Valley News www.grainvalleynews.com
DECEMBER 19, 2019
Vol. 2, No. 51
Missouri Releases Building Level Per-Pupil Expenditures The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has released Building Level PerPupil Expenditure information for the first time on each school district’s 2019 Annual Report card. This change is part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and its focus on ensuring equitable resources and opportunities for every student at every school. Previously, perpupil expenditures were only reported at the district level. There are several variables to note when attempting to compare expenditures between buildings, whether those buildings are within the same school district or belong to different districts. Expenditures at buildings can vary for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to: The needs of students in that school and the programs facilitated at that
building; The experience and education, and therefore the salaries, of staff members in that school, as well as the cost of living associated with that geographical area (i.e. metropolitan versus rural school districts).
Below is a list of building level perpupil expenditures for the Grain Valley School District: Grain Valley High School: $9,328.04 Grain Valley South Middle School: $10,124.33 Grain Valley North Middle School: $8,475.48 Matthews Elementary: $8,827.10 Sni-A-Bar Elementary: $9,705.58 Prairie Branch Elementary: $8,951.72 Stony Point Elementary: $9,383.46 Dr. Marc Snow, Superintendent of Grain Valley Schools, explained the reason behind the difference between per-pupil expenditures between Grain Valley North
and Grain Valley South Middle Schools (the lowest and highest amount spent by building per pupil in the district). “My guess is that is typically based on salaries of the building. Each building has similar programmatic needs, so that would not account for it. The main difference between North Middle School and South Middle School would be staffing. We are undersized (the building itself) for our population at North, so we do not have the number of teachers needed for the program. That is why we are building additions to North so our students can be equally and adequately cared for,” Snow said. “Grain Valley Schools are a bargain for its residents. We do a lot with less money per pupil than most districts in the area. We are committed to excellence while trying to control our spending costs.”
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Happy Holidays
From Valley News This is the last edition of Valley News in 2019. We will take a two week break for the holidays and will return with our next edition on January 9th. As we conclude our second year in business, we would like to extend our thanks to the many folks who help make this publication possible. The columnists and photographers who share their talents with us, the many neighbors who welcomed us into their homes and businesses to share their stories,, and the advertisers and sponsors who make this publication possible. We end this year very lucky indeed. We wish you a very merry holiday season and a happy, healthy new year!
Good News
Local Youth Ride Santa’s Bus To Shop With A Cop
Approximately 30 Grain Valley youth rode on the famous Santa Bus for a memorable trip to Blue Springs Target, where officers with Grain Valley Police Department and neighboring police departments waited to help them shop for family members. The officers and youth shopped, wrapped gifts, and enjoyed hot chocolate together during the December 17th event. Photo credit: City of Grain Valley
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Grain Valley Police Department and neighboring police departments paired officers with Grain Valley youth to shop, wrap presents, and enjoy hot chocolate Cop”” during the annual “Shop with a Cop event at Blue Springs Target on December 17th. Photo credit: Valley News staff
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Local Artist Publishes Book Valley News featured Grain Valley resident Paul Juarez in February 2019 as a part of our Community Profile section. Juarez shares his “Realistick People” cartoons regularly on our Facebook page and occasionally in our print and online editions. Juarez has compiled a
series of his humorous cartoons into a book now available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble’s website. To read our profile of Juarez, visit the News section of our website, www.grainvalleynews.com and search under Community Profiles.
Grain Valley resident Paul Juarez has published a book of his humorous drawings featuring a couple of stick figures. Realistick People Vol. 1 is available for purchase Noble’’s website. on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble Photo credit: Paul Juarez
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 Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios | Contributing Photographer John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer
Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com Sign up for our weekly emails and join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @grainvalleynews).
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Police Blotter
The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of December 4—10, 2019. December 4, 2019 1200 Block Eagle Ridge 1300 Block Valley Woods Ct 1300 Block Foxtail 1300 Block Jefferson 100 Block Cooper, Buckner 100 Block Parker
Forgery Citizen Contact Recovered Stolen Auto Alarm Agency Assist (BPD) Area Check
December 5, 2019 Highview/Meadow Lane 1400 Block Golfview I-70/Main St Cypress/Broadway 1300 Block Valley Woods Ct 400 Block Laura 1100 Block Buckner Tarsney 500 Block Main St WB I70/Main St 700 Block Main St 100 Block Rock Creek Ln
Area Check Suspicious Person Area Check Disturbance Agency Assist (CJC) Suspicious Auto Citizen Contact Alarm Agency Assist (MSHP) Citizen Contact Alarm
December 6, 2019 300 Block Old US 40 Hwy 100 Block Buckner Tarsney 700 Block Main St Sni-A-Bar/BB 200 Block N Cypress St 1400 Block Minter Way 700 Block Main St Nelson/BB Nelson/Meadow Wood Sni-A-Bar/Cross Creek Duncan Rd/Woodbury 1000 Block Dogwood
Agency Assist (JCSO) Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Area Check Missing Juvenile Citizen Contact Warrant Arrest Area Check Suspicious Auto Area Check Motor Vehicle Accident Suspicious Person
December 7, 2019 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 1100 Block Buckner Tarsney 700 Block RD Mize
Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Shoplifting Found Property
1700 Block NW Nicholas Dr 700 Block Main St Duncan Rd/Woodbury 100 Block Main St 600 Block Whitestone 200 Block Broadway, Oak Grove 300 Block Yennie 300 Block 1st St, Oak Grove 900 Block Ryan Rd 800 Block SW Country Hill Iron Skillet, Oak Grove 1200 Block Persimmon Dr 700 Block Main St 1400 Block Jacklyn Dr 1500 Block NW Nicholas
Stealing Citizen Contact Area Check Area Check Check Well Being Agency Assist (OGPD) Harassment Agency Assist (OGPD) Alarm Noise Complaint Agency Assist (OGPD) Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Disturbance Suspicious Vehicle
December 8, 2019 700 Block Main St 1800 Block Rosewood Dr 40 Hwy EB Nelson/Brome 800 Block Willow Willow/Royer 500 Block Main St 500 Block Park Ave, Buckner 100 Block Front St 1100 Block Dean 200 Block Jackie Ave
Citizen Contact Noise Complaint Area Check Area Check Noise Complaint Area Check Alarm Agency Assist (BPD) Agency Assist (CJC) Check Well Being Animal at Large
December 9, 2019 1400 Block Minter Way 200 Block Cypress 1300 Block Hickory Ridge Ct I-70/Main St
Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Area Check
December 10, 2019 300 Block Minter
Theft
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Looking Back: Christmases Past by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
I love Christmas! I love everything about Christmas, from the beginning of Advent marking the awaiting of Christ’s birth to the Christmas cookies and Santa Claus —I love it all! For the past several days I’ve been decorating my house to prepare for some holiday hosting. Sunday I participated in the Hanging of the Greens at Faith UMC and Monday I helped decorate the Christmas tree at the Grain Valley Historical Society. All of this, and it’s not even Thanksgiving yet! While this is not an old-fashioned Christmas for those who put “N/A” on the “place of employment” blank, in the not so distant future it will the an oldfashioned Christmas for the millennials. The best definition for old-fashioned might be our memories from childhood. Growing up in Grain Valley in the 1940’s and 50’s, those memories might be cutting down a cedar tree growing at the edge of a pasture or buying a
Christmas tree from the front of Frantz’s grocery on Main Street. At my parents’ hardware store there were no trees, however, you could buy a box of ornaments or a string of lights. There were 7 bubble lights in one box or a second box of lights was the deluxe string of 15 regular colored lights. At the store you could also purchase shiny icicles in a package of 100 strands for 25 -cents. “Real” trees were only up for a week or 10 days before Christmas and a few days afterward and you had to water them daily. Hot lights and dry trees were a disaster waiting to happen. Young people growing up in the 1960s and 70s will no doubt cherish their memories of the beautiful (lol) silver foil trees! The foil trees were usually adorned with pink and turquoise ornaments —no red and green on those fake branches! While artificial trees have grown in
popularity, through most of the 1980s and 1900s Grain Valley families could cut down a live tree at Greene Acres Christmas Tree Farm just north of Grain Valley. Dorothy and Frank Greene started the business in 1976 as a way for their children and grandchildren to make extra money for holiday shopping. They began selling the trees in 1984. After selecting a tree, visitors would head to the Christmas House to pay for their tree, buy a hand made tree skirt, a wreath or pine garlands and, best of all, a cup of hot chocolate! Fortunately, the smell of fresh pine and the beauty of a “real” tree is still popular. In fact, like fire works on the 4th of July and pumpkin patches at Halloween, a trip to a Christmas tree farm is becoming a popular weekend family event. Janie and Rich Wilson’s Whispering Pines Farm on Brown Road south of Grain Valley is a great place to
insure an “old fashioned Christmas” memory for today’s children to look back on with fondness. In addition to cutting down a tree, you can go on a hayride, visit the bee hives or buy some honey when you visit the craft shop. So while we may not go over Sni-aBar Creek in a one horse open sleigh and the candles on your trees have been replaced by cool, safe lights, we can still enjoys an old-fashioned Christmas. As I always say, history is what happened yesterday. Today is a good day to make some history with your family and celebrate an old fashioned Christmas!
This article was first printed in The Voice, the monthly publication of the Grain Valley Historical Society. Read past newsletters and sign up to receive the historical society’s monthly email by visiting www.grainvalleyhistory.com.
December Gardening
by Cathy Bylinowski, Horticulture Instructor, Nutrition & Health Education Specialist, MU Extension-Jackson County
December is definitely a slower gardening month. The shorter days and colder temperatures put a stop to above ground plant growth. There is still plenty to do if you need a dose of winter gardening. Here is a list of gardening tasks and new projects to try during these winter days and nights, gleaned from MU Extension publications and the Missouri Botanical Garden’s website: 1. Rake leaves! Yes, some leaves are still falling. My neighbor’s pin oak dropped most of its leaves last week and the wind from the west conveniently (for the neighbor!) blew them into my yard. I rake them up and drag them back to my slow, lowtech leaf compost pile. The 3-foot high pile becomes a foot-high pile by the following spring. Tree leaves can be a gardener’s best friend when used correctly. The decomposed leaves are a great addition to clay soil and improve growing conditions for many plants, including vegetable gardens and many
ornamental perennial flowers. Consider using leaves to start a compost pile. For more information on composting in general, review MU Extension’s guide sheet on compostingextension.missouri.edu/p/g6956. 2. Mulch with a mower! mower Mulching with a mower saves time and money: Adjust your lawn mower to its highest setting and mow in a crisscross pattern. Mow twice to cut leaves to the size of confetti. These small pieces of leaves will filter into the lawn, decompose and release nutrients for the grass. Use the following tips for mowing and mulching leaves: Use a sharp mower blade. Maintain normal mowing heights. Mow at a height of 3-4 inches. Mow before leaves pile up too high. Do not let a dense layer of leaves lie on turf more than four days. Rake after an extended rainy spell. Dry leaves chop more easily than wet ones. However, dry leaves make dust, so
wear a dust mask over your nose and mouth. Always wear safety goggles. Do not mow wet leaves. 3. Mulch new bulb beds and perennial beds after the ground freezes. Stiff leaves and crumbly leaves that do not form mats make great mulch. You can also use compost as mulch. Be sure the root zones of azaleas and rhododendrons are thoroughly mulched. Any organic material will do, but mulches made from oak leaves, shredded oak bark, or pine needles are preferred for these woody ornamental plants. 4. Try an amaryllis this winter. I encourage you to try growing one from a bulb. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for it to bloom, so if you plant one soon, it should bloom by late January to mid-February, 2020. Many garden center stores still have bulbs for sale. Plant the bulb in a pot that is about two inches wider than the diameter of the bulb. Choose a container
that has a drainage hole. Use potting soil that drains well. Place in a warm spot and keep the soil moist. When a green leaf starts to sprout from the top of the bulb, move it to an area with bright, indirect light, near a south facing window or under grow lights. Amaryllis are tall and vigorous plants. You might need one or more bamboo or wire supports to help hold the apple green leaves and big flowers stalks up. I challenge you to keep it growing and have it bloom again next year! This article includes instructions on how to do that- https:// extension2.missouri.edu/news/amaryllis -a-showstopping-holiday-bloomer-2958 Have a relaxing holiday season! Feel free to call our MU Extension office if you have questions about gardening projects for 2020. Our office is at 1600 NE Coronado Drive, Ground Floor, Blue Springs, MO 64014, 816-252-5051. Cathy Bylinowski, Horticulture Instructor, bylinowskic@missouri.edu
Business News
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7 Apps To Help Get You Through The Holiday Season by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert Man, I love the holiday season. In my opinion, that old Andy Williams song 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' describes the season the best. For some of you, however, all the parties, shopping, parties and holiday guests and travel, it can seem like a beautiful nightmare. If you're one of those folks who find the holiday season challenging and a struggle, there are some apps that can help remove some of the stress and frustration and make the holiday season more enjoyable. 1. Food Network In the Kitchen. Who doesn't like to make new yummy dishes during the holidays? There are a ton of apps that help you find new recipes, but none that are as interactive as the Food Network in the Kitchen app. For starters, it lets you search through a database of recipes from your favorite Food Network Chefs. You can also save recipes based on your favorite episode from your celebrity chief. Finally, you can take cooking video cooking classes with Food Network chefs. 2. Shopping Apps. In this day and age, most brick and
mortar and online retailers have a shopping app to make shopping easier. Two of my favorite are: Amazon. It's just hard to beat shopping at Amazon. They have everything! You can find popular holiday gifts as well as those hard to find items. Doesn't matter if you have an easy to please or hard to please loved one, you can always find the perfect gift on Amazon and get it delivered to your doorstep. Target. This app does a great job because it keeps track of deals based on your shopping habits. Many stores, you have to look for coupons to get the best deals, but the Target app will alert you what deals are happening for Black Friday and throughout the Holiday season. 3: Pandora Holiday Stations. What's the holiday season without music? Well, whatever your taste, you can find a station just for you on Pandora. Pandora is great because you can take your music with you on the go and when it's time to host that party, you can stream Pandora throughout your house with your Google Home or Amazon Alexa devices. 4. Waze. Yes, your car has voice-enabled GPS, but Waze makes getting to Grandma's house so much fun. You can make those
friends. If you struggle with slowing down during the holidays, maybe downloading and use these apps can help you breathe and decompress.
holiday routes more enjoyable because Waze offers up to the minute traffic alerts, known speed trap areas used by the police, and you can choose from celebrity voices such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Hart.
Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. If you prefer to connect with me on social media, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on my YouTube channel. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I want to make technology fun and exciting for you.
5. Flight Tracker. If you have out-of-town guests flying in or you're flying out on a holiday destination, this incredible app lets you monitor the arrival and departure of your flights. It doesn't matter if it's domestic or international, you will have accurate flight information.
If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. My team of friendly tech experts are always standing by to answer your questions and help make your technology useful and fun. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.
6: Happy Cow. Not everyone eats meat during the holidays and if you have guests in town or family members who are vegans or vegetarians, this app can help you search for restaurants in your area that offer vegan and vegetarian options. 7. Google Tasks. Need a way to keep track of all of those tasks you need to complete, download and use Google Tasks which will integrate with your Gmail and Google Calendar to make sure you keep up with all of those Holiday to-do lists. The holidays are supposed to be a time where you can relax and enjoy much needed time with family and
Coleman Appointed To House Committee On Workforce Development State Representative Jeff Coleman has been appointed to the House Committee on Workforce Development. The committee is tasked with considering and reporting on legislation pertaining to matters of employment, labor, and workplace safety. “I’m excited to be appointed to this House Committee because I am a big supporter of the Governor’s initiatives with our state’s workforce,” Coleman (R— Grain Valley) said.
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Coleman represents part of Jackson County (District 32) in the Missouri House of Representatives. Coleman was elected to his first two-year term in November 2018, and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Economic Development, and is a member of the Committees on Insurance Policy, Professional Registration and Licensing, and the Special Interim Committee on Oversight of Local Taxation.
weekly
by
the
Grain
whose mission is to be a leader in the growth of Grain Valley. The
Grain
Valley
Partnership
is
located
at
1450
and can be reached by phone, 816-443-5162 or via email at info@growgrainvalley.org.
Learn more about the Partnership: www.growgrainvalley.org
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Parkway,
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Holiday Entertaining With DIY Food by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD
We find ourselves in the middle of holiday season and the peak of holiday parties. A big trend this year for holiday entertaining is to serve a Do-It-Yourself Food Bar. These parties are a great option at holiday time because you can make the bar as simple or elaborate as you wish, depending on how busy you are. Another advantage to serving a DIY Food Bar at your holiday party is that you can customize the menu to provide healthy options for partygoers. Guests then are able to customize their own plates to their preferences making this an ideal option for anyone with food allergies or dietary concerns. Most DIY food bars can be kidfriendly if your invite list includes people of all ages. They also can be served at
any time of day. Host a holiday brunch to free up the rest of your day for shopping, wrapping and other items on your holiday to-do list. A few brunch bar ideas can include a pancake or waffle bar, breakfast burrito bar, yogurt parfait bar or oatmeal bar, with all your favorite toppings. Go beyond the usual mealtime buildyour-own burger bars and serve an upscale mashed potato bar. Use elegant serving dishes and utensils to make this fun. Try serving the potatoes in martini glasses and let guests top them how they wish with meats, cheeses, vegetables and sauces. Pasta bars are another fun meal to serve. Offer various whole wheat pastas with a few different sauces and let everyone pick their perfect combinations.
Beverage bars can also be included along with any of your parties. For kids and those who are still kids at heart, serve a hot cocoa bar with fun mix-ins. For your adult-only parties, provide a bubbly bar with a variety of fruit juices and sparkling wines. Dessert bars and appetizers are perfect for parties where a full meal is not required. Crostini is a very popular appetizer offering and can be a delicious and healthy option, with the right ingredients. Crostini is a fancy name for toasted bread - usually a baguette - and toppings. By incorporating lean meats or fish, cheese and roasted vegetables, party guests can have a complete, custombuilt meal! Try this spread for one of your toppings at a Crostini Bar at your holiday party.
Whipped Blue Cheese Spread Makes approximately 1-½ cups spread Adapted from Chobani.com
All you need: 2/3 cup Chobani Non-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt 2/3 cup crumbled Maytag Blue Cheese 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil Pinch of black pepper 3 tablespoons 1% milk 3 tablespoons dried cranberries, chopped 3 dried apricots, thinly sliced All you do: Prepare blue cheese spread by blending yogurt, blue cheese, olive oil and black pepper in a food processor until combined. With processor running, drizzle in milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached; it should be thick but fluffy and spreadable. Gently stir in dried cranberries and apricots. Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve with crostini toasts and assorted toppings.
Play free puzzles online:
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ACROSS 1. Pin location 6. BBQ sauce alternative 9. *Volodymyr Zelensky's capital 13. 0103 food poison 14. Between sea and shining sea, abbr. 15. Native of American Great Plains 16. Famous fabulist 17. Band performance 18. Prefix with national and pol 19. *The Mueller ____ 21. *European country declared to be no longer free 23. Ostrich-like bird 24. Fix a horse 25. Old Spice: "Smell Like a Man, ____" 28. Diva's delivery 30. Opposite of underdog 35. Seed covering 37. Share a boundary 39. Miller's product 40. Leave behind 41. *Flute playing rapper 43. Pot contribution 44. Make corrections 46. Days in Havana 47. Nomad's round house 48. Caesar derivative 50. "Fifteen Miles on the ____ Canal" 52. Mad Hatter's drink 53. Hofbräuhaus offering 55. Bard's before 57. *He got life plus 30 61. *Eurosceptics vs. pro-Europeanists point of debate 64. Sweeney Todd's weapon 65. Seek damages 67. *Archie was one before he was born 69. *Bran, Lord of the Six Kingdoms, e.g. 70. "____ Now or Never" 71. *What Jeffrey Epstein had in store 72. Seaside bird 73. Volleyball divider 74. Set in motion
DOWN 1. Grazing ground 2. Maple tree or laptop brand 3. Downward dog, e.g. 4. Skip the big wedding 5. Benign fatty tumor 6. Pipe problem 7. *Europe voted to ban single-____ plastics 8. Take a tubby 9. *Best Actress in Supporting Role Oscarwinner 10. Tiny bit 11. Pitcher 12. Subject to change 15. To some extent, two words 20. Not urban 22. Final, abbr. 24. More gossamer 25. *Actor in Leading Role Oscar-winner 26. Wafting pleasantness 27. One born to Japanese immigrants 29. Footnote acronym 31. Performance with acts 32. Holey confection 33. Grossly unconventional 34. *Swedish environmentalist 36. Eye contact 38. Nicholas II was the last one 42. Willow twig 45. Go ashore 49. Tombstone acronym 51. Builds 54. Fluorescent red dye 56. Make an effort 57. Formerly, formerly 58. Better than never 59. #38 Down, alt. sp. 60. Some blow their own 61. *"Green Book," winner of ____ Picture 62. Hip bones 63. Salty drop 66. Shoshonean 68. Summer sandwich?
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Community Voices
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Wayne’s World
Christmas Glue by Wayne Geiger
Growing up, Christmas Eve was always spent at Noni and Papa’s house. Growing up, I was told, Noni is what Italian families called grandma. And that’s what we were—an Italian family—at least on my mother’s side. My grandparents, who spoke Italian and broken English, came over from the “old country.” They didn’t have a refrigerator. They had an ICE-uh-box. On Christmas Eve, the whole family would gather in their humble, but comfortable Florida home. It was an annual requirement, but I didn’t mind. It was tradition and it was fun and I always got to see my cousins. Despite my fear, my parents assured me that we would be home in plenty of time for Santa to come. I enjoyed this annual get together my family, consuming delicious treats, talking at loud volumes, having fun. Our Christmas Eve meal was a little different—at least that’s how it appeared to me as a child. All the food was not served at once like normal, but we ate one thing at a time. I learned later that these were called “courses.” Also, while my friends talked about having turkey or ham, we did not. Our traditional Christmas Eve meal included various kinds of pasta, of course, but also baccalà (dried, salted cod), lobster, sardines, shrimp, mussels and clams. It wasn’t until I was an adult, and doing some research, that I read about the “feast of the 7 fishes” Italian tradition. It clicked for me, “so, that’s what we were doing!”. So many delicious and delightful memories came rushing in. As a family, we were celebrating tradition and creating memories. When I had my own family, my wife
and I developed our own traditions. For example, on the day after Thanksgiving, the Geiger Gang would cram into the station wagon and head out on an adventure. Our goal was to purchase new ornaments for the tree. Each of the four kids was allowed to pick out one special ornament. This ornament would represent their nature or character or just be something that they liked. Every year, without fail, I would get the Grinch. I should probably say that they Grinch was gotten for me. A tradition within a tradition. Searching for these ornaments provided a fun, family event and gave us a great opportunity to enjoy laughter and conversation. These trinkets also provided our kids with a sense of pride and accomplishment as they would show their friends and exclaim, “Look at my ornament.” As the years rolled on, the ornaments served as signposts and reminders of past Christmases. Each year, while decorating the tree, these objects remind us of where we were when we got them, sometimes reminding us of extremely joyful or even unpleasant times. Like portraits held together by Christmas glue, these ornaments rekindled old thoughts and feelings and served as kindling to discuss the past, present, and future. Generally, I stay out of the kitchen— except during the holidays. My wife is extremely talented and loves to cook and decorate. Things go much smoother if I just stay out of the kitchen so, I just stay out of the way and beg for samples. However, many years ago, I took notice of how hard she worked and decided that, if nothing else, I could prepare breakfast. This would help the family out and allow her to focus on the main event. There were only three requirements.
First, it had to be quick. I couldn’t impede progress in the kitchen. Second, it had to be easy. Finally, I did not want to make an additional mess. I stumbled upon a recipe for a French toast casserole that fit all of the above. Our entire family loved it! In fact, even though they’re no longer living here when they come for Christmas they ask, “Hey dad, did you make your famous French toast?” I generally reply, “Yes, but you don’t live here any more and I ate yours.” As I look around the home, I see trinkets and traces of the ghost of Christmas past—and they make me smile. There’s “Kim’s Village” that is front and center in the dining room. We’ve been collected the pieces for years and it’s a family favorite. I just carry the boxes in. There is also lighted garland strung over every pathway and window, lights illuminating the outdoors, and several Christmas trees. Evergy sends us a Christmas card of “thanks”. One of our trees is the “family tree” which holds the ornaments we’ve collected over the years. We have the ones with the kid’s picture that they made in school, the prized Hallmark ornaments, and special ones from friends over the years--like the homemade one that has the sign language, “sign for love” given to us by a dear friend who taught sign language. And, of course, there are my grinch ornaments. As my grandson and I hung these on the tree he asked me “why” I had so many. I had the chance to share some of the stories and the reasons. Maybe one day, he will inherit them. The most important Christmas tradition in the Geiger family is focused on the real meaning of Christmas. As Christians, our goal has always been to make sure that we attended church services on Christmas Eve. We always
wanted our kids to understand that Christmas was about giving and, at Christmas, we celebrate the fact that God gave His one and only Son. The greatest gift of all. Dressing for Christmas Eve was always fun, too. My wife and I had mutual goals, but different ways of getting there. For her, she wanted us all to attend church in matching outfits. She worked diligently to weave some cohesive theme or color that told everyone we were a family (or in a band). This made for some great pictures. For me, I just wanted to get to church on time. This ensured harmony within the family and made for great pictures. Being on time makes me smile. For both of us, attending services on Christmas Eve was essential and deeply spiritual. These services gave us opportunities to worship and celebrate and to have some deep conversations about faith and family. Traditions are extremely personal and important. Like ancient hieroglyphics, they are the glue that remind us of who we are, where we came from, and where we’re going. Some traditions are strategically planned and programmed. Other traditions seem to bubble up naturally. Either way, traditions can conjure up deep emotions and take on a life of themselves. They are purposeful and powerful reminders of who we are and, sometimes, the glue that holds us together.
Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.
Guest Column: City Codes Enforcement Focuses On Citizen Safety by Mike Russell, City of Grain Valley Building Official I have served as Building Official for this fine City for the last six months. The amount of growth in this community makes it an enjoyable and exciting place to work, for sure. We have issued more than 100 residential home permits in 2019. Taco Bell and Temp Stop opened their doors last week. QuikTrip has broken ground and will be open sometime in Spring 2020. I’d like to take this opportunity to
address a pretty “hot topic” amongst citizens. I’ve worked in municipalities for more than 15 years, and across the board, there’s a common misunderstanding about the work that our Codes Enforcement officer does. I supervise this division and think it’s important for you to know that the purpose of codes enforcement is to protect citizens and safeguard properties throughout the city. The majority of code infractions that the Code Enforcement Officer checks into have been reported to him from other concerned citizens. We are not
out to get you or picking on you, but serving you by ensuring that properties are kept to the standards as specified in the municipal code. The Community Development Department did not write the codes that govern the laws of Grain Valley. However, we have been tasked with enforcing them. We do not get to handpick the code that we enforce. All suspected violations are investigated with equal diligence to ensure resolution. If you are cited for a code violation, you will be given written notice and a specific time frame in
which you are expected to correct it. If you are unable to correct the issue within the requested amount of time, simply contact the Codes Enforcement Officer to request an extension. We are here to serve you and will work with you whenever possible, as long as you are maintaining open communication with us until the matter is resolved. We encourage citizens to submit complaints and questions regarding city code to info@cityofgrainvalley.org or call 816-847-6227. The municipal code can be viewed at www.cityofgrainvalley.org.
Sports
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Free Trout Fishing Clinic For Youth Offered January 4th The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a free trout fishing clinic for youth ages 5 to 15 from 9:00am to Noon on Saturday, January 4th, at the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area. MDC will provide gear and instruction. MDC stocks rainbow trout for winter fishing opportunities in select waters, including at the Reed Area. Participants will start the lesson indoors at the classroom at MDC’s Kansas City Regional Office at the Reed Area, 13101 S.E. Ranson Road in Lee’s Summit. Experts will offer tips on tackle and techniques for catching trout. The fishing lesson will then move to Honker Pond at the Reed Area and participants will fish for trout with help from class instructors. Only children can fish at Honker Pond, but parents and
family are welcome to attend, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. MDC will provide all necessary gear and bait, plus hot chocolate and a warm fire. Children do not need a trout permit to fish at this event if they plan to release their fish. If they would like to keep fish, they will need a Missouri Trout Permit. Participants should dress warm for winter weather. Registration is required before Jan. 4. In case of a severe weather forecast, participants will be notified in advance of a postponement. To register for this class, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZPu.
Holiday Break Prep Calendar Boys Basketball
Varsity Wrestling
December 28th vs. Oak Grove @ Home 7:00pm
Girls Swim & Dive
December 20th vs. Platte Co. @ Home 7:00pm
January 3rd @ Grandview 7:00pm
Girls Basketball
December 19th vs. Platte Co. @ Home 7:00pm December 28th vs. Oak Grove @ Home 5:30pm January 2nd vs. Winnetonka @ Home 7:00pm
December 20th—21st @ Harrisonville Begins 4:00pm December 20th December 20th Quad Meet at Raytown Wellness Center 2:00pm December 27th Quad Meet at former YMCA-Blue Springs 10:00am January 3rd at Rock Bridge at Mizzou Aquatic Center Time TBD
MDC will offer a free youth trout fishing clinic for participants age 55--15 on Saturday, January 4th at the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area. Only youths will be able to fish for trout, but parents and family members are welcome to attend. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.
Eagles Boys Basketball Beats Conference Rival Kearney, Kilpatrick Passes 1,000 Points Grain Valley Eagles Boys Basketball beat the Kearney Bulldogs, a conference rival, in an overtime victory of 63-60 on Tuesday, December 17th. Senior Josh Kilpatrick surpassed 1,000 career points
during the game. The Eagles return home on December 20th to face Platte County and then face Oak Grove at home on December 28th.
Community Calendar Friday, December 20th— 20th—January 3rd Grain Valley Schools—Christmas Break
Monday, December 23, 2019
Play and Learn Time Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 5:30pm—6:30pm Enjoy a special preschool playtime that is designed to stimulate young minds and strengthen early literacy skills. Have Yourself a Millie Little Christmas Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 6:30pm—7:30pm Join Kansas City jazz singer Millie Edwards and her band for a concert of upbeat Christmas favorites. Register online: www.mymcpl.org/ events
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service First Baptist Grain Valley 207 W. Walnut 4:00pm and 6:00pm
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Storytime for Families Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 6:00pm—6:30pm
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Discover Nature: Nature Film Festival Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center 9:00am—3:00pm Walk-in, all ages Discover Nature: Rockin’ Rockin’ & Readin’ Readin’ Nature Tales Discover Nature: Nature Film Festival Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center 11:00am—Noon Walk-in, ages 2+
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