Office of 
Community Services 

 

 

September 16,2016
Message from Your Council Member.... 
   
Greetings District 6 Friends -
 
Welcome to the next edition of the weekly newsletter! We hope you find items of interest in the articles and at the links provided. Please let us know if you have ideas, information, or events you would like to see featured in a future edition. We always welcome your feedback and suggestions.
 
Have a great weekend! 

Janet
Janet L. Miller
District 6
City Council
316-268-4331
District 6
DAB Meeting 

D istrict 6 Coffee
Date October 03, 2016
Location Evergreen Park & Recreation 
Time:  6:30 p.m.   

Date: September 24 , 2016
Location : Downtown YMCA  in the  Community Room
Time:  9 a.m. 


District 6 Community  Events & News 
Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 14th Annual Gala
September 15, 2016
.

Council Member, Janet Miller, presented Deputy Chief Jose Salcido the WHCC Rising Star Community Partner Award
Jose Salcido a Wichita Police Officer for 21 years became the first Hispanic Deputy Chief of Police in the city's history. Deputy Chief Salcido realizes that he's blazing a trail for others. Salcido states that his new title sends a message to kids that if they work hard enough and apply themselves, that they too, can go far.


271 BUILDING TO HOUSE
WAMPO, MAPD, AND MABD

Just south of Wichita City Hall at 271 W Third St. is the former IRS building that Sedgwick County recently purchased in order to expand three joint city-county agencies.
  • Wednesday, August 31, the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO) offices closed to the public. WAMPO will open on Monday, September 12.
  • Thursday, September 1, the Metropolitan Area Planning Department (MAPD) closed to the public. MAPD will be open to the public on Monday, September 12.
  • Beginning Wednesday, September 28, the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Division (MABCD) will close its Seneca office at 3 p.m. As of Thursday, September 29, its City Hall office will be closed to the public. On Monday, October 3, MABCD will be open for business.
Customers who regularly have business with these three agencies will find the new facility more convenient and easier to access.  A ribbon-cutting and open house event for the 271 building will be held at 1 pm on October 11th.

Fiesta Wichita Facebook page
Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Latin music, dancing, games and food.
 
 

 




Wichita Wagonmaster's Chili Cook-off
Saturday, September 24 at Noon

It's always chili somewhere but the best place to be is the 2016 Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cook-off, Saturday, September 24, 2016 in Wichita, KS.
Not only will the contest decide the Kansas State champion, but teams are also competing to go to the 2016 International Chili Society World's Championship Chili Cookoff. We award prize money in many different categories and the Grand Champion takes home $1,000.


HELP THE HOMELESS
 AND
 INTER-FAITH MINISTRIES
 BY GOING OUT TO EAT


What could be more fun than a meal with friends at a great restaurant? What about a meal with friends at a great restaurant with some of the proceeds going to help the homeless?
      
Dine Out Help Out returns to Wichita on Tuesday, September 20. More than 35 restaurants have signed up to donate a portion of their proceeds from the day to Inter-Faith Ministries three homeless shelters.   Pick a restaurant - or a different one for breakfast, lunch and dinner - and join in the fun.
 
(link for list of participating restaurants)

The Lord's Diner 
Needs Volunteers

Looking for an opportunity to make a difference?

A brand new Lord's Diner mobile food truck is slated to start providing services in northeast Wichita in late October and is looking for volunteers.  The mobile food truck will distribute meals from 4 PM to 6 PM Monday -Friday at the Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E. 19th St. N. 

This new service is a partnership between the Catholic Diocese, Wichita District I City Council Member Lavonta Williams, City of Wichita Park and Recreation and the Office of Community Services.
  
Those with an interest in volunteering can attend a meeting:
Time:  3 p.m.
Date:  Saturday, Sept. 17th
Place:  Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E. 19th St. N.
  
For additional information, please call 266-4966 and ask for Sheryl, Jan or Paul. 

The Lord's Diner at its inception was developed by the Wichita community to serve those that are hungry in the community.  This truck will be the third mobile diner and is due to the generosity of the Dakhil Family Foundation.   




Online Surplus Auction
The City of Wichita is holding an internet-only auction of surplus vehicles and equipment.
The online auction closes at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29. Items include street sweepers, trucks, vans, cars, etc.

Inspection times are from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, and 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Central Maintenance Facility (1801 S. McLean).

Items are offered "AS IS" and "WHERE IS," without warranty or guarantee. For an item listing or to place bids, please visit
www.purplewave.com.

Free Yoga at the Wichita Art Garden
  • Date: August 1, 2016 - October 1, 2016
  • Time: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • Admission: Free
  • Location: Wichita Art Garden
    1400 W. Museum Blvd., Wichita, KS 67203

            City to Host 9th Annual Big Read Wichita

The City of Wichita is proud to announce Big Read Wichita will return for its ninth consecutive year. Big Read Wichita is a program providing residents opportunities to experience quality literary and arts programming throughout the community that is focused around one book and its themes.

This year's Big Read Wichita selection is Ray Bradbury's classic
Fahrenheit 451.  The book explores themes of censorship, message control, and the efforts some will go to preserve literature and the freedom of public information.

The Wichita Public Library joins with dozens of other local organizations and community groups to provide the community with a variety of programs throughout Big Read Wichita, which runs October 1 through November 15, 2016. This year's program offers events that are a first for Big Read Wichita, including a special production by the Wichita Community Theatre and symphony performances by the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. Other featured events include a kick-off party on Saturday, October 1 at the Wichita Art Museum and a special presentation on November 5 by Ray Bradbury's official biographer, Sam Weller.

The community is encouraged to read the book, which is available for checkout in print, audio book, and as an e-book from the Wichita Public Library, as well as to attend any of the dozens of Big Read Wichita events happening throughout the community. Readers are invited to join the conversation at the Big Read's Facebook page or on Twitter using #BigReadICT.

More information on the Big Read, a media kit, and the full list of events can be found at  www.bigreadwichita.org.

 
 Wichita Art Museum
 
Coming Soon:
Party + Art Garden Anniversary
Saturday, September 24,
 3 to 10 pm
Free admission
 
WAM is again rolling out the "grass carpet" for a hip indoor/outdoor party to celebrate the opening of the fall exhibition Shiny, Sticky, Smooth: Pop Art and the Senses and applaud the one-year anniversary of the Art Garden. AThe fun starts at 3 pm with FamilyArt Venture out on the lawn with artmaking, lawn games, and a performance by Kansas City juggling duo Laughing Matters. At 5 pm, food trucks will roll up to serve dinner -- bring your lawn chairs and stake out the perfect picnic spot! Galleries will open for a first peek at groovy pop art from a premier West Coast private collection. At 7 pm, the party cranks up with a stage show by Planet Hair followed by live music by Kansas City-based party band KC Flo, all in the Paula and Barry Downing Amphitheater
HOW TO BUILD A SAFER NEIGHBORHOOD
Nextdoor.com is the free private social network for you, your neighbors and your community. It's the easiest way for you and your neighbors to talk online and make all of your lives better in the real world. And it's free!
Thousands of neighborhoods are already using Nextdoor to build happier, safer places to call home.  
And it's only for you and your neighbors!!
People are using Nextdoor to:
  • Quickly get the word out about a break-in
  • Organize a Neighborhood Watch Group
  • Track down a trustworthy babysitter
  • Find out who does the best paint job in town
  • Ask for help keeping an eye out for a lost dog
  • Find a new home for an outgrown bike
  • Finally call that nice man down the street by his first name
Nextdoor's mission is to use the power of technology to build stronger and safer neighborhoods.   Click here for more information.

ICTrees is planning their fall plantings  which will occur from mid September through the week before Thanksgiving this year.  
Last year they planted over 750 trees and engaged more than 400 community volunteers who committed over 1,000 hours of there time to accomplish this.
This year they would like to plant 1,000 trees. They are looking for suitable planting locations. If you know of an organization in your district such as a church, homeowners association, civic club, etc. that would benefit from trees planted on their property; please encourage them to contact ICTrees.  Email   trees@ictrees.org or call 316-302-6633 for more information.


                             
  Senior Wednesday          
Your Schedule for July - September 2016

Senior Wednesdays are informational and entertaining sessions, designed for active seniors and offered by a collaboration of twelve institutions. Sponsored, in part, by Larksfield Place. See September Schedule for topics.
 
First Wednesday
Morning, Doors open at 10 am
Wichita Art Museum ($2 admission)
(316) 268-4921
Afternoon, 1:30 pm
WATER Center (Free) 101 E. Pawnee, in Herman Hill
(316) 350-3386

Second Wednesday
Morning, 10 am
Sedgwick County Zoo ($4 programming fee)
(316) 266-8213
Afternoon, 1:30 pm
Wichita Public Library, Central Library (Free)
(316) 261-8500

Third Wednesday
Morning, 10 am
Ulrich Museum of Art, WSU (Free)
1845 N. Fairmount
 (316) 978-3664
Afternoon, 1:30 pm
The Kansas African American Museum (Free)
316-262-7651

Fourth Wednesday
Morning, 10 am, Doors open at 9:30
Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum ($2 Admission)
(316) 265-9314
Afternoon, 1:30 pm
Exploration Place ($4 Admission + tax)
(316) 660-0649 

Fifth Wednesday
Morning, 10 am light refreshments, 10:30 program begins
Great Plains Nature Center (Free)
(316) 683-5499
Afternoon, 1:30 pm
Old Cowtown Museum ($2 programming fee)
(316) 350-3323

Visit www.seniorwednesday.org for more information

The program encourages citizens to call Crime Stoppers 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


If you would like more information on the program or you are interested in volunteering you may call the Wichita Crime Commission at 267-1235.



 

Home Improvement program has funding available for income qualified homeow ners
  
  
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. 



When severe weather knocks your power out, the MyWestar app is the fastest way to report an outage and see an outage map with real-time information about when your power will be restored even if your computer, phone and Wi-Fi are down. With the power of the MyWestar app you can manage your account anywhere.
 


ADOPT A CITIZEN!
Help your family & friends register to vote!
 
Deadline to register for November 8 election is October 18, 2016
In 2013, Kansas law made voter registration more difficult requiring proof of US citizenship by mailing or emailing a cell phone photo or copy of your birth certificate, passport or other citizenship documents with voter registration applications. Ex-felons who have completed probation and parole are eligible to vote.
To register in person, go to the Sedgwick County Elections Office at the old courthouse at 510 N. Main, M-F, 8 am-5 pm. Call 316 660-7100. Take a cell phone photo or paper copy of your birth certificate, US passport, Naturalization papers, Bureau of Indian Affairs Card or other citizenship document and bring it to the office or email to:         
 


More Helpful Links
Delano Dispatch 

Downtown Events and Activities

Visit Wichita

Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita

Historic Midtown Citizens Association

Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society

North Riverside News 

Northwest Big River Neighborhood   Association.

WASAC  

City of Wichita, Office of Community Services | 316-303-8042 |
2700 N. Woodland
Wichita, KS 67204