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District IV Newsletter
from the
Office of Community Services
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A MESSAGE FROM
JEFF BLUBAUGH
It's hard to believe that February is upon us already. Although the weather is probably the least predictable in this month, it has always been one of my favorites due to the variance of events and holidays. There is a lot of feasting going on, at least until Lent begins for some of us. And of course Valentine's Day is always exciting (unless you have given up chocolate for Lent). February 15th is a National holiday and all government agencies will be closed, along with the banks, so please plan ahead for that.
February is also Black History Month. And in honor of Rosa Parks (February 4th), a City of Wichita Transit bus will be wrapped to replicate the bus that Rosa Parks, a citizen of Montgomery, Alabama, rode back in December of 1955 in her effort to obtain civil rights. This was an important step towards civil rights in America that not only affected the rights of all African Americans, but the rights for all citizens. This special bus will be in service for one year in support of diversity in our community! And now you know.
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WHAT? HAPPY NEW YEAR AGAIN?
February 7th marks the beginning of the 2016 Chinese New Year (also known as Tet in Vietnam) and is celebrated for seven days, through February 13th. In fact, this year is the
Year of the Monkey. What exactly does it mean if you are born during the Year of the Monkey? Traditionally, those who are born under a certain zodiac sign are thought to hold traits of that particular animal.
The monkey is the ninth in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
If you were born in 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, or 2016 (which would make you pretty young!) you are a monkey.
Those who are born in the Year of the Monkey are considered to be intelligent, quick-witted, mischievous, and versatile. They are also thought to be honest and sociable as well. Monkeys are a lot of fun to be around!
One of a monkey's strongest traits is sociability. If you are born under the sign of the monkey, you are probably excellent at communicating with all different kinds of people, which in turn can make you a good leader. You are also likely to be curious and enthusiastic, both fantastic traits for a potential employee!
Someone born in the Year of the Monkey may also be an idealist; this could mean that, unless they are deeply stimulated, monkeys will always be looking for something that will suit them better.
Those born under the sign of the monkey may be feeling particularly ambitious this year, especially in terms of career. Look out, though - this year may not be a good one to change jobs. Think about waiting it out until next year before you make any big decisions.
In terms of romance, 2016 is going to be a good year for the monkey. Your romantic relationships will be stable and happy; you just have to remember to be patient with your loved ones and not let minor disagreements derail you. If you are a monkey born in 2004, you may be feeling a little rebellious this year. It might be worthwhile to think about putting some of that rebellious, frustrated energy towards getting exercise and keeping your body healthy.
And regardless of your Chinese Zodiac sign, let's get out there and celebrate. Wichita has an abundance of Asian restaurants. And to fully appreciate the importance of this holiday, click HERE for traditions and the dos and don'ts of honoring our Asian friends and co-workers.
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| Councilman Jeff Blubaugh (L) with Vice President Paul O'Neill at Omni Aerospace on February 4th |
3130 W Pawnee St.
Councilman Blubaugh was recently taken on a tour of Omni Aerospace Inc. located in southwest Wichita. Upon his arrival he met with the founders/owners and staff of Omni Aerospace who proudly showed off their incredible facility. The company was founded in 1994 and boasts three value streams: Mechanical, electrical, and aircraft parts distribution, specializing in innovative design and manufacturing. They currently employ a staff of 50, who can all recite their slogan "Whatever it takes!"
Keep your eye on this great company because it's..
"Where Challenge Meets Innovation!"
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DISTRICT IV EVENTS & NEWS
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NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY EVENTS
MARDI GRAS FOR KIDS
Have fun & learn about cultural traditions at a family-friendly Mardi Gras celebration! Mardi Gras is traditionally a day of colorful fun with masks, food, and parades. For children ages 4-10.
Sunday, February 7, 2:30-3:30 pm at Alford Branch
Stories, fingerplays, and more for children ages 3-6.
Monday, February 8, 10:30-11:00 am at Alford Branch
Music, rhymes, activities, and stories for children aged two and under with an adult helper.
Tuesday, February 9, 10:30-10:50 am at Alford Branch
Bring knitting, crocheting, quilting, or other needlecraft supplies and share your ideas, questions, and love of needlecrafts. Learn from the experience of others and advise those who are just beginning.
Wednesday, February 10, 10:00-12:00 pm at Alford Branch
Learn to format cells and numbers; work with formulas, workbooks, and worksheets, and other advanced features. Participants must have basic Excel skills.
Wednesday, February 10, 6:00-7:30 pm at Alford Branch
Treat yourself to delicious chocolate and learn about the history and cultural importance of the sweet stuff. Play games and enjoy fun chocolate-related challenges
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Sunday, February 14, 2:30-3:30 pm at Alford Branch
For additional event listings, click
here
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 February 13th is this
month's 2nd Saturday
Support local merchants, and save money! Simply purchase a re-usable 2nd Saturday shopping bag or keycard for $5 and receive discounts at any of our participating merchants. Check their website monthly to see where you can save!
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Kick off spring on the green and provide a
work experience opportunity for a youth!
The 2016 Jobs FORE
Youth Golf tournament will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2016, at Auburn Hills Golf Course in Wichita.
This will be the 4th fundraising golf tournament for Jobs FORE Youth. Last year, they raised approximately $10,000 to support Youth Work Experience and Internships. They want to exceed last year's amount, and need sponsors and/or team registrations for the tournament.
The tournament will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m. and tee off at 12:30. Awards are anticipated to begin at 5:00 p.m. The cost to register a team of 4 is $360, and includes 18 hole green fees, cart, lunch, participant gift and unlimited warm up at the driving range. Individual Registration is available as well for $95 per person.
The registration deadline is April 20
th
, so get this on your calendar now and plan to register early to ensure that your team is in the running!
All funds raised from this event will go to support work experiences and summer jobs for
youth!
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District IV Advisory Board and Neighborhood Associations
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The District IV Advisory Board meets the first Monday of the month at the Lional Alford Library, 3447 S. Meridian, Wichita KS 67217. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. For a listing of the 2016 meeting schedule, click
here.
To find DAB IV agendas and minutes click
here
To see a listing of the meeting schedule for District IV's neighborhood associations, click
here
District IV and the City of Wichita are looking for board members! To see what's available, click
here
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WICHITA DISTRICT 4 FACEBOOK
Do you ever wonder what District IV is currently up to? Click
here to join the action, leave a request, or simply "like" our posts.
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DISTRICT IV SAFETY REPORTS
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| Patrol West Bureau Commander Captain Dan East |
MESSAGE AND SAFETY TIPS FROM WPD PATROL WEST
It is devastating to come home and find your house or your vehicle broken into and property missing. Many times the stolen property turns up on the internet or in pawn shops. When dealing with pawn shops sometimes it is hard to prove that the property they have is yours. It is best to record serial numbers and model numbers on property and take photographs of anything of value in your residence. This will not only help with the possible recovery of your property it may also make it easier for any insurance claims you may have.
In addition to recording serial numbers and photographing items, you can place owner applied numbers on the items. Do not use your social security number or your driver's license number. A good suggestion would be to use the abbreviation of the state you reside in and a number easily explainable to you. An example could be if you live in Kansas and your address is 19022 (leave your street name out) with the zip code of 67211, you would place KS1902267211 on the item you are marking. If your item is stolen you would report that owner applied number to the police. A photograph is also recommended of the item with the owner applied number.
You should even mark property that have serial numbers with your owner applied number. Many times serial numbers are placed on items with just a sticker. Using an engraver is the best way to mark non-fragile property with your owner applied number.
When dealing with jewelry most of the time the jewelry is too small to be marked with an engraver or could lower the value of the property. Take many detailed photographs of jewelry and keep the photos in a safe place. Don't just keep the photos
on your computer in case the computer is stolen. If you have a safe deposit box place the photos or thumb drive in the safe deposit box.
By taking steps to inventory and mark your property you are prepared if you home or vehicle is broken into or some type of natural disaster occurs.
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Only $5.00 admission, and children age 11 and under are free!
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L
LIFE HAPPENS HERE!
Wichita's hub for arts and entertainment is Downtown.
Read More
for a schedule of days and times of events!
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GET READY FOR THE FEBRUARY HOME SHOW,
A GREAT WICHITA TRADITION!
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Let's Caffeinate Wichita!
Wichita is geared up to assist area inventors and entrepreneurs.
Join us every Wednesday starting February 10, 2016 at WSU Old Town on 238 N. Mead.
Attendance is free. Doors open at 8:30am. Presentations run from 9 -10am.
Each presentation ends with an audience Q&A where the last question is always "What can we as a community do to support you as a startup?"
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2015 Is Airport's 3rd
Wichita Eisenhower National Airport 2015 passenger numbers increased by 37,679 over 2014, a 2.46 percent increase airport officials reported on Monday. Officials said the 1,571,348 Eisenhower passengers in 2015 amounted to the third busiest year on record.
The previous highest record years occurred in 2007 (1,596,229) and 2008 (1,619,075).
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DISTRICT IV STREET CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
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If you were not at the February 1st District IV Advisory Board Meeting, you missed a great presentation by City Engineer Gary Janzen. Gary enlightened us about why the Meridian Street project was first delayed, and it was mostly due to the storm drainage problems that everyone has experienced after a rain. We were shown an extensive map of the new drainage system that was installed from Meridian, down Dora St., and zig-zagged over to a Debris Removal Structure (DSR) that has been installed to the south of the Central Maintenance Facility on south McLean Blvd. The two photos below show the construction and the completion of this project which removes all of the liter (plastic bottles, paper, tree waste, etc.) from the storm water before being discharged into the river. This project was a huge undertaking, and one that helps protect the Arkansas River from pollution. The new storm water drains being installed on south Meridian will be tied into this system and handle the flooding issues that were experienced by drivers and residents along Meridian.
Thank you Public Works!!
TO SEE THE LATEST NEWS FROM KDOT ON WICHITA PROGRAMS, CLICK ON
WICHWAY
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WHAT, WHERE, WHEN....
THE WICHITA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A GREAT PUBLICATION THAT IS HELPFUL FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF WICHITA, AND THEY HAVE BEEN GENEROUS IN GIVING US AN ON-LINE ACCESS. SO NOW YOU CAN REFER TO THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME YOU HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING WHAT, WHERE, AND WHEN....
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Track the Plows - Snow Removal Website
In November 2014, the City unveiled a GPS-enabled website that provides citizens the opportunity to the track the location of the City's snow plows. All 60 snow plows are enabled with GPS. These plows clear snow accumulation, as well as lay salt/sand mixtures in order to prevent icing.
The site received 2,671 page visits in November 2015 and 3,230 page visits in December 2015. December 28, 2015 was the most active day with 639 page visits.
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Spread the word:
Check batteries, operation of smoke alarms
Safety is our greatest priority and it should be yours, too. One safety item that belongs in every home is a carbon monoxide (CO) detector. Left unchecked, a CO leak can be deadly.
A CO detector looks and works much like a smoke alarm. Unlike a smoke alarm, it can sniff out CO and is plugged into a wall socket on the lowest level of the home (unlike natural gas, CO is heavier than air).
We recently received a letter from a customer who bought a detector for her elderly mother. The customer wrote, "Mom didn't want a detector because at her old house, it beeped every time the grandkids ran down the hallway and knocked it off the wall. "It's annoying," she said.
The answer wasn't to do without a detector, but to place it out of the traffic way. A couple days later, the elderly customer and her three visiting daughters heard that annoying beep and called on Black Hills Energy. The service technician responded to the call, found a CO leak in a water heater and made repairs. That annoying detector likely saved four lives.
Fortunately, the "annoying beep" of the carbon monoxide detector in customer Barb Sprenkle's home was a lifesaver!
Standing next to the carbon monoxide detector are, from left;
Cindy Maestes, daughter of Barb Sprenkle, Barb Sprenkle and Barb's daughter-in-law, Cathy Foster.
Fast Facts on Carbon Monoxide:
Carbon monoxide is
a colorless and odorless byproduct of the incomplete burning of fuels including wood, gasoline, charcoal and natural gas. Signs of a potential CO leak can include, but are not limited to:
- Flu-like symptoms - a scratchy throat, runny nose, headache, drowsiness or nausea
- Frosted windows due to excessive humidity
- A draft from the front of the furnace when it is not turned on.
If you think you smell natural gas or that CO is present, leave the premises immediately and call 911 or your local natural gas utility from a nearby location.
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TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST JOB FAIRS AND TRAINING COURSES, CLICK HERE.
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ALFORD BRANCH LIBRARY
3447 S MERIDIAN
Computers
- 9 general use public computers
- 2 Early Literacy stations
Drive Up Window
- Return items without leaving your car
- Pick up your hold requests
Meeting Room
Study Rooms
- Two study rooms with seating for up to four people
- First come, first served
Mobile Printing
Wi-Fi
Click
here for the calendar of events and hours!
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UNITED WAY OF THE PLAINS IS ASKING TO HEAR FROM YOU!
We want to hear from you. What do you see are the most pressing social and health needs of our community? Let us know by taking the survey here. Your input will be considered along with surveys of random households and community leaders (businesses, nonprofits and government agencies).
Every three years, United Way of the Plains conducts a Community Needs Assessment to help in making funding decisions. Local nonprofit and government agencies use the information to better fulfill their missions. Via Christi Health and the Sedgwick County Health Department are also partnering in this Community Needs Assessment to help their organizations make informed decisions.
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Home Improvement program has funding available for income qualified homeowners
The Housing and Community Services Department's Home Improvement Program now has funding available for interest-free, forgivable deferred payment loans of up to $5,000 for income-qualified (60% of median) owner-occupant homeowners. Loans are provided for emergency needs, such as furnaces, water heaters, sewer lines, water lines, electrical system repairs and plumbing repairs. Loans are also provided for minor home repair needs for senior citizens, age 62 and older. Property taxes must be current. Call 462-3713 for more information or to apply.
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STAY FIT TIPS
- Becky Fields
February 5th is National Go Red Day!
Symptoms of a Heart Attack and Stroke...
If you had heart disease, would you recognize the symptoms? You might be thinking, "Of course!" Many people are familiar with the scene of a man clutching his chest and falling to the ground, but there's plenty more you need to know.
While there are many similarities in the symptoms of heart disease in men and women, there are even more differences - differences that could save, or end your life if you don't know them. So before you pass that jaw pain off as the result of sleeping funny or lightheadedness as something a
snack or rest can fix, learn the symptoms. And don't ignore them.
For instance,h
igh blood pressure, also known as HBP or hypertension, is a widely misunderstood. We often assume it affects those who are type-A, tense and aggressive. But the truth is, it has nothing to do with personality traits. In fact, you can be the most relaxed, calm person and still suffer from HBP.
The reality is that HBP is a condition that makes the heart work harder than normal. And left untreated, it scars and damages your arteries and can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, eye damage, heart failure and fatty buildups in the arteries, called atherosclerosis.
For additional signs and symptoms, please visit the American Heart Association website
here.
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Stay up-to-date on City events, announcements and headlines by reading our daily News Releases
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Online Reporting for
Animal Control Problems
Wichita Animal Control has launched an online form to report non-emergency animal control problems as part of an ongoing effort to improve services. The form can be accessed
here.
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Find out about Park and Recreation Winter Classes by clicking here!
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DISTRICT IV
PLACES OF INTEREST
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3447 S. Meridian
Auburn Hills Golf Course 433 S. 135th St. West Tex Consolver Golf Course 1931 S. Tyler Pawnee Prairie Park 2625 S Tyler |
Click here to find up-to-date information
regarding street maintenance in your area.
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City of Wichita, Office of Community Services | 316-268-4197 |
City Hall, 455 N Main St.
Wichita, KS 67202
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