Month: October 2015

Fire study on tonight’s UG agenda

The Unified Government Commission will meet at 5 p.m. tonight to discuss a consultant’s study about the Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department.

The meeting is scheduled to be at City Hall, fifth floor, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan.

This is one of the three consultant studies of public safety that are planned for the Unified Government. The other two are studies of the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and Sheriff’s Department.

The regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at City Hall, Commission Chambers, lobby level, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan.

On the regular meeting agenda:
• A resolution to authorize a survey of land to be acquired for Pump Station 30 force replacement project, located at 3300 block of North 85th Place, east to 84th Place and south to Leavenworth Road.

• Seven appointments to boards and commissions. John Breitenstein to the Housing Authority, submitted by Commissioner Ann Murguia; reappointment of Stephen Craddock to the Landmarks Commission, by Commissioner Angela Markley; reappointment of Jim Ernst to the Planning Commission-Board of Zoning Appeals, submitted by Commissioner Angela Markley; appointment of Deloris Pinkard to the Wyandotte-Leavenworth Area Wide Advisory Council on Aging, submitted by Commissioner Mike Kane; reappointment of Tim Rhodes to the Housing Authority, submitted by Commissioner Angela Markley; reappointment of Jesse Rocha to the Golf Advisory Board, submitted by Commissioner Angela Markley; reappointment of Elvira Wortheam to the Wyandotte-Leavenworth Area Wide Advisory Council on Aging, submitted by Commissioner Ann Murguia.

• Designation of the alternate voting delegate to the Kansas Association of Counties Conference.

• The UG’s Public Relations Department will receive an award for Outstanding Website from the Web Marketing Association’s 2015 Web Awards.

• The Land Bank items on the agenda include:
Transfers to Land Bank
907 Ann Ave. from KCK Police Dept.
220 S. 21st St. from Board of County Commissioners
(Land Bank has application for this property and others in this area for future development.)
2401 Pacific Ave. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
(Land Bank has application for this property and others in this area for future development.)
2116 S. 11th Pl. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
350 S. 13th St. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
1734 S. 16th St. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
1740 S. 16th St. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
2814 N. 21st St. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
1400 S. 24th St. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
930 S. 26th St. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
2809 N. 26th St. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
1324 S. 28th St. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
1401 N. 30th St. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
2014 N. 38th St. from city of Kansas City, Kan.
2500 N. 10th St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
2059 N. 12th St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
2073 N. 13th St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
2071 N. 13th St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
1924 N. 15th St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
3031 N. 18th St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
3037 N. 18th St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
2624 N. 21st St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
2704 N. 22nd St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
3507 N. 27th St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
3440 N. 27th St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
3246 N. 31st St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
3224 N. 33rd St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
2922 N. 38th St. from Unified Government of WyCo/KCK
According to the December 2014 NCD Standing Committee presentation, properties controlled by the UG that are delinquent will be transferred to the Land Bank to have delinquent property taxes abated.

Land Bank applications
290 S. 10th St. – Foutch Brothers, LLC, redevelopment
1962 N. Thompson St. – Jeffrey Hollinshed, yard extension
1964 N. Thompson St. – Jeffrey Hollinshed, yard extension
1966 N. Thompson St. – Jeffrey Hollinshed, yard extension
600 N. 49th St. – Winfred Anderson, lot improvement
824 Greeley Ave. – Lakisha Anderson, lot maintnenace
826 Greeley Ave. – LaKisha Anderson, lot maintenance
319 Richmond Ave. – Michael Carson, yard extension
220 S. 21st St. – Dean Zagortz, development
224 S. 21st St. – Dean Zagortz, development
2533 Pacific Ave. – Dean Zagortz, development
2401 Pacific Ave. – Dean Zagortz, development
4105 Sortor Drive -William Johnson Jr., yard extension
1944 N. 4th St. – Reginald Hollinshed, lot improvement
1937 N. Thompson St. – Reginald Hollinshed, lot improvement
1959 N. Thompson St. – Reginald Hollinshed, lot improvement
1963 N. Thompson St. – Reginald Hollinshed, lot improvement

Donations to Land Bank
5634 Roswell Ave. from Wells Fargo REO Community Development Program
3120 N. 47th Ter. from Tracey Fearon
813 Minnesota Ave. from Pleasant Green Baptist Church
1830 S. 10th St. from Maria Cruz

KCKCC’s ‘Anything Goes’ opens Thursday

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

Although Shaquil Reeves is relatively new to the theater, he is ready to make his musical debut in Kansas City Kansas Community College’s production of “Anything Goes.”

“I like the setting of the story,” said Reeves, who is playing Billy Crocker. “I also love my character. I like the determination he has to get his love and like seeing him go through the many obstacles he has to go through. He is a hard worker and not ashamed of who he is.”

”Anything Goes” is based on a book by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. It tells the story of stockbroker Billy Crocker who falls in love with Hope Harcourt, a beautiful girl who he meets in a taxi. When he finds out she is sailing for England, he sneaks aboard.

Although Hope is engaged to Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, Billy works to win Hope’s heart with the help of the ship’s passengers. With music and lyrics by Cole Porter, “Anything Goes” has been a Broadway favorite since its debut in 1934. Both the 1987 and 2011 Broadway revivals earned Tony Awards including those for Best Revival of a Musical.

“Anything Goes” is at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15, 16 and 17 at the KCKCC Performing Arts Center. There is also a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 18. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for non-KCKCC students and senior citizens. The musical is free to all KCKCC students, staff and faculty with a valid KCKCC I.D.

“The biggest challenge for me has been singing because I don’t sing. I have had to learn how to sing and get into different types of characters that I am not used to. The role has really forced me out of my comfort zone,” he said. “’Anything Goes’ is a great play. If you come, you will definitely get laughs, but there are sad moments too. I think it is one of those productions that every generation will enjoy.”

Sarah Williams, a KCKCC alum and now teacher at Leavenworth High School, plays Hope Harcourt. She said musical theater has been a passion since she was a child and while being a teacher, wife and mother makes it difficult to always commit to a production, she said sometimes sacrifices need to be made.

“I wanted to be part of this production because being on stage makes me really happy and everyone should make time to nurture their passions,” she said. “I’ve really liked getting to know all of the students who are in the production. They are so talented and passionate about their crafts. Their motivation and excitement is contagious.”

The cast includes Patrick Boorman, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh; Paige Darby, Mrs. Wadsworth T. Harcourt; Sarah Williams, Hope Harcourt; Pearl Fuller, Reno Sweeney; Shaquil Reeves, Billy Crocker; Shane Gillaspie, Moonface Martin; Savannah Ferris, Bonnie; Adam Lillitch, Elisha J. Whitney; Jaziel Sandoval, Steward; Allenea Anderson, Reporter; Leah Walker, Cameraman; Bishop Henry T. Dobson, Charles Humphrey; Teng Kong, Ching; Charles Humphrey, Ling; Jamal Toliver, Purser; Brandon Johnson, Captain; Rose Vang, Chastity (Angel); Siemera Hines, Purity (Angel); Jerosan Fletcher, Virtue (Angel) and Shawnesha Clayborn, Charity (Angel).

“Hope Harcourt is a bit complex. At first, she is idealistic, naïve and somewhat of a damsel in distress. However, as the plot thickens, she grows and becomes more liberated in her attitude, yet remains a hopeless romantic. It’s a fun role to play,” said Williams, who received an associate of arts in liberal arts from KCKCC. “Cole Porter’s music just tells a story all on its own. The two love triangles in the story, and the comedy that comes with that is also very funny. It’s a cleverly written musical.”

For more information or to make reservations, call 913-288-7106.
Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.

Event will train law enforcement to serve victims of anti-LGBTQ hate crimes

U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom will speak during an all-day hate crimes symposium Nov. 4 in Kansas City, Kan. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

“The public – and law enforcement – need to be more aware of the problem of hate crimes generally, and against the LGBTQ community in particular,” Grissom said. “We need more and stronger partnerships with local communities to prevent hate crimes and to enhance prosecutions against offenders when they occur.”

Featured speakers will include Dennis and Judy Shepard, the parents of Matthew Shepard, founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Their son was beaten, tortured and left to die near Laramie, Wyoming, in October 1998. The case helped to raise public awareness of hate crimes and led Congress to pass the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act.

Other speakers will include Dave O’Malley, who investigated Shepard’s death, Kristi L. Donahue of the FBI, Kristy Parker of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Amanda Spee, FBI Special Agent, and Crystal Middlestadt an OVC Consultant /Resource Development Director, Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training.

The event is set for 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 4, at the Reardon Civic Center at the Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Minnesota, Kansas City, Kan. Registration is required. A registration form is available online at http://www.continuinged.ku.edu/register/n/event_details.php?pn=LE160244 or email hbuller@kletc.org for a form.