Band class on Monday at Fort Osage High School was different from all others.

In 2006, the Independence School District decided to make its buildings more energy efficient by replacing out-of-date heating and air-conditioning systems, plumbing fixtures, windows and even lighting fixtures.

Becky Bell was named the Lee’s Summit School District Learning for Life Award winner for October. She is an educational diagnostician for the school district, serving a number of schools.

Olive Garden has announced the topic for its 14th-annual Pasta Tales essay writing contest.

Writers, rejoice. November is upon us.

Why is this significant? Because November is National Novel Writing Month, more commonly known as NaNoWriMo.

Deborah Shakespeare Smith is a children’s book author from Independence. Smith, a secretary at Spring Branch Elementary in Independence, has written “The Broom Closet Detectives, Vol. 1,” and “The House of Chicken.” Her latest book is “Honestly, I Witnessed the Making of a Monster.” All of her books are available at Borders Bookstore locations in Lee’s Summit and Overland Park, Kan. Smith has also had more than 40 articles published in magazines since she began writing in the 1980s.

Almost 600 students and Bingham Middle School received quite a surprise Wednesday when the Missouri Mavericks unveiled their new mascot,  which does not have a name yet.

David Martin, Blue Springs, was one of 24 SmilesLEAGUE raffle winners, winning a St. Louis Cardinal package that included four tickets to the game and a Albert Pujols autographed baseball.