How to get rid of that Christmas tree

Natural Christmas trees can be recycled at the City’s three leaf and brush drop-off centers at 11660 North Main Street, 1815 North Chouteau Trafficway and 10301 Raytown Road. The North Chouteau Trafficway and North Main Street sites are open Mondays thru Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Raytown site is open on Saturdays only. All trees must be free of all lights, tinsels and other decorations. There is a $5.00 tree recycling fee from Mondays to Fridays. Tree recycling is free for Kansas City residents on Saturdays only. Proof of residency is required.

SNA Holiday Party December 14

Join your neighbors in celebrating the season with light appetizers, drinks and holiday cheer! 

Please take a few minutes at the party to join or renew your SNA membership. The yearly membership for your household includes entry to our dumpster days, invitations to events, email updates, and a contribution to our security patrol program. 

Membership is for the calendar year, January to December. 
$25 Residents - $10 Students - $10 Senior (65 and over) - $55 Businesses 

The event will take place Monday evening, December 14th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm at the historic Simpson House, 4509 Walnut. 

Races impact weekend traffic in Kansas City

Scheduled race events are expected to impact traffic in Kansas City this weekend. Road closures for the races are as follows:

Nov. 26, 2015
 
Ward Parkway Thanksgiving Day 5k | 9 a.m. 
The race will impact traffic along Ward Pkwy., Washington St., and 83^rd St. Additional race information, including a map of the race, can be found online at http://kcraceday.org/races/ward-parkway-thanksgiving-day-5k-2/ or by contacting Raul Flores at 913-206-4334.
 
Pilgrim Run | 9 a.m. 
The race will impact traffic along 38^th St., Gillham Rd., 43^rd St., 39^th St., Harrison Pkwy., Harrison St., 36^th St., and Janseen Pl. Additional race information, including a map of the race, can be found online athttp://kcraceday.org/races/pilgrim-run-2/
or by contacting Andrew Johnson at 816-718-9916.

Notice to residents regarding City services, street closures, parking for Tuesday, Nov. 3

The City of Kansas City, Missouri and the Kansas City Royals invite all fans to a Royal Celebration for our World Champion team. The 2.3 mile-long parade starts at noon, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Please be advised that the celebration will close some City-services and roads, and will impact parking in downtown Kansas City. City closures, and additional information, are listed below:

Municipal Court
Kansas City Municipal Court hearings for Tuesday, Nov. 3 have been cancelled. These cases will be continued to later dates, and the parties in these cases will receive notices in the mail with the new court dates. Starting on Wednesday, Nov. 4 residents may also find court dates online at kcmo.gov/court.

The courthouse will remain open for business and will hold morning hearings for those being held in-custody.

For further information, please contact Municipal Court Public Information Officer Benita Jones at (816) 513-6711 or Benita.Jones@kcmo.org.

Public Meetings
Meetings for the City Planning Commission and the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Board of Directors have been cancelled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Street Closures

• Grand Boulevard between 8th and 27th streets (plus side streets to Grand from Walnut or McGee) Crown Center parking via Grand Blvd. will remain accessible.
• Oak Street between 8th and 16th Streets (plus side streets to Oak from Locust Street)
• Truman Road between Locust Street and Walnut Street
• Pershing Road between McGee and Broadway Street/Archives Way
• Main Street between 20th and 27th streets
• Kessler Road from Pershing to the west side entrance of The National WWI Museum and Memorial

Parking & Transportation
Residents are urged to make use of free public transportation, and to arrive early for the Royal Celebration. Parking and transportation information can be found online at visitkc.com/royalcelebration.

Public invited to parade and victory celebration in downtown KCMO

#RoyalCelebration

The City of Kansas City, Missouri and the Kansas City Royals invite all fans to a Royal Celebration for our World Champion team. 

The 2.3 mile-long parade starts at noon, Tuesday, Nov. 3. The parade steps off on Grand Boulevard between the Sprint Center and the Kansas City Power & Light District and heads north to Ninth Street. It turns east to Oak, then goes south to Truman, then west back to Grand. After circling through the downtown business district, the parade continues south on Grand to Pershing Road. The parade turns west on Pershing Road to Union Station. The Victory Rally stage will be located in front of Union Station, with viewing opportunities on the north lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The Victory Rally will start at approximately 2 p.m., shortly after the end of the parade arrives. 

Watch Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders issue the invitation to the parade and celebration.

See the map of the parade route. For complete information, including parking areas, please go towww.VisitKC.com/RoyalCelebration.

Spectator information:

• Watch the parade anywhere along the route. Excellent viewing spots include Ilus Davis Park and Washington Square Park. Barricades will line the entire route along the curb. Pedestrian crossings will be marked by balloons, but closed while the parade is in progress.
• Watch the celebration in front of Union Station from the south parking lot, Pershing Road (which will be closed) or the lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The staging will be similar to the annual “Celebration at the Station” event.
• Arrive early to allow time to find a spot. This is a family-friendly event, and fans are reminded that public consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Please remember that it’s best to travel light and to not bring bags or backpacks. 
• Officially Licensed World Series Championship Merchandise will be available at the following locations: in front of Union Station, in Ilus Davis Park north of City Hall near 10th & Oak, and near the Kansas City Power & Light District. 

Transportation and parking:

Transit providers will offer FREE Parade Express service directly to the Royal Celebration from Kemper Arena, Country Club Plaza, Metro North, 47th & State, Red Bridge, Swope Park and Strang Line park & ride.

• FREE bus service is being offered on all local, express and shuttle service that connects to downtown. This includes KCATA, IndeBus, Unified Government Transit and Johnson County Transit (710 K-10 connector excluded).
• This service will run from 9 a.m. until two hours after the celebration ends.
• Parking is available in a few pay lots and garages close to the parade and celebration.
• Spectators are advised to carpool or use public transportation. On-street parking is extremely limited near the parade and celebration.
• B-Cycle will be free for the first 30 minutes of each bike share ride for bicycle transportation. B-cycle has 12 downtown locations.

Street closures:

• Grand Boulevard between 8th and 27th streets (plus side streets to Grand from Walnut or McGee) Crown Center parking via Grand Blvd. will remain accessible.
• Oak Street between 8th and 16th Streets (plus side streets to Oak from Locust Street)
• Truman Road between Locust Street and Walnut Street
• Pershing Road between McGee and Broadway Street/Archives Way
• Main Street between 20th and 27th streets
• Kessler Road from Pershing to the west side entrance of The National WWI Museum and Memorial

Many thanks to the Royal Celebration and Victory Parade sponsors: The City of Kansas City, Missouri, The Kansas City Royals, Jackson County, Kansas City Area Chevy Dealers, Commerce Bank, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Kansas City Steak Company, Pepsi, Sprint Center, Union Station, The National WWI Museum and Memorial, Kansas City Power & Light District, JE Dunn Construction, James B. Nutter,  Ivy Funds, Budweiser, Hy-Vee, KPMG LLP and the University of Kansas Hospital.

FOX 4 and FOX Sports Kansas City are the Official Broadcast Partners of the Royal Celebration.FOX Sports Kansas City will televise live the Royal Celebration parade and victory rally.

The Royal Celebration planning team was led by the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and O’Neill Marketing & Event Management with assistance from the Kansas City Royals and many City of Kansas City departments, including Kansas City Parks & Recreation, Police, Fire, Public Works, and the City Manager’s Office, as well as Visit KC & the Downtown Council.

KCPS approves sale of Westport High

Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) has approved the sale of Westport High to Kansas City Sustainable Development Partners, LLC (KCSDP) for the historic redevelopment of the building as a mixed-use project. The redevelopment of Westport High, combined with Westport Middle, which was purchased by KCSDP in January 2014, will be known as Westport Commons: Center for Creativity and Innovation. For more information about the project, CLICK HERE.
 
In advance of any rezoning or special use permit hearing, KCSDP will host two public meetings in coordination with the Southmoreland, Old Hyde Park and Hyde Park neighborhood associations. This will give the neighborhoods an opportunity to weigh in as the project progresses. For detailed questions about the site redevelopment, please contact Chip Walsh with KCSDP at 816.808.2956 or efwalsh@att.net.
 
If you have comments/questions, please contact the Repurposing Initiative Office at repurposing@kcpublicschools.org or 816-418-7725.

KCFD reminds residents to leave fireworks to a pro

In a typical year on Independence Day, there are more fires reported in the U.S. than on any other day of the year, and fireworks account for two-fifths of those fires.

Since all fireworks are illegal within the city limits of Kansas City, Missouri, the safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals. Kansas City offers a variety of opportunities throughout the area to enjoy fireworks displays in a fun and safe atmosphere, such as the KC Riverfest in Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park. So please, leave the fireworks up to the professionals.

The following statistics are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Fire Protection Agency.

Nationwide in 2011, fireworks caused:

• More than 17,800 fires
• 9,600 injuries that were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms
• An estimated $32 million dollars in direct property damage

The risk of fireworks injury is highest for young people ages 15-24, followed by children younger than 10.

The men and women of the Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department want you to have a safe and happy Independence Day.