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During the month of June the Kentucky Artisan Center will present “The Sands of Time” a 10 ton sand sculpture by Damon Farmer; a reading by Kentucky’s new Poet Laureate Frederick Smock, demonstrating artists creating handmade artist books, and authors Crystal Wilkinson and Terry Foody signing copies of their books.
The month begins with a demonstration on June 3, by Whitney Withington who joins recycled wood, decorative handmade papers, waxed linen threads and hand-torn archival pages with Coptic stitch binding. Her journals give creative space for people’s drawings and stories.
The Kentucky Artisan Center celebrates Kentucky’s 225th Anniversary with the creation of an original sand sculpture by internationally known sand sculptor Damon Farmer, bringing Kentucky history to life in sand.
Beginning on Saturday, June 3 and continuing on June 4, June 5 and June 6, Farmer will sculpt a huge pile of compacted sand into intricate imagery. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 4, 5, and 6, visitors are invited to watch Farmer carve and shape sand using only the simplest of tools. Carving from top to bottom, he will carefully sculpt the wet sand to illustrate moments in Kentucky’s history. Come watch!
On Friday, June 9, the Kentucky Artisan Center will celebrate the completion of a historic sand sculpture by Damon Farmer, with an open to the public event beginning at 10:30 a.m. The artist will be present along with guest speakers including Tourism, Arts and Heritage Deputy Secretary Regina Stivers, Travel and Tourism Commissioner Kristen Branscum and newly designated poet laureate Frederick Smock, of Louisville, reading selected poems. The celebration will continue all day long as visitors can enjoy free birthday cake, a candy tasting by Ruth Hunt Candy and cheeseburgers for $2.25 all day.
Then on Saturday, June 10, artist Linda Kuhlmann, of Berea, will demonstrate how she creates her one-of-a-kind books from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Kuhlmann began making journals in response to the way the process of writing is changing in society. With acronyms and emoticons are being used instead of words, Kuhlmann hopes that the handmade journals she makes will speak to the more personal and artistic side of writing.
Also on June 10, the Center will offer free guided gallery tours of the exhibit “225: Artists Celebrate Kentucky’s History” at both 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m.
On June 17, three members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers will demonstrate a variety of woodcarving styles and techniques from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Then on Saturday, June 24, to help celebrate books, well-known author Crystal Wilkinson and newly published author Terry Foody will be signing copies of their books from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center.
Wilkinson recently won the Ernest J. Gains Award for Literary Excellence and her book “The Birds of Opulence” was named the winner of the 2016 Weatherford Award for Fiction and the 2017 Judy Gaines Young Book Award..
Author Terry Foody has worked in community health in New York State and Kentucky, taught nursing at
Kentucky State University, and coordinated research projects at the University of Kentucky. She has lectured about cholera for the Kentucky Humanities Council and written the book, “The Pie Seller, The Drunk, and the Lady: Heroes of the 1833 Cholera Epidemic in Lexington Kentucky.”
Both Authors will be available to talk about their writing and sign copies of their books from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day at the Center.
The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is located at 200 Artisan Way, just off Interstate 75 at Berea Exit 77. The center’s exhibits, shopping and travel information areas are open daily, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the cafe is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information about center events call 859-985-5448, go to the center’s website, or visit the center’s Facebook page.
Twenty-six of Kentucky’s environmental educators were recognized as Certified Professional Environmental Educators at a ceremony at the state capitol in Frankfort yesterday. Brad Montell, deputy secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, delivered the keynote address.
The Certified Professional Environmental Educators completed the state’s rigorous Professional Environmental Educator Certification (PEEC) course that was conducted from November 2016 – May 2017. The course is offered by the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
The PEEC course, now with 213 graduates since the program was launched in 2004, is based on national guidelines designed to professionalize the field of environmental education by standardizing best practices. It was accredited by the North American Association for Environmental Education in 2015.
“I was a relative newcomer to environmental education when I joined the 2007-2008 PEEC course, and the networking opportunities provided to me were immeasurably beneficial,” said Billy Bennett, now the executive director of the KEEC.
“In addition to numerous resources and contacts, I gained a much better understanding of environmental education’s role as it pertains to both formal and non-formal settings, especially presenting complex environmental issues without advocating for a particular viewpoint.”
The following 26 people were recognized as Certified Professional Environmental Educators:
- Carmen Agouridis, Fayette County
- Dale Booth, Franklin County
- Susan Brown, Harlan County
- Ashley Bryant Cheney, Fayette County
- Jo Ann Corum, Clay County
- Michael Downs, Fayette County
- Joseph Franzen, Jefferson County
- Jackie Gallimore, Fayette County
- Jeanine Huss, Warren County
- Tim Joice, Jefferson County
- Jessica Kane, Jefferson County
- Rebecca Konopka, Carter County
- Megan McCarty, Fayette County
- Katherine Morrison, Fayette County
- Angie Muncy, Leslie County
- Moria Painter, Russell County
- Steven Rogers, Fayette County
- Trinity Shepherd, Floyd County
- April Simmons, Fayette County
- Jen Smith, Morgan County, Indiana
- Traci Tackett, Pike County
- Jamie Thorn, Russell County
- Jane Vanhook, Lincoln County
- Heather Warman, Fayette County
- Nic Williamson, Fayette County
Rachelle Wood, Jefferson County
Certified Professional Environmental Educators are required to complete annual continuing education to renew their certification. Those who renewed for at least six years receive the Master Environmental Educator designation.
Master Environmental Educator Jenny Howard Owen, who has participated in and taught the course, said, “In the academic context, environmental education (EE) is a fantastic approach for helping teachers and students connect classroom topics and lessons to real life. Outside the classroom, EE offers us tools for understanding how our daily lives and communities are directly affected by and connected to the natural environment.”
For more information about the PEEC course, visit keec.ky.gov or contact Wesley Bullock at wesley.bullock@ky.gov or 502-564-5937.
As school wraps up for the summer, Mayor Greg Fischer is reminding parents and caregivers that there are plenty of learning opportunities for Louisville students of all ages over the next three months.
During a news conference at the Newburg Library, the Mayor and others outlined a number of programs designed to keep kids engaged and prevent summer learning loss, including the Louisville Free Public Library’s Summer Reading program, and the 2017 Cultural Pass — presented by Churchill Downs in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, the library, the Arts and Culture Alliance and the Fund for the Arts.
“As parents, we all know that a week or so after classes end, the kids complain, ‘I’m bored!’ Well, there is no reason for any young person in Louisville to be bored this summer,” the Mayor said. “Thanks to partners like Churchill Downs, there is a long list of activities and learning opportunities to keep kids engaged.”
And in celebration of both the Library’s Summer Reading Program and the Cultural Pass, the Mayor announced, the Main Library will host the Super Summer Reading Kickoff and Cultural Pass Showcase on Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will offer a plethora of activities, performances, and crafts featuring more than two dozen members of the Arts and Culture Alliance. Participating groups will include the Louisville Zoo, Kentucky Science Center, Frazier History Museum, Kentucky Shakespeare, and more. For more information, please visit LFPL.org/Kids or call (502) 574-1620.
The Cultural Pass supports and encourages lifelong learning by providing free access to 38 of Greater Louisville’s arts and cultural institutions for children and young adults to age 21. The Pass is valid from June 3 to Aug. 12 for one-time general admission at each of the participating institutions.
“The Cultural Pass is an incredible asset for our city,” said Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen. “Churchill Downs is proud to sponsor such an important endeavor that enriches our great city.”
“The Cultural Pass turns our world-class arts and cultural institutions into summer classrooms for our community’s children and families,” said Christen Boone, Fund for the Arts President and CEO. “Churchill Downs’ support has been remarkable as we work together to reduce barriers to the arts for every child, parent and citizen of our community.”
The 2017 Cultural Pass and Summer Reading materials are available now at any Louisville Free Public Library branch and any Metro Louisville Community Center.
Pass holders can register and track the progress of their Cultural Pass online at www.lfpl.org/culturalpass and are encouraged to visit as many venues as they are able during the summer. Children with 5 or more documented visits receive a Cultural Pass giveaway prize and will be entered into a drawing to win additional prizes, including a free stay at 21C Museum Hotel, tickets to area performances like The Christmas Carol at Actors Theatre or Louisville Ballet’s Nutcracker, family memberships to Bernheim Forest, the Frazier History Museum, Gheens Science Hall and Planetarium, and more.
“The Arts and Culture Alliance is delighted to once again participate in this program, providing access to our arts and cultural organizations for thousands of youth in our area,” said Kim Baker, President and CEO of the Kentucky Center, and Chair of the ACA Executive Committee. “Our participating members look forward to providing memorable experiences this summer as we work together to make our community a vibrant place to live, learn, work and play. We’re grateful to Churchill Downs, Fund for the Arts and Louisville Metro for this unique opportunity.”
To learn more about the Cultural Pass, please visit www.fundforthearts.org/2017culturalpass.
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Major improvements to A.B. Sawyer Park, including the installation of a new playground, picnic shelter and a newly configured parking area, will begin this week. The work, which will significantly improve the park, especially the areas used by Lyndon Recreation will last through late summer.
The project, which is expected to begin Tuesday, May 30, is the first of several phases of work recommended by Metro Parks and Recreation through its master plan for A.B. Sawyer Park completed in 2012. The A. B. Sawyer Greenway, another project proposed by the park master plan, is currently in design.
The project was also advocated and funded by Metro Council members Marilyn Parker (District 18), Angela Leet (District 7) and Glen Stuckel (District 17). Since 2014, the Metro Council has allocated $1.3 million towards this project, with additional funding for other adjacent projects planned in the coming months. Council members Parker, Leet and Stuckel have been tremendous supporters of Lyndon Recreation and making these needed improvements to A.B. Sawyer Park.
“A.B. Sawyer Park serves so many of our families throughout the year. The park is adjacent to the NE YMCA, the future site of our newest Regional Library and an ideal location for persons wishing to get a little exercise during a lunch break. The planning for this project has included all users of the park and will transform this into a much more safe and user friendly jewel for the community.” – Metro Councilwoman Marilyn Parker.
The project is overseen by the Metro Parks Planning, Design and Construction Division with Element Design collaborating as the Landscape Architectural consultant.
Work occurring within the Lyndon Recreation use area includes the construction of a new playground, picnic shelter, pedestrian entry and walkway, walking path to the Northeast YMCA and a newly configured parking lot. The park entry drive from Whipps Mill Road will also be relocated.
“It’s exciting to see the work at A.B. Sawyer commence, and know this initial work is the start of bigger and better things to come,” said Seve Ghose, Metro Parks and Recreation Director. “We hope those who use the park enjoy the improvements and thank Councilwoman Parker and Lyndon Recreation for their partnership.”
Construction is expected to be completed in late summer or early fall of this year. The Lyndon Recreation parking area will be closed intermittently during the construction period. Park visitors are encouraged to allow extra time to park and enter the site.
“As with any project of this size, there will be inconveniences. We apologize in advance for any disruption or distraction,” said Nathan Moore, Lyndon Recreation Board President, “You may have to walk slightly further from your parking spot or park in a different lot for a couple months, but we assure you, once completed, you will agree that the improvements were worth a couple months of changed behavior.”
Additional parking will be available after 5 p.m. at the Plaza III parking area at 9520 Ormsby Station Rd. as well as the YMCA lot next to the football field. All other A.B. Sawyer Park and Lyndon Recreation facilities will remain open during construction.
The construction area will be fenced, and parking spaces and sidewalk areas will occasionally close to accommodate equipment and delivery during the construction hours of Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 4;30 p.m. and some Saturday hours. Lyndon Recreation encourages parents to ensure children are not playing in or around the construction site while work is underway.
For more information about the Lyndon Recreation A.B. Sawyer Park construction project, call 502-648-6534. For more information about the A.B. Sawyer Park Master Plan, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/ab-sawyer-master-plan.
Councilman Bill Hollander and the Louisville Asset Building Coalition (LABC) are partnering to offer FREE summer tax preparation throughout the summer months.
“This service has helped many low income families and individuals in our area,” says Hollander. “I encourage anyone who qualifies to come in and let experienced LABC staff and volunteers help you out.”
This FREE service will be offered at United Crescent Hill Ministries (UCHM), 150 S. State Street, from May 25 – August 2017. You must make an appointment by calling LABC at 814-2715. Appointment times are between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. every other week on Thursdays beginning on May 25.
Those dates are:
- May 25
- June 8
- June 22
- July 6
- July 20
- August 3
Clients will need to bring the following with them:
- Social Security Card for everyone on tax return
- Picture ID for taxpayer and spouse
- W-2 and 1099 from employer
- List of other income/expenses
- 1098 for educational credit
- 1095-A for certain healthcare credits
- Blank check or account number for direct deposit
For more information and to make an appointment, contact the Louisville Asset Building Coalition at 814-2715 or visit http://www.labcservices.org.
Breaking Barriers: Sports for Change exhibit, presented by ESPN® and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, opens to the public at the Ali Center on May 25th. The exhibit invites visitors to walk among giants like Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, and Billie Jean King. Breaking Barriers: Sports for Change is included in the “I Am Ali” festival, the six-week, community-wide festival celebrating the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali, taking place from June 3-July 15, 2017.
Said Jeanie Kahnke, Sr. Director of Public Relations and External Affairs, “The Ali Center is honored to offer this exhibit, for it demonstrates ways in which athletes—including Muhammad Ali—have utilized sport as a platform to transform social issues and to raise awareness of how sport can be used to unite people and open doors.”
This traveling exhibit tells the story of how athletes have used their celebrity to fight for social change. It includes interactive displays that show how some of history’s super athletes like Muhammad Ali, Martina Navratilova, Jesse Owens and Terry Fox scaled to the heights of sports by defying expectations and restrictions levied by governments, advertisers, and spectators alike. In doing so, they became potent symbols that helped drive movements that changed sports and society.
Derreck Kayongo, CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights said, “Similar to Ali’s legacy, the exhibit shares how athletes have empowered people to stand up and protect human rights. Their courageous struggles in America and around the globe gave people everywhere the strength to persevere and make change happen in their communities.”
To learn more about Breaking Barriers: Sports for Change visit sports4change.net.
The Work Ready Skills Initiative Advisory Committee has selected recipients for its second round of funding. Approximately $33.1 million in bond money was dispersed to 15 projects aimed at developing a highly trained workforce to meet the needs of employers and to promote sustainable incomes for Kentuckians.
“The response to the Work Ready Skills Initiative has been truly astounding,” said Gov. Matt Bevin. “This important initiative is a key component in our pursuit to make Kentucky the epicenter for engineering and manufacturing excellence in America. This historic investment in training our workforce will truly be transformative for the Commonwealth.”
The 10-member committee met Wednesday in Frankfort, to review the results of applicant interviews conducted last week. Proposals came from several state workforce areas and addressed a wide array of key industry sectors including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, technology, transportation and construction trades. Earlier this year the committee awarded more than $65.5 million to 25 projects. The $65.5 million in first-round awards leveraged $84.5 million in matching funds, including approximately $64.1 million in cash and $20.4 million in-kind.
Second round recipients include:
- Gateway Community & Technical College, $95,000
- Logan County Schools, $932,000
- Russell County Board of Education, $5,700,000Garrard County Schools, $1,346,000
- Freestore Foodbank, $267,000
- Estill County Board of Education, $5,700,000
- Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky, $2,690,000
- Kenton County Schools, $400,000
- Breckinridge County Area Technology Center, $3,325,000
- Taylor County School District, $2,375,000
- Adair County Board of Education, $238,000
- Green River/Hart County and Caverna Schools, $3,325,000
- Christian County Public Schools, $4,275,000
- Washington County Schools, $763,000
- Johnson County Schools, $1,710,000
In the second round, the $33.1 million in awards leverage $27,220,502 in matching funds, including approximately $17,365,041 in cash and $10,716,392 in-kind.
“Seeing the excitement build across Kentucky about improving our workforce has been an unforgettable experience. Since this process began in 2016, the committee has reviewed the requests of more than 150 applicants, covering the majority of our counties,” said Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Hal Heiner. “This program will bear fruit long after it ends, giving students the means to find jobs in a world exploding with technology.”
Forty-one applicants applied for the funding in April, totaling more than $165 million. Projects included requests for construction and equipping new facilities for the purpose of providing workforce training and education in top five industry sectors; renovation/upgrade of an existing facility; or purchase of new or upgraded equipment, software and furnishings. Applicants were required to be public-private partnerships that include private sector employers and high schools, secondary technical schools or postsecondary institutions.
For more information about the Kentucky Work Ready Skills Initiative, please visit www.KentuckyWorkReady.com.
