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In another life, I am a good singer. I wear a sparkly cocktail dress, weave my way through the tables up to the stage in the smoky nightclub, squint into the spotlight, and launch into a performance that would make Babs Streisand, Judy Garland, Lindsey Buckingham, or maybe, just maybe, Janet Jackson, cry.
In real life, I can sort of carry a tune and love lots of kinds of music, the perfect combination to become a karaoke singer. When my husband and I first dated, we ended up at a local pub’s karaoke night. It was a full house on a Saturday, and as a dare, we each picked a song to sing. While waiting our turn, we heard some folks who should have cut a record, and some who patterned themselves after the sound of dying whales. At the pub’s long tables, we made friends with some of the regulars. Jodi, new to the area from California, had sung on public access TV. She gave free advice to those who returned from the stage to their seats. “Next time stand up a little straighter to lengthen your diaphragm,” she told Tony. “You will get more volume and be able to hit the high notes.” He bought her a tequila shot in gratitude, but she refused it as she had heard alcohol damaged vocal chords. We met a singer whom we later found out was 90% deaf, yet who sang the most beautiful version of “Make the World Go Away” we had ever heard. I had almost had enough to drink to start re-thinking my song entry that night when they called my name. I made it through a pretty wicked version of “Midnight Train to Georgia,” channeling Gladys, minus the Pips. The crowd clapped politely. A couple of songs later my brave date sang Hank William’s “Family Tradition,” and the crowd went wild. I felt a surge of pride that this was my fella, and he could actually sing. We enjoyed a few more rounds- both of singers and of drinks- and were winding down when Betty, the pub’s aging and only waitress, dropped a yellow ticket in front of my date. “Congrats! You are in the finals,” she said. Unbeknownst to us, we had joined in the fun on karaoke contest night. Truthfully kind of disappointed I was un-ticketed, I looked up into the eyes of a true competitor, who had already opened the massive song list book, and was busy selecting his next number. While there is some debate these many years later between my now husband and me about the amount of the prize awarded that night, suffice it to say, he made Bobby Darrin proud with a version of “Mack the Knife” that won the big cash prize. This was before the proverbial mic drop became popular, but it was a pretty good moment. A man who can earn a check during the week and pick up a little extra moola singing on weekends? Sign me up. He believes his boyish charm won me over. Actually, I had always wanted to marry a performer. We spent a few (read many) nights at the pub, making more karaoke friends and introducing some of our friends to it. Along the way we learned so much about the fine art of karaoke. Here are ten things you should know, too. First, applaud no matter the quality of the performance. You may be applauding for the courage of the person who put it all out there, possibly for the fact the song is finally over, and because it really is just for fun. And most importantly, if you stink when it is your turn to sing, they will also clap for you. Second, some folks take their karaoke very seriously. If they change outfits any time during the night for different songs, forget about beating them in the weekly contest. Karaoke joints are not the place to get discovered, but believe me, some warblers think they are. Third, don’t karaoke if you cannot read. The words literally light up in front of you, and all you have to do is follow them. If the crowd helps you or the K-J steps in, you are sunk. Hooked on phonics for you, friend. Fourth, maybe it actually is time to stop believing. That Journey song is a huge karaoke foul in most places. If you hear an audible groan when your title comes up, you have a strike against you before your opening note. Other ones you might want to put on the back burner are Adele’s “Hello” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” It is possibly time for a B52’s “Love Shack” return, but first check the crowd for dark glasses, go-go boots, and beehive hairdos to see if you will have any fans. Fifth, most people cannot rap, and that includes you. A particularly saucy rendition of Baby Got Back might be a good substitute for the Eminem song you wanted to sing, but leave beat boxing and Tupac at home. Sixth, the 4th week in April is National Karaoke week. I think that should tell you about its importance. It has its own week for crying out loud! Seventh, the best duet for a man and woman is “I Got You Babe” ala Sonny and Cher, because they weren’t really in tune when they sang it, so it seems okay if you aren’t either. Dolly Parton and George Jones’ “Rockin’ Years” is a good one, too, if the crowd likes country. Leave anything from Lionel Richie or Peaches and Herb alone, dang it. You will never sound that good. Eighth, “Paradise By the Dashboard Lights” is too long, as is “American Pie,” but if the crowd likes to get involved, these are sure ways to win them over. If you do launch into a sing along number, don’t be surprised if some overly-enthusiastic new friend joins you on stage or if you end up with back up dancers. It’s all a part of the karaoke game. Ninth, deliberately performing another singer’s signature song is considered bad form. At our old place, Tammy and Jake had cornered the market on most of the duets. That was okay with us, as we both envision ourselves as primarily solo acts. But we witnessed a near thrown down the night Sheila sang Celine Dion ‘s “The Heart Will Go On,” when everyone knew it was Debbie’s territory. Shameless! Tenth, if you can get dancers on the floor during your song, you have made it big time. We noticed that the contest winners almost always had dancers. As my friend would say about the good singers, “They sound so much like the record!” I have to admit that our buddy’s version of “Living on Tulsa Time” and his rendition of “Folsom Prison Blues,” which both got multiple dancers last time he sang them, have tested the theory a bit. But put on your falsetto vest and break out a Whitney Houston number like “I Will Always Love You” or a Bee Gees “How Deep Is Your Love,” and the slow-dancers come out of the woodwork. When the pub closed (read: was condemned), we were sad, and we never found another just right place to recreate those fun days. We missed Jodi’s advice and Ray the K-J’s announcing skills. We saw Tammy and Jake at a table near ours when we were eating out one night years later. In the flickering Olive Garden candlelight, they looked just like your next door neighbors. But we remembered their power when they held those karaoke mics. If you hummed, ran the lyrics through your mind, or sang aloud to any of the songs I mentioned, you likely have the karaoke bug. If you weren’t moved by any of my suggestions, but have your own personal favorite in mind, you have surely been bitten. Call us if you are out and about some night for karaoke. We might just come by and dance to one of your numbers. Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer. Missouri non-farm payroll employment decreased in February 2021, probably the result of deteriorating weather conditions. However, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by a tenth of a percentage point.
Employment, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 11,600 jobs over the month, and over-the year job losses totaled 130,500. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in February 2021, down from 4.3 percent in January 2021. The labor market still showed substantial losses over the year, but may show improvement in the coming months as vaccines for COVID-19 become available. Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by a tenth of a percentage point in February 2021, dropping to 4.2 percent from the benchmarked January 2021 rate of 4.3 percent. Due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the February 2021 rate was 0.6 percentage points higher than the February 2020 rate. The rate had reached a low of 3.1 percent starting in July 2018, before gradually edging up to 3.5 percent by the end of 2019, and then to 3.7 percent in March 2020. The COVID-19 effect hit in April 2020, spiking the rate to 12.5 percent for that month. The rate decreased monthly for the rest of 2020, reaching 4.3 percent in January. Missouri’s unemployment rate remained below the national rate. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 128,934 in February 2021, down by 1,615 from January’s 130,549. The state’s not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 5.0 percent in February 2021, also down by a tenth of a percentage point from the January 2021 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 5.1 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for February 2021 was 6.6 percent. A year ago, the state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 3.6 percent, and the not-adjusted rate was 3.8 percent. With March coming in like a lamb, I guess it's supposed to go out like a lion, according to the saying. Personally, I am ready for Spring weather. I’m ready for life to get back to normal or at least more normal. If we can all continue to be smart and safe until everyone who wants to be is vaccinated is, I think something near normal could be possible by this summer. Fingers crossed and knock on wood.
Spring also brings tax season, which is often met with much less enthusiasm than warmer temperatures and budding flowers. But there have been a few tax changes related to charitable giving that are worth noting. First, for the vast majority of people who can no longer itemize because of the higher standard deduction, there is a 2020 Universal Charitable Deduction available which provides $300 for individuals and $600 for couples. Even if you cannot itemize, you can take this deduction in 2020 and again in 2021 as this provision was extended in the December stimulus plan legislation. Second, for those of you who are generously supporting your favorite charities and find as you prepare your tax return you still cannot itemize your deductions, now is a good time to do some tax planning for 2021. Charitable Bunching utilizing a Donor Advised Fund is a tax planning tool that is growing in popularity. Like a charitable savings account, a Donor Advised Fund is just like having your own private foundation – only better and much simpler. In addition to allowing you to become more organized and strategic with your charitable giving, a Donor Advised Fund coupled with a "bunching" strategy provides a way for you to maximize your tax benefits. Gifts to a Donor Advised Fund are immediately tax-deductible. With a "bunching" strategy, you can use your Donor Advised Fund to contribute multiple years' worth of donations in one calendar year, enabling you to exceed the standard deduction in that year. You then can maintain your regular support of your favorite charities through grants from your Donor Advised Fund over several years. You claim the standard deduction in the years you don't bunch your charitable gifts. Let's look at the example of a couple with state and local tax deductions, plus mortgage interest deductions that total $18,000 per year ($10,000 SALT, $8,000 Mortgage). They are charitably minded and currently generously donate $7,000 to support their church and favorite charities, which gives them $25,000 total in itemized deductions. However, since the standard deduction is now $25,100, they cannot itemize. If they use a Donor Advised Fund to bunch their charitable giving and put three years' worth of contributions (or $21,000) into their fund, then they would have $39,000 in deductions this year and could itemize and receive the additional tax deduction of $13,900. In the next two years, they would take the standard deduction on their tax return. They would continue to donate their typical $7,000 each year to their favorite charities through grants from their Donor Advised Fund. The Donor Advised Fund resources are invested and will have the opportunity to grow tax-free, resulting in more money available to support both their church and chosen causes. Additionally, a Donor Advised Fund offers an opportunity to maximize the power of your charitable contributions with gifts of non-cash assets. By donating appreciated securities, such as stocks and mutual funds, directly to your fund (instead of selling the security and donating the cash), you can gain considerable tax advantages. You avoid the capital gains taxes and receive the charitable deduction for your gift's fair market value. Talk to your financial advisor and do some tax planning now to ensure you have the most effective charitable giving plan to minimize your 2021 taxes and maximize your giving. Waiting until later in the year may keep you from taking full advantage of this tax-saving tool. So, while we may have to wait patiently for spring to arrive, now is the time for your 2021 tax planning. Phil Hanson is the president and CEO of Truman Heartland Community Foundation. Truman Heartland Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity committed to improving the communities in and around Eastern Jackson County through partnerships with donors and community members. For more information on charitable giving, visit www.thcf.org or call Truman Heartland at 816-836-8189. The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of March 11-16, 2021.
Grain Valley voters will elect an alderman in each of the City’s three wards on April 6th. In Ward 1, current alderman Tom Cleaver is running for re-election. Dale Arnold is also running for the seat. In Ward 2, incumbent Nancy Totton faces challenger Darren Mills. In Ward 3, incumbent Shea Bass faces first-time candidate Kristen Rising.
Valley News reached out to each candidate to share information on their background, experience, and thoughts regarding the current challenges facing Grain Valley. Ward 1: Dale Arnold Please share some brief information on your background, community service, (# of terms served if a current board member): I have served the community for just over 30 years as a firefighter with Central Jackson County FPD. I have been active in many local organizations and boards. I have served as a member of the former Grain Valley Optimist Club, currently known as FOCUS and as a Past President. Also active with school programs as a member of the Band Parents Association of which I was a Past President. I have served on the citizens advisory committee for the Grain Valley School District, as well as a member of the Planning and Zoning Board for the City of Grain Valley. I help wherever there was a need. I have also been involved with the Grain Valley Police Dept. Night Out Against Crime, the Haunted Hayride, the Grain Valley Fair Days, Trail for Treats and the Historical Society. For this service I have been recognized as a Pillar of the Community in 2005 by the Grain Valley Chamber and as Citizen of the Year by the Truman Heartland Community Foundation for 2010. Why do you want to serve on the Board of Aldermen? With my experience in the community and knowledge of its history, I feel I have much insight to make informed decisions. What are the biggest challenges currently facing Grain Valley? Growth! How we meet the growth and how we shape it into what the community wants. Efforts on economic development needs to be refined and updated to meet the goals set by the community. The current board has met in recent months to discuss the best path forward to address facility needs following the defeat of the proposed community campus at the former Sni-A-Bar Farms site. How do you propose the City address its facility needs (City Hall, Police Department, Community Center)? I have a vision that differs from some on the board. I agree there is a need, how to meet that need is up for debate. My vision is that the Community Center and Library be located on the old Sni A Bar Farms. This would include a water splash park rather than a pool. Splash Parks give more opportunity for involvement and exercise. This vision also includes walking trails and picnic areas. Also some basketball court, baseball, and soccer fields for local children to play games. Keeping that area as a park for family activities. This would not require all of the land available. Some of the land surrounding the park could be sold to developers for more homes and neighborhoods, recouping some of the cost of the park. With the move of the community center to the south it would allow for the old Community Center to be renovated with a small addition to the rear of the building to meet the needs of the police. Now that the police are no longer occupying half of City Hall, the building is now large enough to meet their needs for a number of the coming years. There is much more that I envision, but there is not enough space here to share. This concept would reduce cost greatly and avoid abandoning the investment of past tax dollars. There had been discussion to build a new police facility on the site of the baseball fields on James Rollo. While an option, it takes away from much needed youth activities fields that fall short of meeting our needs. Tom Cleaver—Ward 1 Please share some brief information on your background, community service, (# of terms served if a current board member): I have been in Business to Business sales for almost 30 years, working with Cities and MFG. Companies all over Kansas City. I volunteer once a month for the Grain Valley Assistance Council and have lived in Ward 1 for 15 years. I have served my first term of two years as Alderman Ward 1. Why do you want to serve on the Board of Aldermen? I love our community and want to give back to it. I feel my experience in business will help guide our City forward for the future. What are the biggest challenges currently facing Grain Valley? The facility needs for City Hall, Police Department, Community Center, Streets and also attracting and retaining Police officers for a growing community. The current board has met in recent months to discuss the best path forward to address facility needs following the defeat of the proposed community campus at the former Sni-A-Bar Farms site. How do you propose the City address its facility needs (City Hall, Police Department, Community Center)? This is a complex situation, one the current Board is exploring diligently. It is my job as Alderman to bring several good and different ideas to the voters that will both address our current needs and our needs for the long term. Darren Mills—Ward 2 Please share some brief information on your background, community service, (# of terms served if a current board member): I have been a resident of Grain Valley since 2012 and I also work in Grain Valley. I am employed at Lifestyle RV's where I have received the honorable award of Salesman of the Year back to back for 2019-2020. Selling fun and adventure to my fellow residents of Grain Valley is what I love. I have been a member of the Grain Valley VIPS ( Volunteer in Police Service) for the last 3 years. I currently hold the position of President and I am one of five residents who were appointed to the Police Advisory Board. I enjoy my time as a faithful partner of Crossroads Church here in Grain Valley. Why do you want to serve on the Board of Aldermen? As your Alderman I will work hard to improve safety on Eagles Parkway by working with staff to find funding for much needed sidewalks that will also connect to the new trails. I will work for funding for additional streetlights in the Winding Creek subdivision and the newer parts of Ward 2 that are still without them. I enjoyed my time serving our country in the United States Navy and I look forward to serving our community and being your voice for a better Ward 2 and continued growth in Grain Valley. What are the biggest challenges currently facing Grain Valley? Some of the biggest problems I feel facing Grain Valley is “division”. As a community and a small City we need to get find a common ground for our residents and elected officials. I want to be that voice for my Ward and work with whoever may be in office and push forward for a better Grain Valley from street repair, growth, better budget and focus on public safety retention. The current board has met in recent months to discuss the best path forward to address facility needs following the defeat of the proposed community campus at the former Sni-A-Bar Farms site. How do you propose the City address its facility needs (City Hall, Police Department, Community Center)? I feel this city has outgrown its current City Hall, Police Station and Community Center. If elected I would want to inform our residents of all options available and truly listen to the input and concerns of residents and city employees. Nancy Totton—Ward 2 Please share some brief information on your background, community service, (# of terms served if a current board member): I have served on the Board since 2010, and am very active in the community, helping families in need. Why do you want to serve on the Board of Aldermen? I enjoy helping people, and learn from the things my residents have been going through. An alderman should be there to listen to a problem, find out how to help, and get back in touch with them. People call me at all hours, and I am happy to help them out. What are the biggest challenges currently facing Grain Valley? The lack of residents learning about the issues and showing up to meetings to learn about things. More people need to get involved in their community. The current board has met in recent months to discuss the best path forward to address facility needs following the defeat of the proposed community campus at the former Sni-A-Bar Farms site. How do you propose the City address its facility needs (City Hall, Police Department, Community Center)? It is a complicated issue, and it is going to take a good bunch of us to figure out the problem. There is no doubt they need more space at City Hall and the police station. There is an officer with a little desk in a closet for an office, and that is ridiculous. Shea Bass—Ward 3 Please share some brief information on your background, community service, (# of terms served if a current board member): I have been privileged enough to serve on the board for a little over one full term (2+ years) as Alderman in Ward 3. Prior to serving on the board, I spent time on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the city. I have volunteered my time in a number of organizations around Kansas City throughout the past few years as well. Why do you want to serve on the Board of Aldermen? I want to serve on the Board of Aldermen to be an honest, truthful, and hard-working representative for the citizens in Ward 3. I enjoy interacting with members of the community and I want to help our city keep its strength as we grow. We have great citizens, fantastic employees, wonderful businesses, and strong schools. I’m excited for the next chapter of growth in our city. What are the biggest challenges currently facing Grain Valley? The biggest challenge right now is trying to nail down exactly what we are going to do with City Hall, the Community Center, Police Department, and other city departments for the next chapter of city growth. The issuance of city bonds for building the municipal complex in a single build failed on the last ballot, so figuring out exactly what the citizens want and balancing that with facility needs, location, and overall schedule poses a challenge in the coming future. The current board has met in recent months to discuss the best path forward to address facility needs following the defeat of the proposed community campus at the former Sni-A-Bar Farms site. How do you propose the City address its facility needs (City Hall, Police Department, Community Center)? As I eluded to a bit in the previous question, I unfortunately don’t think there is a clear cut answer on this yet. The ballot measure for building a new complex in one single shot failed on the last ballot, so I propose the city gains more credible feedback from its citizens regarding what they would like to see in this manner. I personally think there are multiple solutions that work well for city needs, including a hybrid scenario where we utilize both the Sni-A-Bar Farms site and the land the city currently owns at/near the existing City Hall and Community Center site. Kristen Rising—Ward 3 Please share some brief information on your background, community service, (# of terms served if a current board member): I am a small business owner in the construction industry. Community service: participate with the Veterans Community Project to help homeless Veterans, provide educational services-we adopted a classroom to help offset the cost of a teacher. I have no past experience in politics. If I secure a seat, it will be the first one. Why do you want to serve on the Board of Aldermen? To make a difference. What are the biggest challenges currently facing Grain Valley? Not having enough small business in our community, i.e. sit down restaurants. The current board has met in recent months to discuss the best path forward to address facility needs following the defeat of the proposed community campus at the former Sni-A-Bar Farms site. How do you propose the City address its facility needs (City Hall, Police Department, Community Center)? Honestly, not sure. I do not have the whole back story of those items and with out that information I can not provide my opinion. I do know that some changes need to take place because in my opinion, what we have working is not a well oiled machine. After a soft opening for Founding Members on Saturday, March 14th, Iron Kettle Brewing, located at 508 N Main, opened to the public on Wednesday, March 17th.
The brewery features a number of house-made beers, and a selection of beers from local breweries. The menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, pizzas, twice baked potatoes, and a variety of baked mac and cheese. In addition to the renovated downstairs space, an event space is located upstairs, and a patio area offers outdoor seating in the alley between the brewery and the Historical Society building. Jason Fenstermaker, Archduke of Operations, said the team involved in the brewery is thrilled to share their hard work with the community. “It is exciting to be able to share this dream with the community that has given so much to us. We all have worked so many hours to be able to share this with Grain Valley. We wanted to bring something special to Grain Valley, something they can call their own. This is more than a brewery and a restaurant, it is a true public house,” Fenstermaker said. Iron Kettle Brewing 508 N Main, Grain Valley Hours of operation: Monday-Closed Tuesday-Closed Wednesday-11am-10pm Thursday-11am-10pm Friday-11am-11pm Saturday- 11am-11pm Sunday- 11 am-6pm For more information, visit their Facebook page or their website, www.ironkettlebrew.com. The Eastern Jackson County Yard Waste Collection Center, located at
37910 E Pink Hill Road, Oak Grove, MO 64075, opens Saturday, April 3rd. The center is open each Saturday April through November, 8:00am—4:00pm. Yard waste only is accepted at the center, with the following fees for residents applying: Pick-up trucks and small trailers: $15 Large trucks and large trailers: $10 per cubic yard Bags: $1 Items not accepted: Aluminum Cans Glass Hazardous Waste Metal Plastic Bottles Tires Trash Visit https://www.jacksongov.org/495/Yard-Waste-Collection-Center for more information. by John Unrein The Kansas City Royals have been a small market baseball franchise since their inception in 1969. Ewing Kauffman, the original owner of the Royals was aware from the outset of the unfair nature of the economics affiliated with baseball. Kauffman insisted that the Royals would find long term success through building the organization from the foundation up. The anchor for this endeavor would be the development of a strong farm system by investment in scouting, player development, and avoiding adding an abundance of older veteran players to the original rosters.
The Los Angeles Dodgers provided Kauffman a blueprint that he would use to find triumph. An emphasis would be placed on accumulating pitching talent and athletic position players through the Major League Baseball draft. The borrowed model worked as the Royals had their first winning season in 1971 with a record of 85-76, good for second place in the American League West. That same year the Royals selected George Brett in the first round (29th overall) of the MLB amateur draft. Kansas City would make its first playoff appearance in 1976. The roster was abundant with homegrown talent. Names like Brett, Frank White, John Wathan, Paul Splittorff, Dennis Leonard, Jamie Quirk, Al Cowens, and Steve Busby littered the lineup with talent, marking the investment Kauffman had made from the outset in finding and growing young players with ability. A process that has repeated itself throughout the history of the Royals. The Royals would make World Series appearances in 1980, 1985, 2014, and 2015, winning the Commissioner’s Trophy in 1985 and 2015. Those titles were savored by former Royals farmhands with the names of Bret Saberhagen, Dan Quisenberry, Danny Jackson, Mark Gubicza, Bud Black, and Buddy Biancalana during 1985. Thirty years later it would Alex Gordon, Jarrod Dyson, Mike Moustakas, Aldaberto Mondesi, Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez, Yordano Ventura, and Greg Holland who had made the trip down Interstate 29 from the club’s AAA affiliate in Omaha to One Royal Way in Kansas City. History appears ready to repeat itself with a plethora of homegrown talent emerging in the Royals farm system. The Royals are currently ranked with the 10th best minor league talent in all professional baseball per MLB Network as of March 15th. The organization has three players ranked in the Top 30 prospects by MLB, with shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (Number 7), left handed pitcher Daniel Lynch (Number 29), and left handed pitcher Asa Lacy (Number 30). General Manager Dayton Moore and his staff have found success again turning draft picks into prospects knocking on the proverbial big league door for the Royals. The following is a breakdown of player ratings, how the players were acquired, their position, and estimated ETA for the Royals Top 100 prospects as first reported by Anne Rogers for MLB Pipeline. Best tools Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade. Hit: 60 -- Witt Jr. Power: 60 -- Witt Jr. Run: 65 -- Brewer Hicklen Arm: 70 -- Seuly Matias Defense: 70 -- Nick Pratto Fastball: 75 -- Samuel Valerio Curveball: 60 -- Alec Marsh (Austin Cox, Noah Murdock) Slider: 60 -- Lynch (Lacy) Changeup: 70 – Jackson Kowar Control: 60 -- Jonathan Bowlan How they were built Draft: 20 | International: 8 | Trade: 2 Breakdown by ETA 2021: 9 | 2022: 11 | 2023: 6 | 2024: 3 | 2025: 1 Breakdown by position C: 1 | 1B: 1 | 2B: 0 | 3B: 0 | SS: 5 | OF: 6 | RHP: 12 | LHP: 5 What does all of this mean for the Royals heading into the 2021 season? Confidence is high among the team and smiles are plentiful. Both Salvador Perez and Danny Duffy have been quoted by the media in saying that they are having a blast competing again and that this is the most confidence they have seen by a Royals team since 2014 and 2015. This leaves Royals fans with something to look forward to as the home opener on April 1st approaches against the Texas Rangers. by Sean M. Crosetti, MBA, PharmD, Crosetti Health & Wellness With March seeming to come in like a lamb, most likely seasonal allergy symptoms will flair up sooner than later. There are several things that can be done to help mediate these symptoms, from antihistamines, prescriptions, barriers, supplements, to shots. Which ones to use, or combine, depends upon what the trigger is and the severity of your body’s response.
Barriers – The best barrier is being inside without open windows, but as 2020 showed us, we need to be outside at times. One of the few benefits of COVID is the current requirement to wear a mask outside. This not only will prevent a person from spreading the COVID virus, the mask will also filter out most of the triggers floating around in the air (pollen, dander, dust, etc.) so once you venture outside make sure to mask up as well. It is a good idea to wash your reusable masks at least once a week to make sure the filtering mechanism is fully functional. Something else that is helpful when you are inside is the filter on your HVAC system and how clogged full of stuff it is. This “mask” for your house needs to be replaced every three months; so, if you do not recall changing it when your family’s holiday celebration was happening, then it is time to replace it. The basic concept of the rest of the treatments is to reduce the natural inflammatory process once the triggers attempt to enter the body. Supplements – These items have a few studies that show they do provide some benefit to the stopping of allergy symptoms: Stinging Nettle – There are a few studies that show that the above ground parts of this plant can provide some antihistamine response in the body but does not improve response when given with antihistamines (do not use while pregnant) Quercetin – There are also a few studies that show that this compound in red wine, yellow onions, black tea, black currant juice, and apple juice can boost the therapeutic effect of asthma medications when taken concurrently Bromelain – The studies that have been published show there is some positive effect from taking this compound, which is found in pineapple, alone to reduce the swelling of the nasal passages, the studies in combination with medications are inconclusive. Antihistamines – These Over the Counter (OTC) items work by reducing the effect of the body’s response to the triggers. When triggers enter the body by some means (mouth, nose, eyes, throat, skin) the body’s response is to release a hormone called histamine. This compound drives several responses throughout the body (swelling of the throat, nasal passages, tongue, skin, and eyes, watering of eyes and nose, increase mucus production, increase stomach acid production, itching in areas of contact, etc.). All of these are forms of self-defense the body has used effectively to stop the further invasion into the body and are necessary. The issue lies in the severity, or duration, of the response. Antihistamines work by blocking the histamines from binding to the receptors on the cells that trigger the response. Once blocked, the cells cannot release the histamine thereby reducing the severity and duration of the response to a level where that person feels they can still function in society. Prescriptions – If the OTC items do not help you keep your symptoms at a reasonable level, a prescriber can authorize several different options from tablets/capsules, inhalers (puffers), to solutions for a nebulizer. These items either stop the body’s ability to respond to the triggers or decrease the effect of the triggers on the body. Shots – This type of therapy requires a consultation with an allergist who may run reaction tests (small amount of the trigger injected under the skin of your back) of the most common allergens in your area and once true triggers are identified, a very diluted amount is injected into your system and gradually increased until your body does not adversely react to the exposure. If you decide to try one of these supplements, OTC items, or prescriptions, please discuss with your care provider or pharmacist to make sure there are no interactions with your complete current regimen (prescribed, OTC, and supplements). Sean M Crosetti, MBA, PharmD, is Pharmacist in Charge and Owner of Crosetti Health & Wellness in Grain Valley. Crosetti Health & Wellness is located at 510 N. Main in Grain Valley. www.crosettis.com Graham Norton has a great show. If you haven’t seen the wily Irishman interview celebrities, you are missing out. He is a comedian by trade and about half of what he says is innuendo, the kind you need to be able to play on loop because you are not sure you actually heard him say something so borderline daring.
The set of the show is pretty cool and all Austin Powers looking, with velvet couches and settees in reds and purples and oranges. Guests recline on the pillowy surfaces, openly enjoying cocktails. There are no Oprah induced tears, fake or otherwise, during filming; it is all side-splitting humor, pop culture references, and dishing on movie co-stars and spouses. I really want to be on the Graham Norton show. The funfest airs on the BBC, but I first got hooked by watching little clips that came up on my social media feeds. One of the first times I watched, Minnie Driver was a guest. She was just coming off the Will and Grace tv series, where she played Lorraine Finster, a sinewy albeit skanky mistress, a character I just loved. After some small talk with Driver and the other guests, Norton talked her into reading horse names that the British Racing Commission had denied, due to the names having hidden meaning or innuendo. Most of the names are ones not fit for print, but when Driver read the name ‘Hoof Hearted’ in her British accent, and Norton about fell out of his chair laughing, I was hooked. Apparently Hoof Hearted actually got past the commission, as Norton next played a clip of a race in which Hoof Hearted came on in the last lengths to win the race. Driver was nearly hysterical as the track announcer called the end of the race, saying, “Pretty Lady leads down the stretch by a neck, with Summer’s Passion close behind. But… here comes a horse on the outside. Oh, this is a close one, folks. Wait. Hoof Hearted! Hoof Hearted!” When Cher was on his show, Norton told her he was so scared she couldn’t make it to the filming. She pretended at first she didn’t know what he was talking about but finally broke. “Oh, you mean because people thought I was dead?” Turns out that when Margaret Thatcher died, the hashtag #nowthatchersdead was trending in Britain, but Americans assumed it read ‘now that Cher’s dead’ and Twitter went into a frenzy of RIP’s and memories of the star. For my appearance, I don’t need to be paired with Helen Mirren, who appeared with Paul Rudd and demonstrated a kiss to mock a former co-star, or Tom Hanks, who shared a really great Clint Eastwood impression. I am willing to appear with Academy Award runner ups, faded pop stars, just anybody whose name someone might recognize. I would wear all black and probably have my hair styled to look effortlessly beautiful for my debut. I am sure they have makeup artists, and I would provide them a canvas in need of repair. I would likely color my water or use tea in my highball glass to appear to share in the Happy Hour atmosphere but would be too scared to have a drop that might loosen my tongue. I am guessing Graham might start with a better known celebrity, not realizing I was once the Lexington, Kentucky 12 year old city tennis champion and that I am successfully able to wash and fold up to eleven loads of laundry a week. When the attention finally shifts to me, Graham asks me about my weekly errand day, where I cram a week’s worth of everything my family needs done into the eight free hours I have from Sunday to Sunday. He says, ”Well, I hear you have been running errands,” and I nod and smile broadly, ready to tell a little ditty about a mishap at the dry cleaners. But then he continues, “When I hear someone say they are running errands, I assume they ran one errand then went to get a coffee and walk around Target,” he jokes. And I freeze. How does he know? He is lightning fast and moves on to another topic from my survey card. “I understand you are starting a stationery company,” he says. Despite the carefully curated camera angle, the audience can tell I am confused. “I don’t understand,” I say. My fifteen minutes of fame is rapidly shrinking to be about 15 seconds. “It says right here on my cue card stationery company,” he probes, hoping to save the whole segment. “Ohhhhhh! No, I told them I like to just be stationary unless I have company coming over,” I explain. The audience groans. Graham segues into commercial, “Well as an Irishman myself, I love a good couch potato. We’ll be right back to talk with our favorite C-list celebrity, Elizabeth Olsen, sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley, who has a new clothing line for you guessed it—TWINS!” As we cut to break, Graham smiles at me and offers a little more tea. “Well,” I think. “It was a good try. Maybe I should have stuck with Oprah and just used Visine for fake tears.” Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer. |
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