2017 Explore Liberty by Marty Novak

Explore Liberty

www.explorelibertymo.com

March 2017

COU R I E R T R I BU N E

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CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

C OU R I E R T R I BU N E

104 N. Main St. ✦ Liberty, MO 64068 Publisher .............................................................. Sandy Nelson Editor...........................................................................Amy Neal Editorial Contributors .......................... Kellie Houx, Ryne Dittmer

Explore Liberty is published by the Courier-Tribune in partnership with The City of

Table of Contents

M ES S AGE FROM T HE MAYOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 AR TS , ENT ERTAI NMENT & CU LT U RE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 WO R D S M I T H CRAFT S CHI LDREN’S STORI ES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 VIVE LA MU SI QU E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 IN S PIR ING G REAT NESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 C ALEN DAR OF EVENT S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 C ITY O F RENAI SSANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 B US INES S DI RECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 LIB ER TY AREA MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 PAR K S & RECREAT I ON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 B O O K S & MORE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 7 ED UC ATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 A N EW ERA I N EDU CAT I ON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 H IS TO R Y & HERI TAG E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 A PER FECT VANTAG E POI NT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 AR EA C IVI C I NFORMAT I ON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6

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March 2017 ✦

Explore Liberty

Explore Liberty A message from the mayor

The city of Liberty was founded in 1822 and is the second oldest incorporated town west of the Mississ Americana at its best right here in the heart of the heartland for 195 years. As we prepare for the next 100 y Liberty’s western gateway at Interstate 35 and Missouri Highway 152/Kansas Street has significantly expanded million, 320,000-square-foot retail and dining development, christened Liberty Commons, will continue to open throug Historic downtown Liberty is surrounded by a multitude of well-preserved homes and landm Liberty is recognized as one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street nvestment in the historic downtown area, upgrading the infrastructure and revitalizing the street Dedicated to blending new and old, our city is complimented by the vibrancy of staurants. The atmosphere is friendly — a perfect place to relax and explore at your ow There is also an abundance of recreational and cultural activities planned throughout the year. Liberty’ always something going on at the Liberty Community Center, Fountain Bluff Sports Comple Orchestra, Community Chorus and the fine arts and athletic departments of William Jewell Colleg History buffs will enjoy the free walking tours highlighting Liberty’s historic featur y a variety of volunteers and local experts. Featuring a different topic each month, Education and health care are proud hallmarks of the Liberty community as well. Liberty Public Schools is the second faste Jewell College is an NCAA Division II liberal arts college regularly honored by national publications such as U.S. N pecialties.Norterre, a master-planned multi-generationalcommunitydevelopmentadjacenttothehospital campus, is now und n2017,beonthelookoutforanewtourismwebsite.Slatedtogolivethisspringatwww.VisitLibertyMo.com,thiswebsitewil WhateverExplore Liberty experience you are looking for, stopping by for a few hours, visiting for a d

Our Renaissance continues! The city of Liberty was founded in 1822 and is the second oldest incorporated town west of the Mississippi River. Named for one of the bedrock principles Americans hold dear, people have been experiencing Americana at its best right here in the heart of the heartland for 195 years. As we prepare for the next 100 years, the transformation of Liberty will continue in 2017 with more than $300 million in active construction projects. Liberty’s western gateway at Interstate 35 and Missouri Highway 152/Kansas Street has significantly expanded the retail offerings in our city, including new stores, restaurants and a specialty grocery store. The businesses in this $85 million, 320,000-square-foot

✦ March 2017

retail and dining development, christened Liberty Commons, will continue to open throughout 2017. A Marriott flag hotel, now under construction on the same site, will be open for guests by the end of 2017. Historic downtown Liberty is surrounded by a multitude of wellpreserved homes and landmarks. With an array of boutiques, specialty stores and locally owned restaurants, downtown Liberty is recognized as one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Communities, one of only six in Missouri. This spring the city is completing a $5 million investment in the historic downtown area, upgrading the infrastructure and revitalizing the streetscape, making it more pedestrian friendly, all while being sensitive to the historic atmosphere. Dedicated to blending new and old, our city is complimented by the vibrancy of national retailers, independent merchant shops, museums, historic sites and a variety of restaurants. The atmosphere is friendly — a

perfect place to relax and explore at your own pace. Frankly, if you can’t find it in Liberty, you probably didn’t need it anyway! There is also an abundance of recreational and cultural activities planned throughout the year. Liberty’s Parks & Recreation Department offers a wide variety of programs and events for all ages. There is always something going on at the Liberty Community Center, Fountain Bluff Sports Complex and at the many gymnasiums, parks and trails around town. The Corbin Theatre, Symphony Orchestra, Community Chorus and the fine

sippi River. Named for one of the bedrock principles Americans hold dear, people have been experiencin years, the transformation of Liberty will continue in 2017 with over $300 million in active construction project d the retail offerings in our city, including new stores, restaurants and a specialty grocery store. The businesses in this $8 ghout 2017. A Marriott flag hotel, now under construction on the same site, will be open for guests by the end of 2017 marks. With an array of boutiques, specialty stores and locally owned restaurants, downtow Communities, one of only six in Missouri. This spring the city is completing a $5 millio tscape, making it more pedestrian friendly, all while being sensitive to the historic atmospher national retailers, independent merchant shops, museums, historic sites and a variety o wn pace. Frankly, if you can’t find it in Liberty, you probably didn’t need it anyway y’s Parks & Recreation Department offers a wide variety of programs Your and events for all ages. The Liberty Price Chopper ex and at the many gymnasiums, parks and trails around town. The Corbin Theatre, Symphon 896 S 291 Hwy. & ge and Liberty Public Schools all provide enjoyable and worthwhile events at a Avenue very reasonable cos 9717 N. Ash res. Offered on the first Saturday from May through October, the tours are le thousands of organic, natural, they Discover are a favorite among history and architecture buffs across the metropolitan area and among non-GMO items districts in the State of Missouri. William est growing schoolgluten-free district in the state, recognized the top high-performing ourLiberty stores. News & World Report andthroughout Forbes. Well regarded Hospital is a state-of-the-art regional hospital covering all medica derconstruction with the first phase including a wellnesscenter,short-termrehabilitationandlong-termskilled nursing facilitie llprovidevisitorsplanningatriporalreadyintownwithaone-stopsiteforevents,restaurants,andfunthingstodoforkidsandadult day or putting down roots in one of our new single-family, multi-family or Exploresenior citize Liberty arts and athletic departments of William Jewell College and Liberty Public Schools all provide enjoyable and worthwhile events at a very reasonable cost. History buffs will enjoy the free walking tours highlighting Liberty’s historic features. Offered on the first Saturday from May through October, the tours are led by a variety of volunteers and local experts. Featuring a different topic each month, they are a favorite among history and architecture buffs across the metropolitan area. Education and health care are proud hallmarks of the Liberty community as well. Liberty Public Schools is the second fastest growing school district in the state,

recognized among the top highperforming districts in the State of Missouri. William Jewell College is an NCAA Division II liberal arts college regularly honored by national publications such as U.S. News & World Report and Forbes. Well-regarded Liberty Hospital is a state-of-the-art regional hospital covering all medical specialties. Norterre, a master-planned multi-generational community development adjacent to the hospital campus, is now under construction with the first phase including a wellness center, shortterm rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing facilities. In 2017, be on the lookout for a new tourism website. Slated to go live

this spring at www.VisitLibertyMo.com, this website will provide visitors planning a trip or already in town with a one-stop site for events, restaurants, and fun things to do for kids and adults. Whatever experience you are looking for, stopping by for a few hours, visiting for a day or putting down roots in one of our new singlefamily, multi-family or senior citizen residential developments around the city, you’re sure to find it in Liberty. I encourage you to Explore Liberty and participate in the renaissance transforming Liberty! Proudly,

Mayor Lyndell Brenton

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March 2017 ✦

Explore Liberty Arts, Entertainment & Culture

The Liberty Summer Band is conducted by Shane Fuller, band director at Liberty North High School.

LIBERTY ARTS COMMISSION About a decade ago, Liberty took steps to propel the arts forward and created the Liberty Arts Commission. The organization’s goal is to serve as a catalyst — to support, sustain and strengthen the community by increasing awareness, opportunities and public involvement in local arts and cultural activities. The group is active in the community, planning public art displays. Currently, there are three exhibit spaces in the community: 6

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

• Liberty City Hall, 101 E. Kansas St.; • Liberty branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library, 1000 Kent St.; • Liberty Community Center, 1600 S. Withers Road. Many of the exhibits feature local artists or artists connected to the city. The commission is also organizing the second year of Make Music Liberty on the summer solstice, June 21. It has begun looking at public art displays around the Liberty Square, and the group will be giving out grants to artists this year as well. The commission also maintains an arts

calendar of events on the city’s website. For information about local artist news and exhibits, sign up for notifications through the Liberty Arts News Flash on the city website, libertymissouri.gov.

LIBERTY ARTS FOUNDATION The Liberty Arts Foundation is a separate nonprofit charitable organization created in 2011 and committed to supporting all art-related endeavors that benefit Liberty residents. As funding becomes available through private donations and grants, the

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foundation supports the projects of the Arts Commission, the Liberty Symphony, the Community Chorus, Corbin Theatre and other arts-focused organizations and individuals. The China Slaughter Reading Park is one more step closer to a reality. In the late fall of 2016, the commission chose artist Martha Aldridge, a retired teacher from Clinton, Missouri, who presented a maquette of Slaughter with two young students. Slaughter was a beloved school crossing guard for more than three decades. He also was a custodial supervisor for the local school district. Donations can be accepted online at the Liberty Arts Foundation website: squareup.com/store/laffunds-at-gmail-dot-com. The levels of donations start at $25 or enter the amount online. Visit libertyartsfoundation. wordpress.com for more information.

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Art hanging in the Liberty Community Center has included the whimsical and the sublime from the mind of artist Matt Eeks.

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Explore Liberty

Arts, Entertainment & Culture LIBERTY PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE

SUMMER BAND

The 700-seat Liberty Performing Arts Theatre hosts a plethora of events produced by the Liberty Symphony Orchestra, Corbin Theatre Company, Liberty Public Schools, Natural Build Fitness, dance studios and other local and national organizations. The theater recently had several upgrades to lighting and sound, which has added to its marketability. The LPAT now offers open band rehearsals, which provide time and space for progressive ensembles to rehearse in a professional environment and also be heard by an audience — with no required charge to either players or listeners. Located inside the Liberty Community Center at 1600 S. Withers Road, the LPAT offers excellent acoustics, is one of the largest stages in the area, and is the only professional live performance venue in the Kansas City Northland. To see what’s happening at the theater or to check out rental information, visit libertymissouri.gov/37/Liberty-Performing-Arts-Theatre.

The Liberty Summer Band, which is an all-volunteer group of approximately 80 musicians, annually performs three free concerts during the month of June plus a performance in conjunction with the Liberty4thFest, the community’s Fourth of July celebration. The June concerts are scheduled on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in front of the James S. Rooney Justice Center, 11 S. Water St. Concertgoers should bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. In case of rain, concerts are held at the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre, 1600 S. Withers Road. To check out concert dates and times, visit mo-liberty.civicplus.com/1500/ Liberty-Summer-Band.

LIBERTY4THFEST Liberty4thFest celebrates Independence Day each year with food, fun and fireworks. Last year’s construction on the Liberty Square forced the festivities to

Fountain Bluff Sports Complex. The 2016 event was so successful that the event will be at the complex again this year. However, the celebration will be July 3. The city of Liberty, the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce and other supporting partners make this event possible. Visit www.liberty4thfest.com for more information.

FALL FESTIVAL Held on the fourth full weekend in September — this year Sept. 22 to 24 — the Liberty Fall Festival brings about 200 vendors, carnival rides, a parade, local entertainment and much more to historic downtown Liberty. This year marks the 41st annual event. Festivalgoers can get their fill of giant turkey legs, footlong corndogs, homemade root beer and funnel cakes, all while perusing vendors selling anything and everything. The Historic

Wordsmith crafts children’s stories By Kellie Houx Children’s author Tim McCanna continues to release books. “Watersong” arrived Jan. 31 and will be followed by “Barnyard Boogie!” in May and “Jack B. Ninja” in the fall. A Bitty Bot sequel, “Bitty Bot’s Big Beach Getaway,” is scheduled to publish in the summer of 2018. McCanna was born and raised in Liberty, where he attended Garrison School in kindergarten, as well as Ridgeview Elementary, Liberty Junior High and Liberty High schools. Last fall, “Bitty Bot” was published by Simon & Schuster and Paula Wiseman Books.

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

“I am surprised at how this book has taken off (for) kids and parents, too,” he said. The story, geared toward children 4 to 8 years old with illustrations by Tad Carpenter, another metro area local, follows a resourceful little robot who stays up past the required bed time, builds a rocket ship, parties with aliens and almost runs out of power. “Watersong” is another picture book with only 50 descriptive words. “Teeny Tiny Trucks” is an earlier title from McCanna, who has a master’s degree in dramatic writing for musical theater from NYU. Learn more about McCanna and his books at www.timmccanna.com.

Downtown Liberty Farmers’ Market rounds out the festivities with its beautiful displays of fall pumpkins, mums and veggies for sale. The event, organized by the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce, traces its roots back to 1934 with ties to 4-H in Clay County and homecoming activities at William Jewell College. Visit www. libertyfallfest.com for more information.

Corbin Theatre offers free jazz performances monthly.

LIBERTY COMMUNITY CHORUS The Liberty Community Chorus, officially the city’s chorus after receiving the designation in 2015, features the musical talents of a mixed choir open to singers 16 and older. Bryan Taylor of the Grammywinning Kansas City Chorale directs the decade-old chorus, which performs concerts in both the fall and spring. The nonprofit chorus is funded through member dues, ticket sales and donor support. For more information, visit www.libertycommunitychorus.org.

COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

The Liberty Community Chorus is the city’s official chorus.

The Lydia Lovan Community School of Music has offered private music lessons to students of all ages in the community for more than 40 years. Instructors have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in music, and most have graduate degrees in music. William Jewell College student teachers who are on their way to earning

their music degree are approved to teach for the program by the college faculty. During the school year, recitals are offered monthly and are open to program participants. To learn more, visit www.jewell.edu/community-school-of-music.

CORBIN THEATRE The Corbin Theatre Company, located downtown at 15 N. Water St., is Liberty’s official community theater. The theater features numerous theatrical performances throughout the year, as well as regular live jazz nights, usually on the first Monday evening of the month, and other events. To contact the theater, call 816-529-4988 or email info@corbintheatre.org. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.corbintheatre.org.

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LIBERTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA For more than four decades, the Liberty Symphony Orchestra has presented the best in classical and pop music, and featured local musicians and composers. The symphony presents a series of four regular concerts annually and an educational concert for area youth at the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre. This year, the symphony added a free community concert at the Woodneath Library Center. For concert dates and ticket information, visit www.libertysymphony.org.

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Explore Liberty

Arts, Entertainment & Culture PUBLIC ART

Congo thought glass bottles would capture evil spirits. Africans of the Trans-Atlantic slave Great Americans Project: Liberty currently trade brought this lore and artwork to the boasts statues of two great Americans. The Americas. The trees would trap roaming evil first was unveiled in 2013 with a life-sized bronze statue of the nation’s first president, spirits after dusk and then would be vaporized in the heat of the morning light. George Washington, gracing the corner of Mill and South Leonard streets. This Kinetic wind sculptures: Commissioned by past summer, Missouri’s beloved son and the Liberty Arts Commission, six kinetic literary giant Mark Twain was revealed at wind sculptures add to the landscape of the corner of Kansas and North Missouri two roundabouts — on College Street streets. Former Mayor Greg Canuteson has between Conistor and Blue Jay Drive — led the efforts for the art initiative with to improve the appearance of this retail the Great Americans Project Board. Future area. The sculptures were created by sculptures could become part of a walking Lyman Whitaker. Through the years, the trail around the historic downtown. sculptures have taken on a patina, but continue to move gently in the wind. Three Public Art Galleries: There are three rotating exhibit spaces in the community Liberty Jail Historic Site: While the museum, — Liberty City Hall, 101 E. Kansas St.; the 216 N. Main St., shares the story of Liberty branch of the Mid-Continent Public Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, who spent Library, 1000 Kent St.; and the Liberty about five months awaiting trial, the site Community Center, 1600 S. Withers Road. also includes art displays at various times Many of the exhibits feature local artists or of the year, including a substantial display artists connected to the city. The exhibits of Nativities at Christmastime. often change every month to two months. The Pencil: While not technically a piece of art, the telecommunications tower visible from downtown resembles a giant yellow No. 2 pencil. The 100-foot metal tower is northwest of downtown Liberty.

Nativities from around the world can be found at the Historic Liberty Jail, 216 N. Main St., at Christmastime. This sculpture, designed by StudiosEIS out of New York, depicts George Washington at the time of the Revolutionary War.

KANSAS CITY ZOO In 2011, voters in Clay and Jackson counties approved a one-eighth-cent sales tax to benefit the Kansas City Zoo, located in Kansas City. With the taxes, the zoo has added a new tiger exhibit, created a new orangutan enclosure with more climbing elements for the apes and the Helzberg Penguin Plaza. Annually, the tax raises about $13 million and because of this, the zoo has offered benefits to the two counties including free or reduced admission days. For more information, visit www.kansascityzoo.org. 10

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

The bottle tree traces its origins to the Bakongo people of central Africa. Yards were decorated with glittering glass bottles to entice, capture and weaken evil forces including greediness, distrust and dissonance. The cobalt blue glass “leaves” capture evil spirits prowling after dark. The following morning, as sunlight heats the bottle, it vaporizes the spirits. Garrison School Cultural Center: The former Garrison School site contains a gallery space for historic objects as well as an art gallery at 502 N. Water St. The Bottle Tree outside the building is an 800-pound steel sculpture created by Robert Evans. According to tradition, the Bakongo people of the African

MURALS

A series of murals are found around downtown Liberty — both indoors and outside. The Lewis & Clark Mural: This exterior painting at Water and Mill streets commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Lewis & Clark expedition. The image of York, the slave who went on the expedition, was modeled after historian and poet Shelton Ponder. Artist: David McClain

county administrative center and former courthouse. Another mural shows a former POW camp that was in Liberty. The third is a scene at dusk at Multnomah Plantation. The fourth, the African-American Legacy Mural, honors African-American pioneers, businesses, churches and schools that contributed to the founding of four county cities with vital African-American populations: Liberty, Excelsior Springs, North Kansas City and Missouri City. Artist: David McClain.

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY The Little Free Library movement continues. With a “take a book, leave a book” philosophy, these containers allow the community to share favorites. The library inside City Hall is a busy box, and a newer one has been installed at Kellybrook Elementary School on the corner of 108th Street and Eastern Avenue.

A Little Free Library has been installed at Kellybrook Elementary School on the corner of 108th Street and Eastern Avenue.

WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE guides students to think critically, engage in the world and pursue meaningful lives of leadership and service. The Justice Center Mural was created by Matthew Monks with tiles made by Ron Taylor. Justice Center Mural: Each scene in this outdoor collection of murals illustrates a different aspect of Clay County history. Artist: Matthew Monks; tiles made by Ron Taylor. Liberty: The Heritage Years: Significant events in Liberty’s history, including the arrival of early settlers at Liberty Landing, decorate the Council Chamber where today’s city leaders meet at City Hall. Artist Eric Bransby stopped in Liberty in 2015 to see how his work has fared. The century-old artist painted the work in 1983. Clay County Administration Building Murals: A massive piece of art — 28 feet wide and 8 feet tall — depicting Clay County history adorns the interior of the third floor of the

www.jewell.edu 75082527

March 2017 ✦

Explore Liberty

Vive la musique! By Kellie Houx Liberty joined more than 750 cities around the world in a celebration of music with French origins. Cities such as Berlin, London, Glasgow, Moscow, Rome, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, San Diego and St. Louis. Cities that are significantly larger in population and geography. But that didn’t stop the Liberty Arts Commission from jumping into this musical schema with both feet. Last year, June 21, 2016, was a bit hot, but the inaugural Make Music Day Liberty brought out 15 registered venues around town and 26 performers, including soloists and groups that started performing in the late morning and didn’t stop until later in the evening. This year, Wednesday, June 21, will be the summer solstice, and on that day, the

second Make Music Day Liberty will take place around town. According to the international group, Make Music Day started in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique. Jack Lang and his staff at the Ministry of Culture dreamed up an idea for a new kind of musical holiday. They imagined a day during which free, live music would be everywhere — street corners and parks, rooftops and gardens, store fronts and mountaintops. The decision was to perform on the day with the longest amount of sunlight. Liberty Arts Commission Chairman Bill Stilfield, a musician and record label owner himself, encouraged the commission to give Make Music Day a try last year after the Liberty Arts Squared was canceled because of downtown reconstruction efforts. “I was very happy with the way it happened last year,”

Musical acts perform at venues across the city on the summer solstice.

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

Stilfield said. “The response was strong, despite the heat and the fact that the downtown area was under construction.” He wants to see more participation from musicians and venues, plus some businesses. “We are excited about it, and with one behind us, we know how to make those needed adjustments and improvements,” he said. “The musicians can come from anywhere. It would be great to have musicians from all over the metropolitan area. Hey, if a musician wants to come from California to play, we can probably find them a slot. Our major decision is to keep the bulk of our venues in Liberty.” Liberty must register with the larger Make Music Day Alliance. To find out more about the Liberty event, visit makemusicliberty.org.

Inspiring

greatness

“Keep away from people

who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

Mark Twain, a life-size statue of whom looks upon Liberty Square

By Ryne Dittmer

Great Americans project decorates downtown Liberty Lions Club has a motto of “We Serve” and within the Liberty/Clay County area our primary service project is eye exams and glasses on a referral basis. We collect and recycle approximately 10,000 pairs of glasses a year and when added to those collected by others Lions clubs provide improved eyesight to needy in foreign countries. Annually, a scholarship is awarded to a deserving Liberty senior.

LIBERTY LIONS CLUB 75081903

From the corner of Missouri and Kansas streets, Mark Twain keeps a watchful eye over the Liberty Square. Two blocks away, George Washington gazes toward the intersection of Mill and South Leonard streets. The life-size bronze statutes flanking the downtown district are the first installments of Liberty’s Great Americans Project. Washington debuted in 2013 with Twain following in 2016. Organizers envision the project one day incorporating enough privately-funded statutes to create a walking tour and tourism destination throughout the city’s core. “The idea was to have a walking trail of great Americans from William Jewell College to the old junior high school, now Heritage Middle School,” Great Americans Project committee member Greg Canuteson said. “We thought that Liberty was the perfect place to celebrate American exceptionalism, and we thought it was something unique.” Both statues were commissioned from StudioEIS of Brooklyn, New York, one of the nation’s leading historical bronze sculpture producers. “They’ve done more portraits and bronzes of founders than anyone,” said Canuteson. “We really worked with the best in the world.” Mayor Lyndell Brenton said great art projects help set communities apart. “I just want to say, on behalf of the city, how much we appreciate this wonderful gift, because that’s what it is, it’s a gift of art to the city,” Brenton said. “Monies are raised and paid for through private donations. It’s something that the city can’t do on its own, and when folks like you step up, that makes the difference in a great community. We all believe Liberty is a great community, and this is just one more piece that sets it apart from others.” Planning for the third statue in the series is underway, Canuteson said.

We also support many other service works in the community.

Contact: Donna Bailey, Secretary

We meet on the 2nd and 4th Monday evenings at 6:30pm for dinner at Perkins Restaurant in Liberty.

Email: dbailey1930@att.net

We invite you to come join our organization.

Phone: 816-792-3359

March 2017 ✦

Explore Liberty

Explore Liberty Calendar of Events RECURRING Jazz on the Square: 5:30 to 8 p.m. the first Monday of each month. Enjoy a free evening of jazz at the Corbin Theatre, 15 N. Water St. Concessions available for purchase.

Moonlight Yoga: Nightfall on full-moon nights in April through October. Bring a mat or blanket and a donation to Stocksdale Park, 901 S. La Frenz Road, for some yoga by moonlight. This event helps raise funds for the Liberty Dog Park.

Garrison Art Exhibit: 3 p.m. April 23 at Garrison School Cultural Center, 502 N. Water St. “Lost in Yonkers”: performances at 8:30 p.m. May 5 and 6, 12 and 13 at Corbin Theatre. Fishing: Discover fishing with the Missouri Department of Conservation from 6 to 8 p.m. May 9, 16 and 23 at Fountain Bluff Sports Complex, 2200 Old Missouri Highway 210.

Popcorn in the Park: 8:30 p.m. May 26 at Stocksdale Park. Pull up a chair or blanket and bring the whole family for a night under the stars for a free outdoor screening Historic Downtown Liberty Farmers’ Market: 7 a.m. of “Star Wars” with complimentary to noon Saturdays May through September popcorn. and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays in October. Farm-fresh flowers, produce, meats, eggs, baked goods, prepared foods and craft items. This year returns to the historic Square in downtown Liberty. History Talks: Third Thursday presentations are at 7 p.m. monthly at the Clay County Museum and Historical Society, 14 N. Main St. Walking Tours: Historic walking tours are the first or second Saturdays of the month from May through October at 10 a.m. For more details call 439-4537. Fourth Fridays: Participating shops around downtown stay open until 9 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month.

SPRING “Nunsense”: performances at 7:30 p.m. March 31, April 1, April 7 and April 8, Corbin Theatre. Big Bunny Bash: 10 a.m. April 8 at Liberty Hospital. This event is free and open to the public with children and hosted by the Liberty Parks and Recreation Department. Dirty Dog Mud Run 5K and Pet Expo: April 22 at Stocksdale Park. This event will feature a 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. The annual fundraiser benefits the public dog park. 14

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

Daddy Daughter Dance: 6 to 8 p.m. June 17 at the Liberty Community Center, 1600 S. Withers Road. Make Music Day Liberty: music festival takes place around the city June 21. Juneteenth Celebration: June 21 at the Garrison School Cultural Center.

SUMMER National Parks and Recreation Month: July is National Parks and Recreation Month and the Liberty Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a series of activities and events for everyone to get out and enjoy local parks.

Liberty 4thFest/Great American Picnic: Starting at 5:30 p.m. July 3 at Fountain Bluff Sports Complex. Celebrate Independence Day with food trucks, kids’ activities, inflatables, a free outdoor concert from a Pink Floyd Tribute Band and fireworks. Add to your picnic experience by bringing your own fun from home — kites, bubbles, Frisbees, sports balls etc. For more information, visit www.liberty4thfest.com. Tee It Up Fore Parks: 8 a.m. shotgun start. July 14 at Liberty Hills Golf Club. Teams of golfers tee it up in support of the Liberty Parks and Recreational Charitable Fund as it works to strengthen Liberty Parks and Recreation’s programs, services and amenities.

Local Dirt: 6:30 p.m. July 16 at Rotary

children and families for a fun evening of trick or treating in downtown Liberty. Sponsored by Historic Downtown Liberty Inc.

Veterans’ Day celebration: noon Nov. 11 at the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre, 1600 S. Withers Road. Veterans’ Day Celebration to honor United States military veterans.

WINTER Third annual Car & Bike Show: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 14 in downtown.

“Mornings at Seven”: performances at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28, Nov. 3 and 4 at Corbin Theatre. Trick or Treat Downtown: 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31. Participating businesses welcome costumed

Third annual Hometown Holiday Event/Small Business Saturday: Nov. 25. Celebrate the season as you “shop small, shop local” and discover all that the downtown businesses have to offer. Event will include: Santa, outdoor fire pits, kids crafts and more from 2 to 5 p.m. The event culminates in the Liberty Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, which begins at 6 p.m. All activities are in downtown Liberty.

Plaza, 100 W. Franklin St. Farm-to-table dining experience. Fundraiser for Historic Downtown Liberty Inc. Details TBA.

Dog Days of Summer Craft Beer Crawl: 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 19. Visit historic downtown Liberty, purchase a commemorative glass and sip samples of various, unique craft beers at participating businesses. Sponsored by Historic Downtown Liberty Inc. Popcorn in the Park: 8:30 p.m. Aug. 25 in Stocksdale Park. Movie TBA. “Midsummer, the Millennial Edition”: performances 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 and 9 at Corbin Theatre.

Patriot Day Remembrance: a 9/11 event at 10 a.m. Sept. 11 at the Liberty Square Fountain in front of City Hall, 101 E. Kansas St.

1325 Odd Fellows Road, Liberty, MO 64068 www.belvoirwinery.com email: info@belvoirwinery.com call us: 816.200.1811

FALL Liberty Fall Festival: Sept. 22 to 24. Entertainment, parade, carnival, music, dancing and more at the 41st annual festival, held in downtown Liberty. Coordinated by the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce.

Hours: Sunday 12:00-6:00 • Monday-Wednesday 11:00-4:00 Thursday-Saturday 11:00-8:00 75061804

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Explore Liberty

The term “renaissance” means a renewal, a restored interest or revival, and Liberty continues to fit this definition in 2017. Liberty’s makeover continues and will advance into the near future if the various construction sites under development are any indication.

Liberty Commons

Just drive into the city on Missouri Highway 152 onto Kansas Street or come off the highway at the Interstate 35 interchange. An estimated 60,000 people drive along I-35 and another 50,000 along Highway 152 daily. In less than two years, the former Sears/ Kmart-anchored shopping center has faded into part of Liberty’s history. In in its place is Liberty Commons, a 325,000-square-foot center with stores, restaurants, a specialty grocery store and a hotel. Starting in early fall 2016, the stores in the center started rolling online with

Academy Sports opening first, and then Natural Grocers, a grocery store new to the Northland. This winter, Five Below opened and then Kirkland’s, with Petco and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse scheduled to follow soon afterward. Legacy Development marketing leader Dave Claflin said Liberty Commons will be hosting a Mother’s Day celebration May 12 to 14 to kick off the grand opening of the new shopping center. Other shops that should roll on include HomeGoods, Ulta Beauty, maurice’s and Aveda’s Lifestyle Salon. There are also restaurants coming in including Louie’s Wine Dive, Spin! Neapolitan Pizza, McAlister’s Deli and Slim Chickens.

Construction is underway on a Marriott hotel, too. With the redevelopment of Liberty Commons, B&B Theatres closed its longtime cinema to move a few hundred feet away behind the Culver’s and CVS. Bob Bagby, president of B&B Theatres, announced that financing for the company’s new flagship theater in Liberty has been secured from Guaranty Bank and that local firm J Price Architecture is completing the plans. The Liberty location will house 12 stateof-the-art auditoriums, the smallest of which will be larger than the biggest screen of the former B&B Theatres location in Liberty. Construction should start in April or May.

City of Renaissance By Kellie Houx

The Marriott Town Suites is under construction in Liberty Commons. The development is visible from Interstate 35 and serves as part of the gateway to Liberty.

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

Residential development

Restaurants such as McAlister’s Deli and Slim Chickens are going to be part of the landscape at Liberty Commons. B&B Theatres has been family owned and operated since 1924 and is the eighth largest theater chain in the United States. The company operates 405 screens at 50 locations in Arkansas, Arizona, Kansas, Florida, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

Liberty Square

Excuses Plus Size Boutique took the corner shop at Kansas and Main streets in early 2017. Along with the additional shops, there are plans to create wayfinding signage to enhance tourism around Liberty, including on the Square and at Fountain Bluff Sports Complex.

After the downturn of 2008 in the housing market and cautious developers hoping the housing bubble doesn’t burst again, the year of 2016 saw several housing projects underway or approved by the Liberty City Council. In early June, developers Joe Duffey and Dan Carr broke ground on the newest housing division creation in about a decade — Homestead of Liberty. The first phase has lots under construction with five builders. The housing stock will be between the high $290,000 to $500,000 range. Construction also has begun on the Cottages at Bluebird Creek, a 48-unit senior development on Lightburne Street. Forest Avenue is closed during construction of a new apartment complex on that street called Northpoint Forest Avenue Apartments, which will offer 292-market rate apartments. The Riverwood final development plan and plat on Conistor Street, near EPiC Elementary, is also under construction and will include 22 single-family lots.

Around the historic Liberty Square, the fourth and final phase of downtown redevelopment work along Main, Kansas and Water streets will be completed this spring. The $5 million voter-approved project began last summer to update infrastructure and beautify downtown streetscapes. Currently, open space around the Square is hard to find. Most of the space is filled with retailers or restaurants. The recent additions of Hammerhand Coffee and Anna Marie’s Teas filled up available space at the corners of Main and Franklin streets. Another newcomer to downtown, although an established business in Liberty, More 2016

Work on Kansas Street moving toward Liberty City Hall was part of the downtown reconstruction.

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Explore Liberty Business directory APARTMENTS

Westowne Apartments 1136 W. College St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-1919

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Corbin Theatre 15 N. Water St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-529-4988 www.corbintheatre.org Retro Bowl 906 W. Liberty Dr., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-1998 www.goretrobowl.com

ATTORNEY

Aramjoo Law Firm 17 W. Kansas St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-479-5898 www.aramjoolawfirm.com

BED & BREAKFAST

Stone-Yancey House Bed and Breakfast 421 Lightburne St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-415-0066 www.stoneyanceyhouse.com

BOUTIQUE

More Excuses Plus Size Boutique (Sizes 10-24) 2 N. Main St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-3832 www.moreexcusesplussizeboutique.com

CHURCH

Liberty Christian Church 427 E. Kansas St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-3621

DAY SPA/SALON

Salon Oasis & Day Spa 8504 N. Church Rd., Kansas City, MO 64157 816-415-3733 www.salonoasisanddayspa.com

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

DENTAL

Liberty Oaks Dental Group 8291 N. Booth Ave., Kansas City, MO 64158 816-728-2979 www.libertyoaksdentalgroup.com

DINING

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers 9800 NE Barry Rd., Kansas City, MO 64157 816-792-9902 www.freddysusa.com Morning Day Café 6 E. Franklin St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-883-8258 www.morningdaycafe.com Rock and Run Brewery & Pub 110 E. Kansas St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-415-2337 www.rockandrunbrewery.com Texas Roadhouse 168 N. Stewart Ct., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-9899 www.texasroadhouse.com The Landing Eatery and Pub 1189 W. Kansas St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-792-5230 www.landingeateryandpub.com

EARLY EDUCATION/DAYCARE

Liberty Montessori Center 1004 Middlebrook Dr., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-6295 www.libertymontessoricenter.com

EDUCATION

The Tutoring Center – Kansas City 9775 N. Cedar Ave., Kansas City, MO 64157 816-781-0000 www.kansascity.turoringcenter.com William Jewell College 500 College Hill, Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-7700 www.jewell.edu

EVENTS

Belvoir Winery 1325 Odd Fellows Rd., Liberty, MO 64068 816-200-1811 www.belvoirwinery.com Excelsior Springs Chamber Trolley Tours & Rentals 461 S. Thompson Ave., Excelsior Springs MO 64024 816-630-6161 www.EStrolley.com

FARMERS MARKET

Historic Downtown Liberty Farmer’s Market Historic Square, Liberty, MO 64068 www.historicdowntownliberty.org

FURNITURE REPAIR

The Woodstripper 130 S. Main St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-9468 www.thewoodstripper.com

GROCERY

Cosentino’s Price Chopper 896 S. Highway 291, Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-4649 www.mypricechopper.com 9717 N. Ash Ave., Kansas City, MO 64157 816-883-2770 www.mypricechopper.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Norterre – A Multigenerational Health & Wellness Destination Opening Fall 2017 816-550-8544 www.norterre.org

HEATING & COOLING

Gladstone Furnace Co. 303 NE 58th Terrace, Gladstone, MO 64118 816-452-0400 www.gfac1948.com

HOSPITAL

Liberty Hospital 2525 Glenn Hendren Dr., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-7200 www.libertyhospital.org

HOTELS & FAMILY FUN

Sleep Inn & Suites and Indoor Waterpark 1840 N Church Rd., Liberty, MO 64068 816-335-4402 www.sleepinn.com/Liberty

INSURANCE

AAA Shoal Creek – Debbie Watson 9205 NE Hwy. 152, Kansas City, MO 64158 816-781-4222

JEWELER

Champagne Jewelers 9201 NE Hwy. 152, Kansas City, MO 64158 816-415-9110 www.champagne-jewelers.com

Lions Club of Liberty 354 Lakeside Dr., Liberty, MO 64068 816-792-3359

SHOE REPAIR

Mace Shoe Repair 20 N. Main St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-5771

SPECIALTY SHOPS

Bratcher Cooperage & Gifts 109 S. Water St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-3988 www.bratchercooperage.com James County Mercantile 111 N. Main St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-9473 www.jamescountry.com

Petals & Potpourri 1 E. Kansas Ave., Liberty, MO 64068 816-429-7760 www.petalsandpotpourri.com Show Me Shooters Indoor Range 287 NE Hwy. 69, Claycomo, MO 64119 816-452-4867 www.showmeshooters.com Main Street Goods and Goodies 16 N. Main St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-6839

VINTAGE & ANTIQUES

Three Gables Décor 110 N. Main St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-678-3791

LIQUOR & CIGAR STORE

Y-Liquor & Cigar 346 S. Hwy. 291, Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-9442

MEDICAL

Liberty Medical Center 1504 NE 96th St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-415-2233 www.libertymedicalcenter.com

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ORGANIZATIONS

Historic Downtown Liberty Inc. 111 N. Water St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-3575 www.historicdowntownliberty.org Historic Liberty Jail Visitors Center 216 N. Main St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-3188 www.lds.org/placestovisit Liberty Chamber of Commerce 1170 W. Kansas St., Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-5200 www.libertychamber.com

816.781.5200 libertychamber.com 1170 W. Kansas Street, Ste. H Liberty, MO 64068 75082548

March 2017 ✦

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Explore Liberty â&#x153;Ś March 2017

Midwest National Air Center

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Explore Downtown Liberty

March 2017 â&#x153;Ś

Explore Liberty

Explore Liberty Parks & Recreation Whether it’s between teammates on the sports field, among fitness class attendees or even the trails that physically connect neighborhoods to schools and parks, the Liberty Parks and Recreation Department strives to create community connections that are vital in building and maintaining a prosperous and healthy community. From sports and fitness programs to parks and trails to activities for mature adults, Liberty Parks and Recreation has something for everyone. With 10 parks covering more than 500 acres, Liberty residents and visitors can enjoy playgrounds, spraygrounds, tennis courts, a new tennis hitting wall, ballfields, a dog park, a disc golf course, and many miles of trails for walking, running or biking. Volunteering for Parks: The Liberty Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities to assist with park maintenance, tree plantings, stream cleanups and special events. The Park Ambassador program allows volunteers to serve as stewards, advocates or docents in parks throughout Liberty. Want to help? Call Hailey Kenkel, community services coordinator, at 439-4396.

PARKS & TRAILS Dog Park: Canine companions can enjoy the Liberty Dog Park, a popular 3-acre fenced area at Stocksdale Park, 901 S. LaFrenz Road. Thanks to a local Eagle Scout, the dog park also has a number of refurbished pieces of agility equipment. There’s even a 5,400-square-foot section dedicated to the smaller dogs who don’t like to play with the big dogs. The Dirty Dog Run, an annual fundraiser for the dog park, will be April 22. Trails: More than 10 miles of asphalt trails provide walkers and runners with citywide opportunities for recreation and fitness. Trails range from less than a quarter mile to 2.5 miles, and many of the trails connect with neighborhood sidewalks. Mountain bikers will find one of the region’s most extensive single-track trail systems at Stocksdale Park and the adjacent Walnut Woods Conservation Area. Disc Golf: Bring your discs and check out the premier, blue-level 18-hole disc golf course in Stocksdale Park. Disc golf is one of the fastest-growing sports, requires very little equipment and is suited to a wide variety of fitness levels. The KC Flying Disc Club holds drop-in mini tournaments at the course on Wednesday evenings April to October. Other tournament dates can be found on the group’s website at KCFDC.org. Spraygrounds: When the summer sun arrives, kids seek the cooling water jets and sprays in one of Liberty’s two spraygrounds at City Park, 970 S. Missouri Highway 291, and Ruth Moore Park, 410 N. Morse Ave. The Ruth Moore Park sprayground is currently under construction and will feature firehouse elements to mirror the fire station across the road. Admission to the spraygrounds, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, is free. For more information on parks and trails, visit libertymissouri.gov/1714/Parks-Trails.

The disc golf course at Stocksdale Park attracts players all year long.

LIBERTY COMMUNITY CENTER The Liberty Community Center, which turned 25 years in early 2017, offers aquatics, fitness, as well as youth and adult community programs to help area residents and visitors maintain an active lifestyle throughout the year. With a day pass, summer pass or annual membership, anyone can take advantage of many of the fitness classes and amenities at the center, 1600 S. Withers Road. Amenities include two indoor pools (lap pool and warm water pool); two outdoor

Stocksdale Park, 901 S. LaFrenz Road, includes a 3-acre fenced dog park. 22

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

pools including a children’s fountain pool; hot tub; sauna; three-quarters court gymnasium; locker rooms; and a recently expanded fitness center featuring cardiovascular and strength training equipment. In 2015, the fitness center underwent a facelift that included new flooring with a walking track, some new weight equipment and spin bikes. The Liberty Community Center also offers five beautiful meeting and banquet rooms and a 700-seat theater suited to accommodate a multitude of special event needs and a variety of group sizes — perfect for business seminars and meetings, receptions, anniversaries, family gatherings, birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, and much more. For more information, call 439-4360 or visit libertymissouri.gov/172/Community-Center.

FOUNTAIN BLUFF SPORTS COMPLEX Known by many near and far for hosting baseball, softball, flag football and soccer leagues and tournaments, Fountain Bluff Sports Complex also offers amenities not seen in other similar facilities. The sports amenities are the largest draw to Fountain Bluff. Since it opened in 2002, hundreds of thousands of visitors from near and far have walked through the gates at Fountain Bluff Sports Complex. With nine softball/baseball fields, extra-wide covered dugouts, playgrounds, six soccer/ football fields, restrooms and concession stands, this facility hosts recreational baseball, softball, soccer and flag football leagues as well as competitive local, state, regional and national baseball and softball tournaments. In 2016, the Liberty City Council

City Park’s spray area fits the bill for a cool-down. 75063732

March 2017 ✦

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Parks & Recreation

Explore Liberty â&#x153;¦ March 2017

approved the Parks Board’s plans to create a grand entry shelter and a playground near the soccer fields. There also are Golf enthusiasts will find multiple options improvements planned to make the park within 10 minutes of downtown Liberty. more accessible and better in its drainage. Liberty Hills Country Club (Private) Last year brought improvements that 18 holes, Par 72 players and spectators will appreciate. The 925 N. Lightburne St., Liberty highly utilized baseball, softball and soccer 781-3636 fields are now better illuminated with new sports lighting that offers brighter, Shoal Creek Golf Course (Public) shadowless and more efficient lighting. 18 holes, Par 71 8905 Shoal Creek Parkway, Kansas City Spectators catching some ball games in 407-7242 the rains of spring or heat of summer enjoy new shade structures at the baseball/ Hodge Park Golf Club (Municipal) softball fields. 18 holes, Par 71 While many think of fishing as a 7000 NE Barry Road, Kansas City summertime activity, it goes on year781-4152 round at Fountain Bluff. Fountain Bluff’s eight ponds are managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation for public been swimming at the Liberty Community fishing. Three to four times each winter, MDC stocks two of the ponds with rainbow Center since 1993. The soccer program is now aligned with Alliance Futbol Club to trout to provide winter fishing. MDC also checks the population of other fish species — bass, catfish, crappie and sunfish — and restocks the ponds as needed. Want to learn more? Visit libertymissouri. gov/91/Fountain-Bluff-Sports-Complex.

better instruct parents and children. And sports aren’t just for the kids. Liberty Parks and Recreation helps adults fulfill their competitive drive through softball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, kickball and basketball leagues. For those who want to try their skills at a sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong, the Liberty Community Center gymnasium sports some new pickleball lines. Also for adults is a new cricket league that will set up in Stocksdale Park. This batand-ball game played between two teams centered around a rectangular 22-foot-long pitch is one of the world’s most popular sports. League play could begin in April. Whether young or just young at heart, Liberty Parks and Recreation has the right activity. For more information about sports programs, visit www.libertymissouri.gov/LPR.

YOUTH & ADULT SPORTS PROGRAMS

1136 W COLLEGE LIBERTY, MO 64068 816-781-1919

GOLF COURSES

Westowne Apartments

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The Liberty Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of youth sports programs that help kids learn the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship and, just as importantly, an active lifestyle. Children, even as young as two and a half in some sports, can begin developing fundamental skills for soccer, baseball, basketball, tennis, volleyball, golf, swimming and football. From there, budding athletes can move into Parks and Recreation’s introductory leagues for baseball, softball, basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, cheerleading and more. Liberty Parks and Recreation also offers competitive youth leagues in soccer, basketball, baseball, flag football and softball. The Liberty Storm offers kids 18 and younger an opportunity to swim competitively in an environment that stresses fundamentals, good sportsmanship and fun. This summer swim program has

Parks and Recreation Charitable Fund: Recognizing that public funding is

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Historic Downtown Liberty Farmers’ Market Farm-Fresh Flowers, Produce, Meats, Eggs and Baked Goods

Saturdays, May thru October

7am to Noon thru Sept. 8am to Noon in Oct. www.DowntownLiberty.org 816-581-6523 75082578

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Parks & Recreation limited, the Liberty Parks & Recreation Charitable Fund was established to support projects, youth scholarships and other needs. Dozens of youth scholarships have been awarded through the fund. Private donations and an annual Tee it Up Fore Parks golf tournament help to raise more than $15,000 each year for the charitable fund. The third annual Tee it Up Fore Parks golf tournament is scheduled for this July 14 at Liberty Hills Golf Club. Donations to the LPRCF can be made securely online at www.libertymissouri.gov/1416/Ways-to-Give.

COMMUNITY SERVICES The Community Services Division of the Parks and Recreation Department offers support services and a variety of social activities and programs to older adults and seniors of our community. The division offers activities that encourage social, intellectual and physical activity for the 50 and better crowd. Fitness is a vital component for aging well, so a wide variety of fitness classes are offered for all fitness levels. Tai chi is a low-impact exercise that combines continuous, gentle movement with deep breathing. For the swimmers, there are a number of water aerobics classes that are gentle on the joints. The division is a proud partner with the SilverSneakers program through Healthways, offering both day and evening fitness classes free of charge. The Community Services Division also offers educational seminars on a variety of topics, including promoting lifelong learning opportunities. Silver Center: The Liberty Silver Center is a place where adults 60 and older come to socialize, participate in activities and enjoy a hot nutritious meal. In addition to weekly activities, which include various card games, computer classes, seminars, land aerobics class and special events, the Silver Center has partnered with Focus Healthcare to provide monthly Wellness Wednesdays. Offered on the fourth Wednesday of each month, Wellness Wednesday provides relevant information on health care, caregiving, financial fitness, music therapy, resources within the community and more. 26

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Access Bus: The Liberty Access Bus provides free essential transportation within the city limits of Liberty to adults 60 and older and physically challenged individuals age 18 to 59 who do not have access to their own transportation. The Liberty Access Bus provides many seniors the opportunity to age in place; staying in their own home and caring for themselves. Essential trips include the doctor’s office, grocery store and pharmacy. Non-essential trips such as those to the bank or nongrocery stores are available as space permits. Coupons are required for each segment of the trip; a book of 10 coupons can be purchased for $10. Meals on Wheels: Liberty Meals On Wheels has been delivering noon day meals in Liberty for more than 40 years. Monday through Friday, volunteers deliver affordable, hot and nutritious lunches to nearly 80 homebound seniors within the city limits of Liberty who are unable to cook for themselves. Volunteers are the backbone of the program. The volunteers deliver muchneeded meals and provide a smiling face and a daily wellness check for these homebound residents. As the program continues to grow, so does the need for volunteers. Volunteers can donate just one hour a week to help provide a much needed service to our community For more information on this and other activities, call the city’s Community Services Division at 439-4365 or visit www.ci.liberty.mo.us/CommunityServices.

MARTHA LAFITE THOMPSON NATURE SANCTUARY Independent of the city, the nonprofit Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary operates on 100 acres of land on the east side of Liberty. Its mission is to offer engaging, hands-on environmental and natural science education for all ages; create biodiversity of native plants and animals through wise management of natural resources; foster understanding that all Earth’s inhabitants are part of a complex, interdependent ecosystem; and opportunities for quiet reflection and

A volunteer at Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary uses a net to capture butterflies of all sorts during Monarch Mania day in September. reconnection with the natural world. The nature center offers a variety of public programs for all ages, as well as private programs, birthday parties, scout groups and school field trips. It features hands-on exhibits, live animal exhibits, fossil displays and a bird-feeding station, as well as restrooms, drinking fountains, classrooms and a gift shop. The interpretive center is open year round. Trails are open daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April through September and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October through March. The sanctuary has approximately 4 miles of trails. There are two asphalt trails, one of which is ADA accessible. The area is open for hiking, nature study, birding, photographyand more. A donation of $1 per person is suggested. Fees are charged for guided hikes, and public or private programs. The sanctuary is located at 407 N. La Frenz Road. For more information, call 781-8598 or visit www.naturesanctuary.com.

By Ryne Dittmer

New library slated for Liberty

Liberty’s branch of Mid-Continent Public Library will be replaced with funds generated by Proposition L, which was approved by voters last fall. The new facility is expected to be 15,000 to 20,000 square feet. Woodneath branches are part of the same community. It is expanding what you think your town is. And we’re thinking how do we serve everyone in the school district and community and provide the best experience to all of Liberty,” Green said. Throughout the system, additional Proposition L funds will be invested into expanding collections, digital resources, Wi-Fi access and programming. The additional tax funds will start to be collected at the end of 2017.

Books & More

The Stone-Yancey House Bed and Breakfast www.stoneyanceyhouse.com email: stay@stoneyanceyhouse.com 421 N. Lightburne Liberty, MO 64068-1811

816-415-0066

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In November 2016, voters across the MidContinent Public Library system approved an 8-cent operating tax levy increase to fund service expansions and building improvements. Annually, Proposition L will generate an additional $10.5 million in revenue for the library system from patrons in Clay, Jackson and Platte counties. For the Liberty community’s pair of Mid-Continent branches, the additional funds will support a list of projects, most significantly, total replacement of the Liberty branch, located at 1000 Kent St. “The branch is 30 years old and not worth the investment to update,” branch manager Katie Gregory said. “A new building would allow us to better serve our community.” Better service, Gregory said, means dedicated areas for teens, children and adults; outdoor spaces; meeting rooms; and an enclosed programming area. MCPL has recommended the new facility be between 15,000 to 20,000 square feet and located within Liberty city limits. Locations are currently being assessed. “We do not have a location, but the commitment is to keep it in Liberty for sure,” Gregory said. “Libraries have become a place where people want to come and relax and stay. Not work, not home. We want to make that space in a new building.” The Woodneath Library Center, at 8900 NE Flintlock Road in Kansas City, just west of Liberty, will see further development of its 32-acre property through Proposition L funds. Among the plans are outdoor meeting spaces, trails and an outdoor auditorium. “We want to make sure we don’t overdevelop the property,” branch manager Kira Green said. “As much as we can, we want to keep it natural and understand that there is something to be said about a rural setting in an urban area.” Within the building, Green said the branch is looking at the possibility of adding more study and small group rooms. The manager said the most exciting part of the levy is the ability to continue to enrich the greater community, working alongside Woodneath’s sister branch in Liberty. “I think it’s incredibly exciting. At the end of the day, I know the Liberty and

Carolyn and Steve Hatcher, Innkeepers

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Explore Liberty Education LIBERTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

categories. Students achieve at high levels in academics, fine arts and athletics. Liberty Public Schools continues to be The administration recognizes that one of the destination districts for families around the Kansas City metropolitan area, success cannot be obtained without the caring teachers, staff, parents and state of Missouri and the entire region. community support that make up the As its mission reads, the district seeks to district. All of these factors combined “inspire and equip all learners to discover have helped LPS become one of the most their voice and unlimited potential.” With an enrollment of well over 12,000, attractive school districts for families to LPS educates students at a high level while want their children to attend. For more information, visit also being one of the fastest-growing school districts in the state. Students attend one www.liberty.k12.mo.us. of 11 elementary schools, six secondary schools, an early childhood center or Liberty Academy Alternative School. LPS is known across the state for The mission of St. James Catholic School excellence, annually receiving state and is to empower students to achieve their national awards and distinctions in various full academic and Christian potential, and

ST. JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL

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Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

become prayerful, lifelong learners and good stewards of God’s gifts. The school, which provides a Catholic education to children in preschool through eighth grade, has been open since 1955. The school philosophy is the education of the whole child, including emotional, intellectual, spiritual, moral, physical and social development. The school integrates faith and knowledge through strong family involvement, dedicated staff, innovative extra-curricular programs, an outdoor learning environment, state-of-the-art technology, and an emphasis on personal responsibility and respect for others. St. James Catholic School is at 309 S. Stewart Road. For more information, call 781-4428 or visit www.stjames-liberty.org.

MID-CONTINENT PUBLIC LIBRARY Among the most visited in the 31-branch system, the Liberty community is home to two Mid-Continent Public Library locations. The Liberty Branch, at 1000 Kent St., opened 1982 and expanded with an addition in 1992. The library features a rotating art exhibit that is coordinated in partnership with the Liberty Arts Commission. At 8900 NE Flintlock Road, the Woodneath Library Center opened in 2013. The center was built around the 1850s Elbridge-Arnold home. Plans are in place to renovate the home to create the Story Center, a community space dedicated to the art of storytelling in all its forms. Voters across Mid-Continent’s threecounty system voted to approve an 8-cent

operating tax levy increase to fund facility and programming enhancements in November 2016. Funds will expand library circulation and improve Wi-Fi at all branches. Additionally, the Liberty branch will be replaced with a new building and the Woodneath property will receive various upgrades. For more information about the library system, visit www.mymcpl.org.

WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE Situated on a picturesque hillside overlooking downtown Liberty and the Kansas City skyline, the 200-acre William Jewell College campus serves as a backdrop to learning for approximately 1,000 fulltime students. Established in 1849, the liberal arts

college has built a strong reputation in its nearly 170 years of service. The college is consistently ranked among America’s best colleges in several national magazines, including Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, The Princeton Review and Washington Monthly. Jewell is often cited for small class sizes, low student debt, high graduation rates, commitment to service and overall value. The college experienced a change in leadership in 2016 as Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls became the 15th president and first female president in the college’s history. William Jewell offers more than 40 majors, along with several graduate, preprofessional and dual-degree programs. In August 2015, the college held its first

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Education EARNEST SHEPHERD YOUTH CENTER

For more than 50 years, Earnest Shepherd Youth Center has sought to help youth cultivate their individual strengths and improve family and peer interaction in a fun environment. The center is located on 62 acres and provides Kansas City-area schools educational, leadership, team-building and recreational programming. During the summer, kids can traverse through a world of adventure in one of the many day camps. For more information, call 781-7733 or visit www.earnestshepherd.com. The center is at 610 E. Shepherd Road.

William Jewell College offers more than 40 majors, along with graduate, pre-professional and dual-degree programs. graduation ceremony for the graduate program on differentiated instruction through the Education Department. For more than two decades, the school’s Oxbridge Honors Program has offered a full curriculum of tutorial-based instruction and a full year of study in Oxford. The college was also named an Apple Distinguished School for 2015-2017, recognizing Jewell for its access to integrated technology and engaged learning; the college’s initiative for putting iPads in the hands of every student, faculty and staff member; and its incorporation of emerging technologies and preparation of students to meet the challenges for an ever-changing world. Athletically, the college’s 20 men’s and women’s sports compete at the NCAA Division II level in the Great Valley Lakes Conference. To learn more about the college, visit www.jewell.edu.

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY MidAmerica Nazarene University in Liberty, located at 105 N. Stewart Court, Suite 210, is dedicated to professional and graduate studies. 30

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

MidAmerica Nazarene University is dedicated to professional and graduate studies. Online classes are available. MNU students use modern technology in classrooms and an online learning system with evening and weekend courses available. Online offerings include classes in nursing and graduate studies in education. Founded in Olathe, Kansas, in 1966, MNU is a private, Christian, liberal arts university. For more information, visit www.mnu.edu/professional/liberty, or call 407-3070.

Projects made by 4-H participants from throughout the Clay County area are displayed at Earnest Shepherd Youth Center during the annual 4-H Fair.

A NEW ERA IN EDUCATION By Kellie Houx

MacLeod Walls previously served in academic and senior leadership roles, including dean and president, at Nebraska Wesleyan University and Bryan College of Health Sciences in Lincoln, Nebraska. She succeeded Dr. David Sallee, who served 16 years in the president’s role. He spent part of last summer mentoring and collaborating with the first female president of the 168-year-old institution. When Sallee stepped away from the president’s office, he left a note in the desk for his successor. “It took my breath away,” MacLeod Walls said. “Nine presidents have used that desk, and it’s a reminder that we are caretakers of an institution.” MacLeod Walls is upbeat about what is in store for the college. “William Jewell is looking toward the future from a strong foundation. Its academic programs and initiatives are superb — ranging from Oxbridge to Jewellverse — and the commitment from the community, both internally and externally, is evident to anyone who explores this special place.”

Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls started her role as he 15th president of William Jewell College on July 1, 2016. At her first convocation, she struck a tone of perseverance and hope. During the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the college, she quoted King and his vision of the beloved community that is created through commitment and hope. “I also have reveled in my discovery of our students’ capabilities and their sheer desire to learn, grow and make a difference — and, indeed, the profound commitment of our spirited and brilliant faculty to the ongoing success of those whom they teach,” she wrote in her year-end column for the local newspaper. “These discoveries have helped me to construct a picture of Jewell — but not necessarily one grounded in place or perspective. Rather, my discoveries are giving me a picture of the soul of this college that all of us here in Liberty treasure. I have learned that the soul of Jewell is its sense of curiosity.”

Elizabeth MacLeod Walls

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Explore Liberty History & Heritage Present-day Liberty was first established in the early 1800s during an unprecedented wave of western migration. The settlement became the Clay County seat in 1822 and before the end of the decade was incorporated as a town, making it the second oldest incorporated town west of the Mississippi River. A little more than two decades later, in 1851, Liberty — covering one square mile with the courthouse at the physical center of town — was granted its first charter. The name “Liberty” was inspired by patriotic sentiment. As a tribute to the city’s commitment to its rich history, Liberty was designated a Preserve America community in 2007. Residents and visitors alike can connect with Liberty’s heritage through local and national historic districts, historical museums, and regular guided historythemed tours, among other activities.

LIBERTY JAIL HISTORIC SITE Among the historical figures whose timelines intertwine with Liberty’s early days is prophet Joseph Smith. During the Mormon War, a time when church followers were being chased from the state of Missouri, the first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and six of his followers were kept at Liberty Jail for five months. While imprisoned in late 1838 and early 1839, Smith received three revelations that are included in the faith’s Doctrine and Covenants today. The jail site at 216 N. Main St. is now a visitor’s center that includes a reconstruction of the space where Smith was held. It is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For more information, visit

Much of the bank that was the site of the country’s first successful bank robbery during a time of peace has been preserved as it was in 1866. The former Clay County Savings Association building at 103 N. Water St. is now the Jesse James Bank Museum.

downtown Liberty. The robbery resulted in the loss of $60,000 and left one man dead. The bank is still standing and open for tours as the Jesse James Bank Museum, 103 N. Water St. To contact the museum, call 816-736-8510. Another Clay County historic site with ties to the local infamous outlaw, the Jesse James Farm & Museum east of Kearney, is www.lds.org/locations/liberty-jail-historic-site where Frank and Jesse lived. Visitors can or call the jail site at 816-781-3188. view galleries of artifacts and take a guided tour inside the house where Jesse was born. There is an admission fee. To contact the museum, call 816-736-8500. On Feb. 13, 1866, the James gang For more information about these completed the first successful daylight bank county-run sites, visit www.claycountymo.gov/ robbery during peacetime in the country’s history at the Clay County Savings Bank in Historic_Sites/.

JESSE JAMES BANK MUSEUM

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

CLAY COUNTY ARCHIVES & HISTORICAL LIBRARY The Clay County Archives and Historical Library, 210 E. Franklin St., has been collecting records since 1979. The archives has accumulated hundreds of thousands of records, photographs, maps, family histories, history books and other documents. Donations of materials that would be of interest to historians are always being sought, as are volunteers. Contact the archives at 816-781-3611 or info@claycountyarchives.org. For more information, visit online at www.claycountyarchives.org.

CLAY COUNTY MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Clay County Historical Museum’s new portrait gallery features 11 portraits of notable residents from the county’s history.

Located in the heart of downtown in the county seat at 14 N. Main St., the Clay County Museum and Historical Society offers a wide variety of exhibits and activities. In existence since 1965, the museum is located in a historic building that has always previously housed drugstores. A tribute to its past, “Dr. Goodson X-Ray” appears on one of the second-story windows. An expanded gallery on famous Clay Countian Alexander Doniphan has been added along the stairwell to the museum’s second floor, and recent donations from the Garth and Withers families, among the earliest settlers in the area, compose a display in the reading room. Several of the items belonged to Ethel Massie Withers, who founded the county’s historical society. Activities offered to the community include presentations and study groups. The museum and historical society also hosts an annual homes tour, a picnic and trivia nights. Contact the museum at 816-792-1849 or visit www.claycountymuseum.org for more information.

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History & Heritage AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY A grassroots effort started in 2000, the present-day Clay County African American Legacy Consortium Inc. is dedicated to educating and informing the community about the history and influence of African-Americans in Clay County. The CCAAL offices are housed in the Garrison School building, 502 N. Water St., which the incorporated organization bought from Liberty Public Schools in 2003. Established in 1877 as Liberty’s only African-American school, Garrison earned a reputation for being the best school for African-American students in the state. Now known as the Garrison School Cultural Center, it was named in honor of William Lloyd Garrison, an abolitionist who served in President Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet. Listed on national, state and local registries as a historic landmark, Garrison hosts community events, exhibits, and educational and recreational activities, including Juneteenth and Kwanzaa celebrations. A Freedom Tree is lit each December, and in recent years National African American Read-In activities have been held February. Through the years, CCAAL has sponsored a variety of projects, including ongoing beautification efforts at Garrison, the installation of an 8-by-10-foot mural

on the third floor of the current Clay County Administration Building in 2003, the dedication of the Freedom Fountain Monument in 2001 on the lawn of the old Clay County Courthouse, a mentoring program for high school students, and an early literacy program. The Lion and Unicorn Reading Program pairs a Liberty school and a school in the urban core. Art is also promoted by the Garrison Cultural Center with a gallery that opened on site in 2014. For more information about CCAAL, visit www.ccaal-garrisonschool.org.

CEMETERIES Mt. Memorial Cemetery was the first cemetery established in Clay County other than family burial grounds and has been in continuous use from the early 1820s to the present. In the summer of 2012, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fairview Cemetery was established in 1857 and was so named because it overlooked the fairgrounds to the south, where during the Civil War, Union soldiers camped on the grounds. In 1901, the old fairgrounds were acquired by the city to extend the cemetery. A contest was held to name the new cemetery, and the name “New Hope” was chosen.

COURIER-TRIBUNE Since 1846, the Liberty community has had a newspaper operating under the motto, “Willing to praise but not afraid to blame.” It is the oldest continuously published weekly newspaper west of the Mississippi River. In early 2017, the Liberty Tribune merged with two of its sister publications in Clay County. The consolidated Courier-Tribune combines the editorial and advertising efforts of the former Liberty Tribune, Kearney Courier and Smithville Herald. The main office of the CT is located just off the downtown square in Liberty at 104 N. Main St. The paper also has an office in downtown Kearney at 102 W. Washington St. The CT traces its lineage to Robert Hugh Miller, who was just 19 when his Liberty newspaper’s first edition rolled off the presses. He COU R I E R owned the paper T R I BU N E for 39 years. In Smithville, the CT roots go back to 1888. In Kearney, the paper’s predecessors have a more than 80-year history. The Courier-Tribune’s current owner is St. Joseph-based NewsPress & Gazette Co., which purchased the publications that formed the CT in 2003 and 2004. The CT’s print edition hits the streets and subscriber mailboxes each Thursday, and additional community news can be found online daily at www.MyCourierTribune.com. To contact the newsroom or sales staff, call 816-781-4941 or 816-454-9660. Email news tips to news@mycouriertribune.com. Readers can also find the Tribune on Twitter (@myCTnews, @myCTsports) and on Facebook (MyCourierTribune).

A copy of a reward advertisement for a runaway slave and shackles are on display at Garrison School. 34

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

Smithsonian to live stream total solar eclipse from Liberty Monday thru Friday OPEN 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

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Rays of sunlight emerge from behind the moon as it eclipses the sun, a stage of a total solar eclipse known as a diamond ring feature because of its resemblance to the piece of jewelry. Liberty is expected to experience complete darkness for about two minutes during the Aug. 21 solar eclipse. (Photo: Rick Fienberg/TravelQuest International/Wilderness Travel)

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said. “The plan now is to come in, bring a couple people from the National Air and Space Museum and set up a telescope with On Aug. 21, for the first time since the right filters and stream live so people 1979, a total solar eclipse will cross the around the world can watch what totality continental United States. looks like from right there at South Valley From Oregon to South Carolina, 14 Middle School.” states, including Missouri, fall under the Kelsey, who taught at the middle school path of totality where the moon will align before taking the Smithsonian role, said with the sun, blocking its light for up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Liberty is situated the hour and a half broadcast will take entirely within the path, setting up the city viewers through the final partial stages of the eclipse and totality. Planned show to have a nearly unrivaled vantage point of what is being called the Great American segments include the science of eclipses and ways to view them safely, even by Eclipse. using colanders and crackers. As Liberty experiences the eclipse “We are going firsthand, many to provide solar around the world viewers to all of could be joining the students. Then the observation we are going to go virtually. The live about a half Smithsonian hour before totality Institution National hits,” said Kelsey. Air and Space “The most exciting Museum has chosen part is totality. Our to broadcast the plans are to not eclipse live from talk at that time. South Valley Middle School. On the day of the eclipse, museum We just want to see the kids’ reactions and experience it. When it’s over, we want to staff and the team of “STEM in 30,” a talk about it and see what the kids thought weekly Smithsonian educational program, are planning to simulcast the eclipse across about it. That’s the piece I’m looking most to, seeing how the kids react to it.” its digital platforms. The “STEM in 30” co-host said he and “We are really excited because Liberty is the Smithsonian are excited to share the in the path of totality and the astronomy unique event with viewers outside the path educators that we have here at the of totality. museum are off-the-charts excited about “The ability to go live from a school that that,” National Air and Space Museum is in the path of totality is incredibly neat,” Manager for Education Outreach and said Kelsey. co-host of “STEM in 30” Marty Kelsey

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Explore Liberty Area civic information CITY OF LIBERTY With a population of more than 30,000, the city of Liberty is governed by an elected mayor and eight-member City Council. Two representatives from each of four wards serve on the council, which generally meets at 7 p.m. Mondays at City Hall. The city of Liberty’s website — www.libertymissouri.gov — is a wealth of resources about city activities, resources and services. Let Us Know: A citizen request service is accessible from any page through a green “Let Us Know” button that appears on almost all pages throughout the site. After a visitor submits a request, an email will be routed to the appropriate department or staff member for response or resolution.

Visitors can log in to view the status of their requests. Scrolling Spotlights: The main home page as well as the home pages for Parks & Recreation and Economic Development include a carousel of spotlights that are updated regularly to feature upcoming events, city services and more. Calendar of Events: A main events calendar is included on the city’s home page that offers a month’s view of events that are pulled from other department or division calendars. Interactive Maps: These interactive maps are designed for users who want to quickly find detailed information about a specific portion of the city or to compare information from several locations.

CITY HALL 101 E. Kansas St. Liberty, MO 64068 www.libertymissouri.gov Main Number.................................... 816-439-4400 Administration...................................816-439-4413 Ambulance, Non-Emergency..............816-439-4700 Animal Shelter...................................816-439-4791 Building Permits & Inspections..........816-439-4541 Business & Liquor Licenses............... 816-439-4417 City Tax Bills....................................... 816-407-3200 Community Center............................ 816-439-4360 Fire Department, Non-Emergency......816-439-4310 Historic Preservation.........................816-439-4537 Human Resources............................. 816-439-4440 Meals on Wheels...............................816-439-4396 Municipal Court Clerk....................... 816-439-4430 Nuisance & Code Enforcement..........816-439-4539 Liberty Silver Center..........................816-439-4395 Parks & Recreation........................... 816-439-4360 Planning & Zoning............................. 816-439-4543 Police, Non-Emergency...................... 816-439-4716 Public Works/Engineering................. 816-439-4500 Public Works/Maintenance................816-439-4514 Recycling, Trash.................................816-439-4514

ROAD CONDITIONS 816-439-4514

UTILITY PROVIDERS Electricity KCP&L: 1-888-471-KCPL (5275)

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Water City of Liberty: 816-439-4460 After-hours emergency: 816-439-4700

A fountain welcomes visitors to Liberty City Hall. 36

Explore Liberty ✦ March 2017

MIDWEST NATIONAL AIR CENTER Clay County is home to the Midwest National Air Center, a hub for local and transient corporate and general aviation services. The airport, owned and operated by Clay County, is situated on 573 acres at a nexus of air, rail and highway access near Excelsior Springs. For more information about the facility, visit www.midwestnationalaircenter.com or call 816-407-3390.

CLAY COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER CLAY COUNTY Liberty is the county seat for Clay County. Home to 230,000-plus residents, Clay County is one of the largest counties in the state.

Administration Building 1 Courthouse Square Liberty, MO 64068 816-407-3600 www.claycountymo.gov County Administrator......................... 816-407-3620 County Assessor................................ 816-407-3500 County Auditor................................... 816-407-3590 County Clerk...................................... 816-407-3570 County Collector................................ 816-407-3200 County Commission........................... 816-407-3600 County Recorder of Deeds................. 816-407-3550 County Sheriff.................................... 816-407-3750 County Treasurer................................ 816-407-3540 Citizen Services................................. 816-407-3650 Election Board........................816-415-VOTE (8683) Facilities Management....................... 816-407-3320 Health Department............................816-595-4200 Highway............................................. 816-407-3300 Historic Sites.....................................816-736-8500 Human Resources.............................. 816-407-3664 Medical Examiner..............................816-881-6600 Midwest National Air Center.............. 816-407-3390 Parks..................................................816-407-3400 Planning and Zoning..........................816-407-3380 Purchasing......................................... 816-407-3630 7th Judicial Circuit Court................... 816-407-3900 Tourism.............................................. 816-407-3659

In 2016, the Clay County Public Health Center became one of less than 100 health departments in the nation and only the third in Missouri to achieve national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board. Accreditation means that the Clay County Public Health Center stands out as one of the best of the more than 3,000 health departments in the nation. The center, at 800 Haines Drive in Liberty, provides family health services such as the Womens, Infants and Children program, and immunizations; personal health services such as family planning, and breast and cervical cancer screenings; environmental health services; records; and community development services. To contact the health center, call 816595-4200. For more information, visit www.clayhealth.com.

LIBERTY HOSPITAL Liberty Hospital opened its doors to patients in February 1974. In the past four decades, it has grown to a state-of-the-art 250-bed care center with more than 330 physicians covering all medical specialties with affiliate clinics throughout the greater Liberty community. The comprehensive medical center at 2525 Glenn Hendren Drive provides a full range of services, the latest technology and a compassionate staff focused on providing exceptional care for all ages and stages 75082529

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Area Civic Information

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The first phase of housing at Norterre focuses on a model in which a smaller number of people live in private residences within a single household. Each household can accommodate up to 20 residents and includes an open kitchen, dining room, living room and intimate spaces to relax and visit. Residents will have the freedom to choose when to eat and sleep and how to spend their day. The assisted living and assisted living memory support residences would be housed in the building shown in this artist’s rendering. of life. Located just 20 minutes north of downtown Kansas City, Liberty Hospital serves Clay, Platte and Ray counties, as well as the northwest Missouri corridor. As a public hospital, Liberty Hospital is governed by a publicly elected six-member board of trustees chosen by residents of the hospital district. Trustees serve six-year terms. In the past few years, the hospital has opened Women’s Imaging in Medical Plaza East on its campus; a sports medicine and rehabilitation center at 398 N. Blue Jay Drive in Liberty; Urgent Care Shoal Creek at 8300 N. Church Road in Kansas City; as well as another affiliate in a neighboring community, The Excelsior Springs Clinic. Back at home, construction is underway on Norterre, a healthy living community and an estimated $60 million investment in Liberty intended to establish the hospital as the region’s leader in advancing new models of care. The multi-generational health, wellness and residential neighborhood broke ground in mid-May 2016. The master-planned community will serve Northland residents

at all stages of life, including young families, active adults and seniors. The first phase is a 50,000-square-foot healthy living center, 60 assisted living residences with 20 dedicated assisted living memory support units, 20 long-term care residences and 40 short-term stay suites for individuals of all ages going through rehabilitation, as well as retail, child care and healthy dining spaces. The expected opening date is September 2017. Construction of the second phase is planned to immediately follow with independent living and non-age-specific housing options. Eventually, the site will feature green spaces. Liberty Hospital President David Feess has said the 22-acre project next to the main hospital campus, represents a move to align health care with its current trajectory. “Simply put,” he said, “health care is going through a transformative process. Rather than handling episodic and acute care, the move is to establish health and wellness.” For more information about Liberty Hospital and its services call 816-781-7200 or visit www.libertyhospital.org.

Come experience a piece of early history at the Liberty Jail. You’ll see a true to life size reconstruction of the original 1833 jail as you witness an engaging audio-visual presentation and learn about significant happenings that took place in the jail.

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Liberty Landing Shopping Center

The Landing

1189 W. Kansas Street Liberty, MO 64068 (behind Walgreens!) 816-792-5230 www.landingeateryandpub.com