Megan and Ty Finch, Garden City, announce the birth of their daughter, Erin Rose Finch, Aug. 14, 2009, at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Garden City.

Rose has a brother, Evan Ty Finch, 2 1/2.

Her maternal grandparents are Kermit and Margaret Kalb, Wellsville; her paternal grandparents are Jerry and Ila Finch, Garden City. Her great-grandmother is Loretta Staley, Garden City.

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The Flory family reunion will be at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at Lone Star Church of the Brethren, 883 E. 800 Road, Lawrence.

Please bring table service; drinks will be provided.

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Dance Gallery’s 45 member troupe traveled to Minneapolis, Minn., June 22-27 to compete at the Starquest Dance National Finals.

Chelsea Reichert, Free State High School senior, was named the national champion for her solo, “The Dance.” She also won the national title in the senior solo division — The Quest for the Best.

Other top awards were:

• Senior solo division — Quest for the Best: Amanda Reichert, FSHS senior, 14th.

• Senior duet/trio division — Quest for the Best: “Surviving 13,” with Amanda and Chelsea Reichert, and Jessica Prather, FSHS senior, fifth.

• Top teen solos: Anna Meissbach, Southwest Junior High School eighth-grader, 16th.

• Teen duet/trio division: Anna Meissbach and Allie Howland, SWJH seventh-grader, eighth.

• Top teen small groups: “Hide and Seek,” sixth; and “Call the Law,” eighth.

Costume awards winners were:

• Teen/senior solos: Mackenzie Owens, SWJH ninth-grader, second with “Walking on Air.”

• Teen/senior/duet/trio division: Tarantella trio — McKenzie Kula, West Junior High School ninth-grader, Anna Meissbach, Alison Prather, SWJH seventh-grader, third.

• Teen/senior small group: “Call the Law.”

Allie Howland, McKenzie Kula and Amanda Reicher won special judges awards. Dance Gallery also won choreography awards. Teachers are Karen Fender, Tristan Conway, Barbie Sabins, Emily Thomas, Kallie Campbell, Cierra Bias, Jerel Hilding, Krystyna Hilding and Cynthia Crews.

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The 1959 graduates of Lawrence High School will hold their 50th reunion Sept. 17-20. Former teachers and friends are welcome to join them for the following:

• Lunch, noon Thursday at Perkins Restaurant, 1711 W. 23rd St.

• Pre-party, 4 p.m. Friday at Set ‘Em Up Jack’s, 1800 E. 23rd St., Suite G, followed by the Lawrence High football game and post-party at Wayne and Larry’s, 933 Iowa.

For more information, contact Janet Burnett Huchingson at 832-1923, or visit the class Web site at www.lhs1959.com.

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Berenice Wilson, Eudora, will celebrate her 95th birthday on Friday with a card shower. Cards may be sent to Wilson at P.O. Box 430, Eudora, KS 66025.

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Avila University, Kansas City, Mo., announces area students earning degrees at its May 16 commencement exercises.

Area students earning bachelor’s degrees were Courtney Kirkpatrick, elementary education, Basehor; and Sarah Jokisch, nursing, De Soto.

Shanna Simpson, Lawrence, earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology.