Community Blood Center declares blood emergency

The Community Blood Center of Kansas City has declared a blood emergency after the Labor Day weekend.

There is an urgent need for blood donations, according to the blood center.

The blood supply currently is below the preferred minimum, according to a spokesman.

All blood types are needed, particularly those with O negative and B negative blood, according to the spokesman.

Blood may be donated at the Community Blood Center’s office and also at mobile sites.

Some of the upcoming blood drives listed on the Community Blood Center’s website include:

• Sept. 17, from 2 to 6 p.m., Christ the King Catholic Church basement, 3024 N. 53rd St., Kansas City, Kansas.
• Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sporting Kansas City, One Sporting Way, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kansas City, Kansas Community College, Room 2325, Jewell Center, 7250 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
• Sept. 26, from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Bonner Springs YMCA, Classroom A, 2251 S. 138th St., Bonner Springs.
• Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Providence Medical Center, auditorium rooms, 8929 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Oct. 5, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sumner Academy, new gym, 1610 N. 8th St., Kansas City, Kansas.
• Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kansas City Kansas Community College Burke Technical Education Center, Multipurpose Room 2, 6565 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.

To schedule an appointment or get more information on where to donate or how to set up a drive, visit www.savealifenow.org or call 1-877-468-6844.

Renaissance Festival opens 42nd season here

A dragon ride is one of the attractions at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, which is open on weekends through Columbus Day at 130th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs.

With something for everyone, the Renaissance Festival launched its 42nd season at 130th and State in Bonner Springs on Labor Day weekend.

From fire-eaters and zip-lining to camel and dragon rides, kids from 2 to 92 are offered a multitude of fun activities surrounded by a multitude dames and damsels dressed in medieval garb of Merry Olde England – including the Lady Mayor of the Renaissance Village and the King’s shoemaker (as pictured).

In all, there are more than 200 artisan shoppes, 25 stages of entertainment, daily jousts and well in excess of 100 choices of gourmet specialties ranging from turkey legs, Reuben dogs and corn on the cob to fried marshmallows, cheesecake on a stick and strawberry shortcake.

This year’s festival is open each Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 14 along with Columbus Day, Monday, Oct, 8. The hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking is free.

The Renaissance Festival was founded in 1977 as a benefit to the Kansas City Art Institute and has since grown to be one of the largest Renaissance Festivals in the U.S., attracting more than 200,000 persons each fall. For more information, visit http://www.kcrenfest.com/.

Visitors to the Renaissance Festival will see royalty. The event continues on weekends through Columbus Day at 130th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs.
The Renaissance Festival includes a ziplining ride. The festival continues on weekends through Columbus Day at 130th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs.
A fire eater is one of the attractions at the Renaissance Festival. The festival continues on weekends through Columbus Day at 130th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs.
Camel rides are another attraction at the Renaissance Festival. The festival continues on weekends through Columbus Day at 130th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs.

Community calendar

The Wyandotte Daily news is interested in news of your community event in Wyandotte County. Send information to [email protected] and include your name and phone number. Please send in planned events about a week before the event if possible. In the event of inclement weather, call to see if the event is still planned.

Programs offered for Spanish-speaking women
Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, offers programs for Spanish-speaking women: Las Mujeres, Mary Ellen Rodriquez y Anna Maria Sauer, Martes 10 – 11:30 a.m. Grupo de salud emocional para la mujer, ofrecido por MOCSA, contacte a Sinead McDonough, llame al 816-285-1349, los martes, 11:30 – 1 p.m.; La Hora Financiera, con lider Brenda Mortell, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Jueves 6 de Septiembre. El centro de mujeres Keeler ofrece consejeria espiritual a mujeres y hombres en espanol y ingles. Gratis. Se aceptan donaciones. Llame al 913-906-8990 para hacer su cita o para mas informacion. For more information and registration, call 913-906-8990.

Renaissance Festival opens
The Kansas City Renaissance Festival opened on Saturday, Sept. 1, and continues on weekends through Oct. 14 at the festival grounds at 130th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs. It also will be open on Labor Day and Columbus Day. The festival is a celebration of medieval life, with such activities as jousting, contests, a royal parade, music, entertainment and food. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $22.95 per adult, $13.95 for children 5-12, $20.25 for seniors and students, and free for children 4 and younger. Discounts are available for advance tickets and group rates are available. The theme of the first weekend, Sept. 1-3, is the Buccaneer Beer Fest. For this weekend, those who donate five nonperishable food items for Harvesters at the festival gates will receive a buy one, get one ticket on a regular-priced adult admission. For more information, visit http://www.kcrenfest.com/ or call 913-721-2110.

Caregiver support group to meet
A support group for caregivers, including men and women, will meet from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The group is facilitated by Jackie Tigges, MSW, LSCSW. The group meets on the first and third Tuesdays. For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

NAACP to meet Sept. 4
The Kansas City, Kansas, Branch NAACP will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the Bethany Medical Building, 21 N. 12th St., in the second floor meeting room. The executive meeting will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the general membership meeting at 7 p.m. All members are encouraged to attend and the public is welcomed. The agenda includes updates on the plans for the 100th Year Freedom Fund Banquet; the general membership will determine the date, time, and location for the branch November election and a nominating committee will be elected to report out at the October meeting. For further information, call 913-281-7900.

Women’s self-defense class offered
A women’s self-defense class will be offered from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The program will be facilitated by Sidney Thompson. Kansas City Tsuruoka Karate will show ways to defend oneself and others. For more information or registration, call 913-906-8990.

BPU to meet Sept. 5
The Board of Public Utilities will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, at the BPU offices, 540 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The work session at 5 p.m. will include a board update, general manager update, tree trimming update and proposed economic development fund request. The regular agenda at 6 p.m. will include a visitors’ time, solar policy revision approval, water treatment plant update, Kansas American Water Works Association report, July financial report, board comments and general manager comments.

Women writers to meet
The Women Writers Group will meet from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Those attending will learn new approaches to writing and share their own writings. For more information or registration, call 913-906-8990.

Grinter Fest scheduled Sept. 8
Grinter Fest will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Grinter Place, 78th and K-32, Kansas City, Kansas. There will be an apple pie contest with the mayor, and an appearance by a Moses Grinter re-enactor. Educational displays and craft vendors also will be part of Grinter Fest. Admission to the Grinter Fest is free. There will be a charge for house tours. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/events/243582792862506/.

Central Avenue parade and festival to be Sept. 8
The Central Avenue Dotteversity Parade will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at 18th and Central, and ends at the festival, which follows the parade at Bethany Park at 11th and Central. Six high school marching bands will be in the parade. The parade and festival afternoon at Bethany Park will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/104729686999134/.

Nature watercolor program offered
“Beauty of Creation: Water Coloring Nature” will be offered from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 10, 17 and 24 at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The program is led by Mary Donovan. For more information or registration, call 913-906-8990.

Wyandotte County Extension Council to hold elections Sept. 10
The Wyandotte County Extension Council will hold an election at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at 1208 N. 79th St., Kansas City, Kansas. Citizens of voting age in Wyandotte County will meet to elect 12 members, including three members for agricultural pursuits, three members for home economics work, three members for 4-H Club and youth work, and three members for economic development initiatives, as representatives to the County Extension Council.

Green cleaning to be topic of meeting Sept. 10
“Green, Clean and Clutter Free” will be the topic of a program from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Those attending will learn about the environmental and financial benefits of green cleaning. The program will be presented by Chiquita Miller.

Program discusses how to raise safe kids
The ACT Raising Safe Kids Program will continue from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. On Sept. 10, the topic will be “Discipline for Positive Behaviors.” For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

Book club to meet
The Book Club will meet from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The book to be discussed is “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi. For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

Leavenworth Road Association to meet Sept. 11
The Leavenworth Road Association will meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Eisenhower Center, 2901 N. 72nd St., Kansas City, Kansas. District Attorney Mark Dupree is the scheduled guest speaker. A potluck dinner and social hour at 6 p.m. will be followed by a meeting at 7 p.m. Also, a buffet-style taco dinner fundraiser for the Leavenworth Road Association will be held from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the FOP Hall, 7844 Leavenworth Road. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12, and are available at the LRA office. For more information, call 913-788-3988.

Makeup class to be offered Sept. 12
The “Smoky Eyes Makeup Class” will be offered from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The program will be led by Sally Anderson. For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

Documentary film to be shown Sept. 12 at KCKCC
The Wyandotte County Historical Society will sponsor a showing of the documentary film, “William Allen White: What’s the Matter with Kansas,” at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, in the Performing Arts Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College, 7250 State Ave. Admission will be free and the community college will be a co-sponsor of the event. Kevin Willmott, a professor of film and media studies at the University of Kansas at Lawrence, directed the 90-minute film.

‘Pretty Nails’ program offered
Appointments for a “Pretty Nails” program will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Those interested must call 913-906-8990 to schedule an appointment.

Oldest living ‘Yankee Dodger’ to speak Sept. 13
The guest speaker at the Bonner Springs Historic Preservation Society’s monthly speaker series Sept. 13 will be Fred Kipp, author of “The Last Yankee Dodger: From Brooklyn to LA and the Bronx.” Kipp, 86, who was born in Piqua, Kansas, is the last living player for the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees. The program will begin at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Alden-Harrington Family Event Center, 218 Oak St., Bonner Springs. There is no admission charge. Kipp’s son, Mark Kipp, serves on the Bonner Springs City Council. For more information, visit http://www.bonnerlibrary.org/event/historic-society-fred-kipp/?instance_id=16306.

Hispanic Heritage Month program planned
The Bonner Springs City Library, 201 N. Nettleton, is sponsoring a Hispanic Heritage Month program. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Bonner Springs Farmers’ Market, 129 Elm St. There will be food, salsa dancing and a mariachi group. Admission is free.

Library in the Park to be Sept. 15
The fourth annual Library in the Park will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Big Eleven Lake, 11th and State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. The free outdoor festival will include live music, food and activities. Derrick Barnes, author of “CROWN: An Ode to the Fresh Cut,” will sign free copies of his children’s book at the event. Local music groups The Sextet, Ayel, and The Urban Bucket Brigade will perform. A taco competition will be held with local KCK taquerias Ninfa’s, Carniceria la Luz, Indios Carbonsitos, and Don Antonio’s. Those attending may sample the free tacos. The Dash KCK will be held at 8:30 a.m. For more information see libraryinthepark.org and dashkck.com.

NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet to be Sept. 15

The Kansas City, Kansas, NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Reardon Convention Center, 5th and Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. The KCK NAACP is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The guest speaker is Derrick Johnson, NAACP national president, on the topic of “Defeat Hate, Vote.” Tickets to the banquet will be $65. For ticket information, call 913-568-7160.

Mohr to lead writing workshop
A free writing workshop with Joshua Mohr, a Bay area novelist and writing instructor, will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at the Bonner Springs Library, 201 N. Nettleton Ave. Mohr teaches writing at the University of San Francisco and will speak on “Plaracterization: Marrying Plot and Character.” The program is sponsored by the Johnson County Library Foundation , Joan Berkley Writers Fund. For more information, visit http://www.bonnerlibrary.org/event/plaracterization-marry-plot-and-character/?instance_id=16302.

Book discussion of ‘Song of the Lark’ featured Sept. 18
A book discussion of Willa Cather’s “Song of the Lark” is scheduled at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Bonner Springs Library. Linda Lewis, a retired professor from Bethany College, will facilitate the discussion. Lewis was a professor of English for 27 years at Bethany College and is an expert in British literature. She also has taught courses about Cather previously. Like Cather, Lewis is from Nebraska. Lewis moved to Kansas upon completing her doctorate degree at the University of Nebraska. Lewis currently is an editor and author. The book talk is funded by Humanities Kansas as part of its Talk about Literature in Kansas series. For more information, visit http://www.bonnerlibrary.org/event/book-discussion/?instance_id=16308.

Open mic event planned
The Bonner Springs Arts Alliance Wordslingers, a writing group that meets at 6:30 p.m. every second Monday at the Bonner Springs Library, will hold a monthly open mic for writers at Third Space Coffee. Teen and adult writers usually show up to participate in the open mic event, Granath said. The open mic event will be at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 and Oct. 26 at Third Space Coffee, 226 Oak St., Bonner Springs, Kansas. Participants are eligible for prizes. For more information, see http://www.bonnerlibrary.org/event/open-mic-night-third-space/?instance_id=16307.

Program planned Oct. 16 on immigration legislation
A program is planned Oct. 16 at the Main Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library on immigration legislation. The program, “Climate of Fear: Pending Immigration Legislation, DACA and ICE,” will begin at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Main Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. To be discussed are pending immigration legislation in the United States and legislative trends in other countries that deal with refugees, as well as facts about U.S. immigration policies and proposed changes. Attorneys from Catholic Charities and ACLU, with the director of refugee resettlement for Jewish Services, will lead the discussion. For more information, call 913-295-8250.

Counseling offered
Keeler Women’s Center, offers individual and couples counseling and individual spiritual direction to women and men —available in English and Spanish. Nothing is billed. Donations are accepted. Call 913-906-8990 for information.

Wyandotte County Museum
For information about the Wyandotte County Museum, 631 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, call 913-573-5002 or visit https://www.facebook.com/wycomuseum/.

Strawberry Hill Museum
For information about The Strawberry Hill Museum, 720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas, call 913-371-3264 or visit www.strawberryhillmuseum.org.

Grinter Place Museum
The Grinter Place State Historic Site, 1420 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kan., is one of the oldest homes in the area, built in 1857. For more information about hours and days it is open, call 913-299-0373 or visit http://www.kshs.org/p/grinter-place-plan-your-visit/15857.

Old Quindaro Museum
The Old Quindaro Museum is at 3432 N. 29th St., Kansas City, Kan. For more information about the museum, call 816-820-3615 or visit https://www.facebook.com/ccoqmuseum/.