As I’ve said (and said, and said, and said…) there’s always something going on in Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes.  Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or blisteringly cold winter – it’s always the right time to take a trip to Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.

Below is information, from the Friends of Land Between the Lakes.  They’d also like you to know that the welcome mat never rolls up in the LBL region. It’s always out and you’re always treated like a long lost family member.

Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area is presenting Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge Tour on Saturday, February 11, 2012, from 9am-12pm. Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, which is managed by the U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service in Stewart County, TN, provides one of the area’s best wildlife viewing hotspots.

The tour is $10 for adults and $7 for children. Registration is limited. Reservations and full deposits are required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space. Meet at South Welcome Station. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars.

“Come join us as we explore this bottomland habitat in search of harriers, sandhill cranes, eagles, and thousands of migrating ducks,” said Sharon Waltrip, LBL’s Program Manager for Environmental Education and Interpretation. “Morning will be our best shot at catching some great wildlife viewing opportunities!”

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If you need a last minute gift, here’s the most delicious idea possible: A beautiful gift basket from the Great Harvest Bread Company!  I got the one above this year and have been THOROUGHLY enjoying everything about it.

• The White Bread is so aromatic it practically fills the kitchen with its goodness. It tastes even better.
• The Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread is Heavenly.
• The Pumpkin Pie Butter is delectable on each of the breads above.
• The Ham Spread is surprisingly a knock out! When I saw it, I thought, “Hmm. Not sure about that.” But I can’t stay out of it! It’s so good, I could smear it on a shoe and eat it.
• The Wild Huckleberry Preserves combine with the white bread (toasted) for an other-worldly experience.
• The Roasted Garlic Potato Soup and I have a date for the day after Christmas: Soup and Ham sandwiches!
• The Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies are some of the best cookies I’ve ever put in my mouth and, believe me, I’ve had every cookie in the world. Cookie Monster has nothing on me.
• The gorgeous basket will be around long after the wonderful food is gone. It makes a beautiful fruit basket.

You’re able to pick out the components of the gift basket, and I must say (as always) my husband did an exceptional job.  This is my second Great Harvest Bread Co gift basket and I’m hoping and praying it’ll be an annual tradition.

Every single thing the Great Harvest Bread Co. sells is outstanding – the bread, cookies, Kentucky tea (you HAVE to try this amazing tea!), ham spread (uncommonly delicious), etc.  The Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread and Pumpkin Pie Butter are so delicious it isn’t even funny.  Every single thing in the basket is, for that matter!

If you live near Owensboro, Kentucky – our Great Harvest Bread Company is at 3211 Frederica St, across from Kentucky Wesleyan.   The friendliest people in the world work there and the food’s to die for.  Even if you don’t need a gift basket to GIVE, buy one for yourself! That’s what my oldest daughter intends to do.  Smart girl.

You’ll find a lot of great breads, snacks, and desserts to have on hand during the holidays as well. Perfect for family get-togethers and delicious for the bowl games and UK basketball games!  You pick out the food you want in the basket, but trust me, you’d do well to pick out the exact things my husband did.  I’ve trained him so well.

Click HERE to find the Great Harvest near you.

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My husband, Michael, and I frequently make trips to Kentucky Lake.  You can’t help but fall in love with the area. The beautiful lake, Kenlake State Resort Park, Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, friendly people, fun shopping, antiques, a gazillion and one photo opportunities, and wonderful food.

What’s not to love?!

A favorite spot, and one we joyfully hit each time, is The Hitching Post and Old Country Store in Aurora.  It has been a favorite destination for years – even before the new owners.  However, with the re-opening of the wonderful old country store, this is a not-to-be-missed step back in time.  An extra treat is the hot dot vendor in the front parking lot. These fresh and unique Chicago-style hot dogs make you think you’re in Heaven while you’re eating them – then you spend all day thinking about them… wanting to go back!  They’re THAT good.

• High quality hot dogs (too good to even be called hot dogs actually)
• High quality buns (too good to be called buns)
• Extremely friendly owners (artisans of the American classic!)

The Hitching Post has been a favorite with tourists, frequent quests, and Kentucky locals since 1941. It’s a beautiful Kentucky Lake tradition, you simply can’t have one without the other. Many years have passed and millions of feet have walked through the front doors but it’s still THE best place for Kentucky souvenirs, novelties, Kentucky food specialties, toys, T-Shirts, jewelry, crafts, fudge, honey, jams, jellies, bar-b-que sauces, soap, cookbooks, hats, home decor, garden decor, old fashioned candy, and on and on and on.  The past few Christmases I’ve gotten a few wonderful, completely unexpected and original gifts for family members at The Hitching Post.  Of course, I also buy just-because treats for my daughters frequently – something they absolutely love.

My favorite section of The Hitching Post (besides the front counter where I could stay and visit with the owner and workers for days) is the Kentucky food specialties wall.  I think we’ve tried just about all of the sauces, jams, and jellies and have loved each greatly.  The unique flavors positively cannot be found in stores and they take homemade buttermilk biscuits and cornbread to a whole new level.

A favorite appetizer in our home is simple and involves one of these jellies.  I place a block of cream cheese on a platter and smother it with Red Pepper Jelly (the kind from The Hitching Post tastes just like the Red Pepper Jelly my mom used to make up and give as gifts every Christmas).  I serve it with Ritz crackers and watch as it magically disappears.

On this particular trip, we got the excellent Yoder’s Homestyle  Blueberry Jam – from Crab Orchard, Kentucky.  It has an appointment with buttermilk biscuits.

You can find some of their food items on The Hitching Post’s website, including Pappy’s outstanding Bar-b-que sauce.  Pappy can dish it out, as hot as you want it!  Click HERE to browse the selection of Pappy’s BBQ sauces as well as an EXCELLENT Hot & Spicy Mustard that was made to be served with pretzel sticks.  It makes an ideal game-day snack.  

After eating our amazing hot dogs and drinking our cans of soda (normally my husband drinks ice cold sarsaparilla from inside The Hitching Post but he branched out today), we sat on the front porch and played a classic “boxing” game my husband remembered from his childhood.  The boxers looked like crosses between Howie Long and Transformers.  My Howie Transformer cleaned my husband’s clock!

You can also play checkers on the big,  shady, beautiful front porch, or just sit, relax and take in the ambiance – which is golden by the way.

You’ll want to stroll around the property – which is such a delicious step-back-in-time.  It’s also a photographer’s dream come true!  There’s an authentic moonshine still, antique buggies, old blacksmith and wagon shop, antiques, and a life-size paper mache horse that has long been a favorite site for photographs.  He’s incredibly life-like and has, literally, stood the test of time.

The Country Store

A new favorite spot is the renovated, overhauled Country Store.  It blows my mind straight out of my head.  It’s a store, make no mistake about it, and antique lovers will get weak in the knees.  However, it’s like an adorable, charming, amazing museum – again, a step back in time, to a simpler time.

• Before grocery carts
• Before intercoms
• Before dvds
• Before technology took over the world

You walk in and you’re instantly transported back to “the good old days.”  The beauty is, you can take some of the good old days home with you.  My husband and I collect old books.  I specialize in old cookbooks (many of you know I have a food blog and cooking and recipes are an obsession with me).  I also LOVE old antique kitchen gadgets, dishes, and cooking tools.  I’m just in Paradise in the Country Store!

Another obsession of mine is coffee.  How I keep from smelling like coffee is beyond me (I guess my Avon perfumes cover it up).  My eyes popped out of my head and my pulse began to race when I saw their coffee beans near the front.  They even have a Hitching Post Blend.  I love it!

Su (the wonderfully friendly owner) has put an unbelievable amount of time, money and effort (and even more love) into renovating The Old Country Store. Honestly, it’s mind-boggling. If you could see BEFORE and AFTER pictures, you’d wonder where this woman hides her Wonder Woman cape. I stopped looking for it after a few visits, I figure if she wants her cape to be found, it’ll be found.

You know me well enough to know that I get around my beloved Kentucky. My daughter and I were looking through Kentucky brochures a few days ago, because she and her boyfriend were wanting to see something new, and I was amazed at the number of places she and I had already seen. She kept saying, “We’ve been there, but he hasn’t..” Something else struck me – why would anyone ever leave Kentucky for a vacation?!?!

Before I climb up on my stump and begin preaching about Kentucky, let me just say, I’ve seen a lot of Kentucky! I can honestly say that, not counting home (of course), there’s no place I’d rather be than in Aurora, Kentucky enjoying a step back in time at The Hitching Post & Old Country Store. There’s no place quite like it and I know you’ll feel it’s magic just as surely as we do.

The Hitching Post & Old Country Store
16474 US Hwy 68 East
Aurora, Kentucky 42028
www.hitchingpost.us

Hours:
Summer hours (Memorial day – Labor day):
Closed Mondays
Tuesday – Saturday  9:00 – 6:00
Sunday 10:00 – 4:00

Find more pictures of The Hitching Post & Old Country Store in our Aurora, Kentucky Photo Album

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Why are there not 7,000,000 cars lined up in The Brass Lantern’s parking lot each evening – with anxious passengers awaiting each Heavenly bite?  Why have there not been books and movies made about the excellent food and friendly service?  When people mention the state of Kentucky, why do other’s not instantly ask, “Oh, Kentucky! Home of The Brass Lantern!”?  Why did Oprah never film one of her shows from the front porch?  I don’t have the answer to any of these questions but I do have the answer to this one, “Where can you get food so delicious that it makes you dance in your seat?”  Well, The Brass Lantern in Aurora, Kentucky, of course.

I feel like a nitwit. If you’ve read Genuine Kentucky long, you know that I write a lot of restaurant reviews.  I’m ALL ABOUT Kentuckians keeping Kentucky dollars in Kentucky, so my husband and I scour the entire state finding the best of the best.  We’re frequent visitors to the Land Between the Lakes region and Aurora is a personal favorite town.  The people are so friendly, as I’ve said before, you’re certain they’re mistaking you for a long-lost relative.

Sometimes you find yourself wondering, “Am I a long-lost relative? These people feel like family…. I’ve got to talk to my mother…”

We always visit The Hitching Post and Kenlake State Resort Park – and depending upon what time of day it is, we eat at The Willow Pond, Kenlake, Aurora Barbecue, or Belew’s Drive In.   Because we’re always in the area between the hours of noon and 4:00 pm, I guess I just assumed that the beautiful restaurant “The Brass Lantern” was a victim of the economy. It was never open, as far as I could see.  That’s where the nitwit feeling enters.  The Brass Lantern, in all of its magnificence, opens at 5:00 pm.

Saturday, Michael and I were in the area (visiting, taking pictures, shopping) and as it started getting close to suppertime, we began weighing our options.  The nit wit had recently learned that this beautiful restaurant was very much in business, so when my husband asked where I wanted to eat supper, I told him The Brass Lantern.

It’ll go down as one of the best decisions I ever made.

You know how you just KNOW a place is special when you walk through the doors? That was very much the case at The Brass Lantern.  The decor is gorgeous and just screams Southern Charm.  The lovely hostess couldn’t have been any warmer or friendlier (as it turned out she was an owner) and our server (Royce) was a total sweetheart.  He was everything you’d want a server to be – knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, and dead on about the Blackberry Cobbler!  If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a billion times, a server sets the tone for the whole dining experience and Royce did so beautifully.

We decided on one of the specials Royce told us about and chose Coconut Shrimp with an Orange Marmalade Dipping Sauce.  Shockingly delicious doesn’t even seem to cover it. It was the most amazing coconut shrimp I’ve personally ever had and this is something this seafood addict is completely familiar with.  The orange marmalade could have been eaten by itself, but I wouldn’t have slighted the shrimp for anything on earth.

In addition to servers, hosts, and hostesses, a few other things I look closely at when doing restaurant reviews are:

• Tea
• Coffee (when applicable)
• Salad
• Salad dressing
• Sides

Too many restaurants rely on the meat and throw sides to the side.  Big mistake.  Rarely do you find a restaurant where everything is above par and beyond excellent:  The appetizer, the tea, the service, the meat or fish, the vegetables, the salad, and the salad dressing.  Even in the best of restaurants, at least one falls short.

Apparently they haven’t heard about this rule at The Brass Lantern.  Not one area, not even one smidgen of an area was less than stellar.  The decor was beautiful, the service exceptional, the tea fresh, and the food was so incredible I didn’t want to leave.  Unfortunately, if I’d eaten another bite, I wouldn’t have been able to stand, though – so we eventually did have to leave.  For now.

To make certain I don’t leave one area uncovered, I’ll take the menu items one at a time, because each truly was deserving of its own moment in the spotlight.

• The tea was perfectly fresh, and spot on perfect.
• The coconut shrimp was the best I’ve ever eaten and I’ve enjoyed coconut shrimp from here to the Keys and back.
• The grilled asparagus was crisp and so flavorful that I can’t stop thinking about it.
• The grilled fish was absolute perfection. Perfectly seasoned and delicious.
• The rice was wonderful. I normally avoid rice unless it’s fried rice in an authentic Asian restaurant. Rice has never done anything to be, it just doesn’t dazzle me.  Let me say, it usually doesn’t dazzle me.  This amazing wild rice blend was Heavenly and, yes, I was definitely dazzled.
• There was a magical dipping sauce on our plates that I used for dipping my asparagus in.  It reminded me of the delicious Yum Yum sauce in Japanese restaurants, except it was white.  It was so amazing!
• Remember how I listed salads and salad dressings amongst the things I always, always pay special attention to?  The way I see it, you can tell a lot about a restaurant and the pride they take in their food, as well as the appreciation they have for their patrons in a very unexpected place: The Salad.  If the salad is obviously straight out of a bag you buy in a grocery store or if the salad is simply iceberg lettuce and tomatoes that are too cold.. that tells me the pride and appreciation levels aren’t as high as the water in a pot hole.  If the salad dressing tastes like they opened a bottle of cheap salad dressing, it’s even worse.  When I looked at and then took a bite of the beautiful little salad at The Brass Lantern, the word that popped into my mind was EXCEPTIONAL.  You get a mixture of iceberg lettuce with spinach leaves, tomatoes that (thankfully) don’t freeze your teeth, carrots, and fresh sliced mushrooms.   I always order my favorite dressing, French, when I eat out and inevitably keep my fingers crossed that it’s not the color of a Sesame Street character – never a good sign.  I knew upon sight that this dressing was homemade even before I tasted it.  Then, after one bite, I knew it was the best French dressing I’ve ever had. Again, EXCEPTIONAL.  My husband ordered his favorite, Blue Cheese – which, while good, wasn’t as good as mine.  I was like, (deep voice) “Look at your dressing. Now look at mine.  Back at yours. Now at mine. Sadly, it’s not mine.“  As it turned out, the owner makes it her brilliant self. Outrageously delicious.
• The dessert. Royce gave us the choices for dessert and happened to mention that the Blackberry Cobbler was his favorite.  I was tempted (as I always am) by the desserts with chocolate on their minds, but I went with Royce and, let me tell you, that young man knows his desserts!  The blackberry cobbler was breathtakingly good – after just one bite, there was a party going on in my mouth.  Some people make Blackberry cobbler too sweet and I’m left thinking, “I guess there were blackberries in there with the sugar…”  With this blackberry cobbler, there was no doubt about it – blackberries were the star of the show and the sweetness was in the background, in a supporting role. Just like it should be.  Even the ice cream was especially delicious!  Around this time, I wondered if  The Brass Lantern could make a bad dish if they were paid to.

My husband and I agreed, we have NEVER had a better meal out anywhere. Anytime.  Every bite was mind-numbingly delicious and a few times, we were both speechless.  Suffice to say that never happens.

Don’t wait for the next time you’re in the Kentucky Lake area to eat at The Brass Lantern – make a special trip!  You’ll soon find yourself visiting Kentucky Lake when you’re in The Brass Lantern’s area.  The Brass Lantern is exquisite dining in a very charming, beautiful, and relaxed environment.  It’s also one of Kentucky’s best kept secrets, but with the number of people we’re raving to that won’t last long!

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This is pretty exciting!

The Kentucky High School Hockey State Tournament will be held at the beautiful Edge Ice Arena in Owensboro, Kentucky on March 4-6. This will be the first time Owensboro has hosted this tournament and it’s being officially hosted by Owensboro’s own team, the Owensboro Rampage.

If at all possible, get out there and cheer them on.  Seriously, could hockey ever NOT be entertaining?

Ice Hockey Tournament at The Edge. 1400 Hickman Avenue in Owensboro, Kentucky.

For more information, call 800-489-1131  or 270-926-1100

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My husband (Michael) and a buddy of his recently played golf in the Land Between the Lakes area.   Since I didn’t marry a fool, the wandering golfers ate dinner at The Willow Pond in Aurora and paid a visit to the Hitching Post Country Store.

Sigh. I love a man with a brain.

I also love great catfish, so I love all of the Willow Pond restaurants.  But the Willow Pond in Aurora is extra-special.  Their hush puppies, for one thing, are simply the best.  The staff is extra-friendly, the food exceptional and…

…. it’s just down the road from one of my favorite spots in the entire state:  The Hitching Post Country Store. While there, Michael sampled the fudge.  I would have been beside myself except for one thing – he brought me a piece back.

My favorite varieties of fudge are peanut butter, Tiger Butter, and chocolate. H-O-W-E-V-E-R, the piece of fudge he brought back has thrown itself firmly into my list of favorites.  Pumpkin!  When I opened the paper, my dessert ninja nose knew instantly that this piece of fudge had pumpkin pie on its mind.

It was outstanding – far better than mere words can describe.  So, you know what that means, right?  You must take yourself, and every sweet tooth in your head, to Aurora, Kentucky asap and let the exceptionally friendly and warm people at the Hitching Post hook you up with this autumn-ly, Heavenly fudge.

While there, you’ll also wax brilliant if you buy a jar or two or twenty of Red Pepper Jelly.  Then, when you get home, take said jelly and pour it over a block of cream cheese.  Served with Ritz crackers, it’s a snack you’ll never forget.

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Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park has a lot of fun in mind for October 2010!

The state park at Dawson Springs has several special weekends scheduled that range from trail rides to geocaching.

Here’s a listing of the October special events at Pennyrile Forest:

Fall Trail Ride

Oct. 2

Explore the beauty of Pennyrile State Forest from the back of your own horse. Enjoy a guided ride across stony creeks, through wooded ravines and along rocky bluffs. Trail ride will be conducted by Gerald and Janie Igleheart who have ridden in the region for many years. The ride will last approximately three hours and is recommended for riders of all ages and experience levels. Bring your own water and snacks. Primitive camping is available on the State Forest and showers are offered at the park campground. Guests must bring their own horse. All ages are welcome. Refreshments will be available after the ride. Fee: $5 per person/ $10 per family.

Geocaching Weekend
Oct. 8-10

Geocaching is a fun new sport where people use their GPS units to find hidden treasures. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park has been hosting this event since 2005. There will be a night cache, find the most micro-caches contest, first-to-find cache and traditional caches. The park guarantees at least 30 caches to find. Fees are as follows: $15 per geocacher, $10 if you register two weeks before the event or $20/family. Event participants are eligible for a 10 percent discount on lodging. Reserve your room/cabin early to take advantage of the lowest rates.
Halloween Campout

Oct. 15-17

During this spooky campout, all registered campers will receive two nights camping for the price of one. A full schedule of Halloween programs will be available for the weekend.

Fall Photography Weekend

Oct. 22-24

This weekend consists of a digital photography contest with point and shoot, intermediate and masters divisions, evening programs, critique and award ceremony. Bring your own camera. Registration is $35. Register by Oct. 9 and receive a $5 discount. Children 16 and under can compete in the competition for a reduced fee of $10. A 10 percent discount on lodging available.

For more information about any of these special events, contact Rebecca Clark at: rebeccae.clark@ky.gov or call 1-800-325-1711.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, Clifty Creek Restaurant, golf, mini-golf, gift shop, fishing and hiking trails. The resort is 20 miles northwest of Hopkinsville, on KY 109 N. From the Western Kentucky Parkway, exit at Dawson Springs and take KY 109 south.

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Gov. Steve Beshear today announced that the state’s Web portal, Kentucky.gov (http://www.kentucky.gov), has been recognized by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) as one of the top five sites in the nation for 2010. The nonprofit agency ranked the site fifth among state Web portal entries in this year’s Best of the Web contest based upon innovation, functionality and efficiency.  Louisville’s website, Louisvilleky.gov, placed second in the nation for city websites.

“My administration’s firm commitment to keeping government accessible and open to the public has once again earned Kentucky national recognition for its online resources,” said Gov. Beshear.  “We work very hard to maintain and improve the site as new technology and resources evolve.  This ensures Kentucky.gov is a reliable resource for our citizens to gain information in a timely and accurate manner.”

This award completes a trifecta of national recognition for the state’s websites.  The Open Door e-transparency site was recently named best in the nation and the state’s stimulus reporting website, Kentucky at Work, garnered a national second-place award for excellence in accountability for citizens.

Site Offers Services, Accountability for Citizens
CDG is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government.

According to Cathilea Robinett, executive director of CDG, Kentucky.gov successfully provides government leaders with a way to effectively communicate with citizens while increasing public trust.

“Kentucky.gov, with its increased focus on transparency, is achieving the essence of what it means to be a more open and accountable government,” said Robinett.  “The portal gives Kentucky constituents a view into the government’s budget and allows them to see that their tax dollars are put to good use. The site’s increased usability features ensure citizens can conduct their business with the state quickly, efficiently and hassle-free by taking advantage of the multitude of services and transaction options the site offers.”

The site offers multiple services for users.  Citizens can use the site to renew driver licenses, register vehicles, find voter information, buy hunting and fishing licenses, register businesses and review the state’s budget.

“Kentucky’s continued commitment to improve service to the businesses and citizens it serves through improved and streamlined technology methods is reflected in this improvement to number five in the nation for this year’s Best of the Web award,” Kentucky Chief Information Officer Phil Baughn said.  “Kentucky.gov offers a variety of government-related services and information around the clock.”

History of Excellence for State Websites
Kentucky.gov is the official website of the Commonwealth.  The site is managed and operated using no tax dollars through a public-private partnership between the Commonwealth and Kentucky Interactive, the Frankfort-based official eGovernment partner for the state.  Kentucky Interactive helps state government entities Web-enable their information services, and is part of eGovernment firm NIC’s family of companies. (NASDAQ: EGOV)

In April 2010, Kentucky was the only state in the nation to receive an ‘A’ rating for openness in government spending for its Open Door website, online at http://opendoor.ky.gov, based upon a report issued by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.  The site was also named one of the best of its kind nationally by the Center for Study of Responsive Law, a nonprofit organization that researches government and corporate accountability.  The Commonwealth was recognized as a national leader for transparency in state contracts for publishing the full text of state contracts.

Similar to Open Door, the Commonwealth’s stimulus spending site, Kentucky at Work, online at http://kentuckyatwork.ky.gov, received national attention in January 2009.  In a report issued by Good Jobs First, a national policy resource center, Kentucky was recognized for receiving the second highest rating nationally for accountability to taxpayers.

“This most recent reward for a Kentucky government website continues to highlight Gov. Beshear’s persistence for transparency and openness in government,” said Jonathan Miller, secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet.  “A critical element for providing that transparency is making our internet presence as user friendly and comprehensive as possible and that’s what this award indicates.”

Kentucky at Work and Open Door are both maintained by the Finance and Administration Cabinet.

Congratulations to each of these Kentucky websites for the honors they’ve received… may the recognition continue to roll in!

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Gov. Steve Beshear visited Henderson, Kentucky today to announce three economic development projects that will create as many as 30 new jobs, as well as retain an additional 32 jobs in the community. Accompanied by company and community leaders, Gov. Beshear revealed Legacy Plastics will relocate its manufacturing facility from Evansville, Ind. to Henderson, Ky. to accommodate the company’s growth. Additionally, Henderson-based Matrix Composites and Sunrise Tool and Die will expand their operations.

“The location of Legacy Plastics and the expansion of Matrix Composites and Sunrise Tool and Die reflect the hard work of Henderson County officials and demonstrate the confidence these companies have in the area’s workforce,” said Gov. Beshear. “Kentucky looks forward to a long and successful partnership with each of these exceptional companies.”

Legacy is a leading custom thermoplastic profile extrusion company that produces parts for GE refrigerators and display materials.  The company is moving into a 25,000 square-foot facility located at 1116 5th Street in Henderson.  The relocation represents a nearly $1 million investment and 20 new and relocated jobs.

Matrix Composites, a locally owned manufacturer of woven and knitted fiberglass reinforcements, has been in operation since 1993.  The company’s products are used in a number of applications, including ballistic panels, marine applications, automotive, as well as construction, recreational and energy products.  Matrix is currently located in a 25,000 square-foot facility in the Henderson Corporate Park, but has purchased the former 157,000 square-foot AMI Building, allowing the company to initially add 10 new jobs with a significant opportunity for more in the future.   The expansion will also result in a $3.1 million capital investment.

Founded in 1989, Sunrise Tool and Die manufactures and repairs plastic molds weighing up to 10,000 pounds.  The Henderson plant is currently operating at capacity, limiting the company’s ability to expand into larger markets.  The company plans to invest $2.5 million in its facility, allowing it to seek additional business opportunities and maintain its existing 32 employees.  The investment project will consist of increasing crane capacities from five to 15 tons, ceiling heights from 20 to 26 feet and increase floor space to meet the demand for larger capacity molds and more profitable business opportunities.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved Sunrise Tool and Die for tax incentives up to $250,000 through the Kentucky Reinvestment Act, a program that was expanded in the Governor’s Incentives for a New Kentucky bill last summer to assist companies that need to make significant capital investment in Kentucky facilities in order to remain competitive.  Without the renewed investment and state assistance, Sunrise Tool and Die would likely see a decrease in sales and would be forced to consider alternative locations.

“The mere fact that Sunrise Tool, Matrix Composites and Legacy Plastics will produce more jobs in the area is an excellent boost to our citizens,” said Sandy Lee Watkins, Henderson County Judge Executive. “Expanding businesses also play a crucial role in the business community. We must not overlook the worth of having these three companies in our region and the impact they have on the economy.”

“As part of our continued strategy to further expand businesses in the Northwest Kentucky region, our economic development efforts are focused on retaining and growing jobs, which these three companies display and are being rewarded for,” said Henderson, Kentucky Mayor Tom Davis.

A detailed community profile for Henderson (Henderson County) can be viewed at http://thinkkentucky.com/EDIS/cmnty/index.aspx?cw=031.  Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com.

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The people at Lighthouse Landing in Grand Rivers, Kentucky have a passion for Kentucky Lake like none other. They’re also nature lovers which makes them more than a little okay in my book. I admire their commitment to the environment and love of nature as much as I admire the beautiful resort they’ve built on beautiful Kentucky Lake.

Lighthouse Landing is a very picturesque and relaxing resort and marina – one of the most lovely resorts Kentucky has to offer.

If you are interested in learning to sail, Lighthouse Landing can make the dream come true for you. They offer a very popular Sailing School in an unbelievably beautiful setting. The dates for the 2010 Sailing School lessons are below.

June 24-27
July 8-11, 15-18
July 29-Aug 1
Aug 12-15
Sept. 16-19
Oct. 14-17, 21-24

Visit Lighthouse Landing’s website for more information.

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