Baker Student Senate endorses 32nd Street route

The student senate at Baker University on Tuesday endorsed routing the final leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway along a 32nd Street alignment through the Baker Wetlands.

The endorsement followed presentations by Baker University President Dan Lambert and Matt Sexson, president of the environmental group Earth We Are.

“We determined the 32nd Street alignment was in the best interest of Baker University students and in the best economic interests of the people of Lawrence,” said John Kraemer, student senate president.

As proposed by state transportation officials, the trafficway package includes $8.5 million to expand the wetlands by about 300 acres, maintain the property and build an education center.

Baldwin library offers book discussion series

Baldwin  Friends of the Baldwin City Library is offering a book discussion series through November at the library, 800 Seventh St. The theme is “Looking for Nature.”

The first meeting is at 7:30 p.m. today. Al Pursell, from Kansas City, Kan., Community College, will lead a discussion of “Coming into the Country” about John McPhee’s search for nature in Alaska. Copies of the book can be checked out at the library.

Participants will read “Desert Solitaire,” the story of Edward Abbey’s adventures in Arches National Monument, for the Oct. 10 meeting and “Letters from a Wild State,” describing James G. Cowan’s journey into the Outback, for the Nov. 7 meeting.

The series is sponsored by the Kansas Humanities Council. For more information, call the library, (785) 594-3411.

Fashion comes to Lawrence at the fall fashion preview

The Twilight Chapter of the American Business Women’s Assn., with Talbot’s and Premier Designs Jewelry, is sponsoring a fall fashion show at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital Auditorium.

Networking and hors d’oeuvres will be from 6 p.m. to show time. The event is open to the public, but reservations are requested by today.

For more information or to make a reservation, contact Val Kampfer, chapter president, at 842-0301, or Paula Commons, membership chairwoman, at 749-8102.

Arts Center holding auditions for ‘Kansas Nutcracker’

The Lawrence Arts Center will have auditions for “A Kansas Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the arts center, 940 N.H. A separate audition for children ages 5-6 is at 5 p.m. Sept. 15.

“A Kansas Nutcracker” is a historical perspective of life in the Lawrence community in the Kansas Territory in the 1850s. Ric Averill, artistic director of the Seem-To-Be Players, will write the script and direct the holiday ballet. Deborah Bettinger, artistic director of Lawrence Youth Ballet and Lawrence Ballet Ensemble, will choreograph the ballet. Candi Baker, artistic director of the Prairie Wind Dancers, will direct Pistachio, Peanut, Pretzel and Popcorn companies.

For more information, call the arts center at 843-2787.

Catfanciers sponsor cat show this weekend at Holidome

The Kansas Sunflower Cat Show will be Saturday and Sunday at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive.

The show, sponsored by the Topeka Catfanciers, will feature six rings of registered breeds and household pets.

Hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for children 5-12 and $10 for families.

Neurologist to speak on MS

Dr. Kathleen Hawker, a Dallas neurologist, will talk about multiple sclerosis at a program from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Ritz Charles Hotel, 9000 W. 137th St., Overland Park.

Hawker will speak with patients and their families about living with MS, maintenance of the disease and treatment options.

Cathy Finney, a patient advocate diagnosed with MS in 1997, also will speak at the conference.

MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, and it affects more than 400,000 Americans.

The program is free and open to the public. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the hotel. Call 1-800-522-5185 for more information.