Florence Kentucky Online

Picture of the Day: Snow covers Florence

The big news around Florence and Boone County over the last week has been the snow. The area continues to find itself covered in the white stuff and Boone County school students find themselves at home for another snow day. Though the snow does cause some headaches for everyone trying to get back and forth to their destinations, it also creates some beautiful scenery throughout Boone County.

One of the areas in Florence that provides a great show any time it snows is the Oakbrook community. After a good snow, the trees that line Oakbrook's main corridor provide one of the best places to go to see the beautiful snow painted on the trees. Today's Picture of the Day provides a great look at the snow covered trees in the Oakbrook area.

Picture of the Day: Florence Mall Past

Florence Ky Online reader Adam from Richmond Kentucky sent in this great photo that takes a look back at the original decorating style of the Florence Mall. For anyone who remembers the mall from way back then will enjoy this great look back at Florence Mall past. In the photo you can see the original colored pipe sculpture that hung right over the center court area for many years. You can also get a look at those great warm colors that used to dominate the mall. Browns, reds and oranges were the decorating rage at the time and could be seen incorporated everywhere into the mall's look. You can also make out the storefronts of the old Tinder Box store, the Bottomhalf, and Morrow's Nut House.

The mall has changed a great deal over the years, and the current decoration scheme at the mall today is very different than in this great photo from the past. Gone is that classic old sculpture, replaced by a huge glass dome. The mall is now dominated by the colors that are popular today and you find no sign of the old warm color scheme. The wooden handrails of the past are now clear glass. There has also been an elevator added to that area since the old photo was taken. Seen side-by-side, you can really get a great feel for how the mall has changed over the years.

I don't know about you, but that old photo of the mall really brings back some great memories!

Picture of the Day: Dream Street

Today's Picture of the Day takes a look at the Dream Street area on US 42 near I-75. Dream Street is a popular stop for interstate travelers, due to the numerous fast food restaurants that line the street. The Dream Street area has grown over the years and is now just across US 42 from the entrance to the Champion Window Field area.

For those who grew up in Florence, Dream Street holds a special place in their hearts. Many Florence and Boone County teenagers over the years have used Dream Street as a place to cruise on weekend nights. In its cruising heyday, the street was a key social gathering spot for Florence young people and the place to be seen on Friday and Saturday nights. There is even a Facebook group devoted to those who used to cruise Dream Street in their youth.

This image shows the Dream Street area as it was in 1974 in its early years. (photo credit: Kenton County Library, click to enlarge image) You can see McDonald's and Bob Evans restaurants in this image, both of which are still there today. As you can see from this image, the area has grown and changed substantially over the years. Dream Street will always be a key piece to the Florence community and a place that holds many special memories for the people who spent their formative years socializing there.

Picture of the Day: Florence Mall Then and Now

Today's Florence Mall looks much different than the Florence Mall of the 1970's and 80's. Remodeling on the mall began in 1994 and led to the current look we see each day as we visit this Florence landmark. The center of the mall was completely opened up and the current glass dome you see in the center court area now replaced the old roof. In the last few years, the mall completed a new food court area and added in the carousel at the end of the wing.

How can you forget that old multi-colored pipe sculpture that used to hang right over center court in the mall in the area where the current glass dome resides? The sculpture hung for many years in the center of the mall before finally being removed in 1994 to make way for the new open dome that replaced it. That old pipe sculpture was almost a local landmark.

The mall of old had a style that was very common at the time. In its early days, the mall was known for its mirrored and metallic surfaces, wood grain and warm colors. All of these were commonplace at the time the mall was built and in the decade of the 1980's. This image from 1982 gives us a great look back at some of the early tenants and store design styles that were in place at the time. The image features the facades of The Limited, Shoe Works and the original Spencer Gifts location.

For those who haved lived in the Florence community for a while, the Florence Mall is a place that holds many memories over the years. Looking back at these classic images from the past help to bring back some of those great feelings from shopping trips past.

The new version of the Florence Mall continues to be an economic center for the city of Florence and a place where residents and visitiors still gather together.

Picture of the Day: Flags at the Florence Government Center

Today's Picture of the Day is of the flagpole on the campus of the Florence Government Center on Ewing Blvd. The flags of the United States, the state of Kentucky and the city of Florence fly on a flagpole that is located between the Florence Government Center building and the Veterans Memorial of Boone County. After a week of constant rain, the sun has finally decided to shine on our great city again creating a great backdrop for the city's flags.

Picture of the Day: Burlington Baptist Church Free Yard Sale

Today's Picture of the Day is the Free Yard Sale at Burlington Baptist Church in Burlington on Saturday August 8th. The church had their members donate gently used clothing and then invited members of the surrounding communities who were in need to come and shop for the supplies they needed. All of the items at the sale were provided at no cost, and each family was able to take whatever was necessary to meet their family's needs.

In addition to the free yard sale, the church also provided backpack loaded with school supplies to many of the children who attended the event. The backpacks will allow those children to start school next week with the supplies they will need to get the school year off to a good start.

It was a great event and their were many happy faces around the room as the day went on. Because of the efforts of the Burlington Baptist Church, many members of the community now have the things they need for a successful 2009 school year.

Under the leadership of recently installed pastor Todd Toole, the Burlington Baptist Church is growing and working on many new ways to be of assistance to the members of the Boone County community. You can learn more about Burlington Baptist Church at their official website here.

Today's Boone County News:

New wrestling coach at Cooper High School

Union Town Plan lands 1st development

Model A takes couple to Alaska and back

High scoring game ends in Freedom loss

NASCAR star Ken Schrader at Florence Speedway

Cooper girl's golf opens season with win

Picture of the Day: Mall Road Florence Kentucky

Today's picture of the day is an image of the Rt. 18 end of Mall Road in Florence. The image shows all of the retail and restaurant development that sits at that end of Mall Road. The image is not particularly interesting until you see this image from the Kenton County Library site. 

The image looks at the same area as it was many years ago. Each day we see Mall Road in its current configuration, like the Picture of the Day. It is sometimes hard to remember what the area looked like in the past. In the vintage image you see the old Ma Bentley's restaurant,the old Central Hardware and the Bonanza up on the corner. Seeing this image brings back many great memories from Florence's past and when seen side-by-side with an image from today provides great perspective on how much the area has changed over the years.

Today's Boone County News:

Community information fair to be held

Ryle hopes to extend state streak

Cooper ready for second year of golf

Progress on Florence senior center

Freedom game rained out, will become doubleheader

Picture of the Day: Turfway Business Park

Today's Picture of the Day is the Turfway Business Park located off of Turfway Road in Florence Kentucky, just off of the Houston Road shopping district. The Turfway Business Park is the home to many top companies and provides the Florence and Boone County area with a great job base. The business park also benefits from its close proximity to the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

This business park is just one of many that are located throughout Florence. The Florence area is home to many great companies that are the foundation of the economic and employment base of the area.

Today's Boone County News:

Track athletes honored for academics

Friends of Delta host fundraiser

Duke adds trees to Boone County property

Longbranch Elementary taking shape

Florence youth wins soapbox derby

Celebrities take field for good cause

Florence Freedom lose to Crushers

Five Florence Freedom players selected as All-Stars

Picture of the Day: Boone County Kentucky

One of the things that makes life in Florence and Boone County great, is the fact that we are so close to scenes like this one. Even though Florence Kentucky has grown to be a wonderful business and shopping hub for the region, you don't have to go very far to see scenes like this. Boone County still has many places filled with natural beauty and rural scenery to balance out the development and provide a great place to call home.

Today's Boone County News:

Florence Freedom win 15-5

Freedom games to be broadcast on Fox 19

Longtime pastor gradually retiring

Creek adventure provides holiday fun

Conner grad gets second chance at pro career

Hebron retail center approved

Church receives much needed makeover

Picture of the Day: Danbarry Theater Florence

Today's Picture of the Day is the Danbarry Theater in Florence. The Danbarry Theater is located just off Turfway Road in Florence, on the grounds of Turfway Park race course. The Danbarry is located conveniently near Florence's Houston Road shopping district. The Danbarry Theater is the low price alternative to the regular cinemas. The Danbarry is a great inexpensive entertainment option in Florence. Danbury Theatre Florence Kentucky

Today's Boone County News:

Music, fireworks highlight July 4th in Florence

Subdivision to expand

Hard work, structure drive Ryle wrestler

Boone students graduate from MSU

Rotary honors law enforcement

Florence Freedom to host "Salute the Troops" night