I found myself at the Independence Chamber of Commerce offices at 210 W. Truman Road Monday afternoon, interviewing Tom Lesnak, president of Independence Council for Economic Development, and Arthur Greenberg with AMS Planning & Research Corp. ICED has commissioned a study to examine the possibility of establishing an arts district in the Englewood area of western Independence.
Coincidentally, Jamie Hinkle of Independence called me last week to talk about her new business, Possibilities Salon, in Englewood at 1717 Appleton Ave. Hinkle, a life-long Independence resident, purchased the existing salon business on March 1. With three women employed in her salon, Hinkle says she has called hairdressing her career for 25 years.
“After talking with the previous owner, who is an artist at Green Dog Gallery, I just got really excited about the facelift that Englewood is getting ready to undertake, and I always thought it was a neat area while growing up,” Hinkle said. “I’m really excited to be a part of that growth and change.”
Because she previously owned a salon, Hinkle said it was just something that she always knew she wanted to do again. During her senior year at Truman High School, she attended a vocational-technical school and has been in love with hairdressing ever since.
“I couldn’t tell you,” Hinkle said when asked what attracted her to hairdressing. “I just knew always that that’s what I wanted to do.”
For more information about Possibilities Salon, contact Hinkle at 816-354-1010.
Help for unemployed
According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, 651,000 non-farm payroll employment positions were lost in February. The national unemployment rate increased from 7.6 to 8.1 percent, and payroll employment has declined by 2.6 million during the past four months.
Several local and state agencies are partnering this week to help the unemployed. “Navigating Unemployment – Survival Skills for Job Loss” will take place in two sessions from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday at Metropolitan Community College-Blue River, 20301 E. Missouri 78 in Independence.
Shirley Cliff, Workforce Investment Act regional manager for Eastern Jackson County, says there is still a significant amount of misunderstanding on how to file for unemployment.
“We’re trying to help people who are having questions and give them the opportunity to see what it looks like online when they’re filing for unemployment,” she said. “This is what is expected – to file online or on the telephone because there aren’t unemployment offices anymore.”
In late 1995, Missouri started doing away with walk-in unemployment offices. The first Kansas City unemployment call center was established in January 1996.
During each three-hour session Thursday, residents have the opportunity to learn how to file for unemployment online. I’ll be at the morning session, pen and notepad in hand, jotting notes and writing a story for those who can’t make it. For more information, call 816-220-6400.
Independence, MO —
