Local briefs

Popular young adult author to visit junior high school

Author Caroline Cooney’s books have sold more than 10 million copies since her first novel in 1979. The author is especially known for the 1991 young adult suspense novel “The Face on the Milk Carton,” and audience demand has led Cooney to write three sequels, the last of which brings her to Lawrence on Tuesday.

Cooney will speak to Southwest Junior High students about reading and writing books, brought here as part of a book tour for “What Janie Found.” She is sponsored by The Children’s Book Shop, 937 Mass., which will carry signed copies of the new novel.

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Resources: Terrorism, civil liberties topic of public forum

A public forum Tuesday will focus on terrorism and its effects on privacy rights and civil liberties.

The Lawrence Coalition of Peace and Justice and the Lawrence League of Women Voters are sponsoring the forum. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Lawrence Public Library auditorium.

The speakers will be Dick Kurtenbach, executive director of the Kansas and Missouri chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Kimberley Dayton, Kansas University law professor, and Chuck Epp, KU associate professor of political science.

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Kansas University: Expo showcases coffee from fair-trade members

Members of the Lawrence Fair Trade Coffee Commission hope to change the world one cup at a time.

At a Fair Trade Coffee Expo Sunday in the Kansas Union, the group showcased fair-trade products, which are purchased directly from farmer cooperatives in developing countries. Direct purchasing eliminates middlemen and helps farmers earn a better wage.

About 150 people attended the event, which featured representatives of local coffee roasters and coffee shops.

The Expo focused on coffee because of its importance as the world’s second-largest export commodity, said Jessica Cook, a Kansas University freshman from Topeka.

“We’re just introducing that such products are out there,” she said of fair trade.

Cook said nonfair-trade farmers earn about 38 cents per pound of coffee. Fair-trade farmers receive at least $1.26 per pound, and more if it is organic.

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Environment: Committee to discuss state’s 2004 water plan

The Lower Republican River Basin Advisory Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Friday at the South Park Recreation Center, 1141 Mass., to review a preliminary draft of the state’s 2004 water plan.

Other topics to be discussed include regional water supplies, water quality and quantity, and recommendations for management of the Ogallala aquifer. The meeting is expected to last until noon.

The Lower Republican River Basin includes Jefferson County and most of Douglas and Leavenworth counties.

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Finances: Seminar offers seniors advice on scam protection

The Financial Abuse Specialist Team will present a “Savvy Consumer Seminar” from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. March 13 in the auditorium at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 325 Maine.

Several speakers, including state government officials and bank representatives, will speak on recognizing crime, avoiding scams and fraud, and protecting finances.

The seminar is free, but space is limited. Contact Patty Dover, 832-3769, or Christina Jordan, 331-7819, to make reservations.

FAST is an interdisciplinary team of community professionals who serve elderly adults. The seminar is sponsored by Douglas County Bank, Capitol Federal Savings, Eudora Nursing Center, Baldwin Care Center, Vintage Community Care Center and Vintage Park Assisted Living.