Current Events

WHAT’S GOING ON???

** What's in it for me? Now that it is the law of the land, how does the Affordable Care Act benefit those that it was designed to help? Get real answers to your health and wellness questions from qualified professionals. Free and Open to the Public. RSVP - 816-531-4683, Ext #5
- Saturday, September 29, 10 - 11 am, Zion Grove Baptist Church, 2801 Swope Parkway, KCMO

**National Drug Take-Back Day – Saturday, September 29 – 10 am to 2 pm, Price Chopper at 85^th & Wornall.  A good, appropriate place to get rid of old prescription meds instead of flushing them down the toilet.

**Stop the Violence Community Gathering – Saturday, September 29 – 3 pm to 6 pm, Holmes Café & Market, 804 E. 85^th Street.  Co-sponsored by Project Redirect, and will feature face painting, food, and a balloon release.  Volunteers needed.  Contact Donna Fields of Project Redirect at projectredirect@peoplepc.com

**Kansas City Advisory Council Community Meeting City Budget Forum – Tuesday, October 2 – 6 pm – 7:30 pm, Southeast Community Center.  Guest Speaker:  City Manager Troy Schulte

**8400 Block of Park Clean-up – Saturday, October 6, 8 am to 1 pm.  This is one of the most blighted blocks in Marlborough with 10 out of 13 houses vacant or foreclosed.  Come help turn “foreclosure row” into “New Reflections row.”   Sponsored by New Reflections HOPE Program.  Drinks, snacks and cleanup materials will be provided.

WGNA on Facebook!

WGNA is on Facebook!

To see WGNA posts in your timeline, then "Like" us on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/WalnutGroveKC

Google Fiberhood

Waldo fun Fest

Reminders

• Just a reminder that the Google Fiber Pre-Registration ends Sunday, September 9th.  Several events in the neighborhood to drive our numbers over the weekend (we are very close to obtaining our goals...WE CAN DO THIS!

• Justice Feast 2012 - September 16 - Watershed Church (meets at South-Broadland Presbyterian at 7850 Holmes) is hosting its third annual Justice Feast, an event which creates a space to have conversation.  This year's focus is food deserts, and Watershed is partnering with the Coalition for this event since Marlborough is a food desert.  The event is from 4 pm to 7 pm on Sunday, September 16th on the grounds of Marlborough School at 75th and Tracy.  In addition to a (free) healthy meal -- it wouldn't be a feast without food! -- there will be informational displays, kid-friendly activities, music and much more.  Come have a good meal, talk about what food deserts mean to you, and how we might eradicate them.  RSVP to paul@watershedkc.org 

• Waldo Fall Festival, Saturday, September 22, 10 am to 5 pm -  75th & Wornall in beautiful Waldo.  For the 20th year, Waldo will be holding its fall festival, with music, face painting, contests and an entire exhibit area with merchants and organizations in and around Waldo.  We'll be there, so stop by!  

Google Fiberhood Pre-Registration Update:

Marlborough Heights (which is really East) - needs 40 more
Walnut Grove - needs 74 more
Battleflood Heights - needs 81 more
Marlborough East (which is really Renaissance/Pride) - needs 157 more

We really need YOU to pre-register if you haven't already.  If you have, please strongly encourage a neighbor to.  WE ALSO NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CANVASS THE AREA THIS SATURDAY.  Email Rick Chambers at rick@centereducationfoundation.org

This is more than just free internet service.  This is an opportunity for equality between Marlborough students and those who come from more affluent neighborhoods.  It will put our kids on a more level playing field.

South Kansas City Haz Mat/Shred event. Saturday, September 22nd

Mark your calendars for a South Kansas City Haz Mat/Shred event. Saturday, September 22nd;8am – 12pm Ervin Middle School;10530 Greenwood (107th & James A. Reed Road).

Residents of all participating neighborhoods may safely dispose of:
Antifreeze, car and household batteries, oil (automotive oil, cooking, heating, etc.), paints and paint related chemicals such as strippers, thinners, varnishes

and spray paints.

Tires will be accepted with or without rims.

PROSHRED's mobile shredding truck will securely shred your confidential documents. All of the paper shredded during the event will be recycled into various consumer paper goods. They will accept all types of paper along with staples, paperclips, three ring binders, spiral notebooks and most office materials. You will be able to witness your materials being destroyed.

Sponsored by: The City of Kansas City, Missouri,
Ruskin Heights Homes Association, Southern Communities Coalition
Kansas City Neighborhood Advisory Council & South Kansas City Alliance

Google Fiber

I know you have already heard a great deal about Google coming to Kansas City.  However, if we don't act before September 9th, we will lose out on something that could make our neighborhood more liveable.  Right now, we need 10% of our combined neighborhoods to pre-register before September 9th.   We are aware that some of our neighbors presently don't even have computers or internet service.  We have people, including Google, who are willing to help us overcome that.  We need you to not only pre-register, but to help spread the word.

I am emailing you because I see Google Fiber as an opportunity for our community to get the fastest Internet in the country -- and to realize the benefits of gigabit Internet we need to work together.  I am in direct contact with the Google Fiber Team, and I am working with them to find ways to get messaging to our communities.  There is much to know about Google Fiber, and I am attaching to this email a couple of documents that will help you understand it.  My contact on the Google Fiber team is Christina Komonce [ckomonce@google.com].  Please reach out to her directly with questions.

If you have not yet done so, we need you to pre-register.  Go to Google.com/Fiber, click on "Pre-Register" and enter your address.  It will tell you the "fiberhood' you reside in, and also let you know how many more pre-registrations you need to qualify for Google to build in your community.  

If you have already pre-registered, please help us spread the word.  Each of the documents attached to this email are also able to be shared, so please pass them along to friends, family members, and coworkers.  And please let me know if you are interested in helping me making Kansas City the fastest city in the world!

Aug 21st: THE FOOD DESERT FOCUS GROUP!

STILL HAVE SEVEN SLOTS OPEN FOR THE FOOD DESERT FOCUS GROUP! 

MARC needs 8-10 adults from Marlborough who would be willing to talk about food behaviors, barriers, perceptions and receptiveness to specific food policies and messages.  

The focus group will be held on August 21 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at the South-Broadland Presbyterian Church at 7850 Holmes.
Dinner will be provided for all adult participants. 

For more information, please contact or register: before August 15th:
Carrie Bartlow, Focus Group Coordinator  (carrie@kemperandcompany.com)

Back to School " Backpack" Giveaway Aug 15 & 18th

Back To School "Backpack" Giveaway
Garrison Community Center, 1124 E. 5th St.
Wednesday, Aug. 15
4:30-7:30 p.m.
FREE
Age 5-17

A partnership with the neighborhood Full Faith City Church, designed to provide backpacks and school supplies for school age youth to start the school year on the right foot. For more information call 816-784-1140.

Giveaway Back to School Event
Brush Creek Community Center, 3801 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd.
Saturday, Aug. 18
1-3 p.m.
FREE
Age 5-16

It's time to celebrate the start of a new school year.  Free school supplies and community support booths. For more information, call 816-513-0730.

August 18th

Mayor Sly James' Rock the Block Party is on August 18th! The event will celebrate extensive efforts by the City of Kansas City, Missouri, to provide safe places for youth to have fun, which has resulted in a more peaceful summer.

Events include free food from 5 pm to 7:30 pm, face painting, inflatables, carnival games and prizes, a fashion show, and live entertainment from "America's Got Talent" finalists Maurice and Shanice Hayes, The Marching Pythons Drill Team, Tequilas Latino Band, and Hearts of Darkness. The block party concludes with the summer's final ClubKC event from 9pm to midnight with a DJ and dancing!

 

We invite you and your family to come out and help us celebrate the end of an exciting summer!

 

September 8th: Fall Family Festival

Dog park opening. Off-lease park.

Click here to learn more

Free Back-to-School Haircuts for Kids at JCPenney Salons

Google Fiber is here! Pre-register to get it in your neighborhood

Google unveils pricing, rollout strategy for high-speed Internet service

Want Google Inc.’s lightning speed Internet service? Start lobbying your neighbors.

The California tech giant announced today that its network of high-capacity fiber optic lines strung directly to homes will land first in neighborhoods where large numbers of customers agree to buy the service — and put up money in advance.

Bundled with TV service, it will sell for $120 a month — Internet service alone for $70 a month. And people who want much slower but conventional broadband can get it for free if they pay a $300 connection fee.

Encourage you and your neighbors to preregister. If your neighborhood meets their goal public buildings, like our local Fire Department, will get free internet access which will benefit our community.

Check out the neighborhoods who have already meet thier goals
View the packages they offer ** only if enough people preregister in your neighborhood **

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/07/26/3724345/google-announces-plans-on.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

 

Check out how to register for Google Fiber. Click Here

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/07/26/3724345/google-announces-plans-on.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy.

Tornado Siren Test July 4th

The City of Kansas City, Mo. Office of Emergency Management reminds the public that the City will test its tornado siren system per its routine schedule, which is the first Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m. This month, the first Wednesday takes place on Wednesday, July 4, Independence Day. The test will last three minutes.

Sirens will sound in the City of Kansas City, Mo., but other jurisdictions may also test sirens. We are notifying the public to avoid confusion on the Independence Day holiday.

June 3rd Rose Day in Loose Park

 

Click here

June 2nd National Trails Day

June 8th Free event at KC Public Library

A mischievous, funny, and imaginative child discovers he can make his dream world a reality.

That's the premise of local author/illustrator Shane Evans' 2009 children's book Olu's Dream. Now his tale has become a stage musical receiving its world premiere on Friday, June 8, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St.

Olu's Dream: The Musical features a book, music, and lyrics by Evans, who co-directs with local actress Dianne Yvette.

Among those bringing Olu's tale to life are members of the Kansas City Boys & Girls Choirs and area musicians.

Little Olu lives in London, attends an international school, and comes from a diverse background (African father/Asian mother). Inspired by his father's art, Olu and his friends embark on a series of adventures that span the universe - adventures that remind us of our own potential to dream and to make those dreams come true.

Olu's Dream: The Musical is a co-production of the Dream Studio, a community art space operated by Evans, and the True Light Resource Center, an outreach program of the Church of the Nazarene.

"True Light is just across the street from the Dream Studio," Evans said, "and Pastor Alice Piggee-Wallace of True Light allowed me to go through them to apply for a grant from the Francis Family Foundation. We not only got one, but a second grant a year later.

"The grants gave me a mental go-ahead. They said it was a worthwhile thing to push this production as a community effort."

Though his major emphasis has been on illustrating books for children, Evans has been writing music since his teens. The score for Olu's Dream, he said, was heavy on world music influences, especially African music.

"This could have been a one-man show," Evans said, "but I see it now as being about inclusion, bringing together different groups and institutions and individuals. It's about bringing the community together for a night."

Shane Evans is an artist, author, illustrator, musician, songwriter, and founder of Dream Studio, a community art space in Kansas City. He has illustrated more than 30 books, including the Shanna series which has been turned into a Disney animated short. Evans has exhibited, lectured, and developed art programs for youth in Burkina Faso, Botswana, Brazil, China, France, Japan, Lesotho, and across the United States. His most recent book is Chocolate Me! created with actor and friend Taye Diggs.

Admission is free. The event will be preceded by a 6 p.m. kid-friendly reception. RSVP online or call 816.701.3407.

Emergency Home Repair Program

Eligible Kansas City, Mo., homeowners who are in urgent need of plumbing, electrical, mechanical and limited ADA barrier removal work may apply for the City of Kansas City, Mo., Emergency Home Repair Program.
 
Applications for the Emergency Home Repair Program are available online by visiting www.kcmo.org/housing and clicking the "Emergency Home Repair Program" link or at the Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department's Housing Section office on the 11th floor of City Hall, 414 E. 12th St.
 
Applications will be accepted through July 31 or until funds have been exhausted.
 
"This program can help lower-income homeowners who have an urgent repair need such as a furnace repair or replacement during the heating season months or replacing a broken water line going to their house," Housing Section Manager Doug Bossert said.
 
The Housing Section of the Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department administers the Emergency Home Repair Program, Home Weatherization Program, Municipal Court Fund Program (by referral only), Paint Program and other housing rehabilitation and inspection programs.
 
Eligible applicants are homeowners who own only one property, have not received assistance from this program within the past five years, and meet the following household income guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:
 
One person - $41,100
Two people - $46,950
Three people - $52,800
Four people - $58,650
Five people - $63,350
Six people - $68,050
Seven people - $72,750
Eight people - $77,450
 
A Community Development Block Grant established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds the Emergency Home Repair Program.
 
For more information or to request an application, call 816-513-3025.
 
To fill out an online application, please visit www.kcmo.org/housing and click on the "Emergency Home Repair Program"  link, or you can directly access the application at http://kcmo.org/idc/groups/housing/documents/housing/ocs879231-099073.pdf.