49 News wishes you a safe and happy Memorial Day
5:40 p.m. Sunday, May 27, 2007
Topeka — Memorial Day is a time to honor the men and women – past and present – who have held steadfast in their duty to protect and serve our country, as well as a time to truly enjoy the freedoms these veterans have secured for us. This Memorial Day, there are several ways that you and your family can relax and have fun, all the while honoring our heroes.
On Monday, in appreciation for their service, Penwell-Gabel will display a photographic Wall of Tribute to veterans Penwell-Gabel Cemetery & Mausoleum at Sixth and Gage.
Road Safety
With Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, the Kansas Department Transportation wants you to have a safe trip on the road. You can check road conditions from anywhere in Kansas just by dialing 511. If you're outside of Kansas the number to call is 1-866-511-KDOT. You can also log onto 511.ksdot.org.
“This is an inspiring way for anyone to honor their own special heroes. We encourage everyone to submit a photo of each friend or loved one who has served, or is now serving, our country. Then, come see all the photos on the Wall of Tribute this Memorial Day,” said Ren Newcomer, owner of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Homes, Crematories and Cemeteries.
The wall, filled with photos of troops, veterans and civil servants in uniform, will be the backdrop for Memorial Day ceremonies at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery & Mausoleum, which will include a Military Order Purple Heart Program at 11 am.
Throughout the weekend, visitors are invited to sign a message book. This book of well wishes will be sent to troops in Iraq as a reminder that citizens back home appreciate their dedication to serve our country.
The community is encouraged to submit a photo for the wall, by bringing it to Penwell-Gabel Cemetery & Mausoleum or email it to WallOfTribute@PenwellGabel.com. Photos will be accepted through Memorial Day. Photos will be color copied for display and the originals returned. Please call, 233-6605 for more information.
Another way to help veterans this Memorial Day is to help out with the "Priceless Tour." For the 10th year, Kansas City Christian School students are “Running Across Kansas” to support veterans, and donations from the run will benefit hospitalized veterans or veterans in dire need.
On May 28, runners will end their race, which began on Thursday, at the Veterans Memorial on the State Capitol Building's grounds. Local officials and dignitaries have been invited to greet the runner.
This run is held in conjunction with the Kansas Veterans of Foreign Wars Hospitalized Veterans programs.
Last year's Run Across Kansas provided more than $20,000 in donations to that organization.
If you want to contribute, but cannot help out during the race end, you can simply mail in a contribution to VFW Run Across Kansas in care of Kansas VFW State Headquarters, P.O. Box 1008, Topeka, KS 66601.
For more information, call 620-357-5518.
If you’re looking to take the family out for some fun at the lake, but don’t want to pump too much gas, consider the Bluegrass Barn Theater.
The Bluegrass Barn, near Perry Lake, is the newest site for family fun and entertainment at Apple Valley Farm. Before the Faris Family transformed the place into a venue to relax and take in acoustic and gospel music, the theatre-style barn entertained lake-goers with melodrama. And now the Faris’ hope to bring their love for the bluegrass genre back to Northeast Kansas.
"It's one of the few American styles of music, Bluegrass is," says Bob Faris.
Together, the Faris family has won numerous awards for their music, and these days they spend time performing at Bluegrass Festivals around the country. So when they're not on this stage performing, other musical talent will fill in at the Barn.
You can catch performances by the Faris Family and other Bluegrass groups from now until October. For more information about the Bluegrass Bar, visit www.bluegrassbarntheater.com.
Of course, with the hot weather already hitting Topeka, you might just be looking to cool off in one of the many pools across town. You can find a complete list of Topeka pools here. Remember to bring your sunscreen!
Whatever you do, just remember to stay safe.
For those out there getting ready to fire up your grills for Memorial Day, there are some things you should think about first. Outdoor cooking can be a recipe for illness. But there are some ways to avoid getting sick from the grill.
Experts recommend first cleaning your grill.
“Getting out there with your scraper and some good soap and water and making sure that grill surface is very clean before you're putting meat on and making sure that you don't cross contaminate with different kinds of meat,” says Dietician Page Love.
Page also urges chefs to keep raw meat cold until just before cooking.
She also recommends using a meat thermometer to make sure food is thoroughly cooked.
“The USDA actually recommends 160 degrees, so checking your meat to make sure it is cooked in the middle up to full temperature is good safety for killing organisms,” says Love.
And to reduce the risk of fire or explosion, grillers should perform a safety check on the grill, keep it at least 10 feet away from any buildings and make sure no dry foliage is nearby.
One final reminder, the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority will not provide any fixed route, lift or evening bus service on Monday, May 28, in observance of Memorial Day.
For further information, you can call Quincy Street Station at 783-7000.
49 News wishes you a safe and happy Memorial Day!
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)