In This Issue
Public Works Week Celebration
2014 Fallen Officer Memorial Service
Fire Hydrant Painting
Corks & Canvas, Blue Springs Historical Society's Arts & Antique Show and the Blue Springs Farmers Market
Dancing with the Chamber Stars
Contact Your
 City Councilmember

District 1

 Jeff Quibell   
 
District 2  
 District 3
 Susan Culpepper 
 
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St. Jude Dream Home  

 
We are very excited that the 2014 St. Jude Dream Home will be located here in Blue Springs.  The home is currently under construction in the Shores at Chapman Farms development and is located at 8808 SE 1st Street, Blue Springs, Mo.
 
The home is being built by Summit Custom Homes and features six bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, three garages and is valued at over $525,000.
 
The Dream Home Giveaway is an annual raffle-based fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  Tickets will go on sale June 11 and the winner will be announced Oct. 12 on the KSHB 41 Action News at 10 p.m.
 
For more information, about the St. Jude Dream Home, click here.
Ken Bass Proclamation
     

I was honored to be able to give Ken Bass a proclamation recognizing his 90th birthday.  

 

Ken served in World War II and served as Vice President of Design Build Construction for many years.  Congratulations Ken!

Girls on Fire Camp
     

 The Blue Springs Police Department's Community & Youth Outreach Unit, in partnership with the Blue Springs Fitness Center, is offering a free, half day, week long summer workshop for girls ages 12-17 for residents or students of the Blue Springs School District.

 
Blue Springs Kids Triathlon
       Blue Springs Kids Triathlon

June 21, 6:15 a.m.

Blue Springs Family YMCA

 

We are proud to announce our third annual Blue Springs Kids Triathlon.  Thanks to Blue Springs HyVee's sponsorship, we now have reduced registration fees

  Tri for Tots (ages 4-5)

$15 registration fee

Swim 20 yards, Bike .25 mile & Run .25 mile.

Novice (ages 6-10)

$25 registration fee

Swim 25 yards, Bike 1.25 miles & Run .53 mile.

Competition Division (ages 6-10)

$25 registration fee
Swim 100 yards, Bike 2 miles & Run 1 mile.  

 

Competition Division (ages 11-14)

35 registration fee

Swim 200 yards, Bike 4 miles & Run 2 miles.    

 

For more information, click hereTo register, click here.

 
Upcoming Parks & Recreation Events
     

   

 Senior Health & Fitness Day

Wednesday, May 28, 10 a.m.

Vesper Hall

 

Join us as we set a Vesper Hall record for most people exercising at one time! Practice simple stretching exercises then get ready to exercise to Richard Simmons DVD, "Sweatin' to the Oldies." 

  

Participants will be in a drawing to win a Vesper Hall Weight Room pass for the month.

 

 

    

 

Pooches on the Parkway

Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wilbur Young Park

  

Join us for this annual fundraiser for the Blue Springs Dog Park. A very special event for dogs and their owners! Join us rain or shine!

* 5K and 1 mile Dog Walk
* Dog Games & Contests
* Demonstrations
* Agility Clinics for Beginners
* Pet Adoptions
* Canine Good Citizen Tests
* Food Trucks
* Dog-Related Products & Service Booths

Dog Walk fees include a commemorative T-shirt and hospitality packet. To preregister and receive reduced fees for the walk, contact Blue Springs Parks & Recreation at (816) 228-0137. Fee is $21 if registered by 5/23, and $25 if late registration. Free admission into stage and exhibitor areas.

 

 

 

Music in the Park

Sunday, June 1, 6-8 p.m.

Rotary Park at Railroad Lake

  

On Sunday, June 1, the Music in the Park Concert series returns to Rotary Park located at 500 NW Vesper!  The concert series kicks off with The Mighty Moe-Joes (Top 40.) 

 

This free event concert series features a different band every Sunday night from 6-8 p.m.  To see the complete 2014 concert lineup, click here.

 Let's Move! Saturdays!

--
 
Gage Center
1101 NW Jefferson
May 24, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Join us for a morning in Bump City.

Adams Pointe Golf Course
1400 NE Coronado Dr. 
May 31, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Join us for a morning of beginner instruction and free range balls.
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City of Blue SpringsNews Happenings
Around Town
 
A bi-weekly message from your Blue Springs Mayor and City Council
Greetings!  
 
Hello and welcome to News Happenings Around Town, your one-stop source for City information and news updates, including those items most important to you.

 

Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us.  It's a time for us to thank those who have given their lives for this great nation.  This weekend is when we enjoy family, food, friends, fun and freedom.  I wish you all a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.  If you have not done so, I encourage you to visit the Veterans Way Memorial at Pink Hill Park.  This memorial is dedicated to all who served and a treasure in our community.

 

I would like to congratulate two recent retirees from the City of Blue Springs - Blue Springs Police Captain Robert Morton and City Prosecutor Bob Welch.  The Blue Springs community has benefited from over 40 years of service by both Captain Robert Morton and Bob Welch.  We appreciate their commitment to our community and wish them a happy retirement!

 

Also, the 2013 Blue Springs Annual Water Quality Report is available for your review.  To see this report, click here. 

 

As always, please continue sharing this timely publication and spreading the word about what's good and going on in the City of Blue Springs.
Public Works Week Celebration 
  

In celebration of National Public Works Week, the City of Blue Springs' Public Works Department will host an open house on Wednesday, May 21 from 5-7 p.m. at the Public Works Facility, 500 SE Sunnyside School Road. 

 

I invite you to come out and learn how the Public Works Department operates and interacts with resident's every-day lives. Events include demonstrations, equipment displays, refreshments, and prizes to round out the activities planned.

 

For more information about our Public Works Department, click here.

2014 Fallen Officer Memorial Service
First Row: Chief Wayne McCoy welcomes the crowd; Mayor Ross gives opening remarks. Second Row: Deputy Chief Bob Muenz introduces the keynote speaker; Lee's Summit's Interim Police Chief Scott Lyons gives the keynote address. Third Row:  Blue Springs Police Department.  Bottom Row: Blue Springs Police Honor Guard.

On May 16, the Blue Springs Police Department hosted their annual Fallen Officer Memorial Service.  This year's theme was "They Still Stand Watch" and was dedicated to Captain Anthony L. Modrell who served the Blue Springs Police Department for over 39 years.

 

It always amazes me how many officers pay the ultimate price protecting our communities.  This year, 105 families' lives were changed forever.  This ceremony honors their memory and thanks them for their service.

 
To see more photos from this year's event, click here.
Fire Hydrant Painting

 

The City is currently in the process of repainting all of the fire hydrants in Blue Springs.  You may be interested to learn that there are 2,450 fire hydrants in our community!

 

So how do you repaint a fire hydrant?  The top photo shows the 'Plug Hug' we use to strip the old paint off the fire hydrant.   Then fresh coat of primer is applied.  (The hydrant may stay gray for a day to allow the primer to dry.)  Then City staff paint the hydrant back to their signature red color.

 

Staff will be working through the neighborhoods over the next several weeks painting hydrants so if your hydrant has not been repainted yet, they are on the way!

Corks & Canvas, Blue Springs Historical Society's Arts & Antique Show and the Blue Springs Farmers Market Event a Success!

On Saturday, May 17, Downtown Blue Springs was buzzing with activity!  Three events joined forces to create a day of strolling, wine tasting and arts, antiques and local produce shopping in Historic Downtown Blue Springs. The weather could not have been better and hundreds of guests were able to see all of the great things going on in Downtown Blue Springs.  

 

Congratulations to Downtown Alive's Corks & Canvas, Blue Springs Historical Society's Arts & Antique and the Blue Springs Farmers Market on a great event and I look forward to seeing you again next year.  If you missed the event, but would like to see more photos, click here.

 

For more information on Downtown Alive, click here.   For more information on the Blue Springs Historical Society, click here.  

 

To learn more about the Blue Springs Farmers Market, click here.  Just a reminder that the Farmers Market will temporarily be located in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church of Blue Springs, 1405 W. Main Street during construction of the City's Municipal Parking Lot.  To see a map of the temporary Farmers Market location, click here.

Dancing with the Chamber Stars
  
Top:  Dancing with the Chamber Stars Judges, Mayor Carson Ross, KMBC-TV Channel 9's Stephanie Ramos and Dr. Alan Foster; Middle Photo: a group photo of all the Dancing with the Chamber Stars dancers; Bottom Left: Sergeant Stacey Edwards and his partner Karen Brown; Bottom Right: Kim Nakahodo with Councilman Chris Lievsay

On May 15, I joined Dr. Alan Foster and KMBC-TV Channel 9's Stephanie Ramos as judges for the 'Dancing With the Chamber Stars' event at Adams Pointe Conference Center.   This event featured several 'Chamber Stars' including our very own Councilman Chris Lievsay and two city employees, Sergeant Stacey Edwards and Kim Nakahodo.  

 

This event was a huge success and raised almost $9,000 dollars for high school scholarships and the innovation grant to help Blue Springs businesses improve their practices.

 

I would like to congratulate all of the dancers for this event, thank them for participating and raising money for these great programs.  Congrats to Councilman Chris Lievsay with his partner Kim Nakahodo for winning the People's Choice Award!  Another round of congratulations to the Dazzling Smile Award winners Bill Fickle and Vicki Hillbrick; Judges Choice Award winners Lynne Marshall & DeWayne Duhon and Grand Champions Christine Smailys and Eric Sporing who raised the most money overall!

 

If you would like to learn more information about this event, click here.

To learn more about the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce, click here.

I hope you have found this issue of News Happenings Around Town to be both informative and timely for your City information needs. Is there anything we missed? Do you have questions about any of the articles from this issue? Share your thoughts with me and the City Council by calling City Hall at (816) 228-0110. Know that we truly value your time and support for our City and hope you join us for the next issue of News Happenings
 
Sincerely, 
 Ross sig
Carson Ross, Mayor
City of Blue Springs
Our
Mission 
The City of Blue Springs is a unique community where families, visitors and businesses share a special quality of life and an abundant spirit of community closeness and cooperation. 

 

Our number one goal is to ensure that our residents, visitors and patrons receive quality customer service and attention with every program and service the City provides. Just as you stand by a community that strives to meet your family's needs, we promise to do our best to meet these needs and anticipate what's best for you and our community, to the best of our ability.