Thursday, December 18, 2008

Local Girl Makes Good!

The Des Moines Register is running a story on Middletown native Annika Schilke. She's the new economic development specialist of a Des Moines suburb called Urbandale. Read all about it.

Annika is a product of local schools, and not incidentally, the theatrical productions of Oddfellows Playhouse. After graduating from MHS, she went to Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Annika's interest in urban planning began right here in the Village District of Middletown, where she was born. Her family bought and renovated an old downtown Fire House, and I can remember Annika as a preschooler, as she pointed out the circle on the floor where firefighters used to slide down the pole. Now she's in charge of helping Urbandale create new opportunities for business, and I'm sure she's finding creative ways to mix the transit and residential ingredients in as well.

We're so proud!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update on Annika--yes, her old downtown neighbors are so proud of her! We only wish Urbandale was closer to Middletown...