The City of Grain Valley has been recognized for its strides toward becoming a Community for All Ages (CFAA). The City received Silver level recognition through the CFAA program, which was developed by the First Suburbs Coalition and KC Communities for All Ages – two groups convened by the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC).
     The Silver level required conducting a self-assessment of age-friendly policies and actions. The assessment process was conducted through meetings with City staff, business owners and citizens over the course of six months. The discussions were centered around the following topics: outdoor spaces, housing and commercial development, transportation and mobility, social inclusion/communication, civic participation/employment and community and health services. The City attained Bronze level last year, which focused on Awareness.
     The Community for All Ages recognition program was implemented to develop programs and tools to support first-tier suburbs, help communities respond to a rapid increase in the older adult population, and make communities more welcoming for all age groups.
     “The Community for All Ages program has been a priority to the City of Grain Valley as we are aware of the growing population of senior citizens within this community. We want to ensure that this a community that makes them feel welcomed and their needs are met. The program acts as a lens through which evaluation can be done based on what makes the City “age-friendly” and identifies areas in which improvements can be made,” Sara Nadeau, City of Grain Valley’s Public Information Officer, said.

Pictured left to right:  Ken Murphy, City Administrator; Sara Nadeau, Public Information Officer; Theresa Osenbaugh, Deputy City Administrator, and Mayor Chuck Johnston.

Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD 
Written by Austin Hess, Dietetic Intern for KC Nutrition Coach​

     Odds are you have seen the newest diet or product that claims to melt forty pounds off your body and eliminate all your health concerns. Some of you may have even tried it and seen some results. Unfortunately, the nature of these plans tend to be restrictive and eventually we break the rules for something we crave.
     Intuitive eating is the exact opposite of this torturous cycle. It is not a diet but rather a mindset focused exclusively on how you feel and connecting you to your mind to your body’s needs. The following are ten principles to help teach you how to eat intuitively.
 
1. Reject Diet Mentality
Get rid of the idea that weight loss, small bodies, and fads are the way to health. This is a constant physical, mental, and emotional strain on yourself.

2. Honor Your Hunger
Eat when you are hungry! Its pretty simple yet something many of us deny. Start keeping healthy, satisfying snacks around for when you start to feel hungry.

3. Make Peace with Food
Denying yourself food can lead to eventual cravings, bingeing, and guilt. Let yourself eat, it’s okay!

4. Challenge the Food Police
There is no “good” or “bad” food, only food. Break free of that internal dialogue and you are on to a mentally healthier version of yourself.

5. Discover the Satisfaction Factor
Eating is fun! Relearn that a good meal with good company is one of the greatest experiences we can have. Sit, eat, and enjoy. It's that simple.

6. Feel Your Fullness
This one is a little more difficult as it is something we have probably been ignoring for a long time. Start with taking a moment during your meal and ask if you are full. Another good sign to watch for is the sigh of fullness (when your stomach is full you naturally sigh). Start paying attention to these signs and stop eating once you are full.

7. Cope with Your Emotions with Kindness
Food can be a coping mechanism for certain emotions. Taking a breath to recognize why you are starting to eat can help you identify emotional eating. But restricting eating can be just as much of a mental/emotional burden. If you need a pick-me-up, feel free to eat a piece of chocolate, just be aware that food does not fix all problems.

8. Respect your Body
Understand that not all of us are genetically built to look identical. We must stop comparing our bodies to others and begin respecting who and where we are.

9. Movement not Exercise
Just move! Forget how many calories you are burning and start being cognizant of how the movement feels. Do you feel more energy? Do you feel better? Focusing on this versus how many calories you can burn in the shortest period, will help you enjoy movement more and keep it a constant in your life.

10. Honor Your Health
Being “healthy” does not mean every piece of food that passes your lips has to be a super food. Consistency and progress are most important, not perfection.
 
Intuitive eating can be summed up by enjoy all food by being mindful of yourself. You don’t need to be burdened with restrictive plans that rarely work. Start listening to your body, eating what you want and watch as your health follows. The muffin recipe below is a perfect snack option!
 
Chocolate Zucchini Blender Muffins
Servings: 10 muffins
Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 2 cups almond flour (or all-purpose flour)
• 1 cup zucchini, grated
• 1/2 cup tapioca starch
• 1/2 cup raw cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp avocado oil
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a muffin tin very well using either coconut oil, avocado oil or olive oil.
• Pour all ingredients (except for zucchini and chocolate chips) into a Vitamix, or a high-speed blender. Blend for 10-15 seconds. Scrape down sides and blend again. The batter will be very thick.
• Transfer to a large mixing bowl and fold in chocolate chips and grated zucchini.
• Scoop mixture into muffin tin, filling the tins about 3/4 of the way.
• Bake for about 18 minutes, or until you can put a toothpick into the muffin with it coming out relatively clean.

Recipe Source:  Rachel Molenda
 

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Tracey Shaffer is a registered dietitian and certified health coach and owner of KC Nutrition Coach in Eastern Jackson County. She can be reached at tracey@kcnutritioncoach.com.

     On Jan. 19, lawmakers from both the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate gathered together to hear the governor deliver his State of the State address. This annual speech gives the governor the opportunity to discuss our state’s successes over the past year as well as lay out his agenda going forward.
     The governor began his speech expressing confidence in Missouri’s economy. By avoiding costly shutdowns and one-size-fits-all approaches, he said Missouri has remained open for business, all while protecting lives and livelihoods. The governor noted the $5.2 billion dollars in private investment being made by businesses all across our state, which is connecting Missourians with new jobs and new opportunities. The governor pointed to the fact that unemployment currently sits at 3.5%, which is below the national average and has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Given the economic growth we’ve seen, the governor announced that Missouri’s income tax rate would decrease to 5.3% – a new low for our state.
     With this economic success, our state is poised to be able to make some big investments of its own. This year, the governor outlined a number of spending proposals designed to strengthen our state. For instance, he voiced continued support for several workforce development programs. He proposed permanently establishing the Missouri Fast Track program, $31 million for colleges and universities through MoExcels and $20 million for the state's 57 area career centers. These programs are meant to help “skill up” workers and ensure they are ready to meet the demands of today’s workforce. Additionally, the governor called for $400 million to go toward broadband expansion projects statewide, the single largest broadband investment in state history. This proposal would connect 75,000 households, expand access to rural areas and underserved urban areas and update and expand wireless networks across the state.
    As the governor said, it’s clear that “Missouri is strong today and will be even stronger tomorrow.” As the 2022 legislative session gets further underway, I’m looking forward to doing my part in helping move our state forward. I am honored to continue serving the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. Please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about committees or sponsored legislation for the 2020 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.

     It was another game and another 30-point performance from junior Grace Slaughter.
     The all-state junior poured in 34 points to lead Grain Valley to a 12-2 record and a 60-24 drubbing of Fort Osage in Friday’s girls basketball contest at home.
     Slaughter scored 19 points in the first to help the Eagles take a commanding 25-10 lead going into the second period. Her dominant performance didn’t allow for Fort Osage to get any closer than 15 points for the rest of the contest.
     Because Grain Valley had a big lead throughout, that allowed some Eagles reserves to get playing time that they may not get in a closer game.
     That helped make it a special night for the Eagles lone senior, Elena Sanchez. She scored six points and grabbed a handful of rebounds as she got to play significant minutes on Senior Night.
     “It felt really good. I haven’t played in a little bit,” Sanchez said. “Even though I messed up a few times. It feels good to run and push up against some girls.”
     She also got to share the floor with Slaughter in a game, which gave her the best view of one of the best players in the state.
     “It’s almost like watching an NBA player,” Sanchez said of watching Slaughter play. “She’s such a good player. I look up to her even though she’s younger than me. I go home and practice the moves she does because I want to be like her. She’s also super sweet.”
     Grain Valley head coach Randy Draper said he was able to get Sanchez into the game and watch her succeed.
     “She’s a good basketball player and she got a chance to show that,” Draper said. “That was fun to see and our kids really appreciate her. It was a great night for her.”
     Other players who normally don’t see a lot of playing time got to step onto the floor like freshman Pyper Hartigan, Camryn Kelly, Keyonna Bullock and Ava Bollinger.
     “We got a lot of people that can play,” Draper said. “Our team is really good. You have to be a heck of a player to get playing time on this team.”
     While several Eagles got to see the floor, McKenah Sears got to show off her skills, as well. She played excellent defense and totaled three steals.
     “I have really worked on my defense this past year because Draper said we really need it, and he said if I wanted playing time, I had to work on that,” Sears said. “It helps when everyone else is on their man and playing the right defense. We just put in good work all together.”
     Grain Valley went into halftime up 36-17 and extended the advantage to 55-20 going into the fourth to start the turbo clock.
 

     In a boys basketball game that was a see-saw battle, Grain Valley needed someone to come up big down the stretch.
     Enter senior guard Cylas Brewer.
     After Suburban White Conference rival Fort Osage tied the game at 41-all with 2:19 left, the team traded a pair of empty possessions each, before the senior had his big moment.
     Junior Rhylan Alcanter passed out of a double team in the paint and found Brewer open in the left corner. Brewer buried a 3-pointer to give the Eagles the lead for good with 40 seconds left. He also hit key free throws down the stretch to help Grain Valley take a 48-45 victory Friday at home on Senior Night.
     “That’s something you dream about,” Grain Valley junior Nick Hooper said of Brewer’s big moments. “It was like a movie.”
     Brewer connected on four free throws in the final 21 seconds to help hold off Fort Osage as he scored a game-high 14 points.
     “Something just clicked,” said Brewer, who had a game-high 14 points. “I haven’t had a high points game in awhile. This was Senior Night, so I wanted to do that in front of my family and fans.”
     His contribution was huge, especially since the Eagles (8-7) were missing their leading scorer in Avery Garmon to a leg injury. Starting forward Alex Snyder was also out with an ankle injury.
     “Avery was our leading scorer. It’s never easy not having a guy like him,” Hooper said. “That’s when everyone has to be a part of the scoring. Everyone had a role.”
     Junior Chase Stumfoll hit a pull-up 3-pointer with 21.2 seconds left to narrow the gap to one point for Fort Osage (4-11). Brewer was fouled on the next possession and hit two free throws with 13.7 seconds left.
     After a Fort Osage turnover on a throw out of bounds, Grain Valley junior Keagan Hart missed the front end of a one-and-one with 2.7 seconds left. Stumfoll got the rebound and heaved a full court shot that fell short.
     Both teams struggled on offense in the first half. The Eagles (8-7) led 9-8 after the first period and Fort Osage came back to tie the game at 13-all going into halftime.
     In the third period, Grain Valley led for most of it as Alcanter scored eight of his 10 points in those eight minutes to help the Eagles take a 34-31 lead into the fourth. Alcanter’s presence in the post helped open up the offense for the Eagles and players like Hart, Hooper and Brewer benefitted as each hit an open 3-pointer.
     “He has had four double-doubles in a row,” Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert said of Alcanter. “He had 27 (points) and 18 (rebounds) the other day against Central (Kansas City). He’s been playing really well."
     “When you have someone like that in the middle of the floor, that helps remedy some of the traps. He’s become a focal point around the basket and teams have to adjust to that.”
 
 
 

The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of January 12-17, 2022.
 

     Mid-Continent Public Library has announced the launch of a new app designed to help caregivers engage in constructive, enriching, and fun literacy activities with their children. Free to download from the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store, MCPL’s Grow A Reader app focuses on developing children’s pre-reading skills so they can become strong readers and lifelong learners.
     “Caregivers are their kids’ first teachers, and learning to read starts well before a child is able to pick up a book,” Katie McDonald, MCPL’s Youth Services Manager said. “The Grow A Reader app is an easy tool that families can use to help their kids build a solid early literacy foundation, which we know is especially important as kids begin school and eventually transition from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’”
     Through a variety of videos, books, and daily literacy tips, caregivers and their children can use Grow A Reader to work on 10 early literacy skills: singing and rhyming, playing and imagining, writing and creating, talking and listening, and finally, reading and sharing. The app’s user experience can be customized by a child’s age (baby, toddler, or preschool age) and contains content curated by Library staff that is updated regularly. Some content is also available in both English and Spanish.
     The Books tab allows users to find suggestions of titles and put Library books on hold to pick up at their local MCPL branch. The Videos tab offers videos of MCPL staff members leading songs, games, and activities that caregivers and children can enjoy and replicate at home to further practice their skills. The final tab, Tips, provides unique ideas of how to support your child’s learning, such as “Reading is Everywhere! Point out print all around you. Street signs, billboards, and grocery stores all have words printed everywhere.”
     Grow A Reader users can also access other Library services and resources within the app, including Dial-A-Story, an audio recording of a story time with an MCPL staff member (stories are updated monthly), as well as the list of upcoming MCPL programs for kids that caregivers can register for.
     The Grow A Reader app will also soon be home to MCPL’s signature series of children’s books featuring the Library’s mascot, Marty the Martian. Written by Bridget Heos and illustrated by Dan Regan, the five books in the series will be released over the coming months, each focusing on a different set of early literacy skills. App users will have first access to the digital version of the books. More information about the series will be shared this spring prior to the release of the first book.
     Learn more about MCPL’s early literacy resources, programs, and services at mymcpl.org/Kids.
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     The Grain Valley School Board met January 18th, approving the 2022-23 school calendar and receiving an update on the district's multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) program, which is a framework used by many districts to support struggling students. 
     During patron comments, Board of Aldermen candidate Dale Arnold spoke to the board in an attempt to address concerns raised in an unsigned flyer recently distributed on cars in which concerns were outlined regarding funding for the proposed central office building. Arnold detailed his concerns and stated that while everything the district has done is "appropriate and legal", he wonders if "going with these premium bonds, if the additional cost of excess interest is justified for the amount of money that we got". 
   Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Dr. Nick Gooch highlighted Sni-A-Bar Elementary principal Dr. Carrie Reich for her work in securing playground equipment for the school from the former Joe's Crab Shack in Independence for $2,500, which is thousands less than comparable equipment would cost the district. 
     The board approved the 2022-23 school calendar, with the first day of school on August 22nd. One change to the 2022-23 schedule includes a shift in the scheduling of first and second semesters. First semester will now conclude before Christmas break, with second semester beginning when school resumes on January 4th.  

     Grain Valley Parks & Recreation will present its annual Father-Daughter Valentine Dance on Saturday, February 5th from 7:00pm - 9:00pm at the Grain Valley Community Center. Dads and daughters (K-12th grade) will enjoy a DJ, professional photographer, prize drawings, a dance contest, and snacks and beverages during the evening. 
     Tickets are $18/couple and $7 for additional daughters. The fee includes one photo. To register, call 816-847-6230 or register online at http://grainvalley.recdesk.com.