We are honored to serve a second year as a host location for Olathe's Outdoor Sculpture Series. This year, our Olathe branch and its adjacent outdoor event space will showcase "Aspara Vulgaris" a large three-dimensional sculpture by Springfield, Mo, artist Nick Willett. Inspired by his wife's horticultural studies and his time making coral for Bass Pro Shop aquariums, this colorful metal piece is an abstract hybrid of asparagus and an octopus. Drop by 11750 S. Fellow Street to see the sculpture and find more of Nick's work at @nick_willett_sculpture The Olathe Outdoor Sculpture Series plays a key role in furthering Olathe’s vision to build its community identity, activate public spaces, and foster connections through art. Public art serves as a powerful tool to tell Olathe’s stories, engage residents and visitors, and offer interactive, meaningful experiences. Learn more at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/896d227b07a146dc8230a302bb5be1a7 (fb)

The Topeka Community Cycle Project (TCCP) unveiled a new solution designed to keep cyclists rolling with a vending machine stocked not with snacks or sodas, but with essential bike parts. The vending machine was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony today, Tuesday, May 27, located in the lobby of the Shawnee County Central Park Community Center, 1534 SW Clay St., Topeka. The new addition is stocked with emergency bike repair items like brake pads, shift cables, road caliper pads, bike chains, brake cables, tubes, and bar tape. “The idea behind this machine is simple,” said Doug Hickman, TCCP Board Member. “When you’re in a bind, access to even a single tube or cable can mean the difference between getting home safely or being stranded. Our goal is to make bike maintenance less intimidating and more accessible—even if it starts with something as simple as a vending machine.” The vending machine, after years of wear, needed a refreshed look. Azura Credit Union stepped in to design and fund a custom wrap, transforming the old machine into a vibrant, eye-catching fixture that reflects the spirit of cycling and community collaboration. The machine accepts cash (no credit or debit cards at this time) and is accessible during the community center’s open hours: Monday–Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thank you TCCP for the collab and WIBW for the coverage! (fb)