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District I 
Newsletter

 
March 3, 2017
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From the desk of Lavonta Williams...
Quality improvement suggestions for District I are listed below. These items were condensed from numerous concerns shared at the February District I breakfast.   

Category: Economic Development
 
Develop an entrepreneurial  program to maintain/preserve older homes economically by training craftsmen & linking them (to) providers
1
Start a program to advance our community and teach them/give them a mindset to start their own businesses
1
Category: Maintenance
 
Removal of dead trees
1
Replace Atwater NRC signs in the neighborhood
1
Category: New Infrastructure
 
Crosswalk replacement at Spaght and Washington Elem.
1
Glen Dey Park: no more mud puddles, swings, exercise equipment (on Grove street side)
1
Category: Special Programs
 
Neighborhood block grant
1


It is always a pleasure to welcome new Wichita Habitat for Humanity homeowners to District I. The Mirinidi family is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and honored to own their own home.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
District I - there is quite a bit of activity going on around the university.  I wanted
you to have an idea because much of the work is beginning to take place starting this week. 
 
Projects/Schedules:
  • Water Tower Rehabilitation:   We are presently painting the Woodlawn Water Tower and once the Woodlawn Tower is completed, work will begin on the tower at 17th & Roosevelt with anticipated completion this summer. The one at 17th and Roosevelt should have the WuShock Mascot painted on it.
  • 21st & Oliver Intersection:  Construction should begin mid-February with estimated completion in Fall 2017.  The intersection will be improved to provide dual left turn lanes on all approaches.  A multi-use path will be constructed on the south side of 21st Street from Oliver to Mike Oatman Dr.
  • 17th, Hillside to Oliver:  Final plans for construction are nearly completed.  Project is anticipated to open bids April 2017.  The project will include concrete repair and re-striping 17th Street from a 4-lane roadway to a 3-lane roadway with on-street bicycle lanes.
  • Oliver, 17th to 21st:  We are anticipating opening bids on this project summer 2017.  The project will provide north/south left turn lanes at 17th & Oliver and improve Oliver to a 5-lane roadway from 17th Street north to the improvements made at 21st & Oliver.  The project includes a 10' multi-use path on the west side of Oliver. 
Other items:
  • Number of drive approaches on 21st Street - Between Oliver and Mike Oatman Dr. - two new approaches will be constructed to serve the Innovation Campus site.  One of these (west approach) has been installed already.  One more approach will be constructed with the 21st & Oliver intersection plans.  It will be located approximately 500' west of Oliver.
  • Number of approaches on Oliver - Currently the only entrances planned off of Oliver are the street connections of 18th Street and 19th Street.
  • Traffic counts show approximately 16,600 vehicles on Oliver and approximately 20,000 vehicles on 21st per day.
City Announcements & Activities
S tay up-to-date on City events, announcements and headlines 
by reading our daily News Releases
 
DISTRICT I-CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS...
 
Details listed above 
     

Click here to find up-to-date information regarding street maintenance in your area.
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Urban Infill Advisory Committee and Street Lighting
 
Through Public Works and Utilities participation in the Urban Infill Advisory Committee, an enhanced street lighting project spanning from 9th Street to 13th Street and Madison to Green, centering on Spaght Elementary, has been completed.
 
This project was initiated to respond to safety concerns in the area and intended to explore the benefits of better street lighting. Upon determining that the number of streetlights in the area exceeded minimum coverage standards, staff began to work with Westar Energy to expedite the replacement of existing streetlights to LED lighting. 
 
LED lighting is believed to contribute to decreased crime due to its ability to allow people to see truer colors, leading to better identification of people and vehicles. In total, 33 streetlights were replaced with LED bulbs.
 
The Urban Infill Advisory Committee will work with WPD to analyze crime in the area after the LED lighting was installed and compare to the crime that occurred previously. Staff has also notified residents in the area how to report streetlight outages and needed tree trimming.

Ozone Season Is Here
 
The 2017 Ozone Season has begun, City of Wichita officials announced today during Mayor Jeff Longwell's weekly news briefing. This is the time of year when City government's Air Quality division monitors and predicts high ozone days for South Central Kansas. Ozone season runs March 1 through Oct. 31, and officials will issue alerts when high ozone days are expected.
 
Ground-level ozone is a health and environmental concern for the people in South Central Kansas. Ground-level ozone is formed when emissions from automobiles, industrial machinery, lawn and garden equipment, paints and solvents are "baked" in heat and intense sunlight.  Air pollution is unhealthy for everyone, but some people are at an increased risk because of their age or existing health conditions. Sensitive groups include children, people with asthma, adults over 65 and people with chronic respiratory disease. There are nearly 300,000 people who may be sensitive to elevated ozone levels in South Central Kansas.

When Ozone Alerts are issued, City of Wichita officials will adjust operations and ask residents businesses also to make changes to daily routines that can impact ozone levels. Actions that can reduce ozone-forming emissions on Ozone Alert days include:
  • Using Wichita Transit or other public transportation;
  • Carpooling;
  • Reducing energy use;
  • Reducing idling time at drive-thru restaurants, pharmacies, banks and railroad crossings;
  • Postponing errands, mowing, painting and solvent use until after 6 p.m.; and
  • Fueling up after the sun goes down instead of earlier in the day. 

The City of Wichita has recently received a large number of complaints regarding the free Wichita Eagle publications that are distributed to households that do not subscribe to the newspaper.  


Residents who do not want the publications, or who want to report vacant properties where the flyers are piling up should contact the Wichita Eagle by calling 268-6209 or by e-mailing csrequest@wichitaeagle.com

If there are areas where old publications have become a littering issue and need to be picked up, please contact Distribution Services Manager Keith Hansen at khansen@wichitaeagle.com or 268-6558.

Neighborhood Nuisance Reporting
 
Residents are encouraged to report neighborhood nuisance problems via phone or email due to technical difficulties with the online portal. To submit a report, please call the main number (660-9220). A voicemail can be left if the call is made after business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also, an email may be sent to KeepWichitaClean@wichita.gov or residents may contact the Dial Wichita! Call Center at 942-4482.  

Check out what's happening 
by  clicking here



Kids out of school for spring break?

Take them to the Wichita Public Library for fun and free events all week long! There will be more than a dozen programs and storytimes for children at 7 library locations across the City. All programs are free, but some require registration. Click this link to see the complete list: Wichita Library Event Calendar

SPRING GARDENING
 
Attend free classes for your green thumb! A series of programs led by experts and Master Gardeners will run Tuesday nights at the Alford Branch Library and Thursday nights at the Rockwell Branch Library between March 16 and April 11. All classes are free but registration is required. For the Rockwell classes, call 688-9361. For the Alford Classes, call 337-9119. Otherwise you can register online for any of the events with the



New Lynette Woodard Classes

CLASS
START DATE
DAY/TIME
AGES
FEES
Mini Spikers
March 29, 2017
Wed 5:30-6:00pm
1-2 yrs
4 classes for $10 
Candy Bouquet    

March 28, 2017
Tue 6:30-7:30pm
6-15yrs
1 classes for $13 
Wrestling

March 28, 2017 Tue 6:00-6:45pm 3-5yrs 5 classes for $18
T-Ball Clinic   

 April 6, 2017
Thu 6:15-7:00pm
3-5yrs
5 classes for $18 
German  

March 27, 2017 Mon  6:30-8:00pm 14+ 8 classes for $36
Boot Camp Basics
March 28, 2017 
Tue 7:00-7:45pm 13+ 5 classes for $12
Salsa 

March 27, 2017 Mon 7:00-8:00pm 14+ 8 classes for $31

 
           
Sign up now for classes at  City Arts by clicking here !
View Park and Recreation Classes by clicking here!
Updates from District I & 
Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center
District I Advisory Board, Breakfast and Neighborhood Association Information
The District I Advisory Board meets on the 1st Monday of the month at the Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC), 2755 E. 19th St. N., Wichita, KS 67214.  Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. 

The District I Breakfast is held on the 1st Saturday of each month at the Atwater NRC, 2755 E. 19th St. N. Breakfast begins at 9 a.m. 

For the 2017 meeting schedule, click  here .


Like us on Facebook: Wichita District 1
 
Neighborhood Association Updates...

 

Neighborhood Associations are encouraged to participate and walk with your Community Police Officer in this parade.

Education, Employment & Job Training

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KANSEL Construction Class
Career Job Training

The Union Rescue Mission has a new program to prepare men and women for rewarding careers in the food service industry.  KitchenPrep is an eight-week course taught at the Mission's life transformation center (2800 North Hillside).  The curriculum involves 128 hours of classroom and kitchen lab work spread over 24 days.  Trainees complete both written and practical assignments taught by Union Rescue Mission staff and guest instructors.
 
At the conclusion of the eight weeks, students who pass a culinary proficiency test will receive a certificate of course completion, plus assistance in securing employment. 
 
Tuition is $285 total ($200 in student fees and $85 for course materials and tools).  There is a $40 non-refundable application fee.  A limited number of scholarships are available for men and women who are currently unemployed or under employed.
 
Additional information is available at http://urmwichita.org/food-service-job-training or by calling the Mission at (316) 687-4673 (Ask for "Cesar").

Community Activities & Services


Senior Wednesday at The Kansas African American Museum. It's FREE!!! Senior Wednesdays are informational and entertaining sessions, designed for active seniors and offered by a collaboration of ten institutions. Come and join us every third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. January - November


 

The link below will take you to the City of Wichita/Arts & Cultural Services/CFC funding applications for Fiscal Year 2018. Grant applications for Fiscal Year 2018 are available here.

Please note that the Developing Arts and Artist Access grant applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 24. 2017.  The applications for Cultural Funding are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 2017. 

Find out how homeownership can change your life!

When you own a safe, affordable home you and your family will feel more secure and independent. Your children will do better in school.
 
Come to a meeting at Wichita Habitat for Humanity and find out how you can make this happen.
 
We have meetings at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15 and April 12. We will have a meeting on Saturday, March 25, at 10 a.m.
 
A meeting in Spanish also will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 25.

Meetings are held at our offices at 130 E. Murdock St., between Main and Market streets. 

Please RSVP to Katharine at 269-0755 or Katharine@wichitahabitat.org.

 
Senior Wednesday: January-March 2017
Senior Wednesdays are always fun and there is something different to do; someone new to meet. There are also many senior activity centers in Wichita and the surrounding areas, so be informed. Be entertained.  Be active.
 
To view upcoming events for January through March-Click Here
From year-round to seasonal events, Downtown
is the preferred location for Wichita to celebrate
throughout the year. A variety of events cater to
the diverse interests of Wichita residents and
many visitors from Kansas and throughout the
regional area. Downtown Event Calendar



Helpful Information
Project Access and its community partners serve patients in many locations.  Eligible uninsured patients are enrolled for limited periods of time to address immediate medical needs.  Once enrolled, patients have access to a variety of specialists, as well as prescription medication, durable medical equipment and diabetic supplies.

Eligible patients can be referred by participating physicians throughout Sedgwick County.

Additional key partners are community clinics and the Department for Children and Families (DCF). Patients who receive primary care at certain community clinics may be referred to Project Access and enrolled by an onsite DCF eligibility specialist.
Eligible patients are referred to Project Access by providers at the following sites:
For more information call
3 16-688-0600

Connect 2 Compete with COX
Get Internet at home today for a better future tomorrow
The Internet is essential for success. See how you can get connected.
 
DOES MY FAMILY QUALIFY?

1. At least one child eligible for free school lunches through the National School Lunch Program

 

2. No outstanding Cox bills or unreturned equipment.

 

3. Have not subscribed to Cox High Speed Internet service for the last 90 day 


 

4. Call 1-855-222-3252 for more information

Street Light Out? Click Here to report your findings to  Westar Energy



 
Website
Links  
City Council Agendas, Minutes and streaming video link

Environmental Court dockets and dispositions

    

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 or click here
Have questions or concerns?
City of Wichita, Office of Community Services | 316-303-8016 |
2755 E. 19th St. N.  Wichita, KS 67214
or call 316-268-4331