Month: July 2017

Saturday events

In the event of inclement weather, contact the sponsoring organization and ask if the event will still be held.

Show and Shine Car and Truck Show at Ag Hall
The Show and Shine Car and Truck Show will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs, Kansas.

Meet turtles and snakes today
A program on the natural history of the snakes and turtles at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. July 22. It is for all ages. The library is at 4051 West Drive in Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas. The program is for all ages.

Program to discuss essential oils
Essential oils will be the topic of a program from 10:30 to noon Saturday, July 22, at the West Wyandotte Library auditorium, 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kansas. Gayle Whitney and Judy Cruden will discuss essential oils and how they can work for a family during the back-to-school time.

Lego build event planned
The KC Brick Club will hold a Lego play-build activity from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at the Main Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library, storytime – craft room, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. They also will display some custom builds from their members. The program is for all ages.

Christmas in July event planned
A Christmas in July event is planned tonight at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road. Planned are a kids’ fishing derby at 5 p.m., a pontoon boat parade at 8:30 p.m., food vendors, music, and fireworks afterward at the beach shelter. The event is open to the public.

Free concert planned at the Legends Outlets
Rattle and Hum, a U2 tribute band, is scheduled to perform from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at the Legends Outlets in the center courtyard fountain area. The concert is free and open to the public. People may bring folding chairs.

T-Bones at home tonight
The T-Bones (33-25) will play the Winnipeg Goldeyes at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas. Post-game fireworks are planned. Tickets are available online by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.

KCK school board elects new president

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education recently elected Brenda Jones as president and Irene Caudillo as vice president. (Photo from Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools)

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education has elected Brenda C. Jones as board president.

The vote was taken at the July 18 school board meeting.

The board also has elected Irene Caudillo as vice president.

Jones was elected to the Board of Education in April 2007. Born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, she is a product of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools.

She attended Kansas State University and retired after 36 years working at AT&T. She has been active in many community organizations over the years including the Economic Opportunity Foundation, Sumner Alumni Association, United Way of Wyandotte County, the Workforce Investment Board and the Shepherd’s Center of KCK.

She is a member of the Metropolitan Baptist Church, where she serves as the clerk. She is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of America and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Caudillo is the president-chief executive officer for El Centro, Inc., an organization that works to strengthen communities and improve the lives of Latinos and others through educational, social, and economic opportunities.

She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Throughout her career, she has developed children and youth programs for nonprofit organizations including El Centro and Wyandotte Mental Health Association in Wyandotte County. She previously worked with the Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department as the first minority health outreach coordinator.

Other positions she has held include executive director for Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Inc., director of family strengthening for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and director of clinic operations for Swope Health Services. Her service to the community goes beyond her career with involvement in numerous community boards including AIRR, Community Housing of Wyandotte County, KU Advancement Board, University of St. Mary’s Board of Trustees, University of Missouri Kansas City Public Administration Advisory and Hispanic Advisory Boards.

She and her husband, Ryan, have three children.

– Story from Melissa Fears, director of communications and marketing, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Temperature could hit 100 degrees for Christmas in July event Saturday

With a high near 100 degrees and an excessive heat warning predicted on Saturday, it may feel strange to be celebrating Christmas.

Lou Braswell said that despite the weather forecast, she is looking forward to the annual Christmas in July event scheduled Saturday, July 22, at Wyandotte County Lake, 91st and Leavenworth Road. She is scheduled to be a judge of the annual boat parade that is part of the event sponsored by the Unified Government Parks and Recreation Department and several others. The event is open to the public.

“It’s going to be hot, but there’s lots of activities,” Braswell said. A kids’ fishing derby is planned at 5 p.m.

Pontoon boats decorated with lights and a Christmas theme will participate in a pontoon parade at 8:30 p.m. and then be judged on originality and the theme, she said. Prizes will be awarded.

There will be food vendors at the event. Fireworks are planned after the parade at the beach shelter house.

“It’s a fantastic event, I think it’s one of the best around,” Braswell said. “It’s going to be hot.”

She said one notable pontoon boat in the parade in a past year had a machine producing snow.

“It was fake snow, but it was the idea,” she said.