Month: December 2014

KCKCC to celebrate 92nd annual Candlelighting Ceremony

by Kelly Rogge

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s oldest tradition is returning this week, honoring the holiday season while raising funds for scholarships at the same time.

The 92nd annual Candlelighting Ceremony is at 9 and 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center on the main campus, 7250 State Ave. Classes will not be held during the 11 a.m. lighting, so that all personnel and students, who wish, can participate in the program. However, the Jewell Center, KCKCC Library and all offices will be open during those hours to serve individuals who choose not to participate in the ceremony.

“The purpose of this event is to celebrate the end of semester and the start of the holiday season,” said Linda Sutton, director of student activities at KCKCC. “It is also a good way to support student scholarships.”

All classes that are scheduled to begin at noon will start 10 minutes after the program has ended to allow students and faculty to time to get to their classrooms.

KCKCC faculty members started the Candlelighting Ceremony in 1923, the year KCKCC was founded. It remains the oldest tradition at KCKCC and serves as an opportunity for students, staff and faculty to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. During that first year, a collection was taken to fund student scholarships. This tradition has continued and over the years, more than $10,000 has been collected for student scholarships at KCKCC. Donations are free will, and members of the Student Senate will be at the doors to the performing arts center with red baskets to accept donations.

At both of the ceremonies, the KCKCC bands and choirs as well as theatre students will perform. There will also be a speaker, Ismael Garcia, at the 11 a.m. service. There is no speaker at the 9 a.m. service. Each service will conclude with holiday carols and the lighting of the candles.

“It’s a tradition that connects the college to its beginning 92 years ago,” Sutton said. “Many people from the community look forward and enjoy this event because they enjoy hearing the band, choir and theatre students. Many retired employees attend as well.”

For more information on the Candlelighting Ceremony, contact Linda Sutton at 913-288-7652 or by email at [email protected].

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Kansas City, Kan., police reports

Nov. 6
Burglary, criminal damage, 2600 block of Georgia Avenue, knife-cut instrument, screen, television, laptop computer.

Nov. 5
Burglary, criminal damage, 300 block of South 73rd Drive, television, window, $525 value.
Burglary, 2700 block of North 53rd Terrace, video game system, $300 value.
Burglary, 1300 block of North 62nd, television, video game system, $600 value.
Burglary, criminal damage, 1200 block of North 40th, television, VCR, window, $1,400 value.
Burglary, 800 block of Sandusky Avenue, compressor, generator, compressor hose, $1,050 value.
Theft, 2300 block of Central Avenue, four tires, four Honda wheels, $1,600 value.
Theft, 6200 block of Rowland Avenue, Dodge Intrepid, $2,000 value.

Nov. 4
Aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, 1300 block of Custer Avenue, handgun, door frame, tablet, laptop computer, $450 value.
Identity theft, 5700 block of Clark.

Nov. 2
Burglary, criminal damage, 2400 block of North 27th, windows, rifle, DVDs, $1,200 value.

Oct. 30
Forgery, theft by deception, 7900 block of State Avenue, business, computer equipment used, check recovered, $348 value.
Forgery, theft by deception, 7900 block of State Avenue, business, computer equipment used, check recovered, $206 value.

Oct. 29
Theft, 7900 block of New Jersey, Kansas tag, $25 value.

Oct. 26
Forgery, theft, 1600 block of Village West Parkway, computer equipment used, check recovered, $1,107 value.

Grinter Place plans two holiday events

Grinter Place, 78th and K-32, is planning two holiday events in December.

An evening of visiting with local artists, viewing their works, visiting with and listening to local authors, plus live music played by local musicians, is planned from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at Grinter Place. There also will be a “wine tasting” by the Wine Barn. Admission for the Dec. 6 event is $6 per person or two for $10.

From 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 13, Grinter Place has scheduled a Family Day. The event is for families and their children. Planned are a free picture with Santa Claus, face painting, listening to storytellers and doing a craft project. Admission for the Dec. 13 event is $3 per person or $15 for a family of six or more.

Both of these events will include a tour of the Grinter House. There also will be a Treasure Hunt, with a prize for the winner.

The Holiday Gift Shop at Grinter Place will be open at both events for those attending to browse and select gifts and baked items for themselves or loved ones.

The Grinter Place Friends also will be collecting nonperishable food items that will be donated to Cross-Lines or local food pantries.

According to a spokesman, these events are held to raise money for the support and operation of programs for The Grinter House.

A state museum, Grinter Place, 1420 S. 78th, is the oldest home in Wyandotte County and is decorated in the style of the 1800s.

Construction on the home overlooking the Kansas River at 78th began in 1857. The site, a farm, also was a trading post, a ferry and the first post office here. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information about Grinter Place, visit kshs.org/grinter_place or visit Grinter Place on Facebook.