PREMIER ISSUE
Relax!
Clark County yoga expert shares her 10 easiest poses
Hall’s doesn’t let high water sink tradition
Mud love
Passion shaping into downtown pottery business
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Winchester living | 3
What’s inside?
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Ready to start sharing the secret of Winchester? Michael Caldwell is publisher of Winchester Living Magazine and The Winchester Sun.
W
elcome! You hold in your hands the premier issue of Winchester Living magazine. We hope you are as excited to get to know us as we are to showcase you and your neighbors. What is this all about, you may ask? In essence, Winchester Living is a lifestyle magazine designed to celebrate the amazing people and community of Winchester and Clark County. In many ways, this community is the best-kept secret in Central Kentucky. Well, it is time to start sharing that greatness. Whether you have lived here your entire life, just moved in or are simply passing through, we think our magazine will showcase a unique region that is second to none … and I can say that completely objectively because I am a relative newcomer. A little bit about myself: I have been in the newspaper business for more than 18 years and helped launch several magazine-style publications. An Ashland native, this career path led me to look at this opportunity here at “home.” My family and I simply knew this was where we were meant to be. That was six 4 | Winchester living
months ago, and we have never looked back. We were immediately embraced by the community, and impressed with the wide range of culinary experiences, unique businesses and wonderful people who truly welcomed us. One thing we noticed it was missing was a strong community lifestyle magazine to help elevate the region and showcase its special qualities. And here we are we. Winchester Living will publish 4,000 copies bimonthly. The magazine will have universal appeal but will certainly be targeted toward women 35 and older. Our readers are intelligent, upwardly mobile and realize the potential for business and cultural opportunities springing up around the region. They hold jobs in a variety of industries and are involved in their community. This region holds an appeal to those who have lived here, and continues to draw others to move here because of its extraordinary legacy, rewarding quality of life and engaging community. We want Winchester Living magazine to reflect this and replicate the true spirit of the region and those who call it home, presenting it in beautiful photography, in-depth and thoughtful articles on a range of topics and showcasing the charm of this special place in an intelligent manner. The region stands out for its preservation of small-town values and way of life but with metropolitan opportunities nearby. Winchester Living magazine will hold true to and celebrate these grand traditions while showcasing our vibrant present and exciting future. We hope you will join us on this journey and start sharing the secret. §
PUBLISHER Michael Caldwell MANAGING EDITOR Whitney Leggett EDITORIAL Fred Petke Seth Littrell CONTRIBUTORS James Mann Erin Smith Jerry Cecil Michelle Franzetti MARKETING Lana Smith Dianna Roe CONTACT US Winchester Living Magazine is published by The Winchester Sun 20 Wall St. Winchester, KY 40391 WinchesterLivingMagazine.com
IN EVERY ISSUE
SHOPPING
FEATURES
6 Way Back in Winchester
18 In the Biz
44 Renaissance at Leeds
Local historian compiles information on schools for black students
Dirty South Pottery coming into form
Iconic theater gets a game-changing makeover
17 What’s Happening?
25 What’s in Store?
52 Hands in the Dirt
Events coming up this summer in Winchester, Clark County
Beat the heat with looks from downtown’s Sugar Belle’s
Stottses celebrate 40 years of small family farm
LIVING
FOOD
34 How To
54 At the Table
ARTS & CULTURE
Follow these steps to make your own suncatcher
Hall’s on the River serves up fresh seafood with a side of history
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36 Difference Maker
60 From the Cookbook
Sue White captures a different point of view with paintings
Clark native channels passion into helping homeless
Recipes to cool down or spice up your summer menu
10 Have You Been Spotted?
38 Health 101
Winchester residents enjoy getting out on the town
Yoga has physical, mental benefits
66 Why I Love Winchester Kitty Strode talks about her pride for Winchester-Clark County
Artist Spotlight
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ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 859.759.0077 Advertising rates and information are available by request. EDITORIAL INQUIRIES 859.759.0049 SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK: Mail to 20 Wall St., Winchester, KY, 40391, or email feedback@ winchesterlivingmagazine.com.
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Way Back in Winchester | Arts & Culture
Art & Culture | Way Back in Winchester
Oliver Street School was first to serve black students in county
Story and photos courtesy of Jerry Cecil
T
he first school for African-American children — historically called “colored schools” — was built in 1869 by funds from the Freedman’s Bureau following the Civil War. The local AfricanAmerican community raised the money to purchase a lot at 140 West Broadway to build the “Winchester Negro School.” This first building was still standing and in use in 1928, although it was used for training in vocational skills. In 1892, a two-story frame building was erected by the local school board. The construction was funded by local
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taxes, donations and contributions. This building stood at 406 and 407 Oliver Street. In 1907, a two-story addition was added to the north side. This building lasted until the 1930s. The third and final building on Oliver Street was built in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration. This school served as the sole high school for black students until 1956, when the school systems merged. Today, after major renovations, the building is on the National Historical Register and now provides one-, twoand three-bedroom apartments for senior citizens. §
The above left building was built in 1869 on Broadway as the first school for African-American children in Winchester and Clark County. The two-story framed building pictured above right was erected by the board of educatoin in 1892 on Oliver Street. The final Oliver Street School is pictured at far left and served as the school for black students until the system merged in 1950s. The building was renovated to its current state, at left, around 2010 and now serves as apartments.
Other ‘colored schools’ in Clark County — Rosenwald Colored School on Waterworks Road (circa 1903-1930) — Becknerville Colored School on Waterworks Road (circa 1899-1930) — Duards Creek Colored School on Athens-Boonesboro Road (circa 1899-1930) — Rosenwald Pleasant Hill Colored School on Athens-Boonesboro Road (circa 1925) — Ford Colored School on Asher Lane (circa 1900) — Howards Creek Colored School on Stone Church Road (circa 1870-1929)
perspective
Arts & Culture | Artist Spotlight
A new
Local artist captures different point of view with paintings Story and photos by Whitney Leggett
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ue White sees things from a different point of view, and the local artist strives to make that evident in her work. Her pieces depict everything from Central Kentucky landscapes to animals, foliage and even portraits. From friendly faces and wagging canine tongues to electrifying floral pieces, White likes to take a different approach to her work. Whether that means literally looking at her subjects from a different angle or experimenting with color techniques, White said she is constantly growing and learning as an artist. White has lived in Winchester with her husband, Doug, for more than three decades. She taught English at George Rogers Clark High School for 32 years and then developmental courses at Bluegrass Community and Technical College for eight years. She traces her passion for pen and paint back to her own high school days in Knox County. The Barbourville native said she took her first art classes from college students who offered private lessons. Her school didn’t offer art classes, so she and a friend signed up for the private lessons where she learned things like gesture drawing and developed an enlightened sense of color. “You know, art is always the last thing to come and the first thing to go in schools,” she said. “It was in those classes I learned about a sense of color. I don’t just see black. I see every color.” She painted her first oil piece while attending Midway College. With this piece, she put her knowledge of color into practice. “A house mother named Mrs. Jones sat for me, instead
of using skin tones, I did almost pure colors,” she said. “It ended up being a very vivid painting.” She entered the piece into the Lexington Fair in the 1970s and earned an honorable mention, which was enough to boost her confidence and keep her going. White said she enjoys working with oils, but also uses acrylics and pastels. She used to paint while sitting, but modern technology has allowed her to try new things with her art. “Now, I work mostly using photos,” she said. “I will do some sketching, but I don’t paint things that I have to sit to finish anymore. “Once I discovered the camera and the computer, it made things much easier.” She can now crop images to find the best composition and preserve those shots to be painted later. These quick snapshots also allow her to capture poses that reveal as much of the subject’s personality as possible. White studied art at Midway, Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky. She lacks just an art history class to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. “I just don’t want to have to write those papers,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll go back any time soon.” Instead, she spends her time working with a group of the county’s most dedicated artists in the Winchester Art Guild, an organization of which she has been a member for about 10 years. For the last three years, she has served as president. White’s work is displayed at the Guild’s gallery, located at 18 W. Lexington Ave. There, patrons can find her vibrant depictions of horses, honeybees, roses and dogs. White has original canvasses, prints and even notecards for sale at the gallery.
She recently finished a series focused on flowers she grew herself. An avid gardener, White takes great pride in her tiered rose beds and enjoys painting flowers from a different perspective. “I focused on unusual views of flowers,” she said. “Instead of the traditional point of view for flowers, I tried some with flowers spilling off the canvas or fading or even a side view.” White said she paints a portrait of each of her family’s dogs, and especially likes capturing colorful and charismatic canines. “I guess I especially enjoy painting dogs because they are so loving themselves,” she said. “They have so much personality, such sweet natures. It’s fun to try to capture that personality in the painting.” Other works are on display at the Winchester Opera House gallery, where owner Vanessa Ziembroski provides studio space for White. This space makes it possible for White to separate her art from her home life, and makes it easier to work on large-scale canvasses, which she enjoys. White shows and sells her work annually at the Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival, but has also shown at the University of Kentucky Arboretum, Damselfly Galleries in Midway, First Vineyard in Nicholasville and the Carnegie Center in Somerset, among others. For more about White’s art, to purchase or to inquire about commissions call 859-606-6556 or email whitesue56@yahoo.com. “I always feel like my art is in progress,” White said. “I’m always learning. The hardest part is marketing myself and my artwork. That’s really as much work as the art itself. But, I enjoy it.” § Winchester living | 9
SP TTED O
St. Agatha Academy Spaghetti supper fundraiser Oct. 27, 2016
YOU’VE BEEN
Betty Bailey, Karen Witt, Mary Xinhua Yu, Susan Epperson, Linda Baber, Cheryl Wills and Linda Caudill
Waylon Jacob, Stewart Jacob and Annabelle Jacob
Melissa Buttery, Steven Buttery, Preston McCamish, Lily Rose and Jacob Buttery
Jennifer Gormley, Reece Glenn, Sarah Glenn, Karen Browning and Jeff Browning
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Jim Jones, Brian Flinchum, Tina Flinchum and Norma Bough.
Mark Pascuzzi, Margaret Pascuzzi and Robert Pascuzzi
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‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’ Baker Intermediate School April 26, 2017
Civitan Easter egg hunt College Park April 8, 2017
Cassie Fox, Brooklyn Fox, Carl Fox, Kyler Fox, Madison Banks and Penny Jarman
Addison Baker, Emma Hackworth, Christopher G. Navarrete and Elyssa Spiggle
Emma Durrence and Cogan Banks
Ken Taylor and Ameris Taylor
Kelsi Bentine and Daniel Graves
Mason Boley and Izze Smith
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Eliot Pope and Ella Brock
Zack Banks
Bark For Life to benefit Clark County Relay for Life March 18, 2017
Yard sale to benefit Lady Veterans Connect March 17-18, 2017
Jim Hughes, Donna Born and Wanda Martin
Dee Mays, Shadow and Kylie Millin
Chenelle RoDgers, Addison Rodgers and Milo
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April Wilhoite and John Wayne
Lanny Evans and Piper
Radio Jove George Rogers Clark High School April 28, 2017
Summer 2017
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Upcoming events in Winchester and Clark County
MAY
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MAY
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MAY
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27-28 Visit a social and business gathering of merchants, traders, artisans, Native Americans, militia, longhunters, scouts and other frontier characters.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL BANQUET 5:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church
ROCK THE BLOCK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 7-9 p.m. on Main Street
RUN FOR THE PAWS 5K 1-4 p.m. at BCTC, 2020 Rolling Hills Lane
Tickets are $55 each or $500 for a corporate table of 10. Annual awards will be handed out.
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnic basket to enjoy the series’ kick off show with Hi Five. Drink and food options will be available.
Join the community for a race/walk to benefit the Clark County Animal Shelter. Pre-register by May 19 for discounts. Visit runsignup.com to register.
JUNE
JUNE
3
JUNE
17-24
MAY
SPRING TRADE DAYS 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fort Boonesborough State Park
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KIDS DAY 8 a.m. to noon at WinchesterClark County Farmers’ Market
BEER CHEESE FESTIVAL 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Main Street
Children 13 and younger will receive a $10 voucher to spend at the market during the 2017 season. The day will include free plants, activities, food tasting and entertainment.
Sample beer cheese from vendors, find your favorite and cast your vote. Listen to live music, visit the beer garden, check out Kentucky Proud booths and shop arts and crafts.
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CLARK COUNTY FAIR Daily at Clark County Fair grounds on Ironworks Road
ROCK THE BLOCK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 7-9 p.m. on Main Street
This week-long event includes pageants, carnival rides, a demolition derby, old fashion fair games, livestock shows and much more. Visit clarkcountyfair.org.
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnic basket to enjoy Boogie G and the Titanics. Drink and food options will be available. Winchester living | 17
In the Biz | Shopping
love Dirty South Pottery coming into form
“Y
ou make a mess and a memory.� Those seven words may be a motto Ashley and Carvel Norman use to promote Dirty South Pottery, but they just as easily sum up the life of the couple who is focused on shaping their craft, their downtown Winchester business and the community they call home.
Story by Michael Caldwell | Photos by Michael Caldwell and Michelle Franzetti
Shopping | In the Biz From the mud Their narrative really takes the form of a love story, a romance that spun out of a shared passion for ceramics. For Carvel, a Glasgow native, ceramics had been a focal point since graduating with an art degree from Brescia University and moving on to graduate studies at Eastern Kentucky University. The idea of Dirty South was taking shape, but it was in a ceramics studio there in 2011 that he met Ashley, a Clark County native who was nearing the end of her college career. For Ashley, a photographer, ceramics was just supposed to be another class on the way to graduation. But, the connection was strong. She quickly fell in love with the art form — and Carvel, too. Then things began to move sort of fast. They married in 2013, but it wasn’t like they had the perfect vision of a fairy tale centered around art. Pottery was just going to be a side project, really. Something they could use as a creative outlet and maybe make some extra money at local festivals and the like; but they would keep their day jobs. Then their creative efforts started really paying off. Online sales started growing. 20 | Winchester living
The festivals were going great. By 2014, they decided to expand the focus. Ashley walked away from a job in property management. Carvel was going to keep working in the liquor sales and distribution industry. Or at least that was how the story was supposed to go. It was June of that year when they discovered 38 N. Main St., an iconic building in downtown Winchester built in 1908 that was home to the Winchester Paint & Wallpaper Company for about 70 years. “This building came up for auction. Call it fate or whatever, it was meant to be. It was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” Ashley said. “I’m from Winchester and had kind of seen what downtown had been through in the pass couple decades and how people responded to it. It had always gotten under my skin. I kind of wanted to be more positive, had seen the potential in the beautiful architecture … to see this building and to be able to see its potential. I just felt very strongly about it.” The couple did renovations basically all of 2015, with the work first focused on the two-story apartment upstairs. Calling it a DIY project would be a gross understatement. It may be safer to say it was a labor of love, with lots of emphasis on the labor part. The couple opened the storefront in November 2015. In April 2016, they fully opened the studio. Dirty South Pottery had once been just a philosophy or concept, but was now the brand of the growing business. “The name, I came up with just as basically a play on
words,” Carvel said. “We were both raised in the south. We have a really rich southern heritage. We love that heritage. We love our roots. And then, the dirty part, is 90 percent of the time we are just covered in mud. We stay dirty. For the most part, I think everybody downtown has gotten kind of used to seeing us walking around covered in clay. We don’t get any people staring us, not anymore. … So, I just kind of blended the two together and called it Dirty South Pottery.” The name stuck. “Because clay is mud, it is from the ground. That is all it is. It is refined mud. The south part, we really focus on that in a lot of our pottery, the ideas behind it comes from southern roots,” Ashley adds. “So that is kind of why even though he had already developed the name before I was even in his life, I felt strongly it worked very well with my style as well, so that is the direction we went in. And it is catchy, too.”
Taking form Their Etsy shop had been around since 2014 and the business have been online from the beginning. They began offering wholesale purchases in early 2017, working with area businesses like Grace Coffee, Cafe and Bakery to offer customized items and others like Completely Kentucky in Frankfort that want to sell the unique products. But much of the experience is really about the visit to the blue-roofed storefront in Winchester, open five days a Winchester living | 21
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Shopping | In the Biz
week and catering to repeat customers. Walking through the door, shoppers are greeted by the rustic feel of the long, narrow building with tin ceilings. Mugs of a variety of shapes, sizes and colors line the dark-stained wood wall on the north side of the showroom. A central display showcases green and blue plates, bowls, serving dishes, cake platters and vases, many emblazoned with their catch phrase of “this might be bourbon.” The south wall showcases more of the not-so-same, each piece offering unique takes on classic pottery styles. The patterned floor and vintage parts of the wall call back to when the building was a wallpaper store. The middle of the shop is a studio, classroom and workspace all blended into one, a place it isn’t uncommon to find one of the Normans at a pottery wheel shaping clay at about all hours of the day. The open structure is part of the ambience. Visitors can actually see how the art is made. A wall mosaic of Kentucky made from multicolored fragments of pottery — shades of blue, green and tan — draws attention to the couple’s guidelines for enjoying the experience including “positive vibes only” and “come to create.” Carvel leads a monthly one-night class, called “dip your toes,” to expose people who want to try their hands at it for a few hours. This is where the aforementioned mess and memories come into play. With only about four spots per month, they stay about 22 | Winchester living
two months booked in advance. “It works really well as a date night.” Carvel said, adding that what people make varies and that the expectations are just about having fun. “… It is tough to learn but everyone always leaves with a smile on their face. Everyone always has a good time.”
Southern comfort Both artists say their designs and forms are inspired by basic pottery functions, potlucks and the southern tradition of communal dinners. They aspire to make beautiful things in which to put southern food; to put art into the everyday. “Because I am not that great of a cook, I joke whenever I take stuff that either the food is subpar but the platter is really pretty or the cookies may be store bought but the cake platter or whatever is handmade,” Ashley said. “So that counts for something, right?” Carvel says much the same, also drawing on things that are inspired by the landscape in Kentucky, bourbon barrels and that southern concept of sharing. The couple tries to focus on things that are familiar, comforting and accessible — concepts they tried to emulate with the storefront and everything in it. “A lot of times, pottery looks like you can’t touch it. We want people to come in and pick it up. We encourage people who will be like, ‘Oh, we don’t want to break anything,’” Ashley said. “Well, you won’t know it is yours until you pick it up. ... We are trying to take what could be considered high art and make it more tangible.” Winchester living | 23
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Shopping | Business Spotlight Investing in home
Dirty South Pottery 38 N. Main St. Winchester 859.749.0314
dirtysouthpottery.com
Store Hours Mon-Tues: Closed Wed-Thurs: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday-Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
As much as the couple is focused on their business, that passion may be equaled only by their love for their community and giving back. They have led the way with the local Empty Bowls initiative where handmade bowls and a soup lunch are sold with 100 percent of the proceeds going to charity, in this case Clark County Community Services. They donate a minimum of 300 bowls, which is pretty much a yearround project, to feed the hungry right here in Clark County. The event is the first Friday in December. These have to be fired — twice. Then glazed, cleaned, boxed, delivered and more. They also find time to serve on several downtown committees and
supported the Better Block project along with other initiatives they hope show they are committed, longterm and short-term, to Winchester. “We like being involved with things that are going to improve the community and move it forward more than just trying to patch the problems we have,” Ashley. “We are looking to proactively launch the community into its next 10 to 20 years. When we made this investment, we tell people we own the building. We live upstairs. We are here to stay. So we are looking for how we can help.” Carvel agrees. “You start creating the place you want to live in,” he said. “Because you live in it and you want it to be a place you want to spend time.” §
Summer Stylin’ Beat the heat with looks from local boutique
s summer heats up, it is all about finding colorful, cool outfits to stay stylish while beating the heat. Whether you are showing of your sun-kissed skin in a pair of shorts, a fun dress or a flirty off-shoulder top, the options are endless. Locally-owned by Kathlynn Ledford, Sugar Belle’s boutique offers sweet, southern chic styles including dresses, tops, pants, shoes, jewelry and other accessories. The store is located at 21 S. Main St. Styles can also be shopped online at ShopSugarBelles.com.
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What’s In Store? | Shopping
Emily Sharps holds the title of Miss Danville. She is wearing a Millie off-shoulder embroidered top, $50; polar white jeggings,$36; and fiesta tassel earrings in lime, $18.
Sophie Duncan is a three-time national champion clogger at Studio One. She is wearing a Floral Frenzy maxi dress, $56; Dazzle Me beaded necklace in dusty blue, $20; and a “Hello Sunshine” sun hat, $25.
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What’s In Store? | Shopping
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Allyson Ledford holds the title of Miss Bluegrass Area. She is wearing a One In A Melon dress, $48; fiesta tassel earrings in lime, $18; and Cypress sandals, $46.
Kacie Underwood plays volleyball at George Rogers Clark High School. She is wearing a Sawyer swing dress, $58, lemon beaded tassel earrings, $24; and Cypress sandals, $46.
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What’s In Store? | Shopping
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Emily is wearing a Let’s Flamingle ruffle tank,$46; Love Me scallop-hem shorts, $40; and trio ball earrings in hot pink, $22. Sophie is wearing a Tropic Like It’s Hot sun dress, $46; Erimish bracelets lava set, $62; trio ball earrings in hot pink, $22; Do Not Disturb beach basket, $52; and Cypress sandals, $46, 30 | Winchester living
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What’s In Store? | Shopping
Kacie is wearing a Penny shift dress, $74; pearl stud earrings, $8; and Cypress sandals, $46. Aly is wearing a Costa Rica wrap by Izzy & Lola, $64; Buttercup swing dress, $40; wooden tusk necklace, $26; and peep-toe booties in nude, $52. 32 | Winchester living
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Living | How To
Make your own
Suncatcher Story and photos by Whitney Leggett
Supplies
— package of small pony beads (translucent is recommended) — 8-inch round metal cake pan — metal cupcake baking pan — fishing wire — handheld drill
need one hole. On the large round piece, drill a single hole at the top and then three or four evenly-spaced holes at the bottom, depending on your desired arrangement. String the fishing wire through the top hole of the large round piece, create a loop and tie tightly. String the fishing wire through the bottom holes attaching your first smaller round piece to each wire before moving on to the next. Repeat this step for the remaining layers of your arrangement until the final pieces have been tied securely. Trim any excess fishing wire and use a lighter to carefully melt the knot so it does not loosen. Hang from a tree limb or hook and enjoy the sight of the sun catching the translucent beads and the sounds of the pieces ringing together. §
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Instructions Start by preheating your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the beads with the open side up in a single layer in the bottom of the large cake pan. You can choose to make a particular pattern or design or place the beads in a random arrangement. Do the same in the bottom of the cupcake pan. If you have other metal baking ware in different shapes (I used a rectangle and a triangle) you can use those to create variety. You will need to make one large circle and 12 smaller pieces of whatever shape is desired. Place pans on the center rack of your oven for 20 minutes or until all beads have melted and no holes are remaining. Let cool for about 1 minute. Flip pans over and tap on a table or countertop to loosen and remove the suncatchers. On a flat surface lay your pieces out in the desired arrangement. It looks best to arrange the pieces so they do not touch one another. With a handheld drill, place a small hole at the top and bottom of each small round piece, except the pieces that will hang at the bottom, that only 34 | Winchester living
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r o f t r Hea s s e l e m o h e h tClark native makes job of helping needy
Difference Maker | Living
by Petke | Photo Story by Fred
F
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or the better part of a decade, 19 Wainscott Ave. and the Clark County Homeless Coalition have been keys in fighting homelessness in Winchester and Clark County, and Executive Director Terry Davidson has been on the frontlines. “Sometimes it seems like yesterday and some times it feels like 100 years ago,” Davidson said. Homelessness is not a simple issue, or one that is easily rectified. “It’s not just because they are lazy,” she said. “It’s not just because they don’t have a job. It’s very complicated.” In the shelter’s eight-year history, about 350 people have stayed with CCHC. The average stay is four months, though one man stayed for two years. Some people leave and come back multiple times before the program really sinks in and things click, she said. “It’s a lot for a little town,” she said. “The need hasn’t diminished.” Davidson, who moved here in 1991 with husband Gary and then infant daughter Alix, said the moment of awakening came in 2009. “My girls both went to the magnet program at Conkwright,” she said. “Every day I drove the same route. A lot of that area around Conkwright is a very impoverished area.” On one frigid January day in 2009, she saw one of the magnet program students going home in that area of town. “… I saw a girl wearing a (magnet) uniform walking into a house,” she said. “The water heater was sitting on the front porch. Several of the windows had blue Styrofoam instead of windows. There was no way that house could be very warm. The water heater on the porch meant they probably didn’t have hot water. “That’s what stuck with me and wouldn’t let me turn a blind eye any more.” Within a matter of months, the Coalition was officially open to families and others who were homeless. For Davidson, there’s more to the coalition and its mission than just offering shelter. “You can always put a roof over someone’s head,” she
Mike Caldwe
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said. “If they choose to leave because of other reasons, then have you really made a difference? We’re looking at some of the bigger issues and how do we become a catalyst for change in our community. “Our mission hasn’t changed. Our world is changing very fast and we have to respond to that. We try to come up with creative ideas and solutions to help things change.” The coalition’s program is designed to give clients the tools to succeed after leaving. Clients have responsibilities while living at Wainscott Hall, including cooking, cleaning, shopping and daily classes and activities. Clients have to figure out how to solve real world problems like transportation to the store or work. “It’s real life,” she said. “We all have to go to work and have other obligations.” Davidson said it seems the coalition has been busier in recent months, even moreso than at the height of the recession. More and more clients have multiple diagnoses, she said, so the coalition is working on partnerships to give clients quicker access to health care and mental health care as well. “We’ve tweaked our programs to help clients in sobriety programs and ways we can be better for them, be more responsible and help them as quickly as possible so they can see there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. Many have already found that light and moved beyond and into a successful life, she said. “There’s a woman who’s a veteran,” Davidson said. “She’s been homeless for 10 years in several states. She spent quite a bit of time with us. When she finally disclosed she was a veteran, we finally got her in an apartment through a veteran program. To see that change in a person, not just physical but mental health, it’s massive. She’s happy. She was not a nice person when we met. That’s huge.” Even with the success, the need remains. Almost a decade after that fateful January day, Davidson said her perspective on the community has changed. “I though everything was black and white,” she said. “Now I see how much gray there is. I understand people’s struggles better.” §
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Balancing act
Health 101 | Living
Yoga has physical, mental benefits
Story by Whitney Leggett
W
hen Erin Skinner Smith was born severely pigeon-toed, orthopaedic surgeons told her parents she would never run and she would most likely always walk with a limp. Believing that was a heavy diagnosis for their young daughter, her parents had metal braces fit for Smith. “They went from my waist all the way down my leg and connected to my shoes,” Smith recalls. Along with the braces, Smith’s parents enrolled her in yoga, gymnastics and dancing. “(My parents) were sort of throwback hippies,” she said. “They were doing things like yoga and Tai Chi. They traveled a lot to East Asia. We went to the local Presbyterian church, but we discussed the precepts of Buddhism at the dinner table growing up.” Through these classes, the born-and-raised Clark Countian developed a deep passion for yoga. “I sort of fell in love with it because it was the only time of the week I could take off my braces,” she said. “I even had to sleep in them a lot. I’ve been doing yoga longer than I can actually remember doing yoga.” Smith channeled that passion and these days she doesn’t need her leg braces. Instead, she spends her days with her legs up a wall meditating quietly, or standing on her head or bent over in an intricate stretch all in her local yoga studio, the OM place. “I’m a little bit of a perfectionist, so when I was in college, I really started meditation more to deal with stress levels,” she said. “My husband went to physical therapy school at the University of Kentucky so we knew we would come back here and build a house. “I also knew if I was going to teach yoga, I wanted to do it where I live.”
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Establishing OM Smith studied education and library science in college and returned home to be a librarian. Seventeen years ago, she opened her studio attached to their home on Quisenberry Lane, teaching yoga on the side for “fun money.” “Whatever I made teaching yoga we would use to travel,” she said. “Then, when I got pregnant, I sort of had to make a decision.” Knowing she couldn’t be a mother, a librarian and a yoga teacher and do them all well, Smith needed to prioritize. Winchester living | 39
Living | Health 101 “Of all those things, yoga and being a mom were what I felt a calling for,” she said. Her husband, David, began funneling her some of his physical therapy patients who needed more attention that insurance wouldn’t cover. “I was training to become a therapeuticallyinclined yoga teacher,” she said. “At the time, there was a shift in insurance where people who once would have had 16 physical therapy visits were only getting eight or 10. I started doing a lot of privates, which is what I mostly do now.” Smith helps her patients with things like scoliosis
or post-operative joint replacement. Once a patient has been released from physical therapy, it’s less expensive to see her for 75 minutes than pay out-of-pocket for 30 minutes with a physical therapist. “I have always been fascinated with anatomy and the human body,” she said. “I started seeing in my own classes how important yoga could be for longevity and inclusivity.” Smith said inclusivity is one of the things she particularly loves about yoga and stresses at her own studio, where she also has seven other instructors. “We want everyone to feel like they can do yoga,” she said. “No one is too old. No one is too fat. Nobody is too stiff. There is literally a place for everyone on the yoga mat.” Sometimes that means taking private classes to work on an instability or reveal an issue that traditional physical therapy didn’t pick up. “Physical therapy looks at just how to rehab those muscles,” Smith said. “But not necessarily what postural habits got the person there. They don’t have time to look at someone’s diet or their stress level and all these other things that are such an integral part of wholeness.” With yoga therapy, Smith said she is able to look beyond just a torn rotator cuff and what exercises can strengthen those muscles and investigate how well the patient is sleeping at night or what sort of foods they can add or remove from their diet to improve their condition.
Finding balance Beyond the therapeutic aspect, Smith said yoga is a great way to exercise the body while resting the mind. “The biggest thing is that our bodies need movement but our minds need stillness,” she said. “I’m really passionate about meditation and mindfulness. Longevity-wise, that is what elevates
40 | Winchester living
yoga above other forms of exercise — while others are very physical and mental, yoga is also energetic and spiritual.” Smith said science reveals the happiest, most peaceful and joyful people are those who are mindful. Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations. “Yoga gives us the movement our bodies need and the stillness our minds need in this world,” she said. Yoga was first practiced by Hindus. In sanskrit, yoga means “union.” “By union we’re talking about finding a balance,” Smith said. “A balance between doing and being, between your light and your dark, just finding more balance in your life.” Research indicates yoga was practiced at least 5,000 years ago. Smith said statues uncovered in the Indus Valley show people in the popular lotus yoga position — “sitting like a pretzel.” Carbon dating shows those statues are are about 5,000 years old, but Smith believes yoga probably predates literature. “We have reason to believe people all over Asia were doing yoga long before that,” she said. While it has origins in Hinduism, Smith said yoga is not a religion. “Yoga is something you do with your religion, not instead of or in place of it,” she said. “Yoga is a way to become mindful in the moment, which just means it Winchester living | 41
Living | Health 101 helps you to connect to that divinity that’s within all of us. It’s actually a fantastic way to talk to God, whatever God means to you.” Yoga is movement that is connected to the breathe, Smith said. “When we focus on the breathe, that brings our minds into the current moment,” she said. “And when you are in the moment, practicing mindfulness, then you are dialing up that connection. So it always circles back to mindfulness.” Smith said there are thousands of variations of yoga classes, but most involve a balance of stretching and strengthening, which she refers to as mobility and stability. At the OM place, Smith offers a range of classes from gentle restorative yoga up to power flow which all focus on strong core support and improving range of motion in the joints. She said yoga can be especially beneficial for people with arthritis or other joint issues that sometimes prevent them from doing other highimpact forms of exercise. Besides classes at her studio, Smith has also developed the OM
place Channel with local filmmaker Jason Epperson of Eppic Films. The channel is an online compilation of videos and information about yoga, breathing, meditation and mindfulness that can be accessed from home. “Through yoga, you can improve bone density, build lean muscle mass and burn calories, but you’re also going to stimulate your lymphatic system, your circulatory system and your respiratory system,” Smith said. Yoga also helps decelerate the nervous system, she said. “Our society is pretty much in a fight or flight mode all the time,” she said. “Our society of busyness keeps our nervous systems always ramped up which sends our hormones out of whack, which makes it hard to sleep well, which affects our hormones that lead to bad food choices.” Smith said yoga helps move people from the fight or flight mode and into their “rest and digest” mode. And since yoga moves the spine in all seven directions, it helps the
body feel younger, she said. “Traditional Chinese medicine believes that it doesn’t matter how many years we’ve walked the planet, we’re really only as young as our spine is flexible,” she said. “The spine houses all the important stuff — the nerves that connect our brain, which would be who we are, to everything else in our body.” Smith said yoga poses, or asanas, are designed to move the spine in all seven directions to keep it young and limber. For people who are interested in trying yoga, the most difficult part is typically stepping out of their comfort zone, Smith said. “We have a gentle restorative class that is appropriate for all levels,” she said. “If you’ve never done a single yoga pose, you can totally come and feel comfortable in this class. It mostly takes the courage of getting out of your own comfort zone and trying something new. But if you make yourself do that, you will leave feeling that yoga is not only something you can do but yoga is something you are good at.” §
SEEKING BALANCE? — the OM place is located at 815 Quisenberry Lane. — Classes are offered Monday through Saturday. The first class is free. Classes can be purchased as walk-ins for $12, five for $45, 10 for $80 or 20 for $150. Thai bodywork and deep tissue bodywork sessions are also available. — Access the schedule and purchase classes at theOMplace.com. — The OM place channel can be accessed for three days free and then $13 monthly at theOMplacechannel.com. — Erin Smith also co-wrote a book, “Sensible Wellness for Women,” along with fellow Clark County native Andra Sewalls, which can be accessed at SensibleWellnessForWomen.com.
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10poses
3
1
for beginners Y
oga is for everybody and every body. You don’t have to be flexible, strong, young or beautiful to practice yoga. Yoga is ultimately about learning how to connect to the moment rather than run from it. If you can breathe, then you can do yoga! Relax your shoulders and face. Seal the lips but loosen the jaw so you aren’t grinding your teeth. Breathe in and out of your nose if possible, as the body makes a gas called Nitric Oxide (NO) in the back of the nostrils. NO dilates the blood vessels and helps engage the relaxation response to lower stress levels. Never force the breath. If you feel light-headed or nauseous, let the breathe move into a rhythm of its own choosing. The inhale will expand the belly like a balloon, while the exhale will draw the navel back toward the spine.
1) Parsva Tadasana (Side Mountain Pose) Stand with good posture, as if there is a string pulling the crown of your head to the sky. Place the right hand on your hip and extend the left arm by the ear. Lean to the right side to stretch the left side of the body. Hold for 5 deep breaths and then switch sides. 2) Vrksasana (Tree Pose) Return to standing. Shift the weight into your right foot and slide the left foot to rest on the inside of your right leg, either above or below the knee. Rest your left hand on your left thigh. Your ight hand can rest at the heart or on a wall if you need more stability. Keeping your gaze relaxed and steady will help you maintain your balance. Hold for 5 deep breaths and then switch sides. 3) Uttanasana (Standing Forward Fold) From standing, fold the spine over the legs. The feet are parallel to each other and the knees are slightly bent. Let the spine and head just hang here and enjoy the stretch in the back of the body. Hold for 5 deep breaths. 4 and 5) Bitilasana (Cow Pose) and Marjaryasana (Cat Pose) These two poses work as a team. From uttanasana, step the knees back and down into a tabletop. Stack your shoulders over your wrists and your hips over your knees. As you inhale, drop the belly toward the floor as the tail and the head both lift, moving into a backbend (cow pose). Exhale and tuck the chin and tail as the spine rounds toward the ceiling (cat pose). Do this 5-15 times, imagining each round loosening the muscles on either side of your spine. 6) Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose) From tabletop, walk the hands one hand length forward, so they are slightly in front of your shoulders. Curl your toes
2 4
5
under and lift your hips to the sky to form an upside down “V” as you move into down dog. Hold for 5 deep breaths. 7) Phalakasana (Plank Pose) From downward dog, rock your shoulders out over your hands into plank pose. The shoulders are stacked over the hands and the legs are straight. Never lock your elbows. To engage the core, lift the spine away from the floor, so the upper back is flat or slightly rounded. Hold here for 10 strong breaths or as long as you can.
6
8) Sukhasana (Easy Seat Pose) From plank pose, drop the knees into tabletop, and then swing the legs around to come onto your booty. Sit cross-legged, flexing the feet to protect your knees. Fold forward and linger here in this awesome hip stretch. Hold for 5-10 deep breaths, then switch sides and repeat on the other side. 9) Parvritta Sukhasana (Easy Seated Twist) Sit tall in Easy Seat Pose. Place the left hand on your right knee. Place the right hand on the floor behind you. Breathing in, sit up even taller. Breathe out and twist your heart towards the right, looking over your right shoulder into seated twist. Hold 5 breaths and then repeat on the other side. 10) Viparita Karani (Legs Up the Wall) Sit by a wall with your hips as close to the wall as possible. Spin the torso out into the middle of the room as you stretch your legs up the wall. Place a blanket or block under your head if you want. Rest the arms comfortably out to the sides. Breathe deeply here for 5-30 minutes. This pose improves the circulation of blood and lymph. It calms the mind and lowers the blood pressure.
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Leeds Theater | Feature
Renaissance at
Leeds
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F
or the better part of a century, Leeds Theater has been one of the anchors on Main Street. Its future wasn’t always as secure as it is now.
Story by Fred Petke | Photos by James Mann and Whitney Leggett
I
n the days before Internet, television, cell phones and social media, there were movie theaters. Leeds was far from the only theater in downtown Winchester. At one point, there were at least four others, Winchester native Fara Tyree recalls. “I remember going to the Leeds on Saturdays and watching the newsreels and cowboy movies, and the smell of popcorn,” Tyree said. “I remember being dropped off with a boyfriend for an hour and a half movie” or meeting other friends. “When I was older, it was a great place for a date.” The theater opened May 12, 1925, owned by S.D. Lee, who was the president of the Winchester Amusement Company. The theater was later renamed Leeds — a play on Lee’s name — following a contest. For the next 60 years, Leeds continued entertaining Winchester’s residents, as well as those from the surrounding area. Eventually, Leeds became the only movie house in downtown. Then it stopped showing first-run movies. By 1986, the theater was crumbling and up for sale. “We were driving through downtown one day and saw ‘closed’ on the sign,” Tyree said. “That’s what got us motivated to
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Winchester living | 47
save that fine building from being a parking lot. We had great nostalgia for that old building.” Tyree and a group of others quickly formed, including Ed Gilkison as vice president, Bill Oliver as secretary, Ralph Tyree as treasurer and other members such as Vic Bloomfield, Carla Van Meter and Mary Dean Beckner, David Rogers, Molly and Craig Stotts, Chuck Witt, Alice Codell Roberts, Janie Johnson and Barbara Falmlen. Fara Tyree became the president of the Winchester Council for the Arts. With the goal of saving a downtown landmark, they set to work. “We talked with the manager and were told they were going to sell,” she said. To secure the theater, they had to raise $75,000, she said. Almost immediately, the council saw the support from the community. “As we began the fundraising, an anonymous donor came forward and offered to give the money … if we could raise an additional $75,000,” she said. “We were fortunate to match that money. We were given it on the last day of December and the work began.” Saving Leeds was no small task. Tyree had to go inside the walls to connect wires to turn on the lights. The plumbing was inoperable. There was water standing in the floor in the main theater. The roof was failing miserably at keeping the weather outside. “It was not a secure building at the time,” she said. For the next three years, the council kept working and raising money. For the first year, the council met every week, she said. A $328,000 Community Development Block Grant helped finance the rebuilding and restoration, she said, “These people were just vital to this thing,” she said. “These people 48 | Winchester living
believed in this wonderful idea.” In 1990, the Leeds Center for the Arts officially opened as more than a movie theater. It was now a community theater, complete with a larger stage, lights and dressing rooms in the back. Within the first couple months, there were performances by groups of Russian dancers and musicians from Ecuador. Eventually, running Leeds became too much for the council members to handle. “We were looking for a theater manager to keep Leeds busy and vital, to rent space, to bring in programs,” Tyree said. The council hired Ralph Pate as manager, she said. Tyree, though, decided it was time for a change. “When we opened the Leeds Theater, I felt it was my time to let others come and run the theater,” she said. “It’s a difficult job.” As the years passed, Leeds kept operating and relying on community donations and support. Over the years, maintenance became an issue again. Tyree returned to the board in 2003 to help with financial issues, and the council eventually retired its debt for the theater. But deferred maintenance began to accumulate. The roof was failing again. Plaster was falling off the right wall in the theater. A couple years ago, a new board took office and again faced the task of stabilizing and restoring Leeds. “My daughters both danced with Ms. Fara when they were young,” current board President Tracey Miller said. “I began to see the value of arts in a community. There was an emotional connection. I’m a preservationist as well as seeing the value of this with the community.” In 2013, Miller became the president of the arts council and, with other members, began planning to bring the theater back to its former glory. The roof had failed again, adding to the maintenance woes. “There was a lot of deferred maintenance,” Miller said. “It was time to make it shine again.” Some of the challenges were the same all these years later. “When we took over as a board, there was significant debt and very little money in the checking account,” Miller said. What they had was plenty of “hard work and blind faith.” What is not in doubt is the community’s support of Leeds, she said. “There is an obvious impact and value to Leeds and the value of what comes from Leeds,” Miller said. Again, the community stepped up to help. The Greater Clark Foundation contributed a $50,000 match of funds from the City of Winchester to replace the roof. In March, another anonymous donor gave $100,000 to Leeds, coupled with a $50,000 match from the Clark County Community Foundation for
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renovations. “We can’t thank the city and The Greater Clark Foundation enough,” Miller said. With a long list of projects, Leeds was dark for about four months. Again, the City of Winchester stepped up to cover the theater’s utilities and basic expenses during the renovations. In April, the community got its first look at the refreshed and updated Leeds with repaired plaster in the main theater, renovated restrooms, a new concession stand, new paint and carpet throughout and a brand new stage curtain. “(It’s) pretty much a top to bottom renovation in the span of four months,” Miller said. “None of that would have happened without our donors, the foundation and a plethora of volunteers.” Re-opening weekend featured a concert by Ben Sollee and other public events. Now, it’s time to get back to business. “We are ready to get back to what we love and that’s putting on arts events,” board vice-president Selina Arnett said. “Our biggest mission is education and being able to support the arts,” Miller said. “We want to make this a place where people are inspired, educated and engaged. We always say art is the great equalizer. You can come and immerse yourself in an experience. That’s unique. “We want this to be a place of beautiful vignettes. We all want to see this survive for another 100 years.” §
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Dirt
Couple celebrates 40 years of small family farm Story and photos by Seth Littrell
F
or Molly and Craig Stotts the beginning of spring is a busy, but exciting time. Spring is when the couple, who owns My Father’s Garden, a small family farm on Rowland Avenue, begins planting a large portion of the crops they will be growing for the season. Their 3.2-acre farm supplies them with enough organic vegetables to feed themselves, their family and sell at the Winchester-Clark County Farmers Market. It’s hard work, but the 66-year-olds do it with smiles. “The Scripture says to stay at home, work with your hands and lead a quiet life,” Molly said. “I’m not doing that, but I’m doing the best I can. Hands in the dirt is where we’re supposed to be.” The two have been gardening together since they bought their Rowland Avenue property in 1977. Molly said being from town, neither of them had much farming experience when they began. “That’s where the name My Father’s Garden comes 52 | Winchester living
from,” Molly said. “Both my earthly father and my heavenly father instilled in me a love of gardening.” As they became more involved in growing, they tried many times to acquire a larger piece of land, but they always wound up deciding against it. “The Lord kept us here,” Molly said. “This was a great place to raise our kids because if you step into the front yard you’re in the city, and if you go out back you’re in the country.” So they decided to stay put and raise their seven children where they were, and after 40 years, the Stottses have made the most out of their small farm, growing a variety of vegetables, fruits and berries, keeping chickens for eggs and even bee hives for honey. Molly said she and Craig chose to live organically in an effort to protect the most basic building block of every farm: the soil. “I want to do as much as I can to ensure that people know their food is safe,” Molly said. She said the food grown on their farm is certified
My Father’s Garden | Feature organic, which requires a lot of extra paperwork and documentation in addition to limiting the type of pesticides and other chemicals the Stottses can use on their crops. “We try to do things as naturally as possible,” Molly said. “If it gets really bad, we use only pesticides that are approved on a very strict schedule.” But despite the amount of work, the Stottses wouldn’t trade their life for anything. “It makes me happy,” Molly said. “It makes Craig happy too. There’s nothing I enjoy doing more than getting in that dirt and planting my seeds and watching them grow. It’s healing to my soul.” Molly said nothing is more satisfying to her than harvesting food that she and Craig have grown. Molly hopes My Father’s Garden can serve as an example to others, especially young people, as to what they are capable of learning to grow even with limited experience and land. “We love having young people come out here to see what we’re doing,” she said. “You don’t have to have 10 acres or 20 acres. You don’t have to have five acres. We have 3.2 acres and we eat off it. It’s just an awesome thing to be creative and to see the fruit of your harvest.” §
At the Table | Food
history
Serving up
T
ucked into the side of a hill where Lower Howard’s Creek branches off of the Kentucky River, Hall’s on the River continues a tradition of serving up fresh seafood with a side of Kentucky history.
54 | Winchester living
Food | At the Table
Hall’s on the River, located at 1225 Athens Boonesboro Road, is
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built on the site where Holder’s Tavern once stood. The establishment was owned by Captain John Holder, a pioneer and companion of Daniel Boone. In addition to his work as an early Kentucky settler, Holder was a shrewd entrepreneur who had several business interests in what became modern day Clark County. Holder’s landing on the Kentucky River made commerce between Kentucky and New Orleans possible, bringing wealth to the area in its early days. Many pioneers, workers and statesmen visited Holder’s Tavern, and the tradition continues to this day at Hall’s. According to General Manager Ryan Curry, the restaurant’s bar has been named Holder’s Tavern to pay homage to the rich history of their location. He said over the more than half a century Hall’s has been in existence, the restaurant has seen numerous visitors, from local regulars to international celebrities. It has played host to marriage proposals, business deals and even University of Kentucky Wildcats celebrations. “I want people who come here to feel at home,” Curry said. “Whether they’re here for a drink at the bar or visiting for dinner with their families, I want them to feel like part of the family.” And family is exactly how employee Jean Bell describes the staff at Hall’s. 56 | Winchester living
Winchester living | 57
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At the Table | Food
Bell has been employed at the restaurant for 51 years. She said when Steve Hall — the original owner — first opened the business, she was working at a nearby competitor. “They begged me to come work for them,” she said. “They would ask me every day.” Eventually, Bell did make the move over to Hall’s, one she hasn’t regretted since. She helped create the initial menu at the restaurant and claims she has done “a little bit of everything” during her time there. After ownership of the restaurant was transferred from the Hall family to a group of investors, including the father of the current owner, Karl Crase, Bell stayed on as a member of the staff. Curry said Bell is such a popular fixture at Hall’s many diners ask her to visit them at their tables. “It’s like one big family here,” she said. In her time at Hall’s, Bell has also seen the worst of when nature temporarily stopped
business: flooding along the Kentucky River. She was working at the restaurant in 1978 when the highest flood in the business’ history took place. Water nearly reached the ceiling in the building. Bell said after the waters receded, the staff came together to clean up what was left in the building.
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“I made food for them,” Bell said. “I would have to make it all at home, then I’d drive down here where they were working to serve it.” Flooding couldn’t keep the restaurant down, however, and after two months, Hall’s was back on its feet. Hall’s menu offers a variety of fun appetizers, steaks and burgers
and fresh seafood. Of course, the restaurant’s most famous dish may be its popular “snappy” beer cheese, which has won accolades in local competitions as well as been featured by popular media like the Food Network. Hall’s also offers a full bar with specialty drinks and an everexpanding selection of Kentucky bourbon. §
pizza
Food | From the Cookbook
Summer snack
— 1 tube (8 ounces) crescent rolls — 1 tub (8 ounces) low-fat cream cheese — 1/4 cup light mayonnaise — 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder — 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese — 3/4 cup sliced cherry tomatoes — 1/2 cup sliced black olives — 1/2 cup chopped broccoli florets — 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
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Heat oven to 375 F. In 9-by-13-inch baking pan, spread out crescent roll dough. Seal seams together to form one large rectangle across bottom of pan. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool on rack. In small bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise and garlic powder. Spread evenly over entire cooled crust. Top with mozzarella, tomatoes, olives, broccoli and cucumber. Cut into 12 squares and serve.
Watermelon margaritas on the rocks
Watermelon Simple Syrup: — 2 cups seedless watermelon, cubed — 1 cup sugar Watermelon Juice: — 2 cups seedless watermelon, cubed — 1/2 cup water Margarita: — lime wedges — coarse salt — ice — 4 ounces silver tequila — 4 ounces watermelon juice — 2 ounces lime juice — 1 ounce watermelon simple syrup 60 | Winchester living
To make watermelon simple syrup: In small saucepan over medium heat, combine watermelon and sugar. Use potato masher to mash watermelon and sugar together, pushing out liquid and dissolving sugar. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour mixture through fine mesh sieve set over bowl or jar, pressing watermelon to extract all liquid. Set aside to cool completely. To make watermelon juice: In blender, combine watermelon and water. Blend until smooth then pour through fine mesh sieve set over bowl or jar. To assemble margaritas: use lime wedge to line rims of two glasses with juice. Dip glasses in coarse salt and carefully fill glasses with ice. Combine tequila, watermelon juice, lime juice and simple syrup in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until thoroughly chilled, about 30 seconds, and pour into prepared glasses. Garnish with lime wedges. Winchester living | 61
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Food | From the Cookbook
Honey cheesecake New York style
Fire & ice salsa — 3 cups seeded and finely chopped watermelon — 1/2 cup finely diced green peppers — 2 tablespoons lime juice — 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro — 1 tablespoon finely sliced green onion — 1-2 tablespoons finely diced jalapeno peppers Combine ingredients; mix well and cover. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.
— 2 cups graham cracker crumbs — 1/2 cup butter, melted — 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese — 3/4 cup honey — 1/4 cup flour — 5 eggs — 1/3 cup heavy cream — 1 tablespoon lemon zest, grated — 1 teaspoon vanilla — fresh berries, for garnish — fresh mint, for garnish
To make crust: In small bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs and butter until well blended. Press mixture evenly onto bottom and sides of greased 9-inch springform pan; set aside. Heat oven to 350 F. To make filling: In electric mixer bowl, combine cream cheese, honey and flour. Beat until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in cream, lemon zest and vanilla. Pour cream cheese mixture over crust; bake 15 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 200 F and bake 1 hour and 30 minutes longer, or until center no longer looks wet or shiny. With oven off and door ajar, let cheesecake cool 1 hour in oven. Remove cheesecake to rack to cool completely. Cover and refrigerate cheesecake at least 4 hours before serving. Garnish with fruit and fresh mint. Winchester living | 63
Beef burritos
— 1/2 pound ground beef sirloin — 2 teaspoons minced garlic — 1 cup chunky salsa, divided — 2 cups cooked brown or white rice — 6 whole-wheat tortillas (9 inches each) — 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed — 1 can (11 ounces) corn kernels, drained — 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese — sliced green onion, including green tops
In medium, nonstick skillet, brown ground beef and garlic over medium heat. Drain fat and stir in 1/2 cup salsa; set aside. Spread rice on center of tortilla, leaving 1/2-inch border. Scatter beans and corn over rice. Spread beef mixture and cheese over corn. Top with salsa and a few slices of green onion. Fold in two opposite edges of tortilla 1 inch each and roll up. Place seam-side down on microwave-safe dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Place burritos in microwave oven and heat 1 minute, or until heated through. Serve with remaining salsa.
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Why I Love Winchester ‘There is such pride in what goes on’
A
fter moving to Winchester more than 40 years ago, Kitty Strode made it a point to become involved as a volunteer in as many ways as possible. She started working with the Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce, serving on the Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival committee and eventually was elected to the Winchester Board of Commissioners. Strode now chairs the committee for the annual festival, which draws more than 30,000 visitors to Winchester each Labor Day weekend. From the days of hot air balloon rides, 10K races and vendor booths around the courthouse, Strode said the festival has changed a lot over the years. The Sunday night concert series was even named “The Kitty Strode Concert Series” in her honor. Winchester Living magazine sat down with Strode to talk about how she is constantly impressed by the community’s generosity, strong networking and pride. WL: What brought you to Winchester? KS: I married someone from Winchester, relocated here and loved it. It’s a wonderful place to raise a child. I love a small town. But, to me, Winchester is the best of both worlds. Plus, I’ve made so many friends here. I know all small towns have their unique qualities, but I think Winchester is very special in that this community takes such pride in what goes on here. There’s a very giving population here. WL: Were you there for the start of
66 | Winchester living
series after me. I was very touched. WL: Why did you want to be a city commissioner? KS: I felt since I had been involved in the grass-roots area of the community with the festival, with the chamber, with the Bluegrass Heritage Museum and other things, that I had a different feel coming into it. The men were businessmen, and I really had a feel, I thought, for what was going on with the pulse of this community. Plus, I think it’s really nice to have a woman on the commission. We bring something different to the table. It may not be any better, but it’s a different perspective. the Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival? KS: The festival started about 40 years ago with the Winchester Art Guild. They started by just putting a few vendors around the courthouse, but they outgrew it and moved to College Park. That’s about when I came on. The festival has taken on a life of its own. It’s a great thing for the community, but it has gotten so large it takes a lot more money and a lot more people to make it happen. WL: Did you start the music series at the festival? KS: Jackie Hodgkin actually started the series. I was on the entertainment committee at the time. Later, I was able to hook up with David Snowden of Triangle Talent and started booking our talent through them. We have been lucky to have some great on-the-up artists for our series. The year I tried to retire from the committee, they named the
WL: What is something not many people know about you? KS: I’ve taken up golf recently. Not very seriously, though. I’m also back to playing tennis a bit, which I used to do a long time ago. I’m an only child, but my friends are my family. I travel to South Carolina as often as I can to visit my grandchildren, too. WL: What’s your favorite thing to do in Winchester? KS: I love supporting anything downtown when I can. I’m so proud of the new businesses that have come into the community. Our downtown is so exciting right now, there are many new shops and, of course, the Engine House Deli + Pub. Winchester is alive and well. We have so much to be thankful for downtown. I love to go to JK’s at Forest Grove to eat, and DJ’s and Woody’s. I love the Chamber. I don’t know that I can pick just one thing. §