Mid-Continent Public Library’s annual Winter Reading Challenge returns January 2nd with the "Works of Art,” celebrating the transformative power of literature as an art form, and encouraging customers to embrace the practice of leisure reading by completing five books between January 2 and March 15. This year, for the first time, the Challenge is open to all ages. Adults can earn a commemorative coffee mug for completing the Challenge, while kids and teens can earn a color-changing cup (all prizes will be offered while supplies last).
 
“The Winter Reading Challenge is a program we’ve offered for many years as a way to encourage adults to get back into the practice of reading for fun,” said LynnDee Wathen, MCPL’s Reading Initiatives & Display Manager whose team organizes the Challenge. “It can be hard to find the time to read for enjoyment, but winter is the perfect time to snuggle up with a good book, and this year the whole family can get in on the fun! Plus, for caregivers, modeling strong reading habits is great for little ones to see.” 
 
To earn a prize, participants must sign up online at mymcpl.org/WinterReading or by picking up a Winter Reading Challenge program guide booklet at any MCPL branch. All titles must be logged (online or hard copy turned in) by the end of March 15. For those interested in exploring the “Works of Art” theme, MCPL staff have curated several book lists with recommendations of books on the visual arts, the musical art form, the art of creating, people’s personal experience with the art of living, and much more. However, readers are encouraged to connect with any five titles that spark their interest.
 
Participants can also enhance their Challenge experience by attending in-person books groups and events, as well as virtual programs through the Winter Reading Challenge Facebook page. For more information about the Winter Reading Challenge, including a full list of rules, more details about the prizes, and the suggested reading lists compiled by MCPL staff, visit mymcpl.org/WinterReading.

For our final "Good News" post of 2024, we would like to thank you for your readership and support and wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. As is tradition, we will be taking the next two weeks off to give our hard-working writers a well-deserved break. We will resume on Thursday, January 2nd, to begin another year of local news coverage for Grain Valley.

While we are on break, we will be completing our editorial calendar for 2025, and this is where you come in. What stories are important to you? Who are the people, businesses, and efforts we should be reaching out to in the new year? Send your story ideas to [email protected]. 

Wishing you a merry holiday season and a happy, healthy new year!
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December at the National WWI Museum and Memorial is all about the holidays. The first December weekend will feature three free events for the whole family. On Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10:30 a.m. families are invited for Children’s Story Time: The Perfect Christmas Tree. There will be a family-friendly craft activity and storybook reading for all. On Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., the Living History Volunteer Corps will be onsite to share stories of how WWI soldiers and their families celebrated the winter holidays at Day in the Life: The Holidays in WWI.

Finally, also on Dec. 8, at 11 a.m. the annual screening of "Joyeux Noël" will take place in the Auditorium. “Joyeux Noël” is the story of the 1914 Christmas Truce between opposing soldiers on the Western Front.
 
Sgt. Alvin York is a well-known WWI hero. Upon returning to the U.S. after WWI, York was gifted a farm in Tennessee, where he lived until his death. Explore his home with Tennessee State Historic Park staff on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. Life After War: Sgt. York’s Pall Mall Paradise is free and online only. Registration is required.
 
The final Makers Social of the year takes place on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m. Seasoned makers and the handcraft curious are invited to ring in the holiday season with a game of trivia. Prices will be awarded for those with the most knowledge of handcrafts and WWI history. Those still gift shopping will have the chance to browse a Makers Market for items from partners. This quarterly event is free to the public.
 
December National WWI Museum and Memorial events

• Saturdays at 11 a.m.: Hands-On History 2024
• Saturday, Dec. 7 | 10:30 a.m.: Children’s Story Time: The Perfect Christmas Tree
• Sunday, Dec. 8 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Day in the Life: The Holidays in WWI
• Sunday, Dec. 8 | 11 a.m.: Film Screening: "Joyeux Noël"
• Wednesday, Dec. 11 | 6:30 p.m.: Life After War: Sgt. York’s Pall Mall Paradise
• Thursday, Dec. 12 | 5:30 p.m.: Makers Social
• Saturday, Dec. 14 | 11 a.m.: Wreaths Across America 2024

The Grain Valley Mayor's Tree Lighting and Holiday Festival will begin at 6:00pm on Thursday, December 5th at Armstrong Park. 

Activities include:
- Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Christmas carols by GVR5’s Fifth-Grade Choirs
- Visit with Santa and a live reindeer
- Free holiday movie in the park
- Complimentary cookies, hot cocoa, and more.
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Nominations are also being accepted for a Grain Valley child to assist the mayor in flipping the switch to light up the tree on December 5th. To nominate a child for the task, email [email protected] with the following information:

• The child's full name
• Parents/guardian's contact information
• A short paragraph (3-5 sentences) telling who the child is and why they would love to help flip the switch in Armstrong Park. 

A nominee will be selected Monday, December 2nd.

For more information on the event, visit Holiday Festival | Grain Valley

With the holidays fast approaching, the magic of the season comes to life for thousands at Jackson County Parks + Rec’s 26th Annual Christmas in the Sky and 37th Annual Christmas in the Park holiday events.
 
Christmas in the Sky will kick off the holiday season, Wednesday, November 27 at Longview Lake Beach. This holiday fireworks spectacular, courtesy of Parks + Rec and 99.7 The Point, has provided the opening night festivities for Jackson County’s Christmas in the Park since 1997.
 
The free event includes a holiday stage show featuring 100 talented singers and dancers from Monica's School of Dance in Lee’s Summit, who have performed at this event every year since 1997, plus the cast of the Quality Hill Playhouse holiday cabaret, "Christmas in Song," and Soul Harpist Calvin Arsenia. Look for Santa’s arrival to present the “First Gift of Christmas” to a Dream Factory child, ahead of the colorful fireworks show, which will be synchronized to holiday music on 99.7 The Point.

Gates open for the 26th Annual Christmas in the Sky event on Wednesday, November 27th at 5:00pm. The Holiday Stage Show begins at 6:00pm with fireworks following at 7:45pm. Longview Lake Beach is located at 11101 Raytown Road, two miles south of I-470.

Topping off the evening, 200 animated displays and 1.5 million lights will illuminate your magical drive through Jackson County’s 37th Annual Christmas in the Park!
 
The 37th Annual Christmas in the Park will be held  Wednesday, November 27 – Tuesday, December 31st. Hours are Sunday – Thursday, 5:30pm – 10:00pm; Friday – Saturday, 5:30pm - 11:00pm. 

The drive begins at the Frank White, Jr. Softball Complex, 3901 SW Longview Park Road, two miles south of I-470 off View High Drive. 
 
Guests will also see an expanded Candy Land area and some fun, new additions as they enter and exit the park.
 
“Jackson County’s holiday events, particularly Christmas in the Sky and Christmas in the Park, bring our community together in a spirit of joy and celebration,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “It is heartwarming to witness families and friends gathering to enjoy the magic of the season. As we kick off this holiday tradition, I invite everyone to join us in creating cherished memories and supporting our local charities. Together, we can make this season brighter for those in need.”
 
Since the opening of Christmas in the Park in 1987, three million people have made this magical drive a part of their annual holiday experience. Christmas in the Park welcomes 300,000 visitors annually. We thank our media partners, FOX4 and 99.7 The Point, for their continued support of this popular holiday attraction.
 
While there is no charge for this drive-thru event, voluntary exit donations are accepted, with a portion of the proceeds divided among 35 area charities this year. Thanks to the generosity of Christmas in the Park patrons, Jackson County has been able to give over $1.3 million to more than 1,000 local charities since the event’s inception.
 
For more information and directions, visit www.makeyourdayhere.com.

by Michael Smith
 

This could be the year that the Grain Valley swimming and diving team is put on the map.

Four members of the squad qualified in five different events for the Class 1 Missouri State High School Boys Swimming and Diving Championship, which begins Nov. 15 at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.

Not only did four out of the eight members of the team qualify, but there is a good chance the Eagles could have their first state champion in the history of the program as junior Gage Wright and senior Asa Keim will come into the state meet ranked as the No. 1 and 2 divers, respectively.

Both were the only Class 1 divers in the state to exceed 400 points in the 11-dive, 1-meter diving competitions at districts. In District 4, Wright had a top score of 466.15. Keim was second with a score of 437.85.

Wright and Keim finished third and 10th at the state competition, respectively last season, and both have a clear pathway to an all-state finish once again.

“That was the plan coming into (the season),” Wright said of he and Keim being the top two Class 1 divers. “We are happy to be here.”

Grain Valley swimming and diving head coach Julie Reilly said Wright and Keim have put in the work in the offseason to put themselves in a position to be the favorites to finish No. 1 and No. 2 at state.

“They have been training all year long,” Reilly said. “(Wright) comes (to the Blue Springs South swimming complex) and practices diving. He’s trying to dive for Air Force Academy. Asa is a naturally gifted athlete and he’s a pole vaulter. He has improved so much.”

Wright said the front 2 ½ pike has been his best dive this season and he’s been getting a lot of high scores off of it. He said he plans on adding some harder, college-level dives next season as he aims to be on the Air Force swimming and diving team when he graduates.

Keim joined the team last season and was a diver for the first time. He said he enjoyed doing flips on a trampoline and was good at it, so he thought he was a natural fit a diver. He has made huge strides in 2024 as he’s added an inward 2 ½ and a front 2 ½ dive to his arsenal, which has helped him achieve some high scores.

“It’s pretty amazing, especially since it’s just my second year,” Keim said. “I didn’t really expect this to go that well.

“I have been changing from full somersaults to full-on dives because judges like those better.”

Keim and Wright are also a part of the 200 free relay team along with junior Haden Harshman and junior Connor Osburn that qualified for state. That squad is currently ranked No. 27 in Class 1 with a season-best time of 1:36.46.

“We have to drop some serious time to get all-state in the 200 free relay,” Harshman said. “Anything is always possible. I think we could go down there and place.”

Harshman has had a breakout season in individual events, as well. He is ranked No. 17 in the 200 free with a time of 1:52.79. He is on the bubble for cracking the top 16. Those to place 16th or better are named to the all-state team.

He also qualified for the 100 free for the first time in his career. He is ranked 21st in that event with a time of 50.57 seconds.

In the 200 free, my time hasn’t improved that much,” Harshman said. “Qualifying in the 100 free was a big surprise. Last year, I had a time of 52 seconds in the 100 free. This year, at the last chance meet, I dropped my time by 1.5 seconds. I was really surprised that I was able to do that.”

​“I am super close to being able to go to Day 2 (in the 200 free). That is my big goal.”

Cross Fit Fig, a Grain Valley Cross Fit gym, will host Chad 1000X on Saturday, November 9th from 9:00am - Noon at Butterfly Trail, with a challenging workout and community gathering to raise awareness about veteran mental health and suicide prevention.

Registrants are invited to challenge themselves and contribute to a great cause by registering or donating to support the event. An event flyer is provided below, or visit https://tockify.com/grainvalleynews/detail/208/1731164400000 for more information. 

A tradition from years past was reawakened last Sunday by a dedicated group of juniors and seniors from Grain Valley High School (GVHS).

Junior and senior girls played each other in a fundraising powder puff flag football game last Sunday to raise funds to help fight breast cancer. $400 was raised at the event, and senior Amyah Graybill said the community rallied to support their efforts.

GVHS football players served as coaches, National Honor Society volunteers coordinated a bake sale and lemonade stand, practices and Sunday's game were able to be held at the Grain Valley Community Center fields, and parent volunteers served as official referees. 

Even though Graybill's senior team didn't win, she enjoyed the experience.

"They (the juniors) won by a lot," Graybill said with a laugh. "They are good athletes." 

The junior class is already working on plans to hold the event next year and are hoping to build even more community support. 

The Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame in Columbia will induct four award-winning photojournalists on October 17th.

This will be the 20th group of inductees since the founding of the Hall of Fame in 2005. Inductees are the late William Paul Straeter, Jr.; Talis Bergmanis of Kansas City; David Eulitt of Kansas City; and John Trotter of New York. The late William Paul Straeter, Jr. is the father of Grain Valley resident Pamela Lindsay.

Photographs made by the inductees will be on display during the 4:00 p.m. ceremony and reception in the Sam B. Cook Hall at the Center for Missouri Studies, the State Historical Society of Missouri’s location in downtown Columbia. Those photographs will join the Hall of Fame’s collection of work by inductees.

The Photojournalism Hall of Fame was founded at the urging of Bill Miller Sr., publisher of the Washington Missourian newspaper, to recognize outstanding contributors to visual communication with ties to Missouri.

William Paul Straeter, Jr. started work as a bookkeeper in the 30s and shortly before World War II he began to believe he could make more money as a full-time freelance photographer, and “posting records bored the hell out of me,” he said.

During the war, Straeter took photos and taught photography for the Navy Seabees in the South Pacific and then he was a photographer for the Associated Press Kansas City bureau. After 30 years, he retired “to start leading a normal life.”

The plan was lots of golfing, fishing, watching sports, and especially sleeping through the night since he had been on call for 30 years as AP’s only photographer for the region. Straeter often received a call in the middle of the night to shoot a fire or cover a plane crash, and he often covered regions all the way into Oklahoma and Kansas. For bigger stories, he traveled even further, including when he covered the school integration conflict in Little Rock, Arkansas and a 1947 explosion in Texas. He also covered Big Eight sports (Big Six when he started) and the 1960 Winter Olympics.

When Straeter joined AP in 1945, he called photography his life, his vocation and hobby, his love, almost his religion. Straeter frequently said every time he was sent out it was his favorite time because he got to help make sure that anyone getting up early before work or coming home after a long day could reach for a newspaper and see what’s happening.

In December 1981, Straeter died after a long illness.