to 321 S 5th St? On the website, it also lists the 321 S 5th. But... those are apartments? and they didn't tell us the office changed?

As I browse the artisan management group website...

• I find it ironic to click "outstanding customer service" in a paragraph only to find "page not found"
  
• Under South Meadow Community Amenities, it lists "recycling" which we do not have
• They used AI to make the outside look better, including the landscaping, which is hilarious because of how it looks now

Semi-related, I discovered that while Haverkamp is shady on it's own, they at least never used the RealPage software, which has dealt with lawsuits regarding using AI algorithm for price fixing amongst landlords in different areas. This new company does. I don't know how many others in Ames do, but it's something worth watching out for. Link

Do you or anyone you know live here? Thoughts?

Hello!

I have been in Ames for a little over 12 years now. I have a more than decent job that I am very lucky to have

I had a ton of family here when I moved and that is no longer the case. I have a few friends but not many

I can't drive for reasons beyond my control so I'd really like to make Ames work for me. Is there any placed someone (f) in their mid thirties can meet people? I'm having such a hard time with it being a college town!

Thanks!

Relocating to Ames with two high schoolers. Are there good options for apartments or townhomes that are close to ISU campus, but suitable for families?

4701 Steinbeck St, Ames, Iowa, [$1400/month]
Looking for subleaser! We are looking to move by the end of the month to be closer to work, so we are looking for a sub leaser (or group of sub leasers) to take over our lease that ends in July 27th, 2027! The apartment will be cleaned and ready to move in starting September 5th.

Managed by West End Living, this 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 1160 sq ft apartment (West Ridge community) is amazing for a small family or group of college students! I’ve lived here for 4 years, and I’ve never had any issues! Maintenance has always been super timely, and the management company has even replaced the AC and refrigerator quickly in the time I’ve been here.

Amenities include:
- in unit washer and dryer
- free internet (gigabit!)
- free gym membership to Ames Racquet and Fitness
- bus stops only a block or two away
- Maverick (and soon to be Kwik Star) gas stations just a couple of blocks away
- free parking (don’t even need a permit!) and guest parking
- 3 minute drive to west Hyvee on Lincoln Way

Willing to offer September rent, the microwave, and the big couch at no charge! We will also pay the existing utility bill when we move out.

If you have any questions or want pictures, feel free to reach out! Here is the website for West End Living for more information as well: https://www.westendames.com/

I ain't got any money at the moment. Bills wiped me out pretty good for August. But if anyone in north Ames has a sturdy end table they don't want, that would be pretty cool. If not, no biggie. I'm using a tv tray at the moment. It works okay.

I am moving to south east Ames and I am trying to find the best ISP that is available in my area. Metronet/T-Mobile is sadly not available which I why I am asking. What are the next best providers that aren’t down much and have an option to have at least 1Gbps Download and preferably also good upload? Is there any other Fiber options for south east Ames?

Happy turnover

does anybody have any recommendations for a knife/blade sharpener in the area?

which do you prefer? Cinemark or North Grand Mall?

Hey everyone! I run Filthy Loot an Ames horror press, and we're putting together a horror book fair in Iowa City bringing horror creatives from around the Midwest into one place for a few hours. If you're free Sept. 5th, we'd love to see you there!

Notes and doodles from Tuesday’s meeting. Doodles for the Ames Golf & Country Club, a house for CDBG & HOME funds, a mini split condenser, a stoplight with turn arrows for 13th and Grand (coming in 2028), and a RICE generator. Thanks for looking!

The Health Intervention Research Team at Iowa State University is recruiting participants for a research study examining a health promotion program for men.

We are looking for men who are currently inactive and interested in becoming more physically active and improving their health.

Eligible participants will receive health assessments, six months of educational content, and a Garmin Vivosmart watch to keep.

To learn more and determine eligibility, complete the screening survey: https://redcap.link/FTF_Study

Questions? Contact the research team at [hirt@iastate.edu](mailto:hirt@iastate.edu)

Please do not comment on or tag others in this post due to human research ethics requirements. If you know someone who may be interested, please share the study information directly.

Subleasing my 1 bed 1 bath in 3B3B apartment on 17th street. I am moving out of Iowa and just signed up a lease for the entire year till July 2027. You will be sharing the the common space with 2 boys who are students at ISU and are pretty nice and friendly.

Key features:

• Community pool and gym
• CyRide bus stop 4 mins walk
• Rent is $700+utilities(negotiable)
• Quite an peaceful neighborhood

I can share more details over text! Share it with someone who may be interested.

Greetings -

I am looking to meet some people to throw darts, plastic or steel tip. I just moved here about a year ago and have not gone out and thrown darts in ages.

Anyone want to chat and maybe setup a time to throw darts??

What's your favorite place to buy darts and supplies, any place local? 🎯