Hi, my name is Laura Dake. My husband Bill and I have lived in Versailles for 34 years.

I was raised in a small town in southern Michigan very much like Versailles, with a beautiful, historic downtown surrounded by farmland.

After I graduated from college, I went to work for the federal government in Northern Virginia.

When Bill and I married, we were both interested in moving to a smaller town closer to family. We found Versailles and fell in love with it. Our three children, Julia, Janet and Jimmy were born and raised in Versailles and are graduates of Woodford County Public Schools.

Versailles was, and is, a great place to raise kids.

Bill is a Family Practice physician who retired after a 30-plus year career with a Community Health Center in Lexington. He runs Art Space Versailles.

Julia is teaching and lives with her fiance, John, in Chicago.

Janet is teaching, working on a Masters and creating art in Louisville.

Jimmy spent six years with the Army National Guard and works as a paramedic in St. Joseph Main’s Emergency Department. He lives in Richmond with his wife, Cailin.

…And we have a motley crew of three rescue dogs, Phoebe, Scooter, and Lucy.

I have been an active member of Versailles Presbyterian Church for over 30 years.

I enjoy helping others and being involved in the community I love:

• I founded Woodford Wheels, a volunteer driver transportation service that has delivered 5,000 rides to date, and serve as its board chair and a driver.

• I lead Livable Woodford, an age-friendly initiative in Woodford County.

• I am the board secretary for the Bluegrass Council of the Blind and serve on the Housing Authority of Versailles’ Board of Commissioners.