General News in the 316

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One of the most unfunny comedians I've ever experienced will be in Wichita next year.

KSN - Jerry Seinfeld to perform in Wichita in April

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is bringing his newest stand-up routine to Wichita. He will perform at Century II at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 19. Tickets go on sale next Friday, Nov. 15.

Seinfeld is known for his uncanny ability to joke about the little things in life that relate to audiences everywhere. He’s probably best known for his hit show “Seinfeld” on NBC, which aired for nine seasons and still airs in syndication. It was named the greatest television show of all time in 2009 by TV Guide.

He is still going strong with multiple projects, including “Jerry Before Seinfeld,” “23 Hours to Kill,” and “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” He’s written, produced and starred in movies and written three best-selling books.

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One of the most unfunny comedians I've ever experienced..................

I can understand that.

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WBJ - Park City progresses $5.3M senior center, townhomes for downtown district

A senior center slated for Park City's new downtown development is advancing toward construction.

Park City's City Council authorized construction last month of a $5.3 million senior center headed to Park Centre, a 48-acre mixed-use development that's a partnership between Park City and Wichita-based Lange Real Estate. The development, near the southeast corner of 61st Street North and Hydraulic Avenue, will also construct a 416-unit apartment complex, an 89-unit townhome complex and 96,000 square feet of commercial space.

On Tuesday, the City Council will receive exterior floor plans from project architect Shelden Architecture for the around 13,000 square-foot facility — which will be financed through general obligation bonds as part of the city's capital improvement program — and consider approving a contract with McCownGordon Construction as the builder.

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A generous gift...

KAKE - Sedgwick County Board approves $2.5 million gift toward zoo's 'Our Growing Herd' campaign

The Sedgwick County Zoo announced Wednesday that the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners has voted in favor of a $2.5 million gift toward the zoo’s current capital campaign.

Launched last month, the “Our Growing Herd” campaign is geared toward raising $10 million to expand the elephant exhibit. The campaign was introduced shortly after the zoo’s announcement, which said five female elephants are currently pregnant, with all five babies expected in the spring.

“Sedgwick County continues to be a valued partner of the Zoo,” said Scott Newland, President and CEO of SCZ. “It is through the support of our community that we’re able to continue to grow and strive to push beyond the standards of outstanding animal wellbeing.”

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This could be good. It's not an area of town I've spent much time in, but they've been working to improve the area and bring more to it.

WBJ - Pickleball facility in northeast Wichita set for opening this week

A pickleball concept on the northeast side of Wichita has an opening date.

TapNPaddles, a concept with pickleball courts, a restaurant and a bar from owners Mike and Kelli Ventling, is set to open later this week at 4956 E. 35th St. N. as part of the District 96 development just north of K-96 at Oliver and 35th Street.

After receiving the certificate of occupancy for the facility in late October, Mike Ventling said he hosted a small, members-only soft opening last week at the 33,000 square-foot facility, which features 12 indoor pickleball courts and a 900-square-foot event space with a full-service bar and restaurant. Since last week, Ventling has opened the doors to visitors, though a grand opening is planned for Friday with pickleball sessions, live music and other activities.

"People from outside noticed the space is open for open play pickleball and they have just kept coming in," he said.

The facility also includes a pro shop, member locker rooms, and a large covered outdoor patio. Ventling said the restaurant and bar space can host up to 140 people with indoor and outdoor patio seating. He added that the 900 square foot event space can be rented for events like birthday parties, corporate meetings and charitable events.

The restaurant will offer snack and breakfast items like nachos, eggrolls, flatbreads, burgers, fries and burritos, plus drinks in the $8-$15 price range.

District 96 also has an indoor golf simulator called ShotSuite, Another Broken Egg Cafe, and another The Kitchen concept.

TapNPaddles already has a charity pickleball event planned with my favorite local organization ICT SOS early next month.

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Another win for ICT

USA Lacrosse - USA Lacrosse's WCLA National Championship Returning to Wichita in 2025

The USA Lacrosse Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA) national championship event is returning for the second straight year to the 'Heart of the Country' in Wichita, Kansas, with all games to once again be played at the Stryker Sports Complex. Dates for the 2025 championship tournament are May 7-10.

The SCHEELS Stryker Sports Complex is a state-of-the-art facility that features 11 all-sports turf fields, each with outdoor lighting, and a 112,000 square foot indoor facility. The venue plays host to local, regional, and national events and is ideally situated for tournament competition.

“We’re thrilled to be coming back to Wichita for the 2025 WCLA National Championship,” said Kristy Nutt, director of events at USA Lacrosse. “Last year, the feedback from our WCLA players was overwhelmingly positive, and the local lacrosse community truly made us feel at home. The Stryker Sports Complex was an amazing venue for the tournament, and we can't wait to give our players, coaches, and fans another incredible experience in 2025.”

Nearly 150 non-varsity collegiate teams comprise the WCLA and compete under the USA Lacrosse umbrella. The annual Division I and Division II National Championships showcase the WCLA’s premier teams, featuring 16 Division I clubs and 12 Division II teams vying for titles.

“We are honored to once again welcome USA Lacrosse back to the Heart of the Country. Visit Wichita proudly hosted the organization’s 2024 Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates National Championship and is looking forward to another successful competition in 2025,” said Josh Howell, vice president of sports development for Visit Wichita. “Locals can experience the fast-paced, exciting sport of lacrosse and the athletes and those traveling to Wichita will enjoy an exceptional venue, SCHEELS Stryker Sports Complex, and all of the other wonderful amenities Wichita has to offer.”

Visit Wichita is definitely doing something right.

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Sedgwick County Zoo has another new addition.

KWCH - Sedgwick County Zoo welcomes gorilla from San Diego Zoo

Mandaazi, a western lowland gorilla, arrived at the Sedgwick County Zoo last month. His transfer from San Diego was a recommendation by the Species Survival Plan, which the SCZ said will ensure his role in the conservation of his species.

Zoo staff said that in the short time that Mandaazi has been in Wichita, he has become an enthusiastic participant in its training program and easily picks up new behaviors. His favorite activities have been to flirt with all the gorilla girls or just to kick back and relax.

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A staple of Wichita

KSN - Illuminations at Botanica returns

Illuminations at Botanica is returning for a new season.

The annual holiday event will kick off on Nov. 29 at Wichita’s botanical gardens. Light displays will fill the gardens throughout November and December in what has become an annual tradition.

It started in 1990, when luminaries, weighted paper bags with lit candles inside, were adorned along the gardens’ walkways. A few years later, the decision was made to install Christmas lights throughout Botanica.

Over the years the number of lights and displays has grown to include light shows synced to music and even video displays created with Christmas lights. Illuminations was ranked 4th in USA Today’s 10Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights in 2023.

Illuminations at Botanica is again in the running for 10Best in 2024. You can vote for it by clicking here.

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WBJ - Wichita startup with soft skills game app reaches $1M in funding, sets goal for year end

A Wichita tech startup will soon reach its previously set capital goal for the year and it's not done yet.

CEO Robert Feeney said that Knowledge as a Service Inc., a startup with an office in the Garvey Center that invented the Ringorang habit formation software, has reached $1 million in funding and has extended its funding goal to $1.25 million for its second pre-series-A investor round.

KaaS's second round of funding was led by Indianapolis-based Unbroken Investing, which has members across the U.S. and searches for investment opportunities focused on passive cash flow.

"Many startups try to sell you on their concept and what it could become someday. KaaS is executing," Steve Lawson, founder of Unbroken Investing, said in email to the WBJ. "It has served clients such as IBM, Verizon, Goodwill and the U.S. Air Force among others. We saw their growth as something that is happening rather than something that could happen.”

Feeney said the original plan for the pre-series-A funding was to develop a vertical market in education with a game app version of Ringorang called Future Ready. The game, launched in January, takes skills valued by an employer — including time management, communication, conflict resolution, dependability, mental health and innovation — and makes them into a teachable game.

It's great to see a young tech startup finding and maintaining success. They're looking to expand their sphere of influence into other industries.