Month: March 2016

Unbeaten teams battle as Sporting KC meets Toronto Sunday in KCK

Sporting Kansas City will go head-to-head with a Canadian team for the second straight weekend, taking on Toronto FC at home Sunday night at 6 p.m. at Children’s Mercy Park (the former Sporting Park) in Kansas City, Kan.

The match will be nationally televised on FS1 and FOX Deportes.

Both teams in Sunday’s match secured spots in last year’s playoffs, and both remain undefeated through their first two MLS matches of 2016 – Sporting KC at 2-0-0 and Toronto FC at 1-0-1.

Sporting KC currently sits atop the Western conference, tied with San Jose at six points, while Toronto FC trails first-place Montreal Impact in the East with four points. Sunday’s game will be the third of eight consecutive away games to begin Toronto FC’s 2016 season.

Toronto FC’s 13 losses to Sporting KC since 2007 are their most against any MLS opponent, and the Reds hope to break a six-game winless streak in the series on Sunday. The team last claimed three points against Peter Vermes’ men in March 2013, and have earned only one point in six appearances at Children’s Mercy Park.

Last Saturday, Sporting KC claimed a 2-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC with two goals from Dom Dwyer in the first half of the game. Sporting KC has fared historically well against Canadian opposition, with a 24-8-8 regular season record against the three Canadian teams. Their 24 combined wins against Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are the most among MLS clubs.

Toronto FC opened its 2016 season with two back-to-back games against New York clubs. The Canadian team followed its 2-0 road victory over the New York Red Bulls on March 6 with a 2-2 draw against New York City FC last weekend.

Saturday events

Breakfast with Easter Bunny planned
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 19, at the Strawberry Hill Museum, 720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kan. Breakfast is $6 for adults and $5 for kids. Breakfast is free for 10 and younger. The menu includes biscuits and gravy, pancakes, sausage and drinks. Visiting with the Easter Bunny is free, and a picture with the Easter Bunny costs $5. For more information see www.strawberryhillmuseum.org.

Democrats to meet for breakfast Saturday
The Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast will meet Saturday, March 19, at The Dotte Spot Bar and Grill, 8123 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan. Speakers will be State Sen. David Haley, D-4th Dist., and State Rep. Louis Ruiz, D-31st Dist. Rep. Ruiz is the assistant Democratic leader of the Kansas House of Representatives. The breakfast buffet will be available at 8:15 a.m. and the program will begin at 9:15. All Democrats are invited to attend. The cost for the breakfast is $10; or $6 for students and those on limited incomes. Those attending are not required to purchase breakfast

Bank to offer free tax classes
Enterprise Bank and Trust is offering free tax classes to help small business owners prepare their 2016 returns at the bank’s full service bilingual location at the Prescott Plaza, 151 S. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan. The sessions are offered on four Saturdays. The next program is March 19, and will feature an Enterprise Bank and Trust financial adviser and a local tax professionals. The informational sessions will be in both English and Spanish. Presentations will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the branch lobby, followed by a brief question-and-answer period. The remaining session is at 9:30 a.m. on April 2. For more information, call 913-693-2790.

Legislative coffee planned
A legislative coffee is planned at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 19, at the Main Kansas City, Kan., Public Library auditorium, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Sen. Pat Pettey, Rep. Valdenia Winn and Rep. Pam Curtis are expected to attend and discuss their work in Topeka. There will be a question-and-answer session. The public may attend.

Church plans parade and Easter egg hunt
Neighborhood children have been invited to a parade and Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 19, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan.

Learn how marbles are made
A marble-making demonstration is scheduled from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Moon Marble Co. store, 600 E. Front St., Bonner Springs. Demonstrations begin around 10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. and end at about 3 p.m., provided a glass artist is available. For more information, see www.moonmarble.com/.

Learn sewing and quilting at the library
Sewing and quilting for beginners or for those who want to learn more will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 19, at the West Wyandotte Library, Kansas City, Kan., Public Library, children’s craft room, 1737 N. 82nd, Kansas City, Kan. The class is for adults, and for those ages 10 and older. There is a limit of 15. Advance registration is requested to the library, 913-596-5800. Those who register get priority.

Community event planned at Old Quindaro Museum March 19
A free community event is planned March 19 at the Old Quindaro Museum, 3432 N. 29th St., Kansas City, Kan. “Keeping Hope Alive” is the theme of the spring break event. The event is sponsored by the Kansas City, Kan., Branch and Greater Kansas City Chapter of the NAACP, and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. The hours are noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19. Food, music, hayrides, poetry readings and impromptu entertainment are part of the plans for the family event. For more information, call 816-820-3615 or visit http://www.oldquindaromuseum.org/.

Spaghetti dinner benefit planned for Grinter Place March 19
A spaghetti dinner is planned at the Grinter Place state historic site, 1400 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kan., from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 19. It will be at the Grinter Barn. Prairie Praise Band will provide entertainment. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door. Kids 5 and younger are free. For information, call 913-481-3527.

Lady Blue Devils upset No. 1 team in national tournament

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Lady Blue Devils upset the No. 1 seed in the NJCAA national tournament tonight.

The No. 4 seed KCKCC women won 81-59, upsetting No. 1 Monroe Community College. Monroe was previously undefeated.

The Lady Blue Devils dominated the contest, leading by double figures throughout the second half of the game.

Next, the Lady Blue Devils play for the championship at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against No. 2 seed Illinois Central. The game will be held at Johnson County Community College.