Anawim Housing has appointed Russ Frazier as its new president. He will succeed Sister Stella Neill, who helped found Anawim Housing in 1987. The leadership transition will be completed on April 1. “We are delighted to welcome Russ to the team, and together with our staff, we’re excited to begin this new chapter in the history of Anawim Housing,” said board chair Loree Miles in a release. “At the same time, we appreciate the leadership of Sister Stella, who devoted the last 23 years to building a strong, sustainable organization. We wish her well in her new adventures.”

Al Essman, chairman and creative director of Essman & Associates, a marketing and communications company he and his wife founded in 1977, passed away Sunday at the age of 63 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. A visitation will be held Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at McLaren’s Chapel in West Des Moines. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in downtown Des Moines. Click here to read more about Essman or leave a memory in his virtual guest book.

Opening day for the 2010 Downtown Farmers’ Market season will be on Saturday, May 1, in the Historic Court Avenue District in Downtown Des Moines, the Downtown Community Alliance announced. The market, which spans nine city blocks, will be held from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday from May 1 through Oct. 30. “In our 35th season, we will celebrate by reflecting on our past, present and future,” said Kelly Foss, the Downtown Farmers’ Market director. “The market has evolved over the years. We are proud that it has developed into a viable marketplace for producers of Iowa-grown food and products that is embraced by the Greater Des Moines community.”

The city of Des Moines launched “Google Week” on Monday in its continued work to encourage community involvement in its quest to be selected for the Google Fiber for Communities project, which could bring ultra-high-speed Internet to selected cities across the country. The city is offering a “See Des Moines” prize package from the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau to those residents who vote for Des Moines and submit their completed form to Des Moines City Hall. Click here to read last week’s Business Record story that fully explains the project, provides links to Google’s nominating site and explains efforts by West Des Moines to bring the project to its community.

Maurice, Ia.-based Stoutjesdyk Dairy LLC, has agreed to pay a $26,288 civil penalty to the United States to settle allegations that it discharged animal waste pollutants from its facility into a tributary of the Orange City Slough without having a necessary permit, according the Environmental Protection Agency. Through the agreement, Stoutjesdyk Dairy said it will cease all illegal discharges and comply with the Clean Water Act.

Crazy 8, a kids’ clothing store and a new Gymboree Corp. brand, has opened at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines. Gymboree calls this store, which specializes in clothes for boys and girls ages 0 to 14, its hottest new concept and fastest-growing brand. It is the first Crazy 8 to open in Iowa. It is located on the upper level of the Dillard’s wing across from the Gap.