Live on Broadway, sponsored by Paducah Renaissance Alliance, has announced the following confirmed headliners for the summer concert series beginning May 26th and running through August 18th in Downtown Paducah:

May 26 — Jaclyn Graves
June 2 —  Heath Eric and Molly G
June 9 — The Kevin Lucas Orchestra
June 16 — Cates-Jackson Group
June 23 — Paducah Jazz Ensemble
June 30 — Justin Hatcher and the Sidewinder Band
July 7 —  Bawn in the Mash
July 14 — Classic Waxx
July 21 — Adam & the H Bombs
July 28 ANTIOCH
August 4 — D.J. Hawes and Daughters
August 11 — The Cruisers
August 18 —  Mind the Sound

Live on Broadway will showcase musical entertainment along Broadway with featured performances at the stage located at 2nd and Broadway, near the gazebo. All musical acts will begin at 7 p.m. and run until 10 p.m.
Smaller acoustical acts will be staged along Broadway and will be announced as the series begins.

For more information about Live on Broadway, visit Paducah Renaissance Alliance’s website at www.paducahalliance.com to find out the latest details of each week’s events.

St. Nicholas Family Clinic is getting a makeover!  In partnership with JLF Design and supported by BB&T’s Lighthouse Project, the 18 year old organization will be getting a facelift during the “Hands on St. Nick: A Makeover Month” event.  “Our patients deserve a welcoming and comfortable environment when they come to see us.  We treat everyone with dignity and respect regardless of their situation.  So we are creating a space that reflects that philosophy,” says Brandi Harless, Executive Director of the Clinic.  On Saturday May 26, from 8am-4pm, the Clinic is hosting a volunteer day for the community to help paint, lay flooring, clean, organize and push the project forward. 

The renovations will include a remodeled waiting space with new floors, paint, seating and a cluster of nature-inspired artwork from the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club art mentoring program.  CSI is donating all new furniture for the facility.  All exam rooms will also get a basic facelift with fresh paint and art work from local artists.  To date, several local volunteer groups have helped prep the building for its’ facelift.  Groups include the Murray State Paducah Campus Ambassadors and the Friendship Baptist Church Youth Group led by Shane Young. 

The Clinic staff is working hard to adjust their workflow in anticipation for Electronic Medical Records implementation in the next 18 months.  This will include re-purposing many unused or limited use spaces that exist now.  “Instead of the Clinic having to go out and buy a new building in order to see more patients, we want to maximize their current space first and find ways to improve where they are”, says Jessica Folmar of JLF Interior Designs.

If you are interested in helping on May 26 or any other time, contact Brandi Harless at 575.3247 x.116/ brandi@stnicholasfamilyclinic.com or find St. Nicholas Family Clinic on Facebook. 

Our good friend and super-talented artist, Michael Crouse, who has been Executive Director of the Yeiser Art Center for the past several years is moving on to do his own thing and the YAC Board is seeking applications for a new director! Think you’d be a good fit? Send cover letter and resume to Yeiser Board President, 320 N. 6th Street, Paducah, KY 42001.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College has been named one of 120 community colleges in the nation eligible to compete in the 2013 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

WKCTC was named a Finalist with Distinction and one of the top five community colleges in the nation in last year’s competition.

Highlighting the critical importance of improving student success in America’s community colleges, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program named today120 top community colleges, challenging them to compete for the $1 million fund for the 2013 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.  The Aspen Institute identified the 120 community colleges—10 percent of all institutions—using a quantitative formula that assesses performance and improvement in four areas: graduation rates, degrees awarded, student retention rates, and equity in student outcomes.  These colleges will now compete for the prestigious honor following a year-long research process into how well their students learn, complete degrees, and get jobs with competitive wages after graduating.  A full list of the 120 community colleges is available at www.AspenPrize.org. Prize winners will be announced in March 2013.

In addition to WKCTC, four other Kentucky community colleges were named eligible to compete. They are Hazard Community and Technical College, Madisonville Community College, Somerset Community College and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College.

The inaugural Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence was awarded to the 70,000-student Valencia College (Orlando, Florida) in December 2011. It was the first broad national recognition of extraordinary accomplishments at individual community colleges.

Some seven million students – youth and adult learners – enroll in America’s 1,200 community colleges every year.

“The success of our nation’s community colleges is more important than ever before,” said Aspen Institute College Excellence Program Executive Director Josh Wyner who yesterday announced the names of the 120 top community colleges at the annual convention of the American Association of Community Colleges in Orlando, Florida. “At a time when a college degree is essential to entering the middle class, community colleges offer the most promising path to education and employment for literally millions of Americans.  This competition spotlights excellence and helps raise the bar for all community colleges to improve student achievement and better prepare the next generation for the job market after college.”  The 120 community colleges announced today were selected from a national pool of over 1,000 public two-year colleges using publicly available data on student outcomes. The data were analyzed by an expert advisory committee co-chaired by William Trueheart, CEO of Achieving the Dream, and Keith Bird, former chancellor of the Kentucky Community College System.

The data focuses on completion, considered from three perspectives:

• Performance (retention, graduation rates including transfers, and degrees and certificates per 100 “full time equivalent” students)
• Improvement (awarded for steady improvement in each performance metric over time)
• Equity (evidence of completion outcomes for minority and low-income students)

These community colleges have been invited to submit applications containing detailed data on degree/certificate completion (including progress and transfer rates), labor market outcomes (employment and earnings) and student learning outcomes. They must demonstrate that they deliver exceptional student results for all students – including those who come from racial minority and/or low-income backgrounds – and also use data to inform decisions and continually improve over time.

Ten finalists will be named in September. The Aspen Institute will conduct site visits to each of the finalists in the fall. A distinguished Prize Jury co-chaired by John Engler, president of Business Roundtable, former Michigan Governor, and former president of the National Association of Manufacturers and Richard Riley, former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Secretary of Education, will select a grand prize winner and four runners-up, to be announced in March 2013.

“American employers have jobs open right now but lack enough skilled, educated workers to fill them,” Engler said. “The job training programs at community colleges must play a central role in filling those gaps and preparing the American workforce. Community colleges’ success will help determine whether and in what sectors America will continue to lead in the global economy.”

While every community college faces challenges, particularly in today’s economic climate, Secretary Riley underscored the importance of improving outcomes for community college students, the majority of whom are underrepresented minorities: “Many community colleges across this country are doing an excellent job of boosting student success, but we need to encourage all community colleges to achieve excellence. When students learn more, graduate or transfer to four-year institutions, and get competitive-wage jobs after college, it helps everyone - students, employers and our nation’s economy as a whole.”

West Kentucky Community and Technical College has joined forces with the Western Area Chapter of the Kentucky Association for Early Childhood Education and Learning Railroad to host The Super Fun Show on April 14.

The Super Fun Show is a curriculum enhancement program that teaches children life lessons in a fun and interactive environment.  Comedian, musician and educator, Shawn Brown, is the creator and host of The Super Fun Show, and uses the program to encourage young children to explore the world around them.

“The Super Fun Show is great family fun that promotes the social-emotional development in young children,” said La Donna Butler, WKCTC Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator and The Super Fun Show public relations director.

Brown teaches about various life skills such as good manners, motor skill development and aerobic activity through music, movement, singing, laughing and more.

“WKCTC is proud to take part in an event that will encourage children and families to join together in a fun learning atmosphere to build confidence and enthusiasm in the community,” said Butler.

The Super Fun Show will be held at the Robert Cherry Civic Center on April 14, 6:00-8:00 p.m.  Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with activities and food for the family.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children.

For more information and advanced tickets, contact the Learning Railroad at (270) 444-9986.

WZZL 106.7 and bbQ &  More are bringing the competition to the streets this May, with Brisket on Broadway!  On May 12th, 2012 from 11am to 4pm, bbQ and More will be hosting a Brisket competition, and selling Brisket Sandwich’s and drinks to fundraise for the main BBQ on the River event later this year. If you have a mouth-watering Brisket recipe that your friends rave about, please join the fun and stop by bbQ & More at 321 Broadway to pick up your entry form. 
Entries will be judged based on tenderness, flavor of the meat and overall impression.

For more information on the event, rules, dates and judging please call Susie or David at 534.5951.

The day of the event, WZZL 106.7 Paducah’s ONLY rock station will provide the fun and music on location and you can enjoy a sandwich, drinks and fun while waiting to see if your Brisket is selected as the BEST in the area!  Certified and Celebrity judges will be making their choice by 4pm on May 12th, 2012 so don’t wait…get your entry form now and see if you have the best Brisket on Broadway!

On May 1, 2012, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Heartland CARES, Inc. will launch SpringTINI, a martini-tasting event on historic Market House Square in Paducah.

Six restaurants – Cynthia’s, Doe’s Eat Place, JP’s Bar & Grill, Max’s, Shandies and Tribeca – have developed signature martinis to serve alongside hors d’oeuvres chosen to complement their special cocktail.  Other shops and businesses on Market House Square will be open to host silent auction items and allow attendees to browse and buy.  Live entertainment and other attractions will contribute to the festive atmosphere.

“This is going to be a truly outstanding event, one we plan to build on in the future,” stated Event Committee Chairperson and Heartland CARES Board Member Kerri Brotherson.  “Ticket holders will enjoy a fun and relaxing evening strolling through Market House Square, sampling signature martinis and small plate offerings from our partner restaurants and bidding on wonderful items like jewelry from Michaelson’s, vacation packages, tickets to sporting events, autographed memorabilia and much more!”

Heartland CARES Executive Director Sue Moore Fenske expressed appreciation for the event’s sponsors.  “We are very grateful to Lourdes Hospital, Four Rivers Harley Davidson, Skyy Vodka, CSI, Walgreens, Paducah Bank and Office Depot for their support of this inaugural event,” said Fenske.  “Proceeds from SpringTINI will support programs and services provided by Heartland CARES, including primary and specialty medical care and social services support for those impacted by HIV infection as well as prevention outreach and community education activities designed to reduce the number of new HIV infections.” 

WHAT: SpringTINI, a martini-tasting event
WHERE: Market House Square in downtown Paducah
WHEN: Tuesday, May 1st, from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
WHO: Persons 21 and older
WHY: A benefit to support the programs and services of Heartland CARES
HOW: Tickets can be purchased online using the link at www.hcares.org or by phone at 888-71-TICKETS or at Heartland CARES Paducah facility.

About Heartland CARES: Heartland CARES, Inc. is a non‐profit organization providing comprehensive, client‐centered, quality health care, support services, prevention education, and HIV testing to persons infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS.  Within the community, we strive to prevent new infections and reduce the stigma associated with this disease by promoting awareness, acceptance, and equality.  Heartland CARES serves 27 counties in the Purchase, Pennyrile and Barren River Districts of Western Kentucky as well as 19 counties in Southern Illinois.  Services at Heartland CARES are provided to all persons regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or ability to pay. 

Have you ever wondered what’s behind the doors of some of the most beautiful homes in Paducah? Well, now is your chance to not only get a look inside, but also sit down with the owners for dinner and help raise money for St. Nicholas Family Clinic.

St. Nicholas will host the 4th Annual Feast for St. Nick fundraiser, on Saturday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m. Seven local homeowners will host a dinner party that will help the clinic raise funds to provide much-needed health care to working families without health insurance or government aid. Attendees will enjoy an elegant dinner prepared by Laura Duff’s Pampered Palate.

Tickets are $75 per person or $140 per couple. All proceeds benefit St. Nicholas Family Clinic.

Event is sponsored by US Bank, Lourdes Hospital, Harrah’s Metropolis, CSI, BB&T, Peel & Holland, P&L Railway

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Brandi Harless, 575.3247.