Research Says ‘Voucher’ Programs Can Help Students
The drawings depict rainbows, hearts, flowers and crosses — thank-you’s to the Catholic Education Foundation in Kansas City, Kansas, from pupils attending parochial school on need-based scholarships. The money is coming from the Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program, a 3-year-old Kansas initiative where businesses provide funding through tax-deductible contributions. Since its inception,…
Tap List | Kansas & The Great Outdoors
A bill that could allow diners and bar patrons to drink outside in Kansas appears to be gaining momentum in the state legislature. HB2277, a bill that allow Kansas cities and counties to establish outside drinking areas, recently passed a Kansas Senate committee. If passed into law, municipalities could designate permanent zones, such as a bar district…
Leading With Heart
At Take Note we like to say, “This is Our City. Our Schools. Our Future.” but, as we’ve been noting, the word “our” is used differently by different people. If you haven’t heard Mark Bedell’s story, it’s well worth your time. The Kansas City Public Schools superintendent is the first to admit he leads with…
Grocery Stores: ‘The Best Of America And The Worst Of America’
Grocery stores in America have changed from neighborhood corner markets to multimillion-dollar chains that sell convenience — along with thousands of products — to satisfy the demand of the country’s hungry consumers. What caused this transformation? And what will our grocery stores be like in the future? Award-winning food writer Michael Ruhlman, author of more…
Focus On: School Choice
Here at Take Note, we’re asking: How do you create school choice through (blank)? For people in the Kansas City metropolitan area, school choice can be both a blessing and a curse. It provides an array of education options, but the system can also be confusing, or perhaps even detrimental to existing school districts. From…
A Powerful Force, Sixty Years Later
Charles Farris endured hurricanes and typhoons during his 28-year naval career. But even so, when the south Kansas City man hears reports of a funnel cloud, six decades melt away, and an instinct kicks in. “Every time I hear a tornado warning,” he said, “I go looking for a shovel to dig myself a hole.”…
Excuse Me, Do You Have a Moment To Talk About Education In Kansas City?
What do you know about education in Kansas City? Whether you’re a parent, educator, or just a Kansas Citian, education matters. This is our city, these are our schools and this is our future, so take note. Follow Take Note: Our City. Our Schools. Our Future as together, we tell the stories that matter, the…
13th Annual Troost Festival & Other Weekend Possibilities
The 13th annual Troost Festival is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The free festival, put on by the Troost Village Community Association at 31st and Troost, has vendors, kid’s activities, and plenty to eat (JC Popcorn, Jerusalem Cafe, among them). The stage lineup includes dance troupes and musical acts. Forget glass, Cinderella should have been…
Mental Health Resources for Area Families
A child’s mental health affects success in school. Mental health disorders can result in poor school performance and attendance, according to The Journal of School Nursing. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that in the United States, approximately one out of five adolescents have a mental disorder. With May as Mental Health Awareness Month,…
Splitlog Coffee Perks Up Central Avenue
A young man in a checkered shirt and jeans sips an iced latte while trucks and traffic rumble by on Central Avenue. He pauses to take in the view of downtown — the pings from his laptop momentarily forgotten. This might be the best $4 view in the city, only it’s not in Kansas City,…
Sympathetic Vibrations | How My Kid Learned to Rock
My son Charlie is 6 years old. And when he’s not playing sports or setting indoor decibel records with his sister, he’s usually walking around our house with headphones on, jamming to his own handpicked tracks on an old, decommissioned iPhone. As a music lover, this makes me a proud daddy. But it wasn’t easy….
‘Restaurant Rispal at Asnières’ | Like Flying Over a Mountain
In art terms, In Situ means “in its original place,” a designation for artwork that lives in its place of origin. Think of a mosaic floor among ruins, a fountain sculpture in a park, an installation crafted for a specific venue. This summer, In Situ will mean the story of how a lifetime of art collection…
The Weekend Starts Today
May is National Barbecue Month. But let’s get serious. It’s pretty much always barbecue month in Kansas City. In between stuffing your face with our glorious local cuisine, though, you might also want to get out and see some of the cultural events our city has to offer. Don’t look now, but the Royals are…
Whirring, Purring Fidget Spinners Provide Entertainment, Not ADHD Help
Fidget spinners — the trendy toy of the moment — are causing a commotion. A lot of kids love them, just as many teachers hate them and some people think they’re more than just toys. The basic fidget spinner has three prongs centered around a circle with bearings in the middle. Take one prong, give…
Tap List | Doom is Coming
Back At The Bar With Founders Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki Doom is coming. Founders Brewing Company brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki, who visited Bier Station earlier this month, shared details on Doom, an Imperial IPA (12.4-percent ABV) aged in bourbon barrels, and other Founders beers. [FLEX-CONTENT] “Doom was originally called Hand of Doom, after a song by one…