Ace Magazine - Lexington, KY | February 2023

Eleanor Hume O’Rear Peavy:

December 13, 1954 — January 11, 2023

“Only Eleanor could handle a hat, staff, and sheep at the pen in a high wind.”

EDITRIX Rhonda Reeves

CONTRIBUTORS

Evan Albert, Rob Brezny, Erin Chandler, Walter Cornett, Kevin Elliot, Atanas Golev, Trish Hatler, Austin Johnson, Bridget Johnson, Johnny Lackey, Paul Martin, Megan McCardwell, Michael Jansen Miller, Kevin Nance, Claire Ramsay, Kristina Rosen, Tom Yates, Kakie Urch

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Jennifer Jones 859.225.4889 ace@firstmedialex.com

DIGITAL SPECIALIST

Chris Keith

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Janet Roy

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 859.225.4889, ext. 237

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210 E. High St. #654 Lexington, KY 40588

COPYRIGHT © 2023

10

on the cover Animal Farm

“Four legs good.”

in every issue

P6

BUSINESS NEWS

P12

CALENDAR

February pull-out centerfold

P14

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

P18

ACE EATS OUT

P19

CLASSIFIEDS + ASTRO + PET PICK

P20

HOME AND GARDEN

P22

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate: What Sold, Where, for How Much?

—Alyce Grover

—George Orwell

TODAY’S ANSWER TO WHAT WOULD AUNT ANN DO?

Save both cats, because everyone deserves a chance at happily ever after

“They used to send me pictures of Moo, all dressed up in feather boas having tea parties with the little girls.”

—Michal Renau Rasmussen

P16 MOVIES

‘Cocaine Bear’ has his Kentucky roots in The Bluegrass Conspiracy “Andrew Carter Thornton II had single-handedly summed up the dark side of the American dream, or at least the Kentucky version of it, when he landed on a Knoxville, TN driveway with several million dollars worth of cocaine strapped to his waist and a failed parachute strapped to his back. He was 40 when he died.”

—Sally Denton in The Washington Post, 1985

LARGE SELECTION of Beautiful and Unique Lamps

VISIT

Apply for Masters of Craft Awards

Did you know that the second annual Keeneland Mercantile “Masters of Craft Awards” has launched? The Master of Craft awards are sponsored by Keeneland Mercantile. The Competition recognizes the products of craftsmen or businesses that manufacture or produce a product in the U.S.A. that fits into one of the four categories: Food & Drink, Home Goods, Wears, and Handmade.

The Overall Grand Prize Winner will receive $5,000 and featured product placement in the Keeneland Mercantile Store. The deadline to enter is February 5.

Bluegrass Tomorrow to host Vision Awards

Bluegrass Tomorrow will honor UK President Eli Capilouto, Kris Kimmel founder of Space Tango and the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation, and Castle & Key Distillery CEO Will Arvin at the 2023 Vision Awards Breakfast on Friday February 24, at the Lexington Downtown Hilton.

Saunders Named KY Tourism Member of the Year

Georgetown/Scott County Tourism executive director Lori Cooper Saunders was named KTIA Member of the Year during the Kentucky Travel Industry Association’s annual meeting.

“Lori epitomizes a KTIA member of the year,” said KTIA President and CEO Hank Phillips. “She has taken on a multitude of smaller behind-the-scenes projects in support of KTIA and the tourism industry, while also leading initiatives that had major impacts. Phillips cited her work in Kentucky tourism’s biggest win ever – the $75 million recovery appropriation, part of the American Rescue Plan Act, the COVID-19 economic relief bill signed into law.

The travel and tourism industry was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, triggering an unprecedented crisis in Kentucky’s tourism economy.

Lori Cooper Saunders

BUSINESS CALENDAR

FRI FEB 24

Vision Awards Breakfast, 8 am Downtown Hilton

Bluegrass Tomorrow’s 2023 Vision Awards Breakfast is 8 am on Friday February 24 at the Lexington Downtown Hilton.

THU FEB 9

Networking Happy Hour, 5:30 pm, Void Sake Company

LYPA’s first networking event of 2023 will be hosted at Craft Sake maker, The Void Sake Company. Network, meet new people, share business cards, make new friends. 21 and over only please.

WED FEB 15

Women Leading Kentucky Luncheon, Noon, Signature Club

Fayette County Attorney (and former Hamburg councilmember) Angela Evans is the speaker.

Fayette Alliance Executive Director, Brittany Roethemeier and Board Chair, Don Robinson provided a tour of Keeneland’s January Sale for Council members. The tour emphasized the economic impact agriculture has on our local economy. The Fayette alliance reports that Keeneland Sales generate $390 million in total economic impact each year. Racing generates $123 million in direct spending in Fayette County each year.

THU FEB 16

Commerce Lexington, Business Link, Collins Bowling

Kick off your 2023 networking with the Commerce Lexington Business Link afterhours networking event hosted by Collins Bowling/ Southland Lanes on Thursday, February 16, 4 pm - 6 pm.

TUE FEB 21

Kentucky Workforce Summit, Marriott Griffin Gate

Kentucky’s eighth annual Workforce Summit focuses on how to ensure the quality of the state’s workforce and improve the state’s economic position at home and around the globe, Feb 21 and Feb 22, Lexington’s Griffin Gate Marriott.

Congratulations to Keller Williams on their recent ribbon cutting in Hamburg

Happily Ever After

How to implicate a raccoon in a staged kitty crime scene?

BY MICHAL RENAU RASMUSSEN

Ipromised Aunt Ann I wouldn’t share this until she died, and that day arrived earlier than expected, so here goes.

Years ago, I boarded my horses at a tiny farm.

There were feral cats everywhere and there was a litter of kittens born in my hay stall. One of the kittens was black and white-spotted, like a little cow. It was the only kitten we were able to really tame. When they were a couple of months old, a raccoon ate the entire litter of kittens up in the hay loft.

Imagine my joy when I found that little black and white kitten hiding in my hay stall a little later. I called Aunt Ann and asked her to find it a home. I asked the farm owner if I could take the kitten. He said ‘no,’ that raccoons kept the feral cat population down and that was nature.

I called my father (an attorney) and asked him if the farm owner “owned” the kitten. He said if the mother was wild, no, he did not own the kitten.

Meanwhile, Aunt Ann had been telling me about a co-worker who got a cat from Death Row at the Humane Society. It had already been turned back in twice for aggression, and now it was attacking her two little girls. If they returned it, it would be destroyed. They were all wracked with guilt about the cat, but terrified of it all the same.

I said,”Bring me that cat, give them this kitten.” I took my clippers and shaved hair from the black and white kitten, spread it in the hay loft, and told the farmer that the kitten was killed by the raccoon.

Aunt Ann brought the Death Row Kitty to our farm to try his hand at being a Barn Cat. The kitten was named Moo and lived happily ever after as the Perfect Cat for a very happy family. They used to send me pictures of Moo, all dressed up in feather boas having tea parties with the little girls. That cat lived a blessed life. After a week as a barn cat, Death Row Kitty hitched a ride home with one of my husband’s interns (her name was Cat) and lived happily ever after, too.

Today’s Answer to ‘What Would Aunt Ann Do’ — save both cats, because everyone deserves a chance at happily ever after.

They used to send me pictures of Moo, all dressed up in feather boas having tea parties with the little girls.

OK Eleanor

BY ELEANOR PEAVY (‘LITTLE E’)

Eleanor Hume O’Rear Peavy, a devoted wife, mother, sister, cousin, friend, and animal lover, died January 11, 2023 after facing formidable health challenges. The odds were against her, but she fought fiercely and bravely for several months, never losing her sense of humor.

Eleanor’s husband Thom Peavy, and her daughter, Eleanor ‘Little E’ Peavy, fiercely supported her throughout her battle. Eleanor finally surrendered on her own terms, with Thom and ‘Little E’ at her side. At that moment, the world lost a most beautiful light.

Eleanor was born and raised on her family’s Versailles, Kentucky farm, Stoney Lonesome. She attended Frankfort Capitol Day Elementary School, The Lexington School and Ashley Hall Preparatory School in Charleston, SC. Eleanor was a graduate of Centre College and University of Camargo.

In 1973, she was presented as a debutante at the BlueGrass Charity Ball —always the southern belle and gracious hostess. Eleanor was also an artist, writer, and musician. She traded her 12-string guitar to acquire her beloved horse, Zachary.

For many years, Eleanor worked at Pedigree Associates in Lexington, Kentucky where she researched Thoroughbred racing and pedigrees. Using her knowledge of seven languages, she aided in the translations of many stud books and chart books.

In 1985, she moved to New York to work for The Jockey Club. There, she became a horse identifier for the New York Racing Association tracks. It was there that she was introduced to Thomas Byars Peavy. They were married on May 30, 1987 and settled near Saratoga Springs. Each year, Eleanor would post her anniversary as May 31, and Thom would need to correct her. It was here that they celebrated the birth of daughter ‘Little E.’

Eleanor and Thom relocated to Central Kentucky and established a horse transportation business. One could always find her, smiling, at the van desks at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton. Eleanor was trusted to make arrangements for shipping thoroughbreds, worth millions of dollars, around the country.

Over the years, Eleanor and Thom — or as Thom would say, Eleanor — began acquiring animals. Eleanor always had at least one horse, and she could ride like the wind. Then, she discovered the world of border collies and sheepdog trials. She would wear a variety of big, distinctive, floppy-brimmed hats, which became her signature. She was an avid competitor in both the USA and Canada.

Eleanor and Thom’s ‘Our Ewenique Farm’ is home to several border collies, more than 70 sheep, horses, donkeys, cows, chickens, cats, a pig and guineafowl. Eleanor named all of her animals and wrote colorful stories about their lives and deaths in her popular Facebook posts. She knew which sheep was which, even if they were in the back field. All looked identical to the casual observer. She gave love and compassion to all the creatures in her life.

In the beginning, Thom opposed having animals in the house. After all, when they met, Thom swore he’d never marry again, would never move out of New York, would never allow animals in the house (especially cats!) and didn’t want children. Eleanor would sweetly state “we compromised.”

It wasn’t long before a baby lamb was found on his chest and a cat settled in his lap while he was reading in bed.

“As a child, Eleanor Hume O’Rear Peavy always humored (encouraged) me when I felt the need to direct her Thom to which breeding shed and specific stallion our mare was booked. My time with her and Thom are foundational memories. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.”

—Zach Davis

Perhaps God grew weary of herding the sheer number of Eleanor’s animals across the rainbow bridge. Therefore, he called her up to handle the situation.

In addition to her husband, daughter and menagerie, Eleanor left behind a multitude of

broken hearted family members and dear friends from all over the world.There was always room for another creature or friend in her very large and generous heart. Eleanor’s heart of gold will be dearly missed, but we gain comfort in knowing that she lives on forever in the lives she touched.

Linda Radford wrote, “All creatures great and small, the Lord and Eleanor loved them all.”

Alyce Grover said, “Only Eleanor could handle a hat, staff, and sheep at the pen in a high wind. Loved those hats.”

Elissa Perry remembers, “Your mom always sent me home with farm eggs. I’ll certainly miss them now.”

Anita Britton recalls, “It was 1973 when a film called The Exorcist was released. My friends Margaret Lyle, Eleanor O’Rear and Eleanor’s brother all decided they wanted to see it. Me, not so much but I had access to a big car and I was the driving fool of the bunch. The women were all students at Centre and thought we were big kids. I had to drive the siblings to Stoney Lonesome and I have never been on a country road in the pitch black for so long in my life. Years later we would all laugh about our failed courage and how we were never going to do that again! What we did do was share a mutual friendship that endured for decades. I know there was a joyous, albeit raucous reunion on the other side and I am at peace knowing my dear friends are together again with all the beasts.”

Dee Allayne writes, “I believe the year was 1999, maybe 1998. I competed in Novice in my first herding trial, The Bluegrass Classic. I had been told what a famous trial this was, how all the ‘big hats’ would be there. I knew only two people there and found myself standing alone under the tent like a fish out of water. And then, I saw a smiling face coming toward me. “Hi! I’m Eleanor!” I am not sure if she was

‘All creatures great and small, the Lord and Eleanor loved them all’

Eleanor named all of her animals and wrote colorful stories about their lives and deaths in her popular Facebook posts. She knew which sheep was which, even if they were in the back field. All looked identical to the casual observer.

wearing one of her signature hats, but I like to think she was. We talked for quite a while, and a friendship was born.

“We were sisters in our love for all creatures. I watched how she cared for and respected every life, from sheep, to chickens, to dogs and cats and horses and everything in between. There are a lot of people in the dog trial world that think Eleanor and I are a bit batty for letting sheep live out their natural lives in our care. We can’t use them to train dogs, they cost us money and time. But Eleanor showed me the joy in caring for every life before I ever had sheep of my own. She is the only person I trust to look after my sheep and my will states that she will get them. I never considered that she would be gone before me.

“I can’t count how many times in the last 20 years my husband has looked at me and said, ‘OK Eleanor.’He says that when I am giving an old sheep meds because it is arthritic. He says that when I raise orphan lambs and goats in the house. He says that when I take in strays and rescues. While Jerry says this half in jest, he knows that, for me, there is no higher compliment than to be compared to Eleanor in how she gave love and compassion to all the creatures in her life. Every time I hear, ‘OK Eleanor,’ I know I am doing things right.

“I think it will be a great tribute to Eleanor if, every time we see someone being kind, we all say, ‘OK Eleanor,’ if not out loud, at least to ourselves. The world will be a better place if we all work to get some ‘OK Eleanors.’”

Feed My Sheep

BY LITTLE E

Jesus said: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17) which is exactly what my momma would want, and say, for her animals to all be taken care of. A celebration of life is planned for spring. In lieu of flowers, her family asks for contributions

“Only Eleanor could handle a hat, staff, and sheep at the pen in a high wind.”

—Alyce Grover

For many years, Eleanor worked at Pedigree Associates where she researched Thoroughbred racing and

CONCERT Rockzilla Tour

w/ Papa Roach & Falling

In Reverse, 6 pm, Rupp Arena

READ Rachael Adams discusses and signs A Little Goes A Long Way, 7 pm, Joseph-Beth

1 2 3 4

READ Curwood & Kalliney discuss and sign Shirley Chisholm and the Aesthetic Cold War, 7 pm, Joseph-Beth

OUTDOORS KY Sport, Boat, and RV Show kicks off, Central Bank Center (thru Sunday)

COMEDY

Dusty Slay with Aaron Weber & Brian Bates, 7:30, Opera House

MUSIC Composer Salina

Fisher and Prokofiev

Romeo and Juliet, 7:30, Singletary Center

READ John Winn Miller discusses and signs The Hunt for the Peggy C, 4 pm, Joseph-Beth

HORSE MSEDA Annual Meeting & Awards, 10 am, The Campbell House

TRUCK Monster Truck Wars, 1 pm, Alltech Arena

BALL UK vs Florida, 8:30, Rupp Arena

FOOD

6 7 8 9 10 11 5

BALL UK vs. Arkansas, 9 pm, Rupp Arena

READ Emily McIntire discusses and signs Twisted 7 pm, Joseph-Beth

READ Lindsey Frazier discusses and signs Oh Love, Come Close, 7 pm, Joseph-Beth

NATURE Bird Walks, 9 am, Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

Magnificat Breakfast featuring Shelley Parkerson, 9 am, Christ The King

SHOP Midway Chocolate Stroll, 11 am

DANCE Paws 4 the Cause Valentine’s Dance, 6 pm, Round Barn Stable of Memories

DANCE Tonight Belongs to You: An Inclusive Prom, 7 pm, Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center

SHOP

Galentine’s Day, 10 am, The Kentucky Castle

FOOD Second Sunday Lunch, 12 pm, Crossroads Lexington

RUN Philip Cullen Memorial Indoor Triathlon, 7 am, Northside YMCA

KIDS Final day of “The Legend of John Henry”, 3 pm, Lexington Children’s Theatre

COMEDY Fortune

Feimster: Live Laugh Love!, 5 & 7 pm, Lexington Opera House

12 19

13 20

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

BALL UK Women’s Basketball vs Tennessee, 2 pm, Memorial Coliseum

CONCERT Journey with Toto, 7:30, Rupp Arena

14 21

EVENT 8th Annual KY Workforce Summit, Marriott Griffin Gate (Tue & Wed)

MUSIC Highly Suspect w/ Dead Poets Society, 8 pm, Manchester Music Hall

EVENT Dunbar

Community Center

Centennial, 4 pm, 545 N. Upper St.

NETWORK Commerce BusinessLink, 4 pm, Collins Bowling Center (Southland)

HORSE ASHBA Annual Convention & Youth Conference, ThurSun, Hilton Lexington Downtown

CHARITY

Polar Bear

Plunge, 9 am, Texas Roadhouse (Richmond Rd)

BALL UK vs Tennessee, 1 pm, Rupp Arena

ART Continuous Variation, 6:30 pm, Singletary Center for the Arts

COMEDY Drew Lynch, 7 pm, Lexington Opera House

MUSIC Tower of Power, 8 pm, Lexington Opera House

CONCERT Toby Mac, 8:30 pm, Rupp Arena

MUSIC Vinyl Richie, 8:30 pm, O’Neill’s Irish Pub

ART An Inspired Evening, 7 pm, UK Art Museum

BALL UK vs Auburn, 4 pm, Rupp Arena

AROUND THE CORNER

MAR 8-11 KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen, Rupp Arena

MAR 15-18 KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen, Rupp Arena

MAR 23-26 Lexington ComicCon

APRIL 22

STAGE C.S. Lewis on Stage: The Most Reluctant Convert, 7:30, Lexington Opera House

COMEDY Nikki Glaser: The Good Girl Tour, 9:30, Lexington Opera House

15 16 17 18 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

New Commissioner of Health named

Dr. Sheila Owens-Collins is Lexington’s new commissioner of health. “I am excited to be part of a health department that is known for being leaders in public health,” Dr. OwensCollins said.

The Commissioner of Health position has been vacant since Dr. Joel McCullough’s resignation in July 2022, with Jessica Cobb serving as interim chief administrative officer.

“Dr. Owens-Collins will bring strong leadership as the next Commissioner of Health, which will benefit not only Lexington, but all of Kentucky,” said Dr. Rodney Jackson, chair of the

Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health. “We are excited about the next steps for public health in central Kentucky.”

LEXINGTON HEALTH CALENDAR

FEB 7

Diabetes Awareness Education begins

You can learn how to manage pre-diabetes without leaving home. The Lexington Fayette Health Department is hosting a FREE online class for anyone in Kentucky who meets the following criteria:

• 18 years of age or older

• BMI (Body Mass Index) of 25 or greater

• Be at high-risk for developing Type 2 diabetes or have been diagnosed with prediabetes. Classes begin 6-7 p.m. on Feb. 7. The classes will be held weekly on Tuesdays for four months, bi-weekly for two months and then monthly for six months.

Info, contact Melissa Smith at 859-288-2473.

FEB 11

McConnell Springs Step Challenge

How many steps do people walk while at McConnell Springs? That’s the question.

When you come out on this day use your own pedometer or borrow one from the front desk and tell the staff how far you walked. At the end of the year, the Springs will report how far we all walked in 2023. No registration required.

FEB 24

Central KY Heart Ball

MAR 3

Frankel Night Fundraiser

The Lexington Hearing and Speech Center’s annual fundraiser, the Frankel Night Cocktails & Casino Event, is Friday, March 3, 2023 at 7 pm, at the Kroger Field Longship Club.

The Hearing & Speech Center was founded in 1960. A small group of parents from the Lexington area approached Jimmy and Edie Frankel to ask for their assistance in establishing

a program to teach speech skills to their children with hearing impairments. This was the beginning of the Lexington Deaf Oral School, later to become The Hearing & Speech Center.

Mr. Frankel, an architect and engineer who had been deaf since birth, and Mrs. Frankel, who had a hearing loss, dedicated their lives to

active community participation for the hearing impaired. Fundraising efforts began. Building space was donated by Temple Adath Israel and a teacher was hired. The Lexington Deaf Oral School opened with six students. For nine years the Temple housed the Lexington Deaf Oral School.

FLOATING? WHAT IS

Float therapy is the method of using a special flotation tank for a light-proof, restrictive environment stimulus experience. The float solution containing over 1000lbs of epsom salts keeps the body completely weightless, which alleviates many of the effects of pain, stress, and anxiety to which we are constantly exposed in the outside world.

helps alleviate:

Susan Smyth, MD, PhD, died on New Year’s Eve 2022 at the age of 57. She was the former director of UK’s Gill Heart and Vascular Institute, as well as the division chief for cardiovascular medicine. One of her lasting legacies will be UK’s therapy dog program. “It was her dream to have Carmine and Selah provide therapy to patients at UK HealthCare. She leaves behind her loving husband, Dr. Andrew Morris and her two sons, Edward & William. Everyone at UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute will miss her dearly.”

Surgery on Sunday held their first surgery day since the passing of longtime volunteer Kathy Peyton, recognizing her dedication to Surgery on Sunday and presenting her family with a plaque.

Cokey Goes Hollywood

The bear from ‘Bluegrass Conspiracy’ gets his day

BY KEVIN NANCE

He was never your average bear, at least in death. Since his bizarre demise from a drug overdose in the Chattahoochee National Forest in 1985, the Cocaine Bear — Cokey for short — has had a notably nomadic afterlife. His taxidermied remains are said to have been displayed in a visitor center, a Nashville pawnshop, a Las Vegas mansion and a Chinese medicine shop in Reno, before landing at Lexington’s Kentucky for Kentucky Fun Mall, where he has served as the store’s official mascot and primary tourist draw since 2015.

Now Cokey is going Hollywood. Cocaine Bear is a dark comedy starring Ray Liotta (in his final screen performance), Keri Russell, and Margo Martindale (well known as the lethal Mags Bennett in the Kentucky-set Justified, which devoted all of Season 4’s arc to a loose fictionalization of The Bluegrass Conspiracy). The film is directed by Elizabeth Banks and opens nationwide on Feb. 24, 2023.

The real-life bear likely died almost immediately after consuming a bellyful of cocaine dropped from a drug-runner’s plane into his Georgia habitat. But in the movie’s raucous trailer (which has gotten more than nine million views on YouTube), a CGI version of the bear gobbles the cocaine and then goes on a goofily murderous rampage to get his paws on more of the stuff. The drug-crazed bear snacks on at least one park visitor (Jesse Tyler Ferguson of Modern Family), licks cocaine off a dismembered corpse, and takes a running leap into the back of a fleeing ambulance. He’s last seen humping a pine tree before dragging a female hiker offscreen, presumably with unwholesome intentions.

The movie has little to do with the aforementioned drug-runner, former Lexington narcotics cop Andrew Thornton, who dumped the cocaine from the plane and then plummeted to his death (with an additional 150 pounds of drugs strapped to his body) when his parachute

“This movie can be a revenge story for the bear. And it just gave me a point of view and a purpose for making it. Like, there’s a real message here: We should not f--- with nature, nature will win.” –Elizabeth Banks, Director

failed to open over Knoxville. Although Thornton achieved considerable posthumous fame, thanks in large part to Sally Denton’s book The Bluegrass Conspiracy (1990), he’s now being left in the dust, so to speak, by the Cocaine Bear, whose cinematic version now has 52,400 followers on Twitter.

Although Drew Thornton achieved considerable posthumous fame, thanks in large part to Sally Denton’s book The Bluegrass Conspiracy (1990), he’s now being left in the dust, so to speak, by the Cocaine Bear, whose cinematic version now has 52,400 followers on Twitter. The movie has little to do with the aforementioned drug-runner and former Lexington narcotics cop.

It will be a sort of karmic payback, according to the movie’s director. “I felt a lot of sympathy for the bear,” Banks told Entertainment Weekly last fall. “Like, wow, this bear — which, in real life, ended up dead after eating all this coke — ended up being sort of collateral damage in this War on Drugs. And I just thought, Well, then this movie can be a revenge story for the bear. And it just gave me a point of view and a purpose for making it. Like, there’s a real message here: We should not f--- with nature, nature will win.”

Cokey has been winning, in something like the Charlie Sheen sense, for years now at the Fun Mall. He’s far and away the main attraction at the Bryan Avenue emporium of Kentucky-themed apparel and souvenir tchotchkes, drawing visitors from all over the world.

“He’s our pride and joy,” retail manager Adam Lewis says one recent afternoon, standing a few feet away from the niche — a bit like a chapel inside a Gothic cathedral — where the stuffed Cokey stands resplendent, currently sporting a Kentucky blue felt hat vaguely reminiscent of Smokey Bear’s. “I would say from 75 to 80 percent of the people who come into the store come in just for Cocaine Bear. Now with the movie coming out, folks have been asking, ‘How many people did he kill?’ Of course he didn’t kill anybody.” A sign next to the bear spells out the obligatory moral of the story:

Don’t do drugs or you’ll end up dead (and maybe stuffed) like poor

“Cocaine Bear”

After acquiring Cokey — originally dubbed Pablo EscoBear, after the Mexican drug cartel kingpin, although “we’re getting away from that,” Lewis says — the Fun Mall has built a cottage industry around him. The store now offers Cokey T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats, Cokey teddy bears, Cokey jigsaw puzzles, Cokey candles and Cokey snow globes — “blow globes,” as they’re called, complete with a merry “Y’allidays” version featuring Cokey wearing a Santa hat.

From an animal rights perspective in particular, this commercial exploitation of a bear who died a horrible death might appear unseemly, even cruel. “That’s understandable,” Lewis says. “I have to say, we have not harmed any animals. This bear, it’s a tragedy, what happened to him. But he didn’t suffer, which is a good thing.”

Of course you can’t fight Hollywood, even if you wanted to, any more than you can fight City Hall; the local calculation is that you might as well go with it. The Kentucky Theatre, one of several cinemas around town set to show Cocaine Bear, is angling to get in on Cokeymania by borrowing the stuffed bear from the Fun Mall and displaying him in the lobby during the movie’s run. Asked whether the theater would have shown the movie if it weren’t for the bear’s prominence in the region’s folklore, the Kentucky’s manager, Fred Mills, said probably

Andrew Carter Thornton II had singlehandedly summed up the dark side of the American dream, or at least the Kentucky version of it, when he landed on a Knoxville, TN driveway with several million dollars worth of cocaine strapped to his waist and a failed parachute strapped to his back. He was 40 when he died.

—Sally Denton

not. “But you know, the bear being in Lexington, that local connection is more or less what drew us to the film.”

Getting into the spirit of things, Mills says The Kentucky Theatre is planning to offer special Cokey treats at its concession stand. “We’ve contacted a baker,” he says. “We’re going to see if they can make a bear cookie and put some sugar on his nose.”

At press, however, it was unclear whether Cokey will be ready for his closeup at the Kentucky, if only because he may be otherwise engaged. “That’s in discussion,” Lewis says. “There are one of two places he could be on Feb. 24. He could be at the Kentucky, or he could be at the premiere in Hollywood.”

ACE EATS OUT

February isn’t just about Valentine’s and chocolate when it comes to food. It’s also about Mardi Gras… and SuperBowl and so much more.

And let’s not forget: congratulations to two local chefs celebrating their James Beard nominations: Samantha Fore and Isaiah Screetch are semi finalists in the Best of the Southeast category.

BIRTHS

Craft Tap and Grill is now open in the former Mellow Mushroom space on Upper. Par6 Social is scheduled to open in February on Nicholasville Road.

A new ghost kitchen, Partake, is now operating of Southland Drive for deliveries only.

OBITS

Porterhouse BBQ announced the closing of their brick and mortar location just prior to Greyline Station’s January block party, posting, “unfortunately it kills me to say it but this is the last time the brick and mortar restaurant will be open….Thank you to all my regular customers, family, and friends who supported us along

the way we really appreciate it but there are so many issues working against small businesses and restaurants right now I can’t afford to stay open any longer.” Porterhouse is still available for catering, and the food truck will be back out in the Spring.

The Southern Deli and Tavern on S. Limestone near High has closed. On January 15, owner Bryan Henderson thanked fans for their

support, saying, “We opened our doors only a few months before the pandemic started and the current economic climate hasn’t been redeeming to our industry. It is with these conditions that we have made the difficult decision to close our doors permanently. Thank you for supporting us for over three years through tough times!”

TRANSITIONS

Gluten Free Miracles has a new name and a new home; Miracles Bakery is now located at Mustard Seed Hill in Millersburg, with product still available in Lexington via deliveries and local retail.

Merrick Inn announced they are temporarily closed for renovations and will reopen in the Spring.

The Twisted Cork will relocate from Keithshire to the former Gluten Free Miracles space on Burt Road. A farewell party for the old space is scheduled for February 17.

Lexington’s inaugural BourbonCon is in the books! Scan to view Ace video of chef Geoffrey Zakarian’s demonstration.

ROB BREZSNY’S FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Theoretically, you could offer to help a person who doesn’t like you. You could bring a gourmet vegan meal to a meat-eater or pay a compliment to a bigot. I suppose you could even sing beautiful love songs to annoyed passersby or recite passages from great literature to an eight-year-old immersed in his video game. But there are better ways to express your talents and dispense your gifts— especially now, when it’s crucial for your long-term mental health that you offer your blessings to recipients who will use them best and appreciate them most.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In esoteric astrology, Taurus rules the third eye. Poetically speaking, this is a subtle organ of perception, a sixth sense that sees through mere appearances and discerns the secret or hidden nature of things. Some people are surprised to learn about this theory. Doesn’t traditional astrology say that you Bulls are sober and well-grounded? Here’s the bigger view: The penetrating vision of an evolved Taurus is potent because it peels away superficial truths and uncovers deeper truths. Would you like to tap into more of this potential superpower? The coming weeks will be a good time to do so.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The ingredient you would need to fulfill the next stage of a fun dream is behind door #1. Behind door #2 is a vision of a creative twist you could do but haven’t managed yet. Behind door #3 is a clue that might help you achieve more disciplined freedom than you’ve known before. Do you think I’m exaggerating? I’m not. Here’s the catch: You may be able to open only one door before the magic spell wears off—unless you enlist the services of a consultant, ally, witch, or guardian angel to help you bargain with fate to provide even more of the luck that may be available.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I trust you are mostly ready for the educational adventures and experiments that are possible. The uncertainties that accompany them, whether real or imagined, will bring out the best in you. For optimal results, you should apply your nighttime thinking to daytime activities, and vice versa. Wiggle free of responsibilities unless they teach you noble truths. And finally, summon the intuitive powers that will sustain you and guide you through the brilliant shadow initiations. (PS: Take the wildest rides you dare as long as they are safe.)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Fate has decreed, “Leos must be wanderers for a while.” You are under no obligation to obey this mandate, of course. Theoretically, you could resist it. But if you do indeed rebel, be sure your willpower is very strong. You

will get away with outsmarting or revising fate only if your discipline is fierce and your determination is intense. OK? So let’s imagine that you will indeed bend fate’s decree to suit your needs. What would that look like? Here’s one possibility: The “wandering” you undertake can be done in the name of focused exploration rather than aimless meandering.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I wish I could help you understand and manage a situation that has confused you. I’d love to bolster your strength to deal with substitutes that have been dissipating your commitment to the Real Things. In a perfect world, I could emancipate you from yearnings that are out of sync with your highest good. And maybe I’d be able to teach you to dissolve a habit that has weakened your willpower. And why can’t I be of full service to you in these ways? Because, according to my assessment, you have not completely acknowledged your need for this help. So neither I nor anyone else can provide it. But now that you’ve read this horoscope, I’m hoping you will make yourself more receptive to the necessary support and favors and relief.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I can’t definitively predict you will receive an influx of cash in the next three weeks. It’s possible, though. And I’m not able to guarantee you’ll be the beneficiary of free lunches and unexpected gifts. But who knows? They could very well appear. Torrents of praise and appreciation may flow, too, though trickles are more likely. And there is a small chance of solicitous gestures coming your way from sexy angels and cute maestros. What I can promise you for sure, however, are fresh eruptions of savvy in your brain and sagacity in your heart. Here’s your keynote, as expressed by the Queen of Sheba 700 years ago: “Wisdom is sweeter than honey, brings more joy than wine, illumines more than the sun, is more precious than jewels.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your assignment, Scorpio, is to cultivate a closer relationship with the cells that comprise your body. They are alive! Speak to them as you would to a beloved child or animal. In your meditations and fantasies, bless them with tender wishes. Let them know how grateful you are for the grand collaboration you have going, and affectionately urge them to do what’s best for all concerned. For you Scorpios, February is Love and Care for Your Inner Creatures Month.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Revamped and refurbished things are coming back for another look. Retreads and redemption-seekers are headed in your direction. I think you should consider giving them

an audience. They are likely to be more fun or interesting or useful during their second time around. Dear Sagittarius, I suspect that the imminent future may also invite you to consider the possibility of accepting stand-ins and substitutes and imitators. They may turn out to be better than the so-called real things they replace. In conclusion, be receptive to Plan Bs, second choices, and alternate routes. They could lead you to the exact opportunities you didn’t know you needed.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Author Neil Gaiman declared, “I’ve never known anyone who was what he or she seemed.” While that may be generally accurate, it will be far less true about you Capricorns in the coming weeks. By my astrological reckoning, you will be very close to what you seem to be. The harmony between your deep inner self and your outer persona will be at recordbreaking levels. No one will have to wonder if they must be wary of hidden agendas lurking below your surface. Everyone can be confident that what they see in you is what they will get from you. This is an amazing accomplishment! Congrats!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “I want to raise up the magic world all round me and live strongly and quietly there,” wrote Aquarian author Virginia Woolf in her diary. What do you think she meant by “raise up the magic world all round me”? More importantly, how would you raise up the magic world around you? Meditate fiercely and generously on that tantalizing project. The coming weeks will be an ideal time to attend to such a wondrous possibility. You now have extra power to conjure up healing, protection, inspiration, and mojo for yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Before going to sleep, I asked my subconscious mind to bring a dream that would be helpful for you. Here’s what it gave me: In my dream, I was reading a comic book titled *Zoe Stardust Quells Her Demon*. On the first page, Zoe was facing a purple monster whose body was beastly but whose face looked a bit like hers. On page two, the monster chased Zoe down the street, but Zoe escaped. In the third scene, the monster was alone, licking its fur. In the fourth scene, Zoe sneaked up behind the monster and shot it with a blow dart that delivered a sedative, knocking it unconscious. In the final panel, Zoe had arranged for the monster to be transported to a lush uninhabited island where it could enjoy its life without bothering her. Now here’s my dream interpretation, Pisces: Don’t directly confront your inner foe or nagging demon. Approach stealthily and render it inert. Then banish it from your sphere, preferably forever.

Healthcare: Critical Care Unit RN sought by CHI Saint Joseph Health, to provide svcs at Saint Joseph London. Req. Bach’s deg in Nursing, Passage of NCLEX-RN, Eligible for KY Nursing License. CVs to Sandy Turqueza, HR Director, 1001 Saint Joseph Lane, London, KY 40741.

Internships: Ace is now accepting applications for multimedia internships for 2023. Internships are open to college seniors who are completing degrees in: Advertising/ Business/Marketing, Design, Digital Media, JOU, WRD, ISC, and related fields. Internships require a minimum of 16 office hours per week. Prospective interns should be proficient in: photography/video, Canva, WordPress, and Adobe Suite. Email resume and credentials, along with name of prospective faculty supervisor to: editor@aceweekly.com.

Neighborhood Development AgencyCounter is a one-stop resource to help you find information on development activities in the City of Lexington. You can view planning applications and building permits processed by city departments and set up alerts for the area of the city that interests you, such as your neighborhood. Info, https://lexingtonky. agencycounter.com/

TAX INCREASE

You may have noticed a new tax bill in your mailbox. Fayette County homeowners have received an additional property tax bill as a result of a property tax rate increase.

From the Fayette County PVA: While 2022 brought record increases in Fayette County property values—meaning

every taxing district received more tax revenue than they received in 2021—the Fayette County Public School board raised their tax rates. That increase was not included on the original tax bills issued in September [2022] due to the possibility the rate increase would result in a recall vote, which would have been held in January [2023].

The recall effort was not successful.

For questions about the tax increase, call Fayette County Public Schools at 859.381-4100.

From the Sheriff’s Office: The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, KY has mailed supplemental property tax bills to all Fayette County property tax owners. Due to a Fayette County Board of Education rate increase, the supplemental bill received reflects the difference between the previous and new

rates. Pursuant to statute, the Office of the Sheriff will collect all supplemental Fayette County property tax bills.

Payments received or postmarked by February 28, 2023 will be paid at face value and will avoid penalties. Payments received after March 1, 2023 will include penalties.

How to pay:

1. You can pay in person in the Office of Sheriff, located in Suite 236 of the Fayette District Court building, Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

2. You can pay by mail by using the return envelope included with the bill

3. You can pay online at www.fayettesheriff.com

With any questions, call the FCSO Property Tax Division at 859.252-1771.

H & G CALENDAR

FEB 25

Twentieth Century Cincinnati: Vintage Modern Art, Furnishings, and Fashion returns to the Sharonville Center on Feb 25 and Feb 26, 2023.

MAR 31

The Central Kentucky Home and Garden Show, Central Bank Center

Sold In Lexington

Property sales info source: Fayette County Property Valuation office (www.fayettepva.com)

Property sales info source: Fayette County Property Valuation office (www.fayettepva.com)