must read kc

New KING New KING of theof the

CASSEL?CASSEL?

New KING New KING of theof the

CASSEL?CASSEL?Photo and logo courtesy of Kansas City Chiefs

FREEM Realty

MONEY - HEALTH - ENTERTAINMENT - SPORTS - POLITICS - PEOPLE - REALTY

August 2009

MUST READK A N S A S C I T Y

All You Can Eat Italian Feastwww.cinzettis.com

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Brunch HoursSaturday: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Restaurant Lunch HoursMonday - Friday: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Restaurant Dinner Hours Monday - Friday: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PMSaturday & Sunday: 3:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Brunch at Cinzetti’s! We offer all of our unique Italian items as well as Eggs

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Tortini Di PatateTradizionale Cotto & CheddarSalsicciaVegetali

Zuppa Minestrone ZuppaPomodoro Zuppa Pizza Pizza del GiornoFiorentinaMargheritaPepperoniVegetaliFormaggio

Fresh Made Pasta Farfalle CarbonaraChicken Marsala PastaSpaghetti MarinaraMama's MeatballsPasta del Giorno

Dessert / Bakery Budino di Pane (bread pudding)Raspberry CrostataCioccolata AmoreFrutta Del SoleCannoliPiccolo PasticceriaApple CrispStrawberry & Peach Crisp16 Flavors of Ice cream

Second Course Tuscan Spiced Rotisserie ChickenCarote MarsalaCauliflower Olive PomodoroGarlic Mashed PotatoesChianti Peppercorn GravyEggplant ParmesanArancini (rice balls)Sausage with Bell Peppers and OnionPesci Fritti (lightly fried fish)Lemon Caper SauceChicken CacciatoreRoasted Rosemary PotatoesLasagna Bolognese

Salad / Antipasta Fresh Grilled Vegetable CapreseSeasonal Fresh FruitBruschetta with Garlic CroutonsPanzanella SaladPasta GenoveseGreek Orzo SaladSicilian CaponataInsalata della CasaCaeser SaladMarinated MushroomsInsalata Mediterraneo

MustReadKC.com August 2009 3

DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION

30,000 copies are distributed monthly to over 600 locations throughout the Kansas City metro, including surrounding areas such as Lawrence and Gardner. Distribution focuses on high traffi c areas reaching a target audience of middle to high income households, business professionals, students, and interested readers of all ages. The majority of our distribution locations are FREE racks that any patron visiting the establishment will be able to pick up. Other locations will include Gyms, Medical Offi ces, Coffee Shops, Health Clubs, Tanning Salons, Movie Theaters, Bars, Restaurants, and other retail

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ADVERTISING

MustReadKC offers print, web, and radio advertising. Print sizes include (full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, 1/8 page and business cards size ads.) Radio spots include 15 minute live feed and 30 second commercials. Rates are subject to availability. Please contact us for pricing and acceptable format information. Sections include Politics, Sports, Money, People, Health, Realty, and Enter-tainment. Advertising space is on a fi rst come, fi rst serve basis and is limited per section. MustReadKC also offers radio advertising and web links. For more information on how to become an exclusive advertiser in Kansas City’s most exciting monthly publication, please email us at [email protected] or call (913) 232-2314.

Greetings Kansas City,Welcome to the August issue of MustReadKC! We’re still the new kids on

the block in KC and so far we’ve have a very warm welcome to the neigh-borhood! Our focus remains strong of focusing on promoting local business and giving you something to look forward to each month. I invite you to join us monthly as we explore various “Must” items in the KC area. We’re listen-ing to you Kansas City, so anything you feel others Must See, Must Know, Must Do, Must Hear (You get the idea), feel free to send us a suggestion to [email protected]

David Mitby- Executive Editor

Editor’s Note

CONTENTS

Health

Entertainment

Money

Politics

Event Calendar............................................12 -13

Sports

And Then There Was OneAnd Then There Was One...............................................4...............................................4

Must Watch Stocks.......................................................6

So You Think You Can Drive?...........................................7Casel Is Worth The Price................................................8

Relationship Checkup: Part 2.........................................16 Is a Vegan diet right for you?.................................16

Staycation Revelation: A Day In The ‘Dot...........................11

People

Local Artist Spotlight: Anna Stickland.............................18NFP Spotlight: Ozanam......................................21

Business Card Directory....................................23

Realty

Where Did All The Foreclosures Go?...............................20

Lace Up For Boot Camp!..............................................17

Auguist Movie Releases...............................................13

Opinion: Universal Health Or Universal Death?................19

CONTACTS

MustReadKC5949 Nieman, Ste DShawnee, KC 66203

www.MustReadKC.com(913) 232-2314

ADVERTISING SALES:

[email protected]

COPYRIGHT

The entire contents copyright 2009 by MustReadKC all rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, by any means without the express written permision of the publisher.

STAFF

David Mitby, Executive Editor Tanner L. Morton, Publisher

Brian Boeger, Creative Editor

SALES

Denise ScalcoCarmen ReinkeChrissy KleinKatie Garcia

Jacqueline KelleyStefan Wehrman

CONTRIBUTING

WRITERS

Brian BoegerRichard Downing

David MitbyGreg A. KleinMilburn Ross

Nick AthanLysa Allman-Baldwin

Ellen Brewood

The Healthcare Reform PlaygroundThe Healthcare Reform Playground..................................5..................................5

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DouglasCounty

LeavenworthCounty

MiamiCounty

JohnsonCounty180

40 JacksonCounty

CassCounty

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WyandotteCounty40

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Matt Cassel pictures, Chiefs logo, and schedule courtesy of the Kansas City Chiefs.

M MUST READK A N S A S C I T Y

4 MustReadKC.com August 2009

POLITICS

The government gave billions of dollars to both companies in order to try to save their industry. Both attempts with govern-ment intervention failed. The government then initiated their CARS (car allowance rebate system) offering up to $4,500 for Clunkers of which the government would reimburse car dealerships for new car purchases. The program was an immedi-ate success and is now broke. The Senate is voting for additional money on August 2 for additional dollars to fund this pro-gram. If this program is not a reminder of what could happen with the Universal health care program, America must wake up and smell the oil. Imagine, in one sce-nario alone, the dealership had to recall customers and ask them to bring their new cars back to the dealership because the government was unable to pay them for their clunker. In this writers opinion, the government “acted stupidly.” Let’s take this scenario one step further. If the gov-ernment runs Universal health care, imag-

ine John, a 68-year-old man who needs a pacemaker. After the surgery is done, he gets a call from his Universal Health Care provider who states, “The “government won’t reimburse us for their pacemaker, we’re going to need it back and we hope all the best for you.” It might sound like I am cynical, but all I can say is that there is one major auto maker in this country who denied government bailout and is now prospering. Let’s suppose the gov-ernment instead of bailing out auto deal-ers that eventually went bankrupt, would have thought ahead and given all of that bailout money for a program like Cash for Clunkers, the results would have been phenomenal. However, it seems today that our administrative “think tank” is held in “Homer Simpson’s” living room and maybe, just maybe Maggie Simpson has the right idea.

When it comes down to it, the one who refused the bailout money is the car com-pany who never declared bankruptcy and whose corporate stock is rising. Maybe all those years ago Henry Ford knew what he was doing.

A Look At The

Big 3 US Auto

Makers Whittled

Down To One

en little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked his little self, and then there were nine. Nine Little Indian boys sat up very late; One overslept

himself and then there were eight. Eight little Indian boys traveling in Devon; One said he’d stay there and then there were seven. Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves then there were six. Six Indian boys playing with a hive; A bumble-bee stung one then there were fi ve. Five Indian boys going in for law; One got in Chancery then there were four. Four Indian boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one then there were three. Three Indian boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one then there were two. Two Indian boys sitting in the sun; One got all frizzled up then there was one. One Indian boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there were none.”

- Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None.

As in Agatha Christie’s noted novel, all ten little Indian boys died.

Thank God in this country, which we still call America, ONE still lives and that one refused to take money from the government in order to save its business. Free enterprise still does prevail.

Henry Ford realized he’d need a more effi cient way to mass produce cars in order to lower the price. He looked at other industries and found four principles that would further their goal: interchange-able parts, continuous fl ow, division of labor, and reducing wasted effort. Ford put these principles into play gradually over fi ve years, fi ne-tuning and testing as he went along. In 1913, they came together in the fi rst moving assembly line ever used for large-scale manufacturing. Ford produced cars at a record-breaking rate.

For generations we always thought of the Big Three….now One prevails. Both Chrysler and GM fi led for bankruptcy.

“T

And Then There Was One

by Brian Boeger

The CAR Allowance Rebate System (CARS)

is still operating!

Consumers can still take advan-tage of the government program and receive a $3,500 or $4,500 discount for their trade-in vehicle when purchasing or leasing a new vehicle. • Your vehicle must be less than 25

years old on the trade-in date• Only purchase or lease of new vehi-

cles qualify• Generally, trade-in vehicles must get

18 or less MPG • Trade-in vehicles must be registered

and insured continuously for the full year preceding the trade-in

• You don’t need a voucher, dealers will apply a credit at purchaseProgram runs through Nov 1, 2009 or

when the funds are exhausted, which-ever comes fi rst.

The program requires the scrapping of your eligible trade-in vehicle, and that the dealer disclose to you an estimate of the scrap value of your trade-in.

See www.cars.gov for details.

Not sure if your car is a clunker? Check out Kelley Blue Book. They have a great online tool that will tell you if your vehicle qualifi es, for how much, and for which model new vehicle.

www.kbb.com

o dine; One choked his little self and then


hile the government is at “recess” we decided to check and see what the word on the

“playground” is on HealthCare reform. We found two local writers with very dif-ferent opinions, Milburn Ross and Adam Hernandez. We allowed them to ask each other three questions.

Questions to Milburn:1). Why should we do nothing & believe this problem will fi x itself?

Thinking there is only one other option is part of the problem. What I fear is a system of “single–payer’ where only one option will exist. Other options are on the table including the DeMint-Price bill which allows those who are satisfi ed with their insurance company can main-tain their current coverage. Those whose employers don’t offer insurance or aren’t satisfi ed with their current coverage qual-ify for a $5,000 certifi cate to seek insur-ance on their own, from any state. DeMint pointed to the cost and ineffectiveness of existing government health care pro-grams like Medicaid and Medicare. This Bill allows for national competition and more importantly no new spending!

2.) What is a better alternative to a public health option for getting the 50 million uninsured covered?

Other than re-stating the De-Mint-Price Bill, I think it’s very important to under-stand that the increase in uninsured has been a direct result of the unemployment numbers which keep increasing due to other spending plans under the current administration. Remember, under the cur-rent bailout mentality we were promised never to reach these numbers, so if the basic ideas of spend-spend are not bear-ing fruit then why continue?

POLITICS

At Recess Or

Out To Lunch?

W

by Milburn Ross & Adam Hernandez

3). If the quality of care in a public health option will be terrible as Con-servatives predict, then wouldn’t more Americans stick with their cur-rent private insurers?

Quality will have to be reduced to match the massive introduction of people into the health care system. If 50 million uninsured are introduced into the health system, we would need some more doc-tors, right? More importantly the single payer system would destroy private insur-ers. For example, if you currently have insurance that you like and want to keep, you could keep it. BUT you have to pay the single payer tax as well. So if you pay double, how long could that last?

Questions to Adam:1). How would a public health option not affect the quality of care?

Americans have never been unwill-ing to pay a little more for something if it means better quality. So if quality declines with a public health option, as some pre-dict, then more Americans will stick with the better quality private plan. What will change is doctors & other medical profes-sionals will waste less time dealing with the greed & lust of excess profi ts from the private insurance companies.

2). Should taxpayers pay to provide care to people who lived unhealthy lifestyles?

Yes. If we are to continue being the leader & moral conscious of the free world then lets lead by example. Did we stop becoming more civilized? We can’t start excluding people from care for eating too much fast food. Conservatives talk of being about letting people make their own decisions so I think to avoid hypocrisy lets accept the fact that the

majority of Americans already made their decision, voted for Obama & are ready to try something new.

3). Where/How are we going to pay for all of this?

First, I wouldn’t be surprised if the fi nal bill ends up being only a half a step towards total universal coverage for each & every citizen. Covering most, but not all. Taxing medical benefi ts. Something Obama promised not to do. While still against the idea, I think he realizes that concessions have to be made to achieve his goals. The Right will announce he is Pinocchio. I support doing things like taxing alcohol, pop, and cigarettes & put-ting the money directly into health care. With a federal defi cit of $11.5 trillion and counting, every option should be evalu-ated.

Adam’s Last ThoughtsIf more people had standard health cov-erage America as a whole would become continually healthier. In the long run we could save on costs with less major more expensive procedures needed because of the preventive care that was given before the fact. In 2007 62% of all personal bankruptcies were caused by medical bills according to a Harvard study. Control costs & it seems we would also subtract

from the number of new bankruptcies which would then help the economy. Some small businesses that because of high costs don’t provide medical benefi ts would benefi t from a healthier workforce. And the ones that do provide benefi ts pay up to 18% more for employee based cov-erage than do large corporations. Regu-lation is not the enemy of progress. But no regulation or oversight has proven to be the enemy of successful longevity. Progress will have to be judged after the plan has been given time to succeed. Not before. Take away the excess profi ts from private insurers and get their costs back to honest levels through a government backed public option.

Milburn’s Last ThoughtsI agree that a healthier America is a

better America, but I want a health care system that demands competition and I want doctors to make lots of money. It is undeniable that people from across the globe continue to travel to America for the very best doctors and cutting edge technology. When is the last time some-one fl ew to Cuba for cancer treatment? I think that we have problems that can be fi xed in more competitive ways. It’s not time to throw in the towel. It’s time to let the people have more choices not less.

The HealthCare Reform Playground

FREEHeathCare

HerePlease Take a Number


MONEY

Our “Must Watch” Stocks

Here’s a Few

Stocks To

Watch In August

Disclaimer: Under no circumstances does the information in this column represent a recommendation to buy or sell stocks. The author is not registered as an investment adviser. The author relies upon the "publisher's exclusion" from the defi nition of "investment adviser" as provided under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and corresponding state securities laws.

(For entertainment purposes only.)

hhgregg, Inc. (HGG) - Operates as a specialty retailer of consumer elec-tronics, home appliances, mattresses, and related services.

VanceInfo Technologies Inc. (VIT) - Through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of information technology (IT) services.

Fuqi International, Inc. (FUQI) - Engages in designing, developing, pro-moting, and selling precious metal jewelry in the Peoples Republic of China.

CNinsure Inc. (CISG) - Together with its subsidiaries, operates as an inde-pendent insurance intermediary company in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).

Ford Motor Company (F) - Designs, develops, manufactures, and services cars and trucks worldwide. It operates in two sectors; Automotive and Financial Services.

China Fire & Security Group, Inc. (CFSG) - Through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and sale of fi re protec-tion products and services for industrial customers primarily in the People’s Republic of China.

Harbin Electric, Inc. (HRBN) - Through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, supply, and service of various electric motors in China and internationally.

Pegasystems Inc. (PEGA) - Develops, markets, licenses, and supports software to automate various business processes primarily the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

Interactive Intelligence, Inc. (ININ) - WIth its subsidiaries provides soft-ware application suites for voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) business com-munications.

Starent Networks, Corp. (STAR) - Provides infrastructure hardware and software products and services that enable mobile operators to deliver mul-timedia services to their subscribers.

(For entertainment purposes only )


SPORTS

So You Think You Can Drive? Prove It.

I

Racing Your Ride At

Heartland Park

t was early evening by the time I arrived at the parking lot “pits”. As I made my way past cars, toolboxes,

and the occasional stack of tires, I could hear the sound of various motors out on the course. Walking through the bleachers towards turn 16, I spot the fi rst of several cars; a VW R32 hatchback. Wait? Am I in the right place? Hanging along the side of the track, I continue to spot a wider variety of automobiles; a couple black & a yellow Lotus, some Nissan Z’s, a sleek yellow Porsche, a Camaro, BMWs, even a Miata. No someone didn’t take a wrong turn in the parking lot, it’s Touring Club Night on the road-race course at Heart-land Park Topeka.

Speaking with race directors Dwight Cowan and Jeremy Thoennes, they explain that anyone can bring their street legal machines out on designated nights (at least once a month) and race on the premier 1.8-mile, 11 turn, Club Course layout. Be it the thrill of driving, learning car control, or just going as fast as you want with no police, the drivers are cer-tainly enjoying themselves.

A wide range of cars are present at most sessions, varying from your average day car to more mouth watering pieces of pre-cision machinery. On the evening of my visit, there were 3 Lotus driven by Phil Verhaeghe, Derrick Gilmore, and Benja-min Noel. Standing next to one of these beauties, one can hardy think of anything else except jumping in the driver seat and seeing how fast it can really go. Look-ing around, I was surprised to see such a diverse group of cars.

Safety is certainly not overlooked as all drivers must have their cars inspected, go through a safety course, and of course, wear helmets. Racer expertise levels range from Advanced, Intermediate, to Novice. Controlled conditions with instructors for novice drivers ensure a safe experience for everyone. Fees are surprisingly inex-pensive with yearly membership fee of $20.00 and a per session online registra-tion fee of $60.00 (if you register before the day of the Club Night).

With groups of about 20 cars spaced out on the track at any given time, there is always a motor to hear winding up and down, tires screeching, and the unmistak-able smell of horsepower and tires meet-ing pavement in the air. Granted these are many driver’s every day rides, so they do try to avoid walls and trading paint with fellow motorists on the track. “Rubbing” is NOT racing on this track. They allow only the fi rst 60 cars that register to run on Touring Club Night, so it’s advis-able to get pre-registered. Gates open at 3:00, racing starts at 4:30 and continues until dusk. Weather permitting naturally. Upcoming sessions are Aug. 12th, Aug. 19th, Sept 16th, Sept 30th, and Oct 14th and you can fi nd all the information you need for registration at the www.hpt.com web site.

Heartland Track Topeka also offers other types of racing as well. In addi-tion to the road racing, HPT also boasts several other types of racing. Located on 750 acres, Heartland Park Topeka offers a 2.5-mile Grand Prix road course, 1.625-mile Club Course, a 1.75-mile stock car road course, a state-of-the-art quarter-mile drag strip, a three-eighths-mile dirt oval, numerous test track confi gurations and a paddock for 600 race cars. So if you feel like driving like the wind, watching a Saturday night dirt track race, superbikes, sprint cars, NHRA drag races, Heartland Track Topeka has it all. Stop by their web site at www.hpt.com and see what upcom-ing event can get your motor running.

by David Mitby

A wide range of cars are present at most

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S f t i t i l t l k d


hen the Kansas City Chiefs traded their 2009 second round pick to acquire quarterback

Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel from the New England Patriots in Febru-ary, everyone wondered if the team would indeed risk big dollars to sign there new franchise QB to a long term contract.

On July 14th, new General Manager Scott Pioli gave Cassel a six-year contract worth $63 million. Pioli has plenty of history with Cassel drafting him in New England. So signing him to a long-term contract, despite the fact he only started 15 NFL games, appears to be a good risk.

Sure Pioli is risking a great deal fi nan-cially when you consider that Cassel will earn $40.5 million the fi rst three years of this contract. But the risks are worth it when you consider that Cassel would have been starting for the New England Patriots this year had Tom Brady not returned from major knee surgery.

The Chiefs to their credit realized the need to lock up Cassel long term. It’s something that Cassel wanted for the sta-bility of his family and to show the fans that he wants to be part of this organiza-tion for a long time.

Cassel is Worth the Price

W

SPORTS

P080094 04/08

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With King Carl Gone,

Chiefs Look To New

Leadershipby Nick Athan

We still have no idea what kind of NFL quarterback Cassel will be in Kansas City. There is no question the talent level in New England and with the Chiefs is dras-tically different. But the advantage that the hometown team has is that the Chiefs play in a weak division.

That means if Cassel can lead this team strong out of the gates in 2009, then it’s possible that Pioli will have made the right move and the rebuilding process that began in early January may get a big step forward.

Nick Athan appears courtesy of War-paint Illustrated. For the best Kansas City Chiefs Independent football cover-age, go to www.warpaintillustrated.com.

All times Central and subject to change.(*) AFL Legacy Games - Chiefs To Wear Classic 1962 Uniforms; (#) Subject to Flexible Scheduling

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Date Opponent Time NetworkPreseason08/15/09 SAT HoustonTexans 7:00 PM KCTV508/21/09 FRI at Minnesota Vikings 7:00 PM KCTV508/29/09 SAT Seattle Seahawks 7:00 PM KCTV509/03/09 THU at St. Louis Rams 7:00 PM KCTV5Regular Season09/13/09 SUN at Baltimore Ravens 12:00 PM CBS09/20/09 SUN Oakland Raiders 12:00 PM CBS09/27/09 SUN at Philadelphia Eagles 12:00 PM CBS10/04/09 SUN New York Giants 12:00 PM FOX10/11/09 SUN Dallas Cowboys 12:00 PM FOX*10/18/09 SUN at Washington Redskins 12:00 PM CBS10/25/09 SUN San Diego Chargers 12:00 PM CBS*11/01/09 SUN Bye 11/08/09 SUN at Jacksonville Jaguars 12:00 PM CBS11/15/09 SUN at Oakland Raiders 3:05 PM CBS*11/22/09 SUN Pittsburgh Steelers 12:00 PM CBS#11/29/09 SUN at San Diego Chargers 3:05 PM CBS#12/06/09 SUN Denver Broncos 12:00 PM CBS#12/13/09 SUN Buffalo Bills 12:00 PM CBS#12/20/09 SUN Cleveland Browns 12:00 PM CBS#12/27/09 SUN at Cincinnati Bengals 12:00 PM CBS#01/03/10 SUN at Denver Broncos 12:00 PM CBS#

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11MustReadKC.com JULY 2009

ENTERTAINMENT

Staycation Revelation

N

Spending A Day In the ‘Dot

by David Mitby

ext time someone asks you what you want to do this weekend,

here’s a fun idea: Spend a day in the ‘Dot (A.K.A. Wyandotte County, KS). With new businesses arriving every day, the Village West area north of the I-70/435 interchange is brimming with a myriad of things to see and do.

With the heat of Summer still beat-ing down, start by cooling off at the new Schlitterbahn Vacation Village Waterpark which is now open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m..

Schlitterbahn’s got the hottest one-of-a-kind attractions. The Storm Blaster uphill water coaster combines the up and down thrills of a roller coaster with the unique experience of being propelled upward by jets of water. Torrent River is the world’s largest tidal wave river where ocean-sized waves surge through a giant canyon-like waterway.

Tickets are pretty inexpensive, with deals to be found on their web site. Plus parking, lifejackets, and tubes are FREE. You can even bring a picnic inside, which is nice for a waterside snack. Sorry, no alcohol, grilling, or glass allowed. (That’s what the Chiefs/Royals games are for.)

When you’re doing cooling off and ready for what I call my three favorite D’s: Dinner, Drinks, and Dancing, head over to the new Solz Entertainment Com-

plex at Village West. With Cleatz Bar & Chill, Flip-Flopz Beach Bash, and Spurz Rock-N-Saloon, this three-in-one spot (with great daily/nightly food and drink specials) has something for everyone.

Cleatz Bar & Chill has the sports feel with a menu guarenteed to please. They’re home of the Monster Burrito Challenge, which by consuming a 5.5lb gianormous ranchero chicken burrito and a 32oz BFC Monster drink in 75 minutes stakes your claim in history. After 9 it’s DJ’d music to get your groove on.

As you dance your way in further you fi nd Flip-Flopz Beach Bash, which is a Top 40 beach party every weekend night.

Boot scootin’ even further inside of the Solez complex you arrive ar Spurz Rock-N-Saloon, which is a little bit country & a little bit rock-n-roll. Solz has the trifecta of music that will tickle your fancy and shake your fanny.

As the evening begins to fade away and it’s time to retreat for the night, Chateau Avalon beckons.

This bed and breakfast-like romatic retreat hosts 62 quest rooms with 23 different themes to choose from. With a variety of Classic, Deluxe, Premier, and Elite rooms, you can enjoy any-

thing from the restful Renaissance to the castle-like Camelot room. You’ll sleep like a King/Queen! Indulge yourselves with the Romance Package or a private chromotherapy whirlpool spa to really put an exclamation point on the experi-ence. I could go on and on about this place, but it’s simply better experienced. You’ll leave with your own fond words to describe it.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your swim suit, dancing shoes, pajamas and prepare to head off for a fabulous day & night in the ‘Dot. Summer’s not going to last all year you know!

8 p.m..

Schlitterbahn’s got the hottest one-of-a-

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12 MustReadKC.com AUGUST 2009

SPORTS - SUMMER SCHEDULES

13MustReadKC.com AUGUST 2009

ENTERTAINMENT

“Must See” August Movie Releases

eryone works for Black Box Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated, whose Mr. Black’s Black Box is the ultimate communication and do-it-all gadget that’s sweeping the nation...until a mysterious rainbow-colored rock falls from the sky, hits 11-year-old Toe Thompson in the head and changes everything.

MY ONE AND ONLY - PG-13Renée Zellweger stars as a mother who travels down the East Coast with her children as they look for a wealthy socialite to take care of them in this comedy based on a childhood recol-lection of actor George Hamilton.

August 28 FINAL DESTINATION: Death Trip 3D - RThe fi lm marks the latest in the highly popular “Final Destination” series, and its fi rst 3D installment, giving horror fans an especially visceral thrill ride.

H2: HALLOWEEN 2 - RIt’s that time of year again, and Michael Myers has returned home to sleepy Haddonfi eld, Illinois to take

August 7JULIE & JULIA - PG-13Based on two true stories, “Julie & Ju-lia” intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends until they discover that with the right com-bination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible. A PERFECT GETAWAY - RAn adventurous young couple cel-ebrating their honeymoon by back-packing to one of the most beautiful, and remote, beaches in Hawaii. Hiking the wild, secluded trails, they believe theyve found paradise. But when the pair comes across a group of fright-ened hikers discussing the horrifying murder of another newlywed couple on the islands, they begin to question whether they should turn back.

G.I. JOE: The Rise of the Cobra PG-13 The G.I. JOE team uses the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment to fi ght the corrupt arms dealer Destro and the growing threat of the mysterious Cobra organization to prevent them from plunging the world into chaos.

August 14DISTRICT 9 - RAn extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth sud-denly fi nd a kindred spirit in a govern-ment agent that is exposed to their biotechnology.

THE GOODS: LIVE HARD, SELL HARD - RWho is Don Ready? Ready is all of the above, except for a dolphin trainer. When he’s asked to help save an ail-ing local car dealership from bank-ruptcy, Ready and his ragtag crew descend on the town of Temecula like a pack of coyotes on a basket full of burgers.

August 21INGLORIOUS BASTERDS - RA band of U.S. soldiers facing death by fi ring squad for their misdeeds are given a chance to redeem themselves by heading into the perilous no-man’s lands of Nazi-occupied France on a suicide mission for the Allies.

SHORTS - PGSet in the suburb of Black Falls, where all the houses look the same and ev-

Check Out These New Movie Releases For August

care of some unfi nished family busi-ness. Unleashing a trail of terror that only horror master Rob Zombie can, Myers will stop at nothing to bring clo-sure to the secrets of his twisted past.

BIG FAN - RIn a startling performance certain to be talked about, comedian Patton Os-walt (“Ratatouille,” “King of Queens”) makes his dramatic-lead debut as Paul Aufi ero, an obsessive New York Giants fan whose chance encounter with his hero unexpectedly ends in violence.

TAKING WOODSTOCK - PG-13A generation began in his backyard…. From Academy Award-winning direc-tor Ang Lee comes Taking Wood-stock, a new comedy inspired by the true story of Elliot Tiber (Demetri Martin) and his family, who inadver-tently played a pivotal role in making the famed Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the happening that it was.

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HEALTHY LIVING

ast months’ column was about learning that I am responsible for

my feelings.This month is about identifying how I

create the challenges that I bring to a rela-tionship. By seeing how the challenges are created by my thoughts and words, they become opportunities to simply choose again to experience a wonder-ful, fulfi lling relationship. (This is how I change pessimism to optimism and my glass from half empty to running over.)

In dating, we often show the aspects that make us attractive, such as smart, considerate, kind, loving, sweet, happy, trustworthy, funny, and introspective.

In short, only the “good” things are wanted.

And here in lies the challenge!Most of us want someone who loves

ALL of us! To be loved as I am is what real love is about. When it comes down to putting this into practice in a relation-ship, there maybe some startling reserva-tions about “certain” aspects that come to a relationship.

As a young child, I was told “don’t be rude!” by my mother, I eventually got the message that if I am rude, she will treat me differently than if I am nice. The mes-sage may come across both verbal and non-verbal and may look like rewards and punishment using food, conversation, and play. So, I decided not to be rude. I said “I’m not rude, mom.”, making sure she knew I had conformed to her standards and could now be rewarded as a “good little boy”. She asked me not to be messy. My teachers asked me to not be disrup-tive, not to be noisy, etc. And on and on and on. Eventually I unconsciously dis-owned so much of who I am to the point when I was a teenager I had an extreme internal confl ict going on inside. n my 40’s I no longer knew who I was.

Just like the song sung by Peggy Lee, “Is that all there is?” and the song by the Goo Goo Dolls “Yeah you bleed just to know you’re alive”, I became numb. Happiness, and much more, was missing.

To be happy with my self, I learned I have to own and love all of the many, many aspects that make up the whole of a human being. This includes the ones that are traditionally judged as “unaccept-able” by most civilized societies.

In our close relationships, these unloved, judged aspects come out. Most of the time they are handled in a manner that is less than honoring of the relationship. Suddenly, the partner now sees a different “side” of a person, and most of the time it is the “dark”, repressed “bad” side. By a simple change of perspective, I can turn this from a negative event to a wonder-ful, fulfi lling experience and change a relationship to one “on the rocks” to one “made in heaven”! I just need to see it differently than I was taught.

Surprisingly, when I own and love my judged, repressed, and denied aspects, I experience more peace. The act of acceptance, which is a refl ection of Love, is being expressed. The “undesirable” aspects suddenly are content to be loved and accepted- they are no longer acted out as “inappropriate” behavior. I become a better, happier, and a more whole, com-plete person. The feeling that something is missing dissolves. My sense of Self and purpose returns!

I reach a place of being loved as I am, for who I am.

And that’s all that little boy (and girl) every wanted.

Greg Klein is a Life and Relationship Coach that shares his own personal expe-riences to help others do their work.

He can be reached at 816-739-8160 [email protected]

Relationship Checkup

HOW IS IT SOME

MEN ARE AFRAID

OF RELATIONSHIPS?

(Part 2)

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L

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igh intensity. Kickin’ it up a notch. An *ss whooping’. Torture.

These are just a few choice nuggets used to describe Boot Camp training pro-grams.

For me, Boot Camp conjures up images of classic scenes from “An Offi cer and a Gentleman,” where Louis Gossett, Jr. relentlessly rides young recruit Richard Gere into physical and mental obedience – a push to be the best that he could be.

These days, Boot Camp is not just for military folk.

Boot Camp is one of today’s hottest fi tness trends, incorporating high inten-sity movements, multiple repetitions and mental focus to help people from all walks-of-life achieve increased fl exibil-ity, muscle tone, core stability, strength and cardiovascular performance, among other benefi ts.

According to Candice McField and Earnest Jackson, co-founders of iRise Health & Wellness, Boot Camp training is very popular because people like to do more than the traditional treadmill and fi t-ness machine workouts.

“For some, it comes back to the team camaraderie they got playing high school or college sports,” McField said. “As adults we don’t always go to that compet-itive level, but when there is a class with 10 or 15 people in it, it is like a team and a support group.”

Among other services, iRise offers a mentally and physically challenging 6-week, Boot Camp training program in Shawnee that is designed to improve physical appearance as well as athletic performance.

Boot Camp Fitness in Overland Park has group workouts for all fi tness levels “based upon simple yet effective fun-damental movement patterns executed at high intensity that deliver time-tested measurable health and fi tness improve-ments,” the website states.

Want to look extra fi t and sexy on your wedding day? There are Boot Camps for that too!

Kansas City personal trainer Kri Chay, founder of Sexy Back Boot Camps, has created a three-phase, intensive and com-prehensive Bridal Sexy Back Boot Camp. Designed to whip you into phenomenal shape for the big day, the program is spe-cifi cally tailored to meet the bride and bridal party’s personal needs, deadlines, schedule and budget.

Cynthia Conde’s Bridal Bootcamp® online program is for brides-to-be that desire to workout at home. The “recruits” begin with the “Tour of Duty Jump-Start Program,” a challenging, fast fat-burning military workout, followed by an individ-ualized fi tness goal program using their own body weight to build core strength, increase stamina and create a lean, fi t, tight body.

Latin dancing your way to optimum health and fi tness is another online option. At Salsa Boot Camp, anyone from beginning to advanced dancers can take their complete, step-by-step program and “become an expert social dancer” in Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and/or the Cha Cha.

Whether to boost your workouts with a little variety, look hot for your wedding (class reunion, beach vacation) or dance the night away, there is a Boot Camp pro-gram to fi t your needs and desires.

Resource ListCynthia Conde’s Bridal Bootcamp® online 646.261.2287, www.bridalboot-camponline.com

iRise Health & Wellness 913.422.7700, irisehw.com

Salsa Boot Camp877.507.3403, www.salsabootcamp.com

Sexy Back Bridal Boot Campwww.sexybackbootcamps.com

Lace Up For Boot Camp!

H

HEALTHY LIVING

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THE DIRTY DOZEN (Highest in Pesticides)1. Peaches 2. Apples 3. Sweet bell peppers 4. Celery 5. Nectarines 6. Strawberries 7. Cherries 8. Lettuce 9. Grapes (imported) 10. Pears 11. Spinach 12. Potatoes

THE CLEAN DOZEN (Lowest in Pesticides)1. Onions 2. Avocado 3. Sweet Corn (frozen) 4. Pineapple 5. Mango 6. Sweet Peas (frozen) 7. Asparagus 8. Kiwi 9. Bananas 10. Cabbage 11. Broccoli 12. EggplantBy- Helen Fu - Holistic Health Counselor, Speaker & Writer (913) 400-2021

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PEOPLE

Local ArtistSpotlight:Anna Strickland

ne in a Million!There are times, in the course of a

writer’s duty, when we are infl uenced by a person or event that we are tasked with covering; seldom, however, are we exposed to someone who’s affect on us is really enduring. Anna Strickland had such an affect on me. You see, Anna is that vary rare combination of massive talent and genuine humility. You know, the kind we read about in literature, but believe that a contemporary version of this character cannot really exist.

Anna was born on Christmas day, 1991, at Saint Luke’s on the Plaza. Her artistic accomplishments started as early as 1st grade when she won her fi rst of multiple “Young Author Awards”. She soon turned to drawing, where she not only won tops in Olathe Schools for 9th & 10th grades, but also “Best in Show” for both. For her 11th grade entry, this last year, she turned from drawing to an incredible essay on Martin Luther King. Again Miss Strick-land won fi rst place for her grade, and again, “Best in Show”.

Her talent is clear, but as she acknowl-edges, “ability is only a beginning; it is not its end.” A devoted Christian, Anna has developed the kind of character usu-ally reserved for those who have endured through a lifetime of adversity. She fondly remembers her six months in Kenya with her father. She was fi ve at the time, “We were doing mission work.” She remarked as she smiled.

I asked her where she got the inspiration for her work; her reply was simple, “I’m in love with life.” When asked about her plans for her future, she said, “To lead a disciplined life - focused and purposeful, to have compassion, and to be humble.” One in a million.

GeGi,My daughter wont eat! She thinks she's fat, even though she is very skinny. She use to be a bit on the overweight side. Then one day she decided she was going to diet and start exercising. Turns out it was prompted by several “fat” jokes and a cruel remark she mentioned to me from a boy at school, who poked her in the stomach to which followed the words “Your stomach's fat!” Now she is a size zero,has lost at least 25 lbs, and she is only 12. Please help as I am worried this could continue and become a more serious health issue. Thank You! - Desperate Daughter DietHello Desperate DD!Well, I think it is an urgent situation and maybe you should take her to your family doctor to make sure she has not reached an unhealthy or dangerous state. Assuming that she is stable, fi rst and foremost I will tell you "You are the parent". So decide to make some decisions now as to your daughter's well being.First, break out the arsenal in your “Parental Tool Box”: Negotiation, reward system, consequences,etc...Second, I would suggest learning how many calories she needs to maintain a healthy weight and discuss this goal with her everyday.I think it is important to let her know you are okay with her watching her diet, eating healthy, and maintaining a good weight as needed. Life is about bal-ancing all kinds of things, so this good be a good learning experience.I also think it is important to encourage her and boost her confi dence every chance you can. Compliment, compliment, and compliment! Young girls need tons of affi rmation. It is unfortunate, but true for most of them. The best place for them to receive positive love and recognition starts at home. - GeGi

Corner

Have a question for GeGi? Email [email protected]

alent is clear but as she acknow

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PEOPLE - OPINION

Universal Health or Universal Death???by Brian Boeger

F

� 2009

D’ARCOD’ARCOby

or decades our elected offi cials have been looking to reform the Health Care System in the United

States. Overwhelming results indicate that Americans want some kind of health care reform. Looking at Universal Health Care is like looking at a cake. Until you have really tasted it, what do you really know….and then, of course, it is too late. Before we dive into our cake, let’s look at some of the ingredients and not just the frosting.

WHO'S COVERED: Around 94 per-cent of non-elderly residents (those not covered by Medicare, which kicks in at age 65) would be covered -- compared with 81 percent today. Nearly half of the 17 million non-elderly residents who remain uninsured would be illegal immi-grants.

COST: About $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

HOW IT'S PAID FOR: Revenue-raisers include: $544 billion from a new income tax surcharge on single people making $280,000 a year and households making $350,000 and above; $37 billion in other tax adjustments. About $500 bil-lion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. About $200 billion from penalties paid by individuals and employers who don't obtain coverage.

REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDU-ALS: Individuals must have insurance, enforced through tax penalty with hard-ship waivers. The penalty is 2.5 percent of income.

REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOY-ERS: Employers must provide insurance to their employees or pay a penalty of 8 percent of payroll. Companies with pay-roll under $250,000 annually are exempt.

SUBSIDIES: Individuals and families with annual income up to 400 percent of poverty level ($88,000 for a family of four) would get sliding-scale subsidies to help them buy coverage. The subsidies would begin in 2013.

HOW YOU CHOOSE YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE: Through a new Health Insurance Exchange open to indi-viduals and, initially, small employers; it could be expanded to large employers over time. States could opt to operate their

own exchanges in place of the national exchange if they follow federal rules.

BENEFIT PACKAGE: A committee would recommend an "essential benefi ts package" including preventive services, mental health services, oral heath and vision for children; out-of pocket costs would be capped. The new benefi t pack-age would be the basic benefi t package offered in the exchange and over time would become the minimum quality standard for employer plans. Insurers wouldn't be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

GOVERNMENT-RUN PLAN: A new public plan available through the insur-ance exchanges would be set up and run by the secretary of Health and Human Services. On average it would pay Medi-care rates plus 5 percent to doctors.

CHANGES TO MEDICAID: The federal-state insurance program for the poor would be expanded starting in 2013 to cover all non-elderly individuals with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($14,404).

What about the issues on page 425 of the bill that state seniors would have to have an every fi ve year consultation with a "board" to determine what care should be allowed to us?

85% of Americans believe that their health care system is working just fi ne. In fact, where universal health care is in place, major changes are currently taking place. Let’s take for example Canada where several private health care organi-zations are opening up so that citizens can actually pay for treatments from private doctors. The Canadian government is against this because it takes government sponsored doctors out of their universal system.

This plan is nothing more than a power grab and a money maker for Washington D.C. as well as AARP and many other?s here in the United States. I hate to say it but I believe Karl Marx would be proud of them.

We are all hungry for a bite of the cake but as my father always told me, there is no free lunch. The cost of this program will resonate throughout several future generations as does our National debt. As Donna Sommer said in one of her noted songs, “Someone left the cake out in the rain. I don’t think that I can take it cause it took so long to bake it and I’ll never have that recipe again………Oh No……..”


KC’s Foreclosure / REO Queen!

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he foreclosure market in Kansas City has been quite the roller coaster. Depending on where you look, different signs abound. Forbes recently wrote that the KC metro toped their list of Abandoned Cities with

rental vacancy rising from 11.9% to 15% over last year and that homeowner vacancy rates nearly doubling from 2.1% to 3.8%. The KC Star reported that foreclosure activity in KC declined 8.3% during the fi rst half of 2009. So while actual foreclosures are down, more people are actually leaving their homes/rentals prior to foreclosure leaving the property in a type of limbo.Reasons for the decline of actual foreclosures have a lot to do with the gov-ernment. The normal December hiatus on foreclosures was extended about 6 months by the new administration creating a type of backup and slowing the stream of new foreclosure inventory on the market. With the bailout of the banks, the government has urged the banks to be more proactive with loss mitigation to keep people in their homes through restructuring of loans. New tenant laws are allowing people to stay in the property longer while a possible solution can be reached with the homeowner.There are benefi ts to the changes that are happening:• Values of existing inventory are increased due to less inventory creating a

seller’s market• Allows homeowners to stay in their homes avoiding foreclosure by working

with the bank to restructure the loan.

• New laws are helping tenant stay in properties for up to 90 days when the property landlord goes into foreclosure

• Homeowners have better ability to short sale their property before they end up in foreclosure

While the recession has been showing signs of life, it is not over. As banks catch up on the backlog of troubled properties and wade through new laws, we’re likely to see a slow, but steady increase in foreclosure properties on the market. Don’t be surprised to see inventory levels to build back up to 2008 levels after the fi rst part of 2010. Until then, many homes remain hiding in the shadows as future inventory.

Where did all the foreclosures go?

by $ellin’ Ellen Brewood

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Beautiful 1.5 story home with curved staircase in Lenexa, KS. 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, 3 car garage, 3800+ square feet. Great nearby schools. A Must See! Under $440,000 with $150k of equity. Less than 10 years old. Ready to move in!For a private showing on this and many other listing, please contact $ellin’ Ellen Brewood at (913) 962-4100.

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