Around the community

South KC

Sidewalk connection: It’s not a huge stretch of sidewalk, but it will make walking safer for neighbors and students at Center High School, 87th Street and Holmes Road.

The city is building the sidewalk along the east side of Holmes, between 89th and 93rd streets. It will connect to new sidewalks in front of the high school and to sidewalks south of 93rd Street, the city said in a news release.

The project, funded by Kansas City’s 1-cent capital improvements sales tax, also will bring the traffic signal at 89th and Holmes up to federal accessibility standards. Construction is expected to last into April.

Gardens will be topic: Ben Sharda, executive director of Kansas City Community Gardens, will speak at 7:30 a.m. Friday at the monthly 2nd Friday meeting sponsored by City Council members John Sharp and Scott Taylor.

The organization is involved in an initiative to encourage the planting of more fruit trees in the city and harvesting some of the produce for needy residents. It also will help prepare vacant lots owned by the city’s new Land Book for use as community gardens or orchards. The meeting will be at the Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Road.

Lee’s Summit,

Vandalism cases: The Lee’s Summit Police Department is seeking the public’s help to solve related vandalism cases that occurred early on Jan. 20 in an area centered south of Woods Chapel Road in the Woods Chapel Acres subdivision.

The vandals used baseball bats to destroy property that included vehicle mirrors and windows, landscaping and mailboxes. They may have been operating out of a maroon Ford Explorer and a van. Anyone with information is asked to call 816-969-1752.

Grandview

Bobcat Park upgrades: The city plans to make renovations to Bobcat Park, part of a larger park renovation plan funded with a bond issue passed in 2008. The project includes a new playground, benches and trees at the park, 153rd Terrace and Bellaire Avenue.

At a meeting Tuesday night, the public will have a chance to comment on the preferred playground equipment, learn about what’s planned, make comments and get their questions answered. It will be from 7 to 8 p.m. at The View community center, 13500 Byars Road.

Information is available at www.grandview.org, under the “parks and recreation” tab and quick link “Bond Projects.”

The area

Free tax help: Trained volunteers at various MCC-Kansas City campuses will help lower-income residents complete their state and federal tax returns. Most individuals earning $51,000 or less are eligible for the free service.

MCC students are helping at the Blue River and Maple Woods campuses. Community volunteers are staffing the other three locations. All are first-come, first-served programs, and all will be closed during MCC’s spring break, March 11-16.

Locations and schedules:

• MCC-Blue River: 20301 E. Missouri 78, Independence, Education Center room 118. Hours are 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through April 11, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on two Fridays, Feb. 8 and April 5.

• MCC-Penn Valley: 3201 Southwest Trafficway, Kansas City, Learning Resources room 204. Hours are 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through April 9.

• MCC-Maple Woods: 2601 N.E. Barry Road in the Northland, Computing Business building, room 105. Hours are 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wedesdays through April 10 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on two Saturdays, Feb. 9 and April 6.

• MCC-Longview: 500 S.W. Longview Road, Lee’s Summit, Business building room 202. Hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through April 13.

• MCC-Business & Technology: 1775 Universal Ave., Kansas City, Campus Center, Student Services office. Hours are 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays during February.

Jackson County

Bible records wanted: The Jackson County Genealogical Society is collecting Bible records to help document historical family relationships in the area, and they’re interested in photocopies of any you may have.

Often, project organizers say, the only place that 19th-century marriages, births and deaths are recorded is in the family Bible. Some contain family trees.

The society asks people to photocopy the names, births, deaths, marriages, title page of the Bible and the copyright page. Mail the material to the society at P.O. Box 1133, Independence MO 64051

Or, you can bring the Bible to the society for scanning. The offices are in the Truman Depot at 1111 W. Pacific Ave., south of the Community of Christ Auditorium.

If possible, donors are asked to retype any handwritten text so the names are transmitted accurately.

Anyone with questions is asked to call 816-252-8128 on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays.