If You Don't Succeed At First...

"$117,00 contract is to counter negative perception" reads the headline of the article in today's Star regarding the continuing campaign by KCI Aviation Director Mark VanLoh to go to a one terminal airport.  The Star report says "public reaction to the idea ranged from lukewarm to hostile", thus the hiring of a KC firm to fix that.  One of WL best friends, councilman Ed Ford says, "Most of the time the initial feedback I get is negative".  No kidding, and rightfully so.  So how do you fix that?  Hire a local PR firm, one that does political campaigns among other things to counter that negative perception.  VanLoh does mention in the article the diminishing prospects of federal assistance to build the new pipe dream.  Originally the projection of federal assistance was part the "no general taxpayer funding" promise.  Oops.  Stay tuned and be prepared for the barrage of "information" coming your way to support building the new single terminal.

Related articles

• City gets help in selling the public on a single terminal at KCI

The Judge

Had to vote today, will be in Memphis on business on Tuesday...ballot reminded me of a race (or not) I did not mention the other day...Larry Maher is running for WL Municipal Judge, following his appointment to the position previously.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Star Picks

Editorial picks for PH School Board, Fane, Neuberger and Pepper.

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/27/4147803/strong-candidates-run-for-area.html


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

April 2nd

Just because there are no contested in WL does not mean you should stay away from the polls.  The KC Star Northland Neighborhood News section has a review of candidates for the Park Hill School District Board.  Two WL citizens are running, Todd Burr, an incumbent for a two year term, and Jeff Goodwin a challenger for a three year term (small Star mistake in print, it notes Jeff is currently on the board in his bio, he is not).
http://www.kansascity.com/news/northland/index.html

A measure renewing the 3/8 cent sales tax for roads (Platte County) is up for a vote.  If you follow WLAISI, you know I virtually never use all caps (besides what I just keyboarded)...anyway, VOTE YES FOR THE ROAD TAX.  Without it we will be in dire shape when it comes to road work in the City.  If the School Board election doesn't energize you, then just come to vote for continuing the road tax.

That is all.

Isn't That Special?

If you are on the WLIC email list you received this...anybody on the Board care to share the subject of the meeting?

From: "WLIC Office"
Subject: NOTICE - WLIC SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
Date: March 25, 2013 10:27:40 AM CDT
To:

WLIC Members:

This is a notice that a Special Board Meeting will be held on Friday, March 29th, 2013 at 6:00 PM. You are most welcome to attend.


Best Regards,
Weatherby Lake Improvement Company


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Ole

Inside scoop.  Our favorite Mexican restaurant, Luna Azteca in Tiffany Springs, just signed a lease for a new restaruant in Burlington Creek.  No, there are not moving, the current restaurant is staying put, just an expansion of the franchise.  Burlington Creek on 64th street seems to be coming alive since the development has new owners, it might finally deliver.  Look for Luna II (don't know what the name will be) by mid-summer.

Enchilada, rice, and beans. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tonight, School Board Candidates

Filing closed Jan. 15 for the four open seats on the Park Hill Board of Education, and 11 candidates plan to participate in the election.

The candidates will appear on the April 2 ballot in the order they filed. The candidates for the two three-year terms are Edward Stephens, Sherri Scott, Jeffrey Goodwin, Susan Newburger (incumbent) and Todd Fane (incumbent). The candidates for the two-year term are Todd Burr (incumbent), Josh Blackman and Matt Pepper. The candidates for the one-year term are Chris Seufert (incumbent), Bobbi Woodward and Melinda Hardin.

The District Council PTA will sponsor a school board candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19 in room 230 at the district office, 7703 NW Barry Rd.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Blocked Aid

Continuing the water discussion...the annual Fish Habitat placement is upon us.  If you go to the Venita ramp you will see about 400 cement blocks and many more Christmas trees about to be placed in Davey Jones locker, courtesy of the Fishing Club and other volunteers.  Grade school math will tell you it is a sizable amount of stuff being placed into the lake over the past 10 years (I know, it has been going on longer than that, I just picked 10 years so it would be easy calculations for you college grads).

400 x 10 = 4000 cement blocks

Has any environmental impact ever been done?  I know it is good for the fish (I think), but is it good for the water?  What about the thousands of trees and the decomposing effects.  Is it necessary every year?  Maybe   it is just me.  But while we are so focused on anything that might negatively affect the lake, what about this.  Possibly, because we have always done it this way, isn't good enough.  


"Submerged Christmas trees appeared to be great attractors of pre- and post-spawn panfish, in
the first few years after they were sunk, but the trees lost their habitat value when most of the
fine branches and needles disappeared. More and more biologists, anglers and reservoir managers
in Pennsylvania made it known they were not happy with discarded/recycled materials
being used for artificial habitats."
http://fishandboat.com/water/habitat/lake_fish_hab.pdf

Troubled Waters?

Today's KC Star
B16

You might not have seen the article, buried at the end of the Sports section:

"Siltation, drought, toxic algae, runoff cloud future of fishing waters in the region"

"A lot of these reservoirs are 40 to 50 years old now, and they're aging. They have problems that we have to address before it's too late."  Doug Nygren, KS Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism."

"Nasty outbreaks of toxic blue-green algae which thrive in warm, still water"

"In Missouri...mercury contamination...PCB, chlordane"

I know the focus right now @ WL are the Zebra Mussels, but one thing (I believe) they do not do is contaminate the water.  We could win the battle and lose the war if we are not careful.

Related articles

• Great Lakes experiencing 'new stresses'
• Missouri and Kansas lakes and streams showing signs of trouble
• Phosphorus Pollution

No Snakes Here

Statue of St. Patrick in Aughagower, County Mayo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While the epic battle against the vaunted Zebra Mussels continues, apparently all the Snakes have been driven out of WL.  Unless I missed it, the WL St Patrick's Parade is not happening this year.  Yes, NKC and Brookside are parading today, followed by the big bash tomorrow in KC...but not here...am I wrong?  I tried to check eweatherbylakeliving.com, but they seem to be off line and I don't recall anything in their last edition.  Nothing on the City website, no flyers, no signs on the entrances, guess we are out O' Luck.  I know it has been a long tradition here, but times change...apparently.  Nevertheless, lots of place to celebrate St Pat's if you need a reason to drink green beer...or not.

Related articles

• St. Patrick and The Snakes
• 10 Things You Didn't Know About St.Patrick's Day
• St. Patrick's Day weekend events in KC

Mussel Shows

WLIC is putting on a series of meetings, featuring Jake Allman, MO Department of Conservation, everything you wanted to know about Zebra Mussels.  City Hall:

• Wednesday, March 20, 6PM
• Saturday, March 23, 10AM
• Wednesday, March 27, 6PM
• Saturday, March 30, 10AM

Lost Dog

My neighbor Dick Fickle had the misfortune of having his newly acquired dog escape yesterday afternoon. The dog is a medium sized black dog with a red collar...not oriented to the neighborhood and last seen along the water mid Hillside Drive. Dick's number 741-8495.

Update:  Talked with Dick this AM.  Someone said they thought they saw his dog late yesterday crossing the bridge on Barry...so it is possible the dog could be on the East side.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Rain Dance

Farmer John reports 1.08 inches of precip yesterday.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Blue By You

Back from my spring break, well that's what I'm calling my hiatus.  Heavy work/travel schedule, home projects, The Snow, and my usual annual malaise.  In any event, I am baaaaack.

Speaking of The Snow, it did disrupt lots of stuff, including pick up of our trash recycling, which was finally picked up last Friday after two weeks.  Info on exactly when the pick-up was going to occur was sketchy to non-existent...thus the familiar Blue Bins taking up residence at the curb...folks just gave up.  Allied Waste didn't help their case very much, in one instance saying the road conditions in WL were poor...but when challenged were unable to say exactly where that was (as you know the roads were clean enough to eat off of...as usual...right after our snow events).  I know the streets in other parts of the metro were bad, but not here.  So, if you are interested, Allied will make an adjustment to your bill ($2.88 if you have trash and recycling) for the missed pick-up.   Call 816 254-1470, get to a real person, tell them you want the credit.

Weatherby Lake Estate Sale

Friday March 8th and Saturday the 9th
The Bennett home
9397 NW Barry Road
(if you are a resident you will know parking is limited)
See website for details and pictures.
www.heartlandestatesaleskc.com