Paducah Life Magazine - June/July 2023

“THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY, THEY’VE BEEN CHAMPIONS FOR ME.”

— Melissa Wade, Orthopedics Care Success Story

For Melissa Wade, not being active is not an option. So, when she slipped on a log while hiking, the injury brought her down emotionally as well. “All I could think was, I’m an active person. I don’t have time to be injured,” she said. After knee reconstruction, Melissa was eager to begin her recovery. Now at nearly 100%, she credits her physical therapists with helping her get there and is looking forward to hiking, biking and being outdoors again. “They were very important to my healing journey. Without them being my champions, or my cheerleaders, I don’t think I could have done it.” Learn more about our advanced Orthopedics Care at BaptistHealth.com/Ortho.

Callon Nanny, musical mind behind Callon B and the Hive, popped up in my in-box a few months ago and introduced himself as a local musician leading a group of other musicians and performers that he thought we might be interested in talking to. Turns out he was absolutely right! The group sounded most interesting and so the story began to take shape as is generally the case with our editorial pieces. We had several conversations about who would do the piece, (i.e., our resident music writer J.T. Crawford), when and where we could get everyone together, how we wanted to style the cover photo, etc. Within those conversations, Callon mentioned his vocalist RedVelvet.

Next thing you know, friends and I are at the new piano bar downtown and a lovely young woman sees us to our table, gets us a creative cocktail, and then graciously brings us some delightful dishes. The piano guys pause for some lively repartee and end with an open invitation for our waiter to take the stage, whereupon we are all enthralled with her amazing voice. She takes a bow and the keyboard guys give a shout-out to their featured guest . . . RedVelvet!

So, in the course of a couple of weeks, RedVelvet and I have connected on a variety of fronts. And in this edition of PADUCAH LIFE Magazine, you’ll have the pleasure of connecting with Callon, RedVelvet and the rest of the talented troubadours that make up The Hive.

Year after year, issue after issue, the lives that create this small part of the world we live in OFTEN come full circle. And after 32 years of publishing Paducah’s feature magazine, we sometimes look back on two generations of stories that we’ve told on our creative pages. These days we’re periodically interviewing the sons and daughters of moms and dads who have appeared in our publication decades prior. When we say we bring the stories to LIFE, we mean that sincerely.

I’m going to do something I don’t think I’ve ever done before. I’m going to conclude with a beginning— J.T.’s lead from the Callon B and The Hive story—because it’s the perfect allegory for the work we do inside the pages of this publication.

“The lifelong process of creating music is much like trying to catch a butterfly with a hole in your net. There may be moments when you have it captured, and the accomplishment of grabbing hold of such beauty fills the soul. Before long, however, it escapes, and the chase begins again. But as you repeat the process, the butterfly grows bigger and more alluring. And it leads you into lands that hold new treasures.”

Stay tuned, dear readers, for all the treasures to come!

Darlene M. Mazzonedarlene@paducahlife.com

II love the ci rcles that we make in a small community like ours.

by J.T. CRAWFORD

The

ABOUT CALLON B AND THE HIVE

THE LIFELONG PROCESS

of creating music is much like trying to catch a butterfly with a hole in your net. There may be moments when you have it captured, and the accomplishment of grabbing hold of such beauty fills the soul. Before long, however, it escapes, and the chase begins again. But as you repeat the process, the butterfly grows bigger and more alluring. And it leads you into lands that hold new treasures.

This is the journey of musical creatives such as Callon B and the Hive. The group is a purposeful mix of artists who bring to the process distinct backgrounds and styles. Together, they forge a path of discovery that each could not accomplish on their own. They are about chasing the elusive, musical unknown that can only be found by embarking on the hunt.

photo by B RAD R ANKIN

TheBuzz

Callon B is firmly rooted in hip-hop. A Mayfield native, he has been practicing the art of rap since he was a child. By the time he was in high school, he was putting out mixtapes.

“I remember hearing rap music on the radio, and it sparked my interest,” says Callon. “So I started getting the albums and listening — artists like Eminem, Fifty Cent, Ludacris, Nelly. I then started writing music in sixth grade. And it all came down to practice. That’s what it takes to become good at anything — lots of repetition and practice. Every day I was performing in front of the mirror and writing. And the writing is at the core. I want every line to mean something and be a reaction-worthy line. It’s honing the gift of poetry. It became my life. I also went to school to learn about the other aspects of music and got my Master’s to focus on the music business. That tied in other artists I loved like Dr. Dre who not only created music but created a successful business.”

Callon’s persistence in pursuing the art of hip-hop garnered him invitations to play shows around the region. That’s how he met RedVelvet the Goddess, a soul singer who was often playing the same circuits. For a show in Murray in 2017, Callon asked RedVelvet to open. After that, if you were going to see Callon B, it was a fair bet that RedVelvet would also be behind the mic.

RedVelvet the Goddess, a Paducah native, grew up fascinated by the star power of musicians such as Michael Jackson. She began to write songs and perform. Before long, she was entering competitions and quickly amassed twelve wins. She played in various soul bands around town and also made a name for herself as a solo artist.

“My whole family loves music, and we have a musical background,” she says. “My uncle, Richie Davis, had a group called Funkbox Entertainment, so I grew up watching him run studios and record music. They were always trying to get me to sing, but I was shy. My older uncle was obsessed with Michael Jackson. That fascinated me and opened me up. I wanted to know what it was about him that made millions of people just love him. And like Callon, I’ve been writing my whole life, and it’s at the core of what I do. I have journals that go way back to when I was a kid when I was already writing songs.”

Callon B and RedVelvet met other musicians who,

while they didn’t perform the same genres of music, had a passion for the creative process. Enter Ian Moore. Ian played in a group called the Love Jones Experience with RedVelvet. “I had no idea what I was coming into,” laughs Ian. “I was about 18.”

“He was so young but so talented,” says RedVelvet. “He was so incredible on the keys.” “A little musical genius,” adds Callon.

Ian is a classically trained pianist from the Memphis area. Early on, he learned the lessons of caring about the craft of music. In college, he broke with classical music and got into jazz and progressive rock. He studied music

CALLON B AND THE HIVE

as movements of feeling and how groups work together to create motions that affect listeners. “I was learning to improv and play with other people and do that in a group,” says Ian. “It became a chase for me.”

Ian remained open about who he worked with and what other genres of music had to offer. “When I met Callon, I felt like he was going to be important,” says Ian. “Every word he writes has to be accentuated with the music. There’s an idea he is going for and an underlying inspiration. It is all about figuring out how we, the rest of the group, can interact with that. He’s a great lyricist. And he offers a million different ways to work with his ideas.”

“Ian became my translator,” laughs Callon. “I feel like I come with scraps and bones and tell Ian ‘dress me up.’”

“It was an opening of my own heart and mind,” says Ian. “There are layers to hip hop, and it is linked to jazz. They are from the same backgrounds and cultures. They just went in different directions.”

Callon, RedVelvet, and Ian discovered a unity of purpose, even if they weren’t necessarily performing the same genres of music. And they recognized that the variety of music styles each brought to the table had the same origins. Together, they could accentuate their roots in one body of work and create a fusion generations in the making.

Callon B and RedVelvet the Goddess, vocals / Cody Waggoner, guitar / Shawn Wilson, bass / Israel Abernathy, drums / Ian Moore, keyboards / Megan Masterson, backup vocals

TheBuzz

From the name Callon B came the collective name of Callon B and the Hive. It was more than just clever branding. The group has adopted many of the aspects of bee life including the hive mind. “It seemed like it was meant to be,” says Callon. “We hope to operate with one another and within the community the same way a hive operates—with a sense of unity and dependability. We have each other’s backs, and we are working together toward the same goals.”

Mix in Megan Masterson on vocals, Cody Waggoner on guitar, Shawn Wilson on bass, Israel Abernathy on drums, and turntablist Dallas Williams, and you have a well-rounded group that impresses on the listener a

ever worked with, and the audience needs to have the opportunity to see what each of them can do.”

“We don’t play songs the same way every time they are performed,” adds Ian. “Everything evolves as we grow together and grow into the music. And the feeling we have working together like that truly is a hive mind.”

Listeners are invited to get on board, going on a ride with Callon B and the Hive at the helm of the ship.

“You’d probably get many different answers if you asked people what their favorite Callon B and the Hive song is,” says Callon. “That’s what I like to do—versatility. We have something for everyone.”

RedVelvet loves that the diversity within the music brings diversity in the audience. “I remember the first time I experienced that at one of my shows,” she says. “I looked out and saw black people and white people and Asians and Indians, and we were are all brought together by the music. That is cool.”

And the songs contain a positive, impactful message. “I try to keep it positive and respectful for everybody,” Callon adds. “I want our audience, no matter who they are, to be able to enjoy it.”

single body of work that beautifully and seamlessly shifts between a myriad of sounds.

“There is rap, there is soul,” says Callon. “Ian brings the love of jazz, and there are elements of rock, and there is pop. We all have things that we enjoy that are different, and I wanted to bring all of that together. That’s where rap started to begin with. It was sampling records of different genres to create loops to rap over. It is sometimes controlled chaos, but we are working toward one thing. Kind of like a beehive. And everybody has the freedom to shine. No one is playing the sidelines here. It is more of a jam band kind of thing. These are the most talented people I’ve

That scene played out perfectly at a recent show at Paducah Beer Werks. A diverse crowd stood in rapt attention in front of the stage. At times, there was dancing. At other times, a stilled awe. At times, Callon’s mastery of rap commands the stage, creating a compelling presence. As Callon’s role in a song ebbs, the voices of RedVelvet and Megan flow in, stirring the soul. Cody, Shawn, and Israel weave a tapestry of sound that swirls about the vocals. Their interplay with one another is mixed together by Ian who, during a show, is much like a mad-scientist conductor, completely immersed in the emotion of the creative moment. Callon B and the Hive holds the attention of the smiling crowd as they await what might come next.

“Our end goal is much like a hive of bees. They buzz and share their song. It’s called the song of increase. And they share that with neighboring hives. Metaphorically, we are doing the same thing. We are buzzing our songs and passing them along to communities and people with whom they resonate, spreading that message of what it is like to work together as a hive.”

A Note on Anime

Callon B still performs as a solo hiphop artist, most recently appearing at the SXSW festival back in March. Much of his solo work centers around anime rap or nerdcore. “It’s an underground community of people who make a lot of online content about pop culture things,” explains Callon. “It usually is centered around the realms of comic books, anime, manga, stuff like that. I found it on Twitter mostly by following things that I enjoyed.”

Inspiration for new music might come from specific shows, characters, or story lines. “I rap around things I enjoy and was already making casual references in my work anyway,” adds Callon. “When I found out there was a whole niche community, I got into it.”

Because of the online connectivity surrounding similar interests, there is a ready-made audience. Callon joined with other anime rap artists under the name Otaku Underworld. “It’s like the Wu-Tang Clan of anime rap,” says Callon.

Callon has spent time in Texas which has become the hub for American anime. And Otaku Underworld is gearing up for a tour in July.

“It is another fun way for me to make music around things I enjoy,” adds Callon. “I’m able to build a different fanbase across the country online and make an income from my music. I’m even finding a great response from Europe and the UK where it’s very popular.”

Vets Who Love Pets

County Kate Outland & Mia Jaco | McCracken County Ashley Higdon, Daniel Higdon & Ally Hutchins | PTHS Brayden Stroud | Massac County Madison Acuff

by D IXIE LYNN

Jaelon ★

IS SETTING HIS OWN TONE

PADUCAH-BASED RECORDING AND PERFORMING ARTIST JAELON HARRIS CONSIDERS himself a musical non-conformist. “A lot of my music is autobiographical but I like to say that I’m a genre-less artist because I dabble in house music, there’s some R & B, there’s some experimental ambient tracks. The music I create is all feeling. I find it hard to box myself into a genre because I do so much and I’m influenced by so much.”

Watching Jaelon’s soulful live performances, and listening to his emotionally recorded albums, you quickly discover that he is in a class of his own. His natural talent, deep spiritual connections, and passion for the arts bring a different level of vitality to his music.

Music has always been a part of me.

From a young age, Jaelon knew he would pursue music as a profession. He recalls the genesis of his stage performing: a third-grade production called Music & Me at Morgan Elementary where he played a character that’s into hip hop and soul. This experience along with the tutelage of his music teacher, Kim Davidson, helped spark an idea in Jaelon that someday music could be a career. His confidence kept growing as he took part in many other productions at church, school and the Market House Theatre.

Family has also been a big influence. Jaelon credits his mom, who encouraged him to make noise as a kid and provided him with space to grow. “Even today, she’s so selfless with the way she gives me the autonomy to move around and be free to be an artist.”

Jaelon credits two major pop icons when it comes to inspiration: Prince and Michael Jackson. “Prince for me is like hey I’m weird, I’m wacky, I’m eccentric, but I’m still raw and transparent. Michael Jackson to me is like show business, all the lights and glamour and the spectacle of putting a show together. It’s a kind of a cool dynamic I think, because a lot of times people come to my shows and say they can see the Michael influence or they can hear the Prince influence, but it’s still a Jaelon Harris show.”

Learning how Prince produced his first album by himself inspired Jaelon to work towards the same. While his own debut album, an EP called Forward (released in 2022) was more of a group project with an engineer and band members, Jaelon’s second album Safe & Sound (released in late 2022) was composed, produced, and arranged on his own, recording the majority of the tracks by himself. Two songs, “Sparrow” and “Carry Me Thu,” were recorded at Loud & Clear Studio in Paducah, with additional mixing & mastering by Shelby Preklas.

Of the nine tracks on Safe & Sound, some carry more meaning to Jaelon. Earlier this year, he released his first music video for the song “Carry Me Thru.” From the other songs on the album, Jaelon says he picked “Carry Me Thru” for a video because, “I just knew it was going to be [a song] where I could artistically expresses family and community, which is why there are so many different people in the music video. I wanted it to be a song that people can listen to and know that as you go through life, it’s not always as bad as it seems. It’s like an affirmation. I wanted people to know that [in this song] I’m talking to God but I’m also talking to my friend. Whatever you need, I’ll be here for you and you’ll be here for me. And in the video, I wanted to express raw love, like a documentary, freeform, with people smiling and hugging and dancing. This is a freedom song, to help set you free.”

“Grandma’s Prayer” pays homage to his late- great grandmother. An audio recording of her praying before a Thanksgiving dinner, Jaelon included this track because it reminds him of the moment she gave her blessing for his pursuit of music professionally. “She always told me to have a Plan B. I’ve never had a Plan B. And at some point she said, you know what Jae, just go for it. Do it. And that really just set me free.”

In May Jaelon released an acoustic video series marking the one-year anniversary of Forward, featuring original songs that were scrapped from his debut album. Now he’s working on a funky acoustic single called “Colors,” which he describes as “a crowd pleaser that feels like 1980s Michael Jackson and modern-day Harry Styles.” Plans are in the works for a video featuring this song too. Also coming soon is another EP called Twilight. While his first two projects

were more autobiographical and deeply emotional, he describes this album as fictional, fun, and full of songs about escapism.

Setting the stage for the future.

Jaelon’s live shows are as original and vibrant as his albums. His performance for this year’s Festiversary at Paducah Beer Werks was split into three acts with three outfit changes and an impromptu church-like service at the end where Jaelon invited people to come to the stage to release whatever they’re going through and to get a hug. He says during vulnerable and spontaneous times like this when he goes off-book in a live performance he just listens to God and trusts the moment because he knows he’ll never get that moment back. “As an artist I think it’s important to be aware spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally because the more I grow in art, I realize it’s not for me. My gift is not for me. It works for me and I do enjoy being who I am but it’s a selfless thing. I have to first consider my own vulnerability and transparency because it allows other people to be free.”

When it comes to his creative expression Jaelon appreciates the Paducah music scene for providing him the ability to flourish and really just be himself. “Whether it’s today and I’m in all black,” he says, “or tomorrow and I’m in all sequins, people are like, well that’s Jaelon.”

Adventure

THE WHEELHOUSE ROUSTERS Ends The

by D IXIE LYNN

photos by L EXI M ILLICAN

GROWING

UP PLAYING AS

A resident musician at the Kentucky Opry in Draffenville, Logan Oakley is rooted in the Western Kentucky country music scene. Taking guitar lessons from legendary entertainer Scottie Henson, performing at the Opry nearly every weekend for 10 years, traveling with former bluegrass band Bawn in the Mash, and playing in a variety of country music bands, Logan is a skilled and experienced musician. So, when he got a text from good friends The Wheelhouse Rousters asking if he’d be able to travel to South Korea for a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to play with the band at an arts and cultural festival—he was up for the adventure.

Formed the same year that Paducah received its designation as an UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, The Wheelhouse Rousters have been playing bluegrass music together, mostly on riverboats, for the last decade. Early in 2022, they were accepted to perform at the World Folk Arts Biennale in Jinju, South Korea, thanks to major help from Lexie Millikan, Executive Director of the Yeiser Art Center. The Biennale is a celebration every two years to bring together UNESCO Creative Cities from around the world for a cultural exchange and collaboration through shared experiences and performances. Last October, the band, with Logan, Lexie, and Seth Murphy, Kentucky cellist and Music

Director of the Lowertown Arts & Music Festival, traveled to Jinju to represent Paducah and the U.S. They were joined by dance, musical, and performance groups from seven other countries including South Korea, Burkina Faso, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Nigeria, and Egypt.

After approximately 40 hours of one-way travel, all while hauling multiple instruments and a load of other travel gear, the Rousters began their jam-packed weeklong adventure in Jinju. Events were planned from morning to night. Guitar and banjo player for the band, Nathan Lynn, described it as feeling like “an intense world-culture camp.” Between mess hall style group meals and vibrant bus rides complete with sing-a-longs, the eight troupes participated in workshops where they shared and learned each other’s cultural customs. Acting as hosts, the Koreans shared their meal time customs and love for fermented foods like kimchi. The Nigerians taught everyone how to wrap headscarves and shared a traditional dance, and the Rousters shared the unique stylings of bluegrass music.

Being the only group chosen to represent our country on this global stage was an honor the band will never forget. “It was maybe the most important career point for me,” says fiddle and mandolin player Josh Coffey. His dad, bass, guitar, and drum player, Eddie Coffey adds, “It didn’t really dawn on me until we got on stage

for the first performance and on the screen, it said ‘The Wheelhouse Rousters, United States of America.’ Then it hit home that we were representing our whole country, not just Paducah.”

The main group performances took place over the course of a week-long celebration, which also coincided with Jinju’s annual Namgang Yudeung Lantern Festival, commemorating Korean soldiers that lost their lives during a 16th century Japanese invasion. From the opening night at a beautifully modern indoor arts venue, to the culminating ceremony at a sacred, ancient fortress, the band says being part of the festival and playing these large shows felt like being in a dreamworld. The closing ceremony was particularly moving. “There were brightly colored lanterns everywhere, some as big as me or bigger representing the soldiers, lanterns in all of the trees, and all over the natural amphitheater inside the fortress. It was very beautiful. And the craziest performance I’ve ever been a part of,” says Josh. Among the lanterns and brightly decorated grounds, all eight of the troupes, each dressed in traditional clothing, performed together in a mass call and response type song, with the drums and other musicians keeping a steady beat, as the dancers marched through the entrance of the fortress and made

their way to the stage. During this closing ceremony, the Rousters also helped lead a group performance of “Country Roads,” by John Denver, during which the whole audience sang along. A magical and surreal way to end their time in Jinju.

In addition to new cultural associations, the band gained a few other lasting impressions from the trip. “We grew pretty close and learned to rely on one another and support one another in a deeper way. We learned that we can perform under a great deal of pressure if we need to. And rise above any obstacle. And there were many obstacles on the trip that we had to just deal with in the moment,” says Josh.

Bassist Jake Siener adds, “It also really lit a fuse for the band on so many different fronts. The trip has roped Logan into the band and that’s been a beautiful thing.” Since Korea, Logan has officially joined the group, playing guitar and banjo, rounding them out to a five-piece. The band also now feels they can take on anything. So, when the opportunity came to enter the Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s 36th Annual Band Contest, the Rousters signed on. This summer they’ll travel to Telluride, Colorado and compete against 11 other bands for a highly-sought after spot to perform on the festival’s main stage, and to join the main lineup at next year’s festival, along with gaining national recognition and critical acclaim.

“Without Logan’s vibe I don’t think we would be going to Telluride this summer,” Siener adds. “And we wouldn’t think that we could do something like Telluride without having done the trip to Jinju.”

Another strong influence from their time in South Korea is a re-ignited enthusiasm for their new album, The Adventure Never Ends. The project was put on hold until the group returned from South Korea. But after they returned, the band felt rejuvenated and went back to the studio at Time on the String to finish recording, adding three new songs that were written in or inspired by the trip to Jinju: “Kentucky Seoul,” “Kimchi Boogie,” and “Kentucky Stroll.” Releasing this summer, this is the band’s fourth record, and features 13 tracks. Closing out the album is the title track, which the band says fits their journey right now. As Eddie put it, “The album title depicts the Wheelhouse Rousters—an adventure that just keeps going.“

A Creative Collaboration

Between the scheduled main shows of the Biennale, impromptu jam sessions often took place among the musical groups. It was during one of these side jams that the Biennale’s musical director noticed similar sounds between the Rousters and the group from

Indonesia called Kaihulu. From their comparable tones and shared knowledge of western style songs spawned an on-going musical collaboration that has now spanned two continents.

In May, Kaihulu traveled to Paducah to perform with the Rousters at the annual Lowertown Arts & Music Festival, again thanks to major efforts from Lexie Millikan and Seth Murphy. Kaihulu’s visit was part of a greater celebration for Paducah’s 10th anniversary of its UNESCO Creative Cities designation, with a public meet and greet at Paducah School of Art & Design, time in the recording studio with The Rousters, and another jam session—this time at Paducah Beer Werks as part of their monthly Bluegrass Jam.

INDEPENDENCE BANK COMMUNITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LEADERS WHO ARE HERE FOR GOOD.

Paducah is a community full of change-makers and we are proud to have not one, but eleven of them serving on the Independence Bank Paducah Community Board of Directors.

In addition to providing guidance to the McCracken County market leadership team, members also represent us on the corporate level, participating in community events and leadership forums. “They want to be a part of the larger conversations happening in the Commonwealth, because together we are all stronger. Outside of building business, our Community Board inspires us to find ways to continue going forward by giving back,” said Kevin Kauffeld, Market President.

Independence Bank is the fifth largest Kentucky-based bank with assets of more than $3.6 billion. It has locations in cities spanning 15 Kentucky counties – including Paducah. For 14 consecutive years, American Banker recognized Independence Bank as a Top Performing Bank and Best Bank to Work For. The Revolution has also been named among the Best Places to Work In Kentucky for 15 years.

The leadership of our Independence Bank Community Board is a dynamic group of people, and we are just getting started. With their sights set on giving back and innovating in the process, the possibilities for our Bank and community are limitless.

Tony Copeland

Nicki Falconite-Roof

Bill Jones

Ricky Martin

Mark Rust

Chris Black

Danny Evitts

Dr. Bill Walden

Roy Lowdenback

Bill Paxton

Todd Farmer

by A MANDA H UTCHISON

BroadwayDebut!

Paducah Native Miki Abraham is Taking Her Hometown Skills From the Small Stage of Market House Theater to the Bright Lights of Broadway

THE WEEK LEADING UP TO A wedding is a hectic one. The task lists are enormous. There are last minute guests to add, plans to solidify, parties to attend. Paducah native, Miki Abraham, added an unusual task to her already long list—get ready for her first Broadway performance.

This past April, Shucked, a country musical, opened at Broadway’s Nederland Theater. The show is a comedy about a fictional town surrounded by a thick wall of corn. When corn suddenly begins to die, the main character sets out to find help.

Paducah native, Miki Abraham, is a cast member! Miki is a part of the show’s swing which means Miki is an off-stage performer responsible for covering any number of ensemble tracks, sometimes as many as 12 or more. Miki is tasked with knowing the parts to five different roles. Even though Miki knew the timing was not great, she did not realize how hectic it would truly be having Shucked open just days before her wedding. Being a swing on a show in its first week, Miki assumed it would not be too bad. She’d be available if needed but more likely than not she’d sit backstage. On opening night, she walked down the red carpet and watched the show with her parents, Cindy and Richard Abraham. Right after the performance, she got a call. They would need her the next night to fill in as an ensemble member. It was perfect timing. Her parents, who had

flown from Paducah for her wedding, were able to watch her perform. Miki thought Thursday would be her last day working before the wedding. Then another call came. She would need to play a lead role in Shucked on Thursday.

Many of her close friends and family were already in New York getting ready for the wedding so they were able to attend Miki’s debut on Broadway. “I just remember thinking, this is the wildest thing. And then I walked out of the theater and directly to a bar for my bachelorette party,” she marvels. “Two days later I got married.”

Miki’s husband, Alex Joseph Grayson, has been busy on Broadway as well. Alex stars as Jim Conley in Broadway’s PARADE, which opened in March. Alex is not new to Broadway. He previously performed in Into the Woods, Girl from the North Country, Hair and A Bronx Tale. “I call him my Broadway baby,” she jokes.

“It’s hard being in a relationship with someone in the same industry, especially an industry that can be so competitive. You can’t help but compare yourself,” Miki reflects. “Alex had already been in three Broadway shows post-pandemic. And I was working in a restaurant.” When Miki had a call back for Shucked, she felt drained by the audition process. But the show felt meant to be. She had been singing country music all her life, and here was a country musical. “There was something so deep in my soul about it being a country musical,” she recalls. “When I went to the audition and saw it was mainly people of color, I thought, Okay, if this is a country musical with people of color, and if I’m not in this show, what am I doing?”

Miki has been performing since she was a child. In 1999 she played the title role in Annie at Market House Theater. “I’ve joked that I was probably the first Black Annie and there’s probably truth to that!” she comments. “Who else was doing that in 1999?” She attributes a lot of the early performing skills she attained to her time at Market House Theater. “Market House Theater is like heaven sent. I never realized how cool MHT was until I spoke to other people who had community theaters,” she shares. “I learned so much at such a young age through the program. I was learning improv at eight. I ran crew at a play competition at 17 years old.” Miki loves that she can now be in a position to encourage other aspiring actors from Paducah. “Someone reached out to me on Instagram the other week,” Miki said. "They said ‘You don’t know me. I’m from Paducah, and I just love following you on Instagram because you’re doing what I want to do.’” Are things slowing down since the wedding? “It’s been a crazy time,” Miki adds, "especially opening a show during Tony season.” The show is gaining a lot of buzz on Broadway. It was recently announced that Shucked has nine Tony nominations, including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original

Score Written for the Theater, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations. So while the wedding is over, Miki’s new LIFE on Broadway is taking her onto a stage she has always dreamed of, and all we can say back here at home is, “Break a leg!”

A Day in the Life

Between Miki Abraham and her husband, Alex, they have 16 shows a week to prepare for. How do two people on Broadway handle everything? Miki gave us a glance into one day in the life of a Broadway actor.

8:15 AM - Wake up

8:25 AM - Coffee/breakfast

9:00 AM - Leave for yoga

9:30 AM - Yoga class

10:40 AM - Head home

11:00 AM - Shower

11:20 AM- Eat

NOON- Call Mom!

12:45 PM - Leave for theater

1:30 PM - Arrive at theater

2:00 PM - First show of the day

4:30 PM - First show ends

5:00 PM - Eat dinner together

6:30 PM - Head back to theatre

7:00 PM - Arrive at theatre

7:30 PM - Second show starts

10:00 PM - Second show ends

10:15 PM - Walk to Alex’s show

10:40 PM - Head home

11:00 PM - END OF DAY!

★

by S TEPHANIE WATSON

On His Way to

Broadway

This McCracken County High School Senior Has Big Plans, Has Scored Some Big Accolades, And is Leaving Us All Wanting an Encore

GGAVIN SMITH’S FIRST memory of performing was for a truly captive audience: anyone who entered his home. The fiveyear-old started humbly but with great enthusiasm performing scenes from his favorite show, The Wiggles, in front of anyone who would watch. A year later, it was obvious this was more than a phase, and his mom enrolled him at Main Stage School of Performing Arts. There, he had his first taste of the limelight with a line that was a whopping four words long. The sixyear-old’s first public performance in a production of Seussical had him hooked.

Since then, he’s played a host of classic roles, and his lines, of course, have gotten a bit longer. He’s starred as Sky in Mama Mia, Richie Walters in A Chorus Line, Squire in Treasure Island, Adam in Freaky Friday, and a host of smaller ensemble roles through the years. As a senior this year, he headlined McCracken County High School’s fall musical as Beast in Beauty and the Beast. Arguably, his most challenging role and the role that has won him the biggest accolade to date, however, was for his performance of Edward in Edward Tulane.

Based on the best-selling book by author Kate DiCamillo, Edward Tulane takes viewers on a phenomenal journey—from the depths of the deep blue sea to the streets of Memphis— from the perspective of a toy rabbit who thinks of himself as quite exceptional. When he is separated from his loving family, Edward (the toy rabbit) navigates a world upturned as he learns to mend his broken heart and love again.

As Edward, the challenge for Gavin was not only bringing an inanimate character to life, but also navigating the stage as a character who cannot interact with others. “Playing Edward Tulane was my most challenging role to date because I was more the voice and thoughts of the character than anything, yet I still had to make his character lively

photos by B RAD R ANKIN

and impactful. Because he is a toy, the other characters couldn’t see my responses or observations and only the audience heard his thoughts and understood his journey,” he explains.

GAVIN SMITH

Through the careful coaching of his drama teacher at MCHS, Mary Bowden, he not only succeeded in bringing this character to life, but he won Best Performer from the Southeastern Theater Conference.

“This was a big conference. Eighteen schools across the Southeast region were represented, and it was the first time MCHS had ever attended. It was our first time going, and some of these performances are the best I’ve ever seen, especially among high school students,” he explains. “I wasn’t even paying attention at the award ceremony because it never crossed my mind that I would win. When they called my name, I was so stunned I just sat there—there’s a video somewhere of my confused and shocked face—and it was probably the slowest 30 seconds of my life. I really couldn’t say anything except ‘Thank you.’”

He credits this success in part, of course, to his MCHS theater teacher, coach, and mentor Mrs. Mary Bowden. According to Gavin, she not only cares deeply about her students, but she’s also dedicated to executing the intricacies of her craft. She noted that the Best Performer award is the biggest award a high school student can receive in the Southeast. “Out of the top school performances in the conference (10 states represented), there were only two Outstanding Performer Awards given. Gavin was one of those,” she states. “We were equal parts completely shocked and also expecting

it to go to Gavin because we were that confident in his performance. He is a stellar performer who is leaving this department better than he found it.”

But it’s not just teachers Gavin has learned from. In large part, his success has come from carefully watching those who are best at the craft. “I did a lot of close watching when I was younger and still do,” he notes. “I learned early on that one of the best ways to grow in something is to watch someone who is the best at it do what they do. I tried to soak up everything I saw the older kids doing when I was younger, and it’s a skill I’m still using today.”

Those performers he grew up watching include two locals who have gone on to Broadway themselves. Micheal Hassel, a 2016 graduate of Paducah Tilghman High School, has been part of the Broadway tour of Hairspray and Australia. Miki Abraham, who also grew up in Paducah, was just recently cast in the Broadway musical Shucked.

“Watching their development and seeing the success of those two incredible performers from Paducah solidified that this is a possibility for me,” Gavin states.

Gavin wraps up his time with MCHS and Main Stage this year, but his star will shine on. In August, he heads to Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts in Norwalk, Connecticut to major in musical theater and dance performance. After completing the two-year program, he plans to move to New York and follow his dream of becoming a professional actor. And since the school is located a mere hour from New York City, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to watch the best-of-the-best as he continues honing his craft.

FAVORITE PERFORMER

Miles Frost who just played Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical on Broadway. He got this role at 21 and he was nominated for a Tony soon after. Taking on a role like that at that age is remarkable and being nominated for an award is even more impressive.

FAVORITE MUSICAL OF ALL TIME

MJ the Musical! I’ve seen it twice in New York.

FAVORITE ROLE YOU’VE PLAYED

Richie Walter in A Chorus Line because it was the first time I was able play someone so much like myself. He has an abundance of energy that never stops, and the show is very dance heavy. It was the first time I pushed myself to work that hard.

FAVORITE KARAOKE SONG

Just Pretend by Elvis

FAVORITE THING ABOUT PERFORMING

The with PADUCAH MAIN STREET

LIKE us on And get MORE out of LIFE!

I love sharing stories that let people feel at ease and brighten their day. When you’re watching a performance, you can leave your worries at the door and escape from whatever else is going on in the world. A person can come in having a terrible day, and then they get swept up in a great story.

Chase DENSON

photo by R ACHAEL H OUSER

BEST HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MOMENT

I was fortunate enough to have a handful of great memories from playing basketball at Lone Oak High School, but one week in particular stands out—the week of the 2005 Regional Tournament. We had a tough draw and had to beat Calloway County, Graves County, and Paducah Tilghman to become the only team in the history of Lone Oak High School to win the Regional Tournament and advance to the State Tournament. And we did it! Getting the opportunity to play at Rupp Arena was something I will never forget, and I, obviously, like to remind everyone that I scored 24 points in the first half. We ended up losing to Corbin in overtime, but that was one of the best weeks of my life.

BEST LATE-NIGHT SNACK

Don’t laugh, but it is handsdown pizza rolls. We were recently introduced to the air fryer, and it has been a game changer for our late-night snacking. But if we are picking up something on the way home from a night out, then it would be Taco Bell for sure!

BEST PROFESSIONAL (UNC) SPORTS MOMENT

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a North Carolina basketball junkie. I have been a fan for as long as I can remember. Who didn’t idolize Michael Jordan in the 80s and 90s? Fast forward a couple of decades, and I’ve been lucky enough to see in person some of

the most iconic moments in UNC history. Two in particular stand out. First, the 2017 Elite Eight game in Memphis between UNC and, as luck would have it, UK. Luke Maye hit the game winning shot to secure the win over UK, sending UNC to the Final Four and eventually to their 6th National Championship. The car ride home from Memphis with my friends who are UK fans was fun for me—not so much for them. The other moment was more recently at the 2022 Final Four in New Orleans. My entire family made the trip, including my kids, Hallie and Ty (who was only three months old at the time). The best rivalry in basketball, UNC vs Duke, met on the biggest stage for the first time ever during March Madness. Caleb Love hit a three-pointer with just under 22 seconds left to put the game out of reach. That was by far the best UNC sports moment for me. It didn’t hurt that we also witnessed the end of Coach K’s coaching career. Go Heels!

BEST MOVIE EVER

My favorite movie of all time will forever be Remember the Titans. A close second is My Cousin Vinny. My wife Whitney and I can carry on an entire conversation using one-liners from it, and we still laugh every time. If you haven’t seen both of these movies, we can’t be friends.

BEST GOLFING EXPERIENCE

This past September I went on the golf trip of a lifetime. My fatherin-law, Ed Wilson, his best friend Mike Mazzone, and I went to St. Andrews, the home of golf. We were there for 12 days and got to play at Eden, Jubilee, Kittocks, Castle, New Course, Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, and The Old Course. Walking the grounds at The Old Course with all of the game’s history will be hard to top on any golf trip EVER. It was truly a bucket list experience!

BEST DOG NAME

Whitney and I got married in August 2013, and by November she wanted us to rescue a dog from the McCracken County Humane Society. I was on board with it as long as I could have the naming rights. I LOVE when pets have human names so it was an obvious choice for me being an avid UNC fan. Welcome home, Roy! Fast forward to that 2022 Final Four in New Orleans. At halftime of the championship game when UNC was up 15 points on Kansas I said to Whitney, “Looks like we will need to start looking for another dog and his name will be Hubert.” I guess it was a blessing in disguise that we ended up losing that game and not having to add another canine member to our family.

BEST ADVICE

Love what you do and do what you love. Life is too short to spend it doing something you are not passionate about.

Chase Denson is the Wealth ManageMent Banker at U.s. Bank for the PadUcah Market. he’s the head Boys’ BasketBall coach at st. Mary high school and a forever Unc BasketBall fan!

Celebrating Crafts & Folk Art

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network fosters international cooperation among cities that acknowledge creativity as a driver for sustainable development. At its core is the protection of heritage and the support of cultural diversity. Through their crafts and folk art, Paducahans sustain their culture—who they are as a people.

In 2013, the Creative Cities Network designated Paducah a City of Crafts and Folk Art, one of only seven such cities at that time.

Paducah’s role in the connectivity of cultures through creativity remains as important today as then, especially for the impact on the local economy and on social and cultural development. While it’s a great honor to have been one of the early members of this UNESCO Creative Cities group, we are, perhaps, proudest of Paducah’s people and the many accolades they have received over the years.

Among the words of praise, “[Paducahans] have been innovative in building their outreach and as a mentor to aspiring communities. Paducah is truly a city to treasure.”

— Allison Wright, U.S. Department of State

In 2023, we invite you to celebrate who you are: a creative citizen in a vast network of likeminded people from around the world.

The Paducah Art Guild (top) provides community access to local art. Round Oak Leather (above) pieces have traveled the world, appearing in major motion pictures and international museums.

pieces his

The Paducah School of Art and Design fosters creativity among students and community members.

CrEATIvE CITIzEN

Lexie Millikan Executive Director Yeiser Art Center

Q: How does Creativity affect your life? I try to think creatively in everything I do, whether it’s my art, running a non-profit, or planning a large event.

Q: How has the UNESCO Creative Cities Network inspired you? I’ve built relationships with creatives around the world thanks to Paducah’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City. The connections have changed the course of my art and my career.

Q: What advice would you give other Paducahans on how to find their Creative Spirit? Work with others around you to unleash your creative potential. Collaboration is key.

Ceramicist Michael Terra crafts one-of-a-kind art pieces in his Paducah studio.

Yeiser Art Center’s Fantastic Fibers exhibit displays fiber art from around the globe.

It’s a

Big bear birthday!

birthday!

LBig Bear Resort on Kentucky Lake, a pioneer in defining lake life in western Kentucky, turns 75 this year. We take a look back at the history of the resort and why it is as popular today as it was in 1948.

by J.T. Crawford

IFE ALONG THE SHORES OF KENTUCKY LAKE HASN’T CHANGED TOO MUCH SINCE its creation in 1944. Sure, the boats going up and down have gotten bigger. And the latest camping trailers are like small houses, decked out with amenities that early visitors couldn’t have imagined. However, the spirit of what it means to get away to the lake remains the same.

Year after year, the familiar laughter of children swirls about in the summer sun as they learn lessons that will serve them for a lifetime. They ride bicycles, explore nature, skip stones across the water, and go fishing and swimming—enjoying the simplest of moments that have engaged kids for generations.

Families enjoy meals together and gather around glowing campfires after dusk, toasting marshmallows, chatting and laughing into the night. In these moments, they form unbreakable bonds of unity.

Big Bear Resort on Kentucky Lake has provided a canvas upon which thousands of visitors paint many of life’s beautiful memories. This year, Big Bear marks its 75th birthday, and they are celebrating their role as a pioneer in transforming western Kentucky into a lake recreation area. All it takes is a few conversations with anyone staying at Big Bear to realize that stories abound. Many have been coming for decades, and they pass down their love for the lakes to new generations.

Ruth Starr, 95, has visited Kentucky Lake from central Illinois since 1966. She is a perfect example of what getting away to Big Bear means. For a week each July, Ruth and her crew of nearly 70 people from all over the country carve out a piece of paradise along the lake, staying in tents, RVs, or some of Big Bear’s condos. “It just started with three couples and kids,” says Norma. “We’d come home and talk about it so much that others would say, ‘When are you going to go next year? We want to go with you.’ Big Bear has been a wonderful place to slow down and get away.”

The annual gathering has produced plenty of traditions. Dinner every night is cooked by a different person for the entire group, creating anticipation over favorite meals that only come once a year. The kids look forward

Big Bear history

to swimming over on the sandy beach. On the Thursday night of each visit, Ruth’s grandson projects a movie onto the side of his camper for a large gathering of viewers. And one night is a theme night complete with decorations and costumes. They’ve had Hollywood night, Hawaiian night, dinosaurs, and more. This year, it’ll be Christmas in July.

Ruth’s experience with family and friends contains threads that are common to the stories of hundreds if not thousands of others whose highpoints of every year is time at Big Bear.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

On August 30, 1944, the gates of Kentucky Dam came to a close for the first time, halting the flow of the Tennessee River, creating a massive reservoir that would become Kentucky Lake. On May 16, 1948, there was a simple announcement in The Paducah Sun-Democrat that TVA would auction off land they had used for staging and access to the Tennessee River during construction of the dam.

Tract XGIR-125, 19.5 acres on the Big Bear Creek embayment near the site of old Birmingham,

Kentucky, went to William H. McFarland of Mt. Washington, Kentucky. This marked the beginning of transforming Kentucky Lake into a nationally recognized recreation area, forever changing the energy and aura of far western Kentucky.

The beginnings were simple. Big Bear Camp was just that—a camp. Fishing was the main attraction. One of the first advertisements boasted boats, motors, baits, and tackle. Everything the aspiring fisherman needed was there. All you had to do was take Highway 60 to 58 and then head to the lake. It was a “good road all the way.”

From that small marina and camp outpost, Big Bear grew. Fisherman cabins, additional lodging, and a small restaurant were added. The tiny cabins were lit with kerosene lanterns, and if you needed more kerosene, you had to get a refill from Mrs. McFarland who didn’t care for doing it after dark. She was not too keen on what might be in the woods at night. There were outdoor toilets and central shower houses. And the people came. They lined up to get bait, rent a boat (there were eventually 200 of them), and get out on the water to catch some fish. It wasn’t unusual to find a parking lot full of people at 3 AM wanting to check in and get their weekend started.

It was during this era that Mr. McFarland allowed the addition of the historic 1801 log cabin. It was owned by Tom Threlkeld, a Paducah attorney, who defended a bootlegger and was paid with the receipt of the cabin. Threlkeld used the cabin at Big Bear, and it went on to become an office and then part of the resort rentals.

McFarland ran the camp until 1958 when he sold it to Ollie and Virginia Houser.

The Housers took Big Bear up to1973 when they sold it to Dick, Anna, and Rick Meier. Dick had worked in finance in a business his father started in Evansville, Indiana. But life at a desk job was not appealing to Dick, and Big Bear provided him the perfect mix of manage ment and hands-on, outdoor work. When Rick got out of the service in 1976, he joined his parents to work at Big Bear. Rick, with his wife Janet Calde meyer, would eventually take over Big Bear in 1983.

KEEPING THE SPIRIT, MOVING INTO THE FUTURE

The 70s, 80s, and 90s were times of great change. Expectations in recreation opportunities increased tremendously. People still wanted to get away to the lake, but how they did it was shifting. When Rick and Janet took over Big Bear, there was the log cabin and 39 concrete block cottages.

“Rick had come of out the service and was pretty much a MacGyver,” says Janet. “He could fix anything.” Rick and Janet went to work modernizing Big Bear. “We built a new marina store, the first condos, and cottages. The two of us pretty much built everything back then. And we did a lot of it over the winters. When we did the marina, there was me with a baby in a snowsuit and heaters going.” Over time they replaced the concrete block cottages with condos and townhouses. They added a pool. The campground area had been there from the beginning, but Rick and Janet organized it into sites and added running water and electricity. They marked every milestone at Big Bear by the age of their two kids who grew up at the campground. “They learned to do everything we did,” adds Janet.

The couple transitioned the fishing camp into a true lake resort. “In the early days, it was mostly men coming in the spring and fall to fish,” says Janet. “Then, they started bringing their families in the summer to spend a week or so at Big Bear.” Not only were things changing in terms of accommodations, a Big Bear community emerged. People like Ruth Starr introduced others to the resort. It became tradition for families, and, eventually, multiple generations, to vacation at Big Bear. And those coming got to know one another, befriending others in the rentals or in the campground. Rick and Janet also added an area of condos for those who decided to live permanently at Big Bear.

“We have multiple communities now,” says Janet. “We have our boating community, our fishing community, our condo dwellers, and our campers, who are a force unto themselves. And you have the transient guests. They all keep coming back and telling others. We have people

who have been coming for over fifty years, and we always see new folks who are just starting their Big Bear journeys. We are seeing a lot of people bringing their kids and grandkids, showing them where their most fond memories were made when they were children. And that starts the cycle all over again for a new generation. We’ve changed, but we haven’t changed. The feeling you get from being at Big Bear is still the same.”

“The problems of the world were solved around a campfire,” says Linda Glastetter who has been coming to Big Bear with her husband Leonard since 1970. “We started when my uncle came over here, and he invited us. All we had was a tent. We graduated to camping in the back of a pickup, and then we got a motorhome once our son came along. His first camping trip here was when he was just a couple of months old. And this became home to him. And it wasn’t long before we had a whole big group coming with us from Missouri. We’ve had so many good times and good memories here. For many of us, this is what life is all about.”

Indeed, Linda, like many others, has discovered at Big Bear the balm that truly satisfies the soul—a stripping away of life’s distractions, a communion with nature, and the pause needed to truly connect with those we love, crafting relationships that define who we are.

Dr. Allison Reed

Broadway Dental is welcoming Dr. Allison Reed to the team in late July! Dr. Reed is a Paducah native. She is a graduate of the University of Louisvile School of Dentistry and completed her Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) at Eastern Carolina University.

Dr. Reed is an accomplished equestrian and a talented cellist with a minor in in music from UofL. We can’t promise that she’ll perform a concert for you in the office, but we CAN promise that you will love her compassionate approach and welcome her dental expertise!

by Amy Sullivan

Chapter P in Paducah Embodies the Ideals of the P.E.O. Sisterhood

MORE THAN 150 YEARS AGO, A SMALL BODY OF WOMEN FORMED A GROUP BASED on care, friendship, and support of women and their education. It was named the International Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.)

P.E.O. was founded in 1869 by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. This circle of kindred spirits, bonded by their enthusiasm for women’s opportunities, eventually expanded to include women off campus as well. Through membership, the P.E.O. sisterhood has brought together more than a half a million women who are passionate about helping women advance through education. The group celebrates the advancement of women; educates women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans; and motivates women to achieve their highest aspirations. The sisterhood also supports Cottey College, a nationally ranked, fully accredited, liberal arts/sciences college for women located in Nevada, Missouri. The school has been owned and supported by P.E.O. since 1927.

Since its inception, P.E.O. has helped women pursue educational goals by providing over $383 million in grants, scholarships, and loans. In addition to the educational philanthropies, P.E.O. provides a framework of support and community for all members of its 6,000 chapters. Its seven original founders have grown to over 200,000 members.

Chapter P has been a part of the Paducah community since it was organized in 1970. It began as the dream of Dorothy

Pictured above from left are local chapter P.E.O. officers Patty Goddard, Sara Sapp, Lynda Kerley, Sandra Cargill, and Jane Sykes.

P.E.O. Sisterhood

McKenzie. Dorothy McKenzie and Jesse Wimmer completed paperwork and on April 2, 1970, Chapter P was officially formed by Jean Becker of Chapter J, Organizer of the Kentucky State Chapter, who presented the charter. Jessie Wimmer, Dorothy Master, Geneva Banks, Hilda Swisher, Katherine Humphreys, Alice (Peg) Brown, Merryman Kemp, and Patricia Parks, Prudence Mayer, Dottie Toy, Lottie Lee Dishman, Hazel Cathey, Alice Hamilton, and Martha Nell Simpson all became charter members. Jessie Wimmer became the first president.

“If I were ever to move somewhere, one of my first priorities would be to find a P.E.O. chapter,” says Kate Johnston, 40-year member and Kentucky State P.E.O. Membership Committee representative. “As sisters we have a special bond. We meet others in the organization and immediately form a connection.” The organization’s deep roots have offered special moments of mothers initiating daughters into P.E.O. and several generations in families as well.

Chapter P, one of the larger chapters in Kentucky, has 35 active members and about the same number of inactive members. Currently, the group meets the second Thursday of each month at noon. Johnston emphasized that with Chapter P only having 12 daytime meetings a year, there is a great need to establish a night chapter to accommodate working women’s schedules. There is also a demand for younger women to join and keep the organization going.

Mary Hammond, Executive Director of the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau and P.E.O. member since 1988, recognizes the organization stands out from other women’s groups in its values and foundation of friendship and sisterhood, not just for its support of education. “The words spoken at our initiation are so dear to my heart they have been incorporated into my daily prayers,” Hammond admits “I ask God to help me do my best each day and remind myself of the Golden Rule to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. P.E.O. helps other women to grow and do their best and gives women the tools to better the world.”

Women over the age of 18 are eligible to be considered for P.E.O. membership. They can become members after being introduced and invited by current members of a local chapter.

In “The History of Chapter P,” Sandra Cargill writes, “Chapter P may not be unique in showing a loving concern for each sister and its generous support of all the P.E.O. philanthropies, but we are a strong and vibrant chapter of uniquely creative, energetic, and supportive women who care deeply about our work and each other. We look forward to the future that will bring new sisters to help us grow and attain our ideals. In our fifty years as a chapter, we have learned that P.E.O. is forever.”

Chapter P turned 53 years old in April 2023.

To learn more about Chapter P or the P.E.O., contact Jane Sykes at jesykes@techreflex.com or Sandra Cargill at sandra.cargill@gmail.com

The Many Benefits of P.E.O.

The Educational Loan Fund makes low-interest loans available to qualified women and has served more than 50,600 women with $235.9 million in loans.

The International Peace Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to women from other countries for graduate study in the U.S. and Canada.

The Program for Continuing Education provides need-based grants to women whose education has been interrupted.

The Scholar Awards provide substantial merit-based awards to women pursuing a doctorate degree.

The STAR scholarship provides scholarships for exceptional women in their final years of high school. Individuals chosen exhibit excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, community service, and potential for future success.

In 2021, Paducah Tilghman High School senior Mary Caroline Noneman received this scholarship.

• Paddywax Candles and Apothecary

Open Tues 1-5 / Wed-Sat 10-5 11TH

The original founders of the PEO included from left Hilda Swisher, Peggy Brown, Jessie Wimmer, Merryman Kemp, Dorothy Master, Geneva Banks, and Pat Parks. Front from left are Katherine Humphreys, Alice Hamilton, Prudence Mayer, Martha Nell Simpson, Dottie Toy, Hazel Cathey, and Lottie Lee Dishman.

high adventure High Seas ON

THE

by S TEPHANIE WATSON

W

When most people think about retirement, it often involves time with grandkids, a little more time on the links, or maybe a leisurely cruise. But the Kopischkes? They started it by sailing across the Atlantic. This transatlantic voyage on the Queen’s Dream was both exhilarating and a starting point on the couple’s mission to circumnavigate the globe.

The Dream

Adventuring is nothing new for the Kopischkes. “We are addicted to life,” Tim states. “We’ve always tried to live every single day fully without waiting for adventure to happen to us. We go out and find it!”

Neither Tim nor Leanne grew up near the ocean, but their relationship was always based on a mutual taste for adventure. Tim, a Paducah native who spent 37 years working at CSI in Software Engineering and Executive Leadership, grew up spending time on Kentucky Lake and exploring the outdoors. Leanne, a native of central Illinois, spent her 38-year-career in Champaign Illinois as a banking Executive at Busey Bank, which required her to travel widely. They met through a working collaboration between their two companies and have been adventuring together for 17 years.

The couple was first introduced to ocean sailing in 2010 when friends invited them to sail around the Caribbean. “We thought we would be on this huge yacht, and it turned out to be a completely different

★ by T IM K OPISCHKE

timetravelers

Along with being a great sailor, Tim is also a capable writer. He consistently shares his reflections while sailing on the Queen’s Dream on his website www.svqueensdream.com. Here we’ve shared an excerpt from his Atlantic crossing travelogue.

Our modern lives are ruled by time. Our lives evolve around clocks, calendars, and the appointments of life. We move forward through the continued sequence of existence and events that occur in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. What if that is removed? What if time is only measured by the sunrise and the sunset? It loses meaning and importance. Such is time at sea.

Queen’s Dream has been at sea for 31 days (4,000+ miles). A known fact by examining the detailed written logs sourced by our modern devices on board. Then, the simple math of what day it is and what day the passage began. We measured time—we moved forward. The location tracker shows a thin line slowly creeping across the blue graphic of the Atlantic Ocean. However, the daily life on board QD is measured only by the timing of crew shift changes (watches). Time has lost meaning (and importance). The steady, unending cadence of moving the boat forward (in the right direction) is the driving focus every minute of the day. The sun comes up, the sun goes down, the night sky fills with stars. The only changing visible variable is the moon as it morphs through all its phases and the subtle night by night change of the position of the bright planets.

experience,” Tim explains. “It was hard work, but we were immediately addicted.” They later signed up for sailing school in the Caribbean and what they thought would be a vacation ended up being a week of

The QD crew blinks and it is another day, we blink again, and it is another week, blink—another month on the calendar. We are time travelers . . . moving forward towards an uncertain date. Unlike some of the nautical explorers of old, at least we move towards a known destination. Once the passage is complete, time will become particularly important again. Until then, we treasure the absence of time ruling our lives. Gaze into the never-ending blue water and breathe deep into an experience very few will ever have. How do you measure that?

bootcamp. But the experience gave them nautical confidence, certification as captains, and a dream to travel the oceans of the world.

The Kopischkes began taking trips to the Caribbean and renting boats to sail through the turquoise waters. Their skills grew, their boat tastes refined, and their rentals became a little more complex. In 2014, they decided to attend a boat show in Miami. The more they looked, the more excited they got, and what seemed to be a little farfetched started looking like reality. “Walking into that first boat show was a little overwhelming,” said Leanne, “but it started a vision. In 2015 we started evolving that vision by outlining what steps we needed to make financially to really make this happen.”

In 2016, their plans formalized. The couple investigated used yachts, but, like the used car market in 2020, the prices were outrageously inflated. Once they realized the wait for a used boat could be endless, they decided . . . to build one. “I never had plans to do anything but the Caribbean,” Tim notes, “but The Queen (Leanne) wanted to go all over the world.” To tackle this level of adventure, the boat would need to do more than sail in calm waters—it needed to perform well in what sailors call “blue water” or the open ocean.

After investigating the handful of manufacturers who build blue water catamarans, they signed a contract in 2021 with a French manufacturer. Fountaine Pajot took them on a tour of their facility and demonstrated each step of the building process. Because several things vary between European and American systems and the couple wanted to build it with as many

It’s time to celebrate the fresh tastes of summer’s bounty. Take advantage of all the new seasonal flavors with menu items from FRESH FOODIES.

eco-friendly elements as possible, the boat would ultimately be finished in Fort Lauderdale.

That didn’t mean it wouldn’t be seaworthy when it left La Rochelle. The factory built the boat to sail; Fort Lauderdale would simply add customizations. It was finally time to pick up Queen’s Dream in France. Upon arrival, Tim penned the following.

“Her hulls have been in the water for a few weeks, and her systems are nearing full completion. As we stepped onto her from the dock, the reality was thick in the chilly salt air. This time we were not just visiting again to check on the progress—this time we were staying! The second largest ocean in the world awaits a crossing. Three full days of preparations, system adjustments and continuous provisioning runs have QD almost ready to leave her European birth home and point her bow at the open sea horizon. There has been little time to invest in the pondering apprehension that built up to this point. A few remaining tasks need to be completed and then . . . It’s Game Time!”

The Atlantic Crossing

Because this was a maiden voyage across the Atlantic, the Kopischkes hired experienced captains Anthony Richards from London and Jerry Elliot from Fort Pierce, Florida to join the crew. The crew took sixhour shifts rotating roles between cooking and navigation to cleaning and a shift for sleep. Because a lithium-battery bank and generator had not yet been installed they had no heat, and because it’s common practice that the back doors must stay open, a large part of the journey was wet, cold, and not incredibly comfortable. With 40+ days of food provisions, they packed sparsely: each crew member had a blanket, pillow, and one set of eating utensils, and only the essentials for the crossing.

Surprisingly they had high speed Internet for the entire trip! An exploratory Starlink satellite dish solution let them stay in touch with civilization and share their experiences and location with friends back home. There were days on end where they saw nothing but ocean (16 days in a row once) and days where they had scares, like running into a pod of humpback whales. Their speed at the mercy of the wind, they traveled at about the pace of a brisk walk, giving them time to garner new perspectives on life and the uncharted expanse of the universe.

“The Atlantic crossing was mind boggling,” Tim notes. “People who sail in offshore Bluewater understand how tiny we are in comparison to the vast world around us, and those who attempt a Transatlantic crossing on a small vessel get that experience on an even grander scale. 46 days and 5,676 miles

after leaving the dock in the boat’s birthplace of La Rochelle, France, the Kopischkes set foot on the docks in Ft. Lauderdale.

Destination: Everywhere

Despite the fact that Paducah is listed with the U.S. Coast Guard as the boat’s home port, Queen’s Dream isn’t ever intended to see river water. In April, the Kopischkes held an official christening for the boat in Fort Lauderdale. In a classic nautical ceremony, they toasted their journey and poured highend liquor over the boat bows, a symbolic gesture that invokes the favor of the sea gods to provide safe passage. They then set out on the second stage of their planned voyages, which takes Queen’s Dream from Fort Lauderdale to Grenada, casually working her way around tropical islands and warmer waters for the duration of this tour.

They are now the sole captains of their ship leaning heavily into the symbolism of the boat’s name—a nod to their mutual experience in chasing Leanne’s dream (the queen) to sail it around the world. This husband and wife sailing team is not looking to dock stateside for four to five years as they explore the world.

Their advice for adventure seeking hopefuls? “I never give advice,” Tim notes. “But I can give observations. You don’t have to wait until you’re retired to find adventure. We were adventurers and embraced life long before this. We were committed to successful careers that put us in a place that we could eventually do it on a grand scale; one we would have never imagined when we were younger. It’s an evolution that we’ve worked toward.”

Learning a musical instrument (LIKE PIANO) not only feeds the brain, it also improves other cognitive aspects of the human body. PLUS it’s FUN and provides a lifetime of enjoyment! Find the region’s BEST selection of pianos for every budget at BALDWIN PIANO & ORGAN in Herrin, Illinois. (Your brain will thank you.)

ADIRECT from Paducah to the Queen City

From artistic eateries to moving performances, family fun and a magnetic nightlife, Charlotte, NC holds something for everyone. And with a direct flight from Barkley Regional Airport that runs at just one hour and 45 minutes, this is a weekend getaway (or longer!) you just might want to consider.

by Stephanie Watson

WHEN FIVE PROFESSIONALS

from Paducah traveled together to D.C. for a Chamber of Commerce conference last year, they didn’t realize they would become long-term travel buddies. But this past March, the group that represents bank executives, business owners, and even a civil engineer found themselves boarding a plane together once again. The purpose of embarking on this second group getaway? This time it would be NO work and ALL play!

Here, they share their highly recommended weekend itinerary for Contour Airline’s new direct flight from Paducah to Charlotte, NC.

Friday: Lunch and Leave

11 AM: Prepare for takeoff at Paducah Country Club for lunch and mimosas

2:20: Flight to Charlotte—The group arrived 10 minutes early to park and check in!

4:20: Arrive in Charlotte, take a short Uber ride to the Westbrook A Airbnb or splurge on rooms at the OMNI or Ritz Hotel

6:00: Enjoy Ahi Tuna nachos for dinner on the rooftop at Fahrenheit while enjoying views of uptown Charlotte

8:00: Drinks and games at The Public House Bocci ball anyone?

GIRLS’ TRIP

Saturday: Good morning, Charlotte!

9 AM: DoorDash a Pancake Flight from Snooze AM Eatery

9:30 AM: In-house massages from Pamper by Us

11 AM: Tour historic Charlotte via The Funny Bus, a comedy and city tour company that lets passengers BYOB on their decked-out school bus

1 PM: Grab a slice of pizza at The Market at 7th Street, part of Charlotte’s premier indoor food market

6 PM: Relax speakeasy style with charcuterie, small plates, and creative drinks at The Cellar at Duckworth. Don’t miss the French 75 and Blackberry Mescal Mule.

8 PM: Watch the sunset from the rooftop hot tub of the Westbrook A Airbnb

9 PM: Cozy up with a glass of wine and some rom coms on the couch

10:00 AM

CHARLOTTE, NC

“Whether you want to focus on sports, history, outdoor experiences, or just have a classic girls’ getaway, Charlotte is fun from every angle, beginning to end. We got there faster than we could have driven to Nashville and with none of the headache. And while it feels like a big city, it navigates like a smaller one. It didn’t take us more than 12 minutes to drive anywhere.”

Ines Rivas-Hutchins

Sunday: End the Stay Your Way

9 AM: Need to catch a flight to another city for work? Katie thought Charlotte made a great weekend layover before heading to Atlanta!

10 AM: Sunday Brunchday! Try the Queen’s Breakfast and mimosa flights at Church and Union

11:30 AM: Visit the SouthPark Mall for high-end shopping and/or scope out stunning residential areas and historic homes in a rental car

2:15 PM: Return flight from Paducah. With the time change, you can be home by 5!

The weekend wine and dine team are from left Marra McMillan, Private Wealth Relationship Manager with Paducah Bank; Katie Englert, Owner of Chicken Salad Chick and Compass Counseling; Maegan Mansfield, Civil Engineer with BFW Engineers; Ashley Johnson, Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President at Paducah Bank; Ines Rivas-Hutchins, President and Owner of INTEC Group Special thank you to Charlotte Regional Visitor’s Authority for photography.

by Amy Sullivan

THE BUDDENBAUM WAS BUILT TO LAST

Little House Wins Big Award! A

LITTLE HOUSE IN LOWER

Town has recently been awarded the Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Historic Preservation Project Award, Kentucky’s most distinguished celebration of historic preservation excellence. Named for Kentucky’s first state historic preservation officer, the awards have been given by the Kentucky Heritage Council since 1979 for the protection, preservation, and rehabilitation of historic buildings, cultural resources, and archaeological sites.

It is almost a miracle that the bitty Buddenbaum at 618 Monroe stands more than 170 years after it was built. The home has been a survivor, much like its former owner, Helen Buddenbaum, for whom the house is named. The endurance of this charming little residence is one of Paducah’s proudest preservation stories.

An early Paducah map reveals that the house was standing in the early 1850s. It was in a residential area north of the downtown commercial area. The home was built as a

workman’s cottage with double front doors, simple stoops leading up to the doors and basic Greek Revival-Italianate detailing, like cast-iron foundation vents and Italianate bracketing at the roofline. It was one of many small cottages built in a thriving Paducah in the nineteenth century.

The Buddenbaum House had its greatest test early in its history during the Civil War. In 1864, the Battle of Paducah took place in the Lower Town area as Southern forces tried to take the northern-occupied Fort Anderson that adjoined the neighborhood. The northern army burned all the two-story houses in the area. Fortunately, a few single-story houses survived, including the Buddenbaum.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the house continued to serve as working class housing. At some point the two front stoops were removed and a stylish front porch added. The property had previously been a duplex with two occupants, but the home was later turned into a single-family residence.

The longest-term occupant of the house was Miss Helen Buddenbaum, a nurse for a local pediatrician, Dr. Thomas Marshall, who called her “Buddy.” She is remembered fondly by many as a true trailblazer for women in the workplace. Helen was ambitious and an educated, successful professional. When she purchased the Buddenbaum in or around 1950, the home was approximately 100 years old.

The Buddenbaum House was acquired in the early 1980s by the adjoining

First Presbyterian Church, which was mainly interested in securing the land on which the house stands. A second battle for survival occurred when many church members wanted the house to be torn down. Others recognized the house’s charm and historical significance and fought for its preservation. In 1981, the Buddenbaum was included as a contributing structure in the nomination of the Lower Town Residential Neighborhood to the National Register of Historic Places. At the same time, the Lower Town Neighborhood Association was being organized, speaking out and advocating for preservation of buildings in the neighborhood. The Buddenbaum became an early focus for the association.

Around 1985, First Presbyterian Church voted to temporarily save the house. Control was given to the Lower Town Neighborhood Association. The main stipulation was that the house had to be completely repaired by the association, at its expense and effort within a year, or the house would be demolished. Ownership of the property would remain with the church.

With extremely limited resources, the neighborhood association took on the project. For many weekends neighbors gathered to clean, sweep, paint, and strip wallpaper. The late Howard and Louise Randle, a couple who had renovated many houses in Lower Town, sent their construction workers to do much of the major

renovations. They added a kitchen and bathroom, replastered and painted walls, and installed a new heating and cooling system. They planted trees, shrubs, and a period flower-cutting garden around the house. Neighbors contributed many of the plants from their own gardens. Members also donated furniture, books, rugs, dishes, and artwork for the house. The Buddenbaum’s restoration was completed within the one-year deadline.

The house served as the office and meeting place for the Neighborhood Association for many years.

In the late 1990s, control of the Buddenbaum reverted to the church. Over the years, the little house began to deteriorate again. With funds raised by members and the help of the restoration specialists at Ray Black and Son, bricks were reset, the roof and windows were repaired, and the porch was stabilized. Eventually the restored facility became an unoccupied storage building for the church.

In 2020 a small group of church members, who loved the little house, regularly met to discuss it. The recurrent lament was that the Buddenbaum, a historic building, was again in danger of disuse, neglect, and eventual need for demolition. Dr. Jim Gould suggested turning the Buddenbaum into a small Airbnb. He and his wife, Linda, had Airbnb experience and volunteered to operate the house as a rental on behalf of the church. This idea resonated with the church since it meant the house could be self-sustaining.

The group asked several longtime Buddenbaum stakeholders to form a working group. The preservation team identified the needs of the home. Suellen Johnson and Stephanie Young became the coordinators while Jim and Linda Gould looked at the facility with the eyes of innkeepers. As they discussed needs, they received donations of furniture, a washer/dryer, and original art work for the walls.

“The mission of our church is to be a good neighbor,” Suellen Johnson stated, as she reflected on the many members who dedicated their time, money, and resources to build back the Buddenbaum. “There was a spirit that bonded the 12 of us together,” said Jim Gould. “We made sure the work was completed and the donations were received. It was truly a group effort.”

An art committee, led by Jane Gamble and Stephanie Young, assembled a permanent collection of original art to hang in the home. Most, but not all, pieces came from Lower Town community artists, including Paul Aho, and some of his Paducah Art School students, as well as Nathan Brown. Tim Jaeger, a Paducah native who now lives in Florida, is featured, as well as artists who are members of First Presbyterian Church. There is also a Bill Ford original, adding a special touch to the décor after the beloved Paducah artist passed away earlier this year.

Expert restoration architect Chris Jones and Ray Black and Son completed the work under proper preservation standards. Steve Durham and his workers completed the interior upgrade such as plaster repair, paint, and HVAC. Then the fun began; the blinds were hung and furnishings placed, and in October 2022 the transformation of the Buddenbaum was complete. The interior was transformed into a quiet, period-appropriate home ready for visitors and listed on Airbnb. The first guests arrived in November 2022.

Supporter Anne Gwinn calls the house a “melting pot of a little place. When you bring people in from all sorts of areas, the PLACE resonates with them.” The house is six blocks from the floodwall murals, three blocks from the National Quilt Museum, and six blocks from historic downtown.

Visitors for Quilt Show Week recently enjoyed their stay at the comfortable Buddenbaum. When it’s not serving as an Airbnb, the Buddenbaum provides a meeting place for groups that have included the Symphony board, garden clubs, and the Philanthropic Educational Organization.

“It’s so fun when people come in to see what sparks their joy,” says Stephanie Young. “It’s different for different people. Sometimes it’s the artwork, and sometimes it’s the wingback chair in the corner in which one visitor spent the majority of her time.”

The local community has watched with delight as the Buddenbaum has once again been brought back to life. Neighbors often comment how happy they are to see the house looking better. People stop frequently to tell a volunteer working in the yard another little piece of the history of the house. “Not one person had the whole story about the house, but as a group we have been able to put it all together,” Anne Gwinn remarked.

Certainly, both the former and recent restoration of this local landmark are deserving of the Preservation Project Award. The Buddenbaum embodies personal commitment, investment, advocacy, volunteerism, building partnerships, public involvement, and lifelong dedication—characteristics the awards celebrate. The Buddenbaum supporters are excited that the home joins Paducah’s own Whitehaven in the list of past award recipients. They are most appreciative of long-term preservationist Dick Holland‘s knowledgeable and sincere work in writing the nomination for the award. “A lot of obstacles have been put in the way for this little building, but something or someone always popped up to rescue it,” concludes Stephanie Young.

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Raven & Moth’s Exciting New Reads for a Lifestyle of Ease

by Stephanie Watson

RAVEN AND MOTH HAS become a well-known staple of Downtown Paducah shopping, offering patrons earthy, organic vibes, sustainably sourced clothing, and loads of handcrafted, whimsical décor. After five years in business, they decided to expand their merchandise this spring, and, most excitingly for bibliophiles like us, that included carrying books. PADUCAH LIFE sat down with owner Erileigh Phalen to hear about the inspiration behind her carefully curated collection as well as her suggestions on what to read next.

“I have absolutely no idea why we slept on carrying books for so long!” admitted Phalen. “I’m a reader and book lover myself but somehow missed the (now-obvious) connection

until we stumbled upon some titles that just seemed to be the perfect fit. Our goal with Raven & Moth is to provide quality-made goods in a relaxing atmosphere for people with a ‘stop and smell the roses’ outlook on life. We have curated titles specifically for that Raven & Moth lifestyle - for a slower, more intentional way of living.”

This includes anything from southern-inspired cookbooks, sustainable gardening, lots of bourbon, and a hefty dose of whimsy. “One of my favorite titles, Adventures at Home, really captures that spirit perfectly by inspiring readers to find the everyday magic in creating special moments as a family in your own backyard.”

Additionally, the shop likes to support local artisans and fellow small businesses. “We were thrilled to recently add a selection of works by Kentucky authors or about the Bluegrass state from our own University Press of Kentucky,” says Erileigh. “I was stunned to find out that the illustrations for our gorgeous book Birds of Kentucky were all hand-drawn by a Kentucky artist and have been favorably compared to the famous works of Audubon! Whether you’re looking for a book to gift or something to inspire your own easy lifestyle, Raven & Moth has you covered!”

Erileigh’s Picks:

Erileigh’s Picks:

 FAVORITE COOKBOOK

 FAVORITE COOKBOOK

The Modern Hippie Table by Lauren Thomas - More than just a cookbook, this text invites you to slow down and create a sanctuary at home, using food and conversation to bring people together, strengthen family bonds, and forge lifelong friendships.

The Modern Hippie Table by Lauren Thomas - More than just a cookbook, this text invites you to slow down and create a sanctuary at home, using food and conversation to bring people together, strengthen family bonds, and forge lifelong friendships.

 GIFTABLE BOOK

 GIFTABLE BOOK

Bourbon is my Comfort Food by Heather Wibbels - A beautifully composed celebration of ten years of bourbon education and cocktails by Bourbon Women, the first group dedicated to women and their love of the spirit.

Bourbon is my Comfort Food by Heather Wibbels - A beautifully composed celebration of ten years of bourbon education and cocktails by Bourbon Women, the first group dedicated to women and their love of the spirit.

 BOOK FOR BESTIE

 BOOK FOR BESTIE

Eat Cake for Breakfast by Viola Sutano - An adorable little book with fantastic illustrations and easy, doable advice for anyone who needs a little reminder of the good things in life.

Eat Cake for Breakfast by Viola Sutano - An adorable little book with fantastic illustrations and easy, doable advice for anyone who needs a little reminder of the good things in life.

 DOUBLES

 DOUBLES AS DÉCOR Birds

AS DÉCOR Birds

of Kentucky by Burt L. Monroe - The first book of its kind to be published for the Bluegrass state, it provides a wealth of information on native birds alongside 51 stunning color paintings by the renowned wildlife artist William Zimmerman.

of Kentucky by Burt L. Monroe - The first book of its kind to be published for the Bluegrass state, it provides a wealth of information on native birds alongside 51 stunning color paintings by the renowned wildlife artist William Zimmerman.

 FOR THE GREEN THUMB

 FOR THE GREEN THUMB

Sown in the Stars by Sara HallBringing together the collective knowledge of farmers in central and eastern Kentucky, Sara Hall explores the deep roots of the Appalachian farming tradition of planting by the signs and stars and its contemporary applications.

Sown in the Stars by Sara HallBringing together the collective knowledge of farmers in central and eastern Kentucky, Sara Hall explores the deep roots of the Appalachian farming tradition of planting by the signs and stars and its contemporary applications.

by Amy Sullivan

Pastime that is Looking Up

“BIRD NERD” SUSAN EDWARDS HAS BEEN WATCHING BIRDS FOR OVER 50 YEARS

ONE OF SUSAN EDWARDS’S PRIZED

pastimes has been a lifelong hobby since she was 16 years old. A licensed spiritual healer coach, author, public speaker, and owner of Paducah’s downtown Rock Shop, Susan K. Edwards enjoys birdwatching as a getaway to spend time with nature and relax.

“I probably bird watch 50% of the time by myself. I have a bird bag with my binoculars, pen, three by five spiral notepad, and field guide, and when I just need to get away from everybody, I’ll grab my bag, park somewhere like Noble Park or The Greenway Trail, travel the path, and hang out with nature.”

At Noble Park, the Peck Education Trail is a wooded, halfmile nature walk with boardwalks, benches, and a switchback that connects to a nature trail. It’s a perfect area for birdwatching. The Greenway Trail extends more than five miles linking residential neighborhoods with several city parks, the McCracken County trail system, and the riverfront—a prime waterfowl watcher spot. Rivers are an irresistible draw for birds, so the confluence of the Ohio

and Tennessee rivers at the base of Broadway is the perfect place to start bird watching. The Greenway Trail links Perkins Creek Nature Preserve—approximately 80 acres of undeveloped natural land on the west side of Paducah— to Stuart Nelson Park, Noble Park, and Schultz Park. Look for nesting woodland birds on the Greenway trail. You’ll be surprised by the variety and number of species in this area, says Susan, such as chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, European starlings, red-winged blackbirds, mourning doves, eastern towhees, song sparrows, Carolina wrens, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees, and down woodpeckers.

Susan calls downtown Paducah a true treasure trove for bird watching, even in the winter months. Bird watchers can find ringbilled gulls, fish crows, white-throated sparrows, cardinals, and mockingbirds, along with more exotic species like bald eagles and migrating white pelicans as they follow their seasonal migration routes.

No matter what the season, there are always interesting birds to see at The Nature Conservancy’s Kentucky nature preserve as well. In fact, birds move through Kentucky all year long. Some change habitats within state borders; others stop by during spring and fall as part of long journeys between breeding grounds and warmer climates.

Susan’s favorite place to go birdwatching is Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, an old cypress southern Illinois swamp managed as one of the state’s most outstanding waterfowl hunting locales, about 30 minutes from Paducah. “It’s a one-way driving trail around a three-acre lake,” Susan indicated, “or you can park and walk and see one side—the lake—or the other side—a drainage ditch and forest. We see so much there! My husband and I go at least once a month and probably have at least 15 years of data from that spot.”

If she sees a bird, Susan scores this in her spiral. She simply lists what she sees—a starling, a sparrow, or a chickadee. It’s not a scientific listing, but simply a record of what she saw that day. She even extends beyond birds, noting appearances of snakes, turtles, beavers, and even a multitude of muskrats she met at Mermet. People can do that with their backyard birds, too. “It’s fun to look back,” she reflected. “I have noticed patterns. For example, I haven’t seen bald eagles in the last six months at Mermet and I had been seeing them a lot. The golden eagle used to be there and we once could see them while driving. I have even seen a reduction in songbirds in general, just in my backyard.”

All you really need to be a birdwatcher are your two eyes and ears. You don’t need fancy or expensive equipment. You can just go out and look for birds. But Susan admits it’s handy to have an affordable pair of binoculars and a field guide showing where you can find birds and what they look like, which you can pick

Recommended Birding Spots at Land Between the Lakes

Kentucky Dam/Barkley Dam

Hematite Lake and Trail

Long Creek Wildlife Refuge

Empire Point

Bobcat Point

Honker Lake, Bay, and Trail

Woodlands Nature Station

Backyard

North/South Trail from Sugar to Smith Bay

Shaw Branch Road —FS RD #153/134 — from Hwy US68/KY80 to Energy Lake

Elk & Bison Prairie

Fort Henry Trails

BIRD WATCHING IN PADUCAH

up for well under $20. Or you can download free apps on your phone such as iBird and the Audubon Bird Guide to help identify species. Phones assist with taking quick photos of birds needing identification. Taking birdwatching notes is also a fun form of journaling, says Susan. Additionally, you can download and print a free birding checklist from the Land Between the Lakes website.

Besides looking at birds, you might be curious to learn their sounds and songs. If you hear, but don’t see, birds in your backyard, you can listen and identify them by purchasing an app like Larkwire Learn Bird ID or the Chirp! app.

“We share this earth with many other species, both plant and animals,” says Susan. “Making a connection spiritually and enjoying another species like birds helps you feel a part of nature, connected, and responsible to be a good steward. Even something as simple as planting native plants and trees in your yard will provide food and shelter for local birds and wildlife. I find it relaxing and fascinating, one of those hobbies that is easy to do and you can do it as formally or informally as you want.”

A Few of Susan’s New Favorite Feathered Friends

THE NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD

These birds have big personalities. I like to joke and say they have an identity crisis. They mock, as their name implies. They might start with a chickadee, change to a cardinal, then be a starling. They have a large repertoire, based on what’s around them and even bark like a dog if they hear it. I always think, ‘Who are you today? Make up your mind!’ They are fun to watch; they’re big and bold.

CHICKADEES

Chickadees are also delightful to watch. They flit around and they’re just fun.

HOUSE WREN

(pictured on page 65)

This wren is very small, and its tail sticks up. If you get too close to their nest or territory, they will let you know with a good cussing. They do not care how big you are, they will let you know that you are not allowed to be around them.

RAVEN & MOTH also offers a helpful resource. On the downtown retailer’s new bookshelves you’ll find this bird book to guide you along your avian adventures.

United Way of Western Kentucky Small Business Blitz 2023

Small businesses make a BIG impact! Thank you for supporting the mission of the United Way!

To learn more about bird watching in Paducah and the surrounding area, visit:

“Winter Bird Watching in Historic Downtown Paducah,” on the City of Paducah’s travel blog, by Susan Edwards

“Kentucky Birds,” on the Nature Conservancy’s website

“Birding,” on the Land Between the Lakes website

“Bird Watching Spots” on the Step Outside Paducah, KY website

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Earl Davis, Financial Representative

Last word the

“The debut of Paducah’s spring surprised the community every year. Locals had seen everything from frozen landscapes to sultry storms. This year crocuses and daffodils popped up like excited guests who couldn’t wait for the party to start. Fuchsia and white azaleas blended with pink and milkywhite dogwood blooms. Forsythia and pale green wraps of leaves danced with memory and grace. Tender fescue resurrected the yards. Cherry blossoms flowed and dripped like waterfalls.”

—from TOWARD THE CORNER OF MERCY AND PEACE

TRACEY BUCHANAN is the creator of this lovely art AND the author of the forthcoming novel Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace which will be published in late June. The book can be ordered from Regal House Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart and Bookshop.