The Woodford County Farmers’ Market opened in Midway on Monday, and the number of vendors is expected to grow as the season extends.

All the vendors of vegetables, plants, and baked items are part of Kentucky Proud, which is the official marketing program for in-state agricultural products. Vendors who participate in the market cannot resell items they bought from somewhere else.

“You have to grow it or produce it yourself,” Hutcherson Family Farm Produce owner Susan Hutcherson said while selling vegetables at the market on May 4. The other vendors on opening day were Be Good to Yourself: Baked Goods and Produce; Highland Moor, a nursery; and Bluegrass Aquaponics, a vegetable monger.

The market operates Monday from 3 to 6 p.m. on East Main Street in Midway; Wednesday, starting June 3, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Versailles Presbyterian Church; and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon in downtown Versailles at the courthouse.

The market has a Facebook page that lists what is being sold each week is posted, along with pictures. Five board members oversee the market, which is managed by the Woodford County Cooperative Extension Service.

Root crops from Hutcherson Family Farm Produce

Hutcherson, who is from Frankfort, said she started joining farmers’ markets in 1994. She has been doing the Woodford County market for “seven years or so” and also participates in the Franklin County and Owen County markets.

               

On her 20-acre farm, she grows tomatoes, corn, watermelons, cantaloupes and other items watered from the bottom up. She will soon start having strawberries, which only last about a month. “Last year I started having strawberries May 17th, so this year I think we’re on target,” she said. “We always have them during the Memorial [Day] weekend and usually a couple weeks before.”

Hutcherson said she likes to grow vegetables because it’s “mainly what we like to eat.”

               

A basket from Be Good to Yourself: Baked Goods and Produce

Be Good to Yourself: Baked Goods and Produce sells herbs, whole-wheat items and pies. Owner Connie Sandrock, who is president of the Woodford County market, describes herself as an “urban farmer.”

               

She and her husband, Bob Sandrock, started their business in 2005, when they got the idea from their daughter, who wanted to sell jewelry to give money to the Woodford Humane Society. Sandrock said she sold a few things from her garden and baking, and went from there.

               

She grows raspberries, tart cherries, blackberries, apples and some strawberries in Versailles, and and hopes to get a “couple or so acres” someday.

              

Sandrock said she enjoys baking because “It’s kind of relaxing, actually, if you’re by yourself and just putting different ways to either cook or bake. It’s creative. It could be an outlet. It’s a fun stress reliever.”

               

Flowers and plants from Highland Moor nursery

Highland Moor, from Midway, is is a family-owned production nursery that began in 2003. Owner Robert McNeil said he cuts flowers and grows vegetables such as tomatoes, beans, cabbage, broccoli, peppers, cucumbers and squash.

               

McNeil said he has been working with plants for 60 years, and grows vegetables “just to have more product during July and August when plants don’t move during those months.”

               

The seeding for cabbage and broccoli starts in late February. Other vegetable and flower seedings are weekly, which starts April 1 and ends in July.

McNeil grows different varieties of hydrangea, bearded iris, stone crop and butterfly bush. “Our specialty is hydrangea from the plant standpoint, but we also have a number of Kentucky natives,” McNeil said. “That makes us unique compared to other production nursery in the area.”

              

Lettuce from Bluegrass Aquaponics

Bluegrass Aquaponics, from Versailles, was the sole vendor last Monday that participates in only one market. “One step at a time,” said owner Lora Ginter, who started her business last July with her husband, Ed Ginter.

              

Ginter said she also has market hours on her farm on Thursdays and Saturdays: “I want to be local for the local people.”

               

Ginter grows 10 varieties of lettuce, kale, cucumbers, herbs, eggplant, and 18 different varieties of tomatoes, which are experimental.

               

Aquaponics raises fish and vegetables in one circulating system. Everything is grown on water or in water, in a greenhouse, with no fertilizer, said Ginter.          

               

“If you just do fish, you have to get rid of the waste, and if you just do vegetables, you have to fertilize them,” Ginter said. With aquaponics, “You’re able to make the waste have a job, and then you don’t have to fertilize your vegetables, so it all just works together.”

The market runs through October. For information, go to https://woodford.ca.uky.edu/FarmersMarket or contact Faye Tewksbury, county extension agent for horticulture, at Faye.Tewksbury@uky.edu or 859-873-4601.

Education minister of Panama speaks at Midway College commencement; 302 getting degrees

Panamanian Education Minister Marcela Paredes de Vásquez is the keynote speaker at Midway College's commencement ceremony today, beginning at 11 a.m. in the Graves Amphitheater. The event will be livestreamed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/midway-college.

The minister, an engineer by trade, will speak about the importance of global education. Midway has partnered with the Panamanian government on several initiatives over the last two years, including a program that brought 26 undergraduate students upon their high-school graduation to participate in a college readiness program for nine months. These students have now matriculated into degree programs at the college.

Midway is also partnering with the Panamanian government program Panama Bilingue to provide professional development for Panamanian teachers to enhance their knowledge of pedagogical methodologies and to advance their English-speaking skills.

"It is a great honor for us to welcome Marcela Paredes de Vásquez to Midway College," said Dr. John P. Marsden, president of the school. "She is an incredibly accomplished, well-educated woman who I am sure will inspire our graduates to continue expanding their horizons and exploring the world."

This is the college's last graduating class before it changes its name to Midway University on July 1. The class has 302 graduates, including those who completed their degrees in December 2014 and at the end of the 2015 spring semester.

Council to work on budget at 5 p.m. Monday

The Midway City Council will have a special meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, May 11, at City Hall, to work on the city budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. All council meetings are open to the public.

Francisco's Farm Arts Festival May 16-17 at Midway College will have jury-selected art in many media

By Arion Wright

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

Mixed media art by Charlie Yowell

The annual Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival will be held on May 16 and 17 at Midway College. Pottery, jewelry, photographs and various artwork by 85 artists will be on exhibit.

The event is named for Col. John Francisco, who was the original owner of the property where Midway now sits. He sold his farm to the Lexington and the Ohio Railroad, which established Midway in the 1830s. The festival started at Midway College at 2004.

This year’s event will feature the work of fine artists and craft artists pre-selected by a panel of jury members from 125 applicants.  Artists come from all around the world.

The outdoor exhibition is an opportunity for the public to meet and interact with artists and purchase art. The festival will feature artists’ booths, food concessions, live music, public art projects, artist demonstrations and other special exhibits. There will be a variety of exhibits, including two-dimensional art, and fine crafts in all media. There will be a diverse showcase of fine art and fine crafts.

Donald Pekarek jewelry

Also, the Woodford County Public Library will sponsor a children’s’ booth, that will include tie dye crafts, a fun diffusing paper activity, with water soluble markers, and water, for a beautiful color effect.

Kenny Smith, the festival’s artist coordinator and the owner of Kennydid Gallery in Midway, noted that the event has been named one of the top festivals in the South by the Southeast Tourism Society.

The festival’s other awards include the Kentucky League of Cities Enterprise City Award, the Kentucky Tourism Council’s Top 10 Events and American Style Magazine’s Top 10 Art Festival for four years.

The event will run between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, and between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday at Midway College. Admission is free, and parking at the college is $5.

On Saturday, there will be live music on the steps of the Little Memorial Library. The Lexington Saxophone Trio, Celtic group Margret Lyle Gravit and Jack Twombly, traditional Irish singer Liam’s Fancy, jazz and African spoken-word artist Water, and the gyspy jazz Americana and Latina group Stirfy Musette, will perform.

On Sunday, the entertainers will be traditional English and Irish folk singers Bill and Leslie Penn; the rock, blues, and roots group Chung Yen Twins; the American and classic pop group Chester the Band; tonk piano balladeer Keith Hubbard; the Midway Children’s Choir; the Americana group Bill, Lauren and Sophie Hill; and gospel singer Aaron Hamilton of Midway.

Ceramic by Janet Essenpreis

The festival will have a variety of vendors, including Two Ladies and a Kettle, Rick’s Hotdogs, Lucky Dog BBQ, The La Petite Creperie, Oak Barrel Honey Lemonade, Honnah Lee Bubble Tea, and KC Candy.

Local-area artists include Raymond Papka, a mixed media artist; Gray Zeitz, a letterpress publisher; and Karen Riggins, a quilt artist. For a complete list of the artists see http://www.franciscosfarm.org/#!2015-artists-/c1pxi.

"Midway Renaissance and Midway College are excited to welcome visitors to this year's festival,” said Ellen Gregory, festival committee marketing chair and college spokesperson. “The variety of artists will please all of our visitors and provide something for everyone's artistic tastes."

For more information about the festival, go to www.franciscosfarm.org.

Council names new alcohol administrator, starts raising garbage fees, discusses Thurs. forum, senior services

By Nicole Hennard and Jacqueline Nie

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

The Midway City Council appointed a new alcoholic-beverage control administrator Monday evening and heard first reading of an ordinance that would slightly increase garbage rates. The council also discussed the upcoming forum on the proposed anti-discrimination ordinance and the availability of services for seniors.

The first order of business was appointing John Wilhoit, assistant police chief in Versailles, as ABC administrator. Versailles police patrol all of Woodford County, including Midway.

Tom Bozarth, who was mayor until the first of the year, had been the administrator, but new Mayor Grayson Vandegrift is ineligible for the job because his restaurant, 815 Prime, holds an alcoholic-beverage license.

Vandegrift said after the meeting that Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott agreed to include Wilhoit's new duties in that city's contract with Midway, at no extra charge. Vandegrift said Wilhoit Is planning to retire in four months, so another new administrator will be needed then.

The new garbage rates would be $12 for residential customers, up from $11.95, and $25.50 for businesses, up from $23.80. Residents get one pickup per week and businesses two; churches can choose to pay the residential fee, but get only receive one pickup per week.

Vandegrift spoke about the forum scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Northside Elementary School gymnasium to discuss the proposed “fairness ordinance” to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The mayor proposed the idea of the ordinance in early February, and city attorney Phil Moloney prepared the drafts in March at the direction of a council committee. The council has been discussing the language in the proposed document and wants input from the residents of Midway.

“The forum will be an opportunity to hear what our residents have to say,” without comments from the council, Vandegrift said. “This will not be a back-and-forth discussion, just a chance for them to speak.” He said said anyone who speaks will have two to three minutes.

The original wording of the proposed ordinance included language similar to that of Indiana's "restoration of religious freedom" law, which made national news, but that wording has been eliminated by the council's Finance, Ordinance and Policy Committee.

The council recently agreed that it wants to hear what citizens think before it holds a first reading of the ordinance. “However many people show up, you know, it’s a chance for everybody to speak their mind,” the mayor said.

Council Member Sarah Hicks said after the meeting that she does not know what to expect at the forum. “I think it’s a great thing and I hope that, you know, we find out more about what the community wants,” she said.

Vandegrift added something new at the end of the meeting. He said he wants to conclude all future meetings with an open discussion, asking each council member if they had any concerns or talking points they wanted to bring up to the rest of the council.

Council Member Kaye Nita Gallagher said she spoke with contractor Bill Blaze about fixing the cemetery sidewalks, which are in need of repair. Gallagher said she is talking with other contractors about the job.

Council Member Bruce Southworth was concerned with the language of the ordinance that bans open burning and was written during a state of emergency. Council Member Libby Warfield was also concerned. “The ordinance we have is not logical. It prohibits gas and charcoal grills,” she said.

Council Member Steven Craig suggested that the fire chief be involved in rewriting the ordinance, and also pointed out that the door of the fire station needs repainting.

Vandegrift said he would like to see the citizens of Midway utilize the Woodford County Senior Citizens Center, which has only one client in the city and wants to get more involved in Midway. In addition to walking around town, the center will have a booth at the fall festival.

The center provides three hot meals a week, rides to doctors’ appointments and to grocery stores for people over 60. “It’s an untapped resource for Midway,” Vandegrift said.

The center receives federal and state funds, along with private donations, so its services are free and only require the client to fill out a piece of paper. Pam Wesley is the new director and can be reached at 873-8384 or pam.wesley@bgcap.org.

Organizers of Derby Eve Lexington gala, in greater Midway, say it will be held a second time next year

By Megan Ingros

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

When you think of Kentucky Derby Eve events in the Lexington area you may think of Anita Madden, but her last extravagant event was in 1998. In the past 17 years no event has come close to being a rival to the pre-Derby celebrations in Louisville. However, on Friday, May 1, a new event emerged: Derby Eve Lexington. Hosted by Saxony Farm, in the Scott County part of greater Midway, it is an attempt to restore the big party scene to Lexington.

Event coordinator Donna Sturgeon said in an interview, “We would love to break $100,000 after the bills are paid and distributed to charity.” Five days after the event, she said no official figure could be given since deposits were still coming in, she said, but “Tons of folks have been calling us that were not involved this year but want to be next year. The outcome is looking very good for next year.”

A pioneer-dressed greeter from a beer tour welcomed guests.
(Photo by Rashad Bigham, UK School of Journalism)

As guests arrived at the party their pictures were taken on the red carpet sponsored by Park Equine Hospital. Stationed on the red carpet were three models hired by Images Model and Talent Agency, wearing dresses from Bella Rose.

Inside seven tents and two structural barns, and under 18 chandeliers, three bands entertained. Opening acts were the Cainlands, a funkadelic and blues band, and Payback, a James Brown tribute band. The headliner was The Spazmatics, an ’80s cover band from Fort Lauderdale.

Victor Espinoza, vice president of sales and operations at Equibase Co. in Lexington, one of the event’s corporate sponsors, summed it up: “It’s close, three bands and bourbon. What more could you ask for?”

Horses were the toast of the evening. (Photo
by Rashad Bigham, UK School of Journalism)

Proximity and a sense of community seemed to be key assets of the event. Sturgeon estimated that more than 500 tickets sold, some to people who made last-minute calls saying they had heard about the event and wanted to pay at the door. She said, “We were not prepared originally to do that but we thought ‘why not’, so we made ourselves prepared so we are now over 500.”

Amy Willis of Lexington said, “I think it’s a great event. I used to come to the Anita Madden parties way back when, and they were wonderful, so I’m glad they’re bringing something similar back.”

Several volunteers from the Woodford County Humane Society, of which Sturgeon is vice president, worked the event. Sturgeon has been on the group’s board of directors for the last nine years and worked with them for the last 11 years on the philanthropic committee. In the past, the humane society has relied on Freedom Fest, a huge, two-day, philanthropic event, Sturgeon said.

Organizer Donna Sturgeon enjoyed the event.

“They do it the same old way every single time; they do a high ticket price and have a silent auction and a live auction; music doesn’t start until 10 or 11 at night,” Sturgeon said. “There had to be a way that we could bring philanthropic people to a party, entertain them, without dipping in their pocket every ten or fifteen minutes. They’re just getting tired of the same old boring fundraising parties, so this is it I think, I think we’ve struck gold, I hope.”

Al Young, brand ambassador for sponsor Four Roses Bourbon spoke in the same vein. “I think it’s the best thing that’s happened in a long time,” Young said. “It should happen every year.”

General admission tickets were priced at $200 and VIP tickets at $350, which included access to the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute VIP lounge, with better food including asparagus and beef brisket. Attire was cocktail, and admittance was limited to those 21 or older. The party was equipped with multiple open bars, a cigar bar and food catered from Dupree’s Catering.

Midway's Damselfly Artisan Gallery had a display at the Derby Eve gala.

The event had 20 sponsors and benefited five charities including the humane society; Horses and Hope, committed to breast cancer prevention; Horse Aid Live, which promotes humane treatment for all equines; the Race for Education, for academic development programs; and The Calipari Foundation, which focuses on improving quality of life with an emphasis on children.

University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari attended a party in Louisville instead, but Sturgeon said he did tweet about the event the day before, and with 2.1 million followers, “It was amazing the last minute ticket sales we had yesterday after that one tweet.” Sturgeon guessed about 80 tickets sold within two hours after that tweet was sent out. Sturgeon joked, “Maybe next year he’ll hear about it and say ‘I got to go there first’.”

Sturgeon, the marketing director for Jack Kain Ford in Versailles, said the total amount of sponsorships was almost $60,000, aware that “For a party this size it is extremely low. We should have done twice that.”

Sturgeon remained hopeful, saying it is just a first-year event and folks have to be sold on it.

She said the committee invited a lot of people who said no. “Actually, my committee has spent a lot of our own personal money to make this happen because the businesses wouldn’t do it. So, nothing against them; hopefully . . . we will wow them enough tonight that they say yes” next year.

Keith Yarber, owner of TOPS in Lexington magazine, said, “I feel terrific about this event. It’s very much needed … and Kentucky’s all about horses, the horse capital of the world, and we need a party in Lexington. We need a big party with glitz and glamour and it looks like this one is it.”

One celebrity spotted at the event was Grant Wilson, co-founder of SyFy Channel’s “Ghost Hunter” & “Ghost Hunter International”. The provided list of celebrities who were scheduled to attend was modest, but included Lana Parrilla, star of ABC’s Sunday night show “Once Upon A Time.”

TOPS was a media sponsor, as were WKYT, WDKY, iHeartMedia, QX.net, and Secrets of Bluegrass Chefs.

Other party sponsors and partners included Traditional Bank, Old 502 Winery, Jake’s Cigar Bar, Clark Beverage Group, Dillard’s, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the Breeders’ Cup, Keeneland, Office Depot/Office Max and Blue Grass Tours.

Sturgeon said the event started out with the humane society as the only beneficiary. When the Breeders Cup came on board, “their sponsor of choice is Race for Education, so they said ‘We’ll do it if you give back’ so of course, that’s a no-brainer,” Sturgeon said. “That’s how the other charities came on board, as sponsors came on board we had to donate a little bit to their charity, which is fantastic.”

Attendees interviewed were all complimentary.  “It’s nice not to have to drive out to Louisville and I can stay home and have a good time,” said Christian Motley of the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood.

The breeders of Derby horse Far Right, Patrick and Jason Crowley, said, “This event needs to be done every year. It’s great.”

In a post-event interview, Sturgeon said she was “ecstatic for a first-year event. I could not have been more pleased.” As for next year, she said, “Planning begins Tuesday, May 12, for 2016.” 

MapQuest image (click on it for a larger version)

Brereton Jones's Lovely Maria wins the Kentucky Oaks

Lovely Maria, owned by former Gov. Brereton Jones of Midway, won the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs Friday afternoon. In this image taken from Louisville's WAVE-TV, Jones holds the trophy in front of trainer Larry Jones (no relation). At left are jockey Kerwin Clark and the former governor's wife, Libby Jones. At far right is Lt. Gov. Crit Luallen, who presented the trophy and served in Jones's 1991-95 administration as tourism secretary. It marked the third victory for the Jones owner-trainer team in the Oaks in eight years.

"I know that my family and I are blessed; I don't know why it has happened," Jones said at a press conference after the race. "But for some reason it's happened, and we could not be more thankful. And we recognize that this happened because of a big team effort. It happened because people at the farm have done the right things. . . . The trainer then gets to look 'em over and start training them, and we leave him alone; and then he gets the jockey, and he gets a good jockey, and he leaves the jockey alone, and I just kind of sit back and say, 'Man, this is fun.' And sure enough, it all works."