A TIP OF OUR HAT — Loyal reader Marna Dolginoff called Monday in reference to the story about Village Shalom weathering the Water District #1 boil order July 1. A resident of The Villas, the maintenance-free homes located on the Village Shalom campus, she wanted us to know that Concierge Chris Burgos went above and beyond the call of duty delivering water to those homeowners as well. On behalf of those residents, thanks Chris!

TRAGIC ANNIVERSARY — Sunday, July 17, was the 30th anniversary of the Hyatt skywalk collapse. During a tea dance, 114 people were killed and countless others injured when the walkway at the Hyatt Regency Hotel collapsed. It remains the deadliest structural collapse in U.S. history other than the terrorists’ acts in New York City and Oklahoma City.

Three members of the Jewish community died in the collapse — Stephen Hershman, Robert Jonas and Paul William “Pete” Winett. Sol Koenigsberg and his wife, Rosette, were among those injured the night of the accident.

Koenigsberg, a former executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, is the adviser for the Skywalk Memorial Foundation committee. He said he is certain that a memorial will be built.

“It will take a bit of time because the fundraising pace has to be picked up. We will be persistent,” he said. So far approximately $370,000 has been raised toward the $800,000 needed to build the memorial at Hospital Hill Park near Children’s Mercy Hospital. Koenigsberg said it could take a number of months before the fundraising goal is achieved.

The Skywalk Memorial Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit corporation committed to honoring and remembering the 114 people who lost their lives and those who were injured by the tragic events. Through the planning, design and construction of a permanent memorial, the Foundation also seeks to recognize and honor the emergency/medical personnel, firefighters, police officers, public servants and others who so bravely responded to this unprecedented disaster.

The memorial will feature a sculpture designed by Kansas Citian Rita Blitt. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.skywalkmemorial.org.

VOTE FOR THE DEAD SEA — The Israeli Ministry of Tourism is urging everyone to vote for the Dead Sea in the New 7 Wonders of Nature Competition. Voting will continue through Nov. 11. The New 7 Wonders of Nature Competition gives travelers, nature-lovers and all others from around the world an opportunity to name seven new wonders of the natural world from among 28 candidates, including the Dead Sea. If you don’t already know how amazing the Dead Sea is, or if you want to just re-experience it virtually, check out a new Dead Sea video from the Israel Ministry of Tourism at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xTB7bmmxCA&feature=youtube_gdata_player. Supporters of the Dead Sea can vote through social media sites at www.facebook.com/VoteDeadSea or www.twitter.com/VoteDeadSea; or through the official campaign site, www.votedeadsea.com. In the words of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu: “Vote for the Dead Sea. It is very much alive.” You can also learn more about the other 27 candidates at www.new7wonders.com.

APPEARING AT STARLIGHT — Once again Grant Karpin is appearing at Starlight, this time in “Cinderella,” which will run July 25 through July 31. He is a member of the Blue Star All Star Chorus. The 13-year-old played the role of Louis Leonowens in “The King and I” earlier this summer. For ticket information, visit www.kcstarlight.com.

Correction

The Business & Professionals event with Tom and Henry Bloch on Thursday, July 28, begins at 6:30 p.m., not 6 p.m. as stated in last week’s paper.