November 2014 – Page 95 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Decking the halls at Strawberry Hill Museum

Brandon Nastav helped decorate Strawberry Hill Museum for the holidays on Saturday, Nov. 1. (Photo by William Crum)

by Kathy Hanis
Volunteers began decorating the Strawberry Hill Museum for the holidays on Saturday, Nov. 1.

The Strawberry Hill Ethnic Museum and Cultural Center displays the traditions of yesteryear and preserves the ethnic cultures of the surrounding areas.

The Museum and Ethnic Cultural Center, 720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kan., will open for the 2014 holiday season on Saturday, Nov. 22, and run through Sunday, Jan. 26. It will be open from noon to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

The Christmas holiday season is celebrated in an 1887 High Victorian mansion built for John B. Scroggs, a prominent attorney in Wyandotte County, and his wife Margaret Cruise-Scroggs. In 1919, the mansion became the St. John Orphanage and in 1988 the mansion-orphanage became The Strawberry Hill Ethnic Cultural Society museum.

Christmas exhibits – The Christmas exhibits feature nationalities from Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Slovenia, The Netherlands, Russia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, African-American, Belgium, Denmark, Mexico and Hungary. Share in the traditions of yesteryear that continue with families of today.

Gift shop and tea room – The tea room is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and will feature a variety of desserts from the various countries represented at the museum. The gift shop is open during museum hours, with items from around the world.

Night time Christmas tours – The museum will be illuminated using Victorian oil lamps and Christmas lighting throughout the tour. The tours are set for 6 p.m. Friday evenings, Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and Dec. 19. Reservations must be made in advance. The cost is $15, which includes refreshments and dessert served after each tour. Call 913-371-3264 to make a reservation.

St. Nicholas visit – On Saturday, Dec. 6, St. Nicholas will make a visit to the museum from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and cookies and milk will be served with a gift for the children. A photo with St. Nicholas can be purchased for $5.

Holiday parties -The Strawberry Hill Museum is booking Christmas parties, family gatherings, and group tours of 20 or more during the week. The cost for a tour is $7 adults, $3 for children 6-12 and children ages 5 and under are free. Call Cathy Kolenda-Smith at 913-721-0081 or the mMuseum at 913-371-3264 to make a reservation. Visit the museum on the web at www.strawberryhillmuseum.org.

This year, the museum is raising funds for preservation of the building. Because of the pollution from exhaust fumes from I-70, just a block from the museum, the exterior stone of the 89-year-old structure has become porous, causing the inside of the building walls to absorb water. In effect, the inside walls are crumbling.

The museum will be undertaking a project to seal the masonry on the exterior of the entire three floors of this addition, which is a major capital expense. Donations are welcome toward this project.

Richard Nastav decorated Strawberry Hill Museum for the holidays on Saturday, Nov. 1. (Photo by Wiliam Crum)

Boxes of Christmas decorations were being unpacked at the Strawberry Hill Museum on Saturday. (Photo by William Crum)

Burn ban in effect today

With a National Weather Service forecast for Sunday, Nov. 2, of high winds for most of the day, residents are being asked to refrain from outdoor burning until further notice.

According to a news release from the Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department, there is a concern that high winds may cause fire hazards.

The weather service stated today that because of high winds, low relative humidity and dry conditions, there is a danger of wildfires throughout the region this afternoon.

All residents whose burn permits expires today may go to the nearest fire station to request a burn permit for whenever the ban is lifted, a Fire Department spokesman said. Outdoor burn permits must be issued 24 hours before he three-day burn permit starts.

A south wind of 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph, is in today’s National Weather Service forecast. The high will be 61 degrees. Tonight, winds may be from 13 to 17 mph with gusts as high as 26 mph.

On Monday, the weather forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of rain, and possibly a thunderstorm. The forecast is mostly sunny, no rain, and a high of 57 for Tuesday, Election Day.

KCK voter rally hopes to boost turnout in election

by William Crum

More than 100 people gathered Saturday at the parking lot behind the Brotherhood Bank on Minnesota Avenue in a rally to encourage people to get out and vote.

Those attending the rally included Jill Docking, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor; Kelly Kultala, the Democratic candidate for U.S. representative, 3rd District; and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo.

“I really want to encourage people to get out and vote,” Rep. Cleaver said. “Realize it or not, one vote does make a difference. That is why I’m here to encourage people to get out and vote.”

Jill Docking, who is running for the lieutenant governor position in Kansas said, “We are doing a grassroots campaign. We really want to encourage people to get out and vote. This is why I’m here.”

Kelly Kultala, a Democrat from Kansas City, Kan., is running for the Congressional seat against incumbent Rep. Kevin Yoder, a Republican from Overland Park.

“I really want to encourage people to get out and vote,” Kultala said. “Your vote does make a difference. It is your right.”

After the meeting everyone had a chance to meet the candidates and all were encouraged to vote early.

Advance voting took place at two sites on Saturday. The election is Tuesday, Nov. 4, and the regular polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.