Valley News: January 7, 2021 by grainvalleynews

January 7, 2021 Vol. 4 No. 1

O n l i n e w e e k l y a t w w w. g r a i n v a l l e y n e w s . c o m

Health Department receives ﬁrst shipment of vaccines

Candidates File For City, School Board Seats Candidate filing for the April 6, 2021 election has started, with openings on the Board of Aldermen and Grain Valley School Board. In Ward I, Tom Cleaver’s seat is up for election. In Ward II, Nancy Totton’s seat is open, and Shea Bass’s seat is open in Ward III. Cleaver and Totton have filed for election; Bass has not filed as of January 4th. In Ward I, Dale Arnold has filed as a candidate. In Ward II, Darren Mills has filed to run for Totton’s seat, and Kristen Rising has filed as a candidate in Ward III. Each aldermen position is a two-year term.

Candidates for City offices may file during normal business hours (8:00am— 5:00pm, Monday—Friday, excluding the hours of Noon—1:00pm, starting December 15th and ending at 5:00pm on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 in the Office of the City Clerk, 711 Main ST. The filing fee is $5.00. Qualifications and instructions for filing procedures are available in the office of the City Clerk. Two seats, currently occupied by Jared English and Eddie Saffell, are up for election on the Grain Valley School Board this spring. According to Brad

see BOARDS on page 2

Missouri Trivia Independence, Missouri. The ﬁrst issue was printed in June 1832 as volume 1 number 1, and continued until the ofﬁce was destroyed by a mob on July 20, 1833, in response to an article published in The Evening and the Morning Star about U.S. and Missouri laws regarding slavery.

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Cathy Allie

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Marcia Napier

Shannon Grubb

Sarah and Jerry Vaughan

Phillip Hanson

Jeff Wolff

Chuck Johnston

John and Cory Unrein

Leon Maberry

In This Edition: Looking Back: The Free Press

Planning and Zoning considers Panda Express

Your Health: Immunity boosting blast

Sports: Young Eagles demonstrate ﬁght in loss to Pirates

Cover Photo: Sunrise in Grain Valley. Photo credit: Sandi Loving, Grain Valley

The Jackson County Health Department (JACOHD) has received its first shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination clinics began January 6th. JACOHD is following the state of Missouri’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. The state is currently in Phase 1A of distribution, which focuses on long-term care facility residents and staff as well as patient-facing healthcare workers. This week’s appointments were made available to those who are in Phase 1A who filled out the department’s COVID-19 vaccine survey tool. These appointment slots have filled up, but more appointments for Phase 1A individuals will be available in the coming weeks.

The Jackson County Health Department received its ﬁrst shipment of COVID-19 vaccine and began vaccinating those included in phase 1A of the state’s vaccination plan. Photo credit: JACOHD JACOHD encourages all individuals who live or work in Jackson County and are interested in receiving the vaccine to

see VACCINE on page 12

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society The Kansas City Star was not the ﬁrst "Star" newspaper in Jackson County. In 1832, The Morning and The Evening Star, a Mormon newspaper began publishing in Independence, MO. It was initially published in the printing ofﬁce of W. W. Phelps in

FREE

Good News: Winter Reading Challenge celebrates Missouri’s Bicentennial 2021 marks the Missouri state bicentennial and to celebrate this special 200th anniversary, the MidContinent Public Library’s Winter Reading Challenge asks you to "Celebrate Missouri!" The Winter Reading Challenge is an opportunity for adults 18 and older to embrace the enjoyment and gratiﬁcation of leisure reading and earn

incentives (like the limited-edition 2021 Winter Reading Challenge mug) by reading ﬁve books in two months. Everyone who completes the challenge will be entered into a drawing for a special trip to Missouri’s Gateway City, St. Louis. Registration begins January 15th at www.mymcpl.org/winterreading.

The Mid-Continent Public Library’s annual Winter Reading Challenge begins January 15th with a focus on Celebrating Missouri. Readers may register at www.mymcpl.org/winterreading beginning January 15th. Image credit: MCPL

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CARES Act funding put to use on new City website The City of Grain Valley debuted a refreshed website (www.cityofgrainvalley.org) in late December. CARES Act funds were used to create what the City hopes is a more user friendly site for residents and businesses to conduct business with the City and register for programs. Deputy City Administrator Theresa Osenbaugh said the City analyzed the areas visited most often and made them more prominent on the front page. “It is now easier than ever to pay water bills, register for Parks and Recreation programming and ﬁnd things

such as the calendar of events and city news. We also have added features that allow citizens to easily and virtually report concerns to appropriate departments, list their home on the peddler/solicitor no call list and register for emergency alerts,” Osenbaugh said. “We also believe that the addition of FAQ’s for each department, which are searchable, will allow citizens to ﬁnd answers to common questions. We hope to be launching an email registration in the coming months so citizens can receive city communications on an ongoing basis outside of social media.”

The City debuted a refreshed website, made possible through CARES Act funding, in late December. Image credit: City of Grain Valley

BOARDS continued from page 1 Welle, Deputy Superintendent of Student and Community Services, both have filed to run for another term. As of Monday, January 4th, no other candidates have filed. The school does not plan for a ballot measure this year. Filing a declaration of candidacy may be done in the District Offices located at 31606 E. Pink Hill Road, during regular office hours. The district offices will be closed on January 18th. Therefore, the district will not be accepting candidate filing on that date. The district office will be closed, and filing will not occur on

days that the school district is closed due to inclement weather and filing will not occur on days that the school district is closed due to a COVID related event. Registration will be by appointment only and made by contacting the board secretary at 816-847-5006 x1026. Two positions with a (3) three-year term will be subject to election. Candidates will be placed on the ballot according to the order of filing and must wear masks and observe district infection control rules in force at the time of filing.

Police Blotter The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of December 23-29, 2020.

December 23, 2020 1200 Block Pamela 1000 Block Foxtail 600 Block Valley Ridge Ct US 40 Hwy & Main St Main St and Jefferson 700 Block Main St 500 Block Elizabeth 400 Block Woodbury 1300 Block Jefferson December 24, 2020 400 Block Woodbury 1200 Block Eagles Parkway 900 Block Sandy Ln

Leaving Scene of Accident Property Damage Stealing Motor Vehicle Accident Motor Vehicle Accident Citizen Contact Suspicious Vehicle Open Door Alarm

400 Block Greystone 800 Block Poplar Ct 1100 Block Sawgrass Dr 2000 Block Hedgewood Dr 600 Block Par 1300 Block Graystone Cir 1300 Block Jefferson 200 Block Main St 200 Block Amanda Ln 100 Block Main St

Property Damage Suspicious Person Motor Vehicle Accident Area Check Alarm Animal Neglect Property Damage Agency Assist (HPD) Animal Complaint Alarm Disturbance Alarm Suspicious Activity

December 25, 2020 100 Block Sunny Ln 600 Block Yennie 1000 Block Scenic Dr 1000 Block Ambush Ct 1200 Block Golfview Dr 1400 Block Eagle Ridge Dr

Check the Well Being Water Main Break Disturbance Alarm Suspicious Vehicle Burglary

December 26, 2020 I-70 and Main St 700 Block Main St Valley Woods Dr & Long 400 Block Creek Ridge Dr

Agency Assist (OGPD) Citizen Contact Juveniles playing on Ice Alarm

December 27, 2020 Graystone & Indian Creek 1300 Block Basswood 200 Block Walnut

Property Damage Suspicious Activity Suspicious Vehicle

December 28. 2020 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 1300 Block RD Mize Rd 1800 Block Nicholas Dr 100 Block Armstrong 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St Monkey Mountain Park 1200 Block Valley Ridge Dr 700 Block Main St 1200 Block Eagles Parkway Duncan Rd & BB Hwy 700 Block Main St 1200 Block Dean Dr

Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Disturbance Alarm Dealer Application Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Property Damage Stealing Stealing Trespassing Motor Vehicle Accident Civil Matter Disturbance

December 29, 2020 RD Mize Rd/Valley Woods Ct 600 Block Tisha Ln 700 Block Main St Walnut & Capelle 200 Block Cypress 1400 Block Eagle Ridge Dr

Parking Complaint Area Check Citizen Contact Road Obstruction Trespassing Check the Well Being

Valley News Grain Valley News is a free community paper, published weekly on Thursdays online at www.grainvalleynews.com and on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month in print. Cory Unrein | Co-Owner/Publisher John Unrein | Co-Owner/Production Manager Cathy Allie | Staff Writer, Proofreader John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @grainvalleynews

Looking Back

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Looking Back: The Free Press by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society The Voice, circa 2017, is an on-line newsletter I have been producing to promote the Grain Valley Historical Society. Like these articles for Valley News, I sometimes struggle to come up with a “feature” for each edition. For January, 2021, I wanted to write about a New Year’s Eve from the past. I remembered some old photographs and newspaper articles sent to me several years ago by a cousin in Oklahoma. I remembered that one of the articles mentioned a New Year’s Eve Watch Party that had been attended by my parents. What I did not remember was that the article appeared in a newspaper entitled The Free Press, and just below the title, the words “GRAIN VALLEY, MO. THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1932”. Needless to say, I became curious about this paper. Since it is Volume 1, was this the ﬁrst edition? My research has revealed very little about the paper. I have only learned that this paper was “a weekly newspaper, published every Thursday by the Free Press Publishers.” J. C. Simpson was the editor and manager and R. K. Jones was the advertising and circulation manager. The paper provided the following information: For insertion of late news items phone Victor 2518, Kansas City, Mo. KANSAS CITY OFFICE 734 Cherry Street. Further investigation revealed that as early as 1925, the Pruitt Publishing Co. was operating from the same location on Cherry Street in Kansas City and they were placing advertisements in Popular

Mechanics Magazine and another publication called American Fox and Fur Farmer. Yes, one hundred years ago there really was a magazine by that name. Since becoming a town in 1878, Grain Valley has been served by a number of newspapers. The Kansas City Evening Star, co-founded September 18, 1880, by William Rockhill Nelson and Samuel E. Morss has provided us with national and world news. However, it is from the small, local papers from the Oak Grove Banner established in 1890, or the Sni-A -Bar Voice established in 1901, through the Jackson County Democrat, established in 1952, The Pointe, established in 1998 and ﬁnally our current Valley News that citizens of our town have received the local news. Over the next few weeks, I hope to give you a history of all of the papers and a glimpse at the “big stories.”

Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society at 506 S. Main on Wednesdays or visit us online at ww.grainvalleyhistory.com and Facebook (@grainvalleyhistory).

G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S LOCALLY FOCUSED. FAMILY OWNED. PUBLISHED WEEKLY.

Above: The front cover of the January 8, 1932 edition of The Free Press. Below: An advertisement by the Pruitt Publishing Co. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society

Business

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Planning and Zoning to consider Panda Express location The Planning & Zoning Commission will meet via videoconference on January 13th to discuss several action items, including a proposed site plan for a Panda Express drive-thru restaurant. The proposed restaurant will be located on the northeast corner of the Interstate 70 westbound exit ramp and Buckner Tarsney Road. The commission will also take action on a conditional use permit for Kustom Cruzers and an amendment to an approved conditional use permit for Eagle Convenient Storage, following a public hearing for both issues. Kustom Cruzers is requesting a conditional use permit for a vehicle salvage/tow yard on approximately 1.4 acres just west of 350 NW Jefferson

Court. Eagle Convenient Storage is requesting an amendment to an approved conditional use permit to change the exterior building materials, roof pitch and roof color on storage unit buildings in phase 2 of the project. The developer has requested the amendment as a cost-saving measure for its facility located at 114 SW Eagles Parkway. The commission will also elect a chair, vice chair, and secretary for 2021. In other development news, the commission approved a site plan during its November 18th meeting for Heartland Dental to locate in Lot 1 of Mercado Plaza, located at the southwest corner of Woodbury Drive and Buckner Tarsney Road.

The Planning & Zoning Commission will meet January 13th to discuss several action items, including a proposed site plan for a Panda Express at 1-70 and Buckner Tarsney. Shown above is the proposed south elevation of the building. Image credit: City of Grain Valley

Truman Heartland Community Foundation adds seven to Board of Directors Truman Heartland Community Foundation is pleased to welcome seven new members to their Board of Directors: Thomas Meyer, Metropolitan Community College; Rochelle Parker, Child Abuse Prevention Association; Brandyce Parks, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, representing the Blue Springs/ Grain Valley Advisory Board; Merideth Parrish, Independence School District; Beth Silverstein, Silverstein Funding Solutions, LLC; Terri Steele, Evans and Steele Financial, LLC, representing the Independence/Sugar Creek Advisory Board; LaShawn Walker, Suburban Balance.

committed to improving area communities by promoting and serving private giving for the public good. Founded in 1982, THCF serves the region with assets of more than $51 million and annual grants surpassing $5 million. In addition to donor services, the Community Foundation provides asset development for nonproďŹ t organizations, awards grants to nonproďŹ ts, assists organizations in planned giving and serves as a leader in addressing community issues. For more information, visit www.thcf.org or call 816-8368189.

Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) is a public charity

Photo credit: Truman Heartland Community Foundation

Business

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Jackson County Executive announces Sylvya Stevenson as new Chief Administrative Officer Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. announced Sylvya J. Stevenson will serve as the next Chief Administrative Officer for Jackson County. In this leadership role, Stevenson will be responsible for ensuring multiple County activities, programs and policies related to the Executive’s Office are implemented, in addition to providing supervisory support to various county departments. “Sylvya is a woman of immense integrity with effective communication, project management, problem solving, and relationship-building skills,” White said. “Her determination, enthusiasm and new ideas will be a great addition to our team of forward-thinkers who are committed to improving how our government works. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I’m excited to welcome Sylvya to Jackson County and look forward to her playing a key role in helping us achieve success.” Stevenson brings extensive experience, training and knowledge in local and federal government operations to Jackson County. For the past three years, she has managed multi-million dollar budgets while overseeing the day -to-day budget, finance and accounting activities as a master budget analyst for Criterion Systems/USDA. Stevenson has had proven success supervising multiple teams and implementing projects from planning to operation that improved transparency, enhanced performance and eliminated inefficiencies. Prior roles and responsibilities include multiple years of service with the City of Kansas City, Missouri in the Office of Management and Budget and with the City of Mission Hills, Kansas coordinating with special projects as the

Photo credit: Jackson County

assistant to the city administrator. Stevenson is the founder and president of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. – Kansas City, in addition to being a member of many other notable professional organizations including the American Society for Public Administration, Centurions Leadership Program, Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Blacks in Government and the International City/ County Management Association. Upon completion of her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Criminal Justice, Stevenson matriculated to the University of Oklahoma where she earned a master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in city management and public policy. Stevenson is the ninth woman appointed to an executive leadership position during Executive White's tenure. She is assuming the role as Chief Administrative Ofﬁcer after the retirement of Ed Stoll in September 2020.

New world, new business: 5 ways small businesses are adapting to COVID-19 (BPT) - COVID-19 has irrevocably altered the way that we do business. Some small businesses have floundered, while others have completely reinvented themselves. In a recent survey by SCORE, just 34% of U.S. small business owners now categorize their companies as profitable, compared to 55% in 2019. As a result, they're working hard to adapt reconfiguring their offerings to boost revenues and planning such new strategies. "The unexpected has forced many to reevaluate plans, practices and procedures," notes Andrea Forstadt on USChamber.com. "Yet one of the advantages of being a small business is the ability to more easily lean in to, embrace and adapt to change. For many, the short-term alternate plans or adjustments are fast becoming the realities of the foreseeable future." Here are five trends that have impacted small business this year. Freelancing has surged. As people rely on contract work to replace lost jobs, the number of freelancers in the U.S. is growing steadily. NPR reports that two million more Americans began freelancing between September of 2019 and September of 2020, boosting the freelance portion of the U.S. workforce to 26%. Studies also show that women lost jobs at a faster rate than men during the past year; and are more likely to pursue full-time freelance careers due to autonomy and flexible schedules. Cashless commerce is growing. To reduce person-to-person contact, businesses of all kinds are discouraging or completely eliminating cash payment options in favor of card or digital payments. "Ongoing shifts toward e-commerce, digital payments (including contactless), instant payments and cash displacement have all been significantly boosted in the past six months," confirms an October McKinsey report. In one example, the raw volume of invoices sent on Invoice2go, which saw more than $24 billion in invoicing volume in 2019, has risen from 58 million to 78

million invoices sent per month - a boost of about 30%. As consumers seek efficiency and convenience, Invoice2go also has seen a 50% boost in digital payments via its payment platform - a crucial assist to help small businesses stay competitive. Demand is up for digital tools. As small businesses lean more on online business functions and/or e-commerce during social isolation, they're calling for leading-edge tools that can help them navigate the logistics. Women-owned businesses are often primary customers for financial management tools - studies show they're 43% more likely than male business owners to be concerned that limited access to funds could hurt their businesses. Around 43% of U.S. small businesses plan to expand their businesses through digital and related technology as a response to COVID-19, according to the Verizon Business Survey. In fact, 30% of these businesses have already added ways to deliver products and services digitally. Businesses are diversifying. Many small businesses have devised new offerings as previous income streams dwindled. For example, hotels are now offering day-rate rooms for people who need to work remotely, distilleries are producing hand sanitizer in addition to spirits and restaurants are offering better, easier take-out options. "Difficult times often lead to changes in the way the world operates," says Wade Thomas in Forbes. His advice to business owners is, "Develop products and services that not only solve today's challenges, but will also thrive in the new, post-difficulttimes world." Virtual experiences are expanding. Companies have transformed in-person events into digital experiences. From virtual happy hours, to podcast product releases, to YouTube customers videos, everything is going online. "The real opportunity is to somehow provide the experience and connectivity of former live events to a virtual one that actually can sustain itself over time, even after the end of the pandemic," explains Bernhard Schroeder in Forbes.

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Personal Finance

Preparing for a financial emergency: Tips to build (or rebuild) your emergency savings leak in your home or the replacement of a major appliance and start there. Even a small amount, such as $50 in your savings account when it's the day before payday and you're running on fumes, can save you from an overdraft fee, having to resort to using a credit card, borrowing from a loved one or taking out a loan. However, research from the AARP Public Policy Institute found having a cash buffer of approximately $2,500 can help prevent financial hardship over the longer term. If you lose your job, for example, your emergency account could help pay for necessities while you find a new position, or the funds could supplement any unemployment benefits you may receive.

(Family Features) The new year provides an opportunity to re-evaluate different aspects of your life, and that includes your budget and savings habits. Planning for emergencies by building or rebuilding if the COVID-19 pandemic required making a withdrawal - a savings account to withstand the unforeseen can increase confidence in your overall financial health and reduce worry that a significant life event will negatively impact your finances. "Our research shows having emergency savings is the foundation for long-term financial health," said Chandni Ohri, program lead in savings and financial health with BlackRock's Emergency Savings Initiative. "The start of a new year is a good time to make a savings plan, which can consist of putting a little bit of money away regularly." Even before the pandemic began, 4 out of 10 Americans had a hard time finding even $400 to cover an emergency, according to a report from the United States Federal Reserve. However, if you don't think you have money to save, consider the majority of people who were able to save for an emergency for the first time in 2020 earned less than $60,000, according to research from BlackRock's Emergency Savings Initiative, a group of nonprofit experts, corporate partners, and providers. Changes in spending due to the pandemic plus government stimulus packages helped many individuals create much-needed cash buffers. Consider these tips to build your emergency savings account and create a buffer of cash for when emergency strikes.

Automate Your Savings Because an emergency can strike at any time, it's important to have easy access to your funds. However, the account should also be separate from your checking account so you're not tempted to dip into your reserves. Pick a free savings account with no minimum balance requirements and link it to your everyday account to quickly move money over if you need it. Look for ways you can automatically save such as enabling roundups from your checking account to be transferred to your savings with each purchase or having your employer split your paycheck and automatically deposit a portion into savings each payday. If you're planning to stash funds away for months or years that can serve as both an emergency fund and longterm savings, consider a high-yield savings account.

Start a Savings Habit While it's less important to have a speciﬁc dollar amount in mind, getting into the habit of putting some money in savings with each paycheck can help protect you should an emergency arise. While one good rule of thumb is to set aside enough to cover roughly six weeks of living expenses - housing, food, transportation - take a look at what it would cost to cover unexpected issues with your car, a trip to the hospital, a

Look for Ways to Cut Back While you may have already made changes to your spending habits amid the pandemic, periodically shopping for competitive rates of recurring bills, such as cable and internet, cell phones insurance policies and other utilities, can be a simple way to save some money each month. Start by asking your current providers about any special rates and promotions that may be available to

Photo credit: Getty Images loyal customers then check with alternative providers to see if they can provide the same or better offerings at a reduced cost. Sometimes returning to your current provider with a more competitive rate from elsewhere can be extra incentive to work out a deal to keep a longtime customer. Also look at any subscription services you use, or potentially don't but still pay for, and see if they offer a cheaper plan that still meets your needs or if you're able to cancel subscriptions you no longer use frequently. Other expenses such as dining out or buying new clothing and accessories could also be scaled back if you ﬁnd you're splurging too much. Avoid completely cutting spending for leisure activities from your budget but look for reasonable tweaks that can allow you to set more money aside for unforeseen expenses. Take Advantage of One-Time Opportunities to Save Assuming you expect to receive a tax refund, this provides an easy way to boost your emergency fund if circumstances allow you to save all or a portion of the return. If you're able, consider having your refund directly deposited in your emergency account. The same strategies can be applied to any government aid checks you may receive, such as a second round of stimulus money that could be

distributed to eligible citizens in 2021 to help reinvigorate the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There may also be other times throughout the year when you receive one or more cash gifts, like your birthday or holidays, that can help provide a nice cushion to your emergency fund if you can avoid the temptation to spend it. Replenish What You Use Remember to review and adjust your savings plan as needed, whether you're able to contribute over a longer period of time without dipping into the account or if an expensive life event pops up that requires using all or a portion of the funds. Should you need to dip into the savings, do your best to make replenishing the account to a level you're comfortable with a primary goal in case any additional unexpected expenses arise. Alternatively, if your saving is going well, consider increasing the amount you're saving each paycheck so you're better protected against any major life changes or able to ﬁnance a large-scale purchase down the road. Find more information and tips for building your savings at savingsproject.org.

Community Voices

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Musings From The Middle What is my thing? by Cathy Allie I have a friend who always ﬁnds the best videos of people dancing and she posts them to her Facebook proﬁle with regularity. She usually just writes, “Let’s hear it for dancing!” or a similar sentiment. And they are the best videos. With admiration in their voices, mutual friends say things like, “Oh my gosh, did you see the tap dancing video she posted?” It’s her thing. My dad polished his shoes each Sunday night, readying them for work the next week. Sitting in his comfy family room chair, with newspaper spread out below him so as not to make a mess, he burnished the leather to a beautiful shine with an old rag and tin cans of polish. Sure, it was a little bit of habit and an old school pride in being well-groomed, but it was his thing. We know a couple who are so good at trivia, that it frightens us. They are not the folks who answer Wayne Gretzky for every hockey question because there is a good chance it was him who broke a record. Instead, they are the folks that

know it was Gordie Howe, and they know the year it happened. It’s their thing. My daughter can untangle any necklace, ball of yarn, or Christmas ribbon almost instantly. She can divine the beginning and the end of the snarl with a single look. It’s a scary thing, but it’s her thing. Some things are a little quirkier. My brother-in-law can be counted on to play a high numbered domino in the wrong place very nonchalantly in some of our wee hours of the morning games, just to see if any of us are still watching. He is not truly a cheater, but he loves to see if he can pull one over on us. It’s his thing. And along the lines of quirky, a dear friend is the best Haiku writer I have ever known, and as a retired English teacher, yes, I have known a few poets. A much underappreciated artform, her Haikus capture the moment in the allowed 17 syllables. It’s her thing. The same friend writes her message and signs her greeting cards only on the

left when you open it, so the right remains unscathed. People used to frame beautiful greeting cards, and I always figured she wanted me to know what I was framing, with her signature on the back. She has two things, which hardly seems fair. My young realtor friend literally has the best GIF game I have ever seen. If we are texting, she will answer me with a GIF that has me laughing hysterically. I cannot believe she can do that without practice. How does she know what I am going to write? It must just be her thing. If you have not guessed by now, I don’t have a thing. I mean I do a lot of things, many of them annoying to family and friends, but I don’t have a thing that is just my thing. And trust me, I have attempted to find my thing. At first I thought my thing might be a signature look, so I picked red lipstick. “Oh my gosh, look how pretty her lips are in that picture. I love that she always wears red lipstick!” they would say about me. I took it pretty seriously, researching everything from Chanel to MAC reds, snatching up samples and even enlisting the help of a former student turned makeup artist. “Look,” she said. “I need to tell you up front that not everybody can wear a red lip. You have to take into account skin tones, how white your teeth are, colors reflecting up from your clothes. White shirts and black shirts give red a chance to shine.” When she launched into cool and warm tone discussions and the base I would need to keep that red lip at

maximum capacity all through the day, I lost interest. Just wasn’t my thing. I thought always wearing a hat might also be my thing, and some of the frivolous evidence of that still exists in my coat closet. But my ‘the higher the hair the closer to God’ mantra didn’t leave much room in a hat for my hair masterpieces. Another thing set aside. On the short list of things I have tried out to be my thing are: making last minute unplanned meals from just pantry essentials, pancakes with broccoli and cheese as an example; executing a weekly cleaning routine, where each room of the house gets a swipe on a certain day of the week, which has not worked during COVID, where I am often uncertain of the day of the week and one time even the month; and organizing greeting cards by date to send to family members and friends, surely not my thing when I sent a ‘congrats on your retirement ‘card to someone who had been summarily sacked for misconduct. Desperate to have a thing, I polled my family. They gave me many answers, the bulk of which I cannot share with you here. But they pretty ﬁrmly landed on me turning down the volume on the TV or on the car radio when I am looking for something (likely trying to ﬁnd my phone, which they also shared was my thing) or belting out mistaken song lyrics. Ugly. Just ugly. I am going to keep searching—for my phone, of course--- and for my thing.

Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Ofﬁcer.

Seeking New Voices! We welcome guest columns, editorials, articles by experts in their ﬁeld, and partnering with local organizations to share the work they are doing in the community. Email us at news@grainvalleynews.com for more information.

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Your Health

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Immunity boosting blast by Megan Callahan, Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian January has us thinking about wellness and strengthening our immune system. Smoothies and smoothie bowls can be a great way to incorporate more antioxidants through vegetables and fruits, boosting your intake for the day. For a smoothie bowl, you can mix the smoothie and then choose your favorite topper for it. In the recipe below, there are three different smoothie topper examples included. Or you can get creative and make up your own mixture! A favorite option of mine to include as a smoothie topper is pomegranate arils. Pomegranates are a great source of ﬁber and vitamin C. They also provide antioxidants, which have been linked to disease prevention and heart health. You can ﬁnd whole pomegranates and “de-seed” them yourself, or you can purchase the arils (the edible, little seed parts) by themselves. If you have kids, it can be fun for them to see the inside of the pomegranate – it looks like a container of jewels!

A few tips on selecting and deseeding if you choose to do it on your own: Choose a pomegranate that feels heavy for its size and is plump and round. Pomegranates typically can last on the counter for 3 to 4 weeks, or in the refrigerator for longer. For the easiest seed removal: Rinse the pomegranate and then immerse it under water in a bowl. Be sure you can see what you’re doing, and lightly and carefully score the skin in a few places with a sharp knife. Then, peel the skin and break segments apart under water. This will prevent the bright-colored pomegranate juice from spraying out and staining clothing! You’ll ﬁnd that the pomegranate arils sink and the skin will float, so the underwater process can help make it easier. You can then strain the seeds and pat them dry to use. Whether you top your green smoothie bowl with pomegranate arils, the kiwi medley listed, the berry-melon

medley listed, or the orange-mango medley listed, this smoothie recipe offers your immune system a boosting blast and your taste buds some refreshment.

The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. Megan Callahan is one of your HyVee Corporate Dietitians. She is dedicated to helping people live healthier and happier lives. Megan received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Missouri State University. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she also received her Master of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition. Megan has been working with Hy-Vee full-time for 10 years. With a passion for nutrition and wellness, Megan is dedicated to educating customers and promoting healthy lifestyles to our Hy-Vee community. Megan lives in Lee’s Summit with her husband Matt, and their 2 children Kennedy (4) & Carsyn (2).

Immune-Boosting Green Smoothie Serves 4 All you need: 8 cups baby spinach, divided 2 cups Hy-Vee frozen unsweetened pineapple chunks, divided 2 cups Hy-Vee frozen unsweetened peach slices, divided 2 bananas, peeled, sliced and frozen 2 avocados, seeded, peeled and chopped, divided 1 cup Hy-Vee unsweetened almond milk, divided 1 cup water, divided 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, divided 2 tbsp agave nectar, divided 2 tsp wheatgrass juice powder, divided Kiwi-Honeydew Topper 2 kiwi, peeled and cut into slices 1 cup sliced honeydew 1 tsp Hy-Vee HealthMarket chia seeds Matcha powder, for garnish Fresh mint leaves, for garnish Berry-Melon Topper ½ cup sliced fresh strawberries ½ cup watermelon, cut into sticks ¼ cup dried goji berries ¾ tsp matcha powder Orange-Mango Topper 1 cup chunks of fresh mango 1 tangelo, peeled and segmented 4 dried apricots, halved 2 tsp whole flaxseeds Hy-Vee honey, for garnish Matcha powder, for garnish All you do: Place 4 cups spinach, 1 cup pineapple, 1 cup peaches, 1 banana, 1 avocado, ½ cup almond milk, ½ cup water, 1 tablespoon mint, 1 tablespoon agave nectar, and 1 teaspoon wheatgrass powder in a blender. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour mixture evenly into two bowls. Repeat to make two more bowls. Add desired topper and garnishes. Recipe source: https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/ recipes/immune-boosting-green-smoothie-bowls

How your family can adopt healthier digital habits in 2021 (StatePoint) As we head into 2021, adults and kids alike may still be enjoying the excitement of digital devices received as gifts over the holidays. However, the new year is always a great time for a reset, so alongside those new devices, consider adopting some new digital habits. Here are some great ideas for helping your family build healthier relationships with their digital devices: Get healthy: Not all screen time is wasted time. You can use your device in positive, productive ways that help your family work toward improved physical health. For example, a steps counter

might encourage your family to move more or even take up running, while a yoga app can help guide your family through quick routines you can practice from the comfort of home. Get smart: Likewise, the members of your family can use their devices to exercise their minds. Encourage everyone to let their smartphones and tablets double function as e-readers, and to download apps that teach new skills and build knowledge. You can even try setting a goal as a family, such as learning a new language using the same app. Schedule digital downtime: Too much screen time is associated with poor

quality sleep, increased anxiety and a range of other physical and mental health concerns, so be sure each day includes digital downtime. This is especially important if your family is working and learning from home right now. Make the most of these screen -free blocks by engaging in active play, moving, getting fresh air or spending quality time together. Get assistance: Making sure every member of the family is using their device only in safe and healthy ways is easier said than done, however, a parental guidance app can help. Using OurPact, for example, a parental control app, you can

remotely establish automated schedules for when internet, apps and the device itself are unavailable. Features include URL whitelisting and blacklisting, daily screen time allowances and iMessage/SMS blocking, helping ensure device usage passes your approval. Available at the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, parents can also sign up for an account at www.ourpact.com. For better overall health and wellness, make 2021 the year your family adopts great digital habits.

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Caring for your nutrition when caregiving (Family Features) Family caregivers of people with illnesses, injuries or disabilities sometimes spend more time thinking about those they care for than themselves. It's important to remember that self-care is essential to providing good care to others and must include eating well. Healthy eating can be especially challenging for caregivers who often have limited time to shop and cook. Fast food, snacks and comfort meals are tempting but usually lack healthy amounts of protein, ﬁber, vitamins and minerals. In addition to preventing low energy, muscle loss, illnesses and unplanned weight change, a healthy diet may help reduce the stress and fatigue that can come with caring for a loved one.

These tips from the Administration for Community Living can help caregivers take steps toward better nutrition without adding to already full to-do lists: 1. Drink healthy beverages at each meal and 2-3 times between meals. Water, milk, juice (to replace missing fruits and vegetables) or non-sweetened drinks are all better-for-you options. 2. Get enough protein, a key nutrient that helps build and repair tissues. Consider these ideas for increasing your protein intake: Eat a high-protein food like ﬁsh, chicken or eggs at every meal Try plant proteins like nuts, peanut butter, beans and tofu

Eat your protein ﬁrst at meals Eat low- or non-fat dairy products and use Greek yogurt Opt for cheese at snack time Top your food with chopped nuts like almonds 3. Drink a liquid supplement, like a meal replacement or protein shake, if foods alone do not supply all the nutrients you need. A health care provider can make speciﬁc dietary suggestions based on your unique health needs, diet and conditions. For more information and ideas, talk to your doctor or dietitian and visit eatright.org.

Theme: Famous Duos ACROSS 1. *Timothy Q. Mouse's friend, in Disney classic 6. River in Germany 9. Bridle parts 13. Whatsoever 14. Like tuna tartare 15. Forearm bones 16. Plural of #3 Down 17. Hardware store 18. "Gladiator" setting 19. *Ferb Fletcher's stepbrother 21. *Mr. White's unfortunate student 23. Welcome spot for weary traveler 24. It shall, for short 25. Cul de ____ 28. Young herring 30. Dieter's cuisine, for short 35. Gator's cousin 37. French "place" 39. Chunk of iceberg 40. St. Louis monument 41. Like new TV set 43. Front of ship 44. Singular of loci 46. Additional 47. Reality TV's Spelling 48. *Assistant to regional manager Michael Scott 50. Missing a limb

52. More, in Madrid 53. Like acne-prone skin 55. Pimple fluid 57. *Shirley's roommate and fellow bottle-capper 61. *Rory Gilmore's mom 65. Make an effort 66. Legal org. 68. Long stories 69. Scottish valleys 70. Doctor Dolittle, e.g. 71. *One of The Carpenters duo 72. Bone-dry 73. Opposite of WSW 74. Red or orange announcement DOWN 1. Slightly wet 2. *Malone and Stockton of the ____ Jazz 3. Skirt length 4. Shrovetide dish 5. *Mary-Kate and Ashley 6. Geologists' studies 7. *____ and cheese 8. Moved under the rug 9. "All ____, no bite" 10. Footnote word 11. *Amy Poehler's comedic partner 12. Welsh alternative to Siobhán

15. Was almost out of gas, e.g. 20. Source of indigo dye, pl. 22. "____ Be Home For Christmas" 24. In the best possible way 25. Coffee burn, e.g. 26. *Bow and ____ 27. Spherical bacteria 29. *Corona's main squeeze? 31. What willow did 32. Read-only chip 33. Greek bazaar 34. *Clark's fellow traveler 36. College party chant 38. Celestial bear 42. Dancer's beat 45. Daisy dukes, e.g. 49. "Wizard of Oz" man 51. Archimedes' exclamation 54. Furlough 56. Flower part 57. Frog delicacy 58. Wheel shaft 59. Swerve 60. European sea eagle 61. *David and Paul on the "____ Show" 62. Italian currency, pl. 63. Maple genus 64. Negative contraction 67. *Jerry's fellow treatmaker

Outdoors & Recreation

Page 10

MDC offers free sessions on fire starting outdoors in wet winter weather by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation A campfire or a blaze in a backyard fire pit adds light and warmth to outdoor winter gatherings. But sometimes that means starting fires amid snows or dampness. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a free “Blazemasters” clinic in three separate sessions on Saturday, January 16th, at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City. Each Blazemasters session takes only an hour to complete. The sessions will be from 10:00am—11:00am, or from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and from 1:00pm— 2:00pm. Instructor for the classes will be Pat Whalen, MDC naturalist and veteran winter camper. Starting a campfire in the dead of winter can be a challenge, Whalen says. Participants will learn which wood burns best, how to split kindling, and how to

build a campfire in any weather. The skills will also be useful for getting fires going in fireplaces. Participants will also learn how to make a homemade fire starter that they can take home with them. This program will be held outdoors in the Discovery Center’s native plant garden. Attendees should dress for the weather. Participants must be 12 or older. Registration is required. All COVID-19 precautions and local protocols will be followed, including physical distancing and face masks. To register for a session, visit https:// short.mdc.mo.gov/ZXo. The Gorman Discovery Center is located at 4750 Troost Ave. in the heart of Kansas City. For more information, visit https:// short.mdc.mo.gov/ZXo.

Learn how to split ﬁrewood, what wood burns best, and other skills when MDC staff teaches sessions on winter weather ﬁre building on January 16th at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center. Photo credit: MDC

December’s flowers that are icy white by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation

Frail ice curls appear, ephemeral frost flowers, during cold mornings. But only speciﬁc native wildflowers host them. Another reason the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) suggests that people can enjoy using native plants in a landscape garden, even in winter. Frost flowers appear during late autumn and early winter cold snaps at the stem base of a few native plant species. White crownbeard, dittany, and stinkweed are Missouri plants that most commonly produce frost flowers under the right conditions. The stems and roots of white crownbeard make it an especially reliable frost flower producer. Plants go dormant and stems die when days shorten, and temperatures fall in autumn. But some plants continue to uptake moisture from roots into the stem bases in late autumn. Frost flowers in assorted patterns sometimes appear on sharply cold mornings following warmer days. See them while you can, usually early in the morning unless sub-freezing cold

lingers all day. Sunshine and a warmup will melt the ice crystals away. Hikers and hunters sometimes see frost flowers aﬁeld. But the plants most prone to hosting them can also be incorporated into landscape plantings. White crownbeard is a tall plant that produces white flowers from August into October. Crownbeard grows tall given the right soil and sun, even six feet or more. They are best grown at the back of a native landscape planting bed. White crownbeard grows easily from seed. A gardener may need to learn to identify the plant in late summer in order to gather seed for planting. One place to see frost flowers if conditions are right is in the heart of Kansas City. A sharp freeze may produce frost flowers on white crownbeard in the native plant garden at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave. For more information on frost flowers, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ ZdH.

Hard freezes in early winter can prompt frost flowers to appear at the base of stems for speciﬁc plants, this one on white crownbeard. Photo credit: MDC

Sports

Page 11

Young Eagles demonstrate ﬁght in loss to Pirates by John Unrein The ebb and flow of a hard fought game did not go the way of the Grain Valley Eagles boys basketball team in their matchup against the Belton Pirates on December 5th. The Eagles would drop the contest to the Pirates by a score of 64-51 despite robust growth being demonstrated by a youthful Grain Valley squad. Grain Valley opened the game with a full court press against Belton and trapping the ball as much as possible. The result yielded a 7-0 run by the Eagles and forced the Pirates to call a timeout and regroup. Grain Valley was able to counter the defensive pressure applied by Belton early in the game due to the ball handling of junior point guard Cylas Brewer. The varsity stage was not too big for the scrappy Brewer in just his second full varsity game since being moved up from the junior varsity roster. The ﬁrst quarter would end with a 1717 tie prior to momentum shifting towards the Pirates during the second and third quarters. Belton would lean on the scoring of guard Giovanni Mack, who contributed 11 of his 21 overall points for the game during the second quarter, including a trio of three pointers from behind the arc. Belton would also lean on their athleticism, strong on the ball defense, and turnovers by Grain Valley leading to points in transition for the Pirates to forge a 38-26 halftime lead. A determined Eagles squad emerged

from locker room for the second half with a vocal Cole Keller encouraging his teammates. Among those hearing from the senior forward was his counterpart in the post, sophomore forward Alex Snyder. A recent growth spurt by Snyder has left him being close in height to the 6’ 5” Keller. Both would end up just one point shy of a double-double (a player accumulating a double-digit total in two of ﬁve statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots in a single game). Keller’s stat line would include 23 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks. Snyder would contribute 9 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block. Both Keller and Snyder are aware of the development their team is displaying as the season progresses. Snyder has accepted Keller pushing him, and Keller is focused on where his team is at the end of February. “Our effort was good tonight as a team. We showed up ready to play, but you can’t win them all. Cole (Keller) has been pushing me to the ‘max’ in practice and that has helped improve my conﬁdence with what I do on the floor,” Snyder said. “There are guys on this team that are taking off their varsity training wheels, and we are working to compete in every game we play. The improvement is apparent. The game we played tonight would not have been this close had we played it week one,” Keller said.

Junior point guard Cylas Brewer beats defensive pressure advancing the basketball up court. Photo credit: Valley News staff

“Alex took ten shots tonight in the game, which is a new high for him. Avery Garmon hit two three pointers. Owen (Herbert) continues to score for us. I’m less worried about our current record and more about what happens in February, when things matter the most in basketball.” None of Owen Herbert’s 11 points were bigger for the Eagles then the

three pointer he sank to open the fourth quarter. Herbert’s basket cut the Belton lead to 6 points by a score 48-42, prior to Belton pulling away at the end of the game. Grain Valley head boys basketball coach Andy Herbert kept things in perspective with his postgame

see EAGLES on page 12

Sophomore forward Alex Snyder scores a basket in the post. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Senior forward Cole Keller scores a contested basket in the post. Photo credit: Valley News staff

EAGLES continued from page 11 comments. “We had good stretches in this game tonight. Part of being young and inexperienced is maintaining the focus to play with the edge needed in a varsity game. We are still building that as a team. The problem comes when a turnover or a missed block out becomes two or three,” Herbert said. “Alex (Snyder) has grown in a couple of a ways. He’s starting to believe in himself and realizing he can play at this level. There is not an abundance of

people who can ran and jump like he can, and for that matter Cole (Keller) as well.” Herbert concluded, “This entire team has made strides from game one to game seven and will continue to do so. We still have a ways to go though. There are good things happening and we have to get more consistent.” Grain Valley (1-6) will next travel to Raytown to face the Blue Jays at 7:00 pm on December 8th.

VACCINE continued from page 1 ﬁll out the survey. As the vaccine becomes available to future phases, JACOHD will contact individuals who completed the survey with further instructions on scheduling an appointment. The survey may be accessed at buff.ly/34QRYBR . The survey asks for contact information, occupation, and preexisting medical conditions. Responses from the survey will help JACOHD determine which phase of the state’s vaccination plan residents fall under. “This is one way that we can get information out to individuals as quickly as possible,” Jackson County Health Department Director Bridgette Shaffer said. “We know people are looking for

information, and we want to provide access to it whenever it becomes available.” When weekly slots open up, appointments are first-come, firstserved to each group. Appointments are filling up quickly, and it is recommended that people sign up as quickly as possible to secure their desired time. Per the guidance provided by the CDC, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations will not be provided to those under the age of 16. For more information on the vaccine distribution plan, visit https:// covidvaccine.mo.gov/.

G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S LOCALLY FOCUSED. FAMILY OWNED. PUBLISHED WEEKLY.

Community Calendar Saturday, January 9, 2021 Reptiles: All About Snakes (Virtual) 10:00am—11:00am Join us as we explore several different snakes living in various habitats in Missouri. Register: www.mdc.mo.gov Monday, January 11, 2021 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 S Main Tuesday, January 12, 2021 First Impact Virtual Program 6:00pm—7:30pm Free program designed to teach parents about Missouri’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) law, and provide them with the tools they need to monitor, coach, and support their new teen driver. RSVP: 573-884-3463 www.ﬁrstimpact.missouri.edu Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting 6:30pm Virtual meeting via Zoom www.cityofgrainvalley.org

Friday, January 15—March 15, 2021 Winter Reading Challenge Adults 18+ embrace the enjoyment and gratiﬁcation of leisure reading and earn incentives. www.mymcpl.org Monday, January 18, 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day City Hall closed Grain Valley schools closed Wednesday, January 20, 2021 PPP Loan Forgiveness Update 11:45am—1:00pm Virtual event Did you receive a PPP loan? Did you use the funds but don’t know what to do next? Join us as Stephanie Parris of Guardian Accounting Services walks through the PPP Loan Forgiveness application. www.mymcpl.org/events Monday, January 25, 2021 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 S Main Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com/ eventscalendar