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SubscribeShawnee Park will have music, fun and the Annual Molly Leonard Awards
Shawnee Park will once again host a very special event in September designed to bring together families, friends, young and old as Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton and the District 5 Neighborhood Advisory Committee announce the 2015 Community Celebration set for Saturday, September 19th.
“Once a year, we want to bring everyone together who has helped make a difference in the district and honor those who have given their time and talent for the benefit of all,” says Hamilton (D-5). “It is a time to kick back and enjoy the last days of summer.”
The Celebration will be held at the Shawnee Park Amphitheater from 10:00am until dusk. A wide variety of sounds and other entertainment is planned and will be announced.
From 10:00am to 2:00pm Children’s Activities will be underway.
There will be a Custom Showcase Car Show all day
From 3:00pm to 8:00pm, there will local music and cultural talent featuring: Tony Fish, The Louisville Connection, The Unlimited Show Band, Maestro J, Mike B, and Roots and Wings.
The highlight of the Celebration is always the Annual Molly Leonard Community Service Awards. The Awards are presented to salute many dedicated volunteers in the District 5 Community.
Molly Leonard was a well-respected and dedicated community activist and leader in the Portland neighborhood for many years and began volunteering in the community at the age of 13 who was well known and well-loved by the people of Portland. In 2014, The Portland Community Center was renamed in her honor.
“There are many volunteers who deserve our thanks for taking the time and effort to help others and our community,” says Hamilton. “These awards are our way of showing our thanks and gratitude for all they do.”
If you wish to nominate someone for a Molly Leonard Community Service Award, the deadline is September 4th to submit their name and bio to the Councilwoman’s office.
“The important thing to remember is this Celebration is a time to relax. So come enjoy yourself, kick back with your friends as the days cool down and enjoy the sounds of Jazz, R&B, and the spoken word,” says Hamilton.
The Celebration is also looking for vendors of all kinds including food, crafts, information , nonprofit and community groups and other. If you are a vendor or would like to volunteer to help with all the fun, contact Councilwoman Hamilton’s office at 574-1105 or email myra.friend-ellis@louisvilleky.gov.
Event set for tomorrow at Southwest YMCA
Councilmen Rick Blackwell (D-12) and David Yates (D-25) have a special night planned to help kick off the new school year for students. The Back to School Bash is set for Friday, August 21st from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Southwest YMCA.
“As an educator, I know the importance of starting the new school year on a positive note,” says Blackwell. “I am excited to again partner with the Southwest YMCA to host this celebration for our students and their families.”
The Back to School Bash will feature swimming, food and fun; and it’s all free. There will be inflatables, group fitness demonstrations and swim time at the Y’s pool. Mad Science will be on hand for kids to make their own slime and cotton candy.
“This is a great family event that helps our children ease into the new school year as the summer winds down,” says Yates. “It is also an opportunity to explore the many programs offered by the Southwest YMCA and how it serves our community year round.”
For Safety reasons the Southwest YMCA has the following rules in place:
- Family appropriate swim wear must be worn in the swimming pool. A white t-shirt can be worn on top of suit for women and as a shirt for men if you choose. Cut-offs or shorts will not be permitted as swim wear in the pool.
- Minimum of one adult per child in the pool for children 6 and under.
- One parent required to stay in pool area (not necessarily in the water) for children 7 and older.
- Children 7 and older who want to swim in the deep end will be required to take a swim safety test.
- This is a family event—an adult must stay with the children—no drop offs.
Pizza, drinks, and cookies will be provided by Metro Council Districts 12 and 25.
The Southwest YMCA is located at 2800 Fordhaven Road, just off of St. Anthony Church Road. The event is free and no reservations or YMCA membership are required.
If you would like more information about the Back to School Bash, contact Councilman Blackwell’s office at 574-1112 or Councilman Yates’ office at 574-1125.
Free Weekend Concert is open to the public
As summer begins to wind down this year, Central Park in Old Louisville is the perfect place to enjoy what is becoming a nice tradition of music in a great setting.
Councilman David James (D-6) once again presents “Jazz in Central Park” on Sunday, August 30th.
“This is a great way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon with a wide variety of music and entertainment, and best of all its free and open to any and every one,” says James.
“Jazz in Central Park” will be held from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. This year’s event is hosted by Dawne Gee of WAVE TV, Miss Krystal of WLOU and Valerie Sickles.
The following artists will be featured
- TRI+ADD Music
- Maestro J
- Donna Mason
- Walter & Kays
- with headliners The Urban Jazz Coalition
Local Food Vendors will also be on hand for the afternoon.
“If you have a love of jazz and want to kick back and enjoy a nice Sunday afternoon, Central Park is the place to be with these great artists and the hospitality of the people of Old Louisville,” says James. “So please, come and join us.”
For more information about “Jazz in Central Park”, contact Councilman James’ office at 574-1106.
Kickoff Party set for Saturday, August 15th
Councilman David Yates (D-25) is asking the public to help build and support the “World’s Largest Disco Ball, Y’all!”
It’s a project to give the City of Louisville something original to talk about as a way to promote tourism, give the region a new landmark and have a little fun along the way.
“Every now and then someone comes up with a unique idea to help promote more community spirit and fun,” says Yates. “In this case, a group of private individuals would like to raise private funds to create something unique and then give it to the city to use as a way of promoting tourism and special events.”
The idea is to raise enough funds to build a 67 foot diameter Disco Ball and then donate it to the city of Louisville to be displayed permanently or temporarily for events like Forecastle or other special times when the city is hosting visitors or special occasions.
A special fundraiser is set for this Saturday, August 15th when the kickoff party for the “World’s Largest Disco Ball, Y’all” gets underway at Headliners Music Hall beginning at 8:00pm. Tickets are $10 at the door and this event is for adults, 21 years and up.
Tony and the Tanlines, a cover band, will feature 70’s and 80’s hits to disco the night away. There will also be a dance off contest, Best Dressed Competition and much more entertainment.
“It is important to note that this is strictly a community event. No tax dollars are involved. This is an idea created by local businesses people and others to do something different for the city,” says Yates. “”Anytime private individuals and business are willing to take their time, talents, resources, and treasure’s to help promote Louisville and build community involvement, I will happily support them.”
To learn more about the World’s Largest Disco Ball, Y’all, check out the following links:
- http://brokensidewalk.com/
2015/worlds-largest-disco- ball/ - http://insiderlouisville.com/
lifestyle_culture/get-rolling- group-raising-funds-build- worlds-largest-disco-ball/ - https://www.facebook.com/
discoballyall
For ticket information and location of Headliners Music Hall go to: http://headlinerslouisville.
Kentucky State Fair officials have announced the cancellation of Meghan Trainor’s M Train Tour at the Kentucky State Fair on August 20. The news comes after Trainor cancelled the remainder of her tour dates and released the following message:
Really bad news… I was being careful and taking precautions, but I have hemorrhaged my vocal cords again. I got bronchitis & have been coughing a lot & that pushed it over the edge. Sadly, I will need to cancel the remainder of my tour and get surgery to finally fix this once and for all. I am devastated and so sorry. I LOVE touring and seeing your beautiful faces every night. I am determined to do what it takes to get better and come back stronger than ever. I love you, and thank you for all of your understanding, love and support.
Tickets purchased for the concert will be refunded at point of purchase. Tickets purchased online through Ticketmaster.com will receive an automatic refund.
The 2015 Kentucky State Fair is August 20-30 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center is $8. For more information, visit www.kystatefair.org.
The 2015 edition of Louisville’s Fandomfest has kicked off at the Kentucky International Convention Center downtown.
This celebration of all things pop, sci-fi, anime, gaming, and comic related draws large crowds each year as visitors meet their idols from the big screen to the small screen and from the pages of graphic novels and comics to the pages of favorite tomes.
Fans line up well in advance of celebrity appearances, eagerly anticipating the chance to meet them, shake their hands, exchange stories, and pose for photo opportunities. This year, Fandomfest provides the opportunity for attendees to meet celebrities from movies and TV such as Billie Piper, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Peter Mayhew, Josh McDermitt, Kevin Smith, and Jason Mewes, and sports stars such as Ric Flair, Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson, and Pete Rose. Attendees in line buzz with excitement over the opportunity to get an autograph from their favorite celebs.
Visitors that forgot to bring something to get autographed (or need that special piece to complete their collection) don’t have to look far. The Fandomfest show hall is packed to the gills with exhibitors and vendors showcasing their wares including comics, cards, sports memorabilia, classic gaming systems, costume components, art supplies, collectibles, action figures, and their own original works from paintings to novels.
One such purveyor of original work is Kentuckiana’s own A.E. McCullough. McCullough – sporting a tee-shirt showing his fondness for another vigilante character – told us about his new novel, The Reaper: Grimm Vengeance, about a former Army Ranger who takes justice into his on hands when he takes on the thugs of a street gang. McCullough, who lives in Taylorsville and works in Louisville, said that this was his second Fandomfest.
Another sophomore exhibitor at Fandomfest 2015 is an author that had to travel slightly further to attend. Addie J King lives just north of Dayton, Ohio and was in town to showcase her latest release, Grimm Legacy. Addie has a lot of traveling to do, with her next stop being Wizard World in Chicago. On an even longer journey, Joann H. Buchanan, came from Kansas to spread the word about the latest work in her H.A.L.O. Saga, Shine, at her first Fandomfest.
Moving back closer to home, we also had a chance to talk with Louisville transplant (by way of Cleveland), Steve Messenger, who was creating buzz by passing out free samples of his original artwork – as well as letting out his inner Hulkamania. This was Steve’s first time exhibiting at Fandomfest, but not his first time attending. He recently moved to the area after falling in love with it following a previous visit which included – you guessed it – a visit to a previous Fandomfest.
Showing off a different kind of local original art, some of the crew from Tattoo Charlie’s were on hand to put ink to skin for attendees. Their booth display not only offered the chance for attendees to decorate themselves, but also a chance to win some free ink by dropping their names into the fishbowl. While we were there, we got to see artist Darin Ennis doing what he loves to do.
Despite everything going on across the exhibit floor, the action doesn’t stop there.
Fandomfest is packed with film screenings. We had a chance to sit in on a couple of these, including Samuel Platizky’s comedy-horror Devil You Know, which follows a young lady’s journey into hell as she hopes to free her father’s soul. We also sat in on Alfred Giancarli’s Don’t Despair, a disturbing tale about a couple embarking on a deadly quest to connect with one of their gruesome idols. The screenings of these shorts, and many others, run all weekend and offer attendees the opportunity to get some entertainment while resting their feet from roaming the exhibit hall.
Fandomfest’s offerings don’t stop there either. The show is packed with celebrity Q&A sessions (such as the one that we attended with a couple of AMC’s The Walking Dead‘s pet zombies); panel discussions on a wide range of films, shows, art genres, and more; cosplay judging sessions; gaming competitions; and a full host of after-hours events – many of them geared for the 18+ crowd.
Fandomfest 2015 lasts through the weekend, so there is plenty of opportunity for fans to visit. Check out our photo gallery and stay with Louisville Dispatch for more news from the show.
Event set for Saturday August 8th from 3:00pm to 8:00pm
Councilwoman Mary C. Woolridge (D-3) is inviting everyone to come out to the Community Unity Festival this Saturday, August 8th in Algonquin Park for some summer fun. It’s a fun filled afternoon and evening for the entire family
“We want to have a little fun for everyone at the park and this is also a chance to help children get ready for the beginning of a new school year,” says Woolridge. “We want everyone to come out and enjoy themselves as we have some summer fun.”
The Community Unity Festival will get underway from 3:00pm to 8:00pm in Algonquin Park located at Cypress and Burwell Streets.
There will be a Back to School Back Pack and School Supply giveaway between 3:00pm and 5:00pm. 400 back packs will be given away while they last. All children must be accompanied by an adult to receive a backpack and supplies.
The festival will also feature food vendors and free hot dogs and chips provided by Councilwoman Woolridge and the First Choice Market.
The River City Drum Corp will perform from 3:30 PM until 4:00 PM followed by a disc jockey from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM and then the best has been saved for last with The One and Only “Unlimited Band”
Metro Parks will bring “Rec on the Go” to the park which features face painting, washable tattoos, obstacle course and corn-hole games.
“This is truly a community event with a purpose: making sure our children are ready for school and helping our families get them ready. We also want to kick back and have a little fun in Algonquin Park which is such a great asset to the community,” says Woolridge. “I hope everyone will come out and join us.
For more information about the Community Unity Festival, contact councilwoman Woolridge’s office at 574-1103.
