Gardner Elementary is a Blue Ribbon School
After being nominated by the state of Kansas, Gardner Elementary School has been recognized as one of five Blue Ribbon Schools in the state. The award designates Gardner Elementary as an exemplary, high-performing school.
US. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos made the announcement in late September. A total of 342 schools nationwide received the honor based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
Gardner Elementary is the third school in the Gardner Edgerton district to earn the Blue Ribbon distinction. Sunflower Elementary was recognized in 2011, and Wheatridge Middle School was honored last year.
“It is incredible to have two schools named a Blue Ribbon in consecutive years,” Gardner Edgerton Superintendent Pam Stranathan said in a news release. “This truly acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our students and staff at Gardner Elementary as well as all our other schools. We could not be more proud.”
Motor vehicle/treasurer’s offices closed Oct. 9
If you’re thinking about getting tags for your car or paying county taxes in person, don’t try to do it on Oct. 9.
Both the Johnson County Treasury and Financial Management and Johnson County Motor Vehicle offices will be closed that day for staff training. All offices will reopen Oct. 10.
Affected are:·
▪ The Treasurer’s Office, 111 S. Cherry St., Suite 1500, in Olathe;
▪ The Mission motor vehicle office, 6000 Lamar Ave.;
▪ The Olathe Motor Vehicle Office, 782 N. Ridgeview Road.
Residents can still pay property taxes or renew vehicle registrations by mail or online.
Olathe Library book sale
The two-day Friends of the Olathe Public Library Fall Festival book concludes Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the public library’s Teen Commons, 16160 W. 135th St.
The Six-Bucks-a-Sack sale will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on Oct. 7. Visitors can purchase a plastic sack at the door for $6 and fill it with as many materials as possible. They can buy two sacks, and get four free. Cash or check are accepted.
Free admission at Overland Park Arboretum
The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is waiving its admission fee on Oct. 7 and 8.
The arboretum, at 8909 W. 179th St., features gardens with more than 1,700 plant species, walking trails and sculptures, as well as prairie. It will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Overland Park mayoral candidates to meet at forum
Overland Park Mayoral candidates Carl Gerlach and Charlotte O’Hara are to appear at a candidate forum Oct. 11 hosted by the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce. The forum begins at 4 p.m. at the chamber offices, 9001 W. 110th St.
The public is invited, but the session also will be recorded and uploaded to the Johnson County Public Policy Council website votejoco.com. That site has dates and videos for other candidate forums.
Open house at Olathe fire station
Children and adults are invited to an Olathe Fire Department open house from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 8 at Fire Station No. 1, 501 East Old Hwy 56.
Family activities include spraying water from a fire hose, seeing the fire station and fire engines, learning about crash rescue and the bomb squad, and hearing from experts about fire and life safety and disaster preparedness.
Visitors also can learn Sidewalk CPR and get their blood pressure checked. Free refreshments and flu shots will be available while supplies last.
You can recycle just about anything here
From bikes to books to shoes, a wide range of materials will be accepted Oct. 14 at Overland Park’s Fall 2017 Recycling Extravaganza.
The event runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Black & Veatch, 11401 Lamar Ave.
Also among items accepted: eyeglasses and sunglasses, pet supplies, garden tools, housewares, clothing, fabric and notions, small appliances, toys, certain musical instruments, up to 10 fluorescent bulbs per vehicle, documents for shredding, durable medical equipment like wheelchairs and hospital beds, and — for a fee — mattresses and bulky electronics.
A donation is suggested for the shredding. Find details through the event calendar at opkansas.org.
Final 2017 speakeasy evening at Shawnee Town 1929
Shawnee Town 1929 will host its final Speakeasy Society event of the year at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18, focusing on Broadway in the 1920s.
Visitors, who are invited to dress for the period, can listen to stories of the Broadway greats while drinking a Prohibition cocktail and sampling light appetizers.
The event is free to the public, but registration is required. Call 913-248-2360 to obtain a password and let organizers know how many are coming.
Shawnee Town 1929 is three blocks west of Nieman Road on 57th St.
Medicare help offered in Olathe
U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder will host a free session Oct. 17 in Olathe to help seniors navigate the Medicare open enrollment period, which is scheduled for Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.
The Olathe meeting will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the Olathe Community Center, 1205 E. Kansas City Road.
Trained volunteers from the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas program can provide one-on-one assistance to those who have questions or want to make changes to their plans. Medicare beneficiaries who wish to make changes or enroll for the first time should bring their Medicare card, any current prescriptions (including dosage and frequency), and a list of preferred pharmacies.
A second session is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 8 at the Wyandotte West Library in Kansas City, Kan.
This story was originally published October 6, 2017 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Gardner Elementary is a Blue Ribbon School."