A Time to Buy?
Dear Ace Weekly,
I was disappointed to see the advertisement for the deceptively-titled "Coalition Against A Government Takeover" in the September 26 ACE. Kentucky-American's campaign against citizen-owned water is aggressively misleading.
The word "Coalition" implies that a few individuals decided to take a courageous stand for a cause they find important and work toward that cause.
Coalitions are most often made up of well-intentioned citizens, who lack major financial backing, so they compensate with heart and effort. They usually aren't created by executives with access to loads of corporate money, and aren't likely to involve the inclusion of propaganda-laden form letters with utility bills.
If Kentucky-American cares so much for this community, then why do they waste so much space in our Herbies and Rosies with those darn "No Takeover" cards?
If we learned anything during the Year of Enron, WorldCom, etc, it's that local governments are more worthy of trust than corporations. The main issue is accountability. If our service became substandard under local ownership, we could go to council meetings to tell the members, and if they do nothing, we can elect new ones (Democracy, baby.)
Germany's RWE, the potential owner of our water (and owner of Azurix, a tax haven created by the trusty people at Enron) will be nowhere near as accountable. With water ownership for several cities worldwide, why would they care about Lexington when profits are rolling in from several countries?
It's time to buy the water company.
Todd Stump
Letters Policy: Ace LOVES to publish our mail (250 words or less please); please include name and daytime phone. No photocopies. No bulk mail. First come, first served. We may edit for space and grammar; we will limit frequency; and, on popular issues, we may print one or two letters to represent a segment of public opinion. Private correspondence should be labeled “NOT FOR PUBLICATION.”
Mail: 486 West Second St , Lexington, Ky 40507
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"Identidad, Familia, and Libertad"
Thursday, October 10. The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning is hosting a panel discussion for its new exhibit, "Identidad, Familia, and Libertad," a collection of informational and display posters and paintings commemorating the disappeared children of Argentina. The discussion will be held at 6pm. For information call 254-4175.
Lunar Landing
Friday, October 11 The University of Kentucky celebrates the 30th anniversary of Apollo 17 from 7-8:30pm at the Singletary Center for the Arts. Meet Dr. Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 Astronaut, and experience A Trip to the Moon. The event is free and open to the public.
Breast Cancer Awareness
The third Friday in October each year is National Mammography Day, which was first proclaimed by President Clinton in 1993. On Friday, October 18, or throughout the month, radiologists provide discounted or free screening mammograms. To find out which facilities will be participating, call one of the following numbers:
American Cancer Society
(800) 227-2345.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation (800) 462-9273.
National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations
(NABCO) (888) 80-NABCO.
Y-ME National Breast Cancer
Organization (800) 221-2141.
Domestic Violence Awareness
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Many ways to hlpe stop abuse is volunteer your time to help stop domestic abuse in your community. To find out how to volunteer or, if you need to find a volunteer to help you out, you can go to www.volunteermatch.org. Other ways to help include launching a ribbon campaign, by distributing purple ribbons to the people in your community to increase awareness of the problem, distributing a shelter's "wish list" for equipment and supplie, or organize fund-raising or donation drives.
Clean water
This month commemorates the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water Act on October 18, 1972. Throughout the month there will be events around the state to help clean up our waterways. Some of this week's event include:
Saturday, October 12: Taylorsville Lake Clean Sweep, 8:30 - 12:30pm, Taylorsville Lake State Park, Picnic Shelters at Possum Ridge. For more information: 502-477-8882 or 502-477-8713.
Thursday, October 17: Celebrating the Clean Water Act with Sierra Club Water Sentinels and Rivers Unlimited on the Ohio River. Sierra Club Water Sentinels and Rivers Unlimited host a party on the Ohio River: organizations and volunteers from the Cincinnati area will come to celebrate a renewed national objective toward "fishable and swimmable" water, and fortifypartnerships toward achieving this goal. The dinner will also feature Ken Midkiff, head of Sierra Club's Clean Water Campaign, and Judy Petersen, Executive Director of the Kentucky Waterways Alliance, as speakers, and will also provide an opportunity for the mayors of Cincinnati, Covington, and Newport to sign on to a Clean Water Proclamation. Tickets for the dinner and B&B Riverboat tour are $30 per person, $50 per sponsor and $100 per patron. To reserve seats call Susan Knight at 513-761-4003 or e-mail atsusan.knight@sierraclub.org.
Check out www.KWAlliance.org for a complete list of this month's events and how you can get involved.
In Memory
Jarrett Mynear passed away Friday, October 4, at the age of 13, after a long battle with cancer. He started Jarrett's Joy Cart, which he wheeled around the UK Children's Hospital, passing out CDs and stuffed animals, and other gifts to young patients. Jarrett appeared on The Rosie O'Donnel Show, and also had a book published this year, The Joy Cart: The True Story of a Boy and His Toys, with WDKY newsman Marvin Bartlett. Contributions are welcomed and suggested through the Jarrett Mynear Fund to help the renovation of the Pediatric Oncology Clinic at the University of Kentucky.
Arts patron and philanthropist Lucille Caudill Little passed away Tuesday, October 8, in her home, at the age of 93. Little had helped in the founding of several arts organization boards including the Lexington Symphony (today's Lexington Philharmonic), the Central Kentucky Youth Symphony, Children's Theater, the Living Arts and Science Center, Studio Players and ArtsPlace. Her mission was to develop creativity through the time and money she donated to the fine arts. "Oh, the organizations I've been a part of," she said in a 1995 Ace interview, "the muscle, the oil, and grease I've poured into them all my life. That's how I want to be remembered." W.R. Milward Mortuary.
To submit an advocacy/activism activity or event for Quickies, email rkirkland@aceweekly.com, or editor@aceweekly.com.