March 2010 Neighborhood Association Meeting Notes
Although the weather didn’t yet feel spring-like, the growing season to come was the main theme of the March 11, 2010 VNA general meeting in the Gathering Place of Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1700 Westport Road? Two representatives from KCMO Parks and Recreation were on the program.
Gearing Up for Tearing Out Invasive Plant Species
Park Ranger Forrest Decker gave some background on invasive plant species like Japanese honeysuckle which is prevalent in the city’s park system, including how to identify this thick-stemmed, woody pest and current chemical methods of control. Volunteer Coordinator Bill Fessler talked about his job of training volunteers to assist the department’s employees in caring for the city’s parks. He noted that volunteers are fast becoming essential partners in the maintenance of city parks as budget are staff are trimmed . A date of Tuesday, March 23 was set for a training and orientation session in Roanoke Park to begin clearing out the honeysuckle, which has made substantial inroads around the park’s perimeters.
Interest in this project also drew several guests from Coleman Highlands which borders Roanoke Park on the north and whose residents share with Volker a deep affection for the lovely park and its recreational resources (see sidebar on the March 23rd work session). On the subject of the park’s recreational resources, Public Improvements Advisory Committee (PIAC) funding has been approved for upgrades to the popular volleyball courts including bleachers for spectators.
New Name, Venue for 39th Street Community Farmer’s Market
At meeting time, the fate of the popular Wednesday organic farmers’ market was uncertain. But as of March 23rd, it’s official: a source for fresh organically-grown produce and meats will return again this year to a place in Volker. As a result of discussions involving the VNA Board and Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Organizing Committee, agreement has been reached with the organic farmers group. The market will open May 5th as the Midtown Midweek Farmers’ Market on church-owned property at the corner of Westport Road and Wyoming Street. That’s also the site for the VNA community garden.
For the past three years, there has been a farmer’s market on 39th Street from spring through early fall months. But businesses adjacent to the off-street site decided that because of concerns about traffic flow and parking, they would no longer make that site available to the vendors.
Dave Bennett, spokesman for the famers’ group, said that the vendors are excited about the available space and potential to attract customers to the new site. The market will operate Wednesdays from 4:30-7:30 PM from May 5th through October 6th. Bennett will speak about the market at the next VNA meeting on April 8th. Meantime, the group’s Web site, http://www.39thstreetmarket.com offers visitors an opportunity to learn more about urban farming as well as personal health and ecology. You can also subscribe to the group’s weekly e-mail updates
A new market in the Kansas City, Kan. Rosedale neighborhood will be opening May 16th at Southwest Boulevard and 7th Street, sponsored by the Rosedale Healthy Kids Initiative. The latest community market start-up is a response to the lack of grocery stores in the neighborhood as well as growing incidence of childhood obesity and diabetes.
School Board Elections, Earnings Tax Proposals Enliven Local Politics
With elections for open seats on the Kansas City, Mo. district school board less than a month away, community and faith-based organizations have been sponsoring candidate forums around the city. Immanuel Lutheran Church’s representative to VNA, Linda Fewell, announced a March 22nd forum scheduled for 7:00 pm at Visitation Church, 5141Main Street, which Immanuel is co-sponsoring. A full complement of candidates running for sub districts two, four and six plus two at-large seats were expected to speak.
A petition drive to repeal the city earnings tax and its opponents were both active in midtown recently. Misleading statements and aggressive approaches by proponents of the petition left many angered and confused. A spokesperson for the opposition had requested and been given a slot to speak at our March meeting, but was unable to appear. However, we did have a discussion of the issue and its potential consequences (see excerpt from Jan Marcason’s newsletter).
Candidate for County Legislature Makes Early Appearance
Although voters won’t be going to the polls until August, Hyde Park resident Crystal Williams spoke briefly about her intention to run for 2nd District Jackson County legislator. A former vice-president on the management team of Swope Park Health Center, Ms. Williams has her eye on the seat held by incumbent Henry Rizzo.
VNA Now Texting
VNA vice-president Michelle Rogers announced that two-way text messaging is now available at a link from the home page of the organization’s Web site, www. volkerkcmo.org.
-Rick Leidig
Updates – March 23 – A group from the neighborhoods surrounding Roanoke Park met for the first time with the support staff from KC Parks and Rec. We had a little training and practice cutting and applying herbicide carefully to the cut stem only. The back of the WRCC parking lot was quite filled in with Japanese honeysuckle and that’s the area we went after first. We met on a Tuesday when the staff was available. Our next meeting will be 9 am Saturday May 9 at the community center. Bring loppers or just yourself – we have the herbicide.
More urban farming news… Representative Jason Holsman’s bill proposing that the state of Missouri set up an Urban Agriculture Task Force passed the House on March 22 with a unanimous vote. It was passed as a “Consent Bill” which means it is non controversial and generally results in fast-tracking of the legislative process. Learn more at http://wednesdaysun.com/201003311660/news/house-approves-holsmans-urban-...
We’re hopeful that soon we’ll have a task force figuring out how the state of Missouri might promote the growing of good food in city neighborhoods. Thanks again to Representative Holsman for his vision and leadership on this! (Information submitted by Katherine Kelly, Executive Director, KC Center for Urban Agriculture, www.kccua.org).
Hope everyone voted in the school board election!
-Pam Gilford
