Niagara Bottling has opened its new $141 million manufacturing facility in Elsmere, the company's first location in Kentucky. Gov. Andy Beshear joined local and regional leaders for a ribbon cutting at the 436,000 square foot plant, which is now operational and is expected to create more than 60 jobs. Officials pointed to Northern Kentucky's water resources, skilled workforce and strategic location as advantages in attracting manufacturers.
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WVXU reports Florence has canceled nine of the 20 business meetings city law calls for by the end of October, and the council has held eight special meetings this year. The last regular business meeting was Aug. 25, and the last public comment opportunity was Sept. 15. Mayor Julie Metzger Aubuchon said the past three business meetings were canceled for Labor Day, a Kentucky League of Cities conference and Columbus Day, and that residents can contact the city by call or email.
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The 12th Annual Honor Run Half Marathon returns to Florence on Sunday, Nov. 15. Road closures will begin at about 6:30 a.m. and continue until about 11 a.m. Proceeds help veterans take an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. The city asks motorists to review the race route and closure information in advance.
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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].

☀️ Thursday — 77° / 55° · Sunny
☀️ Friday — 73° / 52° · Sunny
🌥️ Saturday — 70° / 55° · Mostly Cloudy
📍 Source: weather.gov — Florence, KY 41042

I am putting together a holiday events guide for Florence and Boone County, covering craft shows, pop-ups, markets and seasonal events in October, November and December. Email [email protected] with the event name, date and time, location, and a link or contact for details. Vendors, churches, schools, businesses and organizers are welcome to send events, including ones hosted by someone else.

Thursday, October 29
Family Essentials Chiropractic, 8544 U.S. 42, Florence, 5 to 7 p.m.
Free. A family friendly Halloween event with treats for all ages, a bounce house and a live DJ.
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Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31
Prime Car Wash, 7600 Burlington Pike, Florence. Friday 7:30 to 10 p.m., Saturday 8 to 11 p.m.
A drive through haunted car wash with costumed characters. Tickets are $25 per car and include a Basic Wash, and each car receives a goodie bag with a free Elite Wash coupon. Tickets can be purchased in advance.
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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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Saturday, October 31
Dave & Buster's, 781 Heights Blvd, Florence
Two sessions: the family Boo Bash from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a pancake banquet, from $21 per person, and the Moonlight Mixer for ages 18 and older from 7 to 10 p.m., from $24.99 per person. Prices exclude taxes, gratuity and fees. Both include costume contests, themed activities and unlimited game play for a set time.
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Sunday, November 1, through Wednesday, November 11
Boone County Veterans Memorial, 8100 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, 8 a.m. daily
The City of Florence and Florence Christian Church hold an 11 day observance honoring veterans and raising awareness of veteran mental health. Each 15 minute ceremony includes readings, reflections and a moment of remembrance, and adds 22 dog tags to the Witness Tree, 242 in all by Veterans Day. The public may attend any or all.
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Monday, November 2, through Tuesday, November 17
Florence Government Center lobby, 8100 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, during regular business hours
The City of Florence is collecting food for Boone County Family Resource Centers. Requested items include peanut butter, canned fruit, fruit cups, canned tuna and chicken, dried beans and rice, and tomato sauce. Call 859 647 8177 for details.
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Saturday, November 7
Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Northern Kentucky Solid Waste Management Area holds its annual collection. Residents should complete a registration form before attending. Accepted items include electronics, oil based paint, aerosol cans, pesticides, fuels and smoke detectors. Latex paint and alkaline batteries are not accepted.
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Saturday, November 7
Florence Mall, 2028 Florence Mall Rd, Florence, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free admission. Sports cards, memorabilia, Pokémon and trading card games, and singles and sealed product, with vendors buying, selling and trading.
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Saturday, November 7
Hilton Cincinnati Airport, Florence, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free admission and free parking. A full ballroom of vendors with sports cards, Pokémon, trading card games and collectibles. A bar is open.
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Sunday, November 8
Florence Lions Club, 29 Lacresta Dr, Florence, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
A sports card show hosted by the Northern Kentucky Card Show community.
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Thursday, October 29: Fall Tree Planting
Thursday, October 29: Intermediate Paper Mache
Monday, November 2: Intro to Backyard Poultry
Wednesday, November 4: Hand Lettering and Calligraphy, 10 a.m.
Wednesday, November 4: Sleep Smarts: Getting Better ZZZs
Wednesday, November 4: Hand Lettering and Calligraphy, 2 p.m.
Thursday, November 5: Create A... (afternoon session)
Thursday, November 5: Create A... (evening sessions)
Thursday, November 5: Native Shrubs for the Home Landscape
Saturday, November 7: Guided Bird Hike at the Nature Center
Monday, November 9: Plan Today, Protect Tomorrow
Monday, November 9: Upcycled Piecework Sweatshirt for Adults
Tuesday, November 10: Pest Problems on Indoor Plants
Wednesday, November 11: Sleep Smarts: Getting Better ZZZs
Wednesday, November 11: Introduction to Hydroponics & Aquaponics

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 Sports Schedule: Oct. 29 to 31

No BCHS varsity games are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 29, or Saturday, Oct. 31.
Friday, Oct. 30: Varsity Boys Football vs. Lloyd Memorial High School, 7 p.m.

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

The Underground Railroad was not a railroad, and it had no single route. It was a network of people, Black and white, who hid, fed, and guided freedom seekers. In the Boone County borderlands, some of those people lived on the Kentucky side, and some lived across the river.

Samuel Barkshire was freed in Boone County in 1833. A few years later he had started a business in Rising Sun, Indiana, and was living there with his wife and six children. The family helped many people escape to freedom. Nancy Hawkins, who had once enslaved Samuel Barkshire, later moved to Rising Sun to live with the family after her husband died. She helped with their Underground Railroad work on several known occasions, including hiding freedom seekers from her former Boone County neighbors.

Helping carried real risk. In 1853, neighbors accused Dr. Thomas Trundle of helping enslaved people escape. His bail was set at $17,000, and he was held in Independence after a change of venue. The accounts of what he actually did are conflicting and rest on hearsay, and no verdict is recorded. In 1847, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against John Van Zandt, an Ohio abolitionist who had given a ride to people escaping from Boone County slaveholder Wharton Jones. Friday, we look at the freedom seekers themselves.