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City of Wichita
District 2
Newsletter
December 13, 2019
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A Message from Council Member Becky Tuttle:
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Greetings! I hope this finds you doing well!
I had the unique opportunity to attend the American Red Cross South Central and Southeast Kansas Tribute to Heroes Breakfast. It was my pleasure to nominate a true community hero, Tom Pletcher, who was this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Tom was my mentor many years ago when I worked at the Sedgwick County Health Department and his efforts to provide mental health serves to those at disaster sites deserves praise and recognition!
While at the celebration event, I was reminded of the
25th annual Wichita and Sedgwick County Battle of the Badges Blood Drive from December 16 – 31
at the Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 North Main Street. I encourage each of you to join our community’s first responders and take a little time during the hectic holiday season to give
the gift of life. A life saving blood donation is
the most precious gift that anyone can give to another person. A decision to donate your blood can save not just one life, but potentially several.
During the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive, the Sedgwick County EMS, Sedgwick County Fire Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Wichita Fire Department and Wichita Police Department compete to see who can recruit the most blood donors. Everyone who comes to give can cast a vote to determine who will win this year’s bragging rights. All those who come to give during the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive will receive a commemorative T-shirt, while supplies last.
While I am hopeful that our Wichita Fire Department or Wichita Police Department will take home the prize, everyone is a winner who helps the Red Cross to reach their goal for blood donations during the event! Make an appointment to give blood at the 2019 Wichita and Sedgwick County Battle of the Badges Blood Drive by downloading the free
Red Cross Blood Donor App
, visiting
RedCrossBlood.org
, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
As I have mentioned, my mentor and dear friend works in the behavior health field. As a tribute to him, I would like to remind you that the holidays can be STRESSFUL! Seasonal stress is often an unwelcome guest during the holidays. It’s almost expected! The demands of decorating, shopping, cleaning, baking, parties and hosting relatives, brings whirling thoughts of glittery expectations. Seasonal Stress is more common than we realize. Seasonal stress that is due to demands on time, money or family conflict can typically be managed with healthy stress management behaviors. Our response to these demands, or stressors, can significantly reduce symptoms and make the season far more enjoyable.
Consider these four tips:
1. Set Expectations
- Match your giving desires with your actual budget. Know your limits.
- Stick to the list. Talk to your kids about expectations for gifts and holiday activities and share your longer term goals. Teach them the Christmas season isn’t about expensive gifts.
- Plan tasks ahead such as cleaning, shopping and baking.
- Take small concrete steps to deal with holiday tasks instead of overwhelming yourself with goals that are too much during this busy time. This is not the time to clean out the closet.
2. Schedule Self-Care
- Plan ahead for meals and healthy snacks.
- Plan physical activity. Regular physical activity relieves mental and physical tension.
- Keep regular sleep habits as much as possible.
- Plan some pampering time. Take time out to listen to your favorite music, take a hot bath or read a new book.
- Eating healthy and taking time for exercise and sleep help keep your mind and body equipped to deal with stressful situations. Don’t spend all your extra time shopping! Others benefit when you are stress-free.
3. Start Connecting
- Engage in activities that you and your family enjoy and find relaxing
- Foster traditions or activities that involve interacting with others, such as building a Gingerbread House, caroling or delivering homemade cookies.
- Invite friends over. Ask your guests to each bring a dish or meet at a restaurant.
- Relationships are the best gifts. Good relationships with family and friends can be lifelong pleasures. View the season as an opportunity to reconnect with people.
4. Maintain Perspective
- Read the Bible. Start with the Christmas Story found in the book of Luke.
- Find the positive. Avoid blowing events out of proportion.
- Be thankful for small things.
- Keep your sense of humor; laughter is good medicine.
- Helping others helps you. When things get tough, help someone worse off than you are. Visit a shut in or return a favor to a friend.
When do you need help?
Solicit help when stress affects your behavior, relationships and body. Unmanaged or chronic stress leads to mental and physiological issues such as anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system. Research indicates stress can contribute to major illnesses such as heart disease, depression and obesity.
***Please note the date change!*** The next
District II Advisory Board meeting will be
Tuesday, January 14
th
at 6:30pm
.
As always, please feel free to contact me anytime at
btuttle@wichita.gov
. My door and my mind are always open!
Invite us to your meeting!
When I say that my door and my mind are always open, I truly mean that. I want you to feel comfortable reaching out and sharing your ideas and concerns. In fact, your District Community Services Representative, Cory Buchta, and I would love the opportunity to attend your HOA or Neighborhood Association Meeting. If you would like us to attend, please send us an email with the meeting details, and one or both of us will make sure to attend one in the near future. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you!
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Wichita City Council
District II Council Member
Phone: 316.268.4331
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District II News & Events
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Which library location do you visit most often?
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Advanced Learning Library
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Poll Question: Which speaker would get you to attend a District Breakfast if they were attending?
Results:
WPD Chief Ramsay - 21.7%
A Neighborhood Inspector - 21.7%
WFD Chief Snow - 13%
Wichita Water Partners Rep - 13%
Director of Public Works, Alan King - 8.7%
Dept. of Economic Development - 8.7%
Health and Wellness Coalition re: Food Master Plan - 8.7%
Wichita Wind Surge Baseball Team Rep - 4.3%
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Riverfront Legacy Master Plan Presented at DAB
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Shelly Prichard of the Wichita Community Foundation presented the Design Scenarios created after months of public engagement at the District Advisory Board meeting on December 9. DAB members and members of the public had an opportunity to view the five different scenarios, ask questions, and give feedback. You can view the five different Design Scenarios by
clicking here.
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Our neighbors need our help! Every week, we are made aware of District II residents that could use a little assistance. Click the button below to see the current list of help needed.
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If you or a group you are involved with would like to volunteer to help out someone in District II, please contact Susanne Boese by phone (316.660.1146) or email (
susanne.boese@sedgwick.gov).
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DAB Meeting Information
The District Advisory Board (DAB II) meets the second Monday of the month at the Rockwell Branch Library, 5939 E 9th St North, Wichita, KS 67208. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.
The next DAB meeting is Tuesday, January 14th.
The 2020 DAB Meeting Calendar is now available! To view,
click here.
To see a listing of the District II HOAs and neighborhood associations,
click here.
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Cost savings electric bus now part of City transit
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It's sleek, quiet, and uses less energy than the traditional fossil fueled bus. On December 12 at 10:30 am, one of four new battery-electric buses made its debut at the Wichita Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility at 777 E Waterman. Mayor Jeff Longwell was on hand and stated that the new buses are expected to save the City over $462,000 throughout their lifespan. The buses were obtained with a federal grant that was over $2 million. Wichita Transit will begin adding additional electric buses in the future. They will also help keep the city's air cleaner due to zero emissions. Bonus!
Check out the
video of its maiden voyage.
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Kansas Framework for Growth Survey
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Governor Laura Kelly recently announced the Department of Commerce has kicked off the development of a comprehensive economic development blueprint for the state of Kansas. The Kansas Framework for Growth will be developed over the next several weeks, and they want to hear for you what you feel are the state's biggest challenges to growth and how best to overcome them and capitalize on the state's strengths - ensuring long-term economic success for Kansas.
To participate in the Stakeholder Survey,
click here
!
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Do you know someone that received LIEAP in 2019?
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Check out these resources for road construction updates in District II and around the city:
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WPD Cracking Down on Porch Pirates
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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) –
Porch pirates may be eyeing packages left on your doorstep and Wichita police are eyeing them. They are busy working to put a stop to the pesky thieves.
Wichita police officer John Maier is out patrolling the streets as part of a special assignment dedicated to cracking down on porch pirates.
“Based on past experiences, we’ve seen the numbers increase so we decided to do what we could proactively,” said officer Maier.
Over the past two weeks, he and nine other officers have been staking out neighborhoods watching for suspicious activity.
“If I see anybody that doesn’t look like they live in the area and are passing through, I might stay a little bit longer to keep an eye on them,” said officer Maier.
Police have received 17 reports of stolen packages this month. Officer Maier and his team have made four arrests including several in a recent case where a woman looks right into the camera before swiping a package off the porch. It led to multiple arrests and the recovery of a stolen Christmas gift.
Maier said he wishes he could catch every thief but hopes he and his team will at least make them think twice.
“If we can get the word out and catch a few and scare the other group of them to behaving themselves, that’s still a win,” said Maier.
Officer Maiers said home surveillance video is a huge help when it comes to nabbing thieves. If you are a victim of theft and have video, you’re encouraged to submit it to Sgt. Nikki Woodrow at
nwoodrow@wichita.gov
. Call 911 to file a police report.
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Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together. But that also means a greater risk for fire. Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.
HOLIDAY DECORATING
- Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
- Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
- Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
- Replace any strong of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer's instructions for number of light strands to connect.
- Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
- Keep decorations away from windows and doors.
HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING
- Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.
- Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
- Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.
- Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them.
- Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.
Blow out lit candles when you leave a room or go to bed. Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles. More than two of every five decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.
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All Library Locations Will Close Early December 24 and Will Be Closed December 25
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The Wichita Public Library is getting ready for the "Winter Reading Challenge" this January on the new reading tracker app,
Beanstack
. Your goal is to read two books from January 1-31, 2020, and log your titles on the Beanstack app. Big prizes for the Wichita Public Library are up for grabs, including author visits and money for new materials, sponsored by Penguin Random House. Get ready to participate in the Challenge beginning January 1. Let’s light up the mind this winter. Happy reading!
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Featured Event:
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Friday, December 20
Rockwell Branch Library
Experience a winter wonderland of stories, games and prizes at this winter carnival. For ages 3-8.
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Featured Event:
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Friday, December 27
Advanced Learning Library
Are you getting cabin fever this winter break? Get out of the house and come join us for a variety of come and go activities that include board games, crafts, and video games. For ages 6-11.
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Campers, choose your ooze! Make floam slime, elephant toothpaste, bubble snakes and other foamy, sudsy hands-on experiments.
Cost of camp: $30
For ages 6-13.
*Registration is required.*
Date: Friday, December 20
Time: 8 am - 5 pm
Location: Boston Rec Center
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS! School's out and there's going to be a SNOW DAY in Wichita on December 27!
Make it snow, make it snow, make it snow! Bring a nonmetal sled and enjoy playing in artificial snow, provided by Snow Bros Snowmakers. Dunkin' will be providing FREE coffee and hot chocolate while supplies last! Donuts will be for sale on site. *Event date subject to change due to weather conditions.
Adult supervision needed for children under 10.
This event is free and open to children, adults who identify as children and anyone else who loves snow!
Date: Friday, December 27
Time:
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca
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Among Wichita's history of entrepreneurship stands White Castle, the world's first hamburger chain. Founded in Wichita in 1916, fry cook Walter Anderson borrowed $80 to open his first hamburger stand at 800 E. Douglas. After expanding to four stands, he partnered with real estate and insurance agent Billy Ingram to build the first stand under the name of White Castle at 110 West 1st St. (now 1st and Broadway) in 1921 for $700. Their iconic white buildings looked like small castles. Their popular hamburgers were small 5-cent sliders, sold singly or according to their singular slogan: Buy em by the Sack. By 1921, there were 8 White Castle stands in Wichita selling about 8,000 hamburgers to 2,000 customers daily. Lloyd Hay later designed modular steel buildings for the chain, the first of which was constructed at Douglas and Hillside in 1928. By 1934, there were 123 White Castles in 16 cities. Billy Ingram bought Anderson's shares in the business and moved it to Columbus, Ohio in 1934. Three White Castles remained in Wichita under the ownership of AJ King for a number of years.
Created By: Wichita History Walk
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Want a behind the scenes look at the Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office? Apply for the Citizens Police Academy (CPA)! The free 13-week program offers a unique opportunity to learn about the many services the Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office provide to the community.
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Need to report a pot hole in your neighborhood? Want to find out who your local beat police officer is? Head over to
AccessWichita
, our new information resource and reporting tool. You can also sign up to receive city alerts, see upcoming events and track your improvement requests. Check it out at
AccessWichita.com
!
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We are always looking for ways to improve the newsletter. Let us know what you like and what you don't like. What would you like to see in the District Newsletter that you think is missing?
Send us your feedback below!
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Stay up to date with the latest District II and city-wide news, events, and resources!
Office of Community Services
(316) 352-4886
City Hall | 13th Floor | 455 N. Main Wichita, KS 67202
Have questions or concerns?
Email
Council Member Becky Tuttle or call
(316) 268-4331
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