Aquila will contribute up to $100,000 through its Aquila Cares program to provide energy assistance to low-income people across a seven-state service area. Aquila’s appliance repair division, Service Guard, also will contribute to energy assistance funding. Aquila supplements its utility customers’ donations to the Aquila Cares program at 50 cents on the dollar. Aquila customers will receive more information on making donations in their November energy bills.

Warm Hearts handles the Aquila Cares fund distribution in Lawrence. Aquila serves 100,000 gas customers and 68,000 electric customers in Kansas.

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Tricia Boeken, Lawrence, recently returned to Carlson Wagonlit Travel, 800 Mass. Boeken’s responsibilities will be divided between special interest group travel and individual travelers and families. She has more than 25 years experience in the travel industry.

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Lea Marcum and Amelia Yingling, certified massage therapists announce the opening of Serenity Garden Stay Spa, located in the lower level of the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Mass. The business offers 10 types of massages, body wraps and skin analysis. Its treatments include chocolate massage, hot stone massage and couples massage.

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The Douglas Farm Service Agency announced that the application period for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Assistance Program has been extended until Nov. 21. Livestock producers must have suffered at least a 40 percent loss of grazing production for three or more consecutive months during 2001 or 2002 to be eligible. For more information call Johnathon Alley at the Douglas County FarmService Agency at 843-4260.

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Nancy Smith, Lawrence, has been promoted to managing editor of Mother Earth News magazine. Smith formerly was senior associate editor. The magazine has a paid circulation of 330,000 and is published by Ogden Publications Inc., Topeka. Smith is a graduate of Kansas University with degrees in journalism and English.

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Patricia Roach Smith has been promoted to chief operations officer for the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Lawrence. She will oversee internal operations and the community development office. She recently served as the center’s community development director.

Robert Bryant is the new director of human resources at the center. His duties include establishing and directing human resource practices and employee relations.

Elizabeth Delgado-Torres and Marciana Crothers, recently joined the center as therapists in adult services. Delgado-Torres specializes in anxiety disorders, cross-cultural issues in mental health, and borderline personality disorders. Crothers’ expertise includes addictions, couples therapy and negotiating life transitions.

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ZLB Plasma Services has teamed with a recycling program near its headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., to donate more than 140 computer systems to nonprofit organizations. ZLB Plasma Services offers services in Lawrence at 816 W. 24th St.

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Richard Backus, Lawrence, has been named editor in chief of Ogden Publications’ Farm Collectibles Group, including Farm Collector magazine, Gas Engine Magazine, Steam Traction magazine and The Farm Collector Show Directory. He will continue as editor of Gas Engine Magazine and Steam Traction, positions he has had since July 2001. He is a graduate of the William Allen White School of Journalism at Kansas University.

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Darrah Buren, Lawrence, is the new assistant editor at Grit magazine, part of Ogden Publications in Topeka. She had worked as production editor at C/C++Users Journal, formerly Miller Freeman Inc., in Lawrence.

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Andrew Humphrey, Lawrence, has been named assistant editor at Capper’s magazine, part of Ogden Publications in Topeka. Humphrey previously worked for Grit magazine in Topeka, and for Electrical Construction and Maintenance magazine in Overland Park.

Honors and awards

Employees from the Lawrence Hy-Vee Food and Drug stores were recognized during a banquet Oct. 9 for achieving service milestones. Employees and the number of years they have served were: Maria Jordan, Denise Padilla, Ken Gray, Brett Adams, Roxanne VanMeter, Kelli Lester, Debby Smether and Tracy Powell, five years; Frank Prolago, 10 years; and Rick Sayrs, 15 years.

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Ron King, local American Family Insurance agent, won the company’s District of the Month honors for September. The honor is based on all lines production and has helped King to qualify for the company’s All American trip to Washington, D.C.

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Free State Brewery, Lawrence, recently claimed two bronze medals at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival Competition, the largest national beer competition. Free State Brewery was recognized in the Barleywine category for its Old Backus Barleywine and the American Wheat Ale or Lager category for its Wheat State Golden. The winners were selected by an international panel of brewing experts from a field of 2,000 entries from 400 U.S. breweries.

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Bill Wood, agricultural agent for the K-State Research and Extension Service in Lawrence, was presented with a Distinguished Service Award at the annual meeting of the Douglas County Farm Bureau Assn. He was honored for his contributions to the Douglas County Farm Bureau and its members.

Coming events

The Lawrence Apple User’s Group 2.0 will present “Your Digital Lifestyle” at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in Kansas University’s Art and Design building, Room 315.

Experts will demonstrate how to legally download music from the Apple Music store as well as transfer music to iPod and CD. There is no cost to attend. For more information e-mail Dave Greenbaum at dsg@mac.com.

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Statements Hair Salon, 2500 W. Sixth St., Suite I, will have a Breast Cancer Awareness Cut-a-thon from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 26. All proceeds will benefit research for breast cancer. There is a minimum $15 donation.

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The Twilight Chapter of the American Business Women’s Assn. will meet Monday at the American Legion, 3408 W. Sixth St. Networking begins at 6 p.m., and dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. For reservations, contact Wanda Easterwood at 841-1552 or e-mail wanda.easterwood@faa.gov.