Middletown Magazine October 2022

REMEMBRANCE and RENEWAL EAGLE SCOUT TYREE SMITH

The memorial courtyard in front of Jefferson County’s Eastern High School will look significantly different to returning students this fall. Where before Eastern’s students found weeds, dead leaves, uneven ground and weathered concrete, there are now pavers, pea gravel, pruned plants and polished memorials. This is no small change, and it all started with Miles Bonifer, who wanted to bring a blessing out of tragedy.

Bonifer is a senior at Eastern High School with a passion for the outdoors. When not hiking or exploring, he might be found studying graphic design, practicing photography, drama or art, or listening to music. He’s participated in the Boy Scouts of America since 2018, an experience that has shaped much of who he has grown to be. That growth shows the most through his

servant’s heart, a staple of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

As years of training culminate, Life Scouts - leaders and teachers within their troop - can attempt to rise to Eagle, the highest attainable rank. A major part of this process is the Eagle Scout Service Project, an opportunity to display the leadership and service skills a Scout has acquired. In his time Bonifer has helped his forerunners with their Eagle Scout Service Projects, and it wasn’t until 2021 that he began to plan a project of his own.

“Last fall I was close to finishing up Life Scout, so I was brainstorming ideas because I knew I’d have the Eagle Project,” he says. “I wanted to do something memorable. I originally thought about doing something at The Parklands of Floyds Fork.” A Scout is called to be loyal and helpful, and Bonifer changed his plans when the Louisville

community, and specifically Eastern High School, suffered a heavy blow in September of 2021. It was then that Tyree Smith, 16 years old, was killed in a drive-by shooting while waiting for a school bus.

“He was a really good kid - great personality,” Bonifer says of Smith. Though not close, the two young men had gone to the same middle school and had just started their junior year at Eastern. “A lot of people loved him. Teachers loved him, students at Eastern loved him. His death affected everybody in some way.”

Wanting a way to honor Smith, Bonifer’s thoughts turned to his school’s memorial courtyard. He thought it would be the perfect place to direct his efforts. “This would be really meaningful,” Bonifer says. “I could refurbish that area and add something for Tyree to dedicate that to him and expand on the memorial.”

Writer / Grace Schaefer

Photography Courtesy of Eastern High School

Tyree Smith

With a newfound purpose for his Eagle Scout Service Project, Bonifer received approval from his school, the Smith family and the Scouts, then began the hard work of raising funds, collecting supplies and recruiting volunteers. Most importantly, Bonifer planned to add a new memorial in Smith’s honor, asking for discounts and donations from hardware stores and plant nurseries to keep costs low along the way.

“I tried to save as much money as I can so I can spend more money on the memorial, to get something really nice,” he says.

Bonifer, along with a crew of fellow Scouts and community volunteers, began work in mid-July. They placed pavers to the side of the courtyard, filled in garden beds with pea gravel, put in edging, planted new perennials, weeded, raked, cleaned the existing memorials, added a new bench and reorganized the courtyard’s existing seating. Finally, they installed the new memorial.

“The work was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be,” Bonifer says, adding that seeing the realization of his idea was well worth the work. Refurbished and blooming, the courtyard has come to reflect Tyree Smith far beyond the memorial that

shares his name. The space has become a place of growth, fellowship, healing and hope - ideals Smith certainly embodied in his time at Eastern. It also reflects the Boy Scouts’ dedication to those same ideals. 12:00 - 8:00pm 5:00pm - 8:00

“Clubs can meet there and people can just hang out with their friends, or just come to pay their respects,” Bonifer says. “I really hope that this project will have a positive effect on the school and the community. As for the meaning behind the project, since Tyree was killed with such a senseless act of violence - it could’ve been anybody, there was nothing beforehand that could’ve warned him, and he wasn’t even the target in the drive-by shooting - I hope people look at that and realize that we need to do something about violence, because it’s getting out of hand if teenage boys who are just innocently waiting are getting killed for no reason. Life is a precious thing and any moment could be your last.”

Though his Eagle Scout Service Project has come to a close, Bonifer’s service-focused lifestyle is far from over. He hopes to pursue a career in criminal justice after high school and continue his connection with the Boy Scouts. “I could totally see myself helping other Scouts in the future, to help people

experience the things I have,” he says. “Through Scouts I’ve seen things and done things that will change me forever, for the

“[Beingbest.”

a Scout has] taught me to work things out, to know what battles to fight when, and how to work with others, as well as how to give back to the community, how to be more selfless - just to be a better person,” he adds. “Just a lot of brotherhood in Boy Scouts. It’s one of the best things about it.” Those relationships extend beyond fellow Scouts. True brotherhood recognizes each individual’s value, and by honoring Smith, the Scouts’ dedication to brotherhood certainly shines through.

In the wake of tragedy, blessings can come. In the worn path of pain, hope for a more peaceful future can emerge. Now, each time Kentucky’s high schoolers meet in that paved and planted courtyard, there’s a brand-new opportunity to remember, honor and cherish Tyree Smith.

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Dr. Greg Weckenbrock and Dr. Adam Crawford

The Joy ofGiving Back

Writer / Grace Schaefer Photography Provided

There’s a special gentleman who never had children of his own, and who reaches out to some of Kentucky’s most vulnerable residents to change their lives for the better. To some, this volunteer is known as Uncle Dave, and he’s certainly a favorite uncle if ever there was one. Yet the beginning of his volunteer service was unplanned - a coincidence too perfect to be anything short of a Yearsblessing.ago,David

Hopkins attended a judicial conference while working for KASPER (Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting), a prescription monitoring system. Directly across from the KASPER exhibit was a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) booth, and in the course of the day he spoke with their representative. CASA helps by providing volunteer, court-appointed advocates for

neglected and abused children in family court. Hopkins loves children, and the introduction to CASA stayed in his mind.

“I’ve had a good life and I’ve been fairly fortunate,” Hopkins says. In 2019, as he neared retirement, he filled out an application for the program. After the staff considered his credentials, devoid of experience with children, he expected a kind yet brief rejection. It came as a surprise, then, when Shari Christoff invited him for an interview. Hopkins was approved for volunteer work and completed training between October and mid-November. His first assignment began in December.

Hopkin’s first case is no rarity. In fact, Kentucky has ranked number one in child abuse and neglect rates in the United States for three consecutive years. Out of every 1,000 children in Kentucky, 22 will be subject to abuse. The living conditions of these children will give them “little to no opportunity to thrive,” according to Hopkins, who is disheartened by both his own cases and those managed by his fellow HOPKINS FINDS FULFILLMENT THROUGH CASA VOLUNTEERISM

CASA volunteers usually begin their first case with a home visit, where they become acquainted with their assigned children and home environment. Along with a supervisor, Joseph Grove, Hopkins walked into a dilapidated trailer without central heating. Outlets were broken, the home

was dirty, and the children were unclean. To a volunteer familiar with the reality of neglect, the home would have been a difficult sight. To Hopkins, who had no such experience, the condition was eye-opening, unbelievable and unacceptable. The children could not remain in their home. Although the decision to remove his first wards from their parent and home was painful, the willingness of a single volunteer to work courageously for those children blessed their future prospects in ways they could scarcely imagine from the cold, dirty trailer.

volunteers. The stories and statistics are truly bleak, yet rays of hope shine through CASA volunteers, working with the more than 3,800 children annually in the family courts of their six service counties.

This impact can grow as the organization gains additional service members. Anyone can make a difference, even those who believe they have nothing to offer such an agency. As Hopkins found, prior experience with children isn’t always a necessity. Specifically for those transitioning to retirement, he notes that volunteering is a fulfilling way to spend time. No matter what interests an individual, there is a volunteer opportunity available to utilize their gifts. A willing heart and a desire to give back to others is the cornerstone of service, and no matter what volunteer work stems from it, that work will have the potential of blessing

Yetothers.serving

doesn’t just benefit those who are served. Such work helps both the

volunteer and their community. Volunteers are reported to be healthier than their nonvolunteering counterparts, and serving others may reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease by reducing stress levels. Additionally, the community involvement often fostered through volunteering can improve the function of a local community as a whole. Community engagement leads to the increased inclusion of marginalized groups within the local area, as working together can show neighbors just how much they have in Additionally,common.engagement increases community members’ knowledge of local issues, along with the likelihood of creating effective and acceptable solutions to such problems. In the sphere of child abuse and neglect, keen focus on the details of the problem and its possible solutions is essential for lasting effects. Through an engaged community partnering with organizations like CASA, real and permanent change is possible. There is

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indeed hope that Kentucky will lose its heartbreaking national ranking.

This progress comes from everyone. For those who can’t serve through CASA, vigilance is one of the best ways to help. “Pay attention,” Hopkins urges. “Be alert. If you see something that concerns you, do something.” Do not turn a blind eye to children who are poorly dressed for the season, or who go unsupervised for long periods or in dangerous situations, as these are common warning signs of abuse or neglect. Bring concerns to the attention of the children’s parents or local child protection agencies. “Don’t let it continue,” Hopkins says. “Reach out to help.”

Hopkins says Kentucky needs more foster families. He praises the foster parents who care for his wards in two cases, and hopes to see more kind families join their ranks soon. In addition, Hopkins wants to rally greater support for CASA’s cause and for the children they mentor. In particular, he urges

greater support for the St. Matthews area, but no matter where a volunteer serves, he says he is certain they will find “a wonderful opportunity to help” through CASA. When asked what message he would like to give potential volunteers, Hopkins speaks of just how fulfilling the process is. “It is very, very rewarding to be able to help these children and see how their lives can be turned around,” he says.

For Hopkins, there is truly no better word for his work than rewarding. Speaking about the CASA organization, he emphasizes that “our job is to look out for the best interest of those children.” The joy and passion in his voice as he speaks about Kentucky’s youth certainly emphasizes his care. Thus far he’s served seven children, remaining grateful for the happy resolutions of his first two cases and looking forward to continuing on with his current ones. When he visits his first charges - now back with their mother - he sees a great change. Where there was once a worn-down trailer, there is now a well-

kept apartment. Where there were once three neglected children, there are now three clean and cared-for little ones who affectionately call him Uncle Dave.

“They are thriving in a good environment,” Hopkins says. “If there’s ever been something I can be happy with, it’s the outcome of that case.” Their lives have been changed for the better by the willingness of one volunteer to share a little time. Though beginning may be difficult and the process may not always be easy, the benefits of volunteering will forever be far-reaching and worthwhile. And though he is only one volunteer in a needy world, the impact he’s made and the relationships he’s forged are, to Uncle Dave, “as rewarding as anything could be.”

For more information about volunteering with CASA, visit casariverregion.org, or attend an in-person or online nocommitment CASA 101 session.

at the Trager Family JCC

When Bill Forness was just 5 years old, he attended his grandparents’ 40th anniversary party where his uncle Larry, a successful singer and songwriter, performed to celebrate his parents’ milestone. Larry, who wrote songs for superstars like Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, pulled his nephew up on stage with him as he sang and played the “That’spiano.my earliest and fondest memory,” Forness says. “I loved being up on that stage. All I wanted to do was play and sing with him, but I didn’t know what to do or how to do

Whenit.”

he was 13, Forness purchased his first guitar, but there was no money for guitar lessons so he found a good guitar player and hung out with him to learn chords, scales and cool tricks. At 21 years old, Forness signed with Paradigm Records, a label in St. Louis. He put out a record and toured a bit. Then came the collapse of the record label and he had to switch gears.

“MTV wasn’t on the table much anymore,” he Thesays.good

news is that he had a second love - food. After attending culinary school, he worked in various restaurants for nearly a decade, then blended his two loves by performing in area restaurants. While he loved doing that, it was, of course, impossible to cook in the kitchen while simultaneously singing in the dining room. A respected chef that Forness had trained under offered to introduce him to colleagues at a prestigious country club. It was to be his chance to move up the ladder in the culinary world. Forness, however, recognized that both passions require ample energy and he

needed to pick one. Ultimately, Forness chose to pursue a career in music.

He began performing weekly, then daily, at the Chase Park Plaza, a well-known hotel in St. Louis, singing a variety of music. One day he threw in a few Johnny Cash songs. Fans responded and asked if he could learn other songs from the Man in BeingBlack.an

acoustic guitar player and a lover of storytelling, Forness naturally gravitated towards Cash’s music and performance style.

“He’s such a unique storyteller within his songs,” he says. “Think of ‘A Boy Named Sue.’ Then he also just has some fun songs like ‘Ring of Fire’ and ‘Jackson.’”

Interestingly, Forness’ mother was named after Cash’s wife, June Carter.

“She always liked the classic country music I sang and thought I had a voice for it, more so than the rock-and-roll stuff I was trying to sing,” Forness says. “Turns out, she was right.”

Forness had an idea to recreate Cash’s Folsom State Prison concert of 1968, complete with handmade jail cells and hired actors playing the warden and prison guards.

“I envisioned an interactive show and that’s what I developed,” says Forness, who hired someone to play Carl Perkins, four men to play the Statler Brothers, and four women to be the Carter Sisters, a quartet consisting of Maybelle Carter and her daughters June, Helen and Anita.

It was a 17-piece production that was just about to start when COVID-19 hit and the world shut down.

Once again, Forness had to change his course. He and his wife Dawn sold their house, moved into their 34’ RV and headed to Florida. For several months he wasn’t able to perform at all, so to make ends meet, he took side jobs like delivering groceries and working for an air conditioning business. Ultimately he found a few venues that allowed him to perform outdoors.

“Initially my wife and I thought we’d be living in the RV for three or four months in the winter and then figure out what to do,” Forness says. “This September we’ll have lived in it for two years. We’re not complaining because this vehicle has taken us all around the country to put on shows.”

Dawn not only takes care of the business side of things, including the accounting

and booking shows, but she also maintains the website and even joins him on stage.

“We engage with the audience together,” Forness says.

They’ve been to 22 states in the last two years, staying at RV parks, campgrounds and fairgrounds. When they’re not performing, they’re driving. And when they’re not driving, they’re hooking up to a new “Ourcampground.RVhasbig stickers that say, ‘Bill Forness: A Tribute to Johnny Cash,’ so we’re constantly talking to people and taking pictures outside of the bus,” Forness says.

Since the Folsom Prison show isn’t currently possible, Forness has been performing “Bill Forness: A Tribute to Johnny Cash,” which showcases Cash’s music career and personal life.

“I start with the 1950s and go through the decades of his music, chronicling his life,”

says Forness, who also shares with the audience what it’s been like to pay tribute to Cash for the past 13 years. “Johnny has become an enormous part of my life, and we’re nowhere near slowing down.”

Forness performs roughly 200 shows per year, sometimes squeezing in two concerts per day. He says his voice can handle it because it’s like a muscle.

“You want to continue to use it in a healthy way to maintain it,” he says. “You don’t want to strain because that will create tears that will need to heal. Better to use it than lose it. Plus, my voice is in a naturally low register so Johnny’s music comes very natural to me.”

Though Forness does his best to play fan favorites during his two one-hour sets, inevitably audience members will request certain songs. Keep in mind that Cash recorded more than 1,500 songs.

He’s currently on a 12-state, six-month, 65-

city tour. One stop is at the VFW Post 1170 at 107 Evergreen Road in Louisville on October 15, with a 7 p.m. start time. Food will be served starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at the VFW Post between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week, from the bartender.

John Miller, who booked the show for the VFW, heard about Forness’ tribute show from a member who is a snowbird and saw him perform while in Florida. This person had given Dawn the VFW number and asked her to call if they were ever in the area.

“Earlier this year Dawn called me out of the blue and introduced herself,” Miller says. “She said she and her husband would be in the Midwest in the fall and had an open weekend on October 15. She asked if I was interested, and I immediately said yes.”

The family-friendly show appeals to all

Forness regularly performs at assisted-living and nursing facilities because he’s witnessed the impact music has on residents.

“Music is the last thing to leave us,” says Forness, who has had nurses tell him they have had residents who won’t speak for months, but will then sing along to songs.

This music therapy is precisely why Forness and his wife started a nonprofit called Music for Life Enrichment, through which they help raise funds to put music into statefunded nursing facilities.

Forness calls Johnny Cash the quintessential musician because he covered it all. “He did gospel music, rock and roll, country, storytelling, dark content, light content,” Forness says. “What a phenomenal career.”

For more information, visit jcashtribute.com.

PAYINGFORWARDIT

Writer / Gavin LaPaille Photography Provided

Michael Saylor got his mulligan in life. Now he and his wife LeighAnn want to help give a mulligan to others.

Michael was 44 years old when he was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, a kidney disease that occurs when an antibody called immunoglobulin A builds up in a kidney.

The initial diagnoses for Michael didn’t provide much hope for the happy couple with three children, with doctors estimating he might live five to eight more years on

Thedialysis.Saylors

were determined to look for more options, visiting the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and entering Michael

into a clinical trial. After a year in the trial, Michael was advised to seek a living kidney donor for transplant within a year to prevent going on dialysis. LeighAnn immediately went to work, searching to find her husband a new kidney and documenting their journey using a Facebook page she created.

“Mike is looking at me like I’m not allowed to tell anyone about this,” LeighAnn says. “Well, I wasn’t going to find him a kidney if I don’t tell anyone. We started with family but we didn’t get any good matches. I created him a Facebook page. It was unbelievable how many people responded.”

Michael had a number of people come forward who were willing to be tested and who knew him from his days as a volunteer football coach at St. Margaret

Mary. Their son’s teammate was able to connect the couple to Dr. Steve Woodle and the University of Cincinnati’s transplant program. This led to a match in Tim Clark, who Michael had known since their days of playing football at Trinity High School. On October 5, 2011, Clark successfully donated one of his kidneys to Michael.

“What’s amazing is when you wake up from that transplant you realize how sick you really were because you feel awesome with that new kidney,” Michael says. “People on dialysis, they have no life. It’s just hard on them, it beats them up. You can’t travel, you can’t go out and have fun. Each treatment just takes more out of you. Now I feel just as good as I did before.”

“Tim was probably the fourth person we

tested,” LeighAnn says. “Tim’s wife had gone to Sacred Heart with me and she was reading my plea on Facebook. When you are down and you need someone to save your life, you think it’s going to be someone you’re with all the time. This is someone we might not have ever seen again. After, Tim said, ‘I have walked this walk with you. Think of all the other people out there that we have to help.’”

Clark was the owner of a restaurant named Mulligans, which the Saylors loved for representing the second chance Michael had received at life. The restaurant was struggling financially not long after the transplant, and LeighAnn was determined to help once again, this time going to the media and highlighting the story of two former Trinity alums on the eve of the school’s annual rivalry football game with Saint Xavier. The attention paid off for Clark’s restaurant, and also connected the Saylors to another couple whose 27-year-old son was in need of a kidney transplant. Mulligans began hosting custom years of experience, we will assess your needs and create a custom piece that’s right for you. We understand the most effective ways to use into treatment plan. PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL, DEVELOPMENTAL EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.

meetings to help the family find their own living kidney donor.

These early meetings proved to be the beginning to what is now Mulligans Living Kidney Donors (MLKD), an informational support group for those living with endstage renal disease. LeighAnn serves as president of the group that is committed to helping individuals get their lives back through a living kidney transplant, with Michael and Clark sharing their experiences along the way.

“It’s very rewarding,” Michael says of the experience helping others through the kidney transplant process. “When those people walk in the door because they don’t know what is coming and they have this scared look in their eye, that’s what I love the most. I can spot them from a mile away. I put my arm around them and I say we’re going to get through this. It just calms them down. I’ve had people tell me they will never forget when they met me. They were

so worried about the unknown.”

MLKD helps individuals every step of the way, providing emotional support and grants for travel and medical expenses. The group also answers questions for those considering becoming living kidney donors, with some who have already donated a kidney available to speak with potential donors. To date, the group has assisted with more than 100 transplants across the United States. LeighAnn was recognized with the Bell Award in 2018, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the true spirit of Louisville through selfless volunteer efforts and seeks to inspire all residents to engage in community service.

“We’ve paid it forward,” LeighAnn says. “That’s what I will do until the day I die. The one thing that has come out of this group is to see Mike and the other people who have their lives back. There isn’t much information out there but we’re starting to get a lot of momentum. Not a lot of people

understand this is an option for them, and how much their lives will be better if they have a transplant than if they sit on dialysis.”

The Saylors have been able to watch a kidney transplant take place in person, which both called an amazing experience.

“It’s crazy,” Michael says. “The minute you hook that artery up it goes from white to pink. It’s something to watch them do that. It comes to life right in front of you and starts making urine. I’ve been all over the world and seen some crazy things, but it takes your breath away. This guy has a life - he’s going to live. It’s amazing what we can do.”

Most of the transplants Mulligans takes on are living donor transplants, but the group has also done deceased donor transplants. Living donor kidney transplants often offer better long-term success rates than deceased donors and increase the odds of immediate kidney function. Living donor transplants also usually last twice as long as deceased

transplants. However, not everyone has the opportunity to pursue a living donor

Withtransplant.Michael

about halfway through the life expectancy of his donated kidney, LeighAnn knows this experience may get personal again for her family down the line. But with the help of the organization she founded, LeighAnn is optimistic about the future and the role MLKD plays in it.

“No one gets it like we do,” LeighAnn says. “There are about 50 of us that meet once a month just for the camaraderie of it. There are things that we can help each other with that no one else understands. There is nothing we don’t do. You could call us coaches or mentors during the kidney transplant process. The Kidney Registry reached out to us because we have one of the only organizations in the country that does what we do and does it successfully. No one is as successful as we are.”

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

J-town Hardware and Rental was opened in 1938 by two brothers. Through the years the footprint has expanded multiple times, connecting buildings to create more space. Part of it is an old funeral home and part of it is an old warehouse. Now it’s a 10,000-square-foot hardware store that’s known for having everything you might possibly need.

Brad Carson first started working there when a high school buddy mentioned that he had a job there. Brad said he’d love to work there too. Though the owner wasn’t looking for more employees at the time, he did need someone to tar the roof. He hired Brad to do that in the spring, and then over the summer hired him to paint the building. As Brad was finishing up that project, he reiterated to the owner that he’d like to work inside the hardware store. The owner asked

JUSTFAMILYLIKE

J-TOWN HARDWARE AND RENTAL DOES IT ALL FOR THE CUSTOMERS

what he could do. “Well, I can tar a roof and paint a building,” Brad said.

He was hired.

“I enjoyed helping customers solve their problems and I got pretty good at it,” says Brad, who worked at the store through high school and into college before moving on to other things. For 15 years he worked for a tool company, but the job required extensive travel, which got old, especially with a wife and two kids at home. Besides, for as long as he could remember he had always dreamed of owning a hardware store of his own.

“For years I’d been praying for God to tell me what I was supposed to do in the last chapter of my life,” Brad says.

At one point he signed up for a service similar to Match.com, only for businesses. One day in 2014, while on a two-hour delay

in the Detroit airport, he received an email about a hardware store that was for sale. His jaw dropped open when he learned it was the one where he had worked in his youth.

“I thought, ‘If that’s not God saying this is your opportunity, I don’t know what is,’” Brad says.

His wife Jennifer was on board. Their youngest son Jack was 7 when they purchased the store, and he had just learned how to count money.

“My biggest regret in life is that we don’t have pictures of when Jack could barely see over the counter and was teaching us all how to use the register,” Jennifer says.

When the family purchased J-town Hardware and Rental, it became their second home.

Jennifer, Jack and Brad Carson

“We changed everything to support the local community - where we got our hair cut, where we went to the dentist and doctor,” Jennifer says.

The same is true of the merchandise they carry, as they primarily carry items that are local to Jeffersontown, then Louisville, then Kentucky, then America. “We start with small businesses and branch out from that,” Jennifer says.

When you enter the store through the front door off of Watterson Trail, you’ll see original flooring. Since the building dates back to the early 1900s, the floor is creaky and the smell is antique, which customers love.

“When people walk in, they’ll get a whiff or hear a creak and say, ‘That reminds me of when my papaw brought me here,’” Brad Thoughsays.they

updated computers and inventory, they have kept the simplicity of the store. “If you want to come in to buy three screws or a pocketful of grass seed, you can still do that,” Brad says. “We wanted to keep our roots the way they

Jenniferwere.”

notes that one of the things they absolutely can’t run out of is their popcorn, which they give out for free. “We make six batches a day,” she says.

At J-town Hardware and Rental, they sell hard-to-find items that people need.

“Some of our customers still have those old well pumps you see on ‘Little House on the Prairie,’” Brad says. “Inside of that pump is a leather cup washer. People come here to still get those types of things, as well as plumbing parts for their houses that were built in the 1960s.”

People are astounded at what they have in stock. Brad jokes that they should get T-shirts made that read, “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it.”

Their store has an extensive paint department as well as an incredibly in-

depth fastener system offering a large screw, nut and bolt selection. They cater to car enthusiasts. They sell Amish-made furniture such as swings, gliders and Adirondack chairs. They also do window, door and lawnmower repair.

“People can’t believe how fast they get their lawnmowers back,” Brad says. “We try to find those niche things.”

As far as rentals, they rent a lot of lawn and garden equipment, pressure washers, and construction equipment like mini trenchers, log splitters and chainsaws.

When Brad first announced he was purchasing and running a neighborhood hardware store, people asked how he would compete against Amazon and big-box stores. He wasn’t worried, however, because he knew that a lot of people have become disenchanted with big-box stores due to poor customer service. That’s where they shine.

“We don’t point in our store,” Brad says. “We wait on people. We take them to the items they’re looking for. We help them find it, whether it’s one bolt or for a whole box of them. Plus, Amazon will never be able to fix your lawnmower, repair your screens, sharpen your knives or fix your lamps.”

They also have a post office on-site where customers can mail their UPS and USPS items. They are also a UPS hub and an Amazon pickup location.

“If there’s a service we can do well, we’ll offer it,” Brad says. That includes offering sound advice. One day when an elderly woman came into the store in search of a ladder, Brad told her it wasn’t a good idea for her to climb it - he said she needed a handyman. An idea was formed, and he started a handyman service out of the store, which has been well-received. They’ll change light bulbs, fix faucets, re-screen porches - the types of services that go hand in glove with a hardware store.

“Either young people don’t know how to do it or elderly people shouldn’t be doing it,” Brad says. “It works out great for Bradeverybody.”andhis

crew not only help their customers, but also befriend them.

“If someone isn’t feeling well, we ask how they’re doing,” Brad says. “We’ll take food to sick people. A few years ago when an ice storm knocked out power, I took a generator to one of my customer’s houses who was on Theyoxygen.”sponsor local churches and sports teams. Last winter they participated in a coat drive where they collected and gave away 400 coats.

The couple’s elder son worked at the hardware store during high school. He’s now attending diesel mechanic school and is a volunteer firefighter. When Brad retires, Jack, 15, wants to take over the family

“Jackbusiness.works here every day after school,” Jennifer says. “He knows as much as, or more, than Brad Brad’sdoes.” not ready to hang it up just yet “Whenthough.

I was recruiting at my other job, I’d always ask candidates what the best job was that they ever had,” he says. “I always knew my best job was my very first job here. My heart was always here.”

J-town Hardware and Rental is located at 10513 Watterson Trail in Louisville. For more information, call 502-2677406 or visit louisville/19758.stores.truevalue.com/ky/

Joey & Larry Craig

Brad (center) when he was an employee in hisyouth, decades before acquiring ownership.

With summer still waving goodbye off in the distance, autumn is here and ready to delight with cooler days, crisper nights and a fall harvest that many of us excitedly anticipate all year long. It’s pumpkin season! Think of warm and vibrant spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom and cloves baked into roasted pumpkin, mashed pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin bread. Is your mouth watering too? Perhaps you’re not a pumpkin enthusiast. Let’s talk apples! Tart, sweet, crisp and juicy apples with just the right crunch. You know you’ve picked a good one when a light spray of apple juice caresses the cheek

of the friend sitting across from you as you take your first bite. Green apples, red apples, yellow apples or multicolored “rainbow” apples – as my daughter gleefully calls them. Homemade or jarred, unsweetened applesauce with a spritz of lemon and sprinkle of cinnamon is a quick, nourishing treat to prepare for children and grown-ups alike. Then, of course, there is apple cider, apple pie, baked apples, dried apples, apple walnut salad or – I dare you to tickle your taste buds with this dish – balsamic-honey roasted apples, Brussels sprouts and pepitas (recipe below). How are those seasonal salivary glands doing now?

For those of us that hide-out indoors during the heat of the summer, autumn is a time to

reconnect with nature. The colorful array of nutrient-packed fall produce that is available this time of year can cultivate any plate. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients that nourish our bodies while helping to protect us from disease. When It comes to nutritional health, variety is vital as all foods offer different nutrients in varying amounts.

Variety will also optimize gut health by establishing a balanced gut microbiome which can decrease risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, digestive disorders and heart disease. A well-balanced plate is one-half fruits and vegetables, one-fourth lean protein and one-fourth whole grains. Select foods from every food group and

Article and recipe courtesy of Kate Boston, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with Cultivate Your Plate

produce of every color to incorporate throughout each day. Eat the rainbow for your

Belowhealth!isalist

of nourishing autumn harvest selections you might find at your local grocery store or farmers’ market. Never been to a farmers’ market? Now is the perfect time to go! The farmers’ market is a great place to meet community members and support local business. As a bonus, fresh-air shopping at the outdoor market provides a free source of vitamin D. Enjoy mingling with neighbors and soak up those warm sun rays while they last!

If you don’t have access to fresh, seasonal produce, frozen produce is another great option because it is picked at peak ripeness, blanched and then frozen to preserve nutrients. In some cases, frozen produce may contain more nutrition than fresh produce that has spent

days degrading in transit, on grocery store shelves and in your refrigerator. Choose plain frozen vegetables or fruit and flavor them at home with your preferred ingredients. Canned produce can also be a healthful addition to meals and snacks when choosing those that are sodium-free or low sodium and rinsing well before consuming.

The key is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, whether they be seasonally fresh, frozen or canned. As 2018 transcribes its final chapters and fall leaves begin to color our sky, take a moment for yourself to appreciate the beauty of this season and harvest autumn while it lasts. Enjoy your nourished life.

BALSAMIC-HONEY ROASTED APPLES, BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND PEPITAS

Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

2 apples, cored and cubed 1-pound brussels sprouts, halved ¼ cup red onion, sliced

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

¼ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon honey

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a sheet pan or line with parchment paper.

2. On the sheet pan, toss apples, Brussels sprouts and onion with olive oil and salt. Smooth to a single layer. Roast for 10 minutes, stir and roast for an additional 10 minutes or until tender as desired.

PEOPLE SAY THERE’S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT PARK LOUISVILLE.

It’s something you feel from the moment you visit. From premier supportive personal care services that empower residents to live with dignity, to our renowned Flourish Memory Care program. Charter Senior Living of Park Louisville creates a place where residents feel loved and treasured… because they are. Call today to ask about our move-in special!

3. Transfer to a serving dish, add pepitas and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and honey. Toss gently to coat. Serve and enjoy! LINN STATION ROAD / PARKLOUISVILLE.COM

Writer / Angela Partee Photography Provided

“I was very fortunate to grow up near a creek, and spent many hours catching salamanders digging in the soft clay banks,” says Erin Kinnetz, reflecting on how her past prepared her for a position as an education specialist at The Parklands of Floyds Fork.

She says those experiences sparked a lifelong love of nature.

“Time and again throughout my life, when I am feeling low or scattered, I find solace and clarity in nature,” she says. “Nature does so much for our mental health and our physical health. It provides inspiration and I want to be a part of facilitating a relationship between people and nature.”

FORKNACKNATURE

ERIN KINNETZ FINDS HER CALLING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Her efforts have been noticed.

The Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) announced last September that Kinnetz won an Excellence in Environmental Education award. She received the Rising Star in Environmental Education for leading and supporting programs through The Parklands Outdoor Classroom. The awards pay tribute to the outstanding achievements of individuals, organizations, agencies, schools and businesses in the field of environmental education.

The KAEE is one of the country’s oldest associations supporting environmental education. It is the first affiliate of the North American Association for Environmental Education. Its team works with members and partners to provide equitable education

to all Kentuckians. Its leaders also want to deliver environmental education to every classroom in Kentucky.

Kinnetz has greatly elevated the scientific content presented during school field trips, outreach, and adult education programs during the four and a half years she’s been employed with The Parklands. She leads the weekly Wednesday Wonders program, which targets prekindergarten and elementary-aged students and their families. Before the pandemic, she presented the program twice each Wednesday with more than 500 students and families. When inperson events were canceled as a result of the pandemic, she instantly began a virtual program featuring brief videos on topics and activities that families could experience at home. Kinnetz produced the virtual program each Wednesday without pause.

Kinnetz with campers

She saw an increase in her following. The Parklands virtual education content, also known as the Virtual Classroom, has had tens of thousands of views on YouTube and KristonFacebook.Glasnovic, a parent whose child participated in Wednesday Wonders both in-person and virtually, expressed “Weenthusiasm.hadablast exploring a nearby wooded area and lake, and discovered many hidden treasures in the snags,” Glasnovic says. “We are longtime attendees and are so relieved that Erin has been doing them virtually.”

Kinnetz was also instrumental in the development of the Forest Learning Lab at The Parklands. Students received assistance completing a nontraditional instruction (NTI) curriculum at the Learning Lab along with the opportunity to hike, creek walk, and explore nature. The Forest Learning Lab hosted more than 1,000 students during the

2020-2021 school year. More than 600 of those students were hosted on a scholarship basis.

LaVerne Cook, a longtime park supporter as both a donor and volunteer, says Wednesday Wonders is not just for youth.

“Those of us elders are learning from Erin as well,” Cook says. “I jokingly have said, ‘Don’t let the Public Broadcasting Service find out about her.’”

Curtis Carman, director of education and programming, applauds Kinnetz’s “Becauseaccomplishments.ofErin’s hard work and dedication to the field of environmental education, The Parklands has actually been able to grow its programming, even during a pandemic,” he says. “Erin’s knowledge, patience, enthusiasm and passion make her very deserving of this award.”

Kinnetz is originally from Kentucky and says she has a deep love for the landscapes of Kentucky. She has a bachelor’s degree in scientific illustration from Cleveland School of the Arts and the University of Louisville. She began her career working with youth in community mental health care.

“That work was incredibly difficult but also necessary,” she says. “However, after about seven years I felt it was time to move on. I went back to school and pursued my master of science in biology, especially focusing on ecology. I landed at The Parklands without previously knowing that environmental

education existed as a career field. Once I started there, it felt like everything I had done before that point - art and observation, teaching social and emotional regulation to kids, and a strong core of scientific principles - prepared me for that role.”

Kinnetz has been promoted several times at the Parklands. She started out as a camp counselor for about eight weeks, then moved into the position of interpretive ranger for about seven months. She was an education specialist from 2017 to 2021. She was promoted to education program coordinator last summer.

Her personal interests include hiking, backpacking, printmaking, painting, and reading science fiction. She has been studying tracking, which includes looking for tracks and other signs and interpreting which animal or natural phenomenon left the marks. She is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor pursuing her 500-hour certification. She has a friendly gray tabby cat named Oscar.

She feels honored to share the exploration of nature with others.

“It is not rare for me to have a kid tell me while we are hiking that this is their first time on a hike, first time catching a crayfish or first time in a forest,” she says. “Those are really special moments and I feel honored to be there with them. I enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors and really seeing the wildlife and plants respond to all four seasons. I like hearing questions from other people because we all have different perspectives and make different observations, so sometimes our participants help me to notice things that I never would have noticed on my own.”

“Working outdoors forces you to confront the problems that we face for conservation on a daily basis,” she continues. “It can be hard to see more and more trees that we’ve lost to emerald ash borers. Even though it’s a delight to find a wild box turtle, which are endangered, there can be a tinge of

sadness when you see the shell scars from lawnmowers or cars.”

The Parklands of Floyds Fork is a nearly 4,000-acre, visitor-supported public park in Louisville, stretching from Shelbyville Road to Bardstown Road.

It consists of four major parks - Beckley Creek Park, Pope Lick Park, Turkey Run Park and Broad Run Park - linked by a world-class urban trail system and a remarkable water trail tracing Floyds Fork. It serves more than three million visitors each year.

Admission is free, but The Parklands does not receive tax dollars for annual upkeep or operations. Ongoing maintenance and operations are funded through private donations, program and event fees, and an endowment fund. Donate today to become a Parklands member.

For more info, go to theparklands.org.