Jeffersontown Magazine May 2023

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DR. AARON BERGER WITH HIS WIFE RACHEAL AND THEIR CHILDREN.

MAY DAYS MEAN FUN DAYS OF SUMMER ARE JUST AHEAD

I believe May is an inspiring time of year. The traditions and excitement of the Kentucky Derby kick off May in Louisville. Then Mother’s Day and the end of the school year quickly follow.

To all of the mothers in Jeffersontown, I wish you a very happy Mother’s Day.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Whether you are experiencing your first Mother’s Day or your children are grown, the special nature of a mother’s role is so important to raising the next generation.

In addition, I want to congratulate all of the graduates in Jeffersontown, who are moving on to their next season of life — whether they are starting their career or ready for their next

Coming Up!

level of education. Best wishes to all of you!

Memorial Day celebrations wind up the month, and Jeffersontown will have its annual Memorial Day Program to salute those members of the military who died in the line of duty while serving our country. (See the item below for details about this year’s program.)

There are plenty of fun activities ahead this summer in Jeffersontown — including our annual SummerFest! (See the item on the next page for details.). Be sure to check our Facebook page periodically for information about more on summer fun in our city!

MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM SET FOR MAY 28

The City of Jeffersontown and American Legion G.I. Joe Post #244 will hold their annual Memorial Day Program on Sunday, May 28, at Veterans Memorial Park, 10707 Taylorsville Road, at 6 p.m.

The keynote speaker will be Lt. Col. Darien L. Kearns, U.S. Marine Corps (retired), who served from 1977 to 1999. Lt. Col. Kearns’ received dozens of awards, including four Meritorious Service Medals, during service throughout the world.

Commander Matt O’Leary will be in command of ceremonies. Jeffersontown Police Department Chaplain Tom Dillard will sing the National Anthem, and the Kosair Shrine Dance Band will perform patriotic music. The program is organized by G.I. Joe Post #244’s John Wright, shown at left.

In case of inclement weather, the program will be held at The Jeffersonian, which is adjacent to the park.

SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE TWAY HOUSE

Mark your calendar for Jeffersontown’s popular Summer Concerts!

The concerts will be held on Friday, June 2, and Friday, July 28, at the Tway House at the Plainview Swim Center, 10235 Timberwood Circle. A food truck will be on hand. Attendees should bring chairs and blankets.

Mayor Carol Pike

FOOD, FIREWORKS, FUN SET THE STAGE FOR ANNUAL SUMMERFEST ON FRIDAY, JUNE 30

effersontown’s SummerFest 2023 is set for Friday, June 30, at Veterans Memorial Park, 10707 Taylorsville Road. Admission is free, and the event lasts from 6 to 10 p.m.

The Soul Circus band will bring its lively sound to the event. In addition,

there will be a variety of family-friendly activities including face painters, a Kids Zone with slides and bouncy houses, and food trucks.

The grand finale of the event is a fireworks show that will begin shortly before 10 p.m. Bring the whole family — and chairs and blankets — to enjoy this year’s Summerfest!

TRI-AN MEMORIAL HONORS SERVICE IN VIETNAM BY U.S. MILITARY MEMBERS

Local Vietnamese Americans have been working for years on a unique memorial created to honor the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in Vietnam.

Work on the Tri-An Memorial is under way at Jeffersontown’s Veterans Memorial Park, 10707 Taylorsville Road. Completion of the memorial is expected to occur later this year.

The rendering shown here depicts eight bamboo-formed concrete columns that represent the eight anti-communist allies that united to fight for freedom for the Vietnamese people.

Those allies include South Vietnam, the United States, Australia, Thailand, South Korea, New Zealand, Republic of China (Taiwan), and the Phililppines.

QR codes are placed subtly in places across the walls of the monument to allow visitors to access

information to read accounts of the Vietnam War.

Yung Nguyen, Founder and Chairman of the Tri-An Foundation and President of IVS LLC, is the visionary who led the way on the project.

To learn more about the Tri-An project and see more renderings, visit https://tri-an.org/monument/.

USE FERTILIZER RESPONSIBLY TO HELP KEEP WATERWAYS SAFE

Use of too much fertilizer or applying it at the wrong time can damage untreated waterways, resulting in an unhealthy environment for fish and wildlife.

Tips include: Use fertilizers

sparingly; don’t fertilize before a rain storm; consider using organic fertilizers; use compost to reduce the need for fertilizers.

The City of Jeffersontown encourages safe practices like

these as part of its participation in the MS4 clean water program, a nationwide effort to improve water quality.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

As a Snap-on tools franchise dealer for close to 30 years, Jim Noon decided six years ago to change gears and begin a handyman business. All those years of experience as a business owner made the transition to the handyman business a logical next step in his career.

“I’ve always done my own projects and have also worked with a lot of builders,” says Jim, who started a family business in 2018 called Done By Noon Handyman Services LLC. The pandemic put a damper on many businesses, and although 2020 was a rough year, business subsequently bounced back big time, and each year since, the number of jobs has increased. Even after having his son, Craig, join him in the business three years ago, last year they had more jobs than they could handle.

His son, Adam, will be joining the family business this year. Both sons have experience as managing supervisors for different property management companies, which made them well-versed in customer interaction, problem solving and satisfaction.

DONE BY NOON 502-533-7737

noting that each of the three Noon men has specialties. “Our experience varies between the three of us, meaning there are very few projects that we come across that we cannot handle.”

“We are well-rounded in the things we do,” Adam adds.

The factor that really makes them stand out from other handyman companies is their exceptional customer service.

“I might have dealt with 20 different customers a day, each with a different problem,” says Craig, who managed more than 3,000 units. “Over the course of five years I learned a lot about customer service.”

It’s the kind of experience that comes in handy, in a handyman service.

“It would be hard for us to go into a place and be surprised by something,” Adam says.

Customers who call Done By Noon have varied requests, everything from drywall repair to painting to carpentry work. While they will hang blinds, fix faucets, and complete other small jobs including minor plumbing or electric repairs, they really shine at bigger jobs like deck repairs, tile and vinyl plank flooring installations, painting, and bathroom remodels. Last year they painted and stained two log cabins. They have also built barn doors and backyard sheds. They do not do roofing, structural changes or window installs.

“The list of projects we can do is much longer than the list we don’t do,” says Jim,

“We constantly have customers telling us that they tried calling four or five other service providers and they either never received a call back or never showed up,” Craig says. “We are diligent about returning calls in a timely manner. We are also up front about what we can and can’t do. When you manage a client’s expectations, the job goes much more smoothly.”

They are dependable, loyal and trustworthy - so much so, they have had customers hand them their house keys to lock up when the job is complete.

“I’m proud of the growth we’ve experienced and our repeat customers,” Jim says. That happens because they treat their customers’ houses like their own.

“If we’re doing a demo, before we leave that day, we put everything back together just as we found it,” Jim says. “We are respectful of your house and property.”

If you have a project and would like to get a bid from Done By Noon, contact them today at 502-533-7737. Also visit them on Facebook @donebynoonhandyman.

Photography Provided

FIST PUMP

AUSTIN JAGGERS WINS NATIONAL ARM-WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

Photography Provided

Austin Jaggers has always been an intimidating force. On the playground growing up, other kids were scared to challenge him in any type of physical contest.

“I was always the big, strong kid no one ever wanted to touch,” Jaggers says. “I never got to have any fun.”

Jaggers is making up for lost time now. A friend entered Jaggers into a local arm-wrestling tournament in 2016, and he quickly took to the sport, finishing second.

“The first tournament I ever went to I didn’t even enter myself into it,” Jaggers says. “My friend signed me up and I had no idea he put me in an arm-wrestling contest. The guy who beat me called me a liar, saying that I had arm wrestled before. I got a lot more interested after that.”

Writer / Gavin LaPaille

Austin Jaggers

Now, Jaggers is well-known in the arm-wrestling community. In just his second year in the sport, he won a national amateur tournament and turned professional soon after. Recently, he had perhaps his biggest tournament win to date, winning the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH. Jaggers said he was surprised to come out victorious as the competition was with his right-hand, when he is generally stronger with his left.

“The Arnold is one of the biggest international competitions in the world,” Jaggers says. “There were 16 countries there and it was an incredible experience. I wasn’t expecting to win it at all, and I didn’t lose one match. There were people there I thought I would lose to. People said don’t think that way, but I was trying to be realistic. But I won and it was awesome. I worked my butt off for it.”

The Arnold title shows Jaggers fast progress through the sport. After winning the amateur tournament, Jaggers was forced to turn professional in order to continue competing and struggled facing off against much more experienced arm wrestlers initially.

“When you win nationals in amateurs, you can never enter that again,” he says. “I couldn’t enter another amateur tournament, so I had to go pro. My whole third and fourth year I just got destroyed because I wasn’t on that level. I won the nationals because I was on a good level against other guys just getting into the sport, but when I locked up with pros, I was getting slammed. After about two years, I started slowing people down and having good matches. It was a lot of hard work and consistency.”

Jaggers journey with arm wrestling continues a long-standing relationship with competing and athletics. Raised in Louisville, Jaggers attended Holy Cross High School where he played both offensive and defensive line on the football team and was an all-conference selection his senior year while earning a spot in the Kentucky East-West All-Star Game. He was also a member of the

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wrestling team for four years and owns one of the quickest pins in state history at six seconds.

After college, Jaggers initially played football at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati before transferring to Eastern Kentucky University, playing three years for the Colonels. He finished his career at EKU as the starting center and was one of the strongest players on the team.

It was at EKU where Jaggers became a fan of “Game of Arms,” a reality-television show that explored the world of arm-wrestling. The show inspired Jaggers, and he wanted to one day compete with those he was watching on television.

“It’s been such an exciting adventure,” Jaggers says. “More people are getting into it. When I first got into arm-wrestling, it wasn’t so big. Back in the day, when you saw an arm-wrestling tournament, it was word of mouth. Now everyone gets messages on Facebook and whatever else. It’s evolved. You’ve seen a transition in the popularity with the sport.”

Jaggers is currently working with coach Mike West, a multiple time World Arm-Wrestling Federation champion, and trains in West’s gym that is dedicated to arm-wrestling while competing with others who are interested in the sport. Jaggers said some of the workouts he does might look a bit strange, but all are done with a purpose of improving his strength and technique.

“In arm wrestling there is a lot of technique, there is a lot of strength, a lot of certain hand movements and forearm workouts,” he says. “Some of the workouts look silly at the gym. They look at me like what is this guy doing. It’s nice to lift with other arm wrestlers so I’m not the only one at the gym looking insane doing weird movements.”

Jaggers is a bit of a rarity in arm-wrestling, as he competes in tournaments both right-handed and left-handed. Naturally

ambidextrous, Jaggers thinks of his left hand as being the stronger of the two, with his right being more coordinated. More tournaments are geared towards right-handed competition, but he enjoys competing with both. His goal is to be ranked in the top five nationally with each hand.

“A lot of people are dedicated to right,” Jaggers says. “The left hand is like the red headed stepchild. No one arm wrestles left. There’s no money in it. Some major tournaments will have right and left contests, but not all. You just get so many more competitors right-handed. It’s uncommon to compete in both.”

The internet has become a tool Jaggers uses to his advantage when preparing for arm-wrestling tournaments. He will often scout opponents beforehand, finding past matches on YouTube and studying their tendencies. It’s a luxury that was not afforded to previous generations of arm-wrestlers. Watching film during his football career has helped him study tape better as an armwrestler.

“I’ve really studied film on people I go against over and over again just to see what they do or what they struggle with,” Jaggers says. “It’s like watching film for football or anything else, you must study to understand what they’re going to do. Same concept, you have a gameplan so you can be prepared and do your homework. My football career helped train my mind to pay attention to what is important and not studying the wrong things. Over time you learn what to look for. YouTube is a great weapon because I can type in someone’s name and find a video to see how they arm wrestle.”

Jaggers said when he talks about his arm-wrestling career, people have mixed reactions-- but it’s done great things for him personally.

“Some people think it’s so cool,” he says. “Some people laugh and ask if it’s serious. It goes both ways. Some people want to hear all about it, some think it’s the dumbest thing they’ve ever heard. I’ve heard it all. Some people really enjoy it and find it interesting and want to become part of it. I’ll talk to people and then they show up regularly and they get bit by the bug. It’s a healthy environment and I have good people in my circle. Something to focus on and stay out of trouble. We hold each other accountable if someone is sliding, we talk to each other and get them back in. It’s been an exciting journey. I’ve met some incredible people I never would have met.”

SHE’S GOT GAME

CHENOWETH ELEMENTARY LIBRARIAN EMERGES TRIUMPHANT ON “WHEEL OF FORTUNE”

Writer / Julie Engelhardt Photography Provided

Photo provided by Carol Kaelson/ Wheel of Fortune®/© 2023 Califon Productions, Inc. ARR

The iconic game show “Wheel of Fortune” has been a programming staple on local television stations since its debut on January 6, 1975. Faithful fans are familiar with every aspect of the game, from the phrase, “I’d like to buy a vowel,” to the fact that years ago, contestants were able to purchase prizes on the spot with the cash they’d won.

Local resident Jenn Koch falls into the category of being a true “Wheel of Fortune” fan. She says she began watching the game show with her family when she was a child, and although work and other commitments keep her quite busy these days, she does her best to catch an episode when she’s able.

Koch admits that for years she had the desire to become more than a just regular viewer - she wanted to become a contestant. She had her heart set on going to Los Angeles, meeting host Pat Sajak, spinning the wheel, and calling out consonants and

vowels to co-host Vanna White.

Everyone around her knew that Koch would be the perfect contestant for a game show that centers around letters, words and phrases. She is the library media specialist at Chenoweth Elementary School, a position she’s held for the past 12 years. She also loves playing games and doing puzzles, like Scrabble and word jumbles.

Koch has a fun-loving spirit and she encourages her students to embrace books and literature in any way she can. One way she accomplishes this is by dressing in clothes she’s designed, which are fashioned from whimsical fabric adorned with story characters like the Cat in the Hat, Harry Potter and the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Her road towards becoming a contestant didn’t take place instantaneously. It actually took more than a decade for her to realize her dream.

“Before COVID, there was something called the Wheelmobile,” Koch explains. “The Wheelmobile would go to different cities. It was like a pretend show and some people would get to go to Los Angeles if chosen. It was my 31st birthday and they came to the zoo, so that was the first time I tried out. That was in 2011. Then just a few years later in about 2014-2015, another Wheelmobile came to the Kroger parking lot in Middletown, and I went to that. They put your name in a big drum and turn it around and pick the names out. Both times my name was never chosen, but it was a lot of fun.”

When the COVID outbreak was at its peak, Koch says she stayed in and watched a lot of TV, especially “Wheel of Fortune.”

“I thought, ‘Man, I need to apply,’ and I finally did in May of 2022,” she says. “I made a video and wrote a poem, and applied online, but didn’t hear anything until November.”

Restaurant * Taproom * Brewery

She was contacted by a producer and had a Zoom audition with him, and then she was scheduled for a follow-up Zoom call where she met with another producer as well as additional casting personnel. “Then you have to wait,” she says.

Koch says a couple of weeks passed and she never heard anything, until she was at a Christmas party one evening.

“I had a missed call and of course my phone didn’t ring,” she says. “The missed call was from Beverly Hills. I was like, ‘What?’ I excused myself and listened to my voicemail. The message said, ‘Well, we sent you an email but we didn’t hear back from you, and now the time has passed, but call us if you get this.’ They had my email address wrong. I got back to them and told them I was absolutely interested.”

The producer asked Koch if she could come out for a taping on January 13, and she agreed to do so immediately.

She says her family was absolutely thrilled by the news.

Koch had yet another Zoom meeting with producers, and then the next step involved booking airline tickets and a hotel room. The entire family went to California - her husband, Todd, her stepson, Graham, and their two daughters, Kyla, 12, and Kendall, 14.

“We flew out that Thursday the 12th, and the show was taped the next day,” Koch says. After arriving in Los Angeles on Thursday, the family took advantage of their trip to the West Coast. They visited California landmarks including Venice Beach, the Santa Monica Pier, the end of Route 66 and the J. Paul Getty Museum.

On Friday Koch had to be at the studio by 6 a.m. She and the other contestants attended an informational meeting, and were then taken to the studio where the show “Jeopardy!” is taped.

Jenn's stepson and two daughters outside of the studio.

“That was kind of our landing place,” she says. “It was really, really cool. We used that almost like a big dressing room and holding area. Then the producers give you more information, and after that you get your hair and makeup done.”

Once they’d been prepped, the contestants had breakfast, then they were taken into the actual “Wheel of Fortune” studio.

“We walked inside and were kind of awestruck to be standing on the set,” Koch explains.

The contestants were able to go through a short practice run, which included spinning the wheel, guessing a letter and using the buzzer system.

“You get to take it all in and see the lights and see where the sound booth is, and where the audience sits and all of the people working,” Koch says. “It is a well-oiled machine. Everyone has a job and they know exactly what to do.”

After their practice session, the contestants were taken back to the “Jeopardy!” studio where they had their microphones placed, and had final touches to hair and makeup. They also had the opportunity to watch a couple of shows being taped.

Koch says when it was finally her turn to play, she really didn’t feel anxious about appearing before the audience or the cameras. Not only was she prepared for the game because of her background as a librarian, but she says she had also been practicing daily by using the “Wheel of Fortune” app.

“I wasn’t nervous, not one bit,” she says. “It was really kind of surprising, because I get really nervous about speaking in front of large crowds and things like that, but I was not nervous at all.”

Koch’s appearance was scheduled to air on Tuesday, March 7, so she and her family invited friends and co-workers to a big watch party at Dundee Tavern.

“It was like March Madness,” she says with a chuckle.

She and the other contestants had to sign nondisclosure agreements, which meant they could not discuss anything about their appearance prior to the air date. So when the gathering took place, everyone in attendance found out that night that Koch was the big winner, walking away with more than $22,000 in cash and prizes.

Koch says she is going to save the majority of the money, but she would like to use a portion to go on a belated honeymoon with her husband, and she’d also like to go on a trip with the family to Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies.

When asked if she would like to try her hand at another game show, she says she isn’t opposed to the idea.

Congratulations, Jenn Koch!

MAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Andrew Lloyd Webber hit

5. Low digits

9. “Bleah!”

12. Rev. Roberts

13. Suffer from

14. Woody herb

15. Produced

17. Campus facility

18. Awful review

19. It may be educated or wild

21. Clergy counterpart

24. Hatchery sound

26. Communal pronoun

27. “I’ve finished,” on a radio 29. Santa’s burden 33. To’s partner

DOWN

1. Minor player

2. “What ___ friends for?”

3. Malibu hue

4. Failed as a sentry

5. Comparative word

6. Cereal crop

7. New Year’s ___

8. Bulrush relative

9. Craving

10. Dolls’ accompaniers

11. Fashion lines

16. First synthetic fiber

20. Downs’ opposite

21. Barn area

22. A psychic may see it

23. Attend to a pressing detail?

24. Corolla part

34. Explosion maker 36. Kicks 37. Piquancy 39. Punishment for a sailor, maybe

IT worker’s complaint 41. Drink garnish 43. Take home, as a pet

info

opener

25. Goofs up

28. Adjective for a cad

30. Retro hairdo

31. Crescent horn

32. Like most sweaters

35. Midwest hub

38. Local mail H.Q.

42. Long stories

44. Cockpit array

45. Layover

46. Spring

47. Partner of one?

48. Elder, e.g.

51. “___ so fast!”

52. React to spilled milk?

53. Drunkard

54. Waste watchers’ org.

55. One who’s coming out

49. Heavy weight 50. Grew larger

Texas tea 57. Apple discard 58. Jogger’s gait, perhaps 59. Paper towel measure

Sebaceous gland woe 61. Reasonable try

Colorway #8 - Member Colors

Always Growing

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

Photography Provided

Paula Henson calls herself “that weird plant lady,” but the truth is that she’s a cool plant lady who appreciates all that plants have to offer. It all started years ago with her affinity for vegetable gardening.

ABOVE THE DIRT OFFERS PLANTS OF MANY VARIETIESAND MUCH MORE

“I’m a little bit of a hippie,” she says with a chuckle. “I began planting vegetables and enjoyed watching them grow. I love the power of creating food.”

Having a husband who grew up helping his dad run a nursery didn’t hurt either. Though Henson had been a hairdresser for a number of years, in the past few years she began to

dream of some what-if scenarios, and owning a plant business topped the list.

“When this space came available last year, my husband, Chris, and I impulse rented it, jumping in with both feet,” says Henson, referring to the former auto shop.

Chris came up with the name for the

Owner Paula Henson

store - Above the Dirt. It’s a tongue-incheek nod to the fact that as humans, while we are above the dirt, we should embrace the ability to grow and learn. That’s why they offer various classes, which rotate seasonally. For instance, they have classes on how to repot plants, plant propagation, and how to build your own succulent terrarium - all taught by Henson. Plus, they bring in outside teachers for bonsai, vegetable gardening, native plants and more.

“Some people will say, ‘I don’t have a green thumb, I even kill the easy plants,’ but I ask, ‘What’s an easy plant?’” Henson says. “You just need plants that match your plant parent style. Some people assume that succulents are easy, but I own a garden shop and I like to water things, so for me, succulents don’t match my plant parent style. If, however, you want to be able to leave a plant alone for three weeks, then maybe a cactus, a succulent or a snake plant would be good for you.”

They can also do on-demand classes if you have a large enough group of people to participate (usually six to 20).

“I like to share knowledge,” Henson says. “When you share knowledge with someone and then watch them understand it, especially for the first time, they are forever different. And it goes both ways. Customers tell me stuff I didn’t know. I love that give and take.”

Henson says she likes drawing creativity out in adults.

“It’s common for people who identify as smart to not think of themselves as creative,” she says. “When you do something with your hands, especially if you don’t normally engage in a hobby, it really does trigger different parts of your brain and will help you to step outside your comfort zone.”

In the winter they offer wreath-making classes. In the spring they invite guest artists to provide children and adult vegetable gardening and herb classes.

Paula, with her husband and children.

They recently had someone teach a class on how to grow mushrooms inside. “If we’re not an expert on it, we probably know an expert,” Henson says.

Out in the bay where vehicles used to get oil changes, they set up big tables to display their plants. They are intentionally built at tabletop height so they can pull up chairs and transform into a classroom. In the spring and summer they open the bay doors and have classes outside.

The cost of each class varies depending on the length of class and materials used (materials are included in the cost). Check the website for current classes being offered.

At Above the Dirt, they sell big and small houseplants, rare and normal plants, in addition to seasonal plants and items such as annuals, hanging baskets, wreaths, pumpkins and poinsettias.

“We sell all planty things,” Henson says.

“We are very much for the home backyard gardener who wants to grab their own landscaping, vegetable gardening, annuals, perennials, native plants, fruit trees and shrubs, bonsai, mums, and seeds.”

They also sell fertilizer, soil, pest control products, pots, and mulch (by the bag, not by the scoop).

“We’re a very family-friendly place,” Henson says. “You’ll see our kids at the shop most Sundays, riding their bikes out front. My 7-year-old is in charge of the firewood and he’ll help customers load their cars.”

You might have heard about the benefits of plant ownership, including beautification of a space, stress relief and mood boost. When you talk to, care for and water plants, that takes you outside of yourself, which makes you feel better. Henson, however, maintains that taking up a new hobby is the most important factor - especially as an adult.

“Whatever you’re good at as an adult, you’ve probably been doing it for 10 or 15 years, but remember how awkward you felt the first time you did it,” she says. “We should all be willing to feel like an amateur again. When people tell me that they kill every plant they touch, I say, ‘Good, you tried. At least it’s not a puppy! Get another plant and try again.’”

Henson maintains that one shouldn’t make assumptions about plant people because that assumption will likely be wrong.

“Whatever you assume plant people are, it’s way more than that,” she says. “In the hairdressing industry - my past - it’s common for your clientele to start to mirror your specialty or what you physically look like, but that’s not the case with plants. Plants know everyone.”

And plants know no demographics. This is why both the young and old, all genders, all races and all creeds enjoy plants.

“The emotional memory that plants hold keeps us connected to one another, whether we are still here or not,” says Henson, who notes that plants can trigger memories and feelings, much like the whiff of a certain smell can transport us back in time.

This female-owned, veteran-owned business has been doing quite well since opening in July of 2022, and that’s due to the overwhelming support of the Jeffersontown community.

“J-town is fierce about its people,” Henson says. “There’s something unique that J-towners have. If we weren’t from here, I wonder if we would be experiencing the same level of success. We feel so grateful.”

Above the Dirt is located at 10104 Taylorsville Road Louisville. For more information, call 502-290-4466 or visit abovethedirtgardenshop.com.

friend knows the song in your heart and sings it to you when

forgotten the words.”

MS. SENIOR AMERICA

Writer / Julie Yates

Photography Provided

When Debbie Blakeman Robbins won the title of Ms. Senior America 2023, people who have heard her sing or give motivational speeches were not surprised. With her warm and engaging manner, Robbins advocates for seniors while mentoring the young. Her love of music and singing career began when she was a young girl and has continued through adulthood. This latest chapter is a natural progression of her life experiences.

The Ms. Senior America competition exists to showcase women with state titles who are at least 60 years old and have reached what the organization proclaims as “the age of elegance.” Robbins is no stranger to pageant scholarship competitions. As a young woman she placed in the top 10 for both Miss Kentucky and Miss Tennessee. Later, she served on the board of and coached candidates for Miss Louisville.

She entered Ms. Senior America as an at-

large candidate representing Kentucky at the pageant held this past September at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Pennsylvania. Since Kentucky doesn’t have an active affiliated organization, Robbins submitted her credentials, proving she would be a viable candidate and was approved. Contestants wore evening gowns while being evaluated on speeches about their life philosophy, their grace, poise, talent performances and individual interviews.

“It was the first pageant the organization has held since COVID. I am so honored to have won the title. It’s already been such a blessing and a joy,” Robbins says.

There were several reasons that Robbins decided to enter the competition, but a major one was to highlight the contributions seniors make to society. She attributes her success as a professional singer to older people who took an interest in her and nurtured her talent. It all began

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with the lady who played piano at her childhood church.

“I started playing the piano at age five. Every Sunday, I would slip out of the pew and run down to the piano during the service. My mom had four other kids to keep track of and she gave up trying to stop me. The lady playing the piano told her it was all right and let me sit next to her. At the time, my mom was trying to take piano lessons herself, and I horned in on them. In the end, my mom just let me take the lessons,” Robbins says.

Robbins also developed a love of singing. She attended The Lincoln Jamboree in Hodgenville with her family and heard a girl about her age sing. After purchasing the girl’s 45 RPM record, Robbins sang along with it over and over. Her parents realized she had a singing voice and her first solo at church was “I Saw the Light.” As a 10-yearold fourth grader, she entered her first talent show and sang “I Know You’ve Been Fooling Around.” On school field trips, her

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friends would ask her to sing and lead songs during the bus rides.

“I parlayed that into joining a country band at age 12. I sang and played the piano every weekend for two years. Then, at age 14, I started singing gospel. In high school, I did musical theatre and two teachers really inspired me—my drama musical teacher, Jane Rose, and my choral director, Jean Batts,” she says.

When Robbins was 15, she was singing gospel in a supper club. The chaplain from Fort Knox was in the audience and he invited her to come to the military base and give a concert. That began a multi-year experience which started in high school and continued for several decades. Robinson performed for military personnel in places like Germany, Japan and Korea.

“Meanwhile, I earned a degree in vocal performance at Belmont University in

by my voice teacher who was a professional advertising jingle singer. I ended up loving it all- Christian music, country and jingles. After graduating, I went to Opryland USA. I did some shows with Minnie Pearl. She was a lovely, dignified person. Her stage persona was an act she put on,” Robbins says.

When Robbins was in her mid-thirties, she was introduced to her husband-to-be, Scott Robbins, by mutual friends. Told that she would be unable to have children, the couple was thrilled when at age 44, she gave birth to their now 17-year-old son, Jackson Scott Sumner Robbins.

Robbins laughs when she thinks back on naming their baby. “We knew he would be our only child, so we gave him all those names,” Robbins says. “He keeps me young. In another life I would have a bed and breakfast. I love hosting and cooking for him and all his friends.”

In fact, working with young people was

a second major reason Robbins entered the Ms. Senior America Competition. Through her work with local scholarship competitions, she has coached young women with resume building, interview skills and crafting a personal.

“A young person I worked for said ‘If there is a pageant for older women, you need to do it.’ So, I decided to execute and practice all the things I have been teaching young people for years. I went with the mindset to win. At each event, there are always two to four real contenders among the 50 participants. They are the ones who really want it. I was there to make friends, but I stayed focused,” Robbins says.

When asked if her family was in the audience cheering her on, Robbins thoughtfully replied.

“There was nobody there by my choice. My son had just started the school year and he would have had to miss a cross

country meet…plus, he had heard me sing so many times before. My family had been with me when I competed in Miss Kentucky and Miss Tennessee, and I didn’t want them to worry that I would get hurt by not winning again. I didn’t tell my mother until the day I left. Since I wasn’t worried about my family, I could really focus,” she says.

In the end, her family got together and watched the competition on Facebook Live. For the talent portion, Robbins sang “Climb Every Mountain” from “Sound of Music”. She felt the song, written by Rogers and Hammerstein, was appropriate since in the musical, it is sung by the mature character of Mother Abbess.

“I feel the song is hopeful and timeless. It reminds people to go after their dreams, no matter what. It may take a lifetime, but gifts and talents never go away. You may have to dust them off, but they are still there. I feel that in life, people are either

headed for a storm, in the middle of a storm or coming out of a storm. You must push and pray until something happens,” Robbins says.

“When I entered the pageant, I was looking for a new adventure. I was thrilled and grateful to God when I won. Seniors are one of our most valuable resources and treasures. Other cultures realize that they can profoundly affect lives and help young people make decisions. Our job as seniors is to pour knowledge into our children,” she says.

Ms. Senior America 2023, Debbie Robbins, is available to make appearances at events.

For more information, email mssenioramerica2023@gmail.com or mssenioramericallc@gmail.com.

Debbie Robbins is on Instagram @ deborahthebee.

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STRIDING FOR SOLUTIONS

BIAK RUN, WALK & ROLL EVENT WILL RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR BRAIN INJURY SURVIVOR OUTREACH

Writer / Kevin Gibson

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When Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky (BIAK) holds its inaugural Run, Walk & Roll event at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park in May, it will involve fundraising through a 5K even that is open to the public. And while a 5K fundraiser might not seem like a new concept, this one carries some added

weight in that it will help survivors of brain injuries and their families to find their way forward, and oftentimes find peace as well.

BIAK, a nonprofit organization, offers outreach, information and prevention methods related to brain injuries, an often overlooked issue that can drastically alter lives and leave families devastated and feeling alone.

“Brain injuries occur suddenly, without warning, and in a lot of cases it devastates families,” says Bobby Paisley, BIAK executive director. “They don’t know what to do or where to turn when they leave the hospital, and that’s where we come in.”

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, a traumatic brain injury is defined

as an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force. Traumatic impact injuries can be defined as closed (nonpenetrating) or open (penetrating). Often referred to as an acquired brain injury, a non-traumatic brain injury causes damage to the brain by internal factors such as a lack of oxygen, exposure to toxins or pressure from a tumor.

The goal of the BIAK Run, Walk & Roll event is to raise $50,000 to help fund these efforts. The event is being billed as inaugural, although it is a reimagined and upgraded version of what used to be known as the Brain Walk. The event will include a 5K run as well as a onemile run/walk/roll. More than 1,000 participants are expected.

The services BIAK offers can start with simple information and assurance, but events like the Run, Walk & Roll, set for May 13, are also about prevention. One of the services BIAK offers, for example, is to provide bicycle helmets for children, to help not only prevent a brain injury, but also to offer education on the importance of head protection. In addition, Paisley says, BIAK can help prepare the families of brain injury survivors for life after the hospital, including, for example, a need for alterations to the home in order to accommodate the patient. BIAK can help those families find the help they need in such situations, and many others.

One example of a family that benefited from BIAK’s help is Maddie Lanham’s inspiring story. Lanham was a senior at Assumption in 2013, a tennis player with college aspirations and an eye on veterinary medicine. While driving her

sister to a hairstylist appointment one day, the car Lanham was driving struck a tree, leaving Lanham unconscious in the hospital for multiple weeks with a brain injury.

BIAK stepped in to help the family learn more about what to do, what to expect and how to cope. While Lanham made a full recovery and returned to school, ultimately graduating from college as a certified occupational therapist, it took time for her and her family’s lives to return to normal. In 2022 Lanham was the winner of the Mary Varga Life of Courage Award.

The award is named for a 1977 graduate of Assumption who sustained a serious brain injury due to an automobile accident in 1995. She has since been an outspoken advocate for brain injury awareness and an ambassador for BIAK, despite limitations related to her injury. Lanham found herself similarly inspired, which led to her winning the award.

She pivoted from a focus on becoming a veterinarian to helping people like herself through occupational therapy.

“All of a sudden I thought, ‘I know what I need to do. I need to be a therapist. I want to help people how people helped me to get to where I am,’” Lanham said in a video statement after winning the award.

Her help is perhaps needed here in Kentucky more than anywhere. Paisley says approximately 35,000 Kentuckians sustain a brain injury each year. Incredibly, that is roughly double the national average. Exactly why is unknown at this point.

“That’s a great question,” Paisley says. “A lot of it is car accidents and motorcycle accidents with no helmet. There are a lot of pedestrians that get hit. But that’s the million-dollar question. Why we’re roughly double the national average, I don’t have good answer for you.”

Perhaps this makes the upcoming event even more important, as many more are affected by brain injuries than most are aware of.

“Some make full recoveries, and some have symptoms they live with for the rest of their lives,” Paisley says. “The goal [of the event] obviously is to reach as many people as we can. Brain injury is a little bit like addictionif you don’t have it or know anybody with it, you probably don’t know a lot about it. But it affects a ton of people.”

The event is open to the public. Registration is $25 through April 30, and $35 thereafter. Registrants will be able to pick up their registration packets on Friday, May 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park. Sign-in starts the next morning at 7 a.m., with the race start time at 8:30 a.m. In addition to the walk/run/roll, the event will include food trucks, a DJ and attractions for children. Register online at p2p.onecause. com/biak23.

LEARNING TO LEAD

SOME JCPS STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS FIND SUCCESS WITH LEADER IN ME PROGRAM

Teachers have a myriad of hopes and expectations for their students. Perhaps they emphasize equipping students with the basic fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic, or put more focus on social and/ or analytical skills. Whatever the skill sets that a teacher strives to impart, there is one rather universal tenet throughout the field of education - to provide the student with knowledge and an educational background that will lay the foundation for that student’s success in their life and career.

Through the years, many programs have been developed to assist teachers in their quest to provide the foundational background for their students’ success, such as using leadership programs. One such program has found success in our areaStephen Covey’s Leader in Me program.

Derived from Covey’s award-winning book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” the Leader in Me program uses some of the tenets and ideas of the book, and creates a structured model for learning and leadership development.

The Leader in Me program focuses on five specific paradigms of student development and achievement - everyone can be a leader (not just a few), everyone has genius (not just a few), change starts with me (as opposed to the system needing to change), educators empower students to lead their own learning (as opposed to educators controlling and directing student learning), and development of the whole person (not focusing solely on academic achievement).

In using these ideas and paradigms, teachers and students develop a new way of learning

both inside and outside of the classroom, which leads to well-rounded development and appreciation for learning.

Fortunately for our area, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) leaders have paved the way for some schools and leaders to use this tool, such as Middletown Elementary and Principal Danielle Doelling.

When Doelling came on board as the principal about three years ago, her 20-plus years in education, which ran the gamut from teacher to administrator, hadn’t quite prepared her for one of the nation’s most challenging shifts in education, and how we teach the youth of our nation and the world - the pandemic.

After years and years of roaming the halls, with children sitting at their desks or tables, classrooms turned into dining-room tables or living rooms, with teachers instructing via internet through nontraditional instruction. Just as the students adapted, so did our teachers and administrators like Doelling.

Despite having to take a break in using the Leader in Me program because of this new

Writer / Annette Skaggs Photography Provided

Principal Danielle Doelling

challenge of nontraditional instruction, Doelling knew her teachers and administration could still apply the Leader in Me program, once in-class learning could resume. In the meantime, Doelling certainly had positioned her environment with a culture and climate that invites teachers, students and even parents as a place of learning that espouses leadership development and cooperation. Now that the classrooms are buzzing with noise once more, the Leader in Me program is in full effect.

While elementary schools include kindergarten through fifth grade, the Leader in Me program is geared toward third through fifth grade. Instructors hope students begin to build what are considered soft skills, which are included with JCPS’s Backpack of Success Skills, which are: 1) Be a prepared and resilient learner, 2) Be a globally and culturally competent citizen, 3) Be an emerging innovator, 4) Be an effective communicator, and 5) Be a productive collaborator.

Incorporating the Leader in Me program, Doelling has found that her students are doing quite well in reaching the goals of both programs.

As one might imagine, a teacher or administrator cannot just walk into a classroom and begin using the Leader in Me program. There are many required hours of classes, as well as reading and certifications.

“There are three different parts to the training that we then use to teach our students - Core 1, Core 2 and Core 3,” Doelling says. “In Core 1 we look at understanding the habits of our students as well as diving into the curriculum. Our teachers are teaching different success skill sets or habits each month, and we track the improvement of the students. In Core 2 we look to the goal setting of our students for leadership and development of their portfolio, much like the JCPS Backpack. It is also within this Core that we will impart goal setting for our students, which we affectionately refer to as WIGS - wild, important goals. Within Goal

3 we are now assisting our students in the development and discovery of strength as a leader and student.”

“While Leader in Me was developed using ‘The 7 Habits,’ there is an eighth one that we use - a focus on finding strength in each and every student,” she continues. “Among those strengths is the ability to do for others, so part of our dynamic is service learning. Our students have been involved with numerous programs and activities that include assisting some of our special-needs students, as well as having a drive to collect duffel bags and backpacks for children to use at the Home of the Innocents. Our students are also involved in anti-bullying campaigns and environmental club.”

Doelling shares that the motto of her school is “Discover the brilliance in every child.”

“I certainly share with my staff that we need to strive to meet this, and I believe that the Leader in Me is a great foundation

for doing so,” Doelling says. “Not only are we building strength and a want to learn within our students, we ourselves are learning from them. We as educators have an accountability to our students and to their parents as well, that we focus on an education that will serve as a foundation for their continued success going forward in life.”

Doelling says her teachers take continued classes for the Leader in Me program.

“In fact, we will be taking a Core 2 class over the summer, which usually takes a day and a half of training that then has occasional follow-up sessions,” she says. “There are also other courses that our staff can participate in, that take three to four days of training that usually occur over the summer months. Oftentimes, coaches from the Leader in Me program come to us or provide virtual access when we have these meetings and training sessions, as it is the most efficient and cost effective. The program is not at all

inexpensive, which may be part of the reason why it is not implemented in every school.”

Doelling says only a handful of schools including Middletown Elementary and Locust Grove Elementary - which is considered a Lighthouse School, a term the program leaders use to distinguish a highly successful use of the program - currently use the program.

“At this time we are experiencing about a 75 to 80% goal-setting rate,” she says. “For the 2022-2023 academic year I’d really like to see us at 100%. I also want to see us sustain the teaching habits and use them as they were meant to be, as a tool for success. In two years’ time I’d be delighted to see a full implementation of all of our goals. I am happy to say that the Lighthouse Grouppart of the Leader in Me trainers - will be able to assist in training 10 more educators, including those in our special-needs department and our assistant principal.”

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