Letter from the editor
A round up of events
Dear Reader,
Hopefully, yesterday’s holiday held value for you in whatever way life has called you to make meaning from loss.
I spent much of the day enjoying the lovely weather outdoors, in the company of friends. But first, I visited the cemetery off of Hwy 1016 for the first time. My people aren’t buried in Berea, but it’s still moving to see the graves of those unrelated to me by blood, but still of a People, including me, whom they sacrificed their lives for the ideals of the People, regardless of whether the war they fought in was or was not just.
Is any war truly just? Necessary?
So many American flags waving on that hill over the valley that rises up again into the pointiest of knobs this far over in the county. It was sobering. Beautiful.
In addition to sharing Memorial Day thoughts, I also would like to remind readers of a few things.
Comprehensive Plan
This Thursday, at the Berea Gallery, various staff from City Hall will be on hand between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM to hear your concerns about the direction Berea is headed. It’s the kick off of the Comprehensive Plan 2025, where citizens of the town tell leaders what they want to see happen with land use, jobs, housing, taxes, and other issues relevant more than ever as the town continues to grow.
Parking is free at the Pavilion next door.
JAG Berea wins state support
Thanks to all those in the community who supported Berea Community High School and Middle School’s JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) program.
Students in the Berea chapter of JAG initiated and executed a fundraising campaign to restore the program to the school budget for FY26 after it was axed at the end of this school year due to lack of funds.
Now there is good news from Frankfort.
In addition to over 30,000 dollars raised by the students from direct fundraising, including a benefit concert, JAG at BCS will now be fully funded by the state’s JAG program. JAG is a national program, with chapters in most states, including Kentucky.
“This program plays a vital role in empowering our students to achieve their academic, career, and personal goals,” Interim Superintendent Elmer Thomas, PhD, said in a media release. “We have two of the best JAG specialists in Ms. Harris and Ms. McHenry and they continue to impact the lives of our students.”
Freshman and BCS JAG Student State Leader, Delaney Lemaster, led the campaign to save JAG by meeting with the school board, community and local leaders, and businesses in the community to gather their support to save the program.
“I knew to keep Berea a strong community and a great place to live, I needed to do something, and my peers knew they did too,” LeMaster said in the media release. “JAG teaches us leadership, public speaking, and other soft skills and I feel like these skills helped me accomplish our goal to save our JAG programs at BCS.”
The meeting between the local and state JAG offices was arranged by Berea independent Schools Board of Education Chair J Morgan.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the Berea Gallery on Thursday evening!
Whitney McKnight
Publisher, The Edge