MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 2022
IN STRIDE
ST. MATTHEWS RESIDENT FINISHES 2ND IN BOSTON MARATHON’S VISUAL IMPAIRMENT DIVISION
DISTINCTIVE LEARNING The Waldorf School of Louisville Settles Into New Surroundings TAKE THE PLUNGE Annual Polar Plunge Benefits Special Olympics Kentucky
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Local Couple Finds Niche Portraying Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln
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DISTINCTIVE LEARNING
THE WALDORF SCHOOL OF LOUISVILLE SETTLES INTO ST. MATTHEWS Photography Provided
If you’ve taken a run, walked your dog, or sat with a cup of coffee on a bench in Seneca Park lately, you may have noticed the new tenants at 3110 Rock Creek Drive. In August of 2021, The Waldorf School of Louisville (WSL) began welcoming students from pre-K through grade 8 to their new campus in the heart of St. Matthews. Rudolf Steiner, the philosopher and social reformer who founded Waldorf education, believed that “our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives.” This belief, that the paramount responsibility of educators is
campus opened in Lyndon. Founded in 1993 by Janey Newton and Robin Dulaney, the school applies the Waldorf philosophy of educating through imaginative play, Like other Waldorf Schools around art and developmentally appropriate the world, WSL is nondenominational curriculum to fully foster the growth of and serves students from a variety of students’ own unique talents, strengths and backgrounds. The inclusive atmosphere and capabilities. The Newton family has deep whole-child approach has been providing ties to anthroposophy, Waldorf education children with a unique curriculum that and biodynamic farming, all established blends the arts with rigorous academics by Steiner in the early 1900s. As Louisville for almost 30 years. Since the first Waldorf families began to experience Waldorf ’s school opened more than 100 years ago, this holistic and arts-infused approach to education, there was a natural cultivation of style of education has spread all over the positive word-of-mouth referrals, resulting world, with thousands of Waldorf schools in a thriving community that recently began operating globally. to grow beyond the capacity of its original walls. Louisville got its own Waldorf School 30 years ago, when the original and well-loved to empower children to become agents of positive change who live up to their fullest potential, is a guiding force at the school.
6 / ST. MATTHEWS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2022 / TownePost.com
WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Unstructured time outdoors brings challenges and experiences so beneficial that they cannot be replaced by any other activity. Whether for play, observation, appreciation, scientific exploration or purposeful activity, time spent in a natural environment is essential to learning and child development. WSL leaders
“We knew right away what a fantastic opportunity it would be to move our operation to the heart of St. Matthews,” says Sasha Caufield, WSL parent and board chair. With such an intense focus on outdoor play and exploratory learning activities for children, the proximity quite literally a stone’s throw from Seneca Park made moving into the former home of Christian Academy a smart fit for the growing organization.
“WE AIM TO GROW FREE-THINKING, COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS, CAPABLE OF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND WHO ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.”
In Waldorf education globally, the curriculum often includes school gardens and horticulture study, science observation and environmental work, camping and hiking experiences, unstructured free play, and multiple opportunities for outdoor class time in other subjects. School campuses, even in large cities, prioritize access to green space.
—TEACHER ED HARDY
The Waldorf educational method, with its heavy emphasis on outdoor instruction and innovative classroom practices, was well-suited to adapt to a fully outdoor model during the 2020-2021 academic year, allowing the school to safely remain open through the pandemic. The school’s small class sizes, larger campus and focus on outdoor learning opportunities has garnered attention from parents who were looking for alternatives to remote learning last year.
make outdoor time and environmental appreciation a central part of the educational experience. Once the relocation was official, parents, alumni, faculty and students rolled up their sleeves and got to work transforming the indoor and outdoor spaces for academic and specialty work. All over the world, Waldorf schools are designed to have a signature look and feel, emphasizing calm, beauty, natural light and natural furnishings. “Throughout the entire process of relocating to St. Matthews, our community
demonstrated their commitment to us in extraordinary ways,” says Madyson Haskins, development and volunteer coordinator. “From helping us to raise vital funds for our new outdoor imaginative play yards, loading and unloading boxes of silks and puppets, to cleaning cardboard and mixing compost for our biodynamic garden beds, our community went above and beyond. It was so inspiring to see different members of our community come forward to lend a helping hand. Generous grandparents built a gnome house for our pre-K play yard, young alumni helped paint classrooms in the traditional Waldorf lazure technique, and current students kept the volunteer morale high by passing out watermelon slices.” Putting in the work to welcome students at the new location after more than a year of turmoil in the world at large was well worth the effort, especially when the students returned with smiles on their faces, almost like they were coming home.
GREAT STUDENTS, GREAT NEIGHBORS The extended-family feeling of a Waldorf community is by design, and the WSL staff is proud to offer one of the smallest teacher-to-student ratios in the greater Kentuckiana region. Safety, trust, and exposure to a wide variety of subject matter and experience allows students from all backgrounds to find their unique path to success. The expansion of the school has
TownePost.com / FEBRUARY 2022 / ST. MATTHEWS MAGAZINE / 7
also allowed the introduction of a variable tuition program, lowering barriers and increasing accessibility to private education for families in Louisville. At Waldorf, standardization is never a focus, and long hours of homework and impersonal lessons are abandoned in favor of fostering a slower and more in-depth understanding of subject matter. The result is that graduates become more compassionate individuals with a greater sense of social responsibility who are able to creatively apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in many diverse fields.
Waldorf graduates have become notable contributors to the fields of architecture, film, biochemistry, engineering and journalism, and have also even been Nobel Prize winners. “We aim to grow free-thinking, compassionate individuals, capable of healthy relationships and who are actively engaged members of society,” says Teacher Ed Hardy, who is an alum of Kentucky Country Day School, which was located at Rock Creek in the 1970s. “It feels both strange and wonderful to be back in these familiar spaces. Much has remained the
same, but it feels now that the halls are filled with the warmth and promise of these young students, learning by such a different method. In our endeavors at our new campus, we aim to be good neighbors, and to educate and grow good neighbors too. We’re so happy to have a home in St. Matthews.” For more info, visit waldorflouisville.com. Admissions are open on a rolling basis. To schedule your tour, visit www. waldorflouisville.com/admissions-process
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“I’ve always loved doing surgery, and I dreamed of having my own practice,” CONNECT says Dr. Greenberg, who worked at LasikPlus for 17 years before opening Greenberg LASIK in October of 2020 in Louisville and Indianapolis. Dr. Greenberg, the most experienced LASIK surgeon in the region, is so good at what he does because LASIK is all he does. “It’s my specialty,” he says. “In medicine, any time you can find a place where the doctor specializes in one specific thing, that’s where you’ll get the best care for that service. When all you do is LASIK, your staff is focused on it and nothing slips through the cracks.” Dr. Greenberg gets his patients scheduled quickly so they don’t have to wait, and he provides the best in personal service. Greenberg LASIK offers free consultations to help patients determine if LASIK is a viable option for them. Ninety percent of the time, people are good candidates for the procedure, which reshapes the cornea to correct refraction, thereby relieving the need for glasses and contact lenses. LASIK is also more affordable than one may think. Greenberg LASIK offers a low-price guarantee, so should you find a lower price elsewhere, they promise to beat it by $100. In addition, they offer financing options. When it comes to technology, the staff uses the most advanced laser technology available in the field. “If you find somebody who has the most experience, with the best technology, at the lowest price, what more can you ask for?” Dr. Greenberg says.
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community of Louisville and have been presenting programs as the president and first lady for years to school children, senior homes, libraries, festivals and a host of other groups across the country. They’ve even appeared as the Lincolns in the Bahamas. Larry seems to have been born for this lifestyle. Like Lincoln, he sports a beard with no mustache, he’s 6’4” and he weighs 180 pounds. His father’s side of the family has several connections to the Lincolns. “I was born in Louisville, but my link to Lincoln is my father, James Elliott,” he says. “That whole side of the family was born in Hodgenville. I know the town like the back of my hand. I’m going to be buried there along with my father, who was killed in the Korean War. My really fun link to Lincoln is that my great-great-great-grandmother was the midwife who delivered Abraham Lincoln on February 12, 1809.”
GOOD LIKENESS LOCAL COUPLE FINDS NICHE PORTRAYING ABRAHAM AND MARY TODD LINCOLN Writer / Julie Engelhardt Photography Provided
The phrase “Land of Lincoln” is typically associated with our neighboring state of Illinois, as the state’s official slogan. Although our 16th president did live in Illinois and is buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, he actually hails from Hodgenville, Kentucky. Articles, essays, books, plays, television
shows and movies have been written and produced about Lincoln, giving modernday readers and audiences some insight into his life. Yet, wouldn’t it be something if you could meet “The Great Emancipator” in person? Although that’s impossible, you can meet two people who have embraced the life and legacy of Lincoln and his wife Mary. They are historic re-enactors, or historic entertainers as they call themselves, Larry and Mary Elliott. The Elliotts live in the Springhurst 10 / FEBRUARY 2022
While growing up, Larry attended 13 different schools in Louisville, eventually graduating from Pleasure Ridge Park High School. He continued on to college and received his business degree in 1974 from the University of Kentucky. He went on to work as an insurance salesman and had a very successful career. Larry has four sons (just as Lincoln and his wife did) from his marriage to his first wife, who was also named Mary. Both he and his current wife went through divorces, eventually meeting at Southeast Christian Church. They married in 1998. She has two children from her previous marriage, and they have nine grandchildren. The Elliotts’ foray into portraying the Lincolns happened somewhat by accident. “We were at our home in 2003 and Mary was on the computer,” Larry says. “She said, ‘There’s a look-alike contest down in Hodgenville. Why don’t you get an outfit and go down there and get into that contest?’” Larry told Mary that he hadn’t seen his dad’s grave in 10 years, so he felt this would be a good opportunity to visit the town.
“I got a goofy-looking Halloween hat and tie, and thought there’d be maybe three or four people there as Lincoln,” he says.
and said, he confesses, something very inaccurate: “Vote for me and I will free the slaves.”
Upon his arrival, he got in line with the other Lincolns. The Lincoln performer in front of him asked if he had a speech ready.
As he concluded his speech, he couldn’t help but notice that two of the judges rolled their eyes at what he had proclaimed.
“I said, ‘I don’t have a speech,’” Larry says. “He said, ‘You need to have a three minute speech to perform.’ ”
“That was the last thing Lincoln would have ever said,” Larry says. “He was not an abolitionist. It was just bad.”
Larry says he tried to walk away, but his neighbor who had accompanied him to the festival said, “You can do this. You’re from Hodgenville. Just get up there and say something about Abraham Lincoln.”
Yet all was not lost. One of the other Lincolns approached him and asked if he would like to join their group, the Association of Lincoln Presenters. Larry was a bit apprehensive and asked if he could give it some thought.
dirt-floor log cabin, and had one year of education - a day here and a day there. His mother could read and started to read to him when he was 6 years old in front of the fireplace at night.”
“I started studying about Lincoln and I couldn’t put the books down,” he says. “The man is a genius. He’s full of velvet when he needs to be and full of steel when he needs to be. He’s a tremendous leader. He saved the nation. He was born in a one-room,
He did one of his first performances in front of his best friend Mike, and asked for his opinion. After receiving some brutally honest feedback from the man, who said it was ‘awful,’ Larry decided to up his game and took acting lessons to polish his performance skills. He also bought a very
Larry admits he wasn’t prepared at all. “All I knew was he’d freed the slaves and that he was the 16th president,” he says. “You’d think I’d know a lot more than that.” When it was his turn to speak, Larry walked on stage, stood before the three judges
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expensive, accurate costume for $2,000. He says the rest is history. When he visits classrooms, especially upper grades, Larry focuses on common-core content for fifth grade and eighth grade. “I really teach these kids important history,” he says. “I teach them about the American Revolutionary War, the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, slavery, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and the Civil War. These kids will learn so much if they listen.” A couple of years after he began performing, Larry approached Mary to see if she’d have interest in joining him on this unique journey. Mary was hesitant initially, but she eventually agreed to read about Mary Todd Lincoln and decide.
The next convention she was to attend was in Detroit, Michigan. She discovered she couldn’t attend the ball if she didn’t have a period-correct ball gown. “I wasn’t going to be left out of the ball, so I had a dress made,” she says. After attending this convention Mary began talking to people about the Lincolns, eventually becoming enamored of Mary Lincoln, and she decided to go all-in. “I fell in love with her character actually when a fellow Mary Lincoln presenter told me a story about when the Lincolns lived in Springfield,” she says. “Mary had an infant son and her neighbor across the street also had an infant. The mother became ill, so Mary Lincoln nursed the baby for her.”
She later went to a Lincoln convention with Mary was touched by the story. Larry and thought, “These people are really “It’s a very personal thing, feeding your nice.” child, but to be willing to help another
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person to feed their child, that’s really neat,” she says. “I thought ‘She’s OK.’ ” Larry already had his Lincoln program in place, and Mary began pondering what they’d be able to present as a couple. They worked on writing a script about the story of the Lincolns’ lives. They now do a presentation in which Larry, as Abraham, talks about his childhood and then Mary, as Mary Lincoln, talks about hers. “We talk about our educational years and how we met and got married, how he went on to become the president, our time during the Civil War, and then we end at Ford’s Theatre,” Mary says. Their visits are filled with historic facts and information, but there are times when their encounters with students aren’t all studious. “One of the funniest things we’ve ever heard from a kid is when we did a program at an elementary school, and this is when Mary
would come with me,” Larry says. “She’d have on her black period costuming. We were walking down a hallway and a first grader came toward us, holding his teacher’s hand. He saw us and said, ‘Look, there’s Abraham Lincoln - and a witch!’” Another story comes from an encounter with another young student. “One kid said to me not too long ago, ‘Oh, there’s Abradamn Lincoln!’” Larry says. The Elliotts truly enjoy portraying the Lincolns, and love sharing knowledge about this fascinating couple with people of all ages and walks of life. If you’d like more information about having the “Lincolns” appear at your school, venue or event, email Larry at larrylikelincoln@gmail.com, or Mary at marylikemary1@gmail.com.
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CUP RUNNETH OVER THE GRAVY CUP PROVIDES FLAVOR AND FUN Writer / Annette Skaggs Photography Provided
Have you ever sat in a diner thinking about ideas and events? Nothing out of the ordinary, of course, but sometimes when our minds start racing, sparks of brilliance can form. One such spark was from a local businessman who pondered the following question: If there are competitions for chili, barbecue, pies and the like, then what about gravy? Yes, gravy, which is one of the most recognizable parts of southern cooking and is prepared in a multitude of ways. On a trip to New Orleans, Zach Fry was on the hunt for some authentic Cajun gravy and biscuits. While on his search he wondered why no one competes with gravy like many other foods. When he got back to Louisville, he set out to create this culinary challenge.
The first event was a success, with roughly 500 gravy eaters and supporters in attendance. Fry and his Gravy Cup board worked to build upon a fairly solid foundation by reaching out to sponsors, securing celebrity judges such as Edward Lee, setting prize monies and making this unique event a family-friendly affair. It didn’t take long before the Gravy Cup was seeing record-breaking attendance numbers and chefs who wanted to participate year after year. That trend continues to this day. As with many grassroots efforts, the event grew each year. The Gravy Cup has been handed over to the leaders at Boys & Girls Haven, as one of their fundraisers held for the benefit of the children they serve. In the late 1940s a priest by the name of Father James Maloney recognized that there was a disconnect in how orphaned, abandoned and/or abused children in the area were cared for. Oftentimes they were sent to orphanages, foster homes or boarding rooms. Seeing this disconnect, Maloney worked to secure housing for many of these children, and in the process formed what was then Boys Haven with a campus on Goldsmith Lane.
Reaching out to friends and associates, Fry managed to put together a rather impressive event, using social media to both promote and encourage gravy chefs to join the competition. With a small admission cost, attendees got to taste dozens of gravies, some traditional and some a bit on the unusual side. Thus the Gravy Cup was born, and from the beginning it was a philanthropic endeavor with Boys & Girls Haven of Louisville as one As needs have grown, so have the programs of the first gift recipients. that Boys & Girls Haven gives to the children 14 / FEBRUARY 2022
in their care, including in-home foster care, residential foster care, transitional living, independence readiness and Haven family counseling. Through these programs, the highly trained specialists can assist young people through their individual trials and tribulations, and give them shelter, support, empowerment and love. As with most nonprofit organizations, Boys & Girls Haven relies on committed and fervent volunteers who help the small staff to make the lives and futures of the children they serve a bit brighter. One such volunteer is Eve Zartman-Ball. She has had extensive success in her professional career serving as a registered federal lobbyist in Washington, D.C. She has been a part of many movements for worthy causes such as the vision health of children. Aside from her work as a lobbyist, she has worked in the securities industry and was a part of the Wall Street scene in the early 2000s. When her husband William was offered a position in Louisville with Hogan Lovells, the family packed up their things. Being the type of person who can’t sit still for very long, Zartman-Ball began volunteering with Boys & Girls Haven. It didn’t take long before she was taking on the role of Gravy Cup leader - something she has been doing
for the past four years.
serving vessels?
“It is phenomenal how this event has grown over the years,” she says. “Each year seems to get bigger. For instance, I think at one point we had over 50 chefs, both professional and home cooks, participating. We’ve recognized that we need to trim that number down a bit, so we hover around 35 competitors now. That seems to be a more manageable amount.”
“We are very fortunate that we have committed agencies in and around the Louisville area that assist us with those types of goods, such as Horton Fruit Company, Gordon Food Service who provides paper, plastic and wood products and biscuits, and our title sponsor, Purnell’s ‘Old Folks’ Country Sausage, who has been a great company to work with these past years,” Zartman-Ball says. “It amazes me each year the creativity that comes from our culinary community of gravy makers.
Do the competitors have to pay for all of their products, such as plasticware or
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When one thinks about gravy, especially in the south, we are going to think of sausage gravy, but there are so many more ingredients out there such as mushroom and chocolate.” Chocolate? “You can’t go a year without a chef submitting a chocolate gravy,” she adds. When asked about how the competition works, Zartman-Ball is all too happy to share. “There are three categories that the gravies are judged from - traditional, nontraditional and veggie/vegan,” she says. “Lucky for us we have Chef Joshua Moore from Volare who serves as our head judge and often recruits other chefs and notables to serve on the judges panel. Over the years we’ve had some heavy hitters such as the Butcher Babe Loreal Gavin, and Chef Edward Lee of The LEE Initiative and ‘Top Chef.’ We usually
have about nine judges who serve on the panel, but as we’ve talked about, they are sampling a lot of gravy.” “We are actually going to do something a little different this year and offer a VIP experience where a ticket holder will have the opportunity to come to the event, have a table or seat reserved just for them in a separate VIP area where they will be treated to a cooking demonstration from Chef Moore, and be the first ones to be able to taste the competitors’ gravies before the general public,” she continues. Zartman-Ball believes that this addition to the Gravy Cup will be wildly popular, and understandably so, as she shares that general admission attendance is usually into the hundreds, with a ticket price of $35 or $45 at the door. “We are limiting the VIP experience to 80 people, but they will be getting first-class treatment with their $100 single or $150
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couples ticket, not to mention there will be valet service too,” she says. As one would expect, this event cannot function without a lot of hands on deck - around 85 actually. Zartman-Ball, being the shrewd coordinator that she is, has a trustworthy army of volunteers that she has relied on during her tenure with the Gravy Cup.
as ZEGGZ and The Rickhouse, as well as home chef Buddy Wheeler of Tattoo Charlie’s? “Just go to the website, www.thegravycup. com, and there is a form that you will fill out so that you may be considered to participate,” Zartman-Ball says. “As much as I would love to take every chef that applies, we do have to think about the space that we have at the Mellwood Art Center and account for samplers. Should you be a contestant, we ask that you bring at least six quarts of gravy in a chafing dish. As much as you may love to use your Crock-Pot, we simply don’t have enough places to plug in everyone’s appliances.”
“I guess you can pretty much say that I had volun-told my husband that he would be helping me out during this event, but fortunately his company and its local employees serve as the main regiment of people whom I rely on to help get this event off the ground and running,” she says. “These professional men and women by and “It is remarkable that in the 10 years of the large don’t mind the grunt work, and believe Gravy Cup, $125,000 has been raised to help the kids at Boys & Girls Haven,” she you me, it is hard work but so fulfilling.” continues. “I think it is possible that this event could reach national proportions How does one go about becoming a as it is now the unqualified largest gravy contestant for the coveted Gravy Cup competition in the world. Other than the golden skillet, won by such businesses
delicious gravy and drinks that are passed around, the event has become a family affair for many people. It is wonderful to be a part of something that brings families together for a cause that helps to bring a sense of family to children.” The Gravy Cup will take place on February 19, 2022, at Mellwood Art Center, with VIP entrance at 9 a.m. and general admission from 10 a.m. until noon. For more info, visit thegravycup.com.
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Dale interviewing Fran Foor and Angela Johnson
AGING
With Grace DALE JOSEY FINDS SUCCESS AND FULFILLMENT WITH AGING THEMED PODCAST Writer / Annette Skaggs Photography Provided
student at the Bishop Gibbons school in Schenectady, New York.
So, you have reached the point in life where you are wondering what your next chapter will be like, such as retirement. When approaching retirement, one often looks forward to many possibilities such as travel, sleeping in, and spending more time with friends and family.
How did a kid born in the RaleighDurham area of North Carolina get to a Roman Catholic school in New York?
When Dale Josey retired from his work at the Blackacre Conservancy in Louisville, where he served as the executive director, as well as being president of the Louisville Forum, he faced a simple question: What’s next? Having had varying successes in a multitude of careers, Josey felt he needed to hone his abilities and talents for helping others something he was taught to do as a young
“Growing up in Raleigh, we were subject to racism, so when the opportunity came for my dad, who was in logistics, to advance his career, our family moved,” Josey says. “As I attended public school my grades were bad. My family wanted what was best for me so I enrolled in Bishop Gibbons. You can imagine that there weren’t many people of color there, but this school was a blessing. The training and discipline that I received and studied while there, I still use to this very day.” After graduating from high school, Josey headed off to the University of Michigan to 20 / FEBRUARY 2022
study law. With his nose in books, Josey had an epiphany about what he was learning, or better yet, what he was not learning. While he was at one of the country’s premier law schools, the coursework did not teach students how to market and brand themselves. With a new educational path, Josey graduated from the University of Michigan, not with a law degree, but with a marketing degree. He began what would be a career of more than 15 years teaching attorneys how to get their names and talents out to
Lester LaBroi
the world. Locally, Josey has worked with prestigious law firms such as Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs as well as Stoll Keenon Ogden. In the early 2000s he served as an adjunct professor at the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.
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Unfortunately for Josey, a career in marketing took a while to blossom. After graduating from college and having a young family, Josey knew he had to get on a career path, and what interested him was television and broadcasting. One day Josey found himself at the Kentucky Educational Television (KET) offices in Lexington looking for a position. He was asked if he knew how to operate a camera. “I said yes, but I didn’t know,” Josey says. “I was asked by my interviewer to show my camera skills, but he was called away. It was as if by heavenly providence that that happened, as it allowed me a few moments to familiarize myself with the camera, and when my interviewer got back I was able to answer the questions thrown at me. Believe it or not, I worked that very evening.” After eight years with KET, Josey made his way to the aforementioned law offices and shared his abilities and skills. It was also during this time that he met Councilman David Tandy, who would ultimately serve as a catalyst for Josey’s continued successes. After working with Tandy on his mayoral bid, Josey found himself in demand, as many organizations in and around the area were vying for his experience and can-do attitude. It took a while, but eventually Josey made it to the executive
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Association of Retired Persons (AARP). “I was reading a book by the president of the AARP at that time that addressed the rampant ageism that many people my age continue to experience,” Josey says. “I am a very energetic person and want to see what’s around the corner. It was also a look at the spending ability with the elderly that had planned their future finances smartly.” director role at Blackacre Conservatory. During his tenure, Josey introduced programs such as Little Sprouts, where students would learn life lessons through planting seeds. While things weren’t always rosy during his time at the nature preserve, Josey is proud of what he was able to accomplish.
After reading the book, a spark of thought came to Josey and a few months later, after a bit of research and securing funding, “Aging When asked what gives him a drive or spark, With Grace” was created in the summer of 2019. a gleam comes into his eyes. be a good time to look at my retirement. That would have been February 2019.”
“Gambling - it turns my crank,” he says. “Not in the sense of poker or blackjack, but more along the lines of rolling the dice of chance and the thrill of having an idea coming to life.”
“When I came on at Blackacre, I was given a blank canvas - a tabula rasa,” Josey says. “I ran with that, but when the board began to ask for One such idea is the podcast “Aging more work with analytics, I felt that that would With Grace,” sponsored by the American
“I reached out to the Kentucky AARP chapter about possible sponsorship of this podcast and was happy to learn that they were happy to, and continue to do so,” Josey says. When asked about what one commonly hears during his podcast, Josey smiles.
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“It is kind of formatted like a variety show,” he says. “Commonly the show is presented in three to four segments, such as centering one’s self, suggestions for navigation, and information that is beneficial to the listener, whether it be medical, financial or spiritual. We’ve also talked about starting over, and I often try to include a story about a person on the edge of failure who has found success. My podcasts usually run for about 45 minutes, are categorized and can be found on my website, awg55.com.” What is the significance of 55? Aren’t most retirees 65 and older? “Yes and no,” Josey says. “It is common that many retirements happen at the age of 65, but research has shown that people aged 55 are the ones that are being looked at on the aging spectrum. Because of this ageism, we wanted to be able to cater to that age group as well.” Where does the content come from for the
going to keep doing what I’m doing,” Josey says. “The podcast is a project that I believe in and enjoy producing. I don’t see me slowing down any time soon.”
podcasts? “I truly look to the community to share stories with me,” Josey says. “I have a listenership of about 150,000 to 200,000 people, with about 10,000 Facebook and 20,000 Twitter followers. Those numbers are a 30% increase from when I began this in 2019.”
Josey shares a belief that he has learned, lived and continues to apply through his life. “Carry your own water,” he says. “Do not rely on others to carry yourself through.”
What is next for Josey? “Having just celebrated being married to my lovely wife Guinevere for 30 years and having five children and lovely grands, I am
It is safe to say that through his lifelong community involvement, and desire to tap into the needs, wants and happiness of others, Josey has found a stable and fulfilling calling.
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“Wow, we’re everywhere!” one happy Crosshair Media Placement (CMP) client exclaimed. “As a marketer, that’s what we want to hear,” says James Reed, CMP president. “Being everywhere” is really about being in the right places at the right time to reach your target audience. At CMP, an advertising agency headquartered in Louisville, effective advertising campaigns start with research and a deep understanding of where the client’s audience consumes media. “We prioritize and dominate, meaning we invest in digital, television, print, outdoor and other media based on research to develop a targeted strategy and placement that gives the perception that our clients’ messages are everywhere their specific audience is consuming media,” Reed says. This approach exemplifies CMP’s philosophy of serving as good stewards of their clients’ advertising budgets. Andi Ramser, an advertising industry veteran and vice president of CMP, is passionate about partnering with clients to ensure the right media mix and placement.
“Sometimes people see the next new shiny object and they want to direct their advertising towards it, but that’s not always the best option,” Ramser says. “We care about our clients and want to make sure they’re getting the most out of their advertising budgets. We invest our clients’ advertising dollars as if they’re our own.” That’s why CMP has also bucked the traditional ad agency model of charging hefty retainers to engage in business with the firm. Reed says in his more than 20 years in the advertising business, he has seen businesses spend as much as 40% of their advertising budgets on agency retainers and fees, and saw this as a huge opportunity to bring change to the industry for the good of his clients. Another difference is Reed and Ramser’s personal dedication to their clients’ success. All initial media planning, negotiating and buying strategy is handled by the seasoned advertising executives, and not delegated down. An initial media evaluation with the CMP team starts with an analysis of the client’s goals and objectives along with the audience and industry demographics to determine the effectiveness of their current tactics, as well establishment of a comprehensive plan going forward. “We identify the tactics and tools that we determine are effective based on their goals as well as things we would change,” Reed says. “In some cases we need to look at FEBRUARY 2022 / 25
CONNECT doing a complete overhaul of what they’ve been doing. Other times it’s minor tweaks that make a major difference in overall effectiveness.” This is where CMP shines. Having a detailed, trackable road map is crucial for clients to achieve their desired outcomes. Successful outcomes and trusted partnerships are reasons CMP has many longtime successful clients across Kentuckiana and the U.S., and continues to grow. Another vital member of the Crosshair management team is Stephanie Gumer. She is the director of media relations and has nearly 20 years of marketing experience. “Our clients are wonderful,” Gumer says. “Having the ability to work with them so closely on marketing their business is very rewarding. That’s why we enjoy long-term relationships with each one.” “Clients look to us as a resource,” Reed adds. “We make their lives better and their jobs easier, and want them to be successful.”
TAKE THE PLUNGE ANNUAL POLAR PLUNGE BENEFITS SPECIAL OLYMPICS KENTUCKY
events, that compete with the Polar Plunge. Some people also consider the Polar Plunge a “bucket list” event; something they want Heavy, gray clouds sit in the sky, and the to do one time but don’t feel the need to wind is brisk. You are gathered with friends repeat. outside, shivering despite the warmth of “We have a core group of five or six teams bodies around you, and you are mentally who have participated for 10 years or more,” preparing yourself to do something you McMahon says. “That is only about 20% of don’t normally do this time of year - jump participants. We have to recruit a new crew into an outdoor pool of frigid water in your of participants every year.” bathing suit. Writer / Carrie Vittitoe Photography Provided
Each year hundreds of people in Louisville, and even more throughout the state, make this jump as part of the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Kentucky. “It is one of the signature fundraising events not just here in Kentucky, but around the country,” says Development Director Jennifer McMahon. Louisville’s Polar Plunge is the largest in the state and typically raises about $150,000 to help fund Special Olympics activities. McMahon says in its heyday, there were years when this event would raise a quarter of a million dollars and had more than 1,000 people participate. Time has changed the Polar Plunge, as it changes everything. These days there are all sorts of fundraisers centered on physical activity, such as color runs and “mudder” 26 26 // FEBRUARY JANUARY 2022 2022
These days the Louisville Polar Plunge site is at Main Event located off of Blankenbaker Parkway, but for close to two decades the Ohio River was the body of water into which participants jumped. “Very early on the Polar Plunge was at Waterfront Park near the Great Lawn,” McMahon says. “Then it moved to where the Tumbleweed was located because that is a much more safe location.” The downside of having an event on the Ohio River is that Mother Nature can foil your plans. During a five-year period, McMahon says participants were only able to jump in the river twice. In one case the event was canceled because the park was flooded. “That’s not a great business model, for a nonprofit to depend on an event that may or may not take place,” McMahon says.
There are very few Polar Plunge locations that involve a natural body of water, because of unpredictability. While lots of people get teams together to participate in the Polar Plunge, it is actually an individual fundraising exercise.
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“Each individual is challenged to raise or donate a minimum of $75 each,” McMahon says. Interested participants register online and can connect their participation to their Facebook page. “They can fundraise through that network, which has really seen huge increases in what each participant is able to fundraise,” McMahon says. Special Olympics leaders ask individuals, or team captains if individuals have banded together to form a team, to check in the Thursday prior to the event to avoid unnecessary lines and holdups on the day of the plunge. The Polar Plunge on Saturday is a time of ceremony. “In a typical year we have a big openingceremonies program,” McMahon says. Athlete leaders speak and share their stories, and sponsors are recognized. This is followed by a costume contest. Teams tend to dress up in coordination. Some teams have every member dressed as a hula girl or a cupid baby, while other teams dress as a well-known group such as Teletubbies, Care Bears and Marvel characters.
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The plunge follows the costume contest and while most people opt to put on a bathing suit, there are some who jump into the water in costume. Individuals in elaborate costumes can use the changing tents to put on something more waterappropriate. McMahon suggests people come to the ceremonies in costume but change into family-friendly clothing that is not heavy or clingy, such as a T-shirt and shorts.
“We raise a minimum of $500,000 each year through these Polar Plunge events,” McMahon says. “It is a big chunk of our budget and has a very large impact on our ability to deliver our programs.”
“You don’t want jeans and a long-sleeve shirt that’s soaking wet when it is 40 degrees,” McMahon says. “It weighs a lot and makes climbing up the ladder hard. Sometimes you have to wait for a changing room to be open.”
“We are a year-round sports training and competition program for children and adults with intellectual disabilities,” says Mark Buerger, director of communications and external relations.
In certain years it has been cold enough for ice to form on the pool water. The pool is set up the day before, holds 9,000 gallons of water and is transported across Kentucky for other Polar Plunge events.
Those programs are extensive. Special Olympics Kentucky offers 15 sports during four seasons to athletes, including softball, bowling, track and field, swimming, artistic gymnastics, alpine skiing, and bocce.
While the state summer games are widely known, not everyone realizes the breadth of what Special Olympics Kentucky offers. Athletes can begin participating in the main sports programs at age 8 and there is no top-out age. Athletes can compete until
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they simply don’t want to anymore. Buerger says at one point there was an 89-year-old Special Olympian who competed. Special Olympics Kentucky also has a Young Athletes program for children ages 2 to 7, through which children develop the motor and social skills needed to transition into full participation in sports when they turn 8. Bocce has become a hugely popular sport in the Special Olympics community. “Bocce is a great sport for people with mobility issues or who are older,” Buerger says. “The first year we offered bocce as a competitive event we built three bocce courts. Last year at the summer games, I think we built 15. When you go to a Special Olympics event you see the best version of what sports can be in people’s lives.” There are no limitations on who can participate in Special Olympics programs. “We use a process we call divisioning that
ensures that anybody who comes to our program has the opportunity to compete at a level where they can be successful and enjoy their experience,” Buerger says. Athletes are grouped by age, gender and demonstrated ability. “For a lot of our families, Special Olympics is the first place they’ve gone where there are people who encourage their athletes, who believe their athletes can accomplish things and have expectations of their athletes,” Buerger says. It is for this reason that people throughout Kentucky willingly jump into potentially ice-cold water to support the mission of the organization. This year's plunge will take place on February 26th. Sign up online at sky.org/louisvilleplunge For more info, visit soky.org/polarplunge.
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7 DATE IDEAS FOR A MEMORABLE VALENTINE’S DAY Writer / Abigail Hake Photography Provided
30 / FEBRUARY 2022
V
alentine’s Day is coming up, which means it’s time to start planning the perfect date for you and your special someone. Do you prefer a typical dinner with your loved one or would you rather enjoy a Valentine’s Day that’s a little more memorable? Whatever you like, here are a few ideas that you may or may not have thought of before.
1. GO SKATING
Lots of outdoor ice rinks are still open through the end of February so check out your options. Skating under the stars can be very romantic. If outdoor skating isn’t an option, look into skating times at your local indoor rink or even roller rink. Gliding around together and holding hands is always a good time. If you aren’t comfortable with skating, grab some hot chocolates and go watch others do it. This can actually be quite entertaining and definitely leave you with something to talk (or laugh) about!
2. RECREATE A FAVORITE MEMORY
Whether it’s your first or 15th Valentine’s Day together, there’s probably a memorable moment between the two of you that stands out. Do your best to recreate that special moment. Go back to where you met or where your first date was, and take a walk down memory lane it’s sure to give you all the feels.
3. PLAN A PICNIC
While you might not be able to do this outside, there are plenty of indoorfriendly ways to have a picnic. Set up in the living room in front of the fire, crack open a bottle of wine, and enjoy some light snacks and appetizers while getting to know each other a little better - or, if you’ve been together a while, getting to know each other again.
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4. DO A DRIVE-IN DATE
Load up the car with some folding chairs, cozy blankets and lots of snacks, and head to your closest drive-in theater for an evening with a throwback feel. Depending on the weather, you could set this up in your backyard, at the park or even in the basement if the weather won’t cooperate. If you plan to do it at home, string some bistro lights for a little extra magic, and don’t forget the popcorn.
5. ENJOY A QUICK GETAWAY
6. GET ACTIVE TOGETHER
If you don’t regularly work out together, this might be a fun one to try. Set up a personal training session, go for a run together or plan a hike with a special surprise at the top. Getting the endorphins going together could really help get the sparks going. Plus, it’s always fun to cheer each other on when doing hard things.
7. CREATE A BUCKET LIST
Getting away is always refreshing for those involved. Whether it’s an evening at the local boutique hotel or a cabin in the woods a couple hours away, enjoy the uninterrupted time together. You might even seek out a treehouse to rent as those have a truly magical and romantic feel, which is sure to make for a memorable Valentine’s date.
Bucket lists are always fun to come up with and even more fun to complete. Why not make one just for the two of you? Come up with all the things you can do without the kids, or maybe before you have kids, depending on where you are in the relationship. Make sure to include all kinds of ideas - fun, silly, extreme, romantic, easy and hard. Start by checking one of the items off the list THIS Valentine’s Day.
Remember, just because it’s Valentine’s Day, that doesn’t mean it has to be a two-person event. No matter where you are on the relationship spectrum, we’ve all had a crazy past couple of years and we all deserve a little treat. If there’s not a significant other in the picture, or maybe you just can’t be with the one you love so dear, spoil yourself and indulge a bit. Grab some chocolates, treat yourself to a nice dinner, or just take some time for yourself - because you deserve it!
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Joe Burket
IN STRIDE
ST. MATTHEWS RESIDENT FINISHES 2ND IN BOSTON MARATHON’S VISUAL IMPAIRMENT DIVISION Writer / Gavin LaPaille Photography Provided
St. Mathews resident Joe Burket wasn’t sure if he would make it to Boston. After qualifying in the visual impairment division for the Boston Marathon at the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes National
Championships, Burket was set to make his debut at the world’s oldest marathon in October of 2021. After a series of events impacted both his travel and running plans, doubt began to seep into Burket’s mind regarding whether he would actually run the race.
Originally planning to take a Southwest flight with his wife and two children, Burket and his family were sitting at the gate when their flight was one of many canceled by the airline. That left Burket scrambling to find a replacement. He did, but only for himself, forcing him to fly solo with a long layover just to get to Boston. After landing, his
34 / ST. MATTHEWS MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2022 / TownePost.com
fortunes seemingly turned for the better, as the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired staff arranged for someone to meet Burket at the airport and transport him to his hotel, while his family was able to find another flight into Boston the following day. After arriving, Burket got another piece of bad news. One of the two guides set to help Burket navigate the 26.2-mile course had broken his toe and would be unable to run. Thankfully, his remaining guide found a willing replacement in the area, and Burket could finally focus on the race. Burket finished the marathon in a time of 3:18:23 and placed second in the men’s vision impairment division, earning $750 for his performance. He said the time wasn’t what he had hoped, but was proud of the way he finished the race. “I was hoping to break 3:15, but I had the travel issues and I wasn’t eating great,”
Burket says. “I got to about mile 15 and had the feeling this isn’t my day. The last five miles turned into survival mode towards the finish. I knew I was in second place at that point in the blind division so I just changed my strategy, stayed calm and held it together. It wasn’t my best race, but it was Boston. It’s not supposed to be an easy race.” This year’s Boston Marathon was the first major marathon to offer a visual impairment division with prize money, making the event even more special for Burket. With the new division, Burket and his fellow competitors were sent out onto the course earlier than the rest of the field, giving him a unique feeling of running the race without the typical crowd of runners. “It was wonderful,” Burket says. “They treat us kind of like the VIP runners. We had our names on the bibs like the professionals. On the front of my shirt it said ‘Joseph’ on it. The whole race they’re yelling my name, ‘Go Joseph - you’re looking good Joseph.’
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They’re actually calling me by name and it was a really unique experience.”
Mathews for close to 20 years and I have that map in my head of where I want to go.”
Burket, 39, hasn’t always been blind. He was diagnosed with a rare condition known as Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in 2012 that caused him to begin losing his sight. It wasn’t long after discovering the condition that he was legally blind.
Locally, Burket enjoys running the track at Waggener High School, Norbourne Estates, Macon Avenue and Seneca Park. When he is in marathon training he runs five to six days per week and 45 to 55 miles, receiving help from the community along the way.
A 2000 graduate of Trinity High School and a member of the cross-country team, Burket had been what he calls a “fair-weathered” runner when he was younger. He started getting more serious about the sport once he lost his vision, and says he is a better runner now than when he was sighted. His longtime familiarity with St. Mathews is a big advantage as he trains throughout the community.
“It’s just trying to work that in, between work and family,” Burket says of his training. “It’s another part-time job. I have a wife that is understanding, grandparents that are willing to help out and I have the luxury of nice neighbors. My parents are close to St. Mathews and my dad will drive me to Seneca Park so I can meet up with others to run. It’s an individual sport but it’s a full team of people that got me to Boston.”
“I don’t have central vision but I have peripheral so my orientation mobility is decent,” Burket says. “I usually meet up with runners a few days a week and run with them. Any other runs I need to do, I’ve been in St.
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While Burket usually runs with guides in races, he does run by himself while training or with a local group of runners. He credits them for teaching him how to
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“I KEEP FINDING A NEW GOAL - JUST CHALLENGING MYSELF TO BE BETTER. I HAVE REACHED NEW LEVELS I DIDN’T THINK I’D HIT, JUST A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.” —JOE BURKET
be a better runner when he was first getting serious about the sport, and helping him comfortably get miles in. “I got a lot faster chasing these guys around,” Burket says. “They are much more experienced and smarter runners than me. A lot of times what I have to do is piecemeal a run. If I have to speed up I find a comfortable straight shot where I can run ahead, turn around and run back to them, and they’ll help me put together a run where I need guides and where I’m comfortable running by myself.” When he isn’t running, Burket works for the Department of Veterans Affairs assisting with disability compensation. A college baseball player at Bellarmine University, Burket has tried other sports geared towards
the visually impaired such as goalball and beep baseball, but enjoys running the most.
marathon in 2012, with Boston in 2022 on his radar as well.
“Running is such an individual sport,” Burket says. “If I can find the time and someone to help me, I can just pick up and go. I just need a pair of running shoes and a clear road to run on. I can do it whenever, wherever. It’s something I feel really comfortable doing. When I’m running with other people it clears my mind and it’s a nice moment of freedom. It’s one of the freest moments of my life of just not worrying.”
“I keep finding a new goal - just challenging myself to be better,” he says. “I have reached new levels I didn’t think I’d hit, just a little bit at a time.”
Burket has a few races planned in the near future. He has committed to the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes National Championships in 2022. Burket will also compete in the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon in 2022, the site of his first half
Burket says doesn’t want to be defined by his disability. “It’s really cool being the second-fastest blind runner at the Boston Marathon but I still compare myself to other runners,” Burket says. “I don’t want to just beat other blind people, I want to beat everyone. I don’t want to be known as the blind runner. I want to be the runner who happens to be blind.”
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