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Community calendar

KCK schools closed for fall holiday
The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools will be closed for the fall holiday from Nov. 25 to 29. There will be no school. The school district’s administrative offices will be closed from Nov. 27 to 29. For more information, visit www.kckps.org.

Blood drive scheduled Nov. 25
A Red Cross blood drive is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, at Prairie View at Village West, 11200 Delaware Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. To make an appointment or for more information, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Program planned on painting ornaments
A program on “Painting Ornaments” will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The program is facilitated by Mary Donovan. For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

Affirmations group to meet Nov. 25
The Affirmations and Living Free Growth Group for Women will meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

Program offered on healthy relationships
“Healthy Relationships: Domestic Violence Education and Support” will be offered from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100B, Kansas City, Kansas. The group is facilitated by Jaime Peterson. For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

Program planned on ‘Eating Well after 50’
“Eating Well after 50,” a program facilitated by Pat Callaghan, will be offered from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100B, Kansas City, Kansas. For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

Parenting support group to meet
A parenting support group will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100B, Kansas City, Kansas. The education and support group is presented by Marqueia Watson, MSW. For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

Knitting and crocheting group to meet
A knitting and crocheting group will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100B, Kansas City, Kansas. Those attending may learn a new skill or work on a current project. For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

Keeler Center to be closed Nov. 27-28 for Thanksgiving
The Keeler Women’s Center at 759 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from Nov. 27 to Nov. 28.

UG offices closed for Thanksgiving holiday
Unified Government offices will be closed Nov. 28-29 for Thanksgiving Day, reopening Dec. 2.

BPU administrative offices to be closed for Thanksgiving holiday Nov. 28-29
The administrative offices and customer service lobby of the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Although BPU’s business offices are closed on holidays, emergency service is available seven days a week, 24 hours per day. For power emergencies, customers should call 913-573-9522. The water emergency number is 913-573-9622 from 8 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and 913-573-9522 from midnight to 8 a.m., and during weekends and holidays.

Libraries to be closed Nov. 28-29
The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Libraries will be closed Nov. 28-29 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Turner Community Library will be closed from 5 p.m. Nov. 27 through Nov. 30.

Thanksgiving Breakfast Dance planned Nov. 28
A rhythm and blues Thanksgiving Breakfast Dance is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, at Lounge 42, at 4220 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas. Pure Sweetness will provide the music. The cost of the event is $10. For more information, call 913-808-5577.

Breakfast with Santa planned Nov. 30
Breakfast with Santa is planned from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Wyandotte County Museum, 631 N. 126th St., in Wyandotte County Park, Bonner Springs, Kansas. The host of the breakfast is Leadership 2000. For $5 per person, there will be breakfast, a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus and a craft. For reservations, call 816-225-7056 or email [email protected].

Class offered on ‘Raising Safe Kids’
The ACT Raising Safe Kids Program will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The presenter will be Heather Neds. The topic for Dec. 2 is “Discipline and Parenting Styles,” and the topic for Dec. 9 is “Discipline and Positive Behaviors.” For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

UG committees to meet Dec. 2
The Unified Government Neighborhood and Community Development Committee will meet at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, in the fifth-floor conference room, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas. The UG Economic Development and Finance Committee meeting will follow. The agendas are online at www.wycokck.org.

KCK school board to meet Dec. 3
The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Central Office, 2010 N. 59th St., Kansas City, Kansas. An agenda may be posted in advance at www.kckps.org.

NAACP to meet Dec. 3

The Kansas City, Kansas, Branch of NAACP will meet Dec. 3 at the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools’ administration building near 59^th and Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. The executive board meeting will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the annual membership meeting at 7 p.m. All members are encouraged to attend and invite others to attend. The annual year-end meeting will include a potluck dinner. For more information, call 913-281-7900.

KCKCC’s 95th annual candle lighting ceremony to be Dec. 4
Plans are underway for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s oldest tradition – the 95th annual Candle Lighting Ceremony. The 95th Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center on the main campus, 7250 State Ave. The ceremony will highlight students in the KCKCC Music Department and Theatre Department as well as KCKCC Foundation Scholarship Donors and Recipients. Among the groups performing will be the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Funk Band and The Standard Jazz Choir as well as the Intercultural Holiday Showcase presented by the KCKCC Intercultural Center. The Candle Lighting Ceremony is free and open to the public.

Women’s self-defense program to be Dec. 4
A women’s self-defense program will be offered from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The program is facilitated by Sidney Thompson. Kansas City Shizoku Karate-Do will offer ways to defense oneself and others. For more information or to register, call 913-906-8990.

Programs offered for Spanish-speaking women
Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, offers programs for Spanish-speaking women: Grupo de mujeres: con lideres Ana Maria Sauer, Los Martes, 10-11:30 a.m. ; Grupo de salud emocional para la mujer, ofrecido por MOCSA, contacte a Tina May-Gamboa, Gaby Carmona, llame al 816-285-1349, los Martes, 11:30-1 p.m. ; Clase para Padres “Conociendo a Mis Hijos” con Gloria Mendiburu, 5 sesiones, Jueves, 10 – noon. • Diciembre 4 – Beneficios de Meditacion/ Atencion plena, Relacion nutricion – Salud Emocional. • Diciembre 11 – Recursos y Oportunidades de Education despues de High School; Retiro de Adviento, Presentado por S. Janet Cashman, SCL, Miercoles, 4 de Diciembre, 2019, 6 – 9 p.m. Por favor no niños por respeto a la epiritualidad de el retiro. 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.

Downtown Holiday Lighting Festival to be Dec. 6
The Downtown Holiday Lighting Festival will be from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, in front of City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas. The event will feature a visit with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, holiday movies and free popcorn, goodie bags for the first 1,000 children, games, crafts, local food vendors, performances by local choirs and dance groups, and a tree lighting ceremony. The event is free and open to the public. To volunteer for this event, contact Cathi Hahner [email protected] or 913-371-3674 Ext. 1324.

Breakfast with St. Nick planned Dec.7
Breakfast with St. Nick is planned from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Strawberry Hill Museum, 720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas. For $10, children will receive breakfast, a visit with St. Nicholas and a picture. Those who only want to visit St. Nicholas for the picture, will pay $5. An adult breakfast will be available for $6. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fruit and coffee, tea or milk. For more information or reservations, call 913-371-3264.

Breakfast with Santa to be Dec. 7 at Grinter Place
Breakfast with Santa will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Grinter Place barn 1400 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas. Besides breakfast, a picture with Santa Claus, a goodie bag and a craft activity, there will be vendors selling homemade craft items for gifts, according to Pat Spencer of the Friends of Grinter. It will be the last fundraiser of the year for the organization. The Breakfast with Santa, open to adults and children, will include pancakes, sausage and a drink, she said. The breakfast price starts at $3 and can range up to $8 per person. Those who want only pictures with Santa and the activity without the food can pay $3. Five vendors who will have tables at the breakfast will sell homemade and handmade gift items, such as wreaths, tea towels, jellies and jams, art, jewelry, baked goods and knitted items. The public, including all ages, may attend Breakfast with Santa, she said. Also open for tours from 9 a.m. to noon on Dec. 7 will be the Grinter House, a state museum. Admission to Grinter House is $6 for adults and $3 for students. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/1400so78street/.

Japanese musical presentation to be Dec. 7
“Shamisen: A Japanese Musical Tradition,” will be presented at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Bonner Springs City Library, 201 N. Nettleton Ave., Bonner Springs, Kansas. At the lecture-demonstration, John Lytton will discuss his own journey learning to play this Japanese instrument and will give a demonstration performance. The shamisen is a three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument, played with a plectrum called a bachi.

Snowflake Swing with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra to be Dec. 7
The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library will hold a concert and dance featuring the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kansas. This event is 100 percent free; no tickets required. Attendees are invited to come as they are or dress up in their best 1920s-1940s inspired outfits to listen and dance the night away. For those who would like to give back this holiday season, the library will be collecting new children’s books to donate to Wyandotte County children in need. Attendees can bring book donations to the event. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit the library’s website at www.kckpl.org.

Holiday open house, with animal theme, to be Dec. 9

Santa Paw-Traits: Family (Furry and Otherwise) Holiday Open House will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, at the South Branch Library, Conference Room A, 3104 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Pets and their families are invited to enjoy treats, make a keepsake craft and have a special holiday paw-trait session with Santa. This program is for all ages. For more information, visit the library’s website at www.kckpl.org.

Blood drive scheduled Dec. 10
A Red Cross blood drive is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Joe E. Amayo Argentine Community Center, 2810 Metropolitan Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. To make an appointment or for more information, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Presentation explores universal themes of ancient Egypt writings

The Bonner Springs City Library in Bonner Springs, Kansas, will be the host of “In Their Own Words: The Ancient Egyptians,” a presentation and discussion by Stacy Davidson at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the library, 201 N. Nettleton Ave. Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact the library at 913-441-2665 for more information. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas. The presentation explores universal themes such as love, strife, worry and death found in Egyptian writings. Davidson is an Egyptologist who teaches at Johnson County Community College, Overland Park. This program is part of Humanities Kansas’ “Movement of Ideas” Speakers Bureau.

Santa’s Express Country Christmas to be Dec. 14-15 at Ag Hall

Santa’s Express will return to the National Agricultural Hall of Fame and National Center, 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. Highlights of the event are a picture taken with Santa in the museum; local children’s choirs singing in the theater; hot chocolate, cookies and hay rides; riding the train around Farm Town; and exploring the winter wonderland of Christmas trees. Admission to the event is $5 per car. The 5K run and 1-mile Reindeer Walk at 9 a.m. Dec. 14 are an additional charge. For more information, visit https://www.aghalloffame.com/events/santa-express-5k-run/.

BPU to meet Dec. 18

The Board of Public Utilities is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the BPU offices at 540 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. On the board meeting agenda are a visitors’ time, adoption of a resolution for 2020 budget approval, communications recap, board comments and general manager comments. Also, a closed executive session is on the agenda.

Keeler Center closed for the holidays

The Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, will be closed for the holidays from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1.

Town hall meeting planned for legislative delegation Jan. 8
A town hall meeting is planned for the Wyandotte County legislative delegation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, at the West Wyandotte Public Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kansas. The meeting is open to the public.

Wyandotte County Museum
For information about the Wyandotte County Museum, 631 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, call 913-573-5002 or visit https://www.wycokck.org/wycomuseum.aspx or 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, Kansas, 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, Kansas. For more information about the museum, call 816-820-3615 or visit https://www.facebook.com/ccoqmuseum/.

KCK parks and recreation programs
To see a brochure listening Kansas City, Kansas, Parks and Recreation programs, visit
https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Parks-Recreation/Documents/WYCOGuide_FINAL_Small.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1SYe9fdtg8G8vXPY3JuRnrBUHZXs6amoG2lWgpl_8n-J4DwIbQ3JWlkLE .

Send your Wyandotte County events to [email protected]. Be sure to include your name and contact information.

High school cheer squads compete for state title

by Brian Turrel

Cheerleading squads from Piper, Turner, and Bonner Springs high schools competed Saturday in the third annual KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. The Pirates’ cheerleaders took home third place in the 4A division, following up their 2018 championship.

Spirit Gameday is KSHSAA’s state championship for cheerleading, now in its third year. Squads compete in three preliminary rounds — fight song, crowd leading, and band chant. Squads that make the final round perform a routine of their own selection, and then have to lead a cheer that fits a football game scenario randomly assigned by the judges.

Piper led all seventeen 4A squads after the preliminaries, but were edged out by first-place Louisburg in the finals.

Turner and Bonner Springs competed in the 5A division, but were unable to break through to the finals.

All the squads will be returning to the court when basketball season starts in early December.

The Piper High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

The Bonner Springs High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

The Turner High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

A few voters say they got the wrong ballots at general election

Mary Martin, center, talked with Election Commissioner Bruce Newby, left, during a break at the canvass on Nov. 18 at the election office. (Photo by Mary Rupert)

by Mary Rupert

At the election canvass on Nov. 18, a voter talked to the election commissioner and the media about getting the wrong ballot at the polls on Election Day, Nov. 5.

Mary Martin, who said she lives in the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville No. 204 School District, said her ballot had both District 204 and the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education District 500 candidates on it.

The Board of Canvassers was not allowing any public comments during the official meeting Nov. 18, but Martin talked to individuals during breaks in the meeting.

Martin said she only voted for District 204 candidates. Her mother, Shirley Ikerd, also said she received a ballot with both races on it. They were both in precinct 9-14.

Ikerd, who also said she lives in the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville School District, said she voted for her friend, Dr. Valdenia Winn, who ran for re-election to the KCK school board. “I voted for who I wanted to win,” she said. She added she didn’t vote for the District 204 candidates.

Wyandotte County Election Commissioner Bruce Newby said he was hearing it all for the first time on Monday and questioned why they would wait almost two weeks before telling the election office about it.

Martin said she called her friends about it right away, but didn’t report it to the election office until Monday.

Another Wyandotte County resident in the same area, Gina Grady, told the Wyandotte Daily she also received a ballot with both District 204 and District 500 candidates on it. She said she lives in the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville district, and did not vote for any District 500 candidates.

“I didn’t tell them,” she said. “At the time I didn’t think anything about it. I didn’t know if it was regular practice or not. As I found out, it’s not regular practice.”

Another Wyandotte County resident, who lives in Edwardsville, said she didn’t notice anything wrong with her ballot.

Martin said she thinks a new election should be held, but she had heard it would cost $70,000 or more. She said on Monday that she is going to fill out a complaint form.

“2020 is coming up and it’s going to be crazy,” Martin said. “Who knows what we’re going to see in 2020. I want to see a clean and fair election.”

Newby, however, doubted that their ballots had two school board races on it.

He said the precinct is split between the KCK and Bonner Springs-Edwardsville school districts. While the voters should have received the correct ballot, the voters still have the responsibility to look at it and tell the election judges at the polling place if they received the wrong ballot, he said. Then the election judge would give them the correct ballot. He added that in 99.9 percent of the cases, the voter receives the correct ballot.

While Martin said she thinks a new election should be held, Newby said there’s not grounds for it. The vote difference between fourth and fifth place in the Bonner Springs contest, for example, was greater than the amount of votes in question, he believes. He did not think the outcomes would change. In the KCK district, the distance between fourth and fifth place was around 200 votes. (The top four candidates advanced.)

Also, he said it is not up to the election commissioner to call a new election – that would be up to one of the school districts affected. Local candidates who want a recount have to pay about $3,000.

Recounts that have been held in the past have usually not come out very much different from the original count. For example, when Nathan Barnes had a hand re-count of ballots, the result was the same, Newby said.

Martin also was critical of the way a state constitutional question on the census was handled at polling places. There was a display of information on a table that was in sight of voters, and also, a card was handed to voters after they voted urging them to participate in the census.

Martin said she believed that was “electioneering,” or distributing information at the polling place, which is prohibited in general by election laws.

About the constitutional amendment, Newby said the information display was authorized by the Kansas secretary of state. The secretary of state’s office had run it by the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission previously, which had no problem with it, Newby said.

The state ethics commission felt the statement was sufficiently generic, just providing information, he added. It didn’t tell people how to vote, just gave them more information on the constitutional question, he said.

A majority of the Legislature approved putting the constitutional amendment on the ballot. Displaying the voter information on the amendment wasn’t his policy decision; it was from the state level, and the state ethics commission was satisfied with it, he said.