Ashland Area YMCA: “Big Things Are Happening Here”

By: Sasha Bush

The Greater Ashland Beacon

The Ashland Area YMCA is one of the cornerstones of this community and as such they are always providing both members and non-members with a plethora of things to do. From gospel youth rallies to block parties, the Ashland Area YMCA knows how to create an event and have fun while doing it. On Feb. 6, the Ashland Area YMCA will be holding not one… but TWO very special events.

The first of these events will be a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the newly renovated women’s health center. This will take place at 9 a.m. Over the course of the last few months, the staff of the Ashland Area YMCA have been hard at work making some major upgrades to their Women’s Health Center (WHC). Recent renovation on the WHC was completed and the outcome is nothing short of amazing. The newly renovated WHC truly has it all. The WHC features all new state-of the- art equipment. What is really innovative about this new equipment is the ease of use it offers to its members. Gone are the days of keeping track of pesky metal pins when loading the weight machines. Now it’s as easy as the flick of a switch.

Right after the ribbon cutting ceremony, join the staff in the WHC for the open house event that will be taking place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Personal trainers will be onsite giving demonstrations on how to use the new equipment. You can also get a free blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol screening while you are there. Results of these test will be reviewed by Cardiologist Michele Friday, M.D., who also happens to be the Director of UK King’s Daughters Women’s Heart Program.

“We have this area for women only ages 18 and up. That way women can come in here and do their thing with no men or kids. A lot of women have self-confidence issues when it comes to working out and prefer to workout in an area. You can get your cardio, your strength training, and relax in the steam room, whirlpool, or sauna after your workout. Our second phase of the innovation for the WHC is to bring in a massage room, tanning room, and so much more. We really want to utilize every inch of this area to make this area a true delight for our members. Our goal here at the Ashland Area YMCA is to make this a one-stop-shop for everyone. We have something to offer everyone regardless of age. We just want anyone who walks through those doors to feel like this is a place they can bring their families and know that they will always have something to do. We always have something in the works, so you never know what you will find here at the Ashland Area YMCA,” explained Missy Griffith, Membership and Marketing Director.

If you are looking for something more to do Feb. 6, you can always head back out to the Ashland Area YMCA from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for their Family Night as they team up with UK King’s Daughters for a night full of excitement and fun. Free fitness class demos will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will run every 30 minutes during this event. You can enjoy some healthy snacks from Bubbles and Sweets. Personal trainers will be back in the WHC offering more hands-on demonstrations of the new equipment, and the kids will love King’s Daughters Heart Challenge Course. Don’t miss out on this fun-filled day at the Ashland Area YMCA. You do not have to be a member to attend any events that day.

Loretta Lynn Tribute Show Honors the Queen of Country Music

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

In a celebration of country music royalty, Ashland’s iconic Paramount Arts Center is set to host a spectacular tribute show dedicated to the legendary queen of country music, Loretta Lynn on January 27. This musical extravaganza promises to be an evening of nostalgia and heartfelt renditions as Kentucky native, Emily Portman and Loretta Lynn’s original members of her band “The Coalminers,” come together to pay homage to the queen of country.

The tribute show, aptly named 'Always Loretta,' will showcase Portman’s uncanny Loretta-like voice singing a full lineup of some of Loretta’s biggest hits. From chart-topping classics to soul-stirring ballads, the audience can expect an immersive experience that captures the essence of Loretta Lynn’s illustrious career. With so many people out in the world doing tribute shows for Loretta Lynn, this is the only one you will find that has the blessing of the family of Loretta Lynn.

From a very young age, Portman was often told that she sounded a lot like country music legend, Loretta Lynn. Over the years, Portman has worked tirelessly to emulate Loretta Lynn’s vocal style as well as her on-stage mannerisms. In 2004, Portman entered a “Sing Like…” contest that was held at the Kentucky Opry and won $1000 for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn. Two short years later, Portman was discovered by Michael Twitty (eldest son of the great Conway Twitty) who reached out to Portman to offer her the casting role of portraying Loretta Lynn in the nationally touring musical, “Its Only Make Believe.”

This was a truly defining point in Portman’s career that would lead her to mingle with some of the greatest names in country music such as the late George Jones, Archie Campbell, Vern Gosdin, Toby Keith, Chris Cagle, and even Loretta Lynn herself. After meeting Loretta Lynn, the two formed a very close friendship.

After the unfortunate passing of Loretta Lynn back in 2022, Portman connected with the band members of Loretta Lynn’s backup band, “The Coalminers.”  Dave Thornhill- lead guitarist and bandleader, Robert “Bob” Hempker- steel guitarist, Dennis Digby- bass guitarist, Monty Parkey- piano/keyboard player, Eric Kaberle- drummer and vocalist Jean Anne decided to join talents with Portman and form the Always Loretta Tribute show.

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to interview David Thornhill and Emily Portman for this article. Thornhill shared that he had first seen Loretta in a movie in 1965 and recalled looking over at his wife and saying, “If I ever get to play with any country music star, that’s the one I want to play for.” A few short years later Thornhill was doing just that. He shared that had been part of Loretta Lynn’s band since 1969. “I was playing in a band near Columbus, Ohio at a country music park called the Frontier Ranch. The band I was in would play backup to any singer who would take the stage at the Frontier Ranch. In 1967, Loretta came in without a band and we played her music for her on that show.  After the show, she said that she was really impressed and said that if she could ever afford a band that we were the band that she liked to have.” Two years later, Loretta Lynn hired that band. Little did they know that they would spend the next 30 years playing together.

One of Thornhill's most prominent memories of his days on tour with Loretta Lynn took place in Inez, Kentucky. “There was this toll bridge that cost 10 cents to cross, and we needed to cross over with our tour bus. Well at the start of the bridge, there was a sign that said ten-ton limit. Well… Loretta said, ‘I’m not crossing that bridge in this bus!’ and she asked me to get out and walk across the bridge with her. By the time we had reached the midway point of the bridge, here came a cement truck that had to weigh about 40 tons. It passed us up and Loretta looked at me and said, ‘Oh please bridge don’t fall!’ Of course, we made it across just fine and the bus followed.”

Portman recalled, “My first impression of Loretta was that she was very down to earth. She was someone that I could really relate to and really talk to. I first met her when I was 22, and she never gave me the impression that I had to prove myself to her. You know a lot of people go and meet a celebrity and get nervous or anxious because you worry about what you might say or do. I never felt that when I was around Loretta. She just had a way of making you feel comfortable enough to just be yourself whenever you were around her.  I always felt so at ease. She didn’t act like she was any better than me or anyone else.”

For Portman, having the opportunity to portray someone like Loretta Lynn is simply a dream come true, and being able to work with The Coalminers makes that dream an even bigger reality. “I love what I do. Being able to get on stage and sort of walk in the shoes of Loretta is one of the best things to happen to me in my life. I’ve always felt like it was a natural gift that God has given me. I love to sing. I never dreamed that my career would take me this far. Being able to be a part of this show is just really special to me,” stated Portman.

With the Paramount Arts Center’s touch of old-world elegant charm, Portman’s uncanny vocal likeness to Loretta Lynn, and the musical talents of the Coalminers this show is sure to be an evening filled with toe-tapping tunes, nostalgia, and heartfelt lyrics that any fan of the late Loretta Lynn is sure to enjoy.  Fans of Loretta Lynn will have the opportunity to relive the magic of her music and share the experience with fellow enthusiasts as The Always Loretta Tribute show aims to create a moment of connection, allowing both long-time enthusiasts and new listeners to appreciate the enduring legacy of this iconic artist. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Paramount Arts Center’s box office or by visiting their website at paramountartscenter.com.

Garden Roller Rink:  A Wheely Good Time

Lora Parsons

The Ashland Beacon

A staple in the Ashland entertainment community for two generations now has been the skating rink on US 60. Originally Perry’s--now, Garden Roller Rink is getting creative in how it appeals to audiences far and wide. On the surface, it would be easy to assume that a solid business plan is wise to set this as their main goal. The more people you appeal to, the more folks are coming through the doors of the business; but, even a quick chat with current owner, David Roy reveals that there’s a much greater goal than entrepreneurship behind his decision-making: “When I was a teenager, the skating rink was a source of wholesome fun. It was good, clean fun. That’s how I want it to be.”

The rink itself has experienced a few changes in ownership over the last 12 years and isn’t too far removed from its own COVID-related difficulties. Despite those hurdles along the way, though, she’s still rolling right along. Garden Roller Rink has just celebrated her second birthday after re-opening, allowing a long-standing Ashland icon to be back in the line-up for exactly what Roy said:  some good, wholesome fun. And, he has no plans of losing ground!  When the shop first re-opened in 2021, there weren’t near enough skates available for customers to rent based on the building’s capacity. There are 480 possibilities now for getting some wheels on your feet and plans to stop only when that number reaches 2000 pairs.

Supporting the overall goal of expanding local opportunities for family-oriented fun, last night began the first of what Roy hopes to be many Gospel Nights. The target audience is youth groups and Christian organizations who want to provide an activity for their students where other like-minded believers are present. The plan at present is to offer this environment on the first and third Mondays of each month as long as that is financially feasible. Contemporary and Bluegrass Christian music are queued up on the playlist, ready to offer an energetic backdrop to the other expected sights and sounds of the rink. Just as there are dreams of more when it comes to the number of skates in the building, there are also dreams of more in regards to Gospel Nights. Roy would love for the response to be so sustainable that he could expand the current two-evenings-a-month plan to also include live musicians and host Gospel Night as often as possible. His heart’s desire would be that non-Christians also feel comfortable enough to attend and hear the message of God’s love for them. “It’s hard to find Christian-based activities on the weekend,” so Roy would love for Gospel Nights to start taking over his regular weekend lineup. It’s important that a skating rink environment be family-friendly so songs are always monitored for explicit language and content, but his desire would be to have Christian messaging as often as possible at the rink. And, his desire is never to exclude anyone from participating in Gospel Night, regardless of their beliefs. This is a place where all are welcome to have a great time!

In addition to uniting church groups with others that might in this scene happily accept the term “holy rollers,” Garden Roller Rink is also open to fundraising for churches and civic groups. Sponsors can reserve a three-hour party time where participants get in for $6 per person (including skate rental). The roller rink keeps the full $6 from the first 25 guests to cover the cost of opening and staffing the rink (from running music to opening the snack bar). Every admission after those 25 is split evenly between the rink and the sponsoring group with the funds being disbursed that night. The terms of the fundraiser mean that everyone benefits. The rink has increased foot traffic. Participants have fun and invest in their own organization. And, the organization gets a portion of the proceeds to reinvest. A true whole-community win-win.

Other attempts to expand the community’s interest in skating can easily be seen with a quick visit to the rink’s Facebook page. It is full of infographics describing various opportunities for folks to slip into some skates and spend a little time under the disco ball. A kid-friendly Halloween “SKATE or Treat” was held on the same afternoon that an evening/night skating and costume party for older students took place. The rink’s commitment to meeting the needs of all ages and groups is evident, including the throwback theme nights for those of us in a slightly older age bracket--Disco, 80s and 90s. There truly is something for everyone looking for a good reason to lace up their quads or snap on their inlines. Do yourself a favor and visit (or revisit) Garden Roller Rink, a place that was likely part of every Ashland native’s life at some point. It was a place we learned to roll with the punches, just like the business itself has had to do over the last several years. We just got to do that with skates on our feet and smiles on our faces.

More information about upcoming events, such as the twice-monthly Gospel Nights, can be found by following the “Garden Roller Rink” Facebook page or calling 606.928.3055.

Master Gardeners 101

Lora Parsons

The Ashland Beacon

If you search for synonyms for the word “master,” you’ll see things like expert, authority, prodigy and genius. Spend time with any of Boyd County’s estimated 35 Master Gardeners, and you’ll learn that these descriptors all perfectly fit the folks who have earned that title. This group not only seeks to better their own knowledge of horticulture, but has at the heart of all they do the betterment of the community at large.

Boyd County’s Master Gardener program is focused on improving the horticulture in our area and is open to anyone who has an interest in gardening and volunteering. Classes begin at the end of Jan.  each year, meeting once a week for 16-18 weeks total. They are taught by Lori Bowling, the Extension Agent for Horticulture and Master Gardener Program Coordinator. Participants learn about such things as botany, entomology, soils, fertilizer and plant pathology, to name a few. Passing a test upon completion of the course leads participants into their volunteer year, where they are required to complete 40 hours of volunteer service to the extension horticulture programs. When the course, test and volunteer hours are completed, participants will earn their Kentucky Master Gardener certificate. Maintaining the certificate requires 20 volunteer hours and 10 educational hours annually. With this level of knowledge and experience behind the certificate, it’s no small wonder that our Boyd County Master Gardeners are authorities in the field…quite literally.

The Master Gardeners are vital to the success of horticulture in Boyd County. Many of the programs offered simply would not be possible without their involvement. The Christmas wreath-making program, for example, is successful every year as a result of the volunteers who staff it. On a regular year, they carry the workload, advising wreath-makers, stocking tables and providing the general manpower needed to pull off an event of that size. Chat with anyone who has served for a few years in this capacity, though, and it won’t take long to hear about how impactful the Master Gardeners were during 2020 when COVID transformed life for all of us. That year, the Master Gardeners found a way to still host their wreath-making event despite the fact that businesses were shut down, schools were virtual, and the whole world was on lockdown. Bowling said, “This took some strategic planning but we took orders, worked at the distance required, and pre-made wreaths” for the kits that would be assembled. Those who purchased a kit received the wreath, bow ornaments to decorate them, and instructions for final assembly through a Facebook video she created. Under these extenuating conditions, the community benefited from the work of the Master Gardeners who provided a remarkable 500 kits ready for the usual participants to pick up and finish at home.

While most of the programs offered by the Master Gardeners specifically benefit our local area, Bowling also teaches a course at the federal prison in Summit each year, spreading the knowledge she has to inmates who can carry that back to their own homes when they are released. Upon completion of the same requirements as other Master Gardeners, they also receive a certificate, though their volunteer hours must, by nature of their environment, look a little different. Inside the walls of the prison sits a six-acre garden cultivated to benefit River Cities Harvest. Inmates earn their volunteer hours by working this garden, simultaneously benefiting themselves and our local community, instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment into their time served. Bowling began teaching this program in 2001 and has watched it increase in all its types of productivity for more than 20 years now. She reports, “This past year was the largest year the garden has had with a total of 135,540 pounds of produce.” Some 500 inmates have walked away from their incarceration with a certificate and a story of giving back.

The good that the Master Gardeners give to our area doesn’t stop there. While their wreath-making event is perhaps their most well-known, there are other programs spearheaded by the Master Gardeners that occur throughout the year. One of those is their annual Garden Shed Herb Day that is held the third Saturday of May, featuring the various uses of the Herb of the Year as designated by the International Herb Association. Participants of Herb Day, which is open to the public, learn about the herb (yarrow this year), eat a meal with multiple foods containing that year’s herb and create a product with the herb as the main ingredient to take home. Many artisans and vendors with horticultural products also set up to sell items to the community such as garden-grown spices, dried floral arrangements and local sorghum. Participants also receive an herb plant and a cookbook with recipes from every item served at the luncheon. The 200 available tickets for the event go on sale at the beginning of April each year, cost $25 per person, and are in limited supply.

The group also funds a scholarship for college students going into a horticultural or agricultural field, not only investing in an individual young adult but also strengthening the future success of horticulture and agriculture in our community. To raise money for the scholarship, they make their own apple butter to sell each Sept. .

Regardless of the details, the methods or the time of year, the Boyd County Master Gardeners are a special group of people focused on making this corner of the world a greener, healthier place for all of us fortunate enough to call it “Home.” Those who have already achieved this certification eagerly await this year’s new round of future Master Gardeners. And, all of us who benefit from the work of the Master Gardeners give all of you two GREEN thumbs-up!

To learn more about all the Master Gardeners have to offer, or to enroll in this year’s class, follow them on Facebook at “Boyd County Master Gardeners,” call the office at 606.739.5184, or email Lori Bowling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..