Southern Indiana Living MarApr 2020

Southern 

Indiana 

Mar/ Apr 2020 

Living 

Putting 

Family 

First: 

Behind the 

Scenes at the 

BQP Food 

Truck 

SPECIAL 

SECTION: 

Women 

on the Go 

Spring Fun in Southern Indiana

Create more 

moments. 

When you’re living life to its fullest, make sure there’s a satisfying end. 

Make room for a few more smiles. Clear the way for more quality time with 

your family. Enjoy more warm hugs from your loved ones. Get the comfort 

and care you deserve by reaching out to us at 800.264.0521 or visit 

HosparusHealth.org. The earlier you contact us, the more we can help. 

2 • Mar/Apr 2020 • Southern Indiana Living Southern Indiana Living • Mar/Apr 2020 • 3

Featured Stories 

12 | A FOOD TRUCK FAMILY 

BQP Food Truck 

17 | SPRING FUN IN SOUTHERN INDIANA 

Top five activities around Southern Indiana 

16 

Women on the Go 

30 | DEVELOPING HEALTH HABITS 

Five tips for women on the go 

31 | A WOMAN ON THE GO 

Local business woman owns four businesses 

33 | ADVOCATING FOR BETTER HEALTHCARE 

Gwen Cooper’s work in the non-profit sector 

35 | SOUTHERN INDIANA IN PICTURES 

Women Empowerment 

36 | MOVERS & SHAKERS 

Behind the scenes with three philanthropic heroines 

19 

Southern Indiana Living 

MARCH / APRIL 2020 

In Every Issue 

7 | FLASHBACK PHOTO 

Pearl Street, New Albany, Indiana, 1930s 

8 | A NOTE TO BABY BOOMERS 

Read this and keep reading 

10 | A WALK IN THE GARDEN WITH BOB HILL 

The Wonders of Witch Hazel 

38 | COMMUNITY PAGES 

Strands & Threads Specialty Shop, Indiana University 

Singing Hoosiers, and more! 

41 | REAL LIFE NUTRITION 

Organic or not 

17 

44 | GRAND IN GRANDPARENTING 

Winter Fun 

46 | EVERYDAY ADVENTURES 

Farsighted faith 





MAR / APR 2020 

VOL. 13, ISSUE 2 

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Karen Hanger 

karen@silivingmag.com 

LAYOUT & DESIGN | 

Christy Byerly 

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Jennifer Cash 

Flashback 

A Glimpse of the Past 

New Albany, Indiana 

1930s 

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ON THE COVER: Bert’s 

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// Photo courtesy of Stuart B. Wrege Indiana History Room, New Albany-Floyd County Public Library 

New Albany | Palmyra | Corydon 

Southern Indiana Living is 

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This photograph captures a snapshot of daily life in New Albany, Indiana, in the 

1930s. According to library records, this is a view of the east side of Pearl Street 

between Spring and Market. Shown are John B. Mitchell Men’s Clothing at 306 Pearl 

Street and Stein’s Shoes at 310 Pearl Street. 

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A Note to Baby Boomers 

People who love books are like 

people who love dogs. 

They are my people. 

There cannot be too many 

of either since books, like dogs, keep 

coming. 

Amazon does not sell every 

book printed, though it can seem that 

way. And someday it too probably 

will be the go-to site for a box of Labradoodles. 

You must like to read, or you’d 

be devoting these particular few moments 

to binge-watching “My Mother 

the Car” or finishing off a Whopper 

made from something other than 

beef. Thanks for being friends with 

words and phrases and subjects and 

verbs. 

I applaud your willingness to 

be informed, or entertained, by more 

than tweets or the Long Island Medium. 

I hope you read more than I do. I 

read my share, I suppose. Then again, 

what is a share? A book or two per 

month? Check. A daily diet of magazine 

and newspaper articles? No 

sweat. 

Occasional, wide-ranging Facebook 

posts? I confess. 

I am likewise guilty about using 

my local public library. I rarely do. 

My library card may as well be in the 

back of my drawer keeping company 

with the card from Blockbuster. 

This is shameful on a couple of 

levels. 

My library, any library, is chockfull 

of the best stuff available to keep 

me busy and to make me better. Libraries 

are indeed everyman’s universities. 

I also serve on the board of my 

local library. I help guide the library 

through a challenging present to a 

still-less-certain future. Yet I as often 

visit the post office next door. 

And who still visits the post office? 

Like so many institutions, libraries 

used to be bigger deals. Most, like 

mine, were among the most grand, 

most familiar landmarks in town. 

They bustled and, apparently, some 

threatened. Enemies targeted libraries 

in wars. Cowards of new ideas 

burned books, comics included. 

Many, many people long leaned 

on reference librarians to answer 

Read This and Keep Reading 

questions from profound to peculiar. 

Now people count on Google. 

My English-major mother took 

me to the library — one of Carnegie’s 

contributions — like she took me to 

Stewart’s, in Louisville, for school 

clothes. Signing up for the summer 

reading program was every bit as 

predictable as re-upping for Little 

League baseball. 

I remember how the library’s 

old wooden staircase creaked and 

how no other place smelled quite like 

it. I checked out a stack of books most 

every time. I especially enjoyed biographies 

and still do. 

Books and I got along. I earned 

a seat in my classroom’s top reading 

group — groups with bird names 

for some reason — and Mom was 

as proud as when I hit home runs. 

If I ever believed reading might kill 

me, well, I also believed Patty Duke 

would find me irresistible if she got 

a chance. 

I sheepishly paid a library late 

fee — 8 cents — as close to juvenile 

delinquency as this dork ever wanted 

to get. 

My mother’s father, I learned 

somewhat recently, sat on our library’s 

first board. By happenstance, 

I serve in his footsteps as well as in 

his memory. 

Grandpa’s library did not have 

Amazon with which to compete, 

though. Libraries didn’t need to worry 

about their status back then. 

They still welcome everyone, of 

course, as long as the goal is to use 

and not to abuse. Libraries try harder 

than ever to be much more than 

a warehouse of books. Libraries are 

places to borrow a pass to parks and 

museums, to dive deep into genealogy, 

to use a computer to find a job. 

Book clubs gather there, and tutors 

go over lessons with students after 

school. 

Mine offers lunch to kids in the 

summertime. 

Entire days fly by without anyone 

in a library being told to keep it 

quiet. Cranky librarians have gone 

the way of card catalogs. 

Yet I suspect that too many of 

you, like me, have come to assume 

today’s libraries as being mostly for 

other people, not for us. We may peg 

them foolishly as primarily charity, 

like food pantries and public buses. 

So reuniting public libraries 

with the whole public is the overriding 

mission for libraries and their 

leaders like me. 

We can make sure patrons feel 

safe. We could expand hours. Programming 

and promotion better not 

take days off. Technology should not 

fall behind the times. Oh, and let’s accomplish 

all the above, and more, on 

a budget under constant stress. 

I remember how the library’s old wooden 

staircase creaked and how no other place 

smelled quite like it. 

I hope our elected officials read. 

I know they read tea leaves. They will 

continue to champion libraries if taxpayers 

still want them championed. 

We read of women and minorities 

and school teachers and auto 

workers making sure their voices are 

heard. Readers themselves need to 

follow suit. 

If you are still reading this, I am 

glad it didn’t kill you. Reading is not 

dangerous. Not reading is dangerous. 

For retirees, accomplishments tend to 

elude. Reading is an accomplishment 

— it takes effort and time. Reading a 

book is a big accomplishment. 

Along with much else, libraries 

remain full of books. No one can read 

all books or, for that matter, adopt all 

dogs. 

Like dogs, though, books need 

us, and we need them. Read on. • 

After 25 years, Dale Moss 

retired as Indiana columnist for 

The Courier-Journal. He now 

writes weekly for the News and 

Tribune. Dale and his wife Jean 

live in Jeffersonville in a house 

that has been in his family 

since the Civil War. Dale’s e- 

mail is dale.moss@twc.com 

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A Walk in the Garden with Bob Hill 

The Wonders of Witch Hazel 

A look at native cures provided by Mother Nature 

Whenever I wander into our 

modern 12-acre, Southern 

Indiana drugstores — their 

miles of shelves lined with 

thousands of non-disposable bottles of 

medicines aimed at what ails us humans, 

but not our environment — my thoughts 

go to the native cures that Mother Nature 

has long provided us without all the glass 

and plastic bottles. 

That is especially true this early 

spring, which has given me two weeks’ 

worth of sneezes, coughs and semi-convulsions. 

It’s also provided two huge, 

golden witch hazel shrubs blooming outside 

our house that offer color, fragrance 

and emotional hope. The point being that 

those witch hazels were once used by Native 

Americans as a remedy for the very 

ailments listed above, but without all the 

glass and plastic garbage. 

I have always been a big fan of witch 

hazels — the natives that bloom in fall, 

and the many cultivars that erupt big and 

bold as we sit indoors in gray February 

and March gloom watching television 

wondering if the Indiana Hoosiers or Purdue 

Boilermakers will ever regain some 

consistent former glory. Not to forget Butler. 

Seeking more knowledge of the 

plant — and wondering about some of 

its history and medicinal properties — I 

came across an article titled “The Mysterious 

Past and Present of Witch Hazel” by 

John-Manuel Andriote. It ran in The Atlantic 

a few years ago, so it had to be true. 

Andriote begins by listing the various 

Native American tribes that found 

uses for witch hazel. The Osage used witch 

hazel bark to treat skin ulcers and sores. 

The Potawatomi steamed twigs over hot 

rocks in their sweat lodges to soothe sore 

muscles. Closer to my heart and lungs, the 

Iroquois brewed a tea to treat dysentery, 

colds and coughs. 

Since then studies have determined 

that active compounds in witch hazel 

such as flavonoids, tannins and volatile 

oil give it astringent action to stop bleeding. 

Witch hazel brew that was sipped to 

stop internal bleeding — and I shall spare 

you the full details here — could be injected 

into other body passages to reduce the 

pain and itching of hemorrhoids. 

So, here’s what I have long wondered 

about those native and herbal plant 

medical remedies, some dating back thousands 

of years: How long did it take for 

humans to figure out what native plant 

to apply where? What manner of experimentation 

was required? 

Pushing this back to the near ridiculous, 

an archeologist’s dig into a 

60,000-year-old Neanderthal burial site 

found pollen from eight plant species, 

Those witch hazels were once used by Native 

Americans as a remedy for the very ailments listed 

above, but without all the glass and plastic garbage. 

seven now used as herbal remedies, all 

that pre-dating 12-acre drugstores. 

Somewhat closer to home, roughly 

5,000-year-old clay tablets found in Mesopotamia 

listed hundreds of medicinal 

plants, including opium and myrrh, two 

remedies with modern implications, including 

Christmas. 

Moving well ahead and a continent 

over, and before there were many doctors 

west of Philadelphia, our early pioneers 

used purple coneflower or echinacea as a 

prevention against, yes, colds and flu. 

The Gingko biloba herb — and I 

have several such trees in my yard — was 

used for many conditions associated with 

aging, poor circulation, memory loss and 

other things I can’t remember. 

Ginseng, of course, is also still regularly 

dug out from Southern Indiana 

woods to help elevate energy levels, improve 

stress resistance and post-basketball 

depression. 

Chewing on St. John’s Wort has, 

for hundreds of years, been used in the 

treatment of mental disorders, even mild 

to moderate depression. Leaving aside 

the question of how truly effective plant 

ingesting can be in fighting depression, I 

wonder who first figured this out. How 

long did it take? Did pioneer doctors, as 

modern medicine does today, have study 

groups? 

“OK, all you dressed in gingham, 

chew only sunflower seeds for the next 

six months and you in calico eat St. John’s 

Wort. We will all gather here again in six 

months to see which group feels the best.” 

Did the elders back in Mesopotamia 

divide into groups; some got opium and 

some didn’t? How well was that going to 

work either way? In the Native American 

situations, what kind of research was required 

for the Osage to learn that witch 

hazel bark could treat skin ulcers and 

sores? Did any Osage first try oak, cherry 

or hickory? How many generations lived 

unhappy, sore-filled lives before the witch 

hazel cure was discovered? 

Native American tribes in Indiana 

mixed Golden Seal (buttercup) root powder 

with bear grease as an insect repellent 

long before bug spray was invented, but 

who was the first in that group to consider 

that a good idea? 

Let’s see, a little bear grease, some 

buttercup root; take that, mosquitoes. 

Moving back to the witch hazel history, 

there are also some not-so-ancient 

folk who believe tea made from witch 

hazel leaves and bark would heighten occult 

powers, and many modern witches 

believe the same will keep away evil and 

heal broken hearts. 

There is another school of thought 

— thoroughly debunked in academic 

circles — that forked witch hazel branches 

first grown in a north-south position 

could “divine” locations of underground 

water. These days we just call the water 

company. 

But still, if it’s witch hazel buds and 

fragrance you crave in late winter to early 

spring to get you through the NCAA tournament, 

just snip off a few branches, bring 

them inside and put them in a vase. The 

visual, medicinal and psychological value 

is overwhelming. • 

Bob Hill owns Hidden Hill 

Nursery and can be 

reached at farmerbob@ 

hiddenhillnursery.com. 

For more information, 

including nursery hours 

and event information, go 

to www.hiddenhillnursery. 

com 

10 • Mar/Apr 2020 • Southern Indiana Living Southern Indiana Living • Mar/Apr 2020 • 11 

About the Author

Cover Story 

A Food Truck Family 

Food, family and friendship are 

what the Herberts are all about. 

Jazmin and Mitch Herbert have 

been running Bert’s Quality Provisions 

since June 2019. Although Mitch 

always had a long list of side projects, he 

never imagined he’d end up in the food 

truck business. 

“My primary career has been in 

health care administration – the strategic 

planning side of health care management,” 

Mitch said. “Jazmin’s work experience 

was in early childhood education 

and administration.” 

The pair have been married for 16 

years and together for 21 years. After 

meeting in Florida just before turning 20, 

they also lived in Maryland and have two 

children, Jackson and Shelby. 

Shelby was born in 2013 and Jackson 

in 2017. Jazmin was born and raised in 

this area and left when she was 18. Their 

family moved back to Indiana last year. 

Their son, Jackson, was diagnosed 

with a rare congenital heart defect — 

hypoplastic left heart syndrome — at 21 

weeks in utero. 

“It’s more or less, he was born with 

half a functioning heart,” Mitch said. “His 

first open heart surgery was at 4 days of 

age and his second was at 5 months old.” 

In total, Jackson spent 120 days in 

the hospital during the first year of his life. 

After his first surgery, he was home 

for four days and was rushed to the hospital. 

He went into cardiac arrest for an 

hour and was placed on emergency heart 

bypass. He then spent a month in the hospital. 

He was rushed to the hospital for 

respiratory distress a few days after his 

second surgery and spent another month 

in the hospital. 

“He was intubated a total of 42 

days,” Jazmin said. “But who’s counting?” 

Jackson came home on Mother’s 

Day of 2018. 

“We’ve had over a good year, coming 

up on two years of good health,” 

Mitch said. 

Jackson eventually has to have a 

third surgery, planned for June of 2020, 

and may ultimately be a candidate for a 

heart transplant. 

“His condition only has a palliative 

approach, so he’s never cured,” Mitch 

said. 

“Unless he has a transplant,” Jazmin 

added. 

Doctors have only been performing 

surgery on patients with Jackson’s condition 

for the past 30 years. 

Jackson’s health is the reason the 

Herberts decided to move into the food 

industry. 

“We knew it would give us the flexibility 

to make a living, but at the same 

time manage Jackson’s day-to-day and 

long-term care,” Mitch said. 

Jackson gets therapy up to three 

times a week — physical, occupational, 

and speech and language therapy. 

“The idea going in was that being 

self-employed would help us manage our 

time and manage our responsibilities,” 

Mitch said. 

Mitch started working hard at a 

business plan in the fall of 2018. 

“My idea was, if you were going to 

come to my house, whether it was a Saturday 

party or a Sunday family dinner, this 

is the type of food that I would serve my 

family and friends,” he said. 

The name of the business came easily 

to Mitch and Jazmin, as Bert is a family 

name. Mitch’s name is Mitchell Bert 

Herbert, his father’s name is Michael Bert 

Herbert, his grandfather is Bert Herbert Jr. 

and his great-grandfather is Bert Herbert 

Sr. Jackson’s middle name is also Bert. 

“We were thick as thieves — my 

grandfather, my dad and myself — growing 

up,” Mitch said. 

When Mitch realized the mobile 

concept would provide more flexibility, he 

began designing a trailer with a company 

outside of Nashville, Tennessee. 

The trailer has an 8-foot porch where 

the smoker lives. The rest of the trailer 

has a full commercial kitchen and a private 

bathroom. Jackson comes with them 

wherever they go so they built it keeping 

his potential long-term needs in mind. 

“The whole taking it from concept to 

reality was a lot of fun,” Mitch said. “You 

don’t get to do that too often in business 

in terms of designing it and also putting it 

Bert’s Quality Provisions lets the Herberts spend more time 

together and manage their toddler’s care 

Although Mitch 

always had a 

long list of side 

projects, he 

never imagined 

he’d end up in 

the food truck 

business. 

Story by Darian Eswine 

Photos by Michelle Hockman 

Pictured: Jazmin and Mitch Herbert, and their children, Jackson and Shelby. 


“We knew it would give us the flexibility to 

make a living, but at the same time manage 

Jackson’s day-to-day and long-term care.” 

- Mitch Herbert 

Owner, Bert’s Quality Provisions 

in operation.” 

All of the staff is family. Jazmin manages 

the home-cooked sides, Mitch slowsmokes 

the meats and Jazmin’s dad and 

sister assist with special events and operations. 

The trailer is large enough that Bert’s 

doesn’t necessarily work like other trucks 

in the Louisville-area food scene — utilizing 

street corners. Bert’s works with 

private property owners, such as Horner 

Novelty in Jeffersonville and the Professional 

Arts Building at 1919 State St. in 

New Albany. 

“That relationship just takes time to 

develop — people that are willing to do 

that on their private property — but we 

think that works for us,” Mitch said. 

The food truck is actually three businesses 

in one. It’s a mobile eatery through 

the window, they do family meals to-go, 

and they handle catering and special 

events. 

The largest event they’ve done to 

date had a crowd of more than 275 people. 

“I think the other thing there’s a 

need for is destination catering — that’s 

like if you’re having a reunion or retreat 

in places there aren’t food services, we can 

take our trailer — a self-contained, fully 

functional kitchen,” Mitch said. 

They are adding a truck camper to 

the back of the truck. Their larger events 

require more support outside of normal 

hours, so they want a place for their staff 

and family. 

Bert’s Quality Provisions has a 

number of corporate clients they cater for 

lunch and dinner, but they have also done 

breakfast — at the New Albany Farmer’s 

Market, for example. They have also kept 

a commissary kitchen at the American Legion. 

This year, the family is looking forward 

to the spring and early summer season. 

Last year, they had a taste of the late 

summer, early fall festival circuit. 

“We really want to promote the catering 

and special events for wedding 

ideas and for graduation season,” Mitch 

said. “I think we’re well-priced for the 

graduation-type party.” 

Mitch said the most rewarding thing 

is seeing repeat customers. No matter 

what, the family remains focused on the 

reason they started it all. 

“We built this business to be together 

and to be side-by-side. • 

If you’re looking to stop by, the calendar of 

where Bert’s will be is always up to date on 

their website and social media. Check them 

out at @bqpfoods on Facebook and at bqpfoods.com. 

The food truck is actually three businesses in one. It’s a mobile 

eatery through the window, they do family meals to-go, and 

they handle catering and special events. 

Pictured: (left hand page, clockwise from top) Shelby and her guitar; Jazmin reads to Shelby and Jackson; Jackson playing at home. (this page) Mitch prepping food for the food truck. 


“My idea was, if you were going to come to my house, whether it 

was a Saturday party or a Sunday family dinner, this is the type of 

food that I would serve my family and friends.” 

- Mitch Herbert 

Owner, Bert’s Quality Provisions 

Spring 

Fun 

in 

Southern Indiana 

SPECIAL 

SECTION 

Photos of Cave Country Canoes by Michelle Hockman 


SPECIAL SECTION: Spring Family Fun 

Climb aboard the train on weekends, 

April through December in 2020, to enjoy a relaxing, 

scenic, and entertaining journey across the rails of Southern Indiana. 

Orleans Dogwood Festival // Photo by Roberto Galan/shutterstock.com 

Out and About 

Top five things to check out this spring 

333 7th Street Tell City, IN 47586 

(812) 547-7933 

Tickets: www.OhioRiverTrain.com 

Here are my top five things to 

check out this spring in Southern 

Indiana. A few of them I 

have visited before, but the 

others are all on my calendar for March 

and April. Check out the info below to see 

some ideas for family trips, date days or 

just a fun weekend idea. 

No. 1: Dogwood Festival — Orleans 

Let’s start with one I’ve never been 

to before. The Orleans Dogwood Festival 

celebrates the blooming of the dogwood 

trees — which the community is known 

for — each spring. This year, they celebrate 

52 years of the festival. 

Based on my research, there’s really 

nothing to dislike. It has pageants, baby 

contests, a silent auction, amusement 

rides, a pet parade, arts and crafts and 

more! 

One of the most exciting events to 

me is the Dogwood Murder Mystery Dinner 

Theatre they have slated for parade 

weekend. 

The festival is held April 18 through 

25, with the parade weekend Saturday, 

April 25, and Sunday, April 26. 

I’m excited to go for the first time 

and I really encourage you to go! It looks 

like it will be a great family outing with 

something to do for everyone. Plus, the 

trees will be beautiful. 

No. 2: Xscape Theatres — Jeffersonville 

If you love movies as much as I do, 

then you will understand the extreme enthusiasm 

I have for this theater opening in 

April. 

There is currently an Xscape Theatre 

in Louisville off of Blankenbaker 

Parkway. My mother insists that it be the 

only theater we go to when we see movies 

together. She is spoiled by the reclining 

seats, giant screens, tray tables and cushy 

chairs. Plus, the space in the aisle is awe- 

Story by Darian Eswine 

The Orleans 

Dogwood Festival 

celebrates the 

blooming of the 

dogwood trees 

— which the 

community is 

known for — each 

spring. 


some. You don’t have to worry about saying 

“excuse me, sorry” every time you get 

up to go to the bathroom because you can 

just walk right by. 

I’m excited for this theater not only 

because it’s on this side of the river, but 

also because it happens to be about five 

minutes from my house. The theater will 

also have a wider variety of snacks, and 

who doesn’t love movie food? 

Follow them on their Facebook page 

(search for “Xscape Jeffersonville 12”) to 

keep up, but they’re currently planning to 

open this spring. 

No. 3: Blue River — Milltown 


My mom grew up in Milltown, so 

we frequently take drives there to see her 

childhood home. One of the places that 

has been on my list for a while to see is the 

Blue River. 

I have been canoeing several different 

places, mostly on lakes, and I’ve been 

kayaking a couple of times. The Blue River 

is framed with trees and seems like it 

would be the perfect place to spend a relaxing 

day canoeing downstream or even 

a half-day and then having lunch in town. 

Cave Country Canoes is the place 

through which to schedule any trip you 

want to take. Half-days are two- to fourhour 

trips, full days are five- to sevenhour 

trips, and there’s even a two-day trip 

with a campsite. 

Their website features a map of the 

river with route layouts — starting from a 

7-mile trip and going up to a 14-mile trip. 

If you need more reason to go, check 

out the photos on their website: cavecountrycanoes.com. 

I can’t imagine a more 

peaceful place to spend a morning or afternoon. 

Cave Country will open back up 

in April with the beginning of the season. 

No. 4: Scenic 62 Yard Sale, Edwardsville 

This next one is one I have on my 

calendar, even though it inches closer to 

summer than spring. 

The Scenic 62 Yard Sale, set for May 

1 and 2, is exactly what it sounds like. It’s 

a series of yard sales down State Road 62 

from Edwardsville all the way to Leavenworth. 

Placed throughout the route are 

yard sale signs so you know when and 

where to stop and shop. 

It started as a community sale in 

Lanesville and then incorporated more 

towns in 2015. 

As you drive across this 30-mile 

stretch, you’ll travel through Edwardsville 

and Leavenworth, along with Lanesville 

and Corydon. 

The website thisisindiana.org can 

help you find the best places to eat along 

the way. Whether you’re a yard sale junkie 

or you’d like to sell stuff yourself, check 

out scenic62yardsale.com. There are some 

permit requirements if you’d like to sell. 

Half of my home furnishings have 

come from yard sales, thrift stores and 

antique malls. I’m excited to make several 

stops in one pretty drive. 

New Harmony is a tiny, historical town near Evansville. 

It has classic charm and clearly retains its roots. 

No. 5: New Harmony 

Let’s end on one of my favorite 

places in the world. When I was in concert 

band, my parents and I would stop 

in New Harmony on the way to and from 

solo/ensemble competitions. It was the 

best place to feel better if I did badly, or to 

just spend a good afternoon. 

New Harmony is a tiny, historical 

town near Evansville. It has classic charm 

and clearly retains its roots. 

There are bookstores, cafes and antique 

shops galore. It also has a really cool 

visitor center named the “Atheneum” after 

a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess 

Athena. The center offers a film on 

the town’s history, a gift shop and beautiful 

views of the town. It’s also strategically 

laid out, so by the time you’ve finished 

learning, you walk right out into the town. 

There was a big, gray inn that was 

for sale for a long time and I always said 

how nice it’d be to buy that and live in a 

small, quiet place like New Harmony. 

Check out Main Café and Firehouse 

Antiques, or take a walk in the Cathedral 

Labyrinth. 

Whatever you choose to do, enjoy 

the quiet and the spring weather. It’s a 

place that makes me happy for no other 

reason than I can’t help but be happy 


when I’m there. 

There are so many spring activities 

in Southern Indiana, whether it’s one 

of these listed above or just heading to 

downtown New Albany or Jeffersonville 

and taking a walk around town. There 

has been so much growth in the past few 

years, there’s bound to be something new 

you can check out. • 

Cave Country Canoes // Photo by Michelle Hockman 

For more information, check out orleansdogwoodfestival.com 

for information on the Orleans 

Dogwood Festival, cavecountrycanoes. 

com for information on canoeing in Milltown, 

visitnewharmony.com for planning 

a trip to New Harmony, and scenic62yardsale.com 

for information on the Scenic 62 

Yard Sale.. 

Discover the Past, Enjoy the Present 

in beautiful & historic Washington County! 

www.becksmill.org 

• Opening weekends in April, Beck’s Mill . Tours, demos, trails, and more! 

• Salem Speedway, find them on Facebook. Season opener Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200, April 17-19. 

Contact us at: 

www.washingtoncountytourism.com 

or call 812-883-4303 to plan your trip! 

New Harmony, IN // Photo by Historic New Harmony 


BAT CHASER 

Fly like a bat... this new attraction 

combines the thrill of zip lining with 

the twists and turns of a roller coaster. 

It’s the second zip coaster of it’s kind in 

the US and the only one in the Midwest! 

ESCAPE ROOMS AT 

INDIANA CAVERNS 

Indiana Caverns is exploding with new 

adventures! Two new escape rooms 

challenge your puzzle solving and 

observation skills. Grab your friends 

and try to beat the clock to solve the 

mysteries and escape the room! 

Enjoy a 20-mile panoramic view of the Ohio. 

Party Buffets 

Now taking reservations 

For EASTER . . . Call Today! 

The Overlook Restaurant sits 

on SR 62 in Leavenworth, and is 

located only 3 miles from I-64, off 

Exit 92. It is uniquely positioned 

high above the Ohio River. The 

view only rivals the delicious food 

and friendly service. 

We feature weekend specials that 

can be viewed on Facebook and 

our web page. 

Valentines Day, Easter, Mother’s 

Day, Fathers Day, and Thanksgiving. 

Holiday Reservations can be made 

for any size party. 

Non-holiday reservations can be 

made for parties of 13 or more. 

Larger corporate gatherings and 

parties are also welcome. We will 

set up buffets for 25 or more. 

Reservation required. 

Call ahead seating, simply call 

ahead an hour prior to your arrival. 

We open daily at 11:00 and close at 

7:00 Sunday-Thursday and 8:00 on 

Friday and Saturday. 

You can reach us by phone at 

812-739-4264, on Facebook, or 

check out our website 

www.theoverlook.com. 

Overlook Restaurant | 812-739-4264 | www.theoverlook.com 


Visit French Lick 

West Baden Upcoming Events 

West Baden Springs Hotel 

March 8,22, April 5, 19 

Mixology Class 

March 20 

Irish Whiskey Tasting 

April 12 

Easter Egg Hunt 

French Lick Resort 

May 16 

Clint Black 

March 14 

Grand Funk Railroad 

April 1-5 

Slam Dunk Spring Break 

Orleans Square 

April 18-25 

Annual Orleans Dogwood 

Festival 

Patoka Lake Winery 

March 20 

Ricky Glores Comedy Tour 

French Lick Scenic Railway 

March 21, April 3, 11 

Bourbon Tasting Train 

March 27, April 10 

Chocolate Tasting Train 

March 28, May 30 

Dinner Train 

April 5 

Easter Bunny Express 

Abbeydell Hall 

Select Dates March-May 

American Variety Show 

812-936-3418 • vflwb.com • #MyFrenchLick 


Named in Top Five 

Spring Fun Things To Do In So IN in 

Southern Indiana Living Magazine. 

Don’t Miss the 52nd Annual Dogwood Festival 

April 18-25, 2020 

Historic Congress Square • Orleans, IN 47452 

orleansdogwoodfestival.com 

Named by 

Midwest Living magazine 

as one of its Top Ten 

Flowering Festivals 

in the Midwest. 

LOCAL PLACES TO STAY: 

• Big Timber River Cabins 

• Blue River Valley Farm 

• White Oak Cabins at 

Patoka Lake 

• The Cove On Patoka Lake 

• Horseshoe Bend 

Cabin Rental 

• Marengo Cave Family 

Camping Cabins 

• Marengo Family Cabins 

• Morgan’s Cabin 

• Ohio River Room 

• Patoka 4 Seasons Resort 

• Patoka Lake Marina 

& Lodging 

• Patoka Lake Winery 

Suites 

• Scott’s Timberline Cabin 

• Stay & Play Lucas Oil 

Golf Course 

• Stone’s Throw Cabin 

• The Village 

• Wise Old Owl Cabin 

Call 812-739-2246 today! 

www.crawfordcountyindiana.com 

www.facebook.com/crawfordcountyindiana 


Special Section: 

Women on the go 


It’s only a few months into the new 

year and many of us have made resolutions 

for better health this year. But 

when you are a busy woman on the 

go, sometimes those resolutions can go by 

the wayside. 

Making a resolution is far easier than 

keeping it. Today’s busy lifestyles leave 

less time for exercise and healthy meal 

preparation, making it easier to consume 

more fast food and processed foods. Over 

time, the effects of our lifestyles are cumulative. 

Weight is gained, muscle is lost and 

our health can suffer. Hormonal changes 

that occur with age can also affect appetite 

and metabolism, which can contribute to 

weight gain. 

It’s natural to want to look and feel 

good and build self-confidence, but significant 

change doesn’t occur overnight. 

Dr. Michael Flaherty, an interventional 

cardiologist with Baptist Health Medical 

Group, says that “people often try to correct 

years of neglect within a few weeks. 

That’s not the best way to approach it. 

Getting healthy is a lifelong process.” 

Here are five tips from Dr. Flaherty 

for better health. 

1. Set small, achievable goals. 

Making time to get healthy can feel overwhelming, 

but building new habits takes 

time. Dr. Flaherty recommends setting 

incremental goals. “Don’t make the end 

target the first goal. If you’re 50 pounds 

overweight, set a realistic and achievable 

goal like 10 pounds. Or, if your goal 

is to exercise more, start with 15 minutes 

a day.” Setting smaller goals allows little 

wins that make the end target feel far 

more reachable. 

2. Stop smoking. 

“Tobacco is the No. 1 thing. My primary 

goal would be get people off tobacco and 

get them doing some sort of physical activity,” 

Dr. Flaherty says. He adds that 

when quitting tobacco, people may tend 

to substitute food for smoking, which can 

cause weight gain. Despite this potential 

setback, kicking the smoking habit should 

still be a priority. 

3. Eat sensibly. 

Dr. Flaherty says the healthiest options in 

the grocery lie in the periphery of the store. 

Fresh foods are found around the outer 

edge, with most processed food located 

in the center aisles. “Processed foods for 

the most part are not very healthy, even 

those marketed as low-fat or sugar-free. 

There are ingredients that affect how we 

digest food, and our metabolism, and it 

SPECIAL SECTION: Women on the Go 

can add up to excess weight.” He also advises 

against fad diets, which are not sustainable 

over time. Instead, avoid highfat, 

fried and processed foods, and choose 

healthier options. 

4. Begin an exercise regimen slowly and 

gradually. 

Start with cardiovascular activity like 

walking, swimming or bicycling. Gradually 

work up to doing the activity at least 

three times a week for 30-45 minutes at a 

time. “The problem people have is that 

they start out trying to do 45 minutes to 

an hour, running at full speed. After a 

few days of that, they can’t get out of bed 

because everything hurts. They become 

discouraged, and they quit.” While it may 

be tempting to jump in with full force, Dr. 

Flaherty cautions that everything should 

begin slowly and in moderation. The 

heart is a major concern, and there is increased 

risk for orthopedic injuries that 

can derail fitness goals. An exercise program 

should include resistance training, 

beginning with light weights. Working 

with weights helps rebuild muscle mass 

we naturally lose as we age. Muscle mass 

burns calories more efficiently and helps 

with bone density. Don’t ignore warning 

signs. “If you are exercising and start to 

feel discomfort or become unusually short 

of breath, stop and seek medical attention. 

Be aware of warning signs like heaviness 

or a squeezing feeling in the chest, significant 

shortness of breath or accelerated 

blood pressure,” Dr. Flaherty says. 

Developing Healthy Habits 

Five tips for women on the go 

5. Seek medical advice. 

Always consult your doctor before starting 

an exercise regimen, especially if you 

have been inactive for a long time or have 

known health concerns. Contact your primary 

care physician to schedule an appointment. 

Your physician has an understanding 

of your medical history and can 

talk with you about smoking cessation, 

blood pressure and cholesterol management 

and diabetes, as well as other health 

concerns. If there are specific cardiac concerns, 

consult a cardiologist. 

Developing healthy habits can be 

challenging, but the benefits are worth the 

effort. Losing weight and getting fit may 

help you have more energy, reduce or 

eliminate certain medications, positively 

impact your mental health, and help reduce 

your risk of developing diabetes or 

heart disease. You may even see a reduction 

in medical bills or insurance rates, especially 

for non-smokers. 

“Making the decision to take better 

care of yourself is a lifetime endeavor,” Dr. 

Flaherty says. “New Year’s resolutions are 

fleeting, usually. You must look at the end 

goal that you want to live longer and live 

healthier, and that’s the greatest motivation.” 

• 

Dr. Flaherty has offices in Sellersburg, New 

Albany and Louisville. For appointments, call 

(502) 928-0900. To learn more about your 

risk for heart disease, visit baptisthealth.com/ 

heartcare. 

No need to look for Missi Bush- 

Sawtelle on the golf course. 

You won’t find her there. Instead, 

this Southern Indiana 

businesswoman finds her enjoyment in 

restoring historic buildings. “I call this my 

golfing,” she said. “It is my number one 

fun thing. Some people find golf relaxing. 

I don’t; this is what I do.” 

A woman of boundless energy and 

enthusiasm, Bush-Sawtelle owns and operates 

four businesses, is active in several 

organizations, and has a long list of interests 

and activities. 

Her businesses include Bush Trucking 

Co., an over-the-road trucking company 

that has been in the Bush family since 

1961; Along Blue River Cabin Rentals; 

Horseshoe Bend RV Campground; and 

Merry Ledges in the Woods, a wedding 

facility. 

Merry Ledges is one of her restoration 

projects. Formerly an inner-city 


A Woman on the Go 

Local business woman keeps busy with four businesses and many interests 

church camp, the facility had been empty 

for seven years when her husband learned 

it was for sale. “I knew I wanted to buy 

it even though it was in pretty bad shape 

and took a lot of work to make it usable,” 

she said. For several years, they used it to 

host a Halloween party for neighbors and 

the trucking company’s Christmas party. 

“Then in 2011, we made it a winter 

project to redo the facility and began renting 

it out as a wedding venue,” she said. 

“And that has been such fun. I didn’t 

want to be a typical wedding venue operator 

but try to be more loose and give the 

clients time to decorate, room to do their 

own thing. It is such fun meeting with the 

couples, whether they are young people 

or older folks.” She describes herself as “a 

little red hen” when it comes to weddings. 

“I do everything from that initial meeting 

to attending the ceremony,” she said. 

Bush-Sawtelle has nothing 

but praise for the people who 

“I didn’t want to be a 

typical wedding venue 

operator. I try to be 

more loose and give the 

clients time to decorate. 

It is such fun meeting 

with the couples, whether 

they are young people or 

older folks.” 

- Missi Bush-Sawtelle 


work for her. “I feel like my employees 

are family,” she said, “from truck drivers 

to staff at the cabins. I want to be a familyoriented 

organization. We try to work it 

out so our people can be with their kids 

and grandkids for sports and other special 

events or be on hand for family emergencies. 

We don’t have a big turnover. We 

have some third-generation truckers and 

I have a lady who has worked at Bush 

Trucking since I was 17 years old. 

“I try to live by the Golden Rule,” 

Bush-Sawtelle said. “People make me do 

what I do. I have good employees and I 

have some really good clients. We have 

some wonderful people who stay in our 

cabins.” 

Her day starts with a meeting with 

cabin staff, including campground maintenance 

men. “We route out what needs to 

be done for the day, and sometimes have 

breakfast, then I head out to the trucking 

company where I am for the rest of 

the day. I have people in place that I can 

trust,” she said, adding that her assistant, 

Nancy Howell, “has such a great sense of 

making things look nice and a good feel 

for what I like. She can think like me.” 

Bush-Sawtelle also chairs the Natural 

Resource Foundation, serves on the 

Blue River Commission and was given 

a Sagamore of the Wabash award for her 

work there, Main Street Corydon, the 

Harrison County Hospital Foundation 

and Harrison County Arts. She is also 

active in the Harrison County Historical 

Society. “That is a good bunch of people 

who are interested in preserving historic 

buildings and have been successful in saving 

two. Of course, that is right down my 

alley.” She is a member of Fountain United 

Methodist Church, where she has been 

the organist for more than 20 years. 

When she’s not working or volunteering, 

she cooks. “I love to cook and 

would rather cook for 40 than for two,” 

she said. “The last three years of my mother’s 

life, I hosted a weekly luncheon for 

her and 30 or so of her childhood friends. 

I cooked all the food with my staff at the 

cabins — known as ‘Team Missi’ — serving 

as sous chefs.” 

This wasn’t a pick-up snack, either. It 

was a complete meal — appetizers, meat, 

vegetables, salad and dessert. “It gave me 

a greater appreciation for people who run 

restaurants,” she said. Activities could 

include anything from a bingo game to 

getting a close-up view of a bald eagle. 

“I held this in my private cabin where I 

set up a table long enough so all could sit 

around and visit.” The day included singing. 

“I distributed questionnaires to find 

out everyone’s favorites and we looked 

up the words and sang together. It was a 

lot of fun.” While the luncheons haven’t 

been an every-Wednesday event since her 

mother’s death in 2018, Bush-Sawtelle 

continues to host them occasionally. 

She also likes antiquing. And, she 

confesses to doing some junking as well. 

“It is the thrill of the hunt,” she said. “I 

don’t just acquire my treasures but use 

them to decorate and furnish my rental 

cabins and the wedding facility.” 

She and her husband, Bob Sawtelle, 

who manages O’Bannon Woods State 

Park, have been married for 32 years. 

They have one daughter, Sunnye, who 

is an attorney. The couple shares a love 

of boating — so much so that they spent 

Christmas canoeing on Blue River. “It was 

a nice day, so I made ham sandwiches and 

we headed to the river. We are a boating 

family. My parents were boaters. We are 

boaters and my daughter is a boater. We 

all love the peacefulness of the river. 

“I am comfortable with my life,” she 

said. 

And that seems to be true. While she 

is dedicated to preserving history and protecting 

land for the future, Bush-Sawtelle 

believes in living each day to the fullest. • 

“I feel like my employees are family, from truck drivers to 

staff at the cabins. I want to be a family-oriented organization.” 

- Missi Bush-Sawtelle 

Chickens, charities, collaborations 

and competitions are words that 

sum up Gwen Cooper’s life. 

From the nation’s capital to the 

Indiana statehouse, this Southern Indiana 

woman is on the go 24/7. She and her 

family moved to Southern Indiana almost 

nine years ago from sunny Florida. 

“My husband, Barton, grew up in 

Floyd County, and we were needed here 

to care for elderly and disabled family 

members,” she said. “We found an incredible 

piece of property in Crawford County 

to build our home and quickly grew to 

love the area and the people.” 

Cooper has spent most of her career 

in the nonprofit sector, shaping the brands 

of mission-driven organizations. In her 

current role at Hosparus Health, Cooper 

heads up the marketing, communications 

and public affairs team. She splits her time 

between Washington, D.C.; Indianapolis; 

and Frankfort to craft and pass legislation 

that increases access to quality health care. 

Last year, she led the team that convinced 

lawmakers in Indiana to join the 

Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows 

nurses to practice with patients across 

state lines. Now, she is working on an important 

palliative care bill to ensure that 

seriously ill residents of Indiana can get 

the care they need and deserve. 

“I started lobbying in Florida when I 

realized I could use my voice to improve 

the charitable giving statutes in the state,” 

Cooper said. “I was hooked and have enjoyed 

working with our elected officials to 

create good policy that helps people. Not 

all politics are bad politics — there’s a lot 

of good happening in our statehouse that 


Advocating for Better Health Care 

Crawford County woman works with officials ‘to create good policy that helps people’ 

people should really take the time to learn 

about.” 

Cooper has been recognized for her 

advocacy work with two Advocate of the 

Year nominations from Kentucky Medical 

News. She is part of the Louisville 

Healthcare CEO Council, serving as the 

marketing and communications chair for 

the nonprofit created by health-care titans 

like Humana, Trilogy, Hosparus Health 

and others to address aging innovation in 

health care. 

She also serves in leadership roles 

with several local advocacy groups, including 

Greater Louisville Inc.’s Health Issue 

Policy Committee, the Bi-States Issues 

Committee and One Southern Indiana’s 

Pictured: (left) Gwen and Dr. Oz(middle) an aerial view 

of Gwen’s farm in Crawford County; (right) Gwen and her 

husband Barton, attending the Unbridled Eve Gala. 

Advocacy Council. 

When she’s not at work, Cooper can 

be found cleaning out the family chicken 

coop, boating on Patoka Lake, hiking outside 

her back door in the Hoosier National 

Forest or climbing steps. Yes, climbing 

steps. One of Cooper’s favorite charities 

is the American Lung Association, where 

she has served as a volunteer since 2005. 

“When you can’t breathe, nothing 

else matters,” she said. “I’ve lost too many 

family members to lung disease. Having 

the ability to climb the half-mile up and 

down the PNC building stairwell is a gift. 

Staying in shape is a way of life, exercise is 

my happy place and the rewards of good 

health will allow me to live long enough 

to one day watch my grandchildren grow 

up.” 

Cooper’s oldest son, Clay, serves in 

the U.S. Army National Guard, following 

in the footsteps of many members of her 

family. “We are a military family, proud to 

serve and proud of our country.” 

Her youngest son, Caden, is a North 

Harrison Middle School student who 

hopes to enter the U.S. Air Force. He is 

already taking flying lessons. In fact, the 

aerial shot of the Cooper farm was taken 

by Caden on a recent flight. 

“Living in rural Indiana with views 

for miles is like being on vacation every 

day,” Cooper said. “We are less than an 

hour from one of the most livable cities in 

America. We have great hiking, fishing, 

hunting and quiet all around us, and I get 

to wake up every day and go to work to 

help our patients and families create more 

moments. How lucky am I?” • 



Women Empowerment 

Crawford County, Indiana 

“By supporting one another, we can raise each other up,” Melissa Swan told the 80 or so women gathered for the first meeting of the 

Crawford County Women Empowerment group, held at the Crawford County High School, Jan. 22. “I truly believe if we’re going to 

empower women we have to put women in power and they will put others there,” she said. 

Other speakers included Mary Chilpala, executive director of Grace House, in Marengo, and Wendi Broughton, who spearheaded the 

organization. Her team members include: Katie Newton, public affairs specialist at the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville 

District; Savanna Saltsgaver, marketing director Crawford County Economic Development and aide to the Chamber of Commerce; 

Allison Howell, Harrison County hospital chief nursing office and Christine Harbeson, Crawford County Community Foundation 

Executive director. 

Crawford County Women Empowerment is a group intended to connect strong, motivated women who live, work or have other 

ties in Crawford County. The goal is to meet quarterly, have guest speakers, establish a group that is sustainable, promotes female 

growth within the community, skill building, networking and fund raising. 

Pictured: (top, left) Melissa Swan; (top, right) Wendi Broughton; (bottom right) Mary Chilpala // Photos by Allison Howell 

Allison Howell • Independent Stylist 

812.620.1137 • AllisonHowell633@gmail.com 

colorstreet.com/AllisonHowell 

VIP Color Me Awesome by Allison 


Many of us know women who 

are movers and shakers. 

These women take charge 

and get things accomplished. 

Women have historically been placed in 

the background. An example of this is 

shown in the movie “Hidden Figures,” 

which is truly my favorite movie. The 

women depicted in it were brilliant women 

who were very professional and took 


Movers and Shakers 

Behind the scenes with three professional women who are philanthropic heroines 

Association for her nonprofit work. When 

asked why she enjoys volunteering, she 

says, “I have been abundantly blessed 

and want to give back.” She enjoys giving 

back, and that is reflected by how much 

she does for her community. 

When asked what she enjoys the 

most about living in Southern Indiana, 

she says “the community spirit.” She and 

two other amazing women coordinated a 

practice registered nurse and American 

Association of Nurse Practitioners Fellow. 

By day, she is the assistant vice president 

of Interprofessional Practice Partnerships 

at the University of Louisville School of 

Nursing. She has been actively involved 

in setting up a comprehensive clinic in 

Louisville to serve the marginalized, 

where they can access medical and mental 

health services that they are not able 

We Triple Dog 

Dare You. 

“I’ve been 

blessed, and I 

feel responsible 

to give back.” 

- Whitney Nash, 

PhD 

For Every 

Dollar You Give, 

Your Community Gets $3! 

Right now, every dollar you give to a Builder’s 

Fund at the Harrison County Community 

Foundation will be matched by $2 from 

Lilly Endowment Inc. So your $100 gift 

equals $300. A $2,500 gift turns into 

$7,500. A $10,000 gift becomes $30,000. 

Your gift to a new or existing 

Builder’s Fund will leverage outside 

money into Harrison County. Once 

here, that money can be put to work 

for our community. 

their work seriously. Yes, they had their spectacular New Year’s Eve party to bring to find elsewhere. Whitney is extremely 

struggles, but they beat the odds because in 2020. 

involved in her U of L projects to better 

they were strong, confident and fierce Lisa Byrd said that helping to coordinate 

the New Year’s Eve party for 2020 said she truly enjoys the diversity of ac- 

Why is this important to you? 

loved one or denote a special occasion, now 

serve the underserved population. She 

If you’ve ever wished you could honor a 

women fighting for what was just and 

right. Well, I happen to know three women 

who are also movers and shakers. Each work at all. Lisa said it made her happy to velop the next generation of caregivers. 

Builder’s Funds provide money that is not Fund. The minimum to establish a new 

was extremely fun and did not seem like tivity at work and the opportunity to de- 

you can by creating a new Named Builder’s 

has her own way of making a difference be a part of this event and knowing how it Whitney has been on the planning committee 

for Tri-Kappa and served with 

allows the foundation to direct it to the most 

restricted to a particular use but rather 

Builder’s Fund is $2,500. 

in the lives of others. You may be asking, helped a family with no insurance makes 

who are these women? Allow me to share her want to do something else to help. the Red Cross remote area medical team 

pressing community needs. Funds are used From now until the end of 2020 you can 

insights into each of them. 

She said that 20-plus years ago, she, Pam after Hurricane Harvey. She also joined 

to address needs that exist now, but equally “seed” that permanent endowment and then 

The first is Pam Lumley, who is a and the third party coordinator, Whitney the MediShare response team in Haiti. 

important, Builder’s Funds provide the means grow it to the minimum level. When you do, 

managing partner at RE/MAX Ability Nash, became neighbors. They socialized “I’ve been blessed, and I feel responsible 

to meet the needs of the future. 

the Lilly Endowment Inc. matching program 

Plus in New Albany. Pam has 34 years of and their children played and grew up to give back,” Whitney said, adding that 

experience in the real estate industry. She together. These three women were fondly Southern Indiana has a feeling of community 

will turn that $2,500 into $7,500! 

says that helping people make the largest called “The Chapel Creekers.” Then, in 

and her roots are here. She serves on 

purchase in their life and making the best 1999, as close friends they decided to hold Personal Counseling Service’s Board of 

choice is very rewarding to her. By night, a New Year’s party to ring in the year Directors. Whitney wanted to do more to 

Pam is involved in nonprofit and for-profit 

2000. So, they partied like it was 1999. At support PCS in serving the marginalized 

boards, such as the Indiana Association 

of Realtors, where she is a director; she is 

that time, most of the people attending 

were from the neighborhood. The New 

families with children who have been 

traumatized, abused and neglected. She Triple Your 

the appointed commissioner for the state Year’s Eve party for 2020 brought 185 wants to see these children and youth living 

healthy, productive lives and succeed- 

of Indiana Real Estate Licensing; and people, many dressed in 1920s attire. Out 

Impact Today! 

she is actively involved with Hosparus of the 185 attendees, Lisa knew approximately 

170 people. Knowing that many 

ing in their endeavors. • 

Health. In the past, Pam did fundraising 

• Donate online at hccfindiana.org 

for the New Albany-Floyd County School people at one event shows how Lisa has 

• Mail your gift (payable to HCCF) to 

Foundation and she is the coordinator for touched lives over the years. She is extremely 

humble and wants no accolades 

PO Box 279, Corydon, IN 47112 

Dancing with the Southern Indiana Stars. 

Most recently, Pam won the Good Neighbor 

Award from the Indiana Real Estate Whitney Nash, PhD, is an advanced (right) Kim Rambo and Doug Drake. 

for anything she does. 

Pictured: (left) Whitney Nash, Pam Lumley, and Lisa Byrd; 

• Call 812-738-6668 for more 

information 


Indiana University Singing Hoosiers 

THE HILLS WERE ALIVE ... WITH MUSIC AND DANCING 

Your Community presented by 

A rolling sea of animated and gifted vocalists in sparkling 

red dresses and black tuxes, vibrant choreography, plus acclaimed 

instrumentalists flooded the Floyd Central High 

School auditorium when the famed Singing Hoosiers from 

the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington 

took to the stage. 

Stefanie Griffith received congratulations 

from her children, Aly and Joey. 

Strandz and Threadz Specialty Shop 

25 YEARS OF FAMILY TIES... OR THREADS 

Woven into a well-known downtown New Albany boutique and salon are commitment 

and support from a family and broad range of the community. They gathered in late 2019 

to celebrate the 25 years of success and service of Strandz and Threadz Specialty Shop at 

322 Vincennes Street. 

Three sisters--Stacy Tunnell, Julie Young, and Stefanie Griffith--hailed their mother, Betty 

Lenfert, for her undaunted encouragement and inspiration in the 25 years they have 

owned and operated the business that she and their father, the late Paul Lenfert, founded 

in 1985. 

The concert on Jan. 31 captivated hundreds of people of all 

ages. Former Floyd Central principal, Janie Whaley, chaired 

the committee that brought the Singing Hoosiers, along with 

support from many corporate and individual sponsors. 

Dr. Chris Albanese, director, invited alumni of the choral 

group to join the 86-member ensemble on stage for the traditional 

finale. He gave special acknowledgment to Bill Lohmeyer 

and Kent McCaffrey of New Albany, who had been 

founding members of the Singing Hoosiers back in the early 

1950s. The entire group then surprised audience member 

Norma Robbins of New Albany, who had spent her career in 

the IU system, with a special rendition of “Happy Birthday” 

for her 85th, which she was celebrating that night. 

(Right) Posing with Dr. Chris Albanese (third from left in back) 

were concert committee members Tommi Griffith and Emily Carter 

Essex and founding member Bill Lohmeyer. In front are retired IU 

administrator Norma Robbins, Floyd Central choral director Angela 

Hampton, and committee member Kate Burger. 

6500 State Road 64 • Georgetown, IN 47122 

www.ideology.biz • 812-399-1400 

Impact 100 Southern Indiana 

BOARD ELECTS NEW MEMBERS, OFFICERS 

A rolling sea of animated and gifted vocalists in sparkling red dresses 

and black tuxes, vibrant choreography, plus acclaimed instrumentalists 

flooded the Floyd Central High School auditorium when the 

famed Singing Hoosiers from the Indiana University Jacobs School 

of Music in Bloomington took to the stage. 

The concert on Jan. 31 captivated hundreds of people of all ages. Former 

Floyd Central principal, Janie Whaley, chaired the committee 

that brought the Singing Hoosiers, along with support from many 

corporate and individual sponsors. 

(Far left) Owners Stacy 

Tunnell, Julie Young, and 

Stefanie Griffith surrounded 

their mother, Betty Lenfert, 

with love and appreciation. 

(Photo courtesy of 

Miranda Bernd) 

(Right) Guests David 

Barksdale, senior stylist 

Sara Cruse, State Rep. Ed 

Clere, and Tim Carman 

enjoyed the colorful hors 

d’oeuvres at the festive 

gathering. 

Dr. Chris Albanese, director, invited alumni of the choral group to 

join the 86-member ensemble on stage for the traditional finale. He 

gave special acknowledgment to Bill Lohmeyer and Kent McCaffrey 

of New Albany, who had been founding members of the Singing 

Hoosiers back in the early 1950s. The entire group then surprised audience 

member Norma Robbins of New Albany, who had spent her 

career in the IU system, with a special rendition of “Happy Birthday” 

for her 85th, which she was celebrating that night. 

(Left, top) Newly elected members of the board are Marilyn Faulkenburg, 

Amy Wheatley, Erica Sharp, Maggie Moore, and Leah McCrite. 

(Left, bottom) Leading Impact 100’s Advisory Board are Michelle Jadczak, 

president; Marcia Bickers, vice president; Lori Forbes, secretary; and Julie 

Claypool, treasurer. 

38 • Mar/Apr 2020 • Southern Indiana Living These pages are sponsored by Idealogy 

These pages are sponsored by Idealogy 

Southern Indiana Living • Mar/Apr 2020 • 39

Your 

Hospital! 

Real Life Nutrition 

Organic or Not, Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables 

We Are Proud To Be Our Community’s Four Star Hospital! 

What does being a Four Star Hospital mean 

for our patients? 

• The CMS’s Overall Hospital Star Rating provides 

patients with the important information they need 

to compare hospitals and make informed healthcare 

decisions based on objective measures of quality 

and safety. The overall hospital rating ranges from 

1 to 5 stars. The more stars, the better a hospital 

performed on the available quality measures. 

• Star ratings are based on our quality measures 

for efficient use of medical imaging, mortality, 

patient experience, readmissions, safety of care, 

and timeliness of care. 

• For the 3 rd consecutive year that CMS has awarded 

Star Quality Ratings, your community hospital, HCH, 

has achieved a 4 Star Quality Level. Through those 3 

years, only about 35% of all USA Hospitals received 

either a 4 or 5 Star Quality Designation. 

hchin.org 

The supermarket is constantly 

evolving. Each day new products 

flood the market with various labels 

such as non-GMO, light, low 

sodium, low fat, and no added this or that. 

Along with all of the new choices often 

comes a higher price tag, making it harder 

than ever to know what to buy. One of the 

most recent additions is organic produce, 

and it is very uncommon today to find a 

grocery store without an “organic” section. 

In fact, as of 2017, nearly 3 out of 4 

conventional grocery stores in the U.S offer 

organic fruits and vegetables. 

Organic products were actually introduced 

to the U.S markets in the 1940s. 

However, there were no standards or 

guidelines a farmer had to follow in order 

to label his or her produce as “organic.” It 

wasn’t until 2002 when the United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA) established 

regulations for organic farming. 

The USDA now defines an organic product 

as being processed according to federal 

standards regarding soil quality, animal 

treatment, fertilizers, chemicals and 

synthetic substances. 

Unfortunately, this definition is often 

misunderstood by the average consumer 

and the term is frequently misused. 

Thanks to clever marketing tactics, 

organic foods are commonly thought of 

as healthier and more nutritious, even 

though scientific research on the matter 

is still inconclusive. In fact, some research 

states that there isn’t a nutritional difference 

between organic and conventional 

produce at all! Similarly, many people are 

led to believe that “organic” food is free 

from all synthetic and chemical substances, 

which is clearly untrue. The USDA developed 

a national list of substances that 

can be used in organic food production. 

The list can be found at ams.usda.gov/ 

rules-regulations/organic/national-list. 

Today, public health officials are 

more concerned about the overall lack of 

fruits and vegetables in our diet, rather 

than the organic vs. non-organic dilemma. 

A 2018 report from the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention indicates that only 

1 in 10 Americans is getting the recommended 

amount of fruits and vegetables 

in his or her daily diet. This means that 9 

out of 10 individuals might be lacking one 

or more of the many essential vitamins 

and minerals needed for optimal health. 

Research has also shown that vitamin and 

mineral deficiencies can lead to life-threatening 

illnesses, and the deficiencies have 

been linked to many preventable diseases 

we see in the U.S., like type 2 diabetes and 

heart disease. 

One of the easiest things you can do 

to take care of your body is to eat a balanced 

diet full of fruits and vegetables, 

whether they are organic or not. If you 

choose to and can afford to buy organic, 

that is a great option, but remember, all 

fruits and vegetables are healthy! 

Amy Bottorff is a senior 

studying Nutrition and 

Dietetics at Indiana University 

in Bloomington, 

Ind. When she’s not 

studying, she works at 

Baptist Health Floyd in 

the Food and Nutrition 

Services Department. 

Amy is excited to graduate 

this Spring and 

begin her internship to 

become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. 

40 • Mar/Apr 2020 • Southern Indiana Living Southern Indiana Living • Mar/Apr 2020 • 41 

About the Author 

Photo Credit: (top) Natasha Breen / shutterstock.com




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Grand in Grandparenting 

Winter Fun 

passing on your 

passions and traditions 

is important... 

A 

t 30 years old, it seemed obvious 

that fun and exciting milestones 

would exist no more (becoming 

a teenager, sweet 16, 21, college, 

first job, etc.). Then my son was born, and 

the anticipation began for his milestones, 

including one very special highpoint we 

would share — his first child/my first 

grandchild. Now, with two grandsons, 

I eagerly await each of their milestones, 

while enjoying every phase of their lives. 

These boys have re-energized my world 

— I need my grands in my life, and they 

need me in theirs. 

Children benefit considerably by 

having loving grandparents in their lives, 

celebrating their milestones. We go far 

beyond being baby-sitters or teen arbitrators. 

We are often role models, mentors, 

historians for family traditions, and sometimes 

simply play-mates. 

Research suggests that grands find 

Step 1: Prepare Pinecones 

Gather medium to large pinecones. Take the grands on a neighborhood 

treasure hunt to find pinecones (which are also available 

at craft stores or online). If the pinecones are tightly closed, 

let them sit inside the house for several days to “bloom,” or bake 

them at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes. 

With open pinecones, attach pipe cleaners, string or dental floss 

to hang the bird feeders. Do this before the peanut butter! We 

used twisted wire, but pipe cleaners work best. 

Caution: Some pinecones have sharp points on the tips; be sure you 

and your grands handle them with care to avoid getting poked. 

Step 2: Spread the Peanut Butter 

Let your grands roll up their sleeves and make a mess. Have 

fun with this! Cleaning can happen later. Use a large paper plate 

to help a bit with the mess. Birds love the extra nutty treat in 

crunchy peanut butter, but creamy also works. 

Use a plastic or butter knife to spread peanut butter all over the 

pinecone. Be sure to get it into all the cracks and crevices to fully 

coat the pinecone. 

Allergy alert: If your grands have allergies to nuts, use vegetable shortening. 

unrivalled acceptance in their relationships 

with their grandparents, which can 

benefit them considerably both emotionally 

and mentally. 

I’m hoping these Southern Indiana 

Living columns about grandparenting 

will inspire you to do more with and for 

your grands. The columns will share tips 

and tricks and even events that may interest 

you and your grand(s). If you are a 

page-ripper, consider making a file of the 

columns in order to refer back to ideas of 

interest. I have already created a file of 

suggestions from our active readers, including 

the need for a future column for 

long-distance grandparenting. 

I used to be a “Buy at the Store” 

(BATS) kind of gal; however, being a 

grandparent has taught the value of DIY 

projects, especially those that can be accomplished 

with my grandson. Only my 

oldest grandson, who is nearly 3, has hit 

Pinecone Birdfeeder 

Step 3: Roll on the Birdseed 

that milestone of sitting still for craft projects. 

My college roommate, Vicki Skarda, 

is a grandmother of eight beautiful 

grands. I recently saw that she had gathered 

the little ones to make pinecone bird 

feeders. Vicki provided details for this 

wonderful dreary-day activity with children 

of almost any age and I’m passing 

this grand idea along to you. Let’s make a 

mess and feed some birds! • 

Carol Baker Dawson, CCDP/ 

AP, is President of EEO 

GUIDANCE, Inc. She also 

volunteers as the Communication 

Director, Center for Lay 

Ministries, and is the owner of 

Broken Hearts, Inc. – featuring 

Joni’s Heart. 

Pour birdseed onto a clean plate. Roll the peanut butter-covered 

pinecone in birdseed until it’s completely covered. Once it’s 

covered, press more birdseed into the peanut buttered pinecone. 

Step 4: Hang Bird Feeder(s) Outside 

Once your pinecone is completely covered in birdseed, find the 

perfect place to hang it, preferably outside a window where 

your grands can watch the birds dine. 

Tip: Hang the bird feeder out of the reach of cats/dogs. If you or your 

grands live in an apartment or don’t have a tree to use for this project, 

use a bird feeder hanger or find a tree in a local park. 

Step 5: Enjoy and Educate 

It won’t take long for birds to discover the treat your grands 

made for them. Watch your bird feeders for a while and see 

what happens. Try to identify the birds by what they look like 

or the calls they make. There are plenty of bird identification 

websites/guidebooks to help. Keep a journal of the kinds of 

birds you see. Your grands could make a special bird-watching 

notebook. 

With peanut butter, this project can get messy, but let it; that was what 

my grandson liked best! 

Pictured: Pops Ken Crutchfield helps DJ prior to hanging the bird feeder. 

CONTEST 

Southern Indiana’s Best Grandparent 

Nominate your grandparent to be featured in our next issue 

Do you have an exceptional grandparent? Or exceptional 

grandparents? We are looking for grandparents who go above 

and beyond. 

In 100 words or less, we are asking grandchildren to tell us 

why your Southern Indiana grandparent deserves recognition. 

Southern Indiana Living is giving away two leak-proof, BPA free 

thermoses to the top two winners (or one set of grandparents), 

and their story will be featured in the next SIL grandparent 

column. The only criteria is the grandparents must live in 

Southern Indiana. 

Submit your entry to editor@silivingmag.com or mail to SIL, 

P.O. Box 145, Marengo, IN 47140, with the subject line: GRAND- 

PARENT STORY, no later than March 31, 2020. Include your 

name as the nominator, the name(s) of the grandparent(s), and 

your telephone number. • 

and so is passing on the value of 

GIVING BACK. 

Your family’s traditions and passions are 

unique. They shape who you are, what you 

find important and they are what makes 

your family special. 

The Community Foundation of Southern 

Indiana partners with individuals and 

families who want to pass on their passions 

and values so that future generations of family 

members learn the importance of giving back 

and helping their community. Your individual 

or family fund can support your favorite cause, 

nonprofit, church or alma mater - whatever is 

most important to you. If you want to learn 

how to involve your family in giving back while 

supporting your favorite causes, call us. We’d 

be honored to serve as your charitable partner 

and steward. 

SCHOLARSHIPS, DONOR ADVISED FUNDS, 

FAMILY FUNDS, GIFTS FROM WILLS & ESTATES 

(812) 948-4662 www.cfsouthernindiana.com 


Everyday Adventures 

Iused to think childhood was the most 

adventurous season of life until I hit 

middle age. Boy, was I wrong. Once 

your forties roll around, it’s all fun 

and games. 

For instance, every morning when I 

work out, I play a game called, “What Will 

Hurt Next?” Will I strain a deltoid? Pull 

a hamstring? Blow out my knee? Who 

knows! That’s all part of the fun. At the 

very least, every time I exercise, it seems 

like something new is sore by the end. 

Another fun middle-aged game I 

like to play is “Why Did I Walk Into This 

Room?” Here’s how it works. I walk into 

a room in my house clearly on a mission, 

but when I get there, I can’t remember 

the objective of the mission. Was I looking 

for something? Did I have something 

I was supposed to do? I have absolutely 

no idea, which is what makes the game so 

challenging. 

A more active version of this game 

is called “Where Did I Park at Walmart?” 

I love to go into Walmart lost in thought 

and by the time I come out, have zero 

recollection of where I left my car. That’s 

when the game begins! The best is when 

I spend ten minutes looking for my old 

Honda Accord and eventually realize I 

drove our minivan. Just more fun! 

Of all these games, however, none is 

more entertaining than “What Does That 

Say?” All you need to play is something 

with tiny print like a medicine bottle, an 

ingredient label or pretty much any book 

I own. It’s doesn’t matter what. It’s all 

fuzzy up close to me. 

Sometimes it helps to hold things at 

a distance, but now I’m to the point where 

I need a selfie stick to get the text far 

enough way to read it. Another solution is 

to just hand it to one of my kids and make 

them read it to me. C’mon, I spent hours 

reading to them when they were little. Is it 

so much to ask them to return the favor? 

To help me play the “What Does 

That Say?” game I only put two things on 

my Christmas list this year: a giant print 

Bible and a book light. I got tired of reading 

everything on a Kindle or phone. I 

wanted real paper and ink in my hands 

and these two tools get the job done. 

The book light is amazing. It has 

an LED light on each end of a flexible rod 

that I can sling around my neck. It’s like 

I’m walking around the house with headlights 

on, which is great until I run into a 

family member and blind them like I’m 

like spotlighting deer. 

While my book light may not be 

Farsighted Faith 

Sometimes it helps to hold things at a distance, but 

now I’m to the point where I need a selfie stick to 

get the text far enough way to read it. 

popular with everyone else in my house, 

I love it. It keeps me from tripping over 

things in the dark and allows me to see 

things up close that I could never see on 

my own. 

My Bible serves the same function. 

Yes, the giant print helps me to actually 

read it, but long before I needed bigger 

text, the Bible has been keeping me from 

tripping myself up and helping to see 

things in my life I could never see without 

it. 

I’m not the only one who’s had that 

experience. In fact, a long time ago a guy 

even wrote a song about it. He said, “Your 

word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my 

path” (Psalm 119:105 NIV). It’s not a spotlight 

shining down the road, but intimate, 

personal illumination that shows me the 

next step. 

Just like a book light clarifies what’s 

right in front of us, God can use the Bible 

to show us things in our own lives that we 

might otherwise miss. For example, Colossians 

3:19 and Ephesians 6:4 showed 

me sometimes I can be a jerk to my family 

and that I need to be careful with my attitude 

and tone of voice with the people 

I love most. Psalm 23:1 showed me that 

I stress too much and don’t always trust 

God to take care of me. Proverbs 29:25 

showed me some days I care more about 

what people think of me than what God 

thinks of me, and it makes me miserable. 

And on and on and on I could go. 

I could give you dozens of examples 

of blind spots in my life that were 

illuminated by Scripture and helped 

me to change for the better or reminded 

me when I was discouraged that things 

weren’t nearly as bad as they looked. 

You don’t have to be middle-aged to 

struggle seeing things up close. I’ve been 

doing it all my life. It’s often the junk in 

our own hearts and the overlooked blessings 

we take for granted that we have the 

hardest time recognizing for ourselves. 

That’s why we all need a light that’s 

bright enough to bring our lives into focus. 

My book light is pretty cool, but it’s 

nothing compared to my giant print Bible 

that gives me God’s perspective where I 

need it the most. • 

Image credit: Marie Charouzova / shutterstock.com 

Jason Byerly is a writer, pastor, husband and 

dad who loves the quirky surprises God sends 

his way every day. You can read more from 

Jason in his books Tales from the Leaf Pile and 

Holiday Road. You can catch up with Jason on 

his blog at www.jasonbyerly.com. 

2020 Jeep Gladiator 

800-473-5546 • johnjonesautogroup.com 


“I GOT WORLD-CLASS CARE EVERY DAY, 

AND GOT TO COME HOME EVERY NIGHT.” 

– Kim Pinnick, Cancer Success Story 

When Kim Pinnick was diagnosed with cancer, she wanted the best possible care. Fortunately, she found it 

close to home – at Baptist Health Floyd and Baptist Health Louisville. Her team developed a treatment plan 

that allowed Kim to keep a regular routine. “I was able to come home after treatment,” she says, “sleep in 

my own bed and still get amazing care.” Today, Kim is in remission and enjoying life. But she will always be 

grateful for the care she received. “My journey showed me that I can be strong,” Kim says. “With Baptist, 

I didn’t have to be by myself on that journey.” Learn more at BaptistHealth.com/CancerCare. 

Corbin | Floyd | La Grange | Lexington | Louisville | Madisonville | Paducah | Richmond 

BaptistHealth.com 

107325_BHSI_CancerKIM_7_5x9_875c.indd 1 

7/31/19 11:34 AM

Southern Indiana Living MarApr 2020

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