COMMUNITY NEWS News Highlights 42420

42420 FEBRUARY 2021 VOL. 2, NO. 6 CITY of HENDERSON, KY

HOLIDAY HEAVY: For all its winter-ness, February sure is a time for celebrations and special days. In 2021, we have Groundhog Day (Feb. 2), Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 7), Chinese New Year of the Ox (Feb. 12), Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14), Presidents Day (Feb. 15), Mardi Gras (Feb. 16), Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17) and the 78th Golden Globe Awards (Feb. 28). It’s also American Heart Month and Black History Month.

News Highlights

Lions Club fundraiser Henderson Lions

Club will launch its first-ever Henderson Lions

50/50 Half-Pot Raffle Fundraiser on Monday, Feb. 1, as a substitute for its annual Auction. Tick-ets will be sold through Feb. 27 online at hender-sonlionsclub.ourraffle.org/. Prices starts at $10, and the winner will be drawn at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28. The starting jackpot is $10,000, which guaran-tees the half-pot winner a minimum of $5,000. Half of the proceeds will benefit the club’s charitable community activities.

OVAL events canceled Due to the ongoing

pandemic, the Ohio Valley Art League has post-

poned two fundraisers, “For the Love of HeART

Dinner & Canvas Date Night” in February and

the Kitchen Tour in April. Instead, the visual arts organization will put all of its efforts into renovating and working on new gallery space at The Depot and working on a fun and exciting way to celebrate its 30th anniversary coming up in the fall.

Looking to spring The Gathering Place

Senior Citizens Center is still planning a Spring

Craft and Vendor Fair on Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost of table space is $35 for one day or $50 for both days. Crafters and vendors are invited to partici-pate and can reserve space by calling (270) 827-2948.

“Story of Mother’s Day” JCFilms and Hen-

derson native Bobby Lacer’s production company

Little Chicago Pictures will be filming “The Story

of Mother’s Day” in Henderson from March 10-18. This film will feature roughly 30 teenagers, nine adults, three children and one elder-ly female, all of which Lacer and his team are hoping to fill with Hen-derson resi-dents and/or natives. Open auditions will be hosted on Satur-day, Feb. 6, from 1-6 p.m. in the Fiscal Courtroom at the Henderson County Courthouse. Anyone interested in auditioning for the film can visit jcfilms.org/mothersdayabout for more information on the film and audition dates, time and location.

The Friends of Audubon volunteer organization has the opportunity to dou-ble contributions from the community thanks to $100,000 in matching funds offered by Walt Dear, the former owner and publisher of The Gleaner and one of the founders of Friends of Audubon.

Friends of Audubon is a support group for Audubon State Park that has funded projects in excess of $3 million for the

park since it was found-ed in 1984. Two projects have been identified for the $200,000 in capital spending that could be raised through Dear’s generous offer: —An ADA-compliant extension to the existing boardwalk (pictured at top) at the 649-acre Audubon Wetlands that will include a viewing platform overlooking the adjacent Cypress Slough, where bald eagles have nested in recent years.

—Helping the state fund an addition to the Audubon Park Museum to pro-vide a dedicated archive storage to protect and preserve its world-class collec-tion of Audubon art and artifacts.

Donations can be made via pledge cards, online at FriendsOfAudubon.org or by calling Audubon Park at (270) 826-2247.

A generous nature

COMMUNITY NEWS

The 42420 Community News has now gone to a monthly

publication. Sign up for notification of new issues and/or download your copy at: www.CityofHendersonKy.org

PRESERVING THE

PAST The Friends of Audubon has received a 2020 Local History Trust Fund grant from the Ken-tucky Historical Society. This funding will help the museum purchase equip-ment, software and sup-plies for digitizing arti-facts, artwork and archiv-al material in the collec-tion.

Schools offer mental health tool Through the Henderson County Schools Project Aware grant, a mental health screening tool (SDQ — Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) is available for

students and parents. All versions of the SDQ ask about 25 different things, some positive and others negative. Themes are: Emotional symptoms, Con-duct problems, Hyperactivity/inattention, Peer rela-tionship problems and Prosocial behavior. The information will be used to identify students who are struggling so that each student’s Mental Health Team can provide additional support. The ques-tionnaire should be completed by Feb. 4. Infor-

mation: Project Aware Grant Director Jamie Like, 270-831-5010 or [email protected]. Surveys: Henderson.kyschools.us/apps/news/article/1371198.

SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY. The City of Henderson Board of Commissioners

has taken action to create a Small Business Continuity Grant Program in part-nership with Henderson Economic Development and Henderson Chamber of Commerce as a response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The program in-tends to distribute $300,000 to small businesses in the City of Henderson that have been (or will be) adversely affected by the ongoing pandemic. The grant application process is now open and will continue through March 21 or until all funds are dispersed. Grant funding levels will be in two tiers that will award either $5,000 or $10,000. The application for the Small Business Continuity Grant Program is available on the City of Henderson web site

(www.CityOfHendersonKy.org), the Henderson Chamber of Commerce website

(HendersonKyChamber.com) and the Henderson Economic Development web-

site (HendersonKyEDC).

tree year

Kentucky launches vaccine.KY.gov website for sign-ups

FIND IT Gov. Andy Beshear announced a new web site at which citizens can determine

their eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine and sign up for it as it becomes available. That website launched and became available for use at 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan.

28.

Visit the web site at: vaccine.KY.gov.

You can call also call the Vaccine Hotline at 855-598-2256, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. CST to check on eligibility and sign-up for the vaccine.

Even as the state’s positivity rate of COVID-19 cases continues to decline, Gov. Andy Beshear said this week that the federal government will increase each state’s supply of vaccines and guarantee a minimum supply for three consecutive week, which helps those administer-ing vaccine programs with planning logistics and sched-uling those who wish to receive vaccinations.

Starting Monday, Feb. 1, persons in phases 1a-1c will be eligible to schedule vaccination as supply permits. Persons older than 70 will still be prioritized.

The three phases include people with these general descriptions:

Phase 1a — Residents and staff of long-term care and assisted living facilities; Healthcare personnel.

Phase 1b — First Responders; Anyone 70 or older; K-12 school personnel.

Phase 1c — Anyone 60 or older; Anyone 16 or older with a medical condition listed by the CDC as proven to be associated with severe COVID-19 disease; Frontline and other essential workers defined by the CDC.

The third phase (1c) contains an extensive list of occupations that are eligible as essential workers. Here’s a link that provides some additional specifics: https://govstatus.egov.com/ky-covid-vaccine.

Don’t get scammed Many taxpayers have encountered individu-

als impersonating Internal Revenue Services officials — in person, over the telephone and via email.

Don’t get scammed.

The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.

Note that the

IRS DOES NOT: —Call to de-

mand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes.

—Demand that you pay taxes without the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say they owe. You should also be ad-vised of your rights as a taxpayer.

—Threaten to bring in local police, immigra-tion officers or other law-enforcement to have you arrested for not paying. The IRS also can-not revoke your driver’s license, business li-censes or immigration status. Threats like these are common tactics scam artists use to trick victims into buying into their schemes.

FREE TESTING: Here’s when and where you can get a free COVID test at the Henderson County Health Department — Location, 472 Klutey Park Plaza. Times: 1-3 p.m. Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17 and Feb. 24 .

Link: https://

tinyurl.com/

HealthDeptSignup.

VOLUNTEER & INFORMATION CENTER

VITA available now The Volunteer and Information Center and

United Way of Henderson County will again provide the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program — with some pandemic safe-guards.

Masks will be required, and many taxpayers seeking assis-tance will drop off information for returns and retrieve them later. Some details about the com-ing year's pro-gram:

-- The Henderson County VITA site is locat-ed at the Housing Authority of Henderson, 111 S. Adams St. Site hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Mon-day and Tuesday evenings and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

—A second site is located at Henderson Christian Community Outreach on Wednesday afternoons from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

-- The final day is Tuesday, April 13. Find details about how you can qualify and

what you should bring to the VITA site at www.volunteerhenderson.org/vita/. Call VIC for more info: 270-831-2273.

YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK

PUBLIC WORKS

Spring Cleanup being planned The Public Works Department has begun its early

planning for Spring Cleanup this year. They will be undertaking the annual project in two phases once again, but a little earlier than it took place in 2020. Spring Cleanup will take place in March and April this year, so you might want to start soon gathering your items for disposal. Those things might include tree limbs, broken furniture and other large items that you would normally take to the landfill. Watch for more details about the timetable, guidelines and what you can and cannot include in Spring Cleanup initiative. SPECIAL PROJECTS

Sports complex to be discussed A open house-style public meeting on the pro-

posed sports complex is set for Monday, Feb. 1, from 4-6 p.m. at the Henderson County Extension’s Expo Center, 3341 Kentucky 351 (Zion Road, be-hind the Kentucky Farm Bureau office.) Citizens and city staff involved with the project will be on hand to answer questions and take comments from the public. There’s also an opportunity to participate via Zoom for those who prefer not to attend a meet-ing in person. More info: cityofhendersonky.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1452.

PARKS & RECREATION

Gazebo tree remains as tribute During the holiday season, the Parks & Recrea-

tion installed the first-ever “Remembrance Tree” in the Central Park Gazebo as an opportunity for citi-zens to add their own non-breakable tree ornament in remembrance of a loved one who has passed away. Now they are planning to extend the timeline and refocus the target of remembrance. The Parks Dept. plans to leave the tree in place for awhile, add some green lights and offer it as a tribute to those who have died or have become ill during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has suggested green lighting to honor those who have died since the beginning of the pandemic last spring.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Want to attend? Here’s how City administration has added framework to assist

citizens in participating in on-line public meetings, specifically Board of Commissioners meetings. For the time being, officials and staff will log onto a vid-eo webinar from the convenience and safety of a remote location. Meetings will be broadcast online on our website (www.cityofhendersonky.org) and on Zoom. They are also broadcast on Spectrum Cable Channel 200 and live-streamed to the City’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. To speak to the board: 1. Go to Zoom.Us to create a Zoom account or download the app to your phone. 2. Go to the city website and fill out the Public Participant Re-quest form. (The link is on the home screen.) You will then be sent a Zoom invite to speak. If you don’t have access to Zoom, you can call in to speak.

CELEBRATION Human Rights Commission observes Dr. MLK Jr. Day

The Henderson-Henderson County Human Rights Commission hosted a celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18 at First Unit-ed Methodist Church in downtown Henderson.

Speakers included Mayor Steve Austin, Hen-derson County Judge-executive Brad Schnei-der and the keynote speaker the Rev. Charles Johnson, executive director of the Henderson-Henderson County Human Rights Commis-sion. “Dr. King did not march the journey by himself … it was accomplished by people who had the same goals — Black people, white people, those of different religious denominations ... They came together with a common purpose and with a common passion that we shall over-come someday,” Rev. Johnson said. He said the last of King’s writings before his assassination was entitled “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” In these essays, King laid out visions for the future which included better housing and pay, equal criminal justice and elimination of poverty. King’s question — chaos or community — is a good one for America today, Johnson said.

He said it’s true that America has “desegregated, but we haven’t integrat-ed. We live in desegregated neighborhoods; we send our kids to desegre-gated schools; we share the same restaurants and shop at the same stores, but for the most part, we remain separated from our neighbors.”

Johnson said, “we’ve seen advancements ... but we’ve been reluctant to let go of the old ways. When it comes to Dr. King’s dream, we need to do a better job.”

Community accolades LENDING A HAND Henderson Municipal Power & Light crews received a

national commendation in December from the Mutual Aid team at the Ameri-can Public Power Association for its support in electric power restoration ef-forts in Louisiana following a hurricane. HMPL crews provided assistance to the Southwest Louisiana EMC and Lafayette Utilities System in 2020.

PRICELESS Habitat for Humanity of Henderson construction volunteers have

now donated 30,269 hours through the end of December 2020. Habitat Inter-national values that work at just less than $770,000.

MILESTONE In 2021, Sitex will mark 60 years in business in the Henderson

community. The company is a family-owned-and-operated uniform, linen and textile rental business. Congratulations on your longevity!

MOVING UP Deaconess Henderson Hospital was awarded a B in the fall

2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing hospi-tals’ achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. The hospital received a C rating one year ago after being given an F by the same organization in the spring of 2019.

Rotary grant program open There are a few days remaining for non-profits to apply for the Henderson Rotary Club’s 2021 Grant Cycle. A new opportuni-ty is a Matching Grant that will provide up to $10,000 to a local non-profit to match NEW funds raised and not part of a previ-ous commitment or pledge. There’s also the Community Grant program. Find the details at: HendersonKyRotary.org or re-quest an application at [email protected].

Deadline:

Feb. 5, 2021

Keynote speaker: The Rev. Charles

Johnson, executive director of Henderson-Henderson County

Human Rights Commission. (Photo

by Donna B. Stinnett)

YOUR

GOVERNMENT

STAYING

INFORMED

BOARD of COMMISSIONERS 2nd and 4th Tuesday 3 p.m. Assembly Room, Municipal Center 222 First St., Henderson, Ky. 42420

WATCH LIVE Live on Spectrum Cable Channel 200. Live stream at cityofhendersonky.org, Facebook & Twitter Video archived at www.cityofhendersonky.org Submit questions through Zoom platform; meeting link at www.cityofhendersonky.org

COMMISSION WORK SESSION 3rd Tuesday, as needed 3 p.m. Assembly Room, Municipal Center

CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD 4th Monday 5:30 p.m. Assembly Room, Municipal Center

WATER/SEWER COMMISSION 3rd Monday, 4:30 p.m. Board Room, Bobby Gish Administrative Building, 111 Fifth St.

CITY BOARD OF ZONING

ADJUSTMENT 2nd Wednesday 5 p.m. Assembly Room, Municipal Center

HENDERSON CITY-COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 1st Tuesday 6 p.m.

HENDERSON COUNTY FISCAL COURT 2nd and 4th Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. HC Fiscal Courtroom, Henderson County Courthouse WATCH LIVE via Facebook

NOTIFY ME Stay connected and receive alerts www.cityofhendersonky.org Sign up for: -Code Enforcement Final Orders -Website updates -Bid postings -Employment opportunities -News items -Meeting notices -Meeting agendas

City of Henderson 222 First Street Henderson, KY 42420 270-831-1200

42420 is published monthly by the City of Henderson Public Information Office. Digital version available for reading/downloading at www.cityofhendersonky.org

Public Information Officer/

Community Relations Manager Donna B. Stinnett (270) 831-4934 [email protected]

April 24

42420: “Love Where You Live Day “

Fun in the COVID era

DHP Valentine’s Projects Downtown Henderson Partnership has collected their entries for the first-time event “Cuter

Than Cupid — Henderson’s Cutest Couple Contest” for Valentine’s Day, and voting will now take place from Feb. 3-12.

You can check out all the nominations and VOTE for the “Cutest Couple” by shopping at any DHP merchant member. The winner will be announced on Valen-tine’s Day. The winning couple will receive a $50 gift card to any DHP member restau-rant and a $50 gift card to any DHP mer-chant member. There is a $5 nomination fee. The couple must reside in Henderson County. “We wanted to come up with something new this Valentine’s Day, and this is a way to celebrate all of our wonderful couples and also encourage supporting our local retail merchants that have so many special one-of-a-kind gifts,” said DHP Executive Director Lindsay Locasto. “Shop and show local love this Valentine’s Day and vote for your favorite couple,” she added.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS Henderson Chamber of Commerce will host its next roundtable dialogue at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 5. Led by Bill Sandell, Workforce Develop-ment Consultant with Kentucky’s Office of Employer and Apprenticeship Services, subject mat-ter will include Tax Credits, On-The-Job Training Incentives and free Basic Training Skills. For details on how to participate, visit HendersonKYChamber.Com.

Library expansion project essentially finished Henderson County Public Library’s board of directors heard at its most recent meeting that the major construction work on the $8 million expansion project is completed. There is still some carpet work that needs to be completed in children’s depart-ment and other smaller details. There is also an outside project to finish: A canopy for the Library Book Mobile area. The library broke ground on the project in April 2019. Additions and im-provements include an expanded teen department, quiet study rooms, a tech-friendly “Maker Space,” a dedicated computer training lab and large-group meeting rooms with a catering kitchen.

Calling all DIY'ers, craft enthusiasts, and artists! DHP wants your help to decorate The Perch for Valentine's Day! Stop by the DHP office, 101 S. Water St., to pick up one of these hearts ($5) to decorate and bring back no later than Feb.11. Hearts will then be hung on the pergola at The Perch pocket park on Second Street. DHP will award a $100 gift card for a DHP member to the most creative heart!