Kansas City News Blog

This week: Get your idle kids involved in something worthwhile during spring break, lend a hand along the Big Muddy, see for yourself why Kansas City's community centers are worth the expense and, please, for the love of God, Kansas residents take a quick trip over to Topeka and tell your legislators face-to-face that the coal battle has been lost and it's far past time to move on.  

Not to be confused with a certain Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake video, the "Conversation in a Box" from One KC Voice is a tool to get residents talking about ways to make Kansas City more sustainable. The Imagine KC effort culminates next month with a live public forum on KCPT, but before then you can get involved by downloading the conversation, hosting a house party with your eco-savvy friends, uploading the group's input and tuning in on April 22 to see if your ideas make it to the airwaves.

A few weeks ago, it was Johnson County residents; now, it's time for Kansas Citians to weigh in on what books and DVDs they want to see in their library's collection. The first of a series of Town Hall Meetings hosted by the Kansas City Public Library is at the Plaza Branch Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Attention parents: Keep your idle middle and high schoolers out of trouble during spring break. The Youth Volunteer Corps of Kansas City is hosting service projects all week, from playing bingo with area seniors to stocking the shelves at Harvesters food pantry.

On Wednesday, the Lady of Freedom Monument Foundation is convening a Minority Health Intervention Meeting to "address the high disparities in health for our minority populations and present a collaborative blueprint for eradicating diabetes, HIV/AIDs and other preventative diseases." The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center. RSVP to (816) 965-6622 or ugrrlady@aol.com.

Once again, coal is the burning issue at the Kansas state Capitol, undermining efforts at creating a real, sustainable energy plan. Expect hundreds of residents to rally in Topeka for Clean Energy Day II from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday. Stay tuned to the Kansas Clean Energy website for carpools from the KC area. 

There's no better antidote to littering than dislodging half-buried Sonic cups from the banks of the nation's longest and, arguably, most abused river. Missouri River Relief could use some help from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday collecting the debris that's constantly washing ashore along the Riverfront Heritage Trail. Meet at Berkley Park.

Even in the midst of a fiscal crisis, Mayor Mark Funkhouser is fighting to keep community centers open. Having recently visited the new Southeast Community Center, I can see why. (The fitness facility and the sleek, eco-friendly building have this YMCA member thinking about switching her gym dollars to city coffers.) Find out what your taxpayer-funded centers have to offer during the Day of Play on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.