Forkland Community Center News
Volume 2, Issue 2, February 2015
Meet the Board By Carolyn Frank FCC Board Member Profile: Matthew Ellis, President “Meet the Board” this month offers a younger viewpoint, one we need to foster in our community and future generations. Talk to Board President Matthew Ellis and you will learn how the Forkland Community Center can be a focal point for building strong, safe, and friendly neighborhoods. Matthew has been serving as President since 2001 and has seen many changes in the past 15 years, as generations pass the torch, society becomes more mobile, and technology helps us communicate. Son of Bobby Joe and Lois Ellis, Matthew’s earliest memories are of living adjacent to the Forkland Center in a house situated where the picnic pavilion is now. As he describes it, every night after supper, families would congregate there to work at the Center. Because of what this meant for his childhood, he wants to share this “family” feeling with his own family: wife Renae, daughters Bailey (13) and Hazie (2), and his soon-to-beintroduced son, arriving in February. Despite being busy as a parent, Board President, and Regional Sales Manager for Woods Equipment, he finds time to enjoy hunting and being a farm owner. When asked about his involvement in the Forkland Festival, Matthew modestly calls himself a “go-fer,” although he has appeared in countless drama presentations, has been co-chairman of the Festivals, and has had responsibility for the Halloween Carnival and Donkey Basketball. Matthew brings a modern outlook to the oversight of the Forkland Community Center, while upholding the heritage established by its founders. Although he had advantages not available to most, Matthew would like to see young ones (anyone under 99) stepping up to be of service and getting involved, in any capacity, so that they can enjoy the Forkland Community Center and the community itself for a long time. Forkland Community Center 16479 Forkland Rd., Gravel Switch, KY 40328 859-332-7146, www.forklandcomctr.org Please send news, photos, announcements, art, etc. for the Forkland Community Center News to: Pat Williams, 750 Black Lick Rd., Gravel Switch, KY 40328, 859-332-7606,
[email protected] Forkland Contacts President: Matthew Ellis, 859-583-0546,
[email protected] Vice President: Doris Purdom, 859-332-7839 Secretary: Lorrie Westerfield, 859-332-8417, lorriewesterfi
[email protected] Treasurer: Gail Holman, 859-332-7980 Webmaster: Kevin Adams, 859-332-1093,
[email protected] Museum & Gift Shop: Wayne Thurman, 859-936-7489,
[email protected] Building Rental: Gail Holman, 859-332-7980 Art Classes: John K. Gorley; Pat Williams, 859-332-7606,
[email protected] Board meetings (on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.) are open to the public
Upcoming and Ongoing Events FCC Planning Session: Monday, February 9, 2015, 6:30 p.m. For an hour before the regular board meeting starts, we will talk about what will happen in the future at the Forkland Community Center. Please come with your ideas for the Festival, other events, classes, etc. Everyone is welcome. FCC Board Meeting: Monday, February 9, 2015, 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Boyle County Public Library Free Computer Workshop: Friday, February 13, 2015, noon. Homework help. Learn how to access and use the latest technology and free easy-to-use tools. For students, teachers, homeschoolers, and adults returning to the classroom. Trail Life Troop 71 Chili Supper: Saturday, March 7, 2015, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. All-you-can-eat chili, beans, cornbread, drinks, and dessert. $5 for adults, $3 for ages 6 to 12, free if under 6. Supports Forkland Trail Life Troop 71. Donations welcome! For more information, call 859-332-7222. Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Day: Saturday, March 21, 2015, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come help us pick up litter along Forkland Road. A free lunch follows the litter cleanup. Forkland’s Annual Pie Supper: Saturday, March 28, 2015, 5:30 p.m. Starts with a delicious Spaghetti Dinner, followed by an auction of tasty homemade pies and other goodies. Marjory’s School of Art Classes: Thursdays at 2 p.m and 6:30 p.m. For more information, call John K. Gorley at the Community Center (859-332-7146) on Thursdays from 2 to 8 p.m. Homeschool Art Class: Every Tuesday throughout the school year, 2 to 4 p.m. This class is for children ages 8 to 18. For more information, contact Pat Williams,
[email protected], 859-332-7606. Art Studio: Every Tuesday throughout the school year, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This studio time is for adults and older children with self-directed art projects. Contact Pat Williams, info above.
Recent Activities Trail Life Troop 71 First Aid Training: The Trail Life boys recently completed CPR and basic first aid training. The people in this photo are, from left to right: Austin Riley, Lucas Ross, Kyle Tyler, Clayton Moore, Grayson Fowlkes, Drew Durhan, Austin Vest, Brendan Osterman, Gary Westerfield, and Jeanne McQuerry (instructor). Submitted by Rick McQuerry Forkland Discussion meeting: On January 22, several Community Center members (Jewell Deene Ellis, Louis Ewbank, Carolyn Frank, Scott Gowers, Jamie Hamblin, Doris Purdom, Shirley Sheperson, Kaye Thurman, Wayne Thurman, Cam Williams, and Pat Williams) met at Shirley’s home to talk about the past and future of Forkland Community Center. There was a lively discussion for over two hours concerning what we appreciate about the Community Center and what we want to see happen in the future. Some of the discussion focused on how to get more people involved with the Center, considering both (1) what folks might want to see happen in the future and (2) how they might help with Center activities. Resulting ideas will be brought to the planning meeting on February 9.
It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time! Forkland has an active Girl Scout Troop of Daisies and Brownies with leaders Blake Henderson and Lynn Ellis. They will be selling delicious Girl Scout cookies during February and March. The cookies are $3.50 per box, and the available varieties are Thin Mints, Caramel Delights, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Lemonades, Thanks-aLots, Shortbreads, and Cranberry Citrus Crisps. Please stop by their booth at one of the following times and support them, or you can order cookies by contacting Blake Henderson (e-mail
[email protected] or call or text 859-319-7128). February 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kroger in Danville February 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kroger in Danville February 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Walmart in Danville March 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kroger in Danville
Last Year’s Cookie Sales Booth
This picture is from a campout at Mammoth Cave. The girls got to hike in Diamond Caverns. Trips like this one are possible because of our cookie money!
Did You Know . . . . . . that there is a loom that is about 150 years old in the Library Room at Forkland Community Center? It was built in the mid-1860s by Charles King Kirkland for his wife, Carolina Francis Purdom Kirkland. They lived in Perryville until the tragic Battle of Perryville during the Civil War. Then, they were told by soldiers that they had 10 minutes to get out of their home. They left with their children and a few belongings and came to Forkland to stay with Carolina’s parents, Mark and Elizabeth Crewe Purdom, never to return to their home in Perryville. Charles built the loom shortly after their move. The loom was first used to weave cotton and wool cloth for clothing and blankets. Later it was used to make carpets out of rags from worn-out clothing. This type
of loom is referred to as a Barn Loom. When it was not in use, it could be disassembled and stored in a barn or outbuilding. But it was usually kept in the house during the winter months for weaving necessary things for the home. In 1978, the Kirkland farm that was across the road from the current North Rolling Fork Baptist Church was sold. At that time, Mabel Kirkland Bottoms, who was the granddaughter of Charles and Carolina, told some people about the old loom that was in a smokehouse on the Kirkland farm. She said that if we would go and get the loom, we could have it for the Community Center. Wilma Rae and Louis Ewbank volunteered to do this. After much work, plus repairs done by Cecil Ellis, Sr., the loom was reassembled at the Community Center. With the help of Elsie Ewbank, a well-known weaver from northern Kentucky, the loom was warped and adjusted. Mabel Kirkland Bottoms wove on the loom at a few Festivals beginning in 1978, and other members of the Kirkland family demonstrated weaving on it at later festivals. The loom is now used for display only, but it is still operational.
Creative Corner By Jocelyn Adams Feature Artist Profile: Kaye Thurman Kaye Thurman has been sewing almost her whole life. She remembers learning to sew at age five, and she’s been doing it ever since. In fact, she used to make all of her clothes! Kaye stopped doing that when it became cheaper to buy clothes than to make them, but she never stopped sewing. After retiring, she says she made “probably thousands of purses.” And she still likes to make all kinds of home decorations, including pillows and drapes. Kaye also has a huge interest in buttons. “Jars and jars of buttons fascinate me,” she says, “especially the old ones.” Although she often finds it hard to part with them, Kaye makes beautiful bracelets and brooches featuring the vintage buttons she’s collected. You can find Kaye selling her handmade jewelry and home goods alongside her husband Wayne’s booth at the Forkland Heritage Festival. Look for them in Marjory’s Room, next to the Gift Shop and museum.
Spread the Word about the FCC News If you know folks with news, photos, or artwork to share, please have them send all items to the address below. Also send names and e-mail addresses of folks who would like to receive the free monthly FCC News by e-mail. Those who don’t use e-mail can receive printed copies of the newsletter for one year by sending 12 self-addressed stamped envelopes. Thanks! Address:
[email protected] or Pat Williams, 750 Black Lick Road, Gravel Switch, KY 40328
