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SubscribeThe Kentucky Arts Council’s celebration of Kentucky Writers’ Day April 24 at Louisville’s Spalding University will cap off a week of literary events around the state that recognize the Commonwealth’s literary tradition.
The Kentucky General Assembly established Kentucky Writers’ Day in 1990 to honor Kentucky’s strong literary tradition and to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Kentucky native Robert Penn Warren, the first poet laureate of the United States and winner of three Pulitzer Prizes.
Current Kentucky Poet Laureate Frederick Smock will be among the readers and panelists at the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Writers’ Day celebration, beginning 6 p.m. in Spalding University Library’s Kentucky Room, 853 Library Lane in Louisville.
Following poetry readings by Smock and former poets laureate Maureen Morehead (2011-2012) and Joe Survant (2003-2004), poet Lynnell Edwards, Spalding’s associate program director for the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program, will moderate a discussion about Kentucky’s literary tradition.
As Kentucky’s literary ambassador, Smock urges all Kentuckians to celebrate Writers’ Day, no matter where they are.
“On Kentucky Writers Day, turn off the phone. Log off the computer. Do not turn on the television. For a few minutes, just read a poem. Let it sink in,” Smock said. “Follow where your mind goes with it, for you are the only authority on what the poem means to you.
“As with love, the feeling of having read a good poem can induce a certain inner radiance. The poem sinks in and transforms itself from words on a page to a deep interior shift. After all, we go to poetry not to find out about the poet’s life, but to find out about our own.”
In addition to the main event at Spalding, several organizations around Kentucky have organized their own Kentucky Writers’ Day celebrations leading up to the main event on April 24.
In Frankfort, Paul Sawyier Public Library will host a Kentucky Writers’ Day celebration featuring former Kentucky Poet Laureate Richard Taylor on Wednesday, April 18. Taylor will be joined by award-winning writers Leatha Kendrick and Jeff Worley beginning at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Local poets are invited to share their original poems at an open mic beginning at 6 p.m. Contact Diane Dehoney at diane.dehoney@pspl.org or at 502-352-2665.
The Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning will host Lexington’s celebration of Kentucky Writers’ Day with readings by three former Kentucky poets laureate – Gurney Norman, Frank X Walker and George Ella Lyon – at 6 p.m. EDT on April 23. Also invited to read are some of Kentucky’s newest writers from the University of Kentucky’s MFA in Creative Writing Program. For more information, contact the Carnegie Center at 859-254-4175.
Observance of Kentucky Writers’ Day in Murray is scheduled for April 23, at 6 p.m. CDT, in the Calloway County Public Library meeting room. The event is designed as a community gathering to honor Kentucky writers, celebrate National Poetry Month and observe William Shakespeare’s 402nd birthday. Families are invited to select favorite poems to read aloud. The festivities will also feature poems by Kentucky’s Robert Penn Warren, and current Kentucky Poet Laureate Frederick Smock. Contact Sandy Linn at sandy.linn@callowaycountylibrary.org or at 270-753-2288 for more information.
Kentucky Humanities will present “Paint the Town Red,” another celebration of Warren’s birthday. During the event, Kentucky Humanities will announce an upcoming statewide literacy initiative featuring Warren’s work. “Paint the Town Red” will start at 11 a.m. CDT April 24 at the Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Museum in Guthrie. For more information, contact Brooke Raby at brooke.raby@uky.edu or at 859-257-4317.
“‘Kentucky is a writerly state,’ Jim Wayne Miller used to say, and right he was,” Smock said. “Kentucky Writers’ Day is being celebrated across the state, from Frankfort to Murray, from Lexington to Guthrie. And in Louisville, in the Kentucky Room of Spalding University where I will be joined by recent poets laureate Maureen Morehead and Joe Survant.”
For more information about Kentucky Writers’ Day and the April 24 event at Spalding, contact Tamara Coffey, arts council individual artist director, at 502-892-3121 or tamara.coffey@ky.gov.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
President David James (D-6) is looking for a few volunteers with time on their hands this Saturday who are willing to take part in two different cleanups and show their community pride.
“I want to invite everyone to come out and join us this Saturday. Anytime we make any part of District 6 a better place for the people who live here, it benefits everyone in the district,” says President James. “We are fortunate to always have a great turn out of volunteers for these events and I am hopeful everyone will help us out.”
Volunteers need to show up at 12:00pm for the cleanup which is scheduled to last through 3:00pm.
There are two areas set for a cleanup this Saturday. One is Dumesnil between 17th and 18th Streets and then the second is at West Ormsby between the 1500 and 1800 blocks. Volunteers should meet at the corner of 18th and Dumesnil and then the cleanups will begin.
There will be a limited number of shovels, rakes and brooms, gloves and bags. If any volunteers have their own yard equipment please bring it them with you.
“So if you have the time, come join us and have some fun and help us make a different in our community,” says President James.
In the event of inclement weather, the cleanups will be moved forward to Saturday, April 14th.
For more information about the cleanups, contact President James Office at 502-574-1106.
Through a special second chance promotion sponsored by the Kentucky Lottery, Louisville resident Bob Paxton won the opportunity to be this year’s Festival Fanatic for the 2018 Kentucky Derby Festival. As part of his big win, Paxton will serve as the Thundernator for the Derby Festival Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville on Saturday, April 21.
At age 62, this will be Paxton’s first ever Thunder experience. He will have the opportunity to provide the Thunder countdown and “zero” ignition to activate the launch system sequence in the Command Center at the Galt House Hotel. Additionally, Bob receives nine other Festival VIP experiences. This includes a ride down Broadway in the Republic Bank Pegasus Parade, a hot air balloon ride, seats on Millionaires Row during Celebrity Day at the Downs, and $500 in spending money!
This is a special win for Paxton, “I was standing in line at Cane’s Chicken getting lunch when my phone rang and the call was from the Kentucky Lottery. I got so excited when I found out I was going to be the Festival Fanatic – everyone in the restaurant knew I’d won! I loved the idea of being the Festival Fanatic, and really wanted to win last year because the experience sounded so terrific.”
Over 5,000 fans entered the promotion which kicked off on February 5th. Players signed in or registered for a Fun Club Rewards account at www.kylottery.com. Once logged in, they were able to submit an eligible non-winning KENO ticket worth $5 or more for a chance to be named the 2018 Festival Fanatic.
Paxton will also be in town on Friday, April 20th. He will visit the Command Center for the first time at 10 a.m. that morning. Media is invited to the Command Center to meet him in person on April 20th.
Paxton won a VIP Experience package that includes: an invitation to the Festival’s annual They’re Off! Luncheon on Friday, April 20; a Second Street Bridge and Command Center Tour also on Friday, April 20; Overnight accommodations for a family of 4 at the Galt House Thunder weekend; and a front row seat in the Command Center on Saturday, April 21, to flip the switch.
Thunder Over Louisville – the Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies – is one of nearly 70 events produced by the Derby Festival in the spring. The 2018 Thunder Over Louisville, themed “A Disco Thunder,” is set for Saturday, April 21, and will be the 29th annual production. The show is sponsored by Horseshoe Southern Indiana, LG&E, Meijer, UPS, and Valero.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
To passersby, 1436 South Shelby Street may look like just another building in the Fort Hill/Meriwether Neighborhood. What they may not realize is the building’s important Louisville history.
A history that will be honored and remembered on Tuesday April 10th, when Kentucky’s newest historical maker will be dedicated in front of the structure that was once known as the Red Cross Hospital (RCH).
“There was a time when the Red Cross Hospital was the only facility where African Americans in Louisville could seek health care and treatment,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5). “It was the only hospital in Kentucky offering training programs for black nurses and the only institution where black physicians could treat and operate on their patients.”
The Councilwoman and Dr. Wayne Tuckson, of the Greater Louisville Medical Society, Linda Hart Lewis and Brunhilda Williams Curington whose father and mother, respectively, were on staff at the hospital before it closed in 1975 will officially dedicate and unveil the historical marker at a special ceremony beginning at 11:00am.
Mayor Greg Fischer, Jennifer Hancock of the Volunteers of America, and members of the RHC Committee will participate in the dedication. Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) will also speak at the ceremony.
The RCH was founded in 1899 when African-American doctors, W.T. Merchant, Ellis Whedbee, R.B. Scott were part of a small group of doctors who opened the hospital in a four-room private residence at Sixth and Walnut Streets (now Muhammad Ali Blvd.).
Six years later, it moved to 1436 South Shelby Street and the facility expanded. In 1912 the first brick facility was constructed, and over the course of the next fifty years, the hospital grew in both size and importance in the community.
The Red Cross Hospital opened its own School for Nurses. Mary E. Merritt was the hospital superintendent and head of the on-site nursing program until she retired in 1945.
It offered three major services; medicine, surgery and obstetrics. It was the only hospital in the state where black nurses could be trained at their Nurse Training Department.
It was the largest black hospital in the state and treated blacks from throughout Kentucky, not just Louisville.
The hospital remained segregated up until 1953 when integration first occurred within the Jefferson County Medical Society. It allowed black physicians staffing privileges at local hospitals, the first being Jewish Hospital.
However, increased costs and continued desegregation in Louisville throughout the 1960’s saw the hospital force to close its doors in 1975 after 76 years of service to the community.
Today, the building still stands. It houses the Shelby Men’s Recovery Center of Louisville operated by Volunteers of America. Representatives of VOA will be on hand for the dedication.
“This is why it is important to remember the impact the Red Cross Hospital for generations of Black health care professionals in our city. The dedication of a small dedicated group of men with vision to provide health care at a time when the patients they sought to help had no other hospital to turn to,” said Hamilton.
There will be a reception following the unveiling and an opportunity for former patients and employees to reminisce and tour the old hospital building and current VOA facility.
For more information about the Red Cross Hospital Historical Maker Dedication, contact Councilwoman Hamilton’s office at 574-1105.
We’re less than a month away from the kick off of the 2018 Kentucky Derby Festival – and there will be even more Festival events for fans to enjoy. New additions to the ever-growing schedule include a new steamboat cruise, flag football, a gala, kickball, zombies, a community-wide clean up, and a move to Southern Indiana. They will be part of the Festival’s schedule of more than 70 events produced each year in the weeks leading up to the first Saturday in May.
“It’s the Festival’s mission to make sure our schedule has a little something for everyone,” said Mike Berry, KDF President & CEO. “We continue to build on the tradition that started in 1956 with a single parade for the community.”
The new events for the 2018 Kentucky Derby Festival include:
- A Derby Festival event in New Albany, Indiana. The Festival is partnering with the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County for the new Horseshoe Foundation FamFest on April 11. The family-friendly event will have a special preview of the 2018 Festival, featuring a hot air balloon, inflatables, mini golf and bed races, face painting and more. The first 1,000 attendees receive a custom Pegasus Pin.
- An effort to help keep the city cleaner and greener. Louisville’s Brightside is making their Community-Wide Cleanup an Official Kentucky Derby Festival event on Saturday, April 14, and will be recruiting volunteers to participate. Contact Brightside for more information.
- Zombies at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville. Derby of the Dead Presented by the Louisville Zombie Walk will take over the North Great Lawn on Friday, April 27 complete with live entertainment, zombie themed wares, zombie car show and a zombie make-up demonstration. Admission is free with a 2018 Pegasus Pin.
- Another chance to ride Louisville’s steamboat. The Derby Festival is partnering with Trilogy to host the Steamboat Race Trial on Monday, April 30. The two hour cruise on the Belle of Louisville will be a relaxing way to start Derby Week, including brunch and live entertainment. Plus it’s a practice run for the Belle, as she prepares for the Great Steamboat Race later that week. Tickets $45. Purchase online at KDF.org or call (502) 584-FEST.
- Kickball and flag football tournaments on the Great Lawn. LXC Sports will bring their Flag Football and Kickball Showdowns to Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville Derby Week and they’re looking for teams to participate. For more information, check out www.lxcsports.com.
- A Derby Gala with a grand cause. Louisville Urban League’s Derby Gala is now an Official Kentucky Derby Festival Event. Themed Casino Royale, the 2nd annual Derby Gala will be held at the new OMNI hotel on Wednesday, May 2, Tickets: $250. Purchase online at www.lul.org/events/derby-gala or call (502) 585-4622.
The 2018 Kentucky Derby Festival officially kicks-off on Saturday, April 21, with the Opening Ceremonies – Thunder Over Louisville. Over the course of two weeks each year, the Festival attracts an estimated 1 million patrons to the city for its events. But, more than just fun and entertainment, the Festival also generates in excess of $127 million annually for the local economy. More information on all the events can be found at KDF.org.
The National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament will be hosted by Louisville Parks and Recreation’s Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation program (AIR) from April 12-15, and the organization is looking for volunteers to help staff the event.
There are a large array of opportunities for those interested in helping out with the event, AIR administrator BJ Levis said. The NWBA is recruiting for the following positions to volunteer for throughout the 2018 NWBT: shot clock; rimekeeper; scorekeeper; event setup; event breakdown; water service; registration/will call assistant; statistician; store assistant; 50/50 raffle volunteer; and greeters/unloaders.
Click here to register.
Louisville has hosted the tournament since 2013. For more information, visit www.nwba.org.
Photo: Neighborhood Place
Neighborhood Place partners offer healthy events and services in April to benefit the entire family including a month-long athletic shoes collection for JCPS students; employment recruitment opportunities with FedEx Ground, ElderCare 4 Families and Sodexo; a Family Spring Fling at Portland Community Center and much more. To learn more about these offerings and several others please refer to the list below.
Now through May 4, Athletic Shoe Collection for JCPS Students at Neighborhood Place locations
Donate new or gently used athletic shoes now through May 4th to benefit JCPS students in need, grades Kindergarten through 12th grade Drop off at any of the eight Neighborhood Place locations (find addresses here) or at the Edison Center, 701 W. Ormsby Ave., 2nd floor, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sample items include running shoes, basketball shoes, Chuck Taylors or sneakers. Sponsored by the 15th District Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Clothing Assistance Program (CAP) in partnership with (JCPS) and other community partners.
April. 3, FedEx Ground Employment Opportunities at First Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd. Call (502) 313-4700 for more information. A FedEx human resources recruiter will talk one-on-one with individuals interested in a career as a package handler with FedEx Ground.
April 3, ElderCare 4 Families Employment Recruitment at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call 244-8446 for more information. An employment recruiter will be on-hand for ElderCare 4 Families, a non-medical in-homecare service for seniors provide help with cooking, cleaning, laundry and personal care.
April 3, Car Seat Safety Check at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call Norton Children’s Hospital at 629-7358 to make an appointment. Learn how to install your child’s car seat or booster seat. Find out if it’s time for a change. Car seat-fitting by appointment only.
April 3, 10 and April 17, Free Tax Preparation Services at First Neighborhood Place, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd., side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Call 502-305-0005 or visit louisvillekyvita.cascheduler.com to make an appointment and to check out IRS documentation needed. Sponsored by VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) with support from First Neighborhood Place.
April 5 and 9, Sodexo Hiring Opportunities
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.
- April 5, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Road (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24), 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Call 313-4700 for more information.
- April 9, South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Call 313-4089 for more information.
April. 5, Community Dental Care Information Sessions at First Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Road (T. J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24). 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.
Mondays and Thursdays, YMCA’s “Caring and Learning with Me” program 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).
April 10 and 29, Foster Parent Recruitment Meeting
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.
- April 10, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd., side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 6 – 8 p.m.
- April 29, NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 4018 W. Market St., at the Academy of Shawnee, 6 – 8 p.m.
April 12, A Healthy Journey for Two Educational Baby Shower at First Neighborhood Place, 1 – 3 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd. Call 341-5400 for more information. A Healthy Journey for Two is an educational baby shower open to any expectant mothers. The class will include a range of information and resources, as well as free baby items, gift cards, prizes, and snacks. Hosted by Seven Counties and KIDSNow. Fathers are welcome but must be registered.
April 12, 25 and 26, Weekly Resource School at Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place
Located at 1411 Algonquin Pkwy. Contact Nannette Bertram Dix at 634-6057 to RSVP and for more information. The Bridges of Hope staff is teaming up with an array of service providers to provide weekly programming and resources focusing on substance prevention, self-sufficiency, health, safety and resiliency. All workshops are free and open to the public.
- April 12 and 26, CHOICES, presented by the Center for Women and Families, is an educational and support program for people affected by and/or sexual violence, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- April 25, ADHD, presented by Our Lady of Peace, will explain how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) impacts children beyond impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattentiveness. Open to parents, grandparents, teachers, counselors and other concerned individuals, 5 – 8 p.m.
April 14, Family Spring Fling at the Molly Leonard Portland Community Center, 12 – 4 p.m.
Located at the Portland Community Center, 640 North 27th Street. Call 776-0913 for more information. Join us for a day of free fun and games, prizes, food, vendors, “Rec on the Go”, nutrition education, free health screenings and more. Sponsored in collaboration by Portland Community Center, Kentucky State University, 4H, NorthWest Neighborhood Place, JCPS Family Resource Youth Services Centers of Byck Elementary, Portland Elementary, Atkinson Elementary, Kammerer Middle, Western Middle, Ballard High and Academy at Shawnee schools.
April 19, Passport Health Care Informational Table at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 1 – 3 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call 313-4635 for more information. A community engagement representative is onsite to answer any questions that Passport members have regarding their plan, benefits and updates on the upcoming waiver.
April 21, Second Annual Spring Parkhill Community Resource Fair at St. Ann’s Campus
Located at 1515 Algonquin Pkwy. Contact Nannette Bertram Dix at 634-6057 for more information. Themed “Sowing the Seeds of Hope”, this event invites community members to come together to connect with agencies and individuals providing helpful resources and services.
April 26, Park DuValle and Parkland Bring it Back Meet Up at Ujima Neighborhood Place 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call Brianna Harlan with the Center for Neighborhoods for more information at 724-9486. All residents are invited to this opportunity to meet neighbors and to socialize. The Center for Neighborhoods has a great team of people that bring a diversity of skills and perspectives to the work of neighborhood engagement, education and planning.
