Say More in Raymore

Meet Your City's Communications Team and Discover What's Happening This June

• City of Raymore, Missouri Government • Season 1 • Episode 4

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Summer is heating up in Raymore! Join Communications Director Melissa Harmer and Community Engagement Coordinator Alex Garcia as they unveil an exciting lineup of community events designed to bring residents together during the busy summer season.

After a fun introduction where we learn about our two-person Communications Department through rapid-fire personal questions (including Alex's childhood fear of E.T. and Melissa's first career aspiration as a Ponderosa waitress!), we dive into the numerous free community events happening right here in Raymore during June.

The conversation highlights eight different community gatherings, starting with the return of the Raymore Farmers Market every Tuesday, 4-7pm at T.B. Hanna Station. We also cover the Electronics Recycling Event (June 7), the Arts Commission concert featuring The Yachties (June 13), Touch a Truck with a sensory-friendly hour (June 14), Household Hazardous Waste Collection (June 14), and the two-day Festival of the Parks featuring the Bricks and Block Party (June 26) and Spirit of America celebration with fireworks (June 27).

What makes these events special? They're all free to attend, family-friendly, and designed to help residents connect with neighbors while enjoying everything our community has to offer without leaving town. Whether you're interested in supporting local vendors, enjoying live music, helping your children explore big trucks, or watching a spectacular fireworks display, there's something for everyone right here in Raymore this summer.

Want to stay informed about all these events and more? Visit raymore.com/calendar or sign up for the Parks Monthly e-newsletter to ensure you never miss out on the fun happening in your community!

Learn more about the City of Raymore's Communications Department at www.raymore.com/communications

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @CityofRaymoreMO

Melissa:

Welcome to Say More in Raymore, the City of Raymore's official podcast. I'm your host, Melissa Harmer, the Communications Director at the City of Raymore. In this series, we're giving you an insider's look at the things happening in your city government, whether it's new developments shaping the community, upcoming events or the latest news that impacts everyday life in Raymore. We'll also introduce you to the people who work behind the scenes, our dedicated city staff who make it all happen. So stay tuned, because we're here to help you get to know the people, the projects and the programs that make Raymore a great place to live, work and visit, one episode at a time. In this episode, I'll be talking with Community Engagement Coordinator Alex Garcia about a lot of upcoming events in Raymore, since we are getting into that busy summer event season. So welcome, Alex, to the Say More in Raymore podcast.

Alex:

Hello

Melissa:

first tell me a little bit about you. Your job here, what does it entail?

Alex:

Yeah, so I'm the community engagement coordinator here at the City of Raymore and a lot of my job is running our social medias, assisting with other marketing elements like promoting our city, communicating with residents, everything of that nature.

Melissa:

So you're my counterpart in the communications department. Yes, so it's communications department yes.

Melissa:

So it's a department of two. It used to be a department of one, so it's nice that it's a department of two now. All right, so just to share a little bit more about ourselves and what? Well, first a little bit more about ourselves and then we'll talk a little more about what we do. But I have some rapid-fire questions for you, and you have some rapid questions for you, and you have some rapid fire questions for me, and we don't really know what they are. So are you ready?

Alex:

I'm ready.

Melissa:

All right, I'll go first. What was your first job?

Alex:

My first job was being a lifeguard.

Melissa:

And what is your favorite season?

Alex:

My favorite season is the time between fall and winter.

Melissa:

What does that even mean?

Alex:

Just that little gap where it's kind of getting cold, but not enough.

Melissa:

Snow yes or? No. No, not yet.

Alex:

Okay, yeah, that's later.

Melissa:

What's your favorite color?

Alex:

Black. Keep it boring.

Melissa:

Did you have any weird phobias or what were you afraid of as a child?

Alex:

I did have one weird phobia, and it was after I watched ET, the Extraterrestrial from 1980, something. So yeah, E. T. was my childhood phobia.

Melissa:

That's an interesting one, because wasn't he supposed to be a lovable character?

Alex:

He was not to me.

Melissa:

Okay, okay. What was your major in college?

Alex:

My major was marketing, with a minor in art.

Melissa:

Where'd you go to college?

Alex:

I went to Rockhurst University.

Melissa:

Are you in the profession you dreamed you would be in as a child?

Alex:

No, but I am pleasantly surprised by this job every day.

Melissa:

Good answer. What did you want to be when you were a kid?

Alex:

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian, so this is a little different, but that's okay.

Melissa:

It's a little different, but sometimes you can interact with our animal control. Yeah, yeah, what's your go-to karaoke song?

Alex:

My go-to karaoke song would have to be Hit Me With your Best Shot by Pat Benatar.

Melissa:

Nice, and what would you like to accomplish in the coming year here at the city or in your personal life, or anything you're looking forward to?

Alex:

I would say, in my personal life I would love to somehow become an avid runner, but we'll see how that goes. And for work, I would love to be able to communicate better with our residents and have them learn more about the city throughout the year.

Melissa:

Perfect, that was the end of my series of rapid-fire questions.

Alex:

I'll jump to mine then. What did you major in in college?

Melissa:

I majored in photography and I minored in journalism.

Alex:

Very cool.

Alex:

What was your dream job as a kid

Melissa:

My earliest aspirations? I was three years old and I wanted to be a waitress at Ponderosa the restaurant, because as a child, I went to one with my family that had a really beautifully painted blue sky with white fluffy clouds, I think off of Noland Road in Independence, and I thought that would be really cool to spend all of my time at the restaurant. Things changed and I went through a couple... Ice skater, teacher, archaeologist and now I'm in a very different position. A little bit.

Melissa:

Yeah, but that's where I started.

Alex:

What is your proudest work accomplishment?

Melissa:

I would say working really hard to change a state statute to protect our city when we were threatened with the landfill. It was really hard but I'm really proud of that. That was the hardest thing I feel like I've ever gone through professionally. So I think that's the biggest accomplishment.

Alex:

Yes, and which coworker makes you laugh the most?

Melissa:

That is a really tough question, because we have so many super funny people that work here and I love hearing their stories and they do crack me up a lot, I would say, hanging around a group of public works maintenance workers, they've got some stories that are just hilarious, and so I really do enjoy that.

Alex:

I mean the correct answer was me, but that's all right,

Melissa:

Oh you make me laugh every day.

Alex:

Good.

Melissa:

With you, not at you.

Alex:

Well, that's the end of my question.

Melissa:

Okay, so now that you know a little bit about us, um, some of the things we do for the city is a nything you see coming out through social media essentially is us other than animal control. We kind of let them do their thing there. And our press releases, the magazine. You The Review magazine. The new issue just came out in the mail. We share all the public information, news stories. We assist our mayor and other city officials when they have speaking engagements.

Melissa:

We make sure everyone in the city is sticking to our our branding guidelines for anything that's that goes out photography, vide- videography, graphic design, mailers, anything like that. We coordinate the Civic Leadership Academy that will be starting its second year here this fall. I coordinate the blood drives that we have a few times a year at Centerview and the electronics recycling events, which we have one coming up and, just, I'm also the staff support for our Raymore Arts Commission. So those are just a few of the things that we do, but pretty much any communication coming out of the city. We probably had a hand in it.

Alex:

Yes, lots of hats that we wear, but

Melissa:

Right, right, let's talk about some upcoming city events. First, let's talk about the Farmers Market, because that is coming up very shortly, getting ready to start. Tell me all about it.

Alex:

Yeah, so it'll start June 3rd and run through the end of September, and that will be from 4 to 7, back at TB Hanna Station, where it previously was a year or two ago,

Melissa:

several years ago, many years ago.

Melissa:

So TB Hanna station is at 214 South Washington Street in Raymore, kind of right after the S curve if you're heading east on 58 Highway through town. And yes, we've kind of changed the layout so the vendors will actually be along a closed section of street, which I think is South Adams, so that we have room. Otherwise there's not room for everything. So that'll be really nice to be able to have everyone lined up along that street, trees and shade and you know the play areas, the playground, so we have a lot available there.

Alex:

Yes, and we always have such good vendors too a lot of local bakers and farmers.

Alex:

There's also some honey, you can buy 3D homemade objects so many different things that you could buy and all is supporting local people

Melissa:

and, being the beginning of the season, probably not going to have tomatoes unless they're grown in a greenhouse, but there might be some plants and things during those first couple weeks, so that will be really great. And just one more time the Raymore Farmer's Market is every Tuesday 4 to 7 pm, June through September at TB Hanna Station. Let's talk about some city events. Right after Saturday, june 7th, electronics recycling at Raymore City Hall front parking lot from 9 am to noon. This is going to be, I think, our fourth electronics recycling event that we've hosted.

Melissa:

Definitely want to keep these things out of the landfill, your old electronics. They can be parted out, refurbished, reused, basically until they can't reuse anymore. So this is a good way to give those old electronics you don't want a second life and that's kind of just like a drive-through event. So when you show up you're going to want to enter from 58 Highway, enter south on Johnston Parkway and then take the turn onto Broadmoor and I will be there directing traffic, probably in a big, nice yellow safety vest, and we'll have one of our police officers there helping to direct traffic Because it is a pretty busy and popular event. But just, you don't have to be a Raymore resident to participate. But it's a really good way to keep those things like printers, computers and all that stuff out of the landfill if you don't want them anymore.

Melissa:

A lot of items are free. Some require a fee-c omputer monitors, tvs and things like that just because of the hazardous materials inside them. Visit raymore. com/ ewaste for all of the details on that event. And then the very next Saturday, June 14th, is the annual Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection. You do have to be a Raymore resident or a resident of a participating community to participate in that and that is from 8 am to noon or until the trucks are full, Saturday, June 14th at Eagle Glen Elementary in the parking lot, 100 South Foxridge Drive. Also, the Arts Commission's concert season starts Friday, June 13th. That's at Hawk Ridge Park, and the first one is the yachties, formerly known as yachtly groove, yacht rock and disco. Very fun, uh really cool songs that they have from holland oats, oh gosh don't forget the bgs the bgs we've got.

Melissa:

It's going to be a good time. It's going to be a good time. So that is free. Bring your own drinks, bring your own snacks, a blanket or chair. And then don't forget that we do have an additional parking lot, a brand new parking lot, off of the new Sunset Extension, Sunset Lane Extension. So we'll put I'll put a giant feather flag out that says "concert tonight at each of the entrances to those parking lots. But yeah, we are going to have a little bit extra parking this year. I know that's kind of always a kind of an annoyance. We had really cool bands but parking was at a minimum. So got a little more this year and that's going to be really good. And then the very next day, in addition to the household hazardous waste event, we actually have parks event, Touch A Truck.

Melissa:

Alex, what's happening at Touch a Truck? That'll from 9 am to 12 pm on June 14th and that will be an open house and kind of an opportunity for you and your kiddos to look firsthand at large equipment trucks like dump trucks, fire trucks just a variety of large vehicles will be there and there will also be some little activities for the kids as well, not just looking at trucks. And from 9 am to 10 am is our sensory friendly hour. So if your kids are sensitive to bright lights or flashing lights or loud sounds, that'll be a nice time for you guys to go explore the vehicles as well. And that'll be at Recreation Park.

Melissa:

Yes, and the address for Rec Park is 1011 South Madison Street. I want to make sure that everyone knows where that is, but that's where. If your children are in any sports, that's generally where the most of our sports take place. At that big park on the south side of town Parks and Recreation has some additional events happening toward the end of the month, so tell me about those.

Alex:

Yeah, we have Festival of the Parks and that will consist of two events. On Thursday, June 26th, we will have Bricks and Block Party from 5: 30 to 8 8: pm at TB Hanna Station. That will include the unveiling of the honor bricks that were dedicated last November for Veterans Day and so those will be revealed at TB Hanna Station at the Bricks and Block Party. It'll also have food truck service and live music from the Sounds of South Kansas City Community Band, which is a large band that plays awesome music.

Melissa:

It is a very large band. They kind of advertise themselves as 50-plus members. But I think at one point there were 60 or 70 members last year, ranging in age from 18 to I believe one year it was 93 or something, and they're all local musicians from Raymoor and the surrounding areas that just practice. They put together this band every summer and Raymore they they give us two concerts. So this will be the first concert that they're doing here in Raymoor and it's really great that the arts commission is the Raymoor arts commission is sponsoring Raymore to play at this event. So it's a great the Raymore Raymorerts A Parks and Rec and we hope that all the people that normally go to parks events and the people that normally go to see the sounds of South Kansas City will find something that works or expose themselves to something new, and I think that'll be a really fun event. So that's Thursday night, the June 26th. What is happening on Friday night, june 27th?

Alex:

Friday night is the second night of the Festival of the Parks and that event will be the Spirit of America celebration at 7 pm at Recreation Park and that will be inflatables, games, activities and we'll also have live music from Mirage KC, which we also had last year, they were a hit, and fireworks show at dusk.

Melissa:

And food trucks also right.

Alex:

And food trucks.

Melissa:

Gotta have the food.

Alex:

Absolutely yes. So super fun community events those two nights. Bring your friends, bring your neighbors, a great time for community at both of those events.

Melissa:

Awesome. So we just named, I think, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, eight events happening in June. Lots of stuff happening.

Melissa:

Not to mention the farmer's market is every single Tuesday through June through September, 4 to 7 pm. So there are a lot of opportunities to get out, be involved in the community. Everything here is free, except for whatever you're going to buy at the farmer's market or what you're going to buy at the food trucks at any of the events. But everything else this is all free, provided for you. We just want you to come out and have fun and meet some new neighbors and just take advantage of the things that are right here in Raymore that you don't have to leave town for. So you can find everything we just listed on o o ccalendaraymore. r c raymore. you can just go to raymoorcom and type in the name of the event in the search bar. But we do have all of this information on our website. We also have our magazine that was just delivered to all raymoor addresses, the raymoor review.

Alex:

And then the flip side is the parks and recreation program guide for the summer if you're interested in getting more in-depth information about our parks programs, you can sign up for our monthly e-newsletter Parks Monthly, and that will give you a little snapshot into our upcoming events fitness programs, instructional classes, paintings and everything parks. So that's a super useful tool and just gives you a little look at the future.

Melissa:

So you can plan ahead, make sure you never miss an event.

Alex:

Yes, and you can find that a r r w r r parks.

Melissa:

Great. Well, I think that is all we have today, but we hope that we can see you out at some of these events coming up and we'll say goodbye. Enjoy your month of June. And that's not where the events stop, because they're happening all summer, so please do check out our website for all of that information.