• Ed Hawkins, senior sales associate, represented Kief’s Audio/Video at the Feb. 9 Sony Open House Tour at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas. Sony debuted new product lines for spring 2011 for a select group of invitees from the nation’s top audio/video retailers.

• Edward Jones financial adviser Liz Kundin will host a free seminar, “Making Sense of Retirement,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday(Feb. 23) at Castle Tea Room, 1307 Mass. For reservations, call Karen Kelm at 842-2450 by Tuesday(Feb. 22).

• The Community Mercantile is now referred to as “The Merc — Community Market & Deli” or just “The Merc” for short. The change is an ongoing process that began earlier this year.

• Carolyn Simpson attended a daylong seminar Jan. 14 for attorneys on “Hot Topics in the Elder Law World,” in Junction City. Simpson’s office, located at 719 Mass., suite 117, focuses on elder law issues such as wills, estate planning and guardianships for the elderly and disabled.

• The Better Business Bureau of Kansas Inc. would like to inform consumers of the recent increase of phone scams. Kansans throughout the state have been receiving phone calls stating they have won a large sum of money from a lottery or drawing.

Recently a caller identified themselves as the “BBB” and told the consumer “they had won a cash prize and wanted to verify their information so it could be sent to them.” The caller also referred to the “BBB as being a government agency.”

The Better Business Bureau does not assist in verifying prize winners nor is it a government or legal agency.

The Better Business Bureau recommends if you receive this type of call that you do not give out any personal information. Consumers can register their phone number with the “DO NOT CALL” list at 1-888-382-1222. If you have any questions, contact the BBB at 1-800-856-2417 or 316-263-3146.

• Gina Halsey, local acupuncturist who was former board chairwoman of Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Los Angeles, has attained status as a diplomat in Oriental medicine from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). According to NCCAOM’s website, Halsey is the first acupuncturist practicing in Lawrence to achieve the highest level of certification. She practices at the Lawrence Medical Plaza.

• Carol D. Rau, PHR, career consultant, was a seminar instructor at the 2011 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) National Educational Conference, Feb. 6-11, as part of the Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Fla. Rau, owner of Career Advantage LLC which is a Lawrence-based human resources consulting firm, presented three sessions along with providing individual career coaching to GCSAA members.

• Kimberly Williams, Lawrence, completed the Kansas Graduate REALTOR Institute Program, earning the nationally-recognized real estate designation, GRI on Feb. 11. The GRI designation is awarded only to real estate professionals who are members of the National, State, and their Local Board/Association of Realtors, and who successfully complete at lease 90 hours of specific advanced coursework.

• SSG John D. Powell of Lawrence, with the Army National Guard Recruiting & Retention Command, nominated his manager, Jamie Elmore, along with Bank of the West for the Patriot Award Jan. 28 in recognition of extraordinary support of the employees who serve in the Army National Guard and Reserve. Elmore is the regional banking manager at the bank’s branch in Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Powell is the bank’s branch manager in Ottawa.