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"Script to screen" filmmakers program at BCTC
A movement to bring full-time filmmaking to Kentucky took an important step forward with the announcement of a new program at Bluegrass Community and Technical College scheduled to begin January 8.
Conceived by Lexington videographer Arthur Rouse, the one-semester program offers 15 master classes in subjects ranging from screenwriting, grip and cinematography to set design, sound recording, directing, editing, lighting and distribution. The program will be co-directed by Rouse and BCTC Theater Arts Director Tim Davis.
Rouse said Kentucky needs a trained and available workforce in order to attract productions. Also key to competing with Louisiana, North Carolina and New Mexico among others is a more inviting tax climate. A proposed incentives package did not survive the 2006 session, but proponents said they may try again in 2007.
The BCTC classes will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday in newly equipped facilities at the school's Regency Road campus. Enrollment, which is limited, requires all six courses for a total of 12 hours. Housing options and financial aid are available.
For more information, contact Tim Davis at 859-246-6672.
Chamber prepares for annual leadership trip
Commerce Lexington Senior Vice President, Marketing & Member Services Lynda Bebrowsky and Special Events Director Katie Hardwick made an advance trip to Boulder, Colo. in preparation for the chamber's 68th annual Leadership Visit.
"It's easy to see why people fall in love with Boulder and move there or stay there," said Bebrowsky. "The personality of the city is so distinct, and while you're there you really want to 'experience' it."
Leadership trips have resulted in a long list of concepts that have become Lexington realities, ranging from LFUCG's Herbie and Rosie programs (Scottsdale, 1981), the Kentucky World Trade Center (New Orleans, 1988) and Coldstream Park (Madison, 1997) to development of the Emerging Business Opportunities collaboration leading to two half-day workshops at Blue Grass Airport to assist minority business owners in participating in projects related to airport expansion initiatives (Baltimore, 2003).
The 2007 trip to Boulder is scheduled for May 16-18.
Horse Park hotel developer is sought
The Kentucky Horse Park is again seeking a developer to build the proposed privately funded hotel at the Kentucky Horse Park, a facility critical to operations of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010, which will be hosted at the park.
The Finance and Administration Cabinet issued a formal request for proposals, commonly called an RFP, seeking bids from private developers. The project is being re-bid after the original bidder, Koll Development Co. of Dallas, failed to secure investment capital by an October 30 deadline.
Sources familiar with the project said the developer had difficulty selling investors on the idea of a AAA four-diamond, 250-room hotel because of doubts that the facility could sustain a robust business year-round.
The new solicitation from the state specifies that the hotel should have no fewer than 200 rooms and be at least a AAA three-diamond, large-scale hotel. The RFP also includes a conference center and a restaurant.
Bids are due by December 1, 2006. According to a Finance Cabinet press release, a short list of candidates will be created by December 15 and a final decision will be made by April 15, 2007.
Completion of the project is expected by late 2008, in time to accommodate the Games.
Alltech does it again
Alltech has recently stepped up its presence as a major sponsor of local events in and around Lexington. The Nicholasville-based company signed-on as the presenting sponsor of the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. Now the global bio-tech firm will make it possible for viewers worldwide to experience a new locally originated event called "An Old Fashioned Holiday Celebration of Song," scheduled for December 16 in the main atrium of historic Victorian Square in downtown Lexington.
The day-long event will begin at 8 a.m. and run for 12 hours, culminating in a main stage performance from 7-8 p.m. with professional vocalists and a 20-piece orchestra all under the lead of Dr. Everett McCorvey, director of the UK Opera Theatre. Alltech is lending the expertise and technology of its media team to stream the evening performance live around the world on www.lexholidayevening.org. The audio will air live on KISS FM radio.
"We think this kind of event not only brings the joy of holiday music to Lexingtonians, but with an interesting twist: the main stage program will be broadcast to over 80 countries live," commented McCorvey, referring to the Alltech assist.
One thousand tickets have been issued for the main stage program and are free of charge. They are available at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, the UK Opera Theatre office, and select Victorian Square merchants.
Businesses create care package project for troops
Paramount Bank and Keller Williams Realty have joined together for the Soldier Shoebox Project, a local initiative that collects care packages for troops. People are encouraged to fill a shoebox with small canned goods, games, personal care items, batteries and writing materials.
Mary Lee Mahr, director and team leader of Keller Williams Realty, brought the project to Lexington as a tribute to her father, an Army veteran. Her hope is to bring the community together to support the troops, offering a morale boost to those men and women fighting overseas.
For more information e-mail SoldierShoeBox@ aol.com or call Mary Lee Mahr at (859) 321-0244.
Insight rolls out high speed Web service
Insight Communications has been rolling out an upgrade of its high-speed Internet service. Called Insight Broadband 10.0, the service provides download speeds up to 10 MB and upload speeds up to 1 MB. According to Insight, it means the upgraded service is up to six times faster than 1.5 MB DSL service and up to 170 times faster than a 56 kbps dial-up modem. The upgrade was being made available in phases to existing customers at no additional cost.
Insight has set up a demonstration micro-site at www.blowsDSLaway.com.
Joseph-Beth celebrates 20 years
Neil and Mary Beth Van Uum opened the first Joseph-Beth store in Lexington in November of 1986. The original bookstore began in a 6,500-square-foot space, and over the years, expanded to the current 40,000-square-foot bookstore, located in the Mall at Lexington Green. The space offers customers two stories of books and sidelines, music and children's departments, and a full-service restaurant overlooking the Lexington Green Lake.
The company's second store in Cincinnati, Ohio, opened in 1993. In 1997, Van Uum purchased an independent bookstore chain, Davis-Kidd Booksellers and stores were added in several Tennessee markets. In 2000 and 2001, stores in Cleveland, Ohio, were added, and in 2004 and 2005 two additional stores in Charlotte and Pittsburgh were brought into the budding chain for seven stores in five states.
Plans for 2007 include improvements such as recarpeting, repainting, bringing in some new fixtures, and adding some comfort items. The bookstore hopes to get started with renovations in January and complete the work by mid-February, in time for Valentine's Day.
Omni designs new UK student facility
Omni Architects of Lexington recently announced the ceremonial groundbreaking for a new Student Health Facility at the University of Kentucky. The $24 million building at the corner of Rose and Limestone will include 72,000 square feet of space; 39 exam rooms; nurse triage; a medical student and resident library; a retail pharmacy and drug testing unit; a student self-care room; procedure rooms; and a sports medicine room.
The UK Student Health Facility is scheduled for completion in March of 2008.
While we're on the subject
Omni Architects is a recent recipient of the Kentucky Society of Architects Honor Award for Excellence in Architectural Design for its design of UK's Center for Rural Health in Hazard. The firm also received a merit award for its design of the Natural Science Building on the campus of Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights.
Other Lexington-based firms cited at the society's annual convention in Covington include J. David Carter of Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects — Distinguished Service Award. The firm also received a Citation for Excellence in Architectural Design for Mason Source on Angliana Avenue; Darlene Gardner of F.W. Dodge/McGraw-Hill Construction of Nicholasville — Allied Professional Award; Guyon Architects, Inc. — Merit Award for Excellence in Architectural Design for the Dickson Residence of Frankfort.