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City of Wichita District II Newsletter |
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A Message from Council Member
Pete Meitzner...
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I hope your spring time is enjoyable, in spite of the crazy Kansas weather. Wow, the last two weeks have been filled with much positive news in our City.
The NCAA announced the 2021 Men's Regional Basketball Tournament will be coming back to Intrust Arena. When the arena was being voted on to be built, the most often heard question was, "Will we ever get an NCAA basketball regional here?" Well, we now have had the NCAA Women's tournament a couple years ago and the Men's will be here in 2018 and again in 2021. So this question has been answered. Another big announcement this past week is Sir Paul McCartney (of Beatles fame) will be here in July. Wichita is one of his American tour stops and the only stop in Kansas. This solidly confirms our city as a major music and entertainment destination.
I also was privileged to attend the grand re-opening of Scholfield Honda on East Kellogg. The Scholfield family, including Vic, and now his son, Roger, has been a strong supporter of Wichita, and they are now the largest Honda dealership in Kansas. They also have been voted "Best place to work" for 2 years in a row. I extend my congratulations and best wishes for continued success.
Another major announcement, last week we received word from the Kansas Department of Commerce that we have been approved for STAR bonds for the development of the Stryker Soccer complex. STAR bonds are the simplest and least taxed incentive in the State. It simply allows the City to capture the increased sales tax revenue
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Pictured with Kevin Mullen with Ritchie Development and Tymber Lee with Wichita Sports Forum. Photo courtesy of Fernando Salazar, Wichita Eagle |
(above the existing sales tax) and invest that into the infrastructure of a facility that will draw people from inside and outside Wichita and Kansas. The State still keeps the original sales tax, and the property taxes still go to the appropriate city, county and school district. There are no new taxes imposed on the project or in the STAR district. We will use the future sales tax
revenues
to upgrade all the soccer fields with turf, and lights, and do some championship stadium improvements. We also will build an indoor facility, which will be larger than two soccer fields. This complex will host year round youth and adult multi-sport tournaments, and Wichita will now be considered as a stop in the midwest for various tournaments. You can see a nice news feature on this announcement at
Kake.com
and
KSN.com
.
Thank you to
Kansas Department of Commerce
for supporting our application for this remarkable project. The area of K-96 and Greenwich (is it Green-wich or Grennich ?) continues to explode with development and choices for all ages.
Good things are happening in our City, and look for updates and more news (hopefully good news) in future newsletters.
Best wishes to you all.
Have a great weekend!
Pete Meitzner
Wichita City Council
District II Council Member
Ph: 316.268.4331
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East Kellogg Improvements Update
Monday, May 1, eastbound Kellogg will be restricted to one lane between Zelta and K-96 as crews drive sheet piling to prpare for construction of the new eastbound bridge over the turnpike. This restriction is expected to last three weeks.
Other traffic impacts include:
- The ramp from eastbound K-96 to westbound Kellogg is closed for the duration of the project.
- Kellogg traffic between Zelta and K-96 is reduced to one westbound and two eastbound lanes through fall 2018.
- With the goal of improving safety, the 127th Street connection to East Kellogg is closed. A new connection from 127th Street to Zelta is part of the improvements.
- Kansas Turnpike travelers (I-35/KTA) should expect lane changes and closures both directions between mile markers 51 and 53 for reconstruction of the eastbound Kellogg bridge and construction of the new south frontage road, both which cross the Turnpike.
- Traffic entering the Kansas Turnpike's Kellogg toll plaza from eastbound Kellogg will travel through a work zone for construction of the south frontage road.
- Temporary lane closures on Webb, north and south of Kellogg.
- Temporary lane closures on Zelta for utility relocation and intersection improvements.
- No left turns allowed at Kellogg/US 54 and Webb Road for any direction.
- Kellogg speed limit reduced to 40 mph between Cypress and 143rd Streets, and Webb Road speed limit reduced to 30 mph in the construction zone for the remainder of the project.
- Individual lane closures along Greenwich north of Kellogg.
Access to and from the Kansas Turnpike at the Kellogg toll plaza remains open, however is via eastbound Kellogg only. All left turns at Webb Road are prohibited, so drivers will need to use U-turn lanes 1/2 mile east of Webb on Kellogg and the U-turn lane at Rock Road. This is a result of the demolition of the KTA bridge over Kellogg near Webb Road.
Click here to stay up-to-date on East Kellogg construction or via Twitter at @E54ict.
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City Staff:
Sgt. Dan Binkley
Wichita Police Department, Patrol East Bureau, Community Policing
Sergeant Dan Binkley is currently serving as a supervisor for Community Policing in the Patrol East Bureau. He oversees day to day operations and duties of ten Community Policing Officers and one Crime Analyst.
Sgt. Binkley began his career as a police officer in 1996. He served as a Beat Officer, Community Policing Officer and SCAT Officer. In 2006, he was selected for a rotation in the Larceny Section to advance his investigative experience and was promoted to the rank of detective in 2008.
Initially, he was assigned as a general detective with the Night Section until transferring to the Robbery Section. During his assignment with the Robbery Section, he developed partnerships through District Court, Federal Court and McConnell AFB to have numerous violent criminals successfully prosecuted. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2013.
Throughout his WPD career, he has received four Bronze Wreath of Merit Awards and three Distinguished Service Awards. He is also a veteran with the U.S. Army and received a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Southwestern College.
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3rd ANNUAL
WALK WITH WILDLIFE
Saturday, May 20, 2017 * 9 AM to 3 PM
Chisholm Creek Park
6232 E. 29th Street North
Admission Donation: $2 per person
How many times have you taken a hike in a wildlife area and not seen any wildlife? Well, come on out Saturday,May 20 and we'll bring the animals to you! As you walk a 1/2 mile handicapped-accessible loop of our trail system here at Chisholm Creek Park, visit stations set up along the way and see dozens of species you may never have a chance to see otherwise!
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MacDonald Golf Course is still looking for kids to play on their PGA Jr. League team!
This is a great beginner and developmental league, that is fun and a social opportunity for boys and girls ages 9-13 to learn and enjoy the game of golf under the direction of PGA Professionals. Much like other recreational league sports, kids wear numbered jerseys and play on teams with their friends.
Teams play four, nine-hole matches in a two-person scramble format for competition, reinforcing the team concept and creating a nurturing environment for learning the game. Team captains can substitute players every three holes, so that all of the golfers on each team can participate. As well as playing in matches the kids will participate in weekly practices lead by a PGA Pro where each player will receive one on one instruction with their coach. Practices begin mid-May, matches start in June. Registration deadline is May 14.
For more information or to register click here!
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SUPERHERO TRAINING ACADEMY
It's a bird, it's a plane...it's superkid!
Kids will find their inner superhero by making their own mask and cape, participate in skills training activities, then put those skills to work with fun challenges such as Save the City and Capture the Kryptonite.
Ages 3-5 | May 4 | Code 13148 | $20
Offered at Boston Recreation Center, 6555 E. Zimmerly.
REGISTER HERE!
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Wichita District II Facebook Page
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Start Neighborhood Night Out Planning Now
The City of Wichita will celebrate Neighborhood Night Out from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8.
Neighborhood Night Out is an annual event that promotes public safety. It combats crime by encouraging neighbors to get to know one another through neighborhood parties, picnics, cookouts and other social gatherings over one designated evening. Formerly celebrated as National Night Out and Celebrate Safe Communities, Neighborhood Night Out is in its second year. Elected officials, police officers, firefighters and other City staff will attend neighborhood parties.
"Neighborhood Night Out is a great way to get to know your neighbors, so you can look out for one another and keep your area safe," Mayor Jeff Longwell said.
To encourage participation, the City will waive park fees for groups that want to hold their gathering in a neighborhood park. While supplies last, the City also will provide barricades at no charge to groups that want to block off a portion of the street for their event. It's up to neighborhoods to decide how to celebrate.
The registration form for parties is available online, as well as the form for street closures.
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Final Friday Art Crawl
April 28, 7 - 9 pm
Galleries, studios, museums, restaurants and retail shops around Wichita stay open late and welcome visitors to celebrate art on the last Friday of each month with special showings and receptions of local artists, all free to the public. Final Friday locations are across the city, including a large concentration in the downtown area where visitors can ride the free Q-Line trolley to visit nearly 30 gallery showcases, many of which offer free hors d'oeuvres and drinks.
Hours vary between galleries but all are open during the core hours of 7-9 p.m. Most galleries use Final Friday to unveil and debut new shows or as a closing reception. Several locations will incorporate artist demonstrations and/or live music.
Not only does this event give guests the opportunity to view creative art space, it also is an excellent time to purchase one-of-a-kind artwork directly from artists.
Park once and visit several galleries by riding the free
Q-Line.
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Wichita Public Library Kicks Off
Summer Reading Program
The Wichita Public Library's
Summer Reading Program
launches May 18! Combat summer learning loss by signing your children up to be a part of a challenge that rewards them for reading! It's a fun and effective way to prevent the learning loss that happens when children don't engage in mental activities (like reading) over summer break.
There's a program for teens, one for children ages 3 through 5th grade, and another one that focuses on early literacy skills designed just for babies and toddlers. Plus the Library is bringing in special performers and presenters all summer long for
FREE children's programming
at public libraries across our City.
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Botanica is Turning 30!
Come join the celebration on Thursday, May 11!
Stroll the beautiful gardens of Botanica and taste Bloody Mary's and small bites from local restaurants. Also, enjoy local beer from some of our favorite breweries in town. Be sure to stop by one of the Deep Eddy's Vodka bars. DJ Carbon will be doing his thing and keeping us all entertained.
Help us celebrate our 30th
Anniversary and drop by the WOW Cakes table and sample some delicious birthday cake. This cake will be BIG!!
Be one of our 100 VIP guests on the pond deck where you will have a private bar, food from District Taqueria, exclusive raffle for prizes over $500 and lounge seating provided by Specs.
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New Youth Basketball League Being Offered
Wichita Park & Recreation is excited to offer a new competitive summer basketball league for grade school, middle school and high school kids.
Kindergarten-3rd grade teams will be coed and each player will receive a t-shirt and medal.
Register as a team or as an individual to be placed on a team.
Call Lynette Woodard Recreation Center at 316-303-8015 to register now through May 10; practices start the week of May 22. Fee: $200 per team or $22 per individual.
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Move More in April, says the American Heart Association
Outdoor walk-at-work events are in this spring. At your job, try out a "walking meeting" with a workmate or just enjoy the noontime fresh air. It's refreshing for mind and body to walk every day but you might see plenty of other pedestrians on some Wednesdays this spring:
- Move More in April, (Am Heart Assoc., heart.org)
- April 26, National Walk at Lunch Day (Blue Cross Blue Shield of KS, BCBSKS.com)
- May 3, Get Fit Don't Sit Day, (Am Diabetes Assoc., diabetes.org)
- May 17, Walk at Work Day, (Health & Wellness Coalition Wichita, hwcwichita.org)
Find your favorite time to walk: morning, noon, after supper. Walk tall. Do some backward shoulder rolls to relieve stress. Walking is an uplifting respite from the work day or home day.
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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.
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Life Happens 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.
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Riverfest Needs You!
Volunteering is a fun way to get involved and get a behind the scenes look at a long-running Wichita tradition.
Volunteers are the heart and backbone of the Wichita Riverfest. Each year they need over 5,500 volunteers to work a total of 19,000 volunteer hours. An estimated 80 volunteer committees help plan and execute Riverfest. Volunteers work on committees, help with mailings, package buttons, answer phones and work onsite at Riverfest to make it successful.
Lots of positions are available with flexible days and times to fit your schedule.
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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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KANSEL Construction
Training Program
KANSEL has a great training opportunity for men and women interested in a career in construction. This
FREE program prepares students for entry level construction work. They are trained in power & hand tools, construction math, blueprint reading, and receive OSHA, physical fitness, and life management skills instruction.
Students who complete the course have an opportunity to interview with local construction companies. Applicants must be 18 or older, have a high school diploma or GED, be legally employable in the U.S. and attend all session of the 7 week course.
Interested students should plan to attend one of the above information sessions to apply for the program.
Call 263-9620 for more information.
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JOBS are here in Wichita!
The Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce is proud to offer a job board with local, Wichita area, jobs only! A free service for job seekers, it will save you the time of searching through dozens of jobs outside of the area. Create a
free account here and you will be automatically signed up for all Wichita area updates and can customize the search further if you wish.
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Check out the latest job fairs and
training courses. Click here.
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FRAUD ALERTS
from the OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
There are many scams and frauds going on now days, so be alert when answering your phone or responding to an email from an unknown sender. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, has all of the latest tips and reporting phone numbers if you suspect you have been a victim of a scam or some type of fraud. Be prepared and be aware! Learn more by clicking on their
link.
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How to report...
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Don't be left in the
dark
If you notice streetlight outages within your neighborhood, fill out this
simple form on Westar Energy's website.
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Spring 2017
Park & Recreation Activities Guide is now available!
Get registered for classes
by
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Stay up-to-date on City events, announcements and headlines by reading our daily News Releases
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| Comotara Branch Library
Inside Dillons Market, 2244 N. Rock
Rockwell Branch Library 5939 E. 9th Eastview Park Just South of Coleman Middle School Boston Park 6655 E. Zimmerly St. Cottonwood Park Located just East of Boston Park W.B. Harrison Park Located East of S. Webb, just South of E. Bayley St. |
District II Advisory Board and Neighborhood Associations
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The District II Advisory Board meets the second Monday of the month at Fire Station #20 at 2255 S. Greenwich Rd. Wichita, KS 67207. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. For the 2017 meeting schedule,
click here.
The District II Breakfast occurs quarterly. The next breakfast is scheduled for
May 20, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. at The Regent Senior Living Residence at 2050 N. Webb Rd. (In the theater on the second floor).
To see a listing of the meeting schedule for District II's neighborhood associations, click
here
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Click here to find up-to-date
information regarding street
maintenance in your area.
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City Manager's Office
455 N. Main, 13 Floor
Wichita, KS 67202
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Stay Connected
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