Monthly Archives: May 2013
Five Year Old Raises Money For Oklahoma Tornado Victims
Five year old Aiden Thacker has been attending The Kinder Garden School in West Chester
since he was a toddler, and director Trudi Simpson told me he has always been an empathetic little boy. Still, what a special surprise when he walked into her office out of the blue one day recently and told her he wanted to raise money for the families who lost everything in the Oklahoma tornado.
“What could I say? Of course I wanted to support him,” Trudi said. “I suggested that he make a sign and write a letter to the KGS families and he responded immediately. He got his whole class involved.”
This is what his note read: “My name is Aiden. I want to help all the people of the tornado. They need food, clothes, toys and money for their homes. So, please help.”
Aiden’s goal is to raise $500 to donate to Matthew 25 Ministries which will go directly to aid the victims of the May 20 tornado. And he has already exceeded that goal with the help of family, neighbors and classmates.
Aiden’s sign he made to display at his school
The Kinder Garden School will hold a ceremony so Aiden can present the money to a representative of Matthew 25 Ministries on June 7.
“We are all so proud of Aiden and his philanthropic spirit,” Trudi said. “He is such a loving boy and for him to be so enthusiastic about helping others shows just what a future leader looks like.”
Northern Kentucky Music Hall Of Fame Inductees To Be Honored
Behringer-Crawford Museum
A guitarist from King Crimson. The owner of an allegedly haunted country music nightclub. The man who wrote “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. What do these people have in common? They are a part of Northern Kentucky’s rich musical heritage that will be showcased at Behringer-Crawford Museum’s upcoming exhibit, “Northern Kentucky Music Legends” opening at 4 p.m. on June 2, 2013.
“Northern Kentucky Music Legends” highlights artists from Northern Kentucky who have spent more than 20 years sharing their love of music with the public. Some have become internationally known, while others have made their impact locally. This exhibit celebrates the people and places that continue to cultivate the region’s profound connection with music.
Bobby Mackey
The exhibit is a partnership between BCM, the newly formed Northern Kentucky Music Legend committee, and local musicians, high school band directors, music promoters and producers, with the goal of increasing understanding and awareness of local music.
Rosemary Clooney
The exhibit will kick off at from 4 to 7 p.m, Sunday, June 2, with a ceremony honoring the Hall-of-Fame inaugural inductees: Adrian Belew, Bob Braun, Rosemary Clooney, Mike Connor, Skeeter Davis, Haven Gillespie, Bobby Mackey, Steve Mendell, Kenny Price, Michael Reilly, Charles Tharp, Gary Winter, and the band Strange Brew. A reception and tour of the exhibit will follow the induction ceremony. (Cost is $5 to attend the ceremony.)
I wrote an earlier post about Bobby Mackey and his legacy to our region. Here is a link.
Through the summer, BCM will host additional events associated with the exhibit. On July 11, inductees Strange Brew and special guests New Lime will perform as part of the Music@BCM concert series. On August 4, inductees will join together for an “Open Mic Concert” showcasing the talents that make them legends. And on August 25, local high school students will perform at “Future Music Legends Take the Stage.”
For more information about these events, the exhibit, or the museum, please contact BCM at (859) 491-4003 or info@bcmuseum.org.
Behringer-Crawford Museum is supported in part by our members; the City of Covington, Kenton County Fiscal Court, Kentucky Arts Council, ArtsWave, and The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Hail, Jr. US Bank Foundation.
Strong People Use Their Muscles To Lift Others Up
Firefighters Honored For Saving Lives At Beverly Hills Super Club
I remember that Memorial Day weekend 36 years ago well. Friends of my parents told the story of escaping one of the horrific events of their life. Flames roared through the Beverly Hills Super Club, leveling it and claiming the lives of 165 people and injuring many more that evening. Everyone at their party thankfully got out but for those who survived, their 
memories will forever remain.
It was four brutal days and nights for the hundreds of area firefighters who worked tirelessly at that Southgate landmark. Those heroes saved more than 2,000 people in the deadliest Kentucky fire ever known.
Tonight, May 24, 2013, the Kentucky State Fire Marshall will honor the local firefighters with a presentation of the Medal of Valor, the highest honor for a fire department, to the Southgate Fire Department. And firefighters from throughout the region who battled the supper club fi
re will receive ribbons.
Dick Riesenberg was the Southgate fire chief at time of fire, and was the second firefighter to arrive to the club’s entrance when the emergency call came in to the Southgate Fire Department. He nearly lost 19 firefighters from his crew as the Cabaret Room ceiling was beginning to collapse from the heat. Dick lobbied for the award that is being given tonight.
“Our guys did a tremendous job, and I was very proud to be their leader that night,” he told Cindy Schroeder of the Kentucky Enquirer. “More than 2,000 people, or 96 percent of the people who were at the club that night, were saved.”
A Tribute To Teachers
Every day millions of teachers are entrusted with the lofty responsibility of teaching our nation’s children. And, on any normal day, that is exactly what they do. But then, there are those not so normal days when the unthinkable becomes reality. When a shooter ravages the hallways or a powerful tornado pillages the classrooms. On those days, we are reminded these teachers who are entrusted with our future are also protectors and heroes.
Thank you to them!
