Take time to focus on the positive this spring

Racing Ahead

Eli Banish, 13, a student now at Ballyshannon Middle School in Boone County, is already an accomplished motorcycle racing competitor. He is one of the youngest-ever participants in flat motorcycle racing, which he has done all over the world, having started when he was 5 years old.

He recently earned a spot on the Honda British Talent Cup grid for 2022, a 10-round, 20-race tournament for racers 12-17.

In addition, he is an excellent student—homework comes first, he says. In competition, he keeps a “sportsmanship” mindset.

In a time when we despair of the future and of young people who are disconnected or facing mental health issues, we need to be reminded that there are many young people like Eli who are focused on a productive and purposeful life. And who deserve our regard, our respect and our support.

Awarding Education

Another feather in the cap of Ballyshannon Middle School was the selection of Kevin Dailey as a Milken Education Award winner. Dailey was surprised at a school assembly event to learn of his $25,000 prize from the esteemed Milken Foundation. Only 60 educators nationwide receive the recognition each year, and he is the first Boone County recipient since 1997.

Moral of the story: In a time when teachers are abandoning teaching at disturbing rates—every school system in NKY is affected—and fewer young people are seeing teaching as a viable career, we should be grateful for dedicated teachers like Kevin Dailey and celebrate them any way we can.

Celebrating Bourbon

In a creative effort to draw attention to those who make NKY a major piece of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, meetNKY created the first-ever John G. Carlisle Bottled-in-Bond competition and celebration.

Guests were invited to enjoy a four-course tasting menu and blind-pour of some of the best BIB whiskey varietals in the country—and the winner was New Riff Distillery.

Julie Kirkpatrick, meetNKY’s president and CEO, summed it up: “Celebrating what makes us unique is an excellent way to not only raise Northern Kentucky’s pride but also its profile on a global scale.”

Well said and well done.

One Person

In the larger world, we worry about war and peace, soldiers on front lines, and the weighty issues of foreign policy and global decision-making. In our state, we worry about COVID infections, the partisan politics that divide us, the motivations of political leaders at every level, crime-and-punishment, pervasive presence of drugs and broken supply chains. In our region, we worry about teacher and nurse shortages, if we can manage our financial obligations, if a semblance of “normal” will ever return. In our homes, we worry about our elderly parents, keeping our family relationships intact, how the kids are coping in school… There’s plenty to worry about every day, all day.

In the end, all solutions lead to each of us, one person at a time. One who sees a lot of good in the world around us, who lives up to our obligations, who does the right thing, who is an example to others, who is kind and grateful and considerate, who stays connected and pays attention. It isn’t hard, it’s just the work that makes for a good life.

Judy Clabes is former editor of The Kentucky Post and now editor/publisher of the NKyTribune.com. She is a member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame and of the University of Kentucky Hall of Distinguished Alumni. She and her late husband, Gene, are the parents of two sons and grandparents of five.