I am truly humbled and honored to have the opportunity to be a part of Meadowlark Hills.
Supporting Communication: Tips for Communicating with Adults Facing Speech Challenges
May 16, 2025
Blog
Sitting at my desk on my new and neat glassed-in porch, I’ve watched numerous bird species—robins, cardinals, wrens, bluebirds, orioles, brown thrashers, house finches, chickadees, doves, American goldfinches, blue jays, hummers, northern flickers, and crows flying, and turkey vultures soaring overhead, all going about their business of surviving this day.
Despite a light (and welcome!) rain shower during the recent Speedy Pd Race for Parkinson's Disease, nothing could wash away event organizers' excitement about the record number of registered participants for the 15th annual event, which occurred Saturday, Aug. 26, at Tuttle Creek State Park. Race directors Kimmie Koharchik, Doug Sellers, and Michelle Geering, along with event coordinator Michelle Haub knew that surpassing last year's number of runners and walkers was a real possibility in 2023.
A recent article in Nature’s Voice, the newsletter of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), reminded me of the scientist and author, Rachel Carson, and her courageous landmark 1962 book entitled Silent Spring.
The 15th Annual Speedy Pd Race for Parkinson’s disease, presented by Community First National Bank, begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Tuttle Creek State Park. The common gift for a 15th anniversary is crystal, which represents the purity and fragile nature of love and relationships. Even after 15 years, our event still requires our love, attention, and nurturing to continue its success to provide funds to support Parkinson's disease (Pd) programming.
The sun shines, distant stars twinkle, and the moon glows. And the first astronauts, looking back at their home as they orbited our moon, were hushed as they stared at the celestial body from which they had so recently been pushed. Our beautiful shining blue Earth, seen from space, and although held in orbit by the mysterious power of gravity, seemed alone and lost in the dark void. The bright sphere displayed both a great beauty and a profound sense of fragility. The astronauts were dumb-struck and astonished by this shining orb wrapped in a sheath of blue oceans.
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s for Manhattan, Kan., will be at Manhattan City Park on Saturday, Sept. 30.
Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. This inspiriting event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease.
Presenting sponsor Central National Bank and Meadowlark Memory Program collaborated again this year with Rockin K’s for a day of amazing food, drink, conversation, and music. Rockin K’s will donate 10% of the day’s sales to support the program. On Friday, June 9, people from the community learned about dementia and how the Meadowlark Memory Program supports those diagnosed and their care partners (including spouses, children, siblings, and friends).
I often hear someone say “What can I do?” when the topic swings around to the climate crisis we are facing. Some who utter these words are deadly serious in their intent. Others, not yet fully onboard to battle what we are facing, probably will fall back to the rationalization often used come election time: “What good will one little vote do?” and “Why bother?” We must remember that each of the tens of millions of votes counted in the last election began with a single lone effort—and democracy was better for it.
After an absence in 2022, Art Mingle, the primary fundraiser for Meadowlark Memory Program, returned to Meadowlark Foundation’s opportunities calendar this spring. Prairie Star Restaurant and Event Venue was lively with the sounds of music, conversation, and laughter during a 5th event on April 28.
Art Mingle: Wonder & Whimsy attracted about 140 guests and volunteers, several of whom had not seen the event venue and/or had not been to a prior Art Mingle.
Hip! Hip! HOORAY!! The 11th annual Grow Green Match Day, hosted April 21 by Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, was Meadowlark Foundation’s best ever in terms of the number of contributions received. According to the Leaderboard at growgreenmanhattan.com, 88 friends of Meadowlark contributed a whopping $51,667 to benefit our Nursing Scholarship Program.