August | Kentucky Monthly Magazine

FLYING HIGH: KENTUCKY’S AEROSPACE INDUSTRY AUGUST 2017

CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF

Bernheim Forest History on the Run

Kentucky Community & Technical College System Celebrating the Apple

Display until 9/12/2017

Viewing the Total Solar Eclipse www.kentuckymonthly.com

EKU IS

KENTUCKY’S UNIVERSITY

EKU GRADS HAVE THE HIGHEST KENTUCKY EMPLOYMENT RATES

89%

76% of EKU grads work in Kentucky after graduation, the highest percentage of any Kentucky public four-year institution

Largest number of enrolled military veterans and dependents among Kentucky public institutions.

OUR GRADUATES KEEP KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES VIBRANT

of EKU undergraduates are Kentucky residents, the highest of all public four-year institutions in Kentucky

▶ First-responders

and other safety professionals

▶ Teachers and school

▶ Nurses, occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals

administrators

LEARN MORE: GO.EKU.EDU/KENTUCKYMONTHLY

EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY Eastern Kentucky University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and Educational Institution.

In This Issue 34

14 Departments 2 Kentucky Kwiz 4 Mag on the Move 6 Across Kentucky 9 Curiosities Home for Wayward Babydolls 10 Cooking 40 Off The Shelf 44 Gardening 45 Field Notes 46 Calendar

Featured Fare 7 Darkness Descends

A guide to some of the best locations in the Commonwealth to view the total solar eclipse

14 Accessible Education

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System offers paths to a job or a degree

21 Lush Legacy

Today’s Bernheim Forest is designed to regenerate itself—and the spirits of its visitors

28 13.1 Miles of Kentucky History

The KY History Half Marathon takes participants on a tour through time

34 Core of the Commonwealth

Voices

The “world’s largest apple pie” serves as the star attraction at Casey County’s Apple Festival

37 Kentucky: The Final Frontier

3 Readers Write 43 Past Tense/ Present Tense

The Commonwealth’s aerospace industry blasts off

56 Vested Interest

10

ON THE COVER

Photo by Lindsey McClave

KENTUCKY

Kwiz

Test your knowledge of our beloved Commonwealth. To find out how you fared, see the bottom of Vested Interest or take the Kwiz online at kentuckymonthly.com.

1. Ebo Walker left Kentucky because he wouldn’t plant corn and he wouldn’t make hay, but luckily, at least for him, he was what?

A. A mighty fine fiddle player B. The greatest left-handed upsidedown guitar picker C. The best pool player in all of Nicholas County and northern Bourbon County 2. Glenn Carlos Toadvine of Boyle County was known as “Little Enis” and was the opening act for which iconic rock ’n’ roll legend?

5. While numerous people claimed to be the inspiration for “Rosie the Riveter,” the best match was: A. Rose Monroe of Pulaski County, who worked at the Willow Run Aircraft Factory in Ypsilanti, Michigan B. Rosie Bonavita of Monkey’s Eyebrow, who worked for Corvair in Santa Monica, California C. Rosalind P. Walter, who “came from old money in Covington” and worked the night shift on the F4U Corsair fighter 6. The line of Dr. Tichenor’s mouthwash products, which are still available today, began as an antiseptic developed by Confederate surgeon George H. Tichenor. He was from which western Kentucky county?

A. Grayson B. McCracken C. Ohio

A. Roy Orbison

© 2017, Vested Interest Publications Volume Twenty, Issue 6, August 2017 STEPHEN M. VEST, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Editorial PATRICIA RANFT, Associate Editor DEBORAH KOHL KREMER, Assistant Editor MADELYNN COLDIRON and TED SLOAN, Contributing Editors REBECCA REDDING, Art Director JESSICA PATTON, Graphic Designer ALEX SANDEFUR, Editorial Intern Senior Kentributors JACKIE HOLLENKAMP BENTLEY, ANNETTE CABLE, BILL ELLIS, STEVE FLAIRTY, GARY GARTH, CYNTHIA GRISOLIA, RACHAEL GUADAGNI, JESSE HENDRIX-INMAN, ABBY LAUB, WALT REICHERT, GARY P. WEST

Marketing and Circulation BARBARA KAY VEST, Business Manager

Advertising

B. Jerry Lee Lewis C. Elvis Presley 3. Lincoln County is not named for the 16th president, but rather for Benjamin Lincoln, the first U.S. secretary of war, who is best known for what action?

A. Crossing the Delaware River with George Washington B. Riding alongside Paul Revere during his legendary ride C. Formally accepting the British surrender at Yorktown 4. Which county’s seat is named for the home of President George Washington?

A. Washington

7. True or false: While Henderson’s Husband E. Kimmel was the commander of the Pacific Theatre during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the rear admiral directly in charge of Pearl Harbor also was from Kentucky.

8. Jim Lindsey is a mighty fine guitar player on The Andy Griffith Show, but his ego gets the best of him before Andy steps in an straightens him out.

Lindsey is played by which Kentuckyborn actor?

A. Warren Oates B. James Best C. William Shatner 9. True or False: Adlai Stevenson, the 23rd vice president of the United States, was born in Kentucky.

B. Rockcastle C. Fulton

10. Cartoonist Joe Staton, a graduate of Murray State University, is best known for his work on which comic strip?

A. Little Orphan Annie B. Wonder Woman C. Dick Tracy

Portrait of George Washington, circa 1850 2

Celebrating the best of our Commonwealth

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

JULIE MOORE, Senior Account Executive MISTEE BROWNING, Account Manager EDLISA EMBRY, Account Executive JENNIFER MCMILLEN, Account Executive

For advertising information, call (888) 329-0053 or (502) 227-0053 KENTUCKY MONTHLY (ISSN 1542-0507) is published 10 times per year (monthly with combined December/ January and June/July issues) for $20 per year by Vested Interest Publications, Inc., 100 Consumer Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601. Periodicals Postage Paid at Frankfort, KY and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to KENTUCKY MONTHLY, P.O. Box 559, Frankfort, KY 40602-0559. Vested Interest Publications: Stephen M. Vest, president; Patricia Ranft, vice president; Barbara Kay Vest, secretary/treasurer. Board of directors: James W. Adams Jr., Dr. Gene Burch, Kim Butterweck, Gregory N. Carnes, Barbara and Pete Chiericozzi, Kellee Dicks, Maj. Jack E. Dixon, Bruce and Peggy Dungan, Mary and Michael Embry, Wayne Gaunce, Frank Martin, Lori Hahn, Thomas L. Hall, Judy M. Harris, Greg and Carrie Hawkins, Jan and John Higginbotham, Dr. A. Bennett Jenson, Walter B. Norris, Kasia Pater, Dr. Mary Jo Ratliff, Barry A. Royalty, Randy and Rebecca Sandell, Kelli Schreiber, Christopher E. and Marie Shake, Kendall Carr Shelton, Ted M. Sloan and Marjorie D. Vest.

Kentucky Monthly invites queries but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material; submissions will not be returned.

Kentucky Monthly is printed and distributed by Publishers Press, Shepherdsville, Ky.

www.kentuckymonthly.com (888) 329-0053 P.O. Box 559 100 Consumer Lane Frankfort, KY 40601

VOICES SLOW GOING

While reading Bill Ellis’ article— “ ‘Billy is a Bit Slow’: Musings of an Old Historian”—I got to the second-tolast sentence about Thomas D. Clark, and I was startled.

Coincidentally enough, I had started reading A History of Kentucky by Clark a few days before. It was on my ottoman at the same time I was reading Mr. Ellis’ article (photo below).

Good to know that I’ve got a quality read ahead of me!

June L. Mucci, Kannapolis, North Carolina (born in Lexington, Kentucky)

called and said, “The water is bad.

Fix it.”

“What seems to be the problem?” I asked.

“My cat is coughing up hairballs,” she said. I assured her we would get right on it, and the water and cat would be fine.

Mel Goodfriend, Lexington Loved your column devoted to crazy phone calls and have passed it along to our staff. I am sure they have received a few similar ones.

Al Holliday, via email HIT RECIPES

As a Kentucky lady living in California. I always enjoy my Kentucky Monthly magazine.

On Easter, I made two of the delights from the latest edition—a big hit with family.

Sue Hashem, via email APPRECIATION AND SUGGESTIONS

I always enjoy Bill Ellis’ writings for the knowledge and insight provided.

And I especially identified with the April one since I was always a “bit slow” in mathematics as well. As a result, I was an English major.

I also enjoyed his timely reference to Bill O’Reilly, who has taken quite a hit. I also agree that President Trump would not have much use for a historian; that would require an attention span!!

Larry Chaney, via email HELLO, HOW MAY I BE OF SERVICE?

I enjoyed Steve Vest’s column on challenging telephone calls (April issue, page 72). I was the guy who fielded such calls at several companies and liked the challenge and humor, except when the caller became abusive.

When free long-distance emerged, such calls became more frequent. I think some people took the opportunity to talk to someone far away. It sounds silly, but I was convinced crank calls peaked with a full moon.

Just one example: When I was working late one weekend night at a small Kentucky water works, a lady

I just want to let you know how much I love this magazine. We are relatively new to Kentucky. I found a copy of Kentucky Monthly in a doctor’s waiting room and again in a bookstore.

I was so intrigued by the content that I purchased the current issue and a couple of back issues the bookstore had on hand. I have since subscribed to the magazine as well and sent an appreciative note along with the subscription.

The magazine content covers so many aspects of life, culture and, in particular, Kentucky life—Kentucky history, food/restaurants/recipes, holidays, travel, regions of Kentucky, art, music, crafts, literature, science, education, some sports, bourbon and brews, calendars of events, and so much more.

For me, it seems the only thing not covered on a regular basis are pets or animals (other than the popular racingrelated activities—and I am truly a fan of those). It would be nice to see some animal-related articles on a regular

Readers Write basis. I did search the magazine archives and found some interesting articles about animals (loved Megson’s white Thoroughbreds and the Primate Rescue Center), but those types of stories seem periodic rather than a regular feature.

It would be encouraging and thought-provoking to readers to see regular articles—monthly or bi-monthly—concerning animal rescue/ adoption efforts, animal husbandry, equine hospitals, etc. In addition, since the Bluegrass of Kentucky is the “horse capital of the world,” it would be interesting to feature Thoroughbred aftercare endeavors. There are a number of rescue and retraining facilities, and it would be enlightening to the public in a positive manner to highlight the efforts of those in the racing community toward Thoroughbred aftercare, such as the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Foundation, Inc. I’m certain the racing industry has other programs to assist in this effort.

I hope that you will consider adding more animal-related stories in future issues of Kentucky Monthly and perhaps consider featuring Our Mims Retirement Haven.

Regardless of your decision, I remain impressed with your publication and will continue my loyalty to it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestions. I wish you and your organization all the best in your future endeavors.

Linda Bruce, via email

We Love to Hear from You! Kentucky Monthly welcomes letters from all readers. Email us your comments at editor@ kentuckymonthly.com, send a letter through our website at kentuckymonthly.com, or message us on Facebook. Letters may be edited for clarification and brevity.

Counties featured in this issue n

Clarification The Kentucky Monthly Reader Recipe Contest’s winning recipe for Jeannie’s Puff Pastry Chicken ’n’ Cheese (May issue, page 9) yields two chicken- and cheese-filled pastries.

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

3

MAG

ON THE

MOVE

Even when you’re far away, you can take the spirit of your Kentucky home with you.

And when you do, we want to see it!

Take a copy of the magazine with you and get snapping. Send your highresolution photos (usually 1 MB or higher) to editor@kentuckymonthly.com.

Peggy and Bruce Dungan

The Caribbean The Frankfort couple cruised on the Harmony of the Seas, with several ports of call, including the Mexican island of Cozumel and Falmouth, Jamaica.

Jeff and Vicki Gough New York City The Goughs, who live in La Center, crossed off an item from their bucket list when they visited the Big Apple.

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K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

Karen Brown, Judy Dunning and Linda Banks Irvine, Kentucky Sisters Karen, of Sturgis, and Judy, of Calvert City, along with friend Linda, of Morganfield, spent an evening at Snug Hollow Farm Bed & Breakfast.

Nick and Nea Rodgers Grand Cayman Island The Frankfort couple visited the Queen Elizabeth Botanical Park on the Queen’s observed birthday/holiday.

KENTUCKY’S PREMIER ZIPLINE DESTINATION!

5 ZIPLINES

UP TO 1900' LONG

Jeremy Spencer Niagara Falls A Frankfort resident, Jeremy visited the Canadian side of the majestic falls.

PROFESSIONALLY GUIDED TOURS 300' ABOVE THE GORGE!

Perfect for Weddings, Reunions, Retreats and more!

Beverly and Dennis Langford Mount Rushmore

Bob and Ann Schrage South Africa

The Langfords, of Louisville, traveled to the Black Hills of South Dakota to view the iconic national memorial.

This Dayton, Kentucky, couple ventured to Hluhluwe, South Africa, on a photo safari with their Kentucky Monthly in tow.

RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Red River Gorge Ziplines& Cliffview Resort 455 CLIFFVIEW RD CAMPTON, KY 41301

BRIEFS

Across Kentucky

B I R T H DAYS

HONORING A NEW HERO AND AN ESTABLISHED LEGEND

V

Courtesy of the Kentucky Derby Museum

isitors to the Kentucky Derby Museum can now relive the exciting win of this year’s Derby victor, Always Dreaming, in an updated 360-degree immersive movie experience, The Greatest Race.

The 18-minute film plays every hour in the museum’s circle theater, the Great Hall. Created by Louisville production company Donna Lawrence Productions, the movie portrays the pageantry and history associated with one of Kentucky’s greatest traditions.

“At the Kentucky Derby Museum, where every day is Derby Day, we are proud to be the keepers of history and showcase the legacy,” says Patrick Armstrong, president of the Kentucky Derby Museum. “When the race is finished, we bring these oncein-a-lifetime moments of Derby history to our guests visiting the Museum to experience the passion for themselves.”

The exhibit also features photos from the 2017 Kentucky Derby, a likeness of Always Dreaming and jockey John Velazquez, and a large banner celebrating the connections of the winner, including trainer Todd Pletcher.

Always Dreaming’s likeness at the Derby Museum The Kentucky Derby Museum also is offering an exclusive tour Aug. 23 focusing on another famous Kentucky Thoroughbred racehorse, Man o’ War. As part of the seven-month celebration of the legendary horse’s 100th birthday, the event starts at the Kentucky Derby Museum in the morning with a full tour of the museum and its many interactive exhibits, including The Greatest Race. After lunch, it continues at Mt. Brilliant Farm, which has access to Faraway Farm, where Man o’ War lived the remainder of his life following his racing career.

Visitors will tour Man o’ War’s barn and a take a look at future racing Thoroughbreds.

For a full itinerary of the Man o’ War tour and to purchase tickets, visit derbymuseum.org.

Abby Laub photo

— Alex Sandifur

As part of the commemoration of Man o’ War’s 100th birthday, this 30-foot by 30-foot mural depicting the great racehorse was painted on the side of The Village Idiot restaurant on Lexington’s West Short Street by artist Agustin Zarate.

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K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

2 Eric Crawford (1968), sports columnist from Louisville 5 Wendell Berry (1934), writer, poet, essayist, 2006 Kentuckian of the Year 7 Silas House (1971), Wendell Berry writer, best known for Clay’s Quilt 7 Michael Shannon (1974), Lexingtonborn actor, best known as General Zod from the 2013 film Man of Steel 11 John Conlee (1946), Grand Ole Opry star from Versailles 12 Rebecca Gayheart (1972), “Noxzema Girl” and actress from Pine Top 12 Maggie Lawson (1980), Louisvilleborn film/television actress 15 Jennifer Lawrence (1990), Academy Award-winning actress best known for The Hunger Games 15 Emmy Buckner (1990), Louisville-born actress known for playing Liv and Maddie on the Disney series of the same name 15 Ramsey Carpenter (1990), Miss Emmy Buckner Kentucky 2014 19 Story Musgrave (1935), retired astronaut from Lexington 20 Rich Brooks (1941), former University of Kentucky football coach 21 Jackie DeShannon (1944), Hazelborn singer/songwriter, best known for “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” 22 Mila Mason (1963), country music singer/songwriter from Dawson Springs 22 Eli Capilouto (1949), president of the University of Kentucky 23 Lee Roy Reams (1942), Broadway actor, singer and dancer from Covington 25 Billy Ray Cyrus (1961), singer/actor from Flatwoods 27 Mitch Barnhart (1959), University of Kentucky athletics director 27 J.D. Crowe (1937), Bluegrass banjo player from Lexington Lee Roy Reams

DARKNESS DESCENDS Solar Eclipse 2017 I

t’s midday. Peculiar shadows begin to emerge from objects on land. The stars start to peek out. Even the rarely seen planet Mercury may be visible. Birds cease their singing because they think it’s time for bed. Streetlights and solar-powered landscape lights may pop on. The August heat relents for a few minutes. It’s the “American Eclipse 2017,” and Kentucky is in prime position to experience the Aug. 21 event.

A nearly 100-mile swath of sky from Paducah to Franklin will completely darken, allowing people to experience a total solar eclipse, and many communities are not letting this cosmic event pass without a celebration.

Hopkinsville

For a complete listing of events, check out Madisonville’s eclipse web page, visitmadisonvilleky.com/eclipse.

Paducah At 1:22 p.m. CDT, Paducah will be in the dark and remain there for two minutes, 21 seconds. It’s a great reason to throw a party, and Paducah is no stranger to hosting big events.

“Paducah has hosted a large quilting convention for more than 30 years, and that brings in a large influx of people,” said Laura Oswald, the director of marketing at the Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau. “People here realize the value of rolling out the red carpet for our visitors.”

With that in mind, the entire weekend preceding the eclipse will feature concerts, a farmers market and a “Heaven & Earth Psychic Fair,” just to name a few events.

A complete schedule can be found at paducah.travel/eclipse.

Rebecca Redding photo

Reported as the best place in the country to experience the eclipse, the city of Hopkinsville will be in the dark for two minutes, 40 seconds—the longest duration of the astronomical phenomenon in Kentucky.

“It’s so wonderful because of the amount of exposure this has Franklin brought to the community, in addition to the sense of pride,” Just a day’s drive from said Brooke Jung, Hopkinsville’s anywhere in the Commonwealth, solar eclipse marketing and events Franklin is planning to make consultant. “I can’t say enough eclipse visitors feel right at home. great things about the community The Franklin Drive-In is opening and their preparations. This is its gates on Aug. 21, as is their home, and they’re essentially Kentucky Downs Racetrack and welcoming people into their home the community park.

Wear proper eye protection when viewing the eclipse for the week.”

“We want people to come While the totality of darkness because it’s such a rare event, but doesn’t begin until 1:24 p.m. CDT, events have been planned we don’t want them to just park on the side of the road,” for the days leading up to the eclipse. Among them are said Dan Ware, the director of the Franklin/Simpson several festivals in and around Hopkinsville, kids games, County Tourism Commission. “We want them to have a workshops and even a comic con dubbed Eclipse Con. safe place to go.”

Several faith communities are planning eclipse-related The drive-in location will have telescopes set up for activities, including a visit by Brother Guy Consolmagno, viewing with filters attached that allow cellphone the director of the Vatican Observatory. photography. The eclipse also will be projected onto the More details and events are listed on Hopkinsville’s large screen. Vendors will provide food, merchandise and eclipse-dedicated website, eclipseville.com. eclipse glasses.

Following the event, visitors are invited to the Total Solar Madisonville Eclipse Happy Hour and Dinner Party at the Brickyard Café Farther north, also beginning at 1:24 p.m. CDT, the city of in downtown Franklin, where folks can share their photos and experiences while eating dinner before hitting the road Madisonville will experience a total solar eclipse that has for home. also sparked multiday events, collectively called Solar “I think it’s worth it if you live in Kentucky, and you live Madness 2017. this close,” Ware said. “You can take a day trip if you can “The community is very excited, and they may be somewhat wrapping their head around the fact that we may take off work, and it may be your only opportunity.”

Franklin created a Facebook page to keep the public have a large influx of people that weekend,” said Tricia up to date on eclipse happenings. It can be found at Noel, executive director of the Hopkins County Tourist and facebook.com/solareclipsefranklinky2017.

Convention Commission.

Free concerts, food vendors, inflatables, outdoor laser ••• tag, local food tastings and a golf scramble are just some of These are just a sampling of eclipse-viewing activites many activities planned for the “madness.” across our Commonwealth. For more information on Noel said the city is gearing up to have adequate facilities eclipse-related events, see the calendar, beginning on (i.e., port-a-potties) on hand for the expected crowds. page 46, or visit kentuckymonthly.com and click on the “Nothing quite this large, with this potential of a large events tab. influx of visitors” has ever happened in Hopkins County, Noel said.

— Jackie Hollenkamp Bentley A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

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BRIEFS

Across Kentucky

LIGHTS OUT SIPPIN’

J

ust north of Hopkinsville, Casey Jones Distillery offers an official drink of Solar Eclipse 2017. Located a mere 2 miles from “ground zero”—the best spot for the eclipse experience—the operation just couldn’t let this cosmic event go by without dedicating one of its spirits to it.

Enter Casey’s Cut Total Eclipse Moonshine, which the company’s website claims is “the closest you can get to bottling nature’s rare phenomenon.”

Master Distiller Arlon Casey “AJ” Jones said the 100-proof spirit is proving to be one of the operation’s most popular. “Not only is Casey Jones Distillery the best place to see the solar eclipse on Aug. 21,” he said, “but between now and then, it’s also the best place to taste the eclipse.”

The distillery also is celebrating the eclipse with several days of activities, including camping and RV parking, food trucks, music, tours and tastings—all beginning Aug. 18.

Details can be found on the distillery’s website, caseyjonesdistillery.com.

TRAIL EXPANSION T

he Wilderness Trail distillery is planning to invest nearly $10 million into expanding its Danville facility.

The expansion will create 10 new jobs and help the operation meet the customer demand for small-batch spirits.

The distillery produces bourbon, rye whiskey, vodka and rum. Its current output is 6,000 barrels annually, but the expansion is projected to raise that number to around 36,000. The expansion will allow the distillery to install new equipment to help create the small-batch spirits. The project is scheduled to be completed by January 2018.

“We are also excited to see some local advantages being offered to our local agriculture community,” says Shane Baker, Wilderness Trail Distillery’s co-founder. “Our business expansion has a large impact on the communities around us. Not only are we offering new, high-paying jobs, but we are spawning growth in the agriculture community as well with growth in planting more grains.”

Wilderness Trail was Danville’s first distillery when it opened in 2012. It moved from downtown Danville in 2014 to the Willis Grimes Farm. It hosted 20,000 visitors in 2016 and is featured on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour.

The distillery has a unique recipe for its rum, using Kentucky sorghum molasses instead of the usual sugar cane, giving the product a special local connection. Wilderness Trail also offers training and courses in micro- and macrospirit production, a full analytical laboratory and special services to brands looking to expand their name.

— Alex Sandifur

Plan a weekend of family fun for this once in a lifetime experience.

ECLIPSE WEEKEND EVENTS – AUGUST 18-21, 2017 l

Friday Night Live with Conch Republic

August 18

l

Total Eclipse of the Skate Park

August 19

l

Solarpalooza

August 19

l

Sounds of Independence Concert featuring Jennifer Nettles and Rodney Atkins

August 19

MAD Mix of Music Fest

August 20

l

877-243-5280 270-821-4171

For complete information about eclipse weekend events, visit

www.visitmadisonvilleky.com/eclipse

Hopkins County Tourist and Convention Commission

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K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

CULTURE

B

“

roken and abandoned baby dolls can be found everywhere. Haven’t you ever found any?” asks Bet Ison. No, but according to Bet, cast-off dolls are as common as losing tickets on the floor of a racetrack, which is part of what prompted her and her husband, Cecil, to turn much of their home near Elliottville into a refuge for these discarded playthings.

Their Home for Wayward Babydolls is filled with stray creatures in various states of decline: wild-haired and hairless, headless and eyeless, naked or in tatters. Some are nailed to fence posts; others are hiding in the bushes or posing on the front porch in an Addams Family-tinged domestic portrait.

The project, says Bet, a retired librarian and now a quilt maker, is more science than art. It began around 1984, when Cecil was working as an archaeologist for the United States Forest Service, and one day came upon a doll lying in a ditch with a thumbtack in its head.

Out of curiosity, he picked it up, took it back to his office, and hung it up. “His interest grew from that point,” Bet says, as he wondered who would do such a thing to a doll and how someone could abandon it. As word spread, people began to bring him doll remains they had found, and neglected dolls began coming in the mail from as far away as Peru. When his office grew full, Cecil started taking the dolls home. After retiring from the Forest Service in 2004, he was asked to take his collection with him (“Imagine that,” Bet quips), and the Home for Wayward Babydolls was born.

The Rowan County home, says Bet, is not to be confused with a doll hospital. “It’s not like we repair them,” she says. “People don’t give us their favorite baby dolls to take care of. That’s not what we do.”

Instead, this valley of the dolls is a place where fragmented and abused toys are analyzed and archived. The Isons note where a doll was found, collect photos and, if possible, add any information on how the doll met its demise. The couple admit to having “field agents” who help recover dolls. “We had a friend who used to help with the Cave Run Lake cleanup, and he used to salvage all of the

Illustrations by Annette Cable

Curiosities

drowning victims for us,” says Bet. The dolls are then hung up on fence posts, barns, trees and anywhere else space will permit, which has led to an atmosphere described as anything from ominous to whimsical. “As a studier of abused baby dolls, Cecil is carefully watching the rate of decay,” says Bet. After Bet came upon a clothing store selling off its old mannequins, the collection began growing in other ways.

“They had them for sale, and I thought, ‘Oh, great—big baby dolls!’ ” she says with a laugh. Since then, she has enjoyed dressing the mannequins with thrift shop finds.

“I enjoy it, but I only change the clothes a few times a year,” she says. “I occasionally dress them for holidays like Christmas or Valentine’s Day. Last year, we did a ‘drèche’ under the satellite dish with the mannequins and the dolls.”

As one might imagine, the Home for Wayward Babydolls has caught the attention of tourists and travelers. Of course, the house also has attracted its share of thieves and pranksters. (Reportedly, one local fraternity house would drop off pledges and make them walk past the house at night.)

“There are some people that just drive by, and if we happen to come out, they often squeal off at high speed,” Bet says with a laugh. “Other people stop and ask if they can look. And photographers love this place.”

To share the dolls without a continuous home invasion, Bet launched a Facebook page last year that already has garnered more than 1,000 likes. She posts photos and updates regularly, answers questions and asks that potential visitors contact her through the page. The location, however, might not be hard to find. “For Christmas, my husband’s nephew and his wife made us a sign for our house,” says Bet. “So now, we look really official.” As for the surrounding community, Bet says neighbors and locals have had no problems with the couple’s growing museum of decaying dolls or its increasing popularity. “In this area,” she notes, “I don’t think this is considered really eccentric.”

Check out more about the Home for Wayward Babydolls at facebook.com/HomeForWaywardBabydolls.

— Cynthia Grisolia A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

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FOOD

Cooking

SUMMER

SALADS

Photos by Jesse Hendrix-Inman. Recipes provided by Janine Washle and prepared at Sullivan University by Ann Currie.

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K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M AY 2 0 1 6

Most of us think of salads as fairly modern, especially those filled with trendy cooked grains and other healthy choices. But salads have been around more than 2,000 years.

They made an appearance on the tables of many ancient cultures. Babylonians had a basic vinaigrette of oil and vinegar to dress their greens, while Romans preferred their grass and mixed herb salads tossed with salt. Salads then evolved into complex combinations of flowers, exotic greens and dozens of other ingredients in the royal courts of European monarchs.

In the early 20th century, American chefs came up with a variety of salad dressings, and most of what we find on store shelves today are those created in that salad heyday.

Dressings such as green goddess, French, Italian and Thousand Island were all part of this salad renaissance. Creamy dressings became popular when Richard Hellman, a deli owner in New York City, began to sell mayonnaise. Mayonnaise, however, had been created hundreds of years earlier in France.

Iconic salads like Waldorf, Cobb and Caesar were part of this American salad “storm” and still appear on menus. Recipes for international favorites such as Italian panzanella (bread and tomato salad) can be found in many magazines and online, with dozens of variations. The French Niçoise salad is one of the most debated salads: ingredients, assembly, and whether to serve on a bed of lettuce or tomatoes are conversation—or argument—starters.

Then there’s coleslaw. Many would say coleslaw isn’t really salad, but based on the meaning of the word, it is, indeed, a salad—a hearty one with a base of cabbage or at the least some type of cruciferous vegetable.

Coleslaw derives from the Dutch word, koolsla, with “kool” meaning cabbage and “sla” being the word for salad.

Dutch settlers grew cabbage along the banks of the Hudson River in New York and made slaw from their harvest as early as 1785.

Armed with all this salad knowledge, we can concoct our own delicious renditions of favorites. So start chopping and mixing, because there’s no better side dish for grilled and smoked meats than a cool, refreshing salad.

— JANINE WASHLE

Grilled Corn and Potato Salad 2 large sweet onions (like Vidalia), cut into ½-inch slices 4 bell peppers, any color, washed 4 fresh ears of corn, shucked and silked 3 pounds new potatoes, any variety, whole and unpeeled 8 slices thick-cut cooked bacon, chopped (optional) Dressing: 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup white or cider vinegar 3 tablespoons water 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons chopped herbs—parsley, cilantro or dill 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper ½ cup mayonnaise—regular, low fat or vegan Garnish: Additional corn kernels, chopped bell pepper, torn basil leaves and chopped parsley 1. Heat grill to medium high (350 degrees). Skewer the onion slices with a bamboo skewer or a metal kebab skewer. This will keep the rings from separating and also make flipping them easy.

2. Place onions, whole peppers (no need to remove the seeds) and corn on the hot grill. After 10 minutes, flip the onions and turn the peppers and corn. Continue to cook another 10 minutes. Check onions after five minutes. If they are soft and have grill marks, remove to a cutting board. Remove remaining cooked vegetables.

3. While vegetables are grilling, boil potatoes—whole and unpeeled—in a large pot with plenty of water.

Depending on the size of the potatoes, this can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Check after 15 minutes by inserting a thin knife or a skewer into the center of a potato. If it goes in easily, they are done. Do not overcook them. To speed up the cooling process, pour off the boiling hot water and run cold water over the potatoes until they are warm enough to handle. Quarter the warm potatoes and place them in a large bowl.

4. Chop the grilled onions and add them to the potatoes.

Remove seeds from the grilled peppers. Pull any loose skin off but don’t worry about getting all of it. Chop the peppers and add them to the potatoes. Cut the kernels off the grilled corn. To keep the corn kernels from scattering, set an ear on end in a shallow bowl and then cut. Add to onions, potatoes and peppers. If including bacon, add it to the bowl and give everything a toss.

5. To prepare the dressing, whisk together sugar, vinegar, water, oil, herbs, salt and pepper. You can add the dressing to the potato mixture, toss, chill and serve, or you can take it one step further and create a creamy vinaigrette by pouring the prepared vinaigrette into a small blender or food processor. Add the mayonnaise and blend on high until creamy. It will not be thick like a ranch dressing, but it will be more like an Italian dressing consistency—thin, but not as thin as a vinaigrette.

6. Pour prepared dressing over potato mixture. Toss well.

Refrigerate to allow all to marinate for about two hours or overnight. Toss again just before serving.

NOTE: The colors of this salad will be muted because of the grilled vegetables. Garnishes are important here to add color and interest. Accent the salad bowl with a sprig of basil or a small bouquet of basil blossoms.

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FOOD

Cooking

Colorful Cornbread Salad

2 cups chopped tomatoes 2 cups chopped bell pepper 1 cup chopped onion ½ cup chopped parsley 1 15-ounce can whole kernel corn (or 2 cups frozen corn or freshly cut from cob) 1 can pinto beans or black beans, rinsed 1 8-inch or 9-inch square pan of prepared cornbread, cubed (recipe below) 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup chopped crispy bacon Dressing: 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt 1 packet ranch dressing mix, optional (or 1 packet of taco seasoning mix for a Southwestern twist) If you do not use the dressing packet, add: 1 tablespoon distilled (white) vinegar 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar ½ teaspoon ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon garlic granules, optional 1. Prepare dressing first by stirring together mayonnaise, sour cream and dressing mix. If you don’t use the dressing mix, stir together vinegar, salt, sugar, pepper and garlic into the mayonnaise and sour cream. Set aside until ready to use.

2. In a large bowl, toss together the tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, 12

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

parsley, corn and beans.

3. Transfer half of the cubed cornbread to the bottom of another large, clear glass bowl. Top with half of the mixed vegetables.

Scatter half of shredded cheese and bacon over top of the vegetables.

Dollop half of dressing over the top and gently spread out. Don’t worry about it looking perfect.

4. Repeat layering one more time, except this time dollop dressing over top of the vegetables. Spread it out, then garnish with the remaining cheese and bacon.

Refrigerate at least 2 hours prior to serving to allow vegetable juices to soak into cornbread.

Milk and Honey Cornbread: 1½ cups yellow corn meal 1 cup all-purpose flour 1½ teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons granulated sugar ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons honey ½ cup buttermilk ½ cup heavy cream 1 large egg ¼ cup vegetable oil 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat pan with nonstick spray or place liners in a muffin pan. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together corn meal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt.

3. In another bowl, stir together honey, buttermilk, heavy cream, egg and vegetable oil. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and whisk just until the dry is moistened. Allow the batter to set for 5 minutes.

4. Transfer batter to prepared pan or muffin pan (note shorter bake time for muffins). Bake for 25-35 minutes or until the top of the cornbread is puffed in the center and the crackled edges are golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting. Muffins will bake only 15-20 minutes, until tops are crackled and golden brown.

Summertime Three-Bean Salad 4 cups cut green beans, cooked 1 14.5-ounce can wax beans, drained 1 15-ounce can white kidney (cannellini) beans, rinsed and drained 1½ cups grape tomatoes, halved 1 cup fresh mini mozzarella balls, quartered (you can find Cieglini mozzarella balls in an 8-ounce container at Kroger’s deli) 1 cup chopped onion 1 large garlic clove, minced ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup white vinegar 3 tablespoons water 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 1. In a large bowl, combine green beans, wax beans, white beans, grape tomatoes, mozzarella, onion and garlic.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together sugar, vinegar, water, oil, salt and pepper. Pour over bean mixture and toss to combine.

3. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours to allow salad to marinate.

Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container.

Super Foods Salad with Ginger-Maple Dressing 8 cups chopped kale (shortcut: use bagged chopped kale) 4 cups chopped broccoli, tops only 1/3 cup thinly sliced sweet or red onion 1 cup dried cherries ½ cup roasted, unsalted sunflower kernels

Sweet and Smokey Red Slaw Dressing: 1/3 cup granulated sugar ½ cup apple cider vinegar ¼ cup vegetable oil (or red palm oil) 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon smoked paprika Slaw: 1 small head red cabbage, shredded 4 cups white cabbage, shredded 2 cups chopped tomato, squeezed to eliminate extra juice 1½ cups chopped red bell pepper 1 cup chopped sweet onion 1. Prepare dressing by combining the sugar, vinegar, oil, salt and paprika in a medium saucepan.

Cook over medium-high heat just until mixture boils. Remove from heat and set aside until cooled and ready to use.

2. In a large bowl, combine the red cabbage, white cabbage, tomato, pepper and onion. Pour dressing over the top and toss to combine.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Dressing: ¼ cup apple cider vinegar ¼ cup apple juice or cider (see note) 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/3 cup maple syrup 1½ tablespoons grated fresh ginger ½ teaspoon salt 1. In a large bowl, combine kale, broccoli, onion, cherries and sunflower kernels.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together vinegar, apple juice, olive oil, maple syrup, ginger and salt. Pour over top of the salad mixture and toss to coat everything with the dressing.

NOTE: If you don’t want to use apple juice, use an equal amount of apple cider vinegar. Adjust the maple syrup by adding 2 more tablespoons … This salad is best if eaten within two days. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

BURLEY TEMPLE INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 oz.

Kentucky Bourbon 4 oz. Ale-8-One Grenadine Maraschino Cherry P R E PA R AT I O N

Fill rocks glass with ice.

Pour bourbon into glass Followed by a splash of grenadine and Ale-8-One. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

DRINK

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Education Evolution The Kentucky Community and Technical College System offers paths to a job or a degree

By Deborah Kohl Kremer

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W

hether you want to complete general education courses or learn a trade, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System offers hundreds of majors at its more than 70 campuses across the state. With its low student/teacher ratio, affordable tuition and diverse classes, the system is a jewel in the crown of Kentucky’s higher education options.

“KCTCS is the largest provider of higher education and workforce training in the state,” says Dr. Jay Box, president. “Forty percent of all undergraduate enrollment is in the community college system.”

With more than 700 career-related programs, the system meets the needs of many Kentuckians. More than 150,000 students are enrolled, and not only are classes offered at brick-and-mortar locations, but KCTCS also boasts 15,000plus online students.

Box says this statewide system was designed for better access to higher education. It has two paths to graduation: Go2Work and Go2Transfer.

The former offers students a road to a vocational-type job, where they can complete the coursework in a few semesters and start their career right away. These types of positions include dental hygienists, electricians, respiratory therapists and machinists. KCTCS also offers certificate programs in which students learn a skill and receive certification in it. Here, the student is not necessarily working toward a degree, but toward qualification for employment or a career promotion.

Box points to KCTCS’ role in workforce development.

For example, the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) is a partnership between area manufacturing companies and the system’s colleges, with the goal of producing highly qualified graduates and creating a continuous pool of technically skilled workers.

Students accepted into the program work toward an associate degree in applied science in industrial maintenance technology, attending classes two days per week and on-the-job training three days per week. Classes focus on technical and manufacturing skills and professional behaviors.

“We have the ability as a system to address the needs of business and industry in the state,” Box says. “We are able to quickly adjust our curriculum to meet their needs.”

Under the KCTCS transfer program, students who intend to obtain a bachelor’s degree can take general education courses at less than half the price of a four-year university. Students graduate with an associate degree in arts or science, and then transfer to complete their bachelor’s degree.

“In 2010, the faculties of all the public universities in the state came together to align their curriculums,” Box says.

“The general education classes taken at KCTCS are guaranteed to transfer, without question.”

Within the 16 colleges across the state, students can take basic English, business, math and science classes; and technical courses like radiography, masonry, plumbing and automotive. Each campus also offers a large assortment of online classes that are available to any student, no matter which campus they call home.

••• Several campuses offer courses or majors unique to their region of the state.

In Lexington, the “Horse Capital of the World,” the Bluegrass Community and Technical College is home to the North American Racing Academy. Students can enroll in the equine studies major, where they select the jockey path or the horseman path, both leading to a career in the horseracing industry.

Now in its 10th year, it is the only two-year program of its kind in the United States. Students can choose a certificate program, which is about 32 credit hours, or an associate degree, which is about 60 hours. Both programs include classes in racehorse care, grooming and monitoring vital signs; and, of course, all students participate in mucking stalls.

Classes are held at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, where owners and trainers send their young horses to learn to become racehorses. BCTC owns 12 to 15 horses that reside at the center and are used in the curriculum, with students getting a hands-on education in racehorse care and training.

According to Remi Bellocq, executive director of the academy, these on-the-track horses give students the realworld experience they need.

Left, equine studies majors practice riding skills on horseback as part of the North American Racing Academy; opposite, an art student prepares a sculpture with shaped wood pieces at the Paducah School of Art and Design.

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KCTCS Beginnings Kentucky’s community college system got its start back in 1948, when the University of Kentucky’s Northern Extension Center was created in Covington. That school, which went on to become Northern Kentucky University, was the state’s first attempt at a regional campus of higher education.

In the 1950s, Ashland Junior College joined the program to become the Ashland Center of the University of Kentucky. With the success of these two campuses, the University of Kentucky Extension Centers in Fort Knox, Cumberland and Henderson quickly followed.

In 1964, the schools became part of the University of Kentucky Community College System, and in 1999, the colleges were transitioned into the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

“With the 73 campuses throughout the state, we are within a 30-minute drive of 95 percent of all Kentucky residents,” KCTCS President Jay Box says.

“Complement that with our online delivery, and we believe we are accessible to anyone in the state who wants to pursue higher education.”

••• Tucked in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, Hyden is home to the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music. This campus, a division of the Hazard Community and Technical College, offers classes in songwriting, recording and the music business, as well as performance classes in banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass, fiddle and vocals.

Now celebrating its 10th year, the school boasts students from all over Kentucky, the U.S. and 22 other countries.

“I believe we have the most broad-spectrum, two-year music program in the country,” says Dean Osborne, director of the college. “We give our students the opportunity to experience many areas of the music business. We know that not everyone is looking for a record deal.”

Osborne says he and other faculty members have made their careers in the music industry.

“Most of us have been where that student wants to go,” he explains. “We can listen to their dreams and help them to find ways to get there.” Q

“Our students learn not by theory, but by practice,” he says. “They get exactly the education and training they need for day one on the job.”

He says Lexington is the perfect location for such a school. “We are at ground zero, with our accessibility to farms and racetracks. Our students can do mentorships and internships and get jobs right here.

“The top trainers in the country will hire our students because they know the level of education [the students] get here,” Bellocq said.

••• Paducah, the location of the National Quilt Museum and the LowerTown Arts District, also is the site of the Paducah School of Art and Design, a division of the West Kentucky Community and Technical College. The college offers programs in drawing, painting, photography, fibers, visual communication and multimedia. Students can pursue certificates in a specific genre or an associate in fine arts or associate in applied science degree in visual communication/ multimedia.

“Paducah School of Art and Design has been able to capitalize on new facilities and equipment to expand our ceramics program, launch new programs in jewelry and small metals, and establish fully equipped studios for metals and wood fabrication,” says Paul Aho, dean of the college.

“With the opening of our 2D and Graphic Design Building in January 2016, we were also able to expand our Summer Master Artists Workshop program to embrace other media and disciplines, increase our public programing and continue to build a truly noteworthy exhibition program.”

Paducah is a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, and its LowerTown Arts District attracts artists from all over the country to live and work. Because of this, Aho says, the school offers unique opportunities for collaboration with The KCTCS mascot is Pathfinder, a fun orange fox who represents local artists and UNESCO sister cities around the world.

Kentucky’s pioneer spirit as “a seeker, a giver of truth and a source of strength.”

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Scholarship Opportunities When your dedication to wellness grows...

New for fall 2017 are Work-Ready Kentucky Scholarships, which provide free tuition for up to 30 hours for Kentucky students who have not earned a degree.

The scholarships are available for courses, certificates and degrees in the top five employment sectors in Kentucky:

• Health care

Offering Master’s and Doctoral Degrees for Registered Nurses Specialties Offered: • Certified Nurse-Midwife • Family Nurse Practitioner • Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Learn more about our innovative distance education programs at Frontier.edu/KyMonthly

• Manufacturing • Transportation/ logistics • Business services/ information technology

Andre PaterIn a Sporting Light APRIL 21 - AUGUST 13, 2017

• Construction/trades For more information, visit kheaa.com.

Left: Demonstrative, 2014 top: End of the Day, 1996 Bottom: Afternoon, 1996; Private Collections © Andre Pater

Middleburg, VA | NationalSporting.org | 540.687.6542

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A student at the Paducah School of Art and Design focuses intently in a painting class.

The Kentucky Community College System • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Ashland Community and Technical College Big Sandy Community and Technical College Bluegrass Community and Technical College Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Gateway Community and Technical College Hazard Community and Technical College Henderson Community College Hopkinsville Community College Jefferson Community and Technical College Madisonville Community College Maysville Community and Technical College Owensboro Community and Technical College Somerset Community College Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College West Kentucky Community and Technical College

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

ADVERTISEMENT

KENTUCKY EDUCATION FACES DR. JASON REEVES Dean of Educational Studies Unit Union College

“I believe that both providence and an established connection to our region have been key factors to the success I’ve had in the field of education. Without a sense of purpose and respect for people and place, there is no foundation for which to grow new ideas.”

As Dean of the Educational Studies Unit at Union College, Dr. Jason Reeves has become a noted member of the state and national communities who prepare future generations of teacher leaders for service in schools across the nation. At an age when most postsecondary faculty are just beginning their careers, Dr. Reeves is an award-winning faculty member, having been recognized for excellence in teaching by the Union College Faculty Relations Committee, the United Methodist Church Board of Higher Education and the University of Kentucky. In 2013 and 2015, Dr. Reeves was selected by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board to become a Council of Accreditation for Educator Preparation Board of Examiners member for state and national education preparation review teams. This selection led to Dr. Reeves being appointed as one of only five Assessment Reviewers by the Council, charged with assisting colleges and universities in developing assessment plans and systems to meet national program requirements.

“I measure the impact of our leadership by the success of our partner school districts in preparing students who are college and career ready. Kentucky is making great gains in this regard through the efforts of dedicated, skilled educators, many of whom are Union College graduates working in 19 school districts across the state.”

By using impact as a measure, it is easy to see the scope of Dr. Reeves’ efforts in preparing successful teacher leaders. In 2015, the Kentucky Center of Education ranked Union College as one of the top institutions in the state for preparing teachers for the workforce. Retention of those Union-educated teachers was also among the highest of 28 higher education institutions in Kentucky.

“It is flattering to recognize Union as a cornerstone in the field of education in Kentucky. However, seeing our students, and by extension, their students achieve in the classroom is the reason I put a key in my office door each morning.”

Union College was founded in Barbourville in 1879 to address a shortage of teachers in that region of Kentucky. The institution has educated teachers since and currently has 28 education-based academic programs. Dr. Reeves began his career in education as a graduate of Union College.

01 7 T•U C KK EN UO CK T H LY A U G U S TA U2G 0 1U7S T•2 K EN Y TM NY T HM LYO N 19

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EDUCATION

KENTUCKY FACES

DR. JOSEPH “JAY” MORGAN President Morehead State University

As Dr. Jay Morgan begins his tenure as Morehead State University’s 14th president, he may be a new presence on the campus but his prior experience in numerous facets of higher education makes him more than qualified to steer MSU into the future. When Dr. Morgan was a student, he earned both a bachelor of science degree in agriculture science and business, and a master’s degree in agriculture science from Murray State University. He earned his Ph.D. at Oklahoma State University in agricultural education with a minor in management, which included significant coursework in educational administration.

His first experience working in higher education led him back to Murray State, where he served for 18 years in a number of roles ranging from professor and graduate program coordinator to vice president of academic affairs and provost. He spent the last two years serving as the chief academic officer and vice president for academic affairs and student success for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

In addition to responsibilities that included helping to lead efforts to reform and improve the Commonwealth’s higher education programs, his bipartisan position included working with legislators to craft the state’s performance funding model for higher education.

Dr. Morgan believes his experience allows him to lead MSU with a scope that factors in every aspect of what it takes to improve a university in Kentucky.

In addition to strongly believing in MSU’s mission to change the lives of people in the region, he also connects with the University because of its tight-knit campus community.

While Dr. Morgan plans to set MSU up for continued success, he feels like he will be doing so not as the new guy on campus but as an Eagle that has already been welcomed with open arms. “I think it’s becoming part of a family, and that’s not only part of the University family but a family of the region,” Morgan said. “Morehead State feels like home to me.”

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LUSH

LEGACY Today’s Bernheim Forest is designed to regenerate itself—and the spirits of its visitors

Text + Photos by Lindsey McClave

ernheim Forest is getting back to

B

its roots. A short drive south of Louisville along I-65, this undulating

15,000-plus-acre tract of land is named for Isaac W. Bernheim, who saw the value in preserving this forest nearly a century ago. Fast-forward to the present day and Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont is proving to be a sustainable force—one that continues to draw visitors from around the state and beyond.

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It was a beacon far too enticing for Tom Block, Isaac’s great-grandson, to ignore. Indeed, Bernheim Forest called Tom from New York to Kentucky, where he, along with Visitor Services Assistant Manager Kathy Hart and the rest of the dedicated Bernheim staff and board of trustees, have spent the last several years ensuring Bernheim’s pursuits in both research and sustainability are maximized. Its expansive edible garden is a shining example of their commitment to not only giving back to the land but also to regenerating it.

When Isaac established his forest, he intended for it to be a place for all, and today, Tom, Kathy and the lovers of Bernheim keep this wish at the heart of everything they do as they steadily guide the forest through the 21st century. There seems to be little doubt that Isaac, who started life in America as a peddler and went on to build a whiskey empire, would be proud of what has become of his lush and sprawling legacy.

••• Landing in America in 1867, Isaac had left his small childhood village in Germany in pursuit of American opportunity. He was only 19 but had been born with an industrious spirit, and he quickly began working as a peddler, traveling throughout Pennsylvania selling sundries. This line of work allowed him a comfortable life and gave him the resources needed to move to Paducah, where he first entered the business that would make him his fortune: bourbon. Along with his brother, Bernard, Isaac established a liquor sales firm in 1872. Two decades later, the Bernheim brothers found themselves living in Louisville and crafting I.W. Harper, their brand of bourbon.

Exactly when Isaac set eyes on the land that would later bear his name is unknown. The deep green and wooded rolling hills just outside of Shepherdsville reminded him of the terrain of the Black Forest in Germany.

The land spoke to him, and his desire to preserve this corner of the world would not be quelled. Instead of leaving his fortune to his children, Isaac created the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest Trust, with the land as the sole benefactor of his life’s work. This trust has sustained the forest and its efforts for years, but with the renewed drive to expand and deepen the impact of the forest comes the need for new revenue streams. Enter Isaac’s great-grandson, Tom Block.

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Tom, who was born in Cincinnati, knew little about Bernheim Forest as a child. An age-old rift between Isaac and his children, one of whom was Tom’s grandmother, kept the extended family largely estranged.

Tom inherited no small amount of his great-grandfather’s industrious nature and established a successful career of his own, starting with politics. He spent weekends of his senior year at American University flying to and from Ohio, while serving as one of the youngest congressional aides in Washington, D.C. He was running a congressman’s office at 25, and by 27, he was in charge of the day-to-day activities of a senator.

After his success in Washington, Tom went on to the top ranks of financial giant J.P. Morgan Chase. He worked and lived in New York City for 30 years, never dreaming he would spend his retirement in Louisville as an active participant in the growth of his great-grandfather’s legacy.

A visit to Bernheim Forest in 2008 proved serendipitous, and Tom found himself sharing tales of his family history with Bernheim’s executive director, who would reach out to him shortly thereafter, requesting his presence on its board of trustees.

Three visits a year turned into five, and then quickly seven or more, with Tom spending more and more time immersing himself in the forest, marveling over the leaves of unique and delicate sycamores, maples, tricolor beech trees that seem to have come straight out of a storybook, and a vast maze of hollies boasting a rainbow of berries in the fall. Nature was the motivation he needed to help maximize all that Bernheim had to offer. The decision to leave New York and head southwest just felt right.

••• In keeping with Isaac Bernheim’s wish, ensuring that the forest is a place for all people is always top priority, and the new and improved Isaac’s Café is no exception. Kathy Hart is largely credited with the café’s transformation; her passion for cooking with the freshest, most wholesome ingredients available is palpable.

In 2014, an edible garden was developed there, with raised beds built at varying heights to accommodate the young and petite as well as the mature and tall. The garden serves as a learning space, and several beds are designed to be open at the bottom, allowing for handicap accessibility.

Many of the more than 35 miles of trails at Bernheim have been made accessible as well.

PRESERVATION! Saturday, September 16, 2017 Commencing at 1:00 PM In the Bourbon County Courthouse, Paris, KY ORATORS INCLUDE: • Stephen Aron, Professor & Chair, UCLA Department of History

“The Dilemmas of Daniel Boone” • Daniel Kurt Ackermann, Curator, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts

“ Becoming Kentucky: Cultural Confluence in the Decorative Arts of Early Kentucky” • Estill Curtis Pennington, Art Historian

“Kentucky: The Far West of the Old South in Romantic Art” For checks & reservation requests:

Duncan Tavern 323 High Street Paris, KY 40361 (859) 987-1788 Tavern and Courthouse Tours on Saturday Morning.

Sponsors Include:

The Josephine Ardery Foundation • Mack & Sharon Cox • Linda and Jerry Bruckheimer • Kentucky Monthly

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When Kathy came on board as a volunteer, she saw a missed opportunity—the majority of the vegetables grown in the garden were left unused, simply because those running the kitchen at the café were short on time, space and knowledge of how to cook with the seasons. Kathy stepped in, and three years later, the vast majority of the food served at Isaac’s Café comes directly from the garden. She plans the menus daily based on what she is able to pull from the beds a mere 200 yards away. Now, Kathy and the Bernheim garden team work in tandem, consulting on which vegetables to plant and when, and ensuring fresh food is available not only in the summer and fall but every week of the year.

The edible garden is beautifully designed, with the beds bordered by covered classroom huts, beehives, monarch butterfly way stations and solar panels. The solar panels are part of Bernheim’s participation in the Living Building Challenge, an international sustainable building certification program. Recognizing that operating the sprinkler system used most of the energy in the garden, Kathy and the garden team installed solar panels, generating electricity to distribute water captured in rain barrels. The idea is to move beyond the concept of sustainability and to approach the Earth with a regenerative frame of mind, giving back more than you take. Kathy embraces this same concept with the dishes she makes in the café. She wants the food that the guests enjoy not only to sustain them but also to be a regenerative force in their health.

The café is housed in the visitor center, a light-filled building encased nearly entirely in rich wooden window frames, with glass panels allowing both light and the surrounding greenery to pour in, ensuring guests do not forget they are at the center of a forest. Catering for groups is available from Isaac’s Café, and a small banquet space is adjacent to the gift shop.

•••

Top, a day at Bernheim can include waterfront bird watching; above, Tom Block with one of the several sculptures placed within the forest.

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In speaking about the future of Bernheim, both Tom and Kathy have their sights firmly set on growth, with hopes of drawing visitors there year-round for the food, changing colors of the seasons, and, eventually, weddings and larger social events. In truth, Bernheim is a forest at its heart, but yet it is so much more than that.

With a stronger-than-ever drive to expand the educational programs, the research efforts and the access to fresh, wholesome food, Bernheim Forest is primed to inspire and fortify visitors for generations to come. Q

GET Your GREENS Top, the sustainable edible garden on the property boasts solar panels and a variety of vegetables and herbs; below, some of the delicious options available in Issac’s Café on the premises.

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WHAT’S

HIDING IN

YOUR

FIREWOOD?

Invasive insects like

Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer can be transported long distances in firewood.

Do your part to help preserve Kentucky’s forests—

LEAVE YOUR FIREWOOD AT HOME! dontmovefirewood.org

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If You Go: Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest 2075 Clermont Road Clermont, KY (502) 955-8512

bernheim.org

9 Consecutive Years on The Washington Post’s List of Top Performing Schools with Elite Students 91 National Merit Finalists 20 Semifinalists in Siemens Competition

We come from all across Kentucky to The Gatton Academy on the campus of Western Kentucky University. We finish our junior and senior years of high school as we start college. We conduct research with professors, study abroad, and attend college classes. While we are challenged academically, we thrive in a supportive environment designed just for us and make lifelong friends. Tuition, fees, room and board are paid for by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. You, too, can have a future filled with infinite possibilities.

Class of 2020 Admissions Deadline: February 1, 2018 WEBSITE: wku.edu/academy

|

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/gattonacademy facebook.com/gattonacademy

|

EMAIL: academy@wku.edu

@gattonacademy

|

PHONE: 270-745-6565

@gattonacademy

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

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THE KY HISTORY HALF TAKES PARTICIPANTS ON A TOUR THROUGH TIME TEXT + PHOTOS BY ABBY LAUB

13.1 MILES

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KENTUCKY HISTORY 28

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entucky celebrated its 225th birthday on June 1, 2017, but in September, Kentuckians and visitors can experience a taste of the state’s diverse history represented on foot in the KY History Half Marathon.

Race manager Bob Baney said the Frankfort race, now in its third year, is the only half marathon that celebrates Kentucky’s history.

“The race is a running history of Frankfort and Kentucky,” explained Baney, founder of RaceRise, a central Kentucky-based sports management company that orchestrates fun races that benefit worthy local charities and causes.

The KY History Half Marathon, dubbed “the greatest half in history,” is a charitable event held in the state capital on Sept. 30 this year. Proceeds from the event, which also includes 5K and 10K races, support the programming and services of the Kentucky Historical Society.

The event engages participants in Kentucky’s rich history by taking runners through a challenging course past multiple historic landmarks such as the Old State Capitol, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort Cemetery, Kentucky State Capitol, Governor’s Mansion and Kentucky Military History Museum, as well as through downtown Frankfort’s historic picturesque streets. No other event in the Commonwealth uses Kentucky history as its theme.

Kent Whitworth, executive director of the Kentucky Historical Society, said practically the only part of the 13.1mile course that is not historic is the gas station next to Buffalo Trace Distillery.

“Participants run by at least 50 historic sites, by the official definition,” he said. “But virtually every part of the course involves history. Even as simple as the name: People have to say ‘Kentucky history’ when they talk about this race.”

Whitworth, who also is a runner, said his favorite part of the course is the Frankfort Cemetery.

“The cemetery is tough to beat, but I think the state Capitol is hard to beat, too,” he mused. “It’s so beautiful, as grand as those two moments are on the course. It’s a cumulative effect. There’s hardly a place where you’re not encountering impressive residential, commercial or public architecture or a site of something significant.

“Even the back part of that first mile, you run right by the old governor’s mansion and the old state penitentiary, so as you can imagine, there are some fun stories tied to those sites. All over, you see remnants of what this old capital town must have been like 175-plus years ago.” hhh

Race participant Ashleigh Freda, who blogs as The Running Wife, said running through the cemetery is a highlight.

“The race director asked us for a mile of silence and remembrance as they played taps, and the view was breathtaking,” she recalled. “It was awesome and beautiful.

And you can smell the sweet mash in the air [from Buffalo Trace Distillery down the hill from the cemetery].”

Freda, who placed as second overall female for the 10K race in 2016, will participate in the event for the third time this year and said she enjoys the hills, beauty and smalltown feel of the race.

“If people are considering this race, I tell them to do their hill repeats and get ready to be blown away through the cemetery,” she said. “That view is worth the entire race.

The out and back past Buffalo Trace Distillery feels really long, but it’s probably the flattest part of the race.”

She added that it’s opened her eyes to all Frankfort has to offer.

“Since running the race, I’ve become more interested in A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

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THE ‘HILL OF HISTORY’ AND A 6 PERCENT GRADE

Race manager Bob Baney called mile 3.7 of the KY History Half Marathon the “Hill of History.” Those doing the 10K also get to run the big hill, but the 5K’ers are spared.

“It’s a .45-mile climb with elevation of almost 150 feet, which makes for a 6 percent grade—similar to those signs you see on the interstates in mountainous areas,” Baney said.

“To put it in perspective, the average grade for the rest of the entire course is 1.49 percent. We encourage spectators to come out and cheer runners up the Hill of History. It is only a short .1-mile walk from the start and finish area.”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KY HISTORY HALF MARATHON, VISIT:

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Frankfort, in general,” she said. “We always run in Lexington or Louisville, but Frankfort is like a well-kept secret … The fact that I can just go to Buffalo Trace for a post-race toast—that’s pretty nice, too.

“I also like that this race isn’t focused on horses as other Kentucky races are.

It’s more about showing the views of the city and the streets of our state capital.”

And the Historical Society is happy to show off all that Frankfort has.

Whitworth noted that Frankfort has “everything from bourbon to Bibb lettuce and everything in between. And the cemetery is a veritable who’s who.”

He said while race organizers wondered at first if they were overdoing it with the history, runners and fans were asking for even more.

Baney also loves the pass through the cemetery.

“You even have the chance to run past the grave sites of Daniel and Rebecca Boone during the ‘Mile of Remembrance’ portion of the race, which takes runners through one of the oldest public cemeteries in the nation,” Baney said.

There are so many other historical markers along the course—and within easy walking distance for spectators—that Whitworth said, “People sometimes don’t even realize what they’re running by, and we’ve been experimenting with different ways to help the runners understand it.”

Race or not, he encouraged people to visit the capital year-round, since he feels many Kentuckians don’t realize what it offers. hhh Local businesses are excited about the race so they can show off their town.

Race director Mary Cawein said the estimated economic impact on Frankfort during last year’s race weekend was almost $56,000.

Grow the race, yes, but not too big.

“Several women from Cincinnati, they said, ‘We love this race; we want to help you get the word out, but not too much because we don’t want to make it too big,’ ” Whitworth said.

Last year saw 573 participants, and the event features several family activities all held in the easily walkable downtown area.

Whitworth and Cawein called it an ideal “family field trip” timed well with the start of the school year. Special for this year: Sign up to run and enjoy a piece of Kentucky’s 225th birthday cake at race packet pickup.

Tracing the Steps The first major site the Kentucky Historical Society points out to runners, spectators and visitors participating in the KY History Half Marathon is at the race start in downtown Frankfort: the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. It has housed the headquarters of the Kentucky Historical Society since 1999.

Next on the route is the First Baptist Church, established in 1833. On High Street, runners pass the Old Governor’s Mansion, which served as the residence of 33 Kentucky governors from 1797 to 1914. A right onto Broadway takes them by the boyhood home of renowned landscape watercolorist and portrait painter Paul Sawyier.

At Broadway and High streets is the old Frankfort Union Station. The 1908 structure, built by L&N Railroad, replaced the Lexington & Frankfort Railroad depot that had been there since the mid-19th century. Continuing down Broadway, runners pass the site of an 1864 attack on Frankfort by Confederate troops. Then, it’s on to the Old State Capitol. Constructed between 1827 and 1829 of Kentucky

River marble, a local form of limestone, the picturesque structure was Kentucky’s third capitol.

Runners then pass the site of the Inauguration Elm, where governors took the oath of office until the late 1800s. Next is the location of the infamous shooting of William Goebel on Jan. 30, 1900. Goebel was mortally wounded one day prior to being sworn in as governor, took the oath of office on his deathbed, and succumbed on Feb. 3.

The Old State House is next, where several historical markers dot the grounds, including one honoring Revolutionary War veterans who served Kentucky as governor or senator.

Runners then approach the GarrardCrittenden House, an early 19th-century building noted for its brick-and-log construction. Its timbers are filled in with brick and mortar, then covered with clapboard—a technique not commonly used in this part of the country.

The next leg has runners passing Liberty Hall, which is a National Historic Landmark; the First

Presbyterian Church, organized in 1815; and the home of statesman John Jordan Crittenden, Kentucky’s 15th governor and U.S. attorney general serving three presidents.

The Morehead House follows. The 1810 structure was home to six notable Kentuckians in the decades prior to the Civil War. Runners then pass the John Goodman House. John Goodman moved his furniture factory from Lexington to Frankfort in 1801 and is remembered for producing the first Kentucky-made piano.

Approaching the intersection of Main and Ann streets, runners pass perhaps the most important location in the history of Frankfort—the Weisiger House. A key founding father of the city, Daniel Weisiger served as county clerk, city trustee and the city’s first postmaster, and was a farmer and merchant. Also in this area are the Hiram Masonic Lodge and First Christian Church.

The runners continue past the John Hampton House. Built prior to 1840, it is the oldest surviving stone house in the city. Then, it’s up Capital Avenue toward the stunning 107-year-old

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“new” Capitol, which cost $1.8 million when it was built (please see the June/ July issue of Kentucky Monthly, page 19, for a photo essay depicting the remarkable architecture of our Capitol). As they near the building, runners pass close to a marker honoring Emma Guy Cromwell.

Elected as secretary of state in 1923, she was first woman in Kentucky to hold a statewide office.

As the runners enter the Capitol grounds, they come near the site of an infamous Civil War incident, in which four innocent Confederate prisoners were executed. They then pass Kentucky’s beautiful Executive Mansion. The 25-room, limestone home, modeled on Marie Antoinette’s villa, became the state’s second governor’s residence in 1914.

Heading away from the Capitol, runners travel near the site of the Rebecca Ruth candy operation.

Co-founder Ruth Hanly Booe is credited as the inventor of the bourbon ball and the Mint Kentucky Colonel.

Runners take a right on U.S. 60 and climb past the old state arsenal, now the Kentucky Military History Museum. Waiting for them at the top of the hill is the historic Frankfort Cemetery and the race’s scenic Mile of Remembrance. Just over 4 miles into

the 13.1-mile course, runners enter the South’s first “rural” or “garden-style” cemetery. They then pass near the old Frankfort State Hospital and School Cemetery on Glenn’s Creek Road.

Leaving the cemetery, they head back downhill and travel through downtown to Kentucky River View Park. They take the River View Park trail along the river and then up along Wilkinson Boulevard, past the historic Glen-Willis House. Also along Wilkinson Boulevard, runners pass an area that was formerly active in hemp production. The first crop grown widely in the Commonwealth, hemp’s production in Kentucky peaked in 1850, with 40,000 tons.

Next, runners go by the site of the old Leestown settlement before arriving at another National Historic Landmark, Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Traveling back down the river trail, they return downtown to West Broadway, where they pass the home of a noted early-19th century journalist and politician, Amos Kendall, who was editor of The Argus of Western America.

The history tour comes to a close when runners finish where they started, at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. The area is easily walkable for spectators to tour sites on their own while runners are on the course. Q

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CORE of the

Commonwealth The “world’s largest apple pie” serves as the star attraction at Casey County’s Apple Festival

BY DIANA C. DERRINGER

H

ow many people does it take to peel 50 bushels of apples for what’s billed as the world’s largest apple pie? Not as many as you might think, according to Lydia Coffey, who oversees that monumental task. Five to 10 pie makers peel, slice, measure and fill a custom-built, stainless steel pan—10 feet in diameter and 10 inches deep—with all the necessary ingredients.

They finish the peeling and slicing on Thursday night of Casey County’s annual Apple Festival, scheduled Sept.

21-23 this year. The crew loads the apples into a peeler that cores and peels them. Then, the apples go to another part of the peeler for slicing. The sliced apples drop into a pan of lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown.

Workers then store all the apples in large plastic bags, ready for the next day’s work.

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The Pie

On Friday, from around 9:30 a.m. until noon or a little after, the pie crew assembles the pie. First, crew members clean and oil the pan. They then use boat paddles to cover the pan with pieces of piecrust, followed by a layer of apples, and then the filling. They repeat this process three times, finishing with another layer of crust and a lattice top. Although it sounds like a lot of work, this pie is only half the original size. In the early Apple Festival years, 100 bushels of apples were used to form five or six layers in an 8-foot pan.

For Coffey, the most nerve-wracking part of the process occurs when the pie is ready for the oven. Although she has the utmost confidence in the forklift driver, she holds her breath when he lifts the pie from its platform, backs it from

under the work tent, and moves toward the oven’s open double doors. After the pie slides into the oven, the oven doors close, the baking begins, and Coffey resumes breathing. Someone remains with the pie to protect and check it throughout the night.

As the pie comes out of the oven at noon on Saturday after baking 12 hours, Coffey’s nerves begin dancing again.

However, once the pie is in place, she and the pie crew can celebrate in earnest. Another year. Another pie. A piece of cake (or, in this case, pie).

The workers use large scoops to fill serving pans. After they dip warm apple pie from the outer edges, they use their boat paddles to push the contents of the pie’s center to the sides of the pan. Thousands of visitors enjoy a generous portion of apple pie à la mode at no charge. Any leftovers go to the local jail for the following week’s dessert.

Liberty’s IGA bakes a giant chocolate chip cookie on Wednesday night, and Pizza Hut provides a giant pizza Thursday night, both also served free to the public. With these giant treats, no one should leave the Apple Festival hungry. In addition to cookie, pizza and pie, vendors offer a variety of tasty treats, including the usual burgers and funnel cakes, plus locally made fried apple pies. Better get a fried pie first. They sell quickly.

The People

Lois Sandusky and her daughter, Jo Ann Pratt, make many of those fried pies. They spend most of the Apple

Top left, the unbaked pie is carefully transported to the oven via a forklift; top right, pie assemblers Linda-Dean Peavey, Kelsey Horseman and Jim Coffey spread out apples; above, unofficial pie crimper Bea Edwards works her magic.

F E S T I VA L

If You Go:

S H O W C A S E

2017 Casey County Apple Festival Liberty, KY • Sept. 21-23 Pageants and other activities begin Sept. 15 For more details, visit caseycountyapplefestival.org

Monroe County

Watermelon Festival Saturday, September 2, 2017 BBQ, Arts & Crafts and Antique Car Show Lots of Fun, Food, Games and Live Entertainment 270-487-1314 monroecountykytourism.com

Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival LABOR DAY WEEKEND- WINCHESTER, KENTUCKY 859.744.0556 | danielboonepioneerfestival.com

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Pie by the Numbers

The world’s largest apple pie contains: 50 – bushels of Granny Smith apples 150 – pounds of sugar 2½ – pounds of cinnamon 75 – pounds of cornstarch 15 – pounds of butter 1½ – pounds of salt 300 – pounds of pastry

And to bake it: 12 – hours in the oven 350 – degrees baking temperature

Festival at home making the pies and filling jars with pie filling. Lois’ recipe came from her mother and is more than 100 years old. “It makes a good ice cream topping as well as pie filling,” she said.

Jo Ann’s husband, Darin, oversees their booth, where he sells the pies, jars of filling and bagged apples from the only remaining commercial apple orchard in Casey County. Lois said she and her late husband, Ottis, grew apples for at least 40 years. Jo Ann and Darin began helping about four years before Ottis’ death in 2015.

The vision for an apple festival began in the early 1970s with Marion Murphy. As an agriculture teacher at the Casey County Vocational School, his objective was to increase local farmers’ income. He said the county had around 225,000 apple trees with no means of selling the apples and no publicity. Commercial growers were selling apples in paper bags from their yards, so he said he decided to “make a little noise to tell people they were there.”

Murphy mentioned his idea to his friend, Greg Lawhorn, a welding teacher, and then to local fruit growers. Apple grower George Wolford’s excitement matched that of Murphy and Lawhorn. Although “no one knew what they were doing,” Lawhorn said, they and other committee members began putting together the first festival. “The longer we talked, the more it became reality,” he added. No one imagined it would last. They hoped for maybe three or four good years to let people know they could find apples in Casey County. Lawhorn said those early years “just about worked us all to death.”

Lawhorn said he and his welding shop students made a big metal box for the oven and a pan that “leaked like crazy.”

Wolford, a professional electrician, handled the wiring for the oven. Lawhorn said they had “no plans or blueprints—all was trial and error.” An engineer with GE in Louisville tested their equipment, and, although crude, it worked.

Extension agent Shirley Shepperson provided a simple apple pie recipe they multiplied for 100 bushels of apples.

Following a test run at the high school, they introduced the public to the world’s largest apple pie in 1974.

Now using a third-generation oven and pan, the festival and the pie continue to improve. Murphy said he and Wolford may have “led the parade” in putting the festival together, but “you can’t cook an elephant unless you have a big pot.” For that, he thanks Lawhorn.

Wayne Hughes kept the oven in his apple barn the first two seasons, until the group secured other storage. Hughes sold his apple orchard in 1999, following a leukemia diagnosis two years earlier. Although his health cut short his active involvement in the festival, it did not diminish his support. He still enjoys watching the assembly of the pie and telling newcomers a bit of its history.

Wolford, who died in 2012 at 90, oversaw the pie 36

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preparation. After a few years, he asked Lydia Coffey to take the reins. Although Coffey and her husband, Jim, had helped him since the festival’s early years, Coffey admits her lattice topping fails to measure up to Wolford’s precise spacing.

Bea Edwards, 95, continues as the unofficial crust edge crimper. She now lives in Anderson, Indiana, but this Casey County native returns every year. She had to forgo her crimping a couple of years following a fall that injured her back. However, she returned full force in 2015. She circles and crimps the huge pie at a speed and precision few people half her age could equal. She said when Wolford saw her initial work, he wanted her to continue the crimping because she “did it best.”

The Purpose

For many people with Casey County roots, the Apple Festival serves as an annual homecoming, a time to see former classmates and friends. Although activities begin the Saturday before, during the last weekend in September, the town of Liberty grows to five times its normal size, with 50,000-60,000 visitors for the event.

People also come from around the world to get a look at and taste of the giant pie and enjoy the atmosphere of small town fun. Pageants, music, a carnival, a parade, a car show, a 5K run, fireworks and more than 200 vendors offer a full plate of entertainment as well as pie. The festival’s contests include a spelling bee, frog jumping, pedal tractor pull, nail driving and apple peeling. Arts, crafts and flea-market items abound.

“Our goal is to promote Casey County and all the qualities and fine things we produce here in our county,” festival chairperson Deva Hair said. “Casey County has hard workers, who put everything together for the people who attend to enjoy.”

In addition to the committee and other volunteers, the local jail allows inmates with good behavior to help with set-up and clean-up. This gives them an opportunity to benefit from the community atmosphere and frees the volunteers for other responsibilities.

The Plans

Hair said the Apple Festival “has put Casey County on the map,” especially since its designation as the best festival in Kentucky several times in recent years by different entities. However, as with any good festival, the Casey County team strives for ongoing improvements. Hair mentioned bigger, better and more organized events. Coffey would like to see an increase in crafts and activities to highlight local culture.

If you attend Casey County’s Apple Festival, take your time, stroll the streets, and soak in the sights, smells and tastes of a community that knows how to enjoy food, fun, friends and family. Q

One Big Oven According to Marion Murphy, other than a few modifications, the third version of the oven for baking the world’s largest apple pie works basically as it did 25-30 years ago: a box 12 feet square and 4 feet deep with a metal roof. It uses 12 ordinary home-oven heating elements, two large calrod elements, and a blower—all in front of rather than inside the oven.

The inner skin is stainless steel, with 6 inches of fiberglass insulation separating it and an outer skin of aluminum, similar to that used on mobile homes.

Two fully insulated doors on the rear open to allow the 10-foot pie pan to enter.

Kentucky: The Final Frontier

The Commonwealth’s aerospace industry blasts off

By Rachael Guadagni

A

sk folks what Kentucky is known for and nearly everyone will start with horses and bourbon, not necessarily in that order. Anyone who has attended the Kentucky Derby or the spring and fall meets at Keeneland can attest to the majesty and tradition that is Thoroughbred horse racing, and no justification is needed for imbibing the Commonwealth’s signature amber elixir. It goes without saying that a combination of the two enterprises is nothing short of perfection.

But few would give the answer that is quickly becoming the correct one: the aerospace industry. States like California or Texas seem much more likely to fit that bill.

But Kentucky has quietly moved to the front of the pack.

“The aerospace exports in Kentucky are rising,” said D. Stewart Ditto II, retired Marine and executive director of the Kentucky Aerospace Industry Consortium (KAIC). “In 2015, they were $8.7 billion and in 2016, $10.87 billion.

Kentucky has passed California and is only behind Washington in exports.”

KAIC came about after the Kentucky state legislature passed House Joint Resolution 100 in 2015, tasking the Cabinet for Economic Development, the Kentucky

Transportation Cabinet and the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs with studying all aspects of the aerospace industry within the Commonwealth. Ditto, who serves as project manager for the study due to be completed this fall, shared the surprise even he felt at discovering such a large business presence.

“Many don’t realize the impact Kentucky has nationally and internationally,” he said. “Our study has found over 630 companies involved in aerospace. We have major companies in the state, with a significant portion supplying parts for the industry. Several are in northern Kentucky and also do auto parts. There is a lot of back and forth.”

While all this commerce is wonderful, it does beg the question, “Why Kentucky?” Ditto had an answer for that.

“The aerospace industry is doing what the auto industry did years ago,” he said. “Coming south, there are lower taxes, lower energy costs.”

Kentucky’s fortunate geography also plays a role.

“Kentucky is the center of the industry’s growth,” Ditto said. “It’s in the middle of the South and the Midwest.”

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ease of shipping products via planes, trains and trucks, Ditto adds, “The logistics are phenomenal.”

Beyond the need for the study, state officials also recognized a need to bring everything together in such a way as to not only service the industry but also promote it.

“Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton saw a need for the consortium,” Ditto said. Hampton, an Air Force captain deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm, holds not only an MBA but also a degree in industrial engineering and serves on the KAIC Board of Directors.

“Our goal is to create an aerospace brand,” said Ditto, referring to the first of the consortium’s six goals. The other five are: n Advocating for the aerospace industry to raise its overall profile. n Serving as a connection point for private and public entities. n Promoting workforce development, training and outreach at all college and pre-college levels. n Reinforcing research and development related to aerospace occurring at universities and in the private sector. n Facilitating connections to existing and future organizations in related industries toward the mutual benefit of the economic growth of the Commonwealth.

The “parts for stuff” aspect of Kentucky’s aerospace involvement is fabulous, but one crosses solidly into “way cool” territory when discovering the real-life connection to space travel and exploration, and the amazing education, research and development going on in our own backyard.

A nondescript building on Short Street in Lexington is the home of Space Tango, a private company involved in microgravity research and manufacturing. It has its own facilities on the International Space Station, communicating with the astronauts and conducting research. “Few private companies have a lab on the International Space Station,” Ditto said, “and they will hopefully have a second lab soon.”

Farther east is Morehead State University and the Ronald G. Eaglin Space Science Center. “Morehead is involved in CubeSat [small satellite] research,” Ditto said.

“They have five satellites and are the first non-NASA technology asset to have that honor.”

Dr. Benjamin Malphrus, director of Morehead’s Space Center and another member of the KAIC Board, is giddy when discussing Kentucky’s aerospace industry, his students, colleagues and the incredible work going on at MSU. “Aerospace is the No. 1 export,” he said, “and that took everyone by surprise. It wasn’t even on the radar and really happened by accident. There was no major aerospace company, no anchor, but lots of smaller companies. And some bigger ones who also make parts.

GE turbine blades manufactured for Airbus are made in Kentucky, [as well as] some landing gear mechanisms and most home satellite dishes.”

Agreeing with Ditto, Malphrus reiterated Kentucky’s unique position: “We have an improved business environment, a sound supply chain and a well-trained workforce,” he said, adding with a bit of pride, “And we have 100 percent job placement with our undergrads.”

At Morehead, the focus is on nanosatellite technology, which means equipment not much bigger than a loaf of bread. “Our nanosatellite development is mostly for NASA,”

Malphrus said, “but there are many other practical purposes, such as counting cars in a Wal-Mart parking lot at various times of day to track traffic patterns.”

These small devices use their Earth remote sensing capabilities to assist in disaster relief and defense situations. “The benefit of the small satellite,” said Malphrus, “is that it’s inexpensive—a million dollars or so compared to multimillions for the large satellites—and can be anywhere in 15 minutes, while the larger ones can take hours to reposition. They have a smaller resolution that is very specific and can monitor flood zones and help with natural disasters. There are defense applications, and shipping companies often track their ships using a constellation of satellites.”

The most exciting work at MSU centers on space exploration and data collection. Perched on a hill outside the Space Center is the 21-M Space Tracking Antenna. This 21-meter behemoth tracks small satellites as they whiz by at thousands of miles per hour and serves as support for each mission.

“The students monitor the tracking,” Malphrus said, which usually involves three or four flyovers a day. Actually, the students do pretty much everything there, as Malphrus and his colleagues believe that hands-on experience and hard work are the best teachers. During a recent tour of the Center, every door opened revealed labs, test chambers, clean rooms, workshops and computer command centers that were staffed by undergrads working under the supervision of scholars with both knowledge and practical experience. “I don’t hire professors just because they have a Ph.D.,” Malphrus said. “They have to have had a real job— some experience doing this kind of work.”

The nanosatellite endeavors he’s referring to, however, are too fascinating to be called work. “We have flown six missions,” he said. “Two of our satellites are in orbit right now. The DM-7 is attached to the International Space Station and shows that we can build an inexpensive supercomputer, and the CXBN-2 is on a science mission studying the physics of the early universe.”

On track for next year is MSU’s newest and most exciting mission: NASA’s Lunar IceCube. The six-unit CubeSat will be looking for water in liquid, solid and vapor form on the moon, and its data collection will bolster the research that could potentially send people to Mars, asteroids or even back to the moon.

“We won the bid and have the lead on it,” Malphrus said. “It will be a 2019 launch with the most powerful rocket ever designed.”

Using the interplanetary superhighway research developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the satellite will have to speed past both the Earth and the moon before arriving at its destination. “It has to pass the moon and do an Earth flyby before its chaotic capture,” he said.

From Lexington’s Aviation Museum to the Space Science Center at Morehead to Eastern Kentucky University’s Aviation Program to the tireless work being done by the KAIC and the 600-plus companies in the state, Kentucky has emerged as a definite aerospace presence. And the future? Alluding to the wonders of what will be, Malphrus grinned and remarked half-jokingly, half in head-shaking wonder, “We got here on accident. Can you imagine if we’d had a strategic plan?” Q

For more information on Kentucky’s aerospace industry, visit: moreheadstate.edu/College-of-Science/Earth-and-Space-Sciences/Space-Science-Center kyaerospace.org n aviation.eku.edu n aviationky.org 38

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CULTURE

Off the Shelf

A FATHER’S TOUCH Lincoln in the Bardo: A Novel

By George Saunders Random House $28 (H)

George Saunders dives deep into the canon of Abraham Lincoln literature in his book, Lincoln in the Bardo: A Novel. With staccato bursts of words ranging from one line to three pages, the author transports the reader along a narrative arc as surprising as the story itself.

Bardo is a term from Tibetan Buddhism for the transitory state between death and rebirth—think purgatory—only here, it becomes more of a layover with so many delays that the ultimate destination is forgotten. This neighborhood of the bardo is in Oak Hill Cemetery on the night of young Willie Lincoln’s interment. Three of the inhabitants narrate the story, but they and other denizens share a collective denial of their circumstances, which adds to their resistance in moving on, something that occurs occasionally anyway.

While Willie’s arrival is commonplace, a visit from his father is not. One night, the

Derby City Doings

Southern Liberal

Bluegrass Bound

Author Kevin Gibson wants people to know that Louisville has a lot more to offer than 100 Things to Do bourbon and in Louisville horses. Not Before You Die that bourbon

By Kevin Gibson and horses are Reedy Press bad, but $15.98 (P) visitors who come to town for the Kentucky Derby might not know about all there is to see and do in the Commonwealth’s largest city.

Laid out with one destination per page, 100 Things to Do in Louisville Before You Die is easy to read. Destinations and attractions are grouped by categories, such as food, culture and sports, so you can pick and choose.

From the more than 400 Victorian homes in Old Louisville to the adventures to be found in the Louisville Mega Cavern to the best place to go for a Benedictine sandwich, Gibson has made a bucket list for the reader.

Louisville-based Gibson is an award-winning journalist who has been writing for more than 25 years.

This is his fourth book.

Willis Duke Weatherford turned down an offer in 1919 to become the president of Willis Duke Berea College.

Weatherford: Race, Though a Religion, and supporter and Reform in the member of American South the Kentucky

By Andrew McNeil institution’s Canady board of University Press trustees, he of Kentucky already was $50 (C) involved heavily with the Southern YMCA and saw that avenue as a way to use his Christian faith and influence to promote civil rights for blacks. The fact that the Berea institution was a pioneer in greater racial equality shows, at least partly, the high regard for Weatherford as a Southern liberal of the times.

In Willis Duke Weatherford: Race, Religion, and Reform in the American South, author Andrew Canady “illuminates his [Duke’s] many efforts to foster dialogue among southerners of all races about religion, race relations, and Appalachia.”

Set in Kentucky during the trying days of the Great Depression, Blue Dust Days takes readers on an Blue Dust Days exciting journey

By Laura McGrail across the Heart to Heart Bluegrass state.

Publishing Following a $14.99 (P) young girl’s pursuit of a better situation, the story begins by depicting her family’s life in an eastern Kentucky coal mining town, where her daddy is a miner.

Rambunctious Dessie knows her older brother, Lem, will be forced to become a miner, too, and miss out on his dream of working with horses.

Dessie comes up with a plan, and the adventurous kids sneak away and head for the horse farms near Lexington, with hopes of reaching the twin spires of Churchill Downs.

Author Laura McGrail targets third- through eighth-grade students as her readers, but the novel is enjoyable for Kentuckians of any age. Originally from Paducah, McGrail now resides in Henderson.

She has worked with children for many years as a clinical and school psychologist. This is her first published novel.

— Deborah Kohl Kremer

— Steve Flairty — Deborah Kohl Kremer

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(P)-Paperback (C)-Clothbound (H)-Hardback

father does appear, and his tender act of opening Willie’s tiny coffin for a last caress is astonishing to all. The problem ensues when Willie, hopeful for a return visit from his father, will not move on, as children must. It is then that the inhabitants try to compel President Lincoln to signify to Willie the need to depart to a better place.

Readers will readily see how inhabitants of the bardo mirror the country: wealthy, poor, white, black, free, enslaved, men, women, faithful, faithless, adults, children, righteous, immoral, lucky and unlucky—all sharing the same geography. Their interactions lend humor to the story, along with the exaggerated manifestations of some characteristic from their once-alive state.

If a reader considers most other Lincoln books to be operatic, then Lincoln in the Bardo is jazz, and when those last syncopated words fade away, what is left is the tenderness of the story of a broken father reflecting the brokenness of thousands of fathers who will lose their sons in that terrible war. It is a tenderness that affects all who witness it, even those no longer alive.

Did what Lincoln experience with Willie’s death affect the extraordinary level of mercy he demonstrated during the rest of his days— that same mercy that helped a broken nation to heal? How could it not?

— Susan Montgomery

Searching for Summer

Journey of Love

Bring Her Home, the latest novel by Western Kentucky University English professor David Bring Her Home Bell, is yet

By David Bell another Berkley/Penguin captivating $16 (P) murder mystery. A year and a half after Bill Price’s wife has died, he finds himself desperately searching for Summer, his teenage daughter. Bill and his daughter have had a hard time adjusting to life without a wife and mother.

Summer leaves the house one day with her best friend, Haley, without giving any specific plans. Neither girl returns home. It is several days before they are found in a park in a sketchy part of town. One girl is barely alive and the other dead. Bill is desperate to find out who is responsible, and the search only leads to more unsavory discoveries and questions.

Like Bell’s other mysteries, this novel is compelling and easy to read. Included at the end are discussion questions for the book club crowd.

David Foley, a 55-year-old retiree, moves from Boston to Louisville to be near his soonThe Grace of the to-be-born Ginkgo granddaughter.

By Michael R. But when his Hardesty only son Old Stone Press perishes at the $17.95 (P) hands of a terrorist in Saudi Arabia and the baby’s mother dies in childbirth, David gets sole custody of the child.

Readers follow David and baby Leisl’s journey and see the love and dedication that combine to form an impenetrable bond between them. David faces obstacles, such as trying to find companionship in a new city, living his life as a confirmed atheist surrounded by people of many religions, and switching gears from retirement to re-entering parenthood.

The Grace of the Ginkgo spans 24 years and includes an intriguing cast of support characters.

Author Michael R. Hardesty lives in Louisville and is a retired marketing executive. This is his first novel.

— Kay Vest — Deborah Kohl Kremer

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CULTURE

Off the Shelf BOOKENDS Attorney, former circuit judge and preservationist John David Myles has penned Historic Architecture of Shelby County, 1792-1915, a 300-plus-page book on historical architecture in the area. Myles has written and lectured on architecture on behalf of the Filson Historical Society and has served as a consultant on numerous architectural restoration and renovation projects.

The book explores 18th-century structures as well as these architectural periods: Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Renaissance Revival, Italianate, Victorian, Beaux-Arts and Colonial Revival.

A resident of Shelbyville, Myles and his wife, Mary Helen, live in the 1839 John Dale House. The couple have received awards from The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation and Preservation Kentucky for the restoration of the home.

The hardback book retails for $60 plus tax and shipping, and can be ordered from Wild Holly Studio, P.O. Box 1606, Shelbyville, KY 40066.

•••

Jonathan McKenzie, a Northern Kentucky University associate professor, has closely examined the writings of Henry David Thoreau and offers commentary on the iconic intellectual in his book, The Political Thought of Henry David Thoreau.

McKenzie suggests that Thoreau’s promotion of privatism, contrary to what many seem to think, is also an important and positive focus of his political reform essays.

Published by the University Press of Kentucky, the book retails for $75.

3

OPTIONS TO RENEW YOUR CAR TAGS

YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE A NUMBER EVER AGAIN

Online ReNew

JeffersonCountyClerk.org

Telephone ReNew 569-3300

Mail-In ReNew

P.O. Box 33033 Louisville, KY 40232-3033

Jefferson County Clerk ViP serViCe

bringing you

Open 24 hours a day at JeffersonCountyClerk.org

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K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

VOICES

Past Tense/Present Tense

Annoyances: Large, Medium and Small

BY BILL ELLIS

F

riends often have heard me half-jokingly say, “The world has been going downhill since the invention of the telegraph.”

I am convinced that my ancestors slept more soundly, treated their neighbors more kindly, had a slower heart rate and cooperated with one another for the common good more than we do. Printed materials were a good enough way to communicate. The telegraph, the telephone, radio and television were only the beginning of our fall from grace.

Someone might steal your mail or perhaps write a check on a counter check* using your name, but these are only minor compared with hacking your email and other modern ways of stealing. Now, we worry about the Chinese and Russian governments and their minions as well as locally grown, electronically adept thieves revealing or stealing our most important information, including Social Security numbers and bank records. That is a large annoyance.

The internet will be our undoing, I fear. Social media can be used to destroy fragile lives in a persistent form of bullying and drive the success of ISIS and other such groups. A piece in The Atlantic last November reinforced my fears. “War Goes Viral: How Social Media Is Being Weaponized” explained how public opinion can be instantly manipulated by governments using the internet and social media. Wars and rumors of war spread instantly. Want to join a movement? Go online and you will find one that suits you, no matter how bizarre.

Another large annoyance is what I consider a growing lack of civility. Don’t get me wrong. Most people are civil, helpful and charitable, and do the right thing when push comes to shove. However, I sense a change. Even humor, which is a good barometer of our humanity, is becoming coarser and often is aimed at ridiculing others who are considered weak. We are all vulnerable.

Two recent books—White Trash: The 400-year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg and Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance—have highlighted the plight of America’s poor, white, working-class laborers, farmers and miners through the ages.

“White trash is a central, if disturbing, thread in our national narrative. The very existence of such people—both in their visibility and invisibility—is proof that American society obsesses over the mutable labels we give to the neighbors we wish not to notice. ‘They are not who we are.’

But they are who we are and have been a fundamental part of our history, whether we like it or not,” Isenberg writes.

Kentuckians should read Ron Eller’s Uneven Ground:

Appalachia Since 1945 to understand the problems of that region.

So much for my large annoyances. My medium annoyances include how language has been cheapened.

William Shakespeare as well as my elementary and high school English teachers must turn over in their graves every time such words and phrases as “awesome,” “absolutely,” “perfect,” “no problem,” “issues,” “you guys,” “know what I mean,” “you know” and “have a good one” are mouthed millions of times daily. Add to these “I have nothing to hide,” “I pay all of my taxes,” and “I guarantee you will be satisfied, or I will cheerfully refund all your money,” and you begin to see what I mean.

Apparently, even “’til death do us part” has lost its original meaning.

Another medium annoyance is someone who tells you everything about his or her life and children and grandchildren and never asks about your own family. I begin most conversations with strangers by inquiring, as a true Southerner of the Kentucky variety: “Where are you from?” This usually leads to what a Yankee asks up front: “What do you do?”

Owing to my age, I am an inveterate viewer of old television programs. I enjoy guessing the names of the actors, almost all of whom have gone on to their reward. What annoys me are the commercials obviously aimed at someone like me, a 77-yearold senior citizen. The commercials include messages about reverse mortgages, Medicare supplement plans, free advice on any number of problems, new prescription drugs with unpronounceable names and law firms who will get me “all the money that you deserve.” Afternoon TV shows have lots of commercials for medical devices but none for E.D. “issues.” I wonder why?

Who is not annoyed by phone calls from some company wanting to sell you the answer to your dreams? These may be recorded messages. “This is an important message from ____________. Please don’t hang up.” Or “You may have already won.” And what about when you call an office and get the response: “Your call is very important to us. Please leave your message after the tone. BEEP!” I have about reached my usual word count for the month and have not even explained the small annoyances that plague me each day.

Sorry, I have to end this ranting because my cellphone is pinging. *A counter check was a blank check on which you wrote the name of your bank, filling in all the data, amount and signing your name. I recall these from my youth.

Readers may contact Bill Ellis at historian@kentuckymonthly.com A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

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OUTDOORS

Gardening

Stay Green with the Right Grass

BY WALT REICHERT

I

get most of my questions about lawn grasses and lawn care in the spring; in August, not so much.

That’s too bad, though, because mid-August through September is the best time to rejuvenate a lawn that is becoming the embarrassment of the neighborhood. One of the best ways to improve the looks of your lawn and keep out weeds is to grow a good, thick stand of grass. And the best way to do that is to choose the best grass for your lawn.

A little background first: The grasses we use as lawn grasses are primarily types that originally were grown in northern Europe by our ancestors who brought them over here, along with their cattle, sheep, hogs and smallpox.

Those grasses performed beautifully in the colder, wet climates of northern Europe, England and Ireland. And they do quite well in the northern tier of the United States. But when those grasses hit the heat and humidity of the South or the hot, dry conditions of the Midwest, they languish.

So in Kentucky, where we have plenty of heat and humidity, we have to look for grasses that have been bred to thrive here. Sadly, almost scandalously, bluegrass is not the best candidate for lawns in Kentucky, especially lawns in western and southern Kentucky. It’s too hot there.

Kentuckians in the northeastern mountains, where it’s slightly cooler, might get away with a bluegrass lawn, but the rest of us can expect problems if we try to grow bluegrass.

Turf specialists at the University of Kentucky have researched various types of lawn grasses, including bluegrass, and here are the problems they listed for our namesake grass: poor traffic tolerance, not adapted to medium or heavy shade, severe grub susceptibility, diseases that cause thinning in May and June, thatch buildup that can be severe if excessive nitrogen is applied, need for irrigation to keep it from becoming dormant in summer, slow germination, very poor seeding vigor and poor tolerance to mowing heights less than 1.5 inches.

Got the picture? Want good grass? Skip the bluegrass.

Turf Type Fescue So what grass is recommended? Turf type tall fescue.

Farmers know fescue as a pasture grass. It’s coarsebladed, light green, clumping and not so great looking in the lawn. The variety most commonly sold is Ky. 31, which was discovered in western Kentucky. Unfortunately, it is often sold as a lawn grass, and many contractors use it to get grass growing because the seed is cheap. But you don’t want Ky. 31 either, despite the cool name.

What you want is turf type tall fescue with variety names like Apache, Coyote, Rebel, Falcon and Masterpiece.

Expect to pay at least $2 per pound for good turf type tall fescue seed, while Ky. 31 goes for less than $1 per pound if sold in bulk.

The turf type tall fescues have a slightly wider blade

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K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

than bluegrass, but are a nice, dark green and don’t clump like Ky. 31. They are the most widely adapted grasses for Kentucky. They will tolerate light shade and some traffic, and have fewer disease and grub problems than bluegrass.

Turf type tall fescues can crowd out weeds and also perform well on every type of soil, from clay to sandy.

No grass will tolerate heavy shade, but if you have lightto-moderate shade, you might want to consider blending turf type tall fescue with a fine fescue, which is often sold as chewings fescue or red fescue. These grasses do have some issues—they don’t tolerate much foot traffic, and they are susceptible to grub and disease damage—but they’ll live in the shade, where others won’t.

Another blend for a specific circumstance might be perennial ryegrass blended with fescue, especially where erosion control may be important. Ryegrass has the ability to germinate quickly and establish a cover, so it is useful where grass is planted on hilly slopes or where the soil is likely to wash away easily. But ryegrass, though pretty, doesn’t persist well in Kentucky’s summer heat and should not be used as a pure stand.

Two grasses that do tolerate summer heat are used occasionally in Kentucky: Bermuda grass and zoysia grass.

Bermuda grass is finely textured and is the color of the Crayola crayon called sea green; zoysia grass is a lighter green and very coarse in texture. In fact, mowing zoysia grass is like cutting through plush carpet. Both spread vigorously, Bermuda grass especially so, and will invade flowerbeds and other places they don’t belong. Expect dirty looks from your neighbors if you plant either. They do stand up to heat and drought, but Bermuda grass and zoysia will turn brown at the first hint of frost and can even winterkill at temperatures below 10 degrees. They are best suited—if they are at all suitable (in my lawn, Bermuda grass is a noxious weed)—to far western Kentucky, where winters are warmer.

Whatever grass you choose, remember that to get a good stand, you need to sow at the rate recommended on the bag of seed, cover with a light straw, and keep the grass wellwatered during dry spells. Most fail at establishing a good lawn because they don’t keep the newly emerged seedlings well-watered during the hot, dry spells of late summer and early fall.

Another cause of failure is homeowners waiting too long to mow after the grass starts growing. Once the grass reaches 4 to 5 inches in height, it’s time to take off an inch or two. Grass cut at 3 inches or above will perform better than grass scalped almost to bare ground.

Your neighbors and homeowners association will thank you for your attention.

Readers can reach Walt Reichert at gardening@kentuckymonthly.com

OUTDOORS

Field Notes

Kayak Destination: Kentucky

BY GARY GARTH

A

Courtesy of Julie Ofner/Hobie

t first glance, you might take Morgan Promnitz for a This year’s Kentucky Hobie Open, which was held June beach bum. Blondish, slightly floppy hair. Shorts.

10-11, attracted a field of 115 anglers.

T-shirt. Sandals. All coupled with a ready smile, Tournament organizers and officials were delighted. boatload of boyish charm and sunny I’ll-take-what-comes “It just keeps growing by leaps and bounds,” said demeanor.

Promnitz. “The number of participants has grown by about It’s an image Promnitz would probably embrace. And he 25 or 30 each year.” often does look the part. But he’s an executive in disguise The interest in kayak fishing in general also is growing. and was all business during a visit to Kentucky earlier this Most kayak manufacturers—Hobie, Old Town, Jackson summer while preparing for the Hobie Bass Open kayak Kayak, Wilderness Systems and others—offer boats fishing tournament. specifically designed for the fisherman.

It was the fourth consecutive year that the CaliforniaAccording to the American Sportfishing Association, based Hobie Company had brought one of its kayak CPR there are an estimated 60 million recreational sport (catch-photo-release) tournaments to Kentucky Lake. fishermen in the United States. Kentucky, according to data Hobie plans to return if the welcome mat is out. compiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is home to The events have been headquartered at Kentucky Dam about 554,000 anglers. How many use kayaks for fishing is Village State Resort Park, which the Californians have found unknown. But one thing Promnitz is sure of is that the to their liking. It helps number is growing. that tournament “I think kayak fishing in competitors can fish in general, across the industry, Kentucky Lake and Lake has been on a steady growth Barkley, two of the best pattern for the last five to 10 largemouth bass years,” he said. “And it has producers in the really spiked, exponentially, country. in the last three years.”

“We love coming Reasons vary. Products here,” said Promnitz, have improved as kayak fishing product manager designers and manufacturers for Hobie. The have strived to give anglers company’s product line what they want and need: began in 1950 with a few stability, comfort, rod and handcrafted surfboards gear storage, and accessibility but has been expanded to electronics and other to include paddleboards, angling accessories. Promnitz pedal boards, catamarans, Kayak angler Jay Wallen from Lexington, with one of the bass that helped pointed to Hobie as an early him win the 2017 Hobie Bass Open earlier this year on Kentucky Lake. sailboats and kayaks, leader and innovator in this including 16 models area. Twenty years ago, the designed specifically for fishing, most of which feature the company unveiled its MirageDrive, a pedal system that company’s innovative MirageDrive pedal system. Hobie also made boats much more fishing friendly. Today, most kayak makes, markets and sells piles of related gear. manufacturers offer a boat with some type of hands-free, “Kentucky Lake is just a huge body of water and offers pedal-drive propulsion system, but few can rival the chainso many different aspects and ways to fish it,” Promnitz driven, flipper-style Hobie system. said. “And everyone has been extremely helpful and “[The MirageDrive] was, in my opinion, the game accommodating. We’d love to come back here for as long as changer,” added Promnitz, who already was a dedicated we can.” kayak angler when he joined the Hobie Cat Company in The company held its first Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley 2009. “Because it elevated kayak fishing and made it even Hobie Bass Open in 2014. It was lightly attended. About 25 better.” fishermen showed up with an array of paddle and pedalPrice is another factor. Although the higher-end, footpowered boats. Having a Hobie brand kayak is not required propulsion kayaks carry price tags in the $2,500 to $5,000 to compete, but rules restrict anglers to a one-person, range, a basic, no-frills boat can be had for less than $1,000. paddle or pedal-powered rig.

Also, there are plenty of used boats on the market, giving Compared to pro-level bass tournaments, there is not the budget-minded buyer expanded options. much financial incentive for kayak tournament anglers And there’s the fun factor.

(Lexington fisherman Jay Wallen pocketed $4,000 for “Obviously, there are some big advantages to have a winning the 2017 event). The real prize comes later. An [boat] with a big motor,” Promnitz said. “But [kayak open winner is awarded an expenses-paid trip to the Hobie fishing] is affordable. You can get to a lot of places bigger Fishing Worlds championship. Destinations have ranged boats can’t go. It’s good exercise. And it’s fun. It’s just fun. from Louisiana to China.

We want you out there, having fun, catching some fish and For the first couple years of the Kentucky Lake event, the getting some exercise, too.” fishing almost seemed to take a back seat to the product demonstrations hosted by area distributors.

Readers may contact Gary Garth at outdoors@kentuckymonthly.com A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

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CALENDAR

Let’s Go

7

August SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

1.

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY



4.

Ongoing Ongoing Kentucky History of Butler-Turpin Landscapes, Photography, House Tours, paintings by Ellen Headley-Whitney Butler-Turpin Glasgow, B. Museum of Art, House, Carrollton, Deemer Gallery, Lexington, through through Sept. 3, Louisville, Sept. 3, (502) 732-4261 through Aug. 8, (859) 255-6653 (502) 896-6687

6.

7.

Kentucky Gathers Dulcimer Group, General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton, (502) 732-4384

5.

Thunder on the Mountain Civil War Re-enactment, Little Shepherd Amphitheatre, Jenkins, through Aug. 6

11.

12.

17.

18.

19.

24.

25.

26.

The Danchuk Kids Festival, Tri-Five Jane’s Saddlebag, Nationals, Beech Union, Bend Park, through Aug. 13, Bowling Green (859) 384-6617

Elvis Has Left the Building, Pioneer Playhouse, Danville, through Aug. 19, (859) 236-2747

15.

SATURDAY

First Friday Art Walk and Car Show, downtown Ashland, 1-800-377-6249

8.

1

Walter Beasley, with special guest Nola Ade, The Henry Clay Beaux Arts Theatre Ballroom, Louisville, (502) 418-9196

FRIDAY

16.

Kentucky State Summer Salute, Solarpalooza, Fair, Kentucky downtown Madisonville Exposition Center, Hopkinsville, City Park, Louisville, through Aug. 20, Madisonville through Aug. 27 (270) 887-4290

 20.

21.

22.

23.

28.

29.

30.

Buttermilk Rock the Block Battle of Days Festival, Main Street Richmond downtown Concert, Re-enactment, Bardstown, Winchester, Battlefield Park at through Aug. 26 (859) 737-0923 Pleasant View, Richmond, through Aug. 27

0

Telescope Get Mooned in Makers Greenville: Workshop – Great American Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Eclipse 2017, Event, The Franklin-Simpson Summerhouse, High School, Greenville, Franklin, (270) 338-1895 (270) 586-3040

27.

Greg Abate Quartet, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, (606) 324-3175

Kentucky: 225 Years on the Move Exhibit, National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, through May 18, 2018, (270) 781-7973

2

More to explore online!

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K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

Visit kentuckymonthly. com for additional content, including a calendar of events, feature stories and recipes.



Ongoing All In! Louisville and the Great War Exhibit, Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville, through Sept. 29, (502) 852-6752

Let’s Go!

A guide to Kentucky’s most interesting events Bluegrass Region

12 Matthew Harris Jouett Day: The Women with the Shawl, Jack Jouett House Historic Site, Versailles, (859) 873-7902, jouetthouse.org 12 Bike Night, Main Street/Judicial Center, Harrodsburg, (859) 613-2140, harrodsburgky.com

Ongoing History of Photography, Headley-Whitney Museum of Art, Lexington, through Sept. 3, (859) 255-6653, headley-whitney.org August

1 Evening Tea Tuesday, Waveland State Historic Site, Lexington, (859) 272-3611, parks.ky.gov 1-4 Art of the Equine Exhibit, Arts Council of Mercer County, Harrodsburg, (859) 613-0790, artscouncilofmercer.com 1-20 Frank Döring: I Would Redesign That Udder, University of Kentucky Art Museum, Lexington, (859) 257-5716, finearts. uky.edu/art-museum 1-20 Thomas Nozkowski: Touchstones, University of Kentucky Art Museum, Lexington, (859) 257-5716, finearts.uky.edu/art-museum 4 Director Tour, University of Kentucky Art Museum, Lexington, (859) 257-5716, finearts.uky.edu 5 Cruiz on Main, Main Street, Harrodsburg, harrodsburgky.com

18-20 Pioneer Days Festival, Old Fort Harrod State Park, Harrodsburg, (859) 734-3314, parks.ky.gov 19 Car Cruise and Movie: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Waveland State Historic Site, Lexington, (859) 272-3611, parks.ky.gov 19-20 Woodland Art Fair, Woodland Park, Lexington, lexingtonky.gov/woodland-art-fair 21 Summer Evening Tour, Elmwood Stock Farm, Georgetown, elmwoodstockfarm.com 25 Rock the Block Main Street Concert, Winchester, (859) 737-0923, downtownwinchesterky.org 25-26 Garrard County Rural Heritage Tobacco Festival, Public Square, Lancaster, (859) 339-9540 26 MoonTower Music Festival, Masterson Station Park, Lexington, (859) 257-5716, moontowermusicfestival.com 26-27 Battle of Richmond Re-enactment, Battlefield Park at Pleasant View, Richmond, battleofrichmond.org

1-3 Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival, College Park, Winchester, 1-800-298-9105, danielboonepioneerfestival.com

8 Tea Tuesday, Waveland State Historic Site, Lexington, also Aug. 15, 22 and 29, (859) 2723611, parks.ky.gov

1-3 Red, White & Boom, Whitaker Bank Ballpark, Lexington, wbul.iheart.com

8-19 Elvis Has Left the Building, Pioneer Playhouse, Danville, (859) 236-2747, pioneerplayhouse.com 11 Evenings at White Hall, White Hall State Historic Site, Richmond, (859) 623-9178, parks.ky.gov

8-9 Devine’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, Harrodsburg, also Sept. 15-16, harrodsburgky.com 8-10 Festival of the Horse, downtown Georgetown, festivalofthehorse.org 9 Bike Night, Main Street, Harrodsburg, (859) 613-2140, harrodsburgky.com 9-10 Art Fair, Waveland State Historic Site, Lexington, (859) 272-3611, parks.ky.gov 12 Tea Tuesday, Waveland State Historic Site, Lexington, (859) 272-3611, parks.ky.gov 12 Second Tuesday Teas, White Hall State Historic Site, Richmond, (859) 623-9178, parks.ky.gov 14 Sip-N-Stroll, downtown Winchester, (859) 737-0923, downtownwinchesterky.org 15-16 Salvisa Ruritan Country Days Festival, Salvisa, (859) 613-2333, salvisaruritan.yolasite.com 15-17 Spoonbread Festival, downtown Berea, spoonbreadfestival.com

Louisville Region

September

5 Forkland Lincoln Museum, Forkland Community Center, Danville, also Aug. 12, 19 and 26, betterindanville.com

8 Second Tuesday Teas, White Hall State Historic Site, Richmond, (859) 623-9178, parks.ky.gov

8 Evenings at White Hall, White Hall State Historic Site, Richmond, (859) 623-9178, parks.ky.gov

2 Forkland Lincoln Museum, Forkland Community Center, Danville, also Sept. 9, betterindanville.com 2 Cruiz on Main, Main Street, Harrodsburg, harrodsburgky.com 2-4 Open House, Ward Hall, Georgetown, wardhall.net 3 Jazz on the Lawn, Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate, Lexington, henryclay.org

Ongoing The Hunger Games: The Exhibition, The Frazier History Museum, Louisville, through Sept. 10, fraziermuseum.org/hgtickets All In! Louisville and the Great War Exhibit, Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville, through Sept. 29, (502) 852-6752 August

1-2 The Stephen Foster Story, J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre, Bardstown, also Aug. 4, 6 and 8-12, (502) 348-5971, stephenfoster.com 1-8 Kentucky Landscapes, paintings by Ellen Glasgow, B. Deemer Gallery, Louisville, A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

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Let’s Go

(502) 896-6687, bdeemer.com

Dam State Resort Park, Falls Of Rough, (270) 257-2311, parks.ky.gov

2-5 Shelbyville Horse Show, Shelby County Fairgrounds, Shelbyville, visitshelbyky.com 3 Historic Costumed Walking Tour, downtown Elizabethtown, also Aug. 10, 17, 24 and 31, Elizabethtown, (270) 765-2175, touretown.com 3 Tavern in the Garden, Brown-Pusey House, Elizabethtown, also Aug. 10, 17, 24 and 31, (270) 765-2175, brownpuseyhouse.org 3 Beauty and the Beast, J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre, Bardstown, also Aug. 5, (502) 348-5971, stephenfoster.com 4 Summer Concert in the Park Series, Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls Of Rough, also Aug. 18 and 25, (270) 257-2311, parks.ky.gov 4 Jamey Johnson in Concert, 4th Street Live!, Louisville, 4thstlive.com/events 6 Walter Beasley, with special guest Nola Ade, The Henry Clay Beaux Arts Theatre Ballroom, Louisville, (502) 418-9196, facebook.com/thehousewheresoulresides 11 2nd Friday Bluegrass Jam, Rough River

12 Second Saturday, downtown Elizabethtown, (270) 765-2175, touretown.com 17-27 Kentucky State Fair, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, kystatefair.org 18 Friday Movie Night: Finding Dory, The Louisville Zoo, Louisville, louisvillezoo.org 19 Murder Mystery Theatre, Kentucky Railway Museum, New Haven, kyrail.org 19 Delbert McClinton, Historic State Theater, Elizabethtown, (270) 765-2175, historicstatetheater.org 24-26 Buttermilk Days Festival, downtown Bardstown, buttermilkdaysfestival.com September

1 Summer Concert in the Park Series, Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls Of Rough, (270) 257-2311, parks.ky.gov 1-4 Kentucky Flea Market Labor Day Spectacular, Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, (502) 456-2244, stewartpromotions.com

7 Tavern in the Garden, Brown-Pusey House, Elizabethtown, also Sept. 14, (270) 765-2175, brownpuseyhouse.org 7 Historic Costumed Walking Tour, downtown Elizabethtown, (270) 765-2175, touretown.com 8 2nd Friday Bluegrass Jam, Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls Of Rough, (270) 257-2311, parks.ky.gov 8 Sawyer Brown, Historic State Theater, Elizabethtown, (270) 765-2175, historicstatetheater.org 9 Henry County Arts & Craft Guild Art Show, Henry County Fairgrounds, New Castle, (502) 220-8968 9 B3 Fest: The Festival of Bacon, Bourbon & Beer, benefits Kosair Charities, Louisville Executive Aviation Hangar, Bowman Field, Louisville, b3fest.com 9 Rolling Fork Iron Horse Festival, downtown New Haven, (502) 549-3177, newhaven.ky.gov 11-17 Kentucky Bourbon Festival, various locations around Bardstown, (502) 348-3623, kybourbonfestival.com

3rd Annual Blue Moon Bluegrass Festival

September 8 & 9, 2017

Larry Sparks, The Gibson Brothers, Ronnie Reno & the Reno Tradition, Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers, Finley River Boys, Trinity River Band, Ma Crowe & The Lady Slippers Kings Highway, Highwa Blue Diamond, Ridge Runners, Jerusalem Ridge, Becky & the Butler Co Boys, Randy Lanham, Rosine Diner’s Club and MORE!

SEPTEMBER 10 Music on the Ridge to Celebrate Bill’s Birthday 10:00-4:00 $10.00

Tickets - $40 day or $70 two-day Tickets available at beaverdamtourism.org visitohiocountyky.com More information: 270-298-0036

Ohio County, KY • The home of the Bluegrass

15 Friday Movie Night: Viewer’s Choice, The Louisville Zoo, Louisville, louisvillezoo.org

Northern Region

Ongoing Culture Bites Exhibit, Behringer-Crawford Museum, Covington, through Aug. 31, bcm.org Butler-Turpin House Tours, Butler-Turpin House, Carrollton, through Sept. 3, (502) 732-4261, visitcarrolltonky.org Rockin’ Thunder Jet Boat Rides, riverfront, Carrollton, through Sept. 30, (812) 701-1155, rockinthunder.com August

2 Party on the Purple People Bridge, Purple People Bridge, Newport, purplepeoplebridge.com 3 Music@BCM, Behringer-Crawford Museum, Covington, bcm.org 3-6 Glier’s Goettafest, Riverfront Levee, Newport, goettafest.com 4 First Fridays on the Square, downtown Carrollton, (502) 732-5713, visitcarrolltonky.org 5 Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s Free Summer Series, Devou Park, Covington, kyso.org 10-13 Great Inland Seafood Festival, Riverboat Row, Newport, cincinnatiusa.com 12-13 Kids Festival, Jane’s Saddlebag, Union, (859) 384-6617, janessaddlebag.com

30th Annual

Trail of Tears Intertribal

Pow Wow

15 Kentucky Gathers Dulcimer Group, General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton, (502) 732-4384, parks.ky.gov 19 Backyard Concert Series, General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton, (502) 732-4384, parks.ky.gov 19 Pickers & Grinners Open-Air Market, Limestone Park, Maysville, (606) 564-9704, pickersgrinners.wixsite.com/farmersmarket 19-20 Battle of Blue Licks Commemoration, Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park, Carlisle, (859) 289-5507, parks.ky.gov 20 Burlington Antique Show, Boone County Fairgrounds, Burlington, burlingtonantiqueshow.com

September 9 & 10 Join us in Hopkinsville, for dance & drum competitions, arts & vendors. Everyone is welcome!

www.TrailofTears.org

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Let’s Go 26 Wine Over Water, Purple People Bridge, Newport, (859) 491-8303, brightoncenter.com/wineoverwater September

1 First Fridays on the Square, downtown Carrollton, (502) 732-5713, visitcarrolltonky.org 1-3 Heritage Days, Augusta, (606) 756-2183, augustaky.com 7-11 The Moving Wall – Vietnam Veterans Memorial, General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton, (502) 732-4384, parks.ky.gov 8-10 Oktoberfest Covington, MainStrasse Village, Covington, mainstrasse.org 9 Swingtime on the River, riverfront, Augusta, (606) 756-2183, augustaky.com 9 Sweet Owen Day, Courthouse Square, Owenton, (502) 514-8563, facebook.com/sweetowenday 15-16 Bands & BBQ at the Point, Point Park, Carrollton, (502) 732-7036, visitcarrolltonky.org

Western Region

A PERFECT SUMMER EVENING GETAWAY IN HISTORIC DANVILLE! OUTDOOR THEATR

E & CA MPGROUND

Enjoy a home-cooked dinner featuring hand-rubbed, hickory smoked BBQ! Experience theatre under the stars in Kentucky’s oldest outdoor theatre!

Finishing up our 68th season with...

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b r at i

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ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING Hilarious comedy by V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger August 8 – August 19

2017 Danville, KY 50

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

SPECIAL COMEDY WEEKEND August 24, 25, 26 Jimmy “JJ” Walker from TV’s classic Good Times!

“Dyn-o-mite!”

Make your reservations today!

Pioneerplayhouse.com Or call toll free 1-866-KYPLAYS

August

2-8 Eighth of August Emancipation Celebration, various locations, Paducah, paducah.travel 4 Friday Night Live, Madisonville City Park, also Aug. 18 at First United Bank Plaza, Madisonville, facebook.com/FridayNightLiveMadisonvilleKY 5 Moonlight Canoe Trip, Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Dawson Springs, 1-800-325-1711, parks.ky.gov 5 National S’Mores Day, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, (270) 826-4424, parks.ky.gov 5 Summer Night Star Parties, The Golden Pond Planetarium, Land Between the Lakes, landbetweenthelakes.us 11-13 48-Hour Film Festival, Maiden Alley Cinema, Paducah, 48hourfilm.com/paducah 12 Total Solar Eclipse Is Coming!

John James Audubon State Park, Henderson,

(270) 826-4424, parks.ky.gov

visitmadisonvilleky.com/eclipse

17-21 Total Solar Eclipse Festivities, Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Dawson Springs, (270) 797-3421, parks.ky.gov

21 Get Mooned in Greenville: Great American Eclipse Viewing Event, The Summerhouse, Greenville, (270) 338-1895, TourGreenville.com

18 MadCity Street Market, Sugg Street, Madisonville, visitmadisonvilleky.com 18-20 Summer Salute, downtown Hopkinsville, (270) 887-4290, hoptownrec.com 19 Total Solar Eclipse 2017: Celestial Dynamics & Eclipse Chasing, Madisonville Community College, Madisonville, visitmadisonvilleky.com 19 Solarpalooza, Madisonville City Park, Madisonville, visitmadisonvilleky.com/eclipse 19 Sounds of Independence Concert, featuring Jennifer Nettles, Hopkins County Fairgrounds, Madisonville, visitmadisonvilleky.com/eclipse

21 Total Eclipse 2017, Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Cadiz, (270) 924-1131, parks.ky.gov 21 Solar Eclipse 2017, throughout Paducah, paducah.travel 24-26 The Kenlake Hot August Blues Festival, Kenlake State Resort Park, Hardin, parks.ky.gov September

9 Monarch Butterfly Migration Mysteries, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, (270) 826-4424, parks.ky.gov 9-10 Trail of Tears Intertribal Pow Wow, Trail of Tears Commemorative Park, Hopkinsville, (270) 885-9096, trailoftears.org 13-16 Fall AQS QuiltWeek, various locations, Paducah, paducah.travel 14-16 Antique Gas Engine & Tractor Show, Carson Park, Paducah, paducah.travel 15 MadCity Street Market, Sugg Street, Madisonville, visitmadisonvilleky.com

Southern Region

2 Butterfly Magic, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, (270) 826-4424, parks.ky.gov 4 Labor Day Celebration, downtown Paducah, paducah.travel

19-21 Solar Eclipse Weekend, featuring the Chickasaw Nation Dancers, Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, Wickliffe, (270) 335-3681, parks.ky.gov

8 Friday Night Live, First United Bank Plaza, Madisonville, facebook.com/FridayNightLiveMadisonvilleKY

20 Planetarium Seminar: The Night Skies Around Us, Glema Mahr Center for the Arts, Madisonville, (270) 824-8650,

9 Historic Island Wooden Bridge Festival, 1872 Historic Island Wooden Bridge Park, Island, (270) 213-0420, facebook.com/historicislandwoodenbridge

August

4 Market Off Main, downtown Campbellsville, (270) 469-6190, facebook.com/DowntownCampbellsville 5 Mainstreet Saturday Night, downtown Campbellsville, tri-countycarclub.com

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Let’s Go 5 World’s Largest Raft Up, Lake Cumberland, Jamestown, lakecumberlandvacation.com 11 The Danchuk Tri-Five Nationals, Beech Bend Park, Bowling Green, thetrifivenationals.com 17 3rd Thursday on The Square Concert Series, downtown Monticello, (606) 348-3064, heartoflakecumberland.com 18 3rd Friday Folk – Coffeehouse at The Carnegie, Carnegie Community Arts Center, Somerset, (606) 305-6741, lamay.com/3rdFridayFolk.htm 18-21 Solar Eclipse, Jefferson Davis State Historic Site, Fairview, (270) 889-6100, parks.ky.gov 19-21 Solar Eclipse Pre-Party, Dueling Grounds Distillery, Franklin, (270) 776-9046, duelinggroundsdistillery.com 20 Telescope Makers Workshop – Total Solar Eclipse 2017, The Exploratorium at Franklin-Simpson High School, Franklin, (270) 586-3040, franklinky.info 21 Total Solar Eclipse Happy Hour and Dinner Party, Brickyard Cafe, Franklin, (270) 586-9080, facebook.com/BrickyardCafeFranklin 21 Solar Eclipse Viewing Party, Franklin Drive-In, Franklin, (270) 586-3040, franklinky.info

SAVE THE DATE

21 Total Solar Eclipse Viewing, Gamaliel Elementary School, Gamaliel, (270) 457-2341 26 Somernites Cruise Car Show and Shine, Fountain Square, Somerset, (606) 872-2277, somernitescruise.com

For the greatest seven days in bourbon.

Monday, September 11 – Sunday, September 17

28-31 Kentucky: 225 Years on the Move Exhibit, National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, through May 18, 2018, (270) 781-7973, corvettemuseum.org September

1 Market Off Main, downtown Campbellsville, (270) 469-6190, facebook.com/DowntownCampbellsville 2 Monroe County Watermelon Festival, downtown Tompkinsville, (270) 487-5504 2 Mainstreet Saturday Night, downtown Campbellsville, tri-countycarclub.com License No: EXE0000863

Bourbon is a good thing.

Too much Bourbon? Not a good thing.

Consume with care.

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8-10 Hart County Civil War Days, downtown Munfordville, facebook.com/ HartCoCivilWarDays 9 Fall Heritage Festival, Homeplace on Green River, Campbellsville, homeplacefarmky.org

®

15 3rd Friday Folk – Coffeehouse at

The Carnegie, Carnegie Community Arts Center, Somerset, (606) 305-6741, lamay.com/3rdFridayFolk.htm

15-16 Cow Days! Greensburg Square, (270) 537-3237 15-16 Heritage Festival, downtown Horse Cave, facebook.com/horsecaveheritagefestival

Eastern Region

Paintsville, VisitPaintsvilleKy.com

26 KC & The Sunshine Band, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, (606) 324-3175, paramountartscenter.com 26 Levisa Fork Paddle Fest, Paintsville, VisitPaintsvilleKy.com 27 Greg Abate Quartet, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, (606) 324-3175, paramountartscenter.com September

1-3 Breathitt County Honey Festival, downtown Jackson, (606) 272-1272

August

1-5 Tarzan, Jenny Wiley Amphitheatre, Prestonsburg, (606) 886-9274, jwtheatre.com 3-5 Into the Woods Jr., Jenny Wiley Mainstage, Pikeville, (606) 886-9274, jwtheatre.com 4 First Friday Art Walk and Car Show, downtown Ashland, 1-800-377-6249, visitashlandky.com 4 Bluesgrass Summer Concert Series, Pine Mountain State Resort Park Laurel Cove, Pineville, (606) 337-3066, parks.ky.gov 4-5 Van Lear Days, Millers Creek Road, Van Lear, vanlearkentucky.com 5 Natural Bridge Hoedown, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade, also Aug. 12, 19 and 26, (606) 663-2214, parks.ky.gov 5-6 Thunder on the Mountain Civil War Re-enactment, Little Shepherd Amphitheatre, Jenkins, littleshepherddrama.com 10 Martina McBride, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, (606) 324-3175, paramountartscenter.com 10-12 NIBROC Festival, downtown Corbin, corbinkytourism.com 12 Greenbo Grass Bluegrass Festival, Greenbo Lake State Resort Park Amphitheatre, Greenup, (606) 473-7324, parks.ky.gov 18-20 Smoke on the Mountain, Jenny Wiley Mainstage, Pikeville, also Aug. 24-26, (606) 886-9274, jwtheatre.com 18-20 Natural Bridge Artisan Festival, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade, parks.ky.gov 19 Paintsville Cruiz’n, Main Street,

1-4 Labor Day Celebration, Levi Jackson State Park Campground, London, (606) 330-2130, parks.ky.gov 2 Natural Bridge Hoedown, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade, also Sept. 9, (606) 663-2214, parks.ky.gov 2-3 Honoring Our Veterans Pow Wow, K&S Farm, Corbin, (606) 528-6342, knahm.org 6-9 Fraley Festival of Traditional Music, Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill, 1-800-325-0059, parks.ky.gov 8-16 Bluegrass Festival, Poppy Mountain, Morehead, (606) 784-2277, poppymountainbluegrass.com 9 Col. Bill Williams Music Festival, Greenbo Lake State Resort Park Amphitheatre, Greenup, (606) 473-7324, parks.ky.gov 9 The Great Caterpillar Count, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade, (606) 663-2214, parks.ky.gov

FINE COFFEES ESPRESSO CAPPUCCINO LATTE Also offering pastries, breads, and sandwiches.

Free Wi-Fi, along with a collection of books and other literature on early Kentucky and Mason County history.

35 E 2nd St, Maysville, KY 606.564.9704

9 The Narrows Fall Encampment and Battle, Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Pineville, (606) 337-3066, parks.ky.gov 14-15 Appalachian Craft Days, Mountain HomePlace, Staffordsville, mountainhomeplace.com 14-16 Black Gold Festival, Hazard, (606) 487-1580, blackgoldfestival.com 15-16 Eastern Kentucky Genealogy Conference, Ramada Inn, Paintsville, kygs.org

For additional Calendar items or to submit an event, please visit kentuckymonthly. com. Submissions must be sent at least 90 days prior to the event.

LIKE KENTUCKY? Then you’ll love Kentucky Monthly Magazine Q Visit kentuckymonthly.com or call 1-888-329-0053 to subscribe A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY

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XX

VOICES

Vested Interest

Joy Misplaced

T

he scoreboard read Louisville 83, Michigan 76 as I stormed the floor. At one end of the court, hotshooting Luke Hancock was being hailed as a hero, and on the other end, I was scooping up confetti falling from the rafters and cramming it into my pockets. Joy. Pure joy.

I celebrate when any of our Kentucky schools win. I love the Hilltoppers, Racers, Colonels and Eagles. I celebrated the Wildcats’ national championships in 1978 and 2012 (I couldn’t celebrate the others, as there is no cheering in the press box), but this was my alma mater, and “we” had just beaten one of those “real schools.” It wasn’t just that; we had done it with good kids playing a great game, coming from behind in a fashion that would make anyone proud.

Joy. This wasn’t my first Final Four, but it was the first I had attended as a fan instead of as a sportswriter. The emotion was overwhelming, and I was elevated in the way I felt about my school and myself, much the way millions of Kentuckians were equally elevated by the success of Adolph Frederick Rupp’s teams of the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s.

Longtime UK radio announcer Cawood Ledford reportedly said that times could often be hard in Kentucky, but when the Wildcats were winning, the dangers of coal mining and the threat of unemployment, at least temporarily, took a back seat.

I attended UofL during the 1986 national championship run when guard Milt Wagner famously claimed ignorance of the Cards’ first-round opponent because it (Drexel University) must be “one of those academic schools,” which by extension meant that “we” weren’t. It took a little luster off the degree I received six weeks later and I, like many of my classmates, carried the undeserved burden of inferiority on my back as I entered the workforce.

But that night in Atlanta, 27 years after the Cards had won the 1986 championship, “we” were king of the hill, the cream of the crop. Not only had “we” won our third national title, we had done it with nice guys—Peyton Siva, Russ Smith—and had overcome and persevered even when Kevin Ware suffered a season-ending injury against Duke.

If you have a turntable nearby, this is the point in the story where you grab the needle and scratch the record to a stop.

According to the NCAA, the governing body of college athletics, my joy was a sham—a fraud. I have nothing for which to revel, and the confetti I collected is nothing more than a reminder of “our” collective sin. The charges against the basketball program involve strippers, escorts and afterhours parties with underage participants. Part of the punishment could be the eradication of 120-some wins, including two trips to the Final Four and the 2013 title. The message is clear: “We” are bad boys and girls, and

regardless of how many times the university appeals what may be an overreaching punishment, the championship banner is STEPHEN M. VEST Publisher & Editor-in-Chief soiled.

On May 25, 1895, a Confederate monument was erected on the outskirts of Louisville in an area that eventually would become the University of Louisville. Within the cornerstone, in a copper box, were placed historic items such as a mourning scarf, Confederate currency and one of Jefferson Davis’ cigars.

Last year, the statue was removed and shipped to Brandenburg because many claimed the symbolism represented by its presence is no longer relevant—a reminder to some of a shameful past.

The university is now facing another “Lost Cause,” and it is poised to spend thousands, if not millions, of dollars to preserve win-and-loss records and a banner in the rafters of the YUM! Center at the same time reports say the university itself is in financial straits. Is the banner a mourning scarf?

Is my confetti Confederate currency? If so, let’s take them and one of Rick Pitino’s cigars, place them in a copper box under Denny Crum Court, and move on.

•••

I’m sorry if I sound a little down. I’m not. I’m just a little sad and embarrassed for the good kids and people caught up in this mess.

•••

Let’s move on to something more positive. Over the past year, I’ve been invited to more ribbon cuttings than at any other time. Many of them involve bourbon expansion— Bulleit Bourbon and Jeptha Creed in Shelbyville, Bourbon 30 in Georgetown, and Four Roses in Cox’s Creek—but not all.

I was one of the first guests of The Kentucky Grand Hotel & Spa in Bowling Green and tasted one of the first cups of coffee at Café Stone in Maysville.

I vividly remember seeing the first issue of Kentucky Monthly roll off the presses in Lebanon Junction. The feeling was akin to the birth of a child. Joyce Nethery of Jeptha Creed described seeing the first bottle of her heirloom bourbon roughly the same way.

Starting a business, whether it’s a multi-million or a multi-thousand-dollar investment, is a leap of faith, and as Colin Powell said, “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” If that’s true, Kentucky’s future looks bright.

Readers, and those looking for a speaker for a church or civic group, may contact Stephen M. Vest at steve@kentuckymonthly.com

AUGUST KWIZ ANSWERS: 1. A. From the song by The Dillards on The Andy Griffith Show; 2. B. Jerry Lee Lewis; 3. C. Yorktown; 4. B. Mount Vernon is the Rockcastle County seat; 5. A. Rose Monroe; 6. C. Ohio County; 7. True, Claude Charles Bloch, the highest-ranking Jewish officer at the time, was born and raised in Woodbury in Butler County, less than 90 miles from Kimmel’s home in Henderson; 8. B. James Best from Muhlenberg County; 9. True, Adlai Stevenson I was born in Oct. 23, 1835 in Christian County; 10. C. Dick Tracy was named best syndicated comic strip in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

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ATTENTION TO DETAIL The difference between mediocrity & pure excellence If you’re putting on a roof that you’ll end up replacing (again) in a few years anyway, little mistakes here and there are not a big deal. They can be patched, or caulked, or otherwise band-aided until it’s time to do it all over again. But when you’re installing permanent, investment-grade metal roofing, you have to look at things a little differently. We’re putting on roofs that will last for decade after decade, and that means we don’t rely on parts or flashings that will crack or decay. It also means we have to very neatly lock, trim and shape every angle of our metal shingles for maximum eye-catching beauty, because this monument to American workmanship is going to stand and speak about our efforts for a long, long time.

Discover why more people are choosing metal

Visit ClassicKY.com or Call 877-960-7663