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FROM THE EDITOR WELCOME TO THE NEW DECADE
EDITOR
Steven Wilson steven@owensboroliving.com
It’s hard to believe, but 2019 is almost over. Here at Owensboro Living, we’re anxiously awaiting the New Year, and using this last issue of the decade to celebrate all the people place and events that make our town great! Many of us will start next month with New Year’s resolutions, with plans to change ourselves and our community for the better. Even Owensboro Living will see some change in 2019, with a special double issue with Owensboro Parent in January 2020.
PUBLISHER
Taylor West taylor@tannerpublishing.com AD SALES
Brock Quinton brock@tannerpublishing.com
Robert Williams robert@tannerpublishing.com
But before we get too far ahead, let’s make sure we appreciate the Christmas season, and all that comes with it. In her Last Word column, Lora Wimsatt reminds us of just that – celebrating the holidays by making things simple, and focusing on what’s important. It’s easy to get caught up in the business of the season, from shopping to decorating to dinners, without stopping to appreciate the special moments with our families and friends. Dana Peveler, of the Senior Community Center, echoes that sentiment, and encourages us to put some extra thought into the needs of your elder loved ones during this time of year. And Pastor Christine Coy Fohr, of First Presbyterian Church, urges our readers to recognize the needs of those less fortunate, and meet them wherever they are, in the same way that God sent Christ to the world in our darkest time.
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Jamie Alexander Andrea Roberson CONTRIBUTORS
Jamie Alexander Danny May Marlys Mason Taryn Norris Dana Peveler Katie Pickens Meghann Richardson Melody Wallace Lora Wimsatt FOUNDER
So whatever your busy holiday schedules include, use the words of our writers to motivate you to look beyond yourself this season. Because it doesn’t take much to brighten someone’s Christmas.
Jason Tanner jason@tannerpublishing.com Online owensboroliving.com
Steven Wilson Editor, Owensboro Living steven@owensboroliving.com
facebook.com/owensboroliving instagram.com/owensboroliving twitter.com/oboroliving issuu.com/tannerpublishing Offline Owensboro Living Magazine
ON THE COVER: For this decade’s final issue of Owensboro Living, we thought we’d go out with a “bang”! This cover took much planning, making sure we had the proper permissions and safety precautions in place. With the help of the City of Owensboro, Owensboro Police Department and Owensboro Fire Department, we closed off traffic to to the blue bridge at 10:30pm on November 16 and sent flares to the sky. A special thanks to Stuart Snow, Tim Ross, Lelan Hancock, Mike Skaggs, and Daniel Dick for helping make this crazy idea a reality. For a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this celebratory cover, visit the Tanner Publishing Facebook page. Photo by Adam Paris, David Grinnell and Jason Tanner
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PO Box 9503 Owensboro, KY 42302 888-304-5416 Advertise Owensboro Living is a FREE magazine because of community support. Thank you to the great group of businesses & organizations who advertise.
TANNER PUBLISHING CO.
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2019
DECEMBER [08]
THE BUZZ
[30]
THE REAL PEOPLE, PLACES AND EVENTS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY, BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE OWENSBORO TIMES
[10]
FROM THE DESK OF...
DR. NICK BRAKE
FEATURES [12] WHEN THE WORLD WAS DARK [14] A WARRIOR'S HEART [21] CAPTURING A MEMORY [24] A POST-GRADUATE JOURNEY FOR PEACE [30] A LOOK INSIDE A 5TH GENERATION
[36]
BUSINESS [36] MARCHING TOWARD SUCCESS
[43]
YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
GUIDANCE FROM THE EXPERTS
[61]
SENIOR LIVING
A PRICELESS GIFT
[66]
THE STYLE
HOLIDAY FASHION THE HEART OF CAMPUS
[73]
[21] [68]
THE DISH
RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH THESE SPARKLING TREATS
[76]
THE SCENE
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AND AROUND OWENSBORO
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[73] DECEMBER 2019
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THE
BUZZ
KENDALL-PERKINS PARK MAKEOVER As part of the Northwest revitalization plan, Kendall-Perkins Park is getting a makeover. On November 8, the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance started a beautification project that began with the planting of new trees and shrubs across the park’s grounds. Once the update is complete, the park, located at 1201 West Fifth Street, will boast a variety of crepe myrtle, dogwood and Japanese cherry trees. Shrubbery in the form of azaleas and hydrangeas will also be planted across the park. The project was made possible through the Lowe’s Heroes Program, which “encourages employees in a location to team together, adopt a volunteer project with a local nonprofit organization or K-12 public school and make a difference.”
NEW PITINO SHELTER DIRECTOR
GENE’S HEALTH FOOD DEBUTS NEW LOCATION
On November 6, Gene’s moved to their new location on 1738 Moseley St., where owners hope to offer more options for loyal customers in Owensboro. Owners Andrew Keller, Karissa Costello and Olivia Vancil anticipate the new storefront will only further spread the message of health and wellness established by the business nearly 39 years ago. The new facility will offer more than 8,000 square feet, a significant increase and upgrade from the previous location. In addition to more space for the grocery area, as well as retail, the new location will provide more spacious seating options in their deli. An additional 40 seats will be available for patrons who dine in. 8 OWENSBORO LIVING
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PHOTO BY TAYLOR WEST
Michele Johnston has been named the new executive director of the Daniel Pitino Shelter, replacing former executive director, Thad Gunderson. Johnston started her role in September 2019. Johnston, a doctor of social work, has a professional and personal mission to serve others through building relationships with the community. Johnston will oversee the campaign celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Pitino Shelter, where local and surrounding community members are asked to show their support by donating $25 a month for three years. www.OwensboroLiving.com
NEW AIRPORT FIRE STATION Nearly six months after
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opening the fire station at Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport, officials ceremoniously cut the ribbon on the $6.5 million facility on November 1, thanking local, state and federal funding for the construction. JudgeExecutive Al Mattingly spoke at the ribbon cutting, pointing out that 90 percent of the fire station project was paid for by federal dollars, thanking Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressman Brett Guthrie for their efforts in securing the funds. The new station boasts over 15,000 square feet of space and now reigns as Daviess
PHOTO BY MARLYS MASON
County’s largest fire station.
BORROWED HEARTS HELPS FOSTER FAMILIES
The new building for the
With a mission to aid foster care families, Sarah Gough started Borrowed Hearts Foundation, a clothing closet nonprofit for foster families in Evansville, Ind. that now has sister store locations in Terre Haute, Ind. and Vincennes, Ind. When Amanda Van Bussum, Tina Hurm, Amanda Simmonds and Scarlett Goodman heard about the project, they knew that such an organization could benefit children and families in Owensboro, too. All of the women, who are foster parents themselves, recognized that kids were often coming to them with the wrong sized clothing or inappropriate clothing. To meet that need, Borrowed Hearts partnered with Don Moore Automotive, who donated their Second Street collision center as the building to house the Owensboro branch of the foundation. For those interested in a financial donation, an in-kind donation, or volunteering individually or with a service organization, contact Borrowed Hearts Owensboro through their Facebook page.
equipment and technology
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Daviess County airport station includes updated and a three-story training tower that includes rope tie-ons, space for aircraft emergency rescue simulations — including an airplane door mockup — and a gym for the firefighters.
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FROM THE DESK OF...
Dr. Nick
BRAKE BY MARLYS MASON PHOTOS BY TAYLOR WEST
Dr. Nick Brake may be retiring as superintendent of Owensboro Public Schools at the end of 2019, but he plans to remain engaged in education in the areas of policy or higher education as soon as he “returns from the desert” — his way of saying he is going to take a short break. As superintendent of the district for six and a half years, Brake tried to be out of his office in the mornings, visiting schools and classrooms. He spent the middle of the day in his office, and then, due to teachers' schedules, held meetings later in the day. It has been important to Brake to be visible to students, staff and the community during the school day.
In the last couple of years, Brake has been more involved at the state and national level, which meant he has traveled out of district and state. “I have been blessed to be able to do that and put the community and the district on the map,” Brake said. Brake said the district has been great to his family. Both of his children, Anna Caroline and Nicholas, graduated from Owensboro High School, and both were student body president of their class, which allowed them to sit on stage with their father for each child’s graduation. District photographers captured candid photos of each moment on stage with Nick, and each picture is framed in his office. “I also had the opportunity to give each their degree,” Brake said. Early in his career, when he was teaching at Daviess County High School and also serving on the Site-Based Decision Making Council, there was discussion of banning the book, The
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Color Purple by Alice Walker. Brake believes that no books should be banned in the 20th century, but this moment is when he saw an opportunity to become involved in educational leadership. In 2006, his wife Candance gave him a copy of the book for Christmas with a dedication to remind him of the beginning, and to inspire him to “charge the mountain.” The book resides in Brake’s office. “It’s about standing up for your ideas,” Brake said. When Brake left Owensboro Community and Technical College, where he had served as dean and vice president, his colleagues gave him a replica of Ellis Island. Brake said that the significance of Ellis Island is two-fold: his family emigrated from Germany and he is third-generation American, and also because of a metaphor he once heard that he often shared — that a community college is the Ellis Island of higher education. “[The community college] provides the opportunity to create because they are open-access institutions,” Brake said. “They provide large opportunities for a large swath [of people].” These two items, he said, are two of his most treasured, most important things and everything goes squarely back to Ellis Island and The Color Purple, he said. His office is also filled with framed degrees and photographs of family and friends from the years, along with a prominently displayed porcelain tray with a quote by Winston Churchill in the center — “Meet success like a gentleman; disaster like a man.” The tray was given to Brake by Madison Silvert when Brake left his position of President/CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. Although Brake said that there are a lot of challenges in public education, his wife says they are going to have to wheel him out of the classroom. Brake also teaches at Western Kentucky University, and is currently teaching Ancient Greece to students interested in becoming teachers. He enjoys the material, which he said relates so well to contemporary situations, but he also understands the craft, and can empathize with the students about the changes in technology and teaching. “It’s been a good run,” Brake said. www.OwensboroLiving.com
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When the
WORLD WAS DARK BY REV. CHRISTINE COY FOHR PASTOR, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
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WHEN THE WORLD WAS DARK AND THE CITY WAS QUIET, YOU CAME. YOU CREPT IN BESIDE US. AND NO ONE KNEW. (The Iona Community)
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I love the way that this poem sets the scene for Christmas. When the world was dark and the city was quiet, God came. Christmas is a season that often gets wrapped up in frenzy and bustle, in attending performances and parties, in “showing up� for activities until we are exhausted. And yet, when the world was dark and the city was quiet, God came. I remember, one Christmas, when I was living away from home, all of that bustle was absent from Christmas. It was quieter and darker, in a way. The checklist that year was decidedly less packed. The calendar less frenzied. And yet, in that year, I noticed Christmas in a new way. In the quiet, in the calm, I noticed those moments when God quietly crept into the unexpected places, the forgotten corners of our holiday world. The church doors opening to neighborhood kids looking for a place to play outside the cold. Food being shared. Laughter being shared. Small acts of kindness being given without exaggeration or expectation. Love being born, subtly, quietly, while everyone else was caught up in the busyness. When the world was dark and the city was quiet,
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God crept in beside us. Christmas is a season so special we almost take it for granted. We make it so big that we fail to really see it. So huge that we fail to remember just how very simple it was: a family of little means having a child in the night. A mother of humble strength bringing a baby into the world. A God of unshakable love keeping covenant through flesh and blood, when the world was dark and the city was quiet and, if you were too busy, you just might have missed it. Will you do the same this year, God? When our world feels burdened and our hearts seem cynical and our eyes too busy to focus on the moment. Will God find us? At Christmas, we encounter this incredible truth: that God meets the pain of this world in flesh and in blood where we least expect it: in the dark, in the quiet; alongside the suffering and among the forgotten ones. Into those places, Christ is born. And at Christmas, we are invited to meet God there. To find Christ there: born with love into the quiet corners of this hurting world. This Christmas, let us make space to pay attention, to notice, and to meet God-with-us in our weary world.
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BY Y MELOD E C A L WAL
Heart
A WARRIOR'S
U.S. Army veteran Chris Conley has been known in the past for his passion for storm chasing
and his ability to capture detailed drone and video footage. Recently, Conley was named Grand
Marshal of the Owensboro-Daviess County Veterans Day Parade after gaining popularity across the Owensboro community, not just for his running ability, but for the cause for which he runs.
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“Me personally, I don’t think I deserve to be a Grand
year. On the weekend of Sept. 7, 2019, Conley not only
Marshal of anything,” Conley said. “I tried to get Gold
participated, he, along with McCarty, spearheaded a 109-
Star families to ride in the car and the whole run team is
mile Kentucky Run for the Fallen from Owensboro to
going to walk with me alongside the car. That’s what this
South Hopkinsville.
parade ought to be about — their sacrifice is incredible.”
Conley said he has had the opportunity to meet
the two organized the tribute event in which runners
several Gold Star families this year that lost a family
covered specific miles for each Kentucky Fallen Service
member through military service or suicide, and many
Member who died as a result of serving (from any
are still grieving that loss. These families became the
circumstance) during the War on Terror. Conley said the
driving force for him to not only run, but to involve the
planning for the 109-mile run began in January and took
community in his efforts, as well.
nine months to complete.
Last year, Conley’s wife, Donna, and Honor and
With America's Run for the Fallen as their model,
"When you are planning a 109-mile race, your entire
Remember of Kentucky Director, Leslie Byrne McCarty,
team is organic and is moving with you," Conley said.
asked Conley to shoot video for the organization when the
"There are families to feed, and you have to make sure
National Run for the Fallen came through Owensboro.
the Gold Star families are at the right markers. This year
we had the right people in the right places.”
“I was just overwhelmed by the greatness of the
whole thing,” Conley said. “I was always the guy that
stood in the background, but with my involvement with
will be much easier to plan, as the route has previously
Honor and Remember, I found a reason to run again.”
been marked and the markers are already in place. It
Conley said he has vivid memories of sitting on a
might come as a surprise to some that a guy who once
truck tailgate during the 2018 run telling others that
voiced a distaste for running is not only planning a
he would actually be participating by running this
second Kentucky race, but now considers himself an
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Already looking to 2020, Conley said the next race
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“ultramarathon” runner. Currently, Conley is training for
plans — but plans are one thing, reality is another.”
two races in early and late spring, a 50K and a 50-miler.
“I’ve always hated running,” Conley said. “If you’re
with an incredibly supportive wife and three sons, two of
going to get me to run, I’m going to run for something —
which are currently serving in the Army National Guard,
I’ve found something to run for. These fallen heroes and Gold Star families drive me. They saved me from me.”
Conley, an 8-year Army veteran with the 101st
Airborne, 2nd Infantry Division, was deployed to Saudi
While Conley said he has certainly found joy in life
he has never felt quite like himself since leaving active duty.
“I’ve always struggled with who I am,” Conley said.
Arabia, Iraq, and Panama and did two tours in the DMZ
“In my heart, I’ve always been a warrior, but I couldn’t
(Demilitarized Zone) in Korea.
find any warrior stuff to do. Running for these Gold Star
families, I’ve found a way to be a warrior again — I’ve got
“I really struggled with PTSD for years and years,”
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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
DRAKE'S
DRAKE'S. COME PLAY. D rake’s, a new restaurant, opened on October 21 in the Highland Pointe Shopping Center. Drake’s partnered with Goodfellows Club on their grand opening to raise $2000 for the organization. “The Goodfellows Club of Owensboro has been serving children in our community for 103 years,” says Bob Clark, Goodfellows Club of Owensboro president-elect. “We serve the children with the greatest needs by working with family resource and youth service centers to provide clothing, emergency dental care and an annual Christmas party. The board relies on the generosity of the citizens of this community to provide the funding we need each year during our Roll Call between Thanksgiving and Christmas. One hundred percent of the funds raised through contributions support the needs of children in Daviess County. We are also very grateful to have Drake’s help us out with our ever-growing need for funding so that we are able to continue our mission and ensure that no child is forgotten.” Drake’s servers donated their tips during the restaurant’s soft opening and Drake’s matched all donations. “It’s important to Drake’s to support the local community,” says Mark Thornburg, Drake’s chief operating officer. “We have a soft spot in our hearts for children and love what the Goodfellows Club is doing for kids right here in Owensboro.” The new restaurant embodies its “come play” tagline. You’ll find groups of friends and families on a turf-lined game patio playing cornhole, giant Jenga and connect four. The restaurant also has shuffleboard, team trivia with ½ off beer towers on
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Monday night, and a live DJ every Friday and Saturday night. The year-round indoor patio features a fireplace to cozy up to during the winter months and large garage doors that will open when it gets warm, creating a lively open-air atmosphere.
“When you come to Drake's you can expect exceptional
food, unwavering commitment to hospitality and an atmosphere that invites people to have a lot of fun,” Thornburg says.
The menu includes enormous griddle-pressed burgers,
steaks, mini burgers, shareable appetizers like nachos and BLT tots, build your own tacos, hearty salads, and a slew of sandwiches. Drake’s also serves a full sushi menu offering sushi lovers rare flavors and perfectly-executed classics hand-rolled to order in a window open to view from the restaurant. Craft beer lovers will be pleased to hear Drake’s features 24 beers on tap with more in bottles and cans. The restaurant also has a seasonal craft cocktail list and extensive spirit selection.
Drake’s gift cards make the perfect present and the
restaurant is offering a bonus on gift card sales for the holiday season. For every $50 of gift cards purchased through December 29, you will receive a $10 voucher for use at a later date. E-gift cards are available for immediate delivery via email or to print at home.
Visit Drake’s at 3050 Highland Pointe Drive in Owensboro
or online at drakescomeplay.com. The restaurant is open daily at 11am.
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BY KATIE S PICKEN
PHOTO BY JAMIE ALEXANDER
Capturing
A MEMORY
HELP-PORTRAIT GIVES BACK WITH FREE, PROFESSIONAL PORTRAITS
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Independent photographer Maria Clark has plans to give back to the Owensboro community in a unique way this winter. By spearheading the first-ever Owensboro/ Daviess County Help-Portrait event, Clark will provide the community’s underprivileged and homeless with free, professional portraits. Clark moved to Owensboro five years ago, and has taken Help-Portrait photos in Tennessee and Connecticut in the past. This year, she wanted to bring the opportunity to Owensboro. Help-Portrait was founded by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart in 2008, with a mission to empower photographers, hairstylists and makeup artists to use their skills, tools and expertise to give back to their local
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communities. Each December, groups of these skilled professionals gather all over the world to find people in need, take and print their picture, and then deliver it free of charge. “Over the past 10 years, it’s been held in more than 60 countries,” Clark said. “I love the concept of it. I love filling an emotional need. There are lots of places that provide physical human needs to the underprivileged, and that’s wonderful and much-needed. With Help-Portrait, we can help provide an identity to people by giving them a record of themselves through portraits.” Help-Portrait is about giving the pictures, not taking them, Clark said. “These portraits aren’t for a portfolio, website, or for sale,” she said. “It’s about giving people who otherwise couldn’t afford to pay for a professional photographer the chance to capture a moment, a memory.” Clark said Help-Portrait can take individual or family shots, or both. Help-Portrait of Owensboro/Daviess County will host its first local event on Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Daviess County Public Library. “All who come to Help-Portrait for a picture will have the opportunity to have their makeup done if they’d like, then have a few minutes with the photographer for professional portraits,” Clark said. “Their images will be lightly retouched while they wait, and one final image will be printed and hand-delivered to them before they leave.” All final images from each session will be made available to participants through digital files, as well. Clark said she’s served between 100 and 120 people at past events. While DCPL’s online registration has 40 available slots, Clark said she wouldn’t turn any walk-ins away. The number of portraits that can be taken depends largely on the number of photographers Clark is able to secure for the event. “I’ll serve everyone who shows up the best I can,” she said.
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PHOTO BY JAMIE ALEXANDER
BY S MARLY N O S A M
A POST-GRADUATE
Journey for Peace 24 OWENSBORO LIVING
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Daniel Martell, a 2015 graduate of Daviess County High School and a recent graduate of Transylvania University in International Affairs and Classics, has just embarked on an opportunity with the Peace Corps to teach English in the rural areas of Uganda.
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The first three months of the program
is excited to see him pursue this opportunity,
will be spent in Kampala, the capital city of
they are definitely not happy to see him gone
Uganda. Martell said this is almost like a boot
for so long.
camp for the 50 volunteers that will be there
While in the intensive program, the
from the United States. During this time,
volunteer's larger suitcase is stored, and they
Martell will learn ways to communicate with
must live out of their smaller bag and backpack
Ugandans and how to teach English through
they brought. Martell said that provides
the Uganda Primary Literacy Project. At the
specific challenges, as well, even though he has
end of the extensive training, Martell will be
been told that most needs for basic supplies
assigned to the place he will teach for two
can be met in Kampala.
years.
“I am excited to go all in on the new culture,
opportunities with family back home will be
language, civil festivals...in an authentic way,”
difficult as they are training and trying to
Martell said. “I have traveled a lot, but I have
transfer cell service to a Ugandan cell phone
always felt like a tourist.”
provider. They will have access to Wi-Fi, and
Martell said he will now be on the ground,
there are plenty of internet cafes, but Martell
living as one of the locals, with a host family
said they should be prepared to not reach home
that will provide basic necessities.
at first.
Martell said he is excited for this Peace
Corps experience, and that while his family
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For the first two weeks, communication
“They see it [the intensive boot camp]
as anything that could go wrong in that first
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three months...and then it is smooth sailing once out
others to think of the Peace Corps and service,”
in country,” Martell said.
Martell said.
One of Martell’s friends is in Senegal working
with the Peace Corps, and he left a couple of months ago. Martell said that he has relied on him frequently
WHAT IS THE PEACE CORPS?
to learn what to expect.
The Peace Corps was established by President John
Martell is excited to make a difference while
F. Kennedy in 1961 as an opportunity for Americans
teaching English in his placement, and said that when
to serve the world while serving their country. Peace
he returns home, he hopes to attend law school and
Corps volunteers can do anything from teaching
focus on a career in international law and possibly
English, like Martell, to working in public health,
politics, something he has been interested in since
trade, technology and community development. A
working with the Kentucky Democratic Party and
Peace Corps volunteer serves for two years in his or
the House Minority Caucus while at Transylvania.
her host country, and lives as a “good neighbor” of
Regardless
Martell’s
that community. According to Peace Corps, more
excitement for this work is evident when he speaks.
than 235,000 Americans have served in 141 host
He believes the opportunity has come at the right
countries. The average age of a volunteer is 27, and
time for him, and that going through the Peace
99% of volunteers are unmarried. Two thirds more
Corps has been the best option to prepare him for
females are serving today than males. Forty-six
this assignment.
percent of volunteers served in Africa in 2018, and
42% of the volunteers serve in the education field.
of
his
future
plans,
“I hope that reading about this will encourage
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A Look Inside a
5TH GENERATION BUSINESS Founded in 1885, Dahl and Groezinger has the distinction of being Kentucky’s oldest family-owned scrap iron and metal processor. Today, John and Drew Kirkland, along with cousin Will Helwig, run the day-to-day operations. All three are great-great grandsons of founder George Groezinger, who started the business.
BY DANNY MAY
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M
y 9-year-old son was so excited to cash in those three bags of aluminum cans
that you would’ve thought that $3.85 was a hundred dollar bill. When you’re 9, four dollars is a big deal. Since he crushed all those cans himself, we let him keep the money.
IN THE BEGINNING
The story goes that George Groezinger met Phillip Dahl on the boat ride over from Stuttgart, Germany, in 1867. Once in New York City, the two met a man named Mr. Lacer, who brought them to Owensboro to
He took the ticket from the worker at the
buy hides, wool, and pelts for his American
scale at Dahl & Groezinger, turned it into the
company. When Mr. Lacer retired, they
office, and stuck those three dollar bills, three
bought his business, established it as Dahl
quarters and a dime in his front pocket until we got home. Beau had seen me take several loads
& Groezinger, and set up shop at 114 Frederica Street, where the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum now sits. When
of scrap metal to Dahl & Groezinger before.
George’s son, Walter, joined the firm in
(He enjoys watching the giant “claw” or the
1910, he believed scrap metal was the future
really big magnet pick up all the stuff from the
of the business and began to develop the
truck bed.) But this time was different. This
metal processing operations. With that new
was his load. And therefore, his money. That sort of passing the proverbial torch to the next
direction, the company continued to grow and expand, survived the Great Depression, and moved to the current location at 940 W.
generation is what keeps Dahl & Groezinger
9th St. in 1954.
going strong for over 135 years.
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“THE THREE OF US ARE FORTUNATE AND BLESSED THAT OUR PARENTS AND EARLIER GENERATIONS HAVE DONE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND TAUGHT US SO MUCH. WE’RE JUST THE NEXT IN LINE TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION.” - John Kirkland
In the past decade, the fifth-generation
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PHOTOS BY TAYLOR WEST
HOW IT WORKS: Recycling metal at D&G is pretty simple. First, you drive up on the scale so they can record your full load weight. Then you follow the path around to the giant “claw” that empties the load for you. Once you’re empty, you circle back around to the scale so they can record your empty weight. After they signal you, you park and walk up to the window to collect your money. 32 OWENSBORO LIVING
. DECEMBER 2019
owners have expanded again, adding a 17-acre
are giant piles of car parts, appliances, lots of
yard across from the Owensboro Riverport
random metal, and even junk automobiles.
Authority at 1600 River Road so they can load
Cranes (equipped with either a giant magnet, a
barges. Today, D&G averages 100 customers a
mobile cutting shear, or grapple) swing about,
day from the surrounding region, bringing in
processing material and staging it for shipping.
everything from aluminum cans to junk cars.
A building at the 9th Street location collects
They accept both ferrous (scrap iron and steel)
and weighs aluminum, copper, and other non-
and non-ferrous (copper, aluminum, brass and
ferrous items. The River Road location houses
stainless steel items). Basically, anything metal.
a new 900-ton stationary shear, a beast of a
They then ship it by the truckload, by barge, by
machine that can cut multiple pieces of metal at
railroad cars and by overseas containers. With
once and send them down a conveyor belt for
all those avenues, the scrap metal from your
sorting.
garage could literally be shipped anywhere in
the country or around the world to be melted
new opportunities is how D&G has stayed in
down and made into something new.
business all these years, and adding the River
Changing with the times and seizing
Road site is another example. After leasing land
INTO THE FUTURE
Driving through either scrap yard, there
from the Owensboro Riverport Authority for many years, Will, John, and Drew jumped at the chance to purchase a piece of property across www.OwensboroLiving.com
from the Riverport Authority.
That expansion allowed the trio to upgrade some
equipment and move the steel operation to the new location. “We have our regular customers, but every day we buy scrap from somebody different. This room gives us the space to expand to take on other scrapyard’s scrap. And with some of our contracts for our foundries - we need room to stack up loads for them (to ship large quantities),” Will Helwig explained.
“At our River Road location, we have the space to
store and process large amounts of scrap from industrial accounts and other scrap dealers. We mostly take scrap from the public at our 9th Street location,” John added. “There’s no way we could do the amount of processing we do at River Road on three acres in the middle of town.”
Recycling old barges, a process Will oversees, is just
one example. Will says it takes about a day and a half for workers with torches to cut a barge into small enough sections to run through the new shear. The cut pieces come out of the shear in 2 ft x 3 ft sections. From there, like all the other cut metal, those 2x3 sections are then loaded on dump trailers and taken to foundries.
Owensboro happens to be a great location for a
steel processing scrap yard because there are several foundries close by. Waupaca, for example, is one of the main buyers of scrap from D&G. “We ship loads every day to Waupaca,” Drew said. “So we buy scrap from our customers, processes it here and ship it to the foundry, where they melt the metal down and make new products. That’s how it works.”
They’ve found other ways to expand the business as
well. “We buy a lot of catalytic converters and junk cars – items that we used to not take 20 years ago” John added.
“We also buy scrap batteries and aluminum cans,”
Drew added. “Accepting new items has allowed us to grow and open some new avenues. We still hold the core values of our business, but we have the vision to adjust and change when we see an opportunity.”
YOU DON’T START OUT IN THE OFFICE
Understandably, remaining a family-run business is
something they take great pride in at D&G. “Our families
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33
FUN FACT: Will’s father found an old postcard in the office that listed the company’s phone number as 6. As in, just dial "6.” Which means D&G was the sixth business or home in Owensboro to have a phone line.
PHOTO BY MICKEY GREGG
gave us the opportunity, but it was on us to carry it through”
something we’ve all loved. And we plan on handling it the same
with our kids. It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay,” John assured.
Drew said. “We had to learn and put in our time. We had to
work hard to take advantage of that opportunity.”
“They’ll have to earn their way in and work long, hard hours just
like we did.”
And work hard they have. Will, John, and Drew each started
working at D&G as soon as they could — at age 16. Will joined the firm full-time after he graduated from Georgetown in 2002. John and Drew joined full-time when they graduated from Alabama with MBAs in 2003. “We just always knew we wanted to do this, so every business class we took, we had this in our minds,” says Drew.
Fifth generation member Lee Hall decided not to join the
firm and is pursuing her own interests as a successful interior designer. The other fifth generation member is Bill Conley III, who joined the firm for a while, but then decided to enter the banking business. The Conley line of the family was very instrumental in the success of D&G. Bill Conley Jr. was fourth
GIVING BACK
Community involvement is very important to the guys at
D&G, as well. They sponsor ROMP every year, are involved in the Chamber of Commerce, and support several non-profits. To Will, John, and Drew, they’re just paying it forward. “We feel very blessed to have a five generation business. The least we can do is to give back to the town we’ve been in for so long. Owensboro is our home base and always will be,” Will said. Will and Drew both echoed that sentiment, and
generation, and his father, Bill Conley Sr., was a connecting link
acknowledged that the three cousins wouldn’t be successful on
for over 40 years from his time in the service during the war years
their own. “We love Owensboro, and wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t
until 1987.
for the hard work of the previous generations, the guys we work
Whether or not the sixth generation takes over is yet to be
with, our suppliers, and our customers,” Drew said. “We couldn’t
seen. All three owners are family men now. Will, for example, has
make it without them. In a family business, we don’t have a parent
five kids. “Dad and Uncle Bill never pressured the three of us into
corporation. The owners of this business live in Owensboro, so we
the business. The opportunity was there if we wanted it, and it’s
want to give back to this town, personally.”
34 OWENSBORO LIVING
. DECEMBER 2019
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PHOTOS BY JAMIE ALEXANDER
BY TARYN NORRIS
MARCHING TOWARD
Success 36 OWENSBORO LIVING
. DECEMBER 2019
Trent Woolard is an 18-year-old high school senior and accomplished tuba player. As a member of the Daviess County High School Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Indoor Winds, it is easy to see that Trent is passionate about music.
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He has also participated in the DCHS Teen Leadership Conference and National Honor Society. Karen Alward, former DCHS band director, gave Trent the idea to audition for the Macy’s Great American Marching Band at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He thought it would be a fun and interesting opportunity, so he began practicing.
For three months, he practiced 90
minutes a day in preparation for his video audition. To punctuate his final year of high school band, Trent submitted the audition video in March 2019. The video included a prepared solo piece demonstrating his technical proficiency, tone quality, and overall musicianship. He also submitted a video demonstrating his marching proficiency.
In April 2019, he received the honor
of a place in the 93rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with the Great American Marching Band on NBC.
Trent spent the first week of November
in New York City with the DCHS band, then left again for NYC on Saturday, November 23 to begin practices with the Great American Marching Band. The band staff and section instructors for the Great American Marching Band includes renowned university band faculty from around the country. Trent’s experience included seeing notable parts of the Big Apple and a sixnight stay at a first-class hotel. Trent also got a tour of the city, a trip through Madison Square Garden, a Broadway musical, a visit to the theater district, and of course, a stop at Times Square.
On Thursday, November 28, Trent
performed American
with
the
Marching
Macy’s Band
Great
alongside
184 other high school musicians and 40 www.OwensboroLiving.com
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PHOTO BY JAMIE ALEXANDER
dancers. Beginning at Central Park and ending at Macy’s Herald Square, the band marched between gigantic, colorful balloons and grandiose floats. Close to 3 million spectators watched in-person and over 50 million others watched via NBC on Thanksgiving morning. Trent’s mother, Summer Woolard, couldn’t be prouder. “Trent is a very responsible, caring, dedicated young man, and gives 110% to his studies and to the band,” she shared. “His determination to succeed has made this opportunity a reality. We are very proud of him.”
Even though Trent does not plan to pursue music
as a career, he still plans to play tuba next year at the University of Kentucky, where he plans to major in Civil Engineering. 38 OWENSBORO LIVING
. DECEMBER 2019
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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
Wendell Foster Half Marathon IS BACK! I
n March, Wendell Foster hosted their inaugural half
disabled individuals, like those Wendell Foster serves, to
marathon, and the turnout was a true sign of its success,
experience the thrill of a half marathon.
with 893 registered racers. And if runner participation
is any indication, the 2020 version of the event will be
at the Owensboro Convention Center on the eve of the
an even bigger hit. As of late October, registration was
half marathon, which will include vendors such as major
already up 15% compared to the same time in 2018, and organizers are expecting to have more than 1,000 runners!
Wendell Foster is a private, non-profit organization
that serves over 1,300 adults and children across 34 counties in Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Their mission is to empower people with disabilities to realize their dreams and potential. In addition to serving
Similar to last year, Wendell Foster will host an expo
athletic apparel companies so that runners can browse booths prior to the race to try on or purchase shoes, clothing, and running gear. They have also invited runner Peter Kline to speak at the event. Peter is the founder of the "Marathons with Meaning" campaign, through which he has completed over 100 marathons, with nearly
as a fundraiser for the organization and its clients, the
half of them being completed by pushing someone with
half marathon also presents an opportunity for those with
a disability. Plus, he has completed a couple of 100-mile
disabilities to participate in a long-distance race. Among
races while pushing people with disabilities! In addition to
the entrants in the event, several runners will be pushing
speaking at the event, Kline will also be pushing someone
their partners in racing wheelchairs, opening the doors for
in the “Running Stroller Division� of the half marathon.
40 OWENSBORO LIVING
. DECEMBER 2019
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OH
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Veterans Blvd.
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Green Belt 5 5
ELEVATION (ft)
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2
7
LEGEND
8 9
Bronze Sponsors: Independence Bank Robert Gleason Jr. Tina Stahl with Caliber Home Loans General Sponsors: Robert Gleason Sr. Atmos Energy
Triplett St.
OWENSBORO, KY
Silver Sponsors: Rehabilitation & Performance Institute John Conti Legends (Fitness Store) Daviess County Public Library
9th St.
11
9th St.
ri Par
1
J.R. Miller Blvd
Premier Sponsor: Owensboro Health Volunteer Sponsor: Edward Jones Gold Sponsor: Tanner+West
1
Locust St.
4th St.
ER
RIV
2.62
5.23
7.85
10.47
START ELEVATION
MAX ELEVATION
GAIN
395 FT
439 FT
180 FT
13.09
March 14, 2020
DECEMBER 2019
. OWENSBORO LIVING
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ADVERTISERS AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL EDWARD JONES OLD NATIONAL BANK LIBERTY FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE BANK LPL FINANCIAL MARCUS W. BOSLEY & ASSOCIATES BB&T SOUTH CENTRAL BANK RUOFF MORTGAGE
YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
GUIDANCE FROM THE EXPERTS
These local professionals represent knowledge and experience to help you tackle those New Year’s money resolutions. Use the following pages as an additional tool in your search for quality financial guidance.
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44 OWENSBORO LIVING
. DECEMBER 2019
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
CUSTOMIZED FINANCIAL PLANS for Your Family’s Vision
Y
ou’ve worked hard to achieve success. You deserve financial advisors that work as hard for you. Align Wealth Management, a private wealth advisory practice of
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. has the qualifications and experience to help you navigate your complex financial needs. Our advisors put their combined 145 years in practice to work for you every day. Whether it’s investment management, tax strategies or legacy planning, we can work with you to grow and preserve what you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Our financial plans are customized for each client’s vision – forged by asking the right questions and applying solutions that fit. All supporting the belief that, with the right financial advisor, life can be brilliant. Align Wealth Management is proud to celebrate our first anniversary in our new building at the corner of 27th St. and New Hartford Rd. Owensboro, KY. Stop by to see how we can help you feel confident about your financial future.
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
EDWARD JONES
FINANCIAL FOCUS SMART FINANCIAL MOVES FOR EVERY STAGE OF LIFE
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
R
egardless of what stage of life you're in, you must make financial and investment decisions that will be with you for the remainder of your years. But the moves you make when you’re just starting out in your career may be quite different from when you’re retired. So, let’s look at some of these moves, stretched out across your lifetime. In your 20s and 30s During this period, you should strive to place yourself on a sound financial footing by taking steps such as reducing, and hopefully eliminating, your student loans and embarking on saving for retirement through investments such as a 401(k) and IRA. You also might buy a home, which offers some financial benefits, but be careful not to become “house poor” by devoting too much of your monthly income to mortgage payments. If you have young children, you might also want to start saving for college, possibly through a 529 plan, which offers tax benefits, high contribution limits and the ability to switch beneficiaries, as needed. And if you do have a family, you’ll certainly need to maintain adequate life insurance. Also, since you’re at the early stages of your working life, you should chart a long-term financial and investment strategy with the help of a financial professional. Your strategy should encompass your important goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. And you’ll want to revisit your strategy regularly to accommodate changes in your life and financial situation. In your 40s and 50s These are the years in which your career advances, leading to bigger salaries. The more you earn, the more you should be putting away in your 401(k) or
46 OWENSBORO LIVING
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other employer-sponsored retirement plan, along with your IRA. During the middle-to-end of this particular period, you might finish helping pay for your child’s higher education – which should free up even more money to put away for retirement. You also may want to consider long-term care insurance, which can help protect you against the devastating costs of an extended stay in a nursing home. In your 60s, 70s … and beyond Once you’re in this age range, chances are pretty good that you’ll either retire soon or are already retired. (Although, of course, you may well want to work part-time or do some consulting.) However, you certainly haven’t “retired” the need to make financial and investment decisions, because you’ll have plenty, including these: When should I take Social Security? Will my investment portfolio provide me with enough income to help keep me ahead of inflation? How much can I afford to withdraw each year from my retirement accounts without outliving my resources? Again, a financial professional can help you deal with these and other issues. Also, if you haven’t done so, now is the time to draw up your estate plans, so you can leave the type of legacy you desire – one that provides for the next generation (or two) and the charitable organizations you support. You’ll need to work with a legal professional to create estate planning documents and arrangements appropriate for your needs. You will spend a lifetime making financial and investment decisions – so put in the time and effort, and get the help you need, to make the best decisions you can.
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
11 TIPS TO CREATE
a bright FINANCIAL FUTURE
R
egardless of the type of work you do, it’s possible to take action now to start creating
a bright financial future for you and your family. When you start now, things like a raise or betterpaying job will become the icing on the cake you’ve already prepared.
HAVE JUST ONE MAJOR CREDIT CARD AND USE IT SPARINGLY Charging a small amount on it each month and paying that amount back before the end of the month builds your credit and keeps you out of debt at the same time.
Try these strategies to ensure your financial
Keep the major part of your credit allowance open
outlook is bright:
for emergencies.
SAVE AT LEAST 15% OF YOUR PAYCHECK.
VOW TO NEVER PAY FINANCE CHARGES AGAIN
This amount will give you something to fall back
Of course, you’ll likely be paying a mortgage and
on when times are especially lean or funds to
perhaps a car loan that include finance charges
invest so your money can be working for you.
that you may be unable to avoid. However, outside of those two payments, paying finance charges is
For example, if you clear $500 a week, ensure you
like setting fire to your dollar bills. Take steps to
put back at least $75 dollars for your future.
insure you pay as few finance fees as possible.
FIND A STOCK BROKER YOU TRUST
PAY ALL YOUR BILLS ON TIME
As you save your dollars, it’s wise to have an overall
There are a few good reasons to do so:
investment plan to earn the most interest over the
•
long haul.
• You keep money in your pocket instead of
You build a positive credit record.
wasting it on late fees. 48 OWENSBORO LIVING
. DECEMBER 2019
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• You build confidence that you can manage your money responsibly.
FIND A COMPETENT TAX PREPARER AND ACCEPT HER FINANCIAL ADVICE A great tax accountant will tell you how you can pay fewer taxes and how to rack up some helpful deductions.
for whatever you want.
KEEP YOUR RESUME UP TO DATE You never know when you’ll want to apply for a promotion, change careers, or develop side projects for extra streams of income.
money to put into your Individual Retirement Account
CONSISTENTLY ACCEPT PART-TIME, SHORT-TERM, OR TEMPORARY SECOND JOBS
(IRA), Roth IRA, or a 401(k).
Bringing in extra money occasionally in addition to your
She may even offer helpful guidance about how much
SET LIMITS WITH YOUR KIDS ABOUT MONEY
full-time work pads your bottom line.
Teach them from the time they’re young that they must
HONE YOUR COMPUTER SKILLS
earn their own money and save at least 25% of it. They’ll
Those who know their way around a computer are more
gain an understanding of money management that will
likely to be successful at work. Broaden your horizons
serve them well the rest of their lives.
even further by learning about new software in your
APPLY $500 TO $1,000 YEARLY EXTRA TOWARD YOUR MORTGAGE PRINCIPAL
industry. Put the above strategies to work to strengthen your
If you prefer, pay an additional mortgage payment each
money situation. Care for your finances and nurture
year. It will save you thousands in interest. Plus, you’ll
your financial situation today and every day. When you
pay your home off years earlier, freeing up your funds
do, you’ll live the incredible life you’ve always wanted!
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
HOW TO CHOOSE A
MORTGAGE LENDER
W
hen you start looking to buy a home or refinance your current home, expect these four qualities from the best organizations. Communication – When you have a question, your mortgage loan officer should be willing to answer—or find you the answer. If you are in the process of buying a home, your loan officer should stay in touch and keep you abreast of everything that is happening. Picking a local company in Owensboro, Kentucky can help build a relationship with face to face conversations. Excellent communication is an essential quality of a good mortgage company. Knowledge – Does your lender know about VA loans, FHA loans, and options available in Kentucky to help you save on closing costs? They should! A great mortgage loan officer will always be up to date on the latest programs and know the best options to help you get a great deal on your mortgage.
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Timeliness – When you decide to buy a home, you want to close as quickly as possible. A good lender will do everything in his or her power to make that happen. Work with a lender that is focused on getting things done fast! Superior Customer Service – Last, but certainly not least, look for a company that makes customer service a top priority. You should be treated like you are the company’s #1 customer. If you experience that type of customer service from the beginning, it will assure you are in good hands throughout your transaction. If you are in the market for someone to help you close on the home of your dreams or determine if refinancing would make sense for you, reach out to us at Liberty Financial a Division of ETFCU in Owensboro, Kentucky. We would love to show you why our clients come back to us time and time again.
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PICK THE RIGHT
FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR YOUR TEAM
W
hile your long-term goals for your financial future may seem simple, the journey to achieving those goals is paved with important decisions, strategic planning and the right financial professional. It’s crucial to have the appropriate people in the right positions rooting for you and your best interest.
feedback on if your current investments and decisions on your finances are still the best fit for you. You should be able to trust that your advisor will always do what is in your best interest. If your priorities change, or your goals shift, let your financial advisor know. Make them aware of any life events, new developments in your financial life or concerns you have.
Your Financial Advisor should coach you through decisions. A financial advisor can be your partner in achieving the goals you have in mind for you and your family, no matter your stage of life. They provide a unique, all-encompassing view of your financial picture and are there to provide advice and coach you through all of life’s moments both big and small. Checking in regularly with a financial advisor can help you keep track of your progress or make adjustments to the playbook.
Your Financial Advisor should be capable of making the big play. No matter how much you plan, life is full of surprises, on and off the field. Your Financial Advisor should be someone you can trust to pull off even the biggest of plays. The only way this happens is if they truly know you and understand your priorities. Your advisor should focus more on your family’s personal goals than just the bottom line.
Your Financial Advisor should be your quarterback, leading the charge. Your financial advisor should be your source of knowledge on all things concerned with your finances and should have continuous communication with you as a client. They should be able to read the financial landscape and provide you with
Never underestimate the role of your relationship with your financial advisor in your financial peace of mind. Your interaction with them should never just be a transaction. You are investing not just your money, but your trust in them, so it is important that you feel supported and confident that you are on the same team.
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
LPL FINANCIAL
KEEP CALM Stay
On Plan
EXPECT VOLATILITY, BUT AVOID LETTING THE HEADLINES ALTER YOUR PLANS
R
ecent headlines have added volatility to the markets. There will always be new headlines, and any of them could mean turbulence for Wall
Street. As an investor and retirement saver, how much will this turmoil matter to you in the long run? Not as much as you may expect. There are many reasons to remain on plan rather than attempting to intuit or guess when and where big shifts in fortune may arrive. What is market timing? Michael Tanney, one of the directors at Magnus Financial Group, puts it plainly: “Market timing doesn't work […] Every bear market has historically given way to a bull market […] No one can predict the timing of these moments.” Market timing is the use of predictive tools and techniques to predict how the market may move and make investments accordingly.1,2 When you work with your trusted financial professional and cultivate a financial strategy, your need to factor in market timing diminishes. You also don’t need to sit still if you have concerns. Instead, you have a strategy that is based on your goals, risk aversion, and time horizon. This balanced approach means that you won’t need to make hurried decisions when volatility arises. There may well be a situation in which you may
need to adjust your strategy, but it’s also possible that snap judgements might cause you to undercut yourself. The market reacts to headlines, but it’s just as common that quick dips might see fast relief. Remember that many investors come to regret emotional decisions.
The average recovery time for bear markets
(meaning a downward swing of 20% or more), where equities return to bull market levels? About 3.2 years (measuring each recovery since 1900). For that reason, investing with the longer term in mind, with periodic and carefully considered rebalancing (alongside your trusted financial professional), may allow you to better weather headline-induced peaks and valleys.3 Breaking news should not dissuade you from pursuing your long-term objectives.
The stock market is always dynamic. Episodes of
upward and downward volatility come and go. A wise investor acknowledges that downturns are expected and has patience when they do. Decisions made during market turbulence can backfire. While some of these ups and downs may be significant enough to signal a change in your asset allocation, they need not change the fundamentals of your investment policy.
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. «RepresentativeDisclosure» Citations. 1 - money.usnews.com/investing/stock-market-news/articles/2019-05-10/how-investors-can-mark-the-markets-seasons [5/10/18] 2 - investopedia.com/terms/m/markettiming.asp [4/10/19] 3 - marketwatch.com/story/why-retirees-shouldnt-fear-a-bear-market-2019-01-16 [1/29/19]
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
A FINANCIAL ROADMAP
FOR ANY AGE
F
inancial plans are only for people with a lot of money who are trying to decide what to do with it all, right? Wrong. A comprehensive financial plan can benefit you at any income level and any stage of life. In fact, the earlier you start planning, the more likely you are to reach your long-term financial goals. Early Years • Know when to spend, save and give. Understanding the basic functions of how to utilize your money is a great first lesson for even the youngest savers. 16 – 19 years old • Educate yourself about finances. Take classes in high school and college that teach you the basics. • Set financial goals. It’s never too early to start saving, whether it’s for your first car or a new cell phone, setting financial goals for yourself will teach you habits that will benefit you for the rest of your life. 20 – 30 year olds • Create a budget for yourself and establish an emergency fund. You may begin taking on more responsibility as you move out on your own and get a full-time job. Be sure you aren’t over extending yourself with your newfound freedom and set a budget to make sure the important items gets paid first and then start putting money into a savings account for any unforeseen circumstances. • Start putting money into a retirement fund. It is never too early to start saving for retirement. No matter how little you put in, you are bringing
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yourself one step closer to your long-term goals. 40 – 50 year olds • Maximize your company’s benefits. Take a second look at your company’s benefits to see if there are any you are not taking advantage of that may make sense for you as you have upcoming transitions in your life. • Work to pay off your debt. It’s time to get serious about paying off your student loans, auto loans or credit card debt you may have acquired when you were first starting out. • Begin Legacy planning. Start gathering and preparing documents, such as your will and trust, to plan for your loved ones futures. 60+ years old • Strategize Social Security. Evaluate your options to claim social security to see what makes the most sense for you and your long-term goals. • Update your estate plan. Meet with a trust and investment professional to outline your intentions for your assets and review any beneficiaries on life insurance and retirement accounts. • Retire with financial peace of mind. Enjoy your retirement with peace of mind knowing that all your planning and strategizing has paid off. Meeting with an experienced financial expert is a great first step at any age. They will help you establish your long-term goals and provide you with an all-encompassing look at your finances to see that you are on the right track to meeting those goals.
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
BB&T
CHARITABLE
C
haritable giving can play an important role in many estate plans. Philanthropy cannot only give you great personal satisfaction, it can also give you a current income tax deduction, let you avoid capital gains tax, and reduce the amount of taxes your estate may owe when you die. There are many ways to give to charity. You can make gifts during your lifetime or at your death. You can make gifts outright or use a trust. You can name a charity as a beneficiary in your will, or designate a charity as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or life insurance policy. Or, if your gift is substantial, you can establish a private foundation, community foundation, or donor-advised fund.
MAKING OUTRIGHT GIFTS An outright gift is one that benefits the charity immediately and exclusively. With an outright gift you get an immediate income and gift tax deduction. Tip: Make sure the charity is a qualified charity according to the IRS. Get a written receipt or keep a bank record for any cash donations, and get a written receipt for any property other than money.
WILL OR TRUST BEQUESTS AND BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS These gifts are made by including a provision in your will or trust document, or by using a beneficiary designation form. The charity receives the gift at your death, at which time your estate can take the income and estate tax deductions.
CHARITABLE TRUSTS Another way for you to make charitable gifts is to create a charitable trust. You can name the charity as the sole beneficiary, or you can name a non-charitable beneficiary as well, splitting the beneficial interest (this is referred to as making a partial charitable gift). The most common types of trusts used to make partial gifts to charity are the charitable
Giving lead trust and the charitable remainder trust. Note: There are expenses and fees associated with the creation of a trust.
CHARITABLE LEAD TRUST A charitable lead trust pays income to a charity for a certain period of years, and then the trust principal passes back to you, your family members, or other heirs. The trust is known as a charitable lead trust because the charity gets the first, or lead, interest. A charitable lead trust can be an excellent estate planning vehicle if you own assets that you expect will substantially appreciate in value. If created properly, a charitable lead trust allows you to keep an asset in the family and still enjoy some tax benefits.
HOW A CHARITABLE LEAD TRUST WORKS 1
YOU
Trust is funded
TRUST Income goes to charity first
FAMILY
3
Balance to you or your family at Trust's end
2
CHARITY
Example: John, who often donates to charity, creates and funds a $2 million charitable lead trust. The trust provides for fixed annual payments of $100,000 (or 5% of the initial $2 million value) to ABC Charity for 20 years. At the end of the 20-year period, the entire trust principal will go outright to John's children. Using IRS tables and assuming a 2.0% Section 7520 rate, the charity's lead interest is valued at $1,635,140, and the remainder interest is valued at $364,860. Assuming the trust assets appreciate in value, John's children will receive any amount in excess of the remainder interest ($364,860) unreduced by estate taxes.
Traditional banking services are provided by Branch Banking and Trust Company, Member FDIC. Only deposit products are FDIC insured. Trust and investment management services are provided by Branch Banking and Trust Company. Other investment solutions are offered by BB&T Investments and BB&T Scott & Stringfellow, divisions of BB&T Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. BB&T Securities, LLC, is a wholly owned, nonbank subsidiary of BB&T Corporation. Securities and insurance products or annuities sold, offered or recommended by BB&T Securities, LLC or Branch Banking and Trust Company are not a deposit, not FDIC insured, not guaranteed by a bank, not insured by any federal government agency and may go down in value. Services and products featured herein may include some offered by affiliated companies of BB&T Wealth. The fees for those services and products are in addition to the fees charged by BB&T Wealth. As a result, BB&T Corporation, as a whole, receives more compensation than would otherwise be received if a non-affiliated service or product was used. When we offer any service or product to a client, we use the same process to offer both affiliated and non-affiliated services and products. When we have authority to select any service or product on behalf of a client, if our process shows affiliated services and products to be competitive with corresponding non-affiliated services and products, then we may select affiliated products and services. BB&T Wealth expresses no opinion on the use of BB&T affiliated services and products when the client selects such services and products in a client-directed account. Insurance products are offered through McGriff Insurance Services, Inc., a subsidiary of BB&T Insurance Holdings, Inc., and are not a deposit, not FDIC insured, not guaranteed by the bank, not insured by any federal government agency and may be subject to investment risk. BB&T and its representatives do not offer tax advice. The information provided should not be considered as tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax advisor and/or attorney regarding your individual circumstances.
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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP
SAVING MONEY ON
Holiday Entertainment If you plan to throw a holiday party, you're probably aware that entertaining others can be a bit pricey. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to throw a holiday soiree without breaking your seasonal budget. Experiment with creative and cost-effective holiday party themes to enjoy the company of your loved ones without stretching yourself thin.
TYPES OF HOLIDAY PARTIES Rather than hosting a giant get-together just before Christmas, consider smaller seasonal parties any time during the winter months to enjoy the presence of friends and family members. The benefit here is that by spreading out your entertaining needs, you're taking away the stress and expense of a single large party to accommodate
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everyone.
TRY THESE INEXPENSIVE HOLIDAY PARTY THEMES: Holiday open house. Invite your guests to drop by anytime they like during certain hours. Offer them hors d'oeuvres and keep drinks available throughout the day. A holiday open house is a fuss-free, stress-free and casual gettogether without strict commitments or a great deal of planning required. Dessert party. Ask each of your guests to bring a favorite dessert or craft a few of your own. Combine a spread of desserts and other sweets with a pot of coffee or a batch of cocoa and enjoy a low-key get together. Pair the dessert party concept with a rented movie or another theme such as tree trimming, gift-wrapping, crafting or caroling.
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Gift-wrapping party. Invite friends or family members over to help wrap gifts. Play good music or put on a movie, then set everyone up with a wrapping space, paper, scissors, scotch tape and gift tags. Encourage guests to bring their own wrapping supplies and gifts, and then tackle all your wrapping in a single fun-filled evening. Tree-trimming party. Catch up with your friends while doing your holiday decorating with this low-cost holiday party theme. Use whatever decorations you already own; then the only cost for this party theme is the snacks and refreshments for your friends. Potluck party. This is the classic inexpensive party theme because it encourages each guest to bring a favorite food or drink, cutting down on your costs. Provide the plates, utensils and napkins and you're good to go. Choose a theme for your potluck, such as desserts, soups or fondue to make things interesting. Caroling party. Caroling is free entertainment for your friends and loved ones. Take everyone caroling, and then bring everyone back home for warm cider, hot cocoa, and fresh baked Christmas cookies. This simple get-
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together can be truly enjoyable for everyone involved. Baking party. Grab your friends and family members and ask each to bring an element for baking such as sugar, flour, chocolate chips, sugar sprinkles, and so on. Get together for an evening in the kitchen. Keep warm cider and hot chocolate handy and Christmas music on the radio while you and your loved ones bake holiday cookies. Crafting party. Provide supplies for different inexpensive holiday crafts or ask each of your guests to bring the materials for one of their favorite crafts. This party is ideal for smaller groups but can help you make gifts for family and friends just in time for Christmas. Small, simple ideas can go a long way toward creating enjoyable holiday get-togethers with those you love, yet without the expense. Each idea offers an inexpensive way to spend time with friends and family during the holiday season without breaking the bank, extending past your budget, or stressing yourself out unnecessarily.
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SENIOR LIVING
BY DANA PEVELER
A PRICELESS Gift W
hen I was 5 or 6 years old, my great uncle gave me a doll for Christmas. I think it was the only present he ever gave me. I remember thinking, “Wow! A present from Uncle Herbert!” Later on my mom made a point to tell me how special it was because he didn’t have a lot of extra money to spend, and he wanted me to have it. Confession: it took a couple of decades for me to fully grasp the meaning of my mother’s words. Holidays can be physically taxing as well as financially distressing on the fixed incomes of our seniors, but we can help! The holidays are certainly more fun when we stay physically healthy. If our senior loved ones have traveled to see us, for all that is wonderful and good, let them rest when they first arrive! Offer them a sit-down, a little time in front of the TV, and a nap! If they don’t need one, they’ll tell you. They may have more energy than you, but it is considerate to offer. Keep some bottled water, healthy snacks handy for any dietary restrictions, and offer opportunities for exercise both indoors and out depending on the climate. Most seniors already do not overindulge with meals and are careful with alcohol and medications, but as a reminder, if your loved one needs assistance monitoring either of those, that is something to be aware of. Now that I’m older, I appreciate breaks more than ever—coffee, tea, snacks—any kind of break will be appreciated as long as they are frequent. If you are out sightseeing, or shopping, set the pace to include these, and both
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of you will appreciate your time together so much more. If your family’s tradition has always been that a senior loved one prepares the holiday meal and you are worried it will be a burden, suggest another family member do that this year while the senior prepares a signature dish. If that is an absolute “NO!” suggest he or she allow everyone to bring side dishes to complement the signature main dishes. You may think that you’re doing her a favor by trying to do it all yourself, but you may actually be excluding your loved one, so always include them in the planning and preparations. Regardless of who cooks, though, the younger family members should always volunteer to clean up! In our family we have a rule that whoever doesn’t cook, cleans. It’s amazing how many cooks we have! If you are hosting, remember to make your home age-friendly. Scan your floors for any rugs that may need to be picked up or moved to avoid causing a fall. Move any furniture to accommodate canes, walkers, or wheelchairs. If your senior is an overnight guest, provide the bedroom on the first floor, or if that’s not possible, offer a room close to a bathroom for ease within the night. Nightlights in the hallways and bathrooms are useful to guide them in the dark, too! My daughter leaves a bottle of water on the bedside table so that her guests don’t have to return to the kitchen to take bedtime medications. Staying physically healthy can be impacted by stress, too, and finances certainly contribute to that. I’m sure I wasn’t alone in my youth of not fully understanding the
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impact of a fixed income in retirement. One option to show more sensitivity to the senior budget is to suggest that if they have heirlooms they are no longer using or are wanting to hand down, use the holidays as a time to do that along with a hand-written note describing the history. Of course, it is important to ensure the family member wants the heirloom prior to gifting them with it! Ask them to tell a story about the heirloom as the family member opens the gift. Everyone enjoys the story! You may even wish to video the story as it is told! It may take some planning, but get together and perform a group project in which the crafts become the gifts. It can be fun for all ages, and makes memories at the same time! You may consider agreeing to donate to a charity instead of buying gifts; one of my favorites is to offer coupons for things like meal preparation, computer repair, sewing, home repair, or babysitting. When I was 20, I asked my grandmother to make me her peanut butter fudge as my gift. She was absolutely thrilled to do that and I assure you, I was more than thrilled to get it, as was everyone around who stole pieces of it! One thing you can do is ask your family member to teach you to make their famous dishes as a gift. You purchase the groceries, they write down the recipe while you both prepare, take a photo together with the finished masterpiece; bon appetit! The hand-written recipe is your treasure forever, the photo and memories are both your gifts. Another idea is for each family member to bring a gift to add to a large gift bag to be handed out later. Again, it may take some planning, but larger families can draw names or buy only for the children under a certain age. Take a stack of cloth napkins and write some “unique to your” family sayings on them! There are so many creative ways to design the holiday gift-giving that can reduce the overall stress and make the experience enjoyable for everyone. I can still remember what the doll looked like, and my uncle’s smile as he watched me admiring her. Remember, no matter what the gift, whether it’s time or treasure, they want you to have it, and that makes it priceless. DANA PEVELER is the executive director of the Senior Community Center, located at 1650 W. Second St., Owensboro. The Center offers activities, services and resources for people age 60 and older. Visit www.seniorcenterodc.com or call 270-687-4640 to learn more.
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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
VORA VEIN & PAD CLINIC
Know the signs of
PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE Y
ou’re getting older, and you’re noticing some changes in your health. Don’t ignore the signs, or brush them off as “normal.” It might be more than just age catching up to you – it might be peripheral artery disease (PAD). Arteries are found throughout our bodies. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Acting as pipes, they carry nutrient and oxygen-rich blood from the heart to organs, muscles, skin and other parts of the body. Arterial disease may prevent tissues from getting the amount of blood, oxygen and nutrients they need. This can lead to pain at rest, feeling cold, or numbness in the affected regions. Other complications of severe PAD include lower limb tissue loss, ulcers, erectile dysfunction, and gangrene. People with diabetes are affected by gangrene of the feet at a rate that is 30 times higher than the unaffected population. Many of these severe complications are irreversible. PAD can be described as either occlusive or functional. Occlusive PAD is due to something that physically narrows or blocks arteries. The most common cause is atherosclerosis. There are other kinds of occlusive PAD, like fibromuscular dysplasia. Occlusive PAD most commonly develops in the arteries of the legs, including iliac arteries and femoral, popliteal tibial and peroneal arteries. Less commonly, the disease develops in the arteries of the shoulders or arms. Occlusive PAD may also develop in other parts of your body. The aorta is the largest artery of the body. It receives oxygen-rich blood from the heart and distributes it to the body through smaller arteries (the common iliac, superior mesenteric, renal, hepatic and splenic arteries) that branch off of it. Blockage can slowly develop, like from atherosclerosis, inflammation or from an expanding mass. Sometimes, a blood clot can suddenly block these arteries, known as an acute occlusion. Another cause of an acute occlusion is a "dissection," when the layers of an artery are suddenly separated. In functional PAD, blood flow is decreased because the arteries do not function properly. Usually the dysfunction involves a sudden, abnormal contraction within the walls of the blood vessels that causes temporary narrowing that reduces blood flow. More rarely there is abnormal relaxation of the muscles within the walls of the blood vessels, leading to a widening (vasodilation) of arteries. Acrocyanosis, Erythromelalgia, Raynaud Syndrome, etc. are examples of functional
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peripheral vascular diseases. PAD patients are known to have problems with their blood vessel function throughout their body. Hence, individuals with PAD are also at a higher risk for coronary artery disease, heart attack or stroke. Risk factors: PAD is two times as common in males as females. Smoking, and tobacco risk of any form, is the single biggest risk factor for PAD, with almost 80% of patients with PAD being current or former smokers. Diabetes has been shown to increase the risk of PAD 2-4 fold. High cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup, accelerating PAD. High blood pressure can also increase the risk of PAD, and cause more symptoms like leg pain, by 2-4 fold. But there is good news. PAD symptoms are often treatable. Early detection is important, and treatment under the guidance of a PAD specialist can lead to relief, and may prevent the progression of the disease. Dr. Kishor Vora at Vora Vein & PAD Clinic, has extensive experience in treating PAD. After his cardiovascular fellowship, he spent his time focused on peripheral vascular interventions in another mini fellowship. Dr. Vora then brought his experience to Owensboro, where he was the only peripheral interventionist in the area. Dr. Vora also was the first physician in the area performing many of the now-common percutaneous (minimally-invasive “needlestick”) arterial procedures such as arterial thrombolysis (dissolving of blood clots), and arterial angioplasty/stenting for blockages. He is known for performing complex arterial and venous interventions. Dr. Kishor Vora offers consultation, diagnosis and state-ofthe-art treatment, all under one roof. About 80% of intervention procedures can now be performed at his outpatient lab (office based) at OHV Cardiovascular Center. Dr. Vora also works at OHRH, where he may do some procedures as needed. Vora Vein & PAD clinic will do initial consultations, usually as a referral from another physician. They also accept self-referrals from individuals who want a second opinion or have concerns with their symptoms and want to have their problems examined by a professional. Do not wait, call Vora Vein & PAD clinic at 270-683-VORA(8672).
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THE
STYLE
Holiday
FASHION
BY JULIA HARTZ highheelsandhappyhartz.com
According to Buddy the Elf, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. I'm not going against the wise words of Buddy, but it's safe to say the second best way to spread Christmas cheer is by wearing a fabulous holiday outfit.
Dress: $70 Embellish 2920 Frederica St (270) 344-1371
We all know that when you look good, you typically feel
beautiful dress with sleeves. Look no further. Here she is!
good, and the holidays couldn't be a better season for
This sparkly piece from Embellish is so comfortable, while
that! (I'll need all the feeling good I can get after all the
being dressy at the same time. I wore it with tights and a
holiday foods I normally eat.) 'Tis the season for Christmas
pair of black booties, but this dress would also look perfect
parties, New Year's Eve kisses, and endless gatherings of
with some pretty heels without tights. Yes, you heard me—
friends and family asking about your new job or the 10
unless you’re cold—it is not a rule that you must wear
pounds you put on since last year. I'm here to help in the
tights in the winter! A dress can look just as fancy and just
dressing department, with all the shimmer and sparkles I
as appropriate without them.
could get my hands on. Call me a girly girl, but I just love glitter. Although I'm a firm believer that sequins aren't only
Whether you're short or tall, this dress seems to hit at the
for the holidays, they are definitely in their peak season.
right spot for everyone. Embellish is also a local destination for holiday party wear. Lace, sequins, shimmer and velvet
If you're a woman in December going to an event, you
are everywhere you turn. You'll fall in love with so many
know how incredibly difficult it seems to be to find a
things you'll be looking for more parties to crash!
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PHOTOS BY KRISTIN BIVINS
Blazer: $196 Top:$148 Pants: $328 Excursions 2738 Frederica St (270) 926-8388
This sequin blazer from Excursions is screaming to be worn for a winter party. The gold buttons and the cut of the jacket make it completely versatile to throw on over a dress, or with a top and pants like I did. I had a tough time deciding on pants, only because I fell in love with so many. I narrowed it down to these feather trimmed ones and a pair of high waisted velvet flares. I chose these because I thought they would be so fun and festive for a holiday shoot, but believe me when I tell you that Excursions has endless party options in store right now! I wore a simple silky lace trimmed top underneath, but you could take it one step further and do sequins there, too! I chose to focus on a black and gold aesthetic for this issue, but that doesn't mean the reds and greens aren't in style anymore. Bold and bright red is still a goto, and if you don't have red in your outfit, a red lip still counts. Be sure and shop local this holiday season, and check out our boutiques to shop for everyone on your list, including yourself!
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THE
STYLE
THE HEART
of campus
BY MEGHANN RICHARDSON
T
he president’s home at Kentucky Wesleyan College has housed numerous college presidents and their families, it’s hosted students from across the country, and it has been a welcoming center for the entire campus community. Currently, the home is decorated for the holiday season and exudes warmth and coziness throughout its walls. Chandra Prater, assistant to the president, said the president’s house is a staple in the Kentucky Wesleyan College community. “It brings students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members together through various events throughout the year,” she said. “The college is eternally grateful for the generous donors that have decorated, furnished and donated to the house, making gatherings possible.” Various events throughout the year are held at the president’s house, including
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PHOTOS BY JAMIE ALEXANDER
Alumni Board and Student Leader Receptions, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff Christmas Open Houses, Bridal Showers, Chamber After Hours, Fraternity Cookouts, President’s Circle Receptions, and Student Government Association Retreats. “The mark they (the donors) have left on Wesleyan is The Wesleyan Way, shining for future generations to appreciate our rich history,” Prater said. The original president’s house was built for Robert E. Massie, a wealthy tobacco dealer in the early 1920s. His son later retained ownership of the house, and eventually sold it and the 70 acres from the original track surrounding the home to KWC in 1951. Dr. Oscar Lever was the first president to occupy the house from 1955-59. In January, Dr. Thomas Mitzel — the school’s 35th president — and his wife, Rhonda, will occupy the current president’s house. www.OwensboroLiving.com
The original house sat at the end of a long driveway with trees on either side. The driveway led off from Frederica Street and was flanked by decorative gateposts, which were later moved closer to the house. The house was constructed of yellow brick, and included 5,500 square feet on the first and second floors. An F-3 tornado blew through Owensboro in January of 2000 and damaged the original estate beyond repair, and the current house was built in its place.
FOYER
The miniature Victorian settee was in the former residence. The tea table, pier mirror and sconces also survived, but required some repair. Nearly every piece of furniture throughout the home is either refinished or reupholstered. The custom wood blinds throughout the home were donated by DECEMBER 2019
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The top-level contains: Four bedrooms Four full bathrooms Utility room Family room Office The ground level contains: Two half bathrooms Formal Dining Room Breakfast nook Family Room Formal Living Room Study Kitchen The basement contains: Full bathroom Game room General-purpose room Storage rooms
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Hunter Douglas through Dick and Sally Anderson. All 56 windows in the home were manufactured by Sun Windows of Owensboro. This residence has been selected by Hunter Douglas' New York advertising agency to be featured in a national trade magazine, Window Designs.
LIVING ROOM
Most of the furniture in the living room, except the secretary, the curio cabinet and the rugs, were from the original home. The rugs are new, as are the gold gilt chairs that were a gift to Kentucky Wesleyan. The mantle was in the second-floor master bedroom in the former home, and it was saved and restored. The library table and
the painting "Lady in Waiting" survived the storm, too.
KITCHEN
The kitchen has dual functions - it’s for the president's family and it also meets the entertaining needs for KWC. There are two dishwashers, two sinks with disposals, two oversized ovens, a microwave, a warming drawer and a five-burner cooktop. The refrigerator is a 48" built-in and there is a second refrigerator in the entry area coming in from the garage. The island is granite and the counters are laminate with granite backsplashes. The cabinets were built by Phill's Custom Cabinets of Owensboro and are maple with a cherry finish.
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PHOTOS BY JAMIE ALEXANDER
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THE
DISH
Ring in the New Year
WITH THESE SPARKLING TREATS PHOTOS AND RECIPES BY JAMIE ALEXANDER
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It's official, 2019 is coming to an end. If you are hosting a New Year's Eve party this year, or just staying home to watch the ball drop on TV, these recipes will help you get into the spirit of celebration. Grab a bottle of champagne and a sparkler and let's count down to the New Year!
CHAMPAGNE CRANBERRY COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS 1 bottle champagne 1 container cranberry juice Fresh Pomegranate seeds Optional: fresh cranberries, sugar for rims
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DIRECTIONS: » If you prefer sugar on the rim, wet the rims of your champagne flutes and dip each one into sugar. » Fill each champagne flute with 1/4 cup of cranberry juice, then top them off with champagne. » Garnish the drinks pomegranate seeds. You can also add cranberries, rosemary or thyme.
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STRAWBERRY CHAMPAGNE CAKE BALLS INGREDIENTS: 1 box strawberry cake mix
mixture together (keep adding 1 tablespoon until the mixture is no longer crumbly).
(Additional ingredients followed by cake mix box) 1 1/4 cup champagne
» Line a baking tray with wax paper. Form small balls
White cake frosting
of the cake mixture by rolling a rounded tablespoons
12 oz. white chocolate chips
worth between your palms and place them on the wax
1 tablespoon coconut oil
paper. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours.
Optional: gold sprinkles » Melt the white chocolate and coconut oil in a DIRECTIONS:
microwave safe bowl by microwaving in 30-second
» Follow the instructions of the box cake mix, and add
intervals, stirring between each, until smooth.
the champagne in with your wet ingredients as you » Remove the balls from the refrigerator, and dip each
mix.
into the melted chocolate, using a fork to scoop them » Once your cake is baked according to the box’s
out. Transfer them back to the wax paper, then use
instructions, let it cool completely.
a spoon to drizzle a little more chocolate on top to hide imperfections. Before chocolate covering hardens
» Crumble the entire cake into a large bowl. To make
completely, top with gold sprinkles.
things easier, use a hand mixer or stand mixer. Add frosting and mix until combined. Start with a quarter of
» Chill in the fridge until the chocolate is completely
the jar of frosting and see if that’s enough to hold the
hardened before serving.
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THE
SCENE
PHOTO BY BRETT MEISTER
ACTIVE
HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS FAN-POWERED TOUR IN OWENSBORO
5TH ANNUAL CARE NET REINDEER RUN/WALK
December 15 | Owensboro Sportscenter
all types. So grab family members, friends, or co-workers and join the fun to kick
The Harlem Globetrotters are coming to
off the Holiday Season! New this year, The Reindeer Dash, for ages 7 and under, is
the Owensboro again this winter. Their
a separate event starting at 9:30 a.m. See registration website for details. The race
world tour will be at the Owensboro
will be a timed event for the purposes of awarding winner divisions. There will
Sportscenter at 2 p.m. on December
also be door prizes and best-dressed awards. Participants are encouraged to come
15. Fans get ready for a chance to get
dressed in Christmas attire (ugly sweaters, Santa hats, bells, fun socks, etc.). Visit
close to the team’s stars with their brand
with Santa, enjoy hot chocolate, and win prizes as we kick off the Christmas season.
December 7 | Smothers Park Downtown Riverfront Come join us for the 5th Annual Care Net Reindeer Run/Walk on December 7, 2019 in Smothers Park at 10 a.m. This fun event is open to runners and walkers of
new Fan-Powered World Tour! At each Globetrotter game, there will be over 20 opportunities before, during and after to directly interact with the team!
OWENSBORO BALLROOM DANCE CLUB CHRISTMAS BALL December 7 | Senior Community Center Owensboro Ballroom Dance Club invites you to their annual Christmas Ball on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m., at the Senior Community Center, 1627 West 2nd Street. This dance is a formal affair. Enjoy a fun evening of wonderful music and dance, meet new friends in a happy, friendly atmosphere. Great time to kick off the holiday season and dance the jolly night away!
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FAMILY
43RD ANNUAL HOLIDAY FOREST FESTIVAL OF TREES December 1-31 | Owensboro Museum of Fine Art Come see a display of 15 monumental Christmas trees designed to celebrate the traditions of holiday art and food. This exhibit is open during regular Museum hours, and admission is $3 adults, $2 children.
and Sunday Noon to 5 p.m. with over 100 vendors of antique, vintage, handcrafted, and boutique items, live music, and food. Preservation Station Market and Event Center, 9661 Hwy 56. Also open daily Tues-Sat 10 a.m. -5 p.m. and Sunday Noon -5 p.m. Call 270-993-7532, go to visitpreservationstation.com, or find us on Facebook.
HOLIDAY IN THE PARK
WHITESVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE
December 1 – January 2 | Legion Park Holiday in The Park is a Holiday Tradition! Legion Park will be lit with festive dancing trees, holiday displays and Jolly Ole Saint Nick in his sleigh! Take a stroll with family and friends, and you may even want to sing along to your favorite Holiday Carols!
CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK December 1 – January 2 | Panther Creek Park Panther Creek Park, located at 5160 Wayne Bridge Road, brings a lighted holiday tradition as you drive through the park to enjoy over 500,000 beautiful lights. Wagon rides will also be available nightly if weather permits. Christmas at Panther Creek is one of the community’s holiday favorites! Fee contributions sponsor Daviess County non-profits throughout the year!
PRESERVATION STATION MARKET DAYS December 7-8 | 9661 Highway 56 Held the first full weekend of every month. Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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December 14 | Downtown Whitesville Whitesville Lion’s Club will host the Whitesville Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 14, 2019 beginning at 10 a.m. The Parade will start at Highways 764 and 54, then continue downtown to the Whitesville Community Park. Join your family and friends in celebrating this joyous time of the year enjoying holiday lights and beautiful holiday floats! Prizes will be awarded for 1st and 2nd Place! Get your entry in soon!
EXPERIENCE THE POLAR EXPRESS December 14 | The Edge Ice Center Experience the Polar Express at the Edge Ice Center during public session on Saturday, December 14, from 1-4 p.m. Wear your pajamas and feel the magic of Christmas as you skate and visit with Santa. Admission is $6 per person, plus tax and includes skate rental and a golden ticket that you can trade in for a FREE hot chocolate at the concession stand.
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THE
SCENE
ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
THE NUTCRACKER PRESENTED BY OWENSBORO DANCE THEATRE December 7 | The RiverPark Center Find the joy of Christmas through the beauty of music and dance with The Nutcracker! Owensboro Dance theatre is still bringing new and innovating tricks and technology to the stage. The audience will enter Marie’s dream, experiencing all the magic and wonder through dance with a flying bed, levitating Arabian dancer, and more special flying effect from ZFX. ODT also welcomes back professional dancers from Giordano Dance Chicago and Kentucky Ballet Theatre.
BLUEGRASS MUSIC OPEN JAM SESSION December 5 | Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Experience great Bluegrass Music during Open Jam, the first Thursday evening each month! Fun time for “jammers” to join in with fellow musicians! Doors open at 5:30 p.m., musicians begin at 6 p.m., and usually jam until around 9 p.m. The Bluegrass Museum is open during this time! Museum Admission: $12 Adults; $10 Seniors/Military; $8 Youth. Jam is FREE for spectators and jammers!
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ROSINE BARN JAMBOREE December 6 | Rosine Barn The Rosine Barn Jamboree is located at 8205 Blue Moon of Kentucky Hwy (US 62) in Rosine, KY. On the National Register of Historic Places, the Rosine Barn offers live bluegrass music & dancing every Friday night. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There is open mic from 6-7 p.m., then the show starts at 7 p.m.! Information please contact 270-363-9425. Bring your lawn chair for when seating gets scarce!
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
in other countries making Cirque Dreams Holidaze is the greatest variety show on the planet! Witness snowmen, penguins, angels, reindeer, toy soldiers, gingerbread men, ornaments and of course Santa!
DAILEY & VINCENT: THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS TOUR December 12 | Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Dailey & Vincent’s The Joys of Christmas Tour includes holiday classics, as well as original songs from their critically-acclaimed, first-ever Christmas album, The Sounds of Christmas, which
December 6-15 | The Empress Theatre
Entertainment Weekly lauds as “one of 10 Christmas albums that
Director Thad Mayhugh returns to C. S. Lewis’ beloved fable for
aim to become a part of your holiday tradition,” while USA Today
this season’s holiday offering! A theatrical extravaganza featuring
proclaimed the offering as one of the most-anticipated releases.
children, adults, amazing costumes and awe inspiring effects, this
Doors open at 5 p.m., concert begins at 7 p.m. VIP seating is $48,
“winter wonder” will add joy to your holiday season! For tickets,
and reserved seating is $37.
call (270) 683-5333 or online at theatreworkshop.org. There will be a $2 surcharge on all tickets purchased at the door.
CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE
OWENSBORO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA-HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
December 12 | RiverPark Center
December 14 | RiverPark Center
Cirque Dreams lights up the 2019 holiday season with its
Come Home for the Holidays! Be mesmerized by traditional
acclaimed holiday stage extravaganza! Cirque Dreams Holidaze
favorites and fresh new works from The Nutcracker, The Polar
is a new cirque show, Broadway musical, and family Christmas
Express, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Experience being part of
spectacular all in one. Be amazed by this holiday performance
a grand choir from your seat, while singing holiday favorites with
with over 300 costumes, 20 acts and 30 artists. Many of these acts
the Owensboro Symphony Chorus, under the direction of Dennis
have been featured on America’s Got Talent and similar TV shows
Jewett and a visit from Santa!
DOWNTOWN
OWENSBORO HOLIDAY MARKET December 7-8 | Owensboro Convention Center A Holiday Market will be held at the Owensboro Convention Center on Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, December 8 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. On Saturday, the first 100 attendees will receive FREE grab bags! On Sunday, the first 100 kiddos will receive either a Santa Hat or Santa Stocking! Shop from the 150 booths and more with over 1000 items to choose! Santa will be visiting each day and taking his picture with the girls and boys!
HOLIDAY STROLL 2019
Owensboro for the Holiday Stroll from 3-7 p.m. Downtown dining and Christmas shopping at our local shops. Christmas caroling and fun activities! “Elf on the Shelf ” Scavenger Hunt, and Christmas tree lighting in Smothers Park at 5 p.m.!
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA December 14 | Owensboro Convention Center Bring the family for a holly jolly morning sure to get all in the Christmas spirit! Enjoy a delicious breakfast of pancakes, bacon, choice of juice or coffee, and make sure to bring your phone or camera for a free picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Tickets are on sale now and available online at OwensboroTickets.com, at
December 7 | Downtown Owensboro 2019
the Owensboro Convention Center, or charge by phone at (270)
Join in the kick-off of the Holiday Season in Downtown
297-9932.
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THE LAST WORD
A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS
E
very year, you say the same thing: “We’re gonna keep Christmas simple this year.” We all have too much stuff, you say. Everyone has everything they need, you say. We’re going to give homemade gifts, you say; gifts from the heart, you say. And you mean it, you really do. You envision your children gathered around the dining room table, happy and busy as they cut out construction paper stars and gently sprinkle glitter on the thick, white lines of glue while they create beautiful, unique gifts of love for grandparents, aunts and uncles, and the room is filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter as they admire one another’s works of art. Or maybe they will join you in the kitchen, one of them carefully measuring cups of sugar and flour while another cheerfully rolls out the dough and the youngest presses out festive holiday shapes with the bright copper cookie cutters. In your imagination, the kitchen is filled with the aroma of cinnamon and spices and sweetness, and the cookies come out of the oven perfectly browned and slide right off the baking sheet onto a platter decorated with charming seasonal designs. You meant it, you really did. But what you got instead was a crew of cross, crying, complaining kids who whined that they wanted to watch YouTube videos instead of being forced to sit in the same room as their brother and sister and make these dumb decorations with the scissors that are so dull they wouldn’t cut hot butter, and there’s only one sheet of blue construction paper left because somebody knocked over their juice box, and the cat is hacking up a hairball on the carpet and there’s glitter all over the place except where it’s supposed to go, not that it matters because what was supposed to be a star ornament looks more like an asteroid and you can’t imagine that even Grandma would want to display this disaster on her Christmas tree.
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As for the cookies, that whole escapade started with the
kids getting into a fight over who got to measure or mix or pour or roll or cut or decorate, and went downhill from there. Before you even got going, you realized your good mixing bowl was missing; someone finally remembered that Dad borrowed it when he drained the oil from the SUV last summer. Fine, fine, you grumbled through gritted teeth; you would deal with Dad later, but in the meantime, well, you supposed that you can mix dough in a stew pot just as well, but in the meantime, the kids are wrestling over the measuring spoons and accusing one another of being too dumb to know whether the big one is the teaspoon or the tablespoon, and just as you turn around to yell at them to Cut! It! Out!, you see your daughter licking her finger and dipping it into the sprinkles.
Not that it matters, because the cookies burn, not that
THAT matters because they all break and fall apart anyway as you scrape them off the cookie sheet with the bent-up spatula with the crooked handle, and so much for an “economical” Christmas that goes right straight into the trash can.
So you sit alone in the living room with one of those sappy
Hallmark Christmas movies on the TV – nobody ever burns cookies on those things – and you eat the canned frosting with a spoon while ignoring the sound of the cat hacking up yet another hairball behind the couch, and you wait for your husband to get home because buster, he’s really gonna hear it from you about that mixing bowl …
… and the door opens and there he is, carrying a couple
of bags that tells you very clearly that he completely blew off your suggestion of “keeping it simple” this year, and just as you open your mouth to tell him where he can put those candy canes, he smiles, rummages around in a bag, and pulls out a new mixing bowl … and a new spatula.
“Early Christmas gifts,” he says apologetically.
And you say, “Actually – right on time.”
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