I have a love/hate relationship with a tree. Specifically, a very large Bradford pear right outside my second-story office window. Bradford pears came over to the U.S. from China and Vietnam. Once known for their ornamental beauty, they have fallen out of favor. Although they offer an abundance of pretty white flowers, there are numerous issues with them. They are invasive and thorny. They split easily and smell bad. As seen in the photo here, this one currently is in full bloom, and since it is outside my office, I don’t have to deal with the aroma.
While it looks lovely now, soon the leaves will block a significant portion of a beautiful river view. When it drops its leaves in fall and moves into winter mode, its tangled, twisted, and scraggy branches look right out of a horror movie, really driving home the fact that, “Hey man, it’s winter, and it’s really cold out here.”
Another source of irritation is a resident of the tree: a bird, or birds. I’m barely a magazine publisher, and definitely not an ornithologist. I don’t know if it has been the same bird each year, but I don’t think two different birds each would be so ill-behaved. This bird would look at me from its perch in the tree, fly to my window, and loudly smack its beak on the glass … over and over and over. Creative Director Laura Mathis occupies the office next to mine. She would hear the noise and laugh, knowing it was driving me crazy. I don’t know if that bird will be back again this year. I kind of hope so.
I know Ben Trockman as a well-known community leader but personally only enough to say hello to. Zach Evans’ profile, “Everything’s an Upside from Here,” on page 25 makes me want to know Trockman better. He addresses a wide array of topics, from having former CEO Bob Jones as a mentor at Old National Bank, to the 2006 motocross accident that left Trockman in a wheelchair. I am very impressed with his positive spirit and determination to accomplish what he sets out to do. Trockman’s remark at the article’s close is one of the most memorable quotes I have heard in some time: When Jones once asked Trockman if he ever has a bad day, Trockman replied, “I had my bad day. Everything’s an upside from here.”
My heartfelt congratulations to two very deserving community leaders. Over her 21-year tenure as president and CEO of Youth First, Parri Black led the impressive non-profit to new heights. She did a tremendous job of raising money and awareness. Enjoy your retirement, Parri!
Ray Farabaugh, co-president of D-Patrick Automotive Group who is featured on the cover of this issue, won TIME’s Dealer of the Year award at the 2025 National Automobile Dealers Association Show in January. What an incredible, well-deserved honor. Congratulations, Ray. Read more about Ray, D-Patrick, and the regional automotive sales industry in the feature story on page 30.
As always, I look forward to hearing from most of you.
Todd A. Tucker, President
P.S. My wife Kristen, publisher and editor of Evansville Living, tells me — of course — the Bradford pear also is known as the Callery pear. Like I didn’t know that.
