‘Alice All Around’ at Shawnee State University

PORTSMOUTH — Shawnee State University’s Clark Memorial Library will present two events during the Scioto County Community Arts and Literary Festival “Alice All Around.”

Dr. Darren Harris-Fain, professor in English and Humanities, will be lecturing on “Carroll and His Contemporaries: The Literary Contexts of the Alice Books” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4 in the library alcove. Refreshments will be provided.

Maggie Taylor, author and illustrator of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” published by Modernbook Editions, 2008, will present “Images and Other Things … the evolution of imagery and creative process with the scanner and computer” at noon on Friday, Nov. 12 at the Howland Recital Hall in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts.

The presentation is part of the 2010-11 Jane M.G. Foster Distinguished Lecture Series.

Taylor has been in numerous one-person exhibits throughout the United States and abroad. She has her work in many public and private collections including The Art Museum, Princeton University; The Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.; Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; The Museum of Photography, Seoul, Korea; and the Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, W.Va.

Taylor’s work is featured in “Adobe Photoshop Master Class: Maggie Taylor’s Landscape of Dreams,” published by Adobe Press, 2005; “Solutions Beginning with A,” Modernbook Editions, 2007.

She began using the computer to create her images in 1996 after 10 years as a still-life photographer. Taylor’s work will be displayed at the Southern Ohio Museum from Friday, Nov. 12 until Friday, Dec. 31.

The public is invited to the university events free of charge. For more information, call Ann Marie Short at (740) 351-3462 or e-mail ashort@shawnee.edu.

Speaker focused on self-employed childcare providers

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Financial Stability Partnership of the River Cities (FSP), an initiative of United Way, will host Diane Browning, who runs the Rural Retirement Project for the D.C. based Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER). Browning will be presenting her group’s new test project, which utilizes U.S. Savings Bonds with self-employed childcare providers.

Diane has practiced rural community enterprise development for over 25 years in West Virginia. She is a recipient of the National Small Business Advocate award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

All community members are welcome to attend this free presentation. This one-hour presentation will be held on Tuesday, November 2, at 10 a.m. at the United Way of the River Cities office (820 Madison Avenue, Huntington).

Those interested in learning more about United Way’s FSP program. welcome to stay for the coalition meeting immediately following the presentation. No reservation is required.

For more information, call Ed Davis at 304.523.8929 x6 or ed.davis@unitedwayrivercities.org

Firefighters group endorses Hadsell

PORTSMOUTH — The Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters has announced the endorsement of Ron Hadsell for State Representative in the Ohio House of Representative’s 89th District.

“On behalf of over 10,000 members of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters, it is my great pleasure to announce your endorsement for election as state representative of the 89th Ohio House District”, said Mark Sanders, President. The OAPF has been representing professional fire fighters since 1918.

Hadsell thanked the fire fighters .

“I would like to thank the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters for its endorsement of my candidacy for the Ohio House of Representatives 89th District seat. I look forward to working with the OAPF in its efforts to provide and improve public safety. Your members put their lives on the line every day to serve the public. I thank you and your families for everything you do.”

Share your holiday recipes at BCPL

ASHLAND, Ky. — With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, it’s none too early to start thinking about that holiday menu.

Boyd County Public Library is giving holiday cooks a chance to get some new recipe ideas at the Holiday Recipe Exchange program. on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Main Branch, 1740 Central Ave.

Participants should bring their favorite holiday dish to share with others, as well as a copy of the recipe. Library staff will make enough recipe copies for everyone to take home.

No reservation is required.

Tri-State Literacy Council announces tutor training

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Tri-State Literacy Council is holding the final tutor training session of 2010 on Monday and Tuesday evenings, Nov. 8, 9, 15, and 16 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cabell County Public Library in Huntington.

“Volunteers requested an evening training, so we added another session—the last one this year,” according to Lynn Ormiston, program director. “Once trained, tutors meet with their students for an hour each week. Or, they can help with a small group of learners. We are very flexible.”

Volunteers are needed for all literacy levels —from beginning reading to pre-GED preparation — throughout the Tri-State area.

“Tutors really do open doors,” says Ormiston. “Tutoring helps adults to shop from a list, complete health information forms, improve job prospects, help their kids with schoolwork, and complete their education.”

For more information, call 304-528-5700 or e-mail literacy@cabell.lib.wv.us. Pre-registration is required.

Call for auditions for ‘Clue, The Musical’

ASHLAND, Ky. —The Paramount Arts Center is looking for a Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard and Professor Plum . . . along with all the other characters in the Clue game to audition for “Clue, The Musical” at the Paramount Arts Center.

Auditions are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. for ages 16 and up. Those auditioning need to bring a prepared song, either karaoke CD or sheet music.

Accompanist will be provided. Participants will also need to read from script and the Clue script is available in the Paramount box office for a $10 refundable deposit.

The on-stage dinner theater is scheduled for two performances, Jan. 21 and 22.

For more information contact Melanie Sweeney, director of Paramount Players, at 606.324.3175 ext. 311.

Book exchange new program at Summit

SUMMIT, Ky. — Got a bunch of books you’ve already read? Want to trade them for some new reading material?

Then Boyd County Public Library’s new First Thursday Bookswap program is just for you.

The inaugural running of this new monthly program is Thursday, Nov. 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the Summit Branch, 1016 Summit Road, across from Boyd County Middle School.

Participants can exchange books they’ve already read with other enthusiastic readers. Limit 15 books each month.

To find out more about the bookswap, call Allison Scarberry at (606) 928-3366.

To learn more about the programs, visit the online branch at www.thebookplace.org.

Soldier with local ties graduates from Army basic training

Army Pvt. Dustin A. Stillwell has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.

He is the son of Robert Stillwell of Lucasville, and Linda Stillwell of South Point,.

The private is a 2009 graduate of Northwest High School, McDermott.

DuPont sponsors education grants

ASHLAND, Ky. – Area Education Grants (AEG) has awarded seven science and technology grants funded by DuPont’s Wurtland, Ky., plant.

“These special grants were designed around STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) initiatives and focus on teaching skills DuPont values for its employees, with the hope of keeping our youth employable locally,” said AEG Chair Scarlet Shoemaker. All middle and high schools in Boyd and Greenup Counties were eligible.

Tim Albert, manager of DuPont’s Wurtland Plant, said these grants provide a perfect outlet for his company’s educational interests. “We were excited to partner with AEG. The organization has a rich history of helping improve education for our students, and the grants help promote community involvement, sustainability, economic success and environmental excellence.

Recipients of AEG’s DuPont-sponsored science and technology grants are: Kourtney Hieneman, Blazer High School; Jill Smith, Blazer High School; Diane Carper, Verity Middle School; Laci Ingles, Boyd County High School; Latishia Sparks, Boyd County High School; Cindy Collier, Greenup County High School; and Christa Campbell, Russell Middle School.

AEG was created in 1983.