Columbus Day affects some offices’ hours

Most government offices and public services will be open today, but in some area towns they will be closed in observance of Columbus Day.

Ottawa City Hall and Utilities Office will be open from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. today because of citywide training. McLouth city offices will be closed.

Most banks and credit unions will be closed.

Buses in Lawrence will run, and the Lawrence Public Library will be open.

The U.S. Postal Service will not make mail delivery or collection rounds, but UPS will.

The Journal-World will be published, and newspaper offices will be open their normal hours. USA Today also will be published.

KU to sponsor global business conference

International business will be the topic of a one-day Global Advantage conference Tuesday at Kansas University.

The event, organized by the KU Center for International Business Education and Research, begins at 8 a.m. in the Big 12 Room of the Kansas Union. Business leaders, educators and government representatives are expected to attend.

Six panel discussions are planned throughout the day on topics such as “Post-9-11 Security Issues” and “Training and Education: Meeting the Needs of International Business.” Keynote addresses will be given by Clark Stewart, president and CEO of Butler National Corp. in Olathe, and Tom Strauss, East Region director of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

For more information or to register, visit www.kuce.org/ programs/gac or call 864-5823.

Applications available for grad student summit

Applications to participate in next year’s Graduate Student Research Summit at Kansas University are due by 5 p.m. Nov. 14.

The summit, organized by KU’s Graduate and Professional Assn., will be from noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 27 in the Kansas Union. Graduate students can present their research to the KU community during the event.

Applications are available at the GPA office, 426 Kansas Union, or online at www.ku.edu /~gpa.

Bird seed sale planned

Jayhawk Audubon Society’s fall bird seed sale will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 25 outside the Lawrence Senior Center, 745 Vt.

Several varieties and mixes of seed and suet cakes will be available as well as an assortment of feeders and books. Sale proceeds support area education and conservation projects.

Watkins Museum to open gift shop

Miss Lizzie’s Gifts, a new gift shop inside the Watkins Community Museum of History, will have its grand opening this weekend.

The store, on the second floor of the museum, 1047 Mass., will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The store will offer collectible items for people of all ages, including toys such as stick horses, paper dolls and stuffed animals; reproduction glassware; fine linens; candles; and greeting cards.

The shop also stocks books on Douglas County and Kansas history, many written by area authors, and cookbooks.