Midway Chalk Day for Racial Justice leaves messages of support and hope on sidewalks all over town

The title of Sam Cooke's 1964 civil-rights anthem was one of the many messages written in chalk on Midway sidewalks.
(Unless noted, photos are by Herman Daniel Farrell III, as posted on the Midway Musings page on Facebook)

Dozens of adults and young people chalked anti-racism messages on Midway's sidewalks Saturday, in a project that organizers hoped would make the town part of a national movement and strengthen its race relations.

The project was the idea of MJ Farrell, 18, who told the Messenger that she wanted to give an outlet for expression by people who want to join the national protest movement but don't want to attend events "due to fears of covid or fears of danger."

"I knew there was a lot a support throughout Midway and I just didn’t know how to gather that support," she said. Her first idea was "a small, silent protest" downtown, but decided against that because of the pandemic.

She said she thought a chalking project "would be a very covid-friendly means for people to show their support," and one that would last longer than a silent protest. (Rain may come Tuesday.) "It's a way to show each other we’re a very supporting and we're a very strong community." 

She publicized the Midway Chalk Day for Racial Justice on the Midway Musings page on Facebook, and with the help of Jenny Gregory, Jack Rock and Sophie Hill put flyers about it "on almost every doorstep in town."

Farrell said at least 50 people participated in chalking Saturday, led by a group of 15 young adults who did the downtown sidewalks. She said other sidewalks were done primarily by adults and their children.

"A lot of people of color participated in the project, which I was really happy about," said Farrell, who identifies as white; her father, Herman Farrell, identifies as African American, and her grandfather was from Jamaica.

Milan Bush, an African American who lives in Lexington but spent part of her childhood in Midway and still has family here, joined the effort.

"I thought it was an awesome idea," Bush, 36, told the Messenger. She said she brought her sister and her son, 16, and her daughter, 11, who have been involved in protests in Lexington.  

Bush is a teacher. She said that when she saw a piece of chalk art in a hopscotch pattern, reminding her of the children she has worked with, she got emotional, and that's when she encountered Farrell, whom she remembered as a student.

Farrell recalled, "She was sort of in tears and said 'I didn’t think I was going to get so overwhelmed about this.' It showed that were are all making change in people's lives and affecting people."

Bush said the project "evoked some feeling" about a town where she was the only black girl in her kindergarten. "We're making progress," she said. "It goes back to reaching out and relating and knowing your neighbors and that what's Midway has always represented."

Midway's population is 11 percent African American. Farrell said relations between the races in Midway are good, but could be deeper and broader. She said as she rode her bicycle in a predominantly black neighborhood, "I realized I never really come over here very much."

She added, "I really hope people can learn from this and people can come together."

Photo by Marcie Christensen

Photos by Dan Roller, from Midway Musings

Woodford Community Fund making grants for covid-19 relief, seeks more donations; non-profits can still apply

By Madison Dyment

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

In these unprecedented times, many things remain uncertain for people across the country, but one thing Midway and Woodford County can count on is that their fellow community members will be there to support them.

One example is the Woodford County Community Fund’s recent creation of the Covid-19 Relief Fund, open for funding applications from any non-profit organization in the county.

Lori Garkovich, who has chaired the Community Fund for roughly three years, said the fund is providing support for non-profits that serve the community while the covid-19 outbreak disrupts many lives. With remaining funds left over from previous community enhancement grants, the organization felt obligated to offer provisions to “support their community every way they could,” she said.

“I said to our group, ‘I can’t sit here knowing we have money left,’ because I knew this was going to be bad,” Garkovich said in an interview. “My amazing board agreed to go through with it and we received three immediate requests after releasing it.”

The grants were offered the week of March 12 after notice that public schools in the county were shutting down.

In mid-March, a small committee of the Community Fund approved $6,000 in grants for non-profits Mentors & Meals, Spark Community Cafe, and Esperanza.

Grant money is still available for other non-profits, and the Community Fund has continued to raise more money so it will have more to give. 

Lori Garkovich

“My incredible, incredible colleagues decided that we are going to keep spending until we run out of money, so we’re still going,” said Garkovich.

The fund said in a press release, “Grants will be distributed on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis, making it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs. Nonprofit agencies seeking funding may download the grant application at www.bgcf.org/woodfordcounty.”

Each application request is evaluated by a prospective budget submitted by the applicant with no limit for the amount of grant money available. Grant amounts have ranged from $1,200 to $3,000.

“We need to balance the demand for support with the availability of funds,” Garkovich said, “so we don’t have a limit for the grants.”

The grant application has few questions, designed for ease and speed of submission, and non-profits have received notice of funding in as quickly as 48 hours.

“It was probably the easiest and fastest grant I have ever written,” said Lisa Johnson, executive director and founder of Mentors & Meals. “Within 48 hours I heard the grant was approved, and in around four days we received a check in the mail. It was fast and enabled me to proceed with our plan of action.”

Mentors & Meals, an after-school program for at-risk middle schoolers, put the grant money towards providing hot meals for the 75 to 100 student enrollees and their families.

“Since receiving the WCF grant, we have delivered 960 hot meals and counting,” said Johnson. “On April 9, we are going to roll out an ‘M&Ms Meal Box’ which, in addition to delivering hot meals to the families, will provide ingredients and a recipe card so they have another meal to make over the weekend.”

Mentors & Meals also helps students who struggle with the imposed non-traditional instruction by helping those with no internet connection, keeping in contact with their students frequently, and interfacing with teachers at the middle school to understand what the students are required to complete and learn.

“We just want our families to know that we care about them and are here to help them through Covid-19,” said Johnson. “We will get through this and we will get through it together!”

The Spark Community Cafe, an inclusive “pay-what-you-can/pay-it-forward” restaurant, received grant money in partnership with Mentors & Meals. The café used its funding to prepare dinners for the program on Thursday evenings from March 12 through April 2.

Additionally, they also supplied breakfasts for food-insecure students at Woodford County High School, gave meals to hospice patients, a church program providing care for the homeless, and supported Esperanza and other groups that reach out to the cafe.

“The first day of school breakfasts, Spark served 175 people and by the second day, we served over 400 people,” said Garkovich, who also serves on the Spark board.

Esperanza is a non-profit run by Robin Miller of the Versailles Presbyterian Church, which provides support for Hispanic families in Woodford County. Having received the largest grant of around $3,000, the group channeled funds toward helping families who have lost income due to job loss during the crisis. They supply necessities such as food, baby formula and diapers, and cover utility and rents costs for these vulnerable families.

“A lot of people in these families work in the service industry and have lost their jobs,” said Garkovich, a retired professor in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “They won’t be eligible for the government-given $1,500 because they don’t have green cards even though they have legitimate tax numbers and are legally working.”

Any Woodford County non-profit is encouraged to reach out to the Woodford County Community Fund to apply for the Covid-19 Relief Fund, Garkovich said: “None of us want to think after that we had money that we could have given to support people, but we chose not to do it. We just want everyone to know that this money’s available and that we’re going to spend our interest income until it’s gone.”

A tale of two awards for Ouita Michel; the one you've never heard of touched her in a way the other couldn't

Michel and her award (Photo by Hayley Burris)

By Al Cross and Hayley Burris
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The big news for Midway chef Ouita Michel this week was that she received her second semifinalist nomination for national restaurateur of the year in the James Beard Foundation Awards. But earlier in the week, she got another surprise award that in some ways meant more to her.

Girl Scout Troop 2261 of Midway gave Michel its “Women Who Change the World Award” at Monday night's troop meeting in the basement of the Midway Christian Church. Michel had been helping host the monthly community dinner, and was invited to come down and hear the scouts give examples of women who they thought were empowering throughout history.

As Michel watched, not knowing she was about to serve as an example, each scout presented a poster and read a speech about the person, and provided a food item to go along with it. Women presented included Hellen Keller, Cleopatra and Amelia Earhart.

"There was no way I was capable of that at eight years old," Michel, who was a national-champion debater at the University of Kentucky, said afterward.

Michel listens to the scouts. (Photo by Hayley Burris)

Then each scout made brief remarks saying what they liked about Michel, and "I started crying," she recalled.

Michel told the scouts, “I think this is the nicest award anyone has ever given to me, girls. After listening to your presentations and seeing how well all of you did and all the work you put in, I am really honored.”

The troop said it chose Michel due to her involvement within the Midway community, her skills in building her brand throughout her career, and her overall way of showing how empowering women can be.

"It was the sweetest damn thing I’ve ever been a part of, it was so amazing," Michel said Thursday. "That totally just set the stage" for Wednesday's news that she was one of 20 semifinalists for Outstanding Restaurateur.

She was also a semifinalist in 2016, "but to be honest, I didn’t understand the award when I received it, and I was so busy with Honeywood, I didn't stop to fully appreciate all that it meant," she said. "I didn’t think I would ever get nominated in that category again."

But it may have been the opening of Honeywood, in the Summit at Fritz Farm in Lexington, that got her another nomination. The restaurant is named for Honeywood Parrish Rouse, whose family owned Midway's Holly Hill Inn, which Michel and her husband Chris bought 20 years ago.

The inn was the start of the Ouita Michel Family of Restaurants, which also includes the nearby Midway Bakery & Cafe and Wallace Station Deli, and these Lexington operations: Windy Corner Market and Smithtown Seafood; Zim’s Cafe and Thirsty Fox in the old Fayette County Courthouse; and Holly Hill Events, based at Fasig-Tipton Co. on Newtown Pike. The company also operates Glenn’s Creek Café at Woodford Reserve Distillery, where Michel is chef-in-residence.

Michel's business success and her leadership in the local-food movement led to five nominations for Best Chef in America (Southeast) in the James Beard Foundation awards.

Nominees for Outstanding Restaurateur are recognized for "high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship," a company news release said. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Finalists will be announced in March; winners will be announced at the foundation’s annual gala in Chicago in May.

"I really think a lot of the James Beard Foundation," said Michel, who is a member. "They have done so much to reach out to chefs all across the country," educating them about "food waste, ocean sustainabilty, food access, hunger" and other issues, "trying to make advocates of chefs."

Michel said it was at a JBF anniversary boot camp in Vermont four years ago that she met some of the female chefs who will be part of the fourth Food Equity and Access Sustains Tomorrow event March 10 at Fasig-Tipton, to benefit FoodChain, a Lexington nonprofit that educates the public about urban indoor agricultural food production and processing through demonstration and hands-on training, including teaching children how to cook.

"That’s how FEAST came about," she said. "After the 2016 presidential election we all felt so dispirited that I felt like I needed to do something." The last FEAST event raised $60,000, she said, and "I think we'll raise a little more this year . . . for their kitchen, for their grocery store, for their vision of food access and reducing food waste."

Afterward, Michel posed with Girl Scout Troop 2261. (Photo by Hayley Burris; for a larger version, click on it.)

Another large Chili Cookoff turnout crowns Alex Woodruff as three-time consecutive champion

Woodruff has nearly become a pro.

By Madison Dyment
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The Midway Christian Church bustled Monday night with the smell of chili — and community — in the air.

Woodruff wasn't present Monday night;
this photo is from her first win, in 2018.

The 13th annual Chili Cookoff boasted more than a dozen entries, with Alex Woodruff’s “Super Fantastic, World Famous ‘Meat Me in Midway’” entry being crowned champion for the third consecutive year.

Second place was a tie between Ray Papka’s “World’s Best Chili,” a moderately spicy beef entry, and a mild turkey chili by Gloria Batts.

Despite the chance to win prizes, the main draw for attendees seemed to be the chance to connect with their fellow community members.

“Aside from the great food, it’s a wonderful chance to really meet your neighbors. You can talk and find out what’s going on in your community,” said Midway resident Scott Holmes.

Sisters Ouita Michel and Paige Walker mugged for the camera and their
 father, Ray Papka, whose chili tied for second. (Madison Dyment photo)

Church member, Papka daughter and Holly Hill Inn restaurant owner and chef, Ouita Michel, further substantiated the powerful community-building the event facilitates.

“It’s such a wonderful way to bring the community together,” Michel said. “You see so many members and people from town, and I think we all need to build some togetherness right now.”

That sentiment was echoed by many, including the Rev. Heather McColl, Midway Christian Church pastor for 13 years.

“The part about this event is really the people,” McColl said. “I was just remarking how you see people who have just moved here, who have been here forever, or people you’ve never seen. It’s fun to get to know and see different people and connect with them.”

The cookoff is popular with children. (Photo by Madison Dyment)

McColl began the Chili Cookoff as an in-house event for church members before incorporating it with the church’s monthly free community dinners, which began a few years later.

The cookoff allows participants to submit their best chili recipe for public tasting and judging. Attendees sample the chili and vote for their favorite. Each year there are numerous variations of the classic dish, sure to satisfy even the most uncommon taste buds.

“We know there’s controversy about putting spaghetti in chili, but we welcome all here,” McColl said while opening the event.

Aurora and Lyndon Frances
(Photo by Madison Dyment)

The event brings together first-timers and those who have frequented for years. Margie Steadman said she's been attending the cookoff for seven years, while young Aurora and Lyndon Frances have had less experience, making up for it with their enthusiasm.

“I’m really excited to eat all the chili,” said an animated Aurora, adding that her favorite included peppers. Lyndon said he prefers less-spicy chili options, with lots of cheese.

This long-going event succeeds each year in providing an avenue for friendly competition, community bonding, and excellent chili. What more could you ask for?

More than a dozen varieties of chili were up for tasting and judging. (Photo by Madison Dyment)

Northside principal, teacher and parent credit school's approach to student behavior for its high ranking

Story and photos by Megan Parsons
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

What makes an effective elementary school? “Most of the time, it’s about reinforcing good behavior,” says Northside Elementary Principal Ryan Asher.

Northside received four of five stars in the Kentucky School Accountability Report for the 2018-19 school year, and Asher and others say good behavior is a big reason.

A reading class at Northside Elementary School

Northside was the only Woodford County elementary school to receive four stars this year, while the other elementaries received three stars. The high and middle schools also received four stars.

The report, issued by the Kentucky Department of Education Oct. 1, includes reading and math rankings by student demographics, and the change from the 2017-18 school year to the 2018-19 year.

Northside’s overall math scores increased by 10 points, and reading scores rose by 7 points. The improvement was even greater among economically disadvantaged students (+13.2 in math and +11.3 in reading); those who speak English as a second language went up :10.1 in math and 5.6 in reading.

Asher credits the school’s “MTSS, or multi-tier system of support,” for the gains. “It’s a structure that involves systems of support for students with different needs,” he says. ”Whether they are a free-and-reduced lunch student, a high-achieving student or an English Second Language student, there are multiple people to put those supports in place.”

MTSS gives additional help to students in areas of need: mental, behavioral, physical, or within certain subject areas.

The behavior scale

Another key aspect for Northside’s success in the last school year, Asher said, is by reinforcing good behavior. In the past, elementary schools around the nation used clothespins or colored cards with three describing factors for each student’s behavior that day: green for good, yellow as a warning and red meaning they are in trouble.

Today at Northside, Asher notes, teachers are applauding good behavior through several options on a new scale, ranging from “outstanding” at the top to “think about it as students approach the bottom of the scale” to “teacher’s choice” and “parent contact or office, at the bottom of the scale.”

Asher says Northside’s use of a national program called Positive Behavior Intervention Supports played a major role in the school’s success last year. Northside uses the program as a code with four major themes: be safe, be kind, be responsible, and be a leader.

If a child misbehaves, a teacher or administrator asks the child to reflect on what part of the code he or she has broken. “Ten out of ten times,” says Asher, “a student will immediately know which part of the code they broke.”

Liz Perry, a third-grade teacher, agreed with Asher in a separate interview.

“I think it is so beneficial because it’s universal across all of our staff members,” Perry said. “That includes not only teachers but the cafeteria monitors, instructional aids and office staff. The kids know that these high expectations behavior wise need to be followed in front of everyone they see throughout their day. It’s held our kids accountable for their own behavior and I think it helps them make better choices in the future.”

For a larger version of any photo, click on it.

The hallways and classrooms are filled with reminders of the code. Even when entering the bathroom or eating lunch at the cafeteria, posters are displayed to remind students of how to be safe, how to be kind, how to be responsible and how to be a leader.

Amanda Glass, a parent of a Northside student and president of the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization, said “Northside reiterates those same things we are teaching at home. . . . Sometimes, when you hear it from your teachers or your principal, it has a little bit more clout than when mom and dad say that. . . . It’s good that the school also models that good behavior you’re trying to teach at home.”

Glass added, “Northside is such a small community in itself, it’s almost like a private public school. Northside nurtures the whole child. They do a great job of examining strengths and weaknesses and working on those for each child. . . . Not every child has the same social skills or emotional health other children do, and it’s comforting knowing my child is safe and loved when I can’t be there.”

Students at the school aren’t just viewed as students, they are thought of as “my kids,” Perry said. “It’s a part of what makes Northside so special. Even if they don’t work with them, we don’t view kids as Ms. Perry’s third grader, but as a student at Northside and everybody is on their team and everybody is in their corner.”

Northside Elementary School has 48 people on its staff, including 23 teachers. There are 334 students, excluding preschool, with a student-teacher ratio of 15:1.


A sign in a hallway at Northside reminds readers of the four main themes of the behavior code.

Weese family scores big in pumpkin carving contest

Jill and Joel Damron won for most creative pumpkin in the adult category. For a larger version of any photo, click on it.

These pumpkins were judged to be the scariest of the lot.

Members of the Weese family were half the winners in the pumpkin carving contest that the Midway Presbyterian Church held to promote awareness of the Midway Community Garden.

Church Pastor Mary Weese and her son, Zeb Henry Weese, won the adult and children's prizes for scariest pumpkins, which made use of evergreen cones for teeth and horns.

Zeb won the prize for most creative carving by a child, his Civil War pumpkin (he was dressed for trick or treat as Gen. John Hunt Morgan); the adult prize in that category went to Jill and Joel Damron, who did a Cinderella carriage that was, in fact, a pumpkin.

Debra Shockley won the adult Halloween Spirit award.

The Halloween spirit awards went to Debra Shockley, who put a little pumpkin into a cat skeleton, and Maggie Walden, who did a traditional jack-o-lantern.

After the entries were judged, trick-or-treaters came by to look.

Weather forecast for last Midsummer Nights in Midway of 2019 says rain will end just in time, bring cool temps

This year's final edition of Midsummer Nights in Midway will start at 6 p.m. this evening and run to 10 p.m. Temperatures are forecast to be 71 to 67 degrees, with the chances of rain ending by 6.

The Midway Renaissance event includes live music from Superfecta, stores open longer hours, and a long list of vendors, including Wagon Bones barbecue, Deaner’s Wieners, West Sixth Brewery, Rooster’s Whistle Coffee Co., Ashley Curtis (baked goods), My Creator’s Hands (vinyl lettered crafts), Midway Makers (crafts of all sorts), Whither Wander (handmade jewelry), Horsefeathers (fabric crafts), Two Ladies & A Kettle (kettle corn).

Restaurants will have specials, and the Railroad Drug & Old Time Soda Fountain will have ice cream. The St. Matthew's AME Church will have a fish fry.

The Midway Presbyterian Church Backpack Program will have face painting for kids; the Midway Community Garden volunteers will be on hand with information; and the Midway Branch Library will have crafts for children. The Versailles Lions Club will sell Woodford County throws.

Joint meeting of councils and Fiscal Court creates Youth Council and committee for an 'age-friendly community'

The officials are pictured just before the start of the meeting. The Midway City Council and half of the Fiscal Court sat on the left; the Versailles council and the other magistrates sat on the right. The executives and clerks sat at the middle table.

The first joint meeting of the Midway and Versailles city councils and the Woodford County Fiscal Court had a short agenda but longer-than-expected discussions Tuesday evening.

Mayors Grayson Vandegrift and Brian Traugott, and County Judge-Executive James Kay, had drafted resolutions creating a committee for an "age-friendly community" and a Youth Council with members from each jurisdiction. Each governing body passed the resolutions, but on the Fiscal Court there was dissent from its two Republicans. (City offices are nonpartisan.)

The age-friendly initiative was explained by Bill Frederick, who said he was a semi-retired workforce and economic-development consultant who moved to Versailles with his wife Jane from northern New Jersey two years ago. He said having a committee would make the county part of a network that has 363 members, including Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro and Berea.

One goal of the network is to help people live in their own private homes as long as possible. "Aging in place is an alternative preferred by many to living in a retirement community," he said.

Mary Crowley Schmidt of the Bluegrass Area Development District told the officials that a 55-question survey in Lexington got 1,048 responses and more than 800 written comments, and resulted in construction of a 32,000-square-foot senior center with 225 participants per day, age-friendly language in the comprehensive plan that guides local planning and zoning, and a current effort to allow accessory dwelling units, sometimes called "granny pods" or "granny flats." She called the work "the most exciting" she has done in her 33 years with the regional planning agency.

"The Bluegrass is turning gray," she said, but added that making communities livable for the aging can also help younger people: "What's good for a wheelchair is also good for a stroller."

Frederick said the committee would assess local seniors' needs in eight "domains of interest" (housing, transportation, communication, health services, responsiveness and inclusiveness, outdoor recreation, social participation and civic participation) and develop a three-year action plan, using "flexible guidelines" by AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons.

AARP's Kentucky lobbyist, Scott Wegenast, said the organization provides technical assistance, research, training and consultants to communities in the network.

The involvement of AARP was questioned by Magistrate Mary Anne Gill, who called it "an insurance company" and suggested that it was seeking "more opportunities to sell insurance."

Wegenast said the group does not sell insurance but does advertise for insurance companies with which it negotiates, and has "a significant firewall" between its business activities and its "social outreach." The group does not make political contributions or endorse candidates, but has been supportive of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as "Obamacare."

The other Republican magistrate, Matt Merrill, said the work could be done without the involvement of an outside group, and he objected to creating "an entity beyond the voters and ultimately past the elected," and asked the names of the 121 stakeholders identified by the advocates. He was handed a list, which Frederick called "a draft, provisional list." Frederick said names could be added or deleted at the advice of the three governing bodies, which would have representation on the committee.

Kay told Merrill and Gill that the committee "is designed to answer the questions you're bringing up," and couldn't spend any taxpayer money without Fiscal Court's approval. "I believe your concerns are valid," he told Merrill, "but any concerns will be resolved through this committee."

Magistrate Liles Taylor of Midway said the process "is about self-awareness of needs for seniors, not a new layer of government." His motion to approve the resolution creating the committee passed the Fiscal Court 5-3, with Magistrate Jackie Brown also voting no; the councils approved it unanimously.

Taylor also made the motion to create the Youth Council, which Merrill, a retired teacher, said is vague ("youth" is not defined) and "fortifies a culture of the power elite . . . that is causing so much problems in our country today," with appointments coming from groups such as 4-H and FFA.

Kay said Merrill's remarks were "over the top," adding, "I don't know when 4-H and FFA have been considered the power elite."

Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott, whose youth council is the model for the new one, said "I resent a little bit the 'elite' comments," adding that the adjective isn't appropriate for high-school students. "If the structure doesn't work, we can change it."

The resolution passed with one clarifying amendment. Merrill cast the only vote against it.

In their final piece of business, the three governing bodies recognized the efforts of firefighters and other first responders who dealt with the fire at the Jim Beam warehouse in Millville.

The meeting was a victory for Vandegrift, who had sought regular such meetings soon after he was elected mayor in 2014 but was spurned by John Coyle, then the judge-executive.

Vandegrift called the meeting "an important steppingstone. . . . I think our working relationships are great." The three governing bodies held a joint town hall in February at the Kentucky Community and Technical College system headquarters, where the joint meeting was held.

Kay said, "Our cities are not our rivals. They are not our political enemies, They are our people. And we seek every chance to work together to make us all better for the people of Woodford County."

The 77-minute meeting included some good-natured jibes. Traugott joked that the meeting "almost didn't take place for a couple of reasons," including that "We had to schedule it real quick before Mayor Vandegrift changed his mind."

Vandegrift, who ran for state representative for a week last month before dropping out, countered, "How late were you up last night with that joke?"

City councils, Fiscal Court to have 'historic' joint meeting Aug. 13 to discuss 'age-friendly' ideas, youth council

The city councils of Midway and Versailles will hold a joint meeting with the Woodford County Fiscal Court from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System headquarters in Versailles.

The topics for the meeting are on making the county an “age-friendly community,” with a presentation by representatives of that effort, and discussion of creating a county youth council, Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said.

"One more topic may be added to the discussion prior to the meeting," Vandegrift added. "I want to thank Judge-Executive James Kay and Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott for their cooperation and their leadership in the matter. The three of us hope this is the beginning of more joint meetings to come."

Soon after becoming mayor in 2015, Vandegrift sought a joint meeting of the three governing bodies to discuss topics of mutual concern, but John Coyle, then the county judge-executive, resisted the idea. In an email, Vandegrift called the meeting "historic."

City Council resets trick or treat for Tuesday, 6 to 8 p.m.

The Midway City Council voted unanimously this evening to reschedule trick or treat for tomorrow from 6 to 8 p.m. because heavy rain is expected on Halloween.

During a five-minute special meeting, the council heard from Woodford County Emergency Management Director Drew Chandler, who said heavy rain is a certainty "Wednesday and Thursday. The prudent thing is to move it forward," because rain makes young pedestrians less visible.

Chandler added, "It's not just going to rain. It's going to be a lot of rain." Council Member Johnny Wilson said The Weather Channel was forecasting two to five inches.

Lexington, Versailles and Frankfort have all moved trick or treat to Tuesday.

Midway's decision was a foregone conclusion. As soon as Mayor Grayson Vandegrift called the meeting to order and said other cities had rescheduled, Council Member Sarah Hicks said, "Motion," echoing the perfunctory adjournment motion Council Member Bruce Southworth usually makes at the end of meetings. Southworth, perhaps beaten to the punch, seconded the motion.

Vandegrift said he would use social media, one-call notices and personal contact to get the word out, including canvassing with city workers and willing council members Tuesday morning.

Council will consider moving trick or treat to Tuesday

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said in an email this afternoon that he has called a special meeting of the City Council for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29 at City Hall "to discuss, and possibly take action on, moving trick or treat to Tuesday night." Heavy rain is forecast for the afternoon and evening of Halloween, Wednesday, Oct. 31. (That has prompted City of Frankfort officials to consider the same move; they have said they will announce a decision at 10 a.m. Monday.) In a social-media post, Vandegrift invited citizens to attend the meeting and share their thoughts.

Message from the mayor: What a week, what a city

By Grayson Vandegrift

Mayor, City of Midway

What a week.

Wednesday, two young Midway citizens decided to sell lemonade to raise money for the Homeplace because they wanted to help with the care of the wisest ones among us. Their proud parents posted about their good deed on Facebook, and before you knew it, fellow residents were pledging to match their contributions -- they wound up raising well over $200 in the end.

It’s almost as if these two young women were inspiring us to be ready for the days to come, when we’d all have to band together to help our fellow citizens. Although I’m not surprised at how the Midway community came together, I’m still remarkably impressed and inspired by the endless accounts of residents doing good deeds to help each other get through a surprisingly monstrous storm and its serious effects.

It would take a book to account for all the selfless acts that were performed by people this weekend, so I’ll just say that I am continually inspired by the immeasurable number of good deeds done by people who simply want to help their neighbor get through a difficult situation.

KU and LG&E called in help from other states and had as many as 180 technicians working 16-hour shifts to bring power back to our homes. As I write this, nearly all of Midway has power again. We owe a great debt of gratitude to every line worker and every person who helped clear debris and limbs, and to their families for sharing them with us. One line worker from Chicago said he hadn’t seen this kind of tree damage since he was deployed to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Our first responders were brilliant as well, especially on Friday night, when things really could have devolved into chaos had they not held everything together.

What a week. What a city. What a county.

Four-church Vacation Bible School is a success

Children from four Midway churches, and some who have no church home, attended a joint Vacation Bible School this week.

Story and photos by Sarah Ladd

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Four Midway churches enjoyed their first multi-church Vacation Bible School this week, bringing together about 50 children – more than they expected – from the community and several denominations.

Cross-denominational gatherings have become more common in Midway since the creation two years ago of Locally Grown, a community youth group that focuses on uniting youth in the community and breaking down denominational barriers.

This year, Midway United Methodist Church, Midway Christian Church, Midway Presbyterian Church and St. Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church joined together for what they hope will be the first of many multi-church VBSes in Midway.

Presbyterian Church Pastor Mary Weese said the week was a success, both for the adults and for the children: “We get to be with each other. You don’t get to see people from other churches very often and work with them in projects. So, this has been a great opportunity.” She said the event “snowballed” from a small idea, to hoping for 36 children, to more than 50. “It’s been a huge success.”

Christian Church Pastor Heather McColl said she believes the event “exceeded our expectations” and has been successful enough to continue.  She said she was unsure in the beginning how such an event would work. “It wasn’t that I didn’t think the churches could work together, because the churches have done multiple projects together,” but she wondered about the timing, and that too many people would be traveling. “I am thankfully and gratefully wrong,” she said.

After dinner at the Methodist Church on Thursday, the group walked to St. Matthew AME Church to play games.

Each night, a different church hosted a variety of games, story-telling, Bible memorization and a dinner. On Monday, the group met at the Methodist church; Tuesday, at the Christian Church; Wednesday, at the Presbyterian Church, as Locally Grown hosted the students; and on Thursday, the students met first at the Methodist Church for dinner and walked to St. Mathews AME for a night of games. Friday was scheduled as a family event at the Methodist Church, allowing the children to wind down with their families from the week.

John Davis, who volunteered as one of the supervisors or “shepherds,” explained that the idea for the multi-church effort came from Midway having multiple churches but relatively few youth in each. “It’s difficult for each church to have their own” VBS, he said. “But when you get four together, it just works out so much better.” Davis said the event did not advertise to churches only, and welcomed several children who do not have a home church.

The pastors of the four churches attended each night and chimed in on how successful they think this week’s festivities have been.

“The community fellowship between these four churches is not seen in a lot of communities in Kentucky,” said Pastor Joshua Hale of St. Matthews AME, who said has pastored all around the state. He said Midway churches are doing what a lot of other communities have not embraced: worshipping together across denominations. “These churches work together all year long and worship together in different services all year long,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing.” He said that it is his hope that the event will continue each year.

Methodist Pastor Mickey Richardson said the event has been “tremendously successful.” She said that “independently, we wouldn’t have had the resources to do all the things that we’re doing. So, by putting our resources together, we are able to serve the entire community.”

Students acted out the story of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River as Jesus's ministry began.

After dinner Thursday, the students listened to the story of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, and several students acted it out. Afterward, they split into teams by grades, and each group walked with their shepherd to St. Mathew AME. Once there, teams were given a frozen T-shirt, which they had to work together to melt and unravel and then put on, symbolizing the Biblical idea of donning a “robe of righteousness.”

Jakeb King helped younger children with a frozen T-shirt.

Jakeb King, a sophomore student in Locally Grown, said he enjoyed the event and thinks it should be done three times a year.

He said the programs and interactive songs were his favorite parts because “the kids were really into it. I think what made it really fun was the adults; they’re really active and into it. I think the kids got that energy. They caught onto it.”

King said he loves that churches in the community are coming together, and said he feels there are more opportunities for students to learn when more churches are involved.

Locally Grown offers teenagers a support system and unites local churches of various denominations

To start the summer-kickoff meeting, students in Locally Grown played a game, "Get to Know You."

Story and photos by Sarah Ladd

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Locally Grown, a local youth ministry for sixth to 12th graders in Midway and surrounding communities, held its summer kickoff Wednesday evening.

Now in its second year of full operation, Locally Grown is a cooperative ministry seeking to unite churches of different denominations in youth outreach. It got its start in August 2015, when several local churches united over their youth and their common faith. According to the program’s website, they seek to supplement existing youth ministries, support churches that lack youth programming, and engage youth who don’t attend church.

The name “Locally Grown” was inspired by the idea that young people’s surrounding community molds them into who they become.

Lily Savage, a student in Locally Grown, said the ministry gave her a positive support system. “I was really lonely before,” she said.

Another student, Willa Michel, said “Locally Grown has been super-beneficial in my life. It helps me connect with God in ways I wouldn’t have before.”

Bailey Spicer said that when she joined Locally Grown, she didn’t know what an impact it would have on her life. “It helps guide me through my issues,” she said, “and I can take the positivity I learn here and share it with others.”

The second game, "Race of Truth," had students advance when any of a series of statements applied to them.

Bud Ratliff, whose daughter, Zoe, is a student in Locally Grown, said the merging of the churches to form this ministry was “a real God moment.” He said the ministry was formed because Midway, like many small towns, has many churches and only a few young people in each. This ministry, he said, seeks to bring those churches and youth together.

Ratliff said the nine months that it took the vision of Locally Grown to be developed “was like birthing a child.” He said it provides a great opportunity for children like his daughter to grow up with trusting adults outside their families and to learn to love themselves and others. “That’s the whole message of Christ’s love,” he said.

Sara and Lee Busick, graphic designers in Midway, co-pastor the ministry. “We want it to be very real,” she said.

The ministry operates out of Midway Presbyterian Church, with other financial support from the Midway United Methodist Church, across the street. (The city gave it $500 last spring.) However, Busick said the ministry seeks to introduce the youth to other denominations and pastors at other churches in the area.

The weekly meetings often include pastors from other churches who are there to be in the students’ lives and serve as role models. Busick said this is an opportunity to let the students understand other denominations and practices. The ministry makes a point to visit other churches to let their students learn from other ministries.

“The goal is to be uniting, not divisive,” Busick said. “The focus is not on denominations. It’s on Jesus. My end goal is that when they walk out as 18-year-olds, they know how to pursue faith.”

During Wednesday’s kickoff, the students played a “Get to Know You” game that allowed them to share fun facts about themselves, participated in a “Race of Truth,” advancing when any of a series of statements applied to them (examples: “I have been to Indiana;” or “My hair is brown”) and gathered for a short prayer. 

During the prayer time, Lee Busick discussed the challenges that face youth today and told them that Locally Grown would help them through the challenges by helping them foster a relationship with God. “Life is never going to be perfect,” he told them, and his wife added that Locally Grown would be there for them and let them know each week that they are loved.

Locally Grown members meet Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church, and then walk to other churches or public areas for meetings. For information, see http://www.lgmidway.com.

Midway Christian Church gives Northside school first of three benches made from recycled plastic bottle caps

The Midway Christian Church has been collecting plastic bottle caps to be made into benches for Northside Elementary School. The first of three benches was installed today.

From left to right in the photo are church members (and spouses) Adele Dickerson and Dan Roller, Custodial Services Manager James Harlow, City Council Member Bruce Southworth, church member Rick Caudle, minister Heather McColl, Principal Ryan Asher and art teacher Anne Brooks. (Photo by Wilda Willis Caudle)

After the two additional benches, the church plans to do other bench projects for the church and the Midway community.

Northside Elementary plants a tree to honor Ambrose Wilson IV of Midway, 26 years a school board member

Left to right: Nolan Asher, Charlie Twehues, Payten Asher, Ambrose
Wilson IV and Cindy Smithers, Wilson's daughter. (Photo by Sarah Ladd)

By Sarah Ladd

University of Ky. School of Journalism and Media

Northside Elementary School staff and students met on the school’s grounds Wednesday morning to plant a tree honoring long-time Woodford County Board of Education member Ambrose Wilson IV of Midway.

The tree, a small Japanese maple, was chosen for its distinctive color and was dedicated to Wilson for his 26 years of service on the board, part of it as chair. Wilson said the school board surprised him at its April 23 board meeting by announcing the gesture in front of his family, grandchildren and many others. 

Wilson said he felt honored by the gesture and by the continued support he receives from the voters at each election. “The school was always so important to me,” he said. “Now a piece of me will always be here.”

The tree (Photo by Sarah Ladd)

The three students who helped dig the hole for the tree decided to use the original shovel used to break ground for the school in 1991, which Wilson had given to the school. Payten Asher, Nolan Asher and Charlie Twehues said they didn’t realize how significant their decision was at first, but when they realized, they were excited.

“Well, at first they were just going to use old garden tools!” said Nolan, who had the idea to use the shovel.

The school plans to provide a plaque for the tree. The students will care for and water it as a way to give back to Wilson. The children were all smiles and said they were eager to take care of the tree.

Shelby Ison, curriculum and instruction coach at Northside, said she has been with the school since its beginning and has been with Wilson all the way. She said his work for the school has contributed greatly to the school’s vibe and has made Northside competitive with other schools. “We have the best of everything!” she said.

Ison said Wilson frequently visits class activities and is highly involved around the school. “He’s highly visible, but it’s a sincere visibility,” she said.

Wilson got the school's walkway covered. (Photo by Sarah Ladd)

One of Wilson’s accomplishments, Ison said, is the shelter that covers the walkway leading up to the door. “Before this, students stood out in the rain.”

Ison said Wilson has been an influential advocate for students, and has actively worked to provide the best programs possible for students, such as the robotics program and the reading program. “Sometimes, the decisions he makes are not always popular with the adults,” she said, “but it’s all about the students!”

Mayor keeps passage of budget scheduled for June 4; 'leaning against' Southworth's request for 3rd workshop

By Sarah Ladd
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The Midway City Council met Monday to discuss the budget that starts in July, approve the city’s borrowing limit and honor a local Eagle Scout.

The council held the first reading of the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 following two workshops at which the council worked on it. The budget outlines the city’s planned revenue as well as spending for next year.

It reflects significantly lower property tax revenue for the next fiscal year, $82,000, compared to $110,000 in the current year. Vandegrift said in January he wanted to reduce property taxes 25 percent since the city is getting so much more money from occupational taxes as a result of increased employment. Tax rates will be set later this year.

Vandegrift said second reading of the budget ordinance would be held June 4. Later in the meeting, Council Member Bruce Southworth said he thought there was going to be another workshop before action on the budget. Vandegrift said he would call a council meeting for another workshop, perhaps at a special meeting he plans to have about blighted property on May 30, and would not reschedule the second reading.

Southworth said after the meeting that he wanted the council to discuss the $17,000 proposed for various improvements at Walter Bradley Park. City Attorney Phil Moloney said the budget could be changed on second reading as long as the changes were not "substantial."

Mayor changes his mind

Tuesday morning, Vandegrift told the Messenger in an email that he was leaning against calling another budget workshop. He reiterated that he had asked the council May 9 that if anyone wanted another workshop, adding that he “told them if I didn’t hear from anyone within a few days we would move forward with putting the budget into ordinance form.” He said now that the work has been put in to make the budget an ordinance, he does not see the need for another workshop, “especially when the question at hand is not, as one council member put it after the meeting, about money.”

Asked about that via email, Vandegrift wrote, “Bruce told me that his issue 'is not about the money,' which among other things, led me to believe the real issue is with personnel. I stand firmly with the entire Parks Board and the work they are doing, and believe personnel issues are separate discussions from budget ones.”

An anonymous donor bought this willow arch at the Francisco's
Farm Art Fair and donated it to the park. (Photo by Sarah Ladd)

Vandegrift wrote earlier, “I am extremely proud of this budget in its current form, including the Parks portion, and will leave it up to each individual member to decide whether or not to vote for or against the only budget in Kentucky that cuts property taxes 25% and increases investments.”

At the end of the meeting, Council Member Sara Hicks brought to the council’s attention that an anonymous donor purchased a willow archway at Francisco’s Farm Art Fair over the weekend and donated it to the park. It now graces the entryway to the Osage Trail behind the dog park. The asking price of the archway was $1,500, other members said. The arch was created on a steel frame by Justin Roberts of Murray, an apprentice in the Kentucky Arts Council program.

The council approved a resolution for the authorization of short-term borrowing for the 2018-19 fiscal year. It allows the city to borrow up to $99,000 “to pay amounts that have become due in the normal course of business,” though Vandegrift said it is unlikely the city will need to borrow money while awaiting tax receipts. Should the city need to, the interest would be consistent with Woodford County banks’ rates for commercial loans.

Eagle Scout honored

New Eagle Scout Eric Witt of Midway was honored at the council meeting for his service to Midway. Vandegrift announced that May 31 will be Eric Gerard Witt Jr. Day in honor of the scout’s courage and service despite physical pain due to his rheumatoid arthritis. Witt has been a scout since first grade and has mentored younger scouts.

Left to right: Mayor Vandegrift with Kim Witt, Eric Witt Jr. and Eric Sr.

Witt’s service includes a structure he designed as a multi-purpose pavilion behind the Midway Branch of the Woodford County Public Library and Northside Elementary School.

Eagle is the highest rank a Boy Scout can receive. Vandegrift read from his proclamation, which said in part, “Eric Gerard Witt Jr. exemplifies what it means to serve one’s community and the city of Midway is proud to call him on of their own.” Witt is a senior at Lexington Catholic High School.

In other business, The council voted to table an ordinance on inhumane treatment of animals, which would be identical to the county ordinance. “There might be more overlap here than we realize,” Vandegrift said. “Our ordinances are actually more specific than this ordinance.”

Vandegrift said he would not have a special speaker for SaturMonday’s Memorial Day service at the cemetery, but would talk about the Iraq War experiences of an unnamed local veteran who served in difficult circumstances but doesn’t want to speak about it. “I really think his story is important and powerful,” Vandegrift said, “and he’s one of our own.”