Paducah Life Magazine - December2 023/January 2024 by PaducahLife

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • $ 2.95

★ Cityine

Magaz E ~

~ SIN

1990

Meet the People Who

curate creativity

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contents 36

Beekeeping at Bizzell Bluff Farms

december 2023/january 2024 ★ from the editor page 5 ★ last word page 68

8 Matt Johnston at FoxBriar 12 Amy Nolan at Max’s Brick Oven 14 Tory Hicks at Cynthia’s Ristorante 16 Jake Harris at freight house 18 Krimson Laudando at Stella’s 23 Cookies In A Bag Bring Happiness to the Heart

27 Gaining Ground With Grains 30 Growing Mushrooms With Wild Love 41 The Art Guild Curates Creativity 48 Stephanie Felker Looks

MEET PADUCAH’S DOWNTOWN MIXOLOGISTS

Out Her Literary Window

50 Carson Center Celebrates 20th Anniversary

57 Local Charities Establish Mobile Units 61 Paducah Life Goes Global 64 Brad Rankin Shares Some Secrets 66 YAC Receives Governor’s Award in the Arts

A Colorful Cultural Celebration

Visit us at paducahlife.com ★ SEE AND HEAR MORE OF THE FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE ON

2 • PADUCAH LIFE

VOLUME 33, EDITION 6 executive editor/ P U B L I S H E R Darlene M. Mazzone

� associate E D I TO R S Stephanie Watson J.T. Crawford Amanda Hutchison Amy Clevidence

� art D I R E C TO R Scott McWilliams

� associate art D I R E C TO R Allison Wicker

� editorial P H OTO G R A P H Y Amy Wright

� cover P H OTO G R A P H Y Brad Rankin Photography

� on the C OV E R Matt Johnston behind the bar at the FoxBriar

� Paducah Life is published six times a year for the Paducah area. All contents copyright 2023 by Mazzone Communications. Reproduction or use of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Comments written in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ownership or management of Paducah Life. Subscription rate is $29.95 for six issues. Subscription inquiries, all remittances and all advertising inquiries should be sent to Paducah Life, 2780 D New Holt Rd. #346, Paducah, KY 42001. Phone: (270) 556-1914. This magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. All submissions may be edited for length, clarity and style.

Don’t disappoint your friends and loved ones! Give them another year of

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DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 3

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5150 HEARTLAND DRIVE

★ from the E DI TOR

GREW UP DOWN A COUNTRY LANE IN FAR WESTERN KENTUCKY. The rutted gravel road of my young years was lined with pines through which winter winds whispered their secret messages of what was headed our way. We always hoped it would be snow, but that was more often than not a wish unfulfilled. BUT, when it DID happen, there was a celebration. I lived on a working farm which meant that summer meals consisted of what we grew. The aspect of a nightly meal, centered around fresh corn, green beans, lush tomatoes, fried okra, and collards, is not to be diminished. But when the holidays rolled around, there were oranges and ribbon candy and peppermint sticks and FUDGE! That was reason to celebrate. Growing up in the 60s in a community of about 300 people with three stores, a bank, and a funeral home, the idea of picking up a board game at Target (which didn’t exist) or adding a Barbie to your collection on any given day was a far-flung dream of people who lived in a world I did not inhabit. So, the few very special gifts that made their way beneath my wispy little cedar tree sprinkled with tinsel each Christmas was a sight to behold AND a day of celebration. This time of year, we center much of our daily LIFE around the anticipation of a myriad of celebratory occasions. And for good reason. We congregate to share the rituals of being together as families, or colleagues, or friends. We come together as members of various religious or spiritual philosophies to join our voices in a common context. We support charities, volunteer for causes we believe in, or find ways to bring meaning to these special days when giving becomes a greater part of our daily round. All this to say that given these heightened points of celebration brought about by the calendar, I propose that we take that caring and compassion into all the days that fill our lives. In a world filled with much less love thy neighbor than we would like, let’s all pledge to do better in the days to come. Let’s celebrate the most wonderful time of the year all year long. (And yes, that’s my favorite holiday hum-along.) We hope you’ll join us on the journey. Each day we’re given, let’s celebrate LIFE in ALL its many wonders.

Darlene M. Mazzone darlene@paducahlife.com

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 5

The Holidays Always Bring a Smile! (And So Do We!)

From all of us at Broadway Dental, thank you for trusting us with your dental health this past year. It is our pleasure to count you as a client and a friend. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Dr. Ethan Shelton, DMD Dr. Kinny E. Slaughter, DMD Dr. James K. Hunt, DMD Dr. Allison Reed, DMD

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6 • PA D U CAH LIFE

★ by DAR L ENE MAZZONE

mixing up some

magic

ust as we go to restaurants to savor food we don’t normally make at home, we often go to bars to forgo the hard work and intimate study of cocktail ingredients in favor of having a professional craft something wonderful to artfully place before us. ¶ Paducah is fortunate to have many of just those types of tacticians who, by taste test and trial and error, administer their artistic endeavors to help us celebrate not just the holidays, but every valued day of our LIFE. ¶ This holiday season, we asked a few of our delightful downtown tenders of Paducah’s best bars to show off a little and craft something special for our readers to at least enjoy through the magic of our city magazine. To get the real experience, you’ll just have to drop in and have a drink for yourself.

Enjoy!

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 7

Nick Weeks and Matt Johnston partner to mix up the magic from the iconic FoxBriar on Broadway. To Matt’s skills of creative concoctions, Nick brings the wine expertise. Nick is the sole certified sommelier in the region and a bona fide oenophile.

curating creations that please the palate Matt Johnston Makes Some Fantastic Concoctions from Behind the Bar at the FoxBriar ★ by S TEPHANI E WATS ON

UCKED INTO A POCKET OF THE FIRST BLOCK OF BROADWAY and donning a moody mix of mid-century gold and emerald green, is a wonderland of curious creations. From themed drink menus to an intimate, artistic, and upscale experience, at 40,000+ cocktails crafted and counting, the FoxBriar plays a unique role in Paducah nightlife. Matt Johnston, manager of FoxBriar and principal mastermind behind its unique drinks, is one of the lead curatorial creatives energizing our current downtown social scene. “We believe that drinks are 10% of the equation of a good bar, and the rest is experience,” Matt explains. “From conversations to the environment itself, our core mission is to give the best possible experience to every guest that walks through our doors.” Matt, who grew up in the area, returned to Paducah after finishing college in Birmingham in 2017. His first job, which utilized his degree in Fine Art, was as a gallery art assistant at the Yeiser Art Center. Interestingly, it

foxbriar was a side job at Pipers Tea & Coffee that would end up being his long-term gig. “After starting at Piper’s, I also joined the crew at Confleur. The two businesses were owned by Peter and Amber Barnett. Once we realized we were very into cocktails, we got a liquor license for brunch. That turned into using the space next to Confleur—which at the time was basically just an open storage area—to hold monthly speakeasy events.” The team put curtains on the windows and locked the front door. Then, they would post on Facebook and Instagram the day and time the speakeasy would be open, and for a $5 cover charge people could come through the back door. Each event sold out. Based on their success, Matt and the Barnetts decided to permanently convert the space into a bar. In July of 2019 Matt came with a sledgehammer to start renovations, and the rest, according to him, is four years of history. Matt and his crew first started with the goal of making cocktails specific to each customer. Ordering involved a conversation about likes and dislikes, flavor preferences and flavor aversions, as well as one’s willingness to branch out. It was different, it was intimate, and Paducah was drinking it up. “Honestly, I never thought it would be what it is today. I had zero bartending experience outside of doing those speakeasy events,” he recalls. “But I had been making drinks for a few years as a barista at Piper’s. And I still firmly believe that if you can make drinks, you can make drinks. The ingredients change, the techniques change, but the overall concept of creating flavor profiles doesn’t.” The pandemic and social distancing eventually forced the team into printed menus, but, serendipitously, this also brought inspirations for the whimsical, themed drink menus that are one of their identifying markers today. Starting with a Winnie the Pooh-themed menu in spring 2022 (which was sommelier Nick Week’s idea for celebrating the book series move into the public domain) to seven other themed menus that have followed, their story keeps evolving, one sip at a time. Last summer, a movie snack theme brought drinks like the nacho cocktail, which combined a nacho cheese (yes, literally) infused Gran Centenario tequila plata, Ancho Reyes verde (a sweet, spicy and herbaceous green chili

10 • PADUCAH LIFE

liquor), lime juice, cherry tomato juice, simple syrup, and milk. This savory, yet refreshing drink paired perfectly with Paducah’s hot summer nights. Popcorn, which is perhaps the most iconic movie theater snack, was also turned into a cocktail. For this drink, Evan Williams bottled-in-bond bourbon was infused/washed with freshly popped and buttered popcorn, while Nixta Licor (a Mexican corn liquor) and a pinch of salt were added for good measure. The savory and mildly sweet cocktail paired perfectly with a 3D menu and complementary 3D glasses, transporting customers to their favorite local cinema. Other great themes include drinks inspired by the National Park Services (complete with trifold menu mimicking a trail guide) and a host of literary tributes including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Lord of the Rings. This past fall’s menu, however, might be the most personal one for Matt to date. In celebration of Paducah’s 10th anniversary as an UNESCO creative city, the menu explored the world of drinks through the lens of the artist, featuring eight unique drinks inspired by great works of art. “Curation has been a theme for us this year, and when it comes to curation, the art gallery and art museum are likely at the forefront of people's minds. As we view cocktails and wines as drinkable art, we couldn’t think of a more appropriate theme for our fall 2023 menu,” Matt explains. “We hope that our drinks will also transcend their nature and become works of art themselves.” And if it’s not clear yet, when an artist walks into a bar, art is exactly what you’ll get. But for Matt, it’s never just the drink that is the art: it’s the drink in context. “If you want to drink, you probably know how to make your favorite cocktail, and you probably have the stuff for it at home. And you can do it cheaper than going out,” he explains. “So, we are focused on giving people a reason to come out and a reason to stay. That’s something I find really encouraging about being in this space. The interactions that I’ve watched people have with each other is really what keeps me going in the industry. Having people that maybe don't look like they would get along, sitting and having a conversation and buying each other a drink; all of us being able to meet people we may not normally meet. It’s the experience that does that, and it’s curating that experience that makes me excited to come to work each day.”

★ by DAR LENE

max’s brick oven

amy nolan Elevates the ARTof Mixology AMY NOLAN IS THE EPITOME OF THE ART OF TENDING BAR. Amy began her cocktail crafting career during college at Western in Bowling Green. “It was perfect,” she recalls. “It was the easiest way to make money in the shortest amount of time and it was at night so I could go to class during the day. That’s how I put myself through college.” That’s also how she came to be a long-time purveyor of potables at a variety of local watering spots. Amy worked with Max’s owner, Judy Bastani, at The Pines, a former Paducah eatery. When Judy and her husband, Max, opened their Market Square restaurant, Max’s Brick Oven, Amy not only stocked the bar, she also painted the scenery. Murals that play on the work of Edward Hopper flank the St. Claire Courtyard—but with a twist. “I painted a play on Hopper’s Chop Suey. I called it Chop Judy,” she says with a sly grin. She created a downtown scene in the style of Van Gogh alongside Max’s outdoor bar and she brushed bits of Parisian artistry onto the walls of the openair dining area. But it’s the delicate and detailed mixing of spirits that elevates Amy’s current creativity to yet another art form. “My favorite drink is my cardamom Old Fashioned,” Amy recounts. “I make the syrup from cardamom seeds. Another one I brought to life at Max’s is the Pink Flamingo. It’s a mixture of peach vodka, ginger syrup, and pink grapefruit.” Some of her best sellers include the St. Claire, a tasty total of blackberry

12 • PADUCAH LIFE

MAZZONE

liqueur, vodka, and coconut rum with cranberry and pineapple juices. Max’s Relaxer is a bar favorite as well incorporating the likes of vodka, coconut rum, peach schnapps, and several juices. Amy sees mixology as yet another form of her seemingly unlimited creativity. “It’s such a creative endeavor,” she explains. “I also love the fast pace. It’s kind of an adrenaline rush. Some nights I may do 200 drinks, especially on show nights. It’s almost like body memory. I know where every bottle and glass is located, so I can practically do it with my eyes closed. I’m pretty fast for an old chick!” It’s also about the people who frequent Amy’s establishment. “We have lots of regulars, which is really nice. I start their drink when I see them come through the door,” Amy comments. “We also get tons of visitors from all over the country; from the boats or just passing through on a road trip. That’s always interesting conversation. And honestly, this is where I meet people. It’s nice to get to know them while I’m making them a drink.” What could be a better welcome to our fair city than a cocktail curated by Amy Nolan.

★ by DAR LENE MAZZONE

cynthia’s ristorante

toryhicks

Has a Passion for The Palate of His Patrons

CYNTHIA’S RISTORANTE IS A DOWNTOWN INSTITUTION FOR FINE ITALIAN FOOD. AND A STAPLE OF THAT exemplary dining experience is mixologist Tory Hicks. Tory has been with owners Bill and Cynthia Gardner for more than a decade. He had early family exposure to the restaurant business and found himself drawn to the tending of the bar at a young age. (Not drinking, mind you. Just tending!) He has built on that youthful experience to fine tune his knowledge and his creativity behind the artful bar at Cynthia’s. Tory believes in building from the ground up. “We make a ton of things in house,” he says. “So, everything from the bar to the kitchen that we can make, we do so right here. That gives me more complete control of the tastes and variety of options I have at my disposal. I have a better understanding of what actual ingredients I’m using.” Despite the fact that Tory has a bit more affection for wine (his faves are Napa cabernets) than cocktails, he is certainly never without a wide range of ideas to suit the palates of both his consistent and his transient patrons. “We get a lot of people from out of town,” Tory adds. “Probably 25% of our customers arrive here as travelers. That’s actually one of the things I really enjoy about my role at Cynthia’s. I have the good fortune of meeting so many interesting people. You really never know who’s coming through the door. It makes every day different. And every visitor may want something different. That’s what we do.” Like virtually everyone we spoke with at our featured downtown drink establishments, many glasses that pass across the bar are based on bourbon. “The bourbon industry has gotten so big in the last few years,” Tory says, “that MANY of our drinks center around bourbon, especially in this area and in Kentucky. It’s sort of a go-to element in a variety of drinks currently. It’s become a ground floor ingredient.” Tory’s creation for our visit was his original Cynthia’s Snowcream cocktail. To spark some imagination with the bourbon, Tory made it a creamy concoction with touches of Frangelico, Drambuie, and bourbon cream. Our reaction? Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! (And maybe make it a double.) Tory’s commitment to mixing on Market Street is about more than just his position as bartender inside this historic building housing one of Paducah’s legendary purveyors of great food and drink. It’s also about being a part of a family. “The Gardeners are really great people and that’s one of the reasons I’ve been so gratified to be here for so long,” Tory comments. “They are family and being a part of the downtown family is also really great. Most of the employees at Cynthia’s have been here for years. You come. You stay. It’s a good place to be.”

14 • PADUCAH LIFE

★ by DAR LENE

freight house

MAZZONE

The CREATIVE Spirit of

jakeharris

JAKE HARRIS IS A TRUE ORIGINAL. JAKE JOINED TOP CHEF SARA BRADLEY AS A SERVER WHEN THE freight house doors opened in 2015, then slowly began to invent his personal mastery of mixology over time. After spending a few evolutionary evenings behind the bar, reading up on the skill set necessary to excel at bartending, and watching some online how-tos, Jake was quickly ready to put his creative stamp on some of the eatery’s uniquely crafted cocktails. He’s been there ever since. “It was definitely the school of hard knocks, or should I say hard liquor,” Jake says with a smile. “One of the best things about my time with Sara for the past eight years is the trust of the relationship,” Jake comments. “She lets me work my own magic in this little domain. Most of my hobbies are enjoying other people’s creativity. In my role behind the bar, I get to express my own creativity by concocting some special drinks for our wonderful customers to enjoy.” On the day we visited the freight house, Jake was mixing up his new Paint It, Black cocktail—a play on the original Rolling Stones song—also a play on the black Manhattan. “It’s a blend of rye, Averna Amaro, and Nux Alpina, which is a walnut liqueur,” Jake explains. “It’s got this nice earthy, little bit nutty, but not too sweet savoriness. And hey, the fermented walnuts even have a bit of a health benefit. It’s a tasty digestif.” Jake’s philosophy might be his secret to success, however. “I want everyone to feel free to drink what they want. I never want anyone to feel intimidated or pressured. If your idea of a good drink is Jack and Coke, then that’s what you should order. There should be something for everyone at our bar. I think customers should be their authentic selves. That’s what makes it fun to meet and serve so many eclectic people.” Jake’s fave is the Vesper martini—the one featured in the Bond novels. “It’s a pretty boozy little drink so you have to go slow. That’s why James shook it. He needed to water it down,” he laughs. Putting his own bit of fancy and flair on some traditions is also a part of Jake’s take on mixology. “Now there are some spirit staples that just shouldn’t be messed with,” says Jake. “That’s just a bit of sacrilege. But there’s nothing wrong with putting a little spin on the occasional mainstay.” He’s seen many a trend during his years of fomenting the bar side of the freight house. “There are always buzz words,” Jake says. Hazy, high proof, non-alcoholic, spicy—they’re all words he hears on a weekly basis. “Just like fashion, booze fads come and go,” he adds. “But I think you should probably never get TOO far away from the classics. They’re classics for a reason.” If you happen to be one of those diners who closes down the house at the end of the evening, you’ll likely see Jake composing and comingling from a variety of vessels off his shelf to perfect that next freight house bar fare. “Sometimes it may take 20 or 30 attempts to get it just right; to get a drink to the place where I’m completely happy with it.” It’s definitely worth the wait.

16 • PADUCAH LIFE

★ by DAR LENE

stella’s

The Elegant Creations of

krimson laudando

KRIMSON LAUDANDO DESCRIBES HER CURRENT CREATIVE environment at Stella’s in downtown Paducah as elegant and classy, which is exactly how some of her customers describe HER. For example, one of Krimson’s signature drinks is the Enchantress (no surprise). “I’m a gin person. That is my go-to foundation for lots of my creations. So, in this version of one of my many gin conceptions, I used McQueen Violet gin which has notes of berries and hibiscus. I added elderflower and raspberry liqueur, some lemon juice and cherry syrup and served it in a lovely champagne flute.” And if that wasn’t festive enough, Krimson topped it off with Prosecco and dusted it with glitter. Then she garnished it with a dehydrated blood orange and a mint leaf. Voiila! Instant holiday celebration. Krimson worked in a casual bar before assuming her role as maven of mixology at Stella’s when it opened last year. “This is such a different vibe than my previous bartending experiences,” Krimson explains. “The atmosphere here is more a place for finely crafted cocktails, and I love the opportunity to be creative and express my own personal sense of look and taste when I’m inventing something new.” Krimson adheres to the old adage that you eat first with your eyes. So, she is keenly aware of how each drink looks as well as tastes. “I actually have lots of female customers that just ask for our prettiest cocktail, when they don’t really know what they want,” she says with a smile. “And I don’t mind that at all. My partner, Kelsey, and I love to play with both the beauty of the drink as well as its balance. We want our offerings to be as pleasing to the eye as the palate. That’s part of the total presentation.”

18 • PADUCAH LIFE

MAZZONE

And being playful with her artform is something Krimson really enjoys. “Right now, we’re making a lot of our own syrups,” she adds. “It’s super cool to do, and we’ve had fun coming up with lots of ideas for flavorful syrups for our cocktails. Now that the holidays are here, we’re working with some spiced cranberry and cherry juice. We’re also adding in some seasonal things like cinnamon and clove.” Then, as is her style, Krimson accents her painterly potions with some fabulous flourishes. “I actually just got a dehydrator so that we can dehydrate fresh fruits for our garnishes. You just have to plan ahead. It takes about two days to do the full process before we can use them.” Krimson feels like she’s sort of “come home” to her new role as one of downtown Paducah’s newest mix masters. “I lived in Ohio for a while and honestly did not see myself coming back to western Kentucky,” she admits. “But Paducah has changed since I was here as a teenager. It has kind of come into its own. And I suppose so have I. It’s a really nice place to be at this point in my life. And I love the family atmosphere at Stella’s. We’re all friends, and we get along great. Work doesn’t really seem like work. It’s more like a wonderful creative effort.”

Oh Christmas Tree!

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20 • PA D U CAH LIFE

Paducah Celebrates Ten Years of CREATIVITY!

HAT DO BEIJING, ROME, SYDNEY, AND LONDON HAVE IN

common with Paducah, Kentucky? They’re all UNESCO Creative Cities!

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) designated Paducah a Creative City of Craft and Folk Art in

2013 due to the city’s important role in connecting cultures through creativity. As one of only nine Creative Cities in the United States, Paducah fosters a culture of creative

thinking through its artistic and innovative citizens. With quilt-making at the forefront of the city’s creative culture, Paducah touches cities all around the globe through fiber art. Paducah quilts have traveled the world thanks to the UNESCO Creative Cities program and Paducahans have made connections with other creative minds all over the globe. 2023 marks the 10th Anniversary of Paducah’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City, so we’re celebrating Paducah’s creative spirit this holiday season. From fiber art to fine cuisine, music to mixology, beekeepers to authors, Paducah citizens create new and innovative work every day. In this edition of PADUCAH LIFE Magazine, we celebrate just a FEW of the people in our fair city who help to curate creativity. We invite you to celebrate with us the vast and varied ways in which the people of Paducah and surrounding communities contribute to the unique place we call home. In cooperatIon wIth the paducah cVB

MY BUYERS & SELLERS ARE FOR A LIFETIME, NOT JUST ONE SALE!

Stacy and Joe Merkel from Evansville, IN are happy Buyers of a Lake home in Eddyville, KY, October 2023! Attorney Dailey Wilson with Wilson Law Firm, PLLC handled the closing. Jennifer is making a donation to The Paducah Lions Club and Telethon of Stars in their Honor. telethonofstars.com

Stunning Penthouse Condo in the Prestigious Gated Sub Marina Village. 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, luxurious living on 2 levels, with floor to ceiling windows on Lakeside offering year round views of Barkley Lake & Dam. Master suite on main level & balcony. Granite countertops, hardwood floors,vaulted ceiling & plenty of room for Entertaining! Very Unique Sub filled w/MILLION $$ PLUS Homes loaded with Charm & Character! Adjacent to First Class, Full Service, Award Winning Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina! 799 Marina Village Dr. Grand Rivers, Ky $599,500

Bree White and Phillip Smith are Proud Buyers of their first home in Calvert City, October 2023! Attorney Kent Price with McMurry & Livingston, PLLC and Lender Justin Berger with Gershman Mortgage handled the closing. Jennifer is making a donation to Calvert City Elementary School in their Honor. cces.marshall.kyschools.us.

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Elegant Southern Colonial Custom built 2005 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath 2,800 sq ft home loaded with charm! Located in the Prestigious Gaited Marina Village Sub in Grand Rivers. Open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, with plenty of room for entertaining! Crown molding throughout. Great gas log FP & built-ins, bruce wood flooring, ceramic tile, granite countertops & a fabulous Kitchen! Master suite features gorgeous bath--claw foot tub, walk-in shower & closet-main level. Guest bedrooms & bath upstairs. 3 car Gar garage with tons of storage above! Adjacent to Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina. 736 Marina Village Dr. $599.900

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Cookies in a Bag Bring Happiness to the Heart H

by Darlene Mazzone

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE was a bag lady. NO WAIT, a BAKER lady who put cookies in a BAG! But that’s the end of the story. Let’s start at the beginning. Back in 2004, the lovely and talented Danette Humphrey was charged with curating a Shop Till You Drop fundraiser for Clark Elementary. Being the good mom she is (and a baker extraordinaire to boot), she took on the task, and over the next six years took the annual event from 20 tables in the gym to a gym filled to capacity plus a library overflowing with loads of great

COOKIES IN A BAG

goodies for holiday shoppers. One of the big sellers at the yearly shopping spree was Danette’s cookie ingredients in a cute bag. But again, we get ahead of the story. “I actually love to make cakes, but I’m also a cookie baker as well,” Danette explains. So when Danette assumed the role of the Shop Till You Drop diva, she sought something she could contribute. However, the event is held in late November, far too removed from the Christmas holiday for fresh bakery bounty.“People kept telling me how much they loved the cookies and cakes and encouraging me to make them,” she says. So, Danette began to exercise her entrepreneurial muscles and considered trying to organize the dry elements in a bag to make it easy for others to take advantage of her yummy recipes in their own kitchen with the easy addition of only a few ingredients. That nifty idea became CookiesIn-A-Bag.“I had seen something like that in an Amish market, but they were in jars,” Danette remembers. “But I didn’t want to do a breakable jar, so I decided on small red and white cellophane bags with stickers that I could tie with a cute ribbon. I sometimes added little elements like a wooden spoon or something holiday related.” All the prospective baker had to add was an egg and a stick of butter and voila; a made-from-scratch cookie by Danette at ANY time of the year.

24 • PA D U CAH LIFE

“The Cookies-In-A-Bag were a big hit,” says Danette.“I was blown away by how much everyone loved the idea and the cookies. People kept telling me they looked forward to them every season.” But eventually Danette’s young ones moved on from elementary school and Danette moved on to her career in academia.“I went back to teaching. I went back to being a regular person. I was done with cookies,” she said. Or so she thought. “I thought I was finished with that part of my life,” Danette now says with a chuckle.“But a few years later that pesky Susie Coiner just wouldn’t let it go.” Susie kept hounding Danette about getting back to putting cookies in a bag to sell at BBQ & More on Broadway.“I just kept telling her no and she just kept telling me that people loved them and that I should make them for sale. She said she could sell the mess out of those cookies.” It took Danette awhile to envision a transformation from mom selling cookie ingredients at the school bazaar to mom professional with a thriving small business.“I just couldn’t imagine seeing them on the shelf in a real store,” she now concedes. But Danette quickly became a believer when she started running into people in the community who had loved her Clark Elementary bagged-up cookie mix and could now pick them up any time they wanted at BBQ & More.“I was just amazed,” says Danette. “Before I knew it, other local stores were asking me for them and then I finally accepted the fact that I had something to offer that

WEST KENTUCKY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE

people really wanted.” “I’m so grateful that Susie was relentless,” Danette admits. “She has been more than a retail partner. She has been a mentor, and I greatly respect her support not only of my business but other women in the community. She uses every opportunity to provide a platform for local businesswomen to be a part of her own success.” Danette took her entry into the world of manufacturing and marketing seriously.“It took me a good while to find a company to make the bags. I wanted a good quality product that I could be proud of and that Susie and other retailers would want to present to their customers. I designed the sticker and before long I had a product ready for distribution.” Danette now has her product in more than 22 stores around the country.“I remember buying 1,200 bags when Susie first requested the product. I thought to myself, it will take me two years to recoup this investment. I had no idea what was getting ready to happen.” Once the word got out, Danette got busy with an assembly line that now produces these adorable Cookies-In-A-Bag in a variety of flavor combinations. “I’m a firm believer that cooking creates a positive culture in our homes,” Danette comments.“My favorite part of this entire operation has been to hear people say how much they love the cookies and to see that Cookies-In-A-Bag brings just a little bit of happiness into someone’s life. I can’t think of a more wonderful reward than that.”

BACKSTAGE PASS | 2 AMAZING PERFORMANCES CHLOE KIMES

DECEMBER 9 | 7:30 P.M.

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THE PADUCAH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS:

CINEMATIC LOVE STORIES FEBRUARY 10, 2024

26 • PA D U CAH LIFE

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Amanda Hutchison

This Broke Girl is Gaining Ground with Grains

The start to Cindy Hayden’s Broke Girl Bread Company was literally . . . a starter. It began with a friendship starter to be more precise.

DE C E MB E R 2 0 2 3 / JA NUA RY 2024 • 27

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Cindy Hayden was pregnant with her third child and working at Orthopedic Institute when one of her co-workers left a bread friendship starter in the office kitchen. “The thing with starters is that they just keep multiplying. So, people share them because they just don’t know what to do with them anymore,” she laughs.“I took the left-behind starter and went home and made some bread. And then I just kept baking. And I kept baking. It was around the holidays, so I thought I would try selling it for $5 a loaf. And as they say, the rest is history.” Three years and three ovens later (three ovens are the perfect amount needed to cover all her orders), Cindy has cooked up a pretty successful business model. You could even say it’s on the rise! (We couldn’t resist!) The Broke Girl Bread Company makes eight varieties of friendship bread per week, rotating through about 20 flavors. During the farmer’s market season, Cindy pushes that total to more than 130 loaves a week. “I start baking on Thursday and Friday,” Cindy explains,“so I am ready for the Farmers’ Market on Saturday.” During the off-season, Cindy sells her bread via her Facebook page. She puts up an open order on Wednesday of each week with porch pickup in the Lone Oak area available on Saturday. Broke Girl Bread is truly a family business. Cindy’s son, Rylan, now eight, has become a bit of a business partner. He was there from the beginning at the Farmers’ Market helping Cindy broker the bread.“He’s become famous at the market,” she shares.“He’s gotten to the point where he is running the cash box and all of my customers know him.” “I also do flavors of the month,” Cindy explains.“I will bring out special ones for Christmas. This year we did a special Mardi Gras bread and we hid a little baby figurine inside the breads. Then whoever found the baby won a prize.” In December and January, Cindy will feature chocolate-covered raspberry bread, chocolate-covered cherry bread, and candy cane bread. “I’m just so grateful for Paducah because they have just taken us in and helped my business to take off,” Cindy gratefully comments.“This has allowed me to stay home and have extra time with my kids. It’s been a huge blessing for me and my family.” Just like her starters, her business keeps multiplying. While Cindy will continue with porch pick-ups and Farmers’ Markets next year, she plans to look into selling her products in stores in 2024. (We’re kind of looking forward to that as well.)

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Loving

WILDLY In All They Do

LISA AND MARINA NARLOCH TRANSFORMED THEIR INDIVIDUAL LIVES THROUGH THEIR COOPERATIVE CREATIVITY

H by Amanda Hutchison T’S OFTEN SURPRISING THAT OVERNIGHT A MUSHROOM CAN JUST APPEAR. FOR

some people, the strange conditions and appearance of the mushroom are enough to repel them. For others it’s the texture or the fear of toxicity. But for Lisa and Marina Narloch this humble forest element has become the center of their wildly transformational business. Wild Love Farm seeks to change the reputation of what Lisa and Marina consider a truly healing plant.“We try to educate people about mushrooms because so many people say they don’t like them,” Lisa explains.“But they have no idea how good they are for you.” According to these mushroom mavens, the little fungi are a healing symbol of transformation and a flavorful addition to cooking.

TRANSFORMATION Lisa’s transformational story begins in 2011. While working on her historic home in New York, she fell and hit her head twice. An MRI revealed a traumatic brain injury. In 2012, a CT scan revealed that she had an aneurysm behind her right eye. That summer she had open cranial brain surgery to repair the aneurysm. During exams they discovered that she has a second aneurysm in the middle of her brain that has not been repaired.“I believe the near-death experience of the first injury triggered something in me,” Lisa reflects.“The traumatic brain injury triggered my creative side.” While recovering, Lisa watched the electric company cut down old apple trees in her yard. Angrily she went outside and collected as much of the wood as she could. She even dug out the root balls using saws and spoons. She then bought a lathe and started turning wood. Her creative urge had found it’s calling, and although she no longer turns wood, she has continued hand carving. “Because of what happened to me, one of my ethos for my art is to use wood that is abandoned, fractured, spalted, rotten, or dug out of the ground and I’ve stuck with that as much as I can.” Prior to the brain injury, Lisa had a stressful job in technology. After the surgery, Lisa decided to trade technology for creativity. So, she googled the search words: artist communities, LGBTQ, and

30 • PA D U CAH LIFE

Lisa and Marina Narloch with a variety of Lisa’s multi-faceted artwork.

WILD LOVE FARM historic preservation. A real estate agent in Paducah came up. And that was that. Lisa now works mostly on commissioned pieces. In 2021, after the tornado hit Mayfield, she was approached by one of the churches to create pieces from the church’s reclaimed glass. She made a replica of the original glass and over months made more than 400 glass crosses for the parishioners. Lisa’s artwork can be found at the Paducah Art Guild and The 505 Coffeeshop. She also recently completed a stained-glass work that is on display at the Paducah Quilt Museum gift shop. Along with her work, Lisa often shared photos of her French bull dogs on social media. These images attracted the attention of a woman from Chicago named Marina. When Lisa’s dog, Tater, passed away, Marina sent her a cute video of a dog that looked just like Tater.“I thought—maybe that will make her smile,” Marina shares.“Within 30 minutes we were having a conversation and we haven’t stopped talking since.” The duo met in 2021 and married in 2022.“I transformed my whole life, and I did everything I could to have art be at the center of it,” Lisa says.“I didn’t anticipate falling in love and getting married and having two dogs. “And a chaos wife and a new business!” Marina jokingly adds.“She calls me her tornado and she’s not wrong!”

HEALING While Lisa is the artist and the reason the pair found Paducah, the magic behind the mushrooms is Marina. After learning more about her wife’s traumatic injury, Marina (who has a degree in biology) did some research.“I started reading about all the cool things you can do to help a brain injury, and one of the big ones was lion’s mane {which is made from mushrooms},” Marina says,“So I thought to myself: I can grow some.” Marina started with two grow bags of mushrooms and quickly became obsessed. Within a few months, she went from one species to eight. As their mushroom variety grew, the partners decided to sell their

32 • PA D U CAH LIFE

products at Paducah’s Farmers Market. “My favorite customer is a woman whose husband has late-stage dementia,” says Marina.“He started taking our lion’s mane extract. Within two or three months he told us he was verbal again,” Marina adds.“It has been beautiful to see how it helps not just us, but so many people.” Marina had high blood pressure, a condition that runs in her family. She used to be on three different medications. After taking a combination of reishi and oyster mushrooms, she says she no longer needs medication. “Some of it’s just tricking yourself to eat better, too,” Marina laughs.“We make a mushroom coffee which helps lower our caffeine intake and increases our micronutrients. We also started making seasoning salts with microgreens. These are mixed with mushroom powder and Himalayan sea salt. You’re still salting your food, but also getting microgreens in a concentrated form.” The women grow their own microgreens for their salts, and now they are branching into microgreen powders.“Microgreen powders can be added to anything. It can be added to smoothies or really anything you cook,” Marina says.

A LIFE OF TRANSFORMATION Lisa and Marina began new lives in Paducah. They found happiness through creating, growing, healing, cooking and building a life together. Wild Love Farm stemmed from the couple’s wedding vows.“We wrote our own wedding vows and both of us independently told the other ‘I love you wildly,” Lisa said.“We wanted that to be our model going forward in life and in business. Love wildly in all we do.”

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Crafting

Paducah’s Future

With the year 2023 coming to a close, now is the time to reflect on what it means to be a UNESCO Creative City. Ten years of collaboration through culture has broadened Paducah prominence and initiated opportunities that would not have been possible without the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. In 2022, Paducah’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations had an economic impact of over $36 Million in our community. That’s the power of Creativity. As we look toward the future, Paducah must rise to the challenge of sustaining our culture through innovation, preservation and education. Today, Paducah’s youth have access to resources that prior generations could only have imagined. The Paducah Innovation Hub seamlessly connects students with hands-on experiences that set them on a path toward a trade of their choosing or on their way toward earning college credit. Paducah’s state-of-the-art public schools, West Kentucky Community and Technical College, Murray State University Regional Campus, and University of Kentucky College of Engineering are brick-and-mortar promises of a bright future. Even the buildings that house Paducah’s downtown businesses are a testament to sustainability. Take the Visitors Bureau building, for example. Built in the 1870s, 128 Broadway has been a foundry, a telegraph office, a general store, a bar, and a residential apartment. Preservation sustains Paducah’s authentic cultural history. How will you preserve your cultural heritage? As Paducah welcomes a new year, we invite you to be creative, learn something new, and create a lasting impact on your Creative City.

Top left: The Paducah Innovation Hub invites students to unleash their creativity as they prepare to enter a trade or college. Above: Paducah’s Wall-to-Wall floodwall murals preserve history through art.

CREATIVE CITIZEN Todd Blume Paducah Beer Werks Q: How does Creativity affect your work at Paducah Beer Werks? I have always thought of making beer as a type of art. Picking the right grain, hops, and yeast is a creative process.

Top: Paducah nurtures creativity in its future leaders. Above: Students learn about space science in the Challenger Learning Center’s STEM Squad.

Q: In your opinion, what does being a Creative City mean for Paducah? Paducah is surrounded by people who are creative, from business innovators to fiber arts and more. We are a unique city in that we offer a welcoming atmosphere that harbors new ideas. Q: What advice would you give to other Paducahans on how to find their Creative Spirit? The creative spirit of Paducah is in the people who live and visit here. When creative minds get together, great things happen. It gets better every day!

Above: The Paducah Visitors Bureau building holds more than a century of Paducah’s history. At left: Jaime Romero, from Manises, Spain, teaches local culinary students how to make a traditional Spanish dish.

★ by A MANDA H UTCHISON

Lynn and Mary Rushing Savor Beekeeping, Syrup Making, and the Sweet Taste of Success

HE BEES ARE abuzz at Bizzell Bluff Farm—21 hives of bees to be precise. This year the Bizzell Bluff owners, Lynn and Mary Rushing, harvested 700 pounds of honey and they are expecting even more in 2024, as they expand to 30 hives in the coming year. With all that honey in abundance, the farm creates honey cream and also sells honey with or without comb. After working for 30 years in a local quarry, Lynn started Bizzell Bluff Farm. His wife, Mary, recently retired from the quarry and has joined him in the operation. The two are in constant motion between beekeeping and the production of their honey items. “We are always looking for new and interesting products to create,” Lynn explains. “We want to make products that are unique and that people are interested in.” Everything is seasonal at Bizzell Bluff Farm. Besides that oh-so-sweet honey, Lynn recently finished making apple cider and is now turning his attention to other apple cider products and pumpkin spice apple cider. They also make hickory bark syrup year-round. Hickory bark syrup is a unique product to western Kentucky. “You can only make maple syrup for a short period of time. That is why I decided to try hickory bark syrup,” Lynn explains. “I reached out to people I knew in the Northeast to learn how to make it.” True to its name,

38 • PADUCAH LIFE

hickory bark syrup is made from the bark of hickory trees. Lynn ships his hickory bark syrup to destinations all around the country. Its unique smokey taste is used in marinades and sauces,” Lynn says. In January and February, they will work on maple syrup using the sugar maple trees on their property and that of a neighbor. “We always give them some maple syrup as a thank you,” Lynn says with a smile. Bizzell Bluff Farm is located in Burna, Kentucky. However, Lynn and Mary happily tote their sweet syrup and honey products to the Paducah Farmers Market during its season of operation. They can sometimes also be found at local events that feature specialty foods, etc. But throughout the year, you can stay on top of what’s happening at Bizzell Bluff by following them on Facebook.

DE C E MB E R 2 0 2 3 / JA NUA RY 2024 • 39

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A Collection of Curated Art Abounds at The Art Guild of Paducah

INCE 2008, ACCOMPLISHED AREA ARTISANS

have overseen and ensured exhibition of stunning stained glass, jewelry, wood making, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and fiber art pieces on Market Square. The Art Guild of Paducah began when the Paducah Art Guild, established in 1957, evolved into the renowned Yeiser Art Center, leaving no smaller-scale guild in Paducah. A group of local artists, with the common goal of gathering a group to support each other, was established in 2008 – now known as the Art Guild of Paducah. Today, the organization promotes visual arts and artists in Paducah and the surrounding region and expands art education through programs and events. “We had a successful pop-up shop during Quilt Week one year and that was an exciting event where we sold lots of art in the space we are in now,” board

president David Lucht recalls. Shortly after, everyone pitched in to help make the gallery permanent. The company curates creativity through exhibiting emerging artists’ juried works.“We want to develop the business of art and close the circle on the artistic process,” David stated.“So many artists struggle while working in their studios and their works don’t move farther than family or close friends. We want to put the final finish on helping people present their art and deal with the public in a retail setting.” The Art Guild features a collection of different media – ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, stained glass, a variety of painting and printmaking, and textiles, including fiber art quilts, hats, jackets, and purses. Fiber artist Kerry Bowes, featured in a 2022 issue of Paducah Life Magazine, uses a technique in which she appliqués material and stiches coil pots together in powerful configurations. She practices an ancient craft in which she uses ropes to wrap the piece and create applique wall art, similar to quilting, in a bright 2D color graphic approach. David said Kerry’s pieces are great additions to the guild’s mix. Printmaker Justin Hammonds produces wood cuts and typically works with wood and linoleum cut on a large scale. His dynamic figurative pieces celebrate the everyday scene at home as well as a variety of other subject matter. Bill Renzulli, well-known Paducah painter having previously exhibited at a Lower Town gallery, recently moved to the midtown area. He is recognized for his architecture 2D projects of the riverfront and various landscapes, in

DE C E MB E R 2 0 2 3 / JA NUARY 2024 • 41

THE ART GUILD of Paducah

Kerry Bowes

Justin Hammonds

a variety of media with all types of bases such as watercolor, acrylic, pastel, and oil. Batik artist David Lucht has been involved with the David Lucht group since 2008, the past five years as president, and is one of thirty or so members who run the guild like a co-op, each pitching in to work during its open hours.“I was retired from my work life and was looking for something to give back to the community,” he said,“and this was the place I could make that happen.” David enjoys his batik method of using wax as a resist medium to build an image with fabric dyes, then taking the wax out of cloth or paper to achieve an image. He is currently working on a series of Paducah architecture called Paducah Straight On, capturing facades of different buildings in the city. Art Guild members volunteer and promote programs in Paducah such as the annual Empty Bowls project and Lower Town Arts & Music Festival. They host their own bake sale event each Valentine’s Day, summer kids’ art workshops, periodic pop-up exhibits, and will feature four special shows in 2024. You can visit the gallery at 115 Market Square Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Sundays from 1 PM to 5 PM.

42 • PA D U CAH LIFE

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Hearing Rehabilitation DE C E MB E R 2 0 2 3 / JA NUA RY 2024 • 43

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Connecting Culture with Creativity Indian Citizens Gathered Recently for Their Annual Navratri Celebration to Honor Their Culture and to Connect The Next Generation to Their Native Nation

ON A COOL, CRISP EVENING THIS past fall in Paducah, shimmering bright colors and joyous music filled a space devoted to an ancient celebration. A shrine stood in the center of the hall decorated with images of a goddess and offerings for her. People danced and ate familiar foods from their homeland or the homeland of their ancestors. Women donned cholis and men wore kurtas. For the evening, the emcee spoke in the western Indian language, Gujurati. For two Saturdays in a row in October, the Knights of Columbus Hall in Paducah felt less like western

44 • PADUCAH LIFE

Kentucky and more like the nation of India. People from Paducah and neighboring communities gathered to celebrate the holiday of Navratri. When Hetal Patel first moved to Paducah in 2004 there were very few Indians in town. “We were missing the chance to celebrate Navratri and Diwali with a community. My family would travel to Chicago to celebrate,” Hetal shares. “As I got older and had kids, I realized my children would never understand our culture.” Three years ago, Hetal and her family were together. It was a week before Navratri, and they thought maybe they could have their own celebration. “Even if it just turned out to be two or three families, we would be ready. It was a really quick turnaround. We had to organize the food, the music, and decoration in just one week,” Hetal recalls. “That first Saturday everyone showed up. Word was spread by phone, and that’s all it took. People were so appreciative that we were doing something in the area.” “We started this to educate our children about Indian culture,” Jignesh Patel, Hetal’s husband shares. Hetal and Jignesh, along with seven others, organized Navartri through their organization, Samaj 42 Paducah. The organization is specifically geared towards people from Gujarat. Gujurat is located along the West coast of India. Along with Navratri, the group celebrates Diwali, and the Gujarati kite-flying holiday, Uttarayan. In India, Uttarayan is celebrated in January. However, due to seasonal differences, it is celebrated in March here. People of all ages attended and participated in the festivities. “My

@paducahlife

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 45

The Story of Navratri

Navratri is a nine day Hindu holiday that celebrates the battle between good and evil. The Sanskrit word “navratri” literally means nine “nav” nights “ratri.” The Goddess Durga battled the demon Mahishasura. Lord Brahma had blessed Mahishasura with immortality. There was only one condition to his immortality—he could be defeated by a woman. Over time Mahishasura became more powerful and destructive—killing people on earth. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva came together and created the goddess durga to defeat Mahishasura.

46 • PADUCAH LIFE

mom has always been big on our culture and we were exposed to Navatri when we were very young,” Pooja Patel, an attendee, explains. “It’s a way of being connected to God and a way of being connected to our Indian culture, even though I was born in America.” Navrati is celebrated in many different ways around India—in Gujurat men and women perform dances called Garbas sometimes involving dandiyas—decorated sticks. Garba dances are like line dances. Everyone follows each other in a large circle or two lines mimicking the same footwork. The women’s cholis, which consist of long flared skirts and fitted blouses, flow gracefully and rhythmically with their dancing. This was the first year that Javni Patel attended Navratri in Paducah. “I had low expectations. I assumed there would not be a lot of people there and more people sitting than dancing,” Javni says. “Then I walked in last Saturday to the first of the two Navatris here and I thought oh, I love this!” Javni loves dancing and learning new garbas. “As the night continues, the garba steps will change,” Javni explains. “If I do not know the steps I can just step out of the line and someone will teach me.” To keep up with new garba dances, Javni will watch tik-tok videos as well. “I’m proud of this community and the amazing work they do,” Pooja reflects. “I’m also grateful how people from the neighboring counties and towns come to be a part of this. I’ve seen how much this event has grown over these few years and the bigger it gets the better it will get. And it gets better every year.”

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HE CLIP-CLOP OF HORSE HOOVES, to the window to take a look and pinpoint the neighborhood the wail of a fire truck siren, the vrooms of the noises. “Moky, Moky!” he cried when Smoky the horse street sweeper . . . these are some of the sounds and passed by pulling his carriage. Stephanie modeled the horse sights experienced in Paducah’s Lower Town—and in her book after the “real” Smoky of John’s Pass Carriage now captured by a local author in her children’s Service, which was one of the highlights at the book’s book, A Look Out My Window. launch this past September. “It was really important to me Author Stephanie Felker obtained a certification in event to create a fun-filled sensory journey of the sights and planning from Belmont University. She worked briefly as a sounds they saw out their window every day and help them preschool teacher in Nashville, then moved back to Paducah bring back those childhood memories,” Stephanie says. where she once again led a classroom and later directed While You Are the . . . was written, illustrated and a childcare center. These teaching experiences were self-published solely by Stephanie, A Look out My the impetus for her authorship. Window was an entirely different ★ During COVID, many busijourney for Stephanie, learning by A MY nesses, whose livelihood relied to work and wait patiently for S ULLIVAN on bringing people together, the illustrator and publisher to suffered. Stephanie’s decade-long precisely portray and include event planning career quickly integral images. Though during diminished. Her innate entrepreCOVID she drafted the book neurial spirit emerged while she within a few days, it took tworesearched what people were and-a-half years to illustrate doing to earn passive incomes. and publish it. Teaching herself how to use the Her New York-based free online design tool Canva, she illustrator had never been to created a line of four journals, Kentucky, so Stephanie sent self-published, and sold them photos of our state’s dense tufts on Amazon. This again sparked of bluish-green blades, Lower Stephanie Felker’s Love her innovative energy which Town bricks with historic hues, Letter to Lower Town she combined with her early and the reflective chrome yellow childhood background to write, fire plugs that populate Lower illustrate, and self-publish her Town. A coffee cup on the first first children’s book, You Are page epitomizes an Etcetera The . . . in 2021. This book is dedicated to Stephanie’s espresso vessel from the local coffee shop and the pups son, Milo, and daughter, Ollie, and reveals her passion for pictured were inspired by a shot of the neighborhood dogs. helping kids learn in creative ways. The original intent was for a series of books to follow Stephanie’s second book was published within nine that capture the sights and sounds of other small towns, on months of her first. I Like You! is about self-love, kindness, to big cities, and perhaps even a remote country. “I’m sure and appreciating all the little things that make children there will be many more books,” Stephanie says. “I’m so special and is available exclusively through digital download glad Paducah got to be the first! That idea is still there; I on Amazon. am just putting a bow on it until I can start the process of A Look out My Window is her latest title. “I wanted to thinking of my next book.” create something I was proud of that captured my children’s Since A Look out My Window celebrates family and childhood. It’s my love letter to Lower Town, where we lived the community in which we live, it is only fitting that it is for over 12 years,” Stephanie said. She calls her now tenavailable downtown at Raven & Moth and will be sold year-old son and seven-year-old daughter her “little coffeethrough other local partners soon. The McCracken County house children,” since Etcetera Coffeehouse was a Paducah Public Library, where Stephanie’s tots have also traveled to place they frequented during their downtown days. on the town trolley, and West Kentucky Community and The book is a visual and auditory experience through the Technical College Library carry the book. You can also eyes of a younger Milo and Ollie as they react to the unique order online from Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. sights and sounds viewed from their own window: garbage Take a step back in time, climb aboard a charming horsetrucks, the trolley, fire trucks, and even the neighbor’s dogs. drawn carriage, and see historic downtown Paducah as it “What’s that?” toddler Milo always squealed while running can only be seen through A Look out My Window.

A Look Out My Window

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 49

Curating Creativity for

50 • PADUCAH LIFE

★ by DA RL E N E MAZZONE

This Year The Carson Center Celebrates 20 Years of Bringing Light and LIFE to The Stunning Stage Inside Paducah’s Exceptional Performing Arts Venue

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 51

D TH E CA RSO N C ENT ER Twenty Years

DR. TED BORODOFSKY AND DAVE PERRY appeared on the cover of Paducah Life Magazine in 1995. The headline for the inside feature read, “Paducah Performing Arts Center Now More Than Just A Vision.” It had become a plan. In the ensuing interview with both men, the two were encouraged that they had a mission statement, a planning board, a feasibility study, and the aid of consultants. “The creation of this team now will help to ensure the success of this project. We are no longer studying the issue. We have actually started the process toward building a future center,” said Dave Perry. Now, two decades later, their vision is thriving. This monument to the performing arts stands in all its majesty, a creative testament to the drive and determination of scores of citizens who dedicated their hands and hearts to the planning and execution of what was once only a dream. “The performing arts center will have something for everyone,” said Dr. Borodofsky in the 1995 interview. “The center will have a tremendous influence on our quality of life, will offer educational opportunities for our children and will have a significant economic impact on our community for years to come. We believe it can be done,” he concluded. His belief became reality. We, at Paducah Life Magazine, also believed. And so did thousands of others in Paducah and around the Purchase area. And through the diligent efforts of the original planning board and the many leaders who would follow them through the years, SEEING (and hearing) is now BELIEVING.

52 • PADUCAH LIFE

THE VERY BEST MIKE LIVINGSTON

“We insisted from the beginning on creating a landmark building for the region with world class acoustics. This was accomplished by selecting Eberhard Zeidler, one of the world’s most prominent performing arts center architects, to design the building and by insisting that the acoustics in the center be designed by Russell Johnson of Artec of New York City. The acoustics are not only the best in Kentucky, but one of the best in the nation. The Carson Center transformed a previously blighted area of downtown Paducah and enhanced the community’s cultural, educational, and economic life.”

THE JOURNEY DR. TED BORODOFSKY

“The Carson Center grew from a dream to a vision to a reality. There were many hurdles and many doubts, but what impressed me the most, I think, was the energy and long-held dedication to the project. During our decade of work, the people of this area demonstrated their willingness to get the job done when it came to funding this investment. By 2002, this rough outline of an idea had been hewn and crafted into a highly sophisticated project, compete with budgets, architectural designs, operating plans and funding strategies. This facility has given added dimension to our quality of life in this region. The Carson Center represents for all of us a reflection of an enlightened, progressive, bold community. I am personally proud to have been a part of such an exciting endeavor.”

“

he lives of young and old have been enhanced by the performances at the Carson Center. From educational programing for the youth to spiritual programs; from Broadway plays to classic performing artists; from country music to Paducah’s unequalled symphony orchestra, we have been uplifted with every performance. It is rare to find such an exceptional facility in a community the size of Paducah. Thanks to all who have made this venture a grand success.” —JOHN A. WILLIAMS, SR., Chairman Emeritus, CSI

THE BELIEF DAVE PERRY

“At some point early on, the project took on a life of its own. That is when we really started to believe that it could happen. It was the generous endowment gift from Jane and Louis Myre that gave us the creditability with officials and other donors. Their gift set the groundwork for much support. The Chamber of Commerce was also instrumental in helping gain funding. It was incredibly exciting to see the expression on the faces of our first audience in 2003. From that point onward, we had created a new identity for Paducah and for western Kentucky. World class artists have visited our area and have created a new world of opportunity for our community. It was a long road to travel. It is now, still, a wonderful feeling knowing that the journey was well worth it.”

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 53

The Best Just Keeps Getting Better

by Amy Clevidence

ADUCAH’S CARSON CENTER IS RENOWNED FOR ITS outstanding productions and dedication to the arts. In fact, our stateof-the-art performing arts center has been focused on curating artistry for 20 years now. Since then, hundreds of Broadway shows, bands, solo artists, comedians, and kids’ shows have enlivened the riverfront with their varied and unique productions. What we get to see as rapt audiences is the end result of MUCH that has to happen prior to the curtain going up. Technical rehearsals, often referred to as “tech,” are a crucial phase in the production process where all technical elements of a performance come together and are meticulously integrated and tested. This phase ensures that the vision of the director and the creative team is realized seamlessly and safely. It involves not only production staff and crew members but also performers, as they step onto the stage for the first time. During a tech, various production elements are synchronized, including lighting, audio, costumes, scenery, props, projection, and special effects. The Carson Center has hosted a number of tech productions since innovative Executive Director Mary Katz realized this opportunity several years ago. Most recently the Carson Center was chosen to tech the iconic musical Peter Pan before its opening night in downtown Paducah in early December. The Carson Center offers a perfect stage for this complex process. According to Katz, some Broadway productions tech at The Carson Center for a specific reason—the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive. This state incentive offers a tax credit on qualifying expenses for eligible productions. It's a testament to Paducah's allure for the entertainment industry. Peter Pan was The Carson Center’s 12th national Broadway production tech. The facility’s outstanding reputation and Paducah’s welcoming atmosphere make it a top choice for production companies. While the draw of the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive is undeniable, it's not the only reason for production companies to seek out Paducah’s particular stage. The relationships cultivated over time with these companies, coupled with a sense of trust and comfort, also plays a pivotal role. The Carson Center’s experienced staff further enhances the appeal. Moreover, Paducah's acknowledged hospitality is just icing on the cake. Beyond the excitement of bringing a new show to town, Broadway techs have a profound economic impact on Paducah. A single tech can last up to a month, generating significant business for local hotels, car rentals, restaurants, shops, and more. It also provides jobs for local stagehands and infuses the community with vitality. In teching Peter Pan, The Carson Center once again demonstrates its commitment to fostering community arts and enhancing our cultural landscape. This production not only celebrates the magic of theater but also the spirit of Paducah—a city where creativity, hospitality, and excellence take center stage.

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PETER PAN

THE STAR OF THE SHOW This past fall, the production of Peter Pan completed its technical rehearsals at The Carson Center before embarking on a world tour. This enchanting musical, directed by Emmy Award winner Lonny Price and featuring additional content by celebrated playwright Larissa FastHorse, brings new life to Sir James M. Barrie's classic tale. Audiences at The Carson Center had the unique privilege of being the first to witness the production—a taste of the best of Broadway before it hit larger metropolitan markets. That debut, held in December 2023, marked the initiation of the 20th Anniversary Season of Broadway at The Carson Center!

“

aving served on the board of the Carson Center since before it was built, I have witnessed first-hand the positive impact the center has had on our community. Now to serve as Chairman of the Board is truly an honor. We have come so far from those early days when it was just a dream. To see it now and look back on the first 20 years is such a testament to what this community can do together. Here’s to the next 20 years!” —SANDRA WILSON Chair, Carson Center Board of Directors

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY

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“

he Carson Center has been an unexpected delight to the 5,000 plus artists that have played her beautiful stage. There really is no space within a 100-mile radius of Paducah like the one that was envisioned decades ago and has since been sustained by generous contributors and enthusiastic, loyal audiences. It was one thing to build a performing arts theatre in Paducah in 2004. It’s another thing to have established and maintained a cultural asset that has drawn over two million visitors, has had a significant

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impact on tourism, has served as a catalyst for economic growth, and has enlightened the minds of more than 500,000 students. In the 16 years I have served on the staff as education, artistic, and executive director, I have seen the power of the arts—bringing together people who otherwise might not be in the same room. Thanks to The Carson Center, these collective experiences, the cultural milestones celebrated within the facility, and the exposure to big name entertainment in a breathtakingly beautiful facility have all elevated LIFE in Paducah. Cheers to another 20 years!” —MARY KATZ, Executive Director

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 55

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56 • PA D U CAH LIFE

Help Is On The Way PADUCAH NONPROFITS EXPAND SERVICES AND ACCESS THROUGH MOBILE UNITS

by Dixie Lynn ADUCAH IS HOME TO MANY NONPROFITS

offering services that range from healthcare and nutrition to housing and educational assistance. Since the pandemic, local needs have increased greatly while accessibility has become more challenging. Several nonprofits saw the need to expand their services by adding a mobile unit, helping to remove barriers for assistance and meeting people where they are.

Brary Bus The McCracken County Public Library started their bookmobile service Brary Bus, to eliminate barriers that may keep a patron from coming to the library. On the bus patrons can register for library cards, checkout library materials, place holds, and

access free Wi-Fi. The bookmobile also offers onsite library programming. Checking out library materials looks different for each stop. It could be allowing seniors to browse a large-print book cart, allowing children to checkout a book to keep in the classroom, or even having a handpicked bag of books delivered to a doorstep. Do you know of a place in our community where Brary Bus may be needed? Let the library know. Contaact the Bookmobile Coordinator, Ashley Doughty, at adoughty@mclib.net or 270-442-2510 ext. 115.

STAY at Paducah Public Schools School & Transition Assistance for Youth (STAY), the McKinneyVento homeless education program at Paducah Public Schools, works to remove barriers to education for students experiencing homelessness. They help with the school registration process, gather records needed for registration, certify students for free school meals, arrange school transportation, and make referrals to other organizations. The STAY van provides an opportunity to visit with students and families to discuss how school is going, forging strong relationships. Heather Anderson, liason for PPS, says the biggest need is food delivery.“We are serving families who are forced into making decisions between groceries and bills. We know that parents are skipping meals to feed their children. If we can help, we definitely want to be there for them.” If you’d like to help, STAY always accepts cash donations to help purchase items. Other current needs are small size laundry detergent (dye

DE C E MB E R 2 0 2 3 / JA NUA RY 2024 • 57

NONPROFIT MOBILE UNITS

The Children’s Advocacy Center Hope Heal Grow Mobile

and scent free), gift cards for Walmart, gas stations, and the mall, PATS bus ticket books, and school supplies. Contact Team Stay at 270-444-5600 x 1024 and STAY@paducah.kyschools.us.

Hope Heal Grow Mobile The Children’s Advocacy Center at Lotus provides a 24-hour helpline, specialized forensic interviews, family and legal advocacy, mental health screening, medical examinations, and multidisciplinary consultations to help survivors of child sexual abuse. As the first of its kind in Kentucky, the Hope Heal Grow Mobile (or Winnie as the team calls her) is a custom-built Winnebago equipped with a child-friendly interview room, medical examination room, and waiting/advocacy area. Many children impacted by abuse and neglect face barriers to receiving services at the Paducah office. Winnie is designed to expand access by reaching out to children and families throughout the counties of the Purchase Area. All services at Lotus are free. However, Chief Executive Officer Lori Wells Brown adds,“Our nation is experiencing an unprecedented

58 • PA D U CAH LIFE

reduction in federal victim service funding, which is the largest funding source for Lotus. As it is with any decrease in funding, the people most impacted will be those who have already suffered the greatest—survivors.” To learn how you can get involved, please visit hopehealgrow.org or call 1-800928-7273.

Purchase District Health Department WIC Mobile Services The Purchase District Health Department provides a wide range of health services, including WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) supplemental nutrition program, immunizations, TB and cancer screenings, well-child and school physicals, diabetes educa-

tion, smoking cessation classes, and in-school dental hygienist program, among others. In 2023, the health department started offering a mobile unit exclusively dedicated to providing WIC services to women who are pregnant and post-partum, and to children ages 0-5. Mobile services include providing nutritious foods, nutrition assessment, counseling on nutrition and activity levels, monitoring height, weight, and hemoglobin, and breastfeeding education and support. The health department identified transportation as a major barrier for participants to receive services. There’s more about their mobile services online at purchasehealth.org or by calling 270444-9631.

The Turning Point Mobile Access Van Part of Four Rivers Behavioral Health, Turning Point Recovery Community Center provides services for substance use disorders through its unique “peer support” program. Staff at Turning Point have personal experience with substance use disorders and can offer guidance and support from a “been

there, done that” perspective. With a 24/7 crisis hotline at 800-592-3980, Turning Point offers a quick response team, recovery coaching and relapse prevention, residential and outpatient programs for treatment, aftercare services like meetings, housing support, job-search assistance, and more. Services provided in communities include harm reduction like NARCAN and fentanyl testing strips, backpacks with essential care items like hygiene products, clothing, snacks, recovery information, and HIV testing. The van’s goal is to increase

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recovery support in rural and underserved communities. Program Director Brandon Fitch says,“Sometimes the smallest things have the biggest impact in someone’s life. A backpack, socks, a cup of coffee, and twenty dollars may not seem like much but it can be enough to change one person’s day for the better.” As they plan to start going door to door in communities next year, Fitch says community support is needed. If you know of a high-risk neighborhood that needs help, call Turning Point at 270-444-3621 or visit their website, 4rbhturningpoint.org.

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DE C E MB E R 2 0 2 3 / JA NUARY 2024 • 59

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★ by S TEPHANIE WATSO N

Paducah Life Travels the Globe!

N OUR AUGUST EDITION, WE FEATURED THE PHILANTHROPIC DUO NAN AND THEP Choomnafai when we shared their story of giving and good food. Since then, their story has gone global, with 200 copies of Paducah Life Magazine making their way from Paducah, Kentucky to Nan’s hometown of Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya, Thailand. Nan’s story is being used at her former school to inspire and teach students about overcoming challenges, making a way for oneself, and participating in the cycle of giving as one has received. The public school that received the magazines, Sappasamitbamrung School, teaches around 500 students fourth IN ENGLISH CLASS, STUDENTS READ THE PADUCAH LIFE ARTICLE ON NAN AND THEP CHOOMNAFAI DURING FREE TIME AT THE LIBRARY.

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 61

LIKE us on And get MORE out of LIFE!

62 • PADUCAH LIFE

through eighth grade, and is led by Director Siriporn Timklay, who is a pivotal figure in Nan’s life. She not only served as Nan’s teacher in school, but she was also the first person to truly understand and help to solve one of Nan’s biggest struggles as a child: hunger. “When I went to school, I didn’t have money—zero. I did not eat at all unless it was at school,” Nan recalls. “Do you know how hard it is to think and learn when your stomach is empty? Some of the students at these schools do.” Siriporn Timklay noticed her struggles and gave her a job as a dishwasher at her house so she could have meals outside of school without feeling like she was getting a handout. “I didn’t know how to tell anyone at the time. I would go to school, and it would be so hard to concentrate, so hard to think,” Nan recalls. “Many of these students are in the same boat, so I not only want to inspire them with my story, but I also want to support them financially as much as I am able. And I want them to feel that same unconditional love that my teacher showed me.” The students’ reaction to her story is a testament to its power. Director Siriporn Timklay shared that she could just see the inspiration in their eyes and feel the students developing the belief that if Nan could succeed, they could too. Nan’s other lifelong mentor, Somsong Sappakosolkul, serves as superintendent for the school district, which is composed of eight different schools. He has plans to create a hall of fame for successful students that can inspire others, starting with Nan’s story and picture. As we mentioned in August, it isn’t just Nan’s story that is inspiring

young learners. Nan and Thep’s donations through their Hope, Hugs, and Opportunities Project provides scholarships for students at all eight schools in the district. She estimates that they have given scholarships to 10-20 students per

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“WE WANT TO THANK OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND LOYAL CUSTOMERS FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO PROVIDE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THE STUDENTS AT MAE FAH LAUNG UNIVERSITY AND EIGHT PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A GREAT EDUCATION IN SHAPING THE FUTURE, AND WE ARE DEDICATED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES WHEREVER POSSIBLE. WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR OUR RESTAURANT! YOUR SUPPORT HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEARTS. THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE FOR US TO GIVE BACK!” school to cover books, school expenses, extracurriculars, and any additional needs that arise. They also continue to provide scholarships for six students at her alma mater, Mae Fah Laung University, and she hopes to expand those donations over time.

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 63

★ by B R A D R A N K IN

In His Own Words (And Pictures) Brad Rankin Curates The Imagery

OU’VE SEEN HIS WORK ON THE COVER OF PADUCAH Life Magazine for many years now. And you’ve no doubt seen his work with scores of local seniors as Brad photographically documents their last days in high school. But you may not always immediately identify his “lenscraft” when he is working behind the scenes on product and marketing assignments. So, we thought we’d do something a little different as we highlight this particular “curator of creativity.” We asked Brad to share a few secrets and tell us just HOW he dished up this delectable art for the local ice cream shop Craving The Curls.

•••

It’s always exciting when we have the opportunity to shoot our photography with a fully developed concept. We had wanted to do this frozen food photography shoot for rolled ice cream maker Craving The Curls since they had first

64 • PADUCAH LIFE

moved into our downtown neighborhood. We knew that such a unique product needed equally unique photography. Secondly, we wanted to have the final photographs help to explain the product in a visual way. Curled ice cream, after all, is not the traditional way the dish is served.

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How Was it Made? Planning is always paramount for us, but in this case, it was crucial on multiple levels. After all, ice cream doesn’t last long! We worked up our still-life area—the stage on which our ice cream would perform. Once we were happy with it, we added the ice cream, shooting it as its own individual layer. We presented the curls in nearly the same fashion as they look in a bowl in the Craving The Curls shop. The swirling, juxtaposed lines are not only interesting visually for a product, they make for great photos. We then added the cake and whipped cream and photographed the sprinkles. We also had to find the perfect cherry, which we shot on white plexiglass in order to achieve the optimal reflection. In the end, we had the option of choosing from multiple images of each element giving us a great deal of flexibility as we went into post-production. In Photoshop, we layered the individual components with flying sprinkles. The original background was gray so that we could fine tune the final color in post-production to the perfect hue. With four base photos, we used five-plus cutout masks and 70-plus adjustment layers. All of the shooting and postproduction were done in-house at our studio on Broadway. The results were absolutely delicious!

DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 • 65

YAC Recieves 2o23 Governor’s Award for the Arts

HE YEISER ART CENTER (YAC) WAS AWARDED THE prestigious Governor’s Award for the Arts earlier this year for their work in promoting the arts in western Kentucky. The YAC won in the category of Community Arts. “It gives me great pride to honor these talented artists who show such dedication to sharing the arts with Kentuckians across our commonwealth,”

66 • PADUCAH LIFE

said Governor Andy Beshear. “This year’s honorees have made integral contributions to Kentucky’s thriving arts industry. I want to thank all of these artists and organizations for bringing the stories of Kentuckians to life, and ensuring those stories live on for generations to come.” Each year the Kentucky Arts Council commissions a Kentucky artist to create custom works of art to serve as the award for recipients. The artist creates ten awards—nine for the recipients of each category and one for the Arts Council’s permanent collection. Jefferson County paper mosaic artist Sebastian Duverge created the 2023 Governor’s Awards. “Kentucky boasts an incredible artistic heritage, as evidenced by the talented honorees for the 2023 Governor’s Awards in the Arts,” said Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier. “From the mountains to the coal fields, from cities to small towns, Kentucky fosters artists in a range of disciplines. Not only does Kentucky limestone cultivate the best thoroughbreds and bourbon in the world, it appears to nurture creative professionals as well.” The Yeiser Art Center was established in 1957 as the Paducah Art Guild for the purpose of promoting the visual arts. It started as a small volunteer organization with founding members Mary Yeiser, Ginny Black, and Bob Evans leading the way. Today, YAC has a permanent exhibition space that hosts annual shows and a permanent collection of over 300 works. YAC is located at 200 Broadway.

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the “Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.” — Anamika Mishra

ABOUT THE ARTIST / Linda Martin’s passion for the arts ignited during her formative years, where she developed a deep love for drawing. In 1981, she embarked on her journey into the world of oil painting, a medium that has forever held her heart. With a penchant for capturing the essence of landscapes and the endearing personalities of pets, Linda’s canvas becomes a vivid tapestry of her artistic expression. Beyond her brush and canvas, she stands as a fervent advocate for the arts, championing creativity and its profound impact on our lives.

68 • PADUCAH LIFE

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