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WICHITA DISTRICT VI NEWSLETTER |
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A message from Council Member Cindy Claycomb...
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Please join me (and a few thousand other residents) on Sunday, September 23rd from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. when the City of Wichita will be hosting its second Open Streets ICT event, along a four-mile stretch of the city's iconic Douglas Avenue. The event offers a variety of family friendly activities designed to get residents active and socializing with one another. The mission of the event is "to promote healthy, active living through a free event opening the city's largest streets for individuals of all physical levels to walk, bike, roll and discover active transportation." There will be a wide variety of street vendors, businesses, restaurants and activity hubs located in various spots along Douglas Avenue for residents to enjoy.
The Open Streets concept is a national trend in urban locations, designed to improve community connectivity, promote improved air quality from reduced emissions and encourage active lifestyles that reduce the effect of chronic disease. Last year's Open Streets ICT event was a huge success and it is our hope that the event will increase in popularity and frequency in the coming years. Be sure and bring your bicycle, skateboard or other unique mode of human powered transportation and join us in the fun!
For more information including a map of the event and a full list of activities and vendors, please visit the Open Streets ICT website at http://openstreetsict.com. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. I'll be riding my bicycle up and down Douglas. Please stop and say "hi" if you see me.
Cindy Claycomb
Wichita City Council
District VI Council Member
316-268-4331
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DISTRICT VI NEWS & EVENTS
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District VI Advisory Board Information
The District VI Advisory Board (DAB VI) meets the first Monday of the month (and the third Wednesday of the month is optional) at the Evergreen Branch Library, 2601 N Arkansas, Wichita, KS, 67204. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.
Next meeting: October 17, 2018 (October 1st meeting is CANCELLED)
District VI Monthly Coffee
District VI Coffee is held on the fourth Saturday of the month. These gatherings are a chance to discuss local city projects/issues, provide your input and ask questions. We meet from 9am to 10:30am at the
Advanced Learning Library (711 W 2nd St), Conference Room C.
Hope to see you there!
Next monthly coffee: September 29, 2018
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(Please note that this coffee will be held the last Saturday of the month rather than the 4th Saturday of the month)
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10-11:30am
WOMEN ONLY- Zumba
11am-12:30pm
WOMEN ONLY- Women's Fair- Haircuts, Makeovers, Eyebrow Waxes, Women's Self Defense Exhibition by Premier Martial Arts, Prizes!!!
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Festival Begins
1pm
Address- Council Member Cindy Claycomb, Board of Education Ron Rosales, Kansas State Representative Ponka-We Victors
1:30pm
Wichita War Dancer
2pm
Poetry Slam
2:30pm
Newton Azteca Folkloric Dance Troupe
3pm
Comedian- David Eduardo Kohen
3:15pm
Selena Washing Machine Dance Contest
3:30pm
Ballet Folklorico de Topeka
4pm
Lowrider show
4:20pm
Special Announcement by Armando Minjarez, Horizontes
5:30pm
"Mi Quince Bella" Fashion Show
6pm
Salsa Duro Dance Exhibition
6:30pm
Danza Azteca Guadalupe
6:50pm
Fashion Show "Dreaming of Frieda"
7pm
East High "La Familia" Folklorico Dance Group
7:35pm
Cultural Runway
7:50pm
Mis Raices Folkloric Dance
8:15pm
Mills
8:45pm
Latin Dance Party
9:45pm
FESTIVAL ENDS
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Check out what's going on at the Evergreen Library...
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CUENTOS BILINGUES: PRESCHOOL STORYTIME
Whether you want to expose your children to another language or they already hear it at home, enjoy a unique storytime presented in both English and Spanish.
For ages 3-6.
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FALLING FROM THE SKY
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a- parachute! Build some of your own, learn the science behind them, and play with a parachute maze.
For ages 8-11.
Saturday 9/22 2:30-3:30 pm
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COMMUNITY STORYTIMES
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with stories about or written/illustrated by Hispanic Americans and read by local leaders and doers in our community.
For children 3 and up and their families.
Thursday 9/25 6:30-7:30 pm
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CREATESPACE
Complete our LEGO blocks challenges and wows us with your freestyle creations! Be prepared to share blocks and make new friends.
For ages 5-12.
Tuesday 10/9 6:30-7:30 pm
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SERIOUSLY SILLY
From Silly Sally to Clap Your Hands- everything is crazy and mixed up; songs, stories and crafts for children 3 and up with their families.
Tuesday 10/16 6:30-7:30 pm
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ALL THINGS PUMPKIN
There is more to pumpkins than jack-o-lanterns. Pumpkin bowling, launchers, and building with candy.
For ages 8-11.
Saturday 10/20 2:30-3:30 pm
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ADULT BOOK CLUBS
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Tuesday 10/2 1-2 pm
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Thursday 10/4 6:30-7:30 pm
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INTRO TO GOOGLE SUITE
An overview of Google Drive, Sheets, Gmail, Docs, Calendar, Slides, and Hangouts will be given.
Tuesday 10/23 6-7:30 pm
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TREASURES & TOYS FROM TRASH
A program for the whole family. Mike Hasting of Pro Kansas Recycling will talk about recycling and what happens to material that leave the recycling facility to be turned into something new.
Thursday 10/25 6:30-7:30 pm
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BIG READ MOVIE: THE BOOK OF ELI
Set in 2043 in a post-apocalyptic America, a man fights his way across the county, protecting a sacred book that holds the key to saving mankind. (Rated R; 118 min)
Thursday, 10/11 5:30-7:30 pm
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BIG READ MOVIE: THE ROAD
Set in a post-apocalyptic world of the not-too-distant future, this film depicts a father and son who are walking south, looking for a more hospitable environment. (Rated R; 118 min)
Thursday, 10/18 5:30-7:30 pm
EVERGREEN BRANCH
303-8181
2601 N Arkansas
Mon-Thurs 10 am - 8 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
*Sun 1-5 pm
*Library will be closed on Sundays Memorial Day through Labor day
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Wichita District VI Facebook Page 
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Evergreen Neighborhood Resource Center Update
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2700 N Woodland, Wichita KS 67204
(316) 303-8042
Mon-Thurs 8:30am-5:30pm, Fri 8:30am-5pm (closed daily from 12-1pm)
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- 8 public computers with internet access
- Free public notary service and faxing
- Limited photo-copying
- DCF Program Consultant on site to take applications for financial, food and child care assistance
- Bilingual staff fluent in Spanish
- Assistance in accessing community resources
- Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) staff housed at facility. Neighborhood Inspector covers 21st to 60th St North and Mosley St to I-235
- Community Police Officers from Patrol North and Patrol West maintain a work area in the facility and are often available to meet with citizens
- Community Service Representative available to respond to neighborhood concerns (also serves as liaison to District 6 Council Member)
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Mayor Jeff Longwell is promoting exercise and a healthy lifestyle through a new initiative called "Walk-A-Longwell," a one-hour monthly walk. An initiative designed to encourage health and fitness across the community.
UPCOMING DATES:
Saturday, September 29th 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Saturday, October 20th 11:00 am to 12:00 pm |
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Photo courtesy of the Kansas Health Foundation and Randy Tobias Photography
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Yoga at Wichita Art Museum
October 13th
9 - 10 am
Free admission & no registration required
This class has something for everyone--providing a great workout, helping you stretch out common problem areas in the body and connecting your breath to your movements.
NOTE: This class begins prior to the museum's open hours and will be held on the east side of the museum in the Art Garden and is weather permitting. In case of inclement weather, class will not be held. Please bring your own yoga mat or towel and water bottle. Get ready to bend and stretch in a wonderfully relaxing outdoor space.
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Old Cowtown Museum *
1865 W Museum Blvd *
P: (316) 350-3323
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Construction and Maintenance Projects
River Vista Development
Project includes construction of apartments and commercial retail on the west bank of the Arkansas River between Douglas and 1st Street.
Traffic Impact: Intermittent lane closures may occur during construction.
Contractor: Key Construction
Estimated completion: Fall 2018
53rd Street North, Meridian to Arkansas
This project will place a surface overlay over 53rd Street. New pavment markings will also be installed.
Traffic Impact: 53rd St will be one lane in each direction throughout the area of construction.
Contractor: Cornejo & Sons
City Contact: Kyle Kerns (268-4044 / kkerns@wichita.gov)
Estimated completion: Fall 2018
WICHway traffic alerts available by text or email
WICHway, the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) on Wichita's highways, offers a new feature sending subscribers texts and/or emails that share special traffic alerts created by operators at the WICHway Traffic Management Center. The alerts are created when a traffic problem such as a major crash, a highway closure or a similar event causes a significant disruption on a Wichita highway. The alerts are an extension of the WICHway website (
www.WICHway.org), an informational resource the public can consult before traveling on Wichita's highways.
The website adjusts to the type of device being used - a computer, a tablet or a smartphone - and can be bookmarked on a smartphone so that it performs similarly to an app. A short video showing how to bookmark any page from the site can be viewed at
KDOT's YouTube page.
WICHway shares information that is gathered from 55 roadside cameras and 63 traffic sensors. Messages are displayed on 25 electronic message signs, shared on the website and can now be sent to subscribers so that travelers, commuters, freight operators and others using Wichita's highways can make informed decisions about their route.
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JOIN THE PARTY!
The 35th Annual Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili-Cookoff is the most fun you can have for $5 while doing good for the community. Proceeds go the Good Life Grant to help local charities! We even have a special Charity Category where charities can win even more money! So come support your charity, your community, and the Wagonmasters; but most importantly, come have FUN!
LOCATION:
This year we are located in front of Century II due to construction at our normal location. We will be on Douglas, West of Main and East of Waco, and in front of Century II!
TIMELINE:
Public tasting starts when you hear the cannon fired around NOON(ish), and not a moment before. We recommend arriving between 11 am and 1130 am on the day of the event. Chili can go fast, so don't be late! We expect between 12,000 and 15,000 people and 80 teams. Award ceremony will begin around 3PM, or when the judges are done tallying the count.
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Getting to Know City Staff:
Alan King
Director of Public Works & Utilities
Alan King currently serves as Director of
Public Works & Utilities (PW&U) for the City of Wichita, Kansas. He reports to the City Manager and elected Board of Council Members.
Mr. King is responsible for all aspects of managing the PW&U Department which includes water rights, water treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment and collection, storm water, streets, facilities, fleet, and environmental services. The Department consists of over 850 full time employees.
Mr. King participates in City's senior management team.
He has over 40 years of experience working the Public Works sector dealing with management and infrastructure challenges. His past assignments include City and County of Broomfield, Colorado and City of Bellevue, Washington. Mr. King also worked in the private side as a consultant with clients across the United States.
Mr. King has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and is currently enrolled in a Masters of Public Administration program.
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Hydrant Landscaping
Fire hydrants are essential to the protection of homes and businesses. The City is often asked what landscaping is permitted around a hydrant in their yard. Mainly, the hydrant must be fully accessible (it cannot be behind a fence or other obstacle) and remain visible from the street. We ask property owners to keep a clear 3' radius around the hydrant; allowing for the full turning of the wrench used by firefighters to operate the hydrant.
Property owners should also understand landscaping around a hydrant can and probably will be damaged when the hydrant is used or tested; mulch and small plants tend to be torn up. The hydrant shown in the attached picture is fully functional and can be seen clearly from the street, so this would be acceptable. However, the WFD would caution the homeowner as the solar lights and mulch could be torn up and some of the potted plants may be disrupted if crews had to use this hydrant.
Hydrants that need attention should be called in to the Department of Public Works at 219-8921. As always, any questions for the WFD can be directed to the administration offices at 268-4451.
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Staff Identified for the Utilities Optimization Program
From 2015-2017, the City completed the first phase of its Utilities Optimization Program (UOP). Significant cost savings and reductions in failure risks in the water and wastewater utilities were identified, and the City Council approved Phase 2 of the UOP last November. Phase 2 will be focused initially on efforts to optimize operations and maintenance practices. There are also ongoing efforts toward financing, design, and construction of a new water treatment plant in Northwest Wichita.
UOP Phase 2 required new positions to implement the program.
A
recently approved contract with CH2M will provide additional expertise in guiding the program.
- Senior Manager - Ben Nelson: Ben has been with the City for nine years. He has been involved in various utilities efforts since 2010 - including rate planning, drought response, the phased water supply, and the first phase of the UOP. He has degrees from Northern Illinois University and Wichita State University, along with a Performance Analytics certificate from Johns Hopkins University.
- Program Manager - Laura Quick: Laura has been employed in several roles since beginning with the City in 2004. She has been promoted numerous times and previously served as the Environmental Health Interim Division Manager. Part of her Environmental Health role included wastewater regulation enforcement in the Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) program. Laura has a Master's in Public Health from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor's in Biochemistry from Newman University.
- Utility Asset Manager - Bill Perkins: Bill has been the Asset Manager since 2015 and was part of the first phase of the UOP. He has been involved with the City's water and wastewater infrastructure for over 29 years serving in several different capacities, including managing the division responsible for the wastewater collection system. Bill's educational background is primarily in mathematics, with a Bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University.
- O&M Specialist - Larry Koontz: Larry has a 20-year history in various operating divisions of the utilities. He began his career in 1983 as a Maintenance Supervisor in Sewage Treatment. More recently, he has fulfilled interim assignments in the water operating divisions. This has included interim management of the Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR) and Equus Beds wellfield operations, as well as the Water Distribution Division.
- Utility Finance Manager - Joni Chamberlain: Joni leads rate development, financial planning, budgeting, and implementation of fiscal matters for the Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Utilities. She is responsible for an annual operating budget of $150 million and a 10-year Capital Improvement Program of over $650 million. Joni is a 10-year veteran of the Kansas Air National Guard. She worked in the munitions career field and served a short tour in Afghanistan in 2007. Joni completed undergraduate studies at Wichita State University and earned her MBA from Newman University.
- Energy Manager - Chris Sewell: Chris has more than 15 years of experience in energy and facilities management. He worked for 10 years at Central Mechanical Wichita as an energy manager, estimator, mechanical designer, project manager, and AutoCAD drafter. Chris has led energy savings efforts for the City since 2016. He has a Business Administration degree from Wichita State University, is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Building Commissioning Professional (CBCP), and is trained in infrared thermography.
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| Pictured from Left to Right: Chris Sewell, Ben Nelson, Joni Chamberlain, Laura Quick, Larry Koontz, and Bill Perkins |
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Individuals interested in removing a qualifying conviction from their record apply online at
between AUGUST 15, 2018 -
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 for the fall project.
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Saturday Farmers Markets
Old Town Farmers Market (Downtown)
Hours: Saturdays, 7 a.m.-noon, April through October
Address: Farm & Art Market Square in Old Town, 1st and Mosley on a brick courtyard in the heart of Old Town, right next to the Museum of World Treasures, Old Town Farmers Market includes live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, a kid's corner, and more. More info:
www.oldtownfarmersmarket.com
Kansas Grown Farmer's Market (West Wichita)
Hours: Saturdays, 7 a.m. to Noon, April through October
Address: Sedgwick County Extension Center, 7001 W 21st Street North
The west location of Kansas Grown Farmers Market is situated in the parking lot of the Sedgwick
County Extension Center and has all the home and locally-grown produce you would hope to find, along with handmade items, local honey, plants, and lots more. More info:
www.kansasgrownfarmersmarket.com
NOMAR Market (Midtown)
Hours: Saturdays, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., July through October
Address:
NOMAR International Plaza at 21st Street N and Market
Includes live music, food, snacks, desserts, activities for children, painted faces, culture, more than 20 different vendors and above all a lot of fun. Events and entertainment vary every week. More info:
https://www.facebook.com/hispanosnomar/
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The dog days of summer are over! The cool autumn days are just around the corner! Bike
Walk Wichita joins the Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita in inviting you to join
WALKTOBER!
WALKTOBER is a free, community-wide physical activity initiative, encouraging you to engage in the recommended 30 minutes of activity five or more days of the week. Walking is a perfect way to meet that goal!
Sign up to walk (or do any physical activity) daily during the month of October. You will get tips on improving your health as well as be eligible for prizes for participating!
-Brought to you by Bike Walk Wichita
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Looking for an AWESOME opportunity to be active on the Ark?
Join us on October 2, 2018 at 6:00pm at the Hyatt Regency Wichita for the 3rd Annual Kansas Public Health Association 1 Mile Walk/5 K Fun Run? Held in conjunction with the 2018 KPHA Annual Conference, everyone is invited to participate in this opportunity to be active and walk or run along the beautiful Arkansas River in downtown Wichita. The cost to register is $25 and includes a Wichita flag inspired t-shirt.
All proceeds benefit the Kansas Public Health Association, who serves as a voice for public health, provides forums for individuals and organizations to work collectively and ensures the conditions in which Kansans' lives will be healthy.
REGISTER TODAY!
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| A job board with local, Wichita Area jobs only! |
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| JOB SEEKERS, TRAINING & EDUCATION, RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMS |
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CLICK ON ANY OF THE THREE LINKS ABOVE TO FIND A JOB THAT WILL SUIT YOUR NEEDS!
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Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower National Airport has a magazine just for you travelers.
Check it out
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And are you looking for a get-away?
HOT FARES can help you get there.
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The booklet is designed to provide you with important tips and information on a variety of community issues.
By working together, we can help prevent and solve crimes, improve and make neighborhoods safer, resolve conflicts and enhance our quality of life. You can download the booklet for future references
HERE!
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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 by
clicking here
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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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Health Care for Uninsured,
Low-income Available
In 1999,
Project Access began coordinating access to donated medical care for uninsured, low-income residents of Sedgwick County. Thanks to the founding funders - United Way of the Plains, the City of Wichita (CSBG) and Sedgwick County - Project Access is still able to serve the community today.
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 316-688-0600
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CRIME STOPPERS OF WICHITA/SEDGWICK COUNTY
Still completely anonymous, tips submitted through the P3 mobile app, unlike SMS text tips, have no length limitations and allow images, video and documents to be uploaded with the tip. Anderson Software's sophisticated encryption processes obscure any and all identifying information and provides assured anonymity for tipsters.
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Stay up-to-date on City events, announcements and headlines by reading our daily
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City of Wichita, Office of Community Services | 316-303-8042 |
2700 N. Woodland
Wichita, KS 67204
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