After Gail Burrus Martin’s husband, Cornelius, died in a motorcycle accident in 2006, she recalled Saturday afternoon that she learned to move to the front in leading her family through life’s many challenges.

Her husband had always been the one out front as they ran Martin Automotive Group and worked in the community.

Martin, 66, was named “2015 Woman of the Year” by the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission at the 23rd Annual Women of Achievement Awards at the Augenstein Alumni Center at Western Kentucky University.

“I think he would be surprised. I think he would be proud,” Martin said of Cornelius following the ceremony. Cornelius Martin was on the WKU Board of Regents for a dozen years and served two terms as regents chairman. The regents meeting room on the second floor of the Mass Media and Technology Hall was named for him prior to his death.

“This was his dream, and I’m just picking up the baton and going with it,” she said of the community recognition.

The Bowling Green Human Rights Commission gave out several honors Saturday in the fields of arts, education, business, entrepreneurship, science and health and lifetime achievement and other facets of the community. More than 30 women were nominated or won awards Saturday, two posthumously.

“Please continue to weave your stories into the lives of others,” said Alice Waddell, commission executive director.

Martin said the Martin Automotive Group celebrated its 30th anniversary in the community. She said Saturday’s honor “is something that is just part of the journey.” Martin said it is important for people to give back to their community and to remind people of the civil rights marches on Selma, Ala. and Washington as the movement continues to be defined in America.

“I stand on other people’s shoulders. My personal drive is to carry on so that my children may continue the legacy,” Martin said. Her children Amber, 32, Chadwick, 29, and Coleman, 26, all work for the family business, she said.

Also honored Saturday by the commission were: Arts – Elise Iannuzzi; Business – Cyndi Crocker; Community Service – Kenetha Morrow Bryant; Elementary Education – Robin Cornelius; High School Education – Cheryl Hodges Bunton; College Education – Mary Ford; Entrepreneurship – Micki Holmes; Science and Health – Bonita Paul; Women of Distinction – Judy Freeman Schwank; Women Firsts – Michele Tolbert; Women Reaching Higher – Warren County Circuit Clerk Brandi Martin Duvall; and Youth Achievement – Andreana Bridges.

Named “Native Daughter” were Takeia Anthony, assistant professor of history at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Fla., and Jacinda Townsend Gides, an author who was inducted into the Warren County Schools Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2014.

Receiving “Lifetime Achievement” honors were Julia Roberts, executive director of the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science, and Debbie Jones Richey, a Warren County educator who oversaw the building of Briarwood Elementary School during a more than 38-year career in public education.

Honored posthumously were Anne Blane Grubbs, who established the WKU ALIVE Center and also was a recipient of the Jefferson and Athena awards. Grubbs’ husband, accepted the honor for his wife, who died of cancer in 2014.

Flora Templeton Stuart, a 2015 nominee for arts, accepted the award for her mother, Elise Talmage Lieb, a pioneer civil rights advocate who died in 2013. Lieb was the first female real estate broker to establish her own business in Bowling Green, according to the awards program.

Mason, Charles (2015, March). ‘Woman of the Year’ named by commission. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/woman-of-the-year-named-by-commission/article_395e13c2-ac00-5908-ac70-6abd9a365ddb.html

BOWLING GREEN Ky. (WBKO) — The Bowling Green Human Rights Commission Honored Local Women Of Achievement on Saturday at the Augustine Alumni Center.

The ceremony recognized Bowling Green women for their work in the fields of science, education, community service, business and health.

Entrepreneurship winner Micki Holmes of 440 Main said she loves knowing her work is appreciated in the community, but it’s more important to her to be a positive role model for other women.

“It’s so important for me even having the nomination because I want to serve as inspiration for other women to know that they can also be a forefront in the community and make a difference.”

Saturday marked the 23 year Bowling Green has hosted the event for local women. If you know someone who deserves a nomination for 2016, The Human Rights Commission said they usually begin accepting nominations in November.

For a complete list of this years winners, see below.

Arts: Elise Iannuzzi

Business: Cyndi Crocker

Community Service: Kenetha Bryant

Elementary Education: Robin Cornelius

High School Education: Cheryl Bunton

College Education: Mary Ford

Entrepreneurship: Micki Holmes

Science and Health: Bonita Paul

Woman of Distinction: Judy Schwank

Women First’s: Michele Tolbert

Women Reaching Higher: Brandi Duvall

Youth Achievement: Andreana Bridges

Native Daughter(s): Dr. Takeia Anthony and Jacinda Townsend Gides

Woman of The Year: Gail Martin

Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Julia Roberts and Deborah Richey

Posthumous Award: Elise Talmage Lieb and Anne Grubbs

Davis, Whitney (2015, March). Local Women Honored For Their Achievements. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/Local-Women-Honored-For-Their-Achievements–297891611.html

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) — Spellabration is only two weeks away and participating teams have received this year’s official rules and regulations.

Community Education hosts this spelling bee each year, but this one isn’t for kids. Adults are put in the hot seat.

Area businesses and organizations sponsor a team, create a unique name and bring serious competition. Along with the ticket sales, a silent auction will be available as well.

The money raised will support Community Education’s after school programs.

“Specifically for walkie-talkies, to make sure everybody is on the same page at the school sites. The money will always go toward our one-on-one aids for those children that need the assistance. We don’t want to charge parents extra because they have so much on their plates already,” said Ashley Forbes, Community Education.

Spellabration is Friday, February 20. Doors open at 5:45 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

A portion of this year’s proceeds will create the Anne Grubbs Scholarship, in honor of Anne Grubbs, a long time advocate with Community Education.

Vanover, Kayla (2015, February). Countdown To Spellabration. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Countdown-To-Spellabration-291114791.html

WHEREAS, Anne Grubbs was born October 14, 1950, in Martinsville, Virginia, the cherished daughter of the late Margaret Shelburne Blane and John Blane; and

WHEREAS, Anne Grubbs was a proud graduate of Roanoke College and Western Kentucky University, where she received her master’s degree in education; and

WHEREAS, Anne Grubbs taught for 20 years in elementary schools in Kentucky and Virginia, and retired from the field of education after 17 years as the Enrichment and Volunteer Coordinator for the Bowling Green and Warren County School District; and

WHEREAS, an 11-year cancer survivor, Anne Grubbs was named the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission Woman of the Year in 2003, and in 2010 she was honored with the Jefferson Award for Public Service and the Athena Leadership Award; and

WHEREAS, a former board member of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, Anne Grubbs was a member of Kiwanis, where she was president in 2012-2013. She was a former member of the Bowling Green Women’s Club and the Houchens Center Board, and was an ALIVE Center Founding Member; and

WHEREAS, Anne Grubbs was a loyal member of State Street United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, Anne Grubbs departed this earthly life on August 8, 2014, leaving all her former students, the families who were touched by her indelible presence, and the myriad citizens of Bowling Green that she so dutifully served in solemn mourning; and

WHEREAS, Anne Grubbs was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Dana Davis Bayley. She is survived by her loving husband, Michael Grubbs, and several nieces, nephews, former students, and cherished friends whose lives she changed;

NOW, THEREFORE,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

• Section 1. The House of Representatives hereby expresses its most profound sense of sorrow upon the passing of Anne Blane Grubbs, and extends its most sincere condolences to her family, friends, and community in this time of loss.
• Section 2. When the House of Representatives adjourns this day, it does so in honor and loving memory of Anne Blane Grubbs.
• Section 3. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to Mr. Michael Grubbs, 1244 Park Street, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101.

To View/Download the Original Document Converted to PDF click the following link:  A-Resolution-Adjourning-The-House-Of-Representatives-In-Honor-And-Loving-Memory-of-Anne-Blane-Grubbs

Original [DOC] File:  http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/15RS/HR25/bill.doc

REG. SESS. 15 RS BR 373

Lindsey McClain began her career at Commonwealth Health Corp. as marketing and development coordinator, a role in which she helped organize many community events and administered scholarship programs, among other things. From there, she was program director at Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, where she was responsible for programs, including Leadership Bowling Green, ATHENA/ATHENA Young Professional, Welcome Back WKU Festival, South Central KY Night, Washington D.C. Fly-In and other legislative events. Since 2011, McClain has been marketing director at Franklin Bank & Trust, where her marketing and leadership skills are proven through award-winning marketing projects such as Franklin Bank & Trust Company’s Kasasa Cash marketing campaign. She oversees all aspects of FBT marketing, advertising, website and community involvement.

1. What is a typical day like for you at work and is it what you might have envisioned while going to college?

Every day is different at work. Some days, I am coordinating advertising, making TV and radio ad buys, and other days, I’m planning for a customer event or employee training day. That’s what I love so much about it; it’s never the same thing and most certainly never boring. It’s exactly what I had hoped for as a student at Western Kentucky University. I remember during my first semester speech class, I overheard someone talking about being a “corp comm” major (corporate and organizational communications), and after looking into it, I decided that was perfect for me. It encompasses so many different things – public relations, management, marketing, communications. There are so many options in so many different fields. At that point, I changed from a mass communications major and never looked back.

2. How did you become involved with the Kiwanis Club and why do you stay with the organization?

Our dear friend Anne Grubbs (who died in August) had asked me several times to be her guest at a Kiwanis meeting. To be honest, I had no idea what the Kiwanis Club was at the time. I finally agreed to attend a meeting and instantly fell in love with the mission of the club. Kiwanis is an international service organization dedicated to improving the world and the lives of children. Not only do we have a very active club, the members have become some of my very best friends. We all have the same goals – to better our community and help children. We are able to do this through events like Thunderfest, the Soap Box Derby and many others. The money stays right here in southcentral Kentucky and is given to local programs and agencies. Also, the current international project is called Eliminate. Kiwanis Clubs around the world are all raising money to eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus. So far, $72 million has been raised; the goal is $110 million worldwide. The Kentucky/Tennessee District, which is comprised of 14 different Kiwanis Clubs, has raised $1.15 million to date. The Bowling Green Kiwanis Club has contributed about $140,000 to that goal.

[To continue reading the rest of this article, please visit the link below…]

Author Unknown (2014, December). Talk of the Town with Lindsey McClain. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/talk-of-the-town-with-lindsey-mcclain/article_6dfeeb6f-0499-5d01-93c6-e8cad2e53677.html

Vickie H. Elrod is the manager of Goodwill Industries’ Cars to Work program. She worked in the banking industry, starting at Cumberland Federal Savings Banks. Some of her roles have included manager at the former TransFinancial Bank, manager of Commonwealth Health Corp. and business development executive at Carr, Riggs & Ingram. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University. Elrod has been active in the chamber and numerous other community organizations.

You started in the banking industry. What led you to go another direction?

After several years in the banking and financial services industry, I had the opportunity to join Holland CPAs as chief operating officer in 1998. This career change proved to be a good fit. I enjoyed working with staff and clients, particularly in my human resource consulting role. With HR consulting, I worked with many governmental and not-for-profit agencies and witnessed the great impact they have on the lives of the people they serve. In considering my career options, I thought a service agency would be an area in which I could contribute my experience and abilities. Problem resolution is part of most every job, and I thoroughly enjoy helping people and effecting positive outcomes.

What you do at Goodwill Industries and how did you end up there?

Following the merger of Holland CPAs with Carr, Riggs & Ingram, I decided to look toward another career path since the chief operating officer position with CRI was in Enterprise, Ala., and already filled. I committed to stay one year past the merger to assist with the transition and completed that commitment before making the change to Goodwill Industries of Kentucky.

Goodwill Cars to Work is a not-for-profit automobile dealership. We work with individuals who have been referred to us by a governmental or social service agency. Our goal is to help individuals achieve and maintain employment by providing options for purchasing a reliable vehicle with an affordable payment. We work only with individuals who have been referred to us by a partnering agency and help these referred individuals obtain an affordable vehicle which can result in a refundable-interest loan if payments are made as agreed.

Cars in our program are sold at 80 percent of (National Automobile Dealers Association) value and include a 24-month/24,000-mile warranty with no deductible to cover most major repairs. Recipients make 24 monthly payments ranging between $150 and $275 per month based on the applicant’s budget, income and expenses. Recipients choose a vehicle in their price and payment range from our inventory of available vehicles. The recipient must obtain and maintain state-required minimum car liability insurance through an automobile insurance provider.

Most people are familiar with the Goodwill stores across the state but do not necessarily understand that the stores provide employment opportunities and fund job placement services. Donations to your local Goodwill store benefit the donor with a tax deduction and the opportunity to recycle and reuse clothing and household items, the customer with low-cost purchasing options, and the community by providing employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities or other disadvantages.

Store donations and purchases support employment opportunities locally through our Job Junction program in Bowling Green at 1806 U.S. 31-W By-Pass. Job Junction has placed more than 400 individuals in competitive employment in the past year in the Bowling Green area. We also accept vehicle donations in most areas of the state, including Bowling Green.

Who do you think are some influential women in Bowling Green?

Bowling Green recently lost Anne Grubbs, one of its most influential women. While she is no longer with us, her influence will be felt for years to come in the lives of the people she touched. She worked tirelessly despite her health challenges to make her adopted hometown a better place for all of us. Romanza Johnson is another great example in her community involvement with multiple agencies and not-for-profit organizations. She was the first Athena Award recipient and has set the bar very high for the rest of us. Peggy Loafman has been a great influence in my life and career and provided many opportunities for me and other women in Bowling Green.

Author Unknown (2014, October). Talk of the town with Vickie H. Elrod. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/talk-of-the-town-with-vickie-h-elrod/article_fa7263b3-49f6-54d0-b608-b77c0514fa77.html

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) — The Bowling Green Kiwanis Club always helps a few students who go to WKU and now they’ll be helping out even more in honor of a Bowling Green woman.

Today the club announced, they raised $10,000 extra in memory of Anne Grubbs to go to the Kiwanis Education Foundation at WKU.

A tearful Mike Grubbs was on hand to accept the honor raised for his late wife who worked with many young people in the community.

“Our goal is to change the lives of children and Anne lived her entire life doing just that, changing the lives of individuals, but most importantly children of this community. This is a way that we believe can continue to lead to Anne’s legacy for years and years to come by this donation,” said Matt Idlett, President of the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club.

The Kiwanis Club currently gives out four scholarships and with the help of this Anne Grubbs donation, they hope to give more in the future.

Gossum, Michael (2014, September). Kiwanis Club Raises Scholarship Money in Honor of Anne Grubbs. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Kiwanis-Club-Raises-Scholarship-Money-in-Honor-of-Anne-Grubbs-275523411.html

Anne Blane Grubbs, 63 of Bowling Green died Friday, August 8, 2014 at Hospice of Southern Kentucky.

She was born October 14, 1950 and was a former native of Martinsville, Virginia. Mrs. Grubbs was the daughter of the late Margaret Shelburne Blane and John Blane and is preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Dana Davis Bayley of Raleigh, North Carolina.

She was a graduate of Roanoke College where she earned her Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, and a graduate of Western Kentucky University where she received her Masters Degree in Education.

Mrs. Grubbs retired from Bowling Green/Warren County Community Education after 17 years where she served as the Enrichment and Volunteer Coordinator; she previously taught for 20 years in elementary schools in Kentucky and Virginia.

She was a member of State Street United Methodist Church.

She was an 11 year cancer survivor.

Mrs. Grubbs was the recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2010; The Athena Leadership Award in 2010; and was named the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission Woman of the Year in 2003.

She was a former board member of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, she was a member of Kiwanis and was president in 2012-2013.

She was former member of the Bowling Green Women’s Club, the Houchens Center Board and was an ALIVE Center Founding Member.

Survivors include her husband, Michael Grubbs of Bowling Green; several nieces and nephews; hundreds of former students; many good friends and the Bowling Green Volunteer Community.

Memorial Services are scheduled for 1:00 pm Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at State Street United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Monday, August 11, 2014 at Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Bowling Green Kiwanis Scholarship Fund or the Anne Grubbs Community Education Fund at Western Kentucky University.

Funeral Home:  Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home – Anne Grubbs

Funeral Home Guest Book:

Obituary Also Appeared In BGDailyNews.com:  http://www.bgdailynews.com/obituaries/anne-blane-grubbs/article_d4f00169-b6fd-517e-9714-d70efa56f5e6.html

Our community has lost a very compassionate, helpful person with the passing of Anne Grubbs.

The Bowling Green woman died Friday at the age of 63 at Hospice House of Southern Kentucky after bravely battling breast cancer for 11 years.

Her passing saddens not only her family but the many who knew her from her community work.

She touched many lives and helped advance many causes that helped change people’s lives for the better.

The Virginia native, who leaves behind a husband, Mike, taught school for 20 years and worked at Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education for 17 years before retiring in October 2012.

Grubbs was dedicated to the organizations in which she was involved or led. She was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green and served as its president in 2012-13. She also was involved in Community Education, where she served as the enrichment and volunteer coordinator, and Kids on the Block.

She was the recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2010, the Athena Leadership Award in 2010 and was named the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission’s Woman of the Year in 2003. She was a former board member of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. She was a former member of the Bowling Green Women’s Club, the Houchens Center Board and was an ALIVE Center founding member.

Grubbs also dedicated a great deal of time to community events such as Stand for Children and Thunderfest.

While her legacy in all these organizations and groups will never be forgotten, her big heart, smile and willingness to give her time to others are what people will remember most about this wonderful lady.

Those who knew her well talk about how Grubbs’ smile could light up a room and how she was always there for anyone who needed her, especially children.

While Grubbs didn’t have any kids of her own, she had a lot of kids who looked up to her as a mother. She was known as someone who had a great love for children, and those children loved her just as much.

She was known as someone who was the first to arrive at an event and who worked tirelessly at each of those events for the benefit of others.

She demonstrated selflessness when, even though sick and couldn’t go to work, she would make phone calls from her home asking for donations. Those who worked with her said whatever they needed, she would make sure they got it.

Many say there never will be another one like her. She was truly one of a kind.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this difficult time.

Author Unknown (2014, August). Community loses exceptional citizen. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/opinion/our_opinion/community-loses-exceptional-citizen/article_fd38a8d6-d236-5491-baec-023b15213c52.html

Anne Grubbs, 63, of Bowling Green, died Aug. 8, 2014, at Hospice of Southern Kentucky.

Arrangements will be announced by Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home.

Author Unknown (2014, August). Anne Grubbs. BGDailyNews.com. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/obituaries/anne-grubbs/article_30140e0f-0dee-5080-a2c6-807099ee79f9.html

Anne Grubbs had a contagious smile.

“The one thing about Anne that we all try to emulate is that every single day she had a smile on her face. Her smile would light up a room,” said Matt Idlett, president of Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green. “She was always giving of her time to everyone. She was always there for anyone who needed her – for the children, for the community.”

The Bowling Green woman, 63, died Friday at Hospice House of Southern Kentucky.

“So many events are not going to be the same without her,” said Felicia Bland, a Kiwanis board member.

Grubbs battled breast cancer about 11 years ago. It went into remission for five years before coming back five years ago and metastasizing to her lung.

“Chemotherapy is given in a communal room. I look around and sometimes I feel a lot luckier because I feel so much better and I have a lot more support than many others do,” she said in a March interview with the Daily News. “People wonder if I ask, ‘Why me?’ but I don’t really say that.

“We deal with it one day at a time and have great church support. I was pretty sick … and we couldn’t have gotten through it without our church,” she said. “They fed us and we had a good friend from Virginia who spent Christmas with us, and that meant a lot.”

Grubbs grew up in Virginia as an only child. She and her husband, Mike, married while both in their 30s. She taught school for 20 years and worked at Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education for 17 years before retiring in October 2012.

Debi Wade Jordan, executive director of Community Education, knew Grubbs before they started working together. They sang in the Western Kentucky University-Bowling Green Community Choir. Jordan has worked at Community Education for 14 years, and she said she and Grubbs had known each other for about 20 years.

“We sat next to each other in the alto section, and altos are always troublemakers, so I knew what I was getting into when I came to work at Community Education,” she said.

The duo spent a lot of time together outside the office.

“A real treat that not many people get to experience is to work with someone who was your friend,” she said. “It was great being able to work with a close friend. I’ll miss her.”

Grubbs didn’t have children, but she had no shortage of love from others.

“God didn’t give her one or two or three children. Instead, he gave her to all children,” Jordan said. “It’s an irreparable loss to this community. I can’t think of anyone who could fill her shoes. That just means the rest of us will have to try harder.”

Grubbs joined Kiwanis in 2001. She and Idlett had been friends for about seven years.

“We got close as we were both on the board. I met her through Kiwanis,” he said. “She gave her time and energy for the benefit of others. She’s the kind of person who makes Bowling Green such a great place to be.

“We’ve had a lot of conversations at board meetings,” he said. “Her sense of humor was great.”

He saw that sense of humor once at a Halloween party.

“I saw a picture of Anne and her husband on Facebook in Halloween costumes,” he said of the party, which he attended. “That was one of the first times I got to know her and her husband.”

Idlett’s best memories of Grubbs were at community events such as Stand for Children and Thunderfest.

“Every time you were around her, she put other people first,” he said.

Debbie Hays met Grubbs through Kids on the Block when Hays was the director and Grubbs was with Community Education. They met again through Kiwanis and had been friends for “quite a few years.” Grubbs was president of Kiwanis in 2012-13.

“You never ever have to worry about what you say or do with Anne. She’s the most selfless and caring person I’ve ever known in my life,” she said. “I never knew anyone like her and I don’t think I’ll ever know anyone else like her.”

At every Kids on the Block and Community Education event, Grubbs was always the first one there and worked tirelessly at every event, Hays said.

“She’s always there for everyone. Her kindness, her selflessness, her love for children – oh, how she loved children so much. Her love for children was unbounded,” she said. “I’ve never known anyone like her. There’s going to be a lot missing in our community now that Anne has gone.

“There’s a lot of people in the community who love her very much,” Hays added. “I just hope and pray we can all give Mike the support he needs right now.”

Grubbs went to meetings until she became too sick, Hays said.

“It wasn’t long ago she was at a meeting. It probably hasn’t been a month since we’ve seen her,” she said.

Even when Grubbs wasn’t feeling well, she still wanted to work, Hays said.

“After Anne got sick and she was home and couldn’t go to the events, she wanted to work. She would make calls from her home and ask people for donations,” she said. “Whatever we needed, she would call and get it for us.”

Bland met Grubbs at an event, but she doesn’t remember which one.

“I can’t think of a time when I didn’t know Anne. She would come up with the craziest ideas. She had that ability to make you laugh,” she said. “We were always joined at the hip. She called me her sister from another mother and I was the one who got a tan.”

While Bland will miss Grubbs, she feels “at peace.” She was able to visit Grubbs before she died.

“I know she’s not suffering. It was refreshing to touch her hand and let her know I loved her,” she said. “I think that’s the thing that makes it easier. I’m just going to hold on to that. Her physical body is not here, but she’ll always be here.

“I wouldn’t have done half the stuff I’ve done if it hadn’t been for Anne,” Bland said. “I know my life is better for having known her.”

Harvey, Alyssa (2014, August). Grubbs leaves legacy in Bowling Green. BGDailyNews.com. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/grubbs-leaves-legacy-in-bowling-green/article_11e44b69-144c-53f0-b59f-e88159e57ef4.html

Former Hometown Hero, Jefferson Award winner, and Athena Award winner, Anne Grubbs, has passed away. She died Friday afternoon, after a long battle with cancer.

Anne worked for Community Education in Bowling Green for 17 years, before retiring in 2012.

Anne helped with before-and-after school programs, and was instrumental in conducting Spell-A-Bration, Stand for Children Day, and many more community events.

Anne was well-known and greatly admired in our community, and here at WBKO. She will be greatly missed.

Author Unknown (2014, August). Anne Grubbs Passes Away. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/Anne-Grubbs-Passes-Away-270544471.html

Anne Blane Grubbs grew up in Virginia as an only child of an only child, so she has a house full of stuff. She met and married her husband, Mike, while both were in their 30s and dabbling in community theater. Grubbs, a fine arts major with an emphasis in education, taught school for 20 years and worked at Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education for 17 years before retiring in October 2012.

So tell me about the traveling you have been doing since retirement?

We went to see family and then went to New York to see the Rams (Virginia Commonwealth University) play ball. We went early and stayed after the tournament so we could do some touring. In the summer, we went to North Carolina to see friends. We were supposed to go the Grand Canyon, but then the government shut down. We like to go to Siesta Key, which is outside Sarasota (Fla.), and went there last fall. Depends on if I’m able to travel, I’d still like to see the Grand Canyon.

What else have you been doing in retirement?

I’ve been doing a lot of crafting. I taught myself to knit on the loom a little bit. I’m not anywhere as good as Sheila Allen (an instructor). Once upon a time a hundred years ago, I had a craft business with a friend and we painted. He would cut stuff, and I would paint it. If it didn’t move, I would paint it. But I’m not really a business person. I still love to do it. I even taught some of the craft classes for community ed’s enrichment program.

What is most important to you?

Friends and family. It’s the support that they bring. They really are an extension of yourself. … We don’t have much family. There really is no family left on my side. Without our friends and Mike’s family, it would just be very lonely.

Tell me a funny story about yourself.

You want to hear about the opossum in the bathroom? We moved into a really old house on Park Street when we moved my mother here. … One morning, there was a baby opossum sitting on the curtains. Apparently, we had brought it down from the attic when we brought down a box of fall decorations. The funniest thing is that Mike spent a half hour in the bathroom with it and didn’t even see it.

What makes you laugh?

Just about anything. I love to laugh. My husband and my animals make me laugh. Right now, we have one dog and one cat that follow us around. They are real interactive with each other. I tend to humanize her (dog) and read something into what she is thinking.

You mentioned about travel if you are able to, tell me about your illness and how you are dealing with it?

Well, I have breast cancer. I had it 10 years ago, almost 11. It went into remission for five years and it came back five years ago. We just dealt with it. Last summer, I started feeling bad. When we got back from Florida, I really noticed it. It’s in the lung now. It’s kind of confining. I still feel pretty good a lot of the time.

Chemotherapy is given in a communal room. I look around and sometimes I feel a lot luckier because I feel so much better and I have a lot more support than many others do. People wonder if I ask, ‘Why me?’ but I don’t really say that. We deal with it one day at a time and have great church support. I was pretty sick … and we couldn’t have gotten through it without our church. They fed us and we had a good friend from Virginia who spent Christmas with us, and that meant a lot.

What is your coping mechanism?

I don’t know that I would have just one. I try to stay busy. I read a lot, do things around the house and make a point when it’s nice to get out of the house. It’s so good to see people, even if I just take a book … and sit in a corner and eat. Seeing people … that makes you smile.

What advice do you have for people facing similar health issues?

People will call sometimes and ask. I tell them everybody is different. They need to talk to a lot of people and be careful of what you read on the Internet because a lot of time they post horror stories. … Take it one day at a time because that is all anyone can do and keep putting one foot in front of another. I got that on a card the first time I went through it. It was from Shirley Holland and that has been the best advice. Try to keep a positive outlook on life because it makes such a difference.

Author Unknown (2014, March). Q&A: Anne Blane Grubbs. BGDailyNews.com. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/obituaries/anne-grubbs/article_30140e0f-0dee-5080-a2c6-807099ee79f9.html

Even though the National Retail Federation is pushing again for Congress to require online and remote sellers to collect state and local sales taxes, online shoppers don’t seem fazed.

Since online shopping’s genesis, the federation has urged Congress to pass legislation making online and remote sellers collect state and local taxes.

The federation says current laws give online shopping an unfair advantage because customers will purchase items online rather than having to pay taxes at brick-and-mortar retailers.

Anne Grubbs of Bowling Green said she shops online fairly often, especially for birthday and Christmas presents. If she can’t find something she wants at local stores or doesn’t want to get out, shopping online from home is convenient. It was especially helpful when she was ill at Christmastime and wasn’t able to get out, she said.

If Congress were to pass legislation that would make people pay taxes on online purchases, she doesn’t think it would affect her shopping habits.

“I wouldn’t like it, but I’d have to do it,” she said.

Even if the retailers’ federation gets its way, Grubbs said online shopping likely wouldn’t suffer.

“It might hurt it at first, but I think eventually it would recover,” she said. “If you’re seeking the convenience, you’re going to shop online anyway.”

[To continue reading the rest of this article, please visit the link below…]

Spees, Monica (2014, March). Retail group renews bid for tax laws. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/retail-group-renews-bid-for-tax-laws/article_ade70056-2dc9-59eb-9af6-1e7220075af8.html

Adults are Elaine Owens Smith’s favorite students.

“These people are there because they want to learn,” she said.

Smith is one of many teachers for Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education’s fall classes.

Registration has started.

There are a variety of classes, including recycled glass ornament making, Spanish and line dancing, according to Joshua Smith, Community Education enrichment and volunteer coordinator. The Smiths are not related.

“We have classes that will teach you everything from beginning pottery to advanced wheel throwing. If you’re into yoga for stress relief or to sleep better, we have it,” he said. “We have basic swimming for children and Aqua Zumba.”

Joshua Smith has taken the Aqua Zumba class.

“It’s pretty fun. Your mistakes are hidden so you’re not embarrassed,” he said. “If you have knee pain, it helps with that. (It’s good for) people who would not be able to do an actual Zumba class.”

There are also technology classes.

“Technology is advancing so quickly that most of us can’t keep up. We have those classes to help you,” he said. “We have classes on how to use a computer. We have to step back and realize some of our population has never used a computer.”

Elaine Smith teaches Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel, Publisher and PowerPoint, and a gingerbread class that teaches students to make it from scratch.

“The two have nothing in common,” she said, laughing.

She has been teaching adult enrichment classes for Community Education for about nine years.

“(Former enrichment and volunteer coordinator) Anne Grubbs and I were friends,” she said. “When the person who had been teaching couldn’t teach any longer, she knew I had the skills and asked me to teach.”

[To continue reading the rest of this article, please visit the link below…]

Harvey, Alyssa (2013, August). Community Ed. gets ready for registration. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/community-ed-gets-ready-for-registration/article_991b57a1-b23f-5e0c-a69f-95984d82f944.html

After 17 years of dedication and hard work with Community Education of Bowling Green Anne Grubbs is preparing to enter retirement.

News of her retirement spread fast as Anne has touched the lives of many of us throughout the area. The attention has caught her off guard.

“Humble, it’s just a little over whelming. I told my boss I wanted to sneak out but she wouldn’t let me,” joked Grubbs.

Executive Director Debi Wade Jordan has worked with Anne for 12 years. She says someone like Anne is hard to find.

“Anne is irreplaceable. Her connections in the community and all the great things she has done throughout the years are just fabulous so we will have to work extra hard to try and fill those shoes,” says Jordan.

Anne has been the recipient of the prestigious ATHENA and Jefferson Awards. Along with those awards she has had her hand in many projects at community education.

After school programs, adult enrichment, Spell-A-Bration and Stand for Children Day are just a few of the things that Anne says made her job so enjoyable.

“It’s different everyday and that’s what I love about it. There is always something different going on, different projects, and even though we might do the same event every year like Stand for Children day it’s different each year,” says Grubbs.

Anne believes the success of those events aren’t because of her, but the great people within our community.

“I think I am just doing my job. My biggest thing is I get to talk about the things that other people do. It’s just so wonderful to promote everything that is going on here. I have made so many connections, I’ve met so many people,” says Grubbs.

For her years of dedication, taking care of our community and always having that bright smile, we honor Anne Grubbs as this weeks Hometown Hero.

Baldeck, Brett (2012, October). Hometown Hero: Anne Grubbs. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Hometown-Hero-Anne-Grubbs-176013311.html

A well known fixture in the Bowling Green education scene had a retirement party in her honor today.

Anne Grubbs is stepping down after just more than 15 years of service with community education.

In her time there she says she’s seen a lot of changes, and a lot of programs grow and today was a celebration of all her work.

“I tried to go out the back door, but they wouldn’t let me,” laughed Grubbs.

“No, it’s an honor. It’s very humbling to have your staff to put something together like this for you. It makes you feel blessed,” said Grubbs.

Grubbs officially retires on the 31st.

She said in retirement, she plans to spend a lot of time with her family and get back into one of her biggest hobbies, arts and crafts.

Gossum, Michael (2012, October). Anne Grubbs Retires. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Anne-Grubbs-Retires-175527361.html

Multiple fireworks displays in the region on Tuesday and Wednesday lit up the skies from Bowling Green to Barren River Lake.

Thousands of people turned out for Thunderfest Tuesday at the National Corvette Museum. The event, put on by the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club, featured live music, displays and events for children.

Proceeds from the event go to organizations that benefit children in the area such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Club. Last year, the festival raised $20,000 for children’s organizations, said Anne Grubbs, Bowling Green Kiwanis Club president.

Alvaton Church of Christ, 10134 Alvaton Road, will host a fireworks display Wednesday. Activities are slated from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to the church website.

Cory McNeley, fireworks producer, said the church fireworks will start at 9 p.m. and a larger than usual crowd is expected due to the fireworks bans on household displays.

Barren River Lake State Resort Park, 1149 State Park Road, will host fireworks Wednesday, sponsored by The Friends of Barren River. The fireworks at 9 p.m. will be preceded by a beach party, weather permitting, and the “whatever floats your boat” contest, the website shows.

Author Unknown (2012, July). Local fireworks displays light up the skies. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local-fireworks-displays-light-up-the-skies/article_28b9b796-c5f9-11e1-97a1-001a4bcf887a.html

Stand for Children Day attracts more than 1,000 to BG ballpark

More than 1,000 people walked around Bowling Green Ballpark on Wednesday morning amid a variety of booths and activities during Community Education’s annual Stand for Children Day.

This was the 15th year for the event, which highlights the importance of children in the community, as well as making adults aware of the services available to children, said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education.

“People need to pay attention to them, because they’re the future of our community,” she said.

The ballpark was a new venue for the event, and Grubbs thinks that may have attracted more people than usual.

It was cooler in the ballpark than in the direct sun at Western Kentucky University’s South Lawn, where Stand for Children has taken place in the past, Grubbs said. Community Education moved the event because of construction on the South Lawn.

The theme this year was “Good Neighbors” and the title sponsors were American Bank and Trust, the Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green and McDonald’s, Grubbs said.

Many local organizations offered booths with activities and information. At the station for WKU’s Confucius Institute, Niu Chunling showed people how to write the word “hello” in Chinese calligraphy. Chunling is from China and works for WKU’s Chinese Flagship program.

Chunling said she had great fun teaching children an aspect of her culture.

“It inspires them to learn about another culture,” she said.

Autumn Cramer, 8, came to Stand for Children Day with Community Education’s Summer Fun Camp. She sported a face painting and a balloon hat from booths at the event.

“I liked seeing all the different activities,” Autumn said.

Mikiyan Brown, 9, and Janay Bell, 11, were at the event with a group from Camp Good Times, a program at Parker-Bennett Community Center.

The girls both said they enjoyed themselves, dancing to music playing over the speakers and having their arms painted at a booth.

“The tattoo station is the best,” Janay said.

Debbie “Mama Smurf” Staley, manager of the Skate Box, handed out free day passes to the Skate Box. She said she wishes there were more opportunities like Stand for Children Day when the community can come together.

“You know how they say it takes a village to raise a child? This is the village,” she said of the people at the event.

Both the city and county school districts had booths with activities related to the Leader In Me program. Several elementary schools in both districts have implemented the program, which teaches children responsibility using “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

Bowling Green Independent Schools let people to paint canvasses for each of the seven habits, said Leslie Peek, public relations coordinator for the district.

The event is a great opportunity to catch up with children in the area and let them have fun, she said.

“We miss seeing the kids in the summer,” Peek said.

At the station for Warren County Public Schools, children made leadership bracelets with a bead for each of the seven habits, said Joanie Hendricks, the district’s public relations coordinator. They also helped decorate a cardboard castle to demonstrate synergy and teamwork.

“It’s a quick little reminder of what they can do to be a leader,” Hendricks said.

Community Education also collected books at the event to send to Morgan and Menifee counties, which were hit by a tornado earlier this year, said Debi Wade Jordan, executive director of Community Education.

She said she’s grateful so many people volunteered at the event.

“I think it just expresses how much this community cares about its children,” she said.

Wilson, Laurel (2012, June). Community comes together for kids. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/community-comes-together-for-kids/article_c7d599fa-bbbb-11e1-9e24-0019bb2963f4.html

It was a day for children at the Bowling Green Ballpark.

An estimated one thousand children went out to the ballpark for Stand for Children Day.

While there, kids got to play all kinds of games and learn about important issues like nutrition and saying no to drugs.

The event was put together by several organizations including Community Education, the Bowling Green Hot Rods, and American Bank and Trust.

“For us, it’s about the kids, obviously the kids can have a good safe time, meet different vendors from different communities that have different events through out the summer,” says Kyle Hanrahan from the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

“Well, we think it’s about the children and the community, what a great community we have and all the services we have here,” says Anne Grubbs from Community Education.

Community Education says the day is meant to entertain kids while informing parents.

They say this was one of the largest turnouts they’ve ever had.

Bolt, Elsa (2012, June). Stand For Children Day In Bowling Green. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Stand_For_Children_Day_In_Bowling_Green__159797355.html

The Bowling Green Kiwanis Club is beginning to promote its largest annual fundraiser – Thunderfest.

The festival and fireworks display this year will be July 3 at the National Corvette Museum. Gates open at 4 p.m. and fireworks will begin about 9:30 p.m., Thunderfest Chairman Chad Folk said at a news conference Tuesday. This will be the 41st year the festival has been offered.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to get out and bring the community together in this wonderful event, especially around the Fourth of July,” Folk said.

Admission to the event is $5 a person or $15 for a carload, with children under 12 admitted free.

The cost of wristbands for children’s activities, such as inflatables, is $10, Folk said.

The event will feature music from Bowling Green-based band Salvage Town and military equipment displays from the National Guard, he said.

Proceeds from the event go to organizations that benefit children in the area such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Club, he said.

“We distribute all of our proceeds back to the community and back to the children’s organizations,” Folk said.

The event is a chance for families in the community to create a holiday tradition or continue an already established tradition, he said.

Kiwanis Club members have spent about 10 months organizing this year’s Thunderfest, he said.

Attendance typically runs from 15,000 to 20,000 people each year, and Folk said he’s hoping for an even larger number of people to come out this year.

Last year, the festival raised $20,000 for children’s organizations, said Anne Grubbs, Bowling Green Kiwanis Club president.

Citizens First Bank, the title sponsor of the event, wanted to be involved in Thunderfest because of the connection with Kiwanis and that organization’s commitment to charities for children, said Kim Thomas, executive vice president of retail banking at Citizens First Bank.

Thunderfest is also a well-established event in the community.

“It’s just a good time,” Thomas said.

Thunderfest is a family friendly event that brings a sense of community to Bowling Green, Grubbs said.

“It’s such a big festival atmosphere,” she said.

Grubbs has been involved in the festival for about 10 years, since she joined the Kiwanis Club. The festival has been able to last for more than 40 years because of the united purpose of members of the Kiwanis Club, she said.

“This is such a cohesive group of people,” she said. “We’re not just a civic club, we’re a family.”

Brandenburg, Katie (2012, June). Kiwanis Club gears up for Thunderfest. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/kiwanis-club-gears-up-for-thunderfest/article_f446a554-b578-11e1-bcae-0019bb2963f4.html

Ray Grudzielanek remembers his first volunteer project. It was the 1970s, and he heard about a Special Olympics program at Western Kentucky University. He decided to pitch in.

About four decades later, Grudzielanek, 86, has performed more than 25,700 hours of community service. He was awarded for that service Thursday during the President’s Volunteer Service Award ceremony. Grudzielanek, of Bowling Green, earned the President’s Call to Service Award, a prestigious award that only a handful of people across the nation receive.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have good health, and I was brought up that you need to give something back,” he said. “So, I got involved.”

More than 70 other local residents received awards for hundreds of hours of community service. They ranged from high school students to AARP members. In fact, the Bowling Green-Warren County AARP Chapter 1967 won the gold group award for more than 12,000 hours of community service in 2011.

Like Grudzielanek, others who attended Thursday’s event at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center began volunteering because it was simply a part of life while growing up.

“I grew up in a culture of volunteerism,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education. “It was called ‘doing what needs to be done.’ ”

She remembers performing chores and cooking food for neighbors who were having a hard time, baby-sitting children and always lending a hand. Back then, it was called being neighborly. Grubbs, who volunteers for numerous projects, continues that neighborhood spirit.

She also remembers the 1960s and 1970s, when the “me generation” emerged, and many simply performed tasks that helped themselves.

In fact, Grubbs described herself as “a follower” when she was first volunteering. She helped out through high school clubs and, later, through her college sorority. She did it because she was told to and because everyone else was doing it, she said.

When she moved to Bowling Green, Grubbs got involved in community events through women she met here. Now, even with hours and hours of community service under her belt, Grubbs claims she is not a long-term, passionate volunteer.

“It’s because someone in this room asked me to do it,” she said. “We all do it because someone asks us.”

Similarly, Grudzielanek insisted on giving other people credit for his thousands of hours of community service. Over the years, he has volunteered for the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, the Kentucky Association for Mentally Disabled, the Knights of Columbus and the Special Olympics.

He became passionate about organizations for the mentally disabled when his best friend had a son with a mental disability, he said.

“He would wait for me every day until I got home,” he said. “That was the start of it.”

And his volunteerism hasn’t stopped. He still hosts dances at the Knights of Columbus Hall for mentally disabled residents – the Halloween costume dance draws more than 350 people.

He also organizes the manger scene each Christmas at Fountain Square Park. It’s a project Grudzielanek has continued even in the face of opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union, and despite the baby Jesus doll being stolen five times, he said.

But, like Grubbs, Grudzielanek says none of his work would have been possible without the support of others.

“I couldn’t have done it without all the people,” he said.

Mink, Jenna (2012, April). Grudzielanek’s service work noted. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/grudzielanek-s-service-work-noted/article_b890a0e6-8b16-11e1-be3f-0019bb2963f4.html

One of the great features of the Jefferson Awards is that those who are honored don’t seek the recognition, although they are very deserving of it.

Each year, local residents are recognized for their public service and selfless deeds through the South Central Kentucky Jefferson Awards, which is sponsored by the Daily News and WBKO-TV.

For the past 26 years, these deserving individuals have been selected through a nominating process to be recognized for the award.

On Thursday, four of these people were honored at a breakfast for all they do for people in this community and neighboring communities. The honorees were Martha C. Jenkins, Caroline Ford, Felicia Bland and Ray Buckberry.

Each of the honorees has a quite unique and interesting story.

[…]

Bland, by all accounts, will strive to accomplish anything to help those in the community.

Anne Grubbs, who nominated Bland, said she didn’t know where to begin when nominating her.

Grubbs said words like, “Tireless? Faithful? Loyal? Can’t say no to a good cause,” all crossed her mind when describing her.

Bland, who is outreach coordinator and public relations liaison for Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, has been involved in a long list of community service projects that range from the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday planning committee to a dance instructor for Bellewood Home for Children to the founder of Heavenly Footsteps Youth Dance and Gifts of Praise Christian Mime and Dance teams.

If all of these activities weren’t enough, Bland also somehow finds time to take care of her ailing grandmother and is raising her daughter, who has special needs.

In addition to the 2012 Jefferson Award, Bland has picked up the 2004 MLK Women of Distinction, the 2010 Bowling Green Trailblazers Community Service and the 2011 Bowling Green Human Rights Community Service awards.

It is amazing to see a person with this much responsibility in her daily life who is able to do all of these other activities to help others.

[To read the complete article, please visit the link below…]

Author Unknown (2012, April). Jefferson Award recipients are worthy of honor. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/opinion/our_opinion/jefferson-award-recipients-are-worthy-of-honor/article_acbbc3ac-8a41-11e1-948b-001a4bcf887a.html

If you’re Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education, you can’t spell “party” without “b-e-e.”

Community Education’s seventh annual Spell-a-Bration is scheduled for Feb. 17 at Sloan Convention Center. At least 22 teams have signed on to participate in the event, which is one part spelling bee, one part silent auction and one part costume party.

The event is sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Harned, Bachert and McGehee, and the funds raised by the Spell-a-Bration benefit the many enrichment classes and educational programs offered by Community Education to adults and children in the community.

Community Education Executive Director Debi Wade Jordan said the annual event has grown in many ways from the initial Spell-a-Bration, which was held in the cafeteria at Henry Moss Middle School.

The community has embraced the event, with inventively named teams seeing it as an opportunity to show off their smarts, or at least do their best imitation of champion spellers while wearing outlandish costumes.

“You have to have a competitive spirit, and a lot of people in our community do,” Jordan said.

Team entry fees, table sponsorships and proceeds from a silent auction of items from local and regional businesses help raise money for Community Education. Contributions typically number between $8,000 and $9,000 a year, Jordan said.

Additional spots for teams are available throughout next week, Jordan said.

Last year’s winner, Bowling Green Independent Schools’ Purple Powers That Bee, are returning to defend the title.

A kickoff event was Friday at Community Education’s Westen Avenue headquarters, at which Bowling Green City Commissioner Melinda Hill drew numbers determining the order in which the teams will spell.

Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education, went over the rules for this year’s bee.

Teams of three will be given a word to spell in each round, with one member designated every round as the person spelling the word.

Team members can confer with one another for a set amount of time and can scribble out their best guess on a piece of paper.

The designated speller can ask for the word’s definition and origin, and for the word to be used in a sentence before being required to spell the word out loud.

Teams have an opportunity before the bee to buy up to two Spell Again coupons that they can use in opening rounds to ask for another (potentially less difficult) word.

Also, teams can purchase an Ask the Experts coupon that can be used once. In case a team runs into a tricky word, members can use that coupon to consult their own hand-picked panel of experts for assistance.

Hill’s is sponsoring two teams at this year’s Spell-a-Bration and has been involved as a sponsor since the beginning.

Drew Stahlman, human resources manager at Hill’s, said that employees there have grown to enjoy the night, whether as spellers or vocal supporters.

“There’s a competitive spirit that drives some people, and for others, their drive is to support the people on stage, but they have a lot of fun with it,” Stahlman said.

— For more information about the Spell-a-Bration, call Community Education at 842-4281.

Story, Justin (2012, February). Community Education’s Spell-a-Bration slated for Feb. 17. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/community-education-s-spell-a-bration-slated-for-feb/article_3407038e-4ede-11e1-bc05-0019bb2963f4.html

Elizabeth Hocker counted off the steps Monday night, instructing couples how to dance the fox trot and the merengue.

With varying degrees of success, the couples started to get the hang of it, locking in with the rhythm of the merengue after Hocker compared the basic foot movements of the dance to “John Wayne walking up the stairs.”

Hocker’s ballroom dance class is one of several adult enrichment classes offered this fall through Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education.

An instructor at Dance Images studio, Hocker said she became involved with Community Education’s adult enrichment program shortly after the television show “Dancing with the Stars” first became popular.

Hocker was soon in contact with Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education, about offering a class on ballroom dancing.

“The most important thing is to make sure people are comfortable and they have a good time,” Hocker said.

Dozens of enrichment classes have been offered through the fall program, which started last month.

Classes typically meet once a week for a few weeks, and the offerings are in many categories, including computers, arts, crafts, language, home, garden and cooking, personal growth and recreation and health.

“With a lot of our classes, you try it and if you like it you can pursue other lessons that are more intense,” Grubbs said.

Many of the classes offered have already taken place, but some have yet to begin. People are recommended to register at least a week before the first session.

Instructors are paid through the fees collected for the classes.

The ballroom dance class met for the first of three sessions Monday in the Henry F. Moss Middle School cafeteria. Future classes will have instruction on the waltz and other dances.

One couple at Monday’s class, Tommy Han and Jennifer Blankenship of Bowling Green, said they registered for the class partly for recreation and partly to polish their moves for some upcoming weddings they’ve been invited to attend.

“It gives us something fun to do on a boring Monday night,” Blankenship said.

In the library at Moss Middle School, Elaine Painter, a Bowling Green veterinarian and alpaca farmer, led a class Monday teaching people how to spin yarn from alpaca hair.

Painter, who moved to Bowling Green two years ago, saw the enrichment classes that Community Education offered and decided to join the fall program as an instructor.

Her class Monday taught the basics of spinning hair into yarn, a process that, while enjoyable, can involve a good deal of trial and error.

“I’m no expert, but an expert would have lost patience,” Painter said.

Story, Justin (2011, October). Couples get on dance floor during class. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/couples-get-on-dance-floor-during-class/article_a8a378f2-2d64-56f0-849a-0e05ae68b510.html

Western Kentucky University’s South Lawn will be turned into a place for children to play and adults to learn Thursday morning for the 14th annual Stand for Children Day from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

“It’s the most kid-friendly event around,” said Debi Wade Jordan, executive director of Community Education, which puts on the event. “There’s all sorts of things for them to do. The kids have a ball.”

While the kids are being entertained, the adults can learn about a variety of services in our area.

The event will include music, games, a scavenger hunt, face painting, water games and more.

“We have a lot of fun activities and we are able to provide information on services,” Jordan said.

On Monday, organizers and sponsors of the event gathered at Bowling Green City Hall for a ribbon-cutting and proclamation reading that declared this Stand for Children Week.

Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon and Bowling Green City Commissioner Brian “Slim” Nash read the proclamation.

“Bowling Green and Warren County have celebrated Stand for Children Day each year since 1998,” Buchanon said. “It’s a safe day of celebration and education.”

Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education, thanked everyone involved in helping with the day, especially the two main sponsors, the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club and American Bank and Trust.

Nash was there to represent the city and the Kiwanis Club.

“I’m proud to be part of the Kiwanis Club, an organization that supports children every day and supports children in this particular way,” Nash said.

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman Rodney Rogers said Stand for Children Day is “another example of what makes Bowling Green and Warren County the best pace to live, work and go to school.”

“Investing in our children is investing in our future,” Rogers added.

All games and activities at the event are free and Grubbs said almost 1,000 people usually attend. Booths with information and fun activities for kids will be set up all around the South Lawn and children will receive a free drawstring backpack. Free parking is available at the Pearce-Ford Lot off Normal Drive.

The theme this year is “Go Green!” and there will be information and events related to that theme. Community Education is also hosting a book drive that morning and guests are invited to drop off books, which will be given to children in our community.

Grubbs said they are looking forward to another great year.

“Come out and enjoy the heat with us,” Grubbs said.

— For more information, call Community Education at 842-4281.

Cassady, Pam (2011, June). Stand for Children Day to feature activities for all. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/stand-for-children-day-to-feature-activities-for-all/article_0e769a77-993f-5add-9acd-0d2533826f11.html

Today a special person in Bowling Green celebrates their recent win for an award.

2010 Athena Award Recipient, Anne Grubbs was congratulated during a luncheon.

During Grubbs’s speech, she gave reference and applause to the women who were also nominated for the award.

She explains winning the award is a reflection of the people around her.

“I think that’s one of the reason’s I do what I do because it’s the inspiration of the people that you’re around so this will be added inspiration to get up and keep going,” said Anne Grubbs.

There have been 25 winners of the Athena Award since 1986.

Author Unknown (2010, November). 2010 Athena Award Luncheon Honors Anne Grubbs. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/misc/2010_Athena_Award_Luncheon_Honors_Anne_Grubbs_107631178.html

Exhibit features portraits, stories of survivors from region, including two Russellville women

RUSSELLVILLE — Ashley George remembers the day she became one of the “Faces of Cancer.”

Her grandmother and mother had each been diagnosed with a type of thyroid cancer that seems to run in families. A doctor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville suggested that George and her four siblings be tested. It was May 2000, and George was 16 years old.

“I had the gene, and my youngest brother had it,” the Russellville woman said. “Both of us had surgery the same day.”

While her brother, who was 6, did not have cancer and was released from the hospital the next day, Ashley already had cancer. She stayed in the hospital for one week.

George is one of 10 in the Kentucky Cancer Program’s “Faces of Cancer” exhibit, which features portraits and stories of 10 southcentral Kentucky cancer survivors. The exhibit will be displayed at Logan Memorial Hospital through Thursday. “Faces of Cancer” has already been displayed in Bowling Green and Monroe County. It will travel to Butler, Edmonson and Hart counties in the spring.

Click here for more photos from the exhibit.

“We knew not everyone could travel to Bowling Green to see it,” Elizabeth Westbrook, Kentucky Cancer Program cancer control specialist, said Friday during a kick-off luncheon for the exhibit. “It’s so important that we wanted to go to each community where these people reside.”

Others featured are Brenna Brown of Russellville, James Cartwright of Morgantown, Louise Doyle of Park City, Dona Ebert of Munfordville, Jean Page of Tompkinsville and Anne Grubbs, Jean Gray, Lucy Mason and Mary Jo Smith, all of Bowling Green.

“Living with cancer is a journey. There are 14 million cancer survivors in the United States today,” Westbrook said. “Many are active. You wouldn’t even know they have cancer. All have unique stories to tell.”

[To continue reading the rest of this article, please visit the link below…]

Harvey, Alyssa (2010, November). ‘Faces of Cancer’. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/faces-of-cancer/article_c5e1f518-4539-5357-8906-6f18504a74c7.html

Angel Trees will feature only kids 12 and younger due to financial difficulties; however, local group will sponsor a new teen program

As the holiday season approaches, local residents can expect some familiar sights, such as paper angels hanging from trees in shops and restaurants.

But The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program is slightly different this year. The program allows the public to sponsor underprivileged children by buying them Christmas gifts.

Anyone can snatch an angel from one of several trees – the ornament gives the child’s name, age and Christmas wishes. Gifts are dropped off at The Salvation Army office, where workers gather and distribute them to families. Angel Trees will be in stores beginning Nov. 19.

But this year, donators will not find wishes from teenagers. Other organizations are stepping up to sponsor older children.

Unlike previous years, The Salvation Army has imposed an age limit of 12 and school youth service centers did not submit children’s names. Instead, all families applied directly through The Salvation Army.

Still, the number of participants is on par with last year’s total of 3,500, Salvation Army Maj. Carla Binnix said.

The Salvation Army reduced its age limit mainly for financial reasons. It’s difficult for many people, including the organization, to sponsor teenagers because they request and need more expensive items.

Last year, The Salvation Army sponsored some children, mainly teenagers, whose names were not picked from a tree. The organization spent more than $10,000 on those gifts, and a handful of children did not receive gifts, Binnix said.

So, a local group is spearheading a new program called Teen Angel. Through the program, people may donate money or gift cards to local organizations, which will distribute the money to local family resource centers to purchase gifts for underprivileged teenagers.

The project is sponsored by Bowling Green’s Vision Multi-Agency Coalition. People can make donations until Dec. 9 at Community Education, the Housing Authority of Bowling Green’s learning center or the ALIVE Center.

“The Salvation Army was having a hard time meeting the demands of the Angel Tree,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education. “This kind of takes Salvation Army out of the loop because it was too much.”

The Salvation Army also decided not to work with youth service centers in an attempt to curtail the number of applicants and to prevent duplicate applicants, Binnix said.

“That’s a hard time in people’s lives when they’re having to get that kind of help,” she said. “The way the job market is right now, we’re able to help a family provide a Christmas they’re used to giving to their child and all of a sudden are struggling to do.”

Local youth service centers have worked with The Salvation Army for years, referring children to the Angel Tree program. Last year, Warren Elementary School submitted about 400 names to the organization, said Amy Carter, family resource center director.

Now, Carter is working with The Salvation Army to determine how many of her students are participating in the program, and the youth service center is looking into making Christmas baskets for low-income families. Those baskets will include essential needs, such as laundry detergent and soap, that food stamps do not cover, she said.

“So that can free up money and they can buy their child what they really need,” she said.

Mink, Jenna (2010, October). Salvation Army’s holiday program sets new age limit. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/salvation-army-s-holiday-program-sets-new-age-limit/article_2e5930f0-ba41-5be7-8572-f05fadfcef82.html

This year the Salvation Army and the Multi-Agency/Vision group will work together to provide Christmas presents for area young people. The Salvation Army will continue its Angel Tree program for children up to 12 years of age, and the Council will work to fulfill the needs of teenagers. This will take some of the load off the shoulders of Salvation Army, freeing their staff to concentrate on younger children. The Multi-Agency group will work with area Family Resource/Youth Service Center Groups to provide for teenagers through a program titled Teen Angel. The public is invited to make monetary donations, by dropping off checks or gift cards to Community Education, the ALIVE Center, or the Housing Authority Learning Center. Donations can be dropped off starting November 1. Make checks to Teen Angel, c/o Community Education Foundation.

The groups are working collaboratively to provide for needs, while helping Salvation Army shoulder the load.

For questions about these programs, contact Community Education at 270.842.4281. (Donations are tax deductible.)

Grubbs, Anne (2010, October). Salvation Army and Multi-Agency Group Team up to Meet Christmas Needs. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Salvation_Army_and_Multi-Agency_Group_Team_up_to_Meet_Christmas_Needs.html

Anne Grubbs has done a lot for this community and has never sought recognition for any of her efforts, but good deeds shouldn’t go unnoticed in the case of Grubbs.

On Thursday, Grubbs, who was also celebrating her birthday that day, was named the ATHENA Award winner for her efforts and her community service.

The ATHENA Award recognizes women who are dedicated to opening doors to women in the workplace and beyond.

Grubbs oversees adult education for Community Education and before that taught for 22 years at Cumberland Trace Elementary School.

Receiving this award had to be a very uplifting and exciting experience for Grubbs.

After receiving the award, Grubbs thanked her husband, Mike, for allowing her to quit teaching and open up a whole new life.

Grubbs, who is also a Jefferson Award winner, was very unpretentious in her comments after receiving the award.

“It’s very humbling to get this award, because so many people do so much more work than I do,” Grubbs said. “I’m lucky to be in the right spot to advocate for worthy causes and I work with wonderful people.”

Grubbs’ words are very telling about the type of selfless individual she is.

Everyone who attended the event had the kindest words about Grubbs and said they felt she was certainly deserving of this very coveted award.

There were also other well-qualified nominees for this award, and their work has not gone unnoticed in this community. They also should be commended for their efforts to better this community and region.

We congratulate Grubbs on an award well-earned and well-deserved.

Author Unknown (2010, October). Grubbs was deserving of recent award. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/opinion/our_opinion/grubbs-was-deserving-of-recent-award/article_8ad38836-769d-56fe-b5b8-ca495cb7aa84.html

Anne Grubbs got a surprise for her birthday Thursday, but it wasn’t a party – or at least not a party for that.

As Grubbs was named the ATHENA Award winner, her family and friends emerged from a meeting room at Martin Cadillac to surprise her.

“It’s my birthday,” she said, wiping away tears while accepting the award.

Grubbs, who oversees adult education for Community Education, never expected to be nominated for the business women’s award once, much less twice, said her husband, Mike Grubbs.

“This is a business award, so she questioned why she would be nominated,” Mike Grubbs said.

But the award recognizes men and women who are dedicated to opening doors to women in the workplace and beyond.

“She is very deserving of this award,” friend Duncan McKenzie said.

McKenzie’s wife, Pam, first met Anne Grubbs at Cumberland Trace Elementary School. Anne Grubbs taught school for 22 years before joining Community Education.

“I want to thank my husband, Mike, who allowed me to quit teaching and open up a whole new life,” she said.

Grubbs has made and kept many connections in the community, which has been her home for 23 years. Among those connections are Melody and Keith Ossello, whose children Anne Grubbs taught in kindergarten.

“We’ve known her 21 or 22 years,” Melody Ossello said. “They couldn’t have picked a better person.”

Amber Martin of Martin Management Group said her company sponsors the ATHENA Award because it believes in the mission of the award to support women.

Martin said each of the women nominated this time – including Anne Meade, CFO of Western Kentucky University; Cheri Natcher of Southern Foods; Sue Parrigin, manager of the Carroll Knicely Conference Center; Tamara Vogler of BB&T and Mayor Elaine Walker – was deserving of the award.

After making a short speech, Grubbs posed for some pictures with past ATHENA winners and participated in her “party.” She actually celebrated her birthday Wednesday, because Thursday evening was filled with a district meeting for Kiwanis, of which she is an active member.

For such work and many other endeavors, Anne Grubbs earlier this year was named a Jefferson Award winner for her community service.

“I guess people really think she is deserving,” her husband said.

Later, Anne Grubbs said she was surprised when her co-workers came out.

“I thought they were still at work cleaning up after our big meeting,” she said.

“It’s very humbling to get this award, because so many people do so much more work than I do,” she added. “I’m lucky to be in the right spot to advocate for worthy causes and I work with wonderful people.”

Minor, Robyn L. (2010, October). Birthday eventful for 2010 ATHENA winner. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/birthday-eventful-for-athena-winner/article_49bd1ca9-7e07-5e0d-9f3d-2791df92c79e.html

A lucky woman won the 2010 Athena Award.

The award is presented to professional woman who excel as community leaders.

Anne Grubbs of Community Education was the winner today.

Among the other nominees were Mayor Elaine Walker, Tamara Vogler of BB&T and Ann Mead of Western Kentucky University.

“Honored, humbled and blessed. I keep telling people I’m not the one that does all these great things, I’m just so blessed with so many people that does so much for the community,” said Anne Grubbs.

The Athena Luncheon for Anne Grubbs will be at the Carroll Knicely Center on November 11Th.

Author Unknown (2010, October). Anne Grubbs the 2010 Athena Award Winner. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Anne_Grubbs_the_2010_Athena_Award_Winner_104990049.html

Community Education, Kentucky Legal Aid, and the Bowling Green Bar Association are gearing up for another session of the People’s Law School. The sessions, titled Medicare Coverage After Health Care Reform, will be held Saturday, October 23, at the Community Education office on Westen Avenue. The seminar, which begins at 9:00 a.m., is open to the public and is free of charge. Pre-registration is encouraged, since space is limited to 40 or 50 participants. Call us at 270.842.4281, or visit Community Ed’s website at www.commed.us, under Adult Enrichment.

Grubbs, Anne (2010, September). The People’s Law School Returns. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/104034298.html

The 3rd annual LifeSkills Run for Autism will take place on October 16th at the Bowling Green Ballpark, home of the Hot Rods. It will include a 4-mile wheelchair race, a 4-mile run, and a 1-mile Family Walk. This year’s walk is being headed up by 11 year old Dylan Beckham, who is on a personal mission to raise $30,000 for autism. Racers will compete for one-of-a-kind baseball themed awards, schools will compete for pride and awards, and all pre-registered event participants will receive a commemorative shirt. There will be team mascots, family entertainment, games, inflatables, face painting, Purity ice cream, and much more, and all FREE.
100% of the proceeds go to the WKU Kelly Autism Program, so visit the website and register today to help young Dylan reach his goal!
www.AutismRun.org

Grubbs, Anne (2010, September). LifeSkills and Bowling Green Kiwanis Team Up to Combat Autism. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/103955128.html

It’s time to think about Fall Break vacation time!

Community Education is offering all day programming options for grades Grades K – 6 during city and county schools fall break, Oct. 4 – 8 (county) and Oct. 4 – 12 (city). Hours are 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and cost is $25/day, per child. The program will be held at

Potter Gray Elementary. Pre-registration required. Call 270-842-4281.

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION SEPTEMBER 24.

Grubbs, Anne (2010, September). Fall Break All Day Programs Available for BG/WC Schools. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/102992494.html

Community Education and Stand for Children hosted the its 13th annual Stand for Children Day on Thursday at Western Kentucky University, drawing a crowd of about 1,000, despite a one-day rain delay.

This year’s event focused on literacy with book donations going to the Boys & Girls Club and the Bowling Green Housing Authority’s WROTE Foundation after-school program.

The annual celebration of services for families and children also featured a host of new activities this year, designed purely for fun. Celebration attendees enjoyed music, games and live entertainment and those who were not able to attend can still donate books for the next week at drop-off sites, including American Bank & Trust locations, Warren County Library branches, the Community Education office and Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

“Even with rain delay we still had close to 1,000 people,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator at Community Education. “That’s great considering some of the vendors could not come due to the change in the date. We also had very positive feedback about the activities and the contents of the booths.”

Some of this year’s new attractions included L&N Depot’s Thomas the Tank Engine, cornhole and a petting zoo. Royal Music also brought a new violin for kids to touch and explore. There was also face-painting and all kids who attended got free backpacks.

Sponsors of this year’s event were American Bank & Trust and the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club.

Community Education is a group of citizens and civic leaders that facilitate community collaboration and provide needed services at low cost to community members. Since it was founded in 1973, the organization has grown to provide before- and after-school care for more than 1,200 school-age children and for as many as 500 children during all-day programs, which are offered during school breaks.

Enrichment classes are also available for adults, which cover a wide variety of subjects including foreign language, cooking, fine arts, crafts, computer, fitness and recreation, finance, online classes and more.

Author Unknown (2010, June). Stand for Children event draws 1,000. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/stand-for-children-event-draws/article_fafdda06-6823-52bc-b577-e2fb1046abfa.html

There was food, games, and all kinds of activities centered around children.

But Community Education’s Enrichment and Volunteer Coordinator says this day was also dedicated to literacy with a book drive.

“And the banks and Kiwanis and Community Ed all have bins out,” said Anne Grubbs. “We’re collecting books that will be given to children’s charities in the area, as well as, we’re collecting canned food that we can give to the Red Cross and Salvation Army.”

This was the 13th annual Stand for Children celebration in Bowling Green.

Birk, Gene (2010, June). Stand for Children Day: One for the Books. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/awareness/headlines/96090564.html

Four Bowling Green residents were recognized this morning for their good works by being named Jefferson Award winners.

The annual community service awards, sponsored by the Daily News and WBKO-TV, are given to residents who go above the call to ensure they leave this earth a better place than they found it.

This year’s recipients include a teenager who raises money for cancer research (Riley Miller); a cancer survivor who is active in spreading her love for volunteerism (Anne Grubbs); a Bowling Green physician turned country doctor (Mike Collins); and a woman who is an advocate or friend to nursing home residents (Elaine Slamans).

Sixteen-year-old Riley Miller said she was inspired to do something about childhood cancer after her two baby brothers, Reid and Randon, died from the disease.

So Miller started Warren County’s branch of Alex’s Lemonade Stands that since 2005 has raised more than $87,000 in Warren County.

Miller said it’s something she intends to continue.

“And maybe someday the money I help raise will be responsible for finding a cure,” she said.

Miller said cancer is not discriminatory.

“I know at least seven kids my age in school who have been diagnosed and people in the neighborhood,” she said.

Miller’s mother, Carol, said she is proud of her daughter.

“Her commitment has encouraged our entire family,” she said.

Miller will travel to Washington in June to be considered for a national Jefferson Award, something that surprised her today.

“Wow, I am?” she asked.

It wouldn’t be the first time Miller received national recognition. In 2008, she was named one of America’s Top Ten Youth Volunteers and she received the National Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

Mike Grubbs smiled and snapped pictures as his wife received her award.

“She has been involved in so many things, it’s hard to measure her impact on one organization,” he said. “She has been trying to cut back, but there is still so much to do.”

Anne Grubbs said many others do the good work: “I just get to talk about,” she said.

By day, she works with Community Education; at night or at any other free time, Grubbs’ interests include Kiwanis Club, Girl Scouts, the former Girls Inc., the ALIVE Center and Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. Her goal to have a centralized location for volunteers to go and get connected to organizations in need was realized with the establishment of the ALIVE Center, an affiliate of Western Kentucky University.

When asked how she keeps on going while dealing with health issues, Grubbs revealed her secret: “I don’t clean my house and we eat out a lot.”

Collins said his award should be shared with his wife, Susan, a nurse who assists in his home visits and who has been on numerous mission trips with him.

As single-family practice doctors become even more of a rarity, Collins is committed to providing the service. In 2006, he began seeing patients in their homes and for years he has traveled to other countries to provide medical care where it is scarce. He also is mentoring others who chose to become family practice physicians.

Health care reform will increase access to care for many people but does little to help doctors establish family practices, he said.

“I’m concerned about the number of medical care providers going into family practice because of the tremendous cost of medical school,” he said.

Many physicians choose specialty areas that allow them to repay that debt quicker than being a family physician would.

Slamans blushed when asked about her volunteerism and the award that recognizes it.

For 25 years, she has volunteered at Rosewood Health Care Center, engaging the residents in conversation and activities and providing them with gifts and companionship. She also does the same for people in the hospital and at church; she makes shawls and baby blankets for the sick or in need.

“I really don’t do that much,” she said. “Anybody can do what I do.”

But to quote boxing legend Muhammad Ali, “the will must be stronger than the skill,” program speaker Abraham Williams said.

Williams, using a basketball analogy of being the “sixth man,” said the concept could apply to Slamans and the other nominees.

“You Jefferson Award winners are the sixth man,” ready to come in off the bench and do what needs to be done to help out the team.

Williams said the community time and again has demonstrated how caring it can be – coming together after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and helping Hurricane Katrina victims who ended up in Bowling Green with few possessions.

“But we don’t need to wait until another 9/11 or Katrina,” he said. “We have such a giving community … but there is a lot of need.”

Slamans said the world would be a much better place if everyone would just do a little something.

“Even if it was just to give someone a smile,” she said. “We just need to show the love of Jesus to the people.”

Minor, Robyn L. (2010, April). Recognizing service to the public. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/recognizing-service-to-the-public/article_44ed451e-a71c-5766-b76c-a46ebe99f64e.html

A listing of previous winners of the Jefferson Award for Public Service in South Central Kentucky.

2010

• MIKE COLLINS

• ANNE GRUBBS

• RILEY MILLER

• ELAINE SLAMANS

[To continue reading the rest of this article, please visit the link below…]

Author Unknown (2010, April). Past Winners. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/special_sections/jefferson_awards/winners-of-the-jefferson-award-for-public-service/article_99ce5653-e963-58c7-8ca5-790344d456c8.html

Repeated in “Past Winners” on December 6, 2012:  http://www.bgdailynews.com/special_sections/jefferson_awards/past-winners/article_cda28c26-3fd2-11e2-8571-0019bb2963f4.html

Repeated in “About the Jefferson Awards”  http://www.bgdailynews.com/special_sections/jefferson_awards/

Anne Grubbs embodies the spirit of the Jefferson Awards, with service beyond the call in numerous aspects of Warren County life.

Her “day job” with Community Education often finds itself extended into the night, sharing time with her many other interests including church, friends and community organizations, such as Kiwanis Club, Girl Scouts, the former Girls Inc., the ALIVE Center and Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.

As a member of the Kiwanis Club she has recruited new members to join and help on service projects, volunteered at school activities, helped with the Soap Box Derby and the events. Those efforts earned her a George F. Hixon Fellow in 2008.

While having no children of her own, Anne has elected to essentially adopt other children in the community. In addition to her child-centered activities through Community Education, Anne volunteers at a summer Girl Scout program and helps the organization with an annual fundraiser.

Anne’s goal to have a central location to get residents connected with volunteer opportunities is credited with helping establish the ALIVE Center, a Western organization that does just that.

Her compassion extends to the less-fortunate animals in the community. Anne is a regular dog-walker for the Bowing Green-Warren County Humane Society’s shelter.

Anne also finds time for church choir and activities, participates in the community as well as with Fountain Square Players.

Just listing her work is exhausting, but Anne keeps going even in the face of cancer. She is battling her disease and encouraging others to do the same.

Author Unknown (2010, April). Anne Grubbs. BGDailyNews.com. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/special_sections/jefferson_awards/anne-grubbs/article_af1bef7b-2543-54d6-a570-4a1eb01de562.html

Warren County residents have proven time and time again that they have a caring and giving spirit that recognizes service to others as a responsibility.

Four individuals, who take on that duty willingly and with enthusiasm, were recognized today with Jefferson Awards, a community awards program sponsored locally by the Daily News and WBKO-TV.

Teenager Riley Miller, physician Mike Collins, community volunteer Anne Grubbs and nursing home volunteer Elaine Slamans received the awards at a breakfast attended by family, friends and community leaders.

Miller’s entry will be forwarded to Washington for national award consideration and she will make a trip to the awards ceremony.

Miller has dedicated much of her young life to raising funds for childhood cancer research, after tragedy struck her family multiple times.

Riley’s brothers, Reid and Randon, both died from a rare childhood cancer. Their deaths encouraged Riley to want to do something, so since 2005, she has been organizing Warren County’s string of Alex’s Lemonade Stands.

Her leadership has helped raise more than $87,000 for research since starting the stands here in 2005.

Somewhat reminiscent of the Saturday Evening Post covers, Collins takes his doctoring to patients where they need it – sometimes that may mean at their homes here or in other countries where medical care is scarce.

Collins also mentors young physicians and pre-medical students so that they can see the value in good old-fashioned family practice doctors.

Grubbs’ day job at Community Education often extends into the night, sharing time with her many other interests, including church, friends and community organizations.

Kiwanis Club, Girl Scouts, the former Girls Inc., the ALIVE Center, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce – all are organizations she has had a part in. Grubbs has “adopted” many of the community’s children and makes sure they are able to participate in programs such as Girl Scouts. She also cares for the area’s unwanted or less fortunate animals as a dog walker for the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society.

Slamans is perhaps best known for the volunteer work she has done for 25 years at Rosewood Health Care Center. For more than 20 years, she has been president of the Helping Hands Club at the nursing home. She makes sure residents have activities, get gifts during the holidays and receive thoughtful cards. She also does much the same for people at her church.

Those who nominated Slamans say she is a selfless and giving individual.

We want each of these individuals to know how much their work is appreciated and hope that they stand as an example to others who can begin seeing service to others as its own reward.

Author Unknown (2010, April). Honorees tremendous role models. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/opinion/our_opinion/honorees-tremendous-role-models/article_7cc90767-40bb-5de0-8a0b-16498951b91e.html

Community organizations preparing for spring activities

As Latin music pulsed inside Lost River Elementary School’s gym, several ladies hopped back and forth, doing knee lifts and arm stretches, clapping their hands and incorporating shakes and hip twists – all at Lori Massey’s instruction.

“I like this,” she said.

When thinking of spring, Massey said new beginnings come to mind, a time of year when people tend to get new energy that was lost between Jan. 1 and the beginning of spring. And with spring in the air – and literally around the corner Saturday – many community organizations are blooming with new activities, such as Introduction to Zumba Fitness.

Massey, a fifth-grade teacher at the elementary school, also is a Zumba instructor for Bowling Green Athletic Club. On Mondays, she teaches the ladies inside the elementary school gym to twist their hips for Community Education.

“I love Zumba. It’s fun. It’s what we call exercise in disguise, and it’s the music that drives the class,” she said.

After teaching the class for Community Education in the winter, Massey is again the instructor for the spring term.

“A lot of people … looking for things to do, and Community Education opens eyes to various activities they can do,” she said. “(The classes) are economical and offer a lot of diversity.”

When spring rolls around, Community Education often is busy gearing up for summer programs for kids, the spring term classes and volunteer appreciation.

“We are kicking it into high gear,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education.

From computer classes to home and garden to needlework to recreation and health, Community Education provides adult enrichment classes that appeal to a wide range of people.

“There’s something there for everybody,” she said.

Outdoor classes, such as photography, get people motivated, Grubbs said. New this spring season is the Latin Culture Through Music, Dance and Food, which begins April 22. The three-session class will look at dance techniques from Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, and some Latin food recipes. Latin cultures also will be discussed, Grubbs said.

Wedding 101, a class that hasn’t been offered recently, is also returning, Grubbs said.

“A wedding planner will do a one-time seminar on wedding planning,” she said. “Not so much a how-to, but the things you should and shouldn’t do.”

Grubbs said there will be new sewing classes and a class on herbs and the immune system, which will begin May 4 and be taught by Mary Hammond, an herbologist new to the area.

“Those who stay active, stay young,” Grubbs said. “People are realizing these are things they can do at a low cost for entertainment and it’s reliable … this is a nonthreatening atmosphere, it’s an easy way to go in and continue learning.”

Some popular classes, such as Zumba, draw people in, then they might find another class or two to take, she said. That rang true for Western Kentucky University grad student Ashley Herndon, 26.

“I’ll definitely do a class again,” said Herndon, who is taking the Zumba class – her first Community Education class. “I always thought Community Ed was something after school for kids. I didn’t know they offered adult classes like this.

“This is great for the community and a great way to meet the community.”

[To continue reading the rest of this article, please visit the link below…]

Jordan, Natalie (2010, March). Getting a Fresh Start this Spring. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/getting-a-fresh-start-this-spring/article_e2fd9ccb-3f99-5353-880a-e43b13c66ad5.html

Ned Casey (left), operations manager at WBKO, accepts an award Tuesday from Ann Grubbs, of Community Education, for his team’s victory at last year’s Spellabration spelling bee contest at Community Education. More than 20 teams competed last year. This year’s event will be Feb. 19 at the Sloan Convention Center.

Author Unknown (2010, January). Spelling champ. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/photo-spelling-champ/article_1af4e554-50d9-5044-852e-38fa03bfd12d.html

Houchens Center hosts annual Shop Day

Cheryl Morris and Jolette Jacobs browsed over jewelry, embroideries and artwork before stopping at a table display of handmade molted glass ornaments – some purple, some orange, some spotted, some big, some small – and then moving on to pottery.

“There’s such a variety,” Morris said. “These are great gifts for that hard-to-buy-for person.”

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, the Eloise B. Houchens Center opened its doors to the community for its annual Shop Day, where 12 area craftsmen showcased a variety of items, ranging from needlework to glasswork done by Morgantown’s Bill Van Tassel to jewelry to woodwork.

Morris bought a wooden cutting board for her father, who works with wood but never made one for himself.

“I wanted to see all the unique things here,” she said.

“This is my first time here. It’s a lot of neat stuff here,” said Jacobs, who bought some scarves, earrings and a slate Santa from Nell Peperis, a local artist.

Jacobs wasn’t the only person to buy art from Peperis. Cilicia Burden, of Morgantown, came specifically to get a painted Santa.

“I have a girl across the street from my home who is the same age as my daughter, and I give her this as a gift,” she said. “I’ve gotten one in Shakertown for the past 10 years, but when I went she was out, so she painted one for me. I felt I had to get one or (my neighbor) would be disappointed.”

By 11 a.m. the house buzzed with activity as people trickled in, looking over the different vendors’ items, like the little angels handmade out of antique quilts.

“It takes a lot of time to make them by hand,” said Debbie Woods, of Smiths Grove. “They’re $2 apiece. I like to price them like if I were to buy them, I would be able to get them “

Woods said she did shows for eight years, but decided to take a break. She said she called the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to see if there were any shows she could do and they told her about the Houchens Center.

“This is wonderful,” she said.

While the CVB informed Woods of the center’s annual event, Misha Ambrosia found out through Kay Zoretic, who was selling her custom jewelry. Ambrosia said Zoretic asked her about doing the annual event three or four months ago.

“I always like doing Christmas things,” Ambrosia said. “It’s fun.”

Shop Day, which has become a staple during the center’s annual festival of trees, is done not only to bring people into the home to see the trees but to showcase local artists’ work, said Mary Ann Cole, a board member for the center.

“This is a beautiful setting,” said Kathy Meeusen, who started making handmade decorated trinket boxes, picture frames and hand mirrors a year ago. “I love the remarks people give, and this puts our product out there by word of mouth. I think this helps both (the center and the vendor) out.”

Cole said they were a little disappointed in the turnout, but it was still a successful day in showcasing the home and for the vendors.

“There were a lot of people I’ve never seen before come in and see the center,” said Zoretic, who has taken part in the Shop Day event before. “I did a good bit of business. (Things) I make make good gifts. I sell well here, and today went well.”

Anne Grubbs, a member of the Houchens Center’s board and a committee member for the annual Trees of Christmas event, said this is the fifth time they’ve had the Shop Day attached to the annual tree event.

“There are good, quality items here,” Meeusen said. “This is definitely something I’d tell my friends about. People can come see the trees and do a little shopping, too.”

One of the last customers to leave, Martha Jenkins, of Bowling Green, was tucking away her newly purchased cherry wood tray.

“I bought some jewelry, too,” she said. “I enjoy craft fairs, and I liked some of the things on sale. I have a good time.”

Jordan, Natalie (2009, December). Talk of the Town with Lindsey McClain. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/talk-of-the-town-with-lindsey-mcclain/article_6dfeeb6f-0499-5d01-93c6-e8cad2e53677.html

In a recent interview on WBKO, I was quoted as stating that I was concerned at losing the care of my current physicians at Graves-Gilbert Clinic.

That’s true. They are caring and dedicated caregivers and I don’t want to think about not being able to have their care anymore. One critical piece of what I had to say was not included in the report. That was my statement that all patients who subscribe to Anthem need to take a part in their own care by calling and expressing their opinion.

Anthem recently sent out a letter advising us of negotiations that began five months ago. Patients weren’t notified until it was almost too late to voice their opinions. Upon calling the company in Louisville, customer service claimed to have no knowledge of the situation or the person who sent the letter. They also included a list of providers from Graves-Gilbert. It’s inaccurate. Some of those doctors left almost two years ago. These facts, while perhaps not surprising, do not speak well for the insurance company.

I urge every person who subscribes to Anthem to get on the phone with the company and express your opinion. It won’t be the first time it’s happened. Norton’s had the same experience, and the public made the difference.

Take a part in your own care. It’s the only thing that makes things happen.

Anne Grubbs

Bowling Green

Grubbs, Anne (2009, December). Please call Anthem and voice concerns. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/please-call-anthem-and-voice-concerns/article_c6c5b8f6-c634-5255-9a2b-1201454cb358.html

Inside the dimly lit Eloise B. Houchens Center, tinsel sparkles, Christmas ornaments shine and strings of lights glow brightly around 31 trees spread throughout the building.

With the theme “The Sights, Sounds and Scents of Christmas,” the center hosted an open house Friday to kick off its celebration of the 31st annual Trees of Christmas.

“That’s when I got in the Christmas spirit. I wanted to go decorate my own house,” said Anne Grubbs, a committee member for the event. “People come and get ideas, and I got some of my own.”

Thirty-one civic clubs and organizations in the community set out to decorate the trees inside the home, each adding their own flavor, like the American Red Cross’ “Remember Red Cross at the Holidays” tree.

The white tree is trimmed in red with red ornaments hanging from its branches.

“Every year, the board comes up with a theme, and a couple wanted to do something with gingerbread and some wanted it to be about all the pretty things,” Grubbs said. “So we kind of came to a consensus and tailored it a bit.”

Another tree, “The Family Feast,” done by the Warren County Home Economics Alumni of Western Kentucky University, features vegetables, fruits and even a miniature jar of pickles.

Each room of the home, from the front hall to the second floor kitchen, has two to four decorated trees, such as the March of Dimes’ “Babes in Toyland” table tree, Community Education’s “Spice, Sparkle and Song” tree, which boasts big bulb lights, miniature drum ornaments and gingerbread men, and the Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science’s “Starry Nights” in the Altrusa Room.

“All the stars were handmade by the children of Jeff Moore, president of BRIMS,” said Romanza Johnson, who helped decorate a number of the trees inside the home.

In the Woman’s Club room, two trees of interest were the Bowling Green Woman’s Club’s “Sustainability at its Best.” A reminder to recycle, the tree is decorated with recycled light bulbs – some painted, some with fuzzy balls and some that look like Santa.

The other was done by the President’s Club of Southcentral Kentucky, called a “Bluegrass Christmas.” The tree, trimmed in blue lights, blue tinsel and blue bulb ornaments, is decked out with little bottles of whisky and bourbon, miniature horses, guitars and trumpets.

The Garden Center room smelled of spice and gingerbread, thanks to the Bowling Green Garden Club’s “Gingerbread, Spice and Everything Nice” tree, decorated in gingerbread ornaments, dried orange slices, pine cones and scented bags.

In addition to some more traditional trees, there were some that were different, such as Community Action’s “Have you Seen Santa,” where Santa is wrapped around the tree, and the Briarwood Homemakers’ “Stitching for the Holidays,” which has gold tinsel and carefully placed stitched handkerchiefs on the tree’s branches.

“They were my grandmother’s and mother’s handkerchiefs,” Johnson said. “I loved being able to use them.”

At the bottom of each tree is a jar. Rather than charge admission, Grubbs said people asked to vote for their favorite tree with a donation. The money used will go to the upkeep of the home, she said.

The center, among all the trees, will host a shopping day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Fourteen vendors will showcase a variety of items, ranging from needlework, jewelry to woodwork.

“This is a day we invite people who do handcrafted goodies to come in and set up, and people who want to get gifts can get quality, Kentucky handmade products,” Grubbs said.

She said the center will sell bag lunches for $7.

The Houchens Center has hosted the annual festival for many years, Johnson said. She said it also allows those who never visited the center the opportunity to come tour the home.

This event fits well with that venue, Grubbs said. Plus, the event is an outlet for the groups, she said.

“The house is so pretty … and a nice backdrop,” she said. “This is one of the best years we’ve had. I don’t know why, but it’s very appealing this year. There are some very elegant trees … it’s just a cozy feeling.”

— For more information, call 842- 6761.

Jordan, Natalie (2009, December). Trees of Christmas. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/trees-of-christmas/article_bc86898e-295b-585e-84d4-7261d555e49d.html

If you’re under Anthem Blue Cross-Blue Shield, your insurance policy could change in less than a month.

The insurance provider is currently embroiled in a contract dispute with Graves-Gilbert Clinic.

“It adds to whatever is gong on with you physically, its another stresser when you start thinking about these concerns,” says Anne Grubbs.

Grubbs of Community Education is looking hard at the outcome of the divide between insurance company Anthem and Graves-Gilbert.

Not only for her 7 other co-workers on the plan … but for herself.

“Honestly because I have a chronic illness the fact that I might have to leave those doctors is extremely disturbing,” notes Grubbs.

The problem is Graves-Gilbert is seeking an increase in its rate of re-reimbursement.

Something it says it hasn’t had in 4 years.

However, Anthem says the facility is asking for way too big of an increase.

“The 20 percent increase that they’re requesting is several times the rate of inflation. That’s a burden that is more than our customers can bear,” says Anthem spokesperson, Tony Felts.

Although contract negotiations have been on-going for months, those most affected didn’t get the news until about two weeks ago.

But if the issue can’t be resolved by the end of the current contract on December 31st, thousands in our area will see a major change in their policies, going from “in-network” to “out of network”.

However, Anthem vows to still work with patients even without a formal contract.

“We’ve told our members if that happens, that we’ll continue to process claims from Graves-Gilbert in-network,” adds Felts.

In Graves-Gilbert’s letter to patients, it says going that route will “create confusion, and is designed to put you in the middle of this conflict”.

Grubbs says in all this talk of money, one thing shouldn’t be forgotten.

“Its about the people,” says Grubbs.

CEO of Graves-Gilbert Chris Thorn tells WBKO, contract negotiations are still ongoing.

He adds that Tuesday both sides had a phone conference in an attempt to iron out their differences.

Dearbone, Ryan (2009, December). Anthem & Graves-Gilbert Insurance Spat May Cost Residents. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/78832632.html

Soon, books will be piling up for area children as Community Education, the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club and Walden Books have teamed up to conduct a Fall Book Drive.

The groups are working together to collect new books for children up to 5 years old. The book drive started Aug. 1 and will continue through Sept. 1.

“You would be surprised how many kids out there don’t own or have never owned a book,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education.

The books will benefit Community Action’s and Western Kentucky University’s Head Start programs, Newborns in Need and the International Center, Grubbs said.

Collected books from past drives have gone to the foster child program, schools’ family resource centers, Girls Inc., The Salvation Army, Hospice of Southern Kentucky – which has a children’s room in the new facility – and Barren River Area Safe Space.

“We choose different groups each year to send books to,” she said. “We want to make sure we have enough to spread around.”

Grubbs said they chose to help Newborns in Need by putting a new book in each bag the organization gives to parents.

“There’s always a book in them,” she said. “They’ve been purchasing books to put in the bags, but this time we’re helping stuff those bags with donated books so they don’t have to purchase them.”

The International Center always has new families moving in who speak a different language, Grubbs said. She said they thought it would be a good way for parents and children to learn the language together by reading to one another.

People participating can buy a new book from Walden Books at Greenwood Mall and leave it there or they can drop off a new book at the Community Education office at 1700 Patrick Way.

“We believe birth to 5 is a big reading opportunity,” said Angie Dargo-Sczepkowski, assistant manager at Walden Books. “We believe if they start then, children will be readers for the rest of their lives … it’s good for the child. We can start a love for reading early if we can get books in these children’s hands.”

The annual book drive has been done for many years, Grubbs said.

“Kiwanis and Community Ed share a common interest of children and youth,” she said.

Community Education has been doing a book drive for the past six years. About four years ago, it joined forces with the Kiwanis Club, which was looking to do something similar.

Walden Books also joined the effort and collects the books, while Community Education volunteers will distribute them.

Grubbs said they’ve done drives asking for gently used books, but this time they are asking for new books. She said last year’s drive garnered 700 books.

“Reading is a bonding moment for parent and child, and children learn to read by being read to,” Grubbs said. “Plus, how many of us have that one favorite book we’ve read over and over. Reading is a tool, and we are encouraging literacy.”

— For more information, call 842-4281.

Jordan, Natalie (2009, August). Groups collecting books for fall drive. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/groups-collecting-books-for-fall-drive/article_48bc2229-4cf2-5436-8c4a-366667fb9c6e.html

More than 800 attend Community Education’s annual field day

While they stood nearly twice as tall as the kids who caught their plastic footballs, the members of the Greenwood High School football team said it was hard to believe they were considered the “big kids.”

During the 12th annual Stand for Children Day at Western Kentucky University’s South Lawn, the players joined 100 other volunteers in providing more than 800 children an opportunity to play and learn about the opportunities and challenges around them. The annual event – sponsored by Community Education, the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club and American Bank & Trust – is held each year to recognize children and raise community awareness about issues facing kids.

Seventeen-year-old Logan Steff, a senior at Greenwood, held the ends of a giant rainbow parachute and helped a group of day care children bounce a ball around the waving material.

“The kids look up to you like you’re the big guy,” he said. “It’s humbling.”

Wearing his bright green football jersey, the student said he realized quickly that he was doing more than just volunteering at the field day, he was serving as a role model. While helping some of the kids with a corn hole game, he said one of the teachers came up and told him there was a little boy who wanted to talk to him. He said the boy was shy but asked him about video games.

“It makes it mean more to know you’re influencing kids,” he said. “We’re out here having a good time and we don’t have to do anything but spend time with them … and it makes a difference.”

Nearly 50 booths from area organizations from LifeSkills to Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana featured face painting, balloon animals or games. They passed out snacks and backpacks while many gave adults information about children-related issues such as Internet safety and autism programs.

Kristen Porter, 8, and Brooklyn Sabara, 9, came to the event with Eagle Rock day camp sponsored by Community Action.

They each donned a large Band-Aid on their arms but explained that the Red Cross officials had painted a “boo boo” on their arms and shown them how to bandage it.

“I have enjoyed going to all the booths and learning what each one does,” Kristen said. “But my favorite part was the American Red Cross paint station.”

High-energy dance music had kids standing in line for face paint hopping in place and criss-crossing their tiny tennis shoes with excitement.

Even though the mist fans never quite made it to the mini carnival, Community Education enrichment coordinator Anne Grubbs said the overcast conditions and breeze made it the perfect day for outside activities without rain or excess heat, and helped draw even more children and organizations than in previous years.

“Even though we’ve had little sprinklets here and there, it’s been like a giant mist fan,” said Debi Jordan, executive director of Community Education. “It’s been a success.”

But 6-year-old Jerrian Harris, who stood patiently in line to have a pair of black dog whiskers painted on her tiny cheeks, couldn’t wait to tell her family all about the fun activities she did.

“This was the best day of my life,” she said. “It’s just so much fun.”

Baker, Joanie (2009, June). Event gives public a chance to learn about issues facing kids. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/event-gives-public-a-chance-to-learn-about-issues-facing/article_87fbfa8e-eb0f-5627-bdaf-17505c68a244.html

More than 40 local organizations, businesses to provide information about safety, literacy, other issues

It’s not expected to rain Wednesday, but Community Education will be pulling out an umbrella of children’s awareness issues at the 12th annual Stand for Children Day.

Today marked the official ribbon cutting and proclamation reading that declared this week Stand for Children week, with a variety of community sponsors reading to children in day cares to promote mentoring and sharing with local children.

Anne Grubbs, Community Education enrichment coordinator, said the event, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Western Kentucky University’s South Lawn, will be a chance for the entire community to learn about some of the issues facing children while the kids themselves will have a place to play and be entertained.

“This is kind of a reminder that the next generation is who we go to work for every day,” Grubbs said.

More than 40 local organizations and businesses will be on site providing information about children’s safety, literacy and other issues.

Children will have the opportunity to have their faces painted and bodies tattooed while the large field will be turned into a general play area. While supplies last, all children will receive a free drawstring backpack and can win prizes participating in a scavenger hunt sponsored by the Warren County Library.

The theme of this year’s event is “Everybody CAN Help,” and vendors and attendees are asked to bring canned goods to help re-stock area food banks for the summer.

“This is to remind kids that they can do something to help, too,” Grubbs said. “They can just pick up one can at the grocery store and can help someone else.”

Grubbs said more than 1,000 children attend the annual event from day cares, summer camps, family activities and neighborhood play groups.

Sponsored by the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club and American Bank & Trust, Grubbs said the event has expanded to include local businesses such as Home Depot and Macy’s. Other groups, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Junior Achievement, Family Enrichment and Kids on the Block, will also be on site to hand out information about preventing child abuse and mentoring.

“It’s come to be accepted and part of the community,” Grubbs said. “We’re in such hard financial times, but the people in the community and local businesses have really turned out to support this because they realize how important it really is.”

Baker, Joanie (2009, June). Stand for Kids Day promotes awareness. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/stand-for-kids-day-promotes-awareness/article_5b65a7cd-9656-578a-b1d8-bf78eb7b8750.html

Rachel Baumgardner is not an average college student.

The Western Kentucky University senior spends her free time volunteering at the Commonwealth Health Free Clinic – filling out charts, screening patients and performing any task to help out.

And her efforts were recognized Sunday when she received the Rookie Volunteer Award as part of the 20th annual Volunteers in Action Awards.

“I was completely shocked by it,” Baumgardner said. “It’s just an honor.”

Baumgardner, three others and one local business were rewarded for giving up their most valuable asset: time.

“We have a great group of people here who are always willing to step up and give time,” said state Rep. Jim DeCesare, R-Bowling Green, who spoke at the event. “It’s easy to give money.”

Local organizations nominate volunteers and the winners are chosen by an independent group of judges, said Anne Grubbs, Community Education Enrichment Coordinator.

“They work so hard, and they don’t do it for recognition,” Grubbs said. “It’s important to give them a pat on the back, and it’s important to set an example.”

Fifteen local people were nominated for the Spirit of Service Award, which recognizes a person who excels in serving others.

[To continue reading the rest of this article, please visit the link below…]

Mink, Jenna (2009, April). Helping hands honored. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/helping-hands-honored/article_e1a857a3-cd63-5a85-b7c1-c1d2c98cb12e.html

For the 20th consecutive year, volunteers will be recognized and honored for their community efforts at an upcoming reception and awards ceremony.

Volunteers in Action, a coalition of area groups that rely on volunteers, is currently seeking nominations of outstanding area volunteers and of businesses that promote volunteerism.

“This is such a volunteering community,” Community Education Enrichment Coordinator Anne Grubbs said. “Right now with the economy, people are still willing to go out and help others.”

Volunteers will be recognized in three categories: Rookie Volunteer, Spirit of Service and Team Spirit. A local business also will receive the Spirit of Community Award.

The event used to honor just one winner each year, but with BB&T Bank signing on as a title sponsor two years ago, the awards expanded. Winners will be picked from among the nominees by a panel of neutral judges.

“Most of us don’t even know who the (judges) are,” Grubbs said.

Nominees will be judged on history of community activity, demonstration of cooperative attitude and the impact of his or her work.

The annual awards usually draw more than two dozen nominees. Winners will be publicly announced and honored at 3 p.m. April 19 at a reception at Christ Episcopal Church. Previous winners and special guests will also be in attendance, Grubbs said.

Nomination forms are available at www.commed.us (click the Volunteer Information link), or by calling Community Education at 842-4281 or the ALIVE Center at 782-0082. There is a submission fee, based on the number of nominees, to cover costs and to pay for the medallions that will be given to winners.

Last year’s winners were Hugo Becker, a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates, Nell Ruth Hill, a cook for The Salvation Army’s soup kitchen, and CASA fundraisers Ralph and Lucia Maxson. Community Greeters Newcomers Club won the Team Spirit Award, while BB&T Bank was given the Spirit of Community Award.

Grubbs said it’s important that volunteers, who often work in and ask for anonymity, are publicly acknowledged through events such as these.

“Sometimes they need the pat on the back. They set an example for others; it’s a sort of pay-it-forward thing,” she said. “And it means the world to them because they don’t expect it.”

Swietek, Wes (2009, March). Volunteers in Action seeks nominations for ceremony. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/volunteers-in-action-seeks-nominations-for-ceremony/article_19bb33e1-105c-596b-8a6c-45dc427888c1.html

Costumed contestants flock to Spell-A-Bration

The stakes may not have been too high in Friday’s Hill’s Pet Nutrition Spell-A-Bration, but the contestants were still serious – about having fun, that is.

Twenty-four teams competed at the Knights of Columbus Hall as part of the fundraiser for Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education.

A parade of teams was heralded in by Western Kentucky University football coach David Elson, with “Elvis” and “Mini-Elvis” bringing in the list of spelling words for the “master of pronunciation and enunciation,” Gene Birk of WBKO.

Bowling Green Junior Woman’s Club had two teams in the event; both were knocked out early in the competition, but the women clad as beauty queens didn’t seem to mind. The Queen Bees 1 and 2 wore teal pageant sashes reading “Best Dressed,” as well as tiaras.

Ashley Reynolds said she joined the team because it was a chance to support a good cause and be with women she liked volunteering with.

Special judge Bill Russell, a retired Bowling Green physician, dressed his part in a judge’s robe. He said there are some tricks to being a good speller, including “practicing, because English has so many irregularities.”

How a word is pronounced also makes a difference, he said, and a person has a better chance at spelling something correctly if he has heard it said or used in a sentence before.

Elson and Birk poked fun at each other during the evening, with the coach using the anchor’s relatively new marriage as an example in some of the sentences.

Members of the Kappa Delta Sorority at WKU helped guide the teams on and off the stage for their turns, and led the crowd in line dancing before the event began.

Rachel Feldman, a Louisville sophomore, said 11 girls turned out for the event as part of their community service work. They also were having a good time laughing and clapping with the crowd.

The first team dropped from the competition fell in the first round, when the Bunraku Bandits of Scott, Murphy and Daniel misspelled “shepherd” – “s-h-e-p-h-a-r-d,” they said.

By the end of Round 3, six teams had been knocked out, having had trouble with such words as hearken, hypocrite and turban.

At the end of the night, it was WBKO’s Hometown Spell-a-Vision team that came out on top, followed by teams from Hill’s and Bowling Green City Schools. The Daily News’ team, the WordHerders, won for best costumes.

Ann Grubbs, one of the organizers of Community Education, said she hoped the event would raise as much as last year’s – $9,000. Teams paid entry fees to compete, spectators paid $5 for admission, and items were up for a silent auction. Grubbs said numerous area businesses contributed to the event.

Minor, Robyn L. (2009, February). Bee spells fun for a good cause. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/bee-spells-fun-for-a-good-cause/article_87581e73-d7d6-50a1-b4d7-0bb216bb72b8.html

It’s almost H-E-R-E.

The Hill’s Pet Nutrition Spell-A-Bration 2009 will begin at 6 p.m. Friday at the Knights of Columbus Hall. And the fourth annual adult spelling bee is slated to have 24 teams – the most ever, said Debi Wade Jordan, executive director of Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education.

“We have some new teams this year, and I think the teams are excited,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education. “We have a good representation across the board, and we were happy to see that.”

Last year’s event boasted 23 teams from area businesses and organizations.

WBKO television anchor Gene Birk has agreed to be the event’s announcer, and Western Kentucky University football coach David Elson will be the official emcee. Admission is $5.

Proceeds from the event will benefit community education, which uses fundraisers like Spell-A-Bration to offset costs for its clientele, Grubbs said. Community education serves about 1,200 children and an additional 500 to 700 adults with enrichment classes throughout the year.

Last year’s Spell-A-Bration netted about $9,000 for the organization, Jordan said previously.

Each year, spectators and participants look forward to a unique kickoff to the event, but that remains secret until it happens, Grubbs said. Giving a teaser, Grubbs said, “it’s going to be one of a kind.”

For a fee, Spell-A-Bration attendees also will have the chance to vote for their favorite team, and teams will be able to purchase “spell again” and “ask an expert” chances, allowing them to choose another word or ask someone in the audience how they think a word is spelled, Grubbs said. Awards will be given to the most spirited, best mascot and best costumed team as well.

This year, there will again be an art contest and a silent auction – with items ranging from dental work to sports tickets – as part of the event.

“There are just a lot of wonderful items,” Jordan said. “Our community has been generous.”

The spelling bee is a key fundraiser for community education, Jordan said.

With preparation for the event almost complete and the words under lock and key, Grubbs said they are doing last minute touches to make it a special evening for everyone.

“What’s unique about this fundraiser is it highlights educational efforts,” Grubbs said. “It highlights for kids that academic achievement is worthy of note … and it’s fun.”

Jordan, Natalie (2009, February). Spell-A-Bration 2009 boasts most teams ever. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/spell-a-bration-boasts-most-teams-ever/article_a2d96957-967d-570c-97f5-0784b99342f1.html

Plans for Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education’s fourth annual Spell-A-Bration adult spelling bee are off to a good start.

The local organization held a news conference Monday announcing this year’s event. Eighteen teams have already signed up for the Feb. 20 competition at the Knights of Columbus Hall, said enrichment coordinator Anne Grubbs, with more teams sought.

Last year’s event boasted 23 teams from area businesses and organizations. This year’s entry fee is $300 per team.

WBKO anchor Gene Birk has agreed to be the event’s announcer, and Western Kentucky University football coach David Elson will be the official emcee, Grubbs said.

Grubbs said the spelling bee lets people know that academic competitions are just as important as athletic ones.

“This fits with our mission,” Grubbs said. “It’s for the geek chic.”

This year, there will again be a silent auction and an art contest as part of the event. The art contest is titled “Warren County – The Places I Love.” Kindergartners through eighth-graders will have the chance to design note cards depicting the places they love in Warren County.

While all participants will receive a ribbon and their entries will be displayed during the event, four designs will be picked to appear on Community Education’s new note card. The four winners will receive $50 savings bonds from sponsor U.S. Bank, along with gift baskets from area businesses.

For a fee, Spell-A-Bration attendees will also have the chance to vote for their favorite team, and teams will be able to purchase “spell again” and “ask an expert” chances, allowing them to choose another word or ask someone in the audience how they think a word is spelled, Grubbs said. Awards will be given to the most spirited, best mascot and best costumed team as well.

Proceeds from the event go to benefit Community Education, which uses fundraisers like Spell-A-Bration to offset costs for its clientele, Grubbs said. Community Education serves about 1,200 children and adults with enrichment classes throughout the year.

Last year’s Spell-A-Bration netted about $9,000 for the organization, said Debbie Wade-Jordan, community education executive director.

The title sponsor for this year’s event is Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

“We are happy to support this,” said Drew Stahlman, human resources manager for Hill’s. “It’s a good activity and a great fundraiser.”

Admission to the Spell-A-Bration, which will start at 6 p.m., is $5.

Jordan, Natalie (2009, January). Organizers want more teams for annual adult spelling bee. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/organizers-want-more-teams-for-annual-adult-spelling-bee/article_82eeedb3-94cf-5463-adfd-95ac7826d3fd.html

Free event at WKU offering games, activities, education

Children will take center stage Thursday, when Community Education has Stand for Children Day from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Western Kentucky University’s South Lawn.

About 50 nonprofit agencies, businesses and government organizations will promote the services they make available to kids in the area, providing games and activities for kids and materials for their parents.

The 11th annual local Stand for Children Day is a culmination of a week of activities designed to raise awareness among parents of the community’s kid-friendly assets.

The local event, which has a theme of “Bee Amazing,” is an offshoot of the national Stand for Children organization, a citizen’s advocacy group that focuses on education reform.

“The national (Stand for Children) organization has been more politically focused, which I understand when it comes to lobbying and working with congressmen on certain issues, but we want to point out the assets we have,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education.

To that end, Thursday’s event will feature music, games and entertainment.

Past Stand for Children Day events promoted children’s issues such as literacy, safety and health.

On Thursday, agencies there will point out to parents the resources they can make available to help children be amazing, Grubbs said.

Community Education has also promoted a scavenger hunt called “Get Up and Go” in which kids follow clues to find certain area landmarks and tourist attractions, filling up a crossword puzzle with the answers.

Those puzzles will be turned in at the event and entered into a drawing for prizes such as gift certificates and books.

Grubbs said the puzzle cards had been placed in the Bowling Green Public Library, American Bank and Trust and other sponsoring businesses near the end of last month.

Library director Lisa Rice, a member of the planning committee for Stand for Children Day, said the event typically attracts between 800 and 1,000 kids.

“We just want the community to know how much support there is for parents and grandparents who are raising children,” Rice said.

The library is promoting an on-site Thursday scavenger hunt, with kids being challenged to find nine book covers hidden at each of nine booths set up on the South Lawn.

Kids who fill up their cards can turn those in and become eligible for a prize drawing for coupons and gift certificates to area restaurants and for children’s books.

If rain cancels the event, the event will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Story, Justin (2008, June). Agencies paying tribute to area’s children. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/agencies-paying-tribute-to-area-s-children/article_11ca9b73-293c-5761-8afa-2fa35e497c04.html

Community education makes learning a life-long process

Inside the Eloise B. Houchens Center on Adams Street, Esli Pelly showed several participants Thursday how to turn trash to treasure – making window boxes out of freezer baskets, a paper towel holder out of a clothes hanger, luminaries out of coffee cans and art out of an old window.

“You can be endless with your imagination,” Pelly said. “It’s unbelievable the things you can do with what’s lying around.”

Community Education provides a unique service to Bowling Green, offering everything from computer and dance classes to an adult spelling bee and summer camps and after-school activities for children.

“We do a little bit of everything,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator, who has been involved in the organization for 12 years.

Community Education operates under three main components – adult enrichment, after-school and volunteerism. In addition to these components, the organization is known for its community collaborations and service learning projects.

“We try to fill a lot of gaps that are not provided by other services,” Grubbs said.

Since its inception, Community Education has grown to provide before- and after-school care for more than 1,200 school-age children and youth on school days, and for as many as 500 children during all-day programs, which are offered during school breaks.

The organization also offers a variety of activities during three terms – fall, winter and spring – which garners anywhere from 300 to 400 participants per term. The classes, which teens can take but are mostly for adults, Grubbs said, are usually held inside school buildings.

The “Trash to Treasure” class – using items that preserve history, such as milk buckets and old canning pots – was an encore class, Pelly said. The class was geared toward those who liked home and gardening projects.

“I’m always interested in gardening and watercolors,” said Kim Skipper, a participant who frequents Community Education classes.

Pam Elrod, another participant, said she takes classes once or twice a year.

“I like to get new ideas … find new things to do,” she said.

Community Education in most places is an extension of the school system, Grubbs said. But because there are two school systems here, Community Education is independent and functions with government and education agencies, she said.

“One thing that is important is we don’t try to take programming away from anyone,” Grubbs said. “We try to point people who have a need to the right service provider.”

Executive director Debi Wade Jordan said previously that the organization provides programming as cost-effectively as it can, and programs tend to be costly. She said functions, such as Spell-A-Bration – one of the organization’s fundraisers – help offset program costs.

Yet the services Community Education provides are invaluable, Pelly said. Those interested can learn to paint, do yoga, use a computer, basket weave and take a picture like professionals do – “without a lot of pressure,” Grubbs said.

“This organization gives people the opportunity to learn something new that enriches their lives,” Pelly said. “And there are so many different things to learn.”

The local organization is part of the Kentucky Community Education Association. The organization is a creative and cooperative approach to learning as a life-long process. Grubbs said Community Education is different in every community. She said the thing about community education is it adapts to the community it is in.

“It’s life enrichment,” Elrod said. “Community Education has a special place in this community.”

— For a list of Community Education offerings, see www.bgwc-commed.org.

Jordan, Natalie (2008, May). life enrichment. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/life-enrichment/article_5b94d318-5306-5f61-96a9-1725ccbf50a7.html

(Letters to the Editor)

Mr. Simers and esteemed citizens of Los Angeles, let me take this opportunity to introduce myself.

My name is Anne Grubbs, and I am a transplanted resident of Bowling Green. For years I considered myself to still be a Virginian – a proud and somewhat snobbish Virginian at that. Thanks to your recent column, I am now transferring my pride to this city, this university and this great commonwealth.

Mr. Simers, you must lead a very lonely life. How can you be so hateful to a city you obviously know so little about? You indicate our only claims to fame are “Smallville” star Michael Rosenbaum and rap group Nappy Roots. I’m assuming you’ve not heard of director John Carpenter, astronaut Terry Wilcutt, musician Billy Vaughn, longtime U.S. Congressman William H. Natcher, pop group The Hilltoppers, legendary basketball coach Clem Haskins, AIDS researcher Gene Shearer, cake-mix baron Duncan Hines, photographer Neil Budde and many more.

By the way, you can find these people on the Internet if you’ve not heard of them.

The consolation is that you were equally rude to your own team. Are the citizens of Bowling Green and Kentucky offended by your rudeness? You bet. You’ve single-handedly created a bad impression of the people of your fine state in the minds of our citizenry.

Oh, and by the way, for a man who writes a sports column, you’re somewhat ignorant. E. A. Diddle, the coach here for 42 years, was one of the winningest coaches in basketball history. Again, check the Internet.

Here’s our NCAA history, not counting NIT appearances: 1940, 1960 (Sweet 16), 1962 (Sweet 16), 1966 (Sweet 16), 1967, 1970, 1971 (Final Four), 1976, 1978 (Sweet 16), 1980, 1981, 1986 (2nd Round), 1987 (2nd Round), 1993 (Sweet 16), 1994, 1995 (2nd Round), 2001, 2002, 2003.

Have a great day, Mr. Simers.

Anne Grubbs

Bowling Green

Grubbs, Anne (2008, April). L.A. columnist has no idea about our city. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/l-a-columnist-has-no-idea-about-our-city/article_60fafa31-0afb-549c-9225-9134eb12d1ad.html

Thanks to everyone who helped with Community Education’s Spell-a-Bration 2008.

The event was highly successful and well-received by the community and the participants.

I would also like to make some connections between this event and our mission. We chose to use a spelling bee as our fundraiser for a variety of reasons. One, it is a unique and unusual event for the Bowling Green area, and two, this type of event showcases a different area of talent – academics.

Not everyone can – or wants to – enter a physically challenging event. Many find academic events fun and challenging. Highlighting this competition is a great way to show to current students that learning never stops.

Those in the Spell-a-Bration participated for competitive spirit and fun – and also to show the young people in their lives that the love of learning is something that should be with them forever. There were people from all walks of life. Some use the event to build teamwork.

Community leaders like Gene Birk of WBKO and David Elson, WKU’s head football coach, participate to help make a point of the importance of lifelong learning.

Volunteers abound to help with the event, also seeing it as a tool to encourage learning.

The bee did something else: it allowed students to see that it’s all right to make a mistake. When one of the spellers, a local teacher, was asked by her students what she would do if she missed a word, she replied (paraphrase) that she would thank everyone for the good time, and try again next time.

Everyone continues to grow and learn throughout their lives. The fact that nearly 100 people came together in the spirit of fun is noteworthy.

Anne Grubbs

Bowling Green

Editor’s note: Grubbs is the enrichment and volunteer coordinator for BG/WC Community Education.

Grubbs, Anne (2008, March). Thanks for helping with Spell-a-Bration. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/thanks-for-helping-with-spell-a-bration/article_f1adb529-cf64-5bb7-9f58-fef22bbdba9f.html

Last year, Western Kentucky University’s Division of Extended Learning and Outreach – also known as the DELO Characters – took home the trophy, but the Powers that Bee claimed the winner’s spot during the 2008 Spell-a-Bration community spelling bee Tuesday night.

“This was fun, kind of intense,” said Renee White, one of the winning team members representing Bowling Green City Schools. “It was nerve-racking, especially during the end.”

A Community Education program sponsored by Hills Pet Nutrition, the event was at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The spelling bee is a key fundraiser for Community Education, said Debi Wade Jordan, executive director of the program.

The winning team – White, Morgan Webb-Yeates and Kate Webb – got the trophy after defeating The Spellbinders team, a collaboration of U.S. Bank and the Bowling Green Public Library, by correctly spelling the word “rendezvous.”

“We are so tickled,” said Judy Whitson, principal of T.C. Cherry and a supporter of the city schools team.

David Elson, Western Kentucky University’s football coach, was the master of ceremonies.

The start of the spelling bee featured word lists that were recovered from the “puppies” that escaped from Hills. The puppies – played by children in Community Ed’s after-school program at Potter Gray and W.R. McNeill elementary schools – and the word lists were rounded up by Bowling Green Fire Department mascot Sparky.

And with the sound of a bell, 23 teams – the most ever, Jordan said – went toe to toe, spelling word after word.

As words were spelled correctly, cheers went up from the teams’ supporters. National Corvette Museum supporters waved signs and pom-poms and Huish team supporters waved noise makers made of Sun detergent bottles.

By the end of the second elimination round, five teams were out, including Kentucky Legal Bee-fense, sponsored by Meyer Mortgage and Kentucky Legal Aid.

“It’s easy to spell when you’re sitting down, but difficult with 100 people watching you,” said Tracey McCay, one of the team’s members. “I had fun. I’d probably do it again. It’s for a good cause.”

Before and between rounds, spectators sampled appetizers donated from area restaurants and desserts provided by the Warren County Food and Nutrition Association. The desserts were part of a contest judged by the Women’s Club, Jordan said.

The teams spelled words such as concede, differential, mystique and sovereign.

“It’s going real well. The teams are doing real good,” said Tom Hulsey, a supporter of the Barrister Bees of Kerrick, Stivers, Coyle & VanZant, the 2006 champions.

By round nine, eight teams were left, which was knocked down to five. By the start of round 10, four teams – The Queen Bees of the Junior Woman’s Club, The Headliners of the Daily News, The Spellbinders and the Powers that Bee – were left standing.

Defending champs DELO were knocked out in an earlier round.

The Powers that Bee finally emerged as champions of the roughly three-hour bee.

The idea for the spelling bee, Jordan said, came from a small item in the Daily News about another adult spelling bee.

“This is unique for Bowling Green,” said Ann Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education.

Prizes were awarded for the best outfits and most team spirit, Grubbs said. And a silent auction included items ranging from dental work to golf fees.

She said she is already thinking of ideas for next year’s Spell-a-Bration, working to streamline it a little more.

“I think it went well, it was long, but everybody I’ve heard from said they had a good time,” Grubbs said. “I’ve never seen the teams interact the way they did last night … they had a good time.”

The award for best dressed was a tie between Spellers in Action of the American Legion and Community Action – who wore red capes and gold masks – and the Daily News Headliners – who wore airbrushed T-shirts that read “See” “Corrections” and “Page 2.”

The most spirit award went to the National Corvette Museum, Grubbs said.

Jordan, Natalie (2008, February). 23 teams compete for Spell-a-Bration crown. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/teams-compete-for-spell-a-bration-crown/article_71270183-3c78-511f-b267-ccbadc497aa6.html

Shaun Smith, Marilyn Mitchell and Christal Raley – under the coaching of Melanie Keeling – may be the team to beat at Tuesday’s Spell-a-Bration. Mitchell is a Spanish teacher, Keeling and Raley are language arts teachers and Smith is the English as a second language teacher for Warren East High School.

“We all have a strong background with words,” Smith said.

The team, deemed the “Warren East Bee Squad,” have been practicing for the last month, gearing up to face the other 23 teams set to participate in the 2008 Spell-a-Bration fundraiser for Community Education. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Knights of Columbus Hall with the spelling bee set to start at 7 p.m. Admission is $5.

“Practice has been anywhere we can get it and any time we can get it,” Smith said. “We practice with our students, who have been very supportive and excited about seeing their teachers compete in something fun like this.”

The event is sponsored by Hills Pet Nutrition. This year’s more than 20 teams is the most ever, said Debi Wade Jordan, executive director of Community Education, topping the 18 teams that participated last year.

“So that should make it interesting,” she said.

Prizes will be given out for the best outfits and most team spirit, said Ann Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education.

Each year, spectators and participants look forward to a unique entrance, but that remains secret until it happens, Jordan said. Grubbs – giving a teaser – said, “we owe a huge debt to Hills, which has something to do with how the words come in.”

Spectators will also get to sample appetizers donated from 17 area restaurants, including Brickyard and Jimmy John’s, and desserts provided by the Warren County Food and Nutrition Association. The deserts are part of a contest judged by the Women’s Club, Jordan said.

A silent auction will include items ranging from dental work to golf fees.

The spelling bee is a key fundraiser for Community Education, Jordan said in a previous interview.

“We do learning from cradle to grave,” she said. “We provide programming for children as well as adults.”

Functions like the spelling bee help offset program costs, she said.

The idea for the spelling bee, Jordan said, came from a small item in the Daily News about another adult spelling bee.

“Everything has been taken,” she said regarding fundraisers. “We wanted to do something that connected with our educational mission … and felt this was a perfect match.”

“This is unique for Bowling Green,” Grubbs said.

Smith’s idea for Warren East High’s team came from watching the movie “Akeelah and the Bee” with his class. He said the students seemed interested and excited about words and spelling.

“Of course, the next day, I caught a blurb about the Spell-a-Bration on the morning news and the light bulb went off in my head,” Smith said.

Getting ready for the event is a lot like getting ready for any competition. He said the team is looking forward to the event.

“We want to make sure we are practicing enough to do a good job, but don’t want to lose sight of the fun,” Smith said. “Having support from the Warren East community in general has been the best thing.”

Hoping this will be the start of annual participation, Smith said his goal has been to motivate students.

“I foresee a future where we have a school full of coaches. Just like Akeelah had a coach in every person in her neighborhood when she was studying for her bee,” Smith said. “Hopefully, we can make a good showing and show people that when it comes to spelling, Warren East teachers have things under control.”

Jordan, Natalie (2008, February). WEHS team ready for spelling bee. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/wehs-team-ready-for-spelling-bee/article_43ff7853-3a23-5f7f-bd68-6eee40584f7c.html

Anne Grubbs is one of those gracious Southern ladies who politely refuses to tell you her age.

But she will, with a laugh, say she’s “over 50.”

And she’ll say she’s one of those people, like her husband, who has “the ‘I Hope You Dance’ attitude.”

“It’s like, don’t sit back and watch life,” said Grubbs, who for years has been enrichment coordinator for Community Education. “Get out and participate. Try it.”

Grubbs’ attitude was formed as a girl growing up in small Martinsville, Va., where Thanksgivings were spent preparing turkey sandwiches that would be carried to tailgate sessions before football games between Virginia Tech – her mom’s alma mater – and Virginia Military Institute.

“I was the child of a single mom,” Grubbs said of Margaret Blane, who through the years worked as a home demonstration agent, electric company employee, welfare worker and retail employee.

Christmases in bad weather found Grubbs and her mother pulling presents to neighbors on a sled through the snow.

“I grew up in the late ’50s and ’60s,” she said, “when your neighbors were your family.”

It was a good feeling for a girl who didn’t have siblings.

“The lady next door I called my grandmother,” Grubbs said. “A man down the street – the family doctor – gave me away when I got married. His family was like my surrogate family.”

Grubbs attended Martinsville public schools.

In high school, she knew she wanted to be a teacher and, in addition to being in The Thespian Society and school choir, she was a member of Future Teachers of America.

“That’s a generational thing,” she said of being a teacher. “You taught.”

After graduating from Martinsville High School, Grubbs attended Roanoke College, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree “and did teaching on the side.”

She did her student teaching in Roanoke County before getting her first elementary school teaching job in Patrick County, where her grandparents lived.

Grubbs was thrilled later to get a job teaching in Martinsville.

“My kindergarten teacher taught down the hall, and it was hard to call her Betsy,” Grubbs said, laughing.

She went on to teach in Virginia for 14 years, during which she met her husband, Mike Grubbs, who was working for the city of Martinsville in human resources.

“We were in a community theater group” there in the 1985, Anne Grubbs said.

At the time, she was part of a musical revue show and Mike Grubbs was working on the back-stage crew.

When the couple married in 1986, Anne Grubbs said it was “the most exciting thing I ever tried.”

The next year, the couple moved to Bowling Green, where Mike Grubbs worked in human resources for the city before becoming director of Citizen Information and Assistance.

Here, Anne Grubbs began working as a teacher.

During the next six years, she held jobs at Alvaton, Cumberland Trace, Jones-Jaggers and Natcher elementary schools, Mike Grubbs said.

Then, after a total of 20 years of teaching, Anne Grubbs decided she needed a change.

“I started looking around and finally ended up at Community Education,” after also teaching kindergarten at Academy for Little People, she said.

Now, she said, she loves working for the organization that organizes Stand for Children Day, after school programs, fun adult education classes and more.

“I’m still in education,” she said, “and I get to see kids in the after school program.”

Grubbs also likes knowing some of her former kindergarten students are teachers.

She’s also glad she had the chance to move to Bowling Green.

“I’d never moved before,” she said, “and it was an adventure for me. … I kind of came into my own after moving from a small town where everybody knew everything I did.”

For many years here, Grubbs often painted items that she sold in consignment shops and at art shows.

“Anything that wasn’t moving she would paint,” Mike Grubbs said.

Also, she embroidered pieces to sell.

While Anne Grubbs doesn’t create and sell the artwork as much as she used to, her husband said it’s been “interesting watching her blossom in the past few years.

“She taught kindergarten for years and kind of made a change and got out into the adult world,” he said. “It’s been interesting to see her use her talents in different ways, and she knows more people in Bowling Green than I do.”

Anne Grubbs is a true people person.

“I think everyone thinks the world of her,” Mike Grubbs said.

But Anne Grubbs has faced some tough times through the years.

Several years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine breast exam.

“The first biopsy was negative,” Anne Grubbs said. “And (the doctor) said ‘I don’t think that’s right. Come back again.’ ”

At first, Anne Grubbs said, she was scared.

“But it’s not as hard to be sick” as it is to have someone you love be sick, she said, “because you just do it. But that other person, you feel worse for them than you do for yourself.”

Mike Grubbs said his wife was “remarkable” throughout her battle, which included chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and complications, including infection.

“Of course, people internalize things and I’m sure she had feelings she didn’t express, but she handled it very bravely,” he said. “It was a long ordeal because the surgeries didn’t take.”

Romanza Johnson, a well-known local volunteer who is in the Bowling Green Woman’s Club with Anne Grubbs, also said Anne Grubbs “was remarkable” as she faced cancer.

“She kept her spirits up and kept going and was keeping active,” Johnson said of the woman she described as dependable, well-organized and creative. “I’m sure many days she didn’t really feel good.”

Anne Grubbs’ friends tried to help her stay active during the time.

“I think with her array of friends, that helped,” Johnson said, “so that her friends were good to be with her and to take her places and involve her while she was sick.”

Anne Grubbs said support from friends, The Medical Center and Graves-Gilbert Clinic staffs, her church family at State Street Methodist Church, her husband and now late mom, who moved her to live with her and her husband, significantly contributed to her getting through the tough times.

Now, she’s been cancer free for four years.

“When I go for my exam yearly” to make sure everything’s OK, “it’s a little troublesome, Anne Grubbs said, “but I try not to think about it.”

Instead, she loves to stay busy with her work and being in Kiwanis Club, her church choir, the Eloise B. Houchens Center board and more.

She will even stay busy after she retires some day. She and Mike Grubbs can’t wait to travel more.

“She’s interested in the Mayan ruins in Mexico, so I found a tour the other day and we’re saving up to go,” Mike Grubbs said.

But the couple is “really kind of home people,” he added.

Anne Grubbs said what makes her happiest is being with her husband.

“I owe who I am today to him allowing me to be who I am,” said the gregarious former teacher, laughing. “He’s real quiet. I scare him.”

Debi Wade Jordan, executive director of Community Education, said Anne Grubbs’ outgoing spirit is a bonus at work.

“We call her the little Romanza Johnson” because of her volunteer spirit and willingness to get things done,” Jordan said. “Romanza is everywhere, does everything. I don’t think she ever stops. Anne is the same way. … She is just our go-to person when it comes to fundraising and because of all her connections in the community she’s the ideal person to do that.”

Carmichael, Alicia (2008, January). Grubbs brings enthusiasm, energy to work. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/grubbs-brings-enthusiasm-energy-to-work/article_10f4b35e-c1b5-5375-bf0a-87faf1c17dc5.html

Sometimes, a book can be the best thing for a child.

Several organizations are working together to promote reading by sponsoring The Big Read, the second annual book drive for local pediatric patients and children’s charities.

Community Education, the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club, BigRedSpirit.com, the Daily News, Greenview Regional Hospital and The Medical Center are promoting The Big Read, asking people to donate new or gently used books which will be provided to children in need.

“The books we collect will be going to a lot of places where children are in transition and not able to take their favorite storybooks with them,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education. “Those books can help provide comfort in their own way.”

The Big Read will begin Friday following the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Coffee Hour, which takes place at 7 a.m. at the Sloan Convention Center.

Books for children from birth to middle school age can be donated at the convention center Friday morning during the coffee hour

The Big Read will continue through Nov. 15 and books will be accepted at the following checkpoints: Greenview Regional Hospital lobby, The Medical Center lobby, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Graves-Gilbert Clinic, the Community Education office at 1700 Patrick Way and the site supervisors for after-school programs for all Bowling Green and Warren County elementary schools.

— For more information, contact Grubbs at 842-4281.

Story, Justin (2007, October). Drive seeks books for kids in need. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/drive-seeks-books-for-kids-in-need/article_1024fb12-7bcf-5975-9bf8-7a37c5a19640.html

If you’ve driven though downtown Bowling Green recently, you probably noticed it’s flooded with pink ribbons.

October is breast cancer awareness month.

The Barren River District Health Department and the Warren County Breast and Cervical Cancer Coalition hosted “Paint the Town Pink” on Oct. 1 at Fountain Square Park.

Anyone who’s been affected by breast cancer could put pink ribbons on lampposts and listen to a cancer survivor talk about her experience with this disease.

The Barren River District Health Department says breast cancer affects everyone, and most people know someone who’s had it and many women experience it themselves.

Karen Hoover is one of them.

“My cancer was found before it had invaded my lymph-nodes,” Hoover explained.

Karen is a five-year breast cancer survivor.

Her doctor caught it early because she gets mammograms and does self-examinations regularly.

“I have run across so many people that do not have their yearly mammograms. A lot of people are scared because it hurts. Well, it hurts for two seconds,” Hoover assured.

Ever since Karen was diagnosed with cancer, she’s been very active in spreading awareness.

“If it’s not caught early, you can die,” she continued.

Spreading awareness isn’t just for survivors, all women are encouraged to paint the town pink.

“I try to attend this every year and there are other programs,” Karen continued.

She understands the damage cancer can cause.

“I had two young boys and a husband, and it was probably hardest on them,” Karen admitted.

She said her family was her biggest support, but not all women are so lucky.

“I knew a girl, and her husband couldn’t handle it so they split up. Fortunately, that did not happen to me,” Karen added.

She said finding support is the best advice she can give.

“The people in your treatment room are your friends, and you learn from them,” mentioned Anne Grubbs, a breast cancer survivor.

“Talk to someone that’s been there. Like I said, there is a support group in Bowling Green,” Karen explained.

She said she’ll continue to support other cancer victims because that’s what helped her survive.

Karen added that all women over 40 should get yearly mammograms and do monthly self-examinations.

Bowling Green Support Group Contact Info:

My Image-Life After Breast Cancer

Toby Black, 781-6070

Goebel, Sarah (2007, October). Paint the Town Pink. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/10162121.html

I have two purposes in writing this letter.

One to request that the Daily News publish an updated list of the non-smoking restaurants in Bowling Green and Warren County. Your stance on the issue was that businesses have the right to choose to be smoking or non-smoking, and we as consumers should choose accordingly.

In order for the citizens to make that informed decision, several of my colleagues and friends have expressed an interest in having the paper publish this list. I volunteered to write the letter expressing this request.

My second purpose is to make a statement to the smokers. Yes, you have the right to smoke. But you don’t have the right to toss that cigarette butt onto the streets of my home, where it will either start a fire in a drought-ridden community, or end up in my water system.

If smoking is OK with you, why in the world can’t you use the ash tray in your car instead of the sidewalk or street in front of someone else’s home? Am I the only one that sees the irony here? It’s OK to do it, but it’s too dirty to keep in your vehicle! Today at lunchtime I watched a professional, I use the term loosely due to her unprofessional conduct, from one of our government offices take her break outside her office, smoke her cigarette, and then quite deliberately take aim and toss her lit cigarette butt into the curb.

This happens somewhere every day, and frankly I’m tired of it. In exchange for smokers’ rights, the taxpayers end up footing the bill for the clean up.

Face it, folks. It’s a health issue. Not an issue of rights and privileges.

Anne Grubbs

Bowling Green

Editor’s note: We are in the process of compiling a list of smoke-free restaurants.

Grubbs, Anne (2007, September). Smokers shouldn’t throw their butts on the ground. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/smokers-shouldn-t-throw-their-butts-on-the-ground/article_d0bc2db9-f381-59ee-b496-c17c7bde0927.html

On July 31, 2007 Robin Roberts, the co-anchor of Good Morning America, announced that she has breast cancer.

She said the disease is in its early stages and her prognosis is good. She plans to undergo surgery on Aug 3, 2007.

The American Cancer Society reports there are around two-million women living in the U.S. who have been treated for breast cancer.

And, the chance of a woman having the disease is around one in eight.

It was an emotional announcement on Good Morning America as co-anchor Robin Roberts told the country that she has breast cancer.

“I have breast cancer as my family here knows and my family at home knows. It’s in the early stages. I will have surgery on Friday begin treatment and move forward as millions of people do when they hear this,” Roberts said.

Anne Grubbs knows that feeling all too well. She’s a breast cancer survivor.

“I thought it was really nice of her and brave to do it on the air,” Grubbs admitted.

Anne was diagnosed in 2004. She says self-exams and yearly mammograms are key in detecting the disease.

“That’s one thing I always tell everybody-go for the mammogram and be a regular on the doctors doorstep,” Grubbs explained.

Dr. Joe Davis recommends that women should perform a self-breast exam on a regular basis.

“We do recommend at least once a month, looking for changes in the breast, whether it be nodular changes in the breast, or skin changes,” Davis advised.

Then when a woman turns 40, a yearly mammogram is recommended. Dr. Davis said when women pass child-bearing age, they may get away from annual exams. So, it’s important that they don’t forget a mammogram.

“It’s very important in that age group especially because the risk of breast cancer increases with age,” Davis said.

As for Robin Roberts, she now joins Anne and the millions of women across the country who have been diagnosed with the disease.
“It’s not the end of the world, your hair does come back,” said Grubbs.

It’s important to note that while it’s rare, men can get breast cancer as well.

So if you notice a change, go to your doctor for an exam.

Hanson, Lauren (2007, July). Surviving Breast Cancer. WBKO.com. Retrieved from http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/Anne-Grubbs-Passes-Away-270544471.html

Recovery path often grueling, but many tough it out

Community Education enrichment and volunteer coordinator Anne Grubbs remembers doing what she calls “the Taxol shuffle.”

But unlike a dance, it definitely wasn’t fun.

“You can’t walk for five days after you take it,” she said of the chemotherapy drug Taxol, which she took during her battle with breast cancer. “It’s bad but it can always be worse, no matter what it is. I’m blessed to be a survivor.”

Now a four-year survivor, Grubbs spoke to more than 50 people at the Kentucky Center Program and the Barren River District Cancer Council’s “Journey Through Survivorship: A Cancer Survivor Resource Excursion and Celebration” on Thursday at the Old L&N Depot.

Kentucky Cancer Program cancer control specialist Elizabeth Westbrook said the event – which included several booths with information about resources available to cancer patients in southcentral Kentucky – is geared to recognize and honor the survivors.

“This is the perfect venue to learn about resources available to patients. This is not a journey anyone volunteers for or plans to take. There are challenges and issues,” she said. “There are people who don’t have insurance who need help with cancer. There are people who need financial help and help with navigating the system.”

The need for information and support is even more crucial as more people find out they have cancer, Westbrook said.

“There are 10.5 million cancer survivors in the U.S. That’s 3.5 percent of the population,” she said. “There seems to be a little more awareness. People are living longer, so more are getting cancer. There are better treatments.”

Grubbs credits family, friends, faith and a sense of humor with helping her cope with cancer and the feeling of being a “crispy critter” during her treatments.

“I had a doctor who wouldn’t let me feel sorry for myself,” she said. “My work was my salvation. People were surprised when I would show up at work, but what would I do sitting at home but think about myself.”

One of the big things Grubbs said she learned during her bout with cancer was to deal with the emotional aspects of the disease.

“Some days you’re going to wake up and be meaner than a two-headed snake,” she said. “Learn to apologize.”

[To continue reading the rest of this article, please visit the link below…]

Harvey, Alyssa (2007, March). Cancer: Encouragement for survivors. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/cancer-encouragement-for-survivors/article_540a3acf-8b56-5c53-8fef-1333e219370a.html

Stand for Children Day gives thanks, fun to youngsters

Using oversized scissors, several kids gathered around to cut a red ribbon, signaling the start of Stand for Children Day.

At 9 a.m., children, parents and community leaders gathered on Western Kentucky University’s South Lawn for the 10th annual event, which was dedicated to children.

“We’re full of energy,” said Ann Grubbs, enrichment coordinator for Community Education. “We know how important kids are. They’re the future. And every year there’s more awareness, which is what it’s all about.”

A theme generally accompanies Stand for Children Day, she said, but with this being the 10th year, they decided to let loose.

Music blasted from speakers as children and community education summer camp groups went from table to table, gathering information and goodies from vendors such as the ALIVE Center, American Bank & Trust – a sponsor of the event – and Bowling Green City Schools. The Medical Center was also present to promote its Healthy Kids Club.

[To continue reading the rest of this article, please visit the link below…]

Jordan, Natalie (2007, June). Kids honored at annual event. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/kids-honored-at-annual-event/article_32ee3a97-9100-56e8-986f-50075eb7e33f.html

Music, dancing, magic, games and more are in store for attendees of the 10th annual “Stand for Children Day,” scheduled for 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday on Western Kentucky University’s South Lawn.

“It’s a national thing that we’ve adapted to our own purposes,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment coordinator for Community Education, which sponsors the event. “It’s a service that we give back to the community.”

Additional sponsors – including American Bank & Trust and the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club – enabled Community Action to provide free drawstring backpacks to all children who attend, Grubbs said. During the event, performers and activities – including vehicles on display from the city fire department, police department and emergency medical services – for kids will abound, while parents can peruse about 40 booths set up by community agencies.

“The sponsors and the vendors and all of the agencies want to get out there and give back to the people who support us all year long,” Grubbs said. “So the kids have fun and the parents can learn about services they need all at the same time.”

Parking will be available in “parking structure two” at Western, she said. Should the weather turn rainy, the event will still be held as long as it’s only sprinkling.

While each year’s theme varies – past themes include literacy, safety and affordable childcare – the underlying drive is the same: awareness.

“I think it’s always important to remind everybody of all the services that are available to children and families in Bowling Green and Warren County,” Grubbs said. “It’s also important to remind them that the children are the future of Bowling Green and Warren County, and we are taking care of and preparing them to grow up and keep this place running.”

Adams, Rachel (2007, June). WKU hosts ‘Stand for Children Day’ on Friday. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/wku-hosts-stand-for-children-day-on-friday/article_922e59a4-b113-5936-af85-f805d9a0da65.html

I would like to thank the Daily News for its coverage of the Volunteer Recognition Reception, and for the editorial honoring the volunteers in our community.

Every day there is a group of people in this community that goes out and gives their time and talents to improve the quality of life for everyone, whether that be through the arts, the hospitals, the humane society or working with children.

There is a place for everyone, and we are so pleased to be able to recognize them.

I would also like to recognize the dedicated groups that come together to plan this reception. Representatives from the ALIVE Center, Hope Harbor, BR Long Term Care Ombudsmen, BG Public Library, Girl Scouts, Community Action, CASA, the chamber of commerce and Hospice worked hard to put together this event together.

Volunteers in Action is not one organization acting alone. It is individuals from a number of groups who believe strongly in what they do, and they are greatly appreciated.

We also want to thank Gene Birk, Shane Holinde and Jonathan Jeffrey for volunteering their time to make the evening special.

Again, thank you to the Daily News for recognizing these dedicated individuals. We appreciate your strong sense of community.

Anne Grubbs

Bowling Green

Editor’s note: Grubbs is the enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education.

Grubbs, Anne (2007, May). Thanks for coverage of Volunteer Recognition Reception. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/thanks-for-coverage-of-volunteer-recognition-reception/article_01b591b4-bfb4-56bd-b957-e3cb37db3359.html

People who do volunteer work are doing good deeds, and we are glad that those deeds don’t go unnoticed in the community.

On Tuesday, 25 people and groups were recognized for their work on behalf of the community.

Volunteers in Action, a core group of about 10 organizations, held its annual reception and awards program at Christ Episcopal Church. The event recognizes volunteers, who receive certificates and medallions that read: “ the change you want to see in the world.”

These people, who spend countless hours doing deeds for others, are priceless. They are your next door neighbors, family members and people you don’t even know who put demands on their time aside and do good for others.

Sure, there are probably a lot of things that many of them would rather be doing on a Saturday or Sunday, but they volunteer out of compassion and love for their fellow man.

While there were a lot of people who shed their sweat working for a good cause, three volunteers stood out in particular for their hard work and devotion to a cause.

Nell Ruth Hill won the Rookie Volunteer Award. Hill cooks five times a week for The Salvation Army soup kitchen while working as a caregiver for an elderly lady in Warren County four times a week.

Hugo Becker with Court Appointed Special Advocates won the Spirit of Service Award. Becker acts as liaison for the board of advisers, coordinates quarterly luncheons for the advocates and trains new advocates.

Finally, the Community Greeters Newcomers Club received the award for Team Spirit. The group has assisted more than 20 organizations in its efforts, including the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society and the American Red Cross.

We congratulate these people and organization who were privileged enough to receive these awards. We’re sure there were many very deserving candidates to choose from.

Anne Grubbs, enrichment coordinator for Community Education, referred to volunteerism as “ good in the world coming through.”

How can you say it any better?

Author Unknown (2007, April). Volunteers are deserving of recognition. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/talk-of-the-town-with-lindsey-mcclain/article_6dfeeb6f-0499-5d01-93c6-e8cad2e53677.html

From individuals to entire organizations, 25 people and groups were recognized Tuesday for their volunteerism.

“We couldn’t operate without these people who give their time and their talent,” said Anne Grubbs, enrichment coordinator for Community Education. “It’s the good in the world coming through.”

Volunteers In Action, a core group of about 10 organizations, held its annual reception and awards program at Christ Episcopal Church. The event recognize volunteers, each receiving a certificate and medallion that read, “be the change you want to see in the world.”

The 18-year-old event, Grubbs said, gives those nominated a chance to meet each other and see what they are doing.

Grubbs said letters were sent to churches, schools and civic organizations – to name a few – and they nominated people or organizations as a whole.

“There are a lot of groups that do things as a whole,” she said.

While each nominee received a token of appreciation, awards were given to individuals in three categories: Rookie Volunteer, Spirit of Service and Team Spirit Volunteer.

But before awards were presented, guest speaker Jonathan Jeffrey, a WKU professor of library special collections, recalled the many people by name in his own life who volunteered their time.

“They impacted my life,” he said.

He said after Sept. 11, 2001, one-fourth of the nation volunteered. He said volunteering rose from 20.4 percent to more than 26 percent in 2006.

The top five states for volunteering, he said, are Utah, Nebraska, Minnesota, Alaska and Kansas. The bottom five states are Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, New York and Nevada.

“Someone said when you die, you’re remembered more for your passion than your personality,” he said. “The desire to help others has preceded our country from the beginning. Community is a shared experience … freely chosen, and that is volunteerism.”

Hugo Becker with Court Appointed Special Advocates won the Spirit of Service award. Becker acts as a liaison for the board of advisors, coordinates quarterly luncheons for the advocates, and trains new advocates.

Nell Ruth Hill won the Rookie Volunteer award.

Hill cooks five times a week for the Salvation Army soup kitchen while working as a caregiver for an elderly lady in Warren County four times a week.

Community Greeters Newcomers Club received the award for Team Spirit. The group, nominated by Community Education, was established in 1952 and has assisted more than 20 organizations in its efforts, including the humane society and the American Red Cross.

“I think this is wonderful. It’s the first given and it’s an honor,” said Donna Moore, secretary of the club and one of its 186 members. “These are an amazing group of people here. There are a lot who do so much for this community, and I think it’s wonderful to at least recognize some of them today.”

Ralph and Lucia Maxson, nominated by CASA for the Team Spirit award, were nominated for starting one of CASA’s main fundraisers. They said they were impressed by the people nominated.

“We were flattered (to be nominated),” Lucia Maxson said. “It was a pleasure to do what we did. We didn’t think of it as volunteering.”

In addition to the three winners, a Spirit of Community Award was given to BB&T, the event’s title sponsor.

BB&T has been the event’s title sponsor for the past two years.

“We haven’t always had sponsorship,” Grubbs said. “But that’s not why we named them. We named them because they do so much.”

Jordan, Natalie (2007, April). Area volunteers honored for their work, generosity. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/talk-of-the-town-with-lindsey-mcclain/article_6dfeeb6f-0499-5d01-93c6-e8cad2e53677.html

Plans for Bowling Green/Warren County Community Education’s second annual Spell-a-Bration adult spelling bee are off to a good start this year.

Fourteen teams have signed up so far for the Feb. 27 competition, said enrichment coordinator and self-proclaimed “beekeeper” Anne Grubbs, with more hopefully stepping up to the plate. WBKO anchor Gene Birk has agreed to be the announcer, Grubbs said at a press conference Tuesday, and a guest emcee will be named later.

“It was a lot of fun last year,” said Executive Director Debi Wade Jordan. “We hope it’ll be a lot of fun this year.”

Reigning champions the Barrister Bees, representing law firm Kerrick, Stivers, Coyle and Van Zant, were presented a permanent trophy in honor of their win, but team member Maryellen Self won’t be content with just one.

“We’re going to get that one back, too,” she said, pointing to the traveling trophy her team recently had to return.

Jordan pointed out the Barrister Bees’ matching jackets, embroidered with the team name and a fat black-and-yellow bumblebee, to the other teams assembled in the room.

“It looks like there’s going to be some pretty stiff competition,” she said.

Several returning teams attended the conference – Huish Detergents, WGGC and Western Kentucky University, to name a few – plus some “new-bees,” including Franklin Bank and Trust’s “Franklin Fonix” team.

“We just thought it would be a good thing do to – a good employee thing and a good thing for the community,” said Cindy Hines, team captain. “We thought we’d have to draft people, but we actually had people to volunteer.”

This year, Community Education is pairing a children’s art show – aptly titled “Bee-lieve in Yourself” – with the spelling bee.

It’s been said that, aerodynamically speaking, bumblebees shouldn’t be able to fly, Grubbs said, “but nobody told the bees that. They believe in themselves, and what a great message for kids.”

Artwork will be judged at the show, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Bowling Green Municipal Utilities Annex, while visitors will have the chance to vote for a “People’s Choice Award.” Winners will receive savings bonds from sponsor U.S. Bank.

For a fee, Spell-a-Bration attendees will also have the chance to vote for their favorite team, and teams will be able to purchase “spell again” and “ask an expert” chances, allowing them to choose another word or ask someone in the audience how they think a word is spelled, Grubbs said. Awards will be given to the most spirited and best costumed team as well.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Community Education, which uses fundraisers like Spell-a-Bration to keep fees for its programs affordable, Jordan said. Community Education serves about 1,200 children and youth in nearly all public schools in the area, as well as local adults with enrichment classes held throughout the year.

The title sponsor for this year’s event is Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Other sponsors include Huish, South Central Bank, Franklin Bank & Trust, Junior Woman’s Club, the Daily News, WGGC and WBKO.

Adams, Rachel (2007, January). Adult spelling bee filling out quickly. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/adult-spelling-bee-filling-out-quickly/article_c630d60f-fc74-5470-9fbf-3f721ee309bd.html

The rallying cry for the 2007 Spell-a-Bration, taken from the popular jock jam “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble,” came from this year’s spelling bee winners, the Barrister Bees, at this morning’s Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce coffee hour at Western Kentucky University’s Ag Expo Center.

Maryellen Self and Lee Hatcher, two-thirds of the Kerrick, Stivers, Coyle and Van Zant law firm team, attended the coffee hour to promote the Feb. 27 event and to challenge other local law firms to …

“Of course, the name ‘Barrister Bees’ is already taken, but if you want to use ‘Legal Losers,’ that’s OK with us,” Self joked.

The last Spell-a-Bration, a communitywide adult spelling bee, attracted 18 teams and raised $4,500 for Community Education programs, said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator. Entry fee is $300 per three-member team; however, single entrants are accepted at $100 each and then joined with an incomplete team. Teams have already begun signing up for next year’s event, hosted at the Knights of Columbus hall and sponsored by Hills, Franklin Bank and Trust, South Central Bank and Huish Detergent.

Wearing their matching black pullovers embroidered with their team name – third teammate Stephanie VanBuren was unable to attend – Hatcher and Self said they’ve already signed up to defend their trophy.

“We just had so much fun,” Hatcher said.

Studying words together brought the three ladies closer, Self said, and the law firm rallied around the team.

“It was tense, it was stressful and yet it gave you such a sense of accomplishment,” Self said. “You think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can.”

The Paideia, the packet of words studied by participants in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, will be distributed to teams in January, Grubbs said.

The coffee hour, sponsored by the chamber’s agribusiness committee, was opened with an invocation by Kentucky Speaker of the House Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green. Following the blessing, chamber chairman Rick Kelley announced it was his last meeting in that position, as there will be no coffee hour events in December or January.

The morning wrapped up with a spirited hog auction, with money raised going to benefit the chamber’s agriculture scholarship.

The past year has seen growth of the chamber of commerce, including its new facility, which hosts a Dec. 20 open house. Several new partners were announced at the coffee hour, and a handful of partners were recognized for upping their participation level.

“We truly do have a great thing going in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and I want to encourage everyone to do their part to keep it that way,” Kelley said.

Adams, Rachel (2006, November). Are you ready to bumble? Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/spelling-bee-gets-ready-to-bumble/article_bfb6bc29-84a1-5e06-a2d9-616b51a38880.html

Kiwanis Club hosting EMS awards night

The Bowling Green Kiwanis Club will host the second annual Emergency Services Award ceremony for Bowling Green and Warren County EMS personnel at 7 a.m. Nov. 15.

The event, sponsored by South Central Bank, is designed to honor those in our community who serve in lifesaving and protective capacities.

This year’s winner is Christopher James Buchanon of the Bowling Green Fire Department. Buchanon was nominated by Ronnie Pearson for performance of heroic acts outside of duty. At the time, Buchanon was a member of the Alvaton Volunteer Fire Department, where Pearson is chief.

The awards will be presented at a community breakfast at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge.

Tickets are $10, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit a permanent monument, which is being designed for a prominent location in the community.

Anyone who has questions or who is interested in attending the event, presented by South Central Bank, should contact Anne Grubbs at 842-4281. Tickets need to be purchased or ordered before Nov. 13 by calling 780-5228.

From staff reports (2006, November). Kiwanis Club hosting EMS awards night. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/briefly/article_6dbe9cb2-72e2-5a5a-9d30-c7e56c65c00d.html

Being stuck in the hospital is never fun, but a Bowling Green nonprofit group is kicking off an effort to make those stays a little more pleasant for kids.

Community Education, an after-school care and adult-education program, is holding a two-week children’s book drive starting Saturday. Both Greenview Regional Hospital and The Medical Center will receive books.

“We understand that for children, a visit to the hospital can be an overwhelming experience and we want our pediatric patients as comfortable as possible,” said Sandi Feria, Medical Center director of marketing.

This is the fourth Community Education book drive, but the first that will benefit the city’s hospitals, said Anne Grubbs, Community Education’s enrichment and volunteer coordinator.

The idea to bring the two hospitals into the book drive came from Julie Allen, author of the children’s book “Go Team!,” Grubbs said.

Allen’s 4-year-old twin sons, Jacob and Joshua, were both born prematurely and have spent a lot of time in the city hospitals.

“Being in the Bowling Green hospitals, she noticed a need for things for children who stay overnight to do,” Grubbs said.

Books can be a great way to reduce tension in the hospital for young patients and their parents, Allen said.

“Something relaxing like sitting down and reading a book with your child, it’s amazing what a stress reliever that can be,” Allen said.

Books can help kids escape from the hospital, at least for a little while, Feria said.

“What better way to feel more comfortable, to feel like you’re at home, than to snuggle up with a good book or to read with your parents?” she said.

The books will be a comfort for families as well as the kids, said Kelly Wiseman, Greenview director of marketing.

“Some families unfortunately have to spend hours, days, weeks in the hospital setting, and it’s always nice to have something for the children to help pass that time of waiting,” Wiseman said.

The Kiwanis Club has already pledged $1,000 to buy about 80 copies of “Go Team!,” in which the main character is the mascot of Western Kentucky University, Big Red. Allen is discounting the books to $12.50 from $19.95 for groups buying for the book drive.

From Saturday through Oct. 14, anyone in town can drop off new and “gently used books” at the two hospitals, any Mancino’s restaurant in town, the Barnes & Noble Booksellers on Campbell Lane and any Community Education after-school location, as well as their office on Patrick Way, Grubbs said.

And football fans can donate books at L.T. Smith Stadium during Western’s 6 p.m. game Saturday against Western Illinois.

Besides giving sick kids some comfort, the book drive is important because it encourages literacy, both Grubbs and Allen said.

“I have a real love for reading with my children,” Allen said. “Anything that I can do to encourage other families to have reading as a daily part of life, I want to do.”

The book drive usually collects about 1,000 books, but this year’s goal is 2,000, Grubbs said.

In addition to the hospitals, Community Education will give donated books to groups that work with kids, including The Salvation Army, Barren River Area Safe Space and Court Appointed Special Advocates, Grubbs said.

– For more information about the book drive, call Community Education at 842-4281.

White, Brian (2006, September). Drive to help kids. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/drive-to-help-kids/article_3cdc8f2d-b45b-597c-a57f-f63fd2da3cd2.html

Sarah Green, Emma Green and Destiny Acre would tell you what they like best about today’s ninth annual Stand for Children celebration, but the opening beats of the popular Cha-Cha Slide tell the whole story.

The girls immediately begin to bounce restlessly. Tereia Acre of Woodburn told her daughter, Destiny, 7, and Sarah, 8, and Emma, 6, both of Rockfield, that they can go dance as long as they get where she can still see them. Acre laughed as the three young friends rushed to the middle of the impromptu dance floor of Western Kentucky University’s E.A. Diddle Arena, where 35 booths were set up with games and information to appeal to children and adults.

“We come every year. The girls hit every booth that has candy and I can gather information that will help me in my profession,” said Acre, a preschool teacher. “’s a good activity to get kids away from the television, and adults can find out a lot of information about organizations in the community.”

Baily Jordan, 9, came with Camp Eagle ROC, one of Community Education’s summer camps. She was preparing to explore the various games the event had to offer.

“I’ve been here before,” she said. “ like to do all the activities.”

At one of the tables, ALIVE Center Director Cheryl Kirby-Stokes and other volunteers helped children write thank you cards to military troops. She said United Way of Southern Kentucky Executive Director Doug Eberhart came up the idea.

“Children know there are people in another country fighting a war,” she said. “ you cards are grand gestures of kindness.”

The theme for this year’s celebration – sponsored by American Bank & Trust and the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club – is “ Acts of Kindness: It’s the Little Things That Count.” Organizers have been encouraging businesses, organizations and schools to build kindness walls made of “” on which people write examples of acts of kindness given or received and their favorite kindness word.

“We’re encouraging people to keep it going,” said Ann Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education, which helps organize Stand for Children.

Jeff Younglove, director of campus and community events at Western, said he was excited about Stand for Children – formerly an outdoor event – being at Diddle Arena again this year.

“When we renovated the arena, one of our goals was to use it as a community facility with various groups and the community,” he said. “ welcome kids here. By the time they graduate (from high school), maybe they’ll remember Western and come to school here.”

Harvey, Alyssa (200, June). Stand for Children. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/stand-for-children/article_69d80307-d25f-5b76-ac37-35cfb15770dc.html

Smarties, Bit-o-Honeys, and Lifesavers were appropriate snacks of choice for Wednesday’s press conference to celebrate the first Community Education Spell-a-Bration.

The Spell-a-Bration is an adult spelling bee and Community Education fundraiser open to teams in the Bowling Green and Warren County area, said Anne Grubbs, enrichment coordinator. It’s planned for 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at Moss Middle School on Russellville Road.

“We’ve been looking for that signature event that fits our mission: lifelong learning,” she said. “What else could we do?”

Companies sponsor three-member teams, who will receive a packet of words to study. Teams are asked to raise $300 each, which will benefit Community Education programs. On the night of the spelling bee, WBKO personality Gene Birk will read the words aloud, and the teams will be able to talk among themselves before the appointed speller steps to the microphone. If someone misspells a word, Grubbs said, they’re out, but the rest of their team remains.

Teams are encouraged to come up with names and costumes, said Community Education Executive Director Debi Jordan, and attendees will be able to vote for the team they like best.

“Anne and I have a lot of really way-out name ideas if anyone wants to bribe us,” Jordan joked.

Drew Stahlman, human resources manager at title sponsor Hill’s Pet Nutrition, said his company gladly supports Community Education.

“Any education effort we can do for young people is going to benefit everybody, including local industries,” he said.

Community Education, founded in 1973, provides before- and after-school programs for area children, as well as adult education classes for lifelong learners, Jordan said. The money raised from this spelling bee will help provide equipment so Community Education’s 18 sites can more easily communicate with one another.

In addition to the spelling bee, for which 10 teams have already registered, Community Education will offer a chili supper, a silent auction, and a dessert bar for the audience, Grubbs said. Spelling teams get special snacks to keep them motivated.

“We’re excited about it,” Grubbs said. “We think it’s going to be new, unique, and remember – it’s all in the spirit of fun.”

To enter a team or for more information, contact Community Education at 842-4281.
Registration forms must be received by Feb. 10. Payments must be made by Feb. 17.

– Spell-a-Bration is sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Huish Detergents Inc., Meyer Mortgage Corporation, SouthCentral Bank, Coca-Cola, Fed Ex/Kinko’s, WGGC, WBKO and the Daily News.

Adams, Rachel (2006, February). Spell-a-Bration set for Feb. 28 at Moss Middle. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/spell-a-bration-set-for-feb-at-moss-middle/article_822d4528-ceb1-58a6-b38b-e4be03ea60d9.html

So you’re supposed to be jolly, singing Christmas songs, wrapping gifts with faux berry attachments and baking sugar cookies you’ll later decorate with elves made out of homemade icing.

But somehow it just isn’t happening.

Instead, you’re frustrated, broke and the only reason you want to break out the rolling pin is so you can smash those gingerbread house kits that you bought back in November thinking you’d have time to make them for the neighbors.

Don’t sweat it, say those who know about how to manage stress during the holidays.

One of the things a lot of people forget is it doesn’t have to be perfect and it doesn’t have to be homemade” when it comes to the season of peace and joy, said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education.

Hors d’oeuvres – even you can buy those at Southern Foods,” Grubbs said. “I have a friend who goes out there and buys everything and heats it up so she can focus on getting her house ready for everybody” who comes to her holiday party.

Grubbs shared ways to manage holiday stress at the Women in Charge luncheon at The Medical Center a few weeks ago. On Thursday, she shared the information with the Daily News during a time when she was managing the stress that comes from having a sprained ankle this season.

“I can hop just about anywhere,” she joked.

The bad ankle isn’t about to get Grubbs down.

She learned long ago that no holiday is perfect.

“If it snows and you can’t get around to deliver your packages,” don’t worry about it, Grubbs said. “One year my mother and I loaded up the sled and delivered the packages on foot. You make the best of what you’ve got.”

Now, she’s planning to use a wheelchair to do the rest of her Christmas shopping.

Jan Trabue, a licensed professional clinical counselor with FamilyWorks Therapy Services in Bowling Green, said the holidays bring more stress than usual “because it’s a big celebration and there’s a lot of high expectation and lots of activities going on that people have to deal with.”

Both Trabue and Grubbs said one of the biggest things that can be done to manage holiday stress is to manage your time well.

“Pace yourself when it comes to shopping, cleaning your house,” Trabue said. “Include your family members in any holiday-related chores, such as putting up the Christmas tree. This is a good strategy, too, especially if you’re a parent: Remember that this is a time for making memories with your kids. Do you want your kid’s memory of Christmas to be of you being stressed out and cranky? Probably not.”

Crankiness can also be avoided by saying “no.”

“It’s OK to saying no to baking six dozen cookies or to say no to your house being where everybody gathers,” Trabue said. “Don’t overbook yourself, commit yourself.”

“Pick the things you do,” Grubbs emphasized.

And pick how you’ll do each event on your schedule.

To avoid long, confusing shopping trips, for example, “plan ahead before you go,” Grubbs said. Make a list of what you want to buy each person and “sort of map out from one end of the mall to the other” where you need to buy each gift.

You can also avoid shopping exhaustion by not carrying a purse loaded down with everything but the kitchen sink.

And make use of the lockers in malls.

“Put your coat in there,” Grubbs said.

When you can, use a shopping cart or stroller to carry purchases, which you should make sure aren’t too expensive for your budget.

Doing things as affordably as possible during the holidays is important if you don’t want to be stressed out from spending too much money, Grubbs and Trabue said.

Trabue holds to the idea that “if you have to charge it, you can’t afford it.”

Grubbs said people with large families can draw names or give each other stocking stuffers instead of big gifts.

“Don’t spend to impress people,” she said.

And don’t kill yourself trying to find the perfect gift.

Sometimes a gift card is a wonderful present.

Sometimes a visit can be a gift, especially for someone who may be lonely or if you are feeling blue because you’re alone.

Taking part in church activities can also be a good way to battle loneliness during the season, according to Trabue.

“Churches are wonderful sources of support for everybody, particularly for the lonely, those who may be grieving,” Trabue said. “I would say get involved with a church group and let them be your extended family.”

And treat yourself well this season.

“Have good self control,” Trabue advised.

Don’t stuff yourself with food or too much alcohol.

“I never try to get too far away from my normal routine,” Trabue said. “During celebrations and special times, you’re going to stay up a little bit later and eat a little bit more, but do it in moderation. Just being aware of that can empower you to have better self control.”

Exercise can also help.

“A lot of people think walking the mall is their exercise, shopping,” Trabue said. “But a good 30-minute aerobic activity is an excellent stress buster.”

Trabue said she was preparing to exercise as she spoke.

“I’m going to go do my workout so I can go Christmas shopping,” she said.

The exercise would help her keep her focus on enjoying the holidays.

“One of the best strategies for managing stress, whether it’s holiday stress or stress in general, is to keep your focus,” she said. “When it comes to holiday stress, keep your focus on what the reason for the season is.”

Carmichael, Alicia (2005, December). Fa la la la … AAAAAAUGH!. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/fa-la-la-la-aaaaaaugh/article_dd7019c9-810e-5708-af69-bd1bf0327657.html

Piper Marcum left her Bowling Green home in mid-August under mysterious circumstances.

Her family quickly began to search for her.

After two days, they thought she must be dead.

After all, the cat, who was 15, never stayed away from home very long.

“We were concerned that she’d been hurt or attacked by dogs,” said Steve Marcum, whose daughter, Sarah, a Western Kentucky University senior, had owned Piper since second grade.

“I tried not to think of it,” Sarah said.

For weeks, the Marcums grieved for Piper, who was given to Sarah by Anne Grubbs, a family friend who found Piper when she was a kitten crawling into the tailpipe of a car in a parking lot.

“She’s just part of the family,” said Steve Marcum’s wife, Alecia. “She’s been in our Christmas cards throughout the years and we’ve dressed her up as we’ve been dressed up.”

The Marcums even told their Sunday school class at Eastwood Baptist Church about the loss of their sweet cat.

Then, after Piper had been gone a month, Sarah Marcum’s fiancé, Nick Roberts, a veterinary technician at Alpine Pet Care Center, marked Piper’s file at Alpine “Deceased.”

But Piper, it turned out, was alive.

On Sept. 17, the Marcums got a call from Alpine saying someone had seen Piper at Stupp Bridge Co., which is a few miles from the Marcums’ home on Spindletop Drive.

The person had seen Piper’s rabies tag, which had the number to Alpine on it as well as an ID number for Piper.

The stunned Marcums quickly headed to Stupp, which is on Century Street. They wondered how Piper had traveled so far.

“If she had ventured on her own, she would have had to cross the railroad tracks and Nashville Road,” Steve Marcum said.

The Marcums thought Piper may have caught a ride to Stupp on one of the trucks that belonged to people who were doing work on their home.

But it didn’t really matter. They just wanted Piper home.

It wasn’t to be on Sept. 17.

Though the Marcums and Roberts went to Stupp to search for Piper, carrying cat food with them, she was nowhere to be found.

Again, the Marcums feared the worst.

“I left some fliers at Stupp and Longview Fibre,” the factory nearby, Steve Marcum said.

He hoped someone would see Piper and call his family.

Then, on Sept. 19, the Marcums got another call from Alpine. A woman from Glasgow, Heather Dennison, had spotted Piper, read her rabies tag and called Alpine to report that she had her.

Steve Marcum called Dennison right away.

“He seemed really excited,” she said. “It was 20 after 10 (a.m.) when I talked to him and he said ‘I’ll be in Glasgow at 11:30.’ ”

Dennison was glad she could help out. She and her husband had found Piper in the parking lot at Wal-Mart in Glasgow on Sept. 18.

“I saw this little kitty cat just trotting along,” Dennison said. “I saw her little ID tag hanging down, so I thought I’d check it. … I called the number out there (at Alpine) that night, but nobody was there. We took her home that night and I called the number again the next morning. I couldn’t stand to leave her all night. I have my animals and mine have been lost before and I wouldn’t want them to be out there.”

The Dennisons took Piper to Wendy’s and bought her a five-piece chicken nuggets meal.

“She ate every one of them,” Dennison said.

At the Dennisons’ house, Piper was well-behaved and used the litter box easily.

When Steve Marcum picked Piper up Sept. 19, Dennison said, she was happy.

“We lost a cat one time and it wandered for months and months and we went back and got it and he was really bad off and died a couple months later,” she said. “I just hope Piper’s happy.”

Piper was glad to see Steve Marcum.

“She had lost a lot of weight,” he said, “but came right to me.”

Steve Marcum gave Dennison a $25 reward, even though she tried to refuse it.

“But it turned out that they had the Strut your Mutt for Barren River Animal Welfare Association to raise money for the shelter,” Dennison said, “and I donated it to them because I thought that would be the best thing to do with it.”

Steve Marcum was so happy to have Piper that he drove straight to Natcher Elementary School, where Alecia Marcum is the library media specialist.

Alecia Marcum was thrilled to see Piper.

Steve Marcum knew his daughter would be as well, so he called her and she met him and Piper at Alpine, where Piper got a physical and was declared healthy.

“I was real excited to see her,” Sarah Marcum said, “but she seemed out of it, like she wasn’t really herself.”

It wasn’t long, however, before Piper was back to normal, living in the garage, snuggling on the couch with Sarah and keeping mice and snakes at bay.

Now the Marcums would love to know the whole story of what happened to Piper, who they heard was taken to Glasgow by someone who was going to take care of her, but lost her when they opened the door of the vehicle they were in at the Wal-Mart parking lot.

“It’s been a happy ending for our cat and we’ve met a lot of nice people through this,” Alecia Marcum said.

Now, she thinks it’s ironic that Kentucky author George Ella Lyon will be at Natcher on Monday to talk about her books, including “A Traveling Cat,” which is about a feline that takes to the road.

“Luckily, the good thing about Piper is she’s home, and at the end of the other story, the traveling cat is still traveling,” Alecia Marcum said.

She’s taken the opportunity to use the tale of Piper’s travels to encourage students at Natcher to write stories about what they think Piper did when she was on her mysterious trip.

“I’m anxious to see what the classes write,” she said.

And she’s anxious to make sure Piper is in the family Christmas card for sure this year.

Carmichael, Alicia (2005, October). The incredible journey of Piper. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/the-incredible-journey-of-piper/article_f7a23cff-859a-5730-a6a5-f446298f5559.html

Glamorous fall hats, classic tweed skirts and beaded jewelry hand-made by Glenda Hepp are just a few of the items that will be featured Sunday at the Fashion Show and Tea, benefiting the Heloise B. Houchens Center.

And “we’ve got a lot of different ladies from the community who are helping us out” as models, said Houchens Center board member Anne Grubbs. “It’s not a runway fashion show.”

Instead, the models will mingle with guests. Guests “can feel the fabrics and ask any questions they want,” Houchens Center Hostess Elaine Murphy said. “If you have a runway-type show, you really don’t get to ask any questions.”

Clothing at the show will be provided by Hats Galore and More, owned by June Bunton of Bowling Green, and Linda Willis, an independent coordinator who sells Weekenders fashions in Bowling Green. Bunton also will sell custom-made hats.

Willis is looking forward to discussing the fall Weekenders collection with the public.

She said Weekenders offers “attractive, high fashion,” most of which is knit.

“It’s always so much fun” to show the fashions, she said.

Items from Weekenders, Hats Galore and More and Hepp will be for sale at the show.

The show will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $10 for one person or $17 for two and will include refreshments made by members of the Houchens Center board.

All proceeds will benefit upkeep of the Houchens Center, located in a Greek Revival house that was built in 1904 and has been home to apartments and Girls Inc.

According to www.visitbgky.com, “in 1976 this home was listed as a historic home to be used for the purpose of restoration, preservation and a cultural and educational center. Reasonably priced meeting rooms are available for catered luncheons, dinners, weddings and receptions.”

Members of the community can become members of the Houchens Center, and each Christmas, member groups decorate Christmas trees in the house for a Trees of Christmas celebration in which the public can pay $1 to tour the home and see the trees.

Murphy said the fashion show will be a good chance for the public to see the Houchens Center and learn about what it has to offer before Christmas.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “More people in town need to know about it.”

– For more information about the Fashion Show and Tea, call 842-6761.

Carmichael, Alicia (2005, August). Houchens Center set for fashion. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/houchens-center-set-for-fashion/article_ed59102c-286c-5a71-99a7-fc2e2551c121.html

Stand for Children

Weather moves annual event inside for hundreds of children

By Alyssa Harvey, aharvey@bgdailynews.com — 270-783-3257

Friday, June 03, 2005

Rain drizzled on Bowling Green today as the eighth annual Stand for Children made history.

The event scheduled to be held outside near Downing University Center at Western Kentucky University was moved into E.A. Diddle Arena.

This is the first Stand for Children Day indoors! Ann Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education, exclaimed. Its not as big, but I think well be OK.

The children seemed more than OK as they gathered in the middle of Diddle to dance to the Cha-Cha Slide before mingling and playing at the booths of more than 40 businesses, agencies and civic groups. Community Education organized the event with 14 other organizations.

Jeanine Cherry of Bowling Green watched as three of her children Amy, 8, Adam, 6, and Alton, 3 looked at items at a nearby booth.

Its a good opportunity to socialize to get them out of the house, she said as she held her 17-month old daughter, Anna, in her arms. And, to find out about different organizations in Warren County.

When asked if she had liked most of all at Stand for Children Day so far, Amy replied, Nothing yet.

The family had just arrived at the event so the children were still checking out everything, Cherry said.

But it wasnt long before Adam and Alton found something they liked.

Mom, Mom…. Adam called before pointing to a table with sparkly stickers.

Go ahead, Cherry said with a smile as Alton hugged childrens book character, Max.

In another part of the arena, Kathi Hendrick of Bowling Green and her 3-year-old daughter, Lilli DeBord, waited for her preschool class from Western Kentucky University Child Care Center to arrive.

She was late to school and the class was coming here, Hendrick said as Lilli kept watching the arena entrance. Were taking advantage of the fun.

Laura Simpson, AmeriCorp volunteer with Kentucky CASA, stood at a table and talked to children as they reached into the groups bowls to get information, stickers, toys and candy. CASA Court Appointed Special Advocates are trained citizens appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child in court. The state office moved to Bowling Green about a year ago.

We came out to let kids and parents know what we do, Simpson said. We represent and support kids.

Harvey, Alyssa (2005, June). Stand for Children Day 2005 at E.A. Diddle Arena. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/photo-by-joe-imel-daily-newstrevent-green-of-warren-county/article_e6b97184-b94a-5a52-8b60-e2cd92bc719e.html

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

This years Stand for Children Day, a free event that brings awareness to childrens services and programming in Bowling Green and Warren County, will be A World of Work, even though it will feature a disc jockey, a magician and other fun activities for little ones.

Stand for Childrens Day will be from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday near the Downing University Center at Western Kentucky University.

This year its all about career opportunities, said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education, which organizes the annual event with other organizations.

About 40 vendors, many of which are non-profit agencies, will have booths set up to highlight careers.

We’ve got education, law enforcement, emergency management, banking, all kinds of things, Grubbs said.

The vendors include Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center, Tennessee Valley Authority Water Safety Police, Family Enrichment Center, Parent-Teacher Store and Community Action of Southern Kentucky.

Carla Brown, a child development specialist with Community Action, said her organization is excited about taking part.

Community Action will have a transportation bus parked, the one with the wheelchair bus lift, and well have children go through the bus and see how people with special needs and disabilities are transported, Brown said.

Last year, about 1,000 people came to Stand for Children Day.

For more information, call 842-4281.

Carmichael, Alicia (2005, June). Stand for Children event Friday at WKU. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/stand-for-children-event-friday-at-wku/article_9461efcb-8074-5dc6-aeb7-3fa5e78f51b7.html

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Bowling Green resident Rosemary Alexander is truly a person to look up to for her tireless volunteer work for agencies and churches throughout the city.

Alexander was presented the 2005 Volunteers in Action Volunteer of the Year Award for her work with The Salvation Army and 11th Street Baptist Church.

This is quite a prestigious award and it is quite obvious that Alexander is deserving of it.

Alexander has a history of helping those in need.

Before volunteering in her current capacity, Alexander worked as a caregiver to Garland Reeves, an 84-year-old man who passed away earlier this week. She worked with him from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m., then went from there to volunteer at The Salvation Army until 5 p.m. and then did it all over again the next day.

What is so admirable about Alexander is that helping others is what drives her.

Her unselfish acts are nice to see and show what type of caring, compassionate citizens this community produces.

Alexander says that seeing others less fortunate and being able to help them keeps her own life in perspective.

One of her former pastors gave her some wonderful advice at one time.

When you feel sick, go help someone else thats really in need, she said. It will boost your spirit back up and make you want to do more.

Anne Grubbs, president of the Volunteers in Action and enrichment coordinator for Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education, said people such as Alexander are a vital part to our community.

The volunteers are invaluable to the community, she said. Places like The Salvation Army couldn’t operate without volunteers.

Alexanders work truly is a blessing to those she helps on a daily basis.

Her selfless acts do wonders for those less fortunate and make a difference in their lives.

Congratulations on an award well earned. Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700

Uncredited (2005, August). Volunteer was very deserving of recent award. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/volunteer-was-very-deserving-of-recent-award/article_5915c6d3-9cfd-5c9c-8eee-fbc3cdc4b719.html

Volunteer gets honor for devotion

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

When Rosemary Alexander stepped into the auditorium of First Christian Church on Tuesday night, she wasnt expecting a thing.

What she received, however, was the 2005 Volunteers in Action Volunteer of the Year Award for her work with The Salvation Army and 11th Street Baptist Church.

I was in total shock and Im still in shock, she said with a smile. I didnt know nothing until we got here.

Until recently, Alexander worked as a caregiver to Garland Reeves, an 84-year-old man who passed away earlier this week. She would work with him from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m., then go from there to volunteer at The Salvation Army until 5 p.m. and then start the cycle again every day.

Any free time she can squeeze out of her day is spent volunteering and helping others.

Usually working on four hours rest, Alexander said that staying busy has helped her stay lively and that her body has adjusted.

It just makes you feel good, she said. My body is used to 11 to 7.

Helping others is what drives Alexander, and she says this passion stems from the fact that others have helped her along the way.

They have helped me in the past, she said. I want to return the favor back.

Alexander said seeing others in a less fortunate position and being able to make them happy has been a blessing to her and helps her keep her own life in perspective.

She relayed a bit of advice one of her former pastors gave her, advice that is always in her mind.

When you feel sick, go help someone else thats really in need, she said. It will boost your spirit back up and make you want to do more.

I want to do more, she added.

Retired from The Medical Center, Alexander said she left her job there to focus all her energy on caring for and giving to others, and that the strength to do all this stems from her devout faith.

Gods got something in store for me to do, she said. Im not through yet.

When she does have a free moment from her job and her work with The Salvation Army, she and her husband visit inmates at the Warren County Regional Detention Center.

I love going to the jail, she said. We prayed and sang with the inmates.

One day, she even had one of the inmates sing a song he had written, causing him to break down in tears.

Kathy Walker, a close friend of Alexanders, also volunteers at The Salvation Army and nominated her friend for this award.

Rosemary exemplifies what a volunteer is, she said. She has so much compassion for other people.

Walker said Alexander was born to do what she does.

She just wants to give more, she said. Its a true calling for her.

I just think shes well deserving, she added. I just hope she can be an example to other people.

Anne Grubbs, president of Volunteers in Action and enrichment coordinator for Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education, said people like Alexander are an important part of the community.

The volunteers are invaluable to the community, she said. Places like The Salvation Army couldnt operate without volunteers.

Doug Eberhart, president of the United Way for Southern Kentucky and a member of Volunteers in Action, said volunteers like Alexander are a vital part of Bowling Greens character.

Theyre really the heart and soul of the community, he said.

Discussing the 21 nominees in attendance, Eberhart said that they were just a small part of the large number of people who volunteer in the area.

This is just a sample of the number of people who volunteer, he said. There are literally thousands of people who work to help others they dont even know.

After the ceremony, as she sat clutching her Volunteer of the Year Award, Alexander said that the moment meant everything to her.

I love what I do, she said proudly. Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700

Van Vleet, John (2005, April). Volunteers in Action’s annual awards ceremony Tuesday. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/clinton-lewis-daily-newsrosemary-alexander-was-named-volunteer-of-the/article_b748c54c-144e-59e5-8170-91e7d4ff7a7b.html

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

For Bowling Green/Warren County Community Education, autumn means more than falling leaves and football it marks the beginning of Fall Enrichment.

Beginning this month, night classes in about 60 different subjects will be given in various locations around the city. Topics range from foreign languages to cooking classes, Enrichment Coordinator Anne Grubbs said.

Were just very excited to have it going on and are happy to be able to offer these classes, Grubbs said.

New classes this year include a French language class, more cooking classes and several new art classes, including still life, mixed media and fabric calligraphy. Classes can begin anywhere between 5 and 7 p.m., although 6:30 is the typical starting time, Grubbs said. The number of sessions and the length of each class vary by subject.

In a semester, we can have (a total of) 600 to 700 people in these classes, Grubbs said. The most popular class varies by year we can never predict because we never know. This year, we’ve had a lot of people sign up for computer classes, and Spanish is always a big one.

The cost of each class also varies. For example, a yoga class lasts for six sessions and costs $45, while computer classes could be $75-80. There are some online classes offered that can be taken from home; those are $35. The cheapest classes are $15 and are one-time seminars including gift-wrapping, decorating and holding a yard sale.

There are classes for all age ranges, some for families and some for children to take alone. A lot of couples take classes together.

We have one class called Its Easy to be Polite, Grubbs said. Its two sessions taught by the Bowling Green Women’s Club on children’s etiquette.

One example of a family class is Mom and Me, which focuses on arts and crafts projects that parents and children can do together.

Mom and Me is still kind of new, Grubbs said. We’ve gotten some interest, but we need to get the word out more because people aren’t aware of it.

Fall Enrichment was supposed to kick off Monday night with a sign language class at Greenwood High School, but only two people showed up not enough to make a class, since each class must have at least five students. The two-hour sign language class, which is 10 sessions long, adjourned but will meet again next Monday in the hopes that more people will attend.

Grubbs emphasized that Fall Enrichment classes are not graded and not for credit.

Its a good way for people to continue to educate themselves without the fear of grades, she said. When they’re not being graded, its not quite as stressful.

To learn more or to enroll in a Fall Enrichment class, visit Community Educations Web site at www.bgwc-commed.org or call the office at 842-4281. Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700

Craig, Courtney (2004, September). Community Education begins Fall Enrichment. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/community-education-begins-fall-enrichment/article_ad383452-1358-5780-baf9-f7c7c5dc3418.html

Kereiakes Park plays host to annual Stand for Children event

Saturday, June 19, 2004

A sea of children dressed in brightly colored T-shirts ran eagerly to an open space at Kereiakes Park on Friday morning, where they lined up to await instructions.

They didnt have to wait long.

Slide to the left, slide to the right, called out the rapper on Cha Cha Slide. Take it back now, yall, cha cha now, yall.

It was one of several activities during American Bank and Trusts Stand for Children Day. Other activities included face painting, art projects, games, local celebrities reading to the participants, a tour of a fire engine, performances by the Bowling Green Public Librarys Storytelling and Drama Troupe and a visit from the librarys mobile branch.

This event focuses on the children the ultimate resource of the community, said Debi Jordan, executive director for Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education, which organizes the event. They are our future. If we dont make sure they have a good environment, then we short-change not only our community, but them as well.

Anne Grubbs, Community Education enrichment coordinator, agreed.

We want to highlight the needs of the children so that they will grow up to be productive citizens and keep Bowling Green going.

The theme Extra! Extra! Read All About It! was chosen to promote literacy, Grubbs said. Many of the organizations donated books to the event.

Reading, understanding and communication are the keys to life, she said. If children cant read, they suffer.

Grubbs estimated that because of overcast skies the crowd may have been down slightly from the 500 that came last year.

There are still children coming in, though, she said as she watched more children get off buses.

[To read the complete article, please visit the link below…]

Harvey, Alyssa (2004, June). Dancing, reading part of fun-filled day. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/dancing-reading-part-of-fun-filled-day/article_c7e570b1-d9ec-559e-91d3-286a76d52515.html

Thursday, June 10, 2004

Stand for Children Day will be from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. June 18 at Kereiakes Park. There will be vendors, games, storytelling, door prizes and other things. Childcare providers interested in bringing large groups should call in advance to Anne Grubbs at 842-4281. Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700

[To read the complete article, please visit the link below…]

Staff (2004, June). Around town. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/features/around-town/article_a795d946-8ccf-5fd7-a38b-01f753fb945a.html

After Bibb was named Volunteer of the Year, Volunteers in Action had one more award to present the Presidents Award, given by volunteers President Doug Eberhart.

The award went to two people Felicia Bland of Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana and Anne Grubbs of Community Education.

Other nominees for Volunteer of the Year included Neresa B. Minatrea of The ALIVE Center; Karl Miller of the Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science; Gloria Peach of Barren River Long Term Care Ombudsman; Kevin Willis of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of South Central Kentucky; Kendra Farley of Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce; Meg Crittenden of Bowling Green/Warren County Community Education; Julie Allen of Bowling Green Junior Womans Club; Vivian Foe of Bowling Green Womans Club; Karen Rohrer of Capitol Arts Alliance; Joseph Ferry of Community Action of Southern Kentucky, Foster Grandparents; Amy Bingham of the Family Enrichment Center; Lynn Phillips of Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana; Rhonda Hemming of Henry F. Moss Middle School; Sarah Slaughter of Hope Harbor; Denise Cole of Junior Achievement of Southern Kentucky; Ann Adams Bernot of The Medical Center of Bowling Green; Shirley Holland of William H. Natcher Elementary School; Carole Smock of Preceptor Alpha Epsilon Sorority, Beta Sigma Phi International; Cora Jane Spiller of The Salvation Army; Brad Howard of United Way of Southern Kentucky; Jesse Alexander of Warren Central High School Youth Services Center, Language and Literacy Center; and B.J. Davis of Warren East Middle School. Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700

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Craig, Courtney (2004, April). Volunteer of the Year award. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/miranda-pederson-daily-newsmariah-bibb-right-gets-a-congratulatory-hug/article_aba28286-b077-5c3a-b7c3-aa0446383a95.html

Hundreds of children were as quiet as church mice while Lindsey Lea Sweatt, 15, sang the national anthem to kick off the sixth annual Stand for Children Day on Friday at Kereiakes Park. Once the program was over, so was the quiet time. The children headed to the information and activity booths to get their faces painted, make puppets and learn about science.

Stand for Children is a national organization, but Bowling Green organizers adapt the activities and themes to the local area, said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Bowling Green and Warren County Community Education.

We try to think of whats an issue in Bowling Green and Warren County at the time, Grubbs said.  She said children are the future of the community.

This years theme was Safe Summer Fun. Children got identification kits, bicycle helmets and learned about the Safe Spot program, in which places can be havens for children in danger. B.J. Sweatt, 10, of Bowling Green had seen the Safe Spot signs, but didn’t know what they were for. I’ve never really read it, he said. I’ve felt really safe here in Bowling Green. B.J. also learned that without sunscreen, he could get skin cancer. He planned to tell his friends about what he learned on Friday. I think it will help them be safe, he said. Ashley Davis, 8, of Bowling Green got a bicycle helmet. She has been riding her bike without one. But I still don’t fall that much, she said. I fall in the grass so it doesn’t hurt as much. Ashley was just beginning her trek through the booths. There’s a lot of things to see, she said. Its fun. The children saw the Bowling Green Public Library Bookmobile, Bowling Green Fire Department trucks and a Bowling Green Police Department cruiser. Stephanie Berec, 5, came with the Western Kentucky University Child Care Center. Berec made a puppet with help from Carrie Barnett, executive director of the Capitol Arts Alliance. It was a girl puppet with earrings and a skirt and, as of Friday, without a name. Shelvie Payne, 10, came to the event with the Rockfield Family Resource Center camp. Shelvie and her fellow campers listened to local musician Lindsey Lea Sweatt sing, listened to stories and painted on the ground as part of a large mural. I painted a cross with What Would Jesus Do?, she said. Shelvie wanted to get her face painted, but was undecided as to what to get. She had time to decide there were long lines at most of the booths. I think there’s too many people here, she said.

Sisco, Scott (2003, June). Hundreds of children gather to learn about safe summer activities. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/hundreds-of-children-gather-to-learn-about-safe-summer-activities/article_960f5992-fd30-5db9-abb2-6a869fc70fb7.html

Bowling Green and Warren County Community Education is focusing on Safe Summer Fun for children as the theme for the sixth annual Stand for Children Day. The celebration will be from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday at Kereiakes Park on Cemetery Road. The first 500 children will receive free goodie bags.

The theme ties into the Bee Aware Coalition, which focuses on prevention of child abduction, said Anne Grubbs, enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education.

Other local service providers will be available to teach children and youths how to be safe. There will be activity booths that will feature arts and crafts, relay races, storytime and entertainment, which will be provided by the Bowling Green Public Library’s Young Adult Storytelling Drama Troupe. Parents can get Ident-A-Kid kits and buy bicycle helmets for $5. There will also be a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and a local proclamation declaring June 20 as Stand for Children Day in Bowling Green and Warren County. The event will also feature a display with the names of all 300 winners of the Spotlight Youths Spotlight a Youth award. The winners are nominated by various people, including teachers and neighbors.

We want to help make Bowling Green and Warren County aware of the resources for the children and celebrate the success that we have, she said. There are resources out there to help.

The Bowling Green celebration is part of a nationwide activity, which began in 1996. Bowling Green has hosted an event every year since 1998. Past themes have been Quality and Affordable Childcare, Healthcare for all Children, Creating a Voice and Vision for Children and A Renewed Commitment to Children and Families.

Grubbs credited Sherri Meyer of Western Kentucky University’s Child Care Resource and Referral Service with starting Stand for Children in Bowling Green before Community Education became involved. We started on a grassroots level here, she said. This year we brought in community patrons to help us put this together.

Each year the level of participation has risen, Grubbs said. The first year at Kereiakes Park, we had 500 children, she said. It has been at that level almost every year and has gone up to 700. A lot of the children who participate come from summer camps and day care centers, Grubbs said. Some summer camps have a picnic after its done, she said. Grubbs said organizers could still use some help preparing for and during the event. We would be happy to have volunteers, she said. For more information about Stand for Children Day, call Community Education at 842-4281.

Compton, Michael (2003, June). Stand for Children Day honors kids, teaches safety. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/stand-for-children-day-honors-kids-teaches-safety/article_1531ba1c-eff9-5291-a0a5-6c1c1204f9e1.html

When Brett Reynolds stepped up to the podium at the Volunteers in Action annual awards reception Tuesday night, he could understand the amazing event that Anne Rush, 2002 Volunteer of the Year, had spoken about earlier in the evening. Last year, everyone saw a miracle, Rush told the nearly 100 people who gathered at State Street United Methodist Church for the event during her welcome address about how she felt about being honored last year. I was speechless.Reynolds, an attorney for English, Lucas Priest and Owsley, said he, too, was at a loss for words when he heard his name announced as 2003 Volunteer of the Year. I don’t think anybody does this for a reward, he said. I truly enjoy it. If I didn’t enjoy it, then it would be easy not to do it. Reynolds is a Big Brother and board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southcentral Kentucky, co-chairman of Leadership Bowling Green, coaches youth baseball at the Housing Authority of Bowling Green, works with the United Way of Southern Kentucky, helps with the Chamber of Commerce’s Golf Challenge and is a member of the Public Theatre of Kentucky Board and the Western Kentucky University Libraries Advisory Council.(Volunteering) is making an impact on me, he said. Its an awesome thing that I get so much out of it. I think everyone in here is just as deserving (of the award). Reynolds said his favorite thing about volunteering is his Little Brother, 11-year-old Troy Halcomb. They spend time together volunteering, talking about careers and just doing general guy things.Hes the best kid, he said. We throw baseballs, go to games and go to dinner. We went to the Nashville Zoo last summer. As it gets warmer, it will be easier to find things to do. We may go to Kentucky Kingdom this summer.Susan McCue, executive director of Operation P.R.I.D.E. and guest speaker for the awards reception, said volunteers do wonderful work.Lord, bless these people for what they do for others. Amen, she said.

Other nominees for 2003 and the organizations that nominated them include the following:

Myrna Neff, Alpha Theta chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha International; Vera G. Guthrie, Altrusa International of Bowling Green; Dorothy Forte, Barren River Long Term Care ombudsman; Bill Smith, Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science; Melanie Kington, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce; Edwin Phelps, Bowling Green Area Microcomputer User Group; Jerry Wells, Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education; Anne Grubbs, Bowling Green Womans Club and Bowling Green Kiwanis Club; Andrew Tate, Capitol Arts Alliance; Carole Smock, The Cardinals of Kentucky chapter of the American Business Womens Association; Ruth Ann Bowen, Commonwealth Health Free Clinic; Fred Sass, Community Action of Southern Kentucky, Foster Grandparents; Sherry L. Ledbetter, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana; Norma Holland, Hope Harbor; Wayne Orscheln, Longview Fibre Company, Junior Achievement of Southern Kentucky; Sybil Klovski, The Medical Center at Bowling Green; Elizabeth Whitaker, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill/Bowling Green; Craig E. Browning, United Way of Southern Kentucky; and Wanda Dodson, Warren County Cooperative Extension Office 4-H.Doug Eberhart, president of the United Way of Southern Kentucky, received the Volunteers in Actions President Award.

Carmichael, Alicia (2003, April). Reynolds named Volunteer of Year. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/reynolds-named-volunteer-of-year/article_e8d087eb-4433-5f4a-b8b6-22087f65cfd4.html

Members of Girls Inc., listen to opening remarks at the 12th Annual Women of Achievement Awards on Thursday night at the Travelodge Hotel in Bowling Green. The awards are sponsored by the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission. Photo by Clinton Lewis

Sixteen Warren County women were honored for their outstanding contributions to the community Thursday night during the 12th Annual Women of Achievement Awards at Travelodge Hotel in Bowling Green. Every one is exceptional, said Linda McCray, executive director of the Bowling Green Warren County Human Rights Commission, which sponsors the awards. Just to be nominated means you’ve been noticed in the community for doing something of value.

The winners in the following categories were chosen from a field of 61 nominees by the 2003 Women’s History Month Advisory Board. Arts Lynn Robertson presides over the Gallery at the Capital Arts Center. Her own work has received statewide recognition.Business Sharon Sullivan is vice president of Omni Meats, a multimillion dollar meat processing facility which she founded with her husband, Curtis, with little money two decades ago. Community Service Vivian Foe is a retired teacher who still substitutes, is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa education sorority and attends First Baptist Church, where she teaches Sunday School and has served as chairwoman of the 2000 Women’s Missionary Union convention. She has done mission work and taught in Russia and Brazil. Elementary Education When redistricting affected her students at Cumberland Trace Elementary School, Emily Baxter Duryea organized friend groups to welcome new students. Among her other contributions to children, after Sept. 11, 2001, Duryea organized a sale in which students sold each other used books. Proceeds were donated to he Afghan Children’s fund.Middle School Education Dr. Karen S. Powell is a former veterinarian who now works as assistant science professor at Western Kentucky University’s Community College. She is director of the Regional Science Resource Center and each year conducts teacher enrichment programs and teaches more than 700 middle-school students.High School Education Angela Townsend is a Greenwood High School English teacher who was named Kentucky Distinguished Educator in 1994. She has taught at the elementary school, junior high, high school and college levels, and has been a sponsor of many youth organizations.College Education Elizabeth Cooksey has been a teacher for more than 20 years. She is currently a professor of education at Western Kentucky University.Entrepreneurship After searching for quality, affordable child-care for her four children, Angela Coleman founded 24/7 Day Care. She and her employees care for 95 children in an environment that focuses on fundamental child-rearing principals and quality care.Posthumous The late Ora Porter was the first registered nurse in Bowling Green. She attended Tuskegee Institute and received the praises of Booker T. Washington. She nursed the family of John D. Rockefeller Jr., and was one of only two registered nurses who worked at St. Joseph Hospital in Bowling Green. Science and Health Donna Jo Woods opened Fitness For You after retiring from the Barren River District Health Department, where she was a Womens Health practitioner. Woods has served on the National Board for the Quality of Life Association and is active in the Kentucky Chapter she helped organize.

Woman of the Year Anne Blane Grubbs is enrichment and volunteer coordinator for Community Education. She is involved in several area organizations, including Volunteers in Action, of which she is president, and Networking Women, of which she is program chairwoman. She is president of the Bowling Green Womans Club and is on the Bowling Green Volunteer Task Force.

Woman’s First Hattie S. Page became the first black bank teller in Bowling Green. Her work with TransFinancial Bank spanned 26 years and she was named Teller of the Year there in 1979. She is now head teller at a branch bank of Citizens First.Women Reaching Higher Teresa T.J. Shockley was once a young mother who was dependent on food stamps and Section 8 housing. She opened and made a success of Timeless Treasures Antique Mall and now has two degrees from Western Kentucky University. She is director of initiatives for the Housing Authority of Bowling Green.Women of Distinction Maxine Ray is a Master of Folk Studies and substitute teacher who promotes Warren Countys black history. She worked to obtain state historical recognition for the former community of Jonesville, where much of WKU is now located. Ray served on the TrailBlazer committee for four years and has received the Ora B. Porter Community Service Award for her work with Jonesville.Youth Achievement Oshkea Offut is a 20-year-old WKU honor student who works as a role model with the children of Angora Court Learning Center.Lifetime Achievement Johnnie Sanders has worked with Community Action of Southern Kentucky for nearly 30 years. Shes been a bus driver, social service aid and a parent involvement coordinator. Shes also been Family Involvement Coordinator for Head Start Also during the Women of Achievement Awards, Kiersten Echols, an L.C. Curry Elementary School fifth-grader, was named a winner of the Women’s History Month Essay Contest, along with Sabina Muratovic of Parker-Bennett Elementary School, Oundrea Gatewood of Warren Elementary and Shanice McKissic of Henry F. Moss Middle School.Kiersten wrote about the strength and inspiration of her single mom, Dorothy Sears. She said she was inspired by the women at the Women of Achievement Awards, but most wants to be like her mother.Shes there when I need somebody, Kiersten said.The Women of Achievement Awards are held in part to inspire girls and young women to be all they can be, McCray said. Rev. Donzella Lee, pastor of Taylor Chapel A.M.E., gave the invocation during Thursdays awards ceremony and later said the event impressed her. Women don’t get recognized enough for their achievement, she said. A lot of people take for granted that women are supposed to have children and raise them, but there’s so much more to it.

Anne Grubbs was humbled when named Woman of the Year. I feel its more of a reflection on the people I work with, and my mom, she said of Margaret Blane. Grubbs was especially pleased with the naming of another winner, Oshkea Offut. I taught her in kindergarten, she said. Offut was surprised that she was honored. I didn’t think I would win, she said. Because I was just doing my job.

Staff Writer (2003, March). Event recognizes women’s feats. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/event-recognizes-women-s-feats/article_ce35e85d-7e52-5599-abf9-1fb4c08013d7.html

I am writing to try to drive home a point to parents and other family members about the safety of their children at public events.

Recently I attended a Western Kentucky University basketball game at Diddle Arena, and watched as a child wandered the arena for more than 10 minutes looking for her parents. She appeared to be about 10 years old, was carrying her school backpack, and was obviously lost in this large and somewhat confusing setting.

Because she kept moving around, the police and ushers did not notice that she was in distress.

I noticed her because she walked directly in front of me and the look on her face alerted me that something was wrong. (As a teacher and child care professional, I have worked with children for over 20 years.) I kept an eye on her, as I said, for about 10 minutes, thinking that if she made a complete circle of the arena and came back to our section, I would ask if she needed help.

About three quarters of the way around, she apparently spotted her family.

Every day, children are taken by predators. It happens on deserted streets, at the mall, as children walk home from school, and, yes, in crowded arenas.

If I, as a child care professional, am in tune to these signals, you can be certain that a child predator is also in tune and watching for the slightest opportunity to abduct or lure a frightened child in a vulnerable situation.

Remember, the predator does not always abduct. Sometimes they just look for a secluded area to try something unthinkable.

Please, parents, don’t take these chances. We need to avert tragedy at all possible costs. I urge everyone in the community to take the responsibility of helping children stay safe.

Anne Grubbs Bowling Green

Gaines, Jim (2003, January). Don’t take chances with your children. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/don-t-take-chances-with-your-children/article_49561379-7017-5b50-bbf1-cbda810dd39a.html

Nika Duncan (left) and Naudia Simmons, both 11, do warm-up kicks with other 9- to 12-year-olds Thursday as kickboxing instructor Clay Smalley leads during Girl Power 2000 at Bowling Green Parks and Recreations gymnasium. Photo by Miranda Pederson

The girls kept up with the exercise routine as best as they could, often breaking out in freestyle dance and singing at the top of their young lungs to songs like N Sync and Nellys Girlfriend and the Ying Yang Twins Say I Yi Yi.This is too hard! a Girls Inc. girl exclaimed Thursday as kickboxing instructor Clay Smalley led them through a series of punches, blocks, kicks, sit-ups and push-ups.This is not too hard, Smalley said as he walked through the group checking each girls progress.Its exactly the lesson that Caveland areas Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana and Girls Inc. wanted their young charges to learn with hard work and belief in themselves, they can do anything they want.The class was part of Girl Power 2002, an annual program designed to empower girls and promote women in nontraditional careers. This years theme was I Am the Greatest, taken from the soundtrack of the movie Ali. We’ve been doing it for three years. Its like a yes-you-can type day, said Felicia Bland, service and program assistant for the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, Caveland area. We want them to know its not just a mans world anymore.The program also provides other opportunities.Its a great opportunity for them to learn what Girl Scouting is all about because its something that they may normally not be a part of, said Patty Alford, Girls Inc. executive director. They may not have a troop in their area or may have a hard time getting a troop leader. It also exposes them to different people in the community who can talk to and encourage them.The girls ages 5-12 started off the morning with a question-and-answer session, pep rally and games with WUBT-FM 101.1 The Beat on-air personality KeKe The First Lady.

Then they split into age-appropriate groups and listened to several speakers, including Western Kentucky University head Lady Toppers coach Mary Taylor Cowles, Faye Martin, who was the first African American to be crowned Miss Southern Kentucky, and Anne Grubbs of Community Education.

In one room, Diane Eakles, a registered nurse working as a health educator for the Barren River District Health Department, was teaching the 5- and 6-year-olds about caring and sharing with others from a coloring book called I Can Choose. She allowed the girls to show their versions of happy, sad, angry and surprised faces. Which one of these faces makes you feel good? Eakles asked.Happy! the girls shouted.What can you do if somebody doesn’t have any friends? Eakles asked.Be their friend, one girl said.Eakles said she was pleased that her group caught on to much of what she wanted them to learn.I wanted them to know how to feel good about themselves, she said.Carmen Wright, 10, and 11-year-old Naudia Simmons agreed that their favorite part of the day was spent with KeKe The First Lady.The girls also caught on to the lesson of the day.We learned how to believe in ourselves, Naudia said.

Staff Writer (2002, April). Kickin’ with girl power. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/kickin-with-girl-power/article_fd6cfa4c-937c-5964-9a8c-2b031893cd8a.html

The Warren County Council on Physical Activity wants people to embrace all aspects of wellness with the fourth annual Family Fitness Fun Day.The event will be at 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Fountain Square Park. Activities are free.Its an opportunity for folks to see what the community offers, said Family Fitness Fun Day co-chairwoman and SAPO team member Denise Boyd. We want people to find out that (health) isnt just all about going out and exercising. Its about spiritual and mental well-being.(The event) is sponsored by the Warren County Council on Physical Activity, which is some agencies and individuals who are interested in seeing Warren County get healthier.

Fun Day co-chairwoman Anne Grubbs, who is also enrichment coordinator for Community Education and a WCCPA member, agreed. We’re out for wellness and doing things as a family and getting off the couch, she said. There are so many things to do in Bowling Green and Warren County. You don’t have to belong to a gym. You can do things around the house and be active. Its fun.

Family Fitness Fun Day will include activities from more than 25 vendors, including dance demonstrations, health screenings, crafts, relay races, tunnels and games – not bad for an event that started as something really small, Grubbs said. It started out like a mini health fair with health screenings, she said. It has grown. We’ve added people to the vendor lists and activities.

This years Fun Day will include a little more on the mental aspects of wellness than events of the past, Boyd said.We want people to grow as whole human beings, she said. You can talk to people about getting off the couch and being active, but if they’re not there mentally, it will take a lot to get them to be active. Boyd hopes the Fun Day activities and intimate atmosphere may inspire some people to take charge of their health and give confidence to those who may be intimidated by going to public facilities to exercise. If you talk with someone one-on-one and show them a few things and ease their fears, they might be more inclined to do it, she said. They may be more unafraid to participate in activities.

Willis, Justin (2001, September). Fitness for the family. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/fitness-for-the-family/article_b87dc2fe-1343-5ec3-869c-9b8ced5bcc93.html

Warren County Jailer Jackie Strode stacks canned food on his office conference table Monday. Each contributed food can equals a $1 decrease in inmates bills. The collected food will be donated to needy senior citizens. Photo by MIranda Pederson

Its not a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card, but a Warren County Regional Jail incentive program helped inmates get out a little cheaper.It also helped to feed seniors in Community Action of Southern Kentuckys Homebound Senior Food Program, which prepares holiday care packages. The packages contain three cans of food, a box of Kleenex, a flashlight with batteries or a candle, and a hat or gloves.For the past six weeks, inmates and their families and friends have donated more than 2,000 canned goods to the program. Since inmates are responsible for their stay paying a $20 one-time booking fee, a $20 a day housing fee and any medical expenses Jailer Jackie Strode thought inmates could reduce their bills while helping seniors have food during the winter, he said. In the simplest terms: one can equals to $1 of credit, he said. If an inmate or whoever paid $10 and brought in 10 cans of food, they received a $20 credit towards the inmates bill. Since state and federal governments reimburse the jail for their inmates, Strode limited participation to only county inmates, he said. The jails time participating in the drive was more successful than he had anticipated. I just hoped that the friends and families would see this as a positive way to help the community, and they did, he said. Ronni Cardwell, director of the Foster Grandparent Program, was just as surprised. I was amazed when he called me (Monday) morning, Cardwell said. This was the most weve collected for this particular event. Strode got the idea from the program his church, Three Springs Baptist, implemented in the fall. He then contacted Cardwell about his plans. As soon as the weather clears up, the canned goods will be delivered, Strode said, adding that he is considering continuing the program. The drive, which was also sponsored by Community Education, was part of the agencys Foster Grandparent Programs Make A Difference Day campaign, which stressed spending one day Oct. 27 helping a needy person or family.

Community Action and Community Education dedicated that day to the canned food drive, Cardwell said. Community Educations Anne Grubbs and Cardwell then sent out flyers explaining the program to churches, government agencies, schools and private organizations. Cardwell and Grubbs then extended the Make A Difference day to Nov. 17, and combined it with the National Family Day of Volunteering, Cardwell said.

The response to this was really great, Cardwell said. We had already sent out 130 winter care packages around Dec. 8, using what we collected between Oct. 27 and Nov. 17. Volunteers for the Foster Grandparent Program likely will not have the care packages containing the jails donations completed and delivered by Christmas. But the food will put the program ahead in its mission to help those after the holidays, Cardwell said. Its a bad time to try to get things out with the holidays, she said. But it doesn’t just stop at one day; the need remains.His huge contribution will benefit several hundred families after the holidays.

Staff Writer (2001, February). Jail program feeds seniors. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/jail-program-feeds-seniors/article_83ec9b16-b86c-56b6-a19d-bd68a49c940e.html

Six Bowling Green residents got the chance to get an inside view of the workings of the City-County Planning and Zoning Commission of Warren County Tuesday night as part of the city’s Neighborhood University program.

The program, organized in cooperation with Warren County Community Education, allows citizens to learn about the inner workings of the city in a relaxed setting, said Ann Grubbs, enrichment coordinator for community education. The program is in its second semester, and Tuesdays class was the fifth of six offerings, with the final one, Trees! Part II scheduled for Thursday night at 6 p.m., Grubbs said.

Last spring, the program offered seven courses, but the events of Sept. 11 forced the cancellation of one of this falls offerings, Preparing for Disaster, she said.

That program will be revised and presented as a full seminar in early 2002, Grubbs said. So far, the program has met with moderate success, she said.Its a new series of classes, so were still trying to gain acceptance with the public, she said.  We’re going to continue with the program, though, and hopefully it will continue to grow.

After Thursday nights session, the series will begin again next spring, Grubbs said.

At Tuesday nights session, planning commission Assistant Director Alice Burks shared some of the commissions inner workings with the residents, including some of the details of the new county zoning ordinance, scheduled to take effect Dec. 1. Burks also encouraged residents to become involved in the planning commission processes. We are always looking for citizen input, she said. Especially on items like comprehensive plan updates, where what we decide will effect everyone in the county for a long period of time.

For more information on the Neighborhood University program, contact Grubbs at 842-4281 or city Neighborhood Action Coordinator Karen Foley at 393-3674.

Willis, Jordan (2000, December). Zoning event teaches public. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/zoning-event-teaches-public/article_9dc6dc12-a6bd-5be0-a109-8be4727fba38.html