02.20.2024

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Today’s Forecast

57º | 6% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:22 a.m. | Sunset 6:21 p.m.

Inspiring goodness in our local youth

A group of 20+ young students sitting on the steps of a church making funny faces.

Common Good’s after school program offers a supervised space for kids to be kids. | Photo courtesy of Common Good

In case you missed it, a new local-to-Lexington partner has joined our local businesses shop Six & Main — Matchstick Goods.

But this isn’t a run-of-the-mill pottery brand. Today, we’re sharing with you how a nonprofit created this social enterprise + its powerful local impact.

Meet Common Good

Common Good is a local nonprofit housed in the basement of Embrace Church in north Lexington. For the past 12 years, the team — along with ~40 volunteers — help mentor youth on the Northside.

For $10 per semester, parents can be at ease knowing their kiddos will be fed, receive homework help, and even have a little recreation time through the after-school program. Fun fact: Around 80 students in K-12 participate in the program.

As the students aged throughout the programs, organizers saw there was a new set of needs for high schoolers — job training. Enter: Matchstick Goods, an arts-based social enterprise where the students are hired to create and sell their pottery.

“It was a a natural extension of what we’ve been doing,” said Dan Fowler, Social Enterprise Director. “The kids were wanting good quality jobs as they were beginning to enter the workforce. And within their work, they wanted to be creative and express themselves.”

A young woman creating pottery on a pottery wheel — During the summer months, student employees design, create, and market new products. | Photo courtesy of Common Good

Molding future leaders

Through work with Matchstick Goods, participants receive training in hard and soft skills including:

Being a good employee
Learning to be punctual
Communicating with your boss

Students also learn how to apply and interview for a position. “A lot of those things that they are not explicitly taught,” Fowler said.

Matchstick Goods is made up of four high school student-employees, who make $12/hr, and five additional staff. During the school year, students work five hours a week on Mondays + Thursdays and ~20 hours per week during the summer youth employment program.

How to get involved

In addition to supporting their work by purchasing items from Matchstick Goods, Common Good is always open to volunteers. You can mentor after school, in the summers, prepare meals + more.

Events

Tuesday, Feb. 20

Yoga for Beginners with Brittany Strube | Tuesday, Feb. 20 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | The Living Arts & Science Center, 362 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lexington | $10.60 | Gain flexibility, strength, and balance as you learn the foundations of a slow + alignment-focused yoga practice.
Trivia | Tuesday, Feb. 20 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Twisted Cork, 145 Burt Rd., Lexington | Free | Challenge yourself + test your knowledge at trivia with Bob + Roberta.

Wednesday, Feb. 21

Everything is Science: Taste | Wednesday, Feb. 21 | 6-8 p.m. | Old North Bar, 101 W. Loudon Ave., Lexington | Free | Part of our city-wide science festival, Chef Ouita Michel + UK professors will lead discussions on bourbon tastings + mushroom feasts.

Thursday, Feb. 22

National Margarita Day | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | girlsgirlsgirls Burritos, 395 S. Limestone, Lexington | Free | Celebrate National Margarita Day with a fiesta full of refreshing drinks, tasty tacos, and good vibes.
Business Link | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 4-6 p.m. | Battle Axes, 164 Turner Commons Way, Lexington | $10-$15 | Join fellow local businesses owners for a night of networking + axe-throwing.

Friday, Feb. 23

Kentucky Golf Expo | Friday, Feb. 23-Sunday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | Central Bank Center, 430 W. Vine St., Lexington | $12 | Browse over 66,000 sqft of golf entertainment, retail, and travel exhibitors.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Shop

Skincare essentials that turn up the heat

Say bye-bye to dry skin with our list of skincare products. | Photo provided by Six & Main

Is dry skin making you feel frustrated during these winter months? Don’t worry, our online shop (Six & Main) features hydrating skincare products essential for weathering cold temperatures.

Step into a world of self-care as you explore a curated selection of winter skincare essentials, leaving your skin refreshed and revitalized.

Clean your face with the Purifying Face Wash by Roosevelt Supply Co. With added organic fruit extracts and activated charcoal, you’re sure to clean off the toughest dirt and grime without being harsh on your skin.

Exfoliate your skin using the Las Flores | Mini Hydrate + Brighten Duo, which is a powerful formula by Esteli that gently exfoliates and nourishes, leaving your skin looking and feeling refreshed.

Visibly improve texture, tone, and the look of fine lines and wrinkles with the Repair Hemp & Retinol Face Cream by She Biology, a hemp-strain skincare collection.

Shop all skincare

News Notes

Civic

The city + ONE Lexington are seeking the community’s thoughts on gun and intimate partner violence in Lexington. Information gathered from this anonymous survey will be shared publicly to help enhance the civic services available to the community.

Legacy

Local musician Robby Consenza died on Sunday, Feb. 18 after a yearslong battle with cancer. Consenza was a well-loved drummer + multi-instrument artist for bands including Vandaveer, Horse Feathers, and The Fanged Robot.

Read

Award-winning local children’s author + illustrator Susan Mills has released her latest work, “Hadley, the Happy and Helpful Hadrosaurus.” Part of the DinoSprout Educational Book Series, the book follows the journey of a cheerful Hadrosaurus who aims to spread kindness and create a safe environment for everyone.

Cause

Registration is now open to volunteer for the student-run annual fundraiser, DanceBlue. There are 12 shifts available for tasks such as assisting with meals, tending to water stations, crowd control, and managing bag check. Volunteer shifts cost $15-$30 and all money raised supports UK Healthcare’s Hematology/Oncology Clinic. (UKNOW)

Plan Ahead

The Lexington Public Library’s Eastside Branch (3000 Blake James Dr.) is hosting a Puzzle Swap on Sunday, March 10, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Now through the day of the event, drop off your old puzzles + receive one ticket per puzzle that can be cashed for one new-to-you.

Outdoors

Calling all fresh air enthusiasts. Explore the outdoors with the West Sixth Farm Hiking Club. The group is open to all levels + meets every Friday at 5 p.m. in the farm’s parking lot before embarking on a ~one hour walk. Don’t forget about our hiking and nature walk guide.

Lexingtonian

Congratulations to Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Freddie Johnson for being named to Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame. Johnson, a popular guide at the Frankfort distillery, is now the Distillery VIP Visitor Lead. He was also inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2018. (LEX18)

Travel

A friendly reminder to book spring + summer vacations (they’re just around the corner). Looking for privacy? This beachfront Bahamas cottage is perfect for two. Prefer the mountains? Book this newly built Gatlinburg, TN cabin. Want beach time? Walk to St. Simons, GA’s shore from this Vrbo that’s also a treehouse.*

Eat

Food

Lettuce talk about eating locally

Close up shot of a variety of lettuces in green and purple

Bright fresh lettuces from Elmwood Stock Farm. | Photo courtesy of Elmwood Stock Farm

Happy CSA Week, Lexington. Standing for Community Supported Agriculture, local farms offer up shares of their crops — think: subscription or membership — to the community each season.

See our list of four local farms that are now enrolling for their summer seasonal offerings.

Black Soil KY | $443 for 18 weeks
Get seasonal vegetables for a family of any size + the option for a la carte add-ons. Both pickup and delivery are available.

Elmwood Stock Farm | $599+ for 20 weeks
With 20+ seasons under this family farm’s belt, you can get seasonal produce, meats, and eggs for home delivery, farm pick-up, or shop the online store.

High Five Farm | ~$540 for 20 weeks
Offering a variety of vegetables and herbs, you can pay-per-week or for a full season upfront. Pickup is available at the Sunday Southland Farmers Market.

Sustainable Harvest Farm | $572 for 22 weeks
Running from May-October, this CSA offers fruits, vegetables, cheese, and eggs with multiple pick-up locations available + home delivery.

The Buy

The Buy 2.20.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Top-rated microfiber pillowcases, because you deserve new, soft pillowcases to sleep on at night. We like how these are wrinkle free (no ironing needed) and are super soft to the touch.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

I’m sure we will be “blessed” with a third Winter, but I am loving the sunny spring vibes this week. It’s also got me in the mood to start planting a garden. All home veggie + fruit gardeners, send me your pro tips.

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