Santa’s Little Helpers, Inc. Spreads Cheer to Foster Children Year-Round
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Bruce Krohmer Takes His Music in Unexpected Directions - and Locations + A Little Holiday Help
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• We offer beds that are Medicare and Medicaid certified.
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• All rooms have electric high/ low beds and cable TV.
• The full in-house rehab unit provides PT, OT, ST.
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• Nurses are on duty and onsite 24 hours a day.
• Private rooms are available for short-term rehab.
• Newly added semi-private rooms are available for long-term care.
VALHALLA POST ACUTE
As the premier 162-bed skilled nursing facility in Louisville, Kentucky, Valhalla Post Acute provides compassionate and personal skilled care 24 hours a day. We specialize in providing rehabilitation services in our state-of-the-art facility to help our residents regain their independence and return to the highest level of function possible. We have been proudly serving the community for 13 years.
VISITORS ARE WELCOME EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
Come to see our residents and friendly staff in action. Feel free to contact us to learn more about the unique, sophisticated healthcare environment at Valhalla Post Acute.
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PUBLISHER
COREY BOSTON corey@townepost.com (502) 407-0185
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
TRE’SEAN DURHAM GAVIN LAPAILLE
MARY LINDSEY
DAVE MATHEIS
MELISSA STALB CARRIE VITTITOE BETH WILDER MICHELLE T. WILLIAMS JULIE YATES
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599
PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK
CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL SERVICES DEVON DEAN
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TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.
8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011
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WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE LOCALLY DURING WORLD WAR I
It was called “the war to end all wars,” and thankfully, the Great War that broke out in 1914 Europe was not fought on American soil - but that did not mean Americans were spared the war effort. Even before the United States officially entered the war in 1917, Americans pitched in to help their European Allies in any way they could. Local residents were no exception.
Area residents were fortunate. Aside from rising costs, they did not have to truly worry about the war when it first began. Of primary concern in 1914 was the fact that Christmas toys would have to be homemade, as none of the European countries were able to export any goods. By 1916 paper stock had gotten so expensive that The Jeffersonian editor, J.C. Alcock, feared the cost of his newspaper might have to increase, and insisted that those in arrears make their subscription payments or stop receiving the paper.
Writer / Beth Wilder Photography Provided
On May 25, 1916, a quote from the Germantown News must have prompted the townsfolk to take the war a little more to heart. Alcock was praised for the great success a special war edition had, although the article went on to muse, “But maybe they are not affected by any of the conditions and calamities of the world’s big war act in that peaceful hamlet.” The next month, three local boys, Leroy Omer, Walter Zerger and Walter Ellingsworth, joined the Navy.
In May 1917 everyone was asked to assemble on the public square, carry the American flag and adorn their automobiles in patriotic colors. From there, the parade of cars drove to the schoolhouse, where over 2,000 people from different parts of the county assembled to hear various speakers urge young men to enlist, rather than wait to be conscripted into the military.
On June 5, 1917, all men between the ages of 21 and 31 were required to register for
the draft. On July 26, the first list of draftees was printed in the paper.
Brother and sister Charles G. and Aileen Bryan were both ordered to France. Charles was commissioned a captain in the Engineer Corps of the United States Army, and Aileen, a member of the Red Cross staff of trained nurses, volunteered for field hospital service.
Those who remained at home in were required to do their fair share toward the war effort as well. In October 1917, a group of more than a dozen local women canvassed the area to ask every householder to sign a pledge card to be as economical as possible, to help ensure those overseas had enough food. A Tobacco Fund was even created, so that “chews” and “smokes” could be forwarded to the fighting men in France.
Men who remained at home were encouraged to become Boy Scout leaders, so the young men in town would have a
good influence and not risk becoming delinquents, as was happening in the war-ravaged countries. All boys were urged to join the Scouts, who served as dispatch bearers, delivering government pamphlets to all the local homes. In March 1918, boys aged 16 to 21 were asked to enroll in the Working Reserve, in the hopes that when they were out of school, they would assist with farm work or whatever occupation best suited them.
C.A. Hummel was a local enrolling officer and boys who signed on were eligible to receive a Federal Bronze Badge of Honor for a stated number of work days. Girls were also encouraged to join clubs that
would help with raising food, and several prominent businessmen in town sold liberty bonds.
Meanwhile, residents were forced to tighten their belts. Food production was a priority - home canning and meatless days were encouraged. J.C. Alcock joked that a “taste” of food was about all he got, thanks to the conservation pledge the ladies signed.
Coal was hard to come by. The local paper noted in January 1918 that “every week or two a car load comes in, and is gobbled up before a third of the people get any.”
One particular group that suffered in a slightly different way was the local Germans. East Louisville had a high number of Germans, so a good deal of its populace had that ancestry - and some still retained their loyalty to Germany, especially if they had relatives fighting in the Kaiser’s army. The Jeffersonian newspaper noted that the majority of Germans in the county were
loyal Americans, even if some of them did make “disloyal statements in regard to the war,” and that it was not right to say “mean things about the German-Americans because they are from Germany.” By the end of January 1918, however, all non-American citizens were required to officially register. Arch Bridwell, postmaster, conducted the registrations locally.
Red Cross units abounded, of course. Local groups helped sew and knit hospital garments, trench caps, socks, sweaters and more. N.R. Blankenbaker was happy to report his workers had raised $6,325 for the war fund - in today’s money, that would equate to over $43,000. Even children helped raise funds for the Red Cross by putting on shows, and they were also asked by postman Lud Bryan to gather all the plum, peach and prune seeds, walnut shells, and hickory nut shells they could, to be used in the manufacture of gas masks.
Although three million men had already
been drafted into service, in September 1918, another two million were deemed necessary. The enlistment notice stated: “Patriots will register. Others MUST.” By the following month, soldiers and civilians alike were fighting a new battle - an influenza epidemic. Nurses were in high demand, and by November, east Louisville was dealing with its highest number of cases to date.
Thankfully, on November 11, 1918, the armistice was signed, ending World War I. Relief was still needed both in the United States and throughout the world though. Residents still had to bounce back from the flu epidemic, but they continued their support efforts through the reconstruction after the devastating war was over, doing their part as proud Americans, happy to have their boys home.
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Assisted Living’sSongbird
Christian Care Communities of Middletown has many wonderful residents who make their home in one of their Assisted Living suites. With all the comforts of home and surrounded by her favorite things and family photographs, Wanda Strader, loved living at Christian Care Her daughter, Linda McGinity Jackson, explained the house her mother lived in was wonderful for a busy family, but it became time to downsize from a “too large” house where her safety and upkeep just got to be a daily concern “When mom arrived, she was eager to meet her new neighbors and staff and give them a tour of her new home decorated with her favorite furniture, photos, and keepsakes – it was all exactly what she needed,” said Linda.
Part of what immediately drew Wanda and her family to Christian Care was the on-site spiritual care programs and staff Chaplain. This supported her love for singing and faith which was important to Wanda.
Because singing has long been one of her favorite hobbies as well as something that connected her to her church family, you could often hear Wanda’s sweet voice in the chapel with sing-a-longs and harmonizing with special guest singers. The staff and other residents came together and nicknamed her “songbird” because of her beautiful singing that made everyone smile.
Linda shared, “We could have chosen any senior living community to care for mom, but my husband and I have been donors, volunteers, and I’ve served on the Board of Directors at Christian Care I knew she would love it here ” Linda went on to say the mission supported by a Faith Care Family atmosphere at Christian Care is what sticks out the most to her Wanda’s family were so grateful for the compassionate caregivers who went above and beyond to exceed the residents expectations, making it truly feel like one big family.
At Christian Care Communities of Middletown, we are incredibly blessed to offer residents both Independent Living and Assisted Living. This compassionate community is more than a place to live, it is a place to call home. If you or a loved one is interested in getting to know Christian Care Communities of Middletown, please contact us for a personal tour!
Linda McGinity Jackson | Resident’s Daughter & Board Member
Linda McGinity Jackson with husband, Ben, and mother, Wanda Strader.
PREP PROS
LEAVE COOKING HASSLES TO THE TEAM AT HOME CUISINE
Writer / Mary Lindsey
Imagine these situations: You’re a professional with a jam-packed daily schedule, and cooking dinner is the last thing you want to do when you get home. Or perhaps you’re a senior who wants to maintain independence and avoid assisted living, though your kids worry about you cooking every night. Maybe you’re aiming to shed a few pounds and wish you had a personal chef to make it easier. A busy parent who struggles to prepare healthy meals for the whole gang? You want your meals to be nutritious, fresh and healthy, but the thought of studying ingredients, counting calories, shopping and cooking is overwhelming.
This is where St. Matthews-based Home
Cuisine steps in. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Home Cuisine was established to offer clients the convenience of a personal chef. The meals are both delicious and healthy, with calorie counts already calculated, leaving customers with the simple task of heating and eating.
The concept is straightforward, but surprisingly, no one had thought of it locally before Louisville foodie Sandy Pike had her eureka moment in 2004, when her sister faced health issues and couldn’t cook. Thus, Home Cuisine was born, emphasizing locally sourced, nutritious meals delivered to customers’ homes or convenient pickup points at all Rainbow Blossom stores.
Making it easy is just part of the mission. Sandy emphasizes that taste and quality are paramount.
“Our food is clean and tastes great,” she says. “Food prepared long in advance, like the national brands, needs preservatives to stay fresh, so our meals are delivered just
hours after preparation. That local, fresh twist allows us to offer a product that can’t be touched by big-box services cranking out thousands of frozen meals from a warehouse somewhere.”
The idea quickly proved successful, and within a few years, Sandy’s daughter, Mae Pike, returned from wedding planning in Florida to handle marketing, allowing her to focus on the culinary side. Over time the company expanded its offerings from just daily meals in two calorie ranges to various meal plans, including family-size dinners that Mae calls “a godsend for busy families who are tired of ordering pizza or hitting the drive-through.”
Subsequent additions have been equally popular, including holiday dinners, Derby brunches and dinners, and three-day cleanses, offered monthly.
“Thanksgiving went wild and has been our busiest week of the year for a long time,” Sandy reports. “It turns out that having a
fully prepared, traditional turkey-and-allthe-classic-trimmings dinner, delivered to your door, is really popular in Louisville.”
“Who wants to fool with cooking when friends and family are around?” Mae notes. “We do the hard part for you.”
With the company’s growth, the Pikes recognized the need for more hands on deck. Mae’s husband, Allen McKamie, left his career in hospitality management to become the CEO, while her sister, Elizabeth Kristofek, a certified holistic nutritionist, took charge of health and nutritional basics.
“We were so lucky to woo Allen and Elizabeth to Home Cuisine at a time of so much growth,” Sandy says. “Allen has
a strong business background and helped us build our operations in ways that Mae and I always struggle with. Elizabeth has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of nutrition, and has pioneered the 3-Day Reboot as well as answering our nitpicky questions all day long. Plus, it’s nice having all of this youthful energy in the office. I absolutely love these kids!”
Lately, Home Cuisine has also grown an impressive wholesale division, pioneered by McKamie. “We prepare products for local institutions, following their recipes, to be packaged as their resale, and it works out really well,” McKamie explains. “We also provide bulk meals for local institutions that need to offer meals for their staff or clients, but don’t want the expense or hassle
of a full-tilt kitchen. The feedback has been really positive and we look forward to expanding.”
The company’s latest innovation is Dinner Party in a Box, which caters to those who love entertaining, but not the planning and cooking.
“We’re inviting customers to imagine dinner in Paris with a French menu, Charleston with Lowcountry fare, and San Francisco with the menu planned around an evening in North Beach,” Mae says. “And the concept is evolving; now we’re developing a wonderful Local Dinner Party in a Box, featuring classic Kentucky regional delicacies, that we hope to introduce late this fall. Online ordering makes it a breeze
to host a lovely party without scrubbing one pot. What a great time to crack out the fine china and actually enjoy your guests!”
So far, Dinner Party in a Box has been well-received. That’s not a surprise, Mae says. “To test the meals, we pulled them out of my mother’s refrigerator for Pike family gatherings. The menus were so effective that everyone raved - and it was nice knowing that mom had been relaxing that day, not running around making all of us dinner. My family is a tough audience and everyone was impressed.”
The reputation they now enjoy, Mae adds, has been a group effort. “We’ve been blessed with an amazing staff,” she says. “To name a few, Kathy Robinson, our kitchen manager, came to us in our panic during the pandemic, and we were so lucky to keep her. Chip McPherson is truly one of the most gifted chefs. I learn something from him every time I am in the kitchen. He’s an old friend; we met at Deitrich’s in the ’90s when I was a server and he was the chef. After
years of begging on bended knee, he finally agreed to come work with us, and our food has never been better. He makes me so proud of our product.”
Although the business started modestly, with just one employee and a tight budget, its success was no accident. Sandy’s previous ventures provided plenty of experience. She founded Jack Fry’s and turned it into a favorite in Louisville before selling it in 1986. Then she created Cafe Society in what is now NuLu, and Louisville’s first dessert cafe, The Queen of Tarts, proving her ability to identify and fill a niche market. Then came Home Cuisine, which she launched by renting a small corner in the kitchen at the Mayan Café, which remains a family favorite.
“Now we have this huge commissary in St. Matthews,” Sandy marvels. “I never imagined this growth, but I’m proud we’ve made it here.”
“I’m so proud of my mother and her
accomplishments,” Mae adds. “In the 1980s she was doing things that no one else in town had thought of, and with her drive and talent, she broke so many glass ceilings. She just seemed to be writing, or rewriting, the rules as she went along. I’ve learned this entire business from her, and I love to brag about her.”
Sandy, meanwhile, is looking ahead. She sees a gradual transfer of leadership to the next generation, with Mae, Allen and Elizabeth poised to ensure the company’s future.
And Mae’s passion mirrors her mother’s. “We get up every day to hear stories of people getting off their blood pressure meds, no longer being prediabetic, reducing their medication - or just that we make things easier for them,” Mae says. “It’s immensely rewarding to know our meals make such a difference in people’s lives.”
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Aril F.
Metastatic Breast Cancer, 2022
Living Life.
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