Spring is the time for storms but don’t be scared. Thunder is actually the sound of Ron Schieber giving more of your money to his favorite ball association.
From the looks of my patio door, there’s a bird with bowel control problems in my neighborhood. Poor guy needs to see a doctor.
I feel like he does not appreciate my repeated Windex washings. And I am unappreciative of his deposits. At this rate we’re never going to be friends.
Saddened to learn of the death of Pauli Kendrick, who was a longtime figure in local politics, specifically for Platte County Democrats.
Pauli was a former mayor at Weatherby Lake and she had served many years on the Platte County Democratic Central Committee, often serving as chair of the group. When you thought Democratic politics in Platte County, Pauli Kendrick’s name was at the top of the list the past 20 years or so.
Our politics didn’t always agree, obviously, but the great thing about Pauli is that you could always understand her point of view. And she presented it in such a way that it was hard to have an outwardly negative reaction to it. Political differences did not affect her mood in our conversations. We had several talks over the years, most of them over the phone, always friendly, with some laughter and maybe some polite pokes at the other’s point of view tossed in for fun. It mattered not how less-than-pleasant the local political climate may have been at the time.
As a write-in candidate for county commissioner in 2004, Pauli received 19 percent of the votes, which was an indicator of community recognition for her service.
A sidenote: Pauli Kendrick, who coincidentally worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for more than 20 years, had one of the most pleasant telephone voices I’ve ever heard. Even as she reached her 70s, I was always amazed at the youthful sound of her voice, and told her so in recent years. She seemed flattered, like she had never heard anyone say that, which I find hard to believe. That was likely Pauli being Pauli–always polite.
Until reading her obituary this week, I didn’t realize Pauli was such a nature lover and co-founder of the Platte County Land Trust. Longtime readers of this column might know in many Octobers I have made a stream of consciousness remark in this column about the leaves starting to turn and how fall is my favorite time of year, etc. It’s just a quick remark made in passing and I don’t give much thought to it having an impact or sticking with anyone. So I was taken aback several years ago when out of the blue appeared this simple nine-word Facebook post from Pauli Kendrick: “It’s not fall in Platte County without Ivan Foley.” What an amazingly kind thing to say. Of course there were beautiful fall seasons in Platte County long before me and there will continue to be beautiful fall seasons in Platte County long after I’m gone. Those words again were Pauli being Pauli, another example of her kind heart and gentle spirit.
That particular Facebook interaction several years ago I believe was our last communication. I later noticed she was no longer active on Facebook and then heard her health had started to fail, which explained the absence.
Pauli Kendrick’s willingness to stand for things she believed in, and particularly her ability to do so while always being a top flight human, is something we could use more of these days.
Sincere condolences to her husband, Ed, and all of her family and friends. She will be missed.
Speaking of kindness, here’s another example to share with you this week.
Each year since 1982, The Landmark has given a cash award to a graduating senior at Platte County R-3 High School. The honor, called The Landmark English Award, goes to a student chosen by a faculty panel as a way to foster an interest in the English language.
The cash award has ranged anywhere from $100 to $250 over the years. Now, we’re thrilled to say that newspaper’s monetary award to the recipient each year will be matched by a generous Landmark reader who wishes to remain anonymous.
We’ll let her explain her reasons for the generous act:
“Among my excellent teachers and professors in many years of formal education, four were especially inspirational in my writing. They challenged and encouraged my creative efforts and I grew to love writing as a way to express myself and entertain others,” she says. “I’m in my retirement years now. And still learning, of course, we never stop. For a long time, I’ve contemplated how I could honor these special educators by paying their inspiration forward. I discovered a way by reading The Landmark article about your award. This is a perfect opportunity to honor their gift to me.”
I’ve tried talking the generous reader into letting me publicly identify her, but to no avail. Maybe someday.
Anyway, this year’s winner of the Landmark English Award, which we announced with a front page photo last month, is Emilia Wisniewski of Platte City. Emilia’s $150 award from the newspaper has now been matched by the reader. Emilia is bound for Boston University in the fall to study journalism.
See you on Landmark Live Thursday night at 6 p.m. on Platte County Landmark Facebook page when we’ll be talking about the Platte County DWI Treatment Court program with Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd and Platte County Associate Circuit Judge Dennis Eckold. It’ll be informative and fun or your money back.
(Catch Ivan Foley washing bird deposits from patio doors or reach him via email to ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)
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