Feature

LOUISVILLE — Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin will be featured at the 2010 National Quartet Convention, Sept. 12-18 in Louisville. Palin, now an author and political commentator for Fox News, became only the second woman on the national ticket of a major party when Republican presidential candidate John McCain chose her as his running mate in the 2008 presidential election. Palin will serve as the keynote speaker during an hour-long event on Thursday, beginning at 2 p.m. in Louisville’s Freedom Hall, located on the grounds of the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center.

PERRYVILLE - The September issues of two statewide magazines, Kentucky Monthly and Kentucky Living, feature the 2006 National Re-enactment at the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. Accompanied by photography, the articles highlight Kentucky's largest Civil War battlefield and promote the upcoming re-enactment Oct. 7-8. The historic battle is commemorated yearly with a re-enactment on the Perryville Battlefield. As in 2002, this year's re-enactment has been deemed the nation's major battle re-enactment.

This week the activity center at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego will be host to a three-event extravaganza featuring the Desktop Summit, Mozilla and OpenOffice.org. The Desktop Summit is an event aimed at raising knowledge about Linux and open source products. Mozilla and OpenOffice.org are two examples of these types of open source products that are currently gaining attention for their efforts beyond the Linux arena. These companies are providing computer users with alternatives to products currently on the market today.

Every five years, Lincoln County has a religious experience called the Lincoln County Area Wide Crusade. This year, it's Sunday through Wednesday, April 22-25, at 7 o'clock each evening at the Lincoln County High School gym. Members of the award-winning gospel group The Kingsmen Quartet are the featured musicians on Sunday and will begin at 6:30 p.m. "Come early that night and enjoy this nationally known southern gospel group," crusade organizers...

It's February, the month set aside to celebrate African American heritage. This year's celebration is enhanced by the fact that for the first time in American history, the citizens of the U.S. have chosen a president of mixed heritage - President Barack Obama. So, in honor of both occasions, here are a few Web pages featuring our new president. President Barack Obama's page on the official White House site at www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president_obama/ . Biography.

The next “Kentucky Life” gets a tiny American history lesson, savors some of Uniontown’s best barbecue, appreciates the artists in Somerset and more. The program, hosted by Dave Shuffett, airs at 8/7 p.m. CT Nov. 20 on KET; at 4:30/3:30 p.m. CT Nov. 21 on KET; and at 7:30/6:30 p.m. CT Nov. 21 on KET2. First, “Kentucky Life” travels to Danville to visit the Great American Dollhouse Museum. More than just dollhouses, the displays show American history in miniature, depicting life in America through the centuries.

Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville claimed the $2,000-to-win special for the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Models Friday at Ponderosa Speedway. Other feature event winners were Shon Flanery of Mount Carmel, Tenn., in Hardee's Modifieds, Todd Coffman of Junction City in Kentucky National Guard Crate Late Models, Rick King, also of Junction City, in SkyTower Power Race Engines Sportsman and Kenny Hensley of Stanford in Clayton Homes Chevettes. A summary of track events follows: Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Models (22 entries)

LEBANON - The finest classic cars, trucks and motorcycles will be in evidence for auto enthusiasts when the U.S. 68 Garage Tour opens Saturday. Held at Hardin Garage, a showplace for some of central Kentucky's finest Mercuries, Thunderbirds, Ford convertibles and Crown Victorias, this show will feature classic automobiles from as far away as Hopkinsville. The first 50 cars to arrive will get commemorative dash plates. No pre-registration is required. There is no general admission and parking is free.

Today's edition of the Sun will feature a look at recent vandalism to Cassell Creek Golf Course, a profile of Board of Education candidate Debbie Fatkin, a feature story about free community art classes for kids offered at the Winchester Opera House, and more photos from the Clark County Fair. Check it out online or in news stands this afternoon.

Track celebrations moved from victory lane to the banquet hall Saturday evening as Ponderosa Speedway honored its 2007 racing champions and points leaders. Ponderosa promoters Larry, Chad, and Sarah Yantz presided over the event, which was held at the National Guard Armory in Danville. Aaron Hatton of Mount Sterling was honored as the 2007 Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Model track champion. Hatton, a former O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series champion, notched six feature event wins on the way to capturing the track title.

Boyle County Farmers' Market Berry Blast is this Saturday, May 25th. Be sure to come out for your complimentary Strawberry Shortcake sample. Delicious homegrown strawberries on a wedge of shortcake and topped with a dollop of whipped cream will be offered until we run out. Winners of our farmers' market poster contest will be announced on Saturday as well. Good luck to all of the participants! More local vegetables and fruits are coming in every day. Farmers and gardeners who have greenhouses and high tunnels have early vegetables.

Two well-known local artists have donated works for the live auction that will be held during The Arts Commission of Danville/Boyle County's bi-annual fundraiser, the Art-full Raffle. The event is set for Saturday at Pioneer Playhouse. “Study for Spiral,” by Sheldon Tapley, Stodghill Professor of Art at Centre College, is an oil still life on a wood panel. Described as a contemporary realist, he is best known for his still life paintings. Tapley has been featured on Kentucky Educational Television's series “Looking at Painting” and has received the Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council.  Tapley's works are found in museum, academic, corporate and private collections throughout the United States.

The Marshall County Hoop Fest featured some of the nation's best high school talent last year and Hoop Fest director Dan Hudson is already putting together another star-laden even for Dec. 5-6-7 in Benton. “We really think we could have a special event again,” said Hudson. Kentucky recruiting target Cliff Alexander of Chicago Curry will be back to play in the event for the second straight season. The 6-9, 240-pound Alexander is ranked as the nation's second best center and No. 5 overall prospect by Scout.com.

Terrence Commodore recently was sitting around with one of his mentors when it was suggested maybe he put together a summer basketball camp featuring some of the players he got to know when he was on John Calipari's staff at Kentucky. “I have a good relationship with a lot of guys that came through Kentucky and was good friends with them,” said Commodore, a former Mason County basketball player. “I just put a concept together and ran with it. They were all pretty open to it. The main part was just scheduling and making sure who was available when.

A new book about High Bridge will be released at a bean-soup supper fundraiser sponsored by the High Bridge Community Association on Saturday, April 20. Entitled “High Bridge, Kentucky,” it is a 128-page photographic journey from the building of the original bridge to the rebuilding of it in 1910-'11 through today. Authors Melissa and Judith Jurgensen will sell and sign copies of their book from 5-6:30 p.m. during the bean supper event. The supper will be held in the former fire-department building located at 4699 High Bridge Road from 5-8 p.m. Adult  meals are  priced at $7, children's meals at $4. At 6:30 p.m.,  Jessamine Creek Express, a local bluegrass band, will perform.

GRAVEL SWITCH - A number of new activities are scheduled for this year's Kentucky Writers Day event Friday through Sunday at Penn's Store. A longtime supporter of Penn's Store, musician Michael B. Hill, died March 25. The Lebanon resident was excited about this year's Kentucky Writers Day celebration, said Penn's Store owner Jeanne Lane. “The 2013 KWD celebration event is being dedicated in his honor, “ she said. A salute to author Obie Slater also is planned, “honoring the songs written from the early (rock and roll, and rhythm and blues)

The LLL Club met at 10:30 a.m. March 19 at Central Baptist Church for a regular monthly meeting and potluck lunch. David Hoffman, president, called the meeting to order and gave the opening prayer. The Rev. Ed Davis was the devotional speaker, who read from 1 Corinthians 15. Glenda Hoffman, program chairperson, introduced the Winchester Dulcimers Club, who played several hymns. The minutes were read by Carolyn Steagall and the treasurer's report was given by Phyllis Henderson.

A Winchester woman will have her newly published children's book featured at America's Book Expo in New York City this summer. Leila Reinersman published her book with Xlibris, a self-publishing company. This story, entitled “Ricky & Thomas the Dragon,” is her first book and is illustrated by Brian Rose of Winchester. The story was inspired by her grandson, Ricky, of whom she has legal custody. The book is about a little boy named Ricky who gets curious and finds a secret passage to Dragonville in his closet.

Appalachia figures prominently in Kentucky culture, history, and politics and serves as the centerpiece of George Ella Lyon's Lunch with the Arts presentation this Wednesday at the Boyle County Public Library. George Ella's connection to Appalachia runs strong and deep; as she explains, “I grew up in the mountains of Harlan County, Kentucky. All four of my grandparents were in Harlan, so I heard a lot of stories from them that reflected Appalachian culture.” The connection to writing and creative expression runs just as deep for Lyon.

PLEASANT HILL - The sap is rising at Shaker Village and the tasty results can be tasted at the March Maple Syrup Breakfasts. "You've never had real maple syrup until you've had maple syrup straight from the tree,” said Aimee Reed Darnell, publicist for Shaker Village. “It's all natural, nothing added - just 100 percent pure, fresh maple syrup. It doesn't get any better than that. " The maple syrup season  is from late February through early April. Darnell said it takes about 35-40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.