Beauchamp’s Gallery to Feature Colorists Diane Lawrence and Debra Clemente

Fans of bright colorful artwork will see plenty to like in Beauchamp’s upcoming exhibit- New Works by Debra Clemente and Diane Lawrence. Both artists utilize bright pure color to inject energy and emotion into their paintings. Clemente applies heavy colorful oil paints on canvas with a pallet knife. Her works have a textural quality that seems to be influenced by the impressionists like Van Gogh. Lawrence applies thin layers of equally colorful pigments to delicate silk fabric. And though the color is just as striking, the surface quality of her work is much different than Clemente’s. Lawrence’s use of silk gives each painting a shimmering effect that is unique to the medium and a nice contrast to Clemente’s heavy oils.

For Clemente, much of her inspiration comes from the landscape. However, she is in no way focused on an exact interpretation of a particular scene. Rather, she is much more interested in using color to express the emotions that she feels. Similarly, Lawrence puts it this way, “Forms that radiate vibrant color energize my soul and lead me into a delightful journey into expression….” In the past, Lawrence’s focus has been florals and depictions of colorful Koi fish and this show has good examples of such work. However Lawrence, like Clemente, will also present a number of works influenced by the landscape.

New Works by Debra Clemente and Diane Lawrence can be seen at Beauchamp’s Gallery starting December 31, but an opening reception for both artists will take place on Friday evening, January 8th at the gallery. The public is invited.
Beauchamp’s is Topeka’s premier provider of original fine art, classic custom framing, art restoration/repair, and consulting. Located at 3113 SW Huntoon in the Westboro Mart, Beauchamp’s has been a mainstay of the Topeka arts community for over 35 years.

2010 Leadership Greater Topeka Class Announced

Thirty-six individuals from Topeka and Shawnee County have been selected to participate in the 2010 Leadership Greater Topeka program. Leadership Greater Topeka, a program of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce since 1984, identifies outstanding potential leaders from various components of the community. There are 776 alumni of the program.

Class members will attend a retreat and seven day-long sessions between January 28-29 and May 7 to learn about challenges facing the City of Topeka and Shawnee County and how they, as individuals, can work to influence community issues and problems. The 2010 class was chosen from more than 300 nominees representing a variety of backgrounds and a cross section of the community.

Members of the 2010 class are:

Erin Aldridge, marketing manager, Topeka Performing Arts Center; Jose Arimany, associate manager, Business Analysis, Hill's Pet Nutrition; Gregg Burden, supervisory program specialist, VA Health Resource Center; Tyrell Carstarphen, student, Highland Park High School; Aaron Classi, commercial banking relationship manager, U.S. Bank; Shelley D'Attilio, laboratory manager, Stormont-Vail HealthCare; Kristina Dietrick, president, Creative Business Solutions; Mary Anne Durall; assistant vice president - global services/operations, se2 - div. of Security Benefit; Amber Gentry, vice president, Networks Plus; Brenda Guilfoyle, director resource development, United Way of Greater Topeka; Brian Haug, account executive, WIBW-TV; Julie Hinrichsen, vice president information services, CIO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas; Captain Shane Hoobler, Shawnee County Sheriff's Office; Dracy Jenkins, executive director, Distribution Power Delivery, Westar Energy, Inc.; Dean Roxanne Kelly, Washburn Institute of Technology; Amanda Lanum, news anchor, WIBW Channels; Chris Lipp, cirector of cardiology/vascular surgery service line, St. Francis Health Center; Larry McCoig, regional president, Citizens Bank & Trust; Katie McCollom, development director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Topeka; Bill Naeger, senior project manager, Bartlett & West; Jenny Oxandale, assistant director, Kansas Volunteer Commission, KSDE; Nancy Riegle, interpreter/translator, Spanish Solutions International, LLC; Cody Robertson, associate attorney, Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer, LLP; Angel Romero, resident assistant (RA), Washburn University Residential Living; Ginger Spivey, programming associate, KTWU, Washburn University; Captain Jerry Stanley, Topeka Police Department; Shelly Starr, chief of litigation, Topeka City Attorney; Brandi Studer, associate attorney, Henson, Hutton, Mudrick & Gragson, LLP; Bob Swafford, owner/president, ColorWorks Paint & Supply; Bob Trepinski, executive director, Marian Clinic; Angela Valdivia, administrative assistant, Student Activities & Greek Life Office; Washburn University; Monte Weathers, Brigade S4 (Logistics Officer), 69th Troop Command, Kansas Army Nat’l Guard; Dana Wethington, chief executive officer, American Red Cross, Kansas Capital Area Chapter; Abbey Wostal, vice president/business development, Fidelity State Bank and Trust Co.; Corrie Wright, HND manager, City of Topeka - Dept. of Housing & Neighborhood Development; Tyson Yager, business analyst, Capitol Federal Savings.

Wells Fargo Advisors Topeka, Kansas, and The Topeka Rescue Mission helping to give back this Holiday Season

Wells Fargo Advisors Topeka, Kansas, announced today a new project with The Topeka Rescue Mission. Throughout the holiday season and the coming year, Wells Fargo Advisors employees will provide support to the Mission by having food and item bins at their office, volunteering hours in the warehouse, and serving meals over the course of 2010. A $3,000.00 grant from The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation has been provided to leverage their efforts.

“We know that many more of our neighbors have been hit hard by the economic downturn and our team members want to do what they can to help,” says Neta Jeffus, Branch Manager and Sr. Vice-President. “Our project with The Topeka Rescue Mission to provide food and supplies will help to make a difference in the lives of many.”

The project is one of 200 throughout the U.S. managed by Wells Fargo Advisors as part of the firm’s Investing in Our Communities initiative.

“As a leader in our industry, we recognize that investing in our communities is a responsibility we have as a result of doing business there, and we understand that our firm is only as strong as the communities where we are located,” said Danny Ludeman, president & CEO of Wells Fargo Advisors. “To that end, through our team members’ volunteer efforts, corporate philanthropy and community involvement, Wells Fargo Advisors is showing its commitment to building strong and vibrant communities, improving quality of life, and making a positive difference where we live and work in a very hands-on way.”

To be eligible for foundation funding, projects had to outline how the firm’s employees would get involved in hands-on projects ranging from stocking food pantries and serving meals, to conducting clothing drives and re-painting shelters.

Both Wachovia Corporation and Wells Fargo & Company have strong legacies of giving to the community. In 2008, the combined company contributed $226 million in grants to 22,000 nonprofit organizations and 1.4 million team member hours volunteering in communities across the United States.

Washburn University School of Business students score high on national business exam

Fifty-two students attending the Washburn School of Business received a score on the Educational Testing Services (ETS) Major Field Test in Business that would place the School in the top 15 percent of all schools administering the exam.

Given at approximately 600 colleges and universities across the country, the MFT is a comprehensive outcomes assessments designed to measure the critical knowledge and understanding obtained by students in a major field of study. The tests go beyond the measurement of factual knowledge by helping business programs evaluate the ability of the students to analyze and solve problems, understand relationships and interpret material from their study of business.

Washburn students consistently score in the top 20 percent each year.

“We are very pleased with the performance of our undergraduate students” said David Sollars, dean of the School of Business. “It reflects the dedication of our students, faculty and staff to provide a high quality business education for our students. It is also a reflection of the support provided by the university, the Washburn Endowment Association, our alumni and other supporters who have provided resources to support student learning.”

The Washburn School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, the premier accrediting body of business programs. The School was also included in Princeton Review’s 2010 Best 301 Business School List for its high quality MBA program.

Washburn students who individually scored at the top 75th percentile and above are:
Anthony: Aaron Podschun
Berryton: Sarah Sims
Chanute: Heath Bideau
Council Grove: Jesse Morgan
Glen Elder: Jessica Winkel
Ness City: Dillon Schwindt
Ottawa: Matthew Neff
Overland Park: Ben Bianchino
Quinter: Grady Kesler
Sabetha: Daniel Tramp
Topeka: Megan Allen, Nicholas Armstrong, Douglas Boleski, Jared Bryant, Kevin Etzel, Marshall Ferguson, Lindsay Heil, John Imming, Robert Seitz, Nathan Stillings, Thaddeus Taylor

Designed by Educational Testing Services (also known for the SAT, PSAT and other nationally known tests), the ETS Major Field Tests are comprehensive outcome assessments designed to measure the critical knowledge and understanding obtained by students in a major field of study. The Major Field Tests go beyond the measurement of factual knowledge and help students analyze and solve problems, understand relationships and interpret material from their major field of study.

SCOTCH SHARE THE WARMTH® COAT GIVEAWAY

Thousands of clean, warm coats in good condition will be given away at the 23rd Annual Scotch Share the Warmth® program. Scotch Cleaners and the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary have announced that the public coat giveaway will be Monday, November 30 through Saturday, December 5. Hours are 1 – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The giveaway is at the Salvation Army, located at 1320 SE 6th in Topeka. Coats are free to anyone in need. Individuals should be there in person to try on coats before selection.

Groups needing special times or individuals needing assistance may make an appointment for getting coats by contacting a social worker at the Salvation Army in Topeka at (785) 233-9648.

Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic Opens Today at Kansas Expocentre

The opening performance of "Disney on Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic" at the Kansas Expocentre will be today, Friday, Nov. 27 at 1:00 p.m. (show runs through Sunday, Nov. 29).

Ticket prices start at $14 and are available at the Kansas Expocentre box office, at all Ticketmaster locations, and online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800.745.3000. All tickets are subject to service charges and facility fees.

Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic is a sing-along score of award-winning Disney music, stunning choreography, elaborate, eye-dazzling sets and beautiful costumes. More than 60 of Disney’s characters and 18 unforgettable stories will be featured in this commemorative celebration when Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse take audiences on a fun-filled adventure, sharing memories with Disney friends including Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio, Mulan, Timon, Pumbaa, Stitch, the beloved Disney Princesses, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Nemo, the Incredibles and many more!

To learn more about Disney On Ice, visit www.disneyonice.com.

Show Dates: Friday Nov 27 – Sunday, Nov. 29. Friday, Nov. 27 at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm; Saturday, Nov. 28 at 11:00 am. 3:00 pm; Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1:00 pm.

HOLIDAY EVENTS AT TOPEKA CIVIC THEATRE

Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy has announced three wonderful events to help celebrate the holidays! Fans of live theatre will be able to experience a classic holiday film brought to life with singing and dancing, a beloved children’s literature character brought to life on stage, and improv comedy to ring in the new year!

Beginning this weekend and running through December 20, 2009, It’s a Wonderful Life is being performed on the Sheffel Stage at TCTA. Frank Capra’s classic holiday film is lovingly brought to the stage with a faithful script and charming music. Through the gift of his guardian angel, Clarence, George Bailey discovers how wonderful his life has been by being granted the privilege of seeing what the world would have been like had he never been born. The show features almost 50 actors, ages toddler through senior citizen, performing delightful holiday music for families to enjoy!

Opening December 11 and playing through December 20, 2009, the new TYA series with adults performing for children brings the stories of A.A. Milne to the stage with A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail. On a Christmas Eve not too long ago, Eeyore, the old gray donkey, was absolutely miserable. He had lost his tail and Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet gather all their friends to organize a search to find it! This show is packed with fun and excitement and is appropriate for kids of all ages.

Adults can ring in the New Year laughing at TCT as the Laughing Matters Improvisational Comedy Troupe brings a night of outrageous comedy sketches and improvisational games to the stage. This show contains some humor not suitable for all audiences. The show begins at 10pm and ends with a midnight countdown by the comedy company from the Sheffel stage.

For more information about any of these holiday activities and more, please visit TopekaCivicTheatre.com or call Chelle Decker, Marketing Director at (785) 357-5213.

St. Francis Health Center has lower mortality rate than national average, according to national study

St. Francis Health Center received recognition for providing high-quality care in several service lines, according to a comprehensive annual study released by HealthGrades, the leading independent health care ratings organization. The HealthGrades study annually assesses patient outcomes – mortality and complication rates – at virtually all of the nation’s nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals. No hospital can opt in or out of being rated, and no hospital pays to be rated.

St. Francis received recognition in 25 areas, including:

• Ranked No. 1 in Kansas for GI services
• Ranked No. 1 in Kansas for GI medical treatment
• Ranked among the top 5 (No. 3) for coronary interventional procedures
• Five-star rated for treatment of heart attack—three years in a row (2008-10)
• Ranked among the top 5 (No. 3) in Kansas for overall orthopedic services
• Recipient of the HealthGrades Stroke Care Excellence Award™—two years in a row (2009 and 2010)
• Ranked among the top 5 (No. 2) in Kansas for treatment of stroke
• Five-star rated for treatment of pneumonia—four years in a row (2007-10)
• Ranked among the top 5 (No. 3) in Kansas for overall critical care

“St. Francis has invested significantly in process improvements, patient satisfaction initiatives and technology to enhance the quality of our patient care,” said Grant Wicklund, St. Francis interim president and chief executive officer. “This recognition from HealthGrades across multiple service lines underscores our commitment to improving the health of our community and is an appreciated acknowledgment of the expertise and effort our staff and partnering physicians apply at St. Francis every day.”

According to the 12th annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America study, top-rated hospitals had a 52 percent lower mortality rate than the U.S. national average when looking at the patient outcomes of 17 procedures and diagnoses ranging from bypass surgery to treatment for heart attack. When the top-rated hospitals were compared to the poorest performers, there was an even greater difference, 72 percent lower mortality.

The new 2010 HealthGrades hospital ratings are posted at www.healthgrades.com, HealthGrades’ public Web site.

Library receives national four-star ranking from Library Journal

The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library has been recognized as a high-performing library in a time of need. This week, the library was given four out of five stars by Library Journal, by the oldest and most respected publication covering the library field.

Libraries across the nation are playing a key role in their communities in this current economic crisis, and your library is no exception. Libraries were judged on number of visits, circulation, program attendance and public Internet computer use.

“Each month since the economic downturn, we’ve broken circulation records. More customers are coming in looking for job search tips or looking for free entertainment. We’re happy to fulfill their need and be recognized as a library of distinction,” Paul Brennan, collections manager, said.

Each day more than 3,000 visitors walk through the doors of the library. The library has experienced a 19.3 percent increase in the number of people coming into the library this year compared to last. In 2008, we checked out 2,453,453 items. This year, checkout is up 7 percent.

The library provides free computer and Internet access and training. We offer about 500 computer-training classes each year. Our instructors say attendance at computer training programs has increased as the unemployment rate has increased.

258 libraries from across the United States earned a star ranking. To find out what other Kansas libraries were awarded stars, visit http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6705870.html#KS.

Heartland Visioning Inaugural Report, 2009

Today Heartland Visioning released its inaugural report. The report, which is promised every year, will provide a look at what has been accomplished in the year toward achieving the community-wide vision. The efforts put in by the dedicated vision partners and over 500 volunteers from around the community are what make the success of Heartland Visioning possible.

There are changes taking place in Shawnee County. In 2008, Shawnee County grew by 0.8% only 0.2% away from the 1% annual growth target.

The average earnings per job increased 1.6% in Shawnee County during the first quarter of 2009 versus a decline of 2.5% nationally. This is 3.35% over our benchmark target of being 0.75% over the national average for average job earnings.

Lastly, from 2006 to 2007, crime in Shawnee County declined by 12%, a greater decrease than the U.S. average. Additionally, crime in the City of Topeka has dropped 6.4% from 2007 to 2008.

These Key Benchmark results show that change is happening for the better. From here, the goal for Heartland Visioning is to keep these changes going in a positive direction. The Key Benchmarks are used as indicators, letting the Strategic Alliances and everyone know that what we are doing is working.

“There are a lot of wonderful things happening in our community,” said William Beteta, Executive Director, Heartland Visioning. “This was a learning year for all of us. One thing we learned was about all the great people and programs that exist and are working on things the community said it wants.”

In learning about existing programs, Heartland Visioning’s mission is to help like minded individuals and organizations build collaboration and make what they do even better for the community.

A copy of the report is available by contacting the Heartland Visioning office 785.231.6006, info@heartlandvisioning.com or go to the Website www.heartlandvisionoing.com.

Heartland Visioning is a community-wide initiative to develop and implement a shared strategic vision for what we want our community to be in 5, 10, or 20 years.

AFP-Kansas prepares transportation policy primer for legislators, taxpayers

The Kansas chapter of the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity has prepared a ‘policy primer’ to help Kansans understand what Kansas spends on transportation in the state, and how our state compares with others in the region.

Derrick Sontag, AFP-Kansas state director, said Kansas has had a comprehensive highway or transportation plan for twenty years now.

“There are many in Topeka who believe that the simple act of building new roads and highways spurs economic growth, but the numbers suggest otherwise,” he said. “For example, between 2002 and 2006 Kansas ranked eighth in the country in highway spending per capita, yet our Gross State Product growth lagged at 33rd.”

Sontag said that generally speaking, economic research studies have not found that increased spending and building more roads will lead to a larger economy and to more private capital in a given state.


“Kansas’ rankings in highway spending and GSP growth, as well as other economic measurements, suggest there is no direct correlation between increased government spending on highways and economic growth,” he said.

Sontag also noted that the state’s annual population growth has averaged less than a half percent.

“With lagging Gross State Product and population growth, one has to wonder just what economic measurements the proponents of implementing a new highway plan cite in making their claims that simply building new roads will lead to an economic recovery in Kansas,” he said. “Reducing the tax burden and government spending will best assist the private sector, not increasing our tax and debt burden.”

Sontag said it would be irresponsible for the Legislature to do anything further than authorize an appropriate maintenance plan during the upcoming legislative session.

“Kansas’ roads and highways are in great conditions, and AFP-Kansas supports the implementation of a responsible maintenance program,” he said. “However, with the state facing a $500 million shortfall and Kansans already facing an uncompetitive tax and debt burden the last thing the Legislature should do is embark on a massive tax and debt plan that further places Kansas families and businesses in a financial bind.”

The AFP transportation policy primer outlines the state funding for highway plans, which has traditionally involved taxes and debt. It also compares the Kansas tax rates to those of neighboring states.

St. Francis Health Center named on Top 100 Hospital: Best in Value Hospitals™ list

St. Francis Health Center was recently named by Data Advantage LLC as a Top 100 Hospital: Best in Value Hospitals™ list from the 2009‐2010 Hospital Value Index™, the first and only national study on U.S. hospitals and the value of care they provide.

The hospitals in the Top 100 list represent nearly every state in the U.S. St. Francis was the only hospital in Kansas that was named to the list.

“These are the hospitals that set the bar for the nation when it comes to value. If every hospital performed at the level of the Top 100, we found that more than $60 billion per year could be saved,” said Hal Andrews, chief executive officer of Data Advantage.

“We are honored that St. Francis has been recognized for its stewardship in delivering value to patients,” said Grant Wicklund, interim president and chief executive officer of St. Francis. “We appreciate the efforts of our physicians and staff and the work they do to provide care that is both high-quality and cost-effective and acknowledged as such by national consumer health organizations.”

“The Hospital Value Index™ winners are a geographically diverse group of hospitals that have a proven ability to deliver high value care to their communities and represent a model of care that other U.S. hospitals should look to,” Andrews said. “As legislators consider health reform, we believe that it will be increasingly important to recognize and reward those hospitals that deliver outstanding value.”

These results are part of the findings from the 2009‐2010 Hospital Value Index™ study, an analysis of the value of care provided at more than 4,500 U.S. hospitals.

New Residence Providing Assisted Living and Memory Care Services Planned For Topeka, Kansas

Legend Senior Living today announced plans to construct a free standing assisted living and memory care residence in Topeka, Kansas. Legend at Capital Ridge Assisted Living and Reflections Memory Care will be located at 1931 SW Arvonia Place and consists of 51 private apartments for Assisted Living and 15 private suites dedicated for Memory Care.

Legend at Capital Ridge will provide daily assistance to older adults who can no longer live alone, but don’t require the advanced level of skilled medical care provided by a nursing home. The care model emphasizes a homelike residential design and programming developed to help older adults maintain a rich quality of life.

Reflections Memory Care Residence at Legend combines beautiful private suites with state of the art life enrichment programs and trained staff to meet the needs of individuals with memory impairments such as Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.

WDM Architects, Wichita KS, designed the residence. The Law Company, Inc., Wichita KS is the general contractor and Roger Mullanax (316-268-0200) is the project manager. Construction is scheduled to start immediately. The Legend at Capital Ridge is planned for completion in late 2010.

Legend Senior Living is a privately held company founded in 2001 by Timothy Buchanan and is dedicated to providing quality services and housing to senior adults. Legend Senior Living owns and operates Independent Living and Assisted Living Residence in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Florida.

TIBA ANNUAL MEETING TO HONOR TOPEKA INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES

The Topeka Independent Business Association will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at The Shawnee Country Club, 913 SE 29th Street in Topeka. The annual meeting will include the installation of the new TIBA board members, and the presentation of the Top TIBA Businesses of 2008 in three categories and the Ron Stryker Key Member Award.

Those being honored as the Top TIBA Business of 2009 include E2 Communications in the 1-5 employees category; Kendall Construction, Inc. in the 6-50 employees category; and St. Francis Health Center in the 50 + employees category. The awards are based on business growth, community involvement, activities which enhance the small-business climate in Topeka, active involvement in TIBA, and leadership in the community.

“The TIBA Annual Meeting is our opportunity to celebrate independently-owned businesses and business owners in Topeka,” said Tara Dimick, TIBA chair.

The Ron Stryker Key Member Award will be presented to the key member of TIBA in 2009 and is chosen annually by the TIBA chairperson. The award was created to honor Ron Stryker who passed away in May of 2008. Ron was an advocate for independent business and a founding board member of the Topeka Independent Business Association. He started his career as an entrepreneur in the heating and air conditioning industry and acquired twelve related businesses. The winner of the Ron Stryker Key Member Award will be announced at the TIBA Annual Meeting on November 10, 2009.

Seating is limited and reservations are required. To make a reservation, email tiba@topekaiba.org or contact Sharon DuBois at (785) 783-2897.

The Topeka Independent Business Association (TIBA) is the voice for independent businesses in Topeka and Shawnee County. TIBA members are locally-owned businesses that want our community to grow and prosper; and have their voice heard on taxes, health insurance, and local and state issues.

TOP TIBA BUSINESSES
E2 Communications is owned by Tara Dimick. E2 a full service strategic planning company focused on effective and efficient communications in marketing, advertising, public relations, proposal and grant writing, board facilitation, and company and organizational training.

Kendall Construction, Inc. was started in 1994 by Richard and Sheri Kendall. Kendall Construction provides general, renovation, specialty and design-build construction. Their mission is to establish and maintain positive customer relationships by meeting and exceeding customer expectations in regard to quality craftsmanship, safety, budget and deadlines.

St. Francis Health Center has 378 licensed beds, a medical staff representing nearly all specialties, adult and youth volunteers and a thriving auxiliary. Skillfully integrating unparalleled technology in an environment steeped in Christian values and compassionate care, St. Francis and its employees have fostered a premier regional hospital featuring the newest medical innovations and state-of-the-art equipment.

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Washburn University student a contender for prestigious scholarship

Washburn University senior Garrett Love, of Montezuma, was recently nominated by the university to compete for the prestigious Rhodes Scholar Award.

“Garrett has excelled in the academic and extracurricular arenas and has distinguished himself as a leader,” said Robin Bowen, vice president of academic affairs. “He is a positive role model for other students and is very deserving of the nomination.”

Currently president of the Washburn Student Government Association, Love is, according to university archives, the first Washburn student to be nominated for the award in more than 100 years. In 1904, the first year nominations were accepted for the Rhodes, Washburn senior Frank Mohler was selected and completed his studies the next year at Oxford University. Merrill Templeton, a 1909 graduate, was selected for the honor, but became ill and had to withdraw before he began coursework in England in 1910. In 1910, Philip Whitcomb became the third Washburn student named a Rhodes Scholar. He began at Oxford in 1911.

Prior to being elected president of Washburn Student Government Association, Love served for two years as a senator. He currently is a member of the Kansas Board of Regents Student Advisory Council, a student representative of the Washburn Budget Reduction Task Force and the Washburn Strategic Planning Committee and is a member of the Topeka Heartland Visioning Steering Committee.

Love holds a 4.0 grade point average and is majoring in economics, management and finance. He was a member of the Washburn men’s basketball team for three years and was twice named Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Presidential Scholar. His honors include membership in Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma, Mortar Board and Sagamore honor societies and participation in the Washburn Leadership Institute.

A Rhodes Scholarship provides the opportunity to study at Oxford University for two years, with all tuition fees paid and a living allowance provided. American Rhodes Scholars are selected from all over the nation to pursue a course of study of their own choosing at Oxford; students may work toward a master's degree or a second bachelor's degree. If named to the program, Love plans to research methods through which theories of justice and freedom of choice can be incorporated into the analysis of optimal taxation.

Established in 1902 through the will of English-born businessman and politician Cecil John Rhodes, the Rhodes Scholar Award is the oldest fellowship program in the world and is bestowed to only 90 students each year. A nominee must possess a high standard of intellectual and academic achievement, exhibit integrity of character, display interest in and respect for fellow beings and display the ability and desire to lead. Applicants must also demonstrate physical vigor that will enable them to make an effective contribution to the world around them, which can be achieved through participation and success in athletics.

St. Francis Physician Receives National Award

A national organization has recognized James J. Hamilton Jr., MD, FACS, a St. Francis physician, for his work in cancer care in 2008 by awarding him the State Chair Outstanding Performance Award in October, becoming just one of three physicians to receive the honor nationwide.

The Commission on Cancer, an affiliate of the American College of Surgeons, gives the honor, which recognizes individuals who provide extensive leadership and support to their physician volunteers and cancer programs in the state. They are collaborators, innovators, and experts working with cancer programs, professionals and state coalitions to improve the quality of cancer care.

The award is bestowed on individuals who exhibit excellence in the following areas:
Consistent and innovative communication methods used for maintaining relationships with the cancer liaison physicians
Support and initiation of Commission on Cancer activities at the state and regional Level
Collaboration with American College of Surgeons Chapter, American Cancer Society and Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalitions

Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1922, the Commission on Cancer is a national consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. Its members include 96 individuals who are either surgeons representing the American College of Surgeons or representatives from 46 national, professional organizations or Commission member organizations. These individuals direct the activities of the Commission through committee work.

Hamilton is chairman of the St. Francis Comprehensive Cancer Committee. He is board certified in general surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is employed at Tallgrass General, Vascular, Thoracic and Bariatric Surgery. He received his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed his surgical residency at Harvard Medical School.

Sunflower Showdown Benefits Topeka Rescue Mission

Tomorrow night a very reliable indicator of the outcome of the “Sunflower Showdown” will be revealed. Clients of Wells Fargo Advisors will be bringing food items and other contributions to score points to show their loyalty for their favorite team—including KU, K-State, Washburn and Emporia State. In the past 5 years, the team with the most donations has also been the winner of the Sunflower Showdown between KU and K-State!


This year’s beneficiary is the Topeka Rescue Mission. As a warm up to the KU/K-State game on Saturday, Wells Fargo will be hosting a fun-filled event at the Great Overland Station between 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm on November 4th. Clients of Wells Fargo will be greeted with much fanfare as they are enthusiastically cheered to see which team can bring in the most food pantry item donations and monetary contributions for the Topeka Rescue Mission, a non-profit agency dedicated to providing services to individuals and families in need or in crisis. The team that has the most points (for items and donations) at the end of the evening will have all contributions for the Rescue Mission made in on behalf of either KU, K-State, Emporia State or Washburn’s name.

For every food pantry item donated, the team will receive one point towards their score. Making a monetary donation scores a touchdown for 6 points. The team with the highest number of points will represent who has the best school and Rescue Mission spirit.

“We are proud members of the Topeka Community and are looking forward to the “Are you Ready for Some Football” challenge. We hope this will really help the Topeka Rescue Mission and the families they assist and that this event will be a fun and exciting way to kick off the pre-game rivalry”, says Neta Jeffus, Branch Manager of the Topeka Wells Fargo Advisors office. “We are looking forward to getting the teams rallied around the Topeka Rescue Mission”.

“We are excited about this event”, states Barry Feaker, Executive Director of the Topeka Rescue Mission. “Many families are in need right here in Topeka and this is a great way to show support of the Topeka Rescue Mission, the community, as well as team spirit”.

The event is expected to have well over 150 in attendance.

Local Pharmacy Achieves Health Care Quality Accreditation; Pharmacist Receives National Award

Topeka: An engraved plaque pledging to “Never Stop Improving” hangs in the owner’s office. Clearly it sums up Michael K. Conlin’s philosophy about his work, his patients and his business—Jayhawk Pharmacy and Patient Supply. There’s no question that his commitment to quality improvement has been instrumental in helping him achieve recent recognition of national significance and local notoriety.

For more than 20 years, Conlin, R.Ph., F.A.C.A., F.I.A.C.P., has been delivering personalized cu stomer service from behind the counter of Jayhawk Pharmacy. As a boy he sat in the original store and watched Pharmacist Bob Drumm deliver prescriptions to the folks in the Brookwood neighborhood. After graduating from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in 1978, Conlin returned to the community to work and later buy the Topeka company.

Jayhawk Pharmacy took the spotlight this summer in achieving the Award of Accreditation from the Health Care Quality Association. This recognition means the pharmacy successfully completed a yearlong process documenting their high level of consistent patient care. Beginning September 30, 2009, suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) must be accredited to continue to serve and bill Medicare Part B patients. The accreditation process included a three-day site visit during which credentialing staff held in-depth interviews with patients and medical providers regarding the quality of care provided by Jayhawk Pharmacy and Patient Supply.

The purpose of national accreditation is to ensure the highest quality of patient care is provided as well as state of the art medical and oxygen equipment to address all aspects of patient home care. In order to retain Medicare billing privileges, all DMEPOS suppliers must comply with the Medicare program's supplier standards and quality standards to become accredited. Nationally, the accreditation requirement applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment, medical supplies, home dialysis supplies and equipment, therapeutic shoes, parenteral/enteral nutrition, transfusion medicine and prosthetic devices, and prosthetics and orthotics.

“At Jayhawk Pharmacy, our commitment has always been to our patients. We compete with mass merchandising, by doing what’s best for our individual patients,” Conlin said. “I saw the “never stop improving” phrase in a manufacturing plant in China. It stuck with me. I am dedicated to improving our business, our community. This national accreditation is improving service to our patients.”

The accreditation is only one of two national awards garnered by Jayhawk Pharmacy and Patient Supply and Conlin.

Last year, specialized credentials and outstanding customer service earned Conlin
The National Award for Innovative Pharmacy Practice in 2008 presented by the Kansas Pharmacist Association on behalf of the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations. The award is made to an association member who consistently demonstrates innovative pharmacy practices resulting in improved patient care.

Conlin’s nomination by pharmacists from throughout the state of Kansas noted his efforts in improving, broadening and diversifying the services that are provided by all Kansas community pharmacies providing individualized patient care. In addition to owning and operating Jayhawk Pharmacy, Conlin has been instrumental in providing durable medical equipment training to his community pharmacy colleagues throughout the Midwest. He also is nationally recognized as a Certified Menopause Educator by the North American Menopause Society and provides individualized patient hormone consultation to menopausal women throughout the Midwest.

Conlin is a Fellow of the American College of Apothecaries (F.A.C.A.) as well as a Fellow of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (F.IA.C.P.).

Jayhawk Pharmacy and Patient Supply has three locations in Topeka: 2860 SW Mission Woods—Clinical Pharmacy and Patient Supply; 6730 SW 29th—Custom Prescription Compounding; and 2620 SW 6th-- Medical Equipment and Patient Supplies.

3nd Annual Westboro Plaza Glow Shines Brighter Than Ever

Tomorrow night, there will be hundreds of glittering new lights winking in the Topeka sky. On Thursday, November 5, the Westboro Plaza will hold its third annual Westboro Plaza Glow, ushering in the holiday season.

Once again, the Westboro Mart will be the most festive spot in Topeka—filled with the sights, sounds and tastes of the holidays. Hear the Topeka High Jazz Band play holiday music amidst the twinkling lights, along with activities galore:

6:30 pm—activities begin
Glass blowing demonstrations at the Haute Shop
Surprise fun from Gizmo Pictures
Santa photos at Centerpiece Photography
Food vendors will be selling delicious treats

7:00 pm—lighting ceremony
The switch is thrown and hundreds of lights come ablaze

Merchants and galleries will be open until 9 pm to entertain customers and friends with prize drawings and treats of their own.

“The Plaza Glow is growing into the kickoff for Topeka’s holiday season,” said Pat Gideon of Sliver Lake Bank, and co-owner of The Westboro Mart. “We have a wonderful neighborhood and thriving arts culture here. Of course the night after the Plaza Glow is First Friday, so there’s much to see and do. We invite the whole community to join us.”

Porterfield’s Flowers is a business that’s been in the Westboro Mart since 1981. Owner David Porterfield also loves helping make the historic district shine even at holiday time. “The area is full of history—and was the first shopping center in the city. It just makes sense that we welcome the season right here in the Westboro Mart,” he said.

The Plaza Glow is the brainchild of Frank Johnson, DDS, whose office is on the northeast corner of Huntoon & Oakley. His early vision has caught on in the neighborhood and Plaza Glow is quickly becoming a Topeka tradition. The event is open to the public, with many free activities for all ages.

Heartland Visioning Announces Dates to Report Back to Community

As promised Heartland Visioning is reporting back to the community regarding what has occurred over the past year. You can join Heartland Visioning from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 18, 2009, in Washburn Room A in the Student Union at Washburn University or from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30p.m., Wednesday, December 2, 2009, in the Rotunda of the Topeka and Shawnee County Library.

Heartland Visioning is a community-wide initiative to develop and implement a shared strategic vision for what we want our community to be in 5, 10, 20 years. Our community is defined as Shawnee County which includes: Auburn, Rossville, Topeka, Silver Lake, Willard, and unincorporated Shawnee County.

It has almost been one year since the release of the Heartland Visioning Strategic Plan. Implementation began immediately and the Foundation Teams and Vision Partners have been working diligently to make the vision a reality.

Heartland Visioning will discuss the accomplishments of the past year and the community will have the opportunity to interact with Vision Partners and Foundation Team members from each of the six Foundations: Education, Quality of Life, Infrastructure, Economic Development, Private Sector Leadership and Government. The community will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding strategies that are being worked on and the priorities that each Foundation Team has set for the future. In addition, the community will have the chance to provide Heartland Visioning with feedback.

We hope that you can join us to learn more about the exciting things that are taking place in Topeka and Shawnee County.

MIRACLE ON KANSAS AVENUE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE CUTTING

The Community Christmas Tree has been chosen! After much deliberation, the Westar Energy Women's Association in conjunction with the Miracle on Kansas Avenue Committee has chosen a tree.

The 2009 Christmas Tree is currently located in rural Shawnee County and belongs to Ms. Jean Riley. A crew from Westar will be cutting it down on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 between 9:00 and 10:00 am.

The tree will then find its downtown home at the Westar Energy building at 818 S. Kansas Avenue. The tree will, again, be decorated by the Westar Energy Women's Association beginning Sunday, November 8, 2009 and the official tree lighting ceremony will be held at 5:30 pm on November 28, 2009. The Miracle on Kansas Avenue Christmas parade will kick off shortly thereafter, at 6:00 pm.

Topeka Home Builders Association Hosts Nationally Recognized

The Topeka Home Builders Association is proud to announce that for the first time in Topeka, we are hosting the National Association of Home Builders Professional Designation of Certified Green Professional (CGP) . Nineteen (19) area Builders, Remodelers, Heating and A/C companies, Realtors, City Officials, and Home Energy Auditors are attending this three day course to earn a professional, nationally recognized designation for Green Building.

Attendees at this conference will learn how green homes provide buyers with lower maintenance, a more comfortable indoor environ­ment and greater long-term value. Techniques are also discussed for competitively differentiating your home products with energy and resource efficiency. This three day course for building professionals discuss­es strategies for incorporating green building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction.

Dawn Wright, CEO of Topeka Home Builders Association, states “ We are very excited to be able to bring this level of education to local companies, that are striving to become more educated on the process of green building. This professional designation of CGP from the National Association of Home Builders is the highest level of green building education that a professional in the building industry can receive. This is also the first time that Topeka has hosted a nationally designated course. The National Association of Home Builders University of Housing also has professional designations for Certified Graduate Builder (CGB), Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS).”

Novembers Are A Blessing At Beauchamp’s Gallery

It was November, 1975. Paul Beauchamp had recently moved his business to the Westboro Mart and was exhibiting the artwork of old friend Bob Sudlow. In those days, teenagers still bought eight track tapes and wore bell bottom jeans. President Gerald Ford lived in the White House and politicians argued about America’s dependence on foreign oil. Earth Day was still a new idea and Bill Gates had just launched a little venture called Microsoft. Things have changed somewhat since then……but not everything. You can still buy those bell bottom jeans. That nasty “oil problem” is still with us and the whole idea of “saving the planet” seems to have really caught on lately.

And something else remains the same- a November exhibit of Sudlow paintings at Beauchamp’s Gallery. At 89 years young, Bob Sudlow’s age is catching up with him a bit. He doesn’t paint as much in the fields as he’d like, but he still paints. That’s because painting is not just what Sudlow does, it’s who he is. And if the weather, (or those damn knees), keep him from venturing into a spring pasture as he would prefer, he can still be found toiling away in his studio; working amidst wafts of oil paint and stacks of drawings. Sudlow is a blessed man and he knows it. After all, how many people discover their calling so early in life and also have sense enough to answer the call? Sudlow did and did. And his blessing has been that for nearly 70 years he has been able to do exactly what he was born to do – paint.

And Sudlow’s paintings have been Beauchamp’s blessing. This November, Paul Beauchamp will once again welcome his old friend Bob Sudlow to an artist’s reception. The two will sit and reminisce. They will talk about the first Sudlow painting Paul ever bought…. over 50 years ago. They will talk about that canoe trip long ago when Paul made the best eggs anyone ever had. Paul will comment about what a great selection of art is on the wall this year and Sudlow will scoff and say he should have done a little better. But regardless of Bob’s humility, Paul will be right. There will be a great selection of art on the wall this November and Bob Sudlow will still be one of the best artists in Kansas……just like in 1975.

This year, the reception for Bob Sudlow will be held in conjunction with the First Friday Art Walk on the evening of November 6th. His show is called Sudlow; Paintings & Lithographs and the public is invited to stop by an visit with the artist. Included in the exhibit will be older ;landscape paintings, newer landscape paintings and a good selection of stone lithograph prints. The show will be displayed through December. Beauchamp’s Gallery is Topeka’s premier provider of original fine art, classic custom framing, art restoration, and repair. Located at 3113 SW Huntoon in the Westboro Mart, Beauchamp’s has been a mainstay of the Topeka arts community for over 35 years.

Arts Survey

The Topeka Symphony has been asked by ARTSConnect of Topeka and the Heartland Visioning Project of Topeka to share their Arts & Culture Satisfaction Survey with you. This survey has been developed by the "Happiness" Survey committee serving the Arts & Culture Team of Heartland Visioning. The committee hopes to gain insight into the satisfaction of our community as it relates to the arts. This survey also explores how the Topeka community finds out about arts events, which will be a key component to future arts marketing efforts.
Please help by taking this short survey! This online survey is the committee's only method of gathering information so your participation is critical. If you have any questions about the survey, please direct them to Kathy Smith, Executive Director of ARTSConnect of Topeka.


YES! I WANT TO TAKE THE SURVEY!

DOWNTOWN TOPEKA HALLOWEEN COSTUME BASH

Over $3,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the First Annual Halloween Bash, Saturday, October 31, 2009 in Downtown Topeka. Ten downtown bars will be participating with their own frightful parties, ghoulish drink specials and creepy costume contests with cash and prizes at each bar.

Then at 11:00 participants will gather at one of the qualifying bars, The Celtic Fox, The Office, and Seabrook Bar and Grill, for the semi-final round.

At the stroke of Midnight the winners of the semi-final round will advance to the Finals, held on stage at 120 SW 8th St. The Grand Prize winner will receive cash and prizes of over $500.00, Second Place receives $250.00 in cash and prizes and Third Place receives $200.00 in cash and prizes. The cash and prizes have been donated by bars, restaurants and merchants in Downtown Topeka.

Oktoberfest Fundraising Event to be Held at Matrot Castle

The Kansas Heritage Foundation is sponsoring a Halloween Oktoberfest Fundraising event beginning Thursday, Oct. 29 and concluding Saturday, Oct. 31 with a Halloween Family Fun Day. This event will raise money for Washburn University student athletes. The Washburn “Williams Fund,” similar to the Williams Fund established at Kansas University many years ago, has been created for this purpose. The program is to help the athletic program at Washburn University compete in the tough MIAA conference.

On Thursday and Friday, at 10 a.m., the gates of the Matrot Castle and Vineyard, 6424 SW Huntoon, will open for a huge garage sale. Gates will close at 5 p.m. Washburn Alumni have contributed art and property including antique automobiles, rustic cabins and rustic wood carvings, bronze statuary, Yoder Amish wood furniture and wood products, paintings, sculptures, Artesania (Molas) from Panama, as well as clothing, furniture, household items, and much more. We will also feature the Kansas State Fair chainsaw artist who has carved many of our bears, and other rustic art.

On Saturday, Oct. 31, we will conclude our Oktoberfest with a Halloween Family Fun event. Gates will open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. The Chainsaw artist will be offering his art for sale at an auction to be held on 4:30 p.m. as a fundraising event to benefit Washburn students and interns and other Kansas Heritage projects. There will be art/crafts on display and for sale in addition to the wood carvings, and the Matrot Wine Cellar will be open for free wine tasting!

We will host tours of the Matrot Castle to see the “ghosts of Matrot” in the attic of the Castle, free wine tasting in the Matrot Wine Cellar, woodcarving activities, costume events, kids games, music, etc. There will be fun and games for all ages with the Wittmer “Der Wiener Wegen” to serve brats, wieners, crout, etc.

The Washburn “Williams Fund” invites anyone who would like to donate property to the fundraiser to call 785.272.8989.

For media information, contact: Jill Bronaugh, 785.224.1851

TOPEKA LOCKSMITHING GRAND OPENING

The Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting for Topeka Locksmithing will be held tomorrow, Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 1400 S. Kansas Avenue in beautiful Downtown Topeka.

Jon Abernathy, Owner of Topeka Locksmithing Company has more than 37 years experience in the Locksmithing industry ranging from simple lock out assistance to a complex Nuclear Power Plant. He has installed lock systems in companies as diverse as Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station to St. Francis Hospital. From 1986 to 1993 he ran Schlossmeister Lock & Key, which has now reopened as Topeka Locksmithing Company, or TLC.

JUNCTION CITY COUNTRY CLUB ACQUIRED BY GREATLIFE GOLF & FITNESS

GreatLife Golf & Fitness announced today that they have acquired the Junction City Country Club in Junction City, Kansas. The new addition to the GreatLife family will include a 9-hole golf course and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

“Renovation and golf course maintenance have already begun,” said Rick Farrant, owner of GreatLife Golf & Fitness. “We expect to have the course ready to play by next April or May.”

The Junction City Country Club was shut down last year after approximately 80 years in operation.

GreatLife Golf & Fitness is committed to providing their members and guests with great golf and great fitness in a considerate, professional manner maintaining an atmosphere of relaxation and fun. Additional locations include: Western Hills, Berkshire and Prairie View in Topeka, Kansas; Lake Perry in Meriden, Kansas; Maple Creek in Kansas City, Missouri; River Oaks in Grandview, Missouri; and Chisholm Trail in Abilene, Kansas. More information on www.greatlifegolf.com.

AFP-Kansas statement on Topeka Planning Commission nomination

The Kansas chapter of the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity has questions regarding Topeka Councilman Jeff Preisner’s move to block Mayor Bill Bunten’s nomination to the Topeka Planning Commission.

Last month, Mayor Bunten nominated Topeka citizen and local radio host Raubin Pierce to the planning commission. Earlier this week Councilman Preisner introduced a resolution seeking to block Pierce’s nomination, claiming he is “unfit” for the position. AFP-Kansas released the following statement in response to Preisner’s resolution:

“I was disappointed to learn of Councilman Jeff Preisner sponsoring a resolution that states Raubin Pierce is “not fit or is unqualified” to serve on the Topeka Planning Commission,” said AFP-Kansas state director Derrick Sontag.

“Mr. Pierce has been an advocate for the taxpayers of Topeka for a number of years now. During this time he has consistently expressed a desire to see Topeka improve and become more prosperous. His willingness to express his opinion on matters involving the city in which he lives and works in should be used as an example to encourage a more active citizenry, rather than being used against him in his nomination for an important role in our city government.

We applaud Mayor Bill Bunten and Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz for their efforts to put on the Topeka Planning Commission a community member who consistently works to improve the Capital City.

What kind of message is Mr. Preisner sending when he works to defeat the nomination of an opinionated individual who is well educated on the matters of his city government and who asks the questions that others might not dare to ask? It seems to send the message: ‘keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself if you’re going to stir the pot.’

Perhaps this is simply a case of rejecting any nominee stemming from Mayor Bill Bunten, who soundly defeated Mr. Preisner in the last mayoral election.

Of course we don’t know the exact reason why the resolution was introduced and it is important to note that council members aren’t required to elaborate on the reasoning. But perhaps Mr. Preisner will have the decency to publicly state his reasons for rejecting the nomination of a well-respected member of the community. He not only owes it to Mr. Pierce, but to all Topekans who dare speak their mind on issues involving their city.”

SCOTCH SHARE THE WARMTH - PROJECT KICKOFF

As the temperature begins to drop, once again Scotch Fabric Care is making sure that the less fortunate stay warm. Beginning OCTOBER 21 through NOVEMBER 25, Scotch will be collecting coats for their 23rd annual Scotch Share the Warmthâ program. Since its inception in 1986, they have collected and cleaned more than 182,011 coats in Topeka and Lawrence. For many, this program is the only source for a warm coat that is clean, fresh, and ready to wear; for families it is sometimes the only way they are able to obtain age and size-appropriate coats for growing children.

Anyone wishing to donate coats, in good condition, may drop them off at any Topeka or Lawrence Scotch location. Scotch cleans the coats and works with the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary to distribute them to the needy. Groups interested in collecting coats for the program are asked to contact Marlene Showalter, Topeka Manager, to make arrangements. As in past years, there is always a need for additional children’s, as well as men’s and women’s larger size coats. Blankets, scarves and matched gloves will also be accepted and cleaned for distribution. Coats will be given away the first part of December – additional information will be announced at a later date.

2nd Annual Uncorked Fund-raiser

EVENT: 2nd Annual Uncorked Fund-raiser
DATE/TIME: Friday, October 23, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Millers Glenn Village Hall
2234 SW Village Hall Road, Topeka, KS 66604

Topeka South Rotary continues its high level of service and giving through the down-turn in our economy. Recently on a perfect day in September Topeka South Rotarians participated in their 16th Annual Golf Tournament which raised more than $7,800 for TARC and Let’s Help. Golf Chair, Kip Slattery, said, “2008 was our best year ever. With the down economy we were anticipating a fall off and were surprised to see such outstanding giving and participation to make 2009 so successful.”

In their continued service and support, Topeka South Rotarians will celebrate their 2nd Annual Uncorked wine tasting fund-raiser Friday, October 23rd, from 6:00 - 9:00pm at Millers Glenn Village Hall.

Last year TSR began its annual wine tasting fund-raiser, Uncorked, which benefits the Topeka Rescue Mission and Rotary International’s mission to eradicate Polio. TSR is looking forward to its second successful year.

Media representatives are invited to attend and cover this event. Other individuals are invited to attend. For more information contact Sheri Taylor at 785.224.5798. For additional information about Rotary please visit www.topekasouthrotary.org.

Topeka Urology at St. Francis Forms with Dr. Iloreta and Dr. Hsu

St. Francis Health Center has announced that Topeka Urology Clinic PA is now Topeka Urology at St. Francis. Board-certified physicians Alfredo Iloreta, MD, and Cheng Hsu, MD, FACS, and nine staff members are now part of the St. Francis family.

Hsu received his medical degree from Taipei Medical University. Iloreta was graduated from the University of Saint Thomas, College of Medicine and Surgery.

“Both physicians are experienced urologists with a demonstrated commitment to caring for patients in our community. We value their expertise and extensive relationship with St. Francis and look forward to a collaboration that will further solidify our national reputation for clinical excellence,” said Grant Wicklund, interim president and chief executive officer, St. Francis Health Center.

Topeka Urology at St. Francis is located at 1516 SW 6th Ave. and the phone number remains 785-232-1005.

GREATLIFE GOLF and FITNESS GRAND OPENS WESTERN HILLS AND ANNOUNCES NEW LOCATION

GreatLife Golf & Fitness has completed the renovation of the GreatLife Golf & Fitness at Western Hills Fitness Center, 8533 SW 21st Street in Topeka. The ribbon cutting for the new facility will be held on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 11:00 AM.

"We are excited to have both floors of the fitness center open to the public," said Tina Hawkins, fitness manager of Western Hills. "We hope that we have created a place that Topeka will be proud of."

Rick Farrant, owner of GreatLife Golf & Fitness, will announce another newly acquired location to join the GreatLife family at the ribbon cutting. The new facility will be the eighth GreatLife location and will offer both golf and fitness to GreatLife members.

"We are continually growing and making GreatLife the best option for golf and fitness in Topeka and all of Northeast Kansas," said Farrant.

The public is invited to attend the Grand Opening on Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The family event will include hourly prizes and competitions, as well as free initiation fee for new members that enroll during the event.

GreatLife Golf & Fitness has seven locations offering fitness and golf. Locations include: Western Hills, Berkshire and Prairie View in Topeka, Kansas; Lake Perry in Meriden, Kansas; Maple Creek in Kansas City, Missouri; River Oaks in Grandview, Missouri; and Chisholm Trail in Abilene, Kansas.

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION GALA TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 20TH

The 2009-2010 American Heart Association Heart Gala, presented by Sunflower Marketing, Stormont-Vail HealthCare and St. Francis Health Center is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Saturday, February 20 at the Ramada -Downtown. The annual black tie optional gala is one of the premier charitable events in northeast Kansas.

Dr. Babak Marefat is chairing this year’s event. Dr. Marefat is an Ophthalmologist at Stormont-Vail HealthCare. He knows the importance of the mission of the American Heart Association.

The evening will include a silent auction and cocktail hour from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m., followed by an elegant dinner and live auction. Light musical entertainment will be provided by Heart Strings. The silent and live auctions will include a wide variety of items, large and small, donated by Topeka area businesses and celebrities. We will also be holding an “Open Your Heart” appeal during the event to raise dollars for our children in the Topeka and Shawnee County community to fight childhood obesity.

The 2009 Heart Child also will be recognized at the event. Each year, the Heart Gala planning committee selects a child who has been affected by heart disease to be an ambassador for the event. This year’s Heart Child is still to be determined.

Proceeds raised by the Heart Gala assist in funding cardiovascular research, education and community service programs in our area. Research funded by the American Heart Association has led to such advances as CPR, coronary bypass surgery, artificial heart valves and techniques to repair heart defects. Heart disease and stroke are the number one killers in Shawnee County, causing more than 38 percent of all deaths.

Seats to the gala can be purchased individually or by the table. Sunflower Marketing, Stormont-Vail HealthCare, St. Francis Health Center and Capitol Federal Savings along with many other companies are corporate sponsors for the gala. For ticket information on the Heart Gala, call 228-3435.

Hedge funds to be focus of business research seminar series at Washburn University

"Hedge Fund Performance, Risk and Fees: Additional Evidence"
will be the topic of a Washburn University School of Business research seminar set for 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in room 104 of Henderson Learning Resources Center.

No admission is charged and the public is welcome.

Speakers will be School of Business faculty members Rob Weigand and Rosemary Walker who will analyze the relation between hedge fund alpha, or the return earned due to manager skill, and hedge fund exposure to systematic equity risk factors.

The event is part of the 2009-10 research seminar series hosted by Washburn School of Business and sponsored by Kaw Valley Bank.

For information, call 785-670-1603.

St. Francis to celebrate 100th anniversary with Mass

What: 100th anniversary Mass with Archbishop Joseph Naumann as celebrant and local priests as concelebrants

When: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13

Where: Second floor Auditorium of St. Francis Health Center, 1700 SW 7th St., Topeka

Why: St. Francis employees will celebrate 100 years of service to the Topeka community during Mass with Archbishop Joseph Naumann as celebrant and local priests as concelebrants. Sisters of Charity are also invited to attend the Mass.

Local Brewery Strikes Gold in Colorado!

On Saturday September 26th the Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant won a Gold Medal at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. The Great American Beer Festival is the largest beer competition in the world and is the National Championships for the United States.

This competition recognizes the most outstanding beers produced by all brewers, large and small, throughout the United States. The top three winners in each beer style category were announced September 26th at the 28th Annual Great American Beer Festival Awards Ceremony held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.

The Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant was the Gold Medal winner in the American Style Wheat Beer category with our County Seat Wheat Beer. This beer was brewed by John Dean, Brewmaster, and Alvaro Canizales, Head Brewer, and is on tap at the Blind Tiger Brewery every day of the year.

Our County Seat Wheat beer is brewed with both unmalted wheat and traditional barley malt. John describes County Seat Wheat as smooth in character, clearly filtered, light in hops, with a slightly dry finish.

Jay Ives, majority owner of The Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, said, “The competition is incredibly stiff with amazingly great beers from many breweries across the United States. It is a real tribute to John Dean and Alvaro Canizales that the Blind Tiger beer has been chosen for such a prestigious award. Here we are, a small local organization competing with the big boys of beer, and winning! Come by the Blind Tiger Brewery and have a taste of our Gold Medal winning beer!”

The 2009 Great American Beer Festival winners were selected by an international panel of 133 Certified Beer Judges who are brewing and beer experts. Judging takes place through five rounds of blind tasting so that the judges focus on the taste, aroma, and appearance of the beer and are not influenced by the brand names.

Nancy Johnson, Festival Director with the Brewers Association said, “The Great American Beer Festival is the premier judging event for the American Craft-Beer industry. Everyone in America who has a good beer brings it here.”

Great American Beer Festival Statistics:

78 Categories
495 Competing Breweries
133 Judges from around the world
3362 Beers Judged

The Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant has been brewing and serving great Hand-Crafted beer and wonderful food at 37th St. and Kansas Ave. in Topeka since May of 1995. The Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant is the only Brew-Pub in Topeka and features a full, delicious menu, and about a dozen great tasting Hand-Crafted beers on tap at any given time.

John Dean has been the Blind Tiger Brewmaster since 1999. The Gold Medal awarded to him this year is in addition to ten awards from past years for a total of eleven National and International awards!

Jay Ives, majority owner of the Blind Tiger Brewery said, “John Dean is a true treasure, brewing is an art and we have Rembrandt!” John Dean is by far the most award-winning brewer in Kansas.

Beauchamp’s Gallery Goes Beyond Realism

For better or for worse, Ye Wang is a man caught in the middle; straddling two dramatically different cultures . Having moved from China to Canada about 10 years ago, he has yet to fully acclimate himself to western culture. Even since coming to the United States in 2004, he still feels separated by a kind of “glass wall” from the world in which he lives. At times, the glass is absolutely clear. But sometimes, reflections in the glass distort his understanding of the culture he is experiencing. In fact, even when his perception of the culture is perfect, he still has difficulty interpreting what it is he is perceiving.

Ye’s latest collection of paintings provide a metaphor of his personal issues with cultural perception. At first glance, his artwork seems to be a well executed example of photorealism, a type of painting so precise in its dedication to realism that it appears more like a photo than a painting. But Ye’s art goes well beyond realism. He uses multiple photo references in each painting, purposely adding reflection and distortion where it doesn’t really exist. And a glass barrier is always present in Ye’s work- a window, door or mirror. Some elements of his paintings are presented with unnatural clarity while other elements are deliberately blurred. The end result is a type of art that exists somewhere in between Ye’s classical painting roots and the type of abstract painting so prevalent in his adopted western culture. The viewer sees an image that is at the same time both perfectly clear and frustratingly confusing- just like Ye’s cultural experience.

Beginning the first week on October, Beauchamp’s Gallery will be exhibiting Ye Wang’s paintings for 5 weeks. Also, being shown with Ye’s work will be the “trompe l’oeil” or “fool the eye” paintings of Robert Swain and the popular figurative soft sculpture of Beverly Dodge Radefeld. All three artists will be on hand for a Friday evening reception that will be held in conjunction with the First Friday Art Walk on October 2nd.

Clayton Financial Services, Inc Celebrates Financial Planning Week® with Series of Events

Clayton Financial Services, Inc of Topeka, Kansas will celebrate Financial Planning Week October 5 – 11, 2009.

Clayton Financial Services, Inc., in conjunction with the Financial Planning Association’s nationwide network of local chapters, will be holding events aimed at helping individuals discover the value of financial planning and understand the financial planning process.

Mark your calendar now!
Clayton Financial Services, Inc, serving Topeka and the surrounding area, will host the following Financial Planning Week events:

Launch of Facebook Fan Page on October 5
Clayton Financial Services, Inc. will officially launch its professional Facebook page on the social networking site. The site will feature financial planning information and resources as well as events, pictures, and financial links.
Ice Cream Bar & Open House on October 6 & 8
The public is invited to stop by the Clayton Financial Services office anytime between 11:30am and 1:30pm to grab a bowl, get some ice cream and choose their favorite toppings.
The financial planning team at Clayton Financial will be handing out educational information on financial planning and demystifying some common financial planning topics such as whether or not a person needs a lawyer to draft a valid will, how credit scores can affect insurance rates, the pros and cons of purchasing long-term care insurance and what is considered an acceptable withdrawal rate from a portfolio.
Shadow Day on October 7
Students from Kansas State University’s Personal Financial Planning Program will be given the opportunity to get a glimpse of how financial planning really works by following a Certified Financial Planner™ from Clayton Financial Services for the afternoon.

Clayton Financial Services, Inc. is a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm in Topeka, Kansas. Their experienced team of professionals takes pride in helping to provide our clients with the knowledge they need to make responsible decisions about their future. They sell services, not commission-based products. And, unlike many other advisors, they are held to a Fiduciary Standard, which means they provide objective advice based on the client’s best interest. Clayton Financial Services, Inc. works directly with the other advisors in your life including estate, insurance, and accounting, to help you meet your goals.

The Financial Planning Association is the leadership and advocacy organization connecting those who provide, support, and benefit from financial planning. FPA is the Heart of Financial Planning™ and represents a promise of financial well-being, hoping to create a world where everyone thrives and prospers. FPA has 96 chapters throughout the country representing more than 28,500 members involved in all facets of providing financial planning services. FPA is the community that fosters the value of financial planning and advances the financial planning profession.


For more information on FPA’s Financial Planning Week, please visit www.FinancialPlanningWeek.com.

Public Involvement Sought for Education in Heartland Visioning

Come participate in the public forum held by the Education Foundation Team of Heartland Visioning from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, at the Marvin Auditorium 101BC, Topeka Shawnee County Public Library.

The purpose of the meeting is to update the public on what the Education Foundation Team and its Alliances have been working on and then ask for feedback. You will hear about:
1. How Washburn Institute of Technology will benefit our community,
2. What is being done to prepare students for work at local companies,
3. What is being done to encourage graduating college students to stay in the Greater Topeka Area,
4. Other ideas on how education can become a part of a better Topeka.

“The spirit of having a community-wide vision is that the community is involved throughout,” said Patrick Woods, member of Topeka Public Schools Board of Education and co-chair of the Education Foundation Team of Heartland Visioning. “The Strategic Alliances have been working hard and now it is time to reflect for a moment.”

As indicated in the Heartland Visioning Strategic Plan, the vision for education in our community is to “promote development of broad based skills to prepare students for lifelong learning that is globally competitive: intellectually, socially, economically, culturally and personally.” The Education Foundation Team has been working on the strategies in the Heartland Visioning Strategic Plan since November of 2008.

“The community created the plan and it has to be the community that makes the vision happen,” said Bill Moore, co-chair of Heartland Visioning. “We encourage all foundation teams and alliances to go back to the community regularly. By doing so, we just might find another solution not yet identified.”

Heartland Visioning is working to make the Greater Topeka Area a growing, dynamic and trusting community that maintains a superior quality of life.

Heartland Visioning is a community-wide initiative to develop and implement a shared strategic vision for what we want our community to be in 5, 10 or 20 years. Our community is defined as Shawnee County which includes: Auburn, Rossville, Topeka, Silver Lake, Willard, and unincorporated Shawnee County.

A copy of the plan is available online at www.heartlandvisionoing.com or by contacting the Heartland Visioning office at (785) 231-6006.

St. Francis Baby Fair to showcase area businesses and services for new and expectant parents and grandparents

What: St. Francis Baby Fair

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19

Where: Second floor of St. Francis Health Center, 1700 SW 7th St., Topeka

Why: The public is invited to attend the Second Annual St. Francis Baby Fair, which will feature maternity and baby fashions, drawings for prizes, vendor displays, educational programs, safety tips, NewLife Center tours and more. Various businesses that cater to babies, toddlers and new and expectant parents are invited to participate in the Baby Fair. Educational sessions will be presented by La Leche League of Topeka and Parents as Teachers. Last year’s event drew about 250 participants. Interview and photo opportunities will be available.

Artful Dining: A benefit for the Mulvane Art Museum

Artful Dining is a new annual series of gatherings to benefit the Mulvane Art Museum. Eleven hosts have been recruited for the 2009 events. The line-up of both homes and artists is a spectacular mix that will satisfy food and fine art tastes alike.

Reservations are required and may be made by calling the Mulvane Art Museum office at 785-670-1124.

Sunset at Sherwood, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25

Enjoy an autumn evening at the lakeside home of Steve and Mary Hutchinson where you will experience festive cocktails and hors d’oeurves as the sun sets over Lake Sherwood. Larry Peters and Barbara Waterman Peters are the featured artists. 6:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25, 6748 SW Aylesbury Road, Topeka. $60 per person. Limit 50 guests.

Brunch on the Plaza, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 27

Brunch on the Plaza will feature works from the talented artists of the Topeka Art Guild and eclectic fare, such as sweets from the Copper Oven, Classic Bean blintzes, El Mezcal Margaritas, specials from Kiku’s, Dillon’s, Juice Stop and the Kitchen Gallery. Hosted by Randy Austin and Fairlawn Shopping Center Plaza. 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, 2114 SW Chelsea Drive, Topeka. $35 per person. Limit 75 guests.

Kansas Prairie, 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17

Come celebrate the prairie inspired works of art by local artist Cally Krallman in the lovely Westboro home of Mike and Katy Franklin. You will dine on delectable edibles while listening to music from Prairie Glimpses. 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, 3200 SW Westover Road, Topeka. $60 per person. Limit 100 guests.

Fantastic Fall Fare with a Twist, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13

Sip award-winning California wines as you savor a variety of edible and artistic creations throughout a unique Topeka home. The wooded setting is a perfect autumn venue to enjoy new paintings and drawings by Mike Henry and visit with special guest artist Patrick Dougherty, who will be building a sculpture for the Museum in November. This event is hosted by Richard Ross, Lora Carlson, Kevin Eaton and Ken and Jeanne Bertelson. 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13, 2600 SW Randolph Court, Topeka. $75 per person. Limit 40 guests.

Proceeds from Artful Dining 2009 events and artwork sales benefit the exhibition and education programs at the Mulvane Art Museum. All costs are underwritten by the event hosts. Your total payment for an event is a tax-deductible gift to the Museum. Thirty percent of the proceeds from the sale of art work supports the Mulvane Art Museum and is tax deductible. Artful Dining is organized by the Friends of the Mulvane Art Museum.

Artful Dining Committee members are Mary Hutchinson (chairwoman), Konni Flynn, Lynda Miller, Phyllis Dvorak, Jeanne Bertelson and Marion Cott.

PodCamp Topeka Provides How-to Guide for New Media

Think tweeting is just for the birds? If your answer is yes, you may be missing out on a free venue to market yourself or your company.

Twitter – where one can post tweets – will be one of the many social networks and new media outlets discussed at PodCamp Topeka, a free unconference scheduled for Sept. 19 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. The event is scheduled from 9am to 3:30pm.

PodCamp Topeka will bring techies and non-techies together to learn about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to new media. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Register online at http://www.tscpl.org/podcamp. Free food and a t-shirt will be provided to the first 150 registrants.

International Web 2.0 speaker David Lee King, the library’s digital branch manager, will lead a session on connecting to communities through commenting on web pages. Commentors are not just geeks who stay up all night hanging out in front of their computers, and therefore people shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss what they say, King said.

“Comments create an open forum and usually interesting insight as to what customers want or think about you. Are you in on the conversation or are you out of the loop? I urge people to open their minds to this forum as a valuable social networking tool,” he said. “PodCamp will help you figure out how to use it to your advantage.”

Other topics at PodCamp may include RSS feeds, marketing with Facebook and producing a vlog, or video blog. PodCamp’s schedule won’t be determined until the day of the event – hence the unconference label – so expect some surprises at this casual event.

People interested in leading a session, can add their names to the list at the following site, http://podcamptopeka.pbworks.com.

YWCA Commemorates 9/11

Governor Mark Parkinson and First Lady Stacy Parkinson will recognize the anniversary of September 11, 2001 as a “Day of Service and Remembrance,” Friday, Sept 11, at 11 a.m. at the YWCA of Topeka offices.

The Governor and First Lady will take a tour of the facilities at the YWCA of Topeka before the ceremony to get a first hand view of the volunteer and service opportunities that exist at the YWCA. Refreshments will be served after the press conference.

Governor Parkinson issued a proclamation declaring September 11 as a “Day of Service of Remembrance” to call on Kansans to commit the day and the future to community service. The proclamation is in conjunction with the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which includes the authorization and Federal recognition of September 11 as a “National Day of Service and Remembrance,” a bill signed into law by President Barrack Obama on April 21, 2009.

“One of the most important things we can do as we look back on the tragic events of September 11 is to give back to our communities,” said Governor Parkinson. “I am asking that all Kansans take some time out of their busy schedule to not only remember this sad part of history, but to also build our state and our country for the future.”

The Governor and First Lady are both actively involved in several community and charitable organizations. They were named the 2006 Co-Citizens of the Year by the United Community Services of Johnson County. First Lady Parkinson is spearheading “United We Serve” in Kansas, the national serve initiative that encourages Americans to become active in their community to help meet the growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn

Kansas Children’s Discovery Center Reaches $5.2 Million Milestone!

The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center raised over $500,000 in August leaving only $600,000 more to be raised by September 30th to qualify for a $500,000 matching challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation that will allow the Discovery Center to break ground in 2009.

Recent gifts that have put the campaign over the $5.2 million milestone include generous commitments for Kan-ed, Jody and Stan Teeter, D.V.M., Stormont Vail HealthCare, the Sunflower Foundation and Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

In addition to supporting our Kansas schools through economical field trips, the Discovery Center will offer unique distance learning programming, as well.

“Kan-ed is excited to partner with the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center. The Discovery Center will be an asset and resource for all K-12 children in the State of Kansas, regardless of social or economic conditions. We are thrilled to have the ability to use some of our federal grant funding to invest in the future of K-12 students on Kansas. The importance of children having access to, understanding and utilizing technology cannot be understated in today’s environment. The technology that we install will support and enhance exhibit areas, encouraging children to ask why, explore, investigate and problem-solve. This state-of-the-art technology is much like what Kan-ed has already provided to schools, libraries and hospitals throughout Kansas since 2001.” said Brad Williams, Executive Director of Kan-ed.

“Stormont-Vail HealthCare is excited about the development of the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center. In addition to the Discovery Center being a wonderful community resource, it will draw visitors and children from all across the region. The “Amazing Me!” medical exhibit provides an opportunity for children and adults to learn about health and the human body. The entire facility is a promotion of health education and healthy lifestyles. The health of our community is enhanced by the health of our young people; we are pleased to join in sponsoring the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center,” said Maynard Oliverius, President and CEO of Stormont Vail HealthCare.

According to Billie Hall, Executive Director of the Sunflower Foundation, “The Sunflower Foundation is pleased to support the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center with a grant of $75,000. We are excited to see the Discovery Center’s emphasis on play and physical activity – factors that contribute greatly to growing healthy children. The Discovery Center will offer a variety of creative outdoor and gross-motor opportunities through exhibit areas such as the Sunflower Climber and the Yellow Brick walking Paths. We applaud the Discovery Center’s commitment to children and are happy to invest in the development of a facility that will be a lasting resource for Kansans.”

“The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation strives to provide the best possible programs for the education of children. We are excited about our partnership with the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center and are happy to award a grant of $20,000 to support this wonderful, educational facility for children that will provide high quality programs and alternative activities for young children,” said Steve Ortiz, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Tribal Chairman.

The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center will be a showcase facility about discovery and exploration to encourage critical and creative thinking in math, science and the arts. It will regularly serve the 204,000 children ages ten and younger who live in the region.

Ribbon-Cutting Scheduled for Renovated Whiting Field House

Washburn University will celebrate the completion of major renovations to Whiting Field House during a public ribbon cutting at 2 p.m., Friday, September 4, 2009 on the Washburn campus.
Built in 1928, the renovated field house now includes a 9,258 square foot strength and conditioning facility, team locker rooms, offices for the School of Nursing, an 80-seat classroom and two seminar rooms, and new basketball and volleyball courts.

“This is another tremendous example of the impact private support from our alumni and friends has for the students and programs at Washburn University,” said Dr. Jerry Farley, president of Washburn University. “A leadership gift from the Capitol Federal Foundation was important in making this project a possibility and with the remarkable financial support from many others this project is a success.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place outside the north doors of Whiting Field House. Following the ribbon-cutting, visitors will be able to tour the facility.

Officers, board members named by Friends of the Mulvane Art Museum, Inc.

A slate of new officers and board members has been named by the Friends of the Mulvane Art Museum, Inc. for fiscal year 2009-10.

Officers elected are: president, Lora Carlson, secretary/treasurer, Title Midwest Holdings, Inc.; vice president and president-elect, David Heit, architect, Schwerdt Design Group; treasurer, John Hutton, attorney, Henson, Clark, Hutton, Mudrick & Grayson, LLP; assistant treasurer, Patricia Hurwitz, community volunteer; corresponding secretary, Katy Franklin, community volunteer; and recording secretary and immediate past president, Dick Carter, executive director, The Carter Group.

New board members are Dan Billen, graphic artist, Jones Huyett Partners; Jeanne Cohorst, president, Mulvane Women’s Board; Carrie Jo Gros, national sales account executive, WIBW Channels; Lynda Miller, adjunct art instructor, Washburn University; Laurie Niehaus, administrative assistant, Capital City Bank; Chris A. Schultz, president/CEO, Schultz Development LLC; and Olivia Simmons, president/CEO, Visit Topeka, Inc.

Board members currently serving also include Mark Boranyak, lobbyist, Capitol Strategies; Marion Cott, founder and former director, Kansas Humanities Council; Phyllis Dvorak, community volunteer; Rick Ellis, director, The Center for Community Service & Service Learning, Washburn University; Patricia Hurwitz, community volunteer; Cindi Morrison, director, Mulvane Art Museum; Carrie Riordan, managing director, member programs, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America; and Joe Scranton, political director.

Honorary members are Jeanne Bertelson, Carol Jory, Richard Ross, Judith Sabatini and Elizabeth Wunder.

The purpose of the Friends of the Mulvane Art Museum, Inc. is to provide services to the community through the Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University; to foster interest in art and artists through educational means, and to encourage art in everyday life in the community. The Mulvane Art Museum is located on the campus of Washburn University, at 17th and Jewell Streets.

KBS Constructors Receives Award for Excellence in Service

KBS Constructors, Inc., one of the Midwest’s leading commercial construction companies, is proud to have received the Johanna Lyle Excellence in Service Award for their contributions to Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community.

The award is given annually to recognize individuals or groups that have contributed volunteer leadership, resources, time, and tasks to the Meadowlark Hills mission to serve elders.

Meadowlark Hills CEO, Steve Shields, presented KBS with the award at the Manhattan Retirement Foundation Board of Trustees Banquet and Awards Ceremony, held July 14.

KBS has served as a contractor on several projects for Meadowlark Hills, a retirement community located in Manhattan, KS that is dedicated to building healthcare households that feel like a home not a hospital.

“I believe that much of the project’s success is owed to KBS’s early involvement,” said Shields. “Having the designer and builder together from the get-go, with a clear purpose and mission, has really paid off for the residents of Meadowlark Hills. I commend them for their part in the success of this project.”

Dan Foltz, Matt Charvat, and Jason Phillips were on hand to accept the award on behalf of KBS.
“Meadowlark Hills has been wonderful to work with,” said Foltz, the President of KBS. “And this recognition adds to the pride we already feel for having helped them move their mission forward.”

CoreFirst Awarded Business of Excellence Award

CoreFirst Bank & Trust, a member of the Topeka financial community for more than 50 years, was recently nominated and received the 2009 Business Excellence Award from the Kansas Department of Commerce. The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and Emporia Main Street nominated CoreFirst for the honor. The entries are judged by region in four different categories.

The award, established by the Department of Commerce, was created to honor and thank Kansas businesses for all that they do to keep the Kansas economy strong. Kansas owned businesses continue to be the foundation of our local economy, community and overall quality of life. During a time when our nation is facing economic challenges, Kansas businesses are more important than any period in recent history.

CoreFirst celebrates a 50-year legacy of tremendous growth with total assets now exceeding $1.2 billion.

“Receiving the Business of Excellence award is a great honor,” said John Fager, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing officer of CoreFirst Bank. “It supports all that we stand for. We remain true to the traditional values on which we were founded; integrity, quality, commitment to community, excellence in service and to make a difference to all we serve.”

Wood Valley and Maximus Team with Shawnee Country Club

Three of Topeka’s premier fitness and social organizations are partnering to expand opportunities for their members.Maximus Fitness & Wellness, Wood Valley Racquet Club & Fitness Center and Shawnee Country Club members will now be able to utilize all three facilities, a creative step to offer more value and entertainment for members.

Maximus and Wood Valley members can attend social events and dine at Shawnee Country Club and, for a discounted membership price, utilize the facility’s “Best of Topeka” private golf course. Shawnee Country Club members will benefit with complete access to Maximus three Topeka locations (including Lawrence and Leavenworth Maximus clubs) and all of Wood Valley’s amenities.Join us for a public reception and ribbon cutting to launch our new partnership!

2 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2009
Shawnee Country Club
913 SE 29th St.-Topeka

“We’re excited about working together to increase opportunities for our members,” said Scott Huston, President/CEO of Maximus. “In this economy, businesses have to be creative in their marketing to stay competitive. I’m impressed that three such premier Topeka businesses found a way to work together and offer worthwhile and healthy services to their members. This new partnership matches Maximus, the fitness club voted “Best of Topeka” three years in a row in 2009 with Shawnee Country Club, the Topeka golf course voted best private golf course in Topeka in “Best of Topeka” in 2009.”

Maximus brings the most state-of-the-art equipment, five locations and over 10,000 members. Wood Valley is the area’s premier indoor and outdoor tennis, swimming and fitness facility; and the Shawnee Country Club features a Donald Ross-designed 18-hole golf course, two driving ranges, a putting green, swimming and casual and fine dining.The ribbon cutting will feature officials from all three clubs, representatives from the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor’s office. We’ll have light snacks and free drawings. It is open to the public.

Library, community partners build Toolkit 4 Life

Whether you are out of work or simply wanting to learn about proven, money-management techniques, nine classes beginning in September will provide you with tools needed to enhance your life.

“It is no secret to all individuals from every walk of life to attain quality in their lives requires knowledge and education so they will be able to succeed and reach their goals,” said Nancy Johnson, Community Resources Council executive director and coordinator of the Toolkit 4 Life series.

Toolkit 4 Life classes are scheduled on the first Wednesday of each month. Topics range from credit cards and payday loans to how to spend leisure time with your family on the cheap. Parents will share their money-saving secrets at the final workshop, Money Strategies that Work, in May.

Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. representatives provide resources for many of the sessions, including “Grow Your Dough” and “Is Debt a 4 Letter Word?”

In December, David Lee King, the library’s digital branch manager and international Web 2.0 speaker, presents a beginner’s class on social networking and how to use social media outlets to market yourself or your business.

“Your customers are already talking about you – about your business, about your products, about you. Do you know what they’re saying, and more importantly, do you know how to join in the conversation?” King said. “This session shows you how to do this, by using social networking tools like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.”

The Toolkit 4 Life series is the “second semester” follow-up to the popular Financial Guide to Planning and Security.

“We had a number of people ask us if we were going to offer it next year,” Johnson said. “People are struggling out there. They are wondering what’s out there for them.”

Toolkit 4 Life schedule
(All sessions are 7-8:45 pm)
2009
Sept. 2 Stop Squeaking By HCCI
Oct. 7 Grow Your Dough HCCI
Nov. 4 Is Debt a 4 Letter Word HCCI
Dec. 2 Social Networking Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library 2010 Jan. 6 Taxes HCCI/Shawnee County Extension Office Feb. 3 Getting By on a Dime HCCI/TSCPL March 3 Fun 4 Less HCCI/TSCPL April 7 Go Green to Keep Green Topeka Water Dept./Kansas Gas/Westar Energy May 5 Money Strategies that Work HCCI/Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

The library is open from 9am to 9pm Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm Saturday and noon to 9pm Sunday.

KU grads spark creativity in young library customers Library to debut kids’ movie

From filmmakers to engineers, professionals of all types often struggle before their creative ideas come to fruition. But for several local children that sense of accomplishment arrives August 30.

Children spent part of their summer becoming mini-moviemakers during Project Littlefoot at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. The children and their families will watch their movies for the first time at 6:30pm, Sunday, Aug. 30 in Marvin Auditorium.

The premiere of “The Sunken City” and “The Green Ball Trilogies” is free and open to the public and will include a short presentation on the story behind Project Littlefoot.

"Working with the library has given us a chance to put all of our design research to use. We hope that our program can serve as a model for a new way of thinking about education,” Meredith Tack, University of Kansas alumna, said. “We are proud of all the hard work the children put into their project, and would love for the community to support these kids by attending the event.”

Tack and two other recent industrial design graduates, Patrick Guy and Carey Spesard, developed Project Littlefoot. Participants, ranging in age from 5 to 8, learned about story development, teamwork and problem solving during the eight-week program. Then, the design grads took the kids’ work and created the two short films.

The library is open from 9am to 9pm Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm Saturday and noon to 9pm Sunday. For information on other movies showing at the library, pick up a copy of connectnow magazine or log on to www.tscpl.org/programs and click the connectnow magazine link.