Owensboro Parent - August 2013

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Owensboro Parent, the FREE guide to raising a family in Owensboro, Kentucky. Featured Articles: The Lessons of Summer, Parental Control, Back to School Roller Coaster, Taking the Leap, Don't Be a Stranger, The New Owensboro, Photos from Facebook, Lights Camera Taken, Grief Isn't Just for Grownups, Owensboro Air Show, Your Child's Best Vision, Course for Success, and It's Fun to Be 5. Contributors: Christina Dalton, Dr. Brian Gannon, Casey Hamilton, Danny May, Jaime Rafferty, Jessica Albers, Christy Ramey and Lora Wimsatt.

Transcript of Owensboro Parent - August 2013

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What a great year it’s been. Looking back over the last 12 issues of Owensboro Parent reminds me of all the great stories we’ve been able to share.

We started with a Lane Goodwin cover story in October. That issue is one of my favorites. The way it came together was remarkable. The magazine was due to the printer on Monday morning and on the Friday morning before I got a phone call. “Have you seen our Facebook?” No, I hadn’t. I pulled it up and to my surprise hundreds and eventually thousands of our readers were lobbying for us to put Lane on the cover, to put a hold on our Cover Contest and give him the spotlight. We couldn’t have agreed more. But we had less than 72 hours to go to print. Could we really change our entire magazine?

We knew if we were going to focus on childhood cancer we had to find as many children in our region as we could who were battling this monster. So we set out with the help of readers to find them all and interview all the families. It was our 72-hour mission to find their stories and find out how we could help them by telling their stories.

With only hours to go, we received an amazing portrait painted by Aaron Kizer. We worked it into the cover, edited over a dozen stories and got the October issue to the printer.

The response was phenomenal! We shipped magazines all over the country and thousands of readers read and shared the story online. The impact and support for those with childhood cancer still continues today.

We hope to continue sharing amazing stories and listening to what you feel is important. That’s why we are exciting to announce our new magazine: Owensboro Living. Owensboro Living is a culmination of everything we have learned about what our readers love in Owensboro Parent but will now focus on our entire community. We know Owensboro Parent will continue to grow and we hope you are as excited about Owensboro Living as we are!

Stay tuned!

Jason [email protected]

Publisher/Creative Director

Jason Tanner

[email protected]

Editor

Ashley Sorce

[email protected]

Advertising Sales

Robert Williams

[email protected]

Graphic Designer

Taylor West

[email protected]

Distribution Manager

Steven Morris

Contributors

Katie Albers

Dr. Brian Gannon

Christina Dalton

Elaine Martin

Danny May

Jaime Rafferty

Melody Wallace

Lora Wimsatt

Printing

Greenwell Chisholm

Owensboro, Kentucky

Contact Information

Owensboro Parent Magazine

PO Box 23237

Owensboro, KY 42304

(270) 314-5240

www.owensboroparent.com

facebook.com/owensboroparent

twitter.com/owensboroparent

issuu.com/owensboroparent

Cover Photo

Jason Tanner

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Delivery of Owensboro Parent

is available by visiting

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Advertise

Owensboro Parent is a FREE

magazine because of community

support.

Thank you to the great group of

businesses & organizations who

advertise with us.

If you want to contribute to the

success of our magazine, we would

love to hear from you and will work

to develop an advertising

partnership that will not only

benefit you, but also the parents

of Owensboro.

from the publisher

august 2013

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the lessons of summer [08]

parental control [10]

back to school roller coaster [12]

taking the leap [14]

don’t be a stranger [16]

the new owensboro [18]

photos from Facebook [26]

[28] lights, camera, taken

[30] grief isn’t just for grownups

[32] owensboro air show

[35] your child’s best vision

[37] course for success

[38] it’s fun to be 5

[40] august calendar[38]

[37]

[18]

[35]

august features

[28]

[16]

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august 2013

August is a big month for Owensboro Parent! We are celebrating

our 25th issue-- two years making this magazine for Owensboro!

To celebrate, we asked you what you like best about our magazine.

Here are some of our favorite answers. (And thanks for all the

support you’ve shown us these last two years.)

parent talk

I love that it always seems like you know exactly what I need. When we

were looking for answers to dealing with tantrums you gave me seven ways.

And now we’re planning our oldest sons 2nd birthday party and you gave

me great ideas on how to do fabulous and affordable. It’s a magazine that’s

really geared toward moms like me.

- Brittany Molina

I love the calendar. It’s a one stop shop full of useful info on all of the family friendly

events in Owensboro. This magazine is truly a gift for parents.

- Laurna Wimsatt Strehl

I think it’s a wonderful magazine! I’m always telling people where to pick

them up. I love love Christina Dalton’s Questions and Answers. They always

have useful information and make me laugh too! Happy 2nd Birthday and

many more...

- Angela Maxwell

I love everything about the magazine! My favorite parts are the articles and

pictures of local families even if I don’t know them personally. But I love it

when I do. Awesome job and Happy 2nd Birthday!

- Becky Ford

I love everything about this magazine as well. I like the stories, pictures,

question & answer discussions, and the local advertising. Each month has

been beneficial as a parent, business owner, member of the community,

early childhood educator, and/or a college instructor in the education

department. I always pick up two copies .... one for me & one for Brescia

University Education Department. Congratulations & I look forward to

many more successful issues!

- Jennifer Brey

Seeing the smiles on the faces of the local kids featured in the articles.

- Sandra Mullikin

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It’s been a long summer, and now the store aisles have been

cleared of big plastic coolers, racks of patriotic bunting and

tubes of sunblock. They are filled with neat packets of pencils,

all lined up bright and yellow; pocket folders splashed with

images of Superman and the pretty, pouty girl from “The

Hunger Games”; and a dizzying selection of backpacks in which

to haul it all back to school.

Children dash frantically back and forth from the shelves to

the shopping cart, snatching up boxes of crayons, index cards

and protractors even as their mothers call after them that the

protractor they’d bought last year should still be good, shouldn’t

it?

The answer, in a word, is “no.” Whether that’s because they

have no idea where last year’s protractor is – having never used

it anyway – or because they do know where it is, which happens

to be covered with glitter and ribbons and construction paper

to look like a rainbow, which was one of those bored-summer-

afternoon art projects that always seem like such a good idea at

the time.

Somewhere between the argument about whether the

child really needs an iPad in order to successfully navigate

elementary school, and the near-tearful meltdown over whether

the most expensive calculator is any more likely to provide the

correct answer every time, there is an offhand remark about the

increased level of difficulty in curriculum from last year’s grade

to this year’s grade.

Well, of course, that makes perfect sense. As children

move through their educational careers, of course their levels

of understanding, skill and knowledge increase. As they

grow and learn, of course they are capable of greater depth of

comprehension.

That’s what learning is all about – of course: Starting with

the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, building on those

foundations of literacy and numeracy, expanding into the

sciences and social studies, the arts and all the other subject

areas.

So that, by the time a child progresses from preschool or

kindergarten through completion of elementary, middle and

high schools, he or she has learned, well, everything he or she

needs to know in order to move on to college and career.

{ b y : l o r a w i m s a t t }

family life

the lessons ofsummer

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{ b y : l o r a w i m s a t t }

That’s how it works.

We can all be thankful for schools and teachers who are

dedicated to education, who are dedicated to students – kids –

and their futures.

But we never want to forget the classroom of summer

vacation, and the lessons it teaches – lessons that also last a

lifetime.

Riding your bicycle just a little bit further each day than the

day before, until you find yourself standing, knees trembling,

at the top of Deadman’s Hill, where the kid next door swears in

a breathless whisper that another kid who used to live on your

block hit the gravel at the bottom and became the hill’s grim

namesake … but you take off anyway, feet and peddles a crazy

blur, and you flash through the scattered gravel and brake, safe

and triumphant, on the other side.

Spending a whole day at the city swimming pool, fishing a

damp dollar bill out of your sneakers so you can eat nacho chips

and cheese out of a plastic tray for lunch, going home in the late

afternoon with wrinkled fingers and pink shoulders.

Rooting excitedly through the tall weeds growing up around the

foundation of the house until you find the nest where your cat

has hidden her kittens, cooing and stroking the soft fur on

their tiny heads with a gentle finger, and coming back the next

morning to stand in somber silence as one of the kittens lays

still and cold even as the anxious mother nudges it and mews

in grief.

Finding a thick chunk of chalk, perfect for marking four-

square and hopscotch patterns on the street, where balls bounce

and kids giggle and hop, ever alert for the warning cry of “Car!”

Watermelon seed spit wars. Shrieks of laughter as you leap

through the spray of the water hose. Board games in the shade

of the back porch. Peering in wonder at the glow of a firefly

cupped in your sweaty hands. Chasing the ice cream truck,

feet slapping on the hot pavement, then walking home slowly

sucking on the frozen goodness of a rocket-pop. Snaking your

hand through the diamond on the neighbor’s chainlink fence to

pick a flower from his garden to give to your mother. Fastening

together all the belts you can find in dad’s closet to make a

harness so you can hook up your dog to pull the wagon.

Realizing – even if it’s many years later – that some of the

most important lessons you ever learned were learned during

summer vacation.

Lora Wimsatt is a mother, grandmother and writer. She enjoys the everyday

blessings and adventures of life, especially her family.

OP

summer

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family life

Q: I have an 8-year-

old boy and he has

trouble reading. He

gets so frustrated. I

feel helpless at times

and his frustration

comes through in

misbehaving and

anger. Is there

anything I can do to

help him?

A: This is a very common problem with

children. I want to point out a positive

for you first. It’s so good that you have

recognized the issue and you are aware

that his misbehaving could be a result

of a reading disability. Some children

go years and no one realizes that there

is a learning disability and not just a

bad attitude. Imagine for just a second

not being able to read very well and

functioning in this world. It would be

so difficult and frustrating. There are

several things that you can be doing to

help your child. You can read to him

and more importantly have him read

to you. I would recommend that you

make sure the books are on a level

that he is comfortable with reading

and then raise the difficulty as he

improves. I would talk to his teachers

and make sure that they are aware of

your concerns and let the school know

that you want to be involved and find

out how you can help him outside of

school. Something I

heard once and

I have always

thought was a

brilliant idea

is to have your child watch TV with

the sound off and turn on the closed

captioning. This will force them to

read the words to figure out what is

going on. You can take turns reading

the words, but the more he practices

the better reader he will become. It’s

a good idea to make sure it’s one of his

favorite shows too. Just the fact that

you have recognized that his behavior

is linked to his reading ability is

wonderful and I think you are most

certainly on the right track!

Q: I work with children in poverty

and my job is very hard. I really want

to make a difference but at the end of

most days I’m not sure that I have.

The children I work with range in

age from young to older kids. I know

that I’m only at work for a set amount

of time. What am I missing?

A: Well, I’m sure if you are working

with children in poverty your heart

is in the right place because you are

probably not getting rich in doing so.

The fact that you asked this question

shows me that your heart is in the

right place and that you are probably

already making a difference in many

of the lives you are working with,

but you may not see it. I have been

working with children and families

in need for the last 15 years. It is

difficult because you probably are

not going to see the difference you

are making, but I promise it sounds

like you are helping. Here is the

advice that I give to

you. People will

parentalcontrol

{ Q & A w i t h c h r i s t i n a d a l t o n , M S S W, C S W }

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leave you in a positive or negative manner. I feel that it is our

job to make that experience as positive as possible. Regardless of

their situation at home, you can make their lives better when you

are together. This is something that I can say and it’s easy to say,

but doing it is another story. It’s not the easiest thing to do. But

the fact still remains that people, everyone we come into contact

with will leave us in a negative or positive manner. If you know

that you are doing your best then that is all you can do. The more

positive interactions you have the stronger your relationships will

be. You’re doing great!

Q: School is starting soon and I am dreading getting my

children back into the school routine. I have two children

ages 7 and 12. What advice do you give to parents who hate

mornings?

A: I don’t think there is any advice for this topic other than you

have to suffer through it. I’m sorry I know that is terrible advice,

but I am one of those parents too. When your children are on

summer vacation their regular routine is off to some degree. It’s

very difficult for everyone in the house to get back into the school

routine. Some people will tell you to start early and practice

getting ready by going ahead and putting them to bed early. In

my opinion, why inflict this pain on yourself for practice?! You

know it’s coming…LOL! Seriously, I think once they start school

you have to enforce a regular bedtime. You have to bring order

to the family. This is when homework has to be done, bath and

bed. It’s going to be hard but it usually gets better and it takes

time. My friends and family know that when school starts I may

be tired and irritable for the next four to six weeks and then I will

return to normal. I wish you the best of luck and lots of sleep!

Christina Dalton, MSSW, CSW is the Family Resource Center Coordinator for

Daviess County Public Schools.

OP

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The Back-to-School season and I have

a difficult relationship. It is not easily

defined, and the feelings I have toward this

August “holiday” change throughout my

lifetime. Confused? Let me try to explain.

One of my earliest memories related to

Back-to-School has to do with watching my

older brother walk to the corner holding

his brand new Land of the Lost lunchbox,

steps away from getting on the dazzling

school bus. I was watching him through

our kitchen window, weeping because I was

not yet old enough to attend the party, a.k.a.,

kindergarten. I was devastated that he got to

hang with all the neighborhood kids while I

was stuck at home with Mom and our little

brother who stuck walnuts up his nose.

Well, as you can guess, I grew older, and of

course, my feelings of that first day of school

changed accordingly. I learned that first day

was definitely one that caused mourning, but

now I ached for the privilege of staying home.

Why did I think being in a room with 20 other

kids learning how to hold a pencil would be

more fun than lying on shag carpet, playing

Combat on our Atari?

I thought my rapport with the dreaded

back-to-school demon ended when I

graduated college. Surely, my life would no

longer be counted in terms of grading periods

or semesters, right? I was no longer a student;

I was now an adult! The sad thing about that

statement is that I was now an adult – the

days of summer breaks were over. The real

world offered no 3 month hiatus, so when I

saw the school buses driving down the roads

in August, I somewhat (now, shamefully)

remember thinking, “Na-na-na-na-na – your

fun time is over now too!”

Motherhood eventually came along, and

again my perspective on back-to-school

changed. For the first time, I was happy

when school started up again. I had the

blessing of being able to stay home with

my kids when they were young, so that first

bell ring of August meant that the town was

returned to preschoolers again. My toddler

could be at the park without me being afraid

of an older child having fun but accidentally

running over her trying to beat his friends

to the slide. The library had a better movie

selection because summer family car trips

were over. In my mind, the world was at peace

again.

Fast forward five years, and I now have a

child entering school! How did this happen???

One minute we were teaching her to drink

from a sippy cup, and now she is leaving me?

Yep, it was time to switch emotions again.

The tears came, but I took a deep breath and

back to schoolrollercoaster

family life

{ b y : e l a i n e m a r t i n }

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watched her board the bus. It seemed like an eternity, but she did

return at the end of the day with a huge smile, so excited about

growing older. School turned into a time of adventure, both

socially and academically. With each passing school year and

her sisters eventually following along, I saw those first days turn

into more and more of a time to see what the Lord had planned

for them. Who would be their teachers? Their best friends?

What would they be learning this grade? I took pictures and

scrapbooked them, noting their growth and whispering prayers

of thankfulness.

With the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, my feelings

are ones of wanting to search for a Life Remote Control. My

oldest is now in 10th grade, with the others in 8th and 5th.

Where is the pause button?! How many more years will I have to

help them buy backpacks, try on new clothes, and attend parent

teacher conferences? My stomach is in knots as I realize the day

is coming way too soon when I will be exchanging gentle morning

wake-up times for college road trips.

For today at least, join me as I resolve to live firmly in the

present, thankful for a wonderful summer with my kiddos and

mindful that these stressful days of shuffling kids around will

soon be gone. Embrace the chaos of kids rushing school, tidy

up the house, then pour a fresh cup of coffee and watch a few

episodes of your favorite show on Netflix with your rediscovered

“me” time. You’ll miss this moment soon enough…probably

around 5:00 when you’re rushing to warm up last night’s meatloaf

between soccer practice and composing 3 point essays.

Martin views each day as an adventure in her roles as wife, mom, owner of Pigtails and

Cowlicks, and writing coach at Meadow Lands Elementary School.

{ b y : e l a i n e m a r t i n }

OP

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Middle school is a new adventure that can be both exciting

and frightening for students, as well as their parents. It

is a time in a child’s life when they are asked to make more

independent choices and demonstrate their individuality,

which can sometimes leave parents feeling like they are no

longer a necessary factor in the equation. The important thing

to remember is that our children are going to continue to grow

and mature, regardless of how much we fight the process. It is

our job as parents to be knowledgeable about the challenges

that they may encounter and make sure that we are nearby for

guidance when needed.

A Middle-Schooler’s Biggest Fears:

Making New Friends and Fitting In

Most students will be entering a middle school that blends

students together from several local elementary schools. This

means that your child will most likely know some friends going

into middle school, but will have the opportunity to make many

more new ones. PBSkids.org offers some great advice about

being open-minded to making new friends in middle school,

“Although it’s natural to spend time with people who share your

interests, try to keep yourself open to everyone, despite how they

might dress or spend some of their time.”

Your child may go through different stages and want to wear

or try new things. Have an open mind to these requests, while

still maintaining the importance of such values as modesty,

integrity, and character.

Learning the Layout

Many students are afraid that they will not be able to find

their classes on time and will find themselves lost, late, and

embarrassed. Once you receive your child’s schedule, take

the time to take a tour with them around the school in order

to help them locate their classes. In order to help foster more

independence, send an older sibling or trusted friend that has

taking the leap!

family life

{ b y : m e l o d y w a l l a c e }

At age 22, Kendall Quisenberry has accomplished more than most of us have ever imagined. She is a senior at DePauw University, a Fulbright Scholar, and is about to embark on a teaching venture to her seventh country via

an English Teaching Assistantship.

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attended the school to show them around and help them feel more

comfortable.

Cracking the Code

For some reason, the idea of navigating that combination lock can

cause the butterflies to stir in even the most confident of children.

Practice working a combination lock at home, and then have your

student practice on their own locker at school. By supplying the

minimal necessary items to help decorate and organize their new

locker you can help ease the transition and embrace individuality.

Keep in mind that the main purpose is to provide a functional and

organized space for them to store items.

Dressing Out

Another fear that students have is that of having to dress out

in front of others in gym class. As students’ young bodies begin

to shape and mature, so do feelings of modesty and insecurity.

Assure your child that the other students are also worried of being

embarrassed and in the same hurry to get to class, so there shouldn’t

be any time for gawking. You can also take some proactive steps,

such as teaching proper hygiene (making sure they carry and know

how to use deodorant), and taking the time to ensure undergarments

are laundered and in good condition. If showers are an option or a

requirement, take the time to discuss the best ways to be efficient

and modest when others are around. The best thing that you can do

is to make sure your child knows to dress out daily, follows the rules,

and has a positive attitude about gym class, even if it means having

a good sense of humor to avoid embarrassment.

Level of Difficulty

Many students (and parents) are afraid of the level of increased

difficulty now that they are taking middle school level classes. The

most important thing that you can do for your child is to help ensure

that they are organized at school and at home. Continue to review

their agenda book or planner each night for homework assignments,

make sure that both assignments that need to be completed and

finished assignments have their place, as well as ensuring that there

is a quiet place at home to complete their homework. Keep an open

line of communication with your child’s teachers via email and

be aware of the various before and after school resources that are

available to provide additional support.

The most important thing that you can do for your child during

these transitional years is to be an empathetic encourager and a

listening ear. You are their biggest fan, so it is only fitting that you

cheer them on in their next big venture!

Melody Wallace is a teacher at DCMS who finds new blessings each day in

her roles as teacher, wife, mom, and stepmom.

OP

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When we send our children back to school on August 7th, we

place our most precious people into the hands of complete

strangers. We trust these strangers to teach our children correct

information, provide them with structure, and discipline them with

fairness and consistency. We trust these strangers to protect our

children from danger, comfort them in crisis, and mediate for them

during conflict. We trust these strangers to provide our children with

amazing experiences and to build relationships with our children that

will give them the confidence to blossom. We trust these strangers

because they are teachers, and they are trained for this honorable

position. However, when we’re talking about our precious children,

shouldn’t we know and trust teachers beyond the professional title?

This school year, as your children prepare to meet new teachers, be

proactive about getting to know and encouraging these important

people in your child’s life.

Introduce Yourself

With your child’s input, prepare a letter about your child and your

family. Include any information you think the teachers should

know about your child: personality, likes, dislikes, strengths, and

weaknesses. In this letter you might also share information about

yourself and your family. You might talk about your special skills or

hobbies, any special services or connections that you might provide,

and what ways you would like to serve the school. Be as specific and

creative as possible. You never know when your hidden talents might

be needed.

don’t be astranger reach out to the new teachers in your child’s life

family life

{ b y : k a t i e a l b e r s }

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{ b y : k a t i e a l b e r s } Display Your Family Photo

Many teachers display pictures of their own families on their desks

and bulletin boards. You might send your child to school with a photo

of your family and ask the teacher if it could be displayed as well. That

way, the teacher can put a face with your notes and emails.

Give Teacher Supplies

As you are shopping for school supplies, think also about teacher

supplies. Teachers are always in need of post-it notes, dry-erase

markers, transparent tape, staples, and paperclips. Surprise your

child’s new teacher with a little gift bag of teacher supplies.

Wish Them Good Luck

Teachers get nervous on the first day of school too, but all of them have

been in the school building days before the first one preparing for the

kids. Why not mail a “Good Luck!” card to the school for your child’s

new teacher the week before school starts? In it you can wish them a

stress-free first day with the kids and offer your contact information.

You might even include a coupon for a free coffee at a restaurant near

the school so the teacher can start his or her day off with a smile.

Provide Positive Feedback

Throughout the year, as you are talking with your child about what

goes on at school, take a minute to provide positive feedback to your

teachers. This one is huge. Teachers don’t always know if their lessons

have made an impact with their students. You could really make a

teacher feel great by emailing that your child was excited about the

lesson that day.

Spread Some Cheer

Surprise your child’s teachers with a special “Make it Through

Monday” or “Thank Goodness It’s Friday” treat like a candy bar or a

loaf of bread. Even a bottle of water with a packet of single-serve drink

mix would be a refreshing delight.

Pray Blessings Upon Them

Finally, and most importantly, pray for your child’s teachers. Teaching

is a rewarding profession, but it is also a tough one. Pray blessings of

strength and peace on these special people that spend so much time

with your special people.

Be the first to reach out to your child’s new teachers this year and see

how quickly these strangers become your friends.

Katie Albers is married to Josh and mommy to Lance, age 4, and Mallory, age 2.

She is the Media Specialist and Yearbook Advisor at DCMS and Creative Director

of the Albers Family.

OP

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{ a r t i c l e b y : d a n n y m a y | p h o t o s b y : a d a m p a r i s }

community

owensborothe new

a look back at the first year of Smothers Park

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In the Beginning…

Mayor Ron Payne freely admits that there were

varying degrees of mixed emotions when the idea of

a multi-million dollar playground was mentioned

as part of a complete overhaul and expansion of

Smothers Park. If you kept up with the scathing

opinions about the costly concrete trees in the

“Reader’s Write” section of the newspaper or

around the water-cooler at work, then you know

exactly what I’m talking about. But in the year

since the opening of the new Smothers Park and

after the first phase of downtown redevelopment

was completed, Mayor Payne says his office

“has heard nothing but praise for what we have

accomplished.”

I’ll admit I was critical of the price tag of those

concrete trees when I heard about them too, but

the first time I actually saw them it made sense.

They’re not just pointless decorations; they are the

structural support that holds the entire three-level

playground together. And the mixed emotions

Owensboro citizens may have once felt have faded

away. People are now talking about downtown

Owensboro like never before. That playground

has become a destination in and of itself, not to

mention the centerpiece to the entire downtown

revitalization project.

Something for Everyone

Many people have found that it’s easy to spend

hours on a visit to Smothers Park. According to

Public Events Director Tim Ross, that was the

idea from the beginning. “The design for the space

down here at Smothers Park is really meant to

have something for everyone. There are amenities

for all ages. Parents and kids especially love the

playground. Everyone can enjoy the viewing

fountains, the swings, and the overlook. And

many of our older generation love the Shelton

Memorial, which actually gets a tremendous

amount of visitors because it’s such a beautiful

monument and it gives such great respect to our

POWs, MIAs, and veterans.”

Attendance

As far as attendance and usage at the park, Ross

says “We’ve been very pleased! People enjoy this

space, and it keeps them coming back down here.

The first year has been absolutely amazing. It’s

by far exceeded our expectations, drawing visitors

It stretches five city blocks and covers over 5 acres of land. It held ten thousand people

at its grand opening last August. It was the source of controversy, but it has also been

heralded as the crown jewel of Owensboro. It’s a sentimental spot for scores of Veterans.

It also happens to be crawling with enormous bugs, frogs, butterflies and a giant bass big

enough for kids to sit inside for photo-ops. Recently a painted piano found a home in

one of its gazebos.

Of course I’m talking about Smothers Park, which turns one year old this month. In

celebration, Owensboro Parent decided to take a look back at an eventful first year to see

just how big of an impact the re-opening of Smothers Park has had on our community.

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community

from all around the region.”

Although there’s no way to have an exact count for attendance,

city officials estimate there were close to 10,000 people crammed into

Smothers Park at the air show during the grand opening last August.

If you’ve ever made a visit downtown, you know the park has

stayed plenty busy since. On any given day, by 10 or 10:30 in the

morning people are already gathering at the park. With lights

installed on the playground and in the fountains, the park is usually

busy until it closes at 10 p.m. Even in colder months when the

fountains are off, people still come out to enjoy the rest of the park

and stroll along the riverfront.

For the first night of “Bluegrass on the Banks,” which coincided

with ROMP, 200-300 people showed up on a weeknight to listen

to live Bluegrass music in the park. On one particular Saturday in

September there are three weddings and two special events scheduled

on the same day in different locations throughout Smothers Park.

Word is spreading more and more throughout the region and

surrounding counties. The RiverPark Center has noticed that when

fieldtrip groups come from out of town they usually walk across the

street to have picnics in the park and let the kids enjoy the playground.

It’s easy to imagine many of those kids will eventually be coming

back to show their friends and family what they experienced.

Quality of Life

Smothers Park is much more than a play space. It’s not

uncommon to see people relaxing at the green spaces, walking pets,

or running through the park as well, which all fit squarely into one of

the goals of Owensboro’s Public Events Office: enhancing the quality

of life for our community.

Another benefit of Smothers Park is how it has added to the

success of charity events like the Color Blast 5K, March for Babies,

Making Strides for Breast Cancer, and many others. The park makes

a great starting or ending point, which adds to the excitement and

increases participation in those types of events.

Having the park open this past year has also allowed Friday After

Five to expand by providing more space for the street fairs and adding

the “Don Moore Overlook Stage,” which gives great exposure to local

bands.

Economic Impact

From a tourism standpoint, the impact of Smothers Park has been

tremendous. “We used to see nobody downtown during the day,”

says Sean Dysinger with the Owensboro Convention and Visitor’s

Bureau. “Now there are always people walking around, popping in

and out of shops and restaurants. There is a significantly noticeable

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Swings overlooking the river: 37

Slides at Lazy Dayz Park: 20

Viewing fountain features: 3 (plus the cascade)

Water pad spray fountains at the children’s

splash park: 24 (plus 2 arches)

by the numbers

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Midway open 1 hour after buffet closes

increase in foot traffic downtown now. Every restaurant and shop

downtown will tell you that they see the benefit. We hit a home run

with that one!”

Tim Ross says Smothers Park has become a great selling point to

bringing in outside events to Owensboro as well. A great example of

that is the Sea Ark Invitational Catfishing Tournament, which was

held on June 1. “Even though it was held at English Park,” says Ross,

“When the Sea Ark tournament directors visited and saw Smothers

Park it really made an impression because they knew it was something

the competitors and their families would enjoy.”

But the greatest economic impact is what Smothers Park has

done to entice local developers, investors, and entrepreneurs to take

advantage of opportunities downtown.

The GOEDC Downtown Project Manager Joe Berry says,

“Smothers Park has made a huge difference! Anytime you have

a nice public space, it pays huge dividends in entrepreneurial and

economic impact.”

Berry cited the Cold Stone Creamery and Cup Cakery shop that

recently opened a block from Smothers as a perfect example. With

Smothers Park generating such an increase in foot traffic, the owners

knew their business model would work downtown. And you can

bet the eateries that already were downtown (like The Crème Coffee

House, Famous Bistro, and Bee Bops) are enjoying the increase as

well.

It’s all part of the downtown master plan that was laid out in 2009.

Since then, over $92 million has been generated in private investment

downtown; from large projects like the Hampton Inn and Texas Gas

relocation to smaller projects like boutiques and shops. So far, it’s all

going according to plan.

“Smothers Park has made a believer out of a lot of folks,” Joe Berry

explains. “It has really given our community a glimpse of what the

end result of the downtown plan is going to be when it’s all finished.”

Future Expansion

From construction barricades at Veterans Boulevard and

Frederica Street, you can clearly see the walls of the new convention

center and hotel nearing completion. Once they’re opened, two more

blocks will be added to the river walk to connect them to Smothers

Park via McConnell Plaza (once it reopens). The river walk will then

run continuously from the RiverPark Center through Smothers Park

and all the way to the new convention center and hotel, giving foot

traffic easy access to all the amenities downtown.

As Mayor Payne put it, “We have worked to make Owensboro

walkable, connective, and a place where people want to be. The pieces

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community

off the track

are there, and I see our private sector continuing to be the catalyst

for change not only in our downtown core, but also throughout the

community.”

Joe Berry echoed that same reply: “We have a place now that

people want to live. That’s our number one asset right now. Basically

what it’s done is help make Owensboro more competitive with larger

job markets, which will continue to draw outside companies and

industries into our community.”

With more expansion on the way and room to grow, it looks like

downtown truly is on an upswing. Old favorites like Friday After

Five are finding new life and new events like Thursday Date Night

and Downtown Cruise-Ins (on the first Saturday) keep popping up.

If they are any indication, city officials are right on target.

Yes, the concrete trees are here to stay, and it looks like going out

on a limb has really paid off for our city. The result is more than

just a playground; it has become a lifeline, a breath of fresh air, and a

vision that’s truly catching on.

Danny May is a husband and father of two boys, 3 and 5, who are avid fans of the

“big playground” downtown. He his also the Director of Family Life at Lourdes

Catholic Church.

Since the re-opening of Smothers Park,

Owensboro Police Department has set

up a remote command post on Veteran’s

Boulevard to provide a constant presence.

Officers patrol the park at night and on

weekends with periodic shifts during the day

as well. Although the remote office does

have camera feeds at Smothers Park, Officer

Jim Ashby prefers to patrol on foot so he

can be out with the people. Ashby says “The

feedback I get is everybody loves this park.

And I’ve heard that from people from all over

the country. I think this is something we can

all be proud of.”

safety in smothers

OP

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off the track

The Lazy Dayz Playground is fully accessible for

those with disabilities.

There is free Wi-Fi at Smothers Park.

Even when there’s not a live band, there is

constantly music playing from outdoor speakers

hidden in the landscape.

Smothers Park is named after frontiersman William

Smeathers, who settled in Owensboro in 1797.

did you know

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photos from facebook

community

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Look out Spielberg, there’s a new kid in town…literally a kid,

and he’s right here in Owensboro.

When you look at Logan Starks you see a cute yet unassuming

kid, who loves being goofy, playing Legos, super heroes, Kinex

and video games. But upon further examination, Logan is much

more. He is a 9-year-old boy who has made a movie, with help

from Dad, called Into the World 2: A Toddlers Tale, an ode to his

little brother Connor.

After speaking with Logan’s parents and watching their movie,

it’s apparent he comes by his good nature and humor honestly.

According to dad P.J. and mom Trina, Logan’s imagination began

at a very early age and continues to be a source of amazement.

He creates aliens with his Legos, can imitate a dinosaur with

accuracy and now adds filmmaking to his repertoire.

Where exactly did Logan get his aspirations for movie making?

Just as many families share hobbies and talents, Logan’s passion

his stems from P.J.‘s affinity for the movie making process. PJ

takes videos of his family as a way to incorporate them into

something he loves. It seemed only natural that Logan would

catch the fever.

The family already created a movie, however P.J. notes it is

more of a collage of family videos that may not interest folks as

{ b y : j a i m e r a f f e r t y }

lights, camera,

talent

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much as Logan’s creation. In humor he says, “Unless they want to

watch hours of home videos of my family.”

When asked how Connor became the subject of his film,

Logan simply said, “It was a way to welcome him to our family.”

Seems like a pretty excellent gift! Connor’s big brother thinks he’s

pretty special.

The short movie captures this fun-loving family very well.

There are moments you laugh at the simple trappings of daily

life and moments you tear up as you view the interactions of two

brothers.

Logan acts as narrator while P.J. is the very capable camera

man, Trina and Connor round out the cast along with a few

supporting characters. However, narrating wasn’t the only thing

to Logan’s credit. He also directed his dad to what footage he

wanted to share with the audience.

There is a point in the movie, a debate ensues among the

Starks family and friends concerning the Teenage Mutant Ninja

Turtles. Are they super heroes? A good debate was presented

among those polled. However, Logan gets the final say. When

asked, he replied, “Sure they are super heroes, they fight bad

guys!” Indeed!

Logan is a terrific big brother and equally good filmmaker.

Trina and P.J. plan to support all dreams that both their sons have

as they are raising them to be kind and responsible young men.

Logan has received extremely positive feedback from his movie.

He’s a little boy who is excited about life and his family and says

of the movie, “I want to share it with the whole earth.” One would

have to agree it’s certainly worth viewing.

P.J. and Trina are honored to be Logan and Connor’s parents

and though they may have never imagined they would be asked to

give advice to children (and their parents) who have such dreams

and imagination as Logan they would say, “I would tell the kids to

go for what they want no matter the challenges. It won’t be easy, so

prepare to have to work hard for what you want. For the parents...

sometimes we get so caught up in being adults that we forget how

childlike wonder feels. Nothing can recapture that feeling like

helping your child try to reach their goals, even if that goal is to

be the next Iron Man.”

The Starks supply a beautiful example of supporting your

children’s dreams and being a part of them. Though the movie

may seem to be about their world, it’s an encouragement for all

families to “go into the world,” be good to people and live those

dreams…even if in movies.

So next time you are watching a movie, you might question

whether an imaginative 9-year-old boy is seated in the director’s

chair. Be sure to watch the credits for Logan Starks!

Jaime Rafferty enjoys writing, as a hobby. She lives is Owensboro with her

husband, Paul and their two children.

OP

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Children and teenagers feel the emotions that result from

separation and loss just like adults, but without the benefit of

experience and perspective. Even with those benefits, and in the best

of circumstances, we adults find the struggle difficult. How must it

be for young people?

Too often we don’t recognize that the grief journey, while hard,

is natural. We can’t grasp that what we feel is shared by countless

others. While that insight may not necessarily make us feel better,

it can help us feel normal. It sometimes takes knowing that others

share our feelings, that there are those who can relate to us, for us to

begin to accept, to adjust, and to begin to feel better. If that’s true for

adults, it’s particularly true for children and teenagers who relate to

those around them.

Camp Memory is a place and a space for young people, children

and teenagers, to come together in an atmosphere of love and

acceptance. It’s a place where they can meet others of their own

ages who are also trying to learn about and understand what they’re

feeling. It’s unlikely they have a word for it. Yet there’s no doubt that

they wonder about what, to them, feels like a sense of emptiness, of

longing, of missing, of wondering why.

Camp Memory provides an opportunity to run and play and laugh

. . . to be themselves . . . to have a good time! Being with others like

them helps them discover that their feelings can be shared and that

they’re normal and okay. They can come to understand that they’re

not alone in the way they feel. Emotions are understood, accepted

and shared.

The Camp Memory experience is about being together about

getting to know each other. Small groups of like ages engage in

games that introduce, give sense and meaning to, shared emotions.

Arts and crafts focus on creating images of the one they miss into

items they create and keep. Memory books give them a way to

express, demonstrate and illustrate the relationship and the memory

of someone no longer with them. A memorial service allows

emotions and feelings be shown. But it is the gathering together, the

understanding of a shared loss, and the support of one another that

helps understanding and acceptance.

Camp Memory is committed to making a difference during one

of the most critical times for a child or teen. Left to grow, left to

imagination, left to itself, the grief of childhood can become one of

the heaviest of grownup burdens.

Camp Memory is a work of Glenn Family Services. It will be held

November 2 at Mount Saint Joseph Retreat Center, 8001 Cummings

Road, Maple Mount, KY. Betty Medley, Continuing Care Coordinator

with Glenn Family Services, will direct the 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. camp. She

may be contacted at 270-683-1505 for questions or to register. Registration

is open until Monday, October 28. There is no charge.

For more information Camp Memory from Glenn Family Services

contact Betty Medley, Continuing Care Coordinator, at 270-683-1505

OP

grief isn’t just for grownups

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Due to the overwhelming response after last year’s air

show celebrating the grand opening of Smothers Park,

city officials have decided to make the Owensboro Air Show

an annual event. “We decided to move the dates back to

September 20 & 21st in hopes of cooler weather to make it safer

and more comfortable for the crowds,” explains Owensboro

Public Events Director Tim Ross.

Just like last year, the full air show will take place on

Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. with fly-overs and aerial

acrobatics at the riverfront. But this year’s air show promises

to be bigger and better than last year because of several newly

added attractions on Friday evening. All the aircraft involved

in Saturday’s show will be on display at the airport on Friday

from 4-9 p.m. with a $2 admission. (Kids 10 and under are

free!) Then, skydivers are set to land at the airport at dusk and

a special pyrotechnic display will be set off from an airplane at

dark.

Organizers say English Park and Smothers Park are the

best spots to view the Saturday afternoon air show. There

is also reserved seating available on the patio at the River

Park Center, which will feature food vendors and access to

restrooms and air conditioning inside the River Park Center

lobby. Tickets for reserved seating can be purchased at

Independence Bank.

As an added bonus, there will be a special performance by

a military band at Smothers Park after the air show Saturday

evening. The concert is free and open to the public.

For more information visit www.owensboroairshow.com.

owensboro air show returns

OP

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facebookcommunity

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The doctors and staff at RiverPark EyeCare recognize the

importance of vision care for children. Over ten million children

in the United States suffer from undetected vision problems, even

students who score 20/20 vision in a screening. This can contribute

to problems in the classroom, which can influence self-esteem and a

child’s overall success in school.

Just because a child has 20/20 vision, this does not account for

eye tracking or the ability of the eyes to focus for extended periods of

time. Common vision problems in children include blurriness when

reading, headaches, eyestrain, loss of concentration, or loss of place

when reading. With the increasing advancements in technology,

children are spending longer periods of time staring at computer

screens, iPads, iPhones, and video games, which can increase

symptoms in a child with undetected vision problems.

The American Optometric Association

recommends a child’s first eye exam

at six months old, even if the

parent notices no problems.

Certain vision problems such

as an eye turn or “lazy eye”

are best corrected at a

young age, and if left

untreated, can be much harder to fix as an older child or adult. In

Kentucky, all children must have documentation of an eye exam by

an optometrist or ophthalmologist during their first year of school.

The doctors at RiverPark EyeCare are also enrolled in a public

health program called InfantSEE, which provides a comprehensive

eye examination to children between six months and a year old as a

NO-COST public service.

The doctors at RiverPark EyeCare are committed to providing

the best eye exam for your child to ensure that vision problems are

being addressed and that your child has a positive experience at his/

her eye exam. RiverPark EyeCare has invested in the most up-to-

date equipment and technology to better meet the needs of all of our

patients. The ultimate goal is to make your child feel comfortable,

which will establish a future of trusted vision care. All of our doctors

are experienced in helping children who are nervous or afraid feel at

ease during their exam. There is always a treat for our children at the

end of the exam as well, such as stickers, candy, or one of our famous

balloon animals.

RiverPark EyeCare features the latest styles of frames, including

Nike, Ray-Ban, and Skechers so that kids are excited about their

glasses when they pick them out. We often feature our younger

patients on our Facebook page after they receive their frames to

further boost their confidence about wearing glasses.

Contact lenses are another option for children as

well. Daily disposable lenses are a great choice for

youngsters because this means a fresh lens every

single day, eliminating the need for children to have

to clean the lenses and remember to store them

properly overnight.

As your child is preparing for another school year,

don’t forget to schedule an eye exam at RiverPark

EyeCare. We are accepting new patients

and would love to see you!

To learn about RiverPark EyeCare’s Kid’s Eye Exam Promotion

visit online: www.riverparkeyecare.com or call: 270-685-4966

{ p a i d a d v e r t o r i a l }

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your child’s best vision starts now!

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Henry David Thoreau said “If one advances confidently

in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life

which he has imagined he will meet with success unexpected in

common hours.”

Morgan Baker may be unaware of these famous words of

Mr. Thoreau many years ago, but she obviously understands the

meaning. She began her pursuit of success at a young age taking

in homeless animals. She has a huge heart to care for those who

cannot care for themselves. She decided then that her dream was

to become a veterinarian, owing her own practice and a “no-kill”

facility. She is already taking the necessary steps to making this

dream a reality.

She is currently a manager at Ritzy’s on 54 and has been

employed there since August of 2011. She is graduating from

Triplett High School one year early with six college credits

at Owensboro Community & Technical College, where she is

actively pursing her dreams of becoming a veterinarian.

She is also involved in many volunteer services such as:

Special Olympics, Owensboro Humane Society, toy and book

drives for children, cancer groups, food banks and many other

organizations throughout the community. She competes in local

and national pageants, where her platform is bringing awareness

to neglected, homeless, and abandoned animals. She strives

to educate others on the importance of spaying and neutering

their pets to decrease the overpopulation of animals to reduce

euthanization in the United States.

To begin achieving her dreams of owning her own “no-kill”

facility, she has started taking in unwanted or abandoned pets

into her own home caring for them, working with rescues, and

helping find forever homes for them. To date she has placed

at least twenty-seven unwanted animals in forever homes

and logged in 888 volunteer hours. She provides all necessary

supplies and shelter to the animals while in her care. When

bottle feeding, there are nights she feeds every few hours as they

are dependent as a newborn child.

You can see her dedication to her aspiring career. She is

highly motivated to achieve success and become a future leader,

serving her community as a veterinarian. OP

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{ b y : d r . b r i a n g a n n o n }If you would like to make contributions to Morgan’s cause in any way or learn more about Research Concierge, LLC and their sponsorships and available programs, call 270-313-2110.

Research Concierge, LLC believes in giving back to the community and helping our future

leaders become successful by giving them the necessary tools and motivation they need today

to achieve their success tomorrow. We would like to introduce you to one of our youth that has

chartered her course for success and is setting sail to achieve her dream.

course forsuccess

{ p a i d a d v e r t o r i a l }

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Not every child needs to go to preschool. But there are some situations when preschool can be essential to a child’s growing mind. Children with learning difficulties, such as speech delays or motor problems, are usually advised to attend a state-funded preschool or Head Start program. Often if they are receiving therapies to help with these medical problems, the therapists prefer to provide services in a school setting if the child is old enough. Sometimes the services are only covered by the school system if the child is enrolled in a preschool program, so attendance is required in order for the child to continue therapies beyond age three, when children graduate from First Steps. Children who are socially awkward or shy may also benefit from a school-type setting before full-day kindergarten begins. These kids have lots of options, because often full-day Head Start is too much of a change from the home environment. They may do better in a Children’s Day Out program for a few hours only 2-3 days a week. These programs have some academic component to prepare children for kindergarten, but they are not full-time preparatory pre-K programs like the ones through the school system. What do children learn in preschool? Sharing with others, hands-on crafts, recognizing letters and colors, counting, and classroom rules. The kindergarten teacher will expect your child to have these skills before he sets foot in her classroom, so if you think you do not have what it takes to teach these things (time, patience, motivation, etc.) then preschool may be for you.

Kindergarten

The other big skill required for kindergarten is a reasonable attention span. The code word for a child with a short attention span is “immature.” For example, “Johnny quit t-ball because he was not mature enough,” meaning he wandered around in the outfield, did not understand the rules, and got hit by the ball because he was not watching the action. Some kids need to go ahead and start kindergarten, even if they do have attention problems or difficulty following rules. These children need the structure of school, and no amount of extra time at home to “mature” will teach him that other adults have the same rules as his parents. These are the kids who will likely need a second year of kindergarten (some schools offer a “transition” year for the children between kindergarten and first grade) because they spend the entire year learning social skills, and the second time around they can focus on learning letters and numbers and the academic material of kindergarten. Some children will very immature and active at 4 years old, and if parents worry their child will not be ready for school at 5, here are some ideas to teach the busy child how to calm down, so school will go better. Practice having your child do quiet, calm activities, like coloring or crafts. Start out being at your child’s side, then try letting him work alone for five minutes, and see if he sticks with it. Over time, work up to coloring for 20 minutes with minimal input from the adult, maybe as the adult does some household task nearby. For example, “Sam, I would

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So your baby’s fifth birthday is coming up in August and you are trying to decide if he is ready for kindergarten. The state says you should be enrolling him, but your friends say you should hold him out a year. What’s a sensitive, caring parent to do? How will you know when your child is ready to start school? And is preschool really necessary?

it’s fun to be

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love for you to make a birthday card for Grandma. Here is some paper

and some crayons. I will be over here washing dishes, so let me know

if you need my help.” The child learns that his efforts are important to

you, and besides the skill of staying on task, he is also learning how to

work independently and creatively without needing constant input from

a trusted adult.

Separation anxiety

Dropping your child at preschool or kindergarten can produce

worries in both parent and child. Some families should consider full-

time or part-time preschool as a practice run. It gives both a chance to

see what their day will be like when they must be apart, but if it is not

full-time, then there is less fear of the unknown, because you can stay

closer to the familiar daily routines of the family, possibly including a

more successful nap.

The first day of school can best be described as a rite of passage.

Some families navigate this time without any problems or anxiety, but

some need more time to prepare and gradually work towards it. Only

you as a parent can make the right decision for your child. It’s perfectly

fine to commit to a choice, and stick with it. Don’t second guess yourself.

Nobody knows your child better than you.

With seven birthdays between May and October, Dr. Gannon has given these

issues lots of thought. Clearly one size does not fit all.

discover

OP

OP

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1

FREE STORYTIME Wee Read for ages 2 and

younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 –

10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

PICTURE A HAPPY ME Discover My Pyramid,

the USDA’s new version of the food pyramid,

and receive a personalized take home page

that reminds us what is needed for healthy

living; 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Owensboro Science &

History Museum, 122 E. 2nd Street; (270) 687-

2732 or www.owensboromuseum.org

BLUEGRASS JAM On the first Thursday of

each month, head to the Bluegrass Museum

to jam with other musicians. Jamming is for

musicians of all levels and begins at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact the Museum

at (270) 926-7891 or visit their website at

www.bluegrassmuseum.org.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2

U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All must

wear socks; $7 per child, children under 2

are free, unless they are the only child, adults

always free; 5 – 9 p.m.; (270) 685-1255.

FREE FRIDAY AFTER 5 Main Stage - After

Midnight (70’s rock); Courtyard - Michael

Bailey; Overlook Stage - King’s Highway;

Street Fair - Family Night; Class reunions:

Hancock County Class of 1978, Owensboro

High Class of 2003; Daviess County Class of

2003, Owensboro High Class of 1973; (270)

687-2787 or fridayafter5.com.

STUDIO SLANT-ASTIC Enjoy exciting art

projects with the creative folks from Studio

Slant all summer long! 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.;

Owensboro Science & History Museum,

Informing parents about fun, local events is a priority for Owensboro Parent. Our magazine compiles events from across

the city and county. So when your family is looking for something to do, check out the Owensboro Parent calendar,

where you will find information on local events, including event descriptions, locations, dates, times and price.

Want to include your event? Contact the editor at [email protected].

august 2013

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122 E. 2nd Street; (270) 687-2732 or www.

owensboromuseum.org

THE LAND DOWN UNDER An introduction

to Australian history, culture and animals.

Come meet a kangaroo today! 11 a.m. –

12 p.m.; Owensboro Science & History

Museum, 122 E. 2nd Street; (270) 687-2732

or www.owensboromuseum.org

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3

FREE SATURDAY MORNING LIVE! Visit the

library every Saturday morning from 10:00—

12:00 for self guided fun and educational

activities with a focus on literacy and

school readiness; Daviess County Public

Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org

DOWNTOWN OWENSBORO CRUISE-IN

Head Downtown every 1st Saturday from

April to October and enjoy classic cars! Free

admission and fun for the whole family!

TWO “ZOO STORY” Theatre Workshop of

Owensboro presents Zoo Story. A chance

meeting on a park bench becomes a

harrowing depiction of a man’s desperate

need for connection and recognition.

Performances on the outdoor stage. Ticket

price includes buffet lunch; 1 p.m.; For

ticket information call 270-683-5333; TWO

Members - $15 Non-Members - $20.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4

FREE 2ND ANNUAL OWENSBORO PARENT

BIRTHDAY BASH You are invited to join the

fun at the 2nd Annual Owensboro Parent

Birthday Bash! Presented by Owensboro

Dermatology. This FREE, family event

features train rides along the Owensboro

riverfront, inflatables, vendor booths,

birthday cake, fun activities and much more!

Register at the door to win thousands of

dollars worth of giveaways at the Birthday

Bash! Among the prizes is a 3-night summer

getaway to Gaylord Opryland Resort which

includes lodging for up to 4 people, daily

breakfast, a ride on the Delta Riverboats, VIP

coupon book and more! The Owensboro

Parent Birthday Bash! is the only place

to get your entry form for the 2013

Owensboro Parent Magazine CoverKids

Contest. Your form grants your child entry

into our Facebook contest and land a

spot on the cover of Owensboro Parent

Magazine. After the event stick around for

SUNDAY MOVIES ON THE RIVER hosted

by the RiverPark Center. This year’s feature

film is “The Hunger Games.” Business can

participate by having a vendor booth and/or

donating items for door prizes. The vendor

booths will be located inside the RiverPark

center and will be easily accessible by all

guests. The door prizes will allow for your

business to be announced during the event

as we draw the winners.

calendar

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SUNDAY MOVIES ON THE RIVER – “THE HUNGER GAMES”

RiverPark Center’s FREE outdoor movie series continues with

“The Hunger Games.” You can bring your own chair or use one of

the chairs provided. No coolers or pets, please. Concessions are

available. Cartoons before each feature film. Movies begin at dusk;

8 – 11 p.m.; 270-687-2787 or www.riverparkcenter.org

TWO “ZOO STORY” Theatre Workshop of Owensboro presents

Zoo Story. A chance meeting on a park bench becomes a

harrowing depiction of a man’s desperate need for connection

and recognition. Performances on the outdoor stage. Ticket price

includes buffet lunch; 2 p.m.; For ticket information call 270-683-

5333; TWO Members - $15 Non-Members - $20.

MONDAY, AUGUST 5

FREE STORYTIME Wee Read for ages 2 and younger and Circle

Time for ages 3-5; 10 – 10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 6

U-BOUNCE TODDLER TUESDAY; All must wear socks; Children

5 and under get in for $5 all night; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or

ubouncepartyhouse.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7

BACK TO SCHOOL PRAYER BREAKFAST A time of prayer for

the 2013-2014 school year, students, teachers, staff and families;

Continental breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m., prayer begins a 8:30

a.m.; First Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 230 J.R. Miller Blvd; (270)

683-3505.

U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All must wear socks; $7 per

child, children under 2 are free, unless they are the only child, adults

always free; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8

RIVERFRONT FAIR Carnival rides, live music, food and beverage

vendors. For more information, e-mail [email protected]

FREE STORYTIME Wee Read for ages 2 and younger and Circle

Time for ages 3-5; 10 – 10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

FREE AUTHOR EVENT - WES BERRY Meet author Wes Berry and

calendar

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listen to him talk about his book, Kentucky

Barbecue. There will be a book signing after

the program; 6 – 7 p.m.; Daviess County

Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9

FREE FRIDAY AFTER 5 Main Stage - Skip

Bond & the Fugitives (motown, rock ‘n roll);

Courtyard - Arythmics; Overlook Stage - Kiki

the Musician; Street Fair - Farm Festival;

(270) 687-2787 or fridayafter5.com.

U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All

must wear socks; $7 per child, children

under 2 are free, unless they are the only

child, adults always free; 5 – 9 p.m.; (270)

685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

RIVERFRONT FAIR See event description on

Thursday, August 8.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10

GLOW IN THE PARK 5K RUN/WALK A great

way to have fun and exercise! Glow body

paint, glow water stations, foam pits, and

UV reactive glow powder will light up the

participants and the night! All proceeds will

go to benefit New Beginnings and their

services for child and adult abuse survivors.

For more information contact New

Beginnings at 270-926-7273 or 270-926-

7278. www.newbowensboro.org.

LANHAM BROTHERS JAMBOREE This

family-fun and interactive show will feature

Bluegrass, Country, Clogging and Comedy.

Showtime is 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. CST. The

Jamboree will be held in the Good Time

Theater at Diamond Lake Resort. Tickets

are general admission at the door and are

$10 per person, $5 for ages 6-12 years

and 5 years and under are free. Discounts

offered for groups of 15 or more people.

Group tickets may be purchased by calling

(270) 314-4331; 7301 Hobbs Road; www.

lanhambrothersjamboree.com

FREE SATURDAY MORNING LIVE! Visit the

library every Saturday morning from 10:00—

12:00 for self guided fun and educational

activities with a focus on literacy and school

readiness; Daviess County Public Library,

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calendar

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org

RIVERFRONT FAIR See event description on

Thursday, August 8.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11

RIVERFRONT FAIR See event description on

Thursday, August 8.

MONDAY, AUGUST 12

FREE STORYTIME Wee Read for ages 2 and

younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 –

10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13

FREE BLUEGRASS ON THE BANKS The city

of Owensboro is kicking off Bluegrass On

The Banks showcasing bluegrass music

on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month

through early October.

U-BOUNCE TODDLER TUESDAY; All must

wear socks; Children 5 and under get in for

$5 all night; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or

ubouncepartyhouse.com.

JOHNSON’S DANCE STUDIO OPEN

HOUSE REGISTRATION Stop in at 2705

Breckenridge Street from 1 - 6 p.m.; (270)

684-9580; www.johnsonsdancestudio.

com.

WALK, TALK & LUNCH IN THE GARDEN

“NO POEM AS LOVELY AS A TREE” Have

lunch at the Western KY Botanical Garden;

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.; (270) 852-8925 or www.

wkbg.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14

U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All

must wear socks; $7 per child, children

under 2 are free, unless they are the only

child, adults always free; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270)

685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

JOHNSON’S DANCE STUDIO OPEN

HOUSE REGISTRATION Stop in at 2705

Breckenridge Street from 1 - 6 p.m.; (270) 684-

9580; www.johnsonsdancestudio.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

FREE STORYTIME Wee Read for ages 2 and

younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 –

10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16

FREE FRIDAY AFTER 5 Main Stage - Bone

Pony (rock); Courtyard - Stud Buzzards;

Gospel on the River - McKendree Family,

Kyle Reeder, Lefevre Quartet; Overlook

Stage - Blackberry Jam; Street Fair - Bike

Night; (270) 687-2787 or fridayafter5.com.

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U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All

must wear socks; $7 per child, children

under 2 are free, unless they are the only

child, adults always free; 5 – 9 p.m.; (270)

685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17

CONCERT ON THE LAWN The Owensboro

Symphony Orchestra presents their annual

Concert on the Lawn. Join the Symphony

for family fun and great music, beginning at

7 p.m.; 270-684-0661 or http://www.theoso.

com.

MULTI-CULTURAL FESTIVAL A unique

blending of cultures come together to

educate the public through dancing, music,

ethnic fashions, food, arts and more. A

celebration of our diversity; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.;

First Presbyterian Church lawn, 1328 Griffith

Avenue, 270-684-1467.

FREE SATURDAY MORNING LIVE! Visit the

library every Saturday morning from 10:00—

12:00 for self guided fun and educational

activities with a focus on literacy and

school readiness; Daviess County Public

Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org

MONDAY, AUGUST 19

FREE STORYTIME Wee Read for ages 2 and

younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 –

10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

OWENSBORO MARLINS SWIM TEAM TRY-

OUTS & EVALUATIONS at the HealthPark.

1006 Ford Avenue; For More information

contact Patsy Duke (270) 302-6469; www.

owensboromarlins.com.

OWENSBORO DANCE THEATRE OPEN

AUDITIONS 5 - 7 p.m. at Johnson’s Dance

Studio. 2705 Breckenridge Street; 270) 684-

9580; www.johnsonsdancestudio.com.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20

U-BOUNCE TODDLER TUESDAY; All must

wear socks; Children 5 and under get in for

$5 all night; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or

ubouncepartyhouse.com.

LEGO BLOCK PARTY Build, play, and learn

with LEGO! Seating is limited. Registration is

required; 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.; Daviess County

Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.

org.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21

U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All

must wear socks; $7 per child, children

under 2 are free, unless they are the only

child, adults always free; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270)

685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

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calendar

OWENSBORO MARLINS SWIM TEAM TRY-

OUTS & EVALUATIONS at the HealthPark.

1006 Ford Avenue; For More information

contact Patsy Duke (270) 302-6469 or visit

www.owensboromarlins.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22

FREE STORYTIME Wee Read for ages 2 and

younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 –

10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

20/20 BOOKCLUB This month we will

be discussing Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De

Rosnay. Pick up your copy at the 2nd Floor

Information Desk; 6 -7 p.m.; Daviess County

Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.

org.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23

DCPS ALUMNI & FRIENDS FESTIVAL 2013

Apollo football will host OHS and DCHS

football will host Owensboro Catholic on

Friday evening, August 23. The 3K Run/

Walk on Saturday morning, August 24th.

The Alumni, Friends & Families Picnic

will be at Reid’s Orchard from 11-2 on

Saturday, August 24th. The Alumni & Friends

Extravaganza will be Saturday evening. For

more information, contact Vicki Quisenberry

at 270-231-5583

FREE FRIDAY AFTER 5 Main Stage - Rachel

Timberlake (country rock); Courtyard - Jody

Jones; Overlook Stage - Hereward the

Wake; Street Fair - Beach Night; (270) 687-

2787 or fridayafter5.com.

U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All

must wear socks; $7 per child, children

under 2 are free, unless they are the only

child, adults always free; 5 – 9 p.m.; (270)

685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24

OWENSBORO DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

The third annual festival brings hundreds

of participants and thousands of people

down to English Park to enjoy the incredible

competition of dragon boat racing on the

Ohio River along with cultural entertainment

and great food.

OWENSBORO’S WALK FOR A CURE AND

FUNDRAISER by the American Diabetes

Association in honor of Eric Crabtree

Activities include: silent auction, music by

Andy Brasher and American Idol’s Jenny

Beth Willis, silent auction, inflatables, live

broadcast and food by Cromwell Radio and

much more! Donation only and all proceeds

go directly to the ADA.; Moreland Park; 12

– 5 p.m.; For more information, please visit

our website http://main.diabetes.org/goto/

crabtree and click on the “join event” link or

call 270-312-4102 or 270-925-8283.

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calendar

OWENSBORO RIVER CITY KENNEL CLUB ALL-BREED DOG SHOW

The Owensboro River City Kennel Club holds their annual All-Breed

Dog Show at the Daviess County Fairgrounds. Vendors will be

on hand offering dog-related items and jewelry. On late Saturday

afternoon, there is a Dog Show Match for inexperienced dogs

and/or new people interested in getting into showing their dogs.

Contestants may enter this show that afternoon. For the show on

Sunday, dogs must be entered in advance. For more information,

contact Vicki Spencer at 270-316-0051.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY “A STERLING CELEBRATION” Habitat for

Humanity, a not for profit entity is celebrating their 25th. anniversary

in Owensboro, on August 24, 2013. The Silver Anniversary, a Sterling

Celebration, will be held at Southern Star on Highway 81. This will

be the annual Banjos and Brunch and will begin at 9:30 and end

at 11:30. Randy Lanham will provide the Bluegrass entertainment.

Brunch will be served. There will be a silent auction with a variety of

merchandise, which will be announced before the event. The cost

is $50 per person or $350 for a table of 8 with your name listed as

a sponsor. For more information contact 270-926-6110 or www.

habitatowensboro-daviess.org.

FREE SATURDAY MORNING LIVE! Visit the library every Saturday

morning from 10:00—12:00 for self guided fun and educational

activities with a focus on literacy and

school readiness; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.;

dcplibrary.org

ROAD TO VICTORY: WORLD WAR II REMEMBERED Panel

Discussion Experts and veterans will discuss the Pacific Theater; 2–

4 p.m.; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

FREE MEMORIAL BALLOON RELEASE Join the Mullins family

as they honor the memory of SPC Brandon Mullins; 3 p.m.; The

balloon release will take place between the Owensboro Sports

Center and The Edge Ice Arena.

FITTER & FASTER SWIM TOUR CLINIC The Fitter & Faster Swim

Tour Presented by SwimOutlet.com is coming to Owensboro,

KY on Aug. 25th featuring two Olympians Christine Magnuson

and Adam Brown. They both are competing at the World

Championships in Barcelona this summer! This is an amazing

opportunity for young swimmers to swim with and learn from

Olympians. Also, The first 10 registrants to use promo code “visit-

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owen” through July 26th save 10% off the

current online fee (this is savings of $34 off the

event day fee!); Owensboro HealthPark, 11 a.m.

– 3 p.m.; More details about this clinic and for

registration go here: http://fitterandfaster.com/

swim-clinics/owensboro-ky/.

MONDAY, AUGUST 26FREE STORYTIME Wee Read for ages 2 and

younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 –

10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27

FREE BLUEGRASS ON THE BANKS The city

of Owensboro is kicking off Bluegrass On

The Banks showcasing bluegrass music

on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month

through early October.

U-BOUNCE TODDLER TUESDAY; All must

wear socks; Children 5 and under get in for

$5 all night; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or

ubouncepartyhouse.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28

U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All

must wear socks; $7 per child, children

under 2 are free, unless they are the only

child, adults always free; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270)

685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29

FREE STORYTIME Wee Read for ages 2 and

younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 –

10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30

U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All

must wear socks; $7 per child, children

under 2 are free, unless they are the only

child, adults always free; 5 – 9 p.m.; (270)

685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

FREE FRIDAY AFTER 5 Main Stage - Insulated

(country rock); Courtyard - The Pits;

Gospel on the River - Greeson Family, The

Crossmen, New Ground; Overlook Stage -

Boscoe France; Street Fair - Mardi Gras; (270)

687-2787 or fridayafter5.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31

5K FAMILY FUN RUN Come out to support

MentorKids Kentucky for a competitive 5K

or a 1 mile Family Fun Run/Walk that will

include fun activities, obstacles, and games.

T-Shirt and breakfast included; $10; For

more details or to register online go to www.

mentorkidsky.org/5k2013.

FREE SATURDAY MORNING LIVE! Visit the

library every Saturday morning from 10:00—

12:00 for self guided fun and educational

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calendar

activities with a focus on literacy and

school readiness; Daviess County Public

Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org

THE BIG O MUSIC FEST, the best time

in Owensboro, features some of the

top names in country music and is held

annually at Reid’s Orchard. The 2013

lineup includes headliner Jake Owen,

Justin Moore, Love & Theft, Colt Ford,

Locash Cowboys and the winner of

the Battle for the Big O. Tickets can

be purchased through the website.

Gates open at noon with performances

beginning at 1 p.m. www.bigomusicfest.

com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

FREE STORYTIME WEE Read for ages 2 and

younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 –

10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

U-BOUNCE TODDLER TUESDAY; All must

wear socks; Children 5 and under get in for

$5 all night; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or

ubouncepartyhouse.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All

must wear socks; $7 per child, children

under 2 are free, unless they are the only

child, adults always free; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270)

685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

BLUEGRASS JAM On the first Thursday

of each month, head to the Bluegrass

Museum to jam with other musicians.

Jamming is for musicians of all levels and

begins at 7 p.m. For more information,

contact the Museum at (270) 926-

7891 or visit their website at www.

bluegrassmuseum.org.

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