Priceless | August 2012
Young Achievers - Sweet Blessings - Event Photos
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features Keith Yarber
President / Publisher kyarber@topsmarketing.com
Kristen Oakley Associate Publisher Sr. Account Manager kristen@topsmarketing.com Melissa Meatyard
Editor, Magazine Design & Layout melissa@topsmarketing.com
Amanda Harper
Head Writer, TOPS Head Writer Editor and Magazine Design & Layout, LexScene amandah@topsmarketing.com
Danielle Pope
Account Manager danielle@topsmarketing.com
Teri Turner
Account Manager teri@topsmarketing.com
Buffy Lawson
Account Manager buffy@topsmarketing.com
Kellie Corridoni
Account Manager kellie@topsmarketing.com
Keni Parks
Photographer / Advertising Sales kenilparks@gmail.com
Ali Hammond
Advertising Sales ali.hammond56@gmailcom Contributing Writers Hallie Bandy, Amanda Harper, Angie Kerrick, Buffy Lawson, Megin Morgan, Michelle Rauch, Deanna Talwalkar
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Self Esteem: Giving Your Kids a Great Start Awesome Birthday Parties Young Achievers Budgeting: It’s Not So Bad Mom Math Doesn’t Add Up Social Media: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly TOPS Families Posh Paws: Pet Lessons Show-offs: Pets In the Buf: Boys will be Boys Refresher Course for Drivers Over 55 TOP Shots
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Families Celebrating Oaks & Derby Child Care Council Spring Institute Central Baptist Expecting Great Things Lexington Legends Memorial Day Pool Party at Andover Story Time Heroes at The Nest Kids Support the CATS Lexington Celebrates Independence Day Friday Night Flicks at Jacobson Park Jr. League Horse Show Family Night Girls on the Run
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Families Celebrating Oaks and Derby The first weekend in May is a historic and eventful weekend for the state of Kentucky, but that doesn’t mean kids and families can’t get in on the fun! Whether you are in the paddock at Churchill or watching it on the big screen at Keeneland, the whole family is encouraged to celebrate in the tradition that makes Kentucky famous around the world! Photos by Michele Johnson and Alex Orlov
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Child Care Council Kids Matter Spring Institute On April 20th & 21st, the Child Care Council of Kentucky was pleased to present the 23rd Annual Kids Matter Spring Institute. This event is an opportunity for teachers and administrators of Early Childhood Education to obtain 6 hours of Continuing Education. The Child Care Council is honored to offer this diverse event each year. Photos provided by the Child Care Council
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Central Baptist Expecting Great Things Maternity Event Roughly 800 moms-to-be attended Central Baptist Hospital’s Expecting Great Things maternity event at Keeneland. Attendees talked with Central Baptist physicians, saw maternity exercise demonstrations, munched on tasty refreshments and were treated to an array of great prizes. Mommy blogger and author Amy Wilson encouraged the crowd to enjoy motherhood and not to strive for perfection. Photos by Alex Orlov
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TOPS Family
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Families Enjoy The Lexington Legends! The Lexington Legends are having a great season and families around Lexington can’t get enough of the fun. There are tons of great things for kids like the Kids Club nights and even great fun for the family on Mother’s and Father’s Days! During the season, local little league teams were given the star treatment on the field with the team! The rest of the season is in full swing, so go on out to Whiaker Bank Ballpark to enjoy some more fun! Photos by Alex Orlov & David Desjardins
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Families Enjoy The Lexington Legends! It is always a fun day at Whitaker Bank Ballpark! The Legends are having a great season and Lexington families love going out to support their local team. Bring your pets on Bark in the Park nights and have the kids join the Legends Kids Club for exclusive content! There is nothing that says summer more than a day at the ballpark!
Photos by Alex Orlov & David Desjardins
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Andover Country Club Memorial Day Pool Party The start of summer fun for most people is Memorial Day and Andover Golf and Country Club kicked off their pool and summer season in style with a family friendly Memorial Day Pool Party. Members and friends gathered to welcome summer and celebrate another great year at Andover with food, drinks and games for the kids. Photos by Michele Johnson
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Story Time Heroes at the Nest At the Nest Center for Women, Children & Families Child Care Program, volunteers take time out of their busy schedules to read to the children in the care center. The Nest believes that their volunteers help encourage children to develop a love for words and stories that will help them learn throughout life. Recently, Princess Tiana and the Cat in the Hat visited the children at the Nest! Photos provided by The Nest
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TOPS Family
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Kids Support the CATS! Even the kiddos are proud of the Kentucky Wildcats’ incredible season! TOPS spotted kids at every game and even caught a few down in New Orleans for the National Championships. Cats kids also cheered on their favorite team to victory at every game in Rupp Arena. Kentucky Blue looks good on everyone, no matter the age!
Photos by Dr. Michael Huang
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TOPS Family
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self esteem giving your kids a great start by Angie Kerrick
Self esteem begins in infancy and continues throughout our lives. It gives your child a jump start on being a happy, productive adult. Am I good enough? Do people like/love me? These are questions that everyone asks. Be affectionate to your children. Don’t withhold hugs and love from your family. Children that live in safe, loving homes have a higher self value than children from an unloving or abusive home. Be careful what you say. Children can be sensitive to what parents and others say to them. Don’t allow your praise to be focused on only accomplishments. Praise your children for effort also. Some children do not have the skills necessary to be a great athlete; some are not cut out for the academic team; but all children have a skill or trait that makes them special. Help your children find what makes them special. Speak to your children on their level. If your child is a preschooler, get down on your knees and face them eye to eye. This shows your child that you want to
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catch every word of what they are saying and they are important.
Take time to learn about what your child loves and excels at. Whether your child loves comic books or music, be prepared to learn about these things. You may find out something new about yourself, but you will certainly send a message to your kids that they are important. Allow your child to pick out the activity they love. This sends a clear message that you love and value them. You will get bored with the same activities much sooner than your child. Do not ask to play something else, just grin and play.
Give your children responsibilities. All children can help maintain the home. This gives the child a sense of family. If a child sees the entire family pitching in to maintain the home, and knows they are expected to help also, it shows that they are a valuable part of the family too. After a child develops a sense of responsibility to family, work on a sense of responsibility to society. Encourage them to volunteer. Whether it is walking a sick neighbor’s dog or handing out food at a soup kitchen, teach children that they can make a large impact.
awesome birthday parties by Deanna Talwalkar
All kids love their birthday. What’s not to love – the gifts, the party, the cake, lots of friends! If your kids are like mine, they start counting down to the big day weeks in advance. However, planning your child’s birthday can sometimes be overwhelming. The following five tips will help you throw a fabulous, memorable birthday party, without the usual party planning stress. Pick a Theme – Picking a theme helps to make the party more cohesive and easier to plan. The easiest place to start when planning a theme is simply asking the birthday boy or girl. Once you pick a theme, you can plan the table setting, desserts, decorations, and all the paper goods to match the theme and color scheme. Printable Party Collections, available online, include digital files for cupcake toppers, place cards, favor tags, banners, and water bottle labels. You can print these items at home to further carry out the party theme. Sticking with a theme both makes choosing the items much simpler and gives the entire party a unified, intentional look.
Do What You Do Best – For a stress-free party, only plan to do what you do best. Think about your individual talents. Maybe you are a fantastic crafter, but the idea of baking and decorating a cake intimidates you. By hiring a professional to make your cake, you can focus on doing the parts of the party that you actually enjoy. If a professional cake is not in your party budget, look no further than your friends and family. For instance, you may have a friend who makes the most beautiful, delicious cakes, but you are the go-to person in your circle for making delicious lasagna. If so, simply trade your services by offering to make dinner for your friend’s next dinner party, in exchange for a cake for your child’s party.
option is to host the party outside the home at a site where there is built-in activity, like a bowling alley, gymnastics center, or gymnasium.
Personalize the Party – One way to personalize a party is to let your child’s favorite items inspire you when picking a theme. Look to items or themes that are special to your child, like a favorite color, book, cartoon character, or toy. Reflecting your child’s personality in the party will make it more memorable for you and your child. Also, remember your guests. Kids love seeing their own names on anything, so I typically like to include the guests’ names on place cards and favor tags. If your party makes both the guest of honor and the guests feel special, then it will be a huge success. Choose One Nice Favor – Instead of a bag of small items, choose one nice favor. It doesn’t have to be expensive. For instance, you could package one beautiful sugar cookie or other edible item for each guest. You can also pick a favor that guests can use again, but will also remind them of the party. For example, I planned an Alice in Wonderland tea party for a client’s daughter’s first birthday. For a favor, we picked out hand-painted tea cups. It was a keepsake that guests could display or use for their own tea party at home. Small books or a box of crayons and a small notepad are also inexpensive ideas for a nice party favor. Throwing a great birthday party doesn’t have to be daunting. By following these five tips you can plan a wonderful birthday party that your child will never forget!
Plan an Activity – The key to a successful party is a great activity. Parents often plan crafts to occupy the kids. However, some crafts can be quickly completed, leaving the kids ready for the next activity. Including an open ended activity allows the guests to have the opportunity to play at their own pace. For instance, at my daughter’s 9th birthday 70s disco party, the guests first tie-dyed shirts and painted pet rocks. When they finished the crafts, they had a dance party for the remainder of the party. Another
To download free templates and recipes to recreate the theme shown here visit topsinlex.com/Read/3593/Awesome+Birthday+Parties
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young achievers 2012 Meet a group of shining stars in our community! Each year, a top school winner is named by the “Young Achievers” program from each participating elementary and middle school in Fayette county. Every winner receives a Young Achievers Gold Medallion, t-shirt and book bag, as well as an award certificate. Nominated by their principal, guidance counselor or teacher, these 5th and 8th grade students serve as positive role models for their peers, demonstrate exceptional achievement in a variety of areas, exhibit good citizenship in their schools/communities and maintain satisfactory records of school attendance and scholastic achievement. Holifield Photography sponsors “Young Achievers” in cooperation with the International Leadership Network and has narrowed down the list to twenty Young Achievers. The following pages highlight these twenty students, followed by the other 38 leaders who make up this year’s Young Achievers.
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8th Grade Tates Creek Middle School Winning second place in the state for microbiology at the Kentucky Science and Engineering Fair, along with The Naval Science Award, Alexis is proud of her awards and many achievements. Honor roll, distinguished in all categories on the CATS test, two Reflections art awards, and winner of the TCMS IB Learner Profile Logo Contest, just to name a few. She also participated in the National Lexus Eco Challenge, with her group being one of the eight winning teams selected. A self-taught pianist, Alexis enjoys music and has been a member of the KMEW All-state junior high treble chorus, the Lexington Singers Children’s Choir, and her high school choir. While participating in a wide variety of activities including student council and her school’s International Club, Alexis also spends a lot of time volunteering in the community for organizations like Cub Scouts, the Lexington Humane Society, and God’s Pantry. In the future Alexis plans to attend college to pursue her Doctorate Degree.
Andy Du
5th Grade Ashland Elementary School
young achievers – top 20
Alexis Wells
A first place winner of the KMTA State Piano Competition for the three years in a row (08-10), as well as a two-time winner at the 2009 & 2010 Nathaniel Patch Piano Competition, Andy has competed against some of the best young musicians in the southeast region. Recently he won his first National Federated Music Club solo golden cup in 2009, as well as his first concerto golden cup in 2011. In school Andy is an A student in the G&T Program, Vice President of his class 4-H Club, as well as a peer mediator. He also enjoys sports and participates in the Wildcats Aquatics swim club, with his relay team winning 4th place out of 20 teams at the 8&U KY State Championship Meet. In his free time he enjoys reading, drawing, and cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats. In the future Andy wants to pursue a career as an architect.
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5th Grade Lexington Christian Academy Chosen to represent his school at the Fayette County Science Fair this year, as well as competing in the Duke Talent Search, Caleb aspires to be a toy designer. Caleb participates in the Robot Club at his school, programming Lego robots. He also takes design classes in his free time to build the groundwork for his career. With a successful career, Caleb wants to devote his time to helping others. After being asked to deliver a valentine to a homeless person as part of a school project, Caleb now understands how it takes just one act of kindness to have an impact on a person’s life. He uses this motto on the soccer field and basketball court, and plans to stand by it in the future.
Darius Fullwood
8th Grade Winburn Middle School
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Caleb Harper
Having attended the NYLC (National Young Leaders Conference) Darius plans to pursue a career in law enforcement or professional athletics. Showing off his leadership skills on the sports field, as well as in the classroom, Darius believes grades and school work come first. He has been awarded many academic achievements throughout his school career as well as maintaining a 3.6 GPA. He also enjoys participating in various clubs that allow him to help people like the Boys to Men mentor group. His hobbies include playing football, basketball, singing and reading. When he gets older, Darius plans on attending college to earn a degree. He believes that his leadership and good grades will get him to where he wants to be in life.
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young achievers – top 20
Hannah Hahnenstein 5th Grade Southern Elementary School As one of the top spellers in her class, Hannah qualified for the school-wide Spelling Bee this year, as well as having received the Principal’s Picture Perfect Dolphin Award. She also scored Distinguished in both Math and Reading on the KCCT Test. As a student she is very involved participating in the Art Club, Girls on the Run, Southern Sound, and helping out as a library assistant. She is also very involved in her community and enjoys volunteering for Assurance Crisis Pregnancy Center in their annual Love Walk, as well as supporting the American Heart Association in Jump Rope for Heart. In 2010 she worked together with members of her community in prepackaging one million meals for residents of Haiti. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, writing, swimming and playing the guitar.
Harris Hawkins
5th Grade Cassidy Elementary School Passionate about sports since he was five years old, Harris was chosen to play for the Glendover all star team in 2011, as well as one of the major league teams in his baseball league. A member of the Cassidy Academic Challenge Team, Harris was selected as a winner at the Cassidy Science Fair in 2011, as well as being asked to perform in the Cassidy Variety Show for the past three years. Having scored Distingushed rating on his KCCT Test, Harris enjoys school and has maintained a 3.8 GPA. In addition to his school and extracurricular activities, he enjoys volunteering at his local church serving food to homeless people in the community, as well as raising money for the American Cancer Society by participating in Relay for Life. In his free time he loves to fish, swim and go camping. In the future Harris plans on attending college on the coast of North or South Carolina to pursue a career in marine biology.
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4th Grade Veterans Park Elementary School Striving to be a good role model, Jacob is a Goodwill Ambassador for the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) where he helps to raise both money and awareness for neuromuscular diseases. He also reads to Kindergarten and first grade classes at school, as well as attending The Center for Courageous Kids summer camp through MDA. He enjoys participating in school activities like Academic Team, Lego Robotics and playing saxophone in the school band. Outside of school Jacob rides horses at CKRH (Central Kentucky Riding for Hope) and spends his free time listening to music and playing video games. In the future Jacob aspires to become a scientist and work for NASA.
Joshua Siegel
5th Grade Rosa Parks Elementary School
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Jacob Meyer
An accomplished Bridge player, Joshua has competed in open games against Lifetime Masters and has even received recognition from the American Contract Bridge Association, when they wrote an article featuring him on their national website. He also enjoys soccer and has won trophies for both the U9 LIT Tournament & LYSA U10 Mixed Fall League. Having lived in Geneva, Switzerland for three years, Jacob loves traveling and has visited over 20 countries. In school he has been recognized as a “Star Student”and has been given Citizen and Perfect Attendance Awards. His extracurricular activities include playing piano, basketball and participating in his church choir and bible study. Jacob is very involved in his community and enjoys volunteering for organizations like the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, the Angel Tree Ministry as well as working in several political campaigns where he even gave a speech for his Uncle’s re-election to LFUCG Council-at-Large race.
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Langston Jackson 5th Grade Athens-Chilesburg Elementary School Having received “Student of the Year” award at his elementary school, Langston participates in many school activities including the One Community One Voice Team, the Student Technology Leadership Program, as well as playing the violin in the school orchestra. He also scored all distinguished on the KCCT test this year, and is an honor roll student. With a love of sports, Langston plays both basketball and football for the Southland Chiefs and the YMCA Colts where he was selected MVP for several football tournaments. He is a member of the King’s Kids ministry at New Vine Baptist Church and loves helping out with community projects like Salvation Army, Shriners Hospital and collecting toys for the Ronald McDonald house. In his free time he enjoys attending the Junior Police Academy. In the future Langston aspires to be a NFL football player, lawyer, and own his very own McDonald’s restaurant.
Malinda Lemons
5th Grade Deep Springs Elementary School Malinda enjoys all her classes, especially math and art. She recently received the SBDM Certificate of Achievement for obtaining the Distinguished Level in Math on the KCCT Assessment. In addition to loving school, Malinda loves participating in extra-curricular activities at her church. There, she has performed in several musicals with both speaking and singing parts. Recently, Malinda was selected by her church to audition for the Kentucky Baptist AllState Children’s Choir. In addition to singing, she is also a member of her church’s AWANA Club. There she learns about missionaries and has participated in several mission projects like making posters for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering that supports North American Missionaries and making birthday cards for the children in the foster program at Sunrise Children’s Services. Malinda is also very active. She enjoys playing basketball in the Upward program, swimming, biking and spending time on her grandparent’s farm.
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Mattie Fogle 8th Grade Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School Mattie has maintained straight A’s over the past eight years. She is also a member of the Beta Club, the Academic Team and in the Gifted and Talented (ACES) Math Program. Math isn’t the only subject Mattie is gifted in. She advanced to the District Science Fair two years in a row. Musically talented, Mattie was selected to be a member of the Honors Band and has been awarded high marks for her solo and ensemble performances. She has also received the Panther Pride Award three times and was an honored recipient of the Mary Award. Mattie is also an athlete, playing on Mary Queen’s volleyball and basketball teams, and swims competitively year round for the Lexington Dolphins and in the summer for the Pinnacle Pirates. Mattie has also volunteered in many service projects such as Pennies for Patients and collecting baby blankets for Birthright. In her free time, Mattie loves to read, swim, play basketball and volleyball, listen to music and play her clarinet. One day she hopes to become a science teacher.
Megan Yorkey
8th Grade Christ the King School Megan has participated in volleyball, basketball, the Kentucky Youth Assembly, Battle of the Books and Math Counts in school. She was also a member of the Girl Scouts and in fifth grade she was awarded the bronze award – the highest Girl Scout award for fifth graders. Megan is one smart cookie, too. She was given the opportunity to participate in the Duke Tip Program and has made the Honor Roll at Christ the King several times. Megan also has been playing the flute for two years and the guitar for three. In her spare time, Megan likes to play basketball and the guitar. She also enjoys spending time with friends, neighbors and pets. Every year she volunteers with God’s Pantry and the Catholic Action Center Christmas Store. Megan loves playing with and taking care of animals, so she would eventually like to study in a field related to animals.
8th Grade Morton Middle School Rachel is a straight A student where all her classes are advanced placement. She has qualified for the Duke TIP Talent Search program and is in Beta Club, on the Honor Roll, and has been awarded more than 20 excellent achievement awards. Rachel also hopes to be bilingual. She is taking Spanish as a second language. Rachel enjoys helping others through volunteer programs such as Cassidy/Morton Study Buddies, the Toyota Bluegrass Miracle League, Feed My Starving Children, YMCA Childcare, and God’s Pantry. She showcases her musical talents in the 8th Grade Orchestra by playing the violin, and can also jam on the paino and the drums. She enjoys design and photography, most recently for the Morton Yearbook. In her spare time Rachel loves to read, play soccer and, within the next two years, she hopes to earn her black belt in Shaolin. She hopes to one day have a career that helps people, like a doctor.
Rasaan Thompson
5th Grade Booker T. Washington Elementary School Rasaan has received many awards for being on the Honor Roll, getting Distinguished on his KCCT test and for completing the MCAP program at UK. He has participated in after-school tutoring, Orchestra and Academic Team. Rasaan has also participated in Boys to Men, a mentoring program with the Iota Fraternity at UK. As a 5th grader, he is a member of the NSBE, the National Society of Black Engineers, for the Central KY AE Chapter. He also participates in Urban Impact of Lexington. He enjoys church, where he is in the Buds Choir, Youth Usher Ministry, Liturgical Dance Ministry, and attends bible study and Sunday school regularly. Some of Rasaan’s favorite activities include basketball, football, summer camp and going on vacation with his family. He also loves reading, singing and playing video games. Rasaan is a big advocate for education and tries to tell others about its importance. He plans to one day go to college and become a member of the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity and study to be a scientist. Rasaan also dreams about becoming a licensed professional barber owning his own Barber Shop!
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Rachel Glasser
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TOPS Family
5th Grade Garden Springs Elementary School Rhayna loves to swim and swims for Wildcat Aquatics, a USA Swimming team, and has swum on the Firebrook summer swim team. As a Wildcat, Rhayna has won many medals and ribbons and even a High Point Trophy. She hopes to one day get a swimming scholarship to college. Rhayna also loves animals. She is a member of the Greater Louisville Golden Retriever Club. She was chosen to participate in CKMEA and is in the Performing Arts Club. She also does Kumon, a reading and math program that helps her excel in her classes. It has certainly paid off because Rhayna is an Honor Roll student. When she was five years old, Rhayna started a tradition; every year on her birthday, she asks her friends for a donation instead of gifts. This money is sent to the orphanage is Bulgaria where she once lived. Rhayna is excited that this tradition allows her and her friends the opportunity to help kids like them.
Samantha Bartoli
8th Grade Beaumont Middle School Samantha’s goals are to always focus on balancing homework, getting good grades, cheerleading and helping her mom and others. Her dad took his own life in 2006, changing her life forever. Samantha takes the time to appreciate family and friends and all the blessings God gives her each day. Competitive cheerleading has become Samantha’s passion. She has been cheering since she was five and has won many awards for being the best all around cheerleader on her team, for sportsmanship, dedication, attitude and perseverance. Samantha hopes to one day win Cheerleading Worlds and eventually cheer for UK and become a sports medicine physician. In addition to cheerleading, Samantha loves working with special needs children and is a member of the Gummy Bear group at Beaumont. She is passionate about mentoring, standing up against bullies and rescuing stray animals. Someday, Samantha hopes to share her personal life experiences to help prevent teen suicide. She says that it feels good to be a good person and do the right thing in helping others.
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Rhayna Bailey
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Sarah Bowan 8th Grade Jessie Clark Middle School Sarah enjoys learning inside and outside the classroom and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average. She recently went on her class trip to Chicago, too. She also plays the violin in the school Orchestra. Sarah is an avid figure skater and a member of the Thoroughbred Figure Skating Club. She has volunteered at The Salvation Army for several years. Through her service she has operated a lemonade stand to help raise money for homeless children in Lexington. Sarah has also helped with the Angel Tree program and the Salvation Army’s food service outreach efforts. In 2010, Sarah began volunteering for the Children’s Ministry at Southland Christian Church. Her future goals are to continue her service to The Salvation Army and Southland Christian Church. She also hopes to strive to become a competitive figure skater and a more successful violinist.
Shayla Anaskevich
5th Grade James Lane Allen Elementary School Shayla prides herself on having many interests and participating in a wide array of activities. This past year she was a member of the Academic Team, the Dance Team, Orff Ensemble, Girl Scouts, Quest and Church Choir. On summer breaks she loves the LFUCG tennis sessions. Shayla has been playing tennis since she was six. She says her dad taught her everything she knows about the sport. Shayla also loves volunteering. She participated in Down Town Ministry serving individuals in need and has participated in 1,000,000 meals for Haiti. Shayla has a long list of awards and accolades, too. She won a trophy in ASA soccer, Top in Accelerated Reader for 3rd Graders, and Dist. in Reading & Math on the KCCT tests. She is also on the A Honor Roll and got first place in the Science Fair. Shayla loves tennis, reading, spending time with family and friends, camping, swimming, riding her bike, fishing and chess. She also tries to be a role model by studying hard and paying respect to her elders. Shayla can see herself being a professional tennis player, a teacher, a heart surgeon, a singer or maybe even a hair stylist.
8th Grade School for the Creative & Performing Arts Tanner is smart (he received All Distinguished on the KCCT Tests), and talented too. His major is ballet and he has participated in many performances including Dance SCAPA, Aladdin Jr. and Peter Pan. Tanner loves to dance and act. At six years old he began acting and modeling with Images Model & Talent Agency. He has been in many independent films, done print work and commercials. Still at the age of six, Tanner competed at the Int’l. Modeling & Talent Assoc. in New York, placing first or second in all 11 categories. He landed an agent in L.A. Tanner began classical ballet at age seven at the Bluegrass Youth Ballet, where he has since been in many performances. He has also competed in the Youth American Grand Prix of Dance, going all the way to the finals in New York. He was asked to audition for Billy Elliot on Broadway. He has attended or been offered scholarships to many prestigious dance programs. Tanner hopes to one day become a professional ballet dancer and a mechanical engineer.
Zariah Embry
8th Grade Lexington Traditional Magnet School Zariah believes that education is an opportunity to excel in life and be a good example to others. Zariah has taken advantage of the academic, fine arts, social and community outreach programs offered at her school. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA while being enrolled in advanced classes during her first two years of middle school. Zariah is a member of the Beta Club, Art Club and the Student Christian Athlete Assoc. This year, Zariah received Distinguished on the KCCT, the Principal’s Scholar Award and was nominated for inclusion in the U.S. Achievement Academy. She is the second chair flute in the band and received a distinguished ranking in the District Music Competition as part of a quintet. Zariah will also play in the Fayette County Public Schools Honor Band. A belief of Zariah’s is that academics lead to an appreciation of God, family and community. Zariah participates in the Children’s ministry at her church every week, assists the Missionaries with events, volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House and participates in projects at school that benefit the homeless and the military. Zariah believes that giving helps the person that receives and the person that gives!
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Tanner Bleck
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young achievers
Abigail Pennington
Adrian Sardinha 5th Grade Yates Elementary School
5th Grade Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School
5th Grade Glendover Elementary School
8th Grade Lexington Christian Academy Jr. High
Anna Thiel
Anelise Ridgway
Anthony Wright
Brooklyn Willhite
Caroline Collier
Casey Cowden
Daniela Conner
Danielle Johnson
Elizabeth Pike
Elyse Blakeman
5th Grade Maxwell Elementary School
5th Grade St. Peter & Paul School
5th Grade Clays Mill Elementary School
8th Grade Southern Middle School
8th Grade Seton Catholic School
Emma Gearon 8th Grade Montessori Middle School
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Alexis Cerise
5th Grade Breckinridge Elementary School
8th Grade Bluegrass Baptist School
Emma Owens
5th Grade Stonewall Elementary School
Allison Ward
5th Grade Russell Cave Elementary School
5th Grade Dixie Magnet Elementary School
Erica Currier
5th Grade Tates Creek Elementary School
Angela Puelo
8th Grade St. Peter & Paul School
8th Grade Bryan Starion Middle School
Haiden Hunt
5th Grade Sandersville Elementary School
Hayden Decker 5th Grade Lansdowne Elementary School
8th Grade Edythe J. Hayes Middle School
Jessica Ewing
5th Grade Julius Marks Elementary School
Jonathan Morford
Kennedy Comer
Kianna Johnson 5th Grade Harrison Elementary School
Kobe Wallace
5th Grade Northern Elementary School
Lauren Smith
Maara Ensmann
Michael Henson
Michael Lanham
Nieve Jackson
Russell Gibson
Ryan Busseni
5th Grade Summit Christian Academy
5th Grade School for the Creative & Performing Arts
5th Grade Arlington Elementary School
5th Grade Squires Elementary School
Savanna Ruebsam 5th Grade Liberty Elementary School
Jena Carter
5th Grade Cardinal Valley Elementary School
Shane Caldwell 8th Grade Leestown Middle School
5th Grade Seton Catholic School
5th Grade Mary Todd Elementary School
Will Susco
5th Grade Millcreek Elementary School
8th Grade Summit Christian Academy
young achhievers
Hannah Barr
5th Grade Meadowthorpe Elementary School
5th Grade Picadome Elementary School
Xavia Smart
5th Grade William Wells Brown Elementary School
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budgeting, it’s not so bad… by Megin Morgan
You may think that because your child doesn’t earn a lot of income (or any at all) they really don’t need to budget, but, on the contrary, it’s the perfect time for them to learn money management skills that will help them through the rest of their adult life. Even though you have a budget you may feel a little unsure of how to actually teach your child how to create one. Here are a few important tips when starting to budget. 1. Discipline – This is the most important part of budgeting! You can purchase software or use free budgeting tools from the web, and think you have it all together, but you have to stick to the limits you have set for yourself.
2. Income vs. Expenses – This doesn’t have to be anything fancy; get a piece of paper and write down the income and expenses for the month. The goal is to manage your expenses to be within your income, and put some money into a savings account. Even if your child isn’t working but is receiving an allowance, count that as income. Expenses, for a teenager or college student, may be dining out or going to the movies. Keep in mind, expenses aren’t a bad thing, as long as you have budgeted for them.
know your balance is to keep track of it yourself. Why, with all the technology available? If you only depend on online banking or your ATM receipt to know your balance, you can get in trouble, and possibly overdraw your account because that balance doesn’t reflect pending transactions, leading you to believe that you have more in your account than you actually do. Most transactions don’t clear your account in real time, and you may have a 2-3 day delay. You can use a good old fashioned check register, a computer program, or even an Excel file. You’ll have to decide which way is best for you. Teach your child that when they use the debit card or write a check to record the transaction and assume it’s gone…even if the money hasn’t cleared the account yet.
You may also find it helpful to discuss your household budget with your child to show them a real life situation and how quickly income can go to all the necessary expenses.
3. Keep track of your balance – Yes, having online and mobile banking are good resources to know activity on your account, but the best way for you to
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mom math doesn’t add up by Hallie Bandy
In our family, the math aptitude gene was bestowed to a single child. But even though numbers aren’t my thing, I have come to realize how useful math can be. On a daily basis, I use algebra and geometry in practical ways. Not to mention statistics, which I never even really studied.
But there is another branch of math, not taught in school, which I’ve had to learn as I go along. I call it Mom Math, and it never adds up.
If you doubt me, here is a quick test to see if you have Mom Math Skillz.
It’s been four days since I washed underwear. I’ve washed all the dirty clothes in the laundry room, but there is no underwear in my son’s clean laundry pile. How long is he wearing one pair of underwear? A – 4 days, B – 8 days, C – 1 day
Correct answer: C (There are six dirty pair under his bed.) There are two parents and four children in our family: How many socks do we launder each week? A – 84, B – 112, C – 111
Correct answer: C (Kids require a fresh pair of socks for workouts. And there is always — always! — a sock missing.)
I bought 65 candy bars. Four kids will each pack a lunch every day. How long will the candy last? A – 3 weeks B – 3 days, C – 3 hours
Correct answer: C
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How many pets does a family with four children need?
A – One per person B – One per household C – One of each species Correct Answer: Take your youngest child to PetSmsart when the Humane Society is there. See if they have any cute kittens. (At least, that’s the answer our family uses.)
Family road trip! Mapquest says the route should take 8 hours. Allowing time for stops, if we leave at 8 a.m., what time will we arrive? A – 5 p.m. B – 8 p.m. C – There is no way we will ever leave at 8 a.m. EVER. Correct Answer: C.
By the time I’ve mothered my kids from infancy through college and beyond, how much will my accumulated in back pay and bonuses be worth? We all know the correct answer—it’s obvious and sappy: PRICELESS!
social media—the good, the bad and the ugly by Angie Kerrick
In today’s society, children are being introduced to computer usage in preschool. This generation will be more technologically advanced than any previous generation. That can be good and bad. The more kids are on the computer, the more likely they are to find things that parents don’t want them looking at or participating in. Facebook is currently the largest social media site and they have a requirement that all account holders be a minimum of 13 years old. Latest reports show that 1 in every 13 people on Earth has a Facebook page and many of those pages belong to under age children. We have all read the headlines of cyber bullying and the vicious attacks that take place. Recent Headlines:
May 2012 – Georgia girl, 14, sues classmates for Facebook Cyber Bullying Case March 2011 – Virginia Student Charged In Facebook Cyber Bullying Case Children don’t always have the forethought to realize the actions they take can have a significant impact on their lives and the lives of others. The 16 year old in the March headline had police execute a search warrant, seize her computer and file a misdemeanor charge of harassment by computer. Charges carry a possible
sentence of one year in prison and fines up to $2,500. When she allegedly created her malicious Facebook page, did she realize the repercussions?
“Friend” your child on all of their social media sites and discuss behavior. There are programs that can be used to monitor computer usage. Norton Online Family is one such program that is free to use. It can monitor online time and social media usage. At least a few times a year, perform online searches for your family. Parents need to be proactive in monitoring children’s computer usage. Teach kids that anything put online is always online. When you are 12 or 13 years old it is hard to understand forever. If they don’t want their Grandparents to know these things about them in their youth, they will not want a boss to know it as an adult.
Keep the line of communication open in your house and stay in tune with your kids and their friends. Kids often have a narrow and inexperienced view of the world and accept anything told them as the truth. As parents, it is our job to keep our kids safe, in the real world and the cyber world.
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vocation-vacation helps one woman realize her true purpose in life by Michelle Rauch
Ashley Gann had never made a cake just six short years ago, let alone decorate an eye catching creation. Little did she know a news segment on “The Today Show” about the value of taking a “vocationvacation” would send her life in a different direction. Gann was bogged down with the stress of preparing to earn her doctorate in public health. She decided to take the show’s advice and take a week off from the norm to try something new. “It’s like God threw a brick from heaven and hit me in the head and said you are going to bake cakes,” Gann says. She took classes, made cakes for
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friends and made many mistakes along the way. During the process she learned something about herself. “I realized I was supposed to spend more time making a difference instead of making a living.” She quit her public health job and went to work at a bakery.
She received validation one day in church. The pastor was talking about inner city outreach. She recalls, “Children who are sick are not the only ones living in crisis. Children who live in poverty live in crisis every day. What better way to reach out, touch their hearts, and make them a
special cake for their special day?” In February of last year Sweet Blessings was born in Lexington and the first cake was made. Since then the group of volunteers has made nearly 500 cakes that have brightened the birthdays of some very special kids. “To be able for one moment on one day to make them happy, make them smile, is all worth it,” Gann says.
Billie Rothel-Martin is another retiree who was touched by Sweet Blessing after she recognized a child she knew on TV who receivied one of the cakes. “I bake cakes, but nothing like this. It’s a learning curve,” she says. The cakes are not your average box cakes. They are vivid—from the colors to the creations. There was a towering cake in the shape of a snow globe, the ultimate Cat-fan cake, Hello Kitty in vivid lime green, pink and black... every cake is custom made to the child’s interests. As a retired educator, Rothel-Martin knows how the smallest thing with a personal touch can mean the most. “The joy, just giving back,” she says as she fights back tears. “When that cake is put in front of them I’m sure their eyes just light up,” RothelMartin says.
Volunteers meet twice a week at two central Kentucky church kitchens to bake and decorate. Sweet Blessings receives referrals from churches, schools, and social service providers for kids who either have life-threatening illnesses or live in poverty.
While they make the cakes, it’s the people who know the children who make the delivery, keeping the people behind Sweet Blessings, anonymous. “It’s a more pure way to give something. You do it, you’re in the background. You don’t need any glory or recognition. That makes it even better,” Gann says.
Word of mouth about the selfless work of Sweet Blessings is spreading. Connie Malone is one of more than a hundred volunteers. She learned about the organization shortly after she retired. She likes being a part of something that is from the heart. “It’s something they know will be made just for them. It’s not a toy other children will have that was picked off the shelf,” Malone says. She feels strongly about putting each child’s name on the cake. “The feedback you get really keeps you going. It’s icing on the cake,” she says.
There have been unintended outcomes. One social worker tells the story of a child who was bullied at school. That social worker delivered the artful cake to the girl during class. The cake started a revolution. “Because someone else saw the value of her with a cake, they (the students) started seeing value in her,” Gann recalls. Behavior changed. When the little girl was bullied, suddenly she had classmates who were coming to her aid and sticking up for her. The motto of Sweet Blessings puts it simply: Helping kids is a piece of cake. To see more photos, learn about volunteering or donate, visit sweetblessingscakes.org.
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TOPS Family
tops families Turner Family: Alex, Nash, Emma & Shelby
Chris, Hank & Danielle Pope
Buffy, Stephen, Jimmy & Ethan (No, this wasn’t the Beast, just the BEASTIE!)
The Adams family enjoys a fishing trip together
Joseph and Emma Yarber
Mason, Madison, Ken & Keni Parks, Nicole and Natalie Freebersyser
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posh paws: pet lessons by Amanda Harper
When a friend of mine was a girl, she had a little puppy. One day, she was playing with him and got frustrated as he kept trying to squirm away. She held him tight to her chest and he squirmed even harder. Her grandfather spied the scene and commanded her to put the pup down. He swept her up in a big bear hug--when she tried to get away, he squeezed just a bit tighter, just to make it clear he wasn’t going to put her down. “Hey!” She exclaimed, “I wanna go... put me down!” He sat her down and said, “Now, how do you think that puppy felt?”
Opportunities to teach children about pet care arise every single day. And while my friend’s example was a bit extreme, it’s a moment that she says has since affected the way she’s interacted with pets and humans alike. In less than a minute’s time, her eyes were opened to a lifetime of empathy and the importance of her role as a pet’s best friend. What opportunities are you missing out on?
Whether it’s the millionth time you’re cleaning up after HIS dog’s mess or the first time she skips out on feeding the cat because she went to the neighbor’s house, it’s often faster to just sigh and take care of the aftermath than deal with the issue straight away. You certainly don’t have to stop the world to teach your kids a lesson regarding a non-serious issue. You’ve got a mess to clean up that needs tending now or you were on your way to pay the bills and you’ll forget if you don’t do it now. You may even be too emotional to do it right then (just ask me about the breakdown I had last week when I saw a hairball on the carpet I’d just cleaned. Really, Saturn? The first hairball all year, and it happens now?) Find a time, perhaps before story time or after dinner that you can calmly discuss the issue with your
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kids. For younger children, it always helps to start with “Do you remember earlier, when...” Explain what happened and how it affects your pet. When possible, relate it to a human interaction situation that your child will be better able to understand, like “You don’t like it very much when you’re hungry, right?” or “When your little brother pulls your hair, it hurts a whole lot, doesn’t it?”
It’s important to know what behaviors your kids may exhibit that would be harmful to a pet’s safety. Those issues do need to be dealt with immediately, and treated seriously. Speak in a serious tone, using simple statements that convey a clear meaning, like “We don’t hurt animals.” If these behaviors are being repeated, it may be wise to speak to a child psychologist to discuss the cause and a more effective solution. It’s important to sort out the root of these situations sooner rather than later. Many parents choose to bring pets into the family as a teaching tool for children, hoping that animals will offer the kids companionship and lessons in responsibility. However, it’s important to consider whether you’re idealizing the situation. Kids at different ages respond differently to animals and feel differently about the duties they’re expected to carry out to care for the pet. If your children aren’t interested in caring for your pet, consider the fact that some kids just aren’t “pet people”. Evaluate whether you’re trying to push pet ownership on your kids. You can still expect them to carry out their pet chores regularly and interact in a friendly way with your pet, but you can’t force a friendship between them, and can’t guarantee that your kids will necessarily ‘get it.’ Maybe they’ll come around someday, but for now, just enjoy spending time with your pet.
showoff y Scout loves summertime, Jade Hunter, Lexington
Lola reading the Ky. Explorer, Tammy Cooper, Berea
Palmer & Bauer, Lindsey DeMoss, Lexington
Check out my ‘Doggles’, Chuck T., Danville
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Snakie (or maybe it’s Sneekie), Buffy Lawson, Lexington
f your pets
Waiting on my prince makes me sleepy, Jennifer W., Lexington
We’re just keeping her company! Teri Turner, Lexington
Annabelle loves her outdoor time, Mitzi Ballard, Lexington
Blondie loves the ocean breezes, Julie Streeter, Lexington
You may continue‌ PLEASE! Jasmine Sallee, Georgetown
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in the ‘Buf’: boys will be boys by Buff y Lawson
Last year my two little boys (ages five and six) were helping Daddy clean out the shed. I was so proud to see them working hard carrying loads of old toys and scraps to the trash. Dad is always so good about combining quality time with work ethic and I couldn’t help but smile as I looked out of the kitchen window.
It was a lovely Saturday afternoon and unusually peaceful in the house, since the children were preoccupied. Yes peace. Something very rare in a home of high spirited, competitive young boys. As I was humming along with Nora Jones, with lit candles, my newfound peace was suddenly disrupted by the sound of the kids barreling through the doors.
“Mom!!! We found some snakes! Like two thousand hundred of them! You have to come see! They are soooo cool!” Their precious little cotton top heads were about to pop off from excitement. As a woman, I hate snakes. My person does not care if it is a large deadly boa constrictor or a six inch garter. A snake is a snake is a snake.
Just as quickly as the boys rushed in, they were back out in the yard closely investigating the situation. I knocked on the window to get dad’s attention just to notice that he seemed to be putting together a cage.
A cage? Was he seriously considering putting snakes in that cage preparing to bring them into this house? I rushed outside and yelled, “Hey! What’s going on out here!” Dad replied… “Babe! You’ve got to see this. There’s a huge village of garters out here! I thought the boys would like to catch a couple of them. I found a couple of little bitty babies. They are actually pretty darn cute!” Cute? A cage? Snakes in my house? “Noooo way!! I replied, sternly. “Come on honey, they are boys. Boy’s like snakes. Besides they are completely harmless and they can’t get out of the cage.”
Apparently this wonderful man had lost his mind and did not know me or his own children as well as I thought. Did he really think that our kids wouldn’t leave the top off the cage? As we often do as mothers, I surrendered to my kid’s wishes.
The cage, housing two snakes named Snakie and Sneekie was now in the boy’s room along with one turtle, six fish, three gerbils and a large guinea pig. One week later…
I came home from work and headed for a nice hot shower. I tossed my clothes on the bed and started for the bathroom, when right there, in the middle of the hallway laid… a snake. Trembling like a wimp, I raced, naked into the bathroom and leapt in the tub, trembling as if there was a burglar chasing me with a gun. My phone was in the kitchen so I had no choice but to make a run for it. Naked as a jay bird, I darted through the kitchen grabbing the phone and dive bombed back into the tub. I called Dad… “THE SNAKE IS IN THE HALLWAY AND I AM IN THE TUB. GET HOME NOW!”
He came home immediately and began looking for Snakie the snake. I heard shuffling and the sound of furniture moving about. Yes! He found him. I was relieved—until it occurred to me… “Is the other snake in the cage?” “No,” he replied. His tone indicated that he felt just terrible and was certain an “I told you so” was around the corner, of which he was correct. The next four months were perfectly miserable for me. Everywhere I walked, I envisioned Sneekie rolled up in my boots, nestled at the end of my blanket or lounging in my makeup bag. I suppose when my boys are too old to cuddle I will look back and laugh about these times. And that is probably when Sneekie the snake will show up as a six foot monstrosity in my bathtub. Even Calgon can’t fix that one…
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refresher course for drivers over 55 by Michelle Rauch
Driver’s Ed isn’t just for teenagers any more. As we all age, our ability to be good drivers is challenged by no fault of our own. That’s why Triple A has driver’s education classes geared for senior drivers. There are many good reasons to take the class in addition to breaking the bad driving habits everyone is guilty of. According to Triple A the oldest drivers on the road have the highest risk of a serious crash per mile driven than anyone else with the exception of people under the age of 25. The danger increases with age. Drivers who are 85 and older are at the most risk of being injured or killed than anyone else. Alarming facts, but there is help to curb the trend. “The Driver Improvement Program classes are very popular and well-supported,” says Christopher Oakford with AAA. The classes are open to anyone 55 and older. The five hour session is taught by a Kentucky State Trooper. It’s all about information. Don’t worry, there won’t be a driving or written test! It starts with awareness and knowing what potential dangers can impact you or your loved ones’ driving ability. Medical conditions like impaired vision, dementia, and diabetes can increase the chances of crashing. Medications can also impair driving ability.
and says it was well worth her time. “When I first started to drive, there weren’t as many traffic signs as there are now; that double diamond crossover on Harrodsburg Road feels really strange to drive through,” Madelyn says. There are simple tips that will help seniors drive safely, longer. Positioning the seats differently and adjusting the mirrors help compensate for reduced flexibility. They also touch on that difficult decision all families have to make: knowing when it’s time for your loved one to stop driving altogether. Madelyn is convinced the classes made her a better driver. Word of mouth is spreading. “The classes have become increasingly popular over the last few years and we now get about forty people attending each one,” Oakford says.
The next class in Lexington is Wednesday, August 15th at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Call Christopher Oakford at 233-1111 extension 5709 to reserve a place.
The classes also update the latest driving laws and regulations. Madelyn took the class
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Lexington Celebrates Independence Day! The heat didn’t stop Lexingtonians from flocking downtown to celebrate America’s Independance on July 4th! Downtown celebrations included a parade, the street festival and a live concer t followed by a spectacular fireworks display! Happy Bir thday America!
Photos by David Desjardins & Alex Orlov
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Friday Night Flicks at Jacobson Park There is only one place in Lexington where you can enjoy a movie in the park, children’s games and a petting zoo for free – Free Friday Flicks at Jacobson Park. Celebrating its 16th anniversary, this family event offers a great evening of entertainment for all ages. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and pack a picnic dinner or purchase concessions from one of the many vendors on-site. Photos by Alex Orlov
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Jr League Horse Show Family Night The 76th Annual Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show is one of the premier events in American Saddlebred. On Family Night, kids of all ages got to participate in fun and games for the whole family. The Stick Horse Race, a favorite for guests, allowed the kids to participate in their own racing competition! Photos by Alex Orlov
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Jr League Horse Show Family Night Family Night at the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show was a huge success. Sponsored by Raising Canes, the night included free kids activities, bounce houses, pony rides and even a stick horse race! Kids of all ages came out and enjoyed the festivites. Photos by Alex Orlov
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Girls on the Run Annual Spring 5K The Girls on the Run Annual Spring 5K was held at Commonwealh Stadium with a great turnout of active girls and their supporters. The GOTR curricula, the heart of the 24 lesson program, provides pre-adolescent girls with necessary tools to embrace their individual strengths as they enter middle and high school. The last lesson is the Annual 5K that brings girls and their families out for a great cause. Photos by Alex Orlov
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