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FROM THE EDITOR
Publisher/Creative Director Jason Tanner Editor Steven Wilson
LOCAL ACTS OF LOVE
Ad Sales Brock Quinton Robert Williams
Christmas, and more specifically, the first Christmas, was a monumental event based on a simple idea: love. For proof, we need look no farther than the scripture that defines that event: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His
Cover Photo Dream Copy Photography
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV). But Christ didn’t come only to show us God’s love. He came to earth as the perfect example of how to love one another. In other words, it isn’t enough for us to simply appreciate the unconditional
Ad Design Andrea Roberson Jason Tanner Taylor West
love that was given to us that first Christmas. We’re also called to show that same love to others. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16 (NKJV). Taken together, these verses tell us that Christmas is just as much about giving God’s love to others as it is about receiving His love on that night 2,000 years ago. Unfortunately, a glance around our social landscape doesn’t reveal an abundance of love being shown to one another, especially to those that don’t look or think like us. In fact, love, particularly for our fellow man, seems to be in short supply. But through the gray clouds of anger and hate that seem to dominate the national conversation, local acts of love shine through. In the pages of this issue, you’ll learn about an outreach program for children without permanent homes, whose helping spirit extends well beyond the Christmas season. We also introduce you to a family whose love for one another exemplifies selflessness. And while these local acts of love may not solve the world’s problems, they’re definitely a good place to start.
Steven Wilson, Editor
“CHRISTMAS IS JUST AS MUCH ABOUT GIVING GOD’S LOVE TO OTHERS AS IT IS ABOUT RECEIVING HIS LOVE.”
Contributors Jessika C. Chinn, PharmD Cassandra Hamilton Scott Kenworthy Gail E. Kirkland Danny May Jaime Rafferty Melody Ann Wallace Steven Wilson Lora Wimsatt Online www.owensboroliving.com facebook.com/owensboroliving twitter.com/owensboroliving issuu.com/owensboroliving
-JASON TANNER
Offline Owensboro Living Magazine PO Box 9503 Owensboro, KY 42302 888-304-5414 Subscribe Delivery of Owensboro Living is available by visiting owensboroliving.com/subscribe
ON THE COVER: Coca-Cola is one of the most iconic brands in the world. Beyond beverages, Coke even helped shape our idea of Santa Claus. In 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned illustrator Haddon Sundblom to develop advertising images that included Santa. Using “Twas the Night Before Christmas” as his inspiration,
Advertise Owensboro Living is a FREE magazine because of community support. Thank you to the great group of businesses & organizations who advertise.
Sundblom created the jolly, red-clad St. Nick we know and love today. With our cover photo, we sought to recreate one of Coca-Cola’s classic Christmas ads. But by featuring Tom Burton (our famous local Santa), Lydia Tanner (our publisher’s daughter), and Riley’s Soda, we made it a true Owensboro original.
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A Jason Tanner Design Group Company
www.OwensboroLiving.com
Effective brand interactions.
TM
20152016
[08]
DEC JAN THE BUZZ
THE REAL PEOPLE, PLACES AND EVENTS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY
[14]
THE PULSE
KNOW YOUR MEDICINES
FEATURES [18] TOUCHED BY ANGELS
[54]
[20] AN ART-WARMING WINTER [26] OWENSBORO MADE GIFTS [31] OWENSBORO’S SOLO IRONMAN [34] BASKETBALL COUNTRY
[34]
[20]
[63]
[40]
[40] THE MANY MUSICAL LIVES OF MARTY BROWN [44] THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS [50] WEARING MANY HATS [54] THE GIFT OF LIFE [58] CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE WHITE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM?
[63]
FINANCIAL PLANNING GUIDE
[72]
THE DISH
HOLIDAY EATS AND TREATS
[76]
THE SCENE
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AND AROUND OWENSBORO
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BUZZ
PHOTO BY AP IMAGERY
THE
HAYDEN INDUCTED INTO MOTOGP HALL OF FAME After 13 years in the MotoGP World Championship series, Owensboro’s Nicky Hayden announced that this will be his last season racing MotoGP. As a farewell, Nicky was crowned a MotoGP “Legend” in a ceremony in Valencia, Spain.
The honor is MotoGP’s version of the Hall of Fame, and it truly is an elite group of the world’s all-time best. Nicky will be the 22nd person to ever be named a Legend, and only the sixth American.
WALK OF FAME PLAQUES UNVEILED The Mayor and the Owensboro Board of Commissioners held a ceremony at the Owensboro Convention Center this afternoon, where two more plaques
DCHS CROSS COUNTRY STATE CHAMPS
for the Owensboro Walk
The Daviess County High School
exemplified grit and determination.
girls cross country team are State
They take a lot of pride in what
inductees are actress,
Champions! The DCHS Lady
they do. They showed the mental
Panthers finished with the second
toughness it takes to put in the miles
fastest time in state history on their
every day, and they had the courage
way to capturing the state title
to push their bodies to the limit…”
at the Lexington Horse Park. At a pep rally
that each girl ran approximately
for the team, DCHS
750 miles during their four-month
Principal Matt Mason
training period.
said, ““These girls
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Coach Mark Fortner estimated
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of Fame were unveiled. The new Walk of Fame Florence Henderson, and Broadway star, Christine Johnson Smith. Florence Henderson was in town for the unveiling and also served as grand marshal for the Owensboro Christmas Parade.
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LOCAL STORIES DELIVERED DAILY
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it
music, sports, education, and everything
again: This is an exciting time to live
in between, there is simply no other
in Owensboro! Now, were excited to
place that offers so much local content
invite you to owensboroliving.com -
right at your fingertips.
your free online source for local news in Owensboro and Western Kentucky. “The Buzz” section in our print version simply wasn’t big enough to contain all of the amazing things going on in our city. Updated daily, owensboroliving. com is quickly becoming the go-to site for the latest news in our vibrant community. Covering local news,
PHOTO BY JASON TANNER
BYPASS WORK COMPLETED The construction work zone along U.S. 60/The Wendell Ford Expressway (Bypass) came down after months of construction. The project began in March of this year and included major rehabilitation of U.S. 60 through Owensboro with much-needed drainage
EARL HAYDEN INDUCTED INTO KY MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME Earl Hayden, patriarch of the Hayden motorcycle racing family, has been inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2015 at a ceremony at the Museum of Science and History in October. The Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the accomplishments of Kentucky natives in all forms of motorsports competition.
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improvements as well as asphalt paving. Yager Materials of Owensboro completed the work. This was the first major rehabilitation of US 60 around Owensboro in more than 45 years.
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THE
BUZZ
HOLIDAY INN WINS AWARD
PHOTO BY AP IMAGERY
The Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront received
The Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront is one of
the IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) 2015
only 23 properties selected from the company’s
New Development Design Award, which is given
more than 4,900 hotels. The hotel was recognized
to hotels that are considered the best in class
during the 2015 IHG Americas Owners
providing exemplary brand design, quality of
Conference in San Francisco, Calif., Sep. 30 – Oct.
construction, and attention to detail.
2, 2015, held at Moscone West Convention Center.
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2015 CHRISTMAS PARADE
On November 21, floats lined Second Street for the annual Owensboro Christmas Parade. Each year, the parade
marks the start of the Christmas season in the bluegrass. This year, television icon and Owensboro native Florence Henderson served as Grand Marshal. Henderson is best
PHOTOS BY AP IMAGERY
known for her role as Carol Brady in The Brady Bunch.
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THE
Christmas
BUZZ
FUN FACTS
CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK
DOWNTOWN
• • • • •
•
Over 500,000 Christmas lights 3,500 cars visit the park every year during the event Estimated 100,000 cars total in 17 years There are 87 snowflakes throughout the park The lighted Christmas tree (at the fire tower) is over 70 feet tall
• •
HOLIDAY IN THE PARK (Legion Park)
•
• •
•
109,000 Christmas lights Plus 20 different displays with a total of 75 individual pieces with 9,400 additional bulbs
280 Christmas wreaths with gold bells and red ribbons on light poles (from Clay Street to Walnut, and from Second Street to Veteran’s Blvd) 1,800ft of garland from the RiverPark Center to Holiday Inn The tree at Smothers Park is a 30’ pre-lit tree with 5,200 mini lights and 120 red bows. The five decorated live trees will be planted in the park after Christmas. There are 18 trees in Riverfront Crossing with 6,000 mini lights. Flag poles at Convention Center have 120 red bows.
CAP GARDNER PARK (20th & J.R. Miller) •
2,100 lights on shrubs
TAPSCOTT CORNER (Parrish & Frederica) • •
20ft pre-lit tree with 1,200 bulbs & 120 red and gold bows An additional 5,500 mini lights on the surrounding shrubs
Owensboro Living did a Facebook survey to ask our readers to list their all-time favorite Christmas movies and Christmas songs. Here are your top answers (in order of most votes.) Favorite Christmas Movies:
Favorite Christmas Songs:
1. It’s A Wonderful Life
1. Mary Did You Know
2. A Christmas Story
2. O Holy Night
3. Home Alone
3. Silent Night
4. Elf
4. White Christmas
5. Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special
5. O, Little Town of Bethlehem
6. Miracle on 34th Street
6. Ave Maria
7. Holiday Inn
7. Blue Christmas
8. Christmas Vacation
8. Away in a Manger
9. A Christmas Carol
9. Noel
10. Polar Express
10. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
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THE
PULSE
KNOW YOUR
MEDICINES JESSIKA C. CHINN, PHARMD OWENSBORO HEALTH REGIONAL HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT PHARMACY.
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Keeping you safe is our number one priority here at Owensboro Health. Every year in the United States, patients experience 1.5 million adverse medication events, where they become sick or need to go back to the hospital because of a problem with the medicine they are taking. Our pharmacists are taking steps every day to ensure our patients have the right medicines, understand why they are taking them, and avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital. As part of your healthcare team, pharmacists ask questions about your medicines to ensure we have correct information, to make the best decisions about your health, and to provide you with excellent care.
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H
ere is a list of some of the most common
pharmacist may have suggestions to help you
questions and why we ask them:
better tolerate your medicine or may work with
“WHAT MEDICINES ARE YOU TAKING?”
your doctor to change the medicine to a better choice for you.
Assumptions are never a good thing in the field of medicine. We may ask obvious questions,
Medicine is a complex field. Talk to your
but we do it to make sure everyone is on the same
pharmacist or doctor any time you change or add
page. We want to make sure we know exactly
medicines, including herbs, vitamins, supplements,
what you’re taking. This includes herbs, vitamins,
or over-the-counter medicines.
supplements, and over-the-counter items. These
something is safe just because you didn’t need a
may be available without a prescription, but we
prescription to get it.
still need to know about them. They can change
The following are some important points to
the way your medicines work, or cause them not
remember about medicines to ensure your safety:
to work at all. Medicines can be affected by many
• Tell the truth: There’s an old saying that you
things, including foods you eat or certain diseases.
should never lie to your doctor or lawyer. That
“WHY ARE YOU TAKING THIS MEDICINE?”
Don’t assume
goes for your pharmacist, too. There’s no such thing as a fib or a little white lie when it comes
We ask this question to make sure we
to your medicine. Sometimes those half-truths
understand what the doctor is trying to treat.
can lead to problems that land you back in
Medicines typically used to treat one condition
the hospital. If you don’t fully understand the
may sometimes be useful to treat others. Asking
question, ask us to explain it.
this question helps us make sure all your medical
• Take your medicine as directed: It’s very common
needs are being met and that you are taking the
that patients don’t take their medicine the right
drugs that will accomplish that.
way, either not taking enough or taking too
“HOW ARE YOU TAKING YOUR MEDICINE?”
It’s not just what medicine you take, but also
how you take it. Are you taking it often enough? Are
much. Either way can lead to an outcome that is not good for the patient. It is important to take your medicine for as long as it’s prescribed, not just until you feel better.
you taking it for as long as you need to? Sometimes
• Don’t share your medicine: This isn’t just illegal.
you need to take a medicine until you finish it, not
It’s dangerous. If a medicine is prescribed to a
just until you feel better. When in doubt, follow the
person, they shouldn’t be sharing it with anyone
instructions on the bottle or ask your pharmacist or
for any reason. This goes for married couples on
doctor to be certain.
the same medicine. I have often seen couples
“WHAT PROBLEMS ARE YOU HAVING WITH YOUR MEDICINE?”
who split medicine in order to save money, and that can make both people very sick. If you have trouble affording medicines, talk to your
If a patient has a side effect when they take
pharmacist. We may know affordable ways to
a medicine like dizziness or an upset stomach,
help you get the medicines you need.
the patient may not want to take it. When your
• Over-the-counter doesn’t mean safe: Ask your
pharmacist knows about these problems, your
pharmacist or doctor if any herbs, supplements,
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or vitamins might affect the medicines
them in the bathroom or the kitchen and
you’re being prescribed. This can make
never leave them in the car; these are all
a huge difference in how well your
places where your medicines can get hot
prescriptions work.
and humid. If a medicine doesn’t need
• Antibiotics aren’t for everything: If you
refrigeration, don’t put it in the refrigerator
have a cold or the flu, antibiotics won’t
or freezer. The wrong temperature can
help you. In fact, taking antibiotics when you don’t need them, or not taking them as directed, can cause bacteria that make you sick to become resistant to these drugs. Resistant infections can be deadly and are much more difficult (and expensive) to treat. Remember, taking your antibiotics until you finish them, not just until you feel better, is absolutely essential. • Store your medicines properly: Medicines are
very
sensitive
to
moisture
and
temperature. Follow the directions on how to properly store medicines. Avoid putting
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destroy a medicine’s ability to help you. If you have any questions about your medicines, including why your doctor or pharmacist recommends you do things a certain way, don’t be afraid to ask. We’re committed to help you understand every step of the process. We want you to be well, safe, and making the most of your life. Jessika C. Chinn, PharmD, is a pharmacist and clinical manager of the Owensboro Health Regional Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy.
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BY JAIME RAFFERTY
TOUCHED BY ANGELS E
ight years ago, Owensboro attorney, Julie
in group homes for extended periods of time. In
Gordon, was speaking with the social worker
fact, each year Daviess County has between 40 and
of a child that Gordon represented. When Gordon
50 children living in an institutional/group home
inquired about what that child would be getting for
setting with little or no family support to provide joy
Christmas, she was disheartened by the response.
at Christmas and throughout the year.
Because the young man had been placed in a group
Recognizing an ongoing need, Gordon helped
home and had no contact with family, the social
establish the “Angel Tree and Beyond” committee of
worker informed Gordon that he would not be
the Daviess County Model Juvenile Court Program.
receiving anything for Christmas.
The program seeks members of the community
This weighed heavily on Gordon’s heart, and she
to help sponsor a child to ensure that they are not
put her concern into action by simply asking for a
forgotten at Christmastime. With the program’s
Christmas list so that he would have gifts to unwrap
popularity, it has also expanded to provide ongoing
that year. Gordon soon found out that many other
support through donations that supply items and
children who become wards of the state, often as
activities like dance lessons, prom dresses, and dorm
a result of an unstable home environment, end up
supplies for kids “aging out” of the foster care system
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and starting college. The committee has seen
to know the child better. The form also lists
the kindness of the community, and realizes
the items that can be provided to the children
the potential to reach many more by educating
for Christmas and other times of the year. The
others about the opportunity to support these
children, in their own words, are able to help
“angels” during difficult life circumstances,
translate their wishes to those who are able to
and to also be their “angel” by showing them love, compassion and that they matter. The goal of “Angel Tree and Beyond” is to hold up a mirror to help these kids see the light within each of them, to see their worth by removing as many obstacles as possible. The committee believes there is no limit to what
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help. Gordon says, “I am always proud of our community’s level of participation in this project. It goes so far in showing the kids that they are not forgotten once they are ‘in the system’.”
they can achieve when you give these “angels”
If your family or business is looking to
the opportunity to fly.
be an angel to these angels at Christmas and
Those working with the children receive
beyond, please contact Julie Gordon at 270-
questionnaires that highlight their hobbies,
926-0703 or by email at jhgordonlaw@gmail.
interests, gift ideas, clothing size, etc., to get
com.
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BY
MELODY ANN WALLACE
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“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” — Pablo Picasso
As
the sun begins to set earlier, and the weather becomes cooler, our spirits sometimes become a little drearier. The best cure for the winter blues may require a trip to our local fine art museum or art studio, or even a short journey out of town. Scientists have found that viewing and creating art can benefit both your mental and physical health. Research shows that the areas of the brain connected to pleasant emotions and the experience of reward are triggered by viewing art. So, in effect, art makes your brain happy. If you are looking to add a little color to the dull and dreary days of winter, there are several options nearby for you to enjoy.
OWENSBORO MUSEUM OF FINE ART HOLIDAY FOREST FESTIVAL OF TREES If you need a little motivation to get into the Christmas spirit, then all you need to do is simply walk through the doors of the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. Whether you choose to visit on your own or with family, the Museum of Fine Art offers a unique multi-cultural and historical experience unlike anything else found in this area. After being greeted by the bold colors and ornate design of the life-size Chinese dragon in the atrium, there are two directions to travel that offer completely different viewing experiences. As you travel through the historic John Hampden Smith Decorative Arts Wing, you
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will feel as if you have been transported back in time to the 1800’s. Elaborate trees adorn each of the five period rooms, embellished with bright red bows, black and white photography, and small historical objects, all in an effort to create the feel of an old Americana Christmas. As you travel throughout the other wings of the museum, you will encounter 20 different trees, decorated to represent the history and culture of 20 different countries. Each tree correlates with the artwork within its exhibition, and is decorated with hand-crafted art from local civic organizations, local artists, school children, and private collections. State Representative, Brent Yonts, who generously loaned his personal
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historical memorabilia collection to the Bicentennial Christmas exhibition, said it best. When you visit the Holiday Forest, “You can see a reflection of the world through Christmas trees.”
STUDIO SLANT If you consider yourself more of a hands-on person, rather than a gallery viewer, there are still several options to create handmade art to give for the holidays. With families getting busier and busier during the year and throughout the holidays, it has become incredibly convenient to purchase and give gift cards to friends and family members. Christy Chaney of Studio Slant reminds us that, “Anyone can buy a gift card, but making something for someone shows them that you care. You put a little bit of yourself into a gift, where you put a little bit of money into a gift card.” There is still time to attend one of the studio’s Christmasthemed art classes, on December 3 and 17, as well
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as a “Paint What You Love” class (inspired by the idea of painting a beloved pet), scheduled for some time in mid-December. Each of these options allows you the opportunity to have a stress-free creative experience, while making a special gift for a friend or family member. If you like the idea of a handmade gift, but find yourself without the time to create it, Studio Slant also offers the option of personalizing any door hanger they carry, along with the convenience of free gift wrapping and delivery. They also carry Kentucky-themed items, handmade jewelry, original Kelly McClelland artwork, as well as glass Christmas ornaments hand-blown by Brook White. Christy also suggests that, “even if you (feel like you) don’t have any artistic talent,” there are unfinished wooden pieces, such as picture frames and wooden boxes, that can be purchased at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s, then painted and decorated to give them that personal touch. By
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involving your child in the gift-making process, you are also “giving a gift to your child and yourself,” as the experience of “creating the gift is half the gift.”
FLAME RUN – BROOK WHITE Studies show that “along with the perks of enjoying and experiencing art, there are realworld benefits to making art with your own two hands.” If you find yourself traveling to the city of Louisville for a little holiday shopping, take the time to duck out of the cold and schedule a “blow your own experience” at Flame Run Glass Studio and Gallery. Projects can range from snowmen and Christmas ornaments to bourbon glasses and vases, and can take anywhere from fifteen to forty-five minutes to complete. Owensboro native, and glass artist, Brook White, says that there is no better way to “stay warm during the cold months than in the hot shop of the glass-blowing studio.” Simply visiting the gallery and soaking in the beauty of the many stunning glass pieces is an experience
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within itself, but creating a unique piece of art that you have added your own color and breath to is a priceless gift to give a loved one. Although you will not be able to take your item home the same day it was made, as it will need a day or two to cool, the studio does offer the convenience of shipping, if you are no longer in town. If you still have the desire to create that personal gift, but aren’t sure if you can do so in time for the holidays, Melissa Deeg with Creative RU says that, although it might be “too late to create handmade ornaments from the clay state,” several local shops and boutiques offer “little works of art that people can give” as gifts. Crazy Me carries hand-painted ornaments representing local college teams, as well as plates and items that can still be personalized. Nona’s Downtown Market, as well as several other shops and boutiques, offer local handmade art and one-of-a-kind gifts. In the Groove engraving goes beyond personalized seasonal door hangers with the option to customize wooden recipe boards with cherished family recipes, or put a special inscription on a new hammer for the handy person in your life. If you are looking to decrease your stress level this holiday season, start by taking in the beauty of the art around you, then enjoy the chance to create art-filled memories that will last your family for years to come. For more information on the businesses featured in this article: • Visit the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art at owensboromuseumoffineart.org. Although throughout the year the museum offers free or voluntary admission to its patrons, the Holiday Forest admission price is $3 for adults and $2 for children. Children will also enjoy dancing in the Kaleidoscope Cave and creating masterpieces in Artland. • Stay updated on upcoming events at Studio Slant by visiting studioslant.com or www.facebook.com/studioslant. • To learn more about Brook White or schedule a visit to Flame Run Glass Studio, visit him at www.flamerun.com or www.facebook.com/flamerunglass. • Visit In the Groove engraving at in-the-groove-engraving. myshopify.com or www.facebook.com/shopinthegroove. December 9th is the last day to place personalized holiday orders. • Visit Crazy Me Gifts and Apparel at www.facebook.com/ crazymegifts • To discover what new local items can be found at Nona’s Downtown Market, visit www.facebook.com/NonasDowntown-Market
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Local Gift Guide OWENSBORO-MADE MAVERICKS TICKETS Single Ticket General Admission $11 adult $6 child Chair Seating $16 IN THE GROOVE Custom Engraved Cutting Board - $50 shopinthegroove.com KENTUCKY IVY BALM $5.99 Available at Nona’s Market
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Local Gift Guide OWENSBORO-MADE
RILEY SODA $3.99 rileysoda.com ADAM PARIS PRINT Prints by Adam Paris Canvas print - $150 APimagery.com
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Owensboro’s
SOLO IRONMAN BY DANNY MAY
S
ome people don’t swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and
biking and running alone makes it even more admirable.
run 26.2 miles – the equivalent of an Ironman - in
But he wasn’t really by himself. His wife, Shelly,
their entire lifetime.
Owensboro’s Dylan Hammons
served as Dylan’s support team. He had friends and
did it twice in eight days in back-to-back weekends. But
training partners accompany him for portions of the
that’s not the most amazing thing about it. The really
route. And a welcoming party of nearly 40 friends and
crazy thing is that Dylan did his first “Ironman” solo –
family cheered him on at the finish.
starting and ending at the HealthPark.
To accomplish the required 140.6 miles, Dylan spent
Here is the story of Owensboro’s Solo Ironman.
his Saturday morning swimming laps at the HealthPark,
A DREAM AND A GOAL
then spent his afternoon riding his bike from the
The dream of becoming an Ironman began when
HealthPark to his house in the county and back. After
Dylan was young. “I remember seeing it on TV when I
that, he spent his evening running nearly the entire
was 12 years old and I always thought I would like to do
greenbelt.
something like that one day.”
There’s a fine line between crazy and brave. For
triathletes, Ironman competitors and ultramarathoners,
left Dylan skeptical and cautious around water. He was
which side of that line you end up on is determined by
never really a confident swimmer after that.
your level of determination and persistence, which is
what makes Hammons’ solo Ironman so remarkable.
ultramarathons. As the calendar flipped to 2015, Dylan
Endurance athletes commonly say that part of the fun
was training for a 100-mile trail run in April. After
is the community that is built among the participants
recovering from that run, Dylan set his sights on the
when training and competing. It’s like a brotherhood (or
Maryland Ironman in an attempt to finally accomplish
sisterhood, as the case may be). Along the route, there’s
his long-term dream of becoming an Ironman, and leave
built-in motivation in the shared experience of the other
his fear of open water in his wake. He got a swim coach
participants overcoming the same obstacles shoulder-to-
and added swimming and fatigued-bike rides to his
shoulder with you.
training schedule.
So to think that Dylan spent 12 hours swimming,
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But then a traumatic experience in the ocean as a teen
Running was his thing, which eventually grew into
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most people do for this because I didn’t want to sacrifice too
along the bike route in her car, drove ahead to prepare for the
much time with my kids and my wife,” Hammons said. “I also
refueling pit stop and rode her bike along with him as he ran
really wanted to enjoy the whole process and not burn myself
an out-and-back on the Greenbelt.
out or be tired all the time.”
CHANGE OF PLANS
As word about Hammons’ solo Ironman spread on social
media, supporters showed up along the route and began making plans for a celebration at the finish line to congratulate
That plan was working out just fine until Hurricane
him.
Joaquin started turning toward the New England coast.
Ironman organizers postponed Maryland Ironman because of
a crowd of nearly 40 people had gathered in the HealthPark
impending flooding issues along the route. The rescheduled
parking lot. There were homemade t-shirts, signs, cell phone
date didn’t work for Hammons, which left him completely out
cameras at the ready, and lit sparklers for everyone to hold as
of luck and way short of his goal.
Dylan ran past.
“I don’t want to live my life with ‘what-ifs.’ And I didn’t
By the time Dylan’s estimated finish time rolled around,
At 7:30 p.m., twelve hours and twenty-nine minutes after
want to always wonder. So I just thought to myself, I have to
beginning his solo Owensboro Ironman, and in the presence of
do this now! I was talking with my wife, and she said there’s
family and friends, Dylan accomplished his dream of becoming
always the HealthPark.”
an Ironman.
That’s all it took. Done and done.
But the most precious “congratulations” of them all were
And so it was that Dylan reported to the HealthPark at
Dylan’s two kids announcing as he crossed: “Daddy… you
7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, October 3, to attempt his solo
ARE an IRONMAN!!!”
Owensboro Ironman.
THE FINISH LINE
Throughout the day, several friends and family monitored
his progress via Shelly’s updates on Facebook.
ANOTHER CHANCE To accommodate Ironman Maryland registrants who could
not make the rescheduled date, Ironman Louisville opened 100 slots.
“I couldn’t have done this without her,” Dylan said, giving
After a few days, Dylan felt recovered enough to consider
his wife full credit. Not only did she support him throughout
giving Ironman Louisville a shot, and put his name in the
his training period, but the day of his solo Ironman, Shelly sat
lottery draw for one of the 100 spots. On Thursday, he was
by the pool and counted off laps with a watch, checked on him
notified that he was indeed one of the lucky ones chosen, so he
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drove to Louisville to pick up his packet. “I felt no pressure,” Dylan said about anticipating a repeat Ironman eight days after his solo. “There was no anxiety, because I had already done one.” Ten others from Owensboro competed in Louisville Ironman, as well. “The Owensboro running and triathlon community is amazing,” Hammons said. “It’s a great group of people to be a part of.”
So Louisville was in no way a solo. But what did it feel
like to attempt an Ironman in back-to-back weekends? “I really enjoyed the experience more than I thought I would, especially riding 112 miles through such a beautiful part of Kentucky on a gorgeous day. For the running leg, I was still in good spirits and just really enjoyed the whole experience.”
Consider it two checks off the bucket list. And some much-
deserved time off from long-distance training.
As for future Ironman triathlons?
“Not at this time,” he says. “But I wouldn’t say no.”
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BY STEVEN N WILSO
BASKETBALL COUNTRY Kentucky is undeniably basketball country. Whether you bleed blue, cheer for the cards, or your allegiances inexplicably belong to a team like Duke or UNC, chances are, if you’re reading this, you watch a lot of basketball. And for the fans who enjoy watching the game played live, Owensboro has two great options right in our own back yard. While they might not garner as much of the national spotlight as their peers in Lexington and Louisville, the men’s squads at Kentucky Wesleyan College and Brescia University play an exciting brand of basketball. With this feature, Owensboro Living wants to give you an introduction to the best basketball you may not (but should) be watching.
KENTUCKY WESLEYAN PANTHERS If you live in Owensboro, you surely know something about the history of KWC men’s basketball. From 1966 to 2001, the Panthers have brought home eight NCAA Division II championships, the most by any D-II school. In their 105
pointed out their achievements off the court. Said Osborne, “First of all, I really like our team. We’ve got good kids. Our team GPA is 3.1, and I’ve got guys that want to work.” Regarding his expectations for the remainder of the season, Osborne said, “I think it could be the best team I’ve had
years of playing the sport, the purple and white have been a
since I’ve been at Kentucky Wesleyan.”
collegiate powerhouse. More recently, prior to the 2013-14
success they’ve had the previous two seasons, I’d say that’s
season, KWC ushered in a new era when they hired head
a pretty solid reason to come watch the Panthers play this
coach Happy Osborne. Since his hiring, Osborne has led
year. And if you need another reason to watch a live KWC
the Panthers to 22 wins in each of his first two seasons. This
game this season, Osborne has this to say for the fans: “I
year, they’re looking to build on that success, and make a
hope they see a team that works extremely hard and that’s
run late into March. If the pre-season and their first three
very close-knit. I think they’ll be proud of our work ethic.
games are any indication, they’re off to a roaring start; the
People have told me since I’ve been here that we’ll never fill
Panthers narrowly lost to WKU in Bowling Green and
the Sportscenter again. But I know that Owensboro is the
Louisville at the Yum Center in their two exhibitions, and
best sports city in Kentucky, and I’m counting on the fact
won their first three games by a combined total of 68 points.
that we have the type of product that people want to come
And when we asked Coach Osborne about his team, he first
watch.”
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Knowing the
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BRESCIA BEARCATS
KWC ROSTER: NO. 0 1 2 3 4 5 11 12 13 15 20 21 25 33 34
NAME Tamron Manning Basil Deveaux Jamie Johnson Marcus Fillyaw Latrelle Irvin Jordan Jacks Ken-Jah Bosley Hunter Noffsinger Adam Stanford C.J. Blackwell Luis Becerra Devin Langford Marcus Fuggins Jermaine Morgan Dalton Nelson
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POS. HT. G 6-4 G 6-4 G 5-10 G 6-1 F 6-4 G 6-5 G 6-1 G 5-8 F 6-4 F 6-5 G 6-4 F 6-7 C 6-9 C 6-8 F 6-6
WT. 202 184 161 200 183 191 190 163 190 221 202 209 260 230 206
YR. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Fr. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So.
HOMETOWN Georgetown, KY Nassau, Bahamas Louisville, KY Topeka, KS Lebanon, KY Douglasville, GA Richmond, KY Central City, KY Fontana, CA Los Angeles, CA Sevilla, Spain Huntsville, AL Moreno Valley, CA Chicago, IL Salisbury, NC
Brescia basketball competes at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level. Head Coach Josh Gibson is in his fourth year at the helm, and already has the secondhighest winning percentage of any coach in Bearcats basketball history. His record includes a trip to the NAIA National Tournament last season, and Gibson hopes to continue to increase that percentage as BU continues their 2015-16 campaign.
Through the end of November,
Brescia will already have played nine games. The month of December only gets busier for the Bearcats, including matchups with D-I in-state competition in the form of WKU and Murray State, both of whom have made the NCAA
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BRESCIA ROSTER: NO. 0 3 5 10 12 15 21 22 23 24 25 32 33 34
NAME Trey Howard Kyle Nixon Austin Morris Tavon Johnson Mason Roland Darion Morrow Nick Wells Dillon Geralds Jordan Cooper-Livers CJ Cummings Jermain Langley CJ Shanklin Ed Carter Isaac Hebner
POS. HT. JR G/F SR G SR F SO PG FR PG FR G FR F FR G/F JR PG SR F/C SR G FR F FR F/C SO F
WT. 6-4 6-0 6-7 5-9 5-10 5-10 6-4 6-4 5-10 6-7 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-6
YR. 165 165 220 165 175 165 175 185 175 220 175 175 180 185
HOMETOWN Owensboro, KY Fort Branch, IN Evansville, IN Bardstown, KY Sebree, KY Owensboro, KY Owensboro, KY Tompkinsville, KY Bardstown, KY Hendersonville, TN Henderson, KY Louisville, KY Owensboro, KY Richland, IN
tournament in recent years. As for looking to the future, Coach
every time we take the court if we play to our potential.” And
Gibson is taking the season one game at a time: “It’s a cliché,
to have the support of the community is a big plus for Coach
but I hope we go 1-0 every time we step on the court. We have
Gibson and his players. “We would love to have them out to our
a lot of talent and a lot of experience. If we can stay focused on the process of getting better every day, we have a chance to be successful.” A big part of that success is owed to the local talent that BU recruits. Says Gibson, “We have a lot of talent and a
games! We have worked diligently since I’ve been here to build a program from the ground up based on four-year players, most of whom are from within a two-hour radius of Owensboro. Many
lot of local players on our roster. Our fans know that we play
people would likely recognize some familiar faces on the team,
hard and we play together, and our games are fun to watch. Our
and we have become champions by doing things the right way
fans should be excited because we have an opportunity to win
and playing exciting, high-level basketball.”
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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
THE BAKER’S RACK
Giving
MEMORABLY
The Christmas season is in full swing. There are programs and parties to attend, home decorating to do, work deadlines and quotas to meet, cooking and baking to do ... oh yes, and shopping to complete. In the rush of December, that last one can be the toughest task to tackle - making sure that everyone is taken care of come Christmas Day. Getting through the rest of the season is certainly exhausting, but is simply completing the shopping list really accomplishing something important? What is the point of the gifts under the tree? Will they be remembered? Most of us want to give gifts that will be remembered and appreciated for time to come. What makes a gift special? There are a couple of directions to explore when searching for the perfect gift. One important possibility is a gift that reminds of times past or of relationships that endure. Personal meaning is the key here. For example, Ronaldo Designer bracelets are inspired by connections between people. The “Love Knot” style reflects the feeling that two people’s lives are woven together eternally, while “The Hero” style recognizes someone who saves us from difficulties in our lives. Alternatively, the “Power of Prayer” style features seven beads that remind us to pray daily. Other gifts can have similar sentiments attached to them, and if a gift truly means something to the giver, it will also mean something personal to the receiver. Another aspect of a meaningful gift is that it be seen, worn or used often. Take extra time to search for a gift that can be of daily service. Each time the gift is used, it will remind the receiver of their relationship with the giver, or of an occasion in their life. Remember that our lives are made fuller by our memories and relationships, and the more we are reminded of them, the richer our lives become. A Waterford Crystal vase can remind you of a journey to Ireland, prompt reflection of Irish heritage, or simply cradle fresh flowers in beautiful style. If you own a gift like this, be sure you use it often to stir you own good feelings. We all enjoy being surrounded by the finer things! Finding such gifts is made easier by shopping stores www.OwensboroLiving.com
where the staff is knowledgeable and has experience helping others. Owensboro-Daviess County is blessed with several established places where you can explore, search, touch, learn and purchase with confidence. The experience of the giver finding the perfect gift, getting it wrapped, and seeing the anticipation and wonder in the eyes of the recipient are a large part of what makes a gift special. In other words, the journey can be as important as the destination. This season, enjoy the journey as you search out gifts for those you love. The perfect gift will be long remembered by the receiver, but the thoughtful selection process will be enjoyed by the giver. Looking at it that way, both receive memorable gifts!
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THE MANY MUSICAL LIVES OF
MARTY BROWN
T
BY DANNY MAY
here was the kid from Maceo who
that night was so impressed he agreed to drive Marty
inherited his love of country music
down to Music Row. To this day, Marty said in this
from his mom and dad. “My dad
interview, he has no idea what that man’s name is. “But
wanted to be a superstar like Johnny
if you’re out there, I’d like to thank you,” he said.
Cash. My mom sang like Loretta
Then there was the hopeful dreamer, who – like
Lynn,” he said.
so many others who flock to Nashville seeking fame
– literally walked up and down Broadway knocking
There was the young boy who fell in love with the
guitar when he played his first “D” chord.
on doors until someone – anyone – would give him a
chance.
Then there was the teenager who began writing
songs and playing them for the guys he worked with
during dinner breaks.
Marty finally found an open door. Kurt Denny at BMI
(Broadcast Music Incorporated) took a chance and
That was followed by the young man who signed up
That lucky day came on a Friday in 1988 when
for every talent show he could; performed at Goldie’s
let Marty into his office to play a song or two. Which
as often as they would let him; played and sang at
turned into three or four. Which turned into five or six
the barbecue festival; and once got kicked out of the
phone calls to set up meetings for Marty on Monday
Big “E” parking lot for playing songs for tips in his
morning.
upturned cowboy hat.
Then, due to sheer grit and determination, there
was the man who heard “You need to get to Nashville” enough times to finally get the nerve to venture to Music City, USA. The story goes that Marty walked into the 8-Ball with his guitar in his hand, hoping to earn enough tips
“Here’s $100. Come back here first thing Monday morning. Don’t leave town!” he said, setting Marty up with a motel room for the weekend.
to earn gas money to Nashville.
After a song or two, one of
the men in the 8-Ball
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The short version of that incredible part of
end of the road for Marty.
the story is that one of those meetings resulted in
Nobody expected what came
a 1991 recording contract with MCA, which led
next!
to a ten-year span of life on the road as a national
recording artist, sharing the stage with country
this time as a reality show
music royalty like Garth Brooks, Alabama and
contestant - came to light
just about every other country artist you can name
when Shellie signed Marty up
from the ‘90s.
for an audition on America’s
Got Talent without him
Marty’s life as a recording artist lead to eight
His next musical life -
radio singles, including “Every Now and Then,”
knowing. “It’s’ time for
“High & Dry,” “Wildest Dreams,” “Cryin, Lovin,
America to hear him sing,”
Leavin” and “It Must Be the Rain,” which reached
she said.
#62 on the country charts.
But that life ran its course and enough was
through, and Marty was
enough. Tired of being “too country for country,”
featured on season eight,
Marty started wanting a simpler life. He then
where he made it to the semi-
moved back to Kentucky, planted roots on a farm
final round. His performance
in Ohio County and went back to being just a boy
of Bob Dylan’s “To Make
from Maceo who loved strumming his guitar and
you Feel My Love” from
writing songs.
that audition was viewed 6.1
million times on YouTube.
Off the stage and out of the spotlight, the music
The judges sent him
AN EXECUTIVE AT BMI TOOK A CHANCE, AND LET MARTY INTO HIS OFFICE TO PLAY A SONG OR TWO… WHICH TURNED INTO THREE OR FOUR… WHICH TURNED INTO FIVE OR SIX PHONE CALLS TO SET UP MEETINGS FOR MARTY.
was still coursing through Marty’s veins. And
that’s where he found the inspiration for the song
Grammy-award-winning producer, Keith Stegall,
that launched him into his next musical life as a
believes Marty might still have another musical
songwriter.
life in him yet – and wants to put him back on the
radio. (Editor’s note: Stegall has worked with Alan
“I knew I had a hit,” he said, so he went to see
Because of that, multiple-CMA, ACM and
his old friend Kurt Denny at BMI, and once again
Jackson, Zac Brown Band, Darius Rucker, and
played him a song in his office.
many others.)
But it was only one song that time…which
On October 7, Marty recorded “To Make
turned into a phone call, just like last time…which
You Feel My Love” with Stegall at the Sound
turned into a #3 hit for Tracy Byrd in 1998 called
Emporium in Nashville. The single is set to
“I’m From the Country and I Like it That Way.”
release to country radio in December.
Then there were hard times. And questions
It will be interesting to see how Marty-on-the-
about whether this was the end of the musical road
radio works out this time. Is he still “too country
for the boy from Maceo.
for country?” Or will his social media following
help push him up the charts? Before Marty met
Years went by. Marty was remarried to
a teacher named Shellie, and they settled in
Shellie, he didn’t even have a Facebook account or
Franklin, Kentucky. “That way I could still be
YouTube channel.
close to Nashville, she could still teach and we
could live in the country,” he said.
Marty’s next musical life.
But thanks to Shellie, it would not be the
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Time will tell if this radio single turns into Have things come full circle?
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More Marty: The documentary on Marty Brown aired on KET November 21.
Or is this an entirely new circle?
Again.
Either way, I can tell you this: the guy who walked
into the Owensboro Living office for this interview still has that just-a-country-boy-with-a-guitar look to him. But he’s also the guy who has “been there and done that.” He’s a little older, and a lot wiser. But he still has that same passion for music that he discovered as a boy in Maceo playing his first “D” chord.
Whatever happens, “I really feel blessed. I really
feel fortunate. I’m going to take advantage of this opportunity and I’m going to go for it,” he said.
After telling me his real life story that could have
been a Behind the Music episode, Marty closed out this interview with a final thought, professing his thanks and admiration for Shellie. “Johnny Cash had June Carter. Loretta Lynn had Mooney. And Marty’s got Shellie. Without her, I wouldn’t be sitting here in this interview. She saved me in every way a man can be saved and every way a man can be loved.”
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THE MEANING OF
CHRISTMAS BY SCOTT KENWORTHY
LEAD PASTOR OWENSBORO CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Every communicator is taught to pay extra attention to the introduction and conclusion of their message. The introduction is designed to establish the need for what is to come. The conclusion is designed to reinforce the meaning of what has been said. Applying these principles to the life of Jesus can give us a new insight to the meaning of Christmas.
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I
ronically, the best description of the meaning of Christmas I’ve ever heard came from someone who has never celebrated it. Talk show host, Larry King, was asked, “If you could interview any historical person, who would it be and what would you want to know?” Without hesitation, King replied, “Jesus of Nazareth. And I would like to ask him if he was indeed virginborn—if the Christmas story were true—because the answer to that question would define history for me.” Mr. King’s response is not mere cultural speak. It’s biblical. The Gospel of John, in the New Testament, says of Jesus Christ, “10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:10-11, ESV). Those two verses mean the Son of God came to people’s first-century doorsteps and yet they failed to recognize him. That is a damning statement. In our own day, many people still fail or flat-out refuse to recognize him. However, John adds a note of hope, “12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
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children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13, ESV). John says Christmas means that Jesus left the comforts of heaven and became a child on earth so that those who embrace Him could leave the pains of earth and become a child of heaven. Stop and consider the implications.
Christmas means that on a particular day in history, God drew near to us in a unique way. God has always had a relationship with His creation, but at Christmas it rose to a new level. To understand the shift, imagine an overseas friend that you’ve met online suddenly moves to Owensboro and begins living in your house. You already knew about this other person; you understood their character to a degree; you may have even admired their passions. But now you’re growing to know them in a more intimate way. And they are growing to know you in a personal way, as well.
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Whatever relationship existed before has now taken on a qualitative difference. This is what happened at the first Christmas. We came to know God as He came to know us.
Christmas means that every day is now saturated with God’s presence.
We should guard against reducing Christmas to a single day. Every day reflects the truth of Christmas: that God, in Christ, took on flesh. My wife and I only celebrate our anniversary once a year, but our marriage defines every moment of our lives. The same is true with Christmas. It comes around once a year, but we carry its meaning throughout the year in whatever we face.
Christmas means that each moment is now filled with His hope.
The Bible says Jesus experienced temptation like we do, yet He never sinned. He knew hunger. He grew
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tired. He experienced frustration. In short, He knows what it’s like to walk in our shoes, which means He is able to help us in our time of need. If He can help us in our moment-by-moment struggles, then we always have hope. Christmas was the arrival of hope. Thirty-three years after hope came in a manger, hope hung on a cross. Which brings us back to communicators. They always pay extra attention to how they begin and end their message. Jesus Christ, the ultimate communicator, came in a manger and left on a cross to remind us the meaning of this season is not found in the glitz and glamour Christmas promises to bring us, but in the God who promised to bring us Christmas. Christmas may be significant to you and your family for any number of reasons, but Christmas means that because of Christ, tomorrow doesn’t have to be the same as today. Your future doesn’t have to be the same as your past. Your eternal destiny can be better than your present reality. And it’s all because Christmas was the moment God gave himself.
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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
DAVIESS COUNT Y PARKS
CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK CONTINUES HOLIDAY TRADITION NOVEMBER 27 - JANUARY 2
Christmas at Panther Creek, a drive-through Christmas light display featuring over 500,000 Christmas lights, is open nightly from 6 – 9 p.m. beginning Friday, November 27 through Saturday, January 2 at Panther Creek Park (5160 Wayne Bridge Road). The cost for the lighted tour is $3 per vehicle (including buses and vans), which is divided between the Daviess County Parks Department and five local non-profits, each of whom agree to provide volunteers to work the admission booth during their assigned week. So far, over $41,000 has been donated to local nonprofit agencies through Christmas at Panther Creek. Free wagons rides are also available each night, so warm dress is recommended. “Christmas at Panther Creek was developed to introduce Daviess County residents to the park,” says Daviess County Fiscal Court Parks Director, Ross Leigh. “The park had been in existence for a number of years, but many people weren’t aware of where it was located.” Mission accomplished! The attraction has become an annual holiday tradition for many Owensboro/Daviess County families. On average, 3,500 cars tour the lighted park each holiday season. Ross estimates that over 100,000 people have seen the lights since 2003. That first year, Daviess County Fiscal Court provided the materials and utilized volunteer labor provided by the local I.B.E.W. to install the initial infrastructure. Christmas at Panther Creek was opened that November, making this the 13th year of the program. Originally, over 70 sponsors assisted in purchasing the lighted
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displays. Jeff Ebelhar, a CPA at Ebelhar Whitehead, is both a family and corporate display sponsor. Ebelhar’s parents supplied the “Country Christmas” display, which features a farm scene with a silo, tractor and barn. “My mother really loved Christmas, and my dad loved the farm. So they decided to make that display as a gift to the area that people could enjoy for years to come,” Jeff said. Eventually, Ebelhar’s CPA firm also sponsored a display, because it is “a nice, community effort that also helps local charities.” The annual holiday attraction continues to grow and evolve. 87 snowflakes were added around the ball diamonds, as well as additional lighting along the park’s boulevard entrance. A 70-foottall lighted Christmas “tree” stands by the fire tower. An 8-foottall teddy bear and Santa Express Train have been added for this season.
Applications for non-profits are available in September of each
year, and non-profits can call the office to put their name on a list to receive the next available application at any time. Each year, five non-profits are selected. Their portion of the money collected from admissions is split evenly among the five.
Eric Miller, with Western KY Raptor Center, which has been
selected several years, said, “Christmas at Panther Creek is an awesome way to raise money. We typically make between $700-800 for the week.” Sometimes, people will make extra donations to help the cause, as well.
Additional display sponsors are always welcome, and can be
arranged by contacting the Daviess County Parks office at 270-6856142.
A LIGHTED DRIVING PATH, THE SANTA EXPRESS TRAIN, 8-FOOT-TALL TEDDY BEAR
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WEARING MANY HATS BY GAIL E. KIRKLAND
H
e whipped out his International Driver’s License. Birthdate: 12-25-00. Hair: White.
Weight: 280. Eyes: Sparkle. Address: 1 Sleighbell Way, Santa’s Village, North Pole. Expiration: NEVER. Kris Kringle, a.k.a. Santa Claus, will be driving through Owensboro this holiday season in Limos by Knight—his family’s business for the past 15 years.
Tom Burton could double for Santa any day of
the week, with or without the red suit. His snow white hair and beard complement his crystal blue eyes and rosy cheeks. His wife, Pat, confided that his nose even gets kind of red, too. She affectionately recalled that a little girl once approached Tom after a basketball game shortly after Christmas and said, “Santa, thank you. I got everything I asked for!” Tom was dressed in his regular street clothes, but his Santa persona was fully intact, no pretense needed.
He’s accustomed to drawing attention and a
crowd throughout the year. “The kids at our church think that Santa goes to Settle Memorial,” Pat said. “I used to sing in the choir, and you’d see the little kids pointing and whispering, ‘There’s Santa. There’s Santa,’” Tom said with great amusement. Santa is the feature at Settle’s pre-school Breakfast with Santa. Their son, B.J., interjected, “A little girl at church comes to give Santa a hug each Sunday, regardless of the season.”
With his natural resemblance to Santa, a simple combing of his thick white hair and beard is all that’s needed prior to donning his red suit (which has a little extra padding), red suspenders, goldrimmed glasses and signature red hat, trimmed in white fur. “You’d be surprised how many honks I get and kids waving to me,” said Tom, describing what it’s like to drive through town, en route to his Santa appearances. Tom chuckled as he said that reservations for Santa begin in June. This prompted Pat to hold up a thick binder, the Santa Book, which details each of Santa’s
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appointments this season that began as early as the Saturday before
weren’t going to be able to pull my beard off,” Tom said. He was
Thanksgiving and run through Christmas Eve. Some days, he has
Santa for eight Christmas Parades. Tom often gave children a Santa
multiple appointments. This year he will be Santa for the Holiday
ring, telling them to put the magic ring on their dresser and Santa
Stroll; two Breakfasts with Santa; the Owensboro Symphony
would know if they had been bad or good. “I ran out of them, and I
Concert (Dec. 13); Mothers of Multiples; Independence Bank; the
can’t find them anymore,” he said with dismay. He has appeared in
Lions Club; Hilliard Lyons; Beef O’Brady’s; the Boys and Girls
Christmas commercials and worked at Holiday World as Santa, to
Club auction; and Brunch with Santa at the Owensboro Country
give their “regular” Santa a break. Tom has even attended the Santa
Club—in addition to multiple home visits, corporate and private
Convention at Pigeon Forge, a convergence of hundreds of Santa’s.
parties. His rate is a flat $50 per hour, except for churches and
All in all, Tom has gone through four Santa suits, but he always
schools, which he visits at no charge. “We sing some songs (like
keeps a spare cleaned and ready.
“Rudolph” and “Jingle Bells”), and I usually read The Night Before
Christmas to them. Parents or grandparents will have some presents
who are also enthralled with Santa’s presence. The first time his
sitting out on the porch, so I’ll take those in to give to the kids,”
5-year-old grandson Paul saw his granddad getting ready for the
Tom said. What a fun job! More chuckles and full agreement from
Christmas Parade, he said, “I know you’re really Santa Claus
Santa: “It is fun.”
‘tending to be my granddaddy.”
It all started in 1988 with the Owensboro Breakfast Lions Club
The Burtons have 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren
A few other challenges come with being Santa. Tom said he has
asking Tom to be Santa on their float for the Christmas Parade,
to think quickly because he gets more than his fair share of tough
giving Tom his first Santa suit and beard. “When the first little
questions from children. One of the biggies: “Where’s Rudolph?”
child came up to me, I picked her up and she said, ‘Oh, that’s
such a pretty beard,’ grabbed hold of it and pulled it off of me.
propane gas company (SureGas) and trucking company, to driving
So I decided right then, if I was going to be Santa next year, they
a tour bus, to cooking at Settle Memorial, to operating a limousine
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Tom has worn many hats through the years, from running a
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service, to donning Santa’s hat. “In ’88, I decided I wanted to retire (from the gas and trucking companies), which I did—for six months—but then I couldn’t stand it anymore . . .” Tom said. He thought the limo service would be a nice weekend business, but it has grown exponentially into a week-long, year-long, fullyoperational fleet of seven limos which cover a 9-county area, venturing practically anywhere: a shopping trip to Chicago, a weekend at the Kentucky Derby, or a simple trek to and from Nashville, St. Louis or Louisville’s airport. “There’s one thing that I love to do, and that’s to drive. You can tell by what I’ve been doing,” Tom said. The family collaborates on their limo business: Tom takes care of all maintenance; B.J. oversees dispatch and marketing; Pat does all the accounting.
No wonder Santa drives in style, especially when Rudolph
and the other reindeer are unavailable for transport. He travels first class. Santa personally drives those who book limousine service for Christmas light tours, or even a Christmas dinner in Evansville.
As I was leaving, an unmistakable twinkle accompanied his
jolly Ho-Ho-Ho. Not sure, but I think his little round belly shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
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BY DANNY MAY
THE GIFTof
FAMILY
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Some stories are better told through video
PHOTO BY CAPTURED MOMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY
than by words on paper - especially human interest stories. When OwensboroLiving. com posted the “Surrogate Sister” video, over 8,000 people viewed it in the first 24 hours, making it the top story of November, overnight.
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I
t sounds like something you might hear on the national
“the basic question became, they are family, and you see
news, yet it happened right here in Owensboro.
them hurting, do you stand by and watch the pain on
To summarize a very long and painful story: Matt and
their faces, or do you step up and help, no matter what it
Jennifer Lucas were facing infertility. Jennifer already
takes? It’s a simple answer for us: we help.”
had a daughter, Morgan, from her first marriage, but
due to complications during Morgan’s delivery, Jennifer
seemed like a no-brainer. She would be close. She could
was not able to have any more children. Now that Matt
update them easily. And most importantly, they knew she
and Jennifer were married, they hoped to have a baby
would take care of herself during the pregnancy. But, this
together. After many unsuccessful attempts and multiple
was Matt’s sister. What if something went wrong?
trips to specialists, the Lucas’ were considering having
a child through surrogacy. Matt and Jennifer produced
Their decision was made. Jill and Matt were all in.
four embryos, but then went through several surrogate
Then, more failed attempts. And more waiting.
mothers who didn’t work out.
The first embryo did not implant. Neither did the
second. At the doctor’s advice, the last two remaining
That’s when Matt’s sister, Jill Payne, volunteered to
For Matt and Jennifer Lucas, having Jill carry the baby
According to Matt Payne, Jill wouldn’t hear any of it.
carry the baby for Matt and Jennifer.
embryos were implanted simultaneously to give Jill the
highest percentage possible.
“I already had two healthy kids, and I wanted my
brother to have that experience, too,” Jill explained.
last try.” Thankfully, one of them took, and Jill was able
That’s not to say it was an easy decision, though. “My
The way Matt Lucas put it, “This literally was our
“OUR MESSAGE WOULD BE: DON’T EVER GIVE UP.”
main concern was for Jill.
to carry the baby full term, with no complications.
How was she going to be affected?” Matt Payne explained.
It gets even more complicated than that. Matt Payne
the entire process together. They met with a counselor
and Matt Lucas are not only brothers-in-law, they are
in Nashville. They went to ultrasounds together. Then
also business partners.
they met with an attorney to handle legalities. [Editor’s
note: A really cool side story here is that the judge asked
-Matt Lucas
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Even with all those things considered, for Matt Payne
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Throughout that time, both couples walked through
55
and Matt’s room. Dr. Smith and her staff came in early to make sure Jill and I were both 100% happy with Emma’s delivery.”
The nurses also took pictures of Emma being born. “It was
incredible. Each picture is time stamped, so we can see Emma come out, get handed to the nurse and be carried down the hallway to us in 20 seconds,” Jennifer said.
“It was a unique situation for the nurses, too, because they had
never been through anything like this,” Matt Lucas said. “They were thanking us for letting them be a part of it. They really went beyond the call of duty.”
Today, the dynamic between the Lucas’ and Payne’s is the same
as it ever was; only now they have an even more special bond. Matt is a proud papa. Morgan has a baby sister. And Jill is a doting and to meet face-to-face with both couples - which is not normally
very loving aunt.
required – just so he could commend Jill for her sacrifice for her
brother.]
family,” Jennifer said, about Matt and his sister. “The love that
those guys have for each other is just incredible.”
“It wasn’t just nine months,” Matt Lucas explained. “It was
“I’m just so fortunate and blessed to be a part of this amazing
about a two-and-a-half-year ordeal for Jill and Matt, from the time
we started with Jill until Emma was here.”
reflection of their parents.
Finally, Baby Emma was born on August 7, 2015 at Owensboro
Matt says he and his siblings are all very close, which is a direct “There’s nothing we could ever do or say to thank Jill and Matt
Health.
for what they’ve done for us,” Lucas said.
“Dr. Maria Smith and the entire delivery staff went out of their
Jennifer added, “The whole community has been tremendous
way to make it a good experience for us,” Jennifer Lucas said.
with the outpouring of support. So now we’re sharing her with
“They let us have a labor and delivery room directly next to Jill
everybody.”
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“White Elephant,” “Thieves’ Christmas,” “Rob Your Neighbor”no matter what you refer to it as, chances are you’ve played a version of this fun, gift-giving tradition at a holiday event with friends, family members or co-workers. But how did this game earn its moniker, and where did it originate? And for St. Nick’s sake, what does one give for a White Elephant “gift”? To find out, this roving reporter did some serious research just for you, our readers.
M
BY CASSANDRA HAMILTON
CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE WHITE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM?
erriam-Webster’s online dictionary says that a “white elephant” is “property requiring much care and expense, and while it may not be of value to its present owner, the object may have value to others.” This term seems to have originated in Asian culture, where white elephants were considered holy, but very expensive to keep. A king or ruler, when upset with one of his subjects, would gift them a white elephant, which would soon prove much too costly and would lead to the subject’s financial downfall, thereby giving the king revenge for whatever wrongdoing he felt had occurred. While few reliable sources exist, there is one popular theory about how the term “white elephant” came to describe the giftgiving game. Ezra Cornell (of Cornell University fame) began using this word to describe gifts at some of the many lavish parties he attended, and the term seemed to carry on through the years. Typically the rules of a White Elephant dictate the following: • The party host determines a “theme” for the giftgiving: ornaments, something lying around the house, candy, homemade gifts, clothing items, something that goes on a wall, etc. The more creative, the better. • Each player contributes a gift to a pile from which everyone will choose. • After drawing numbers, players choose gifts to open in that order, or they may “steal” a present that had been opened previously by another player. • If your gift is stolen, the process repeats itself, and hilarity ensues.
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Many party hosts (and guests) add their own flair to www.OwensboroLiving.com
the game, and can set limitations on how many times a gift can be stolen or exchanged. This limit ensures that the game will eventually come to an end, so that everyone can participate in other party fun. Personally, I had never heard of “White Elephant” gift-giving until I began dating my now-husband. I was introduced to the tradition at my mother-in-law’s family Christmas. The Bean/ Hamilton family knows how to have fun when they get together! They treat “White Elephant” as the tradition began, and everyone searches closets, attics, basements and, yes, even local thrift stores for the tackiest, most ridiculous, or most outlandish gift. As you can imagine, laughter rules the night as each person opens and eventually loses a gift when someone chooses to steal it from them. One year, the gifts included lottery tickets that had already been scratched off and weren’t “winners,” a six-pack that consisted of only three cans that still contained beer, a pair of Christmasthemed underwear that seems to turn up year after year, and my personal favorite - an authentic sombrero that someone had dug out of their parents’ attic, still covered in dust and maybe a few spider webs. Every year, I would try to be creative when choosing and wrapping my gift, attempting to wrap it as attractively as possible - a must to ensure someone picks your present to open. But being the least creative person on the planet, my gifts always fell short of amusing. So I decided to help everyone out this year and give you (and me) a few ideas of what to take if we are attending a White Elephant event. Ideally, you want your gift to be funny or weird. But, of course, you can always bring a nice, high-quality gift. But why be a party pooper, huh? Join in on the fun, and add to the level of laughter by bringing something totally off-the-wall and unexpected. Below are some ideas: • Ugly Christmas sweaters- homemade or store-bought, it doesn’t matter as long as they are UGLY! • Gift cards - I know, I know, these are a cop out. But these aren’t your typical gift cards. These are $25 or $50 gift cards with less than a $5 balance on them. • Crazy socks or tee shirts with funny sayings • A redneck bubble bath - Google it, you will love it! • Cold, hard cash- freeze money in a block of ice and give in a plastic bag. • For more great ideas, search Pinterest for “White Elephant gift exchange.” Of course, you can always be nice, and bring a gift someone may actually want or have use for. I mean, it is Christmas, right? The bottom line in White Elephant gift-giving is that it doesn’t matter what you bring to contribute to the pile of presents, but be sure to bring your camera and a healthy sense of humor, because it will be entertaining! www.OwensboroLiving.com
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS
A New Year, A New You. A Guide to Maintaining Your Financial Resolutions.
As the new year creeps closer and closer, so do those pesky New Year’s resolutions. You know, those lofty aspirations to lose weight, work out more, save money, etc. that drive us all to make better decisions for our emotional, physical and financial health. Here's are the tips you need to get your finances on a better path.
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B
ad news first: if you’re looking to make last-minute tax deductions for 2015, you might be too late. Good news: now is the perfect time to start planning for 2016’s tax season. Owensboro Living compiled this list of tax tips to help you maximize your return.
MAXIMIZE RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS Decreasing your taxable income throughout the year is a great way to lower your tax bill. A common way to do that is maxing your 401(k) contributions until December 31 (which is the annual cutoff date for getting tax deductions in the following year). Putting money into your 401(k) account has several advantages; you’re saving for retirement and lowering your tax bill for 2016 at the same time. If you haven’t fully funded your retirement account for 2015 yet, do so by April 18, 2016. That’s the deadline for contributing to Roth and traditional IRAs.
TAX TIPS FOR 2016
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TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SAVER’S CREDIT Low- and moderate-income workers can save for retirement and earn a special tax credit called the saver’s credit, which was started in 2014. The saver’s credit helps offset part of the first $2,000 workers voluntarily contribute to IRAs and 401(k) plans and similar workplace retirement programs.
CONTRIBUTE TO A 529 PLAN
Speaking of saving, putting money into a 529 plan is a great way
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP to save for a child’s college education, while also lowering your tax bill. These saving plans are typically operated by a state or educational institution, and like the money in a 401(k), investments in a 529 grow tax free.
Here are a few additional tips to help your tax filing run smoothly: •
documents you’ll need to complete your tax return. •
DONATE Making regular charitable donations could also reduce next year’s income taxes. Financial contributions, along with any items donated to qualified organizations, may be tax deductible. Don’t forget to submit your itemized deductions for donations by Dec. 31 to get a tax break for the following year.
ITEMIZE YOUR DEDUCTIONS It is easier to take the standard deduction, but itemizing can save you more money, especially if you are self-employed, own a home or live in a high-tax area. It’s worth the extra time if your qualified expenses add up to more than the 2015 standard deduction of $6,300 for singles and $12,400 for married couples filing jointly. Most deductions are well known, but taxpayers sometimes overlook miscellaneous expenses that could be deductible if the combined amount adds up to more than two percent of your adjusted gross income. For example; taxpreparation fees, job-hunting expenses, business car expenses and professional dues. You can also deduct a portion of medical expenses that exceed 10% percent of your adjusted gross income. Also, there is a temporary exemption from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2016 for individuals age 65 and older and their spouses. If you or your spouse are 65 years or older or turned 65 during the tax year you are allowed to deduct unreimbursed medical care expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. The threshold remains at 7.5% of AGI for those taxpayers until Dec. 31, 2016.
Keep all the information that comes in the mail in January, such as W-2s, 1099s and mortgage interest statements. Be
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT HSAs are personal savings accounts that individuals can place money into, which can be withdrawn tax free, as long as they’re used for medical expenses. Usually, people with high-deductible health plans qualify for HSAs, and those individuals can put up to $3,350 in their accounts per year ($6,650 for families). Because money goes into a HSA account before it’s taxed, this is another excellent way of reducing your taxable income. HSA funds that aren’t used within the year roll over into the following one.
Print out a tax checklist to help you gather all the tax
careful not to throw out any tax-related documents, even if they don’t look very important. •
Collect receipts and information that you have piled up during the year.
•
Group similar documents together, putting them in different file folders if there are enough papers.
•
Make sure you know the price you paid for any stocks or funds you have sold. If you don’t, call your broker before you start to prepare your tax return. Know the details on income from rental properties. Don’t assume that your taxfree municipal bonds are completely free of taxes. Having this type of information at your fingertips will save you another trip through your files.
3 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN FILING YOURSELF: FILE AND PAY ON TIME If you can’t finish your return on time, file Form 4868 by April 18, which gives you a six-month extension of the filing deadline until October 17. FILE ELECTRONICALLY Electronic filing works best if you expect a tax refund. The IRS processes electronic returns faster than paper ones, so you can expect to get your refund three to six weeks earlier. PROVIDE DEPENDENT TAXPAYER IDS Be sure to list Taxpayer Identification Numbers (usually Social Security Numbers) for your children and other dependents on your return. If you don’t, the IRS will deny the personal exemption of $3,950 for each dependent and the potential $1,000 child tax credit for each child under age 17.
ORGANIZE YOUR RECORDS The biggest headache for most people at tax time is gathering all of the documents: last year’s tax return, W-2s, 1099s, receipts etc. One way to make tax season go smoothly is to use a personal finance software program like Quicken throughout the year so you have easy access to all the information you need.
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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL
YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
FINANCIAL PLANNING:
WHERE TO BEGIN? Expert Advice from Drew Watson from Watson, Chaney and Associates.
M
ost times, a financial advisor can get you started on recognizing your goals and forming a plan in about an hour. The implementation of that plan comes in on-going meetings after that. I always tell people if you can consistently save, and put it in the right places, most people have the ability to change their lives for the better down the road. But you have to make that first step and meet with an expert who can help you find those opportunities and make wise decisions with them. A lot can be done with relatively small sums. Disciplined consistency - month after month or paycheck after paychcck - can make a huge difference in your life. Common misconceptions: I’m too old to plan for retirement. When it comes to saving for retirement, starting early is the ideal scenario because it compounds over time. But it’s never too late to start. I can’t afford to contribute anything right now. Employer benefits could be “hidden money” in your paycheck that you won’t miss now but could pay off greatly in the future. Using your tax return could be another opportunity. A financial advisor can help you maximize those opportunities I can’t afford to work with a financial advisor. In reality, a financial advisor is less than what most people spend on cable each month. The process: As a financial advisor, my role is to work with a client not only from my expertise, but also from my experience so the client feels confident in their ability to achieve their goals when we design a plan.
First meeting: The first meeting is about determining long-term
goals. For example, are you planning for retirement? Saving to put kids through college? Or estate planning? Designing a plan: The next step is to design a plan and determine a time frame to meet those goals. On-going maintenance: Then, there are touch points along the way to update your status and re-evaluate your goals based on life circumstances, if needed. Protection: Once you have a plan in place, the goal shifts to protecting that plan in case of unexpected emergencies like death or long-term illness. 4 Key Areas for Financial Planning • Cash flow analysis – Where is your money going? Where can you funnel some money toward saving and retirement? • Income tax planning - A financial advisor can help you find hidden treasures in employer benefits and tax benefits. • Investment planning – There are many options and many strategies. A financial advisor helps sort through them with you to determine which investment strategies are most beneficial for your situation. • Estate planning – What legacy do you want to leave? One of the benefits of working with a financial advisor is the ability for a firm like Watson, Chaney and Associates to work with multiple generations. The plan you design can have an impact for decades to come.
20 years in business Certified Financial Planner Member of Ameriprise Hall of Fame “A missionary’s heart with a capitalist’s mind.” www.OwensboroLiving.com
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
H I L L I A R D LY O N S - T H E S E T T L E G R O U P
TOP YEAR-END INVESTMENT TIPS J
ust what you need, right? One more time-consuming task
or carried forward to reduce your taxes in future years.
to be taken care of between now and the end of the year. But TIME ANY TRADES APPROPRIATELY
taking a little time out from the holiday chores to make some strategic saving and investing decisions before December
If you’re selling to harvest losses in a stock or mutual fund
31 can affect not only your long-term ability to meet your
and intend to repurchase the same security, make sure you wait
financial goals but also the amount of taxes you’ll owe next
at least 31 days before buying it again. Otherwise, the trade is
April.
considered a “wash sale,” and the tax loss will be disallowed. If you have unrealized losses that you want to capture but
LOOK AT THE FOREST, NOT JUST THE TREES
still believe in a specific investment, you could double your
It is important to review your overall portfolio at least
holdings, then sell your original shares at a loss after 31 days.
once a year. That review can tell you whether you need to
You’d end up with the same position, but would have captured
rebalance. If one type of investment has done well (i.e. large-
the tax loss.
cap stocks), it might now represent a greater percentage of
If you’re buying a mutual fund in a taxable account
your portfolio than you originally intended. To rebalance, you
(non-IRA), find out when it will distribute any dividends or
would sell some of that asset class and use that money to buy other types of investments to bring your overall allocation back to an appropriate balance. Also, make sure your asset allocation is still appropriate for your time horizon and goals. Diversification and asset allocation don’t guarantee a profit or insure against a possible loss, of course, but they’re worth reviewing at least once a year. KNOW WHEN TO HOLD ‘EM
Don’t forget to consider how long you’ve owned each
investment before you sell. Assets held for a year or less generate short-term capital gains, which are taxed as ordinary income, which could be much higher than the long-term capital gains rate (when selling assets held for more than a year).
date, which often is near year-end. If you buy just before the distribution, you’ll owe taxes this year on that money, even if your own shares haven’t appreciated. And if you plan to sell a fund anyway, you may minimize taxes by selling before the distribution date. KNOW WHERE TO HOLD ‘EM
Think about which investments make sense to hold in a
tax-advantaged account (e.g., a 401(k), IRA, or SEP) and which might be better for taxable accounts. For example, it’s generally not a good idea to hold tax-free investments, such as municipal bonds, in an IRA account. Doing so provides no additional tax advantage to compensate you for tax-free investments’ typically lower returns. And doing so generally turns that tax-
MAKE LEMONADE FROM LEMONS
capital gains. Consider delaying your purchase until after that
Now is the time to consider the tax consequences of any
free income into income that’s taxable at ordinary income tax rates when you withdraw it from the retirement account.
capital gains or losses you’ve experienced this year. Though
tax considerations shouldn’t be the primary driver of your
and therefore generate a lot of short-term capital gains, it may
investing decisions, there are steps you can take before the
make sense to hold them in a tax-advantaged account to defer
end of the year to minimize any tax impact of your investing
taxes on those gains, which can occur even if the fund itself has
decisions.
a loss.
Similarly, if you have mutual funds that trade actively
If you have realized capital gains from selling securities at BE SELECTIVE ABOUT SELLING SHARES
a profit (congratulations!) and you have no tax losses carried forward from previous years, you can sell losing positions
to avoid being taxed on some or all of those gains – this is
shares, you may be able to maximize your tax advantage. You
called “harvesting your losses.” Any losses over and above
can also request that specific shares be sold--for example, those
the amount of your gains can be used to offset up to $3,000 of
bought at a certain price. Depending on when you bought a
ordinary income ($1,500 for a married person filing separately)
specific security, we can calculate your cost basis for you.
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If you own a stock, fund, or ETF and decide to unload some
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
BY JOSHUA E. MILLER NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL
Minimize risk to
MAXIMIZE BUSINESS POTENTIAL “Risky Business” takes on a new meaning to the entrepreneur who excitedly opens the doors, real or virtual, for business on that first day and awaits customers. As any entrepreneur knows, one can work hard, create a good product and maintain good business relationships -- do everything right -- and still some future events are beyond one’s control. A whole host of unforeseen possibilities can dash the dream, including the impact of a disability suffered by you or an employee. Planning for success requires taking a hard look at where the business is vulnerable. The likelihoods vary with age, but during your income-producing years, you are nearly twice as likely to become disabled as you are to die before reaching age 65.1 A sound risk management plan’s purpose is to lessen the impact of a disability on your business. What are your options? There is coverage to protect human capital, and coverage to protect your ability to do business. The specific types of insurance you need will depend upon the type of business you have and how you conduct that business. But selecting the right coverage for your business should not be a “deal or no deal,” decision. The challenge is to find the right combination of policies that provide protection without duplicating coverage.
Protecting Your Employees As your company grows and you add employees, it becomes increasingly important to protect your human capital. Quality employees are vital to the success of your business. Offering disability income insurance to protect your employees can also help you to create a competitive benefits package, which can enhance your recruiting and retention of employees. While most states require companies to carry workers’ compensation to cover the cost of work-related injuries, it’s important to keep in mind that less than 5% of long-term disabilities are work related. The other 95% are not, meaning workers’ compensation doesn’t cover them.2 In fact, the major causes of disability are diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.3 Valuable disability income protection can be provided for employees through group disability income insurance, individual disability income insurance, or a combination of the two.
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Protecting Your Ability to Do Business Protecting your ability to earn an income and offering income protection to your employees certainly makes good business sense, but what happens when a loss directly impacts your bottom line? How will you protect your business and provide the money to keep your business running if you or another owner essential to maintaining the income becomes unable to work? There are specific types of insurance to consider: • Disability overhead insurance can provide needed cash to meet business expenses such as rent, payroll, benefits, utilities, taxes, maintenance costs and others. • Disability key person insurance can help your company weather the disability of a key employee. • Disability buyout insurance can help purchase the business interest of a totally disabled owner.
Protection That Grows Along with Your Company With a lot of hard work and a little luck, small businesses do prosper and grow. The right risk management plan must also evolve to protect your business through all its phases of growth. Keep in mind that there are as many additional types of insurance coverage as there are unique business needs. That’s where an experienced financial professional can help you focus on your current and future business risks to select the right types and amounts of coverage to meet your ongoing needs. Partnering with a financial professional gives you the benefit of another expert keeping a watchful eye on the growth of your business. By lessening the effect of serious potential business problems with a sound risk management plan, you protect and enhance your potential for business success. Society of Actuaries Individual Disablity Experience Committee 1999 Preliminary Table, most recent update; 2 Society of Actuaries 2001 Valuation Basic Table most recent update. 3 Disability Statistics, Council for Disability Awareness, March 1
2013. Article prepared by Northwestern Mutual with the cooperation of Joshua E. Miller. Joshua E. Miller is a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual, the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and its subsidiaries. Financial Representative is an agent of NM based in Owensboro, KY. To contact Joshua E. Miller, please call (270) 663-0607, e-mail at joshua.e.miller@ nm.com or visit the Website at joshuaemiller.com.
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EATS & TREATS From savory centerpieces to rich, flavorful sides to cookies and candies aplenty, the holiday season is a time to appreciate a bounty of good food while surrounded by your loved ones. Make this year’s celebration extra special with cooking tips and recipes that make a festive feast to remember as easy as can be. Start with a main dish carved just right, add an exciting twist on traditional staples and learn how unexpected ingredients make delicious seasonal sweets.
PREPPING THE PERFECT HAM A baked ham is the perfect centerpiece to any holiday celebration. Follow these tips to ensure your seasonal meal’s main course is a sensation with your guests: • Never thaw meat on the kitchen counter as the external temperature can rise above 40°F while the inside remains frozen. Thaw in either the refrigerator or in cold water. • Plan ahead to clean up; line your pan with aluminum foil. • To avoid dried out ham, cook at 325°F, allowing 20-30 minutes per pound. 72 OWENSBORO LIVING
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• Place fat side up. The melting fat will baste your ham. Turn over halfway through baking to avoid uneven salting. • Do not use sharp utensils when turning the ham. Valuable juices may escape if the ham is pierced. •
Use proper cooking times and temperatures. Cooking to at least 145°F will result in juicy, tender meat.
• Let ham stand for 15 minutes after roasting before slicing. • Completely cook ham until done. Avoid partial cooking and storing in refrigerator for later use, which can contaminate the meat. www.OwensboroLiving.com
GARLIC EVOO SMASHED POTATOES AND PARSNIPS Servings: 6
Ingredients: 3 medium to large russet potatoes, peeled and large diced 3 large parsnips, peeled and large diced garlic olive oil, to taste (see recipe) 3 tablespoons parsley, thinly shredded salt and pepper Combine potatoes and parsnips in water, boil until tender. Drain well. In large roasting pan, smash drained potatoes and parsnips with fork. Season hot potatoes and parsnips with garlic olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper. Serve immediately. Garlic Olive Oil Ingredients: 1 head of garlic, washed, dried and halved 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil In small loaf pan, cover garlic with extra virgin olive oil. Place foil over pan, place in 250-300째F oven until garlic is fully cooked and soft. Remove garlic and pop out cloves. Strain extra virgin olive oil to remove any skins. Puree cooked cloves with strained oil.
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HOT CHOCOLATE CRUNCH COOKIES
Prep time: 30 minutes | Total time: 3 hours | Servings: 52 cookies Ingredients: 1 cup Cocoa Pebbles, divided 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 1 3/4 cups sugar, divided 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon chili powder (optional) Heat oven to 350°F. In food processor, crush cereal to yield 1/2 cup. In medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup ground cereal, flour, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. In large bowl, using electric mixer, cream butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down side of bowl. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture, beating until combined. Chill dough 1-2 hours. In small bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup ground cereal, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon and chili powder (optional – for a delicious spicy twist). Using a tablespoon, form balls of dough. Roll in cinnamon-sugar-cereal mixture. Place balls 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Press down lightly with a glass. Bake 8-10 minutes.
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PEANUT BUTTER SALTINE BRITTLE Makes: 45 pieces
Ingredients: Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray 1/2 cup butter 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1 cup granulated sugar 1 sleeve (4 ounces) regular saltine crackers 2 cups milk chocolate chips 1/2 cup peanut butter chips 1/2 cup roughly chopped, dry-roasted, salted peanuts Heat oven to 400째F. Line a 10-by-15-by-1-inch pan with aluminum foil. Spray foil with butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray; set aside. In heavy duty, 1-quart saucepan heat butter, peanut butter and sugar over medium heat. Stir constantly until butter and sugar are melted. Bring ingredients to boil; stir frequently for 3 minutes. While mixture cooks, lay saltines flat in single layer on prepared pan. Pour cooked mixture evenly over saltines. Place in oven and cook 5 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Let cool for 3 minutes, then spread chocolate completely over top of saltines. Sprinkle peanut butter chips evenly over top of chocolate. Return pan to oven 1 minute to soften chips. Pull tines of fork through softened peanut butter chips to partially cover chocolate. Sprinkle peanuts over top and gently press down. Let cool on rack about 15 minutes; place in freezer for 3 minutes. Remove from freezer and break into pieces. Store in airtight container.
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CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK Every night through December | Panther Creek Park Come and enjoy the holiday family tradition of driving through Panther Creek Park decorated with over 400,000 festive Christmas lights and holiday displays. Fun for the whole family, and who knows, you may even get a visit from Santa! Cost is $3 per vehicle, with proceeds benefiting local non-profit charities!
MARKET DAYS December 5 - 6 | Preservation Station, 9661 Kentucky 56 Preservation Station Market Days are held the first full weekend of every month. Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m., with over 80 vendors of antique, vintage, handcrafted, and boutique items, live music, and food. Preservation Station Market and Event Center, 9661 Hwy 56. Also open daily Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday Noon - 5 p.m. Call 270-9937532, go to www.visitpreservationstation.com, or find us on Facebook.
LANHAM BROTHERS JAMBOREE 2015 CHRISTMAS SHOW December 12 at 7 p.m. | Diamond Lake Resort Theater Special guests include Joe Christian, Annabelle Watts, Skylar Cain, Leland Isbill, Tom Ewing, Jeff Hardesty, Gaining Ground, Lexie Merritt, Laura Briner, Wayne Morris and The Footstompin’ Express Cloggers. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for ages 6 to 12, and ages 5 and under are free. All proceeds go to Volunteer Owensboro. Shows include country, bluegrass, gospel, clogging, square-dancing, skits, comedy, and crowd interaction and are filmed for TV broadcast on KET and WNIN. 76 OWENSBORO LIVING
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RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL
December 15 at 7 p.m. | RiverPark Center The beloved TV classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season. Come see all of your favorite characters from the special, including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph, as they come to life in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. It’s an adventure that teaches us that what makes you different can be what makes you special. Don’t miss this wonderful holiday tradition that speaks to the misfit in all of us.
ACTIVE
2015 CARE NET REINDEER RUN 5K December 5 at 9 a.m. | Smothers Park Join us for the Care Net Reindeer Run! There will be raffles all morning for everyone that signs up to be a participant! Some of the prizes included in the raffles are Mini iPad, gift cards, kids prizes, and much more! Christmas attire, ugly sweaters and Santa hats encouraged! Prizes will also be awarded to the adult and child with the most creative outfit. Santa will be running the race with us, as well! Not only is that fun, but for every participant that beats Santa to the finish line, he will donate $10 to Care Net! When the run is over, join us for hot chocolate from Overflow Café, and roast marshmallows around the fire pits! Registration Details: T-shirts are guaranteed with pre-registration until November 7. Pre-register: $20.00. Family pre-registration: (must include one adult in family pre-registration package). Adults: $15.00 per person. Children: $10.00 per person (3 and under are free). All registrations after November 7 will be $25, and are not guaranteed a t-shirt. Online registration cutoff is December 3. Day-of registration between 8-9 a.m. in the Hampton Inn lobby. Plan ahead and pick up your packet at Legends on December 4 between 4-7 p.m. Cash prizes for 1st place male & female in the following categories: 10 & under; 1119; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; and 70 & above. Chip Timed by OARWC. Race check-in will be in the Hampton Inn lobby. www.OwensboroLiving.com
KIDS
ARCTIC ADVENTURE KIDS FUN FESTIVAL
January 2 -3 | Owensboro Convention Center The Arctic Adventure Kids Fun Festival presented by One Health Pediatrics is an indoor, polar playground full of activities for kids of all ages! Fun for kids. Free for adults. No parkas needed. This is the last weekend of Christmas break and the perfect time to get out of the house and into the Convention Center for cabin fever relief. AN ACTIVE ADVENTURE – Get ready to snowboard, slide, jump, sled, climb, explore, navigate, and bobsled in our interactive (ice-free) obstacles and attractions. UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS – Never-before-seen extreme attractions to thrill toddlers and teenagers alike. AFFORDABLE – $15 tickets for ages 3-17. Adults and children 2 and under are free! Use discount code “PARENT” to save $3! SHORTER LINES – Staggered sessions and limited entry to reduce crowding and attraction wait times. INDOOR – Come in and chill out! Avoid the frigid temperatures with an indoor polar playground, fun for kids of all ages. GIVE THE GIFT OF FUN – Tickets to the Arctic Adventure make excellent and affordable Christmas presents and stocking stuffers! BUY TICKETS – www.arcticadventurefun.com Times: Saturday, January 2, 2016 Noon – 2 p.m. (Early Entry – 11:30 a.m.) 3 – 5 p.m. (Early Entry – 2:30 p.m.) 6 – 8 p.m. (Early Entry – 5:30 p.m.) Sunday, January 3, 2016 1 – 3 p.m. (Early Entry – 12:30 p.m.) 4 – 6 p.m. (Early Entry – 3:30 p.m.) 7 – 9 p.m. (Early Entry – 6:30 p.m.) Pricing: Adults and Children (2 Years and Under) – FREE Children (Ages 3-17) – $15 For a limited time, use the coupon on the ad in the November issue of Owensboro Parent magazine to save $3 on each entry fee. Adults and those under 3 years of age are free. That’s right, adult entry is FREE! Early Admission Entry, which gets you into your session 30 minutes early, is also available for an extra $10.
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OPEN BOUNCE NIGHTS
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays | U-Bounce The perfect party place for kids. Amazing inflatables in an unbelievably cool bounce stadium. Private, clean and climate controlled. All children must wear socks. $7 per child, children under 2 are free, unless they are the only child, adults always free. On Toddler Tuesday, children 5 and under get in for $5 all night. Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 – 8 p.m. and Friday, 5 - 9 p.m. 270-685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.
FREE STORYTIME
Mondays & Thursdays | Daviess County Public Library Wee Read for ages 2 and younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 – 10:30 a.m. 270-684-0211 or dcplibrary.org.
FREE SATURDAY MORNING LIVE!
Mondays & Thursdays | Daviess County Public Library Visit the library every Saturday morning for self-guided fun and educational activities with a focus on literacy and school readiness. 10 a.m. - Noon 270-684-0211 or dcplibrary.org.
HOLIDAY IN THE PARK
Any day through January 3 | Legion Park Holiday in the Park! Walk through the beautiful decorated Legion Park and you will truly become filled with the joy and spirit of Christmas!
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AN IRISH CHRISTMAS
December 6 at 7 p.m. | RiverPark Center An Irish Christmas brings just about everything to the table – joy, hope, laughter, friendship, celebration, of life through storytelling, music, song, and dance in a night that sparkles with life and a bit of “magic!” Dancers dance through the generations over brooms, on half doors, around butter churns, into the world of mythology and out again. Songs spinning out of the mists and into the familiar “Silent Night,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and “Carol of the Bells,” and superb music of the pipes, flutes, fiddles, button accordion and bodhráns are just the beginning of this great Irish night! You can be sure of a rip-roaring celebration of Christmas from the heart of glorious Ireland, with a superb team of Irish traditional musicians, dancers from the Kerry Dance Troupe lead by Scott Doherty (Riverdance & Lord of the Dance), the Kerry Records voice squad, and Irish actor Sheelagh Cullen. We will journey through Christmas in Ireland and celebrate the great tradition of butter making, chase the wren on St. Stephen’s day, draw down the half door for spectacular dance, enjoy superb music-making, singing of Christmas carols and great storytelling in an unforgettable Irish night. Irish folk theatre at its best! So come and refresh your spirit, dust off the cares of the world and dance home with a smile in your heart as this joyful night brings you to a wonderful Ireland that echoes so forcefully in millions of hearts throughout the world. You can be certain of a GREAT IRISH WELCOME!
HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT! BY OWENSBORO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
ARTS
THE NUTCRACKER PRESENTED BY OWENSBORO DANCE THEATRE
December 5 at 7 p.m. | RiverPark Center Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet is brought to life on the Cannon Hall stage with elaborate sets, costumes and one very special toy. Children of all ages will find the magic and joy of Christmas through the beauty of music and dance. This outstanding production will fill the stage with light, movement, color and sound, and delight students with its imaginative renderings of a classic ballet. Showcasing performances by six seasoned, professional dancers from Atlanta, Chicago and Denver, audiences will be thrilled by their expertise, grace and athleticism.
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December 13 from 3 – 5 p.m. | RiverPark Center Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by a choir…and the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra spreading holiday cheer with the annual Holiday Pops concert! A sleigh full of guest artists, including American Idol finalist, Jenny Beth Willis, Owensboro Symphony Chorus, Owensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra, combined children’s chorus from City and County Elementary Schools, Owensboro High School Red Steel Drum Ensemble, and actors from Theater Workshop of Owensboro will join the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra for favorite carols, cherished holiday tunes, seasonal orchestral pieces and a Christmas carol sing-along. One of our favorite and most festive events of the year, make the Holiday Pops part of your holiday tradition. Join symphony patrons in the spirit of giving and bring any type of hospitality gift card to the concert for a resident at Wendell Foster’s Campus for Developmental Disabilities. All gift cards will then be distributed to our friends at the Wendell Foster Campus – assured of making someone’s day a little more magical! Concert Sponsor: Aleris. Guest Artist Sponsor: Hafer Associates and Independence Bank.
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DOWNTOWN
SMALL OFFICE HOLIDAY LUNCH
Friday, December 4 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Owensboro Convention Center Get out of the office and celebrate the holidays with us! Relax and let us do all the work! Enjoy a delicious lunch, holiday décor, music and more! The cost is $26 per person.
HOLIDAY STROLL
December 5 from 1 – 8 p.m. | Downtown Owensboro This is the perfect opportunity to stroll along the beautifullydecorated City streets, sidewalks and Smothers Park! Hundreds of people attend this annual event to enjoy the weather and get into the Christmas Spirit! Come and enjoy, there will be activities and lots of fun for the whole family, including downtown dining and Christmas shopping; free admission to the Owensboro Museum of Science and History from 4 – 6 p.m. with kids activities, including the Polar Express and a meet and greet with a penguin from the Newport Aquarium; a decorate-your-own-gingerbread-man event at this year’s Gingerbread Celebration at the Owensboro Convention Center; a game of (Holiday) Stroll and Seek “Elf on the Shelf ” Scavenger Hunt; and of course, the Christmas tree lighting in Smothers Park at 5 p.m.
BICENTENNIAL CLOSING CEREMONIES December 5 from 4 – 5 p.m. | Courthouse Lawn
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The Closing Ceremony for the DC Bicentennial Celebration will include the Time Capsule re-burying ceremony on the Courthouse lawn with community caroling around the Bicentennial Christmas Tree!
GOLDIE’S 3RD ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOW
December 31 at 8 p.m. | RiverPark Center Back by popular demand! Goldie’s presenting the Third Annual One-Time Only New Year’s Eve show on December 31, 2015. This year’s show will include country and gospel music, as well as the infamous old time Rock-N-Roll spectacular. The show is made from the best of the best – Goldie, her Backstage Band and singers. The cast and crew will be coming from Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Africa to be a part of this third annual show. The show begins at 8 p.m. and will be followed by a Moonlite Bar-B-Q breakfast buffet at midnight. Tickets are: adults - $20 or $25; adult breakfast $15.00, or an adult show/breakfast combo for $35.00 or $40.00. Children (12 and under) prices are $10.00 or $12.50 for the show and $10.00 for the breakfast, or a kids show breakfast combo for $20 or -$22.50.
NEW YEAR’S EVE – DANCE THROUGH THE DECADES
December 31 at 8 p.m. | Owensboro Convention Center Dance through the decades and ring in 2016 with funk, rock, soul, rhythm & blues with Old School! Admission is $55.
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THE SEASON OF GIVING
I
THE LAST WORD BY LORA WIMSATT
suppose the idea involves a last-minute opportunity to
and electronics.
take advantage of tax write-offs, but the closing months
Isn’t that what Christmas is all about – piling boxes of
of the year always find my mailbox overflowing with
gifts under the tree for those who are closest to us? Whether
solicitations from every charity and non-profit organization
we consciously recognize it or not, we give gifts – freely,
in the world, all making a case for support of their worthy
generously, willingly – to those whom we deem deserving …
causes.
but to others, well, not so much.
There are red kettles and bellringers on every corner,
But somewhere above the glare of headlights inching
campaigns for giving at the office, canned good and non-
through bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way to the mall,
perishable food item drives at every school and special
and the beacons of streetlights illuminating the packed
offerings at every church. Add that to the month’s general
parking lots at the shopping complex, or the glow of a
reputation as the “season for giving,” and it seems like
computer screen as the tech-savvy shopper loads a virtual
everywhere you turn, there is a request for donations.
shopping cart along the way to a virtual check-out to be paid
It can all be a little overwhelming.
for with virtual money …
Perhaps that explains why some people wrap themselves
… somewhere, a Star still shines.
tightly in a cloak of disdain and denial that would make
A Star that quietly lights one tiny corner of the dark
Scrooge proud, snarling that you never really know where
universe as it reminds us of the most amazing, the most
your money is going, and why should you just give away
generous, the most loving example of charity ever known.
your hard-earned money, and after all, charity begins at
home, where there is a long wish list just waiting to be
those in need,” there is no greater illustration than that of a gift
fulfilled for children, siblings and extended family members
given centuries ago, free, generously, willingly … to those who
who all want, need and surely deserve the latest toys, gadgets
were not at all deserving, but, oh, so much in need.
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If “charity” is defined as “the voluntary giving of help to
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