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Archives for April, 2011
Tweet Probably safer here than at Shawnee Mission Park, I suppose… Reader Joe Houston sent us some photos of a wayward deer that found its way onto his block yesterday: Houston said he had seen a larger deer jump his fence three years ago and head down El Monte Street, but didn’t have any proof. [...]
Tweet The rumor mill may have been in gear late last week with two supposed threats of violence at SM East, but Prairie Village Police Chief Wes Jordan told the City Council Monday that students and teachers weren’t ever in any danger. Jordan told the council that a local parent had heard there was going [...]
Tweet Recently re-elected Mayor Ron Shaffer took the oath of office at Monday’s Prairie Village City Council meeting, and then took a moment to address what he sees as collateral damage from the lead up to his April 5 victory over City Councilman Michael Kelly. After being sworn in to his fourth term by City [...]
Tweet Clique Boutique, an upscale women’s clothing store that moved into the space recently vacated by Haught Style, opened for business over the weekend. Owner Tracy Gretter oversaw a nearly complete renovation of the store’s interior, with wood paneling replacing drywall throughout much of the store. Clique Boutique is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. [...]
Tweet Ask state Sen. Terrie Huntington whether there’s any hope the legislature will change the school funding formula that’s wreaking havoc on the Shawnee Mission School District and you’ll get an optimistic answer. As long as you’re not hoping for things to change quickly. “I think the likelihood is high that it can be changed,” [...]
Tweet In the wake of yesterday’s announcement that Standard and Poor’s had downgraded its outlook on US debt, some relatively sunny financial news came out of the Prairie Village city council chambers. The process of making ends meet for the city of Prairie Village’s 2012 budget is likely to be much smoother than it was [...]
Tweet It was a chillier start to the day than might have been ideal, but by the time the Steps for the Cure 5K had come to a close Saturday morning, the sun was peaking through and making for an excellent afternoon for the Brighton Gardens car show: A couple more shots after the jump.
Tweet Organizers estimate approximately 2,000 people came to SM East on Saturday for the 10th Prairie Village Earth Fair. The gymnasium (above) was packed with booths with everything from urban chicken farming…: …to live hawks and owls on display, including this buddy for our backyard friend. More photos after the jump.
Tweet A retired SM East teacher spent the weekend in a Maine jail after allegedly hitting his wife over the head with a rock and pushing her down a cliff during an April 7 hike. The Bangor Daily News reported Friday that Charles Reed Black, 68, known to the SM East community as Reed Black, [...]
Tweet An email dust up between two Shawnee Mission East teachers might offer a preview of larger battles to come between conservative state legislators and education advocates as the state examines the need for future budget cuts. KCTV 5 reported yesterday that SM East history teacher and Dist. 22 state representative Greg Smith earlier this [...]
Tweet Mission Road will be closed southbound from 63rd Street to the Village Shop today from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the Steps for the Cure 5K race.
Tweet We’re hoping the weather cooperates for a couple of big events in the heart of Prairie Village tomorrow: The annual Steps for the Cure 5K run and 1 mile walk starts at the Village Shops at 8 a.m. More than 700 participants are expected to take to the course. (If you haven’t registered yet [...]
Tweet I have a love-hate relationship with my mandolin. Its sharp blade can do wonders for slicing ultra-thin onions and potatoes in a matter of seconds, but in the process I usually slice half my thumb off. It’s no one’s fault but my own – the thing comes with a guard, I just don’t use it. [...]
Tweet Local middle school parents on Thursday got a look at renovations proposed to help Indian Hills accommodate the larger student body it will house after Mission Valley closes at the end of this school year. At a PTA meeting at Indian Hills, Gould Evans architect Adam Sterns presented a handful of drawings laying out [...]
Tweet A group of seven state legislators are holding a Kansas Budget Forum 6:30 p.m. tonight at SM West. The forum will include information about how the Kansas state budget is produced, how the state school finance formula works, and how the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) is funded. The legislators will also be [...]
Tweet Dan Andersen, the lead organizer of last year’s inaugural Prairie Village Jazz Festival, has stepped down from his position as co-chair of this year’s event. Kathy Peterson, who had been Andersen’s co-chair until his announcement yesterday, will assume the lead organizing role. Neither Andersen nor Peterson would comment on the specific reasons for the [...]
Tweet It’s come to my attention that it might have been presumptuous to name Owly without soliciting the input of you, our dear readers. (Luckily, Owly doesn’t seem to be responding to his name yet. I sat underneath the tree for an hour last night saying, “Come here, Owly! Come on over here, Owly!” and [...]
Tweet It’s the time of year when Lancers have their love affair with lobsters. SM East is taking orders for its annual lobster sale, which goes to benefit the SM East International Club. The club helps organize student exchange programs, sending SM East students abroad and bringing foreign students here. Each year, the club flies [...]
Tweet Next Monday will be a day of finish lines for Mission Valley mom Meridith Bihuniak. The certified public accountant has been racing for months to finish up clients’ tax returns before they’re due April 18. And if reaching the end of that slog weren’t accomplishment enough, she’s hoping to cross the finish line of [...]
Tweet People who live near Ranchmart Shopping Center will have a new option for pizza and other Italian fare starting Wednesday. Sarpino’s Pizzeria, a Canadian company that started franchising restaurants in the United State in 2002, will open a location at 3804 W 95th Street in Leawood tomorrow. It will be in the space formerly [...]
Tweet Ha! We knew if we kept our eyes and ears peeled eventually we’d find one. After four months of searching, we finally laid eyes on a Great Horned Owl red phase Screech Owl yesterday. (Thanks for the correction, Steve. I had looked up a couple shots of adolescent Great Horned Owls yesterday, but this [...]
Tweet Librarians, music instructors and teachers’ aides were spared some significant cutbacks in Superintendent Gene Johnson’s budget proposal for the Shawnee Mission School District. But Johnson recommended that dozens of teachers and staff members — along with services and supplies — be cut as the district faces a budget situation that looks increasingly grim. Johnson’s [...]
Tweet The Kansas City Star reported earlier today that a masked gunman robbed Missouri Bank and Trust at the Village Shops around 2:40 p.m. The man left with an undisclosed amount of cash. According to the Star: The suspect is a black man standing about 5 feet 4 and weighing 180 pounds. He wore a [...]
Tweet Shawnee Mission schools Superintendent Gene Johnson will discuss details of his recommended budget-balancing measures tonight at the district’s board meeting, to be held at 7 p.m. at SM South. Johnson has said before that the district will need to cut approximately $10 million from this year’s budget to make ends meet. The district solicited [...]
Tweet The weather is certainly right for dining al fresco. Tavern in the Village is preparing to open up its patio along Mission Lane for patio dining as early as today. They’ll be setting up about a half dozen tables along Mission Lane, each able to seat five patrons. The full bar and food menu [...]
