EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Mid-America Regional Council, or MARC, as recognized Excelsior Springs as a Community for All Ages at the gold level, which acknowledges the city’s work to become more agefriendly. MARC recognized the city during the First Suburbs Coalition meeting Jan. 21. Grain Valley received silver and bronze went to Merriam, Kansas. The program is available to all jurisdictions in the nine-county MARC region. The program is designed to respond to a rapid increase in the older adult population and make communities more welcoming for all age groups. The recognition program’s three sequential levels of achievement reflect increasing degrees of commitment to becoming a Community for All Ages, MARC stated. Gold, the highest level, recognizes communities that adopt a Communities for All Ages plan. Communities can maintain their recognition status by advancing to higher levels or, once the gold level is achieved, continuing to implement new e...