News From My Lawn Guy

August 2008
RYAN's Landscape Guide
Making the most of your environmental space


In This Issue
Weed Control is Tough

Sycamore Anthracnose

Fall Seeding

Landscape Pests

Bed Weed Control

Landscape Calendar

At a Glance
Mowing Guidelines:
Bluegrass: 2-2.5"
Fescue: 2.5-3"
Zoysia/Bermuda: 0.5-2"

Watering Guidelines:
70-80 degrees:
1" every 5-7 days
80-90 degrees:
1" every 3-5 days
90-100 degrees:
1" every 2-3 days

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Current Conditions
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RYAN's Green Tip

We've had a wet spring, but now it's starting to get dry. Make the most of your watering by watering at sunrise to minimize evaporation and disease incidence.
Weed Control is Tough this Time of Year
Be Patient

We've had a wet spring, which has led to lots of weeds. Weed control is included as part of your lawn care program. Hot temperatures can slow the weed control process because weeds (like all plants) slow their growth when it is hot and dry. Since growth is slowed, they do not absorb our weed control products as quickly. As a result, more time may be required to achieve satisfactory results. Your patience is appreciated.

As always, if you find weeds coming up between applications, give us a call. We'll send your RYAN Pro out to take care of them. Remember, service calls are free for customers on a full program.
Stop Sycamore Anthracnose
Treat Sycamores now

We had a cool, wet spring, which is the perfect environment for the fungus that causes antracnose. Sycamore anthracnose is seldom fatal, but can be a big nuisance, affecting hundreds of sycamore trees every year. We can help protect your tree from this disease.

Homeowners with unprotected sycamores are already noticing dead leaves and twigs falling (dead twigs and limbs are a more serious problem that can result from this disease.)

RYAN can treat your sycamore with a plant protection product every other year in late summer. The first treatment will start attacking the fungus in the live twigs and protect branches from damage due to infection. Consecutive treatments give added protection to newly emerging leaves. This will significantly reduce premature leaf and twig drop next season.
Fall Seeding Season is Coming
Evaluate your lawn for seeding needs

Fall is the optimum time to seed your lawn. Cool season lawns often have seeding needs; look for thin areas or bare spots. This is also the best time to eliminate poorly performing grass-types by converting to improved grass species.

If you find you have areas that need seeding, choose your seed wisely. Great lawns start with the best grass; we have Gold Tag seed available for purchse (if you want to seed yourself.)

If you are interested in RYAN seeding, call today for an estimate.
Late Summer Landscape Pests
Regular monitoring key to control

Fall Webworm
Fall webworm nests dot fall landscapes every year. The second generation appears from late July to late September. Look for webbing on the outer branches of trees. Unlike tent caterpillars, webworms feed inside their webs; as food is consumed, they enlarge their nests.

Since damage occurs so late in the season, control is optional. High populations can completely defoliate host plants, but plants recover without incident.

The best control is to remove and destroy infested portions of branches while webs are small. This can be done by pruning or using a pole with a hook. Stick the pole with a nail inserted crossways into individual webs. Twist the pole after insertion and remove the nest.

Yellow Necked Caterpillars
Yellow necked caterpillars are still affecting landscapes. They attack a broad range of plants including fruit trees, hickory, beech, birch, elm, maple and walnut.

Homeowners need to be vigilant in monitoring their landscape plants as they can be destroyed quickly by these pests. Yellow necked caterpillar eggs (layed in masses in late June or early July,) hatch at the the same time. This means trouble for unsuspecting homeowners because caterpillars feed in groups.

Contact RYAN for assistance controlling landscape pests.
Fall Bed Weed Control
Spend less time weeding next season

Every year homeowners spend hours pulling weeds out of landscape beds. Consider reducing the time you spend pulling weeds next season by adding our preemergent bed weed control to your program.

Our bed weed control applications can achieve 90 percent control of both broadleaf and grassy weeds. For the best control, we recommend two applications, one in the fall and one in the spring.

Contact your RYAN Pro to add this service to your program.
Landscape Calendar: August
• Mow regularly with a sharp mower blade. You should be mowing at least once a week.
• Inspect your landscape for signs of disease. Call RYAN now for a preventative control program next season.
• Water every 1-5 days, depending on the heat, to keep plants and lawn from drying out.
• Water flowerbeds and lightly fertilize annual flowers.
• Look for seeding needs. Call RYAN for Gold Tag seed.
• Aerate zoysia and bermuda now. Mow these lawns short (0.5-2") throughout the season.
• Keep hummingbird feeders clean and filled with nectar.
• Fill the birdbath to invite birds into your landscape.

How To Select A Home Inspector

How Do You Select the Right Home Inspector?
As sure as the spring flows at The Fountain of Youth, home inspecting provides a stream of knowledge to wash away the fears of home buyers. But fear may be replaced by frustration if the wrong inspector is chosen! Some pointers on selecting your next home inspector will go a long way toward making the process a happy one.
1) Be sure to ask how long the inspector has been in the inspection business. Longevity gives comfort that the company will be with you in the future as new needs and issues arise.
2) How many inspections has the inspector personally performed? This is important! An inspector may have been in business for 5 years but inspected less than a dozen homes. Your home buying decision is far too important to be a practice place for a part-time inspector.
3) Confirm that your inspector has experience in homes similar to the home you are having inspected. All homes have some systems and features in common, but a new home in Johnson county has risks and issues that differ from an historic beauty on Ward Parkway. Only someone who has walked the walk and crawled the crawl numerous times in similar homes can sleuth out those important items.
4) Is your inspector ASHI certified? In our states, the business of home inspection is unregulated. This makes it especially important to verify professional credentials and experiences before making a selection. If they aren’t certified they don’t want to learn!
5) Ask when the report will be delivered. Often the buying decision is time critical, you want to be sure you will receive your completed report in time to read, review, and respond. The best companies can deliver the report to you right at the home as the inspection is completed.
6) Does the completed report include photographs? Often the report will contain descriptions of damage or defect in locations of the home that only the inspector was able to access, like rooftops or crawl spaces. You will want pictures of these areas to make your understanding of the scope and location of the damage clear. It also makes repairs simpler to get estimated when a photograph is available.
7) Lastly, be sure to attend the home inspection, watch the process, and ask lots of questions - the history of your home will unfold before your very eyes!
Our beautiful country is rich in homes and heritage, and your home inspector can help you to know the past and enjoy the future in your new home!

First Choice Home Inspections: 816-554-1199

First Time Buyers Beware: That Only Happens On Television

I've been showing a lot of first time buyers lately that have been watching a lot of television shows that show home remodeling, home decorating, and home buying.

Don't get me wrong, most of those shows are full of useful information, remodeling and decorating ideas and they can even give you tips on things to look for when shopping for a home that could be problematic... so they can be useful.

But please keep in mind that these are nationwide shows, some are even shot in Canada, and not everything they say apply to every area of the country.

Remodeling projects that they say can be completed in a weekend would be a tough job for seasoned hands, let along two women single handedly.

One show suggests that when you find a home you want to make an offer on "low-ball them." In other words, if they are asking 225,000.00 go in and offer them 25,000.00 less right off the bat.

I'm an advocate for negotiating a good deal, but my experience has been that this type of low-balling offends the sellers. I've even had a couple of sellers even refuse to make a counter offer because they were insulted.

Work with your REALTOR®. Ask them to show you comps in the neighborhood of homes that have sold as well as those for sale. Compare them to the home you want to make an offer on and proceed with a sensible offer.

I hear more and more REALTORS® working with sellers stressing the importance of pricing homes properly to sell in this market of over abundance.

Then there are those sellers who are having to bring money to the table to even sell their homes and have very little wiggle room.

I understand everyone wants a deal but just because the television shows are telling you to "low ball and ask for your closing costs to be paid," doesn't mean that it always happens or it's the rule of thumb to follow. In my opinion that only happens every-time on television.

I work with buyers and sellers so I see, feel and understand both sides.

As a buyer if you really want the home and give an outrageously low offer on a home that is priced correctly and the sellers get offended and refuse to counter - then you have lost out on a home that you really wanted and you are disappointed. That isn't a win/win for anyone.

Work with your REALTORS® and as buyers and sellers make mindful decisions.... and remember everything that is seen on television isn't always the case.

Kansas City Home Inspectors

I don't mind telling you that 95% of my clients have chosen to used First Choice Home Inspectors when buying Kansas City Real Estate.

I have always found them to be thourough, investigative and correct in their inspections.

Now they are offering mold inspections as one of their services. Read below the effects of mold.

If you need help with your North Kansas City Real Estate needs, please call me.

Fran White, REALTOR®
816-682-3897
Reece and Nichols Residential



First Choice is Now Offering Mold Inspections!
Chris McCullough at First Choice Property Evaluations, Inc. is now certified to perform Mold inspections. We have added this service to provide a complete package of home inspection services.

We now offer Whole House, Whole House with Licensed Engineer (PE), Certified Radon Testing, Termite Inspections, Mold Inspections, Thermal Camera Inspections, Foundation and Structural Inspections.

Asthma has increased 300 percent in children in the past ten years. Research by WHO, in Germany, finds prostate cancer, breast cancer, and other cancers increasing due to mold-related problems.

Mold is the number one health problem with one in every three persons affected by mold and one in ten with a severe problem related to mold. These can range from the common cold, tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia, to cancer.
Check your home's humidity levels; buy or borrow a hygrometer and watch the changes in R.H. that occur throughout a typical day in different rooms of the house and over the heating season. To inspect your home for mold growth, winter is the best time except for basements which should also be inspected in the summer. With a flashlight and some simple tools, go through the entire house, both inside and outside, searching for moisture damage and mold growth and their potential causes.

The Stachybotrus species of mold is dangerous; it will start growing in 80 percent humidity but, once established, can grow at 55 percent humidity. This mold can develop from the decay of building materials and is much harder to control. If more than ten square feet develop, it is advised that a professional clean it up. When you see a small speck of mold, that's only part of the problem - the remainder being inside the walls.

Some of the causes of mold include: brush and trees within 30 feet of the building; venting the clothes drier inside the home; furniture against outside walls; plants and aquariums; standing water, such as keeping cold water in the kitchen sink; hot tubs; using several gallons of water to wash floors. 'Sick Building Syndrome' is caused by moisture and mold growth. It migrates through foundations up from the soil.
A dehumidifier is not the final answer as it only does the air and not the walls. What is required is a combination of ventilation, circulation and heat. Carpenter ants and termites will smell moisture from miles away and they only attack damaged wood. Ventilation alone won't help a crawl space. In the summer the vents bring in warm, moist air.

Mold forms on the coldest space. The only way to deal with it is with heat. Wall heaters with fans are more efficient than baseboard heaters.

Pull furniture and store material away from exterior walls and off basement floors; leave closet doors ajar; leave bedroom doors open as much as possible; undercut doors; don't block or deflect warm air registers; open drapes, blinds, and curtains; set the furnace fan to run continuously. This will use more electricity but can be offset by installing a two-speed energy-efficient motor; don't cut off the heating supply or close off unused rooms.

Uninsulated or poorly insulated areas such as exterior corners or foundation walls, should be improved with additional insulation. Be sure to install an air-vapor barrier, usually polyethylene, on the room side of the insulation to prevent hidden condensation behind the insulation. Seal hidden opening into the attic, tighten the attic hatch, weather-strip and caulk around windows and doors, gasket electrical outlets, caulk baseboards and seal the top of foundations. Using an air conditioner on muggy summer days also helps take out the moisture.

Humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air-conditioning units and filtration systems can be a source of mold growth if they are not regularly cleaned.

Key areas to check for moisture sources leading to condensation inside the home are roof leaks (especially at chimneys and skylights); wall leaks (especially at window sills and doors); foundation leaks (especially where the ground slopes toward the foundation); and plumbing leaks (especially at toilet bases and under sink drains).
Check any fuel-burning equipment - furnaces, hot water heaters, boilers, fireplaces and wood stoves - to ensure that they are venting properly. A blocked chimney could mean that combustion products, including large amounts of water vapor, are spilling into your house. Along with that moisture come dangerous combustion gasses, such as carbon monoxide, which cause deaths every year. Have heating equipment and venting systems checked by a trained service person.

If your moisture remedial work includes extensive air sealing, be sure that all fuel-burning equipment has an adequate supply of combustion air. High efficiency furnaces, for example, have their own air supplies and exhaust fans but conventional equipment may rely on house air for combustion and on 'natural draft' to move combustion products up the chimney flue. If starved for air or overpowered by an exhaust fan somewhere else in the house, such equipment can spill combustion gasses indoors. Examples of this include stains near the vent of a gas water heater, smoke entering the room from a wood-burning fireplace or stove, and pilot lights being blown out.

Mold growth often occurs in out-of-the-way areas like closets, corners, walls behind furniture and unused rooms. Increasing air circulation to these areas warms the cold surfaces and lowers local humidity levels.

To solve moisture problems, cover any exposed earth in a crawl space or basement with heavy polyethylene; slope soil away from foundations to keep basement walls and slab dry; patch foundation leaks; don't use humidifiers; avoid drying firewood indoors; operate bathroom exhaust fans during a shower; use your range hood exhaust when cooking; and, avoid steam-cleaning carpets in winter.

Molds are parasitic micro-organisms that appear as black, white or multi-colored stain or fuzz. In addition to causing asthma, they can cause other allergies and serious health problems. There are tens of thousand of varieties of molds and are difficult and expensive to identify, even for experts. Health officials recommend eliminating all molds from inside your home.

Most mold spores need condensation or damp materials to germinate and once are established, many colonies generate their own moisture and can continue to survive even under dry conditions. They also need mild temperatures and a source of food, such as house dust or drywall paper.

First Choice Property Evaluations, Inc.
705-B SE Melody Ln. # 199 Lees Summit, MO 64063
Phone: (816)-554-1199 Email: support@firstchoicekc.com

Home Price Forecast For Kansas City Missouri

Home Price Forecast for Kansas City Missouri (edit/delete)
The Kansas City Business Journal reported that the Kansas City area house prices should fare better than other cities'.

In other words the home prices in Kansas City will avoid the price declines expected in the next two years in other markets.

PMI Mortgage Insurance Co released their Winter 2008 U.S. Market Risk Index and their forecast is that there is a less than 5% chance that prices in Kansas City will fall through 2010.

So if you have been sitting on the fence trying to wait out home prices, wait no more. The odds of prices going down any further are slim.

If you need help with your North Kansas City Real Estate needs, don't hesitate to contact me.

Fran White, North Kansas City Real Estate, 816-682-3897

NOW Is the Time To Buy A Home In North Kansas City.

I was poking around over on Chris Lengquist's Kansas City Real Estate Investing blog reading his blog on 2007 and it got me to thinking! (Imagine that!)

We as REALTORS should be the mouthpiece for what the real estate industry.

You hear on the news that "oh the housing market is bad" and immediately prospective buyers/sellers think "Oh I shouldn't buy or sell a home now." That's ridiculous!

Yesterday in sales meeting they said that 30 year fixed rates were at 5.75%.. people are you listening? That is the lowest the rates have been in the last 2 years and 6 months.

What's wrong with this picture? Rates are down and people are still afraid to buy. Why?

If I can help you with your North Kansas City Real Estate needs or you have any questions you can call me or post them here.

Happy New Year North Kansas City Real Estate Owners

Happy New Year to all of my wonderful readers. The holidays are over and it’s time to get back into “real estate” mode.

If you are planning to get your home on the market for Spring, start to get it ready now!

A fresh coat of paint will brighten any room. Clean the carpets. Touch up the molding. Do whatever needs to be done now to get it ready.

My experience has been that Spring market starts in March. It begins to warm and people get in the mood to begin to look for their new homes.

If you need assistance with some ideas on what you could do to get your North Kansas City home ready for spring market, give me a call. I’d love to come by and give you some ideas.

Fran White 816-682-3897

7 Tips To Spruce Up Your Home This Winter

When it's cold and the weather encourages us all to spend more time inside it makes us look at our surroundings.

Here are some ideas of things you could do to spruce up your home this winter season!

First determine the kind of lifestyle you live in your home and a budget.

Ask yourself, "what's my style?"

Do you have children or visiting children? Do you entertain a lot? Do you prefer contemporary or casual?


Paint works wonders. Dollar for dollar, paint
gives you the greatest bang for your buck. You
can totally change the look of a room by painting
the walls, trim or ceiling a different color.

Wallpaper is back! And it’s better and more
fashionable than ever. Today’s styles are more
varied, with textured vinyls that can simulate
stucco and grasscloth. You can get BIG looks
without spending a bundle, especially if you do
it yourself.


Toss it up. Bring life to that old sofa with some
fresh new toss pillows in different shapes and
complementary colors. Along the same lines,
throw rugs can add interest and instantly warm
up a room.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!
Little things mean a lot. Give your home
personality with touches like floral arrangements,
plants, candles and artwork.

Visit flea markets and yard sales for unique items that can be
re-purposed. For example, transform an antique
milk can into a functional umbrella stand.

Turn on the light. Lighting can set the tone
for a room, so it’s important to choose the right
lamps and installed lighting.

Rooms should have a lighting source about every 10 feet, so consider
using both floor lamps and table lamps.


Treat them right. Custom window treatments
can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, so
you’ll want to work with off-the-shelf shades,
swags and curtains.

Drapery panels that are positioned high above
the window and flow to the floor are “hot” right
now, as are Roman shades and eco-friendly
bamboo shades.

If you are just starting to look for a home in the North Kansas City real estate market and need some help, I'd be glad to. 816-682-3897

Happy Holidays!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

1108 NW 73rd Terr., Kansas City, MO

Click the details button at the bottom of the visual tour to get additional information on this property. If I can be of assistance with your real estate needs, please feel free to contact me at franwhite@kc.rr.com or 816-682-3897

Halloween Greetings!

If you are needing a REALTOR®, give me a call.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Fall is Upon Us...... Tree, Yard and Lawn Tips for Fall

Help Lawns Recover from Summer
Fall watering can go a long way

If your lawn looks a bit rough after the heat and dry conditions summer normally brings, get out your hose. Fall watering is one of the best things you can do to bring your lawn back after a hot, dry summer.

We usually suggest watering each area of your lawn at least 30-90 minutes each time you water, depending on your sprinkler type. If you are restoring your lawn without seeding, plan to water every week in the absence of rain. As the days shorten and the nights become cool, there is less evaporation and watering lasts much longer.

If you have seeded your lawn, you should water daily for three weeks. Continue to water every 2-3 days once this time has passed.

Protection Next Season Starts Now
Our plant protection products prevent disease

As leaves begin to fall for this season, take time to think of next spring. With rake in hand, it is easy to think of deciduous trees, like crabapples and hawthorns, that are commonly susceptible to fungal diseases in the spring.

We must also turn our attention to susceptible evergreens. Scotch and Austrian pines are commonly infected by tip blight during wet spring months. Tip blight was especially bad this year, which means there is a greater risk of tip blight next spring. Of the steps you can take to minimize your pine's risk of infection, prevention is the best method.


All pines can be protected on a preventative basis. Proper timing of our applications can control the fungi and enable you to enjoy healthy trees next season. You can rest easy by placing your trees on our program now. Contact your RYAN Certified Arborist today.

Ready, Set, Rake!
Leaf clean-up important during fall months

As trees begin to shed their leaves for the fall season, grab your rake. It is important to keep up with leaf clean-up, especially on newly seeded lawns.

It may be tempting to use your mulching mower to grind up your leaves. However, this is not the best method. Large amounts of leaves can significantly increase the amount of organic matter in your lawn and may contribute to low pH levels.

High levels of organic matter in the soil in your turfgrass areas can cause lawns to dry out extremely fast during dry spells. If you would like to use your mulching mower to grind up your leaves, be sure to move them to your landscape beds where organic matter is needed. Otherwise, bag the leaves.

Mowing Season is Winding Down
Final mowing height, mower maintenance important

Soon we will be packing away our lawn mowers for the winter season. Before parking your mower, be sure to do a final mowing. (Both warm season and cool season turfgrasses should be cut at two inches for their final mowing.)

Mowing at two inches has improved cold tolerance among warm season turfgrass. It also prevents cool-season turfgrasses to from falling over under the weight of snow.

After mowing the lawn the final time, there are a few important maintenance things to do. First, sharpen the blade. Also, change the oil and add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank. This will reduce hassles in the spring when you are ready to get outside and work.

Fall Optimum Time for Feeding Trees
Give trees, shrubs nutrients they need to thrive

Trees and shrubs undergo many stresses throughout the year. This year is no different. From freezing temperatures late in the spring to typical summer stresses, many trees and shrubs would benefit from fertilization.

In addition to assisting with stress recovery, root fertilization can increase plant health and vigorous root and shoot growth.


Landscape Calendar: October
Water cool-season lawns to help recovery from summer stress.
Continue to water newly seeded lawns every 2-3 days.
Call RYAN to fertilize your trees and shrubs.
Plant spring blooming bulbs for early color next season.
Plant pansies to complement spring flowering bulbs. Simply plant the pansies over spring bulbs for a dramatic display. Mulch well.
Remove begonias, caladiums, dahlias and other tuberous plants for overwintering indoors.
Empty ornamental containers and store for winter.
Continue to water and weed landscape beds as needed.

Mortgage News of the Week

Here's the Kansas City area mortgage news from Carol Poppe


Carol Poppe, Vice President Mortgage
Ph 913-652-7302 cell 913-707-1153
www.fcbloan.com/CLPoppe

MORTGAGE NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF 09/27/2007

UPDATE ON MORTGAGE INSURANCE TAX DEDUCTIBILITY:

A House of Representative panel has met recently to enact a bill that will help ease problems in the housing crunch. Top on their list was changing the law that taxed homeowners on the amount of forgiven debt by lenders. As the law stands, homeowners who short sell their home back to their lender to avoid foreclosure get taxed on the forgiven debt because they treat it as income. The legislation was approved to change this rule.

The big news is that the committee proposed legislation to extend income tax deduction for private mortgage insurance. A temporary one is in place but is expiring December 31, 2007. The new legislation will extend this through December 31, 2014.

The new bill is backed by The National Association of Home Builders, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the National Association of Realtors.

This new bill will be presented to the House of Representatives for a full House vote after the House Ways and Means Committee approved the bill by voice vote.

Proposed Changes to FHA Loan by Brian Brockman with Plaza Mortgage

NOTE: this bill has been proposed but not yet passed.

FHA Modernization Bill. Key provisions include a sales price limit increase to $271,050 in our area. There is a possible increase to $417,000 and to $730,000 in some areas. The increase to $271,050 would be effective immediately and higher limits may follow depending on how the bill is passed.

It is possible that the down payment would be lowered to 1.5% but then the upfront MIP would have to be included for a total of 3%. The House version includes a $0 down provision but it's doubtful it will be adopted.

The bill would also facilitate the acceptance of Fannie and Freddie condominium projects.

The Senate Banking Committee has approved this bill and there is bi-partisan acceptance. We should expect the process to be completed and signed by the President in the next 30 days.

What does it mean to you? More sales qualify for FHA due to a higher loan limit.
Since FHA is credit history and not credit score driven, more buyers are eligible.

Some FHA reminders - 1) Seller may contribute up to 6% of the sales price, 2) no termite inspection required unless appraiser sees obvious damage, 3) no non-allowables required to be paid by the seller, 4) buyer may currently be in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, 5) loans are assumable - important if rates go to 8%, 6) Occupying borrower not required to have income. Great for parents buying for a college student!

Remember this bill has been proposed and not yet passed!

President Bush is Reading My Blogs?

I wrote previously about the Saturday morning that we stopped by the Corner Cafe for some of their delicious bisquits and gravy. It was so good.... good enough for the President I guess.

There are many things President Bush did while he was in Kansas City yesterday: snarled traffic, addressed the VFW Convention and ate breakfast at the Corner Cafe.

The Corner Cafe is in Riverside, Missouri, a very small suburb of Kansas City. Most people don't even know that it's there and usually only locals go to Riverside. So I'm thinking that someone in the President's immediate group or the President himself has been reading my Active Rain blog.... how else would he know about their yummy bisquits and gravy?

Mr. President enjoyed his breakfast with other well known Kansas City figures such as George Brett, here's what Wikipedia says about George; Carl Peterson with the Kansas City Chiefs; Terry Dunn from Dunn Construction and Ann Dickinson.

The owner of the Corner Cafe, Ed Rule, just agreed to reserve a room for a "business meeting".... little did he know that it was the President.

So I say keep on reading Mr. President, I'll keep you informed on what's going on in Kansas City and the Kansas City Real Estate market.


*Photo Courtesy of bethanyll22 on Flickr

NKC School District Receives Good News

NKC School Districts Scores Improve

The North Kansas City School District received good news last week that the district's test scores on the National ACT and Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) have gone up.

Their MAP scores outperform the state average in nearly every category measured.

Their ACT scores exceed state and national averages.

This was good news for the district since they were previously placed on the "No Child Left Behind" watch list.

Antioch Shopping Center Gets A Face Lift

New Site Plan Breaths Life Into My Old Stomping Grounds= Antioch Shopping Ctr.

I've written previously about Antioch Shopping Center and how it was dying a miserable death.

Well now they have a new and smaller budget to cover the cost of re-developing my old stomping grounds.

The new budget has been approved by the Kansas City Tax Increment Finance Commission.

The total cost of the project is now estimate at $72 million vs. $82 million

The size of Antioch Center is going to be reduced by 55,000 square feet. Sears will stay in it's current location and they will tear down the rest of the mall around Sears and rebuild it.

The area will be reborn and things should start thriving again once the project is done.

If you'd like to look at any Kansas City Real Estate by Antioch, please be sure and get ahold of me!

How to Avoid Being A Victim of Identity Theft - BE WISE

How To Help NOT Being a Victim of Identity Theft

Imagine this: You are sitting at your desk or the kitchen table balancing your check book and preparing to pay your monthly bills. You open your credit card statement and you realized there's an $1100.00 charge you are sure you didn't make...

Unbelievably upset with that sick feeling in your gut you realize you've becom a victim of identity theft.

Immediately you wonder what you did or what you didn't shred to cause this.

Here are a few things you can do that could help prevent the headaches involved with identity theft:

Only give out your social security number when it's absolutely necessary. Some states give you the option of using your social or NOT as your driver's license number. NOT is the correct answer. And never carry your social security card with you. And for Pete's sake do NOT put your social security number on your personalized checks!

Cancel credit cards that you are not using or do not need. When canceling, be sure to request that a notation be made that the "card was cancelled at the cardholders request."

Don't leave outgoing mail in your own mailbox. I'm not talking about the birthday card to Uncle Bubba. I'm talkin about anything that includes your personal or banking information.

It's far too easy for identity thieves to target mailboxes even in nice neighborhoods, or perhaps I should say ESPECIALLY in nice neighborhoods. Instead, drop those off at the box at the post office.

SHRED, SHRED, and SHRED some more!!!
Shred credit card receipts, debit card receipts, insurance bills.... anything that you don't need to keep that even remotely tells and inkling of your personal information. This is a big prevention tool. Thieves will ransack trash just to make a buck.

Use complicated passwords on your computer, email and Internet accounts. The bst combination would be a the use of upper and lower case letters in addition to number. Don't use your house number, your birth-date, your phone number or maiden names that will help in making you a target!

NEVER (did I make that clear?) NEVER give out personal information over the phone, email or on the Internet. I bought my 81 year old father his latest computer, my rulse was simple. If you don't know who the email is from, do not even open it.... and if you do don't EVER give out personal information over the Internet. Most companies you do business with have a policy against asking your personal information over the Internet.

Call your bank or credit card company if you feel a statement or bill should have arrived and it hasn't. A missing bill or statement could indicate that you are being targeted.

Upon receiving your charge card bills or bank statements each month, take a careful look to make sure no unauthorized activities have occurred.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) an many as 9 million individuals have their identity stolen each year. It seems the thieves also like to target older individuals due to vulnerability issues.

My mother is a sharp old gal, but received a phone call from someone claiming to be with the FTC stating that someone was trying to get into her account. She freaked and spilled her guts to anything they asked her. She immediately realized after hanging up that her moment of panic could have cleared out her checking. She immediately went to the bank and closed the account.

No one immune to these predators.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lawn and Tree Tid-Bits from My Ryan Lawn and Tree Expert

Lawn Diseases of Summer
Fungus problems common during summer months

To be sure, watering during the hot summer months is a necessity. Most lawns need 2" of water a week to thrive when it is hot. This should be spread out throughout the week so the turfgrass has the ability to absorb the water, instead of it running off the lawn.

Watering should be avoided during the evening hours, from 4p.m. until 4a.m., to avoid fungal problems. However, the rains that we receive often happen in the evening hours, leaving our turfgrass vulnerable to infection.

Although brown patch is on the decline, pythium blight can become more of a threat because the night temperatures are higher than average during this time. To learn more about brown patch and pythium blight, visit our resource library: Lawn Diseases.

Your RYANPro can apply a preventative fungicide to help protect your lawn against summer fungal problems. The product we use helps prevent both stress and fungus from occurring.

Look out for Yellow Leaves
Iron chlorosis common problem

Some trees, like pin oak and river birch, are commonly affected by a condition called iron chlorosis. Iron chlorosis is caused by the tree's inability to absorb the iron existing in the soil. Look for lighter green or yellow leaves with dark green veins.

If left untreated, trees may lose leaves prematurely or suffer branch and limb dieback. Death can result from severe cases.

If you have questions, or have a tree that needs treatment, give your RYAN Certified Arborist a call. We can provide the tree with the iron it needs by injecting an appropriate mixture of iron and water directly into the trunk of the tree.

Brown Spots in Your Lawn?
Soil Problems may be at fault

New homes are especially vulnerable to hot spots. These occur when there is little good soil and the rocks and cement left over from constructing the new house is left in the lawn and the sod is laid on top. The high heat that we are experiencing will result in the lawn being bleached out.

The best way to fix this problem is to remove the rocks or debris below the turf, followed by reseeding or sodding this fall.

Heavy clay soils, common to older areas of town, can hold water which can also cause brown spots to appear in your lawn.

If you have brown spots in your lawn and are unsure of their cause, contact your RYANPro today.
Sprinkler System Confusing?
Your RYANPro can help.


If you have a sprinkler system, you may be among those who are unsure of how to set them properly. Did you know that a common problem when watering with sprinklers is the length of time?


Drought stress is a common problem during this time of year. People are not watering enough. If you need help setting your system up to meet your landscape's needs, contact your RYANPro. Many of our associates are comfortable helping you set up your system. We also have a referral list of sprinkler companies that we trust. We can refer you to someone who can help set up your system and make sure all areas are getting hit evenly.



Lawn Not Performing Well?
Seeding may be your best option

If your lawn isn't performing to your expectations, consider seeding your lawn to improve the quality of grass. Some cool-season lawns contain inferior grass types that will never perform well. These lawns should be killed-out and reseeded, a process that can begin in August.

If you would like to thicken up your existing stand of turfgrass, consider overseeding with high-quality seed. Your RYANPro can advise you which method is best for you.

If you would like us to assist you with your seeding needs this fall, contact your RYANPro today for a FREE seeding estimate.
Landscape Calendar: August
Water your lawn and landscape plants with 2" of water if rainfall is lacking.
Check shrubs for mites and other insect pests. Call RYAN if control is needed.
Weed flower beds regularly.
Evaluate lawn for seeding needs this fall.

Fun in the Sun!

The Sun Always Shines on People Who are Cool!
It's going to be another hot day here in Kansas City!

Generally August is really how as you probably know if you've lived in Kansas City for any amount of time.

There are a number of ways to stay cool!

There is Oceans of Fun the largest tropically themed water park in the Midwest, offers 60 acres of splashing excitement and fun for every member of the family and all the sunburn you can handle!!

There's Tiffany Springs Aquatic Park with loads of fun for the whole family with reasonable prices.

There's also Gladstone Aquatic Center that's recently had a major face-lift.

Or you can visit a neighborhood pool and if none of these are an option..... try the old fashion cooling system of letting the kids play in the sprinkler while watering the yard. This way you kill two birds with one stone.

BUT REMEMBER to always use sunscreen...... and don't forget about your pets.

Try to remember not to leave your pets outside in this horrible heat and humidity.... ESPECIALLY if they don't have a dog house or any legitimate protection from the sun. Water in a dogs bowl outside in these temperatures heats up fast..... how would you like to lay in the sun with a fur coat on?

Have fun in the sun, but be safe!