Quick takes – August 26th

Helpful project

Columbus North senior Cassie Sprague organized a benefit concert Aug. 19 at Columbus East High School’s auditorium to support Just Friends Adult Day Services in Columbus.

The event was part of her senior project. About 100 people attended, she said, and more than $1,000 was raised.

Sprague and all those who participated, either by attending or volunteering, helped a worthy organization that assists elderly and disabled adults. They deserve a pat on the back for their contributions.

Support appreciated

Parents of high school sports booster clubs do a lot to support the athletes and their teams — be it volleyball, basketball, cross country or football, to name a few.

Their contributions range from organizing dinners to assisting with fundraisers and providing encouragement for the student athletes. Parents’ behind-the-scenes work takes care of things that coaches don’t have time to focus on.

The parents’ efforts certainly are appreciated and make the athletics experience better for all involved.

Enduring legacy

Architect Gunnar Birkerts, renowned internationally for his Modernist designs, died Aug. 15 at age 92. However, his legacy lives on, even in Columbus.

He’s famously known for designing the Federal Reserve bank in Minneapolis, the University of Michigan Law Library and the IBM headquarters in Sterling Forest, New York. However, he also designed St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and Columbus Signature Academy-Lincoln Campus, located right across the street from each other in Columbus.

Lincoln, completed in 1967 and known then as Lincoln Elementary, was the first school building in the United States to provide handicapped access to both levels of the school buildings via ramps and an elevator.

The church, built 21 years later, is known architecturally for its symmetrical — but balanced — interior, 186-foot cooper-clad spire and the use of natural light.

Columbus is fortunate that Birkerts’ legacy endures here and will be celebrated during a Sept. 21 50th Anniversary Celebration for Lincoln.