November 2014 • 60th Edition
Chances are….
Celebrating
the Holidays
Brookside will be kicking off the “Holiday Season Opener” at 6pm on Thursday,
November 13 in the park at 63rd and Brookside Blvd. During the opening celebration,
school choirs from St. Peter’s, St. Elizabeth, Border Star and St. Teresa’s Academy
along with the Holiday Trombones, will be performing. Complimentary treats, hot
chocolate and coffee will be provided along with giveaways.
Open houses and holiday sales will be found at your favorite shops all weekend long.
Get a $10 Brookside gift card for every $250 you spend in the Brookside shopping
district from 6pm on Thursday, November 13 until close of business Sunday, November
16. Buy $50 in Brookside gift cards at Bank Midwest and get a free $10 gift card during
the holiday season.
Waldo’s open house, the ”Holly Jolly Shopping Crawl,” takes place from 10am to 2pm on Small
Business Saturday, November 29. More than 30 Waldo businesses will be hosting open
houses with all types of treats and specials. Visitors to the shopping crawl get a card punched
at 3 or 5 of the open house events, then turn in the card at Family Bicycles for $10 or $20 in
Waldo Bucks, respectively, plus a chance to win a prize pack.
Both Brookside and Waldo will have the 2nd annual Holiday Lighting Contest. Decorations
need to be up by December 15 for the judging. The winning business owner in each area will
have $100 donated to the charity of their choice.
Be sure to patronize your fellow businesses by shopping locally, especially during the holidays.
Southtown, Waldo, Brookside Monthly Events
Monthly Luncheon
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 11:45a– 1pm
Location: Wornall Rd. Baptist Church
400 W. Meyer Blvd.
Presentation by Alvin Brooks
RSVP Required. $12/person
Catered by Vee’s Sweets and Treats
Nov, 11, 4-5p
Community Policing Action Cooperative (CPAC)
Southtown Planning Center
Holiday Warm-Up Party
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 5-6:30pm
Location: District Pour House,
7122 Wornall Rd.
Light refreshments provided.
Nov. 21, Fri. 8-9am
Public Affairs Meeting- Southtown Planning Center
Guest Speaker Councilman Scott Taylor
The October Networking at Schloegel
Design Remodel, 311 W. 80th St., was
enjoyed by all!
Your Neighborhood Gas Station
Since the 1930’s, if not longer, there has been a service station
located at 6244 Main St. (corner of Main and 63rd Streets). Phillips
66 has occupied the space since the mid 1950’s. In 2012, Dave
DeLorenzi, an employee at the station, purchased the business
from Ron Klapmeyer. Brookside 66 Service continues to offer
complete automotive mechanical repairs and gasoline. According
to DeLorenzi, “Our service is ‘old school’. We are able to keep up
with technology while still operating as a neighborhood service
station.” This is one of the few places left that still provides a full
service island where gas attendants fill your tank and check the oil.
This past year, the interior was upgraded with a remodeled sales area sporting new counters, computers and a digital
menu board. The exterior was painted and potholes filled . Brookside 66 employs 6 people and is open from 7a-6p
Monday through Friday, 7a-3p Saturday and has pay-at-the-pump service 24 hours.
A Natural Urban Sparkle
The Southtown Beautification Committee is thrilled to introduce the Anita B.
Gorman Conservation Discovery Center as the November Sparkle Award
recipient. Manager Stacey Davis and 20 wonderful employees have made
this metropolitan nature center feel like an escape. Open from 8a-5p,
Monday through Friday, and every 3rd Saturday, from 9a-4p, they offer free
programs to children, families and adults. The Gorman Discovery Center
also allows the avid fishermen and hunter to get their licenses and offers
expert advice in all facets of nature.
Located in the heart of the city, 4750 Troost Avenue, the Gorman Discovery
Center has strived to help people discover and rediscover nature. While maintaining eight acres and a pond, they also
have biowales to collect rain water and keep it out of their parking lot and Troost. What makes their biowales so unique
is that they are planted in native Missouri grasses and plants. Not only functional, but aesthetically pleasing as well.
New improvements made to the pond included deepening and redesigning, which has allowed frogs, turtles and herons
to call it home. Accessibility has been improved, allowing the public to better view the pond. The biowales were such a
hit, they are using their own success to help anyone who wants to have one at their home or business. Thank you Anita
B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center for giving us a great view of nature, innovative ideas and showing us nature
right in our backyards. What a unique and practical way to show how Southtown Sparkles!
And Waldo’s Best goes to ….
Congratulations to Blake and Heidi Schamberger, owners of Irezumi and k9
Closet, 7406 Wornall Rd., for being November’s Waldo’s Best. The amazing face
lift and complete renovation of the old “Light Shop” has dramatically improved the
look of the area. “We remodeled this entire building on all three levels. We kept
the older feel to this unique spot but made it fresh and clean,” said Heidi
Schamberger, “and we have parking available in the back of the building and
entryways from both back and front doors.”
Irezumi is similar to other businesses that have shuffled locations but remained in
the area. They have been in business for 18 years and pride themselves on their
quality, licensed professional tattooing and body piercing artists, state of the art facility and being one of the most
reputable tattoo shops in KC. “We have a clean, safe, fun and comfortable atmosphere,” assures Blake Schamberger.
Irezumi hours of operation are: Sunday 12p-6p, Monday-Thursday 11a-10p, Friday and Saturday 11a-11p.
Although new to Waldo, k9 Closet has been in business for 13 years and employs five people. They are known as
Kansas City’s oldest collar maker, providing the latest in pet fashions, bedding and the best pet foods on the market.
From Orijen to raw, they have it all. They also offer professional and fun pet photography in the store and work with
many pet rescues. Some of the adoptable dogs’ photographs are on their walls. The sales team is professional and
friendly. You and your pets are sure to feel right at home. Hours for k9 Closet are Sunday 12p-6p, closed Monday,
Tuesday-Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-9pm.
Who’s Who in Waldo
New businesses are popping up everywhere in Waldo. If you want to look and feel your best, you need to visit the
following merchants: Kristine Kay Skin Spa (7425 Washington), Vincent+Greer Hair Studio (508 W. 75th St., Ste. B),
Treasure Hand and Foot Spa (8013 Wornall Rd.), Waldo Nails (7429 Broadway), Innate Yoga (336 W. 75th St.) and
Te`Chic Boutique (8325 Wornall Rd).
When you are finished primping, stop and enjoy a healthy meal and a cup of coffee at Canihaveabite and the
Redheaded Philosopher Coffee (8011 Wornall Rd., Ste. B). Other new dining experiences include Summit Grill and Bar
(500 W. 75th St.) and Game Day Chicken Wings Burgers & Fish (8950 Wornall Rd.).
If your home needs that special “pick me up,” visit Off the Floor Woodwork (7142 Wornall) for unique wood and jewelry
creations. Be sure Fido has the latest in fashion and accessories from k9 Closet (7406 Wornall Rd.).
Southtown Non-Profit has Far-Reaching Effect
With more than a century of training blind and visually impaired
individuals, Alphapointe has brought innovative and proficient job
opportunities to Kansas City. While offering various programs
from youth services to senior adult services, they have
encompassed all levels of vision loss for the betterment of each
recipient. Over the past 100 years, they catapulted to the largest
single employer of the visually impaired. Aiming to empower each
individual with the knowledge and capability to achieve each and
every goal, Alphapointe has adapted important core values for
success: Excellence, Integrity, Accountability, Responsibility,
Teamwork, and Fun.
Alphapointe is a non-profit foundation 501(c)(3) led by the support of inspired community members and CEO/President,
Reinhard Mabry. Locating at 7501 Prospect Avenue has opened an array of neighboring colleges/universities, hospitals,
businesses, and government agencies to gain help from their services. From job opportunities to products produced,
Alphapointe has put its stamp on the community. With a large selection of products and services offered, individuals
gain knowledge in plastics manufacturing, janitorial/textile manufacturing, office product manufacturing, retail business
and military supplies, office products, low vision services, and call center services. New York City Industries for the
Blind (NYCIB) took notice of their excellent work and joined forces, now known as Alphapointe.NYC. Please visit
www.alphapointe.org for more inspiring stories and opportunities to help.
A big thank you to all who make Alphapointe possible. Here’s to another 100 years of excellence!
Natalie Nelson: A New Face at Southtown
Having lived in a few other wonderful cities, all with their own uniqueness, it has never
and will never be the same as living in Kansas City, Missouri. Beginning a new chapter
in Kansas City, Southtown has welcomed me with open arms. With an ever-present
friendly environment, it is easy to feel at home here.
It is not easy for me to admit as a Kansas City native, but there is so much more to this
place than I ever knew. Southtown has taken the areas we love and made them shine.
From festivals, sidewalk repairs, parades, and having involved board members,
Southtown’s success as a whole is because everyone pitches in and wants us at our
best.
As a Waldo resident and having worked in Brookside for years, it is so exciting to see
how it all comes together. The hard work of many, many individuals in Southtown, Brookside and Waldo allow each and
every one us to enjoy the secret perks of our area. I am honored to be a part of Southtown’s team and look forward to
discovering and rediscovering untapped gems located right here in the heart of Kansas City. Thank you for welcoming
me to Southtown!
Pies For a Purpose
Each year Gillis, a local nonprofit that works with kids and families, raises funds through a pie sale around the
holidays. Specifically, they sell $15 certificates that can be redeemed for a Tippin’s pie. Certificates could be given to
employees, customers, suppliers, or anyone you can think of that would enjoy a delicious pie. And you would be helping
out a family during the holiday season (and all year round). Every pie sold helps.
25 pies sold – provides 10 hours of intensive family counseling;
50 pies sold – covers the cost of breakfast, lunch and dinner for 30 children;
100 pies sold – helps to support the emergency children’s shelter program.
Gillis is actually the oldest nonprofit in KC, dating back to 1870. This year alone they will
help 1,400 children and families. Please visit www.gillis.org/pies to order certificates.
End-of-the-Year Giving
As you begin planning your “end-of-the-year” gift decisions, please keep the Southtown Foundation on your list.
Southtown’s mission is to facilitate the linkages and partnerships among the community stakeholders to create an
environment for economic development and growth, strengthen existing businesses and welcome new ones, promote
the area resources and achievements, initiate corrective actions where needed and maintain the community as a great
place to live, work, and do business.
The Southtown Foundation is a 501C3 organization and your contribution is 100% tax deductible. To donate, send your
check to the Southtown Foundation, 6814 Troost Ave., KCMO 64131 or donate on-line at http://southtown.org/stc/
southtown-foundation-501c3-organization.
Thank you to Research Medical Center for printing The Link.