Rusty was so moved after watching the screening of the movie Beauty Mark this week that the show landed Family and Children’s Place CEO Pam Darnall as a guest. The film, shot entirely in the Portland neighborhood, focuses on the plight of a young woman with an ailing mother, growing child, crappy job and shitty car. And, she was abused by a relative as a child.
That set the stage for my talk with Darnall, who’s been in her job helping local abused children (her office sees 6,000 per year) for 24 years. She’s passionate about the organization’s mission, as is evident in the interview.
At the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau office downtown, I spoke with Bourbon City Guests of the Week Lynnelle Morgan and Christa Ritchie, who head up a couple of new and exciting promotional campaigns. Lynnelle’s Bring the Crew to Lou concept offers up free tickets to six Main Street attractions, for anyone who brings an out-of-towner downtown. And Christa, a former C-J reporter, is getting people on board the #SpiritedCity hashtag.
Local voters disappointed me once again, re-electing County Attorney Mike O’Connell despite some actions I consider highly questionable. He beat Brent Ackerson, one of the good government guys who unfortunately got outspent in a campaign that never gained traction. The fall Mayor’s Race is set between Greg Fischer and Republican Angela Leet, whose early campaign strategy seems to be dissing the idea of bike lanes. Listen for my rant on that one, including the Facebook thread in Jeffersontown from the stick-in-the-muds out there.
Memorial Day weekend brings us a couple of noteworthy events – the Kentucky Reggae Festival at the Water Tower, and the Mayor’s Hike, Bike and Paddle event on Monday.
Thanks again to Passport Health Plan, Heuser Health, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau for making this podcast possible.