This last saturday 6/25/2011 the Beverly Bernardi Conservatory of Dance located at 5938 SW 17th St. (just off of 17th & Wanamaker) here in Topeka held a fundraiser for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The event was held from 12-3 and over $500 was raised from passers by that generously gave to the cause. The money will go towards the Reading, KS and Joplin, MO. Am. Red Cross Disaster efforts.
It was a lot of fun watching the work that the kids and adults did to raise funds. Some of the participants dressed up in their performance costumes while others opted to use some of Ms. Bernardi’s extensive selection of storybook character outfits. One of the things that really helped raise money was the generosity of Cici’s Pizza here in Topeka that donated 50 free meals. Donors that donated a minimum of $5 to the Red Cross received a free Cici’s Pizza Buffet coupon for as long as the coupons lasted. Everyone that donated anything recieved a cookie or muffin courtesy of Perkins. (Pretty good deal, huh?)
The encouraging thing about the whole event was that by a few people donating a couple of hours of their Saturday afternoon to raise some money and the gracious generosity of the citizens of Topeka it showed what can be accomplished to help people that have experienced a tragic event in their lives. I hope that other groups get the same idea and they too can see what can be done.
If you are wanting to have a fund raiser for the American Red Cross call the Topeka chapter at 785-354-9239. They will arrange for Red Cross volunteers to come and give support, supply the collection buckets and hang up a sign.
The presents are wrapped, Wanamaker is quiet, most of the stores are now closed, even Walmart! The hectic pace of the secular world of the hoped for Christmas buying frenzy is now done. As I sit here writing this at 2:20 AM Christmas morning there is time to reflect a bit and drink a warm cup of hot green tea.
I’ve attended Grace Cathedral located at 801 SW Polk here in Topeka to some degree all of my life. I say to some degree because there were years that it would be a big stretch to say I was regular in attendance. But even in the lean years I was a Christmas/Easter Episcopalian. Sitting there tonight listening to the carols and the words from the bible I had a bit of time to reflect on Christmas’ past. It is always a beautiful service but it is a great gift to be able to be comfortable with the service to the degree of being able to sit and reflect and to appreciate the beauty of it all but also comfortable enough to daydream a bit.
I remembered:
The years I was a acolyte and participated in the service.
The people that were also always there every year but are now gone like Joe Thompson, Dorothy Burgess and other people that I lost track of.
Years I felt as an outsider sitting on the periphery and years that I wanted to be in the very middle of it all.
When I was a child and Midnight was very very late but I knew it was close to morning which meant presents!
There have been years I was bored and years I soaked in every minute
Family that are with me and those that aren’t able to be there
The year my father passed on 12/23
Times in my life when my faith was strong and times it has been weak
Christmas’ that have been at stressful times and those that have been relatively carefree
The smell of incense and Silent Night being played with the lights dimmed
Snow falling some years when church let out
Getting coffee at the Truck Stop (Ihop) with friends and family after the service
Years where we get up and go also to Christmas morning services
The old church before the fire.
Years that I document the service with photographs and years that I just show up and soak it all in
Being thankful that I have a church home where I know most everyone and they know me. It’s a very warm feeling
Merry Christmas to all may all your memories be treasured!
Seems like each time we’ve been to Sam’s Club this Christmas season we’ve run into Eddie Boyd ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. The first thing that my wife and I do when we pull into the Sam’s parking lot, other that watching out for other cars, is to see if Eddie is “working” that day. Eddie has helped make this Christmas season fun! I have to admit that I usually pass up the Salvation Army bell ringers but not Eddie! It’s not that Eddie is pushing or demanding; quite the contrary! Eddie looks each person in the eye and with the warmth of being the first person he has seen today wishes each person entering or leaving Sam’s Club a Merry Christmas!
I have watched Eddie working and it is not uncommon for someone to walk away to only see that person reaching deep down into their pocket just to walk back and put money in Eddie’s kettle. Putting money in Eddies kettle isn’t always easy though, sometimes you really have to stuff it in because it is full!
You can read more about Eddie and his Christmas mission for the Salvation Army by clicking here and here. Eddie is currently looking for a call as a Baptist Minister. It says on Eddie’s Facebook page that he studied at American Baptist University. Some congregation needs to take a strong look at this man as their preacher!
Kevin and Kari Aker’s and their son Robert operate and own Aker’s Diamond Galleria located at 1570 SW Wanamaker #130 (Just north of Best Buy). The Aker family have been in several locations over the years. They used to be White Lakes Jewelers (where I met them). Then they moved to North Topeka just off of North Topeka Blvd. (that was a very cute homey jewelery store!). For the last 4 or 5 years they have been located on Wanamaker.
One day, years ago, I was looking for some diamond earrings for my wife and had been into about 6 or 7 jewelry stores both here in Topeka and also in Lawrence and boy was I confused! Kevin wasn’t too busy that day, I guess I made the mistake of saying some disparaging remark referencing jewelers about trying to figure out how I was getting a fair deal buying the earrings I was looking for. Well for the next hour or so Kevin sat me down and using his diamond microscope taught me how to judge the quality of diamonds that I was thinking of buying. Once you understand about cut, color, size and clarity of a diamond it is pretty easy to make a informed jewelery buying decision.
If you want to talk about custom designed jewelery or the current market in metals or precious gems Kevin is the guy to talk to! He has a machine that after he designs your ring etc., then makes a plastic 3D mold of the design. The mold is then sent out for casting. Kevin’s passion is designing jewelry! Kari on the other hand, is Kevin’s wife and when it actually comes time to get the love of your life a great gift Kari is the person to talk to! Kari has jewelery tucked away in that store for every budget. Guys if you need some help this Christmas season you need to see Kari! She may be just about the sweetest jewelery sales person in town. You will feel really great about whatever you decide on.
