Owensboro Living - February / March 2014

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Publisher/Creative Director Jason Tanner Editor Steven Wilson

B I G A M E N I T I E S , S M A L L-T O W N F E E L

Advertising Sales Rudy Strahan Robert Williams

W

hile walking around Smothers Park last year, I remember overhearing a conversation that went something like: “Wow! This place is amazing.

It’s like we’re no longer in Owensboro. I feel like I’m in a different city.” And

Graphic Designer Taylor West

I completely understand the sentiment. Smothers Park evokes the feeling of a much larger city, or even a theme park. The park’s amenities are surprising,

Distribution Manager Steven Morris

and the setting is amazing. It’s bright, big and the ground is even bouncy.

There’s never been anything like it in Owensboro.

Contributors Danny Beeler Gail E. Kirkland Danny May Adam Paris Stuart Peck Jaime Rafferty Matt Weafer Lora Wimsatt

Fast forward to January 2014. As we walked around the new Owensboro

Convention Center with its massive glass facade ushering us into its large foyer, the same conversation is had: “I don’t feel like I’m in Owensboro. This place is amazing!” As with Smothers Park, Owensboro is once again experiencing worldclass amenities that seem to belong to another, much larger city.

The fact is, we’re not in another city. We’re in Owensboro, Kentucky, and

we’ve got momentum. Over $200 million in public and private investments have been pumped into downtown improvements and developments. Owensboro is making headlines and has even earned the distinction of being named an “All American City.” Gone are the days of a sleepy downtown with few retail establishments, a couple of restaurants, and zero foot traffic. For my generation, other than the occasional trip to the Riverpark Center, or an event at the Big E, there were never many reasons to venture downtown. Now, thanks to the support of our city’s residents and the perseverance of a few determined individuals, downtown is literally transforming before our eyes. While newscasts depict the plight of American cities dying as a result of shuttered industries, lack of investments, and migrating populations, downtown Owensboro is fortunate to be in the midst of an historical comeback.

Boasting an outstanding system of parks, museums and educational

“THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF OUR CITY’S RESIDENTS AND THE PERSEVERANCE OF A FEW DETERMINED INDIVIDUALS, DOWNTOWN IS LITERALLY TRANSFORMING BEFORE OUR EYES. -JASON TANNER

Printing Greenwell Chisholm Owensboro, Kentucky Online www.owensboroliving.com facebook.com/owensboroliving twitter.com/owensboroliving issuu.com/owensboroliving Offline Owensboro Living Magazine PO Box 23237 Owensboro, KY 42304 (270) 314-5240

institutions, Owensboro already had a lot to be proud of. But with the opening

Cover Photo Adam Paris AP Imagery

of the Owensboro Convention Center, two downtown hotels and many other shops and restaurants, Owensboro now feels complete. I think we can agree that Owensboro has become a destination because of our new amenities all while maintaing our small-town feel.

Jason Tanner, Publisher

Subscribe Delivery of Owensboro Living is available by visiting owensboroliving.com/subscribe Advertise Owensboro Living is a FREE magazine because of community support. Thank you to the great group of businesses & organizations who advertise.

A Jason Tanner Design Group Company

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www.OwensboroLiving.com Effective brand interactions.

TM

FEB MARCH

2014

[08]

[34]

THE BUZZ

THE REAL PEOPLE, PLACES AND EVENTS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY

[12]

THE PULSE

KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY AT EVERY AGE

[14]

THE STYLE

BUILDING A HOME COMFORT & ELEGANCE TIPS FOR BUYING & SELLING YOUR HOME

FEATURES

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[30] STRONGER [34] OPEN FOR BUSINESS – THE OWENSBORO CONVENTION CENTER [44] HIS OWN BEAT [50] FULL CIRCLE [56] MANAGING THE FUTURE [61] THE EDGE

[56]

[66] CONVERSATION HEARTS

[70]

THE DISH

[50]

ROMANTIC RECIPES

[76]

THE SCENE

YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AND AROUND OWENSBORO

[66] www.OwensboroLiving.com

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BUZZ PHOTO BY AP IMAGERY

THE

theEMPRESS Since the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro purchased the historic theatre building previously known as Goldie’s Best Little Opryhouse, the organization has made several changes to the facility. Among other things, they’ve installed a new boiler, new sound system, new curtains and fire doors. In December, TWO announced the

newest change to Owensboro’s oldest theatre venue: the name.

The organization has determined that the theatre will be known by its original name, The Empress. “We wanted to reach into history for a name that adequately represents the theatre’s charm, elegance, and significance,” said TWO Executive Director Stephen Coppick.

OWENSBORO MARINA

The City of Owensboro hosted the second public meeting to gather input regarding the development of plans for a marina at English Park on Wednesday, January 15 at Owensboro City Hall Commission Chambers. At the meeting, staff and consultants reviewed draft concepts for a potential marina in English Park. Four concepts were presented by consultants, and all of the concept information will soon be available on the city’s website.

OCDA HONORS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. 8 OWENSBORO LIVING

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The Owensboro Career Development Association Inc. hosted its annual banquet on January 11th. The event, titled “The Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.: A Concert Presentation,” was held at Blessed

U.S. BANK EXPANDS OWENSBORO OPERATIONS

The U.S. Bank Home Mortgage loan servicing call center in MidAmerica Aipark off Tamarack Road is up and running. The new office building houses over 180 employees, and was designed to eventually accommodate over 300 employees. The opening of the call center brings the total number of U.S. Bank employees in Owensboro to 2,031, making the financial giant the largest private employer in Daviess County.

Mother Catholic Church Family Life Center, and featured the award-winning Kentucky State University Concert Choir.

The 35-member choir is comprised of students of all majors and classifications and is led by Philip Rogers. www.OwensboroLiving.com

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THE

BUZZ

MUSIC LEGEND PASSES

On January 3, 2014, the music world lost a pioneer in Phil Everly.

Everly, who had close family ties to Muhlenberg County, made up one-half of the legendary rock and roll duo, the Everly Brothers. Known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing, the Everly Brothers were among the first group of artits elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. With hits like “Bye Bye Love” and “Wake Up Little Susie,” the duo and their style influenced groups such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Simon & Garfunkel. Despite his worldwide success, Everly never forgot his roots, performing more than a dozen benefit concerts in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

KIRKPATRICK ENDS RUN AS ROOSTER BOOSTER MC

OWENSBORO NATIVE STARS IN COCA-COLA TV SPOTS

Owensboro’s Kevin Olusola and YouTube musical sensation Kurt Hugo Schneider collaborated with Coca-Cola by releasing their cover of Icelandic indiefolk band Of Monster and Men’s hit single “Little Talks.”

The video features Kevin on the cello and beatbox. It is part of Coca-Cola’s “The Sounds of AHH” campaign throughout multiple websites that feature games and music videos. As part of the branding, Schneider’s instruments in the music video are Coca-Cola cans and bottles.

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After 37 years, Kirk Kirkpatrick is ending his long run as Rooster Booster MC. Since 1976, Kirkpatrick has emceed the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Rooster Booster Breakfast. During that time, his name has become synonymous with the monthly event, and attendance has increased from less than 40 attendees to more than 200.

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THE

PULSE

KEEP YOUR HEART healthy AT EVERY AGE “Heart disease is something that just runs in your family, right? There is not much

ARTICLE BY ANGELA WAHL, RN, BSN OWENSBORO HEALTH

we can do to change it.” As a nurse, I hear statements likeTake thisadvantage quite often.

Thecommunity. truth of your Walk,each run, day or bike of Owensboro’s many trails, or create is that while genetics do play a part, the decisions you make canone have just

as big of an impact on your heart’s health.

So how exactly can you keep your heart healthy?

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your own boot camp workout with a group of friends at a park.

Use benches and picnic tables for step-ups, push-ups, dips, and squats. Jungle gym equipment can be used for pull-ups and hanging core work. There are numerous races and events during I will break it down by age. the month of October in this area. Take advantage of the beautiful weather and sign up. If you need a little encouragement, Legends has a group run every Tuesday night at 5:30 pm that caters to all www.OwensboroLiving.com levels of fitness.

IN YOUR 20S:

IN YOUR 50S:

• Know early the numbers that impact your health. Your goal should be less than 200 mg of total cholesterol intake daily and strive for a blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg or less.

• Check your family history. Ask your family if anyone has had heart disease or any of the risk factors for heart disease. If the answer is yes, your chances for developing heart disease go up. Make a point to talk with your doctor and see what you can do to decrease your risk of heart disease.

• Don’t smoke (and avoid secondhand smoke).

• Drink in moderation. Moderation means 1 drink for women per day and 2 drinks for men per day. Drinking heavily can cause a spike in your blood pressure and in some cases, cause heart failure and lead to a stroke.

• Monitor changes in your body and keep an open dialogue with your doctor. Take time to get regular checkups. Play an active role in your health care.

• Know your numbers. Here’s a quick overview of the numbers you need to know: Total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL, HDL (good) cholesterol 50 mg/dL or higher, LDL (bad) cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL, Triglycerides 150 mg/dL, blood pressure less than 120/80 mm HG, and waist circumference less than 35 inches.

• Watch what you eat. Take time to plan healthy meals for your family. Choose foods low in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars.

• Get physical. If you haven’t been exercising, now is the time to start! Your goal should be to exercise a minimum of 30 minutes most days, if not all days of the week.

IN YOUR 30S: • Tame your stress. Long-term stress causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure that may damage the heart. Try a few stress management techniques, such as deep breathing exercises and find time each day to do something you enjoy.

• “Me time” is a requirement. Your health should come first. Now is the time to build heart-healthy habits, such as eating healthy, being active and getting a full night’s sleep.

IN YOUR 40S: • Strive for more balance and less stress. We are often times so busy caring for others, we rarely put our own needs first. But what would happen if you were suddenly too sick to take care of your family or go to work? You have to make time and invest in your own health-for yourself and the people who depend on you.

• Make your well-being a priority. Regular physical activity (150 minutes moderate intensity or 75 minutes vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity each week) can improve your blood pressure, cholesterol, reduce your chances of developing diabetes and can strengthen your heart.

• Get regular checkups. The tests you should have, include: Weight and body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol and fasting glucose. www.OwensboroLiving.com

IN YOUR 60S AND BEYOND • Know your risk. The more risk factors you can keep under control, the less likely you are to have a future heart attack. As you get older, your blood pressure, cholesterol and other heartrelated numbers tend to rise. You have the power to reduce your risk • Keep moving. The older we get, the trickier exercise can be.

It’s still very important to make physical activity a top priority in your life. If exercise is new to you, start slow and talk to your doctor for suggestions on the types of exercises that you can explore. Try to work in a minimum of 30 minutes a day most days of the week.

For more information on keeping your heart healthy, stop by the Owensboro Health Healthpark on Saturday, February 22 for “Here’s to Your Heart!” This educational event is offered in partnership with Owensboro Dance Theater and is an opportunity to participate in a wide variety of fitness classes, wellness activities, nutrition information and to hear from a panel of experts on keeping your heart at its very best.

You are capable of shaping your health with the choices you make.

Here’s to healthier choices in 2014!

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THE

STYLE

a BUILDING HOME “THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE IS BUILDING FOR QUALITY PEOPLE AND MAKING THEIR DREAM HOME POSSIBLE.” -MIKE MARTIN

BY BENJAMIN HOAK

In

the midst of the madness that often makes up your daily life, there’s one place that should serve as a refuge from the storm:

your home. Building a home to create a sense of calm and relaxation can be a challenge filled with both excitement and anxiety, especially if you’re beginning from scratch.

With the right guides, though, the process becomes much easier. Here’s a look at what it takes to design and build a house from the ground up.

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THE BUDGET

little at a time, said Shannon Gough, an interior designer

of the things you need and want,” she said. “Figure out

We’ll start with one of the most basic but important

concepts (and one of the biggest trouble spots): budget.

It’s important to set clear expectations ahead of time so your builder and designer know just what they have to work with. “Setting a realistic budget is important,” said Mike Martin of Martin Custom Building in Owensboro.

“We try to get value for your money.”

Budget determines three basic aspects of a home: the

lot where it’s built, the size (number of bedrooms, size of rooms) and finishes such as trim packages, flooring, countertops, etc. Many people want a unique home, but quickly find out that specialized features increase the price. Still, some opt for features such as custom cabinets, double bars, built-in bunk beds, craft rooms and more.

Be sure your budget makes room for interior design,

from furniture to window treatments, to accessories and more. Even if you can’t afford everything you want right away, you can make a plan for how to attack the project a

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with Benjamin Moore Paints in Owensboro. “Make a list what you need now and put the rest on the list for later.”

HOME DESIGN

With 40 years of building experience in Owensboro,

Martin knows a thing or two about shepherding people through the home-building process. As a true design/ build company, Martin Custom Building brings design and construction together – the same team oversees both sides of the process to minimize mistakes and prioritize efficiency.

Employees guide clients through the myriad decisions

they must make, including custom floor plans, exterior design and more. In their design center, Martin brings together many options for finishes such as brick, roofing, tile, carpeting, lighting and cabinets. This saves clients legwork and helps decisions move more quickly.

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Gough said many design considerations stem from factors

your doors even if you’re out of town. “The technology is never

that influence your everyday life – if you have kids (and how

going to stop,” Martin said.

many), what part of the house you live in the most and how you

entertain, for example. Many of the choices simply boil down to

If clients are moving to Owensboro when their house is complete,

what you like and don’t like. By asking questions and observing,

the back-and-forth design process works much more smoothly

professional designers can often pull information and desires

with electronic communications.

from clients they weren’t even aware of. These references then give the designer clues to put together the perfect design.

“It helps to have an idea of the style or features you like. You

can find ideas in magazines, online and on Pinterest. Decorating shows on television can also provide good ideas and have encouraged people to decorate more,” Gough said. “Don’t be fooled, though – some of the projects you see on these shows are

Technology also makes long-distance designing a possibility.

CONSTRUCTION Once a design is complete, actual construction of the home begins, overseen by your builder. “It takes a lot of effort, knowledge and very good subcontractors,” Martin said. “You’re only as good as the people around you.” He uses up to 16 different

not quite as easy, quick or cheap as advertised.

subcontractors (plumbers, electricians, etc.) to complete a house.

“A design trend with new homes that doesn’t appear to be

Clients get to check on progress at various points until their

slowing down is technology,” Martin said. “One example is a

home is complete. Be aware, though, that too many interruptions

wireless home – not just wireless access to the Internet, but to

and changes to the original plan will add time and expense to the

nearly everything in the house, including televisions and security

project. Other factors affecting length of time for construction

systems. Some apps for your phone will let you lock and unlock

include the permit process and the availability of subcontractors.

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Weather can play a major role, and the more specialized features your house has, the longer it will take.

A punch-list walkthrough a couple of weeks before closing lets both the builder and client make a list of lastminute items to finish up or fix.

INTERIOR DESIGN “While some folks may be intimidated to hire a professional interior decorator to finish out the house, doing so often rescues you from many mistakes,” Gough said.

Professionals know exactly what they’re doing and how to do it, which saves you time and money in the long run.

“I want their home to look like them,” she said. “It’s a

very special place where you can rest and relax.”

As for decorating style, Gough recommends staying away from trends that are just the hot new thing. “I want people to do what they love,” she said. “They will like it for the long haul. Be true to yourself and what you love.”

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MAKING IT WORK IN OWENSBORO And of course, Owensboro is a great place to build your own home. “I’ve been very fortunate to be in Owensboro all my life,” Martin said. His sons now work with him – the third generation of Martins to carry on the tradition. He has helped develop neighborhoods such as Lake Forest and Hunters Ridge and is working on a new development off Settles Road called Bridgewood, as well as an exclusive gated community near the new hospital. “The greatest experience is building for quality people and making their dream home possible,” he said.

Gough’s work is also proof that you don’t have to live in a big city to get attractive, professional design at a reasonable cost. As a veteran of more than 20 years in the industry, she can handle anything from drawing blueprints to picking furniture to placing accessories. “We (interior designers) visualize and help you understand what we want to achieve,” she said. “We want to make it look and function the best we can.”

While the entire process can be challenging, “Anything worth having is going to take effort,” Martin said. “If you put forth the effort, the finished product is worth the effort. The only place you can really relax and find peace of mind is in your home.”

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A UNIQUE, STYLISH FLAIR FOR DOWNTOWN OWENSBORO

t’s no secret that downtown Owensboro is booming. With a desire to become a part of its ever-expanding landscape, Natasha Gaw, along with her dad and stepmom, Jimmy and Marti, opened Bella Ragazza Boutique in May 2013. Having spent her entire adult career in retail, Gaw, an Owensboro native, saw an exciting opportunity to bring a unique addition to downtown. Supported by Jimmy and Marti, she envisioned a restoration of Owensboro’s historical downtown shopping scene.

The next step was finding the perfect spot for her shop, and Gaw did just that when she walked into the building that now houses her boutique. Once she saw it, the gorgeous space on West Second Street was hard to pass up. “The hardwood floors and exposed brick made it easy to envision a beautiful boutique, and with the help of family and friends, we opened the store in 60 days.”

After selecting a location, Gaw set out with her dad to fill the store with its signature offerings. Over a four-week span, the two traveled to apparel markets in Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta. In addition to clothing, Gaw also had her eye out for décor to fill her new space. “We wanted a statement piece to capture the essence of the store when you walked in,” says Gaw. “We saw a chandelier through the window of a dark, closed showroom when it didn’t even have lights on, and we knew that was it!”

The brilliant chandelier hangs at the store’s entrance with 30 bulbs and over 100 crystals. “I light up every time I turn on the switch!”

Gaw attributes the store’s unique name to her grandmother, who, she says “always had a way of making me feel beautiful.” This familial inspiration, combined with placing an importance on customer service, helped bring about the name for the store. “I wanted to provide women with a sense of self-beauty and self-worth every time they entered the store,” said Gaw. Based on these values, the name “Bella Ragazza,” or “pretty girl” in Italian, was born. On the significance of customer satisfaction, Gaw says “It is very important to me that whether a customer buys apparel, jewelry, a gift or nothing at all, that they leave here feeling like they had a wonderful experience. Being a self-proclaimed shopaholic myself, I know the importance of how a customer should feel when they leave a store.”

WHAT WE CARRY: At Bella Ragazza, you can find brands like Lucchese, Bella Dahl, Henry & Belle, Dimitiadis, Blessings in Disguise, Cocktail, and many others. In addition to offering the latest trends and fashions, Bella Ragazza focuses on timeless pieces that women can wear for years.

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and Jackie Kennedy, whose pictures hang in the store, Gaw points out that “class and elegance never go out of style.”

Jewelry and accessories represent Gaw’s specialty, since that’s her background. For Gaw, “Jewelry can make any outfit special, and it always fits!”

Bella Ragazza also carries unique men’s gifts, ranging in variety from wallets, pilsner glasses, bottle openers, and weekend bags. Another specialty item, the store also offers cuff links made from everything from recycled piston bearings to vintage cars to tennis racquets. Customers can even get custom ones made of maps, names, and pictures.

Another unique offering from Bella Ragazza is their furniture.

Utilizing Jimmy and Marti’s keen eye for decorating, the store’s owners hand select pieces from Palecek, Capa Imports, and Lexington Furniture. If you’re looking for something you won’t find anywhere else, Bella Ragazza is the place to find it, as they are this area’s exclusive retailer for these furniture brands.

WHAT WE OFFER: Boutique shopping is on the rise. Shoppers are looking for unique items and a unique experience. Bella Ragazza offers the best of both worlds, with the opportunity for private events. One such event includes a night of after-hours shopping, complete with styling tips. Bella Ragazza also offers its customers extended hours during special downtown events. No matter how you find your way into the store, whether as a new customer, a private client, or a loyal buyer, you will always be greeted with a smile from someone passionate about the customer experience. As a team, Natasha, Jimmy and Marti seek to bring their customer’s entire shopping experience to the next level.

Says Gaw, “Marti is a wonderful hostess, and creates a warm and inviting atmosphere with her decorating. Jimmy has a great eye when it comes to the look and feel of the store, and keeps it in perfect condition. And I’m passionate about people and love seeing new faces and meeting new people every day.”

Bella Ragazza is excited to be a part of the new downtown Owensboro.

By providing an exceptional setting and personalized customer service, they represent a welcome addition to the city’s business community.

When someone lives out their passion, it shows in every aspect of what they do. “Sharing what I love about style, shopping and customer relationships is my purpose. I’m so happy Bella Ragazza Boutique was born for me to live out that dream.”

For your own unique shopping experience, visit Bella Ragazza Boutique at 120A West Second Street. www.OwensboroLiving.com

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STYLE

COMFORT&ELEGANCE

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ith a growing family, Dr. Sohit and Lyndi Khanna sought to build a home with their own needs, and those of their children, in mind. Enlisting the help of Martin Custom Building and Laura Ruth Edge, of L. Ruth Interior Design, the Khannas struck a satisfying balance to create an atmosphere of comfortable family living and elegant entertaining. At approximately 5,400 square feet, the home includes 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and 2 halfbathrooms. According to Lyndi, choosing the right professionals to help them achieve their vision was easy. “We chose Martin Custom Building because of their reputation for excellence in design and quality workmanship. We had an established working relationship with Laura Ruth Edge, of L. Ruth Designs. Laura Ruth Edge was able to take our vision and make it a reality with her amazing design talent.”

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PHOTOS BY AP IMAGERY

A flexible floor plan was essential to successfully combining the concepts of comfort and elegance.

To that end, the home was designed with an owner’s suite, with a fireplace, plus another bedroom and bath on the main level. The additional bedroom suite on the main level initially served as a guest room for the couple’s parents and other frequent outof-state family members while they were visiting.

A prime example of the flexibility of the floor plan is the fact that the former downstairs guest suite now functions as a nursery for the Khanna’s fourth child, born in 2013.

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As for the kids, the Khannas took great care in designing a unique space just for them. Their family includes twin daughters, so the family designed their bedrooms upstairs with pocket doors between the bedrooms so they can “share a room” when they want, but still have their own space. Their oldest daughter transitioned from sharing a room with her twin sisters to her own “surfer girl” themed room last year. In Lyndi’s estimation, “Our daughters may tell you that their favorite room is the ‘American Girl’ room. It is the most pink, fun room in our home. It features custom shelves to display and play with their dolls, and also a wall that was beautifully painted by Jessica Mills McKinley with character traits including ‘kind,’ ‘loyal,’ ‘strong,’ ‘brave,’ ‘giving,’ & ‘smart.’”

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The home also is also highlighted by a gourmet kitchen, featuring custom cabinets, granite countertops, and Thermador appliances, including a wine cooler. And for Dr. Khanna and their new son, they can share time in his Ohio State-themed “man cave.” Still, even with all of the amenities, Lyndi admits, “My favorite ‘luxury’ in our home is an upstairs laundry in addition to our first floor laundry room.

The laundry is endless with a large family!” That quote pretty well sums up the mindset of a satisfied homeowner who’s found the ideal balance between comfort and elegance.

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BY STEVEN WILSON

TIPS FOR BUYING AND SELLING YOUR HOME W

hether you’re a buyer or a seller, the current real estate market presents exciting opportunities. For buyers, financing a home purchase is far less costly than it was even five or six years ago. In fact, the average interest rate for a 30-year loan is still hovering in the neighborhood of 4%. Likewise, sellers are moving their homes faster than in recent years. According to a December report from the National Association of Realtors, the median time on market for all homes was 56 days in November 2013, well below the 70 days on market in November 2012. Still, even when operating in such advantageous conditions, buying and selling a home can be an intimidating venture. To ease our reader’s fears, we sought the advice of a professional, and are happy to share what we learned.

Buying a new home is usually a more exciting prospect, but since it’s difficult to pull the trigger on a new purchase until you’ve sold your current home, we’ll start with the equally-important steps of marketing and selling your house.

First, it’s important to make a good impression. Since so many buyers are utilizing the Internet in the search for their next home, sellers should make an effort to create an appealing online listing. This can be as simple as using a decent camera to take listing photos, instead of your cell phone. Nobody gets excited about blurry pictures.

In addition to the photos accompanying your listing, it pays to take the time to draft a proper property description. According to forsalebyowner.com, “An ad should tell the buyer the necessary information they need, without giving reason to eliminate the home from consideration. The idea is to appeal to serious buyers who will be interested in finding out more about your house.”

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In other words, provide enough information so that potential buyers will be intrigued, but not so little that they’re not even sure what it is you’re selling. Websites like Craigslist and Zillow offer sellers the opportunity to list their house with photos and a detailed description, free of charge.

Ryan Rutman, Realtor with Remax Professional Realty Group, provides a few other helpful tips for drawing attention to your listing. “There are two types of curb appeal in real estate today. Online curb appeal and drive-by curb appeal. The internet is where over 90% of home buyers most frequently shop for homes, so the online curb appeal, which includes photos that show off the home’s best features and layout, is extremely important. Sellers literally have a few seconds to grab the attention of an online shopper and get them to click on ‘more details.’ Then, as it has always been in real estate, the exterior curb appeal of a home is very important. A well-manicured yard and maintained landscaping will speak volumes as to how the seller may or may not take care of the inside of their home. If it looks good on the outside, you dramatically increase the chances of a buyer scheduling a showing with their Realtor to see the inside.”

For sellers, it’s also important to maintain realistic expectations. According to Rutman, “It is very important to understand the process of selling, and to try their best to remove the emotion from the equation. Too often, sellers start out saying they’re not budging off their price, and they let good, qualified buyers come and go because they were unwilling to negotiate. It’s

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very rare for a buyer to make a full price offer. It’s human nature to want to get the best possible deal when buying anything. So sellers need to understand this, realize that it’s not personal, and be willing to keep the negotiations alive. By understanding the process and by not taking it personal, a seller will greatly increase their chances of working out a great deal with a good, qualified buyer!”

Once you’ve sold your current residence, you can shift your focus to purchasing your new home. One of the most valuable pieces of advice to consider when buying a house is to know what you can afford, and then spend less. Too often, with the lure of low interest rates and small down payments, buyers get caught in the trap of spending too much on their new home. And once you’re locked in to a 30-year loan, there’s no easy way out, even if you find that the monthly payment is stretching you thin. By following the simple rule of spending less than what you otherwise think you can afford, the rest of the home-buying process can prove to be an enjoyable and exciting experience.

On the importance of knowing how much house you can afford, Rutman adds, “There a lot of factors that go into getting approved for a mortgage, and most buyers don’t have a true handle on that part of the process until they actually sit down with a loan officer and get the facts about their situation. Knowledge is power! With a pre-approval for a mortgage, a buyer is confident in the process, laser focused on what they want. This makes it much more enjoyable for them right out of the gate!”

For buyers, it’s also important not to let your heart lead your head. Even those committed to following the financing rule above can

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find themselves compromising their budget when they think they’ve found “the house.” Additionally, even if the house is within your budget, make sure to thoroughly inspect the property. Many sellers, as suggested above, may do a great job of creating an appealing listing or an impressive staging, but there are always issues that sellers (either intentionally or unintentionally) fail to disclose. The best way to avoid unforeseen complications after your purchase is to employ a qualified home inspector. While many lenders require a property inspection prior to closing on a home loan, the money spent on a professional inspection can pay dividends, even when such a service is not required.

Once you’ve been preapproved, found the home you want, and are ready to make an offer, Rutman suggests “you should be prepared to make an offer, because you never know, it could sell to someone else overnight...I’ve seen it happen too often. When deciding what the opening offer should be, it’s important to have your Realtor gather as much information as possible, such as how long the house has been on the market, any previous price reductions, location of the home, condition of the home, etc. Recent sales of comparable homes are a great indicator of what a home’s estimated value will be.” Still, at the end of the day, Rutman says “sometimes you just have to go with a gut feeling that this is the perfect house and make a great effort to get the house. Don’t get too caught up in the data and just trust your instinct.”

While buying and selling a home can be stressful, and there will certainly be some bumps along the way, following these simple tips will help make the process go much smoother.

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THE CARRICOS WE NEED ALL THEIR NAMES AND CHILDREN’S AGES

BY JAIME RAFFERTY

STRONGER Stronger

At the age of 15, Amy Carrico’s world changed with news that her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She admits the circumstance caused her to grow up more quickly.

When she was just 24, her mother passed away. It would be at 38 that Carrico would face the same diagnosis of breast cancer. She, too, was now a mother to four active boys who range in age from 8 years to 7 months old, the wife to Matt, and dentist to many in the community. How could she have breast cancer?

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According to the American Cancer Society,

weeks before her most recent MRI, she had

breast cancer is the most common cancer among

genetic testing that exposed her breast cancer

American women, except skin cancer. About

gene. The MRI then revealed that she, too, had

1 in 8 (12%) of women have a lifetime risk of

the disease.

developing breast cancer.

A factor increasing Carrico’s average risk

that her diagnosis is different than her mother’s,

was having a family history of the disease.

and the cancer was detected at an earlier stage.

In a YouTube video Carrico posted shortly

But regardless of the stage, she is gong to fight

after receiving her diagnosis, she describes her

like it’s a job, because she wants to live for her

life roles as a dentist, wife, mother, friend, sister,

kids. Her fight might seem strange to some,

aunt and child of God.

because it involves surrender. Yes, surrender.

In order for her to fight all the physical, mental

Though diagnosed with breast cancer at a

Carrico’s optimism is evident, as she knows

young age, she proclaims, “God has a plan.”

and emotional effects of her diagnosis, Carrico’s

faith in God calls her to surrender to His plan.

Because of her mother’s diagnosis, Carrico

had MRIs after each pregnancy.

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Just a few

AMY CARRICO DOESN’T SAY “IF I SURVIVE BREAST CANCER,” BUT “WHEN I SURVIVE BREAST CANCER.” SURVIVAL IS IMPORTANT, AS SHE IS RAISING HER FOUR BOYS AND CONTINUES HER LIFE WITH HER HUSBAND, MATT.

Carrico admits she has had a hard time

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identifying with cancer because she has chosen to face it

woman.” Amy and Matt Carrico are best friends. Her

by focusing on surviving and glorifying God. She knows

faith is the cornerstone of her life, and her marriage is an

she is not alone, because her faith assures her of that.

extension of God’s plan. Because they became one, before

God, on their wedding day, the Carrico’s are now one

Breast cancer is not was not what she wanted, by any

means, but Carrico has seen the good in her circumstance

body. They have cancer.

by experiencing the love that others possess for her and

her family - a blessing she doesn’t take for granted.

have this opportunity to see how much people love me.”

That includes Matt.

Carrico doesn’t say “if I survive breast cancer,” but

Even in her diagnosis, Carrico said, “I feel lucky to She does, of course, look forward

“when I survive breast cancer.” Survival is important, as

to the day when they are on the other side of treatment;

she is raising her four boys and continues her life with

when she and her husband can return to their normal

her husband, Matt.

routine.

She is thankful that her boys are young, because they

Carrico knows that there are people who think faith

don’t know what “cancer” means. They just know they

is irrelevant. She said in moments of struggle (like cancer

are praying for mommy, and that she tires easily. They

or other crises), faith will become relevant. She knows

are maintaining as much normalcy as God allows.

she needs her faith in Christ to get through her diagnosis,

As for her marriage, she is in awe of the love shown to

because He is in control, and the Bible proclaims that He

her by her husband, expressing with much affection, “he

makes all things new. Carrico knows her body, as well as

is such a good man.” She says, “I’m blown away at how

her spirit, can be made new.

much he sacrifices for our family. I wish that for every

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Carrico urges those who don’t have a church, or faith

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in Christ, to find Him, because there is an answer to all life’s problems through trusting Him. Carrico admits she is not good with having cancer every day. She gets scared or feels hopeless, but she realizes that succumbing to these emotions provides the devil a foothold to her thoughts, and that’s when she throws her problems at the foot of the cross and lets God’s plan unfold.

Though confident in the doctors she has chosen for

her care, she says, “Doctors are God’s hands in the healing

AMY’S TESTIMONY Watch Amy’s stirring video produced by Lolek Productions of Owensboro, KY. With almost 10,000 views on youtube, Amy’s testimony has touched the hearts of all who have viewed it.

Credits: Interview by Jenny Likens. Directed, filmed and edited by Fr. Josh McCarty Lolek.

process, but only God heals.”

Carrico developed a personal relationship with Christ

at a young age, and she is grateful for that faith, for it has helped her in many areas of her life prior to cancer. It’s from her history that she encourages that people get busy with their faith now. She says it’s like insurance; invest in a personal relationship before disaster strikes.

It’s safe to say that Carrico is fully invested in His plan.

She’s confident that God has the ability to heal her cancer, but also to heal what is ailing you.

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To view, visit: www.lolekproductions.com.

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With the grand opening of the Owensboro Convention Center, Mayor Ron Payne hopes one message is clear: Owensboro is

ARTICLE BY

PHOTOS BY

DANNY MAY

ADAM PARIS

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even years ago, the people of Owensboro were asked what we wanted during the “21st Century Town Meeting.” One of the top responses was really taken to heart: a revitalized downtown. Since then, over $200 million in public and private investments have been pumped into downtown improvements and developments;

an accomplishment that put Owensboro back on the map and made national headlines.

Recently, Owensboro earned the distinction of being named an “All American City.” Amidst all this attention, it’s hard to say who’s more excited about the newly opened Owensboro Convention Center; Owensboro residents, city officials, or the Convention Center staff.

With its unique exterior design, the new Owensboro Convention Center really is something to see! It’s even more impressive on the inside. Just in case you were not able to make it to the grand opening weekend, Global Spectrum’s Madison Strobel (Marketing and Public Relations Director for the Owensboro Convention Center) wanted to give readers a special “sneak peak” inside for this special section of Owensboro Living Magazine.

The ground floor mainly consists of the expo hall, which is one large, open space that can be divided into three sections, if needed. These are the three spaces you can see through the glass panes as you drive by the front of the building. “What’s unique about our expo hall,” Strobel says, “is that it is one, flat, open space with no columns.” The ceiling in the expo hall is 30 feet tall.

That much open space makes the expo hall a perfect place for a variety of exhibits and events.

The second floor, called the mezzanine, has four smaller meeting rooms that can be used for breakout sessions or individual meetings. Each of those rooms range between 500 and 700 square feet. Like those on the first, the second floor meeting rooms can be configured differently to provide many options, depending on the needs for the space.

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The open air design allows visitors to look straight up from the main lobby to the third floor balcony. The third floor is where the kitchen and back-of-house is held, but the main attractions are the two identical ballrooms (each 13,000 square feet) on the east and west sides of the building. The only difference between the two is that the east ballroom has a window along the outside wall which overlooks Veterans Boulevard and Smother’s Park. Each of those two large ballrooms can be broken down into five different sections. An added feature on the third floor is the “River View Room,” which is a smaller (3,500 square foot) room in between the ballrooms that has an all-glass wall providing guests with views of the river. If that’s not close enough for you, there is also an outside balcony terrace overlooking the river which will be illuminated at night for added effect.

GLOBAL SPECTRUM Dean Dennis, Global Spectrum’s General Manager for the Owensboro Convention Center, explains how Global Spectrum was pretty aggressive in pursuing the opportunity to manage the convention center: “We knew Owensboro was a city on the move, so we really wanted to be here. When we got the request for

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a proposal, we responded immediately, put a proposal together, and offered all the assistance we could.”

Their strategy worked. So far, the partnership seems to be working very well, and the convention center is off to a great start. “I am biased,” Strobel admits, “but I truly believe that Owensboro made a great decision by hiring us because we specialize in managing these types of facilities. We have the experience to make this work.”

What he’s speaking of is Global Spectrum’s experience that comes from managing over 100 other similar facilities, including arenas, exhibit halls, and convention centers. With that broad range of experience, they bring with them all kinds of opportunities, proven ideas, and resources to help them run the Owensboro Convention Center effectively and efficiently.

FILLING THE CENTER Long before the building could even been shown, Global Spectrum was busy filling dates solely based on the initial drawings and plans. The excitement of using a brand new facility was enough to attract some events, but Dennis says that drawing from the Executive Inn’s reputation also helped drive sales. He explained, “The Executive Inn had a reputation of being a fun place, and it held several trade shows and small conventions. So one of the first things we did was contact those people again to let them know that Owensboro is back in the game.”

In fact, Dennis says the 2015 calendar is already filling up and there are several events booked all the way up to the year 2020. Part of that is because Global Spectrum takes a very active,

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entrepreneurial approach to booking events by creating new ideas to generate revenue. “Sometimes we create shows ourselves to develop more opportunities for local and regional businesses and industries to utilize the center,” Strobel explained. “We call these ‘in-house promoted’ shows because the idea didn’t come from the outside.” The Owensboro RV “Owensboro Outdoor Hunting and Fishing Expo” is one example.

Another initiative that Global Spectrum has used to bring events to the new convention center is called “bring your meeting home.” The idea is for Owensboro residents who belong to national organizations or are members of professional groups to bring their business meetings and conferences back here to Owensboro. So far they’ve had great luck with that program. Dennis says “This community is so excited for this new facility! Their willingness to help sell the building has just been incredible!” If that is something you could help with, there is a link on their homepage (www.owensborocenter.com) to submit a lead for “bring your meeting home.”

HELPING THE COMMUNITY “We are all about helping this community, especially by adding to the economic impact that carries over into all of downtown,” Strobel said. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why one of the Convention Center’s main goals is to book multiple-day, large events. When conventions and trade shows bring in large amounts of people from out of town, those people will stay in our hotels, eat in local restaurants, and hopefully do some shopping and sight-seeing while they’re here. That’s

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why booking larger events is the priority for Global Spectrum, while the smaller events that fill out the calendar like meetings, receptions, and banquets are more of a benefit to Owensboro residents because it gives us another option for hosting those types of functions.

Owensboro Director of Public Events Tim Ross echoed that same idea: “The new Convention Center will be a key contributor for economic impact for our city, and will help us continue to grow as a destination where people want to visit and live.” Ross added, “The wide variety of events that will be taking place at the facility will further strengthen our community by drawing additional visitors and providing programming for our community.”

Strobel also noted that the Convention Center “is not out to take business away from existing facilities. Some events might be better suited for the RiverPark Center or the Hines Center, for example.” In those cases, the convention center will be glad to recommend other venues.

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FUTURE EXPANSION In the fall of 2014, the city plans to build an overlook pavilion using the existing pylons where the Executive Inn’s “Showroom Lounge” used to be, giving the riverfront one more attraction and the Convention Center another area to utilize for events.

The dream has become a reality; downtown is again a destination, drawing visitors from around the region and across the country. Existing businesses, newly opened businesses and merchants, Smother’s Park, and now the Convention Center are all creating synergy and benefiting from each other’s presence downtown. With the new Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn hotels opening just around the corner, the major pieces of the downtown master plan will soon all be in place. Once the streets are all opened again, we’ll be able to see the final picture, marking the start of a brand new chapter for Owensboro.

Mayor Ron Payne said, “The Owensboro Convention Center is a major part of the future success of Owensboro. I’m proud to be a part of the team that has led the way, and I’m proud of the citizens of Owensboro for their accomplishments.”

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INTERESTING FACTS

The lobby area features three distinct works of art: “River Confluence Reflections,” by artist Arturo A. Sandoval, is located at the east wall of the lobby, and is valued at $60,000; “Cascade,” by artist Dan Neil Barnes, hangs from the ceiling, and is also valued at $60,000; and “Unnamed,” by artist Brooke F. White, Jr., is a three-piece collection displayed in the lobby. The entire set is valued at $200,000.

The exterior walls of the Convention Center are covered in black aluminum. These walls provide the Center with its unique, dark, shiny look.

BY THE NUMBERS 173,758 square feet.

The escalators can go either direction; up or down. At the beginning of events, they can all be set to “up” and at the conclusion they can be set to “down” etc.

1975 tons of steel are in the facility.

The Owensboro Convention Center is full-service, meaning they can provide complete in-house services including food and beverage, audio visual, internet, electrical and trade show decorating services, creating ease and convenience for any event.

221 different sizes of curtain wall glass.

Theater Style Seating – 1,350 seats in Exhibit Halls 1 and 3, and 1,200 seats in the West Ballroom. Comparatively, the RiverPark Center’s Cannon Hall houses 1,479 seats. If all three exhibit halls are set up as one large theater, the total number of seats is 4,000. That’s compared to the Sportscenter’s 5,000 seats.

82’ tall on the North end.

Banquet-Style Seating in Riverview Room – 230 chairs. The Riverview Room is 3,561 sq. ft., making it slightly smaller than the Cannon Hall Stage in the RiverPark Center, which is 4,200 sq. ft. by comparison.

3315 light fixtures.

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8,992 cubic yards of concrete 34,600 square feet of exterior glass.

80,631 square feet of carpet.

63 miles of cable.

93 miles of electric wiring.

8.4 acres.

6 escalators.

3 elevators.

6 loading docks.

80,631 square feet of carpet.

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MEET THE OWENSBORO CONVENTION CENTER

EXECUTIVE CHEF JEREMY MATTINGLY

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hen Global Spectrum began their search for an executive chef for the Owensboro Convention Center, they didn’t have to look any farther than right here in Daviess County. Jeremy Mattingly, an Owensboro native, had recently moved back home after spending several years in Louisville, where he received his formal culinary education. While in Louisville, Mattingly served as executive chef at Lake Forest Country Club. Upon moving back to Owensboro with his wife, Mary, and their son, he started his own business, Culinary Concepts of Owensboro. After a year of working for himself, Mattingly was tabbed as the first executive chef to oversee the Owensboro Convention Center kitchen.

As executive chef, Mattingly will be responsible for virtually every aspect of the daily operations of the food and beverage side of the Convention Center. The executive

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chef role can be a demanding one that includes a dizzying array of duties. Everything from ordering ingredients to devising menus can fall on his shoulders. Still, Mattingly is up to the challenge, and is looking forward to the unique opportunities that come with the role of catering to the clients at a convention center. Since the Convention Center will host events ranging from wedding receptions to RV shows to charity balls, Mattingly says that they will personally work with clients to develop unique menu offerings for each occasion.

Mattingly is excited to be a member of the convention center management team, and to be able to continue to share his culinary talents with the community. Mattingly is also planning to utilize local, Kentucky Proud products and to be involved with community related activities.

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David Parks is marching to

HIS OWN BEAT

OWENSBORO NATIVE MAKES HIS HOME DRUMMING ON STAGE AT VENUES LIKE COWBOYS STADIUM AND THE GRAND OLE OPRY WHILE PERFORMING WITH THE LO CASH COWBOYS. E ARTICL T R A U ST PECK

S PHOTO Y DANN BEELER

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D

avid Parks had a dream. As a drummer growing up in Utica, Kentucky, he aspired to play in a band like Van Halen or the Eagles.

“Four or five guys setting out to take over the world becoming rock stars,” said Parks. “As I got older I realized I just wanted to play music for a living.”

Parks drummed his way through high school at Daviess County High, playing in the marching and concert bands. He’d leave the classroom and immediately head for a different kind of band practice; playing scenes like the B&B Tavern and Executive Inn Rivermont.

Growing up, he was part of a musical family. His father would sing and play guitar along with songs on the radio and Parks’ mother played bass in local groups.

“My family used to have weekend jam sessions right in our living room. That was normal for me,” said Parks.

“I used to go with my mom to her band rehearsals and the drummer in one of the bands was George Stokes, a blind man locally known for being a fantastic piano tuner. On his breaks, I remember asking him if I could play his drums. He would take a break, and Mom would

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YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE PHONE WILL RING AND YOUR TOUR MANAGER IS ON THE OTHER END SAYING, “WE’RE PLAYING LIVE ON A TV BROADCAST FOR FOX IN TIME SQUARE IN NEW YORK CITY”

PHOTO BY DANNY BEELER / HEART OF THE CITY DESIGN

-DAVID PARKS

stay and play her bass along with me.”

He recalls going to Randy Bakers Music World for guitar lessons, however it wasn’t guitar Parks ended up jamming on; it was a set of drums at the shop. His music teacher broke the news to his mom, it wasn’t guitar that Parks would play; he was going to be a drummer. Throughout high school and after, David Parks played with several different bands around Owensboro. Kick Back Jack was a band consisting of Parks, Matt Gray, Michael Hicks and Steve Malicoat. After that group disbanded, Gray and Parks formed G.S.P. with Brian Snyder, hence the “G”, “S” and “P” that formed the name. They recruited Tara Noel (Estes) to sing and Kurt Allison to play guitar. Now, Allison plays with Jason Aldean.

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“Matt and I had been working together on jingles and in the studio when I was off tour and back in Owensboro. We started writing rock/pop tunes with Brian,” he said. “We wrote and recorded one original record and signed a small distribution deal and played ONE show...yes one. It was at the Executive Inn Rivermont showroom lounge on New Year’s Eve 2001.”

They opened for the Van Dells, a group Parks later went on to perform with at the ‘Big E’. He played dozens of shows in the halls of the now demolished hotel.

“It’s [Executive Inn] where my professional music career started. I saw many concerts there growing up, so that place has a ton of sentimental meaning to me. Lots of memories there,” Parks recalls. “I played the riverbank at a festival a few years ago after it had been torn down, and it was a dark feeling for it not to be there. Owensboro needed that place, or at least something like it. I miss it a ton! Oh the stories those walls could tell, all the history of performers in and out of there.”

In 2006 Parks musical career turned country when he got a call from Preston Brust of LoCash Cowboys. Brust and Chris Lucas DJ’ed at the Wildhorse Saloon, where Parks had played sets with Nashville artist Phil Vaught. Lucas and Preston liked his sound and stage presence, and they exchanged numbers.

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PHOTO BY DANNY BEELER / HEART OF THE CITY DESIGN

DAVID PARKS PERFORMS AT THE 2013 BIG O MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH LO CASH COWBOYS

“My phone rang, I got a message from Preston saying, ‘Dave, this is Preston from LoCash Cowboys, I need a drummer THIS weekend, three shows only, three cities. I don’t know if you’re available or not but I promise I won’t ask anymore of you than just three shows, call me back’”. - Parks recalls. “He seemed stressed to find someone in a short time and two days later I started my first run with them in Alabama, Georgia and Nashville.”

Eight years later and Parks isn’t looking back as he’s enjoying the whiplash-inducing ride that is touring with the hit country group. He hasn’t missed or subbed one show out of an estimated 1,000 plus. He jokes with Lucas and Brust that it’s the longest three-day weekend ever.

While Cincinnati is home, and where his wife and kids live, Parks spends time on and off in Nashville playing gigs, organizing his charity event, “The Nashville Drummers Jam,” and enjoying the country music scene, which he says is a big business that can be glamorous and exciting at times.

“There’s always something going on. You never know when the phone will ring and your tour manager is on the other end saying, ‘We’re playing live on a TV broadcast for FOX in Time Square in New York City on New Year’s Eve, bus call is tomorrow at 10,’” Parks explains. “That actually happened, short notice, living by the ring of the phone and literally never unpacking your suitcase.”

However, when he’s not home or in Nashville, Parks does

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try and make it back to Owensboro to see family that still lives in town. He says he’s rich in that regard, and family means a lot to the drummer. Just as Nashville is ever-changing, he says Owensboro is growing up, too.

“I never considered Owensboro a small town,” Parks recalls.

“To me, it might as well have been NYC or LA. But now that I’ve experienced bigger cities and realize the ‘Big O’ really isn’t that big… it still feels big to me. It is shocking sometimes to see a new road where a building used to be. 54 is sprouting up a lot, I was almost lost for a second.”

As the town he grew up calling home is changing, so is the music industry. Gone are the days of record shops and in are the times of singles that never actually make it to materials like plastic or vinyl. Parks says the digital age is good and bad for the industry and for musicians. While a talented performer can be discovered on social websites like YouTube and Myspace, there’s also hundreds of people who “hide behind autotune” according to Parks. Add to that the pressure by record labels to only release hit singles instead of entire albums, and you’ve got an evolving landscape for the industry.

“There’s a lot going on with sites like you mentioned [YouTube, Pandora and Myspace] right now. Again, these are good as an outlet, but horrible because musicians aren’t getting paid what they’re owed,” Parks states. “I miss finding that gold nugget of a record store, a real record store where the guy working

the counter was a fan and knew the bass player’s name of most of the records he was selling. It’s sad and disturbing that records are going away. Most people reading this probably have an iPod and only have one or two songs they like from certain bands, not the whole album. You don’t have only certain chapters from a book on your Kindle.”

Still, Parks has high hopes for his future. He plans to continue drumming, and has to stop and soak in his success at times. Talk to him now and Parks will tell you he’s living the dream, the dream he had from his humble beginnings in Utica. It might not be Van Halen or the Eagles, but last year his phone rang once again. This time the voice on the other end invited him to play a recording session for the legendary producer and engineer, Michael Wagener. (Ever heard of Motley Crue, Alice Cooper or Ozzy Osbourne?)

“I never thought that would happen in a million years!” he exclaims. “I just want to keep growing as a musician and have more and more challenges. You never stop learning. I’m always thinking, ok, what’s next?! I’ve played Cowboys Stadium, now I wanna play Madison Square Garden. I’ve played the Grand Ole Opry, now how about a show at Budakon? Europe - been there done that - now let’s go to South America. Played shows with Kiss, Motley, Dave Matthews Band, and literally hundreds of others. Hey Aerosmith and Halen, you busy? Dreams come true kiddies!”

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

K U R T Z A U C T I O N & R E A LT Y C O .

THE

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value OF AN AUCTIONEER

ith proper planning, the appointment of an executor to administer an estate can greatly ease the stress on family members following a loved one’s death. Still, even with the appropriate amount of estate planning, an executor may still need assistance in carrying out their duties to the estate. During a time of grieving, disposing of the decedent’s real and personal property can be one of the most difficult, and possibly contentious, responsibilities of an executor. Therefore, it’s a wise move to enlist the help of a professional when faced with a task that may often prove overwhelming.

According to John Kurtz, CEO of Kurtz Auction and Realty Company, “A good Auctioneer can be the executor’s best friend when settling the estate.” Hiring an Auctioneer allows the executor to share at least of portion of their myriad duties with someone trained to dispose of property. Handing over the responsibility of selling estate property to a qualified Auctioneer can also serve to relieve some of the stress of acting as executor. Once a good Auctioneer is hired, they assist the executor by handling every element of an estate sale.

Rather than posting “for sale” signs, and waiting a lengthy time for a sale to be completed, an Auctioneer can help an executor choose a convenient and effective day on which all property will be sold at market price. In many markets, the universe of potential buyers for an estate is limited. Why tax the family’s privacy with the intrusion of tire kickers that can last for months, or even years? With an auction, the executor knows that on auction day, most of the hassle is over, and the proceeds are received with minimal effort or delay on the part of estate’s beneficiaries.

Once a date is selected, the next step is advertising. Says Kurtz, “Before the sale, your Auction staff should have blanketed the region with publicity.” Effective publicity attracts serious buyers, and once those buyers gain an interest in the property, your Auctioneer will be there to patiently and courteously guide them through the property.

Good advertising also involves producing brochures and other documents pertaining to the Auction and the property. According to Kurtz, “The key to any auction is a massive and thorough promotion and advertising campaign, which typically includes direct mail, newspaper, electronic and Internet media, as well as other avenues.”

This type of broad and effective advertising greatly lightens the burden of any executor.

In addition to relieving the burden of advertising a sale, hiring an Auctioneer also eliminates the hassle of negotiating with potential purchasers. After the estate is in the hands of an auction company, the Auctioneer handles all aspects of the selling process. “One of the other challenges an executor faces with the traditional estate brokerage

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process,” says Kurtz, “is knowing how much to ask for the property.

If the asking price is too high nothing happens; too low, and the seller will always wonder if she could have received more. At an auction, with a dozen or so enthusiastic and well-prepared bidders, the bid goes up and up until a true market price is determined.” So in addition to relieving the burden of selling the property, an auction can ensure that an executor realizes the highest benefit to the estate.

Additional advantages in hiring an Auctioneer to conduct your estate sale include:

• Providing an open, fair and non-discriminatory bidding environment, greatly enhancing opportunities for all potential purchasers • Eliminating high carrying costs • Reducing marketing time • Mitigating defaults, since substantial bid deposits are required • Providing immediate confirmation of sale • Providing a market-based determination of value

When faced with assets to liquidate from an estate, call a qualified, experienced Auctioneer with a good track record.

Kurtz Auction & Realty Company, headquartered in Owensboro, Kentucky, sells real estate at auction: commercial, industrial, residential, agricultural, and recreational. Since the late George Kurtz started the company in 1945, three generations of the Kurtz family have built the business. Today, Kurtz auctioneers and realtors are licensed in 8 states, and serve the region from St. Louis east to Cincinnati, and from Chicago south to the Florida Keys.

FOR ALL OF YOUR AUCTION NEEDS, CALL KURTZ AT (270) 926-8553, OR TOLL FREE AT (800) 264-1204, AND VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.KURTZAUCTION.COM.

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BY GAIL E. KIRKLAND

Twenty-six years ago, he began as an OHS assistant coach. This year, he earned the Kentucky Football Coaches Association 2013 Class AAAA “Coach of the Year” award in his 11th year as Owensboro High School’s head football coach. Joe Prince has come

FULL CIRCLE

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C

oach Joe Prince is quick to share the glory, however.

He explained that this year’s team had 21 players with a 3.5 GPA or better. “When you have smart kids and kids that work hard and buy into the program

and what you’re trying to teach . . . I think that’s what made a big difference and why we did have so much success,” said Coach Prince, whose 2013 team finished 10-4 overall and 3-0 in the district.

“I’ve won awards before—awards like this are more teamoriented. [They’re about] the people helping you make a big difference,” he said. The overall impact of such awards comes as positive reinforcement to the football program and to the players.

“It’s a pride thing for the OHS family, for the community.”

Coach Prince tells his players not to worry about individual

awards. Focus on the team and “the other stuff will take care of itself,” he said. Aside from the 15 seniors’ athletic careers, Coach Prince will measure their success based on what happens in the years to come. “I think they will go on to become the leaders of our community. That’s what I’m hoping for. I think they will come back and give to the community.” That pairs perfectly with his two focal points: Commitment and Loyalty.

Coach Prince realized, 19 hours shy of graduating with a degree in accounting, that he was destined to coach, not sit behind a desk. “My high school coaches had been so good to me . . . that’s basically what I felt like my calling was,” he said. “I got a job here at Owensboro, and was fortunate enough to coach under Coach Gerald Poynter, who should be in the Hall of Fame, and I learned a lot.” That may be an understatement. His Mayfield High School coach (Jack Morris) and University of Kentucky coach (Jerry Claiborne) are both in the National Football Hall of Fame, respectively. “I feel like I’ve been tutored by the best,” said Coach Prince, a high school All-American.

Regardless, he chooses to be his own man. “I don’t believe you can be somebody else. I try to make sure all my decisions are sound and fair. I rely on my past experiences,” he said. One of those experiences includes Coach Claiborne’s philosophy: “Do right. Do your best. Winning will take care of itself.” Coach www.OwensboroLiving.com

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Prince has maintained that approach, but added

goes into a highly successful football program?

a third step: Have fun.

“First of all, I surround myself with good people

From the numerous stories shared, the

who are loyal—not just to me but to the kids and

relationships established over the years mean the

to the program. That’s how I prepare myself.”

most. “There have been a lot of fun wins; don’t

Next, Coach Prince expects those people to hold

get me wrong. I live through our kids. On Friday

him accountable, not allowing him “to get fat cat

night, I still get juiced up and excited, but the

or to cut corners.” Finally, he listens to his wife

things that mean the most are watching our kids

Jane and tries to recharge his batteries, to get

mature and grow—and that’s the journey of each

away. “I get out of balance sometimes, and she

season,” said Coach Prince, almost nostalgic.

brings me back to earth,” he said with a hearty

What touches a hard-core football coach’s

laugh.

heart? When kids come back to him after

Along with the success have come a few

graduation and solicit his advice

lessons learned. Coach Prince called out three

about life, about relationships,

much like he’d call in a play. Number one: Kids

about big decisions. “Those

are going to be kids. Number two: If a kid can

are

the

rewards

of

play another sport, encourage them to do it.

coaching: a call from

They need all the good role models they can

a kid, an unexpected

get. Number three: The relationships are more

Christmas card, when

important than the wins. “I can’t say I was always

they recall something

like that . . . everybody wants to come out and

you said or did.”

What type of preparation

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win, but kids can decipher who is just coaching for the wins and who is not.”

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Through the years, he’s had the opportunity to

One who did show up was his son Kal, a starting

mentor other coaches. Some of his players and assistant

quarterback / safety, who had the option to go to school

coaches have gone on to become head coaches, but he

wherever he wanted, but chose to have his dad as coach.

thinks some of the most rewarding coaching is when

“When you coach your own kid, you see every fault.

you are not necessarily the head man. “Being head coach

Then other people say, ‘You have a great kid; ease up.’

is not all it’s cracked up to be all the time,” he said,

It helped me having Jeff Reese manage Kal instead of

pointing out that all the glory comes with the win, but

me. Jeff could get on to him and it wouldn’t faze him.

all the agony with a loss or other problems.

I could look at him and he’d say, ‘What?’” Kal, a junior

As far as talent is concerned, Coach Prince said,

safety at Columbia University in New York, is majoring

“Nobody’s as good as they say they are, and nobody’s as

in political science and has no intentions to coach.

bad as they say they are.” He readily admitted that it took

years of coaching to bring him to that understanding.

it. He works really hard. You don’t see it, but he works

“You better worry about the Jims and Joes that show up.

like 70 hours a week. Sometimes he sleeps in that

Forget about the ones that don’t show up. I’ve learned to

(football office) chair. No exaggeration,” said Kal, with

stop worrying about the ones who don’t want to play.”

full admiration for his dad—and former coach.

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Kal’s perspective on his dad’s award? “He deserves

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MANAGING

FUTURE

people in the entire world to play on an NBA roster – well, you do the math.

No, Baumann didn’t give up. Rather, he channeled more of his time and energy toward his academics. His new goal became getting his college education paid for while playing basketball. During his senior season, there was no shortage of suitors for Baumann’s academic and basketball talents.

Centre, Transylvania,

and Furman all showed interest in Baumann as a result of his schoolwork and his work on the court. However, none of those institutions offered a clear opening into the world of coaching, which had been a passion

BY STEVEN N WILSO

of Baumann’s almost since he began

A

playing basketball.

ll of us have dreams, things we want to accomplish, achievements we seek

For the opportunity to cut his teeth in

to attain. A much smaller number

the coaching world, Baumann

possess the boldness to step out on a limb and attempt to make our dreams reality. We fear the unknown. We fear failure. But when we refuse to be restrained by these fears, we can surprise even ourselves.

This is the story of how one young man knew what he wanted, and went for it (and won a National Championship in the process). This is the story of Logan Baumann, manager of the University of Louisville men’s basketball team.

Born and raised in nearby Hartford, Kentucky,

Baumann found an early home on the hardwood of the basketball court. As a child, like most kids with a ball, he dreamed of one day playing in the NBA. But as he aged into high school, reality sunk in. Despite leading the Ohio County Eagles to four straight district championships, and being honored as the Third Region Player of the Year, Baumann quickly realized that professional basketball was probably out of the question. This isn’t to say that he gave up on a dream too easily, but when you stop growing at 6’0” tall, and you

LOGAN BAUMANN IN 2012 AT THE KFC YUM! CENTER IN LOUSIVILLE

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looked to his older brother’s alma mater. While he knew that

BY THE NUMBERS Averaged 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and buried 69 three-point goals as a senior in helping Ohio County to a 29-3 record, the 10th District Championship and a No. 9 ranking in the state of Kentucky.

Honored as the Third Region Player of the Year and honorable mention all-state as a senior, was ranked among the top 20 players in the state of Kentucky and was invited to the Kentucky Senior All-Stars tryouts.

Ranked fifth in the state in three-point goals as a junior, hitting 87-of-240 (.367) of his three-point attempts as Ohio County posted a 15-13 record.

Scored over 1,000 career points at Ohio County, which won the 10th District Championship all four years he played with the Eagles. His single-game scoring high was 43 points against Meade County.

eventually landing a major college coaching position wasn’t as easy as saying you once worked for a hall of famer, Baumann knew it wouldn’t hurt his chances either. So, with his sights set on coaching, he began to pursue a position as team manager under Coach Rick Pitino.

Anyone who follows college basketball is aware of the student

managers sitting on the bench with the team. How they attained those positions, however, may be less obvious. According to Baumann, “Most of the people who become managers are friends of the team, coach or boosters.” Lacking those connections, Baumann took a different, more unconventional route to his goal of becoming a manager at UofL. “I actually sat down and wrote letters, a letter every week, to 10 or 12 people in the basketball office,” Baumann said. Those letters, which he also sent via email, were mailed in a manila envelope, which also included some of Baumann’s game film, and his official stat sheets from his time at Ohio County High School. In the letter, Baumann provided the basketball staff with a short synopsis of his goals, what he hoped to achieve as manager, and how he could benefit the team. After

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mailing over 100 letters to the basketball staff, Baumann finally

the university on an academic scholarship. What came next was

got the response he was hoping for. Vinny Tatum, the equipment

the icing on the cake. Early last year, during his freshman year,

manager, contacted Baumann to let him know that his persistence

and first as a manager, Coach Pitino called Baumann into his

had paid off, and that he had secured a spot as manager on the 2012-

office. Unsure of why Coach had called the meeting, Baumann was

2013 University of Louisville Men’s Basketball Team.

surprised to find out that he was being asked to join the team as a

When his duties as manager started, there was a lot to learn,

player. After another guard had gone down with a season-ending

according to Baumann. “For

knee injury, Coach Pitino gave Baumann the opportunity to play

some,” Baumann said, “the

for one of the top college basketball programs in the country.

whole idea of being manager

is about the gear and prestige,

NCAA National Championship. Still, when asked about his favorite

and being on the sidelines.

memory as a player, Baumann points to the less obvious 5-overtime

For me, it was about getting

loss to Notre Dame. This choice of memories is reflective of

a better perspective about

Baumann’s outlook on his basketball career, and on what he

“IT’S A LEARNING PROCESS, AND THE BEST PART IS BEING ABLE TO LEARN FROM COACH PITINO.”

-LOGAN BAUMANN

From there, Baumann and the Cards went on to win the 2013

coaching and being in the

values in life. While the excitement and prestige of a national

huddle, being in practice. It’s a learning process, and the best part

championship would certainly be at the top of most players’ lists

is being able to learn from Coach Pitino.”

of memories, Baumann saw the difficult loss as a valuable learning

Baumann reached his goal when he was named as one of the

experience. “How do you proceed on from something like that?

managers of the Louisville basketball team, and was able to attend

After that loss, I learned from Coach Pitino in how he motivates,

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and what to do when guys mess up.”

This year, Baumann has returned to his position as manager,

and couldn’t be more content. “Now I don’t have to worry about making a three or guarding Russ Smith off the dribble. In watching the coaching staff, I can focus on how best to put the players in position to succeed offensively and defensively.”

Quotes like

these demonstrate Baumann’s commitment to learning and his continuing desire to chase his dream of coaching. Even having experienced life as a player on a national champion, Baumann hasn’t lost sight of his ultimate goal of becoming a collegiate coach.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to change a kid’s life through a ball and a basket.”

While some call Baumann “lucky,” his tale of hard work and

dedication serves to prove them otherwise. “People tell me all the time I got lucky, but if you put yourself in a position to be lucky and prepare yourself, stories like mine can happen. It’s about putting yourself in a position to succeed.” Success has certainly not evaded him. Having the foresight to know what he wanted, Baumann took steps early on to shape his own future, and now finds himself exactly where he hoped he’d be - well on his way to a career in coaching and making a positive impact on the lives of his future players. www.OwensboroLiving.com

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THE EDGE BY DANNY MAY

O

WITH THE WHOLE WORLD CATCHING WINTER OLYMPICS FEVER, NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO VISIT THE EDGE ICE ARENA.

wensboro Recreation Superintendent Kerry Boden-

to come and cheer on our home team as 15 members of the

heimer says, “During the whole month of February, we

Owensboro Figure Skating Club will be competing.

are taking a Winter Olympics theme in all of our pro-

gramming, so we’ll have exhibitions and demonstra-

In its first year, Living on the Edge was held at 4 different

tions that go along with that.” As an added bonus, those

arenas and had 23 skaters. Last year it grew to 7 arenas and

of us who can’t make it to Sochi can still get our fill of ice

45 skaters. But this year it has expanded to 11 arenas with

hockey and figure skating right here in Owensboro through

over 150 skaters participating! If you enjoy watching figure

two special events.

skating on TV, you’ll love it person!

LIVING ON THE EDGE

ICE HOCKEY, TOO

The Edge is very proud to host the third annual “Living

“This event has exploded this year,” Bodenheimer said.

For ice hockey fans, you can get an up-close and personal

on the Edge” I.S.I (Ice Skating Institute of America) team

view of the action during the Kentucky High School Hockey

figure skating competition the weekend of February 1st –

League State Tournament which will be held the weekend of

2nd. The event is free of charge and everyone is welcome

March 1st - 2nd. It should be a fun competition to watch since

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the Owensboro “Rampage” won this tournament

they focus on ice sports; hockey, ice skating, and

last year. Coincidentally, The Edge gets to host the

figure skating. The afternoons are spent doing off-

tournament this year on their home rink.

ice activities like swimming or field trips around

town.

Bodenheimer says Owensboro has had youth

hockey teams since the Youth Hockey Association started in 1964. Today, there are 250 youth ranging

NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN

from ages 4-18, comprising four age divisions of

the “Puck Hogs,” which feed into the high school

but adults can be intimidated if they didn’t learn to

division, the Rampage. They’ve even added a girl’s

skate as a child. Fear not! The Edge offers learn-

team.

to-skate classes year round. The next class actually

IT’S THE COOLEST!

Bodenheimer added, “This is such a beautiful

Youngsters usually take to the ice pretty easily,

begins February 25th and the deadline to register is February 14th. There is also an adult hockey league for beginners. So if you need to mark that

facility and we are very blessed to have it in our

off your bucket list, now is the perfect time.

city.” With free wi-fi, a concession stand, and five

flat screen TVs, The Edge truly is the coolest place

news updates, and nightly coverage of the Winter

in town, especially in the summer. That’s why they

Olympics, bring the family on down to The Edge

started hosting a 10-week day camp last summer,

and make some memories together.

If you find yourself inspired by the commercials,

which is like most summer day camps, except

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

WKU OWENSBORO

FINDING THE BEST COLLEGE FIT

Each spring, high school parents face deadlines and stress of helping their student decide which college to attend. Taking an active and informative role in this decision making process can alleviate the stress– for both you and your student. Listed below are steps to make this transition easier while assuring the best “college fit”: 1. Review acceptance letters and financial aid packages with your student. This is their decision too.

religious, and alumni organizations. Encourage your student to take an active role in this search.

2. As soon after the New Year as possible, help your student fill out the FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid www.fafsa.ed.gov). This will help both you and your student understand the information needed to secure federal financial funding.

5. If the cost of attending a four-year institution is out of reach, explore joint enrollment programs with community colleges. These programs may allow your student to obtain general education requirements at a lower rate of tuition. Your student could then complete their Bachelor’s degree at the four-year institution.

3. Once the FAFSA is completed and processed, schedule meetings with financial aid counselors to discuss financing options, and with academic advisors to discuss career aspirations.

4. Keep in mind that help with financing college can be found from outside sources such as scholarships, civic, 64 OWENSBORO LIVING

. FEBRUARY / MARCH 2014

Don’t let this process be intimidating. Follow the tips provided. Seek help from both college and high school counselors. Following these steps and helpful hints will assure you and your student that you have chosen the best college for them socially, educationally and financially. www.OwensboroLiving.com

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BY LORA WIMSATT

CONVERSATION HEARTS W

hat’s a grandmother for, if

remember that day in kindergarten

not to encourage the next

when I was given the dream job of

generations to carry on traditions?

passing out the crayons. These were

That, and spoiling the grandbabies.

the big, thick, heavy crayons that you

I combine both whenever possible.

give to kids who are likely to snap and

When I share treats like M&Ms

break the ordinary, skinny-sized ones.

with my grandgirls, I pretend to be

Anyway, I was handing out crayons –

teaching them colors as we sort them

each kid got one – and everyone said,

into little piles: reds, browns, oranges,

“I want the red! I want the red! Give

yellows, greens, blues. But really, I am

me the red!”

teaching them to do the same thing I

I remember thinking to myself

did when I was a little girl, which is

that if red had so many friends, it

to eat my least-favorite colors first and

didn’t need me, and from that day on,

save my favorite for last.

red became my least-favorite color.

We didn’t have blue M&Ms when I

was a kid, but we did have two shades

For Valentine’s Day, there’s something

of brown – light brown and dark

special: Conversation Hearts.

brown. Red was always eaten first, though, and it still is.

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But M&Ms are an everyday treat.

. FEBRUARY / MARCH 2014

These are also sorted by color, but

there’s an element of practicality here.

Unlike with M&Ms, conversation

It’s not that I don’t

hearts don’t all taste the same.

like

Personally, I like the whites and pinks

red. I

just

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best. I don’t care for the greens or yellows, and

my granddaughters to the fun of discovering and

the oranges are the worst of all.

trading miniature messages.

But they also have to be sub-sorted in an even

What was this? “Tweet Me”? “As If ”? “Be My

more important category: by message.

Icon”? “LOL”?

Some of the imprinted messages are too blurry

It was confectionary blasphemy.

to read, or are so off-center only the edge of the

I’m glad my granddaughters are too young to

words is visible. These go in the dud pile, to be

read. This little game had gone sadly awry.

eaten first, traded or given to the dog.

The most highly valued hearts are those in a

pick whichever ones they wanted. There didn’t

favorite color, with clear and clean printing, and

seem to be any pattern to their selections; not by

whose message is something worthwhile.

message, not even by color. It was just whichever

one their chubby little fingers closed in on.

“Sweet Heart” is always a prize. “Hug,” “Be

Instead, I just held out my hand and let them

True,” “Oh Boy,” “Dear Heart” and “Cutie Pie”

are also winners.

Well, there was still something I could pass

along from one generation to the next.

It had been many years since I’d opened one

So much for tradition.

of those little cardboard boxes and poured a

rainbow of succinct love letters into the palm of

little ones, and whispered my own heartfelt

my hand, but I had the bright idea of introducing

conversation: “Love You.”

. FEBRUARY / MARCH 2014

I leaned over and kissed these sweet, innocent

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THE

{by: jaime rafferty}

DISH

ROMANTIC

RECIPES FILET WITH SHIITAKE AND MARSALA GLAZE, ASPARAGUS AND ROASTED POTATOES

A

romantic dinner can mean anything from eating at a five-star restaurant, to cooking her a meal even though you’re not sure how

to start the oven. This Valentine’s dinner for two is designed to keep you out of the kitchen on the big romantic day, but still deliver a flavorful plateful of something special.

MARSALA REDUCTION Ingredients:

3 Tbl unsalted butter

2 Tbl shallot, minced

1 garlic clove, minced

1 C low sodium beef stock

2 C Florio Sweet Marsala Wine*

2 sprigs fresh thyme

1/4 tsp black pepper

Salt *You can use another brand of Marsala, but I’ve found the best results with this one.

In a small sauce pan, melt 1 Tbl unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and simmer until translucent. Add the garlic and simmer about 1 minute until the shallots and garlic start to turn golden. Add the Marsala wine, the beef stock, and the fresh thyme. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, drop heat to medium low and let simmer, stirring occasionally until the sauce reduces to about 1 cup of liquid. Check the sauce for salt — depending on the amount of salt in the beef stock, you may need to add a little more. Also add black pepper.

To determine if the sauce has reduced enough, dip the back of a spoon in the sauce, then run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the sauce stays on the spoon, except for where you placed your finger, it’s finished. If it all just runs off the spoon, let it continue to reduce a little longer.

To finish: Once the sauce has reduced enough, remove the

BY MATT R WEAFE

thyme sprigs. At this point, if you’re making the sauce ahead, let it cool to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Place back in a small sauce pan and bring back to

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a simmer. If the sauce thickened too much in the

pan, place on high heat and add enough canola

refrigerator, just add a few splashes of beef stock

oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Let the pan heat

to loosen it back up. Once the sauce is hot, add

thoroughly before adding the potatoes.

the remaining 2 Tbl of unsalted butter. Take the pan off the heat and swirl the butter in until fully

If you are cooking this all in the same day, make

incorporated.

sure the potatoes are not dripping wet when you

ROSEMARY-SCALLION ROASTED POTATOES

transfer them to the hot pan. Hot oil and water can create a fire. Also, wet potatoes won’t brown; they’ll just steam.

Ingredients:

Add the potatoes, season with salt and black

1 lb Idaho or Russet potatoes

pepper. As the potatoes cook, they will absorb the

2 Tbl fresh rosemary, chopped

canola oil, add more as necessary so that there is a

2 scallion, sliced thinly

little in the bottom of the pan. The oil will brown

Salt and pepper

the potatoes, and give them a nice crunch. Once

Canola oil

the potatoes have started to brown well (about 10

BY PREPARING SOME OF THESE ELEMENTS THE DAY BEFORE, YOU CAN CUT OUT THE MOST TIMECONSUMING STEPS OF THE MEAL.

minutes), add the rosemary and transfer the whole Wash and dice the potatoes at about 1/2”. Place in

pan into the oven.

large pot and cover by about 2 inches with cold water. Salt the water heavily. It should be as salty

Stir the potatoes occasionally while in the oven.

as the sea. Place pot on stovetop and bring to a

After about 20 minutes, they should be cooked

boil. Let boil for about 5-7 minutes. You are not

thoroughly, well browned, and extra crispy.

cooking the potatoes all the way, just starting the

Remove from the oven and stir in the scallions.

cooking process. This quick boil will break down

They are ready to serve.

the starches on the outside of the potato. As you roast the potatoes later, these starches will create a perfectly crunchy exterior and creamy interior.

Drain the potatoes in a colander. At this point, you can refrigerate the potatoes and finish on Valentine’s Day. To finish: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large cast iron skillet or wide heavy bottomed

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BLISTERED ASPARAGUS Ingredients:

8 oz. asparagus

Canola oil

Juice of half lemon

Salt and pepper

To clean asparagus, run under cold water. Grip the cut ends of the asparagus and snap off the woody

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stem. Make sure the asparagus is dry before sautéing.

3 Tbl unsalted butter

Place a medium sauté pan (big enough to fit all the

8-oz shiitake mushrooms, stems removed

asparagus in one even layer) on high heat. Once the

1 Tbl shallot, minced

pan is very hot, add the canola oil. Let heat about 30

1 garlic clove, minced

seconds, then add the asparagus. Let the asparagus sit undisturbed for about 30 seconds, then roll each one

You can make this spice mixture and clean the

over. You should see blistering and light browning on

mushrooms ahead, as well. Toast the coriander, cumin,

the cooked side. Season with salt and pepper. Let the

chile, and peppercorns in a hot, dry sauté pan for about

asparagus sit another 30 seconds to a minute. Then

1 minute or until very fragrant. Grind in a spice grinder.

remove from the heat and add the lemon juice. Make

Season the steaks thoroughly with Kosher salt, then

sure to do this away from the flame to prevent flare ups.

dust with the spice mixture.

SPICE-CRUSTED FILET AND SHIITAKE

Clean the shiitake mushrooms: remove the woody stems, brush lightly with dry cloth to remove any dirt, and cut into thick slices. Set aside.

Ingredients:

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1/2 tsp coriander seeds

Heat a heavy-bottomed pan on medium high. Once

1/4 tsp cumin seeds

the pan is very hot, add enough canola oil to coat the

1 ancho chile (or 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes)

bottom of the pan. Add the steaks. Let cook for a couple

1 tsp black peppercorns

of minutes, depending on the thickness of the steaks and

Kosher salt

the desired doneness. Flip the steaks.

2 8-oz beef tenderloin filets (or steaks of your choice)

Canola oil

Add the butter and the thyme sprigs. Baste the steaks

1 sprig fresh thyme

with the melted butter. Cook like this until the steaks

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have cooked to the temperature you prefer. Drop the heat on the pan to medium. Remove the steaks to rest on a plate. Cover loosely with aluminum foil. Dump the spent cooking oil and add another 2 Tbl canola oil. Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms. Use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. SautĂŠ, stirring regularly for about 5 minutes until the juices run and they begin to brown. Add remaining 1 Tbl unsalted butter, shallot, and the minced garlic clove. Season with salt and pepper. Add the juices from the plate where the steaks rested to the mushroom pan. Remove from heat.

To serve: Place roasted potatoes and asparagus on the bottom of the plate. Add Marsala reduction. Then set the filet in the middle of the plate with the mushrooms on top. Garnish with some fresh parsley.

QUICK DARK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE Ingredients

6 oz dark chocolate

1/2 C mascarpone cheese

3/4 C heavy cream

1 Tbl powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp amaretto liqueur

Small pinch Kosher salt

Make this the day before to let the mousse set up in the fridge.

Melt the dark chocolate over a double boiler. Then gently stir in the mascarpone cheese, vanilla, and amaretto.

In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks, then gently fold the cream into the chocolate mixture.

Spoon into serving dishes and gently cover with plastic wrap.

Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Garnish with fresh raspberries and toasted pistachios.

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THE

SCENE

ARTS

BLUE MAN GROUP

LIGHTWIRE THEATRE

February 11 – 12, 7 p.m. | RiverPark Center

February 23, 3 p.m. | RiverPark Center

Blue Man Group’s critically acclaimed show has been

Lightwire Theatre got attention as a 2013 finalist on “America’s Got Talent.” The Ugly Duckling

called “visually stunning,” “wildly inventive,” and

and The Tortoise & The Hare will fascinate viewers young and old. Lightwire Theatre, with its

“hysterically funny.” Although it is impossible to

dazzling visuals, poignant choreography, and creative use of music ranging from classical to jazz

describe, people of all ages agree that Blue Man Group’s

to pop, literally brings these classic tales into a new and brilliant light. Presented by Owensboro

show is an intensely exciting and wildly outrageous

Dance Theatre and RiverPark Center.

experience that leaves the entire audience in a blissful, euphoric state. With no spoken dialogue, Blue Man

HEAD FOR THE HILLS

Group is perfect for people of all ages, languages, and

February 7, 7 - 9 p.m. | International Bluegrass Music Museum

cultures. This unique theatrical experience is like

Head for the Hills fuses bluegrass, jazz, hip-hop and indie rock into songs inspired by love and

nothing else. For tickets or more information, contact

misery and comic books. For more information, contact the International Bluegrass Music

the RiverPark Center Box Office at 270-687-2787.

Museum at 270-926-7891.

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DOWNTOWN

CONVENTION CENTER OPENING OUTDOOR OWENSBORO February 1-2 | Convention Center Celebrate the opening of Owensboro’s new Convention Center. On Saturday, February 1, the public is invited to enjoy a full day of events and tours of the facility. The official Ribbon Cutting will take place at 10:00 a.m. in conjunction with the Hampton Inn and Suites. Doors will open to the Convention Center immediately following the ribbon cutting. For more information, please contact Madison Strobel, Owensboro Convention Center Marketing and Public Relations Manager at 270-687-8800 or visit owensborocenter.com.

February 7-9 | Convention Center Owensboro RV presents Outdoor Owensboro, Hunting & Fishing EXPO. Special Guest TV Hunting Celebrity T-Bone Outdoors with Travis Turner. Over 200 exhibitors with hundreds of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation related items on display and for sale. The event will also feature informative seminars, appearances, and opportunities to win exciting prizes.

Admission $8, with children under 12 free. For more information, contact Doris Sparks at 270-687-8927 or visit www.owensborocenter.com

FOGHORN STRING BAND February 24, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. | International Bluegrass Music Museum The sound of Portland, Oregon’s Foghorn Stringband could have come barreling through the grille-cloth of those big console radios in the living rooms of the 1950’s, when the traditional sounds of rural America were still on the minds of young musicians transferring the old-time music to a distinctively modern age. For more information, 270-926-7891.

FOREVER PLAID February 27 - March 2 | Back Alley Musicals - The RiverPark Center A quartet of high-school chums’ dreams of recording an album end in a collision with a bus filled with Catholic schoolgirls on their way to see the Beatles’ American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The play begins with the Plaids returning from the afterlife for one final chance at musical glory. For more information, visit backalleymusicals.com.

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OWENSBORO BOAT & RECREATION SHOW February 27 - March 2 Convention Center Pro-Tech Marine brings the Owensboro Boat & Recreation Show to the new Owensboro Convention Center. Featuring vendors and hundreds of boats, engines and boating-related products, recreational boaters will be able to browse everything they need for summer water activities. For more information, contact the Owensboro Convention Center at 270-687-8800 or visit www.owensborocenter.com.

ACTIVE

HERE’S TO YOUR HEART February 22, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Owensboro Health Healthpark Owensboro Health, Healthpark and Owensboro Dance Theatre join forces for a heart-healthy event at the Healthpark. Cooking demonstrations, healthy food samples, dance & fitness classes, medical experts to discuss a healthy lifestyle, and door prizes are offered. For a complete listing of booths and dance & fitness sessions, visit owensborohealth.org or owensborodancetheatre.org.

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THE

SCENE

FREE

KIDS

STORYTIMES

Mondays & Thursdays | Daviess County Public Library Wee Read for ages 2 and younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 – 10:30 a.m.

270-684-0211 or dcplibrary.org.

FREE

SATURDAY MORNING LIVE!

Saturdays | Daviess County Public Library Visit the library every Saturday morning for self guided fun and educational activities with a focus on literacy and school readiness. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

270- 684-0211 or dcplibrary.org.

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OPEN BOUNCE NIGHTS Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays | U-Bounce The perfect party place for kids. Amazing inflatables in an unbelievably cool bounce stadium. Private, clean and climate controlled. All children must wear socks. $7 per child, children under 2 are free, unless they are the only child, adults always free; On Toddler Tuesday, children 5 and under get in for $5 all night. Tuesday and Wednesday 5 – 8 p.m. and Friday 5 - 9 p.m. 270685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

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FAMILY

CIVIL WAR COMMEMORATION

MARKET DAYS

February 6-9 | Owensboro As a commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, six organizations present events to showcase the history of the Civil War in our region.. Period displays, a virtual gallery, quilt displays and children’s activities take place at the Daviess County Public Library; Historical event displays, plus photography exhibition of the Battle of Sacramento will be at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art; The Kentucky Historical Society’s History Mobile and Civil War Mapmakers Exhibit will be at the Owensboro Museum of Science & History; and the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra presents the Kentucky Premiere of “Two Brothers,” featuring Harry Anderson, at RiverPark Center. For a complete schedule of events, visit their website at http://www.TheOSO.com/ OwensboroRemembers

February 1-2 | Preservation Station Preservation Station markets will specialize in the antique, the vintage, and the crafts. Vendors will be able to lease space (100-700 sq. ft.) on a month-to-month basis. Shoppers will delight in the unique, the quirky, and the beautiful finds from our vendors in this 39,000 square foot facility.

Market Days will take place on the first weekend of every month- Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m to 4 p.m. Visit Preservation Station on Facebook or visitpreservationstation.com.

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS KENTUCKY February 8 | The Hines Center The Polar Plunge is one of the biggest Special Olympics fundraisers of the year. The Plunge is a truly unique event and includes a fun, festive atmosphere with food and great prizes. The Plunge works just like a Walk-a-Thon, but with one big twist - participants still solicit donations to support their effort (a BARE minimum of $75 to take part or $50 for Junior Plungers), but instead of walking, Polar Bears take a chilly dip into the lake at The Hines Center. Last year, the Polar Plunge raised $37,000 to support the efforts of Special Olympics Kentucky athletes. For more information about the Owensboro Polar Plunge, contact Candace Thompson at 502326-5002 or via e-mail at cthompson@soky.org.

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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

THE LAST WORD

T

hese are exciting times for Owensboro! Now more then ever, Owensboro’s Public Information Officer, Abby Shelton, is inviting all of us to do our part to ensure that our city becomes an even better place to live in the coming years.

“Whatever it is you’re interested in,” Shelton says, “Owensboro has a way for you to be involved.” Here are a few of those ways:

way, it’s a great opportunity, especially for younger people who want to gain experience and make connections around town, or retirees who have extra time to volunteer and get involved.

Shelton says the process is simple, “Just submit a commissions application to our office, Mayor Payne will review them, and if it’s approved, he’ll appoint you to the board or commission.”

Neighborhood Alliances One of the best ways for citizens to get involved in city government on a very local level is through Neighborhood Alliances. No one knows the needs of your neighborhood better than you, so being a part of an alliance serves as a vital link between your neighbors and city government. The Owensboro Police Department sends a representative to every meeting and there is usually a city commissioner at a meeting as well. Through these efforts, the Neighborhood Alliance Program has been successful in keeping communication open, and city government has become more responsive to its citizens as a direct result.

It’s not just talk though, it’s also about action. By working together, alliances can identify problems and come up with solutions. Past Neighborhood Alliance projects have included organizing neighborhood cleanups, block parties, developing ordinances, addressing traffic flow or parking issues, organizing neighborhood watch groups, overseeing zoning issues, improving park facilities, preserving neighborhood history, and providing general feedback on city services.

Owensboro currently has twelve alliances throughout the city. Anyone is welcome to attend meetings, which are held monthly or bi-monthly. To get involved in your Neighborhood Alliance, contact the Neighborhood Alliance Chair in your area by visiting www.owensboro.org, or facebook. com/cityofowensboro.

Crime Stoppers OPD’s “Crime Stoppers Program” relies 100% on people in the community to be successful. Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization with a board of directors that raises money for anonymous tips, paying up to $1,000 for tips that lead to an arrest.

“Crime Stoppers has been very successful!” said Lieutenant Chris Brown, liaison between OPD and the Crime Stoppers board. “We average about $5,000 a year in payouts, which have led to numerous arrests; one or two homicides, several thefts, and many drug arrests.” Nearly 500 tips were received through the hotline in 2013.

Each call is kept completely anonymous because callers are given a code number when they report information. The anonymous tip is then given to investigators. If an arrest is made based on that tip, it goes to the board, who then decides how much money to allocate to the caller, depending on the information, the crime, and the arrest.

Board meetings are the third Wednesday night of each month at 7:00 p.m. at OPD. For tips, or to volunteer to be on the board, call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 684-8484.

Boards and Commissions Joining a board or commission is another great opportunity to be involved in our community. Shelton says, “We have over 70 boards and commissions you can join. You name it, there’s probably a board for it.” Many people join boards to be around other people who share the same interests. Some people join to expand their horizons by learning more about something they don’t know a lot about. Either

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Staying Informed “Civic” not only means being involved, it also means staying informed. City Hall has a very strong social media presence through their website, Facebook, Twitter, and a text alert system that sends alerts for 30 different categories. All Owensboro City Commission Meetings are streamed live on their website to give more people access. Channel 75 also replays City Commission Meetings, along with Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Committee meetings and Fiscal Court Meetings.

For more information or questions about anything in this article, contact Abby Shelton in the Mayor’s office at 687-8557, or sheltonam@owensboro.org. To get text alerts, click the link on the city’s website, www.owensboro.org.

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I COME FROM

A LONG LINE OF FARMERS. WHICH IS WHY I HELP A LONG LINE OF FARMERS. Wayne Mattingly Vice President Ag Loan Officer

At Independence Bank, we’re proud to be Kentucky’s #1 Ag lender and to help farmers’ businesses grow.

2425 Frederica Street 270.686.1776

2465 Parrish Avenue 270.689.1696

3228 Highway 54 270.689.1979 Member FDIC

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