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District IV Newsletter
from the
Office of Community Services
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This Saturday will be an eventful day for bicyclists as I join in a ribbon cutting for the Prairie Sunset Trail Extension Ribbon Cutting. This trail will now be able to take you from Maize Road to Garden Plain and is open to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized users. There was a ribbon cutting earlier this week for the 4.5 mile Woodchuck Bike Trail whose route begins near Ridge & Westport and continues south and west through residential neighborhoods ending at University Avenue, south of Maple. A
nother recent ribbon cutting took place on the east side of Wichita for the Red Bud Trail that will eventually connect bicycle commuters to the city of Andover, and still another for the renovated K-96 bike path that now extends into the Great Plains Nature Center. We still have lots of work do to as we plan to connect with Pawnee Prairie Park, around the Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport, and across the Wichita-Valley Center Floodway, that is fondly called "The Big Ditch", in order to join the wonderful trails that extend in all directions in and around Wichita. I know that not everyone is enthusiastic about bicycling, especially when it comes to
sharing the road. But the paths help create a safer environment for our children and grandchildren, not to mention the benefits to our health and environment as more and more citizens discover the perks of commuting for economic and fitness reasons. The warmer weather will soon have more and more bicyclists out and about, so when sharing the road with them please remember that some of these riders will be new and inexperienced and will be no match for a car or truck. If you are unsure about current laws pertaining to sharing Wichita streets, you can read the latest
Safe Streets ICT: Rules and Guidance for Safely Sharing Wichita Streets
by clicking on this link. Above all, be safe!
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FOLEY INDUSTRIES BREAKS GROUND
ON A $20 MILLION ADDITION!
FOLEY EQUIPMENT, 1550 S WEST ST, WICHITA, KS
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(From L to R) Michael Moriarty, Bureau Chief of KDOT; Secretary of Transportation, Mike King; Councilman Jeff Blubaugh; Scot Rigby, City of Wichita Development Services Director |
Foley Industries on West Street celebrated 75 years of operation just last year, and is a third-generation family-run business. We are so pleased to see Foley Industries keep their home in Wichita and look forward to helping them with their expansion of a new parts and service building.
On May 3rd Councilman Blubaugh was invited to speak at their official groundbreaking where he congratulated them on their success. He ended his speech with "I can't wait to see what the next 75 years bring". The photo on the right shows a few other dignitaries that were in attendance.
Foley Equipment has an impressive array of equipment that can be purchased or rented, many of which were on display for the groundbreaking. In the background of the event was live action of their equipment working on the new construction site that is behind their headquarters on West Street. Walt Bevis, the Customer Relations & Event Coordinator for Foley Industries, was on hand to greet everyone and and help with the actual ceremonial shovels. All in all it was a beautiful day to be outside and celebrate such an exciting event. Congratulations Foley Industries, and we wish you much prosperity!
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DISTRICT IV EVENTS & NEWS
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MAY 14TH IS 2ND SATURDAY
IN DELANO, OLD TOWN, AND THE DOUGLAS DESIGN DISTRICT!
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
this website
monthly to see where you can save!
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READY OR NOT, HERE IT COMES!
The Wichita Public Schools have moved up the last day of school to...
May 20th!
Others in District IV:
Christ the King Catholic School - May 26 (noon)
St Anne Catholic School - May 26 (12:30 pm)
St. Joseph Catholic School - May 26
Wichita Adventist Christian Academy - May 20
Wichita Friends School - May 25 (noon)
Word of Life Traditional School - May 26
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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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DON'T GET STUCK WITH
COUNTERFEIT MONEY AT YOUR SALE!
According to the Wichita Police Department, counterfeit money is being used at local garage and yard sales. It was advised that if you are having any type of sale that takes cash, that you purchase a counterfeit money detector pen. These can be purchased at office supply stores for usually around $12.00 and can save you possibly hundreds. Last year KAKE News reported the same, so be on the lookout for these fakes.
Police say not to put yourself in any danger, but if you can write down a description of the suspect and a vehicle tag and description of the vehicle, call 911 and report immediately.
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NEW! MASSAGE BUSINESS ORDINANCE
EFFECTIVE APRIL 29th
A new law governing massage businesses takes effect 4/29/2016. The law is part of an effort to combat human trafficking. To raise public awareness about the new ordinance and educate local businesses, a news conference was held Friday morning at City Hall. The City of Wichita also posted information related to the new law at
www.wichita.gov
. The information includes fact sheets, application forms, the ordinance, a summary of the ordinance and a video of the news briefing will be posted later today. Information will also appear on City7 on Cox Cable Channel Seven.
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THE WICHITA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS YOU COVERED!
District IV is covered by two WPD substations that are accessible Monday thru Friday, 8 am - 5 pm.
Patrol South is located at 211 E Pawnee, and their phone number is 350-3440. Patrol West is located at 661 N Elder, and their phone number is 350-3460.
You are free to walk in during those hours to record an incident report (minor traffic accidents, vandalism, larceny from your vehicle, stolen property, etc.) Of course if it is a more serious offense that requires an officer on site, please call 911 as they are able to dispatch officers to the scene.
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"Stamp Out Hunger" Letter Carriers' Annual Food Drive - May 14th
United Way encourages support for National Association of Letter Carriers' (NALC) food drive Saturday
Event
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"Stamp Out Hunger" Letter Carriers' Annual Food Drive
When: Saturday, May 14, 2016, prior to mail delivery
Where
: Leave bag(s) next to your mailbox
What:
Donate a bag or bags of non-perishable food (canned foods, pasta, rice, cereal, etc.) to be collected by letter carriers as they deliver mail along their postal routes.
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KID POWER CAFE
This summer Kid Power has teamed up with Wichita Public Schools to be the mascot of the Federal Summer Food Program. Kansas is ranked 48 out of 50 states for participation. Since Kid Power Cares, Inc. was formed to help Give Kids the Power to Feel Great we think this community coalition with WPS will be an opportunity for the 50,000 students in the school district to have more knowledge about the program through a new name and logo. If you know of any children, ages 1 thru 18,
that need breakfast, lunch, or snack this summer, click
here
to view the list of sites that are safe places
to eat and socialize.
No paperwork needed
...just show up and have a nutritious summer!
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On Your Mark, Get Set...Read!
Get ready for a great summer of reading and fun at your library! This year, the library will have three reading programs available for youth from birth through grade 12:
Baby Bookworms,
Kids Read, and
Teens Read.
Register online or at
any Wichita Public Library location between May 25 and July 20. Prizes will be awarded through July 29. The earlier you start reading and the more days you read, the more prizes you'll win. Make your summer better with a daily reading habit!
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Sedgwick County Extension Building, 7001 W 21st St North
Saturday from 7 am until noon
Every week you can find produce, plants, meats, jams, salsas,
honey, baked goods and a variety of crafts.
SATELLITE MARKETS:
Green Acres Market- Tuesdays 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Derby Market - Saturdays 7:00 am - Noon
For additional information, click
here
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Attend any Wichita Park & Recreation class, athletic league, or special event and take your best selfie! Follow @WichitaParkand Rec on
Instagram. Post your selfie using #ICTSummerSelfie. Be sure to check often and "like" your favorite photos. The photo with the most likes will be featured in the 2016 Fall Activities Guide. Winner will be notified on August 1st through Instagram.
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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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Honor Flights Schedule
Mark your calendars so you can participate in the welcome home celebrations for our Honor Flight veterans at the Dwight D Eisenhower Airport.
Friday, May 27 @ 11:15 am
Friday, June 17 @ 11:45 am
Friday June 24 @ 11:45 am
All flights are on Southwest Airlines.
Free parking and shuttle service are available at the Best Western Airport Inn, 6815 W. Kellogg.
Shuttle service starts at 10 a.m.
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Summer travel season is almost here. If you're planning to catch a flight out of Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport to a place where you don't know the language, you can quickly learn the basics with a FREE language software program!
http://wichitalibrary.org/Research#m
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DISTRICT IV STREET CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
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TO SEE
THE LATEST NEWS FROM KDOT ON WICHITA PROGRAMS, CLICK ON
WICHWAY
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DO YOU HAVE YOUR DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY?
I am not an attorney and this information is certainly not legal advice. It is only to offer basic information that could make all the difference for you, your family, or the person you want to handle your affairs.
Many of us are not aware of the importance of having a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions. This legal document is a must in order for doctors, hospitals, emergency rooms, assisted living communities, health care centers etc. to release information to you, your loved ones about you, (unless you are a spouse) AND for medical decisions to be made on your behalf or your loved one such as a parent, sibling, relative etc.
With siblings and parents, each child must be listed on the on the Durable Power of Attorney (D.P.O.A) for Health Care. For example, mother goes to hospital, child with D.P.O.A. provides copy to hospital, and is placed in mother's chart. Child from out of state calls to see how mom is doing, hospital cannot/will not release information to this child because they are not listed as a D.P.O.A. for Health Care.
In addition, there is also a General Power of Attorney for Finances, which is just as imperative as the D.P.O.A. for Health Care. This grants access to finances, so bills can be paid, determining if assisted living or a health care center is affordable, place a home on the market, pay for home health services, funeral arrangements etc. The banks will not share financial information with you without a General Power of Attorney for Finances and you will not have access to any funds.
Take the time to be pro-active so you may protect yourself, your parents, and loved ones for that "just in case" day which we never seem to receive any warning about.
Consult your attorney to learn more about a Durable Power of Attorney and remember, when we take care of matters today, we are prepared for tomorrow.
(This article was contributed by Pam Boggs, Director of Marketing for Prairie Homestead Senior Living, Wichita, KS)
Kansas Legal Services expounds on this and you can download forms from their website
here.
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| Do not put these items in your trash bin! |
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ARE YOU SPRING CLEANING?
The HHW Facility is a place Sedgwick County residents can dispose of old chemicals and household hazardous waste free of charge. It offers a way to get rid of old chemicals and materials to help prevent them from getting into the waste stream and polluting the environment.
Where is the HHW facility located?
801 Stillwell
Wichita, KS 67213
(316) 660-7458
South of Kellogg off of Seneca (at the corner of Osage and Stillwell)
What are the HHW facility's hours?
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays
CLOSED SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS
What items will the HHW facility accept?
They will accept almost all chemical items from a residential house, such as: paint, aerosols, batteries, used oil, gasoline, antifreeze, pesticides, herbicides, garden chemicals, household cleaners, fluorescent bulbs, propane, and
old, unwanted medication (no controlled substances)
.
For additional information, read more.
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Crime Stoppers encourages citizens to call if they have information about a felony crime, and wish to remain anonymous. This means that they have not directly contacted law enforcement. Crime Stoppers always encourages cooperation with law enforcement, but in those cases where citizens do not want to call police, they are encouraged to provide the information they have anonymously through Crime Stoppers by one of the following ways:
Call
(316) 267-2111 or 1-800-222-TIPS
Text
TIP217 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or
Report a tip online
here!
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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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CLICK
HERE
FOR MORE INFORMATION. THIS IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR, OR FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LEARN NEW SKILLS!
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Teen Volunteers
YOUnited Teens
YOUnited Teens is a volunteer program designed by students for students.
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Want to help your community, but don't know how? Try the Library this summer!
You'll meet other teens, help kids sign up for the Summer Reading Program, and assist staff with important tasks. It's a fun way to get experience that looks good on a college application or resume! If your school or club requires community service hours, volunteering at the Library could help you meet your goals.
What do volunteers do at the Library?
- Help other young people enroll in summer reading and collect prizes
- Tidy library areas and assist with shelving (must be able to alphabetize!)
- Help staff with special events and programs
- Type and do data entry
- Prepare crafts, cut paper and organize items
What you need to know
- To volunteer, you must be entering grades 8-12 in the fall
- You need to be dependable and show up for your shifts. Make sure you have a ride worked out!
- Ask your parents or guardians for permission
- Make sure you can commit to at least six weeks of volunteering 2-6 hours per week
- Be available to work between May 25 and July 29 (let us know if you have a camp or vacation scheduled)
- You can indicate which library location(s) where you'd prefer to volunteer. Different branches have different methods of selecting teen volunteers - call if you have questions about the application and selection process!
For more information, click
here
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TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST JOB FAIRS AND TRAINING COURSES, CLICK HERE.
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MORE COMMUNITY INFORMATION
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WATER CONSERVATION REBATE PROGRAM
The City dedicated another $100,000 to the Water Conservation Program this year. Beginning February 1, water customers became eligible to receive a rebate for switching to high efficiency appliances and other water efficient devices: such as HE washing machines, dishwashers, toilets and smart irrigation controls, rain sensors and rain barrels. In the first 30 days of the program, nearly $30,000 in rebates have been awarded.
Rain barrels are often an overlooked possibility for conserving water. Studies suggest that one inch of rain dumps 500 gallons of water on the roof of a 2,000 square foot house. EPA estimates that a rain barrel can save nearly 1,300 gallons of water usage during peak summer months. This is a cost effective solution for gardening and irrigation and also reduces the City's demand for treated water.
READ MORE...
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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
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May is National Bike Month! |
7 Health Benefits of Cycling
1. Cycling is good for your heart: Cycling is associated with improved cardiovascular fitness, as well as a decrease in the risk of coronary heart disease.
2. Cycling is good for your muscles: Riding a bike is great for toning and building your muscles, especially in the lower half of the body - your calves, your thighs, and your rear end. It's also a great low-impact mode of
exercise for those with joint conditions or injuries to the legs or hips, which might keep them from being active.
3. Cycling is good for your waistline: You can burn a lot of calories while biking, especially when you cycle faster than a leisurely pace, and cycling has been associated with helping to keep
weight gain down. And cycling has the added benefit of ramping up your metabolism, even after the ride is over.
4. Cycling is good for your lifespan: Bicycling is a great way to increase your longevity, as cycling regularly has been associated with
increased 'life-years', even when adjusted for risks of injury through cycling.
5. Cycling is good for your coordination: Moving both feet around in circles while steering with both your hands and your body's own weight is good practice for your coordination skills.
Even with all of these health benefits to cycling, some of us may ride them just for fun. I know I do.
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May 13
National Arbor Day (read
more)
May 14
National Miniature Golf Day (Those windmills are tricky)
May 15
National Chocolate Chip Day (Make mine a double)
May 16
National Biographer's Day (Read up on your favorite person)
May 17
National Cherry Cobbler Day (What is your favorite flavor?)
May 18
National No Dirty Dishes Day (So...how does this work?)
May 19
National Devil's Food Cake Day (When is Angel Food Cake Day?)
May 20
National Bike to Work Day (And May is National Bike Month!)
National Waitstaff Day (Add some extra on to the tip!)
May 22
National Vanilla Pudding Day (Does this REALLY deserve its own day?)
May 23
National Lucky Penny Day (Remember to wear it in your shoe)
May 24
National Scavenger Hunt Day (Would this include treasure hunts also?)
May 25
National Senior Health & Fitness Day (Go granny!)
May 26
National Blueberry Cheesecake Day (I guess Fitness Day is formally over)
May 27
National Heat Awareness Day (Find a good shade tree, right?)
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City Fleet Operations Named a "Notable Fleet" by the American Public Works Association (APWA) & Government Fleet Magazine
The City's fleet section in Public Works & Utilities was recently recognized by the American Public Works Association (APWA) and Government Fleet magazine. The fleet section maintains nearly 2,400 vehicles and pieces of equipment for all departments other than Airport and Transit. This includes police patrol vehicles, fire apparatus, heavy equipment, light/medium vehicles and small equipment like chainsaws and mowers. Wichita's fleet section was recently named as a "Notable Fleet" as part of the 2016 Leading Fleets program. Each year, the APWA and Government Fleet magazine recognize the top 50 fleet shops in the country - these comprise the Leading Fleet award recipients. They also name "Notable Fleets" that fall outside of the Top 50 but deserve recognition for their efforts and accomplishments. According to APWA and Government Fleet, recognized fleets such as Wichita's are "performing at a high level, particularly in fleet leadership, competitiveness and efficiency, planning for the future, and overcoming challenges."
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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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F
ind out about Park and Recreation SPRING 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 and street sweepers 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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