Monthly Archives: September 2013

Little Rock Look Forward: LR 9 Foundation establishes Clinton School Scholarship

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clinton-school-logoThough normally there are “Little Rock Look Back” posts, this one is truly more a look to the future.

Today the Little Rock Nine Foundation, which has awarded scholarships to deserving young people for the past 16 years, has set up a scholarship fund at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service to continue the foundation’s legacy. The Foundation was established in 1997 and since that time has awarded 60 college scholarships to high school students all over the United States.

“Because of our great appreciation for President Clinton, and in recognition of the extraordinary public service work performed by Clinton School students, we have now decided to make the Clinton School our educational philanthropic focus,” said Carlotta Walls Lanier, the foundation’s spokesperson. “The Clinton School prepares its students in the global arena and what better way to keep our story alive than through those we assist.”

Nine African American students–Lanier, Melba Pattillo Beals, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Terrence Roberts, Minnijean Brown Trickey, Thelma Mothershed Wair and the late Jefferson Thomas became known as the Little Rock Nine when they integrated  Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The resistance of Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus and protests by large groups of segregations forced the intervention of President Dwight Eisenhower who the sent the military’s finest, the 102 Airborne Division, to protect the students.

It was an historical moment and was the first the time the President of the United States sent the military to enforce a United States Supreme Court order, in this case the historic Brown v. The Board of Education decision.

“We are honored and are most grateful to the Little Rock Nine for the establishment of this scholarship fund,” said Clinton School Dean Skip Rutherford. “Over the years the Little Rock Nine–as a group and individually–have participated in Clinton School programs and met with our students. Spirit Trickey, the daughter of Minnijean Brown Trickey, is one of our graduates.”

The Clinton School is the nation’s first to offer a Master of Public Service (MPS) degree. It is located on the campus of the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in downtown Little Rock.

Little Rock Look Back: Mayor Sharon Priest

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Photo courtesy of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership

Photo courtesy of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership

On September 12, 1947, future Little Rock Mayor Sharon Priest was born in Montreal, Canada. After marrying Bill Priest, she came to Little Rock. She began her public service at the grassroots level when she led the effort to bring flood relief to Southwest Little Rock and Pulaski County following the devastating flood of 1978 that killed 13 people in central Arkansas.

She was appointed to the Little Rock City Beautiful Commission.  Following that, she challenged an incumbent City Director and won her first elective office in 1986. In January 1989, she was named Vice Mayor of Little Rock by her colleagues on the City Board.  Two years later, she was selected Mayor becoming only the second female to serve as Mayor of Little Rock.  During her service to the City of Little Rock, she spearheaded the effort to create a Little Rock flag.  At the conclusion of her second four year term on the City Board, she decided to run for Secretary of State.
In November 1994, she elected Secretary of State, becoming the first woman to be elected to that position in Arkansas.  She was reelected in 1998.   In the summer of 2000, she becamePresident of the National Association of Secretaries of State. After the 2000 presidential election, she was thrust into the forefront of the movement towardelection reform. Ms. Priest testified before U.S. House and Senate Committees on election reform. As Secretary of State, restoring the Governor’s Reception Room and the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the State Capitol to their original splendor and restoring the rotunda marble are a few of her proudest achievements.
In January 2003, Ms.Priest was selected to serve as Executive Director of theDowntown Little Rock Partnership. Priest reorganized the Partnership during that first year. The Partnership is spearheading the revitalization of Main Street in collaboration with stakeholders and the City of Little Rock, focusing on the redevelopment of existing structures, streetscape and safety. She has also been a leading champion for the redevelopment of MacArthur Park, the City’s oldest park.

Prior to her work as an elected official, she worked as Director of Membership for Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and was founder and owner of the Delvin Company, a property management firm. She was a Toll Fellow in 1995, and has won numerous distinctions including the Excellence in Leadership Fellowship, Women Executives in State Government, 1997 and TIME/NASBE Award for Outstanding Leadership in Voter Education, 1996.

Last month she was the featured honoree at the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Roast and Toast, becoming the first female to be so honored.

Little Rock Look Back: Angelo Marre

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angelomarreOn September 11, 1842, future Little Rock Alderman Angelo Marre was born in Borzonaca, Italy.  He immigrated to Tennessee with his parents in 1854.

During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate Army. From 1865 to 1868, Angelo Marre worked for the Memphis Police Department but was forced to resign after he was accused of killing a man during an argument.  After his acquittal, he returned to the saloon business.  In 1872 Marre was convicted of stealing money and sentenced to three years in prison.

Tennessee Governor John Brown granted Marre a full pardon two years into his sentence, and he regained his citizenship in 1879.

After getting out of prison, he claimed an inheritance and joined his brothers in Little Rock.  He worked as a bartender at the Metropolitan Hotel.  He later opened a saloon and billiard parlor.

By the mid-1880s, Marre owned two saloons, a liquor import business, an office building in downtown LR, 3,000 sharesof stock in mining companies operating in Garland and Montgomery counties, and he was the first president of Edison Electric Company of LR.

In 1883, he was elected as an alderman on the Little Rock City Council.  He lost is bid for reelection in 1885. In 1888, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Pulaski County Sheriff.

villamarreAngelo Marre died February 18, 1889, as a result of his infection.  He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in LR. His custom designed, marble monument was ordered from Florence, Italy, and cost $5,000.

Marre is probably best known today as the builder of the structure now known as the Villa Marre.  Built in 1881, it is designed in the Italianate and Second Empire styles.  It was built in 1881 and 1882 on Block 21, Lots 5 & 6 of the Original City of Little Rock.  The cost was $5,000.

It was originally a red brick structure and has been modified and expanded several times as well as painted white.  It did not bear the name Villa Marre until the 1960s when historic preservation advocate Jimmy Strawn gave it that name.

After serving as the headquarters for the Quapaw Quarter Association for several years, it was returned to a private residence.  It is now available for special events and rentals.

The Villa Marre is probably best known locally and nationally for serving as the facade for the Sugarbaker design firm on the CBS sitcom “Designing Women.”  Though the interior of the house does not match the interior on TV, the building was featured in the opening credits as well as in exterior shots each week.

 

Mac Park Music Tonight -Fire and Brimstone

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macparkmusicFrom the late 1920s through the mid 1950s, Little Rock’s MacArthur Park was a centerpiece of live music.  The Foster Bandshell, named in memory of Mrs. H. H. Foster, stood in the park near 10th and Commerce.  The structure was torn down in the early 1960s.  A portion of the Arkansas Arts Center sits on the site of the old Foster Bandshell.

In 2002, the lakeside pavilion in MacArthur Park was renamed the Foster Pavilion to pay tribute to the memory of Mrs. Foster and the bandshell.

The Foster Pavilion will be the site of a new music series taking place on Wednesday nights in September.  MAC PARK MUSIC! will take place from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on September 11, 18 and 25.

Tonight’s lineup features Fire & Brimstone.  Bryant’s BBQ to be onsite with a Caribbean menu for purchase and beer and wine will be available for donations.

Fire & Brimstone is a husband-wife duo combine Reggae and Contemporary music.

Brimstone, also known as Phillip Norris, was born and raised in the Caribbean.  He picked up his first guitar at age 14. This accomplished guitarist who writes, sings, plays bass, keyboards and drums, has built a solid reputation as a seasoned musician in New York, Texas, Florida, California, Arkansas and parts of the Caribbean.

Fire, also know as Lori Harris-Norris, was born in Oklahoma. Her family moved to Los Angeles when she was a toddler. Lori showed signs of her love for entertaining at the early age of five when she began ballet and tap. She became involved in promoting, producing and booking artists and even started her own record label in the mid-1980’s.

Beginning in the early 90’s, this husband and wife duo played on a weekly basis throughout Southern California for over a decade.  In 2003 they traveled to France for the Cannes music festival, Midem International Music Market, where they performed their single, “Love’s Gotta Hold On You”, with an encore show at The Noga Hilton on the French Riviera.

They moved to Arkansas in 2004 to care for elders and have brought their music here.

Civil War Little Rock Campaign commemorated tonight

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macmusOn September 10, 1863, Confederate forces under General Sterling Price evacuated Little Rock in advance .of Federal forces, thus ending the Little Rock Campaign. By 5:00pm, his forces had left the city and at 7:00pm, civil authorities formally surrendered. Little Rock became the fourth Southern capital to come under Federal control.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Little Rock Campaign, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History will host a temporary exhibition of two Civil War flags from the 3rd Iowa Cavalry and the 37th Arkansas Infantry.

Troops from the 3rd Iowa Cavalry were among the first Federal troops to enter Little Rock and capture the Arsenal (in what is now MacArthur Park).  The flag from the 37th Arkansas Infantry was captured by Iowa forces at the Battle of Helena on July 4, 1863.  Members of the 37th Arkansas Infantry were among the Confederate soldiers in Little Rock in September 1863.

Both flags are on loan from the State Historical Museum, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and have never been exhibited in Arkansas before.

The exhibition is free and open to the public from September 11 through October 19.

There is a preview reception tonight from 5pm to 7pm at the museum. To commemorate the arrival of Federal troops into Little Rock on September 10, 1863, a symbolic lowering of the Confederate national flag and a raising of the Union guidon will take place in front of the museum at 5pm.

Partial funding for the exhibit is provided by the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau and Radiology Associates PA.  The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History is a program of the City of Little Rock’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Tues, Sep 10 at Tales from the South — Tin Roof Project: Lela Davidson

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lelatftstrp0913Though generally the first Tuesday of each month, this month Tales from the South has set aside the second Tuesday of the month to feature one person sharing their life story. They call it Tin Roof Project.  September’s featured guest is Lela Davidson.

Music is by the Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

Lela is an award-winning humorist and freelance journalist who loves media and marketing. She entertains and inspires audiences in print, web, video, and television. Author of Blacklisted from the PTA and Who Peed on My Yoga Mat? Lela writes and speaks about motherhood, marriage, marketing, and the challenges of being over-40 in a Botox world.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

The program takes place at Starving Artist Café.  Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $7.50, not including dinner.

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.


Today at Ark Arts Center – Last Chance to See Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Gainsborough and Other Kenwood House treasures in United States

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Rembrandt van Rijn Portrait of the Artist, ca. 1665 Oil on canvas Kenwood House, English Heritage, Iveagh Bequest (88028836) Photo courtesy American Federation of Arts

Rembrandt van Rijn
Portrait of the Artist, ca. 1665
Oil on canvas
Kenwood House, English Heritage, Iveagh Bequest (88028836)
Photo courtesy American Federation of Arts

Celebrate the final day of the exhibition with us at the Last Call for Kenwood House Party on Sunday, September 8 from 6-8 p.m.

Guiness and Harp’s beer, London gin tonics and wines, classic Irish pub cheese and savory miniature meat pies will be served. Plus, enjoy traditional fanfare and other surprises, including a special ceremonious closing of the exhibition at the reception’s end.

It’s a farewell you won’t want to miss! Admission is free for members and $20 for non-members and may be paid at the door.

Presented in Arkansas by: Bank of the Ozarks; Harriet and Warren Stephens, Stephens Inc.; Windgate Foundation

Sponsored in Arkansas by: Chucki and Curt Bradbury; Sandra and Bob Connor; Remmel T. Dickinson; Lisenne Rockefeller

Follow your art by taking advantage of the many benefits that a membership to the Arkansas Arts Center brings like free admission to the Last Call for Kenwood House Party as well as special exhibitions.

Visit the Arkansas Arts Center website to become a member today and start enjoying discounts and exclusive access to parties and receptions.