Voting in Lenexa’s Rain Barrel Parade ended Aug. 15 and the results are in: “Water: Nature’s Bounty,” the barrel designed and painted by Deloris Craig of the Lenexa Field and Garden Club received the most votes, winning the People’s Choice Award.

Participants cast nearly 2,100 votes from mid-June to mid-August for the 12 rain barrels, which were painted by local artists and placed on display at city-owned and partner sites across Lenexa. Voting was open to the public at the sites and online.

“Water: Nature’s Bounty” received 21 percent of the total vote. This is the second year in a row that the Lenexa Field and Garden Club has won the People’s Choice Award. The barrel will be given away at Waterfest, the city’s annual water festival, which is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park.

 Merriam, Kan. (March 28, 2011) _ A “Charity Friday” shopping event April 22 at Suburban Lawn & Garden, 105th and Roe, Overland Park, will benefit Johnson County Christmas Bureau.

From 5-8 p.m., select your spring plantings and other landscaping items while enjoying live music, light hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Suburban will donate 10 percent of all purchases during that period to the Christmas Bureau, which provides food, clothing and gifts for more than 12,000 low-income county residents at its annual Holiday Shop. The Bureau is a non-denominational, 501©(3) United Way agency that has been providing holiday assistance since 1960.

Clients, who live in every ZIP code in the county, are referred by other social service agencies and must meet specific income guidelines. This year’s shop will be open to clients by appointment from Dec. 2-10 at a yet-to-be determined location.