Month: May 2014

Long-time KCK accordionist remembered by Polski Day organizers

Accordionist Don Lipovac, who died April 26, played at the 2013 Polski Day celebration. (File photo from 2013 by William Crum)

Polski Day, which will be held Saturday, May 3, will not seem the same this year without accordionist Don Lipovac.

Lipovac has played the accordion at the event for the past eight to 10 years, said Cathy Kolenda-Smith, Polski Day Committee member.   Lipovac, 79, died Saturday, April 26.

“It was very devastating that Don has passed. He was a great musician and he contributed a lot to Polski Days,” Kolenda-Smith said.

Known for playing the accordion at similar festivals in the community, as well as at weddings, showers, and at funerals, Lipovac had his own polka band and also led the Tamburitzans at St. John’s School for many years. He was a graduate of Wyandotte High School who held degrees from the Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

“I knew Don very well,” Kolenda-Smith said. “He definitely did a lot in the polka world.”

Lipovac was so well known in the community that the Rev. Mike May mentioned him in the invocation given at the Unified Government Commission meeting on May 1. He asked everyone “to give thanks to God for all he has brought to us over the years, and pause for a moment to remember him.”

Kolenda-Smith said that Lipovac will be missed. Other musicians have swapped schedules to help out at the Polski Day Festival on Saturday, she said. Some coming in from Omaha, Neb., will help, and the schedules of the different musicians will be changed.

Polski Day will get under way at 11 a.m. Saturday with a parade at 12th and Central to 8th Street, then to Vermont, ending at the All Saints parish at 8th and Vermont in Kansas City, Kan.

There, a festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with entertainment, activities, children’s activities, food, and music. A Mass is planned at the church at 4 p.m.

Chapel Hill to give Apple Pies to those Who honor their Moms on Mothers’ Day

“Mom” and “Apple Pie” are terms that are often connected to memorable events for families, so it’s only natural that a local company which preserves memories is rewarding those who remember their moms.

On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11th, Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens will provide a complimentary apple pie to families who come to the cemetery at 701 North 94th Street in Kansas City, Kansas.

“It’s our way of honoring those who are remembering their mothers who may have passed away,” said Cheryl Holifield, a spokesperson for Chapel Hill.

“We have a limited number of apple pies available, so only the first 175 families to visit us between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. will receive a pie,” she continued.

Visitors should obtain a survey form at the second gate outside the Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home office and after completing the form, return it to the office to receive their apple pie. There is a limit of one apple pie per family.

People may call 913-334-3366 or email [email protected] with any questions and comments.

The company provides Dignity Memorial services.

Chapel Hill-Butler prides itself on responding to their client families and providing services to meet their personal needs. Some of those personal services include a Lakeside Mausoleum, a Lawn Crypt Garden and special features specifically designed for cremation.  They are a cemetery of choice for thousands of families of all religious backgrounds.

In 2002, the Memorial Gardens were selected as the site for a new Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, which opened in 2003.
 

Curtis files for election to House seat

Rep. Pam Curtis

State Rep. Pam Curtis, D-32nd Dist., filed for election today to the Kansas House of Representatives.

Rep. Curtis, who was chief of staff for former Mayor Joe Reardon, has been filling the seat of the late Rep. Mike Peterson, who died earlier this year.  Precinct committee members from the 32nd District elected her to fill the seat in March.

“It has been my honor to serve Wyandotte County in the House of Representatives these past few months, but our work is far from over.” Rep. Curtis said. “As state representative for the 32nd District I remain committed to fighting for the rights and values of the hard-working families throughout KCK. I have worked tirelessly to protect our state’s education system and ensure that the Legislature meet its obligation to provide every child with the equal opportunity to receive a high quality education.”

“Pam’s priorities in the Kansas Legislature reflect the priorities of Kansas families,” said House Democratic Leader Paul Davis, Lawrence. “She has advocated for increased public education funding, lower property taxes, and job creation for Kansas families. I hope the people of Wyandotte County will send her back to Topeka to continue her excellent work.”

Curtis works for McAnany, Van Cleave and Phillips Law Firm in project development, where she works side by side with former Mayor Joe Reardon to help encourage technology bases startups and expand access to fiber-based Internet nationwide.

She continues to be active in the Kansas City area entrepreneur and startup community and is an avid promoter of Kansas City as a leader in digital innovation. Curtis has more than 22 years experience working in state and local government, having worked for Mayor Jack Reardon as the city’s arts administrator and in economic development to working for Gov. John Carlin as assistant to the governor and director of constituent services.

Most recently, Curtis served as the chief of staff for Mayor Joe Reardon during his eight years in office. In that role she worked to help bring projects to Wyandotte County, including Google Fiber, the Cerner-Sporting KC complex, and numerous other recent economic development projects throughout the county.

A lifelong resident of Wyandotte County, Curtis was born at St. Margaret’s Hospital and grew up in the Polish Hill neighborhood in Kansas City, Kan. She and her husband Steve have been married for more than 30 years. They lived in the Westheight neighborhood before moving in 1995 to their current home in the Cathedral St. Peter’s neighborhood.