McPherson Hospital's sewing volunteers are big help

Active McPherson Hospital Volunteers can be seen in hospital lobbies and waiting areas, assisting patients and staff members on a daily basis. They help the hospital function in a variety of ways with many important tasks. They work in departments helping alleviate the work loads of staff members whose skills are needed on other tasks. They also run the gift shop which is a wonderful place to shop for unique gifts or just to see another smiling face. 

And there’s a group that’s not as visible in the hospital, but just as dedicated. They are the sewing group that meets on the second floor of the annex building each Monday, almost without fail. And while you might not see them individually, you can see examples of their work.

In the gift shop, you will see beautiful handmade items, from aprons and rice bags, to tea towels and pot holders. And there are casserole carriers, book bags, baby bibs and quilts, surgery caps and neck pillows, among other things.

And some of their work you will see other places. Like on identification patches sewn on EMS uniforms. Or in cars on seat belt covers to make them more comfortable. In the emergency department, there are snuggly teddy bears made for an unknown frightened child; a child who will need something soft to cuddle to help them get through a scary situation.

They’re not ones to brag, but these ladies make over 1,200 unique items each year. This group of eight or so dedicated ladies meets once a week in a small room full of fabric, sewing machines and of course, needles; the kind for sewing stitches that will make someone smile. They share stories about family and friends while they work on their endless list of projects. They are just as dedicated as the friendly volunteers you will see throughout the hospital, but they prefer to serve with their skilled hands, creating beautiful and practical items that fill an important role in their own ways. And while you don’t see them in person, you see the love they share through their creations.

Anyone interested in volunteering at McPherson Hospital is encouraged to contact Diana Holloway at 620-241-2251, extension 255.  

McPherson College Theatre celebrating 100 years

What does Velveeta have in common with McPherson College Theatre? They are both celebrating their 100thanniversary this year.

“I’m sure people are thinking – didn’t the theatre just have an anniversary last year?” Jd. Bowman, professor of theatre, said. “It is true that our season ticket program, First Nighters, celebrated a 40thanniversary last spring, but this is 100 years of theatre at McPherson College. Another milestone for our program.”

McPherson College produces five to six shows each year. This season’s theatre line-up includes shows written across the past century, and begins with the restaging of the first-ever play documented as a McPherson College production.

In 1918, the McPherson College Expressions Department decided to mount two short plays after studying them in class, according to a story in the McPherson College Spectator. The first was the morality play, “The Hourglass,” by W.B. Yeats. Students produced the work at the Monitor Church of the Brethren since the campus did not have a performance space at that time.

“It’s not just a way to show how much has changed in entertainment,” Bowman said. “It’s the opposite. Those students were performing a work that was only five years old. McPherson College has always had a history of performing new works. That hasn’t changed.”

The celebration doesn’t end with the 100thyear production of “The Hourglass.” The full season consists of shows of all types:

-“The Hourglass,” by W.B. Yeats, September 6, 7, 8

-“Lend Me a Tenor,” by Ken Ludwig, October 18, 19, 20

-“A Doll’s House, part 2” by Lucas Hnath, November 15, 16, 17

-“The Clean House,” by Sarah Ruhl, January 31, February 1, 2, 2019

-“Oliver!” music, book, and lyrics by Lionel Bart, March 8, 9, 2019.

“From what we know,” said Bowman, “McPherson College will be the first to present ‘A Doll’s House, Part 2’ in the state of Kansas.” The Lucas Hnath play won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2017.

Season ticket holders still enjoy a themed meal for every production. For more information on how to become a season ticket holder, contact the McPherson College Theatre Box Office at (620) 242-0444.

Traffic Stop Tuesday - School is Back in Session

School begins Thursday, August 16, 2018, for McPherson USD 418 and St. Joseph Catholic School. In preparation for this School Zone lights will begin flashing Tomorrow, August 15.

We would like to remind everyone to watch out for children in and around the crosswalks, school zones, and throughout the city. For the safety of our children, please observe the speed limit, drive safely, and yield to pedestrians. Our Officers strictly enforce traffic laws in school zones. Fines for traffic law violations within school zones are double the normal traffic fine.

Remember, not all school zones are marked with flashing lights. Some school zones are posted with a sign, indicating the school zone exists and the times the school zone is in effect. Please drive safely, and watch out for children making their way to and from school. We hope everyone has a great start to the school year!

School Zone Times in McPherson are:

Morning 7:15 am-8:30 am

Noon: 12:00 pm-1:00 pm (East Northview and West Ave. A)

Afternoon: 2:50 pm-3:30 pm

If you or someone you know, wants to join the McPherson Police Department to enforce this law or any of the laws we talk about on Traffic Stop Tuesday, please have them Apply at  www.HrePartners.com

Agencies partner to promote safety as kids head back to school

Back to school is a busy time for children and families. Between school supplies, new clothes, and sports tryouts, parents may not think about certain safety issues. Safe Kids Kansas, sponsored in part by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Kansas Highway Patrol want to remind parents to talk to their children about how to stay safe. 

As children head back to school, it’s a good time to talk about pedestrian safety. There are five teen pedestrian deaths every week in the United States, and thousands more are injured. It’s just as important to talk to your teenagers about pedestrian safety as it is your younger children. While there has been a downward trend in pedestrian deaths over the past 20 years nationally, there has been a 13 percent increase among teenagers since 2013. In fact, teens now account for about half of all pedestrian deaths among children 19 and under.

“Distraction is a problem for both drivers and pedestrians," said Cherie Sage, Safe Kids Kansas. "If your student is walking or biking to school, be sure to stress the importance of putting electronic devices away, especially before crossing busy streets or navigating traffic in parking lots. And, adults need to follow our own advice. Give the road your full attention so you can watch for school zones and kids biking and walking to school.”

Safe Kids Kansas recommends the following tips for back to school.

1.    Put devices down while crossing the street and getting onto or off the bus.  One in five high school students cross the street while distracted by technology. Teach your kids to put devices down, look up, listen, and make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. If your kids ride a bus, teach them only to use devices while on bus, and not while waiting on, or exiting the bus.  

2.    Walk with your kids to the bus stop and wait with them until it arrives. Tell kids to stand at least five giant steps back from the curb, to line up away from the street as the bus approaches, and to board the bus one at a time.

3.    Make sure your carpool is safe. Carpooling is a great way to save time for busy families. Make sure each child in the carpool has a car seat, booster seat, or safety belt, based on individual age, weight, and height. If there isn’t, find an alternative way for your child to get to and from school.

4.    Receive a pre-participation physical exam. Before playing organized sports, make sure your child receives a pre-participation physical exam, or PPE, by a doctor. This can help rule out any potential medical conditions that may place your young athlete at risk.  

5.    Drink enough water. To keep kids in top shape for sports or gym class, it’s important for them to stay hydrated. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends 5 oz. for an 88-pound child every 20 minutes, or 9 oz. for a 132-pound adolescent every 20 minutes when they are active. That equals about 10 gulps of water every 20 minutes of play.

6.    Check playgrounds where your children play. Look for age-appropriate equipment, as well as hazards, such as rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces. Report any hazards to the school.

7.    Whether walking or driving, obey all traffic signals. Kids should cross the street at the corner, or crosswalk if there is one, but it’s also important for drivers to watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school.

Back to school safety is not only critical for students and their families, but for all of those who travel on our roads. KDOT and KHP remind motorists they must be alert as they share the road with kids headed back to school. 

1.    Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic. 

2.    If you see a bus ahead, slow down in preparation for its stop. It's easy to misjudge the speed at which you can overtake a bus, and they make frequent stops.

3.    Know that it is illegal to pass a school bus stopped for loading/unloading. In Kansas, the fine for this potentially deadly violation is more than $400. 

4.    Learn the flashing signal light system that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions. Never pass a bus when flashing lights are displayed. 

·         Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop. ·         Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm indicate the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before starting to drive again.

5.    While stopped behind a bus, motorists should put all distractions away and give their full attention to the road, and what is going on in and around the bus. 

For more safety information, visit www.safekidskansas.org/ or call 785-296-1223.

Public Library to Host Closing Reception for Artist Jill Stromberg

The McPherson Public Library will host a closing reception for artist Jill Stromberg on Sunday, August 19, from 2:00 to 4:00. p.m.  Stromberg’s collection of landscapes titled Simple Beauty is currently on display in the library meeting room. 

Jill Stromberg began painting in 1983 after marrying and moving from California to Kansas.  After leaving the teaching profession, she traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, South Africa, and India.  She developed a love for photographing the people and places she visited and began using them for inspiration for her paintings. 

An award-winning artist, Stromberg’s impressionistic style softly interweaves light and color.  She loves to paint outdoors, especially in the Flint Hills, the southwest, and along the beach.  She currently lives in Sterling, KS. 

Stromberg states, “After many years of creating works of art, I have come to the conclusion that for me, painting is merely an expression of hopefulness.  I gravitate towards subjects of simple beauty which exhibit contrast between light and dark.  I strive to exaggerate the light and intensity of color, and the finished product is my attempt to convey the lightness of life and beauty of nature.” 

For additional information call the library at 245-2570 or email them at [email protected]