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The Lawrence Farmers’ Market will be celebrating pumpkins on Saturday. While there has been a nationwide pumpkin shortage, there is an abundance at the market.

The market will feature pumpkin decorating for children as well as a chance to win one of several larger pumpkins.

Vendors can talk about which pumpkins work well for eating and which are better for just decorating.

Besides pumpkins, other produce that is still in season includes herbs, onions, potatoes, cucumbers, green beans, kale, parsley, eggplant, apples, bell peppers, hot peppers, garlic, cherry tomatoes, winter squash, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, turnips, beets and radishes.

The market will be from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Oct. 24 at 824 N.H. Next week, there will be free horse-drawn wagon rides from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

While the Saturday markets continue until Nov. 21, the weekday markets, which are from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1020 Vt., will end Thursday, Oct. 29.

Also, the annual holiday market will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at Knights of Columbus Hall, 2206 E. 23rd St.

Michael Douglas, 11, of Wellsville, met his sports hero Mario Chalmers once again. He had front-row seats to the Oct. 15 Miami Heat game at the Sprint Center.

Such sporting events provide a distraction for the sixth-grader, who has a rare lung disease.

After hearing about his story “A little Miracle” that appeared in the Journal-World, the Miami Heat team pulled out the red carpet for Michael last spring. Michael soon become a big fan of not only Chalmers, but the entire team including former K-State player Michael Beasley.

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Michael’s mother, Lisa Douglas, said her son had “an unbelievable time at the Miami Heat game.”

She said Chalmers, Beasley and former KU basketball player Julian Wright, who plays for the New Orleans Hornets, signed her son’s Miami Heat jersey.

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“He got home late and continued to talk and talk about the players,” Lisa said of her son.

Of course, Michael also attended Friday’s “Late Night in the Phog,” where he got autographs from former KU players Aaron Miles and Moulaye Niang.

“He (Michael) was on an all-time sports high,” Lisa Douglas said. “It has been good to see him so happy and enjoying every moment of these special times.”

She said he is “doing well” as far as his health. He uses an electric wheelchair at school now, so he doesn’t get as tired. She also pulls him out of school when reports of flu are on the rise.

Tim Iwig, owner of Tecumseh-based Iwig Family Dairy, estimates milk sales are up 10 percent to 20 percent since a story about milk farmers’ struggles appeared in the Lawrence Journal-World on Oct. 11.

The increase in sales has left the dairy business scrambling for more bottles to fill orders. Iwig said they don't have enough bottles to keep up, but expect to receive more soon.

“It’s a good problem to have,” he said. “But, we need to get the problem solved quickly because we are losing out on sales.”

Iwig also is working with the Kansas Securities Commission and a lawyer to be able to offer shares of stock in his dairy. Rick Fleming, general counsel of the commission, said it’s a complex process that has many options. He declined to say how long the process might take.

In the meantime, Iwig said he currently owes $40,000 to Kaw Valley Bank and the lender may decide to foreclose on his business. He is awaiting a decision from the loan committee and expects a decision on Tuesday.

Iwig is hoping a recent outpouring of support shows the bank that his business is still financially viable. He said people have offered more than enough financial help to cover what is owed, but he can’t collect any money until he clears regulatory hurdles.

"It has been very humbling to hear all of the things that have been said about our family and our Iwig milk," he said.

Eleven-year-old Michael Douglas, of Wellsville, can’t wait to see his sports hero Mario Chalmers on the basketball court again. He has front-row seats to Thursday night's Miami Heat game at the Sprint Center.

Such sporting events give the sixth-grader, who has a rare lung disease, something to look forward to. They provide a healthy distraction.

After hearing about his story “A little Miracle” that appeared in the Journal-World, the Miami Heat team pulled out the red carpet for Michael last spring. Now, he gets the chance to see Mario in action again.

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This comes on the heels of Sunday’s adventures at Arrowhead Stadium, where Michael got to meet players from both the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. That was because Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt got wind of Michael’s story.

“Once again, sports is a pretty good medicine for keeping him healthy,” his mother, Lisa Douglas, said.

She said he is “doing well.” He uses an electric wheelchair at school now, so he doesn’t get as tired. She also pulls him out of school when reports of flu are on the rise.

Dr. Bruce Haffty, chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, will be visiting Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Wednesday and Thursday and offering his expertise.

He will be presenting information on the utilization of radiation therapy after a mastectomy for breast cancer treatment.

In addition, Haffty will be collaborating with Lawrence Cancer Center staff on several projects relating to the care of breast cancer patients.

Haffty is a trustee of the American Board of Radiology and chairman of the Breast Exam Committee of the American Board of Radiology.

He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and 30 book chapters.

He recently completed editing a comprehensive book “Handbook of Radiation Oncology” and serves on the Editorial Board of numerous medical journals.

The Kaw Valley MoveOn Council is having a rally at noon Wednesday at Ninth and Massachusetts streets.

The council supports health care reform with a strong public option.

Members of the movement will have stamped, addressed post cards available for passersby who want to write their senators and representatives about the issue. The council will mail them.

“As the national debate reaches a crucial point, we want to make sure that our voices are heard in Washington,” said Jo Anderson, coordinator. “We hope to have a sizable crowd of supporters with signs and encouragement to entice those who haven’t yet contacted their elected officials in D.C. to take this time to do so.”

T.R. Reid, a health care critic and commentator for National Public Radio, will discuss why he thinks the nation’s health care system is failing.

He will give a presentation, “We’re Number 37! Why Other Countries Have Better, Fairer and Cheaper Health Care Than the USA,” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union.

For his presentation at Kansas University, Reid will draw from his 2008 PBS Frontline documentary “Sick Around the World” and his 2009 book “The Healing of America” to explore a variety of models that other countries use to provide health care.

The event is free and open to the public. It is part of the Hall Center for the Humanities lecture series.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced today that there have been two deaths in Kansas of people infected with the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus.

One death occurred in a 16-year-old from northeast Kansas. The teenager was hospitalized and had underlying health conditions. The death was reported to KDHE on Sept. 22.

Another death occurred in a 30-year-old from northeast Kansas. The adult was also hospitalized and had underlying health conditions. The death was reported to KDHE Wednesday afternoon.

Laboratory testing confirmed Wednesday evening that the individuals had the H1N1 virus.

Maggie Thompson, KDHE spokeswoman, said she couldn't provide more details about where the individuals resided. But, the northeast area includes 21 counties, including Douglas and its surrounding counties.

“While the majority of people experience mild illness, these deaths illustrate the risk that those with underlying health conditions have when infected with the H1N1 virus,” Dr. Eberhart-Phillips said in a news release. “It is so critical that people take seriously the potential dangers of this disease and recognize the importance of working towards preventing further spread and receiving the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it becomes available.”

This is the fourth death in Kansas of a person infected with H1N1.

Healthy living will be the topic of a community event Tuesday, Oct. 6.

There will be two keynote speakers. They are:

• Mark Fenton, who hosts the PBS series “America’s Walking” and helps communities launch public initiatives to encourage more walking and bicycling.

• Sara Snow, a TV host and author who travels the country presenting practical and effective ways for communities to promote healthy, sustainable eating.

The event will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H., and is open to anyone. The event is sponsored by the Kansas Health Foundation, LiveWell Lawrence and the Douglas County Community Foundation.

The first 100 attendees will each get $10 tokens to spend at the Downtown Lawrence Farmer’s Market.

For more information, call 843-8727.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is offering a family-based sexuality education program “Kids Need To Know.”

The classes, geared for fifth and sixth graders, meet for two hours once a week for five weeks. The courses begin with a parents-only night where curriculum and materials are discussed and questions are answered. Following parents’ night, the courses continue with weekly parent-child sessions for four weeks. One parent accompanies the child to each class.

Reproductive body parts and purposes, puberty, pregnancy, childbirth and sexually transmitted diseases are discussed. Decision-making skills are emphasized. Videos, games and other interactive activities help make the classes fun and interesting.

The class for boys will be Tuesdays, Oct. 6 through Nov. 3, and on Thursdays, Jan. 7 through Feb. 4. The girls’ class will meet Thursdays, Oct. 8-Nov. 5, and on Tuesdays, Jan. 5-Feb. 2.

All classes will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The cost is $50 per family.

Registrations must be received at least one week before the first class. The first deadline is Sept. 29.

For more information or to register, visit www.ldchealth.org or call 843-0721.