Alphapointe Association for the Blind and the Kansas Audio Reader Network have announced a new partnership that expands the coverage of readings of local newspapers available to people who are visually impaired. The Kansas Audio Reader Network is a free radio reading service for the visually impaired living in Kansas and western Missouri. With this new partnership, volunteers will record 10 hours of news from local papers each week at the Alphapointe Studios.

Tuesday, May 13, 6pm at Benjamin Ranch is the place to be. Southtown will be honoring a number of organizations and people for their outstanding work in the Southtown community. This will also be the last time the event will be held at Benjamin Ranch so mark your calendars and plan to attend the event. The social hour begins at 6pm, followed by the buffet dinner and program at 7pm, with the conclusion before 9pm. Tickets are $50/person and $40/member. Sponsorships with tables of 8 are also available. Contact the Southtown Planning Center, 816-523-5553 for more information.

Thanks to Durwin Rice, his awesome group of volunteers, and scores of workers this past fall and winter, an additional 75,000 tulips were planted all along the Troost Avenue corridor and other sites throughout the community. A special Spring Celebration/Volunteer Appreciation Day was held on Saturday, April 12.

So take some time this spring to enjoy the wonderful beauty within our community. Isn’t it amazing what a difference we can make!

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is now planning and designing for Bus Rapid Transit along the Troost Avenue Corridor. The service is planned from downtown to Bannister Road. It will have fewer stops for faster service; well-lit attractive stations with real-time arrival signs and loaded with information; uniquely designed, accessible shelters; new and distinctive buses; easy and convenient schedules and maps and the latest in GPS technology for reliable, rapid service.

Although it isn’t directly located in Southtown, there is a new place you need to visit- the Robert Frazier Gallery of Contemporary Art, 3120 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64109. Sonie Ruffin manages the gallery and is a fabric artist and quilter extraordinaire who has lectured and held workshops for the Smithsonian (and others) on African quilts.