Top Ten Reasons I’m Grateful For Another Snow Day

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Everything, everyone slows down on a snow day…I think it’s Mother Nature reminding us to stop and enjoy the extraordinary gift of another day, without worrying so much about work, deadlines, to do lists, numerous errands and the usual ordinary rush-rush of a typical week. It’s a welcome break in the usual routine. Here are my Top Ten Reasons I’m Thankful for Another Snow Day in Brookside:

10. The neighbors are out–shoveling snow, visiting in the street.

9. The kids are off school–they can sleep in late and goof off all day.

8. Imaginative snow sculptures!

7. A different form of exercise today: clearing the walkway and drive.

6. Homemade hot chocolate!

5. Walking to the grocery store for supplies, I hear the silent snow.

4. It’s OK to be lazy, watch movies, bake a tasty batch of cookies.

3. Everyone seems to be in a good mood and extra friendly.

2. Impromptu dinner with whoever is around.

1. Appreciating the beauty of winter– I love Midwest living with a full four seasons!

Enjoy your snow day!!

One of my favorite Brookside homes, covered in show

Buried bird bath

Our patio table, site of so many fun backyard dinners

Governor Stumpy’s – A Brookside Restaurant for Everyone

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Kevin Ryan, owner of Gov Stumpy’s. Sitting beneath a picture of his kids!

One of the many charms of living in the Brookside/Waldo area are the locally owned shops and restaurants. Regular customers are greeted with a warm

Governor Stumpy’s in Brookside

welcome and a sincere desire to please. Newcomers are encouraged to return; their comments solicited. This is the atmosphere of Governor Stumpy’s at 321 E Gregory. And it’s all because of the owner/operator, Kevin Ryan.

Whenever I am driving potential homebuyers around the Brookside/Waldo neighborhoods, they always comment on how much they like the fact that residents can walk to various services. Governor Stumpy’s is perfectly situated on the corner of Gregory and Oak, within easy walking or biking distance from the nearby homes. I love to enjoy a meal on the outdoor deck during the warmer months. Plus, families with children are very comfortable here.

Kevin started out in the restaurant business working for Tippin’s. After working for years for someone else, he decided to open his own place in 1997. The Stumpy’s location was the site of the old Leonard’s restaurant. After an extensive renovation and opening with a more formal atmosphere–the place almost didn’t make it. Kevin soon learned the patrons wanted a casual restaurant, so he revamped the place to cater to what his customers wanted.

When you walk in Governor Stumpy’s, you get that “Cheers” (TV show) sort of feeling. Someone always says ‘hello’ and service is attentive. If you come in often, the staff will learn your name. You can sit at the bar and watch a game or strike up a conversation with the bartender. Slip into a comfortable booth and order from the reasonably priced food menu: pizza, pastas, appetizers, burgers, salads and sandwiches. Ryan says his best sellers include the baby back ribs, Posnanski’s Chicken Spedini Pasta and the Reuben.

Patrick Ryan, owner of Gov Stumpy’s. Sitting beneath a picture of his kids!

Ryan lives in Lees Summit with his wife and three kids. He loves the restaurant and has worked very hard to make it a success. He’s thought about opening additional locations but doesn’t want to give up his current ‘quality of life’. Sometimes he works days, sometimes nights, and he can arrange his schedule to be around for family events, sports practices, homework, etc. If he had another restaurant it would cut into his family time too much. He’s quite comfortable with the way it all balances out right now.

What’s next for Governor Stumpy’s? Ryan has plans to enclose the deck this year and wants to bring back the Celtic Block Party he used to host annually over the Memorial Day weekend. He’s looking for a benefactor for that event. The menu still features a quarterly special series of food items that benefit a local charity (currently Big Brothers and Big Sisters). Ryan is also participating in the local Dancing with the Stars competition to benefit Cristo Rey High School. He’s been practicing with a professional dancer and hopes to raise the most money during the event on March 29. (You can vote early here, and watch a short promo video below.)

The next time you think ‘let’s go out and grab a bite to eat’ –think about stopping by Governor Stumpy’s. Thank you for supporting locally owned Brookside/Waldo businesses!

University Academy – A Successful Brookside Charter School

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

University Academy

Because my older daughter is pursuing a teaching career after college, I try to keep up with local public school news and national educational issues. I’m closely watching the CEE-Trust proposal presented to the KCMO public school district, and I’ve blogged about Hale Cook Elementary. I’m aware of the excellent reputation Academie Lafayette has–so good there is a waiting list for entry. I didn’t know much about the University Academy at 6801 Holmes. So, last week I toured the school and had a lengthy talk with Executive Director and Superintendent Tony Kline.

UA Kindergarten Class

University Academy is a college preparatory charter public school, funded by KCMO tax dollars and sponsored by UMKC. This attractive brick building opened in 2004, and has 1050 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It is an impressive facility–modern, clean, with lots of light, updated equipment and a beautiful theater. Eighty percent of the students receive a free or reduced lunch program,and 96% of the students are African American. I suspect these stats are similar to several Kansas City MO public schools but with one big difference – UA kids have much higher overall MAP test scores. The UA Upper School also received a Bronze Medal for the second consecutive year from U.S. News and World Report.

What is the key to University Academy’s success?

Tony Kline

The number one thing, Mr Kline told me, is this school does not engage in ‘social promotion’–they will not move a child to the next grade level until s/he has sufficiently mastered the current grade level. This school also emphasizes, from early grades on, that every child will attend college–and the teachers prepare the students accordingly. Junior and senior high students take ‘college seminar’: a daily class that teaches the kids how to research and apply to colleges, how to write entrance essays and pursue scholarships. These students receive intense tutoring for ACT tests and take field trips to various colleges and universities outside the KC area. Every acceptance letter is proudly displayed on classroom windows. In addition, all class sizes are small, averaging around 20 persons each, and teacher turnover is low. Behavior incidents are few (mostly “social media drama”, according to Mr Kline), and all students follow a dress code. There is an expectation here that every child can succeed academically, and the schoolwork it takes to make it happen will be done. Parental support is very important, as well as individual student motivation.

The kids here have some great extra-curricular activities too: UA boasts an accomplished athletic and performing arts program, and just launched a middle school/high school robotics team this year. I was impressed by the unique student-created ceramic art displayed around the school.

UA Library

Like Academie Lafayette, there is a spring lottery for entrance to the school. Demand is greater than the supply of spots available. And students should start UA as a kindergarteners –it is challenging to transfer here from another school as there are very few open slots and attrition is low. UA also offers on site dental and medical clinics, sponsored by UMKC and Children’s Mercy Hospital. And through the generosity of the school’s supporters, every graduate is eligible for ongoing scholarships each semester they are enrolled in college. The graduating class of 2013 received a combined $1.35 million in scholarships among the 40 students.

What’s the next goal for Mr Kline? He would like to someday add a preschool, but that would mean adding another building. He would also like to see the school more racially diverse. Kline is well aware that many Brookside area families jump the state line to attend Kansas public schools, or pay expensive tuition bills for private school due to serious issues with the Kansas City Public School system.

His challenge–even with the academic achievement recognition, college prep curriculum and a state of the art building in a convenient location–is finding incentives for parents to consider his school before making the decision to move or attend private school.

KCMO Sewer Line Insurance–More Details on How It Works

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Mary Hutchison

Happy New Year everyone! For the first blog of 2014…part two of my experiences with Sewer Line Warranties of America. You can read the first post here. SLWOFA offers insurance policies for Brookside/Waldo homeowners regarding water and sewer lines outside the home. Recently I spoke with a ‘warranty specialist’ with some questions about making a claim and how they choose their contractors. Jessica was very helpful and spent a lot of time on the phone with me. Here’s what I found out:

I asked her how SLWOFA selects their vendors. She said the company uses Plus One Solutions to check out the contractors–they make sure all are drug tested, licensed, insured and bonded. Contractors are locally based in the specific area they serve. She would not share the contractor list with me, saying it was ‘proprietary information’, and added if there was a contractor I thought should be added to the list, that person call SLWOFA. She did confirm some of their contractors sub-contract the work. Jessica said the work most sub-contracted was excavation, as that requires heavy equipment many plumbers don’t have. (This isn’t how it worked with my neighbors who made a claim earlier this year, FYI. A subcontractor did all the work–read details in the blog link above). However, Jessica stated that the company does guarantee work done by both contractor and subcontractor. She also said they do rotate work among all the contractors on their preferred list of vendors.

I was curious as to what happens if there is a claim for service without a clogged pipe initiating a service call. What happens if you have the insurance in place and decide to send a camera down your sewer line as preventative measure–to see if there are already breaks in the line, tree roots growing through, etc? Jessica explained SLOFWA would schedule a second inspection of the sewer line with one of their preferred vendors. Depending upon the outcome of the second inspection, choices would be made about the work needed. If Inspector #1 suggested a complete replacement of the sewer line and Inspector #2 (provided by SLOFWA) said just a repair is needed, it would be up to the homeowner to decide what to do. SLOFWA would pay for the repair only, not the replacement. I also asked “what if the homeowner wants to use his own contractor–one that isn’t on the list?”. She said they can authorize a pay-out, especially if the contractor the homeowner wants to use will charge more.

Here’s the bottom line as I see it: the insurance is relatively inexpensive, and if there is a problem, you can make a claim to cover the fix, ultimately spending less. However, as a homeowner you should get two opinions about the repair, and then be very aggressive as to what will permanently solve the blockage. There are some plumbers who may tell you a $8000 complete pipe replacement is needed when just a partial pipe replacement will do. Usually insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible regarding claims. It can be time consuming dealing with contractors and subcontractors. If you have a problem with your sewer line and have the SLOFWA insurance, make detailed notes about every conversation you have with any representative who is connected with the repair. Get a second opinion. Ask if the entire job will be subcontracted. Be comfortable with the local contractor SLOFWA sends out. As a customer and homeowner, you want to make sure the job is done right! If you are thinking of buying the insurance, be sure to read the FAQ on the SLOFWA website first.

Two Big Events in Brookside/Waldo – Saturday Sept 21, 2013

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Another big weekend for outdoor events coming up…just about everyone visits the Plaza Art Fair, now in it’s 82cd year. However, there are two local happenings in our area on Saturday to note. Even if you don’t participate, be aware as there will be streets blocked off and traffic re-routed at two key areas of Brookside and Waldo.

Strut Your Mutt, Brookside

Strutt Your Mutt, a benefit for Wayside Waifs, is Saturday Sept 21, starting at 8am. There are three ‘races’ — one 5K race with dogs, one without, and the traditional 3K walk. The center of the event is at 62cd Terrace and Brookside Plaza (near JULIAN, Foo’s Frozen Custard, etc), and the participants will be using Brookside Blvd from this area going north to 51st St and parts of Oak St. Expect traffic re-routing around Brookside Blvd. most of the morning. Brookside is a dog lover’s neighborhood, and this is a really fun day with music, contests and lots of folks just hanging out to people (and dog) watch!

(Between the Plaza Art Fair, Strutt Your Mutt and the Brookside Farmer’s Market traffic–plan to avoid Brookside Blvd on Saturday morning.)

Also on Saturday is the annual Waldo Fall Festival, at 75th St and Wornall (the parking lot near Aldi and CVS Pharmacy).

Waldo Fall Festival

From 10am-5pm, you can enjoy live music, a dog show, pancake breakfast, kids’ activities (moonwalk, train) and the ever popular food trucks. If you have a story to tell about Waldo, sign up in advance to participate in the Waldo oral history project here. Wornall Road and 75th St. is always a very busy intersection, and it will be even more congested on Saturday. Avoid the traffic back ups by parking a few blocks away and walking to the festivities.

It’s going to be a beautiful Fall weekend in our neighborhood…enjoy!

Brookside’s Current Sewer Line Project

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Wondering what’s going on with the street construction around Meyer west of Wornall Road? It’s not the huge federally mandated sewer improvement project, although the work does affect sewer lines. The official title is “Brookside Watershed Area Storm and Sanitary Sewer Improvements, Phase 3B”. And here’s what that means:

In Brookside, some sewer lines are combined — storm sewers and sanitary sewers join together to feed into Brush Creek. During heavy rains, this type of line can cause sewer backups for homeowners in the area. So the “Brookside Watershed Area” project is a type of flood control, with the goal of alleviating sanitary sewer back up flooding in residential basements. The contractor is repairing these underground pipes and/or replacing them. The KCMO Water Department employees are not doing the work; it has been outsourced to Blue Nile Contractors. It started in May of this year, and won’t be finished …until May of 2015. So prepare yourself for several more months of ripped up streets, sidewalks, and detours.

Streets affected in Phase 3B are:

Valley Road from W 65th north to W 62 Terrace

Meyer west of Wornall

Greenway Terrace

Pennsylvania north of Meyer

Wornall from huntington to W 57 Terrace

W 58 Terrace west of Wornall

Funding is coming from PIAC dollars (which is funded by taxpayers). The next phase of the project is 3C, which will also affect homeowners west of Wornall.

It is up to the contractor to notify homeowners in the area that their streets and sidewalks will be torn up for this infrastructure project. Notifications can be made by using fliers, doorknockers and public meetings. However, homeowners may not be notified exactly when work will begin on a certain street. I used to live on W 58th Terrace, one of the blocks currently being worked on, and I checked with a friend still on the block about how he was notified of the project. He told me he received a general mailing back in May–basically a fact sheet from the CIty with a description of the project and contact numbers. That was all. So, I suppose it’s up to the individual homeowners to call and find out exactly when their street will be affected in order to plan ahead.

Here’s a link to the fact sheet on the project:

https://www.kcwaterservices.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/BrooksideStorm+SanitarySewerImprovementsPhase3B_ProjectOverview.pdfEre’s

Should You Purchase Water and Sewer Line Insurance in KCMO?

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

In yesterday’s Kansas City Star, there was a lengthy article explaining that KCMO homeowners can now purchase insurance for their water and sewer lines. A link to the article is here, I am not sure how long it will remain an active link.

Most of the older homes in Kansas City have clay tile pipes for sewer waste, dating back to when the house was built. These tiles, over the decades, can crack, collapse, and become blocked due to tree roots winding through the pipes. Many homeowners have to occasionally snake out their pipes to keep them free of clogs–but sometimes, they break and must be replaced. A broken sewer line is always an expensive repair–usually several thousands of dollars. As a real estate agent, I’ve had to deal with this situation many times.

Our household received the letter advertising the program, endorsed by the City of Kansas City, and I’m not going to comment about the fact that the City is endorsing a private company service, or that KCMO receives a monetary kickback from every warranty purchased by residents. What should be investigated by the potential customer is the level of service and reputation of Service Line Warranties of America, the company offering the insurance.

If you are thinking about purchasing a policy, here are some suggested questions to ask before signing up:

*Where do the pipes on your property connect to the main sewer line? Is it in the front of the house going into the street or in the back of the home along an easement?

*Do the lines run under concrete (such as a patio or driveway) or under a grassy area? (replacing pipes under concrete can cost much more)

*Which local companies does the insurer work with to replace the sewer lines?

*Is there a warranty after the work is done?

*What if you need to make a claim during the winter when several inches of snow cover your property and the ground is frozen? Are there extra charges?

*Will they provide a copy of the service contract for your review prior to committing to the policy?

The cost of the insurance seems reasonable, less than $150 per year if you sign up before June 27. If your sewer line connection breaks, you have a problem that must be dealt with immediately, so there is that peace of mind, knowing there’s someone to call that will provide emergency service. Still, it’s a good idea to ask these questions now if you are thinking of buying a policy. Any reputable local plumbing company has dealt with repairing a broken sewer line. Be sure Service Line Warranties of America provides you with plenty of information before you send that check!

This Weekend in Kansas City: Plaza Art Fair and Waldo Fall Festival

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Mary Hutchison

It’s here…one of the MOST FUN weekends to live in Kansas City! Everyone likes a vibrant, entertaining outdoor festival, and this weekend offers two events to enjoy:

Plaza Art Fair 2012

The 81st Annual Plaza Art Fair is happening Friday (5pm-10pm), Saturday (10am-10pm) and Sunday (11am-5pm) on the Country Club Plaza. Walk along the streets offering 240 artists’ booths, three different music stages and a kids art workshop sponsored by the Kansas City Art Institute. One of my favorite parts of the fair is snacking my way through the food booths–delicious street food of all types from local and national restaurants. The Plaza Art Fair is also ideal for people watching–you’re bound to bump into someone you know here. And be sure to check out local band She’s A Keeper, performing at 2:30pm Sunday at the INK stage, near Plaza III Steakhouse. She’s A Keeper plays catchy, melodic songs featuring Brookside resident Colin Nelson.

The Waldo Fall Festival is a smaller gathering but just as much of a good time. Very family oriented, the Waldo event offers a dog show, a family bike ride, local business vendor booths and Mr Stinky Feet Jim

Waldo Fall Festival

Cosgrove performing on stage. There will be food, giveaways and kids’ activities too. The Waldo Fall Festival is Saturday from 10am-5pm at the corner of 75th and Wornall.

With warm and sunny weather forecast for the weekend, both of these festivals will be packed with people. Join your friends and neighbors this weekend for the Plaza Art Fair and Waldo Fall Festival!

Google Fiber Coming to Brookside – Part 2

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Mary Hutchison

I wanted to write about a few more things I learned at the Google Fiber neighborhood association meeting on Monday night. Google Fiber is the fastest internet speed there is, 1000Mb per second, which is 100 times faster than what consumers have right now. Google chose Kansas City KS and Kansas City MO to roll out this service, which you can register for now at the website.

You can read part one of my blog about Google Fiber at the top of this page. Other information about Google Fiber for reference:

*The ‘fiberglass box’ bringing the service to your home will be attached to the house, and stays with the house. You will have one fiber box per TV set.

Google Fiber boxes

*Google says they will ‘work with the neighborhoods’ as to the placement of the service huts in each neighborhood location. I am concerned about this because of the unsightly AT&T UVerse boxes that were plopped on the easement and 68th St and Main in Armour Hills, which is not only an eyesore but blocks the view of oncoming cars.

* Users will have a regular remote control stick and a tablet for TV control . (I was not allowed to take a picture of the tablet, but it’s about the size of a Kindle and very easy to use).

*You will not need a router or a server with this service. You will have three small boxes, one for storage, another for cable and a third for DVR service.

*Four computers can be served by one network box.

*You can find a list of available TV channels on the website. Right now, premium channels (like HBO) are not listed. ESPN and AMC aren’t on the list either. But Google is still negotiating, and feels these channels will be available eventually.

Google welcomes anyone interested in this service to stop by their local headquarters at 1814 Westport Road for a demonstration. It’s very impressive–you can test out the mega-fast internet connection and the bright, hi-def TV service. There’s plenty of Google staff to chat with you and answer questions… and it’s a very relaxing, inviting space to hang out and play with the new toys! Hours are Sunday-Friday 12noon-8pm and Saturday 10am-8pm, 1814 Westport Road at State Line.

Having Google Fiber access to the KC metro area is going to change the way we work, play, and entertain ourselves. The rest of the nation will be watching how we use this service and what happens as a result. Even if you don’t think you have the need for faster internet service–if you plan on moving in the next few years, sign up. I believe it will add to the value of your home if it’s connected to Google Fiber.

Louis CK: Give Kansas City Another Chance!

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Mary Hutchison

I really like the FX show Louie. Loosely based on the life of comedian Louis CK, this show is about Louie as a stand up comedian, raising his two girls in New York City and trying to find a significant other to share life’s daily struggles. It’s not a true comedy, it’s not a strict drama, it’s…unusual. It’s a combination of things: hilarious, sad, odd, surreal, preachy, extremely personal, raw, sweet and touching. FX gives Louis CK complete creative control over the show–so the star writes, edits and produces the show himself. And it’s been nominated for several Emmys this year.

Louie — TV show on FX

So in last Thursday’s episode (airdate: August 2, 2012), Louie is doing a phone interview with a radio station to promote his (fictional) upcoming shows in Kansas City at Stanford and Sons because the ticket sales are slow. After some very funny, undecipherable banter with the DJs, Louie blurts out how much he hates Kansas City. He says, in part, “Kansas CIty is the worst town I’ve ever been in…what a dump. It’s the worst city in North America, and that includes Canada and Mexico”. After this rant, the radio hosts end the interview. This is the third time I’ve heard Louie rag on about Kansas City –why does he keep bringing it up that he hates it here?

I think it was on Marc Maron’s podcast WTF? that I first heard Louie tell a story about his horrible experience in KC. It was something like: he did a show, got high after with the staff, and then got lost trying to get back to his hotel. I don’t remember exactly. But it was clear he had a horrible time. Then, earlier this year he was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and ranted about it again. Now he’s dissing us on the TV show. Really, Louie, was every visit here so bad that you have to keep harping on it? You haven’t been back since to give us another chance? Don’t you know we just hosted the All Star Game? We were chosen to be the first city to have the Google superfast fiber network? Hey, we have some culture and it IS possible to have a good time here! Other comedians from the area love it when they come home (Rob Riggle, Jason Sudekis, Paul Judd, Eric Stonestreet)..maybe you aren’t hanging with the fun crowd during your visits??

Louie, come back to Kansas City. Skip the comedy club. Do a show in my backyard (that’s very trendy now for up and coming touring musicians–they love the intimate atmosphere) and bring the girls–they can play in the park down the block. I’ll invite all my friends who love your show and your unique style of comedy. Before the show, we can grab some BBQ at Oklahoma Joe’s (your kind of place–it’s housed in a gas staton). After the show, we’ll walk to Foos for frozen custard–I know how much you love ice cream! Your agent can book you at one of our fancy hotels (yes, we do have them, you’ll be treated well). I’ll give you a city tour–you can see our beloved Shuttlecocks, cruise the Country Club Plaza, and we’ll do the art walk if you are here on the first Friday of the month. Sit by yourself in a coffee shop and see how many people give you a warm smile. Nope, Kansas City is not New York..but it does have a lot to offer, and I’ll bet you’ll be surprised the good time you’ll have here. Be more…open-minded.

Louis, you’ve finally made the big time…and did it your way. Don’t get caught now in the bubble of unending adoration, yes men all around, playing all big theaters for mucho bucks, just seeing each city from the limo window and concierge level. Remember what a good time you had hanging in Miami? You can experience the same in Kansas City…give us another chance!!

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

What's Happening In Brookside and Waldo (Kansas City, Missouri)

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