She recently gained national headlines for a very special Christmas book, written with her very own children in mind.

“As a mom, I could not find a story about Santa that featured a main character who looked like my own kids,” Cummings said in a press release issued by Blue Cottage Agency. “After much research, ‘In The Nick of Time’ is quite possibly the first published book where a little brown boy helps Santa Claus save Christmas.”

Cummings is extremely involved in community service and often presents stories that reflect the lives of those often not portrayed in the media.

“It is so important for my children to also feel special and wanted and needed, and like Santa could trust or call on them too,” Cummings said. “This story is beautiful and filled with messages all children need to hear about poverty, gratitude and service to others.”

Cummings encourages the children she works with to write as a way to process emotions and express themselves. She has presented on multiple topics around the country, promotes reading through various programs, and founded the Louisville Book Festival.

For the complete story, visit .

• Please do not decorate more than 33 percent of room doors and walls with decorative combustibles
• Do not hang decorations on exit doors, ceilings, sprinkler heads, fire safety equipment, or hand railings
• Do not run electrical wire between or beneath door jambs as this wire pinching may create excessive heat and cause a fire
• Cut Christmas trees, hay bales, or other dried vegetation are prohibited for use inside university buildings
• Use only electrical equipment including extension cords and Christmas tree lights, and other equipment  that bears Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approval tags or other recognized test laboratory designations
• Before leaving for the holidays disconnect space heaters, decorative lights, personal coffee pots, battery chargers, and other non-essential energy consuming appliances
• Unblock exit paths in rooms, offices, and hallways and have no longer needed furniture and equipment picked up by .Ěý
• Lower office temperature thermostats to the holiday setting of 55â—¦F
• At Home: Remember to install fresh batteries in each of your smoke detectors; there should be a smoke detector in each bedroom.  Inspect your fire extinguisher and shake up the caked powder inside
• Attempt to open bedroom windows to ensure that they have not been inadvertently painted shut
• Water your live Christmas tree frequently
• A wise man once said, “There are two things you should never leave unattended, those being newly poured concrete that needs to be leveled out before it dries; and food on the stove during its cooking process”

For questions or comments, please contact Dwain Archer at 852-3473. or visit the .Ěý

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“The Holiday Cards shopping trip encourages our faculty, staff, alumni and friends to buy local this holiday season and introduces them to some of the LIBA stores that help make Louisville special,” said John Drees, interim senior associate vice president for communications and marketing. “Our work with LIBA is one of the many partnerships the university has throughout the city to help strengthen our community.”

Those on the tour will visit locally owned businesses in several Louisville neighborhoods. The $40 registration fee includes opening and closing receptions, door prizes and transportation to more than a dozen shops on East Market Street (NULU), Fourth Street, Frankfort Avenue and Butchertown.

Activities begin with festive drinks and a light breakfast at the University Club on Belknap Campus at 8 a.m. Participants board a bus at 9 a.m. to begin their day of shopping and return to the club for a 4 to 6 p.m. reception featuring drink samples, hot hors d’oeuvres and door prizes.

“We’re so pleased that the University of Louisville understands the importance of having a vibrant, unique business scene in their surrounding community,” said Jennifer Rubenstein, director of LIBA. “This bus tour underscores their commitment to the city, and we’re glad to partner with them on it.”

The tour is open to the public, but bus seating is limited. Participants must . Tickets are non-refundable.

Shoppers will also have a chance to enter LIBA’s “Buy Local Win $1k: hoLOUdays Contest” by submitting receipts from LIBA member stores for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree at LIBA businesses.

More information on LIBA, including a member list, is .