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NEWS4U DECEMBER 2021 | LOCAL HAPPENINGS
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ARE YOU IN
Evansville?
Local residents tell us why they're proud to be a part of our growing community
JESSICA NUFFER I was born in Evansville in 1965, and I was raised here. My family was in the elevator business so we were going to be staying here, but I was able to travel and see a lot at a young age. And most summers, while neighborhood kids went to camp, I lived in Thorold, Ontario, Canada, where I spent many enjoyable days ice skating. I got married young - right after high school - and had a beautiful daughter, Amanda Fox. I got divorced soon after, concentrating on work and building my nail business. I picked up bartending to help make ends meet and ended up connecting with so many great people. It just seemed silly to leave Evansville but I did, moving to New Jersey in the 90’s where I ran a restaurant in Merv Griffin's Resorts Casino. I had left behind my full-time Job working with a liquor distributor, part-time nail tech position and full-time bartender gig at the Duck Inn thinking the pay would be better in Jersey - and that there would be better education options for my daughter. However, I quickly learned that that was just geography; I realized that Evansville was more progressive than I had thought. The education programs did not have the advanced classes like we had here for my daughter and she was bored. As it turned out, I had been offered a position I could not refuse to move back and help remodel the Duck Inn and make it grow, so I was all in. Plus, my daughter was totally missing her friends and grandparents. I just bit the bullet and came back to the 'Ville. The moral of this story is when you make such great connections it leads you to some truly fun times. Heck, I even bartended the Cabo Tour on stage with Sammy Hagar. And I’ve waited on, and hung out with, people like Rich Little, Sister Hazel, Afroman, Nickelback and Bryan Adams. The things that stand out the most to me and keep me here in Evansville are the people, great friendships and family. And if you ever stop and just look around you will see there is just so much love and caring in our community! And of course, I have to mention the amazing man I’m married to who just lets me be me, Jason Nuffer. Yes, he is real! Some people like to argue with him when he tells them that he is married to me. Lol! He tamed the wild beast! All the Love and Cocktails, JESSICA NUFFER
40 | DECEMBER 2021
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