Christmas tree lighting postponed until Wednesday

The annual Christmas tree lighting on Main Street, scheduled for this evening, has been postponed "due to the advice of our meteorologist," Mayor Tom Bozarth announced this morning. "The weather is going to be better on Wednesday. We will start with singing at 6:15 and the lighting will be at 6:30. Sorry for any inconvenience but the safety of our citizens and guests are paramount."

Downtown's annual Christmas Open House is a joy for children, parents and merchants

Children and parents waited at the wall along the tracks for Santa's arrival by R.J. Corman Railroad train.

Story and photos by Jill Novak

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications
Click on an image to view a larger version.

The sun and spirits were bright Saturday, as children and parents eagerly awaited the arrival of Santa Claus at Midway’s annual Christmas Open House.

Santa, who arrived by train at 11 a.m., greeted the spectators as they gathered around the tracks dividing Main Street. “Jingle Bells” echoed throughout downtown, as the crowd clapped and cheered, joining to sing Christmas carols.

Once Santa exited the caboose, parents and children were allowed to take self-guided tours of the train and take family pictures.

For Ben and Sheena Roller and their daughter Olivia, below, Santa is the best part about coming to the open house.

“This is our second year coming and we had so much fun getting to ride on the train with Santa,” Ben Roller said.

For Midway resident Ken McDaniel, who said he looks forward to bringing his family to the open house every year, “The best part is the train, the kids really like the train.”

More excitement took place at Santa’s Workshop, which was located in the Midway Auction House at the low end of Gratz Street. Aside from eating cookies and making crafts with elves, children lined up outside the door to get a chance to tell Santa what was on their Christmas list. Flashes of light filled the room as proud parents took pictures of their kids sitting on Santa’s lap.

For the merchants of Midway, the open house was a chance to show off their selections and talents. Scott Skidmore, owner of the Midway Whistlestop, showcased his handcrafted Christmas ornaments by setting up tables in front of his store where people could purchase the items and even have them engraved. “We’ve been doing craft shows for about 10 years and this is our first year at the open house,” said Skidmore.

Walking through downtown, people also lined up for carriage rides and all the homemade kettle corn they could eat.

Midway resident Sarah Wilson and her daughter Emily said they enjoyed their first trip to the open house and will definitely be back next year.

“We went shopping and got an ornament to commemorate Emily’s first trip,” said Wilson, below, “and we’re just having a great day walking around and seeing our friends.”

Even after the carriage rides stopped at 3 p.m., people continued to shop and eat at their favorite restaurants as they enjoyed the crisp, sunny weather.

Mayor Tom Bozarth declared this year’s Christmas Open House a success and a “Chamber of Commerce Day in Midway, with the weather.” He singled out the Midway Merchants Association president, a city council member who runs the 815 Prime restaurant, and the owner of the Celtic Trends store for credit: “Kenny Smith, Grayson Vandegrift and Claire Parisol had things well organized.”

Woman's Club building poses legal issues for city; committee meeting canceled again

The City of Midway may have to file a friendly lawsuit to resolve questions about the Midway Woman's Club building, which the Woman's Club wants to give to the city under the terms of the 1952 bequest that gave the club the house at 230 N. Gratz St.

City Attorney Phil Moloney told the city council Monday night that the bequest provided that if the building was not maintained, it would go to the city in perpetual trust as a place for community gatherings. Moloney said the law does not allow a bequest to impose an obligation on the city, so he said the council should consider filing a friendly suit against the club and the unknown heirs of the woman who made the bequest, so it could take possession of the property, sell it and use the proceeds for the intended purpose -- perhaps to improve the upstairs of City Hall to provide meeting space.

"As I understand it, the City of Midway is not interested in taking over that house," because it would need improvements and upkeep, Moloney said. Council Member Dan Roller said the city has many more meeting places than it did in 1952, and "There's a lot of different needs in the community." After Council Member Grayson Vandegrift said he doubted that anyone would buy the building for use as a home, Roller noted that it has no shower or bath.

Mayor Tom Bozarth said the next move is up to the Woman's Club, which might be able to locate heirs who could inherit the property if a court modified the deed.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the special committee Bozarth named to study the idea of accepting the building has been canceled again. It had been scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. No new date has been announced.

Iron Horse date set, financial authority debated

Among other business, the council agreed to set Oct. 12 as the date for the next Iron Horse Half Marathon. Organizer Chuck Griffis said the Bourbon Chase relay race, which has been going through Midway and is expected to again, will conclude the previous day.

As the meeting was about to adjourn, Council Member Bruce Southworth made a motion that council approval be required for any unbudgeted expenses exceeding $1,000. He cited the recent auditor's report, which recommended that a limit be placed on purchase orders that the mayor can sign on his own.

Bozarth said, "Any large items we don't budget for would be brought before the council." Southworth asked, "Would it be that much of a burden?" Bozarth replied, "It must be a burden for you," and clarified what the auditor had recommended. Southworth responded, "I would just like to know where the money's at." Southworth joined the council in January and has raised several financial issues at council meetings.

Vandegrift said he could see the value of a limit on one-signature purchase orders, but "I don't want to impose on Tom." After more discussion, during which Southworth's motion was not seconded, Bozarth said he thought the motion was out of order, and said he would refer the issue to "the finance committee." Vandegrift, who also joined the council in January, asked, "We don't have a finance committee, do we?" Bozarth said he was referring to "Sharon's committee," the Cemetery, City Property and Ordinance/Policy Committee, chaired by Council Member Sharon Turner.

Finally, the council adopted a motion by Council Member Aaron Hamilton to cancel the regular council meeting scheduled for Dec. 16. That makes the council's next regular meeting Jan. 6. The council meets at 5:30 p.m. on first and third Mondays.

City council committee considering Woman's Club building resets its meeting

UPDATE: This meeting has been canceled. The special City Council committee appointed by Mayor Tom Bozarth to look at the Midway Woman's Club building and consider accepting it as a donation to the city will meet at the building at 230 S. Gratz Street on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. No action will be taken, according to the notice from City Hall. This meeting had been scheduled last week and was postponed.

Turner and Vandegrift start mayoral campaigns

By Jill Novak

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

With the news of Mayor Tom Bozarth’s decision to not to seek a third four-year term, candidates are already lining up for a shot at the position.

City Council Members Sharon Turner and Grayson Vandegrift announced in separate interviews last week that after encouragement from family and friends, they have both decided to run for mayor next year.

“I’ve been on council since 2005 and I think it’s time to take the next step,” said Turner, 51.

After Bozarth changed his mind and decided to run for re-election in 2010, Turner said she chose not to run for mayor out of respect for him.

Having gone so far as to fill out mayoral filing papers last time and patiently waiting for a chance to run for the position, Turner said that she’s been “very diligent.”

“I attended council meetings for a year before I even joined council,” said Turner. The filing deadline is more than 11 months before the elected candidates take office.

Asked why she thinks she is right for the job, Turner said, “I think I’m a well-rounded candidate.”

Vandegrift, 31, has served on the council since 2012. He says he also thinks that he has what it takes to be the next mayor.

“The amount of support I’ve gotten from my fiancé as well as from family and residents, has been inspiring,” said Vandegrift.

As the general manager of 815 Restaurant and Tavern, Vandegrift thinks his business experience is another factor that makes him a qualified candidate. “Having a small business allows me to have flexibility to do the job,” he said.

Turner is also self-employed, working as the manager for the Kentucky Malt Beverage Council in Frankfort.

“Because I’m self-employed, I don’t have set hours, which allows me to have time to do the job,” said Turner.

As an active member of the community, Turner has spent her time working with students at the Northside Elementary School and has served on the Midway nursing home task force, a group of public officials and community leaders that worked to create The Homeplace at Midway, a senior living residence now being built.

Leslie Penn, owner of the Historic Midway Museum Store, said she believes Vandegrift’s business experience will come in handy as mayor.

“Grayson is open-minded and has appreciation for business and tourism,” said Penn.

Turner said she plans to work more with members of the Midway Merchants Association to have a successful downtown.

“I plan to keep Midway the small, quaint city that it is, but also vibrant,” she said.

Kenny Smith, president of the Merchants Association and owner of the Kennydid Art Gallery, said the next mayor of Midway should be someone who is willing to work with the other merchants of Midway and their ideas.

“It needs to be somebody that will help promote downtown and its merchants,” he said.

As far as her future plans for Midway go, if she is elected mayor, Turner said that she intends to continue on with the same mission as Bozarth.

“I want to follow through and continue to keep tourism and government separate,” said Turner.

In hopes of raising Midway’s tax base, Vandegrift said he would like to de-emphasize residential development at Midway Station and include more “light industries,” like distribution centers, to create more jobs, which would raise occupational tax revenues.

“We need jobs, not homes,” said Vandegrift.

While each candidate may have different ideas for the future of Midway, Turner and Vandegrift agree that Midway’s biggest concern still remains the city’s water and sewer systems.

“I plan to do more about providing better city services,” said Turner.

When asked what candidate he would support for the next mayor, Council Member Bruce Southworth responded, “I think that they would both be qualified for the job.”

Bozarth declined to comment on his speculation of who might run, but concluded, “I would not be surprised if there was not multiple candidates who may file for the office of mayor.”

Turner and Vandegrift still have yet to officially file their paperwork for the election in 2014. Candidates have until Jan. 28 to file; if more than two file for mayor, a May primary will reduce the number of general-election candidates to two.

Council committee meeting at Woman's Club is off

The special City Council committee meeting at the Midway Woman's Club building, scheduled for today at 11 a.m., has been canceled, according to a notice from City Hall.

Council committee will meet at Midway Woman's Club building Monday morning to talk about taking it over

The special City Council committee appointed by the mayor to look at the Midway Woman's Club building and consider accepting it as a donation to the city will meet at the building at 230 S. Gratz Street Monday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. No action will be taken, according to the notice from City Hall.