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November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 1www.OwensboroParent.com
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 2www.OwensboroParent.com
3 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
4 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
I recently spent a day living a life completely different than my own. I gave up the keys to my car and access to my iPhone and debit card. As a part of a leadership course, I played the role, along with two other women, one a banker and the other an office manager, of a family needing to apply for welfare. With just a couple bucks in our pockets, we set out to find the welfare office—without a car. After walking more than 15 city blocks, we finally arrived at the state building, only to find that it had been moved from its previous location downtown to a new location off Carter Road. Walking took more time than we thought and it was almost lunchtime. We voted to eat lunch first and attempt the welfare office later. We walked to the Daniel Pitino Shelter, another five or so blocks. There, volunteers served us a full meal, as we sat among the homeless of our community. We heard stories of hard times, of drugs, of teen pregnancy, of medical problems, of hope for better, of dreams for stability. For the people surrounding us, lunch was just a meal. But the three of us received much more than a plate of food. After lunch it was time to find the welfare office. Another ten blocks to the purple line bus stop. With the few dollars in our pockets we each bought a bus ticket and caught a ride on the purple line to the yellow line, which would take us out Carter Road. When we got to the transfer stop, the next bus driver informed us the yellow line would not arrive for another half hour and it would take another 45 minutes to get to our destination. With our class reconvening to end the day, we had to give up on our attempt to apply for welfare. We rode the purple line back to where we came from and then waited an hour for the green line to take us to our ending point for the day. We walked 30 blocks, wasted five hours and had nothing to show for all our efforts. We were exhausted and beaten down. We did not accomplish our goal. We went to a closed building. We got lost. Our feet hurt. Our heads hurt from planning a bus route.
But we were thankful.
Thankful for our families, our homes, our cars, our jobs, our food... our lives.
Maybe we ended our day with nothing accomplished, but we went home that night thankful for the lives we have.
Ashley [email protected]
Publisher/Creative Director
Jason Tanner
Editor
Ashley Sorce
Account Executives
Jeff Sorce
Jodi Tanner
Jonathan Tanner
Robert Williams
Graphic Designer
Taylor West
Distribution Manager
Steven Morris
Contributors
Dr. Brian Gannon
Christina Dalton
Christy Ramey
Danny May
Gail E. Kirkland
Lora Wimsatt
Jaime Rafferty
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 Photography
Jason Tanner
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 editor
november 2012
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 5www.OwensboroParent.com
parent talk [6]
untraditional thanksgiving [8]
according to kids [10]
living the thanksgiving life [12]
when should parents worry [14]
free and legal downloads [16]
[20] this stress is unbearable
[22] coverkids photos
[28] the transformer
[32] finishing the race
[34] the road to a simple path
[36] i wanted more
[28]
[32]
[14]
[22]
[10]
[12]
november features
[34]
6 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
There is a lot to look forward to in November -- an election, time with family, great shopping
deals and of course, turkey. We asked you to tell us your favorite part of November and here
are some of our favorite answers.
parent talk
Black Friday! We get my 82-year-old mom, all of my four children with
their significant others, two grandbabies and away we go...really early!
We love the family time and also the deals! I am so proud that my
mom (82) can still go and shop! - Mary Wathen Kel ler
Thanksgiving week! I love cooking on ‘Thanksgiving Eve,’ family time
and eating on Thanksgiving day, and of course, shopping with family
on Black Friday! - Krystal Hil l
Thanksmus! Our family lives so far apart that we celebrate Thanksgiving
on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas the next day. I love the fun
traditions we have! - Kel ly Kel ly Bo-Bel ly
Thanksgiving with my extended family is my favorite! We still tell a
story of my grandfather talking about the little ones throwing peas at
the table! My sweet twins will be 18 months old this Thanksgiving...the
perfect pea throwing age! - Katy Evans Harrison
Election Day! I am going to take my daughter with me to vote, and
then we are going to Trunnell’s! - Rebecca Brothers-Hopkins
This Thanksgiving we are hosting a fundraiser for my little brother and
his fight against cancer. Every November is a celebration of family but
this November is a celebration of the strength of love and the fight to
live. - Lori Quinn
november 2012
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 7www.OwensboroParent.com
8 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
Tradition, defined in absolutely the loosest term possible, would
be something that is done the same way at least twice in a row.
But even within these wide-open parameters, my family really
doesn’t have much of a Thanksgiving tradition.
The closest we’ve come was back when I was
a kid, when we usually – but not always – went
over the river and through the woods to my
Grandmother’s house in Indiana. She always had
turkey, and always served it on what we called “the
turkey dishes.” I didn’t care for the dishes but liked
the story behind them, which was that she had
admired the dishes in the store window for weeks
but couldn’t afford them. Finally, after Thanksgiving, they were
marked down, and she bought them.
We kids didn’t use the turkey dishes – and didn’t get turkey
either. We got paper plates (fine with us) and had a bucket of
Kentucky Fried Chicken, which was really fine with us. We sat at
the card table in the kitchen, where my cousin put kernels of corn in
the gaps where her teeth were missing and my little brother grossed
us out by pouring gravy on his plate and stirring everything together
into a soupy mess.
Other than that, however, I have no idea what my Grandmother’s
Thanksgiving traditions might have been. As a child, I suppose I
assumed she spent the day with the Pilgrims.
Nor did I ever ask my Mom about how she had
celebrated Thanksgiving before we kids came
along. It was difficult, if not impossible, to imagine
Mom had ever been or done anything before she
was, well, Mom.
Mom did have one quirky Thanksgiving practice.
She always bought a can of cranberry sauce, which
she sliced neatly and arranged on a plate on our
dining room table. Nobody ever ate it, including her. But she thought
it looked pretty.
I never really thought about the concept of “Thanksgiving
traditions” when my kids were young. We were pretty flexible about
the whole thing. We had turkey once in awhile, sometimes even with
“all the trimmings,” although more often just with mashed potatoes,
corn and rolls. It makes for a pretty colorless plate but that’s what
everyone liked.
untraditional
We had turkey
once in awhile,
sometimes even
with “all the
trimmings”
family life
{ b y : l o r a w i m s a t t }
thanksgiving
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 9www.OwensboroParent.com
We’ve also had meatloaf, chicken or even pizza. Whatever.
As unconventional – untraditional – as it was, it worked for us.
And now, my kids are all grown up and living on their own. Three
are married and two have children of their own – my granddaughters.
They have adapted seamlessly into their in-laws’ holiday traditions.
I guess being flexible all those years paid off.
I’m left to wonder, what will my kids remember about our
family’s Thanksgivings? There were no special dishes, no special
recipes. Is there anything at all for my children to pass down to my
grandchildren? Anything about which they might say, “When I was
little, my family always …”
I think about this for a long time.
And then I smile … realizing that yes, even a family as
untraditional as mine does have a Thanksgiving tradition.
Years from now – generations from now – my grandchildren
and their children and their grandchildren can all say, “My family
always, always, gave thanks for our blessings.
Lora Wimsatt is a mother, grandmother and writer. She enjoys the everyday
blessings and adventures of life, especially her family
OP
tradition of turkeyNearly 88 percent of Americans surveyed by
the National Turkey Federation eat turkey at
Thanksgiving. The average weight of turkeys
purchased for Thanksgiving is 16 pounds and
are comprised of 70 percent white meat and 30
percent dark meat. Approximately 736 million
pounds of turkey were consumed in the United
States during Thanksgiving in 2011.
10 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
family life
according to kidsthanksgiving
{ b y : j a i m e r a f f e r t y }
What do you know about the Thanksgiving story?
Here are a few insights from our kindergarten friends:
Because I love my moma. (MF)
We have ham to eat. (JMH)
It’s somebody’s birthday. (SG)
It’s a party. (LH)
Your family can come see you because it’s a happy spirit day. (ZJ)
It’s for your parents. (MH)
I don’t know. (CS)
Because It’s Thanksgiving. (EJ)
For the candy. (ED)
To ride on an airplane. (PW)
I love my Grandma, (AM)
To thank the people for turkey (CK)
For Jesus (GT)
Let’s see what our first and second graders had to say. But this time we will share the
phrase just as the students shared them. We are thankful for their cute responses.
Because you get to “spin” time with your family (LM)
According to history, Thanksgiving
began as a three-day feast by the
Pilgrims to thank God for helping them
make it to the new world safely.
Why do we, personally celebrate
Thanksgiving? I know why, do you?
It just seemed natural to ask some of
Owensboro’s finest kids to tell us what
they know about the thankful holiday.
So with a little help from the students at
Burns Elementary School, we bring you
their perspective. The spelling has been
corrected and names replaced with
initials to protect the innocent. However,
the word turkey saw many unique
spellings from the students such as, tirky,
terkey, twerky, teerky, tarkay, torke.
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 11www.OwensboroParent.com
OP
“Peple” get turkeys for “peple”. (JW)
We eat turkey with mashed “tatos”. (CE)
Because it’s fun. Don’t you know its fun. Just it’s just fun. (AS)
Well I know that there are turkeys. (MC)
Because you can eat a lot and it’s a “haladay”. (ID)
It’s all about the turkey. (BL)
Because “Jeasas” and God wants us to. (KT)
That “theers chicking” and giving from other “pepol” and you get “presints”. (AR)
Because that is a “holudae” and I love that “holudae”! (LJ)
It is good and you can eat meat and you can eat “vegals” and you have have cookies
and play fun games (AM)
If I had to pick a favorite quote I would say it would have to be JB. I don’t
think I could have said it any better myself:
We see leaves falling from the trees then we celebrate thanksgiving for the stuff we have.
May you not take yourself so seriously this Thanksgiving holiday. Take time
to share with your kids the Thanksgiving story. Perhaps you can talk about
giving thanks for our many blessings and freedoms as Americans, but like JB
don’t forget the other “stuff ” we have to be thankful for.
12 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
{ b y : c h r i s t y r a m e y }
living the
A few years ago we had the opportunity to invite one of my
son’s friends to our Thanksgiving meal. He was so excited to
come because he had never had “Thanksgiving” at his house. His
grandparents lived out of town and his mother, a waitress, always
worked on Thanksgiving. This child who was nine years old ate so
many helpings of corn and potatoes; I lost count! Of course, I wasn’t
counting, but it was exciting to see his enthusiasm for the meal. Can
you imagine life without Thanksgiving? Think of all the memories
we have stored, the blessings we have shared and the food we have
eaten on this one holiday. So how do we make it possible for those
memories, blessings and food to be shared with others? How do
we give our children the blessings that come from being thankful?
Research shows that thankful people have higher vitality, more
optimism, less stress and less depression than the population as a
whole. Isn’t that a wonderful legacy to leave our children? Teaching
them to be thankful can make them happier and healthier!
So where do we start in leaving this all important legacy to our
children?
First, look at your own example. Are you a thankful person? Do
you accentuate the positive; see your glass as half full rather than half
empty? Using thankfulness terms like grateful, blessed, appreciative
and thankful, allow children to develop a “thankfulness” vocabulary.
A family meal routine allows us the opportunity to talk about what
we are thankful for on a regular basis. Keeping a thankful spirit in
the home can produce a peaceful environment.
While you are talking, explain to children everything that
“thanksgiving life”
family life
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 13www.OwensboroParent.com
someone (mom, grandma, or dad) has to do to prepare a
big meal. It doesn’t have to be the Thanksgiving meal.
The planning, shopping, cooking, and cleaning all take
time. Calling attention to the amount of time, energy,
and effort it takes to put a meal on the table will help
them be observant on other occasions and in other
peoples’ homes. Saying “thank you” to the person
who is responsible for the food preparation should
be a habit.
Get kids in the kitchen! Maybe not on
Thanksgiving Day, but the day or week before they
could help with shopping (pick up extra food for
Thanksgiving baskets at school or church). In the
kitchen let them chop, crush, mix, toss, or just open
bags and containers to get things started. They can
also set the table, which is a fun activity and can be done
ahead of time.
Invite a friend or co-worker who would not have an
opportunity to participate in their own Thanksgiving dinner.
Discuss this as a family; you will probably be able to think
of someone that would enjoy celebrating Thanksgiving with you.
Remember to be open to your child’s suggestions. You can’t feed an
army, but it could make a difference in someone’s day or life!
Fix a meal for a shut-in or neighbor who can’t get out. Children
can bake cookies, or make a cake and deliver it. The prep is a
learning experience, but the giving involved is an unforgettable
experience. Then make a special effort to show your appreciation
to your child or children for their willingness to help others. Ask
them how it made them feel?
Before the actual Thanksgiving dinner, ask your children to
give all the guests a slip of paper to record for what they are most
thankful for. Then right after the meal have someone read what was
written. Google a “Thanksgiving Tree” to find all kinds of creative
ways to do this activity. One year, I spray painted a branch gold, put
it in a pot filled with flowers, then tied each strip of paper on the
branches. Your children may want to make this a family tradition!
However you celebrate the Thanksgiving season, remember
that thankfulness is more a state of being, not just a single day
of the year. Encouraging children to be thankful is a year-round
challenge. Remember that teaching the trait of thankfulness leaves
a legacy of good health and happiness for your child’s future.
Christy Ramey is the Daviess County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. She has been married for 38 years and have three children and three grandchildren.
OP
OP
14 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
My child has a knot in her neck. Is it cancer, or am I overreacting? Many parents have these fears, and understandably. Cancer is scary, and we have all heard of people who were diagnosed “too late” for treatment. What are some early warning signs and reasons to see your doctor?
Cancer in children tends to fall into three broad categories: unexplained masses, enlarged lymph nodes or leukemia. Here are some things to look for and discuss with your doctor if you are concerned.
1. Any swelling or mass that does not make sense for your child
should be evaluated by the doctor. This could include swelling
in one leg not related to an injury; mass in the belly without any
symptoms; or even a white spot in the eye noted on family photos.
These may seem clear, but when a child lives with you, it is easy to
explain things away for a long time, or until there are symptoms of
something pushing on neighboring organs.
2. Enlarged lymph nodes are extremely common in children,
especially toddlers and teenagers. Luckily toddlers rarely get
tumors in the lymph nodes, but adolescents definitely do. The
vast majority of children seen in the office for this complaint will
have an innocent explanation: a cold, a bug bite or a toothache.
The signs of an innocent lymph node (usually a mild infection or
inflammation fighting off other illness) would be tenderness, size
less than 1 inch, rubbery texture, and clear margins, meaning you
can easily find all the edges and get your fingers around the lump.
Reactive nodes (which is what we call them) will grow quickly, over
a few days to a week, then stabilize and shrink very slowly over
6-8 weeks. If the node is larger, rock-hard, with unclear margins
or fixed to underlying bone, non-tender or lasting more than two
months and still growing, then your doctor should see it. It still
may not be a tumor or lymphoma, but it certainly justifies a visit
to the office.
3. Leukemia is scary. The problem is that most children do not
show any specific symptom that says, “I have leukemia.” We hear
about easy bleeding or bruising, or pale skin. Sure, these could be
signs of a problem, but they are not usually what lead to diagnosis.
Most kids with leukemia are diagnosed by accident, when we do lab
work for some other reason. I have seen teenagers with crazy white
counts when we did screening labs to start acne medicine!
4. If you are worried about cancer of any type in your child,
discover
when shouldparentsworried
be
{ b y : d r . b r i a n g a n n o n }
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 15www.OwensboroParent.com
especially if your concern is related to a family
history of cancer or leukemia, then please
mention it to your pediatrician directly. If we
do not understand your agenda, we may not be
able to address our concerns adequately, even if
you are just a “worried parent.” The take-home
message is that your concerns are still valid,
simply because they are your concerns. Our
job is to address those concerns on some level.
If it turns out that there is no medical issue to
explain your anxieties, then so be it. At least
the pediatrician did the appropriate testing and
listened to you as a parent.
5. I would like to close with a message of
hope. Over the past 50 years, amazing advances
have reduced the likelihood of death in many
childhood cancers, notably certain types of
leukemia, genetically-determined tumors and
retinoblastoma. We have great treatments
available and children are wonderfully resilient
in dealing with both the medical and emotional
trauma of a chronic illness. Not all cancer is
curable, but the news is getting more positive
every day.
Once again, remember that you as a parent know
your child better than anyone on this earth. If
you think something is wrong, tell your child’s
doctor. The more he understands the reasons
for your concern, the better he can develop a
plan to figure out the answer to the question
you are asking. If you think it’s an infection,
tell us. If you think it’s arthritis because your
mom had lupus, tell us. And by all means, if
your grandfather had leukemia before St. Jude’s
came up with a cure, please let us know. We
want to help you and hear you, but the best we
can do is answer the questions presented by you
and your child’s symptoms.
We at Pediatric Partners are praying for the family of
Lane Goodwin, as well as all the families we know who
have been touched by cancer. We are so grateful for
the success stories and the strength we have seen in the
children, even when they do not survive their struggle.
OP
childhoodcancernumbers
B Y T H E
1%of cancer in the
U.S. is in children under the age
of 15.
12,060 children will be diagnosed with cancer in this
year in the U.S.
83%of children with cancer survive 5 or more years.
80%of teenagers with cancer survive 5 or more years.
16 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
“Wait, so you’re telling me I can download three songs
every week for free, just by having a library card?”
“Yes. Three songs per library card.”
I didn’t actually think my long time friend and library
employee Jarrod would be lying to me. I just thought it was one of
those too-good-to-be-true moments. It took a minute to register.
Freegal; it’s free and legal. And apparently the Daviess County
Library pays a pretty hefty sum in order to offer the service free
to its patrons. That’s why they are promoting it so heavily so that
more people use it to make it worth their investment.
I use it like crazy, that’s for sure! Here’s how it works: you
simply log in to dcpl.org, click on “online services” on the top
toolbar, then click on “freegal” when the drop down box appears.
When Freegal opens, enter in the number on the back of your
library card and the wonderful world of Freegal instantly opens
in front of your eyes. (The password is grayed out when you enter
through the library website. If you just Google search Freegal you
need a password, so I always go through the library website.)
You can search songs by artist, genre, or most popular
downloads. When you find the songs you want, you double click
them to download and they load right in to iTunes automatically.
(Although I have to double click them from my “downloaded”
folder because apparently my laptop is a dinosaur. Oh well. It
still works.)
At first I was afraid that since it was free there would only
be bands nobody’s ever heard of. So when I found Foo Fighters,
You can search songs by artist, genre, or most popular downloads. When you find the songs you
want, you double click them to download and they load right in to iTunes automatically.
{ b y : d a n n y m a y }
free and legal downloads =freegal
discover
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 17www.OwensboroParent.com
discover
18 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
discover
John Mayer, and Dave Matthews Band I was like a kid at
Christmas! Then I logged in with my wife’s library card (since
she and I share an iTunes account) and loaded her up with
Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson and other stuff she likes to run to.
Freegal is on it! Every week they’re adding new artists, so it’s
always fun to check back and see what’s new. Just recently,
they added Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen. But you
can also find new artists like One Direction, Adele, and Jason
Aldean.
Now, before I ever buy a song in the iTunes store, I always
check Freegal first. So if it’s been a while, dig that library
card out of your wallet or purse and go get your free songs!
If you’ve never gotten a library card, it’s very simple and the
staff would be more than happy to get you set up. It only takes
a minute and you’re good to go. Our family has always been a
big fan of the library. Freegal is just another reason why I love
our Daviess County Library so much. OP
19 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
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discover
{ b y : c h r i s t y r a m e y }
unbearablethis stress is
Since I started teaching parenting classes back in the spring of
2007, I often find myself observing parent/child interactions
whenever possible. My goal as a teacher is to help parents and
make life easier for them and their child. What are the struggles?
As your child gets older, you forget the terrible twos and sometimes
you try to remember the days before they could talk. The stories I
am about to tell are from Chicago, so sit back, take a deep sigh of
relief as we talk about people we don’t know. LOL
I need to paint a picture for you. A picture so vivid that your
muscles start to tighten and your hand goes over your mouth while
you’re thinking, “No he did not!” I recently went to Chicago for
Labor Day weekend with my daughter and my cousin. It was a
rainy Sunday and we decided to take it indoors and head to the
Shedd Aquarium. It was hot, humid, my hair getting bigger by
the minute and people were sticky. I know that because that’s how
crowded it was in there. We were trying to make our way to the
oceanarium section and we pass a man, probably mid 30s. He’s
struggling a little and he’s holding a young child-- bareley holding
a young child. He also has a child attached to either side of him.
I would guess all under the age of five. As he passes or squeezes
by us he looks deep into my cousin’s eyes and says, “This stress
is unbearable!” and he continues on. You could hear faint little
voices saying, “Daddy I’m hungry, Daddy I need to poop, Daddy
I’m tired.”
We are now in the oceanarium and for those of you who have
been before you know it looks like a forest with big, green trees and
huge rocks surrounding a giant pool in the middle. BOOM! BOOM!
Everyone freezes. I look up and a decent size boulder is rolling
down one of the steep hills and at the top of that hill is a little boy
with a mighty big grin. He is wearing the Urkel expression, “Did I
do that?!” and an eerie silence comes over the crowd as every parent
in the room checks to make sure their child was not part of this
{ b y : c h r i s t i n a d a l t o n , M S S W, C S W }
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 21www.OwensboroParent.comwww.O
avalanche. You could actually see the relief flood their faces when
they were assured their little ones were in check. Then you see him,
DAD, panic stricken, deciding what to do… save the boy, stop the
boulder, too late the boulder is picking up momentum and he goes
for the little boy. No one was hurt during the process of this story,
except for maybe the boulder. It was all over in a matter of minutes
and I thought, “This stress is unbearable!”
If you are a parent, you are not alone. Sometimes in life the stress
can seem unbearable. So why then do we put ourselves through it all,
when your two-year-old won’t even remember? I will tell you why--
because we all love our children. No matter what age, how little or
big, we want them to experience everything
life has to offer. We want pictures of
it all. We want to share those
moments with our friends
and family on Facebook
and Twitter. We want
to talk about it at
their wedding. I
don’t have any
specific technique to share with you or a quick fix this time. I just
wanted you all to know that sometimes the stress is unbearable but
we will all get through it together.
And when all else fails, post it on Facebook.
Status Update: My three year old just climbed a wall and pushed
a fake boulder down into a crowd full of people. Don’t you wish
your baby was strong like mine?!
Or, you can ask us at Owensboro Parent! We would like to hear
from you! If you have a specific parenting “issue” that you would
like addressed or just a question you might need advice on we want
to help!
Please email your questions to me at
Your question just might be
answered in the next
issue.
Christina Dalton, MSSW, CSW is the Family Resource Center Coordinator for Daviess County Public Schools.
OP
22 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
coverkidsChrystal and Josh Corum moved to Owensboro last August from
Richmond, Kentucky. They welcomed son, Zane, in early October. Being new to the area, the young family used Owensboro Parent as a guide for
learning about the community. Now one year later, Owensboro Parent is happy to feature Zane as our CoverKid winner! Zane is full of energy,
never sitting down and walking and running. He loves playing ball, saying ball, watching ball... basically anything involving a ball, especially UK. He and his Teddy Bear, Hubert, are best of friends and he enjoys driving his
Cozy Coupe. Meet Zane, the Owensboro Parent 2012 CoverKid Winner!
coverkids
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coverkids
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coverkids
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This energetic, somewhat shy, bright-eyed toddler, with thick,
dark eyelashes (the total envy of any girl) has become a hero
larger than life—larger than the Transformer Super Powers with
which he plays. Aidan Salsi, a lovable four-year-old, literally saved
his mother’s life.
His mom, Mindy, is a Type I diabetic and extremely conscientious
about the need to regularly check her blood sugar, to measure her
carbohydrates accurately, to enter the information into her glucose
meter. This particular Sunday morning in late September, Mindy
had followed her typical morning routine: Check the glucose meter
(high), drink 2 cups of coffee with breakfast, check Facebook, read
emails, reply “OK” to husband Paul’s text at 8:22. “After that ‘OK,’ I
don’t remember a thing,” Mindy explained.
The remainder of this remarkable story unfolds through what
her son told his dad, the paramedics, his classmates and teachers at
Hager Preschool. The hand of God was palpable as Mindy, Paul and
Aidan collectively replayed their story.
As with any other normal day, Mindy recalls standing outside
Aidan’s room, asking him to pick up his toys before his 9 a.m. feeding.
Aidan has a rare condition called neuropathic small intestinal
dysmotility. He requires regular injections via a feeding tube. From
that point forward, Mindy has no recollection about the incredible,
clever—simply miraculous—response from her son. Aidan got his
doctor’s kit from the toy chest and began helping his mom. He even
brought Optimus Prime, the mightiest of his Transformers, to help
lift her from the hardwood floor where she had collapsed, just outside
his room. “I was trying to get you up and it didn’t work,” Aidan told
his mom, as we sat in the living room, piecing together this amazing
story of an even more amazing young boy.
Aidan didn’t stop there. He didn’t become distracted or return
to his toys. He climbed up on the soft recliner that gave him access
to Momma’s cell phone, which was atop a 5-ft.-tall antique pie safe.
He realized that he had “to get Daddy.” He did just that. He called
Daddy. Daddy missed the call. Aidan called back.
When Paul answered, he thought his son just wanted to talk,
something Aidan liked to do when Daddy was away at work. Yet,
Aidan had never been taught how to call Daddy. He had seen
Momma call Daddy. Those little brown eyes had seen and learned
community
thetransformer
{ b y : g a i l e . k i r k l a n d }
aidan saved his mother’s life with an incredible, clever - simply miraculous - response.
AIDAN AND MINDY SALSI
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 29www.OwensboroParent.com
much more than either parent realized. Aidan
had full command of the iPhone: Hit the On
button, swipe the window to open, hit the green
phone icon, choose favorites, touch Daddy’s
name—except Aiden does not know how to
read, does not know his numbers.
“Daddy, Momma’s sleeping.”
“Where?”
“On the floor.”
“Try to wake her up.”
“I am sitting next to Momma, rubbing her
head.”
Paul instantly knew Mindy would never
take a nap and leave their son unattended.
Something was wrong, really wrong.
Paul kept Aidan on the phone, talking to
him continually, as he hurriedly drove home
from his workplace—Domtar on Ragu Drive.
When he arrived, the front door was security
locked and the only key was in the house. From
the front porch, Paul could see Aidan peeking
out the big living room window and continued
talking to him as he kicked in the sturdy
wooden door of the home where Mindy’s
grandparents once lived.
Up to this point, Aidan had remained calm.
Then he lost it. He began screaming, “Daddy,
you’re breaking the door!”
Mindy was still convulsing when Paul
reached her. He immediately called 911. He
checked her glucose meter. It said, “Too low to
read.” This had never happened before. Fire
fighters arrived first, but not without minor
confusion: Two homes on 20th Street have
the same number, one 115 E. 20th and the
other 115 W. 20th. Aidan to the rescue again:
“Daddy, why are they driving down the street?”
Paul ran outside to redirect the fire fighters.
As the first responders began asking
questions, Paul politely pointed to his son.
“You need to ask him.” Aidan sat there and
told paramedics exactly how mommy fell, hit
her head, started shaking. He gave them every
detail.
Teach your child when to call 911.
Use basic concepts like when an
adult can’t wake up, any fire that
happens without an adult, or an
intruder in the home. Kids get the
number down (it’s only three digits
after all), but they sometimes get
confused with when to call. Don’t
be discouraged if your child can’t
explain the right situations to you.
They often understand intuitively
even when they can’t explain it.
Encourage them to trust their “gut”
feelings, and if in doubt, to call.
30 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
Paul stretched out alongside Mindy on the floor as the paramedics
began an IV. That way she saw him before she saw the strangers in
her home. That added comfort and calm as her blood sugar moved
back toward more normal levels.
Once admitted to the hospital, Mindy, still barely coherent, was
checked thoroughly—x-rays, blood
work. Nothing was out of
the norm. “It cannot be
explained,” Mindy said.
“I could be in a
dead sleep and
wake up at 2
a.m. if I feel my
sugar dropping.”
With this life-threatening episode, she had no forewarning, no
symptoms.
What she did have was one amazing son—a son who received a
standing ovation from the nurses and doctors at the hospital, a son
who garnered praise and high fives from the fire fighters for his heroic
action, a son who now has a new fireman’s hat and extra doctor’s
supplies for his medical kit compliments of the hospital staff.
Mindy and Paul are careful with what they tell Aidan about this
episode. They do not want to scare him. He still thinks his momma
was sleeping on the floor. He does know her sugar was so low that his
momma could not wake up. He does not know that the paramedics
estimate Mindy had only 30-45 minutes before she would have died.
In his sweet, animated child’s voice, Aidan readily tells everyone,
“I saved Momma’s life.” Then he bounces off to play with one of his
Transformers.
Gail recently retired from DCHS, where she taught journalism and English. She is a mother of twins, a Meme, and sports enthusiast.
community
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31 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
32 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
the raceAs different as they are, Emily Mullikin and Seth Howard are
that much alike.
They both attend local elementary schools. Emily is in the 5th
grade at Tamarack, while Seth attends West Louisville, where he is
a 2nd grader.
Emily was 8 months old when she was adopted from Siberia and
brought to the United States. Those early years were not without
turmoil. She was plagued with one health issue after another, much
attributed to her premature birth at 32 weeks gestation.
Unlike Emily, Seth’s infancy was quite unremarkable. He was
healthy, he was happy. His mom says he has always been a “caring
and sweet little boy.”
Nothing could prepare these families for the trek that would
await them. But as two determined children, Emily and Seth leaped
each hurdle set before them and continued to RUN towards dreams
that others thought might be impossible given their circumstances.
During Emily’s toddler years, mom Sandi said, there wasn’t
much toddling going on. She was taken to a child development
center in Louisville and was evaluated in a clinical setting, where
they anticipated receiving information of why Emily was delayed.
While there, staff began working with her legs. Something
just wasn’t right. After a few moments the staff exited the room
whispering to one another. The family wasn’t sure what to expect.
When the doctor returned they were told that 2-year-old Emily
had Cerebral Palsy (CP). This was a shock to the family. CP hadn’t
crossed their minds. However they found comfort in encouragement
given to them that she would walk some day, though she may have a
limp.
Seth was a lively 6-year-old boy who enjoyed the great outdoors
of his family farm in St. Joseph.
His parents didn’t have any immediate concerns about his
development or health. The Howards seemed to have little in
common with the Mullikin family at that time because Seth had
little need in the way of medical care until after school one day
during his 1st grade year.
Through a terrible incident Seth’s mom, Rita, says they found
their son limp on the ground needing immediate medical attention.
Seth’s injuries were so significant that he was placed in a full body
cast for three months and was unable to attend school as he healed
and received therapies to recovery.
It is hard to fathom the needs that that each Emily and Seth
would have. As fate would have it, each child seemed to know their
need better than therapists, doctors and concerned family members.
Emily is involved in many activities: Girl Scouts, Buddy Ball,
community
f inishing{ b y : j a i m e r a f f e r t y }
SETH HOWARD EMILY MULLIKIN
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 33www.OwensboroParent.com
swimming, church and choir just to name a few. She’s fearless.
When asked one word to describe herself, she said with kindness
and exuberance, “AWESOME!” Indeed, she is awesome!
Emily says, “I am just like all the other kids, and they tell me I am.”
Seth is a country boy at heart. His hobbies include shooting his
new bow and arrow, riding his 4-wheeler as well as the family golf
cart around the farm but also has an affinity for magic.
Even with all these activities there was one thing that both of
these kids wanted to do and that was RUN. Yes, RUN!
Though Emily was told she would always walk with a limp and
Seth was immobile for three months, the can-do attitude of each lead
them on a journey to participate in cross-country, at their respective
school, where they were free to chase their dreams, alongside their
peers.
Sandi, Emily’s mom, felt like cross-country was a defining
moment for Emily. However she admits this desire her daughter had
was scary for her, but wanted to encourage her daughter and allow
Emily to feel included in any activity she desired to participate.
After speaking to the school, Sandi knew she must let Emily do this.
Rita says that Seth actually began telling her “I’m going to
run.” As soon as the opportunity presented itself, Seth came home
insisting she sign him up. She felt like she had no choice but to
give her little boy the desire of his heart to run again, after being
relegated to sit or lay for three long months.
Seth began training at home. Rita recalls him running around
the house in circles and asking at every opportunity to go to a track
and just run, run, run.
Though it was a hard decision for Sandi and Rita, they both
recall thoughts about their children.
Sandi, while driving to church one night, was particularly
touched by LeAnn Womack’s hit, “I Hope You Dance.” She couldn’t
help but think of Emily and the dreams she has for her future
through the words of the song. Sandi shared, “I didn’t just want
her to walk, I wanted her to dance!” Cerebral Palsy wasn’t going to
disable her daughter’s life. So why not let her RUN track?!
Rita has been repeatedly inspired by Seth’s ability to never
give up and says, “He just overcomes.” How could she not let him
further overcome by allowing him to participate in cross-country?
Both Emily and Seth began running cross-country in August.
Their mother’s admit they have never been the first to cross the
finish line but they are always smiling and greeted with cheers from
the crowd.
Jaime Rafferty enjoys writing, as a hobby. She lives is Owensboro with her
husband, Paul and their two children.
OP
34 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
the road to a
Owensboro is a small enough town that we don’t see
homelessness as obviously as they do in bigger cities.
But the sad truth is that Owensboro does have a large homeless
population. In fact, the Daniel Pitino Shelter has a waiting
list so long that they turn away almost 100 families a month.
The Boulware Center also has a waiting list and St. Benedict’s
Shelter is nearing capacity as the nights get colder.
It has become Kim Jagoe’s personal mission to help our
homeless community. After years of volunteering at the Help
Office and St. Benedict’s Shelter (where she was actually the
director for three years), Jagoe has a vision to open a women’s
shelter, resource center and a reverse soup kitchen called A
Simple Path.
If you’re like me, you are asking yourself “What in the
world is a reverse soup kitchen?” It starts by training some
of the homeless community in culinary skills, nutrition and
sanitation so they can prepare and serve meals. Customers
come and eat, but instead of paying for a “bill,” they make a
donation, which goes straight to the shelter.
Jagoe says the road to A Simple Path lead her to step
down as director of St. Benedicts to enroll in the culinary
arts program at Sullivan University in Louisville, where she
received her certification as a personal private chef with the
intention of opening the reverse soup kitchen.
Keith Lawrence with the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
interviewed Kim just a few days after she completed the
program. Kim was hesitant.
“I didn’t really want him to do the article at first because
I wanted to get some more things in order before it went
public,” Kim said. “But as it turned out, it was all in God’s
plan because the day after the article ran, Michele Ison
called and told me that Crossroads just received a grant to
completely upgrade their kitchen and they needed someone
to run it.”
Already established as a 501c3, Crossroads is a grassroots
network of volunteers, programs and resources aimed at
ending homelessness in Owensboro, so it made perfect sense
to partner with A Simple Path.
Adrienne’s HouseAdrienne’s House is named after Adrienne Courtney Dantin,
a young woman who had a heart for the poor and worked
for justice until she succumbed to cancer. Once the house
is completed it will serve as both an emergency shelter and
a transitional program to help residents get accepted into
public housing. During the day Adrienne’s House will also
serve as a resource center providing food, clothes and baby
items to homeless and impoverished women and children.
simplepath
community
{ b y : d a n n y m a y }
KIM JAGOE
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 35www.OwensboroParent.com
Success StoryIn all of Kim Jagoe’s years of working with the homeless
community, one of her favorite success stories is about a young
lady she met at St. Benedict’s Shelter that we’ll call “Karen.” The
youngest of seven, Karen lost her mother when she was just two so
she never really had the guidance of a maternal figure in her life.
When Karen came to St. Benedict’s she was working at a fast food
restaurant but she did not have a place of her own. She was also
struggling with an addiction and did not attend church.
Jagoe recalls, “I would
bring her to church with
us and I would take her
shopping or running
errands with me during
the day. She always
wanted to do those things
because she never really
had those experiences
growing up.”
Eventually the staff at
St. Benedicts was able to
help Karen get into public
housing. Today, five
years later, she still lives in that house, still has a job,
regularly attends the same church she was baptized in and is drug
free.
“When you’re helping the homeless community it’s all about
consistency,” Jagoe explains. “When you show them a constant,
non-judgmental, Christ-like environment then they learn to trust.
They learn to change. At St. Benedicts our motto was ‘we want to
love you like Jesus loves you.’ At A Simple Path we will have that
same approach.”
With the help of many volunteers and a network of supporters,
Kim Jagoe’s dream is that there will be many more people with
success stories like Karen’s that have found a better life through A
Simple Path.
Danny May is a husband and father of two boys (3 and almost 5). He is also the
Director of Family Life at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
OP
homelessness inowensboro
numbersB Y T H E
241homeless
individuals in daviess county
70beds at
boulware mission
35beds at st. benedict’s
homeless shelter
65beds at the
daniel pitino shelter
36 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
Can you describe your background?
I am blessed with a healthy family: my husband of eight years,
Josh and two awesome kids: SkylaGrace, 8 and Abram Wyatt, 6.
Being asked to deliver the valedictorian speech at WKU-O’s first
graduation commencement was such an honor. Having my children
in the audience was very special and I consider that night one of my
most extraordinary experiences in terms of influencing my children.
I decided to pursue higher education when my first child was
nearing her first birthday. I was working in a factory, going through
the motions, and helping pay the mortgage. I simply wanted more
from my existence and for my family. I started out at OCTC and
it is really hard to absorb the fact that I will soon have my Master’s
degree. I really could not have done it without the sacrifice and
support of my husband and the child caregiving contributions of my
children’s paternal Grandmother, Marquetta Ross.
How has your experience at WKU-Owensboro been?
WKU-Owensboro holds a special place in my heart and has played
an integral role in helping me reach my educational goals. For me,
driving to Bowling Green would have been a real struggle if not an
impossibility, so having this regional campus close to home has
been a blessing and has been more conducive to my non-traditional
student preferences. I earned my BA in Sociology with a Certificate
in Leadership Studies and I’ll have my MPA with a Certificate in
Aging Studies in December. I enjoy social research, which was the
basis for my undergrad degreechoice and I chose my graduate degree
because of the versatility it offers. My husband jokes with me all the
time and says, “Go on ahead and get that doctorate hun,” and while
that may be a future possibility, I am certain I need a break at this
point! I am currently career searching and I hope to find something
that enables me to use my strengths.
How do you maintain balance?
Balancing life as a parent in school was not easy to say the least
and it definitely takes a lot of sacrifice and commitment. Everyone
has to make improvisations along the way, and learning how to
adapt and overcome that which presents itself as an obstacle or
a challenge is rewarding. My advice for other parents would be
to take time and whatever you are doing, try to make it count.
Though one must be organized and diligent to be a parent
seeking a degree and trying to do both really well, we are not
designed to multitask our time away. Trying to be superhuman
is not within our grasp and is simply counterproductive and self-
destructive. “Keep your priorities in line” may sound cliché,
but it is key to balance. Thus, that would be my ultimate advice
to parents balancing school and life, to prioritize what
is important to you and strive not to deviate
from the hierarchy of importance.
For me, my relationship
with Jesus and thenmy
family had to come
first, and though I
fail all the time, if
you are striving
everything falls
into place.
i wanted shannon ross on going back to school at WKU-O
community
more
Western Kentucky University in Owensboro has been educating students for over 40 years.
Learn more online: www.wku.edu/owensboro
{ p a i d a d v e r t o r i a l }
OP
37 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
38 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1FREE THE NINTENDO WARP ZONE POWER UP ON THURSDAYS IN NOVEMBER! Come to the Programming Room for Nintendo fun! We’ll play Wii games such as Mario Kart and New Super Mario Bros. Recommended for ages 8-12 and their families; 2:30-4:30; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
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, NOVEMBER 2FREE KITTY KIZER BENEFIT EVENT All proceeds go to Kitty’s medical expenses. There will be a silent auction and musical performances to be announced later. Free to enter, donations accepted. Food available for purchase, cash bar provided by The Miller House; 6:30 p.m.; Reid’s Orchard.
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 DON & DAISY’S PHARMACY CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE; 720 West Byers Ave; (270) 683-2400.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3FREE 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.
FREE DON & DAISY’S PHARMACY CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE; 720 West Byers Ave; (270) 683-2400.
STORY LAB DAIRY OF A WORM Listen to the life of a worm as told by a worm, investigate real worms up close, learn how to make a worm home and even earn Wormologist certificate. Sessions will be held in the Museum of Science and History’s 3rd Floor Budding Biotech Lab. Program is included in the price of admission, which is $3 per person for non-members, two years and under are free. FREE TO MUSEUM MEMBERS! Please visit www.owensboromuseum.org or call (270) 687-2732.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5FREE 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, NOVEMBER 6ELECTION DAY
FREE WHERE’S WALDO? Waldo has invaded the library and we need help finding him! Wear your red and white shirts and help us celebrate Waldo’s 25th Anniversary. For ages 12 and younger; event will be held all day; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
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, NOVEMBER 7U-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, NOVEMBER 8FREE THE NINTENDO WARP ZONE POWER UP ON THURSDAYS IN NOVEMBER! Come to the Programming Room for Nintendo fun! We’ll play Wii games such as Mario Kart and New Super Mario Bros. Recommended for ages 8-12 and their families; 2:30-4:30; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
STORY LAB DAIRY OF A WORM See event description on Tuesday, November 3.
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, NOVEMBER 9U-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, NOVEMBER 10FREE MKK 5K The MentorKids 5K is more than just a FREE run/walk, it’s a chance to give back to our community, by supporting the work of mentoring and the service we provide to single parent families. Understand what Christian mentoring looks like and give everyone the opportunity to change a life through being a mentor; Check-in opens at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 10th. Participants can check-in at the Owensboro Christian Church
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].
november 2012
calendar
November 2012 . OWENSBORO PARENT 39www.OwensboroParent.com
Recreation Center (Entrance F). The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. sharp; Contact [email protected] (270) 926-6893.
FREE THE ANNUAL VETERANS DAY PARADE gives all people the opportunity to honor those who have served and those who still serve and defend our country. The Parade consists of units from area veterans groups, local school bands, military units, and various local organizations. The route this year will be straight down Second Street downtown and end with a ceremony at Mitch McConnell Plaza; 2-4 p.m.
THE MAGIC OF TOSCA The Owensboro Symphony Orchestra The Kentucky Opera returns to RiverPark Center to perform with the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra featuring Puccini’s “Tosca;” 7:30 p.m.; 101 Daviess St.; (270) 687-2787.
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.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11FIDDLER ON THE ROOF “Tradition” will ring out on RiverPark’s Cannon Hall stage with the classic musical of survival!; 7 p.m.;101 Daviess Street; (270) 687-2787 or riverparkcenter.com.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12 VETERAN’S DAY
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.
VETERAN’S DAY PROGRAM Hospice of Western Kentucky and Haley McGinnis Funeral Home present a Veteran’s Day Program at the new National Guard Armory in Mid America Air Park next to the Owensboro Regional Airport. The ceremony will begin with the presentation of colors and will be followed by presentations and speeches all to honor our U.S. Veterans. For more information, contact Hospice of Western Kentucky at 270-926-7565; 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.; National Guard Armory, Mid America Air Park, Owensboro.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13FREE EREADER PETTING ZOO Visit the library and try out some of the most popular eReaders to decide which one you would like to buy! A DCPL adult program;10:00-11:00 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
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, NOVEMBER 14U-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, NOVEMBER 15FREE THE NINTENDO WARP ZONE POWER UP ON THURSDAYS IN NOVEMBER! Come to the Programming Room for Nintendo fun! We’ll play Wii games such as Mario Kart and New Super Mario Bros. Recommended for ages 8-12 and their families; 2:30-4:30; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
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, NOVEMBER 16HAPPY HOLIDAY TO YOU An evening of song and dance to usher in the Christmas Season. The show features a stellar community cast of singers, dancers and choirs. Tickets available though the RiverPark Center box office. Adults $10.50, Children under 10, $5 (RiverPark ticketing fees not included); 7 p.m.; RiverPark Center, 101 Daviess Street; (270) 687-2787.
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, NOVEMBER 17FREE 76TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE This special parade is the largest Christmas parade in Kentucky and the tri-state area. 2012 will be the 76th year for the parade! This year’s theme is “River Front
40 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
Christmas” to celebrate the new riverfront park. Bands, lighted floats, an historic calliope, and St. Nick himself will entertain all ages; 4:30 p.m.; Second Street in Downtown Owensboro.
STORY LAB DAIRY OF A WORM See event description on Tuesday, November 3.
HOLIDAY MART RiverPark Center will be hosting its 2nd Annual Holiday Mart. Holiday Mart 2012 will feature over 60 direct sales companies and home-based businesses. Vendors will offer great products from Scentsy, Mary Kay, Thirty-One, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, Just Jewelry and many more. The Holiday Mart also features artisans and craftsmen. Items such as embroidery, hand-painted pieces, and blown glass will be available for purchase; 101 Daviess Street; 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; (270) 687-2787 or www.riverparkcenter.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.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18HOLIDAY MART See event description on Saturday, November 17.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19FREE 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, NOVEMBER 20FREE 27TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY IN THE PARK LIGHTING CEREMONY Giant elves, trees, toys and figures, not to mention Santa in his sleigh, line Legion’s half-mile walking path; Sponsored by Independence Bank, displays will be up through January 2; Lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Enjoy a train ride around the park, visit with Santa and free hot chocolate for one night only; Byers Avenue & JR Miller Boulevard; 270-687-8700.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.
FREE LEGO BLOCK PARTY Build, Play, and Learn with LEGO! For Ages 6-12; 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
FREE EREADER PETTING ZOO Visit the library and try out some of the most popular eReaders to decide which one you would like to buy! A DCPL adult program;10:00-11:00 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21FREE HOLIDAY CARDS FOR VETERANS Help us decorate cards to be delivered to local veterans. For ages 12 and younger; Event will be all day, drop in anytime; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
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.
FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22THANKSGIVING DAY
FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK An outdoor driving lighted tour with 300,000+ lights winding through Panther Creek Park; $3.00 charge per carload; Panther Creek Park, 5160 Wayne Bridge Road.
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 HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24FREE 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.
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FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 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.
FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27FREE FAMILY FUN NIGHT OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATING Stop by the programming room to hear the United Daughters of the Confederacy talk about how pioneers celebrated the holidays. Then help us decorate our tree the old-fashioned way. For ages 12 and younger and
their families; 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
FREE EREADER PETTING ZOO Visit the library and try out some of the most popular eReaders to decide which one you would like to buy! A DCPL adult program;10:00-11:00 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
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.
FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
STORY LAB DAIRY OF A WORM See event description on Tuesday, November 3.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28U-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.
FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29FREE THE NINTENDO WARP ZONE POWER UP ON THURSDAYS IN NOVEMBER! Come to the Programming Room for Nintendo fun! We’ll play Wii games such as Mario Kart and New Super Mario Bros. Recommended for ages 8-12 and their families; 2:30-4:30; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.
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 HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30U-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 HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1FREE HOLIDAY STROLL Stroll the downtown
42 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
streets to get in the holiday spirit. Strolling carolers, storefront decorations, and indoor performers will make this evening a reminder of the good old days of being downtown at Christmas; 5 - 8 p.m.; Second and Third streets from Daviess to St. Ann; Contact Patti Acquisto at 684-9679.
ODT’S THE NUTCRACKER The Owensboro Dance Theatre presents a Christmas classic with elaborate sets, beautiful costumes and the talents of over 100 community members as well as the theatre company and guest artists from KY Ballet Theatre; 7 p.m.; RiverPark Center, 101 Daviess Street; (270) 687-2787.
HOLIDAY HUSTLE 5K RUN/WALK The Owensboro Parks Department is hosting a run/walk. Check in from 7:15 – 7:45 a.m. at Dairy Queen on HWY 231. Race begins at 8 a.m., awards ceremony 9:30 a.m.; Register before November 16, $20/person; Register after November 16, $25/person; For more information (270) 687-8700 or owensboroparks.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.
FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3FREE SANTA CALLS Santa has set aside a couple of days during his busy December schedule to make personal phone calls to children here in our community. This activity is free to children under the age of 9 and the only restriction is that all phone calls must be local. Calls will be placed between 6 and 8 p.m. on December 11th-13th. Forms are available on the website. Santa will do his best to call on the night and time requested, but placing a call from the North Pole can sometimes take longer than expected, especially during the holiday season! Register by December 3; For more information (270) 687-8700 or owensboroparks.org.
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 HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6BROADWAY AT RIVERPARK CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE Even Scrooge would exit with a smile on his face.” Come see the talented Cirque Dreams troupe for their stunning holiday performance; 7 p.m.; 101 Daviess Street; (270) 687-2787 or riverparkcenter.com.
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 HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
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44 OWENSBORO PARENT . November 2012 www.OwensboroParent.com
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PARK See event description on Tuesday, November 20.
FREE CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK See event description on Friday, November 23.
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