Josephine April 2011

Josephine April 2011

St. Joseph’s women’s magazine

It’s all In the bag Zag Bag is going strong seven years later

MORE INSIDE: Mind Power

Reduce stress and improve your health with meditation

eat and lose

Certain foods can actually help burn the flab

winter is over

Get out and enjoy spring with these activities

Seafood Cooking Information Booth Friday, April 1, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.

Come by and visit with Hy-Vee Dietitian Sheri Caldwell, RD, LD Sheri Caldwell RD, LD Hy-Vee Store Dietitian

• Health benefits of seafood • Seafood cooking tips and techniques • Delicious recipes for seafood and side dishes • Food tastings Visit all of our wonderful Hy-Vee departments: FLORAL • KITCHEN • ITALIAN • CHINESE • DELICATESSEN PRODUCE • BAKERY • SALAD BAR • DAIRY • FROZEN • CARIBOU COFFEE MEAT & SEAFOOD MARKET• PHARMACY • HEALTHMARKET • WINE & SPIRITS

201 N. Belt Hwy. • 816-232-9750 Follow us on

@ STJOSEPHHYVEE and become a fan on

at facebook.com/stjoehyvee

editorial: (816) 271-8594 toll-free: (800) 779-6397 advertising: (816) 271-8527 fax: (816) 271-8686 josephine@ newspressnow.com

Our staff Editor Jess DeHaven jess.dehaven@newspressnow.com Presentation editor Paul Branson paul.branson@newspressnow.com Photo editor Todd Weddle todd.weddle@newspressnow.com Designer Kevin Krauskopf kevin.krauskopf@newspressnow.com Writers Sylvia Anderson Tamara Clymer Shea Conner Jennifer Gordon Jennifer Hall Blake Hannon Kristen Hare Christina Hazelwood Heckman Betsy Lee Stacey Mollus Megan Rau Alonzo Weston Erin Wisdom Cathy Woolridge Photography Eric Keith Jessica Stewart

|04/11

Josephine

St. Joseph News-Press P.o. Box 29 St. Joseph, Mo 64502

the regulars

editor’s note

4

events calendar

6

the 5

8

average joe

28

getting real

29

meal time

30

inside

cover girls

Cover photography by Jessica Stewart

Katie Barnes, left, and Erica Wheeler started their business, Zag Bags, together seven years ago as what Erica terms “an accident, really.”

“I saw a bag and thought ‘This is something Katie and I could do,’” she says. “We’re both very creative, so this has been a great outlet for that.”

The two met as students at North Andrew High School and now run their business out of Fillmore, Mo. With four kids between them (Katie has one and Erica has three), their business also allows them the flexibility to spend time with their families.

“That’s a big reason we’re doing this,” Katie says. “As long as business is good, we’ll keep going with it.”

To read more about Katie and Erica and Zag Bags, turn to Page 16.

newspressnow.com/josephine

| Josephine magazine |

April 2011

The power of the mind Meditation reduces stress and increases health

10

Clean as a whistle How to get — and keep — your house in order

14

Making it big with bags Seven years since its inception, Zag Bags is going strong

16

Cheap date Have a romantic time without breaking the bank

20

Spring is in the air Get outdoors and try these activities

22

How much should you spend each month?

It’s a tricky question with a trickier answer

24

Open wide Food can be a powerful weight-loss ally

26

3

Wine Tastings

editor’s note

After months of miserable cold, I can’t wait to get the windows open and the fresh air inside when spring arrives. We’ve finally put winter behind us, and spring is here, which means you’re probably looking for ways to not only let the warmer weather inside your house but also to spend some time outside in it.

Maybe you have a favorite outdoor activity, but if you’re looking for something fresh to do now that temperatures are on the rise, we have some thoughts.

Jennifer Hall has compiled a great list of things you can do outside that you might not have tried.

Spring is all about renewal, after all, so why not get out there and do something a bit different this season? Turn to page 22 for some ideas that will give you a breath of fresh air.

Spring also means spring cleaning for many of us. While it’s nice to get a fresh start around the house, a big cleanup means you won’t be able to get out and enjoy the nice weather. If you’d like to get your house in order but would rather spend time doing something more enjoyable, we’ve got just the story for you. Betsy Lee consulted the experts for some quick tips on cleaning that will help you tidy up without wasting a weekend working inside. Check out page 14 for the details.

One of those things that’s more enjoyable than cleaning is having a date night with someone special.

Because budgets are tighter these

Every Friday Night 5pm-8pm $5 Per Person includes glass of wine Walk-In Cigar Humidor • Walk-In Beer Cave

Fine Wine, Spirits and Cigars

By Jess Dehaven days, maybe that’s something you’ve put off doing. But going out doesn’t have to be expensive, as Kristen Hare found out when researching her story about date nights on a dime. There are plenty of things you can do that don’t cost much or are even free. And if you don’t have someone to go on a date with, these ideas also make a fun day or night out with your girlfriends. You can find that story on page 20.

Speaking of budgets, most of us try to live within one, but how do you know how much you should be spending on things like housing, food and entertainment? Are you just spending whatever it costs to pay a mortgage or rent? Swiping your card whenever you head to the grocery store or want to go out to eat? Using anything left over to take in the occasional movie or concert?

Not even considering savings?

Maybe your numbers are out of whack. Shea Conner got the scoop on how to divvy up your income so that you can get the balance right.

Read more about it on page 24.

816-749-4WINE (4946)

Corner of 36th & Beck Rd.

(Next to Beck Rd. Cleaners) M-Th 10am-9pm; F & S 10am-11pm

One

Bracelet...

One

Necklace ...

Endless

Possibilities.

Better Living

2204 N. Belt Hwy., St. Joseph, MO (816) 364-6065 or (800) 279-4249

april

area events

SUN

MON

April 4 • 9:45 a.m. (weigh-in at 8:30), TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) a nonprofit, weight-loss support and education group, East Hills Church of Christ, 3912 Penn St. Every Monday in April.

• 7 to 9 p.m., St. Joseph Camera Club, Rolling Hills Consolidated Library.

TUE

WED

April 6

April 7

• 6:30 p.m., Pony Express Chapter of Cowboys for Christ, Pony Express Saddle and Bridle Club, north of K Highway on County Road 371. 2387503.

• 7 a.m., Indoor farmer’s market, 3821 Eastridge Village. Every Wednesday in April.

• 7:30 a.m., St. Joseph BNI weekly meeting, Pony Express Museum.

Call 262-9684.

Every Wednesday in April.

• 6:30 p.m., Scrap & Chat, at Belt branch, 1904 N. Belt Highway, of Rolling Hills Consolidated Library. Club gatherings are open to the public.

Additional date April 20.

• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Gardening luncheon, YWCA, meal

by Two Carols Catering, guest speaker Judy Fuston, $12; reservations due by April 4 to 232-4481.

April 19 • 6:30 p.m., Pony Express Chapter of ABWA meeting.

Call 2327462.

April 27 April 26 • 10 a.m., Welcome Wagon Social Club of St. Joseph, monthly meeting, Rolling Hills Library, 1904 N. Belt Highway. Call 279-1947.

• 7 p.m., Introductory session to Creighton Model Fertility Awareness and Appreciation, Heartland Medical Plaza. Course is designed to help couples cooperate with their fertility in family planning. Call 232-2258.

• 7 p.m., Young Living Essential Oils presents free natural health seminar, Chillicothe Housing Authority building. Call (660) 707-0097.

6

THUR

April 5

If you would like to list your event or meeting in the calendar, please e-mail your information to josephine@newspressnow.com.

April 2011

• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Administrative Professionals Luncheon, YWCA, meal by Two Carols Catering, speakers, gifts and grand prize of a year of house cleaning, $25; reservations due by April 25 to 232-4481.

| Josephine magazine |

2011 FRI

SAT

April 1

April 2

• 5 to 8 p.m., Friday Night Wine Tastings, Smooth Endings Fine Wines, Spirits and Cigars, corner of Belt and Beck, $5 per person.

(816) 7494WINE. Every Friday in April.

• 7 a.m., Indoor farmer’s market, 3821 Eastridge Village.

Every Saturday in April.

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Spring Shopping Mart fundraiser for juvenile diabetes, Eagles Lodge.

Raffles, crafts, food and much more. $2 donation for entry.

April 14 • 12:00 p.m., St. Joseph Garden Club, Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show byClara’s Fashions, Word of Life Church/Life Center, $13. Call 232-9151 for reservations.

• 6:30 p.m., St. Jo Women On The Go, Moila, dinner, $15. Call 2794583 for reservations.

April 21 • 5:30 p.m., Third Thursday Wine Tasting, Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. Cost is $10 per person. Call 232-9750.

• 7:30 p.m., Pony Express Saddle and Bridle Club monthly meeting, north of K Highway on County Road 371. Call (816) 669-3478.

April 28 • 6 p.m., Fairview Ladies Afternoon Golf League organizational meeting, Fairview Club House, 33rd and Pacific. League play begins May 5; players of all skill levels welcome.

Contact Linda Daffron at ldaffron@ swbell.net.

• 6:30 p.m., St. Joseph Aglow Community Lighthouse, St. Joseph Library at East Hills. Call 390-8081. newspressnow.com/josephine

April 16 • 10 a.m., March of Dimes March for Babies, Hyde Park, registration begins at 9 a.m. Call 2388707.

April 30 • 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Gardeners’ Festival, YWCA. Pre-sale orders due by April 15 with pick-up on April 29. Call 232-4481 for pre-order form.

1

Check it out

2 3

1 White boyfriend watch from Betsey

Johnson featuring a round case with clear stone accents on the bezel, white dial with oversize pink numbers, 3-hand movement, and a link bracelet.

Dillard’s $65 2 FTD Garden Walk Bouquet contains gerbera, purple asters and lavendar alstroemeria arranged in a glass vase and accented with limonium. Approx.

12”H x 11”W. (Based on availability, some

4

colors, flowers and containers may not be available at the time of your order. If a substitution is necessary our floral designers will contact you. Any substitution will be of equal or greater value.)

HyVee $35 3 VIVITÉ® Replenish Hydrating Cream helps restore skin suppleness and smoothness, and helps calm and soothe sensitive skin. Contains no glycolic compound. Key ingredients include superoxide dismutase, green tea extract, chamomile, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Midwest Laser Aesthetics $50 4 Bagel ‘n’ cream cheese tray with a variety of blueberry, cherry, cinnamon, plain, wheat or whole grain bagels.

HyVee $16.99

5

5 Experience a Shellac™ manicure

6

featuring CND Shellac™ hybrid nail color. With zero dry time and a mirror finish, you’ll keep this manicure perfect for 14 days.

Head To Toe $25 6 jessica Simpson sleeveless dress

in a soft tulip/multi floral print features a U-neck, pleat detail and a gathered skirt with full bubble hem. Of polyester, with back zipper.

Orig. $128.00 Now $76.80 (Offer good while quantities last.)

Dillard’s This item placement advertising opportunity is available to all Josephine advertisers based on a first-come-first-serve basis. Non-advertisers can appear on this page at a charge. Ask your advertising representative.

The

5

tips for life

eating well Health. The secret to healthier hair and glowing skin? It’s not in your makeup case, according to a report on FitnessMagazine.com by nutritionist Lisa Drayer, MA, RD and author of “The Beauty Diet.” It’s all about what you eat. Add the following 10 superfoods to your diet for gorgeous skin and beautiful hair: blueberries, wild salmon, spinach, oysters, tomatoes, walnuts, kiwis, dark chocolate (with at least 60 percent cacao), low-fat yogurt and sweet potatoes.

kiss the cook

Relate. The old adage that food is the way to a man’s heart works on a two-way street, according to this tip from Esquire staffer Tom Chiarella. To show your partner some additional ways you care, pick up a favorite snack next time you’re at the grocery store. Try your hand at a meal if you usually let your partner do the cooking. A bad homemade dinner is still something prepared with consideration, so don’t feel the need to apologize if the chicken’s a little dry. If nothing else, you’ll remember to take the poultry out a littler sooner next time or put some foil over the top.

8

April 2011

cotton balls in berry baskets Organize. To display things like cotton balls and extra soap in the guest bathroom, Real Simple magazine points out you could spend $30 on baskets made to look as if they had once held fresh raspberries — or you could just use baskets that actually did. Spray them with a mild disinfecting cleaner, such as Lysol, to ward off mold and critters.

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

one thing at a time What is he thinking? Our Shea Conner was able to get his thoughts together long enough to share this one with women: Hi, my name is Shea, and I’m incapable of multitasking. But I’m not alone. Most men suffer from this debilitating lack of function. Neurologist Robert Gorski at the University of California says that it’s because the corpus callosum (the nerve connections between the right and left hemispheres of the brain) is 30 percent more highly developed in the female brain than the male brain. This means information flows with ease from one side of the female brain to the other, allowing women to focus on more than one thing at a time much better than their male counterparts. So, that’s why I can’t cook worth a dang or have a conversation when I’m watching TV. It’s not a matter of ignorance — it’s science! You don’t buy it? Fine. I’ll turn off the game while you tell me about your day.

The Platinum Club Benefits: • Your choice of a free monthly 50 minute massage or hydrafacial.

• 10% off all retail products • 15% off all additional services • $50 off each syringe of Radiesse or Juvederm • $10 per unit Botox Cosmetic • Receive 20 cents in your Rewards Account for every dollar spent • Two complimentary makeup applications per year of enrollment • Bi-annual members only open houses featuring special discounts on products and services • For each person you refer who enrolls in the program, receive 1 month free Platinum Club membership • Monthly membership deposit of $99, banked into your account for future products and services

3925 Sherman Avenue • 816-232-SKIN(7546) www.stjoenewyou.com

pull the plug Money. It’s easy enough to turn off your lights and appliances before you leave the house to keep from running up your electric bill. But believe it or not, you could even do a bit more.

Devices like cell phone or battery chargers, microwaves and other appliances generate electricity when they’re plugged in — even if they’re turned off. According to SmartMoney. com, that actually accounts for 5 to 10 percent of electricity use in your home. Plug as many of those devices in to a power strip as you can, or simply pull the plug to cut your bill even more.

The power of the mind Meditation proves a popular, effective way to reduce stress and increase health

By Christina hazelwood heCkman Josephine magazine

Emily Fite, owner of the Yoga Room in downtown St. Joseph, demonstrates her meditative technique.

Eric KEith Josephine magazine

I

n its simplest form, meditation is merely the act of engaging in contemplation, reflection or mental exercises to reach a heightened level of spiritual awareness.

In reality, it offers much more than that.

“It is a good way to learn to slow down in our hectic lifestyle,” says Emily Fite.

The owner of the Yoga Room in St. Joseph says meditation especially helps those with high blood pressure, anxiety issues, health issues or insomnia.

In our constantly on-the-go society, people are less healthy and more susceptible to illness and disease. Our bodies often function in a “fight or flight” mode, elevating blood pressure and heart rate, among other health issues.

Fite says meditation guides our minds and bodies toward a “relaxation response,” where immunity is stronger, blood pressure, respiratory and heart rates are lower and we feel at ease to enjoy life to the fullest.

“The regular practice of meditation brings peace of mind and rationality to us in times of turmoil and distress,” Fite says. “...

Research has shown meditation to increase immunity and slow disease processes. You build in yourself a well of infinite resources of pure joy and bliss.”

Dr. Russell Phillips, an assistant professor in Missouri Western State University’s psychology department, leads meditation

newspressnow.com/josephine

groups at the Yoga Room. He has been doing meditation for eight years and says there are several reasons to give it a try.

“Some practice meditation as a form of stress relief. Others practice meditation to bring them closer to God,” he says. “Others practice meditation to gain more awareness in their lives, as meditation can help one become more mindful, to lose attachments to things that cause suffering.”

No matter if you’re a beginner or an expert, Fite says meditation is a practice that’s for everyone. There are many options, and you just have to find the one that best suits your needs.

Fite says the most traditional form is silent meditation, where one sits very still for a period — ideally 20 minutes twice a day — focusing solely on deep breathing.

“It can be nearly impossible to shut off the mind, so you focus on the breath as a means to keep the mind focused,” Fite says.

“When thoughts arise you pass no judgment and just ‘watch’ them like clouds in the sky coming and going. You can also practice visualization where you use your imagination to ‘guide’ light and energy to parts of your body in need of healing.”

Men tend to prefer silent meditation, while women lean toward guided mediations, Fite says.

“Chanting silently or audibly is a tool to assist the mind to stay focused,” she says. “... For example, with every exhalation saying to yourself, ‘I deeply wish to release negative tension.’ This is a potent phrase that brings peace and a sense of deep calm and release of tension.”

Another simple but powerful medita-

| Josephine magazine |

Please see Page 12

April 2011

11

‘‘

Chanting silently or audibly is a tool to assist the mind to stay focused. ... For example, with every exhalation saying to yourself, ‘ I deeply wish to release negative tension.’ This is a potent phrase that brings peace and a sense of deep calm and release of tension. — Emily Fite, Yoga Room owner

Shellac Mani & Classic Pedi Combo

Starting at $50 00 Manicures | Pedicures | Body Scrubs | Tanning | Massaging Facials

Tues. & Thurs. 12:00 - 7:00 | Wed. & Fri. 9:00 - 5:00 | Sat. 9:00-2:00 322 Saint Joseph Street, Wathena | 785-989-3600

Spring into Savings!

Buy one complete pair...

get a 2nd pair 50% off!* Keeping value in sight

CONTINUED FROM Page 11

816-364-0450 or 888-916-9898 2925 N. Belt Hwy., St. Joseph, MO www.specshoppe.com The best eyewear. The best value. The best service.

*See Store for Details

Your Favorite Chiropractor!

Hydraoge MassNow Bed ughes at H practic!

Chiro

• Chiropractic • Acupuncture • Aqua Massage

A Family Tradition of Chiropractic Care That You Can Trust!

tion technique is to silently count to eight while inhaling and again while exhaling, fully relaxing your muscles as you breathe out. Anyone can adopt this technique whenever they need to relax or calm down, she adds.

Diane Waddell, a nurse practitioner at Heartland Integrative and Restorative Medicine, says meditation helps keep her “balanced and appreciative of life.� “I particularly enjoy walking meditation incorporated with mindfulness,� she says. “I try to keep my mind free of random thoughts so I can be more ‘present’ with my surroundings, particularly noticing trees, sky, stars and other gifts of creation.�

The techniques of meditation are deeply embedded in yoga classes, which is one way of learning and practicing meditation. There also are classes specifically for learning more about meditation techniques that you can use in your everyday life. “For those worried about the religious affiliation, I heard in church once that prayer is talking to God, and meditation is listening to God,�

Fite says. “From any religious background, meditation can be appropriate. Just practice in the way you feel most comfortable.�

HUGHES FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC

816-279-3319 • 1918 N. Belt Hwy., St. Joseph Mon.-Fri. 8 A.M.-5:30 P.M.; Sat. 8 A.M.-Noon

photos.com

14

April 2011

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

Clean as a whistle How to get — and keep — your house in order

By Betsy Lee • Josephine magazine

The birds are chirping. The trees are budding. And the flowers are just starting to pop.

Spring is in the air.

But inside your house it’s a different story.

It’s time for spring cleaning. But this year, instead of taking a weekend to do your cleaning, experts on cleaning say you can simply take 15 minutes every day. Just this snippet of time can make a huge difference. And it can help you build habits that will make your weekly cleaning easier and more efficient.

Get help online These simple tips can help Check out FlyLady.net. This you clean up and stay clean, free website provides daily without a major time investtips on getting your act ment.

• Define a place for together around the house. everything and always put Users can sign up for daily it there. “Recruit help to advice and get on a plan that the FlyLady guarantees always keep your home picked up, so when it’s time will lead to a cleaner, more to clean, you’re not wasting organized home. your time putting things away,” says Amy Drost, coowner of St. Joseph Merry Maids.

• Outline tasks that can be done daily, without much trouble. For example, keep a cleaning spray and paper towel roll under the bathroom sink. Every time you brush your teeth, clean the sink and the toilet. That way, the job is always done. Other tasks, like wiping down the kitchen sink after every use, can save hours later.

• Drost recommends investing in rugs for every entrance to your home. This can keep your flooring significantly cleaner.

• Don’t worry about deep cleaning the whole house at one time, Drost says. “On a weekly basis, rotate rooms throughout your house to deep clean,” Drost

newspressnow.com/josephine

says. “If you keep a list and rotate your rooms, you never have to deep clean all at once.”

• If there is only one thing that should be done weekly, Ron Warden with The Cleaning Connection in St. Joseph recommends the weekly vacuuming of carpeted areas. “To go a step further,” he says, “it would also be a good idea to take care of general dusting and removing dust from hard-surface areas.”

• If maintenance is a big problem, try to find out why. “I would suggest that they look at the factors causing the problems and try to eliminate as many as possible,” Warden says.

• Cut out expensive cleaning products. “Cleaning products do not need to be a costly item,” Warden says. “Check out possible cleaning uses for things like vinegar and ammonia.” Cutting rags out of old T-shirts also can save some money.

• Make a list of the items you need to hire out, such as carpet cleaning. Put those things on your calendar.

For example, Warden recommends that air ducts be professionally cleaned every five years. Dryer vents should be professionally cleaned every three years.

• Change your furnace filters regularly to cut down on the amount of dust circulating in your house.

• Consider hiring help, even if you have a smaller home or a smaller budget. “There are a lot of people out there that want a clean home, but for whatever reason don’t have one,” Drost says. “You don’t have to have a regular service if you can’t afford it. We do a lot of on-call customers who call when they feel they can’t keep up. It’s a great way to take the stress out for yourself.”

• If you own a larger home, hire regular help. “Deciding to hire a professional is really a choice of how you budget your money. It’s not as expensive as you think. The time you save not doing it yourself really gives most people their weekends back,” Drost says.

“I do tell customers once your home is 3,000-plus square feet, you need help and should build it into your budget.”

| Josephine magazine |

April 2011

15

Small-tow make it big Seven years since its inception, Zag Bags is still going strong

By Erin Wisdom • Photos by JEssica stEWart Josephine magazine

Business boomed when Erica Wheeler and Katie Barnes began selling custom-made bags seven years ago.

Their Northwest Missouri-based business took off so quickly, in fact, that keeping up came with quite a learning curve — perhaps one that prepared them for the adjustments necessary when the recession hit and things tapered off a bit.

“Mostly we just tried to be smart,” Wheeler says.

For the most part, being smart meant being choosier about their supplies and letting go of some of their employees — no easy task for any business and one especially hard for people whose staff consists largely of family members and friends.

Despite these challenges, the small business that surprised them with success early on is still going strong.

Because Barnes’ last name was Nie when the women began their venture — and because of the zig-zag design formed by the first initials of their last Please see Page 18

ABOVE: Katie Barnes, left, and Erica Wheeler’s

wn women g with bags

s business, Zag Bags, has taken off. LEFT: Barnes and Wheeler receive orders for their unique bags from around the country.

Wheeler was a stay-at-home mom of two young children who happened to come across a purse she thought she’d be able to make: Thus the original Zag Bag was born.

CONTINUED FROM Page 16 names at the time — they dubbed their business Zag Bag Designs and continue to use the “WN” logo on their bags. They also continue to operate out of the tiny town of Fillmore, Mo., where for the past few years they’ve housed their studio in an old brick building that used to be a Baptist church.

It’s a fitting location for what they consider a faith-based business, one in which they say they’ve felt God’s direction. Their rolls and rolls of fabric — about 100 in all — are located there, as is the office where they process orders and the presses for cutting fabric into makings for bags. The women

18

April 2011

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

learn more Visit www.zagbag.com, e-mail erica@ zagbag.com or call (816) 487-2109 to find out more about Zag Bags.

employ 10 sewers who then do the bag assembly by hand from their homes.

But long before reaching this part of the process, each bag takes formation in the mind of its owner, who chooses which materials and design — out of a selection of about a dozen, all with “z” names such as Zadie, Zahlia and Zane — that she’d like her bag to feature.

As if it were possible to put more fun into picking a purse, Wheeler and Barnes opted to sell theirs through parties led by consultants. They currently have more than 40 consultants in 14 states across the country, including Alaska and Hawaii. Such a wide selling presence certainly wasn’t on their minds starting out, however, simply as two friends with creative streaks.

“I was going for an extra $100 a month,” says Barnes, who was in college at the time. Wheeler was a stayat-home mom of two young children who happened to come across a purse she thought she’d be able to make: Thus the original Zag Bag was born.

Now with four children — and two degrees in elementary education — between them, both women say the best part their business has been the way it’s enabled them to contribute financially to their families while still having flexible schedules. Although neither has put her teaching degree to use, both do frequently spend their days with children, as Wheeler’s 4-month-old daughter is a regular at their studio and Barnes’ 1-year-old son spends some days there, as well.

Adding kids to a full workload is enough to keep them busy, but the women have managed on top of this to add a few more designs to their collection this spring. To view these, visit www.zagbag.com, e-mail erica@ zagbag.com or call (816) 487-2109.

“They’ve always been fun and always been good,” Wheeler says of the bags. “But I think they’ve grown by leaps and bounds.”

Rick Hopp Agency 910 N. Belt Hwy. (816) 364-1798 rhopp@amfam.com

SAVING MONEY IS A GIVEN I SWITCHED TO SAVE OUR PRIDE AND JOY

Matt Thrasher Agency, Inc. 301 Illinois Ave. (816) 238-1121 mthrashe@amfam.com

Dave R. Price, Agent 910 N. Woodbine Rd. (816) 233-5632 dprice@amfam.com

Scott Wineinger Agency 1805 Oak Ridge Circle (816) 233-5659 swineing@amfam.com

Carolyn Sampson Agency 6120 King Hill Ave. (816) 238-5201 csampso2@amfam.com

Tom C. Lemmon, Agent 2524 Saint Joseph Ave. (816) 279-2606 tlemmon@amfam.com

Lee Butler Agency 2721 Pembroke Ln. (816) 279-7770 www.leebutleragency.com

Steven Lorenz, Agent 1109 N. 26th St. (816) 901-9200 slorenz@amfam.com

Cari Rich, Agent 104 W. Locust St. (816) 539-3751 crich@amfam.com

Getting the most out of every penny we spend on our car is a must. That’s why we talked to an American Family agent.

They showed us that having the right coverage from the start saves us from paying more, later.

And after knowing our agent for only a short time, I realized we couldn’t afford to have it any other way.

Save up to 28% on Auto, Home & Life Combined.

Call Your Local American Family Agent American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries American Family Insurance Company Home Office - Madison, WI 53783 amfam.com

© 2009004285 0037692/10 — 7/09 © 2010

photos.com

20

April 2011

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

Cheap date Have a romantic time without breaking the bank

By Kristen Hare • Josephine magazine

least $50.

Now, forget the Date night might make you think of a nice dinner movie and dinner and do something and a movie, a little dancing, maybe a glass of all together difwine at your favorite spot. And all of that might ferent — like get make you think of your wallet. outside.

St. Joseph has Dinner out can be 46 parks and facilities, with 26 miles of costly. Movies cost about parkways and boulevards. You could $10 per person these days, and a few pack a picnic and take a walk around drinks can bust your budget pretty any one of the city’s parks, hit the quickly. network of bike trails or go for a hike, But you can have a great time with Ritchey suggests, and then stop by and that special person in your life without see what’s new at Remington Nature having to take out a second mortgage.

Center, which costs $3 for adults and is There’s a lot to do in St. Joseph, says open until 5 p.m. every day.

Sharon Ritchey, event coordinator “The nature center is so inexpenwith the City of St. Joseph. sive, and that is quite an experience,” “There really is if you just kind of she says. open your eyes,” she says.

To see a full listing of parks and Some of it is inexpensive, and some facilities, go to stjoemo.info/parks/ of it is free. All of it will give you a facilities.cfm. chance to have a great time, do someIf the outdoors aren’t really your thing unexpected and still be able to style, head over to the nearest bowling pay your bills. alley for a game.

Part of the problem with the cost of At Olympia Lanes, Buck Nights dating is the whole dinner and a movie happen after 9 p.m. every Tuesday and concept. Dinner for two, with drinks, can Thursday and you pay only $1 each for easily cost more than $30. Add an extra games, shoes, french fries, hot dogs $20 for the movie, not counting popcorn and sodas. and drinks, and your date will cost you at Public skating sessions at B&J Skate

Center cost about $8 with skate rentals on Friday and Saturday evenings and, like bowling and the parks, offer something different than the normal date.

“It’s a nice, healthy alternative,” says manager Mark Miller, adding that B&J is nonsmoking and has a family atmosphere.

Plus, there’s always the couple skate.

For hours and rates at B&J, visit skatebj.com.

But if all you really want is to just eat, drink and talk, you’re not out of luck.

Just look for weekday happy hours at your favorite bars and specials at your favorite restaurants.

Rhiannon Stumps, a bartender at Hi-Ho Bar and Grill, says she’s seen more and more ways for people to save money at local establishments.

“A lot of places are doing the specials to accommodate people,” she says.

That includes the happy hour at Hi-Ho that runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.

Most happy hours are during the week, and most end before 7, but if you still want to see a movie, you may actually have the money left to go.

Save even more by heading to a second-run theater such as Plaza 8, where movies cost just a few dollars.

Whatever you choose, remember it’s not about the money you spend on your date, or eating someplace fancy, or even seeing the newest movies that matters, but rather spending real time with someone you care about.

And that, as those credit card commercials say, is priceless.

B

Josephine magazine file photos

Camping, horseback riding, walking and fishing are all warmweather activities worth trying.

By JENNIFER HALL • Josephine magazine

Spring

is in the air

Get outdoors and try these activities 22

April 2011

| Josephine magazine |

eing cooped up all winter gives lots of people a case of spring fever.

Kyle Michaels says he and his fiancée, Jackie Currie, can’t wait to go camping this June.

Canoeing is planned for July, and a few weekend trips to Kansas City and a bunch of softball tournaments will be thrown in between.

“When it’s nice out, we try to make the most of it,” Michaels says.

The St. Joseph couple says there is a lot to do in the area and throughout the state.

With dozens of state parks, local hike and bike trails, equestrian sites and big backyards, there is no reason to veg out in front of the television.

Here are a few suggestions to get you pumped up about getting back outside.

Who wouldn’t want to gallop around on a beautiful horse? Wild Rose Equine Center, located in Dearborn, Mo., is a great place to go for riding lessons and trail rides. And, it’s only about 20 minutes south of St. Joseph.

For those a bit more adventuresome, find a trail and ride an all-terrain vehicle. There are plenty of trails around the St. Joseph area. A quick one-hour trip to Perry Lake in Perry, Kan., offers camping and ATV riding.

Two different sides of the lake offer entertainment that is family friendly or for the night owls.

South Missouri offers some of the best camping and canoeing experiences for locals. Michaels and Currie suggest a number of rivers in the state’s most southern areas.

Check out visitmo.com.

And if you’re not looking to leave home, there are a million different activities to do, says Karen Tanner. The St. Joseph woman says she and her husband, both of whom are retired, try to find fun in their own backyard. Paul Tanner says horseshoes, washers and volleyball provide endless hours of fun.

While Karen Tanner admits she could spend all her summer free time in her garden, she says she does try to turn her chore list into something worthwhile.

“We were able to turn needing to paint the garage into a barbecue and party,” she says.

“We had music and drinks till almost 3 a.m.

And on a hot summer day, that’s the best way to do it.”

newspressnow.com/josephine

How much should you spend a month?

It’s a tricky question with an even trickier answer

By Shea Conner • Josephine magazine

swer wasn’t comforting to people trying to create a It’s a question everyone asks, but no one workable budget.

Inspired by “All Your can definitively answer: How much should Worth: The Ultimate I spend every month?

Lifetime Money Plan,” a How much on housing? book written by Special Advisor to the How much on groceries? How Secretary of the Treasury Elizabeth much on utilities, insurance Warren, Weston — a respected author and gas? of several economic books herself The harsh truth is that it — created her own go-to budget that all depends on a person’s could be applied to any person’s income and financial income. goals. But for MSN Money personal It’s called the 50/30/20 budget, and finance writer Liz Weston, that anit’s applied only to one’s after-tax in-

24

April 2011

| Josephine magazine |

come. Here’s how it works: • Limit your “must-have” expenses to 50 percent. “Must-haves” include all the basic expenditures you really need to make each month: housing, utilities, transportation, food, insurance, child care, tuition and minimum loan payments.

“If you can delay a purchase for a few months with no serious consequences — for example, clothing or dining out — it’s not a must-have,” Weston writes.

• “Wants” can consume 30 percent of your after-tax pay. Vacations, gifts,

newspressnow.com/josephine

‘‘

You want the lights to stay on, but the air conditioner doesn’t have to blast 24/7.

— Liz Weston, MSN Money personal finance writer

entertainment, clothes, eating out and other expenses are all “wants,” although some bills you pay might overlap the two categories.

“Basic phone service is a musthave. But features such as call waiting or unlimited long distance are wants,” Weston writes.

• Savings and debt repayment make up the final 20 percent. To achieve financial independence and minimize the chances of disaster, you need to get rid of consumer debt, save for retirement and build your emergency fund, Weston argues. This category includes any loan payments you make above the minimum.

Weston says that the 50/30/20 budget grants people financial flexibility and balance and helps them realize what they can and can’t afford.

It’s not something most people can achieve overnight, she writes, but exists as a goal to work toward.

However, local experts would tell you the 50/30/20 model is incredibly difficult for many people in the St. Joseph area to achieve.

“I think it would be a struggle for most families,” says Dr. Rebecca Travnichek, a family finance education specialist for the University of Missouri Extension in Andrew County.

Travnichek recommends a model based on USDA averages for moderate-level income. It addresses only the three areas in which people spend the most. She recommends 33 percent should be spent on housing (including insurance), 19 percent on transportation (including insurance and gas) and 16 percent on food (including eating out at restaurants).

Those three areas make up 68 percent of a person’s income. That’s why she argues the “50” part of the

50/30/20 approach wouldn’t work for financially strapped families.

“You don’t want to get a lower insurance plan and not have as good of coverage on your home.

Gas prices are going up, and that’s something you can’t control,” Travnichek says. “You can cut in places, but you don’t have a lot of flexibility on some others.”

Of the remaining 32 percent of monthly income, Travnichek says people should shoot for saving 10 percent if they can.

Apprisen Financial Advocates, a consumer credit counseling service in St. Joseph, drew up numbers similar to Travnichek’s but got a little more specific. Apprisen recommends the following: • Housing — 30 percent • Transportation — 17 percent • Food — 12 percent • Savings — 8 percent • Utilities — 7 percent • Clothing — 7 percent • Insurance — 5 percent • Medical — 5 percent • Recreation — 4 percent • School/child care — 3 percent • Mad money — 2 percent

Do you

Although all three models differ in proportion and detail, they each give consumers an objective to reach. Not to mention, all three — and several other experts — recommend cutting unnecessary costs.

Travnichek says many struggling families are paying too much for food.

“With the way our current society is, we are so busy that it’s easier to run through the drive-thru and grab dinner on the way to a ball game or a rehearsal,” she says.

“You can save a lot just by trying to eliminate the number of times a family eats out.”

According to Weston, people can save just by re-examining their existing contracts, insurance policies and utilities usage.

“You want the lights to stay on, but the air conditioner doesn’t have to blast 24/7,” she writes.

The University of Missouri Extension has several resources available to help people overcome overspending, including an online spending tracker, financial marketing classes and other free programs.

Visit extension.missouri.edu for more information.

Sufferneedlessly ?

From • Headaches/Dizziness/Blurred Vision • Neck Pain • Tight Muscles • Spasms • Shoulder Pain • Pain Down Arms • Numbness in Hands • Pain Between Shoulders • Difficulty Breathing • Lower Back Pain • Hip Pain, • Pain Down Legs • Stress

?

if so...

you may have the danger signals of a pinched nerve!

Center for Detoxification & Weight Management

2335 North Belt Highway, St. Joseph, MO • stjosephchiropractic.com

Call 816-279-0700 TODAY for a free examination & consultation!

photos.com

By Cathy Woolridge • Josephine magazine

It’s no secret that if you want to lose weight,

Open wide

you have to exercise and consume fewer calo-

Food can be a powerful weight-loss ally 26

April 2011

ries than your body burns. But, did you know that you also need to eat to lose weight?

“There’s no food that will make you lose weight,” says Dr. Allyn Smith of Performance Plus Rehabilitation Center in St. Joseph.

| Josephine magazine |

newspressnow.com/josephine

But there are foods that will help you in your weight-loss journey. Food is the fuel our bodies need to survive.

However, not all foods are created equal, and the obesity epidemic underscores that.

A lot of what we consume is overly processed and full of too much salt, fat and other things our bodies don’t need.

So, what should you be eating to aid in the weight-loss battle?

“It is recommended to eat more plant-based foods — vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds and lean meats and low-fat dairy products,” says Sheri Caldwell, a dietitian at Hy-Vee in St. Joseph.

“The plant-based foods tend to have a higher nutrient density and be more filling than processed foods. Usually they also provide less calories, fat and sugar per serving, which promotes weight loss.”

Fitnessmagazine.com offers a simple breakdown of foods that aid in weight loss. It includes: NUTS and SEEDS: (raw, unsalted)

almonds, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, walnuts.

FRUIT: apples, blueberries, cherries,

grapefruit, oranges, pomegranates.

BEVERAGES: (unsweetened) blueberry

juice, cherry juice, green tea, pomegranate juice, vegetable juice.

VEGETABLES: arugula, bell peppers,

broccoli, cabbage, carrots, leeks, onions, romaine lettuce, scallions, shiitake mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes.

HERBS and SPICES: basil, black pepper,

cardamom, chives, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, ginger, parsley, turmeric.

FISH: flounder, salmon, sole, tilapia.

OTHER: egg whites, yogurt (plain, nonfat).

WebMD adds to that list with skim milk, eggs, kiwis, quinoa, beans,

sweet potatoes and berries. Strawberries, peaches, corn, lean turkey, pork, beef and chicken, whole-grain bread and pasta, brown rice and edamame (soy) also make the list of weight-loss foods from Prevention magazine. And let’s not forget water, which “The Doctor’s Book of Food Remedies” by Selene Yeager and the editors of Prevention magazine name as one of the most powerful weightloss aids.

Water can help relieve hunger pangs, and often when you think you’re hungry, you’re only thirsty.

Also, the book states, drinking water with a meal can help you consume fewer calories.

The easy part is finding out what and how certain foods can help you lose weight. But switching over to a healthier diet can be difficult.

“It’s hard,” Smith says. “It’s an uphill battle, but it can be done.”

To help you chose healthier foods, Hy-Vee has its NuVal nutritional scoring system, which rates the nutrition value of foods on a scale from 1 to 100, The higher the score, the more the nutritional value. Smith says there’s the glycemic index (GI), which ranks carbohydrate food by its affect on blood sugar. What makes a food low or high on the GI is how quickly the food breaks down during digestion. Low glycemic foods earn a ranking of 55 and below, intermediate glycemic foods rate between 55 and 70 and high glycemic foods score above 70. Of course, some foods, such as apples and watermelon, score high on the list but shouldn’t be excluded from your diet. And, some of the lower glycemic foods, such as peanut M&MS and Snickers, are high-calorie

newspressnow.com/josephine

| Josephine magazine |

and should be eaten sparingly.

“You need to consider where those calories come from,” Smith says.

You also need to exercise portion control, the professionals say. As an example, nuts are listed as a food that will help you lose weight. However, they are high in calories, so overindulging can make you gain weight.

To assist with portion control, Caldwell says to use smaller plates.

Make half of the plate vegetables and fruits. The other half of the plate should be split with a lean meat and a whole grain.

Preparation also is important.

In addition to more fresh produce, Caldwell also recommends foods that have been baked, grilled, broiled or steamed.

And rather than skipping meals, consider smaller meals and a couple of snacks throughout the day.

Prevention.com recommends eating three meals, plus a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack.

“Ideally, you’re eating throughout the day,” Smith says.

Now, if you’re bemoaning the loss of your favorite, not-so-healthy foods, eating healthy to lose weight doesn’t always mean depriving yourself, experts say, Caldwell notes that, according to the Hershey Center for Health & Nutrition, 73 percent of people do not want to give up their favorite foods. Eat your favorite foods in moderation and pay attention to portion size. “... Eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures. We need to enjoy and savor our food as we continually make healthier selections,” Caldwell says.

April 2011

27

average joe

Spring passion Men need to be in top romantic form as winter ends

Alonzo Weston is a columnist and

reporter for the St. Joseph News-Press. The St. Joseph native has served on the News-Press staff for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Deanna, have two children and a dog. The St. Joseph native is also a sports junkie who doesn’t pick up after himself. If you’d like to suggest an idea for this column, contact Alonzo at alonzo.weston@ newspressnow.com.

28

April 2011

pring is finally here. Like other mammals, you gorged yourself and slept through the winter only to arise now from your hibernation to seek out the vernal pleasure of companionship. Birds are doing it, bees are doing it — every creature on Earth is hooking up now. So why not you?

Well, my friend, nature is not so kind to us so-called higher-evolved mammals. Birds, bees and even plants are conveniently placed into a relationship by natural forces. It’s basically a shotgun wedding romance — with Mother Nature holding the shotgun. A female may or may not like the choice Mother Nature has given her, but there isn’t a thing she can do about it because she’s in that darned thing called heat.

For the male in the animal world, it’s more of a booty call. No flowers, no chocolates, no romance. To be honest, that’s really the same kind of primitive, undomesticated instinct some of us revert to anyway after 3 a.m.

But before you think animals, insects and plants have it made in the dating game, check out what happens to some of them in the throes of spring passion.

Take the praying mantis for instance. Mating for him is sort of like an auto-erotic experience. Getting his head bit off during lovemaking gives the most pleasure.

Bees are one and done. As soon as their mating job is finished, they’re kicked out of the hive.

Hippos spray urine and feces on themselves like an Axe body deodor-

| Josephine magazine |

ant in an attempt to attract females.

And it works — only on hippos.

Plants just lie there.

But you’ve let yourself go, as they say. Now here you are crawling out of your man cave with a flabby corpulent body sculpted by hibernation, trying to get a hook up. That’s not going to be an easy chore.

Attracting women is hard work.

You have to look like Brad Pitt, have a sense of humor like Adam Sandler and/or spend money like Donald Trump or Hugh Hefner to make it easy.

Really, just having tons of money makes it easier. Look at how many shriveled up old guys like Trump and Hefner get the foxiest young babes.

Do you think if a poor guy who looked just like Hef or Trump walked into a bar, he’d have women crawling all over him? No way. In fact, if he walked in wearing the same smoking jacket and bad toupee, they’d probably throw him out.

For some reason, women like the bad boy. Many of them may say publicly that they want a nice guy who weeps along with them while watching “The Notebook,” but over a few drinks they’ll admit it’s the guy with the tattoos and reputation that turns them on. But don’t take that as advice to go rob a bank.

However, the Internet changes many of the old dating rules, anyway.

In many ways, it’s easier. For one, you don’t even have to struggle trying to come up with a cool opening line in a face-to-face encounter. Just Google a list of possibilities and use the best one in your chat response. Heck, you can even pass off a picture of the man “your man could smell like” in the Old Spice commercial as yourself. When she sees you in person, just play the sympathy card and say you’ve had a terrible setback.

It’s all in being creative.

newspressnow.com/josephine

eople are like sponges, and you’d be amazed at what comes out when they are squeezed.

Let’s say you’re driving down the street and your cell phone rings. You reach into your purse to grab it, taking your eyes off of the road for just a moment. In that split second, the car in front of you stops to let a squirrel run by and — BAM! You rear-end them.

What is your immediate action? Do you calmly put down your still ringing phone and reach into the glove box for your insurance card, or do you start crying like a third-grade girl who was just told by her snotty classmates that her new haircut makes her looks like a boy?

I have noticed that everyone has his or her own way of letting off steam when suddenly met with a catastrophe. I would like to list a few of my favorites:

The Screamer. This person blows up when faced with a crisis and, because of the over-the-top reaction, deflects any blame. Example: “Screamer” is driving a vehicle with bad brakes. As he comes over the top of a hill, there is a sweet older lady stopped at a stop sign. He pumps his brakes, but he is not slowing down nearly as fast as he needs to and his bumper ends up kissing her bumper. Screamer jumps from the car and begins yelling at the unsuspecting woman. “What in the world were you doing just sitting there?”

She knew she had to stop at the sign but because he keeps yelling — arms flailing, face turning red — she gets so confused she takes the blame and profusely apologizes for stopping.

getting real

in-the-Yard.” I planted my foot into that sneaky abyss, and the moment my pudgy body hit the ground, out of my mouth came “@*#&!” I don’t know who was more shocked, me or the tree-trimming crew who were sitting in their truck watching my graceful faceplant.

The Blamer. Whatever happens, it is someone else’s fault. Like when my husband wasn’t paying attention and sat his unbalanced plate on the edge of the table. It hit the floor with a bang, food flying everywhere. His response was, “Why do you have so much food on the table? If there wasn’t so much, I would not have sat my plate on the edge.” This must be a naturally wired in response, as the first man, Adam, when getting caught eating the apple, said to God, “It is not my fault. It is the woman YOU gave me!”

The Weeper. My mother used to say of my grandmother, who was a weeper, “Her bladder lies between her eyes!”

The Hero. If this is your response to a bad moment, just know that not everyone will rejoice in your self-proclaimed hero status. I once had this response when I saw a lady running a rototiller in her yard. All was well until the tiller threw her over a 3-foot retaining wall. As my husband lifted the tiller off her, I pulled her hair back to examine the newly formed gaping wound in her hairline. I said, in full hero form, “Don’t worry, I am a hairdresser.” Neither she nor my husband was impressed.

This is not an exhaustive list, as each personality responds differently.

We must let everyone vent however he or she sees fit — even if they are known as The Fainter, or worse, The Tinkler.

Letting off steam Of course, you’d never lose your cool in the face of adversity Stacey molluS is a humor columnist

who believes laughter is the best form of exercise and happy people are the best looking people. She loves her family, chocolate, clothes that are stretchy and things that sparkle. You can contact her at queenofchocolates@live.com or follow her on Facebook at “Queen of Chocolates.”

The Curser. This was definitely not me, or so I thought until the day I was running to my car and met “Mr. Hole-

newspressnow.com/josephine

| Josephine magazine |

April 2011

29

meal time

Quick angel hair pasta

roasted red pepper and tomato pasta Vegetable oil spray 2 small red bell peppers, cut in half and seeded 1/2 pound ripe plum tomatoes (about 3 to 4 tomatoes) 2 medium cloves garlic, peeled and left whole 1/2 small onion, sliced (about 3/4 cup) 1/4 pound angel hair pasta 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1½ tablespoons olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese

McClatchy-Tribune

Helpful hints • When roasting vegetables, make sure they are in one layer with no overlap.

• Using tongs helps to remove skin from hot vegetables.

• Chop the vegetables in a bowl by hand, if you do not have a blender or food processor.

The sauce will be chunkier, but still flavorful.

30

Roasted peppers, tomatoes add a smoky flavor

By Linda Gassenheimer • mcClatchy-Tribune

Roasting red peppers until their skin is bubbly and black gives them a delicious, smoky flavor.

The same is true for tomatoes. For this quick sauce, I’ve roasted all of the vegetables under a broiler which leaves you free to make the rest of the dinner while the vegetables cook. To skin the peppers, just pull away sections that remove easily; don’t worry if some is left on. A light sauce like this needs thin, light angel hair pasta.

April 2011

| Josephine magazine |

Preheat broiler and put water for pasta on to boil. Line a baking tray with foil and spray with vegetable spray. Place red bell peppers, rounded side up, on tray along with tomatoes, garlic and onion slices. Broil about 5 inches from the heat for 10 minutes.

Turn and broil another five minutes. While vegetables broil, add pasta to boiling water and cook four minutes for dried, one minute for fresh. Remove vegetables from broiler. The skin on the peppers and tomatoes will be blistered. Remove as much skin as easily comes away from the peppers. Reserve two to three slices of onion for a side salad and puree the remaining vegetables in a blender or food processor. Or, chop by hand. Blend in vinegar and oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss with drained pasta.

Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top and serve. Makes two servings.

Nutrition information per serving: 434 calories (31 percent from fat), 14.7 g fat (2.7 g saturated, 9.1 g monounsaturated), 4 mg cholesterol, 12.9 g protein, 62.9 g carbohydrates, 7.7 g fiber, 98 mg sodium.

newspressnow.com/josephine

Welcomes

Chery Wormington, FNP Family Medicine Associates 2303 Village Dr. • St. Joseph, MO 816-232-6818 Mon. - Thurs. 8 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.

Dedicated to Quality Healthcare, Available to All

Now Accepting New Patients www.nwhealth-services.org

We accept Medicaid, Medicare, most private insurance and offer a discount program for those who qualify.