June 2014 – Page 87 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Piper school budget issue passes

The Piper School District budget issue special election question passed 300-164, according to unofficial results from the Wyandotte County Election office.

Voters approved increasing the local option budget 1 percent, from 30 percent to 31 percent. That means an increase of around $150,000 that will be used in the classrooms, according to the district. The tax increase was estimated at about $1.35 a month on a $275,000 home.

Voting in favor of the budget question were 64.66 percent of the voters. Voter turnout was 6.24 percent, according to election figures.

According to Piper school district information, state aid has not kept up with expenses of the district. State aid has declined while operational costs rose 3 percent, according to school district information. State aid in Piper is about $650 less per student than it was eight years ago.

KCK bike race benefits Free Wheels for Kids

by William Crum

Waterway Park and Big 11 Lake were the sites of a major bike race last weekend in Kansas City, Kan.

This event sponsored by Free Wheels for Kids is unlike any other bike race in the metropolitan area. It is called The Criterium and it benefits Free Wheels for Kids, a program that is dedicated to help promote bicycling for school-age kids.

Racing is becoming very popular. It takes a lot of stamina to compete in a race of this magnitude, as well as skill and endurance. Many of those who decide they want to compete train years before the race.

Bicyclists come from all over the metropolitan area just to compete in this event. On Saturday they started at Waterway Park and Sunday they raced at Big 11 Lake. Sunday was the final day of this competition. Overall this race was a success and the proceeds went to Free Wheels for Kids.

For more information on how you can help Free Wheels for Kids, go to the website http://www.freewheelskc.org/.

Community invited to join KCKCC Jazz Band in Cuba Dec. 16-22

by Alan Hoskins

Anyone ever wishing to visit the intriguing country of Cuba, Kansas City Kansas Community College is offering a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The KCKCC Jazz Band will be performing in the 30th Annual Havana Jazz Festival Dec. 16-22 and members of the community are invited to go along.

“This is going to be a great tour and huge fun,” said Bill Yeazel, former director of the KCKCC Performing Arts Center who is organizing the trip for the college. “Having been to Havana a couple of times, it is truly a unique destination and the music scene at night is spectacular.”

The cost of the land package in Cuba is $1,769 and includes hotel based on double occupancy, four lunches and one dinner, all ground travel and airport transfers and All-Access passes to all festival events.

Not included is a $20 Cuban tourist card, a $300 license to return to the U.S. and airfare. Because American airlines are not allowed to fly to Cuba, connections will be made through Cancun, Mexico. The Cancun-Havana round trip is currently $320 while the cost of Kansas City-Cancun flights has yet to be determined.

“Because the flights from Kansas City to Cancun fluctuate so much, we are highly encouraging anyone seriously interested in making the trip to contact us immediately in order that we can book the necessary number of seats as soon as possible,” Yeazel said. Only the first 30 persons to sign up will be guaranteed space on the trip. Persons interested are urged to contact Yeazel at [email protected] or 816-665-0296 or Mayre Hoffman at [email protected].

An informational and sign-up meeting on the trip will be held in the college’s Conference Center adjacent to the Campus Lake at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24. However, persons interested in making the trip are urged to contact Yeazel or Hoffman as soon as possible.

In addition to attending performances of the world famous Havana Jazz Festival which will include premium seats at the festival’s opening and closing ceremonies, the trip will offer a spectacular tour of the highlights including:

• Guided tour of the Havana Historical Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Day trip exploration of Vinales Valley and Town, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Tour of Cuba’s National Museum of Fine Arts.
• Visit to Iinstituto Superior de Arte (ISA), the country’s top art academy.
• Luncheon hosted by Jose Fuster, renowned Cuban ceramist and painter.
• Exploration of Finca Vigia, where Earnest Hemingway lived and wrote for more than 20 years.
• Tap dancing and live jazz music at Pena de Santa Amalia.
• Welcome dinner at Havana’s famous restaurant, El Aljibe.
• Farewell lunch at La Ferminia restaurant.
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The festival will open on Wednesday, Dec. 17, with the KCKCC Jazz Band performing on Thursday and Friday nights. The Festival will close on Sunday with the return to Kansas City on Monday.

A complete and comprehensive itinerary can be found online at www.kansascityjazz.org and is recommended for anyone interested in making the trip.