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WWE’s Smackdown Live is back in the Commonwealth for another round on Tuesday night. For the first time in nearly six years, a live televised WWE event will be held at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
“It’s great to have WWE back in Kentucky for another live televised show,” said Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Commission (KBWC) Chairman Chad Miller. “More shows translate to more dollars for local economies, and the Commission is thrilled that our efforts are paying off for our wrestling fans, athletes, local businesses, and the combat sports industry in Kentucky.”
Since 2016, the Commission has repealed nearly 40 percent of the state’s combat sports regulations as part of Gov. Bevin’s Red Tape Reduction Initiative. The “cut rule,” repealed as part of the initiative, required an athlete to leave a match if he or she bled. The regulation prevented live televised matches from being held in Kentucky. Since the repeal, WWE has hosted several shows in Kentucky, including a Smackdown Live show earlier this year at the KFC Yum! Center.
“There is no doubt that the growth we are seeing in combat sports is directly tied to a transparent and fair regulatory environment,” added Miller. “The Commission continues to look for ways to promote efficiency while also ensuring athlete safety. Athletes can now apply for licenses online, and the Commission has streamlined and repealed approximately 55 percent of the forms an athlete could be required to complete for licensure. We believe that all of these measures will further a strong combat sports industry in Kentucky.”
As of Oct. 26, Governor Bevin’s Red Tape Reduction Initiative is responsible for repealing 188 regulations and targeting an additional 341 regulations for repeal. Over 2,208 of Kentucky’s 4,700 regulations have been reviewed as part of the initiative. Visit http://redtapereduction.com/ to learn more.
The KBWC oversees all professional boxing, wrestling, and full contact competitive bouts and exhibitions in Kentucky. Learn more about the commission at http://kbwa.ky.gov.
Photo: Secretary of State website
Kentucky’s area development districts helped raised the equivalent of more than 250,000 pounds of food as part of the Commonwealth of Kentucky Bowl, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced Monday.
Big Sandy Area Development District is the winner of the overall award having raised nearly 1/3 of a pound of food per person in their district. The rural district winner is the Purchase Area Development District, and the Northern Kentucky Area Development District takes the prize for the urban area winner.
The Office of the Secretary of State, Kentucky Association of Food Banks (KAFB), the Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts (KCADD), and the Kentucky Association of Food Banks partnered to create the competition.
“I’m so proud of the efforts of all who participated in our inaugural Commonwealth of Kentucky Bowl,” said Grimes. “It breaks my heart to know that one in five Kentuckians – and in some areas of Kentucky, one in three kids – don’t know where they’ll get their next meal. I am grateful to Kentucky’s development districts for stepping up to help provide some relief this holiday season through Kentucky’s amazing food banks.”
The 15 area development districts across Kentucky collected food and monetary donations in the inaugural campaign from Oct. 16 through Oct. 27.
The 250,000 pounds collected is enough food for 2,525 people served by KAFB for an entire year or 208,333 meals, according to the food banks association.
“The generous outpouring from our regions across the state will make a financial difference to the agencies who struggle to serve those in need, and will make a difference to the families who constantly worry, ‘What will be for dinner? And where will it come from?’,” said Mayfield Mayor Teresa Rochetti-Cantrell, who is co-chair of the KCADD. “The Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts is proud to have been a part of a competition resulting in this kind of generosity.”
Every $1 donated returned $8 or more in food to the community.
Proceeds and goods generated from the competition will directly aid the members of the KAFB – an organization that distributes over 63 million meals to 1 in 7 Kentuckians annually in partnership with a network of 800 local charitable feeding organizations. Its members serve all 120 counties in Kentucky.
“Kentucky’s food bank network is so grateful for impact the inaugural Commonwealth of Kentucky Bowl will have on hunger. Thanks to the efforts of KCADD and the leadership of Secretary Grimes, our struggling neighbors across the Commonwealth will benefit from increased resources in the fight against hunger,” said Tamara Sandberg, executive director of KAFB.
Grimes has been a champion for solving Kentucky’s hunger issues since she took office in 2012, including being instrumental in the Farms to Food Banks tax credits legislation, and before she was elected to public office. She is a longtime volunteer at the Salvation Army, serving the Thanksgiving meal at her local service center every year. She also has served on the board of God’s Pantry Food Bank in Lexington.
Grimes, KAFB, and KCADD will make an official presentation next month.
Photo: Neighborhood Place
Neighborhood Place partners join in holiday celebrations at the Park DuValle Holiday Festival in early December and a Kwanzaa reception later in the month. A variety of workshops and events will also be offered throughout December including an Energy Management class, a conversation with youth regarding the impact of violence, a Healthy Living Club and much more. To learn more about these offerings and several others please refer to the list below.
Dec. 2, Park DuValle Holiday Festival in the Park DuValle Neighborhood, 2 – 5 p.m.
Call 775-7000 for more information. The Park DuValle neighborhood is reviving its Holiday Festival and adding some new events including a holiday stroll, visits with Santa, a holiday concert and a tree-lighting celebration. Ujima Neighborhood Place will also host a cookie decorating station, holiday Bingo, and face painting at the Duvalle Education Center located at 3610 Bohne Ave.
Mondays and Wednesdays, Free Professional Financial Coaching
Call Rosie Wright at 612-0819 to schedule an appointment. Free, one-on-one financial coaching will be offered to provide individuals with support, accountability and tools to help make informed decisions. Hosted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Mondays, South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Wednesdays, Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place, 1411 Algonquin Pkwy, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mondays and Thursdays, YMCA’s “Caring and Learning with Me” at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd., side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Call Keyonna Humphrey at 974-8457 for more information and to register. This free program provides a wonderful learning environment for children ages 3-5 years old and their caregivers focusing on play and exploration. The adult caregiver is required to attend with the child/ren and you may also bring other children ages (0-2). Sponsored by the YMCA with support from First Neighborhood Place.
Dec. 5, Energy Management Workshop at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 1 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call 313-4635 for registration. Project Warm’s free workshops help families take control of their energy usage and learn “do-it-yourself” energy-saving tips. Free supplies will be distributed at the end of the workshop such as clear plastic/tape for windows, caulk to seal openings around windows and sealing foam.
Dec. 5 and 14, Healthy Journey for Two Educational Baby Shower
RSVP is required to Mendy Mason at 341-5400 or mmason@sevencounties.org. Join us at to explore the do’s and don’ts of a healthy pregnancy in a free, fun setting. Seven Counties and KIDSNow Plus will host an educational baby shower to share information on how to care for yourself and your baby while being pregnant. Pregnant attendees receive a baby tote filled with baby items and a gas/gift card, with more chances to win prizes like gift/layette set(s), bottle sets and more. Fathers are welcome but must be registered..
- Dec. 5, South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 1 – 3 p.m.
- Dec. 14, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd., 1 – 3 p.m.
Dec. 5, Car Seat Fitting Station at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 9 – 11 a.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call 629-7358 for an appointment. Learn how to install your child’s car seat or booster seat at this car seat fitting station offered by Norton’s Children’s Hospital. Find out if it’s time for a change.
Dec. 12, Fall Youth Conversation with Students at the Academy at Shawnee, 5 – 7 p.m.
Located at the Academy at Shawnee, 4001 Herman St. Call 313.4892 for more information. All youth are invited to join in a candid and engaging conversation entitled, A View from Shawnee Students: Violence Impact In Our Schools, Community and Family. This event will be moderated by Derrick Mitchell with the Office of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods. A community family dinner will be served and an opportunity for family photos will be available. Collaboratively sponsored by the Academy at Shawnee Youth Service Center, JCPS Student Support Services and the NorthWest Neighborhood Place.
Dec. 12, Foster Parent Recruitment Meeting at First Neighborhood Place, 6 – 8 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd., side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Call 595-5437 (KIDS) for more information. Detailed information will be provided on the requirements and process of how to become a foster or adoptive parent. Information such as an explanation of foster care, special needs adoption, and information on foster parent training classes will be provided. Sponsored by Kentucky Foster Care and the training classes will be provided. Sponsored by Kentucky Foster Care and the Special Needs Adoption Program.
Dec. 12, Blood Pressure Checks at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call 313-4635 for more information. Louisville Metro Health and Wellness health educators will provide free blood pressure checks.
Dec. 12, Healthy Living Club at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 1 – 2 p.m.
Located at 1000 Neighborhood Place, Call 3631483 for more information. Classes are open to anyone interested in gaining more knowledge to live and better and more fulfilling life. Monthly meetings are on the second Tuesday of every month to discuss healthy living and to get the support you need to eat better, get active, and lose weight. This month, a representative from Family Health Center will discuss “Getting Through the Holidays in One Peace.” Come and join the fun and fellowship.
Dec. 14, Grandparents Group: Kitchen Table Conversations at NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Located at 4018 W. Market St. Call 313-4909 for more information. This popular resource support group for relatives raising grandchildren meets the second Thursday of each month. A monthly guest speaker helps this group focus on the unique issues that caregivers may have raising younger children. Aunts, uncles or anyone raising their grandchildren are welcome to attend. Lunch is provided free of charge.
Dec. 19, Sodexo Hiring Opportunities at South Central Neighborhood Place, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd., side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Call 313-4700 for more information. Sodexo, a food-service agency, will provide on-the-spot interviews for positions with Jewish Hospital, Our Lady of Peace and University of Louisville Hospital. Bring your resume and be prepared for an interview. This is one of Sodexo’s busiest hiring seasons. Stop by if you are looking for employment that can lead to a full-time or part-time position.
Dec. 20, Community Dental Care Information Sessions
Call 502-366-4442 for more information. Community Dental Care is a full-service dental organization designed to increase access to health care in communities with the goal of improving the overall health of the population. Representatives will be on site to provide information about services offered and to assist in scheduling appointments for dental needs or for pediatric health needs.
- South Jefferson Neighborhood Place – Fairdale location, 1000 Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- South Jefferson Neighborhood Place – Valley Location, 10200 Dixie Hwy., 1:30 – 3 a.m.
Dec. 28, Celebrating Ujima – a Kwanzaa Reception at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. In honor of Ujima, the third principle of Kwanzaa meaning collective work and responsibility, community members are invited to gather for networking opportunities and to explore ideas for community collaborations.
Jan. 4, American Red Cross Blood Drive at Charmoli Center Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Located at 200 Juneau Drive, Suite 200. Please register online at Access your online scheduling account or contact Jessica Strader at Jessica.Strader@redcross.org. Walk-ins are also welcome the day of the drive.
Original Santa sculpture by Lindy Evans
The Kentucky Artisan Center celebrates the holidays with a wide array of arts’ events and music. Come watch artists demonstrate, meet Kentucky authors, listen to artists perform Christmas music, and enjoy your holiday shopping. At the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea you can find special gifts by over 750 Kentucky artists!
Lindy Evans of Berea will sculpt Santas from polymer clay in her demonstration on Dec. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Center.
Evans creates one-of-a-kind, limited edition Santas and dolls developed from studies of real people. She sculpts the faces from polymer clay, paints the features, and uses vintage fabrics to sew the clothing she designs.
There will also be live music and a book signing on Dec. 2. Musician Gary Bertram, of Georgetown, will sing and perform holiday favorites on the guitar from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center.
Jim Shields of Lexington will also sign copies of his children’s book “Starbird’s Special Gift” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day at the Kentucky Artisan Center. Shields’ story is about a young boy who cares for a bird that he finds struggling in the snow. The story offers readers numerous life lessons with illustrations that bring the story to life for all ages.
Kathy Conroy of Pleasureville will demonstrate her intricate scratchboard techniques on Dec. 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Center. Conroy creates realistic images from her drawings and photographs on scratchboard. Scratchboard is a form of direct engraving where the artist starts with a Masonite panel coated with white clay. This clay layer is covered with a thin layer of black India ink leaving the artist a solid black panel as a starting point. Lines are then cut or scratched through the ink to the clay surface and color is added with a brush onto the exposed clay areas.
Photographer, geographer, and writer David Zurick of Berea will also be at the Kentucky Artisan Center on Dec. 9. He will sign copies of his new book, “Morning Coffee at the Goldfish Pond” as well as his book “Southern Crossings” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Zurick, winner of the 2006 National Outdoor Book Award, recounts an event in his life that seems exceedingly uncomplicated: he builds a goldfish pond in his backyard yet there is more to a goldfish pond than meets the eye. Zurick’s compelling story travels the world, encompassing places of extraordinary beauty and rich cultural traditions. “Southern Crossings” is a photographic journey to places and people of the southern United States.
Live music on Dec. 9 will be performed by the trio Na Skylark made up of Lorinda Jones on Celtic harp, Cathy Wilde on Irish Uilleann Pipes, and Janelle Canerday on fiddle. They will perform holiday favorites and selections from their new CD “Old Ceol” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Three members of the Berea Welcome Center Carvers will demonstrate a variety of woodcarving styles and techniques on Dec. 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Center.
Lexington musician Jan Hill will also play a selection of holiday music on her harp on Dec. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center.
Born in Nebraska and raised in Oklahoma, Hill dreamed of playing the harp after hearing it played when she was a child. Hill purchased a harp, taught herself to play, and then took harp classes in Singapore and the U.S. Hill will be playing a selection of holiday favorites from her CD “Christmas Harp Carols from the Hills” available at the Center.
Artists Donna & Donnie Smith will demonstrate their painted gourds and ornaments on Dec. 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Center.
When Donnie and Donna Smith planted gourds by their back porch, their journey as craftspeople began. First, a design is drawn on the gourd with pencil and then the design is burnt into the gourd surface with a wood burning tool. After that, they paint the designs with watercolors, inks, dyes, and water-based stains with each gourd being sealed with a clear acrylic.
The trio Raison D’Etre will be performing holiday music with clean harmonies accompanied with guitars, drums, mandolin, and keyboards on Dec 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center.
The Kentucky Artisan Center will be closed Christmas Day.
Carl Von Fischer of Mount Vernon will demonstrate his oil painting techniques on Dec. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Center.
Von Fischer attended the Central Art Academy, studying commercial art and graduated with top honors. He then worked for advertising agencies in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Denver, and Greenville before moving out west to Missoula, MT where in the open spaces of the west, he began to teach himself to paint. In 2003, Von Fischer moved to Kentucky to be near his son and grandchildren where he now paints full-time. Von Fischer paints rural landscapes and animals.
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.
The 44th annual North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) saw an increase in both exhibitors and rodeo attendance during its 17-day run at the Kentucky Exposition Center. NAILE drew nearly 30,000 entries with competitors, exhibitors and attendees from 49 states and six foreign countries. The event generated an economic impact of $8.3 million to the greater Louisville region.
The Great Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo, held in conjunction with NAILE, saw the highest attendance in five years with more than 19,000 fans enjoying the three performances in Freedom Hall.
NAILE, the world’s largest purebred livestock show, is held annually at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Included in the event are national collegiate and youth livestock judging contests, competition within ten livestock divisions and livestock sales. The event is owned and produced by Kentucky Venues.
Steve Kelly, Executive Director of Expositions for Kentucky Venues noted that renowned judges and officials from across the country evaluate the livestock and assist with the show, underscoring the event’s prestige. “NAILE serves as the livestock industry’s capstone event. Kentucky showcases its agriculture heritage by hosting the esteemed livestock show each year.”
The Sale of Champions, held the last night of NAILE, raised $64,500, with proceeds distributed to youth exhibitors of market animals (80 percent), charities (10 percent) and promotion (10 percent).
For more information, visit www.livestockexpo.org.
BrickUniverse LEGO Fan Convention returns to the Kentucky Exposition Center January 6-7, 2018. The event builds on LEGO’s popularity and ingenuity with awesome attractions centered around everybody’s favorite plastic building blocks.
At past events, thousands of LEGO fans have enjoyed live LEGO builds, galleries of life-sized LEGO models, and a Building Zone with a myriad of LEGO bricks for attendees to build with.
Professional LEGO artist Jonathan Lopes of San Diego, California will showcase over 30 of his select LEGO displays and will be at the convention all weekend. He will also talk to attendees about his life as a professional LEGO artist and how they can become LEGO master builders.
Additionally, Chicago-based LEGO artist Rocco Buttliere will bring over 50 LEGO models of world famous landmarks. Attendees can see the largest skyscraper in the world, Burj Khalifa, the full Westminster Palace in London, and other famous landmarks built from LEGO bricks.
The Fan Zone at BrickUniverse features fan-built LEGO creations by the world’s best LEGO Fan builders, including some from Kentucky. Fan models include LEGO cities, towns, trains, castles, and more.
Other attractions include:
- LEGO Friends Building Area
- Big Brick Building – For those who are 5 and under, build with our thousands of LEGO DUPLO bricks in Big Brick Building.
- LEGO Retail
- BIONICLE Warrior Building – Construct the ultimate warrior in the LEGO BIONICLE play stations
- Star Wars Zone
- The Challenge Zone – Timed brick challenges that will test your building and speed skills. This area is great for families and individuals of all ages.
The opens at 10 AM each day and tickets are available for advance purchase online for $15 per day.
For more information, visit https://www.brickuniverse.com/louisville.
Are you a Frosty Twinklelights? Or a Giggle Cookielove? Or maybe just in need of a cocktail? Find out your elf name, and then pour a drink. Get your tickets to The Santaland Diaries today!
