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July 2026 Newsletter
In this edition . . .
July 4 Parade
TGIF Social Hours
July 10: Dessert Truck
August 14: Hiatt Home
September 11: Cookout at the Pool
The Schnitzmobile Story
Meet Mac the Mailman
Ideas for New Social Activities
Long-Range Planning: 2026 Reserve Study
August 2 Board Meeting – Neighbors are Welcome
Youth Services - Elliot Mabrey lawn care
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Many dozens of neighbors of all ages toted flags, dressed themselves and their vehicles in patriotic colors, and marched through BridgePointe at the annual July 4 celebration. Cloud cover brought relief from the heat, and a few sprinkles, but not enough to rain on the parade. As in recent years, Kristy Weaver coordinated the event, which featured cut watermelon and donuts.
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Next TGIF Social: August 14
Hiatt Household Hosts Happy Hour
The next TGIF Social Hour will move indoors. Susan and Bob Hiatt (816-305-4176) will host, 6-8pm, Friday, August 14, at 1715 NE 82nd Terrace.
The September 11 TGIF Social Hour may be the year’s final outdoor fling: A cookout at the swimming pool. Hamburgers, hot dogs, cups and flatware will be provided. Neighbors of all ages are invited to bring a side dish to share, and their preferred beverages. Contact Ken Nelson (816) 718-3976 for information or to offer to help. Volunteers for set-up and tear-down always are appreciated.
Linda Spotts Michael will host on October 9 at 8224 N, Michigan Ct.
Hosts still are needed for November 13 and December 11. To volunteer, contact Shauna Varner Pierce, (816) 694-4138.
TGIF Social Hours, on the second Friday of each month, have been among the most popular BridgePointe activities for 21 years -- since June 3, 2005, except during the COVID pandemic. In summer months, food trucks have been at the pool. Otherwise, the adults-only events are at the home of whichever neighbors volunteer to host in their homes. All neighbors are invited to bring their preferred beverages and a snack to share.
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How ‘Bout that Schnitzmobile!
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Jim Schnitz worked on this 1926 Model T Ford coupe for four years after his wife and love of 60 years, Sarah, passed away in 2019. With some help from his sons Phil and Joseph, he installed a Chevrolet 229-cubic-inch V-6 engine with three two-barrel carburetors. He estimates it generates 300-325 horsepower – more than enough for such a small car. The 100-year-old vehicle has led the July 4 parade a few times.
His handiwork can be seen daily around BridgePointe. He built – and then made extensive repairs to – the BridgePointe Book Station, a little library at the swimming pool parking lot, where neighbors can leave a book or borrow one for free.
He and his sons also helped to install the “BRIDGE POINTE” sign at the corner of N. Wayne and N.E. Barry Road in 2009. That was the neighborhood’s original 1986 welcome sign by the swimming pool entrance, replaced by the current modern sign when the old sign initially was believed to be beyond repair. But the old sign later was found to be salvageable, so it was refurbished to be put at an entrance which had no neighborhood-identifying monument.
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When the Postal Service offered to transfer Letter Carrier James “Mac” McDonald, 58, from his native New Jersey to Kansas City, he jumped at the chance.
Why?
“Taxes and traffic,” he says. Oh, and “I’m a Mets fan.”
Huh?
When he was a kid, he hated those damn Yankees, but loved when the Royals, led by George Brett, would beat them.
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So, of course he would move to Kansas City. Now working from the Gladstone branch, on Broadway at N.E. 72nd Street, he delivers mail daily to 581 addresses, including all 201 homes in Bridge Pointe. When Veronica Ruis retired five years ago, he got the route.
“Bridge Pointe is the cleanest, nicest neighborhood around,” he says with a slight hint of East Coast accent. “Good people. It’s the people who make the neighborhood. Everyone looks out for everyone. That doesn’t happen much.”
“Your neighborhood is the only one that communicates with me. Everyone is so nice.” Some neighbors give him cold water bottles on hot days. Some neighbors shovel snow away from the mailbox pods, making his job easier. “They don’t have to do that. But I sure appreciate it.”
Mac will hold mail at the post office for patrons who are on vacation if he knows when. People can report their absences on-line, but those reports don’t always reach him on time. He suggests putting a note into your mailbox for him to see, and sending him a Facebook message. He’s a member (listed as “James Mac”) of the Bridge Pointe Neighborhood page on Facebook and checks it frequently to stay aware of activity and, occasionally, to post information – such as when he will be on vacation.
Mac usually delivers in Bridge Pointe between 9:30 and 11:30am daily, including Saturdays but not Sundays. Bridge Pointe, with Ridgefield and other areas, is in the second largest route handled by the Gladstone branch. Even though Bridge Pointe homes are only 35% of the number of addresses he serves, he estimates 70% of the packages go there.
Mac plans to retire a year from now, when he’s completed 30 years of service. The letter carrier who substitutes for him on his days off already wants to be sure she inherits the route “because she knows and likes the people.”
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What Would You Like to Do?
Ideas Sought for New Activities, Projects
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Judy Meier hosted three neighbors on June 23, 2026, to toss around thoughts about new ways for socializing, in addition to the long list of continuing events. After brainstorming, they agreed to invite all households to make even more suggestions, and to take a turn with organizing or supporting events. Ideas and offers to volunteer should go to Judy Meier (816-718-4076.)
Along with Judy, Carolyn McClure, Stacy Steinhauer and Ken Nelson reviewed existing and potential events, and grouped them into five categories: Adults, kids, all ages, outings (activities away from the neighborhood,) and volunteers.
For instance, in addition to the longstanding monthly TGIF Social Hours, adults could have a garden club, holiday cookie and tea exchange, craft club, book club, progressive dinners, and board-game nights. Whether such ideas ripen into fruition will depend upon how many neighbors want to participate, and whether coordinators, sponsors, or organizers surface.
In addition to the annual springtime Easter Egg Hunt, kids could have a Halloween costume contest, and/or a dog costume contest.
For all ages, in addition to the BBQ Showdown, summer TGIF food trucks, pool-opening and pool-closing parties, and July 4 parade, previously popular (but since discontinued) events could return: Summertime all-neighbors pool party, Oktoberfest, and golf tournament. New ideas include: Mardi Gras parade, block parties with potluck cookouts, outdoor movie night, movie marathon, cornhole tournament, ice cream truck visit to the pool or around the neighborhood, Christmas lights tour with caroling, Super Bowl watch party at the pool or in a neighbor’s garage.
Plans for outings are limited only by the imagination, but here are thoughts which arose at the meeting: Bowling alley, Royals game, Truman Library, Negro Leagues Museum, World War I Museum, Monarchs game, nearby restaurants for regular dinners, train trip to Hermann, Missouri.
Volunteer activities, besides the popular Dumpster Days and Pool Cleanups, could expand to include a coordinated and organized effort for neighbors helping neighbors by first identifying talents and skills, and then quantifying neighbors’ needs, so neighbors can get assistance when skills and needs are matched. Volunteer days could be scheduled to assist community charities regularly – perhaps monthly or quarterly.
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Long-Range Planning:
2026 Reserve Study
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Ten years ago, on August 7, 2016, to be exact, the Association’s Board of Directors adopted a five-year plan which estimated when expensive repairs or replacements would be needed – and what they would cost. Pat Rainey, Dave Mecklenberg, Mike Power, Brian McCrary and George Roberts labored for seven months, meeting with neighbors to collect information. The group generated a detailed plan, hoping to avoid unpleasant surprises with the Association’s assets, which were 30 years old then
Since then, annual dues have increased modestly but steadily, bringing enough income to create a reserve fund to pay for several major projects. Later, the study was updated. The Association engaged a consulting firm, Reserve Advisors, which specializes in producing plans for raising and spending reserve funds to deal with large capital improvements for homes associations.
In recent years, major improvements include a new fence around the pool area, new concrete deck and retaining wall at the pool, and major repairs for electricity and plumbing. Even more recently the walls and floor of the swimming pool were repainted, bathrooms were renovated, the parking lot re-paved, and siding on the pumphouse was repaired. A parking lot gate was installed. Access has been improved by an upgrade to the key-fob system. The pergola was painted this year.
A lot has changed since that first reserve study. Obviously, the swimming pool, pumphouse, retaining walls and other assets now are 40 years old, and in greater need of significant repair or replacement. Costs for materials and labor are higher, too. The reasons for creating those long-range plans still exist – and may be even more urgent.
High on the list are the timber retaining wall on the west side of N. Wayne at N.E. Barry Road, and the rock wall on the south side of the swimming-pool parking lot. Both will cost a lot, requiring stake surveys to establish property lines, and excavation before the walls are replaced. The future of the pumphouse and plans for landscaping will be visited. The swimming pool walls and floor will require new plaster and paint.
To help with the elaborate planning process, the Association engaged Reserve Advisors again to build on its prior work. The reserve study will produce a report with recommendations about the sequence for undertaking projects, when they should happen, and how much they will cost.
September 1, 2026, is the target date for completing the five-year plan. Pat Rainey and Jason White are coordinating with Reserve Advisors.
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August 2, 2026
Neighbors Are Welcome To Attend Board Meeting
All neighbors are invited to attend the next regular meeting of the Association’s Board or Directors. The meeting will be at 5:30pm, Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the Meier home, 1907 NE 82nd Terrace. A proposed agenda can be viewed here.
To make sure enough chairs are available, call 816-718-4076 in advance.
The Board has scheduled its meetings for the first Sunday evening in each of February, April, June, August, October and December 2026.
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Youth Services:
Elliot Mabrey
Elliot Mabrey offers lawn care services in the neighborhood, including mowing, trimming, and edging. He currently takes care of several homes in the area. Contact him at (816) 621-0550. His parents are Matthew and Emily Mabrey.
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If you know about or see anything which should be considered for publishing in The Pointe, please contact Ken Nelson at ken@nelsonlawkc.com.
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Current news, announcements, helpful comments, neighbors’ recommendations are available on the “Bridge Pointe Neighborhood” page on Facebook.
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