By Cynthia Parkhill —
With the posting of the annual Stars of Lake County nomination form for the year, I am perplexed anew at the discrepancy in treatment toward supporters of the arts compared to similar categories.
Whereas Youth Advocate and Organization of the Year have sub-category distinctions for paid/professional and volunteer, the Arts Award is divided into “amateur” and “professional.”
The purpose of the award is to recognize a “Person(s) or organization who promotes, participates or supports the arts.”
I think the word “participates” detracts from what ought to be the focus of this award: people or organizations that promote and nourish the artistic community. Its focus shouldn”t be to evaluate the quality of Lake County art.
Youth advocates do not have to compete against the young people they serve for recognition as Stars of Lake County. But that is the position into which benefactors of the arts are being placed with the treatment of this award.
If Lake County wants to honor its talented practitioners of visual and performing arts, perhaps that should be the subject of another set of awards. We certainly have enough practitioners to field a number of categories.
Please, organizers, revise the wording and qualifications of the Stars of Lake County Arts Award. Allow supporters of Lake County arts — professional and volunteer, not professional and “amateur” ? to be honored for their accomplishments without having to compete against local artists.
Middletown Library
What a great view I have from the Middletown library each Saturday as I shelve returned books: the new library and senior center directly across the street.
Steel frames have been erected and make a dramatic sight.
My husband and I have walked over for closer views of the new Middletown Library. We can see the outline of what will be a parking lot, as well as molds for pouring the foundation.
David Petri, president, Friends of the Middletown Gibson Library (FMGL), calls the new library a “soon-to-be-realized 10-year effort by county officials, grant writers, volunteers, countless book sales and the constant and steady support of our beloved current library by FMGL.”
As a volunteer shelver, I will be glad when the library collection will have room to grow. There simply isn”t enough shelving available in the current library, which means books and audio resources are stacked where we can make space.
Gehlen Palmer, Middletown Library director, notes in “Library News” for February, that it is hoped the new library will be finished in time for Thanksgiving. He also reports that Calpine has presented the new library with a circulation desk, work table, office desk and two storage cabinets.
Cynthia Parkhill is the focus pages editor for the Record-Bee. She can be contacted at rbinfocus@gmail.com or 263-5636 ext. 39. Follow on Twitter: @CynthiaParkhill.
