Campus and community members are invited to a closing reception with artist Kyle Kirkpatrick on Wednesday, July 26 from noon-1:30 p.m. at the James S. Murray Gallery. The gallery, located on the second floor of Menard Hall, is featuring “The Living Tributary,” a ceramic art exhibit by Kirkpatrick, until July 27. View the work, read the artist’s statement presented in the form of a riddle-like poem and try to solve the riddle!

Kirkpatrick studied ceramics under LLCC’s Michelle Coakes and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from SIU Edwardsville. He continues to study and practice where he can, including some additional time at LLCC.

Terri Bailey, VALIC financial adviser, will be on campus Wednesday, July 26 from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the VP conference room to answer questions about the 403(b) and 457(b) deferred compensation plan options available to LLCC employees from VALIC. Those interested can register online for a consultation time. Deferred compensation options are available to employees from VALIC and TIAA-CREF.

You Are Invited

Curt Robinson, truck driver training specialist, talked about working as a truck driver in a visit to a vacation bible school at Grace Baptist Church in Taylorville on July 14. The event featured truck drivers, firefighters, law enforcement and veterans.

Congratulations to Colleen Pittman, marketing and communications coordinator, and her husband, Daniel, on the birth of their son, Andrew “Drew” Henry Pittman, born Thursday, July 20 at 3:59 p.m., weighing 7.6 pounds and measuring 20 ¾ inches. He joins big sister Madeline, and all are doing well!

Visit the farm stand today in the A. Lincoln Commons from 1:30-4:15 p.m. to purchase produce that has been organically grown on the LLCC campus. Please note the stand accepts cash only, and small bills are appreciated.

Youth from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois will be working their last day at the stand as part of their summer entrepreneurial training program, “Teen Career Launch.” This part of the program has been made possible by a grant from North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education (NCR-SARE).

Basketball Open Gym, a community education class which is open to LLCC employees (closed to the general public), will be offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, noon-1 p.m., from Aug. 21 through Dec. 15 this fall. Instructor is Dr. Mark Roehrs, professor of history. Fee is $25. Sign up for the class through Registration, 786.2292. More information is available through Community Education, 786.2432.

Stop by LLCC Community Education on Thursday, July 20 to wish Jamie Stout, director of community education, well on her next adventure. The office extends the invitation for faculty and staff to stop by anytime throughout the day to give Jamie their best.

We extend our sincere condolences to Claire Gordon, Ph.D., professor of communication, on the passing of her father, Robert Brunner, on July 17. Following a private interment, a Celebration of Life service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 23, at All Souls Unitarian Church, 5805 E. 56th Street, Indianapolis. A reception at All Souls will follow the service. Read the obituary.

The Current Trends in Drug Abuse seminar is back by popular demand! It will be held at LLCC-Jacksonville on Monday, Oct. 2, 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Illinois heroin epidemic is being challenged with a wave of designer synthetic narcotic drugs. With strange chemical names such as “U-4” and “W-18,” or a street slang name of “Badger Repellent,” these next generation narcotics are up to 10,000 times more potent than morphine. This one-day seminar will update participants on the latest street drugs of abuse in Illinois and innovative community responses to this latest drug challenge.

Six CPDUs will be awarded to teachers. Six contact hours will be awarded to nurses, professional/clinical counselors and social workers. IAODAPCA continuing education credits have been applied for and are pending.

Preregistration for this seminar is required. More information and online registration is available at ​w​w​w​.​l​l​c​c​.​e​d​u​/​c​u​r​r​e​n​t​-​t​r​e​n​d​s​-​i​n​-​d​r​u​g​-​a​b​u​s​e​.

The James S. Murray Gallery, located on the second floor of Menard Hall, is featuring “The Living Tributary,” a ceramic art exhibit by Kyle Kirkpatrick, until July 27. Campus and community members are invited to view the work, read the artist’s statement presented in the form of a riddle-like poem and try to solve the riddle. A closing reception with the artist will be held Wednesday, July 26 from noon-1:30 p.m. at the gallery.

Kirkpatrick studied ceramics under LLCC’s Michelle Coakes and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from SIU Edwardsville. He continues to study and practice where he can, including some additional time at LLCC.