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District IV Newsletter
from the
Office of Community Services
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MESSAGE FROM JEFF BLUBAUGH...
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In the first three weeks of January we are already experiencing new leadership across the Country that might be causing apprehension with some Wichita residents. But I am very optimistic about our new President and a Congress that is willing to try a new approach to governing. In March of this year I will be attending the National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional City Conference in Washington DC along with other City Council members. Attending this conference will give us the opportunity to meet with congressional leaders that influence federal policy and explore new ideas and solutions for the City of Wichita. This is always a wonderful opportunity to meet and hear from municipal leaders across the nation and to swap processes and formulas for developmental growth. I will be looking forward to sharing new ideas with you upon our return.
Meanwhile we are seeing progress on the improvements to south Meridian and maintaining our sanity with the ongoing construction of the I-235 & west Kellogg interchange. K-Mart will be closing, but this will open the door for developers to put new plans into motion for that area, and we are already seeing changes to the NE corner of Kellogg & West St. So the old adage, "when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade" is certainly wise advice and never truer. And that's something we can all drink to! Cheers.
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An inside view of the new building at 2241 S West Street Ct.
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JR CUSTOM METAL PRODUCTS, INC.
KEEPS GROWING!
The unstoppable Patty Koehler, CEO of JR Custom Metal Products, Inc., and the talented and dedicated staff they employ not only keep their current customers happy, but are building their client base by reducing costs while staying on the leading edge of the industrial manufacturing industry. Today they have opened a new building to expand their powdercoating needs that will require up to 20 new employees.
Councilman Blubaugh was on hand to congratulate Ms. Koehler and staff.
It wasn't long ago when the former President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, came to Wichita to meet and tour JR Custom Metal Products, a company that pride themselves on being able to communicate with our Spanish-speaking neighbors. We want to congratulate this remarkable company and all they are doing to keep Wichita's economy growing!
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DISTRICT IV EVENTS & NEWS
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Start Planning Now for your
Neighborhood Cleanup!
The City of Wichita neighborhood cleanup applications for 2017 were sent out to neighborhood associations and home owner associations this week. If we missed your association, please give us a call at 316-268-4197. The cleanups start the 1st Saturday in April and conclude the last Saturday of November. There is much preparation involved when planning a neighborhood cleanup, so now is the time to get with your association to set a date, fill out and submit your application, and recruit volunteers.
The work is fun, rewarding, and a great way to get to know your neighbors! We all live in a great city, and it's everyone's responsibility to take care of it.
Click
here to view the application and instructions.
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Wichita by City Council Districts
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SUPPLEMENTAL
PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE
Among other measures, the Wichita City Council has allocated $10 million from the sale of the Hyatt Regency proceeds to the improvement of many of the City's worst neighborhood streets. Click on the interactive map to the right to see where the repairs will take place.
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Just in time for the cold temps:
Free Firewood and Mulch from
Sedgwick County Zoo, Westar Energy and the City of Wichita are teaming up to give away firewood and mulch this winter. The firewood and mulch is provided from Westar Energy's ReliabiliTree tree trimming program and the City of Wichita's forestry tree pruning and removal operations. Sedgwick County Zoo is proud to be part of a program that benefits our citizens, reduces waste and conserves our natural resources.
Public can pick up the free firewood and wood chips, to use as mulch,
now through February 2017 from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. in the north parking lot of the Sedgwick County Zoo.
The wood is normally delivered between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. daily.
Sedgwick County Zoo, Westar Energy and the City of Wichita ask that anyone picking up firewood please refrain from using chainsaws, splitters or any mechanical equipment.
Questions about wood delivery: call 261-6581.
And if you are STILL needing to "recycle" your live Christmas tree, click here for disposal locations!
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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 2017 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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DISTRICT IV FACEBOOK PAGE
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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The next District Advisory Board (DAB) meeting for District IV
will be held on February 6, 2017!
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Wichita Report app
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WANT TO REPORT POTHOLES OR OTHER STREET ISSUES?
THERE'S A FREE APP FOR THAT!
Or are you tired of electronics? Then contact the City of Wichita the old fashioned way. Simply pick up your phone and dial 942-4482 to get connected to the correct department/person. This number is operational from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
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Wichita Report
(name of an app) is a great tool for enabling Wichita residents with smartphones to improve their neighborhood by reporting issues such as potholes, broken street lights, damaged signs, illegal dumping and more. The reports are automatically fed into the City's work order system so that they can be tracked and assigned to service teams. Users can follow the status of their requests from their smartphone.
No smartphone, or you don't want the app? No problem.
You can call 268-4013, Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm, to report missing stop signs, traffic light malfunctions, large potholes, debris in the street, or street flooding.
If after hours or holidays, contact 911. They will have an emergency contact that can help with the problem.
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If you can spare 2 - 3 hours a month, please consider applying for one of the City's District Advisory Boards. You can see the list of boards, times they meet, and current vacancies here.
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DISTRICT IV SAFETY REPORTS
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Don't be left in the
dark
If
you notice outages within
your neighborhood, fill out
Westar Energy's website
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City of Wichita Snow and Ice Removal Plan
Are you ready for the winter weather? The City of Wichita is! Crews have been preparing snow plows and training new drives ahead of the storm. You can watch the highlights from Mayor Longwell's regular media briefing, December 1st, discussing snow and ice removal. You can watch the entire briefing including news of the future Cargill headquarters
here!
To track the snow plows in Wichita, click on the photo of the snow plow!
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| Bicycle easier and safer by knowing the rules. |
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| Anonymously report a crime tip. You could get a cash reward and no one will ask your name. |
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Learn how to report nuisance cases and
neighborhood issues by clicking on the photo above. |
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Contact the Wichita Police Department here.
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January 20 - January 29, 2017
What is Wichita Restaurant Week?
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FINAL FRIDAY IN WICHITA
JANUARY 27th
What's free, stimulating to the senses, and a great way to meet interesting people? It must be Final Friday in Wichita, KS!
If you have not taken the time to explore Final Friday in Wichita, you are simply cheating yourself from having a wonderful evening full of exciting venues and an opportunity to meet with some of Wichita's local artists. Who, by the way, are some of the best in the nation. Click here to find out times and places.
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PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT
JANUARY 28TH -
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
AT THE ALFORD BRANCH LIBRARY, 3447 S MERIDIAN
Identity theft is on the rise, and anyone can become a victim. The consequences are devastating to the victim, who may not realize they have been defrauded until it's too late. Learn more about what identity theft is and the damage it causes. Consumer Credit Counseling representatives will offer steps you can take to reduce your likelihood of becoming a victim and share what to do if it happens to you.
Registration is required beginning Jan. 14; call 337-9119 or register
online.
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OLD HISTORY WILL BE MAKING NEW HISTORY IN 2017
WITH THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF THE CHISHOLM TRAIL
The year of 2017 will be a year-long celebration of the Chisholm Trail. The Wichita - Sedgwick County Historical Museum - 204 S. Main - Wichita KS will be celebrating
Kansas Day on Sunday January 29th - 2:00 - 3:00 pm - Kansas History in Song
with a tip of the Hat to the Chisholm Trail - a live music program presented by a cavalcade of cowboy troubadours. Come and see many items from Wichita and the Chisholm Trail. Visit with Wichita historians and learn about how Wichita became a booming town in part because of the cattle drives and the Chisholm Trail. Stay tuned for the upcoming cattle drive.
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Kansas' Poet Laureate and Kansas Cooking
January 29th at the Central Library
Central Library - 2 pm - 3 pm
In honor of Kansas Day 2017, Wichita Public Library welcomes Kansas' current Poet Laureate, Professor Eric McHenry, to share his poetry and experiences in this honored role. Eric is a nationally known poet and associate professor of English at Washburn University in Topeka. His work has been featured in publications such as Poetry International, Slate, Yale Review, and Topeka magazine, among many others.
Central Library - 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
In honor of Kansas Day, we're celebrating Kansas cooking with Frank and Jayni Carey, authors of The New Kansas Cookbook: Rural Roots, Modern Table, just released in October 2016 by the University of Kansas Press. The Careys are well-known for their previous cookbook The Kansas Cookbook: Recipes from the Heartland (1989). In this session, you'll learn more about Kansas's rich tradition of cooking by farmers, ranchers, chefs, and home cooks, using fresh ingredients from farmer's markets and vegetable gardens from across the state.
Read More
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SENIOR SERVICES IN DELANO
Senior Wednesdays are great, but...
Did you know that the building in Delano at 200 S Walnut has activities, exercise classes, a quilting club, pool tournaments, grand slam bridge, and so much more going on every week.
To see the ongoing activities that are too numerous to mention here, click on the photo to the right. You will be in for a treat!
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| CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENTER THE CONTEST! |
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KIDS TO PARKS DAY SCHOOL CONTEST
This year, National Park Trust is once again hosting the Kids to Parks Day National School Contest! The purpose of the contest is to empower students to create and plan their own park experience. This national contest is open to all under-served schools across the country and in all U.S. Territories.
Students can submit proposals for a Kids to Parks Day event at a park in their community. National Park Trust will award grants up to $1,000 to winning entries
. Grants will be used by the winners to implement their Kids to Parks Day event during the month of May 2017.
Contest entries will be accepted beginning on Monday, November 7, 2016. Deadline for entries is on Tuesday, February 14, 2017
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1000 Books Before Kindergarten!
The Wichita Public Library is challenging parents and caregivers across Wichita to read 1000 books to their babies and toddlers! It's the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge. Stop by any of the eight public libraries in the City to pick up a 1000 Books folder which includes a tracking sheet that gets colored in each time a book is read.
After reading the first 100 books, each child will receive a book bag and will mark his/her progress at the Library.
It's a lot easier than it sounds!
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COMING SOON SO SAVE THE DATE!
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FEBRUARY 11th & 12th - Century II Concert Hall
Wichita Symphony Orchestra
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| APRIL 23rd - Century II Concert Hall, Wichita Grand Opera presents Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty |
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Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower National Airport has a magazine just for you travelers.
Check it out!
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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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MERIDIAN STREET CONSTRUCTION UPDATE!
The east side of Meridian is now underway, but remember that Harry is closed at Meridian. Kudos to Greg Baalman, City of Wichita, for keeping this project on course and looking forward to May 2017!
Traffic Impact:
Meridian is restricted to one lane in each direction between McCormick and Pawnee. Left turns are prohibited from Meridian onto Harry. Harry is one-way westbound, east of Meridian while intersection is reconstructed.
PAWNEE BRIDGE CLOSED
Pawnee will close between Broadway and McLean Boulevard, beginning August 8, until spring 2017. Thru traffic will detour to 31st Street South at Broadway and McLean Boulevard. Local traffic on Pawnee will be allowed west of Broadway for access to residential streets.
KDOT - I-235 & Kellogg (U.S. 54) Interchange
The first phase of the Kellogg/I-235 Interchange rebuild (dubbed the Red Project) began on November 10. Improvements include a one-lane flyover ramp for NB I-235 to WB US 54, A two lane flyover ramp for SB I-235 to EB U.S. 54, Removal of loop ramps in the SW & NE quadrants, loop ramp for EB US 54 to NB I-235 (SE quadrant) will be reconstructed, US 54 bridge over West St. will be widened to accommodate new auxiliary lanes from I-235. Auxiliary lanes on I-235 constructed from US 54 to Central Ave. NB I-235 ramp to EB US 54 braided with the new ramp lanes from SB I-235 to EB US 54.
Traffic Impact:
Southbound I-235 ramp to WB US 54 is CLOSED - for up to one year. An official signed detour uses SB I-235 to K-42, then NB on I-235 to WB US 54 ramp. The West St. Entrance Ramp to EB US 54 is closed. West St. traffic from Irving to Taft is single lane each direction. Saturday, December 10, West St. at US 54 will be closed (7am - 7pm) to install bridge beams over West St. Bridge widening on I-235 above Maple St. continues and traffic on Maple is reduced to one lane in each direction. Elder St. at Maple is closed for reconstruction of a short section of Elder. Bridge work at US 54 & Hoover continues and Hoover is closed under US 54. The new West St. ramp to WB US 54 is open. KDOT Contact is Tom Hein - hein@ksdot.org
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TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST JOB FAIRS AND TRAINING COURSES, CLICK HERE.
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KANSASWORKS helps with job seekers, employers, training/education, and resources.
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H2O Care Fund
The City of Wichita recognizes that there are many residents who are struggling during these difficult economic times, especially during the holidays. This voluntary program provides a simple way to directly help others. Even small donations can add up and provide a way for people to maintain their water service. There are three ways to help, and you can find out how by filling out the City of Wichita H2O Care Fund Program Donation Form here.
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MORE COMMUNITY INFORMATION
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STAY FIT TIPS
Heart disease and stroke touch people from all walks of life, including
celebrities. In fact, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death around the world, killing more than 17 million people a year. Click on "celebrities" to have a look at some of the well-known people with who died in 2016 and reported to have heart disease or stroke.
And to review the warning signs of heart attack, stroke, & cardiac arrest, click
here! The life you save might be your own.
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January 20
National Disc Jockey (DJ) Day (a/k/a Spin Doctor Day)
January 21
Squirrel Appreciation Day
January 22
In 1966, the Beach Boys recorded "Wouldn't It Be Nice."
January 23
January 24
National Compliment Day (Wow, you look marvelous!)
January 25
January 26
National Spouses Day
January 27
National Chocolate Cake Day (At last!)
National Have Fun at Work Day (The jokes on us - it's a Saturday)
January 29
National Puzzle Day (Put your brain to work, and have fun doing it)
January 30
National Croissant Day (Hey, wait a minute...this is a French pastry!)
January 31
February 1
National Freedom Day
February 2
Groundhog Day
February 3
National Wear Red Day (American Heart Association awareness)
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DISTRICT IV PLACES
OF INTEREST
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MORE
HELPFUL LINKS
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3447 S. Meridian
433 S. 135th St. West
1931 S. Tyler
2625 S Tyler
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City Council Agendas, Minutes and streaming video
link
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Click
here to find up-to-date information
regarding street maintenance and street sweepers in your area.
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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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ind out about Park and Recreation WINTER Classes by clicking here!
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I
CT SOS is a project-based human trafficking organization that acts as a liaison between specific local professional groups who work with trafficked youth and the Wichita volunteers who seek ways to be involved in finding solutions to fight sex trafficking. You can help in so many ways. For additional information, read more.
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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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