Beaumont YMCA opens new pavilion
The Beaumont Centre Family YMCA's new "Let Your Light Shine Pavilion" was dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in early May.
The pavilion, which is located across from the outdoor pool at the YMCA facility, is 25 ft. by 60 ft. and includes restrooms, storage, water fountains and seating for approximately 80 people. The pavilion will be used for summer day camps, family nights, special events and community events.
The pavilion was constructed last fall thanks to a $60,000 donation from the Kentucky Center for Orthodontics, Drs. Douglas D. Durbin, John H. Huang and Thomas C. Garner.
The Beaumont Centre Family YMCA is located at 3250 Beaumont Centre Cir. For more information, call (859) 219-9622.
Six Dunbar students named National Merit Scholars
Six students from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School have been named National Merit Scholars. The students (with probable field of study) are:
Timothy Cui (computer science), Arunita Kar (biomedical engineering), Jay Li (medicine), Victor Macrinici (medicine), Paul Parell (engineering) and Lawrence Rogers (computer science, business).
Thirteen students in Fayette County Public Schools are among Kentucky's 34 winners of $2,500 awards from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Belle Brezing subject in local playwright's AGL production
Local playwright Margaret C. Price explores the twilight of Belle Brezing's death in the latest Actors Guild of Lexington production, "Belle Brezing."
Brezing, the legendary madam who inspired Belle Watling of "Gone with the Wind" fame, is one of the most charismatic, colorful and scandalous women ever to come out of the South. When she died in August, 1939, the New York Times ran her obit on the front page and Time Magazine paid tribute to Miss Brezing, whose house of pleasure of Lexington's Megowan Street was known as "the most orderly of disorderly houses."
This production is part of Actors Guild of Lexington's first season with their new stage in the South Elkhorn Village. The show runs from June 2 - 12. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. For more information, or tickets, visit www.actors-guild.org.
MoonDance at Midnight Pass announces summer programming
The Beaumont Circle's new amphitheater, MoonDance at Midnight Pass, now under a partnership with LexArts, has announced numerous events and series for its upcoming season, including music, film and community events (see our Summer Entertainment Guide beginning on page 18 for listings and schedules).
The Summer Concert Series will offer something for all ages including international acts along with home-grown talent. Select Thursday nights will see Movies at MoonDance. One theme will be explored each month over the course of three films. In addition to these series, MoonDance will also host several programs presented by members of the community.
MoonDance is currently seeking volunteeres to help at all events. Interested community members should contact general manager Joe Cannon Artz, at jartz@lexarts.org or (859) 225-0370. For more information on the 2011 MoonDance schedule, to purchase tickets, or to book an event, visit www.MoonDanceLex.com.
Area gardens to be featured in upcoming annual Blue Grass Hemerocallis (Daylily) Society garden tour
Several home gardens in Lexington and the surrounding areas, including several homes in the Southsider district, will be featured in the upcoming open garden tour organized by the Blue Grass Hemerocallis (Daylily) Society on June 26. The tour will take place from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., though times will vary for each garden.
The gardens feature an array of daylilies in various shapes, sizes and colors -
"not your average roadside daylilies," as event organizers put it. A handful of daylily hybridizers will be featured on the tour, including the Paris farm of John and Annette Rice, who were featured in the April 2010 issue of this magazine, and the Lawrenceburg farm of David Kirchoff and Mort Morss, who are among the largest daylily hybridizers in the country. Some home gardens will feature cultivators for sale as well.
Organizers plan to make brochures and maps available at Michler's Florist in Chevy Chase well in advance of the event. Maps and times will also be available at the Blue Grass Hemerolcallis website www.daylilyfans.com/bghs.
Applications for second round of stormwater incentive grants available
Applications are now being accepted for a new round of Stormwater Quality Project Incentive grants. The program, now in its second year, is funded by the Water Quality Management Fee and provides financial assistance for infrastructure projects and educational initiatives that focus on improving the water quality of Lexington's streams and waterways and reducing stormwater runoff.
The Class A grants are generally designed for organizations representing single-family residences and farm properties. Neighborhood, community and homeowners associations are eligible to apply for a maximum grant of $50,000. A 20 percent match of the total project cost is required, and may be provided as cash or as in-kind donation of supplies or volunteer hours.
Applications are due at 5 p.m. June 17. Application packets and additional grant information can be found at www.lexingtonky.gov/incentives.
Class B grants, which are available for commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family residential facilities, will open for applications later in June and will be due in August or September.
Last year, 15 grants totaling $239,259 were provided to neighborhood and community groups.
Airport to host June 2nd Sunday community fitness gathering
The second annual 2nd Sunday at Blue Grass Airport has been scheduled for 1 - 5 p.m. June 12. As part of the 2nd Sunday initiative, this event will provide members of the local community a unique opportunity to take advantage of the airport's 4,000-foot runway to active with family and friends.
"Hosting 2nd Sunday at Blue Grass Airport is truly an innovative way for Lexington to use its existing infrastructure to exercise, stay active and be together as a community," said 9th District Council Member Jay McChord.
Attendees are invited to bring their bikes, rollerblades, Frisbees and sporting equipment. For those looking for a more relaxing afternoon, space will be available for picnicking and watching the airplanes landing and taking off on the nearby commercial runway.
2nd Sunday offers monthly events in Lexington and annual events statewide that encourage all forms of physical activity within the local community. For more information, visit www.2ndsundayky.com.
Dunbar student wins state water project competition
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School junior Orsolya Hegyi wrote Kentucky's winning entry in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition. Her paper was titled "An Approach to Water Purification Using Carbon Nanotube Membranes." The entries were judged by an environmental scientist and civil engineer specializing in water and wastewater design.
Orsolya, who studies in Dunbar's Math, Science and Technology Center, will compete on the national level June 23 - 26 in Chicago. Each year, thousands of students in more than 30 nations vie for the chance to represent their country at the international final, held during World Water Week in Stockholm.
New Businesses
Petitude, a new dog and cat grooming salon, celebrated a ribbon-cutting opening ceremony on May 21. The store is located behind Animal Clinic at 3600 Palomar Centre Dr. The store's hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Tues. - Fri.; 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sat. For more information, call (859) 296-0999 or visit www.petitudegroomingsalon.com.