Month: June 2014

Congregation takes pride in its Wyandotte County heritage

Attending Kosher Fest on Sunday was Lois Clayman, right, who was married at the synagogue in Kansas City, Kan., 56 years ago. Phil Braverman, left, is the synagogue historian. (Photo by William Crum)

by William Crum

Recently, congregation Ohev Shalom held its Kosher Fest, celebrating a healthy lifestyle and heritage, and sharing its cultural heritage with the community.

Ohev Shalom is definitely a part of the area’s cultural history. Congregation Ohev Shalom started in downtown Kansas City, Kan.

According to historians, in the early 1900s a synagogue, Golm Hessen, started in the West Bottoms. From there it moved to 925 Stateline, and was there for 10 years. After the flood of 1900, it moved to 700 Central Ave.

In 1922 it merged with a synagogue by the name of Sharis-Israel to form what is now known as Ohev Shalom. Many will remember Griff’s Burger Bar that was located right across the street from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. This is where the Ohev Shalom synagogue first started.

Back in the 1950s the synagogue decided to move to Prairie Village, Kan., where it is still located, said Phil Braverman, the synagogue’s historian. The synagogue leased the land to Griff’s Burger Bar for 15 years after it moved to Prairie Village, Kan.

To this day, a lot of members still live in Wyandotte County, making its cultural diversity stronger.

Congregation Ohev Shalom celebrated its cultural heritage with Kosher Fest on Sunday at 75th and Nall in Johnson County. (Photo by William Crum)

New Utility Efficiency Learning Center opens for BPU customers

BPU recently opened a new Utility Efficiency Learning Center for utility customers in its main Administration Building at 540 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan.

This resource center is intended to help customers learn how to lower their energy and water consumption through a variety of efficiency techniques, from simple day-to-day behavioral changes to more detailed information on products, tools, and special rebates that may help reduce a customer’s overall usage or utility cost, a spokesman said.

BPU subject matter experts are available to meet with customers one-on-one in the Utility Efficiency Learning Center, according to the BPU spokesman. Located on the first floor of BPU’s Administration Building, the center is accessible via appointment only.

To schedule an appointment, customers may contact BPU’s David Allen at 913-573-9922 or [email protected].

I-70 work ongoing

Work is ongoing on I-70 for bridge pavement repair work.

The project work should be completed by Wednesday, June 4, weather permitting, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The lanes that were closed Sunday evening on I-70 over 47th Street bridge reopened at 7 a.m. Monday, June 2. Lanes that were closed Sunday evening on southbound I-635 to westbound I-70 entrance ramp also reopened Monday morning.

At 7 p.m. Monday, eastbound I-70 left two lanes over 47th Street bridge will be closed. They will reopen at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, the two left lanes on westbound I-70 over the I-435 bridge will close. The entrance ramp from northbound I-435 to westbound I-70 will close. These will reopen at 7 a.m. Wednesday. The northbound I-435 traffic will detour via the State Avenue exit to southbound I-435, back to westbound I-70.

Traffic will be directed through the project work zone via signage. Drivers should expect minor delays during their daily commutes.

Updated daily traffic information for this project and for the entire Kansas City metro area can be viewed online any time at www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.