2023 Lexington Families Guide Digital Edition

Jennifer Jones

WELCOME

to Central Kentucky’s Annual

Lexington Families Guide

AMESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHERS

Lexington is a thriving university town blessed with all the amenities that make it a sought after destination for every demographic from students to families to senior living.

In 2021, SmartAsset analyzed 100 of the biggest cities in the country to find “the best cities for worklife balance for 2021,” and Lexington ranked 10.

With an abundance of colleges and universities in the area, it’s not surprising that Lexington has one of the “Most Educated Workforces” in America. According to U.S. Census data, Lexington ranks twelfth in the country in number of people with a bachelor’s degree, and sixth in the nation in total number of people who have attained an advanced degree.

Lexington’s major employers include the University of Kentucky, state and local government, a thriving public school system, our Veterans Medical system, Lexington Clinic, LexMark, Amazon, and many more.

Lexington also ranks number 5 as one of the most affordable cities for an early retirement and at number 10 for best cities for young professionals (Smart Asset). We truly do have something for everyone.

We extend a very special thank you to all of the advertisers, sponsors, and partners who enable us to publish and mail this beautiful annual resource at absolutely no charge to our readers. We encourage you to support their amazing businesses and organizations, and the strong work they do in this community. We will keep you informed about their activities and programming year-round via our social media channels.

We invite you to continue the daily conversation with our community on facebook and instagram, and at lexingtonfamilies.com. Call today to advertise in the next annual Lexington Families Guide. 859.361.4169 | ads@lexingtonfamilies.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

elcome to the Annual Lexington Families Guide. Baby Boomers and Millennials are the predominant demographic in Lexington’s fastest growing populations.

As members of the Sandwich Generation, they expect the very best when it comes to choosing the best health, wellness, fitness, financial, educational, and community options — whether they are making choices for their children or their parents and additional aging extended family.

This annual directory serves families who are considering options in everything ranging from Kindercare to eldercare — from Montessori to mature living and aging in place — from schools and churches to recreation and entertainment. They are seeking financial and estate planning, and considering the legacy they’ll leave behind. This population is committed to seeking the best health and fitness options available, along with the best medical care and medical providers.

The Annual Lexington Families Guide is only published once a year, but we invite you to join us online at www.lexingtonfamilies.com, and on our Facebook and Instagram page for regular ongoing discussion about important issues facing Lexington’s families.

Sincerely,

EDITOR

• extensive background in Lexington’s media market

• CRM proficiency (salesforce, hubspot)

• demonstrated business development success in a leadership role be an enthusiastic sales champ who’s passionate about Lexington, community-building, and helping our clients grow their business!

Dream Big!

Meet Your City Officials

The more you know, the more you can be involved in making Lexington an even better place to live! The city of Lexington was founded in 1775. Fayette County was founded in 1780. By 1970, city leaders began to consider merging the city and county governments. On January 1, 1974, the city of Lexington and Fayette County became the first Kentucky communities to consolidate city and county governments into a single system.

Mayor

LINDA GORTON

“By working together we can make our city a place where citizens of all ages have opportunities to work, grow and thrive. We will build on strong momentum to attract new businesses, help local firms grow, promote our agricultural industry, and strengthen our economy to make it work for everyone. Let’s dream BIG, Lexington!”

Vice Mayor

DAN WU

At-Large Council Member and Vice Mayor Dan Wu was first elected to office in November of 2022. Born in China, Dan came to the United States as a child, first to Fargo, North Dakota, then settled with his family in Lexington. A graduate of Henry Clay High School and the University of Kentucky, Dan was well known for his Lexington restaurant work and concepts, most recently Atomic Ramen.

Fayette County Council Districts

District 1

TAYNA FOGLE

District 2

SHAYLA LYNCH

District 3

District 4

BRENDA MONÁRREZ

Tayna Fogle is a community organizer and an advocate for voting rights. She was elected to represent the 1st District on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council in November 2022.

Tayna was born and raised in the 1st District and graduated from Lafayette High School.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Kentucky, where she played basketball and was Team Captain of the 1982 SEC Champion Lady Kats.

The first district boundaries include portions of downtown Lexington north of Main Street, including the east end neighborhood, parts of the west end and as far north as Interstate 75. Some of the major corridors in the District include Georgetown Street, Newtown Pike, Russell Cave Road, N. Limestone, N. Broadway and Midland Avenue.

There are over 15 neighborhood parks and community centers, including two parks that are more than 100 years old, Duncan Park and Douglass Park. Many of the District’s downtown neighborhoods are on the National Register of Historic Places, such as homes on Constitution Street, Elsmere Park and Gratz Park.

Councilmember Shayla

D. Lynch was elected in November 2022 to represent the Second District.

Shayla is a proud native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky and is a 1997 graduate of Hopkinsville High School. In 2001 she graduated from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and is a 2004 graduate of the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. She is a proud graduate of Leadership Lexington, and serves as the Executive Director of the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.

The 2nd District extends from West Main Street to Newtown inside of New Circle Road. Outside of New Circle Road, it extends from Leestown Road to Newtown Pike and includes Citation Blvd, Mercer Road and Spurr Road.

Neighborhoods located in the 2nd District include St. Martin’s Village, Griffin Gate, Georgetown Street Area, Masterson Station, Coventry, Kearney Hall and Belmont Farms, to name just a few.

It is home to Sandersville Elementary School, Coventry Oak Elementary School, STEAM Academy, Locust Trace AgriScience Center, Rise STEM Academy for Girls and the Black and Williams Neighborhood Center.

Hannah LeGris was elected as Lexington’s 3rd District representative in November 2020. She works as a career counselor and educator at the University of Kentucky. LeGris moved to Lexington at the beginning of her career to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA in youth literacy programming. She has over a decade of experience in the non-profit, private, and educational sectors, while currently serving on several nonprofit boards, like the International Book Project and CivicLex.

The 3rd District includes much of downtown and many of the neighborhoods surrounding the University of Kentucky. There are 12 active Neighborhood Associations in the 3rd District including Aylesford Place, Bell Court, Columbia Heights, Historic South Hill, Mentelle, Neighbors of Montclair, North Elizabeth Street, Pensacola Park, Seven Parks, South End, Transylvania Park, and WGPL. The 3rd District features ten public parks and plazas such as the UK Arboretum, and the future home of Town Branch Commons.

Councilmember Brenda Monárrez was elected to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council in November 2022.

She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Gatton College of Business & Economics at the University of Kentucky, where she studied management and economics.

She has international business experience, previously working for Lexmark International, where she oversaw service and support operations in 12 countries as a part of the Latin America division. She has also been a housing advocate, working to increase homeownership across the state as a part of the Kentucky Housing Corporation.

The 4th Council District begins behind the Arboretum and is situated between Nicholasville Rd and portions of Tates Creek Rd, Man O War Blvd, and West Hickman Creek.

The district is home to The Summit at Fritz Farm, along with Kirklevington Park, Meadowbrook Park, Wildwood Park, Belleau Woods Park, Southpoint Park, and Veterans Park. It is also home to the Tates Creek Branch of the Lexington Public Library and three public schools: Southern Elementary, Southern Middle, and Lansdowne Elementary.

HANNAH LEGRIS

District 5

LIZ SHEEHAN

District 6

DENISE GRAY

District 7

District 8

FRED BROWN

Liz Sheehan was elected as the 5th District councilmember in November 2020. She is a senior lecturer and student advisor in the Department of Psychology at UK. Sheehan is currently a member of Junior League of Lexington, the Women’s Network, League of Women Voters, Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road Council, and serves as a board member of the nonprofit she co-founded, Compassionate Lexington.

She says, “Our needs are great, but so is Lexington. We must build upon the hard work we put forth to get through all we continue to face and be there for one another. ”

Lexington’s 5th District is home to many historic neighborhoods spanning across parts of the 40502, 40505, and 40517 zip codes. The district encompasses areas from Warfield Place, to Kenwick, Idle Hour, Chevy Chase, Ashland, Ecton Park, Lansdowne-Merrick, Patchen Village, Plainview, Lakeview, and many others. With seven unique parks ranging in size and many walkable neighborhoods, residents and visitors alike can take time to appreciate the natural beauty and greenspaces found here.

Councilwoman Denise Gray was elected to represent the residents of the 6th District in November of 2022.

Denise is a proud graduate of Bryan Station High School, and received a B.A. in Communications at U of L where she was a founding member of Louisville’s National Championship All-Girl Cheerleading Squad. She later graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

Upon returning to Lexington, she shifted her career to education, and began working with Fayette County Public Schools.

The sixth district stretches along Lexington’s east side with Paris Pike, Winchester, Liberty, and Bryan Station roads as major corridors. Highlights of the sixth district include the Brighton Rail Trail (a shared use trail from Man O War Blvd, connecting to Pleasant Ridge Park and Polo Club Blvd), Hamburg Pavilion, and the Hamburg Place Horse Cemetery, where many of racing’s most famous thoroughbreds are interred.

Preston Worley is a lifelong Kentuckian and proud resident of the 7th District, currently serving his second term on Council. He graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2010, and has worked at the McBrayer Law Firm.

He is a member of the Kentucky Children’s Hospital Executive Development Council, the Golden Matrix Fund Advisory Council, the Ellerslie at Delong Homeowners Association Board of Directors, and Coaches for Kids Inc., among other organizations.

The 7th District includes part of the 40509, 40515 and 40517 zip codes. This district is home to several schools, including AthensChilesburg Elementary, Squires Elementary and E.J. Hayes, and Henry Clay High School.

Fred Brown is currently in his fourth term as 8th District Councilmember. His focus includes the “3Ps” that makes Lexington one of the best cities to live: Public Safety, Parks, and Paving (infrastructure)

Brown graduated from the University of Kentucky, and for over 40 years, worked as a CPA.

The 8th District comprises several neighborhoods and public spaces, including Gainesway Park, River Hill Park, Hartland Park and Berry Hill Park. The district is also home to the Gainesway Community Center and the Tates Creek Golf Course & Aquatic Center.

Unique to the 8th District is the Tates Creek School campus, which has elementary, middle and high schools within walking distance of each other. The Academy for Leadership at Millcreek Elementary is also in the district. In the heart of the Gainesway Community is the East Sector Police Roll Call Center, the largest sector in Fayette County.

PRESTON WORLEY

WHITNEY ELLIOTT BAXTER

District 10

DAVE SEVIGNY

District 11

JENNIFER REYNOLDS

KATHY PLOMIN

Whitney Elliott Baxter is a Lexington native who’s lived in Lexington’s 9th District her entire life. She was elected as councilmember of the 9th District in November 2020.

She works as a realtor, and stays active in the district through her involvement with Stonewall Community Association and Stonewall Elementary PTA.

The 9th District is home to Lexington’s bustling Nicholasville Road corridor and includes treasures like Stonewall and Waveland, along with some of the city’s busiest commercial corridors like Lexington Green, Fayette Mall, and the Summit.

She says, “I think our neighborhood will continue to flourish and the 9th District will continue to be an area where people love to live and play.”

Schools and public parks in the district include Jessie Clark Middle School, Stonewall Elementary, Wellington Elementary, Shillito Park, Wellington Park, Stonewall Park, Higbee Mill Park, Clemens Park, Southpoint Park, and Waverly Park.

Dave Sevigny was elected to represent the 10th district in November of 2022. Describing himself as a “young retiree,” he launched a small IT company in 1996. His MBA is from Duke and he was awarded Commerce Lexington’s Small Business of the year in 2010, and he was awarded the KY SBA Small Businessperson of the Year in 2011. He retired a few years ago to follow his passion for community and small business stewardship.

Geographically, the 10th District runs from S. Broadway, changing into Harrodsburg Road until it reaches Man O’ War Blvd. Inside New Circle Road, it extends between Versailles Road and Nicholasville Road. It extends outside of New Circle Road between Blenheim and Beaumont Centre Lane. It includes Pasadena Dr., a portion of Alexandria Dr., Clays Mill Road, Rosemont Garden and Southland Dr.

The District includes most of the 40503, 40514, 40513, and 40504 areas.

Schools include Dunbar High School, Beaumont Middle, Rosa Parks Elementary, and Clays Park Elementary.

Neighborhoods include Beaumont, Harrods Hill, Southland Drive, Hill N Dale, and more.

Jennifer Reynolds grew up in Central Kentucky and was elected as 11th District councilmember in November 2018. She was formerly the outreach director with Bluegrass Youth Ballet.

The 11th District is home to one of Lexington’s most diverse cultural communities. The district supports the University of Kentucky with off campus housing options. Alexandria Drive, Lane Allen, and Southland Drive serve their surrounding neighborhoods commercially and connect the district north and south. Among these corridors and roads is a wide variety of delicious restaurants.

Bordered by both Versailles Road and Broadway, the district’s major arteries lead to critical community assets like Keeneland and the Bluegrass Airport.

Four elementary schools and one high school are located within the 11th district. Two of Lextran’s most popular bus routes run along Versailles Road and Red Mile Road. The Village Branch Library is located in the District. There are eight parks, six of which touch the Wolf Run Watershed.

Kathy Plomin is currently serving her third term as Lexington’s 12th District Councilmember.

She brings more than 30 years of community leadership via her professional career and many roles on local initiatives, boards and organizations.

She spent 21 years at WKYT-TV as VP of Sales and Marketing, before serving as President of the United Way of the Bluegrass until 2009.

She and her family have lived in the Greenbrier subdivision located off Winchester Road in the 12th District for more than three decades.

She respects and appreciates the uniqueness of this district where you can find Lexington’s “calling card” of world famous horse farms, bluegrass farmland, natural resources and beautiful landscapes. Kathy is dedicated to preserving this rural character that makes Lexington the unique, thriving city it is today.

The 12th District makes up 70 percent of Fayette County’s landmass, with suburban neighborhoods, horse farms, rural residences, and many of our city’s treasures, including Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, Kentucky Horse Park, and Keeneland.

The Toyota Effect

Driving the Future in Fayette County

Toyota USA Foundation will provide grants of up to $5.7 million to prepare students in Fayette County, Scott County, and the Ignite Institute in Northern Kentucky for future science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. The Driving Possibilities initiative focuses on PreK-12 education to ensure all students have access to rewarding careers, including opportunities in the auto industry.

In Lexington, the program will involve Arlington, Mary Todd, Northern, and Russell Cave elementaries, Winburn Middle, and Bryan Station High School.

“Driving Possibilities is a profound commitment to the holistic development of our students, schools, and

the vibrant communities that embrace them. With Toyota’s leadership, we are embarking on a grassroots initiative to dismantle economic and educational barriers,” said Demetrus Liggins, superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS). “Our unwavering goal is to cultivate opportunities for every student and family by dismantling obstacles. We look forward to this partnership and the impact it will have for generations to come.”

The long-term initiative’s phased approach, which offers programming in specific schools based on input from district leaders, aims to close educational gaps through innovative, hands-on STEM programming while addressing the essential needs of students and families. Driving Possibilities in Kentucky centers on three key areas designed to expand literacy and language resources, build education and industry partnerships, and address transportation barriers.

“Our goal is to increase awareness of future STEM careers while helping build sustainable programs in the communities where our Toyota team members live and work,” said Tellis Bethel, group vice president of social innovation for Toyota, whose largest manufacturing plant is in Georgetown. “With $1.2 million in its first year and more to come in the years ahead, we are excited to expand Driving Possibilities here in Kentucky.”

In 2022, the Toyota USA Foundation announced Driving Possibilities, a $110 million national, career readiness and community engagement initiative. With efforts across the PreK-12 education continuum, the program is the largest and most comprehensive in Toyota’s history. The initiative is funded by Toyota USA Foundation, Toyota Motor North America, and Toyota Financial Services.

Through the Driving Possibilities initiative, Toyota aims to increase awareness of STEM careers and provide access to rewarding opportunities. Their long-term approach focuses on hands-on STEM programming to close educational gaps and support students and families.

Driving Possibilities, a long-term initiative of the Toyota USA Foundation, is funded in part by Toyota USA Foundation, Toyota Motor North America, and Toyota Financial Services

In 2022, the Toyota USA Foundation announced Driving Possibilities, a $110 million national, career readiness and community engagement initiative. With efforts across the PreK-12 education continuum, the program is the largest and most comprehensive in Toyota’s history.

120 Sycamore Road · Lexington HenryClay.org

TRACES:

Slavery at Ashland Tour

Experience the unvarnished story of the men, women, and children enslaved at Ashland. This indoor/ outdoor, multi-media tour traces their footsteps and brings visitors to the very places at Ashland where they lived and worked.

Available for groups of 8 to 15 people.

Book in advance by calling Visitor Services at 859.266.8581 ext 202

Tuesdays thru Saturdays 1 pm

Discover Southern Hills Early Childhood Program

Southern Hills Early Childhood Program at Southern Hills United Methodist is a faith based pre-school program serving infants through Pre-K and afterschoolers.

The curriculum focuses on developmentally appropriate practices. Each level looks at the stages of life for each age group Infant through prep-k, and it leaves no age group out. From learning about emotions and facial expression at the younger age to being hands-on with science and math in the older group, the curriculum is thoughtful, unique, and specific to the center and its needs. Each age group has a socialemotional learning (SEL) component that is included for all age levels.

Southern Hills Early Childhood Program was originally founded as a daycare just for the church staff childrens at Southern Hills United Methodist Church. From there, mother’s day out programs were offered, and those eventually grew into the early childhood program that exists today.

The future is filled with even more growth and evolution.

One of the co-directors says, “I was surprised the most by the fact that SHECP has been here for decades, but a lot of the families in our Lexington community were unaware that Southern Hills United Methodist Church had an early education program. In the past we were all word of mouth, which is great —but as we move towards the future, we want to build on that. Lexington is one of the fastest growing cities in Kentucky and we want to be right there with it.”

Plans for the future include beginning a part-time program to serve families who only need parttime care, expanding the enrichment program, and building and opening an in-school library.

“Our mission and goal at Southern Hills Early Childhood Program is to create an environment that is safe, loving, education enriched, and God centered for our Lexington families.

SHECP believes in a hands-on approach to learning, giving children the ability to learn at their own pace. Studies have shown that children between the ages of birth to five years old learn more in that period than they ever will in their entire life. That’s why having a faith-based, hands on curriculum with an SEL component is important to us.

“All of this is built in with our enrichment programs, which we are expanding this year. We will be offering our children enrichment in the form of Music taught by the Director of Music from Southern Hills UMC. We have language arts, math, science, and humanities taught by a Kentucky-licensed teacher. Our children, 2 years old and up, also receive weekly chapel lessons by the Children’s Director of Southern Hills UMC. So needless to say, we are so excited for this school year at SHECP!”

“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Proverbs 18:15

Early Adopters

Education’s Next Tech Wave

BY KEVIN NANCE

With new artificial intelligence programs being introduced seemingly every week over the past several months, alarm bells have been going off in school districts around the country, including Fayette County Public Schools, which is blocking most AI apps. Won’t AI chatbots like ChatGPT — which can write essays, among many other tasks — help students cheat on their homework? And how do we know what AI is capable of, for good or ill, in the classroom?

Donnie Piercey, a tech-savvy fifthgrade teacher at Stonewall Elementary School in Lexington and the 2021 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, is already working hard to find out. Increasingly recognized as an expert on the potential of AI in education — ABC’s Good

Morning America, PBS NewsHour and the Chicago Tribune recently interviewed him on the topic — he sees artificial intelligence as just the latest of many technological innovations that can be harnessed to engage and inspire young minds.

“Every six months the shiny new thing rolls out,” says Piercey, 41, who teaches reading, writing, science, math and social studies. “Now it’s AI. Ten years ago it was Google apps. Two years before that it was smart boards in every classroom. Two years before that it was the iPad. So it’s a challenge to keep up with the latest trends, but teaching students about the new educational tools now rolling out is a really important part of a teacher’s job nowadays.”

In Piercey’s way of thinking, AI and other technologies (such as YouTube, which was widely blocked by schools early on but is now commonplace in classrooms around the country) aren’t just another way for students to consume information. They can also help students become creators. “With technology, you can collaborate with someone on a document and share it

Piercey’s students used an augmented-reality app to allow school visitors to view a virtual gallery of student art, complete with videos of the artists talking about their creations.

with your classmates,” he says. “Maybe you’ve got a video program on your school Chromebook and you’re learning how to film and edit a video for the first time, or record a podcast. So we just have to find the right balance between consumption and creation.”

Proving his point, Piercey’s own students are currently working on a podcast that will incorporate aspects of artificial intelligence and, in the process, demonstrate some of AI’s capabilities. The students are writing scripts — three-scene radio dramas, set in schools with themes like friendship, bullying, hope, and the importance of family — that they will record and

“We’re going to release two episodes at a time, and the listener won’t be told which one’s written by the AI,” Piercey says. “So the question is, can you tell which one was written by the AI and which one by a fifth grader? It’s a lot more difficult than you think. We’re finding that most adults can’t tell. In one sense, that’s kind of scary. But in another sense, it’s incredible.”

Piercey’s embrace of AI in the classroom is a perfect example of his innovative spirit, says Willie Carver Jr., the 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and the subject of an episode in Teachers Passing Notes, Piercey’s podcast series featuring Kentucky educators. “Everyone else is terrified of AI and responding with fear,” Carver says. “What does Donnie do? He brings it into the classroom and sees how the students feel about it. He doesn’t just give them all the answers. He likes to throw them in the water and watch them learn a new swimming technique.”

This openness to technological tools in education has been a hallmark of Piercey’s career as a Kentucky elementary school teacher. At Eminence Schools in Henry County, his students noticed that Google Earth’s street views of their town hadn’t been updated in years, he says, “and they wanted to do something about that.” They convinced the school district to purchase a

360-degree virtual reality camera with two fisheye lenses, attached it to a tripod and a backpack and walked the town streets, collecting fresh imagery and then uploading it to Google Earth. “The students loved the fact that those images have been viewed millions of times, and that they could say, ‘We were able to share our community’s story.’”

When Piercey went to Antarctica on a National Geographic Teacher Fellowship in 2018, he created a series of videos in which expedition leaders and other experts answered his students’ questions about the White Continent. “They wanted to know about the impact of climate change in Antarctica, and how much penguin poop there was,” he recalls. (Answer: a lot. “I can’t get the smell of penguin poop out of my nose.”)

More recently, Piercey’s students used an augmented-reality app to allow school visitors to view a virtual gallery of student art, complete with videos of the artists talking about their creations.

“The great thing about Donnie is the way he’s always showing his students ways to be connected to the real

world through technology,” says Toni Konz Tatman, chief communications officer of the Kentucky Department of Education. “He’s not just looking to see what’s out there. He’s looking to see what’s coming.”

What’s not coming, Piercey is confident, is a wave of AI-enabled classroom cheating. He trusts his students, for one thing. And if they’re tempted to cheat, he’ll be ready, aided by yet another technological tool: textanalysis programs that use algorithms that can detect AI-generated prose. Not that he’s likely to need it. “Eight months into the school year, I know what their voices sound like when they write. If one day they’re writing sentence fragments and the next day they’re turning in essays at a tenthgrade level, I’ll know,” he says. “One concern I have about it is if a student worked their tail off to make sure it was really well written, the AI detector might flag a sentence. I don’t want that student to have a panic attack and think, ‘Oh my gosh, this means I have to change my writing.’”

“The great thing about Donnie is the way he’s always showing his students ways to be connected to the real world through technology.”

—Toni Konz Tatman, Kentucky Department of Education.

present alongside scripts written by ChatGPT based on the same characters and themes.

Piercey’s students are writing scripts that they will record and present alongside scripts written by ChatGPT based on the same characters and themes….the listener won’t be told which one’s written by the AI.

EDUCATION

by the Numbers

There is no doubt that college is expensive and student debt in the U.S. is higher than ever, with student debt reaching more than $1.7 trillion in 2020. A recent study conducted by SmartAsset ranked Kentucky schools where students earned the best average starting salaries post graduation.

*College tuition where applicable, used instate tuition (residents of the same state as a college, qualify for lower in-state tuition).

The rankings are part of SmartAsset’s overarching study on the colleges that provide students with the best overall value. The study considered starting salary, as well as scholarships and grants, tuition, living costs, and retention rate.

Lexington boasts an extensive population of churches for a mid-size city. More than 250 churches and 40 denominations work to meet Lexington’s spiritual and community needs.

Some are nearly city-size and feature campuses that include schools, daycare, and more, while others offer small but cozy communities. Below is a sampling of Lexington area churches.

Apostles Anglican Church

200 Colony Blvd

Ashland Avenue Baptist

Center Point Church

163 Old Todds Rd

Crestwood Christian

Hill N Dale Christian

371 Hill N Dale Rd

Immanuel Baptist

3100 Tates Creek Rd

2261 Armstrong Mill Rd

King’s Church 301 Harvard Dr

LexCity Church

410 Sporting Ct #3560

Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church

South Elkhorn Christian 4343 Harrodsburg Road

Southern Hills United Methodist 2356 Harrodsburg Road

Southland Christian 5001 Harrodsburg Road 2349 Richmond Rd

St. Andrew Orthodox 1136 Higbee Mill Road

St. John’s Lutheran 516 Pasadena Drive

St. Luke United Methodist 2351 Alumni Dr

Tates Creek Christian 3150 Tates Creek Rd

Rosemont Baptist Church

Trinity Hill United Methodist 3600 Tates Creek Rd

The Lexington Families Guide is the only annual glossy in central Kentucky designed exclusively for Lexington Families.

The guide is a multigenerational magazine celebrating the highest quality opportunities available in the beautiful bluegrass region!

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Annual Manny Caulk Jr. Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Tates Creek grad

The Fayette Education Foundation has announced the recipient of the third annual Emmanuel “Manny” Caulk Jr. Memorial Scholarship. Mya Gibbs, a senior from Tates Creek High School, was selected for the honor by a committee chaired by Caulk’s widow, Christol Caulk. Gibbs received the $2,500 scholarship based on her academic achievement, desire to become an educator and her story about how public education prepared her for life after high school.

The Emmanuel “Manny” Caulk Jr. Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of the Fayette County Public Schools superintendent after his death in December 2020. After his selection as the 2019 Kentucky Superintendent of the Year, Manny used his stipend to award a $2,500 scholarship to a Fayette County Public

Schools graduate. He had pledged to continue to provide an annual scholarship out of his own pocket. Upon his death, with the blessing of his widow, a memorial scholarship fund was established in his memory. Beginning this year, the scholarship is open only to future teachers or those who will major in education. In response to the teacher shortage and the Fayette County Public School district’s strategic priority of a Highly Effective and Culturally Responsive Workforce, this transition is aimed at increasing the number and diversity of educators.

Christol Caulk shared, “Manny believed in the dreams of others and spent his career opening access and

opportunity so children could fulfill their unlimited potential. He was a true champion for education and excellence.”

Gibbs, daughter of Catherine Gibbs, will attend the University of Kentucky and plans to major in education within the Special Education (EDS) Program. EDS prepares students to work with individuals with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and moderate and severe disabilities in P-12 classrooms.

Mya Gibbs

Manny Caulk

Asbury’s Christian liberal arts undergraduate and graduate programs are designed to equip students for a dynamic global marketplace.

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SOUTHLAND DRIVE

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Welcome

Welcome

CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group — Weight Loss Surgery welcomes David Swedler, DO to Lexington.

CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group — Weight Loss Surgery welcomes David Swedler, DO to Lexington.

CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group — Weight Loss Surgery welcomes David Swedler, DO, to the Center for Weight Loss Surgery at Saint Joseph East. He joins an experienced team offering a full range of weight loss procedures including complex revisions to get you back to living the life you’ve been putting off.

CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group — Weight Loss Surgery welcomes David Swedler, DO, to the Center for Weight Loss Surgery at Saint Joseph East. He joins an experienced team offering a full range of weight loss procedures including complex revisions to get you back to living the life you’ve been putting off.

Our highly-trained, specialized bariatric surgeons and care team are among the best in the country. We have the longest running quality program accreditation in Kentucky and are a Center of Excellence for bariatric surgery, which recognizes us one of the best in the world.

CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group — Weight Loss Surgery

David Swedler, DO

Rachel Mathis, MD

Karen Hillenmeyer, PA-C

CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group — Weight Loss Surgery

David Swedler, DO

Rachel Mathis, MD

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Lexington, KY 40509

Appointments 859.967.5520

Robotic Procedures

• Single anastomosis duodenal switch

• Sleeve gastrectomy

• Complex revisions

• Reflux surgery

• Gastric bypass

• Single anastomosis duodenal switch

• Complex revisions

• Reflux surgery

David Swedler, DO

David Swedler, DO

Bell awarded honorary UK Degree in 2022

BY JENNY WELLS-HOSLEY

Bell was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of Kentucky late last year, at the age of 100.

Born in Harrison County, Kentucky in 1922, Virginia Bell was raised on a subsistence farm as the second of seven children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in math and biology at Transylvania University in 1944.

Honoring the legacy of Virginia Bell

There is perhaps no better way to celebrate Senior Citizens than to honor the legacy and memory of Lexington senior living advocate, Virginia Bell.

Bell died peacefully at the age of 100 in her home on the evening of April 8, 2023, with family at her side and with plans for the Easter service the next morning. She was born June 30, 1922, in Harrison County, KY.

“This movement to make our city Dementia Friendly has been a dream of Lexington native, Virginia Bell,” Amber Lakin, Chairperson of the Dementia Friendly Lexington Advisory Board, said as the program began to gain recognition.

Bell was widely lauded for her work in adult day care, developing one of the first dementiaspecific adult day programs in the

country, using a unique method of care based on friendship, known as the Best Friends Approach. This approach is celebrated for its positive philosophy stressing dignity and techniques for success when facing a challenging disease.

In 1992, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Transylvania University. In 1999, she received the Senior Award from the American Society on Aging for her dedication to the significant contribution that older persons can make to society. She was inducted into the UK Social Work Hall of Fame and received the Sullivan Award from the University of Kentucky in 2004. In 2022, at the age of 100, she received an honorary doctorate from University of Kentucky.

Throughout her career, she penned numerous articles and books and lectured both nationally and internationally on the Best Friends approach to dementia care, as well as on spirituality and aging with Wayne. They were proud to have visited forty countries around the globe during their adventuresome years together.

Bell and her husband moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where they raised five children. The family returned to Lexington in 1974 when her husband accepted the presidency of the Lexington Theological Seminary. At that same time, Bell’s parents, still living on the farm outside of Cynthiana, began experiencing the challenges of aging, allowing Bell to witness firsthand how care was provided for older adults. These experiences, plus earlier life exposures to how persons with dementia were being shuttered in psychiatric units, ignited her commitment to do something more for aging adults, particularly those with dementia and their families.

At age 60, Bell earned a Master of Social Work at UK, began her second career at UK’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and created the Best Friends Approach to dementia care, a model adopted by care facilities, nursing homes and day treatment centers around the world. While acknowledging the medical and psychological challenges of dementia, the Best Friends Approach emphasizes and respects the humanity of people with dementia and focuses on relationshipcentered care. Understanding that each person has a life history, identity and talents, the Best Friends Approach embraces the human need for connection through interpersonal interaction, activity, dignity and respect.

The approach, and Bell herself, received numerous honors, grants and awards, including recognition by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Council on Aging and the American Society on Aging. Bell twice has served on the Kentucky Governor’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease; she received UK’s Sullivan Award in 2004; she was inducted into the UK Social Work Hall of Fame (2010) and she received the UK Alumni Association Hall of Distinguished Alumni Award (2010).

While she officially retired in 1993, Bell remained a constant mentor to the Best Friends program, conducting training for volunteers, attending activities at day centers, traveling throughout the world to help establish new programs and serving as a keynote speaker at national and international conferences. Around the time of her 100th birthday in June 2022, Bell addressed a global meeting on Alzheimer’s disease, continuing her efforts to recognize that beneath the challenges of dementia lies a person of value with a past, present and future.

Less is More

Downsize, Declutter, and De-Stress

Minimalism and simplicity have become such popular movements, it’s no longer just the baby boomers who are looking to downsize, declutter, simplify, and organize.

The LA Times found that the average American home contains around 300,000 items. And according to the Wall Street Journal, Americans spend $1.2 trillion each year on nonessential goods — meaning things they don’t need. Most of us could do more with less.

There is no “right” age to begin the process, just as there is no “right” age to begin a “diet” — instead, just like with proper nutrition, consider it a lifestyle choice — a way of living. Although Marie Kondo’s bestseller has been a little too trendy in recent years, The LifeChanging Magic of Tidying Up offered concrete, useful strategies:

1. Discard by category, not by room.

2. Break down a category into manageable bites (“clothes” can be grouped into dozens of subcategories).

3. If an item doesn’t “spark joy,” say thanks for the memories and send it on to its next adventure.

4. After you’ve discarded and decluttered, then you can organize.

Downsizing can be a stressful process that takes a mental and physical toll — but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Prepare in advance, set a realistic timeframe, and approach it one step at a time.

Make it fun. Put on your favorite music. Or turn on your favorite TV show and just work during the length of each commercial. Invite friends and family and send them home with a few treasures you no longer need or want. (Banish the guilt. Every generation is going to pass on its fair share of Pelotons.)

Downsizing looks different for everyone, and it is best to first decide what it looks like for you.

Evaluate your reasons, whether it is maintenance, cost of living, or health issues that are informing your decision.

Perhaps you’re moving from a large singlefamily home to a more manageable condo? You might be considering moving in with family members? Or you could just be motivated to declutter your space and reduce fall-risks.

Deciding what stays and what goes is a vital and meaningful part of the downsizing process. Many items will be mementos, others will contain memories, yet at the end of the day, the bottom line is you can keep the memories without the clutter. If you can live without it, you can do without it.

Items that are no longer needed can go on to a new home, or a new use, and can often be repurposed or recycled — whether that involves donating them to a good cause like your local Habitat ReStore, or using a yard sale or marketplace to generate extra funds.

And never hesitate to call in a professional if the process seems too overwhelming. There are dozens of local organizers and movingconcierges who offer an array of services to fit a variety of budgets. □

Pawsitively Positive Effects for Pets and Seniors

“Take two Labradors and call me in the morning.”

AARP reports that “dogowning seniors have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol than their petless peers. Having a dog also reduces the risk of heart attack — and boosts your chances of long-term survival if you have one.”

Good company makes good common sense, and it’s good for you too.

The secret weapon for better well-being among seniors may be a companion animal.

As we age, it is more common than ever to develop a sedentary lifestyle, and loneliness and depression are common issues within our nationally aging population.

Pet ownership combats the challenges of aging with proof that seniors who have pets also have more health benefits, both physical and psychological/emotional.

The American Psychological Association reports numerous psychological and social connections between feelings of greater selfesteem and overall emotional well-being, and a decreased sense of loneliness among seniors who had animal companions.

Humans crave a sense of purpose and the need to feel connected, and these impulses are not diminished by aging. Owning a pet

“A dog may keep you sane, showered and solvent. Studies show that dog owners exhibit higher degrees of self-discipline than those without. Makes sense: Dogs, like humans, thrive on structure; they need to be fed, walked and nurtured at regular intervals.”

—AARP

provides older adults with both companionship and purpose—a reason to wake up in the morning.

AARP suggests, “A dog may keep you sane, showered and solvent. Studies show that dog owners exhibit higher degrees of self-discipline than those without. Makes sense: Dogs, like humans, thrive on structure; they need to be fed, walked and nurtured at regular intervals.”

Having a companion animal can increase fitness and reduce cardiovascular along with lowering stress and providing social support. A study in The Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that dog owners walk approximately one hour longer per day than those without a dog. The addition of daily walks brings the potential for an increase in social interactions, which helps with meeting new people. Studies have shown that pet walking offers a means to socialize with pet owners and others.

Cat or dog, fish or hamster, companion animals play a valuable role in the lives of seniors. □

FREEDOM. TO BE YOU.

FREEDOM. TO BE YOU.

If you think oxygen therapy means slowing down, it’s time for a welcome breath of fresh air.

means slowing down, it’s time for a welcome breath of fresh air.

Introducing the Inogen One family of portable oxygen systems. With no need for bulky tanks, each concentrator is designed to keep you active via Inogen’s Intelligent Delivery Technology.® Hours of quiet and consistent oxygen flow on a long-lasting battery charge enabling freedom of movement, whether at home or on the road.

no need for bulky tanks, each

Every Inogen One meets FAA requirements for travel ensuring the freedom to be you.

• No heavy oxygen tanks

No heavy oxygen tanks

• Ultra quiet operation

Ultra quiet operation

• Lightweight and easy to use

Lightweight and easy to use

• Safe for car and air travel

Safe for car and air travel

• Full range of options and accessories

Full range of options and accessories

• FDA approved and clinically validated

FDA approved and clinically

Call 1-866-256-1409

Call 1-866-256-1409

Lexington Fire Department Phone Directory

For emergencies, call 911.

Fire Chief

Fire Chief Jason Wells

859-231-5660

Administrative Division

Human Resources |

Internal Affairs

Assistant Chief Chad

Traylor

859-231-5643

Police & Fire Pension Office

859-258-3539

Administrative Officer | Grants

859-231-5662

859-231-5606

Administrative Officer |

Open records requests

859-231-5640

Communications and Information Technology

Battalion Chief Edward Crews

859-231-5674

Health and Safety

Major Gary Harris

859-231-5648

Self Contained Breathing

Apparatus

Firefighter Roger Hibbitts

859-231-5630

Operations Division

Asst. Chief Rob Larkin

859-231-5602

Fire Suppression

859-231-5676

Emergency Medical Services

Battalion Chief Marc Bramlage 859-231-5644

Special Operations Major Adam Morgan 859-280-8922 or 859-280-8923

Planning Division

Asst. Chief Todd Reece 859-231-5679

Community Services | Public Education

Battalion Chief Jordan Saas 859-231-5662

Fire Prevention Schedule inspections: Fire Marshal | Major Jeffrey Johnson 859-231-5681 or 859-231-5668

Water Control Captain Greg Lengal 859-258-3963

Fire Training Academy

Battalion Chief Chris Harrod 859-231-5612

Investigations

Major Chris Burke 859-231-5698 or 859-231-5672

For non-emergencies or phone numbers not listed, call 859-231-5600

Smoke alarm installation

The Lexington Fire Department Community Services Division, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will install 10-year lithium battery smoke alarms in all homes in Fayette County.

The smoke alarms are free and will be installed by the Lexington Fire Department at no cost to the occupant. As part of the installation, the LFD will also conduct a fire safety inspection.

To schedule a smoke alarm installation

Contact the Lexington Fire Department via email at LFD-communityservices@lexingtonky.gov or call (859) 231-5662.

Please include the following information:

• Name

• Address

• Contact info (phone or email)

• Number of floors

• Number of bedrooms

• Do you already have alarms in your home and if so, are they currently working and are they equipped with a battery or hard-wired into the home?