Henderson Family - August/September 2023

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Lyndi's Top Picks

Time Activity Set

This Learning Resources Time Activity set has been such a hit in my household. It is a great way for my little learners to work on telling time, and it provides a variety of ways to do so. They can roll the dice and set the time on the given clock, match analog and digital time cards together and practice writing the times themselves.

Summer always seems to go by so quickly. We pack it full of fun until it is time to head back to school. My kids love school, and they are looking forward to starting a new school year! We will soon be back to packing lunches and completing schoolwork, but that doesn’t mean the family fun has to stop. The weather is still hot outside, and there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy before the fall weather arrives.

Pretend Play Money Set

Having a pretend play money set is such a great way for kids to learn how to recognize and count money. My kids love to play pretend, so we will bring in the educational component through play. For example, we will pretend we are shopping at a store. They will count out their money to pay for their items in their grocery cart. They are learning through play without even realizing it. The best part - they are having so much fun!

The first day of school was always exciting for me growing up. I loved school. I loved learning. I loved making new friends. I was always so excited yet nervous. Who would I be seated by? What would my teacher be like? Would this new grade be hard? There were so many questions I had not knowing what to expect. I was sad to see summer go, but I was excited for the new year to begin. I hope my kids grow up loving school as much as I did. Education is so important, and we are blessed with a variety of educational opportunities right here in Henderson from public to private to homeschool.

Speaking of going back to school, this issue is our back-to-school issue! Inside, you will find quick dinner recipe ideas using crescent rolls, some cute crafts based around the book “The Kissing Hand” and books to get you in the new school year spirit!

Don’t forget to check out our Health and Wellness section providing you with great tips and resources on healthy living such as eating healthy on a budget and modeling positive body image for children.

DESIGN &

Electric Pencil Sharpener

This is sure to give everyone a laugh, but for the longest time we have just used a handheld pencil sharpener. Between pencils and coloring pencils, it seemed to take forever to sharpen. I finally broke down a couple months ago and bought an electric pencil sharpener, and it was so worth paying the extra money for. It gets their pencils and coloring pencils sharper than what we have ever been able to get them using the handheld ones. It saves so much time, too! This is a purchase mommy is very excited about for this school year!

Inside, you will also find features on the Grandpals at the Homeplace event that took place this summer, a new internship opportunity provided by the Henderson Farmers Market, and the amazing services offered to our community by Infinite Hope and how community members have been supported through their organization. Happy Schooling!

LYNDI MAUK Editor, Henderson Family Magazine

HENDERSON ROTARY CLUB HOSTS 15TH ANNUAL ROTARY TRIVIA NIGHT

On Saturday, June 24, the Henderson Rotary Club hosted their 15th Annual Rotary Trivia Night raising a record $29,657 that goes towards supporting charitable endeavors. The Ridley team won the 8 rounds of trivia, with the Kelsey team and Community Baptist Church- Henderson coming in close with second and third place. The best themed table went to Deaconess. Holy Name School and the Holy Name Men’s Club provided the venue and dinner.

AUDUBON KIDS ZONE HOSTS SUMMER SIZZLER BLOCK PARTY SERIES

Audubon Kids Zone hosted the ultimate summertime experience with AKZ’s 2023 Summer Sizzler Block Party Series! These neighborhood events were all about bringing our community together. Thanks to the generous support of their donors & sponsors, these parties were 100% free and open to everyone!

The community joined the fun every Thursday in June and July from 6-8pm. Each week had a different theme and activities, so no two block parties were the same! You could always find good food, music, and a variety of activities & entertainment for all ages. Whether a foam party, live music, or wet obstacle courses, the families and kids were sure to make some lasting memories and maybe even some new friends!

AKZ is ending the 2023 Sizzler Series with a bang on July 27th! This block party will feature a performance by local music legend, Lindsey Williams, a community Art & Science Show, BBQ and more!

HENDERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS IMPLEMENT NEW SAFETY INITIATIVES

The Henderson County Schools have added new safety initiatives for the 2023-2024 school year. These initiatives include the following:

*3M Safety & Security Window Films for all Henderson County School buildings. This film makes glass harder to penetrate and holds shattered pieces in place, helping to keep both people and property safe.

*OPENGATE Weapons Detection Systems for Henderson County High School, North Middle School, South Middle School, and Central Academy. The “free-flowing” screening device allows people to walk through quickly without taking off backpacks, yet it can still instantly detect metals and weapons. This system will be in place when classes begin in August.

*School Resources Officers in our schools.

Ryne and Katherine Pinkston

Tell us a little about yourself.

We’ve been married since June 2018, and we are both educators in the Henderson County School system. We have one son, Jack, who is three, and another baby on the way. We have a miniature wiener dog, Mossi, and a cat, Ziggy.

What do you both do for a living and how long have you been in those positions?

Katherine: I am a fifth-grade teacher at Spottsville Elementary School. I have been a teacher for nine years, and I am starting my fifth year in Henderson!

Ryne: I am a physical education teacher and athletic director at North Middle School. I have been a teacher for nine years, and I am starting my fifth year in Henderson, too.

Did you both know from an early age you wanted to be educators? If so, was there anyone who inspired you to follow this path?

Katherine: I fell in love with being in the classroom when I was in eighth grade at South Middle School in Mrs. Emily Morton’s arts and humanities class. She made learning so fun and engaging. I wanted to be just like her! I decided to pursue my teaching degree at the University of Evansville where I had two amazing professors, Dr. Sharon Gieselmann and Ms. Patricia Taylor, who both, respectfully instilled their passion for teaching in me. I am so blessed to have had these and other wonderful role models throughout my education.

Ryne: Absolutely! My mother had an instrumental part in my pursuit of education. She taught for 30 years as an elementary teacher at both Smith Mills and Bend Gate. I can’t even tell you the number of times we got stopped, and I heard complete strangers talking to my mom about the impact she had on their children. Seeing the impact my mother had and knowing the impact educators like Mrs. Cabell who I had in third grade at East Heights Elementary and Nathan Isenberg my baseball coach at HCHS had on me throughout my years in the Henderson County School system definitely inspired me to pursue this path.

Outside of working within the school system, what hobbies does your family enjoy?

We love to travel, go to parks/playgrounds, exercise, read, watch sports, and spend time with our families.

What do you enjoy most about being teachers within our community?

Katherine: I love being able to form new connections with coworkers, parents, and students in the community where I was born and raised. It’s definitely rewarding to have chosen to stay in Henderson and endeavor to continue to pay forward a love for learning.

Ryne: What I enjoy most about being a teacher in this community is the opportunity to give back to a community that I love. I’ve always loved Henderson and the people in it. It’s a special place and it’s been awesome to see Henderson to continue to develop into a place that people want to invest into and grow. I hope to inspire that same love for our community!

How do you find balance between work and family?

We try to be intentional about scheduling time with family each week. We plan in advance and make sure our work is complete before leaving school for the day. It’s important to us, especially with kids, that we are focused on the present. We also tag team if one of us has an event to be at for our school.

What advice would you give to those students interested in becoming a teacher someday?

Katherine: You must have a passion for teaching and kids so that, in the end, it’s a win-win situation for both the wouldbe teacher and his/her future students. Nothing beats seeing a student excel and knowing you’ve been a part of it!

Ryne: Be flexible; no day is the same when you’re in education. It’s what makes the job such a fun challenge. Also, don’t be too hard on yourself if you have a bad day where nothing seems to go right. Get back to the drawing board and try again the next day! HF

Photo by Darrin Phegley

Making it

Quick Dinners with Crescent Rolls

It’s almost time for school again, which means busy nights without a lot of time to cook for the pickiest eaters in your home! We used Crescent Rolls three different ways in order to create these kidapproved meals. There’s so much more you can make with store bought dough besides dinner rolls! Keep your back-toschool meal-prepping simple by popping open a can of this dough, there’s nothing better than a shortcut in the kitchen!

Pizza Pockets

INGREDIENTS:

›› 1 can Crescent Rolls

›› 1/4 cup pizza sauce

›› 1 cup mozzarella cheese

›› Pepperoni slices to taste

›› Italian seasoning and grated parmesan to garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

›› Preheat oven to 375°F. Separate the crescent rolls into four separate rectangles (pressing the perforations together on the

triangles to seal them together)

›› Spread a tablespoon of pizza sauce on one side of each rectangle (leaving half empty). Top with a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella and pepperoni to taste. Fold dough from the empty side to cover the filling, then firmly press the edges together with a fork to seal it. poke a small hole in the top of each pocket (for steam)

›› Top each pocket with italian seasoning and grated parmesan (to taste), then bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe & Photo by Jamie Plain

Chicken, Broccoli, & Cheese Rolls

INGREDIENTS:

›› 1 cup full cooked breast, shredded

›› 1 cup finely chopped broccoli

›› 1 cup shredded cheddar

›› 2 cans crescent rolls

INSTRUCTIONS:

›› In a large bowl, combine broccoli, chicken, and cheese until all ingredients are evenly mixed.

›› Spoon some mixture into the longer end of the crescent roll and roll it up.

›› Bake at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm!

Taco Ring

INGREDIENTS:

›› 1 lb ground beef

›› 1/2 cup onion

›› 1/2 cup water

›› 1 pkg. taco seasoning

›› 2 cans crescent rolls

›› shredded cheese to taste

›› additional taco toppings of choice

INSTRUCTIONS:

›› Preheat oven to 375°F.

›› In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef alongside onions until the beef has just browned, then drain the oil.

›› Add water and taco seasoning to cooked meat and simmer for 10min, stirring often.

›› Open the crescent rolls and arrange each triangle in a circle on a large baking dish. Do this by overlapping the wide end of the triangles and face the pointed ends outward, so it looks similar to a sunburst.

›› Spoon the beef mixture over the overlapped part of the circle, then top with shredded cheese.

›› Take the pointed end of the triangle and bright it over top the meat mixture, then tuck it on the opposite end. Repeat until all the tips of the dough have been tucked, turning the sunburst into a ring.

- Bake the taco ring for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and add serve with toppings of your choice! HF

JAMIE PLAIN is a nationally published culinary and commercial photographer working as a full-time staff photographer for Tanner Publishing. She has a knack for making tasty food and pretty art. See more of her portfolio at jaastudios.com.

BACK TO SCHOOL TRADITION

Before my daughter started preschool nine years ago, my mom and I took her to a meet the teacher event the week before school started. Her teacher read this book to the students and parents, and ever since it has been a tradition to read this the night before school. My little girl will be going into the seventh grade this year, but we will still read this book.

In this story, school is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. Stickers at the back will help children and their parents keep

their Kissing Hand alive.

But, if your kids are anything like mine, those stickers won’t make it long. A supply that should have made it through high school maybe lasted until kindergarten.

But don’t worry! Here are a couple of crafts that can help you keep the Kissing Hand alive for your student as they start school this year.

Paper Hand

This is a simple one. Trace your child’s hand on paper and cut it out. Then cut out a paper heart and glue it in the middle of the paper hand. Tuck this paper into a pencil pouch or in a pocket to help your child remember your love throughout their first day of school.

Pencil Topper

What better way to remember the Kissing Hand than creating your child’s very own Chester Raccoon? This little guy was made from pipe cleaner, scrap felt, two mini pompoms and a couple of clay beads. Really, you can use whatever scrap crafting materials you have and have fun making your own version of Chester!

If you make these adorable crafts, be sure to tag a photo of them on our social media accounts! We would love to see them!

ASHLEY WEDDING is the editor of Owensboro Parent Magazine. She enjoys everyday adventures with her husband, Drew, and their three kids, Avery, Reed and Mason.

Written by Ashley Wedding

Photo by Jamie Plain

Community

A GROWING A GROWING

Growing up in Niagara, Addie Jackson found herself surrounded by fields. Whether farmers were growing corn, tobacco or soybeans, it was part of where she was from. After Addie graduated from Henderson County High School in 2022 and went on to attend Henderson Community College, she wanted to study a field she thought would be enjoyable and one that would provide job security. “My grandpa baled hay and had pigs and cows— not produce farming but meat farming. I have always been around it but not directly in it. It was a safe option, and I also enjoy it,” expressed Addie. She also assists her dad in their garden at home.

Written by Lyndi Mauk // Photos by Darrin Phegley

THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY

The 19-year-old will be entering her last semester this fall to obtain her associates degree at Henderson Community College. She will then transfer to Murray State University in January 2024 where she will be majoring in Agronomy. Addie explained how there is a lot she will do as an agronomist such as checking soil quality, determining what fertilizer to use on fields, etc.

“I needed an internship to get my associates, and I had searched literally high and low. Then the Farmers Market position was posted. I thought that sounds fun, and that sounds like a way to meet a lot of people. I meet a new person everyday. It felt like I was getting more into the ag career world rather than just something at home. The internship has been helpful learning stuff about crops I don’t know as much about. It’s helpful knowledge,” said the grateful college intern. Addie would like to stay within the tri-state area once she graduates. However, it’s important to have a knowledge about a variety of produce in case she were to work for a company who travels to places where other crops are grown that we don’t have here.

THE INTERNSHIP

Addie began her internship at the Henderson Farmers Market the first week of June and will work through the first week of August. She works approximately 15 hours a week for the 10-week internship, and she has already learned so much.

It has been eye opening to see how much work it takes for the local farmers and vendors in preparation of each market day, but being part of it all has been a wonderful experience for her. “I enjoy all the vendors. We get along great. They are all nice people. I enjoy that and the customers. The interaction and meeting new people all the time.”

Another area Addie is learning more about are the challenges local farmers face. Although rain is a challenge everyone would be able to guess, Addie explained that you quickly find out that even if the farmers are watering, it isn’t enough of a solution. They will use drip water to provide their produce with water when our area hasn’t seen enough rain, yet it makes for a very challenging time.

Addie has also noticed customers tend

to come knowing what they want to buy. If there is a new crop a vendor is trying to sell, sometimes individuals won’t be willing to try something new if they don’t know what it is. Farmers will grow a crop, and it may not be as popular as they had hoped when it comes to selling it.

Something else Addie has observed while interning is never knowing what the crowd is going to be like. She said, “Sometimes you will sell out of half your stuff by 10am but then on Fridays when it’s usually really busy you may have 15 zucchini left. You never know what the turnout is going to be, so trying to decide how much to bring without having a ton of extra is hard.”

Addie has been a big help to the vendors this past summer. Some of her responsibilities have included gathering customer survey reviews where she compiles data of how often customers come, what they usually buy, if they would return, etc. She has completed a customer statistic— counting how many customers have come through, the most popular market day, and age groups. To their surprise, a Tuesday was more popular one week than a Friday. She will also help cleanup produce leafs on market days, unlock the main gate, storage rooms and bathrooms, manage social media and do weekly market prices for the different produce.

On Tuesdays, there are typically only 3 vendors so she doesn’t set up a table. However, on Fridays and Saturdays, she sets up a table with the surveys, coloring books for kids, and is there to answer any questions customers may have. She also makes her way up and down the market assisting vendors.

SPONSORSHIPS!

Amy Cates, Owner of Cates Farm, said the Henderson Farmers Market has been looking for extra support for some time now. Originally, their goal was to find a Market Manager to be with them throughout the entire season. However, due to the timing of sponsorships coming in and the hiring process, they decided to offer an internship instead.

Amy said, “There are a lot of students who need internships to fulfill a requirement in college, or students thinking about agricultural related fields but haven’t had any experience in local food systems. We

thought this would be a perfect way for us to provide that opportunity to work with a local student.” They sent the internship posting to Henderson Community College, Murray State University and University of Kentucky. The majority of interest was local because they unfortunately cannot provide housing. The local farmer said, “We wanted to connect to the community more.” Addie’s presence at the market has been wonderful for them in achieving this by doing community surveys to learn more about their customer base. They will also be offering their 2nd Annual Family Fun Day. Addie has been helping to get them organized and detailed, and it’s been so nice to have someone who is there consistently. It was important for them to have someone who was able to engage with others and be a positive presence to all of those who visit the local market. This opportunity was beneficial to both the Henderson Farmers Market and Addie. They have been helping each other this summer.

This opportunity would not have been possible without local sponsorship donors. These included Homer’s Barbecue, Hometown Roots and Roast, Henderson Elks Lodge 206, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Windimere Farms, Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance: Stephen Boyens Agency, FMC, Syngenta, Sitex Corporation, Happy Hounds Pet Salon and Oak Street Health.

“We wanted someone who was interested in agriculture. She is getting the experience and foot in the door. She can take a set of skills with her. She is familiar with farmers markets and what it takes to start one,” stated Amy. “This is getting younger generations involved and younger people interested in buying local produce.” The Henderson Farmers Market would like to thank everyone who supported them and allowed them to offer such a great internship opportunity to a local student this summer and hopefully more to follow.

The Henderson Farmers Market is open Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8am12pm. HF

LYNDI MAUK, editor of Henderson Family Magazine, was born and raised in the Bluegrass State. She is grateful to be going through life alongside her husband and best friend, Brandon, and being a mother to their two kids.

GRANDPALS AT THE HOMEPLACE

Bringing Generations Together GRANDPALS AT THE HOMEPLACE

Written by Lyndi Mauk

Homeplace of Henderson is a retirement and assisted living facility located in Henderson, KY. They opened their doors in November 2021. The facility consists of sixty apartments—offering a personal care area and a dedicated memory care area with social activities and direct care throughout the building 24/7.

“It is a dream come true. We wanted to take the senior care industry to a new level and give people what they asked for. Seniors want to be home. Sometimes home is a place we associate that we are comfortable with,” expressed Executive Director, Jessica Beavens. Homeplace was built around family and community,

Darrin Phegley

and it all came together because of the community’s support.

A GENERATIONAL GAP PROGRAM

Jessica and the Henderson County Public Library’s Children’s Services Manager, Danielle Anguish, were part of a Life Enrichment Community meeting. One of the ideas brought up at this particular meeting was that having children within Homeplace of Henderson would bring value and joy. They talked about pen pals or a program where kids would come hang out with residents at Homeplace.

Fast forward several months later,

and as Danielle is putting together her summer programs for the children’s department at the library she remembers this idea from the Life Enrichment Community meeting. “I was trying to come up with different outreach activities and that’s how this really came to be,” said Danielle. She reached out to Jessica expressing the library’s interest in trying this program out and naming it “Grandpals at the Homeplace.” Jessica said, “The mission of the library in this program is to bring together a generational gap. You see the older individuals we pride ourselves in caring for and the younger individuals interacting. It is something special.

// Photo by

Not everyone has grandparents, or their grandparents don’t live here locally.” Without hesitation, Jessica was on board. “It was an idea, and thankfully the library wanted to implement and try it and here we are!”

Homeplace currently partners with the library with their genealogy program. The library comes once a month with a different topic and history of Henderson. All the residents love it, even if they aren’t from Henderson. Homeplace has also worked with the school system in the past. However, this is their first partnership offering a program such as this. ”The first week here, the residents couldn’t wait to come down. We have a retired pediatrician, retired nurses, and teachers. Every background. And something that brings them joy all the time are kids. We want people to see how our residents still have so much life in them. Kids bring out a different area of their life. They feel young again!” stated the enthusiastic director.

THE GRANDPALS PROGRAMS

Grandpals at the Homeplace has been a new summer program offered every Thursday at 10am during the months of June and July. Open to all ages, including teens, children register through the library, and upon arrival they are partnered with one or more Homeplace residents based on their interests. “We tried to match our residents with something they are interested in along with what the child is interested in. It wasn’t just the activity but the conversation.” For example, one child enjoyed playing basketball and a lot of Jessica’s residents are UK basketball fans - so they were able to interact about basketball, how long the child has played, etc.

The library has brought everything from books, puzzles and games to coloring pages and crafts. They brought everything for the residents at Homeplace and the children to engage in - along with the kiddos. It was Jessica’s part to provide the grand part of this program and having these individuals who could provide wisdom and be a positive influence on the

children.

During the first week of the program, there was a group working on crafts and creating magnets for their refrigerators. Another group was doing art and drawing while the other was working on a puzzle. “The other thing you saw in the dynamic was the history of this young child interacting with someone who had a lot of wisdom to share and then you had the activity as an ongoing conversation piece you didn’t even know was really happening but happened naturally so that was cool to see,” said Jessica.

The Life Enrichment Assistants invite, remind and encourage residents to come down before the children arrive. Jessica explained how all of their residents are different. They have individuals who are extroverts and like to be around people and some who don’t like a group setting and prefer not to leave their apartment. They had one child who went to the apartment with the parent/caregiver they were with and read stories with a resident who is a retired teacher. It was incredible to see someone who used to be surrounded by children everyday have a child read to her again.

Jessica said if they mention kids are coming for an activity or event then about 90% of their residents are going to come out of their room. One resident told Jessica it was one of the best days she has had in a long time! “They don’t always get to go to their grandchildren’s ball games but to create a moment they will have - whether it be 30 minutes—they are going to hold onto it forever.”

This program means so much to both Homeplace and the library. “It gives me warm, fuzzy feelings when I think about this program,” Danielle said. “The warmth of the program is that you are doing something that is ultimately making a difference in both of their lives. It is the goodness of the program that does it for me.” It is important for Danielle to get a feel of what the interests are when she is thinking of activities to bring. She laughed and stated, “They love coloring. Not so much on playdoh. Probably flashbacks from when they had their own kids play with it.” She has

considered doing a streamline activity before the end of July, such as planting or a game day for the residents and children to do together.

The program was advertised through social media and put on the library’s summer calendar before school was out, along with the averaging 13-15 programs a week being hosted by the Children’s Department - not including the teens and adults. What Danielle offers to the children in the community, and now to these residents, is wonderful. The parents and caregivers of children who attend any of the programs witness the hard work and dedication that is poured into these programs - with Grandpals being another amazing addition.

Jane Clark has been bringing her granddaughter, Ella Clark (4) to Homeplace this summer. Jane said, “Ella loved it. Ella’s fortunate enough to have both sets of grandparents in her life, but I tried to explain to her that not everybody that lives here has young kids visit or may not have grandkids - so it’s really important for them. She couldn’t wait to come back! It teaches her compassion and that everyone is different. It’s as much for her as it is for them. The library is just awesome!”

Kade Hobgood (7) was another child who attended this summer. His grandmother, Nancy Hobgood, said, “It was a good opportunity for my grandson. He really enjoyed it. When it was over, he wanted to come back. I had to talk him into coming because he wasn’t sure about being around people he didn’t know. I was so surprised at how much he enjoyed it!” Kade and Nancy were at a big table with a group of men and played UNO the first week Kade attended. Kade said, “The UNO cards were gigantic!” Some of the men had never played, so they had the opportunity to teach them how to play the card game. It was really fun for everyone, and even Ms. Danielle joined in on the fun that week!

CREATING MOMENTS AT THE HOMEPLACE

“Our goal here at Homeplace is to create moments,” expressed Jessica. “We want this building to be a place where people

come and know it is kid-friendly. It is a place created for family and engagement. It is very much a place where children feel comfortable. They can grab a coke and ice cream. We want to collaborate as much as we can and make our residents feel as part of our community. Young kids don’t always know how to interact with the old population. If we go in with an activity such as a canvas or story, if we pre-plan then you are going to see that engagement become

more natural. If we have an idea of what we can do, then we can create moments. What I saw was some moments being created. We have residents who are still discussing it. The retired pediatrician - he saw kids everyday of all ages - so having kids come to him was really important. It is holding a sweet spot in their heart. To be able to know that this is something that is a collaboration between two good organizations with the mission of closing

that generational gap and having kids interact with the older population. I don’t know if we can do it enough but it was wonderful. It definitely made a mark on our residents in a good way.” HF

LYNDI MAUK, editor of Henderson Family Magazine, was born and raised in the Bluegrass State. She is grateful to be going through life alongside her husband and best friend, Brandon, and being a mother to their two kids.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

INFINITE HOPE Finding Hope in the Midst of Grief

Written by Amanda Waggener // Photo by Darrin Phegley

The late afternoon sun casts picturesque beams over the Ohio River and through the large windows of the spacious room on the second floor of the Henderson Public Library. A unique fundraiser will be held there on August 8th from 6:00-8:00 pm. “We are going to drink a little bourbon, have a little fun, and raise some money,” Shelly Sutton says with a big smile as she shares about an upcoming Infinite Hope fundraiser. Bourbon For Hope is “an experience

with multiple distilleries’’ where each ticketholder will have the opportunity to taste numerous bourbons and bourbon cocktails, snack on charcuterie boards, listen to live music, partake in a live bourbon auction, and take home a Glencairn Glass all while supporting a worthy cause. “Henderson has never had an event quite like this one,” Cindy Weaver, Founder, and Executive Director of Infinite, stated.

The group understands that life is

worth celebrating, thus their involvement in Infinite Hope. The non-profit, formed in 2020, aims to “ensure no one has to experience suicide loss alone.” This passion grew within Cindy as she witnessed numerous times the pain the families of suicide victims experience.

“It wouldn’t leave me alone,” she says of the tug she felt towards starting a group whose mission would be survivor support and suicide awareness. Her dedication to the cause led to the formation of support

groups, which began in May 2021, and, most recently, a Loss Team. The Loss (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) team is a group of dedicated individuals trained to respond immediately to provide support and guidance when a local suicide occurs. Both the Loss Team and the board members are people from all walks of life, including Webster County’s Coroner, Darin Townsend, who noted that the suicide rate for this state region is rising. For Darin, the perspective of his profession gave him a zeal for the organization, adding that he wants everyone in this area “to have access to these services.” Another board member and Loss Team member, Tracy Vaughn, who was an only child herself and then raising an only child, can empathize with how dire being alone in a dark time must feel and joined as a way to help give back to her community.

The organization serves three counties in Western Kentucky –

Henderson, Webster and Union, and is the only organization in the state that offers everything they do in the way of suicide prevention and suicide postvention (services for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.)

Loss Team members Erika Nicholas, Patti Hunnicutt, and Shelly Sutton are bound together by a bond they wish they didn’t have. Each one of them has lost a son to suicide. Erika, who lost her son to suicide in 2021, spoke on the value of the Loss Team, “I would have given anything for someone to have been there when the coroner came. I had no one.” She had recently moved to Henderson with her son, while her family lived away in another city when the suicide occurred.” For Erika, the support groups have been a lifeline. “You feel alone. He was my only child. I’m now in a house by myself, thinking thoughts no one should ever think. Then you come together with a group who have also lost someone, and you hear their

stories and don’t feel so alone.”

Agreeing with Erika, Patti echoes, “I think a support group is a big thing. I would have never imagined myself as ever being someone who is a suicide loss survivor. In this group, we get to share memories of that person we lost. You know the people there have experienced this same thing.” Through her somber yet hopeful tone of voice, she continues, “Even though I hate that we share the same thing, it bonds us. It’s good to know someone understands.” Patti also feels a great deal of gratitude for the yearly remembrance event, which will be held on Saturday, September 23. “You feel like you are actively doing something to honor the person you lost. It’s a big thing to me.” Patti lost her son in 2003, showing that the passage of time doesn’t diminish the need for healing and support.

Shelly, who lost her son in 2020, speaks to how isolating the loss can feel when family and friends don’t speak and

avoid interaction due to “not knowing what to say.” She shared how Walmart has become a painful place for her as she sees people she knows who actively avoid her in an effort not to say the wrong thing. She agrees that the support group helps her navigate the pain of her immense loss. “It’s a safe place,” she explains regarding the feeling in the group, “If I start crying, they don’t look at me like I’m crazy. It’s okay. We can feel those emotions in those meetings. We’ve all lost someone to suicide, and it’s comforting to go to our meetings and see one another.”

Through certifications, training, and personal experience, Cindy understands the power of turning pain into purpose. “Grief is internal. Mourning is the external expression of that. Talking about it in a safe place helps release internal grief. This facilitates healing.”

The support group isn’t made up of only discussion. There are therapeutic activities such as the one described by Shelly. “We broke a glass bowl with a hammer, then pieced it together with glue. Then we used gold leaf paint to turn it into art. I have mine in the China cabinet with my grandmother’s dishes.” All in the room agreed that this added a beautiful visual for creating purpose. “It represents how my life shattered the moment he died. I’m slowly putting the pieces back together with the help of these ladies who have also lost their sons, as well as with Cindy and all the members of the Loss team and the board.”

All proceeds raised by the Bourbon for Hope event, sponsored by Beverage Barn and Cap & Cork, will fund the extended training, operational costs, and services offered to those suffering from unimaginable loss in our area. Infinite Hope is solely operated by volunteers who donate their time to assist local families in need and by generous donations from our community. Tickets are available at www.infinitehopekentucky.com or by visiting their Instagram or Facebook pages. For more information and to find a complete list of services provided by Infinite Hope and ways to donate, visit the website or email care@infinitehopekentucky.com. HF

AMANDA WAGGENER is a blogger for the Huffington Post, author of No Grit No Pearl blog site and is a native of Henderson. She and her husband are the parents of two teenagers who they are raising with as much zeal as they can muster.

Partnership of Women (POW) Impacting Our Community One Grant at a Time

Partnership of Women

(POW) is a volunteer-based women’s organization that has been serving the community since 2013. “We’re here to help make people’s lives better in just a small way, and it’s a group of women who are dedicated to others’ lives. Through our dollars, we can have an impact on a whole lot of people and hopefully make their life a little bit better,” expressed Susan Sauls, President Chair of POW.

Membership fees are $500/ year - collectively or individually. We also receive gifts from various donors willing to support our mission of grant making, education and advocacy work.

We offer one Impact Grant per year with two additional grants. The Impact Grant winner is awarded $15,000 with the additional grants being awarded $3,000. Grants are awarded to help special projects within a local nonprofit that are benefiting the community. The grant committee narrows finalists down by a series of steps: requesting full grant proposals from selected projects, scheduling site visits and choosing 3 finalists to present their projects at POW’s annual dinner. Members then have the opportunity to vote following the presentation.

Outside of our annual dinner, we offer 5 additional events.

Members can bring a guest, learn about POW and listen to Impact Grant winners speak about how their grant has impacted their organization. We also invite other community members in to share their services to make for a fun and entertaining event. “We have generated growth through these. It’s a win-win,” said Andrea Roberts, Social Membership Chair. The women who attend these events and hear what our organization is doing want to be part of it.

OUR 2022 IMPACT GRANT WINNER

Last year, Safe Babies: Secure at Home and On the Go - a Deaconess Foundation initiative - was our $15,000 Impact Grant winner. “It’s been a huge impact because now we have those pack ‘n plays and car seats on our unit ready to go. We went straight out and filled our closet with what we needed to be ready and be prepared. Actually, the next day after we bought them, we had a couple that had just arrived. They had twins. No car seats. No pack ‘n plays. We were able to give them both right there on the spot, and they came with nothing,” said Terri Nunn, Clinical Nurse Manager of Maternal Child at Deaconess Henderson Hospital. Henderson alone had 4 infant deaths in 2022 due to unsafe

sleeping conditions. Terri sat on the child fatality review. She thought, “We are educating them, but we are missing something.” This was the first grant they had ever applied for. “We had a drive and a passion for it,” Terri said.

Linda White, Deaconess Hospital Chief Administrative Officer, said, “This is not a giveaway program. It’s an educational program and you benefit with the merchandise to incorporate what you just learned.” By partnering with Marsha’s Place and their “Earn While You Learn” program, they are able to educate by offering classes and providing resources. It is important to make sure families not only have the tools they need but know how to use them.

“We live in a world where we think everyone has what they need. We can’t be all things to all people, but it’s very important to us to help them as much as we can,” said Linda. It is the Deaconess Foundation’s mission to always have the infant fatality at 0.

It is a humbling experience to see how our Impact Grants are making a difference in the lives of our community, and we only want to continue. For more information, please visit our website at www. powfund.org or email us at info@ POWFund.org. HF

SENIOR LIVING

The Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep

“Nana, can I go to sweep now? I wanna go to sweep.” Shocked, because she was just about to jump back into the pool where she and her older brother were playing “Save the shark!” I checked my watch – it was just past 8:00 p.m. our time, 9:00 p.m. EST at the hotel where we were staying in Gatlinburg, TN. Phase 1 of my plan to wear them out was on track!

After a quick stop to have their picture taken with the grizzly bear in the lobby, we whizzed up the elevator and to the room. Grands dried off, and snuggled in the double bed next to ours, while I readied myself for bed, as well. When I turned the corner back into the room, I saw two wide-eyed kids, mouths agape, both pointing at their sleeping grandpa. When they saw me, still not making a sound, they pointed harder and leaned closer to the edge of the bed; my grandson finally whispers, “Nana, what’s that thing on Papa’s face?” I chuckled when I realized it was his CPAP machine that they’d probably never seen, and reassured him that it was a machine to help Papa sleep. Seemingly satisfied by my answer, they snuggled back down, occasionally darting side-eyes his direction just to make sure. Soon, they were knocked out, too. Phase 2 complete – everyone asleep – except me.

I didn’t fall asleep until close to daylight. I tossed and turned, – listened to the a/c unit kick on and off, the elevator ding, fantasized about hanging a towel on the smoke detector light, and putting black tape around all the edges of the room’s curtains. I regretted that big salad right before going to bed, too, and tried to remind my leg that it needed to let the rest of my body sleep!

I never needed naps, not even as a child. My mother tried, God bless her, but I was just one big ball of perpetual motion. My brother could fall asleep

eating cereal, my husband, mid-sentence, (his own, not just mine!) My mother loves a good Sunday afternoon nap, but me … I was always the last to fall asleep at a sleep-over, and the last to wake up, but this all-night stuff is weird, even for me!

So what’s the deal? Turns out that our sleep patterns change as we age. Of course they do – everything seems to change as we age. It’s a myth that we need less sleep as we age. Older adults tend to go to bed earlier, and wake earlier, but we still need a full 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

What happens when we sleep –or don’t, as in my case. According to an article published by the National Institute on Aging, all of the parts of our brain work together to help us sleep. We have melatonin, which regulates our body’s circadian rhythms. These rhythms help our body maintain healthy sleep-wake cycles. We have two types of

sleep – Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and non-REM sleep (deep sleep.) REM sleep is the state of sleep we are in when we dream. Both REM and non-REM help us to store memories. Because melatonin can decrease as we age, our cycles of sleep may be cut short and the amount of time spent in each type of sleep lessens. This is problematic because so much of our overall health is related to that timing – metabolism, immunity, appetite, and even cognition.

When I have restful sleep, I’m quicker, more able to focus, in a better mood, more patient, I can work on difficult projects and see them through – like figuring out why my internet isn’t working … again! It isn’t just the regular day-to-day that we handle better when we have enough sleep – poor sleep can impact our body’s overall health. For instance, lack of proper sleep has been linked to high blood pressure, diabetes,

obesity, heart disease, even depression and Alzheimer’s.

There are a number of things that can prevent restful sleep, from stress, to chronic pain, to sleep apnea, where our breathing is paused for brief periods of time. Restless leg syndrome is another common problem, where you just feel like you have to move one or both legs to get them to settle down. Some folks say they start to drift off and a part of their body jumps or jerks waking them up; this is called periodic limb movement disorder. Others have told me they’d sleep better if they didn’t have to get up to go to the bathroom so often, or that they can’t fall asleep, (insomnia) or that they fall asleep, but can’t stay that way for whatever reason.

It’s miserable, but it’s not hopeless! The first thing you want to do is figure out what it is preventing you from getting quality sleep. Definitely talk with your doctor about your struggle, and also start keeping a log of your bedtime rituals, what you’ve eaten, and

the times of day that you’re eating. It could be as simple as making sure you wake up and go to sleep the same times every day, or that you don’t eat a heavy meal close to bedtime. Maybe you need to add or increase your exercise routine. Just make sure you do it early enough – at least 3 hours before you plan to go to bed. If you absolutely need a nap, make sure to avoid taking one later in the evening. Some say soaking in a hot bath helps them relax at bedtime. Avoid caffeine later in the day, and believe it or not, alcohol. Even though alcohol may make you drowsy, you may find sleep may be short-lived, or restless. Eliminate all distractions from the bedroom - turn off electronic devices, yes, even the TV, reduce the lighting – if you’re like me and need total darkness and arctic-like temperatures, do it! Use whatever you can to tell your brain and your body that it’s time to sleep.

One last mention – unrestful sleep tends to make us get up and down throughout the night. This can be

unsafe. Be sure to turn on a light before getting out of bed. Remove any obstacles in your path before going to bed, for example, throw rugs you may slide or trip on, shoes, pillows … you get the idea. Keep a phone by your bed in case you do have an emergency.

If you’ve tried everything and are still struggling, you could have more going on. Again, speak with your doctor and/or a sleep specialist to ensure there aren’t underlying health problems. You may need medication, supplements, sleeping devices, sometimes even surgical procedures to get you back on track. Your sleep matters as much to your health care professional as it does to you! Just because we’re aging doesn’t mean we’re supposed to feel tired and cranky. It makes for a great Muppet skit, but doesn’t do much for our overall health! HF

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Modeling Positive Body Image for Children

Written by Christina Dalton

Have you ever been bathing suit shopping at Target with your teenage daughter? Depending on how they feel about their bodies, this can be a terrifying and saddening event for them and us. Think about bathing suit shopping for yourself? For a lot of us this is the last thing we want to do because of how we feel about ourselves. Can we have a good relationship with our bodies and still be a work in progress at the same time? The answer to this is a resounding yes and we can teach our kids to love their bodies too.

We live in an image driven culture that has unrealistic beauty expectations placed on all genders, ages and ethnicities. These demands can have a negative impact on our children and how they see themselves and their bodies. As a parent, you can teach positive body image to your children and have a direct influence on their mental wellbeing. Even more beneficial would be if you demonstrated this behavior and modeled how this is done.

Eating disorders have significantly increased in the last 20 years. You see this mostly with teens ages 12-19 but there are cases as early as 5 years old with eating disorders. Today we will look at ways that we can teach children about healthy eating and ways to stay active

while having a positive relationship with their bodies.

BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

Children tend to mimic the behaviors and attitudes of the people around them. As summer approaches I encourage you to think about your own attitude towards your body. When you get ready to take your child to the pool with friends, what do you say about yourself and your body as you put your swimsuit on? Do you have a positive body image towards yourself? Think about how you talk about your own body and what impact that could have on your children.

The way in which we talk about our bodies and to our bodies can positively or negatively impact the way our children see themselves. Talk about yourself in positive ways. Don’t be afraid to point out your imperfections. We are all different and diverse and everyone is unique in their own special way. Do not be afraid to have discussions about the unrealistic standards of beauty right now. You want to be that person your child feels like they can talk to about their own body image issues. It is so much better to be able to talk about this versus them suffering in silence.

BE ACTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH.

Show your children the importance of being physically active. This will improve overall mental health too. You can teach them about how being active and finding an activity that they love will improve their overall mood. Try exposing them to many different types of physical activity until you find one that works best for them. We all know that this sometimes takes time to figure out the right one. You can teach them that being active can be a positive contribution to their overall health and reaching their body’s maximum potential.

SEE YOUR BODY AS A PARTNER.

This is something that has really stuck with me lately that I think is a great way to look at our overall health. I want you to think about how you talk about your own body. Do you say kind things about your body or do you criticize your body for failing you? A great exercise in this is to pay attention for one week to how people talk about their own bodies. You will notice people say things like, my body is just getting old, or my knees are giving out and my body hates me. I want you to use a different perspective

and see your body as a partner and not an enemy. Consider using a different lens to view your health. If your body is not reaching its potential consider what part you played in this and how you can remedy it.

DEVELOP A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD.

One of the first strategies you can use to improve the relationship with food is teaching kids that foods are not “good” or “bad.” This can create anxiety and develop overeating in the future that results in your child feeling like a bad person for what they were eating. You should teach everything in moderation. Emphasize all of the wonderful things that healthy food can do for their bodies but don’t shame them for eating ice cream every once in a while. Over the long run this will create an environment for your child to make healthy choices and feel good

about what fuel they are putting into their body.

CELEBRATE AND PRAISE ALL ATTRIBUTES OF YOUR CHILD.

Teaching your children to celebrate all things about themselves will create a positive overall image for them that doesn’t solely focus on how they look. Not all kids are athletes so it’s important to celebrate all of the amazing things they are capable of doing. This includes climbing up a jungle gym, playing with others and their contagious smile. Don’t forget to place a spotlight on all their wonderful characteristics such as how kind they are to others, their creativity and how much they make you laugh. Positive affirmations can reduce the negative self-talk that can get all of us and improve overall self esteem. Being that positive role model when it comes to body positivity will

have an impact on your child’s self esteem and the overall way they think of themselves. We all have things about ourselves that we don’t love and it’s good to talk about those negative feelings. This is a great way to show your child that we are all works in progress, but at the same time we can still love ourselves. I challenge you to think about your own beliefs about your body and where that comes from. You can be that positive role model teaching about healthy body imaging, developing positive relationships with food and encouraging physical activities that they will love. You can show them what it looks like to be a partner with your body and be thankful for everything it provides you. HF

CHRISTINA DALTON, MSSW, LCSW is a District Social Worker for Daviess County Public Schools.

Eating Healthy on a Budget

With the economic situation in the world being what it is, it’s important to find ways of eating healthy on a budget. It’s possible to purchase foods that are good for you and your budget; you merely have to plan ahead to get the best food you can for the money you have available.

Having a plan and sticking to it can help you get more food at less cost and allow you to prepare better, more healthy meals.

Here are some tips to help you succeed in eating healthy on a budget.

Grocery Shopping

SET ASIDE TIME TO MAKE YOUR FOOD PLAN.

Find the sales ads for each of the grocery

stores in your area and decide on your meals for the coming week ahead of time.

MAKE A LIST.

After you’ve planned your meals, write down everything you need for each meal. Check your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator to see if you already have some of the items. Make your grocery list and determine to stick with it!

• Include what you’ll need for drinks, snacks and desserts.

• Remember your ingredients for preparation, such as butter, flour, sugar, and spices.

• Replenish cleaning supplies.

CLIP COUPONS FOR ITEMS YOU KNOW YOU’LL USE.

Leave the remainder of the coupons at home so you’re not tempted to “save” money on items you don’t need.

NEVER

GO GROCERY SHOPPING ON AN EMPTY STOMACH .

If you’re hungry, you’re more likely to buy items that look good rather than those on your list. If you can’t go to the store right after a meal, take along a light snack to help you resist temptation while in the store.

BUY ITEMS ON THE PERIMETER OF THE STORE FIRST.

These items are usually the healthiest choices. This will include fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy items. The center items are processed or convenience foods. Not only are they more expensive, but they aren’t healthy.

LOOK FOR PRODUCE THAT IS IN SEASON.

These will often be cheaper than nonseasonal choices. While you’re looking at the fruits and vegetables, see if there are any sales on these healthy, nutrient rich foods. Choose large bags rather than individual pieces of fruit. The larger bags are often cheaper by the pound.

Buy store or generic brands. There usually isn’t much difference in the way the foods taste but you can definitely see a difference in the price.

Other Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget

MAKE YOUR OWN SNACKS.

For your family’s time away from home, make your own snacks rather than allowing them to purchase food from vending machines. Fresh fruit and vegetable sticks with dip are much

healthier than the bags of chips or crackers that come from the machines.

EAT AT HOME.

Whenever possible, make your food from scratch and eat it at home. Not only will this give you more control over what your family eats, but it can also save you a considerable amount of money. Eating out also encourages overeating because portion sizes are massive.

DRINK HEALTHY.

Finally, when eating healthy on a budget, don’t forget to think about what you’re drinking. Expensive, sugarladen drinks are the bane of your budget and counter-productive to healthy eating.

• Look for 100% pure juices.

• Drink low fat milk.

• Drink more water.

• Cut out soft drinks.

If you follow these tips, you’ll soon discover the joys of healthy eating and you’ll save money in the process. You may have to spend some extra time preparing food, but the benefits are astounding! HF

WHO’S READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL?

The Book Nook

All of these books are available for check out at the Henderson County Public Library.

Back to School, Splat!

By: Rob Scotton

How can there be homework when it’s only the first day of school? Splat must pick only “one” of all of his fun summer adventures to share with his classmates at show-and-tell. But in the end, Splat may find that the best part of his summer wasn’t an adventure at all.

The Berenstain Bears

By: Jan Berenstain

It’s back to school for the Berenstain Bears! After a summer of swimming, lazy days, and overnight camp-outs, it’s back to school for Brother and Sister Bear. The cubs are nervous as they board the big yellow bus. What if their teacher doesn’t like them? What if the homework is too hard? What if Brother Bear isn’t chosen for the soccer team? Or what if he gets into trouble and is sent to the principal’s office? With tons of interesting stuff to learn and explore, Brother and Sister barely have any time to worry. When the bell rings, they’ll have made it through their first day of class. Will they be happy to see the day end or will they be excited about making new friends and the school year to come?

Llama Llama Back to School

By: Anna Dewdney

Summer days are getting shorter and it’s almost time for the first day of school for Llama! But Llama Llama isn’t ready for summertime to end. It’s been full of backyard camping, family picnics, and ice cream with friends. All he wants is for summer to go on forever! He’s anxious about his first day back at school but maybe, with some help from his friends and Mama Llama, going back to school will be fun after all!

The Crayons Go Back to School

By: Drew Daywalt

The crayons are getting ready to go back to school, and each crayon has a subject they’re looking forward to the most. They’re also ready to meet new friends. . . and let loose during their very favorite time of day: art class. A humorous, small hardcover back-to-school story from everyone’s favorite school supplies.

Biscuit Goes to School

By: Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Go back to school with Biscuit and share the love of reading with your beginner reader! Biscuit can’t wait to go to school! Even though no dogs are allowed, he is determined to see and do everything that takes place at school. But what will happen when the teacher discovers a puppy in the classroom? Reassuring and sweet, Biscuit Goes to School is an excellent choice to share with little ones getting ready for preschool, kindergarten, or first grade. HF

How to Get Your Child into a SCHOOL-READY ROUTINE

Written by Mindy Duncan

Are your kids in a summertime routine? Are they going to bed at 1 am? Eating junk food at all hours of the day? Out of the habit of doing any type of schoolwork? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then it’s time to get ready for back to school!

The back-to-school time of the year is upon us and this small section of August can be a stressful time for not only kids but parents as well. However, implementing routines can help ease the pressure of starting a new school year. Simple additions to a daily routine can help students of all ages get ready for the start of the school year!

KEEP A CONSISTENT BEDTIME.

One of the biggest pieces of a school-ready routine is a consistent bedtime. Having a regular bedtime will help children get enough sleep to tackle the school day. If a student comes to school tired, they will have trouble focusing on learning. As adults, we need adequate amounts of sleep to have a productive day and it is even more true for children. Kids need to go to bed and wake up at a normal time so the first day of school isn’t a shock!

EAT THREE MEALS A DAY.

Eating at regular times of the day is also an essential part of the routine to get ready for school. Kids need to move away from the summertime diet of eating whenever and whatever they want to. They need to eat three healthy meals daily and get their bodies used to eating instead of constantly snacking. Bedtime and mealtime routines go hand in hand. If your child is on a regular sleep schedule, then they are more likely to be on a regular eating schedule too.

MIMIC SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

Something that most parents don’t think about adding to a school-ready routine for their child is doing activities that mimic school work. These things can be simple as working a puzzle, coloring, or reading a book. These activities do not have to be complex. This addition to your child’s routine allows them to get in the habit of sitting down and completing a task.

Overall, it is important to work on getting your child into a school-ready routine the day before school starts. Start a week or two before your child begins their new school year.

Your child will already be in a routine that will empower them to be successful! HF

MINDY DUNCAN is a wife, and mom of two kids, one dog, two cats, and a fish. She has been a Henderson County Schools employee for 12 years and is currently a fourth-grade teacher at South Heights Elementary.

From Holy Name School to Yale University

Shaurya Jadhav grew up in Henderson. He attended Holy Name School through 8th grade, and now he is headed to Yale this fall. Shaurya is the son of Dr. Pushkaraj Jadhav, who is the NICU doctor at Deaconess Henderson Hospital.

Shaurya graduated from Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville. He founded Incognito Instructors, a free tutoring organization where students have the option to remain anonymous.

The goal of Incognito Instructors is to destigmatize tutoring to ensure that anyone who may need help, even if they are shy or uncomfortable doing so, can receive it. Since its founding in March of 2021, their team of 34 has led over 1500 sessions helping students from the Tri-State community and across the United States ranging from first graders in English with parts of speech to college students with upper-level physics. They have also partnered with the Boys and Girls Club; last summer, they helped tutor and mentor students through fun, educational activities while providing a panel of inspirational speakers. This summer, they are back to the Boys and Girls Club to help even more students! This year, they fully implemented the service into Reitz Memorial High School by helping students after school during Flex Time study for quizzes/tests, leading study tables, and helping study for the ACT/SAT. Additionally, this past May, they held their first Incognito Insights event, a TED Talk style panel of speakers who discussed servant leadership, preparedness, and the operation of high-performing teams. Currently, they are launching a school supply drive this coming month for students in need in the community. In March of 2023, Incognito Instructors was awarded the Sam Featherstone Youth Award for their service in the community.

Additionally, in high school Shaurya connected his passions in basketball and coding to develop a statistics app for Memorial’s basketball program, as they utilize a unique method of recording stars.

After 13 months and 14,000 lines of code, in November of 2021, Shaurya launched StatKing | Basketball Stats which features statistics, shot charts, clocks, season averages, and calendars. Unlike other apps, StatKing can be used by coaches, players, and parents. With the GameID function, multiple people can record different aspects for the same game, and everything will be synced on the Cloud.

In March of 2020, the world came to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shaurya had read an article about a team in Seattle 3D-printing face shields for medical professionals. Inspired by them and all the front-line workers risking their lives for the community, he poured all his savings from his job at Kumon Learning Center into buying an Ender Pro 3D printer. He reached out to hospitals, nursing homes, first responders, schools, small businesses in his community, and others who may need them. His house became a factory with three 3D printers, rolls of filaments, tools, and other supplies. Between online classes, he would repair the printer, start another print, or prepare PPE for shipment. Throughout this process, he learned engineering skills such as rewiring extruders and designing new prototypes for different professions. After innumerous hours of fine-tuning prints, carving plastic shields, and transporting PPE around his community and the US, he donated over 1,000 mask ear savers and 500 face shields to people in need. For his service, he received the National Catholic Education Association Youth Virtues, Values, and Vision Award. Additionally, Shaurya has been on Memorial’s tennis team for four years. During his senior season, they won the Sectional and Regional Title. In 2022, as captain, he led Memorial’s Math Academic Super Bowl team to a State Championship. He also was Runner-Up in the 2021 Indiana Spell Bowl State Competition and won the State title with his team in 2019. Shaurya has also completed research in quantum physics developing animations for the spin and

electromagnetic vectors of the quantum bit. He is President of Memorial’s National Honor Society, scored a perfect score on the ACT, and is a National Merit Finalist. In the 8th grade, Shaurya represented Team Kentucky at the National MathCounts competition and was awarded full-tuition scholarships to the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.

Shaurya’s academic excellence got him accepted into multiple schools including: Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, FullTuition Danforth Scholarship to Washington University in St. Louis, Full-Tuition Stamps Scholarship to Georgia Tech, Michigan, Purdue, Rose Hulman and UK.

Outside of school, Shaurya enjoys playing the guitar, playing basketball and tennis with friends, cooking and baking for family and friends and listening to audiobooks.

Shaurya said, “I would like to thank Henderson and the Tri-State community for all they have done for me. The opportunities, support, and love I have received from this community is unmatched compared to that of any other. From recreational basketball and soccer leagues to academic competitions, Henderson has given me friends and mentors that have shown nothing but kindness and have truly shaped me into the person I am today. I genuinely believe that my success would not have been possible without the Henderson community and the people at Reitz Memorial High Schools. Sure, I may have worked hard; however, in addition to all the resources and opportunities, the people of Henderson have inspired me, taught me lessons, and supported my ventures. For that, I thank you for all the love you have shown me these past 18 years.” HF

WHY A COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAM SHOULD BE FIRST ON YOUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHECKLIST

A child needs many abilities to succeed in school and good vision is key.

As children progress throughout their education, they face increasing demands on their visual abilities. The size of print in textbooks becomes smaller and the amount of time spent reading and studying increases significantly. Increased workload and homework place significant demands on the child’s eyes, and children depend on their vision to function properly so they can learn efficiently and excel.

That’s why it’s important to get ahead of your back-to-school to-do lists and book an appointment with a doctor of optometry for your whole family.

HEALTHY VISION IS CORRELATED TO SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND

Vision issues aren’t isolated problems but instead affect almost every aspect of a child’s development, ranging from academics and athletics to social interactions and self-esteem. But without a comprehensive eye exam from an optometrist, many vision disorders may go undetected or, worse yet, may be misdiagnosed as ADHD, dyslexia, a learning disability, or a behavioral problem. These labels can then be carried into adulthood, further affecting an individual’s level of education, employment opportunities, and social interactions—without ever addressing the real underlying issue.

VISION SKILLS NEEDED FOR SCHOOL

Vision is more than just the ability to see clearly or having 20/20 eyesight. It is also the ability to understand and respond to what is seen. There are many basic visual skills beyond seeing clearly that are important to supporting academic success.

Every child needs to have the following vision skills for effective reading and learning:

›› Visual acuity—the ability to see clearly in the distance for viewing the chalkboard, at an intermediate distance for the computer

and up close for reading a book.

›› Eye focusing—the ability to quickly and accurately maintain clear vision as the distance from objects change, such as when looking from the chalkboard to a paper on the desk and back. Eye focusing allows the child to easily maintain clear vision over time such as when reading a book or writing a report.

›› Eye tracking—the ability to keep the eyes on target when looking from one object to another, moving the eyes along a printed page or following a moving object like a thrown ball.

›› Eye teaming—the ability to coordinate and use both eyes together when moving the eyes along a printed page, and to be able to judge distances and see depth for classwork and sports.

›› Eye-hand coordination—the ability to use visual information to monitor and direct the hands when drawing a picture or trying to hit a ball.

›› Visual perception—the ability to organize images on a printed page into letters, words, and ideas and to understand and remember what is read.

Other visual perceptual skills include:

›› Recognition—the ability to tell the difference between letters such as “b” and “d”.

›› Comprehension—”picture” in the child’s mind of what is happening in a story he/she is reading.

›› Retention—remember and recall details of what was read.

If any of these visual skills are lacking or not functioning properly, a child will have to work harder to learn as effectively. A child may not tell you that they have a vision problem because they may think the way they see is the way everyone sees. Children will typically attempt to do the work but with a lowered level of comprehension or efficiency. Students who struggle with a learning-related vision problem may experience headaches, eye strain and fatigue. Parents and teachers

need to be alert for symptoms that may indicate a child has a vision problem.

SIGNS OF EYE AND VISION PROBLEMS

›› Complaints of discomfort and fatigue.

›› Frequent eye rubbing or blinking.

›› Short attention span.

›› Avoiding reading and other close activities.

›› Frequent headaches.

›› Covering one eye.

›› Tilting the head to one side.

›› Holding reading materials close to the face.

›› An eye turning in or out.

›› Seeing double.

›› Losing place when reading.

›› Difficulty remembering what they read.

WHY BACK-TO-SCHOOL EYE EXAMS ARE CRUCIAL

Because vision may change frequently during the school years, children should receive an eye examination every year, or more frequently if specific problems or risk factors exist, or if recommended by an optometrist. Unfortunately, parents and educators often incorrectly assume that if a child passes a school screening, there is no vision problem. The most common vision problem in school-age children is blurry vision or refractive error caused by nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism resulting in blurry vision. However, a child who can see clearly and has 20/20 vision can still have a vision problem relating to eye focusing, eye tracking and eye coordination. In reality, the vision skills needed for successful reading and learning are much more complex.

Luckily, there’s an easy way to ensure your child’s healthy vision and overall eye health for the whole family: Schedule an inperson, comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist as part of your annual back-toschool routine. HF

3 WAYS PARENTS CAN ENCOURAGE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN CHILDREN

Most parents would agree the quality of their children’s education plays a key role in their overall development. While parents are optimistic about the future of education, they also recognize children have educational needs beyond what is considered the standard.

A Harris Poll survey on behalf of KinderCare found 83% of parents believe it’s important for children to be raised with social emotional skills, 84% believe it’s important children learn to treat others the way they want to be treated and 83% believe kindness should be a core value in the way children are educated. Now, parents want a focus on social emotional skills, mental health, kindness and understanding differences. Consider these three ways parents can encourage social and emotional learning in their children:

PRACTICE EMOTIONAL LITERACY AT HOME.

Disagreements among parents and siblings are almost inevitable at home. While this can seem challenging to handle, it can serve as an opportunity for children to practice emotional literacy by identifying their feelings and the feelings of others. It also gives children the opportunity to practice their listening skills and put themselves in the other person’s shoes. By using these skills, children can develop a stronger sense of empathy and understand how their emotions drive their actions.

PRACTICE MINDFULNESS WITH A RELAXING ACTIVITY. Mindfulness can help children understand and regulate their emotions, especially when it becomes a regular habit. Parents can instill this habit in

their kids by picking a set time to do activities in a calm space at home every day such as reading a book, listening to calm music or something as simple as deep breathing.

PROVIDE UNPLUGGED OPPORTUNITIES TO

CONNECT WITH OTHER CHILDREN. Activities that don’t revolve around a screen and encourage in-person socialization with peers can provide opportunities for children to practice building their social emotional skills. Programs like KinderCare’s Champ Camp include indoor and outdoor group activities as well as field trips designed to help children use their natural creativity and curiosity to learn and develop important social skills. HF

To learn more about social emotional learning, visit kindercare.com.

Out & About

11 LOCAL THINGS TO DO this season

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ADULT ARTIST RETREAT

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4

@ 10AM - 2:30PM

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON MUSEUM

Attention all artists. Head to the Audubon Museum as they gather to create and experience new techniques. You can network with each other on techniques, upcoming exhibits, workshops, and art events. Bring your own artwork, supplies & tablecloth. Lunch is potluck. Please RSVP the week of the retreat. Fee is $10. For more information, please call Kim McGrewLiggett at 502-782-9726.

“SUNSHINE LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS EVERYTHING”

EXHIBIT DATES:

JULY 18-SEPTEMBER 24

ARTIST RECEPTION: JULY 25

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON MUSEUM

Don’t miss this exciting, fun, and vibrant exhibit. Just like the song “Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows Everything. This event is free to the public. For further information, please call Kim McGrew-Liggett at 502-782-9726.

S’MORES NIGHT AT THE CAMPGROUND

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 @ 6-7PM

CAMPGROUND SHELTER

WILD WEDNESDAY KIDS NATURE SERIES, AGES 6-12

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2 @ 2 - 3:30PM

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON MUSEUM

Explore the wonders of nature and science through science experiments, nature activities, animal encounters, hikes, games, crafts, and more. Cost is $7/per session. To register, please call Lisa Hoffman at at 502-782-9727.

Celebrate National S’mores Day with at John James Audubon State Park! Enjoy an evening of fun while preparing and enjoying America’s favorite fire-side dessert. Cost is $1.00/s’mores kit. Fix your s’more at the fire ring or take your kit to your own campfire. All ages are welcome. If you are not a camper, please park at Hilltop Shelter parking lot, then follow the signs for a short walk to the Campground Shelter. For more information, please call Lisa Hoffman at 502-782-9727.

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BLUEGRASS IN THE PARK FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 & SATURDAY, AUGUST 12

AUDUBON MILL PARK

The award-winning Bluegrass in the Park Folklife Festival returns this year for a weekend of live music, children’s activities, food, folklife displays and more. Bluegrass in the Park Folklife Festival has been named a Top 20 Event in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Council and a Top 10 Event by the Kentucky Tourism Industry Association. The event has been featured in several local and regional publications, including Southern Living, Kentucky Monthly, Kentucky Living, Midwest Living and others. Be sure to mark your calendar so that you will not miss a single thing. And remember, this will also mark the 37th year of FREE admission!

6TH ANNUAL FURRY FRIENDS SUMMER PET HIKE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12 @ 10AM

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON STATE PARK - MUSEUM PARKING LOT

Take time to explore the parks only wooded Pet Trail (Eagle Glen) during the 6th Annual Furry Friends Summer Pet Hike. Bring your furry friend, your family/friends, or just yourself and join this free naturalist-led public hike. This trail is rugged and will take you up and down hills and stairs over a one-mile path. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes. All pets must be on a leash. Meet at the Museum parking lot. Cancelled if raining, so please watch Park Facebook and Instagram pages for announcements. For more information, please call Lisa Hoffman at 502-782-9727.

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“LITTLE REMBRANDTS ART” AGES 3-6

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 @ 10:30 - 11:30AM

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON MUSEUM

Bring those Little Rembrandts for a family fun morning of art with Miss Kim. They will work on lines, shapes, and color. All students must be accompanied by an adult and pre-registration is required. Cost is $7. Dress for a mess, as always. For further information or registration, please call Kim McGrew-Liggett at 502-782-9726.

CHILDREN’S MAKE-N-TAKE CRAFTS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19 & SUNDAY, AUGUST

20 @ ALL-DAY

HENDERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Love crafting? Head on over to the local library to make a fun craft you can take home with you. All the supplies are provided, so put on your creative hats! For more information, call 270-826-3712.

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ROAD TO THE RODEO

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 & SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 @ 3PM

HENDERSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

The Road to the Rodeo is Henderson’s monthly western horse show. Cost is $5.00. Join in for a high energy horse show, food, games, and fun for the whole family. Events include Extreme Trail, Goat Tying, Bash N’ Splash, Texas 8, Dueling Keyhole, Calf Roping, Freestyle, Pole Bending, Flag Racing, and Barrel Racing.

FAMILY CAMPING NIGHT (TENTATIVE AT THIS TIME)

SEPTEMBER 9 @ 5-10PM

SEPTEMBER 10 @ 9- 11AM

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON STATE PARK CAMPGROUND

Cost: $25/person; $85 per group of 4; Pre-registration required.

Grab family and friends and the camping gear, because it’s time for a weekend at Audubon Park! Join the Park Naturalists for a fun-filled overnight stay at Audubon Campground. If you’re new to camping, let us know, we’ll give you hands-on set-up and safety tips. With a starry night hike, crafts, s’mores, and campfire-cooked meals, it’s a night you won’t want to miss! Dinner, dessert, and breakfast provided. General campground check-in starts at 2:00 PM, and meal prep begins at 5:00 PM. Camp activities will end at 11:00 AM the next morning, followed by campground check-out at 1:00 PM. Registration cost is $25 per person, with a bulk price of $85 for groups of four (8 people allowed per site, with a maximum of 2 tents per site). For registration, please call Lisa Hoffman at 502-782-9727.

MONARCH MIGRATION MYSTERIES

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, AND SEPTEMBER 30@ 8 -11:30AM

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON STATE PARK – LAKEVIEW SHELTER

Learn of the incredible journey Monarch Butterflies take as they migrate south for the winter! Meet at the Lakeview Shelter for an informative presentation about these beautiful creatures. Take part in citizen-science, when you use your own transportation to caravan to a site of outdoor Monarch tagging. Tags and butterfly nets provided. They’ll show you how it’s done! Please wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, and prepare for weedy/marshy conditions. Cost: $5.00 per person/$4.00 for FOA members, Family discount of $15.00 for groups of four or more.

If unfavorable weather conditions are present that day, the program will be cancelled. Please watch our Facebook and Instagram pages for announcements.For more information, please call Lisa Hoffman at 502-782-9727.

KIDS meal deals

*The Kids Eat Free list is subject to change. Please contact restaurants to ensure their participation. Restaurants, please contact lyndi@ tannerpublishing.com with additions or corrections.

SUNDAY

Tumbleweed

1 free kids meal for every adult entree

MONDAY

Rookies Sports Bar & Grill

Kids under 8 eat free with purchase of adult entree from 4-10pm (Dine-In Only)

TUESDAY

Fazoli’s

.99 kids meal with adult purchase 5-8pm

Wings Etc.

Kids eat free 5-8 with purchase of adult entree

SATURDAY

Tacoholics

1 free kids meal per adult entree (dine in ONLY)

Cancun Mexican Restaurant

Free kids meal with adult meal purchase.

ONGOING

Shoney’s Kids under 4 eat free with adult purchase.

Back to SCHOOL!

Follow Henderson Family on Facebook to submit your photos!

Back to SCHOOL!

Follow Henderson Family on Facebook to submit your photos!