Photo of Sarah Morgason and Maggie Valenti by Taylor Ayers. Sarah and Maggie practice for Volksfest's Brat Toss competition.
Does practice make perfect at Volksfest’s famous brat toss? We’ll find out, as a pair of Evansville Living staffers line up Aug. 13 in Germania Maennerchor’s Fest Halle in hopes of taking home the top prize — and bragging rights.
In addition to Evansville Living, eight other teams from local media outlets are participating, with the winner claiming a trophy and a $100 donation from Germania to a charity of their choice. “The competition is intense this year. Many veterans in the mix have participated in or won the Brat Toss before,” says Staff Writer Maggie Valenti. “It’s a little intimidating, but as first-timers, we hope to stun the competition and be victorious. I have faith in our ability, no matter what obstacles stand in our way.” Senior Graphic Designer Sarah Morgason is ready for the challenge, saying, “Everyone loves an underdog story.”
But what actually goes into successfully tossing — and catching — a brat? As newcomers to the annual competition, we had to find out. Follow along as Maggie and Sarah stage a parking lot practice. Their verdict? Tossing a sausage is harder than it looks.
Photo by Taylor Ayers
Each Brat Toss team gets six tosses, with each person throwing three and catching three. To practice our technique, we bought a hot dog — not the same weight as a bratwurst, but it’s a start! — and set up in the parking lot outside Evansville Living’s Downtown office. Brat Toss partners are spaced about 50 feet apart. It’s a backward toss, and the person throwing wears a blindfold. The receiver attempts to catch the brat in an apron. Here, Sarah tosses and Maggie catches as they sync their movements. The stifling 90-degree heat and the wind off the Ohio River provided extra challenges.
Photo by Taylor Ayers
Maggie has been a regular Volksfest attendee since joining Evansville Living in September 2022, but this is her first time tossing a brat. “Standing backward while throwing definitely will add a challenge to this competition,” she says.
Photo by Taylor Ayers
A pro tip from a prior competitor: Throw high, allowing the catcher more time to move into position underneath and better their chance of catching the brat. In this shot, Sarah goes airborne to give her hot dog some lift.
Photo by Taylor Ayers
At one point, Sarah ran back into the office proclaiming, “Our wiener exploded!” — meaning, it had impacted the ground enough times that the casing had burst. Since we’d bought only a single dog, we scrambled for a backup and found a hollow, plastic pickleball that definitely does not resemble a bratwurst. “Alas,” Sarah says, “but it’s worth the effort!”
Photo of Sarah Morgason and Maggie Valenti by Jodi Keen
Our Brat Toss practice revealed that Sarah is a good thrower and Maggie is a good catcher. What will happen when the roles are reversed?
See Sarah and Maggie in action when the Media Night Brat Toss kicks off at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 inside Germania Maennerchor’s Fest Halle at 916 N. Fulton Ave. Be sure to arrive by 6 p.m. for the mayor’s ceremonial keg tap.
Photo of "Evansville, Indiana" mural by Deanna Lee/Schalco Garage Doors
Evansville is big on school spirit, as an in-progress art installation on the side of a Schalco Garage Doors building in Jacobsville makes clear.
The idea initially took root in 2015, when ECHO Housing Corporation launched a community paint-by-numbers project. As proponents of community service and engagement, Schalco offered the side of its warehouse at 28 W. Indiana St. as the canvas; the east exterior wall is visible from heavily trafficked intersection of North Main and Division streets.
Floral images were projected onto the wall of Schalco’s building, an artist drew an outline, and volunteers were charged with painting 4-by-4-foot sections. “It was gorgeous,” says Mandy Scheessele, who is moving into the ownership role at Schalco Garage Doors as her father, Andy, retires. Andy opened Schalco in 1978.
But water damage caused the exterior of the building to deteriorate. Eventually, the company installed flat siding on the wall, covering the mural.
After Mandy’s 38-year-old brother, Scott, passed away suddenly in October 2020, the family memorialized him by painting angel wings on the building’s front door. But they wanted to do more to honor Scott, who Mandy says spent around 15 years living nearby on Heidelbach Avenue. Within a year or two, “Dad and I sat down and said, ‘Now’s the time to do a mural. Scott would have wanted this mural; it’s his neck of the woods. It’s time,” Mandy recalls.
Andy connected with Michael Smith of Newburgh’s Orange Moon Art Studio, who jumped on board. As fans of area high schools’ sports rivalries, the Scheesseles decided their new artwork would spell out “Evansville, Indiana,” with individual schools represented by uniquely decorated letters. Schools volunteer to paint a letter. “We want to give students ways to stay out of trouble. We’ve heard stories of hours upon hours of students painting these, and it warms our hearts,” Mandy says.
The original plan called for the letters to be white and for people to paint around them, but Smith and the Scheesseles reversed course so the artwork is featured on the letters themselves. Sign Crafters, Inc., cuts each letter and hangs it on the siding. Sherwin Williams donates 10 paint colors, and Schalco covers the cost of the paint cans and brushes. “Everyone put their brains together,” Mandy says. “Without them, we couldn’t have done it.”
Painted letters began making their debut in 2025. “Fight Tigers Fight,” roars Reitz Memorial High School’s “E.” Husky paw prints march across North High School’s “N” painted by the Class of 2025. That year’s graduates from Central High School also left their bear mascot’s claw marks across the letter “L.” Benjamin Bosse High School’s “L” includes nods to its bulldog mascot, extracurricular activities, and the school’s iconic architecture. Castle High School in Newburgh kept its design simple: The “S” features a blue silhouette of a medieval knight’s helmet with a yellow feathered plumage sprouting from the top.
Schools control their letter’s design and have gotten creative with the process. “Evansville Christian School had a competition, voted for a winner, and the entire class got to paint it,” Mandy says. “At other schools, only advanced art students painted it, or they opened it for submissions.” Artwork remains a secret, she adds: “We don’t tell the schools what the others are going to do.”
Two sets of letters exist so that, while a school paints its letter, it still is represented on Schalco’s wall. Mandy remarks that schools not yet participating have taken notice. “Teachers have told us, ‘You have no idea how much impact that had on our students, and they’re begging us to do this,’” she says, adding that nearly all of the letters in “Indiana” have been claimed.
This summer, Orange Moon painted a sunset mural, adding a vibrant backdrop to the installation and turning it into a prime photo op. “We loved seeing prom pictures taken,” says Mandy, a Castle High School graduate. “We’ve gotten a lot of great feedback from the community and teachers. People come by, take photos, and say, ‘Our best friend painted this.’ That’s what it’s for.”
A property owner on West Boonville-New Harmony Road made their feelings clear about data centers, which are being debated locally and across the U.S. Photo by John Martin
A panel discussion hosted by the Rotary Club of Evansville sought to cast a favorable light on data centers, which have become a lightning rod for criticism in public meetings and online forums across the country.
Participants in the Aug. 4 event moderated by Evansville Regional Economic Partnership CEO Lloyd Winnecke said that, in certain circumstances and with guardrails in place, data centers would deliver construction jobs, permanent jobs, a reliable taxpaying entity, and lower utility rates.
But data centers — facilities housing networked computer servers, data storage drives, and IT infrastructure used to process and share digital information — have attracted complaints for their massive size, land usage, and energy and resource consumption. Other areas of Indiana have them: New Carlisle is home to Amazon’s Project Rainer, an $11 billion complex on 1,200 acres. An October 2025 CNBC article described it as one of the world’s largest AI data centers.
“To be clear, no technology company or developer has filed for any rezoning or special use on any specific site,” Winnecke told the Rotary audience. But regional interest — and opposition — exists. Vanderburgh County Commissioners are wading into the conversation, and Posey County Commissioners have said they will oppose any requests to develop a data center in agriculturally zoned areas outside of Wadesville.
A panel spoke about data centers during an Aug. 4 event hosted by the Rotary Club of Evansville at Bally’s Evansville. Those appearing were Indiana Secretary of Energy & Natural Resources Suzanne Jaworowski, Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Director of Planning Shawn Wright, CenterPoint Energy’s Indiana Operations President Michael Roeder, Association of Indiana Counties Executive Director David Bottorff, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 136 Business Manager John Bates, and moderator Lloyd Winnecke, CEO of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership. Photo by John Martin
Speakers at the Aug. 4 presentation, who included Indiana Secretary of Energy & Natural Resources Suzanne Jaworowski and CenterPoint Energy’s Indiana Operations President Michael Roeder, cited the possibility of decreased electric rates. Roeder has estimated $250 million in savings over 15 years for the utility’s approximately 150,000 electric customers in Southwestern Indiana.
“We’ve heard the community loud and clear over the last year on affordability,” he said. “We are continuing to work on that, but there’s not a better solution to affordability than being able to land one of these data centers and immediately lower bills when they come online.”
Jaworowski told the audience that data centers utilize a lot of electricity but “are very well-prepared to help us build out our new electricity generation and transmission systems. And we are seeing that here in Indiana. We have policies that force partnerships to happen and force the large load users … to pay for that electricity.” The outcome, she said, is a lowered cost of electricity. “Even though it sounds incongruent that this big demand can help lower our cost, that is, in fact, what happens.”
Decisions on data centers should be made locally, and counties should pass ordinances covering items such as noise and setback regulations, said Rotary panelist David Bottorff, Executive Director of the Association of Indiana Counties. But Bottorff, too, cited potential benefits. “These companies are wanting to come to the county or the community,” he said. “They want to pay their property taxes. And they want to pay a little bit more. … This is an economic opportunity that counties should look at.” John Bates, another panelist and Business Manager of the United Association of Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 136, touted the construction job opportunities a data center would provide.
Winnceke told the Rotary audience that many people ask him “why data centers are needed and why we need more. We live in a digital world, and it’s becoming increasingly reliant on digital technology,” he said. “If you watched your favorite show on Netflix last night, it was processed thanks to a data center. When you rely on a bank ATM, that too works through a data center. And the same goes for cell phone technology. All that happens because of data centers.”
Skeptics and opponents of data centers have questioned their long-term viability given how fast technology moves, plus environmental impacts and whether promised savings on utility bills will materialize. Local governments will ultimately make the decisions, Winnecke said, adding that E-REP has gotten involved in the conversation because of its mission “to help create an environment where people want to invest in our region.”
In fact, E-REP has devoted a page on its website to data centers, with headlines stating the facilities “can strengthen local communities” when “planned responsibly.” The page claims that for every $1 in county services that data centers require, they can generate up to $13 in local tax revenue and that such facilities in 2024 contributed more than $926 billion to U.S. gross domestic product through construction, operations, suppliers, and related business activity. E-REP states that a 250-megawatt data center can represent between $2.3 billion and $3.8 billion in investment, strengthening the local tax base.
Warrick County residents have filled meeting rooms to speak about rumored data centers, and the county’s planning commission voted July 13 to table an ordinance spelling out rules for such facilities. Commissioners are holding a special meeting that’s open to the public to review the proposal to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Code at 9 a.m. Aug. 11 at Friedman Park Event Center at 2700 Park Blvd. in Newburgh. E-REP publicly urged the planning commission to postpone its vote, using a July 12 Facebook post to call the ordinance “onerous” and state that data centers “can help fund the basics: schools, roads, public safety, and infrastructure.” Two days earlier, another E-REP post stated that “a rushed ordinance could block responsible investment and the local job opportunities that come with it.” Here, the topic is not just hypothetical: On July 30, Warrick commissioners met with the county’s legal counsel and economic development representatives in an executive session to discuss a data center development being referred to as “Project Zora.”
On Aug. 6, Vanderburgh County’s Area Plan Commission passed an ordinance establishing a committee to study potential impacts of data centers. County Commissioners must approve the measure for the Data Center Research Committee to go into effect.
The ordinance would “implement a temporary deferral on new data center development applications while the committee conducts its work,” an Aug. 5 news release from the county commissioners states. “The committee would evaluate how data centers could affect land use, infrastructure, utilities, transportation, stormwater, environmental resources, public safety, and economic development. It would also develop recommendations for potential updates to the County’s Zoning Ordinance to help guide the responsible development and operation of future data center projects.”
The proposed ordinance “does not prohibit data centers permanently,” the statement added. “Instead, it provides time to research their potential impacts and determine whether additional local regulations are needed before applications are considered.”
Governor Weighs In
The day before the Rotary Club’s panel discussion, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun appeared at E-REP’s annual Lunch with the Governor at Old National Events Plaza. Following the event, Evansville Business asked Braun about his administration’s stance on data centers and how local governments should approach them.
“I’d say be careful so that you size them up to where they make sense for your community, your county,” Braun replied. “There’s a lot of discussion out there that’s probably got some misinformation to it. … I wouldn’t give them any (property tax) abatements. They should be helping your community.”
Braun emphasized that counties should decide what’s best for them. “It’s going to be a local decision. Size it up carefully,” he said. “You’ll get probably lower property taxes out of it because it’ll add a lot to your assessed value. You’ll get 150 to maybe 250 really good-paying jobs.”
He continued, “There’ll be a lot of windfall financially when they build it, but you’ve got to make sure that’s the right fit for your own community. So, I tell everybody, get the right information, make the decision. The state’s going to leave it up to you, and we should be a resource for helping you make a decision, not telling you what to do.”
I enjoy playing tabletop games like many people, but Indianapolis’ Gen Con upped the ante of my enthusiasm. A multi-day convention devoted to tabletop role-playing games only three hours away from Evansville? Sign me up.
Founded in 1967 by Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax, Gen Con hopped between different venues before landing in Indianapolis in 2003. Now the largest and longest-running such convention in North America, Gen Con is considered the No. 1 gathering for fans of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), board games, strategy games, card and miniature collecting, and more.
I got my first taste of Gen Con in 2024 and was both amazed and intimidated by the sheer scale. I’m no stranger to conventions, and Gen Con was one of the largest I had ever attended. Previously, my experience with tabletop games was limited to family games such as Trouble or Monopoly, but Gen Con showed me just how many different forms a board game could take. Gen Con also emphasizes inclusivity for all attendees through services like scooter rentals, accessibility lines, and American Sign Language interpreters.
This year, two friends and I were among the more than 70,000 TTRPG fans who attended Gen Con, held July 30-Aug. 2 at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Downtown Indianapolis. Maddie and Christi Wolfe became my friends when, while attending the University of Cincinnati, we all bonded by playing Dungeons & Dragons. So, gaming, especially TTRPGs, has become a staple in our friendship, and we were excited to go to the convention and get a good look at new games we could play together.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
Guests were greeted by a banner proclaiming “Welcome to Gen Con” on an Indiana Convention Center sky bridge. There were multiple banners hung from street lamps and on sandwich boards, some of which proudly declared that all days of the convention were sold out. Gen Con offered a variety of events, including card and game tournaments and extended demonstrations, but many required prior sign-ups for limited spots and quickly were booked.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
Inside Gen Con, ticket holders browsed more than 500 booths promoting tabletop and role-playing games.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
This dice display is by Chessex, one of the most well-known dice manufacturing companies. Dice were available at Gen Con in all shapes and sizes and could be made out of wood, resin, metal, and more materials.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
Convention-goers were invited to donate to and help assemble card towers into a display called “Cardhalla.” The display was destroyed by a coin toss called the All Toss on the last day.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
Just like TTRPGs, Gen Con is very interactive: On Aug. 2, my friends and I participated in a “Kill It, Keep It” activity in which attendees band together to fight a monster; the person to land a final blow gets to keep a figurine of its likeness.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
The convention floor included plenty of opportunities for cool photos, like with this life-size display of Titus, a Space Marine figure from the game Warhammer 40,000. A live band in the main hall outside the vendor room played pop culture themes from movies, video games, and TV shows. While cosplay is less common at Gen Con than anime or comic conventions, there still were cosplay competitions and events.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
Paizo, the company behind role-playing games Pathfinder and Starfinder, offered walk-up games every hour at Gen Con. It’s a good introduction to TTRPGs for the uninitiated, as the company provides dice, pre-made character sheets, and an experienced game master (GM) to guide players through the session.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
Another interactive session centered on Rush of Ikorr, a trading card game.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
My friends Maddie and Christi Wolfe live near Seattle, Washington, now, and traveled to Indianapolis just to attend Gen Con with me.
2026 Gen Con photo by Christi Wolfe
On July 31, Maddie Wolfe and I attended a Nexus Infernum walk-up session.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
One of the best parts of attending Gen Con was seeing demonstrations of new games like Nexus Infernum, a resource collection and management game from Archon Games. Players act as necromancers, moving pieces, attacking other players, collecting tokens, and summoning demons to earn “blasphemy” tokens. Most booths offered free demos of their games, though it was quite crowded and occasionally hard to hear.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
Incredible artwork, such as this intricately decorated miniature terrain from Dwarven Forge, also was on display at Gen Con. Dwarven Forge specializes in hand-sculpted and hand-painted modular gaming terrain.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
We got a sneak peek at an upcoming role-playing game releasing in November based on the widely popular book series Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, who appeared at the convention for a book signing and a Q&A panel. The Dungeon Crawler Carl display included game tokens, dice, figures, and also a life-size statue of the main characters. In addition to games, Gen Con includes an Artist and Author Alley featuring artists and self-published authors. A number of the artists present had drawn for notable TTRPGs and card games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and Magic: The Gathering.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
Vendors also were selling individual game pieces at Gen Con. (One can imagine Monopoly-loving players being over the moon upon discovering buckets of pewter figures for sale.)
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
I picked up a player’s manual for Fabula Ultima, a TTRPG inspired by Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs). These pages show details of character creation for the Guardian class, including characters’ abilities and benefits.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
I also purchased The Deck of Legendary Inspiration, an expansion by Metis Creative for the fifth edition of Historica Arcanum: Echoes of Renaissance. These cards allow Dungeon Masters (DMs) to add interesting decisions for players when rewarding them with inspiration for superior role-playing.
2026 Gen Con photo by Sarah Morgason
At Gen Con 2026, it wasn’t all fun and games. (See what I did there?) Around 5 p.m. Aug. 1, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Indianapolis, and attendees were asked to stay in the interior of the convention center and away from the exterior walls and windows. Around that time, a pipe burst in the game hall, which, I’m told, flooded much of the convention center into the next day. The tornado warning was lifted about an hour later and was announced to convention-goers by Jeff Hays, the audiobook reader of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. In addition to narrating a tabletop session event panel, Hays joined Dungeon Crawler Carl author Matt Dinniman for an autograph session.
Darrell and Penelope Pennington (far left), their children Jacqueline and Charles Pennington (far right) and Jacqueline's boyfriend, Colten Adcock (center), visited Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana in October 2024, just a few weeks before Darrell and Penelope began their global travels. Photo provided by Penelope Pennington
After listing their Evansville home and selling most of their possessions in order to begin living abroad in October 2024, Darrell and Penelope Pennington visited 44 cities in 14 countries across Europe before returning home for a visit in December 2025. They embarked on Year Two of their global adventure in January, a trek that started in Mexico and now has taken them into South America. Penelope — who quips she’s “a broad abroad” — shares missives from the road. Read the inaugural column.
People spend a lot of time dreaming — probably not as much as they should, but that is a topic for another column. Daydreaming is the type I’m referring to in this instance: the kind of dreaming that helps you to transcend whatever mundane or maybe even unbearable set of circumstances you’re experiencing and imagine something completely different. Daydreaming can let you develop ideas and plans for the future, or even allow you to eventually right a wrong.
Dreams also can have a downside. I’ve used the phrase “nothing’s 100 percent positive” more times than I can count, so much so that it most likely has lost some of its impact or meaning in my circles of influence. But I believe the sentiment completely. It is an important part of the dream process if the goal ultimately involves moving that dream into some degree of reality.
Darrell and I made the decision to turn our lives upside down in a matter of minutes. We sat at Prime Time Pub & Grill in Newburgh, quickly abandoning our plans for a drink and a movie, and instead hunkered down for a life-altering conversation over enough drinks that we needed to order an Uber home nine hours later. We left the bar as changed people who had come to the conclusion that we were going to travel the world. Now.
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Photo of Charles Curry and Darrell Pennington, provided by Penelope Pennington. Charles passed away while the Penningtons were traveling overseas; they were unable to attend his funeral.
Photo provided by Penelope Pennington, who is shown with friend Heidi Schaefer (right) and Tasia, Heidi's best friend from North Carolina.
A radically altered version of what we had dreamed about for years as a couple became reality that first Saturday of January 2024. The elation and pure joy of making such a monumental decision soon transformed into “oh, s—” as we set about identifying all the minute details and tasks that would make our dream possible.
Issues that did not have easy answers surfaced quickly. What if one of us died while traveling? A funeral list needed to be made; after some tough calls, only a select few people made that short list. What personal items should we get rid of? When and how to tell the kids, parents, friends, family, and people who depended on us turned into serious analysis of how our actions might negatively impact others. More than a handful of times, we asked ourselves if we were making the right decision. The adventure we had daydreamed about for decades was now a bit of a nightmare from a certain perspective.
“Nothing’s 100 percent positive,” I reminded myself many times. Dreams are no different.
This trip has provided so many wonderful upsides, but there is a trade-off. We’ve missed funerals, pet deaths, birthdays, holidays, parties, weddings, and hugs. It’s been difficult at times, of course, but I am still very thankful to have said “Yes!” to this once-in-a-lifetime dream. I’m so glad for that conversation back at Prime Time. Do dreams have downsides? Sure — because nothing’s 100 percent positive.
Photo provided by Penelope Pennington. While traveling abroad, she and Darrell have missed milestones in their loved ones’ lives, such as the wedding of Penelope’s best friend Michelle Ferrell’s daughter, Cynthia.
Photo provided by Penelope Pennington, who is shown with her parents, Peggy and Garry Pennington, and their husky Sam in December 2025.
Photo provided by Penelope Pennington of Chloe, a tuxedo rescue cat that the couple rescued years ago. Chloe lived with their son once the Penningtons began their global travels. She has since passed away at age 17.
Photo provided by Penelope Pennington of Beast, another cat the Penningtons rescued. Beast passed away at age 16 while the Penningtons were abroad.
Photo of Darla Hoover in EVSC Administration Building by Zach Straw
Education: Washington School (when it had grades K-8); Benjamin Bosse High School (1991); Bachelor of Science in Professional Chemistry, University of Evansville (1995); Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (2024) and Master of Science in Education (2005), University of Southern Indiana Hometown: Evansville Resume: Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Superintendent (2025-present); Chief of Schools and Instructional Care (2022-25); Director of High School Support, Curriculum, and Instruction (2015-22); Principal, Central High School (2010-15); Advanced Placement/Programmer, Bosse High School (2007-10); Science Department Chair, Central (2006-07); chemistry teacher, Bosse (2001-06) Family: Husband Brian; sons Jared, 27, Ethan, 22, and Conor, 17
Although Darla Hoover enjoyed the seven years she worked as a chemist, she pondered the tutelage of Jerry Sanders, her chemistry teacher at Benjamin Bosse High School. “He said, ‘I think you should come and be a teacher for us,’” she recalls. “I took that leap of faith, and I loved it.” Hoover, 52, now leads the school district that educated her. “There are amazing things happening here every day,” says Hoover, the first female superintendent of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. “It is an honor for me to be able to represent us in the community.”
You attended Washington School when it was K-8. How did your first teachers impact you? I grew up with not a lot of money. I was raised by my great-grandparents. They didn’t know a lot about school, but they trusted my teachers, made sure I had what I needed, and I knew education was important. And my teachers saw something in me before I did.
What did you learn in your first year as superintendent? This has been a really pleasant surprise, but anytime I’ve spoken to any community groups, there’s this willingness to help: “What do you all need? What can we do?” That has been refreshing and a really hopeful place to be for a public school system.
Describe a typical day on the job. When I’m making decisions about curricular resources or safety and security, the best position I can be in is understanding what is happening in our buildings, and what the needs are of teachers and staff and principals. On a typical day, I usually start (in my office) and have conversations with the board president and some checkins with leadership … and then I’ll try to go to either one of our buildings, or some afternoons, it’s a meeting with a community partner. I never want to just be here in the office.
How does EVSC stay competitive with increased school choice and homeschooling? We have to deliver on what is most important to (families) in hopes that they will choose us. I am proud that we are rich in opportunities, and our size is our strength because of the resources we have. All students can find success here, whether you’re high ability or a struggling kindergartner who’s never had organized pre-K. …We think about all learners and what they need. For example, multilingual learners on the South Side, we’ve seen an increase in enrollment. One of our schools with a high multilingual learner population has seen extraordinary gains in reading that I’ll be able to share with the community soon.
What lessons did former Superintendent David Smith leave you? David was and is very passionate about our school district and his belief in public schools. … He believes public schools are the greatest investment a community can make and was so proud that we welcome and educate all students regardless of background, abilities, circumstances. … I feel the same way, and I’m the beneficiary of a district that believes in a young person.
Rita Eykamp’s passion for public service spans more than 40 years and dozens of organizations championing health, education, and the arts. With her husband, Richard, and his company, Mid-States Rubber Products, Inc. — where she still sits as treasurer — their philanthropic endeavors have earned numerous accolades.
The Mater Dei High School alumna and former teacher (who, when asked her age, says she is 50 forever) says her life has been enriched through seeing tangible benefits of service to the community through board leadership with the University of Evansville, Junior League, Catholic Foundation of Southwestern Indiana, Welborn Baptist Foundation, Signature School, the city’s Public Art Commission, Evansville Philharmonic, Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, and many more. But lately, she has noticed a decline in major business leaders serving on community boards of directors. “There is still commitment, but less,” she says. “Serving on nonprofit boards is a great way to get to know your community. The higher the quality of the board members, the better the organization.”
Give us an example of your board service you are proudest of. Co-chairing the fund drive to restore the Victory Theatre [which reopened in 1999] and chairing the capital campaign to renovate the Evansville Museum [completed in 2014]. I grew up involved in ballet and theater, so I am interested in the arts. The Victory Theatre was the last of the vaudeville and Downtown cinema theaters. For historical reasons, it was important that it be saved. Both the Victory Theatre and the Evansville Museum provide programs that offer education and entertainment opportunities.
How can business leaders benefit community groups? Organizations are seeing less business commitment and would like to see more. A lot of involvement was from family-owned businesses, which were bought by larger companies. What made my presence on boards so significant was my experience on the Indiana Arts Commission and Indiana Bicentennial Commission, so I knew how to work with the state. Working as a treasurer meant my economic experience also was valuable. Many nonprofits do an outstanding job of helping their community.
What should business leaders expect when serving on a board? The chair of a not-for-profit board that is from the business community offers … business expertise that is always needed and welcome. Boards need business members as well as community members to address the needs of the community.
How would you encourage people to get involved with board service? If there’s an organization you’re already interested in, that you donate to, that’s a great way to start. There are so many opportunities if you take the time to look and appreciate what’s being done in the community. You just have to take advantage of them.
Full of history as well as longstanding economic challenges, a neighborhood just north of Downtown is working to write new chapters.
Improving Jacobsville — bordered by Diamond Avenue to the north, Garvin Street to the east, First Avenue to the west, and Division Street to the south — has been a priority of city officials for many years. Evidence of that is in the $15 million revitalization of the North Main streetscape nearly a decade ago, followed by the opening of the Deaconess Aquatic Center in October 2021, The Forge apartment complex in December 2022, and a street-level Dollar General Market grocery in March 2023.
Knowing the world-class swimming facility and other neighborhood assets are surrounded by some of the area’s highest poverty rates, officials have pushed for progress on goals such as affordable housing, improved safety, and business growth. Obstacles are substantial. The 2025 Jacobsville Redevelopment Area Master Plan found that within Jacobsville’s 442 acres, 25.5 percent of residents receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, compared to 14 percent of residents citywide.
The master plan reports that only 9.8 percent of Jacobsville dwellers have retirement income, 30.3 percent lack a vehicle, and 25.7 percent don’t have internet access. According to the 2025 Jacobsville Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area Plan released by the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development, Census Tract 20 bordered by Maryland, Oakley, Division, and North Main streets is the city’s poorest, with a median income of about $20,025 and 40 percent of residents below the 125% poverty level.
More than four square miles of Jacobsville are also included in a larger Environmental Protection Agency-designated Superfund Site — the area’s manufacturing and foundry roots dating from the 1880s to 1950s left soil contamination that’s still being addressed today. Since 2007, soil sampling has been conducted at more than 7,500 properties within the Site’s borders, and as of December 2024, arsenic- contaminated soil had been removed from nearly 4,500 properties.
Leading the Charge
Faced with such substantial challenges, in July 2023 the DMD partnered with the Jacobsville Area Community Corporation to boost resident engagement and raise quality of life. Self-described “cross-functional problem solver” Ted O’Connell was hired as Development Consultant to run a 30-month pilot project addressing community and economic development. JACC is backed by a diverse board of directors and numerous community partners, including the Jacobsville Neighborhood Improvement Association.
Photo of Jacobsville Area Community Corporation Development Consultant Ted O’Connell and Neighborhood Improvement Association President Sam Rueger in Garvin Park by Zach Straw
“We have residents, business owners, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits on our board,” O’Connell says. “It’s set up that way to make sure that all the entities are moving in the same direction toward similar goals.”
Although the city’s initial outlay for O’Connell’s position concluded on Dec. 31, 2025, his work isn’t done yet. JACC has been busy on multiple fronts, taking on pilot projects that O’Connell says could be replicated citywide. He cites the additions of covered bus stations in front of homeless nonprofits Aurora at 1001 Mary St. and Ozanam Family Shelter at 1100 Read St.; both stations were built with donated supplies. A grant-funded crime analysis initiative led to the acquisition of five new security cameras, connected to existing cameras in the neighborhood. Call volume data provided by Officer Ben Hallmark, Jacobsville’s crime prevention officer with the Evansville Police Department, shows declines from 2020 to 2025 in both reported property crimes (1,029 to 854) and violent crimes (458 to 393).
Ninety-seven blocks of Jacobsville sidewalks have been “audited” in a project that works alongside AARP and the city engineer’s office and has been integrated with the neighborhood’s weekly walking club, one of O’Connell’s first initiatives.
Another successful endeavor targeted trash and rodents. “I saw a neighbor’s security camera video of a property management company dumping a sofa on an empty Habitat (for Humanity) lot across his alleyway,” O’Connell says. Other neighbors have complained to him of mattresses and couches abandoned in public areas.
Conversations followed with city government departments about heavy trash dumps and the pests they attract. An Evansville Urban Enterprise Association grant funded 300 bluetooth-enabled bait stations across Jacobsville so pest control professionals can monitor rodent activity. The grant also funded the six-month placement of two 40-yard trash bins at Hope City Church on North Main Street.
“We got rid of 158 tons of bulk trash, which is 58 percent of what the whole city does in that same time span, and we represent six percent of the population,” O’Connell says. “By putting in these baiting systems, we reduced the rodent population by 93 percent in six months, killing about 14,000 rodents.”
Progress From Within
Photo of Melissa Wright by Lindsey McIntosh
These efforts are involving more neighbors, says Melissa Wright, a lifelong resident. For years, Wright didn’t just lead the Jacobsville Neighborhood Improvement Association — “I was the neighborhood association,” she explains. Balancing that role with her own life obligations was a struggle. “People would show up on my doorstep, knock, and ask me questions about the neighborhood. I was having a hard time keeping it going. And so when Ted got hired for JACC, he started helping us to find a new demographic of people. They were coming in and showing interest in different things outside of what I was interested in as a single mom. It was beautiful diversity. … Now, we have good attendance and a good presence in the community again.”
Besides the aquatic center and historic Bosse Field, Jacobsville also is the home to major employers such as Deaconess Midtown Hospital, Amcor, and CenterPoint Energy. Curbing generational poverty has proved more difficult than building bicycle paths, planning events, or even rat extermination, but it’s a mission that neighborhood stakeholders continue to tackle.
Dream Center, a Christian-based nonprofit serving youth in Jacobsville, cites in-house data showing that only one in 10 young people within the neighborhood’s borders is likely to experience upward mobility. Soberingly, Jacobsville youth are 70 percent more likely to drop out of high school than complete a post-secondary degree. “That is a startling revelation for us who are called to help the vulnerable experience dignity and a type of justice,” Executive Director John Benton says. “It’s why we exist — to come alongside a neighborhood and understand what’s happening economically, socially, and spiritually, and ask how we can partner with it.”
Founded in 1998, the Dream Center takes a cradle-to-career approach. Classes are offered for new parents, with emphasis on early brain development. A free preschool program called Eaglets and collaborations with Delaware Elementary School, North Junior High School, and North High School provide academic and family support systems. In all, about 175 children are involved in Dream Center programs. Benton points to successes such as a 100-percent pass rate among its third graders on the state’s I-READ exam.
Photo of Dream Center gymnasium by Lindsey McIntosh
A national initiative called Harlem Children’s Zone influences what the Dream Center does. “They have found a way to disrupt those cycles of poverty through finding a kid as early as possible and sticking with them,” Benton says of the New York organization. “We actually make a promise with every single kid and parent that we work with: We’ll walk with you, and nothing will get in the way of us continuing on with you.”
Affordable housing of all types is an ongoing need in Jacobsville. Underscoring the neighborhood’s industrial roots, half of its homes were built before 1940, compared to less than a fourth citywide. Nonprofits with a mission to freshen up Jacobsville’s housing stock include HOPE of Evansville, which has developed for-sale properties since 2007. Habitat for Humanity’s work in Jacobsville accelerated in 2014 when it received a donation of Garfield Street lots from Deaconess Health System.
“In 2015-16, Habitat put 12 to 15 homes within a condensed, four-block area. We have found that when we build in concentration, we have a bigger impact on the neighborhood,” Habitat for Humanity of Evansville Executive Director Beth Folz says. “We now have over 80 Habitat homes in Jacobsville,” representing about $12 million in investment. Habitat purchases most of its land from the city’s Land Bank which acquires properties that are delinquent on property taxes and did not move at a tax sale. Habitat obtains the lots for $500, builds a home, and the property returns to city tax rolls.
Permanent supportive housing is helping residents find stable ground. In July 2024 on Read Street, ECHO Housing Community Development opened the Promise Home, which provides 27 one-bedroom units for chronically homeless people with verified disabilities. As reported in February/March 2025 Evansville Business, the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority Housing Trust Fund and the City of Evansville were major sources of financing, and a capital campaign filled funding gaps as costs swelled to more than $3 million.
In January 2019, then-Mayor Lloyd Winnecke announced that Vectren (the company now known as CenterPoint Energy) made a five-year, $5.5 million investment in workforce housing in Jacobsville, with partners including the city, HOPE of Evansville, and Habitat. More recently, Baker Flats, a 52-unit affordable housing community for seniors, opened in May 2024 on Baker Avenue between Illinois and Indiana streets.
Photo of Yvonne Woodburn by Lindsey McIntosh
A proposal for new rental housing is on the drawing board, as well. According to the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership, the 88,000-plus-square-foot Crawford Door building on Heidelbach Avenue behind Bosse Field’s outfield wall is targeted for 139 “affordable and workforce” housing units, plus 10,000 square feet of commercial space. The project has received $2.7 million from Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI); no start date has been announced. Another available source used for neighborhood projects is the Jacobsville Tax Increment Finance District, a slice of which was used to build the Deaconess Aquatic Center.
Yvonne Woodburn sees progress on the housing front. Her four-unit apartment complex in the 700 block of North Main — called Dewey’s Boutique Apartments after her late father — is occupied, and she’s building four more units. Jacob’s Pub and other North Main businesses have become active neighborhood participants, the Catanese Real Estate agent says, and she’s hopeful for more startups — “maybe an ice cream shop like what West Franklin has,” she says.
North Main Annex Gourmet Catering & Deli owner Narda Feather cites increased outside interest in available properties for use as businesses, apartments, or Airbnbs. “The downside is we still have some building owners who are reluctant to improve their their buildings or do anything with them. It would be nice to get them to move on something, or sell,” she says.
Another eatery is coming soon: Oma’s Cafe at SWIRCA & More, 16 W. Virginia St. will serve homestyle meals as well as trendy entrees designed to attract young professionals living and working in Jacobsville. (Read about SWIRCA & More on page 18.)
Photo of North Main Annex Gourmet Catering & Deli owner Narda Feather by Lindsey McIntosh
Besides complex goals like more housing, poverty reduction, and improved safety, Jacobsville stakeholders say building neighborhood pride is paramount. O’Connell cites a revamped mural on a Schalco Garage Doors warehouse near North Main and Division streets that sports “Evansville, Indiana” spelled out with letters decorated by local schools. On the opposite end of North Main, Benton and other Dream Center staff work near a wall-sized painting that states, “Be the I in KIND.”
Watch for more public art: O’Connell says there will be “a community graffiti wall” at North Main’s Paint & Carpet Depot, and “I also have seven signed agreements from building owners to allow us to put a mural on their building for five years.” The North Main corridor remains home to the city’s Christmas parade, plus annual Halloween and Easter events.
What Lies Ahead?
O’Connell believes Jacobsville’s trends are positive and measurable but is uncertain of the Jacobsville Area Community Corporation’s future. Asked by Evansville Business for comment, Mayor Stephanie Terry’s office shared a statement saying that the city “continues to value JACC as an important community partner and remains committed to investing in the Jacobsville neighborhood,” but didn’t address the initiative’s future funding.
Terry’s statement said the city has hosted two Block by Block neighborhood cleanup events in Jacobsville since 2024. At May’s cleanup, volunteers and city officials cleaned 18 properties and cut weeds and overgrown grass at 17 others.
City government has razed 25 Jacobsville structures since announcing its Fight Blight initiative in late 2024, and 13 more are slated for demolition. Terry’s statement noted the empty lots can be transferred to the Land Bank, which then can deed them to nonprofit housing developers.
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School-themed mural on the Schalco Garage Doors warehouse. Photo by Deanna Lee/Schalco Garage Doors
Photo of condemned house by Zach Straw
Photo by Zach Straw. This Habitat for Humanity of Evansville house, dedicated in memory of Clint Keown, is one of about 80 that the nonprofit has built in the Jacobsville neighborhood.
Photo of Baker Flats by Laura Mathis
Some trace Jacobsville’s poverty patterns to the late 1960s — that’s when the Civic Center was constructed, cutting off Jacobsville and the north end of Main Street from the rest of Downtown. The North Main Street streetscape’s revitalization nearly a decade ago was viewed by city officials as a major step. It was projected by architect Rundell Ernstberger Associates to generate $11 million in new commercial investments and economic activity during its first seven years; The Forge apartment complex and the aquatic center each cost about $28 million to build.
Jacobsville’s name is a nod to early resident Hannah Jacobs, who was widowed in 1828 with six children. Along the way, she acquired land for a town bounded by Columbia, Oakley, Harriett, and Missouri streets. The neighboring municipalities of Evansville and Lamasco prevented this, and “Jacobsville” in 1868 became part of Evansville. Wright calls for the neighborhood to honor such history — she likes the idea of a Founder’s Day observance — while also embracing what it can become.
“We do have a core value of a working-class neighborhood that is something we can always celebrate,” Wright says. “But we can acclimate to the changes of our environment. We do have new people moving into the neighborhood, and our young people are going to be taking over. … We can get an education out there about why our neighborhood’s important, what we have pride in, and also open our ears to listen to what that next generation brings to the table.”
Wright has turned the neighborhood association’s presidency over to Sam Rueger, who says community engagement is improving, but more can be done. The group has about 25 active members, but that’s a fraction of the neighborhood’s 2,200-plus residents. “Getting more people involved will bring more consensus of what the neighborhood wants and needs,” he says.
Rueger has lived in Jacobsville for the last 17 years, as well as during some of his formative years. “It’s my stomping grounds,” he says, and its comeback story is worth fighting for. “I grew up playing Little League baseball in Garvin Park and going up and down North Main Street. There’s lots to do, a little mix of everything, and it’s super convenient. We have our fair share of problems, but there are some really incredible people in the neighborhood.”
Map from the 2025 Jacobsville Redevelopment Area Master Plan
Jacobsville at a Glance
2024 Neighborhood Population: 2,210 • Asian: 0% • Black: 9.8% • Hispanic: 6.7% • White: 72.3% 2025 Evansville Population: 116,176 • Asian: 1.0% • Black: 11.8% • Hispanic: 4% • White: 76.8% Population change since 2010: -34.9% Median resident age: 48.3 Total households: 1,028 Average household size: 1.92 people Homeownership of occupied units: 27% Median monthly rent: $902 Unemployment: 15% Unemployed with no diploma: 4.9% Unemployed with a high school diploma only: 14.4% Unemployed with an associate’s degree: 20.4% Unemployed with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 31.4% Median household income: $30,025 Total poverty rate: 32% Child poverty rate: 52.3% Population below 125% poverty: 40% Population below 185% poverty: 56% Bachelor’s degree holders living in poverty: 30.1% Residents with no high school diploma: 20.8% (compared to 9.6% in Indiana, 7.5% in city, and 8.5% in Vanderburgh County) Residents with only a high school diploma: 45% Households on public assistance: 29.7% Households earning less than $25,000: 811
Source: U.S. Census Bureau; SAVI via Indiana University-Indianapolis’ Polis Center, made available through Welborn Baptist Foundation
Photo by Zach Straw. Diane Alldredge, Dinah Levi, Pat Durchholz, and Donna Klausmeier play a game of clabber in SWIRCA's Ascension St. Vincent Conversation Lounge on July 13, 2026. At the next table, Brenda Beecher, Mary Pearl, Linda Moore, Dolores Higgs, and Sue Deifrig play gin rummy at SWIRCA & More in July 2026.
Walking into SWIRCA & More’s legacy building, there’s an atmosphere of joy. Someone shouts “Bingo!” from the activity center, the University of Evansville Silver Aces older adult dance team practices for an upcoming men’s basketball game, women in the conversation lounge play gin rummy, and a group exercise instructor demonstrates the next move. Inside, it’s constantly bustling, and for good reason: Census data from 2025 indicates there were around 71,290 residents 65 and older in SWIRCA’s six-county service area, a population that is expected to expand rapidly across the country. A recent expansion and renovation at the senior center’s campus is designed to accommodate a rapidly rising population.
“Everythingchangessoquickly,”says Randall K. Craig, a retired attorney who specialized in elder law, estate planning, and probate. He has been involved with SWIRCAformorethan30yearsandnowservesasanemeritusboarddirector. “SWIRCA is an organization that adapts welltochallenges.…Weneedtoprepare for the future.”
TheSouthwesternIndianaRegionalCouncilonAging&MoreservesGibson, Perry, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, andWarrickcounties.Itreachesurbanandruralareas,servingresidents50andolder,disabledpeople,andtheircaretakers.ThenonprofitispartofAreaAgenciesonAging,establishedbythereauthorizationoftheOlderAmericansActin1973.Foundedthatsameyearandincorporatedin1974,SWIRCA’sleadership and board identified a need for an expansionin2019.
“Wewanttocreateprogramsthatolderadultsinourcommunitywanttobeinvolvedin,tocreateabetterandfuller life for them,” says SWIRCA’s 16-year PresidentRhondaZuber,butstrained capacity had been standing in the way.
Attheaginganddisabilityresourcecenter,counselorsofferguidanceonsenioradultassistance.Forasuggestedannualdonationof$30,memberscanaccesstheactivityandwellnesscenter for exercise classes like yoga, tai chi, line dancing, and strength andtoningworkouts.MealsonWheelsofSouthwesternIndiana operates out of SWIRCA’s kitchen and served 120,410 meals in 2025.Theorganization’scarecoordinationandmanagementservicesprovideassessments,serviceplans,andhomeassistance. The nonprofit also offers in-home assistance, repairs, modifications, specialized medical equipment, emergency response buttons, and pest control, as well as transportation and vehicle customizations.
As SWIRCA’s services grew, so did demand. It already was stretchedthin;withoutmoreroomtooperate,thenonprofit would outpace its services three to one by 2026.
“The goal was not to interrupt any kind of services going on(but)renovatingandexpandingwhilecontinuingservicerequiresimmensededication,”saysMonicaSpencer,SWIRCA’s development director of nine years.
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Aerial photo of SWIRCA & More's campus by Zach Straw. SWIRCA & More’s facilities once were the home of Baker School, where some of the senior guests were students. President Rhonda Zuber has been told the back half of the building was a kitchen and boiler with tunnels connecting it to the school. A student would be selected each day to transport milk through the tunnels to Baker School, which closed as part of desegregation efforts in 1973 and was torn down shortly after. SWIRCA bought the property in 1995 from The Arc of Evansville and moved from the Finke Furniture building Downtown on Seventh Street, now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Photo of SWIRCA & More President Rhonda Zuber and Development Director Monica Spencer by Zach Straw
Photo of Randall K. Craig by Lindsey McIntosh
THE AGE OF EXPANSION
SWIRCA’s most recent annual report states that 67,797 people age 65 and older lived in Gibson, Perry, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties in 2024 — up from 48,896 in 2010.Eachcounty’sseniorpopulationhoversaround20percent, but in Posey County, residents over age 65 make up nearly a quarter of the population. The senior population in Southwestern Indiana is expected to grow 38 percent from 2010’s total to 79,706 people by 2030. That’s before considering the disabled andcaregiverpopulations:Censusdataindicatestherewerearound39,490disabledpeopleundertheageof65inSWIRCA’scoverageareain2024.AARPdatashowstherearemorethan1.2 million caregivers in Indiana — 24 percent of the state’s adult population — and most care for adults.
TheCOVID-19pandemicmadethenecessitytoincreaseservicesevenmoreapparentafterthecenterwasclosedforayear,leavingmanyseniorswithoutasocialnetworkorservices.A2023U.S.SurgeonGeneraladvisoryonsocialconnection and community compares the negative health effects of isolationtosmoking15cigarettesa day. Zuber often draws on herownexperiencesfromwatchinghergrandfathernavigateAlzheimer’sand the effect it had on her grandmother.WhenthecenterreopenedinJune2021,arearesidentsstreamedbackin.“Therewasalineoutthefrontdoor,”Zubersays.
LA+DdesignedandARCConstructionCo.Inc.builttheSolandArleneBronsteinFoundationCenternexttoSWIRCA’slegacybuilding;it’snamedforthelatebusinessmanandhiswife.In1985,attorneyHowardTrockmanrealizedtheBronsteins’dreamofcreatingaretirementcommunityandwasthefirstCEOofSolarbron;afterhisdeathin2001,hisson,VanderburghCountySuperiorCourtJudgeWayneTrockman,tookover.Whentheretirementcommunitywassoldin2014toCarDon&Associates,themoneyfromthesalewasinvestedinanOldNationalWealthManagementtrust specifically to benefit the elderly. That trust is administered byOldNationalandco-trusteeTrockman,anditwasamajorsourceoffundingfortheconstructionofthenewcenter.
“SWIRCAisrightinourwheelhouse,”Trockman,whotouredthenewfacilitythroughouttheconstructionprocess,says.“It’s filling a very important gap in the area of elder care. The organizationwillbeabletomoreeffectivelyengagewithseniors and improve and expand its services. Quality of life issues as they relate to seniors are an obligation for all of us.”
ThefirstflooroftheBronsteinCenterofferscounselingroomsforconsultationswithcaregivers,families,andindividuals. The breakroomallowsstafftostepawayfromtheirdesks,andZubersaysthereisspaceforemployeeengagementactivities.Lifelong learning initiatives, including digital and financial literacy and job readiness for retired seniors reentering the workforce, are availableinthetechnologylabviacomputersprovidedbyAT&T and iPads from Lieberman Technologies. Lieberman plans to teachcomputerliteracyclassesatSWIRCA’sHealthyAgingCampus,andIvyTechCommunityCollegeEvansvilleisworking with SWIRCA to offer additional classes. A caregiver library housesresourcesforprovidinginvolvedcareforadultsand children and understanding terminology, science, and support available. The Bronstein Center has been in use since August 2025,withsmalldecorativeadditions.Coolcolorsmatchthe blue in the organization’s logo.
Photo by Zach Straw. Fred Norris plays pool in SWIRCA & More's billiards area on July 13, 2026.
Photo by Zach Straw. SWIRCA & More's Activity and Wellness Center hosts exercise classes, like this one instructor Donna Gross led on July 13, 2026.
Photo by Zach Straw. SWIRCA & More's Sol and Arlene Bronstein Foundation Center is named for the trust that heavily funded its construction. The trust is overseen by Old National 1834 Division Senior Vice President Mark Chandler, Wealth Management Trust Officer Tonya Nail, and co-trustee Judge Wayne Trockman.
A NEW LOOK — AND OMA’S COOKING
RenovationstothelegacybuildingincludedexpandingtheActivityandWellnessCentersoexerciseclasses,gatherings,presentations, and social activities can take place simultaneously. Just offthatspaceareabilliardsroomandtheAscensionSt.Vincent conversation lounge, where seniors often play card games like Mahjong and clabber. Seeing guests engage with programs and eachother,“youcannothelpbutwalkthrough there with a smile on your face,” Zuber says. The expanded exercise room added equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, stationary row machines and bikes, andweights.Otherimprovementsincludeanexpandedlobby,upgradedbathrooms,andmoreaccessibleentryways.ThenewspaceandrenovationsalsoallowcommunitypartnersmoreopportunitiestoworkwithSWIRCA,includingcountycouncils on aging, health systems Ascension and Deaconess,EvansvilleWartimeMuseum,CarverCommunityOrganization,SouthwesternBehavioralHealthcare,andYoung&Established.HealthcarestudentsfromtheUniversityofSouthern Indiana and University of Evansville observeandinteractwithseniorsaspart of their classroom learning.
Photo of Alan and Derek Clark in Oma’s Cafe by Lindsey McIntosh
TheopeningofOma’sCafe,anexpansionofthecenter’smealserviceoffering breakfast and lunch to the public, is generatingthemostexcitement.Owensboro,Kentucky-baseddistributorCRSOneSourcehasprovidedfoodtoSWIRCAsincethe1980s,andwhenpresentedwithanopportunitytopartneronarestaurant, President Alan Clark and Vice President DerekClarkjumpedin.Inspiredbytheirlatemother,JaniceClark,whosesevengrandchildrenaffectionatelycalledher“Oma,”theClarkswantedtocreateacomfortableenvironmentandhome-stylemeals.“Thewholepointis,grandmasarethebackboneofmanyfamilies.Sointhat sense, everyone can relate to the name Oma,” Derek says.
“SWIRCAwantedtorefreshand modernize the atmosphere around their current meal service that they offer. It is one of Evansville’s best-kept secrets. We hopethatthisbeautifulnewspacewillallowmanymorepeopletodiscoverallthegreatthingshappeningatSWIRCAwhileatthesametimehonoringourmother’snameandlovinglegacy,”addsAlan.
ExpectedtoopeninAugust,Oma’s Cafe will welcome diners from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Every meal purchased by the public provides a meal to asenior,allowingthepublictoeasilyaid SWIRCA’s efforts.
Therewillbesandwichesandlight lunch fare alongside a menu offered by SWIRCA.“(Ourmother)lovedhomestyle comfort food like meat loaf and mashed potatoes,sausageandsauerkraut,andbeansandcornbread.Themenuwillalso have some more trendy items to attract theyoungprofessionalswholiveand work near SWIRCA,” Derek says.
“I’mreallylookingforwardtoexpanding our services to the public, including Oma’s,andmatchingpeoplewiththeservices they need,” emeritus board directorCraigsays.“Thisexpansionwillopenopportunitieswecan’tanticipateyet.Ihavebeeninvolvedinnumerouscharitable and Christian organizations over my more than 50-year legal career. … I have neverseenanyorganizationthathelpsmorepeopleanddoesmoreandmore with less than SWIRCA.”
Theimpactalreadyisbeingfelt.Spencerhasnoticedseniorscominginwith brighter smiles, more willing to engage withtheirfellowguests.“Thereisasenseofpossibilitythatthecampushascreated.Seniorswhowereclosedinbeforeareopeningup.Peoplehaveimmediately embraced the space,” she says.
“Thisexpansionandrenovationislife changing for older adults in our community,” Zuber adds. “When it’s an idea in your head, that is one thing, but seeing it come to life is something else.”
Photo of Linda Pinkston walking Mabel by Lindsey McIntosh
Each morning, Linda Pinkston slips on solid walking shoes, slides waste disposal sacks into her pocket, and stocks her car with an umbrella, flashlight, towels, and extra leashes. As an eight-year pet sitter for Walkie Doggie, she doesn’t want to keep her four-legged clients waiting.
“When they see you and start wiggling and smiling, it’s the warmest feeling,” she says.
The Newburgh resident logs 5,000-plus daily steps completing 20-30 half-hour pet sits a week. Pinkston feeds, exercises, and even trains pets through play or walks. Visits with less-mobile pets or curtailed by inclement weather mean plenty of belly rubs indoors.
Preparation is key. “Early in my dog-walking days, I had a dog slip her collar and run off,” Pinkston recalls. Another dog once ate a poisonous mushroom and needed emergency care. But expectations are relatively simple. “The pets don’t care if you’re fashionable, smelly, or sweaty — they just trust you. I try to make it fun for them, and it ends up being fun for me, too,” she says.
The sweetest victory is seeing a pet open up. In turn, Pinkston becomes devoted to her furry clients. “We love them like family, hurt when they hurt, love all their quirky little habits, and grieve when it’s time to let them go,” she says.
Carpenter House hasn’t been a residence since the 1930s, when descendants of businessman and philanthropist Willard Carpenter sold the Greek Revival home to the American Legion Funkhauser Post 8. Ownership passed hands several times before WNIN moved out in 2016. As the house sat vacant, disrepair set in.
When real estate broker Theresa Catanese and her husband, Frank, toured the house in 2023, they found dry-rotted front doors held in place with brackets, windows with cracked or missing glass, and significant water damage. “The only good thing was the roof,” Theresa laughs. “But it had good bones” and was perfect for housing her growing real estate business.
Papers were signed May 19, 2023, but the situation had greatly changed the two days prior. Overnight on May 17, a fire destroyed much of the old Pearl Cleaners next door; while the flames were contained to the former dry cleaning site, water from firefighting flooded the Carpenter House’s basement.
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Photo of Theresa Catanese's office at Carpenter House by Zach Straw
Photo of Catie Catanese's office at Carpenter House by Zach Straw
Photo of a Catanese Real Estate conference room at Carpenter House by Zach Straw
Photo of a Catanese Real Estate conference room at Carpenter House by Zach Straw
The Cataneses — no strangers to the construction industry — have made it their mission to restore the home’s charm while making crucial updates. A new HVAC unit was installed on each floor. Modern furniture is mixed with old books, fabric wall hangings, and antique radiators. Three vibrant pieces of stained glass by late University of Southern Indiana art professor John McNaughton are set in the inner front door.
As a nationally registered historic place, there are restrictions on what renovations are allowed. “I called Downtown Evansville, and they connected me with a guy from Saint Louis. He was able to save some of the original glass in the windows and replaced the front doors,” Theresa says.
Now, Catanese Real Estate’s 22 agents occupy 16,000 square feet across the first and second floors. Guests are greeted by a large porch, minimalist landscaping, and a cream-colored paint on the exterior stucco.
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Photo of Cori Catanese Walton, Theresa Catanese, and Catie Catanese in Catie's office at Carpenter House by Zach Straw
Photo of Catie Catanese's office in Carpenter House by Zach Straw
Photo by Zach Straw. Four of the original eight ornate fireplaces decorate Catanese Real Estate's offices at Carpenter House.
Photo by Zach Straw. Stained glass by late USI art professor John McNaughton is displayed on the inner front door at Carpenter House.
Photo by Zach Straw. The back half of Catanese Real Estate's offices at Carpenter House sport modern furnishings and fixtures.
Under dentil crown moulding, former family and dining rooms are transformed into tastefully appointed conference rooms. The fireplace in Theresa’s office is one of four left of the original eight. Another fireplace in her daughter Catie’s office includes cast iron features. Awaiting redecorating, Catie’s office also sports bright wallpaper from the 1980s and dusty rose drapes from the 1970s. The first-floor annex looks the most modern with its gray carpet, sleek cabinetry, and open concept.
More renovations are coming, but Theresa is taking her time. “The vision is to renovate the second and third floors for more agents,” she says. “We’ll probably start that this coming winter.”
Photo of Brad and Sandy Smith provided by Tell City Pretzels
Brad Smith’s love for Tell City Pretzels is limitless. When his wife, Sandy, couldn’t find the salty snack anymore, the Jasper, Indiana, couple bought the brand in 2009. For the next 13 years, Brad commuted to Tell City six days a week to run the operation. “There’s just nothing out there like it,” he says. “It’s crunchy and hard, and I like that.”
Swiss immigrant Casper Gloor founded the Tell City business in 1858. Since owning the operation, the Smiths have integrated automation, added hard pretzel flavors, and debuted soft pretzels. The pair also relocated the business to Jasper in 2022, with Sandy joining in after retiring from Kimball Electronics.
The original Tell City hard pretzels come in flavors like honey barbecue and sharp cheddar and remain the company’s top-selling product. In 2018, the Smiths purchased a pretzel twister to increase production. “We now say they’re handcrafted instead of hand-twisted because we touch and shape each and every one of them,” Sandy says.
Tim Flick, owner of Oink Inc Smokehouse and Catering in Jasper, started serving soft Tell City Pretzel Sticks from his food trucks because the item was a quick fix. “Then we realized we could easily do this as well in the restaurants,” he says. “Now, it’s one of our top appetizers.”
Tell City hard pretzels are sold at regional grocery stores such as Schnucks and Holiday Foods, in some convenience stores, and online. “We’re in a good spot right now,” Brad says. “With our current infrastructure, between what we’ve invested and the number of employees, we’ve got a lot of room for capacity.”
Did You Know?
• One of the Smiths’ first steps after buying Tell City Pretzels was to trademark the name because, despite being in business since 1858, that hadn’t been done yet.
• The website for orders and inquiries is singular — tellcitypretzel.com — because the plural form was already taken.
• Abbe Gloor, a relative of founder Casper Gloor, once ordered some Tell City Pretzels online and sent a note to the Smiths saying,“They all arrived safe and sound and were soon devoured!”
Driven to Succeed Lucrece Chenault reboots transportation service in late husband’s memory By John Martin
Scott Chenault received dialysis treatments nine years ago, he noticed that several of his fellow patients struggled to find rides. Wanting to help, he and his wife, Lucrece, created a business providing transportation to nonemergency medical appointments.
In February, Lucrece — a native of Haiti who first came to Evansville in2010 — rebooted the business in memory of Scott, who died in June 2018. Called Committed Transportation Services, “I mostly work with workers compensation companies, but I do get private calls sometimes,” she says. “I am also in the process of working with Indiana Medicaid.”
Lucrece’s Chrysler Town & Country minivan accommodates wheelchairs. The base fee for ambulatory individuals is $35 for one way, and for those who are nonambulatory, the one-way cost is $45. Patients can book rides by emailing committed003@yahoo.com. “Even though I have set prices, I want my clients to know that I work with those that might not be able to pay those prices, as long as they communicate that with me,” Lucrece says.
Scott envisioned an even bigger business: “He wanted a fleet,” Lucrece recalls, but she believes her husband would be pleased to see her back on the road. “I’m ready to take this on in his honor,” she says.
Photo of Jenny Lamble and Be Happy Pie Company staff provided by E-REP
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Spreading Happiness Be Happy Pie Company earns state entrepreneurship award By Jodi Keen
A decade after launching Be Happy Pie Company, owner Jenny Lamble’s passion project now has four locations in three states, a growing menu, and some impressive hardware.
Being named Entrepreneur of the Year in May by the Indiana Small Business Development Center capped off an exciting 10th anniversary year for Be Happy, whose first pie shop opened in 2017, two years after the company’s founding. What hasn’t changed, she says, is “our dedication to making a made-from-scratch, consistent product and treating our customers like we want to be treated.”
In addition to two local locations, Lamble has franchised shops in Paducah, Kentucky, and Kansas City, Missouri. “We worked very hard on our branding and believe with the right partners, our concept can be replicated. Both have gone well, and we are very excited to see how the Kansas City franchise has done in the larger market,” Lamble says. She’s also exploring franchises in Indianapolis, Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee.
Be Happy’s recipe for success comes from the menu’s inspiration: Lamble’s grandmother. “She would be thrilled,” Lamble says. “She always told me to work hard, be kind, and have fun, and that is what I’ve tried to do.”
NEW HIRES/PROMOTIONS
The University of Southern Indiana has named Matthew Brown its new Director of Technical Services in Information Technology. He most recently served as Director of IT Operations for Ivy Tech Community College in Evansville. Before that, Brown held technical leadership positions with SS&C Technologies. He holds associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in computer science from the since-closed Carmel, Indiana, ITT Technical Institute.
Atlas Van Lines has promoted Greg Williams to Corporate Controller following 17 years with the company, where he managed corporate accounting, tax, and financial reporting. In his expanded role, Williams will be responsible for treasury, accounts receivable, collections, and Atlas International accounting. The Indiana University Kelley School of Business graduate joined Atlas in 2009 and most recently served as Senior Director & Controller.
Wesselman Woods promoted Kristina Arwood and Mariah Bradley to interim Co-Executive Directors in April. Arwood, who joined in 2021, will continue directing marketing and events. Bradley, the nature preserve’s Engagement Coordinator since October, will keep coordinating engagement and development initiatives.
University of Evansvillehas named Rachel Carpenter the Executive Director and Dean of Harlaxton College in Grantham, England. She succeeds Kristen Strandberg, who had served as interim dean since January. Carpenter, who once was Harlaxton’s Dean of Students for two years, had been UE’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students since 2022. The 2003 and 2009 UE alumna led major university initiatives, including the opening and integration of the Lincoln Commons apartment complex, and helping guide the university through its 2025 Higher Learning Commission reaffirmation process.
Julie Hoon has joined Deaconess Health System as System Manager of Corporate Communications. The Texas A&M University marketing graduate most recently spent nine years as Vice President of Philanthropy, then Marketing and Communications at Youth First, Inc., and served five and a half years as managing the marketing departments at tent and pergola producer Anchor Industries, Inc., and industrial machinery manufacturer Flanders.
Luke Johnson of Hafer has earned his architectural license from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards by completing 5,600 hours of professional experience and passing a six-part examination. The Southern Illinois University alumnus has spent four years at Hafer as an architectural graduate. Examples of Johnson’s work are on plans for the University of Evansville’s Freeland Baseball Clubhouse, the University of Southern Indiana’s Center for Applied Business Technologies, and the Lodge at Potato Creek State Park in North Liberty, Indiana.
Welborn Baptist Foundation has tapped Chief Program & Impact Officer Andrea Hays to succeed Pat Creech as CEO and Executive Director upon his retirement. Prior to joining Welborn in 2008, Hays served as Director of Public Health for Prevent Blindness’s national office and led the administration of the region’s $3 Community Transformation Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
DEPARTURES
After 15 years with the organization, YWCA Evansville CEO Erika Taylor has accepted the position of Vice President of Member Services at YWCA USA, which serves a network of 180 YWCAs across the country. Taylor continues to support the local organization during a 90-day transition period beginning in mid-June while the board searches for new leadership.
Doug Claybourn has retired from the Indiana Small Business Development Center. During his 13-year tenure, he guided 779 small-business clients through their entrepreneurial pursuits and facilitated $54 million-plus in financing.
Center for Pediatric Therapy has new leadership after founder and CEO Ginger Whitler retired June 30 after 21 years leading the business. Hannah Hartmann, who joined CPT in 2016 as an occupational therapist, is the new owner.
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS/MILESTONES
Castle North Middle School student Ayan Reddy placed first at the Indiana State Finals of the 2026 National Civics Bee on June 23 at the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis. Reddy advanced to state after winning first place April 30 at the Evansville region’s inaugural civics bee. Reddy’s presentation focused on partnering with local farmers to increase fresh food in school cafeterias to improve student health. Upon winning at state, Reddy received $1,000 and qualified to compete in this year’s National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C.
The Ohio River Vision & Strategic Planhas received the Best Practice in Planning Award from the Economic Development Division of the American Planning Association. The project, a partnership between the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership and design firm Sasaki, was unveiled in May 2024 and aims to revitalize 50-plus miles of the Ohio riverfront from Newburgh to Mount Vernon, Indiana.
D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln gifted $2,500 each to Colon Screening for Life and Isaiah 1:17 House. D-Patrick Honda Honda Helps Kids presented $1,500 to Foster Care In The U.S. D-Patrick Motoplex donated $1,500 to the Newburgh Museum. D-Patrick Boonville Ford has donated $1,000 each to Warrick Humane Society and Warrick 4-H Clubs.
Diamond Valley Federal Credit Union has named 10 high school recipients of its 2026 scholarship program, honoring academic achievement and leadership. Recipients from Central High School include Alexander Beaven, who will study professional aviation flight technology at Indiana State University in Terre Haute; Ashlyn Hills, a psychology and neuroscience major at the University of Evansville; and Peter Turpen, who is pursuing actuarial science at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana. Benjamin Bosse High School recipients include nursing majors Faith Boze at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and Greenlee Gist at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. The recipients from Mater Dei High School are Alivia VanBibber, a psychology major at Ball State University, and Nolan Schickel, who at the time of the award planned to study business administration at Oakland City University before the school suspended its undergraduate programs. North High School’s recipients are Brandon Flanigan, who is studying meteorology and atmospheric science at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, and Kirsten Wink, a nursing student at UE. Castle High School graduate Alayna Clark is pursuing exercise science at UE.
Ivy Tech Community College Evansville students in the Garatoni School of Entrepreneurship & Innovation earned top honors at the college’s annual Entrepreneurship Expo. Rylie Schelb of Newburgh won the $1,750 grand prize for Mobile Metals, an on-the-go piercing studio that uses nickel-free jewelry. Evansville’s Makayla McCool earned second place and $1,000 for The Drink Station, a mobile customizable beverage trailer. Rosa Ramirez of Evansville earned $500 for the third-place award for Spanish-to-English Language Services, which provides translation and interpreting services for legal, medical, business, and nonprofit clients.
The Indiana Chamber of Commerceranked Lensing Building Specialties 16th in the state’s Top 20 Best Places to Work among medium-sized companies with 75-249 employees. The family-owned distributor earned 90 percent or higher satisfaction scores in anonymous employee surveys for benefits, work-life balance, employees’ sentiments toward their roles, workplace communication and culture, diversity and inclusion, and employee-manager relationships.
University of Evansville has received a $23,000 grant from the Efroymson Family Fund to expand visual arts programming and provide hands-on career experience. The funding supports initiatives including the Emerging Contemporary Artist Lecture Series, which encompasses student internships and the Bridge Year Fellowship for recent graduates.
Deaconess Gateway Hospital’s Cancer Services has earned Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Certification, a nationally recognized designation awarded through the QOPI Certification Program, LLC, a subsidiary of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. To be certified, the hospital completed a voluntary, comprehensive site review that evaluated general safety, treatment practices, staff and patient education, and ongoing patient care.
Veterans law firm Woods & Woods donated $10,000 to the Evansville Parks Foundation for the construction of a splash pad at Igleheart Park, expected to be the largest in Indiana, opening late summer 2026. It also is sponsoring Honor Flight of Southern Indiana’s 21st mission ushering veterans to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 26.
Chambers & Partners, a leading independent professional legal research company, has recognized Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP as one of the state’s top law firms for its work in Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions in 2026. There are five attorneys in KDDK’s mergers and acquisitions department.
CenterPoint Energy Foundation gave $25,000 in Optimize for Local matching grants to nine small businesses to help improve energy efficiency. Recipients include Haynie’s Corner Mart, Honey Moon Coffee Co., La Campirana, The New Old Mill, Peephole Bar & Grill, River City Coffee & Goods, Sandy’s Pizza, The Vineyard, and Gehlhausen Boutique, Gifts & Home Decor.
Deaconess Health System performed its 1,000th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacementoperation on May 27 at its Heart Hospital in Evansville. The minimally invasive procedure repairs severe aortic stenosis — which can result in irreversible heart failure if left untreated — without the need for open-heart surgery. Deaconess launched its TAVR program in 2017, with interventional cardiologist Dr. Srikanth Penumetsa and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Dominic Cefali leading a multidisciplinary team.
The Evansville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., honored six trailblazing women at its annual Red Shoe Luncheon on May 30. Honorees included Foster Care in the U.S., Inc. Executive Director Jessica Angelique for Economic Development; Delisa Payne, founder of Differently, Talented, Extraordinary Autistic, Minds, Inc., for Educational Development; F.C. Tucker Emge real estate agent and Haitian Center of Evansville founder Gelina Mascoe for International Awareness and Involvement; Deaconess-Memorial Health Clinic family medicine/obstetrics physician Dr. Pearl Quartey-Kumapley for Physical and Mental Health; and Valencia Redding of the NAACP’s Evansville Branch for Political Awareness and Involvement. Incoming University of Southern Indiana biochemistry major Ashlyn Cayce received the Youth (Red Sneaker) Award.
GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT
The Republic, a $38 million mixed-use development, has been announced for The Promenade, a shopping, dining, and residential district off North Burkhardt Road. Plans call for two four-story buildings featuring 153 one- and two-bedroom apartments, plus 3,159 square feet for commercial and restaurant endeavors. Construction by Indianapolis-based Goodin Development is slated to start in fall 2026.
Historic Newburgh, Inc.has been given ownership of “The Burgh” logo and brand from Bill and Erin Morrison, who have created and operated the community-focused brand since 2017. Historic Newburgh plans to continue offering “The Burgh” products.
Evansville-based Heritage Petroleum, LLCbroke ground on a new fuel distribution and office facility June 9 in Huxley, Iowa. Slated to open in spring 2027, the new site expands the petroleum distributor’s reach to its customers in 27 states.
Your Brother’s Bookstore has relocated from 504 Main St. to 100 N. First Ave., across from Willard Library.
Jesse Jeanne’s Flower Boutiquehas merged with Colonial Classics Landscape & Nursery. The florist shop opened in 2024 by Jesse Diekhoff has moved from Washington Avenue to the landscape business’ sprawling site on Epworth Road. Diekoff and her husband, Andrew, purchased Colonial Classics from longtime owners J.T. and Julie McCarty in late 2024.
CLOSINGS/REDUCTIONS
Hydration Station, a clean water initiative launched by Jack Deig in 2022, is closing as its administration members graduate college and embark on their next life chapters. Deig, 22, entered his idea for expanding access to public filtered drinking water in the University of Evansville’s Changemaker Challenge while a senior at Castle High School in Newburgh. In a June 17 press release, Deig states that Hydration Station administrators are seeking new partners and long-term homes for each station.
REGIONAL NEWS
Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. has broken ground on a $47 million expansion at Ports of Indiana’s site in Mount Vernon, in response to a soybean volume of more than 60 percent over the past decade. In addition to a storage increase of 4.25 million bushels, officials expect grain handling capacity to triple for CGB’s soybean processing operations. The 1,200-acre port in Posey County is Indiana’s largest and handles around five million tons of cargo annually, including grain, soy products, ethanol, fertilizer, steel, and project cargo.
Twice included on Indiana Landmarks’ list of most endangered historic properties, the Hulman Building may see new life after being purchased in June by a Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, development and real estate company. The Forst Family Corporation plans a boutique-style hotel and retail space in the 93,502-square-foot Hulman Building as well as a “municipal market space” in the lot across Sycamore Street, says Richard Clements, senior advisor with SVN The Martin Group, who served as the buyers’ representative.
Dating to 1929, the Art Deco-style Hulman Building was the headquarters of Central Union Bank and SIGECO before it became Vectren Corp. Mostly vacant for years, the building and 10,804-square-foot parking lot caught the Forsts’ attention during visits to Evansville. Clements says the parking lot’s development plans are on a faster track than those for the 10-story tower. “The ultimate goal is for it to be a space that serves the growing Downtown resident population and supports Downtown Evansville’s entertainment destination efforts,” he says. Clements adds that the company is “interviewing local architects, discussing design concepts for the building, and working with local contractors on structural and mechanical upgrades.”
The project is led by Rob Forst, whose brother, Matt, tipped him off about looking to Evansville for future projects after visiting the River City. Matt owns STACK’D Supplements, which recently acquired Active Nutrition Supplements and its two Evansville locations.
“As family business owners, their primary criteria was in developing relationships with good people in areas where local residents were welcoming to their efforts,” Clements says of the Forsts. “On top of this, Rob loves historic architecture and desires to preserve and revitalize those historic properties.”
Photo of Tracie Ayers-Irvin of Cold Plunge and Wellness Studio by Black Pixel Studios
A sauna session followed by a dip in 40-degree water may sound jarring, but Tracie Irvin-Ayers believes you’ll be amazed by what comes next.
Contrast therapy — the combination of relaxing in high heat, then briefly plunging into cold water — has been shown to boost circulation, reduce inflammation, promote better sleep, and even calm anxiety. After her and husband Tommy’s first plunge in 2024, “We both walked away feeling energized, clear-headed, and surprisingly calm,” Tracie says. “We were immediately hooked.”
In October 2025, they opened Cold Plunge and Wellness Studio in Newburgh, the area’s first business dedicated to contrast therapy. “What surprised us was how quickly curiosity turned into excitement,” Tracie says. “Most people leave saying, ‘That wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected,’ and many are already planning their next visit before they walk out the door.”
Photo of Jon and Kyle Hittner provided by MELT Mobile Sauna + Cold Plunge
The rapid change in temperature creates a “vascular workout” of expanding and constricting blood vessels, a process that “complements healthy lifestyle changes and recovery efforts,” says Ande McConnell, General Manager of Optimize U, a national medical and wellness company with a clinic in Newburgh. McConnell says that site provides more than 100 contrast therapy sessions each month and includes complimentary treatments for its active hormone optimization members.
Temperatures and times differ based on the business: At Optimize U, the water in the private recovery suite stays at 42-45°F, while Cold Plunge and Wellness Studio maintains its tubs at 39-52°F. Clients sweat in 130-195°F heat for 10-12 minutes before spending 2-3 minutes cooling off in a tub, then repeat.
Since launching its mobile contrast therapy services in June, Henderson, Kentucky-based MELT Mobile Sauna + Cold Plunge has welcomed wedding parties, families, and couples on date nights while set up at places like Farmer and Frenchman Winery. This fall, it’ll have a regular residency outside Post House apartments.
“More than anything, we hear people say they simply needed a break,” says Kyle Hittner, who opened MELT with her husband, Jon. “They arrive because they’re curious about contrast therapy, and they leave talking about how good it felt to slow down for 90 minutes.”
Photo of Publisher Todd Tucker wearing a Johnny Carson-like sportcoat, and Jed looking fashionable in
his University of Louisville collar by Lindsey McIntosh
People often ask me where we find the story ideas for our publications. The best ideas come from me, of course, with the “occasional” good idea coming from my wife, Editor Kristen. This issue’s feature, “A Revival in Jacobsville,” about the neighborhood north of Downtown known as Jacobsville, was brought to me over breakfast by CRS OneSource Vice President Derek Clark and his son, Andrew. As the Assistant Director of Donor Engagement at the Dream Center, Andrew sees the surrounding neighborhood’s triumphs and struggles every day. Beginning on page 24, Senior Writer John Martin explores the longstanding economic issues that continue to plague Jacobsville. While the obstacles are substantial, city officials remain committed to the neighborhood. After reading the story, I have a much better understanding of the impressive work by the Dream Center and others, as well as the challenges still existing in the neighborhood. I appreciate Andrew educating me, and I enjoyed sticking Derek with the bill for breakfast.
Photo of Wesselman Park pickleball courts by Lindsey McIntosh
While recently running in Wesselman Park, and listening to my running partner ramble on, it was impossible not to notice the high level of activity from runners, walkers, and cyclists. But what really struck me was that every single pickleball court was filled — and, despite all of those courts and the number of people playing, I could barely hear them from 100 yards away. Many local residents fought against the courts, saying they would disturb wildlife in the 310-acre woods. From what I can tell, the only thing the 16 courts have done since opening in late May 2024 is bring much-needed life and rehabilitation to an aging park. In the future, let’s look for reasons to say “yes” to quality-of-life initiatives in our community, Evansville.
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Spring 2023 photo of Anna Hazlett and Kim Poynter by Zach Straw
2026 program for The Women's Hospital Classic
Speaking of Wesselman Park, sometimes I feel the need to use this space for a good, ol’ fashioned shoutout. Kim Poynter and Anna Hazlett just finished the 27th edition of The Women’s Hospital Classic tennis tournament. It was the Classic’s second year being an ITF W100 event on the World Tennis Tour, which carries a lot of prestige and prize money. Evansville gets to see some of the best players here before they go on to the highest levels of tennis. The tournament is a huge undertaking — as Evansville Living covered in its July/August 2023 issue — and significant logistical challenges all are handled gracefully by Kim, Anna, and many, many volunteers. I also appreciate that The Women’s Hospital stepped up in 2009 and has been a terrific sponsor. Tucker Publishing Group, Inc., has supported the Classic by producing the tournament’s program for many years. (Try saying “no” to Anna, the Tess Grimm of local tennis.) Thank you, ladies, for all the hours, blood, sweat, and tears. It is greatly appreciated!
As always, I look forward to hearing from most of you.
Photo of Smith & Butterfield Division Manager Teri Barnes by Zach Straw
Many companies have a recipe for success, but Smith & Butterfield has sustained its winning formula for 160 years.
The provider of office supplies, furniture, technology products, printing, and more takes pride in offering many of the same services as big box retailers but with a personal touch. As a division of Champion Industries, Inc., and through its membership in American Office Products Distributors, Smith & Butterfield can provide what Division Manager Teri Barnes calls “desktop delivery.”
“There’s no reason for (a national retailer) to drop a 50-pound box of copy paper at your front door, and then your receptionist has to lift that,” Barnes says. “If you say, ‘I’d like that upstairs next to the copier,’ we put it where you want it. You’re not going to get that personal service from a national company shipping product to you via FedEx or UPS or even USPS, because they’ve got to get to the next delivery.”
Photo of Smith & Butterfield’s office furniture showroom by Zach Straw
Founded in 1866 by George C. Smith, the company first called Young American News Depot changed its name in 1882 when book and stationery salesman A.S. Butterfield joined. It was solely owned by Butterfield’s family after Smith’s death in 1922. It joined the Champion Industries family in 1996.
Area companies of all sizes appreciate Smith & Butterfield’s personal approach. It has supplied Deaconess Health System, Evansville Regional Airport’s administrative office, automotive supplier Diversity Vuteq, real estate agency F.C. Tucker Emge, Posey County manufacturer BWX Technologies, Inc., Lochmueller Group, Bowen, Evansville Christian School, and more.
Soon after Champion acquired Smith & Butterfield, Barnes transferred from West Virginia to Evansville, fell in love with the city, and stayed. Her mentor has been Jim Butterfield, the family’s fourth-generation owner.
Smith & Butterfield employs only nine people at its Lynch Road location, but Barnes says its community impact is large. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it donated masks and hand sanitizer and made those items more readily available to the Evansville Police Department, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, city offices, and schools by lumping them in with other purchase orders.
“We never had a single day off during the whole pandemic because we were providing personal protective equipment to local businesses so that they could keep going,” Barnes says. The company’s community participation includes the Granted House of Hope that opened in June.
As one of the city’s oldest continuously operating businesses, Smith & Butterfield’s 160-year milestone “honors everyone who helped build Smith & Butterfield before us, while reminding our team of the responsibility we have to keep evolving, keep serving, and showing up for our customers,” Barnes says.
Photo from "A Second Date with Big Kate" by Mitzi S. Morris
Christmas comes once a year, and so does the chance to see Big Kate, a massive walking dragline in Warrick County. After the surface mining relic’s first public tour in 2025, the Museum of the Coal Industry in Lynnville, Indiana, offered “A Second Date with Big Kate” on July 25. I was one of about 200 people who accepted the invitation.
Photo of Big Kate by Mitzi S. Morris
About Big Kate
The Bucyrus-Erie 2570 has a 310-foot boom, a 100-cubic-yard bucket, and a 4.5-ton lifting capacity. Old Ben Coal Company bought the excavator in 1970 for $37 million and had the parts shipped by train from Wisconsin to Gibson County for assembly.
Operators used the 5,500-ton machine to remove soil, rock, and vegetation at the Somerville Mine in Gibson County. Black Beauty Coal purchased the excavator in 2001, and then Peabody Energy bought the company in 2003. Because of market changes and costly repairs, Big Kate retired in 2023 and rests a few miles from the museum at an inactive mining site.
The Tour
My date with Big Kate started at the museum, where I boarded a bus with about 10 people. On the way, tour guide Pauletta Mason Allasi shared the excavator’s history, including Old Ben’s president, DeWitt Buchanan Jr., naming the machine after his wife, Katherine. Before we knew it, the dragline came into view. “And there she is, ladies and gentlemen. There’s Big Kate!” says Mason Allasi.
At the site, our group gathered in the bucket for a photo, then we were free to explore for 20 minutes. Walking under the boom and around the excavator is humbling. Despite the rust, peeling paint, and grass growing on one of the “walking shoes,” the enormous power of this modern marvel is palpable.
With a blast from the bullhorn, we returned to the bus to head back to the museum, where our “miner’s meals” awaited: bologna sandwiches, chips, cans of RC Cola, and MoonPies. Tourists also were welcome to roam the grounds and check out the museum’s artifacts.
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Photo of Big Kate by Mitzi S. Morris
Photo of Mitzi S. Morris with Big Kate by The Museum of the Coal Industry
Photo of a "miner's meal" by Mitzi S. Morris
Photo of The Museum of the Coal Industry by Mitzi S. Morris
Photo of "A Second Date with Big Kate" tour group by The Museum of the Coal Industry. Writer Mitzi S. Morris is at far right.
‘Our Heritage’
Boonville, Indiana, resident Bobby Alexander, whose uncle was a United Mine Worker for nearly 50 years, toured Big Kate with his grandson, Hayden Bird, who was visiting from Ohio. “It’s important for a little guy like him, because I remember all this, but he’ll never see it in action,” Alexander says. “This is all part of our heritage.”
Steve Page of Evansville worked at Bucyrus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when the machine was being manufactured. His “Second Date with Big Kate” was better than his first. “We came out last year, but unfortunately, it was slippery going down the hill, so we couldn’t go,” Page says. “It’s neat. It’s interesting.”
David Bush of Boonville has two cousins who retired from Peabody, and his grandfathers were miners. Big Kate left a patriotic impression on him. “It’s just another example of America’s ability to design and build anything, from machines that can move massive amounts of overburden to spacecraft going to the moon. We can do it all,” Bush says.
As for Big Kate’s fate, dragging the excavator out of retirement is a possibility for Peabody. Mason Allasi envisions the company donating the machine to the museum someday. “Dreams are free,” she says, “and we would love to have her. We have a nice pretty spot out there where she can live the rest of her days.”
Future Dates
Tickets booked via email for “A Second Date with Big Kate” cost $25. Tours ran every half hour from 8 a.m. to early afternoon. For details on next year’s event, visit the museum’s website and Facebook page in 2027.
UE logo and photo of junior point guard Avery Kelley playing against Roosevelt University at the Meeks Family Field House by Donovan Schultz. USI logo and photo of then-junior forward/center Chloe Gannon playing against SIU-E in the 2026 OVC Quarterfinals by Elizabeth Randolph/University of Southern Indiana.
The women’s basketball teams at the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana will renew their cross-town rivalry after agreeing to a four-year exhibition series beginning in the 2027-28 season.
In a deal announced July 21, the four-game series kicks off at USI’s home court and runs through 2030-31. The last time the women’s teams met was in a 2014 exhibition, when USI was still an NCAA Division II program.
“This is a win for everyone,” first-season UE Women’s Basketball Head Coach Ben Wierzba tells Evansville Business. “It’s a great opportunity for both programs to compete and create excitement for the community.”
The deal follows news that the men’s basketball teams will face each other Nov. 7 on the Ford Center’s hardwood in a matchup billed as the River City Classic. Unlike the one-game men’s deal announced June 15, the women’s basketball teams will meet once a year through the 2030-31 season and alternate home courts between Ford Center in Downtown Evansville and Liberty Arena on USI’s West Side campus. After the Screaming Eagles host the inaugural game, they and the Purple Aces will take turns until the final game at Ford Center in the 2030-31 season. All game dates are still to be determined.
“We would like to play the University of Evansville in every sport, every year, so we are happy that everyone is making this happen in women’s basketball,” USI Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall said in a statement released by the university.
Wierzba, who succeeds Robyn Scherr as UE’s 12th women’s basketball head coach, served as the men’s assistant coach from 2007-10. He’s excited about seeing fans of both local teams come together. “Anytime you have UE and USI competing, there is a level of pride and intensity that makes it special,” he tells Evansville Business.
The 2027-28 matchup marks the 23rd time the Purple Aces and Screaming Eagles have met since 1971, but the first since 2014 and first with both competing at Division I. The Purple Aces lead the all-time series 15-7.
“We have had a few exhibitions and some closed-door scrimmages with our two programs, but getting a regular-season matchup started should be a fun and competitive experience for the city of Evansville and fans of both USI and UE,” longtime USI Women’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Stein said in a press release from USI.
Purple Aces Director of Athletics Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried echoed Stein’s sentiments in a UE press release. “Opportunities to compete against a quality program just across town are great for our student-athletes, our fans, and the Evansville community,” Siegfried said.
March 2026 photo of Patti, Ian, and Scott Nickens by Zach Straw
A workday eatery popular with Downtown employees is leaving its home of 13 years — but its next move is unclear.
Operating since 2013 out of a first-floor restaurant space at Old National Bank’s headquarters at One Main St., The Deli is closing July 30 after the bank declined to renew its lease agreement this spring. Owned by longtime restaurateur Scott Nickens and operated with his wife, Patti, and son, Ian, The Deli originated in 2001 as the Old Market Deli on North First Avenue, then spent 10 years on Northwest First Street in a space next door to the Old Post Office.
“A banker headhunted us and asked if we wanted to move in here,” Ian says. Scott adds, “The bank’s vision in the beginning was to use it for more than just an employee cafeteria. They always wanted this to bring in people from outside the bank. And people followed us here.”
The Deli regularly fills the bellies of between 100 and 125 customers a day. Regulars know to arrive early on Tuesdays to beat the long line ordering savory taco salads. The salad bar is a big hit, and fish specials are a Friday tradition even outside of Lent. Many Downtown business workers have followed the Nickens family for years, craving the homestyle cooking as much as the company.
“The Deli became my lunch staple when I was a young professional,” says City Council President Ben Trockman, who began his career as an outreach and employment specialist at Old National. “It has been the setting for meaningful introductions, great conversations, plenty of sarcastic humor from the Nickens family, and so many delicious meals.”
Patti has worked with Scott on and off for 25 years. Their daughter Grayson, 36, and sons Ian, 34, and Grant, 31, helped mop floors and clean bathrooms when they were growing up. Ian says he chose to join his father full time in 2010 because “he’s not a chef who’s sitting back in the office. He’s on the line, and I respect that.”
That family atmosphere also attracted customers. “I’ve always loved The Deli because the Nickens family and staff had an incredible gift for making everyone feel welcome, often greeting customers by name with a smile,” says Erika Taylor, the outgoing CEO of YWCA Evansville. “My favorite order is the salad trio, and I could never leave without one of their delicious peanut butter cookies.”
Now, those regulars are expressing their gratitude with increased orders, heartfelt hugs — and cash. “Tips have gone through the roof,” Scott remarks. “One lady gave a $50 tip on a $32 lunch.”
He says a new location for The Deli isn’t secured yet, and with each order, he’s jotting down customers’ phone numbers so he can notify them when and where The Deli reopens. “We’ve looked all over. Most places are bigger than we need. We’re looking for 1,600-1,700 square feet. Someplace already built out for a restaurant would be ideal, but that’s hard to come by,” Scott says, adding that location, too, is key: “We want to stay Downtown.”
Customers have already expressed willingness to follow The Deli to its next home. “They’ll certainly be missed at ONB headquarters, and I’m excited to hear if they’ll be reopening in a new location,” Taylor says. “I know many of us will be looking forward to visiting them again.”
“The Deli is more than a truly delicious restaurant — it is a truly good family serving our community,” Trockman adds.
In a statement shared with Evansville Business, an Old National spokesperson said, “For more than a decade, the team at The Deli has been a part of daily life at ONPlace, serving our team members and visitors with dedication and care. We are thankful for their partnership and deeply appreciate the role they have played in our workplace community.”
The move, Scott says, was initiated after Old National expressed the desire to move in a different direction, and the bank is joining forces with a nearby business owner to both operate the restaurant and cater its events. That new partner is Randy Hobson, owner of Downtown eateries Pangea Pizzeria and 2nd Language in addition to Pangea Kitchen on the East Side and Sazón y Fuego in Newburgh. A rep from Pangea Restaurant Group says Hobson’s new venture, Global Exchange, will continue breakfast and lunch service, offer an elevated coffee program, and serve a menu focused on locally sourced ingredients, made-from-scratch dishes, and flavors inspired by cultures around the world. It is slated to open Aug. 10.
Until then, diners have only a few more days to order their favorite dishes before The Deli shuts down operations July 30.
“I’m not retiring,” Scott says emphatically. “I want to keep working. What that looks like, I don’t know.”
Photo of mayors Stephanie Terry, Steve Loehr, Greg Wright, and Brad Staton by John Martin
Four area mayors gathered on a stage at Old National Events Plaza on July 9 and spoke about the proverbial threads that stitch their cities and the wider region together.
Art was the theme for Lunch with the Mayors, an Evansville Regional Economic Partnership event, and moderator Justin Groenert, E-REP’s chief strategy officer, started by asking the quartet of leaders about what projects have added the most significant brushstrokes to their cities recently.
Princeton’s Greg Wright spoke about the Toyota Indiana YMCA, which has boosted his community’s Downtown and is expanding to include a preschool program. It will be ready about the time school starts, “and it was a $1 million investment in what was already a $23 million facility,” Wright said. “… Preschools are so critical across the board.”
Henderson, Kentucky, Mayor Brad Staton said the Interstate 69 Ohio River Crossing, scheduled for completion in 2031, “is going to change the way our community looks and feels” and will connect the region “in ways we’ve never been connected before, which is really nice.”
Staton also cited local officials’ push to keep both U.S. 41 bridges (known as the Bi-State Vietnam Gold Star Twin Bridges) open long-term. That would require a policy reversal by Kentucky and Indiana transportation officials, whose current plans are to shut down the southbound bridge, with north-south traffic on the northbound span.
“We need to be at a place where we’re able to stay on both of the twin bridges and keep them open and free,” Staton said.
Evansville’s decision to bring emergency medical services in-house under the city’s Fire Department was the brushstroke Mayor Stephanie Terry mentioned. That change took effect on July 1.
“That decision didn’t come easy, but we did the hard thing, and here we are,” Terry said. “I think it’s going to be one of the most transformational things we can leave our community … building a more coordinated, unified system to offer better, high-quality service.”
Mount Vernon, Indiana, Mayor Steve Loehr cited construction of the Philip Hagemann Events Center, a more than 27,000-square-foot building and home to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department offices and Boys and Girls Club. It’s situated in the new Hagemann Park, which will include a skate park, ball fields, pedestrian paths, and more.
“It’s 106 acres that we’re developing,” Loehr said, adding that April 2027 is the expected completion date.
Groenert asked the mayors about the community collaboration that has brought results.
Loehr touted a welding lab at Mount Vernon High School — John D Haynes School of Welding Tech — supported by manufacturer BWX Technologies, Inc. Wright cited various partnerships with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, plus the city’s work with the Indiana Department of Transportation on plans to rehabilitate Princeton’s east-west Broadway Street corridor and infrastructure along the road starting in 2027. In Henderson, collaborations have improved city parks, created murals, and led to the rebirth of The Bridges Golf Course, Staton said.
Terry cited the Evansville Promise Neighborhood initiative, started in 2023 with a $30 million federal grant and matching funds from more than 20 local organizations. “It’s about building a cradle to career system to make sure that every child has an opportunity to succeed,” she said. “… I would love to see that model replicated across our city, even beyond in our region.”
Taking the luncheon’s art theme up a notch, incoming University of Evansville freshman Chloe Mayes created a live painting during the event, depicting landmarks in Evansville, Mount Vernon, Princeton, and Henderson. The completed painting was unveiled following the luncheon, and each mayor will receive a framed print of Mayes’ creation. The Henderson County High School graduate will pursue an art degree at UE.
With a map dotted with towns named Africa, Brazil, and Cuba, you may feel like you’re traveling the globe without ever leaving the Hoosier State. Several global-inspired towns are within a two-hour drive of Evansville.
Ireland (Dubois County) Distance from Evansville: 65 miles Established: 1816 The unincorporated community was supposed to be named America City, but instead honors founder John Stewart, a native of Ireland, and Irish settlers in the region.
Holland (Dubois County) Distance from Evansville: 47 miles Established: 1859 Another Dubois County town with a worldly name, Holland (population: 619) was founded by German settler Henry Kunz and named after the region in the Netherlands.
Siberia (Perry County) Distance from Evansville: 65 miles Established: 1869 Intended to be named after the birthplace of Saint Martin of Tours, Sabaria became Siberia after a post office error, and it stuck.
Brazil (Clay County) Distance from Evansville: 124 miles Established: 1866 The metropolis on this list with 8,181 residents, Brazil got its name in 1838 when Massachusetts settler William Stewart suggested an easy-to-remember moniker. In 1956, the Brazilian government gifted the town an ornate replica of the Chafariz dos Contos fountain, built in 1745 in Ouro Preto. The monument was installed in Forest Park.
Photo of the John James Audubon State Park Audubon Museum by Audra Straw
Henderson, Kentucky, basks in a rich personality all its own. Since the 18th century, the seat of Henderson County has made its mark as a destination for quality food, music, and the Great Outdoors. In fact, in 2024, the city earned accolades as one of Southern Living magazine’s “Top 20 Friendliest Towns in the South.”
Get a taste of locally sourced food and some of Kentucky’s best barbecue while savoring a variety of flavors from Southern fare to Mexican and Asian cuisine. Partake in regional staples like bourbon and whiskey, and don’t miss locally brewed craft beer and coffee.
Be entertained by the many renowned annual music events — the long-running W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival is one of the largest free music festivals in the nation — celebrating rock, bluegrass, blues, jazz, and country. Regional musicians take center stage each June along picturesque Main Street during Henderson’s annual PorchFest.
Marvel at Western Kentucky’s rugged nature by hiking or birdwatching at John James Audubon State Park and learn more about its namesake naturalist. Stroll along the Ohio Riverfront and visit one of five parks along its shores, plus many more throughout the city. Find charm in Downtown Henderson’s locally owned small businesses and along its historic streets and neighborhoods.
Whatever your tastes, there’s an opportunity to find something new in Henderson.
Photo of Wabash Avenue of Flags by Lindsey McIntosh
With nine blocks of red, white, and blue waving overhead, Wabash Avenue of Flags is one of the city’s most distinct streetscapes and a notable gateway to the West Side. A 1982 City Council resolution added “of Flags” to the street name at the request of the West Side Improvement Association and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1114, which sits at Wabash’s intersection with Indiana Street.
Formal dedication ceremonies occurred on Nov. 11, 1986 — Veterans Day — where donors’ names were added to a sign at Wabash and West Franklin Street. WSIA handles landscaping and maintenance. A major refresh came this spring when the city, using a grant from the Evansville Forest Alliance, removed 43 invasive callery pear trees in the grassy median and replaced them with 29 native shade trees.
The median’s flags, flying atop 27 poles from Lloyd Expressway to Maryland Street, are ordered annually by the VFW. Although he calls the flags’ annual cost substantial, Commander Jerry Blake wouldn’t have it another way: “We are very proud of it,” he says.
Photo of Interlake Off-Road State Recreation Area by Pete Burzynski
An under-the-radar attraction, straddles the intersection of outdoor adventures and recreational activities. Sitting on an expanse of land near Lynnville, Indiana, Interlake Off-Road State Recreation Area is about a half-hour drive from Evansville.
Photo of Chris Bailey and Terry Richeson by Pete Burzynski
Open year-round, this 3,550-acre property featuring woods, lakes, and trails lies in a former surface mine operation that in 2007 came under the domain of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Dirt bike riders and off-road vehicle operators spend countless hours traversing the 39 miles of single track trails and around 50 miles of multi-use trails starting at $15 per vehicle per day.
Outdoor enthusiasts who want to get away from it all have discovered that Interlake is one of the best places to go. “Jan. 1 is our busiest day of the year” thanks to its First Day Ride event, says Property Manager Joe Compton. “Anyone who wants to can come out and ride; no reservations are required in advance. We don’t limit the number of people who come — at least, we haven’t so far.”
Other opportunities for unique riding experiences are scheduled throughout the year. According to Interlake Office Manager Brandi Verkamp, Night Rides that last from sundown through 3 a.m. are scheduled for Aug. 1 and Oct. 3. “We also have Evansville- and Owensboro-based organizations, like the Evansville Area Jeepers, who come out here for rallies or group rides,” Verkamp says.
Photo of Interlake Off-Road State Recreation Area by Pete Burzynski
“It’s a real thrill … a rush,” says Terry Richeson, a dirt bike rider from Princeton, Indiana, who frequents Interlake. “Plus, I enjoy being outside. … We see deer, foxes — it’s just nice being outside.” Chris Bailey, a fellow dirt bike rider from Petersburg, Indiana, says, “There’s no worries in the world here. You can’t worry about politics, what’s going on in your job … you’ve just got to focus on what’s in front of you.”
Several other activities can be pursued at Interlake, Compton says. “While off-roading is the No. 1 operation, hunting is our next biggest operation, with deer and turkey, as well as small game like rabbits and squirrels,” he says. Horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, and day camping also are popular. With 17 lakes, “fishing is common, too, with people drawn to our 20-acre bass lake. There’s bluegill, crappie, bass, redear — there’s pretty good fishing out here.”
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden photo by Zach Straw
From new developments to beloved landscapes, botanical gardens are thriving. Even if you’ve visited before, there are novel attractions to see at these evolving landmarks within two hours of Evansville.
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden
Start your journey at the local zoo, where the botanical garden covers the grounds. Check out pink pentas, daylilies, and sweet coneflowers before stopping by Amazonia, the 10,000-square-foot tropical rainforest. “It always has something fun or blooming in there that you won’t see around here because most everything should be from South America and the Amazon rainforest,” Botanic Curator Misty Minar says. The Chinese lantern festival Wild Summer Lights returns July 30 and runs through Oct. 4.
Photo of Hartman Arboretum provided by source
Hartman Arboretum
Northwest of the zoo are family-cultivated gardens for hydrangeas, pollinators, wildlife, and a variety of annuals. In August, stop by for Butterfly Day and get up close with caterpillars, chrysalises, and butterflies. Visitors also can attend Master Gardener volunteer sessions on Thursday mornings or schedule private tours.
Photo of Western Kentucky Botanic Garden provided by source
Western Kentucky Botanical Garden Distance from Evansville: around 35 miles When daylilies peak in July at Owensboro’s 13.5-acre garden, visitors can dig a clump to keep for $15. The hosta garden showcases nearly 100 varieties, while Master Rosarian Ron Daniels cultivated the rose garden. “It’s just beautiful everywhere you look,” Executive Director Laurna Strehl says. “Every dollar makes an impact because so much of it goes directly back into the garden.” Summer events include Monarch Day on Aug. 29.
Photo of Azalea Path Botanical Garden and Arboretum provided by source
Azalea Path Botanical Garden and Arboretum Distance from Evansville: 35 miles Hydrangeas, hostas, and ornamental trees are blossoming at the Azalea Path Botanical Garden and Arboretum following the spring azalea season. The 6,000-plus azalea collection just over the Pike County line stems from Jamie Bartlett’s mother, Beverly Knight, a former Evansville UPS driver. “Old ladies [on her route] would say, ‘Take my flower and go plant it at your property,’” Bartlett says. “She went a little crazy.” From June to April, the 80-acre garden is open for public visits by appointment only.
Photo of Waterfront Botanical Gardens provided by source
Waterfront Botanical Gardens Distance from Evansville: 120 miles Aug. 29’s Kaleidoscope Family Festival is an excellent time to explore the property’s perennial beds and a bonsai courtyard near Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. “The vision is to bring families out to experience the gardens and a lot of cultural and nonprofit partners in Louisville that support the broader green industry,” says Director of Marketing and Communications Megan Bibelhauser. In 2027, a new bonsai area will expand the urban oasis to six acres.
Photo of Yew Dell Botanical Gardens provided by source
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens Distance from Evansville: 130 miles In Crestwood, Kentucky, the 60-acre gardens are celebrating the first blooms of Castle Gardens after a $5.1 million renovation. The gardens exhibit hydrangeas, black-eyed Susans, perennials, and sunflowers. Guests also can enjoy the Bourbon and Botanicals live music series on Thursday nights in July and August. “You can bring a lawn chair, or you can come in and find a bench,” Executive Director Paul Cappiello says. “The evening is an amazing time to be out in Yew Dell.”
Walter Wiandt is enjoying life on opposite ends of Indiana. The graduate of Central High School and Purdue University splits time between Evansville and Shipshewana since retiring from Mead Johnson Nutrition.
“A lot of people in Evansville have never heard of Shipshewana,” Wiandt says. “What I tell them is we are as close to Michigan as Evansville is to Kentucky. And a lot of people in Shipshewana don’t know about Evansville.”
While back in the River City, Wiandt catches up with a pair of former coworkers, and that’s where Evansville Living’s dining guide becomes indispensable. The trio chooses a restaurant starting with the next letter of the alphabet. They are on their second journey from A to Z; their recent selection for the letter “r” was Rooster’s Den in Newburgh.
Wiandt also flips to the magazine’s stories about local homes — he looked forward to the May/June issue’s Most Beautiful Homes feature. “I’ve taken it for several years and enjoy getting the new editions, and seeing Evansville Business, too,” he says.
Local filmmakers DeAndre Wilson, Matthew Packman, Lanae Hyneman, Emily Jean Durchholz,
Jakob Bilinski, and Jake Clark at the VIFF Indiana Spotlight Q&A in 2025. Photo by Jordan Barclay
Evansville has stretched a red carpet — metaphorically speaking — straight to the aisles of Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre and the Academy Awards.
“The Singers” poster provided by Jordan Barclay
When director Sam Davis stepped onstage March 15 to accept his Oscar for Live Action Short Film in a historic tie, the Victory International Film Festival had helped him get there. The local festival’s jury awarded Davis its Grand Prize and Best Director awards in September 2025 for “The Singers,” his powerful story of an impromptu singing contest in a dive bar. The hardware won in Evansville was among 35 awards that “The Singers” earned at 50 film festivals on its way to the 98th Academy Awards. “I didn’t know that was a thing — to tie — but we’re happy to be up here,” Davis said while accepting the Oscar.
Called an “emotionally resonant sledgehammer” by critics, the film’s win flashed Victory’s power to support Oscar-worthy films. But there is more to its story. “The Victory festival also provides an avenue for local filmmakers to exhibit their work,” says Tim Black, President and CEO of festival partner WNIN. “Public media can assist in bringing this cultural opportunity to our community.”
Emmy Award-winning director Jakob Bilinski is one of those filmmakers. “I’m a firm believer in bringing the things you want to experience to you, rather than going somewhere else for them,” says Bilinski, whose two Emmys for “The American Dream Car Show” were earned in 2019 via the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Ohio Valley Chapter. “Victory has spent years doing that, creating a genuine draw with its mix of international and locally made films. They bring filmmakers and community together on a grand scale.”
Now in its seventh year, the festival has become a fixture in a cultural firmament already stacked with stars. Festival Director Matthew Ulm is excited to support the area’s film community. “It’s great to see Evansville-, Tri-State-, and Hoosier-made films growing stronger since we started,” he says. “We’re getting more submitted, and their quality has increased dramatically.”
Take the dystopian thriller “Wet Bulb Temperature.” Its world premiere was at the 2025 Victory festival, where it won Best Narrative Film and Best Hoosier Film for director Joe Atkinson. “Premiering it where I live was special,” says Atkinson, who has led the University of Evansville’s NewsLab since February after serving two years as Mayor Stephanie Terry’s Communications Director. “We had a full crowd in the auditorium and a great post-screening Q&A. I enjoyed the experience of watching my film with an audience.”
Photo of Josh Weiland, Matthew Ulm, and Jordan Barclay at the 2025 VIFF by Ana Holguin-Ulm
Ulm says providing Atkinson and others a quality venue and audience helps them share their passion for filmmaking. It also is a key reason Victory and other smaller film festivals are resurgent after the pandemic. Data tracked online festival platform Eventive shows more than 4,800 indie festivals operating now, with ticket sales at all-time highs. Virtual screening, streaming, and online film-submission platforms like FilmFreeway add to that growth.
Ambitious local filmmakers are driving Victory’s expansion. Ulm, plus photographer and filmmaker Jordan Barclay and an enthusiastic team of volunteers, have built its buzz, audience, and global engagement.
Ulm, who has served as director since 2023, has ties to Evansville’s film scene that go back a decade to the Alhambra Film Festival. When the theater building’s 2017 sale ended the festival, Ulm and friends moved out of the Haynie’s Corner Arts District and pivoted to the Victory Theatre, which opened in 1921 and screened the first sound film in the city in 1928. The group held the first Victory festival in 2019, raising funds to help restore the theater’s marquee in 2023. Early success helped the festival become a nonprofit in 2022.
“With the Victory, we found a great home and a chance to contribute to the cultural vibe Downtown,” Ulm says. “Being on Main Street also gave us access to screening venues like WNIN. Here, you can see great independent films that expose you to other cultures, get a bite to eat, and stop in the shops.”
After several years of growth, Ulm bolted a turbocharger onto the festival in 2025 in the form of Barclay. The new Artistic Director has gone all-in to help. He arrived fresh off a successful festival run with his short documentary, “Sack Races with Knives: The Curious Art of Kevin Titzer.” It was selected by 22 festivals and won seven awards, culminating with Best Documentary at Victory in 2024. “I saw what worked and didn’t at those festivals and took mental notes,” Barclay says. “I saw things we could improve to make the Victory festival not just stronger, but special.”
Photo of Jake Clark accepting his award at the 2025 VIFF by Jordan Barclay
Ulm credits Barclay for elevating Victory’s game. “Jordan brought a lot of energy and ideas to us, and I can’t thank him enough for his hard work,” Ulm says. “He helped us to our best year yet in terms of the quality of films screened and how we can scale the festival in the future. We’re building momentum.”
Some of that push comes from Barclay’s launch of new festival branding, an upgraded social media footprint, and additional film categories such as Best Horror Film and Best Music Video.
These steps have not only attracted Oscar-caliber films like “The Singers,” they also curated a richer assortment of high-quality, award-winning global films from top festivals including Tribeca in New York City; South by Southwest in Austin, Texas; and Sundance, formerly in Park City, Utah, but moving to Boulder, Colorado in 2027. Even Grammy Award-winning performers are submitting their music videos now.
Overall, submissions nearly doubled in 2025 and are on track to grow significantly this year. By early June, submissions to the 2026 festival had come from 50 countries. Barclay engaged local graphic designer Aaron Tanner to develop the new branding. No stranger to pop culture, his limited-run coffee table books on rock bands The Pixies and Butthole Surfers can be seen at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
“Our goal was growing the festival by reaching talent from outside the region,” Tanner says. “The new logomark is an abstract letter ‘V’ that doubles as a spotlight, a symbol associated with movie premieres.”
The rebrand launched last year on global festival hub FilmFreeway as well as Victory’s website and social media accounts. Bold and contemporary, it achieved its goal. “We immediately saw a different tier of filmmakers submitting their work,” Barclay says. “It’s taken the festival to the next level. In 2025, we set records for film submissions and ticket sales, and we’re already on track to exceed that pace this year.”
Maintaining that will take continued support from its theater partners. Victory Theatre — a movie theater from 1921 to 1979 before becoming a night club and, now, a concert venue — makes nearly 2,000 seats available to the festival. It also hosts the closing awards ceremony. Farther down Main Street, WNIN has supplied its 48-seat Old National Public Theatre and support staff from the beginning. “We’re glad to help the festival succeed by providing this support and promoting it to the audience most likely to be interested,” WNIN’s Black says.
Photo at Showplace Cinemas during the 2025 VIFF by Jordan Barclay
Showplace Entertainment has been there from the start, too, screening festival films and hosting an opening night red-carpet event. It also replays screenings of festival award-winners at Showplace Cinemas East on East Morgan Avenue. “Movies are meant to be seen in a theatre setting, so we’re glad to donate to the festival for this to happen,” says Mick Stieler, President of Showplace Entertainment.
Bilinski’s feature film “Compression” won Victory’s 2024 Grand Prize. WNIN hosted its sold-out screening. “The lobby was packed with people who couldn’t get in, crowded around a monitor to watch the film,” Bilinski says. A follow-up “Victory Lap” screening at Showplace East sold out, too. “Seeing ‘Compression’ welcomed on such a grand scale in my hometown to packed, cheering audiences, that was the biggest gift I could’ve received,” Bilinski says. “It toured cities throughout 2024, with Evansville the final stop on its festival run. It definitely felt like a homecoming.”
Volunteers are the festival’s behind-the-scenes engine. Many of its all-volunteer staff are filmmakers too, including Ulm, Barclay, and Technical Director Josh Weiland. Lynn Kinkade and more than a dozen screeners do more heavy lifting by reviewing every film submitted.
Beyond using a 10-criteria rating system, “I also weigh intangibles, such as how a film makes me feel, and what its attraction might be,” says Kinkade, a longtime festival supporter who has acted in two short films. “I might recommend a film with a lower technical score but a deep feeling of satisfaction.”
From the screeners’ picks, a jury makes the official selections of the films that will be shown and compete for awards. “The caliber of films Victory brings in today far exceeds where they started, and their credibility among filmmakers has gone way up,” Atkinson says. “Securing participants from other states — and even other countries — is significant, because that wasn’t always so. They’ve struck a good balance between local and national films.”
Credibility earned, Ulm and Barclay keep reaching. One ambition: to become an Academy Award-qualifying festival that can help its winners get to the Oscars. The qualifying festivals closest to Evansville are the Indy Shorts International Film Festival in Indianapolis and the Nashville Film Festival in Tennessee. “This has been our goal from the start,” Ulm says. “It’s why we try to curate the best films from around the world.”
Award-winning Victory festival participation already strengthens the case for Oscar-worthy films shown here, as it did for “The Singers” in 2025. When the film got its Oscar nod on Jan. 22, the celebratory billboards placed around Los Angeles and in New York’s Times Square included its Victory Grand Prize. “Their win was huge for us,” Barclay says. “It legitimized the festival and encouraged other serious filmmakers to submit.”
He notes that becoming an Oscar-qualifying festival is a rigorous, multi-year process. “We’re now in our seventh year, which meets the Academy’s application threshold,” he said. “And we expect our submissions to reach eligibility in our tenth year, so we need to keep growing before we apply.”
That means more exciting filmgoing in the meantime. “The films coming in this year will blow you away,” Barclay says. “They’re full of emotion and talent. They’re like catching lightning in a bottle, then waiting to release it in September.”
Photo of International Folk Dancers Barb Gillespie, Carol Grimm, Ginger Franz, Mary Engelland, Joe Zimmer, Julie Pyle, and Susan Wilkie by Lindsey McIntosh
“And five, six, seven, eight!”
Every Thursday evening, around eight friends gather on the second-floor studio above Tri-State Bearing Company, Inc., crank up some music, and kick up their heels. Their style? Folk dancing.
Gardner Weber introduced international folk dancing to Evansville in 1971 through a beginner’s class at the YWCA. Over time, the group became more recreational but still focuses on reviving dances that have been forgotten.
“We are not a professional performance group. We prefer to say we ‘demonstrate’ and hopefully get people participating and enjoying the music and movement,” says dance leader Barb Gillespie, whose parents helped found the Evansville International Folk Dancers group in the ’70s.
The group’s playlist is heavily influenced by Israeli and Eastern European music, with many tunes drawn from Greece, Romania, Serbia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey. Although some dances require partners, many can be performed solo. Member Mary Engelland often introduces new steps she has learned while teaching line dancing at the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana. Members also request their favorites; the playlist is flexible.
Some members, like Julie Pyle and Carol Grimm, are interested in learning about other cultures. “I like the different music and learning the steps,” says assistant dance leader Grimm, a member since 1978. “Plus, it’s good exercise!”
The group’s welcoming environment also makes dancers at all skill levels comfortable with joining in. “It’s the one place I can dance and it’s OK,” says 20-year member Brenda Meyer. “I don’t always get the steps, but I can do the rhythm.”
Each session ends with dancers holding a flameless candle bearing the name of a late group member and then performing “Erev Ba,” an Israeli dance, in their memory.
Local members attend Kentucky Dance Institute workshops each summer as well as folk dancing events in major Midwestern cities. And they heartily welcome new dancers to join them on Thursday nights; they accept $3 freewill offerings to help cover costs. Feel you have two left feet? Get a crash course in folk dancing July 25 at a Bierstube Bootcamp two weeks before Germania Maennerchor’s annual Volksfest — a heritage celebration that aligns with the International Folk Dancers’ mission.
“We’re keeping the history alive, of people getting together and socializing over food and dance,” Engelland says.
When You Go Bierstube Bootcamp 7-10 p.m. July 25 Germania Maennerchor, 916 N. Fulton Ave.
Privately positioned on 2.9 wooded acres on a gated private drive, this extraordinary estate is a rare blend of architectural distinction, luxury amenities, and thoughtful design. Originally showcased as the 2005 Evansville Living Idea Home, the residence offers more than 11,000 square feet of meticulously crafted living space where elegance, comfort, and functionality exist in perfect harmony.
Photo provided by source
The striking stone and stucco exterior gives way to interiors defined by soaring 10- to 14-foot ceilings, imported custom millwork, solid-core doors, graceful curved walls, and an exceptional blend of travertine marble, hardwood, and bamboo flooring. At the heart of the home, the gourmet kitchen is equally suited for intimate family gatherings and large-scale entertaining, offering custom cabinetry, granite countertops, premium Viking appliances, and a spacious walk-in pantry. Multiple living and entertaining spaces throughout the home provide endless flexibility for today’s luxury lifestyle. The main-level owner’s retreat serves as a private sanctuary spanning more than 1,000 square feet, complete with bamboo flooring, a spa-inspired bath featuring a chromotherapy whirlpool, walk-in shower, dual vanities, and an impressive custom dressing room. Upstairs, guests and family enjoy exceptional accommodations including a private in-law suite with kitchenette, dedicated office space, playroom, balcony access, and additional private living quarters.
The walkout lower level was designed with entertaining and wellness in mind. Highlights include a custom curved bar, billiards and game areas, a secondary kitchen, expansive family room, and a dedicated wellness center featuring a six-person spa, sauna, massage room, fitness space, and full bath. A 12-seat theater with a 10-foot projection screen doubles as a reinforced safe room. Outdoor living rivals that of a private resort. The heated saltwater pool is surrounded by extensive stonework, wooded privacy, tranquil gathering spaces, a covered pool terrace that creates the perfect setting for unforgettable evenings with family and friends. Completing the estate are two heated attached garages with space for up to five vehicles.
Designed for effortless living, the home is barrier-free and features an elevator servicing all levels, radiant floor heating, a fire suppression system, and a six-channel whole-home audio system. Rarely does a home of this distinction become available, offering a lifestyle that is without compromise.
Photo of Darrell and Penelope Pennington provided by Penelope Pennington
After listing their Evansville home and selling most of their possessions in order to begin living abroad in October 2024, Darrell and Penelope Pennington visited 44 cities in 14 countries across Europe before returning home for a visit in December 2025. They embarked on Year Two of their global adventure in January, a trek that started in Mexico and now has taken them into South America. Penelope — who quips she’s “a broad abroad” — shares missives from the road. Read the inaugural column.
Darrell and I have spent hours discussing what type of life we want when we return to the States and how best to arrange that life so it serves our needs as well as those of our family. We have the luxury of truly exploring options and doing so without the stress of a traditional work life and the distractions of daily routine. “Adult College” is what I call it, and it truly has been one of the most educational endeavors I’ve encountered.
One of the big changes resulting from Adult College is the decision Darrell has made to focus on writing and creating projects for the entertainment industry. This has been a lifelong interest, but our lives never took him down that route before now. We formed a production company called DD Enterprises before we left the States, and from Day 1, our intent was to use this experience to inspire projects. Social media accounts across multiple platforms, coffee table books, podcasts, and even this article itself were all items we identified as natural and entertaining projects to arise from our travels. What I had not anticipated was the immersion Darrell experienced in script writing and how that has impacted our thinking about the future.
Before we even left Evansville, Darrell presented an idea of a TV series based on a character we had created together and how traveling the world would impact that character. I’ll admit, initially, I was skeptical. “That’s cute,” I thought, and encouraged him to run with it, but I didn’t really expect it to develop into anything serious. Boy, was I wrong!
Not even a year after the idea, having never written a script or knowing anything about how to break into the industry, he had written the first season of the TV show, submitted the pilot to multiple producers, and received near universal commendations for the idea, the writing, and the potential of the show. He’s currently working with two producers on it.
After the initial reaction from professionals reading that first script, I really encouraged Darrell to develop his other ideas. As Co-Creative Directors of DD Enterprises, we have spent hours creating concepts, discussing characters, and devising the most outrageous plots and stories you can imagine. Nearly all of them (“One Night in Neuquén” being a prime example to ask me about) are inspired by things that have happened to us, people we have met, and places we have visited during our travels. Who knows what will happen with these ideas, but it’s just one example of changes we have undergone and how these are building the foundation for the new life that awaits us soon.
Photo of prosciutto, burrata, and stonefruit salad served with Tequila Mockingbird cocktails by Zach Straw
Photo of Chris and Alesia Flint by Zach Straw
Crafting meals at home is a way of life for Alesia Flint. For three years, she’s offered a public glimpse into her kitchen via Instagram, regularly dropping photos of meals she concocts, whether it’s a pimento cheese BLT, maple-mustard glazed salmon, or French toast topped with apricots.
“I’ve always cooked, even since I was a kid,” says Flint, a mail services specialist with Old National Bank. “When my son was younger, I stayed home for his first five years and got bored. I’d go to the library to get cookbooks and would try a new meal a week, and I learned a lot from that.”
Believing meals should look attractive while also satisfying the palate, Flint tries to stuff each meal with as many different colors, flavors, and textures as possible. She also plans around what’s already stocked in her freezer and pantry. “I tend to cook meals that are more labor or time intensive on weekends and quick easy meals on weekdays,” she explains, adding that her husband, Chris, “is a willing taste-tester.”
Photo of spices by Zach Straw
Nutrition is always considered. Flint strives for a wide variety of foods while incorporating plenty of fresh, seasonal vegetables, and local growers play a prominent role. “Urban Seeds has a Nourish program, and it’s incredibly good value,” she says. “You get nice, beautiful, local produce, and I take advantage of that. Sometimes, I’ll go to the Market on Main and the Franklin Street Bazaar, and I’ll see what’s there. I lean more toward choosing the meat first and then picking sides. I’ll get a grab bag of produce and figure out what I can make with it. … It’s forced me to get creative.”
Creativity also applies to Flint’s cocktails. She photographs plenty of those for Instagram, sometimes pairing them with certain dishes or sipping one as she cooks. Each is poured into thrifted vintage glassware so it doesn’t just sit on the shelf. Her go-to mixes? “I’m a bourbon girl sometimes, and I do a smoked old-fashioned,” she says. “I’m not really a gin girl, but I did do a blackberry gin fizz that was delicious. I love a classic margarita, and you can put in any fruit you want — I’ve done a jalapeño margarita and an avocado margarita. The jungle bird” — typically made with rum, Campari, pineapple and lime juices, and a sweetener — “is one of my favorite cocktails.”
Photo of Tequila Mockingbird cocktail by Zach Straw
Flint says her next step in sharing her love of cooking is likely a podcast.“I don’t know if I want to focus on recipes or techniques, but how you learn and how you can adapt,” she says. “There are a lot of people who don’t know how to start (cooking) and are intimidated.” She’s already chosen a name — Speaking in Tongs — and hopes to have episodes out by the end of the year.
The podcast will promote ideals that Flint says she’s learned in her own kitchen: There’s always something new to try or discover, she says, and “you can make something out of almost anything.”
Illustration by Ryan Olbrysh. Hoosier Spirit II, William Miller plaque, Honor Flight welcome home parade onlookers, and Veterans Memorial Coliseum photos by Zach Straw. Four Freedoms Monument, Korean War Memorial, and 1976 bicentennial button photos by Lindsey McIntosh. “Bend In The River,” Sherman Tank, and refugee camp historical marker photos by Laura Mathis. Rosie the Riveters photo by Jerry Butts. USS LST-325 photo by Riley Guerzini. American flag photo provided by Len Silverfine. Hydroplane photo provided by Unlimiteds Detroit. James Bethel Gresham photo provided by Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Central Branch Indiana Collection. Col. Robert Morgan Evans image provided by Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science
Although Evansville didn’t exist during the American Revolution, it certainly exists because of that struggle. Ever since the city’s founding in 1812, its residents have championed and fought for freedom, whether across regional and global battlefields or in shipyards and factories at home. From celebrating the city’s heritage to paving the road for future generations, we’ve upheld those three unalienable rights — life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — that our Founding Fathers declared they were ready to fight for. As Wesselman Woods Co-Executive Director Kristina Arwood remarks, “Every day, I’m reminded that I’m just one small chapter in a much longer story.” Two hundred fifty years later, America’s story isn’t finished — and neither is Evansville’s.
1. Col. Robert Morgan Evans, the city’s namesake. 2. Four Freedoms Monument, constructed from stone pillars at the former Chicago & Eastern Illinois train depot. 3. Korean War Memorial on Riverside Drive.4. Hoosier Spirit II, a P-47 Thunderbolt built at the Republic Aviation plant. 5. James Bethel Gresham, an Evansville resident who was among the first three Americans killed in action in World War I. 6. “Bend In The River,” Amy Musia’s sculpture depicting Evansville founder Hugh McGary and Col. Robert Morgan Evans. 7. William Miller plaque memorializing the original curator of the Evansville African American Museum. 8. Onlookers cheering for veterans at the May 2, 2026, welcome home parade for Honor Flight of Southern Indiana’s 20th mission. 9. 1976 bicentennial button from Margaret and Dennis Haire’s private collection.10. 1943 Chrysler M4A4 Sherman Tank, named “Rosie’s Revenge,” on display at the Evansville Wartime Museum. 11. Civil War refugee camp historical marker near Haynie’s Corner.12. Evansville Shipyard button. 13. Rosie the Riveters Betty Reynolds, Margaret Evans, and Woanetta Osborne, photographed in spring 2011. 14. Veterans Memorial Coliseum, designed by Clifford Shopbell & Company to honor veterans of the Civil War and Spanish-American War. 15. USS LST-325, the world’s last originally functioning landing ship-tank and now a memorial permanently docked in Evansville. 16. “E” pin. 17. 411-foot-by-210-foot American flag produced by Anchor Industries for the bicentennial in 1976. 18. Hydroplane from the races held each summer at the Freedom Festival.
Photo of Vann Park's new pavilion by Lindsey McIntosh
To Joy Payne, the Vann Park neighborhood “is just the sweetest little part of town,” and it’s been enriched by two recent additions: a pavilion available for activities and a sign dedicated to a cherished late resident.
The Vann Park Neighborhood Association raised $7,500 to build the pavilion and found partners in the JD Sheth Foundation, Evansville Parks Foundation, architect Sarah Schuler, Boyd Electric, local sheet metal workers, and Kight Home Center.
Photo of Vann Park sign by Lindsey McIntosh
“We wanted to have a central covered location where we could set up a microphone and be the focal point of the park,” says Payne, vice president of the neighborhood association. It’s already shown its value by hosting the Bunny Bonanza Easter egg hunt, yoga sessions, and neighborhood meetings this spring. It will be the epicenter Oct. 17 for the Neighbors Fest; launched in 2021, the day of family fun has become a signature event for Vann Park.
Along Vann Avenue, a new sign honors Susan Haynie, the longtime real estate agent who was slain Aug. 27, 2025, at her home two blocks away. The sign is one of many that have gone up in city parks; Vann Park’s was sponsored by former mayor Lloyd Winnecke and his real estate agent wife, Carol McClintock, both longtime friends of Haynie.
For Payne, the sign and the pavilion reflect the neighborhood’s vibrant embrace of community, which Evansville Livingspotlighted in the November/December 2025 issue. They “enhance what was already there, which was already really nice,” she says.
A centerpiece of “500 Miles to Go: Recalling Select Milestones & Moments of the Indianapolis 500” is the white race car Jimmy Bryan drove to a second-place finish in 1954. “You can tell it was only turning left because the tires’ treads are much more worn on the left side,” says Chief Curator and Curator of History Tom Lonnberg. Next to the car are bricks from the Brickyard.
Photo of Indy 500 racing helmets by Lindsey McIntosh
Helmets and other memorabilia of four-time winners Helio Castroneves, A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, and Al Unser Sr. are displayed. Snapshots explore the legacies of Evansville natives such as the late Edwin Wilbur Aleon, who drove in the race in 1916, 1919, and 1922; and the late Mary Fendrich Hulman, who married future Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman Jr. in 1926 and, after his death, took over his “Gentlemen, start your engines!” command. There’s also a tribute to racing pioneer Charlie Wiggins, a Black Evansvillian barred from the Indy 500 who nevertheless stacked victories in the parallel Colored Speedway Association’s Gold and Glory Sweepstakes.
“500 Miles to Go” primarily features material provided by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the IMS Radio Network/INDYCCAR Radio with the support of local sponsors. It’s the Evansville Museum’s first exhibit of its type, and it stays until the checkered flag drops Aug. 23. “We started a conversation with them two or three years ago about doing this, and they were very gracious and generous,” Lonnberg says.
Southwestern Indiana’s place in the global fight for freedom includes stories of intra-country battles, with residents playing important roles from the Civil War through the Civil Rights Movement.
Civil War
Civil War historical marker photo by Laura Mathis
Skirmishes occurred regionally around the Ohio River — think Adam “Stovepipe” Johnson’s 1862 supplies raid on Newburgh. A historical marker near the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science marks where a home guard protected Evansvillians from Confederate raids and gunboats. Another outside Woods & Woods veterans law firm at 808 S.E. Third St. describes a 16-acre refugee camp called Blackford’s Grove that was a temporary home to pro-Union residents fleeing southern states that had seceded.
“A Confederate army under (Gen.) John Hunt Morgan had crossed the Ohio River above Owensboro, and Evansville was perceived as a possible target,” says Vanderburgh County Historian Stan Schmitt. “For most of a week, almost everything was closed down in Evansville, and its men were armed and placed in camps for training. When the threat ended, everything returned to normal.”
Lyles Station and The Underground Railroad Liberated brothers Joshua and Sanford Lyles came to Gibson County from Tennessee in the 1840s, buying land that by 1886 was known as Lyles Station. Formerly enslaved people and their descendants built and sustained the community a little more than five miles northwest of Princeton.
Current residents and those who grew up in Lyles Station have worked to tell its stories. Built in 1919, Lyles Consolidated School opened in 2003 as a museum of local history. Wayman Chapel, built in 1886, is being restored with a $500,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preserving Black Churches program.
“We all have pride in our history,” says Denise Jamerson, a lifelong Lyles Station resident and member of Wayman Chapel. Her husband, John, is the minister. “I’m a piece of the generations of history of Lyles Station.”
By the 1820s, some formerly enslaved people resided in Evansville, while many continued north via the Underground Railroad. Philanthropist Willard Carpenter’s house and the Old North United Methodist Church were stops, and residents Charles McJohnston, Judge A. I. Robinson, and Samuel McCutchan served as “conductors,” lighting the path to freedom.
Civil Rights Movement and Baptisttown
Photo of civil rights activist Sondra Matthews by Emma Bayens
“We are better off today because of the perseverance and collective fight for equality of those who came before us,” says Kori Miller, Executive Director of the Evansville African American Museum.
Educator Sally Wyatt Steward, NAACP leader Willie Effie Thomas, County Recorder Estella Moss, school board member Cola King “C.K.” Newsome, pastor W.R. Brown Sr., Human Rights Commissioner Jacqueline LaGrone, newspaper editor Sondra Matthews, and City Councilor John Caldwell Jr. helped advance civil rights in Evansville. Many of those efforts took place in Baptisttown, the city’s historically Black neighborhood. More than 200 businesses, civic organizations, churches, and social clubs were located there between the 1930s and ’60s.
“Much of the leadership came as a result of a group of prominent citizens in Baptisttown who were educators, administrators, clergy, and civic leaders … who were connected to Lincoln High School and dedicated to improving life in the area, pushed for equal rights,” Miller adds.
That history is preserved in institutions like Liberty Baptist Church, formerly segregated Lincoln School, and the African American museum, located in the former Lincoln Gardens housing project.
Women’s Suffrage Although Lucia Blount’s name may not be widely known, she was instrumental in the local women’s suffrage movement. She organized the Ladies Literary Club in 1874, during which discussions about suffrage were frequent. After helping form the Evansville Equal Suffrage Society, she moved to Washington, D.C., and joined the national movement. The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, giving women the vote, although it would be years before Native Americans and Black people shared that right.
Photo of Bill Bussing on the roof of Bosse Field by Zach Straw
A near-constant presence at Bosse Field — often with rolled-up shirtsleeves — Bill Bussing has been a hands-on owner of the Evansville Otters for 25 years, sustaining the city’s professional baseball industry on and off the diamond. The career attorney, now 70, talks about his retirement plans (hint: there are none), his thirst to win, and how the Otters are “trustees of a national treasure.”
Photo of Bill Bussing at Bosse Field by Zach Straw
How does Bosse Field fit in the American story? Baseball is so intricately connected to who we are as a nation, and Bosse Field is a national landmark. I cannot tell you how many people come to see that stadium from all over. Maybe they’ve seen it in the movie. [“A League of Their Own” filmed at Bosse Field in 1991.] We get guests not just during the season, but in the off-season. I’m often there on the weekends in November and December, and people show up and peer through the gates because they want to be there. If I’m there, I’ll let them in. They walk around, and for some of them, it’s a life-changing experience … I’ve had people cry because they’ve heard so much about Bosse Field. … We’re trustees of a national treasure.
You’re a Saint Louis Cardinals fan. Who was your favorite player growing up? Joe Torre. We share the same birthday, July 18. The first year I listened [to Cardinal games on the radio], he won the MVP in 1971, hitting .363.
What motivates you to be so hands-on with the franchise? We can’t control weather, what else is going on in the community that night, how well our team is playing, how well the other team is playing. We can control how that stadium looks. It’s important to me to project the most attractive facade we can. Fans don’t care who picks up the hotdog wrapper, but they notice it if it’s on the ground.
Speaking of hotdogs, what’s your go-to concession food? I rarely eat anything out there because I’m usually working … I’m more valuable picking up hotdog wrappers or making sure the lights work than I am watching the game. Not that I don’t follow it, because even throughout the game, if I’m working, I keep track of the score. But I don’t sit and watch.
Photo of the Otters’ 2016 Frontier League championship trophy by Lindsey McIntosh
And yet, winning is critically important to you. It’s paramount and why I do this. We’ve won two Frontier League championships and came close to a third in 2023. It’s my No. 1 priority.
What do you think of the Savannah Bananas? I’ve always felt that we need to enlarge our audience by incorporating more of those aspects into what we do. We’re not an athletic event. We’re an entertainment event. … So, to survive, we’ve had to add components that appeal to non-baseball fans or even non-sports fans as well as the basics — cleanliness, friendliness, good food. To that extent, I applaud what the Savannah Bananas have done, and in fact, we’ve had several players go on to play for them. … It is a phenomenon which has been healthy for baseball, and I wish I had thought of it.
What’s the future of Otters baseball? We’ve been here 31 years, and we have no plans to leave. The Frontier League is not just healthy, it’s growing. It’s the largest independent league in North America, and it is well-positioned to cement its relationship with Major League Baseball. [Editor’s note: It’s also rebranding as the National Association of Professional Baseball starting with the 2027 season.] Major League teams each only have four minor league affiliates, so the big leagues have become reliant on independent baseball. The Otters are well-positioned to continue to flourish. … We’re going to be here as long as the community wants.
EXTRA INNINGS Beyond two Frontier League championships, Bill Bussing is proud of the club’s greater impact. “I like to think that we have made a significant contribution in terms of the opportunities we offer,” he says. “It’s about 1,000 players and 1,500 other people. … The vast majority of our players are going to wind up doing other work, but we want to equip them with skills and values that they can use for the rest of their lives … Even in the years that we haven’t won, we’ve done a lot of good for the community. I find that really gratifying.”
Offering artisan iced creations for nine years, treat yourself to dessert with this food truck’s popular pop with a cream base and stuffed with Oreo cookie pieces. Find this frozen delight at Reimann’s Farm Market in Darmstadt or at the truck’s pop-up events.
Piña Colada Helados Ice Cream, Antojitos, and Snacks, $2.50
It’s the second anniversary of this colorful East Side snack shop, which offers frozen “paletas” inspired by owner Ana Lopez’s upbringing in Jalisco, Mexico. This heavy-on-the-coconut variety conjures a tropically chilled experience.
Known for its authentic Mexican cuisine, the East Side restaurant and food truck started by Carlos and Veronica Riviera in 2020 balances spicy entrees with frozen treats featuring seasonal flavors made with fresh fruit.
Locally owned since 1950, this version creates a twist on an old favorite. Whether your push pop is filled with sorbet or ice cream, it’s licked the same way. Find it at Lic’s five locations between Evansville and Newburgh, and one shop each in Vincennes, Indiana, and Owensboro, Kentucky.
The River City takes its patriotism seriously, with justification. U.S. Census figures show that nearly 6,000 military veterans lived within city limits in the past six years. Through service both home and abroad, Evansvillians have made significant contributions to the daily freedoms enjoyed by generations of people both in America and abroad.
Evansville resident James Bethel Gresham, 24, was one of the first three Americans killed in action in World War I on Nov. 3, 1917. His memorial house at Garvin Park is used now by ECHO Housing & Community Development as the home base of the agency’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program.
Vietnam War memorial photo by Laura Mathis
Strolling the Riverfront Esplanade Downtown, you’ll notice memorials to veterans of wars in Vietnam and Korea near the stoic Four Freedoms Monument dedicated in 1976. A monument to those who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm is at Main Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Earlier this year, the graves of around 20 Civil War veterans were moved off a site near Mater Dei High School and relocated to Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
When the future of freedom around the world hung in the balance in the early 1940s, Evansville — still reeling from the Great Depression — secured nearly $600 million in government defense contracts and switched from manufacturing commercial products to military equipment.
The Evansville U.S. Navy Auxiliary Shipyard, around where Mead Johnson Nutrition stands today at the bend in the Ohio River, churned out Landing Ship-Tanks that ferried servicemen, vehicles, and heavy equipment into hostile zones. Republic Aviation assembled P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. Not to be outdone, Red Spot Paint & Varnish Co. whipped up olive paint for the U.S. Army, Hoosier Cardinal Corporation manufactured parts for B-29 Superfortress planes, and the Chrysler Corporation (renamed Evansville Ordinance Plant during the war) led the way in steel bullets production.
Today, the Evansville Wartime Museum — near the site of the former Republic Aviation plant — explores the roles local men and women played in preserving global freedom. “Every year, we add more and more exhibits to explain what happened on the homefront,” says Dona Bone, a museum docent and lecturer. The museum has several special events throughout the year, including warbird weekends and monthly lunch-and-learn presentations. The USS LST-325, itself a memorial moored on the riverfront since 2005, also hosts guided tours and makes an annual voyage to Midwestern communities.
The city’s history as a war production capital has become part of its identity and branding. In December 2022, the U.S. National Park Service designated it a World War II Heritage City; only one community per state may receive the distinction.
The region’s contributions to freedom are documented in books, on signs, and in expanding digital archives, but Bone says the wartime museum takes seriously its mission to keep promoting that message: “We’ll tell anyone who walks through.”
P-47 parade photo provided by the Willard Public Library archives
By The Numbers
1942 Year the USS LST-325 was launched in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
167 Landing Ship-Tanks produced at the Evansville Shipyard
6,242 P-47 Thunderbolts assembled by Republic Aviation
3.5 billion Rounds of .45-caliber ammunition produced by the Evansville Ordinance Plant; it was 96 percent of the nation’s World War II supply
9,467 U.S. military veterans living in Vanderburgh County in 2020-24
Sources: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, U.S. National Park Service, P-47 Foundation, Indiana Landmarks, U.S. Census Bureau
Photo of bubble teas from Mr. Bubble Tea by Lindsey McIntosh
From its emergence in 1980s Taiwan, bubble tea has gone mainstream and expanded around the globe. Fancy a taste? Try different combinations of traditional tapioca or flavored filled gel boba with fruit and milk teas at these East Side shops.
503 N. Green River Road We recommend: taro milk tea with tapioca boba, which includes the ground root vegetable, giving the tea a purple hue and a sweet potato taste
The menu includes yogurts, smoothies, and shaved ice, but what this store specializes in is its namesake. Milk tea choices include chocolate, matcha, tiramisu, and lavender. Feeling fruity? Add pops of blueberry, mango, green apple, pomegranate, or 14 more flavors. For a caffeine kick, mix coffee boba pearls with a cappuccino, latte, mocha, or Vietnamese coffee. Good luck picking a flavor!
619 N. Burkhardt Road, Ste. G We recommend: soothing, floral Rose Garden milk tea with mild tapioca or strawberry boba for a fruity pop
Here, you’ll find flavors that look as good as they taste. Tapioca pearls add sensation to a crème brûlée milk tea that includes yogurt and cream cheese foam, topped with a layer of roasted sugar. Brown sugar gives the “dirty” version a marble look. Coffee-flavored gels boost the banana, chocolate drizzle, and chocolate foam topper in the Funky Monkey. Another milk tea comes with your choice of boba and a scoop of caramel pudding. Also on the menu are cotton candy, birthday cake, cookie and cream, bubble gum, and piña colada milk tea bases.
4700 Vogel Road We recommend: jasmine-based white peach tea with mango gels for a calm-meets-bold flavor combination
Alongside a menu of steamed dumplings, spring rolls, crab rangoon, and General Tso’s chicken, this sit-down restaurant also serves drinks with refreshing boba. Start with a base of taro, coconut milk, mocha, fruit, or Thai tea, then add bubbles in flavors like tapioca, strawberry, and mango.
Joshua Armstrong isn’t nostalgic by nature — “I live in the future more than the past,” he explains. But in 2020, he saw potential in a Spanish Mission-style house on Saint James Boulevard that jogged memories of his upbringing in San Gabriel, California. It needed some work, and a determined Armstrong embraced the challenge of making the single story property his new home.
“It reminded me of the house I grew up in,” Armstrong says. “That was a house from the late 1920s. I walked into this one, and the door was in the same spot. The dining room was in the same spot. The breakfast room was in the same spot. … My childhood house was a little bit bigger, but this house instantly reminded me of my childhood home in terms of the natural light, and being on a street of older homes that are all unique.”
Photo of Joshua Armstrong by Zach Straw
The house had been flipped in 2019, and its condition was uneven. “Some things were OK, but a lot of things were not,” he says. He signed on the dotted line, then rolled up sleeves and got to work, with help from several area businesses. The roof was one area that needed immediate attention; it had been repeatedly patched over the years.
“The roof on the pitched portion of the house is an ‘architectural’ asphalt roof, colored to add some texture and shadows,” Armstrong explains. “About a third of the house has a flat roof surrounded by a parapet wall. That roof was removed, and a new rubber roof was installed. A rubber roof should last about 50 years as long as nothing causes a puncture, like a tree limb.”
Other critical tasks included replacing the HVAC system, adding electrical outlets, and replacing cast-iron pipes with polyethylene. tubing. While remodeling the kitchen, Armstrong removed walls and doors to create a more free-flowing design while preserving the character of arched doorways and a telephone caddy built into the wall. Remodeling contractor MCF Construction of Newburgh also restored much of the exterior stucco and tuck-pointed the underlying brick during that process.
“Most of the credit goes to Josh because he’s got really good taste, from the layout to the color selection,” says Mike Freeman, president of MCF Construction. “He’s got a small, restricted floor plan, so we used his ideas on the entryway and a rear hallway to just open it up.”
It all clicked, says Armstrong, who previously served in executive positions at the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership and Downtown Economic Improvement District. He moved to Evansville in 2005 in part to search for a simpler life away from California; more than 15 years later, he found the perfect residence. “It’s kind of a modified Spanish Colonial home here in the Midwest. Some of the tile roofs, exterior tile work, and unique wrought iron features were not widely used in the Midwest — I can only think of a few homes in Evansville that have a full tile roof, but the house, certainly in terms of arches and its general presence, felt very Southern California.”
Having finished handling chores essential for preserving the home for its next century, Armstrong began adding touches — inside and out — needed for making the residence feel like his own. He repainted each room, giving most a warm white look. Outside, an earthy sage green covers the slate gray and white trim that used to color the stucco walls.
Josh Armstrong's Home
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Photo by Zach Straw
Photo by Zach Straw
Photo by Zach Straw
Photo by Zach Straw
Photo by Zach Straw
Photo by Zach Straw
Photo by Zach Straw
Photo by Zach Straw
The new hue blends with the home’s natural assets: a twist on Palladian windows, plus a low-pitched roof with a parapet of red clay tile and a cross gable sloping down over the recessed entryway. Alongside the arched, multi-pane front door is an open-air terrace featuring a bistro table and chairs. The adjacent windows — rectangular and symmetrical, with semi-circular tops — catch the eye and allow natural light into a homey living room featuring original hardwood flooring, plus a fireplace Armstrong has restored. A curved ceiling reaches 10 feet at its apex. “In a modest-sized home, you rarely get ceiling heights like this, and they’re throughout the house,” Armstrong says.
Custom Sewing Service provided sheer cafe curtains, which Armstrong says achieve a delicate balance between privacy and light. Farmhouse-style lighting fixtures in the living room were replaced with a structural, insect-like three-arm ceiling lamp by Serge Mouille, bringing mid-century modern elements to a property dating to 1926.
The kitchen makeover was substantive, too. Derek Reidford of HWD Custom Cabinetry in Wadesville, Indiana, hung inset door cabinets with minimalist knobs and recesses. Reidford describes the color as a low tone, “mellow yellow,” but with “a little more shine to the finish” than homeowners typically request. Paired with black veined granite countertops and stainless steel appliances from Wayne’s Appliance and Lowe’s, “it turned out well,” Reidford says.
The cabinets and subway tile on the walls make a muted canvas for the bolder diagonal checkerboard of brick-red-and-cream tile placed by Steve Adams of Elite Tile and Marble, Inc. — “he did a fantastic job,” Freeman says. The same pattern is in the back sunroom while Armstrong’s lone bathroom features a black-and-white basket-pattern tile floor, aqua and black tiling on walls, and white marble countertops. Neutral-colored Roman shades came from Grateful Threads Fabric and Furnishings, Inc. Tiles came from Louisville Tile’s Evansville showroom.
Adjacent to the kitchen is a breakfast nook with an arched entryway. Armstrong decorated it with a bistro table and chairs as a nod to the house’s backstory. “My understanding of customs of the ’20s is that the family would eat breakfast and lunch (in the nook), keeping the dining room clean for dinner, or whatever entertaining the housewife may be doing,” he says.
A highlight of the dining room is the early 20th-century table. “I got it in a trade for a really cool chinoiserie coffee table,” Armstrong says. The sideboard is from the 1950s, designed by Paul McCobb. The light fixture is a handmade “Akari” lamp by Isamu Noguchi and was purchased at The Noguchi Museum in New York City’s Queens borough. “My vision for the space was to create something dramatic, yet earth-bound, which is represented by the red-brown walls,” Armstrong says. “A neighbor once told me my light looks like the moon in the window at night.”
The sunroom has comfortable wicker seating and is the home base for Armstrong’s television and bicycles — he’s an avid cyclist. Local artists’ acrylic, oils, and multi-media works are found throughout his home: Nudes are courtesy of Joshua Bronaugh, while Cole Cartwright and Christina Robinson’s abstract creations are sprinkled throughout the two-bedroom home, which covers 1,537 square feet.
Armstrong says he’s discovered practicality as well as nostalgia in the house, which he calls “Casa en Progreso” — “it’s always in progress of some type,” he explains. He’s redone the driveway, removed a large dying tree, touched up the landscaping, and feels at home in the Vann Park Neighborhood. Armstrong says the 100-year-old property delivers an air of Southern California to his Hoosier surroundings, with elements from 1926, 1976, and today: “What it does bring to me is a feeling of connection that I wouldn’t have had if I was in a home from the ’80s or ’90s or a new home.”
Valerie Settle considers herself an artistic person, and that interest carries over to her gardening. After purchasing an Amish-made wooden storage barn, she poured her creativity into transforming it into a backyard getaway. “It started as a stress reliever and grew into something I made with passion,” she says. “It’s my way to reset and cope.”
Photo of Valerie Settle by Lindsey McIntosh
A 2007 art graduate from Kentucky’s Morehead State University, Settle has created ceramics under the name Muddepuddle Pottery. The Phelps, Kentucky, native also took after her mother, Linda Stacy, and sister, Jeannie Dotson, in her love for gardening. With the deaths of her father, Johnny Stacy, in 2012 and her mother in 2017, Settle and her husband, Greg, relocated to his hometown in 2018. When not working as a District Human Resources Leader for Kroger, she gardens around her Newburgh home, around which she planted ferns, sunflowers, and calla lilies.
In September 2025, Greg got her that storage barn. Settle got to work filling it with plants purchased from Colonial Classics Landscape & Nursery. She often incorporates native plants, but there also are vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes, coneflowers, coral bells, hydrangeas, bugleweed, marigolds, small ferns, and a baby herb garden with purple and green basil. She plants and decorates everything herself, but Greg helps with some of the work, such as watering the plants.
Photo at Ferns & Fairy Lights by Lindsey McIntosh
Decor in wood, metals, and ceramics was selected with the mindset of hygge, a Danish word referring to the coziness of life’s simple pleasures. The greenhouse is cooled with an exhaust fan, while curtains and open windows provide a breeze. After a lengthy discussion with her sister, Settle decided to call the garden Ferns & Fairy Lights, a tribute to her mother’s affection for ferns and her own love of whimsy.
“You get to define what makes you feel cozy,” Settle says. “I wanted it to be a space to enjoy. I am out here every day, even if it’s just to go out there and look at it.”
Garden beds and Dutch doors she handmade provide a fancy entrance to the greenhouse. Using thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace, she found different antiques to decorate with. She repurposed a candleholder to house small potted plants and surrounded it with a chandelier, dressers, shelves, desks, terracotta pots, wooden windowboxes, and a fireplace mantel with more planters and pots. Inside a wooden frame are the introductory lyrics to Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” her mother’s favorite song. A sign reads “It’s a Wonderful Life,” nodding at her mother’s favorite movie. Twinkling from string lights helps the space feel whimsical at night. Small chairs offer places to sit and reflect.
Documenting her creation journey on TikTok has gained Settle nearly 9,300 followers. “The garden I’ve created gives me that connection to beauty and peace, and a creative outlet,” she says.
Photo of Vicki Bernard, Lisa Marts, Candy Tolliver,
Bernette Locklar, Janice Kidder, and Karen Green by Lindsey McIntosh
Amid the giraffes, jaguars, and komodo dragons, a dedicated Family Garden in Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden offers a quietly bustling respite. Planted 34 years ago, its location has shifted closer to Lake Victoria in the center of the zoo.
“It has kept me very busy, which I love,” says master gardener and Family Garden co-chair Karen Green. “We try to change something every year.”
The Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association maintains the herb, pollinator, daylily, shade, perennial, and native plants; all are sectioned off into mini-habitats with something blooming each season. Pollinators have a “bug inn” plus old logs, trees, thick-growth ferns and shrubs, and intentionally unkempt areas to attract wildlife.
In 2024, it became a Monarch Waystation for butterflies to feast and lay eggs on more than 10 swamp milkweeds. “Every plant has its own microbiome that it grows in best. It’s such a learning curve,” says master gardener Candy Tolliver, who has tended the garden for 10 years.
More than 20 volunteers lend a hand twice a month. The family-friendly site includes a wishing well and toddler labyrinth. SWIMGA also hosts educational programs, youth engagement through games like hopscotch and Tic-Tac-Toe, and informational kiosks, all designed to familiarize the community with their environment. Upcoming presentations include hummingbirds on July 18 and monarch butterflies on Aug. 1. “It’s a wonderful place to bring the kiddos,” Tolliver says. Green agrees: “The kids love the games.”
Befriending the Bugs Plant your own pollinator garden with these tips from SWIMGA:
Determine which habitats can grow best. Plant correctly, and you may spot a caterpillar. Don’t want caterpillars? Be mindful of host plants, which are specific to a region and type of butterfly. “Creating a nice habitat feeds your soul,” master gardener Candy Tolliver says.
Start small and grow native plants. Zinnias, cosmos, and agastache, plus some members of the carrot family, are easier to manage. Add something new each year so the process is not so overwhelming.
“Always enjoy it. If it becomes a job, it’s not working,” Tolliver says.
A city’s landmarks act like chapters in a book. Evansville’s story is interwoven with four dignified properties that have stood watch over the city since the 1800s. “Homes are ways to learn about the beauty of our history and architectural treasures,” says Reitz Home Museum Executive Director Joseph Lutz.
Reitz Home “There are few families in town with as prominent a name as Reitz,” Lutz says, and lumber baron John Augustus Reitz’s French Second Empire-style family home at 112 Chestnut St. is one of the region’s best glimpses of daily life in a turn-of-the-century prominent family. “Our goal is to make you feel like the family just stepped out,” Lutz says. Second-floor bathrooms are evidence of indoor plumbing that was relatively new in 1871. The chandeliers switched fuel sources because electricity wasn’t available 24 hours a day. The family entertained guests among handcrafted furniture and hand-painted china. The home-turned-museum is an anchor for the Riverside Historic District as well as one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and tourist attractions. In 2025, 2,500 visitors and nearly 500 students walked through the museum, many drawn by connections to their own American stories. The Reitzes, Lutz says, “are a quintessential American family: The parents both emigrated from Prussia, found each other in Evansville, married and had 10 children, built businesses and invested. … It’s a good, civic-minded family” — with direct descendants living here today — “who made a lot of money but gave it back to the people who got you there.”
Carpenter House photo by Zach Straw
Carpenter House Vermont native Willard Carpenter went West to find new opportunities and ended up creating them for generations of Evansvillians. Joining his dry goods wholesaler brother here in 1837, Carpenter’s business success and civic leadership connected Evansville to the Wabash and Erie Canal and a regional railroad system. His family relaxed on the 1848 Greek Revival home’s large piazzas and porches, and its position at 413 Carpenter St., close to the river’s bend, allowed it to be a stop on the Underground Railroad. It hasn’t been a residence since the Great Depression, but its turns hosting the American Legion Funkhauser Post 8, WTVW, Medco, and WNIN have kept it connected to community endeavors. Now, Catanese Real Estate uses Carpenter’s old residence to help others find their new homes, and the old TV studio behind the main house serves as overflow space for Willard Public Library. Speaking of …
Willard Public Library photo by Zach Straw
Willard Library Known locally as a “pioneer of public charity,” Carpenter’s namesake library at 21 N. First Ave. testifies to his benevolence and love of knowledge. Featuring steep roofs, turrets, and arcades, it’s also a gorgeous piece of Gothic Revival architecture built in 1881 by James W. Reid, who designed San Diego, California’s grand Hotel Del Coronado. Established for, as Carpenter stated, “the improvement of the moral and intellectual culture of the inhabitants of Evansville,” Willard Library now also is an acclaimed regional hub for genealogical materials that help us trace our roots.
Thomas Stockwell home photo by Laura Mathis
Thomas Stockwell Home Arguably the oldest existing structure in Downtown Evansville, this Federal-style duplex at 313-315 S.E. First St. dates to 1839 and was first occupied by Thomas Stockwell and the Rev. Joseph Wheeler. Unlike most of its structural neighbors from that era, the Stockwell Home remained a residence through the 1980s, when it became the office of Roy Cobb, CPA and Associates, which merged with Riney Hancock in 1989. Investors Jeff McGowan and Jonathan Lee bought the building in 2022 and renovated the second floor into an apartment and rental units for a photography studio and an esthetician. First-floor spaces are rented to Clean Suite commercial cleaning company and Blue Fern, a salon, esthetician, and cosmetic tattoo shop. Still sporting the original symmetrical facade, the slate blue former home’s round-arched corner entrances with sunbeam windows are framed with molding accented by a wooden keystone, paying tribute to its builders’ vision.
Trying to decide where to eat, or looking for something new or different? Tim Joyce is happy to help. The Vincennes, Indiana, resident created Meals in a Snap on a whim. Spurred by his children, he had already done some TikTok cooking videos. “I cook for the family all the time,” he says. A September 2025 video at Monical’s Pizza in Vincennes reached 9,000 views. Another one, at Arby’s, soared to 38,000.
Posting as Meals in a Snap, Joyce has visited dozens of regional restaurants, leaving crumbs on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. The name evolved from Ginger Snap — he’s a redhead. “I pay for allmy meals,” he says. “I’m not a food critic and want to make sure everyone knows that. I just go highlight local restaurants.”
A typical week might take Joyce to historic Nisbet Inn in Haubstadt for rib gumbo and mac and cheese, cozy Dee’s Diner in Owensboro, Kentucky, for a “pancake the size of a basketball,” and R’z Cafe & Catering in Fort Branch for brunch — he suggests trying the Creole Chicken Benny.
Photo of Tim Joyce and family provided by Tim Joyce
During a recent family vacation at Walt Disney World, Joyce sampled a hot honey chicken sandwich that he opined “wasn’t so hot,” and he advised the restaurant’s owner to consult Vincennes’ Linneweber’s Sauce Company on how to spice things up. Another Knox County spot, Procopio’s Pizza & Pasta, is among his favorites.
Most of Joyce’s social media feedback is upbeat, but he got some pushback after ordering his steak medium well at House of Como — a reminder of the passionate viewpoints many have about food. “I took a lot of heat,” he says. “A lot of people thought I should eat it rare or medium rare. But that’s not me.”
Photo of grill and meat provided by Tim Joyce
The son of parents who loved to cook, Joyce, who works full-time in manufacturing, doesn’t just go out to eat. At home, he often fires up his Big Green Egg grill courtesy of Bassemiers Grill Supply Co. Perhaps he’s fulfilling his destiny: “I took four years of food classes at Lincoln High School (in Vincennes), and in second grade, I wrote a book with a friend that said we would open a restaurant when we got older,” he says.
Restaurateurs send Joyce branded T-shirts to wear in videos and gift cards for him to give away to followers (36,000 on Facebook, 17,700 on TikTok, and counting). He’s seeking more traction on YouTube in the form of longer-form videos.
“Restaurants have messaged me days after a review telling me they were packed or sold out and the people came in saying they saw the review,” he says. “I have restaurants reaching out to me everyday to come and give them a try.”
