Middletown Magazine May 2023

FIST PUMP

SHE’S GOT GAME

Local Resident Emerges Triumphant on “Wheel of Fortune”

STRIDING FOR SOLUTIONS

BIAK

“Go ThereOutand Explore”

MICAH CHANDLER TAPS INTO EVERYTHING THE CITY HAS TO OFFER

Writer / Carrie Vittitoe Photography Provided

If you spend a couple hours with Micah Chandler, you’re going to be introduced to a lot of people and you are going to be asked to either take photos of Micah and the folks he knows or be in a photo with Micah. It is almost certain you will be both photographer and subject at some point. It doesn’t matter where you are in Louisville, either, whether it is at Nulu or Audubon Park or Middletown. Micah is one of those individuals who everyone seems to know and love, and if they don’t do these two things, they at least recognize him from somewhere in Kentuckiana. For a man who isn’t a local meteorologist or Jack Harlow, that’s impressive.

Micah grew up in the west end of Louisville with his parents and several siblings and where he attended school, moving between Shawnee Elementary and Portland Elementary for various grade levels. He was born with cerebral palsy so he spent time in special education classes but it became clear that, despite his diagnosis, he still had untapped cognitive and adaptive skills .

Eventually, he was mainstreamed into some regular classes.

“I got too smart with math. At the time, I was good at adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing,” Chandler says. It was towards the end of elementary school that he began learning music as part of an orchestra class. “I played the flute but didn’t like it. It didn’t work out,” he says.

When he started sixth grade at Noe Middle School, he continued music classes, and it was there that he switched to violin. “I picked up the violin and started playing. A month later, I was able to play Mozart’s Violin Concerto in G. It took a month to learn; it didn’t take much time. I kind of jumped ahead,” Chandler says. He also performed in all-county orchestra performances during his middle school career.

When it came time to think about high school, Micah applied to the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) and was accepted. It was there that he learned to play viola, although he initially didn’t like it

because he had to learn a different scale. He adjusted after about a month, but says he still liked the violin because of the melody. “It was a good advantage for me to be able to do both,” he says. As he did during middle school, Chandler was able to take his talents beyond the school by performing in the Louisville Youth Orchestra and all-state orchestra.

Music continued to be a huge part of Micah’s life once he moved onto college. He went to the University of Louisville’s School of Music where he also learned to sing and play piano and was taught music history. He enjoyed playing in the school’s orchestra and had a special love for jazz violin. Even though music has long been Chandler’s big love, he ventured into new avenues by getting two associates degrees from Jefferson Community and Technical Colleges (JCTC); one in applied science and another in computer information systems.

During his time at University of Louisville, Chandler began volunteering for various organizations which he continues doing

to this day. As a college student, he volunteered at the Red Barn, a multipurpose building on campus.

“I fell in love with the Red Barn and Cardinal Inn. I built up my relationships with a lot of University of Louisville people,” he says.

Chandler committed to doing the AIDS Walk in its early days while he was still a college student and collected $1,000 in a week. Another time, he collected $10,000 for the Walk MS fundraiser over the course of four months. Chandler says he had to pound pavement and knock on people’s doors to raise that amount in a short amount of time.

Nowadays, Chandler works one day a week at Maya Collection, a nonprofit in south Louisville that helps sell textile goods made by refugee women. He does whatever needs to be done, including cleaning up the parking lot, loading and unloading

items and even making deliveries by using the TARC bus. “He helps us do random things. He is a great worker, and he wants to work. He brings joy to everyone he’s around,” Karen Aroh says, founder of MAYA Collection.

The other days of Chandler’s week are full of various activities: physical or occupational therapy, haircuts, a job at the Popcorn Station, playing in three different orchestras and volunteering at Hope Place in the South End. He’s gotten involved with Shine!, a prom-like event for individuals with developmental disabilities. On top of that, he can regularly be found at various community events like fairs, festivals, plays and musical performances, including his own performances when he sets up and plays his violin for those passing by.

“You gotta go where the people go,” he says.

Being around people has provided him so many great opportunities. “I wouldn’t

Micah with Kelly Ripa

Micah with Richard Sullivan

be working for Aroh if I had stayed in one place. I wouldn’t know anything about SHINE! if I had stayed in one place,” he says. “I have to keep moving.”

Micah is both a night owl, going to bed around midnight, and an early bird, waking around seven in the morning.

His various activities keep him moving through the city of Louisville. Chandler says he doesn’t have a favorite spot but goes where he feels most comfortable and welcome. “I want to go to places where people understand me,” he says.

him because sometimes people don’t understand his developmental delays. After feeling unwell at a recent festival, Chandler went into a local establishment to use the restroom and was told by a bartender that the police would be called if Chandler didn’t leave. “I told him, ‘I’m just a handicapped person, and I’m sick,’” he says. Fortunately, when Chandler requested a manager, he was given the assistance he needed.

For someone so social, the past couple years with COVID-19 were an especially difficult time. The weeks and months of quarantines and canceled social events really made Chandler sad and out of sorts. Even

though things have improved, people have developed a greater need for their physical space, a concept that he admits to struggling with. His friends talk to him about some of the social cues he doesn’t always understand on his own.

Still, Chandler stays focused on taking and making opportunities to network. His advice is sound no matter who you are or how old: “Go out there and explore.” And if you aren’t an extrovert and need a partner to help you become more social, Chandler is probably one of the best people around to help you navigate the Louisville social scene.

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

KENTUCKY BORN, KENTUCKY BRED

WE SIMPLIFY THE DUMPSTER PROCESS

25+ Years Of Industry Experience

Having been in your shoes, we know the dumpster rental process can be confusing or overwhelming at times. Whether you need advice on selecting the right dumpster size, or have any lingering questions regarding dumpster delivery, our team is only 1 phone call or text away!

Transparent + Upfront Pricing

No surprise fees here! We know firsthand how frustrating it can be when the prices listed on the website don’t accurately reflect the price on your invoice - that’s why we stand by a transparent and upfront pricing model.

A Huge Selection Of AVAILABLE Inventory

Don’t let a dumpster delay halt your project in its tracks. We offer a huge selection with various sized dumpsters to fit YOUR specific budget and needs.

REDROVERDUMPSTERS.COM

(502) 977-9502

We Drop It Off, You Load It Up. It’s That Easy!

Call or Text Us Anytime For Easy Delivery & Pick-Up!

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

Now Open

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

812 East Market Street

502-515-9699

This Creole Champion of St. Matthews, Lou Lou Food & Drink has thrived for years by delivering Louisville’s Louisiana connection in culinary delight. The New Orleans vibe is alive at Lou Lou on Market. The new concept continues its traditional Low Country cuisine, but Chef Cristian Garay adds his flair and creates a new menu.

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.

We test it out, make you an offer and CUT YOU A CHECK ON THE SPOT.

STRIDING FOR SOLUTIONS

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

Writer / Kevin Gibson

Photography Provided

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.

WOMEN HELP WOMEN

For more than eight decades, the Woman’s Club of St. Matthews has inspired, educated and lifted up women in St. Matthews and the greater Louisville area. Formed in 1938, the purpose of the Woman’s Club of St. Matthews (WCSM) is to promote charitable, social and cultural opportunities for women.

In 2023, that same mission remains at the center of the organization. Mary Jo Nay, former WCSM president from 2017 to 2019, said since the earliest days of the club that members have been concerned with promoting causes close to the hearts of women.

Nay explained that in the early years of the group, women raised money and campaigned to establish the first St. Matthews branch of the Louisville Free Public Library. Within another couple of years, women lobbied to establish a kindergarten at Greenhouse School, the building that now houses St. Matthews City Hall.

Throughout the years, clubwomen — as they are known — have championed many causes and charities. They sold war bonds to support the war effort, promoted the use of seat belts, provided outreach to local senior citizens, knitted blankets for babies and nursing home residents, raised funds for domestic violence victims and have supported visually impaired children and their families.

The WCSM is a federated club, meaning they are part of the larger General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The GFWC, Nay explained, is one of the largest and oldest women’s organizations dedicated to community improvement through volunteer service by its members. The WCSM is one of six such clubs who comprise the third and fourth district in Kentucky. The others include: Beechmont, Fern Creek, Leitchfield, Okolona and Radcliff.

“Today, the WCSM primarily focuses on three areas: service, scholarship and educational programs and workshops,” Nay says.

Perhaps its biggest contributions to the city of St. Matthews, and the greater Louisville area, is the club’s commitment to service. Throughout the years, the organization has taken part in a vast array of service and fundraising opportunities on the local, national and international level. In recent years, the group has been committed to assisting several local ministries both in time, talent and treasure.

“Our club members continue to support numerous organizations and charities because it’s part of who we are,” Nay says, who is also a councilwoman for the City of St. Matthews.

The WCSM donates $600 per month to the services provided by the St. Matthews Area Ministries. Clubwomen also regularly volunteer with SOS, previously known as Supplies Over Seas, and support causes such as the Kentucky Humane Society, Kentucky Veterans Affairs (addressing the needs of

women veterans), the Ronald McDonald House and Operation Smile.

In 2019, the group partnered with St. Matthews Elementary School to collect plastic bottle caps. Women and children collected the caps, which were ultimately exchanged for three resin-type park benches that now sit in the garden at the St. Matthews Eline Library.

Each spring, the WCSM presents five $3,000 scholarships to one student graduating from Ballard High School, Sacred Heart Academy, Trinity High School, Waggener High School and Walden School. Additionally, the club awards a $3,000 scholarship to a local adult woman who is returning to school to better her career.

Members and guests can also attend a wide variety of educational workshops and community field trips. Past workshops have included estate planning, domestic violence awareness and talks about women veterans.

“We also have social opportunities,” Nay says. “From luncheons to book clubs, to Bridge and Mahjong groups and Christmas and Derby parties, club members regularly gather for fun and fellowship.”

Penny Pearson has been a member of the organization for more than three decades. Her mother was a long-time member, so it was only natural that she would eventually join.

Pearson laughed when she recalled her

Writer / Jessica Able Photography Provided

THE WOMAN’S CLUB OF ST. MATTHEWS BENEFITS MEMBERS & COMMUNITY

Volunteering at SOS

mother’s days as a clubwoman.

“My mother joined in the early 1950s--my daddy was even an honorary member,” Pearson says. “He did so many things at the club to help mother out. She was a die-hard member until she died.”

Pearson noted her sister is a member as well and a big reason she remains involved with the Woman’s Club of St. Matthews, other than the social element, is because it’s a way to give back to her community.

“I stay because I like being able to help the community,” Pearson says, who served as the organization’s president from 1992 to 1994.

Jackie Brooks, a current member and past president from 2004 to 2007, said she’s proud of the impact the club has had on the community, particularly among women. “We try to address issues that are close to the hearts of women. It’s women helping women really. We are community-minded and want to develop members by educating them,” says Brooks.

Brooks noted she’s proud to be a clubwoman. “I’m certainly a wife, a mother and grandmother first, but I’m also very happy to be a clubwoman.”

When reflecting about membership, Pearson acknowledged it is harder to

attract woman to join nowadays than it once was. When her mother joined in the 1950s, there was a waiting list for women who were interested and at the height of the club’s popularity, there were about 400 women involved in the club.

In the early 1990s, when Pearson was president, there were about 140 women involved. “As they aged, that figure kind of dropped. Young people weren’t joining because they were working, and we met at 11 a.m. and then had lunch every Monday,” Pearson says. “We kind of had to recruit people after they retired.”

Today, Pearson said that’s still pretty much

Celebrating 80th

Idlewild Butterfly Farm Estate Planning Program

how it is. Women who are interested typically approach the club in early retirement. Some may still be working but have more flexible schedules.

“When I took the helm of the Woman’s Club of St. Matthews, there were about 37 members. Nearly two and half years later and at the end of my term, the club’s roster stood at 63 members,” Nay says. “We welcome any woman who wants to join, regardless of age. The Woman’s Club of St. Matthews meets

twice a month on the second and fourth Monday, excluding July. Any woman, whether they are a resident of St. Matthews or not, is invited to join.”

Nay added that dues are $35 per year.

“I’m very proud to be a member of this organization because of the opportunities it gives me to be of service, not just to the local St. Matthews community, but the community at large,” Nay says. “I’ve met a lot of great

women and made wonderful friends. I just think it completes you to be able to participate in an organization that has such a variety of opportunities.”

In a speech honoring the club’s 80th anniversary in 2018, Nay noted the various contributions of the women who had laid the groundwork of what is the Woman’s Club of St. Matthews today.

“We do not just congratulate the clubwomen of today, who are carrying the torch forward and creating Woman’s Club history for future generations of women, but we celebrate the fore thinking, courageous and strong women of the first 80 years, who passed forward to each new generation this torch, the torch of responsibility of service to community and to country,” Nay says.

For more information on the Woman’s Club of St. Matthews, visit wcsm.org or call the WCSM membership chair at 502-553-6481.

Preparing a meal for Ronald McDonald House