LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 4, Issue 3 - December 5, 2025

KENTON

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 — DECEMBER 5, 2025

THE VOICE OF NKY

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NKY on Tap:

All I want for Christmas is holiday beer recommendations

By Joe Schutzman Joe Schutzman is a Newport firefighter who loves Northern Kentucky’s culture, sense of place – and beer.

T

he season is upon us, and I must admit I’m an absolute sucker for the holidays. It’s one of my favorite times of year, and while I’ve become incredibly skilled at finding a reason to say this on any occasion and during any season, it’s a time of year that pairs really well with a good beer.

Christmas evokes so many pleasant memories for me, from putting up the tree to watching every version of “A Christmas Carol” I can find to eggnog and my grandmother’s legendary Christmas Eve food spreads. My favorite moments of all, though, are the ones spent with family and friends at holiday parties and get-togethers.

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The outdoor seating area at Braxton in Covington. Photo provided | Braxton Brewing Company on Facebook

A childhood love of geology leads to Covington’s Dimitridon Studios

By Kenton Hornbeck

D

imitridon Studios co-founder Jonas Agdanowski developed his love of geology by scouring the beaches of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for rare minerals as a child.

His family would take regular field trips to the area, where he and his younger brother, Dimitri, would pick through shuttered copper mines. Later, Agdanowski moved to Tucson, Arizona – home to the world’s largest gem and mineral show – where he became fully immersed in the field.

“You get surrounded in it, and you get fully immersed,” Agdanowski told LINK nky.

“You kind of just go completely down the rabbit hole.”

Today, Agdanowski’s passion for mineral and gem collecting has manifested itself through a series of three brick-and-mortar rock shops he founded alongside his brother and parents. Two of the shops are based in South Haven and Ludington, Michigan, while the other is located in central Covington at 714 Madison Ave.

South Haven store that opened in 2019.

Upon entering the Covington shop, customers are instantly welcomed by displays of different stones, gems and minerals, arranged by shape and color. Some stones have been crafted into jewelry, while others have been shaped into sculptures and tools like mortars and pestles.

So, what does Dimitridon mean? The actual Dimetrodon was an extinct, dinosaur-like reptile that lived over 280 million years ago. The creature’s name also bears similarity to Jonas’ younger brother Dimitri’s name. The similarities inspired the studio’s brand name, with a fossilized Dimetrodon skull serving as the logo.

“We have a whole bunch of stuff for everybody who could possibly be interested in it,” Agdanowski said. “We’ve got finer, more scientific stuff. We’ve got just nice display pieces, jewelry, all sorts of things.”

The Agdanowskis launched the Covington store in 2023, following the original South

Ashley Sifford, the manager of Dimitridon Studios, mentioned that the store attracts customers of all ages, whether they are curious shoppers browsing the aisles or older individuals reconnecting with stones they

Crescent Springs blocks proposed complex p6 Find out what Beth McDaniel is in search of this month p10 Check out some homes for sale around NKY p14

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All of these parties mean it’s time to stock up on beer. Now, this segment is usually about the best places to grab a beer in NKY, but with the holidays quickly approaching, I thought it might be a cool idea to tell you about some of the beers that I’ll be sharing this year.

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First on the list is a Christmas beer I recently learned about while spending a few days in Austria. It’s called Samichlaus and is from the brewer Schloss Eggenberg. The name is derived from the day on which they used to release the beer, St. Nicholas Day. I had the lovely opportunity to tour the Schloss Eggenberg facility last month, and while doing so, I learned about this beer and immediately fell in love.

This is the highest ABV beer I’ve ever had at a staggering 14%. I was even told that the creators of the beer actually had to engineer special yeast capable of holding up to such a high alcohol content.

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A bottle of Samichlaus is best shared amongst two or three folks and is usually served out of a snifter glass. It’s one of the most complex and sweetest beers I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying, and if the beer purists amongst us will forgive this comparison, it reminds me of a dessert wine.

As previous readers might have guessed, I will also obviously be bringing my favorite brewery, Schneider Weisse, to the party.

However, this season I will not be bringing the Tap 7 Original like I usually do. Instead, I will be sharing its weizen-doppelbock, Aventinus. It is truly a magical combination of my two favorite types of beer, the doppelbock and the wheat beer.

I will also be bringing some of my favorite local selections. This year, I will be sipping on Braxton’s Garage Beer, Rhinegeist’s Beer for Humans, and West Side’s Holiday Ale. I have found Garage Beer to be a good gateway beer for the stubborn macro-domestic drinker in your life. It’s the quintessential American beer with that extra touch of care and devotion to the product. It’s straightforward and self-aware, and a hard beer to turn down.

Then you have Beer for Humans. This is one of my go-to beers when I am looking for something crisp and not too heavy. It’s very refreshing and packs a nice little citrusy kick.

Finally, we have a new beer for me. I just recently tried it and was smitten from sip one. Holiday Ale is West Side Brewery’s Christmas in a can. This amber ale is warm and inviting, and for any of you who, like me, will serve some of these beers in a flight, it is the perfect bridge between the lighter beers and the higher ABV stuff like Aventinus and Samichlaus.

Whatever beer you choose this season, the most important thing, the overarching message of this entire series, is to love the folks you’re sharing a beer with. Create your own beer tradition. My parents have recently begun getting an Advent beer calendar. It’s a box full of craft beers, one for each day of Advent. My mom and dad will

A pint of Braxton Brewing Company beer at the Braxton Covington location. Photo provided | Braxton Brewing Company on Facebook

sit down at the kitchen table, mom with a notepad at the ready, and they will rate the beers as they try them throughout the month.

They always manage to discover one or two to add to their repertoire, but the beers I enjoy hearing about the most are the ones they didn’t care for. Sometimes the best stories don’t come from the best beers.

Sometimes, the best stories come from a

husband and wife goading each other into mustering up the fortitude to take another sip of a dill-flavored ale.

And now that I have shared some of the beers I will be enjoying during my Christmas festivities, I’d really love to hear what beers you all like to share with friends and family through the holiday season. Please feel free to drop me a line with some beers I need to try!

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Continued from page 1

cherished earlier in life.

“There’s a pretty big variety,” she said, “There’s a lot of younger people, but then we also have a lot of the older generation that were maybe into this back when they were growing up, and they’ve reconnected with that as they’ve gotten older.”

Moreover, Sifford said the store was popular with people interested in crystal healing, an alternative therapy that uses crystals and gemstones to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The practice has gained popularity on social media in recent years.

“Some people come in saying, I’m looking for something to help with anxiety or stress or something that helps them gravitate towards those stones that are going to be most beneficial for them,” she said.

Agdanowski said that sourcing stones is one of the most challenging parts of his business. Dimitridon Studios sources its stones globally, with the availability of some stones fluctuating. It acquires high-quality minerals from trusted suppliers worldwide and maintains a diverse, well-stocked inventory.

At just 21, Agdanowski is still early in his career, but he has already turned his childhood curiosity into a multistate retail operation. In Covington, he hopes Dimitridon Studios can be a place where people of all ages can discover wonder and connection through his unique products.

Jonas Agdanowski inside Dimitridon Studios on Madison Avenue in Covington. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

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New study signals what’s next for NKY’s high-growth industries

By Kenton Hornbeck

nates across industry sectors.

ith the end of 2025 on the horizon, BE NKY Growth Partnership – Northern Kentucky’s primary economic development organization – is doubling down on its four key industry sectors.

These updates include adding chemicals to the materials and packaging subsector, combining electronics manufacturing with electrical equipment manufacturing into a single subsector, and incorporating industrial machinery and equipment, a traditional industry with steady growth potential in the region.

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In 2022, global consulting firm Ernst & Young, known as EY for short, published a study commissioned by BE NKY that identified the four most prominent industry sectors of the NKY economy: advanced manufacturing, supply chain management, life sciences and information technology.

These sectors shape the region’s economy and drive high economic growth. As such, regional leaders want to up the investment in these sectors to promote further growth.

Years later, EY and BE NKY are collaborating on a new study that will assess which industry sectors will best support high-quality job growth in Northern Kentucky. Once published, the study will serve as a blueprint for analyzing business retention and attraction efforts in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties.

On Nov. 12, during its final economic development meeting of the year, BE NKY invited Jung Kim, research director for EY’s Economic Development Advisory Services

EY’s Jung Kim speaking at BE NKY’s quarterly investor meeting. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

Practice, to present the initial findings of the new study. To kick off his presentation, Kim explained why EY uses targeting as a practice to categorize the regional economy.

“Simply put, targeting helps focus limited resources where they’ll have the greatest impact by leveraging the region’s existing strengths and supply chains, you can enhance global competitiveness and drive economic growth,” Kim said.

One of the significant changes in the new study was the reorientation of subsectors.

Underneath the four primary clusters, there are several subsectors. As part of the new study, EY adjusted the subsector categories within the four primary clusters to better clarify each industry’s direction and demonstrate how each cluster cross-polli-

“Targeting also helps recognize and capitalize on macro-trends and emerging opportunities, rather than spreading those efforts too thin. This approach builds on the region’s assets such as talent, infrastructure and innovation networks to compete more effectively on the global stage for trade and investment, and ultimately, by focusing on the traded sectors that bring new wealth into Northern Kentucky,” said Kim. From Kim’s perspective, adopting advanced technologies like artificial intelligence in the local economy has boosted economic expectations.

“Things like AI, robotics, we mentioned, automation, Internet of Things, real-time data – they’re all increasingly becoming a central business tool,” Kim said. “As part of that, customer expectations are rising.

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Kim shared data from 2019 to 2024 on NKY’s key industries, emphasizing their importance to the local economy. He noted that advanced manufacturing employs 18,000 people, and that NKY has an advanced manufacturing job concentration nearly double the U.S. average. In the same time frame, information technology, with 3,000 jobs, has seen a 62% growth.

Furthermore, Kim shared that the local life sciences sector is rapidly expanding, supported by strong university and laboratory resources. Additionally, supply chain management and support services remain among NKY’s strongest sectors, with top national concentrations driven by CVG. BE NKY CEO Lee Crume shared his thoughts on the study, emphasizing that a key takeaway is the importance of local industries being agile enough to withstand economic turbulence.

“One of the things that I think we can take away from this is coming back to this idea of efficiency and being agile as a community, being agile and understanding these global trends that are coming at us,” he said. “I like to think that our organization is well-positioned to help with that.”

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Crescent Springs blocks 17-unit apartment complex plan Only one council member, Mueller, viewed the development somewhat favorably, although by the end of the meeting, he had come to acknowledge some of the residents’ concerns. He said he appreciated the work and planning the developers had put into the project and believed this was likely the best use of the land.

By Nathan Granger

C

rescent Springs City Council voted down a proposed concept plan for a 17-unit rental housing complex on Nov. 24.

The decision came down to a 4 to 2 vote after both elected officials and community members voiced concerns about increased traffic, water retention, the complex’s effect on property values and concerns about road access.

“They voted no,” Brian Fullenkamp, a partner at Legacy Management, the development company that had wanted to develop the land into rental properties, said after the meeting. “We don’t have anything else to do, as of right now.”

The Kenton County Planning Commission had approved the plan in September, after which Council Member Jeannine Bell Smith appealed the plan to the council for additional approval.

The council discussed the plan at its meeting in October, where Thomas Breitenstein, the attorney of the land’s owner, David Heidrich, had asked three of the council members to recuse themselves from voting on the issue because they had expressed concerns about the development before the planning commission.

In the end, Council Members Bell Smith, Jeff Smith, Don Kiely and Mark Wurtenberger voted against the plan. Council Members Bob Mueller and Carol McGowan, who were skeptical of the development in front of the planning commission, voted in favor of it.

The land in question spans about an acre on the northeast corner of the intersection of Ireland Avenue and Harris Street in Crescent Springs. Queen City Avenue flanks the land to the east. The areas around the parcels are a mixture of single-family, multi-family and commercial developments, most notably a nearby Panera Bread and a paint store.

Condos off Harris Street in Crescent Springs. Photo provided | Google Maps

Plans to develop the land date back to 2007, when former owner JACS Property submitted a development plan to the county to build 32 townhomes across three buildings.

Only a portion of the roughly two acres in the original development concept was developed into condos, and the remaining land eventually fell into receivership before being sold by the county master commissioner, effectively dividing the property rights to the land in half.

Ireland Properties, an LLC, bought the remaining land in 2017 but struggled to find a way to develop it. Ireland Properties later contracted with Legacy Management, a Fort Wright-based property management firm, to revise the original concept plan and head up asking for a variance from the county.

The new concept plan called for two buildings with a total of 17 housing units. Plans for the first building called for a 15-foot setback from Ireland Avenue and Harris Street. Plans for the second building called for a 12-foot setback from the adjacent commercial lot and a 15-foot setback from Ireland Avenue. Each unit would have had rear-entry two-car garages and walk-out access onto Ireland Avenue.

Typically, the zone where the property sits requires 25-foot setbacks, but the planning commission had approved variances with the concept plan in September, a point that proved to be a sticking point among the development’s critics. Plans also called for a water detention basin (in addition to the

one nearby) along with attendant landscaping and signage.

No official action took place after the discussions in October, which focused largely on the setback variances, water detention infrastructure, street access and the fact that the properties would be rented out.

Many of these issues would reemerge at the Nov. 24 meeting.

Bell Smith and McGowan – who actually voted in favor of the plan at the end of the meeting – seemed affronted by the call for recusal at the October meeting.

McGowan said she believed it was “inappropriate to ask three members, which would take away a majority, to not have a conversation regarding what’s in our city.”

When the developers and their contracted engineer, Don Stegman, came up to answer questions before the council, Bell Smith even said, “we deserve an apology.”

Three residents spoke out against the development, reiterating many of the concerns brought up by Smith, Bell Smith and others: traffic, water retention infrastructure, access, potential light pollution and the fact the developers were seeking rental tenants, rather than buyers.

One resident, Dawn Johnson, noted that water tended to congregate in the area already and worried that more might create problems with icy patches on the roads. No residents spoke out in favor of the development.

“I think we have an opportunity to look at someone who has come forward with the concept over a number of years, who wants to develop the site, versus– we don’t know what may come,” Mueller said. “But I do believe it will develop.”

At one point, Bell Smith asked whether Mueller would be willing to recuse himself from the proceedings, since he had worked as a realtor and could, hypothetically, work with the developer in the future.

“Will you be helping rent these apartments or these leases?” Bell Smith asked him.

“Would that be part of a job that you will do?”

Mueller said they would have to hire him to do that, which they hadn’t, and deferred to the city attorney for clarity on whether his profession created a conflict of interest.

“Do you have any direct financial interest in the outcome of this?” said City Attorney Mike Baker.

“No,” Mueller said.

“Then he is qualified to vote,” Baker replied.

Kiely and Wurtenberger sat silently throughout the discussion.

Stegman, Fullenkamp and Ross Kreutzjans, also of Legacy Management, attempted to address the concerns of the council and the residents, but it wasn’t enough to sway the vote. Finally, Mayor Mike Daugherty called for a motion. Mueller made the motion, and McGowan seconded the motion. Then, the council cast its vote against the development.

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Local leaders ask state to accelerate 4th Street Bridge project

KY 8/ Fourth Street Bridge. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

By Nathan Granger

T

he mayors of Covington and Newport, as well as the judges/executive of Kenton and Campbell counties, are asking the state for an infusion of cash that would purportedly accelerate the timeline for completing the construction for a new KY-8 Bridge, known more commonly as the Fourth Street Bridge.

“An allocation of as little as $1.5 million would allow for the use of precast concrete components, which would accelerate installation and reduce weather-related delays, ultimately shortening the project by approximately 30-45 days,” reads the letter, dated Nov. 21. “Similarly, an additional allocation of approximately $5 million would make it possible to expand contractor shifts, allowing additional crews to work extended hours. This approach could reduce the overall construction period by as much as six months.”

Jointly penned by Covington Mayor Ron Washington, Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli, Jr., Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann and Campbell County Judge/Executive Steve Pendry, the letter is addressed to Kentucky Rep. John Blanton and Kentucky Sen. Jimmy Higdon, both of

whom serve on legislative committees for transportation.

The current bridge connecting Newport and Covington across county lines was built in 1936, and even though it’s still capable of handling basic vehicle traffic, it’s not up to modern standards. The bridge is set to close to make room for construction in January with completion times scheduled for sometime in the fall of 2028.

“The KY 8 corridor is a crucial transportation link for residents, workers and freight traffic throughout Northern Kentucky and beyond,” the letter continues. “Thousands of individuals from Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, as well as from the Cincinnati metropolitan area, rely on this route every day to access jobs, commercial districts and essential services.”

they get that done, it would be better for our residents and our businesses,” Washington told LINK nky.

The City of Covington has already begun brainstorming ways to address this problem with its Bridging the Gap initiative, an update for which City Manager Sharmili Reddy gave to the city’s board of commissioners on Nov. 25.

Reddy doled out some possible moves the city could take to ensure the community made it through the closures, in addition to the sorts of asks from state authorities that appear in the letter.

One strategy, Reddy said, is coordinating with local businesses, organizations and community leaders to come up with novel solutions to the problem.

Coupled with the impending construction of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project and its attending closures, local leaders have been working to come up with ways to soften the blow local businesses and communities might suffer as a result of the closures.

“We don’t think that we have all the answers and all the solutions, and we need everybody to bring their solutions to the table and hopefully partner with us on some of these ideas,” Reddy said, later saying that meetings with local stakeholders thus far suggests that “everybody wants to help.”

“We’re trying to do the best we can to bring this to the state’s attention that the sooner

Another big part of the initiative, Reddy said, is coming up with ways to market Cov-

ington’s businesses so that people from out of town would be more willing to travel there. Reddy also emphasized the importance of way-finding for pedestrians, i.e. making easy-to-find paths for people to get around in the midst of the closures.

“We have to make it easy for folks outside of the region to come into the city and go into our businesses,” Reddy said.

Other things that could draw in more business included special community-wide or district-wide events and new approaches to transportation.

“We’re even talking about, what do people feel great about getting into?”Reddy said.

“Is it golf carts? Is it really a shuttle? What would people feel comfortable getting into and going from one district to the other?”

Reddy’s presentation was, by her own admission, very broad strokes, but it served as a way of keeping the board informed about reality of the situation.

No official action took place at the Nov. 25 meeting. LINK nky will report more on this situation as it develops.

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kenton county briefs Kris Knochelmann to seek reelection as Kenton County judge/executive

Covington gets perfect score on municipal equality index

show, held at General Butler State Resort Park in Carroll County.

KungFood Chu’s was established in 2008 by chefs Rich and Johnny Chu.

The department is responsible for managing seven parks, equal to about 725 acres of green space.

KungFood Chu’s will be the second Northern Kentucky restaurant to be featured on ‘Triple D’ this year, following Fort Mitchell-based Camporosso’s appearance on the show in July.

The department’s maintenance team was honored with the Outstanding Maintenance Team Class 2 Award for “exceptional contributions by a department’s maintenance team in enhancing its park system and improving quality of life within the community,” according to a press release from the county.

Kris Knochelmann speaks at an event. Photo provided | Liz Knochelmann

Kris Knochelmann, the current judge/executive of Kenton County, filed for reelection with the state last week.

Knochelmann has served in the position since 2015. Prior to that, he served as a county commissioner from 2007 to 2015.

He is running as a Republican.

“It’s been a historic run of great events and developments in Kenton County,” Knochelmann said in a campaign announcement.

“Working side-by-side with so many who care for our community has been a highlight of my life, and I know there is much more we can accomplish in the next four years.”

Judges/executive are the head executives of county governments and, in fact, have no judicial function, in spite of what their titles may suggest.

NKY Pride parade. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

Covington has earned a perfect 100 out of 100 score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index for the fourth year in a row.

The advocacy group’s index assesses how LGBTQ+-friendly 506 cities in the country are using a set of 49 criteria.

“Covington’s perfect score on the MEI is a testament to who we are as a community,” City Manager Sharmili Reddy said in a press release. “We lead with inclusion, we act with purpose and we make sure every person has a place here. I’m incredibly proud of our staff and our residents, whose commitment to fairness and equality makes this recognition possible year after year.”

The second award went to Kenton County Recreation Program Coordinator Rhonda Ritzi, who earned the Professional of the Year Award, which honors long-time professionals in the field. Ritzi has over 37 years of recreation experience.

“As a Certified Park and Recreation Professional, [Ritzi] develops programs and events that engage all ages while coordinating with libraries, community organizations and local partners to ensure opportunities remain accessible and impactful,” according to the county.

Covington’s KungFood AmerAsia debuts on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”

Kenton County Parks and Recreation win honors at state conference

The judge/executive serves a four-year term and may be reelected indefinitely.

Kung Food AmerAsia’s storefront. Photo by Maggy McDonel | LINK nky

Members of Kenton County Parks & Recreation at the 2025 Kentucky Recreation and Park Society’s annual State Conference and Trade Show. Photo provided | Kenton County

The Kenton County Parks & Recreation Department earned multiple honors at this year’s Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society’s annual state conference and trade

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State assessment shows improvement for Holmes High School Holmes High School is celebrating a big milestone.

Kentucky’s Department of Education released the report cards for the 2024-2025 school year, and the school has moved up in performance level assessment.

“I’m very proud,” Holmes junior Angelee Lesniak said.

Lesniak said she’s had to deal with her school not having a great reputation in the past.

“There will be adults, they’ll ask you, ‘Hey, where do you go to school?’ And I’ll answer, ‘I go to Holmes.’ And they’ll give you sort of like a weird look, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry for you,’” Lesniak said.

Lesniak, her fellow students and the school and administration staff have been working to change that perception.

Although the judge/executive has no judicial power, they are the chair and a voting member of the county’s fiscal court.

Their main responsibilities are creating a county budget and administering the budget as approved by the fiscal court, overseeing the funds, appointing county personnel, and forming relationships with organizations and industry leaders that support their county.

‘Triple D’ revolves around celebrity chef and television personality Guy Fieri trying to select dishes served at restaurants across the country.

KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia debuted in November on Food Network’s “Diners, DriveIns and Dives”.

The popular pan-Asian restaurant on Madison Avenue in Covington was featured on the Nov. 21 9 p.m. episode of “Diners, DriveIns and Dives” on Food Network, according to a Facebook post on the restaurant’s page.

Three years ago, Holmes High School found itself at the lowest possible performance level, which is designated by the color red. There are five performance levels in total. Those scored “required assistance from the state and targeted assistance for its Hispanic and special education student populations,” according to a school spokesperson.

Now, following the 2024-2025 school year, it’s a “yellow school,” which is two levels higher.

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kenton county briefs

Turnick described how the district has made the bump to improve its performance and culture.

for information about both the private (customer-owned) and public (water district-owned) portions of a service line. It can be found here.

With the school in an upward trajectory, I asked the interim principal how she plans to help her school continue to improve.

When water leaves the water district’s treatment plants, it does not contain lead.

The potential for lead in drinking water is primarily from possible leaching from a building’s plumbing and service lines. The water district is required to provide treatment that minimizes the corrosivity of the water, which is done by adjusting the pH and using a safe additive, a corrosion inhibitor, that protects the pipe material and helps lower the potential for lead to be released into the water.

“I think the path forward is to continue to work the systems that we put in place. We’re seeing growth because we’re making sure that we’re monitoring and implementing those systems,” Turnick said.

If you have questions or concerns for Northern Kentucky Water District regarding lead in drinking water, please contact (859) 578-5451 or via email at SLI@nkywater.org

NKY water customers to receive letters identifying possible lead service lines

Kentucky gene-editing study offers new hope for Alzheimer’s

“We worked hard to make sure that we were looking at those Kentucky state standards and making sure that we were building units and learning targets, all those pieces that come with curriculum,” Turnick said.

A lead service line. Photo provided | Northern Kentucky Water District

A number of Northern Kentucky Water District customers will soon receive a notification by mail regarding their water service line material.

The required notification is issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s revised Lead and Copper Rule.

“These notifications will alert the owner whether their service line material is lead, galvanized downstream from lead, or unknown material, which we have to consider as lead until we know otherwise,” said Northern Kentucky Water District President/CEO Lindsey Rechtin. “It will also provide additional resources and information about lead for our customers.”

This is the second year that the Northern Kentucky Water District has sent notifications to customers.

“We have been working diligently over the past year to identify the material types of the unknown lines, which make up the majority of our required notifications,” noted Rechtin. “We strongly encourage our customers to take the time to identify their material and report it to us. Knowing where the lead service lines are in our system helps us plan and apply for funding to assist with replacement.”

The service line is the small line that connects your house or building to the public water main. A portion of the service line from the water main to the water meter is owned by the Northern Kentucky Water District. The remainder is privately owned.

The water district is required to build an inventory for both sides of the service line.

The district has created a service line inventory map where customers can search

Lance Johnson believes that by understanding and safely manipulating this gene, scientists may one day be able to transform the biology of Alzheimer’s rather than just treating its symptoms.

Photo provided | UK College of Medicine

Kentucky scientists have successfully edited genes in living mice, switching a gene associated with high risk of Alzheimer’s disease to its counterpart, a protective gene.

This new research, which came out of a 22-person team from the University of Kentucky and beyond, has the potential to someday prevent millions of cases of Alzheimer’s in humans, said Lance Johnson, an associate professor in the UK College of Medicine’s Department of Physiology.

The study, published in November in Nature Neuroscience, found that editing a specific gene known to increase risk of Alzheimer’s with its counterpart, a gene associated with lower risk, in mice resulted in “fewer Alzheimer’s-related brain changes such as amyloid plaque buildup and inflammation, and stronger performance on memory tests.”

Lesley Golden, the lead author, said in a statement that “this model allows us to test what happens when we go from risk to resilience. Remarkably, even switching the gene later in life improved multiple aspects of Alzheimer’s pathology at once.”

Everyone has the apolipoprotein E, or APOE gene, Johnson explained, though some people have variants — “the same gene that just differs by only one or two base pairs” — APO E2, E3 and E4. Most people inherited E3 from both parents, Johnson said. Some will inherit a mixture of variants.

People who got an E4 variant from both parents — about a quarter of the population, Johnson said — are about 15 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

“The good news there is: Some people, I like to say, have won the genetic lottery in that they’ve inherited the E2 variant of the gene,” Johnson said. “And so those that have inherited E2 are equally as protected as the people who inherited E4 are at risk. So it’s an incredibly protective variant of this gene.”

He and his team wanted to answer this question: “Why don’t we just change the gene itself? if you got an E4 from mom and dad, and you’re facing an almost certain chance of getting this disease at some point, if it was possible, wouldn’t you want to have the E2 variant?”

Researchers gave living mice the risk variant “designed a mouse’s DNA so that it had the (protective gene) behind” the risk variant. Then, researchers injected a drug into the mice that directed the DNA to change from making the risk gene to making the protective gene.

The change took a few days in mice, but would likely take longer in a human body.

(Mice have a lifespan of around 1.5 years).

Mice also do not get Alzheimer’s disease, Johnson said, meaning the team had to “use a genetic model that makes lots of the amyloid plaque that features that disease.”

At best, making an effective gene switch in humans is years away, and there are many hurdles to clear before efficient and specific editing is an available treatment. But the research offers some hope to many Kentuckians who live with Alzheimer’s and the loved ones who take care of them.

The 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report, released by the Alzheimer’s Association in May, reported that 80,000 Kentuckians aged 65 and older are living with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Additionally, around 160,000 Kentucky residents provide unpaid care for a loved one with

Alzheimer’s, an incurable but treatable disorder characterized by memory loss.

“To us, it was an exciting proof-of-concept study to show that, okay, perhaps one day this would work in a human if we can figure out a safe way to deliver gene editing technology; if we can figure out a way to do that with the correct timing,” Johnson said.

Johnson hopes to continue his research in the coming years, “assuming we can continue to get (National Institutes of Health) funding for this.”

This research is not an end-all, fix-all to effectively treating Alzheimer’s. The gene that is protective against Alzheimer’s can raise a person’s risk of other conditions, Johnson explained, including age related macular degeneration and cardiovascular disease.

“It would be too good to be true if inheriting E2 was good for everything,” Johnson said.

“The last thing you’d want to do is protect someone from Alzheimer’s disease, but put them at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, right?”

The scientists studying this gene will need to keep that front of mind, Johnson said, and ensure that any treatments don’t put patients at risk of other diseases. He believes this will happen and is “as hopeful as I have been for this field and for tackling this disease.”

“My hope and my belief is that one day — and hopefully it’s sooner rather than later — we’re at a point where we have tools that can edit DNA efficiently and safely, and we could target something like APOE,” Johnson said. “In theory, we could prevent millions of Alzheimer’s disease cases from ever happening in the first place.”

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food

In Search of the Best: Authentic Mexican and Venezuelan street food at La Torta Loca

By Beth McDaniel

appetizers tend to be small.

Beth McDaniel’s In Search of the Best column explores her adventures in food around Northern Kentucky as she looks for the best … everything!

That means the little basket of yuca fries may be the perfect complement to a taco, but a disappointing appetizer for a hungry table. Or, consider ordering the elote to round out your selection of tacos.

S

ince I began doing this column, one restaurant recommendation has come up more than any other: La Torta Loca.

You’ll also probably find that you can’t try everything you’d like to in one trip. I’ve been twice, and there are still lots of things on my La Torta Loca bucket list—including those fried quesadillas, the bump taco, veggie torta and the plantain chilaquiles.

People who love La Torta Loca really love it!

The minute I sat down and began browsing the menu, I could see why. I felt like a kid in a candy store.

I wanted to try everything, but how much could I really eat?!

To date, my favorite things are the elote taco, the cheese and pumpkin flower empanada and that huitlacoche taco. And here’s where I’ll offer a little disclaimer.

La Torta Loca is not your average Mexican fare. The fusion of Mexican, Venezuelan, and even Japanese and Hawaiian flavors— as well as the emphasis on quick, affordable, satisfying dishes often sold as “street food”—makes dining at La Torta Loca a true culinary adventure.

While I don’t partake of carnivorous fare, La Torta Loca is known for its sausage and meats marinated in a special homemade recipe. My daughter confirmed that the chicken was excellent, and our good friend wanted to give a shout-out to the Tropicana Torta, which is his longtime fave.

There’s little I relish more than the opportunity to try something I’ve never tried before, and La Torta Loca tantalized me with a wide assortment of novel fare.

At La Torta Loca, you’ll find the familiar— like chips, salsa, guac, tacos, quesadillas

A sampling at La Torta Loca.Photo provided | La Torta Loca on Instgram.

and burritos. Yet even these standards are not necessarily what you might expect. For example, the quesadillas are deep-fried and filled with your choice of meat or veggies, lettuce and cheese. If you’ve been to Mexico City, this is the kind of quesadilla that might take you back there right here in NKY.

Scores of online reviewers insist that if you want to experience authentic Mexican and Venezuelan food, La Torta Loca is the place to do it.

You can also try a host of yummy appetizers that are less commonplace, like plantains, Venezuelan cheese sticks, yuca fries, elotes and corn pancakes.

Honestly, be prepared to utilize your phone. There is a dizzying array of options, including empanadas (stuffed turnovers), arepas (round, flat corn patties stuffed with fillings) and tortas (sandwiches), as well as some novel ingredients you may be unfamiliar with.

I was intrigued to see pumpkin flowers (which I do not believe I’ve ever eaten) and huitlacoche (which warranted a quick refresher) on the menu.

Participants have the opportunity to win mortgage or rent for an entire year — up to $18,000!

Plus: One local winner in NKY will be chosen to receive a $250 grocery gift card!

My husband was delighted that there were so many gluten-free options for him to enjoy and that the menu was clearly labeled.

I’ll also note that I saw some ladies drinking margaritas out of a vessel that looked an awful lot like the blender—and they seemed to really be enjoying those.

For me, novelty may be king, but at La Torta Loca, there’s definitely something for everyone.

La Torta Loca has two locations: 564 Buttermilk Pike in Crescent Springs and 8645 Haines Drive in Florence. The Florence location just started offering brunch on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 7 to 11 a.m.

Be sure to check out weekly specials and discounts for military and first responders.

If you look at the second one up, be careful. While it is a fungus that grows on corn, it really and truly is, basically, a black corn truffle. In my honest opinion, the huitlacoche taco is one of the most delicious things on the menu.

Eating at La Torta Loca is an adventure, but if you’re someone who likes to know what you’re getting into, there are a few things that are good to know before you go.

Expect a very casual atmosphere. Both locations have a fun, low-key vibe. Come as you are, and don’t expect anything fussy or fancy—just good, authentic food.

After eating at La Torta Loca a few times, I’ve come to think of the appetizers more like sides. The dishes on the menu at La Torta Loca are á la carte, so don’t expect rice and refried beans—or, actually, anything at all—to accompany your taco or arepa (except some yummy sauces). Likewise, the

10 DECEMBER 5, 2025

If you have a hungry group, get the appetizer sampler—or choose an appetizer or two to complement La Torta Loca’s á la carte fare. Photo provided | La Torta Loca on Instagram.

community voices

Let’s get to know each other as human beings (not beans!)

This Community Voices column is written

by April F. Draine, a parent of three kids who shares stories, advice and tips for those trying to raise responsible humans. Email her at aprildraine@gmail.com.

we have influence over really hold immeasurable value. It’s not for us to clam up and overanalyze everything we do or say, but it is a call to remember we have such a great opportunity to leave a lasting mark on a child’s life – even if it’s just one kind word or gesture.

e found you on a ‘Blue Light Special’ at K-Mart, in the Cabbage Patch Doll section, and decided to bring you home with us.”

What words of encouragement have sustained you from uplifting adulting in your life? What words left wounds? These are the questions I hope we wrestle with as we do our best to raise our children now.

That was my mother’s response after asking every parent’s dreaded question, “Ma, where did I come from?”

Over the coming months, it’s my hope that in sharing more of my personal experiences – especially now as a mother of three (ages 15, 17 and 23) – that there’s so much that we can learn from each other in growing through life as adults and parents and how we help influence/impact our children.

By April F. Draine

“W

Can you recall your own baby origin story or the talk you had with your own children?

Like many parents, my mom found a creative way to dodge my question and possibly bought herself some time from having the “birds and the bees” conversation with her inquisitive 6-year-old; yet for several years, I honestly believed my origin story involved a department store holding an annual discount sale on a garden full of Cabbage Patch dolls.

So, imagine my surprise years later, when I discovered that I was not a human “bean” that grew from the cabbage patch! Even

A girl with her Cabbage Patch Dolls. Photo provided | Cabbage Patch Kids USA

now, I smile and cringe recalling, as a small child, all the green beans I attempted to feed my own Cabbage Patch Dolls thinking they might grow into real people.

Something tells me I’m in good company.

Feel free to write back to me or share your own child origin stories as we get to know each other.

ing what their parents say at face value. I think sometimes we forget the power our words have on children. Their innocence and dependence on us are so great as little ones, and it only grows through their toddler, tween, teens and early adulthood phases. Some variation of our voices, as parents, ring loudly in their heads as they make decisions and interact with others.

It’s a funny reflection and also a reminder of how innocent children can be when tak-

Today, I want to encourage us that the words we speak to our children and those

Let’s Go. Let’s Grow.

(And eat all of our vegetables, even if we didn’t get picked from the Cabbage Patch doll section!)

If you have an idea for a Community Voices column, email Meghan Goth at mgoth@ linknky.com.

DIVISION III

DIVISION I CASE NO.: 14-CI-00203

CASE NO.: 22-CI-00010

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

ALBERT WEDEMEYER

VERSUS }

VERSUS}

SCOTT D. MOODY

LOUIS BRUNKEL, ET AL.

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered OCTOBER 7, 2014 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered OCTOBER 8, 2025 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, a one-half interest in the following described property to-wit:

The complete legal description is particularly set out in the Judgment and Order of Sale entered in this case.

ADDRESS: 1670 CHERRY BLOSSOM COURT HEBRON, KENTUCKY 41048

ADDRESS: 1797 WAVERLY DRIVE, FLORENCE, KY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 062.00-36-075.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $241,290.65 GROUP NO.: 4444

DIVISION III CASE NO.: 25-CI-01193 PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC VERSUS} MICHAEL FOSTER, ET AL. By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered NOVEMBER 12, 2025 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

TERMS OF SALE: The property shall be sold as a whole. The purchaser may pay all or part of the purchase price in cash, and may pay the balance of the purchase price on a credit of 30 days after date of sale; said credit shall be granted only upon the execution by the purchaser of bond, with surety thereon, and said surety shall be a lending institution authorized and doing business in Kentucky, or a reputable fidelity or surety company, authorized and doing business in Kentucky, and only if said surety be acceptable to the Commissioner of the Boone Circuit Court; and an authorized officer of the surety must be present at the sale or must have given the Commissioner adequate assurance of its intent to be surety prior to or at the sale; and said Bond shall be, and shall remain, a lien on the property sold as additional security for the payment of the full purchase price, and shall have the full force and effect of a Judgment; and said Bond shall bear interest at the rate provided by the Judgment up to Twelve (12%) Percent per annum until paid. The purchaser shall be required to pay the sum of 10% of the bid amount in cash or certified check on the purchase at the time of sale.

The successful bidder at the sale shall, at bidder’s own expense, carry fire and extended insurance coverage on any improvements from the date of sale until the purchase price is fully paid, with a loss payable clause to the Commissioner of the Boone Circuit Court.

Failure of the purchaser to effect such insurance shall not affect the validity of the sale or the purchaser’s liability thereunder, but shall entitle, but not require, a lien holder herein, after giving notice to the Commissioner, to effect said insurance and furnish the policy or evidence thereof to the Commissioner, and the premium thereon or the proper portion thereof shall be charged to the purchaser as purchaser’s cost.

ADDRESS: 40 RIO GRANDE CIRCLE, APT. 2, FLORENCE, KY 41042

The property shall be sold subject to ad valorem taxes for the year 2025 and all subsequent years thereafter; easements, restrictions and stipulations of record; assessments for public improvements levied against the property, if any; existing zoning ordinances, statutes, laws, or regulations; and any facts which an inspection and accurate survey of the property may disclose. BIDDERS SHALL BE PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS.

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 062.00-02-040.02

All sales are “as is” and the Plaintiff, the Master Commissioner, and the Court shall not be deemed to have warranted title of the real estate to the purchaser.

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $175,356.51

FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THESE SALES AND OTHER UPCOMING SALES CAN BE FOUND AT www.boonecountyky.org (Link to Department/Agencies to Master Commissioner) PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS ARE ADVISED AND ENCOURAGED TO REFER TO THAT WEBSITE FOR ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTIONS.

GROUP NO.: 3226

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 035.00-04-328.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $14,223.00 GROUP NO.: 4163 THE COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS PARTICULARLY SET OUT IN THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF SALE ENTERED IN THIS CASE. PLEASE NOTE - THE PURCHASER WILL ACQUIRE ONLY A ONEHALF/JOINT INTEREST IN THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY, THAT BEING THE ONE-HALF INTEREST OF DEFENDANT, LOUIS BRUNKEL. THE REMAINING ONE-HALF INTEREST BELONGS TO DEFENDANT, MEREDITH BRUNKEL, AND SHE WILL REMAIN A JOINT TENANT WITH PURCHASER. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED THIS SALE IS SUBJECT TO MORTGAGE AS FOLLOWS: THIS SALE IS SUBJECT TO THE MORTGAGE OF SELECT PORTFOLIO SERVICES, RECORDED ON APRIL 4, 2007 IN MORTGAGE BOOK M3119, PAGE 969, OF THE BOONE COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OWED TO SELECT PORTFOLIO SERVICES, AS OF DECEMBER 13, 2025, IS THE PRINCIPAL SUM OF $241,040.02, MORE OR LESS, PLUS INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES ALLOWED BY THE MORTGAGE AND THE PROMISSORY NOTE IT SECURES.

DECEMBER 5, 2025 11

Covington man behind ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town’ also wrote Nat King Cole’s baseball anthem

By Marc Hardin

the New York Times.

he holiday season is upon us. Local radio stations are already playing Christmas music. The area has seen its first snowfall, not long after the conclusion of one of the greatest World Series ever played. Seems like a good time to talk about Haven Gillespie.

But it was Tin Pan Alley that called to Gillespie as a composer and lyricist. Tin Pan Alley, a collective of music makers in New York City, dominated popular music beginning in the late 19th century. He adopted a new pen name: Haven Gillespie. By 1911, he had a publishing contract and a growing catalog of sentimental and occasionally whimsical songs.

T

Yes, that Haven Gillespie, the Covington-born lyricist behind “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town,” the holiday juggernaut recorded by everyone from Bing Crosby to Bruce Springsteen, the Jackson 5 and Justin Bieber.

Before Gillespie became the unlikely bard of a Santa surveillance state, the man who gave us the line, “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake,” was a printer. He was also a journalist, a recovering alcoholic and the co-writer of a baseball song performed by none other than the legendary Nat King Cole, one of the most iconic voices in American music.

Let’s rewind.

Born one of nine disadvantaged children in 1888 in a basement apartment on Third Street between Madison Avenue and Washington Street, James Lamont Gillespie quit school before the seventh grade to help support his family. At heart, he was a writer. He worked as a typesetter at Cincinnati newspapers, then moved to New York to try his hand at journalism. He wrote for Sheet music for “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” Photo provided

THE WEEKLY COMIC

by Andrew Buchanan

He wrote more than 1,000 of them. “You Go to My Head.” “That Lucky Old Sun.” “Breezin’ Along with the Breeze” was sung

by Josephine Baker, the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture. And of course, the one that changed everything: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.” Gillespie co-wrote it with J. Fred Coots. It was first performed by banjo player Harry Reser and His Orchestra to little fanfare. A cover version by George Hall and His Orchestra became a chart smash. The song eventually reached No. 1 on the sheet music charts.

According to “Drifting and Dreaming: The Story of Songwriter Haven Gillespie,” written by his nephew William Frist, Gillespie was grieving his brother Irwin’s death when his publisher asked him to write a children’s Christmas song. He wasn’t in the mood. But on the subway ride home, he scribbled lyrics on the back of an envelope.

“He was too heartsick to summon holiday cheer,” Frist writes. “But the words came anyway, simple, direct, and full of longing.”

“Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” debuted on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in New York City in 1934. It became an instant hit, selling 25,000 copies a day. Gillespie reportedly made millions of dollars in royalties off the song before his death in 1975.

The seasonal standard has turned out to be one of the most enduring and biggest-selling songs of all time with estimated earnings of $27 million, but it always reminded Gillespie of his brother’s death. The composition also earned Gillespie greater respect in the music industry, and it cemented his reputation as a master of melody and mood.

NOTICE OF HEARING Pursuant to 807 KAR 5:110, Section 9, NOTICE is hereby given that the Kentucky State Board on Electric Generation and Transmission Siting has scheduled an evidentiary hearing in a case styled “In the Matter of the Electronic Application of Duke Energy Ohio, Inc. for a Certificate of Construction for Two New 138 Kilovolt Nonregulated Electric Transmission Lines Approximately 1.2 and 1.3 Miles in Length in Boone County, Kentucky” Case No. 202500228, beginning Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, in the Richard Raff Hearing Room at the offices of the Public Service Commission at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky. The purpose of the hearing will be to take evidence on Duke Energy Ohio’s application. Public comments may be made at the beginning of the hearing. Those wishing to make oral public comments may do so by following the instructions listing on the PSC website, psc.ky.gov. This hearing will be streamed live and may be viewed on the PSC website, www.psc.ky.gov.

12 DECEMBER 5, 2025

What it didn’t do was pigeonhole him. Because nearly 30 years later, Cole recorded a song co-written by Gillespie and Larry Shay that traded sleigh bells for baseball bats.

Baseball immortalized The song is called “Our Old Home Team.” It was released in 1963 on Cole’s album Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer. The album is a nostalgic romp through barbershop harmonies and turn-of-the-century Americana. “Our Old Home Team” opens with the crack of a bat and unfolds like a Norman Rockwell painting set to music: “Follow the crowd who bid up big and loud / For our old home team…”

It’s a short, spirited number, less than two minutes long, but it captures the communal joy of rooting for the home team. The band strikes up, the stands fill and the crowd roars as someone belts a home run “right over the fence.” It’s not subtle, and it’s not trying to be. It’s a love letter to the bleachers, the brass band and the buzz of a tied game in the bottom of the ninth.

The song is the only known, fully documented, entirely sports-themed tune in Gillespie’s vast catalog. And it couldn’t have had a better vehicle to deliver it to the listening public. Cole’s album reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200, signifying the cultural reach of “Our Old Home Team.”

Haven Gillespie historical marker in Covington.

Photo provided

Though they came from different worlds, Gillespie from the print shops of this area, Cole from the jazz clubs of Chicago, their artistic instincts converged on that album.

Cole’s decision to include “Our Old Home Team” was a stylistic fit and paid homage to Gillespie’s mastery of enduring American themes. In choosing Gillespie’s tune, Cole was honoring a fellow craftsman. And he was constructing a feeling, one rooted in memory and joy.

“That song is a hidden gem,” Covington historian Mary Ann Vance has said of “Our Old Home Team.” “It’s not just about baseball, it’s about community. Gillespie captured the spirit of small-town pride in a way that still resonates.”

Gillespie actually lived in Chicago for a short time. He returned to Covington, worked as a typesetter, and maintained membership in the International Typographical Union until his death. He began entertaining audiences at local vaudeville shows by performing songs he had written. One thing led to another, and Gillespie became a hit machine and a hot seller of sheet music.

Seasonal rituals Part of what makes Gillespie’s baseball song so delightful is that he wasn’t a dedicated sportswriter, despite being a journalist. He didn’t regularly cover games or trade in box scores. His lyrics usually leaned toward longing, not line drives. But “Our Old Home Team” proves he could channel the same emotional resonance into a baseball anthem that he brought to Christmas classics and torch songs.

Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer by Nat King Cole. Photo provided

Gillespie understood that. He may not have written many sports songs, but he knew how to write about belonging. And that’s what “Our Old Home Team” is really about.

“Our Old Home Team” never penetrated the singles charts. But it lives on in the grooves of that Cole album. It’s nestled between other nostalgic tunes like “After the Ball” and “There Is a Tavern in the Town.” In its own way, it’s just as enduring.

Gillespie also knew how to rally off the playing field. His own life was a study in comebacks. He battled alcoholism, lost his first wife and found sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. Gillespie moved to Hollywood, then Las Vegas. He remarried. He kept writing. When he died in 1975, Gillespie left behind a body of work that spanned six decades. He touched every corner of American music. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.

Because what is baseball if not a kind of seasonal ritual? A game of history and hope, of fathers and sons, of homecomings and heartbreak. Covington’s very own

In 1988, the Kentucky Historical Society installed a highway marker at Third and Washington Streets in Covington to honor him. It stands as a reminder that one of the

most beloved Christmas songs was written by a kid from Third Street. Gillespie never finished school yet somehow captured the spirit of the season. And, just once, the spirit of baseball. The Behringer-Crawford Museum in Devou Park has an original 1930s Decca record of “Our Old Home Team.”

“Who won the game? Did we win? What a game!

That’s our old home team.”

So, as snow drifts in and families gather, and the radio croons about Christmas, take a moment to remember Haven Gillespie, not just the man who reminded us that cheerful Santa was keeping watch, but the one who also gave us a reason to cheer for sport.

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real estate

Updated home on a half-acre cul-de-sac lot Address: 432 Black Oak Ct, Edgewood Price: $440,000 Bedrooms: Three Bathrooms: Two (plus one half-bath) Square footage: 2,256 School district: Kenton County County: Kenton Special features: This updated, well-maintained home blends classic character with modern convenience, featuring hardwood floors throughout and a foyer with an exposed staircase. The living room includes a wood-burning fireplace with a custom mantel and built-in bookcases, while the formal dining room connects to a renovated kitchen offering custom cabinetry, granite countertops, a tile backsplash, two large pantries and extensive storage. Upstairs, the primary suite provides a private bath and walk-in closet, complemented by built-in bookcases in the hallway. A walkout basement adds flexible space, and the deck overlooks a private, half-acre lot on a cul-de-sac.

The exterior of this Edgewood home. Photos provided | Nicole Riegler with RE/MAX Victory + Affiliates

A look at this home’s foyer.

A view of the back of this home.

Kentucky now allows for Public Notices to be published digitally on LINK nky’s website.

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CITY OF FLORENCE, KENTUCKY NOTICE OF INTERNET WEBSITE PUBLICATION Notice is hereby given that the City of Florence, KY, will receive bids Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 10:30 am. local time at the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, KY, 41042 for the 2026 Commercial-Public Street Striping Project. This Notice was published by posting in full on the City of Florence, KY Internet Website, www.florence-ky.gov. The address where the full posting may be directly viewed is https://florence-ky.gov/publication-of-bid-solicitations-enacted-ordinances/. The public has the right to inspect and obtain a copy of any document associated with the posting by contacting the City Clerk of the City of Florence, KY, 8100 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, KY, 41042, Telephone no. 859-647-8177. This advertisement was paid for by the City of Florence, KY, using taxpayer dollars in the amount of $____. /s/Melissa Kramer MELISSA KRAMER, CITY CLERK CITY OF FLORENCE, KENTUCKY

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SUDOKU

Edited Margie E.Crossword Burke Theby Weekly

Difficulty: Medium

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2 1 5 6 6/25 - 10/12/25 4 2 5 8 7 7 2 3 5 9 7 2 4 4 6 4 3 7 9 6 Edited by Margie E. Burke

Copyright 2025 by The Puzzle Syndicate

HOW TO SOLVE:

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6 Answer to Previous Sudoku: 5 5 1 3 8 6 4 7 2 9

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2 8 9 7 1 5 4 6 3 7 6 4 2 3 9 8 5 1 9 7 8 5 2 3 6 1 4 3 2 6 4 7 1 5 9 8 4 5 1 9 8 6 2 3 7 1 3 7 6 5 8 9 4 2 8 4 5 1 9 2 3 7 6 6 9 2 3 4 7 1 8 5

by Margie E. Burke

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