About Saint Joseph's Saint Joseph Mo

Last Thursday was the kick-off for 2010 St Joseph Regional Association of REALTORS® members in St Joseph. President Mary Kay Lyle, exciting theme for the event was

"THE FUTURE'S SO BRIGHT-YOU GOTTA WEAR SHADES"

Fellow Realtors®, Bobbie Jo Howe and Scott Mears wasted no time in capturing the spirit of the event.

The highlight of the event,was a presentation by 2001 President of the National Association of REALTORS® Richard Mendenhall. Richard is a REALTOR from Columbia, Mo, and is the fifth generation of his family in real estate. He is the owner of Remax Boone Realty in Columbia.

During his term as NAR President, Richard spearheaded the establishment of the Realtors® Housing Relief Fund one day after the September 11th terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon. Mendenhall mobilized the 1,000,000+ member organization in a rapid response to establish funds to help pay mortgage and rent costs for victim's families. The focus of the keynote presentation was Courage.

Richard shared his belief that courage is a common trait shared by REALTORS®. He pointed out that REALTORS® get out of bed and go to work every day not knowing if they will earn a paycheck or not. This takes courage! He said that average people, like REALTORS®, are the real heroes in today's world.

A few other highlights: *Highest affordability in 35 years *Lowest conventional in 40 years *Approximately 1.2-1.4 million new house-holds each year

National Association of REALTORS Housing Affordability Index *2006 107.6 *2008 134.9 *2009 167.7 *Midwest region 211.8

Richard pointed out that in the fast paced world we live in today some things quickly became obsolete in the last 10 years:

1. Film Development
2. Movie Rental
3. Land-line Phones
4. Long Distance Charges
5. Public Pay Phones
6. VCR's
7. Books, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias
8. Boundaries
9. Loosing Touch

Currently the second Ranking Seach Engine is YouTube

I-pod applications downloads hit 1 billion in 9 months

The St Joseph Regional Association of REALTORS, suprised President Mary Kay Lyle with a oversized Birthday cake. Happy Birthday Mary Kay!

Richard Mendenhall's presentation for the St Joseph event

Yesterday, I stopped in to visit Erica Garrison at the Comfort Center and see their new 3,000+ sq. ft. show room located at 1804 North Belt Highway, St Joseph MO.

The Comfort Center opened in 1980 as a fireplace store in a 200 sq. ft. building and sold wood stoves. They now carry a large selection of wood, gas and pellet stoves, inserts and outdoor kitchen islands.

Keeping up with the latest trends, in 1986 The Comfort Center added this first inground pool display. Now with four pools and a gazebo, they have created an outdoor pool park where customers can browse and get a feel for their own backyard look.

The Comfort Center offers above and inground pools, spas, and all your chemicals in just one store.

The Comfort Center is known in St Joseph for "building your backyard dreams."

Stop in to see Erica or visit their online store.

Please read this touching story about Matt Ziesel a young man that "Just wants to play football" that became a media sensation overnight. 

Matt Ziesel is a freshman at Benton High School in St Joseph, Mo, who loves to play football.

Last Friday night displayed what true sportsmanship truly is about in a freshman game against Maryville.  The score was 46-0 which was a lost game for Benton but a winner for sportsmanship, coaches and all the players that night, along with Matt Ziesel who just wants to play football!

With 19 seconds left in a meaningless game, Benton Freshman Coach Dan McCamy, approached Maryville's coaches with the idea of allowing Matt to enter the game and score a touchdown.  At first bewiltered by Mr. McCamy's advances the Spoofhounds' staff agreed.

Matt sprinted down the sideline, with Coach McCamy giving encouragement, and Maryville's players feigning attempts to tackle him.

Matt's father, Mike, Benton's activities director witnessed the game but his wife was out of town so Mr. McCamy decided to put the video on the internet for Mike's wife to see.

Matt has Down syndrome and Doctors had advised his parents that he probably shouldn't play football, due to the dangers of physical contact. 

Matt watches the video and sees a touchtown regardless of the circumstances.

Matt just wants to play football!

To the Maryville and Benton players, and coaches, Thank You, for making this happen for Matt!

Yesterday, having a little extra time I visited Mann's Nursery in St Joseph

         Fall Mums are ready to burst in color with choices in many colors

       I have known Roger Mann since he first started in business over 15 years ago

with a John Deere tractor and a push mower doing "custom mowing." 

       Today, Mann's Lawn and Landscaping covers acres of nursery products,

landscaping rocks, bulk mulch, irrigation systems a floral shop and much more.

      With my shopping for Mums complete and starting to leave,

Roger ask me if I would like to see a waterfall his company had just completed

                   (You have got to be kidding me, I would love to go!) 

                                            Just follow me

                  This landscaping and waterfall is absolutely beautiful

    What could be more enjoyable than a waterfall and a fishpond in your backyard

                     additional information on Mann's Landscaping

                             information on St. Joseph

Today I stopped by the Hinterland Mall's Store Grand Opening, on the South Belt Highway in St Joseph MO, the parking lot was bumper to bumper cars with curious shoppers anxious to see what was in the new store.

Hinterland Mall is a really cool store, which features New Furniture, Antiques, Crafts and so much more.

As I was browsing the individual booths it became obvious that shoppers loved the homemade candles, creative crafts and antiques as they carried their new finds around the store including myself that was so reasonably priced.

The store reminded me of my grandmother house years ago, Depression Glassware, the colored Fiesta dishes, Walnut Marble Top Tables, Crocks, crocheted dollies, framed original old prints. For a second, I almost could smell the homemade cinnamon rolls she used to bake from scratch for the grandkids with the flour that came in a cloth sack.

Hinterland Mall has a wide assortment of new sofas, chairs, lamps, tables along with additional new furnishings.

Upon leaving the store I visited with Tim Shafer the General Manager at Hinterland Mall for a second. Tim said the mall is currently adding additional booth space along with glass display cases.

Hinterland Mall is Open 9-6 Daily and located at 3201 South Belt Highway, St Joseph MO