Dunbar fencer takes home the bronze at the world championship
Lee Kiefer, a senior at Paul Dunbar High School, won the bronze medal at the Senior World Fencing Championships in Catania, Italy, in October, making her the second U.S. woman in history to capture an individual medal in foil at the championship.
Kiefer lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Valentina Vezzali of Italy, the three-time Olympic gold medalist. This is the second time Kiefer lost to Vezzali, who won her first of 19 World Championship medals in 1994 - when Kiefer wasn't even a month old.
"If I keep improving, eventually I'm going to beat her," said Kiefer of Vezzali. Kiefer, a two-time Pan-American champion, is ranked No. 13 internationally and was competing at her third Senior Worlds after finishing 27th in 2010.
Shaker Village announces new president and CEO
In early October, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill announced the appointment of Maynard Crossland as president and chief executive officer. Crossland, an Illinois native, had previously led the Illinois State Preservation Agency, a state agency which oversaw 60 historic sites in the state of Illinois. He was discovered by a national search firm, which was hired by the Search Committee of Shaker Village's Board of Trustees. Crossland succeeds Madge Adams, who retired from Shaker Village this summer.
Lights, Santa, Action: Tree lighting festival scheduled for Nov. 25
The holiday season is always a special time in downtown Lexington, and 2011 promises to be no exception.
Festivities for the season begin with the Tree Lighting Festival on Nov. 25 in the newly redesigned Triangle Park. Holiday food and drink, music and the United Trust Company Ice Skating Rink will provide the backdrop as Santa Claus visits downtown to turn the key and light downtown.
The grand opening of the skating rink will take place at 2 p.m. in Triangle Park. From 2 - 7 p.m., food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, and more festivities will be setting the mood for a delightful day downtown. At 6 p.m., join Santa has he flips the switch and lights up downtown Lexington. From 7 - 10 p.m., free carriage rides will be provided so guests can see the city lit up for the season.
Note: The Downtown Christmas Parade will take place at 10 a.m. Dec. 10. Visit www.downtownlex.com for more information, and for entry applications (due Nov. 28).
Kentucky Blood Center seeking help in beating Tennessee for annual blood battle
The Kentucky Blood Center is asking UK football fans to participate in the annual "blood battle" between Kentucky and Tennessee fans -
a competition to collect blood from local donors. The competition, dubbed the "Big Blue Crush" will take place Nov. 14 -
18, with donations scheduled via kybloodcenter.org or by calling (800) 775-2522. Tennessee currently leads the rivalry, 12 to 10 with one tie, but Kentucky won the competition last year for the first time since 2002.
Everyone who registers will receive a Big Blue Crush t-shirt and be eligible for additional prizes. The winning team will be announced at the University of Kentucky vs. University of Tennessee football game on Nov. 26 at Commonwealth Stadium.
2011 Leaf Collection Program
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Division of Parks & Recreation has announced plans for the 2011 leaf collection program, eligible to all Fayette County residents who receive trash collection from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's Division of Waste Management.
The program will begin on Monday, Nov. 28, and will continue through Thursday, Dec. 22.
New this year, citizens will only receive one vacuum pick-up.To find out when the leaf collection crew will be working in various neighborhoods, individuals should visit the LFUCG website at www.lexingtonky.gov/leaves for a complete listing of streets and when those areas will be serviced.
Once a resident has determined when the crews will be in their neighborhood, on the Sunday before the service crew will be in their neighborhood, they need to rake their leaves into piles in the service area between the sidewalk and the street. It is requested that these piles only contain leaves since other objects such as rocks and tree limbs can injure crew members or damage the
equipment.
Residents also have the option of utilizing their Lenny yard waste container or the 30-gallon paper yard waste bags which are available at a variety of local retail stores, which are free for those who live in the Urban Services Area (qualifying residents should have recently received coupons in the mail -- those who did not receive them or who need more can call LexCall at 311). The Lenny cart and the yard waste bags will be picked-up on the homeowner's regularly scheduled pick-up day.
All collected leaves, along with other yard waste collected by the LFUCG, are composted to make mulch that is used by local landscapers and nurseries.
The LFUCG Division of Waste Management gives away the mulch to Fayette County residents on a quarterly basis. For additional information on the leaf collection program, contact LexCall at 311 or 425-2255.
New outpatient office for Hospice of Bluegrass' Palliative Care
The Hospice of the Bluegrass' Palliative Care Center, previously located at the St. Joseph Office Park, has opened a new outpatient care center on Member's Way. Palliative Care Center is a nonprofit subsidiary of Hospice of the Bluegrass that provides care for patients living with a serious illness, but is different from Hospice in that Hospice is typically limited to patients with a life expectancy of six months or less. The care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work with a patient's doctors to provide an extra layer of support and comfort to the patient and family.
The new center on Member's Way is geared toward patients who live at home and are able to travel to the office for visits; the palliative team is also available to schedule a visit to the patient's home if they are unable to come to the office. For more information on the center, which is located at 2407 Member's Way, call (859) 278-4869 or visit www.hospicebg.org/palliativecare.html.