Joplin, a year later
“A huge tornado devastated Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011, killing 161 people. A year later, people rebuild amid the reminders of destruction and death.”
Groundbreaking ceremony for JCCC’s
new hospitality/culinary academy is May 22
“JCCC will conduct a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Hospitality and Culinary Academy at 1 p.m. May 22.
The new academy will be located on the eastern side of the college campus, just south of the Regnier Center.
In February 2010, the Johnson County Community College board of trustees challenged the JCCC Foundation to raise $3 million over 18 months to support the construction of a new hospitality/culinary center on campus. If the Foundation was able to raise $3 million in that time, the trustees pledged to give favorable consideration toward the construction of a new center on campus.
The incentive for this action came through the ‘Wysong Challenge,” a set of initiatives intended to distinguish JCCC’s hospitality program at national and global levels. Former Kansas Senator David Wysong and his wife, Kathy, announced in May 2008 a $750,000 challenge gift to help raise funds in support of JCCC’s hospitality program, which eventually included the construction of a new facility.
In July 2011, the Foundation met the ‘Wysong Challenge” by announcing to the JCCC trustees that $3,291,032 had been raised in support of the college’s hospitality and culinary program.
Other funding for the project comes from the college’s capital outlay fund and capital reserves, which are restricted to capital projects.
‘We’re grateful to all our donors for their generosity,” said Terry Calaway, JCCC president. ‘But we especially thank the Wysong family for giving us such a solid basis on which to raise funds. This new academy will provide new opportunities for JCCC’s esteemed culinary program and for the college as a whole. In addition to our credit classes, we’ll have greater opportunities for workforce development and noncredit classes for community members interested in the culinary arts.”
The $12-million, free-standing facility will accommodate the 700 students enrolled in the college’s nationally recognized hospitality management program and provide space for noncredit classes and community activities, including new opportunities for workforce development and partnerships.
Construction of the one-story building begins this spring; the academy will open for classes in fall 2013. DLR Group in Overland Park designed the building; J.E. Dunn is the general contractor.
Read more about the building here.”
With a time of 1.43.7 Matt Smith is now the fastest Doctor
ever who has driven the reasonably priced car on Top Gear.
Gridlock eases in many metro areas
“Improvement in traffic flow in big cities is tied to weak economy, gas prices.”
“Celebrate the summer solstice by getting a close-up look at Johnson County Community College’s newest building and enjoying hands-on science using the sculpture that gave the building its name.
JCCC will host an open house for Galileo’s Pavilion at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 20. Members of the community can explore the building constructed by students from Studio 804, a design/build program at the University of Kansas School of Architecture, Design and Planning.
Scheduled speakers are Joe Sopcich, JCCC executive vice president, administrative services; Jay Antle, executive director of the JCCC Center for Sustainability; Dan Rockhill, JL Constant Distinguished Professor at KU, and executive director, Studio 804; and John Gaunt, dean, KU School of Architecture, Design and Planning.
‘The solstice is a great time to celebrate both the active and passive solar elements of this building, as well as the Galileo’s Garden sculpture which tracks the sun,’ Antle said.
JCCC science professors Doug Patterson and Lynne Beatty will capitalize on the open house’s solstice theme with planned activities incorporating Galileo’s Garden, the sculpture by Dale Eldred that previously sat on the building’s site and gave the building its name. The sculpture was relocated to the Galileo’s Pavilion courtyard and functions as a solar timepiece.”
“The SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying a Dragon capsule lifted off May 22, 2012, to begin a historic flight to the International Space Station.”
A new kind of Republican?
“Mia Love is unlike any Congressional candidate ever -- she is African-American, she is Mormon, and she is conservative. Republicans have deemed her race in Utah’s newly drawn 4th district one of the top ten most important races in the country, vowing to spare no expense to get …”
Aliens in Japan, Kiss Your Gaijin Card Bye Bye
“After over a decade in Japan, this week I got a letter from the Japanese government. It said that the alien registration card (外国人登録証明書), or informally ‘gaijin card’, was vanishing.”
Well, I’d better lie low for a while.
Johnson Co. Prostitution Ring Nets 40 Arrests
“JOHNSON CO., Kan. - Prostitution stings by law enforcement in Overland Park and Johnson County recently yielded 40 arrests.”
2 Million Thank You Notes
“To celebrate reaching 2 Million fans, AT&T is going to spend 2 days writing songs about their fans and singing their praises. Want a song about you? Request one now.”
