Rotary Park at Railroad Lake is one of the most popular in our city park system and one of my personal favorites.

Each Sunday evening throughout the summer, the gazebo on the south side of the pond comes alive with the sounds of blues, jazz and rock ’n’ roll. Residents bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the free concerts with family and friends. This past Sunday, the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce sponsored the concert that featured The Elsea Smith Band, hosted its annual member appreciation event with hamburgers and hotdogs and provided free ice cream for everyone who attended the concert.

As Wanda and I enjoyed the fellowship and music with our friends, neighbors, and fellow chamber members, I realized these events and activities are just a part of what makes our small town a great community. I say small town, yet Blue Springs is the tenth largest city in Missouri.

As Blue Springs has grown, we have maintained a welcoming, small-town, bedroom community feel without inhibiting the growth required to provide for our citizens. As I looked across the park, I saw friends and neighbors listening and laughing, enjoying the beautiful evening together. I saw business associates benefitting from the opportunity to build relationships outside of the confines of the workday, meeting family members and networking together. In the shelter house, a young child practiced her first steps, the newest addition to the chamber family slept in Daddy’s proud arms, and twins took in their first chamber picnic.
Life should be more than just work. Play is important too! A well-rounded life includes time for work, time for rest and time for fun. Seek out community events, and share time with friends and neighbors. We are so fortunate to live in a community that provides a wide variety of recreational events and opportunities to enrich our lives. Walk the paths, pack a picnic lunch, enjoy the art pieces in our parks, or just sit and listen to the music.

The complete concert schedule is available at http://bit.ly/bscp2010.

Our 2^nd Annual Garden Tour is Saturday, June 19^th from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Hi Society Members and Friends,

What an opportunity to enjoy wonderful  gardens and see local artists painting flowers and foliage at each of the 6 gardens.

The presale ticket price is $6.00 and $8.00 the day of the tour.  Pre-sale tickets are available at:

· Ben’s Garden Center, 1001 U.S. 40 Hwy, Blue Springs

· Petals & Potpourri, 708 U.S. 40 Hwy, Blue Springs

· Yellow Strawberry, 1745 Burdett Crossing (N 7 Hwy and Duncan Rd) Blue Springs

· Vintage Daisy, 1412 Old U.S. 40 Hwy, Blue Springs

· Dillingham-Lewis House Museum, 101 SW 15th St, Blue Springs (Sundays 2:00 - 5:00 pm)

On the day of the Garden Tour, tickets may be purchased any of the homes and the museum.

Two of the gardens are in Independence.  One of these is Martha Waits, niece of Ann York.  Her    address is 1204 W Beverly Road.  The other Independence Independence garden is the Woodson Guest House Bed and Breakfast.  This home is tucked away on a “special acre of land” and is on the National Historic Register.  Charlotte Olejko is the owner of this garden at 1604 W. Lexington.

Crystal and Wyatt Zucca, 117 Dockside Circle, Lake Tapawingo will have their home on the tour.  In Blue Springs you will tour the gardens of Gwen Myers, 4200 SW 14th Street Court and Linda and Victor Celano, 1709 NW 11th Street Circle. 

You may choose to begin or end your tour at the Blue Springs Historical Society’s1906 Educational Heritage Garden.  This garden is in the second of its 4-phase grant from the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City.  While at the Dillingham-Lewis House Museum, you may view the exhibit, “Weddings Through the Year” and enjoy a cool drink. 

Enjoy the day with friends and family while you view the gardens and take in the scent of flowers.

For more information call Frances at 816-419-8304

Please email everyone in your Address Book.

Thank you, Mary Potter

P.S. I need 2 volunteers at the Museum Garden

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – The City of Blue Springs, Blue Springs Public Art Commission, Blue Springs School District and area businesses and veterans’ organizations have formed a partnership to bring the traveling exhibition of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall to Pink Hill Park Thursday, Sept. 30 to Sunday, Oct. 3.  The exhibit will be free to the public and includes a special welcome home to all Vietnam War veterans. 
“This famous Vietnam memorial has inspired and healed many people. But not everyone can get to Washington, D.C. to see it. So, we’ve worked for many years to bring it here,” says Eleanor Frasier, chairman of the Public Art Commission. “We invite all Vietnam War veterans to come see The Wall That Heals, and all parents and children to participate in the events to learn about this painful time in America’s history.”

ATK, which operates the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant adjacent to Blue Springs, has agreed to be a lead partner for the event.  Mark Hissong, the vice president and general manager, will present a $15,000 check to Blue Springs Mayor Carson Ross on Tuesday, June 1, in a special ceremony at 1 p.m. to launch the major fund drive for other sponsorships.  That event will be in front of Blue Springs City Hall, 903 W. Main Street.

“We are honored to be a lead partner in this historic event for our community of Blue Springs and for all Kansas City area Vietnam Veterans,” said Mark Hissong, of ATK Small Caliber Systems, the operator of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. “This plant supported these soldiers with more than 14 billion rounds of ammunition during the conflict. As we continue to support today’s modern day war fighter, we’re proud to give Vietnam Veterans the welcome home they deserve.” 

“We are grateful to ATK for being one of the lead partners of The Wall That Heals event.  Blue Springs is fortunate to have excellent business partners to help bring this exhibit to our community,” said Mayor Carson Ross.

The funding for the Blue Springs “The Wall That Heals” is all by donations.  All funds are set up with the Truman Heartland Community Foundation, a 501-C-3 organization.

For more information, contact Kim Nakahodo, Communications Manager at (816) 655-0497, visit the Web site, www.bluespringswallthatheals.net or Wall That Heals Blue Springs on Facebook.
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Friends,

The Heart of America International Brotherhood of Magicians has given the Blue Springs Historical Society and Brittany Hill Middle School an opportunity to host their Masters of Magic Tour on Saturday, March 8^th.  What a fun way to help the Blue Springs Historical Society, Brittany Hill Middle School, and the Heart of America International Brotherhood of Magicians raise money!

The matinee is at 2:00 pm, and an evening show at 7:00 pm.  Both shows will be held at Brittany Hill Middle School, 2701 NW 1^st Street, Blue Springs.  Special Pre-sale tickets are a Combo of 1 Adult and 2 Students for $13.  Event price: Adult $10 and Student $5.  There will be drawings for special give-aways and every child 14 years of age or under will receive a free “Secrets of Magic” book! 

Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance online through Pay Pal by going to:

www.BlueSpringsHistory.org

One More Thing:

This is going to be one of the best magic shows you will ever see as five of the best magicians from around the country will perform together on the same stage!  Although this will be a great opportunity to bring your child or grandchild to something they will talk about for years to come, the performers will delight and entertain all ages!

PROGRAM UPDATE -------- This week National Magician, Lance Rich will be making a special guest appearance at both of the shows!  (Read more about Lance below.)

WITNESS THE FAMOUS HOUDINI UPSIDE DOWN STRAIT-JACKET CHALLENGE LIVE IN PERSON!  Nationally-known magician and escape artist Lance Rich will attempt the escape that made Harry Houdini a household name during the early part of the last century.  Bound in a regulation canvas and leather strait jacket, Lance will be hung upside down and hoisted high in the air before his escape attempt begins. Come see if Lance can duplicate the escape that put Harry Houdini on the front page of more newspapers than anything else he ever did in his entire career!
Lance Rich brief bio:

Lance has been performing since he was five! Now, at age 26 he continues to entertain. He performs more than 200 shows a year amusement parks as a magician and escape artist.  He is also a singer and dancer with performing credits at the Pine Knob Outdoor Theatre in Kentucky, Carnival Cruise Ship, and other venues around the country. He is currently working with the Symphonic Pops Consortium as a magic consultant for Mysterioso - a magic show at symphony orchestras which is currently touring the country.

First Annual Little Blue Rive Art Fest, June 12th

Artists from the area will be displaying paintings, drawings, printmaking, photography, jewelry, ceramics, and much more. The Art Fest will also feature musical entertainment, a hands-on art activity for children, and food and beverage. Admission is free.

Little Blue River Art Fest

(Blue Springs, Missouri)
June 12th, 2010 (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
Art Fair location is on the White Oak Plaza parking lot grounds

(7Hwy and 40 Hwy near Beauty Brands and Big Lots parking lot grounds)

Art activity for children will be provided by Write Brained Learning:
www.writebrainedlearning.com
Musical Entertainment will be provided by:
Ryan Hanlin http://www.myspace.com/ryanhanlin
Bayley Kate http://www.bayleykate.com/
Justin Stancil http://www.justinstancil.com/

Local Artists will be provided by:

Allison Carenza Photography, www.allisoncarenza.com
Pat Bittel, watercolor - transparencies
Brandl, http://www.etsy.com/shop/brandl
Chug Dog Studio, chugdogstudio.com
eNVe Designs, http://www.envedesigns.com/
Gary's Gallery, photography
Images by Davenport, http://www.imagesbydavenport.com/gallery.html
KC Cakes
Mattie Jules Creative Ring Art and Windsong Creations, mattiejules.com
Natures Alphabet, photography
Barry Teghtmeyer, www.teghtmeyer.myexpose.com
Terri Teghtmeyer, photography
Three Wishes Studio, www.threewishesstudio.etsy.com
Where did you get that ring?
White Birch Designs, http://www.etsy.com/shop/whitebirchdesigns

The Art Fest will be an annual organized event by the Friends and Family members of White Oak Ventures L.LC.
For more information call Kim Jones at 816-260-4235 or visit www.whiteoakplaza.com

The Little Blue River Art Fest committee is now accepting vendor applications for the 2010 art fest. The Blue Springs art fest is Saturday, June 12^th 2010 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at White Oak Plaza, near Beauty Brands parking lot grounds. Artists from the area will be displaying paintings, drawings, printmaking, photography, jewelry, ceramics, textiles and much more. The art fest will also feature musical entertainment. For more information or to download an application please visit www.whiteoakplaza.com or contact Kim Jones at 816-260-4235.

For many years, I have had the honor and privilege of playing cello in the Heritage Philharmonic, an Eastern Jackson County orchestra celebrating its 65th year. The orchestra brings excellent music to our community, and provides opportunities for our best community musicians to share their talent and love of music.

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the Philharmonic welcomes Conductor Laureate Jack Ergo back to the podium at the Blue Springs High School Performing Arts Center. The concert will feature Brahms’s Academic Festival Overture, Hindemith’s “Five Pieces for String Orchestra” and Dvorak’s well-known Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” one of the most popular in the modern repertoire.

Tickets are available at the door. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students. It will be an excellent evening of musical entertainment!

Mary Goes Round is a Kansas City-based rock/alternative/pop cover band that moves you, shakes you and plays everything from Bowie to We the Kings! Not the same, tired songs, Mary Goes Round has a fresh mix of tunes that will keep you dancing and rocking all night long!

The band will be playing the Blue Moon Lounge at Lunar Bowl Friday, Feb. 19^th at 9 p.m.

www.myspace.com/marygoesroundkc

marygoesroundkc@gmail.com