CURRENT NEWS

March Meetings:

March 15 - Karen Hiller, Topeka City Council, Representative for Downtown City Area
March 23  - Rev. Jim McCollough, Executive Director, Center of Peace and Justice
March 30 - Ryan Tabor -  Director of Resource Development - United Way of Greater Topeka and
                    Carolyn Haller - Assistant Director of Resource Development, United Way

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Stories/Jokes
From the Smith County Pioneer

Closed Curtains

Xxxx said to Yyy, "Close your curtains the next time you make out with your wife. The whole street was watching and laughing at you yesterday."

Yyy said, "Well, the joke's on them, because I wasn't even home yesterday."

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Optimist Program - March 2.

Mary Beth Marchiony, Head of Topeka Collegiate Preparatory School spoke to the Downtown Optimist Club on March 2. Ms. Marchiony became Head of School on July 1, 2011. In her short term of service, she has earned high praise from her professional colleagues as well as affection from students and families.

              Topeka Collegiate is an independent school that receives no state or federal funding with over 200 students enrolled. The main emphasis of the school is to create a love of learning though integrated instruction  and hands-on- opportunities though such programs as field trips, a visit to the Heifer International Farm in Arkansas (7th graders), a Sea Camp in southern Florida (8th graders), and community service opportunities though the Rescue Mission, Let's Help , the Topeka Zoo, and Nursing Homes. It costs a little over $9,000.00 a year for student tuition , but 40% of the students are on financial aid. After graduation from Middle school, most student attend a Topeka Public school. Although only 2 % of Collegiate graduates make up the population of Topeka High Schools, 25% of the National Merit Scholarships go to Collegiate graduates. Most  graduates of Topeka  Collegiate go on to become leaders in student government, sports activities, drama and music programs. Some out- of -town families who move to Topeka say that a quality school like Topeka Collegiate helped them make their decision to move to Topeka. Topeka Collegiate is one of the education " jewels"  in  our community.

Bill Gannaway

 Optimist Program          March 10, 2012                  

 

TOPEKA ZOO: Brandan Wiley, Zoo Director and xxx, Director on Communications presented an interesting power point program about what is going on at the zoo these days. He spent time discussing the future of the elephants at the zoo and the upcoming display involving penguins. The two elephants at the zoo are getting up in years, but are in excellent health. One is an Indian elephant and the other is an African elephant. Elephants are endangered, partially because of the relative short time a female can produce and because of the long gestation period. One of the elephants passes her time by playing with her giant size soccer ball, which also provides good exercise. He also pointed out the the accreditation process for a zoo is much greater than a sanctuary, the place where some outside persons think the elephants should be sent.

There was some nervousness and fidgeting going on near the front of the room because of the sack laying on the floor was occasionally moving. Near the end of the program, Brandan reached into the sack and pulled out a rather large African Python. (Some kind of snake anyway). Several persons were brave enough to touch it of hold it but other kept their distance. It can be reported that there were no casualties.

Brandan drew one of many of Bill Kastens' numbers of the half and half drawing.