MainStrasse Events: Gone for Good? Inside the Vent Haven Museum
Garren Colvin St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Lytle Thomas Heritage Bank
Dan Tobergte Gr aydon
Rodney Cain
Bank of Kentucky, Wiseway Supply
SUMMER 2019 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 2
YOU
BELONG HERE Forge a path to your future at NKU. For 50 years, our professors have provided students with a world-class education on a safe, supportive campus just minutes from downtown Cincinnati. nku.edu/apply
NKY CONTENTS
Summer 2019
A SUMMER OF FUN Garren Colvin
Lytle Thomas
Dan Tobergte
This year’s four honorees have influenced and inspired the region. BY THE EDITORS
Who says that business and fun don’t mix? That’s exactly what we’ve done in this issue. From stories on local business legends and the organization keeping the Purple People Bridge purple to articles on the Vent Haven Museum and the Taste of Newport, this issue is packed to the brim with both. If you’re looking for more fun, we hope you’ll join us when we celebrate the Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame May 2 at the Newport Syndicate. Visit cincy.live to learn more.
Rodney Cain
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4 SCENE 9 INSIDE NKY
Fill your summer with art thanks to these local events. BY CORINNE MINARD
30 END OF AN ERA?
MainStrasse Village businesses face a possible festival-free future. BY ERIC SPANGLER
32 WHERE EVERY FACE
10 Q&A
HAS A STORY
Seven questions with Taste of Newport’s Bev Holiday. BY ERIC SPANGLER
The Vent Haven Museum in Ft. Mitchell, the world’s only ventriloquist museum, is more than meets the eye. BY JULI HALE
11 COMMENT
34 MORE THAN THE GAMES
Are the parents who bribed their children’s way into a certain school getting what they paid for? BY RICK ROBINSON
12 FROM JUDY’S DESK
Dave & Buster’s in Florence heads into its third year with a local mindset. BY KEVIN MICHELL
35 THE PEOPLE’S BRIDGE
The region is looking for ways to be better while honoring the past. BY JUDY CLABES
The Newport Southbank Bridge Company works to keep the Purple People Bridge a community fixture and destination. BY KEVIN MICHELL
14 HISTORY
37 LIVE WELL: CANCER CARE
16 A&E CALENDAR 21 DINING
43 HEALTHY FROM THE START
Devou Park has become the place for Northern Kentuckians to get away for the day. BY DAVID E. SCHROEDER
Mike Monson and Fort Wright’s Sub Station II provide more than just sandwiches to the city, plus listings. BY KEVIN MICHELL
24 HOME
Cutter Construction has some tips for those looking for a change. BY KEVIN MICHELL
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Local health systems are working to provide quality cancer care close to home. BY CORINNE MINARD
Dr. David Rider and Dr. Kelty McLaurin work with families to ensure kids have healthy teeth from the beginning. BY CORINNE MINARD
45 GUIDE TO RETIREMENT
Defining many common senior living terms, plus listings. BY CORINNE MINARD
48 LOVE NKY
PUBLISHED BY magazine Locally, family and veteran-owned Cincy Co. LLC Cincinnati Club Building, 30 Garfield Place, Suite 440, Cincinnati, OH 45202 PUBLISHER: Eric Harmon MANAGING EDITOR: Corinne Minard ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Kevin Michell, Eric Spangler CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Judy Clabes, Juli Hale, Rick Robinson, David E. Schroeder CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Guy Kelly ART DIRECTOR: Katy Rucker DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR: Danielle Cain ADVERTISING MANAGER: Laura Federle PRODUCTION MANAGER: Keith Ohmer EVENTS DIRECTOR: Hannah Jones EVENTS COORDINATOR: Alexandra Tepe ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Rick Seeney SALES & OPERATIONS MANAGER: Anthony Rhoades ADVERTISING SALES: Abbey Cummins, Brad Hoicowitz, Susan Montgomery, Katelynn Webb WORK-STUDY STUDENTS: Esvin Bernardo Perez, Aliyah White For questions: email info@BestofNKY.com or call (513) 421-2533. Go to www.BestofNKY. com to get your complimentary subscription of Cincy and NKY magazines..
NKY SCENE GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE NKY On March 21 at the main branch of the Boone County Library, dozens of strangers and friends alike combined to give $6,000 to a local charity in a process that took less than an hour. The Bill & Betsy Scheben Care Center, which provides care for adults and teens with physical and/or intellectual disabilities from its location in Florence, was the recipient of the first Give Where You Live NKY grant. Give Where You Live NKY is a joint initiative presented by Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky and Mueller Financial, Inc. Participating members nominate a nonprofit of their choice, and three names are randomly selected and briefly discussed by the group. The members then vote on their favorite of the three organizations, and each member contributes $100 for the grant to the winning organization. The remaining 2019 Give Where You Live NKY meetings will take place on: - June 20, 6-7 p.m. at New Riff Distilling in Newport - Sept. 19, 6-7 p.m. (location TBA) - Dec. 12, 6-7 p.m. at BLDG in Covington
Nancy Grayson, president of the Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky, with the Give Where You Live advisory board, from left: Grayson; Sasha Parker-Cochran, SPC Media Production; Tess Brown, Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky; James Pilcher, Cincinnati Enquirer; Phyllis Lynch, Minuteman Press; Robert Mueller, Mueller Financial, Inc.; and Woody Mueller, Mueller Financial, Inc.
Attendees donated $6,000 to the Bill & Betsy Scheben Care Center at the event.
Paducah inspires creativity as a UNESCO Creative City. Home of the National Quilt Museum, Paducah’s rich American heritage and engaging attractions create the foundation for authentic cultural experiences. Travel to Paducah and find your inspiration!
Visit Paducah.travel to plan your next getaway! 1-800-PADUCAH
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From left: Phyllis Lynch, Jo Frances Martin and Nancy Grayson
The Bill & Betsy Scheben Care Center assists adults and teens with physical and/or intellectual disabilties.
Those who attended the event each donated $100 and then worked together to decide which nonprofit received the funds.
Woody and Robert Mueller
www.BestofNKY.com
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TWO-HEADED CALF AWARDS Behringer-Crawford Museum honored four Northern Kentuckians for their service and dedication to the community at the ninth annual Two-Headed Calf Awards on March 21. The gala awards presentation and dinner, emceed by Local 12 TV anchor John Lomax, took place in Northern Kentucky University’s Votruba Student Union Ballroom. This year’s honorees were Dennis R. Williams, attorney with Adams, Stepner, Wolterman & Dusing, PLLC; Judi Gerding, president of The Point/Arc of Northern Kentucky; Victor J. Canfield, historic preservationist; and Jon Draud of Edgewood, educator and Kenton County commissioner. Photos by Gary L. Johnston.
Kenton County Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann with past Community Service honorees Judith and Gene Clabes
Find your new favorite restaurant at
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NKY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
NKY SCENE
Raymond Hebert, past Education Award recipient, with emcee John Lomax of WKRC and past History Award recipient James and wife Sharon Claypool
Richard Spoor with Pamela Spoor, president of BCM board of trustees
Sharon Blau, Annie Bennett, Ruth Faragher, Terry Faragher and Teri Judy
www.BestofNKY.com
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I NSIDE NKY
An Arty Party Art in the Garden in Augusta occurs June 1 this year.
Get your art on with one of the region’s many art events and classes BY CORINNE MIN ARD
S
ummer is a great time to head outdoors, but it’s also an ideal time to enjoy art. From outdoors events to new exhibits to art classes, Northern Kentucky is filled with opportunities to take in creative works.
ART IN THE GARDEN Held June 1 on the banks of the Ohio River in Augusta, the annual Art in the Garden event brings together more than 60 artists to showcase their work alongside the spectacular gardens on Riverside Drive. In its 19th year, the event will feature a variety of food vendors, a children’s area and live entertainment. In years past, the one-day event has featured paintings, and pottery alongside cloggers and violinists. In 2015, more than 4,000 people attended Art in the Garden. augustaartguild.com/ art-in-the-garden
THE YEAR OF DUVENECK To mark the 100th anniversary of the death of internationally renowned artist Frank Duveneck (who lived in Covington), the Behringer-Crawford Museum is hosting a yearlong exhibit honoring his talent and
influence. The second floor of the museum is home to a rotating gallery that features 52 past Duveneck Art Show award winners. bcmuseum.org If you’d like to see the works competing in the 50th annual Duveneck Art Show, head to George Rogers Clark Park in Covington on May 11. The annual event brings together dozens of local artists to show off their paintings, graphics, sculptures and fine crafts. Created by the Northern Kentucky Heritage League in 1969, the goal of the event is to increase the region’s interest in the arts, give regional artists a place to show off and sell their works, and promote local history. This year’s competitors will have their work on display from noon to 5 p.m. bakerhunt.org
ART CLASSES If you’d prefer to make art, Northern Kentucky has many organizations that can teach you techniques in a variety of mediums. The Carpenter Art Enamel Foundation in Bellevue hosts a series of workshops and classes throughout the summer. The foundation will be offering workshops on topics like drawing and painting in enamels, enamel screen printing, creating adjustable hinged bracelets and more. Many of these are multi-day workshops that assist participants in gaining advanced skills. enamelfoundation.com The Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center in Covington offers eight-week classes in a variety of topics—like drawing, pottery and
painting—for both children and adults. The center also hosts several weeklong summer camps for kids looking for a creative outlet. This summer, the camp themes include Picasso Meets Pokémon, Creative Fantasy and a young artist intensive for middle and high school students. bakerhunt.org n
OTHER RESOURCES Covington Clay Pottery studio and gallery that offers classes 16 W. Pike St., Covington. 859-491-3900, covingtonclay.com Keith Klein Art Studio Professional artist who teaches painting and drawing to students of all ages 251 Main St., Florence. 859-525-7052, keithkleinart.com Mudlark Pottery Studio Wet clay studio with classes in both wheelthrowing and hand-building techniques 1739 Roberts Road, Verona. 859-630-0701, mudlarkpotterystudio.com RESN8 Gallery & Studio Art gallery that offers pour painting classes, a Budding Artists class and more 413 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue. 513-907-3903, resn8gallery.com
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NKY Q&A
7 Questions with Taste of Newport’s Bev Holiday Community liaison coordinator with the city of Newport BY ERIC SPANGLER
B
ev Holiday, community liaison coordinator with the city of Newport who also coordinates the Taste of Newport event, says this year’s seventh annual Taste of Newport will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 2, on Monmouth Street between Sixth and Ninth streets. Holiday gave us a taste of what we can experience at this year’s event when she sat down for an interview with the magazine.
Q A
What can visitors expect at the Taste of Newport?
We will have over 20 restaurants from the city of Newport participating at our annual event. We have two live music stages. We also will be featuring artists with handmade designs from the area. And then last year we also added vintage campers.
Q A
What are the vintage campers?
Somebody else is coordinating that part, but what she’s going to do is she actually does what’s called an over-the-road rally with vintage campers for a weekend
Taste of Newport features a variety of restaurants that call Newport home.
campout at the A.J. Jolly Park. And then the campers will be set up in the 600 block of Monmouth for the Taste of Newport. Last year I think we had three or four vintage campers on the street. They have their doors open for viewing so that people can see their exteriors as well as their interiors. It’s just a cute addition to the street. It’s another artsy component.
Q A
How many people typically attend Taste of Newport?
I would say 1,500 to 2,000 people. It’s very well attended. We also feature our Newport craft beers. We have the Hofbrauhaus, we have Wooden Casket and we have Braxton. So it’s a Taste of Newport but it’s different types of taste. As somebody mentioned to me yesterday, “Oh, it’s like a cultural taste of Newport.” So I guess it is.
Q A
How do you choose the restaurants?
I look up all of the restaurants that are in the city—I have a list, but of course from time to time I have to add new restaurants that come in and we’ve lost a couple of restaurants this year—and I feel that it’s very important to go and hand deliver the invitation and extend that invitation to the restaurant. I need to make sure all of the restaurants are given that opportunity. One of the vintage campers
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Q
What’s the hardest part about your job of putting on the Taste of Newport?
A
It’s the logistics. It’s laying out the restaurants on the street physically. So it’s all the logistics of just the layout and the placement and the visibility of our restaurants and other participants.
Q A
What’s the most enjoyable part of your job of putting on the taste of Newport?
Just seeing the people come and appreciate the restaurants and eating and enjoying the music. It really is a fun day.
Q A
Could you describe the Taste of Newport in one word?
Awesome. How’s that? n
N KY COMMENT
BY RICK ROBINSON
College Daze
Are the parents who bribed their children’s way into a certain school getting what they paid for?
I
find the ongoing story about wealthy helicopter parents paying outrageous amounts of money to bribe their children’s way into prestigious universities more than a bit baffling. When I was deciding on a college, my dad tossed me a state map and the car keys. He said he’d see me in a couple of days and sent me on my way. After a week of travel and sleeping in dorm rooms, I chose Eastern Kentucky University. Let me be perfectly clear. My parents never bribed anyone to get me into Eastern Kentucky University. However, after four years in Richmond hanging out at the Family Dog, I am pretty sure someone at the school bribed my parents to take me back. Still, as with many Americans, the admission scandal fascinates me. So I began looking at the universities involved in the case and the rationale behind parents wanting their children to have a degree from a particular college. With the Family Dog out of business, EKU not being on the list came as no surprise. Several cases involve admission to the
University of Southern California where parents lied about the athletic prowess of their kids in order to make them a Trojan. I get it. Who doesn’t want to go to the institution of higher education that bestowed a degree on OJ Simpson? The same type of sports fraud occurred at the University of Texas, where the tennis coach has been fired over his involvement in assisting unqualified students gain college admission. At the Austin, Texas, school, attending classes as a Longhorn allows kids to learn Klingon. Seriously, UT offers a class in Klingon. Several people also face time in the pokey for getting their young’uns into the University of California, Berkley. Lucky for them USC, Berkley, offers a class on Judge Judy. I wonder if Judge Judy ever decided a case speaking Klingon. The sailing coach at Stanford has been fired over his role in allowing unqualified students to attend a class in virtual friendship. Teaching young people to choose virtual
people over human interaction will certainly assist them in using their degree from Stanford to gain a job in the drive-thru line at any major fast-food chain in America. As a sentence in the criminal cases that have been filed, the judge for each of these charges should make each parent and child attend a class at Occidental College in—wait for it—stupidity. The course outline explains: “Stupidity, which has been evicted from the philosophical premises and dumbed down by psychometric psychology, has returned in the postmodern discourse against Nation, Self and Truth and makes itself felt in political life ranging from the presidency to Beavis and Butthead. This course examines stupidity.” Stupidity. Thinking back to my days at the Family Dog, maybe that was my major at EKU. n
RICK ROBINSON’S AWARD -WINNING NOVEL S CAN BE FOUND AT JOSEPH BE TH IN CRE S T VIE W HILL S AND ON AM A ZON. www.BestofNKY.com
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FROM JUDY’S DESK
BY JUDY CL ABE S
A Bright Future
NKU President Ashish Vaidya and his wife Nita
“E
mpowering the Future” was the fitting theme for the installation ceremony for Ashish Vaidya as he took the oath to serve as Northern Kentucky University’s sixth president on March 29. Vaidya was sworn in by State Supreme Court Justice Michelle Keller as a full house at BB&T Arena looked on. The ceremony was the culmination of a weeklong celebration that included a host of public classes, the Lincoln Awards program, demonstrations of the Mechatronics lab, a cybersecurity panel discussion, a baseball game and more. Justice Keller was impressed with the new president and the large contingent of family, friends and community leaders in the audience. “You could just feel the love in the place,” she says. “Ashish has already made a big impact on the community and it was terrific to see his family and friends travel so far to join in his special day.” His longtime friend and mentor, Richard Rush, president emeritus of California State University, gave the keynote address. His daughter Jaanhvi and nieces, Alina Shah and Ruchira Shah, sang “In My Life,” a song by
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The region is looking for ways to be better while honoring the past
The Beatles. NKU regents Lee Scheben and Andra Ward and Student Government Association President Hannah Edelen participated in the program. “Together we have a tremendous opportunity to redefine and reclaim the narrative about the significance of a 21st century public institution and the value of an NKU education,” Vaidya said in his remarks. “Our campus is home to diverse learners and we must meet their needs ... We have a moral obligation to ensure they receive every opportunity to meet their educational goals.” Vaidya began his tenure at NKU on July 1 and chose a spring investiture to allow him time to understand the campus culture and region. He came to NKU from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota where he had also served as interim president. He and his wife, Nita Vaidya, a sociologist, have two children, Jaanhvi and Avaneesh.
YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS Three seventh graders at R.A. Jones Middle School got an idea for a community service project as part of their Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) and created an STLP Philanthropy Group. Anna Seidl, Lily Hopkins and Skyler Earls were empowered by what they were learning and wanted to “give back without receiving anything” except the satisfaction of doing good. Their first project last October was “Socktober”—a sock drive for the Homeward Bound Shelter. They collected 80 pairs of socks and then delivered them in person to the shelter for the teens there. Since then, they have done Blessing Bags (hygiene and personal items) and visited Elmcroft, a senior living center in Florence,
where they played Uno with the residents. They are making bookmarks for the local library, doing teacher appreciation cards, planning a food drive and helping a thirdgrade class at Collins Elementary. There is no end to their ideas. Doing community service projects “makes you feel better about yourself, too,” says Seidl. They’ll be presenting their project at the state STLP Competition and have been invited to speak at the annual Summit on Philanthropy held by the Horizon Community Foundation and the Kentucky Philanthropy Initiative in Northern Kentucky.
SAD LOSS OF LONGTIME PUBLIC SERVANT Edward “Ed” Schroeder spent 51 years as a Kenton County public servant, as sheriff, circuit court clerk and mayor of Ludlow. He died March 25 at age 88 at Atria Highland Crossing in Ft. Wright, surrounded by his family. He is survived by four children: Dave, Susan, John and Steve. Dave is head of the Kenton County Libraries and a distinguished local historian. Mr. Schroeder was active in the community and in his church, Sts. Boniface and James, where he served on the parish council and was founder of the Catholic Education Association. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou Schroeder, in 2016. n
Lily Hopkins, Anna Seidl and Skyler Earls
May 30th, 2019 Newport Syndicate
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Visit bestofnky.com to purchase tickets! Standard Ticket includes 2 drinks (beer,wine), ballot & unlimited food samples! [free children 4 and younger] VIP tickets include 3 drink tickets, private lounge, goodie bag, unlimited food samples and a ballot for voting. $40.00
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NKY HI STORY
BY DAVID E . SCHROEDER, E XECUTIVE DIREC TOR OF THE KENTON COUNT Y PUBLIC LIBR ARY
An Urban Oasis
Devou Park has become the place for Northern Kentuckians to get away for the day
F
or more than a century, Devou Park has played host to countless family picnics, golf outings, fishing tournaments, receptions and concerts. It has been a gathering place for Northern Kentuckians and a wonderful location to take out-oftown guests to view the region’s spectacular skyline. The park has a long and interesting history that can be traced back to 1833 when the Rev. William Montague and his wife Polly purchased 700 acres in what is today the park. In 1845, James Taylor Eubank purchased adjacent property and began construction on a brick Federal-style farmhouse. The Eubank family owned the property until the 1860s when it was purchased by William P. and Sarah Ogden Devou and in 1872 the Devou Family acquired the Montague property. William and Sarah Devou’s sons, William and Charles, donated the 500 acres of the property to the city of Covington for park purposes in 1910. The gift, however, came with a few conditions, including a list of restrictions on how the property could be used and a requirement that the city would spend $100,000 on improvements within six years of receiving the land. The issue was placed on the ballot, which the residents of Covington passed by an impressive margin. On November 28, 1910, the deed for the Devou property was officially transferred to the Covington Park Board and Devou Park was born.
Skipping rocks at Prisoner’s Lake, Jim Creekmore and Wendell Lee Mains, 1973
CEMETERIES Few have any idea that the Cathedral Parish in Covington once had a cemetery in Devou Park. In 1850, St. Mary’s Parish acquired an approximately 10-acre plot about 200 yards from the Devou Homestead for cemetery purposes. The cemetery was poorly located, and it was difficult to transfer remains from Covington to the hilltop location. In 1870, the parish purchased 43 acres on the Dixie Highway (the current location) and the old cemetery was abandoned. Many families
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had their loved ones’ remains moved to the new cemetery. There are no markers or any indication that this cemetery once existed in the park. A second cemetery was also located near the clubhouse. This was the family cemetery of the Montagues. The small plot included burials of several generations of the Montague family. In addition, the grounds also served as the final resting place of a number of the Montague family slaves. The cemetery
still exists but is not able to be visited due to its remote and inaccessible location.
THE STONE QUARRY AND PRISONERS LAKE A stone quarry existed in Devou Park before the property was donated to the city. In 1916, the Covington City Commission proposed a work program for the city jail. A rock crusher was purchased, and inmates were put to work. The gravel that was produced
TENNIS AND THE CLUBHOUSE
Sled riders Mike and Robbie Pohlman, 1978
was used for a number of years to repair city streets. Over the years, inmates escaped from the work detail causing concern in the surrounding neighborhoods. By 1924, the quarry had been transformed into a large lake appropriately called Prisoners Lake. Since that time, the lake has been used for boating and fishing. Legend continues to exist that the lake has no bottom—the prisoners from over a century ago could easily dispel that myth!
THE GOLF COURSE A municipal nine-hole golf course was underway in 1922. The proposal was highly endorsed by the Kentucky Post. Several newspaper articles touted the benefits of a course, including healthy recreation for the city’s residents, paid caddy positions for the boys of the West End, and tee revenues that could be used to defray the operational costs of the park. John Brophy, golf professional at Ft. Mitchell Country Club, was hired to design the course. A committee was formed of some of the city’s most well-respected citizens to oversee the construction. By 1989, Covington officials were discussing the expansion of the golf course from nine to 18 holes as a way to increase revenue. Opposition to the proposed golf course expansion emerged quickly. Over 6,000 area residents signed a petition against any golf course expansion fearing it would destroy more than 100 acres of the woods and open space in the park. On July 2, 1993, a suit was filed to stop the expansion. The suit eventually reached the Kentucky Court of Appeals, which in December 1994 ruled the expansion legal. Construction on the ninehole course proceeded rapidly. The newly expanded course opened on May 1, 1995.
A tennis club was established in 1923 with a membership of 75. The goal was to build five tennis courts near the old Montague house, which would become the clubhouse. Construction on a new clubhouse to serve both the golf and tennis courses began in 1929. Plans called for locker rooms for both genders, shower facilities, a bowling alley, a billiards room and a small lunch counter. The building did not last very long, being destroyed by fire in 1933. A new clubhouse was built in 1934 and remained in use until the current clubhouse and events center was constructed in 2017. The new center not only serves the golf course but can also be used for civic events and rented by residents for special occasions.
ROTARY GROVE AND THE WPA IMPROVEMENTS The Covington Rotary Club began a program in 1932 to celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of George Washington. They decided the beautification of Devou Park would be a fitting tribute. On June 7, 1932, the Rotarians and their guests gathered in the park to plant an elm tree in honor of Washington and seven additional trees in memory of their deceased members. The event concluded with a lunch at the clubhouse and an address from Cincinnati City Planner Ladislas Segoe on the “Possibilities of Devou Park.” To this day, each year the members gather at Rotary Grove for ceremonies in memory of their deceased members. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) established during the Great Depression had a major impact on the park. In 1938, the WPA presented a $97,251 grant to the city for park improvements. The result of this grant was a large rustic shelter house (which still stands today), two swimming pools—one for boys and one for girls, which was required by the Devou trust—and a large band shell. The band shell was completed in the summer of 1939. In August of that year, a crowd of 40,000 experienced a concert at the new facility. A regular schedule of concerts and entertainments were planned at the band shell. These events were sponsored by Northern Kentucky businesses and were organized by John R. Walsh. Nationally known entertainers including Sophie Tucker and Jimmy Durante performed. Each program usually ended with a community sing-along. Today the band shell hosts the
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra for summer concerts and other events.
BEHRINGER-CRAWFORD MUSEUM In 1949, the natural history collection of William Behringer was donated to Covington. City officials decided to establish a museum in the old Devou home to house the collection. The museum was officially named the William Behringer Memorial Museum and opened on July 4, 1950. On the next day, the old Greenline streetcar “Kentucky” was delivered to the grounds following its last run out the Dixie Highway. The first curator of the museum was Ellis Crawford who began collecting items documenting the history of the Northern Kentucky region. Since that time the name of the museum was changed to the Behringer-Crawford Museum. Many improvements have occurred over the years. Most recently, a large $2.6 million expansion was begun in 2001, which eventually doubled the size of the facility.
THE MEMORIAL BUILDING AND DREES PAVILION Following World War II, the Memorial Building was built along a ridge overlooking the Cincinnati skyline. The building was designed by the firm of Pepinsky, Grau & Schrand and featured an auditorium and kitchen. The building was dedicated on August 10, 1958. Total cost for the project, including the construction of the building and parking lots, was $150,000. A large portion of the funds was provided by the Devou Family Trust. By the early 2000s the need for a new building had become apparent. In 2003, Ralph Drees of the Drees Company announced the donation of $2 million to construct a new facility. The old Memorial Building was demolished and construction on the new 10,453-square-foot Drees Pavilion was begun. The new facility was officially dedicated on February 3, 2004. Since that time, the pavilion has hosted numerous events, meetings and weddings. Proceeds from the pavilion are used to make additional improvements to the park. Devou Park continues to serve as a green oasis in the urban core of Northern Kentucky. The park has survived many challenges but has persevered and flourished. New initiatives, like the bicycle and walking trails, continue to draw new crowds and ensure the park will be enjoyed for generations to come. n www.BestofNKY.com
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NKY EVENTS VALERIE JUNE May 1 Singer-songwriter Valerie June will mix Americana, alternative, roots, folk, soul and more during a show at the Southgate House Revival. 8 p.m. $30-$35. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. 859-431-2201, southgatehouse.com.
PARTY ON THE PURPLE May 1-Aug. 7 Party on the Purple returns to the Purple People Bridge for another summer of fun. In addition to live music, food trucks and beverages, attendees can take part in the party’s themed nights. Upcoming themes include Kentucky Derby Night on May 1, ‘80s Night on May 8 and Dog Night on May 29. Wednesday evenings, 6-10:30 p.m. Free. Purple People Bridge. cincinnatifestivalsandevents.com.
JUSTIN MOORE & FRIENDS
DANNY CLINCH
May 3 Country star Justin Moore, known for songs like “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” and “Small Town USA,” performs with Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and Collin Raye at BB&T Arena. 7 p.m. $30.75-$59.75. BB&T Arena, Northern Kentucky University, 500 Louie B. Nunn Drive, Highland Heights. 859-442-2652, thebbtarena.com.
KEN LUDWIG’S BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY May 3-18 The Falcon Theatre brings the fun with this comedic take on Sherlock Holmes. In this play, the male heirs of the Baskerville line are being killed off. It’s up to Holmes and Watson to solve the case before the newest heir dies, too. 8 p.m. F-Sa $25 adults, $15 students. Th $20 adults, $10 students. Falcon Theatre, 636 Monmouth St., Newport. 513-479-6783, falcontheater.net.
DERBY DAY PARTY May 4 Celebrate this quintessential Kentucky event in style. While watching the race at Hotel Covington, guests will be able to try street-style food and participate in a hat contest. 2-8 p.m. Hotel Covington, 638 Madison Ave., Covington. 859-905-6600, hotelcovington.com.
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THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH May 8 Kristian Matsson, who performs under the name The Tallest Man on Earth, will play songs from his first new album in four years, I Love You. It’s a Fever Dream. 9 p.m. $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington. 859-491-2444, madisontheateronline.com.
FLORENCE FREEDOM OPENING DAY May 9 Minor League baseball team Florence Freedom kicks off its 2019 season with a game against the Lake Erie Crushers. 7:05 p.m. $5-$16. UC Health Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence. 859-594-4487, florencefreedom.com.
RUBY BOOTS May 10 Australian singer-songwriter Ruby Boots brings her own style to country and Americana music with a show at the Southgate House. 9 p.m. $13 in advance, $15 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. 859-431-2201, southgatehouse.com.
LIVE CincyLive is the home of all Cincy and NKY Magazine events, as well as our partners. From food and community events to professional and nonprofit ones, all can be found on CincyLive.
Spring Classic Driving Tour VII
2019 NKY Business Hall of Fame
Scenic Driving Tour featuring the most picturesque roads in Southern Ohio, visit an Amish Market, historical points, and more as we tour Clermont, Brown and Adams Counties. The drive Benefits a number of charities, support the cause that speaks to you. Open to all roadworthy, licensed and insured vehicles; drive your “everyday car” with the Classic, Collector and Specialty vehicles
In celebration of Northern Kentucky’s heritage of business accomplishments, NKY Magazine, in partnership with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, presents the fifth annual Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame to recognize the rich tradition of success and civic involvement in the region’s business community.
Apr. 27th, Spring Classic Driving Tour VII
May 2nd, Newport Syndicate
Mimosas for Memories 2019
2019 Cincy Chic Women’s Health Expo
A brunch time event with FREE mimosa bar, light bites from local eateries, music, a photo booth, silent auction, GELATO tastin and MORE in the beautiful Greenwich House Gallery in historic O’bryonville in Cincinnati, OH. All proceeds to benefit Alzheimer’s in Cincinnati
Ladies! Join us for a FREE, fun and informative event that’s all about helping you live your best life! Enjoy complimentary swag bags, healthy treats, interactive demos and workouts, screenings, fun photobooth, and 40+ pop-up shops, local health experts and services!
Apr. 27th, The Greenwich House Gallery
New Richmond Motor Show
Apr. 27th, New Richmond’s Historic Waterfront
Motor Show featuring classic, custom and collector cars and motorcycles to benefit a variety of charities. Supported by numerous regional car, truck and bike clubs each benefitting a charity of their choosing. The final stop on the Spring Classic Driving Tour.
May 18th, The Phoenix
2019 Best of NKY
May 30th, Newport Syndicate The Best of the NKY is a celebration and competition between the top establishments from Northern Kentucky. The event will feature booths hosted by participating NKY finalists from categories including food, retail, and service organizations.
Are you a nonprofit looking for a no upfront cost promotion for an upcoming event?
Contact: Eric Harmon, President & Publisher • eharmon@cincymagazine.com • 513-297-6205
NKY EVENTS
SPROUTS & STOUTS
VIVA VIVALDI
May 10-11 Started more than 15 years ago as a plant sale, Sprouts & Stouts has grown into a two-day event that aims to bring the community together. On Friday, attendees can shop the annual plant sale. On Saturday, six bands will play live music while guests shop plants and enjoy the food and beer. F 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sa Noon-11 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Church, 326 Madison Ave., Covington. 859-431-1786, sproutsandstouts.com.
May 11 The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra ends its season with a bang. The KSO will perform both inside and outside during a show that celebrates the seasons. 8 p.m. $19-$35. St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, 1140 Madison Ave., Covington. 859-431-6216, kyso.org.
ALICE PEACOCK May 11 American folk singer Alice Peacock, whose songs have been featured in both television shows and movies, brings songs from her six albums to the Southgate House. 7 p.m. $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. 859-431-2201, southgatehouse.com.
WILL KIMBROUGH May 24 Nashville-based singer-songwriter Will Kimbrough will play songs from his many collaborations and solo albums in Newport this night. 7:30 p.m. $22 in
advance, $25 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. 859-4312201, southgatehouse.com.
WE ARE MONSTERS June 1 There’s more to monsters than what meets the eye in the Carnegie Students All-Stars’ production of We Are Monsters. Make sure to stay after the show—The Carnegie will be hosting activities for monsters of all ages to keep the fun going. 2 p.m. $16 activities and show, $10 show only. The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Blvd., Covington. 859-957-1940, thecarnegie.com.
ART IN THE GARDEN June 1 Augusta’s annual Art in the Garden brings more than 4,000 people to the small town to explore the community’s beautiful gardens while viewing art created by over 60 local and regional artists. The all-day event also features many food vendors, a children’s area and live entertainment. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Riverside Drive, Augusta. augustaartguild.com.
Learn how you can make a difference in our community.
www.horizonfunds.org
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NKY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
NKY EVENTS
June 1 Get out of the house and explore Big Bone Lick State Historic Site this National Trails Day. The park will be offering two special hikes: the Bison Trace and Cedar Run Trail Mosaic Hike at 9:30 a.m., which takes hikers past the bison herd and through the forest; and the Big Bone Hydro-Hike at 1 p.m., which takes hikers through the creek bed. At 3 p.m., visitors can make their own hiking stick from a tobacco stick. Sticks can be purchased for $5 each, and they can be personalized with paint, feathers and more. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, 3380 Beaver Road, Union. parks.ky.gov/ parks/historicsites/big-bone-lick/.
TASTE OF NEWPORT June 2 Newport restaurants will be providing samples of their cuisine during this celebration of Newport dining. The event will also feature live entertain-
ment and sidewalk sales. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monmouth Street between Sixth and Ninth streets, Newport. 859-292-3666, newportky.gov.
NEWPORT ITALIANFEST
Don’t see your event? Visit bestofnky.com to add it to our online event calendar for free.
June 13-16 More than 100,000 people attend Newport Italianfest each year, and it’s easy to see why. The four-day event features plenty of Italian food, live Italian music, a golf outing, cooking contest, rides and more. Th 5-11 p.m., F 5-11:30 p.m., Sa 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m., Su noon-9 p.m. Newport Riverfront. facebook.com/ Newport-Italianfest-1475432686045394/.
DARRELL SCOTT June 21 Darrell Scott, an American singersongwriter and multi-instrumentalist, will be joined by Malcolm Holcombe for a country-filled show at the Southgate House. 8 p.m. $25 general seating, $35 first five rows. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. 859-4312201, southgatehouse.com.
JIM MCGUIRE
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY AT BIG BONE LICK
www.BestofNKY.com
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SMOKI N ’ TH IS A ND THAT
BBQ
Are you looking for good country eating? Well look no further than Smokin’ This and That BBQ, where you can get authentic, southern barbecue ribs, pulled pork, and a heck of a lot more! At Smokin’ This and That BBQ we love a good hunk of meat and a good barbecue. Additionally, we don’t need sauces on our meat because our dry rub is THAT good. Every BBQ item we prepare is tender and falls right off the bone and if you’re not careful, right into your lap! We smoke our meat slow and season it just right so when you try our beef, chicken, or pork you’ll immediately understand why we’re the best BBQ place in the area! We also offer beers and drinks and whole lot of sides so your barbecue main course won’t get too lonely.
FAMILY KARAOKE MONDAY NIGHT 5-9PM
LIVE MUSIC
FRIDAY & SATURDAYS
10020 Demia Way • Florence, KY 41042 (859) 817-0492 • smokinthisandthatbbq.com
2018
N KY DINING
Catering to the Community Mike Monson and Fort Wright’s Sub Station II provide more than just sandwiches to the city BY KE VIN MICHELL
A
small business doesn’t survive for three decades without becoming something more to the community than a simple retailer. Nestled in the middle of Fort Wright on Dixie Highway, right off the Kyles Lane exit, Mike Monson’s Sub Station II has been feeding guests for 30 years while contributing more than food to the area. Monson has worked at the location for 24 of those 30 years and in 2005 he assumed ownership of the South Carolina-based sandwich franchise’s northernmost location. Over these many years, Monson has become synonymous with the eatery to the people of Fort Wright and the area surrounding it. “When you’re a small business that’s really what it’s all about,” Monson says. “Being a part of that community—that was my whole goal. When I started stepping out from just making the sandwiches and becoming a full member of the community, that’s when things really started taking off for business and for myself, where I became much happier.” Becoming more municipally involved comes from his belief in paying it forward. When Holmes High School, due to a tight budget, was on the verge of cancelling its senior graduation party a few years ago, Monson stepped in to feed the whole class on his dime. As an active member of The Church of St. Agnes, his talents and willingness to help recently came in handy again. “We started a fish fry down there and of course I’m the food guy. So who runs that? I do,” Monson says with a chuckle. “And of course if we’re going to do that, what kind of bread are we going to use? Only the best and we’ll get it through me.” When Monson’s not the one supplying the food, he’s supporting those who produce
ABOVE: Mike Monson and Sub Station II remain connected to the community by participating in events. LEFT: Sub Station II offers everything from individual sandwiches to party trays.
the veggies that grace his submarine sandwiches. Sub Station II has been a partner of the Brighton Center’s Newport Community Gardens for the last four years. The urban gardens on Ann Street and at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church supply the store with tomatoes and other produce when their yield is large enough. In turn, Sub Station II’s purchase of those crops helps fund the Brighton Center’s continuing efforts to combat hunger in the community. In April, Monson is working hard on his own initiative to help the hungry, in the hopes it will extend far beyond his friends and neighbors. Sub Station II will participate in Pay It Forward Day by helping feed those most in need on April 27, the day before the actual Pay It Forward Day. Working with local charitable organizations such as the Henry Hosea House and Parish Kitchen, Monson’s store will donate a sandwich to the shelters
for every sub sold that day. “I want to have a goal for that one day to feed all the needy in Northern Kentucky,” Monson says. All of this fits the mentality of man who knew early on he wanted his career to be in the public—interacting with people daily— instead of sitting tucked away in an office cubicle. Monson started at Sub Station II to help pay his way through Thomas More College (which has since become a university), becoming store manager under his mentor and then-owner Joe Peeno. From there it’s been a long journey, through lean periods like the economic downturn of 2008 to now enjoying greener economic pastures, but it’s been a fulfilling one all the same for Mike Monson. And it’s hardly the end of the road. Monson hopes that Sub Station II’s participation in Pay It Forward Day will inspire other restaurants and organizations in the area to participate in years to come. “Maybe we can start something big for the community,” he says. n www.BestofNKY.com
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NKY DINING
COMFORTABLE CLASSICS AND EXOTIC EATS — NORTHERN KENTUCKY HAS THEM ALL AT THESE LOCAL RESTAURANTS African
COACH’S CORNER 317 E. Sixth St., Newport (859) 261-2800 Burgers and Cajun fries.
HORN OF AFRICA CAFE & RESTAURANT 7109 Turfway Road, Florence (859) 918-6060 Somali cuisine.
COLONIAL COTTAGE 3140 Dixie Highway, Erlanger (859) 341-4498 thecottagenky.com Goetta, steak, chicken and homemade pies.
American THE BAKER’S TABLE 1004 Monmouth St., Newport bakerstablenewport.com Locally sourced and in-season breakfast, lunch and brunch.
FARMSTAND MARKET & CAFE 9914 Old Union Road, Union (859) 817-1134 thefarmstandmarket.com Cuisine created with local produce and product.
BARLEYCORN’S 8544 US 42, Florence (859) 371-4100 barleycorns.com Burgers, chicken wings and American classics. (Multiple locations.)
THE GLOBE COVINGTON 12 E Fifth St., Covington (859) 261-1267 theglobecov.com Locally sourced food and a wide array of Kentucky and regional craft beers and spirits.
BOUQUET RESTAURANT 519 Main St., Covington (859) 491-7777 bouquetrestaurant.com Locally grown vegetables and meat; fine wine.
HEBRON BREW HAUS 2030 Northside Drive, Hebron (859) 534-5600 hebronbrewhaus.com Handcrafted pizzas and burgers.
KITCHEN 1883 9003 US 42, Union (859) 334-9450 kitchen1883.com Mac and cheese, chicken and waffles, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more.
PURPLE POULET 603 Sixth Ave., Dayton (859) 916-5602 purplepoulet.com Cuisine reminiscent of Charleston and New Orleans with a Kentucky infusion.
LOYAL CAFE 402 Foote Ave., Bellevue (859) 431-5223 Sandwiches and coneys.
SUB STATION II 1826 Dixie Highway, Ft Wright (859) 341-9494 substationii.net Subs, soups and chili.
MIDWAY CAFE 1017 S. Ft Thomas Ave., Ft Thomas (859) 781-7666 themidwayky.com Wings, burgers and chicken sandwiches.
Asian
OTTO’S 521 Main St., Covington (859) 491-6678 ottosonmain.com Chicken, seafood, steak and pasta. PEEWEE’S PLACE 2325 Anderson Road, Crescent Springs (859) 341-4977 Burgers, wings and beer.
Barbeuce MCK’S CHICKS 11 W. Seventh St., Covington (859) 916-6711 mckschicks.com Barbecue pork, chicken and brisket. SMOKIN’ THIS AND THAT BBQ 10020 Demia Way, Florence (859) 817-0492 smokinthisandthatbbq.com Barbecue rubbed pork, chicken and beef.
HIDDEN DRAGON 56 Martha Layne Collins Blvd., Cold Spring (859) 781-8800 hidden-dragon-asion-fusian. business.site Asian fusion with roots in Khmer and Cantonese Chinese cooking.
Cajun
Bakeries
Chinese
MOONRISE DOUGHNUTS 3718 Winston Ave., Covington (859) 415-0308 moonrisedoughnuts.com Fresh doughnuts inspired by the classics.
CATHAY KITCHEN CHINESE RESTAURANT 8049 Connector Drive, Florence (859) 282-0770 cathaykitchenky.com Fried rice, egg noodles and soup.
DEE FELICE CAFÉ 529 Main St., Covington (859) 261-2365 deefelicecafe.com Steak, pasta and homemade bread.
2018 2018
NATIONAL PAY IT FORWARD DAY Saturday April 27
Every sub bought that day we are donating one back to the needy. 1826 Dixie Hwy Ft. Wright KY 41011
Order Now @ substationii.com 22
NKY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
We are grateful that the people of NKY recognize what goes into the comfort food in which we specialize. There is nothing more comforting than good fried chicken. Please join us soon! 3140 Dixie Highway • Erlanger, KY 41018 859-341-4498 • thecottagenky.com
NKY DINING HOT WOK 3420 Valley Plaza Pkwy, Ft Wright (859) 341-7700 chanshotwok.com Chow fun, Pad Thai and Korean beef. PEKING RESTAURANT 4335 Winston Ave., Covington (859) 292-8636 pekingcovington.com Chicken mei fun, bourbon vhicken and cheese wontons.
Coffeehouse AVENUE BREW 310 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue (859) 261-4381 avenuebrew.com All-day breakfast, lunch and dinner. NEWBERRY BROS. COFFEE 530 Washington Ave., Newport (859) 261-9463 newberrybroscoffee.com Coffee and small plates; bourbon bar.
Dessert BUTTERCREAM BOUTIQUE 1620 Burlington Pike, Florence (859) 496-1026 thebuttercreamboutique.com Custom cakes, cupcakes and cake pops.
German HOFBRAUHAUS 200 E. Third St., Newport (859) 491-7200 hofbrauhausnewport.com Soups, salads, sandwiches, Bavarian specialties.
Indian AMOL INDIA 527 York St., Newport (859) 261-2317 amolindiacarryoutnewport.com Fine Indian and Pakistani cuisine.
Italian POMPILIOS 600 Washington Ave., Newport (859) 581-3065 pompilios.com Pasta, chicken, veal, beef and fish. Homemade sausage, sauces.
Japanese CHAKO BAKERY CAFE 611 Main St., Covington (859) 609-0166 chakobakerycafe.com Handmade bread and pastry with unique Japanese ingredients.
MIYAKO SUSHI & STEAKHOUSE 2511 Ritchie St., Crescent Springs (859) 578-0031 miyakorestaurant.com Hibachi and sushi.
Mediterranean KABOBSKE 7563 Mall Road, Florence (859) 322-0112 kabobske.com Mediterranean, Lebanese, and Greek dishes.
Mexican CANCUN MEXICAN BAR & GRILL 1781 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 291-9200 cancunmexicanrestaurantes.com Green corn tamales, enchiladas, and sizzling fajitas. GUTIERREZ DELI 1131 Lee St., Covington (859) 431-3354 Tacos and fresh tamales.
Pizza ALTO PIZZA KITCHEN & BAR 43 W. Seventh St., Covington (859) 431-2586 alto-pizza.com Unique versions of pizza, pasta and sandwiches.
FESSLER’S LEGENDARY PIZZA & HOAGIES 343 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue (859) 261-2233 fesslerspizza.com Pastas, pizzas, hoagies, salads and sides. NEWPORT PIZZA CO. 601 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 261-4900 newportpizzacompany.com Homemade pizza with creative specialty pizzas, hoagies, salads and an extensive craft beer list. STRONG’S BRICK OVEN 1990-D N. Bend Road, Hebron (859) 586-6836 strongsbrickovenpizza.com Pizza, cheesy bread, bruschetta. (Multiple locations.).
Pub Fare BILLIE’S SKYLINE TAVERN AND RESTAURANT 430 Johns Hill Road, Highland Heights (859) 441-6713 Wraps, wings and salads. HOUSE OF ORANGE SPORTS BAR & GRILL 433 Johnson St., Covington (859) 261-4662 houseoforangesportsbarandgrill. com Sandwiches,wings and flatbreads.
LUDLOW TAVERN 214 Elm St., Ludlow (859) 360-5859 ludlowtavernky.com Sliders and chiili. SIS’S ON MONMOUTH 837 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 431-3157 sisonmonmouth.com Fish tacos, meatloaf and chicken livers.
Steakhouses TROTTA’S STEAK AND SEAFOOD 441 Sixth Ave., Dayton (859) 360-5573 trottassteakandseafood.com Hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood.
Thai SIAM ORCHID THAI RESTAURANT 511 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue (859) 694-7700 siamorchidky.com Siam crispy duck and curries.
Comprehensive online dining listings for NKY at
www.BestofNKY.com.
www.BestofNKY.com
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NKY HOME
Home Remodeling Ideas Cutter Construction has some tips for those looking for a change BY KE VIN MICHELL
W
hen springtime comes around homeowners often start thinking about how to update the look and feel of their houses. Remodeling season is soon to arrive and now is the time to plan out those home renovation projects. Jim Cutter, owner of Cold Spring’s Cutter Construction, has seen a lot of remodeling projects over the years, from simple tasks such as widening a front doorway to fully tearing down and rebuilding homes. Cutter has noticed a few predominant trends in residential remodeling.
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Many homeowners are looking to open up spaces by removing walls.
NKY HOME Chief among them is demand for allseason outdoor spaces, often functioning as an extension from a kitchen or family room. These patio areas tend to be fully enclosed with screens, windows or full-length glass walls. Homeowners want the option to relax or entertain in their backyard while having the space still be climate controlled. “Almost every new home we build and every renovation we do generally has some phase of that involved,” Cutter says. Expanding interiors and opening up floor plans are also popular remodeling trends. “Ever ybody still wants large, open rooms for gathering, generally incorporated off the kitchen,” Cutter notes, adding he has seen a lot of jobs recently where homeowners have requested for entire walls to be removed, such as opening up a separate dining room into the kitchen area or subtracting a spare bedroom to expand a family room. But Cutter advises to be aware of the hidden costs of expansions. As homeowners tire of 8-foot ceilings in favor of higher ones, he points out the extra construction that
Jim Cutter, owner of Cutter Construction, says that he is seeing increased demand for all-season outdoor spaces.
can be involved with making that happen. “Even in a lot of older homes we’re being asked to raise the ceiling,” Cutter says, “which a lot of times generates the need to take the roof off.” It’s also important for people to consider the mechanical strain that an expansion can place on heating, ventilation and air
conditioning systems. Homeowners may not realize their equipment may not be able to handle an extra 800 or 2,000 square feet to heat and cool. “Almost everybody that we meet with tells me what they want the room to look like, where they want the light, the windows, the finishes—they’re excited about all the things they live in and look at,” Cutter explains. “What they tend to forget is the climate control and that is a really big component of a remodel or renovation.” The question generally comes down to if the heating and cooling system needs to be replaced entirely or supplemented with auxiliary equipment to help with controlling the climate throughout the home and expansion, especially if the existing system is already several years old. Cutter advises people who are about to expand their homes to consider this before committing to their dream remodel, though it can also be an opportunity to replace an older climate system with one that is more efficient as well as capable of heating and cooling more space. n
www.BestofNKY.com
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In celebration of Northern Kentucky’s heritage of business accomplishments, NKY Magazine, in partnership with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, has created the Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame to recognize the rich tradition of success and civic involvement in the region’s business community. The Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame honors men and women who have made a lasting contribution to the community in economic, cultural and civic endeavors. Inductees will be honored at the sixth annual Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame luncheon event May 2 at the Newport Syndicate. This event is sponsored by Northern Kentucky University’s Haile/U.S. Bank College of Business and St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Registration and networking begins at 11:30 a.m., with the program and lunch starting at noon. Tickets can be purchased at cincy.live. BY THE EDITORS
POSTHUMOUS
Rodney “Biz” Cain FOUNDER, WISEWAY SUPPLY, BANK OF KENTUCKY Rodney Cain—known as “Biz” to many— was instrumental in raising the profile of Kenton County and Northern Kentucky through his decades of work in both the public and private sectors. Coming from humble stock in Independence, Cain established deep roots in Kenton County from his family farm, Caintuckee Acres. He grew up raising livestock, tending to tobacco crops and selling fertilizer, which led to an early career building houses and installing electric, plumbing and septic systems. In 1972, Cain started Wiseway Supply, which still operates today under the leadership of his son, John. “He was always very resourceful and quite the entrepreneur,” recalls John Cain. But Rodney Cain’s roots kept him intimately connected to the people of Northern Kentucky. “Whether he was talking to the governor or the guy digging ditches with him, he was comfortable with everybody. He
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cared about people and I think that showed in his business.” Rodney Cain would serve as director of Boone State Bank in the 1970s before founding the Bank of Kentucky in 1990. Even while shepherding these local banks and running Wiseway, Cain found the time and energy to be a faithful public servant of the region. He served as chairman of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, sat on the board of the region’s visitor’s bureau, served as secretary of Kentucky’s Workforce Development Cabinet and also filled in as Kenton County judge-executive when the seat was vacated in 1998. Throughout his life, Cain was selfless and tireless in developing the area he always called home. “One thing that was noteworthy about Dad,” John Cain says, “whenever he made a deal with somebody he enjoyed their success as much as he did his own.” – KEVIN MICHELL
Garren Colvin PRESIDENT & CEO, ST. ELIZABETH HEALTHCARE After starting with St. Elizabeth Healthcare as an accounting clerk over 35 years ago, Garren Colvin has risen through the ranks to become president and CEO of the very hospital he was born in. Under his escalating stewardship over the last few decades, Colvin has elevated St. Elizabeth to the one of the largest employers in Northern Kentucky and a highly respected health care provider in a region full of them. Even with this level of accomplishment, Colvin’s first instinct is to redirect any praise bestowed on him to the employees of St. Elizabeth, highlighting their compassion and hard work. Colvin has shown both qualities in his professional and public life, gaining recognition in the forms of a 2016 Hero Against
Heroin humanitarian award, Northern Kentucky University’s 2016 Distinguished MBA Alumni Award and a 2017 Commonwealth Award from the Kentucky Philanthropy Initiative. His presence on the Horizon Community Funds’ Council of Trustees and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce board shows his desire to make Northern Kentucky a vibrant, healthy and prosperous region, driven by a deep love and loyalty for the area. “It’s an opportunity to be a partner with this community that we all love so much and making a difference in lives,” Colvin says. “At the end of the day, I’m just trying to make this the best community you could possibly have.” – KEVIN MICHELL
Lytle Thomas PRESIDENT & CEO, HERITAGE BANK Lytle Thomas has invested in Northern Kentucky’s economic growth through his banking leadership and involvement in the region’s ongoing development. A fter gain ing h i s bachelor ’s deg ree from Transylvania University, Thomas acquired his MBA at Northern Kentucky University and has been rooted in the area ever since. Thomas started with Fifth Third Bank in 1988 before moving to Heritage Bank 20 years later, becoming its president and CEO in 2010. The Ft. Wright resident has been part of many Northern Kentucky organizations, boards and societies focused on regional leadership and commerce, including Leadership Kentucky, the HealthPoint Family Care Foundation Board and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
Thomas is helping to usher growth in the region through his positions as a member of t he Amer ican Bankers Association Grassroots Advocacy Committee and Fund for Economic Growth, board member of the Kentucky Bankers Association and member of the board of directors for Junior Achievement of OKI Partners’ Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky chapter, receiv ing a Gold Leadership Award from the organization in 2016. Through his involvement with Junior Achievement, Thomas has nearly doubled the amount of students involved with its programs and increased annual giving to nearly $1.5 million, all helping to lay the foundation for the next generation of Northern Kentucky’s business and cultural leaders. – KEVIN MICHELL
www.BestofNKY.com
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Dan Tobergte ATTORNEY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, GRAYDON During his 28 years with Northern Kentucky Tri-Ed, Dan Tobergte helped Tri-ED grow from a regional startup that specialized in company attraction to a respected organization that helps the region retain businesses, grow operations and foster entrepreneurship in addition to attracting new companies. “I’m a staunch and ardent advocate for our region and it was certainly refreshing each and every day to be able to work for the community in which you were born, raised and reared,” says Tobergte of his years with Tri-Ed. Much of Tobergte’s time has been focused on the economic development of Northern Kentucky. He worked for the city of Covington for four years before joining Tri-Ed, and now is an attorney specializing
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in economic development for the law firm Graydon. Tobergte has also been involved with the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Foreign Trade Zone, Northern Kentucky Port Authority, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and REDI Cincinnati in addition to many other organizations. Tobergte, who was born into a large family and now has one of his own, says he’s proud to have served a region that gives so much back. “I’m very much in tune with having a region in which you can not only be entrepreneurial, you can be very productive here in the private sector, but then you can also raise your family and have a good solid allocation of time amongst family, friends and work,” he says. - CORINNE MINARD
PREVIOUS Inductees
William P. Butler - 2017
Wayne Carlisle - 2017
Jerry Carroll - 2015
Helen Carroll - 2015
Judith Clabes - 2015
Gerald “Jerry” Deters - 2015
Ralph A. Drees - 2016
R.C. Durr - 2017
Merwin Grayson - 2014
Ralph Haile - 2016
Candace S. McGraw - 2018
Brian J. Papke - 2018
Wm T. “Bill” Robinson III - 2014
Donna Salyers - 2014
James E. Simpson Jr. - 2018
Matth Toebben - 2014
Paul Verst - 2015
Dr. James C. Vortuba - 2014
John Yeager - 2016
www.BestofNKY.com
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End of an Era?
MainStrasse Village businesses face a possible festival-free future BY ERIC SPANGLER
T
he bilge pumps on the MainStrasse Village Association were already working overtime, furiously trying to dump a boatload of debt overboard from its Maifest and Goettafest events earlier in 2018. Extreme weather events during those two festivals negatively impacted attendance and revenue. The MainStrasse Village Association’s financial future, which had been a solvent and successful organization for 30 years, now hinged on a good-weather weekend in early September 2018. That’s when thousands of people were expected to converge on the city’s historic, German-inspired MainStrasse neighborhood for its iconic and popular Oktoberfest event, pumping much-needed cash into the group’s coffers. But that weekend the skies darkened and it rained.
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Then it poured. The association’s hopes to remain financially solvent were dissolved in the copious drops of water that fell from the sky that fateful Saturday in September as the thousands of visitors expected to enjoy bratwursts, schnitzel, potato pancakes, giant cream puffs, German chocolate cake, apple strudel, live music, rides and beer stayed away. Unable to pay for costly weather insurance, the association was saddled with a loss of more than $100,000 from the poorly attended Oktoberfest event. It was the death knell for the MainStrasse Village Association. Just a few weeks after Oktoberfest the association agreed to declare bankruptcy. The Chapter 7 filing means the nonprofit group that has been running festivals, promoting tourism and helping manage events
There will be a lot fewer people in George Steinford Park and Goebel Park in MainStras se Village without festivals in the future.
for over 30 years in MainStrasse Village will eventually be dissolved as a 501(c)(4) organization. The Maifest, Goettafest and Oktoberfest events will no longer take place unless another group steps up to manage the events. That could be bad for many of the businesses in MainStrasse Village that have benefited over the years from the large number of people the festivals brought to the area. Mark Apseloff, owner of Kimmy’s Korner Grocery, says the festivals increased his business by about 25 percent each day. “It would be a nice increase because we get people who are going down to the festival who would buy soft drinks and beer … and cigarettes. And we sell pizza so we’d have an increase in that. And then coming home the same thing.” Mary Kay Lonneman, owner of MK’s Totebags and Monogramming, says she also
Mar y Kay Lonneman, owner of MK’s Totebags and Monogramming in MainStras se Village, says Maifest, Ok tober fest and other festivals were good for her busines s because people would stop in and learn about her store during the event s and come back later to shop. enjoyed good weekends of sales during the events. “And even if people didn’t buy it was a good way for people to see the store and come back later,” says Lonneman. Tim Eversole, owner of Bean Haus Bakery & Cafe, agreed that the exposure his business received during the festivals was also good for his business. “We don’t get a lot of business from it that week [of the festival], we get business from it two or three weeks later,” he says. “It does positively impact us for weeks to come after that.” Which is exactly the point of the festivals, he says. “It’s about awareness. That’s what the festivals are for … is awareness. You bring people into the city of Covington, they have fun and they want to come back.” Once people discover new businesses during the festivals they tell other people about them, says Stephen L. J. Hoffman, justice of the peace and magistrate of Kenton County who performs wedding ceremonies. “That’s what I depend on,” he says. “And not having those crowds does … hurt me.” Not only will the lack of festivals hurt the bottom line of businesses in the MainStrasse Village it will also take away a piece of history. “It’s a tradition and you hate to see those things end,” says Apseloff. Hoffman says, “They’re going to be sorely missed.” Not everyone, however, will miss the festivals. “I’m glad that they’re over with,” says Kevin Swayne, owner of Swayne on Main beauty shop. “They’re a pain in the a-- for
most people down here.” Swayne says festivalgoers would take all the parking spots his customers would normally use. “When you’re trying to operate a business around a festival—I don’t care what town it is—it’s not an easy thing,” says Swayne. “I don’t benefit from [the festivals] at all and I don’t really care about them.” But for those businesses that did benefit from the festivals what will happen now? Amy Kummler, owner of the Up Over Bar, says that while the MainStrasse Village Association is bankrupt many of the businesses in the area are doing well financially. “People assumed the businesses went bankrupt or … were doing bad and that
is not true,” says Kummler. “Everybody is booming.” But make no mistake, those events did help increase the bottom line of businesses like her own bar, she says. “Oh, heck yeah. I love the festivals!” says Kummler. So is anything being done to bring the festivals back to MainStrasse Village? Kummler says yes—a group of businesspeople is meeting to explore ways to bring the festivals back to MainStrasse Village. “There’s a couple different people looking at taking on Oktoberfest and Maifest, Goettafest,” says Kummler. “There will be events in MainStrasse and I think they will be on a smaller scale, a little more upscale.” Ken Smith, Covington’s director of neighborhood services, confirmed that there is a group of MainStrasse Village businesspeople meeting to figure out how to bring the festivals back to MainStrasse Village. “We have met with business owners in the neighborhood just trying to gauge what their plans were and what their … thoughts were on the festivals moving forward,” says Smith. He says there was a general consensus that the businesses wanted to have some type of continuing activity—whether it was festivals or something else—in the MainStrasse Village that would promote the area. Kummler is optimistic the festivals will return to MainStrasse Village, but she says the younger generation of business leaders need to step up. “It needs new blood,” she says. “I think in the long run it’s going to be great.” It’s a sunny view that may soon be needed on festival days. n
Many bar s and restaurant s in MainStras se Village received a revenue boost during festival event s. www.BestofNKY.com
31
Where Every
FACE Has a Story
The Vent Haven Museum in Ft. Mitchell, the world’s only ventriloquist museum, is more than meets the eye BY JULI HALE
The Vent Haven Museum is home to nearly 1,000 dummies.
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NKY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
I
n a crowded room at Vent Haven Museum, hundreds of tiny, shiny faces stare straight ahead, their eyes wide and their mouths most often curved into a smile. They appear happy and ready to chat. Many wear suits or even formal attire. Sitting among them, a small, crudely carved, bodiless head appears out of place. Ruland doesn’t look like his ventriloquist dummy counterparts, but his slot jaw makes him a member of an elite collection. His story proves that each piece of the Vent Haven collection is more than meets the eye. Ruland was a tool of survival as much as entertainment. The figure was created by Erich Everty, a German soldier who carved the figure with a pocketknife while he was being held in a Russian POW camp. during World War II Everty performed for fellow inmates to keep spirits high and for the kitchen staff to get extra scraps of food. Every dummy in the museum’s collection has a story. Some are profound, like Ruland’s, others more lighthearted. Vent Haven Museum is the only ventriloquist museum in the world. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood of Ft. Mitchell, only a small sign near the road gives any indication to the wonder that is housed in three small buildings on the property. Once inside, it is impossible to miss the charm that comes with hundreds of little faces crowded into the small rooms. Inside the buildings, nearly 1,000 dummies sit on display. Some are faces and stories many of us already know like Edgar Bergen’s sidekick Charlie McCarthy, a dummy with his own radio show from 1937-1955; Farfel the Dog from the 1950s Nestle commercials; and the more modern collection of Jeff Dunham including Peanut and Walter. Some, like Cecil Wigglenose and the eight additional rare McElroy figures in the collection, are famous only to collectors and vent enthusiasts. Others aren’t known by many but share similarly incredible stories. And each was made to entertain. “We are unique. There is no other place like us in the world. We get all kinds of visitors and each demographic has a different reaction,” says Anne Roberts, a long-time volunteer and one-time curator of the museum. The collection started as a labor of love for W.S. Berger, a Cincinnati businessman with a passion for all things vent. Originally kept in his home, the dummies filled one bedroom, then another, then a third before
he sold his car and renovated his garage into a showroom. As the collection grew, he built a second building, and eventually a third to hold the then 500 dummies and related memorabilia. In 1973, the museum was incorporated, officially turning his private collection in a business open for visitors. “It was a hobby that got out of control,” says Roberts. “This is a place that has to be seen to be believed. It is a place full of stories.” Though not a professional ventriloquist, Berger was a major fan of the art form and through correspondence became friends with every leading ventriloquist during his lifetime. Connecting fans of ventriloquism remains a goal of the museum today, which hosts an annual conVENTion that attracts 500-700 ventriloquists ranging from amateur to professional. It was at the 1975 convention when a young Jeff Dunham first experienced Vent Haven. He has returned every year since. For the last 30-plus years, he has also served on the Vent Haven Board of Advisors, a who’s who of vent talent that includes Willie Tyler, Jay Johnson, Dan Horn and Bob Rumba. “As someone who has dedicated literally every moment of his working hours to the single profession of being a performing ventriloquist, W.S. Berger and his Vent Haven are, to me, jewels to be appreciated and treasured. His story began humbly and continues wonderfully to this day,” Dunham says. Berger died in 1972 but his collection has continued to grow. Each year, the museum accepts donations of new dummies and other vent ephemera. Some are donated by well-known performers, like Dunham. Others are given by lesser-known performers, recovered from garage sales and saved from the trash. Between 20 to 30 dummies are donated each year, with the most recent ones placed in a special display. Vent Haven welcomes them all, happy to include them for their art form. Today, nearly 1,000 dummies; 7,000 pictures, playbills, scripts, videos and audio recordings; a library of hundreds of books; and a personal correspondence archive of more than 200,000 letters have filled the museum beyond capacity. In the more than 40 years since its opening, the collection has doubled in size, but the square footage of space has remained the same. Additionally, the museum is only partially handicapped accessible and lacks restroom facilities. A capital campaign, with a goal of raising
ABOVE: Annie Roberts, long-time volunteer and former curator of the museum, with one of the rare McElroy figures LEFT: Jacko was the favorite figure of museum founder W.S. Berger’s wife, Josephine.
$1 million, was kicked off in July 2017 to remedy this situation. The funds will be used to build a new, larger building on the property that can be used to better meet the museum’s mission to preserve the existing collection, educate the public on the art of ventriloquism and continue acquiring ventriloquial figures and memorabilia. Thanks to a $200,000 pledge from the Drees Homes Foundation, they have surpassed the halfway point. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity
of the Drees Homes Foundation,” director and curator Lisa Sweasy says. “This is the largest single gift the museum has received, and we are very grateful for this show of support for us and our mission.” The museum is open seasonally, May through September, by appointment only. All tours are guided and last approximately one hour. Requested admission donation is $10 per person. Guests can get some hands-on interaction with some dummies, learning how differently designed models are operated as well as a little lesson in vent speak, which includes not only learning to talk without moving your lips, but also modifying the way some words are said to allow for the sounds that cannot be made with your mouth closed. To schedule a tour, call 859-341-0461. For information about the museum, visit its website at venthaven.org n www.BestofNKY.com
33
NKY ENTERTAINMENT
More than the Games Dave and Buster’s is connecting with the community by hosting local events, like Breakfast with Santa, and by being the ideal place to watch televised events such as football games.
Dave & Buster’s in Florence heads into its third year with a local mindset BY KE VIN MICHELL
E
ven with over 100 locations across the country, a new Dave & Buster’s opening brings excitement. When the Florence location opened its doors to the public in June 2016, it also filled a void for food and entertainment in one place that the area had lacked for nearly a decade. The 31,000-square-foot facility is sort of a milestone location, as it is the first Dave & Buster’s opened in Kentucky (another in Louisville just opened in February). “I think a lot of people in the beginning were just really excited for something new to do in town,” says Vanessa LaFoy, senior corporate sales manager for the Florence location. Understanding that the novelty of a new facility eventually wears off, the young Dave & Buster’s has begun to focus on special events for the community of Florence. The location’s proximity to downtown
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NKY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
and various other neighborhoods on both sides of the river—which are closer to the Florence location than they are to the other Greater Cincinnati location in Springdale— promises a wide reach for potential customers. But General Manager Jason Bradshaw is looking to prioritize building a loyal, local base of repeat customers starting with the roughly 30,000 permanent residents of Florence. For example, the venue put on an Easter morning buffet on Saturday, April 13, complete with an appearance from the Easter Bunny, following up on its popular Breakfast with Santa in December 2018. Meanwhile, Bradshaw and the company are working to develop partnerships with area organizations—such as the Florence Freedom baseball team—that could help make unique, fun and family-friendly events happen regularly. “My biggest goal is to get out there and develop some of these ideas,” Bradshaw says. “The more that we can be a part of things in the community, the better.” The Florence Dave & Buster’s is already involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation through the franchise’s national partnership with the children’s charity. April brought
about one of what Bradshaw hopes to be quarterly events to raise donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. During these events, guests can donate any amount of money over a dollar and receive a free gameplay card in return or they can support the foundation by purchasing one of the specially marked food menu items, the proceeds from which benefit Make-A-Wish efforts. Bradshaw also hopes to bring in local children who are beneficiaries of the foundation for a day of fun and games. Of course, Dave & Buster’s has also positioned itself as a premier venue to catch sporting events like the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and the 2019 Bellator mixed martial arts series. Those who aren’t into sports, though, can enjoy hours in the arcade midway while others huddle around the many TVs. “I know there are a lot of choices for people to go to,” LaFoy notes about national sporting events, “but maybe the wife or the kids don’t want to watch. [They] can go play.” Though a recognizable chain with a wellestablished layout and atmosphere, there is room for unique local flourishes to be implemented at individual Dave and Buster’s entertainment venues, which is what Bradshaw, LaFoy and the Florence location aim to build on in their third year. From unique events to the creative flair of Kitchen Manager Ernie Estrada’s food program, the back-to-back winner of best Northern Kentucky children’s birthday party venue in the Best of NKY has plenty to offer the citizens of Florence and beyond—and the staff is excited to show that off. “The main thing is to really get them in to show them what we can do,” says LaFoy. n
N K Y E N T E R TA I N M E N T
The People’s Bridge The Newport Southbank Bridge Company works to keep the Purple People Bridge a community fixture and destination BY KE VIN MICHELL
I
t’s been nearly 20 years since the Newport Southbank Bridge permanently closed its roads to anything but pedestrian traffic moving between Kentucky and Ohio. The structure known as the Purple People Bridge is now in danger of having its defining lavender hue fade away into a pallid shade closer to gray. Slapping a coat of paint on the half-mile bridge is easier said than done. The 2002 paint job cost just shy of $3 million. Now, the Newport Southbank Bridge Company— the private nonprofit that owns and maintains the bridge—is seeking over $1 million for a new coat of that distinctive purple. “People don’t realize the Purple People Bridge is privately owned,” says Joyce McMullin, co-administrator of the Newport
Southbank Bridge Company. “It’s a nonprofit and all the money that we get from events that are held on the bridge goes back into the maintenance of the bridge.” Indeed, every penny earned from events is spent on keeping the bridge open and accessible to the public. McMullin and Newport Southbank Bridge Company President Jack Moreland have worked hard to ensure the bridge has a steady stream of programming throughout the warmer months. Events like the Party on the Purple series are returning among many others, but the bridge is still available to rent through the rest of the year. Every rental helps fund the Purple People Bridge’s maintenance and that fresh layer of paint. “We want people to rent the bridge,” McMullin says. “We want them to know it’s available for use. Corporate events, weddings, private parties—it’s available. “We’re open to any suggestions of things or events people want to do on the bridge. We’ll listen to anything and take a look at it.” The Newport Southbank Bridge Company’s openness to creative use of the bridge is as much about allowing residents of both riverbanks to feel a sense of ownership as it is about ensuring revenue for the nonprofit. “We really want both sides of the river
The Purple People Bridge is home to a variety of events, including the Party on the Purple series.
to see the bridge as being an asset,” says Moreland. The Purple People Bridge has been an arterial fixture connecting two vibrant and growing cities for years. Moreland and McMullin’s hope for their nonprofit is to preserve the bridge as a vital connector between Newport and Cincinnati while making it a destination itself. “We view that as the definition of a vibrant community,” Moreland says. Purple People Bridge events run the gamut from yoga sessions and happy hours to larger festivities like the American Heart Association’s Mini Marathon. Moreland and McMullin are excited for what can be done in the future, such as developing creative LED lighting. But securing the funds for repainting the bridge is the top priority and, though they’re working hard to fill up rentals to fund it, Moreland and McMullin hope the community can help with a portion of the cost. There are two ways to contribute funds. The nonprofit has started a GoFundMe page with the goal of crowdsourcing 10 percent of the expenses, which can be found at gofundme.com/purplepeoplebridge. It also accepts online donations through its website at purplepeoplebridge.com/donations. n www.BestofNKY.com
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L IVE WELL: CANCER CAR E
Fighting Cancer Together Local health systems are working to provide quality cancer care close to home BY CORINNE MIN ARD
A
ccording to the National Cancer Institute, Kenton, Boone and Campbell counties have some of the highest cancer diagnosis rates in the state of Kentucky. Local health care providers, however, are working to provide better outcomes with new advancements, new treatments and even new buildings.
ST. ELIZABETH HEALTHCARE St. Elizabeth Healthcare is expected to open its new $140 million Cancer Center in 2020. The 233,000-square-foot, five-story center promises to be the largest and most
comprehensive cancer center in the region. According to a press release, the new center will feature: - Precision medicine and genomic health, which will assist doctors in giving patients the right medicine at the right time. - Increased education, screening and prevention services, which will enable doctors to catch cancer earlier. - Clinical research with more access to clinical trials, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and members of the NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), and conveniently located in the area.
- Medical professionals of multiple disciplines—including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, oncology surgeons, nurses, genetic counselors and more—together under one roof. - And the most advanced technology in the region. President and CEO Garren Colvin said in a press release that “the Center is a key component in fulfilling our ongoing vision to lead Northern Kentucky to become one of the healthiest communities in America.” Leading the Cancer Center as the executive director of oncology services will be www.BestofNKY.com
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LIVE WELL: CANCER CARE Dr. Douglas Flora. He previously served as the interim director and has been with St. Elizabeth since 2016. In a press release, Flora said, “The Center we’re about to build is designed from the ground up with the patient experience as our driving motivator. We want to offer our patients access to the latest clinical trials but also that softer touch that lets them know they are part of our family.”
UC HEALTH Across the river, UC Health is also looking to beef up its cancer care offerings. The health system teamed up with Cincinnati Children’s and University of Cincinnati to create the Cincinnati Cancer Center. The goal of the new center is to become a national hub for research and to be recognized as such by the National Cancer Institute. Doing so would bring $40 million in federal research money to the organizations. At UC Health’s Clifton campus, the health system is planning on investing $30 million to improve the campus’ inpatient and outpatient facilities as well as the navigation
CANCER IN KENTUCKY Cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the state of Kentucky. The American Cancer Society reports statistics for all 50 states, from the number of new cases each year to the most commonly diagnosed types. Between 2011 and 2015, the most commonly reported types of cancer in the state were breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, colorectum cancer, uterine corpus and melanoma in the skin. However, ACS predicts that lung and bronchus cancer will have the highest incident rate in 2019. One reason for that? Kentucky has the second highest percentage of smokers in the country.
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NKY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
w w w. b e s t o f n ky. c o m Inside NKY’s Craft Beer Scene
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PICNIC TABLE PROJECT SUMMER 2018
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LIVE WELL: CANCER CARE of the campus. The Clifton location is home to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, UC Health Physicians’ Offices and Barrett Cancer Center.
CHRIST HOSPITAL NETWORK For those seeking care closer to home, The Christ Hospital Health Network’s Outpatient Center in Ft. Wright offers oncology services like chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy as well as some outpatient procedures. “People like and—I think rightly so— want their care as close to home as possible,” says Dr. Brian Mannion, a medical oncologist and medical director of oncology at The Christ Hospital. “I think they’re very happy to be able to do that very close to wherever they reside.” At the outpatient center, patients are able to have their testing completed, learn their diagnosis and receive many treatments within the same building. “Someone could come in, they could get their CAT scan and then they just walk down the hall and go over it with us, talk about results, and then could go get a treatment all without leaving the one building,” says Mannion. Patients may need to travel to one of the network’s locations in Ohio for radiation or complex surgery, but inpatient procedures like a lumpectomy for breast cancer or removing skin cancer can be performed in Ft. Wright. According to Mannion, being able to access most procedures and the helpfulness of the center’s staff are what patients most appreciate about The Christ Hospital. “Cancer care is very complex. One person doesn’t do it—it’s really an entire team. So a person during their cancer treatment they might see a person who does chemo for them, someone who does radiation for them, they’ll see a physical therapist, they’ll see a counselor, you just go down the list and they’ll see an entire team of people and how they move from one part of the care to another is very seamless. They don’t feel like they’re forgotten about or that they have to do a lot of stuff on their own. We do a lot of legwork and make sure that A happens and B happens and C happens. We really make it an experience for them that focuses on their care,” he says. n
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NKY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
Dr. Brian Mannion
w w w. b e s t o f n ky. c o m
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L I VE WELL: DENTISTRY
Dr. David Rider and Dr. Kelty McLaurin
Healthy from the Start Dr. David Rider and Dr. Kelty McLaurin work with families to ensure kids have healthy teeth from the beginning BY CORINNE MIN ARD
A
ccording to Dr. David Rider, the key to pediatric dentistry is taking care of the parents, not the children. “Pediatric dentistry is training the parents—not so much the children—about what to do, how to do, what to expect, how to plan [and] what’s going to happen at certain ages. It really is giving the parents all the information you could possibly get while they’re holding their baby at 1 year of age,” says Rider. “Pediatric dentistry is providing dentistry to parents first, kids second.”
Because many people say that they had horrible, or even traumatizing, visits to the dentist as children, Rider says that his goal—and the goal of associate Dr. Kelty McLaurin, who joined the practice about two years ago—is to give kids today a positive experience. “The practice philosophy is to focus on the kids, make them happy [and] prevention of cavities—so much prevention can be possible. [We want to] make the experience just as great for the families as possible,” says McLaurin. The practice, located at 1809 Alexandria Pike in Highland Heights, sees patients from ages 1 to 25. As Rider says, “We don’t send them away.” Part of the reason that patients keep coming back may be Rider’s approach to dental work. “Some people do more dentistry than what I think is indicated. Or some people really push the kids over the top to where they’re going to get this done no matter what. We’re really kind and gentle and we
try to find alternative methods for dealing with children so we don’t ruin them, so they don’t become the parent that we’ve talked about before,” says Rider. McLaurin says she approaches patients in the same way. “As a new mom, I try to treat every kid exactly like how I would treat my own kid. I don’t want to do anything that I wouldn’t do for my son. I just try to treat each one of the precious kids that is in here just like our own,” she says. Rider and McLaurin’s commitment to this has led not just to returning patients, but also to parents who were once patients bringing in their children. “We have parents that are here now that were my patients. That’s the ultimate compliment,” Rider says. “We did what we were supposed to do to get them back here. I think that that’s the gauge for our success is how many people can we get. There’s never a day here where we don’t have a parent that was a patient at some point in this career. I love that.” n www.BestofNKY.com
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N KY RETI REMENT GUID E
Levels of Care NKY offers living facilities that cover the entire spectrum of care BY CORINNE MIN ARD
L
ooking at senior living options for either you or your loved ones can be an overwhelming task. Northern Kentucky is filled with a variety of retirement options, but finding the one that best suits your needs can be daunting. To help you in your search, we’ve compiled a list of common terms to help you narrow down your choices. Assisted Living: A facility that offers day-to-day services likes meals, laundry, medication assistance and more. This can include advanced nursing care, though that’s not always the case. Continuing Care: Care that changes as the needs of the residents change. Many
continuing care facilities have residents that start in independent living, move to assisted living as they get older and then transition to nursing care when they need more help, all within the same campus. Home Care: A nurse or other medical practitioner comes to a senior’s home, helping with anything from basic tasks to health care. Independent Living: A facility that allows seniors to live mostly independently. Meals, housekeeping and social activities may be included. Nursing Facility: A facility that is licensed by the state to provide 24-hour nursing care. Rehabilitation Care: A facility that offers therapeutic services like physical and occupational therapy. This can include outpatient services or allow seniors to stay at the facility for a short time. Respite Care: A facility that provides temporary care. This can be for several hours or several days, and is often used for when a caregiver needs a short break. n
Retirement Guide Listings Name
Address
Phone
Website
ATRIA HIGHLAND CROSSING
400 Farrell Dr, Ft Wright 41011
859-654-0433
atriaseniorliving.com
ATRIA SUMMIT HILLS
2625 Legends Way, Crestview Hills 41017
859-757-4951
atriaseniorliving.com
BAPTIST LIFE COMMUNITIES - VILLAGE CARE CENTER
2900 Riggs Ave, Erlanger 41018
859-727-9330
blcnky.com
BARRINGTON OF FORT THOMAS
940 Highland Ave, Ft Thomas 41075
859-609-3307
carespring.com genesishcc.com
Assisted Living
BRIDGE POINT CENTER
7300 Woodspoint Dr, Florence 41042
859-371-5731
BROOKDALE EDGEWOOD
2950 Turkeyfoot Rd, Edgewood 41017
859-448-5722
brookdale.com
CARMEL MANOR
100 Carmel Manor Rd, Ft Thomas 41075
859-781-5111
carmelmanor.com
Colonial Heights & Gardens 6900 Hopeful Rd, Florence 41042 859-525-6900, colonialhg.org
Our mission is to provide a range of retirement housing options and services for senior adults according to their needs, in a positive environment enhancing each resident’s quality of life as it relates to their physical, mental and spiritual well-being..
COVINGTON LADIES HOME
702 Garrard St, Covington 41011
859-431-6913
covingtonladieshome.org
ELMCROFT OF FLORENCE KY
212 Main St, Florence 41042
859-795-2011
elmcroft.com
Emerald Trace 3802 Turkeyfoot Rd, Elsmere 41018 859-342-0200 x503, emeraldtrace.org
Emerald Trace on Turkeyfoot, Senior Care by Rosedale Green, offers short-term rehabilitation in a dedicated building with all private suites. Our memory care and longterm skilled nursing care are designed to duplicate the essence and environment of home—our household design puts people first! Call today for more information.
GRANT CENTER
201 Kimberly Ln, Williamstown 41097
859-824-7803
IVY KNOLL SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY
800 Highland Ave, Covington 41011
859-491-3800
genesishcc.com ivyknoll.com
MADONNA MANOR
2344 Amsterdam Rd, Villa Hills 41017
859-426-6400
homeishere.org
MAGNOLIA SPRINGS SENIOR LIVING
7665 Ewing Blvd, Florence 41042
859-780-5105
msflorence.com
www.BestofNKY.com
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NKY RETIREMENT GUIDE Name
Address
Phone
Website
OWENTON CENTER
905 Highway 127 North, Owenton 40359
502-484-5721
genesishcc.com
THE PAVILION AT KENTON
401 E. 20th St, Covington 41014
859-283-6600
pavilionky.com
Rosedale Green 4250 Glenn Ave, Covington 41015 859-431-2244, rosedalegreen.org
Rosedale Green is a not-for-profit senior care provider built on a foundation of quality care. Rosedale’s recent renovation has transformed our campus from typical to amazing! Hallways and nurse stations have been replaced with front doors and entryways that lead into eight individual households. We nurture individual preferences and encourage our residents to make the most of every day. Rosedale Green is not just “homelike” we are home! Call today to find out more!
THE SEASONS AT ALEXANDRIA - A BLC COMMUNITY
7341 E Alexandria Pike, Alexandria 41001
859-694-4450
blcnky.com
ST. CHARLES COMMUNITY
600 Farrell Dr, Covington 41011
859-331-3224
stcharlescommunity.org
BARRINGTON OF FORT THOMAS
940 Highland Ave, Ft Thomas 41075
859-609-3307
carespring.com
CARMEL MANOR
100 Carmel Manor Rd, Ft Thomas 41075
859-781-5111
carmelmanor.com colonialhg.org
Continuing Care
COLONIAL HEIGHTS & GARDENS
6900 Hopeful Rd, Florence 41042
859-525-6900
IVY KNOLL SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY
800 Highland Ave, Covington 41011
859-491-3800
ivyknoll.com
MADONNA MANOR
2344 Amsterdam Rd, Villa Hills 41017
859-426-6400
homeishere.org
THE SEASONS AT ALEXANDRIA - A BLC COMMUNITY
7341 E Alexandria Pike, Alexandria 41001
859-694-4450
blcnky.com
ST. CHARLES COMMUNITY
600 Farrell Dr, Covington 41011
859-331-3224
stcharlescommunity.org
Independent Living
ALDERSGATE APARTMENTS
8551 Aldersgate St, Florence 41042
859-282-1180
wallickcommunities.com
ATRIA HIGHLAND CROSSING
400 Farrell Dr, Ft Wright 41011
859-654-0433
atriaseniorliving.com
ATRIA SUMMIT HILLS
2625 Legends Way, Crestview Hills 41017
859-757-4951
atriaseniorliving.com
BAPTIST LIFE COMMUNITIES - LONG HOUSE
3000 Riggs Ave, Erlanger 41018
859-283-8606
blcnky.com
BAPTIST LIFE COMMUNITIES - MUNRO HOUSE
3034 Riggs Ave, Erlanger 41018
859-817-3265
blcnky.com
BAPTIST LIFE COMMUNITIES - TIMBER WOODS
Dick Combs Drive & Charles Lewis Lane, Erlanger 41018
859-817-3265
blcnky.com
BARRINGTON OF FORT THOMAS
940 Highland Ave, Ft Thomas 41075
859-609-3307
carespring.com
INDEPENDENT LIVING • Spacious private apartments – 5 individual floor plans • Screened porches, patios and Bay windows • Housekeeping and Maintenance provided • Cable TV provided • Scheduled social activities, clubs and outings • 24 hour Emergency communication in each apartment • Local transportation • Staffed Wellness Center
My New Kentucky Home….at Colonial Heights and Gardens!
• 2 Well-prepared Meals Daily in our Dining room • Carports Available / Ample Extra Storage • Over 17 Acres in a Park-like setting
LICENSED PERSONAL CARE/ ASSISTED LIVING/MEMORY CARE • Spacious Private apartments – 5 individual floor plans • Assistance with Bathing, Dressing and Grooming • Medication Administration • Private, Nurturing Environment for Memory Impaired • Scheduled social activities, clubs and outings • 3 Well-prepared meals and Snacks daily • Laundry, Housekeeping and Maintenance Service provided
6900 Hopeful Road Florence, KY 41042 www.colonialhg.org 859-525-6900
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NKY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
• Ample Storage
The Lifestyle you Deserve. The Value you Expect. Call for a Tour Today 859-525-6900 TDD 800-545-1833 ext 359
NKY RETIREMENT GUIDE Name
Address
Phone
Website
COLONIAL HEIGHTS & GARDENS
6900 Hopeful Rd, Florence 41042
859-525-6900
colonialhg.org
GOLDEN TOWER HI-RISE
50 E 11th St, Covington 41011
859-491-5311
hacov.org
HIGHPOINT APARTMENTS
110 Hay St, Ludlow 41016
859-491-7365
wallickcommunities.com
IVY KNOLL SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY
800 Highland Ave, Covington 41011
859-491-3800
ivyknoll.com
MADONNA MANOR
2344 Amsterdam Rd, Villa Hills 41017
859-426-6400
homeishere.org
PANORAMA APARTMENTS
111 Brent Spence Bridge Sq, Covington 41011
859-581-4445
panorama-apts.com
SPRING HILL VILLAGE
700 Taylorspring Ct, Taylor Mill 41015
859-581-1544
masonichomesky.com
ST. CHARLES COMMUNITY
600 Farrell Dr, Covington 41011
859-331-3224
stcharlescommunity.org
BAPTIST LIFE COMMUNITIES - VILLAGE CARE CENTER
2900 Riggs Ave, Erlanger 41018
859-727-9330
blcnky.com
BRIDGE POINT CENTER
7300 Woodspoint Dr, Florence 41042
859-371-5731
genesishcc.com
Nursing
CARMEL MANOR
100 Carmel Manor Rd, Ft Thomas 41075
859-781-5111
carmelmanor.com
EMERALD TRACE ON TURKEYFOOT
3802 Turkeyfoot Rd, Elsmere 41018
859-342-0200
emeraldtrace.org
FLORENCE PARK CARE CENTER
6975 Burlington Pike, Florence 41042
513-605-5000
hcmg.com
GRANT CENTER
201 Kimberly Ln, Williamstown 41097
859-824-7803
genesishcc.com
HIGHLANDSPRING OF FT. THOMAS
960 Highland Ave, Ft Thomas 41075
859-572-0600
carespring.com
MADONNA MANOR
2344 Amsterdam Rd, Villa Hills 41017
859-426-6400
homeishere.org genesishcc.com
OWENTON CENTER
905 Highway 127 North, Owenton 40359
502-484-5721
THE PAVILION AT KENTON
401 E. 20th St, Covington 41014
859-283-6600
pavilionky.com
ROSEDALE GREEN
4250 Glenn Ave, Covington 41015
859-431-2244
rosedalegreen.org
THE SEASONS AT ALEXANDRIA - A BLC COMMUNITY
7341 E Alexandria Pike, Alexandria 41001
859-694-4450
blcnky.com
Serves Covington, Bellevue, Dayton, Erlanger, Florence, Fort Thomas, Fort Mitchell and Newport
513-246-4127
assistedtransitionseniorliving.com
BLUEGRASS CARE NAVIGATORS
2312 Alexandria Dr, Lexington 40504
855-492-0812
bgcarenav.org
COMFORT KEEPERS
3609 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring 41076
859-491-5777
comfortkeepers.com
Resources
ASSISTED TRANSITION SENIOR LIVING & CARE FINDERS
INTRODUCING
Emerald Trace ON TURKEYFOOT
Come see Rosedale Green’s completed Household renovation!
Senior Care by Rosedale Green, trusted Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation, and Memory Care in NKY. Offering two beautiful, innovative, forward Emerald Trace 859-342-0200 Rosedale Green 859-431-2244
thinking “household”
Emerald Trace breakthrough A NEW APPROACH TOaSENIOR CARE.
concept campuses!
design concept!
www.BestofNKY.com
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LOVE NKY Aaron Duesing, photographer
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NKY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
These three words have the power to comfort, support, and protect, because they mean someone who truly cares is looking out for you. And at St. Elizabeth, we take this idea to heart because your care is very personal to us. That’s why we’re committed to being right here for you, with everything from state-of-the-art birthing rooms to our Level III NICU.
stelizabeth.com/baby