jackie

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calendar Independence

POETRY READ-A-ROUND, 6:30 p.m. March 15, Hidden Valley

“THE MAGNIFICENT MUSICAL TIME MACHINES, demonstration

organ recitals, 3 to 3:30 p.m. Sundays. Even Sundays at the Community of Christ Temple, odd Sundays at the Auditorium, Walnut Street and River Boulevard, Independence. Free. Visit www. CofChrist.org/dome_spire. GATHER INN – open to all ages, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Stone Church Community of Christ, north entrance, 1012 W. Lexington Ave., Independence. Spend time in Bible study, receive free blood pressure testing, learn about the community, and a different guest speaker each week. Optional lunch cost, $3.50. Call 816-254-2211 or visit www.stone-church.org. GALLERY WALK: Getting ready, 2 p.m. March 3, 10, 17 and 24, National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific Ave. Free with regular museum admission, $6 for adults; $5 for ages 62 and older; $3 for ages 6 to 17. Call 816-325-7575. USED BOOK SALE, sponsored by American Association of University Women, Independence Branch, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 3, 4 and 5, Independence Center. ENCORE THEATER AUDITIONS for “Every Little Crook and Nanny,” 3 to 5 p.m. March 4, 5 to 7 p.m. March 7, Sermon Center, Truman and Noland roads. Scripts available for checkout for a $10 refundable deposit. Call 816-325-7370. INDEPENDENCE SHEPHERD’S CENTER “Adventures in Learning,”

8:30 a.m. registration/free blood pressure checks, March 4 and 18, Christ United Methodist Church, 14506 E. 39th St. Workshops begin at 10 and 11 a.m., lunch is at noon. Workshop registration, $1; lunch is $4. For lunch reservations, call 816-254-0521. HERITAGE PHILHARMONIC concert, with guest conductor Bryan Busby, 7:30 p.m. March 5, Tri-City Ministries, 4500 Little Blue Parkway. Free admission. “FOR THE CHILDREN,” a benefit for Operation Breakthrough, 7:30 p.m. March 5, Community of Christ Temple, River Boulevard and Walnut Street. The UMKC Conservatory choirs will partner with chamber choirs from Liberty, Lee’s Summit and Shawnee Mission South High schools. Freewill offering. BLUE BIRD HOUSE class – for all ages, 10 to 11 a.m. March 5, George Owens Nature Park, 1601 S. Speck Road. Class includes building a blue bird house (materials included), learning where to place it, ecology, nesting and critical needs for blue birds. Cost, $15. Call 816-325-7115 to register. WEAVING WITHOUT A LOOM – advance class, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 5 and 17, Trails Museum. Cost, $100. For reservations, call Donna Fuller at 816-836-5098. CINNAMON BUNS AND STICKY BUN sales, March 6, Nativity of Mary Church, 10017 E. 36th Terrace. Call 816-353-2184 for the times when they’ll come out of the oven. “DOLLS FOR DEMOCRACY,” through March 6, Truman Library. Twenty-five handcrafted dolls, created in the images of world figures. Free with regular admission. Call 816-268-8200 or 800-833-1225. “ART IN THE PARK” – Robert E. Tindall Scholarship Art Show,

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, March 8 through 25, George Owens Nature Park, 1601 S. Speck Road. Receptions, 1 to 4 p.m. March 12 and March 20. Call 816-325-7115 or visit independenceartassociation.org. JEWELRY AND MORE fundraiser, sponsored by Centerpoint Medical Center Auxiliary, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 9; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 10, outside the hospital’s cafeteria, 39th Street and Jackson Drive. Items include designer watches ($12-$15), a wide variety of pictures and more. Most items are $6. Proceeds are used to provide scholarships to students pursuing a medical career and to charities in Eastern Jackson County. JACKIE

George Caleb Bingham’s “Order No. 11.”

{EDITOR’S PICK}

Geoge Caleb Bingham events

PHOTO courtesy of the State Historical Society of Missouri

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issouri artist and statesman George Caleb Bingham was born 200 years ago, on March 20, 1811, and the anniversary is being observed throughout the month. Among the events is the return to Jackson County of Bingham’s Civil War painting “Order No. 11,” which depicts the federal expulsion of Confederate sympathizers from western Missouri during the war. It will be at the Truman Library in Independence from March 9 to Sept. 8 in an exhibit, “Steamboats to Steam Engines: George Caleb Bingham’s Missouri, 1819-1879.” It’s free with library admission: $8 adults, $7 seniors 65 and older, $3 for children 6 to 15, free for younger kids. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Other events (see details elsewhere in the calendar). Bingham Birthday Celebration 10 a.m.-4 p.m., March 19, 1-4 p.m. March 20, at the Bingham-Waggoner Estate; and a memorial service 4:30 p.m. March 19 and 20 at Union Cemetery in Kansas City, where Bingham is buried.

TOMBSTONE TALKS with John Mark Lambertson, 7 p.m. March

816-461-3491.

10, Trails Museum. Cost, $6. For reservations, call 816-325-7575. “JACK AND THE BEANSTALK,” performed by the Children’s Theater of Independence, 7 p.m. March 10, William Chrisman High School, 1223 N. Noland Road. This adaptation by Ray Ettinger features the children of Independence in a lively performance. Free. Visit www.independenceyoungmatrons.com. “STEAMBOATS TO STEAM ENGINES: George Caleb Bingham’s Missouri from 1819-1879,” March 10 through 31, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, 500 W. U.S. 24. Free with paid museum admission, $8; $7 for seniors; $3 for ages 6 to 15. Call 816-2688200 or 800-833-1225. “PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ” luncheon and fashion show, noon to 2:30 p.m. March 12, Bingham-Waggoner Estate, 313 W. Pacific Ave. The $25 cost includes lunch and show. For reservations, call

TALKIN’ TRUMAN: Inside the Harry S Truman National Historic Site, 11 a.m. March 12, Truman Library. Learn about Truman

through the homes he lived in, as well as the buildings that make up the National Park unit. Free with museum admission, $8; $7 for seniors; $3 for ages 6 to 15. Call 816-268-8200 or 800-8331225. ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE, 3 p.m. March 12, Independence Square. Awards: Best float, entertainment group, costume (male and female), automotive entry (car/motorcycle) and largest parade group. Registration deadline: March 10. To register, e-mail Les Wight at stpatsparade2011@gmail.com. BEGINNING GENEALOGY class, 10 a.m. March 15, Midwest Genealogy Center, 3440 S. Lee’s Summit Road. Class focuses on how to begin a search of your family genealogy. Free. Call 816-252-7228.

march 2011

Christian Union Church, 17500 Hidden Valley Road. Bring poems to share. Call 816-373-3416. HEALTHY BASICS – Stocking your pantry, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 17, Sermon Center, Truman and Noland roads. Discover the healthiest foods for your cupboards and your waistline. Cost, $10. Call 816-325-7370 to register. ENGLEWOOD ART WALK, 5 to 9 p.m. March 18, 10900 E. Winner Road. Seven galleries in the Englewood Station Shopping District, Winner Road and Sterling Avenue, open their doors to art lovers. Free. Call 816-252-3372. “NIFTY FIFTIES,” a comedy presented by the Children’s Performing Theater, 7:30 p.m. March 18, 19, 25 and 26; 2 p.m. March 20 and 27, Sermon Center, Truman and Noland roads. Tickets are $7 for adults. Call 816-325-7367. DECORATIVE “CRAZY WITH FANS” workshop, with quilter Sharron Gregg, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 19, Trails Museum. Fabric, thread and beads provided, bring needle and scissors. Cost, $30. Advance reservations required. Call 816-325-7575. GEORGE CALEB BINGHAM 200TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 19, 1 to 4 p.m. March 20, Bingham-Waggoner Estate. Call 816-461-3491. CIVIL WAR WOMEN OF MISSOURI with historians Anne Mallinson and Nancy Lewis, 2 p.m. March 19, Trails Museum. They will discuss the lives of women caught up in the drama of Civil War Missouri. Free with regular museum admission, $6 for adults; $5 for ages 62 and older; $3 for ages 6 to 17. Call 816-325-7575. WIZARD OF OZ TEA PARTY AND INFORMAL FASHION SHOW, 2 to 4 p.m. March 26, Vaile Mansion, 1500 N. Liberty St. Melodious music and tasty tidbits provided. You’re encouraged to wear vintage hats and fashion. Cost, $25. Tickets are limited. Call Jean Kimball at 816-305-3712. “LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD” puppet show, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 26, Puppetry Arts Institute, 11025 E. Winner Road. The $5 cost includes seeing the museum and a finger puppet for children. For reservations, call 816-833-9777. MARKETPLACE ART, CRAFT AND GIFT SHOW, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 26, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 27, Independence Events Center, 19100 E. Valley View Parkway. There will be trendy, unique handcrafted and retail art, crafts and gifts including apparel, candles, children’s items, jewelry and much more. Admission, $5, kids younger than 12 are free. Call 816-795-7577. LASTING LEGACIES OF THE CIVIL WAR, 1 to 4:30 p.m. March 26, Genealogy Center. Four scholars will present insights into the bitter conflict that produced a new birth of freedom when 4 million slaves were freed. Free. Call 816-252-7228. CHRIS TOMLIN “AND IF OUR GOD IS WITH US” tour, with Louis Giglio and special guests Christy Nockels and Rend Collective, 7 p.m. March 29, Independence Events Center. Tickets start at $25, groups of 15 are $15. Purchase tickets at the Events Center or at ticketmaster.com. HOW TO USE THE GENEALOGY LIBRARY, a guided tour led by Angela McComas, 10 a.m. March 29, Genealogy Center. Free. Call 816-252-7228. BLUE BIRD HOUSE class – for all ages, 10 to 11 a.m. March 30, Palmer Center, 218-A N. Pleasant St. Class includes building a blue bird house (materials included), learning where to place it, ecology, nesting and critical needs for blue birds. Cost, $15. Call 816-325-7115 to register. PUBLIC SKATE, Independence Events Center, 19100 E. Valley View Parkway. Public sessions are open to skaters of all ages and skill levels. These sessions take place at various times and are usually two hours long. Cost, $5; $3 for 12 and under and 55 and older,


calendar non-residents add $1 to each price. Skate rental, $2. For times, call the Skating Hotline: 816-795-7577. “TALKIN’ TRUMAN,” 11 a.m. daily, Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, 500 W. U.S. 24. Program explores the life and times of President Truman. Free with regular admission. Call 816-2688200 or 800-833-1225. “IT IS NOT NOISE, IT IS MUSIC: TRUMAN’S RECORD ALBUMS”

exhibit, through May 30, Harry S. Truman Home National Historic Site Visitor Center, 223 N. Main St. Exhibit features more than 250 albums and will highlight the importance of music in the lives of the Trumans. Free. Call 816-254-9929. “HAZELLE’S COMPETITORS,” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday through Aug. 31, Puppetry Arts Institute, 11025 E. Winner Road. Exhibit of puppets made by other companies that competed with the Hazelle Rollins Kansas City factory. Cost, $3, $1.50 to age 16. Call 816-833-9777. MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING has grief survivors meeting second Monday in Independence. Help for bereaved or injured victims, volunteers accepted. For time and location, call Michelle Fordemwalt, 816-295-1545. LA LECHE LEAGUE, Jackson County A.M. Group, 10 a.m., second Thursday, Trails West Public Library. For breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women interested in breastfeeding. Call Kayl, 816-254-5992. WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT GROUPS, sponsored by the Child Abuse Prevention Association, 6:30 to 8:30 Mondays. For locations, call Karen Costa, 816-252-8388, ext. 16. WIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 816-4046460 or 816-257-2335.

Blue Springs AARP TAX ASSISTANCE (easy form only), Mondays through April

18; or Thursdays through April 14, Vesper Hall. For an appointment, call 816-228-0181. RAPE AGGRESSION DEFENSE SYSTEMS training – for women 15 years and older, sponsored by Blue Springs Parks and Recreation, 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays March 7-28, Central Jackson County Fire Protection District Education Center, 4175 W. U.S. 40. Cost, $25. To register, call 816-228-0137. AN INTRODUCTION TO EDIBLE WILD PLANTS – for adults, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 8, Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center. You’ll learn to forage for wild edible plants, and enjoy a wild edibles luncheon. Call 816-228-3766 to register. CERAMICS FOR KIDS, 7 to 8 p.m. Thursdays March 10-31, Vesper Hall. Students learn a variety of clay hand building techniques, as well as how to glaze their stoneware. Cost, $30. An additional $30 supply fee is due the first day to the instructor. To register, call 816-228-0181. CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, 6 to 8 p.m. March 10, University of Missouri Extension Center. Learn the basics of early childhood psychosocial development, typical Vs atypical intellectual development and more. Cost, $18. To register, call 816-252-5051. COMPUTER CLASSES, beginning Windows XP, 1 to 3 p.m. March 10-11; beginning Microsoft Word, 2 to 4 p.m. March 15-16; beginning Microsoft Excel, 2 to 4 p.m. March 22-23; intermediate Windows XP, 1 to 3 p.m. March 24-25, Vesper Hall. Cost, $35 per class, or take three different classes for $90. Call 816-228-0181 to register. NATURALIST ON CALL: Timberdoodle talk – for all ages, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 12, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Discover the song, dance and unique habits of the American Woodcock. Walkins welcome. Call 816-228-3766.

MAD SCIENCE CAMP: Creepy crawly ecology – for ages 6 to 12,

9 a.m. to noon March 14-18, Vesper Hall. Cost, $90. Registration deadline: March 7. To register, call 816-228-0137. NATURESCAPING WORKSHOP AND NATIVE PLANT SALE – for adults, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. March 19, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Get ideas for incorporating native plants into your landscape. Plant sale is open from 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. for workshop participants; 1:15 to 3:45 p.m. for the public. Call 816-228-3766 to register. SALE-ING INTO SPRING – a 50+ garage sale, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 19, Vesper Hall. Admission, $1. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Vesper Hall Site Council. For information, call 816228-0181. FOREST EXPLORERS – for families with children 8 and older, noon to 2 p.m. March 26, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Step into the unknown as you venture off the beaten path for an adventure in the forest. Call 816-228-3766 to register. HOT SHOT CONTEST – for ages 8 to 13, sponsored by Blue Springs Parks and Recreation and Blue Springs Elks Lodge 2509, March 26, Blue Springs Freshmen Center, 2103 N.W. Vesper St. Hours: 9 a.m. for ages 8 to 9; 9:45 a.m. for ages 10 to 11; 10:30 a.m. for ages 12 to 13. For information, call 816-228-0137. BASIC BELLY DANCING, 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, March 30-May 4, Vesper Hall. For beginners who are learning the moves for the first time or advanced students who want to perfect their moves. Cost, $60. To register, call 816-228-0181. FEED THE CRITTERS on exhibit at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center at 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Call 816-228-3766. WIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 816-2201007. TOUGH LOVE Blue Springs/Lee’s Summit support group, for families dealing with unacceptable adolescent behavior, 7:30 to 9:40 p.m. Tuesdays, First Christian Church. 913-492-1200. MOM TO MOM LUNCH CLUB, a support group for new moms, 1 to 2 p.m., first and third Tuesday of each month, St. Mary’s Medical Center Professional Building, 300 Mock Ave. Call 816-655-5585. LA LECHE LEAGUE of Blue Springs, 7 p.m., third Tuesday of each month, Parkview Church. For breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women interested in breastfeeding. Call Kayl, 816-254-5992 or Stephanie, 816-833-0250.

classes. To register, call 816-697-2600, Ext. 209. BENEFITS OF MAINTAINING A COMPOST PILE, 2 p.m. March 10. What you need to know before getting started. Learn the benefits of and how to maintain an active compost pile. Free with garden admission. Call Linda at 816-697-2600, Ext. 209 to register. GARDENS OF SISSINGHURST CASTLE, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 12. Join Lady Elaine K Coleman and explore the 13 gardens of Sissinghurst. Cost, $15, $7 for members, add $5 after registration deadline of March 4. Call Linda to register. DEER RESISTANT GARDENING, 2 p.m. March 17. Learn tips and tricks to deter deer from devouring your vegetable garden. Free with garden admission. Call Linda to register. WHAT’S GROWING IN THE SEED TO PLATE GREENHOUSE, 2 p.m. March 24. Get a guided tour of the greenhouse to discover what is “growing on” at the Heartland Harvest Garden. Free with garden admission. Call Linda to register. STEP BASKET, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 26. Whether you’ve made a basket or two in the past or are just thinking about trying your hand at the craft, come join this class. All materials will be provided. Cost, $54, $47 for members, add $5 after registration deadline of March 21. Call Linda to register. “FANCY NANCY” STORYTELLING, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 27. Dawnna Morris shares fun and inspiration through the “Fancy Nancy” story series. Free with regular winter admission. Winter admission, $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $3 for ages 5-12. Visit www.powellgardens.org.

Lee’s Summit KEEPING KIDS SAFE PROJECT by S.I.P. Kids – free child safety fair,

Motors, 505 N.W. Blue Parkway. In addition to free fingerprinting, invitations have been extended to organizations and law enforcement agencies to help educate children and families on how to avoid dangerous situations. Info: Jacki Powers at 319-268-4111.

Kansas City KIDS NIGHT OUT 2011 – with Whoopi Goldberg, a benefit for Boys

& Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, 6:30 p.m. dinner; 7:30 p.m. program, March 4, Hyatt Regency Crown Center. There will be live and silent auctions. Business attire. Buy your tickets at www. helpKCkids.org. For information, call 816-361-3600. KANSAS CITY ZOO JOB FAIR, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 5, at the Zoo. Seasonal positions available: Admissions, gift shop, food service, rides, membership, cash control, grounds, horticulture, security, animal areas and education department. Applicants must be 16 years or older. Applications available at the Job Fair; or apply beforehand online at www.kansascityzoo.org. Info: 816-513-5800. GEORGE CALEB BINGHAM MEMORIAL SERVICE, 4:30 p.m. March 19 and 20, Union Cemetery, 227 E. 28th Terrace. This is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bingham, painter of “Order No. 11,” who is buried at Union Cemetery. There will be a recreation of an actual 1800s funeral service. – Jillayne Ritchie

Cover photo by karen Hacker at The Portrait Gallery, 124 S. Main St., Independence, 816-461-5400.

Jackie SUMMER

3 to 7 p.m. March 18, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 19, Don Kahan

Sugar Creek LA BENITE TRAIL VOLUNTEER DAY, beginning at 8:30 a.m. March

12, at Missouri 291 and the Missouri River, north of Independence. Help spread wood chips to maintain the La Benite trail. Bring either your mule, ATV and trailer (7-wide or less) or just yourself. If you plan on coming, call Bill Haman at 816-254-8935 or e-mail whaman1057@aol.com. Rain/snow alternate day: March 19.

Kingsville POWELL GARDENS activities: FEATHER YOUR NEST CONSERVATORY EXHIBIT, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

through March 6. A variety of indoor garden “rooms” will be created by local designers within the conservatory. These inviting spaces will feature benches, chairs or other seating to accommodate at least four people at a time. MARCH CLASSES, March 6, artisan breadmaking; March 11, build a rain barrel; March 12, introduction to essential oils; March 13, designer gourds; March 18, The Healing Concert; March 19, pastel workshop; March 20, early spring hike; March 25, gourmet gardening; March 26, watercolor workshop. There is a fee for march 2011

Contact Us Phone: 816-350-6365 Fax: 816-254-0211 (news) 816-836-3805 (advertising)

Publisher: Steve Curd steve.curd@examiner.net Editorial: EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Sheila Davis sheila.davis@examiner.net MANAGING EDITOR: Karl Zinke karl.zinke@examiner.net Advertising: Director of Advertising: David T. Lammers dave.lammers@examiner.net Director of Marketing: Sharon Dankenbring sharon.dankenbring@examiner.net New media: New Media Manager: Emilee Bilyeu emilee.bilyeu@examiner.net Web Site: www.examiner.net Some Jackie content is created monthly by GateHouse Media Inc., The Examiner's parent company.

CAMPS

Gearing up for fun!

© 2011 gatehouse media • All rights reserved

JACKIE


a word from jackie

How’s all that working for ya?

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t might come off as an over-used pop culture phrase, but sometimes it just says it all. “How’s that workin’ for ya?” The Kansas City mayoral primary, upcoming KC general election and vote on the earnings tax keeps Independence folks interested in area politics even during our non-election years. Since what goes on in the big city has a huge impact on our quality of life, it is always wise to keep an eye on what goes on just to our west. The crowded field of candidates carried on lively discussions about a variety of issues in the Kansas City metro. How refreshing was it to see so many qualified and experienced candidates debating issues and keep the mood positive? Even candidates whose chances of winning were slim to none brought valuable insights to critical issues. The kinds of public forums and great media coverage that took place leading up to the February primary were wonderful for getting to know the candidates, and every candidate and voter benefitted from the ex-

JACKIE

written by

Jackie perience. In the last Independence mayoral election, incumbent Don Reimal ran unopposed. The mayor has done a satisfactory job during his term, and may have won easily against any opponent, but the voters and candidate lost out on the opportunity to openly discuss and debate critical issues. How’s that working? The city is weathering hard economic times pretty well and keeping the ship afloat, which is more than can be said by many communities. But don’t you want more? City Hall is pretty quiet, council meetings are short and sweet and we’re missing out on the chance to really understand and influence the vision and plans for the future.

It is predictable and justified for citizens to get riled up when it’s announced that the city needs to pay off $3.5 million in debt service for the Bass Pro retail site. It’s natural to be outraged when little girls are getting raped at slumber parties. It’s understandable to be discouraged by empty storefronts and announcements of even more small businesses calling it quits. The time to be outraged, however, is not now; it was when deals and decisions were made that has allowed the current state of affairs. The city took a risk to attract Bass Pro, and it didn’t turn out as expected. Voters approved tax increases to upgrade our public safety, streets, parks and storm water, and none of those needs are being adequately met through sales tax. The assurance that if we invested in the development of eastern Independence that money would flow in to address the needs of the city core has not come to fruition. Those are what Mary Poppins calls pie crust promises, easily made and easily bro-

march 2011

ken. Western Independence waited its turn while the city focused on 39th Street development and when its turn came, it was told there was no money left and the timing was not good to redevelop their end of town. We need cops and are told there is no money to protect our homes, businesses and families. With Independence gaining population at a rate that lags behind Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Grain Valley and Oak Grove, how will we continue to keep our position as EJC’s leader? It will require all our attention whether we hold public office or are private citizens and business owners. Being mad later about a decision being made now is worthless. Look at the processes and decision makers and ask yourself, “How’s that workin; for me?”

Jackie


faith

Who was St. Patrick? The Catholic roots behind the March holiday By Kathryn Sucich

St. Patrick was born in Scotland in 387. His parents were Romans who were living there during colonial occupation. Patrick was captured when he was 14 years old and brought to Ireland as a slave to herd sheep. At age 20, he escaped from captivity when he had a dream in which God told him to flee from Ireland by the coast. He was able to get to Britain, where he was reunited with his family.

S

His early life

But do you know about the saint behind the holiday? Here are four facts from Catholic Online that you might not know about St. Patrick.

The importance of the shamrock

St. Patrick used the shamrock as a tool to explain the Christian Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) to the pagans.

Did he really drive the snakes out of Ireland?

While there are no snakes in Ireland, many say it’s actually because the country is an island that never had snakes in the first place. However, many pagans worshipped snake symbols, and St. Patrick is said to have symbolically ended that practice.

GateHouse News Service

t. Patrick’s Day has long been associated with “the luck of the Irish” and all things that have to do with Ireland. For many of us, it means wearing green and eating corned beef and cabbage.

His priesthood

After returning to Britain, Patrick began to study for the priesthood. After his ordination, he went to Ireland to convert many of the druids and pagans to Christianity. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, as he was able to convert entire kingdoms during the 40 years he preached.

Send your St. Patrick’s pics Where and how do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Will you be at the Independence Square parade on March 12? The parade begins at 3 p.m. Or will you be in the crowd for the Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17? The 38th annual parade begins at 11:30 a.m. on a route along Broadway from 33rd Street (Linwood) to 43rd Street. Will you celebrate with Irish music? Irish food? Whatever you do, share your day with Examiner readers. Send submissions with your name and daytime phone number to Adam Vogler at adam.vogler@examiner.net. We’ll include your photos in an online gallery at examiner. net. (This is a free photo-sharing opportunity for Examiner readers.)

march 2011

JACKIE


food

Soups in seconds Leftovers can be a base for fast, easy meals Story, recipes and photography by Margaret Maples GateHouse News Service

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ext time you clean out your refrigerator, expect a treasure hunt. You’re likely to discover small amounts of beans, chicken, peas and tomato too useful to discard but not quite enough for a meal. With a little kitchen sleight of hand, you can turn these leftovers into “refrigerator soups” in many flavors. A tasty favorite: If you have chicken and assorted vegetables, chicken vegetable soup will be a breeze. Add cooked rice, potatoes or pasta if they’re handy. You’ll also need bay leaves, ground oregano and broth. We diced onion and sautéed it, then added about half a cup each of peas, green beans, baby limas, black beans, corn kernels and tomato. Next came about 4 cups of chicken broth, a cup of bite-sized chicken pieces, a bay leaf and some oregano. As a flavorful thickener, we used roux (pronounced roo). Melt a tablespoon of unsalted butter in a small pan. Stir in a tablespoon of allpurpose flour and cook until it’s golden brown and loses its raw, floury flavor. When our soup reached a boil, we reduced it to a simmer and mixed a little hot broth with the roux. Then we stirred spoonfuls of roux into the soup until it began to develop body.

By then, the soup was almost done. Most of the ingredients had been cooked already and didn’t require hours of simmering. They didn’t need more salt or pepper, either. This soup is served hot, garnished with sour cream. Fast, not classic: Our soups start with sautéed onion instead of mirepoix (onion, carrot and celery), which forms the base of many classic recipes. But in either case, the vegetables need to be “sweated” – cooked until they release their flavorful fluid. Then add other ingredients. Don’t simmer cooked ingredients too long, or you’ll end up with mush. Broth: You can buy broth or make your own from the bones of chicken you roast or buy ready-cooked. Cover the bones with cold tap water. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to simmer for a few hours. To make basic beef broth, use roasted beef bones. Strain the chicken or beef broth and let sit in the fridge for a day or two. Before using the broth, skim off the fat that has risen to the top and become firm. Flavors: Choose seasonings that suit your ingredients: basil, bay leaves, chopped jalapeno, oregano, rosemary, sage. Instead of adding a load of salt, let fresh lemon juice bring the soup into focus on your taste buds.

1. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, place oil and butter. After butter melts, add half the onion and saute until it’s translucent and begins to release its liquid. 2. Add corn kernels and creamed corn. Bring to a low boil, stirring to keep corn from sticking. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Place in a food processor and whip smooth. 4. Return corn mixture to saucepan over

medium-high heat. Stir in remaining onion, broth, ham, bay leaf and garam masala (or other favorite spices). Stir in broccoli florets. 5. Bring soup just to a boil, then reduce heat. Add half-and-half. Heat soup to serving temperature. 6. Serve hot, garnished with crumbled bacon. Makes about 5 ¾ cups.

Corn-Broccoli Soup Ingredients: • 1 tablespoon oil • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter • 1 cup diced red onion, divided • 1 ½ cups cooked corn kernels • 1 ¾ cups creamed corn • 2 cups chicken broth • ¾ cup cubed ham, cooked • 1 bay leaf JACKIE

• ¼ teaspoon garam masala (or a mix of ground coriander, cardamom, cumin, cinnamon and pepper) • 2 cups small broccoli florets • 2/3 cup half-and-half or cream For garnish: • 2 slices bacon, fried crispy, drained and crumbled

march 2011


wine 101

How do I read a wine bottle label? I don’t get the labels on wine bottles. What does all that mean? A: Wine labels can be very confusing, and when trying to buy a wine you cannot be sure what you are getting. Some of the things that you can find on a wine label include the varietal (grape), the winery or the winemaker’s name, the name of the wine, the region or country it is from and the year it was made. Toad Hollow has a wine with a label that pictures a frog in a vest twirling drumsticks while a dog in checkered pants and red suspenders plays a saxophone and another animal strums on a cello in the background. The label is bright and sports the word cacophony in front of some colorful confetti! Analyzing this label, we can assume that Cacophony is the name of the wine. The bottom of the label reads Toad Hollow: This is the winery. In small

written by

Dawn brooks Dawn Brooks is owner of Cork & Barrel at 16920 E. U.S. 24 in Independence. You can reach her at 816-257-7911 or corkandbarrel@live.com

print on the cello, it reads 14.8% Alc. by Vol., which means 14.8 percent alcohol by volume. Coming out of the saxophone-like music, in small print, reads 2007 Zinfandel. This is the name of the grape (varietal) and the year it was made. Under the saxophone, it says Paso Robles, the town in California where you can find the Toad Hollow Vineyard. In the U.S., wine must contain 75 percent of the varietal (grape) to be labeled as such, so it’s a sure bet that this wine will taste like a Zinfandel. Looking at the back of the bottle will sometimes yield a little more information.

Many times it will give tasting notes on the wine and just as many times it will just tell you about the winery it came from. On the back or side of the bottle there will always be a government warning, sometimes a website for the winery and where it was vinted and bottled. Labels on a bottle from Italy can look a lot different. An example of this is a label on a Moscato wine. Monte Maria is in gold in the middle of the label and they are the biggest words on the label. It is the name of the winery. Under that in small type it reads Cantine D’ Italia which means cellars of Italy. Under that, in larger letters, it reads Moscato D’Asti, this is the name of the grape and the region it was grown. The grape is the moscato bianca, and it is made mainly in the province of Asti. Under those words is yet a smaller line of print that reads, Denomiazione Di Origine Controllata E Garantita. This means controlled origin denomination. Wines labeled DOCG are analyzed and tasted

Sausage and Mushroom Soup

by government licensed personnel before being bottled. To prevent later manipulation, DOCG wine bottles are sealed with a numbered governmental seal around the neck of the bottle. The Italian government requires that a product be produced within the specified region using defined methods and that it satisfy a defined quality standard. When it meets those guidelines, it gets a DOCG rating. Nearly all governments put strict laws on wine making, labeling and quality of wine, and these laws are visualized on every label. With that said, wine labels say what they say for a reason. Reading them can sometimes be a task. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you are buying wine, or better yet come to the Cork and Barrel wine tastings and ask away! We like questions.

Dawn food

We used our favorite pizza ingredients for this soup. It could be garnished with shredded mozzarella cheese instead of basil. Ingredients: • 1 tablespoon olive oil, more as needed • ½ cup diced onion • ½ cup diced celery • 1 cup ¾-inch sausage balls (mild Italian sausage works well here) • 1 ¼ cup mushrooms, cleaned and sliced • 2 cups chicken broth • 2 cups beef broth • 1/3 cup tomato puree • 1/3 cup diced tomato • ¼ cup finely diced green bell pepper • ¼ teaspoon ground fennel • 1 bay leaf • Ground basil, to taste • 1 teaspoon unsalted butter • 1 teaspoon flour Garnish: Fresh basil leaves

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until translucent. Add celery and saute until the vegetables release their natural liquid. Move onion and celery to a large bowl. 2. Place sausage balls in the saucepan, adding oil as needed, and cook, stirring gently so they hold their shape. Add cooked sausage to the onion mixture. 3. Place mushrooms in saucepan and saute. Add cooked onion, celery and sausage. Stir in broth, tomato puree and diced tomato, then green pepper, fennel, bay leaf and ground basil. 4. In a small pan, make roux: Melt butter and stir in flour. Cook until it’s golden brown. Add 2 tablespoons of hot broth and whisk, smoothing out any lumps. Stir roux into the soup a little at a time. 5. Bring the soup just to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Serve hot, garnished with basil. Makes about 4 ¾ cups.

recipe and photography by Margaret Maples

march 2011

JACKIE


cover story

poo coker By Adrianne DeWeese| adrianne.deweese@examiner.net

S

omewhere in the past seven decades, Poo lost the “h” on her name, but she gained rooms full of friends along the way. She is a woman whose name – though not the one given to her at birth – stands alone in Eastern Jackson County. Say the singlesyllable moniker, and no one questions to whom you are referring because countless civic and nonprofit organizations have experienced the work of Poo throughout the years. She says she owes all the credit to one obscure job advertisement that appeared in The Examiner more than 30 years ago.

Why Poo?

No one really knows who Roberta Coker is. Instead, they simply know “Poo.” She gained the nickname as a young child from “Winnie the Pooh.” By the time she was in school, even the teachers referred to a young Roberta as “Poo.”

And as an adult, it stayed. “My bosses all called me ‘Poo,’” she says. “That’s what I know.” Poo’s family moved to Raytown when she was about 8. Poo’s father was an Air Force pilot, and her parents divorced when she was young. As the oldest child, Poo says, she can remember hearing cheers and seeing the lights of Raytown high school football games near her home. “I thought, ‘Man, I can hardly wait to get to high school ’cause that would be so fun,’” says Poo, a 1959 Raytown High School graduate. And, it was, she says. She was a Raytown High School cheerleader, and that mentality has stayed with her. “I’ve probably been a cheerleader my whole life,” Poo says, “ just advocating for something. I think it’s my innate cheerleading nature to be trying to do something or to be cheerleading for something.” Poo attended college in Warrensburg, earned a major in communications and journalism, got married and had two children, but she “didn’t do much,” she says. As a stay-at-home mother, she did serve as president of the Junior Service League, an organization for women who aim to provide human and financial resources to

Always helping others in her part of the wood

enrich the lives of others in Eastern Jackson County. Then, in 1978, a generic advertisement in The Examiner caught Poo’s attention. Her children were in high school at that time, and an unspecified institution was looking for someone “to do some things,” she remembers. “Well, I can do those things,” Poo says of her mindset. She thought the institution might be a bank or a hospital. Instead, it was the Independence School District. Poo answered the blind advertisement, and the school district responded. When she returned from running an errand, one of Poo’s children told her that the school board had called. “Good grief, what did you guys do?” she remembers as her response to her children. She got the job, which the school district had only intended as a part-time public relations gig. While working, Poo says, she felt the motivation to earn her master’s degree, a feat she completed in the mid1980s. Technology was relatively young in those days. Throughout the 1970s, several school district bond issues had been defeated, bringing about a great deal of unrest, Poo says. With the hiring of Superintendent

Robert Henley, she says, an effort for more community involvement began in developing relationships with the city of Independence, the Independence Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. “As we went along, we kind of made the rules and tested the rules,” Poo says. When Poo started working for the school district, two women were assistant superintendents and there were a few female principals, so top female leaders within the organization weren’t unheard of. Still, Poo says of being a woman in a position of power, “I think you just have to do your job maybe a little harder. “I could see where that job could go, and so that’s when we went from part-time to full-time,” Poo says of her role as director of community relations, which became fulltime in 1979, a year after her hiring. It was designed as a part-time job, but Poo told her superiors that the job required a full 40-hour work week. In the 1980s, Henley told her, “We don’t have a fourth grade textbook.” Missouri history is taught in fourth grade, and the book used at that time had minimal information about Independence. So, Poo and David Rock, director of elementary education, set out to coordinate

SPECTRUM/Roberta ‘Poo’ Coker Highest high

Moment of epiphany

The birth of my children. Also, two honors that I got that meant a lot to me, but not that the others haven’t. I was elected to the Raytown School District Hall of Fame, and that was very special. (The late Independence) Mayor (Ron) Stewart picked me to be the first Truman Heartland Citizen of the Year, back in the days before I was even on the foundation board. That was pretty significant.

Oh my gosh. It might be my 70th birthday. The good one would have been the day when I told myself, “I can do this,” whatever it was.

Lowest low Maybe the day after surgery. (Laughter) Some days, you think things are low, but they’re really not. One of my low days was when my friend Daneen Barber died. I guess I’ve been blessed that I’ve never had a real tragedy or something that would make you real sad. JACKIE

Achilles’ heel My knee. (Laughter) When you look back, you think, would you have done things differently? I think there are always things that you wish you’d have done. Did I do enough? I also have a lack of patience, and I am compulsive.

Most important mentor I’d say Diane Sawyer, if I knew her personally. I terribly admire her. Locally, (the late Independence Examiner reporter) Sue Gentry might have been one. She was probably way before her time, as well. march 2011

Smartest thing I ever did

What I thought I’d be doing at this point in my life

Go to work for the Independence School District – I got to do everything else because of that. I probably would have never been chairwoman of the Independence chamber. Everything I ever got to do or got credited for was because I worked at that job.

I probably thought I would be just sitting on a beach more. I hear friends say, “Well, I’m going to go spend six months in Galveston.” And I say, “You are? How does one get to do that?”

Dumbest thing I ever did I’ve done a few. Well, once I was on a diet and I lost about 30 pounds. I managed to gain it back – that was pretty dumb. Oh, life is full of little dumb things, don’t you think?

What I still really want to do Travel. I always wanted to go climb Mount Everest, but I’m pretty sure I’m not going to do that. Besides Mount Everest, I’d like to go to Antarctica, but I’m having a hard time to find anyone who wants to go with me. Everybody thinks I’m nuts. I always wished I could paint with watercolors. I don’t think I’m going to be any better at that than mountain climbing.

– Adrianne DeWeese


cover story

Roberta 'Poo' Coker during a meeting with City of Independence employees Peggy Sowders and Vicki Hon about the accreditation of the Palmer Center. Adam Vogler | The Examiner

a fourth grade supplemental textbook on Independence. With the assistance of community members and organizations, the school district and Landmark Editions Inc. first published “Independence: The Queen City of the Trails” in October 1986. The book provides a history of Independence from early Indian settlement to modern city happenings in the 1980s. But throughout her nearly 30 years with the district, Poo says, “kids were kids” and teachers worked hard. Besides interacting with media requests, Poo also coordinated the district’s internal and external communications and organized events. She

attended Board of Education meetings, ensuring members’ needs were met. “I don’t mean ‘I,’” she says quickly. “Like for events, I didn’t do everything. I didn’t clean the building – well, once I did.” Even with her role in helping to pass 10 bond and tax levy issues, Poo steers clear of seeking credit. According to Judy Forrester, a past president of the Junior Service League who also worked with Poo in the school district, Poo often passes on recognition for her efforts. “It’s very difficult for her to do that,” Forrester says of Poo seeking credit. “She always wants to give someone else credit for the accomplishment.”

HER LATEST

Poo pulls her day planner off of a side table and flips it open to February. Every day, it appears, has an appointment or a task that she needs to accomplish – and a large coffee stain encircles all the tasks: a NorthWest Communities Development Corporation meeting, a haircut appointment and a vacation in Florida. “This is like a retired calendar – duh,” she says. “I think I’m retired until I look at my calendar.” Last fall, she contracted with the Independence Parks and Recreation Department to facilitate the Palmer Center’s application for accreditation through the

march 2011

National Institute of Senior Centers, which is a bragging right that is held only by Blue Springs’ Vesper Hall in a four-state area. The application has a projected completion date of July. “I think what we’ve found is that the services for the seniors are so amazing,” Poo says. “It’s just a good part-time job. I just thought it was a challenge and something I could do.” Patty Schumacher, a former Independence School District associate superintendent, met Poo – “a dynamo and energetic,” Schumacher says – in 1988. Poo served as a mentor for Schumacher as she got acCONTINUED ON PAGE 15 JACKIE


expert answers

Compiled by Melissa Erickson GateHouse News Service

Make a statement Anyone can wear bright colors with a little know-how

PHOTO BY STOCK.XCHNG

SPRING FASHION

I love bold, bright colors. But do they make me look big? A: No one of any size should fear bright colors. Bold hues are one of the easiest ways to look fresh, radiant and polished, and they do not make you look big unless you wear the same obnoxious shade from head to toe. Choose a frock in a cut that accentuates your curves (not too baggy) in a vibrant Kelly green, regal blue or deep plum. Or pair a sunny orange or yellow blouse with slim-fitting black pants or trouser-styled jeans. A bright red coat is one of the warmest ways to get through the chillier months. By Dannielle Kyrillos, editor-at-large of DailyCandy.com

IMPRESS THE BOSS

My boss is coming over before we head to the city for a show. My wife is putting out cheese and crackers. We like Parmesan, blue and brie. Any wine-pairing suggestions?

Find spring fashion deals at RadarFrog.com 10 JACKIE

A: For Parmesan I suggest a sangiovese. For the blue cheese, a vintage port. For the brie, I'd go with a chardonnay. Because you are serving three very different cheeses, I suggest serving the brie/chardonnay first, then the Parmesan/sangiovese, ending with the blue/port, as this will overpower the other two if served first. By Brad Prescott, owner, IntoWine.com

march 2011

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

My fourth-grader has taken up violin at school. How much should she practice? A: Ideally, your child should practice for about 15 to 30 minutes a day. To encourage her, set up a designated space specifically for practicing. Find a time when she feels her best and most focused, whether it is before or after school or after dinner. If possible, let her decide on her practice time. Show your interest in her progress by sitting with her, asking questions and praising her hard work and progress. Finally, realize that there will be times of discouragement. It is important to recognize and accept your child’s feelings when she is frustrated and help her move on from them. From the experts at FamilyEducation.com


the cutting edge

There is help for your dry skin T

he winter weather is rough on our skin. Literally. The very dry air can dry our skin out fast, leaving us with dull, dry hands, cracked lips and itchy skin. I, for one, have suffered, and I don’t want you to. So I thought a quick check list might help those of you who are subject to winter-ravaged dry skin: Don’t – take hot baths. As soothing as a steamy tub feels to our muscles, water heated significantly higher than body temperature actually dries out skin. Warm water is the trick here. Don’t – Slather on the heavy creams. They form an occlusive barrier on the skin, which traps some body heat. Products containing mineral oil, lanolin, even the trusty slick of petroleum jelly on the lips, tend to plug up the follicles.

written by

Mary costanzoschwaller

Don’t – Stop exfoliating. Yet, use a gentle exfoliator. (Many scrubs contain ground-up apricot pits and shells, which actually scratch the skin, causing irritating micro-tears.) If dead cell debris collects on the surface of the skin, toxins and perspiration cannot be eliminated properly. Do – Use professional booster or serum to moisturize the winter away. Boosters or serums are defined as concentrates that

penetrate deeply into the skin to deliver superior benefits, even when used in very small amounts. The professional grade serums, of course, are the most potent, but you can also follow up at home with a retail version. Do – Seal in the good stuff with a paraffin dip on your hands and feet. Because of its large molecular size, none of the paraffin enters the skin. It simply seals in the product beneath it, such as a serum or essential oil, preventing oxygen from interacting with the product and causing it to evaporate. And, the heat of the warm wax improves circulation. You can buy a machine for your home, or try the service at the salon. The average cost of a dip for your feet or hands is $5. For a real treat try a Parafango, paraffin and mud, body wrap! This spa service is the bomb.

go green

Get more miles out of your shoes

Essentially your legs and mid section are wrapped but you can add your upper body if you wish. The cost is around $70, and your skin will look and feel great. Do – Invest in a home vaporizer for the bedroom at the very least. Mucus membranes and nasal passages get crispy from breathing dry air, so humidifiers can help the inside as well as the outside. Drink water and mist throughout the day (like a house plant) with light, non-aerosol, spritzers. I think these tips will help get your skin feel better after this dry winter. Give them a try. Have a beautiful day!

Mary

The habit of buying few shoes and keeping them in good repair faded as Americans discovered mass-produced merchandise. However, Don Rinaldi, president of the Shoe Service Institute of America, says a little care and a good shoe repair shop can add years to a shoe’s life. Here are a few simple measures: 1. Resole According to the SSIA, men's shoes can be resoled seven to 10 times, and women's three to five times, at a fraction of the cost of new shoes. Even brand new shoes can benefit from a new sole, says Rinaldi. A thin layer of rubber on the bottoms repels water and helps them last longer. Heel guards also help absorb wear. 2. Rotate Give shoes a day off in between wear to help dry out the previous day's perspiration, says Rinaldi. Plus, "it makes the shoe last longer if you don't wear it every day." 3. Repair Women's shoes especially are prone to issues, like broken straps and rubber tips getting worn down on high heels. A simple fix, usually for $5 or less, can make shoes like new. The SSIA advises repairing shoes at the first sign of a problem, before they suffer permanent damage. 4. Repel Water and wintertime salt will eat away at a shoe's leather upper, says Rinaldi, creating cracks and lines. Use a weatherproofing product and make sure to wipe shoes down thoroughly if you walk in snowy areas that have been treated with salt. Regular maintenance makes a big difference too, he says. "Even just shining your shoes, oiling them, cleaning them and polishing them-that will also prolong the life of the leather. ” Natural product enthusiasts say buffing olive oil onto clean, dry shoes also works in place of polish. 4. Rework A shoe repair shop has a huge arsenal of tricks to revive shoes that seem to be on their last legs, says Rinaldi. "Most people don't realize that when you get a shoe repaired, they'll stretch it, they'll shrink it, reshape it, resole the heel, clean the leather, redye it and make it look like new." – Allecia Vermillion, GateHouse News Service march 2011

JACKIE

11


home

Spring clean Focusing on areas of your home makes cleaning easy By Molly Logan Anderson GateHouse News Service

PHOTO BY AMY J. CORRENTI | GateHouse News Service

12 JACKIE

march 2011


home

I

t’s that time of year again. The crisp spring air brings an urge to clear out, clean up and get organized. Here is some advice for getting the whole house, as well as your yard, in tip-top shape so you can kick back and enjoy it throughout the season.

AREA TO CLEAN

ADVICE

Overall purge

When planning for a big spring cleanup, make sure your space is as de-cluttered as possible before getting started. Without delving into deep spaces like closets and basements, attempt to fill two kitchen-size garbage bags each day while walking around your house: One bag is for items to donate, while the other holds trash. At the end of the week, you’ll have 14 bags of clutter cleared out, easing your way toward a more organized home.

Closets

Add to your donations by performing a deep excavation of the closets in your home. Remove anything on hangers or shelves not worn in the past 18 months. Purchase cheap, sturdy fabric boxes to organize items like scarves or purses. Do the same with linens. Once the closets are purged, color-code hanging items and group similar folded pieces. Gather all items to donate and do so immediately. Your local Goodwill or women’s shelter is happy to accept them, and you’ll be less tempted to “shop” the bags if you donate right away.

Windows and screens

On his website, home improvement expert Danny Lipford recommends using a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar as a natural window cleaner. Dry with crumpled newspaper to keep lint to a minimum. Remove screens and spray or soak them to remove winter grime.

Basement and attic

This is a labor of love — love for the organized space you’ll have when you’re done. In climates where these spaces are useable, clutter and storage of unused items or boxes makes for an enormous waste of space. Enlist all family members to go through piles and boxes. If you haven’t used something in years and it has no sentimental value, ask yourself if it has a monetary one. In addition to garbage and donation piles, make one for items to sell on eBay or through your newspaper’s classifieds section.

Fireplace

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, most fireplaces require a once-a-year inspection and cleaning to remove dangerous creosote buildup. More specifically, their experts recommend a cleaning anytime creosote buildup reaches 1/8 of an inch. Most DIY websites don’t consider any kind of chimney cleaning a do-it-yourself job. Prepare your fireplace for the professionals by removing any unburned wood and sweeping up ashes.

Garage

Clearing everything out is the name of the game in garage cleaning, so pick a warm spring day. Apply earlier methods of sorting into “donation,” “trash” and “sell” piles. Use a leaf blower to remove dirt, cobwebs and trash blown in by winter winds or tracked in by your car. Locations with the most brutal winter weather will likely require a hose-down or power washing as well. Now is the time to apply durable floor paint or invest in hooks or shelving so that when you restock saved items, you do so in an organized fashion.

Outdoors

Check decks and patios for uneven areas or necessary repairs. Trim back vegetation that appears overgrown after winter months or plants that benefit from spring trimming. Check siding for winter damage. Consult www.thefamilyhandyman.com for step-by-step directions on cleaning your air conditioner for a cooler home and lower bills come summertime.

march 2011

JACKIE

13


PHOTO

technology

BY

STO CK

.X

Tech tips

CHN

G

Smart ways to use your gadgets and declutter your life By Erika Rose GateHouse News Service

T

he digital age is upon us, and in case you haven’t noticed, the trend is to use it to reduce clutter and hardware in our lives and — most importantly — eliminate bills for services and goods that are going out of style. Ohio-based Matt Dworkin of Best Buy’s Geek Squad, which comes to consumers' aid in setting up their technology, shares some of his know-how in the field of “geekonomics” and details his favorite tricks when it comes to making the most of technology.

For the technophobe

For the tech savvy For those who are ready to leap into more advanced techniques, try these bill-eliminating, clutterreducing and hardware-lessening tactics.

Streaming television

Many modern entertainment devices are Internet-compatible. Whether it’s your TV, gaming system or Blu-ray player, having just one of these devices as part of your home entertainment system can bring a plethora of free content to your living room. Web sources such as Hulu, Amazon Video on Demand, Netflix and YouTube offer free or low-cost access to thousands of movies and TV shows, inviting you to shun the cable or satellite company altogether.

Internetbased phone services

If you like having a separate number and phones at home, you can tap the Web for home phone service via modern wonders like Skype, MagicJack and Jajah. MagicJack is a small device that plugs into your computer’s USB port to bring you phone service via the Internet. Skype is a software application, and Jajah is a voiceover IP provider. Whichever method you choose, the cost is significantly less than traditional phone service, and international calls are free or merely pennies.

Mobile

Love your gadgets? Love mobile broadband, too: Going a step further, try getting Internet service through your cell phone company and take it with you. With a device about the size of a phone, you can deliver Internet service wirelessly to up to five devices at once and ditch the phone bill, the cable/satellite bill and the Internet provider.

Books and music

E-readers are thin devices that can hold thousands of books in just a few ounces. Best-sellers and new releases are a fraction of the hard copy cost, and a lot of quality content is free. The same concept applies to buying e-music for your devices instead of CDs, but going one step further are services like Pandora Internet Radio or Napster, which allow unlimited access to music that can be streamed through your Internet-ready devices for free or for a low monthly fee.

If you’re not so techno-savvy, he says, here are three baby steps you can take

1 2 3

Keep the computer you do have running well with anti-virus and anti-spyware software and by regularly defragmenting the hard drive and busting the dust, which can slow it down, with compressed air. Once a year, pop open the case while the computer’s unplugged and blow out the dust.

If you have a cell phone, consider dropping your landline phone service altogether.

Consider owning one Internet-compatible device as part of your home entertainment system. This will help ease you into the money-saving moves the more techno-savvy are doing now.

ILLUSTRATION BY GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

14 JACKIE

march 2011


cover story

Like Pooh, she knows the value of friends CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

quainted with Independence. “What a mentor, when you look at the track record of what she’s done,” says Schumacher, who also is a past chairwoman of the chamber board. “Little did I know what she would go on to accomplish.” Poo is the first and only woman to serve as president of the Independence Rotary Club. The Truman Heartland Community Foundation named her as Citizen of the Year in 1996, and two years later, she received the Independence chamber’s Distinguished Service Award. “I’ve just watched her do all of this stuff, and she never slows down,” Schumacher says. “And she knows everyone. Everyone. I think she’s been chair of just about everything.” Schumacher and Poo also have traveled together throughout the years, including a trip to China and Japan in 2004. When they visited the Great Wall of China, the tour director told the women that the route to the left was the most challenging. Schumacher asked Poo which direction she wanted to travel. Left, of course. “We wanted to say we did it, and we wanted to say we did it the hard way,” Schumacher says. “She was right there with me along the way, and she encouraged me the whole time.” Poo also serves on the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, an organization that aims to provide leadership, advocacy and resources to promote quality health for the uninsured and underserved throughout the metropolitan region. In 2009, she served as chairwoman of the Truman Heartland Community Foundation board of directors. “I guess I’m just not a shy person,” Poo says, laughing. Last summer, however, Poo had her right knee replaced, a surgery she says has forced her to slow down in her community commitments. “I just thought, ‘Maybe it’s time to let some other people take a turn,’” she says of her resignations from the boards of the Raytown Historical Society and Horizon Academy and the Independence Mayor’s Christmas Concert committee, as well as smaller roles within Rotary Club and Ju-

nior Service League. “I don’t think I’m 70, but I am. “It’s kind of a recognition that you’re not 25 anymore,” Poo says of her knee replacement. “It was a bigger deal that I thought it was going to be. It’s just a reminder of what you are.”

clear-eyed wisdom When the Raytown Schools Alumni Hall of Fame inducted Poo in 2005, she was described as “an icon within the community of Independence,” a person whose “work has touched countless lives.” Like Winnie the Pooh, Poo Coker seems to embrace the importance of happiness and the feelings of her friends. She lives alone, also like Pooh Bear, but the two always surround themselves with others. Winnie the Pooh has been described as “gifted with an uncommon, clear-eyed wisdom,” and Poo’s friends would probably agree with that description for their female friend. Instead of answering questions about her own life, Poo jokingly begins the conversation by noting that she would rather be the one asking questions. It was this reporterlike instinct that led to “The News at Poo Corner,” a society column that ran in The Examiner from 1999 to 2004. She had worked on newspapers in college and in Raytown, and Poo says the journalistic style of writing appeals to her. “I’m not much of a flowery writer,” Poo says, allowing her sense of humor to shine through. “‘The chicken crossed the street’ works instead of ‘The fluffy chicken toddle-woddled across the darkened, paved street.’” “Few people are as familiar with the Independence community and involved in as many projects as Roberta Coker, known as ‘Poo’ to her circle of friends, which includes just about everybody,” read the Editor’s Note in December 1999 announcing Poo’s new column. “Everywhere I went, all I did was listen,” Poo says, adding that she’s always had a full social calendar with her civic involvement. “I really liked writing about people that not everybody knew, not the same people every week, doing the same thing.” Judy Forrester says Poo is filled with a boundless energy and an ability to remem-

ber peoples’ names. “She never sees a stranger,” Forrester says. “When you go anyplace with her, she knows everyone in the room. She’s always introducing you to someone, and she makes everyone feel comfortable.” Forrester and Poo also served as cochairwomen of the Independence chamber’s 90th annual banquet in January. In 1997, Poo became the second female chairwoman of the chamber’s board of directors. When the current chamber offices were built in the mid-1990s, Mary Nesselrode’s mother used to drive by and say, “There is Poo’s building.” “She rated pretty high in our family,” says Mary Nesselrode, Poo’s close friend of 45 years. “Mother was very proud of Poo, also.” Poo understands that every organization has an event, most of which take place on weekends, and she used to be a reliable, recognizable face at all of them. This year, however, Poo has decided she needs to say “no” more often, adding that she turned down several requests to serve on committees or boards. “What I’m hoping is that maybe just a year or two of not doing so much, I’ll get a little re-energized and back in the swing of things – or maybe I won’t,” she says. Prairie Village, Kan., resident Nesselrode has known Poo since they were neighbors in Kansas City near the former Blue Ridge Mall. “Every time I go to the hospital, she has been there,” Nesselrode says of her past battle with breast cancer. “When things have occurred – any crisis or anything that occurred – she’s always been there and continues to be.” The women often spent Christmas Eve and other holidays gathered together at each others’ homes and took canoe trips. Nesselrode cannot recall the exact moment that she met Poo; instead, their relationship just formed naturally and instantly. “We talk, and we check on each other since we’re both alone,” Nesselrode says, laughing, saying she had already spoken to Poo several times on a recent Thursday. “I guess sisters do that, too.” Today, Poo’s constant companion in life is her 11-year-old sheltie, Lily. “I think if you don’t have a sense of humor, it’s just a drab life,” says Poo, adding that she watched the televised

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“I think if you don’t have a sense of humor it’s just a drab life.” Roberta ‘Poo’ Coker Independence community icon

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in February – with Lily – and laughed at the competing dogs. “They were just so funny,” Poo says. “I sat here, and I thought to myself, ‘You must be hard up for laughing; you were laughing at a dog.’” She credits her group of friends for her successes, many of whom have stood by her side since their high school days. Poo says life is about surrounding yourself with positive people who share belief systems similar to your own. “I’m not about shopping and foo-foo things. I’d rather spend my day, I guess, at a board meeting giving money to somebody than worrying about some other things that are not in my interest level.” And as Poo approaches the April 6 celebration of her 70th birthday, one of her granddaughters, age 7, recently asked, “Grandma Poo, do you have a real name?” Poo laughed. “Yes, it’s Roberta.” Perhaps it is ironic that Poo’s real name, Roberta, is the feminine form of Robert, meaning “bright with fame.” After all, she was just a woman who answered a newspaper advertisement and sought no credit in return. “I always tried to do what I said I would do,” Poo says. “I don’t know if my story is worth anything. I was just at the right place at the right time.”

DO YOU KNOW AN AMAZING WOMAN IN EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY? LET US KNOW, AND SHE COULD BECOME A ‘JACKIE’ COVER PERSON e-mail ideas to sheila.davis@examiner.net JACKIE

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pets

Puppy love

P

uppies and kittens are wonderful additions to the family, but pet owners who find out their animal is expecting a litter may go into panic mode without a plan.

What to do when your pets become parents

Barb Peterson of Duluth, Minn., breeder of soft-coated wheaten terriers and cardigan Welsh corgis, offers these tips for when you find out you’ll soon have grandpuppies or grandkitties.

By Erika Enigk GateHouse News Service

PHOTO BY STOCK.XCHNG

1

Go to the vet. When you find your dog or cat is pregnant, the best first step is to make sure she’s healthy. Check with the vet on how to best handle the pregnancy; the birth will generally take care of itself. Once the puppies or kittens are born, take proper care of them until they can be placed in good homes. The mother will care for them for a period of time, but they will need shots, and human contact will help them as they make the transition into permanent homes. Check with your vet to find out how long you should keep the babies before placing them.

2

Talk to friends and family members. Placing an ad in the newspaper or on a community bulletin board will reach more people, but Peterson recommends using that method with caution. Shelters, rescue groups and breeders routinely ask questions about a potential owner’s family and home to ensure they’re placing an animal in good hands. Contact your local animal shelter if you need help coming up with the right questions. Charging a fee may help weed out bad owners, Peterson said. It will help offset your costs and show that the person taking the animal home is willing and able to raise it.

3

Find a rescue group in your area. Rescue groups use foster families, so the puppies or kittens will live in a home environment rather than a cage, helping them become accustomed to people and other animals and thus giving them a better chance at becoming a good family pet in the future. Some shelters use foster families as well and may even have families waiting to adopt a pet like the ones you’ll soon have. “If you have beagle-like puppies, someone wanting a beagle-like dog just might be waiting on the shelter’s list,” Peterson said.

4

Spay or neuter your pet to avoid a repeat incident. There are very few good reasons not to have your animal spayed or neutered, Peterson said. And if you’ve had one “oops” incident, you may have another. As soon as your pet is old enough and healthy enough for the surgery, have it done. If you don’t think you can afford it, do a little research to find discount programs. Many states have spay and neuter clinics that will do the surgery for a nominal fee, and some animal shelters have partnerships with local veterinarians that give pet owners discounts on services.

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lessons in life | lesson 6

Every baby looks just like yours

I

didn’t know when I was pregnant that my hormones would forever be altered. That those emotions would just spill over – especially when you see a baby and yours isn’t with you. There’s nothing quite as heartbreaking as seeing a baby when you’re missing your own. You see a brand new cuddly, sweet-smelling angel all wrapped up and sleeping and your arms suddenly ache to hold your own little precious baby. You fight with everything you have not to reach out and touch the sleeping baby because you know how much you hate strangers touching your own baby. I’ll never forget when Baby J was just a few months old. We took her to a nearby Casey’s to get

written by

STEPHANIE BOOTHE doughnuts. A woman came up, exclaimed how beautiful our daughter was and touched the baby’s cheek. As the woman walked away she said, “I probably shouldn’t touch her, I have a cold.” Really? If looks could kill, I’d probably be raising Baby J by myself because my husband was livid. Keeping that scenario in mind, I work really hard to refrain from sweeping up strange babies at grocery stores

to help me overcome my Baby J-free arms. It doesn’t even have to be a situation where I’ve left my perfect little darling somewhere so I could go to the grocery store or out with my girlfriends for a few hours. I miss Baby J when she’s sleeping. I miss her when I’m sitting in the same room and someone else is holding her. Maybe that makes me some kind of selfish mother but there isn’t a second of any day that I don’t miss her. Which is probably why every baby I see in person or on TV makes me think of her. They smile, and I picture Baby J’s new toothy smile. They laugh, and I think of her giggle. And when Baby J is in the same room as me and a baby comes across my TV screen, I drop everything to hold her and tell her I love her.

I’ve also noticed lately that thoughts of her creep into my head and the most random times in the day. When I’m sitting at work , filtering through my latest stack of mail, I look up and see the wall of pictures that surrounds my cube. It instantly reminds of me of whatever amazing accomplishment she reached the night before. I probably look like a goon sitting at my desk smiling, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. I just can’t seem to get enough of her, and every day I’m surprised at how much I love her.

Stephanie

teen issues

Get to work

The hunt

Why wait to learn the art of networking? Your teen should let everyone know that she’s looking for a summer job. Many teens find work through their parents’ friends or their friends’ parents. Encourage her to apply to as many places as possible, as early in the season as possible. And just like adults, teens may need to adjust their expectations and accept a job that isn’t the stuff of dreams. Of course, they should shoot high and try to land a gig that will give them experience in a field they love. But there’s much to learn from less-than-glamorous jobs. Scope out amusement parks, hotels, state parks and landscaping companies, to name a few options.

The paper trail

Resumes are a great asset, even to the youngest job-seekers. Don’t forget to include volunteer work. If your teen hasn’t worked, a brief list of skills is sufficient instead of a resume. If your state requires your young teen to have “working papers,” have these ready to show potential employers.

The interview

Does your teen’s demeanor need some help? No one wants to hire a sullen, muttering teen. “He has to convince the employer that he’s reliable and ready to work,” says Gary Waffle, director of the Office of Employment and Training in Norwich, N.Y. “And don’t go in there cold — learn about the company you’re applying to.” Play the role of the interviewer and ask common questions. Instead of answering that he needs a job to make money, Waffle says, encourage your teen to think about how he’ll relate the summer job to eventual career goals.

The entrepreneurial spirit

Of course, many teens start their own businesses. In the absence of the next billion-dollar Web-based phenomenon, think tried-and-true moneymakers like lawn-mowing, babysitting and dog-walking.

Help your teen find a summer job By Carolyn Sperry GateHouse News Service

This could be another challenging summer for teen job-seekers, with high schoolers competing with outof-work adults for even temporary or seasonal gigs. They’ll need to put their best foot forward to get hired. That means that parents — while

not qualified to dole out fashion advice — might need to step in and help their teens get ready to land that first job. As you offer assistance, refrain from being too critical. Remind your youngster of her strengths. Let her know, too, that almost no one lands the first job they apply for; if she gets shot down, she should just keep trying.

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good reads

Tiger moms, tired moms Parenting books have advice for all sorts By Paul Eisenberg GateHouse News Service

Anybody raising a child has heard or even spoken some form of the cliche "Kids don't come with owners manuals." While there may not be instructions, there are plenty of viewpoints on how parents should raise their kids, including some controversial ones. PHOTO BY STOCK.XCHNG

BOOK

PRICE

DESCRIPTION

$25.95

Recently in the news, Chua's memoir of raising her two children using an Asian model of uncompromising strictness and constant pushing for academic excellence has been likened to an indictment of the more lenient style of parenting found more often in the Western world. While the book has stirred controversy, the author stands by her methods in this work by exemplifying her two daughters.

$25

In contrast to Chua's strict Eastern model, Mogel uses ancient Jewish lore to illustrate her parenting philosophy, which focuses on empathizing with children while resisting the urge to solve their problems for them. Focusing more on the teenage years, Mogel's strategy boils down to letting your kids make mistakes, but making sure they learn from them.

"The iConnected Parent: Staying Close to Your Kids in College (and Beyond) While Letting Them Grow Up," by Barbara K. Hofer and Abigail Sullivan Moore

$25

Once there was a time when parents who sent their kids off to college had to let go nearly entirely, but with new technology comes new ways to stay involved in your children's lives, even as they move away from home. The authors, a psychology professor and a writer, advise parents not to overdo it, however, and impede their paths to maturity.

"Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms For the HalfInsane Working Mom," by Kristin van Ogtrop

$24.99

Mothers who pull double-duty, combining the full-time work of parenting while pulling in some needed income, will find solace in van Ogtrop's humorous survival guide. This book has been lauded by Vanity Fair, Vogue and other magazines for being poignant and funny.

$25.99

Perry, a child psychologist, and Szalavitz, a science journalist, explain why every baby is born with empathy — the ability to share the feelings of others — and why it's essential to protect that ability as children mature around threats including technology and even the education system.

"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," by Amy Chua

"The Blessings of a B Minus," by Wendy Mogel

"Born for Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered," by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz

ALL BOOK COVER IMAGES FROM SONY E-READER STORE

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family facts

Homes and germs Need motivation to clean? Look no further By Danielle Braff | GateHouse News Service

Spring cleaning Here’s a frightening stat: There are 200 times more fecal bacteria on the average cutting board than on your toilet, according to Charles Gerba, Ph.D., a professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona. That’s because many people rinse their cutting boards instead of scrubbing them, and the bacteria make their home in the grooves that the knives make. It’s time to whip that board into shape before you get sick. PHOTO BY STOCK.XCHNG

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family facts

Laundry time

Dirty food

When you wash your family’s sheets, make sure they go through a hot water cycle or use an EPA-approved laundry disinfectant. Gerba did a study that found only 5 percent of Americans use high temperatures when they wash their sheets. But germs can live through the warm and cold washes with typical detergent. That’s probably why your sheets contain about 10 billion microbes, including salmonella, E.coli and feces.

Salmonella is the leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths from foodborne illness each year, according to a new survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is responsible for 28 percent of deaths and 35 percent of hospitalizations. Ninety percent of illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths are from just seven pathogens, the CDC says.

48 million

Clean home

Wash that mug

Your cleanup

One out of every six Americans – or 48 million people – get sick from foodborne illnesses each year, according to 2011 estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, 128,000 are hospitalized for and 3,000 die from severe food poisoning.

Twenty-eight percent of households are considered heavily contaminated with bacteria, according to a study by the public-education group Hygiene Council. That’s probably why 58 percent to 80 percent of foodborne illnesses are contracted in your home, not in a restaurant.

Twenty percent of office mugs have fecal bacteria growing in them, and 90 percent are filled with other germs, Gerba says. Because there typically aren’t dishwashers in offices, most people simply rinse them and clean them with sponges that are filled with bacteria that can live in the mug for two to three days.

Wash your sheets once a week and make sure the water is hot, because the dryer may not be much of a backup. Although E. coli is usually zapped in the drying cycle, salmonella and Mycobacterium, which can cause pulmonary diseases, can survive, says Gerba. PHOTO BY STOCK.XCHNG

Prearrange online from the privacy of your own home.

Funeral and Cremation Services www.speakschapel.com march 2011

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