Dinner offers chance to talk with candidates

The Oread Neighborhood Assn. will have a “Meet the Candidates” potluck dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the South Park Recreation Center, 1141 Mass.

Several local and state political candidates will attend to answer questions.

New neighborhood residents are urged to attend. Anyone attending is asked to bring enough food to share.

Former dean to speak at Baker convocation

A former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences will return to Baker University this month to deliver the university’s annual convocation address.

Neal Malicky, dean from 1969 to 1974, will speak at 11 a.m. Oct. 14 at Rice Auditorium on the Baldwin campus.

Malicky retired in 2000 as chancellor of Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. He now teaches leadership in higher education courses as an adjunct professor at Kent State University.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Baker in 1956. In addition to serving as dean for six years, he doubled as interim president of the university during the 1973-1974 academic year.

Malicky joined the Baldwin-Wallace College staff in 1975 as vice president for academic affairs.

KU announces official name of heart facility

Kansas City, Kan. — The new heart facility at the University of Kansas Hospital has an official name, hospital officials announced Tuesday.

The “Center for Advanced Heart Care,” under construction on the KU Medical Center campus, is set to open in mid-2006.

“This name clearly reflects the leading edge we will provide for all stages of heart disease,” said Irene Cumming, CEO and president of the hospital. “This facility will have the latest equipment available in one convenient setting to provide the most accurate diagnosis possible of heart disease, as well as the advanced knowledge and technology to treat it in its earliest stages or in life-threatening situations.”

The $72 million, 238,000-square-foot facility is being funded with bonds, operating revenue and private gifts.

LMH to dedicate Bob Billings center

Lawrence Memorial Hospital administrators will dedicate the new Bob Billings Cardiac Evaluation Center at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The center provides a separate area for emergency patients with chest pain, congestive heart failure and other cardiac conditions who need to be monitored and observed. Each of the rooms in the center has a bed, a reclining chair for visitors, a television, VCR and telephone jacks for Internet access.

The center memorializes Bob Billings, a Lawrence developer and community leader who died in February 2003. Billings was closely associated with LMH for more than 20 years, having served on the LMH Endowment Assn.’s Board of Directors from 1979 to 1993.

The center opened its doors to Lawrence-area residents in August. Community donations raised by the endowment association’s 2003 Hearts of Gold Ball supplied the $440,000 needed for construction.

Lawrence center offers foster-parent classes

Lawrence-area adults interested in becoming foster parents can take part in a free 10-week course being offered by KVC Behavioral HealthCare.

Classes are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, starting Oct. 12 at KVC’s Lawrence office, 1202 E. 23rd St.

Classes will provide information and training on the skills needed to care for children in the state’s foster care system.

Participants do not have to be married or have children of their own. “All we ask is that they be able to offer a stable, loving home,” said Faith Gerriets, a family service coordinator at KVC. For more information, call Gerriets at 331-4200.