Have you ever noticed how the planters at the intersections of Mass Street always look so nice? A team of volunteers descended upon Mass Street Saturday, May 10th, for a great purpose, the yearly cleaning and planting of flowers along Lawrence’s Massachusetts Street.
The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department provides the flowers and local residents and service groups come together to make the city a more beautiful place.
Downtown Lawrence Inc. Director Sally Zogry talks fast, moves fast and keeps up with approximately 150 members of the Downtown Lawrence Inc. (DLI) Association, facilitating a list of activities that would leave most people dizzy. Wrapping up her first year as the new Executive Director of DLI Zogry spoke to Central Rotary on May 14 about her job. “It’s the best job ever,” she said “and we’ve had a great year.”
Members of DLI include retail businesses, food and beverage establishments, entertainment venues and places which provide services to name a few. Zogry uses social media such as facebook and twitter, the DLI website, and good old-fashioned face to face personal contact to keep track of what’s going on and promote events and spread news.
She coordinates events and activities for visiting groups with the CVB and serves as a point of contact and a voice for city- county related matters. She works on downtown beautification and maintenance in collaboration with the city. She coordinates police, fire and medical services for downtown events and store security.
Fund raisers such as the Third Annual Girls’ Night Downtown which is a benefit for the Willow Domestic Violence Center are part of her job. Free events such as dinner and a movie in conjunction with the Lawrence library and the summer concert series with the Parks and Rec Commission are on her list as are the annual Downtown Sidewalk Sale, the Busker Fest and the holiday lighting ceremony where Santa Claus is rescued from the roof of Weaver’s Department Store.
Downtown Lawrence also helps recruit new businesses, most recently Ten Thousand Villages. “We’re working on a downtown grocery store now,” she said.
Zogny works with a seven-member board elected from DLI members . “They are a great help,” she said but many in her audience probably wondered if even seven of them can keep up with her.
For more information about Downtown Lawrence Inc check out their website at http://www.downtownlawrence.com
Diane Ensminger explained to the Lawrence Central Rotary Club that she created Allie’s Village Memory Care Homes, LLC, in honor of her mother Allie, a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. As CEO and owner of Allie’s Village, Diane is committed to providing comfort to the persons living with Alzheimer’s & dementia and their families. The facility promises customized care for those living with the disease. Diane declares, “You do not need to walk alone or be afraid, we are here to help you.”
Alzheimer’s and dementia are potential issues for many as the population ages. Statistics predict that one in eight people over age 65 will have Alzheimer’s disease. The Huffington Post blog gave a dire prediction on April 9, 2014:
Our country is in the middle of an Alzheimer’s crisis that has already been devastating to millions among the “greatest generation,” is well on its way toward doing the same directly to the “boomers,” and has already immersed their progeny in caregiving. Right now there are more than 5 million Americans who have this progressive, degenerative and fatal disease.
Allie’s Village opened just over a year ago in spring 2013. Its eight bedrooms and five day-care openings are full, and there are five people on the waiting list. The residence takes pride in its ratio of one caregiver for two every residents, ensuring that residents have an opportunity for constant interaction and activities that match their interests. The family-centered philosophy at Allie’s Village ensures its happy, loving environment and its partnership with the loved ones of its residents.
For the second year now the members of Lawrence Central have resolved to adopt the Willow Domestic Violence Center.
For those of you who may not be aware The Willow Domestic Violence Center works toward peace in the world by elimination of violence in our communities. They are dedicated to the empowerment of survivors of domestic violence; the creation of a peaceful, safe space; the promotion of equality and respect for all people; the appreciation of differences, and the social action necessary to achieve these goals.
The Willow fields upwards of 1600 crisis calls and referral calls per year, houses 250-300 women and children annually, runs adults and child support groups, and offers services and public education in the Kansas counties of Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson. For more information about Willow check out their website at http://www.willowdvcenter.org
So how is Lawrence Central helping? At our weekly meetings we will be collecting items (or gift cards/cash donations) that can be used by clients of Willow. In planning with them for this year their current needs are:
During the month of May we welcome you to drop of items any of our meetings on Wednesday’s at noon in the Eldridge’s All American Room and if you have time stay for lunch and learn about what Lawrence Central Rotary does for Lawrence and beyond!
We recently received a great note from the Southwest Middle School Future City team who we helped in part to attend the National Future City Competition in Washington, D.C. in February.
The team members who represented Libban-Eft at the National Future City Competition were: Eli Bork, Anna Bial, John Ely, David Gates, Hirsh Guha, Harrison Hughes, Quentin Harrington, Madelyn Johnson, Ben Katz, Jeseung Lee, Paul Loupe, Ulises Magana de la Paz, Jake Morris, Brian Myers, Anna Osterhaus, Ting Ting Shi, Isaac Springe, and Claire Walther. The educators who represented Southwest Middle School in D.C. were: Danielle Lotton-Barker and Ceridwen Coulter. Christopher Storm of Landplan Engineering served as the professional mentor to the students.
The note read: “Thank you SO MUCH for supporting our SWMS Future City team Libban-Eft in our fundraising efforts to go to tine National Future City Competition in Washington, D.C. in February! Tliese students did such an amazing job “on and off the court.” They represented Southwest, the Lawrence Public Schools, and the Great Plains Region with integrity and pizazz! You would have been so proud of the grace under pressure that they demonstrated when dealing with the fact that their model didn’t even arrive until 90 minutes before their presentation and they had to completely reconstruct it. They acted like true engineers, handling the challenges and problems as they came to them, and finding workable solutions!
In the end, our team was awarded 4th place in the nation against the 36 other regional winners and Most Accessible City by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. The team gave their presentation in front of hundreds of students, parents, and coaches and judges that included executives of major engineering firms and Joe Paica (the NPR Science correspondent). We couldn’t be more proud of them! Thank you for making this experience possible for all 18 students
— SWMS Enrichment Resource Staff — Dani Lotton-Barker, Ceri Coulter, Sandy Bush”
If you want to experience a bit of the excitement vicariously, check out this link to their music video encapsulating the trip for posterity! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th4LYsvy6_Y
Great Job SWMS Future City Team! Lawrence is proud of you!
