The Board of Aldermen met for its rescheduled regular meeting via videoconference on December 21st.  Under New Business, the Grain Valley Fair was at the top of the agenda, with Mayor Johnston requesting a motion from the board to request financial records from the Grain Valley Fair board for all years the Fair received funds from the City. Johnston outlined several accusations related to the Fair Board, including misrepresentation of who actually serves on the Fair board and misuse of funds. Johnston stated current City Administrator Ken Murphy is listed as a board member, but Murphy was not aware he was a board member and had not attended meetings.
     Johnston accused Mike Todd, Fair board member and former mayor, of misuse of Fair funds, including diversion of fair funds for personal use. Additionally, Johnston questioned whether the Fair board was authorized to use funds received by the City in 2020 for food trucks that participated in the modified September 2020 Fair.
     Alderman Knox stated if money was used for food trucks in 2020, “they were doing what they could to salvage what they could do for the fair”.
     Pressed to disclose the source accusing Todd of misusing funds for personal use, Johnston stated former City Administrator Ryan Hunt shared the accusation with him during the mayoral campaign.
     The Grain Valley Fair received $5,000 in 2020. Due to the cancellation of the majority of the Fair due to COVID-19, funds received in 2020 will be used for the 2021 fair. Murphy indicated a new contract needed to be completed to outline this understanding for 2021. Alderman Cleaver asked how long the Fair has received funds from the City. The Fair began receiving annual $5,000 allotments in 2016, for a total of $20,000 through 2020.
     Johnston suggested the City request records for each year the Fair board has received funding. Johnston stated the City Attorney felt there was precedent to request financials related to the 2020 contract, but questioned whether the Board had a right to request records for all years the Fair received funds from the City. Murphy added Todd sent a monthly reconciliation report in spreadsheet form for 2020.
     Alderman Stratton referenced ongoing disagreements between Johnston and Todd and asked if the request for a motion was related to the “ongoing spat between you and the Grain Valley Board president”.
     “How much is coming from personal (issues) and how much is really there,” Stratton asked.
     “I feel we have definite grounds to question,” Johnston said.
     Once again, Johnston outlined his concerns regarding the confusion regarding who actually serves on the board versus the board listing provided on reports to the State of Missouri.
     “We have a duty to see what the money is going for,” Johnston said.
     Reached for comment during the meeting, Todd shared his response to the accusations.
     “As for the food trucks, there were expenditures for Food Truck Friday Nights from the Fair bank account. The thing is, no city money was spent on the food trucks. We had some sponsors for the food trucks and that money came from there and from other Fair Sponsors. The Fair doesn't depend on just the City money, so we do raise other money as well.  To say we were in violation of a contract with the City because we spend some money on food trucks is stretching it.  Under that thought, any money spent by the Fair could be micromanaged by the Mayor,” Todd said.
     “As for the board members, we have always had the City Administrator as a board member since there was a donation from the City. It must have been a verbal agreement back when we started this, because after looking into it further, it doesn't say it is a requirement from the City's contract.  If the city doesn't require a rep on the board, that is totally fine, and I will make that change or see if an elected official wants the spot.”
     “As for the accusations of stealing money from the Fair, I'm completely blown away. I gave the board our reconciliation form for the year and have the bank statements ready for their review as well, so they can see everything matches up if they want. To accuse me of being a thief in a public meeting based on hearsay from a former employee who was unhappy with me is borderline slander, if not slander.  This ‘info’ was apparently given to him to use against me in an election that was supposed to occur last April. I really don't know what more to say about it.  I'm pretty upset about it,” Todd added.
     “The bottom line is that I feel this is political retaliation on his (Johnston’s) part. It's no secret this isn't his first time going after me for something.”
     Johnston asked for a motion to request financial records from the Fair committee and was answered with silence from the Board. Hearing no motion, Johnston stated he was “disappointed that you don’t feel that we should review city spending and contracts,” and moved on to the next agenda item.
   In other business, the Board approved several resolutions and ordinances, including:

• Resolution to approve an agreement with Oak Grove Animal Clinic to provide animal care, boarding, and related services to animals taken into custody by the Grain Valley Animal Control officer;
• Resolution to approve a contract with Grain Valley Schools to provide meals for monthly senior luncheons;
• Ordinance approving a conditional use permit for a medical marijuana infused products manufacturing facility on approximately 6 acres;
• First reading of an ordinance changing zoning on approximately 16.6 acres from District M-1 (Light Industrial) to District R-1 (Single Family Residential) and approximately 8.4 acres from District M-1 to District R-2 (Duplex Residential) to allow the continued development of single family from Eagle Ridge Estates and the duplex development from Eagle Ridge multi-family that are west of this area.

     The next scheduled meeting of the Board will be held January 11, 2021 at 7:00pm. 

​     The Grain Valley Eagles boys’ basketball team could not capitalize on opening the first and second quarters with 4-0 and 7-0 runs, respectively against the Platte County Pirates on December 11th. The Pirates leaned on accurate shooting and attacking the basket in transition to secure the outcome by a score of 60-47.
     A rotation between full court press and the 2-3 zone defense is what the Eagles would rely on to try and stymy the Pirate attack led by Jarett Mueller. The junior guard would lead the Pirates with 22 points scored. The physical game on the court saw both teams make several trips to free throw line. The White (Grain Valley) and Blue (Platte County) Division Suburban Conference rivalry continues to grow between the two schools.
     Grain Valley’s offensive output would be led by guard Jayden Yung and forward Cole Keller. Yung’s stat line would include 17 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. Keller matched his counterparts support by producing 25 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 5 blocks. Keller has delivered a double-double in his first two outings of the season for the Eagles.
     Yung was more aggressive in seeking to score points this time around compared to his first game. Keller, on the other hand, picked up where he left off previously in being Grain Valley’s leading scorer and force in the post both offensively and defensively. Both Grain Valley seniors reflected on their individual efforts and what the focus will be moving forward in their postgame comments.
     “This was a tough opponent tonight and I felt that I needed to step up after playing a little timid in our first game. It’s my senior year and I got to play some varsity basketball last year. That should help me transition to being more than just a role player this season,” Yung said.
     “I feel more confident going into competition this season. I want to help this young team grow and push our potential.”
     Keller added, “We continue to adjust to the speed of the game and improving our decision making. This is only the second varsity basketball game for some of our team. Every practice we are improving.”
     “This was a fast paced game tonight. We may take our lumps early on (this season), but that will smooth out over time.”
     Eagles head basketball coach Andy Herbert was pleased with how his team pushed the ball in transition and looked for scoring opportunities inside. This allowed Grain Valley to encounter some easy shots on basket.
     Defensively, Herbert acknowledged the Eagles had to communicate and switch frequently with how they guarded Platte County. A duration of strong defense by Grain Valley during Pirate offensive possessions would occasionally see a breakdown late in the sequence that led to Platte County scoring opportunities. Furthermore, Herbert was glad his team got to face a high caliber of competition against the Pirates this early in the season.
     “Sometimes it is a young player defensively having to learn to stay aware for that long or being out of position that can lead to the other team scoring. That being said, I thought we did a lot of good things in the first three quarters before our youth showed itself later in the game,” Herbert said.
     “Jayden (Yung) did a good job tonight. He was in foul trouble our first game and didn’t have the chance to get going in an offensive rhythm. Tonight, he was what we needed him to be. He is strong, skilled, and smart on the court. We tell him all the time, ‘two feet and two hands,’ and when he plays with balance on the basketball court, he is really good. I was happy to see him attack and find success.”
     “We will move on and learn from tonight. This game was a good experience for us.”
     Herbert finished, “Cole (Keller) is a stud. He is going to be guarded physically and he kept his composure and focus on what matters. He showed by example tonight how to conduct yourself on the floor.”
     “We look forward to working through the rocky parts that occur in a season (like this game) to get back to the happiness that comes from winning. This group is willing to learn and our team fought tonight against good competition. That’s part of the process of understanding how to win.”
     Grain Valley will host the Truman Patriots at 7:00 pm on December 18th. 
 

     The Grain Valley Lady Eagles Basketball team used defensive pressure and the point scoring trio of Grace Slaughter, Gabbi Keim, and Ella Clyman to defeat the Kearney Bulldogs by a score of 47-31 on December 14th.
     Thievery was on display by the Lady Eagles as full court pressure and trapping the basketball led to 17 steals for the contest. Grain Valley guard Malia Gutierrez compiled 2 of her 4 steals for the game within the first 4 minutes of the 1st quarter. The Lady Eagles would secure a 13-9 lead by the end of the first quarter that they would not relinquish.
     Grain Valley head basketball coach Randy Draper acknowledged that ratcheting up the defensive pressure was by design in an effort to get some easy baskets. It also made shooting looks for Kearney more difficult in forcing the Bulldogs to pick up their pace of offense.
     “Our opponent shoots the ball well. The defensive pressure we applied prevented them from not being open exceptionally long. We were also able to score some baskets that we didn’t have to work too hard to get,” Draper said.
     Kearney was able to keep the game within 4 points at halftime due to the accuracy of their three point shooting. Senior guard Kenzi Hoffman was the Bulldogs leading scorer with 9 points.
     Slaughter for the Eagles led all scorers with 21 points. The sophomore point guard was effective in finding angles in driving to the basket to score for the Lady Eagles. Slaughter’s determination in getting to the rim also landed her on the charity stripe four times, of which she sank 6 of 8 free throw opportunities.
     The stat sheet was rounded out by Slaughter with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals. Slaughter confirmed that her legs are starting to get back underneath her and that she is becoming more comfortable on the floor offensively.
     “We knew tonight that our defense was what we needed to pick up after the Belton game. It was a team effort to get the turnovers we created tonight,” Slaughter said.
     “Yes, my legs were more there tonight. We wanted to move the ball better against a 2-3 zone after the Belton game. Our team was able to get that accomplished. Practice has proven that if we pass and I cut, then we can find post openings or an open outside shot.”
     Grain Valley showed new offensive sets against Kearney and the 2-3 zone defense they deployed. A dribble weave around the top of the arc was among the new looks installed by Draper that got the ball more in the hands of Keim and Clyman in the post.
     Keim continues to display footwork that enables her to attack with a left shoulder turn down low in the paint. The persistence by the senior forward led to 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist.
     Clyman added 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals as well. An improved confidence in taking the open jump shot by Clyman was on exhibit by the sophomore forward. The benefit being for Grain Valley that their opponent had to stretch the interior wings of the 2-3 zone, opening further post positioning for the Lady Eagles.
     “Our ball rotation with the new offensive sets we put in helped tonight. I have enjoyed seeing our progress from game to game as a team. We are unselfish with the basketball and that helps me in the post,” Keim said.
     Draper was pleased with progress shown by his team during their win. A head coach is rarely satisfied, even after a win, knowing what they want to address moving forward to help the team improve.
     “We are getting it fixed, but our movement hasn’t been good enough at times offensively. Avoiding being stagnant was one of the reasons we incorporated the dribble weave (on offense). It also helped us shoot better, as shooting the basketball is a rhythm game,” Draper said.
     “We have encouraged Ella (Clyman) to shoot more. She has worked ridiculously hard to become a better shooter and we spoke to her tonight before the game about not being shy in taking advantage of her open looks.”
     Draper concluded, “Boy, if we can get that from Clyman and Gabbi (Keim) continues, along with Grace (Slaughter), we are going to be able to hit you several different ways from outside in and vice versa.”
     “Fouls typically happen at the basket and the offensive rebounding provided by Clyman and Keim helps us. Our opponent has to reach to recover and it gets us the free throw line.”
     Grain Valley (1-2) will next host the Truman Patriots (1-3) at 7:00 pm on December 17th.
 

     Wash off the stench of 2020 with a nature hike in one of Missouri’s state parks. This is a great way to spend the holiday weekend, start a new tradition, take advantage of physical exercise and enjoy the great outdoors.
     Celebrate the beginning of 2021 by taking the First Day Hikes Challenge at a Missouri state park or historic site from Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020 to Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021.
     Participants are challenged to embark on a self-guided hike at a nearby state park or historic site.
Hikers can participate in the challenge by capturing their adventures with a selfie or photo at the trailhead and posting their photos or videos on social media using #MOFirstDayHikes. Once the hike is complete, participants should visit mostateparks.com/FirstDayHikes and enter for a chance to win a $25 Missouri State Parks gift card.
     For more information and to view self-guided hiking opportunities at a nearby park or historic site, visit mostateparks.com/FirstDayHikes.
 
 

     The regularly scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting on December 14, 2020 had to be postponed as the call-in number for the public to access the virtual meeting was incorrect. The meeting has been rescheduled for the following Monday, December 21, 2020 at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held virtually, and call-in information for public can be found on the City’s website, www.cityofgrainvalley.org.
     The Board had a full slate of items to discuss, including a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to approve a conditional use permit for a medical marijuana infused products manufacturing facility. Missouri Made Marijuana LLC is requesting approval to operate a manufacturing facility on approximately 6 acres which had previously been approved to operate a medical marijuana cultivation facility. The 6 acres is located at the east end of South Outer Belt Road on the south side of Interstate 70 and north of Penny’s Concrete.
     The Board will also consider a resolution to continue an agreement with the Oak Grove Animal Clinic to provide animal care, boarding and related services for animals taken into custody by Grain Valley Animal Control.
     Funding to continue contracting with Grain Valley Assistance Council for the home delivered meals program, and a contract with Grain Valley Schools to provide meals for monthly senior luncheons is included on the agenda, as is a resolution to write off uncollectible utility account balances.
     Under New Business, the Grain Valley Fair appears as an agenda item, which Grain Valley Fair committee member Mike Todd stated he was surprised to learn. In an email to Mayor Johnston and Board members, Todd stated, “This came as a surprise to us as we were not informed of any type of discussion regarding the Fair. We would have hoped that common courtesy would have included reaching out to any organization that discussion was going to occur regarding in a public meeting.”
     Reached for comment on the purpose of the agenda item, City Administrator Ken Murphy stated, “The GV Fair is on the agenda under New Business for Board of Aldermen discussion.”
      Mayor Chuck Johnston, reached for comment, stated “it is not something that required discussion with Mr. Todd, nor anything that I can bring up before its presented to the Board. Sorry, but you’ll have to wait ‘til next Monday.”
 

​     Candidate filing for the April 6, 2021 election has started, with openings on the Board of Aldermen and Grain Valley School Board.
     In Ward I, Tom Cleaver’s seat is up for election. In Ward II, Nancy Totton’s seat is  open, and Shea Bass’s seat is open in Ward III. Each aldermen position is a two-year term.
     Candidates for City offices may file during normal business hours (8:00am—5:00pm, Monday—Friday, excluding the hours of Noon—1:00pm, starting December 15th and ending at 5:00pm on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 in the Office of the City Clerk, 711 Main ST. The filing fee is $5.00.
     Qualifications and instructions for filing procedures are available in the office of the City Clerk.
     Two seats, currently occupied by Jared English and Eddie Saffell, are up for election on the Grain Valley School Board this spring. According to Brad Welle, Deputy Superintendent of Student and Community Services, both are expected to file for another term. The school does not plan for a ballot measure this year.
     Filing a declaration of candidacy may be done in the District Offices located at 31606 E. Pink Hill Road, during regular office hours. The district offices will be closed on December 23rd—January 1st and January 18th. Therefore, the district will not be accepting candidate filing on those dates. The district office will be closed, and filing will not occur on days that the school district is closed due to inclement weather and filing will not occur on days that the school district is closed due to a COVID related event.
     Registration will be by appointment only and made by contacting the board secretary at 816-847-5006 x1026. Two positions with a (3) three-year term will be subject to election. Candidates will be placed on the ballot according to the order of filing and must wear masks and observe district infection control rules in force at the time of filing.
    
    
 

​The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of December 2—8, 2020.
 

​     It is probably no wonder that gift wrap as we know it started in Kansas City, Missouri. On January 10, 1910, a teenager from Nebraska stepped off a train in KC with little more than big dreams and two shoeboxes of picture postcards. From those inauspicious beginnings an iconic brand was born.
    The first foray into other product lines came in 1917 when the Hall brothers “invented” modern gift wrap. During the peak Christmas season, their stationery store ran out of solid-colored gift dressing, which in those days was plain tissue paper.
     The brothers improvised by selling fancy decorated French envelope linings. Those sold out so quickly that they decided to begin printing their own gift wrap. The teenager was Joyce Hall, and as they say, "...the rest is history."
 

     From a December 27, 1995 article by Forrest Martin in the Examiner:
    “Grain Valley planners soon will look into changing some ordinances to reflect the city’s recent growth.
     City administrator Tim Ryan said the city’s population has grown from 1,898 as shown in the 1990 US Census to an estimated 2,650 today.
    ‘By the year 2000, the population is expected to be 4,402, and by 2005, it is projected to be 7,225,’ Ryan said.”
     The article details efforts by Ron Eilers, the city’s building inspector and code enforcement officer, and the Planning Commission, to undergo the first major revision to the city’s zoning ordinance since 1989.
     Updates included mandating paved commercial parking lots, rather than chipped and sealed lots.
     “Proposed too, are several new zoning districts. These would include ‘non-retail business’ and ‘controlled business’.
     “These would both be appropriate between retail and residential areas,” Eiler said. “They would allow office uses, day-care centers, small restaurants, all better as a buffer than having something like a grocery store backing up to a neighborhood.”
     The article continues, “Several steps would be taken to get public opinion on the topic. After the Planning Commission reviews it, builders and engineers would get to comment. The commission would then refine the proposal and have a public hearing on the final draft.”
     “At the same time the city is working on coming up with these new rules, it hopes to complete work on a comprehensive plan for the whole city that would include some of these new zoning districts.
     ‘We hope to have the city adopt the new regulations and the comprehensive plan about the same time,’ Eiler said.”
     “It will allow us to get a handle on and plan our growth over the next 15 to 20 years,” he said.
 

     The Missouri labor market showed further improvement in November 2020. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 17,400 jobs over the month. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from October 2020 to November 2020, and the civilian labor force increased more than 23,000. 
      However, the labor market still showed substantial losses from 2019 levels, and a third wave of COVID-19 infections pose a threat of renewed economic challenges in the coming months. 
     Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate went down by 0.2 percentage points in November 2020, decreasing to 4.4 percent from the October 2020 rate of 4.6 percent.
     Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has now been either below or equal to the national rate for 68 consecutive months. The national unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in November 2020, also down 0.2 percentage points from 6.9 percent in October 2020.
     The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 131,215 in November 2020, down by 4,766 from October’s 135,981.
     Due to lingering layoffs from COVID-19 impacts, the state’s November 2020 rate was still 1 percentage point higher than the November 2019 rate.
 
 

     The holiday shopping season is in full swing. If you're like me, your moving away from shopping for your favorite computers and electronic devices in brick and mortar stores and doing your Christmas shopping at online stores. 
     Why wouldn't you? It's convenient and it's quick, with online stores delivering your gadgets in a matter of days. With more and more people buying high ticket electronics online, there has been a rise of packages being stolen by porch pirates. They're riding in your neighborhoods, snatching your packages up, trying to take them so you need to do something to protect those packages.
     Want to make sure your gadgets make it under the tree this year? Here's what you can do to stop porch pirates from running off with your stuff and what to do if they are hijacked by a porch pirate.
 
     1. Have Your Packages Delivered to Your Work Place, a P.O. Box, or Use Ship To Store.
     Probably one of the best ways to stop porch pirates in their tracks is to avoid shipping to your home. Even if you work from home or you are at home the majority of the time, porch pirates can still get your stuff.
     These crafty individuals will follow FedEx and UPS trucks so they can pounce immediately after your package has been delivered. Having your packages shipped to a location other than your porch is a smart move, especially during the holiday season.
 
     2. Install a Smart Doorbell or Home Camera Security System.
     Yes, I know there are a ton of videos of people caught on camera stealing packages even in the presence of a smart door bell such as a Ring (www.ring.com), but they really do work as a way keeping people off your property.
     If installed and used properly, smart home monitoring systems like Ring, Nest (www.nest.com), or Belkin (www.belkin) can keep your alerted when someone is near your door and allow you to capture on video any activity that occurs. With video, you have a means to retrieve your stolen gadgets.
 
     3. Sign up for delivery alerts and have Your Neighbors Help.
     Most online retailers offer alerts to let you know when your electronics leave the shipping center and more importantly when they arrive at your door. Alerts can help you take action to make sure your get your gadgets. If you're not able to be home for package delivery, ask a trusted neighbor to get it for you. Also, If possible, require a signature for all deliveries.
 
     4. Help Out Your Neighbors.
     If you work from home, or are home during the day, make a post on Nextdoor (www.nextdoor.com) or in your neighborhood Facebook group (www.facebook.com) and offer to allow your neighbors to ship their packages and electronics to your house.
     Also, keep an eye out for suspicious things in your neighborhood. If you notice something that doesn't seem right, check with your neighbors or contact the authorities for help.
 
     5. Use free secure delivery lockers offered by Amazon. Amazon offers self service lockers that allow you to ship your gadgets to a locker. You have 3 days to get your items out of the locker. For more details, check out Amazon's website (www.amazon.com).
 
If you have been a victim of a porch pirate do the following things:
1. File a Police Report
2. Contact the shipper.
     If your gadgets were delivered via US Postal Service, fill out a Missing Mail Search Request.
     If it was delivered by UPS, you need to contact the shipper.
     If it was delivered by FedEx, you can go to their web site and fill out their online form for missing packages.
 
     Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to [email protected]. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. 

     Need computer or technology help? If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have.  Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. 

     My first memory of Santa is having to wait in line to see the big guy at a makeshift workshop in my neighborhood in Miami, Florida. I don’t remember if I was frightened, but I do remember having to wait in line for what seemed like an eternity.
     I also remember a certain apprehension of being on the naughty list. I never knew what to ask for, but somehow, he always seemed to know.
On Christmas Eve, my parents, attempting to get me and my sister to go to bed, would say that they could hear the rumblings of Santa’s sleigh several blocks over.
     So, with a sense of excitement and an element of fear, we would rush off to bed listening ever so closely for Santa’s arrival on our rooftop, before helplessly drifting off to sleep. The fact that we did not have a chimney was irrelevant. I was told that, somehow, he was always able to get in. The statement made me curious and left me a little unsettled.
     I was never able to catch Santa in the act. But, on Christmas morn, I did see evidence of his handiwork. He always sampled my mother’s cookies and drank some of the milk. Why he just sampled several cookies and never ate the whole thing was puzzling. Did he not know there were starving people in China?
     No matter, Santa left glistening presents under the tree and I had a fear that questioning Santa’s ethics would have repercussions that would perpetually place me on the naughty list.
     I fully understood the naughty and nice list and, every mid-December, I did my best to rectify my fearful dilemma. To me, it appeared that the list was not binary, but more of a spectrum. Santa had favorites. One Christmas morn, I looked outside at the neighbors’ house and saw the family across the street playing with their new toys.
     As a creature of social comparison, I investigated further only to find that Santa had brought one of them a Power Wheel’s car. They were on the nice list—or maybe the “nicer” list. I thought about the inequity and wondered why I did not get one. Perhaps, Santa’s list had been compromised, there was a mix-up in delivery, or maybe I had been exceptionally naughty that year (the latter would be closer to the truth).
     I’ll never forget the Christmas season when my sister and I were jumping on our parent’s bed and I rolled off. I was not hurt but was now at eye level to look under the bed. I noticed boxes of toys tucked away. One of them was a really cool jet that I really wanted to play with. I knew that I had found gold, but I was on someone else’s land so had to simply cover it back up and let it play out.
     My sister and I were hush hush and went about our daily lives until Christmas morning when, to my joy, I got the jet! Interestingly, it did not come from my parents. It came from a higher authority. It was my passageway into adulthood. From that point on, Christmas lost some of its sparkle. Santa got run over by a Power Wheel’s car. The mystery and magic faded into materialism and empiricism.
     I did not really understand the power of Christmas until I was 19. That was the age that I became a Christian. That first Christmas was nothing short of spectacular. It was the first time I truly understood what Christmas was all about. A lightbulb went on and the sparkle returned.
     After getting married, and having children, my wife and I struggled with the whole present thing. Like every family, it was a personal decision we had to make. But, for us, it didn’t feel right to promote the north pole and the manger in the same breath—only to have them discover later that we had told them a partial truth.
     In addition, we wanted them to know that dad and mom worked really hard to try to provide something special for them at Christmas. We knew that one day they would realize that, in life, sometimes the neighbors get a Power Wheels car and you get a skateboard.
     In our family, we always wanted all the attention of Christmas to be upon Christ. We reached a workable compromise by focusing on Christ, being honest with our kids, and also creating an element of mystery and fun. The kids got presents from dad and mom, residents of the north pole, the dog, cat, and the parakeet. It was always fun and electric. The presents were always put out Christmas Eve and were not hidden under the bed. Been there.
     We warned our kids not to “spoil” the fun for any of their friends or classmates whose family chose to celebrate differently. I’ll never forget one of the kids coming home from school and saying defiantly, “My teacher says that Santa is real and he brings the presents.” This child’s face was serious and their hands were firmly on their hips demanding a response. I think I commented back by saying, “We love you and want to be honest with you. Dad and mom make Christmas a special time by getting the presents.”
     Our little one was not convinced. They folded their arms and blurted back, “Well, my teacher says he’s real.” I concluded by offering to do an experiment. I said, “Okay, let’s do this. Dad and mom will buy all the other kids presents except for you and we’ll see if Santa brings you anything.” After a few thoughtful moments, she changed her tune.
     As a pastor, I’ve done a great deal of research on the history of Christmas and could write extensively. In short, no one knows the exact day of Christ’s birth. We do know that in the fourth century AD, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth should be celebrated on December 25. The date merged Christmas with the pagan celebration of Saturnalia. It was an unholy compromise that began a slippery slope that led to Frosty the Snowman.
     If you look around at most Christmas celebrations nowadays, Christ is reduced to a small figure in a nativity set under the tree, hidden by the wise men, shepherds, and the little drummer boy, while Santa, reindeer, elves, snowmen, elf on a shelf, and a host of other holiday fixtures take prominence in the front yard and in the home. The true, historical celebration of the Messiah’s birth is easily lost, or worse veiled, through an endless array of holiday décor.
     But we don’t have to throw the baby out with the bathwater. It’s possible to have a Christ-centered, fun celebration. My wife and I love the lights, colors, and the celebration of Christmas, but we also try to keep Christ as the central focus of our celebration.
     We also like to make it fun. All of our four children are grown now and each of them say that they appreciated our honesty and plan on taking the same approach with their own families. None of them have needed counseling.
     So, here I am, on the ladder, attaching Christmas lights to the gutter of the house. My wife is inside trying to figure out where to put our six trees and the Christmas village. It’s best for me to stay out of the way. In the end, although under protest, my outdoor mission will be to try to rival the illumination of the Griswolds.
     I love Christmastime. If, for only a brief season, the world pauses to consider the whisper of the birth of Christ, I’m all for it. For me personally, Christmas is another day to celebrate what I know to be true all year long. Christ came into the world to seek and save the lost. Christmas is more than just a day or an event.
     The problem with viewing Christmas as an “event” is that in early January, the lights, tree, and Christmas village will all be put back in the garage on the shelf. The unfortunate thing is many people lose the Christmas joy because happiness that is found in a box is only temporary.
     The beautiful thing about seeing Christmas as a “season” which last all year is that even after the bling comes down, the joy remains.
     The difference is keeping Christ central—all year. Because of Christmas, I have no fear of being on the naughty list. That was settled at the cross. I have no fear of losing Christmas joy. I know that my Redeemer lives and that He is alive in me. Jesus is the best present ever and the gift that keeps on giving.
 
Dr. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Church Grain Valley, an Adjunct Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.
 

​     I love Christmas.  Singing Silent Night while we pass candle light to one another always moves me to tears.  When the pastor retells the story of Christ’s birth, I listen as though hearing it for the first time.  One chorus of Oh, Holy Night, and it is a joyous noel for me. 
     I don’t complain about shopping because I visualize the face of the person opening the gift I have carefully selected.  I don’t mind the inevitable paper cuts from wrapping gifts or the fact that my husband uses nearly a whole roll for a small package.  I stockpile tape throughout the year like toilet paper hoarders in 2020. I bake sweet treats and place them in tins for delivery to neighbors.
     This is my adult behavior around Christmas, and this is not to say I don’t get a little Grinchy once in a while. But I come by loving Christmas quite naturally, I think.
     My snapshots of Christmases past are so wonderful, that I cannot enter this time of year without a walk down memory lane.
 -a ham the size of a small town on the table each year, weirdly, served with spaghetti, a tradition we keep to this day.
 -a pre-requisite huge box of chocolates on the baby grand piano, and my Grandy helping us poke holes in the bottoms of candy until we found an edible caramel or creamy filling; none of that nougat for us.
 -a Rings and Things toy maker.  Metal plates that heated ridiculously high, into which we poured an Elmer’s glue-like substance of colorful plastic and waited for the beautiful rings and necklaces it produced.
-eating candy from our stockings on the sly then not being hungry for breakfast.
-heavy pajamas and bathrobes and bad haircuts with bangs, all captured in Polaroids.
- my dad’s response to every present, where he made it seem like you had delivered the original gold, frankincense, and myrrh right to his doorstep
 -peppermint ice cream, sometimes in the shape of a Christmas tree or Santa, to be consumed only at the kitchen table.
-noises on the rooftop that were surely Santa, and a Grammy who showed me footprints in the snow, verifying the reindeer had been there.
 -divinity and peanut butter candy stored on the back porch to keep it cold and butter horn rolls, fresh roasted turkey with dressing.
-begging anyone and everyone to play whatever new board game we had gotten that year.
-snuggling on bed pallets on the floor as all of us poured into my Nanny and Pa’s small farm house, listening to the adults’ late night conversation until I drifted to sleep.
-the squeaky sound of a Styrofoam vanity seat, one that opened for storage and pulled right up to the hard plastic vanity with the aluminum foil mirror.
-spray snow and stencils on December Saturdays, wiping the window with a cloth diaper to remove any dampness before we created our designs.
-finding a stray piece of tinsel in July, tying it into my hair around my ponytail, then rushing inside to count the days until Christmas.
-pulling out the beautiful pink and purple advent candles to place in the fresh pine wreath to start the season leading to Christ’s birth.
-unwrapping a baby doll with eyes that opened and closed, long eyelashes and beautifully painted lips, and promising to care for her forever.
-white opaque tights that never seemed to stretch quite long enough to tuck themselves in neatly below my Christmas dress that matched my sis, and black patent leather shoes, to which we often added Vaseline for an extra gleam.
- the anticipation of Rudolph and Frosty, without updated animation on the television.
-hard candy ribbons in a tin
-trying to stay awake for 11:00 p.m. church, which ended right as Christmas day began
- my mom’s Danish pastry and it’s buttery goodness.
- the organ at my Nanny’s house, with Christmas carols sung with extended family
-Pa sliding his finger under the tape of his package wrapping to get ready for his turn to open a gift.
-Lifesaver story books.
-kids’ table meals too numerous to mention and graduation to the big table
 
I hope 2020 finds you making some special snapshot memories with your family! Merry Christmas from Musings from the Middle.
   
Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer.
 

     The Grain Valley Assistance Council (GVAC) is a community services organization which was founded in 1994 by a group of concerned citizens.  The original purpose of the GVAC was and continues to be to provide support and counsel to those families and individuals in the Grain Valley community who are less fortunate.
     Over 700 families and more than 1,200 children are helped by the GVAC every year.  The services provided to our clients are quite varied according to their need, but in this holiday and COVID season the food pantry is being stretched to the max. 
     With limited school attendance due to the pandemic, food drives through the schools are at a minimum of what they normally provide.
     That’s where you come in.  Below is a list of the most needed items for the pantry so that the GVAC can continue to make food one less thing for families to worry about:

Cereal
Canned Fruit
Canned Vegetables
Spaghetti and Noodles
Pancake Mix
Syrup
Jelly
Toilet Paper
Instant Potatoes
Corn Muffin Mix
Rice or Noodle Side Dishes
Pork and Beans
Dry Beans – Pinto or Navy
Chili Seasoning Packets
Tomato Sauce
Saltine Crackers
Spaghetti O’s
Canned Ravioli
Ramen Noodles
Instant Oatmeal
Mac and Cheese
​
     The best location to drop off food items would be the Grain Valley Community Center during their regular hours.  The GVAC has a barrel just inside the Community Center lobby, and pick-ups are done at least once a week.  An alternative would be to drop items at the GVAC directly, but with the current restrictions you cannot bring the items inside the building. 
     Our location is 513 Gregg St. in Grain Valley, just around the corner from the Post Office.  We are open on Wednesdays from 9 to 12 and 1 to 4, and our phone number is 816.355.0328.  Pull up to the curb and let them know you are there, so that someone can come out to receive your donations.
And monetary donations are always helpful.  Our mailing address is GVAC, PO Box 262, GVMO 64029.
     The GVAC is an affiliate of the Community Services League, which was founded in 1916 by former First Lady Bess Truman.  CSL is both the largest and longest-serving social service provider in the metro area, and serves all of eastern Jackson County through its 15 locations including Grain Valley. 
     Our affiliation with CSL gives the GVAC and our clients access to many more goods and services, while assuring our supporters that all funds and nearly all donated goods remain IN Grain Valley, FOR Grain Valley.
     Yours truly, Jerry Vaughan, GVAC Board Member

     Sadly, willpower doesn’t always win. Stress and life? Those get in the way, too. Therefore your attempt at eating healthy is usually the first to go. But Happy New Year, readers! January marks the start of resolution season, and weight loss typically tops the list. What are you going to do differently this year?
     There is an often forgotten weight management secret – a secret that doesn’t require detox dieting or cardboard meals. This secret is a simple, yet powerful, habit to develop.
 
     Preparation! That’s it! Without this, even the most dedicated healthy eaters can fall off track. Now that you know the secret, here’s how to put forth the effort. 
 
     Stop your Scroll and Make a Meal Plan: There’s no guessing how much time is spent on our phones these days, as a daily average report is sent at the end of each week (whether you were asking for one or not).
     Ever wonder how productive you’d be if you weren’t nose deep in your news feed? Take 20 minutes between social media sites, and sit down and plan a weekly menu. Heck, just worry about the dinner meal (bonus if those dinner ideas have leftovers = lunch the next day).
 
     Don’t Start from Scratch: Sure, the cookbook you received from your grandma has hundreds of wonderful recipes, but the last thing you need to worry about are new menu items while working on this new habit. Start with your go-to meals - tacos, spaghetti or soups, perhaps. Repeat these every few weeks.
     Then, when you’re up to it, add a new recipe – hy-vee.com has hundreds to choose from. Or, take advantage of your Hy-Vee dietitian’s new Healthy Habits program – a weekly meal plan made just for you.
 
     Lean on Frozen Veggies: Just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts, frozen produce should be a staple on your grocery list. First of all, many of us don’t eat the recommended five cups of fruits and veggies daily, and no meal is complete without a pop of color. 
     Brave the cold and take a peek behind the frozen doors. There are so many products that abandon the bland and scream flavor, making it an easy add to your meal plates.

     Ask for Help: Your solution for all your resolutions? Possibly some guidance from a Hy-Vee dietitian. Turn your health goals into action with some assistance from a nutrition expert, as consultations and a variety of programs are offered both in person and virtually.
 
     Life’s hectic, but remember meal planning and eating healthy doesn’t have to be. I dare you to do this year differently. Small steps lead to big wins, and a dietitian found within the walls of Hy-Vee can help you attain anything you want. During year 2021, be sure to make your health priority number one! 
 
The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
 
     Megan Callahan is one of your Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitians. She is dedicated to helping people live healthier and happier lives. Megan received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Missouri State University. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she also received her Master of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition. Megan has been working with Hy-Vee full-time for 10 years. With a passion for nutrition and wellness, Megan is dedicated to educating customers and promoting healthy lifestyles to our Hy-Vee community. Megan lives in Lee’s Summit with her husband Matt, and their 2 children Kennedy (4) & Carsyn (2).