Lawrence Muslim leader to give Islam lecture

Topeka — The lecture “What Should Americans Know About Islam?” is set for 4 p.m. today in room 112 in Henderson Learning Resources Center at Washburn University.

Guest speaker Moussa Elbayoumy is the director for both the Islamic Center of Lawrence and Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Francis Health Center in Topeka. He graduated from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. Elbayoumy has lived in the United States since 1981.

The lecture will cover Islam, its origin, followers and faith principles, examine what Muslims and non-Muslims have in common, and the major misconceptions the American public has about Islam.

The Muslim Student Assn. of Washburn University and Phi Alpha Theta sponsor the lecture. For more information, contact Ali Khan, 231-1010, ext. 1671.

Lecompton academy receives EPA grant

Lecompton — The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded an $11,400 grant to the John Dewey Learning Academy in Lecompton.

EPA Region 7 has awarded a total of 15 environmental education grants in the 12th year of the program.

The John Dewey Academy, an alternative charter high school, plans to use the grant to integrate environmental education activities into the core curriculum. The academy will use the outdoors as a classroom to integrate math, science, social studies, language arts, and vocational education courses.

Talk with loved ones in path of hurricane

Lawrence-area residents with relatives or friends in the path of Hurricane Frances should contact them now to establish a communications plan, local Red Cross officials said Wednesday.

“Many times people have to evacuate quickly or lose telephone service and cannot let loved ones know they are OK,” said Jane Blocher, director of the Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Tips on establishing an emergency communications plan with people in the hurricane-affected areas:

• Call relatives in advance to find out whether they plan to evacuate. Ask them to call after the storm is over.
• Make sure relatives in the hurricane area have your work phone number and other key numbers. Tell them to call you collect.
• Get phone numbers for your relatives’ employers and close friends.