DATES GOING LOCAL

from KC Parent magazine July 2023

by KC Parent Magazine

CREATE YOUR TRADITIONS!

THE DATING COLUMN IS BACK! And this month,

Decided

stay close to home and support some hyperlocal businesses.

Burgers

After starting out as a food truck, Danny’s Burger Shack (DBS) opened officially as a restaurant in August 2022 in a nondescript strip center in Gladstone. But that has not hurt business one iota. Instead, they have garnered a cult following for their delicious smashburgers and their onion rings, which sell out every day. Their menu is simple, offering several kinds of burgers (in single, double, triple and pounder sizes), as well as chicken sandwiches, chicken bites, fries and onion rings. When we visited for the first time, we sat up at the deli-style counter where we could watch Danny cooking the burgers. It was fun and brought a unique extra to our visit—not everyone gets to chat with Danny a bit. Our burgers were mouthwatering, and the fries crispy and cooked to perfection. Note, they have only a handful of tables and will likely be very busy.

Cookies And Pastries

Once you’ve finished your burger at DBS, head next door for dessert! Scola’s Italian Cookies & Pastries is a bakery not to be missed! We are fortunate to live about 10 minutes from them, so we have enjoyed many of their items. Their specialty, of course, is Italian cookies—tay tus, biscotti, thumbprints, pistachio, Neapolitans and more. But they have an excellent selection of other sweet things, like cannoli, tiramisu, cheesecake, bread pudding, cookies, cake and gelato. It is all delicious! I don’t think we have ever gotten a bad thing there. The bread pudding is truly some of the best we have had anywhere, as are the Italian cookies. The owners and staff are always so nice and helpful, and the fact that they are open until 8:00 in the evening Tuesday through Saturday makes for a great last-minute date.

Antiques

After all those calories, take time to walk off a few. Happy Rock Antiques in Gladstone is a hidden gem and much larger than it appears on the outside. Part antique mall and part flea market, it’s full of antiques, collectibles, vintage items, repurposed items, home décor and furniture, among a plethora of other unique things. My husband and I have enjoyed browsing the aisles and booths here several times. There are always new things to see and treasures to find. Even if you don’t find anything, it’s certainly entertaining. You could easily spend a couple of hours there. It makes for a fun date day activity on a Saturday or a lastminute outing on a weeknight since they, too, are open until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. If you go, be sure to check out the outdoor metal art at The Rusty Clucker on the second floor. Lots of cool and interesting pieces to behold!

Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives in the Northland with her husband. They love to explore Kansas City and try new restaurants and activities.

FOR MORE GREAT DATE NIGHT IDEAS, GO TO KCPARENT.COM!

Why does my 13-year-old shepherd mix chew and eat sticks when I take him on walks to the park? I am worried he will get splinters in his teeth/gums. Something missing in his diet? He gets Dentastix or rawhide every night as a bedtime treat.

- Paul Kennedy

Dogs are descendants of wolves, and at their very core, are still hunters. They have innate behaviors that cause them to want to hunt and forage, which results in chewing on sticks in our modern-day pups. Stick chewing is usually just for fun and not because they are lacking in vitamins. Many owners let their dogs chew on sticks, but I would certainly caution this as sticks can seriously injure dogs when they are chewing on them or cause gastrointestinal issues. You could always try bringing approved chewing items on your walk and trading them out for sticks when he starts chewing on them.

- Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Bud is a six-year-old black cat. I adopted him from Great Plains SPCA three years ago Father’s Day. He gets frantic when it’s time to go to the vet. Other than that, he is wonderful.

- Kathy McGinley

Going to the vet can be traumatizing for many animals since they build negative associations when going there. It might be helpful to start building some positive ones for Bud to make the trips a little less frantic.

I recommend using Feliway wipes or sprays 30-60 minutes before you travel to help decrease anxiety during travel. I also suggest bringing some bedding that he frequently uses with his familiar scent and high-quality treats like tuna or soft food for rewarding him. If Bud is extremely scared or shut-down, then you can always talk to your veterinarian about medication to help. Thank you so much for adopting and good luck with your vet travels. -

Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Can dogs have Alzheimer’s? I feel like my dog may have it. She is getting older and seems to be displaying some odd behaviors and not remembering where she is or how she got there. She will also stand and stare at the wall for a long time.

- Christian Virella

Yes, dogs can get dementia. It’s called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) and it is not curable, however, the symptoms can be treated. If you think your dog may have “doggy dementia,” I recommend visiting your veterinarian to learn more since it aﬀects memory, learning, and comprehension. Some symptoms of CDS are anxiety, failing to remember routines, slowness in learning new things, staring blankly at walls or nothing, lethargy, lack of self-grooming, not responding when called, and aimless wandering. Early detection can help with symptom treatment so please get your pet checked out by your veterinarian soon.

- Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

I like to explore and would be a fantastic hiking partner. I’m very social, outgoing, and I adore people and dogs. I’m still rusty on some manners which is why it is recommended for me meet all children in a home I might go to, but I am learning and I’ve learned several commands. I have been in the Puppies for Parole program where I learned a lot of life skills, like how to not jump on people and to not pull so much on the leash. I’m very playful and would love to go to a home with another dog, but it’s not required. I love playing with toys, going on walks, exploring, playing with dogs, and cuddling. Hope to see you soon!

If you would like to meet Pebbles or learn more about her, please contact our Adoptions Team at adoptions@ greatplainsspca.org or by calling (913) 831-7722.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, and most people know of someone who has suffered a stroke. Survivors of strokes are left with varying degrees of disability that require additional medical services and care requirements that are costly. One of the most important pieces of information to know about strokes is that they can often be treated if caught early.

So what exactly is a stroke? A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to an area of the brain is disrupted. When oxygen rich blood is not delivered to the brain cells, the resulting lack of oxygen will cause those cells to die. This interruption of blood flow can happen when an artery in the brain ruptures or is blocked with a blood clot. The majority of strokes are the type that involve a clot and are called ischemic strokes. Less common is a hemorrhagic stroke from a ruptured artery. The resulting effects of a stroke will depend on what part of the brain is deprived of oxygen, the size of the brain area damaged, and the amount of time before treatment is received.

Any person at any age can have a stroke. It is more likely in men than women, and the chance of having a stroke increases with age. In the United States, the ethnicities at highest risk for stroke include Black Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans. Having a family or personal history of stroke, taking birth control pills, and being pregnant all increase the likelihood. Many chronic diseases have a negative impact on blood vessels, which in turn can lead to a stroke.

The ability to spot signs of a stroke is valuable knowledge that can save a life. A stroke victim will display an abrupt onset of symptoms that may include difficulty with vision, speech and balance. Sudden confusion or a severe headache can also occur. The acronym FAST is a helpful tool that can serve as a quick and simple assessment if you think someone might be having a stroke. FAST stands for:

FACE: One-sided drooping or asymmetric expressions when smiling or raising eyebrows.

ARMS: When asked to hold both arms straight out in front of body, they are unable to hold up one of the arms.

SPEECH: Slurred or disorganized speech when asked to repeat a sentence.

TIME: Call 911 FAST! Quick medical care is crucial.

Early intervention is key. The faster a stroke victim receives treatment, the better their outcome. The best outcomes occur in those who receive treatment within three hours of the onset of symptoms. The time that symptoms began is critical information that emergency health care providers will want to know. Remember and report this time if possible.

The good news is that most strokes can be prevented! The major focus of prevention should be controlling chronic health problems, particularly high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking. Pursuing regular medical care and taking medications as prescribed are important steps toward managing chronic health problems. Additionally, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is highly beneficial and will positively impact all the health problems mentioned above. Depending on an individual’s age and circumstances, their health care provider may recommend daily aspirin or a prescription blood thinner to help prevent a stroke. Starting any new medication, even over-the-counter medication, has risks and benefits. Be sure to talk with your health care provider about your risks for a stroke and develop a personalized prevention strategy tailored to your individual situation.

Hailey Saunders, APRN, MSN, FNP-C, is a family nurse practitioner and Kansas City native who is passionate about evidencebased health education.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.

REFERENCES: CDC.gov/stroke, AHAJournals.org/doi/10.1161/STR.0000000000000375?cookieSet=1, HLBI.NIH.gov/health/stroke/causes

Children are more vulnerable to air pollution while they are still growing. Pollutants including ozone can make it hard to breathe and can cause long-term damage to airways and lungs.

Help keep your kids healthy this summer:

Follow the SkyCast at AirQKC.org for the daily ozone pollution forecast.

When elevated pollution levels are predicted, limit the time children spend outdoors.