CITY OF LEAWOOD MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER

CELEBRATION IN THE PARK!

Time to light up the sky! Spend your 4th of July at Leawood City Park! Enjoy FREE activities, live music, family fun, and of course, FIREWORKS!

Click HERE for more information!

LEAWOOD WELCOMES A NEW VOICE:

Meet Our Strategic Communications Director!

We are excited to announce that Beth Breitenstein has been appointed as the new Strategic Communications Director for the City of Leawood, KS, beginning Monday, July 15.

Beth brings nearly 20 years of experience in broadcasting, marketing, and strategic communications. Most recently, she served as the Senior Director of Marketing, Communications, and Engagement for Kansas City Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), where she managed brand oversight, marketing, outreach, engagement, graphic design, and media relations. Prior to this, she worked as a public information officer for various departments within the City of Kansas City, MO.

Read the full press release HERE

DONATE BLOOD

Wednesday, July 10 | 11am-4pm

City Hall | Oak Room

4800 Town Center Dr.

Get a free Royals T-shirt with your donation!

Click HERE to register with the group code: KCZR

E-RECYCLING

Saturday, July 20 | 9am-12pm

North side of Town Center Plaza (between Macy's and Hereford House)

Most items free except CRT TVs and some other devices

Click HERE for more information

Sponsored by Leawood's Sustainability Advisory Board & Town Center Plaza

2025 Proposed Budget

The proposed 2025 budget document is available online for review. The 2025 budget aims to continue high service levels to the public while maintaining existing infrastructure. The Budget and Finance Committee discussed it on Monday, June 24, 2024. The Governing Body scheduled public hearings for Tuesday, September 3, 2024, to consider exceeding the revenue neutral rate, approving the 2025 budget, and approving the 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan.

Releasing Discriminatory Restrictive Covenants in Land Record Documents on File

Discriminatory restrictive covenants were, historically, placed in land records to restrict who could own property based on factors such as race, religion, and national origin. Discriminatory restrictive covenants are illegal and unenforceable by both state and federal law. House Bill 2562 approved by the Governor on April 19, 2024, and effective July 1, 2024, identified how property owners and homeowner associations can release prohibited covenants in land records. For more information, visit the County’s website.

It's National Parks and Recreation Month!

On Monday, July 1st, Mayor Elkins declared July as Parks and Recreation Month in the City of Leawood.

The City of Leawood extends a heartfelt thank you to our incredible Parks and Recreation staff. Their dedication and hard work keep our parks beautiful, our programs vibrant, and our community active.

Celebrate Parks and Recreation month by heading out to enjoy our parks and recreational facilities!

DONATIONS NEEDED!

Help us build a fantastic new playground for Tomahawk Park!

Donations of $25+ will receive a Leawood 75th anniversary T-shirt

Donations of $500+ will have the individual or family name added to a plaque adjacent to the area

Click this link to donate!

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: YESENIA LAW

The Heart Behind Leawood's City Clerk’s Office

Yesenia Law, the Administrative Assistant for the City Clerk’s office, has been with the City of Leawood since April 2023. With a wealth of experience and a deeply supportive nature, Yesenia has quickly become an invaluable part of the team.

A Supportive Background

Before joining the City of Leawood, Yesenia worked for eight years at Children's Mercy Hospital, supporting the Hemophilia group in the Hematology/Oncology & BMT department. "I was an assistant to six doctors, two to three nurse practitioners, two nurses, one social worker, the group manager, and assisted all the families and patients," she shares. This experience honed her skills in providing comprehensive support.

Daily Responsibilities

Yesenia handles all administrative work for the City Clerk’s office and answers the main City of Leawood line and the Action Center line and email. Her role is pivotal as the first point of contact for residents. "I guide individuals to where they ultimately need to go," she explains.

Impact on the Community

Yesenia's work significantly impacts the residents of Leawood by connecting people with the right resources, ensuring the city's operations run smoothly. Her dedication to aiding residents, businesses, and staff speaks volumes about her commitment to the community.

Inspiration and Motivation

Yesenia's family, particularly her granddaughter Navy Zelle Law and her Guardian Angel Son, Myzelle Paul Law, inspire her. She loves her job because of her great team and the opportunity to help Leawood residents.

Passion for Blood Donation

In addition to administrative work, Yesenia also organizes blood donation drives for the City of Leawood. Yesenia's passion for blood donation is deeply personal. Her son, Myzelle Paul Law, passed away from heatstroke in July 2023. "Thanks to the blood, plasma, and platelets he received, Myzelle fought valiantly," she recounts. Witnessing her son's struggle in the ICU fueled her commitment to encouraging blood donation.

Advocating for Awareness

In honor of Myzelle, Yesenia is dedicated to sharing his story and advocating for blood donation and heatstroke prevention. "Heatstroke is preventable, and I am dedicated to spreading awareness to save lives," she emphasizes.

Yesenia's story is one of resilience, dedication, and a profound commitment to service. Her work at the City of Leawood is a testament to her supportive nature and her drive to make a positive impact on the community.

The final week of June saw our first heat advisory of the season. As summer heats up, remember these tips for staying safe and cool:

Stay hydrated
Check on seniors and disabled
Avoid walking dogs on the hot pavement
Limit time outdoors
Utilize Johnson County "cooling centers" if needed

For more tips and information on how to beat the heat click HERE

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Part-time, full-time, and seasonal positions are open at the City of Leawood! Click here to view open positions.

LEAWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS

UPCOMING EVENT

Join us for our annual Midnight Run (5k and 10k) to benefit Special Olympics athletes. The run will begin on Saturday July 27th at 11:59 PM in the Camelot Court shopping center parking lot, located at 11721 Roe Ave.

For more information or to register, click HERE.

SUMMER PET SAFETY

With temperatures well into the 90s in the month of June, we received several calls of animals left in vehicles. In only a matter of minutes in the heat, small animals can begin showing signs of overheating. Here are some quick tips for summer pet safety (Source: ASPCA.org):

1. Visit the vet for an early summer checkup

2. Give plenty of fresh, clean water

3. Know the symptoms of overheating in pets

4. Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle, even for a couple minutes

5. Don’t let pets linger on hot asphalt – their paws get hot too

Get Updates from the Leawood Police Department on Social Media!

RECENT PROMOTIONS

With the recent appointment of Chief Brad Robbins, there have been several subsequent promotions within the department.

(Sergeant) Jason Ahring was promoted to Captain on May 20th. Captain Ahring now oversees the department’s Support Services Division, which includes the investigations unit, traffic unit, community outreach and school resource officer unit, warrant unit, and K9 unit.

Captain Ahring has been with the department since December of 1997 and has served in a variety of assignments, most recently as a patrol supervisor.

(Corporal) Matt Schroeder was promoted to Sergeant on July 1st. Sergeant Schroeder was most recently assigned as the administrative corporal, and now serves as the day-shift patrol sergeant.

Sergeant Schroeder has been with the department since September of 2007 and has held several assignments as well, including patrol corporal and a motorcycle (traffic) officer.

Officer Eric Gould was promoted to Corporal on July 1st. Corporal Gould has been with the department since January of 2000, and has previously been assigned as a master patrol officer, traffic officer, and field training officer. Corporal Gould is now assigned as the evening-shift patrol corporal.

LEAWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT NEWS

The place where we feel safest - at home - is where most smoking-materials structure fires, deaths, and injuries occur. Smoking materials are the leading cause of fire deaths. Smoking material fires are preventable

Smoking Safety

If you smoke, use only fire-safe cigarettes.
If you smoke, smoke outside. Most deaths result from fires started in living rooms, family rooms and dens, or in bedrooms
Keep cigarettes, lighters, matches, and other smoking materials up high out of the reach of children, in a locked cabinet

Put it Out

Use a deep sturdy ashtray. Place it away from anything that can burn
Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves, or other things that could ignite easily
Before you throw away butts and ashes, make sure they are out, and dousing in water of sand is the best way to do that.

Smoking & Medical Oxygen

Never smoke and never allow anyone to smoke where medical oxygen is used. Medical oxygen can cause materials to ignite more easily and make fires burn at a faster rate than normal. It can make an existing fire burn faster and hotter.

Electronic Cigarettes

Fires have occurred while e-cigarettes were being used, the battery was being charged, or the device was being transported. Battery failures have lead to small explosions. Never leave charging e-cigarettes unattended. E-cigarettes should be used with caution.

LEAWOOD CULTURAL ARTS NEWS

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

The City’s newest public art piece celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Leawood is now installed. On the corner of Lee Blvd. and Mission Rd.

Reaching, a monumental sculpture with programmable lights, by artist William Nemitoff of Curious Form, reaches 27 feet tall and 40 feet wide. Site work will continue through the summer.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 26, 2024 for the City’s dedication of Reaching (time TBD)!

GRINNIN' & GROOVIN'

The City’s summer concert/entertainment series for kids of all ages was well-received in its NEW indoor location, The Lodge at Ironwoods.

Each of the 4 concerts averaged 185 attendees. Thank you to our 2024 performers: Dino O’Dell and Kadesh Flow, Mr. Stinky Feet, StoneLion Puppet Theatre, and Janie Next Door!

LEGALLY BLONDE

OMIGOD YOU GUYS! Get your FREE tickets to Legally Blonde – The Musical!

Leawood Stage Company presents a fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the adored movie, Legally Blonde. Performances are held at the Rose Theatre at Rockhurst High School – 9301 State Line Rd, Kansas City, MO 64114 on: July 12-13 & 17-20 at 7:30pm and July 14 & 21 at 2pm. For more information, click HERE

OXFORD WRITERS SERIES

The Oxford Writers Series continues on July 13th at 10am at the Historic Oxford Schoolhouse in Ironwoods Park at 147th and Mission Road.

The next presentation features Kim Phillips.

Kim is writing a book based on letters and memoirs from her Volga German family. She grew up in western Kansas, where many German-speaking immigrants settled.

Kim has been involved in genealogy from a young age, extensively researching Germans from Russia.

No registration required! Don't miss out on this fun and FREE event!

UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

TENNIS LESSONS

Check out tennis lessons for ages 3-17 taught by Genesis Health Club USPTA instructors! Head to our website to check out all the session options and pricing!

AMAZING ATHLETES

5-day sports camp teaching kids the basics of 10 different sports!

7/22 - 7/26 or 7/29 - 8/02

Resident: $185 Non-Resident: $190

Summer Camps!

Discover endless summer fun at Leawood's Kids Camps! From sports to LEGO® adventures, arts, crafts, and nature exploration, there's something for every young explorer. Join us for a summer packed with excitement and unforgettable memories!

Soggy Doggy

The last swim of the season goes to the dogs! Bring your dog for a cool swim!

For everyone's safety, humans are not allowed to enter the pool during this event. In case of inclement weather, please call 913-982-2433

$7 per dog

$5 per Leawood Resident dog

Leawood Listens

Do you have a non-emergency concern you'd like to report? From potholes to traffic light outages, we are happy to help!

Report a problem here!