Megan Neher Public Relations

Zona Rosa is home to a free festival celebrating Italian traditions and Italian-American culture

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Festa Italiana will take over Zona Rosa the weekend after Memorial Day again this year with top national music acts, including Felix Cavaliere and the Rascals and The Bronx Wanderers, as well as a wine tasting, pasta-eating contest, Sunday Catholic Mass, Italian car show and much more.

Known as Kansas City’s best ethnic festival, Festa Italiana is a celebration of all Italian traditions. This local three-day event attracts visitors from across metropolitan Kansas City and beyond. Festa Italiana is a popular family event open to the public, with free admission showcasing Italian food vendors, live music, a beer garden, dancers, a children’s play area and a schedule chock full of activities and performances.

The spectacular line-up of events begins Friday, May 31 at 5 p.m. through Sunday, June 2. Throughout the weekend big-stage productions of music, dancing, cooking and more will occupy the stage at Zona Rosa’s Town Square. Along with the numerous vendors, there are novelty booths with shirts, hats, and other memorabilia representing Italian heritage for the whole family. The festival will also feature old photos and articles about Italians in Kansas City and the United States. The festival features a designated children’s area with a variety of activities including inflatable bounce houses and slides.

Weekend performance snapshot. For a full schedule, please visit www.zonarosa.com.

Friday, May 31
5 p.m. to 10 p.m. – A variety of Italian-inspired singing and dancing will take place at Town Square including Miller Marley Entertainers (5:30 p.m.), Malena Marcase, up and coming Italian starlet (6:30 p.m.), Joseph Vincelli, internationally acclaimed saxophonist, flautist and jazz recording artist (7 p.m.), The Bronx Wanderers from New York with their ultimate tribute to Frankie Valli, The Four Seasons and Dion (8:45 p.m.)

Saturday, June 1
11 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. – Annual cannoli eating contest (noon.); Nick and Brian Strohm, young Italian American singers (2 p.m.), Joe and Frank Viviano, singing Italian favorites (2:15 p.m.), Dolce Divas, Festa Italiana’s youngest dancing sensations (3:30 p.m.), Kate Cosentino, pop music (5 p.m.), The Viviano Variety Show with song, dance, comedy and more (6:30 p.m.), Felix Cavaliere and the Rascals, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer (8:30 p.m.)

Sunday, June 2
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Sunday starts with Catholic Mass by Father Vince Rogers and Father Dennis Wait, followed by a daylong schedule of performers including Garozzo’s Head Chef, Chris Canzoneri offering a secret recipe and pasta-eating contest (1 p.m.), UNICO awards (2 p.m.), singing your contemporary favorites is Linda Scola and Phil Balano (3 p.m.); ending with The Gumbas (4:30 p.m.)

Zona Rosa is an urban town center located at the northwest corner of I-29 and Barry Road in Kansas City.
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Annual Walk was Created to Increase Awareness for the Importance of Active and Fit Families

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Black Health Care Coalition (BHCC) invites Greater Kansas City area residents to participate in the free One City One Challenge 5K Run/Walk at 10 a.m. May 18.

The event is part of the BHCC’s “Fit Families” program. It is designed to motivate families, children and the community to become healthy and active. The run/walk begins and ends at the Swope Park Bandstand Pavilion, 3998 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64130.

Register for the free walk at www.livewellkc.org or at the event beginning at 9 a.m.

The free community event aims to demonstrate the importance of exercise for better health and obesity prevention. Featured attractions include healthy eating demonstrations, a fitness area, free McDonald’s apple slices and a chance to win healthy-themed prizes. As part of Kansas City Mayor Sly James Citywide Fitness Challenge, hundreds of local employees have been walking each week in community walking programs to prepare for the 5K event.

“It is our hope that this free walk helps to establish good fitness habits for this community, reminds people to exercise and instills healthy behaviors as a way of life,” said Melissa Robinson, executive director of the BHCC.

One in 3 young people are overweight or obese; and a ten-year-old has a 1 in 3 chance of developing diabetes in his/her lifetime. First Lady Michelle Obama launched her “Let’s Move” campaign two years ago with the commitment to help end the country’s childhood obesity epidemic. Because childhood obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, the BHCC began sponsoring this free 5K Run/Walk in Kansas City.

Along with other health and wellness related programs, BHCC is continuing to promote healthier lifestyles for children and families through an evidence based program: Fit Families, designed to combat unhealthy cultural norms and encourage physical fitness, nutrition and health policy in urban areas of Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. As childhood obesity prevention is gaining momentum nationwide, the Black Health Care Coalition (BHCC) is celebrating 26 years of making significant contributions in ensuring the health and wellness of those stricken by poverty and inadequate access to basic health care. For more information, contact Melissa Robinson at (816) 444-9600, ext. 102 or mrobinsonbhcc@yahoo.com.

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“Pint-for-Pint” blood drive will be at all Community Blood Center locations May 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In the time it takes to eat a pint of Blue Bell Ice Cream you could save a life by donating blood on May 1 during the annual Blue Bell Ice Cream “Pint-for-Pint” blood drive at local Community Blood Center locations.

Blue Bell Ice Cream has partnered with Kansas City’s Community Blood Centers for the special
“Pint-for-Pint” blood drive from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 1 to help boost blood collections prior to the traditionally slow summer months. Historically, Memorial Day through Labor Day is a particularly tough time to recruit blood donors because of vacations and other summertime activities. Summer blood donations decrease about 20 percent while demand for blood increases.

A variety of flavors of Blue Bell Ice Cream will be available at the following metro area Community Blood Center locations.

Missouri

7265 N Oak Trafficway, Gladstone
4040 Main, Kansas City
3122 Frederick, St. Joseph

Kansas
10568 Metcalf, Overland Park
800 SW Lane St., Topeka

Did you know:

• One in three Americans will need a blood transfusion in their lifetime.
• Two is the number of lives saved by one pint of donated blood.
• Donors are eligible to give whole blood every 56 days.
• The Community Blood Center provides blood to patients in 72 area hospitals in Kansas and Missouri.

Blue Bell Ice Cream is the third bestselling ice cream in the country although it is only available in 23 states, including Kansas and Missouri. The ice cream has attracted what USA Today has called “a cult-like following” in the markets where it is sold and among transplanted Blue Bell lovers everywhere. In 2007, Blue Bell celebrated its 100th anniversary at its headquarters in Brenham, Texas, a town of about 12,000 people located 70 miles northwest of Houston.

Call 888-647-4040 today to schedule an appointment or to find out how you can sponsor a blood drive at your job, church or community or visit online at: www.savealifenow.org.

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Media contacts:
Megan Neher, Blue Bell Ice Cream, 913-599-5539, megan@mnpr.biz, www.mnpr.biz
Stann Tate, Community Blood Center, 816-968-4437, state@cbckc.org