Olathe News - April 14 '08

• Olathe to Host Congress of Neighborhoods Forum April 24
• City to Host Fifth Development Forum April 23
• Civil War on the Boarder Returns for 12^th Year
• United Way Recognizes City Employee for Volunteerism
• Olathe Accepting Applications for 2009 CDBG Funds
• Public Hearing to be held May 6 for 2009 CDBG Program
• Ella Mae Memorial Book Sale This Week
• City of Olathe to Host Annual Community Awards Program on April 17
• Public Invited to 127th Street Project Planning Meeting April 17

Olathe to Host Congress of Neighborhoods Forum April 24
The City of Olathe's Neighborhood Services Division will host a Congress of Neighborhoods Spring Forum to further neighborhood efforts by providing an opportunity for open dialogue between neighborhood leaders and city staff about resources and programs available to enhance the quality and livability of Olathe's neighborhoods.

The event will be from 6 - 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, at the Mahaffie Heritage Center, 1200 E. Kansas City Road, Olathe.

The evening will begin with a presentation on New Frontiers in Neighborhood Planning, which focuses on building an alliance between neighborhoods with similar conditions, strategies for targeted outreach to neighborhoods, including targeting areas in need of greater crime prevention, and building partnerships between neighborhoods in other Johnson County cities.

Roundtable discussions will begin at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will be able to attend four of six roundtable discussions. Each roundtable discussion will be approximately 20 minutes.

Roundtable topics are as follows: Neighborhood Outreach (Feedback from the presentation), Foreclosures, Environmental Issues, Increasing Participation in Your Group, Lifelong Communities Initiative, and Crime Prevention/Neighborhood Watch.

Invitations to the spring forum will be sent to neighborhood representatives that are registered with the City of Olathe's Neighborhood Services. If your neighborhood association or group is not registered, you may do so online at http://www.olatheks.org/ or call (913) 971-8817.

For more information and to learn about registering your neighborhood group, contact Senior Neighborhood Planner Emily Kukal at (913) 971-8969.

City to Host Fifth Development Forum April 23
On Wednesday, April 23, the City of Olathe Development Services Department will host its fifth development forum to follow-up on previous forum discussions; provide updates on key City development-related initiatives; and to find out about topics of interest for future development forums.

The forum will be from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber of Olathe City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe.

Those involved in development in Olathe, such as developers, contractors, architects, engineers, and others are encouraged to attend.

The following are the development forum topics:

• Changes to International Building Codes (IBC), including the Olathe City Council's action on adoption of 2006 IBC
• Major Street Map update
• Post construction stormwater management/stream corridor protection
• Recent customer service improvements - Tips for how customers can expedite their projects and plans
• Updating Olathe's development ordinances - Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) update project.
• Comprehensive Plan update - Opportunity to help guide Olathe's future

The Development Forums are a joint initiative of the following City departments: Development Services, Public Works, Municipal Services, Fire, and Parks and Recreation.

For more information or to sign-up to attend, call Sharyn Mueller at (913) 971-8956 or send an e-mail to smueller@olatheks.org.

Civil War on the Boarder Returns for 12^th Year
Experience the 12^th annual Civil War on the Border at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site on April 19 and 20.

All activities will be held at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop, 1200 Kansas City Road, and in the city's Stagecoach Park, just south of the historic site. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 19 and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 20.

A free shuttle will bring attendees to the event from public parking located at Olathe North High School. The event is free, but a suggested donation of $2 for adults and $1 for children will help pay for event costs. As the event draws near, visit www.olatheks/Mahaffie/About for an up-to-date detailed schedule.

Cavalry, artillery, and infantry units representing Union and Confederate forces will encamp throughout the weekend and recreate a battle at 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in Stagecoach Park. 

Scheduled to appear, a returning favorite, the United States Army's Fort Riley General's Mounted Color Guard will demonstrate cavalry tactics both days.  Scheduled to appear is a Civil War Flag on loan from the Kansas State Historical Society. Clarina Nichols, portrayed by Diane Eickhoff, will share her story about being a single mother, farmer, editor, lay doctor, co founder of an integrated school, and Underground Railroad conductor in Kansas before and after statehood. Clarina Nichols appears courtesy of the Kansas Humanities Council.

There will be period music by the Gum Springs Serenaders, during the day and at the participants' Saturday evening Civil War dance, which the public can attend. 

Among this year's new events:

• George and Diane Bernheimer, members of the Lecompton Reenactors Association will present Thomas and Sarah Johnson. Thomas and Sarah Johnson will speak about their last night in Johnson County. It is January 2, 1865.  The Civil War is in its fourth year. Join the Reverend Thomas Johnson and his wife Sarah at their home about two miles east of Westport and listen as they speak of the current day and recount their experiences as early residents of what was the Unorganized Missouri Territory when they arrived in 1830.  They'll talk about their children, their work at the Shawnee Indian Mission School, which Thomas founded, and Thomas' involvement in the politics of the Kansas Territory on this their last evening together

• Bill McFarland, author of "Keep the Flag to the Front-The Story of the Eighth Kansas Volunteer Infantry will present a book signing
• The Heritage Center at Mahaffie will feature the new exhibit "I Knew It Was a Fine Country". This exhibit features the Mahaffie family, the Trails in Kansas, stagecoach travel, and features a case on the Border War.

• Nineteenth Century Church Service at 10 a.m. on Sunday

Other activities include a Ladies Tea on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., 19^th Century games, a variety of military and living history demonstrations, stagecoach rides, pony rides, and an old-time photo booth.

The event will also feature food vendors as well as sutlers selling 19^th Century merchandise.

The event is sponsored by the City of Olathe, Comfort Suites of Olathe, The Olathe Daily News, The Kansas City Star, Johnson's County Gazette, Comcast, Olathe South Price Chopper, Mr. Goodcents on Kansas City Road, Tractor Supply Company, and Olathe Ford. A special thanks to the Knights of Columbus Council 1913 for their assistance with parking logistics.

The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site is operated by the City of Olathe. Open hours, stagecoach operations, living history activities, special events and programs vary seasonally. Access is limited in the winter months and the site is closed all major holidays.

Call (913) 971-5111 or visit or website for current times and dates.

United Way Recognizes City Employee for Volunteerism
The United Way of Greater Kansas City recognized Erin Vader, City of Olathe Diversity Services Coordinator, with its first-ever Outstanding Resource Investment Award for her volunteer contributions to the United Way.  The United Way presented Vader this award at its 2008 Community Celebration held Tuesday, April 8.

"I am honored to be recognized by such a wonderful organization," said Vader.  "The United Way touches the lives of so many people and I am proud to be a part of it."

As part of the allocations process Vader has served as a chair of the United Way's Family and Neighborhood Issues Team for the past two years, assisted with other United Way initiatives and served on the City of Olathe's employee United Way Committee since 2004.

Olathe Accepting Applications for 2009 CDBG Funds
The City of Olathe is now accepting applications for 2009 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.  Applications are due Thursday, May 15, 2008.  The City of Olathe's CDBG program has funded housing rehabilitation programs, public services, public improvements and neighborhood revitalization projects that benefit low and moderate income persons or older neighborhoods since 1975. 

The City is inviting applications from local social service agencies and community organizations that provide a service to Olathe citizens that meet one of the national CDBG objectives:

1. Benefit low and moderate income persons or neighborhoods.

2. Aids in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight.

3. Meets an urgent community need.

Federal funds have been invested in Olathe through the CDBG program in nearly every neighborhood in older parts of Olathe providing a wide variety of neighborhood revitalization activities including housing rehabilitation, streets, water mains, sewer lines, storm drainage improvements, sidewalks, curbs, parks, historic preservation and human services.

When requesting an application packet, please specify whether you would like a public service, housing or public improvement/neighborhood revitalization application.

For more information or to request an application packet, visit the City of Olathe Housing and Human Services Office located at 201 North Cherry Street, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.; e-mail a request to Carol Ramseyer at cramseyer@olatheks.org; or call 913-971-6260.

For more information, call the Neighborhood and Human Services Department at (913) 971-6260.

The sale begins at 5 p.m., April 17 with the Friends Preview Sale.  Only current OPL Friends members will be admitted this evening.  Current OPL Friends will receive 20% off all purchases this evening only. 

Memberships will be sold at the door.  The sale is open to the public from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., April 18 and from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., April 19.  The sale concludes with the "Five Bucks a Bag" Sale from 1 - 4 p.m., April 20. 

Purchase a plastic bag at the door for $5 and fill with materials.  Buy 2 bags, get 1 free.  For more information, call Rita J. Patterson, 971-6879.

The theme of the event is "Diversity Makes the Difference."  The guest speaker will be Chairman Annabeth Surbaugh, Johnson County Board of County Commissioners.

Individuals living and working in the city of Olathe or living and working elsewhere who have contributed to the promotion of human rights to the benefit of the citizens of Olathe will receive awards at the event in the following categories:

• Public Employee (City, State, Federal)
• Private Business
• Public or Private Educational Institutions
• Volunteer or Civic Involvement
• Youth (19 and under)

For more information about the awards programs or for special accommodations, call the City of Olathe Office of Human Relations at (913) 971-6490. 

Public Invited to 127th Street Project Planning Meeting April 17
A public meeting regarding upcoming improvements to 127th Street between Mur-Len and Black Bob will be held 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 17 at Pioneer Trail Junior High School, 15100 W. 127th Street.  This will be an opportunity to share feedback, ask questions, and receive a project status update. 

For more information about this project contact Matt Feyerabend at (913) 971-8705.

For more up-to-date City of Olathe info. including Construction Alerts and Job Opportunities, visit the City website at www.olatheks.org.

To unsubscribe to this newsgroup go to http://www.olatheks.org/news/list

You may also receive the citizen newsletter via e-mail; go to http://www.olatheks.org/News/OlatheLink

100 E. Santa Fe; Olathe, KS 66061
913-971-8700