by Cole Arndorfer


​Joeshmoes coffee shop off of Buckner Tarsney and Eagles Parkway in Grain Valley has new owners.

Dakota and Tiffany Catanzaro purchased Joeshmoes in April from original owner Joe Pittman after he felt called into the mission field.

The Catanzaros are residents of Lone Jack and have been married for nine years. The couple has two young boys and Dakota said they enjoy having some flexibility to make it to all their games now that they own their own business.

Prior to purchasing Joeshmoes, Tiffany worked in a veterinary clinic for eight years. When the opportunity came up to purchase the shop, she resigned from the clinic to run the day-to-day operations at the shop. After spending some time in corporate retail, Dakota has worked, and continues to work for a husband-and-wife team of entrepreneurs. He oversees all of their businesses while also managing the back end of operations for Joeshmoes.

Dakota said he has really enjoyed running Joeshmoes so far because he likes to be able to lead his team the way he wants and celebrate them and be understanding to things going on in their lives.

“That just isn’t something you’re able to do in a corporate setting… having this as our own business, I can be more flexible and understanding,” Dakota said.

Owning the shop with his wife is a lot of work, Dakota said, but it is also a lot of fun.

“It’s full time for us, even when we’re not here, we’re always thinking about the shop. Being able to do it together has been really awesome and fun."

Dakota said their kids also love coming up to the shop and helping out their parents.

One of the reasons Dakota says why is has been so fun for them is the Grain Valley community being so supportive of the shop.

“The people definitely make it all worth it,” Dakota said, “The community here is phenomenal.”

Both Dakota and Tiffany have gotten to know some of the regulars well. Dakota said that everyone has been super nice and supportive of them and the business.

One of their main goals for the shop is to be a place where people in the community can gather, drink coffee, and have a place to hang out and relax. Some of their other goals include growing and expanding some of the menu options, specifically food, adding events such as kids story time and kids arts and crafts, and offering rental space for bridal showers, Bible studies, or other events. The couple is also looking at adding ice cream to the menu.

As they settle in to their new roles as business owners and look forward to the future, Dakota said he and Tiffany love the community and everything each person has to offer and they are extremely excited to see where this journey takes them and their family. 

Crews are putting final touches on the Culver's of Grain Valley, set to open at 10:00am on Monday, June 5th. Operating Partner Connor Hartnett said the weather was very cooperative during the construction process and hiring has gone very well. This is the 12th location for the operating group, and Hartnett had one piece of advice for those planning to join them on opening day.

"Come hungry," Hartnett said.

Hartnett said they will be well prepared to serve guests on day one, thanks to support from leadership at other stores in their group.

"We're really fortunate in our organization to have a lot of restaurants in the Kansas City area, so we are able to pull trainers from all of those locations to make sure our team is well prepared and trained by the best."

Hiring has gone well at the Grain Valley location, but they are still welcoming additional applicants 16 and older during an open hiring event this week (May 22 - 26 from 11:00am - 2:00pm or 3:00pm - 6:00pm). 
"We've been super fortunate as far as hiring is concerned," Hartnett said. 

Hartnett said their people are what make their restaurants stand out among other quick service options.

"We really work to make sure every person we hire is not just a good employee, but a good person. It may sound corny, but we really are a family here, and that is how we approach our hiring."

For those planning to dine on opening day, Hartnett suggests guests turn at the light on Jefferson and use the access road behind the restaurant to eliminate any traffic jams on Buckner Tarsney Road. 

Following a ribbon cutting hosted by the Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, June 3rd, the restaurant will open to the public on Monday, June 5th at 10:00am. 

Culver's of Grain Valley is located at 1180 NW Buckner Tarsney Road. 

by Phil Hanson, President and CEO, Truman Heartland Community Foundation
 

Community foundations are nonprofit organizations that work to address the unique needs and challenges of their communities by providing financial resources, expertise, and leadership. Community foundations bring together donors, community leaders, and nonprofit organizations to work collaboratively towards common goals such as improving education, supporting the arts, promoting health and wellness, and alleviating poverty.

By pooling resources and knowledge, community foundations can make a significant impact on the lives of those they serve. Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) strives to play a critical role in building strong, resilient, and vibrant communities throughout suburban Eastern Jackson, Cass, and Lafayette Counties.
 
Our commitment to building a better community is strong. Beyond our standard donor services, the Foundation is committed to improving the lives of individuals and families in the community by supporting community-focused strategic initiatives: issues and problems that impact the lives of our friends and neighbors.
 
One of our key initiatives is Job Skills for New Careers, which aims to help hard-working adults develop the skills needed to obtain employment in a job that pays a living wage and has a career path. The Foundation has teamed up with Community Services League and their New Skills program to provide (at no cost to the trainee), high-quality training and resources to help people identify and pursue new career paths. THCF fundholders donated more than $200,000 in 2022 to help provide critical support for the program.

This includes wrap-around support services provided by Community Services League, such as personal finance and career coaching, gas cards, and utility assistance. The availability of comprehensive wrap-around services removes many of the common barriers that can prevent someone from successfully completing the training. Since 2020, nearly 300 people have completed the program, receiving industry-recognized certifications in high-demand career fields.
 
Another important THCF initiative is the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), our “School of Philanthropy.” YAC is designed to empower young people to become civic leaders and make a positive impact in their communities. YAC members engage in a variety of activities, such as volunteering, fundraising, grantmaking, and community service projects.

Through this unique program, students from 12 local high schools have the opportunity to gain valuable leadership skills and make meaningful connections with other local students. Usually, when students from different high schools come together, it’s all about competition, whether that’s in sports, speech, debate, or scholar bowl, for example. Here the focus is coming together to build a better community. It’s a unique opportunity.
 
Our commitment to the community is strong. By putting energy into our strategic initiatives with the support of our fundholders, THCF is truly making a difference in the lives of individuals and families in the community. Together, if we remain focused and stay the course, we can all work towards building stronger and more vibrant communities.

​I would be happy to sit down with anyone who would like to learn more about THCF’s community initiatives and ways you can get involved. Give the THCF office a call at 816-836-8189, and let’s schedule a time to meet. I look forward to hearing from you!
 
 

Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased by 4,700 jobs in April 2023 from March 2023, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.5 percent. Private industry employment increased by 3,700 jobs and government employment increased by 1,000 jobs. Over the year, there was an increase of 59,900 jobs from April 2022 to April 2023, and the unemployment rate increased by two-tenths of a percentage point, from 2.3 percent in April 2022 to 2.5 percent in April 2023. 

UNEMPLOYMENT        
Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged in April 2023, holding steady at the revised March 2023 rate of 2.5 percent. The April 2023 rate increased by two-tenths of a percentage point from the April 2022 rate of 2.3 percent. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 77,913 in April 2023, up by 503 from 77,410 in March.
The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased in April 2023, declining by three-tenths of a percentage point to 2.4 percent from the March 2023 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 2.7 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 2 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for April 2023 was 3.1 percent.
Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.2 percent in April 2023, six-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 62.6 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61.6 percent in April 2023, 1.2 percentage points higher than the national rate of 60.4 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate of 2.5 percent in April 2023 was nine-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.4 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for eight years.
EMPLOYMENT     
Missouri's non-farm payroll employment was 2,974,600 in April 2023, up by 4,700 from the revised March 2023 figure. The March 2023 total was revised upward by 600 jobs from the preliminary estimate.
Goods-producing industries decreased by 200 jobs over the month, with manufacturing gaining 600 jobs and mining, logging, and construction losing 800 jobs over the month. Private service-providing industries increased by 3,900 jobs between March 2023 and April 2023. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in private education and health services (3,400 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (2,800 jobs); professional and business services (800 jobs); other services (600 jobs); and information (200 jobs). Employment decreased in leisure and hospitality (-2,600 jobs) and financial activities (-1,300 jobs). Total government employment increased by 1,000 jobs over the month, with an increase in local government (1,100 jobs) and a decline in federal government (-100 jobs). State government was unchanged over the month.
Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 59,900 jobs from April 2022 to April 2023. The largest gain was in leisure and hospitality (13,700 jobs); manufacturing (11,500 jobs); private education and health services (10,700 jobs); professional and business services (7,700 jobs); other services (5,600 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (3,000 jobs); financial activities (2,100 jobs); and information (300 jobs). Employment decreased in mining, logging, and construction (-500 jobs). Government employment increased by 5,800 jobs over the year, with an increase in local government (6,100 jobs) and decreases in federal (-100 jobs) and state government (-200 jobs).
Read the full report at https://meric.mo.gov/missouri-monthly-jobs-report. 

uice Jacking may sound like the latest bullying technique kids are using in the lunchroom to harass and steal juice and other beverages. However, Juice Jacking refers to the latest tactics used by criminals to install viruses and malicious software on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Crooks can also steal your passwords, credit card information, addresses, names, and other data. Attackers can also install malware to track keystrokes, show ads, or add devices to a botnet. The scary part is these attacks can happen in any public place where portable wall chargers or USB charging stations are available.  How can you keep safe? Check out these tips that can help you avoid Juice Jacking attacks.

Juice jacking attacks can happen in any public place that offers USB charging stations. These places normally include airports, train stations, coffee shops, hotels, and other places where groups of people would normally gather with their devices.

With Juice Jacking, criminals take advantage of one of the popular features of your smartphone and tablets which is to allow you to connect these devices to your desktop or laptop computer to transfer information between the two. When you plug your gadgets into public charging stations, your phone thinks you're connected to your computer and allows the charging station and the criminals to access everything on your device. Once your phone is connected and charging, the attacker can upload malware to your device, initiate data transfers, or monitor your keystrokes.

Juice Jacking isn't limited to smartphones, criminals can access anything that needs a USB cable to charge.  That means mobile phones and tablets, but also smartwatches, fitness bracelets, and even laptops (if they support USB charging – and many do).

There are several things criminals want to achieve with Juice Jacking.  There are as follows:

The Installation of ransomware. For criminals, installing ransomware is a good way to gain access to your files and data because it's a great way for criminals to scare you into giving up your information. If you were to receive an alert on your device saying that you need to call a number to get access to your files, you're probably going to do whatever it takes to remove the infection, including calling a number that's clearly from a bogus company.

Malware attacks. Malware attacks can be as simple as tracking your keyboard movement on your device and as complex as making a clone of all of the information on your device to be transferred to another phone in their possession. Once they have your information, they can commit identity theft.

They want to attack many devices. Criminals can install bots on your devices that are designed to get your user data, but these bots lurk on your smartphone until you hook into another charging port.  Once you do, they can seek out other devices and install bots on other devices so they can take control of these devices as well.  Beware, that other device could be your personal desktop or laptop computer.

Criminals can disable your devices. Cyber crooks can be downright malicious and disable your devices in a juice jacking attack the most prominent way to do this is to commit SIM Card fraud where a criminal gets your SIM card information along with other personal details.  They can then call up your cellular provider and ask them to transfer your phone information to your phone.  Doing so allows criminals to make phishing and other malicious calls from your cell phone to unsuspecting victims.

How to avoid Juice Jacking.  If you want to avoid a juice jacking attack, the best solution is to avoid public charging stations. While it's convenient when you're running low on battery for your devices, it can become a lot more of a headache if you're unlucky enough to become a victim of this cyber attack.  Things that you can do instead of using charging ports is to always carry a wall plug to use when you are traveling.  Another good tool to have is a battery charging pack that will allow you to charge your devices when getting low on power.  Finally, if you depend on public charging stations, you could purchase a 'USB condom' that will block the USB connections that are used for transferring data, and allow the connections that are used for charging.  You can find battery packs and USB condoms on Amazon or any place that sells computer accessories.

I hope you can use these tips to prevent your smartphones and other devices from being hacked by cyber crooks. hackers. Juice Jacking isn't a widespread problem yet, but cybercriminals are always looking for ways to get access to your gadgets and information, so beware. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help!

Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone.

Members of the Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce gathered Friday, May 5th to celebrate the opening of two businesses in downtown Grain Valley with ribbon cuttings. 

The Patel Group, 513 C Gregg ST, is a full-service real estate agency led by Nilesh Patel. Iron Courtyard, 517 Gregg ST, is an indoor/outdoor cornhole venue addition to Iron Kettle Brewing.

The Chamber will welcome Culver's of Grain Valley with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, June 3rd at 9:00am. The restaurant will open to the public on Monday, June 5th at 10:00am.

     Teenagers sure do know how to make headlines. With hundreds of kids participating in a huge fight this month at World of Fun, it’s easy to paint all teens with a single brush -- troublemakers. Yes, there are issues that need to be addressed. Young people need a positive outlet for their feelings and frustrations. But it’s important to remember that many local teens are working diligently to better themselves and their communities. I would like to highlight these local teens.
     For 25 years, Truman Heartland Community Foundation has worked with area high school students through a unique program called Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Through YAC, students from schools throughout the area come together to collaborate and create positive change in the cities where they live. We have valedictorians and gamers, honor society members and theater kids, city kids and 4-H; they are all pretty amazing young people who are actively doing good.
     Just a few weeks ago, YAC members hosted their annual fundraiser. Held on April 1, Strike in the Night – A Fool’s Delight was a cosmic bowling event fit for the whole family. Thanks to an overwhelming response from numerous donors, the event was fully sponsored and raised more than $5,100. The funds raised were added to the Youth Advisory Council Endowment Fund, the proceeds of which the students will distribute back into the community through the grantmaking process later in the year. Last year, YAC provided grant funding to Angel Flight Central, Inc., Giving the Basics, Inc., Marian Hope, and the SE Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc.
     Taking an active role in the Foundation’s grantmaking process is one of our YAC program's most interesting and unique duties. Students visit local nonprofits to learn first-hand about the projects they are looking to have funded through the Foundation’s Competitive Grants process. Members are encouraged to discuss grant proposals based on everything from the nonprofit’s financial statements to their projected outcomes. The discussions are always so interesting as these students have different perspectives than the adults in the room. There is always a lot of thoughtful dialogue, open communication, and collaboration, though. It may not make for a great headline, but I think it is noteworthy, nonetheless.
     Now that the fundraiser is behind them, the YAC students are working on their next project, the 9th Annual Fill Those Trucks Food Drive. YAC has teamed up with our good friends at Hy-Vee again this year and will be collecting donations at four area Hy-Vee locations on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The participating Hy-Vee locations are 40 Hwy and 7 Hwy in Blue Springs, 40 Hwy and Noland Road in Independence, 3rd and Ward in Lee's Summit, and 350 Hwy in Raytown.
     You will find YAC members (with adult support) volunteering their time to collect donations from patrons in front of the participating locations. Donations of non-perishable food items, household cleaners, and personal care products will all be gladly accepted. Community Services League, Lee’s Summit Social Services, and Raytown Emergency Assistance Program will be the beneficiaries of this year’s effort.
     I am always impressed by our YAC students. They really work at practicing active philanthropy. They give back by volunteering, fundraising, grantmaking, and community service. For 25 years, the Youth Advisory Council has held an important seat at the Foundation’s decision-making table. I am proud of their contributions and impressed by their accomplishments. I know I will see many of these young people again, a few years from now, as they are bound to be the next generation of local community leaders, stakeholders, and philanthropists.
     If you know an area high school Freshman, Sophomore, or Junior that might be interested in our YAC program, please send them our way. They can visit our website at thcf.org/students/youth-advisory-council or reach out to Diana Castillo, THCF Director of Grants and Donor Services, at castillo@thcf.org or 816-912-4184 for more information. We are always looking to engage new members in this important work.

     Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased by 2,300 jobs in March 2023, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point. Private industry employment increased by 2,100 jobs and government employment increased by 200 jobs. The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.5 percent in March 2023, down from 2.6 percent in February. Over the year, there was an increase of 62,100 jobs from March 2022 to March 2023, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.      

UNEMPLOYMENT        
     Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point in March 2023, declining to 2.5 percent from the revised February 2023 rate of 2.6 percent. The March 2023 rate remained unchanged compared to March 2022. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 77,408 in March 2023, down by 2,281 from February's 79,689.
     The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged in March 2023, holding steady at 2.7 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 2.8 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for March 2023 was 3.6 percent.
     Missouri's labor force participation rate was 62.9 percent in March 2023, three-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 62.6 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61.4 percent in March 2023, one percentage point higher than the national rate of 60.4 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 2.5 percent in March 2023, one percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.5 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than seven years.

EMPLOYMENT    
     Missouri's non-farm payroll employment was 2,969,300 in March 2023, up by 2,300 from the revised February 2023 figure. The February 2023 total was revised upward by 5,000 jobs from the preliminary estimate.
     Goods-producing industries increased by 700 jobs over the month, with mining, logging, and construction gaining 400 jobs and manufacturing gaining 300 jobs. Private service-providing industries increased by 1,400 jobs between February 2023 and March 2023.       Employment in private service-providing industries increased in leisure and hospitality (2,800 jobs) and professional and business services (2,500 jobs). Employment decreased in private education and health services (-1,600 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,400 jobs); financial activities (-600 jobs); other services (-200 jobs); and information (-100 jobs).  Total government employment increased by 200 jobs over the month, with an increase in local (400 jobs) and federal government (100 jobs), and a decrease of 300 jobs in state government.
     Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 62,100 jobs from March 2022 to March 2023. The largest gains were in leisure and hospitality (17,100 jobs); manufacturing (12,400 jobs); professional and business services (10,000 jobs); private education and health services (9,200 jobs); other services (4,900 jobs); financial activities (4,400 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (1,400 jobs). Employment decreased in trade, transportation, and utilities (-900 jobs) and information (-100 jobs). Government employment increased by 3,700 jobs over the year, with an increase in local (3,900 jobs) and state government (100 jobs), and a decrease in federal government (-300 jobs).

     After a successful run creating gorgeous cookies, cakes, and other sweet treats from her home bakery, Kayla Bass, owner of Baking with a Bass, will open her first storefront on Friday in Grain Valley.
     Baking with a Bass, located at 1428 SW Eagles Parkway, will offer a variety of items in their case to satisfy any sweet tooth, and will accept custom orders for pickup. Customers hoping to order for graduations and other spring events should request their order quickly, as Bass is now 4-6 weeks out on custom orders.
     Bass began her baking business at home after several friends and relatives who enjoyed her creations encouraged her to go into the business. Her business grew mainly through word of mouth, and she is excited to begin this new adventure and have space to accept additional orders.
     "I've had a lot of customers in the past ask me if they could stop by and pick up some things randomly, but since I was doing it out of my home, it was all custom ordered. With the storefront, it will be nice to be able to have people come in and pick something up on a random Wednesday," Bass said.
     Bass said she is excited to open and serve the community that has been so supportive of her in the process of opening her shop.
     "The community and the city has been overwhelmingly so supportive and I'm so grateful for it. The city wants small businesses to succeed and I appreciate that." 
     For more information on Baking with a Bass, visit their Facebook page at Baking with a Bass | Facebook. 

     Are you looking for a way to be more philanthropic this year and make the most of your charitable donations? When the federal standard deduction doubled in 2018, many people found they no longer qualified for itemization. Since then, many donors have found that utilizing a “bunching” strategy with a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) allows them to continue to support the causes they care about and still get the tax benefits of their charitable giving.  
    If your itemized deductions are less than $13,850 for single filers and married filing separately or $27,700 if married filing jointly, you don’t meet the minimum requirements to itemize your federal tax deductions. There is substantial tax savings potential if you can exceed the itemization threshold.
     Charitable bunching works by bunching together an amount equal to two or three years of your normal charitable donations and contributing it to a DAF. By “bunching” your giving, you will exceed the standard deduction threshold in the year of the donation, and you can continue to give to your usual charities by making grants out of your DAF.
     Here is an example of how this might work. Fred and Wilma Flintstone donate around $9,000 each year to various charities around Bedrock. But even with their state and property tax and mortgage interest deductions, they are still below the $27,700 needed to qualify for a standard deduction. They consult with their professional advisor and decide to bunch three years of their usual giving into one year, in this case that would be $27,000.
     They donate the $27,000 to their Donor Advised Fund at the local Community Foundation. Because a DAF is designated for charitable use only, donations made to it are completely tax-deductible. With the addition of state and property tax and mortgage interest deductions, this tax-wise strategy allows the Flintstones to surpass the standard deduction threshold. They could realize additional deductions of more than $17,000, and the tax savings can be used to increase their support of their favorite causes.
     Charitable bunching is a way for people to be more philanthropic. Although you won’t bunch your giving every year, you can support your favorite organizations and causes even in “off” years through grants from your DAF. With just a few clicks in the online portal or a call to the office, your grants will be on their way.
     Because you set aside your charitable funds in advance, when things get tough, there is a natural disaster, the market drops, or some other unforeseen circumstance occurs, your funds are at the ready. Plus, the assets you don’t distribute continue to be invested so your giving can grow tax-free.
     If you are already regularly giving to charitable causes, a bunching strategy may be a better way for you to take best advantage of the current tax laws. Talk to your financial advisor or call Truman Heartland Community Foundation for more information on how you can give more and save more with charitable bunching.