home stereo: NEWS ACROSS THE METRO
Pump down the volume, Greenwood says
Turn that radio down!
Greenwood’s aldermen last week voted unanimously to enact a noise ordinance.
If a car radio, boom box, television, home stereo or whatever can be heard 100 feet away, then it’s too loud, according to city regulations. A police officer can write a ticket to a driver, homeowner or others controlling an electronic device.
Permits can be issued at City Hall for outside events that otherwise might violate the ordinance.
Agency receives national honors
The Olathe Housing Authority once again was named a high performer by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“We have been fortunate to receive that honor almost every year,” said Kathy Rankin, Olathe’s housing and transportation manager.
The Housing Authority also received two Awards of Merit recently from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. The awards recognize innovative projects, programs and services.
“Turning Housing Into Homes” won for its innovation, using landscaping vouchers and a competition to encourage public housing tenants to take pride in their homes.
The authority’s “Welcome Bucket” program provides new tenants with housewarming packages containing educational materials, emergency contact magnets, brochures from local organizations, and advice on home upkeep and maintenance.
Software works on brain’s wiring
The Liberty School District is using software that’s said to rewire the brain’s ability to process speech.
“Fast ForWord” is a set of computer games by Scientific Learning Corp. based in Oakland, Calif. For the past several weeks, struggling readers have spent 90 minutes a day whipping through mental exercises.
Fast ForWord’s programs tackle issues of memory, attention, processing and sequencing. Scientists studying the brain’s “plasticity,” or potential for change, found that certain exercises speed learning ability.
The programs will be available to students at three elementary schools, both middle schools and both junior high schools at a cost of about $300,000.
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| Russ Pulley, rpulley@kcstar.com | Brandon Babcock, bbabcock@kcstar.com | Lindsay Hanson Metcalf, lmetcalf@kcstar.com
Turn that radio down!
Greenwood’s aldermen last week voted unanimously to enact a noise ordinance.
If a car radio, boom box, television, home stereo or whatever can be heard 100 feet away, then it’s too loud, according to city regulations. A police officer can write a ticket to a driver, homeowner or others controlling an electronic device.
Permits can be issued at City Hall for outside events that otherwise might violate the ordinance.
Agency receives national honors
The Olathe Housing Authority once again was named a high performer by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“We have been fortunate to receive that honor almost every year,” said Kathy Rankin, Olathe’s housing and transportation manager.
The Housing Authority also received two Awards of Merit recently from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. The awards recognize innovative projects, programs and services.
“Turning Housing Into Homes” won for its innovation, using landscaping vouchers and a competition to encourage public housing tenants to take pride in their homes.
The authority’s “Welcome Bucket” program provides new tenants with housewarming packages containing educational materials, emergency contact magnets, brochures from local organizations, and advice on home upkeep and maintenance.
Software works on brain’s wiring
The Liberty School District is using software that’s said to rewire the brain’s ability to process speech.
“Fast ForWord” is a set of computer games by Scientific Learning Corp. based in Oakland, Calif. For the past several weeks, struggling readers have spent 90 minutes a day whipping through mental exercises.
Fast ForWord’s programs tackle issues of memory, attention, processing and sequencing. Scientists studying the brain’s “plasticity,” or potential for change, found that certain exercises speed learning ability.
The programs will be available to students at three elementary schools, both middle schools and both junior high schools at a cost of about $300,000.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Russ Pulley, rpulley@kcstar.com | Brandon Babcock, bbabcock@kcstar.com | Lindsay Hanson Metcalf, lmetcalf@kcstar.com
