26 minute read
Host a Cookie Decorating Party
Article and photo by Jacqueline Jordan Russell
For Valentine’s Day (or really any holiday) I suggest hosting a cookie decorating party! This sweet soiree is great for kids of all ages, or even for a fun girls’ afternoon with your own adult friends. And with a little bit of planning, you can keep the mess to a minimum and let your creativity shine.
Location, Location, Location
Every good party needs a good location, but with sprinkles and icing that can stain, your location is extra important for this gathering. Set up an area that’s easy to clean or even set up tables outside if the weather is nice.
Set the Scene
Add up the number of people attending and make sure everyone has a place to decorate. I recommend using card tables and folding chairs to keep icing off your “real” furniture.
Cover your table with a plastic tablecloth, or even wrap the top with fun wrapping paper if you want to make the decor pop! This will make cleaning up much easier.
At each seat, set up a sturdy paper plate, extra napkins and plastic knives for spreading icing.
Candy takes cookie decorating beyond regular sprinkles! Separate all the candy you want to use into cupcake liners and spread them out. Use more containers with less candy so little hands can get what they need without making a mess. Wondering what candy to use? Try M&Ms, nonpareils, gummies, licorice, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and kisses. Instead of buying sprinkles, ask each guest to bring a jar of their favorites to share.
Cookies
Cookies are the most important part of the party! Don’t feel like baking? Pick up packaged sugar cookies from the dollar store for a frugal fix, or order blank ones from your favorite bakery.
If you want to bake cookies, you can make a mix (such as Betty Crocker) taste more like homemade by adding a dash of almond extract.
Icing
Use royal icing for your cookies so the decoration will harden and you can stack them to transport home. Instead of piping bags or bowls or frosting, plastic squeeze bottles make for less mess. Just fill each one with a different color for easy decorating.
ROYAL ICING INGREDIENTS: ›› 4 cups powdered sugar (500g) ›› 2 ½ Tablespoons meringue powder ›› 6 Tablespoons water ›› 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
INSTRUCTIONS: ›› In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or in a large bowl (you will need an electric hand mixer) combine sugar, meringue powder and water. Beat on low speed until combined, then add vanilla/almond extract.
›› Gradually increase mixer speed to high and beat until icing forms stiff peaks. This should take 5 minutes or more.
›› Divide and color icing using gel food coloring.
›› Icing at this consistency can be used as a stiff outlining icing. To thin the icing for flooding your cookies, add a teaspoon of water at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
Party Food
Don’t forget that your party goers may be hungry while they decorate! Since everyone will be overloaded with sweets from the cookies and frosting, pick snacks like cheese and crackers, chips and dip, fruits or even frozen mini pizzas.
Most of all, remember to have fun! OP
JACQUELINE JORDAN RUSSELL is a marketing specialist, freelance writer and photographer. She has a passion for celebrating every day moments and basically leaves a trail of confetti wherever she goes.
Bragging Writes LOCAL TEEN AUTHORS TWO CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Written by Erinn Williams • Photos by Jamie Alexander
Since childhood, Owensboro teen Kaitlyn Craig has enjoyed creative writing and drawing. What began as a hobby, has now developed into something much greater. At the age of 18, Kaitlyn has written and illustrated two books, and is currently working on a third.
Given her shy and reserved demeanor as a child, Kaitlyn’s mother, Jennifer, reflects on how her unique writing style has given her an outlet for expression.
Diagnosed in June 2021 with Tourette Syndrome, Kaitlyn, who recently graduated from online Acellus Academy High School, has continued to push forward. Rising above and beyond health conditions that stood in her way, she has maintained a positive outlook.
A feline enthusiast, Kaitlyn cares for six cats who are more than pets, but trusted friends. Her first published book “Chip-o-saurus” features a dinosaur who is a potato
chip connoisseur, much like one of her cats, who enjoys chips as treats. She credits her cat for the inspiration.
Kaitlyn’s second published book, “Teddy the-not-so Terrifying Tyrannosaurus Rex” is light hearted, much like her first book, but has a theme that focuses on staying true to yourself. When asked about the central message of this text, Kaitlyn shared her goal as the author.
Writing her books immediately after her graduation from high school, Kaitlyn has been busy. In fact, she is already writing her third book, featuring two fun loving cats, “Blip and Blop.” She joked about their adventures. “Blop is lazy. Blip is very imaginative. They are quite the pair,” Kaitlyn said. To celebrate Kaitlyn’s accomplishments, the Daviess County Public Library hosted a book signing in January. Her books were available for purchase at the signing, but are also currently available on Amazon. In addition to writing children’s books, Kaitlyn works a full-time job. When asked about her mission as a young author and illustrator, Kaitlyn shared how her accomplishments have helped her grow.
“You can’t give up,” she said. “I could have stopped following my dreams, but writing stories and creating art is what I love, I refuse to give up. Never give up.” OP
ERINN WILLIAMS adores her hubby, cats, hardback church hymnals and a hot mess of fried okra. She’s new in town, trading in mountains and streams for soybeans and burgoo, and refers to herself as "a little hillbilly in a great big world."
Written by Laura Murphy Photos by Jamie Alexander
On February 26, 1987 President Ronald Reagan officially declared Proclamation 5613 making March National Disabilities Awareness Month. The proclamation called for people to provide understanding, encouragement and opportunities to help individuals with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
Everyone wants, and deserves, to enjoy life, feel productive and secure. But in March, we take extra steps to raise awareness about the supports and rights of the people with disabilities and to celebrate their contributions to our communities and society as a whole!
Owensboro Parent wants to celebrate Disability Awareness Month by featuring two local kids—Skyler and Trent—who have intellectual disabilities. Discover their stories, read about their parents’ journeys and make it a point this month to honor those with disabilities.
Not sure what that looks like? Here are some ideas:
›› Offer to run an awareness program at a Sunday school class, scout troop or other related groups. Be the change in your small part of the world. ›› Reach out to a special needs family and invite them over for dinner or out to lunch. Help combat the isolation these families sometimes feel. ›› Add bullying and differences to your dinner table conversation. Teach your kids that language matters. Eliminate the “R-word” from your vocabularies. Talk about bullying and that being different is OK. ›› Support a charity and not necessarily just with money! Of course, monetary donations are always welcome, but there are many other ways to support a nonprofit. Contact them and see if they need supplies or if you can donate your time. Support their fundraisers, share their social media posts, see if they are an Amazon Smile participant. ›› Be you! Being a positive role model and advocate is one of the most useful things you can do.
It Takes a Village
Nine-year-old Skyler Main has already made quite the impact on his friends at Puzzle Pieces and has found success in the relationships he has built there. One special friend, Blaire Neighbors, created a bond with Skyler that has been lifechanging for him.
“I met Skyler when he came to my class in kindergarten. Instantly we had a special connection. Honestly, he is like one of my own children; the love there is just tremendous. It’s not like he listened to everything I said from the get go, however—I had to work with him to build that trust,” Blaire said.
After having him in class for two years, Neighbors was able to expand that trust and build a strong relationship with Skyler in her current role as the Director of the Owen Autism Center at the local nonprofit, Puzzle Pieces.
“He fought me a lot that first year I had him in the classroom, so I had to show him tough love, but I think he loved me even more for it. He thrives with structure, he loves predictability, and I was able to give him that. I wanted him to show everyone his amazing abilities,” Blaire said.
Blaire considers Skyler the perfect depiction of success – a great support system at home, at school and after school, something she says makes all the difference.
“It’s amazing how much progress people can make. He was nonverbal in the beginning and the progress he has made is shocking even to me. His success was so fast, and it’s because he had all these supports in place,” Blaire said.
While some parents of children with disabilities may worry about their child participating in too many programs, Blaire acknowledges that having a place to go like the Owen Autism Center can be very beneficial for them.
“Some people are hesitant to put their child in so much after they are in school all day, then have therapies and extracurricular activities, but they thrive on it and are building relationships. We have a lot of fun here, too,” Blaire said.
Skyler’s mom, Jamie Main, who works in the school system, recognizes the value of these services for her child and is thankful to continue to have staff members like Blaire as an advocate for her
son.
After attending school during the day, Skyler rides the bus to Puzzle Pieces in the afternoon where he practices skills including dealing with money, using good hygiene and reciting his name and address.
Community outings include activities like shopping for a recipe in a grocery store or ordering food at a restaurant.
“The Owen Autism Center sets him up for success. He gets to do fun stuff, socialize, learn life skills, and practice them in the community as well. It allows Skyler to use these skills in real world situations,” Jamie said.
Jamie said her son struggles with certain outings, such as visiting the eye doctor, the dentist or getting a haircut, which can be overwhelming for him. Jamie reached out to Blaire to help Skyler at these appointments.
“He does really well with her. She can tell him what to expect and that he will be OK and he listens to her. When she takes him, it makes all the difference. Skyler would not be Skyler without Blair,” Jamie said.
During the pandemic, many children struggled with the change in routine. The Owen Autism Center remained open, even helping to log students in each day to their virtual classes.
As the director of the Owen Autism Center, Blaire embraces the mission of building relationships with kids like Skyler, and also the opportunity to share that passion with those who work with her.
“One of the things that shocked me when I took this job was the passion I have for teaching my staff these skills. I want to impact as many people as possible and being able to teach other people how to work with individuals with disabilities and see their passion grow is remarkable too,” Blaire said.
The old saying goes: “it takes a village to raise a child,” and for the Main family, that village includes the staff Puzzle Pieces.
How He Was Meant to Be
Trent Biever, a high school senior, has already overcome several obstacles in his life. His family has learned to face each challenge the same way – together.
When Trent was a baby, his mom describes him as a quiet baby. By the age of 3, just after his brother was born, everything changed quickly.
“At some point, there was a significant turn. He stopped sleeping, he was obsessed with spinning things like wheels and fans; we knew Trent was on the spectrum,” said his mom, Gina Biever.
During this time, Gina recalls not having as many supports in place compared to what is offered today. Autism, as she describes it, was not an easy road to navigate.
“His behavior started getting more serious. At that point I was a principal and my husband, Todd, was a teacher— maintaining busy schedules and trying to parent was stressful. Newborns are needy anyway, but we were also trying to work with Trent, who was more needy than a newborn,” Gina said.
By fourth grade, Trent was in crisis and ended up needing to be hospitalized, severely impacted by several comorbid conditions such as seizures, autism, diabetes, and behavior related disorders.
“He is one in 10 million. His doctors describe it as winning the lottery you don’t want to win,” Gina said.
One challenge the family has faced is recognizing that aspects of their life will always be different than what people consider normal, including the absence of certain experiences.
“People don’t consider how hard it can be—what you get to do that other parents don’t. For example, when I was assistant superintendent, I went to a graduation that was supposed to be Trent’s fifth grade graduation; I saw all the other kids he started kindergarten with, but he wasn’t there because I held him back a year,” she said.
The family has learned to make adjustments to outings based on what Trent can handle, often choosing to divide and conquer with one parent staying home and the other attending the event.
“Watching people get those firsts that Trent doesn’t get such as getting a driver's license, going to certain dances, or trying to juggle a social life is tough,” Gina said. “One time we planned for him to have a babysitter while we attended a fundraiser and we had to cancel our plans at the last minute because the sitter got sick. Anytime we plan something, it can fall apart.”
Despite these challenges, the family says Trent helps make them who they are today.
“Todd and I both say we are better human beings, better husband and wife, better friends to each other and other people, because of Trent. He makes everybody better,” she said.
Gina describes her son as amazing, someone who has the gift of reading people.
“Some people are good at art, some are good at music, but Trent has a sense about people, it’s his super power,” she said.
Trent attends Puzzle Pieces where he has thrived, something his mom says she is very thankful for.
“People who are disabled or have different abilities, want opportunities, too. In many ways he is a normal 17-year-old boy— he wants to go to the movies, go out to eat. I already booked a limousine for prom,” she said.
Trent’s close relationship to his younger brother Zane is something he cherishes among the challenges that some might call a disability.
Zane, who can be described is a typical teenager who excels at football and enjoys having lots of friends at school.
While Trent doesn’t attend many of his brother’s games because he struggles with being over stimulated, most nights the pair watch movies together, (Trent’s favorites are Jumanji or The Greatest Showman.)
“I watch him a lot. There’s not a lot we have in common, but he likes being with me. He will say I’m his best friend,” Zane said.
Trent is described as the family thermometer. If someone asks how they are doing on any given day, they say it circles back to him.
“One thing I always think about my brother – I hate that he has to go through this. But it’s how he was born, it's how he was meant to me. I wouldn’t want him any other way. Just the way he is, I love him,” Zane said. OP
LAURA MURPHY is an eighth grade LA teacher at Daviess County Middle School. She has three kids who keep her life interesting; Jonah, Lily, Josiah and Judson. She survives on Grape Spark, Jon Gordan books and all things Grumpy Cat.
NOT SURE WHAT TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT DISABILITIES?
It’s a difficult topic, and one that should be approached with intentionality. We consulted a local expert, Amanda Owen, who is the Executive Director of Puzzle Pieces, to offer advice on how to start the conversation with you children.
Here is the general idea of how she thinks it is best to explain intellectual disabilities to your children:
“Every person in this world is not the same. And that is a great thing. Some of us are better at things than others. Just like our looks and bodies are not the same, our brains are made different from each other too. Because our brains are different, it causes us to think, act, and communicate in many different, interesting ways. The wiring in our brains is where most disabilities, like autism, are formed. Having a disability is not a bad thing or a sad thing. It’s just different from what you and I are used to, so it makes it hard for us to understand. However, no matter how different our brains are, the one thing we all have in common is our want to be loved, accepted, and have friends. It’s an important job we all have as people in this world to see the value in everyone, even if they happen to have a disability.”
SPORTS A guide to local youth
THE OWENSBORO PARENT PLAYBOOK
Written by John Kirkpatrick // Photos by Jamie Alexander
KING COMBEST RECORD BREAKER
Local track and field youngster King Combest registered the fastest middle school times in the country for the 60-meter and 100-meter dash, respectively, last season. The eighthgrader at Owensboro Middle School comes from a long line of decorated sprinters.
King’s dad Casey owns the national high school record for the indoor 60M dash, registering a time of 6.57 in the spring of 1999. The younger Combest holds the state record for the indoor 60M dash with a time of 7.39 and has aspirations of breaking the 7-second barrier soon.
Casey said that King tallies 1,000 setups every day and constantly works out of the blocks. Legendary Owensboro coach and fitness guru Bob O’Brien coached Casey during his prime and now coaches King, something Casey considers a great blessing.
With times of 11.3 in the 100 and 7.39 in the 60 last season, Combest earned top national rankings, placing him on track to outpace his father. Something Casey said was also a source of inspiration for him, as the grandfather of the bunch – Keith – was a renowned quarter-miler during his track tenure.
“King has been running since he was two and competitively since he was five;
he stays focused,” the older Combest said. “I think it’s the same with him as it was for me; I always respected my father, but I wanted to beat him. I was like that with my dad, and I think at the end of the day, he wants to exceed my times.”
King will travel to various national meets this winter and spring, even competing against college athletes nearly twice his age. He and his father agree that the more experience he can get, the better.
He also plays football for Owensboro Middle School, where he excels as both a running back and safety on the state champion team. Celebrated sprinter Bob Hayes is one of King’s role models, as he pursued a career in the NFL after earning an Olympic gold medal.
King has aspirations to take his track career as far as possible and is dedicated to doing just that, but he still reserves time for his hobbies and being a kid.
Both father and son look forward to the journey ahead and are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes. King will take the stage several times this winter and wpring for an opportunity at cracking the respected records.
MERRICK JOSKA ANOTHER LEVEL
Local youth Merrick Joska is on an entirely different level regarding youth soccer. The 12-yearold Owensboro native is presently participating in the Major League Soccer (MLS) NEXT Program, where he dedicates an entire year to the U13 FC Cincinnatti (FCC) Academy.
The NEXT program website says it offers a new paradigm for player development and presents a platform that will transform the way players learn and grow. Joska was part of a rigorous and intensive 12-week tryout program held in early 2021, where he traveled to train with other talented players from many high-level clubs across the midwest.
“It is a year-long commitment, where I train four to five times a week at the Mercy Health Training Facility in Milford, OH,” Joska said. “Along with this training, we have a fall and spring season where we travel all over the midwest and play other elite clubs and MLS next teams in cities like
Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and across other states.”
While Joska spends his winters at Owensboro Middle School, the sixthgrader relocates to Fort Thomas Highlands Middle School in the Cincinnati area to be a part of the program. While camaraderie, competitiveness, and travel play a pivotal role in his enjoyment of the sport, he gets a lot of pleasure from running.
“The first thing I enjoy about soccer, believe it or not, is the running. I love to run track and cross country as well as running during soccer matches,” he said. “I like the competitive nature and technical part of the sport too. Getting to travel to many new places to play is also a nice perk, and of course, hanging out with my teammates – old and new – because they are some of my best friends.”
Joska began his playing career with the Daviess County Recreation League at age four and joined SportsTutor Futsal Academy with Ty Stauffer at age six. SportsTutor is an Owensboro-based program and facility designed for athletes between second and fifth grade that caters to the whole athlete and every element of the game.
FC Cincinnati consistently ranks among the top of the MLS, the most elite league for soccer in the United States. Participation in their NEXT program allows Joska to train in their facility, access to the latest in apparel, and entry to professional matches at TQL Stadium in downtown Cincinnati.
“I’m getting high-level instruction from top-notch former professional players and coaches,” Joska said. “I’m working harder than I ever have before. The coaching staff has very high expectations on the field and in the classroom; they keep a close eye on our grades, sleep patterns, and what we are eating.”
While his most revered accolade in the sport is making the academy team, Joska was also a Kentucky Olympic Development team member for two years and played in the Kentucky Premier League Village Cup with his SportsTutor team. He was also a member of a 3v3 LIVE National Tournament team that held the #1 ranking in the nation for several weeks.
His inspirations include Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp of the Premier League. He also admires Josh Head, a former Owensboro High School player who is a member of the U19 FCC Academy and serves as his mentor in the program.
Joska also expressed a great deal of gratitude to his coaches, who instilled a sense of passion for the sport and helped him maintain that fire over the years.
“Ty Stauffer at SportsTutor, Coach Armistead with Owensboro United, Coach Fusco at Kentucky Wesleyan, and my dad (Robin Joska), who has coached me since my early years,” he said. “I knew I loved soccer when I received my first uniform kit, a professional replica that I could wear and cheer for Lionel Messi playing La Liga for Barcelona – I was hooked.”
DUAL DOMINATION
In a sports society obsessed with forcing young athletes to specialize in one sport, Briley Henry insists on using her athletic talents for both softball and basketball. The eighthgrader at Daviess County Middle School consistently excels both on the diamond and the court for her school and club teams, respectively.
It’s one thing to play multiple sports; it’s another to dedicate the countless hours of training necessary to perform at an elite level. Henry truly is a multi-sport athlete in that she spares no time in logging the hours and efforts essential to propel her vast array of skills to the next level.
At 13 years old, Henry plays both basketball and softball for Daviess County Middle and High School. The off-season is scarce, as she spends it competing for the Kentucky Ballhogs on the basketball AAU circuit and Kentucky Chrome for travel softball.
Other basketball accolades include multiple firstplace trophies in AAU and an invitation to the Girls Youth Basketball Circuit All-American Camp this past fall. She didn’t begin her basketball career until she was 8, exhibiting immense growth in five short years.
She first took to the diamond at age 5, and while she has called many positions home over the years, she focuses the majority of her time these days behind the plate catching. She considers renowned NBA star Stephen Curry and Oklahoma University softball standout Jocelyn Alo as some of her most significant role models.
Henry has aspirations to obtain a college scholarship in one or both sports in the future and further her academic and athletic career to the next level. She added that she hasn’t ruled out the introspection of coaching in the distant future, giving back to the two sports that “gave her so much.”
“I look up to all the coaches that I have had,” Henry said. “I am also thankful for all my coaches and family for always supporting me.” OP
THE OWENSBORO PARENT PLAYBOOK
Owensboro is a sports town! There are plenty of opportunities for kids to get out and get active in Owensboro. Here is a listing of the most popular youth leagues and programs. Please contact the organization for current information.
BASEBALL
Daviess County Playground Association
daviessky.org
Lil’ Sluggers T-Ball
LilSluggersTball
Owensboro Parks T-Ball League
owensboroparks.org
Western Cal Ripken
owensboroparks.org/sports/youth-baseball
Eastern Cal Ripken
owensboroparks.org/sports/youth-baseball
Southern Little League
owensboroparks.org/sports/youth-baseball
Owensboro Daviess County Babe Ruth Baseball
odcbaberuthleague.com
Owensboro Catholic Youth Baseball League
owensborocatholicleague.com
BASKETBALL
Apollo ABA Youth Basketball League
stevebarker5.wixsite.com
Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club
cliffhaganboysandgirlsclub.org
DCHS D-League
daviesskyschools.org
Upward Basketball
BellevueOwensboroUpwardSports OwensboroUpward
BOWLING
Diamond Lanes Southtown Strikers
diamondlanes.net
BOXING
Little Legends
littlelegendsybm
CHEERLEADING
Upward Cheerleading
BellevueOwensboroUpwardSports OwensboroUpward
Daviess County Youth Football Cheerleading
odcyouthsports.com
Cheer Zone
cheer-zone.com
KFL Cheerleading
kidsfootballleague.com
DANCE
Johnson’s Dance Studio
johnsonsdancestudio.com
Musick Studios
musickstudios.com
Tippi Toes
TippiToesDance.com/SoKY
FIGURE SKATING
Owensboro Figure Skating Club and Freestyle Ice
owensboroparks.org
FOOTBALL
Owensboro Daviess County Youth Football League
odcyouthsports.com
Kids Football League (KFL)
kidsfootballleague.com
GOLF
GO Junior Golf Series gojuniorgolfseries.com
GYMNASTICS
Owensboro Gymnast
OwensboroGymFit
iTumble and bounce
itumbleandbounce.org
HOCKEY
Owensboro Youth Hockey Association
owensborohockey.com
MULTI-SPORT TRAINING
Dynasty Sports Performance Training
dynastysportsperformancetraining
SOCCER
East County Soccer League
EastCountySoccer
Daviess County Youth Soccer Association
dcysaky.demosphere-secure.com
Sportstutor & Futsal
sportstutor.net
Owensboro United Soccer Club
owensborounited.com
SOFTBALL
Daviess County Playground Association
daviessky.org
Owensboro Catholic Youth Softball League
owensborocatholicleague.com
SWIMMING
Owensboro Parks & Rec
owensboroparks.org
Owensboro Marlins
owensboromarlins.com
Owensboro Family YMCA
owensboroymca.org
TAE KWON DO/MARTIAL ARTS
Jones ATA Martial Arts owensboroblackbelt.com
Gracie Jujitsu
gracieowensboro.com
Owensboro Traditional Tae Kwon Do
owensborotkd
Traditional Karate
owensborokarate.com
TENNIS
Centre Court
owensborotennis.net
VOLLEYBALL
Little Spikers Youth Volleyball League
owensboroparks.org
WRESTLING
Daviess County Youth Wrestling League
daviesskyschools.org
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ADVICE AND TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE PARENTING AND LIFE EASIER
