Lee's Summit Town Hall

Celebrating 50+ years of delivering meals and relationships

In this episode of Lee's Summit Town Hall, hosts Nick Parker and Vanessa Hickman sit down with Meals on Wheels of Lee's Summit representatives Jenni Edwards (Operations Director), Terry Kincheloe (Board Member), and Susan Newsome (Board Member) to explore the 50-year journey of this vital community organization. From its humble beginnings in 1974 serving 15 clients to today's operation delivering meals to 140+ residents across Lee's Summit, Lake Lotawana, and Greenwood, the conversation reveals how this locally-funded nonprofit has become much more than a meal delivery service. Listeners will discover the life-saving wellness checks, the unique 50-year partnership with Lee's Summit Medical Center that allows for customized dietary accommodations, and the incredible volunteer network that keeps the organization running. The discussion also covers how the organization has adapted during challenging weather, supports families caring for aging parents, and continues to seek community awareness and involvement as Lee's Summit grows toward 110,000 residents.

It's all day Jazz! Collin Brich on this month's Lee's Summit Jazz Festival

In this episode, Nick Parker and Collin Brich discuss the upcoming Lee Summit Jazz Fest, highlighting the festival's details, food offerings, musical lineup, and community impact. They emphasize the importance of local businesses, volunteer opportunities, and the overall excitement surrounding the event.

Father's Day without a dad: Local teen opens up prior to holiday some families don't get

In this heartfelt episode of the Lee's Summit Town Hall podcast, host Nick Parker welcomes special guest Nikeese Hannibal for an honest and reflective conversation centered around Father's Day. This episode delves into the unique experiences of growing up without a dad. Nick and Nikeese share personal stories, exploring the emotional complexities of loss, absence, and the different forms of mentorship that have shaped their lives.

Listeners will hear about Nick's journey after losing his father to cancer at a young age and Nikeese's experience growing up without knowing his father due to legal circumstances. The episode touches on how relationships with uncles, grandfathers, and mentors can influence ones growth, and the nuanced feelings surrounding Fathers Day. The duo candidly discuss the challenges of defining fatherhood, the impact of stereotypes, and how these experiences shape their identities.

Tune in for an episode filled with genuine stories, introspective dialogue, and valuable insights on appreciating the figures who step in to guide us, even when they aren't our biological fathers.

Workshopping a new song? Julie Cook and Jenny Gale drop by the vault to sing a song about next week's festival

Summer is officially getting ready to start. Downtown Lee's Summit's Julie Cook and Jenny Gale drop by the vault to sing us a song about next week's Downtown Days festival - my, and yours, kickoff to summer. In addition to some improv singing, we're filling you in on all the details of this popular annual festival drawing more than 80,000 people into our historic shopping and entertainment district. 

Market Opens Soon, Mayor's Race Begins & Honoring Lost Leaders

Host Nick Parker and Jason Norbury discuss the exciting progress on Lee's Summit's new downtown farmers market and performance space on Green Street, set to open in August after years of planning. The duo also covers the early announcement of two mayoral candidates — business owner and City Council member Cynda Rader and current Mayor Pro Tem Beto Lopez — who are already positioning themselves for next year's election. The episode takes a somber turn as they honor four recently deceased community members who made significant contributions to Lee's Summit: Andy Lock (Third Street Social owner), Jody Fristo (arts advocate), Peggy Doughty (Blue Heron owner), and Brad Rackers (theater director and teacher). The show closes with audio from a previous interview with Rackers about his "F Word" speech on failure and learning.

Phil & Lori Volen discuss the literal building blocks of their business — Phillori Phigures

Ever wondered what happens when passion meets plastic bricks? In Episode 862 of the Lee's Summit Town Hall podcast, host Nick Parker welcomes Phil and Lori Volen, the creative minds behind Phillori Phigures (see what they did there?).

These downtown Lee's Summit entrepreneurs transformed their pandemic hobby into a thriving business crafting custom, Lego-compatible figures that are captivating collectors everywhere.

But this isn't just another business origin story. Nick dives into the truly important questions that divide the brick-building community: Are you Team Builder, meticulously crafting masterpieces that remain pristinely displayed? Or Team Player, dumping out containers and letting imagination run wild? The Volens share their own brick-building philosophies and how these different approaches influence their unique creations.

Whether you're a dedicated collector or someone who steps on plastic bricks in the middle of the night, this episode explores how a simple toy became a creative business venture creating community, one custom mini-figure at a time.

Final Countdown: A last look at the school bond question and four candidates for LSR7 BOE

In this election-focused episode, host Nick Parker and guest Jason Norbury provide a breakdown of the four candidates competing for just two available seats on the Lee's Summit Board of Education. They explore the priorities and perspectives of Michelle Dawson, Jennifer Foley (current board president and lone incumbent), Nikki Nickens, and Leon Weatherby.

The discussion delves into critical issues facing the district, including board-superintendent relations, teacher compensation, public communication strategies, and fiscal management. Each candidate's unique approach to these challenges offers listeners valuable insights into how they might shape the board's future direction.

Whether you're a decided voter or still weighing your options, this episode delivers the information you need to make an informed choice at the polls. Plus, Nick and Jason share how you can access candidate questionnaires at Link2LeesSummit.com and connect directly with candidates to have your specific questions answered.

Don't miss this vital conversation about the future of education in Lee's Summit!

Breaking down the $225M bond question: What it means for LSR7 Schools

In this episode of the Lee's Summit Town Hall podcast, host Nick Parker welcomes Lee's Summit R-7 School District Superintendent Dr. David Buck and Associate Superintendent Dr. Steve Shelton to discuss the upcoming $225 million no-tax-increase bond issue on the ballot. They delve into the specifics of the bond, which aims to address capital needs such as building renovations, safety improvements, and infrastructure upgrades within the district. The guests also highlight the importance of community involvement and planning for future growth. Tune in to learn about the critical projects included in the bond and how they will benefit the district.

Episode 859: Prioritizing Mental Health with ReDiscover’s Demetrios Walker

In this episode of the Lee’s Summit Town Hall podcast, host Nick Parker welcomes Demetrios Walker, Community and Engagement Business Partner at ReDiscover, a nonprofit mental health center dedicated to supporting individuals affected by mental illness and substance use disorders.

Demetrios shares insights into ReDiscover’s commitment to providing accessible and culturally competent mental health services for both youth and adults. He highlights the importance of social and emotional wellness, the role of open dialogue in bridging generational gaps, and the need for action-oriented strategies to turn community conversations into meaningful change.

Nick and Demetrios also discuss ReDiscover’s partnerships with organizations like Prodeo, their mission to ensure community engagement, and the availability of essential mental health resources across the metropolitan area—including their main location at 1555 Northeast Rice Road in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Tune in for an important conversation about breaking down barriers, fostering safe spaces, and taking action to support mental health in our community.

Get Ready to 'Shamrock the Block!'

In this episode of the Lee’s Summit Town Hall podcast, host Nick Parker welcomes back Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street's Julie Cook and Jenny Gale to chat about the second annual Shamrock the Block event! Happening afrom 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, this St. Patrick’s celebration is bigger and better than ever, packed with inflatables, food trucks, live entertainment, and even a bubble party! 

Julie and Jenny share their excitement about the event’s growth and all the fun in store for families. Whether you're there for the festivities, the food, or just a little luck of the Irish, this is one event you won’t want to miss! Tune in and get the inside scoop on all things Shamrock the Block!