Spooky Shakes

Recipe & Photo by Jamie Alexander

These Halloween themed Milkshakes are sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike! They are perfect for when it still feels a bit too warm outside for hot apple cider, but you’re wanting a treat that feels like autumn. It couldn’t be easier to make milkshakes at home, and they can be decorated with simple touches to make them extra-fun.

For these Halloween milkshakes, I chose mint chocolate chip ice cream for the Frankenstein monster, vanilla for the ghost, and orange creamsicle for the pumpkin (which was more popular with kids than pumpkin flavored). After blending, I used a black permanent marker to draw the faces on the glass. I read about a trick saying that if you color over permanent marker on glass with a dry erase marker, it easily erases it. I was surprised to find that it worked (but maybe give it a try at your own risk)!

I drew the faces on the glasses first, then rolled the ghost and pumpkin glasses in frosting before adding sprinkles. Then, I poured in the milkshake. For the Frankenstein monster, I melted chocolate in a microwave, spooned it into a plastic bag, cut off the corner, and piped the chocolate along the top of the glass.

The main thing to think of when making milkshakes at home is the milk to ice cream ratio. If you can’t get the right ratio, you risk your shake being too runny, or too thick and difficult to drink. To keep things simple - try starting at 3 scoops of ice cream and 1/2 cup of milk. Once blended, if it looks too runny you can add a bit more ice cream, and if it’s too thick add another splash of milk.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: ›› 3 scoops of ice cream ›› 1/2 cup milk ›› frosting (to decorate the rim of the glasses) ›› chocolate melts (to decorate the Frankenstein monster glass) ›› optional toppings and add-ins

INSTRUCTIONS: ›› Blend your ice cream and milk in a blender until pourable (adjust your ratio until you have created your perfect consistency) ›› Pour into a glass, add your toppings (check for more instructions about this above) HF

JAMIE ALEXANDER is a nationally published culinary and commercial photographer working as a full-time staff photographer for Tanner Publishing. She has a knack for making tasty food and pretty art. See more of her portfolio at jaastudios.com.

Cotton Ball Ghost Craft

Written by Lyndi Mauk // Photo by Eric Bivens

When it comes to Halloween crafts, there are so many to choose from. From toilet paper monsters to Halloween masks to painted pumpkins. Kids love being creative, and they also enjoy making something that can be placed for all to see. This ghost craft is extremely simple, yet gives kids the chance to practice their scissor skills, using glue and making something of their own. It is really great for all ages. Their ghosts can look however they choose, as they can use their creative side to come up with clever ghost faces.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: ›› White paper ›› Black marker/Pencil (optional) ›› Jumbo cotton balls ›› Black construction paper ›› Scissors ›› Glue ›› Black/orange string (optional) ›› Fridge magnet (optional) ›› Tape (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS: ›› For younger kids, they may draw the ghost on white paper before cutting it out. For older kids, they can simply cut out the shape of their ghost. ›› Glue the cotton balls onto the ghost cut out. ›› Cut eyes and a mouth to glue onto the ghost. ›› Cut a piece of black/orange string and tape to the back of the ghost in order to hang, or simply place a fridge magnet to the back to hang on your fridge. ›› Hang as a decorative piece inside your home (fridge, living room, etc), or let your kids hang in their room as their own Halloween decor. HF

Community

THE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MAKE HENDERSON GREAT

The Road to Retirement

TAKING A LOOK BACK WITH LEO PECKENPAUGH

By Kaycee Garner // Photo by Darrin Phegley

Leo Peckenpaugh is a well-known man in the community that has served in many capacities. Some know him as a teacher, some an administrator, some a broadcaster, and many as a friend. He is settling nicely into retirement, but he still has many stories left to tell.

LIFE AS AN

EDUCATOR

Leo graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1974 in journalism with a minor in education. He attended on a sports scholarship but was injured in his first year. Despite this setback, he was able to continue playing football during the remainder of his time at WKU. Shortly after graduating, he took the sports editor job at the Gleaner. “I dabbled in three or four other professions until I landed in education,” said Leo. He served as a teacher in Henderson County for about twenty years, then became the Assistant Principal at the alternative school then the Assistant Principal at South Middle School. Leo retired seven years ago in 2014.

When asked about his favorite part of working with students, I could hear the excitement in Leo’s voice. “The support that you can offer and the impact that you can make on them, whether it be in school or in life, I learned early on in education that the great teachers and administrators were the ones that always had time for students and took the extra time to get to know them, not only as a student, but as a young person. When you connect with them and ask questions like, you know, ‘how are you doing’ or ‘how’s it going at home’ then you’ve opened up a way that you can help kids in a lot of different ways. Let’s face it, in today’s society a lot of these kids have it tough at home, and if they know that they can come to you and that they’ll get an ear, then it’ll only help to make them more successful to talk about their personal life. It’s truly a rewarding career.”

LIFE AS A

BROADCASTER

Even though Leo had a long career in education, many people in the community know him better as a broadcaster. “To me, there’s nothing like game night, whether you’re broadcasting or playing,” Leo responded when asked about his favorite part of broadcasting. Leo broadcasted the Henderson County High School basketball games from 1976 to 2002 and enjoyed every minute of it. He was hired by WKU and IMG college to work as a sports analyst for the WKU football network. Last year was his 18th year in that position. Amazingly, Leo was able to find out exactly how many football games he broadcasted in this position-567. Leo’s favorite memories from broadcasting all relate to family. He was able to broadcast the state championship when his brother played and also when his sons played, and he considers himself very fortunate for that chance.

FAMILY FIRST,

CAREER SECOND

Leo’s life is defined by far more than just his careers in education and journalism. Leo also has a wife, Marietta, and three adult children. One son, Trey, works for a real estate company that leases property to shopping malls and used to live in New York before COVID-19 hit. Due to hardships because of the virus, Trey and his family, including a new baby, were forced to leave their home, but luckily, they found a new home in Leo’s house after he and his wife graciously took them in. They have since found a new place locally. His daughter, Lacey, owns a kids art school in New Jersey. She moved to college up north, “big-eyed and not sure what she wanted to do,” according to Leo, but found her purpose quickly and also met her wouldbe husband on her first day there. His

youngest son, Wes, lives in Dallas, Texas and is in the same business as his brother but works for a different company. Leo says he’s very fortunate to have successful children. “All I can say is that they must have listened to their mother.” He also has four grandchildren that he loves deeply and expressed much gratitude for Marietta for always being there for him.

LIFE AFTER

RETIREMENT

Now that he is retired, Leo plans on helping Marietta in her business as a gardener. He plays a lot of golf and still keeps up with sports very well. “We aren’t really sit-on-the-couch type people, so we stay pretty busy.” He purchased season tickets to the WKU games and is very excited to see how those games turn out. He also plans on supporting the Poncho Club, a football club in Henderson that raises funds for all of the football teams.

Leo summed up his life at the end of the interview- “I’m married to the prettiest girl in Henderson and they paid me to do something that a lot of people would have done for free. I’m a very fortunate person, I can tell you that much.”

Thank you, Leo, for all the joy you’ve brought to Henderson! HF

KAYCEE GARNER has lived in Henderson her entire life and plans to keep it that way. She loves animals and movies, and enjoys drawing with charcoal and working on local political campaigns in her spare time.

GIVING BACK GIVING BACK

One Semi-Trailer at a Time

“I’ve been interested in trucks since I was a little boy. I loved the big trucks and that love never went away,” said Jason Cowan, owner of Silver Creek Transportation.

Jason moved to Henderson at the age of 18 and bought his first truck in 1994 from a gentleman who was retiring. He was given a job hauling chemicals and hazardous materials in the beginning, and grew from one truck to a fleet of 25 trucks and 40-50 trailers. He also has been a youth minister most of his adult life as well. Many of his hobbies are focused around his work, as he enjoys restoring trucks and old tractors and does a lot of weddings and speaking with youth and college groups.

Everyday in the transportation business is busy and different. Silver Creek Transportation is a family company, as two of Jason’s sons, Zane and Zebb, work for him. “We are a specialty transportation company. We transport food grade plastics, steel, wire and machinery. We operate Dry Van trailers, flatbed trailers and tankers. Our tanker division moves acids, wastewater and other hazardous materials. We run all lower 48 states and Canada. We have several drivers that have won state and national safety and accident free mile awards.”

Most of Jason’s day-to-day work is making sure trucks are getting to where they are supposed to be and everyone is happy, but Jason has done it all throughout his years in the trucking business.

A TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Jason has always had a vision to build a team with strong leaders. “If we want to build a big company, we need to build big people,” he said. It’s always been important to Jason to have a transportation company that’s different from others. Their core values include taking care of team members, giving back to the community and giving back to their drivers and their families. He explained how the transportation business is difficult because the drivers leave on Sunday nights and aren’t typically back until Saturday. They are missing baseball games, school plays and a lot of things in their life. “For them to be able to do that, I feel like we need to give them an atmosphere they are appreciated in and taken care of, and one they can grow in their talents as well.”

Jason has seen drivers not respected and taken care of, when they are the backbone to our entire country. “What most folks don’t realize is that what you pick up at 7am, someone’s dad, husband, wife or mom drove all night to make sure it was there.”

By Lyndi Mauk // Photo by Darrin Phegley

GIVING BACK IN A BIG WAY

Giving back is a core value Silver Creek Transportation instills. It is important to Jason to “give back to the community that

has given us the opportunity to do what we love to do.”

Having a youth minister background, his passion is for kids. Silver Creek sponsors dance teams, FFA, and movie/ family nights for the public schools by providing trailers for projectors and screens, just to name a few.

There are several local organizations they help year-round. These include Henderson County Schools, Marsha’s Place, where Jason serves on the board, Habitat for Humanity, The Autism Foundation and Relay for Life.

One way Silver Creek Transportation has given back to the community is through their themed trailers. “There is no greater billboard going down the road than our box trailers,” Jason said. He explained these themed trailers started about 4 or 5 years ago when the HCHS Band Director asked if they knew anyone who could help move the band’s equipment.

They worked together by designing a trailer specifically for the Henderson County High School Colonel Brigade and Guard. They are able to drive up with their equipment and show their school spirit in one of Silver Creek Transportation’s trailers. “When they go to competitions, they look really cool!”

The company then partnered with Relay for Life and designed a ribbon trailer with all 26 ribbons alongside it and last year did a tanker for The Autism Foundation. The purpose of their themed trailers is to bring awareness to the cause they are representing. A lady called them from Maryland to say thank you for bringing awareness to autism after seeing their semi. “When you see a big semi, it catches your attention. Wherever they go, it helps grow awareness.” One of his drivers might be at a truckstop in California and someone may come over and want their photo taken with the ribbon that has affected them or a loved one in their fight against cancer. They are not only helping local organizations here in Henderson, but they are showing their support and raising awareness everywhere their semi-trailers go around the United States and Canada.

They have donated flatbed trailers to elementary schools and Future Farmers of America for the Christmas parade to use for their floats. If they can help the band out on a Saturday morning, they just need a volunteer driver because they already have the trailers. “I think as a community, we owe it to the next generation to help them do what’s going to help them succeed. If we can help give them a truck or our team members can volunteer their time, that’s what we are after,” expressed the community-minded owner.

Silver Creek Transportation has worked with the same graphic designer, Linda Neem, since the company began. She owns Sign Art and Lettering in Dixon. She develops logos and is very creative. They have always worked well together, and he is grateful to call her a business partner over the years.

MORE THAN JUST AN EMPLOYEE

Silver Creek Transportation drivers are family. If one is struggling, they are all struggling. Silver Creek has 35 employees. When Jason speaks of his company, he wants everyone to understand, “It’s not me. It’s the team that works together to make things happen.” Another example of their team giving back is members will donate out of their check each week to Sunrise Children’s Home. The company has a big Christmas party for all of their drivers, families and vendors each year,

COMMUNITY

and they bring individuals from Sunrise Children’s Home in to give them the money donated to help them throughout the year to help place kids in homes.

Jason expressed how his team members aren’t only truck drivers. He has had employees say, “I’m just a truck driver.” And his response is, “You aren’t just a truck driver. Every one of us has a calling in our life to do something. Maybe that is you using your abilities to drive a truck, but there is no such thing as being just a truck driver.” He explained how they are intentional about having staff meetings and figuring out how they can help their employees grow.

“One of the things that truck drivers have is time. For the next 10 hours, they are going to be sitting and listening to something,” he explained. Therefore, they have a lady in their office who will send their drivers podcasts for personal and professional develop. These podcasts may be on how to manage your money better or how to be a better dad or mom. It’s important to Silver Creek to keep their employees focused on the fact there is a calling on their life. Jason said during COVID, he has felt more like a cheerleader, encouraging his team members to keep pushing forward.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Jason’s vision is for Silver Creek Transportation to run smoothly without him. He wants community members

to know they can call his company, and they can help them out. His goal was to bring Henderson a family company, and it has seemed to work well. “We love being a part of Henderson.” Silver Creek Transportation strives to find how they can use their talents to help someone else. “I think we are all part of this bigger community. This was one way with the trailers that seems to fit what we can do. Out of that, our community comes back around.”

“We would love to work with another group who would like to have something done because we would be interested in doing another trailer,” expressed the enthusiastic entrepreneur. Their goal is to design a new trailer each year, but with COVID, it’s been tough on their industry, so they haven’t picked one yet. If your business or organization is interested in working with Silver

Creek Transportation on designing a semi-trailer to raise awareness and provide support, please reach out to Jason Cowan at 270-826-0777, as they are ready to take on their next community project one semi-trailer at a time. HF

LYNDI MAUK, editor of Henderson Family Magazine, was born and raised in the Bluegrass State. She is grateful to be going through life alongside her husband and best friend, Brandon, and being a mother to their two kids.

THERE’S A NEW TRUCK IN TOWN

Local Couple Brings Trappin Chick’n Food Truck to Henderson

Written by Amanda Waggener

Photo by Darrin Phegley

enderson native and 2006 graduate of Henderson County High School, Bryson H H Hatchett, discovered he had a knack for making crowd pleasing chicken wings while entertaining family and friends in his home. “I wanted to change my life. Everything I was doing wasn’t as good as I thought it was going to be. I had this gift though. I was good with wings,” boast the local entrepreneur.

“He started making wings for family and friends when they would visit,” explains Bryson’s wife and business partner, Tirita. She continues “Our friends would tell us that we should sell these wings. We thought we better think of some side dishes to offer. We used to go to his mama’s house. She would make these potatoes on the grill. I did a little twisting. I made them on the stove, and we went from there.” The couple began selling plates that consisted of chicken wings and potatoes out of their home. Within a short period of time, they were inundated with orders. “The number of people coming to the house to pick up food got to be too much. We thought about buying a booth at first.” However, they felt the best way to optimize their potential would be to allow for mobility. “We decided on a food truck instead,” Tirita, the young Chicago native explains.

THE START OF SOMETHING NEW

Trappin Chick’n food truck started business officially on Juneteenth, 2019, at an event in Evansville. The new business found a warm welcome in their community of Henderson in no small part due to the deliciousness of their special sauces. Each sauce, Bryson created from scratch “through trial and error” in the couple’s kitchen. “When we started doing sides, I thought about food I like and then put a twist to it.” Bryson—who has an energy when talking about Trappin Chick’n that is palpable— describes, “For example, the chicken nachos and chicken quesadillas. You can pick which sauce you like to have added. If you haven’t tried the nachos, you’re missing out!”

The eatery hasn’t been without its challenges. Tirita admits that it can be a test working with your spouse on hot days in a small working space. “We bump into each other and get annoyed at times, but at the end of the day once we are home it’s all good.” She giggles, “We keep going. We’ve been going ever since that 1st day.”

Times and locations of where the food truck can be found are updated via their Facebook page. Also, on the Trappin Chick’n Facebook page you will find the menu, which currently includes wings, sliders, strips, loaded red potatoes, nachos, quesadillas and pies. HF

AMANDA WAGGENER is a blogger for the Huffington Post, author of No Grit No Pearl blog site and is a native of Henderson. She and her husband are the parents of two teenagers who they are raising with as much zeal as they can muster.

Dia de los Muertos

CELEBRATION RETURNS TO HENDERSON

Written by Lyndi Mauk // Photo by George Henderson

The Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, event will once again be returning to Henderson. This is a Hispanic holiday, in which families come together to celebrate the lives of those who are deceased. Traditionally, this holiday is celebrated from October 31- November 2. Henderson held its first celebration in Central Park on November 2, 2019, with plans to make this an annual event. Unfortunately, the event was unable to take place last year but the organization committee is very excited to bring it back again this year.

The idea to host this event started with County Judge Executive, Brad Schneider, and Director of Hispanic Outreach of Holy Name Church, Abraham Brown, as a way to reach Henderson’s Hispanic community. Due to COVID, there will be a couple big differences this year compared to the event in 2019. First, the sponsor this year is Deaconess Henderson Hospital. “It is important to the committee that this remains a free event for everyone to attend. These sponsorship dollars, and any proceeds made, go directly to the production of the event. Without community partners like Deaconess, events like Dia de los Muertos and many of our other events would not be possible,” said Lindsay Locasto. The event’s organization committee is working with Deaconess to provide the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the festival, as they see this would be a wonderful opportunity to better educate anyone who might be interested in learning more. Second, everyone in attendance will be asked to wear a mask and social distance as much as possible. Brad Schneider said, “We’ll have more food trucks, so people don’t have to wait in lines as long as they did last time. And instead of face-painting, we’re working with Deaconess to provide kids and adults with plain white masks that we will then help them decorate, so they can still get in the spirit of the Day of the Dead while still staying safe.”

The festival will have the same great music and food, commemorative altars, a kid’s parade, a candlelight procession and more. Montessori Academy of Evansville art instructor, Eric Ridenour, will once again display his Dia de los Muertos creations, including giant skeletons and whimsical floats and banners for the kids parade. There will also be a mariachi band, traditional dancers, a beer garden and an area for local nonprofits and social service agencies to set up tables to provide Hispanic families information that might be of value to them.

The event will take place in Central Park again this year on Saturday, October 30 from 4-7pm. The hope is for more people to be in attendance this year, but most importantly to be an outreach event for Henderson’s Hispanic community in which “they feel comfortable attending and which reflects the richness of their culture and traditions,” stated Brad Schneider. This is also a great way for the entire community to come together for a unique experience to learn, get dressed up and celebrate family.

Along with Brad Schneider and Abraham Brown, the organizing committee includes Lindsay Locasto from Downtown Henderson Partnership (which is the umbrella organization for the festival); Abby Dixon at the Henderson Tourist Commission; Trace Stephens with the Henderson Parks and Recreation Dept.; Theresa Childers with the Henderson County Parks Dept.; and Tacoholics Mexican Restaurant owner Marcos Nicolas, along with many volunteers. HF

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