It was great seeing everyone who came to the 42nd Annual Fall Fun Festival on September 16,17 & 18, 2011 in Downtown Blue Springs.

I was joined by the First Lady Eloise, 1st District Councilmen Dale Carter and Jeff Quibell, 2nd District Councilmen Kent Edmondson and Chris Lievsay and 3rd District Councilman Grant Bowerman. Thank you again to Blue Springs Ford for lending the us the convertibles for the parade. 

This was a very busy Fall Fun Festival for me as served as the announcer at the celebrity and competitive wing eating contest sponsored by Wing Stop and judged the Karaoke Contest immediately after the wing contest.

I want to thank everyone involved in helping it a huge success! Special thanks goes to the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring this event and I look forward to seeing you next year!

For more information on the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce,

click here.

Community 5k Training Program

The Community 5k Training Program began on Monday, September 12. This training program is intended for all levels (walkers to runners) and ages to enable participants to complete the New Balance Girls on the Run 5K ~ A Let's Move! Event in Downtown Blue Springs on Sat., Nov. 12. Coach Shannon Smith will guide participants on how to cross the finish line with a smile and a sense of accomplishment.

This program was recently featured by Fox 4's Terra Hall, to see the story, click here.  Registration is still open!  Click here to register.

"Livable Streets" Policy

At the Sept. 19 City Council Meeting, the Let's Move! Blue Springs "Livable Streets" workgroup presented the City with a presentation and "Livable Streets" resolution for adoption.  

"Livable Street" means a transportation corridor for all users including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, cars, trucks, motorcycles and buses. "Livable Streets" are designed and operated to safely facilitate movement of people of all ages and abilities from destination to destination along and across a continuous travel network.

This resolution adopted by the City Council puts into policy something that the City has been doing in practice-focusing on not only the walk-ability and bike-ability of Blue Springs, but also the future development and enhanced travel options for all Blue Springs residents.

Special thanks to StandUp Blue Springs, Samara Klein of KC Healthy Kids, Mike Schweder of A Healthy Change Hypnotherapy and city staff for their participation in this initiative.   

To view their presentation, click here.

Let's Move! Saturdays!

Multiple Saturdays each month will be designated as "Let's Move! Saturdays."  These events offer a structured opportunity for movement at different locations throughout the City.

The first Let's Move! Saturdays! will be Saturday, September 24 at Dynamic Dance, 1901 SW Us Highway 40 # B.  Cost is $3 per child. Please call (816) 224-5510 to reserve your spot!! This event is open to youth and families, adults are encouraged to participate with their children! 

Schedule of events is:
 

9-9:45 a.m.        4-6 year olds

10-10:45 a.m.     7-10 year olds

11-11:45 a.m.     11+ year olds 

To learn more about Let's Move! Saturdays! and see a schedule of events, click here.

The Missouri Municipal League held its 77th Annual Conference from September 11-14 at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City, Mo.  These conferences are a way for cities throughout Missouri to come together and learn from one another.  

As you may know, I have served as President of the Missouri Municipal League, but my term as President has now come to an end.  I will now serve as Immediate Past President on the Missouri Municipal League Board.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the new President of the League, Norman McCourt, Mayor of Black Jack, Mo. 

To learn more about the Missouri Municipal Leauge, click here.