40 authors featured at library’s Homegrown Reads program Saturday

About 40 area authors will be featured at the Homegrown Reads program on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Main Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library, 625 Minnesota Ave.

The event will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday on the main floor of the library.

The event is free and open to the public.

Most of the authors will have their books on hand to sell, and will autograph books, according to Anne Lacey, a spokeswoman for the library.  There will not be authors’ readings.

This year, it’s mostly a new group of authors, with about one or two authors who have appeared in the program previously, she said.

“A number of them live here,” Lacey added.

Authors listed on the program:

Cheryl Alvarado

Megan Bannen

Sally Berneathy

Calogero Bradley

Becky Brinkley

Luann Cadden

Starla Carr

Shelley Coulter

Amy A.J. Culey

Darlene Deluca

Marcus Dickerson

Janice S. Ellis

C.L. Fails

Kenya Frazier

Jennifer L. Gadd

Stephenie L. Hardaway

Ronda Hassig

Grace Lajoy Henderson

Dr. Evelyn Hill

Lila Johnson

Niki Lenz

Masai Long

Sunni Delight Long

Dr. Bianca Smith Love

Joanna Marsh

Andy Marso

Brian McCann

Mary McConnell

Leah Merrill

Jerry Parrish

Kneika Robbins

Francis Robinson

Dr. Sondra B. Samuels

Vladimir Sainte

Lissa Sloan

Gwendolyn E. Squires

Joycelyn Strickland-Egans

Kendria Taylor

Nicole Tolefree

Joe H. Vaughan

Robert B. Way

At Library in the Park

Despite a little rain, Library in the Park went on as planned today at Big Eleven Lake at 11th and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. The free event includes games, entertainment, face painting, lawn games and free tacos. It continues until 2 p.m. Saturday. It is sponsored by the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library. (Photo by William Crum)

Author Christine Taylor-Butler signed copies of her book, “The Lost Tribes,” at the Library in the Park event today at Big Eleven Lake, Kansas City, Kansas. The book is being given away to children, while supplies last. (Photo by William Crum)
A display for the guest author at the Library in the Park event Saturday at Big 11 Lake. (Photo by William Crum)
Library in the Park includes musical performances. The event runs through 2 p.m. Saturday at Big Eleven Lake, 11th and State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by William Crum)
More scenes from Library in the Park on Saturday at Big Eleven Lake, 11th and State, Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by William Crum)
More scenes from Library in the Park on Saturday at Big Eleven Lake, 11th and State, Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by William Crum)
More scenes from Library in the Park on Saturday at Big Eleven Lake, 11th and State, Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by William Crum)
Olivia Rodriguez, who attends St. Patrick’s School, waited for her book to be signed by the author at the Library in the Park event on Saturday at Big Eleven Lake, 11th and State, Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by William Crum)
More scenes from Library in the Park on Saturday at Big Eleven Lake, 11th and State, Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by William Crum)

Saturday events

If there is inclement weather, check with the sponsoring organization to see if the event still will be held.

PiperFest planned Sept. 28
Preparations are underway for the annual PiperFest, a community festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, at Piper High School, 4400 N. 107th St., Kansas City, Kansas. A previously announced schedule for PiperFest has been changed because of the rain and storms. The car show will be on Sunday. The fun run will be on Saturday morning. The new schedule can be found at https://wyandotteonline.com/piperfest-schedule-changes-because-of-weather/. The annual event will raise funds for the Piper Public School District 203, according to Sean Ziolo, who is volunteering with the festival’s car show. Highlights of the event will include a pancake breakfast, run-walk, auction, car show, carnival, bingo, concessions and food trucks. For more information, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/piperfest-schedule-changes-because-of-weather/, www.piperfest.com or https://www.facebook.com/pipercarshow/.

Hispanic Heritage Festival planned Sept. 28
A Hispanic Heritage Festival will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Bonner Springs Farmers’ Market at Kelly Murphy Park, 129 Elm St., Bonner Springs. This year’s festival, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, highlights contributions made by the Latino community. The festival will include music, dancers, a clown, bounce houses, food and games.

Adopt-A-Spot to launch Saturday in KCK, Bonner Springs and Edwardsville

The cities of Kansas City, Kansas, Bonner Springs and Edwardsville are teaming up to make Wyandotte County litter free through a grassroots, citizen based program called Adopt-A-Spot. The event will officially launch at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, with Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor David Alvey, Bonner Springs Mayor Jeff Harrington and Edwardsville Mayor John McTaggart joining for the event at Leo Alvey Park, Metropolitan Avenue and 49th Street South in Kansas City, Kansas. The Adopt-A-Spot program is voluntary and designed for civic-minded groups, businesses, and organizations with an interest in keeping Bonner Springs, Edwardsville, and Kansas City, Kansas litter-free. The Adopt-A-Spot program is open to families, youth organizations, civic groups, nonprofits, churches, schools, social organizations, retiree organizations, and city, county, or state agencies. To learn more and check out the list of adoptable spots, visit the Adopt-A-Spot WyCo page at www.wycokck.org/SOAR/Adopt.

Library in the Park to be Sept. 28
The fifth annual Library in the Park festival will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Big Eleven Lake, 11th and State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. The festival is free and includes activities for all ages. This year’s special guest is Christine Taylor-Butler, an award winning author of children’s fiction and nonfiction. Free copies of her book, “The Lost Tribes,” will be given away, while supplies last. She will sign copies of her books and conduct two science experiments with children. There will be performances from local groups Drum Safari, The Cubanisms, and The Freedom Affair. Drum Safari will also host three drum circles during the event. Other activities will include Blind Date with a Movie, Music Sampling, Book Fortune Teller, the Yearbook Project, bubbles, face-painting, a photo booth, and lawn games. Attendees will also get to visit the Mobile Library to sign up for a card and check out items. Library in the Park will include a return of the taco competition with local taquerias Carniceria la Luz, San Antonio’s, Daisy’s Mexican Food, and Eduardo’s Pueblito. Attendees will get a chance to sample tacos from all four locations and vote on which taco is the best. The tacos will be provided by KCKPL at no cost to attendees. Attendees will get a chance to sample tacos from all four locations and vote on which taco is the best. The tacos will be provided by KCKPL at no cost to attendees. For more information on Library in the Park and a full schedule of events, visit libraryinthepark.org.

Renaissance Festival continues
The Renaissance Festival will continue from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29, at 130th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs. Tickets are $22.95 for adults and $13.95 for children 5 to 12 years old. For more information, visit www.kcrenfest.com.


El Centro Cultural Celebration and Resource Fair planned
El Centro plans a Cultural Celebration and Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at 650 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The event includes a ceremonial dance, folkloric dance, Fiesta Mexicana, healthy cooking demonstrations, food, a disc jockey and activities for kids. Resources will be available on voter registration, Medicaid and other information.

Family story time planned
Family story time is planned from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the youth services craft room at the Main Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The event includes stories, dance and singing. The program is geared to ages 2 to 6. For other library programs, visit www.kckpl.org.

Spanish singing lessons planned
“Clases de Canto,” or Spanish singing lessons, are planned from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, in Conference Room B, South Branch Library, 3104 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The Spanish language singing class is taught by Sandra Zamora. For other library programs, visit www.kckpl.org.

Slovenefest planned Sept. 28
Volunteers from Holy Family Catholic Church, Kansas City, Kansas, are preparing for the annual Slovenefest, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Monsignor Mejak Hall and Holy Family School grounds, 513 Ohio. The event will include a traditional Slovenian dinner, music and family entertainment. The funds raised will support Holy Family Church. The festival begins after the 4 p.m. Mass on Sept. 28 at Holy Family Church, 274 Orchard St., Kansas City, Kansas. The festival from 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 28 includes children’s and adult games, cultural booth, souvenirs, a silent auction, authentic Slovenian food including sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls), poljene paprika (stuffed peppers), krvavica (a specialty sausage), Slovenian potato salad and green beans. Tamburitza music from Hravatski Obicaj is featured from 5 to 6 p.m., and Slovenian polkas by the Brian McCarty Band are planned from 6 to 9 p.m. The festival will be held rain or shine.


If there is inclement weather, check with the sponsoring organization to see if the event still will be held. The events here were listed according to their starting times. If you have an event to list that is happening in Wyandotte County, send it to [email protected].