Delano Wichita

News from the small town in the big city

[delanowichita]

Library progress

Last Thursday, August 14, GLMV Architecture gave a presentation to the library board. The original (very preliminary) draft called for a building wrapping around the corner of McLean and Second, across what’s now the end of Sycamore. With the removal of 200 N. Sycamore from the available property, the new (still very preliminary) proposals have changed somewhat.

Library slide – Site map

Library slide – Option B

Option B follows the curve of the river, pointing toward the Keeper. It has a pinch point between the north and south halves, where the entrances meet. (Option A was the across-Seneca option.)

Library slide – Option C

Option C includes three “bars” with an option for expansion to the south, and presents a façade to the Second/McLean intersection.

Library slide – Option C from southwest

Library progress was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

The DNA's roadmap

Tonight we settled on a tentative roadmap for the future of the Delano Neighborhood Association.

The September Dispatch is already a critical one, because it will contain the details of the Cleanup in October. It will also give notice of the November meeting. Hopefully there will also be an October Dispatch, but worst case we will get one issue out, and make as sure as we can that every single Delano household gets delivery.

The November meeting is elections, and we’ll also give final approval to the roadmap. We need candidates for president and secretary at minimum, and probably vice president as well. Finding candidates should be easier, since under this roadmap the responsibilities are considerably lessened.

December is always an off month for us because the meeting falls too close to Christmas.

January will be our first meeting as the West Wichita Neighborhood Association, along with Sunflower NBA, Orchard Breeze NA, Orchard Park NA, and possibly neighbors from La Placita Park, Indian Hills, and Southwest Village. In 2015, our meetings will either rotate among the joined neighborhoods, or pick a single reasonably central site. At the January meeting, we’ll put together teams to handle getting meeting speakers, producing a shared newsletter to be mailed out, etc. We’ll also choose an acting board for the combined organizations, with members representing each neighborhood.

At the end of 2015, if the arrangement has worked out, we’ll dissolve the DNA and any other incorporated NHAs except Sunflower, which will change its charter, board, and 501(c)3 to reflect the boundaries of the merged areas. It will be renamed WWNA, or whatever final name the overall group chooses.

The meetings will follow roughly the same format as the current meetings, except for community police reports. The area covers roughly five beats, so we’ll probably have a single general report (like the District Advisory Board) and then break into groups based on each officer’s beat (Delano, for instance, includes Beats 12 and 14, with 14 overlapping into Sunflower).

The DNA’s roadmap was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Delano meeting tonight

We don’t have a guest speaker tonight, because we have a really full agenda (and that was before today’s letter).

The chief points we’ll hit on tonight: we’ll review the state of the Delano Plan. At the last Delano Advisory Committee meeting, we had discussed with Planning the need to review and revise the Plan and have it approved by the City Council. (The original Plan was made part of City ordinance.) Yr. faithful editor has suddenly found less interest in bothering, so we’ll discuss whether this is something the DNA at large is interested in.

On a similar note, it’s an even-numbered year so DNA officer elections will happen this November. The DNA bylaws set a two-term limit, which the President (yr. faithful etc.) and Treasurer (Dorothy Crouch) have already exceeded. We can vote to suspend that clause of the bylaws for another two years, or to modify the bylaws permanently – not tonight, but with proper notice in The Dispatch. But in either case this President is not running for re-election.

2014 08 DNA General Agenda – This PDF is the full agenda

2014 08 City Council Letter – This PDF is the draft of the letter to our Mayor and City Council concerning the Senior Center land issue.

City Letter – This is a PDF copy of today’s letter from Parks, included here for the sake of completeness.

Delano meeting tonight was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Shared without comment

This is the City of Wichita’s response to a request that the land designated in the Delano Plan as Railway Park be acquired as the Plan calls for.

Staff from the Planning Department and Parks and Recreation Department have studied the Delano Neighborhood Plan that was developed in 2001. It was interesting to see how we envisioned the plan and how things are actually developing. The focus appears to have shifted from developing the use of the “Railway Park” to encouraging pedestrian and bicycle traffic down Douglas and concentrating resources on the development around the proposed library and river projects.

Land transactions have occurred in which private individuals have purchased portions of the planned “Railway Park” corridor blocking the path between Seneca and McLean. One of the properties is for sale and listed at a price of $286,451. Two other properties have been identified and are not for sale.

Several attempts have been made to apply for grants to develop the “Railway Park” and none were awarded. . The grant applications have been for the connection along the rail corridor from the river, and that continues to be our focus. The planning for that corridor has evolved from a recreational trail as depicted in the Delano Plan to a multi-modal connection, perhaps even a new street. The importance of the this multi-modal connection was reinforced as a priority through the library charrette.

At this time there are so many projects competing for resources, it would be speculative to rank the priority of the “Railway Park” project against other high profile projects.

Respectfully,

Marty Miller Interim Director for Parks and Recreation

Shared without comment was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Final Friday August 2014 - Caution At Play at Newman University

The Newman University Steckline Gallery will present “Caution at Play” by Beth Golay, Tanya Tandoc and David Murano as the first show of its 2014-2015 season. The exhibit of mixed media artwork, which begins with a Final Friday reception from 5 to 7 pm on Friday, August 29 will be on display through September 19. Both the reception and admission to the gallery are free and open to the public.

Final Friday August 2014 – Caution At Play at Newman University was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Final Friday August 2014 - Mickey Shannon at Friends University

This month’s Final Friday will feature an exhibit of landscape photography at Friends Univerity’s Riney Fine Arts Center. Mickey Shannon’s photos range from the Swiss Alps to locations considerably closer to home. The reception will be from 5-7pm on August 29, with the exhibit remaining open for the following month.

Final Friday August 2014 – Mickey Shannon at Friends University was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Delano United meets tonight!

I don’t have a formal agenda, but the primary topic will be the Chisholm Trail/Pearl Street parkway.

We’ll meet at 6:30pm, at 1712 W. Douglas (next to Al’s Old Books).

  Delano United meets tonight! was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Can you spare a quarter(-million)?

The triangular former railroad junction at the west end of the Chisholm Trail/Pearl Street bike/walk parkway was privately owned back in 2001, when the City designated it as a central park for Delano. Along with some segments of the railbed that reverted to private ownership, it was listed as land the City should re-acquire.

That lot has come onto the market, but the City doesn’t have the money to acquire it. (Editorial aside: though they’ve given away other land in Delano that they spent far more on.) The GreenWay Alliance has been working with us on the Chisholm/Pearl project, but they don’t have quite that much money either.

As we’ve discussed in the various Pearl Street entries, we’d been forced to shift our plans for a civic green – the farmers-market site, park space, and so forth – to the City-owned land at the east end. Some of that is still on track. We’ll share a parking lot and green space with the new Library, which opens up some exciting possibilities.

But the west triangle still is our first choice for a lot of things. In particular, we want some space that’s mostly for Delano neighbors. This spot is dead center (well, a little north-ish) in the residential neighborhood. It’s right at the three-way junction of the parkway, so you can easily bike or walk from anywhere in Delano. It’s close enough to Douglas to be easily visible, but not an in-demand Douglas frontage.

It’s perfect for us… if we could figure out how to buy it. Any ideas?

Can you spare a quarter(-million)? was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Street closure for See Jane Run 5k - September 13, 2014

Streets in and around Delano will be closed from 8am to 1pm on Saturday, September 13 for the See Jane Run 5k.

Douglas from Walnut (1 block east of Seneca) to Waco (includes Douglas Avenue Bridge)

Sycamore from Seneca to McLean

Second from McLean to Waco (includes First/Second Street Bridge)

McLean from Seneca to Maple

Seneca from Second to Central (includes Seneca Street Bridge)

Street closure for See Jane Run 5k – September 13, 2014 was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Delano Advisory Committee meets tomorrow

As part of the Delano Plan, representatives of the Delano Neighborhood Association, Delano Clergy Association, and Historic Delano Inc (in lieu of the Delano Business Association) meet with City of Wichita staff to vote on exceptions to the Plan.

Since for the most part these representatives are also board members of Delano United and Delano business will obviously be discussed, consider this an open-meetings notice. Delano United is not currently covered by the Kansas Open Meetings Act, but we try to be open regardless. The Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public, and are normally held on the 10th floor of City Hall. You can park in surface parking south of the garage, and Planning will validate your ticket.

The August 6 meeting will be held at 1:30, and is in regards to a new metal building at 711-21 West Maple and POD container placement at 441-5 N Seneca, both properties owned by Ronnie Beard.

Delano Plan at the City of Wichita site (large PDF)

Delano Advisory Committee meets tomorrow was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Blacktop Nationals street closure - August 21-24, 2014

Streets in and around Delano will be closed for the Blacktop Nationals from 9am on Thursday, August 21 to 6 pm on Sunday, August 24, 2014.

Streets include:

Douglas from McLean to Main Street (includes Douglas Street Bridge)

McLean from Douglas to Maple

Blacktop Nationals street closure – August 21-24, 2014 was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Baseball 'Round the Clock!

For the 25th year, tents will pop up on the grass at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium during the National Baseball Congress World Series. Championship Week kicks off Friday at 4pm with seventeen games in fifty-six hours, and participants must check in during each game to stay in. You don’t have to stay on the stadium campus; Delanonians can take advantage of living in a stadium neighborhood to sleep in their own beds in between check-ins. But where’s the fun in that?

Baseball ‘Round the Clock! was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Measles outbreak

As of the last report, there are eight cases of measles in Sedgwick County. This is a highly contagious, potentially deadly, and entirely preventable disease. Sedgwick County is holding a vaccination clinic this Saturday.

Symptoms include: fever, blotchy rash, cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes, feeling run down/achy, tiny white spots with bluish-white centers inside the mouth.

It is absolutely critical that if you believe you are experiencing measles symptoms that you CALL your health care provider first, to avoid any unnecessary exposure to other individuals. Do not go to the ER/immediate care.

If you have been vaccinated or were born before 1957, you are unlikely to get measles.

If you have not been vaccinated, or are not sure if you have been, call your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call the Sedgwick County Health Department Measles Information Line at 660-7424.

The Sedgwick County Health Department will hold a free MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination clinic on Saturday, July 19, from 10 am to to 2 pm at 2716 W. Central. No out-of-pocket fees will be charged, though Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance will be filed if available. MMR will be the only vaccine offered at this clinic.

If you think you or your children may have been exposed to measles, call the information line before attending the clinic.

Measles outbreak was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Neighborhood meeting tonight

It’s the third Tuesday of the month, which means tonight is the all-Neighborhood meeting. If you live, work, worship, or attend school in the Delano Neighborhood, or you just like Delano, you’re invited.

Tonight’s guest speaker will be from Sedgwick County Emergency Services, as part of their push to reduce the load on 911. Accidental cell-phone calls are evidently a pretty big thing.

Other topics include baseball and bus selfies. Here’s the PDF of the tentative agenda, though it’s subject to change as soon as everyone reminds yr faithful editor of all the things that got left off:  July 2014 DNA General Agenda

Neighborhood meeting tonight was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

We need your pots and pans

And quickly.

Sounds like a crazy request, huh? Here’s the story: The teams that come in for the NBC World Series do so on a shoestring. One of them has come all the way from Puerto Rico, and they’ve arrived already. They’re staying in a hotel with kitchenettes, but paying for kitchen gear is an additional $30/day – and these kids are going to be here (they hope) through the championship game, August 9.

Can you help? They need pots and pans and tableware (the latter can be disposable or otherwise). Some of it could probably be returned at the end of their stay, but we’d rather they didn’t have to keep track of who gets what since the tournament organizers have enough on their plate. We’d much rather arrange to pass the equipment on to one of our local charities – YWCA Treasure Chest, the DAV Thrift Store, etc., or to one of the food pantries.

Have you got something you can spare, or can you hit one of the back-to-school sales for a complete dorm set? If you can, bring it to the Delano Neighborhood meeting tonight, 7pm, West Side Christian Church (1819 W. Douglas). If you can’t make the meeting, email [email protected] and we’ll set something up. We”ll even pick up and deliver for you.

We need your pots and pans was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Online enrollment is now available for Wichita schools. Click here for more information.

Online enrollment at USD259 begins was originally published on Delano Wichita

[delanowichita]

Job fair at First Student

Tomorrow from 9 to 1 at the Wichita Workforce Center, First Student will be holding a job fair to hire bus drivers and bus monitors for the upcoming school year. You can get there for free via the Meridian Loop bus. Don’t live near Meridian? Take the West Maple or West Central [West Douglas in Delano] bus over.

According to First Student:

Applicants should have genuine, caring attitudes for children and a commitment to serving the community. Applicants with or without a commercial driver’s license (CDL) are encouraged to apply as the company will provide all necessary training.

Prospective candidates must be at least 21 years old and able to pass all background checks and drug screens. Driver applicants must have at least three years of driving experience and possess a valid state driver’s license. They must be able to safely transport students in a timely manner and complete all pre- and post-trip shift activities. Applicants should possess a sincere desire to work with the public, follow all traffic and corporate regulations, and meet additional company requirements.

First Student offers competitive wages and a flexible, set schedule. Drivers are not required to work on nights, weekends or holidays.

For further details on the hiring events or for applicants unable to attend the job fairs but who would like to be considered for a position, contact a local First Student office or call [phone]. Additional information on working with First Student can be found by visiting www.firststudentinc.com.

Job fair at First Student was originally published on Delano Wichita