Commemorative coins celebrate ‘Ad Astra’

Sales of two coins commemorating the completion of the Statehouse will help offset costs of installing the cast bronze statue on the Capitol dome and an education plaza on the grounds.

The coins sell for $15 each, or $25 for the set.

The coins, designed by sculptor Richard Bergen who sculpted the 20-foot statue “Ad Astra” on the dome, commemorate the historic final touch for the Statehouse.

“We weren’t going to put it up until it was paid for,” Bergen said, noting that it cost about $700,000 to prepare the dome to accept the 4,420-pound bronze statue.

“Ad Astra” is shown above in October 2002 during its installation on the Capitol dome.

For more on the coins, visit adastra.parsonssun.com.

Salvation Army

Workshop to examine homelessness issues

The Salvation Army will play host to a workshop on the relationship between homelessness and mental illness from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 1 at the agency’s headquarters, 946 N.H.

Presenters will include Robert Haggared and Susan Burnstein, with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and Ric Evans, director of the Salvation Army’s detoxification and reintegration program in Kansas City, Kan.

For more information, call 843-4188.

Gay rights issues focus of rally at Statehouse

The Equal Justice Coalition and Kansas Unity and Pride Alliance will try to increase support for an ordinance that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in Topeka. The rally begins at 11:30 a.m. Sunday on the south steps of the Capitol.

Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, will speak at the event.

After the rally, people may meet at 1 p.m. at the Equal Justice Coalition office in White Lakes Mall to walk door-to-door in City Council districts to talk to voters about the ordinance.

Lawrence city ordinances already ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.