MARCH 2019
e v i H e h t f o n r Retu N RE O PE N S ER V TA A ST U G U A E IV TH E BE EH
plus Texas Roadhouse’s Honeybee Initiative
Display until 4/09/2019
Wilmore’s Clay Tankersly Bullard Celebrates 100 Years
www.kentuckymonthly.com
™
P LEASE ENJOY RESPONSI BLY. © 2019 L UX ROW DISTIL L E RS ™ , BARDSTOWN, KE NTUCKY.
in this issue
12
Featured 12 The Beehive Effect The restaurant’s return anchors an Augusta renaissance 28 City Bees Texas Roadhouse does its part to protect honeybees 30 The Barber of Wilmore Clay Tankersly found his American dream right in his backyard 33 Safety and Style Cynthiana-based company has been protecting workers for 100 years 36 Performing and Pies Husband-and-wife musicians take their act from the stage to the kitchen
Departments 2 Kentucky Kwiz 4 Mag on the Move 6 Across Kentucky 7 Oddities at the Museum South Union Shaker Village 8 Cooking 40 Off the Shelf 43 Kentucky Travel Industry Assn. Signature Spring Events
8
44 Field Notes 45 Gardening 48 Calendar
Voices 3 Readers Write 46 Past Tense/Present Tense 56 Vested Interest
36
ON THE COVER A delicious offering from the newly renovated and reopened Beehive Augusta Tavern
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. Which former University of Kentucky basketball coach spent time touring with the Harlem Globetrotters? A. Tubby Smith B. Rick Pitino
6. Only three horses have finished the Kentucky Derby in less than two minutes—Secretariat (1973), Monarchos (2001) and which other horse? A. Northern Dancer
C. Joe B. Hall
B. Whirlaway
2. Gail Borden Jr. (1801-1874), the inventor of condensed milk, lived part of his childhood in Kennedy’s Ferry, Kentucky, which today is known as what?
C. Sham
A. Augusta
7. Since 1986, 39 different schools have won state marching band championships, but which one has won more than any other?
B. Covington
A. Harrison County
C. Carrollton
B. Adair County C. North Hardin
3. Dating back to 1775 near Danville, Kentucky dominated the country’s production of which single product (reaping as much as 75 percent nation’s total in 1902)? A. Coal B. Oil
A. Swimming
C. Industrial hemp
B. Equestrian C. Baseball
B. French
9. Baddiewinkle, a 90-year-old Internet personality whose catchphrase is “stealing your man since 1928,” originally hails from which eastern Kentucky city?
C. Spanish
A. Hazard
A. Iroquois
B. Harlan 5. Hell for Certain is a brand of beer produced by Louisville’s Bluegrass Brewing Company, but it is drawn from a town in which Kentucky county? A. Leslie B. Lee C. Harlan
C. Hyden 10. With more than 600 franchises in 43 states, Florence-based Kona Ice has donated more $25 million to chartable causes, including the Make A Wish Foundation, since its founding in 2007. Often seen at community and school events across Kentucky, Kona Ice is represented by what kind of mascot? A. Polar bear B. Penguin C. Alaskan Malamute
2
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
• MARCH 2019
© 2019, Vested Interest Publications Volume Twenty Two, Issue 2, March 2019 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, Layout Artist CAIT A. SMITH, Copy Editor Senior Kentributors JACKIE HOLLENKAMP BENTLEY, BILL ELLIS, STEVE FLAIRTY, GARY GARTH, RACHAEL GUADAGNI, JESSE HENDRIX-INMAN, KRISTY ROBINSON HORINE, ABBY LAUB, LINDSEY McCLAVE, BRENT OWEN, KEN SNYDER, WALT REICHERT, GARY P. WEST
Business and Circulation BARBARA KAY VEST, Business Manager JOCELYN ROPER, Circulation Specialist
Advertising
8. While Jim Host has received honors from the football and basketball halls of fame, he attended the University of Kentucky on a scholarship for which other sport?
4. From 1534 until 1763, the area we know today as Kentucky was under control of which other nation?
Celebrating the best of our Commonwealth
JULIE MOORE, Senior Account Executive LARA FANNIN, Account Executive JOHN LASWELL, 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, Lebanon Junction, Ky.
www.kentuckymonthly.com (888) 329-0053 P.O. Box 559 100 Consumer Lane Frankfort, KY 40601
VOICES A COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS As a longtime church member of First Church of Christ in Burlington, I was thrilled to see the article and pictures of An Old Kentucky Christmas in the December/January issue of Kentucky Monthly. It was so nice to see this great piece. Old Kentucky Christmas is truly a gift to the community. It offers families an opportunity to take their children to do something totally free and enjoy the Christmas spirit the old-fashioned way. I am proud of our church for doing this every year. It is a lot of work and takes a lot of volunteers, but it is so worth it! Debbie Adams, Florence SOFT SWEARING
In response to the letter in December/January issue from Kate Prince (page 3), “I’ll swanny” is not so uncommon and was/is a softer form of “I’ll swear,” which is nice, because church-going ladies did not do that. My maternal grandmother, Ida Virginia Wadle Marcum of Booneville, also said, “Lawsey mercy” instead of “Lord have mercy” to avoid taking the Lord’s name in vain. About a woman (only) with a bitter disposition, an eastern Kentuckian might say, “she’s got a sour turn to’er.” “Whose girl air you?” is not a request for your relationship status, but for a quick family history, and for that relationship status, you might be asked, “Air ye a’courtin’ heavy?” “Yonder,” “up yonder,” “over yonder” and “down yonder” all have distinct meanings, and someone once inquired about some children playing on a hill, “Em young’uns up air yourn?” These are only a few of many such quaint and colorful expressions of the “Br’ar” dialect, heard only up in the proud east Kentucky hollers. Karen Marcum Pendergrass Brandon, via email Please let Kate Prince of Princeton know that I use the word “swanee” at least weekly. I have since 1974. I was introduced to the term at Eastern Kentucky University. Proper ladies wouldn’t
“swear” so we used it as a substitute for, “I swear.” Debra Simpson, Norwood, Ohio RINGING TRUE In the December/January issue’s Kentucky Kwiz, question two states that Matt Bevin’s company is the remaining sole creator of bells in the country. I believe the Verdin Bell Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a big manufacturer of bells worldwide. Darlene Knepshield, Newport CAUDILL AND HIS LEGACY Harry Caudill was a prophet who had the vision to look ahead 50 years and foresee the economic and environmental destruction that would face the mountains when coal was gone (February issue, page 46). He passionately and courageously dedicated his life and his many talents to intervene and try to prevent such a crisis. He was not shy about calling out powerful corporations, individuals and politicians whose only interest was to maximize their wealth. As a citizen of the area today, I feel the future appears bleak. It is hobbled with a large disabled workforce, high unemployment, a large drug culture and population outmigration. Unfortunately, Mr. Caudill’s prophecy has been fulfilled. Fred Landrum, Jackson
I don’t know of any book by a Kentuckian that had a greater impact on national policy that Harry Caudill’s Night Comes to the Cumberlands. Published in 1963, this jarring exposé of Appalachian poverty helped inspire President Lyndon B. Johnson’s war on poverty. Caudill, was an author, historian, lawyer, state legislator, professor, raconteur and environmentalist. Though he was a son of Letcher County in the southeastern Kentucky coal fields, Caudill became an outspoken foe of strip mining, which, he said, was
Readers Write ruining the land and the people. Ultimately, Congress spent billions to fight poverty in Appalachia, which encompassed parts of 13 states. But Caudill and others concluded that the money did little to improve livelihoods in the vast upland region. Stricken with increasingly debilitating Parkinson’s disease, Caudill killed himself with a handgun, facing the mountains, it was said. He was 68. “Harry Caudill spent his whole life trying to call attention to poverty and injustice in eastern Kentucky,” said journalist Charles Kuralt, Caudill’s friend, on CBS’s Sunday Morning show. “If you want to get angry, read Night Comes to the Cumberlands.” Berry Craig, Paducah What a great article on Harry Caudill in the February issue of Kentucky Monthly. I has inspired me to read some more of his works. Tylene Garrett, Waddy KENTUCKY JOY I subscribe to and read your magazine cover to cover whenever a new edition arrives. Almost every time, I tell friends—maybe bore some of them—about the articles I’ve read and the recipes I want to try. Keep up the good work. It is a joy to have in the house. Flip Mazzoni, via Facebook
Corrections The bronze statue of writer Alice Allison Dunnigan that will be on permanent display in Russellville was sculpted by Amanda Matthews of Prometheus Foundry (February issue, page 16). n The names of two winners in the Penned Annual Writers’ Showcase appeared incorrectly (February issue, beginning on page 22). They should be Christen Fischer and Eric C. Sharp. n
Counties featured in this issue n
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.
MARCH 2019
• K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
3
MAG ON THE MOVE Jerry Potter and Olivia DeLong
Canary Islands Jerry and his granddaughter, Olivia, both from Anchorage, were on a big family vacation that included some time in Amsterdam and Tenerife, Canary Islands. On this day, all 12 family members explored Mount Teide, the volcano that created the island.
Jerry T. and Laura Miller Alaska
Day Trippers Liberty
Kentucky State Rep. Jerry T. Miller (R) Vivian Russell, Pat Jones, Christine and his wife, of Louisville, are pictured in Riddle, Judi Bronger and Ann Marie front of Alaska’s Margerie Glacier. Thomas, all from Louisville, enjoyed a visit to Liberty.
4
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Rev. Rick Upchurch Versailles, France Frankfort native Upchurch appears outside The Petit Trianon. Built between 1762 and 1768 during the reign of Louis XV of France, it is a small château on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles.
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!
KENTUCKY’S PREMIER ZIPLINE DESTINATION!!
Take a copy of the magazine with you and get snapping. Send your high-resolution photos (usually 1 MB or higher) to editor@kentuckymonthly.com.
5 ZIPLINES
UP TO 1900’ LONG
PROFESSIONALLY GUIDED TOURS
300’ ABOVE THE GORGE! Traveling Siblings Alaska From left, Paul and Diane Bramel of Lexington, Joan and Anthony McGlone of Flemingsburg, and Sharon and Steve Humphries of Flemingsburg on an Alaska trip. Paul, Joan and Sharon are siblings.
11, 12, & 16 BEDROOM LODGES Perfect for Weddings, Reunions, Retreats & More!
GREAT FOR GROUPS, TEAM BUILDING & CORPORATE RETREATS! Gail and Bill Clifton Croatia While traveling with their son, Jonathan, and his family, the Cliftons of Paducah were photographed on the wall of the Old City in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Marsha Nash and Marilyn Canterbury Aruba The pair, who hail from Owensboro, enjoyed a sister trip to the scenic Caribbean island.
RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
888-202-4021
or Book Online RedRiverGorgeZipline.com Red River Gorge Ziplines & Cliffview Resort 455 CLIFFVIEW RD, CAMPTON, KY 41301
BRIEFS
Across Kentucky
B I R T H DAYS 2 Denny Crum (1937), former basketball coach who led the University of Louisville to NCAA championships in 1980 and 1986 3 Larry Stewart (1959), Paducahborn musician and singer, best known as a member of Restless Heart 3 Tom Leach (1961), sportscaster, voice of the University of Kentucky Wildcats
PEAK TEACHING Lowell Milken, chairman and co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation, congratulates Milken Educator Award recipient Angie Beavin Milken Family Foundation photo
D
ubbed by Teacher magazine the “Oscars of Teaching,” the national 2018-19 Milken Educator Award spotlights, for the first time in its history, a Kentucky educator: fifth-grade teacher Angie Beavin of Peaks Mill Elementary in Frankfort. At a surprise morning assembly on Feb. 11, Beavin took her place among the ranks of the country’s 33 Milken Educator Award recipients—front-liners in molding our next generation of leaders, professionals and free-thinkers. Presenting the award and its $25,000 cash prize were Kentucky Commissioner of Education Dr. Wayne D. Lewis Jr. along with Milken Family Foundation Chairman and Co-founder Lowell Milken, who guides his foundation under the principle that “education is at the heart of nearly everything we value.” “A talented, caring and strategic teacher like Angie Beavin develops lifelong learners who can think independently,” Milken said. “And that’s why America’s future gets brighter every day in her classroom, one motivated and inquisitive student at a time.” Beavin is highly involved at Peaks Mill in outreach for at-risk students, professional development, and implementation of the Public Education and Business Coalition’s “Thinking Strategies,” a teaching philosophy that assimilates reading into every lesson. She “is committed to doing whatever it takes to ignite the passion, potential and possibility in each and every one of her students,” Lewis said. “She is an extraordinary example of teaching excellence in Kentucky.” The Milken Educator Award is dedicated to honoring educators early in their careers for the achievements they have made thus far and for the promise of what they have yet to accomplish. For Milken educators like Beavin, “The future belongs to the educated.” — CAIT A. SMITH
DISTINCTIVE AWARD The Pearse Lyons Distillery, the sister distillery to Lexington’s Town Branch Distillery and Pikeville’s Dueling Barrels Brewery and Distillery, has been awarded Best Dublin Visitor Experience for a business with fewer than 100,000 visitors annually at the 2019 Irish Tourism Industry Awards. The boutique distillery was a passion project for Dr. Pearse Lyons and his wife, Deirdre. Following a $28.6-million renovation, the church-turned-distillery opened its doors in August 2017 and has welcomed more than 30,000 visitors, including 89 Kentucky Monthly readers in October 2018. “The distillery team is honored to receive such an award,” said Tracey Flinter, general manager of the distillery named in honor of Alltech’s late co-founder. “Our first 17 months in business have shown the true potential of our unique tourism offering. Our storytellers are passionate, experienced and knowledgeable. We pride ourselves on offering small, personable tours in a working distillery.” 6
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
6 Tori Murden McClure (1963), president of Spalding University and rowing explorer 9 Danny Sullivan (1950), retired Louisville-born winner of the 1985 Indianapolis 500 10 Lance Burton (1960), Columbiaborn, Shively-raised Las Vegas magician 10 Angela Correll (1966), author and preservationist from Stanford 14 Wes Unseld (1946), Louisvilleborn member of the Basketball Hall of Fame 14 Rick Dees (1950), Harrodsburg resident and radio announcer best known for the 1970s song “Disco Duck” 16 Chuck Woolery (1941), original host of Wheel of Fortune, born and raised in Ashland 17 William Stamps Farish III (1939), former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, owner of Lane’s End Farm near Versailles 18 Ciara Bravo (1994), Alexandriaborn actress best known as Gracie Pritchard on sci-fi drama Second Chance 18 Tim Farmer (1964), host of the KET program Tim Farmer’s Country Kitchen 21 Ceila Ammerman (1983), fashion model from Cynthiana 22 William Shatner (1931), actor and horseman best known for Star Trek 24 Emma Talley (1994), NCAA Women’s Golf Champion from Princeton 31 Greg Martin (1953), lead and slide guitarist with the Kentucky Headhunters, from Metcalfe County
CULTURE
Oddities
South Union Shaker Village BY DEBORAH KOHL KREMER
South Union Shaker Village 896 Shaker Museum Rd, Auburn 270.542.4167 | southunionshakervillage.com Closed on Mondays
J
ust a couple miles south of Bowling Green is the South Union Shaker Village. This was a community of the religious group originally named the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing. Due to their ecstatic, vehement quaking and trembling in their worship service, the order became more commonly known as the Shakers. The Shakers inhabited this rich countryside from 18071922, constructing more than 200 buildings and farming about 6,000 acres, all while maintaining their simple, pacifist and communal life. Their work ethic, which they considered a form of prayer, resulted in fine architecture, furniture and practical home items. Their designs reflected their lifestyle: simple, practical and well made. Today, the South Union Shaker Village—not to be confused with Mercer County’s Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill—consists of several buildings that have been restored and are available for exploring. With so many unique and authentic items to see and learn about, it was hard to narrow down this month’s Oddity, but odd it is. Hanging on a wall peg, and a familiar sight to the Shakers, is a cooling board. “It is a perforated wooden platform with handles on which a dead body would be temporarily stored and prepared for a funeral,” said Sally Givens, curator of Collections and Development at South Union. “We do not have a lot of information on Shaker death practices, but we know this was commonly used in the mid-19th century.” The main building, known as the Centre Family House, is full of original Shaker furnishings like the wall pegs, ladder-back chairs and brooms, baskets and rugs for which the Shakers are best remembered. There is also a
spectacular dual staircase, an amazing architectural feat considering how long ago it was built. The large threestory, T-shaped, brick building houses sleeping quarters, the kitchen and dining area, and the infirmary. The Shakers were simple people but were not afraid to embrace, or even invent, modern conveniences. One example of this is the steam house on the grounds. It was there that the Shakers heated the food for their cattle, believing that when it was warm, the cows digested it better. “This must have worked, as the South Union cows were fatter than others, had shinier coats, and brought in top dollar at cattle auctions,” said Givens. “This building is the only one of its kind in Kentucky.” The Shakers were active at South Union for more than 100 years, but their future was curtailed for a few reasons. One was that the United States was industrializing, which meant that they did not need to farm or live communally for a better chance of survival. The other reason, one that basically meant they were doomed from the start, was the Shaker belief that men and women needed to remain separate at all times, in every way, so there was no procreation. No baby Shakers. The only way the congregation could grow would be with the addition of converts. Alas, in 1922 with only nine members living in South Union, the community disbanded. Those members left were given the choice of moving to a Shaker community in New York State or given $10,000 each (yes, that’s 10 thousand dollars, which in 1922 was equivalent to about $140,000 in today’s dollars) so they could strike out on their own.
M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
7
FOOD
Cooking
Springtime Fresh PHOTOS BY
Jesse Hendrix Inman
Recipes provided by Chef Cody Stone of Decca in Louisville and prepared at Sullivan University by Ann Currie.
8
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Set in a chicly renovated Victorian building in Louisville’s NuLu district, Decca restaurant has enticed diners with its innovative cuisine since opening in 2012. Executive Chef Cody Stone, a River City native, contributes to Decca’s appeal by incorporating locally sourced ingredients, such as Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese and fresh asparagus, into his repertoire of dishes.
Chef Cody Stone
Grilled Asparagus 2 quarts water ¼ cup salt 1 bunch asparagus ½ teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons ¼ cup sesame seeds, toasted 1 small tub crème fraîche ½ pound Kenny’s Norwood cheese (or any good Gruyère), grated 2 lemons, zested and juiced Maldon sea salt to taste
Radishes with Bagna Cauda and Crunchy Bread 1 bunch radishes
½ cup bagna cauda (recipe below) 1. Bring two quarts water to a boil ½ lemon, juiced with ¼ cup salt. Tip the asparagus 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped by grabbing the bottom third of each stalk and bending it. The 1 small shallot, minced stalk will naturally break. Maldon sea salt to taste 2. Blanch asparagus in the salted 1 small loaf sourdough bread, grilled or toasted boiling water for about 45 Olive oil to taste seconds. Shock asparagus in an ice bath until it’s cold to the touch. 1. Shave radishes on a mandolin, thin enough to see the light through. 3. Turn the grill on high—as hot 2. Warm up the bagna cauda and mix it with the radishes, lemon juice, as you can get it. Lightly oil parsley and shallot in a bowl. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to marry. asparagus with ½ teaspoon olive Taste it, and add more bagna cauda, sea salt or lemon to your preference. oil and place on the hottest part 3. Serve on grilled or toasted sourdough bread. Finish with olive oil. of the grill. Cook until asparagus starts to blister on one side Note: Bagna cauda is more about taste. Add it to the radishes until it tastes right to you. I recommend about a ½ cup. only, about 2-3 minutes. It’s thin enough that the residual heat will make it hot throughout. 4. To serve, equally distribute 1½ cups extra virgin olive oil 1. In a skillet over medium heat, add asparagus on four plates. Top olive oil and toast garlic and chile 1 bulb garlic, peeled and each serving with toasted sesame flakes until golden, 2-3 minutes. minced seeds, dollop of crème fraîche, Add anchovies and cook until 2 tablespoons red chile flakes grated cheese, zest and juice from melted, about 2 minutes. Let cool. 10 anchovies, minced and ½ lemon and olive oil. Season to 2. Add lemon zest and salt to taste. mashed into a paste taste with sea salt. 1 lemon, zested
Bagna Cauda
Salt to taste Note: Dating back to the 16th century, bagna cauda is considered a hot dish served and consumed in a manner similar to fondue, sometimes as an appetizer dip with raw or cooked vegetables. It also can be used as a salad dressing base, pasta sauce or dressing for boiled potatoes to make an easy potato salad that isn’t covered in mayonnaise. M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
9
FOOD
Cooking
Pork Milanese with Mint Salsa Verde, Parmesan and Pea Salad
1. Trim excess fat off pork. (Chef’s note: This is a preference. I like to keep some of the fat on when I prepare Milanese.) Cut pork into four equal portions. 2. Place one piece of pork in a gallon bag and pound evenly with meat mallet until thin enough to see through but not too thin. Make sure it is evenly pounded. You can use a heavy rolling pin if you don’t have a meat mallet. Repeat with remaining pieces of pork. 3. Set up a three-step breading station. To make an egg wash, beat eggs with ¼ cup of water until evenly combined and smooth in texture. Fill one bowl with egg wash. 4. In another bowl, combine flour and 2 tablespoons of salt. Pour the panko breadcrumbs into a third bowl. Place pork pieces one at a time in the seasoned flour and shake off excess flour. Drop pork into egg wash, pull out and let excess drip off before placing into the panko. Place in panko and cover with breadcrumbs, pressing them onto pork. Flip pork and press again. Repeat with remaining pieces of pork. 5. Heat large skillet to medium-high, add ¼ cup canola oil, and heat until it starts to simmer. Lower heat to medium, carefully place pork one piece at a time into pan, and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes on each side. When pulling pork out of the pan, place on a wire rack to drain and rest. Drain off any burnt oil from the pan between browning each pork piece. Lightly salt and let rest for 3 minutes. 6. To assemble the pea salad, place peas, pea shoots, shallots and chives in a small bowl. Add olive oil, lemon juice and salt to taste. Toss just before plating. 7. To serve, place the hot, crispy pork Milanese on a plate. Top with salsa verde, hard-boiled egg, shaved Parmesan and pea salad. Serve a lemon wedge with it for some extra acidity. 10
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
1 pound boneless pork loin 4 eggs ¼ cup water 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons salt 4 cups panko breadcrumbs ¼ cup canola oil 1 cup peas (either freshly shucked and blanched or frozen) 1 quart pea shoots 2 small shallots, minced ¼ cup chives 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice Salt to taste 2 tablespoons mint salsa verde (recipe below) 4 eggs, hard-boiled and diced 1 cup shaved Parmesan cheese 4 lemon wedges
Mint Salsa Verde 1 bunch parsley 1 bunch mint 2 tablespoons capers 2 anchovies 1 clove garlic 1 pint canola oil ½ lemon, juiced Salt to taste 1. Add all ingredients except the salt to a blender and blend until smooth, about 45 seconds. 2. For a very green sauce, pour into a container and set container in an ice bath until it’s cold throughout. Add salt to taste. Note: Mint salsa verde also can be used to dress a grain salad, coat your favorite grilled or steamed vegetable, top a store-bought frozen pizza or scrambled eggs with toast, and complement any meat.
S U B M I T YO U R R E C I P E AT K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY. C O M
Submissions due March 12
calling all cooks Enter Kentucky Monthly's annual recipe contest! Submit your favorite original recipe for a chance to win great prizes and see your dish featured in our May issue. Grand Prize Getaway An exclusive stay at the charming Montgomery Inn Bed & Breakfast in Versailles. Guests
enjoy the best of the Bluegrass at this warm, welcoming B&B within easy driving distance of Keeneland Race
Course and several bourbon distilleries.
Runners-Up Prizes In addition to having their recipes featured in our May issue, runners-up will receive a Kentucky-themed cookbook and a cookie cutter shaped like our Commonwealth.
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
11
T he B e e h i v e E f f e c t 12
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
T h e re s ta u ra n t ’s re t u r n a n c h o r s a n Au g u s ta re n a i s s a n c e
By Stephen M. Vest MARCH 2019
• K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
13
Top right, Beehive Augusta Tavern Executive Chef Devon Rosenblatt; middle right, self-proclaimed Queen Bee Lalani Bates with Yolanda and Gary Wilson
14
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Supposedly, it takes 15 to 20 years of hard work to become an overnight success. Augusta’s rush to trendiness began 223 years ago. The hometown of George Clooney and the site of a recent episode of David Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, Augusta, situated on the Ohio River 35 miles upstream from Cincinnati, is quickly becoming Kentucky’s place to be. Central to the boom is the reopening of The Beehive Augusta Tavern in a building that dates back to the establishment of Bracken County in the late 18th century. The county was named for the explorer William Bracken, a contemporary of Simon Kenton and Daniel Boone. The town and the building survived an 1862 Confederate Army raid and the 1937 Ohio River flood of all floods—“The Great Flood.” The grand reopening packed the town of fewer than 1,200 with visitors from far and wide to see the results of a renovation that began in 2017. Lalani Bates, the self-professed Queen Bee, and her husband, Lance, renovated the space, keeping as much of the original interior and structure as possible. Their hope is that The Beehive’s future will be as rich as its storied past. They believe they’ve created a destination. Gary Wilson, one of the couple’s partners, believes in them so much that he plans to fly diners in from Cincinnati aboard his personal airplane. The Augusta Irish Tavern, which sells more of Clooney’s Casamigos Tequila than anyplace else, sits a couple doors up Main Street. Around the block is the Parkview Inn. To the north on Riverside Drive is the Rosemary Clooney House. The return of The Beehive is vitally important to the latest Augusta revival, but it’s just the beginning. Lalani has filed paperwork to begin construction on the Augusta Distillery, which should break ground this year. “We’re still riding the wave of the newness,” Lalani said. “Our Saturday nights have been crazy, which is wonderful. We’re working on our lunch business and running lots of specials and building partnerships with other local business,” such as Baker-Bird Winery. “An example: Anyone who comes in and eats at The Beehive can take their receipt and get a free tour at the winery.” With businesses working together, Augusta is hoping that a rising tide—not of the flood variety— will lift all boats, so to speak. And the Bateses are taking no chances. In addition to manager Rob McCregor, who is working with local suppliers, they recruited a pair of classically trained chefs—Cat Wolf, the customer experience manager, and Executive Chef Devon Rosenblatt, who was recognized as one of the Bluegrass Region’s “15 Signature Chefs” at the 2018 March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction before joining the northern Kentucky team. Entrees include everything from the awardwinning Beehive Burger to a 10-ounce American Wagyu Ribeye. There’s Amish Chicken, Sweet Mustard Salmon and Gooseberry Glazed Pork. “The pork is from Diamond B Farms, and the [gooseberry] chutney is from Turtleback Ridge—neither more than 15 minutes from the restaurant,” Rosenblatt said on KET’s Tim Farmer’s Country Kitchen cooking show.
The Beehive is already a member of Kentucky Proud, and according to Lalani, in addition to Baker-Bird, Diamond B and Turtleback Ridge, the restaurant has vendor relationships with Sunflower Sundries, Bush Farms Grass Fed Beef and Whispering Breeze Farm, which are all located in either Bracken County or adjacent Mason County. Wildfire Equestrian Farm operates carriage rides that can be arranged through the restaurant. “That’s part of our goal—to showcase the offerings of the region,” Rosenblatt said. It’s a comfortable pun to say that The Beehive is creating a buzz in Augusta, especially you consider the origin of its name. In 1985, when Cuban native and renowned opera singer Luciano “Sean” Moral bought the building, he named the restaurant after a large beehive he found in the basement. Tim Farmer wasted little time bringing his popular cooking show to town. “They offer great food in a great atmosphere, and the bar was exceptional,” said Farmer, who grew up in Maysville, 20 miles upstream. “It’s worthy of a day trip, especially when you take in the Baker-Bird Winery and the ferry.” The well-stocked bar features 32 bourbon brands and an assortment of Kentucky-brewed beers, including several from Country Boy Brewing in Georgetown, West Sixth Brewing in Lexington and Louisville’s Great Flood Brewing Company. Mixologist John Arriaga creates a variety of cocktails, such as the Cucumber Cosmo, the Citrus & Spice Kentucky Mule Bourbon and the Blood Orange Paloma, which brings us back to George Clooney’s Casamigos Tequila. George’s father, Nick Clooney, who lives within walking distance of The Beehive, was recently featured on the Where Are They Now? series on WCPOTV in Cincinnati. The interview with the longtime television icon was filmed in the restaurant, and the family patriarch and his wife, Nina, ate dinner at The Beehive three times the first week it reopened. “I’ve never had the same thing twice, and everything I’ve had was first-rate,” Nick said. “Our little town is so fortunate to have something this great. And it’s great.” The history of The Beehive Augusta Tavern mirrors that of Augusta. The building was constructed in 1796 on land granted to Capt. Phillip Buckner, a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Over the decades, it has been a private residence, a general store and a pharmacy. It also was the office for the still-operating ferry to Boudes Landing (Ohio), which you can see from The Beehive’s windows or second-floor balcony. During the 1862 Battle of Augusta, townspeople fought hand-to-hand and house-to-house to keep Confederate troops from crossing the river. Many buildings, including the one now housing The Beehive, were set on fire. After the Great Flood of 1937, Augusta’s rowhouses fell into disrepair and deteriorated for decades. In the early 1970s, visionary Augustans launched a Riverside Drive renaissance, saving the rowhouses from demolition and earning the area’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Q M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
15
With the building’s renovation that began in 2017, Lalani and Lance wanted to keep as much of the original interior of the structure as possible, including the exposed brick walls; above, Lalani chats with diners
If you go
The Beehive Augusta Tavern 101 West Riverside Drive Augusta, 606.756.2137 beehiveaugustatavern.com Reservations are suggested.
16
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Robert Clark
march 16 -17 kentucky horse park alltech arena saturday: 10 am – 6 PM sunday: 10 am – 4 PM
Michelle Strader
Martha Wetter
It’s the largest gathering of the best Kentucky artists under one roof! The Kentucky Crafted Market features dozens of Kentucky visual and craft artists, music by Kentucky performers, Kentucky Proud food vendors and many other fun activities. Find more information at http://bit.ly/Market19
Print Print by by Elizabeth Elizabeth Foley Foley
www.artscouncil.ky.gov 17 www.artscouncil.ky.gov
M A R C H 2 0 1 8 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
18
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
19
MORE THAN HORSES AND BOURBON (BUT WE DO THOSE WELL).
MUSICAL ROOTS FEEL THE BEAT
Located along the famed US 23 Country Music Highway, Ashland is a town with a beat. Big musical names like The Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus and Jason Carter came from here. And in this musical town, local talent strum tunes new and old. See a show at the historic Paramount’s Arts Center and learn about local history at the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center. For all things
Appalachia, look through the bookstore and Appalachian gift shop at the Jesse Stuart Foundation. In town, there’s an event for every season and history, culture and outdoor recreation. Explore the surrounding area or simply enjoy a slowed-down pace of life. Choose your adventure. visitashlandky.com
BRING IN SPRING WITH SCENIC VIEWS
Welcome the spring season in beautiful Mt. Sterling. The historic downtown is alive with unique shopping, dining and fun events. Take a walking tour of historic sites, visit the Arts Center for exhibits and performances and sample fresh-made bourbon balls at the Ruth Hunt Candy Factory. Golf scenic Indian Creek and enjoy southern hospitality all in this charming city. mtsterlingtourism.com
MUSIC AND MORE FEEL THE BEAT
Good music never gets old. Enjoy live bluegrass music during Front Porch Pickin’ every Thursday evening at the Country Music Highway Museum. Tour Loretta Lynn’s homeplace at “Butcher Holler” and visit the Mountain HomePlace to be transported to an 1850’s working farm. History, music and culture meet in Paintsville. paintsvilletourism.com
ADVENTURES FOR ALL EXPLORE, SHOP & DINE
Vibrant events, unique experiences and familyfriendly fun combine in Grant County. Have a larger-than-life adventure at Ark Encounter, a life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark. Sip local vintages at Brianza Gardens and Winery or have dinner and a show at Stage Right Musical Theatre Company. There’s an event for every season, from Derby Day to Country Pumpkins Fall Fest. visitgrantky.com
TOURS AND TASTINGS SAVOR EACH SIP
Head to Frankfort for a spring weekend of bourbon tasting, local fare and the spirit of the town during Frankfort’s Kentucky Distilled Weekend. Bourbon is a point of pride here. See what makes it special on a distillery tour and tasting or a bourbon history tour. And for a unique experience, listen to the American a cappella group Rockapella at the Grand Theatre. visitfrankfort.com
UNBRIDLED FUN HORSE PLAY FOR ALL
From horsepower to horse play, Georgetown has things to see and do, indoors and out. Pet a thoroughbred champion or feel the thunder of a new engine roar to life and everything in between. At at the Kentucky Horse Park and Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm, see horses frolic and play. For some horsepower, head to the Toyota plant tour where you can discover the future of automotive manufacturing and mobility. Get in the saddle and experience Kentucky by horseback at Whispering Woods Riding Stables. The trails offer the best of Kentucky’s natural beauty with wooded passes, hills, creek crossings and abundant wildlife. Georgetown is all about unbridled fun and the town has that in aces. Uncover the vibrant local shopping and dining scene for unique souvenirs you can’t pass up and the flavors of the region. Taste brews and bourbon, explore natural beauty, discover geocaches and unwind and relax. georgetownky.com
kentuckytourism.com
DOWNTOWN CHARM A FESTIVAL FOR EVERY SEASON
Get in touch with American history and culture in Elizabethtown. See the newly unveiled replica Vietnam Veterans Wall. The Wall contains more than 58,000 names of brave men and women who served and a kiosk designed to find a specific name. For a dose of Elizabethtown’s irresistible charm, head to one of the many festivals and events. BBQ, Blues and Bikes kicks off the festival season every May, followed by Cruisin’ the Heartland in late July– both held in the historic downtown. The revitalized historic downtown area is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Whether you’re looking for nighttime entertainment, cocktails with friends, or just a good meal with your family, the downtown scene has you covered. Grab a brew at Flywheel Brewing or Bourbon Barrel Tavern and indulge in some good eats at one of the many unique restaurants. Downtown Elizabethtown is also the home of the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame– a big deal in Kentucky. Whether you’re a long time fan of the sport or have never watched a game, the sporting spirit is contagious and you’ll find yourself caught up in the excitement of the game. Visit for small-town charm, big history, and an all around good time. touretown.com
HORSING AROUND A SADDLEBRED PARADISE
Traditional small-town values meet contemporary sophistication. Shelbyville is the Saddlebred capital of the World, making it a great place for scenic drives to watch horses frolic in their pastures. Don’t miss the chance to tour one of the working horse farms for a look at how champions are raised and to get out into the gorgeous countryside. For some food and culture, get a taste of what’s brewing at familyowned and operated distillery Jeptha Creed. Follow the farm-to-bottle tour and taste “bloody butcher corn,” the heirloom corn variety that differentiates their spirits from all others. For a meal you won’t forget, head to Claudia Sanders’ Dinner House. Founded by Colonel Sanders and his wife in 1968, this dinner house serves classic Kentucky dishes like the hot brown sandwich and country ham. Or, savor fine southern dining in an elegant atmosphere at Science Hill Inn. And those who love to shop are in the right place. The designer outlets at The Outlet Shoppes of The Bluegrass might have just the deals you need. For unique finds, try Wakefield-Scearce Galleries where their extensive collection specializes in fine English antiques. The blend of culture, food, collectables and working horse farms make our town like none other. visitshelbyky.com
SCENIC ESCAPE LAKES AND MOUNTAINS
The Appalachian Mountains dip down and become the foothills of the Cumberland Mountain range, creating a relaxed atmosphere and scenic escape. A visit to Clinton County includes lake-time at one of the two major lake-resort favorites: Lake Cumberland to the north and Dale Hollow Lake to the south. Fish for stripers or smallmouth, pleasure boat, scuba dive, or try your hand at water skiing and wakeboarding. For a unique stay that isn’t found everywhere, rent a luxury houseboat. Houseboats come with all the amenities of home and the added bonus of waking up on the lake. Every season brings beauty, from lush spring flowers to summertime sun, fall foliage and crisp winter air. Fish year-round or simply come out to relax and escape. The marinas and towns are ready to provide you with everything you need. You just have to get here– where the mountains touch the lakes - come stay for awhile. clintoncoky.com
LAKESIDE GETAWAY MAKE A SPLASH
Come play on Dale Hollow Lake and the Cumberland River. Burkesville is the perfect spot to make memories with houseboat vacations, resorts, lake view campsites and cozy cabins. Experience incredible fishing from smallmouth bass to trout, scuba dive in the crystal clear water, hike trails to stunning overlooks and play nine at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park. cumberlandcounty.com
CAST YOUR LINE REEL IN FAMILY VACATION
Enjoy the early morning silence on Lake Cumberland in Somerset-Pulaski County, where the only sounds are your bait hitting the water and the bald eagles overhead. Not only is this one of the best lakes in the nation for striped bass and crappie fishing, it’s also a top vacation destination. Whether it’s just you, with your pals or your family, go all in for an unforgettable stay. lctourism.com kentuckytourism.com
City Bees Texas Roadhouse does its part to protect honeybees BY JACKIE HOLLENKAMP BENTLEY
Heading west on Interstate 264—otherwise known as the Watterson Expressway, around the southern side of Louisville— drivers pass the Breckinridge Lane interchange and then spot a tranquil lagoon surrounding the Texas Roadhouse corporate headquarters on the right.
28
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
“That’s pretty,” they may think. But what likely also catches the eye is a set of beehives just yards away from the thousands of noisy cars that zip by every day spewing exhaust. It’s kind of an odd sight for passersby but not for the folks at Texas Roadhouse. “Every time somebody asks us about the hives, it gives us an opportunity to tell them about the critical nature of the bees dying but also the importance of them,” said Travis Doster, Texas Roadhouse’s senior director of communications and public affairs. “Bees pollinate about 75 percent of everything we eat. We realize this goes well beyond just honey. They’re important for everything we eat.” Doster said Texas Roadhouse’s concern for the honeybee population
emerged about four years ago when the company learned more about the growing shortage of USAmade honey—a key ingredient in the restaurant chain’s well-known honey cinnamon butter. That’s when the company forged a partnership with the Oldham County Beekeepers Association and brought in association member and beekeeper Rodolfo Bernal to help set up and manage the hives. “To me, they are a very good corporate citizen,” Bernal said of Texas Roadhouse. “They not only talk the talk, but they are walking whatever they are talking. They are really committed to this program.” Both Doster and Bernal admit that the location selection for the hives raised some eyebrows. “There was some concern that it wouldn’t
Boosting the Honeybee Population How can you protect and help increase our honeybee population? Plant a bee garden to attract these important pollinators. Several types of plants produce blooms throughout three seasons in Kentucky to keep the busy little honeymakers supplied with food. SPRING
borage, calendula, crocus, hyacinth and wild lilac SUMMER
bee balm, cosmos, echinacea, hostas and snapdragons AUTUMN
asters, goldenrod, sedum and zinnias Source: The Honeybee Conservancy, thehoneybeeconservancy.org
even work with the highway and the noise, but it’s worked successfully,” Doster said. Bernal said beekeeping is like real estate— location, location, location. “If bees do good in one site, you stay there, and the bees have done well there,” Bernal said. “The bees must have found places to get their pollen and the nectar because they are doing well.” They’re doing so well that the honey is sold internally at the company’s support center, with proceeds going to Andy’s Outreach Fund, which helps employees in times of crisis. “One thing we don’t consider ourselves is a big company. We’re not a chain. We’re a collection of independent restaurants,” Doster said. “For us, [advocating for bees] was an opportunity, because we
are a good size to be a leader in that area and say, ‘Hey, here’s an issue that concerns everybody in the food business, and frankly, everybody that eats food.’ ” One of the first things folks need to do, Doster says, is to look out into their yards, recalling a time when going outside barefoot meant the possibility of stepping on a bee. “What we’ve done is that we all want our yards to look like golf courses, so essentially, we’ve taken out all [the bees’] natural foods, which are clover, dandelions and weeds,” Doster said. “Bees are sometimes considered the enemy. I thought if we could just tell their story, tying it to our honey cinnamon butter and Texas Roadhouse, then maybe we can play a small part.”
That small part has expanded to placing hives in other parts of Jefferson County, including Chef Space, an incubator facility aimed at helping entrepreneurs get a jumpstart on opening their own restaurants. To help with its community garden, Texas Roadhouse paid for hives and beekeeping equipment, the only stipulation being that the beekeeper teach the skill to others. Bernal also is happily offering his expertise in the program. “It’s amazing,” Bernal said. “The whole organization supports beekeeping.” Texas Roadhouse, which also is involved in assisting another type of bee—as contributing sponsor of the Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee on March 16— takes the message inside its restaurants to younger patrons by not only putting
honeybee information on the kids’ menus but also hosting special programs geared toward educating the young. “Kids enjoy it, and we think we have a lot of opportunity with children, whether that is seed plantings in the restaurant or seed giveaways. Just raising awareness among young kids is really important,” Doster said. Employees also are gladly doing what they can to help the cause, he added, either by planting a bee garden with pollinating flowers or, like himself, just spreading the word to anyone who will listen. “When I talk to people about bees, the first thing I tell them is plant some flowers or let some of the clover grow,” he said. “We can all do a little something. It’s a problem that we can all solve in some small way.” Q
M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
29
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY
Matthew Pertz
e h T
r e b r a B
e r o m l i of W
Clay Tankersly found his American dream right in his backyard
C
lay Tankersly thought he was going to take over his father’s farm after he graduated high school. His family owned a nice plot of land on the highway just outside of Wilmore’s rolling hills, and Clay had no reason to consider anything else. He saw a future of green grass and quiet breezes, with acres of land ripe for staking out his own legacy. He could continue his father’s American dream. Enter Gene Brandenburg, a friend of Tankersly who had graduated a few years before. Brandenburg had a year under his belt in Wilmore’s barber shop and wanted some help. “At 18 years old, it didn’t matter to me what I was doing the next week,” Tankersly said, “much less 10 years down the road.” Brandenburg convinced his friend to enroll in barber school in Louisville for the summer. The program was usually a grueling six months, but Tankersly breezed through it in five. On the way back to Wilmore, he stopped by the state inspector’s house in Lexington so he could start working before the standard inspections were held two months later. That happened in November 1956, five days after the Eisenhower-Nixon ticket stomped its way to a second term in the White House. Tankersly is now 81 and still giving haircuts in the same Wilmore barbershop, even though Brandenburg left the shop almost 40 years ago. “I’ve been barbering a while,” Tankersly said, “and people ask me, ‘Why didn’t you go to Lexington out of barber school and make more money?’ Money’s fine, but being satisfied in your mind means a great deal to me, too. I love the people here, and I love Wilmore.” Wilmore itself resembles many other towns across Kentucky, with a whopping two stoplights on the main drag, one bright-yellow Dollar General sign that cuts through the night sky like a beacon, three restaurants and seven churches. Yet, it’s also a unique town, where residents share a history and a sort of code that just doesn’t translate in other cities. Where else in Kentucky is there a glowing cross looming over the populace from atop the city-owned water tower? Granted, the water tower stands on the campus of Asbury University, a Christian school. Clay’s Barber Shop is, in much the same way, both familiar and one-of-akind—half barbershop and half accidental museum. The walls are covered with memorabilia and curios from his 62 years there, each artifact feeling essential to the building’s structural integrity, as though straightening one piece might cause the whole block to crumble. There are no physical plaques, but each relic comes with a story from Tankersly, such as his 29 trucker hats hanging above the chairs. “I’ve got over 800 hats at home,” Tankersly said, “over 800 that people have given me over the years. I might have bought two or three of them.” Of course, he never wears them to work, instead showing off a meticulously coiffed head of white hair. There’s an old adage that warns us to never trust a skinny cook M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
31
and, similarly, never trust a barber in a ball cap. Almost hidden on a top shelf are two sets of pre-electric hair clippers, each with two parallel blades but no cables. Instead, the clippers each have a rod with a finger grip, and a barber would squeeze his hand quickly to make the blades slide and slice. “I would say that back then, barbers had a pretty good hand grip,” Tankersly mused. In the back corner, there are six photos of Tankersly and his friends with University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari at R.J. Corman’s airstrip in Wilmore. “R.J. Corman was the cause of that,” Tankersly said. Right in the center of the photos is a framed commendation naming Tankersly a Kentucky Colonel. “[R.J.] was the cause of that, too,” he said of the late railroad executive. Two fishbowl-shaped gumball machines sit half-full in the waiting area. One of them, a rare survivor of inflation, dispenses a gumball for a penny. “It was here when I first came,” Tankersly said. “All the kids really love it.” Patrons, too, are a part of the museum experience of Clay’s Barber Shop. Most are old friends of Tankersly, and their conversations often start in November 1956, slowly mapping the history of the universe from there. On one morning recently, a customer mapped the town’s headlines over the past half-century, while lamenting his upcoming 60th birthday. Tankersly, who is normally chipper, aired a grievance of his own: the confounding diagnosis of his son’s injured hand. “We thought it was from years ago,” he said, describing what happened to his son. “We had two quarter horses, and he had one foot in the stirrup, and he had his hand on the saddle horn. And just as he was ready to throw that other leg over, it reared up and went over sideways, and that saddle horn crunched the middle of his hand. “But the doctor said, ‘No, that’s not what it is. It’s hereditary.’ They looked at my hands; they looked at my wife’s hands. Our hands are fine.” Tankersly’s skepticism is well-founded. His hands are good, great—marvelous even. His hands still move like they did in ’56. They move without the rust of 62 years. Any faulty DNA surely would have been exposed in mangled haircuts, as the disheveled scalps of gentlemen across Wilmore bore the burden. No, Tankersly’s hands work miracles. They can sculpt and craft on whatever canvas might walk through his door. Sixty-two years of artistry are apparent in every haircut. “I’ve been pretty blessed all my life with pretty good health and everything, so I think every day He takes pretty good care of me,” Tankersly said, giving all credit to God. Only once did Tankersly consider chasing a different life. A year after he started working in the barbershop, a group of his friends from high school moved to New York to work for 32
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
IBM, chasing the new American dream long before Silicon Valley took tech to the West Coast. Even then, Tankersly felt the special tug of Wilmore anchoring him to his home. “Not all of them, but the biggest majority of them hated every minute of it,” Tankersly said, “but they couldn’t quit. The benefits were too good. Now, I ain’t got any benefits at all, but I love my job. You know, money isn’t everything, son.” During his six-plus decades as a barber, he has seen 11 presidencies. America finished wars in Korea and Vietnam, and started them in Iraq and Afghanistan. He’s watched his town and his nation change through the windows of his Main Street store, the same one he first entered at 18. Every day, Tankersly comes in by 8 a.m., flips the sign that tells the world, “Come in, we’re open!” and cuts hair for nine hours. Some days, he takes care of whole families in one sitting. One family sent five generations of men through Clay’s Barber Shop. In the late afternoon, he turns the bolt, shuts down the lights, and heads out the back to make it home for dinner. Days roll into years. Friends come and go. Brandenburg, who helped Tankersly start barbering in 1956, passed away this past year. And Corman, the man behind the signed U.K. gear and one of Tankersly’s dearest friends? Tankersly gave him his first haircut as a baby and his last before he died in 2013. Come in by 8 a.m. Cut hair. Lock the door. Go home. Come in by 8 a.m. Cut hair. Lock the door. Tankersly has spent more than 22,700 days in his barbering career. How many of us could dedicate a decade to one job, then another decade, and then four more? How much love is required to stand behind the same door every day and not chase a farflung green light? What kind of American dream allows for prioritizing your happiness over your success? Clay Tankersly’s American dream does. After all this time, he still has no plans to retire. He sounds almost indebted to Wilmore, as if the town has given him so many gifts that he can’t help but pay it back with his time and talents. “As long as I feel like it, I’m going to keep on working,” he said. “I would miss not coming down here, talking to my friends and things. I would miss it.” At this point, Tankersly is as much a part of the town as the town is a part of him. The two are almost indistinguishable in character; Wilmore’s longtime barber has become the gatekeeper of its soul. He is indispensable in his corner of the world. “A lot of times, we get compared to Mayberry, but I love it,” Tankersly said. “I love the people here.” That American dream might be the most satisfying of all. Q
BY DEBORAH KOHL KREMER
SAFETY + STYLE
Cynthiana-based company has been protecting workers for 100 years
W
hen the owners of San Francisco’s Bullard Company were looking for a new headquarters location in the early 1970s, they found the perfect place to “hang their hat” in Cynthiana. Bullard makes hard hats. Each year, the company’s 200 employees produce millions of these helmets, which are shipped around the world. The company was founded in the late 1890s by Edward Dickinson Bullard, who began by selling lamps and mining equipment during the gold- and silver-rush eras of the time. Not only does the company produce hard hats, its founder’s son actually invented them. After Bullard’s son, E.W. Bullard, came home from World War I, he created a hat similar to the steel helmets United States servicemen, or doughboys, wore overseas. “He created and patented the Hard Boiled hard hat by steaming—or hard-boiling—canvas, shellacking it and adding a leather brim,” says Wells Bullard, company CEO and Edward
Dickinson Bullard’s great-great-granddaughter. “He later expanded his design to include an internal suspension for added protection.” The Bullard hard hat, which is recognizable by three molded ridges on the top, became prominent in construction when workers were required to wear it while building the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge in the 1930s. Although the requirement was authorized by the construction companies, Wells says that hard hats didn’t become mandatory on job sites that could involve head injury until 1970, when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established. The hard hat has evolved over time as new materials were invented. Early models were made of aluminum, then fiberglass and then thermoplastic. Today, the hats are made of polyethylene plastics, which Wells says are lightweight, durable, nonconductive to electricity and easy to mold.
M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
33
Top, hard hats came to prominence in the 1930s, when workers were required to wear them for projects such as the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge Above, Bullard CEO Wells Bullard, the great-great-granddaughter of the company’s founder
34
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Over the years, hard hats have been spotted on dignitaries at ribboncutting ceremonies, on construction workers on job sites, and on firefighters. In addition to setting the standard in hard hats, Bullard makes other workplace-related safety equipment. The company’s product categories are broken down into head protection, body temperature management, respiratory protection, fire and rescue helmets, and thermal imaging. E.W. Bullard got involved in respiratory protection on the Golden Gate Bridge project. “The steel for the bridge had oxidized, so they had to sandblast it before they could use it to build the bridge,” Wells says. “My great-grandfather saw this problem and designed our first respiratory system for the bridge workers.” About the company’s decision to relocate its headquarters in the ’70s, Wells says, “We were looking at Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, when we found out that there was a factory in Cynthiana that just closed. There was a skilled work force and an empty building, so Cynthiana had exactly what we needed, when we needed it.” As Harrison County’s second-largest employer, after 3M, Bullard has made a tremendous impact, according to Cynthiana Mayor James D. Smith. “They have always been active in the community and with the Chamber of Commerce,” Smith says. “Over the years, as they have grown, instead of moving the factory, they chose to stay here in Cynthiana, and we do appreciate that.” Bullard has several employees who have been there for 40 or more years, as well as several families with multiple family members on the team. “The people of Cynthiana and Harrison County are an amazing, dedicated workforce,” Wells says. “They are driven by our vision and what we are trying to do, which is advancing human safety. “They know that what they do makes a difference. They know that making that extra stitch or making something up to our quality standards can be the difference if someone goes home safely from their job.” Obviously, a company cannot stay in business for more than 120 years without a high-quality product, and Bullard takes pride in the testing, researching and quality control that goes into everything they make. “Our hard hats are only effective if someone is wearing them,” Wells says.
CAT FANS IN HATS
On Jan. 12, Bullard broke a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing hard hats at an event. This occasion was a celebration of the 100 years since E.W. Bullard invented the hat that has undoubtedly saved thousands of lives. If you happened to see the University of Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt men’s basketball game, the record was broken during halftime at Rupp Arena, when about 10,000 fans donned their free, UK logo-emblazoned, blue Bullard hard hats and kept them on for five minutes.
“If it is uncomfortable and the person takes it off to rub their temple, well, what if that is when something falls?” So in addition to protection, Bullard strives to make its products comfortable and stylish, too. “People want to look cool and feel confident when they work,” she says. “Think of the old-time science protective goggles. You just looked super nerdy. Now, you see eye protection, and it has some style to it. Safety still trumps style, but it isn’t like one excludes the other.” The same goes for Bullard fire helmets. In research, the company discovered its helmets are slightly heavier than the competition’s. “But the firefighters will take the few extra ounces of weight to have the look they want, a look that their grandfathers had,” Wells says. While Bullard proudly calls Cynthiana home, company employees are scattered around the globe. There are 15 employees working in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region and nearly 25 employees working throughout the U.S. and Canada. Just down the road in Lexington, the company recently opened the Bullard Center, home to about 40 employees. Moving these employees—who work in marketing, research and development, and other corporate functions— to Lexington frees up more space at the Cynthiana plant, allowing for a reconfiguration of its layout. Another bonus to the Lexington location is that Bullard has partnered with the University of Kentucky’s College of Engineering for collaboration on many levels. According to Kim Sayre, director of industry engagement at UK, Bullard has hired alumni from the College of Engineering and employs interns each semester. The company also taps into the knowledge and experience of faculty members when employees need technical training or expert advice. Bullard also is instrumental in the college’s capstone projects. For these projects, Bullard provides an idea or possibly a situation that it would like researched—along with an outline, details and parameters. Students can choose projects based on their interests or specialties. “These projects are not critical and are usually something that the engineers on staff might have to back-burner because they have to deal with things that are more urgent,” Sayre says. “Our students spend a semester or two looking at every angle, coming up with solutions, and gaining real-world engineering experience.” Wells says the students acquire problem-solving skills as well as those needed to sustain current products and develop new ones. She has identified specific segments of business—such as energy, mining, industrial blasting, government and pharmaceuticals—as areas where there is huge growth potential. “By targeting these specific industries, we can better understand their needs,” she says. “When we understand their problems, then we can focus on how to solve these problems for them with our products.” As Wells Bullard drives the company to meet and surpass the needs of clients and unravel work safety issues of the future, she is continuing down the path that her great-great-grandfather created 120 years ago. Q M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
35
By Brent Owen
Performing and Pies Husband-and-wife musicians take their act from the stage to the kitchen
36
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
O
ver the last two decades, Adam Turley and Sarah Balliet, the husband-and-wife team at the heart of the band Murder by Death, have been on a wild journey together. However, their journey began separately and very differently. Sarah, the elder sister of a brother named Max and the daughter of two public attorneys, switched from playing the piano to playing the cello upon her family’s arrival in Louisville from California. What made her decide on the cello? “Honestly, it was one of those things where they were like, ‘If you want to get out of class, you can go to the gym and sign up for orchestra’ type of things,” she said. “Short-term thinking,” Adam said, chuckling at the arbitrary choice his wife made in elementary school. He was raised in Detroit by an art-dealer father, who was always on the road, and an Italian-immigrant mother, who worked in human resources. They divorced when Adam was young. Adam’s childhood was spent celebrating creativity and the appreciation of art and music, growing up with priceless lithographs of famous artists hanging on his father’s wall. “It was from him that I learned you could make a living on the road,” Adam said. Things changed when his stepmother gave him her collection of vinyl, which included albums by artists like Iggy Pop, The Cure and David Bowie. Sarah’s journey with music was much more traditional, as she is a classically trained musician. Throughout middle school, she excelled in public school orchestras among kids who weren’t serious musicians but mostly were there so they didn’t have to be in gym—a sentiment she could appreciate, but it wasn’t pushing her enough. For high school, she auditioned and was accepted at Louisville’s Youth Performing Arts School, which had a more rigorous curriculum, with a primary focus on her study of the cello. “In high school, I had a teacher who would yell at us when we were being jerks, ‘This isn’t rock ’n’ roll!’ ” Sarah recalled with a smile. “And I remember thinking, ‘Damn! Maybe, it would be more fun if it was.’ ” In retrospect, Sarah said she misses playing in an orchestra but loves, even more, the music she’s making now. When Adam was 12 or 13 years old, he bought his first guitar for $20 from a friend’s mom with money he’d earned mowing lawns. He began teaching himself how to play, listening to those old records. Soon, he was regularly playing guitar with a friend. “Eventually, we needed a singer,” Adam said. “I was like, ‘I’ll give it a shot.’ ” Sarah began to question her rigid training, which encouraged musicians to remain in the proverbial box of the classical genre, when she heard the album Appalachia Waltz by Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer and Mark O’Connor. “It was the three of them reinterpreting Appalachian folk tunes,” she said of the album. “It opened my eyes to the fact that you can do anything you want when it comes to music. And just because I play the cello, it doesn’t mean I have to stay in one box. This is an open field.” The two musical strangers finally crossed paths at a house party during Sarah’s freshman year at Indiana University. Adam had started a band that would later become the framework for Murder by Death. He was discouraged the night he met Sarah because, after only one gig, both the band’s violinist and viola player had quit. Apparently, their instructors had banned them from playing rock ’n’ roll because it was ruining their traditional form. So, Sarah mentioned that she played the cello. “It took all of my strength to say that out loud,” she recalled of the
conversation. “Because I knew if I said it, I was going to have to show up and play with these guys. And they’ll be playing electric guitars!” “I really wanted strings in the band,” Adam said. “Besides the complexity and dynamic it adds to a band, I loved how theatrical it sounded—the drama of it all. So, she shaped the sound of the band in a huge way. If it hadn’t been for her, we would probably have morphed into something else.” Sarah came into the band with rigid, structured training. Adam was an improvisational, self-taught troubadour. Those two conflicting approaches to music seem to strike at the core of what continues to drive Murder by Death creatively. As wonderful a musician as she was, Sarah struggled initially. “If you listen to our early recordings, it sounds like I had just picked up the cello,” she said. “I was just so petrified. Being able to play whatever I want—it paralyzed me.” “I was in a band in high school,” Adam said. “So, I had a five-year jump on her when it came to writing. It really does come from a completely different part of the brain. It was not a tool she had in her toolbox yet.” “Oh, yeah,” she agreed. “I would just stick to the bass notes and try to hide back in the arrangement. It was a hard mold to break out of.” Eventually, as the band got its feet under it, they needed a name. They settled on Murder by Death, a brutal-sounding name that would better fit a thrash metal band, not a trippy, pseudo-alt-country band out of Indiana. “That’s what you get when you name a band when you’re 18 or 19 years old,” Adam said with a laugh. “It was that short-term thinking again. We were so young. We weren’t sure what the band was going to be, and we had no thoughts on longevity. We were just going to be a young band. We thought we might crisscross the country a few times, meet some of our favorite bands, and that would be it. “We all thought we were going to have to go back to college at some point,” Sarah said with a scoff. “We really did. We didn’t think this was going to be a career.” As the band was coming together, Sarah and Adam found chemistry and attraction to one another. The day after their first gig, they went out on their first date. From that moment on, as the band grew, so did their relationship. They played countless early shows in dormitory lobbies, crowded house parties and empty bars. Soon, the band began to find its rhythm, and in 2003, it released its debut album, Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them? The title lifted the tagline from the classic horror film Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The release was a concept album about the Devil waging war on a small Mexican border town. While it didn’t set the world on fire in sales, the album did receive positive reviews from critics. “We started getting gigs opening for bands that came to town. Then we started getting booked outside of Bloomington, and then all of a sudden, these really big bands were calling wanting us to open for them on a whole tour,” Adam said. “It just all kind of snowballed. Nineteen years later, we’re still here. Now, it’s a bigger, better version.” The lineup has changed some over the years, but Adam and Sarah’s partnership has remained the driving force for the band. At one point, Murder by Death was touring relentlessly, on the road 200-plus nights a year. “That really was the toughest time in our relationship,” Adam recalled. “When you’re on the road together that much, you are, in a very literal sense, with one another every waking minute of
Opposite, top left, Pizza Lupo restaurant in Louisville; top right, Murder by Death on stage; below, musicians and restaurateurs Sarah Balliet and Adam Turley
M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
37
every single day. There is definitely a thing as too much time together.” “A lot of people think our dynamic is strange,” Sarah said. “In a lot of ways, though, it’s the only thing we’ve ever known. This is how it’s been since I was 18 years old. We’re also really good at communicating with one another—just saying, ‘Hey, I need some time to myself right now.’ ” After years of relentless touring and developing a loyal fan base, Murder by Death has found sustainable success— with their music appearing in films and on television, consistent album sales, and the band opening concerts for their idols while selling out shows of their own in clubs across the country. The band even hosts an annual weekend getaway, performing each night in the ballroom of The Stanley Hotel, the Colorado hotel that inspired Stephen King’s book The Shining. In August 2017, the energetic couple took on a new adventure—this time bringing Sarah’s brother, Max, into the action—when they opened the doors of Pizza Lupo. “We’ve always been passionate about food,” Sarah said of their decision to take on a new project. “Getting to travel all over the world, we’ve been spoiled. This was always a ‘What if?’ or a ‘Someday …’ thing for us.” She and Max, who also is a musician, had remained close. When she was home for the holidays, the siblings spent their time catching up over cooking, while dreaming of opening a restaurant together. “After enough talking about it, it was finally, like, ‘OK, when are we just going to do this?’ ” Sarah said. Max had spent his career working his way up through kitchens since he was 16. He ran Louisville’s Holy Mole food truck, and his soft-shell crab tacos once made Food Network Magazine’s list of the top tacos in the country. Max was ready to partner up with Sarah and Adam for a brick and mortar of his own.
38
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
“With all of our experience in various aspects of the business, it seemed possible,” Adam said. So, they dumped their life savings into the new dream, Pizza Lupo, acquiring a mid19th century brick building in Louisville’s Butchertown area to house their venture. Max could run the kitchen and develop the menu. Adam had the renovation experience to remodel the structure, and Sarah took over the paperwork and staffing the new business. “Every step of this has been way harder than we expected,” Adam said with a smile. “It’s our passion. It’s been a massive undertaking but totally worth it.” It was clear to Adam, Sarah and Max early on that pizza was the restaurant concept about which they were passionate. So, the three of them took trips to Rome and New York to taste various kinds of pizza in the pursuit of a decision on what type they wanted their restaurant to serve. “We ate stupid amounts of pizza,” Sarah said with a groan. “We went to 14 pizza places in three days on a trip to New York,” Adam added. “And 10 in three days in Rome.” They landed on a traditional Neapolitan style. Though food is their passion, Adam and Sarah have no plans to stay put in Louisville running a restaurant. The Murder by Death train soldiers on, which means they are eager to do less hands-on work in the restaurant. When they first opened the doors, Sarah was working 80-hour weeks to keep all of the proverbial balls in the air. “Once we were able to figure out what we needed,” Sarah said of their early learning curve, “I was able to hire the help we needed, and I can step back a little. I’ve found there’s still so much work to do without even stepping foot in the restaurant.” One place the couple has always been hands-off at Pizza Lupo is the kitchen, where Max runs the show. “I stay out it,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “He does a great job. We’re all creative people, and there’s a point when you don’t want to hear someone tell you how to play your cello part. You know what I mean?” Now that the restaurant is up and running, the band is thriving as always. It’s hard not to wonder if maybe another restaurant might be the next move for them. For Sarah and Adam, there’s an easy answer to that question. “We put everything we had into opening this restaurant,” Adam said. “We’re a mom-and-pop place; we don’t have a bunch of investors. We can’t do this again.” “Oh, God, no!” Sarah said. “I think it’s like childbirth— it’s too soon. I still remember the pain.” No matter what their next adventure might be, I think it’s safe to say, they will be going on it together. Q
If You Go: Pizza Lupo, 1540 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville | 502.409.8440 | pizzalupo.com
Pizza Lupo Chef Max Balliet
M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
39
CULTURE
Off the Shelf
Personal Prose The People Up the Holler By Roger L. Guffey, CreateSpace Independent Publishing , $14.99 (P)
Roger Guffey devoted many successful years to his profession as a high school math teacher in Lexington, and he still teaches on the college level part-time. In past years, readers of the Lexington Herald-Leader have become accustomed to his well-written, occasional op-eds concerning significant current issues. Most recently, Guffey has published a collection of 21 short stories called The People Up the Holler, and he demonstrates a quite credible ability to show and tell effectively. That might be fostered by his words ringing authentic and moving, inspired by growing up in rural Wayne County. Guffey knows the land, and he knows the voice of the people. His sharing of such makes his narratives compelling. A personal memoir about his fascination for the forest, “Trees I have Known,” reveals a keen observational sense of the natural world and a vivid memory of childhood wonderment. Those elements run throughout his stories. The haunting nature of “The Road to Damascus” creates a nail-biting curiosity that ends with irony. Guffey proves he can tell a story from the point of view of a bee and knows the mind of a wooly worm. After reading his prose, you can imagine what it must have like sitting in his classroom. — STEVE FLAIRTY
Mysteries and More Muddied Waters: Kentucky Summers 2 (Vol. 1) By Tim Callahan, CreateSpace Independent Publishing, $15 (P)
Tim Callahan’s continuation of his Kentucky Summers series and Timmy’s adventures with the Wolf Pack return with a blast in Muddied Waters: Kentucky Summers 2. On his first day of high school, Timmy has a conflict with his teacher over the treatment of another student that lands him in dentation. Later in the week, that same student, Sam, doesn’t show up for class, leaving Timmy worried about Sam’s home situation. Taking his fears to the principal and his family doesn’t make him feel like he is helping Sam, so he decides to seek assistance from the Wolf Pack. Along with a newly formed girls’ group, the Bear Troop, the Wolf Pack sets off wading down the creek to the quarry and back. It’s a day of fun until they find a dead body in the water at the quarry and discover evidence of murder. Soon, Timmy and the Wolf Pack are in danger when they are threatened by strangers who might be the murderers. Timmy is still worried about the missing Sam and eventually discovers his whereabouts. He must decide how he is going to get involved in the Sam situation and what risks he is willing to take. Sam’s life may hang in the balance, the murderers are on the loose, high school is still a maze, and grown-up questions plague Timmy in this first volume of Muddied Waters: Kentucky Summers 2. — LAURA KELLERSBERGER
40
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
River City Tragedy Louisville’s Alma Kellner Mystery By Shawn M. Herron, The History Press, $21.99 (P)
In what has been called “a crime that shook a city,” Louisville lawyer/author Shawn M. Herron has painstakingly researched the heart-wrenching, riveting story of the 1909 brutal murder of 8-yearold Alma Kellner near St. John’s Church in Louisville. To Herron’s credit, Louisville’s Alma Kellner Mystery reads like it happened only yesterday, with good journalistic reporting today. Herron’s degree in English and her work as a public attorney in safety law—along with her obvious passion—were effective preparations for penning the 144page book. She spares little in describing the grisly details of the killing. In the account, Herron relates how Louisville policeman John Carney traveled 11,000 miles across America following leads to apprehend the chief suspect, Joseph Wendling. The author provides no paucity of photos and sketches of the proceedings involving the crime investigation, and she places her personal thoughts and feelings aside, allowing the reader to process the information. A detailed bibliography, largely citing reporting from Louisville’s Courier-Journal, provides an easily accessible path for those who’d like to immerse themselves more deeply into the story. — STEVE FLAIRTY
(P)-Paperback (C)-Clothbound (H)-Hardback
Meaningful Messages Follow Your Dreams: A Novel
Repaying a Kindness
A Musical Ride
By Larry B.Gildersleeve, Larry B. Gildersleeve, $11.48 (P)
River to Redemption By Ann H. Gabhart, Revell, $25.99 (H)
Action Unlimited: The Band of Gold – A Kentucky Band’s Musical Journey to the Edge of Stardom
Set in familiar Kentucky locations, Follow Your Dreams: A Novel, the sequel to Larry Gildersleeve’s debut novel, Dancing Alone Without Music, is a tale of love, loss, challenges and hard work. The story of protagonist Jo, a successful entrepreneur and woman of color, is inspiring. Gildersleeve relates the narrative through Jo’s interactions with coworkers, mentors, friends and people she hardly knows, and sends the message that hard work, honesty and dedication to others clearly pay off. A few plot twists and surprises carry the story, but the references to journaling and the importance of recording interesting quotes and the lessons learned from them give the reader some important takeaways. Interesting characters and scenes in Bowling Green and Versailles help the reader to relate to this Kentucky-based story. Born in Tennessee, Gildersleeve was raised in Kentucky and Virginia and makes Bowling Green his home. A graduate of Western Kentucky University and Indiana Wesleyan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and an MBA.
In a compelling historical fiction novel by Kentucky’s own Ann H. Gabhart, readers are taken back to Springfield in 1833, the time of a dreadful cholera epidemic that took many lives. Adria is a little girl orphaned by the disease who is nursed back to health by Louis, a slave. Louis helps many in the town by burying the dead and nursing others. He connects Adria with Ruth, a widow who agrees to raise the little girl. Louis and Adria remain friends throughout the years, and it is through this friendship that Adria comes to understand the true meaning of freedom. As an adult, her fondest wish is to buy freedom for the man who had rescued her years before. Gabhart of Anderson County has written more than 30 books, including These Healing Hills, Angel Sister, several novels based on Kentucky’s Shaker community and the three-book Heart of Hollyhill series. — DEBORAH KOHL KREMER
By Dewey Pope, Acclaim Press, $24.95
Capturing the budding scene of rock ’n’ roll in the 1960s in Kentucky, author Dewey Pope recounts his years with the band Action Unlimited. A Winchester native, Pope formed the band along with other young men from central Kentucky. They took their act on the road, playing any place that would have them. Action Unlimited got its first break playing at the Richmond club Speck’s, which in later years would become known as The Family Dog. The young musicians caught the eye of someone from the Dick Clark organization and acquired a manager who took them to the West Coast. Action Unlimited was booked into the most happening spots, and the members had some interesting adventures along the way. This book is a fun read. It covers just a few short years of the band, but what formative years they were. — DEBORAH KOHL KREMER
— DEBORAH KOHL KREMER
M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
41
For the Love of Birds
Amateur Discoveries
Feathers of Fayette: Wild Birds of Lexington, Kentucky
Points By Lenny Shulman, Southpaw Publications, $14.99 (P)
By Bob Willcutt, Acclaim Press, 39.95 (H)
Combining his love of photography and bird watching, Bob Willcutt has published a hardback, coffee-table book that gives excellent insight into both. This 200-plus-page book highlights the amazing varieties of birds found in Fayette County. From sparrows to wrens to a majestic bald eagle spotted in Jacobson Park—so many species are right here in our own backyards. Willcutt’s sharp, detailed photographs feature closeups of birds in both perched and flying mode, showing off their exquisite colors as well as the texture of their feathers and sharpness of their talons. For photography buffs, Willcutt includes information on which camera he used to get the shot, along with the settings. This is first book for Willcutt, who is probably best known as owner of Willcutt Guitars in Lexington, which has been in business since 1979. — DEBORAH KOHL KREMER
Dan Henry has a pretty nice gig. He’s a sports guy doing a documentary film for a major sports network on the University of Connecticut’s great men’s college basketball team. He’s also an investigative reporter, and he puts those skills in motion after someone unmistakably runs his car off the road. That, he figures, has something to do with word getting out about his discoveries as he closely observes the UConn program. There looks to be a whole lot of fixin’ going on—the kind from which gamblers can profit. Though the hoops team keeps winning, the point spread at the end of games often seems a bit odd for such a dominating team. Lenny Shulman, a former TV and film writer in Hollywood and now with Bloodhorse magazine in Lexington, has written a fast-paced novel revealing the evil underbelly of “amateur” sports, when character-challenged individuals swoop in to enrich themselves illegally. Shulman resides in the tiny rural community of Nonesuch in Woodford County and takes good care of his dogs, which he says “have taught me spirit.” — STEVE FLAIRTY
Residential and nonresidential camps for high-ability, high-interest youth Camp Explore (June 3–7) Students completing grades 1–3
VAMPY (June 23–July 13) Students completing grades 7–10
SCATS (June 9–21) Students completing grades 6–8
Camp Innovate (July 8–12) Students completing grades 3–5
Applications available now at wku.edu/gifted Phone: 270-745-6323 Email: gifted@wku.edu
42
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
TRAVEL
KTIA Signature Spring Events ach quarter, the Kentucky Travel Industry Association spotlights E Signature Events for the season. Following
featured at booths. Plus, artisans will host quilting workshops and demonstrations.
is a sample of the state’s prime activities for the spring season.
GypsyMoon Marketplace, April 26-27, Highland Stables, Bowling Green, gypsymoonmarketplace.com. Highland Stables hosts possibly the largest barn sale in south-central Kentucky. The marketplace features more than 80 vendors, live music, food, giveaways and more.
Forkland Pie Supper and Spaghetti Dinner, March 16, Forkland Community Center, Gravel Switch, forklandcomctr.org. Traditional fundraising events for early rural schools, pie suppers featured homemade pies that were sold at auction. The Forkland Pie Supper starts with a delicious spaghetti dinner followed by an auction of all types of scrumptious pies. Everyone is encouraged to donate a pie. Brunch with the Babies, April 6-7, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, (859) 7345411, shakervillageky.org. Enjoy a kid-friendly buffet brunch—either in the Trustees’ Table restaurant or on the Trustees’ Lawn—and then get a hands-on introduction to the newest additions to our farm family, including lambs, kids, chicks and much more. Hay rides and a craft tent add to the fun. Hillbilly Days, April 11-13, various locations, Pikeville, (606) 432-5063, hillbillydays.com. These festive three days are brimming with fun, including great festival food, live music, a carnival, car show, parade, moonshine tasting, fireworks show and more. It is billed as “The Festival with a Heart,” since proceeds benefit Shriners Hospital for Children in Lexington. Redbud Ride, April 13, London, redbudride. com. This annual bicycle ride begins in beautiful downtown London and stretches throughout the surrounding areas. The route passes through some of the most scenic areas of Kentucky filled with blooming redbud trees. This ride is a must-do for cycling enthusiasts, professionals and amateurs alike. Easter at the Trace, April 14, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, (502) 696-5930, buffalotracedistillery.com. Be sure to register online beginning March 14 for this “eggciting” event for children and parents. Search for thousands of treat-filled eggs, and enjoy refreshments and photos with the Easter Bunny. All activities are complimentary. Redbud Fest Arts & Crafts Fair and Quilting Workshops, April 19, Barbourville, (606) 546-3447. Some of southeastern Kentucky’s finest artisans and quilters are
Explore
Hands Four Spring Dance, April 26-28, Russel Acton Folk Center, Berea, (859) 9867584, hands4-berea.com. This dancefilled weekend features live bands, such as Buddy System and Wake Up Robin, and includes a day of workshops on the waltz, contra dance, English country dance and more. Wilderness Trail’s “A Taste of Danville,” April 27, Wilderness Trail Distillery, Danville, (859) 402-8707, wildernesstrailky.com. Join the folks at Wilderness Trail Distillery to sample food from area restaurants and, of course, some fine Kentucky bourbon. Mother’s Day Brunch at the Vineyard, May 12, Farmer & Frenchman Winery & Café, Robards, (270) 827-0016, downtownhenderson.org. Celebrate Mom’s special day with delicious cuisine, live music, mini horses from Healing Reins, and art activities for kids. Plus, photo opportunities for families will be available to help treasure the memories. Lower Town Arts & Music Festival, May 17-18, Lower Town neighborhood, Paducah, lowertownamf.com. Now in its 10th year, this outdoor regional event boasts 90-100 booths of artists and food. Attendees can enjoy a beer-and-wine tent, an interactive children’s pavilion, and two stages of live music. Glendale SpringFest, May 18, Glendale, (270) 369-6188, glendalekentucky.com. Each spring, this small town is transformed into a sea of antiques, handmade crafts, gift items and food. There is live music in the park and a plethora of food vendors from which to choose.
The Kentucky Travel Industry Association names its Signature Events four times a year. To be eligible, festivals or events must be recommended or produced by a KTIA member. A panel of impartial judges selects the winners for each season.
For more information, phone (502) 223-8687, email info@ktia.com or visit KTIA.com. Illustration by Annette Cable.
M A R C H 2 0 1 8 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
43
OUTDOORS
Field Notes
Catch-andRelease Time BY GARY GARTH Casey Creek in Trigg County is one of the 15 streams managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources as a seasonal catch-and-release trout stream. Photo by Gary Garth
I
f you’d like to enjoy some stream trout fishing in fairly uncrowded surroundings, now is the time to go. You actually have until March 31 to visit 14 streams. There is one creek in the state, although relatively isolated, where the action runs through May 31. These are waters managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (fw.ky.gov) as seasonal catch-and-release trout streams. They are relatively cool, clear, clean, free-flowing and mostly wadable waters that will support trout, especially during the winter months. Each of the waters gets a generous stocking of trout (all get rainbow trout, and a few are stocked with rainbows and browns) in October. They aren’t stocked again until April, but from Oct. 1 through March 31, the regulations for trout fishing are catch and release, artificial lures only. By March, the fish that survive (wildlife officials acknowledge some poaching, although it’s impossible to measure how many fish are lost to illegal taking and how many succumb naturally) have grown wily and aren’t as susceptible to a well-placed fly to lure as a fresh stocker. It’s fun fishing. The streams generally see fairly heavy pressure in October, but as winter deepens, angling action falls off. March is still catch and release, which keeps meat fishermen away until April, when statewide regulations are in force. The exception to the October through March catch-andrelease season is an 8-mile stretch of Wolfe County’s Swift Camp Creek that is located within the Clifty Wilderness Area (fs.usda.gov/recarea/dbnf/recarea/?recid=39460) of the Red River Gorge. The catch-and-release trout season on Swift Camp runs through May 31. Although the regulations limit anglers to artificial lure catch-and-release, fly or conventional tackle is allowed and multi-point hook lures (i.e., a Mepps or similar inline spinner with a treble hook) are also legal. No bait is allowed. If conditions allow, work downstream and stay out of the water as much as possible. Fish pools and tailout areas thoroughly. When fly fishing during late-season catch-andrelease, I generally use a 5x or 6x fluorocarbon tippet and a size 14 or 16 beaded soft-hackle Hare’s Ear or similar searching pattern. A beaded San Juan worm is also effective. If you’re not getting an occasional strike, slow down and work the fly closer to the streambed. With spinning gear, I use an ultralight spooled with 4-pound test line and small silver spoon (I replace the treble hook with a long shank single hook to reduce hangups) or a Mepps single hook in size #0 and #1. Unless license exempt, you will need a state fishing license. The new license year begins March 1. Aside from the Cumberland River tailwater, a trout stamp is not required unless trout are kept. Licenses may be purchased
online at the state game agency website, at most sporting good outlets, and at most county clerk offices. Now that you’re rigged up, here’s where to go for lateseason catch-and-release trout: Bark Camp Creek, Whitley County – about four miles of this pretty creek are managed under seasonal catch-andrelease trout regulations. Beaver Creek, Wayne County – from the Hwy. 90 bridge upstream to the highway 200 bridge, a run of about 2.8 miles. Big Bone Creek, Boone County – roughly 2 miles of water located inside the Big Bone Lick State Historic Site (parks.ky.gov/parks/historicsites/big-bone-lick). Cane Creek, Laurel County – approximately 6.6 miles of the creek are managed under seasonal catch-and-release regulations. Casey Creek, Trigg County – the westernmost trout water in the Commonwealth. About 3.6 miles of the stream are under October-March catch-and-release regulations. Clear Creek, Bell County – from the Hwy. 190 bridge downstream to the mouth, a run of about 4.5 miles. East Fork, Indian Creek – roughly 5.3 miles of water in Menifee County. Elk Spring Creek, Wayne County. Floyds Fork, Jefferson County – within the Parkland of Floyds Fork, about a 3-mile run. Left Fork, Beaver Creek, Floyd County – about 3.6 miles upstream from the Hwy. 122 bridge. Middle Fork Red River, Powell County – this 2.2-mile section of the Red’s middle fork is within Natural Bridge State Park (parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/natural-bridge). Otter Creek, Meade County – approximately 9.7 miles bordering the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area (fw. ky.gov/Pages/Otter-Creek-Outdoor-Recreation-Area.aspx) and including a section of the creek on the Ft. Knox Military Reservation. Rock Creek, McCreary County – a run of nearly 10 miles from the Bell Farm bridge upstream to the Tennessee state line. Trammel Creek, Allen County – about 4.4 miles upstream from the mouth of Little Trammel Creek. These waters are managed under statewide regulations April through September. Most also flow through private property. Ask before accessing. For more information about the seasonal catch-andrelease trout program, go to fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/ Recreational-Fishing.aspx. Share photos of your catch at editor@kentuckymonthly.com. Submitted photos must include the angler’s name and a phone number.
Readers may contact Gary Garth at editor@kentuckymonthly.com
44
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
OUTDOORS
Brush Up on Your “Hort” Vocabulary
Gardening
early afternoon. Hydrangeas, azaleas, amsonia, etc. are among plants that do well in part shade. A plant described as a shade plant can tolerate a situation with almost no direct sunlight and will be an unhappy camper if placed in direct sunlight in the afternoon. Hostas, for example, will scorch in direct afternoon sun; hydrangeas will wilt unless heavily watered.
BY WALT REICHERT
HOW HARDY? Plant tags should describe a plant’s hardiness zone adaptability. The United States is divided into 13 hardiness zones, with zone 1 being the frigid north in Alaska and 13 being Hawaii, where temperatures rarely drop below 60 degrees Farhrenheit. Kentucky has two zones, with most of us living in zone 6a or 6b, while a small swath of far western Kentucky is in the warmer zone 7. You want to buy plants that are hardy at least to zone 6, and hardy to zone 5 would be better. Plants hardy to zone 5 will more easily weather the occasional frigid temperatures that accompany those “polar vortexes” or whatever clever ANNUAL, BIENNIAL AND PERENNIAL— name meteorologists have concocted to describe occasional KNOW THE DIFFERENCE blasts of Arctic air. An annual plant completes its life cycle in one year. It If you buy tomato plants this spring, two other words blooms, goes to seed and dies. Examples are zinnias, you ought to familiarize yourself with are “determinate” and marigolds, petunias and almost all vegetables. Some annuals “indeterminate.” A determinate tomato will stay for a will do what is called “self-sow,” which means they will relatively short period of time and produce most of its fruit send up seedlings every year to replace themselves, in effect in one setting. These are great for folks who want a bunch becoming like perennials. (That can be good or bad—some of tomatoes coming in at one time for processing. self-sowing annuals can become a weedy nuisance.) Determinate tomatoes are also good choices for container Biennials have a two-year life cycle. They produce planting because the plants don’t get out of bounds. vegetation the first year, then flower and go to seed the Indeterminate tomato plants keep growing all summer second year. Many vegetable plants—including carrots, and can be 6 feet or more by season’s end. They tend to cabbage and beets—are biennials. Foxglove and hollyhock produce over a long period and are probably the better are among flowers that are biennials. choice for those who want a few tomatoes but over a longer Perennials last more than two years in the garden, and season. Most heirloom tomatoes are indeterminate. some, such as peonies, can last 100 years or more. Daylilies, Gardeners who want a long season of tomatoes but also hostas, roses, phlox and ornamental grasses are among the want to can or freeze might opt for a combination of many perennials that are described as herbaceous, meaning determinate and indeterminate tomato plants. they have soft, above-ground stems. Trees and shrubs are described as “woody perennials.” PESTICIDES Many gardeners avoid using herbicides to kill weeds, but SUN OR SHADE? if you do use them, you need to be careful about what you Other hort terms you will encounter on plant tags are buy. Two terms—“selective” and “total kill”—are important. “full sun,” “part shade” or “full shade.” Sometimes those Selective herbicides will kill some types of plants but not qualities are depicted with little symbols instead of words. others. For example, products containing 2,4-D will kill Those might seem easy and obvious, but gardeners need broadleaf plants but not grasses. They typically are used on to understand what they mean for growing plants in lawns to control chickweed, dandelions, etc. You also can Kentucky. They have different meanings in other parts of buy herbicides that can be used in flower beds, killing the country. grassy weeds but leaving your flowers unscathed. (They Take full sun, for example. In Northern climes, that tend to be expensive.) pretty much means the plant will perform best in full sun Total-kill herbicides do exactly what the name implies: all day long. In Kentucky, however, at least six to eight They kill everything they touch. Herbicides containing hours of sunlight would be considered full sun. Because the glyphosate are total-kill herbicides. They have to be used late afternoons are usually the hottest times of the day, a carefully in areas where you want to kill weeds but leave full-sun plant that gets some late afternoon shade in desirable plants alone. Avoid using them on windy or hot Kentucky is going to thrive. days. When in doubt, read the label. A plant described as part shade can usually get by with In fact, even if you think you know what you’re doing, three-four hours of sunlight, preferably in the morning or read the label.
H
orticulture, like any profession or line of work, has its own special terms, words and lingo that the gardener needs to master to navigate successfully the options available in the garden centers this spring. When it comes to picking the right plant for the right spot in your garden or the right chemical to control the right pests, knowing how to translate the special “hort words” on the labels and plant tags is important. Here is a much-abridged horticulture vocab lesson that may help you get through the spring selection season:
Readers may contact Walt Reichert at editor@kentuckymonthly.com M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
45
VOICES
Past Tense/Present Tense
Mentoring BY BILL ELLIS
O
f Greek origin, the word mentor is defined by the fifth edition of The American Heritage Dictionary as “a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.” I pity people who have not had good mentors or have chosen the wrong ones. The mentors in my life have always come along at the right time and place. I cannot blame them in any way for my foibles and failures. Family members are usually our first important mentors. My mother and father doted on me, I reckon, because I was an only child. My grandparents also spoiled me to some extent. I had unconditional love from all of them. I was taught to work with my hands by my father, who owned a welding shop in Shelbyville. I learned to weld, braze, solder, garden, raise a small tobacco crop, and mow grass. As a youngster, I followed Pop around like a puppy. One of my first memories is holding high a kerosene lantern for him at the Kentucky Utilities Gas Plant in Danville while he finished some concrete late one evening. I was maybe about 4 years old at the most, because he soon went into the United States Army. I grew tired, and the lantern slipped. He always recalled my exact words: “Pop, I can’t hold the lantern anymore. My arms are tired.” “That’s OK, Buck,” he said. “I’m about finished. You can set the lantern down.” My mother was barely 5 feet tall and was the disciplinarian in the family. She always told the story of when we lived in a small, rented, white frame house in Danville in the early 1940s across from Centre College. One day in the little basement of the house, which was really only a large coal bin, one of the cars I was playing with fell over. “Well, I’ll be a som-a-beech,” I shouted. She heard these words and first was inclined to dart down the steps and spank me. However, she thought about it for a moment 46
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Thomas D. Clark
and then started laughing, knowing from whom I had heard such language. I bet Pop got a talking-to that evening. My grandparents, aunts and uncles were the same type of fun-loving, hard-working country people, having grown up on tenant farms. I have scant photos of them but do have a picture of my granddaddy, William P. Ellis, standing in a tobacco field, almost hidden by the tall plants. My granddaddy Tyler Stratton was more playful, something of a trickster. Once, when I was about 12 or 13, I was with him on his farm on Buzzard Roost in Shelby County while he was working—cutting hay, perhaps. On a water break, he issued a challenge. “I bet you can’t catch me,” he said and took off running across the field. By then, he was already in his mid-60s. Much to my chagrin, I never could catch him. As soon as I would just about touch him, he would race off again, then return to his beloved team of Kate, the mule, and Dolly, the white Belgian horse. I had many good teachers in grade school and high school. Some of them were pretty tough but mentored me well. I did not always make the best of grades. My fourthgrade teacher, George Ann Carpenter, remarked at the conclusion of one six-week period: “Billy is capable of doing better work. He is too interested in outside activities.” (Surely, I was not beginning to notice girls. You think?) Shelbyville High School Principal Elmo Head and Coaches Irvin “Puss” Greenwell, Norman Deeb, Allie Kays and John Walters all ran good programs and gave students leadership roles and chances to make mistakes as well as excel. At Georgetown College, I majored in history and physical education and played football. Coach Bob Davis was a taskmaster (just ask one of his former players in
either basketball or football) and toughened me up. During one particularly tough losing football season, I made a C in English history under Professor Horace Hambrick. As our relationship grew in later years, I kidded Professor Hambrick that owing to the fact that I had made an A on the final, he should have at least raised my grade to a B-. We always had a good laugh as he said he would never do such a thing. In his classes and those of Carl Fields, I grew to love the study of history. Within weeks of graduating from Georgetown College with a wife and a baby daughter to support, I had applied for some positions and somehow got the head coaching job at Harrodsburg High School. As I have said before, I was so wet behind the ears my shirt collar was soggy all the time. Roy Camic became principal just before school started that year, and as I recall, we had already started football practice. “Mr. Camic” was a World War II and Korean War Army veteran and a real disciplinarian at a school that needed tightening up. Aggie Sale, an NCAA All-American on one of Adolph Rupp’s University of Kentucky basketball teams, was in his last year of teaching, having already retired from successfully coaching basketball at Harrodsburg for many years. If I wanted to know anything about any student, their families or anyone in the county, he knew them all. He was also a great storyteller, and I have kicked myself many times for not recording his stories. What great mentors both Camic and Sale were. Then, I went off to Shelby County for three years to teach and coach. There, I also got some good mentoring from Principal Bruce Sweeney and Arnold Thurman, who served as my only assistant coach for two years. Both of these men knew the county, the families and the realities of my situation in a school that was only in its third year of football when I arrived in 1963, still somewhat of a kid in my mid-20s. If you like someone as much as I liked Mr. Sweeney, as he was called, you joke with them occasionally. Late one afternoon in a faculty meeting, he said he liked the school window shades to be pulled down to a halfway level, which to him denoted a neat school building. He said he noticed that every morning as he pulled into the school, which fronted on U.S. 60. I winked to a friend. We both stayed late and went through every classroom that faced the highway, pulling the shades at varying levels. We acted innocently enough, but I could tell by Mr. Sweeney’s face that he suspected who the culprits were, although he never said anything. I imagine he thought of the young faculty members like me as just about as frivolous as the students. At 26, I retired from coaching. I have told the tale many times that the sign of a good football coach is to win more than 200 games in a career. After four years of coaching, I figured that at the rate I was going, it would take me 100 years to accomplish that number, so I decided to try another profession and concentrate on teaching history. I attended an eight-week symposium in 1965 for highschool history teachers at Eastern Kentucky State College, which became Eastern Kentucky University the following year. I entered the brand-new master of arts in history program, directed by George Robinson. On my first semester seminar paper, Robinson noted, “Good development of ideas and well organized. We have to work on writing style, but little else.” I got an A- and all the encouragement I needed to finish my M.A. that year with a
thesis entitled “The Kentucky Evolution Controversy” about the early 1920s in the Commonwealth. With only an M.A. in history and with the teaching market narrowing, I took a job at Lees Junior College in Jackson in the fall of 1967 as a replacement for Casey Morton, who went off for more study at UK. President Troy Eslinger, Casey, Frazier Adams and others on the faculty helped me adjust to a new environment. While at Lees, I began working on a doctorate in history at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Richard Lowitt, a New York City native newly arrived at UK, became my major professor and dissertation director. We were a somewhat odd pair: he being from the Big Apple and me a small-town Kentucky boy. But we hit it off, and he guided me through the process of obtaining a Ph.D. in history. We kept up over the years by mail and email and had similar interests in agricultural history. I was saddened to learn that he died last year. In the fall of 1970, I returned to EKU to teach in the Social Science Department. These were the years when President Bob Martin ruled the university with an iron hand. Frankly, I found him to be jovial on most occasions and helpful to me as a young faculty member. Dixie Mylum, with her kindly manner and moderate Southern accent, helped me adjust to teaching. She was a lifelong friend of my mother and a staunch member of the Baptist Women’s Missionary Union. I had great fun with her, often mispronouncing “warshed” so that she could correct me. After a few years at EKU, my old mentor George Robinson invited me to join the Department of History. I had come full circle and enjoyed more than 20 years teaching American history survey courses, American intellectual and social history courses, and others, as well as developing oral history programs. I concentrated on collecting oral histories of individuals, with the support of EKU and the Kentucky Oral History Commission. Such projects included interviewing EKU alumni and retired faculty, the Carl D. Perkins Oral History Project, the Kentucky River Project, the Walter Tevis Project and others. Thomas D. Clark, without question our state’s most renowned historian, retired from UK around the time I enrolled as a student. He later came to EKU for one year as a visiting scholar and professor. I walked into his office on the EKU campus one day, and we struck up a friendship that I will value for the rest of my life. He became a mentor in the best sense of the word and spirit, suggesting research topics and inspiring me to write a biography of Robert Worth Bingham and A History of Education in Kentucky. Younger folks can also mentor us older people. I have to credit two people for their inspiration in my life—my daughter Eva, who for some years suffered from epileptic seizures and is now a special education teacher, and her son, Andrew, who has cerebral palsy. Their courage and determination are much greater than mine. They have taught me patience in the face of adversity. I trust you have had similar individuals in your life, whether a parent, coach, teacher or someone who mentored you in the armed forces. If I make it to the end of the month, I will celebrate the 20th anniversary of having a severe heart attack, 20 percent heart damage and bypass heart surgery. Since the end of March 1999, I have been blessed to witness the maturing of five grandchildren and the births of two great-grandkids. I hope I can be a good mentor to them all. Readers may contact Bill Ellis at editor@kentuckymonthly.com
M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
47
CALENDAR
Let’s Go
9
March SUNDAY
MONDAY
Ongoing Ongoing Ralph HERstory Steadman: A Quilts Exhibit, Retrospective, National Quilt UK Art Museum, Museum, Lexington, Paducah, through through May 5, April 9, (859) 257-5716 (270) 442-8856
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
1. Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Opera Theatre: Clay Bodies: 1919 World Owensboro Madama Moving Champion Reds Art Guild Butterfly, Through Exhibit, Juried Singletary Center Ceramics, Behringer Exhibition, for the Arts, KMAC Museum, Crawford Museum, Owensboro Lexington, Louisville, Covington, Museum of Fine through March 2, through April 7, Art, through April through March 31, (859) 257-4929 (502) 589-0102 12, (270) 685-3181 (859) 491-4003
3.
10.
Kit Donahue, Boone County Public Library, Florence, (859) 342-2665
18.
Don Krekel Orchestra, The Caravan, Louisville, also April 15, (502) 459-0022
0
To Kill a Mockingbird, The Grand Theatre, Frankfort, (502) 352-7469
2.
Comedy Pet Theater, Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, Bowling Green, (270) 904-1880
8.
9.
14.
15.
16.
21.
22.
23.
28.
29.
30.
Carrie Newcomer, Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, (859) 236-4692
Steep Canyon Rangers, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, Owensboro, (270) 926-7891
Storytelling Kentucky Kentucky Weekend, Crafted Derby Festival Cumberland Falls Market, Unveiled, Mellwood Art & State Resort Park, Kentucky Horse Corbin, through Park, Lexington, Entertainment March 17, through March 17, Center, Louisville (606) 528-4121 (502) 892-3126
St. Patrick’s Day
24.
SATURDAY
7.
Brighten Up the Landscape with Perennials, Boone County Extension Center, Burlington, (859) 586-6101
1
Travis Tritt, Lexington Opera House, Lexington, (859) 233-4567
17.
FRIDAY
25.
Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, (606) 324-0007
19.
Winter Tree ID Workshop, Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, (502) 241-4788
20.
Legends Series: Zoe Speaks, For King and Bourbon Glema Mahr Center Country, The Masters, for the Arts, Carson Center, Kentucky Derby Madisonville, Paducah, Museum, (270) 824-8650 (270) 908-2037 Louisville, (502) 637-1111
Oak Ridge Wine Barrel Kentucky Boys, Mountain Tasting for the Derby Festival Arts Center, Springs, various Spring Fashion Prestonsburg, locations in central Show, (606) 886-2623 Kentucky, Horseshoe (859) 272-0682 Southern Indiana, Elizabeth, Indiana
31.
2
Chicago: The Musical, EKU Center for the Arts, Richmond, (859) 622-7469
48
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Our state’s largest single annual event, the Kentucky Derby Festival, kicks off this month! March Festival happenings are denoted with a Pegasus icon. Our April issue will feature a comprehensive 2019 Kentucky Derby Festival Official Schedule of Events.
More to explore online! Visit kentuckymonthly.com for additional content, including a calendar of events, feature stories and recipes.
Let’s Go!
A guide to Kentucky’s most interesting events Bluegrass Region
Ongoing Ralph Steadman: A Retrospective, University of Kentucky Art Museum, Lexington, through May 5, (859) 257-5716, finearts.uky.edu/art-museum March
1 Organic Association Conference, Clarion Hotel Conference Center, Lexington, (502) 219-7378, oak-ky.org 1 KC and the Sunshine Band, EKU Center for the Arts, Richmond, (859) 622-7469, ekucenter.com 1 Flying High: Kentucky’s Hall of Fame Women Aviators, Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, Frankfort, (502) 782-8118, history.ky.gov 1 Men Are From Mars - Women Are From Venus Live, Lexington Opera House, Lexington, (859) 233-4567, lexingtonoperahouse.com 1-2 Blue Grass Trust Antiques and Garden Show, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, (859) 253-0362, bgtantiquesandgardenshow.org 1-2 Opera Theatre: Madama Butterfly, Singletary Center for the Arts, Lexington, (859) 257-4929, finearts.uky.edu/singletary-center/events 2 Disney’s High School Musical, Lexington Children’s Theatre, Lexington, (859) 254-4546, lctonstage.org 2 Professional Bull Riders, Rupp Arena, Lexington, (859) 233-4567, rupparena.com 2 Low Country Boil, Wilderness Trail Distillery, Danville, (859) 402-8707, wildernesstraildistillery.com 3 Shawn Colvin, The Grand Theatre, Frankfort, (502) 352-7469, grandtheatrefrankfort.org 3 First Sunday Guided Nature Tour,
Josephine Sculpture Park, Frankfort, also April 7, (502) 352-7082, josephinesculpturepark.org
Children’s Theatre, Lexington, (859) 254-4546, lctonstage.org
3 Travis Tritt, Lexington Opera House, Lexington, (859) 233-4567, lexingtonoperahouse.com
17 Ireland’s We Banjo 3, Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, (859) 236-4692, nortoncenter.com
3 Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, EKU Center for the Arts, Richmond, (859) 622-7469, ekucenter.com
21-24 Lexington Comic & Toy Con, Lexington Convention Center, Lexington, lexingtoncomiccon.com
3 Amy Grant, Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, (859) 236-4692, nortoncenter.com
22-24 Rock Gem and Jewelry Show, Clarion Hotel Conference Center, Lexington, bggamc.homestead.com
6-10 Boys Sweet Sixteen Basketball Tournament, Rupp Arena, Lexington, (859) 233-4567, rupparena.com 7 The Perrys Gospel Concert, Sand Spring Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, (502) 598-3127, lawrenceburgky.org 7 The Miracle Worker, Carriage House Theatre, Lexington, (859) 257-4929, studioplayers.org 8 Vienna Boys Choir, The Grand Theatre, Frankfort, (502) 352-7469, grandtheatrefrankfort.org 8 Carrie Newcomer, Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, (859) 236-4692, nortoncenter.com 13-17 Girls Basketball Sweet Sixteen Tournament, Rupp Arena, Lexington, (859) 233-4567, rupparena.com 14-15 Blackberry Smoke, Lexington Opera House, Lexington, (859) 233-4567, lexingtonoperahouse.com 15 LexArts Gallery Hop, various locations, Lexington, (859) 255-2951, galleryhoplex.com 15 Delbert McClinton, The Grand Theatre, Frankfort, (502) 352-7469, grandtheatrefrankfort.org 15-17 St. Patrick’s Weekend, Fort Booneborough State Park, Richmond, (859) 527-3454, parks.ky.gov 16 St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival, downtown Lexington, lexingtonstpatsparade.org 16-17 Kentucky Crafted Market, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, (502) 892-3126, artscouncil.ky.gov 17 Apollo: To the Moon, Lexington
23-24 Telling Your Story, writing workshop, Jordan Hill Farm, Richmond, (859) 623-0807, jordanhillfarm.com 24 To Kill a Mockingbird, The Grand Theatre, Frankfort, (502) 352-7469, grandtheatrefrankfort.org 25 Cherish the Ladies, presented by WoodSongs, Lyric Theatre, Lexington, (859) 252-8888, woodsongs.com 28 Chautauqua Lecture Series, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, (859) 622-1000, chautauqua.eku.edu 29 Fifteen Dances, Lexington Opera House, Lexington, (859) 233-4567, lexingtonoperahouse.com 29 Verdi’s Requiem, presented by the Lexington Philharmonic, Singletary Center, Lexington, (859) 233-4226, lexphil.org 30 Wine Barrel Tasting for the Springs, various locations in central Kentucky, (859) 272-0682, mcconnellsprings.org 30-31 Writing the Short Story, writing workshop, Jordan Hill Farm, Richmond, (859) 623-0807, jordanhillfarm.com 31 Chicago: The Musical, EKU Center for the Arts, Richmond, (859) 622-7469, ekucenter.com April
4-26 Spring Meet, Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, (859) 254-3412, keeneland.com 5 Sins as Thick as Mice: Vices of Henry Clay, Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, Frankfort, (502) 782-8118, history.ky.gov M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
49
CALENDAR
Let’s Go
Be Involved Stay Informed Education • Practice Improvement Solutions • Resources Independent Practice Association (IPA) and Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) Group Purchasing • Association Health and Benefits Trust Advocacy • Networking
5 The Music of Cream, The Grand Theatre, Frankfort, (502) 352-7469, grandtheatrefrankfort.org 5 Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure, Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, (859) 236-4692, nortoncenter.com 6 Pick Up the Park, Old Fort Harrod State Park, Harrodsburg, (859) 734-3314, parks.ky.gov 9 The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Lancaster Grand Theatre, Lancaster, (859) 583-1716, lancastergrand.com 10 Monty Python’s Spamalot, EKU Center for the Arts, Richmond, (859) 622-7469, ekucenter.com
Grow your knowledge and your business as a member of the Kentucky Primary Care Association. The KPCA is committed to improving access to comprehensive, community-oriented primary healthcare services for the underserved.
Contact KPCA today to find out how membership could benefit you. 502-227-4379 • www.kypca.net
11 Shrek: The Musical, Guignol Theatre, University of Kentucky, Lexington, also April 13-14, (859) 257-3297, finearts.uky.edu/theatredance/current-season 11 Disney on Ice, Rupp Arena, Lexington, (859) 233-4567, rupparena.com 12 Face2Face, The Grand Theatre, Frankfort, (502) 352-7469, grandtheatrefrankfort.org 12 Wheels of Time Cruise-In, downtown Lawrenceburg, (502) 598-3127, lawrenceburgky.org 12-14 Egg-Citing Easter Fest, Fort Boonesborough State Park, Richmond, (859) 527-3454, parks.ky.gov 13 Fort Harrod Grand Council, Old Fort Harrod State Park, Harrodsburg, (859) 734-3314, parks.ky.gov 13-14 Women on the Frontier, Fort Boonesborough State Park, Richmond, (859) 527-3131, parks.ky.gov
MARCH EVENTS MARCH 1 Belles, Bourbon & Belladonna Mystery Dinner,
Ashland Transportation Center
MARCH 2 MARCH 9
Dodge Ball, Kentucky Armory National Guard Paramount Players Present: Mary Poppins Paramount Arts Center
36th Annual Model Railroad Show, KYOVA Mall AKYPB Club Indoor Tournament, Ashland Tennis Tournament
MARCH 30-31
50
Louisville Region
Faithward Motion, Paramount Arts Center
MARCH 15-16 MARCH 16-17
14 Easter at the Trace, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, (502) 783-5652, buffalotracedistillery.com
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Ongoing Clay Bodies: Moving Through Ceramics, KMAC Museum, Louisville, through April 4, (502) 589-0102, kmacmuseum.org Linda Bruckheimer’s Road Map to Heaven Exhibit, Frazier History Museum, Louisville, through April 13, (502) 753-5663, fraziermuseum.org
Making Time: The Art of the Kentucky Tall Case Clock, 1790-1850, Speed Art Museum, Louisville, through June 18, (502) 634-2700, speedmuseum.org Harlan Hubbard’s Watercolors, Frazier History Museum, Louisville, through May 4, (502) 753-5663, fraziermuseum.org Festival of New American Plays, Actors Theatre of Louisville, April 9, (502) 584-1205, actorstheatre.org March
1 Louisville Ballet: Human Abstract, Kentucky Center for the Arts, Louisville, (502) 584-7777, kentuckycenter.org 1 Blake Shelton’s Friends Concert, KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, (502) 690-9000, kfcyumcenter.com 1-11 Yutori – New Works by Teri Dryden, B. Deemer Gallery, Louisville, (502) 896-6687, bdeemer.com 1-22 Rebirth Exhibit, Pyro Gallery, Louisville, (502) 426-1328, pyrogallery.com 1-23 Kentucky Craft Luminaries, Frazier
History Museum, Louisville, (502) 753-5663, fraziermuseum.org
9 John Mellencamp, Louisville Palace, Louisville, (502) 883-5774, louisvillepalace.com
2 Cooking at the Hearth, Oldham County History Center, LaGrange, April 6, (502) 2220826, oldhamcountyhistoricalsociety.org
9-10 KYANA Region Giant Swap Meet, Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, (502) 619-2917, kyanaswapmeet.com
5 Talk and Book Signing with Chris Formant, Barr Memorial Library, Fort Knox, (502) 624-1232
12 A David Bowie Tribute, Brown Theatre, Louisville, (502) 584-7777, kentuckycenter.org
6 Mariah Carey, Louisville Palace, Louisville, (502) 883-5774, louisvillepalace.com
12 KISS End of the Road Tour, KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, (502) 690-9000, kfcyumcenter.com
8 Weezer and Pixies Tour, KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, (502) 690-9000, kfcyumcenter.com
12-16 Broadway Musical On Your Feet, Kentucky Center for the Arts, Louisville, (502) 584-7777, kentuckycenter.org
8 2nd Friday Bluegrass Jam, Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough, (270) 257-2311, parks.ky.gov
14 Kentucky Derby Festival Unveiled, presented by Citizens Union Bank and Four Roses Bourbon, Mellwood Art & Entertainment Center, Louisville, discover.kdf.org/festival-unveiled
9 Adult Workshop: Geometric Paintings, Speed Art Museum, Louisville, (502) 634-2700, speedmuseum.org 9 Triple Crown of Running Road Race, downtown Louisville, louisvilletriplecrown.com 9 Metallica’s Worldwired Tour, KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, (502) 690-9000, kfcyumcenter.com
15 After Hours at The Speed, Speed Art Museum, Louisville, (502) 634-2700, speedmuseum.org 16 Ford Motor Company Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee, Bomhard Theater, Kentucky Center for the Arts, Louisville, discover.kdf.org/spelling-bee
CALENDAR
Let’s Go
16 Louisville Orchestra: Carnival of Animals, Brown Theatre, Louisville, (502) 584-7777, kentuckycenter.org 16 Junior Ranger Program: National Parks, Oldham County History Center, LaGrange, (502) 222-0826, oldhamcountyhistoricalsociety.org 16 27th Irish Classic 10K, E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park, Louisville, (502) 429-7270, parks.ky.gov 16 Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, (502) 690-9000, kfcyumcenter.com 18 Don Krekel Orchestra, The Caravan, Louisville, also April 15, (502) 459-0022, thecaravan2017.com 19 Winter Tree ID Workshop, Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, (502) 241-4788, yewdellgardens.org
13 Train Robbery, Kentucky Railway Museum, New Haven, (502) 549-5470, kyrail.org
Northern Region
Ongoing 1919 World Champion Reds Exhibit, Behringer Crawford Museum, Covington, through March 31, (859) 491-4003, bcmuseum.org Scaled to Perfection: Gallery of Miniatures, Kentucky Gateway Museum, Maysville, through May 31, (606) 564-5865, ksbminiaturescollection.com March
1-2 Live Music, Elk Creek Vineyards, Owenton, also March 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30, (502) 484-0005, elkcreekvineyards.com
28 Kentucky Derby Festival Spring Fashion Show, presented by Macy’s, Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Elizabeth, Indiana, discover.kdf.org/spring-fashion-show
1-29 Winter/Spring Meet, Turfway Park, Florence, (859) 371-0200, turfway.com
April
4 Kenny Chesney, KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, (502) 690-9000, kfcyumcenter.com 5 Legends of Hip Hop, KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, (502) 690-9000, kfcyumcenter.com 6 The Fillies Derby Ball, presented by Total Wine & More, Downtown Marriott, Louisville, discover.kdf.org/fillies-derby-ball
2 Big Bone Lick Late Winter Hike, Big Bone, Union, (859) 384-3522, parks.ky.gov 3 Trick! Family Entertainment, Falcon Theatre, Newport, also April 13, (513) 479-6783, falcontheater.net 4 Best New Restaurants Tasting Event, Braxton Brewing Company, Covington, (859) 261-5600, braxtonbrewing.com
7 Brighten Up the Landscape with Perennials, Boone County Extension Center, Burlington, (859) 586-6101, boone.ca.uky.edu 8 Dr. Dog, The Madison Theatre, Covington, (859) 491-2444, madisontheateronline.com
12 2nd Friday Bluegrass Jam, Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough, (270) 257-2311, parks.ky.gov
10 Kit Donahue, Boone County Public Library, Florence, (859) 342-2665, boone.libnet.info/events
13 Goose Creek 5K, E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park, Louisville, (502) 429-7270, parks.ky.gov
15 Sky Cubacub: Radical Visibility Exhibit, The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Covington, (859) 957-1940, thecarnegie.com
13 Thunder Over Louisville VIP Rooftop Party, Waterside Parking Garage Rooftop, Louisville, thunderoverlouisville.org
52
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
22-23 The Lion of Winter, Falcon Theatre, Newport, also March 28-30 and April 4-6, (513) 479-6783, falcontheater.net 23 Northern Kentucky History Day, Kenton County Library, Erlanger, (859) 962-4060, kentonlibrary.org 30-31 Swing! At the Carnegie, The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Covington, also April 5-7 and 12-14, (859) 957-1940, thecarnegie.com April
4 Growing Veggies in Containers, Boone County Extension Center, Burlington, (859) 586-6101, boone.ca.uky.edu 6 Big Bone Lick Trail Work Day, Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, Union, (859) 384-3522, parks.ky.gov 6 Genealogy Workshop, Kenton County Library, Erlanger, (859) 962-4060, kentonlibrary.org
Western Region
5 Mardi Gras for Homeless Children, Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Covington, (859) 291-6572, nkramardigras.com
6 Train Show and Sale Plus Train Excursion, Kentucky Railway Museum, New Haven, (502) 549-5470, kyrail.org
13 Thunder Over Louisville, Louisville riverfront, thunderoverlouisville.org
19 Evidence of Extraterrestrial Talk, Boone County Public Library, Florence, (859) 342-2665, boone.libnet.info/events 21 Six@Six Lecture Series: The Science of Clean Water, Campbell County Library, Fort Thomas, nku.eventsair.com
21 Legends Series: Bourbon Masters, Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville, (502) 637-1111, derbymuseum.org
30 Opening Day and Hellebore Sale, Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, (502) 241-4788, yewdellgardens.org
Museum, Covington, (859) 491-4003, bcmuseum.org
15 Nelly, BB&T Arena, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, (859) 442-2652, thebbtarena.com 19 Tot Tuesdays! Behringer Crawford
Ongoing Owensboro Art Guild Juried Exhibition, Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, through April 12, (270) 685-3181, omfa.us HERstory Quilts Exhibit, National Quilt Museum, Paducah, through April 8, (270) 442-8856, quiltmuseum.org March
1 The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Carson Center, Paducah, (270) 908-2037, thecarsoncenter.org 1-2 Owensboro Home and Garden Show, Owensboro Convention Center, Owensboro, (270) 297-9932, owensborocenter.com
2 Disney in Concert, presented by the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, RiverPark Center, Owensboro, (270) 687-2787, riverparkcenter.org
making memories!
7-8 Spring Scrapbooking Weekend, Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Dawson Springs, (270) 797-3421, parks.ky.gov 9 Steep Canyon Rangers, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, Owensboro, (270) 926-7891, bluegrassmuseum.org 15 Aaron Lewis, Owensboro Convention Center, Owensboro, (270) 297-9932, owensborocenter.com 16 Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, Owensboro, (270) 926-7891, bluegrassmuseum.org 16 Paducah Symphony Orchestra, The Carson Center, Paducah, (270) 908-2037, thecarsoncenter.org 16 End of Winter Hike, John J. Audubon State Park, Henderson, (270) 826-2247, ext. 227, parks.ky.gov 16 Shamrock Bash, Owensboro Convention Center, Owensboro, (270) 297-9932, owensborocenter.com 17 Andy Andrews, The Carson Center, Paducah, (270) 908-2037, thecarsoncenter.org 22 Zoe Speaks, Glema Mahr Center for the Arts, Madisonville, (270) 824-8650, glemacenter.org 23 Wendell Foster Half Marathon, Smothers Park, Owensboro, wendellfoster.org
Tickets & packages at LouisvilleZoo.org
WHERE IS GRANT COUNTY? Where your next adventure begins!
“Committed to exceptional animal care, providing a fun, safe and engaging family destination and saving wildlife.”
Don’t miss the boat!
23 Ben Sollee, Maiden Alley, Paducah, (270) 442-7723, maidenalleycinema.com 23 Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Owensboro, (270) 926-7891, bluegrasshall.org 23 For King and Country, The Carson Center, Paducah, (270) 908-2037, thecarsoncenter.org 28 Front Porches, Kentucky and Your Hometown, McCracken County Public Library, Paducah, (270) 442-2510, mclib.net 28 Currents by Mayumana, Glema Mahr Center for the Arts, Madisonville, (270) 824-8650, glemacenter.org 30 Dailey & Vincent, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Owensboro, (270) 926-7891, bluegrasshall.org
• May 4 & May 5 - Derby Festival (downtown Williamstown)
Grant County: • Home of the Ark Encounter • 35 miles south of Cincinnati • 45 miles north of Lexington
visitgrantky.com
• May 18 & May 19 Preservation Ky 120 - visit Wm. Arnold Log Cabin & Sherman Tavern)
• June 6 - 8 - U.S. 25 Yard Sale • July 20 - St. Elizabeth Triathlon (an Olympic qualifying event)
www.stelizabethtriathlon.com • Aug. 24 - Paddle Williamstown (kayak/canoe on Lake Williamstown)
800-382-7117
30 Opening Day, Christian Way Farm, Hopkinsville, (270) 269-2434, christianwayfarm.com M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
53
CALENDAR
Let’s Go
April
3 WILD Wednesday - Frogs Aplenty, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, (270) 826-2247, parks.ky.gov 3 Kinky Boots, RiverPark Center, Owensboro, (270) 687-2787, riverparkcenter.org 4 Hooten Hallers Concert, Maiden Alley, Paducah, (270) 442-7723, maidenalleycinema.com 4 Adolph Rupp and the Rise of College Basketball, McCracken County Public Library, Paducah, (270) 442-2510, mclib.net 6 Eggstravaganza, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, (270) 826-2247, parks.ky.gov
Museum, Owensboro, (270) 926-7891, bluegrasshall.org
Library, Bowling Green, (270) 781-4882, warrenpl.org
11 Rock of Ages, The Carson Center, Paducah, (270) 908-2037, thecarsoncenter.org
12 Something Rotten! Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, Bowling Green, (270) 904-1880, theskypac.com
12 Sierra Hull, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Owensboro, (270) 926-7891, bluegrasshall.org 13 Wild Flower Extravaganza, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, (270) 826-2247, parks.ky.gov 13-26 Sing! Sing! Sing! Glema Mahr Center for the Arts, Madisonville, (270) 824-8650, glemacenter.org 14 George Thorogood and The Destroyers, The Carson Center, Paducah, (270) 908-2037, thecarsoncenter.org
6 The Isaacs, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame &
Southern Region
15 St. Patrick’s Day Concert, Chaney’s Dairy Barn, Bowling Green, (270) 843-5567, chaneysdairybarn.com 15 Junie B. Jones, the Musical Jr., Van Meter Hall, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, (270) 904-1382, bgonstage.org 16 Lost River Sessions Live! Capitol Arts Center, Bowling Green, (270) 904-1880, theskypac.com 16 Shamrock Shuffle 5K Run/ Walk, Stonegate Shopping Center, Somerset, (606) 679-6394, somersetpulaskichamber.com 23 Orchestra Kentucky Celebrates Satchmo, Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, Bowling Green, (270) 904-1880, theskypac.com
Celebrating 20 years of service to Kentucky and Southern Indiana
CALL US FOR INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON STROKE • • • •
Employee health fairs Speaker’s Bureau Stroke Resource Library Survivor/Caregiver support
Visit our website for support groups
www.strokekyin.org 502.499.5757
Ongoing A Culture Carried: Bosnians in Bowling Green, Kentucky Museum, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, through May 30, (270) 745-3369, wku.edu/kentuckymuseum March
2 Comedy Pet Theater, Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, Bowling Green, (270) 904-1880, theskypac.com 3 Starry Tales for a Winter Night, Hardin Planetarium, shows every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, Bowling Green, (270) 745-4044, wku.edu/hardinplanetarium 5 Vienna Boys Choir, Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, Bowling Green, (270) 904-1880, theskypac.com 9 Kip Moore’s Room to Spare Acoustic Tour, Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, Bowling Green, (270) 904-1880, theskypac.com
Colonial Cottage Restaurant 3140 Dixie Highway, Erlanger 859-341-4498 thecottagenky.com
54
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
30 Old Mulkey Mother-Son Rendezvous, Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site, Tompkinsville, (270) 487-8481, parks.ky.gov April
4-7 It’s Complicated: Love, Comedy, Opera! Russell H. Miller Theatre, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, (270) 745-3121, wku.showare.com 5 Spring Craft and Vendor Show, Greenwood Mall, Bowling Green, (270) 782-9047, greenwoodmall.com
Eastern Region
March
9-31 Arte Cubano Exhibit, Kentucky Museum, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, through May 28, (270) 745-3369, wku.edu/kentuckymuseum
1 Belles, Bourbon & Belladonna Mystery Dinner, Ashland Transportation Center, Ashland, 1-800-377-6249, visitashlandky.com
11 In The Mood: A Big Band Musical, The Center for Rural Development, Somerset, (606) 679-6394, centertech.com
2 Faithward Motion, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, (606) 324-0007, paramountartscenter.com
12 Chef Edward Lee, Warren County Public
9 Greenbo Lake Spring Vendor Fair,
MARKETPLACE Greenbo Lake State Park, Greenup, (606) 473-7324, parks.ky.gov
9 Dodge Ball, Kentucky Armory National Guard, Ashland, 1-800-377-6249, visitashlandky.com 9 Carcassonne Square Dance, Carcassonne Community Center, Carcassonne, (606) 633-9691 15-16 Mary Poppins, presented by the Paramount Players, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, (606) 324-0007, paramountartscenter.com 15-17 Storytelling Weekend, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin, (606) 528-4121, parks.ky.gov 16-17 Model Railraod Show, KYOVA Mall, Ashland, 1-800-377-6249, visitashlandky.com 23 Wild Game Feast, Natural Bridge State Park, Slade, (606) 663-2214, parks.ky.gov 25 Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, (606) 324-0007, paramountartscenter.com 29 Oak Ridge Boys, Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg, (606) 886-2623, macarts.com 30-31 AKYPB Club Indoor Tournament, Ashland Tennis Center, 1-800-377-6249, visitashlandky.com April
7 City Rockfest, East Kentucky Exposition Center, Pikeville, (606) 444-5500, ekec.us 9 Laila Ali, to speak at Excellence in Leadership Series, University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, ucumberlands.edu/tickets 11-14 Hillbilly Days, downtown Pikeville, (606) 432-5063, hillbillydays.com 12 Spring Writers’ Retreat, Hindman Settlement School, Hindman, (606) 785-5475, hindmansettlement.org 12-13 Wildflower Pilgrimage, Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill, (606) 286-4411, parks.ky.gov 12-13 Wildflower Weekend, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade, (606) 663-2214, parks.ky.gov 13 Outlaws and Renegades Tour, East Kentucky Exposition Center, Pikeville, (606) 444-5500, ekec.us 18 Vicki Lawrence & Mama, a Two Woman Show, Paramount Arts Center, Ashland, (606) 324-0007, paramountartscenter.com
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.
1570 Story Avenue • Louisville, KY (502) 584-2171 • hadleypottery.com M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY
55
VOICES
Vested Interest
D
elayed two weeks by the polar vortex, the inductions of Ed McClanahan, Gurney Norman, Sue Grafton, Alice Dunnigan, Helen Thomas and Jane Gentry into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame took place on Feb. 13. The two weeks were well worth the wait. McClanahan, 87, and Norman, 82, the two living inductees (who graced the cover of the February 2019 issue of Kentucky Monthly), surrounded by their literary peers— Wendell Berry and Bobbi Ann Mason—packed the Kentucky Theatre in downtown Lexington and received standing ovations for readings from their works and their gracious and humorous comments. Gurney read from his new book, which will be released later this spring, and McClanahan read his short story, “The Imp of Writing,” a fine example of how one can turn an insignificant moment into art:
A few years ago, I was invited to do a reading for a group of student writers at a local college and to introduce my reading by briefly addressing the students on the subject of “The Importance of Writing.” I made a note to myself—“The Imp. of Wrtg.”—on the STEPHEN M. VEST appropriate date on my calendar, and promptly Publisher & Editor-in-Chief forgot all about it until the eve of my scheduled appearance, when I finally confronted the advisability of having something in mind to say before I actually came right out and said it. So I was mulling over the possibilities, none of which seemed promising, when I happened to glance at my calendar and ... there it was! The Imp of Writing! I could blame it all on the Imp of Writing! That scurrilous story in Playboy about my irrepressibly salty friend Little Enis, that salacious novel with all those gamy jokes ... hey, the Imp of Writing made me do it! “Write what you know,” the ancient truism instructs us. How, pray tell, could you do otherwise? “What you know” is whatever’s in your head, a seething, bubbling alchemical brew of your personal history and experience and genetics and various belief systems—and that most volatile of ingredients, your own absolutely unique imagination. So if your head is full of knights and dragons and fair ladies, that’s what you’ll write, regardless of whether or not you ever met a dragon socially. Poets and pornographers have at least this much in common: Their
Guy Mendes photo
Adventures in Inner Space heads are full of what they write. Writing, as we used to put it back in the Sixties, is an adventure in inner space; it will help you discover who you are, and what the world is. How do I know what I think, the saying goes, until I read what I’ve written? Writing will make you a better reader, a better thinker, and a better person. The Imp of Writing has been sitting on my shoulder for 60 years now, like an albatross, an organ grinder’s monkey, a little bird with secrets to whisper, a tiny demon with a pitchfork, an angel with a halo. The Imp of the Perverse. The Muse. May you be so blessed. I’ve been blessed to know McClanahan these past 20 years. I’ve attended his readings in Frankfort, Maysville and Murray State University, so it can be said that I’ve enjoyed hors d’oeuvres with someone who partied with The Grateful Dead and the author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, worked with the author of The Natural, and was, in the 1960s, anointed the up-and-coming writer in the South and on the West Coast. I wrote his biography in the Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky and have stalked him across Kentucky. Pardon me if I’ve shared this story before. When his book O the Clear Moment was released in 2008, Ed was part of a book-signing event at the Maysville Opera House. I also had a book, for which he wrote the foreword, so I weaseled myself an invitation. I was naïve enough to believe that if someone liked McClanahan’s writing, they’d naturally be drawn to mine. Maybe it was a case of a prophet in his own country, but the only attendees were the employees of the Kentucky Gateway Museum and their reluctant spouses. We—15 authors of various genres—sat in the beautiful Opera House, waiting for people to arrive. The morning turned to afternoon, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., and 2 to 3. About 3:15, two women appeared at the door, scanned the room and shot across to Ed’s table. They bought all three of the titles he had on hand. Courteously, they then made their way around the room, looking at each of our wares. When they reached me, I went into salesman mode. “Oh,” I said, “I see you’re a big fan of Ed McClanahan.” Holding up my book, I pointed to Ed’s name as the foreword writer. “If you like Ed’s book, you’re sure to like mine.” “Oh, honey,” one said with pity in her voice. “Ed’s our cousin.”
Readers, and those looking for a speaker for a church or civic group, may contact Stephen M. Vest at steve@kentuckymonthly.com
MARCH KWIZ ANSWERS: 1. C. Joe B. Hall was a member of the Washington Generals; 2. B. Covington; 3. C. Hemp ruled the landscape; 4. B. Nouvelle-France (New France) stretched from Canada to Louisiana and also included the Ohio Territory, the Great Lakes, Missouri and Arkansas; 5. A. Hell for Certain (or Dryhill) is located on Hell for Certain Creek in Leslie County; 6. C. Sham finished second behind Secretariat, with an estimated time between 1:59.40 and 1:59.59; 7. B. Adair County won its 23rd title in 2018; 8. C. Host, a baseball pitcher, played briefly in the Chicago White Sox organization; 9. A. Helen Ruth Elam Van Winkle was born July 18, 1928, in Hazard; 10. Kona is a penguin. 56
K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY •
MARCH 2019
2035 S 3rd Street Louisville, KY 40208 speedmuseum.org
WE’RE ALL WOUND UP. CLOCKS TEND TO DO THAT.
Movement associated with Asa Blanchard (American, about 1770–1838) and Thomas McMurray (American, about 1785 –1860) Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, Tall Case Clock, 1808, The Speed Art Museum, from the Noe Collection, Gift of Bob and Norma Noe, Lancaster, Kentucky 2008.11.
Explore industry and technology, art and tradition in the first exhibition devoted to early Kentucky tall case clocks.
MAKING TIME OPENS FEBRUARY 2.
OPEN LATE ‘TIL 8 EVERY FRIDAY STARTING FEBRUARY 1.
Put a Little Spring Back in Your Step If you’re itching to shake the winter blues by jumping headfirst into spring, there’s no better place to start than Kentucky’s State Parks. From full-service resort lodges to private cozy cottages to a scenic campsite for your whole crew – or just you two – we’ve got what you need. Plus, Kentucky’s State Parks offer 13 nationally recognized golf courses that will make sure your spring getaway is up to par. When you’re ready to celebrate spring’s arrival, there’s no better place than The Bluegrass State. Plan your spring Kentucky State Park getaway at parks.ky.gov!