MLK Day features video, fair

A video and activity fair will highlight Putnam County's free public celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. in an event set for 10 a.m.-noon Monday, Jan. 15 at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church

Gobin Church is located one block south of the intersection of Seminary and Locust streets at 307 Simpson St.

Martin Luther King (MLK) Day 2007 carries the theme Defying the Odds and highlights the story of Greencastle resident, DePauw alumnus and world-renown chemist, Percy Lavon Julian. His story will be told through a clip of the soon-to-be-released NOVA documentary, Forgotten Genius. Like King, Julian successfully defied an unjust system and became one of the 20th century's most accomplished scientists. Putnam County school children will sing songs, and the Spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards will be presented.

For the second hour of the celebration, the audience is invited to the Activities Fair, where they will find games, cake, paints, books, and prizes. An audio-visual montage of King's 1960 sermon, delivered from the pulpit of Gobin Church, will also be shown.

Donations of new children's underwear and socks and/or cans of food are appreciated.

The annual MLK Art Show will open at the Putnam County Public Library on Tuesday, Jan. 16 and will run through Feb. 16.

MLK Day is a national holiday honoring King (1929-1968), orator and Nobel Peace Prize recipient (1964), moral philosopher and humanitarian. The program is sponsored by Putnam County Public Library, Putnam County Museum, Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church, Putnam County School Corporations, NAACP, Bright Futures, DePauw University, Greencastle League of Women Voters, Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce and Sodexho.

For more information, call the library at 653-2755, ext. 115.