Jan. 2011
One of the quiet voices of Valentine, Charlotte Hill, passed away in early January at the age of 90. She is fondly remembered by her neighbors on Jefferson Street for her kindness to her fellow neighbors: preparing meals for neighbors when they were ill, transporting those in need of transportation to the doctor, crocheting baby blankets, baking a pie to give to a new neighbor, and so much more.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband, Dick, who in the early days of the Valentine Garage Sales (then a major mid-town annual event) helped build a gazebo where food was sold to benefit Valentine. After Charlotte retired from teaching school in the Raytown and Blue Springs districts, she and Dick served as Red Cross volunteers, attending to many disaster reliefs.
Most of all, we will miss Charlotte as one of those bystanders along the path of the 4th if July parade. She was a faithful spectator….wearing either the red or the blue version of the original Valentine t-shirt from 20 some years ago.
Another Happy Holiday in Valentine
Jan. 2011
The Valentine Holiday Party at Bob and Mike’s was outstanding. For those of you who have never attended, you are missing an artistic, delicious, visual banquet. The tradition at their house is to have out for us to enjoy their special Christmas trees (yes…not one but many). Who can forget the tree with the hundreds of feathered bird ornaments! Thank you Bob and Mike for
the tradition you keep going for us and for your true hospitality! And we also thank you for organizing the luminaria again this year and we thank the many volunteers who came out in the bitter cold to prepare and place the individual luminaria.
Score One for the Valentine Block Watch
Last month, we were alerted by the Kansas City Police Department to be on the lookout for a thief who was targeting homes in Valentine. The thief was described as a taller white male riding a bicycle and wearing a bandanna. We were asked to call 911 immediately if we saw the guy. Two days later this thief was spotted in Valentine.
The police then arrived and were talking to Ed when they noticed someone walking down the street with a black backpack. Officer Crawford and her partner stopped the man for questioning and he turned out to be the robber. Ed says he was extremely impressed with the fast decisions that Officer Crawford made to question the man , which lead to his capture. He was also impressed with Detective Estes who came to take statements from neighbors.
The thief did, indeed, leave a bicycle leaning against the porch of the house he robbed. All of the stolen items were recovered and the home owners had no damage except for broken windows. Best of all, the suspect has been linked to other robberies and will be going to court this month. Since he’s out on probation for a previous robbery, he may be going back to jail.
This story proves that our block watch and our partnership with the Kansas City Police Department really work. Visit our block watch pages to learn more or get involved in fighting crime in Valentine.
Another Successful 4th of July
“Uncle Sam” Magaha with City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Deb Herman and State Senator and candidate Jolie Justice.
The Valentine Neighborhood had another great 4th of July parade this year, with all kinds of kids, dogs and local dignitaries showing up for the festivities. Thanks to the Utz family for hosting the picnic and to everyone who brought a side dish and made the day a fine celebration of our neighborhood.
Meeting about Hospice on SW Trafficway
June, 2010
St. Luke's Hospice has proposed to build a freestanding hospice facility at the site of the former Cresthaven nursing home on Southwest Trafficway. This site, just across from the Norman School, is in both the Roanoke and Coleman Highland neighborhoods. Kansas City Life currently owns the property. The developer met with the neighborhoods (Coleman Highlands, Roanoke and Valentine) on June 1 to explain the project. If the project moves forward, St. Luke’s will be asking Valentine to approve changes to the zoning ordinance. Before that, Roanoke and Coleman, which have laws restricting land use to single family, may have to approve changes to their neighborhood plans.
See more information from St. Luke’s
2010 Love Awards: Jackie and Craig
Feb. 2010
