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Let’s Go Somewhere Warm This Winter!
Jay Kerner Publisher/Travel Pimp
The Queen is a sun girl. Has to have it. She’s driving at least her 8th convertible since we met, and winter, flat makes her mean. She promised me years ago that if I took her somewhere warm for a week every winter, I might still be breathing when spring finally gets here. We bought a timeshare when the kids were little, which we trade through a service, giving us a chance to try somewhere new every year, but on a more modest budget. We know a lot of other folks who like the winter escape thing, too. We see their pictures on social media. Our friends at the museum always said they got good response from their trip promotions in this paper, and we started daydreaming about putting one together ourselves. But then I remembered my advice to self, where I’m supposed to quit taking on things, where I don’t know what I’m doing. (Yeah, right!) So I stopped by to see Chad at Cotter Travel. Back before we bought our timeshare, his folks used to book some things for us, so we felt good about leaving the details to the pros. We told him what we wanted to do and gave him some parameters for a search. #1. Warm in January or February. #2. Beach. Ocean-view won’t do. Has to be Ocean-Front! #3. Bargain. If we’re going to put our name on something like this, it has to be priced lower than you can get on your own. We’re talking group pricing, baby! Beyond that we were open. He promised to see what areas were offering the most aggressive discounts, and give us some options. When he did, we were pleasantly surprised. I thought he might offer up some tired locations past their prime, with slashed prices in lieu of updating. (We’ve stayed in a few of those.) Instead, he pitched us on the Riviera Maya area, a little south of Can-
cun, Mexico. He had three separate 5-star resorts, offering “All inclusive” packages, with 7-night stays, round-trip direct flights, all food, drink, (including alcohol), entertainment, non-motorized watersports, and all taxes, tips and transfers. There’s really nothing else you need to spend money on but maybe a sombrero and some sunscreen. And they’re offering us a package at less than $1,200 per person for everything, based on double occupancy. That’s it! And wait till you see the resort we chose. Nothing’s signed as we go to press, but assuming we can still get the block of rooms, we’ll be staying at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach Resort, sometime in late January or early February. Look this place up at www.Iberostar.com, and drool over the photos. It’s that plush! If you travel much you’ll recognize the bargain. I’ve already had people tell me about paying much more for much less. (Of course there are always crazy deals out there if you can travel on super short notice, are willing to settle for sketchy facilities, and don’t mind multiple plane stops added in each way.) Even at a bargain price, we realize something like this is out of the question for a lot of folks, but for those fortunate enough to swing it, we’re talking a hundred bucks a month. Now, don’t go thinking about some organized itinerary or anything. This isn’t Dr. Jimmy taking you to Egypt or somewhere. This is your old pal, the Jaybird, taking you to the beach! There will be plenty of activities and adventures for everybody, but no set schedules. The resort will set us up with any tours we want and we figure everybody will split off however they choose. You can explore Mayan ruins, rainforests and eco-parks or just go back and forth between the beach, the buffet and the bar, if that’s your idea of paradise. So we’re looking for some fellow travelers. We’ll be pinning down the final details, (hopefully, by the time you read this) and will get the word on how folks can sign up, etc. Email us if you can, (email@theregularjoepaper.com) for the specific info. We’ll know the scoop by that time, and can send you back the details. Our plan is to have some kind of get together next month for those that sign up quick, and those that want to learn more can come check it out, too. Then maybe we’ll meet a few more times between now and the trip, so we can get to know each other and compare intel on where we’re going. We hope you’ll consider it. It should be a blast!
Dear Joe,
The St. Joseph Public Library is presenting the 6th Annual Library Trivia Night, Saturday, May 21st at 7:00 p.m. This event will be held at the Fairview Golf Course Banquet Room, 33rd and Pacific. This fundraising event features ten rounds of questions on general trivia with prizes for the best team after each round. There will also be a silent auction and a 50/50 draw. Prizes and auction items have been generously donated by numerous local businesses, organizations and individuals. The cost to participate is $60 per table with teams of up to six people. The first question will be read at 7:10 p.m. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase. Participants are invited to bring their own snacks and grill-style food will also be available for purchase. No need to register, however reserving a table by paying in advance is highly recommended. You may contact Crystal Stuck at 236-2136 to get more information about reserving your table. Proceeds from this event will be used to purchase books for the library. Information about this event and all other library events can be found online at sjpl.lib.mo.us
The Regular Joe
phone 816-617-5850 www.theregularjoepaper.com email us at email@theregularjoepaper.com snail mail us at The Regular Joe P.O. Box 1304 St. Joseph, Mo. 64502
St. Joseph Live Music Highlights The Lucky Tiger 718 Francis
First Saturday with live music all afternoon. See flyer pg. 12
Eagles Lodge N. Belt Hwy. Live Country Music Most Saturday Nights-
Felix Street Square 8th & Felix
Rock the Park! Friday, May 20 at 5:30 PM - 10:30 PM Kick off the summer’s live music scene downtown at this special event that officially opens the new concession stand at Felix Street Square and celebrates all the good going on downtown. Soca Jukebox and Under the Influence (above) will perform. The Chamber is sponsoring this event with the Downtown Association.
Support KFOH-FM, your local Public Radio Station! Become an active participant with your local Public Radio station through a contribution to help support the programming. Our task is to secure additional funding and support to strengthen operations of St. Joseph’s only Public Radio station. We need the community support from local businesses, civic leaders, and individuals. Your generous donations allow KFOH-FM to continue operations by supporting locallyproduced programs, syndicated programs, DJs, and on-going expenses associated with operating the station. KFOH-FM is on-air (and on the Internet) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 99.3. Based on a Listener’s format, you will hear everything from Clapton, to Willie Nelson, to Mozart, highlighting local and touring guest artists. We promote local artists of all disciplines, playing their original material - St. Joseph’s original material. Requests can be made by phone, email or directly on-line. Also featured are NPR news at the top of the hour, local weather, road conditions, and traffic updates. Ever popular among our listeners is the Community Calendar, updated daily. Benefits to you include building your business through public awareness, imaging, and brand recognition. You will also be supporting local musicians, introducing upcoming talent, and promoting live venues, and of course, your local Public Radio station. In addition, KFOH-FM offers an Internship program for university students with participants from Missouri Western State University and as far away as Nebraska State College. Shows currently airing, (18 of which are locally-produced at KFOHFM,) include: Access - A show featuring music from the personal collections of SJMF members. Alternative Show - Features artists that pioneered the Alternative Movement. Black Snake Creek - The music and history of artists, musicians and bands. Classical Hour - Program featuring music “written by dead people before electricity.” Country Memories - Featuring the evolution of country music from the 1920s to the 1980s. Hosted by Travis Urban. Desi Sangeet - A show featuring music from India. Hosted by Chakshu Gupta. Don’t Have a Clue - Danny Phillips, music critic for Regular Joe, The Pitch, and several other magazines in the US and Canada. Intro to Indie – Jazz – and Intro to Indie – Rock. Both feature new independent artists, and are hosted by Ken Dardis. Jackson Street Park - A show with a different theme every show. Hosted by Faith Girard. Jazz Hour - A show featuring Jazz at its finest. Mint Julep - Solid standards from the great American songbook. Hosted by “Radio Bob” and “recorded live from the 25th floor of the Indian Hotel. Vinyl-cide - A show featuring music played exclusively from vinyl LPs. Alternative Music in the 21st Century – Six part series. Features new artists.
The Guitar in St. Joseph – by guitarist & composer, Anthony Glise, features St. Joe & the artists of the St. Joseph International Guitar Festival. Live Concerts - Concerts produced by SJMF are frequently broadcast live. Comedy Hour - An hour of comedy from artists such as Firesign Theatre. Specials - These shows are on-going and produced as opportunity arises. At present, they include shows hosted by area University interns, interviews with artists from bands like Janis Joplin’s Big Brother and The Darlings of the Andy Griffith Show. Crossroads - A show featuring the Blues, focusing on early blues from artists such as Lightning Hopkins and Robert Johnson and their influence on later artists. Hello From St. Joseph - With our European audience in mind, features artists from Missouri (St. Joseph & surrounding region) Donations, contributions, and support are easy. For your business, simply call us at 816-676-1112 and we will create a sponsorship package best suited for your business. Individuals may call or go on-line to our website, www.kfoh-fm.org. and you are always welcome to stop by our offices at 2601 Frederick, St. Joseph, MO. The phone number is 816-676-1112. The website is www.kfoh-fm.org. The email address is radio@StJosephMusicFoundation.org. Our sponsors include: Roger’s Pharmacy, Anderson Ford, Compton Disposal Service, Deli Dogs and More, East Hills Shopping Mall. Fields Eye Site, Fredrick Inn, Harris Kemper, House of Sound, HyVee, Joe’s Tire and Auto Service, Lanham Music, Magoons Deli, Museum Hill, Smooth Endings and St. Joseph Express Coffee Roasters. KFOH-FM is wholly owned and operated by the St. Joseph Music Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation located in St. Joseph, Missouri. “A commitment to lifelong learning and a commitment to intellectual curiosity are just two of the shared values that we have in common with our community.”
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Mug Shots See anyone you know? Tell ‘em you saw their mugs in The Regular Joe!
Adult/Child Campout Trip to the Henry Dooley Zoo
Campout with your child or grand-child at the Henry Doorley Zoo and Aquarium® in Omaha, Nebraska, on the St. Joseph Museums summer trip. Children are invited to grab a parent(s) or grandparent(s) and join in this adult/child getaway, which takes on Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30. Participants will enjoy a sleeping bag safari inside the Scott Aquarium/Shark Reef on the evening of July 29. The visit will include drinks, snacks, an animal visit, and breakfast the following morning. Trip participants will also receive a campout patch and t-shirt. The next morning, campers are free to experience the Henry Doorley Zoo at their own pace until 3 p.m. The first day of the trip will include dinner at the Spaghetti Factory in the Old Market section of Omaha. From there, trip participants will check in at the Henry Doorley Zoo Scott Aquarium where the group will enjoy a visit from one of the many animals that live at the zoo. The motorcoach will leave from the St. Joseph Museum, 3406 Frederick Avenue, at 1 p.m. on July 29 and return to the museum at 5:30 p.m. on July 30. The cost will be $150 per participant, which includes luxury motorcoach transportation, dinner buffet at the Spaghetti Factory, a visit to the Hollywood Candy Warehouse, drinks, snacks, animal visit, camp t-shirt, camp patch, and admission to the Henry Doorley Zoo. So bring your air mattress or sleeping bag, a pillow, and a toothbrush to join the fun! Space is limited and reservations can be made at the St. Joseph Museum admission desk or by calling 816-232-8471. Pre-paid reservations are due by June 28. For more information, e-mail kathy@stjosephmuseum.org or visit stjosephmuseum. org/events.
Calling all Mah Jongg players!
The St. Joseph Museum has your table ready, and you and your group are cordially invited to join in the fun of the annual Mah Jongg Party at the Mansion. The party will be held at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, 1100 Charles Street, on Thursday, May 26, from 12 to 3:30 p.m. The event will begin with a luncheon. The afternoon will also include party favors, door prizes courtesy of East Hills Mall, a boutique area for shopping, and plenty of time for guests to play Mah Jongg. This is the seventh year for the event, which is a benefit for the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion. Party guests are invited to explore the mansion during the afternoon event. The interior highlights Victorian-era décor, and period photographs give guests an added visual of what it would have been like to visit the home at the turn of the 20th century. The mansion features incredible woodwork, ornate patterned floors and hand-painted ceilings with images of cherubs and heavenly clouds. Each of the three floors of the ornate 1879 mansion is dedicated to one or more of the historical exhibits, the newest of which is titled “Confluence: The Great Flood of 1993.” The exhibit addresses the flood’s physical, economic and social effects on the surrounding area. The Mah Jongg Party at the Mansion will take place at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, 1100 Charles Street, from 12 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 26. Due to the number of groups that attend, participants are required to bring their own Mah Jongg set. The cost of the event is $25 per person/$100 per table. Space is limited to twenty-two groups and pre-paid reservations are required by May 23. To reserve a table, send the fee and the names of the players to the St. Joseph Museum, PO Box 8096, St. Joseph, Missouri, 64508 or call 816-232-8471.
PARTIES ON THE PARKWAY 2016 SCHEDULE RELEASED Spring has sprung, which means it’s just about time for Parties on the Parkway, an annual concert series presented by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce with the partnership of the City of St. Joseph. The Parties on the Parkway concert series gives St. Joseph residents a chance to network with friends and co-workers after the workdays ends, all while enjoying the sounds of local bands and the beautiful, natural scenery of the Parkway system. The series starts in St. Joseph’s South Side in May and works its way up the 26-mile Parkway system through August. Rockin’ on the River is an encore to Parties on the Parkway, which ends the summer with a bang, with fireworks and two bands. The Parties on the Parkway line-up for 2016 is as follows: Thursday, May 12, Phil Vandel, Country -- S.W. Parkway and King Hill Drive near Benton High School. The rain date is May 19. Thursday, June 9, OxyMoron, Rock -- S.W. Parkway and 28th Street. The rain date is June 16. Thursday, July 14, Tracy Huffman and the Walking Sticks, Folk Rock -- S.W. Noyes and Messanie, Parkway A. The rain date is July 21. Thursday, Aug. 11, Money for Nothin’, Alternative Country -- across from Corby Pond. The rain date is Aug. 18. “Parties on the Parkway is a great way to get to know a little of our city with friends, family and colleagues,” said Natalie Redmond, Vice President of Membership with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “Come out and enjoy the Parkway, hear live music from local musicians, and eat and drink with your friends.” All parties are from 5 to 8 p.m., and are free and open to the public. This is a very family-friendly event, with one or more food and drink vendors available
and a balloon artist for the kids. Parties on the Parkway and Rockin’ on the River are presented by Nodaway Valley Bank. Rockin’ on the River will be held from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 3, near the Remington Nature Center along the Missouri River. This year also will feature a special event at Felix Street Square called Rock the Park. This free event is from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20. Kick off the summer’s live music scene downtown at this special event that officially opens the new concession stand at Felix Street Square and celebrates all the good going on downtown. Soca Jukebox and Under the Influence will perform. The Chamber will sponsor this event with the Downtown Association.
A Jar of Peanut Butter and a Healthy Farewell It all began with a jar of peanut butter, 40 years ago, and ends now with a healthy farewell as we announce the closure of our locally-owned health food store. We have enjoyed serving your needs for over 20 years. Some of AZ’s products have been sold to two local businesses which will continue to carry particular products and product lines: Jamie’s Secret Garden and Fit Republic. Over the last five years, the most popular product in natural health has been essential oils. AZ’s popular essential oils section has been sold to Jamie’s Secret Garden (811 North Woodbine, St. Joseph, 364-3535, hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm). Any customers needing A-Z’s Pure Essential Oils, diffusers, carrier oils, essential oil accessories, some menopausal supplements (Emerita Progest and Natural Balance Ladies Choice), Life’s Fortune multi-vitamins, Old Amish Remedies for Leg Cramps and Acid Reflux, Ear Candles, Natural Air Fresheners, AND Terry Naturally’s CuraMed and Curamin are invited to visit Jamie’s. The equally-popular (and affordable) AZ brand of supplements has been sold to Fit Republic of St. Joseph, a national franchise sports nutrition store locally owned by Austin Evans, a dynamic young man. Fit Republic is located in the strip mall at Mitchell Ave. and South Belt Highway south from Ace Hardware. They are open seven days a week. For hours and information call them at 816-259-5222. Austin Evans has purchased our line because he wanted to complement his already successful selection of sports nutrition products with a high-quality comprehensive and premium supplement line that is only available at his store or on his future website. It really did begin 40 years ago with a jar of peanut butter, because Mary Carol Prince couldn’t find a healthy jar of it in St. Joseph. Today, of course, you can find a jar of natural peanut butter in just about any grocery store. In time, Mary expanded her offerings to include vitamins, supplements, bulk herbs, fresh carrot juice, and organic produce, to name a few. Mary, who still lives in this area, truly was a pioneer of the natural health movement in St. Joseph. With her expertise and dedication, what she began as an alternative has, 40 years later, proliferated to the point it has now become mainstreamed. Pharmacies sell supplements, grocery stores sell organic foods and produce, not to mention the plethora of online websites that do the same. Near the time when Mary began AZ, I was a journalism student at Pacific Union College in Angwin, California. One of the first articles I wrote for a class assignment was published in a fledgling publication (now wellknown) named Vegetarian Times. I wrote about natural markets associated with Seventh-day Adventist colleges and how unique they were then. This was years before Whole Foods became a household name. Today, natural health is on the minds of everyone with the high cost of health care, especially with an aging population facing increasing medical challenges. And, that’s a good thing. However, with so much information and products available today, many people are confused about which ones to buy and what advice to follow, which has given rise to health coaching as one of the newest
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additions to the field of health. In my next article for the Regular Joe, I will talk about health coaching and how it might benefit you. When we re-opened in 2012, we had been planning to operate the store for only a few years. Last fall, we had conversations with a couple of parties interested in purchasing AZ. Neither one worked out for different reasons. Uppermost in our minds was making sure that the needs of our customers were met. The most faithful (we’d like to list all of their names!) remained loyal to us during the time we were closed due to the Missouri Theatre fire in February 2011. We especially thank them for their support during that time and after we re-opened in October 2012. We are confident now with Jamie’s Secret Garden and Fit Republic continuing our main brands, the needs of our customers will be well served. In 1995, we purchased AZ from Mary and Richard Prince. It has been our honor and privilege to promote natural health for the past 20 years. As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3, “there is a time for everything…” There’s a time to open and there’s a time to close. This is the right time to transition to a new beginning...... A healthy farewell to all! James Fly, Certified Holistic Health Coach
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On The Minimum Wage Jay Kerner Publisher/Barstool Economist
There’s a bunch of talk about more than doubling the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Minimum wage workers across the country are certainly on board with the idea. I know about that kind of thinking. In 1978, I was working as a cameraman for the Barney the Clown Show at the local cable station, when the minimum jumped from $1.10 to $1.25 per hour. It was a windfall for me, but six months later, all the part-timers hours were cut back a little and the fixed-salary guys had to pick up the slack. The system adjusted to the new number. I worked a lot of crappy jobs for minimum wage when I was starting out. It was all I could get. I had no education or special skills. The jobs I did get, could have been done by practically anybody. Eventually, I crossed a threshold when I got a job paying minimum wage plus commission. We were on to something here! Suddenly there was a use for my natural baloney. (It’s my special purpose.) And as I developed my skills in that area, I rose above my peers with lesser gifts, and made more money. If you had followed my income trajectory over the following 30 years as closely as the IRS did, you would see steady increases through different jobs and years of self-employment. Till we started this goofy paper. For the first year we made nothing at all. So, roughly 30 years since my last job in the industry, I took a minimum wage job at KQ2 as the teleprompter operator for the morning show. I could (and may yet) write a novel about that whole scenario, but I’ll leave that for another day. Going in at 4am left me free to work the paper during normal hours, and convinced the Queen that I was serious about what we were attempting. It wasn’t much of a paycheck, but I was glad to get it, and worked just as hard at that job as any other. I know nobody else provided the News Anchor with phonetically spelled scripts. That was the only way I could ensure that he quit saying things like “Corpse of Engineers”. But even though I tried to do the job at the highest possible level, let’s face it, I was sitting on a stool turning a little dial. Pretty much any moron could do it, and
isn’t that, more or less, the very definition of a minimum wage job? Besides, you can set the minimum wage wherever you want to. Like I say, the system will adjust accordingly. Don’t buy it? Ok, check this out. Let’s say the number one minimum wage job in the U.S. is flipping burgers. But the flippers love the burgers just like everybody else. They consider a raise in the minimum wage like it was some kind of merit based increase, and foolishly believe they’ll be able to buy more burgers! Well they won’t! The following is the minimum wage at the beginning of each of the last 5 decades, alongside the price of America’s most popular burger. 1970-$1.60- 28cents. 1980-$3.10- 39cents. 1990-$3.35- 59cents. 2000-$5.15- 79cents. 2010-$7.25- 92cents. So sorry, minimum wage workers. No extra burgers for you! But there’s good news. You can still get more burgers! The following are some magic strategies, sure to help you increase your burger-buying capability! You can go get some knowledge. College for some things, trade schools for others. You can get some skills. Be an apprentice, join the military. Or here’s a novel idea: Be outstanding at your current minimum wage job! Force them to promote you! How hard could it be to outshine the knuckleheads around you? Shift manager pays better than burger flipper. Store managers eat all the burgers they want! Or hey, stay minimum wage if it meets your needs. America needs its burgers flipped and there’s nothing demeaning about any honest work. Just don’t complain about the wages. If you want more...be more. As for me, I’ve been averaging around minimum wage here at the paper
for a few years now. More would be nice, but then we’d probably have to raise the price of the paper. (Yeah, our free paper.)
Woods & Bruce Electric “No job too small!” David Bruce, Master Electrician 816-617-1152
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My Musical Life with Prince By Danny R. Phillips
I will not and cannot give all the credit for my love of music to The Purple One himself, Prince Rogers Nelson, who left us too early at age 57. Some of the distinction (or headache) of this now lifelong obsession belongs, in some parts larger than others, to my mother, my Uncle Jerry and my sister, Ami and yes indeed, Prince himself. The first record I bought with my own money (saved dutifully earmarked for future things like GI Joe action figures, Now and Later candy and snacks at the swimming pool) was Prince and the Revolution’s groundbreaking, undeniable movie soundtrack to his semi-biographical film “Purple Rain.” I bought my copy (sadly, she’s gone now… my original gone to the ages) at the Ben Franklin in Trenton, Missouri. It was 1984; I was nine years old and listening to “Darling Nikki.” I had heard plenty of Prince before “Purple Rain,” thanks to a sister five years my senior, who blasted “Little Red Corvette,” “Erotic City,” “P-Control,” “Controversy” and all the early Prince songs while I was still working on my first decade of life, thanks to a shared wall and little adult supervision. The music of Prince knocked me out: It was funky, sincere, ludicrous, and serious. The sheer level of his music acumen (he could play 127 instruments…. I’d say that’s a genius, wouldn’t you?) is unmatched in my generation. Prince was the silent King among musicians. Never saying much but speaking volumes through his massive body of work. Prince was one that every musician, every performer, could learn something from, one that did what he wanted, though I stopped paying as much attention in 1993 after the notorious name change from Prince to an unpronounceable, gender neutral symbol. He was a guitar virtuoso that, when he played, even the greats stopped, watched and listened. Prince dismantled what it meant to be a man, a woman, a rock star, to be anything; he took fashion cues from
Sly Stone, Little Richard, Hendrix and possibly a bullfighter at one point, to create some of the most iconic stage clothes of all time. After “Purple Rain” blew my pre-pubescent mind, next came the even better “Around the World in a Day” with its now classic songs “America,” “The Ladder,” “Raspberry Beret” and “Pop Life.” Then came “Parade” and the first live record I ever purchased, the undeniable, scandal-proof “Sign O The Times.” In his all too short life, Prince recorded 39 albums, wrote many hit songs for other artists, the standouts being “Nothing Compares to You” made famous by Sinead O’Conner, and “Manic Monday” for The Bangles. He won an Academy Award for the soundtrack of “Purple Rain,” four MTV Awards, one BRIT Award, a Golden Globe, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 in his first year of eligibility. In all, Prince was nominated for 48 awards, winning 14. There were many things that could be the focus when discussing Prince. His hair, his clothes, his size (5 feet two inches tall), calling himself a “slave” to Warner Brothers, his conversion to the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2001, his seeming insatiable appetite for the female race and plenty of freaky stuff not suitable for publication. Because of his religious beliefs, Prince never spoke of his philanthropy, though he gave anonymously to public libraries and numerous charities. We, as a judgmental species, could focus on all the things that Prince did in his life that one could consider “weird,” “unconventional” or out-right “wrong” but that is not what I choose to do here with these words. What I will focus on are two undeniable truths: one, the man was a bonafide, badass music genius and most importantly, there will never, ever be another Prince.
Northwest Missouri in May
From the Desk of Joe Northwest Mindi L. Phillips, Regular Joe NW Editor Sometimes we need a stark reminder that the world is bigger than ourselves, our own home, our own circle of freinds and family. We look around and suddenly notice that something, somewhere has happened to someone that opens our eyes again. We see that our “big” things are quite little in comparison. And we remember to open our hearts to the plights of others. Now, taking on such a burden, whether by providing emotional support or encouragement, a hand-up through material ir financial donation, or some other method, we can sometimes suffer a strain of our own. Is this worth, we may ask? Well, yes and no. The particular set of beliefs we may have, whether religious, spiritual, or just the way we were raised, can influence the answer, at least intellectually. But what of the toll it takes? And is this enough to convince us to stop giving? If you have ever seen a child get to throw a dollar into a donation bucket or add a canned good to a stack meant for the food bank, you’ve seen that flash of what it truly means in our hearts to give. My son gives me a hug whenever I happen to hurt myself. Every. Single. Time. No matter the size of the cut, scratch, bruise, or yell. Hre is there. There is no doubt this compassion is born within us. Some of us are
photo by Libbi Bubke
more empathetic and take on the feelings of those around us. We learn that sometimes this hurts too much. Some of us tend to give, if even just a dollar, to every seemingly worthy cause that we find. And occoasionally, we get burned by that as well. Whether it is an inward hurt or one that hits us in the pocketbook, at some point many of us lose our sense of compassion. We hurry past the bellringer. We flip more quickly through the local paper when seeing the latest fundraising events. Maybe we even resist calling or reaching out to someone we know who is suffering, no matter how much we proclaim our love for them. It’s just too much. The best solution is to remember that we all have our moments. We will all take a turn in having a hard day, bad health, a great loss, some much more than our share. Yes, even you will have that day when we need a shoulder, a dollar, or maybe even a couch on which to surf, until the tide turns in our favor. Now, don’t get me wrong. I dont advocate being kind to others in hopes that others will be kind when our time comes. I advocate being kind for the sake of kindness. It is in our roots, in our blood, in our giving hearts. It literally feels good. As you go out into the world each day, give that fast food worker a break. We don’t know his home life. That “bratty” kid in the next booth? Maybe they struggle with Asperger’s. Their seemingly unaware mom? Maybe she’s battling cancer, too tired to deal. Just remember: be kind.
Our “Regular” Contributors: Mindi L. Phillips, NW editor Rich Piper, editorial Mike Rockett Jr., editorial Thomas J. Williams, movies
Contact Mindi for Regular Joe Northwest 816-596-0701 northwest@regularjoepaper.com PO Box 76 Union Star, MO 64494 www.regularjoepaper.com Deadline for all submissions is the 20th of each month
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20 - NW
Live Music, Events, & Festivals in NWMO
New And Ongoing Live Music & Events ALBANY: 2nd Wed: Book Club, 10am (Carnegie Library) BETHANY: Wed & Sat: Dungeons & Dragons, 5pm (Gamers Palace) Fri 5/6: Country Style Band, 7pm (VFW Hall) (Top photo) Fri 5/13: Country Style Band, 7pm (VFW Hall) Fri 5/20: Country Style Band, 7pm (VFW Hall) Fri 5/27: Country Style Band, 7pm (VFW Hall) CLARKSDALE Fridays: Clarksdale Opry, 7pm (Hawman Center) FILLMORE Fridays: Music & Dance, 7pm (Community Hall) GENTRY Fri 5/13, Ramblin Country Music Show & Dance, 7:30pm (Lions Club) Fri 5/27 Ramblin Country Music Show & Dance, 7:30pm (Lions Club) GRANT CITY Wednesdays: Jam Session, 6pm (Senior Center) 2nd Friday: Potluck, Noon (Senior Center) Sat 5/21: Country Style Band, 6:30pm (Skating Rink) KING CITY 3rd Wednesday: Potluck Dinner (Senior Center) Last Monday: Pitch Tournament (Senior Center) Daily: Cards (Senior Center) Sat 5/21: Rock N Country Variety Show, 7pm (TriCo Visitors Center) (Bottom photo) MARYVILLE Sundays: Northwest Opry Country, 2pm (Nodaway Co Senior Center) Sundays: Forney & Paxson, 7pm (Eagles Lodge Bearcat Aerie#3669) OREGON Thursdays: Country Music Dance, 7pm (TJ Hall Comm Bldg) SAVANNAH Saturdays: Savannah Country Jamboree, 6:30pm (Senior Center) MARYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY EVENTS FOR MAY Story Hour, May 5, 5:30 p.m. Middle/High School book club, May 9. Middle school 4-5 p.m., high school 5-6 p.m. Minecraft Club May 10, 6-6:45 p.m. Ages 8-13
Story Hour, May 17, 6:15 p.m. Lego Club, May 19, 6-7 p.m. Minecraft Club, May 27, 6-6:45 p.m. Ages 8-13 Summer Reading Program begins May 31 Book Nibblers every Thursday, 9:45 – 10:15 a.m.
Mrs. Brave
Mike Rockett, Jr. Middle Aged Hustle: Adventures in Motivation
Authors note: The names and identifying details have been changed or omitted to protect identities per special request. It isn’t so much Mrs. Brave herself but what she is going through. I met her online several months ago by way of Facebook through a friend of a friend. I haven’t met her in person, but I enjoy her electronic musings via the largest social network on the planet. Coming across lots of content that is somewhat negative, I find it refreshing to meet someone (electronically) that posts spunky and delightfully (if slightly) irreverent content. Upon further observation of her Facebook page you’ll instantly understand she is a family kind of girl. She loves her children and her husband and her adult siblings. She also has a penchant for a certain DC Comics character. Amazingly enough, the character she likes fits her personality, at least as far as I can tell via some of her photo albums. There is also one very important factor that is noticeable (her candor is appreciated) on her profile page: she is a cancer survivor! Forgive me, but this is the part where I wax journalistic. According to the National Cancer Institute (stats quoted verbatim) 1. In 2016, an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 595,690 people will die from the disease. 2. The most common cancers in 2016 are projected to be breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, prostate cancer, colon and rectum cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma of the skin, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, thyroid cancer, kidney and renal pelvis cancer, leukemia, endometrial cancer, and pancreatic cancer. 3. Approximately 39.6 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes (based on 2010-2012 data).
NW - 21 She has been gracious enough to share her struggle with her Facebook friends, and again her family has rallied to her side as she seeks treatment. She is going through the battle of her life and has been leaning on the support of those on her page. There are those that have tried to advise her, but mostly her friends have listened and have been happy to give her an ear to voice her concerns. Personally I can only imagine what she is feeling, although I have far from dismissed the idea of contracting cancer myself. The 21st century American is a bit savvier since science and medical researchers have published more information about the disease and preventive steps in reducing the chances of getting it. Mrs. Brave’s battle touches all of us, not only because she is such a colorful woman, but also because cancer can and has affected many of us one way or another. Does her situation motivate me to reach my personal goals that I normally write about here? No, not in good conscience. But what it does do is kick all of my excuses to the curb. I can no longer accept mediocrity from myself, not when there are people like Mrs. Brave who are fighting for their lives and have the temerity to continue living the life they have. Mrs. Brave, your friends on Facebook want you to know that they are pulling for you. They believe in you. Your bravery convicts and moves them at the same time. Please let them know how they can help. Mike Rockett Jr. is a writer and photographer who resides in Northwest Missouri. He has a passion for fitness and bodybuilding. He seeks to share his motivational journey with others.
According to the CDC, cancer is the second leading cause of death behind heart disease. The good news being that mortality rates due to cancer are declining and have been doing so since 1990. I am unsure which type of cancer Mrs. Brave came down with, but thankfully she had beaten it with treatment, until recently. Cancer has reared its ugly head once more.
Regular Joe NW is looking for your stories of Northwest Missouri past - your childhood memories, old traditions, favorite corner store...Photographs are also welcome. Email us at northwest@regularjoepaper.com
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Poetry, Pickers, Bearcat Travel Hans P. Bremer I lay awake in the dark, thinking. Of something. I throw a fist into my pillow. My anxious feet kick at the loose comforter, the sheet, and what’s left of my last life. For a moment, I think, I’m in Sweden. Maybe, it was Stockholm, but my dream leaves me an emptiness I can’t argue with. When I close my eyes again, there are foreigners, Frenchmen, stealing my limpa bread and stewed pears. There’s not enough wood left to end winter, and my small nose aches in the crisp chill.
Danielle Colby manages Antique Archaeology of LeClaire, Iowa, and now a second location in Nashville, Tennessee, for owner Wolfe. Colby sends the guys leads of junkyards, farms, and other locations to visit, and along the way they find other locales for “picking.” A press release issued by Cinfeflex states that “American Pickers” is looking for Missouri “characters with interesting and unique items.” According to the information, Wolfe and Fritz are looking for mititary items, bicycles, toys, radios, movie memorabilia, old print ads, folk art, pre1950s western gear, early firefighting equipment, vintage musical gear, automotive items and more. Larger collections are sought, but no retial stores or flea markets will be considered. Email your info to americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855.653.7878.
American Pickers come to Missouri
“American Pickers,” the hit show starring Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and Danielle Colby, is coming to Missouri this month. They will be searching for your collections of cool junk and rare treasures. Anyone interested is encouraged to send your contact information,as well as a description of
Tourin’ Bearcats accepting reservations for London trip
your collection and photos to the producers. Episodes of the reality series will be recorded on the Pickers’ journey throughout throughout the Show Me State. Beginning in 2010, the treasure hunts of Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe have been chronicled as they pick through farms, barns, garages, and other collections of antiques and junk.
MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Tourin’ Bearcats, the travel program for Northwest Missouri State University alumni and friends, is offering a “Spotlight on London” for its next trip. The trip is planned to London, England, Sept. 7-14, 2016. Prices start at $3,099 per person and include five breakfasts and two dinners. Highlights include visits to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Stonehenge, Salisbury, London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and a traditional pub dinner. Reservations, with a $250 deposit per person, are due at booking. Prices for both trips are based on double occupancy and include roundtrip airfare from Kansas City, air taxes, hotel transfers and transportation from Maryville to Kansas City International Airport. The final payment is due July 9, 2016. Tourin’ Bearcat trips are sponsored by the Northwest Alumni Association and are open to the public. For more information about these trips, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/ alumni/travel/. To book a trip, call the Tourin’ Bearcats Help Desk at 800.869.6806. ######## For more information about NWMSU events, visit www.nwmissouri. edumedia/
A 2016 Commencement Speech (Not Given) Rich Piper First, let me congratulate you. You have succeeded in meeting the goals and expectations that have been set forth for you to achieve this moment – the time in which you are graduated from what was, to what will now be. Those goals and expectations are important to society, to your family, and, believe it or not, important to your future. So important, this ceremony to mark your achievement is being held. So important, that friends and family have come to be with you and your classmates to honor your achievements. As you know, a number of tasks had been set before you in the time preceding this ceremony of graduation. Yes, let us be honest, some of those tasks you did not like, not even a little bit. Some, perhaps fewer, of those tasks you took on with enthusiasm, and a positive spirit that at times appeared to indicate you were actually having fun learning. And, again to be honest, you also managed to succeed, err, pass, hum, at least not fail, a few other tasks that did count towards your getting to graduate today. As I look at your endeavors from the outside, I realize that you have spent a considerable part of your conscious life to reach this important moment. Of course this is not counting those early first two years or so of life which will not escape the memory of your family or be subject to the good fortune of misplacement of digital photos and videos, all of which will be brought forth when a special significant other is introduced to your parents, perhaps due to an announced engagement. Or, they may appear, or reappear, should you have children of your own. Now, you may think that the pictures used to celebrate your graduation are a bit embarrassing. However, I can almost promise you that your folks have withheld a few pictures that are too embarrassing to show in public, but are just right to show to your significant other, or especially to your children, their grandchildren. You see, and here is a valuable life lesson, your past travels with you into your future. As I say that, most folks still listening will be thinking only of the negative things of our past that travel with us into our future. But I believe there are far more positive things that happen, that have already happened in this life that you have lived so far. And this wealth of positive things will travel with you into your future. Here’s a great positive of your past that has helped you get to this moment. There are a lot of people rooting for you. Please realize that you would not be graduating if it were not for the help of many others. Yes, your classmates helped you along. And your folks and extended family provided a lot of help. But, again, in the spirit of honesty, you did not get here without some help from your teachers. So much so, and please don’t let this become known outside of this special occasion, but there isn’t a one of you here that did not get some unwarranted, undeserved, only out of the kindness of his or her heart, type of help. I tell you this, not to make you feel bad about your accomplishments, for I do not want you to think any less of them then that they are important milestones in your life. Instead, I share this to let you know that you have had a great number of people that have invested their time and effort, their hands and their hearts, in helping you. And, for each and every one of you, that included helping you when you did not deserve to be helped. But help you they did, because
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they believed in you, they thought well of what you could become; they hoped that their help, it would help you, to ultimately to do better. They, and many others did this besides teachers, provided undeserved help to you because they saw a future you, not just the present you. The world you are graduating into is very different from the world I at your age graduated into. And the world say a baker’s dozen years from now will be dramatically different from today. And it is probably unimaginable for you or me to clearly think of what it will be like when you reach my age. Simply put, the things of life will be amazingly different from this moment forward. I hope that you will continue to seek to learn, and that you have often have fun doing so. Both will help you in the changing world to come. I trust that you will continue to grow in good character, and be so much yourself that you are unique enough to be both, of good character, and, a bit of a character – if you know what I mean. I also hope that you will help others, whether you think they deserve it or not. That ancient saying that transverses many cultures is a good, a golden some say, rule to follow – but let me reword it just a bit for this occasion – help others as you would like others to help you. Life is going to change, a lot, for each of you. But the basics of a good life however, will remain the same. Help one another. You might not understand my message today; you might not even be listening. I know that. But this “help one another” rule is a lesson that I know you learned early in life; in the scheme of things, you learned it not that long ago. I hope you will seek to live it all of your life – help one another. I hope I will too. But I must conclude. So, now is the time, with personal love, pride, and hope, that I your grandpa, share this moment with you, as you officially become the graduating preschool class of 2016. Good fortune and blessings for Kindergarten and beyond! Happy Graduation! (And “Happy Graduation: to all others who find themselves graduating this spring.) Rich has spent most of his adult life living and/or working in small, rural communities in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri, including several long stretches in Northwest Missouri. Rich chooses to spend most of his weekday, daytime hours teaching students science, and other things, in Union Star. He also chooses to spend his Sundays, and some other occasional time, with the good folks in Cainsville. You can reach Rich at RichPiper@ LifePraise.org with comments.
SUPPORT LOCAL: King City Farmer’s Market begins the first weekend of May! Fresh produce, handmade goods and more! Union Star FFA Greenhouse is NOW OPEN!
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Joe NW Professional Services
The Power of Possibilities (Inside a Composition Notebook) Jay B. Claywell I carry one of those black, speckled composition notebooks everywhere I go. The reason I do this is very simple: My mind is a very loud place, and I write to quiet it. I have done this since I was 16 years old. It keeps me on an even keel and lets me get some of the noise out and listen to it, so to speak, from a different perspective. I’d like to say that I write in the composition notebook every day, but I don’t. The keyboard holds too much sway. Also, it makes for easier writing and editing. I really can’t stand looking at a handwritten page of my own writing and seeing a bunch of scratched out mistakes, but that does happen now and then. I do write every day and often, not always, and I’d never suggest that it’s par for the course, but I do sometimes share my writings with a larger audience via social media outlets. I write poems and essays and do write a journal-type entry now and then. What this does for my overall well-being is be-
May is...
Foster Care Month National Barbecue Month National Blood Pressure Month National Hamburger Month National Photograph Month National Salad Month Older Americans Month Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Military Appreciation Month ALS Awareness Month Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Asthma Awareness Month Better Hearing and Speech Month Brain Cancer Awareness Month Celiac Awareness Month Mental Health Awareness Month Haitian Heritage Month Hepatitis Awareness Month Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month Jewish American Heritage Month Lupus Awareness Month Lyme Disease Awareness Month Motorcycle Awareness Month National Bike Month Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month National Guide Dog Month National Mobility Awareness Month National Foster Care Month National Stroke Awareness Month
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yond measure and the reason I’m writing this article now. In my experience, just writing for the sake of writing is therapeutic, cathartic, and just makes me feel better about how I’m making my way in the world. What I’d like to do is share my take on writing or journaling as cathartic outlet with a wider audience. Writing makes me feel good. It helps me communicate more effectively with myself. I can pass that idea along to someone else and help that person discover that for $1.99 at any drugstore, you can have access to the best therapist, punching bag, or friend that you can get...yourself. It’s good to be in a good spot and feeling good about yourself. Also, it feels like a mission completed whenever you get to tell your story, even if the only person who knows about it is you. I’ve been contemplating doing some really raw and loose writer’s workshops here in town. I’d like that. I’m no expert, teacher, guru, or anything special, but I like people and I like talking to new folks and sharing ideas. So, I’m Jay. I’m a guy who writes. I’m a writer. I’m a poet. I’m me. And, I keep a notebook handy for when the roar becomes too loud.
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Find Your Fitness Self By Shannon Bond
When you start, it’s all about losing weight or finishing a race. Then, it may be about finishing in a certain time. You may want to get leaner, faster, and better. But, before you know it, it might turn into how many hours you put in compared to so and so. Maybe, they rode a hundred miles this week, why didn’t you? What if you’re doing it wrong? These thoughts can be especially powerful if you aren’t making fitness gains anymore, or your goals have fallen to the wayside. Swallowed by long work hours and after school activities. Social media, especially Strava, shows us what we think are everyone else’s shining moments. It’s a place to share our progress and adventures. It can be a great platform for inspiration, but it can also work against us. You know in reality, that all of your moments are not shining triumphs or glorious training sessions. There is a lot that happens in between. However, we still succumb to the uncertainty of comparison. It’s easy to start measuring yourself against the people you follow online (and in person for that matter). It may start with a race or event that you thought was good. Maybe you had a personal record, but when you looked online or at the race results, you weren’t even close to competing. If this changes your perspective, thoughts, or feelings from positive to negative, it’s probably time to reassess your motives. Social behavior theory tells us that we look to those around us for behavioral cues in times of uncertainty. It’s only natural. These are the times when we lose sight of who we are, or want to be. And, this leads to the forming or reshap-
ing of our social identities. We all have social identities floating around our minds along with all of our other selves, which may include athlete, mother, father, barista, or executive. Losing sight of ourselves and forgetting that rush of excitement can be pretty common after we achieve our initial fitness goals. So maybe, it would be helpful to think of this particular self, social aspect and all, as our fitness self. This is the self that whispers about sugar in the back of our mind, as we ogle the donut at lunch. It’s also the self that visualizes the week ahead and which day is a run day, ride day, swim day, or walk day. This self anticipates the terrible feeling that deep fried whatever will give us, and remembers how good a clean day of eating will feel, especially after a run. Cultivating our very own fitness self keeps us on track, and if we can minimize its tendency to compare itself to others, it also keeps us true to ourselves. It’s up to you to shape this personal image into what you need, not what someone else needs. And, by focusing your health and wellness efforts around this identity, it makes it easier to bring healthy behaviors into everyday life. The idea here is to realize when you are comparing yourself to others and straying from what you really want. Being mindful of what you really enjoy, for the sake of it, is key. If you don’t enjoy swimming, but the Strava superstar you’re following got in 5,000 meters this week, don’t let it push you off your own course. You are on your own path and you enjoy exercising, competing, and living the way you want to. It’s great to be competitive, but the most beneficial competition happens inside of us. It’s the courage to do it your way, regardless of what others are doing. By cultivating our own fitness self and not defining ourselves, or our goals, by the deeds of others, we blaze our own trail through life.
Movie Review
The Invitation
by Lisa Erdman
Unfolding over one dark evening in the Hollywood Hills, The Invitation blurs the lines of paranoia, mystery, and horror until neither the characters or the audience know what threats are real or imagined. From the moment he arrives at his ex-wife’s dinner party, Will struggles with memories of living in this beautiful home, where their young son died in a tragic accident. The film does a clever dance between paranoia on Will’s part (are Eden’s new friends part of an evil cult?) & friends gathering – both new and old – to try and bury the past enjoying wine, prescription drugs and perhaps some mutual affection… While watching The Invitation, the audience is never really sure if Will has a true grip on reality. Director Karyn Kusama, takes us on a terrifying rollercoaster of emotion. Though there is plenty of gore and violence for fans of such films as “The Purge”, it’s the slow and steady climb that really makes The Invitation a Must Watch. The Invitation is Rated R and is now streaming on iTunes & Amazon. Follow BFCA Film Critic Lisa Erdman on all social media @take2review for more movie reviews and news.
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