jackie

VOLUME: 3

april 2011 june 2011

ISSUE: 8

jackie The Examiner’s

Women & Family Magazine

n Good nutrition can zap away stress p4 n Computing on cloud 9 p15 n Help the kids start a lemonade stand p8

Karen Cox Children’s Mercy executive working for all children p10

calendar 2011 SUMMER READING PROGRAM, through

rental, $2. For times, call the Skating Hotline: 816-795-7577.

July 30, area Mid-Continent Public Library Branches. The program offers young people prizes for reading or listening to library books. Three versions to fit different age groups. Visit www.mymcpl.org for details and to find a branch near you.

Blue Springs

Independence

MOONLIGHT MOVIES ON THE SQUARE, 9 p.m. Pharaoh Theater parking lot, Liberty Street and Maple Avenue.

Free. Concessions for sale and chairs for rent. Visit www. freemoonlightmovies.com. June 9 movie: “Kung Fu Panda”; June 16 movie: “Despicable Me”; June 23 movie: “Cars”; June 30 movie: “Yogi Bear.”

FARMERS/CRAFT MARKET, 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Wednesdays, Truman Road and Main Street. Call 816-252-8860.

FARMERS MARKET, 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, Hartman Heritage shopping area, Interstate 70 and Little Blue Parkway. Call 816-252-8860.

NATURE STORY TIME – for ages 2 to 5, 10 to 10:45 a.m.

Thursdays, George Owens Nature Park, 1601 S. Speck Road. A different animal and topic each week. Free. Call 816-325-7843.

METRO POPS benefit performance, June 2, Fairmount Community Center, 217 S. Cedar Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner served at 6:30 p.m.; show starts at 7:30 p.m. The $15 cost includes dinner and show. Advance tickets are required.

Call 816-254-8334 for tickets.

“ALMOST, MAINE,” a romantic comedy, June 2-5 and 1012, Powerhouse Theater, Sermon Center, Truman and Noland Roads. Cost, $10; $9 for seniors. Call 816-325-7367 for tickets.

ALEX’S LEMONADE STAND GRAND STAND, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 3 and 4, both Hy-Vee stores, 4545 Noland Road and 1525 E. 23rd St. Proceeds go to cancer research.

BLUES AND BREWFEST, doors open at 4 p.m. June 4, Independence Events Center, 19100 E. Valley View Drive.

Tickets range from $25.50 to $39.50. Premium tickets packages are $110 and include VIP premium seats, reserve parking, complimentary gift item and exclusive brew and cheese sampling selections from 6 to 8 p.m. For details, visit www. independenceeventscenter.com. For tickets, call 816-795-7577 or www.ticketmaster.com.

ECOFEST: It’s all about water – for all ages, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 4, Waterfall Park, 4501 S. Bass Pro Drive. There will be hands on activities, live music, exhibits, food and more.

Free. Visit www.indepmo.org/ecofest or call 325-7711.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, 3 to 5 p.m. June 5, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1400 Sheley Road. There will be fresh strawberries and strawberry desserts of all kinds. Donations accepted. Call 816-252-5893.

TADPOLE TREKKING – for ages 3 to 6, 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays June 10-July 29, George Owens Nature Park. Expect the little ones to get their hands dirty. Free. Call 816-325-7843.

BREAKFAST ON THE TRAILS, 7 to 9 a.m. June 11, BinghamWaggoner Estate, 313 W. Pacific Ave. A hearty breakfast will be served from a real chuck wagon, and the Gum Springs Serenaders will provide live entertainment. Actors will be in period costume and baked goods will be available for purchase.

Cost, $8 for adults; $5 for ages 10 and under. Reservations required. For tickets, call 816-461-3491.

NATURE DOGS – for all ages, 10 to 11 a.m. June 11, George Owens Nature Park. Bring your dog to explore the nature park.

Dogs must be well behaved, vaccinated and socialized, and dog handlers must be at least 16. Call 816-325-7843.

FAMILY FUN DAY, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 11, National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific Ave. Enjoy free wagon rides, cookies and cider. Make and take a memory book to record your impressions. Free with museum admission, $6; $5 for seniors; $3 for ages 6 to 17. Call 816-325-7575.

CENTERPOINT AUXILIARY FUNDRAISER, noon to 7 p.m.

June 13; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 14 and 15, outside the hospital’s cafeteria, 39th Street and Jackson Drive. Dillard’s will feature a boutique, with items especially for Father’s Day. Proceeds provide scholarships to students pursuing a medical career,

2 JACKIE

Visitors enjoy the 2010 Vaile Strawberry Festival.

{EDITOR’S PICK}

Vaile

strawberry festival

PHOTO BY RORIE RITCHIE

T

HE VAILE MANSION’S annual fundraiser is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 4, at the Vaile Mansion, 1500 N. Liberty St., Independence. Includes antiques, crafts, flowers, carriage rides, vintage cars, children’s crafts, entertainment, concessions, strawberry treats and more. Admission to the grounds is free; $6 for mansion tours, $3 for children; $5 for carriage rides, $3 for children. Free shuttle from William Chrisman High School, U.S. 24 and Noland Road. Call 816-325-7430.

charities in Eastern Jackson County and supplies for patients.

BRAIN DANCE – for children 2 and 3 years old, sponsored

by Independence Parks and Recreation, 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Monday/Wednesday June 13-29, Sermon Center, Truman and Noland roads. Allows children to explore dance concepts, develop skills and create dances. $25. Register: 816-325-7370.

PRE-DANCE – for children 4 to 6 years old, sponsored

by Independence Parks and Recreation, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Monday/Wednesday June 13-29, Sermon Center, Truman and Noland roads. Children learn basic ballet, jazz and creative movement games and dance. $40. Register: 816-325-7370.

HOME FOOD PRESERVATION SERIES, presented by University of Missouri Extension, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 3601 S. Sterling Ave. June 16: Home canning the safe way; June 30: Salsa from your garden; July 14: How to pickle; July 28: Making jams and jellies; Aug. 11: Freezing and dehydrating produce. Cost, $15 per session; $60 for all five.

Registration deadline: June 9; Karen Elliott at 816-482-5850.

ENGLEWOOD ART WALK, 5 to 9 p.m. June 17, 10900 E. Winner Road. Seven galleries in the Englewood Station Shopping District, Winner Road and Sterling Avenue. Artists in action, demonstrations, and live music. Free. Call 816-252-3372.

FISHING DERBY – ages 5 to 12, 9:30 a.m. to noon June 18, George Owens Nature Park. Prizes in a number of categories.

Bring you own pole and bait. $2 per child. Call 816-325-7843.

CRAZY DOLL OR BABY QUILT workshop, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 18, National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific Ave. Fabric, Thread and decorative items included. Cost, $30.

Reservation required. Call 816-325-7575.

FATHER’S DAY AT TRUMAN LIBRARY, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 19, 500 W. U.S. 24. Fathers receive free admission all day.

Call 816-268-8200.

SUMMER FANTASY, presented by the Powerhouse Theater, 7:30 p.m. June 24, Sermon Center, Truman and Noland roads.

Cost, $2 for adults; $1 for children. Call 816-325-7370.

STARRY NIGHT HIKES – for all ages, 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. June 24, George Owens Nature Park. Leave flashlights, reflective clothing and children’s shoes with lights at home.

Free. Call 816-325-7843.

“STELLA LUNA,” puppet show, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. June 25, Puppetry Arts Institute, 11025 E. Winner Road. $5; for reservations, call 816-833-9777.

“HAND CARVED SCALE MODEL CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT” exhibit by Don Gfeller, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. MondaySaturday; 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays through July, Vaile Mansion, 1500 N. Liberty St. Cost, $6 for adults; $5 for seniors; $3 for ages 6 to 16. Call 816-325-7430 or visit www.vailemansion.org.

“A GUY’S GETAWAY,” a sports and fishing collection, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays, through June, Bingham-Waggoner, 313 W. Pacific Ave. Admission, $6; $5 for seniors; $3 for ages 6 to 16. Call 816-461-3491.

“LOOSE-WILES BISCUIT CO.” candy and cookie molds display, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday-Saturday; 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sundays, through June, Chicago & Alton 1879 Depot, 318 W. Pacific Ave. Call 816-325-7955.

STEAMBOATS TO STEAM ENGINES: George Caleb Bingham’s Missouri from 1819-1879, through Sept. 8, Truman Library. Free with paid museum admission, $8; $7 for seniors; $3 for ages 6 to 15. Call 816-268-8200 or 800-833-1225.

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, non-residents add $1 to each price. Skate

JUNE 2011

FARMERS MARKET, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, Main and 11th streets.

ALEX’S LEMONADE STAND GRAND STAND, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 3 and 4, Hy-Vee, 601 W. U.S. 40. Proceeds go to cancer research.

MILITARY HONOR RALLY, sponsored by Christian Motorcyclists Association Swordbearers For Christ, Chapter 49, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 4, Stanley-Pack American Legion Post 499, 499 S.W. Missouri 7. Activities: Bike blessing, motorcycle show, food and more. Free admission, but a donation of a nonperishable item for the Impact Food Pantry would be appreciated. For questions, call Jerry Russell at 816-588-6195.

“CAR CRUISE NIGHT,” 5 p.m. until dark June 4, downtown Blue Springs, on Main Street between 10th and 12th streets.

There will be custom cars, muscle cars, truck and hot rods.

Concessions available. Call 816-228-0137.

COOKING WILD: Crappie – for adults, 1 to 2:30 p.m. June 4, Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 N.W. Park Road. Call 816-228-3766 to register.

SWIMMING INSTRUCTION, Blue Springs Parks and Recreation, Saturdays June 4-July 30; or Monday-Thursday June 6-16, Centennial Pool-Plex. The cost is $40 per 8-class session.

For times, age groups and to register, call 816-228-0137.

“MUSIC IN THE PARK,” presented by Blue Springs Parks and Recreation, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (unless noted), Rotary Park and Railroad Lake, Missouri 7 and Vesper St. Lineup: June 5 – “Rain Dogs” 4 to 6 p.m., and “David Mayfield Parade” 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; June 12 – “Southbound;” June 19 – “Bluz Benderz”; June 26 – “Elsea Smith Band.” Bring your blankets and lawn chairs. In case there’s inclement weather, call 816-228-0116.

RAPE AGGRESSION DEFENSE SYSTEMS TRAINING – for women 15 and older, 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays June 6-27. This national training program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques will be taught by Blue Springs Police certified RAD instructors. Cost, $25. Call 816-228-0137 to register.

ADULT TENNIS LESSONS, 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays/Thursdays June 7-23, Old Mill Park, 112 N.W. Woods Chapel Road. Classes focus basic strokes, rules and fundamentals of the game. Cost, $55. Call 816-228-0137 to register.

FENCING INSTRUCTION, sponsored by Blue Springs Parks and Recreation, introduction to fencing 6:30 to 7:20 p.m.; mastering fencing for ages 13 and under 7:30 to 8:20 p.m., for ages 14 and older 8:30 to 9:20 p.m., Wednesdays June 8-July 20, Hidden Valley Park. Cost for all classes, $49. Call 816-2280137 to register.

IMPROVING TRANSITION TIMES, 6 to 8 p.m. June 9, University of Missouri Extension Center. Learn strategies that can help children make transition times smoother while moving from place to place and activity to activity throughout the day.

Cost, $18. To register, call 816-252-5051.

LITTLE BLUE RIVER ART FEST, 1 to 8 p.m. June 10; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 11, White Oak Plaza, 1045 S.W. Missouri 7. More than 25 local artists will sell their works in a variety of mediums, such as painting, drawing, photography, jewelry, textiles and more. Admission is free. Visit www. bluespringsartcouncil.com.

HERSHEY’S TRACK & FIELD MEET – for ages 9 to 14, 8 a.m. check-in June 10, Moreland Ridge Middle School track.

Kids will be able to run, jump and throw a softball that stresses fun rather than competition. Call 816-228-0137 for questions.

NIGHT BIKE RIDE, 11:30 p.m. June 11, depart from the Centennial Pool-Plex. Experienced cyclists of all ages are welcome and may choose between a 14-mile or 19-mile route.

Rain date: June 18. Cost, $25. To register, call 816-228-0137.

ROCK CLIMBING CAMP – for ages 7 to 12, sponsored by Blue Springs Parks and Recreation, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday/ Wednesday/Friday June 13-24 ($50); or Tuesday/Thursday June 14-23 ($40), IBEX Climbing Gym. Call 816-228-0137 to register.

– Jillayne Ritchie

a word from jackie

Dads are so important to daughters

M

other’s Day has come and gone and the turn of the calendar means that our attention turns to Dad in the month of June. Often the overlooked parent in the household, Father’s Day demands that wives and children pamper Pop and relinquish the day to Dad’s favorite activities. It is also a day to consider the great impact your father has had on you.

Research has shown that the relationship between father and daughter is in fact more significant than the one between mother and daughter. The family unit is a training ground for relationships and it is within our parents’ home that we learn about compromise, commitment and consideration. From fathers, whether living in the home or not, girls learn important life skills that impact their future relationships.

A girl’s relationship with her father is her first male-female bond. This is where a

written by

Jackie daughter develops her sense of acceptance, value and self-respect that will influence her actions and attitudes throughout her life. By being respectful to his daughter, a father teaches her to demand respect from men in her personal and professional life.

Fathers who are attentive to their daughters by being emotionally supportive and sharing in their interests fulfill the inherent need in females to attract male attention. Studies on teenage sexual activity and teen pregnancy confirm that when girls do not receive adequate attention from their fathers, they seek attention from other males in their lives.

Daughters who develop affectionate relationships with their fathers learn the boundaries of safe and unsafe emotional and

physical relationships with men. Fathers, more than mothers, affect girls’ development of modesty and their right to privacy.

Through close and intimate emotional relationships between fathers and daughters girls become more self-assured and build the skills to communicate effectively with members of the opposite sex.

Communication between fathers and daughters is critical to girls’ confidence in negotiating relationships into her adulthood. When fathers exercise absolute authority and impose rigid rules, daughters quickly learn to rebel. Overly-strict demands, expectations and standards set by dads cause girls to view men as the enemy while a father’s fairness and willingness to listen and compromise teaches daughters to express their opinion and stand up for themselves.

Girls naturally regard their father as an authority figure, and properly managing this

power is another essential element in raising a confident and well-adjusted girl. By being affectionate and supportive, fathers build trust with their daughters. In turn girls gain a sense of security and will trust their father to set limits and meet their needs.

Mothers usually serve as role models for their daughters, and girls are especially observant about the relationship between their mother and father. If parents treat each other well, daughters grow up expecting to be treated well by men. If Dad is dictatorial, detached or abusive, girls learn that it is okay for men to be hurtful.

Father’s Day is not just a day to fire up the grill and let Dad lay in the hammock sipping lemonade. It is a day to thank your dad for making you the woman you are today.

Jackie

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3

family facts

Healthy habits Zap stress, boost nutrition with these tips

By Danielle Braff | GateHouse News Service

Fruit servings If your family doesn’t manage to get all its necessary servings of daily fruit, try serving them some juice. One glass of 100 percent fruit juice counts as two of your four servings of fruit recommended in a day. A recent study in the American Journal of Health Promotion found that people who drink fruit juice on a regular basis are ingesting high levels of key nutrients necessary for their health.

PHOTO BY STOCK.XCHNG

4 JACKIE

JUNE 2011

family facts

PHOTO BY STOCK.XCHNG

Save time at the gym If you’re rushing through your workouts to pick the kids up from school, here’s a little time-saver for you: Skip the warm-up stretching.

A 2010 study finds that stretching before a run or a workout doesn’t have any real benefits. Instead, do a quick dynamic warm-up, swinging your arms and kicking your legs to get your muscles ready.

Meals on the road Skip the burger and fries during your next trip. Instead, look for the meat-free, healthy food option. A study by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine finds that 82 percent of airport restaurants offer at least one vegetarian option, and those meat-free meals tend to be lower in cholesterol and fat than their meaty counterparts.

Snack time

Family history

Rough day

Try beets. A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology finds that beet juice is rich in nitrates, which makes you less tired during workouts. So if you’re racing around after the kids all day or if your children are tired after recess, turn to the red Russian veggie instead of hitting the coffee shop.

Try mapping your family’s health history, and you’ll learn more about your potential health risks than many DNA tests can tell you, says a study by the Cleveland Clinic. Ask your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and grandparents for their health history, and create a health family tree, which you can bring to your doc to learn more about your own health.

When you’ve had a hard day, hire a babysitter and go out with a good friend.

A study published in Behavioral Neuroscience finds that being around other people zaps stress, so you’ll feel refreshed and ready for the kids again in the morning.

Jackie

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

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 Jackie is created monthly by GateHouse Media Inc., The Examiner's parent company.

© 2011 gatehouse media • All rights reserved JUNE 2011

JACKIE

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JUNE 2011

parenting issues

Happy campers Talk through your and your child’s fears before summer camp

By Melissa Erickson GateHouse News Service

H

omesickness, bugs and thunderstorms are just a few things kids will deal with at sleep-away summer camp. How can parents best prepare their children – and themselves – for the camp experience?

“Selecting the right camp, a good fit for your child, is so important. But once you’ve made that decision there’s still so much to do,” said Dayna Hardin, owner/ director of four camps in Decatur, Mich., and senior vice president of CampGroup, which owns and operates 14 private day and resident camps in the Midwest and East.

“Parents and kids need to be a part of the process of preparing for camp. It’s not just buying sleeping bags, stationery and bug spray. Kids and parents together need to get ready for this adventure, and that means talking, having real conversations about what to expect and how they can respond,” Hardin said.

Going to camp is a big moment in kids’ lives, and like any big thing, there’s a lot to talk about, said Craig Miller, an Advanced Camp program counselor at HoneyRock, a Christian-based camp in Three Lakes, Wis. “There’s a range of emotions (for parents and kids), from a high level of nervousness to also a lot of excitement and optimism. The more prepared you are, the more you talk about it, the better off everyone will feel,” Miller said.

Homesickness is a fact of life at summer camp, Hardin said: “Probably 95

STOCK.XCHNG

percent of kids feel homesick to some degree, but at the same time, they’re having fun.”

The counselors agree: Parents need to make sure kids understand that these conflicting emotions are normal.

“It’s OK to miss Mom or Dad or the family dog but still have fun while waterskiing,” Hardin said.

Kids will experience emotions from anxiety to confidence, but they’ll be joyful and happy, too.

Parents also may feel conflicting emotions about kids leaving the nest, but they need to keep those emotions in check around their kids, counselors stressed.

Be sure not to send mixed messages, such as “I love you so much, but what will I do when you’re gone?” Or, “How will I walk into your room if you’re not there?” These kinds of statements may scare or stress a child.

“Share your concerns with your spouse or a friend, but be positive for your child,”

JUNE 2011

Hardin advised.

Another bit of good advice is to walk though possible camping scenarios your child may encounter, such as: What will you do if you can’t sleep? Who will you turn to if you feel bullied? In any good camp, there will be a counselor to talk to just a few steps away. Be sure to reassure your child of this.

Situations at camp might be challenging for children, but talking about them beforehand can help alleviate their fears.

JACKIE

7

food

Main squeeze Help kids start a lemonade stand this summer

By Margaret Maples

I

GateHouse News Service

f you have budding entrepreneurs at home, you’ve probably heard about lemonade stands. How fun and easy they are. Yes, even for parents – provided you arrange matters so the kids can do the work.

First, make sure they plan to set up shop in the front yard or driveway, where you can supervise without hovering.

For a stand, simply donate a card table and either a brown paper or plastic tablecloth.

See that the operation has enough coins to make change. If the staff hasn’t dealt with that before, give them a short rehearsal in counting back when a customer pays with a dollar bill. Make sure that hands, faces and clothes are clean, and remind the young merchants that good manners go a long way.

The night before opening day, they can follow these instructions to make lemonade and cookies.

WIKIMEDIA

GHNS/MARGARET MAPLES

The menu Fresh lemonade starts with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Some kids squeeze by hand, but a reamer or small hand juicer speeds up the job. A mechanical or electric juicer is good for large batches. Nine lemons will produce about 1 ½ cups of fresh lemon juice.

Set it aside.

In a microwave-safe container, such as a 16-ounce Pyrex measuring cup, place 1 cup sugar, then fill to the 2 cup

mark with tap water. Stir the sugar and water together. Microwave the sugarwater for 1 minute. Then stir it and zap it for another minute. Now you have simple syrup. Pour it and the lemon juice into a large plastic container.

Stir in 5 ¼ cups of cold tap water. This makes about half a gallon of lemonade.

This recipe can be multiplied as needed. If fliers promoting the stand have been spread through the neighborhood, business could be brisk. So

keeping another gallon of lemonade in the fridge or ice chest might be a good idea. In areas where lemons are very expensive, some stands stretch their freshly squeezed lemonade with glasses of freshly defrosted concentrate. To add visual oomph and a little offbeat flavor to each glass, garnish with mint leaves or freeze fruit into the ice cubes. Or use fruit punch to create red cubes.

Cookie recipe is on the next page.

Save on groceries, dining and more at RadarFrog.com. Sign up at examiner.net today for a free account.

8 JACKIE

JUNE 2011

food Shortbread cookies Older children and teens can handle this recipe easily. Younger ones will need adults to manage the oven.

Ingredients: • 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature • 1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons sugar • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon • ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg • ¾ teaspoon salt • Food coloring to tint dough (gel food color produces bright shades without thinning the dough)

Preparation: 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter until very smooth. Add sugar and combine thoroughly. Stir in vanilla.

2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter a little at a time, mixing just until combined.

3. Divide the dough into two or three portions and tint them with food coloring if desired. Shape these portions into large flat circles about 1-inch thick and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about 20

minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line rimmed cookie sheets with parchment; set aside.

5. Use a rolling pin to roll out dough between two pieces of wax paper. The dough should be about ¼-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out small cookies. Place these on the parchment-lined pans and bake for about 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven and let the cookies cool on a rack until firm.

Makes 8 dozen 1 ¾-inch cookies.

GHNS/Margaret Maples

Day camp offered at Fleming Park Jackson County Parks & Recreation is offering a summer camp program for children ages 6 to 13 at the Kemper Outdoor Education Center in Fleming Park, 8201 Jasper Bell Road, Blue Springs. New sessions begin every Monday, June 13 through Aug. 8. Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Extended hours allow children to arrive as early as 6:45 a.m. and stay as late as 5:45 p.m.

The Jacomo Day Camp, established in 1977, features outdoor education and outdoor recreation activities such as swimming, canoeing, archery, hiking, nature study, arts and crafts. Special events, weekly themes, and field trips highlight the sessions.

Cost is on a fee scale. Advance registration is required. For more information or a brochure, visit www.jacksongov.org/daycamp, email kemper@jacksongov.org or call 816-229-8980.

– Jillayne Ritchie

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cover story

KAREN COX

Her journey to a top position with Children’s Mercy began with volunteerism

Karen Cox, fifth from right, talks with health care colleagues during a visit to Children’s Mercy Hospital’s sister hospital in China. | Photo courtesy of Karen Cox 10 JACKIE

JUNE 2011

cover story she said. “Nursing, I feel, has a lot more flexibility. I never regretted the choice to become a nurse. That is where I felt I belonged.” hen Karen Cox was a teenager, Instead of going to college right after high she began volunteering at the school, Cox went to a vocational technolMedical Center of Indepenogy school to become a licensed practical dence as a candy striper. nurse. After she became an LPN, she began She was able to observe the doctors and taking college classes from Excelsior College, nurses in action, while interacting with eventually earning an associate’s degree in patients. nursing. But she did not want her education “As a volunteer, I was allowed to do to end there. She went onto earn a bachelor’s things,” she said. “I felt like I was contributdegree in nursing from the University of ing, and it was something I enjoyed doing. It Kansas and a master’s degree in nursing felt like something I could do when I became from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. older.”

She completed her doctorate in nursing with But what Cox never imagined was a a minor in business from UMKC in 2002. career that took her off the hospital floor and “I knew early on that I wanted to contribto different parts of the world collaborating ute on a broader level,” she said. “I wanted to with others in the medical profession. be able to do research and have influence in both the hospital setting and in the profesThe road to becoming sion.”

One of Cox’s first nursing jobs was worka nurse ing in the burn center at the University of Cox grew up in Independence. She was born at the Independence Sanitarium, which Kansas Medical Center. She said while most later became Independence Regional Health of the patients were adults, occasionally she would work with children. It was about this Center and is now the Ennovation Center.

The eldest of two, she said she had a good re- time that she began a part-time position at lationship with her parents, Don and Wilma Children’s Mercy Hospital. It was there that her career path would shift once again.

Cox, as well as with her sister.

“I fell in love with the kids and the peo“My whole family still lives in Indepenple,” she said. “So often, kids don’t know that dence, so it still feels like my hometown,” they are sick and cannot understand why we said Cox, who now lives in Kansas City. “I can’t make them better. I was truly drawn to believe I got the best of each of them. I got my people skills and patience from my mom pediatrics and working with those patients and my dad’s intelligence and curiosity. He is and families.”

Cox met her husband Randy while doing interested in everything, everyone, and is a volunteer work at the Westport Free Health hard worker.”

Clinic. She was a nurse and he worked with After attending Blackburn Elementary social services. They married in 1993.

School, Bridger Middle School, and Palmer “I really believe in the concept of harmoJunior High, she graduated from Truman ny,” she said of balancing work with family High School in 1978. life. “I think it is OK to do a lot of things at “I liked working in the hospital environment,” she said of her time as a candy striper once if you like doing them and you are still recharged and happy. I don’t have to do all and later time working in a nursing home.

“There was always a lot going on, and it was of the things I do, but it is good for me and good for the community.” fun.”

While the environment at the hospital and in the long-term care facilities were Children’s Mercy different, Cox said she enjoyed the people at Cox has now been with Children’s Mercy both. for more than 20 years and is the executive “When I worked in long-term care, I liked vice president/co-chief operating officer for the people I worked with as well as the resiChildren’s Mercy Hospital and Clinics. It dents,” she said. “They just wanted your time is here that she began her first large-scale and attention. I remember lifting someone research project, a work environment asinto a chair or helping them get dressed, and sessment tool for nurses. It measures their we were interacting, whether they had all perception of their own work load and envitheir faculties or not.” ronment. The database, which is housed at Cox never intended to go to medical Children’s Mercy, includes more than 14,000 school and become a doctor. The choice to nurses throughout the United States and become a nurse, she said, was made early in even in several foreign countries. her teen years.

“We can use it on an international level “I felt like they were two very different and compare other hospitals to ourselves,” disciplines with two very different skill sets,” she said. “We can look at what is different

By Kelly Evenson |

kelly.evenson@examiner.net

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and use it as a learning tool.”

Cox said she does miss getting to interact with patients every day, but feels like her time as a nurse offers her a different perspective in an administrative role.

“I do miss it,” she said of working on the floor. “But I use that perspective every day, which is very important in my leadership role. The mission at Children’s Mercy is so important. We are taking care of all of the children in our community.”

Working on a global level

One of the countries that has developed a partnership with Children’s Mercy is China.

Cox has traveled to a children’s hospital in the Asian country four times in the last several years, working and exchanging information with the staff.

“We started the sister hospital relationship in 2003, and it has been such a wonderful experience,” she said. “We have learned so much from the people and the culture, and they learn from us. It is a two way street. We learn how another hospital does things, and they learn from us. It really broadens our perspective.”

After years of developing herself as a leader on both the local and national levels, Cox has come full circle and is working in her own backyard once again. She is working to bring a Children’s Mercy Health Clinic to Eastern Jackson County, a move Cox said will make health services much more accessible.

The clinic is to be in southeast Independence in the Trinity Woods development near the Blue Ridge Bank building.

“There will still be some need for individuals to come to the main campus, but many things will be able to be accomplished in a facility closer to home,” she said. “It makes me feel good because my own niece and nephew live less than two miles from the site.

There will be accessibility to specialists and urgent care. Children are not small adults.

It is a very different kind of care, and special people and equipment are needed.”

Cox said her role as a leader continues to be very important to who she is as a person.

She said she believes that the best leaders are the ones who don’t take themselves too seriously and realize what they do is no more or less important than anyone else’s job.

“I think there are successful people that think it is because of what they have done,” she said. “I truly believe luck is a big part of it, and remembering that keeps you humble.

I know individuals have to work at things, but I like the quote that success is when preparedness meets opportunity.”

JUNE 2011

SPECTRUM/ Karen Cox HIGHEST HIGH

The birth of my 16-year-old nephew Jake, who now goes to Truman High School. Also, the birth of my 12-year-old niece Anna, who attends Bridger Middle School.

LOWEST LOW When my best friend, Carol, died of ovarian cancer.

ACHILLES’ HEEL Not always being able to say no to a good cause.

GREATEST MOMENT OF EPIPHANY I think my greatest moment of epiphany, when I had that “aha” moment, was during my first job as a nurse. I realized how important everyone was in the room and how every person should be treated with respect. Everyone was important – from the person who cleaned the unit to the nurse who handed the surgeon the tools. It was all about teamwork.

SMARTEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE Going to LPN school. It ... taught me how to be a good nurse. It also taught me what it was like to work in that role and made me appreciate the role everyone serves in a hospital, whether an LPN or an RN.

DUMBEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE Not pay attention to the things my parents said to me when I was young.

WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD BE DOING WITH MY LIFE I thought I would be a really good clinical nurse and be taking care of patients. I never imagined my career would go down this path or in this direction.

WHAT I STILL REALLY WANT TO DO I want to still make on impact on healthcare on a national level. You can do a lot of good on a one-on-one level, but you can also do good on a system level.

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

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the cutting edge

Fake your way to lovely lashes

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reat eyelashes make eyes look bigger, brighter and more inviting. Unfortunately, some of us are not lusciously lashed.

I don’t know about you, but I have skimpier lashes now than I ever had. Age will do it, illness can contribute, and some peepers just plain don’t have it.

But hang on all you limp lashed lovelies – False eyelashes to the rescue! They are available in all sorts of sizes, colors and styles (believe it or not). The real trick is to learn how to apply them so they feel comfortable to you and look awesome. n False eyelashes are available in a strip or in individual clumps. For ease of application, I think the strip lashes are they way to go. This is not to say that a few well placed individual lashes aren’t lovely – they are.

I think it is just easier to apply a strip of lashes. n First things first. Get out there and pick up some lashes and lash adhesive. You will also need a small pair of scissors and

written by

Mary costanzoschwaller a pair of tweezers. If you don’t know what kind of style to pick, try on a few. They are not too expensive, so have some fun. The fuller and longer the lashes are the more you will notice them on your eyes. n If the lash strip is wider than your eye, trim them to fit. Feel free to trim the individual lashes down so they look more natural if you like. They should be longer toward the outer corner of the eye, and the lash length should vary ever so slightly. n Next, squeeze a stripe of eyelash adhesive onto the back of your hand and run the eyelash along it. Hold them for a minute so the glue becomes a bit less runny before you apply your lashes.

n Using tweezers pick up the lashes and apply them very close to your natural lash line. Nestle them into your natural lashes, press and hold until the glue dries. Allowing the glue to set so that when you lift your fingertips from it, the lashes won’t stick to your finger. n Don’t forget mascara. Apply it while pressing your finger behind the fake lashes.

This will bond the false lashes with yours. n The most important trick is to apply a bit of liquid eyeliner to fill any gaps between the false lashes and your natural lash line with eyeliner. This will really finish the look, and help to camouflage the difference between your real lashes and those that are false.

Go out there and get yourself a pair. It is a fun and easy way to jazz up your look this summer!

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Feeding kids all summer The Community Services League kicked off its second annual “Got Lunch?” summer food program for children at all seven of its locations June 1.

During the school year, more than 12,000 low-income school children in Eastern Jackson County receive lunches through the National School Lunch Program. Throughout the summer, children no longer have access to the free programs. This places added strain on the already limited household budgets of thousands of families. By providing the “Got Lunch?” summer child feeding program, CSL is setting a goal of offering additional food for 1,500 children each month in June, July and August to ensure that no one goes hungry this summer.

Families seeking assistance may contact any CSL location: Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, Buckner and Independence at the Noland Road, 39th Street and the Fairmount site. Each has specific times and criteria for emergency food pantry services.

Anyone interested in making a contribution to support the “Got Lunch?” program may do so by donating food or cash/checks at any the locations or by making a gift online at www.cslcares.org.

– Submitted information

A look at some recent award-winning books BOOK

“The City and the City” by China Mieville

“Moon Over Manifest” by Clare Vanderpool

“Mockingbird” by Kathryn Erskine

“A Sick Day for Amos McGee” by Phillip C. Stead

“The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration” by Isabel Wilkerson

By Paul Eisenberg | GateHouse News Service

CHN STO CK.X

And the award goes to …

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good reads

PRICE

DESCRIPTION

$15

This book straddles the line between police procedural and urban fantasy, but it took home a share of two of science fiction’s most coveted prizes – it was named Best Novel of 2010 in the World Fantasy Awards and tied with another book for best novel at the 2010 Hugo Awards. It tells the tale of a detective working a murder case in a European city where denizens only see what they want to see.

$16.99

Abilene Tucker has already had adventures, having spent a good part of her youth hitching rides on freight trains during the Great Depression with her father. The real adventures, as detailed in this Newberry Medal-winning book, begin after her father leaves her with a friend in his hometown, where mysteries abound and the old ways of doing things are about to change forever. Booklist rated the novel appropriate for readers in grades 5 and up.

$15.99

A powerful book for kids that earned the 2010 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, it is narrated by a fifth-grader who has Asperger’s Syndrome, finds it hard to deal with group settings and now must overcome, along with her father, the tragic shooting death of her brother. A counselor, Mrs. Brook, is there to help, but ultimately, narrator Caitlyn must find it in herself to heal in this emotional tale for readers in grades 4 and up.

$16.99

Winner of the 2011 Caldecott Medal, this heartwarmingly illustrated book for readers in kindergarten and up tells about the title character who is a zookeeper and his five friends: elephant, tortoise, penguin, rhinoceros and owl. When Amos doesn’t come in to work one day, his friends visit him at home to find him sick. So they help in ways only they can.

$30

Winner of the 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award for General Nonfiction, Wilkerson tells the story of one of the greatest geographic movements of people in American history, when in the first half of the 20th century, 6 million African-Americans left the South for the hope and perceived better life in the Northern and Midwestern states. Amid the grand tale, smaller stories of individuals fleeing racism, lynchings and beatings put faces on the phenomenon.

ALL BOOK COVER IMAGES FROM SONY E-READER STORE

JUNE 2011

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father's day

Must-haves for Dad Gadgets for the golfer, griller and all-around good guy in your life

By Carolyn Sperry GateHouse News Service

F

ather’s Day doesn’t garner as much attention as Mother’s Day, but maybe it should. It’s the one day set aside to honor those wise and dedicated guys who raised us.

For the golfer

COVERT-COOLERS.COM

For the dad who’s an avid golfer and might get thirsty out on the links, try a golf bag cooler that fits right in the shoe pocket of a golf bag.

Available at www.covertcoolers.com An indoor putting green is a fun way to practice during bad weather or when he just can’t get away. These come in a variety of styles and price points and could prove to be addictive fun.

Available at www.inthehole golf.com

For the grillmaster

WILLIAMS-SONOMA.COM

If Dad loves both grilling and gadgetry, the Wireless Remote Grilling Thermometer from WilliamsSonoma could be just the ticket. It monitors meat and poultry from up to 150 feet away and beeps when the food is ready, so he can mingle with guests instead of standing over the grill.

Available at www.williamssonoma.com For a low-tech but high-end option, check out this durable Rosewood Grill Set. Available at www.4thegrill. com

Contemporary dads change diapers, play dress-up and help with homework.

Don’t they deserve something just for them? A gift that’s mindful of a guy’s favorite pastime is sure to be a winner. Some ideas:

For the outdoorsman

AMAZON.COM

Most any guy would appreciate the utility of the Victorinox Swiss Ranger Pocket Knife, a tiny toolkit-in-a-knife that’s easy to take fishing or on a hike.

Available on www.amazon. com The outdoorsy dad might like a GPS unit for hikers that can get him back to the trailhead where he started – or back to his car if he forgot where he parked. This version from Bushnell also displays the time, temperature and altitude.

Available at www. bushnelloptics.com

For the sports fan

UNCOMMONGOODS.COM

Cufflinks made from seats from his favorite ballpark could make him wistful for the good old days – and give him a conversation piece he can wear right on his suit.

Available at www. uncommongoods.com Nostalgia aside, stadium seating and bleachers are pretty uncomfortable. A portable, back-supporting seat could be a welcome present for a guy who’s a fixture at sporting events.

Available at www.sports unlimitedinc.com

Save on more gift ideas for Dad at RadarFrog.com. Sign up today for a free account.

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For the dad who has everything

REDENVELOPE.COM

Looking for something that’s just really fun? Red Envelope makes a surprisingly nice-looking leather “beer holster” that fits a can or a bottle, and keeps hands free for mowing the lawn or making the rounds at a barbeque.

Available at www.red envelope.com For a truly one-of-a-kind gift, check out PhotoWow. com, where you can order custom artwork in a variety of styles based on a favorite family photo.

Available at www.photo wow.com

technology

Cloud computing You’ve heard about it – can it help your household?

By Dan Rafter GateHouse News Service

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ou may not understand what cloud computing is, but you should understand that it can save your family time and money.

You might already use cloud services without knowing it. Do you have email through Hotmail or Gmail? They're both examples of cloud computing. Instead of storing your email messages in your computer, these services store them on outside servers.

How can it help?

Computer software is expensive. And storing it on your family computer's hard drive can suck up a lot of space. With cloud computing, all you need is Internet access to connect to some of the most popular, and costly, programs.

Say you want to create a business report, but you don't want to spend a significant amount of money on a new copy of Microsoft PowerPoint. You can simply log onto the home page of a cloud-computing service that offers its own presentation software on an outside server. You pay just for the time you spend creating your presentation and save your document not on your own computer, but on an outside server.

Cloud services can provide security for your family's files, too. If your computer's hard drive should fail, your cloud-saved files will still be safe, stored on their external servers.

Chris Hopen, chief executive officer of HomePipe Networks, a consumer storage and access service, said the cloud provides a host of benefits for family members.

Say your mother-in-law wants photos of her grandkids from the annual family vacation.

Rather than send these photos by email – which requires that you download them to your computer and attach them to messages, a time-consuming task – you can upload them to a cloud-based storage system. Your mother-in-law, armed with a password and user name, can then access this storage system and your children's pictures.

"I know I'd hate to spend an entire Saturday sending my mother-in-law photos," Hopen said. "It's so much easier to just store them on an outside server."

Another family member might use the cloud to save work-related documents to a cloud server. This family member can then access these work files while at home.

Instead of staying at the office to finish lastminute work, this family member can complete the job in the comfort of home.

Who offers it?

Some of the biggest names in the tech world offer cloud computing services, including Amazon and Google.

Amazon's cloud computing platform is known as Amazon Web Services, though you might hear some refer to it as the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud.

Amazon has made some news lately with its newest cloud service, Amazon Cloud Player. With this online service, you can upload your music library and listen to it from any computer or Android device that you own.

Google's Cloud Connect allows you to edit and store Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents on a shared server. Others, including your co-workers, can then edit these documents at the same time. It allows for a collaborative and simultaneous editing experience.

JUNE 2011

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summer vacation

The coolest zoos to visit with the family

By Erika Enigk | GateHouse News Service

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summer vacation ild about animals? This summer, check out one of these specialty zoos and sanctuaries for an animal experience that's truly unique.

National Aviary Pittsburgh, Pa. What makes it special Home to more than 600 birds from around the world, the aviary offers educational programs and shows geared toward the bird enthusiast.

When to go The aviary holds day camp sessions throughout the summer. Check aviary.org for a list of themes for each week. In addition, visitors can sign up for the Raptor Experience, Flamingo Connection or other interactive programs held throughout the day.

Admission $13 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10.50 for ages 2-12, free for younger than 2. Active military members receive free admission.

Catskills Animal Sanctuary

Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland

Saugerties, N.Y.

Allenwood, Pa.

What makes it special The sanctuary focuses on education about the animals on the grounds as well as the consequences of agribusiness for animals, humans and the planet, according to the sanctuary’s website. (It is kept age-appropriate for younger guests.) All the animals are free-range, which means they meander the grounds and go wherever they like, so visitors can interact directly with them.

When to go The sanctuary is open for tours on Saturdays through Oct. 30. Weekday tours may be available by appointment with a minimum of one week’s notice.

Admission $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and kids younger than 12

What makes it special Featuring what it calls the “less loved members of the animal kingdom,” Reptiland offers a safe place to get up close and personal with rare snakes, giant alligators, tortoises and other reptiles. According to owner Clyde Peeling, most of the animals are native to other parts of the world, so a visit is truly a unique experience.

When to go Through Labor Day, Reptiland is hosting an animatronic dinosaur exhibit to introduce visitors to reptiles of the past. The more gentle-natured can enjoy a quiet walk through the butterfly greenhouse.

Admission $12 for 12 and older, $10 ages 3-11, free 2 and younger

Domino’s Petting Farm

Virginia Safari Park

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Natural Bridge, Va.

What makes it special Once part of a working farm, Domino’s gives visitors an opportunity to get to know farm animals in their natural habitat. But don’t think you’ve seen all these animals before.

Domino’s features several rare breeds of sheep, horses and cattle. Hayrides are included with paid admission.

When to go The farm’s website features a births section listing which of their animals are expecting and when they’re due. Birth dates are posted once the animals are born so visitors can find out when baby animals are there.

Admission $5 for adults, $4.50 for ages 2-12 and senior citizens

What makes it special Virginia’s only drive-through zoo, the park spans 180 acres and is home to animals from six continents.

Visitors can get close with llamas, camels and more, and feed them. There’s also a walk-through area and petting zoo with potbelly piglets, goats and other animals.

When to go Wagon rides are offered on Saturday and Sunday through June and after Labor Day, and daily throughout the summer. Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. on ride days, and no reservations are available.

Admission $15 for ages 13-64, $14 for 65 and older, $10 ages 312, free younger than 3. Active military members get a free bucket of feed with paid admission.

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