RESTAURANT HONORED — Alan Gaylin, owner and CEO of Bread & Butter Concepts restaurant group, was honored July 4 at Prairie Village “VillageFest,” with the Community Spirit Award in the Business Community Service category.
VillageFest Community Spirit Awards have been presented to citizens, business leaders, businesses, students and organizations that help to improve the high quality of life experienced in Prairie Village since 2003. Gaylin’s contributions include sponsorship of city events, charitable donations to local schools and groups, and creating locally owned businesses that support the city of Prairie Village economically.
Gaylin was surprised and honored to receive the award. He said, “I really enjoy working with the City of Prairie Village. Urban Table and BRGR Kitchen + Bar-Prairie Village, are supported by the residents of this city, and it’s a privilege to be able to give back to the community whenever possible.”
In addition to the restaurants mentioned, Gaylin owns Gram & Dun, in Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza, the Taco Republic Truck, based in Kansas City, Kan., and is opening two new restaurants this summer: BRGR Kitchen & Bar in downtown KC’s Power & Light District, opening this week at 14th and Main; and Taco Republic, located at Mission & County Line Roads, and slated to open in late August.
THE ‘MOVIE GUY’ RECOMMENDS — Keith Cohen “The Movie Guy” recently saw two films he recommends. “Fill the Void” was Israel’s selection for best foreign language film at last year’s Oscars. He gives it 3 1/2 stars. It is about a teenage girl who must decide whether to marry her widowed brother-in-law. Her older sister died giving birth. Her brother-in-law is considering leaving Israel to marry a widow in Belgium. The young girl’s mother wants her daughter to make the ultimate sacrifice so that her grandson will stay put in Israel.
“The Attack” is about an Arab doctor living in Israel who is shocked to learn that his wife has been killed by a suicide bomber. When the facts reveal that his wife IS the suicide bomber, he just can’t believe it. He travels to a Palestinian city to find answers. The movie points out that you can’t really know another individual. He gives this movie, that has been banned in several Arab countries, 3 stars.
“Fill the Void” is opening Friday, July 12, at the Glenwood Red Bridge, Tivoli and AMC Town Center 20. “The Attack” continues its run at Glenwood Arts and Tivoli.
BLOOD DONORS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY — The American Red Cross has issued an emergency request for blood donors of all blood types to roll up a sleeve and give because fewer donations than expected were received in June and the first week of July.
Nationwide, donations through the Red Cross were down approximately 10 percent in June, resulting in about 50,000 fewer donations than expected. The shortfall is similar to what the Red Cross experienced in June 2012.
Congregation Beth Torah regularly schedules blood drives for another organization, The Community Blood Center, and members of Congregations BIAV and B’nai Jehudah make donations at these quarterly blood drives as well. If you don’t have time to make a donation in July, consider setting an appointment to attend Beth Torah’s next blood drive from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12. Schedule online today at www.esavealifenow.org (click on “find a drive” and sponsor code “bethtorah”), or call the Beth Torah office at 913-498-2212.
June can be among the most challenging months of the year for blood donations as regular donors delay giving while they adjust to summer schedules. High school and college blood drives account for as much as 20 percent of Red Cross donations during the school year. Donations from those who usually give at these drives drop by more than 80 percent when school is out for the summer. In addition, a mid-week Independence Day holiday reduced the number of blood drives scheduled in early July. Many sponsors, especially businesses, were unable to host drives because employees took extended vacations.
The Red Cross urgently needs donations to ensure an adequate blood supply is available for patients all summer long. Each day, the Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Region needs approximately 800 blood donations to keep up with hospital demand. Eligible donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially encouraged to give. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to anyone who needs blood. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients.
