Judi and Buzz Shellabarger
By Sheree Stubblefield
Every month the Cooper-Young Community Association spotlights the contributions of our fantastic volunteers. This month we meet Judi and Buzz Shellabarger:
How long have you lived in Cooper-Young?
Judi: We purchased our home in 1982. This was our first home. We went to the closing (on our wedding anniversary) in our work clothes. Our son, Adam, was four at the time. We gave him a crowbar to help knock out walls. Our daughter, Hayley, was born in 1983. This is the only home she’s ever known.
Buzz: Our house had been made into three apartments at some point back in the 60’s or 70’s. We tore out two kitchens and a bathroom to return it to its original design. We also had to contend with old hidden termite damage! Two-thirds of the front porch had also been enclosed to be used as part of one of the apartments, and we opened half of that back up.
What is your favorite thing about Cooper-Young?
Judi: My favorite thing is the neighbors. I love my neighbors. My second favorite thing is not having to cook at night and just going for take out across the street.
Buzz: Our neighbors; sitting on the front porch in the afternoons and speaking to our neighbors and others as they come home from work or walk down the street.
Why do you like volunteering in CY?
Judi: My favorite quote is by Gandhi — The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
I just don’t understand why people don’t volunteer more. You aren’t a part of the neighborhood unless you work to make it better. My favorite part of doing the arboretum was knocking on doors and meeting people. We have the most interesting people in this neighborhood. You never find that out unless you put yourself out there.
Come to a CYCA meeting. Your children are welcome. Babies are welcome. They have food for supper.
Walk in the door. Sign in. People will come up and introduce themselves to you. You won’t be sorry. If they don’t put you to work somewhere in CY, I can.
Buzz: Meeting people that we don’t know up and down the street.
What is your favorite CY event of the year and why?
Judi: The Cooper-Young Festival. Always a party, and we have friends drop by.
Buzz: Also, the Cooper-Young Festival. It’s always a great party.
Where can we find you on a Friday or Saturday night in CY?
Judi: If we are home, we are sitting on the porch. We may both have our IPads out. I usually have wine, Buzz has his bourbon slush.
Buzz: Sometimes, we can be found at Alchemy during their happy hour on a Friday afternoon. Other times, we may be getting takeout from Soul Fish.
Tell us a good CY story.
Judi: Our daughter, Hayley, was the social butterfly of the street when she was a child. She knew the new neighbors before we did. We were referred to as Hayley’s mom and dad or the little blond girl’s mom and dad. We were lucky to have Alexa and Reid Hampton across the street from us until Alexa was killed in a caving accident. Alexa and our neighbor Cindy Tatum would take Hayley skating and always had time for her. Hayley would babysit the Hamptons’ dogs while they were out of town. As I said, our neighbors are the best.
Buzz: Some years ago, there was a TV show on HGTV called “If These Walls Could Talk,” which was about what owners of old homes found in the walls of their houses when they remodeled. Our house was no exception. About 11 years ago, Judi asked me to take the wainscoting down off the bathroom walls to strip the paint and put it back up. Well, when I tried to take it down, the corner of the wall I started on moved! I told my wife that because of this, Jericho was going to toot his horn and the walls were coming down, so we gutted it down to the studs. It turned out that termites, many years ago, had eaten the studs away behind the plaster! As we kept knocking out the plaster, we discovered these round aluminum tins in the walls that said “3 Merry Widows” on them. Underneath the words, some of them said “Agnes-Mable-Beckie” while others said “For Medicinal Purposes Only.” At first, we had no idea what they were, so we were throwing them away. We looked on the internet and found out they were 1920’s condom tins. We have three of them framed on our bathroom wall. Our house must have rocked back in the day!
What do you want to see happen in CY in the future?
Judi: A sculpture walk along the RR land on Southern from East Parkway to McLean to beautify that area. Louisville, KY and Kingsport, TN have these.
Due to the power lines, depth of rocks on the ground, and the railroad spraying for weeds, trees are pretty much not an option in that area. Shrubs in tall raised beds may be an idea.
Buzz: Four way stops at Evelyn, Nelson and Oliver at Cooper. It is almost impossible sometimes to get out on Cooper. We need crosswalks on these street intersections. The police ticket cars parked in no parking areas.
