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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 26, 2017
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden read for the Council and public the text of this resolution. Judy
<br /> Ladd was then called to approach the podium.
<br /> Judy Ladd, whose address was not given, stated, I just want to thank you very much. It has been
<br /> my pleasure. I will always stay within the arts. I love promoting the arts in South Bend, and I
<br /> have done that from day one (1). Thanks to so many people that have helped me, and to you
<br /> people who have graciously participated in the Leeper Park Art Fair, it's been my pleasure. I
<br /> thank you so much for the award. Ms. Ladd continued, stating, I did it out of a love of art and I
<br /> hope that we all continue to have a love of art, and I hope we all continue to go to the Leeper
<br /> Park Art Fair.
<br /> This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and
<br /> opponents were given an opportunity to be heard.
<br /> Those from the public wishing to speak in favor of this bill:
<br /> Aaron Perri, Executive Director of the Department of Venues, Parks, and Arts, 321 East Walter
<br /> Street, South Bend, IN, stated that Leeper Park is never more vibrant and alive than when the
<br /> Leeper Park Art Fair is in full swing. Mr. Perri stated, So, thanks, Judy, for your leadership in
<br /> making that a great place for our city and a great tradition. Advancing the arts in our community
<br /> has been such an important part of who we are as a society and how we outwardly show what we
<br /> stand for. Under Judy's leadership and the tradition that exists in the Leeper Park Art Fair, we are
<br /> able to show that in really great ways. Finally, I would like to publicly thank Judy and the Leeper
<br /> Park Art Fair folks who donated a bench on behalf of the fifty(50) year tradition that now
<br /> proudly sits on the riverbank right in Leeper Park. I strongly support these resolutions.
<br /> There were none from the public who wished to speak in opposition to this bill.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, There was a time when, in 2011, my husband
<br /> was confined to a hospital bed for over two (2) months. We had an opportunity to get out, one
<br /> day—and it happened to be that the Leeper Park Art Fair was there. So, I stuck him in his
<br /> wheelchair and we escaped to the park. The opportunity to get out—the fact that it was that close
<br /> to the hospital—was really a lifesaver for him. It changed him, it changed me, and we do our
<br /> best to make it every single year, after that. So, I just want to give a personal thank you for how
<br /> amazing an experience anyone can have—whether you are an art aficionado, or if you're just a
<br /> regular of person who can't draw a stick figure—it's certainly something that has been very
<br /> important to my family, so I want to thank you.
<br /> Councilmember Dr. Varner stated, Since we are addressing two (2) resolutions, congratulations
<br /> to everyone who has been involved with the Leeper Park Art Fair for the last fifty (50) years.
<br /> When my wife and I first got back to town, I think in 1978,that was one (1) of the first
<br /> downtown events we could really remember that stuck in our mind. There have been a number of
<br /> them, if you recall if you have lived here for a long enough time, but the Leeper Park Art Fair is
<br /> one (1)that has persevered and improved and always been something that we looked forward to.
<br /> So, to anyone that is involved in that from the beginning, thank you. And,to Ms. Ladd, who has
<br /> been at the head of it for the last twenty-five (25) years, congratulations to you. I know there
<br /> were thorns, I know there were bad days. The way you folks managed to pull it off takes a lot of
<br /> effort and dedication. We thank you for that. My wife is also an art teacher by profession, and
<br /> she has very much helped foster wherever possible with her students a concern for, a love for,
<br /> and appreciation of art. This has been very helpful, with regards to that. So, thank you on behalf
<br /> of anyone who has been involved.
<br /> Councilmember John Voorde stated, Citizens of South Bend could never repay all of those
<br /> people who make the Leeper Park Art Fair the event that it's become. It so enriches everybody,
<br /> and it is just something that I personally look forward to each summer and I probably never
<br /> realized who was behind making all that happen. But, I know that it takes a lot of dedication and
<br /> a lot of people, and someone to stir the pot and make it all happen. Thank you for that.
<br /> Councilmember Karen White stated, I would like to personally thank you for your commitment
<br /> to the arts and especially Leeper Park. Our City is stronger because of individuals such as
<br /> yourself who have given time, years,to ensure that those things that we have come to love and
<br /> enjoy—it's because of citizens such as yourself and others who have been supportive of Leeper
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