By BETH MUSGRAVE and CAMERON DRUMMOND
A Cardinal Valley resident shares her experience after spending twelve hours in a neighborhood that is one of the most diverse and interesting parts of Lexington.
Alexandria Drive, Lexington is home to a number of small businesses. Tortilleria Y Taqueria Ramirez, a popular restaurant in the South offering homestyle Mexican meals made using tortillas freshly made each day is known to all. The hope is that two young businessmen will replicate this success on the other side. Dip Patel and Krupa Patel opened Yogikrupa, an Indian grocery store, in Gardenside Plaza about six months ago. They have ambitions to grow the business across Commonwealth.
Fayette County is attracting a growing number of foreigners, as can be seen by these two examples connected via the same road.
Fayette County has a population of more than 30% non-white according to 2020 U.S. Census.
Fayette County Hispanics are estimated at 9,2%. This is a dramatic increase from 6,2% in 2010.
Fayette’s diverse population goes well beyond the county.
Global Lex is the international engagement center of the city. It tracks the languages used by Fayette County Schools and both the City.
Fayette County is home to a variety of languages.
Taylor stated that there were at least 44 different languages, including 27 African, 19 European, and 10 Latino-American.
Spanish remains the language most frequently spoken outside of English, according to school and city data. This is followed by Swahili (an African tongue), French, Japanese and Kinyarwanda.
The census tracts show that Cardinal Valley, Gardenside and other Fayette County neighborhoods are the most ethnically diverse. Cardinal Valley, Gardenside and Lexington Fayette Urban County Council 11 are all part of the district that is 20 percent Hispanics and 17 percent Blacks.
Will Anglin who sits on the Cardinal Valley Park Activity Board is a Redneck.
Staff and photographers from the Lexington Herald-Leader spent 12 hours in Cardinal Valley and Gardenside on July 28, to get a better understanding of these areas.
Find out about the residents and businesses of one of Lexington’s unique neighborhoods.
Cameron Drummond, a reporter for the project, conducted interviews in Spanish. He then translated these into English.
NOUVEAU LIBRARY AND NEW MEETING SPACE
Marksbury Family Branch library, corner Village Drive and Versailles Road. 8:00 AM.
Cardinal Valley’s Village Branch Library (Village Branch Library) is the heart of this community.
Versailles Road, which opened in 2004, has more to offer than books. The library is not just a place where you can get books.
It is necessary to increase the space.
When it opens in early 2024 the Marksbury Family Branch will be able to serve all the varied communities of Cardinal Valley and Gardenside.
Before entering the still-under-construction library, Anne Donworth, director of development, marketing and communications for the Lexington Public Library, donned a hard hat.
The $17.5-million library will have almost the entire first floor devoted to conference and meeting rooms.
On the ground floor, virtual reality technology will enable people to study electrical and plumbing courses, as well as other trades.
The large skylight that is bevelled over the staircase to the 2nd floor floods downstairs with light.
Donworth explained, “We have a shared wall with Save A Lot. The natural lighting was important to us.
She explained that kids from the neighborhood asked for an adjacent teen section to the children’s area on the second level. The front portion of the 2nd floor will house the teen area, which has windows facing the entrance.
Donworth explained that many teens bring their siblings after school to this location. “They can keep a watch on them.”
Donworth says libraries are more than just books.
It’s all about knowledge sharing, she says.
FAITH LEAPS
Yogikrupa’s Indian Grocery in Gardenside Plaza at Alexandria Drive will open its doors to the public at 10:00 am.
She wanted to use a particular type of Indian blessing ceremonial leaf. Krupa, the owner of the shop, promised the woman that the leaf would be ready for the ceremony.
Krupa & Dip Patel have opened Yogikrupa in the last six months.
Dip Patel told his customers that Krupa, her maiden name, is the first of a religious character in India.
Krupa Patel graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2021. Dip Patel is a grocery and retail professional who has spent more than ten years working for Walmart.
Alexandria Drive offers a more pleasant and less congested experience than Richmond or Nicholasville Roads. Kroger’s is just across the street. Everest Nepalese & Indian Restaurant is located in Gardenside Plaza.
Krupa patel said that many of the customers who come here to eat Indian food are Kroger shoppers.
Dip Patel told us that the company’s customers do not only come from Lexington.
Dip Patel says that people from Somerset and Corbin come to visit.
DONUTS, PLAY DOH, AND BIBLES
Village Branch Library Gardenside Plaza. 11:00 a.m.
Holly Brooks and Guliana Bénites sang the song “Head Shoulders Knees Toes” as 19-month-old Rayan Uredy kicked his shoes with lights on.
Brooks begins toddler storytime by singing a tune in Spanish. “It’s intentional,” she explained. Village Branch is a place where every child can feel welcome.
Play-Doh was the next activity after reading time. Rayan giggled while he bent, contorted and formed the malleable, doughy material into his own creation.
The librarian on the other end of the line was speaking Spanish with a guy who walked into her office with a bag of documents in a manila.
Village Branch librarians are a valuable resource to the community since their opening in 2004. Jennifer Smith said the librarians can assist you if, for example, your child has a difficult homework assignment or if you’re having difficulty completing the GED. Do you need assistance navigating through the internet? You can get help there too, said the woman.
They were busy with Play-Doh, when a woman entered with a box filled with donuts. She then handed the box to Brian Hocevar.
Hocevar claimed that we always treat her so nicely.
EL ALAZAN WOMEN’S WESTERN GARMENT GROUPS WITH THE COMMUNITY
El Alazan Western Wear, Alexandria Drive and East New Circle Road, 1:00 p.m.
Cesar is now off, after steaming a reshaped cowboy hat.
El Alazan Western Wear’s owner displays his wide range of products throughout the store.
El Alazan offers everything from jeans, cowboy hats or shirts and boots to belt buckles.
Ramirez from Guerrero in Mexico’s Pacific coast opened El Alazan at Alexandria Drive.
El Alazan plans to expand its business in East New Circle Road by 2022.
Ramirez, who works for the Herald-Leader said: “I’m very proud that I can do my job because I give it all I have.” “I enjoy seeing people at El Alazan feel proud.”
Ramirez, a Lexington-based clothing company, has provided multiple generations with clothes in the past decade.
Ramirez said: “I’d like people to carry on some of the traditions that they have. “.
Ramirez is known for his handmade silver belts, as well as the Mexican and Central American tradition of embroidery decorative patterns into belts.
Ramirez stated that most customers at El Alazan spoke Spanish when it first opened.
Ariat, an apparel brand well known for its equestrian apparel and work-related industries, is now estimated to have a split of 50-50 between English-speaking and Spanish speaking customers.
Alexandria Drive, near Keeneland Race Course & Red Mile is where El Alazan can be found.
Ramirez’s choice of Cardinal Valley for El Alazan was influenced by its status as a Spanish hub in Lexington.
Ramirez also added, “Good Brothers. Ramirez added that Cardinal Valley has grown in population over the years. “Good parents”
EL LOUNGE – MANGONADAS AND MUCH MUCH MORE!
El Lounge is located at the junction of Alexandria Drive with Devonport Drive. It opens every day at 2:00 pm.
El Lounge, a popular ice-cream shop located near Alexandria and Devonport drives was busy, despite the temperatures.
Montzerrat Centeno opened Latin Lex Lounge, a community center for children in 2014 with a group of friends. It was located just across the street from El Alazan’s Cardinal Valley Store.
El Lounge, however, was able to provide delicious Mexican sweets to Lexington in 2015.
Centeno’s Shop sells Mangonadas. This is a combination of sweet and salty featuring mango sorbet and Tajin Chili Powder.
In addition to mangonadas there are also dorilocos and esquites, which include a Mexican corn salad and Doritos.
Centeno claims that El Lounge’s best feature is its yogurt. This comes in many flavors and can be served with fruit drinks.
Centeno says that Mexican ice-cream and sweets have “crazy” flavors.
Centeno stated, “We add spicy ingredients to everything we do.” “.
During the week, soccer games at local parks and on Sundays following church are very popular.
Always go for ice cream.
Latinos are friendly, and we feel close to them. If a Latino wants to open a small business, we are ready to help.
TORTILLERIA – A TORTILLERIA with TACOS and TORTAS
Tortilleria Y Taqueria Ramirez is located on the corner of Alexandria Drive & Devonport Drive. It opens at 3 p.m.
Laura Patricia Ramirez moved with her husband Alberto to the United States, in 1985.
How is it now nearly forty years on? Central Kentucky’s authentic culinary experience.
Tortilleria Y Taqueria Ramirez – a Mexican staple in the local food scene – is situated at the same complex as El Alazan & El Lounge.
Tortilleria Y Taqueria Ramirez was originally a tortilla manufacturing operation, and then an grocery store. It later became a Mexican restaurant to meet the growing demand in this area.
Laura, owner of the restaurant says, “We began adding more (menu) items as we noticed people wanting to sit at a table and enjoy something that they would not normally order here.”
Christian, who is one of the sons and works at their restaurant, commented, “It was nice to watch what your parents accomplished.” It is definitely stressful. It’s definitely stressful.
All dishes, from the traditional tacos (pork), to the torta de tripada (intestine sandwiches), are made using freshly baked tortillas.
The menudo soup is traditionally made in Mexico with a cow’s stomach, limes, onions and peppers.
Laura says, “I enjoy cooking.”
Clippings of magazines, newspapers and plaques are displayed behind the counter to increase the popularity of this restaurant among Lexington residents who do not speak Spanish.
Tortilleria Y Taqueria Ramirez also fosters a feeling of community among Lexington’s Spanish speakers.
El Lounge Owner Centeno talked glowingly about Tortilleria Y Taqueria Ramirez, and other Latino businesses that have helped her.
Laura said, “It feels like you’re living in Mexico.” You go to the store, the bakery and the tortilleria. It’s all pretty close. It’s called ‘Mexington’ here.
Driving Licence
Global Lex at 1306 Versailles Road. 4:40pm
Gaston T. Ngandu Sankayi was rummaging through papers in the Global Lex conference room before his class on driver’s education at 5.30 p.m.
Early in the morning, as he is preparing a big computer display for class tonight: “Bonjour. “.
Global Lex has an African driver’s education specialist who teaches several classes each week. The course tonight will be in French. It is a language that many African refugees speak.
Sankayi says that Lexington has over 2,000 Congolese Families, although this number is probably low and incorrect.
Larry Roberts, former Fayette Country Attorney and Global Lex founder, encouraged Global Lex after seeing African refugees with many traffic violations or in accidents.
Sankayi also works on projects for African refugees with assistance from the University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University and the Kentucky State University.
Sankayi also pointed out that American foods can be difficult to digest.
Sankayi receives a call from one of the five individuals who walk in to the Global Lex Conference Room just before 5.
Gaston responded, “Yes. All of them arrived safely.” “.
According to the voice on the mobile phone, the African refugees were lost. Sankayi hopes to help them navigate Lexington in the coming weeks. As well as learning English signs and rules, they will also practice for the driver’s exam.
Sankayi stated, “The way is to speak English.” “.
MOVEMENT AND A BIG RED BOX
At 5:30pm, the corner of Alexandria Drive and Cambridge drive will be open.
Cynthia Buckner stacked pre-made food, fresh vegetables and toiletries into the Little Red Blessing Food Box.
Buckner has said that it is worth it to him if more people are able to eat.
Little Red Blessing Food Box was created by the Fayette Public School paraeducator after the Coronavirus Pandemic. She wanted to provide food for her friends who had lost their job.
The Little Red Blessing Food Box is over four feet high. Her friends assisted her in building it. The Little Red Blessing Food Box is kept up by the woman and her neighbors.
Buckner said that several children from the apartment above the building came down, with a stroller as well as a bag of food.
Buckner hopes that in the near future, the Little Red Blessing Box will become a non-profit and the program will be expanded.
This product is already paying for itself.
Buckner had a friend who knew of someone else who could do the guttering in her neighborhood. After visiting her home, he contacted the woman with a quote.
“I fear it’s expensive,” said he. Buckner sucked in the air. It’s completely free,” replied he. “You are so generous to the community.”
Buckner stated that there was crime in Cardinal Valley but also good and hardworking people.
Buckner said: “We care for each other. “.
The President Dances
Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Gardenside Plaza is on Alexandria Drive at 6:00 PM.
Gardenside Plaza has changed dramatically in the 30 years since it was built.
Hunter Lisle has been the one constant in Arthur Murray Dance Studios.
When she was trying to get her son to dance, his mother brought him with an introverted 15-year old to Arthur Murray Gardenside Plaza.
Lisle detoured as he danced before becoming a dance professional. Lisle loved dancing. Lisle travelled the world after playing soccer for the University of Kentucky. He returned to Lexington. Gardenside Plaza now has a brand new dance school. Arthur Murray, the former Arthur Murray dance studio franchisee had been closed for years.
He launched in 2001.
Lisle: “We have the largest Arthur Murray Studio in the entire world right here, in Lexington.
Lisle, in his custom suit and tie chatted to new and old Arthur Murray clients before private dance classes began. It’s no longer the timid kid. His dancing has brought him to TV and the White House.
Along with teaching three presidents to dance, he has also been a collaborator with the show “Dancing with the Stars”.
The private lesson starts at 6pm, followed by multiple classes. At 9:15, the practice dance party takes place.
Ozlem Eva Davis who took classes in the studio thirteen years ago returned three months back to continue her studies.
Davis stated that people visiting the studio were friendly and diverse.
Lisle says that dancing provides a connection to others and a community.
Lisle says that “people want to feel connected.”
Lisle, who has been dancing for decades, has encountered many individuals who do not believe that they are dancers.
If you want to enter the house, then dance.
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