Ninth Street road work forces T route change

Construction work on Ninth Street between Emery and Avalon roads that will force a temporary change to a Lawrence public transit route began this weekend.

Route Six Clockwise is scheduled to be rerouted until Tuesday. Riders who need to catch the bus along Ninth Street should move to Maine Street or Iowa Street during the time period.

For more information about the route change, call the transit service at 312-7054.

Agriculture

Grant extends produce program for seniors

The Kansas Department on Aging has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue a program that aids low-income senior citizens in purchasing fresh produce from farmers markets and roadside stands.

The Department of Agriculture provided 47 states and tribal organizations with grants to support the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Kansas will receive $175,986 in grant money.

The money is used to provide low-income seniors with vouchers and coupons for fresh produce from local growers. This will be the third year Kansas has participated in the program.

In 2004, the program served 6,139 seniors with coupons and vouchers worth $30 each. To be eligible for the program, a person must be at least 60 years old and meet low-income standards.

The 2005 program will begin in early May and run through September in 10 Kansas counties, including Douglas, Johnson and Shawnee.

Crime

Police still examining possible shooting

Police on Friday were still investigating reports of gunshots Thursday night in East Lawrence, but no victims had surfaced.

Sgt. Dan Ward, a Lawrence Police spokesman, said that as far as officers knew Friday, nothing in the area had been hit by gunfire.

As of Friday, no one had been arrested.

Police responded about 8:45 p.m. Thursday to reports of a fight and gunshots around the 1500 block of Powers Street. They spent much of the evening canvassing the area and talking with neighbors, who said they’d heard between five and seven shots.

Salvation Army seeks life-skills teachers

The Salvation Army is looking for area individuals interested in teaching a variety of life-skills classes to the homeless who use the Lawrence facility.

Mathew Faulk, a case manager with the Salvation Army, said he’s seeking individuals who can teach computer skills, job interviewing skills or basic health and wellness classes.

But Faulk said individuals were encouraged to design their own class ideas and present them to Salvation Army officials.

“Ideally you should be involved in the field or subject matter that you are wanting to teach,” Faulk said.

Homeless people who use the Salvation Army’s shelter and services are required to take at least nine hours of classes per month. Faulk said area residents who want to volunteer should be prepared to teach at least one, one-hour class per week for four weeks.

People interested in teaching a class should contact Faulk at 843-4188.

Quilt exhibit opens at history museum

An exhibit featuring 13 butterfly quilts opened Saturday at the Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Mass.

The exhibit, “Flitterin’ Beauties: Butterfly Quilts from the Rose Collection,” will be on display through June 11 in the Rice Gallery of the museum.

The quilts were donated to the museum by John and Marian Rose, of Prairie Village. The couple donated their collection of 200 quilts and afghans to the museum last fall.

United Way sets up new community fund

The United Way of Douglas County is taking applications for its new community impact fund.

Applications are due Aug. 15. They are available at the United Way office, 2518 Ridge Court, or by calling 843-6626.

The $50,000 fund was created to encourage collaboration among community organizations. The collaboration may include nonprofit organizations, government or businesses, but at least one United Way agency must be involved.

An information session about the fund has been scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday at the United Way office.

KU Med Center official to talk on radio show

Davie Garnett, director of the Kansas University Medical Center’s Voice and Swallowing Center, will appear on KCUR 89.3 FM’s “Up To Date” on Monday.

Garnett specializes in the care of performers and speakers who use their voices professionally. On “Up To Date,” he’ll talk with host Steve Kraske about how to take care of one’s voice, including such topics as preventative care, reflux and vocal injury.

Garnett is an associate professor in the department of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery.

The show will air from 11 p.m. to noon and later be available on KCUR’s Web site, www.kcur.org.

Casa4CASA fund-raiser tickets available soon

The Douglas County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program is set to kick off its 14th annual Casa4CASA fund-raiser.

The fund-raiser will provide Lawrence residents with the opportunity to win a custom playhouse. The playhouse was designed with help from Sabatini and Associates, and painted by children at Van Go Mobile Arts.

Each ticket for a chance to win the playhouse will cost a dollar. The drawing for the playhouse will be at the downtown Farmers Market at 10:30 a.m. May 14. You do not need to be present to win.

The fund-raiser will start with a preview party Saturday, when the playhouse will be unveiled. Tickets to the preview cost $30 and can be purchased by calling CASA at 832-5172.

All proceeds from the preview party and playhouse drawing will go to support recruitment and training for CASA volunteers. The CASA program strives to provide neglected and abused children with a voice in public courts. Since being established in 1991, CASA has served more than 546 children.