Community

The Danville Fire Department thanks everyone for the outpouring of gifts and appreciation from our community on the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. For the firefighters and myself, it is great to know that we are appreciated and have the residents and community leaders behind us. We hope we can always reward your thoughtfulness and kindness by being the best fire department possible and always go above and beyond answering the call in your time of need or emergency. Chief James “Woody” Ball Danville

There would be little argument, I suspect, to the conclusion that this hasn't been a particularly good year. We could say that about the last few, really, from an economic perspective at least. Too many folks are out of work and too many of those working are losing ground to the cost of living. Families are circling the wagons, trying to stay afloat and help each other get through these hard times. It's discouraging for everyone who can remember a time of plenty - an era of wealth masked by the availability and abuse of credit that touched all of us in some way. It has become difficult not only for families but for organizations who try to wrap their arms around their communities - defining common problems, seeking appropriate solutions and making the effort to form a family of families.

I had the pleasure recently of attending a performance of the Wizard of Oz pulled off with great skill by Danville High School students.  This community is truly blessed with talented and willing adults who are successful in motivating and bringing out the best in our young people. Those young people have demonstrated their many gifts.  May the arts continue to be funded by whatever means we can muster. Kathy Perros-Fuqua Danville  

When we least expect it at some time in our lives we or someone we love takes a ride in an ambulance. The cost for this is not cheap. I know first hand because I have been in one a couple of times. An ambulance ride is one of the most expensive rides youll ever have. So I sat and thought about how to pay for this, then it came to me. A shared program for all lincoln co. residents. Each household in lincoln co. would give to the co.a $25.00 check or money order to the community based fund.

How many people can say over 25 years later that they not only remember their sixth-grade teacher but still have a relationship with that person? Not many I'm sure but I can proudly say that I do. Paige Stevens has a vested interest not only in the community but for the people who live in it. Her compassion and commitment transcends the classroom and truly follows you for a lifetime.  Transitioning children from fifth to sixth grade is a pivotal moment in development as most educators know.

Local leaders are always stressing that education is one of the most important keys to overall success of the Winchester and Clark County community. Well, now the entire community - not just those in public service - will have the opportunity to contribute to that success. And there's no excuse not to, because all it takes is 20 extra minutes out of your day. Operation Preparation, a statewide effort through the Kentucky Department of Education to make sure each student receives effective advising and help planning for the future, will take place March 12 to 16. Trained volunteers from the community will meet one-on-one with 8th- and 10th-grade students in Clark County Public Schools.

Friends and relatives are mourning the passing of a woman described as a pillar of the community.   Christene Gay died Monday at her home on Madison Avenue at the age of 79. “She was a fine Christian lady. She was a friend to everyone. She was a wonderful musician in her church, and a wonderful musician generally,” Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner said. Burtner met Gay when he moved to Winchester more than 30 years ago, and said she was a true friend to the community.

From raking leaves and packing boxes of food to folding clothes, there's always plenty to work to be done at nonprofits like the Salvation Army. And Thursday, 30 members of East Jessamine High School's D.A.R.E. Role Models turned out in force to do just that - work. “We are coming to help the Salvation Army,” member Alex King said. “We know that they have a lot of stuff piled up, especially so close to the holidays. We're going to try to do all we can do to help them.” The 30 students split up into work groups, with one group tackling folding clothes, another focused on raking leaves and other lawn work, while another boxed up food inside the facility located at 205 S. 1st St. “We are cleaning up all the leaves, and we're going to do some weeding, and we might mow, if we can find a mower,” King said.

Thermometers are out. The Heart of Kentucky United Way no longer uses those devices to measure and show how much money it has raised to distribute to non-profit agencies in the communities it serves. “It's got to be more than just filling up thermometers. It became clear to most of us that the old model of just raising money, giving it to good causes and coming back at the end of the year to check on how that money was spent was no longer effective. Problems kept getting worse.

Valentine's Day is a favorite holiday for many. It is all about embracing the sweet, mushy feelings for loved ones. You also can make this Valentine's Day about displaying love for community. Here are a few easy ways to show you care: 1. If you love United Way, LIKE it on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/hkuway). Social networking is a great way to stay in touch with all that is going on in your community. Keeping in touch allows supporters to know what opportunities exist, resources are needed, and volunteer opportunities that could be fulfilled.

TODAY - Bush/Shearer Family Resource Center Advisory Council meeting, 6 p.m. on at Fannie Bush Elementary. - East Clark County Water District Board of Directors meeting, 7 p.m., 118 Hopkins Lane. - NAMI Winchester/Clark County (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support/Educational Meeting, 7 p.m., McCready Hall, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 2410 Lexington Road. Any person affected by mental illness is invited to attend meetings. For more info, call 749-3702.  Meetings are the first and third Monday of each month.

For several years, the Great American Brass Band Festival has had a trusty sidekick: the Lil' Red Wagon Contest. This year, the contest has expanded to include not only red wagons, but also bicycles, tricycles and wheelchairs. It has a new name to match: Wagons and Wheels. The change was made in order to expand the range of children able to participate in both the contest and the parade. Community Arts Center Executive Director Mary Beth Touchstone explains, “Our mission here at the arts center is to create arts opportunities for every member of the community.

I had the pleasure recently of attending a performance of the Wizard of Oz pulled off with great skill by Danville High School students.  This community is truly blessed with talented and willing adults who are successful in motivating and bringing out the best in our young people. Those young people have demonstrated their many gifts.  May the arts continue to be funded by whatever means we can muster. Kathy Perros-Fuqua Danville  

Houston Land passed kindergarten at Central Elementary, and for that he is grateful. He even survived his mom crying through his graduation ceremony. Those are just a few of the things that stand out for Houston about his five years as a Central Elementary student. At 10 years old, he has spent half his life in the old school, which opened in 1954. His mom and two uncles spent their entire elementary careers at Central, as well. Friday night, he and his mother spent the evening walking the halls one last time before the school closes for good next week.

Upcoming Public Government Meetings Crab Orchard City Commission (no action): 6 p.m. May 16 at Crab Orchard city hall Stanford Planning and Zoning: 6 p.m. May 23 at L&N Depot Lincoln County Board of Education (no action): 6:30 p.m. May 23 at the Board of Education office   Horse-A-Palooza Festival No Kill Central KY Regional Humane Society will have a booth at the Horse-A-Palooza Festival on Saturday, May 18 at Circle SID Farms, 7815 Lexington Road, Lancaster.

As the 43-year practice of the Ichthus Music Festival making its home in Wilmore ends, many in the quaint community say they can't help but feel disappointed. Wilmore resident Jon Beck, who has attended the festival many times, said that, while he's happy the event will continue, it just won't be the same. “it's like they're keeping the tradition alive but killing it at the same time,” he said. Ichthus organizers announced earlier this month that the festival will continue in 2014 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Fayette County, and will be held in September rather than in the summer.

By John Maruskin Clark Public Library A big thankee to everyone who came to the Huge Derby Weekend Book Sale. We had record sales and some customers made record purchases. There's no doubt a few people collected their own small libraries. At a dollar a bag for books, that was easy and satisfying. I especially want to thank the library staff members who made the sale possible. First and foremost, circulation manager, Lynn Wills, did a sensational job organizing everything according to subject.