Publix Super Market opened its 10th Kentucky store Wednesday at Farmview Commons on U.S. 42 in Florence. The 58,817 square foot store has an adjacent Publix Liquors. The Florida based grocer entered Kentucky in January 2024 and has opened stores in Walton and Cold Spring, with more under construction in Union and Independence.
Read More →

NorthKey Community Care, the community mental health center for Kentucky's eight northernmost counties, has launched a 24/7 crisis line for mental health and substance use at 859.438.4357 (859.GET.HELP). Local behavioral health professionals answer, and people can call for themselves or someone they are concerned about. The 988 lifeline, which NorthKey manages locally, is not affected.
Read More →

The 2026 Woody Plant Symposium runs Oct. 22 at the Boone County Enrichment Center, 1824 Patrick Dr., Burlington, with programming from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Speakers include Bill Fountain, Joe Boggs, Mark Wessel, Paul Cappiello and Steve Foltz. Admission is $109, or $49 for students with ID, and includes lunch, refreshments and parking. Continuing education credits are available.
Read More →

I am looking for businesses to spotlight in the Florence Pulse. Enquire about having your business in the spotlight. Email me at [email protected].

☀️ Friday — 81° / 59° · Sunny
⛅ Saturday — 78° / 60° · Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
⛈️ Sunday — 72° / 61° · Showers And Thunderstorms
📍 Source: weather.gov — Florence, KY 41042

Where is your favorite pumpkin patch?

Respond to this email with your answer.
Find out the answers next week.

October 5 - October 11
Drop off unwanted debris at the Public Services Maintenance Facility at 7850 Tanners Lane, Florence, KY 41042
Mon - Fri…7am to 7pm
Sat - Sun…9am to 7pm

Friday, October 9
Main Library, 7 p.m.
Kick off the 250th anniversary celebrations with a patriotic violin concert. Don’t miss the chance to win a copy of 1776 by David McCullough!

Sunday, October 11
6800 Hazel Court, Florence. Held after the 8:00 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. services.
Free. Every child receives a free pumpkin. The event includes a petting zoo, fall treats, apple cider, hot cocoa, photo spots and kids' activities.
More Information →

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.
More Information →

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.
More Information →

Friday, October 16
Turfway Park, 7 p.m.
More Information →

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.
More Information →

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.
More Information →

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.
More Information →

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.
More Information →

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.
More Information →

Thursday, October 22
7210 Turfway Rd, Florence, 11 a.m. to noon
Free. The session covers new appraisal information that takes effect Nov. 1.
More Information →

Friday, October 9 — Callery Pear Bounty Program
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

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: Thursday, Oct. 8

Boys Soccer: Boone County 2, Villa Madonna Academy 1 (Final)

Football: Scott 43, Boone County 21 (Final)

Florence Bowl is hosting the Judy's Crew doubles bowling tournament this October. Teams can enter on six dates: Saturday, October 10; Sunday, October 11; 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]

When the last Shawnee hunting parties withdrew north of the Ohio and the settlers began to stay, they did not move into empty country. They moved into a landscape that had been shaped by human hands for twelve thousand years.

The burial mounds and village sites of the Fort Ancient people are still in Boone County, documented along the rivers and creek beds that run through it. The site at Petersburg, where hundreds of people once kept storage pits and ceremonial plazas, sits beneath the same ridge the settlers found when they arrived. The trails worn between the river and the salt licks became the routes the first roads followed, because the logic of the land does not change just because the people walking it do.

The name Kentucky itself comes from a Native word, though scholars still debate its exact meaning. The settlers who named a county after Daniel Boone and built a courthouse in Burlington did not spend much time thinking about what they were inheriting. They were too busy building.

If you would like to read more about the Fort Ancient people of Boone County, the Kentucky Archaeological Survey has published a free booklet on the subject: The Prehistoric Farmers of Boone County, Kentucky