GoodGiving Guide wraps up with more than $200k raised for local non-profits
The Smiley Pete and Blue Grass Community Foundation wrapped up the inaugural GoodGiving Guide Challenge with a party in January that celebrated a grand total of $204,439 raised for nearly 60 local non-profit agencies since late October. More than1,500 individual donors gave to the cause. The campaign, which was largely geared to encourage charity giving among a younger population, netted 511 donors under the age of 35.
While most of the revenue generated was from Lexington, 141 of the gifts were from outside Kentucky, including 30 other U.S. states, Papua New Guinea and Israel.
Smiley Pete Publishing (this magazine's parent company) would like to extend a special thanks to all the donors, Blue Grass Community Foundation, and local sponsors of the challenge. The organizations plan to issue another giving challenge in late 2012.
Lexington teens win big at award show
Sydney Cubit, 13, and Julia Knight, 15 -- two Lexington teens who began their musical careers at the Beaumont Centre Family YMCA -- won big at the Tennessee Country & Gospel Music Association's annual awards event.
Cubit, who won Vocalist of the Year and two Songwriter of the Year Awards, and Knight, who took home the awards for Entertainer of the Year, CD of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, continue to earn accolades. Both teens are nominated for awards with the Gospel Music Association and have opened for Grammy award winners such as Nora Jones and Michael Martin Murphy.
Kentucky Crafted: The Market to returns to Lexington in March
After a long run in Louisville, the Kentucky Crafted market, which debuted at the Kentucky Horse Park in 1982, will return Lexington this year, just in time for the event's 30th birthday. Located at the Lexington Convention Center, the market will be open to the public March 3 (10 a.m. - 8 p.m.) and 4 (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and features more than 180 exhibiting artisans from Kentucky as well as guest exhibitors from six states. In addition to Kentucky-related books, films, specialty food products, traditional and contemporary fine art and more, the event will feature more than a dozen workshops and music performances, literary readings and film screenings by Kentucky artists throughout the weekend.
Kentucky Crafted: The Market has been rated "No. 1 Fair and Festival" for three years by readers of preeminent contemporary craft magazine AmericanStyle. Admission is $8 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information, visit www.artscouncil.ky.gov/KentuckyArt/2012Market.htm.
Chamber Chorale to host concert of Scandinavian music
The Lexington Chamber Chorale will perform a concert of Scandinavian music under the direction of special guest conductor Gary Graden, an internationally recognized conductor of award-winning choirs from Stockholm, Sweden, on Feb. 11.
The concert, "Land of the Midnight Sun," will range from traditional folk songs to contemporary sonorities, highlighted by improvisational choral singing.
The show is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at Central Baptist Church (110 Wilson Downing Rd.). For more information, or tickets, visit www.lexingtonchamberchorale.org.
Western Little League registering kids for spring season
Western Little League Baseball, which holds games at Cardinal Run Park off Parkers Mill Road, is holding registration for the upcoming spring season for boys and girls who are ages 4 - 12 as of April 30, 2012. The league offers four divisions: tee ball (ages 4 - 6), rookie (ages 7 - 8), minors (ages 9 - 10) and majors (ages 11 - 12).
New this year, the league is offering a one-time, all-inclusive registration fee that covers all costs: uniforms, equipment, umpires, scorekeepers, field maintenance, concession workers and league dues.
To register online, visit www.wllbb.com. Parents can also register their children in person at the Beaumont Kroger from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Feb. 4 and 11, and from 1 - 4 p.m. Feb. 5 and 12.
There is a discounted rate for those who register prior to Feb. 12, and the deadline to register is Feb. 25.
Funding available for local environmental and beautification projects
The Lexington Council Garden Clubs has announced that $4,000 in funding is available for environmental and beautification projects in Fayette County for 2012-2013. The funds are being provided by the Open Gates to the Bluegrass Garden Tour in June, 2012. Funding from previous tours has been used towards community garden and environment projects, repairs, and scholarships.
Encouraged are projects that aim to protect, conserve, or enhance natural resources and civic beauty. Funds are not available for private use or for profit businesses.
For each project, sponsorship by a LCGC member is required. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 15. For more information or an application, contact Lisa Fields, project chair, at (859) 263-9792.
New non-profit seeks to build a skate park at Berry Hill Pool
Friends for Skateparks, a new non-profit organization geared to improve and expand the city's facilities for skateboarding and other action sports, is hosting their inaugural fundraiser on Feb. 26 at Land of Tomorrow gallery in downtown Lexington. The event will include opportunities for skateboarders to participate in a group skateboarding game called "game of skate" and to skate in a mini makeshift indoor skate park. Non-skaters can enjoy live music, DJs, a silent auction, raffle and other activities for kids and adults.
While the non-profit is working with the city to create a plan for additional public skateboard facilities in Lexington, the project will rely heavily on private funding raised by volunteers and investors. For their initial project, the group has their sights set on Berry Hill Park, located off Buckhorn Drive. Part of the proposed 2012 Parks & Recreation Aquatics Master Plan includes closing Berry Hill pool and repurposing it for a skate park; if the General Government Committee approves the proposed plan, it is expected to be referred to the full council for a vote later this month.
For more information on the group and the February event, search for "Friends for Skateparks" on Facebook.
Fundraiser to benefit recently paralyzed local teenager
A fundraiser to benefit 17-year-old Madi Phillips, a senior at Dunbar High School who recently suffered a fall that left her paralyzed from the waist down, will take place on March 8 at the Barrel House event center (1200 Manchester St.) from 6 - 11 p.m. The event will feature live music and a silent auction; a $10 cover charge at the door will help benefit her family, who is working to make their home more handicap accessible.
Donations will also be accepted at any Central Bank location. Contact Lori Poynter at (859) 229-2441 or lpoynter3209@yahoo.com for more information.
New Businesses
ayurVida Natural Wellness, a spa specializing in massage therapy, natural aesthetics, yoga, fitness, and other services, will open its doors Friday, Feb. 10 by appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome. Based on "globally inspired natural health and beauty," ayurVida Natural Wellness only uses non-toxic products and specializes in holistic treatments from India, Morocco, and other exotic places. Located at 431 S. Broadway Suite 311 next to The Lex apartments, ayurVida Natural Wellness will have its official grand-opening event Saturday, Feb. 11. For more information, call (859) 684-6980.
Good Eden Cafe & Pizzeria, a family-owned restaurant that specializes in using local ingredients, opened in October. The first venture of owner Lonnie Sheets, who has spent the last 15 years in the food industry, Good Eden is a member of Local First Lexington and uses Kentucky Proud ingredients in its made-from-scratch pizzas, sandwiches, salads and smoothies. Located at 109 Springdale Dr. in Nicholasville, the restaurant is open from 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.goodedenpizza.com or call (859) 224-0465.