IU Student from Highlands Wins Award for Editorial Cartoons
Indiana University student Ben Wade is the winner of the 2012 John Locher Memorial Award, sponsored by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.

Wade grew up in the Highlands and graduated from duPont Manual High School in 2011. He is a cartoonist for IU’s student newspaper, the Indiana Daily Student, in Bloomington. His cartoons have commented on subjects ranging from IU’s Occupy Bloomington movement to online piracy to medical marijuana. He says a combined interest in politics and art contributed to his motivation to be an editorial cartoonist.  

The John Locher Award originated in 1986 in honor of the late son of Dick Locher, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist who now writes and draws “Dick Tracy.” As part of the prize, Wade’s cartoons will be distributed weekly to college newspapers all over the nation via the McClatchy-Tribune Campus News Service. He also received a $1,000 cash prize and a paid trip to the AAEC’s national convention in Washington, D.C., where he was presented with the award.

At left is a sample of Wade’s work.

Sojourn Church Reopens Historic St. Vincent’s
Louisville’s multi-campus Sojourn Community Church is the 45th fastest-growing church in the U.S., according to Lifeway Research’s new report in Outreach Magazine (outreachmagazine.com). Their growth continues with the launch of Sunday services at the historic St. Vincent de Paul church building, 1207 S. Shelby St., on the corner of Oak and Shelby streets.

Although dormant since 1996, St. Vincent’s has played a part in Louisville’s history since 1886, when the first sermons were given in German, the mother tongue of its mostly immigrant congregation. By the 1920s, nearly 1,000 families worshiped weekly at St. Vincent’s, which continued to enrich the community for decades.

Sojourn has spent the last two years restoring the interior and exterior of the church building. “We wanted to modernize the building while preserving its character,” says Sojourn Lead Pastor Daniel Montgomery.

The church holds identical weekly Sunday worship services at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., with childcare and children’s classes provided at all three. They also hold a service at 7 p.m., during which no children’s classes are provided.

Other Sojourn Church locations in Louisville are 11412 Taylorsville Road and 8509 Westport Road, and in New Albany at 2023 Ekin Road. For more information, visit sojournchurch.com, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (502) 635-7053.

Joseph McGee Publishes Children’s Picture Book
Artist and Germantown resident Joseph McGee has written and illustrated a children’s picture book titled “The Amazing Mr. Duke/Diego’s Circus.” The story, written for McGee’s daughter Tasha, pays homage to a black and white cat named Mr. Duke that for years visited McGee’s studio every evening.  Incorporated in the story are two of McGee’s favorite artists, Mexican painters Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera.

In McGee’s make-believe world, Frida and Diego operate a small circus in Mexico. Adopting Mr. Duke as a kitten, Frida and Diego soon recognize his amazing acrobatic skills and invite the silly-natured cat to join their circus act. Mr. Duke then goes on an exciting adventure down a long orange path leading up to Diego’s circus tent, meeting many new friends along the way.

McGee self-published 100 copies of his book with Evanston Publishing of Louisville. The book is available at Carmichael’s Bookstores for $25 and online at www.evanstonpublishing.com.  

McGee received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the University of Louisville in 1986. His art can be found in many private and corporate collections in Kentucky. This is his first children’s picture book. For more information, visit www.joemcgeeart.com.
 

Writers’ Workshop Debuts in November
All book lovers and writers – from journal writers to published authors and everyone in between – are invited to the first-ever Women Who Write writers’ workshop. The event takes place Saturday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Olmsted Bistro on the Masonic Home campus at 3701 Frankfort Ave.

Registration is $65 for a full day of writing presentations and panels, and includes breakfast, lunch and snacks. The event is open to the public. Participants can register and pay online or by mail.

The day starts with breakfast and a talk by Sheri McGuinn, author of the award-winning “Running Away” and the newly released “Michael Dolan McCarthy.” McGuinn’s background as a probation officer, child protective services caseworker and educator specializing in tough teens informs her writing.

At lunch, Attorney Kyle Anne Citrynell will speak about libel issues and other matters of concern to writers. Twelve breakout sessions address a wide range of topics, including social media marketing strategies, writing song lyrics, and writing for target audiences.

Women Who Write encourages, supports and educates all women who aspire to write. The group meets monthly in the Highlands. For more information or to register for the workshop, visit www.womenwhowrite.com.
 

Farmington Seeks Harvest Fest Volunteers
Farmington Historic Plantation, 3033 Bardstown Road, is looking for volunteers to help with their Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 14, from 10 am. to 6 p.m. Those who sign up for a two-hour time slot enjoy free admission for the rest of the festival. Refreshments will be provided for volunteers, and Beta club or other service hours will be given if requested. The festival needs help with set-up and break-down, parking, children’s activities, information booth, festival admissions, and activity ticket sales.

Visit the Harvest Festival as a guest and enjoy a fun-filled day recreating the 1800s. (See calendar listing for details.)    For more information, visit www.historichomes.org.
 

New Educational Theatre Program Defeats School Bullies with Superheroes
What’s faster than a speeding insult? More powerful than nasty rumors? Able to defeat school bullies in a single bound?

It’s “Be the Hero,” a live, dramatic bullying prevention program for schools.     The program is produced in Louisville by Drama by George, an educational theater producer that has served thousands of students with high-quality, innovative programming.

The production features local artist-educators Ollie Ballew, George Halitzka and Ed Rosenberg. To hold the interest of today’s media-savvy generation, the production includes not only costumed superheroes, but also live special effects, professionally-produced video clips and student volunteers who participate in the onstage action.

The costumed superheroes visit students from kindergarten through sixth grade across the region with a message about bullying, and they challenge kids to become real-life heroes by protecting their school from meanies.

Be the Hero has scheduled over 15 performances for approximately 4,000 students in Kentucky and Indiana schools, and is currently available for bookings. For more information, visit www.dramabygeorge.com or call George Halitzka at (502) 718-5090. Drama by George also offers theatre workshops and artist residencies for all ages.

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