New Sidewalk Superstars to be unveiled

RFC honors contributors to arts community  

SHREVEPORT – Robinson Film Center will unveil four new Sidewalk Superstars Friday, February 24, 2017, at a noon ceremony. A reception with champagne and hors d’oeuvres will follow.

The Sidewalk Superstars program honors those who have made a significant impact in Shreveport-Bossier. Specifically, the 2017 honorees have all made great contributions specifically to the Shreveport-Bossier arts community.

To recognize their contributions, RFC has added their names to the Hollywood Walk of Fame-style stars just outside its front doors. These terrazzo stone and brass-lettered stars provide RFC with a permanent way to honor these supporters.

“The Sidewalk Superstars program is a fun and unique way to say thank you to people who mean the world to RFC and to the larger arts community,” said Meghan Hochstetler, RFC’s executive director. “These individuals and families are tireless supporters of the arts through a variety of ways.”

The 2017 class of Sidewalk Superstars are Linda and Richard Biernacki, Alexandyr Kent, Father Kenneth Paul and Henry Price.

The unveiling ceremony will kick off Oscar weekend, with RFC’s red carpet fundraiser, The Robbys, held 7 p.m. Saturday, February 25. The the new stars will be highlighted along the red carpet as guests enter the Louisiana film-themed event.

“We’re grateful for the tremendous support of these patrons, and their stars are going to look fantastic,” said Robbys party chair, Ro White. “We are a stronger organization because of these honorees, and we are excited to have this opportunity to celebrate them.”

2017 Honorees

Linda and Richard Biernacki

Linda and Richard Biernacki met in 1987 and will be celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.  They have two daughters – Emily, who is studying at Ole Miss, and Nikki, who is a student at Loyola College Prep.  Richard is retired from Kraft Food Service and is currently a licensed gun dealer. Linda has owned Firetech Systems, Inc. for 26 years, employing 88 fire protection professionals across the Ark-La-Tex area.

Aside from the family’s love of golf, both Linda and Richard have been heavily involved in local organizations and professional associations. Richard serves on RFC’s board, the American Red Cross North Louisiana Chapter, and the Eighth Air Force Consultation Committee. Linda serves on the board of directors for Sci-Port Discovery Center and the National Association of Women in Construction. Professionally, she serves as the first female president of the Louisiana Fire Sprinkler Association and on the National American Fire Sprinkler Association board. Linda has received several community accolades, including being a Junior Achievement Laureate, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce 2016 Business Leader of the Year Award, a past recipient of the ATHENA Award, and the first female Committee Chairman in the Committee of 100’s 50 year history. The Biernacki family enjoys giving back to a community that has given them so much.

Alexandyr Kent

Alexandyr Kent served as RFC’s executive director from 2010 to 2016. During Kent’s tenure, RFC expanded its education programs to include a Teen Film Council and added popular film series such as the Family Matinee and Faith on Film. He also worked with the board of directors on fundraising projects to expand the membership program, add digital projection, replace weathered seats and crowdfund a new marquee.

Kent came to RFC in 2009 with a strong background in multimedia journalism, arts education and nonprofit programming. He holds a master's in English literature from the University of Oregon, where he concentrated on film studies. In 2016, he and moved to Madison, Wisconsin with his wife Kate Archer Kent and their four children.

Father Kenneth Paul

Fr. Kenneth Paul was born on the edge of a cotton field in Rapides Parish.  Following graduation from Buckeye High School it was on to a series of private colleges and universities where Paul was an "intellectual lay about" for 12 years. Included are Asbury College, Southern Methodist University, University of the South, Christ Church College, Oxford University England, The General Seminary and the New School of Social Research – some from which he took degrees and some he took a good time.  He was ordained a deacon in Christ Episcopal Church, Bastrop in 1965 and a priest at St. Mark's, Shreveport in 1966.  Here he served on the staff of St. Mark's, Episcopal Chaplain at Centenary College and was elected Rector of Church of the Holy Cross in 1968.  He is married to Virginia Hodges Millener and they are parents of William and Raymond and grandparents of Caroline and James. Paul has served on many boards and agencies since his arrival to Shreveport.  When asked how he would like to be remembered he says for founding two facilities for the elderly and handicapped – Holy Cross Villas in Bossier and Holy Cross Villas in Shreveport – and for Holy Cross Hope House a day shelter that provides a multitude of services for those in need in the downtown area. Paul retired on Easter Day 2007.

Henry Price

Henry Price has served as supervisor of art for Caddo Parish Public Schools since 1995. Prior to the job of supervisor of art, he was the assistant principal at Caddo Magnet High School for 15 years. Price also serves as the president of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council board of directors, where he was instrumental in creating the popular ArtBreak festival. He is a board member at The Arc of Caddo-Bossier Foundation and a former board member of RFC, Meadows Museum of Art and Sci-Port Discovery Center. Price is an artist whose art has been featured at exhibits around Louisiana. He has been recognized throughout his career with many accolades including the 2014 Southeastern Regional Arts Supervisor of the Year Award and the 2014 Lt. Governor’s Award for Art Education in the State of Louisiana.

Previous Honorees

These four Sidewalk Superstars join 22 other stars on RFC’s Texas St. sidewalk: Bruce Wayne Allen; Anderson Feazel Manaement, Inc.; The Ballengee Foundation; Karin and Greg Barro; Boomtown Casino; Zama Dexter; The Falbaum Family; Sylvia K. Goodman; O. Delton Harrison, Jr.; Scarlett and Jefferson Hendricks; Bobbie Hicks; Nancy McCullough Humphrey; Elizabeth Baucum Joyce; Moonbot Studios; Carolyn and Coco Nelson; Sam and Sally Norton; Red River Bank; William A. Robinson; John Settle; Charles Leon Thomas; Querbes and Nelson; and Willis-Knighton Health System.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Meghan Hochstetler, executive director

(318) 459-4111, mhochstetler@robinsonfilmcenter.org