GO Pantry is partnering with Chick-fil-A on the "Love Your Neighbor" campaign to help students experiencing food insecurity in Northern Kentucky and surrounding areas. From Oct. 12 to 15, people can pick up a GO Pantry shopping bag at any of the five Northern Kentucky Chick-fil-A locations and shop for select food items from a shopping list. Donations can be dropped off in person on Friday, Oct. 16, at any Northern Kentucky Chick-fil-A location from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. Donors receive a Chick-fil-A meal card as a thank you. People who prefer to give online can donate through GO Pantry and have the meal cards mailed to them. Online donations of $50 or more receive two meal cards, while supplies last. Donations originating from a Northern Kentucky Chick-fil-A restaurant benefit GO Pantry.
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The Boone County Board of Education voted Thursday, Oct. 8, against forming a committee to recommend moving up to 500 Longbranch Elementary students to Burlington, Erpenbeck, Stephens and Yearley elementaries for the 2027 to 2028 school year. Longbranch is at 110% capacity, 90 students over its 900 student limit, and is projected to reach 143% by 2030. Two mobile classroom units are now delayed until December.
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Fischer Homes subsidiary Grand Communities is asking to rezone about 78 acres off Longbranch Road from agricultural to planned development for Cloverlin, a 687 unit project of 460 condos, 103 paired patio homes and 124 townhomes. Condos start near $220,000. The Boone County Planning Commission heard the request Oct. 7, and the full commission votes on a recommendation Nov. 4. Schools and traffic on Shamrock Drive were the main concerns, and no one spoke in favor.
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Floor & Decor, a retailer of hard surface flooring, has announced its new warehouse store and design center at 87 Spiral Drive in Florence. The store opens with about 38 associates and is led by Gena Schobinger, the store's Chief Executive Merchant. A grand opening celebration is set for Thursday, Oct. 15, including a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. in partnership with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. That evening from 5 to 8 p.m., a PRO Grand Opening Event for contractors, installers, designers and other trade professionals offers prize drawings, including a Chevy Colorado truck. Store hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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I am looking for businesses to spotlight in the Florence Pulse. Enquire about having your business in the spotlight. Email me at [email protected].

☀️ Tuesday — 86° / 69° · Sunny
⛈️ Wednesday — 84° / 65° · Showers And Thunderstorms
⛈️ Thursday — 76° / 61° · Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
📍 Source: weather.gov — Florence, KY 41042

Where is your favorite pumpkin patch?

Respond to this email with your answer.

Tuesday, October 13
Boone County Public Library Main Library, 1786 Burlington Pike, Burlington, 7 p.m.
Free and open to the public. Candidates Chet Hand and Tim Johnson debate, with former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson moderating. Norse Media will film and livestream the event.
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Big Bone Lick State Historic Site in Union is hosting its annual Salt Festival on October 16–18, with tickets now available for purchase online. The festival celebrates the site's natural and archaeological heritage through live demonstrations, guided tours, and educational programming at one of Kentucky's most significant Pleistocene fossil sites.
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Friday, October 16
Turfway Park, 7 p.m.
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Saturday, October 17
High Stakes Harley-Davidson, 430 Meijer Drive, Florence, 1 to 4 p.m.
Live music by Billy Brown, Minton's Ducking Good BBQ food truck, cash bar, pumpkin decorating and a costume contest. Candy hand out begins at 3 p.m.
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Saturday, October 17
Nostalgic Garage, 7968 Kentucky Dr., Suite 5, Florence, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Classic, hot rod, muscle and off-road vehicles, plus a trunk or treat for kids. Attendees are asked to bring candy and non-perishable food. The candy supports Sunrise Children's Services and the food goes to a Go Pantry donation bin.
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Saturday, October 17
Florence Elks Lodge #314, 7704 Dixie Hwy, Florence, 2 to 6 p.m.
A family friendly fundraiser open to the public, with games, prizes, food, music, raffle baskets and Split the Pot. All proceeds support the Simon Kenton Cheer team.
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Sunday, October 18
School of Rock NKY, 6415 Dixie Hwy, Florence, 3 to 6 p.m.
Free. A family friendly Halloween event with games for kids of all ages. Attendees can bring their own pumpkin for painting.
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Wednesday, October 21
4885 Houston Rd, Florence, 6 to 8 p.m.
Free. Children in costume collect candy from decorated trunks in the parking lot.
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Wednesday, October 21
Boone County High School commons, 7056 Burlington Pike, Florence, 6 to 8 p.m.
For children ages 4 to 12. The cost is $40 per child and includes a shirt, a bow, instruction and a spot in the performance at the Friday, October 23 football game. Proceeds help send the Boone County Cheerleaders to a national competition.
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Thursday, October 22
7210 Turfway Rd, Florence, 11 a.m. to noon
Free. The session covers new appraisal information that takes effect Nov. 1.
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Friday, October 23
Boone County Fairgrounds, 6 to 8 p.m.
Register at boonecountyky.org/parks.
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Saturday, October 24
St. Henry Athletic Complex, 35 Cavalier Blvd., Florence, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is $5. More than 100 local craftsmen display handmade items, with free face painting, a fall display for photos and raffle tickets for themed gift baskets.
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Saturday, October 24
Dave & Buster's, 781 Heights Blvd, Florence, 3 to 5 p.m.
Free. Guests in costume can explore the midway for treats and surprises and receive an Unlimited Sim Play Card.
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Saturday, October 24
Boone County Fairgrounds, 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Free for all ages. Visitors walk a trail lit by jack-o-lanterns, take a hayride and end the night with a sweet treat.
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Saturday, October 24
Turfway Park, 7500 Turfway Road, Florence, 8:30 p.m.
Live concert.
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Monday, October 26
The 859 Taproom and Grill, 8720 Bankers St, Florence, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Florence Kentucky Pride hosts its second Pride Trunk or Treat, with costume and trunk decorating contests.
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Saturday, October 31
Unincorporated Boone County, Florence, Union and Walton, 6 to 8 p.m.
Trick or treat is not a county sponsored event. Residents giving out candy can turn on porch lights. Drivers are asked to slow down in neighborhoods and turn on headlights before sunset.
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Tuesday, October 13 — WITS: Interactive Brain Workout
Wednesday, October 14 — Hike the Trails
Wednesday, October 14 — Sleep Smarts: Getting Better ZZZs
Thursday, October 15 — Create A... (afternoon session)
Thursday, October 15 — Create A... (evening sessions)
Thursday, October 15 — Northern Kentucky Beef Field Day
Friday, October 16 — Visual Journaling Series
Monday, October 19 — Air-Dry Clay Ghosts
Tuesday, October 20 — Fall Color Walk
Tuesday, October 20 — Wildlife Critters October 2026
Tuesday, October 20 — Building Healthy Soils
Wednesday, October 21 — Hike the Trails
Wednesday, October 21 — Pokeberry Ink & Quill Pen Workshop
Wednesday, October 21 — Sleep Smarts: Getting Better ZZZs
Thursday, October 22 — Woody Plants & Landscape Symposium
Thursday, October 22 — Pokeberry Ink & Quill Pen Workshop
Thursday, October 22 — Adulting Academy
Friday, October 23 — Coffee, Tea, Caffeine, and Thee
Friday, October 23 — Air-Dry Clay Ghosts
Tuesday, October 27: Healing Power of Connection
Tuesday, October 27: Fall Tree and Wildflower Hike
Tuesday, October 27: Intermediate Paper Mache

Date: Every Saturday through Oct 31.
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Location: 1961 Burlington Pike, Burlington, KY 41005
Description: About 50 member farm families sell Northern Kentucky-grown produce, flowers and other items. Vendors may also set up on other days, and the market's Facebook page posts pop-ups.
More Info: Boone County Farmers Market

Get your event listed here. Contact me at robert@florencepulse.com to get your event featured in the Florence Pulse.

BCHS Varsity Results: Monday, Oct. 12

Girls Soccer: Larry A Ryle High School 11, Boone County High School 0 (Final)

BCHS Varsity Sports Schedule: Oct. 13 to 16

Tuesday, Oct. 13: Boys Soccer at Larry A Ryle High School, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13: Girls Volleyball vs. Ludlow High School, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 14: Girls Volleyball vs. Grant County High School, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15: Girls Volleyball at Newport Central Catholic High School, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 16: Football at Dixie Heights High School, 7 p.m.

Florence Bowl is hosting the Judy's Crew doubles bowling tournament this October. Teams can still enter on four dates: Saturday, October 17; Sunday, October 18; Saturday, October 24; and Sunday, October 25, 2026, with 10:00 AM and 12:15 PM start times available each day. Entry fee is $60 per team.

Location: Florence Bowl, 7500 Sussex Dr., Florence, KY 41042

Sign up: https://www.florencebowl.com/judyscrew

Let us know about your sport results. Send to [email protected]

The flatboat was not a graceful vessel. It was a box. Builders made them from green oak planks, no nails, no iron, held together by the weight of what they carried. They were propelled by large oars called sweeps and steered with a front oar called a gouger. They were not built to make more than one trip. At the end of the journey, the boat was broken apart and the lumber used for building.

Families packed everything onto those boats. Furniture, tools, seeds, livestock. The Ohio River from Pittsburgh to northern Kentucky could take days or weeks depending on conditions, and the current did not stop for weather. Uncharted sandbars, the ever-present risk of attack from the northern bank, and simple bad luck kept passengers on edge the whole way. Arriving was its own kind of relief.

Those who came overland used the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap, slower with children and oxen and whatever could be loaded on a horse. Some families traveled in groups for safety. Others ferried across the Ohio from the north once they reached the river. The specific crossing point mattered less than what waited on the other side. Wednesday, we look at what they were coming for: the land itself.