The "heartland" produced another citizenry-led event that metaphorically speaking, was a one day "all out court press" for donations, to be given to newly established JJ's Restaurant Fund.The GKCRA(Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association), Mayor Sly James and his City government entourage, Marco Polo's, Jasper's Ristorante, Quasimodo, CoalVines on the Plaza, and over 125 other restaurants & organizations participated in this benefit for the injured & convalescing service workers, whose recent bane was due to a gas explosion on Tuesday February 19th, 2013 at JJ's, which was located in the West Plaza area. The immense fire, smoke and explosion didn't have to happen...as I write this article "breaking news" is being reported by KCTV-5 anchor Carolyn Long, she states, "the 3rd party Olathe, Ks. based cable excavation company, "Heartland Midwest," tried to file with the City for a permit, the day after the explosion." This action was confirmed by City Manager Shulte to news outlets, today. Examiner.com will continue to update this info as warranted.
Examiner.com followed & photographed the launch on Saturday 23, 2013 which was successful. Restaurants and businesses gave 10% of the day/night receipts to JJ's benefit fundraiser, which at this time, is over $20,000. And more is expected this week when a final total will be tabulated. Individual restaurants & groups are still organizing, collecting donations and offering actual Friday & Saturday lucrative shifts, such as; Team Jasper, which was spearheaded by his Head Chef of 37 years, Marvin Lewis. Who has been with the Mirabile Family when 30+ years ago, he witnessed and remembered when their restaurant burned down, in the Waldo district of Kansas City. And other Chefs in the city offered him shifts to get through a rough period, until the new Marco Polo Deli, and Jasper's Ristorante was built in the Watts Mill area at 1201 W 103rd., in south KC. Chef Jasper stated on a KSHB-TV41 interview that his cooking team came to him Wednesday morning, February 20, 2013(day after the JJ gas explosion) along with Chef Lewis, requested that they would like to contribute Friday's and Saturdays for weeks or years, or until the JJ service workers get back on their feet again. Jasper hit the ground running, to make this request of his staff a positive reality.
For more photographic info, just click the slideshow link above, which shows Chefs Jasper, Jasper III, Marvin Lewis, his cooks, Mayor Sly James, KC officials, Quasidmodo GM Jessica Suzanne Donohoe, her staff, musicians and customers who donated in the "JJ" bucket on stage, West Plaza area with burnt-out hull and corner facade of JJ's restaurant, KCTV-5 microwave truck that had just produced a news story in CoalVines on the Plaza.
If you have any concerns, comments, questions, or answers, don't hesitate to contact Reggie Banks,Sr. at reelknightstm@gmail.com. And if you would like to continue to receive "free" Kansas City Political Buzz newsletters, just click the "subscribe" button above. As always, "thank you" for your patronage. Copyright(C) BCP 1994-2013 All Rights Reserved to Reggie Banks,Sr. and Blackberry Castle Photography.
Comments