KENTON
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 — DECEMBER 12, 2025
THE VOICE OF NKY
linknky.com
On Thanksgiving Day, Beechwood thankful for football opportunities By Marc Hardin
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t’s an overcast and drizzly Tuesday afternoon in Fort Mitchell. Sunlight pokes through gray clouds as rarely as opponents have scored against the Beechwood High School football team. Two days before Thanksgiving, the sun can only create a muted tapestry of faint light and shadows on wet, leaf-covered grounds. There in this classic autumn scene are the indomitable Tigers. They are gearing up for a 90-minute practice at their home, venerable Edgar McNabb Stadium. The venue has hosted seven lopsided wins during an exciting 11-1 season. On this day, however, it’s seeing some rain. “The guys are ready to go,” said third-year coach Jay Volker, who is mighty thankful for his players and his coaching staff. “They are excited.” Continues on page 3
The Beechwood Tigers’ Emmett Queen. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
How a child’s question sparked Covington’s Stoney’s Etc. By Kenton Hornbeck
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peaceful walk along a country road with her granddaughter sparked Sandi Stonebraker’s interest in writing a children’s book, which became the impetus for her opening her namesake toystore, Stoney’s Etc.
Sandi Stonebraker in front of her Giving Tree. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky
Stonebraker recalled that during their walk, her granddaughter pointed to a wooded area off the road and asked if princesses lived there. This benign childhood question became the inspiration for Stonebreaker to write her first children’s book, “On Being a Real Princess, Secrets of the Happy Heart Princess.” Besides writing, she was also a painter – something she took up in her 50s after taking a class at a community center.
“She got me thinking about it, so I did write a book about the Happy Heart Princess, a children’s book that I still sell, and I also started doing these paintings, because I did one for her,” said Stonebraker. “Those are the two things that people paid attention to and said, ‘Well, I want you to do that for me, and I love your book, and why don’t you sell toys?’ That’s how it evolved.” Stoney’s Etc., which opened in 1998, is located at 323 W. Sixth St. in Covington’s MainStrasse neighborhood. The store has served as a framing shop for many years, where Stonebraker sells her paintings. Over time, its inventory expanded beyond frames and paintings to include toys, games and art supplies, among other things.
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