Another remarkable Run for the Roses has come to pass at Churchill Downs, likely leaving you with one question: what’s next in the Derby City?

In The Voice-Tribune’s second installment of “Getting Lost in Lou,” we set out to discover five more eccentric features of Louisville to love, beginning with famed landmark, The Brown Hotel, to learn about one of the most famous dishes around: the Hot Brown. Over the last 89 years, the decadent toast, turkey and bacon combination has been served to Brown Hotel visitors an estimated 1,691,000 times. That equates to 845,500 slices of bacon, 740,000 pounds of roasted turkey, 10,150,000 ounces of Mornay sauce, 26,400 pounds of parsley, 3,382,000 slices of Texas Toast and 845,000 pounds of Romano cheese. Originating in the 1920s, the Hot Brown became a favorite night-cap meal, served in the wee hours of the morning following the hotel’s dinner dances. Chef Fred Schmidt created what is now known as the Hot Brown: an open-face turkey sandwich with bacon, tomatoes and a delicate mornay sauce. The perfect hangover prevention, the fabulous fare has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and on NBC’s Today Show. It’s been duplicated, altered and served numerous times around the country, but only one place is home to the original slice of sinful delight.

Speaking of tasty treats, The Voice stumbled upon the only soft drink invented in Kentucky still in existence today: Ale-8-One. Hailing from Winchester, Ky., with a manufacturing facility in downtown Louisville, Ale-8-One was invented in 1926 by G. L. Wainscott. The product’s name was derived from “A Late One” (as in the latest thing), a catchphrase suggested for a slogan contest sponsored by Wainscott at the Clark County Fair.

Fielding A. Rogers, president of Ale-8-One Bottling Company, calculated more than 50 million individual bottles of Ale-8-One are produced each year. “It’s a really refreshing, unique flavor,” Rogers said of what has made the product so successful. “On a hot summer day there’s nothing that tastes better.”

There’s more than one way to enjoy Ale-8-One, from suckers to salsa and barbecue sauce. The soft drink is also a popular mixer with alcoholic beverages. “Everybody’s looking for something unique to do or serve (with Ale-8-One),” said DeAnne Elmore, marketing and public relations manager for Ale-8-One. Savory recipes can be found at ale8one.com. You can also catch the product on the national stage, featured in the FX series “Justified” or in the 2005 movie “Elizabethtown.”

Speaking of Hollywood, an unassuming factory at the corner of Breckinridge Street may not seem like a site called upon by celebrities. But, Omega National Products has done business with international notables, including Madonna and Pink Floyd. Originally located off Baxter Avenue, the wood kitchen cabinetry and antique reproduction mirror manufacturer was once the world’s leading producer of disco balls during the Disco Era of the ’70s.

“In the 70s, we had about 27 employees that made about 28 (disco balls) a day,” said Toni Lehring, mirror sales and service manager at Omega National Products. Today, the company produces disco balls ranging from 12 to 48 inches in diameter, and once made a globe 10 feet in diameter for a Coca Cola promotion. Aside from concert tour decor and soda advertising, the dazzling local’s treasures have been witnessed across the U.S., at amusement parks and during the world-famous Super Bowl.

From disco to danger, the next stop on The Voice-Tribune’s Louisville quest was the Pope Lick Trestle, where urban legend, the Goatman – or the Pope Lick Monster – is rumored to guard the 100-foot-high railroad trestle in eastern Louisville. According to legend, the encounter with the half human, half goat is so startling that anyone daring to brave the walk across the trestle would rather fall to their demise than remain in its presence.

Stories purport the evil being is the result of bestiality, or that the Goatman is a farmer who practiced Satanism and was resurrected as a half-man, half-goat fated to walk the trestles. “I heard two different stories that either it was a creature that escaped from a circus train that crashed on the rail line,” said owner of Ultra Pop, Paul LePree, who makes and sells statues of the mysterious creature, “or it’s the spawn of a woman and the devil.” LePree was once told by a lady she had seen the Goatman in person, but he’s not sure whether he believes all the hoopla. “I have suspension of disbelief about all these creatures,” he said – And, it’s fun to let his imagination run with the spooky tale.

On the subject of fables, there’s still much debate about one legend related to the 1980 University of Louisville basketball team. While some historians claim Dusty Baker and Glenn Burke first demonstrated the “high five” at a Dodgers game, many believe the celebratory hand gesture originated from Wiley Brown and Derek Smith during a UofL basketball practice. Reportedly, Brown went to give a typical low five (invented around the ’20s) to Smith, but was thrown by surprise when his teammate insisted, “No. Up high.”

Wiley Brown with Jake Simpson.

“I never claimed (I invented) it, I just (say) I knew I was a part of it, being that we were playing a lot of games on national television,” said Brown, who now coaches basketball at Indiana University Southeast.

Since the birth of the high five, varieties of the movement have been created between friends, acquaintances, teammates and coaches. “It’s been really, really fun to see people come up with the variations of the high five,” said Brown.

And, after the University of Louisville finally reclaimed the national title in 2013, Brown, naturally, brought back the classic gesture he helped make a mainstay of American pop culture nearly 30 years ago. “Absolutely no doubt about it (I gave high fives after the win),” Brown laughed. “It really (creates) an atmosphere where everyone can get involved with the game, so I hope it continues on. That’s one of the things I hope doesn’t change.”

Jack Carlon is owner of Carlon Roofing, a local roofing company in business for nearly 30 years.

By ASHLEY ANDERSON
Staff Writer
The Voice-Tribune 

April showers bring May flowers, and signal the coming of a warm, sun-filled season – supposedly. But in Louisville, you never know what type of weather to expect, especially during springtime. Severe thunder and hailstorms have been known to plague the city this time of year, and, oftentimes, cause a great deal of trouble for local homes.

Roofs, especially, are susceptible to damage as the part of your house most exposed to sun, heat, cold, wind, rain or snow. Before letting the humidity and other weather stress affect the exterior of your home, consider the help of one of Kentucky’s largest residential and commercial roofing, gutter cleaning and installation businesses – Carlon Roofing and Sheet Metal. The veteran full-service roofing and guttering company has served the Louisville and Southern Indiana area since 1984, providing both residential and commercial roofing services.

Carlon Roofing and Sheet Metal is located at 1430 Selinda Ave., off Poplar Level Road.

“We have maintenance programs, and we go up on people’s roofs every year or two years and just check (it) out,” said Jack Carlon, who founded the company almost 30 years ago while a student at the University of Kentucky. With an experienced staff of about 60 employees, many of whom have worked with Carlon from the start, the company offers superior-level expertise from a crew that’s installed more than 10,000 roofs in the last 30 years. “We don’t have any turnover, we have the same guys all the time,” Carlon said. “Everybody’s on the same page.”

From roof repair to replacement, gutter cleaning or installation, Carlon can address the issues related to maintaining the surface of your home, not only keeping it in tip-top condition, but also enhancing it aesthetically. Gutter cleaning, in particular, can save on the cost of roof and home repair. Gutters full of debris or clogged downspouts lose function, which can lead to water from your roof going under the house, potentially compromising the foundation, flooding the basement, damaging your wood trim or siding. “If you just neglect stuff and you let your gutters fall loose, and you let your gutters fill up, and then it rots out the fasten board and it rots out the decking, then all of the sudden when you get that (roof) work done, it ends up being more money to replace all the rotted wood,” Carlon said.

To prevent such consequences, Carlon Roofing accommodates homes and businesses with the hand-cleaning and flushing of all gutters, as well as downspouts and elbows, and will bag all debris for proper disposal. The company also installs all phases of residential and commercial gutters, such as aluminum k style, metal box, copper k style and half round, cornice gutter lining and gutter guards.

Carlon emphasized the importance of performing minor maintenance and having your roof inspected after spring and fall in order to extend its life. “You just have to do minor maintenance,” advised the board member of the Kentucky Roofing Contractors Association (KRCA). “The simple things like cleaning gutters … inspecting the roof, looking for nail pops, looking for flashing that might come loose. You take care of those things, and then the roof (life) can extend.”

Should the damage already be done and a roof replacement is in store, Carlon Roofing provides top-quality craftsmanship and performance to prevent the need for another replacement in the future, and the company fully supports its warranties. “The difference between doing a good job and a mediocre job in quality is generally about 10 to 15 percent of a price of a roof,” said Carlon. “For instance, if I’m charging you $11,500 for your roof and you get other bids for ($10,000), that $1,500 is really the difference, is … all the accessories, that really adds up to about 15 percent of your ticket. And that’s the difference between a good job that you don’t have a problem for 30 years, or (having) nightmare problems.”

Receiving an estimate from Carlon Roofing is quick and simple through the use of technology, such as Google Earth and tablet devices. “When I first started there were no cell phones, no iPads, no computers,” Carlon said. “You can go to a house, and you can actually have the roof measured from the sky without ever getting up on top of it. You can show ‘after’ pictures, budget numbers.”

Technology, notably, has propelled change in the roofing industry over the last 20 years. But, the need for roof and gutter maintenance, repair or replacement is one certainty guaranteed to exist for decades to come – particularly, if you live in Louisville’s land of unpredictable weather. “As far as the future of the roofing business, everybody needs a roof,” said Carlon, currently in the process of expanding the business with a large sheet metal division. “There is really no such thing as a roof that you never maintain, you never touch, you’re never doing anything with. But, a good roof is very minimal as far as maintenance.”

For more information on Carlon Roofing, 1430 Selinda Ave., visit www.carlonroofs.com or call 502.458.9898.

Contact writer Ashley Anderson at aanderson@voice-tribune.com, 502.498.2051.

University of Louisville professors Dr. Joe D’Ambrosio and Dr. Anna Faul conduct research on love in the workforce and teach businesses how to operate with more compassion.

By ASHLEY ANDERSON
Staff Writer
The Voice-Tribune

Dr. Joe D’Ambrosio has been on a quest to find love for quite some time, but it’s not the type you’d might expect. A former business and real estate attorney, D’Ambrosio felt the workforce, and his career, especially, were lacking the compassion and consideration he desired, prompting a mid-life change in his profession and focus.

“It (the legal system) was a system set up that didn’t allow forgiveness, definitely didn’t allow love,” he said. Thus, D’Ambrosio chose a new career path in social work and therapy, eventually earning the nickname “Dr. Love” from his students and colleagues at the University of Louisville.

Over the last six years, D’Ambrosio has conducted research on love in various arenas of life, particularly in health care and couples coping with divorce. In partnership with Dr. Anna Faul, his mentor during P.h.D. candidacy at UofL’s Kent School of Social Work, D’Ambrosio’s striving to help businesses achieve a more sympathetic and giving viewpoint on their operation, considering employee well-being over the “bottom-line.”

“(In the health care system) everything is built on making money, don’t get in trouble and don’t be liable,” Faul asserted. “Don’t upset the apple cart and don’t look at you as a person, because if I do then I may lose my objectivity, and I may lose my ability to only sit with you for (only) one minute.”

It’s this mentality D’Ambrosio and Faul are attempting to alter. Utilizing Pitirim Sorokin’s multidimensional theoretical model of love – which measures the intensity, extensity, duration, purity and adequacy of love – the two present lectures and are planning initiatives to foster kindness and compassion on the job.

D’Ambrosio and Faul used Sorokin’s theory to assess the nature of the health care field and discovered a pattern of hurried physical care to the detriment of psychological care. The two determined a habit of withdrawal, need for emotional distance and a taxing workload for health care employees led to stress, fatigue and high risk of depression, along with a lack of dignity in patients.

“Part of what we need to do as human beings is to take care of each other,” D’Amrbosio urged, “versus saying, you only have 50 minutes, you have to keep boundaries. We as professionals have to begin to show love to each other.”

Through a study on caregivers for older adults living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, D’Ambrosio and Faul found the affect a more loving attitude could have on worker wellbeing. “We did a very simple intervention of our theory of love. So, we basically shifted (the caregivers’) focus to look at what they were doing as love … (and in turn) their stress level went down.”

D’Ambrosio and Faul hope to create a mind-set shift in the health care field to promote a more positive environment for worker and patient. “We want to go into health care, in general, and help these stressed out people who are working like maniacs to try and take care of people and then teach them how to really look at their work as joy, so they have the joy of service,” D’Ambrosio said. “They have compassion, they have a better attitude, they begin to look at their coworkers not as adversaries – because we don’t get along with everybody – but to look at them as interesting teachers.”

D’Ambrosio and Faul are also working on a restoration project involving the Ouerbacker mansion in the old Russell neighborhood. The two intend to transform the landmark building into a one-stop service and care through all stages for low-income, older adults, so men and women can age comfortably. “All of our work is around livable aging, we call it,” D’Ambrosio said. “Where you’re able to stay in one place, if you get sick, you go to the hospital, you come back to your facility and your facility is retrofitted to take care of you.”

Compassion in the workforce and health care field is not all the duo hope to impart on the community. From work to play, marriage and family, consciously performing more loving, altruistic behavior will produce an outcome well worth the effort, they affirm. “He and I had some conversations before on how much should you give in a relationship,” Faul said. “Many times you hear, ‘Everyone give 50/50,’ but really that’s wrong. If you look at this theory, it’s wrong. You need to give everything, because that’s where you really get to the purity piece. You’re willing to give absolutely everything, you’re expecting zero back. … And that’s I think the most complicated aspect of love – to have no expectations.”

“In the American culture the answer’s ‘Yes,’ but then I met Dr. Faul, who’s from South Africa, who comes from a collectivist culture,” D’Ambrosio continued. “And when I look at it through her lens, I go, ‘You know what, this is true, I can give and not get anything in return.’”

If the world began to treat one another in that sense, maybe, then, there would be less conflict, anxiety and a lower rate of divorce. But, it takes a commitment to truly act with love in order to reap its prolific consequences. “Know that love is a verb,” Faul said. “Make it full of actions that you do, then love is going to come to you.”

“This is a step beyond emotion, so it’s a step beyond compassion, empathy because it’s really asking for an action,” D’Ambrosio continued. “(Love is a) word we’re afraid to use because it’s one of those mushy words that we don’t know what it means. And I’m saying I do know what it means. I have five dimensions to explain it to you,” D’Ambrosio said. “It’s a verb. It’s an action word. It’s actions that we take in life.”

Contact writer Ashley Anderson at aanderson@voice-tribune.com, 502.498.2051.

The Galt House Conservatory.

By ASHLEY ANDERSON
Staff Writer
The Voice-Tribune

People from all around the world have witnessed the grandeur of the Galt House and Crowne Plaza hotels, both owned by the prestigious Al J. Schneider Company. But, not many realize the quiet, yet mighty business behind the infrastructure of the properties that helped propel the development of the Derby City.

Since 1947, Home Supply Millwork, also owned by the Al J. Schneider Company, has supplied commercial and residential properties in the Louisville area with superior tailor-made woodwork and fine building materials. In partnership with Jeff Sizemore Renovations Windows and Door, the business also provides custom home and commercial improvements and renovations, including millwork, window and door renovations that leave homes and offices more vibrant than before.

In addition to the elegant woodwork seen in the Galt House Hotel’s Conservatory or the Crown Plaza’s Blue Horse restaurant, Home Supply Millwork has etched its mark on the new Down One Bourbon Bar – located inside the Waterfront Plaza – supplying its sleek ash wood tables, shelving, the front and back bar, along with the framework surrounding beautiful stained glass windows salvaged from the old Brennan building.

Aside from the notable businesses enhanced by Home Supply Millwork, several local residences have been renovated, restored and revamped by the company as well. “We do a lot of duplication of old work, period-type restorations,” said Jeff Sizemore, who’s been with the company almost two years and has done business with Home Supply Millwork since 1984. “We’ve got a unique ability, I think, over any of our competition in we can do all this in-house. We not only are a window and door dealership, we’re a renovation company, and we also have a shop (with) at least three guys (working) every day in a wood shop, supplying us, and other contractors buy from us.”

The precision with which the company restores windows and doors is epitomized in a home off Roanoke Avenue that had been owned by the same family since the house was built in 1931. “(The owners) had pictures from family gatherings way back in the ’30s. The whole house had been changed over the years, been three, four, five, 10 remodels, and this couple bought it … and had these old family photos, and we re-restored all the interior back to the way it looked when it was originally built,” said Sizemore.

Not only does the company excel in restoration and duplication, but it also takes great pride in cabinetry and home remodeling. Inside a dwelling off Douglas Boulevard, Home Supply provided a complete makeover of the kitchen through the installation of custom cabinets, granite, wood flooring, custom doors and windows, plus stunning polished woodwork. The company also built a cozy screen and porch area, which became the homeowners’ new favorite space in their house.

With residential homes, Sizemore estimated custom cabinet work can take the company about three to five weeks total to finish, from lead time to completion. “That’s not to say that if somebody’s got to have something really quick, we can’t do (it),” Sizemore assured. “It’s just we try to run schedule as best we can. We get a lot of last-minute stuff (too).”

Window replacement projects can take a similar length of time. “We’re always custom-sizing everything, it’s nothing we can buy off the shelf,” Sizemore explained. “We’ve got pretty good control over the installer, all are our own employees, so we’re right on it. A whole house, changing every window and every door in the house is usually a three-day job.”

The mill company is catered toward total window removal, but offers pocket replacement as well. “We don’t leave any of your old product, we put one back, everything’s new, frame and all,” Sizemore said. “That’s our specialty. We can (also) do the insert-type, which is your typical replacement window.”

Quick turnaround time from a seasoned seven-person staff – including 28-year employee Dan Oetken, nephew of Mary Moseley, president of Al J. Schneider Company – is just one of several advantages of hiring Home Supply. Lower price point is also a benefit, as it’s often cheaper to go through the company than one of its competitors. “It’s probably cheaper, easier to deal with us than deal with three different people to get something done,” asserted Sizemore, who is on the job from initial consult to the final touches of an assignment. “We don’t contract anything out.” The company also gives free estimates and strives to send a calculated price to a client within 24 hours.

Though it’s somewhat of a local best-kept-secret, Home Supply Millwork has set a standard in craftsmanship with more than 65 years of service throughout Louisville. From an impressive 65-window replacement job in an upscale Anchorage residence to the Medical Arts Building’s interior and the Galt House’s aviary and popular fish top bar, the company has touched many of the places dear to Louisvillians and helped build much of the infrastructure of the city they call home. “It’s one of those things when you go in (to the Galt House, or a project we’ve worked on),” Oetken reflected, “it just makes you feel good just to know that you had a hand in doing something like that.”

To contact Home Supply Company, 3720 Seventh Street Road, call 502.448.6351. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday or by appointment. Visit homesupplymillwork.wordpress.com or www.facebook.com/HomeSupplyMillwork for more information on Home Supply Millwork. Visit aljsco.com for more on the Al J. Schneider Company.

Contact writer Ashley Anderson at aanderson@voice-tribune.com, 502.498.2051.

Photos by CHRIS HUMPHREYS | The Voice-Tribune

Dr. Alexander Digenis.

By ASHLEY ANDERSON
Staff Writer
The Voice-Tribune  

Plastic surgeon Dr. Alexander Digenis has formed a perfect balance between art and science, spending much of his time at his successful practice, and in his spare time dabbling as a painter and pianist.

With an artistic mother and a father who taught science at the University of Kentucky, Digenis contemplated as a kid which parent’s discipline he’d follow. “I love science, but I love to paint, and there was a great dilemma in the family about what path I would take,” Digenis said with a smile. However, while reading a supplement to the World Book Encyclopedia at age 12, it dawned on him that plastic surgery would provide the perfect mix of his two loves, science and art.

From that point on, Digenis devoted himself to becoming a cosmetic surgeon. He volunteered as a high school and undergraduate student to help in the plastic surgery laboratory at the University of Kentucky. The dedication earned him early acceptance into medical school at Vanderbilt University and the ability to train at the prestigious New York University Hospital as well as the Manhattan Eye, Ear And Throat Hospital.

Since 1997, Digenis has practiced cosmetic and reconstructive surgery in the Louisville area. In 2001, he joined Dr. Norman Cole’s practice and took over when Cole retired. In an effort to stay in the forefront of surgical and technological developments, Digenis is also a member of national committees on emerging technologies, communications and government relations for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. His involvement exposes him to the newest advances in plastic surgery internationally and inspired him to develop a fresh, innovative technology: anti-biofilm agents, which can help reduce infection around implants, not only for the breast but also with devices such as pacemakers and orthopedic appliances. “My academic career and private practice career sort of has meshed to be innovative and contribute to the field,” explained Digenis, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a former clinical professor of cosmetic and plastic surgery at the University of Louisville.

At his personal practice, the Digenis And Thornton Plastic Surgery Institute located on the first floor of Norton Healthcare Pavilion, he sees, on average, several hundred patients each year, offering services ranging from full plastic surgery to skin care procedures such as microdermabrasion and Botox. “Even though I focus primarily on cosmetic surgery, my give-back is breast cancer reconstruction,” said Digenis, who was one of the first directors of the Norton Breast Health care program. “I still do breast cancer reconstruction because my family has breast cancer.”

Digenis’ patient care is considered by many to be the best in the area. He’s received several accolades acknowledging his excellence in the field, from “reader’s choice” awards to recognition by Norton Hospital for dedicated and compassionate patient care resulting in patient satisfaction scores among the top 10 percent of all physicians nationally. “I attribute that to my mother who always told me that you should treat the patients like you would family,” Digenis gleamed with pride.

Digenis’ family is a critical element to his success both professionally and personally. In fact, his sister, Emily, is the office manager at his practice. “She was a lawyer in her previous profession so she keeps us all in line. But she’s also creative and insightful, and she’s not afraid to tell me what she thinks,” he said. Digenis credited his sister, along with his excellent staff, for promoting and maintaining the prosperity of his practice. And, recently, as Digenis became a single father of fraternal twin sons, Luke and George, he’s found a new level of satisfaction with not only work, but his life, in general. “As much as I love surgery, and I’ve never thought anything would equal the joy I have in taking care of patients, being a father has even surpassed that,” he said. “Which has just made my work experience even better.”

Next up for Digenis are several travel opportunities to share and enhance his knowledge on plastic surgery and work to expand and improve the field. He’s also continuing his hobby of painting and playing piano, but above all else, parenting and his plastic surgery practice are where his greatest joy and commitment lies. “I picked the best medium in which to be creative, which is the human form,” he said. “To me that’s the ultimate art form.”

For more information on the Digenis And Thornton Plastic Surgery Institute, visit thekapsi.com or LIKE “Digenis Plastic Surgery Institute” on Facebook. Call 502.589.5544 to set up an appointment at Digenis’ office inside Norton Healthcare Pavilion, 315 E. Broadway, Suite 111.

Contact writer Ashley Anderson at aanderson@voice-tribune.com, 502.498.2051.

The Mudd sisters – Janet Sweet, Debbie Tuggle, Leslie Mudd and Ann Mudd – with brother Paul Mudd. Not pictured is sister Jolene Barton, from Cincinnati.

For nearly two decades, the Mudd sisters – Janet, Debbie, Leslie, Jolene and Ann – have played host to one of the hottest parties held the day of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Great Steamboat Race. Nine years ago, however, the annual soiree grew much bigger as it became focused on more than a simple occasion to celebrate.

With a mother diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the Mudd sisters turned their outdoor affair into a fundraiser for a cure. Thus, the “Great Steamboat Race Party” set sail, and, in its ninth year, will take place Wednesday, May 1, at KingFish Restaurant in Jeffersonville, Ind.

The late Trudy Mudd and her husband, Dr. Joseph P Mudd.

The charity event will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 2005, the Great Steamboat Race Party has raised more than $100,000 for the Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

March of last year, the Mudd sisters’ mother, Trudy Mudd, lost a 23-year battle with Alzheimer’s, a disease that impacts nearly 80,000 Kentuckians and 120,000 Indiana residents. Determined more than ever to find a cure, the Mudd sisters are eager to continuing fighting the disease with the help of their party, while kicking off one of the most exciting times in the city: Derby week.

– Ashley Anderson, Staff Writer, The Voice-Tribune 

How has the Great Steamboat Race Party grown since it first began?
This was a party that my sister Leslie and I had for a number of years. It was an invitation-only event and wasn’t an Alzheimer’s event until nine years ago. … My sister Debbie suggested we make it for Alzheimer’s, and that’s when (the Great Steamboat Race Party) began.

What was it like witnessing a loved one living with Alzheimer’s?
(My mom) probably had Alzheimer’s for 24 years, and that’s just a ridiculous number of years. You rarely hear anyone having it more than 10 years. … One in 68 people can get Alzheimer’s, but it touches the lives of so many more people (indirectly).

What does the event mean to you, especially now since your mom’s passing?
It was near and dear to our hearts to turn this party into a fundraiser and try to help find a cure. To date, we’ve earned $130,000.

Why should people attend this year’s party?
(KingFish) is big and open, and you can see who all is there. KingFish takes good care of us. … Everybody (who) comes they’re just in a great mood. It’s kind of the start of your Derby weekend, and people start asking me about it way ahead of time. We have people who just love to come every year. It’s all ages too, anywhere from 21 to 80 something.

The Great Steamboat Race Party will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at KingFish Restaurant, 601 W. Riverside Drive. Attendees will receive a riverfront view of the annual Great Steamboat Race, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, plus a performance by Thumper and the Plaid Rabbits. DJ Glenn Smith will provide dance music. The party is a 21 and over event and guests MUST bring ID. Cost is a donation of $35 per person in advance, $30 prepaid for groups of five or more, or $40 at the door. Dress code is track attire. For more information or to make reservations, call 502.451.4266.

By ASHLEY ANDERSON

It’s not just people who need a little recharge every once in awhile. With spring in full bloom, now’s the time to show your vehicle some love with a full auto detail that will leave your car looking as good as new.

At Fariba’s Auto Spa Treatment (FAST),  owned by Fariba Cox, you’ll receive full detail services at affordable prices from an elite auto detailing staff. Cox opened FAST on Feb. 1, along with Louisville Elite Auto Detail (LEAD), the commercial division of her operation catered to businesses with a larger need and massive quantity, such as automobile dealers Tafel Motors and MINI of Louisville.

With a staff of nine, including Facility Manager Schneidt Miller, interior and exterior specialist Anthony Rench, Chuck Baus and Heather Rudd, FAST and LEAD bring more than 30 years of combined experience to the table. “They do everything from A to Z that you can imagine when a car is touched and cleaned,” said Cox, president of LEAD and FAST. “My goal is actually to build up, have the business be successful and make it big. The other goal, I want (my staff) to all have individual goals so we can all reach their goals, too.”

Before opening LEAD and FAST, Cox and her husband would have their vehicles detailed regularly. “I expect nothing but 100 plus percent,” Cox said of the services she provides. “If I want it done right, I want it done right. That’s why my slogan is ‘Pampering each car as if it’s my own.’ Would I be happy about (the job done) if this were my car?”

Cost of services start around $225 and include full detail, express detail, interior only, exterior only, weekly wash and vacuum, headlight restoration, tint removal, under coating, paint touch-up and wheel repair. The 7,000 square foot facility houses state-of-the-art lighting, water and air pressure, plus eco-friendly supplies. Cox said an average of five to nine hours are spent on each individual car with at least two people working on it at any given time. In extreme cases, the team has spent up to 25 hours on one truck alone. “We recommend (detailing) twice a year, at least,” Cox said. “If you have little kids and food in the car and what have you, I’d say definitely twice a year and maybe every three months (on) interior only.”

Cox also advised having your car detailed in the spring, around March after it has weathered the winter, as well as right after summer, around September or October. A thorough auto detail from FAST will not only make your car appear as if it’s fresh off the lot, but, as an added bonus, it preserves its resale value in case you’re looking to upgrade your ride in the future. “We (make the vehicle look) like a new car,” Cox said. “Nice dealerships do the same thing. When they see that car cleaned up, it sells better.”

FAST and LEAD is located at 1838 Cargo Court and open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, visit www.louisvilleautodetail.org or call 502.594.0000 or 502.594.3200.

Contact writer Ashley Anderson at aanderson@voice-tribune.com, 502.498.2051.

Photos By CHRIS HUMPHREYS | the Voice-Tribune

By ASHLEY ANDERSON

Emily Mack Jamison, better known as Emy Mack, grew an early fascination for the one element that’s part of every woman’s wardrobe: shoes.

“I have been wanting to do shoes since the day I was born,” smiled Jamison, owner of Emy Mack, a two-year-old deluxe shoe brand. “I exaggerate, but ever since I was really little, I had always been designing shoes, looking at shoes, playing with shoes, trying on shoes, so it really is like a life-long dream coming true (to own a shoe business).”

A meeting six years ago with Gil Fields, a veteran in the shoe industry, helped Jamison fulfill her goal of starting her own shoe collection. Now Jamison’s business partner, Fields connected the New Jersey native with elite manufacturers in Italy who produce the beautifully elegant and timeless styles of the Emy Mack collection. Around 2011, Jamison founded Emy Mack, a designer of luxury women’s ready-to-wear and custom shoes handmade in Italy by old world artisans.

Emily Mack Jamison.

Jamison’s line of classic heels, flats, wedges and boots have attracted women of all ages. “There is no stereotyping with shoes and age,” Jamison assured. “I have these platforms that, of course, my women in their 20s and 30s wear, but I also have late 60, early 70-year-olds (wearing them).

“I wanted to have a collection that had all different shapes and sizes, if you will, with the heel heights and the platforms and even the flats and the ballerinas that could appeal to all different tastes but still be classically designed.”

To increase awareness of her fairly young brand, Jamison has been touring the U.S. hosting trunk shows, including one at Rodes For Him and For Her on April 11. With Derby just around the corner, Jamison advised women shopping at Rodes on which pair of shoes best enhanced their sophisticated, spring-colored dresses to be worn the first Saturday in May. “It’s a long day (at the track), but I know a lot of women here like to start off with a high heel and then transition into a flat,” Jamison said. “But whatever makes you happy and makes you feel good on Derby day I think is what you should at least start off with.”

Though her styles carry a sophisticated simplicity, Jamison incorporates many current trends into her footwear. Making waves in the industry is “hot fix,” a type of rhinestone application that Jamison describes as, “very cool, very pretty, very sparkly.” The Emy Mack brand also provides the option of customizing certain shoes with fancy studded stones, bows and other applications in order to amplify and individualize each shopper’s unique look. Customers may choose from a number of handmade adornments or classic Emy Mack accessories to complement seasonal styles, materials and heel heights.

Regardless of which design you prefer, you won’t find yourself caught at an event wearing the same stunning slipper as another woman. “Even with our ready-to-wear, we still do it in limited edition, so it’s not like we’re making 100,000 pairs of one particular style,” Jamison said. “Emy Mack shoes (are) new and it’s different, and you won’t see yourself coming and going.”

Emy Mack shoes can be purchased through exclusive events held throughout the U.S., at pop-up showrooms in New York City and Pittsburgh, or at www.emymack.com. Call 917.386.4211, e-mail info@emymack.com, “LIKE” Emy Mack Shoes on Facebook or follow @EmyMackShoes on Twitter for more information. For information on Rodes For Him and For Her, 4938 Brownsboro Road, call 502.753.7633 or visit www.rodes.com.

Contact writer Ashley Anderson at aanderson@voice-tribune.com, 502.498.2051.

Photos by CHRIS HUMPHREYS | The Voice-Tribune

Former St. X student Alex Gornet is a stand-out freshman on UofL’s tennis team.

Almost three decades after his dad, Tim, made a name for himself at the University of Louisville, Alex Gornet has risen to stardom as a fresh-faced 18-year-old on UofL’s tennis team.

Beginning early at age 4, Alex first picked up a tennis racket upon encouragement from Tim. “I remember he got us all rackets – my older brother and little brother – and (my dad’s) the one that first introduced us to the game,” Alex recalled.

At St. Xavier High School, Alex built an outstanding resume as a four-time All-State selection. He was named state doubles champion in 2009 and reached the singles finals of the state high school championship in 2011 and 2012. While destined for a successful tennis career like that of his father’s, Alex wasn’t necessarily eager to follow in his dad’s path to UofL. “Originally, I didn’t want to go anywhere close to home,” Alex admitted.

On a campus visit at UofL last August, he realized staying close to home wasn’t such a bad move after all. “There’s just a lot of stuff going on here, and I think the local community, too, a lot of people care, and a lot of people are putting back into it,” he explained. “And, also my family – It’s nice I get to do what I want down here, kind of have my own life, but if I want to go home or if they want to come watch me play, it’s nice to have them around still.”

Since starting his collegiate tennis career, the freshman has soared to the top on a team typically ranked nationally in the Top 25 each year. In the fall, he posted a 7-4 record in singles and reached the “A” division finals of the Louisville Fall Invitational. He and Albert Wagner make up Louisville’s top doubles tandem.

Being a star athlete isn’t all fun and games, though. Alex isn’t just a jock; he’s a 4.0 student majoring in biochemistry, which requires plenty of study time. “You have so much on your plate all the time with athletics and then academics, so one part of your life is going to have to be a little bit smaller, and usually it’s your social life,” Alex said. “Because if you don’t have the other two, then obviously you’re not playing. If you’re not keeping your grades up, then Coach (Rex Ecarma) is mad.”

Ecarma sang the praises of both Alex and Alex’s dad, who played doubles with Ecarma when the two attended UofL in the ’80s. “I think with Alex, he doesn’t act like your normal freshman,” Ecarma said. “He’s got his stuff together. He’s got his academics together, he’s organized. … To find an 18-year-old that is that purposeful, you’ve got something special.”

Ecarma might have started a father/son rivalry when answering the question as to which Gornet was the better tennis player. “(Tim’s) somebody that always tries hard,” Ecarma said of the manager of operations at UofL Speed School’s Rapid Prototyping Center. “And then Alex is just a junior version of him. But Alex is a little bit better of a tennis player. His dad’s good, but I think Alex is a little bit better, a little bit more complete.”

Alex does give his dad plenty of credit. He and Tim traveled together the last couple of years to Alex’s matches, where Tim would impart his expert advice. “One thing he would always say to me is ‘Two smiles and two times a net,’ because there’s no reason to be mad while I’m playing,” Alex said. “So if I’m having a good time out there, I’m enjoying myself, I’m playing my game, then usually good things are going to happen.”

Alex is also grateful to his former coaches at St. X, Kerry Lancaster and Joe Kroh, for laying the foundation for the success he’s now experiencing at UofL and teaching him the value of teamwork. “When we play for St. X it’s very serious, and the coaches really, really push you,” Alex said. “So I think that gave me a good foundation for what I wanted to do in college, especially the team aspect.”

For now Alex is focused on the UofL tennis team making a run in the upcoming Big East tournament. He’s also dedicated to keeping up his perfect grades. A freshman phenom, no doubt, the local assures other up-and-coming athletes can achieve his same level of success. All they need do is put in the hard work, remain dedicated and be willing to go above and beyond to achieve the ultimate goal. “I think you really have to know what you want to do and you have to have that specific plan,” Alex asserted. “You have to be willing to go out there and, even if it’s just 10 extra minutes of hitting, or if you want to do a little bit of running, the people that put in the extra are usually the ones that are going to make it and pass up the other people.”

The Louisville men’s tennis team will head to the Big East Championship tournament Thursday, April 18, in South Bend, Ind. For more information, visit  www.gocards.com.

Contact writer Ashley Anderson at aanderson@voice-tribune.com, 502.498.2051.

Photos by CHRIS HUMPHREYS | The Voice-Tribune

By ASHLEY ANDERSON

Make no mistake, Standard Country Club is far from what its name may suggest. Breaking from the standard of private-membership facilities, the country club will introduce a new business model, effective May 1.

Under Mike Riley, general manager and longtime golf pro at Standard, the Brownsboro Road site will offer pricing and package opportunities unlike any in the Louisville area. Standard’s innovative model will provide a sort of “a la carte” menu of services varying in cost, with the option of combining golf, pool and tennis packages for a customized annual membership plan best suited for the 21st century. “We got the model from our members,” Riley said. “So far the reception from the public has been great.”

On 150 acres of land, Standard houses exceptional amenities, including its prestigious 18-hole golf course, five Har-Tru clay tennis courts, Olympic-size swimming pool and well-stocked fishing lake. Due to people’s increasingly busy schedules, however, Standard and fellow competitors began noticing respective members unable to fully capitalize on and spend as much time at the facilities for which they were paying.

Although rooted in 140-year tradition, Standard wasn’t afraid to think outside the box to address the issue. Instead of charging a flat fee to join the club, Standard chose to allow members the option of paying only for the portion of the establishment they intend to use. “What we’re trying to do is really attract a younger family or individuals, because in today’s world with club soccer teams, baseball teams, families have a lot of other things going on,” said Norman Walker, two-year board member of Standard and 10-year club member.

Consequently, Walker has seen an increase in interest and a fresh demographic emerging at the club. Soon, Standard’s community makeup could look somewhat different compared to 140 years ago, but Riley assured the club will maintain the same level of commitment to superior service and a sense of exclusivity, all while encouraging a relaxing, social atmosphere.

“We want to see that kids can hang around in a safe environment all day and enjoy an outside recreation,” said Riley. “Not just families, but a large group of retirees. I look at a club where you come and de-stress. It’s called a country club, but it really is a social club. You can meet up with your friends and be able to stay all day. I want to see more action around here, more activity around here, where families come out and just stop to enjoy life.”

Standard Country Club is located at 8208 Standard Club Lane. For more information on the club and its new pricing and package opportunities, visit www.standardcc.net or call 502.425.2857.

Contact writer Ashley Anderson at aanderson@voice-tribune.com, 502.498.2051.

Courtesy Photos