Winning Cities, W.i.r.e. Scholarships, More
Stories from the heart of Kentucky
Goodwill job placements increase
Quick courses on Shakers and Carousel
Electric co-op group offers scholarships
Stories from the heart of Kentucky
Retired Louisville Courier-Journal writer Byron Crawford spent 29 years traveling the state from corner to corner to introduce his readers to Kentucky’s common folk, to the local legends and mysteries, and to learn more about those who found their fame. His articles earned him recognition as a Hall of Fame journalist, but perhaps more importantly, the admiration of those he chose to spotlight. Crawford’s son, Eric, says in the book’s foreword, “I know what his work has meant to the state if only because, one by one, people tell me now and again about the time he came to interview a family member, and how they still talk about that day, or have framed the column, or read a portion of it at the funeral of someone he wrote about.”
Beginning in January, readers can now catch Crawford each month in Kentucky Living’s new back page column, Byron Crawford’s Kentucky.
Kentucky Footnotes (Acclaim Press, $24.95) is Crawford’s third sampling of the more than 4,500 articles he wrote during his time at The Courier-Journal. Readers will learn about, or be reminded of, folks such as Brigadier General Taylor Davidson, a retired Kentucky deputy adjutant general who brought consistency to the design of Kentucky’s state flag, or Charles “Dutch” Eiford, a Southern Railway engineer who played songs on his train’s whistle, or visit places such as Madisonville’s Mandy Tree, once known for its ghostly likeness to its former owner. With each story, readers will more appreciate the variety across Kentucky’s culture.
Crawford quotes Red Smith as saying on writing, “All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” It seems that Crawford discovered this gift of sharing not only his subjects’ stories, but a piece of himself with each publication.
“I have been lucky in this regard,” Crawford says. “Always, when I stray from the Red Smith method, someone offers a gentle reminder that the source of good writing is the heart.”
Penny Woods for Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Pennymouse1@yahoo.com, (800) 248-6849, www.josephbeth.com.
Use your microwave for cooking whenever possible. It uses 50 to 65 percent less energy than conventional ovens. Conventional ovens may be more appropriate for larger size items when cooking time is increased.
“Electric co-ops are urging Congress and the White House to approve a two-year moratorium on Environmental Protection Agency regulation of carbon dioxide greenhouse gases—a delay giving law-makers the opportunity to fashion climate change legislation that protects consumers and keeps electric bills affordable.”
Glenn English, CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Goodwill job placements increase
Despite high national unemployment figures, fiscal year 2010 saw a 24 percent increase in job placements for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky. Their job creation, training, and placement agency for Kentuckians with disabilities or other barriers to employment established jobs for 1,657 people.
“The jobs created in each of our centers and the placements we make through partnerships across the Commonwealth help chip away at that gap for Kentuckians who truly want to work but who struggle with disabilities or other disadvantages in finding and keeping good jobs,” says Roland R. Blahnik, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky.
Goodwill operates 58 donation and retail centers in 38 counties. In 2011, Goodwill expects to open new locations in Louisville, Barbourville, and Paris, and will relocate existing centers in Louisville and Hopkinsville.
To locate the nearest donation center or retail store, go to www.goodwillky.org.
Quick courses on Shakers and Carousel
Northern Kentucky University’s Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement has two remaining lectures in the “Six @ Six” series.
On Thursday, March 31, the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington will host “Simple Gifts from Our Past: Frontier Shakers in the Ohio River Valley.” Dr. Carol Medlicott, assistant professor, Department of History and Geography, will discuss a wide range of Shaker topics, including music, furniture, architecture, grasp of simplicity, and their demise.
On Wednesday, April 13, The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center in Covington will host “The Marriage of Music and Word: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Fearless Carousel.” Broadway veteran Mark Hardy, associate professor, Department of Theatre and Dance, will examine the process and challenges of directing Carousel and delve into the complexity, beauty, and dramatic power of its score.
Each lecture begins at 6 p.m. The cost is $6, free for students. For tickets and information, visit sixatsix.nku.edu or call (859) 572-1448 or (859) 572-7847.
The saying “Actions speak louder than words” became a reality for Jim Pirtle, professional photographer, and the late H. Schirmer Riley, M.D. Not only did the aviation buddies talk about flying around the world—they completed the task and wrote a book detailing their adventure.
The men met in the 1960s when Pirtle shared a hospital room with Riley’s father. Their common aviation interest bonded them. They started flying together. Their first trip was in 1970.
“He grew up in Indiana and wound up in Kentucky. I grew up in Kentucky and wound up in Indiana,” Riley liked to explain.
In 1983, Pirtle and Riley flew Riley’s 1958 single-engine Piper Comanche halfway around the world by crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the Malta Air Rally in Europe. After returning home, they made plans to complete a trip around the world. To meet the Circumnavigators Club criteria, they needed to pass over the equator twice. In 1986, the pair departed from Indiana, circling the globe in 41 days, 26,900 miles.
Over the years, they presented numerous slide shows of their trip to aviation organizations across the U.S. Tragically, Dr. Riley was killed in the crash of his Comanche on April 19, 2010. Jim Pirtle still gives presentations about the book and their adventures.
Their book, Two Pilots One Engine, is available at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky in Lexington or by mail: Jim Pirtle, P.O. Box 82, Milton, KY 40045. Cost: $15.95, plus $5.00 shipping/handling. Kentucky residents, add $.60 sales tax per book.
Electric co-op group offers scholarships
Women In Rural Electrification (Kentucky W.I.R.E.) is taking applications for $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships are open to any eligible student whose family is served by a Kentucky electric cooperative and has at least 60 hours of credits at a Kentucky college or university by the start of the fall term. W.I.R.E. will award at least three scholarships.
The deadline for application is June 17. For an application form, go to www.kaec.org and click on the link at the bottom of the New Info box, or call your local electric cooperative or the Kentucky Living office.
Lexington, Paducah, Pikeville, and Scottsville were awarded as winners of the Enterprise Cities Award by the Kentucky League of Cities.
The awards go to municipalities in four population categories. Judging focuses on seven areas:
• innovativeness/creativity of project,
• long-term value to community,
• adaptability to other cities,
• use of public/private partnerships,
• ability to achieve project benchmarks,
• community-citizen participation, and
• program efficiency.
Scottsville (in the 5,000 and under population category) was selected for the “Heart of Scottsville Program.” The nonprofit organization is dedicated to the preservation and economic development of its historic downtown by improving the design and appearance of the business district. Their “streetscape project” enticed numerous facilities to relocate or renovate downtown space. Executive Director Heath Seymour says the greatest outcome from the award was “the sense of confidence and pride it gave the downtown area. We have a nice quality of life here—very walkable, livable.”
Pikeville (5,001-15,000) won for its “Muscle on Main Event.” A car cruise and burnout competition attracted more than 700 cars and 1,000 enthusiasts, and gained national recognition. Local businesses increased retail/restaurant sales, and several public/private partnerships were formed.
Paducah (15,001-40,000) was selected with its “Tree Voucher Program.” To recover the urban forest canopy lost during the 2009 ice storm, residents obtained vouchers for $25 off the price of a tree from participating nurseries. Nearly 1,000 trees were planted.
Lexington (40,001-over) was chosen for its “Live Green Lexington Program.” Recycling and improving water quality practices gave special attention to businesses and apartment complexes. More than 1,300 tons of materials were diverted from landfills, while recyclables generated revenue.
