OVERLAND PARK HONORS ALAN BRAM — Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass and Public Safety Committee Chairperson Dave Janson presented an award to retiring Jewish Community Campus Executive Director Alan Bram at the public safety meeting on Oct. 9. Bram has served as Campus executive director since before the Campus opened 25 years ago. In his remarks, Chief Douglass very eloquently praised Bram for his many years of dedicated service and his commitment to the safety and security of everyone who worked at, or were guests at, the Campus. The police chief also pointed out that he and Bram worked together to bring security cameras to the Campus, which is a huge safety tool for the Police Department if ever needs arise for police to react to an incident.
KC NATIVE TO WRITE MARTINEZ BIO — A couple of weeks ago we learned that Michael Silverman, a native of Prairie Village, has been tapped to write a book about pitching great Pedro Martinez. The book about the three-time Cy Young Award winner will be published next year by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This will be Silverman’s first book. He’s been writing for the Boston Herald and covering the Boston Red Sox for more than 10 years. He is the son of Eileen Silverman and Stanley Silverman.
JEWISH STUDENT ARTIST TO BE FEATURED AT FIRST FRIDAY EVENT — Shane Lutzk, a senior at the Kansas City Art Institute studying in the Ceramic Arts program, will be featured in a group showing on Nov. 1 at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, 2012 Baltimore Ave., Kansas City, Mo., for the Crossroad District’s First Fridays celebration of artwork in our community. Three of Lutzk’s “Blossoming Flower” concepts will be featured at the exhibit during the entire month of November. These three pieces are hand built and the surface was derived from an Oil Raku firing process. This unique, yet complex firing process produced distinctive surface elements with an assortment of colors, including a range with sharp hues of turquoise and silver. Lutzk says he enjoys integrating techniques and experiences with architectural study to develop projects in historic, contemporary, urban and nature as the root of his inspiration. The Nov. 1 event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m.
GRANDMOTHERS AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE FORMS HERE — Several members of the Jewish community have joined a new group called Missouri Kansas Grandmothers Against Gun Violence. Led by Judy Sherry and Susan Blaney, it is the first chapter of the national group: Cape Cod Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, which began as a result of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Other chapters are planned for Chicago, Tucson and Dayton, Ohio. The local chapter’s goals will be much the same as the national ones, and are outlined on the web sitewww.moksgag.org.
Grandmothers Against Gun Violence (GAG) is not against guns per se but is against gun violence, and in favor of reducing it. Specifically the group will advocate for universal background checks in the purchase of firearms, and registering guns taken across state lines. As a 501(c)(3) organization, GAG cannot support particular candidates for office or particular political parties. It does support legislation that it believes will reduce gun violence. GAG also plans to reach out to other like-minded groups and coordinate activities with them.
Though you wouldn’t know it from the name, the group is open to grandfathers and people who are not yet grandparents, but are concerned about the effects of our current gun-toting society.
The group meets monthly — the next meeting is slated for Nov. 4 — and will feature speakers from a wide variety of the community, from the faith leaders, to mental health experts and legislators. Interested people can request information at , or check its website, www.moksgag.org, currently being built.
