
Jim Carveth was once like many of the youth Lincoln Lighthouse serves. He was never a straight A student and didn’t follow the straight and narrow.
So when Carveth, the owner of The Bike Rack, was given the opportunity to give back to Lighthouse youth in a big way, he was all-in.
Carveth donated 30 bikes to young residents at an event Saturday celebrating Lighthouse’s “30-ish” anniversary.
Lighthouse’s 30th anniversary was actually last year, but the organization was unable to celebrate because of the pandemic, executive assistant Michelle Michener said.
In addition to presenting the bikes, Saturday’s event at Union Plaza included live music, food trucks and a bike ride from the Hub Cafe to the Children’s Zoo and back.
“We thought what better way to kick off our 30th-ish year than to have an outdoor event,” Michener said.
Lighthouse also kicked off an online silent auction of three custom-made Factor Bikes bike frames each valued at $13,000. Bidding for the first bike frame, which is Husker-themed, opened Saturday and will close in August.
Speakers at Saturday’s event praised the service Lighthouse provides to local youth through its after-school programs.
“We have a special place that for over 30 years has been providing safe passage for the youth in this community, safe passage into adulthood,” Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird told the crowd. “And that bright light is why we’re here celebrating today.”
Carveth said his family has a tradition of involvement in Lighthouse, including his father, who was a founding board member.
When Lighthouse approached him about donating bikes he didn’t hesitate to jump on board, Carveth said.
“It was a no-brainer,” he said. “I believe so much in the Lighthouse program, it’s an extraordinary, well-run operation.”
Bikes offer an important resource to the many students Lighthouse serves who don’t have access to reliable transportation to school, work and other places around town, Lighthouse executive director Bill Michener said.
Carveth also noted the environmental benefits of having more bikes on the streets as opposed to cars, and the low cost of maintaining a bike.
“There’s so many benefits that a bike can provide,” he said. “It’s really a great tool.”
Arrya and Xaidin Lehman-Bear, siblings who attend Irving Middle School, received bikes Saturday. They said they’ve been attending Lighthouse for several months and appreciate both the fun environment it provides and the help with homework.
They said they’re grateful to now have new bikes to ride around town.
“It’s so exciting,” Arrya said. “I haven’t had a bike in a long time.”
Top Journal Star photos for May
Top Journal Star photos for May
Lincoln Southeast’s Ally Keitges (left) and Caroline Miller celebrate a point against Lincoln Southwest’s Grace Bartolome and Ella Dean in the No. 1 Doubles match on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at Woods Tennis Center. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Ruth Sorilla, a canvasser with the South of Downtown Community Development Organization, hands out stickers to encourage voters at the group’s party at the polls on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the F Street Community Center. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Columbus baseball players celebrate the win during the A-3 district final, Monday, May 10, 2021, at Den Hartog Field. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Columbus baserunner Samuel Kwapnioski (9) gets tagged out by Lincoln East pitcher Ryan Clementi (6) attempting to score from third on a wild pitch in the first inning on Saturday, May 8, 2021, during the A-3 district baseball game at Den Hartog Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Quad 4 Roller Sports instructor Bryce Pearson (left) helps student Sean Siedhoff of Lincoln with a skating move on Saturday, May 8, 2021, during a weekly lesson at the Lincoln Sports Foundation. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Lincoln Northeast first baseman Tristan Brandt (left) leaps for an errant throw as Bellevue East batter Brett Barton (8) reaches base safely on Friday, May 7, 2021, during the A-3 district baseball game at Den Hartog Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Lincoln East’s Lillie Shaw (22) is held by Elkhorn South’s Lillian Hulsey as she goes for the ball in the first half on Thursday, May 6, 2021, during the A-3 girls district championship at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Lincoln, a two-year-old pure bred German Shepherd, gives a water-soaked high-five to owner Sydney Otto, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, before she throws a rubber toy into the water on Thursday, May 6, 2021, during a wonderfully warm day at Holmes Lake Park. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Lincoln North Star’s Bodie Duffy hits the ball, Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Holmes Golf Course. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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A bicyclist heads down a shaded Rock Island Trail on Thursday, May 6, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Papillion-La Vista South goalkeeper Andrew Streeter (bottom) goes for the ball at the feet of Lincoln Southwest’s Carter Novosad (9) and Titans teammate Peyton Hylok (top left) in the first half on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, during the A-1 boys district championship at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Randy Santel finishes his cookies and ice cream for the food challenge, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at the Warm Cookie. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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A sign with tips about encountering coyotes greets park users on a trail east of Lincoln East High School on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at Woods Park. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Bill Ganzel (left) and his father Dwight Ganzel pose for a photo with a red heart pillow, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Bill and Dwight had open heart surgery 23 years apart, and the father gave the son his red heart pillow after Bill didn’t receive it from the hospital. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Lincoln City Council incumbent Sandra Washington (right) hugs Kate Heltzel as fellow incumbent Bennie Shobe looks on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the Democrats party at Tavern on the Square. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Tucker the dog prowls the voting booths set up for the Lincoln city general election at Frontier Harley-Davidson, where his owner works, on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Red Team quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) throws a pass as Huskers head coach Scott Frost looks on Saturday, May 1, 2021, during the annual Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Nebraska football fans fill the stadium for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic as the Huskers hosts a team scrimmage during the Red-White Spring game on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Omaha natives Samar Willits (left) and Zeina Renno celebrate as they near the finish line after completing a half marathon during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday, May 2, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Reach the writer at lstephens@journalstar.com or 402-473-7241.