It has become a yearly Christmas tradition in our family. We eat dinner at a local restaurant, go to the Festival of Trees and Trains at the Paramount Arts Center, and finish the night by driving around Central Park to see Winter Wonderland of Lights while listening to our favorite holiday music––usually “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby or the “Home Alone Soundtrack.”
The 1920s, with its jazz bands, flappers, bootleggers and marathon dances, was also a time of economic prosperity across the country, including in the Ashland area. Many steel, brick, shoe and apparel companies were thriving in the region, and a horse racetrack in nearby Raceland and Camden Park just upriver in West Virginia provided entertainment. Streets were either paved or bricked during the “roaring” decade, and the population of Ashland nearly doubled.
Ever wanted to get away to somewhere new but not sure where? How do you decide? Thow a dart at a map and see where it lands? Go to the airport and buy a ticket on the next departing flight? Those are possible methods, sure, but if you’re a little more discriminating, and also on a budget, a better way might be to research the most economical flights during your upcoming travel window.
The first thing you notice when you walk into Pappy’s Cookin’ in Flatwoods, Kentucky, is the tremendous warmth you feel. But that warmth doesn’t just come from the kitchen. It radiates from every inch of the place — from the friendly welcome to the generous portions of comfort food on the plates.
Many of us grow up having a hero. For Cheryl Spriggs, it started with one and has grown to include thousands. Her father served in the army during World War II. She grew up hearing his stories of the sacrifice and bravery of those with whom he served.
In the heart of Ashland, there exists a magazine that has strengthened this community
Area locals Ramon and Kendall Ymalay have woven a tapestry of life together that spans continents, challenges, and profound moments of growth. Their journey began in college circa 1999, a meeting that set the stage for a future marriage that would be
The first time Noah Fisher set foot on a stage, he knew he was made for performing. And even though the seventh grader from Flatwoods is only 12, he is sure he’s found a career for life. “It’s so thrilling to have all these people come to see you,” Fisher said. “And it’s fun.”
Daniel Smith has fond memories of hiking on his grandparents’ farm and discovering the abundance of nature right before his eyes. He took a particular liking to those small umbrella-shaped growths he spied on the ground.
While the long-term future of brick-and-mortar stores remains to be seen, e-commerce stores like locally owned Mountain Moverz are prime examples of how you can own and operate a business from anywhere.
Part arcade, part unique eating establishment– that’s the newest (and oddest) addition to the historic Boneyfiddle neighborhood in downtown Portsmouth.
In today’s disposable world, many businesses open and close practically overnight.
For Shawna Logan, proud owner of the one and only Blu Halo Boutique, hard work and consistency are the secret ingredients to a successful small business.
With the opening of the first half of Sandy’s Racing & Gaming in Boyd County last fall, a former shopping mall has transformed into an entertainment venue for young and old. What was first the Cedar Knoll Galleria (1989 to 2005) and then the Kyova Mall (2005 to 2021) is now collectively called the Camp Landing Entertainment District. Sandy’s, which opened in late October 2023, joins Malibu Jack’s indoor amusement center and The Cinema at Camp Landing as the district’s anchors.
Two years ago, Huntington homicide detective Andre Jackson traveled to Columbus, Ohio. He was looking for clues to solve a case, but he also found a big clue to his future and a way to help improve the eating habits of his community.
For Samantha Cleaver, owner of KY Aesthetics & Wellness, Inc., hard work and ambition are no stranger. At age 16, Cleaver found herself pregnant and in an abusive relationship. “Some family members tried to get me to have an abortion, but God gave me peace about it, and I knew He would take care of us,” Cleaver said. Her son Brayden was born in December of her senior year of high school. However, despite the circumstances, she decided to continue following her dreams of becoming a medical professional––even while living life as a single mom.
Retirement typically means slowing down, kicking up your heels and maybe taking up a few hobbies. Retired Ashland police lieutenant of 23-years Billy Bare did none of this. Instead, he and his life partner turned business partner Christy became local entrepreneurs opening seven local businesses in nine years along with five merchandise stores. That’s right. Billy and Christy have averaged a new launch about every year as they get ready to open an eighth business in 2024.
On September 11-12, 2023, the Appalachian
For nearly three decades, WIOI radio near Portsmouth, Ohio, has been the place
Food trucks/trailers are no longer just a common sight at summer events as they can now be found at locations around the area year-round. Four of those trucks are Hillbilly Hibachi from Louisa, Kentucky; Fat Boy Q from Ironton, Ohio; The Pig’s Blanket/Spirit of America from Catlettsburg, Kentucky; and Spriggs Steak and Rib Shack from South Portsmouth, Kentucky. While each of these trucks serve different flavors, they all share one common ingredient—an owner with a passion for cooking.
For area native Belinda Hunt, opening Float 606 located at 3401Winchester Avenue, seemed like a no-brainer. After first hearing about float therapy, she and her daughter went to a nearby float location to give it a try. Her first experience occurred sometime around March of 2021, and she remembers being highly anxious at first.
Located at 12533 Virginia Blvd. Ashland, KY 41102, is Oasis Point RV Resort-Adventure Lake. This 28-acre campground boasts a four-acre lake fed by an underground spring, 46 full-hook-up campsites with city water, sewer, and 20/30/50 amps at every site. The property opened in January of 2021 shortly after owners Diamond and Lisa Lewis, Brandee Lewis, David Wooten, and Chris and Christy Schuler purchased the property.
Chelsea Potter hopes one thing, above all else, happens when people enter her painting studio in Russell––that they smile.
Prohibition may have ended in 1933, but in the heart of downtown Ashland, the era of bootlegging and gangsters is still very much alive and well.
