July / August 2014

We’re all getting older, and there’s no way to stop it from happening. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. With the right regimen of fitness, diet, vitamins, and other healthy choices, it’s possible to stay active no

It’s one of the first things we ask new acquaintances: where did you go to school? And we’re not asking where that person went to college. It’s all about high school. In Southwestern Indiana, each high school comes with its

Following graduation, many high school classmates lose touch. It’s common to wonder whatever happened to that guy who sat next to you in study hall, or that girl who had a locker next to yours. But a few local graduates

Most of us have at least a few favorite memories from high school. Maybe it was a big game or a first date. Maybe it was a favorite teacher. Maybe it was that time your buddy Ferris got you to

Today, the closing or opening of a high school is relatively rare. When New Harmony School closed its doors in 2012, it made statewide news. But there was a time in Indiana when schools closed much more often. For the

Summer is finally here and restaurants are dusting off their outdoor tables and chairs. After a winter that seemed to never end and a spring that was gone in a blink of an eye, we’re ready to enjoy dining in

It is a field many surgeons dread, but one in which Dr. Elizabeth Butler has excelled. The cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon at St. Mary’s Ohio Valley HeartCare is one of only 200 women in the nation who have been certified

Sarah Appel was just like any other young mother. At 28 years old, she was raising 2-year-old Makaelyn and 4-month-old Brooklyn. But something wasn’t right, and the lump in her breast wasn’t going away. In May 2012, after being misdiagnosed

When Diana Nyad made her fifth attempt to swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys in 2013, nothing was left to chance. From the special suit she wore to protect against jellyfish stings to the support boat that helped guide

Both children and adults often dread sitting in the waiting room at a dentist’s office. But, instead of waiting with shaky knees and gritted teeth, children in Southern Indiana receive the dental care they need at their schools, which helps

We’ve all been there. It’s 3 a.m. and your 2-year-old is up with a rash and fever, and you consult Google. You are not sure if the information you just read on Yahoo! Answers is credible. If only you had

“When I was in second grade, I heard about people with cancer and I just wanted to help them,” says Paige Miller. That simplistic yet surprisingly strong motivation led to Paige’s Cupcakes for Cancer. This year Miller, 9, raised $3,650

What once was a massive limestone quarry has been transformed to an underground theme park. The mine was founded by Ralph Rogers in the 1930s and, since the early 1990s, recycled concrete, brick, block, rock, and dirt have been off-loaded

After 25 years in the corporate world of college athletics and broadcast media management, Evansville native Bill Hodge decided to “catch his breath” and ask himself what he really wanted to be doing. In 2009, Hodge began volunteering in conservation

In 1958, 12 years after Santa Claus Land opened, Bill Koch realized the theme park’s guests had nowhere to stay after it closed each night. So Koch, who had assumed control of Santa Claus Land from his father, Louis J.

A dream home is not complete without a dream kitchen. In the fourth episode of the WNIN TV program “Evansville’s Great Kitchens” titled “Dream Homes,” independent producer Jane Owen visits Anne and Jim Heinrich’s Newburgh, Indiana, home and customized kitchen.

It was, until owner Grant Hartman decided to retire 13 years ago, a land of pasture and hay. Hartman had already owned the 20 acres of land for more than two decades, but needed to find a new use for

Keith Freudenberg wouldn’t be happy working in a cubicle. He’d much rather be outside. Sitting on 8 acres of land, Accent on Flowers has for nearly three decades, married Freudenberg’s love for the outdoors with his natural knack for floral

Owning the former Kasson School in German Township means uncovering an important time in history for Evansville residents. That’s what Frank and Michelle Peterlin have learned since buying the 1920 school 10 years ago. The 6,000-square-foot brick school was home

Ahhhhh, summer. Humidity, mosquitos, losing AC function in your car. All promised by our wonderful friend that joins us from mid-April to mid-October. Or so it seems. Yes, summer is my least favorite season, but at least it inspires some

While patrons at The Pie Pan often have a short wait to be seated at the popular North Park restaurant, don’t ask to be seated at the empty table at the front of the restaurant. It’s reserved – everyday —

In the next few days, the first Posey County melons will be ready for harvest. But they won’t actually be in Posey County. Frey Farms produces hundreds of thousands of melons annually at its Gibson County location. Director of sales

Paige McFarling’s past is filled with music. Growing up in the Evansville area, she took lessons in piano, flute, oboe, and voice with teachers trained at Eastman School of Music, The Julliard School, and New York Opera. She met world-renowned

After publishing this magazine for nearly 15 years, I’m convinced that a distinct phenomenon occurs for those in the magazine business: We begin to live two lives. One, in the here and now — the details of daily life. Then

City Taco, a new restaurant from Kanpai and Commonwealth Kitchen + Bar owner Jayson Munoz, opened June 18 at 2403 Washington Ave. It offers gourmet tacos, beer, and wine. Bliss Artisan (610 Church St., New Harmony, IN), an ice cream

Karen Sue Conaway wants to showcase all things local – produce, art, entertainment, knife sharpening, you name it. So she’s starting the Franklin Street Bazaar, to be held every Saturday, June 21 through Sept. 20. It will bring 40 vendors

It’s a subject often avoided because of varied stances, but for one night, three top-notch performers will come to together to laugh about religion. The Laugh in Peace Tour presents three seasoned performers with an implicit — but not preachy

Fifty years ago, The Beatles came to America. On Aug. 30, it’ll feel like it’s happening all over again. The “Come Together, Right Now with Liverpool Legends and EVSC” live concert featuring the Grammy-nominated Beatles tribute band of the same

When Alex Mourer was in Indianapolis last January, he noticed several posters and flyers promoting music festivals tacked up in nightlife spots around the city. That gave him the idea of a free, all-day music festival in Evansville. “I thought,

With approximately 70 kids visiting the Fulton Square Boys and Girls Club Unit every day after school, it’s no surprise that the activity center equipment saw some wear and tear. The staff of the unit, located at 1328 Dresden St.,

Taking a walk down Fourth Street between Vine and Court, one passes two of the most significant structures in Evansville, the Old Jail and Sheriffs Residence and the Old Courthouse. This one-block section of Fourth Street was once the site

When the country needed them most, the residents of Evansville delivered. During World War II, Evansville was the most productive manufacturing city in the world, per capita. Workers in the city produced planes, ships, bombs, and much more for the

Homeowners have a wide array of options when selecting smaller ornamental and flowering trees for their gardens. These trees generally have a smaller growth size than larger shade trees and are chosen because of their unique characteristics and branching habits.

When the U-3 Master Tire narrowly beat the U-11 Peters & May in a hydroplane exhibition June 15 during the Shrinersfest, it marked the first race of its kind on the Evansville riverfront since the last Thunder on the Ohio

On May 1, the Belle of Louisville met the Belle of Cincinnati for the 52nd running of the Kentucky Derby Festival Great Steamboat Race. Spectators of what is sometimes referred to as “The Slowest Two Hours in Sports” have long

Costume play, or cosplay for short, is a form of performance art where participants role play specific characters. It’s been a growing hobby for more than two decades, and it’s become a growing industry. Not every character needs a mask,

It’s unlikely wildlife artist John James Audubon ever envisioned the wooded rolling hills of Henderson, Kentucky, where he studied and painted birds from 1810 to 1819, would later become a state park with a museum and gallery in his honor.

In 1942, 15-year-old Esther Nisenthal Krinitz and her family were Jews living in Poland. When the Nazis ordered all Jewish residents in her town to report to the local train depot, she and her 13-year-old sister fled, hiding out in

Bob Zasadny is a sculpture artist who uses a unique mix of fiberglass and recycled materials to create abstract sculptures. In his early 20s, Zasadny worked for a fiberglass fabricating shop in his native city of Chicago as a production

About a year ago, a few local vintage motorcycle enthusiasts decided it was time to start having regular outings with those with similar interests. So they set up informal gatherings where they can share information, insight, skills, and experiences. The

What began six years ago as a singular attempt to gain recognition for Riesling wine has grown into a national celebration. During the summer of 2008, Paul Grieco, manager at New York’s famous Terroir E.Vil Wine Bar, decided to change

There are two traditional iced teas in the U.S.: iced tea and sweet tea. The latter, as most know, is popular in the South, where consumption rose during Prohibition. If you’re a fan of the sweet stuff, McAlister’s Deli says

Honestly, being in high school isn’t that much fun. There’s social studies homework to do, English papers to write, and math class to suffer through. But our memories of high school are far rosier years after we took our last

In the July/August issue of Evansville Living, we ran a list of some of the local high schools that have come and gone. But that list was far from complete. Here’s the rest of the closed high schools from Posey,