Today's Woman March 2021 by Today’s Transitions

MARCH 2021

contents MARCH 2021

features

8 Artisans

They didn’t set out to be artists. Art found them.

20 What to Remodel? Start with the heart of the home. 26 House Projects to Start Now Try these ideas ranging in price and level of difficulty. 38 Today’s Family • Baby, it’s good! • Make room for play • Brain, screen time, and how detoxing can cause arguments • Your guide to spring break • Camp directory • Caregiving: safety in senior care

l Creators

Glean inspiration from these painters, sketch artists, bakers, and wine makers

spotlights ON THE COVER:

MARCH 2021

Tawana Bain, the new owner of Today’s Woman, wants women to know they have the power to make amazing things happen when they come together. Read about her vision for the magazine and how she plans to be a catalyst for change in our community (p56). Photo by Albert Jones, Albert Jones Photography

ENCOURAGE

4 Manifesto INFORM

6 Today’s Woman In The Now 18 Thanks for the memories 32 29 Things: The ABCs of 29 years of Today’s Woman

56 New owner Tawana Bain’s vision for Today’s Woman

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

MARCH 2021 | VOL. 31 | NO. 4

PUBLISHER Cathy S. Zion publisher@todaysmedianow.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Anita Oldham editor@todaysmedianow.com Today’s Woman March Manifesto

We are creating WOMEN’S HISTORY FOR TOMORROW. Respect to the women who have cleared paths, fought fights, defied odds, challenged the status quo.

LOOK BACK, BUT MOVE FORWARD.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tiffany White tiffany@todaysmedianow.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR April Allman april@todaysmedianow.com DESIGN DIRECTOR Jill Cobb jill@todaysmedianow.com PHOTO DIRECTOR/PHOTOGRAPHER Melissa Donald melissa@todaysmedianow.com CAMPAIGN MANAGER Jessica Alyea jessica@todaysmedianow.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Lindsay McDonald lindsay@todaysmedianow.com OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Scheri Stewart Mullins scheri@todaysmedianow.com SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANTS Susan Allen susan@todaysmedianow.com Teri Hickerson teri@todaysmedianow.com Joyce Inman joyce@todaysmedianow.com CIRCULATION MANAGER W. Earl Zion

Behind every great woman is a great woman. Dedicated to the publishers of Today’s Woman. 1991-1996 Kit Abell and Gayle Uhls 1996-2021 Cathy Zion 2021- ? Tawana Bain

Today’s Woman is published monthly by: Zion Publications, LLC 9780 Ormsby Station Road, Suite 1400 Louisville, KY 40223 Phone: 502.327.8855 TodaysWomanNow.com TodaysMediaNow.com The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of the publisher. Today’s Woman magazine does not endorse or guarantee any advertiser’s product or service. Copyright 2020 by Zion Publications LLC, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited without permission from Zion Publications LLC.

ADVERTISE: Call 502.327.8855 or email advertising@todaysmedianow.com. REPRINTS: Call 502.327.8855 or email reprints@todaysmedianow.com.

SUBSCRIBE: Send $18 to the above address for 12 monthly issues.

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

Today’s Woman / March 2021

I N T H E N OW inform

inspire

encourage

YOUR WORDS #TodaysWomanLove

Welcome home. #Repost @KAYLA.BERRY

What inspires you in your work space? • The sunshine! — @candaceaylmer • My plants! Even when it’s cold & gray outside, their blooms bring me happy thoughts. — @sully4485 Home Office Goals. #Repost @JOURNEYANDJACOBS

We love hearing from you! Watch our Instagram stories for a monthly question! Tag photos on Instagram with #TodaysWomanLove or #TodaysWomanShareIdeas to also be featured.

Check out these local artists:

@CATHYHILLARTIST

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

@SKILZART

@KARENBOONEDESIGN

@KIERSTEN_A_POET

@TAMARASCANTLAND

It’s time to vote for the women you admire in the Louisville/Southern Indiana area. These women are nominated for the 19th Today’s Woman Most Admired Woman Award by the editorial staff of Today’s Woman. Vote online for one person in each category once per day per email address at TodaysWomanNow.com. DEADLINE: MARCH 19, 2021, AT NOON ARTS

BUSINESS OWNER

EDUCATION

HOME

p ANGELA BURTON

p NATALIA BISHOP

p JENNIFER CATTELL

p KRISTI BOYENS

p MAGGIE PAYETTE HARLOW

p RONDA COSBY

p DONNA OSIF

p DENISE JEROME

p TONI M. GANZEL MD, MBA

p BECKY ROEHRIG

Feet to the Fire Writers’ Workshops, LLC

p ASHLEY CATHEY

Healing Walls Project

p ANGELA VAUGHN HAMPTON Floyd Central High School

p BARBARA LYNNE JAMISON Kentucky Opera

p CARRIE COOKE KETTERMAN Artist & Performer

p DRU PILMER

DruArt and DruVoice Training LLC

Level Up & Story

Signarama Downtown Michaelis Events, LLC

p SHAUNTRICE Black Market KY

p JOYCE NETHERY

Jeptha Creed Distillery

p JESIKA YOUNG

Cimtech Inc. & New Vibes Wine Co.

ATHLETES/FITNESS

COMMUNITY/ NON-PROFIT

p CAROLE BANDA

p ABBY DRANE

Sponsored by: BB&T/Truist

University of Louisville Athletics, Olympic Sports Medicine

p ALISON CARDOZA Baptist East Milestone Wellness Center

p ASIA DURR

WNBA — NY Liberty

p LAUREN HARTLAGE University of Louisville Women’s Golf Team

Seven Counties Services and Bellewood & Brooklawn

p JOAN FRISZ Just Creations

p THERESA M RENO-WEBER Metro United Way

p SADIQA REYNOLDS Louisville Urban League

p MASON B. RUMMEL

James Graham Brown Foundation

Montessori School of Louisville

Grace M. James Academy of Excellence University of Louisville School of Medicine

p AMANDA PROIETTI

Louisville Classical Academy

p MELANIE SCOFIELD

School of Rock Louisville

p MARY GWEN WHEELER 55,000 Degrees

Home Inspired, Kids Inspired Bedded Bliss

River City Housing

p MONICA THOMAS M&M Interiors

p CANDY WATTS

Watts Home Center

p LESLIE WOODS

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville

FOOD/ENTERTAINMENT

MEDIA

p MICHELLE BARTHOLOMEW

p VALERIE CHINN

p MEGAN BELL

p DANIELLE RUDY DAVIS

p CYNTHIA BOHN

p BROOKE HASCH

p DEBORAH LOWERY

p KELLY K

p SANDY PIKE

p VEDA W. MORGAN

p ANDREA WELLS

p GRACE WHITE

HEALTHCARE

POLITICS/ PUBLIC SERVICE

The Cheddar Box Cafe

The Next Door Market Grocery Store Equus Run Vineyards LLC Ladyfingers Catering Home Cuisine

Wells Made Co.

WDRB-TV

Lemonade PR and Lou What Wear WHAS11 News WDJX-FM

The Courier Journal A Southern Drawl

p DOLORES JONES

p EVON J. SMITH

BEAUTY/FASHION

CORPORATE

p BRITTANY BOONE

p LEIGH ANN BARNEY

p PAMELA BUTLER

p TONI CLEM

p JENNIFER CRAWFORD EVANS MD, MPH, FACOG

p KATIE MEINHART

p ANGIE M. EVANS

p DR. ANGELIQUE JOHNSON

p ARIEL MOORE

p MARIAH WEYLAND GRATZ

p RENEA SAGESER

p AMY HESS

p LAURA PATTERSON

p TRACEY JOHNSON

p RUTH SCHMIDT RN, MSBC, CPPS

p GRETCHEN HUNT

Athlete

Noted

The Beauty Patrol

Six Sisters Boutique Ariel Deneen

Cannonball Swimwear

p KATE PRIDHAM

Body and Brow Boutique, Lumi Skinbar

OneWest

Trilogy Health Services Scoppechio

LG&E and KU Energy Weyland Ventures Brown-Forman

p LYNN HOUSTON MOORE HJI Supply Chain Solutions

p ADRIENA (Z) DAME

HighVibe Living & AdrienaZ.com

Norton Healthcare MEMStim

Associates in Pediatric Therapy

Clark Memorial Health

p SARAH JANE WILKENS MD

Norton Children’s Hospital affiliated with the University of Louisville

p JULIE RAQUE ADAMS

State Senator (District 36), Commonwealth of Kentucky

p YVETTE GENTRY

Rajon Rondo Foundation, Metro United Way Louisville Metro Government Emerge Kentucky

p ATTICA SCOTT

State Representative (District 41), Commonwealth of Kentucky

p COLLEEN YOUNGER

Jefferson County Property Valuation Administrator

Today’s Woman / March 2021

Artisans By Megan M. Seckman | Photos by Melissa Donald

ll five of these female artisans didn’t set out to be artists. Art found them. From Bible school

and bad marriages to an intercontinental immigration, the artists living inside these medical students, counselors, or communications directors stayed silent. Now, these artisans — a watercolorist, a baker, an abstract painter, a hyperrealist illustrator, and a winemaker — are living their best lives, creating things. Art has brought them to life.

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

Drawing a New Life | Sravya Manohar

“I keep getting inspired. I want to reach as many people as I can.”

on’t be fooled. Watching one of Sravya Manohar’s time-lapse drawing videos may give you the overzealous notion that if you pick up a graphic pencil, you may be able to draw just like her. She makes it look so easy from her YouTube channel, but what condenses to a three-minute video, in actuality took her seven to eleven hours. Sravya’s hyper-realism is something of a miracle. Her graphite and colored pencil drawings play tricks on your eyes. Is this a photo? No, someone actually drew that! Ever since immigrating to the U.S. from India six months ago, Sravya, 31, has poured herself into her drawings. In India, she worked full-time as an IT employee and put her craft on the back-burner. But since relocating, she has pursued her craft full-time. She has not only sold her drawings through her Instagram page but is aiming to be featured in a gallery in the near future. “My husband is my biggest motivator. He will say to me, ‘Why are you idle?’ very confidently when I am not drawing. He is the reason behind my art,” Sravya says. There is nothing that Sravya won’t attempt: portraits of different sizes, pets, still lifes, celebrities, etc. “I try to draw everything and don’t stick to a particular genre. I am inspired by challenging pieces.” Challenging pieces like a shirtless boy drenched in water from a rain bucket or a newborn baby curled in the arch of his parents’ hands. These drawings, so detailed and realistic you feel like you could reach out and touch them, are also used in her YouTube videos to teach others how to draw with precision. “I keep getting inspired. I want to reach as many people as I can.” Today’s Woman / March 2021 9

A Grape Adventure | Faith Hatcher

eet Faith Hatcher, winemaker and champion of women. Faith’s path to the artisan craft of winemaking began in college where she studied biology and chemistry, prerequisites for her future as a physician. While registering for classes for the upcoming semester, Faith got a gut feeling that becoming a doctor was not her destiny. She decided not to register for courses that semester and to pursue, instead, her passion: wine. “I had always worked at wineries while in college and loved wine. I know it is cliche — everybody loves wine. But I wanted to learn the chemistry side; I was interested in how it was made,” Faith says. This burning curiosity led Faith to ask for an internship at the Southern Indiana winery where she was working at the time. “My first week as an intern was during the harvest, which is the craziest time of the year. You work 12- to 14-hour days, seven days a week. The work is mentally and physically exhausting — that was my intro. But when you create, all the hard work is worth it in the end. The final product is so rewarding. I got hooked on that feeling of creating a tangible product that people love.” Faith soon relocated to Oregon, where she worked at an organic winery, but eventually made her way back to Indiana to Huber’s Orchard & Winery, where she is the only female winemaker on staff. Women make up only a fraction of the industry, so Faith has now dedicated herself to forming a support system for other women in the field. “I’ve had to do a lot of work to get my team to treat me like an equal. I’ve had to have some serious conversations about the definition of mansplaining. No one acknowledges the dark undertones of the industry. I wondered how many women felt alone like I did, so I started a group, Women Winemakers of the Midwest, to form some connections.” Now, 17 members strong, Faith’s cohort aims for advocacy and female empowerment in the wine industry. Along with her activism, she also is headed back to the University of Kentucky this semester to complete a degree in winemaking and distillation. Cheers to that.

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

“When you create, all the hard work is worth it in the end.”

Today’s Woman / March 2021 11

“I don’t usually have a plan when I begin a piece, I just know color and use color as expression.”

Energetic Art | Tammie Demessie

ammie Demessie hadn’t painted for 21 years when her sister asked for a favor. She wanted an original painting as a gift, but what Tammie didn’t realize was that her sister was giving the gift of art back to her, one brushstroke at a time. Tammie had gone to Bible school instead of pursuing art after she graduated from high school in Gary, Indiana. She later found herself in a bad marriage that squelched her artistic side. But once her sister planted the seed of the painting, Tammie finally fell in love. “When I first started painting, I was not confident. I couldn’t do still lifes or portraits, so I started playing around with abstract art. I didn’t really know anything about abstract art or the art world, but I did know that when I painted, I could focus my energy. I get lost in it. I put on my music and light my candles and things just happen,” Tammie explains about how her craft helps her adult ADHD. Tammie has now painted almost daily for eight years. “I don’t usually have a plan when I begin a piece, I just know color and use color as expression. I am not schooled in art, so I am not bound by others’ influences. I have my own style and do what I like to do without any rules.” Her giant abstract paintings have been featured in Norton’s Cancer Institute, E&S Gallery, and at Vincenzo’s restaurant. She met Vincenzo after missing the bus outside his restaurant one day, and this chance encounter helped Tammie fulfill her dream of being featured at a bonafide art opening, complete with wine and cheese. Painting is her passion, and color, Tammie says, is an expression of life. “There is no box you can put it in.”

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

“...I took an aptitude test, and it said I should be a mechanic or carpenter. Now I get it. I make things.”

Beautiful Tastes | Courtney Yopp Norris

rom the palette to the palate, Courtney Yopp Norris’ creations are multi-sensory. Not only is her art appealing to the eye, it also tantalizes the nose, and is meant to be relished on the tongue. You see, Courtney is a cookie artist, and her business, The Pocket Bakery, which she started in 2018, marries her creative talents in the fields of baking, art, and business. Courtney has always considered herself creative but never dreamed of turning cookie art into a thriving business. However, after taking a cookie decorating class with Preston Fouts of Sweet June Bakery, she started posting a few of her creations on social media. Within a month, she had so many requests for cookies that she realized she might just be on to something. “In high school I took an aptitude test, and it said I should be a mechanic or carpenter. I thought, ‘What?!’ at the time, but now I get it. I make things. I’ve always loved to bake, and I have a background in communications [she previously was a press secretary for a senator], so this business just makes sense.” From Derby dresses to pets to tiered cakes, The Pocket Bakery specializes in beautiful and delicious works of art. “My cookies aren’t just cute, they actually taste spectacular. I use lemon zest in the batter, and they aren’t overly sweet; they are balanced between sweet and tart. When you bite into this super-cute cookie, you aren’t disappointed. People send me pictures of their cookies a year later. They don’t eat them because they say they’re too pretty. No! They are meant to be eaten. You won’t regret it. That’s what pictures are for!”

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

Today’s Woman / March 2021 15

The Details of Nature | Cathy Hillegas

here is magic in Cathy Hillegas’ trees. A play of light and shadows gives a sycamore divinity. In her painting “Rise Up,” the vantage point from the lowly ground makes noble the tree’s massive height as it stretches upward toward the sky, its leaves and bark bathed in holy white light. This piece took Cathy over 200 hours to complete and secured her a spot in the most recent National Watercolor Society show in California. Like many of Cathy’s watercolors, it represents her draw toward finding the dramatic lighting, bright colors, and shadows in nature. “I like to paint things in nature that might go unnoticed. I look for little things and blow them up big, like a fern uncurling its fronds in the sun or a leaf laying on ground,” Cathy says. Because her watercolors take so many hours, she likes to work from a photograph and looks for the way light can be captured on film before putting it to paper. “The thing about watercolors,” she explains, “is that you don’t use white paint. The white is the paper and only water can lighten up a color, so it takes a lot of planning.” In 1993, after her mother bought her a class at Preston Arts Center for her 36th birthday, Cathy said she fell in love with the art form. “I had quit my counseling job when my second child was born, and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do when I ‘grew up.’ After I took that class, I fell in love. I’ve been obsessed ever since,” Cathy says. In her near 30-year art career, Cathy has learned to turn her passion into business through art shows (she is currently showing her work at Chestnuts and Pearls gallery in New Albany, Indiana), teaching, and selling her art on websites like Etsy. At 65, Cathy still struggles to find a “room of her own” in which to paint. “The pandemic has been hard. Most of my students are older than me, so I have had to quit teaching this past year. Finding a quiet space with five people and five cats and dogs in my house has been tricky. The whole year has been stressful for artists. Either you are prolific or stunned; I’d put myself in that last camp.”

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

“I look for little things . . . like a fern uncurling its fronds in the sun.”

A THANKS FOR THE

MEMORIES

Anita Oldham and Cathy Zion at our 2017 Galentine’s Day event.

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

lmost 25 years ago, I left my job as a bank vice president to buy a fledgling Today’s Woman on May 1, 1996. It was a newsprint tabloid with a mission of empowering women. I believed in that mission and wanted to see the publication grow in format and content to reach a broader audience. I immediately was introduced to a bright, young woman — Anita Oldham — who had been serving as the part-time editor. She and I shared the vision to inspire, inform, and encourage women. Over the years, we held true to that mission as we broadened the scope of the publication to focus on four main areas — power, health, fashion, and connections. Today’s Woman became a full-fledged magazine in 2000 with the support of advertisers who believed in what we were publishing and knew that we were reaching the women who controlled the purchasing power. We launched her sister publication, Today’s Transitions, in 2004 as a comprehensive resource for seniors and caregivers. And Today’s Family became a regular part of Today’s Woman in select issues. We were expanding our reach to women of all ages and walks of life. Our imaginative and creative Today’s Media team began helping businesses build their brands with integrated marketing campaigns. We introduced recognition programs for women. First, the HER Awards — Honoring Excellent Role Models — for the many unsung ‘sheroes’ who do so much for so many with little recognition. Later, the Most Admired Woman awards for the more prominent women who are trailblazers in their industry. (See page 7 for this year’s ballot.) We celebrated milestones with birthday parties and hosted Galentine’s events. We sponsored fundraising activities for many nonprofits to help build their reach. So as we publish our last issue of Today’s Woman before handing the reins over to the very gifted Tawana Bain, Anita and I want to say thank you to:

• our followers who read and loved our magazine, • to the hundreds of women we featured over the years, • to those who engaged with us on our social media, • to our faithful advertisers who supported us financially, • to our writers and photographers who have carefully curated women’s stories, • to our delivery people who ensured the magazines were always accessible, and • to our very committed, talented staff who shared the passion for Today’s Woman as much as Anita and I. We love you all, and we look forward to watching Today’s Woman as she continues to evolve, while still holding true to the mission of empowering women.

Today’s Woman / March 2021 19

HOME

WHAT TO REMODEL?

Start with the Heart of the Home WHY IT MIGHT TAKE LONGER AND COST MORE THAN YOU THINK. By Megan M. Seckman | Photos courtesy of Knot & Company Interiors

t has been an entire year since our worlds were turned upside down by a pandemic. An entire year of hunkering down in our homes — homes that have morphed into schools, offices, board meeting sites, diners, entertainment venues, delivery distribution centers, and perpetual pajama parties. The home, in essence, is where we retreated this past year to restore a sense of security, and many of us have spent stretches of days inside with no other contact than our individual tribes. When you have all that time inside your space, you begin to notice a thing or two. Like the fact that there is no retreat space when you need to check out. Or that a giant TV is actually a reasonable purchase. Or that, after making approximately 10,000 meals this year, your kitchen is a joke and needs renovating — STAT. Over the course of 2020, the home design industry noticed some substantial trends. When businesses braced for economic disaster,

Get more information from our home advisors: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Parks & Weisberg Realtors: bhhsparksweisberg.com (p. 23) Lenihan Sotheby’s: lenihansothebysrealty.com (p. 25) Living Spaces by Lyn: livingspacesbylyn.com (p. 27) WR Realtors: wrrealtors.com (p.29) Bliss Home: blisshomefurniture.com (p.31)

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

construction saw a boom. Amy Curran, co-owner of Cornerstone Kitchen & Bath, said that at the beginning of the pandemic, she thought she’d see a decline in custom renovations and anticipated an influx of requests for home offices. However, by late summer, requests were flying in for kitchen remodels. The kitchen became the focus of remodeling during the pandemic. “Over time, I think what it’s about is people are coming back to the heart of their homes. The more time you spend together eating meals or doing homework at the kitchen table, you start to realize what does and doesn’t work about your kitchen. You realize what is important to you, and the more time you spend working in the kitchen, the more it starts to bother you when your kitchen doesn’t meet your needs,” Amy says. Dani Harris, co-owner and designer at Knot & Co. Interiors, completed her own kitchen remodel PAGE 22>>

Today’s Woman / March 2021 21

HOME

Pandemic Renovation Trends

during the pandemic, turning her outdated 1950s ranch-style kitchen into a modern, minimal oasis. Dani and her husband realized the need to update the heart of their home to something more functional and open — a place that could double as a hangout space, playroom, and a track for their 1-year-old to run laps in. Dani decided to keep the original square shape, but move the refrigerator to an opposing wall to free up counter space and to create a new locale for a full-wall pantry. Despite the popularity, Dani decided against the trend to include an island in order to provide enough floor space for her child’s romping. In addition, the family wanted more natural light, so they removed some columns that blocked the exterior window to let the sunshine in. “I wanted simple and functional, white and bright,” Dani explains. In order to achieve these goals, she incorporated quartz countertops, white paint, and greige cabinets. Like most sectors of business, construction renovations have also had to adjust to our new normal. Dani explains that in her own remodel,

as well as jobs she designs for her clients, the biggest change since the pandemic has been supply delays. What was originally supposed to be a four-week remodel, turned into an eightweek project due to increased delays in supply of cabinets, countertops, fixtures, and appliances. For instance, cabinet lead times that used to be six weeks are now running 10-12 weeks behind. Dani was fortunate enough to have family to stay with during her remodel, another trend she is seeing with her clients. “Remodeling a kitchen with kids and naps and online school during a pandemic is too much,” Dani says. She also notes that business, however, is booming, and the industry is seeing increases in both residential and commercial construction. “Contractors have never been busier.” Bobby Brugh, a general contractor, says construction during the pandemic “has been nuts! Business has actually increased despite the fact that material costs are higher than a year ago. Residential remodel is through the roof while new construction is still jamming.” Bobby has seen an PAGE 24 >>

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

By Carrie Vittitoe Photo by Melissa Donald | PROMOTION

hen Judie Parks and her brother, Dave, purchased Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Parks & Weisberg, the market was tanking due to the financial crisis of 2008. While they hoped their business would grow, they didn’t know exactly how that would happen or what that growth would look like. Over the years, the company has hired many new agents and opened offices in Jeffersonville and Floyds Knobs, Indiana. In 2019, it merged with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Partners Realty, a Bowling Green agency. “We go all the way down [Interstate] 65. From Southern Indiana to Bowling Green, we have a presence,” Judie says. Plus, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Parks & Weisberg represents Ball Homes, one of the largest builders in the state. While this extensive growth has been exciting, it also means that the agency is busting at the seams at its current headquarters. The need for more space led Judie and Dave to begin building a new office on Herr Lane, which should be completed in the fall of 2021. “We’re really excited to be owners. That’s a huge plunge, but we’re ready for it,” she says. While COVID-19 has changed several design elements of the new office space, reducing some of the open concepts to smaller, individual offices, it hasn’t affected the desire of agents to be in the office safely and working to help their clients. Judie says her staff really thrives on the synergy that comes from being together. Judie and Dave plan to continue growing the company, but that growth is methodical and organic. “We expect to grow slower but better. We are more concerned with getting the highest quality agents that fit our culture, appreciate everything we have, and want us to help them grow and meet their goals,” she says.

“WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE OWNERS. THAT’S A HUGE PLUNGE, BUT WE’RE READY FOR IT.” — JUDIE PARKS, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Parks & Weisberg

295 N Hubbards Lane | Suite 102 | Louisville | 502.458.1988 bhhsparksweisberg.com

HOME

Pandemic Renovation Trends

influx in residential projects such as kitchen remodels, home entertainment centers and gyms, pools and spas. “People are spending so much time at home that they are looking for things to keep their kids busy, so that’s why you’re seeing so many requests for in-ground pools and home gyms.” He has had to make adjustments in his business — Robert Brugh Construction — to plan for long delays in the supply chain. “You can’t demo a kitchen and put it back together without appliances, plumbing fixtures, glass [he notes it is backlogged after the protests last summer], and cabinets. The industry has the demand, just not the supply. So now I have to tell my clients that I can’t start for 4-5 weeks because I have to wait on the supplies.” Bobby also said another change in materials lies in the cost. “A sheet of plywood used to cost $7.90 and now it is up to $28.30. So materials are triple what they used to be, which has decreased the construction of spec homes. You just don’t have the same profit margin you once had.” In the design sector, there are also changing trends emerging from our time indoors. Kimberly Brown of Cornerstone Kitchen & Bath says she has seen a gradual shift away from all-white kitchens. “For many years, customers were focusing on white kitchens. I think the pandemic has made people a little more creative, and they are gravitating toward color,” Kim says. She has seen many requests for royal and navy blues, sage and greyish green cabinetry, blacks and golds. Wood-tones are also resurfacing in the chocolate and charcoal palette. While white is still a primary request, and quartz the most sought-after countertop, she is excited about the color revival. Overall, Amy is hopeful about business once we return to normal. “If there is anything we’ve learned through this year, it is adaptability. We’ve improved our virtual communication and how to limit the number of groups in our showroom, and we’ve adjusted to delays but still managed to stay focused on the customer. The pandemic has improved our ability to change and respond to our clients’ needs on a daily basis.”

“OVER TIME, I THINK WHAT IT’S ABOUT IS PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO THE HEART OF THEIR HOMES.” Amy Curran | co-owner of Cornerstone Kitchen & Bath

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

HOME

House Projects to Start Now

By Carrie Vittitoe

By Carrie Vittitoe Photos by Melissa Donald

ith COVID-19 keeping so many of us at home for the past year looking at the same walls and furnishings even when we were “at work,” a lot of women are looking at their homes with an eye toward making changes. Some might have their 2020 busted travel budget to put toward those changes, while others might simply go for inexpensive upgrades that give their eyes something new and pleasant to focus on. Katie Perri, a local interior designer, DIY guru, and owner of Katie Perri Design, shares some of her ideas for how to renew one’s home.

Inexpensive Ways to Liven Things Up Katie says one of the best ways to make a home feel new is to move furnishings around. The etagere that has been sitting in the bedroom for years might be all it takes to perk up a living room. Or maybe an overstuffed PAGE 28 >>

Katie Perri loves to style using plants and books but also creates special touches such as this vase she created from a thrift store find, paint, and dirt (and it sits on a table she made.)

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

HOME

chair in the bedroom deserves new life in the basement family room. If the size and shape of rooms make it difficult to maneuver furniture in new ways, the best bet might be to add some smaller decor items to your rooms. “My personal favorite is adding plants, faux trees, [and] smaller potted greenery. When I’m styling shelves that is “THIS IS OUR HOME; something I always use,” Katie says. She says it adds a homey WE SHOULDN’T and warm feel. WORRY ABOUT One thing she often sees is builder grade materials in WHO IS GOING TO homes that can easily be added LIVE HERE AFTER or swapped out for very little cost. “A lot of the windows I US. IF THIS MAKES see have zero trim. Adding a US HAPPY, THAT’S few pieces of wood is a custom WHAT WE’RE GOING look. It can make all of the difference,” she says. Another idea is to remove cheap TO DO.” lighting fixtures (think “boob” lights). Not every light in the Katie Perri house has to be replaced at the owner of Katie Perri Design same time; slowly changing out light fixtures room-by-room can be a simple way to add a spark of interest to the spaces we’ve been looking at constantly this past year. Of course, there is always a can of paint that can change the entire feel of a room for under $50. “The power of paint is insane,” Katie says.

Katie Perri sits in front of an area on which she says you should spend money — where you will spend your time. This is in a basement area that holds a bar and a large built-in entertainment center that she built herself.

Where to Spend More Katie is a fan of doing built-ins to really customize a space and make it something the homeowner will use. This could be adding a bar area to a basement or a huge entertainment center with shelving to cover a large expanse of wall. Some homeowners may be hesitant to spend money on built-ins because if they ever move, they can’t take it with them. As a woman who built a custom playhouse in her basement for her daughters, Katie says she doesn’t worry about resale. While a family with older teens might not like that playhouse feature in her home should she and her husband ever sell, there are plenty of families with young children who would love it. “This is our home; we shouldn’t worry about who is going to live here after us. If this makes us happy, that’s what we’re going to do,” she says. She conveys that same advice to others: “If this is what makes them happy and love being in their home, then go for it.” PAGE 30 >>

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HOME

What’s Trending The white and gray palette has been everywhere the last several years, but Katie thinks that darker muted shades of plums, greens, sages, and mustards are going to appear in paints and furnishings. “Sometimes with all white everything, it can fall flat. I personally will be happy to see some color thrown in there,” she says.

Don’t Be Scared to DIY While Katie is largely self-taught, she encourages other women to push themselves a little out of their comfort zones to try DIY projects. Perhaps the most simple DIY project Katie recommends is to purchase fabric you love and some adhesive tape and make new covers for your throw pillows.

Finding Inspiration Online Instagram is a great source of ideas and inspiration for those of us who don’t feel 100 percent confident in our design choices. Designers like Katie (@ katieperridesign) not only showcase projects they’ve done but often share other designers’ ideas that have inspired them. Katie posts her professional work as well as the efforts she has made to personalize her own family’s home in Sellersburg, Indiana.

Katie created a girls' bedroom using crib ends as headboards, whimsical wall painting, and topped it off with a chandelier. (See page 40 for a playroom created for the girls.)

INSTAGRAM IS A GREAT SOURCE OF IDEAS AND INSPIRATION FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON’T FEEL 100 PERCENT CONFIDENT IN OUR DESIGN CHOICES.

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

Today’s Woman / March 2021 31

29 THINGS (Why 29? Because we are 29 years old!)

The ABCs of 29 Years of Today’s Woman Past and Present By Anita Oldham Photos by Melissa Donald

ANIMALS

BEST BODY issue is all about strength and commitment, and we met women who continue to inspire as we aspire to take care of ourselves.

Stories can be told of our features on pets — we’ve had chickens, pot-belly pigs, and escape-artist cats.

F. Founders

Tiffany White

The DESIGN of Today’s Woman has shifted multiple times including three different logos. Our design team has had many contributors but the long-standing (now Editorial Director) April Allman (20 years) has played a strong hand in the design for years. Current Design Director Jill Cobb has created clean, beautiful issues. (Shoutout to former change-agent designers: Kathy Bolger, Jessica Alyea, and Maggie Freeman.)

Kit Abell and Gayle Uhls — the original visionaries of a local woman’s magazine — were recently divorced, inexperienced business women who took a mockup out to advertisers 29 years ago and sold their dream based on almost nothing.

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Special thanks to Photo Director Melissa Donald who has overseen, edited, and charmingly taken photos of so many women in her 11 years on staff. (Extra cheers to James Moses, Lloyd Wainscott, Vivian Knox-Thompson, Eva Wojtkowska.)

GOT PROPS?

It’s fun to look back at all the props that we have used to style a photo (some at the last miraculous minute).

August 1997 — Vise used with some good hair teasing and strong hairspray (Thanks Kirby!)

Jan 1998 — Boxing gloves combined with great makeup on Alison.

Nov 1998 — Bear from my son’s bedroom shelf.

Dec 2007 — Created the snowball out of a tennis ball found in my car — and sprayed both it and the tree with fake snow.

April 2014 — “Dress” made out of fabric remnants.

March 2019 — Wallpaper used as the floor.

Lucy M. Pritchett

April Allman Jill Cobb

300+ COVER SHOOTS

What good fortune to work with great local photographers! Our team has tried to create magazine covers that would beg to be picked up — moving up to 50,000 copies a month.

As an EDITORIAL Team, we planned out an endless number of great concepts that were executed beautifully with the always optimistic Executive Editor Tiffany White (16 years) and the “WordSpirit” Contributing Editor: Lucy M. Pritchett (25 years).

We appreciate our readers who have looked for us each month, chased down the delivery driver (truth!), and ran out to get the newest issue of Today’s Woman.

Oct 2009 — Backdrop March 2014 — Dress created out of my we made out of old curtains for Sadiqa’s magazine covers. magic act.

Today’s Woman / March 2021

29 THINGS

The Hats.

Hat makers, you are so creative! We have featured as many as 86 Derby hats in one of our colorful April issues. Gingerly handling hundreds of hats on a variety of shoots, in a variety of weather conditions (always taken in February!), and on a variety of models gives you skills not easily described on a resume. May the hats shine brightly in the April issue of Today’s Woman.

Illustrations by Kayla Oldham Hammit

INCLUSIVE:

ALL WOMEN IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE IMPORTANT AND NEEDED.

JUST INSPIRING. Thanks to all the survivors who have shared their stories.

J Photo by Christine Rounsavall Mueller

KICK IT —

Today’s Woman has always encouraged women to take the next step whatever it is — we even had a feature related to that.

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

“LOVE THAT MAGAZINE” We didn’t take it lightly and still don’t. We appreciate the many times we have heard how much you “love” Today’s Woman.

Today’s Woman / March 2021

29 THINGS

MY FAVORITE SUPPLEMENT tells the story of health creatively.

LATE NIGHT WITH ANITA

Joyce Inman

Teri Hickerson

Susan Allen

Many of my better ideas for Today’s Woman came in the middle of the night — when the house and email were both quiet. Some were crazy, but I remember an epiphany at 2:30am 18+ years ago that Today’s Woman would set the precedent for recognizing and honoring women in this community, which led to Most Admired Woman and Way to Go, Woman! recognitions. (Vote for Most Admired Woman this month at TodaysWomanNow.com)

OH SO MANY DETAILS:

So many hands have been needed to create this magazine. For the past four years, we have had Scheri Stewart Mullins as our office administrator developing connections to readers and clients alike. Earl Zion, our retired distribution manager coordinated deliveries in his magazine-covered van for years, but now Mary and Fritz Brumm, and Paul Bacher make sure the magazines are in their racks. Scheri Mullins

QUEST for supporters and believers of the power of local

women. Our long-time sales executives Susan Allen (25 years), Teri Hickerson (18 years), and Joyce Inman (14 years) have done more than a job — they have believed in the mission and connected the magazine to businesses and organizations that realize the importance of the women in this community.

l Heart Health told in the context of Red Riding Hood with the help of illustrator Silvia Cabib.

PAGES AND PAGES filled

with local, inspiring women. What a personal pleasure to meet so many women who have shown their true selves, who have climbed up to new experiences, who have changed their lives. These women’s stories seeped into my everyday life — filling me with the optimism that women will continue to change the world — and that we can survive anything.

REAL WOMEN DISPLAYED IN BEAUTIFUL WAYS

S SEARCHING FOR THE WOMEN

who haven’t yet shared their stories has been our goal. I know we have missed many hardworking, inspiring women but we thank you for all you are doing for our community!

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

TODAY’S FAMILY We cannot forget all those cute kids telling us “how about if I do this?” in a photo shoot after we tried everything else — and that ends up being the cover shot.

UNCOVER

the small things — it’s always the small things — the right words, the right caption, the right question, the right expression, the right connection, the right angle, and many different perspectives.

29 THINGS

VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE.

We are thankful for creative contributors over the years, including current regular writers and photographers: Marie Bradby, Erika Doll, Patti Hartog, Tonilyn Hornung, Lindsay McDonald, Connie Meyer, Bob Mueller, Joyce Olglesby, Gioia Patton, Megan Seckman, and Carrie Vittitoe. (Built on the work of: Wendy Anguiano, Nelson Auge, Jolea Brown, Barbara Bryan, Denise Cardwell, Mary Cartledgehayes, Kimberly Crum, Lauren Dahl, Marie Davis, Caryn Goldstein, Holly Gregor, Wanda Johnson-Hall, Mary Jo Harrod, Alissa Hicks, Aubrey Hillis, Jenn Hohl, Elaine Jack, Jillian Jones, Linda Kempf, Nadyne Lee, Gwen Mayes, Ellen Birkett Morris, Holly Oyler, Brenda Reed, Paige Rhodes, Yelena Sapin, Cheryl Stuck, John Warren, Chet White, Sunni Wigginton, Jennifer Wilham, and Megan Willman.) Thanks to everyone who had a part in this magazine!

WOW!

HERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WORKED WELL.

Xs and Os — a little sports reference to applaud the many behind-the-scenes key players — fashion stylists, makeup and hair artists.

27. This column called “29 Things” started when the magazine turned 18 years old — and I thought maybe we could continue until it was 20 — but who can resist these short informative reads?

THE ZION:

m Makeup artist Isidro Valencia created this zipper look.

Publisher Cathy Zion who has great enthusiasm for reaching all areas of this community, has much excitement for meeting women at every event, and has created the means to continue to lift women at every opportunity.

— Anita

Oldham

Editor-In-Chief 28. As publisher Tawana Bain creates a new vision for this magazine (read her thoughts on page 56) along with current Executive Editor Tiffany White and team, I am cheering for Today’s Woman to be a beacon in the region.

29. P.S. Can’t wait to read the next issue! Today’s Woman / March 2021

MARCH 2021

BABY, IT’S GOOD! Getting your children to eat quality foods By Paige Rhodes

s a recipe developer with a toddler, people always ask me how I get my kid to eat the food I cook. Norah is 2½ and loves everything from smoked salmon quiche for breakfast to snacking on olives, bell peppers, and dates, and has eaten these foods since she started baby-led weaning at six months old. Lest you think that I have the perfect healthy gourmet-eating toddler, she also eats many frozen chicken nuggets and microwaved macaroni and cheese. Kids have preferred tastes, just like adults do, and there will always be foods that they enjoy more than others. When trying to encourage your children to eat good food, there are a few basic guidelines that I think are helpful for caregivers to keep in mind.

Get the kids in the kitchen A chair or learning tower and some plastic training knives are all you need to get your kids excited about helping in the kitchen. When Norah helps me make a salad for lunch, she always ends up eating the lettuce or cucumber right from the cutting board without anyone offering it to her. Don’t feel like you have to hide the spinach in their smoothie — ask them to put a handful of it in the blender. Let them scoop the chia seeds and pour in the almond milk. They will be so proud of themselves, they’ll likely eat (or drink) every bit and even encourage you to do the same.

Let them make up their minds I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard a parent say, “Oh no, you won’t like that” when a child asks to order something new from the menu. I get it, I do. The last thing you want is to spend the money only to have them turn it away. Been there, done that. However, by telling them straight up that you know they won’t like it, you’re making up their mind for them and putting up a wall that will be hard to knock back down.

Stay neutral Admittedly, this is the one that I have the most trouble with, and I notice a huge difference when I stick to this rule. The more you harp on trying the food, the more they likely won’t want to. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said, “Just try it! You’ll like it!,” and almost every single time, it backfires. You are responsible for getting the food in front of them, and they are the ones responsible for eating it, no matter how old they are.

Don’t give up Children’s taste buds are everevolving. If you offer them steamed cauliflower one time and they spit it out, don’t just throw in the towel and claim that they don’t like cauliflower. Whether it’s a texture aversion or a flavor dislike, foods can always be altered in new and exciting ways. Try grating the cauliflower to make it a rice-like consistency or roasting until it’s golden brown and has a nutty flavor. Just because children don’t prefer an ingredient one time doesn’t mean they won’t take a liking to it eventually. It can take up to 20 offerings for a child to develop a taste for a specific food, so don’t give up hope, and most importantly, have fun and don’t sweat it. Paige Rhodes is the owner of Louisville-based MyModernCookery.com.

Norah prepares some veggies for her salad. Many of them go straight into her mouth instead, and that’s OK. Photos by Matt Johnson

I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I’VE SAID, “JUST TRY IT! YOU’LL LIKE IT!”

Today’s Woman / March 2021 39

Make Room

nterior Designer and Do-It-Yourself Expert Katie Perri believes you should create a home your kids will be happy in now and not worry about resale. In her basement area, she built a playhouse, a grocery store, a book reading area, and a tea-room playing area for her two young girls. Read more about Katie’s suggestions on page 26. Photos by Melissa Donald

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

for Play

“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.” — Diane Ackerman

Today’s Woman / March 2021 41

BRAIN, SCREEN TIME, AND HOW DETOXING CAN CAUSE ARGUMENTS By Tonilyn Hornung

t’s been a slow descent, but my 7-year-old now binge-watches enough television that his eyes no longer blink. When quarantine became our new normal, so did screen time. Television shows, talking with friends, online learning, and video games are my kid’s lifeline to everything. Is it possible to set normal screen time limits during a time that’s not so normal? Laurel Sims-Stewart, a licensed professional clinical counselor working with children and adults at Bridge Counseling and Wellness, says when talking to your kids about setting healthy screen time boundaries, use language they understand. “We talk about taking care of our body and how it needs different things like sleep and exercise,” she says. “So, when we take care of our brain, we have to give it a variety of different things, too.” It’s all about helping kids understand balance, she says. When I became pregnant, I read all the research that said if I could lessen

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

screen time for my child, I’d be doing his developing brain a favor. We focused on making screen time less of a thing so self-confidence-building activities like unstructured outdoor play, reading, and hands-on pastimes could be more of a thing. I put this advice into my parenting bag o’ tricks, and then the pandemic rendered my bag useless. While I’m working, doing household tasks, or juggling 13 other things, my kid’s entertainment is a screen. I finally noticed how much time he was investing when his other interests fell by the wayside. I stepped in to take control of the remote control, but when I did he uncharacteristically flew into hysterics or was so heartbroken he couldn’t speak. I knew we needed to change the channel, but my classic moves to redirect his attention failed. My parenting guilt rose because I didn’t know how to help my son through this. Had I missed my window for guiding him? Laurel says, “Everybody is struggling and doing their best. So it’s OK to give yourself grace.” I took a breath and reassessed.

Laurel says that creative and active activities that involve connection are “the best replacements for screen time.” I wanted my son to remember his old loves like talking to his parents and building Legos. Now I knew what to encourage, but I also understood it was impractical to return to all restrictions. But when I made any move that brought me near the remote, his “Spidey-sense” alerted him that something was afoot and arguments ensued. Laurel says to expect a kind of “detox period” when shifting screen time expectations. “We might notice our kids are irritable or having a lot of emotion,” she says. This is when empathy can bridge the gap. Laurel says use phrases like, “I know that it’s really difficult to make that switch. I love you, and your brain is really important to me, so we’re gonna choose something else right now.” During a time when life’s perceptions are changing, my family’s are, too. We’re learning the value that balanced screen time can bring. “I don’t think screen time is all negative,” Laurel says. “Like with anything, there are pros and cons to it.” I definitely knew the cons, but now I’m seeing the benefits. For example, my son enjoys video chatting and playing his favorite game with his friend all while staying safe at home. We’re using the screen as an active tool of connecting instead of a passive tool of disconnecting. And we’re still practicing how to turn it off.

YOUR GUIDE TO

SPRING BREAK By Lindsay McDonald

any families were gearing up for spring break when the pandemic began last March, forcing some to modify or cancel plans. Now that spring break 2021 is here, what options are available to families? From underground excursions to lantern lights aglow, we’ve found some spring break adventures that offer something for everyone.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE CLOSE TO HOME, WE’VE HIGHLIGHTED SOME LOCAL ATTRACTIONS THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO OFFER A GOOD TIME FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. COME PLAY ON THE FARM...Huber Orchard, Winery, & Vineyards offer fun for the whole family with live music on the weekends, sweet treats, farm-made ice cream, outdoor dining, duck and fish feeding at the pond, and shopping at the Farm Market. Open daily huberwinery.com

A PLACE WHERE THE WEATHER IS ALWAYS GOOD...Louisville Mega Cavern offers several underground adventures, including zip-lining, aerial ropes challenge course, and historic bike, walking, and tram tours. Open daily louisvillemegacavern.com

DO YOU HAVE A CLUE?...Derby Dinner Playhouse is offering an entertaining night out for families with older children with its performance of Clue: The Musical. This internationally popular game comes to life on stage in this fun-filled musical. March 31-May 9 Ages 10 and up derbydinner.com

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

HIKING, FISHING, AND GIANTS...OH MY!...Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is located 25 miles south of Louisville, offering over 40 miles of hiking trails, fishing, public art, and the must-see Forest Giants. Carved from recycled wood, the three Forest Giants tower over the landscape, thrilling visitors with their detail and size. Open daily bernheim.org Submitted photo

SO MANY LIGHTS, YOU BETTER WEAR SHADES...Louisville Zoo Wild Lights is one of the largest lantern festivals in the nation, featuring thousands of handcrafted silk-covered lanterns aglow with more than 50,000 LED light bulbs. March 19-May 30 Starts at 6:30pm louisvillezoo.org

The Giants are within walking distance of each other on an approximately 2-mile loop.

READY TO GET OUT OF TOWN? WE FOUND SOME REGIONAL ATTRACTIONS THAT ARE A SHORT DRIVE FROM LOUISVILLE AND OFFER A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES THAT WILL TAKE SPRING BREAK TO THE NEXT LEVEL. DIVE IN...Newport Aquarium showcases thousands of animals from around the world, in a million gallons of water. From the Shark Bridge to Gator Alley, adventure awaits for the entire family. Open daily newportaquarium.com GRAB YOUR FLASHLIGHT... Mammoth Cave National Park is home to rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world’s longest known cave system. There are several ways to explore the park. Tour a cave, go hiking, canoe or kayak along the Green and Nolin Rivers, or camp overnight. Open daily nps.gov/maca/index.htm

SPARK YOUR IMAGINATION... The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is the world’s largest children’s museum, providing one-of-a-kind experiences that range from an immersive Dinosphere© to the exquisite, five-story Fireworks of Glass sculpture by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Open daily childrensmuseum.org EXPLORE AND INDULGE...Brown County, Indiana, is a short drive north on I-65 and offers many family-friendly options, including outdoor adventures, charming shops, homemade treats, and quaint cabins and inns for an overnight stay. Browncounty.com

The Louisville Zoo is bringing back the Wild Lights Lantern Festival (left) for 2021. For plenty of active family fun, The Louisville Mega Cavern (above) provides ziplining, a ropes course, biking, and more. Submitted photos

SPORTS, SCIENCE, ART...TAKE YOUR PICK. THESE CAMPS OFFER A WEEK OF FUN, DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU LOVE. WE’VE GOT SPIRIT, HOW ABOUT YOU?...All About Kids Spring Break Camp provides a fun, safe environment for kids to learn and grow through sports. Gymnastics, swim, cheer, dance, open gym, and crafts will be offered. Louisville Location: March 29-April 2 Oldham County Location: April 5-April 9 Ages 4-14 allaboutkids.cc EXPLORE YOUR WORLD... Kentucky Science Center School’s Out Spring Break Camp encourages campers to play, tinker, and investigate the world around them with plenty of time to explore their favorite science center. March 29-April 2 Pre-K through Grade 5 kysciencecenter.org

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

DISCOVER, GROW, AND LEARN... Jewish Community of Louisville Camp J: Spring Camp offers a fun, and engaging experience for campers to discover, grow, and learn. Choose from Traditional Camp or Snapology Summer Sampler Specialty Camp which offers engineering, Minecraft, robotics, and more. March 29-April 2 K through Grade 5 jewishlouisville.org PACK A LUNCH...The Parklands of Floyds Fork Spring Break Hiking Day Camp offers a week of fun and adventure at The Parklands of Floyds Fork. Each day campers will explore a new trail in Beckley Creek Park while investigating the flora and fauna that call the park home. March 29-April 2 K through Grade 6 theparklands.org

LET’S GET CREATIVE...Louisville Visual Art Spring Break Art Camp 2021 will be filled with discovery, discussion, and art projects in the mornings. Afternoon camp life will involve exploring outside, creating art, and playing games, all centered around the theme of Earth and its inhabitants. March 29-April 2 Ages 7-12 louisvillevisualart.org READY FOR SOME ACTION?... Oldham County Family YMCA Spring Break Camp offers campers the chance to participate in themed games and activities, stir their imaginations, get plenty of exercise, and make new friends. April 5-9 Ages 5-10 (K-5th grade) For information or to register call 502.222.9358.

CAMP DIRECTORY Camp J at the Jewish Community Center Camp friends are forever friends. Splash into summer at Camp J at the Jewish Community Center, June 7 – August 6! There are many reasons to send your kiddos to camp this summer! Camp J offers weekly traditional camp for Kindergarten through 10th grade. Campers will participate in games and sports, dance, arts and crafts, science and nature, swimming, drama, Israeli culture, music and more! Swim lessons are provided to children Kindergarten through 3rd grade and all campers get free swim daily. Camp J also offers weekly specialty camps! From sports to cooking, STEAM camps and more, there is something for every camper, at every age! Register for the transformative Camp J experience campers remember for the rest of their lives! At Camp J, children will learn, discover, grow, have fun and make lifelong friendships! Camp friends are forever friends! Sign your kids up for Camp J today at jcclouisvillecamp.org!

Whet Your Palette We are in our 9th year of camp and are excited to focus on five more unique artists to our summer camp this year. Along with our camp favorites, we have added some new camp themes and five new artists! 2021 Art Camp Themes: • Art From the Kitchen •C ats, Dogs And All Things Pets • Disney Heroes • Garden Party • Messy Slimy

• Music Time • Patterns on Patterns • Star Wars • Vacation Time • Video Game Adventure

Multiple camp themes all summer. WHEN: Starts May 24th. 9:30-11, 11:30-2, 2:30-5 AGES: Age groups 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. COST: Starts at $95/week or $25/day Combine for all-day experience. Discounts for siblings and all day camping. Space is limited. Register early! WhetYourPalette.com | 502.438.8865

COME TO CAMP!

Camp Palawopec

The Louisville Zoo

Oldham County Schools Arts Center

A good old-fashioned fun camp in the hills of Brown County, Indiana.

The WILDEST camps in town are at the Louisville Zoo!

Summer Camps in Theatre, Visual Arts, Music and Dance

Activities include swimming, mountain biking, canoing, soccer, basketball, climbing, campfires every night, Indian lore, crafts, horses, archery, etc. Great summer fun in a relaxed outdoor setting. One staff for every three campers. AGES:

Ages: 8 – 15 years

COST:

One week session = $895 Two week session = $1695 Three week session = $2495 Four week session = $3295

DATES: Coed sessions: May 30-June 5, June 6-12, July 11-17, July 18-24, July 25-31 Boys session: June 13-19, June 20-26 Girls session: July 27-July 3, July 4-10

Wild Lights Spring Break Camp Date: March 29-April 2 Cost: $350 Members / $375 Non-Members Ages: 8-10 year olds This week we’ll shine a light on lanterns! Campers will explore the zoo throughout the week to discover the processes of illumination and learn about the real-life animal counterparts that inspired the Zoo’s Wild Lights exhibit. As a part of their week, campers will construct their own Asian lantern and will receive the special opportunity to display it during our Wild Lights event! Camp cost includes admission for 1 adult to visit Wild Lights to see their child’s lantern display. Info and registration at LouisvilleZoo. org/camps.

New camps every week! June 7 – July 30 Are you hoping to improve your acting, auditioning, or musical theatre skills? Would you like to dance to tunes from your favorite Disney princess movie or bring your favorite American Girl doll to art camp? Do you prefer to explore painting, mixed media or clay sculpting? Dream of playing a new instrument? Summer is a great time to try something new, improve a skill and have a fun time with some newly made friends! You can do it all with over 35 camps for ages 4 -18! Most camps are half-day which can be combined to create a full day camp experience. Ballet/Tap classes and private music/voice lessons are also available. Please call the Arts Center at 502-241-6018 for more information or visit www.ocsartscenter.org for a complete listing of camps and to register online.

3497 N Clay Lick Rd, Nashville, Brown County, IN, 47448 • 812.988.2689 camppalawopec.com • mail@camppalawopec.com

You can view all camp listings on TodaysWomanNow.com. YMCA Camp Piomingo

YMCA Summer Day Camps

This summer, kids need camp like never before. At YMCA Camp Piomingo they will be able to unplug to reconnect, with nature and each other.

YMCA Summer Day Camps offer a powerful learning environment and can be a place where a child’s social education and independence grow. Kids have the opportunity to try new activities and when they succeed — they build self-esteem and confidence.

YMCA Camp Piomingo is the region’s premiere overnight camp for kids ages 6-16. Campers share outdoor adventures and experience fun activities like high ropes, the zip line, horseback riding and swimming in our awesome aquatics center. Our experienced and high-energy staff help campers gain self-esteem, make new friends and develop interpersonal and leadership skills. Safety has always been, and will remain, our first priority. We will be following guidelines established by the CDC, American Camp Association, and local health experts to keep your children and our staff safe throughout the summer. Visit us online at ymcacamppiomingo.org or call 502.942.2616 to reserve your bunk today! The Y is for everyone. Financial assistance is available.

The Y provides physical activity, fun in nature, arts and crafts, swimming and much more! Campers are challenged and encouraged by nurturing, caring staff, who practice the Y’s Character Values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. We will be following guidelines to keep your children and our staff healthy and safe throughout the summer. Visit ymcalouisville.org to read more about our protocols. Register online at ymcalouisville.org by April 12 and save! Use promo code: OUTSIDE21. The Y is for everyone. Financial assistance is available.

Interested in listing a Camp Directory? Our next issue to feature the Camp Directory is May. Contact us at Advertising@TodaysMediaNow.com or 502.327.8855.

CAMP DIRECTORY

Get off your screens. Get out of the house.

Safety in Senior Care Keeping elders and caregivers protected By Carrie Vittitoe Photos by Melissa Donald

Caregiving has looked and felt different since March 2020 when COVID-19 changed all of our lives. We’ve had to reconsider what safety looks like, be intentional about managing safety protocols, and acknowledge how much these new tasks make caregiving even more taxing than it normally is. Barton House, Masonic Homes of Kentucky, and Norton Healthcare are three local entities that have spent the last year emphasizing safety for its patients while also doing what it takes to provide care to its caregiving staff. PAGE 52 >>

March 2020 / TodaysWomanNow.com

our experts “We’re working as a family. It’s going the extra step and being proactive. You have to get everybody involved and get them in the decision-making so they have ownership.” AMY CLARK Executive Director Barton House Memory Care BARTON HOUSE MEMORY CARE is located at 6830 Overlook Dr, Louisville, KY 40241.

“Everybody is on varying schedules; it’s a health care campus 24/7. You’ve got a variety of schedules and needs. The goal from the onset was so people could continue to go to work so they weren’t stressed out and experiencing anxiety.” KRISTEN LACY NTI Program Coordinator Masonic Homes of Kentucky

Submitted photo

MASONIC HOMES OF KENTUCKY is located at 3701 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40207.

“From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been trying to be at the front edge of discovery. Given that many of us have a long history in the world of monoclonal antibodies, it was a perfect ability for us to make the transition to see that there was benefit.” DR. JOSEPH M. FLYNN D.O., MPH, FACP, chief administrative officer of Norton Medical Group, and physician-in-chief, Norton Cancer Institute Norton Healthcare NORTON HEALTHCARE has numerous locations in the Louisville area. Today’s Woman / March 2021 51

<< PAGE 50

Caregiving Directory This Caregiving Directory provides information about area senior facilities and senior support services. Call 502.327.8855 for more information on how to be listed in this directory.

Barton House

6830 Overlook Dr Louisville, KY 40241 (502) 423-7177 bartonlouisville.com

Number of beds: 20 Separate unit: yes (freestanding) Cost per month: $ 6125 (all-inclusive) Level of care: personal care Special services: Designed for Alzheimer’s & memory impairments. Dignified & individualized care, from meals to the activities they participate in, and how their room is decorated. Provides pets to love & care for, frequent meals promoting socialization, tree-filled backyard with a patio and walking path. Staff trained in dementia. Medical care by our nurses, therapists, psychiatrist & doctor. Owner: Goodworks Payment Accepted: private, LTCi

AN EMPHASIS ON SAFETY Barton House, a 20-bed memory care/personal care community has, throughout its twodecade history, been focused on the emotional, intellectual, and physical wellness of its residents. While COVID-19 hasn’t lessened that focus, it has forced executive director Amy Clark and her staff to plan differently to ensure residents are pandemic-safe. They have worked tirelessly and made lots of changes within the home, many of which involve adding in more time between activities to ensure staff can keep residents safely spaced. “There’s more focus on how and when we’re doing things versus just the normal routine,” Amy says. “We’ve got to pre-plan every step.” Being a small community helps make this a little easier and allow for more individualized care to meet residents’ needs, which can change from day-to-day as a result of their memory loss. Keeping residents safe from COVID-19 has, of course, been a priority, but it has been balanced with the very real need to keep residents and their families emotionally healthy. Barton House staff disinfect a foyer area frequently so that a family member can sit on one side and speak on the phone opposite a large window where their loved one sits, allowing residents to still see people who love them. “They’re able to at least have some contact with their families,” Amy says. It can be hard for families to make the decision to move a loved one into a senior assisted living or personal care community, but in making that decision, they want to know that the staff will go above and beyond to meet the needs of the ones receiving care. Barton House staff has done that in spades since COVID-19 hit, including taking residents’ temperatures three times a day at every shift change and increasing their janitorial staff. “We’re doing more than what’s mandated,” Amy says.

KEEPING COVID-19 PATIENTS SAFER Despite safety precautions, people at high risk of poor outcomes continue to be diagnosed with COVID-19. Dr. Joseph M. Flynn, D.O., MPH, FACP, chief administrative officer of Norton Medical Group, and physician-in-chief, Norton Cancer Institute, says in the early days of the pandemic, the mortality rate from COVID-19 for individuals over age 65 was 5.6 percent. While this may seem small, it means that in the U.S., where some 52 million people meet this criteria, that could result in more than two million deaths. Norton Healthcare is able to offer high risk COVID-19 patients outpatient treatment with PAGE 69>>

The Forum at Brookside 200 Brookside Dr Louisville, KY 40243

(502) 245-3048 theforumatbrookside.com Levels of care: retirement, personal care, nursing facility Capacity: retirement-240, personal care-24, nursing facility-60 Special services: A beautiful gated community, 24-hr security, chef prepared meals, flexible dining plan, indoor heated pool, new exercise room, recreational activities, pet friendly, a great staff and management team, gorgeous patio homes and apartments, continuum of care. Owner: Five Star Senior Living, Inc.

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Helping Hands Companion Care Services

2301 Hurstbourne Village Dr #100 Louisville, KY 40299 Norton Healthcare

Submitted photo

monoclonal antibodies. Dr. Flynn says Norton has emergency use authorization (EUA) to treat patients with Regeneron and Bamlanivimab (BAM), which are given intravenously. These medications bind to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and prevent it from replicating or kill it outright; they essentially work as antibodies to fight COVID-19 infection. “Right now we’ve treated close to 1,300 patients; we treat 30-plus patients a day, seven days a week,” he says. Physicians who diagnose high-risk patients with COVID-19 can put an order in the computer, and typically the patient will receive their infusion the same or next day. The process takes several hours, but it is well worth the time since most patients notice significant improvement in their symptoms within a day or two. Jackie Bourke is one such patient who experienced remarkable improvement in her symptoms after receiving BAM. When she was first diagnosed with COVID-19 in November 2020, she felt mildly ill, but within a week she had a fever and difficulty breathing. As a COVID-19 research nurse, “I see the path that people take [with the disease],” she says; she knew she didn’t want to follow that same route.

(502) 426-9783 home-companions.com

Type: non-medical Services: personal care, home making, transportation, errands, respite, med. reminders Cost per hour: $21 and up Employees’ status: bonded, liability ins., background check, direct hires, withhold taxes, drug testing Min. time required: Flexible Special services: Personalized loving care available in home, assisted living, nursing home or hospital • Scheduling up to 24 hours 7 days a week • Trained and experience caregivers • Free assessments • Serving Kentucky and Southern Indiana since 1996. Owner: Terry Graham, RN; Dawn Smithwick, BSW Payment Accepted: private, LTCi, VA

Under the EUA, the following criteria put individuals at high-risk for a poor prognosis should they become infected with COVID-19: • Over age 65 • Obese (BMI over 35) • Chronic kidney disease/diabetes • On immunosuppressive treatment • Have immunosuppressive disease (Lupus, multiple sclerosis, etc.) • If over age 55, have chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, or high blood pressure • If age 12-17, have elevated BMI with congenital heart disease, sickle cell disease, pulmonary disorders, and similar ailments “These antibodies are preventing the escalation of the disease. After a day or two, really, it’s remarkable how quickly [patients] start making a turn. We’ve been very happy with the rapidity of the responses we see,” Dr. Flynn says. Shielding patients against COVID19’s worst outcomes also means protecting the safety of Norton Healthcare staff and non-COVID-19 patients who require hospitalization for other ailments and accidents.

KEEPING RESIDENTS SAFE BY CARING FOR STAFF Norton Healthcare isn’t alone in recognizing that keeping staff safe and cared for ultimately benefits patients. At Barton House, Amy made the decision in the early days of PAGE 54>>

Masonic Homes Kentucky — Louisville Campus 3701 Frankfort Ave Louisville, KY 40207

(502) 259-9627 masonichomesky.com Levels of care: Independent living, assisted living, personal care, skilled nursing, memory care Capacity: independent living-269 apts/12 patio homes; personal care-84; skilled nursing-126; memory care-5 Special services: Short-stay and outpatient rehab available for all levels of care. On-site dialysis clinic. Region’s only Life Care and Life Plan programs provide discounts on health care services to entry fee residents. Owner: Masonic Homes of Kentucky, Inc. PAGE 54 >> Today’s Woman / March 2021 53

Nazareth Home

2000 Newburg Rd Louisville, KY 40205 (502) 459-9681 nazhome.org

Levels of care: Alzheimer’s, nursing/rehab, personal care Capacity: Alzheimer’s-48, nursing/rehab-118, personal-50 Special services: Nazareth Home offers rehab and restorative therapy, specializing in dementia care and personal care with an award-winning therapeutic recreation and exercise program. Owner: Nazareth Home, Inc.

Nazareth Home – Clifton 2120 Payne St Louisville, KY 40206 (502) 895-9425 nazhome.org

Levels of care: Alzheimer’s, nursing/rehab, personal care Capacity: nursing/rehab-108, personal care-31 Special services: Award-winning staff provides nursing care, short stay and outpatient rehab, activities, dining and transportation. Easy access from I-64 on U.S. 60. Therapeutic recreation and exercise programs. On-site religious services. Owner: Nazareth Home, Inc.

Norton Healthcare Find a medical provider or learn more about COVID-19 treatments and research: NortonHealthcare.com

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

Masonic Homes of Kentucky

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the pandemic to help her staff when she feared that daycares might close down (which they did). “I don’t want that to interfere with staffing so [I asked my staff] ‘What can we do to help?’” she says. Amy didn’t want the care and safety of Barton House residents to be compromised because her staff didn’t have child care and couldn’t show up for work. She came up with a proactive plan that involved altering schedules and providing for childcare on site, and while this plan never had to be implemented, Barton House staff appreciated knowing steps were being taken to ensure a system was in place. Masonic Homes Kentucky knew caring for their staff’s needs meant their caregivers could focus all of their attention and energy on caring for residents. With so many levels of caregiving on the Masonic Homes campus, from assisted living to memory care to skilled nursing and beyond, it has always been essential for clinicians, nurses, therapists, and caregivers to be at their best. Adding in the safety protocols of COVID-19 has been one more thing to consider in how their caregiving is accomplished, and that has been difficult given how frequently guidelines change depending on transmission rates. Many Masonic Homes Kentucky caregivers are also parents of school-aged children, so when decisions were made by school boards that students would not return to in-person school in the fall, Masonic Homes created a Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) program for its staff. This program would help ensure that employees could focus on their caregiving during the day and not spend their time at home dealing with the stress of helping their children complete school work. As any caregiver knows, it is essential for those providing care to be physically, mentally, and emotionally rested in order to do their jobs well. Kristen Lacy, the NTI program coordinator for Masonic Homes, says the program is open from 6am-6pm and provides breakfast, school assistance, and activities for children in a COVID-safe environment. Most of the children are in grades K-5 and attend school in three counties, two states, and are in both public and private systems. “We’ve been able to serve about 50 kids up to this point,” she says. There are two teachers and several assistants on site who ensure children log on for classes and complete whatever assignments they’re given. Amanda Dowdle’s fourth-grade son, Hayden, has been in the program, which allows her to focus solely on her role as Life Enrichment Director at Sam Swope Care Center. She is able during the day to put all her attention and energy on the safety and well-being of her staff and the Masonic Homes residents. “I can mentally dedicate myself throughout the day to my residents knowing my child is safe and doing what he needs to do. Without that additional stress, it helps me provide a better day for them,” she says.

TAWANA BAIN’S VISION FOR

Her ‘Why,’ Her Take on Fear, and Her Desire to Build a Sisterhood By Tiffany White

hen Tawana Bain relocated from Miami to Louisville for her job in telecommunications in 2004, she had no intention of staying. A native of Rochester, New York, Tawana describes herself as someone who has always been drawn to the frenetic pace of big cities. But the turning point for Tawana happened during Derby week.

“I understood the richness of the community with that week of the Kentucky Derby in 2005, and I made the decision that I would stay and learn the lay of the land, and I am very grateful I did, because Louisville is an amazing community.” Since then, Tawana has become a successful entrepreneur who owns AFM Threads — a clothing boutique — NAC, which is a project management firm, and the Black Jockey Lounge in downtown Louisville. She is also the founder and board chair of GEDDI, the 501c3 organization responsible for several accelerator programs including the Black Fashion Exchange, which invests in the business community by helping aspiring Black retailers acquire the resources needed to open their own boutiques. Now as the new owner of Today’s Woman, Tawana talks about her hopes, fears, and her enthusiasm for celebrating women. The first issue under Tawana’s vision will debut next month.

What attracted you to Today’s Woman?

I’ve always had a high level of respect for Cathy Zion. I love everything related to empowerment by women. Within this last year, I have recognized the strength of women who address a lot of the issues that have plagued this country.

March 2021 / TodaysWomanNow.com

What is your vision for the magazine? The mission that has been established by the magazine is still very important to me, but I am also very cognizant that outside of inspiring women, I have a unique opportunity to help women who want true authentic sisterhood with other women from all backgrounds to make those connections in a very authentic and non-invasive way. So my vision is for there to be more sisterhood for women of all backgrounds that are developed by uplifting one another and celebrating all women’s successes.

What excites and scares you the most about being the new owner/ leader of Today’s Woman? What scares me the most is the public scrutiny. I love being a leader, but leaders

Watch for Tawana’s digipod show Race to Privilege, created to help people have honest conversations about race. Race to Privilege will be a combination of a podcast and talk show featuring the voices of five women presented as illustrations. Episodes will begin at the end of March. Check TodaysWomanNow.com for more details.

can lead in the background oftentimes, and they can make an impact without the public knowing what they’re working on or how that impact is being driven. So it definitely scares me that there is no hiding in the background as an owner/publisher of a publication. You are directly responsible for the rhetoric and narrative that is being placed out in the community, and so you must be vigorous in making sure you are being accountable, that we are being honest and authentic from cover to cover. But what excites me is that I trust myself to do it, and I have the opportunity to demonstrate through leadership in an honest way what and who every woman is, because women are not monolithic. There are so many different versions of us. There are so many different experiences, and I am excited that I get to bring that to life and see our similarities and celebrate our differences to drive sisterhood.

As a business owner, what do you think other aspiring women/female entrepreneurs need in order to become successful? They need women whose shoulders they can stand on. They need men to believe in them, invest in them, and give them a seat at the table. They need representation, they need women who have paved the way to reach back, they need to have a voice, they need to be able to be themselves. Leading as a woman looks very different from leading as a man. We juggle so much. We are some of the biggest champions for the human race, but the way we accomplish things is not cookie cutter, so I think women will thrive when we allow them to be in an environment where they can bring

Tawana looks to expand the reach of the Today’s Woman community in new digital realms, and create an inclusive sisterhood for all. Photo of Tawana Bain by Albert Jones, Albert Jones Photography

their whole selves to the table. I can run a meeting with a baby on my hip. I can dream about an acquisition while juggling dinner and homework. There is no limit to what a woman can do in the spaces she frequents.

How do you cope with fear when embarking on a new challenge? Self awareness and acknowledging the fear, but not allowing the fear to cripple me. I believe you can become a slave to fear. I have always told people, ‘Boss Up on your fears of uncertainty, or become a slave to never moving forward.’ I have watched so many women share their dreams with me but never materialize them because of fear, and I made a conscious decision that I would rather fall on my face than to have regrets that I didn’t try. Fear is also not of God, and I am a woman of faith. I don’t like to be

restricted. I am a free spirit, and to me, fear is just another restriction.

What challenges do you see facing women in light of what’s happening in our country now? For women of all backgrounds — women of color, white women, black women — there is a reality check that we have all experienced about who is and is not represented within our circle. Who is and is not seated at our dinner tables, our social tables, our work tables, and this has mobilized women of all backgrounds of all ages of all races to recognize that we can do better as women for each other. It is definitely an opportunity for sisterhood. I am passionate about it. I care about it. I have always been fortunate. I have friends from every background: Asian, White, Hispanic,

Muslim, Arab, and African. I hope to be a catalyst for more women to say ‘I want that. I want a diverse circle of friends who I know and love and I think of them as sisters.’

How do you unplug?

Sometimes it’s with a book, sometimes a trip, or a party. It used to be — before losing my sister in 2019 — spending time on the phone with her. It has definitely been an outlet that I no longer have. I was able to be unapologetically vulnerable and having that sounding board no longer around was a very scary time.

Tell me something that isn’t on your resume — something more personal. I stash $100 bills, and when I get to a certain amount I buy something nice for myself. The last thing I splurged on was a pair of Gucci boots.