Pinkies up! Tea Time at Broadway Books

Gwen Akers

The Ashland Beacon

Pinkies up! It is time for cucumber sandwiches, sugar cubes, and matching outfits with the American Girl Doll Tea Party at Broadway Books on June 25, from 1-3 p.m.

Inspired by the donations they received of American Girl doll books, co-owners Jill Donta and Nancy Miller decided that this community needed more opportunities and experiences for young children.

“We were thinking what to do with these, and then it was kind of like, ‘Why don’t we have a tea party!’” exclaimed Jill Donta, a retired teacher and co-owner of Broadway Books.

For years, the matching outfits, cute pets, accessories, and inspiring stories behind American Girl dolls have captivated young children everywhere. Whether these dolls are an extension of self or an inspiration for the future, these dolls are an integral part of many children’s lives. With this event, Broadway Books hopes to create an experience that will be unforgettable for these young children while bringing together the community. They hope they can create experiences that target younger children and provide them with the opportunities many may not have.  Ever since its opening, Broadway Books has been all about community involvement and providing opportunities and experiences unique to our area.

“A lot of kids have American Girl dolls, but the closest place to go where you can have any of those experiences is in Columbus, so we thought, what better way than to have a little American girl doll themed party for kids that have those dolls,” commented Donta.

Participants will have the chance to get gussied up at the nail salon or give their doll a new look at the hair salon. The party will also feature a picture booth (with props!), a selfie station, and, of course, tea party snacks and drinks–catered by local restaurant, The Mill. Participants will also walk away with three American Girl doll books. Matching outfits crafted by a local seamstress will also be available for purchase, so the girls and their dolls can enjoy tea in style.

“We just want to create experiences,” commented Donta.

Co-owner Nancy Miller was not only inspired by the influx of American girl doll books they were receiving but also by her own grandchildren.

“Especially the four-year-old [who] takes hers everywhere with her, and it was really exciting to her to have an event that she could do with her doll, that includes her doll, because she includes her doll in her life,” commented co-owner Nancy Miller.

Tickets are $40 apiece, and each child must be accompanied by an adult. No ticket purchase is necessary for the accompanying adult unless they would like to eat. Due to limited space, those interested should check out the Broadway Books Facebook page to register and secure their ticket for the tea party.

This is just one of many community-oriented events that Broadway Books is hosting. Those interested should check out their Facebook page for more information, and keep an eye out for their upcoming Harry Potter Birthday Party event.

The Creative Cow is Getting Artistic with Ice Cream

Grace Phillips

Ashland Beacon

Summertime in America means baseball, hot dogs and of course ice cream.  It is one of our favorite summertime treats.  There is a brand new ice cream experience in Ashland, KY just in time for summer.  The Creative Cow is located at 724 Greenup Avenue inside the Ashland Giovanni’s.  This unique shop features ice cream served on freshly made Belgian waffles with your choice of toppings. Brad and Sunshine Trimble are the owners and creative minds behind this new way to serve ice cream.

According to Brad Trimble, the waffle concept was Sunshine’s idea.  “I just thought whenever you open a new business you need a reason for people to come…you need something unique.   There are a number of ice cream shops in the area, so we wanted something different.  We were already going to make our own waffle cones in-house, so I thought why not a waffle?” replied Sunshine.

When asked how they came up with such a unique name for the shop, Sunshine laughed, “That was all Brad. We knew we needed a theme to decorate with, so that was where his mind went and I went with him.”   Brad’s thought process was actually pretty methodical.  He recounted a beach trip where they had gone to an ice cream shop that had a catchy two-word name…both beginning with the same letters.  He said Sunshine had already mentioned a cow decorating theme, which fit perfectly since ice cream is made of milk, and milk comes from cows.  The new shop would have the word “cow” as a part of the name.  Now he just needed a word that started with “c” to go with cow.  The concept of ice cream served on waffles was really different… “creative” even…The Creative Cow was born.

You can’t help but smile when you step inside the store.  The logo has the cutest little cow and a hot pink background.  The walls are covered in black and white cow print, and the smell from the homemade waffle cones and waffles starts your mouth watering before you even see the ice cream. 

You can truly create whatever type of ice cream and waffles you want.  There are several sizes to choose from beginning with a triangle of the waffle and one scoop of ice cream all the way up to a full waffle and 4 scoops with any toppings you choose.  Sunshine commented, “We try to keep fresh strawberries, but we also have a strawberry glaze with strawberries in it.  We have a number of hot toppings…hot fudge, caramel, hot peanut butter, bananas, pineapples, whipped cream and many more to choose from.”  If you aren’t quite adventurous enough to try the ice cream and waffle, there are plenty of other choices.  The Creative Cow has 18 different flavors of ice cream at this time and hopes to add more in the future.  You can choose a regular cone, freshly made waffle cone, nachos and ice cream that features waffle cone chips or an old-fashioned banana split.

Brad and Sunshine Trimble have been a part of the Ashland business scene for several years now as the owners of the Greenup Avenue Giovanni’s.  I asked Sunshine how they made the jump from pizza to ice cream.  She explained, “Well, we knew we needed to do something with the party room. After Covid, it was just pretty much wasted space. Our parking area is smaller, so if there was a large party it created a parking issue.  We wanted to do something different and thought…why not ice cream.”  The ice cream featured exclusively at the Creative Cow is Ashby Sterling Ice Cream.  According to Brad Trimble, it has a higher butter fat content that makes it ultra-creamy and smooth.  This is not an ice cream that can be purchased in a store, and they have an exclusive agreement to be the only ice cream shop in the area to carry Ashby Sterling.

Brad is already making plans for expanding the product line and number of flavors of ice cream. They felt it was better to start small and grow with the business rather than try to do everything at once.  The Creative Cow is open daily from 12-9 p.m., although the hours on Friday and Saturday evenings are flexible.  According to Brad, “If there are people still here or in the restaurant who want ice cream, we will stay past 9 p.m. on those days.”  Their Facebook page is the best source of information on the shop, such as the menu as well as chances for contests and prizes.

I Chronicles 4:10 is known as the Jabez prayer.  It says, “and Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain.”   In closing Sunshine gave praise, “For over a year, Brad and I have been praying this prayer, and this is where we are now.  We feel like God has answered our prayer and allowed us the opportunity to do this and we want to glorify him in any way we can.”

Make plans to visit the Creative Cow this week.  You won’t be sorry!

Taking Her Game to the Next Level

McKinzie Walters Perry Becomes PGA Class A Pro

By Pamela Hall

The Ashland Beacon

Golf is a game that many people enjoy. Most people play just for the enjoyment of the game. Some people become good players while even fewer become great players. Very few golfers ever get to a professional or master level that would allow them to earn their living playing golf.

McKinzie Walters Perry, a 2018 graduate of Russell High School, is someone who has reached a level of professionalism that very few players ever reach. As a result, her mastery of the game has opened doors for her. McKinzie has recently received her Professional Golf Association (PGA) license as a Class A Golf Professional. She is currently the Assistant Golf Pro at Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati.

McKinzie began playing golf when she was about eight years old. As she grew up, she began participating in junior golf events at various local golf courses, including Bellefonte Country Club. She spent those growing up years dedicating herself to the game of golf and working hard to improve and perfect her game. In high school, she competed at numerous events and state tournaments as a member of the golf team at Russell High School.

McKinzie went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing from Eastern Kentucky University, with a concentration in Professional Golf Management. Although she wasn’t a member of the college team, she did compete in various tournaments on her own.

As part of the work toward her degree, she completed internships at several golf courses and country clubs. This led to the job offer of her current position as the Assistant Golf Pro at Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati.

“As the Assistant Golf Pro, I will be helping with ladies golf events, junior events and other tournaments and operations,” Perry said. “I will be giving private lessons as well.”

McKinzie’s affiliation with the PGA will also give her the opportunity to compete in Ladies PGA events (LPGA). As she competes, she will earn points toward an eligibility card that will allow her to play at future major LPGA events, including those that are televised.

“Right now I want to work and keep on teaching,” McKinzie explained. “As for competing, I will be participating in some tournaments as well. We’ll just see where it takes me.”

“My mission,” McKinzie stated on PGA.org, “is to grow the game of golf and develop a strong relationship with members and guests which helps me exceed their individual preferences.”

McKinzie’s years of hard work and dedication have certainly paid off! She is a part of that elite group of golfers who will be able to earn her living from the game of golf that she loves.

“We are extremely proud of McKinzie and all of her accomplishments,” Cindy Walters, McKinzie’s mother, stated.

Congratulations to McKinzie Perry on her position at Kenwood Country Club, as well as her Class A Professional PGA license. We wish her luck in all her future endeavors. Who knows, we may see her on TV some day playing in a LPGA tournament!

A Donation for a Change: Fred M Gross Lodge Supports Fairview Youth Service Center

Gwen Akers

The Ashland Beacon

The Fairview Youth Service Center is the support system many do not recognize. They are the organization that provides backpacks for students, the last line of defense when an accident leaves a student needing new pants–and with the fabulous $2500 donation recently given to them by the Fred M. Gross Masonic Lodge, they can continue to aid and support their students.

“It just meant a lot to us at school that they did that for our kids in our community. You know, you can't explain to somebody how much it means when people go out of their way to help so many kids, and they have no clue how many kids it's going to impact,” commented Ashley Carey, the Family Resource Center Coordinator for the elementary, middle and high school.

The Fairview Youth Service Center is involved in many different outreach and support activities, including weekend snack bags sent home with children, backpacks for back to school, an extensive clothing closet (featuring 107 clothing items just at the elementary school), and provision of other toiletries and hygiene items that students may need. Throughout the school year, they have helped 114 children with school supplies on top of the 85 children who were sponsored by the backpack program. This donation means that they can continue to aid their students and supply them with the tools for success.

“It's able to provide our students with clothing, so that families do not have to leave work to come to school to bring clothes. The weekend snacks—we all know that groceries have gotten really expensive. Everything has gone up. Just to help with a little bit of that burden on Fridays when we send home these weekend snacks. It gives something extra for the kids to have, to keep them until they get back in school on Monday,” commented Carey.

The Fred M Gross Masonic Lodge was founded with the purpose of aiding the community as best as it could through charitable acts. For this specific donation, the lodge raffled off a gun and gave all the proceeds minus the cost of the gun to the Fairview Youth Service Center. Ethan Wells is the junior warden of the Masonic Order, or the third principal officer.

“We'll continue to support our youth service center and all the kids of all ages in the Fairview School District,” explained Wells. “We’re hoping anything we can do, any money we can raise, anything we can do to help any displaced kids or families [can help].  We want to continue to do that in any way we can.”

With this donation, the Fairview Youth Service Center can keep impacting the lives of the students in the school district and keep being that support system that many do not recognize. With everything they do, they hope to set their students up for success.

“Like I said, we were very, very thankful that they did this. When you hear ‘we're going to give you a donation,’ you're thinking $100, $200, and then you get this check for $2,500, and find out that everything they profited went to us. I mean, it's amazing! I can say all day how many kids this is going to help.  When you're actually in the school you realize, without our community partners, we couldn't help all the kids that we help,” explained Carey.

The Fairview Youth Service Center could not be more grateful to the Fred M Gross Masonic Lodge, and neither could the numerous students who will benefit from this donation.

Captions: