Murray Life Magazine Summer 2011

2 Murray Life Magazine | Summer 2011

�What’s Inside

VOLUME 16 - NUMBER 2 - SUMMER 2011Printed in the USA

www.mymurraylife.com

Managing EditorRobert Valentine

Associate Editor/Operations ManagerLogan Abbitt

Art DirectorJustin B. Kimbro, K-Squared Designs, LLC

Assistant ArtistsKyle Smith | Libby Files

Amanda Newman | Vanessa Baker

Sales & MarketingRita Oldham | Tina Copeland

Editorial StaffLogan Abbitt | Kim Cottingham

Internet ConsultantJustin B. Kimbro, K-Squared Designs, LLC

Staff PhotographyWm. Gross Magee | Justin B. Kimbro

Contributing WritersRon Arant | Rebecca Feldhaus

Michael Cohen | Nicholas Reside | Logan AbbittDr. Roger Haney | Aviva Yasgur | Kim Cottingham

Caina Lynch | Joshua Wiles | Jamie Lober

PrintingImage Graphics, Paducah, Kentucky

Murray Life is published five times annually for the Murray area. All contentscopyright 2010 by Murray Life Productions. Reproduction or use of the contents

without written permission is prohibited. Comments written in this magazine are thoseof the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ownership or

management of Murray Life.

Subscription rate is $15.00 per year, two years $25.00. Subscription inquiries andall remittances should be made to

Murray Life: 608-B Main Street, Murray, KY 42071.

Subscriptions may also be made through the Web site,www.murraylifemagazine.com. All advertising inquiries should be directed to the

Managing Editor at: Murray Life, or by calling 270-753-5225.E-mail us at: [email protected]

This magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography orartwork. All submissions may be edited for length, clarity and style.

The Secret ForestLogan Abbitt

Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Robert A. Valentine

Notes N’ Neighbors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Murray Life Staff

Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Sandy Linn

Summer Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Kim Cottingham

Pet Paws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Caina Lynch

Count On It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Murray Life Staff

Home and Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Rupert Sebastian

Savvy Shopper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Kim Cottingham

A Laughing Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Murray Life Staff

Ask the Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Jamie Lober

Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Adrianna Payne

Uncommon Mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Michael Cohen

Dining Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43From Fast to Fabulous

Money Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Ron Arant

Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50What’s Happening & Where

Day Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Erin Carrico

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Robert Valentine

Community GardensKyser Lough

Fruit of the Vine:TomatoesLogan Abbitt

28

30

22

34Go Native in the

GardenAviva Yasgur

� Editorial

Summer“Summer,” it well and truly is, and

“summer” is what we have experienced sincespring began, it seems.

Nevertheless, those “lazy, hazy, crazy days” of baseball, picnics, fishing and lawn mowing are with us again.Speaking of “mowing,” our issue this time focuses on plants: from weeds to woodlands, we’ll show you aroundthe garden that is Murray, Kentucky.

Kyser Lough joins us for this issue with a look, at community gardens. Whether youhave a acre or an apartment, there’s an opportunity for you to bring flowers, fruits

and vegetables right into your life “from the ground, up.” Our own Logan Abbitttoured the MSU Arboretum and discovered a wounded (from recent storms)

but wonderful place that has an amazing future as a community resource.

Kim Cottingham will fill us in on the evils of ivy as she joins with localphysicians to explain the ins, outs, and ouches of the pernicious plant, poi-son ivy. And, of course, our foods column will examine that most popularof plant pleasures, the tomato. You think you know something abouttomatoes? You’ll be surprised at what you can learn about these home-grown favorites.

And, speaking of “homegrown,” Adrianna Payne shares her conversationwith “visiting” lecturer Bob Norsworthy. Known as a New York heavy-

weight in the field of advertising, he’s actually from nearby Kirksey andstill thinks of himself as a kid from Calloway County. His visit to Murray

State this spring changed lives -- and may change his.

There’s more, of course, from a rescued pup to make yousmile to a long list of gardening jokes to make youlaugh. We can’t begin to tell you everything in thisissue, from our usual dining guides and popular cal-

endar to the wonder of Mike Cohen’s tale of a mys-tery story that is a mystery in itself.

This much is no mystery, however: it is summer,and cool evenings or pastel mornings need to befilled with a quiet read, from time to time. Wehope this read will be easy, fun, and fulfilling.After all, it’s your “Murray Life.” �

Robert A. Valentine, Publisher

www.murraylifemagazine.com | Murray Life Magazine 5


�Notes ‘n Neighbors

America’s Promise Alliance has named Murray/Calloway County one of "100 Best Communities forYoung People." The annual competition, now in its fifth cycle, recognizes communities making extraor-dinary efforts to reduce dropout rates and provide outstanding services and supports to their youth.These communities have demonstrated a significant and lasting commitment to their youth for which

they deserve to be recognized and commended. This is the fourth designation for the community and follows threeconsecutive “Top 100 Playful Cities” awards.

The 100 Best Communities are intended to be representative of the nation as awhole. "The 100 communities presented here represent 37 states, from coast to

coast," said Alma J. Powell, Chair, America’s Promise Alliance. "They come in allforms and sizes, from our largest cities to small towns, from counties to schooldistricts. In fact, they look like America. They are the face of America. Andwhat united them is a commitment deeply rooted in the American spirit."Past winners have ranged from small towns, such as a mobile home commu-nity in Minnesota; to some of the nation’s largest cities, including New YorkCity, Chicago and Houston; to counties and school districts.

The award named qualities such as public education, low crime rate, low costof living and availability of affordable housing, along with “scenic beauty and a

warm, inviting atmosphere.” The really impressive part of Murray’s presentationto the panel of judges, however, involved the community involvement in youth

education, recreation, health, and opportunities for achievement outside of school.

The 2010 winners were highlighted at a September 21 ceremony in front of theWashington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, DC, with Alma Powell, Alliance President andCEO Marguerite Kondracke, and ING Foundation President Rhonda Mims.

Murray/Calloway CountyNamed Best Community

The Kentucky Associated Press has recognizedWKMS News with several news awards,including four first place awards, in its 2011Class II Radio category competition. WKMS

was awarded with 1st Place honors for the following:

• Best Light News Feature: Jacque Day for "Kaeliegh's Heart"

• Best Use of Sound: Rebecca Feldhaus for "Glory Days at Fish Fry"

• Best Public Affairs Feature: Angela Hatton for "New CPR Method"

• Best Website: Matt Markgraf for "www.wkms.org"

WKMS Station Manager says, "We're grateful thatlistener support enables WKMS News to continuecrafting excellent coverage recognized by theKentucky Associated Press annually and regularcompliments from our appreciative audience."Each story submitted by the WKMS News teamreceived recognition in this year's competition.

WKMS News operates from Murray State's publicradio service and covers western Kentucky, south-ernmost Illinois, and northwest Tennessee. TheWKMS News team is comprised of News DirectorChad Lampe, News Producer and Morning EditionHost Todd Hatton, Reporters Jacque E. Day,Angela Hatton, Chris Taylor, and student interns.Rebecca Feldhaus is now reporting for thePaducah Sun.

WKMS News Wins Awards

COMMUNITY

2010


Murray Life’s editorial offices have recentlymoved to 105 N. 6th Street. Our mailingaddress remainsthe same as it

has been for nearly 30 years:P. O. Box 894, Murray, 42071.The move has delayed oursecond issue of 2011 by a fewweeks, so we’re glad to beback on the street and backon schedule.

Few people have occasion tovisit a magazine, since theessence of our business is tobring the conversation toyou. In the case of MurrayLife, that’s something we’ve been happy to do sinceOctober of 1998. Just in case you need to make avisit, however, we thought we’d better let youknow.

For quite some time, we’ve shared quarters in the “OldKroger Building,” or “The Old Hopkinsville Federal

Building,” depending on the ageof the person you’re speakingwith. In its present state it is thehome of Western KentuckyInsurance, and Lindy Suiter andhis associates have been excel-lent business neighbors. Weextend our thanks to them, andto the hospitality of ParkerProperties and the Parker familywho were always supportive,encouraging and most cordialduring our stay.

We’re pleased to continue ourassociation with K-Squared Designs in our new location,and we look forward to serving the community for asmany dozens of years as Murray Life will be read by thetown from which she takes her name.

� Notes ‘n Neighbors

We Moved!

Local celebrity W. EarlBrown just had his fea-ture film, Bloodworth,released. Earl produced

the film and adapted the screen-play from the novel Provinces ofNight by William Gay. Blood-worth stars Kris Kristofferson,Hilary Duff, Frances Conroyand Reece Thompson. ValKilmer and Dwight Yoakamappear alongside Earl Brown asthe estranged brothers.

It's been 40 years since E.F.Bloodworth (Kristofferson)abandoned his loving wife andsons for a life on the road. Nowat the end of the line,Bloodworth reappears, forced toreckon with the stale aftermathof his departure. With his ex-wife Julia (Conroy) mentallydestroyed, his three sons:

Warren (Kilmer), Boyd (Yoakam)and Brady (Brown) soured byyears of anger, Bloodworth'sonly solace is a budding relation-ship with Fleming (Thompson),the grandson he never knew. When Fleming meets Raven (Duff), the woman of hisdreams, history threatens torepeat itself.

Bloodworth abounds with newmusic from Oscar® WinningProducer, T Bone Burnett. KrisKristofferson creates and anoriginal song, too, which ismore than appropriate for arole people are saying he wasborn to play. Bloodworthopened to limited release, soyou may have to wait for aDVD to enjoy this one. Lookfor it online!

Bloodworth


�Community

Those who haven’t been to the CallowayCounty Public Library recently may be sur-prised at the changes that are taking place toincrease the ease of use for patrons and to

make more efficient use of space to accommodate theever growing collections that the library offers.

Recently, library staff has been working on shiftingbooks and materials in a number of areas to open up theadult non-fiction and large print areas. Also, a des-ignated junior non-fiction sectionis being created, and thechildren’s and youngadult areas expanded.

The library is excited tooffer a number of new pro-grams for library patronsof all ages which willrevolve around this year’stheme, "One World, ManyStories." The theme encour-ages readers to explore themarvelous stories thatabound throughout theworld. It also invites them tobecome more aware of theneeds of children from othercountries.

The traditional SummerReading Program will be heldMondays beginning June 6. Thisyear, the program will return tothe library meeting room with theaddition of a third performancetime. Summer Reading is a fun andentertaining program that pro-motes the enjoyment of the publiclibrary and reading during the summer recess fromschool. It is not a reading class, nor is it an instruction-al program. Children who participate in the programmust be ages 5 through 12. Each Monday morning forfour weeks, participants will enjoy an hour long pro-gram presented by a professional entertainer. Thisyear’s scheduled performers are Chris Egleston,Zoofari, Mary Hamilton and MadCap Puppets. Thefifth meeting day is the popular Read Mart. SummerReaders are encouraged to keep a reading log of library

books that they have checked out and read. Readinglogs can be traded in for book bucks, which can bespent on awesome prizes at Read Mart.

Toddlers and preschool age children may attendSummer Story Time programs which will begin June8th. Parents with Ones and Twos is a program designedfor the very young child with a parent/adult and

includes books, music activities andtoy time. It will be offered onWednesdays from 9:30 to 10:00.Preschool Story Time is designedfor children age 3, 4 & 5. Itincludes picture books, stories,music, activities and crafts. A par-ent or adult does not have toattend with the child, howeverthey must stay in the library. Forchildren who are young threes,adult attendance is stronglyencouraged. This program willbe offered on Wednesdaysfrom 10:30 to 11:15. Both pro-grams have limited spacesand are filled on a first-come,first-served basis. CCPL willhappily offer Tuesday ses-sions of these programsshould interest and regis-tration warrant additions.

CCPL is pleased to intro-duce the addition of threenew summer programsfor the summer of 2011:

Teen Summer Reading,Adult Summer Reading and

Family Movie Afternoons.

Teen Summer Reading will be offered for ages 13through 17. The program is for teens that love to readand would like the chance to earn cool prizes thissummer. When teens sign up for the program, theyreceive a prize, and each time they check out and reada library book, they can put their name in for weeklyprize drawings. Those who read at least five booksmay put their names into a drawing for a grand prize.Teens are also encouraged to apply for this year’sSummer Teen Volunteer Program. For applications

Summer Reading, Had me a Blast By: Sandy l. Linn


and/or information, interested persons may contactSandy Linn.

Adult Summer Reading is for adults of all ages.Adults who sign up for this new program will alsoearn prizes and be eligible for weekly drawings.Those who read at least 10 books during the summerwill be eligible to add their names for two grand prizedrawings. A third grand prize drawing will be heldfor those filling out an adult reading bingo card, a toolfor Adult Summer Readers who would like to ventureout of their reading norm.

Four Family Movie Afternoons will be offered on select-ed Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 to 5:00. All films willbe family friendly and have either a G or PG rating.Families who wish to attend movie afternoons will pickup free tickets prior to the event. The free ticket alsocomes with a small popcorn and drink. Those wishing toparticipate must have a ticket, and attendance is limited.

For more information about the library and libraryprograms, you can visit the library at 710 Main Street,the web site at www.callowaycountylibrary.org,call 753-2288. �

Sandy L. Linn works in Youth Services/Acquisitions at the CallowayCounty Public Library

�

� Community

If you can read this ...• Students who reported having all four types ofreading materials (books, magazines, newspapers,encyclopedias) in their home scored, on average,higher than those who reporter having fewer readingmaterials.

• There are almost half a million words in ourEnglish Language - the largest language on earth.

• Five to six year olds have a vocabulary of 2,500-5,000 words.

• The average student learns about 3,000 words peryear in the early school years (8 words per day).

Source: The Literacy Company

As fall approaches, many people begin tospend more time outdoors, enjoying thecooler temperatures, lower humidity andcolorful foliage. Hiking, camping and

horseback riding are just a few of the activities thatallow you to enjoy nature. Fall is also a good time totrim overgrowth and prepare your yard for the winter.Be on the alert—being close to nature, whether in yourbackyard or in the great outdoors, increases yourchances of coming into contact with those fiendish,rash-producing plants: poison ivy, poison oak, andpoison sumac.

Because foliage is abundant in wooded and other nat-ural areas, you may not notice the poisonous varietyand accidentally rub against it. At home, cutting theleaves with a weed trimmer or burning them releasesthe oils that cause the inflammation. When the plantsare burned, the oil becomes airborne, allowing it canbe inhaled. This can cause a very painful reaction inthe eyes, nose, throat and lungs.

If you suspect you have come into contact with any ofthis irritating vegetation, avoid touching or bumpinginto anything, including other persons, any other fab-ric, furniture, or clothes. In less than 15 minutes, theplant’s oil can do its damage, although your skin’s

reaction can be delayed by 24 to 72 hours, so quickaction is necessary. Immediately take a shower, usingsoap, but not an alcohol-containing solvent, which canspread the oil. “Soap and water inactivate the oils,”says Dr. J. D. Outland, a Board CertifiedDermatologist practicing in Murray. “Despite whatyou might hear, alcohol, kerosene, and other harshchemicals are not necessary [to clear the skin of theplant’s oils].”

Don’t assume you won’t be affected, as approximate-ly 60 to 80 percent of the population will react to the

Summer Safety


�

By: Kim Cottingham

Be on the alert—being close tonature, whether in your backyard orin the great outdoors, increases yourchances of coming into contact withthose fiendish, rash-producingplants: poison ivy, poison oak, andpoison sumac.

Poison, Poison Everywhere


Summer Safety�

substance. Wash the clothes and shoes you werewearing, being sure to use soap or detergent. Infact, even plants that have died back in the fall, orwhich have been treated with herbicides are a haz-ard. “Some people who are very allergic can stilldevelop allergy from dormant plants, although theoil concentrations are much lower,” said Dr.Outland.

If, despite your best efforts, you contract this peskyskin complaint, you can expect a rash consisting ofdry, scaly, itchy red areas and blisters. You mayhave heard that the rash is contagious. Accordingto Dr. William Robinson of Murray MedicalAssociates, only the oil can cause the itchy inflam-mation. A person’s skin can react to the oil even ifit is on articles of clothing, furniture, and pets,though pets themselves don’t seem to be suscepti-ble to its effects.

You do have some treatmentoptions: Benadryl or Zyrtec canbe taken. According to Dr.Robinson, the Zyrtec treats a his-tamine receptor, which can behelpful in treating the itch. Checkwith your doctor before takingthe two medicines simultaneous-ly and ask about possible interac-tion with any other medicationsyou are taking. Topical remediesinclude calamine lotions,Benadryl lotion and oatmealbaths. If your face is affected orthe reaction is severe, you mayneed a prescription from yourdoctor.

“Treating quickly can alleviatesuffering and resolve symptomsmore rapidly,” suggests Dr.Outland. “Prescription topicalagents (creams and ointments)are much more potent and muchmore effective [than over-the-counter creams such as hydro-cortisone].”

Unfortunately, the irritation canlast as long as one or two weeks.The National Park Service’sOffice of Public Health recom-

mends you visit your doctor if therash affects a large area or if you have a fever.

So, before heading outdoors, familiarize yourself withpoison ivy, oak, and sumac. You may even want totake some photos of the offending foliage with you.Then lace up your hiking boots, pitch your tent, andenjoy the outdoors without bringing home an itchysouvenir. When working in your yard, wear gloves,cover your arms and legs, and use an appropriateweed treatment. Then relax and enjoy the rest of thebeautiful fall season.

Our thanks to National Park Service, U.S.Department of the Interior, Office of Public Health,and to local physicians Dr. J. D. Outland and Dr.William Robinson. Remember: when in doubt, consult a physician immediately. For extremelyallergic persons, these common irritants can bevery dangerous. �

Poison Oak

Teca Niya: A New Breath�Pet Paws

In only a year, this wonderful dog has had threenames, faced imminent death and had an amaz-ing rescue and recovery. Here is Teca Niya’s story.

In Feb. 2010, an extremely thin, dehydrated young dogthat was near death came into the Humane Society’s care.

“We learned about a dog in distress on a Sunday whenKaren Dowdy, one of our Animal Advocates, learnedabout a dog which was ‘about dead’ on the porch of aperson who didn’t recognize the dog,” explainedHumane Society Executive Director Kathy Hodge.“They didn’t know what to do and called for help.”

Karen went to check on the dog and immediatelyknew that it might not make it until the veterinaryclinic opened on Monday. It was a big dog, extremelythin, and so weak she had to be carried to the car. “Wereally couldn’t tell what breed she was at that timeand thought she might be a very thin Great Dane,”

Kathy said.

An emergency call was placed to Westside VeterinaryClinic where the dog, called Sadie, was put into theHumane Society’s Good Samaritan program.

Sadie was assessed and treatment began. She wasemaciated, dehydrated and hypothermic, so she waswarmed and fluids were administered. Kathy noted,“After she was stabilized, Sadie was so grateful tohave all the good food she wanted. In only two weeks,she had gained 25 pounds!” As she gained weight, itwas almost immediately obvious that she wasn’t aGreat Dane at all and was a mastiff or mastiff mix.

Sadie was progressing well, so attention was turned toassessing other aspects of her health. What she hadexperienced so far would certainly have been enough,but then it was discovered that she was heartwormpositive and would need treatment. While waiting for apotential adopter, Sadie was placed into a foster homewith Terry Derting, a Murray State University professorand Humane Society volunteer, and her dog, Franklin.

At first Terry kept the two canines in separate parts ofthe house both because of Sadie’s ongoing heartworm

By: Caina Lynch


Teca and Franklin

(inset) Teca when she was first found

treatment and because Franklin, as a six-year-oldAnatolian Shepherd, can be rather protective of hishome. Although Franklin is a certified therapy dogand adores children and adults, he isn’t as thrilledabout other dogs, especially one in his own home.

Even with all the precautions in place, Sadie’s intro-duction into her foster home was accompanied bysome drama. She did not like being crated and, sinceshe felt so much better, she popped open her crate andearned her second name, Pandora.

On the night of her great crate escape, Pandora foundsomething to nibble on – an entire bottle of caninepain medicine! Terry rushed Pandora back to the vet-erinarian. Thankfully the medicine had not digestedin her system so, after staying the night for observa-tion, she was released the next morning.

Pandora was now allowed out of her crate and into aportion of the house where she and Franklin met forthe first time through a four-foot-high dog fence.“Surprisingly, Franklin showed little hostility andPandora seemed outgoing but not in a dominantway,” Terry said of the two dog’s first encounter. Itwas the beginning of a beautiful friendship betweenthe two canines which helped Terry to make the bigdecision to adopt Pandora.

At her adoption on July 20, 2010, the now healthy andhappy dog earned her new and final name from Terry:Teca Niya, Lakota for New Breath. Terry said shechose this name because “she was literally breathingher last breaths when picked up by the humane socie-ty and then given a new breath of life afterwards.”

Teca topped off a very eventful six months when, inAugust, she passed her AKC Canine Good Citizenand Therapy Dog International tests.

“Teca is very much a fun and loving dog. Regardlessof any challenges, she is living a good life which shedeserves and Franklin is rejuvenated now that he hasa canine companion,” Terry says describing her caninefamily. With Terry and Franklin’s love and help, TecaNiya is making the most of her "new breath." �

To find your next furry family member, to make pet food or monetarydonations or to ask questions regarding animal issues, contact theHumane Society of Calloway County, a United Way agency, at 270-759-1884 or [email protected] our websiteatwww.forthepets.org or stop by the office at 607 Poplar Street.

.

Pet Paws



Instructions:Place the numbers 1 through 9 in each blank field.

Each column (down), row (across) and 3x3 region mustcontain each of the numerals only one time.

Again, good luck!

Where is the Solution?Not sure of your answers?

Visit our Web site to check your solution.

Go to www.murraylifemagazine.com and click the “Puzzle Solution” symbol.

We’ll see you next issue with another great puzzle!

This is medium level puzzle #15...Good Luck!

Count On It

3,070:Seeds on

an averageGoldenrod

613: Average seeds

perPomegrante

Seeds

33,000:Corn seeds

planted per acre

2,000 years:Age of the oldestgerminated seed

discovered, aJudean date

palm

Compiled by: Murray Life Staff


749:

720,000:

40 lbs:

200:

25,000:

5 inches:

260,000:

35 Million:

95 lbs:Weight of theworld's largest

seed cone,Australian

cycads

�

Whether you're starting a new garden ormaintaining a long term project, you'regoing to create yard waste. At some point,leaves, weeds, grass clippings and more

will get in the way and you'll have to do something withthem. The temptation will be to throw them away, andif you give in to that temptation you will be throwingaway one of your garden's greatest treasures: compost.

Composting transforms garden waste into healthy soil.Here's how it works: The carbon from your brown mate-rial (dead leaves), and the nitrogen from your greenmaterial (fresh grass clipping, food scraps) sit together atan increased temperature in the pileor bin. With frequent exposure tooxygen, the whole mix decomposesinto a rich soil that is the perfectplant food. It takes thousands ofyears for the earth’s forces to buildgood soil, but we can greatly accel-erate the process by using compost,which adds microorganisms,arthropods, worms, and humus tothe soil.

Farmers and gardeners refer tothis nutrient rich soil as "blackgold." You can use mature com-post to enrich your gardens,improve the soil around yourtrees and shrubs, and more. Thebest part is that composting iseasy, but it does require somework to be effective.

Pile vs. BinYou can start composting by simply creating a pile inthe corner of your yard. While this is effective, itrequires additional maintenance to turn the pile andensure oxygen and temperature are evenly distributed.The recommended method is to use a compost binwhich is specifically created for this purpose. Bins alsokeep odor contained and rodents out. You can purchasea bin for anywhere from $30 to $400, depending uponsize, construction and functionality. Most bins aredesigned for easy mixing. Alternatively, you can buildyour own compost bin that will work just as well.

Preparing the Pile Select a location spot that gets a lot of sunlight and has

nearby access to water for your compost pile or bin. Itshould be close to the house for convenience, but notso close that you can smell the decaying matter inside.A small, fenced area with no bottom allows worms andother beneficial organisms from the earth to work andaerate the compost. Eventually, you may want to con-sider setting up two compost areas: one that is beingadded to and one that is ready for use as fertilizer. Startyour compost pile by lining the bottom of the area orbin with straw or other dry organic material.

If you want to give your compost an extra boost to getgoing, you can purchase a compost starter additive.

Compost starter is made up ofenzymes and microorganisms thatwill get your compost churning.Depending on the amount youneed, compost starter will cost $5to $20. Another way to jump-start acompost pile is to add a very smallamount of a fertilizer that's high innitrogen. Remember to weargloves and a mask when workingwith fertilizer.

Creating Compost Now that the site is ready, you canstart adding material. The thing toremember is that compost is notmerely garbage; there's a formula atwork here. Some things can beadded while others cannot. Thereare two general categories of matterto add to the bin: Brown and Green.

Brown materials include dead leaves and twigs. Greenmaterials are a bit broader and more inclusive. Here isa condensed list:

Do Add … • Fruit and vegetable scraps• Coffee grounds & tea bags• Old herbs and spices• Grass clippings• Old flowers• Brown paper bags • Paper napkins• Wood ashes

Do Not Add … • Meat, fat, grease, oils, bones

Home & Garden


Black Gold for your GardenBy: Rupert Sebastian

• Diseased plant matter• Treated wood • Non-biodegradable materials • Colored or glossy paper • Coal or charcoal ashes

To see more exhaustive lists of what to add and whatto avoid, visit www.compostinstructions.com. orwww.plantea.com.

Ready to Use Compost is ready for use when the temperature in thepile drops to the temperature of the surrounding air. Itshould smell earthy, not sour or putrid. Mature com-post looks like crumbly dark soil. Food items, leavesand grass will be fully decayed and unidentifiable assuch. Compost has many uses in the garden. Spread itaround plants that are already growing, or work itinto the ground before you plant. It can be used asmulch around trees and shrubs to keep the moisturein and to prevent weeds from growing. It won't belong before your compost pile becomes one of themost important tools in your yard. �


� Home & Garden

Confounding CompostablesAll of these are safe to add to your pile:

•Plain cooked rice•Stale bread•Stale pretzels•Wine corks•Old jelly, jam, or

preserves•Stale beer and wine•Toothpicks•Bamboo skewers•Used facial tissues•Hair from your

hairbrush

•Toilet paper rolls•100% Cotton cotton

balls•Dryer lint•Pencil shavings•Receipts•Used matches•Fish food•Dry dog or cat food•Jack o' Lanterns•Natural holiday

wreaths

For Swingers Only

The National Golf Foundation calculates thatover 27 million people in the United Statesplay golf. That figure is expected to increasesteadily over the next nine years to 30 million.

With that in mind, we thought we would offer sometips on buying clubs—just in case some of our readershave recently taken up the sport or are thinking aboutjoining the anticipated millions of new players.

One reason for the increase may be the changes that havebeen made to the equipment over the last few decades.Will Snodgrass, Director of Golf at Miller Memorial GolfCourse, notes that technological developments in golfclubs and golf balls have had an enormous impact on thegame. The club shaft, which was previously made of

wood, is now made of graphite and steel. The clubhead is bigger and made of titanium. These changesmake the club more forgiving, which leads to a bettergame. A better game brings greater enjoyment tomore golfers, including those whose skills may nothave worked as well with the clubs and golf balls ofa few decades ago.

So, with over 50 brands and thousands of club choices,choosing the right clubs can be overwhelming. You wantto spend your money wisely and have the most benefitfrom your purchases. With all the options, how can youknow which clubs are right for you?

The FittingDon’t just order on-line or buy at a shop until youhave been fitted. Sherri Heeke, former LPGA GolfInstructor and Calloway County resident, stresses theimportance of being properly fitted by a PGA profes-sional trained in fitting a golfer for clubs. Having theclubs best suited to your swing and height will allowyou to play your best. Playing your best allows you tobetter enjoy the sport.

In addition to your swing and height, the length ofyour arms and how they hang affect your game andtherefore your club selection. Another part of the fit-ting includes determining where your eyes are posi-tioned over the ball. How the club sits on the ground,or the lie angle, affects the ball's flight. A proper fit-ting takes all of these things in to account to deter-mine the right clubs for you.

The Club Concerning the club shaft, several flex options areavailable, including Men’s, Women's, and Senior Flex, as well as Uniflex for men or women. Don’t be tempt-

Savvy Shopper


“It's good sportsmanship to not pickup lost golf balls while they are stillrolling.”

– Mark Twain

Compiled By: Kim Cottingham

ed to buy based solely on the clubs’ labeling, though.Women's clubs are not necessarily the right fit for allwomen and men’s clubs aren’t suited for all men. Forexample, while the women's clubs are the appropriatechoice for many women, other golfers find the shafthas too much bend, or flex, and they may have just theright flex for some male golfers. Senior Flex clubs havemore bend, which provides more torque, and somegolfers other than seniors find these are the clubs bestsuited to their game. Club selection should be basedon your swing speed, type of ball flight, and even thelength of your arms. This is why you must be fitted bya pro before buying clubs.

Another consideration is expense. A steel shaft is lessexpensive and lasts longer. Then again, you need todecide which is more important: the cost of the equip-ment or the effect on your game. If a steel shaft does-n’t fit with your swing and other factors, you will playpoorly or will avoid using the club altogether, and willhave wasted your money.

How Many Clubs?Now, how many clubs do you need? According toDick’s Sporting Goods, when starting out, a golferneeds three woods, a collection of 3-9irons, pitching wedge, sandwedge and a putter. Otherclubs can be purchased as

your skill level progresses. For beginners, or thosewith higher handicaps, the folks at Dick’s SportingGoods recommend starting out with the 3-wood asthe “off-the-tee-wood.” You may also want to includea 7 wood and a 9 wood in your set.

After you’ve been fitted by a professional, you maywant additional information on specific clubs. You

can learn more at valueguide.pga.com which hasphotos and information on over 50 brands andover 6,000 models, including detailed descrip-

tions of club size, material composition,and features. Manufacturer details, cus-

tomer reviews, and current trade-invalue for clubs listed are provided,

as well as links to the manufac-turers’ sites. You may also

want to visit www.golf.com/golf/equipment whichdescribes, tests, and re-views equipment, includ-ing advantages and

disadvantages. �

Savvy Shopper


Interested in Lessonsor a Fitting? Sullivan’s Par 3 Golf Course in Murray offerslessons and fittings. PGA professional instruc-tor Lynn Sullivan provides club fittings for$20. If you decide to buy your clubs from hisshop, the fitting fee goes toward your pur-chase. To schedule a lesson or fitting, call270-753-1152.

Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray offersgolf lessons for adults and youth ages 5-15.Summer youth classes will be held June 6-9. Formore information, call 270-809-2238 or visitthem on-line at www.millermemorialgc.com.

“You're only here for a short visit.Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sureto smell the flowers along the way.”

– Walter Hagen

Thousands of people enjoy gardening each year, and if you are fond of the outdoors, you may find yourself interested in gar-dening, too. It's a hobby that allows people to get in touch with the earth and themselves. Gardening is not an expensivehobby to start, but it may become expensive as you progress in the art of planting. Many people find gardening to be a relax-ing hobby … but others find it to be an incredibly frustrating activity.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °A perennial plant is one that, if it had lived, would havereturned every year.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in theform of perspiration.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °Your first job is to prepare the soil. The best tool for this is yourneighbor's motorized garden tiller. If your neighbor does notown a garden tiller, suggest that he buy one.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing aweed, and not a valuable plant, is to pull on it. If it comes outof the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °If I could only grow green stuff in my garden like I can in myrefrigerator.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °"Annuals" mean disappointment once a year.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °Whichever garden tool you want is always at the back of the shed.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °I started a rock garden last week. Three of them died.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °A prisoner serving time received a letter from his wife. "I have decided toplant some lettuce in the back garden. When is the best time to plant it?"

The prisoner, knowing that the prison guards read all the mail, replied"Dear Wife, whatever you do, DO NOT touch the back garden! That iswhere I hid all the gold."

The next week, he received another letter from his wife. "You wouldn'tbelieve what happened. Some men came with shovels to the house anddug up the whole back garden!"

The prisoner wrote back "Dear Wife, NOW is the best time to plant the lettuce."

�A Laughing Matter

How Does Your Garden Grow?Compiled by: Murray Life Staff



By: Logan Abbitt

TheSecr

et Forest

WHAT IS AN ARBORETUM, ANYWAY?Essentially, there are two types of public gardens. You may have heard of botanical gar-dens—large projects that create beautiful areas filled with bright flowers and scenery.You may even have visited The Western Kentucky Botanical Garden in Owensboro, oneof the state's finest. The second kind of public garden is an arboretum, which focuses onwoody plants, namely trees and forestation. Additionally, arboreta (the plural for arbore-tum) have a strong emphasis on education, with signs and information that explain whatyou're looking at as you walk through the grounds.

This is not to say that the arboretum is not a beautiful area. It's just beautiful in a differ-ent, more natural and less manicured way. In fact, the Murray State Arboretum isalready a favorite location for walkers, photographers, and people simply looking for apeaceful location to sit a read or meditate. Don't be surprised to see it listed as the loca-tion on the next wedding invitation you receive, either.


The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.The next best time is now.

Chances are good that you don't know about theMurray State University Arboretum. This amazingproject has been in the works for years, but the commu-nity at large doesn't know it exists. It is time youplanned a visit, though. Earlier this year, they complet-ed a series of concrete walkways for … but I'm gettingahead of myself. Let's start at the beginning.

~Chinese Proverb

24 Murray Life Magaziane | Summer 2011

LEARNING FROM THE TREES While the arboretum is going to be an attractiveenhancement to the Murray community, the realemphasis for the project is education. Students fromthe Murray State horticulture department use it as alab setting and contribute to the grounds. Students ofbiology and wildlife will find themselves at thearboretum for classes, too. Already, high schools andelementary schools have brought entire classes out fora visit. In the future, they hope to have public toursand classes that anyone can attend. "The educationalcomponent is a huge, huge, part of the arboretum,"says Dr. Pat Williams, Associate Professor ofHorticulture.

FROM TINY ACORNS … Egyptian Pharaohs are credited with creating the firstarboreta when they planted exotic trees and cared forthem, including ebony wood from the Sudan, pineand cedar from Syria. Murray State's plans don't goback quite that far, but this project has been develop-ing for over a decade.

An arboretum has been talked about for many years.The idea came about when the Pullen Farm wasdonated to the School of Agriculture by Mabel Pullenwhen she passed away in 1995. Ideas became plans,and plans became reality when the initial grant fromthe Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund Boardwas submitted and approved in 2007. Work beganimmediately, and the groundbreaking took place inOctober, 2008. The Friends of the Arboretum kickoffwas held in October, 2009. In the fall of 2010, the finalphase of construction for the entire loop of sidewalksbegan. The official opening ceremony should takeplace this fall.

An important thing to remember as we look at how itgot started is there is no end in sight. "This is an ongo-ing project. It will never be finished," explains HeatherBlankenship, Interim Director of the Arboretum. "It'salways changing and evolving." Future plans involvethe creation of at least five special garden areas,including a butterfly garden, a children's garden, anda savannah.

"This is an ongoingproject. It will never be

finished. It's alwayschanging and evolving."

- Heather BlankenshipInterim Director

GROWING INTO THE FUTURE The goal is for the arboretum to become a populardestination for agritourism. Williams says, "We wantgardeners and horticulture and plant lovers to comehere just for the variety that's going to be offered."The working lab aspect should serve as an entice-ment to students, as well. "Everything here is stu-dent based. It's student driven," he says proudly. "Asfar the community outlet, we're standing in thepavilion that we hope to host many communityevents, from weddings to just educational events.We hope really just to be something that peoplewant to come to."

They've succeeded in creating a welcoming destina-tion. Even the animals don't stay away. Already, youcan see rabbits, squirrels, a wide variety of birds, andeven the occasional fox in the garden. A large pond isin the plans, as well, which will entice even morefauna, and undoubtedly more humans.

Make plans to see Murray State's Arboretum today.Then, see it again in summer, and the fall. The sea-sonal variety promises to give you a whole newexperience on every visit. They're always looking forvolunteers, too, so the opportunity to participate isthere for everyone. You can learn more about thearboretum, including how to rent a pavilion for yourevent, by visiting their website atwww.murraystate.edu/arboretum. You can also jointhe Friends of the Arboretum and help to get theword out about Murray's hidden grove. �

Storm UpdateUnfortunately, the arboretum did not escapethe storms that hit this area at the end ofApril unscathed. Two of the largest, oldesttrees were blown over by the devastatingwinds. A massive red oak came down in thefirst barrage, and the following storm tookdown a shagbrush hickory two days later.The nearby greenhouse also suffered someminor damage. Arboretum officials hope touse the downed trees to create benches forarboretum visitors and to use the wood inother projects.




Gardening, as a hobby, has a lot going for it.There's the joy of working with your hands,the pleasure in working with nature, andthe pride that comes from creating some-

thing beautiful. While most everyone can afford thesimple tools needed, not everyone has access to themost important ingredient: space. That's starting tochange. Several community garden initiatives havesprung up around Murray, offering gardening spaceand education opportunities to anyone wanting tostart a garden.

The purpose behind a community garden is to allowthose living in areas with limited growing space thechance to have a place to grow plants and produce.Jereme Rose, owner of Green Solutions Recycling, saidhe had this idea in mind when he began planning acommunity garden space on North 4th Street, behindthe Murray Art Guild. “It’s great, especially if youdon’t have the space to garden. Plus, it builds a senseof community,” Rose said.

The garden consists of raised beds located in an areathat used to contain a greenhouse. Concrete walkwaysspan the length of the space. There are currentlytwelve 10’ by 3’ plots, but Rose said he hopes to addmore in the future. For only a small donation coveringuse of the guild’s water supply, any interested garden-er can secure a plot.

Debi Danielson, director of the art guild, said she hadwanted to re-purpose the area as a community garden

and had two small beds there already. “The spacelends itself to (gardening). It’s a good way to clean itup and put to use and is another opportunity for peo-ple in the community to get involved. It’s great ifyou’re new or hesitant to gardening- The bed is there,the dirt is there, it’s already been tilled and is ready togo,” Danielson said.

Support for the garden has been provided throughmultiple organizations and businesses. Murray StateUniversity students involved in the MurrayEnvironmental Student Society and Murray ChristianFellowship donated their time to construct the raisedbeds. Monetary donations from McConnell Insuranceand McKinney Insurance and a dirt donation fromParker Excavation gave the students the supplies theyneeded. All that’s left is for gardeners to come plantthe seeds and tend to the plants.

Another community garden initiative new to Murrayhas a strong emphasis on community education inaddition to raising plants. Sponsored by the CallowayCounty Cooperative Extension Office and a subcom-mittee of Murray in Motion, the garden is planned tobe constructed in Chestnut Park. In April 2011, theMurray-Calloway County Parks board of directorsgave their approval to utilize a portion of the park forthe garden.

LaDawn Hale, extension agent for family and con-sumer sciences, said the plans are to have a raised bedgarden with the intention of educating kids where


Community Gardens for

food comes from and showing families how to gardenin a small space. Hale said she plans to host educa-tional programs in conjunction with the space, includ-ing information about the nutritional value of home-grown food and how to prepare and preserve producegrown in the garden. “We want to use this as a teach-ing garden more than anything,” she said.

Construction on the garden was expected to begin inlate April/early May 2011, and Hale said she hopes tohave it ready by summer 2011. She added that she islooking for donations of supplies to help get things upand running sooner. The garden will be located adja-cent to a gravel parking lot on the south side of PayneStreet, across from the park office.

The extension office already operates a school gardenat East Calloway Elementary School, where studentsare taught how to grow and maintain plants. Over thesummer when school is out, Hale said a Cub Scoutpack waters the garden so the produce is ready forharvest when school resumes in the fall.

A community garden for faculty and staff at MurrayState University has been available at Pullen Farm onthe corner of Hickory Drive and Locust Street for sev-eral years. George and Phillis Patmor serve as thecommunity garden coordinators. “It’s a great oppor-tunity for people that work at Murray State to have aplace to experiment with gardening. We have newpeople every year who are starting their first garden,”Phillis said.

Like other community gardens, participants in theMSU garden have access to a wealth of resources tohelp their garden succeed, including each other.Phillis said she and George regularly work with thegardeners to help them ensure successful gardens andanswer any questions they may have. The program ispopular enough with university workers that Phillissaid they have already filled their allotted space forthe 2011 growing season and are hoping to be able toexpand. �

Kyser Lough is a photographer and reporter for the Murray Ledger& Times newspaper and enjoys focusing on the features andlifestyles side of Murray. He can be reached [email protected].


Storm UpdateNorth 4th Street, Murray Art GuildContact Rose at (270) 293-8901 [email protected].

Murray in Motion’s community garden initiativeContact Hale at (270) 753-1452

MSU Community GardenContact George at [email protected]

the Garden CommunityBy Kyser Lough

The Killer TomatoesAs odd as it may seem today, there was indeed a beliefthat the tomato was poisonous. The tomato plant is relat-ed to the belladonna, or deadly nightshade, plant, which isvery poisonous. It was referred to as a wolf peach when itcame to Europe, a name that stemmed from Germanmyths about the nightshade and werewolves. The truth isthat, as a member of the nightshade family, the tomatoplant's roots and leaves contain the neurotoxin solanine,and thus are indeed poisonous. However, the fruit is com-pletely harmless. In fact, it's very nutritious. Tomatoes con-tain vitamins A and C, and lycopene, one of the most pow-erful natural antioxidants you can find.


According to legend, in 1820, Robert Johnson announced to a crowd of spectators in Salem County, NewJersey that he would do the impossible: he would eat a tomato and live. He addressed the crowd, say-ing “The time will come when this luscious scarlet apple will be the foundation of a great gardenindustry and will be eaten and enjoyed by all.” Clearly, he was mad. Thousands of eager spectatorsturned out to watch Johnson die. Women fainted. Colonel Johnson ate an entire basket of the poison-

ous fruits. Instead of dying, though, he merely wiped the juice from his mouth with a napkin and went on his way.

It is hard for us today to imagine aworld without the ubiquitoustomato. The popular food is a partof so many of our favorite foodsand cuisines, from pizza to ham-

burgers. No vegetable is

Fruit of the Vine: TomatoesBy: Logan Abbitt

used in so many ways as the humble tomato. We slicethem, dice them, juice them and preserve them. Theycan be roasted, baked, broiled, stewed, canned, friedand dried. It is the primary ingredient of America'stwo favorite condiments, ketchup and salsa. Raw orcooked, in soups and sauces, we love tomatoes inevery form.

It is little wonder, then, that tomatoes are the numberone garden crop in America. If you're growing vegeta-bles in your garden, chances are that tomatoes areinvolved. Homegrown tomatoes have several advan-tages over store bought. They're fresher, the flavor ismore intense, you can select the precise variety thatyou want, and you know exactly what has been usedfor pesticides, if anything.

There are downsides, too. First of all, gardening isn'tfor everyone. You need space, and there's all that dirt,and the bugs, and the constant watering … ugh.Numerous tomato growing aids exist to help out,including the latest trend, upside-down tomatoplants. New seeds and plant foods promise lots of big,luscious tomatoes, more than you could ever use!

That's the biggest problem, of course. As much as welove our tomatoes, we always seem to grow more thancan eat, and you can only give so many to your friendsand neighbors. Here are a couple of our favoriterecipes for you to try out. They'll put your tomatoes togood use!

Sun-Dried Tomatoes Drying tomatoes at home is much easier than youthink. You can create them right in your oven! Thetruth is, very few sun-dried tomatoes are actuallydried in the sun. You can use any kind for this, butRoma tomatoes are recommended.

Ingredients• small ripe tomatoes• coarse sea salt• extra virgin olive oil



PreparationPreheat oven to 200 degrees F., or the lowest setting possible. Clean the tomatoes and trim the stems from the ends.Cut each tomato in half lengthwise. Arrange the tomatoes, cut side up, side by side on cooking sheets. Do not allowthe tomatoes to touch. Sprinkle with sea salt. Place in the oven and bake until the tomatoes are shriveled and feeldry, anywhere from 6 to 12 hours. Check the tomatoes from time to time: They should feel leathery, not brittle. Oncedried, remove the tomatoes from the oven and allow them to cool thoroughly.

Place dried tomatoes in sterilized jars and fill with olive oil to cover completely. You can add fresh herbs, such asbasil, thyme or oregano, to the jar for extra flavor.

....................................................................................................

Pico de Gallo A delicious, fresh alternative to salsa, pico de gallo is an easy dish to make with a variety of uses. Unlike salsa, picois uncooked and has much less liquid. The flavor from the fresh vegetables really shines, and it's rarely hot, hav-ing few or no peppers. There are hundreds of variations on the basic recipe. I chose this one for the simplicity, andthe satisfying addition of cucumber.

Ingredients• 3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped• 1/2 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped• 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped• 3 green onions, chopped• 2 cloves of garlic, minced• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped, no stems• 1 ½ teaspoons fresh lime juice • salt to taste

Preparation In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, gar-lic, onion, and jalapeno. Stir in lime juice and cilantro.Sprinkle with salt. Cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hourbefore serving, preferably overnight.

Murray Life wants to hear from you. What's your favoritetomato recipe? Do you like the recipes here? Let us knowwhat you think!

Botanically, the tomato is a fruit: the edible, seed-bearing flesh of the ovary of a flowering plant. Culinarily, the tomato is a vegetable: a less sweet, savory food that can serve as a main course.Other foods in this situation include eggplants, cucumbers and peppers. There's a saying thatmight help you remember: "Knowledge is understanding that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom isnot putting it in a fruit salad."

Legally, it gets more complicated, still. In 1893, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that thetomato is a vegetable. The court expressed that this was strictly for taxation purposes (tarifflaws at the time imposed a duty on vegetables, but not fruits) and based upon use; it was notintended as a botanical reclassification. Furthermore, the tomato is the state fruit of Ohio, while it isthe state vegetable of New Jersey. Arkansas declared a tomato to be the state fruit and the state vegetable. In a directive from 2001, the Council ofthe European Union stated that tomatoes should be considered fruits. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this debate.

Fruit or Vegetable; Which is it?So, what exactly is it? Well, it's complicated. Depending upon whom you ask, it's both.


Do you have a flower garden at your house? Do you wish that more birds and butterflies visited youryard? Do you wish your garden was easier to care for? Do you wish more of your plants were perenni-als that didn’t need to be replanted every year? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you mightbe interested in “going native” in your garden.

Wait! Don’t stop reading! I’m not making a politically incorrect slur about your garden. WhenI say, “go native,” I mean that you can try planting native species of plants, or, in other words,

plants that naturally grow in thewild in western Kentucky.

Another name for this type ofgardening is, not surprisingly,

“native gardening.”

Why Go Native?Reason 1: It’s the ecology, stupid!Don’t worry, no one thinks you’re stupid– it's just a play on words with BillClinton’s famous campaign saying.

But seriously, if you want to attract morebirds, butterflies, and other backyardwildlife, native plants are the way to go.Birds and butterflies like native plants.When they are looking for food, nativeplants appeal to them. They are the plantsthat they are most familiar with and theyeasily recognize them as food sources.

Think of it this way: When you are trav-eling, and you’re hungry for lunch, whatdo you look for? If you’re like most peo-ple, you look for a restaurant that youknow you like. Maybe it’s Subway®,maybe it’s Wendy’s®, but it’s somethingfamiliar. It’s something that you knowyou like.

Well, birds and butterflies do the samething. When they’re flying around andthey need food, they’re looking for some-thing they recognize. They recognize


Go Native inthe GardenBy: Aviva Yasgur


native plants because they have prob-ably encountered them growing wildin fields, forests, and other places.They might not recognize that exoticplant from Africa that your neighborgrows (as beautiful as it may be) assomething good to eat. Birds and but-terflies look for their familiarfavorites, just like we do.

Reason 2: They’re from aroundhere! As I’ve confessed in previouscolumns, I’m a “foreigner” here inKentucky – I’m originally from NewJersey. Because of my accent (and per-haps strange appearance?) I oftenhear the phrase, “You’re not fromaround here, are you?”

Well, the same can be said of a lot ofpopular garden plants. They’re notfrom around here. Many of them arecultivated plants that originate inplaces like China, Japan, and otherexotic locales. And, not to be narrow-minded and judgmental, but theyoften don’t take to our westernKentucky conditions perfectly. Theseforeign plants often need extra care –frequent watering, soil treatment,even being brought inside for thewinter – to help them survive in thisenvironment.

Native plants don’t have this problem.They naturally grow here in westernKentucky and survive on their own inthe wild here. They generally are moretolerant of our wet springs and drysummers, our soil, and our tempera-tures. This place is their natural homeand they are suited to it. They don’tneed extra doting and babysitting likea lot of exotic plants do.

Reason 3: It’s the economy, stu-pid! This time, I actually mean theeconomy. Native gardening is goodfor your pocketbook. Why? Becausemost native plants are perennials,which means they come back everyyear. You only need to plant themonce. Many non-native garden plantsare annuals, which means that youhave to re-plant them every year.Which means that you have to re-buythem every year. In the long run,going native will help you savemoney. �

Milkweeds (Asclepias species)Butterflies and hummingbirds both love milkweeds. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepiastuberosa) has showy orange flowers and grows in sunny, dry areas. Swamp milk-weed (Asclepias incarnata) is pink and grows in wet areas. Monarch butterflies laytheir eggs exclusively on milkweed plants.

Blazingstars (Liatris species)Blazingstars grow spikes of purple flowers that butterflies, especially monarchs,love. There are a number of blazingstar species to choose from. You can plant sev-eral varieties that bloom at different times throughout the summer.

Coneflowers (Echinacea species)These are large, showy flowers that provide nectar for butterflies and seeds forsongbirds such as goldfinches. A few nice varieties are Glade Coneflower(Echinacea simulata) and Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa). If you don’tdeadhead them, birds will feast on the seeds in summer and fall.

Phlox (Phlox species)Phlox usually have pink or purple flowers. Hummingbirds love them! Wild BluePhlox (Phlox divaricata) is easy to grow in a shady garden and blooms for 3-4weeks in April. Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) blooms in summer and is a hum-mingbird and butterfly magnet!

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)This shrub usually grows in wetland areas but can tolerate a wide variety of soils.Its round, golf-ball-sized flowers attract swallowtail butterflies. It does not seem tobe susceptible to many garden pests.

Five Favorite Native PlantsHere are a few suggestions for “going native” inyour garden:



The eyes are fascinating. They are consideredour dominant sensory organ, for we humansare visually-oriented creatures. The eyes arealso extremely fragile. As we age, our eyes

become susceptible to a host of ailments. Believe it ornot, though, you have the power to save your sight.

Everyone can do his part to promote good eye health.“A good strategy is to protect your eyes with sun-glasses that have UVA and UVB protection which hasbeen proven to help prevent cataracts from develop-ing,” said Dr. David Bryson, ophthalmologist at HartOphthalmology Associates. If you are doing a sport-ing event or activity that involves high velocity, it isimportant to have impact-resistant, shatter-proof eyeprotection. If you have a prescription, continue to getchecked every couple of years because your vision canchange and you want to be up to date.

Adults are not the only ones who should make vision apriority. “Kentucky passed a law that before a child cango into any kind of class, be it preschool or kinder-garten, he has to have an exam from an eye doctorbecause some things can be permanently blinding if notcaught early,” said Bryson. Kids are usually okay interms of their eyes, but that is why the doctors screen.

If you think you can see, check again. “It is recommend-ed that even healthy people have their eyes checked atleast once every two years, even if they feel their eyes arefine, because the eyes can be a pathway to see other dis-ease processes, especially when dilated and looking atthe back of the retina,” said Bryson. For a delicate, smallorgan, the eyes provide a lot of insight. “There are timeswe can look at the back of the eye and see problems peo-ple did not know about be it anemia, blood clots, dia-betes, high blood pressure or a whole host of things."

Once you are over fifty or fifty-five, you should see theophthalmologist every year because, during that time,eye troubles are more prevalent. If a problem is detect-

ed early, there is much that can be done to improve theoutcome. Often, people are surprised at the results ofan exam. “People do not necessarily know they havea problem, especially with glaucoma, which is a silentkiller of vision,” said Bryson. Most people with glau-coma never feel the pressure in the eye, and it does notaffect the vision that is used for fine detail until late inthe disease process. “Glaucoma takes away the outer,or peripheral, vision early on until you are wounddown to having tunnel vision, so people can lose a lotof vision and not know it because they do not feel it.”It is easily preventable if you can catch it early andtreat it with eye drops or surgical treatment.

When you know what the exam entails, you may feelmore comfortable. Bryson explains, “If vision is notnormal or what we consider to be perfect or 20/20, wedo refraction, which means assessing the need for pos-sible glasses or contacts to see if it improves; we assessthe pressure in the eye which can help be a marker forglaucoma, and we check the pupil function which canbe a marker for nerve damage.” The eyes are alsochecked for motility making sure that we have fullrange and that they are lined up together. “We exam-ine the eye with a microscope to look closely at theinternal structures and then we dilate the eye to com-pletely examine the retina in the back of the eye.”

If the doctor recommends something to support youreyes, use it. “One common thing people have as theyget over about forty is the need for reader glasses orcheaters as they call them,” said Bryson. Despite whatsome people believe, they are not harmful to use and itis impossible to become too dependent on them.Thanks to advances, people are seeing better.“Surgeries are continuing to advance in terms of gettingsmaller and less invasive on patients and there is morewe can do with lasers that we did not used to be able todo,” said Bryson. There are also more medications andbetter treatments for macular degeneration compared tothe past. Remember that understanding the value ofvision and taking responsibility for making an appoint-ment with an ophthalmologist may be sight-saving. �Jamie Lober is a nationally known speaker and writer with a passion forproviding information on health topics A-Z. She is president of TalkHealth with Jamie and can be reached at [email protected].

The information included here is for educational purposes only.It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for profession-al medical advice. The reader should always consult his or herhealthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of theinformation for their own situation or if they have any ques-tions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan.


Saving SightBy: Jamie Lober

Ask the Doctori


The Kid from Kirksey

Robert Norsworthy is a very influential man,who has been in the advertising businessfor 43 years. He currently holds the presti-gious title of Executive Vice President of

Omnicom Group, a strategic holding company thatmanages a portfolio of global market leaders.”Essentially it is a group of companies that have hun-dreds of offices in over75 countries that pro-vide many services thatvary from advertising,marketing services, spe-cialty communications,i n t e r a c t i v e / d i g i t a lmedia to media buyingservices, the largest of itskind in the world. That'snot bad for a farm kidfrom Kirksey whoattended Kirksey Highin the 1950s.

After military service, hegraduated in 1963 fromFerris State University inTraverse City, Mich., as avocational teachingmajor. He became heavi-ly involved in politics,and even worked onpolitical campaigns forGovernor GeorgeRomney of Michigan,who later became a can-didate for President ofthe United States. Heproduced a successfulspeech at a majorfundraising event inDetroit. This was notyour average fundraiser,with some of the most prominent industrialist busi-nessmen of the time such as Henry Ford, WalkerCisler, and Max Fisher in the audience. Sure enough,his hard work did not go unnoticed. Norsworthy was

approached by the head of the James WalterThompson (JWT) advertising agency with one simplequestion: “What are you going to do when this cam-paign is over?” Norsworthy, 30 years old at the time,answered, “I don’t know.” He met the executive in hisoffice on a Saturday morning and was hired on thespot. He became Account Supervisor on the Ford

Account and worked inoffices in Detroit,Cincinnati, Chicago, andLos Angeles. After 20years with JWT, and tenyears on the sameaccount, he saw the needfor a change in his life. In1977, Norsworthy movedto New York and beganworking for Ogilvy andMather, an internationaladvertising, marketingand public relationsagency. He diligentlyworked there for tenyears, then was let gofrom that job at 60 yearsold. He was devastated,but knew he had alreadyexperienced a greatcareer.

He toyed with the idea ofretirement until he metJohn Wren, President andChief Executive Officer ofOmnicom Group. Nors-worthy started Omnicomat 60 years old, assuminghe’d be there five years orso. Instead, he’s beenthere for 13 years. “I amone of the few people in

the United States who cansay, in 43 years in this business, there’s never been amorning that I didn’t want to go to work,” he told us.

As he begins to approach the end of his brilliant

By: Adrianna Payne

Profile


career, he is finally starting to make plans for retire-ment in a few years. He jokes that he has no hobbies,but says he is “the type of person that has to get upand go to work every morning.” He is adamant thathe will not “lie around, start taking naps, and die.”Since Norsworthy is originally from Kirksey, which isonly about five miles outside Murray, he has decidedto retire here. His family has a 165 acre farm inKirksey, which goes back five generations.

Murray State University has a highly accreditedJournalism and Mass Communications programwhich includes Advertising, Public Relations,Journalism, and TV Production majors, and GraphicCommunications Management as an area.Norsworthy was intrigued. He saw this as an oppor-tunity to retire from the business, and still continue todo something which he is very passionate about. Hecontacted Dr. Bob Lochte, telling him that he’d beinterested in teaching here for a semester. Dr. Lochteimmediately set up a meeting with Norsworthy andGill Welsch, Senior Lecturer and Head of Advertising.Together they decided he could be a “Guest Lecturer”for the spring, 2011 semester.

While teaching here at Murray State University, heis also enjoying his break from the business of NewYork. He and his wife have enjoyed many activitieshere, such as the Shakespeare Festival, the BenStein lecture, and have attended every home bas-ketball game, feeling right at home like a trueMurray State Racer! He even commented thatthey’ve done more in Murray than they get to do inNew York.

Norsworthy has been a liaison between studentsand alums and the people in the industry. Not onlydoes he teach his students the craft of advertising,but he even lets them in on a few secrets of thebusiness.

• Diligence is the most important characteristic if one plans to succeed in the advertising business.

• “You should be first in the office in the morning, last to leave at night. Beat your boss to the office and NEVER leave as long as your boss is in the office.”

• “God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason… because you are supposed to listen twice as much as you talk.”

He says he enjoys teaching and when he retires in afew years he hopes to be able to teach as long as he isable to. In just one semester he has made himself athome at Murray State University. The faculty, staff,students, and alums are very honored to haveNorsworthy as a part of the Racer Family. He is“incredibly impressed with the content of classes, thepassion of the professors, and the eagerness of the stu-dents” at Murray State University.

So, in the end, Bob Norsworthy may be coming hometo Calloway County, but he won't be coming to sit onthe porch. One of the biggest names in advertising isalready a beloved member at Murray State, and a reg-ular for breakfast at the Kirksey store. Who knowswhat's next for the kid from Kirksey? �

Profile


The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870),by Charles Dickens

�

The book with the most legitimate claim to being called The First English Murder Mystery Novel isCharles Dickens’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood. It also has a good claim to being called the greatest mys-tery, because we don’t know how it turned out, and we never will. Dickens wrote only half of it, anddied just before completing the sixth monthly installment. Yet the book, incomplete as it is, still is read

with interest today.

Briefly, the plot is as follows. John Jasper, the choirmaster at Cloisterham Cathedral, is an opium addict. He seemsto love his young nephew, Edwin Drood, but in fact plots to kill him because Jasper loves Drood’s fiancée Rosa.Jasper’s plan is to lay the blame at the door of an orphan pupil of one of the cathedral’s priests, a young man whohas shown that he has a hot temper and also an interest in Drood’s fiancée. On Christmas Eve, after dining withhis uncle and the young man just mentioned, Drood disappears. There is no arrest but much suspicion inCloisterham. A stranger, obviously a detective, begins to poke around the town. He finds some important clues,and there the action ends.

The mystery rests not only in the incompleteness of the text, but in its indeterminateness. DidJasper indeed do away with Drood, as the reader suspects and as Dickens’s publisher saidwas the author’s intention; or did the author decide to go in another direction with, per-haps, Drood’s surprise reappearance later? And is the detective, as many readers have sus-pected, in disguise and a character earlier introduced in the book—perhaps a principalsuch as the suspected young man or even Drood himself?

When we speak of mysteries as a genre of popular fiction, weare talking about books in which the mystery is solved. WithDrood we have a true mystery, and many readers haveenjoyed the challenge of attempting to fathom the mind of thedead author. Of course, the book also has the usual variety ofDickensian types and eccentrics. There is also what I wouldcall an uncommon point of view about the nature of crime.Dickens does not believe, as, for example, Dostoyevsky does,that the criminal mind is interesting because it is so like ourown—in fact is our own, if circumstances are right. He thinksit is a "horrible wonder apart" from our own. What could aninnocent person “know of the criminal intellect," Dickenswrites, "which its own professed students perpetually misread,because they persist in trying to reconcile it with the averageintellect of average men, instead of identifying it as a horriblewonder apart."

Michael Cohen has been doing a feature commentary, “UncommonMysteries,” on WKMS for several years. These short mystery reviewsfocus on the unusual or uncommon stories which may be a deviationfrom conventions of the mystery genre, an odd viewpoint or historicalfirst, or a new twist on an old plot device, such as the locked room mur-der or the unwilling amateur detective. This is an excerpt from Cohen'sforthcoming collection of reviews. �

By: Michael Cohen

Uncommon Mystery



Seen Around Town

Visit us online at :: www.wallappeals.com

�


Murray Dining Guide

Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill 816 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-5551

Asian Buffet638 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-3788

August Moon1550 Lowe’s Dr. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-4653

Baldy’s Grill901 Coldwater Rd. . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 762-0441

Big Apple Café 1005 Arcadia Circle . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-8866

El Mariachi Loco406 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-9000

El Tequila716 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 767-0026

Gloria’s World Village Food124 N. 15th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-3233

HRH Dumplin’s305B S. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-0000

Jasmine Restaurant - Thai & Asian Cuisine506 N. 12th St. Suite E . . . . . . . .(270) 761-8424

Magnolia Tea Room306 Gilbert St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 492-6284

Hazel, KY

La Cocina Mexicana501 S. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 767-1627

Murray

La Cocina Mexicana314 Main St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (270) 492-6392

Hazel, KY

Los Portales 506 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . ...(270) 767-0315

Quarters200 N. 15th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-3406

Olive Pit905 Mineral Wells Ave. . . . . . .(731) 642-5030

Paris, TN

Shogun706 N 12th St., Suite 9 . . . . . . .(270) 761-7486

The Keg1051 N 16th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 762-0040

Tom’s Grille501 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-4521

Tumbleweed Southwest Grill807 Walmart Dr. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 873-2300

Vitello’s Italian Restaurant216 N. 15th St.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-3663

Aurora Landing Restaurant542 Kenlake Rd. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 474-2211

Aurora, KY

Belew’s Dairy BarUS Highway 62 East . . . . . . . . .(270) 354-8549

Aurora, KY

Brass Lantern16593 Hwy. 68 E. . . . . . . . . . . . . 270-474-2773.

Aurora, KY

Cindy’s on the Barge888 Kenlake Marina Ln. . . . . . .(270) 474-2245

Hardin, KY

Cypress Springs Resort2740 Cypress Trail . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 436-5496

New Concord, KY

Eagle Nest Marina & Dockside Bar and Grill500 Eagle Nest Rd. . . . . . . . . . .(731) 642-6192

Buchanan, TN

Kentucky Dam Village166 Upper Village Dr. . . . . . . . .(270) 362-4271

Gilbertsville, KY

Largo Bar & Grill4645 Hwy. 119 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(731) 232-8323

Buchanan, TN

Willow Pond Catfish Restaurant16814 Hwy. 68 E. . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 474-2202

Aurora, KY

Ann’s Country Kitchen318 Main St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 492-8195

Hazel, KY

Bad Bob’s Bar-B-Que806 Chestnut St. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 767-0054

Coldwater Bar-B-Que & Catering8284 Hwy. 121 N. . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 489-2199

Cracker Barrel650 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 762-0081

Crossland Diner3034 Stateline Rd. W. . . . . . . . .(270) 492-6424

Hazel, KY

Domino’s Pizza117 S. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-3030

With each issue we are including a comprehen-sive list of the wonderful places where youcan eat in Calloway County and the sur-rounding area. We’re hoping this will serve as

a reminder to our residents that you don’t have to go farfor a great meal, and will offer some help to visitors andnewcomers.

We think you’ll find pleasure in the wide variety of stylesand locations available to you. Our listing is organized bycategories of style so you can easily choose the dining thatsuits your taste. If your favorite restaurant isn’t listed,please let us know.

We’ll do our best to keep up. Enjoy!


�Seen Around Town


Murray Dining Guide

Happiness Restaurant412 Main Street . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 293-4952

Holmes Family Restaurant1901 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 767-0662

Hungry Bear 1310 Main St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-7641

Laird’s Bar-B-Que 77 W. Main St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(731) 247-3060

Puryear, TN

Lynn Grove Country Corner7010 Hwy. 94 W. . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 435-4500

Martha’s Restaurant 1407 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-1648

Mary’s Kitchen11205 Stadium View Dr.. . . . . .(270) 759-2036

Matt B’s Main Street Pizza1411 Main St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-1234

Mr. Gatti’s Pizza804 Chestnut St. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-6656

Mugsy’s Hideout410 Main St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 767-0020

Nick’s Family Sports Pub614 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 762-0012

Pagliai’s Pizza970 Chestnut St. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-2975

Papa John’s Pizza656 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-6666

Pizza Hut1113 Chestnut St. . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-4646

Pizza Pro605-C S. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 767-1199

Renfro’s Hih Burger Inn413 S. 4th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-1155

Rudy’s, “On the Square”104 S. 5th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-1632

Ryan’s Steakhouse801 Walmart Dr. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-3809

Sirloin Stockade922 S. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-0440

Snappy Tomato Pizza1550 Lowes Dr. . . . . . . . . .(270) 761-7627

Spanky’s9505 Hwy. 641 N. . . . . . . . . . .(731) 247-5527

Puryear, TN

T & J’s Diner2667 St. Rt. 94 E.. . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-4826

Tom’s Pizza506-A N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-9411

Backyard Burgers 801 Paramount Dr. . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-2480

Boulders317 Chestnut St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 761-9727

Burger King814 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-8266

Burrito Shack214 North 15th St. . . . . . . . . . .(270) 761-4444

Captain D’s700 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-9383

Culver’s 818 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 761-2858

Dairy Queen 1303 Main St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-4925

Dinh’s Vietnamese Eggrolls715 S. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 761-7655

Doughnut Hole, The404 S. 12th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-4900

Fidalgo Bay Coffee Shop1201 Payne St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 761-4800

Hardee’s 505 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-3246

KFC205 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-7101

McDonald’s107 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-5548

Murray Donuts506 B North 12th St. . . . . . . . . . .(270) 761-1818

Quizno’s Subs1203 Chestnut St. . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-8880

Sammon’s Bakery974 Chestnut St. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-5434

Sonic Drive-In217 S. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-9885

Subway622 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-7827

Taco Bell402 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-8758

Taco John’s604 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-9697

Victor’s Sandwiches1301 W. Main St. . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-7715

Vitello’s Deli216 N. 15th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-3663

Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers1111 Chestnut St. . . . . . . . . . . . .(270) 759-4695

ARE WE MISSING ANYTHING?If we’ve missed one of your favorite dining locations,please let us know by calling (270) 753-5225 or byemailing us at [email protected]. – Murray Life

Don’t Let Inflation Erode Your Investments

The Money Pages $By: Ron Arant, a Financial Consultant for Hilliard & Lyons


What does inflation have to do with invest-ing? Plenty. If the rate of return on yourinvestments is less than the inflation rate,the purchasing power of your money will

decline over time. Of course, the challenge is that noone knows what the inflation rate will be a year fromnow, much less 30 years down the road. However, youcan develop investment strategies to help hedgeagainst inflation.

Inflation — Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

For the most part, inflation in the U.S. economy has remained fairly consistent over time. For the 50-year period ending December 31, 2009, inflation increased every year but two and averaged around 4%. The highest annual rate during that period was 13.29% in 1979. For the 12 month period ending October31, 2010, the inflation rate has fluctuated back down to 1.2%.1 The Federal Reserve (Fed) has been concernedabout inflation in recent years — both during good economic times and not so good economic times.

That’s why the Fed continually tweaks interest rates in an attempt to managethe economy — and inflation.

Let’s Get Personal

While the Fed deals with the nation’s inflation issues,you have your own to consider. Even a relatively

low rate of inflation can really add up over time.Assuming a very low inflation rate of 2%, a

car that costs $21,000 today would cost$31,205 in 20 years!

It pays to pay attention to inflationwhen investing, especially when planning for long-term goals such asretirement.


The Money Pages

Obviously, it pays to pay attention to inflation wheninvesting, especially when planning for long-termgoals such as retirement. Look at your real rate ofreturn, which is what your investments are worthafter taxes and the cost of inflation is deducted.(Many experts recommend building in a 4% inflationrate per year when planning for long-term goals.)Although past performance can’t guarantee futureresults, historically stocks have outpaced inflationmore than any other type of investment. A diversi-fied, well-balanced portfolio can help to lessen risk.Or consider growth investments for tax-deferred

IRAs. You can gradually shift to a more conservativeportfolio as you near retirement. Inflation is a given.Rather than allow it to eat away at your portfolio,work with your investment professional to choose anappropriate investment mix – based upon yourfinancial goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance – sothat inflation doesn’t work against you. �

Hilliard Lyons does not offer tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax advisor or attorneybefore making any decision that may affect your tax or legal situation. Securities offeredthrough J.J.B. Hilliard W.L. Lyons, LLC. | Member NYSE, FINRA & SIPC. ©2007-2009 Allrights reserved.

$

Day Trips

Rolling hills and back-country roads in southernIllinois recently took me on tasty trip to GiantCity State Park. Officially established in 1933by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this state

park varies from what we know in the westernKentucky region. Unlike our state parks, which focusaround two large lakes, Giant City State Park has twelveponds scattered throughout the park with trails, cabins,horse stables and hunting areas open to the public.

Upon entering the park, the beautiful Visitor’s Centercannot be missed. More than a place for brochures, theVisitor’s Center has exhibits on the wildlife and habi-tats found in the park. The family-friendly atmospherehas a hands-on section where children can touch andsee what is found in the forest. Two of the most sur-prising animals found in the park are the bobcat andred fox. Small caves on the bluffs around the parkallow for habitats of these animals.

The Giant City Lodge, located in the park and bestknown for the food, is warm and welcoming to visi-tors. Giant wood columns made of solid white oakand a massive stone fireplace make it feel like a skilodge. Oversized chairs and tables beg to be used forreading and card playing, and guests can check outboard games and books for entertainment. The friend-ly staff is available for questions about the history ofthe lodge and park.

During the 1930s, the lodge was quite the scandal.Advertising liquor, steaks and dancing with neon-signs was just too much for the town folks.Complaints to the superintendent of the park aboutselling beer and dancing forced him to cut the dancesto Saturday night only. The “dance hall” has sincebecome the dining hall for visitors.

The large, open dining hall, built in 1934, feels like

Grandma’s Sunday DinnerBy: Erin Carrico

48 Murray Life Magazine | Spring 201148 Murray Life Magazine | Summer 2011

the sophisticated version of a mess hall at camp.When we visited, families were scattered through-out the room laughing and enjoying a home-cookedmeal. Delicious choices were included on the menu.The fried green tomatoes caught my attention – anddid not disappoint. Accompanied by a homemadebasil sauce, the overall flavor created a sweetmoment not normally tasted with fried green toma-toes. The “must order” food item is the specialty“Family Style Chicken Dinner.” My mouth watersjust thinking about the meal again. Country-stylefixin’s with juicy fried chicken immediately take meback to sitting at Grandma’s table for Sunday din-ner. Pouring the creamy milk gravy over warm bis-cuits and mashed potatoes was worth the entiretrip.

Giant City Lodge provides a great place to be intro-duced to the Illinois wineries. Several local establish-ments list wines on the menu that can be chosen by theglass or bottle. My personal favorite, Pheasant HollowRed & Blue, happened to be on the menu; it's a sweet,but tart, red wine bursting with flavor.

Let’s not forget about dessert! As if the all-you-can-eatfried chicken was not enough, gear up for homemadecobblers and sundaes. While I was there, dessert of theday was warm blackberry cobbler topped, of course,with a mound of cold ice cream oozing over the warmdessert.

After the long, leisurely meal, a walk is needed. Eightbeautiful nature trails of all levels are easily accessiblefrom the Lodge. An observation platform built in 1971presents amazing views of the surrounding area.Climb 185 steps to the top and catch a glimpse of the

111-foot high cross famously located on Bald KnobMountain at Alto Pass.

We all need a change of scenery, new terrain to explore,and foods to try. A quick trip up north will find goodol’ home-cooking and beautiful views of nature. Thoseinterested in a trip longer than a day can rent cabinsand camping sites. �

Giant City LodgeLocated in Makanda, Illinois (approximately ten minutes from Carbondale)Two hours from Murray by car

Park Admission is Free

460 Giant City Lodge RoadMakanda, Illinois 62958618-457-4921

Day Trips


The calendar of events is provided as a service toour readers. Events, times and contact infor-mation have been verified where possible.Murray Life does not endorse the ratings or

reviews which are provided by the sponsoring organi-zations. To include your event, please contact MurrayLife at [email protected]. All calendar requests muchby received in writing and must be accompanied by atelephone contact number for verification purposes.

Downtown Saturday MarketDowntown Murray comes to life early Saturday morn-ings when farmers, artisans, and craftsmen line theCourt Square with their finest. Locals and visitorsarrive early to get the best picks consisting of fresh pro-duce, baked goods, crafts and art. The Saturday Marketis hosted by Murray Main Street, to learn more, call270.759.9474.Downtown Square, MurrayEvery Saturday through October

Kentucky Junior RodeoIt's time for the finals rodeo! Tickets are $6.00 for oneday or $10.00 for both days. Call 270.809.3125 for moreinformation William Cherry AG Expo CenterMay 20-22

Boers & Bluegrass Call 270.809.3125 for more informationWilliam Cherry AG Expo CenterMay 27-29

District 7 4-H Horse Show Call 270.809.3125 for more informationWilliam Cherry AG Expo CenterJune 3-5

Tuesdays with Morrie A contemporary autobiographical story of Mitch Albom,an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career,and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor.Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catchMorrie's appearance on a television news program andlearns that his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig'sDisease. Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what startsas a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a lastclass in the meaning of life. Friday and Saturday showsare at 7 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2:30 p.m. Ticketsmay be purchased at www.playhouseinthepark.net.Playhouse in the Park June 10-16


Calendar of Events �

FLW National Fishing TournamentCome out to the CFSB center each day to see the weigh-ins and participate in many activities for the wholefamily. More information can be found at flwout-doors.com.CFSB CenterJune 16-19

Western Rivers Livestock ShowCall 270.809.3125 for more informationWilliam Cherry AG Expo CenterJune 23-24

Tymeless Hearts CarnivalCome play games, win prizes, enjoy entertainment,while perusing many interesting booths around the car-nival, including receiving a free health check. The eventis to raise money for Tymelss Hearts, Inc., a nonprofitorganization devoted to helping families of childrenwith heart defects. Their main goal is to increaseawareness of congenital heart defects, while raisingfunds to further research of the disease. Assistance isalso given to families to help with medical and travelexpenses. Proceeds collected at the carnival willincrease the funds to help all those affected by this dis-ease. Call (270) 293-9536 for more information. Chestnut Street ParkJune 25

EVERY DAY IN MURRAY

THE WEST KENTUCKY/WRATHER MUSEUMPreserving the visual and emotional traditions ofthe Jackson Purchase Area. Located at North 16thStreet and University Drive on the campus ofMurray State University, the museum is openMonday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., andSaturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Handicap access. Formore info, call (270) 809-4771.

THE CHERI THEATERMurray’s seven-screen movie theater. For a list ofcurrent movies and times, please call (270) 753-3314 or visit www.moviesinmurray.com.

MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY’S FINE ARTSPresenting a variety of performances from dance toplays, from symphonies to choir concerts. For cur-rent information, call (270) 809-ARTS.

THE CLARA M. EAGLE GALLERYAT MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITYOffering a variety of exhibitions throughout theyear, from student artwork to national tours. Artranges from drawing to sculpture, from photogra-phy to multimedia. For more information, pleasecall (270) 809-6734.

PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARKCalloway County’s 30-year-old community theatre.Playhouse presents a variety of plays throughoutthe year. For detailed information, please call(270) 759-1752.

THE MURRAY ART GUILDA nonprofit organization that offers workshops andexhibitions for children and adults. Stop by and seesome of the area artists at work. The Guild is locat-ed in downtown Murray at 500 N. 4th St. For addi-tional information, please call (270) 753-4059.

GLORY BOUND CHRISTIAN MUSIC7-9 p.m. every Thursday at the Weaks Center. Formore information, call Joe Lawrence at(270) 753-5643.


Calendar of Events�

Freedom Fest Independence Day weekend in downtown Murray isbustling with activity. Freedom Fest holds many freeevents for the entire family such as a downtown con-cert, Saturday morning parade, Family Day in the Parkand a Gospel concert. Downtown on Friday andSaturday, there will be a variety of vendors set up sell-ing food, jewelry, books and more. More informationcan be found at www.tourmurray.com or by calling270.759.2199. July 1-3

Hazel Dealer’s Choice SaleDealers and shops in Hazel, a renowned antique shop-ping district, will have special discounts and merchan-dise on sale. Call 270.492.8175 for more information. Hazel, KyWeek of July 4

Walk Around Kentucky ForEpilepsyThe Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana will host thisfun 5K walk at the Calloway County High School.Registration begins at 9 am. Visit www.efky.org forregistration and event information. Calloway County High School, MurrayJuly 9

The Carson Four Rivers Center Events

2011-2012 Broadway SeriesSubscriptionsDeadline to renew your 2011-2012 BroadwaySubscription is Friday, June 3rd at 5:00pm. New sub-scription orders can be submitted now and are filledon a first come first serve basis after renewed sub-scriptions are processed. The Carson Center and JamTheatricals are pleased to announce the Broadway inPaducah 2011-12 Season at the Carson Center, high-lighted by the world’s greatest musical MY FAIRLADY and the smash hit MAMMA MIA!Subscriptions to this stunning season are on sale now.Fri, 06/03/2011 - 5:00pm

Josh Turner Named by People magazine as one of Country’sHottest Stars, Grammy® nominated Josh Turner hascelebrated back-to-back multi-week #1 radio singlesand back-to-back platinum and gold albums. Turner,one of the youngest members of the distinguishedGrand Ole Opry, is also the youngest member to beinducted into Nashville’s Walk of Fame. With his pas-sion to support music and the arts, he launched TheJosh Turner Fund that awarded its second scholarshiprecipient in 2010.Fri, 06/17/2011 - 7:30pm


�Calendar of Events

Visit our Website: www.thecarsoncenter.org Paducah’sworld-class entertainment venue. Please call

(270)450-4444 for tickets or more information on anyof these events. For group sales, call (270)443-9932,

ext. 2242. Box office hours are Monday through Friday,10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Note: Open two hours prior to each performance.



�Animal Health & Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

BB&T Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Briggs & Stratton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Der Dutch Merchant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Fifth and Main Coffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,54

Froggyland Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Glendale Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Gold Rush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Grey's Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Hell’s Fury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Heritage Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Hilliard-Lyons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Humane Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Houston Security Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Image Graphics Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Imes-Miller Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

K-Squared Designs, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 & 55

Kentucky Farm Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Kopperud Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

MidSouth Vinyl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33, 44

Miller Memoorial Golf Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Murray Animal Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Murray Auto Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Murray Bank, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Murray-Calloway Co. Chamber of Commerce . . .44

Murray-Calloway Co. Hospital . . . . . . . . .Back Cover

Murray Electric System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Murray Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Murray Life Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Murray Woman's Clinic . . . . . . . . . .14 & Inside Front

NewWave Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Northwood Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Oakwood Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Playhouse in the Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Primary Care Medical Center (Urgent Care) . . . .21

Primary Care OBGYN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Randy Thornton Heating & Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Roof Brothers Wine & Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

SBG Real Property Professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Seasons, Robert Valentine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Strawberry Hills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Toyota of Murray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Outside Back

Urology Associates, H.S. Jackson, MD . . . . . . . . . .53

Wall Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33, 39, 42

WENK/WTPR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Western Baptist Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

WKMS FM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

WNBS-1340 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Advertiser’s Directory

Advertiser Page # Advertiser Page # Advertiser Page #

Coming in our Next issue:

Look for features on …• 100 Years Ago in Calloway County

• Scrapbooks and Scanners: Saving Those Old Photos• Those Magnificent Melons

… And that's just the start! As always, you can count on Murray Life forhumor, shopping tips, nature stories, profiles, financial advice, Sudoku and lots more.


�Opinion

The Lost WordBy: Bob Valentine

Let us admit to a certain prejudice:we like words.

When you write magazines, edit books, and prepare the copy of advertising, words become the tools of your trade. You wouldno more abuse a word than a good carpenter would leave a well-made handsaw in the rain. If you let words lose their propermeanings, you lose the power to communicate.

"The difference between the right word and the nearly right word is the difference between lightning and lightning bug." – MarkTwain

So, whenever a worker in words sees one of these useful tools slipping away, it's a sad moment. Some years ago, the childrenleft "awesome" out in the snow all winter, and it warped. Now, the word that used to represent the grandeur of a Pacific sun-set, or the birth of a baby, has come to express our feelings over hearing that we're going to have spaghetti for supper. While Iyield to no one in my affection for spaghetti, I think I can recognize the difference between the inspiring spectacle of the eveningsun on the blue water and the satisfying slide of a lump of starch into an already-full belly. Only one of those experiences canactually inspire awe: a paralysis of mind and emotion brought on by the sudden realization that the world is a place of experi-ences beyond our power to comprehend.

"Awesome" has been joined by "unique," which now means everything from "slightly unusual" to "somewhat different." Its truemeaning – "one of a kind" – has fallen so far from its everyday use that one advertiser referred to a store that was "uniquely one

of a kind." That's a bit like saying that ice is frozen, butit probably communicated something to someone.

Sadly, there are many other examples. The latestnominee for the Mausoleum of Lost Words is, with-out doubt, "literally." As Ledger & Times writerKyser Lough put it in a recent column: "When yousay you 'literally' did something, it means just that:you pretty much did it." It could not be simpler.

Yet, we now find the word being used to expressextremes or hyperbole. One blogger wrote that hisfriend "literally beat the snot out of me at chess."We're sure this is a metaphor of some kind, unlessthe agony of losing one's queen causes an uncon-trolled discharge from the nose.

A young television reporter, standing in front of amobile home which had just been broken in two bya falling tree, confidently pointed out to the folksback at the anchor desk that "this tree is literallybigger than I am." We have no idea what she wastrying to communicate, unless it was to reassure us

that she was standing closer to the camera than wasthe tree.

"I literally died when I saw her," seems to be a message from the grave, but was actually uttered by a young woman who wasunpleasantly surprised by someone's appearance somewhere. Unless you believe in communication with the spirits of thedeparted, this is firm evidence that the word "literally" is quite broken. Literally.

Perhaps, if we all try to be more careful with these precious tools, we will have fewer "failures to communicate." It should be apleasant summer – maybe I'll re-read the dictionary. I forget how it ends, anyway. �


Date post:	06-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	helix-creative-llc
View:	217 times
Download:	0 times

Murray Life Magazine Summer 2011

Documents