Bridges Magazine

08/26/2024

Issue 73 is out locally for pickup! See the photo for local pickup locations!

08/23/2024

Issue 73 cover reveal! We are so excited about this one - 20 years of Bridges Magazine! 🎉

08/16/2024

Issue 73 will be out soon! Any guesses on what this cover might be? We are so excited for this new issue!

08/14/2024

August is back to school time! Bridges Magazine wants to wish all those going back to school a happy and safe school year! 🍎 📚 📓 ✏️

08/13/2024

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08/06/2024

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08/02/2024

Celebrate with Po***ck's Jewelers! 💍 🎉

07/31/2024

POLL: How do you enjoy reading Bridges Magazine? Comment the emoji below that describes you best 👇🏻

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07/26/2024

Bridges Magazine would like to thank McMeans Pharmacy for being a great community partner! 💊

07/22/2024

Po***ck's Jewelers first opened for business in 1874, meaning they celebrate their 150th Anniversary this year. That’s quite a milestone! The founding owner was Isaac Newton Po***ck, but in 1955, Clayton Hagans purchased the business from Po***ck’s niece. It has been in the same family now for three generations.
Clayton and his wife Virginia had three daughters. Leslie, the oldest, married David Hill. In 1985 they moved back to Ashland from Pennsylvania to manage the stores, along with Leslie’s sister Carol Ferry. Originally located on 15th Street, Po***ck’s moved to the Camayo Arcade in 1961.
Later, the business grew to include a store at Mid-Town Shopping Center, and for a while, there was a third location at Cedar Knoll. The Mid-Town location moved to Ashland Town Center in 1993. But in July 2003, they left the Arcade and mall and built the freestanding store at their current location.
In 2000, the Hills left to do missionary work in Honduras. Their son, Clay Hill, then took over and continues operating the store today.
“Thinking back on it, that was an exciting but nerve-wracking time,” Hill said. “In high school I wrote a paper on how third generation family businesses fail. That really stuck with me and I didn’t want it to go down on my watch.”
Far from that, Po***ck’s Jewelers has continued to grow and remain successful, although the business has changed tremendously. “We went through Y2K, 9/11, the internet exploding, a recession, and AK Steel closing,” Hill stated. “All of that presented a challenge. Business has changed and evolved. We had to adapt to stay relevant.”

While diamonds are the number one seller, the shop also offers various gift lines, such as Waterford crystal, picture frames, and Pandora. “We pride ourselves on being a one stop shop so we offer a gift for any occasion,” Hill said. “Prices can range from $20, to $200, to $20,000.”
It's not just the amazing product line that keeps customers returning. “We know customers by name,” Hill said. “I give them my cell number and they know they can reach me any time. I enjoy that. It creates a bond. That’s my way of offsetting them going to the internet at 2 a.m. I’ve met customers at 5 a.m. and 9 at night. I like having them know I am here for them any time, and they can depend on me.”

Hill and the staff never want the customer to feel pressured. “It’s on me to educate people on how to compare apples to apples so that they don’t make a mistake on buying a diamond,” he said. “We are not on commission and will never be on commission. We want to keep the customer at the center of the buying decision. No sales person has to meet a particular goal, so they can help the customer make the best purchase for them.”

“For us to be 150 years old, it’s the people of Ashland and surrounding area who made that possible,” said Hill. “We wouldn’t be here without their patronage. With all the opportunities and places available, we’re very grateful to have them as customers and friends.”
Hill said a few events would be planned later this year to celebrate. One might even coincide with the Kentucky Derby, which also celebrates 150 years.
💍
Po***ck’s Jewelers
913 Wi******er Avenue
Ashland, KY 41101

606.324.3197
www.pollocksjewelers.com
Open seven days a week

07/17/2024

United Way of Northeast Kentucky fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. We want to thank UWNEK for being a great community partner!

07/15/2024

Kentucky Farmers Bank - where a strong financial foundation starts! Thanks for being a great local partner! 🏦

07/11/2024

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Our beautiful venue is a perfect blend of modern and traditional - ideal for baby and wedding showers, birthday and anniversary celebrations, corporate events and private parties. Now booking for the 2024 holiday season.

Let us help you create the perfect event!

07/09/2024

Oddfellows opened its doors in December, bringing a fun, tasty blend of food and gaming to the 1850s three-story building that once housed a feed store and was also briefly home to the local chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The idea of bringing this experience to Portsmouth began more than five years ago, in the mind of local attorney and civic leader Jeremy Burnside, the late husband of Oddfellows owner Maddie Burnside.

Jeremy Burnside’s vision, back in 2019, was for Oddfellows to be located on the second floor of
the building and be limited to gaming only.
Then Jeremy got sick and passed away in the summer of 2022. Later that year, Maddie, a mother to four young girls, got to work on bringing his vision to life. She and Kehoe formed a partnership and their new plan included adding high-quality food to the mix.

Maddie and her partner in Oddfellows, Jay Kehoe, also hope their new business will fill a gap in the region’s dining and entertainment lineup by providing a place to eat and have fun – whether it’s for date night, a special occasion, or a family outing.
Oddfellows features four lanes of duckpin bowling and an arcade with all the legendary classics.

The Oddfellows’ menu includes signature pizzas and chicken wings. There are also a variety of starters, including brown butter seared sea scallops and prosciutto, siracha glazed carrots with a preserved lemon yogurt sauce, and fire roasted brussels sprouts and leeks. The soup and salad menu contains a variety of unusual creations, such as saucy shrimp and sweet corn soup and a roasted potato salad with hot honey, pickled carrots, toasted pumpkin seeds and cranberries. The homemade dessert offerings include white chocolate blueberry cheesecake, bourbon pecan pie and wood-fired salted caramel brownie.

If you go: 526 Second St., Portsmouth, Ohio / 740.529.2470
Visit Oddfellows online at www.pizzasandpins.com. You can also follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Link to read full story 🔗 https://m.bridgesmag.com/articles/c/1/i/80664295/article-348

07/08/2024

Community Trust Bank, a century of tradition! Thank you for being a community partner! 🏦

07/05/2024

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.
Opening from their own home, Flatwoods native Lauren Mixon (and husband Dalton) incubated the idea of the apparel company while pregnant with her first child.

It started six years ago with children’s bracelets. The couple bought bands of gold-filled metal from a supplier. The bracelets are custom-cut, polished and hand-stamped with a personal message, making them perfect personalized gifts. This of course grew to include women’s sizes. “Then we thought we should offer onesies, and well, it just grew into apparel from there,” Lauren said.
“Mountain Moverz was just this idea I had that centered around raising children and always wanting them to know they can move mountains.” Her kid-centric business was gaining ground, but like everything else in the world, COVID had its impact, too.
The price of gold went through the roof and became hard to obtain, and that’s when the couple pivoted to focus more on apparel, with a special focus on graphic tees.
“We literally do everything except sew the garment,” Lauren explains. With a staff of designers who use the popular design application Procreate, they come up with the logo ideas first and once they agree on a design, they print them at their shop.

Lauren and her team launch a new design every week and mail them to consumers all over the country. They do their own modeling and styled shoots, creating virtually all their own marketing material with Lauren being the face of the brand.
The real magic is how a locally designed tee or sweatshirt ends up on the backs of consumers all over the nation. “Dalton is the brains behind this operation. He knows how to take a risk and grow a base,” Lauren adds.
Mountain Moverz has 78,000 plus followers on Instagram alone and an online website where you can purchase directly or even become a brand ambassador. The field of E-Commerce is highly competitive, and Dalton has taught himself the mastery of building a brand. “We’ve certainly seen the ups and downs of this business and how it comes together,” Lauren adds. Last year was a banner year and the company was able to upgrade by paying influencers to market their apparel.
To build their following, the couple periodically records entertaining videos that go viral. They currently employ 15 individuals and continue to thrive from their walkable office location at the former Norman’s Locker Room in Flatwoods, Kentucky.
For more information, visit Mountain Moverz on Facebook, or mtnmoverz on Instagram. 🏔️ 👚Mountain Moverz

07/04/2024

Happy Independence Day from Bridges Magazine! 🇺🇸 🎆

07/02/2024

Mike Light has been a member of this community since he was literally two days old. His father, Stewart H. Light, became one of the pioneering doctors at Bellefonte Hospital in 1954, and his mother initiated the hospital's first candy striper program, embodying a spirit of service and community engagement.
Sadly, Light’s father passed away when he was still young, and after a while, his mother remarried and relocated to Missouri. As the years progressed, Mike loved being a part of his mother and stepfather’s annual July 4th gatherings. These festive occasions were marked by his stepfather's trumpet playing and the spirited presence of his mother, who often dressed as the Statue of Liberty and led parades of children in celebration.
However, tragedy struck their family again when Light’s stepfather, mother, and sister were tragically killed in a car accident, leaving a profound void in their lives.
In the face of this tragic loss, Mike and his wife, Cheri, chose to honor their memory by starting a new tradition: their very own July 4th parade in Bellefonte. For three decades, this event has been a cornerstone of Bellefonte's community calendar, symbolizing resilience and unity in our country and in our community!
Every July 4th at noon, the streets of Bellefonte come alive with the vibrant procession of the parade, followed by festivities afterward at Bellefonte Presbyterian Church.
According to Light, kids start to line up at approximately 11:30 a.m. and sport heavily decorated bicycles, four-wheelers, battery powered cars, and more. Boy Scout Troop 154 always leads the parade as they begin to march. Next, is the Grand Marshal on the main float. Then come all the kids on their various pieces of riding equipment. Those who walk and the Shriners are next, along with various floats and vehicles that bring up the tail-end of the parade.

This parade is such a testament to the community's spirit that after the parade ends, more fun begins! A picnic is held at the church with hotdogs, chips, and sodas, as well as games and entertainment for children and adults of all ages. A highlight of the day is the awards ceremony where ribbons and awards are given to parade participants, celebrating their contributions to the event.
The culmination of the day is the massive fireworks presentation that can be seen for miles around. “Literally thousands of people come out to see it,” Light said.

Light is grateful for all the family, friend and community help he has received over the years.
From food doners to the local authorities who block off the parade route, Light says he is thankful for everyone who has helped make this event what it is.
Though Light, now 70-years-old, loves the parade, he also acknowledges the toll that span of time has taken on him. He has declared that this year will mark his final stint as the parade's leader. Nonetheless, he insists that the tradition must continue and urges someone to step up and carry the torch forward.
As Mike seeks volunteers to carry on the tradition, he stresses the importance of family involvement and community support. In essence, the July 4th parade in Bellefonte is more than just a procession; it's a reflection of the community's resilience, unity, and commitment to honoring tradition. 🇺🇸 🎆 🚲

07/01/2024

Hello July! ☀️ 🏖️ 🏊🏻 🎆 🇺🇸
What are you looking forward to this month?

06/28/2024

Summer Motion begins today! 🎡 ☀️

06/24/2024

Borders Sporting Goods “Your One Stop” for all your summer activity needs! Thank you for being a great community partner! 🎣 🎯

06/21/2024

Jamie Anderson and Leigh Latherow both saw a special need in the community, a need they’ve filled with Gathered AKY, a boutique do-it-yourself studio in downtown Ashland.

“We wanted to create a place for women to come together and enjoy the camaraderie of being together,” Latherow said. Anderson, a third-grade teacher, and Latherow, an attorney, began hosting creative workshops at Gathered AKY in October 2023. Early workshop creations included a reversible haunted house/gingerbread house, painted pillows, and Ashland’s first ever hat bar, allowing attendees to create a one-of-a-kind rancher hat.

“We’ve done for each other what we wanted to do for the community,” Latherow said. “We want
to introduce these women to things they’ve never done and we get to share in that. We’re growing as result and we hope others will grow too.”
The name Gathered comes from a Bible verse, Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Before opening their doors, the duo made a promise to each other to honor God in everything that they do. Their most highly attended event thus far was their first prayer journal workshop in January.
Gathered AKY is now available to rent for private events, with or without a project. Anderson
and Latherow are also happy to work with groups on ideas they might have for workshops.
“We want to share the space,” Anderson said. “It puts a smile on our face when people walk in and say it’s so pretty. Each building downtown is a piece of Ashland history, and to be able to bring that to life is very fulfilling.”
Gathered AKY is located at 325 15th Street in Ashland. To learn more or see their workshop
calendar, visit them on Facebook or at www.gatheredaky.com.

06/20/2024

Hello 1st day of Summer! What are your Summer plans? ☀️ 🏖️ 🏊🏻‍♀️ 🍹🛳️✈️

06/18/2024

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.
In 2017, Logan stumbled on a company based in Utah, associated with a boutique outfit. Logan embraced the opportunity, signed up as a representative, and launched Blu Halo out of her home.

Her first sales event was held at her home in open house fashion on May 25, 2017. With just three racks and a small shoe collection, the event attracted a significant crowd, marking the beginning of Blu Halo's successful journey.

Logan’s commitment led her to various locations for pop-up events, even venturing into unconventional venues like right outside the doors of the former King’s Daughters Medical Center’s Obstetrics and Gynecology unit.

In January 2018, Logan sensed a growing dissonance with the Utah company she represented as its quality declined. Embracing the digital realm, Logan formalized Blu Halo Boutique as an LLC in May 2018, navigated the intricacies of sole business management, and opened for herself.

At that point, Logan was operating from an improvised warehouse in the bonus room above her garage, but that space quickly became too small as “the boxes were constantly lined from the floor to my ceiling,” according to Logan.
As Blu Halo continued to flourish and succeed, Logan outgrew her bonus room, which forced her to relocate to a warehouse. The boutique quickly outgrew this location as well, and Logan then acquired a 4,000 square foot dedicated space where she and her employees currently work out of.

Blu Halo sets itself apart through innovative initiatives like fashion shows and through the development of an exclusive app that has become instrumental in its sales strategy. With an online presence boasting upwards of 17,000 app downloads and a thriving Facebook community of approximately 43,000 Facebook group members, Blu Halo's Thursday night releases, or “drops” as they call them, have become a staple event, showcasing brand new arrivals.

“I love what I do, and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for my team, my faithful customers and God.”
Visit Blu Halo Boutique on Facebook, shopbluhalo on Instagram, or download the Blu Halo Boutique app.
You can read the full article in Issue 72 here: https://m.bridgesmag.com/articles/c/1/i/80663576/blu-halo-boutique

06/16/2024

Happy Father’s Day! 🧢👔💙🧰🪛

06/14/2024

🇺🇸Flag Day🇺🇸 a day honouring the national flag, observed on June 14. The holiday commemorates the date in 1777 when the United States approved the design for its first national flag.

Photo is the cover of Issue 72 of Bridges Magazine!

06/11/2024

Annually, on Kentucky Derby day, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the Pathways To Brighter Futures Foundation orchestrates the Derby To Make A Difference event, aiming to gather resources for the welfare of Pathways' consumers, programs, and staff.
Oversight of the Foundation is entrusted to a dedicated 15-member board comprising of community volunteers convening monthly. Tasked with evaluating funding applications and charting strategic trajectories, each board member exhibits a profound commitment to aiding individuals in their times of greatest need. Membership to the Foundation Board is contingent upon endorsement by the Executive Board of Directors for Pathways, ensuring alignment with the organization's overarching mission and vision.
Moreover, the Foundation Board benefits from the inclusion of an Executive Board liaison and a Pathways liaison, fostering synergy in funding allocation and strategic planning to advance Pathways' noble objectives. 🐎 🌹 🏆
Pathways Inc.

06/10/2024

Pathways Inc. is a great community partner! Information and contact information below 👇🏻

06/07/2024

On April 19 and 20, 2024, the Rock The Country festival in Ashland brought a wave of excitement, with over 27,000 attendees flooding the festival grounds on the first day alone. This two-day extravaganza, the largest event in the region in decades, encapsulates the essence of hardworking Americans and the charm of small-town USA.
From the electrifying performances to the bustling atmosphere, Rock The Country celebrates both the spirit of the community and the allure of top-tier country music.
With a lineup featuring stellar acts like Gavin Adcock, Elvie Shane, Nelly, Brantley Gilbert, Travis Tritt, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Kid Rock, and more, attendees who came from all over the nation were treated to an unforgettable experience of music and camaraderie. Rock The Country isn't just a festival; it's a celebration of music, community and to the shared love for country music that bind everyone together. 🎸 🎵 🎤 🇺🇸
Details coming soon about next year’s Rock The Country event. Rock the Country

06/05/2024

Party on the Patio
Bourbon, the timeless elixir of Kentucky, maintains its revered status amid ever-changing trends. On June 8, 2024, the Continuing the Legacy Foundation celebrates its 12th annual bourbon affair, “Party on the Patio.” That evening, Bellefonte Centre's sprawling patio will transform into a bourbon-themed haven. From artisanal bourbon barrel fountains by Small Batch Bourbon Art to intricate bourbon bottle décor, every facet exudes the essence of Kentucky's beloved tradition. Each year, a personally selected private barrel is purchased with the foundation name and logo placed onto each bottle for the event. This year’s bottle is from RD One and each bottle is personally signed by UK football head coach Mark Stoops.
As guests arrive, they'll enjoy music by Josh Brown & the Hard Livin’ Legends, while the aroma of Cassady’s BBQ, slow-smoked on-site, whets their appetites. Culinary delights will be available, courtesy of Brie & Honey, Callihan’s, The Sugar Whale Cookie Co., and Dragonfly Outdoor Café. In addition, attendees can test their skill at Texas Hold'em, sample RD ONE bourbon, relish bourbon barrel-aged beer from Eridanus Brewing, or savor a smoked old fashioned by Cara Jo. There is also a silent auction with a trove of premium bourbons, curated by Doug Herron of Ashland Beverage Centre. FatAsh Ci**rs offers the perfect accompaniment in the outdoor cigar lounge, a masterpiece by Christi Waybright.

The success of this grand affair owes much to the dedication of Continuing the Legacy Foundation's board members, B.J. Burcham, Jenifer Cantrell, Dave Deborde, Mary Cat Flath, Geoff Griffith, Kim Nall, Richard Reames, Kasey Salyers, and Luann Serey, whose tireless efforts ensure its enduring legacy. All proceeds benefit UK Children’s Hospital.
(Photos below from 2023 event)