WEST LANE PARK BOARD

News release

HARRODSBURG — Harrodsburg’s West Lane Park Board is sponsoring its third annual black tie gala to conclude its celebration of Black History Month, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. The event, which includes dinner, entertainment, and dancing, will be held at the Mercer Transformation facility (the former Harrodsburg High School auditorium) on East Lexington Street.

The evening’s theme is “Creating a New Image of Black America: Lost on the Way to the Promised Land.” The keynote speaker will be Rev. Gerry K. Hearn, an ordained Baptist minister and a Kentucky Licensed Pastoral Counselor. He currently serves as a chaplain at Baptist Health Lexington and a substance abuse counselor at Isaiah House Recovery Center.

A native of Inkster, Michigan, Hearn has studied at several academic and clinical institutions. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Philosophy at Eastern Michigan University; Master of Divinity in Theology at Colgate Rochester Divinity School; and Master of Social Work in Advanced Generalist Studies at Asbury University. He has completed substantial course work at Wayne State University in marriage and family counseling; Candler School of Theology at Emory University and Columbia Theological Seminary in areas of pastoral care and counseling; and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in the areas of biblical counseling and spirituality. He received his clinical training at Catherine McCauley Health Center, Georgia Association of Pastoral Care, Detroit Institute of Family Systems Therapy, and the Samaritan Counseling Center.

 The evening will begin with a banquet of ribeye steak, grilled chicken and accompaniments, catered by Dunn and Company BBQ and Catering of Harrodsburg. Entertainment includes musical selections by Jo Sickles and interpretive praise dancing by the Centennial Baptist Church Youth Praise Team. A number of door prizes, donated by area businesses, will be presented. Following the keynote address by Hearn, the evening will conclude with dancing, featuring DJ Ice (Paul Ellis) of Harrodsburg.

Proceeds from this event will fund maintenance and renovations at the West Lane Park. Jointly owned by St. Peter AME, First Baptist, and Centennial Baptist churches and governed by a volunteer board. West Lane has been designated “A Community Park.” Among the park’s features are a lighted, paved outdoor walking track, basketball courts, grounds for outdoor recreation, picnic area, playground, and a building that can be rented for various events.

Tickets for the celebration are $30 per person through January 31, $35 per person from Feb. 1-18, or $15 per student, 18 and younger, and will only be available for purchase until Saturday, Feb. 18. 

For more information or to secure a ticket, contact Lolita Short at (859) 613-3342, Maureen Dunn at (859) 612-1697, or Kathryn VanDyke at (859) 420-0769.