Martin Luther King Jr. Day events and closings

CLOSINGS:

In observance of the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., government offices and public services will follow these schedules today:

Federal, state, county government offices and courts: Closed

City offices: Closed in Omaha, Bellevue, La Vista, Papillion, Ralston, Gretna; open in Council Bluffs

Mail: No delivery

Parking meters: Coins not needed in Omaha; required in Council Bluffs

Garbage pickup: Normal schedule in Omaha

Newspaper: Regular delivery schedule for The World-Herald

Utilities: MUD offices closed; OPPD and MidAmerican Energy open

Metro buses: Normal schedule

Libraries: Closed in Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Gretna and Ralston; open in Council Bluffs

School districts: Closed for Bennington, Bellevue, Council Bluffs, Gretna, Millard, Omaha, Papillion-La Vista, Ralston, South Sarpy, Westside and Lewis Central in Council Bluffs; open for Douglas County West

Compiled by Kevin Brabec

EVENTS:

Midlanders will mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day with events today and throughout the week. Here is a sampling:

TODAY

Ceremony: A commemorative wreath will be laid at 9 a.m. at IMA Martin Luther King Memorial Plaza at the northwest corner of 24th and Lake Streets. Children's programming will follow.

All that jazz: A Jazz Day "My Life Worth Keeping" will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Love's Jazz & Arts Center, 2510 N. 24th St. This is a free educational event for first- through sixth-graders and includes storytelling, drama, music and education. Reservations are required by calling 402-502-5291.

Essay winners: Children and teenagers from the Omaha-Council Bluffs area who are winners of the MLK Day Essay Contest will read their winning compositions on "My dream for our community" to family and friends at 10 a.m. at United Way of the Midlands, 1805 Harney St.

Film: "Freedom Riders," a film by Stanley Nelson, will be shown free at 1 p.m. in the chapel at Countryside Community Church, 8787 Pacific St. It chronicles a chapter of American history when college students helped bring the nation face-to-face with the fight for civil rights. Preregistration is requested by emailing cyndik@countrysideucc.org.

Speech and music: Othello H. Meadows III, one of Omaha's leading community revitalization experts, will deliver the annual keynote address at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to honor King. The event will start at noon in the lower level of the Storz Pavilion in Clarkson Tower. Meadows titles his speech "Beyond a Dream: De-sanitizing Dr. King's Legacy." In addition, violinist Daniel Davis will perform.

Youth rally: The 17th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Rally and March will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lincoln. This year's theme is "The Dream ... Not That Far Off, Yet So Distant!"

Service projects: University of Nebraska at Omaha students and volunteers will gather at 9 a.m. at Omaha North High School to participate in community service projects. They will make fleece blankets for Project Harmony, create educational materials for Conservation Fusion to help children in Madagascar, fill pantry boxes for Food Bank for the Heartland and help build homes in Council Bluffs with Habitat for Humanity.

Historic photos: Rudy Smith, a retired Omaha World-Herald photographer who was working during the civil rights movement in Omaha, will speak and show his photos from that era at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. His free presentation will be at the Iowa Western Community College Arts Center Auditorium, 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs. Smith's photographs will remain on display through Jan. 20 in the Student Center Cyber Library.

Fourth year: More than 500 Metropolitan Community College students and staff will volunteer from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 40-plus community organizations. Services will include office work, painting, child care and socializing with the elderly. This is the college's fourth annual "A Day On, Not a Day Off."

Speaker and awards: "Live the Dream" will be the theme of the weeklong series of events planned at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The UNL Chancellor's Program will begin at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of the Nebraska Union, 14th and R Streets on the City Campus. Lincoln author Mary Pipher will be the keynote speaker in a program that also will include the presentation of the chancellor's "Fulfilling the Dream Awards".

Coat drive: The public is invited to donate new or gently worn winter coats in collection boxes at Burlington Coat Factory, 12303 West Center Road. For more information, visit onewarmcoat.org.

Time to help: The Open Door Mission, 2828 N. 23rd St., needs volunteers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register at opendoormission.org/mlk-day-service. If you can't be there, make a Hope Tote. Fill a bag for the homeless with items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, tissue, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, comb, deodorant, underwear and socks.

TUESDAY

Tuskegee Airmen documentary: Attend a free 7 p.m. showing of "Double Victory," a documentary about the Tuskegee Airmen, at Aksarben Cinema, 2110 S. 67th St., Suite 106. Seating will be limited. Members of a Tuskegee Airmen chapter will have a Q&A session after the movie.

WEDNESDAY

Honoree: Dr. Syed Mohiuddin, chairman of medicine at Creighton University School of Medicine, will receive the university's Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award at a luncheon as part of a weeklong series of CU events to celebrate King's life. Through Omaha's Tri-Faith Initiative, Mohiuddin has played a vital role in plans to construct a synagogue, a mosque and a church alongside each another, along with a fourth interfaith structure. Luncheon reservations have been filled.

Rights lecture: Dr. Brian Lepard of the NU College of Law will give an international human rights lecture on "Martin Luther King Jr. and the Global Struggle Against Racial Discrimination." The 7 p.m. presentation will be in the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center, 15th and S Streets, Lincoln.

THURSDAY

Film: Creighton University will screen "Bringing King to China" at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Harper Center. The event is free and open to the public. A conversation with the director, Kevin McKiernan, and the central character, his daughter, Caitrin McKierman, will follow.

Film and ribbons: The College of St. Mary will show a documentary on King at 11:30 a.m. in the dining hall. "Dr. King's Dream" ribbons, which symbolize the wearer's continued support of civil rights and racial equality, will be distributed.

Service learning and more: UNL will offer a 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. service learning project beginning in the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center, 15th and S Streets, Lincoln. Participants will volunteer in the community. The Open Mike MLK Tribute Night will begin at 7 p.m. at the center.

Sharing a story: Eric Mahmoud of Harvest Prep-Seed Academy in Minneapolis will share his story on innovations and solutions for education. "Honor the Legacy: Take Action Now! Leave Your Legacy" will be offered free from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Creighton University's Lied Education Center for the Arts. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

Banquet: The Afrikan People's Union MLK Banquet with the theme "Looking Back to Go Forward" will begin at 7 p.m. in the UNL Nebraska Union Ballroom on the City Campus. Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing will be the keynote speaker. Tickets are $10 per person or $70 per table. For reservations or more information, email Rhaniece Choice at niece24choice@yahoo.com.

Compiled by Sue Story Truax

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