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CABA Dotteversity parade draws big crowds to Central Avenue

Marching bands from all five Kansas City, Kansas, School District high schools joined forces for a song in Bethany Park after the Central Avenue Parade. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Central Avenue Betterment Association sponsored the annual Dotteversity Central Avenue Parade, running from 19th Street and Park Drive down to 11th Street and Central, ending at Bethany Park.

The weather was sunny and warm, with a few light clouds and a cooling breeze, and spectators lined Central Avenue all along the route, especially deep near the reviewing stand at the route’s end.

After the parade, crowds spilled into the park to listen to performances from the marching bands of each USD 500 school and to eat at one of the many food vendors set up there.

Dancers from Ministerio de Danza Folklorica Sublime. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Whittier Elementary School. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Tienda Charra 7 Leguas horse club. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner Academy marching band. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Kansas. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Harmon High School marching band. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Participants in Miss Kansas Latina. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Chani’s Dance Academy. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Washington High School marching band. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Wyandotte High School marching band. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Judge Tony Martinez ran into some friends with the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s color guard. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

A hat will do in a pinch if you have to scoop up candy. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

The flame-seared meat sent an enticing aroma through the park. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Gateway Highsteppers drill team. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Faith news

Note: Please contact the church or check its social media pages to see if it is making schedule changes.

Blessed Sacrament and Christ the King Catholic churches have information about Masses at the churches’ websites or Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/Christ-the-King-Parish-KCKS-1392808997677579 and www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck. Masses at Christ the King are at 4 p.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday. Masses at Blessed Sacrament will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Sunday. Christ the King is planning an ice cream social after the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Bonner Springs United Methodist Church will have a Community Blood Center blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Fellowship Hall, 425 W. Morse Ave., Bonner Springs. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.

Casa – Worship House Christian Church, 5217 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, will have information about services at www.facebook.com/casadealabanzaKCKS. For more information, visit Facebook @casadealabanzaKCKS.

The First Christian Church, Bonner Springs, will hold a Community Blood Center blood drive from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, at the church fellowship hall, 148 N. Nettleton, Bonner Springs. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.

“The Gospel of Non-Violence” will meet from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100-B, Kansas City, Kansas. Peg Burns will lead the meeting. Registration is required to 913-689-9375. For more information, visit www.keelerwomenscenter.org.

Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, will have information about services at https://www.facebook.com/ORMBCKC or http://ormbc.org/church-online/. Services are at 9:50 a.m. Sunday.

Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, Kansas, will have services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 4. For information about services, see https://www.opendoorkc.com/livestream. For more information see https://www.facebook.com/opendoorkc/ and https://www.opendoorkc.com/.

Our Lady and St. Rose Catholic Church, 2300 N. 8th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will celebrate Mass at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 4. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/ourladyandsaintrose.

Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will have a worship service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 4. There will be basketball at the Cole Activity Center after the service. See more information at https://www.facebook.com/StonyPointChristianChurch.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas, has information about Masses at https://www.facebook.com/StPatrickKCK. Masses are at 5 p.m. Saturday, and on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m. in Spanish and 2:30 p.m. in Chin-Burmese. St. Patrick parish plans an ice cream social after the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Sept. 17. The event will include food, music and games.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will have Sunday services at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 4.. See more information at https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsKCK/ or https://www.stpaulskck.org/.

Sunset Hills Christian Church, 6347 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, has regularly scheduled Sunday services at 9:30 a.m., with Sunday School following the service at 10:45 a.m. The Wednesday Night Bible Study will be held at 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Livestream services here at https://www.facebook.com/sunsethills.christianchurch/. For more information visit [email protected] or email [email protected].

Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, has regularly scheduled services at 10 a.m. Sunday, with Sunday School at 9 a.m. For more information, including information about livestreamed services, see https://www.facebook.com/Wyandotteumc.

Information about other church services in Wyandotte County may be available from the church’s social media page.
To send in items for the Faith News, email information to [email protected]. Please include your name and contact information

UG announces department realignments; CFO leaving

The Unified Government interim administrator announced in a news release Friday evening that departments had been realigned and that the UG’s chief financial officer is leaving.

According to the UG news release, Cheryl Harrison-Lee, interim administrator, will follow recommendations made to the UG Commission in July 2022.

The new structure includes the appointment of a new interim assistant county administrator, Becky Berger, to provide oversight to administrative services.

Other assistant county administrators are Bridgett Cobbins, assistant county administrator of public safety; Alan Howze, assistant county administrator of health and human services; and Brett Deichler, interim assistant county administrator of economic and community development.

According to the news release, the Purchasing Department will now report to the Finance Department, which was an issue identified by the consultants after a review in July 2022.

The budget and strategy team will report directly to Berger, allowing the UG to more closely align the management of expenditures with revenue projections, according to the news release. Currently these are separate functions within the Finance Department.

According to the news release, throughout this year’s budget process, the commission has been learning about the $4 million structural deficit in the city side of the general fund. The news release stated that the deficit needs to be rectified for long-term fiscal health and competitiveness.

With inflation and rising costs, and relatively stagnant revenue, the UG administration hopes to identify a more fiscally sustainable model for the future, and elevating budget and strategy will be the key, the news release stated.

Berger is the newest addition to the county administration team with the announcement of her interim appointment, the news release stated.

Berger, who joined the UG in January 2022 as treasurer and director of revenue, will provide oversight to all administrative functions of the Unified Government, including human resources, clerk’s office, 311, budget strategy and research, finance, and the appraiser’s office. Berger brings 15 years of experience in local government management, including serving as the city manager and director of finance for the city of Atchison. By bringing all internal services together under one manager, the Unified Government will be able to continue its work to address areas for improvement in human resources, finances and general operations, the news release stated.

“We must be internally organized before we can be externally focused,” Harrison-Lee said. “This is one of many efforts moving forward to look at how we work as the Unified Government to ensure that we can deliver quality customer service. I believe this team will be instrumental in helping us identify additional opportunities for cost savings, innovative best practices, and other improvements in how we work.”

Chief Financial Officer Kathleen VonAchen announced her plans to leave the Unified Government. She will work closely with the interim county administrator to facilitate the transition for the Finance Department, according to the news release.

According to the news release, there has not been a comprehensive assessment of the UG’s operations since the unification of the city and county 25 years ago.