Luckily here in Kansas City we didn't have a really hot summer like we've had in the past... but prepare yourself for next year!
Kansas City Power and Light (KCPL) is seeking to raise electrical usage by 17%. Yes you read right!
We've just experienced an increase from Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) and now KCPL is going to raise their rates!
The rate increase is suppose to take place next summer and they have filed in Missouri and Kansas to raise rates for 800,000 customers.
In 2005 Gladstone voters approved a 39-cent property tax increase. That tax increase will begin showing up in your personal property tax bill this year.
The City Council has voted to set the city's 2008 tax levy at 93 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. So in other words if you buy a new car that cost $25,000 you are going to pay about 32.00 more in personal property taxes beginning this year.
This voter approved raise in taxes gave Gladstone leaders the authority to set the tax levy no higher than 93 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Up until this year Gladstone council decided to stay at the existing tax rate of 54-cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The reason for the decision to raise it is unexpected expenses which includes the May 2 tornado which cost the city more than $357,000 in payroll costs and repairs to city-owned facilities. In addition salt for road treatment went up $75,000 and fuel cost for city vehicles went up $71,000 over this past year.
Ay, Top of the mornin' to ya! Are you looking for something to do in Kansas City over the Labor Day weekend?
Well my little leprechauns you can't afford to miss the Kansas City Irish Fest!
Since my wonderful husband has Irish in him this is an event that we never miss!
This year it's back at Crown Center and it's expanded to have THREE stages and includes even more Irish fun!
All of the Irish Eyes will be smiling with all the 
entertainment that's packed into this weekend, including my very fav....... The Elders!
There's fun for the entire family and don't forget to bring the wee ones!
For more information visit their website: www.kcirishfest.com
Here's a little taste of The Elders that I found on YouTube
While visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Branson I saw a story about the new 
Missouri Drug Card Program on television.
The website states that as a resident of Missouri you have access to a FREE prescription drug card program.
If you go to www.missouridrugcard.com you can download your Prescription Card after putting in some simple information and supposedly have a savings of 75% at over 50,000 national and regional pharmacies.
The card is pre-activated and can be used immediately.
* I haven't personally tried this but thought it would be good information for anyone that needs assistance with prescription drug costs.
We're in the heat of the summer and I can remember as a kid HATING to go shopping for fall/winter clothes right before school starts!
CHA-CHING! Now as an adult with the Missouri Sales Tax Free Holiday coming up August 1,2,3,2008 I can see how parents can save $$$$ shopping during those days!
Some will read this and say, "What are you talking about Fran?"
Missouri has this great holiday which begins at 12:01 AM on the first Friday in August and it ends at midnight three days later.
It means that you get tax free purchases on certain back-to-school needs like clothing, school supplies, computers and computer software.
The sales tax exemption is limited to:
Be sure and consult the Missouri Department of Revenuefor a complete listing of items that are Tax Exempt.
KEEP IN MIND..... that some cities and counties choose not to be a part of this holiday..
Beverly Hills, Missouri, North Kansas City, Oak Grove, Platte Woods, Platte City and Smithville I've been told are opting out for this year (2008). But for a complete list of areas not participating be sure to check the Department of Revenue website. They have non-participants listed as:
Sales Tax Holiday - Cities Opting Out
Below is the list of cities that will not participate in the 2008 sales tax holiday. City sales tax in these locations will still be collected on the sale of qualifying holiday items.
Yes... GREEN is one of Staley High Schools colors along with black and silver.
But that's not what I was talking about when I said Staley High School was going GREEN... I meant Staley High School is the only school in the four-state region to adopt the green concept, and was one of the first in the country to register the school as a LEED-registered project.
The high school is the fourth high school in the North Kansas City School District located in the northern portion of the district.
All the classrooms have an occupancy sensor system. Which means the lights come on when someone enters and go off when everyone is gone. (What my mother wouldn't have given to have something like that when I was a kid.)
A good percentage of the from of the school is glass. But not any kind of glass, it's the kind that draws heat in. 
The geo-thermal heating system is designed to store heat in the summer and use it in the winter.
Low-flow water system that reduces water usage by about 50% were installed in all the restrooms and elsewhere.
There's approximately eighty-nine million dollard of steel in the structure and most of it is recycled.
The large collections pond outside collects the rainwater and it will be used to water the landscaping.
There have been many families moving into the Staley High School boundaries, I myself have had requests for houses in the Staley area.
Here are other tid-bits that are listed on the Staley High School Website:
Girls we all know that when we find a Stylist that does a great job you'd follow her just about anywhere!
Well at least I would! I discovered Chandra Kelso barely a year ago when I asked my broker, "Who does your hair, it looks great!"
I was pleased to find out that this stylist was only 
about 5 minutes from my office and 10 minutes from my home. What a find!!!
From the first time I had "Chandy" do my hair it was evident to me that to this talented woman hair was an art!
About three months ago Chandy moved to S
t. Martin in quaint little Parkville, Missouri. A little artsy, craftsy area of the Northland where the 1993 flood levels were as high as my head.
Gasoline was heading to $4.00 a gallon and Parkville is nearly 20 minutes away from my home.... BUT I decided I couldn't live without the talented touch of Chandy!
So once a month I drive over to Parkville, which basically sits on the banks of the Missouri River and is the home of Park University. Driving down the main drag you see quilt shops, craft shops, antique stores and restuarants. It's a great little town where the hustle and bustle of city life goes away.
Quite contrary to the town when you step in St. Martin you'd think you'd just stepped into a posh and upscale shop in New York!
It's quite a treat! If you live in Kansas City North or are moving here and are looking for a talented, fun, caring hair stylist give Chandy a call 816-587-1587.
Have I ever told you my daughter loves music? She has a record 
collection and most of the contents were purchased at "The Music Exchange" here in Kansas City, Missouri.
Ron Rooks owned The Music Exchange and it was a fixture of Kansas City for decades.
There you would find my daughter in the store in Westport where she would finger through the albums and then after four or more hours would come home with the treasures she'd purchased.
Two years ago Ron passed away as he was setting up his shop after moving to the West Bottoms of Kansas City. He was found in his new shop listening to records.
My daughter says there wasn't anything Ron Rooks didn't know about music. Who sang it, who wrote it and when....... and besides that WHERE it was located in his 250,000 piece collection of albums.
There was an auction that started today for items that Ron referred to as "Americana."
I love a good auction, so I had to go..... with camera in hand.
Dressed in her "Vinyl Saved My Soul" t-shirt off we went to the bottoms and the second floor of 1413 West 13th Terrace.
In a very short time I saw a lifetime collection of Ron's "Americana" which I couldn't resist snapping shots of. You would not believe the wide array of items....... and I couldn't leave without my daughter having a little slice of memorabilia from "The Music Exchange."
The album sale starts next Wednesday....... and there she will be.
When we got home she asked me if she thought Ron was upset that all of his stuff was being sold. I told her I'm sure he was up in heaven watching and spinning
records.
So we walked out of there with this great mirror that's engraved that says:
"Remember The Music Exchange"
and a good sized box of all these different pin-backed buttons that my daughter remembered him having at the store that include music, presidential candidates, silliness and rock stars (The Beatles, Duran Duran, Rollings Stones, etc.)
OH how I love Kansas City North.... and the many things it has to offer!
You see I grew up in Kansas City North... before 435.... before there was a Worlds of Fun 
or Oceans of Fun.... 
not quite back in the day of Jesse James
but before there were what they called "four leaf clover hiways" at 435 and 69 Highway.
Back in the day when I would ride my horse from Claycomo to Randolph Rd without major highwways present.
I'd leave at dawn and return at dusk... and would have enjoyed an entire day of visiting classmates and friends along the way. Those were the days!
Long since past, Kansas City North still has lots to offer homeowers! Your choice of ranches, split entrys or atriums........ it's long been ear marked as THE place to live in Kansas City!
And I always wondered where my uncle heard that saying.....
Today, the day after the Fourth of July... my husband had to deliver a printer to Des Moines, Iowa..
On the way up we saw signs about "The Birthplace of John Wayne" and "The Bridges of Madison County" so on the way back we took a little detour of sorts... to Madison County!
The www.madisoncounty.com website says: "The Bridges of Madison County" was made on location in Madison County, Iowa. A reconstructed farm house provided the key set, with additional sequences shot in the towns of Winterset and Adel, along with the actual Roseman and Holliwell covered bridges. Locations were coordinated with the full cooperation of the Iowa Film Commission, Winterset and Adel Chambers of Commerce, and the Madison County Covered Bridge Preservation Society.
You've seen the movie "The Bridges of Madison County" where Robert Kindaid (Clint Eastwood) comes to Madison County, Iowa to take pictures of the covered bridges because he is a professional photographer on assignment with National Geographic magazine.
He asks directions from Francesca Johnson (Meryle Streep) who's at home, alone because her husband and two children have left for four days for the Illinois state fair....... well the rest is in the movie but I had fun taking pictures in Madison County today!
Not only is this town a movie set... but the birthplace of John Wayne whose quote is in the title of this post...."Never say sorry - it's a sign of weakness."
We drove up John Wayne Dr. for a glimpse at his birthplace. Decorated with US Flags and beautiful bedding plants it sits on the corner of a normal neighborhood..... and oh the traffic!
