Cindy Circo's Blog

Please visit Councilwoman Cindy Circo's Blog

Last year, WGNA residents noticed that trees were being planted on city easements.
Questions arose as to who was planting them, but no answers were found.
According to Cindy Circo's website, portions of Walnut Grove Neighborhood Association is a part of a pilot project TargetGreen to study green solutions for overflow water control.

Keep Cool This Summer at KCMO Pools

Keep Cool This Summer at KCMO Pools
Free Swim Times Offered all Summer Long

Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation provides many ways to cool off this summer, free-of-charge.

Major pools located in
Budd Park,
The Grove,
Brush Creek Community Center
and Swope Park offer free swim times every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4:00-7:00pm.
Additionally, Swope Pool is open for free swim on Sundays from 1:00-5:00pm.

The following junior pools are always free:
Ashland Square,
Arbor Villa,
Gillham and West Terrace.
Spraygrounds, located throughout the city, are also always free.

For more information about Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Aquatics, visit our website.

Beat the heat.

An orange Ozone Alert has been issued for Greater Kansas City for Wednesday, June 24th.
Protect your health

The amount of ground-level ozone in our air is expected to be in the "unhealthy" range tomorrow. To protect your health:

o Reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities. Ozone pollution can cause wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. Reduce outdoor activities today, or schedule them before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.

o If you have breathing problems, keep medicines close by. People with respiratory ailments may be more affected than others by ozone pollution.

Reduce pollution
o You can help reduce ozone pollution by: Carpooling or using public transit. If you drive less, you release less emissions into our air, and each mile makes a big difference. If every person in Greater Kansas City drove one less mile per week, in one month, the air we breathe would have 35,574 fewer pounds of smog-forming pollutants.
o Avoid mowing until the next green SkyCast is issued. In one hour, a gas-powered push mower emits as much pollution as driving a newer car 140 miles.
o Don't refuel your car — or refuel it in the evening. Putting gas in your car in the evening allows fumes to dissipate overnight, making it less likely that they will contribute to ozone pollution the following day.

Where to go for the best 4th of July Celebrations!

KC Riverfest
Held at Berkley Riverfront Park, this annual event not only has one of the best Fireworks displays in the Kansas City Metro that is choreographed to live music, but great entertainment and things to do for the whole family.
Where: Berkley Park on the River between the Broadway and Paseo bridges.
When: Ongoing events July 3rd and 4th. Fireworks at 10pm, Friday.
Cost: $5 - Kids 12 and under are free.


Parkville 4th of July Fireworks and Fest
This Northland fireworks display and event packs 20,000 folks from around the metro. The festivities begin on Tuesday morning with the 4th of July parade. They also have a carnival at English Landing Park.
Where: English Landing Park, Parkville, Mo. Fireworks shot over Missouri River.
When: Approximately 9:30pm
Parking: Shuttles are offered from 6pm-midnight to and from Park Hill South High School and Park University.


Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular
The Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular is something to see - the 4th of July events kick off at 4PM and last until 11PM. With everything from a free concert to funnel cakes, it's also one of the biggest fireworks displays in the metro.
Where: Corporate Woods, I-435 and College Blvd @ 109th/Mastin.
When: 9:30 pm


Independence Fireworks Display
Head to the Mormon Visitor Center for an evening of music and fireworks. Enjoy the fireworks display and patriotic music by the Spirit of Independence Band How can a show in a city called "Independence" not be spectacular?
Where: Mormon Visitor Center (big spire), 937 W. Walnut, Independence, Mo.
When: Gates opend at 8pm, 9:30 pm fireworks
Cost: Free
Note: Be sure and bring your blankets and lawn chairs because there is ZERO parking. The MVC has a huge lawn for viewing, however. Food and beverages from home are also a good idea.


Booms and Blooms Fest at Powell Gardens (JULY 3rd)
A truly magical celebration with Children's activities, Homemade ice cream in garden-fresh flavors for sale, and music by: Peace, Love, Flute ensemble @ 2 p.m., The New Red Onion Jazz Babies @ 4:30 p.m. & the Lee's Summit Symphony from 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. With fireworks bursting over their beautious lake, it's one of the best fireworks displays in KC.
Where: Powell Gardens, 1609 NW US HWY 50, Kingsville, MO, 64061
When: July 3rd. Festivites throughout the day, starting at 9am. Fireworks on at dusk.
Cost: $10/adults; $9/seniors; $5/children ages 5-12. Friends members and children under 5 get in FREE
Note: Picnics will be allowed in the performance area only. Bring a blanket or lawnchair; all performances take place outdoors. The Gardens are very dark after sundown. Although we will use temporary lighting after the fireworks, you may want to bring along your own flashlight!


City of Leawood's 4th of July Celebration
The Leawood Parks and Recreation Department is proud of the excitement and tradition that the annual 4th of July Celebration brings to the community. Enjoy great entertainment, participate in games, and taste a variety of food from vendors.
Where:Leawood City Park, Tomahawk Creek Parkway & 435 Hwy
When:The Aquatic Center will be open from 11-5, Kids activities and food vendors will take place from 5-9:30pm. Stage show events will be 5:45-7pm and the musical entertainment will be provided by the Mikey Needleman Band from 7:30-9:30. Fireworks approximately 9:45pm.
Cost:General Admission is free. All Access Ride/Activity Bands (for children 14 and under) will be $6.
Note:No Parking will be available in City Park. Free parking will be provided along the east side Tomahawk Creek Parkway and shuttle busses will be available for transportation to City Park at no cost.

Recyle your TV

If you recently bought a new television, or have an old analog set collecting dust, don’t throw it in the trash. Electronics like televisons contain lots of toxic stuff like lead and mercury. Take it to Surplus Exchange in the West Bottoms. The local non-profit will recycle the salvageable bits and correctly dispose of the rest.

www.surplusexchange.org

Schedule a bulky item pickup ONLINE.

Over the years the city has made several big changes to the way it picks up bulky item trash like appliances, furniture, etc. – switching back and forth between regular pickups and on-demand appointments.
The latest budget cuts saw the program go back to an appointment system tied to the regular trash pickup schedule. The change has been confusing to many and has caused lots of items sitting on the curb in neighborhoods all over the city.
Thankfully City Hall now allows residents very easily schedule a bulky item pickup online, in addition to calling the 311 Action Center. (816) 513-1313

Schedule a bulky item pickup now: www.kcmo.org/bulky

Kansas City School, among best in the country.

Lincoln Prep best school in metro area, among best in the country

A new national ranking of the top 1500 high schools in the country has placed Lincoln College Prep Academy at #129. The KCMO School District school easily beat all other city and suburban schools and was second in Missouri only to #97 Metro Academic and Classical in St. Louis.

In previous years KCK’s Sumner Academy has ranked in the top 200, but is completely missing from this year’s list. In the suburbs, southern Johnson County’s Blue Valley district dominates. Surprisingly, the much-celebrated Shawnee Mission district failed place a school on the list, nor did top-tier Missouri districts like Lee’s Summit or Liberty.

#129 Lincoln College Prep – Kansas City, MO (KCMO District)
#373 Blue Valley Northwest – Overland Park
#722 Blue Valley – Stillwell, KS
#779 Blue Valley North – Overland Park
#828 Park Hill - Kansas City, MO (Park Hill District)
#842 Blue Valley West – Overland Park

KCPD taking applications for citizen police academy

The Citizen Police Academy (CPA) was first introduced in Kansas City in 1998 in order to educate Kansas City residents about the structure and activities of their police department. While the CPA class is not a "training class", this 10 week course is an exciting opportunity to gather information while providing a behind-the-scenes look at the various functions within the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.

Our program operates on the premise that informed educated citizens will be more supportive of police officers and the department. Additionally, those completing the program have the potential of becoming more productive within their own neighborhoods and communities.

Click Here to learn more

Go green when TV goes digital

Neighborhood and Community Services LETTER

A letter to my neighborhood friends and colleagues

Following the retirement of Les Washington, City Manager Wayne Cauthen appointed me as Acting Director of Neighborhood and Community Services. While many of you already know me, I want to introduce myself and advise you of what to expect from me and Neighborhood and Community Services in the future.

Armed with a B.S. in Environmental Health, I began my career with the City in 1979 as a Sanitarian in the Environmental Inspections Program. Sanitarians are now called code enforcement officers and Environmental Inspections is called Neighborhood Preservation.

My schooling taught me the reason to be concerned about overgrown weeds, accumulations of trash, and deteriorated housing is because they are unhealthy for people. I knew the diseases and health consequences that result from exposure to the conditions. Once on the job, I quickly realized the conditions also impact the economic health of neighborhoods and are strongly associated with criminal activities. And, because neighborhoods are the foundation of the city, unhealthy neighborhoods located anywhere in the city create weaknesses in the foundation that supports all neighborhoods.

The awareness of the importance of preserving neighborhoods has motivated me over the last 30 years and continues to do so.

Moving from the past to the present, there are a couple of immediate challenges facing Neighborhood and Community Services. These include mowing weeds on vacant properties and catching up on a backlog of dangerous buildings to demolish.

We assumed responsibility for mowing weeds on privately owned vacant properties this year and are trying out a new process. The goal is to remove trash that is often present when the mowing is performed and to include more contractors in the process. Instead of 2 or 3 big contractors getting all of the work, we wanted to have numerous contractors involved. This creates opportunities for neighborhood-based contractors to participate in the program and provide jobs for neighborhood residents.

The process is working. The appearance of mowed lots has improved and we have nine contractors on board. More contractors may still be added.

We have fallen behind schedule however. There are too many properties out there that need to be mowed yet. Our inspectors and contractors are all hustling and working overtime to get caught up.

Dangerous building inspectors are also hustling. There are well over 400 vacant, damaged and dilapidated houses in our neighborhoods that need to be demolished. Funding for demolition became available on May 1, 2009, and we want to demolish as many dangerous buildings as we can and as quickly as we can. You will see an increase in demolition activity this summer.

I want you to know that the Neighborhood and Community Services Department will continue to strive towards improving conditions in our neighborhoods. Les Washington set this direction during his tenure as director and I intend to chart the same course.

I look forward to continue working with you, and for you.

Sincerely,


David Park, Acting Director

Neighborhood and Community Services

12th Annual Art Unleashed on Friday, August 22

A Wonderful Woof-ti-doo!

Art and animal lovers united for the 12th Annual Art Unleashed on Friday, August 22, presented by Petsmart and Banfield Pet Hospital, at The Uptown Theater. More than 300 original and limited edition pet-themed pieces of artwork were auctioned off during the event to raise $70,000 for the homeless pets of Kansas City.

We hope to see you in 2009!

Volunteering Opportunities!

DUCK DERBY
Sunday, June 28, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Brush Creek
Country Club Plaza between Wornall & Brush Creek

Event Description: The RED Development Duck Derby is a fun-filled family event providing an opportunity to increase funds and awareness for Children's TLC. Currently, Children's TLC serves over 550 children with developmental disabilities and special healthcare needs in seven area counties, including Wyandotte County. No child is denied services regardless of their ability to pay. Funds raised through the RED Development Duck Derby will help make the difference in the life of a child.

Volunteer Responsibilities: Volunteers will man the Children's Area--taking tickets, running carnival games and inflatables. Volunteers will receive a special event T-shirt. Adult volunteers [18+] only.
Click here to contact Duck Derby

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Art Unleashed
Humane Society of Greater Kansas City
Uptown Theater
3700 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111

Date / Time
Friday, August 28th
5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Event Description: Live and silent auction for all pet-themed artwork to benefit the animals of the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.

Volunteer Description: Volunteers will help with food catering, check-in/check-out and serve as greeters and table monitors.

Volunteers will wear a black or Khaki slack/skirt and an Art Unleashed Volunteer T-shirt. Please provide T-shirt size. Dinner will be provided to volunteers prior to the event.

Adult volunteers only [18+]
5:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Uptown Theater
3700 Broadway Kansas City, MO 64111

Organization
HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY
Click here to learn how to Voluenteer
The maximum number of volunteers for this event is 25.

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Operation Blessing 2009
3039 Troost Ave (30th and Troost)
Kansas City, MO 64109
Across from Operation Breakthrough facility

Date: Saturday, May 30th 2009
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Click here to learn more

Overview
Operation Blessing is a joint community initiative of the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs to help feed the needy in Kansas City. This event is a food distribution event where fifteen pounds of food will be given to each adult recipient and a special bag for children will be given out to help with feeding the hungry in the Kansas City KS-MO metropolitan area.

Volunteer Responsiblities
Volunteers will be responsible for filling bags with food for distribution, helping with distribution, clean up of site and helping with distributing food and monitoring the line of recipients by working with Operation Blessing personnel. Volunteers will get to meet Royals and Chiefs players at the event!