Lee's Summit, MO June 2023

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Lifestyle Letter

Dads are special. Whether you have one or are one, this month is all about honoring the men who have made a difference in our lives.

Sometimes those who serve as our father figures don’t necessarily share a biological bond with us, but their contributions to molding and shaping our personalities and personas are significant. As a young educator I was fortunate enough to work for a man who served as a father figure of sorts for me, professionally speaking. I learned so much about leadership and problem solving from Dr. Tony Stansberry, longtime superintendent of the Lee’s Summit School District.

Being ‘tough on the issues and soft on the people’ was one of the primary lessons I gleaned from watching him in action, and that philosophy became the bedrock of my own leadership style. I find myself thinking frequently about it these days, in the midst of the polarized culture we find ourselves in; I wonder what we could accomplish on myriad issues if we exercised our commitment to focus on the problem rather than the personalities.

I’d give a pretty penny to be able to sit down and problem solve with men like Tony Stansberry and my own dad this Father’s Day. Unfortunately that’s not possible, as they have both passed, but I hope I’m making them both proud with my efforts to lead from the examples they set for me - and in their honor, I will find special ways to celebrate my husband and the other dads in my life this June.

June 2023

PUBLISHER

Laura Paszkiewicz | laura@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Laura Maxwell | laura.maxwell@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Laura Maxwell, John Beaudoin, Judy Goppert, Allison Swan

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Janie Jones

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster

LAURA MAXWELL, EDITOR @LEESSUMMITCITYLIFESTYLE

Pilates FOR GOLFERS

Pilates helps you:

» Build up the back muscles evenly

» Elongate and align the spine for better stability

» Strengthen the abdominals

» Increase overall flexibility, strength, and balance

» Increase range of motion in hips and shoulders

» Enhance concentration through focused breathing

Performance Benefits

» A stronger and more stable core helps golfers:

» Attain an optimal backswing and follow-through with increased range of motion in shoulders

» Get more distance and power because of added hip and torso flexibility

» Have a stronger and bigger hip turn for greater power through rotation

» Create a smoother and more powerful swing due to evenly conditioned back muscles

» Maximize balance and alignment while rotating

» Decrease fatigue because of less strain on the body

» Hold a body position long enough to play through a shot

» Play without pain

“Pilates began for me as an appeasement to my wife who thought I should try a class with her. As most men probably do, I had a misconception about what Pilates was. Quickly realizing that it was not what I had envisioned, my lack of understanding turned to an appreciation for the benefits it provides. A balanced, strong, and stable core is key to a controlled and repeatable golf swing and that is the primary focus of Pilates. Through Pilates, I have learned how to engage the correct muscles to properly rotate my body giving me greater rotation in my swing without strain or injury concerns. In addition, to strengthening my entire body, my flexibility, mobility and range of motion have also improved significantly.”

-Kevin F

“I found Better Bodies Pilates quite by accident. In the summer of 2018 I read an article about Pilates in Lee’s Summit Lifestyle Magazine and how it could help strengthen your core. This was something I was told I needed as I was diagnosed with arthritis and deteriorating discs in my lower back in 2013. The article went on to say that a stronger core could improve your golf game. As an avid golfer I thought sign me up let’s see if it works. Well, I am happy to say that I am swinging the clubs without hesitation and have increased the distance in my drives 20-25 yards. That constant fear that playing the game I love would cause my back to go out is gone. I also no longer feel the need to immediately ice my back after playing. Finding Better Bodies Pilates has been a win win for me, not only in my golf game, but for giving me the confidence to perform all of my everyday activities without the fear of pain.”

-Cindy S

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THE ART OF THE CIGAR

Cigar lovers often wax poetic when describing the pleasures of a good cigar. Their experiences are tactile. Cigar smokers have frequently compared cigar smoking to romance. And it’s not just men who frequently pine over the virtues of lingering over a Perdomo or Montecristo.

Cigar smoking has grown in popularity. Many people enjoy the socializing aspect of it, while some prefer to use it as a source of relaxation. As with wine, what people are looking for in a cigar can vary among individuals. Each person’s palate is unique, and each experience with a

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

Kansas City’s Cigar Lounge Scene

Outlaw Cigar

cigar is distinctive. When people buy a premium cigar they are looking for quality craftsmanship and often something that has specific taste, aroma or even burn characteristics. Every cigar is a beautiful, handcrafted piece of art.

Kansas City has a variety of cigar lounges around the city, and we wanted to share a few of our favorites:

Diebel’s Sportsmen Gallery 426 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO

The Cigar Room 108 SE 3rd St., Lee’s Summit, MO

Outlaw Cigar and Brewery

309 E 10th Ave., North Kansas City, MO

Outlaw Cigar

13700 Metcalf Ave Overland Park, KS

Fireside Cigar

15999 S Bradley Dr., Olathe, KS

Cigar Room

Diebel’s Sportsman Gallery

The Real Ted Lasso

Be a goldfish. Believe. The harder you work, the luckier you get. Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing. If you’re a diehard Ted Lasso fan, you likely recognize these little pearls of wisdom as classic Ted Lasso-isms. Fans all over the world have fallen in love with Ted’s midwestern folksy charm because it’s just so darn endearing. What the average viewer may not recognize, however, is the inspiration for the character and origin of many of Ted’s inspiring phrases - actor Jason Sudeikis’ high school teacher and basketball coach, Donnie Campbell, who now lives and teaches in Lee’s Summit.

LOCAL TEACHER IS INSPIRATION FOR APPLE TV HIT SHOW CHARACTER

ARTICLE BY LAURA MAXWELL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

LOCAL LIMELIGHT | ENTERTAINMENT

Sudeikis grew up attending Shawnee Mission schools, and in high school at Shawnee Mission West he and his teammates were exposed to daily doses of character via stories Campbell would tell at basketball practice. “Every day I would start practice with a story to reinforce a character trait we were emphasizing. Many of them I got from John Wooden. For example, “Discipline yourself, so others don’t have to” or “Be quick, but don’t hurry.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the group of boys I coached at Shawnee Mission West. They were all very coachable, fun to be around, played hard, and really had a good basketball IQ. All those boys who played with Jason are still great friends to this day. I felt I did not ‘teach’ basketball. I taught attitude every day. My job was to help develop kids to be leaders first, then basketball players. Kids don’t care what you know until they know that you care,” says Campbell.

Campbell recognizes some of his own phrases and stories in the Ted Lasso script, and he feels some of those served as the inspiration for other life lessons the show’s characters are learning  in their quest for soccer success. “One of my favorite phrases from the show about a riding a horse. If it is comfortable, you probably aren’t getting any better. Learning to be comfortable when you are uncomfortable is such a great lesson for all of us. Anything worthwhile in life is going to be hard. Anyone that has been successful at anything has had to overcome some sort of adversity. We need to learn to embrace adversity,” he says.

Although Campbell has worked with literally thousands of young people during his career as a teacher and coach, he has vivid recall of Sudeikis and some entertaining stories. “Jason was a good basketball player, but he didn’t always play the kind of defense I wanted to him to play. That is why I nicknamed him Jason Sueikis. I took the D out of

his name. All the kids, including Jason, thought the nickname was hilarious.”

When asked why he believes  Ted Lasso has elicited such a following, Campbell says “I think in our world now, especially coming out of Covid, everyone wants something to watch that makes them feel better. That’s what the show is all about! Many of the lessons with each character in the show can be used in everyday life. For example, be a goldfish. What a great lesson for all of us not to dwell on the past. Be where your feet are.”

“The show is so endearing; you just feel great after watching it. All the characters in the show are casted so well. To me, it is a sports show that takes life lessons and uses a sport as a vehicle to teach great lessons for all of us. It is about life and optimism. It is truly surreal when I see many of the same lessons I tried every day to teach our players woven into the show, and it’s humbling and a thrill to hear Jason mention me when he talks about the show.”

On the show, Ted Lasso serves as a father figure for several of the players. Campbell says Lasso’s relationship with the soccer players mirrors the relationships high school coaches have with their athletes.  “With the exception of parents, coaches and teachers have the most impact on kids. I always loved my players and treated them like they were my sons. The impact you have on kids you coach lasts a lifetime. Look at the impact I had with Jason. That is the same with coaches and teachers everywhere. They are all making such a profound impact on their players/students. Who knows, maybe someone out there is coaching another Jason Sudeikis,” he says.

While Campbell still keeps in touch with Sudeikis and would be open to a cameo appearance on the show, should that opportunity present itself, he says he doesn’t have any insight into how this season,

“I think in our world now, especially coming out of Covid, everyone wants something to watch that makes them feel better. That’s what the show is all about! “

like

rumored to be the last, will end. “I hope there is a way for Ted and Nate to still stay friends. I don’t know how that is going to play out, but everything in the show is about positivity. So, I am sure there will be something positive to come of it and a great learning lesson for all of us.”

Cameo appearance or not, Campbell says he is proud of Sudeikis.  “Not just for the success of the show, but more importantly, for all the charity work he does for KC. He has not forgotten his roots and is willing to help others. That says a ton about his character.”

“I always loved my players and treated them

they were my sons.”

METRIC - A MEN’S MECCA FOR CUTS AND COCKTAILS

ARTICLE BY JOHN BEAUDOIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

“I need a trim up top, a straight-razor shave and hot towel and a rye Old Fashioned, please.”

The only place you’ll overhear such an order? Metric Barber & Shop, 23 SE Third St. in downtown Lee’s Summit.

It’s the one-stop

11 years.

CONTINUED >

men’s shop built by longtime stylist Ian O’Connell - right across the street from Metric, O’Connell’s original downtown business of

After much consideration of what men need - and, equally, what they want - during a trip to the barber, O’Connell opened his concept in October 2022.

“I’m not reinventing the wheel,” he said. “I decided I wanted to do this about 7, 8 years ago, and when COVID hit. At the time, I thought to myself, ‘Business could all end tomorrow.’”

After a conversation with Seth Allen, owner and proprietor of Libations & Company, O’Connell knew it was his time to make his second-business dream a reality.

“I talked to Seth and knew he was moving next door, and I knew it didn’t get any better than that,” O’Connell said of his new location, which was originally a barber shop a century ago.

A concept just for men - cuts, shaves, skin care and cocktails - makes sense for O’Connell, an 18-year veteran stylist who found his way into the business following a successful career as a touring musician, working with the likes of Clive Davis and recording a few albums along the way. He went to hair school as a backup plan. And the rest, as they say, is history.

After working at a salon in Longview, O’Connell and his wife, Tara, started scouting spots for a future salon. Downtown Lee’s Summit wasn’t originally on his radar, either.

“Tara invited me to Downtown Days, this was right after the completion of the streetscape, and we sat on the deck at the Peanut, and I thought, ‘This place is pretty cool.’ I was driving by the 28 spot and (the former building owner) was taping the ‘For Rent’ sign in the window. I gave her a check for $1,000 to just hold the spot until my wife and I could come by to see the location. After we did, we signed the lease right then.”

His downtown luck continued when he found the building at 23 SE Third St. for his new concept.

“I reached out to Shane and Bill, I’m thankful that they chose me to take it,” he said. “Anytime you put your name on the dotted line on a brick and mortar storefront, especially when the future of brick and mortar is so up in the air, it’s terrifying, but I’m glad I did it.”

So what prompted the ‘guys only’ idea? “If I was a guy getting a haircut, where would I want to hangout to listen to good music, have a good cocktail and relax?” he asked. “There’s a lot of guys that don’t want to go to a salon for their grooming services or where their wives go.”

Metric Barber & Shop offers haircuts, full shaves, straight razor, beard trims and grooming, a full skin care line - and of course, cocktails. The Smoke n Mirrors (a smoked Old Fashioned) is the best seller. The shop also features Bloody Mary’s, mimosas, a Tito’s Metric Mule and Fire in the Hole - a beer and shot of fireball. You can get anything from a $3 beer to a $150 pour of bourbon.

“Who doesn’t love a drink with their haircut, right?” O’Connell said.

The old-school barber shop look includes a barber’s chair from the 1920s and a piece of Hollywood memorabilia - Cedric the Entertainer’s chair from the movie Barber Shop

“I absolutely love downtown Lee’s Summit,” said O’Connell, a member of the Downtown CID Board of Directors who purchased his 28 SE Third St. building in 2019. “And this location … I love it. I can literally be at two places at one time, although I feel like one of these days I’m going to get busted for jaywalking. So I just sprint across the street.”

For an appointment at Metric Barber & Shop, visit metricbarber.net

“It’s the one-stop men’s shop built by longtime stylist Ian O’Connell - right across the street from Metric, O’Connell’s original downtown business of 11 years.”

FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY WILL MOVE YOU STRESS FREE!

Owners of College Hunks and Lee’s Summit residents, Matt and Alicia Rodick, bring years of working with people to the table. Alicia is a local elementary school teacher, while Matt is a Mizzou Business School grad with more than 20 years of experience in retail with a focus on customer service.

When you’re planning your next big move, have junk that needs to vanish, a big item that needs carried across the building or a furniture delivery from a local store like Cameron’s, College Hunks can get the job done. This local, family-owned business is run right here in our back yard. You may have even seen their signs around town, and that’s because they are wanting to make their mark on Lee’s Summit. “Our kids are all products of the LSR7 school district. We’ve both coached our kids’ sports teams with the LS Parks & Rec, and College Hunks even sponsors our youngest daughter’s soccer team,” said Matt. While College Hunks may be a national franchise, Matt and Alicia want customers to know their business is truly more of a local, family-run business. And they mean it. The whole family pitches in together. Their oldest daughter works in advertising as her full-time job but helps run their marketing, their son who is currently a student at the University of Missouri is a Junk Captain when he’s home, and their youngest daughter even has her own desk at the office.

“We’ve loved living in Lee’s Summit, and we are happy to be involved in the community as residents, parents with kids in LSR7 and local sports, and now as business owners, too,” said Alicia. Matt and Alicia brought College Hunks to the Lee’s Summit area in 2021, but the business is backed by a national footprint. They offer moving, junk hauling, labor and delivery services. It doesn’t matter if you’re moving across town or across the country, they will take care of you.

ARTICLE BY JUDY GOPPERT PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

Why choose College Hunks? Aside from supporting a local business, they are more than just some college kids. H.U.N.K.S. is an acronym that stands for Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable, Service, and when you’re moving or inviting someone into your home to do a job for you, that’s truly what you’re looking for. They are a team made up of young strong guys, but also professionals like Matt who bring more than 20 years of experience in managing a business and providing customer service. “What sets us apart is that we set out every day to make sure our customers feel valued and like they can trust us to get the job done right; it’s more than just our bottom line because I care about these customers and their satisfaction on a personal level,” said Matt.

COLLEGE HUNKS HAULING JUNK & MOVING® LEE’S SUMMIT IS CONNECTED TO OUR COMMUNITY

"WHEN YOU’RE PLANNING YOUR NEXT BIG MOVE, HAVE JUNK THAT NEEDS TO VANISH, A BIG ITEM THAT NEEDS CARRIED ACROSS THE BUILDING OR A FURNITURE DELIVERY FROM A LOCAL STORE LIKE CAMERON’S, COLLEGE HUNKS CAN GET THE JOB DONE."

“

treated very

from the moment you enter till the moment you leave. Wouldn't even think about going any where else”

— Chuck F.

There are a lot of other moving and junk hauling businesses around the metro, but “when you choose College Hunks, you’re choosing to support a business and family that truly cares and makes an effort to give back to their community,” said Alicia. For every job College Hunks does, they donate two meals to U.S. Hunger in support of ending childhood hunger in America.

Not only are they striving to create the best customer experience, but they also see the value in making College Hunks a great place to work for their employees. When you have people who enjoy what they do, chances are they are going to do a better job for the customer.

Matt has many years of experience in managing and helping to foster development and progress in his employees, and it didn’t stop when he made the move to open College Hunks. He continues to look for opportunities to help his employees learn new skills and help

This savings plan allows patients and their families to better maintain their lasting oral health and wellness by providing valuable savings on annual exams, cleanings and x-rays, not to mention additional discounts on other dental procedures. With just one low annual payment, patients are covered for the whole year! Enjoy peace of mind and a beautiful smile at a price you can afford!

and a beautiful smile at a price you can afford!

• No more hassles with claims

• No more hassles with claims

• No more limitations

• No more limitations

• No more exclusions

• No more exclusions

• No more deductibles

• No more deductibles

• No pre-authorization requirements

• No pre-authorization requirements

• No yearly maximums

• No yearly maximums

“THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER MOVING AND JUNK HAULING BUSINESSES AROUND THE METRO, BUT WHEN YOU CHOOSE COLLEGE HUNKS, YOU’RE CHOOSING TO SUPPORT A BUSINESS AND FAMILY THAT TRULY CARES AND MAKES AN EFFORT TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.”

them develop into strong leaders and professionals. He loves going back to the phrase “best job I ever had.” He says he always tries to make that a core piece of what he does every day. “No matter how hard the days can be, I still always try to remind myself that this is the best job I’ve ever had, and I try to create an environment where the guys around me feel just as passionately about their jobs too.”

College Hunks is always looking to foster relationships with new customers, whether that be other local businesses or families looking for a job well done. So, when it comes time to move to your next home, declutter your basement to get rid of old junk, deliver that new piece of furniture or even transport the copy machine across the office, College Hunks hopes to be the first ones you call. Many times, they can even make it happen the same day. That’s personal service!

COLLEGE HUNKS

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

ARTICLE BY ALLISON SWAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

The journey to Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken started more than 60 years ago in Mason, Tennessee. Napoleon ‘Na’ Vanderbilt and his wife, Gertrude, sold their made to order hand-battered fried chicken out the back door of a tavern—it has since grown to 36 restaurants and counting across the country.

Gus’s is the current reigning champion of the National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans, the Travel Channel’s 12th Tastiest Restaurants in America to Chow Down, and GQ Magazine’s top ten restaurants in the world worth flying to for a meal. It’s no surprise that the fried chicken recipe is top secret—Gus once said, “This is a dead man’s recipe, and I ain’t telling.”

Steve and Julie Zanone own all three locations in the Kansas City region.

“We were both born in Memphis and moved to Kansas City almost 30 years ago for Steve’s job in banking,” says Julie. “Over the years, as we’ve spent time in Memphis visiting friends and family, we grew to love Gus’s Fried Chicken. My dad was a great

friend and business associate of the gal who owns Gus’s, the franchisor. On one trip home she shared with us that she was expanding and selling franchises, and Steve immediately asked my dad to arrange a meeting for us to talk with her about the possibility of us bringing this award-winning fried chicken to Kansas City. Shortly thereafter, we bought the franchise rights for the Kansas City region.

“We are very involved in the business but work mostly behind the scenes. We started in 2016 with the store in Kansas City, and in 2021, we opened a second location in Overland Park. Our third location in Lee’s Summit just opened in February of this year. We are extremely lucky and blessed to have an incredible Regional Manager, Jerri Kirk, who runs the show on a day-to-day basis, both in-store dining and our busy catering operation.”

Although the recipe originated in Tennessee, Gus’s fried chicken is not your typical Nashville cayenne-heavy hot chicken—it’s battered and fried in peanut oil, making a perfectly crispy brown coating with just a mild kick of spice.

“The actual batter itself is shipped to us from the home office in Memphis and the contents are a closely guarded secret.”

Everything is made in-house daily, and the southern sides are slightly sweet to offset the spiciness of the fried chicken.

“At Gus’s, we want to ensure that our guests sit back, relax and enjoy what many people believe to be the best fried chicken in the world. Besides fried chicken, the most popular items on our menu are our fried pickle and fried green tomato appetizers. Customers also enjoy our simple southern-style pecan, chess, chocolate chess, coconut and sweet potato pies baked fresh in-house daily—and don’t forget the sweet tea!”

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken has three local locations in Lee’s Summit, Overland Park, and Kansas City. For more information, visit gusfriedchicken.com .

“At Gus’s, we want to ensure that our guests sit back, relax and enjoy what many people believe to be the best fried chicken in the world.”

MEN ON A MISSION

ARTICLE BY STAFF | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSH LEBRUN

For Matt Niewald, DDS, a Lee’s Summit resident, including two of his sons on his  recent medical and dental mission trip to Jamaica was just as much about creating a teaching moment as it was about giving and serving others.

The JamAicamed (Jamaica Medical/ Dental Mission) trip provided medical and dental services in areas of Tower Isle, Jamaica where care is not readily available. The team of volunteers primarily focused on preventative care services and tooth extractions. More than 50 hours of work were dedicated to servicing over 350 patients and extracting over 450 teeth. We wanted to ask the boys, Aidan 18, and Ethan 15, about their experience.

Ethan, how much of an impact do you think your volunteer work had?

“I think my volunteer work had a pretty big impact on the people we helped. One of the main reasons I think this is because everyone we helped didn’t have access to dental care. On top of not having access to dental care, most of the people in Jamaica didn’t have toothbrushes or toothpaste to take care of their teeth. So overall I

would say we had a huge impact on the people in Jamaica because we were able to help them with basic hygiene and we were able to help relieve the pain they were experiencing.”

Aidan, What part of the trip was the most memorable?

“The most memorable part of the Mission Trip for me was our second day of mission work at the Retreat Health Clinic. On this day I was doing patient intakes so I was able to directly communicate and interact with the patients more than I could on any of the other days. I was able to talk to people anywhere from little kids to grandparents and it was amazing hearing their stories. One thing in particular that stood out to me on this day is two little boys that came up to me on their walk home from school while I was standing outside of the clinic getting some fresh air. We talked for around 10 minutes about a ton of different things and it was amazing learning about their daily life. Overall the whole mission trip was extremely humbling and I would love to go again!”

realty report

A sample of recently sold properties in Lee’s Summit.

This data is a sampling of sold properties from April 2023. Source: IRES MLS system.

Toasting the American Spirit

ARTICLE BY NICCI LAVINE

A TOUR OF AMERICA’S ONLY BOURBON TRAIL

The bluegrass state of Kentucky with the Appalachian Mountains is indisputably known as the Mecca of bourbon and the location of America’s only Bourbon Trail.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail, established in 1999, is dotted with a total of 37 distilleries scattered throughout the regions of Louisville, Western Kentucky, Bardstown, Lexington and North Kentucky.

For bourbon aficionados and road trip lovers alike, the trail promises scenic country drives, historic architecture, and an abundance of restaurants and tasting rooms with some distilleries spanning more than 100 miles apart.

The most popular bourbon distillery locations one might expect to see along the trail are: Angles Envy, Maker’s Mark, Michter’s, Wild Turkey, Heaven Hill, Lux Row, Old Forester, Four Roses, Evan Williams, Bulleit, and Jim Beam.

Within each distillery and on its grounds, bourbon lovers can expect to find a variety of bourbon price points, flavor profiles, distilling and aging techniques, and historical points of interest. Each location offers a variety of tour options: some focusing on the chemistry of bourbon distillation, the art of tasting, the barrel charring process, or the rich (and checkered) history of bourbon’s origins.

One constant seems to remain—most Kentucky distilleries cannot broach the topic of their favorite drink without also offering a glimpse of its history. The name “bourbon” hails from the original Bourbon County, which was a region carved from a portion of the Fayette County of Virginia in 1785. The county, which belonged to the then-brand-new state of Kentucky, was named in honor of the French House of Bourbon to show gratitude to King Louis XVI for his vital assistance during the American Revolutionary War.

Prior to its exodus from the region, loads of white oak barrels cut from the forests of Arkansas were first branded with the Bourbon County label. The county logo branded on the barrels soon gave way to its shorthand references: Bourbon. The rest is, quit literally, history.

The oldest operational distillery in Kentucky is Maker’s Mark, which began distilling in 1805 and has since been recognized as a National Historic Landmark. In 1964, a Congressional Resolution declared bourbon to be an indigenous product of the United States. This distinction renders bourbon as the official American Spirit. To be recognized as a bourbon, a spirit must meet specific and strict requirements set forth by law. In fact, bourbon distillation marks one of America’s very first examples of a consumer protection law with the establishment of the “Bottled-in-Bond” Act in 1897 (The Bottled-in-Bond designation have bourbon standards which supersede those of single-malt Scotch).

All bourbon starts as what distillers refer to as White Lightning—an uncolored, unaged, and unflavored whiskey. Whiskey functions as the stem cell of bourbon—it’s the bare bones and the foundation. This whiskey must be made with mash consisting of at least 51% corn. As long as that ratio is met, the mash may also include other grains such as rye and barley. During the distillation process, the liquid must not exceed a

proof of 160, and must not exceed a proof of 125 at the time it’s poured into barrels to begin the aging process. All bourbon must be aged in new, charred, white oak barrels for a minimum of two years before it is finally bottled at 80 proof or higher. No other dyes or flavors may be introduced into the distilling or aging process if a bourbon is to retain its namesake.

“Within each distillery and on its grounds, bourbon lovers can expect to find a variety of bourbon price points, flavor profiles, distilling and aging techniques, and historical points of interest.”

Even though 95% of bourbon is distilled in Kentucky, bourbon does not need to be distilled in the state to be considered authentic. Most bourbon was historically made in Kentucky due to its geography. The rich source of limestone in Kentucky earth acts as a natural aquifer, purifying the water and removing the more peaty flavors one would find in spirits distilled with earthier water quality, such as Scotch. The varied temperatures, humidity levels, and weather patterns in the Kentucky region cause the white oak barrels to contrast and swell. This unique aging process gives bourbon its signature amber hue as well as its sweet and dynamic flavor.

Guests interested in seeing each distillery along the trail should plan on the trip taking at least seven days, according to the updated schedule provided on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail website.

While the tour itinerary is flexible enough to have many starting points, the official ‘start’ of the trail can be found at the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center located at the Frazier Museum on Historic Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville. The destinations along the trail can be planned a number of ways: by distillery, by region, or by organized tour itinerary. Some distillery locations are packed as tightly as an 8-mile

radius, with the average tour lasting about 90 minutes.

Guests who schedule an official KBT tour receive a Kentucky Bourbon Trail passport at the beginning of their journey and have the pleasure of watching stamps fill their pages as they makes their way through the Kentucky countryside. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Passports do not expire, so travelers may rest assured that they can complete any unfinished portions of their tours at a later date if the tastings become too rigorous. Each distillery along the trail has its own admission fee for tours but offer more than one tour option at each location. Some Distilleries, such as Four Roses and Jim Beam, offer two distillery tour locations. Guests are welcome to visit both locations if they desire but will receive only one stamp in their Bourbon Trail passports.

For those who want to travel off the beaten path, several famous distilleries in the area do not appear on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail list. One of the more famous of these is the Buffalo Trace Distillery, responsible for distilling bourbon of that name as well as the more rare and sought-after bottles of Blanton’s and E.H. Taylor. The Buffalo Trace distillery is located on a national landmark and offers free tastings, as well as Ghost tours for those who are interested in a different kind of spirit.

“Even though 95% of bourbon is distilled in Kentucky, bourbon does not need to be distilled in the state to be considered authentic.”

The Importance of Bicycle Safety for Kids

One of the joys of being a parent is seeing your child do anything for the first time: smile, laugh, crawl, walk…the list goes on. At some point, they’ll be taking their first outing on a bike. As parents, we help our children find their balance, stand behind them to get them started, and rejoice when they make it to the end of the street. But what about bicycle safety? In your driveway or by home, it may not occur to you, but when you send your child out on a bike ride to a friend’s house, it’s imperative that you know what to do to keep your kids safe on two wheels.

WHY BICYCLE SAFETY IS SO IMPORTANT

Each year, nearly 300,000 children visit the emergency rooms of hospitals in the US due to injuries sustained while bike riding. That’s not a big number—until you think about the fact that your child could be one of them. Of that 300,000, approximately 10,000 are admitted to the hospital.

There are some things you can do as a parent to stress the importance of bicycle safety to your children. We’re going to break it down for you so you know exactly what you can do to keep your kids safe.

WEAR A HELMET EVERY RIDE

The most important equipment needed for a safe bike ride is a helmet. Your child should wear her helmet every time she gets on her bicycle, no matter where she’s going or how long or short the ride will be. Unfortunately, most people are unclear about how to size bike helmets and even how to wear them properly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has an excellent PDF that you can download to ensure your child is wearing a well-fitting helmet. Check your child’s helmet before each ride until you’re sure he’s comfortable wearing it correctly on his own. Be sure to replace the helmet as your child grows and when it’s involved in a crash. Even if the crash is minimal and the helmet doesn’t appear damaged, its integrity may decline. Better safe than sorry.

DRESS IN THE RIGHT GEAR

Any time you or your child is out on streets and paths, it’s vital that you can be seen by cars passing by. One of the keys

to bicycle safety is wearing brightly colored clothes. That might just mean a white or yellow top. Avoid dark colors while riding on a bike, especially at night.

In addition to being seen, your child should wear clothes that won’t get caught up in the bicycle chains. Be wary of loose shoelaces, skirts, or long, flowing pants. And make sure your child wears sturdy shoes when riding, such as sneakers. Flipflops and sandals can fall off and not provide the good grip they need on the pedals.

TALK ABOUT THE RULES OF THE ROAD

If your child is younger, you’ll probably be riding with him most of the time. He may also go riding on trails away from traffic. But as children grow, so does their independence. That’s why you need to share with them the rules of bicycle safety. If your child’s school or community center offers a bike safety course, that’s a great way to get her acclimated to the rules.

To get your child ready to ride on the road, start talking to her about safe driving habits when you travel in the car. Remind her that a bicycle follows many of the rules that cars do, including:

• Riding on the right side of the road

• Obeying traffic signs and signals

• Yielding to people and cars

• Not riding distracted, such as while texting, eating, or drinking

NHTSA highlights many of the bicycle safety rules you can discuss with your child and is a great way to start the conversation.

COMMUNITY CHOICE PEDIATRICS CARES ABOUT BICYCLE SAFETY—AND YOUR KIDS

Bicycle safety should be important to all of us, whether we have children or not. At Community Choice Pediatrics, we want kids to be happy and healthy, so keeping them safe on their bikes is near and dear to our hearts. As the weather warms and kids are outside more, we encourage you to talk to your kids about the importance of bicycle safety and the little repeatable things you can do together to have fun and stay safe.

Please join us in welcoming Elizabeth Vasquez MPAS, PA-C to our team!

At Community Choice Pediatrics, we know how important quality of care is to our patients. And that’s driven by the people providing the care.

Learn more about Elizabeth on our website at communitychoicepeds.com/our-providers/ along with all of our dedicated practitioners.