COVID-19 results in changes to Halloween plans

  
The Unified Government Health Department has issued guidelines on how to safely celebrate Halloween. (UG Health Department graphic)

Because of COVID-19, it will be a different kind of Halloween this year.

Some of the traditional Halloween parties for kids that have been held for years have been canceled because of the risk of COVID-19.

Other groups have found ways to celebrate Halloween in a safe way, in drive-through events or virtual contests. And Halloween guidelines have been issued by the local Unified Government Health Department, as well as the state health department and the CDC.

While parents are weighing the risks in taking kids anywhere during COVID-19, a few organizations have announced events to replace the traditional parties.

Honkin’ Halloween event

The Rosedale Development Association has changed its usual Halloween event for kids, according to Alissa Workman, RDA development director.

They have been holding a Halloween event for about a decade, but this year it has been changed to a way that will be safe for community members, she said.

It will look a little different, and kids will still have a lot of fun, she said.

RDA’s Honkin’ Halloween event at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, will start with a line up for a Halloween car caravan at the Boulevard Drive-in Theatre at 1051 Merriam Lane. The caravan will leave the drive-in at 3:30 p.m., drive up the boulevard to 8th Street, where volunteers will load car trunks with family activity kits, pumpkins and healthy snacks.

In keeping with the previous 10 years, when the event was known as Healthy Halloween, the RDA event will not give away candy. Everyone will be encouraged to dress in a costume and decorate their cars.

Blood pressure screenings will be available to the public at the event. Those who don’t want to participate in the parade may go to 1401 Southwest Blvd. to receive the activity kits and healthy snacks.

People will be expected to stay in their cars. However, participants, especially if they get out of their car for blood pressure screening or anything else, are asked to wear masks, she said.

They’re not sure how many people will participate this year, Workman said. In previous years, they had as many as 300 or 400, but things are different this year, and they’ll be happy if they have 50.

This year’s Halloween event was a challenge, as they wanted to keep everything safe for community members, especially as COVID-19 numbers are going up again. This past summer, RDA delivered activity boxes, food and meals in a summer drive-through style, and they are using the same idea for this event, she added.

Others that went ahead with their Halloween events, in a changed way, included the Turner Recreation Commission, which held a Trunk or Treat last weekend.

Many usual Halloween parties canceled this year

Many of the neighborhood groups that sponsor Halloween events for kids inside Wyandotte County’s recreation centers aren’t holding an event this year.

Besides the recreation centers, also canceling its event this year is the Alcott Arts Center, according to Chuck Green.

Alcott has held a Halloween event for the past 17 years, and a message the center sent out said that it couldn’t do the event this year without putting its volunteers and patrons at risk.

Green said if they had done an event, they might have been one of the few in Kansas City, Kansas, holding a public event, and might have been overrun, without enough volunteers and enough candy to give away.

They also had some concerns about a drive-through and whether people would drive safely, he said, as that might incur some risk.

The Alcott has held a couple of outside events so far this year, he said. It is about the usual time the center closes for the winter, and they will be planning for the future. Next year, they will try to put together some outside and inside programs, and possibly start a new podcast out of the arts center for local artists, he said.

Other events planned

While the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library has been closed to in-person use, it has several Halloween activities online and curbside at the various branches.

Among those activities are activity bags and free books at some of the library branches, as well as craft kits and other Halloween-themed events that are not in person. The libraries also held an online costume contest earlier this week.

For a list of the library activities, visit https://kckpl.librarymarket.com/ and https://kckplprograms.org/.

Other Halloween or weekend events we have heard of include:

Friday, Oct. 30

  • Drive-through Trunk or Treat sponsored by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department, Community Police Unit, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at 6601 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. Candy and treats will be given out in a drive-through event. Kansas Maderos Property is providing one free scoop of ice cream to the first 100 children under the age of 16. Face masks and social distancing are required for kids and adults.
  • The Armourdale Renewal Association will sponsor a drive-through Trunk or Treat from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at the Armourdale Community Center, 730 Osage, Kansas City, Kansas. Those participating will stay in their vehicles. Face masks and social distancing are required.
  • The Legends Outlets, I-435 and I-70 in Kansas City, Kansas. It is not a Halloween celebration, but an early Day of the Dead celebration. A movie will be shown on the Legends Lawn from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. There will be a special movie showing of “Coco,” a Disney movie, plus complimentary tacos for the first 60 guests starting at 5:30 p.m. from El Toro Loco and the KCK Convention and Visitors Bureau. There will be sugar skull photo props for kids. Those attending may bring their own blankets or lawn chairs. Social distancing will be required. (https://legendsshopping.com/events/family/movie-on-the-lawn/)
  • Nebraska Furniture Mart, 1601 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, plans a free drive-in showing of “Minions” in the NFM parking lot from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. There are free bags of treats for kids. Also from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, kids can get a free bag of treats at the store. Face masks and social distancing will be required.

Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31

  • The “Take a Book” children’s event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 31, at The Merc grocery store parking lot, 501 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The free outdoor event is sponsored by Altrusa International of Greater Kansas City, partnering with The Merc. The free outdoor event for families with children will include reading books aloud, then each child will select one new book to take home and add to the home library. The event is geared toward pre-kindergarten through sixth grade children. The program is made possible through a $4,000 grant from Altrusa International Foundation to improve the economic well-being and quality of life in communities that host an Altrusa Club. In addition, The Merc will provide a treat in the store for any child wearing a Halloween costume. (https://www.facebook.com/altrusa.kc)
  • The Bonner Springs Library annual Boo Bash will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, outside the library at 201 N. Nettleton, Bonner Springs. Spooky stories on the back lawn, music, crafts and a treat are part of the events. Masks are required, and costumes are encouraged. Social distancing is required.
    You can give and receive at the Bonner Springs City Library, 201 N. Nettleton, Bonner Springs, on Halloween, Oct. 31. Visit the library in your costume on Halloween and get a treat at the desk. Bring in canned goods or boxed food items and get two treats at the desk. Also, anyone who has overdue fines can bring in a can to donate to the food drive and receive $1 off the fine per can (but not for lost items). Even if you don’t have a fine, you can still donate to the food drive. Also, the final Farmers’ Market from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Oct. 31 in Bonner Springs is accepting canned goods for the food drive. The food will be donated to Vaughn-Trent in Bonner Springs. (https://bonnerlibrary.org/)
  • All QuikTrip stores will be giving away a free vanilla cone to trick-or-treaters age 12 and younger between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Oct. 31. Children must be dressed in costume and trick-or-treat inside any Quik Trip to receive the free snack.

Advice for safely celebrating Halloween

The Wyandotte County Health Department has issued guidelines to safely celebrate Halloween.

Recommended activities

Some of the activities with lower COVID risk that the UGPHD recommends include:


• Online parties or contests (such as online costume contests, pumpkin carving, etc.)
• Drive-through events where individuals remain in vehicles. This could include events where individuals receive a treat bag (containing commercially packed, non-perishable treats) or activities like drive-in Halloween movies
• Decorating yards and homes with Halloween-themed decorations, and driving or walking to enjoy other Halloween decorations in local neighborhoods

Safer Trick or Treating, and ‘Trunk or Treating’ activities

Many typical Halloween activities pose more COVID-19 risk than the recommended activities above, including “Trunk or Treat” events and trick or treating. As many community members may choose to engage in their usual Halloween traditions, the Health Department urges people to take precautions to enjoy those activities in a safer way.

• Wear a cloth face covering over the nose and mouth when trick or treating or when answering the door for trick or treaters.
• Carry hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol and use it at regular intervals.
• Consider disinfecting candy wrappers or other items accepted from homes.
• Leave at least 6-feet between yourself and people not in your household. Do not crowd sidewalks, driveways, or porches. At “Trunk or Treat” events, cars should be spaced at least 6 feet apart.
• Practice routine hand hygiene with soap and water or hand sanitizer.
• Clean frequently-touched items and surfaces regularly, such as door knobs.
• Consider spacing items 6-feet apart on your porch, in your yard or on a table in your driveway with a sign advising trick or treaters to “Take 1.”
• Opt out of these activities if you are over 60 years old or have a compromised immune system.
• If you currently are sick, have recently tested positive for COVID-19, are awaiting COVID-19 results, or are quarantining, you should opt out of all trick or treating activities.

For the full “Wyandotte County Guidance for Celebrating Halloween and Fall Gatherings 2020,” go to http://bit.ly/WyCoHalloween2020 or go to wycokck.org/COVID-19, and click on the COVID Hub, which includes a section on Halloween guidance.

UG Commission to meet tonight to discuss Riverfront TIF project, Menards project on 18th Street and Neighborhood Revitalization Plan renewal

The Unified Government Commission will meet tonight in a remote Zoom meeting.

Several planning and zoning items are on the 7 p.m. meeting agenda.

On the 5 p.m. special session agenda are a presentation on COVID-19, and a presentation about the Central Area plan.

The 7 p.m. agenda includes three public hearings: on the Neighborhood Revitalization Area Plan Renewal for 2021 to 2025; on Riverfront TIF project area 1 for the Yards II apartment project; and on the EPIC TIF project plan and development agreement for the Menards southwest of I-35 and 18th Street Expressway.

The 7 p.m. Oct. 29 agenda also will include:

• 13635 Hollingsworth Road, change of zone from agriculture district to single-family district to allow the property owner to sell the buildings and retain the land.

• 4811 Parallel Parkway, special use permit, and change of zone from limited business district to planned general business district for limited auto repairs.

• 10901 State Ave., change of zone from agriculture district to planned general industrial district for Urban Outfitters distribution center, Hillwood Enterprises.

• 11255 Leavenworth Road, renewal of special use permit for live entertainment, Rowe Ridge Vineyard and Winery.

• 1112 Booth St., renewal of special use permit for a short-term rental AirBNB, ExZance Properties.

• 732 N. 57th St., special use permit for an earthen fill.

• 310 N. 11th St., special use permit for the temporary use of land for a modular classroom for Pearson Elementary School.

• 10901 State Ave., Master Plan Amendment from Entertainment to Business Park, Hillwood Enterprises.

• 5900 Speaker Road, preliminary and final plan review for a parking lot for storage trailers, Olsson.

• 2930 S. 44th St., ordinance for a special use permit for a used auto dealership.

• 3100 S. 74th St., ordinance rezoning property from signle-family district to agriculture district.

• 2947 N. 83rd St., ordinance authorizing special use permit for a home occupation single customer salon.

• 3716 Springfield St., ordinance authorizing special use permit for a short-term rental AirBNB.

• 601 Central Ave., ordinance authorizing special use permit for a microbrewery and drinking establishment.

• 1041 Berger Ave., 1044 McAlpine Ave. and 522, 523 and 525 S. 11th St., vacation of alley, Scojo’s Property Management, recommended for denial.

• Central Area Master Plan consideration.

• 31st and Kimball Avenue Sanitary Stream Crossing Improvement Project, ordinance directing UG lawyers to start proceedings to acquire land for the project.

• Ordinance amending the capital maintenance improvement projects, with changes to the police tow lot project and authorizing issuing general obligation bonds or temporary notes to finance all or a part of the costs of the improvements.

• 69th and College Parkway, plat of Turner Logistics Center, second plat, developed by NP Turner Industrial LLC.

• 1101 S. 5th St., plat of Lot 1, Prime Industrial Development II, being developed by Premier Investments.

• 115th and Parkview Avenue, plat of Honey Creek Estates Replat, developed by Colbert Family Living Trust.

• 91st and Parallel Parkway, plat of Lowell Brune Elementary School, of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools.

• Public hearing on the Neighborhood Revitalization Area Plan Renewal for 2021 to 2025.

• Public hearing on Riverfront TIF project area 1 for the Yards II apartment project.

• Public hearing on the EPIC TIF project plan and development agreement for the Menards southwest of I-35 and 18th Street Expressway.

• An agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 40, for Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2021.

• Nomination of Murrel Bland, reappointment to the Landmarks Commission, by Commissioner Melissa Bynum.
• Nomination of Anne McDonald, reappointment to the Housing Authority, by Commissioner Brian McKiernan.
• Nomination of Tamika McClain to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, submitted by Mayor David Alvey.

Land Bank applications
New construction – single family homes
• 617 Elizabeth Ave., Blake Lostal
• 624 Orville Ave., Blake Lostal
• 10841 Country Side Drive, Mosaic Construction Co.
• 737 Tauromee Ave., S&M Management LLLC
• 455 N. Bluegrass Drive, Darlene Dunn
• 5249 N. 109th St., Sean McLucas
• 14141 Minnesota Ave., Sean McLucas
• 3341 N. 87th St., Lucio Vazquez
• 1236, 1238, 1240 Armstrong Ave., Omar Khalil
• 926 S. Coy St., Oscar Guzman
• 3819 Lloyd St., Rogelio Avalos
• 1302 S. 38th St., Mitch Graham

New construction – duplexes
• 1132 and 1134 Armstrong Ave., Omar Khalil
• 1136 and 1138 Armstrong Ave., Omar Khalil
• 4903 Dixie Ave., Rogelio Avalos

New construction – commercial
• 1841 State Ave., Marquis Custom LLC (build chapel and parking lot for funeral home)
• 1857 Minnesota Ave., Marquis Custom LLC
• 1873 Minnesota Ave., Marquis Custom LLC (coffee shop, doughnut and pizza shop)

New construction – garages
• 2027 N. 4th St., Angela Knight
• 1926 N. 25th St., Paul Tyes
• 3422 and 3430 N. 32nd Terrace, Irvin Jackson (needs to cancel lease)

Land Bank property transfers
Rehab – new construction side lot
• 2401 N. Tremont St., for neighboring home currently being rehabbed. Contractor is requesting neighboring lot to build a deck and driveway.

Land Bank land swap
• Fred Del Toro applied for a special use permit to put livestock on his property but it was at the entrance of Quindaro Cemetery. The Land Bank was asked if it would have property it could swap to meet his needs.
• 3347 and 3456 N. 31st Terrace

Land Bank Lot
• 3314 N. 47th St.

The meetings will be available for viewing on UGTV on cable television and YouTube, and on Zoom.

Those who want to speak at the public hearings may use Zoom to connect to the meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82047119091?pwd=VE9MR0Y5akt2Zk5yNDI5Uk84djVaZz09
Passcode: 597497
Webinar ID: 820 4711 9091
Phone (Toll Free):
888 475 4499 or 877 853 5257

For more information about how to connect to the meetings, visit https://www.wycokck.org/BOC-Virtual-Meeting.aspx.

Sporting KC clinches berth in playoffs with 1-0 win over Cincinnati

Second-half substitute Roger Espinoza scored a pivotal goal on Wednesday night as Sporting Kansas City (11-6-3, 36 points) clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs following a 1-0 road victory over FC Cincinnati (4-13-4, 16 points) at Nippert Stadium in Ohio.

The result guarantees Sporting Kansas City a top-eight finish in the Western Conference and vaults the club back into first place with two scheduled matches remaining in the regular season.

Espinoza’s decisive strike, coupled with two saves from history-making goalkeeper Tim Melia, helped Sporting eclipse their regular season win total from 2019 and improved the team’s record to 5-1-1 during the month of October.

Under the guidance of manager Peter Vermes, Sporting Kansas City has sealed a return to the postseason after their club-record eight-year playoff streak from 2011-2018 ended last year.

Vermes, who has led the club to the 2013 MLS Cup title and three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championships, becomes the first head coach in MLS history to reach the playoffs nine times with a single club.

Four days removed from his team’s impressive 4-0 defeat of the Colorado Rapids at Children’s Mercy Park, Vermes made two changes to the Sporting Kansas City lineup as homegrown midfielder Felipe Hernandez replaced Espinoza and forward Khiry Shelton stepped in for the rested Gianluca Busio.

The first 45 minutes unfolded in pedestrian fashion as both sides combined for a single shot on target.

Sporting survived a scare in the early stages, however, when Cincinnati winger Jurgen Locadia burst down the left channel and cut the ball back across the box. Joseph Claude-Gyau had space to unleash a first-time effort, but his shot was scuffed and Siem de Jong’s redirected strike carried well over the crossbar.

Having scored in Saturday’s win over Colorado, striker Alan Pulido manufactured Sporting’s first chance in the 29th minute by charging into the attacking third and spreading a clever pass left to Hernandez, who fended off a challenge from Zico Bailey but was unable to steer his attempt goalward.

On the brink of intermission, Melia etched his name into the record books. Locadia raced onto a well-weighted Haris Medunjanin through ball and pulled the trigger with his left peg, but Melia produced a fine stop at the near post to keep the game scoreless.

In doing so, the 34-year-old passed club legend Tony Meola for first on Sporting’s all-time chart with 508 saves in the regular season.

The visitors showed increased aggression after the restart as Vermes subbed Espinoza and winger Gerso Fernandes into the contest.

Gerso nearly had an instant impact on proceedings, volleying high after Johnny Russell nodded Amadou Dia’s chipped delivery back across the face of goal.

Vermes’ halftime switch paid dividends in the 57th minute when Espinoza fired Sporting into the lead.

The play opened up thanks to an inch-perfect through ball from Kinda that set Pulido free down the left side of the penalty area. The Mexican coolly squared the ball to an open Espinoza, whose left-footed strike beat Cincinnati goalkeeper Spencer Richey.

Espinoza tallied his second goal of the season on the play, while Pulido recorded his team-leading fifth assist.

Cincinnati was awarded a golden opportunity on the hour mark when rookie Frankie Amaya won his team a penalty kick after drawing a foul on Roberto Puncec. VAR Hilario Grajeda prompted referee David Gantar to review the play for a potential handball on Amaya just before the foul took place, but the call stood and de Jong stepped to the spot with intentions of drawing Cincinnati level.

He smacked his attempt off the left post and back out, keeping the hosts off the scoreboard as Melia dropped his remarkable penalty goals conceded percentage to 53.8% — the lowest in MLS history among keepers with at least 10 penalties faced.

The final half-hour packed plenty of action, with Russell almost catching Richey off his line via an audacious long-range free kick in the 65th minute.

A few moments later, Richey sprawled left to parry aside Espinoza’s missile through traffic, denying the Honduran his first MLS brace. The Cincinnati gloveman delivered another stop on 72 minutes, punching away a thunderous Pulido free kick.

With 87 minutes on the clock, and just seconds after Russell’s shot near the top of the box trickled wide, Cincinnati went incredibly close to salvaging a point in the club’s final regular season match at Nippert Stadium.

Substitute forward Brandon Vazquez turned past his defender and unfurled a shot from the right side of the box, but Melia got the slightest of touches on the ball as it caromed off the near post and skipped out of play.

One point ahead of second-place Seattle Sounders FC in the West, Sporting Kansas City will return to Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday to play Minnesota United FC in the club’s final regular season home match at Children’s Mercy Park. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. with tickets available at SeatGeek.com and live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO, ESPN 94.5 FM and La Grande 1340 AM.

  • Story from Sporting KC