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 before you go to see if the event is still planned.

Free tax preparation assistance offered at KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College is working with NextStep KC and the United Way of Greater Kansas City to provide free federal and state income tax preparation for qualified individuals. The service, which started Feb. 1, is available to taxpayers with incomes of less than $54,000. Those who qualify should go to Room 3632 in the Flint Building on the KCKCC main campus, 7250 State Ave. at the following times:
• 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays (with the exception of March 15)
• 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays (with the exception of March 18)
• 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays (during February and on April 15 only)
The preparation is a joint venture between students in KCKCC’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and NextStep KC., a community-based nonprofit that works to provide affordable financial services to low and moderate income families. Tax assistance is on a first-come, first-served basis. Lines form in advance, so arrive early, as spots will likely be full as soon as the assistance time opens. Please do not email or call the location. Walk-in clients only. The free tax preparation service is only available for federal returns as well as Kansas and Missouri state returns. It is not available for Schedule E (rental or royalty income), Schedule F (farm income) or estate and trust returns. Only 2016 returns will be prepared in February. Any returns 2013 through 2015 will be prepared in March and April. For more information, call 913-288-7555. Information on additional tax preparation sites is available by calling the United Way’s 2-1-1 line. For information on what documents to bring, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/kckcc-working-with-local-organizations-to-offer-free-tax-preparation/.

Help offered with income tax returns
The Turner Community Library, 831 S. 55th, is offering the AARP Tax Aide program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 9, and subsequent Thursdays. Low- and middle-income taxpayers, particularly those 60 and older, may receive help filing their personal income tax returns. Pre-registration is required to 913-295-8250. Those attending should bring their Social Security card, Social Security cards for all people on their return, plus photo IDs for all adults on the return, a previous year’s tax return, and this year’s documents. Because of a lot of interest in the program, appointments must be made in advance to 913-295-8250.

KCKCC to present Sherlock Holmes play March 2-5
The Kansas City Kansas Community College Theatre Department is returning to the stage to bring to life a classic tale of mystery and intrigue. “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” follows Sherlock and Dr. Watson as they try to solve their greatest case. The production is at 7:30 p.m. March 2, 3 and 4 at the KCKCC Performing Arts Center and 2:30 p.m. March 5. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Admission is free for all KCKCC students, staff and faculty who present valid identification. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 913-288-7106.

Keeler center closed March 6-9
The Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will be closed for regular activities and classes March 6-9, except for a Lenten retreat on March 8. The center will resume regular programs on March 13.

Turner plans blood drive
Turner High School, 2251 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kan., plans a Community Blood Center blood drive from 7:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, in the school auxiliary gym. To schedule a donation, visit www.esavealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.

Women’s Chamber to discuss networking March 8
Networking will be the topic of the upcoming Kansas City, Kansas, Women’s Chamber of Commerce meeting March 8. The Women’s Chamber will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kansas. A panel of metro area networking organizations will discuss the topic, “How to Use Networking to Achieve Your Goals.” To register for the program or for more information, visit http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07edvc2xup2bce1e89&llr=hykkgckab or call 913-233-3305.

BPU to meet March 8
The Board of Public Utilities will meet at 5 p.m. March 8 for a work session at the BPU administrative offices, 500 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. On the agenda is a board update and general manager update, as well as a CIP audit readiness update. On the agenda for the regular meeting at 6 p.m. are a visitors time, a preliminary monthly financial report, board comments and general manager comments.

Fairfax group to meet March 9
The Fairfax Industrial Association will meet from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9, for a luncheon. The luncheon meeting will be held at the Fairfax General Motors plant, 3201 Fairfax Trafficway, Kansas City, Kansas. The guesat speaker will be Johnny Rowlands, who will talk about storm chasing in a weather vehicle. There will be an optional tour of the trim and chassis department afterward. Those attending must wear closed-toe shoes and no heels. The deadline is Friday, March 3, for reservations to [email protected].

UG Ethics Commission to meet March 9
The Unified Government Ethics Commission will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 9, on the second floor of the Wyandotte County Courthouse, Division 18, old county commissioners’ chambers, 710 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan.

Recycling planned at the Bonner library
The Bonner Springs City Library, 201 N. Nettleton Ave., Bonner Springs, is offering paper recycling from March 9 through 15. ProShred Security will have locked boxes at the library for the deposit of paper to be recycled. The recycling will be on the last day of the event. Also, electronics recycling will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the Bonner Springs City Library. Surplus Exchange will be in the back parking lot to accept electronics to be recycled. It is a free service, except for microwave ovens, CRT screens, projection and tube televisions, and hard-drive cleaning, for which there are small fees payable to Surplus Exchange. For more information, call the library at 913-441-2665 or visit http://bonnerlibrary.org/.

Legislative forum planned March 11
A legislative forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters, NAACP, and librarians of Bonner Springs and Kansas City, Kan., is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. March 11 at the Bonner Springs City Library, 201 N. Nettleton Ave., Bonner Springs. Sen Steve Fitzgerald, R-5th Dist., and Rep. Tom Burroughs, D-33rd Dist., are scheduled to appear. The forum is free and open to the public.

Chronic disease management class offered
The Shepherd’s Center of KCK, in partnership with KU’s Landon Center on Aging, will offer a free weekly Chronic Disease Management class, beginning Wednesday, March 1, and running through Wednesday, April 12. Sessions will be held from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Pemberton Senior Living community room, 8301 Walker Ave. Register by calling Janet Cozza at 913-588-1266. The class is open to anyone who would like to learn how to better manage an existing chronic disease.

Exercise program for older adults offered
“Stay Strong, Stay Healthy,” an 8-week exercise program for older adults, will be offered beginning April 4. The program targets strength, balance and flexibility. The program is held at the K-State Research and Extension office, 1216 N. 79th, Kansas City, Kan. The first program will be from 11 a.m. to noon April 4. Call 913-299-9300 for more information and registration.

Eric Jerome Dickey to appear in KCK
Kansas City, Kan., Public Library will be the host for popular urban fiction author Eric Jerome Dickey as part of the tour for his latest book “Finding Gideon.” The event will take place at 2:30 p.m. April 29 at the Reardon Convention Center at 5th and Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kan. Following a moderated question-and-answer session, Dickey will sign books. Books will be available for purchase and a limited number of free copies will be given away to the first to arrive. Doors will open at 1 p.m. Those interested in attending are asked to register at ejdkckpl.eventbrite.com. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, though registration is required to attend. Doors will open an hour prior to the start of the event.

Wyandotte County Museum
The Wyandotte County Museum, 631 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and holidays. For more information visit the website www.facebook.com/wycomuseum or call 913-573-5002.

Strawberry Hill Museum
The Strawberry Hill Museum at 720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kan., is closed Jan. 30 through March 4. For more information, call 913-371-3264 or visit http://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. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for students; and children 5 and younger free. It is closed on state holidays. Grinter Place is closed for the winter. 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/.