Valley News July 5, 2018
www.grainvalleynews.com
Vol. 1, No. 3
FREE
Plans Underway for Grain Valley Fair September may seem far away, but plans for the Grain Valley Fair, which will be held September 7-8, are well underway. Mayor Mike Todd, one of the event chairs, states that a number of popular events from last year, including the Baby Contest and drone racing, will return for this year’s festival. Radio hosts Dana and Parks of KMBZ 98.1 FM will once again broadcast live at the Fair on Friday, September 7th from 2:00pm—6:00pm. The carnival, food, and vendor booths open at 4:00pm on Friday
evening and continue until 10:00pm. The Grain Valley Partnership will host the beer garden, and Sam Banks is scheduled to perform Friday evening from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. The fair opens again at 11:00am on Saturday with a full schedule of events and performances throughout the day. Performers on Saturday include the Nace Brothers Band, Edge of Forever, and Simple Shot. The parade will be held at Noon on Saturday, beginning at Grain
Valley High School. The theme of this year’s parade is “Game On”. Funds raised from parade entries will benefit the scholarship fund at Grain Valley High School. New this year will be a 5K run/ walk, which will be held at 8:00am on Saturday, September 8th. The 5K will start and end at Grain Valley City Hall. Proceeds from the 5K event will benefit the Grain Valley Assistance Council . Participants registered by July 8th will receive a finisher medal. Vendor applications are still being
State of the City Focus of July Senior Luncheon The State of the City will be the theme of the next Senior Citizens’ Luncheon on July 11, 2018. The luncheon will be held from 11:30am1:00pm at the Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S. Main. All senior citizens in Grain Valley are welcome to attend monthly luncheons, which take place the first Wednesday of each month. Lunch is provided by the Grain Valley School District food services department. Meals are served by volunteers from throughout the community. Please RSVP by calling 816-8476293 or send an email to info@cityofgrainvalley.org. Bingo is held following the luncheons for those who would like to participate. Cost per person is a recommended $3 donation.
Over 100 seniors a ended the June 2018 Senior Ci zens’ Luncheon. Register for the July 11th luncheon by calling 816‐847‐6293 or email info@cityofgrainvalley.org.
accepted for the 2018 fair. Todd states the fair offers very affordable booth rental rates compared to other area festivals, providing an accessible option for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. For more information on the fair, the schedule of events, vendors, sponsors, and to sign up for the 5K, visit www.grainvalleyfair.com.
Good News
Lily Lewis was just one of many Grain Valley residents who enjoyed the City of Grain Valley’s Community Development event on June 28th at Armstrong Park .
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Local News
Grain Valley Welcomes Arrival of OATS Transit Service The Grain Valley Partnership and City of Grain Valley welcomed OATS Transit to the community during a ribbon cutting held at the Grain Valley Community Center on June 18th. City administration and staff worked with OATS personnel over the last several months to identify the need for this service through surveys and reaching out to community members. Sara Davis, West Region Director for OATS Transit, reported that Section 5311 federal funds support delivery of the program in Grain Valley. OATS service began in Grain Valley on June 1st. Davis indicated that approximately 10 trips had been
scheduled to date, and interest in the service continues to grow. The transportation service offers door to door or curb to curb service for residents 65 years of age or older or ages 18-64 with a disability. The service is available weekly in Grain Valley on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Trips will be limited to the Grain Valley and Blue Springs city limits. The cost is $1.00 per one-way trip. Fare cards may be purchased for $10.00 (10 one-way trips or 5 round trips). To schedule a ride, call 816-380-7433 up to two weeks in advance between the hours of 8:00am – 3:00pm.
Grain Valley Parks and Recreation Offers Preschool Instructional T-Ball Grain Valley Parks and Recreation is offering an instructional T-Ball program, Preschool Players, this summer. Preschool Players is a 6 week parent interactive program that focuses on skill development and fun. This program will rotate participants through stations that focus on major skills of the game. Parents/guardians will be asked to be station volunteers. Fee includes a t-shirt and a medal for each player. The program is open to boys and girls age 3 to 6 years. When: Every Saturday from July 14— August 18 3 & 4 years: 9:00am—9:45am 5 & 6 years: 10:00am—10:45am
Where: Armstrong Park Ball Fields Fee: $40.00 per participant (includes t-shirt and medal) There are three ways to register for the Preschool Players program. 1. Register online with a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover at http://grainvalley.recdesk.com. 2. Call 816-847-6230 ext. 9 with your Visa, Mastercard, or Discover. 3. In person at the Grain Valley Community Center. The last day to register for this program is Sunday, July 8th.
Mayor Mike Todd, along with officials from the City and Grain Valley Partnership, welcomed OATS Transit to Grain Valley at a June 18th ribbon cutting.
Jackson County Food Inspections Jackson County Public Works Environmental Health Division inspects all restaurants, grocery stores, schools, mobile food and temporary food establishments in the City of Grain Valley. The following violations were reported in the last 30 days:
Armstrong Park Concession Stand, 713 South Main Street. On June 14, there were no test strips for sanitizing solution. Corrected. Inspector left a few for workers to use until a kit can be obtained.
Pizzideos, 110 Buckner Tarsney Road. On June 14, a pan of food was thawing on the prep table. Corrected. Food was moved to cooler.
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 | Proofreader Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios | Contributing Photographer Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com
Education and Youth Grain Valley Student Competes in National Tournament
Scott Overfield, senior at Grain Valley High School, competed this June in the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo credit: Brian Winckler)
Grain Valley High School Senior Scott Overfield recently returned from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he placed in the top 10 percent of 255 original orators who competed in the National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament. Overfield explains his original oratory explored “how everyone needs to love and accept each other. I show society’s problems of hate through the Wizard of Oz characters.” According to Grain Valley High School’s Speech and Debate Coach, Brian Winckler, the process to get to the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament began in March, where Scott competed against 50 other
Kansas City metropolitan area students for 3 national qualifying spots. Overfield placed 2nd in the district competition. Winckler and Overfield traveled to Lee’s Summit West several times to work with area students and coaches, gaining helpful advice as they prepared for the national competition. At the national tournament, there were 255 competitors in each event from across the country. After 2 days of competing in a total of 6 Rounds, Overfield was one of the 60 students remaining in the tournament. He then competed for 2 more rounds, after which they cut the field down to 30. Winckler recalled, “seeing the pure joy on his face when he saw his code (on the list of Quarter Finalists)is truly what makes coaching worth it, because it was the culmination of months of hard work paying off for him.” Overfield then competed in 2 more rounds before being eliminated. Winckler stated, “In all honesty, Scott is without a doubt one of the hardest workers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with in 10 years of teaching and coaching. He actually started writing his speech that he performed this year at Nationals in February of 2017 for class. He sought help and advice from so many people to help perfect this speech over the past year and a half, and was very receptive to those comments and adjusted accordingly. Speech and Debate is all about being willing to adapt to what’s going on and what judges will be looking for, which Scott did a tremendous job of throughout the season.” In addition to the excitement of being able to compete at a national level, Overfield enjoyed the opportunity to meet people from all over the world who shared his passion. Overfield stated, “This was a great opportunity to meet such amazing people, and they will forever be a memory that I hold on to.” Overfield expressed his appreciation for his family, fellow teammates and friends who supported him in this process. Additionally, Overfield shared his appreciation for Mr. Winckler, who Overfield states “has become one of the most impactful people in my life and I owe so much to him.”
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Business News Business News is provided weekly by the Grain Valley Partnership, whose mission is to be a leader in the growth of Grain Valley. The Grain Valley Partnership is located at 1450 SW Eagles Parkway, and can be reached by phone, 816-443-5162 or via email at info@growgrainvalley.org.
Business Partner Spotlight of the Week
Welcome Our Newest 2018 Partner:
Cheezteak Company The Cheezteak Company is located at 1452 SW Eagles Parkway, Grain Valley, MO 64029. Asma Shane is the owner and has been in business at this location for 3 years. Prior to moving to Grain Valley, she was in Independence by Costco. Asma is a resident of Grain Valley and she wanted to bring her business to her town. Asma is dedicated to her business and the community that she lives in and she takes great pride in making sure that each customer is made to feel welcome and very satisfied with their experience. Every sandwich and side are made fresh at the time of the order.
OATS Transit Check out all of the Grain Valley Partnership’s partners by visiting
www.growgrainvalley.org. Outdrive Your Competition
Present the following coupon and try the Cheezteak Company this week:
Buy any sandwich and a side… receive a free drink This offer good from July 5—July 11, 2018
1452 SW Eagles Parkway—Grain Valley MO 64029
Grab your team and join us for a FUN FILLED day of great golf, amazing food, and friendly competition. As the ONLY fundraiser the Partnership does, we go to great strides to make this a great event. Please fill out the registration form below OR register on line at www.growgrainvalley.org. Event calendar has the event and the link to register. Just go to the event date and click away. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Tasha at the Partnership office at 816-443-5162
Community Voices
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Rumor Has It by Timothy S. Russell, Executive Director/Economic Development Director In my dayto-day work as the Economic Development Director for Grain Valley I hear a lot of rumors. People ask me about all kinds of things. They have “heard” that everything from Taco Bell to Ruth Chris Steakhouse is interested in Grain Valley. People will
tell me they are “totally certain” that (insert any big box retailer), Hy-Vee, Macy’s, Reebok, or an Amazon-like distributor is ready to start building next week. The omnipresence of social media just makes these speculations even worse. While all of these might be great for Grain Valley; most of them are just un-true. It is our hope that we can address some of the misinformation and
rumors that arise concerning business, City activity that affects business, and any related concerns. The Grain Valley Partnership wants to bust those rumors and bring you the truth. We will be sharing the most recent business news here in the Grain Valley News and via our social media accounts to give you the facts about what new business is coming, how our local business is growing, and much more.
Feel free to reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter, email me at edc@growgrainvalley.org, call us at 816-443-5162 or come by the office at 1450 SW Eagles Parkway.
5 Questions: Getting to Know Peyton Jenkins 5 Questions is a new feature, intended to help the community get to know its neighbors. Today we introduce Peyton Jenkins, Branch Manager at the Grain Valley branch of Mid-Continent Public Library (MCPL). How long have you been with MCPL? I have worked for MCPL for almost 16 years! My first job ever was shelving books here at the Grain Valley branch, when I was a teenager. I stayed on after I graduated high school and then in college I decided that librarianship was the career for me. In those 15+ years I have worked at several different branches: Lone Jack, Lee’s Summit, Buckner, and now back in Grain Valley! I spent the last six years as the assistant manager and then manager of the Buckner Branch, where we focused on supporting the community and being a part of the everyday lives of its citizens. What are you most excited about in your new role? It is certainly exciting to be back in the branch and community that gave me my start in libraries! I am excited to bring to Grain Valley the same principles of a people-focused, purpose-based library that served the Buckner community so well. I’m also so thankful for the great team that already works here at Grain Valley; it has already been a joy to get to know them and work with them. We can’t wait to show Grain Valley what we can do! What type of books/genres do you enjoy reading? I try to be a “little bit of everything” type reader, but what really pushes my buttons are big fat creaky gothic mysteries full of old houses, maybe-or-maybenot ghosts, unrequited loves, creepy servants, and hidden secrets. You know, real life stuff. What led you to become a librarian? When I was 8 years old and living in small-town Alabama, I considered the town librarian to be my best friend. She was such an encouraging, loving person who truly cared about my success and my love for learning. I felt so safe in her library world. That experience is what pulled me to libraries, and it is always my hope that I can provide some fraction of that joy and safety and excitement in the lives of other young learners. What do you wish Grain Valley residents knew about the Grain Valley library? We are here to serve! If you want to read it, do it, or learn about it, we want to help you! A little-realized fact is that people who work in libraries tend to be curious, creative people—and we love to share that curiosity and creativity with others! We are all about providing our community with the tools and resources to get where they want to go and do what they want to do. Whether that means checking out a fluffy mystery, printing off a boarding pass, or studying for the GED, we’re ready to help you.
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Health & Wellness
Summer Travel Stretches by Sally Whitaker Whether you travel by car or plane, summer vacation can mean spending several hours in cramped seating. Additionally, many vacations involve much more walking and standing than most do on a typical day. This easy stretching sequence can be done at a rest stop, in your hotel room, or depending on your destination, along the shoreline or hiking trail. Reach Back helps to open the chest and shoulders, fix slumped posture and engage the muscles needed for deep breathing. It is a great reminder for the body on how to stand tall. Reverse Warrior is a small version of the traditional yoga pose. It loosens up the neck and shoulders while stretching the sides and fronts of the legs. Great after a long walk. Chest Opener does exactly what the name describes and then some. The Reach Back: Stand with feet parallel, hip width apart, arms long at the side with palms facing behind. Lift the ribs from the hips, lean into the wind, gaze forward. Inhale. Exhale. Let the arms float up behind and hold for a full breath. Repeat 3x. Reverse Warrior: Stand with left leg in front, facing forward, right foot behind, slightly turned out. Left arm reaches up to the ceiling and slightly behind, right arm reaches down, towards the back of the right knee. Open the collar bone from left to right. Hold for 3 deep breaths, allowing the shoulders to melt. Switch and do the other side. Chest opener: Same stance as Reverse Warrior for the legs. Chest/ upper body faces forward, over the left leg. Inhale and bring the arms overhead. Exhale and lift the arms overhead while letting the shoulders melt down into the back pockets. Hold for 3 deep breaths, lifting the chest to the sky, shoulders melt away from the ears. Neck Stretch: Pt. 1 Relax the shoulders, gaze forward. Inhale. Exhale, let the right ear tilt over toward the right shoulder, relax the left shoulder down. Pt. 2 Inhale. Exhale, turn your gaze to “look into your back pocket”. Hold each part for 10 seconds. Repeat up to 3 times.
Healthy Skin From Within by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD
chest and shoulder muscles open while allowing tight hip muscles to stretch. This is great after sitting for an extended period or carrying baggage. Neck Stretch helps to release tension in the muscles of the neck. Part One stretches the sides of the neck, while Part Two targets the muscles at the base of the skull, a primary spot for stress-related tension. These stretches can be done as a flowing series or singularly, based on your needs. They can also be done seated in a chair if standing is difficult.
You should consult your physician or other health care professional before starting this or any other fitness program to determine if it is right for your needs. Do not start this fitness program if your physician or health care provider advises against it. If you experience faintness, dizziness, pain or shortness of breath at any time while exercising you should stop immediately.
Slathering on the SPF sunscreen more portions of fruits and before heading outside is not the vegetables containing only way to protect your skin from carotenoids per day have a the sun’s damage this summer. more golden skin color. Eat Reach for nutritious foods loaded tomatoes and carrots to help with antioxidants, vitamins, and get that summer glow. minerals to help protect and improve the appearance of your skin. Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD is a Did you know? The sun can cause up to 90 percent of visible skin changes often credited to aging. Prolonged skin exposure to ultraviolet rays can damage cell membranes, leading to skin cancer. UV rays may also damage the connective tissues of the skin, reducing firmness and causing it to sag. Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in foods can keep skin looking young while protecting it from the sun. Eat to protect, firm and glow Antioxidants: Antioxidants such as lycopene have been found to act as a natural sunscreen by filtering out the damaging sunlight which can lead to premature aging or skin cancer. Good sources of lycopene include watermelon, tomatoes, and pink grapefruit. Minerals: Studies have shown that when levels of the mineral selenium are high, consequences from sun damage, such as sunburn and skin cancer, seem to be low. Selenium can be found in whole-grain cereals, whole -grain pasta, and eggs. Fluids: Keep hydrated with pure beverages to keep looking young. Think of hydrated cells as full and plump cells, and dehydrated cells as empty and saggy. Keep hydrated with natural water or try naturally flavored zerocalorie waters. Omega-3s: Skin cells cannot stay firm if they are not strong. Load up on Omega-3s, which strengthen the cell walls of skin cells helping to keep them firm. Add Omega-3s to your diet with salmon, walnuts and chia seeds. Carotenoids: A recent study has shown that people who eat
registered dietitian at the Blue Springs Hy-Vee. She can be reached at tshaffer@hy-vee.com. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
Couscous & Fruit Salad Serves 4 (¾ cup each). Try this fruit-and-nut-studded couscous salad alongside grilled salmon or chicken for supper or on its own for a fresh lunchbox treat. All you need 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 2 tbsp orange juice 1 tbsp cider vinegar 2 tsp finely chopped shallots ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper 2 cups cooked whole-wheat couscous 1 cup chopped nectarine 1 cup mixed fresh berries, such as blueberries and raspberries 2 tbsp toasted sliced almonds* Directions Whisk oil, orange juice, vinegar, shallots, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add cooked couscous, nectarines, berries and almonds; gently toss to combine. *Test Kitchen tip: To toast chopped or sliced nuts, heat a small dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add nuts and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Source: adapted from Eating Well, Inc. Nutrition facts per serving: 204 calories, 9g fat, 1g saturated fat, 6g monounsaturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 150mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, 4g protein, 187mg potassium.
Sports
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Eagles Scrimmage In Scorching Heat
Grain Valley Eagles Football hosted a scrimmage versus Lees Summit North and North Kansas City on the morning of June 28th.
Eagles Ready for Move to Suburban Conference by John Unrein Grain Valley High School Activities Director Brandon Hart appreciates the time Grain Valley High School spent in Missouri River Valley Conference (MRVC), but he is also excited about the opportunities that await for the Eagles as they prepare to enter the Blue Division of the Kansas City Suburban Conference. The Suburban Conference consists of 27 schools that are aligned by student enrollment. The four divisions (from largest to smallest) are Gold, Red, White, and Blue. With an enrollment of over 1,300 students, Grain Valley joins Grandview, Kearney, Platte County, Raytown South, Smithville, and Winnetonka in the Blue Division. Grain Valley has had great success in the Missouri River Valley Conference, winning the last 10 consecutive MRVC All-Sports titles. The move to the Suburban Conference was precipitated by Grain Valley High’s increasing student enrollment and the desire to compete with schools of a like size. “We are grateful for the community’s support of this move. It was one of the factors in the
“The conference was seeking a school with the size, geography, and type of community we have in Grain Valley. We were just a logical choice for their invitation.” Brandon Hart, Grain Valley High School Activities Director
Suburban Conference’s offer for us to join them,” Hart said. “The conference was seeking a school with the size, geography, and type of community we have in Grain Valley. We were just a logical choice for their invitation.” Hart is well-versed in all things Suburban Conference, after having served previously as Activities Director at Fort Osage High School, a conference member, and currently serving as chairman of the conference. Hart believes the start of competition in the Suburban Conference provides more exposure for students and says everyone is welcoming that opportunity to prove themselves. The move includes not
evaluates enrollment on a two year cycle, so If Grain Valley continues to grow, it is possible that in the next two year alignment of the conference, Grain Valley could move again, to a different division within the conference. “It may take longer for Grain Valley to gain natural rivalries because of the sustained growth of the community. This may cause movement up in the divisions,” Hart said. Additionally, since Grain Valley is the single high school within the district, there is no chance for indistrict rivalries, such as ones that occur naturally in communities like Blue Springs, Independence, and Lee’s Summit, where multiple high schools exist.
only athletics, but all activities offered by conference schools, for example Debate and Forensics. One initial challenge is having only one gym, as most host schools in the new conference have multiple gyms, according to Hart. More gym space is in Grain Valley’s plans as bonding capacity allows. “Until then, we have to be very strategic and logistical in the planning of practices and games,” Hart said. Moving away from the MRVC into the Suburban Conference may also leave a void in some of the hotly contested rivalries Grain Valley has participated in over the years. And it may take a while for those to form For more information on GVHS Activities again, according to Hart. and schedules, visit http:// The Suburban Conference gvhs.grainvalleyschools.org/activities/
Community Calendar July 9, 2018 City of Grain Valley Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall
July 19, 2018 Paper making, 2:00pm Mid-Continent Public Library, Grain Valley Branch
July 11, 2018 Amado's World Music Odyssey 10:30am Mid-Continent Public Library, Grain Valley Branch
July 24, 2018 Grain Valley Schools Annual Residency Event and New Student Enrollment 11:00am—7:00pm Grain Valley South Middle School
July 11, 2018 Senior Citizens’ Luncheon 11:30am—1:00pm Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main
Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com.
July 14, 2018 Under the Big Oak Tree Presents: Local Honey 2:00pm Mid-Continent Public Library, Grain Valley Branch July 17, 2018 Park Board Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main
Looking Back The Sni-A-Bar Voice by Marcia Napier Grain Valley Historical Society The Sni-A-Bar Voice was a weekly journal devoted strictly to the interest of Eastern Jackson County. David Clinton Herrington, son of Merrick and Sarah (Holland) Herrington of Grain Valley, was the editor and manager from 1902 until at least 1911. Herrington had a law office in Blue Springs, started The Voice, and was an owner and president of the Sni-A-Bar Bank. According to Volume XI dated January 5, 1911, the publisher was Blue Springs Law and Publishing Co.
Almae C. Hall was the editor, and William L. Hall was the assistant editor. The paper lasted until about 1923. The following is an excerpt from the same issue; “The Voice comes out a little late this week, having had trouble with our gasoline engine…when a gasoline engine goes wrong a Missouri mule could be no more stubborn.” Copies from film of The Sni-ABar Voice are available from The State Historical Society of Missouri.
Thank you for reading Grain Valley News! We are online weekly on Thursdays at www.grainvalleynews.com and in print on the 1st and 3rd weeks of each month. Sign up for our weekly emails and join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@grainvalleynews).
