News4U June 2022 by News 4U Magazine

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | TABLE OF CONTENTS

JUNE

TABLEof

CHECK OUT ALL OF THE FUN GOING ON IN JUNE!

A QUICK NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

COVER STORY

6 Not much to complain about CUISINE & DINING 22 What's Cookin'

Dreamland Fireworks

Find Explosive Savings at this locally-owned North Side Business!

25 Coupons ENTERTAINMENT

FEATURES & UPCOMING EVENTS

11 17

24 Clean Bite Life

26 In Town & Around 31 We Were There

2022 Summer Concert & Festival Guide All the Live Music & Community Fun You can Handle!

32 Music: Owensboro PorchFest 34 Music: ARTSWIN On the Roof Concert Series 36 Music: Rock & Metal Profs 38 Screen Time

Tommy's Top Tens

39 Books: Book Club

Fave Events & Moments from a Decade of Work at N4U

40 Tri-State Horrorscopes 42 True Crime Junkie 43 True Crime Junkie:

LOCAL HAPPENINGS

44 Fundraiser for Dawnita 46 VHS Animal Spotlight 47 VHS Adoption Spotlight 48 Tri-State Pet Pics 58 Ask an Attorney

60 Mug Shots OPINION & COMMENTARY 50 As I Type This...

50 Tri-State Politics 51 Maybe I'm Just Getting Old 52 When Late Night Thoughts are Bourne REVIEWS 54 Music 56 Beer

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Publisher Brian Bennett Operations Manager Joshua Adams Managing Editor & Writer Thomas Ellis Account Representatives TJ Tanoos tj@evansvillemediagroup.com

Production Manager, Designer & Layout Artist Kelsey Halbig Contributors

Matt Alschbach, Freddie Bourne, Laurie Byers, Paul Bragin, Russ Finn, Johnny Fletcher, Bryan Fox, Paul Hollyfeld, Barold Hume, Matt Laine, Jabez Martinez, Adam & Sam Morris, Marisa Patwa, Lindsay Rasure

Bonus Edition

Wilkerson

Established in 1991 by

News 4U is published monthly and is distributed throughout the tri-state. For information about advertising, subscriptions, distribution or guides & lists, call (812) 426-6398 or write us at 125 N Weinbach Ave, Ste 510 Evansville, IN 47711. News 4U is published by EMG Publishing. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Distribution of the magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products, services or opinions within. Advertisers are responsible for content of their ads.

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | EDITOR'S NOTE

A QUICK NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

ccording to the News 4U bylaws,

and endless May showers, I'm all in. Give

it his mission to provide the tri-state with

I'm legally bound to begin every

me excessive warmth or give me death -

the best - and cheapest - fireworks around.

editor's note with a report on the

there's no in between. Admittedly, that's

Dreamland's prices are literally half that

weather. Not the most electrifying way to

a bit dramatic but then again I've got to

of area competitors - 50% below retail in

get things started, I know, but my hands are

do something to keep you interested,

most cases. Frankly, you're just wasting

tied. (FYI, I'm currently fielding calls from

something explosive... like talking about

money going anywhere else. But hey, it's a

local lawyers interested in representing

fireworks. Yes, it's that time again, folks.

free country; make up your own mind after

me as I prepare to mount a challenge

July 4th is just around the corner so you'd

reading all about Baize and his business on

against this tyrannical state of affairs.)

better stock up on things that go "bang"

page 8. We've also got the 411 on all the

The good news is that there's not much

and quick! Our humble advice - as you may

upcoming summer events, from the WC

to complain about - for now. Sure, we're

have noticed on the cover of this month's

Handy Blues & BBQ Fest to the season-

set to rocket from the mid 60's straight

issue - is to head straight to Dreamland

ending St. Meinrad Rocks Fest. All that and

to 90 degrees per the usual at this time

Fireworks on Diamond Avenue. For the

more inside! . - TE

of year, but after an unusually cold April

last 15 years, owner David Baize has made

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | COVER STORY

d n a l Dream s k r o w Fire TWICE THE FUN AT HALF THE PRICE: LOCALLYOWNED NORTH SIDE BUSINESS OFFERS EXPLOSIVE SAVINGS ON NAME-BRAND FIREWORKS

Founded by Baize back in 2007 after his annual fireworks show on Reitz Hill simply became too expensive to pull off and the only option left was to cut out the middle man, Dreamland quickly ballooned. All total, Baize opened up 116 stores throughout the region over the following nine years - and at one point was overseeing 10 locations during the annual summer rush for fireworks. And that's when he decided to apply the brakes. "That's how you lose touch with your customers," he explains. "I got tired of not being there on the customer service level of things. When you're not there, it's not the same."

avid Baize is a man on a mission to save the community money - well, even more money, to be accurate. Owner of Dreamland Fireworks on Evansville's north side (650 E. Diamond Avenue),

he's been dedicated to providing the lowest prices in the tri-state for years now, offering name-brand products at half the cost and no end of BOGOs. It's almost as if Baize gets a kick out of darn near giving away fireworks (spoiler alert: he does). Hardly surprising, then, that no competitor in the area comes anywhere close to matching the insane deals at Dreamland - going somewhere else is akin to throwing cash out the window. Hey, we all make bad decisions from time to time but there's simply no excuse for wasting your hard-earned money on over-priced name-brand products, especially with inflation on the rise and pain at the pump. Why eat up your monthly gas budget driving all over town trying to score the ultimate fireworks show at a bargain? Just go straight to Dreamland!

Baize rectified the customer service issue by slimming down to one location on Diamond Avenue in 2016 and got to work saving the community money. By his estimates, fireworks enthusiasts would have spent a whopping $1.5 million more over the last six years if Dreamland didn't exist. "For example, if you spend $500 at another shop, it's only going to cost you $250 or $300 here - because I do it by volume and by the unit, averaging out what is going to be sold," Baize says. "I'll sell 10,000 500 Gram Cakes and my competitor might sell 2000 for the same amount of money. I just give the customers the deal that I think I would like." In addition to offering great deals on namebrand fireworks, Baize has been known to conduct giveaways on Facebook, handing out cash to followers of Dreamland's page that like comments and share with friends. The business

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is nearing 10,000 fans online

over 10 major suppliers'

as a result, a key factor in

products - 42 TVs are housed

its overall success. As noted

throughout the building, all

earlier, with inflation and rising

displaying demonstrations of

gas prices, people are hurting

said name-brand products so

financially; Baize's generosity

customers know exactly what

and determination to save

to expect. It's a formula for

the community money are

success that's put Dreamland

truly making a difference. Do

at the forefront of the fireworks

yourself a favor and follow

industry and resulted in a lot

Dreamland on Facebook to

of happy shoppers this time

keep up with all the latest news

of year. "There's not a single

and to get a jump on upcoming

customer who's come here that

deals as July 4th approaches.

says they just blew up all their money or it wasn't worth it.

And just so there's no

They say that every dollar they

confusion, Dreamland ONLY

spent was worth it for each

sells fireworks - Baize is purely

single bang."

focused on providing you the most bang for your buck.

Dreamland Fireworks is open

"Other places sell knick-knacks

now through mid-July. Stop in

and other things, but we're

and pick up Dragon Warrior,

Evansville's fireworks store,"

the ultimate finale cake

he states. To ensure complete

containing 608 shots, to ensure

satisfaction with Dreamland's

your 4th of July fireworks show

huge inventory - Baize carries

is a big hit!

TO ORDER ONLINE, VISIT DREAMLANDFIREWORKS.COM. FOR MORE INFO, FOLLOW DREAMLAND FIREWORKS ON FACEBOOK. DREAMLAND FIREWORKS IS LOCATED AT 650 E. DIAMOND AVE. IN EVANSVILLE.

Dragon Warrior DRAGON WARRIOR IS THE ULTIMATE FINALE CAKE CONTAINING

608 SHOTS! LOCALLY-OWNED AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 15 YEARS!

HOME OF THE BIG SHOW!

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freaking years. Against all odds, this

Anyhow, I thought I'd take a look back at my

June edition of News 4U completes

time here at News 4U by taking a page from

a decade of work for me here at the magazine.

one of my heroes, fellow Hoosier native David

I don't even want to do the math, but by my

Letterman. Among many other segments, I

calculations, that's 120 issues in all. Wait, make

always loved his Top Ten countdowns. So as

that 119 - COVID X-ed us out for a month in

a tribute to one of the comedy greats - and

2020. But close enough. You know, leading up

certainly the best late night talk show host, in my

to this milestone, I had been kind of impressed

humble opinion (Johnny and Conan aren't far

with myself for making it this far - but then some

behind) - I give you Tommy's Top Tens, lists of

100-year-old Brazilian guy set the record for most

my favorite interviews, concerts, comedy shows

years at a single job: 84! What a show-off. Rest

and more that I've experienced and covered

assured I won't be sticking around this office

while on the N4U payroll. That I can recall, I

for another seven-plus decades. Furthermore,

should clarify. After 10 years, it's pretty much a

if I'm still living at the ripe old age of 135 I'll

blur - but imagine how that Brazilian guy feels!

certainly be looking to scale back to a part-time

- Thomas "Tommy" Ellis

gig - maybe chauffer people around the city in a hovercraft or something. Then again News 4U might find a new market on Mars in 2095 so perhaps it's best to keep my options open.

READ ON FOR ALL OF MY FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM MY TIME HERE AT NEWS4U!

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | FEATURE

TOP TEN INTERVIEWS 10. MICHAEL W. SMITH (2012)

5. WILLIAM SHATNER (2019)

far from my best. But I include it for sentimental reasons. Props to

no complaints - you take what you can get in life. Also, I grew up

Smith for being a good sport; surely he could tell I was as green

watching Star Trek and slept in Star Trek pajamas for a spell; never

as Gumby.

imagined I'd have the opportunity to shoot the breeze with this TV

My very first high-profile interview for the magazine - and very

I was promised 10 minutes with "The Shat" and got eight but

legend for 480 seconds.

9. PRETTY MUCH EVERY COUNTRY ARTIST

Am I a big country music fan? No. But hands down, artists from this genre are unfailingly polite and friendly - traits that make for

4. BILL MAHER (2014)

Been a big fan of Bill's for years and he did not disappoint, giving

enjoyable interviews. A few that stand out in my mind are chats

a very funny yet thoughtful interview. The kicker is that I only got to

with Miranda Lambert, Lady A guitarist Dave Haywood and the

speak with him because the previous N4U editor was too scared

woman you'll read about below...

to do it, worried that Maher would be unpleasant. Nope, he was a total gent. And like Ferguson, he kindly offered a backstage meet

8. SARA EVANS (2021)

At the time of this interview, Evans was advised by her doctor not to speak for three weeks due to vo-

& greet after the show.

3. CARLOS SANTANA (2022)

Full disclosure: I was sweating bullets

cal issues. And yet she refused to

the morning of this interview. I mean,

cancel out on me. What a trooper -

Carlos Santana is a stone cold legend

and just a wonderful person. Felt like

- one of the greatest guitarists to ever

I was talking to a dear friend.

walk the Earth. Plus, he's been asked every question under the sun after 50

7. RON WHITE (2014 & 2019)

Here's a guy that's just a blast to interview. Totally down to earth and, of course, effortlessly hilarious, White kept me in stitches throughout both conversations. Some comedians (who shall remain nameless) come off like they're doing bits of their routine, always working towards a punch line. Not White - he's just a chill dude right down the line.

years in the music business. Had nothing to worry about, though; Santana is a humble, engaging man with a good sense of humor.

2. CREED BRATTON (2013)

As a huge fan of The Office - particularly Bratton's oddball character on the show - I was beyond excited to score an interview to help Bratton promote his Evansville tour stop. He was doing press

6. CRAIG FERGUSON (2018) The Craigster proved to be every bit as affable and amusing as he appeared on TV, making this a delightful interview from start to

to big-up his music but gladly discussed The Office at length. And he invited me to meet him post-show.

1. RACHEL BOLAN (2018)

Why did I choose Skid Row's bass player as my favorite inter-

finish. I recall asking him if he knew

view of the last decade? Fair question. Well, we really con-

the current location of his former

nected on a musical level, veering off into discussions on punk

sidekick, Geoff Peterson, and he came

and post-punk, etc. Plus, Bolan's just a great guy - so great that

back with a typically quick-witted retort that made me spit out

he suggested we hang out in Nashville the next time I found

my Ski. Then Ferguson invited me to meet him after his upcom-

myself down there. Never happened but I've still got his cell

ing show at the Victory. Respect.

number so stay tuned.

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | FEATURE

T O P 10 AW K WA R D / F U N N Y INTERVIEW MOMENTS 10. FOR KING & COUNTRY (2016)

5. BILL MAHER (2013)

ibly nice Australians, brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone. Both are a joy

I still laugh when I think about how I let slip that I had never seen Real

to interview, by the way. When I spoke with the former the first time

Time with Bill Maher, the show he was effectively promoting at the

back in 2016, the conversation went great - and then Joel asked if I

time. Didn't have cable back then, you see, and it was - and still is - on

would be coming to their show at the Ford Center. Knowing full well

HBO. Oops.

This very popular Christian music group is fronted by a pair of incred-

As noted in the preceding Top 10 list, Bill gave a great interview, but

that wasn't going to happen - but not wanting to disappoint - I heard myself proclaiming "Hell yeah!!" with way too much forced enthusiasm. Classic.

9. SWAMP TIGERS (2014)

4. ELIZABETH COOK (2015)

If you've never heard of Cook, she's a talented folk singer who headlined the Ferdinand Folk Festival back in 2015. The reason why she made this list is simple: I asked her how she came to write such

I spoke with this Carbondale band prior to their gig at Legends inside

an affecting song as "Pale Blue Eyes" - which I deemed the best of her

River City Recreation - a phone interview, per the usual. It was a last

career to date. Silly me, I failed to notice that it was a Velvet Under-

minute deal so immediately after the interview I played it back on my

ground cover. Good stuff.

digital recorder for transcription. Dead silence. Fast forward...more silence. WTF?! Seems I had plugged the mic into the headphones outlet. Lost the whole conversation. Smooth.

8. RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES (2014)

3. JUDAS PRIEST (2014)

Between the sketchy phone connection and bassist Ian Hill's pronounced British accent, I could only make out bits and pieces of this conversation. A shame, too, because I was totally psyched to speak

The lead singer of RAIN seemed very tired and vaguely uninterested in

with him. But he sure seemed nice and I have to imagine that his

this interview until I mentioned my love for the band Devo. Suddenly,

answers to my scintillating questions - which Hill had no problem

said lead singer burst into the chorus of "Whip It" and continued on for

understanding, apparently - were quite eloquent. Sadly, we may

a good 30 seconds, totally reenergized. Until my next question.

never know.

7. BARRY MANILOW (2013)

2. RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS (2016)

all, Manilow's songs were a big part of my childhood. Having read that

this Scottish bagpipe band that I spoke with had such a thick accent

he had just tied Johnny Mathis for most adult contemporary number

(brogue?) that I literally couldn't decipher a word during this interview.

one songs, first thing I asked Manilow was if he planned to call Mathis

Looking back, it's pretty darn funny but at the time...not so much.

(without mentioning the record, assuming he would know what I was

Needless to say I scrapped the interview and wrote a generic piece

talking about). He replied, quite icily, "Why would I do that, Tommy?"

for the mag.

My stomach was churning in the final countdown to this interview. After

Imagine the situation noted above but much worse. The member of

Sweat formed on my brow. "Because you just tied his record (etc.)," I offered, shakily. "Oh! I didn't know that!" Manilow shouted with sheer joy. Whew. Crisis averted, a great conversation ensued.

6. HOOBASTANK (2021)

1. SEBASTIAN BACH (2021)

True to Bach's rock star nature, he had clearly pre-gamed this interview. Totally fine by me. Now, I had been advised to keep the fact that he was in the studio working on new solo material on the "DL". But for

Lead singer Doug Robb was very nice - which made me feel even

some reason I brought it up to Bach in the opening moments of the

worse about my poorly-worded final question that seemed to imply

interview - out of nervousness, perhaps. Big mistake. The conversation

Hoobastank's 2018 album kinda sucked. "So, what's your point?" he

proceeded to go off the rails fast - but he eventually came around,

asked, quite understandably. Commence backtracking...

warmed up to me and gave a wild interview that closed with Bach issuing an emphatic "ROCK ON, MY FRIEND!!" Number one with a bullet.

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | FEATURE

T O P T E N C O NC E R T S 10. BOSTON (2015)

5. JOHN WAITE (2019)

straight up. And it was entertaining to watch the crowd stand and

Amphitheatre to catch this show - and for the opportunity to meet

cheer for the hits and then immediately sit down or head for the

Waite whom I interviewed. The venue is amazing, FYI, in case

bathroom during the deep cuts.

you've yet to check it out. Waite gave a fantastic performance and

A childhood fave band of mine, Boston rocked the Ford Center,

My friend and I took a road trip up north to the scenic Lincoln

couldn't have been nicer when we connected backstage.

9. JOURNEY (2013)

This show totally stands out because I received a photo pass despite having no clue about photography. Regardless, when

4. '80S ROCK THE DAM (2018)

The same friend and I headed down south for

Journey hit the stage I was right there pointing a camera at

this show at the Beaver Dam Amphitheater,

frontman Arnel Pineda as he bounded towards the mic. I recall

unsure of what to expect. But we were

turning around to see a sold-out Ford Center erupt as "Separate

pleasantly surprised to find a first class

Ways" blasted through the PA. My pics weren't quite as electrify-

facility with a great crowd. To top it off, we

ing, admittedly.

got backstage, hopped in a photo with Skid Row and watched Great White perform from

8. EVERY HAIRBALL SHOW

Some people refer to Hairball as a karaoke band and all but make no mistake, they tear it up. Every show at the Victory has been packed with a raucous crowd going off - a total arena rock

behind the drummer. Vixen opened and killed it.

3. JUDAS PRIEST (2014)

Woefully undersold, only the Ford Center floor was filled for this

party. Plus, the band always invites local talent to open. Very

show. Criminal. And yet, when Priest took the stage, led by Rob

cool.

Halford straddling a big-ass motorbike, they played as if the place was packed to the gills, ripping through a career's worth of metal

7. KANSAS (2017)

Seeing a powerful band like Kansas in the confines of the Victory was a real treat. And for this show they played

classics. Unforgettable.

2. TOM PETTY W/ THE SMITHEREENS (2013)

As a massive fan of the Smithereens, I couldn't believe it when

their classic album Leftoverture

I heard Petty had hand-picked them to open on this tour which

in full (cue "Carry On Wayward

made a stop at the Ford Center. And I got a photo pass for their

Son"). Not a note out of place - an

set, so frontman Pat Dinizio (RIP) was dead straight in front of me

exquisite performance that lived up

for 30 mins. Then Petty came on and all hell broke loose. When he

to their classic rock status.

sang, "With them Indiana boys on an Indiana night" from "Mary Jane's Last Dance," the sold-out crowd lost it.

6. STYX & REO SPEEDWAGON (2018)

This package tour at the Ford Center took me right back to 1981 when I was simultaneously obsessed with Styx's Para-

1. CHICAGO (2014)

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Chicago, but my dad - who

dise Theater and REO's Hi Infidelity. Sure, both bands have

passed away in 2020 - loved them. No lie, he had never been to a

lost a step or two over time but they still delivered when it

concert in his entire life, so I picked up a couple of tix and scored a

counted. I had absolutely no choice but to sing along with

photo-op with the band. As the picture was being taken pre-show

"Take It on the Run," "Too Much Time on My Hands" and a

(I'll never forget this), dad half-turned to the members of Chicago

host of other longtime favorites.

standing behind us and said, simply, "Love the music, guys." Very sweet. A great night all around and a wonderful memory.

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | FEATURE

T O P T E N C O M E DY S H O W S 10. IRISH COMEDY TOUR (2014)

5. CRAIG FERGUSON (2018)

for this show, as I recall, but those

routine brought the Victory to its feet on several occasions.

of us who were there had quite the

Post-show, I was able to go upstairs and hang with Craig for a

time. As advertised, it was all about

bit which was a real highlight of my time at N4U. A super nice

the Irish - and totally off the wall.

guy with no celebrity vibe whatsoever.

The Victory was only about a third full

More daring than his TV persona, Ferguson's wild standup

There were skits, songs, pre-recorded videos and more. A truly unique comedy experience.

9. JIM GAFFIGAN (2018)

4. TOM SEGURA (2019)

Somehow I was unfamiliar with Segura before this show at the Victory but went out of curiosity with a

I did enjoy this show though food-based humor isn't my jam,

friend and wow, we were impressed.

necessarily. But I have to hand it to Gaffigan - he slayed the

Edgy humor at its finest - totally non-

Old National Events Plaza that night, serving up the sort of

PC. The crowd ate it up.

family-friendly standup you don't hear much these days. Everyone went home satisfied.

8. KEVIN HART (2018)

3. BILL MAHER (2014)

Like the seasoned comedy pro that he is, Maher just commanded the Victory stage with no let-up. No doubt every

Hard to believe that one man alone on a stage could destroy

liberal in Evansville was there that night but truthfully, his set

the Ford Center but that's exactly what Hart did that night.

covered a lot more than just political division. As a bonus, I

What really amazed me is how he just riffed on various topics

got to meet him after the show.

- like freestyle comedy. No notes or crutches of any kind - Hart just jumped straight into the fire.

7. RALPHIE MAY (2015)

2. WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? (2018 & 2021)

Here's the thing about improv comedy: it can be transcendental or it can be disastrous, depending on the night. Or

When May passed away back in 2017,

the quality of the performers. Nothing to worry about here,

we lost a unique comedy legend. Talk

though, because the cast of Whose Live Anyway? absolutely

about a free spirit. He said whatever

killed it both times I saw them at the Victory. Rarely have I

was on his mind - and it was always

heard an Evansville crowd respond like that - just waves and

funny. This show at the Victory

waves of laughter.

stood as a prime example of why he will be dearly missed. The jokes were raunchy and unforgiving, delivered with a big ol' middle finger to the establishment.

6. RON WHITE (2014 & 2019)

1. MARTIN SHORT & STEVE MARTIN (2019)

It's a little bittersweet to talk about this show. You see, Martin Short is a comedy hero of mine - and I love Steve Martin,

This man sure knows how to work a crowd - slow and low, that

too. So I desperately wanted to get an

is the tempo. Between sips of Scotch, White told ridiculously

interview with them but heard nothing

funny stories in his distinctive southern drawl. Heck, you were

back until two days after upload of the

probably there so no need to belabor the point.

magazine. They were in! Fudge. Too late but let me tell you, these two legends put on a master class in comedy at the Old National Events Plaza. Utter perfection.

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | CUISINE & DINING

WHAT'SCOOKIN' WITH MATT LAINE

KABOB XPRESS 3305 N GREEN RIVER RD EVANSVILLE, IN

his place had some big shoes to fill because I was a huge fan of another local Middle Eastern spot in town that unfortunately closed down. I haven’t actually tried other Middle Eastern eateries of late because I was still

mourning the loss of Oasis Cafe. But after passing through all the stages of grief, I was ready to move on and find another great place to frequent - which turned out to be Kabob Xpress. The food always looks stunning when I see pictures, and it met my expectations in spectacular fashion. I actually tried it twice, once alone to make sure my wife would enjoy it, and then again with the family. This is how the whole experience went for us.

The place was extraordinarily clean

service and decor really go a long

and inviting. The smells alone will

way in making you feel like you are in

almost lift you up and guide you right

a place further away from Evansville.

to the counter to place an order. We

Once done perusing the retail part

took time to really check out the menu

of the store our appetizer was ready

and see what all they had to offer. I

which was just the introduction to the

have to say there are so many things I

symphony of flavors about to dance

still want to try here, but my stomach

on our taste buds.

is only so big and there will be other

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trips. As we were discussing what we

For an appetizer, we ordered the

wanted, the owners were helping us

Hummus Platter. For entrées, my wife

by explaining food items and some

and daughter each had the Chicken

good flavor combinations, which

Shawarma and I had the Shish

always helps when trying out a new

Tawook. The hummus was a simple

place. As we made our final decisions,

presentation with some spices and

we apologized in advance because we

oils that are typically found in the

ordered rice for our daughter despite

Middle East. The pita was perfectly

how messy she can be with certain

cooked and not too crunchy making

foods. The owners weren’t bothered

it a beautiful dipping vessel for the

by it at all and just told us to enjoy

hummus. As the Chicken Shawarma

it. As we found a table we started

came off the grill, the smell permeated

looking at all the retail items they have

the entire restaurant, surely enticing

for sale, and I have to say that small

the other patrons. The cumin and

I must mention the salads because they were absolutely majestic, as if taken from the Garden of Eden - the utterly perfect balance of crunch, cheese, oils, and garden veggies.

turmeric were prevalent in the smells and tastes, and there wasn’t too much of a kick to it, which was fine for my wife and daughter as they were looking for explosive flavors without the fire from the spiciness. My daughter did enjoy her rice, by the way, and my wife had rice and grilled veggies, which she also enjoyed. (She did say she wished there were more veggies that came with the side, as it was mostly onions.) My Shish Tawook was very similar to the Chicken Shawarma, but it's made with dark meat and packs more of a punch in the heat department. I loved every bite. My sides were rice and a salad, and I must mention the salads because they were absolutely majestic, as if taken from the Garden of Eden - the utterly perfect balance of crunch, cheese, oils, and garden veggies. So there we were as a family, all doing happy dances in our seats and then…they surprised us by bringing out some naan to try with our meals. This bread was crafted by the gods using the clouds above Mount Olympus, I can only assume. The best way I can describe it is that it has a garlic bread type flavor but is fluffy almost like a slightly grilled cotton candy. When you bite through the slight crunch on the outside, you find this heavenly light bread that goes perfect with everything. And believe me, I tried it with everything, and it just made it all taste even better (I didn’t know there was another step up). This meal was very filling, but we finished probably 90% of everything because it all

VALUE: 8.5 \\ TASTE: 9.4 \\ ATMOSPHERE: 8.9

just tasted so good. Next time you are in the mood to try

SERVICE: 9.3 \\ SPEED: 8.8 \\ OVERALL: 9.0

something new, go to Kabob Xpress!

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| 23

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | CUISINE & DINING

CLEAN BITE Healthy Cooking with Lindsay Rasure I don’t know about you, but when the temperature starts to rise and summer is right around the corner, I crave cold things for breakfast. This protein shake leaves me full all morning and is packed full of healthy fats and balanced macronutrients. When I eat most meals I make sure my protein, carbohydrates, and fat are balanced so my blood sugar remains stable. Then I don't end up hungry two hours later or experience the dreaded “hangry” feeling. The beauty of this protein shake is that you can switch out certain ingredients to your liking without affecting the macronutrients. If you don't like (or tolerate) peanut butter then switch out for almond butter or cashew butter. If you don't like banana then switch out for 1 c.

life

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN SHAKE INGREDIENTS: •

2/3 C. PLAIN GREEK YOGURT (HIGHLY RECOMMEND SIGGI’S BRAND)

•

½ LARGE BANANA

•

1 T. CHIA SEEDS

•

1-2 T. PEANUT BUTTER (NO SUGAR ADDED)

•

½-1 SCOOP CHOCOLATE PROTEIN POWDER (HIGHLY RECOMMEND ACTIVE STACKS BRAND)

•

½ C. - ¾ C. FILTERED WATER

•

ICE

DIRECTIONS: 1.

PLACE ALL THE INGREDIENTS INTO A BLENDER AND BLEND

POUR INTO YOUR FAVORITE GLASS AND ADD A METAL

AND MIX WELL.

STRAW TO ENJOY YOUR SHAKE!

frozen blueberries. If you don't like chocolate protein powder then switch out for your favorite flavor. When looking at plain Greek yogurt make sure there is nothing added to it. I love the Siggi’s brand, because their yogurt is thick and has minimal ingredients. It also has 18 grams of protein per serving! Same thing

FOR MORE RECIPES OR MEAL IDEAS

goes when looking at protein powders - the

YOU CAN FOLLOW

less ingredients the better. I love buying

LINDSAY RASURE

Active Stacks, because they use grass-fed

ON INSTAGRAM: @

beef protein with only a minimal amount of other clean ingredients. Plus, it tastes

CLEANBITELIFE OR HER FACEBOOK GROUP:

amazing!

CLEAN BITE LIFE

24 | JUNE 2022

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COUPONS!

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | COUPONS

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| 25

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | IN TOWN & AROUND

PRESENTED BY:

IN TOWN & AROUND WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1

THURSDAY, JUNE 9

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz w/

6:30 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Night Club:

Honey Roy

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Trivia

DJ Jody Rhen

9:00 PM

6:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/

College Night w/ Brad Lemmons

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Karaoke & DJ

Christina

KC's Corner Pocket -- College

Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

7:00 PM

Night / Karaoke & DJ

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill --

3rd Street Saloon -- Karaoke

7:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Bokeh Lounge -- Big Al & The

Cornhole / Karaoke & DJ

Heavyweights

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After 5:

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

Gypsy Soul

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

-- Beer Pong

-- College Night w/ Jake Holder &

6:00 PM

Clay Shelburn

KC's Marina Pointe -- Up Front:

KC's Corner Pocket -- College

Jake Holder & Clay Shelburn

Night / Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke THURSDAY, JUNE 2 6:00 PM

7:00 PM

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 5:30 PM

MONDAY, JUNE 6 6:00 PM

8:00 PM 3rd Street Saloon -- Adult Game Night

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ Jon

9:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Rock the Lot for

Kern

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

PRIDE: The Pits

Karaoke & DJ

-- Beer Pong

7:30 PM

9:00 PM Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

TUESDAY, JUNE 7

FRIDAY, JUNE 10

Bokeh Lounge -- Angel Rhodes &

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Rick Rose

Bokeh Lounge -- Rock the Lot:

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

The Wilder Ones

Band

Jonas Cowan Trio

Karaoke & DJ

9:00 PM

6:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After 5:

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

3rd Street Saloon -- Live

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Beyond Blu

Entertainment

College Night / Karaoke & DJ

5:30 PM

7:00 PM

8:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Live Entertainment TBA

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

Atlas of the Dogs

Bokeh Lounge -- Rock the Lot:

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

-- Boscoe France

KC's Marina Pointe -- Night Club:

6:00 PM

9:00 PM

Stackin' Eights

DJ Jody Rhen

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

KC's Marina Pointe -- Up Front:

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

Drew Aud Duo

10:00 PM

8:00 PM

Lincoln Amphitheatre (Lincoln City)

3rd Street Saloon -- Adult Game

-- Henry Lee Summer

Night

8:00 PM

9:00 PM

FRIDAY, JUNE 3

8:00 PM

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Cage Willis &

3rd Street Saloon -- Live Entertainment Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8

-- Live Entertainment TBA

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

6:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Bokeh Lounge -- Drag Me to the

-- Kalico

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

KC's Marina Pointe -- Night Club:

Weekend kick-off to PRIDE w/ DJ

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- DRK WTR

6:30 PM

DJ Cliffy D

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Trivia

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

9:00 PM

Karaoke & DJ

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

AP 9:00 PM

SUNDAY, JUNE 5

3rd Street Saloon -- Live

2:00 PM

Entertainment

KC's Marina Pointe -- Jake Holder

Karaoke & DJ

10:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

& Clay Shelburn

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Freestyle

-- Jake Holder & Clay Shelburn

2:30 PM

26 | JUNE 2022

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Friday

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| 27

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | IN TOWN & AROUND

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 5:30 PM

MONDAY, JUNE 13 6:00 PM

8:00 PM

Haubstadt Fest Grounds --

3rd Street Saloon -- Adult Game

Haubstadt Sommerfest

Night

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Rock the Lot:

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ Jon

9:00 PM

Nutshell

Kern

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Tony Henning

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After 5:

9:00 PM

Karaoke & DJ

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After 5:

2 Miles Back

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

The Godfathers

7:00 PM Victory Theatre -- Kansas "Point of Know Return" Anniversary Tour

TUESDAY, JUNE 14 5:30 PM

FRIDAY, JUNE 17

Bokeh Lounge -- Rock the Lot:

7:00 PM Beaver Dam Amphitheater --

Audubon Mill Park (Henderson) --

Vanilla Ice w/ Tone Loc & DJ M

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Rick Rose

WC Handy Blues & BBQ Fest

Walk: '90s Night @ the Dam

Bokeh Lounge -- The BackBeats

Band

Haubstadt Fest Grounds --

9:00 PM

6:00 PM

8:00 PM

Haubstadt Sommerfest

Bokeh Lounge -- JEB

3rd Street Saloon -- Live

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

5:30 PM

9:00 PM

Entertainment

College Night / Karaoke & DJ

Bokeh Lounge -- Rock the Lot:

3rd Street Saloon -- Live

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

7:00 PM

Zach & David

Entertainment

-- Drew Aud

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After 5:

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke &

-- Boscoe France

Jonas Cowan Trio

-- Kalico

9:00 PM

6:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke &

KC's Marina Pointe -- Night Club:

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

KC's Marina Pointe -- Up Front:

Kalico Unplugged

KC's Marina Pointe -- Night Club:

8:00 PM

DJ Cliffy D Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15

8:00 PM

DJ NYU

Sparky

Audubon Mill Park (Henderson) --

Bokeh Lounge -- Crash Chords w/

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

10:00 PM

WC Handy Blues & BBQ Fest

The Randys

Sparky

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

6:00 PM

9:00 PM

10:00 PM

Blue Collar

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

3rd Street Saloon -- Live

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Metal Show

6:30 PM

Entertainment

Live Entertainment TBA

w/ The Snakes, Forthright & Misery

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Trivia

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Stephen

Collective Orchestra

9:00 PM

-- Dillon Carmichael

Horning/Big Ninja

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke &

Karaoke & DJ

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

KC's Marina Pointe -- Night Club:

2:00 PM

DJ NYU

KC's Marina Pointe -- Live Music

THURSDAY, JUNE 16

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

TBA

Audubon Mill Park (Henderson) --

Karaoke & DJ

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz w/

WC Handy Blues & BBQ Fest

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz w/

Tom Drury Quartet

Haubstadt Fest Grounds --

Sparky

MPQT Jazz Quartet

6:00 PM

Haubstadt Sommerfest

10:00 PM

4:00 PM

SUNDAY, JUNE 12 2:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Rockin' Rod & Honey Roy Duo 2:30 PM

SUNDAY, JUNE 19

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/

6:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Soulful

Christina

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

Daniel Johnson

Sunday w/ Hog Maw

7:00 PM

-- College Night w/ Josh Merritt

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Freestyle

6:00 PM

3rd Street Saloon -- Karaoke

KC's Corner Pocket -- College

Friday

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Night / Karaoke & DJ

Cornhole / Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

SATURDAY, JUNE 18

7:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

Audubon Mill Park (Henderson) --

3rd Street Saloon -- Karaoke

-- Beer Pong

WC Handy Blues & BBQ Fest

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

9:00 PM Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

28 | JUNE 2022

• www.evansvillemediagroup.com

Christina

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| 29

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | IN TOWN & AROUND

Cornhole / Karaoke & DJ

KC's Corner Pocket -- College

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ Jon

9:00 PM

Night / Karaoke & DJ

Bokeh Lounge -- Rock the Lot:

Kern

7:00 PM

Corduroy Orbison

9:00 PM Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After 5:

MONDAY, JUNE 20

-- Beer Pong

Nutshell

6:00 PM

8:00 PM

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ Jon

3rd Street Saloon -- Adult Game

KC's Marina Pointe -- Up Front: Live

5:30 PM

Kern

Night

Music TBA

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Rick Rose

9:00 PM

8:00 PM

Band

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Bokeh Lounge -- Drag Me to the

6:00 PM

Karaoke & DJ

Weekend

Bokeh Lounge -- Olivia Supper

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

Live Painting

3rd Street Saloon -- Live

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

TUESDAY, JUNE 21 5:30 PM

TUESDAY, JUNE 28

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Rick Rose

FRIDAY, JUNE 24

Entertainment

College Night / Karaoke & DJ

Band

Yellow Creek Park (Owensboro)

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

6:00 PM

7:00 PM

-- ROMP Fest

-- Chris Moreno

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

Bokeh Lounge -- Poetry w/ Bill

5:30 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

-- Boscoe France

Sovern

Bokeh Lounge -- Rock the Lot: Tony

KC's Marina Pointe -- Night Club:

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Henning

DJ Jon J Dueling DJs

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

College Night / Karaoke & DJ

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After 5:

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

7:00 PM

The Valcoes

10:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

6:00 PM

-- Boscoe France 9:00 PM Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

6:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Up Front: Live

Adam Calhoun

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

Music TBA

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Slop Tart

8:00 PM

6:30 PM

Noir

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Trivia

Bokeh Lounge -- Epic

9:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22

9:00 PM

Yellow Creek Park (Owensboro)

3rd Street Saloon -- Live

2:00 PM

Karaoke & DJ

-- ROMP Fest

Entertainment

KC's Marina Pointe -- Angel Rhodes

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

-- Jake Gaither

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz w/

6:30 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Bokeh Big Band

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Trivia

KC's Marina Pointe -- Night Club:

9:00 PM

6:00 PM

DJ Jon J Dueling DJs

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/

College Night w/ Boscoe France

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Christina

KC's Corner Pocket -- College

Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Night / Karaoke & DJ

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

3rd Street Saloon -- Karaoke

10:00 PM

7:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

THURSDAY, JUNE 23

SUNDAY, JUNE 26

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

THURSDAY, JUNE 30 6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill --

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

Cornhole / Karaoke & DJ

-- Beer Pong

Yellow Creek Park (Owensboro)

-- Saliva

Victory Theatre -- Jason Bonham's

8:00 PM

-- ROMP Fest

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Freestyle

Led Zeppelin Evening

3rd Street Saloon -- Adult Game

5:30 PM

Friday

9:00 PM

Night

Bokeh Lounge -- David Dunavent

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

6:00 PM

SATURDAY, JUNE 25

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill --

Yellow Creek Park (Owensboro)

College Night w/ Brad Lemmons

-- ROMP Fest

30 | JUNE 2022

• www.evansvillemediagroup.com

9:00 PM KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

MONDAY, JUNE 27 6:00 PM

Karaoke & DJ Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | WE WERE THERE

BUD'S ROCKIN' COUNTRY BAR & GRILL F R I DAY, M AY 13 T H | P H O T O S : C O U R T E SY O F J O N B .

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| 31

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | MUSIC

4th Annual Owensboro Porch Fest GRIFFITH AVENUE / JUNE 11 FREE, ALL-AGES COMMUNITY EVENT PROMISES A FULL DAY OF GREAT LIVE MUSIC, FOOD AND FUN

THEY ARE ALMOST EIGHT YEARS IN AND HOPE TO CONTINUE TO USE THE MEMORIAL FUND AS A WAY TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY, KEEP TELLING THE BEAUTIFUL STORY OF TAYLOR AND

and funded by friends and family to help the

attended Evansville's

Widmer family heal during a time of crisis and

own PorchFest in the Haynie's Corner Arts District, you know just how much fun it is to spend the day

sadness. They are almost eight years in and hope to continue to use the memorial fund as a way to give back to our community, keep

with friends while taking in some truly great

telling the beautiful story of Taylor and keep

live performances by many of the area's

his memory alive."⁣

brightest musical talents. It's a cool community vibe that's also been happening down in

A key piece of merchandise for the 2022 event

Owensboro for the last few years, by the way.

is a specially-designed t-shirt featuring original

Now celebrating the fourth edition of the very

artwork by Jacob Sommerville - a must-have

popular event, organizers have assembled

souvenir. Order here: porchfestobky.com/

another terrific lineup of musicians - 40 acts on 13 stages - to make Griffith Avenue come alive

product/porchfest-obky and show your

support for the Taylor Widmer Foundation.

with sweet melodies and beautiful harmonies. Acts scheduled to perform include Josh In addition to a full day of music, many of

Mitcham, Clay Shelburn, Joshua Orion,

your favorite food trucks will be on hand to

RPR, Riley Station, Ariel & The High Wheels,

ensure that no one goes hungry while rocking

Jade Hamilton, WhyTheyCame, Colt Graves,

out. But hands down the best part about

DRK WTR, Nick Cheek & The Golden Hour,

Owensboro PorchFest is the charitable nature

Madeline Wilkerson, Dakota Hayden, Yellow

of the event with proceeds from merchandise

Banks, Josh Merritt and many more!

sales going to support a local charity. For this fourth edition, organizers have chosen to

For more info, including the full lineup

benefit the Taylor Widmer Foundation: "The

of musicians, follow PorchFest OBKY on

Taylor Widmer Memorial Fund was created

Facebook.

KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE.

32 | JUNE 2022

or those who've

• www.evansvillemediagroup.com

Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • JUNE 2022

| 33

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | MUSIC

ARTSWIN ON THE ROOF CONCERT SERIES Local nonprofit organization offers up another summer of sizzling live performances

or more than a half century, the Arts

excitement of the On the Roof Concert Series

Council of Southwestern Indiana

which debuted pre-pandemic to rousing

(ARTSWIN) has been dedicated to

approval. Seriously, what's not to love about the

achieving its mission of "enhancing quality

area's best musicians performing live on top of

of life in the region and bolstering economic

a building in scenic downtown Evansville?

development by way of advocating and promoting arts, arts education and arts organizations in Southwest Indiana." The nonprofit organization's efforts to better the community have taken many forms PHOTO BY: ROB TABER PHOTOGRAPHY

over the years but few can match the

This summer ARTSWIN has put together another fantastic lineup of bands for your listening pleasure, with bimonthly Saturday night concerts through mid-September. Best of all, this incredible live music series is absolutely free to the public (all ages), so take a look at the performance schedule below and start making plans to rock out alongside your friends on the roof at ARTSWIN on Main Street! ON THE ROOF CONCERT SERIES 6/11: Kyle Paisley Trio / TwoPine 6/18: Soul N The Pocket (Juneteenth Celebration) 7/9: A Modest Proposal / Khamsin / Jake Bethel 7/23: Mama Said String Band / Madeline Wilkerson 8/13: TBA 8/27: Hannah Evelyn Trio / Moose Collective 9/10: Mariachi Alegre

For more info, visit artswin.org. The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana is located at 212 Main St. in downtown Evansville.

34 | JUNE 2022

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| 35

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | ENTERTAINMENT

THE ROCK & METAL PROFS W I T H M AT T A L S C H BAC H & D R . CO U RT L E W I S

Associate professors at Owensboro Community College and Pellissippi State Community College, respectively, Alschbach and Lewis host the popular podcast The Rock & Metal Profs: The History & Philosophy of Rock & Metal. Now they're bringing their keen insights to the pages of News 4U with a monthly deep dive into some of the best bands of the rock/metal genre and thoughts on music in general.

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS “BAD PUBLICITY”? The rock/metal genre is over the top

Alamo. Mötley Crüe was

- everything is cranked up to 11, even

routinely photographed

the hair and make-up. Famously, KISS

with scantily clad girls

concerts feature pyrotechnics, lasers, and

and booze bottles as they

a fire-breathing, blood-spitting demon

played up their bad-

flying through the air. Then there's shock

boy image. Vince Neil

rocker Alice Cooper who made headlines

was even charged with

in the early 70’s for throwing a chicken

vehicular manslaughter

into the crowd, which was then mutilated

after a drunken car crash.

by the audience. The news media and

Not convinced? Watch

“concerned citizens” made it sound as

the rockumentary The

though he performed a Satanic mass on

Dirt (2019), which spends

the unfortunate poultry. Bands learned

most of its running time

early on the power of public relations (PR)

focused on sex, drugs, and excess, with

in promoting their albums and mythology,

little emphasis on the band's music. Even

so much so that some bands were better

John Lennon understood the value of a

known for what they did off-stage than

good PR stunt to increase album sales.

their music.

1968’s Two Virgins featured Lennon and

PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: MATT ALSCHBACH AND DR. COURT LEWIS

Yoko Ono fully nude on the front and Consider the outlandish antics of Ozzy

back covers - a vision we could have all

Osbourne, who in the 80’s lived up to his

lived without, but it certainly got people

name as the "Madman of Rock & Roll"

talking about the album. The year prior,

by biting the head off a bat on stage,

The Who drummer Keith Moon blew up

and then duplicated the act with a dove

his drum set on national TV, but used too

during a meeting with CBS Records execs.

much explosive, leaving guitarist Pete

He was also arrested and banned from

Townsend deaf in one ear.

San Antonio, TX, after urinating on the

36 | JUNE 2022

• www.evansvillemediagroup.com

Do these shocking (and sometimes inadvertent) attempts to gain attention have the desired effect? Or do they distract fans from what should be most important, the music? Will people remember the music of KISS, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe and The Who, or will they be known simply for their antics? Only time will tell, but like it or not, antics seem to be a fundamental part of rock and metal. The Rock & Metal Profs podcast is available on iTunes, Google and Spotify.

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| 37

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | ENTERTAINMENT

SCREEN TIME WITH MARISA PAT WA

June streaming options feature diverse superheroes, teen vampires and siblings from an alternate dimension

MS. MARVEL

FIRST KILL

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY SSN 3

more complicated for Avengers

abilities, First Kill - based on a short

of season two, our favorite band of

superfan Kamala Khan, who gets new

story by Victoria Schwab described as

misfit sibling superheroes are back.

superpowers. The Pakistani-American

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Killing

Or are they? The dysfunctional bunch

teen is magically infused with the

Eve" - is tailor-made for the newest

created an alternate timeline and

same powers as her idol Captain

generation hooked on blood-sucking

version of themselves and must face

Marvel - talk about growing changes.

romance. Sarah Catherine Hook

off in the latest season. Meet the

The new show is based off the comics

plays Juliette, a freshly-made vampire

Sparrow Academy - the elite new

of the same name and follows her

who falls in love with vampire hunter

siblings from the alternate dimension

life in New Jersey as she balances

Calliope, played by Imani Lewis. We get

are most certainly going to create

fighting bad guys while getting

the same heat of the will-they-or-won’t-

issues for our original crew. Elliot

home in time to finish her homework.

they relationship as Elena and bad boy

Page is now returning as Viktor and

Actress Iman Vellani is carrying the

Damon first gave us in The Vampire

I applaud Netflix for their ability to

cape for all young teens of color who

Diaries. It’s even more intensified

quickly adapt to such a beautiful

haven't gotten to see a diverse set of

since they are supposed to be mortal

and authentic change for the actor.

superheroes. As a mother to a Desi

enemies. Will they kill each other or

For those still mourning the loss of

5-year-old, I'm thrilled she's going to

put their otherworldly differences aside

Ashtray in season two of Euphoria,

be able to look up to a heroic young

and form a beautiful bond? Keep the

slip those tissues back in your

woman with her skin color. Marvel is

crosses within reach and make sure you

Kleenex box because Javon “Wanna”

finally doing it right.

have plenty of garlic on hand when this

Walton is taking on a surprising and

show premieres!

well-deserved role in the series.

High school just got a whole lot

Disney Plus 6/8

38 | JUNE 2022

Speaking of teens with supernatural

Netflix 6/10

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After the nearly apocalyptic ending

Netflix 6/22

Photo Credit: Nat Phelps

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | BOOKS

BOOK CLUB

WITH ADAM & SAM MORRIS

Get a jump on your summer reading list with these four excellent recommendations from the owners of Your Brother's Bookstore in downtown Evansville EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid

THE PRINCESS BRIDE by William Goldman

too-real and fantasy, Exit

by legendary screenwriter

West tells the story of a

William Goldman (Butch

couple fleeing their war-torn

Cassidy and the Sundance

homeland through a series

Kid, All the President’s Men),

of magic doors that can take

The Princess Bride is a

them anywhere in the world.

beloved classic that people

It’s part love story, part

of all ages can enjoy. A story

social commentary, and all

within a story, the fable of

beautifully written. Groups

a princess who falls in love

of refugees coming from

with a farm hand has never

every conflict and corner of

been told better. Giants,

Blurring the lines between

Originally published in 1973

the world mingle, merge,

Rats of Unusual Sizes, six-

and split, looking for a new home. If you can step through a

fingered men, and a Greek with an inconceivable brain all help to

closet door in Chicago and walk out of an Italian bistro, where

fill in a quirky cast of characters you won’t soon forget. This trifecta

would you go? What does the world look like if borders are no

of adventure, humor and romance culminates in a truly fun and

longer a barrier?

satisfying story for even the pickiest of readers.

SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Emily St. John Mandel

STILL JUST A GEEK by Wil Wheaton

man has been obsessed with

memoir is a collection of

the end of its existence. Sea of

blog posts, with commentary

Tranquility is a book that burns

added a few years later, with

slow, but burns bright keeping

more commentary added

the reader captivated. The story

sixteen years after that. It’s

takes place over multiple time

an interesting and refreshing

periods: a man in Canada in

attempt at a memoir, a genre

1912, a woman searching for

that by its nature tends to

the brother of an old friend

go stale quickly. Normally,

in 2022, an author (from the

once a memoir is published,

moon) on an Earth book tour in

the opinions and memories

Since the dawn of humanity,

Wil Wheaton’s annotated

2203, and a group of scientists

that are written in it are set

analyzing if the world is just a simulation in 2401. As the story comes

in stone and “canon.” Not in this case. Wheaton re-examines not just

together, the connections between the timelines are revealed until the

his memories, but also his writing style, mindset, and level of self-

essence of the narrative is exposed leaving the reader to ask what does

awareness, showing on a very real level how experience changes

being real even mean.

with perspective.

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | ENTERTAINMENT

TRI-STATE HORRORSCOPES NO MATTER YOUR ASTROLOGICAL SIGN, THINGS AREN'T EXACTLY LOOKING UP THIS MONTH

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20)

You will awake in an alternate universe where, as the foreman of the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial, you'll be forced to sit through every excruciating minute of testimony over and over in a Groundhog Day-esque nightmare.

CANCER (Jun 21-Jul 22)

Every penny of your savings will be mistakenly transferred to Bitcoin. And you will not recall the password to the account. (hint: it's not 1-2-3-4 or 4-3-2-1)

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22)

Due to a glitch with your Spotify account, Bobby McFerrin's 1988 a cappella hit "Don't Worry Be Happy" will play 24-7 like a torture scene straight out of Gitmo. You will indeed worry.

VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22)

After attending a screening of Top Gun: Maverick, you will return home to find star Tom Cruise maniacally jumping up and down on your couch with irrepressible excitement - until you burst his bubble with a meh review of the movie. He will then suckerslap you a la Will Smith and instruct you to keep his name out of your f-ing mouth. LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 22)

Going big or going home in the bad decision department, you will insist on getting a face tattoo after a few too many shots during a raucous night out. The following morning, bleary-eyed, you will discover "This Is Us" etched into your forehead upon checking the bathroom mirror. Like every character on the show, you will ball your eyes out.

40 | JUNE 2022

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | ENTERTAINMENT SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21)

Someone totally out of your league will reach out to you via social media, send hot pics and shower you with attention daily. Yet they will repeatedly refuse to meet. Undeterred by every red flag imaginable, you will wire them large sums of money and start making long-term relationship plans. You are an idiot. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21)

You will come across a stack of News 4Us in your local grocery store and become transfixed by the explosive Dreamland Fireworks cover. Paging through, you'll declare the June issue a work of genius - until you discover that you're featured in the mug shots section. CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19)

Perhaps even worse than something terrible occurring this month, nothing will happen to you just 30 days of the same old, same old. Brutal.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18)

You will become inexplicably addicted to watching Dr. Phil - hotly anticipating his signature line, "Let me ask you something: How's that workin' for ya?" delivered in his patented Texas drawl. Your work will suffer along with your relationships. Get a grip.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20)

This is the water sign, right? Ok, get ready for a tsunami of misfortune. Very nonspecific.

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19)

Much like the Sagittarius crowd, you will find yourself drawn to News 4U like a moth to a flame, devouring the content with no self-control. Sadly, this lack of control will spill over into other areas of your life. Don't say we didn't warn you.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20)

To come full circle, you will awake to an alternate universe where you are serving as a juror for the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial. And you don't like the foreman one bit.

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | ENTERTAINMENT

TRUE CRIME JUNKIE WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER

THE MURDER OF PAIGE BIRGFELD Here we have one of the most talked about cases

PICTURED: SINGLE MOM, PAIGE BIRGFELD

in the last 20 years. The murder of Paige Birgfeld, a single mom from Colorado, sparked a flurry of coverage from all the major true crime shows and national media outlets when she inexplicably vanished back in 2007 and updates on her disappearance received much airtime over the next five years until the discovery of her body in 2012 which set off a frenzy of reporting and speculation as to the identity of Birgfeld's killer. It would take another four years to solve the case but interest in this unique story only seems to have grown postconviction. Why? Well, Birgfeld was living a double life, serving as a loving, devoted parent by day and a high-priced escort by night. And no one - not even her closest friends - had a clue. Twice divorced, Birgfeld, 34 at the time she went missing, was struggling to support her three young children despite some success selling cutlery. Perhaps against her better judgment, at some point she made the fateful decision to boost her financial situation via sexual encounters - which, by all accounts, proved quite lucrative; Birgfeld secretly scheduled regular appointments with area men through Models, Inc., advertising adult massages and other services under the name "Carrie." Despite the inherently dangerous nature of this illegal activity, the extra money proved essential to maintaining her independence. But then it all caught up with Birgfeld on June 28, 2007. Birgfeld failed to come home that night and was never seen again. In a worrying sign, some of

42 | JUNE 2022

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her possessions - including ID, checks and other personal items - turned up along a nearby highway, an apparent trail purposely left for investigators to follow. Her two ex-husbands, inevitably viewed as suspects, were soon cleared of any involvement. Police were then called to the scene of a charred Ford Focus engulfed in flames - quickly identified as Birgfeld's car. But the next discovery in the case changed everything as the double life of the "typical soccer mom" came to light. That's when investigators shifted their focus to the clients Birgfeld served through Models, Inc. One in particular stood out: Lester jones. With an alarming criminal history and a clear fixation on Birgfeld - or "Carrie" - Jones soon became the focus of detectives as more and more pieces of circumstantial evidence kept piling up. Tellingly, Birgfeld's Ford Focus was discovered near Jones' workplace and the driver's seat of the car had been pushed all the way back - significant because the diminutive Birgfeld couldn't have reached the pedals in that position while the towering Jones needed all the leg space available. In addition, he was caught on security cameras purchasing

PERHAPS AGAINST HER BETTER JUDGMENT, AT SOME POINT SHE MADE THE FATEFUL DECISION TO BOOST HER FINANCIAL SITUATION VIA SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS WHICH, BY ALL

a burner phone at Wal-Mart to call and secure

ACCOUNTS,

appointments with "Carrie" under the name

PROVED QUITE

"Jim." Ultimately, the evidence just kept mounting and after a hung jury at his first trial, Jones was convicted of Birgfeld's murder in 2016.

LUCRATIVE.

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | ENTERTAINMENT

TRUE CRIME JUNKIE WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER

BONUS EDITION! CASEY WHITE & VICKY WHITE It's unlikely that Evansville will ever get more national

Moving on... This case is so disturbing - and yet so fascinating - on so

attention than it did for being an assumed safe haven

many levels. It goes without saying that Casey White is a grade A dirt bag,

for two high-profile fugitives. But the fact that our

just a miserable human being. (Side note: His mother tends to disagree,

local law enforcement - and, most notably, a keen-

insisting that her son is simply misunderstood. In reality, according to mom,

eyed civilian (all hail the car wash manager) - figured

he's a good person who keeps getting mixed up with bad women. Aye

prominently in the capture of Casey White and Vicky

yai yai. Where to even begin?) Regardless, his involvement in this prison-

White is what really put our little corner of Indiana on

break drama is easy to understand. Like many convicts before him, Casey

the map. Let this be a lesson to all the criminals out

manipulated a guard to get things he wanted in jail and, ultimately, to get out

there: don't even think about taking up residence,

of jail. He had nothing to lose - no big mystery there. But Vicky? Guarantee

however brief, in Stoplight City! Because we will, we

she'll be the subject of numerous documentaries down the road because the

will, stop you...stop you! (A little play on Queen's "We

idea that a woman of her stature - she was reportedly a model employee and

Will Rock You" in case that failed to translate to the

well-respected - would throw it all away for a life on the run with zero chance

page.)

of a good outcome is just unfathomable. How to explain it?

As a noted true crime junkie, I still can't believe

Of course, we all know how this saga ended, with Vicky putting a bullet

what transpired in this case - incredibly, the pair's

through her brain after a brief car chase off of Highway 41. (Her final

abandoned truck was sitting at a car wash for days on

moments are sure to be debated due to the content of the 911 call.) Casey,

Weinbach Avenue just five minutes south of the News

however, surrendered peacefully, though he intended to engage in a shoot-

4U office. Madness. (Fact: I passed by that business

out with the cops were it not for the vehicle overturning. Safe to say he's not

several times during the period when the vehicle sat

a suicide kind of guy - too narcissistic. Jail must not be so bad, after all.

unattended, noticeably sticking out of one of the wash bays. If only I had looked over instead of keeping my eyes on the road like Rich Risemas taught me all those years ago at Memorial. Regrets, I've had few...) By the way, you're familiar with Casey White and Vicky White, right? I suppose I should have provided more context at the beginning but it's hard to imagine anyone in this area not being in the loop by now.

LET THIS BE A LESSON TO ALL THE

CRIMINALS OUT THERE: DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TAKING UP RESIDENCE, HOWEVER BRIEF, IN STOPLIGHT CITY!

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| 43

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | COMMUNITY & FAMILY

FUNDRAISER FOR DAWNITA WILKERSON Family of missing Evansville woman marking two-year anniversary

DELICIOUS SLABS OF RIBS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO EITHER PRE-ORDER

of disappearance with special event

OR WALK-UP

DAY WITH 100% adly, this month marks two

- the family is hosting a fundraiser

years since Evansville's Dawnita

SPONSORED BY:

SOUTHERN INDIANA CHALLENGER CHAPTER DAWNITA WILKERSON BLACK FEMALE | BLACK HAIR | 46-YEARS-OLD 5'3" / 145 POUNDS | MULTIPLE TATTOOS

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| 45

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | COMMUNITY & FAMILY

V A N D E R B U R G H

H U M A N E

S O C I E T Y

EACH MONTH WE’LL BE CHECKING IN WITH THE VHS FOR THE LATEST GOOD NEWS AND TO HELP FIND FUREVER HOMES FOR SOME OF THEIR MORE UNIQUE AND OLDER RESIDENTS

THINKING ABOUT ADOPTION? HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REACH US!

RAIDER: Prepare to meet the man of your dreams. He’s

tall, smart AND handsome. Raider, a 2-year-old coonhound, is (almost) the total package. When he first arrived at VHS, he was a bit of a hot mess. After VHS staff started working with him, they quickly learned he just needed more daily enrichment. He's extremely motivated by treats and loves being taught new tricks. He would thrive in an active, dog-savvy home and would need continued structure and training. In return for the time spent on him, Raider’s new family will receive endless laughs and lots of zoomies. His adoption fee is $150 and includes his neuter,

400 MILLNER INDUSTRIAL DRIVE 2 BLOCKS WEST OF GARVIN PARK IN EVANSVILLE

microchip and up-to-date vaccines.

RAJA: Meet Raja! She's a 13-year-old female torbie

at VHS. Her fur is luxurious and coloring unique. All

she knows is roll around, look cute and get pets. That's fine, though…At her age, she’s earned it! She was so

(812) 426-2563

scared when she first arrived at VHS, all she could do was tremble in the corner of her enclosure. It didn’t take long, however, for her to start showing off her sweet and silly personality. She doesn’t care much for other pets and would prefer to be the reigning queen of her new domain. Raja’s adoption fee is $80, but is eligible for our Pets for Seniors program.

CREAM: Cute bunnies rule everything around me,

ADOPTION HOURS TUES-SAT FROM 12-6PM & SUN 12-4PM

CREAM… This 4-month-old female Rex rabbit, Cream, is ready to hip hop her way into your heart. Rex bunnies are known for being super social and even maternal to buns they grow up with. Cream would love having a rabbit friend and would likely adapt quickly to others. Cream’s adoption fee is $50 and includes her spay and microchip. If you’ve been considering adopting a rabbit and want to learn more about owning one as a pet for the first time, talk with our knowledgeable adoption team!

46 | JUNE 2022

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VHSLIFESAVER.ORG

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | COMMUNITY & FAMILY

WE COULDN'T TAKE

JUST ONE BECAUSE ONE OF THEM HAD BEEN

RETURNED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND HAD BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.

been there a long time." Named Juniper and Willow, the adorable pair of furballs, despite getting up there in years, slotted in quickly - an unexpected development, in truth. "Usually

JUNIPER & WILLOW

bonding in rabbits is hard because they're territorial and fight; however, I introduced them and they immediately took to my other bunny and started grooming each other," he says. "This is rare - normally it takes weeks or even months. According to the adoption counselor, I've had the best luck with bonding ever."

VHS ADOPTION SPOTLIGHT Evansville's Sam Hoang was born and raised in Vietnam but headed for our shores when college life called at age 17. Excited to venture out into the world, he not only looked forward to studying in America but becoming a pet owner - something his parents would not allow back home. Two years into his stay in the U.S., Hoang rescued his first animal, a senior rabbit. "When I adopted my first bunny, I didn't know how long I would be here so I got a very ancient bunny [laughs]," he explains. "It needed a mate so I rescued another one. Once I got settled here, I kind of went overboard." Indeed, Hoang grew passionate about animals and became a fixture at the VHS, adopting

multiple cats, dogs and guinea pigs, too. But there were still more furry friends to make.

With the addition of Juniper and Willow, Hoang is now the primary caretaker for nine animals but insists that "once you get into the groove of daily and weekly cleaning, it's not that hard." Though contrary to what many people think, rabbits are not "starter pets" - they require special attention and plenty of

When Hoang's senior rabbit passed away earlier this year, its mate grew depressed and stopped eating - a common occurrence due to the social nature of such highly-bonded animals. There was only one solution. "I talked to the adoption counselor at the VHS, Kelsey - she's a wonderful person - and she pointed my spouse and I to two older bunnies that might be a good match [for our remaining bunny at home]," he says. "We couldn't take just one because one of them had been returned a couple of times and had

space to run, not to mention a specific diet, including lots of hay to wear down their teeth and promote good intestinal health. Plus, rabbits can live to be eight years old, so owning one is a commitment. Lucky for Juniper and Willow, they got rescued by one of Evansville's most committed animal lovers!

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48 | JUNE 2022

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| 49

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | OPINION & COMMENTARY

mechanism when things are going completely off the rails - and boy, are we heading for one big-ass train wreck or what? As I type this, the Roe v. Wade saga is eating up the headlines after the unprecedented leak of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's draft opinion which appears to signal a dramatic overturning of the nearly 50-year-old decision. Didn't see that coming? Then you've obviously been holed up in your basement playing Call of Duty for the last

AS I TYPE THIS...

with Barold Hume

two decades, selfishly blocking out real life. Can't blame you really; ignorance is truly bliss sometimes. For those brave enough to face the music on occasion, I salute you. Because

DIVISION STREET

s the Cars sang back in the carefree days of 1978, "Let the good times roll" - which I think best sums up the state of things here in

America at the moment. Or, perhaps you prefer Miley Cyrus' take on it: "It's a party in the U.S.A." Frankly, both sentiments perfectly capture the unadulterated joy that has enveloped the country of late, crystallizing the communal, celebratory vibe felt from coast to coast. Now, you may be asking yourself, is this Barold character on drugs? Not yet. But sarcasm is my go-to defense

politics tri-state

with Bryan Fox

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COULD ELECT FIRST GOP SHERIFF IN 75 YEARS

50 | JUNE 2022

• www.evansvillemediagroup.com

it takes a strong stomach to digest what's been going down with the gap between the left and the right widening by the day. Seems we've all rented a space on Division Street (not Eville's Division Street - a figurative Division Street, I mean) and there's an episode of ID's Fear Thy Neighbor blaring from our TVs (or computer screens if you're a streamer) 24-7. It's bleak, baby. The U.S. may be a superpower, capable of annihilating every living being on the planet on a whim, but we're really

THE U.S. MAY BE A

SUPERPOWER, CAPABLE

OF ANNIHILATING EVERY LIVING BEING ON THE PLANET ON A WHIM, BUT WE'RE REALLY

STRUGGLING TO KEEP

OUR SH*T TOGETHER, EH? struggling to keep our sh*t together, eh? Now, on top of everything else, there's this "rekindled" abortion debate - the mother of all divisive issues. I say that, yet polls show 2/3 of Americans want Roe v. Wade to stand. That's if you trust polls, of course, which opens up a whole other "fake news" can of worms that I simply don't have the room - or the energy - to address. Regardless, with midterms on the horizon and sniping between political parties only intensifying, where is this all leading? I must revert back to my train wreck analogy, sadly. There's not much chance of peaceful resolution at this stage - just more anger and paranoia. Better board up your windows - it's about to go off on Division Street.

Vanderburgh County voters have a

A Wonderful Life was released. That was

chance to do something they haven't

also the last time a candidate with an

done in nearly four generations: elect a

R beside the name was elected county

Republican as the next sheriff.

sheriff. And the smart money says it's finally going to happen again.

Yes, I understand that current sheriff Dave Wedding is a Republican - now. But

At this point, there's no need to talk

he switched parties after his reelection

about Democrat Noah Robinson or

and always ran as a Democrat.

Republican Jeff Hales' credentials. It's more about party affiliation and the

You have to go all the way back to

mood of the voters in this midterm along

1946...World War II had ended; Truman

with the demographics of the county

was president; the Christmas classic It's

itself that will push Hales over the edge.

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | OPINION & COMMENTARY

MAYBE I'M JUST GETTING OLD... with Johnny Fletcher

machine and reinstate it as a prime mode

every order placed online - no matter how

of communication. Like cloning the Woolly

frivolous of a purchase - must arrive within

Mammoth, let's bring back one of the

24 hours or less or there'll be hell to pay.

most aggravating inventions of all-time,

Furthermore, traffic signals are for the birds,

a maniacal rolodex-looking thing that

ok? A red light means nothing anymore;

required incredible patience. Are you in?

people just sail on through because, you

Or perhaps you're busy Googling "fax

know, it's 2022 and life is one big race

machine"? Either way, I maintain that this

to an imaginary finish line. Don't even

is the way forward. No longer able to bark

think that your well-being will be taken

at each other at will - we'd be forced to

into account when that giant SUV barrels

sit tight while those crazy hole-punched

through the intersection several seconds

sheets dribble out from said machine with

late. Not if they're on their way to Mickey

all of five words on each page - perhaps

D's for that mega-burger, determined to

there'd be a nationwide deceleration. I

beat lunchtime traffic. Or Taco Bell for a

mean, when it takes 30 minutes to send

full-on Chalupa fiesta. Sorry, but the only

out a message and 30 more to receive a

sympathy you're gonna get post-collision is

response, you're kind of at the mercy of the

from the EMTs who wheel you into the back

technology. Yeah, that's the ticket - just the

of the ambulance on a stretcher.

fax, please.

That's a bit melodramatic, I admit - my

JUST THE FAX, PLEASE

that TWO triple-deckers! And, of course,

own version of click-bait. Still, we do need

an, this hurry-worry world is exhausting. Everyone needs everything right now no excuses. Our collective patience has

dwindled to zero, effectively. For instance, keeping

to take a breath and slow the F down. But how? Considering that we're all wired to each other, essentially, on-call all-day via

DOWN AND AVOID SUFFERING A

various electronic platforms, how do we

COLLECTIVE CORONARY? EASY.

slow society down and avoid suffering

cool and calm in the fast food drive-thru is virtually impossible for most folks these days, especially now that the pandemic has decimated the labor pool for food service jobs and wait times are increasing. Gotta have that triple-decker cheeseburger pronto! Hang on, make

HOW DO WE SLOW SOCIETY

a collective coronary? Easy. Well, I think I may have the solution - though it's, like, totally radical. And tubular. Ready? It's simple, really: we resurrect the fax

WELL, I THINK I MAY HAVE THE SOLUTION - THOUGH IT'S, LIKE, TOTALLY RADICAL.

This election has the makings of a very

police" movement never resonated after the

his own - which certainly made the local party

bad year if you are a Democrat on a ballot.

George Floyd killing. In fact, most voters were

look bad.

Nationally, inflation is a mess, gas prices are

completely turned off by it - so much so that

out of control, and the illegal crossings in

President Biden, in his State of the Union

Finally, let's face it, the county has definitely

Mexico are growing by the day. Whether

address, advocated to "fund the police." It's

moved more to the right, especially the

Democrats have a plan to combat any of this

too little too late on that front as the "defund"

northern part of the county. Most Republicans

is debatable. But what isn't debatable is come

movement is now aligned with the Democratic

do well in countywide races no matter how

November, the Republicans are poised to take

party, much to the party's chagrin.

much they are out-spent.

these wins for the GOP will surely trickle down

Locally, as I've mentioned, current sheriff Dave

Come November, this will be the race to watch

ballot and impact the sheriff's race.

Wedding's switch to the GOP sounded off

locally. Look for the Republican to win.

back both the House and the Senate. And

alarms around this area. Wedding basically It's become evident that the "defund the

said the Democratic party's values don't reflect

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| 51

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | OPINION & COMMENTARY

BOURNE WHEN LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS ARE

With

FREDDIE BOURNE

THE EXCITEMENT OF UNPREDICTABILITY

I feel that we have been conditioned to look for certain messages and signs in order to know what we should expect next. It’s raining? Something bad might happen. Someone being quiet? They must be mad at me. No fortune cookie message? I must have no hope in the future. We preemptively train ourselves to look for these coincidences and zero in on them - so much so that we forget how to live. We forget how to just let life flow and let it do its thing. However, we lose out on what brings life true vigor and the excitement of unpredictability. Sure, it would be nice to know if I’m going to have a happy life with kids someday. But why not appreciate the hardships that we couldn’t, and didn’t want to, predict that got us there? Life has B-sides for a reason. I feel like when we eventually see these signs, we are ready to take the plunge and accept what our so-called “fate” is. I remember years ago when I was muy guapo when I finally had the courage to start dating at the tender age of 14 despite my fear of complete rejection and the eventual

52 | JUNE 2022

embarrassment I would feel seconds later, only to forget about it when the next cute girl popped up on my MySpace profile. When I finally found “the one” - also known as six girls that simply said "yes" without having any real background or friendship formed - the relationship went south when every single one of them got a new cell phone. Dead serious. A new electronic device put me in shambles ready to prepare for the “We need to talk” conversation. My first serious relationship happened to have this exact experience pretty early on, which sucked considering I actually liked this person. Stupid me actually told them when they texted me from the new phone: “So, I guess the countdown starts.” While she laughed, I did not. Instead, I suggested they return the phone AT ONCE. Joking aside, we dated well over a year after that so clearly it was something else and not some random phone fairy that apparently was the most romantic partner of all time that was halting my inexperienced and anxious-ridden love life. Yes, I know it’s completely silly to recall that and take it serious - but we all find these things that have happened that trigger us or take us back to an experience that we connect with and we live with that history it holds rather than allowing ourselves to just see what happens. Frankly, we’re living in the past. And not in the best way.

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"WE FORGET HOW TO JUST LET LIFE FLOW AND LET IT DO ITS THING. HOWEVER, WE LOSE OUT ON WHAT BRINGS LIFE TRUE VIGOR AND THE EXCITEMENT OF UNPREDICTABILITY."

PHOTO: EMILY PELSTON

few weeks back, I received a fortune cookie without a message. Obviously, mistakes happen and sometimes things like that slip through the cracks. Or sometimes not through them at all. But it was actually more of a reminder of what that symbolically means.

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | MUSIC REVIEWS

CHECK OUT

CHECK THESE OUT HONEST THESE HONEST REVIEWS OF SOME REVIEWS OF SOME OF THE HOTTEST OF THE HOTTEST NEW ALBUMS IN NEW ALBUMS IN MUSIC MUSIC!

JUNE MUSIC REVIEWS JACK HARLOW Come Home the Kids Miss You Generation Now/Atlantic Records Louisville

homegrown

FUTURE I Never Liked You Freebanz/Epic Records Rapper Future is still staying and slaying

rapper

in the game with his ninth studio album.

Jack Harlow is dabbling swagger

All

throughout his second studio album. "First Class" samples Fergie’s classic hit “Glamorous” (ft. Ludacris) and it oozes with the same bougie flare, yet is still infused with fresh flavor the way he smoothly snaps sound bites in between her famous lyrics. From the looped piano in "Talk of the Town" and electro “Movie Star” (ft. Pharrell Williams) to the flute-filled "Churchill Downs" with Drake and chill vibes of "Poison" with Lil Wayne, it's one banger after the next. Harlow's rap lyrics are next level, always pushing the tongue-twisting and play on words limits. One of my favorite verses from "Movie Star" is, “Your girl's a fan of me, in fact, I'm what her fantasy is/ Duckin' out the party, we can't let the cameras see us/ I'm with a movie star, ooh, young Cameron Diaz.” You tell ‘em. - Marisa Patwa

delivers

songs

quickly

reached

the

knock out features from Kanye West, Gunna, Tems, Kodak Black, Young Thug, EST Gee and Drake - busy man. Lead single “Worst Day” is legendary, some of his best work with lyrics, “Valentine's day, the worst day, got too many to please/ I popped a half a pink pill, and put my mind at ease/ I bought you all these gifts, chain your heart all in pieces/ Try to pass out new whips, yeah, but all you want is me/ Got a glock under her pillow, she blowin' for my gang/ Not tryna lie to you, I don't wanna explain/ Took off on a store run and jumped on a plane/ Every single birthday, another private location.” And the track's accompanied by a red rose-filled music video to boot. Elsewhere, he and Kanye snap off with “Keep it Burnin'" proving that with Future, the fire will never die down. - Marisa Patwa

KEHLANI Blue Water Road TSNMI/Atlantic Records Khelani

Billboard Hot 100. He also has a bevy of

kaleidoscope

DREAM WIDOW (FOO FIGHTERS) Dream Widow Roswell/RCA Records of

Dream Widow is both an album title

emotions on her third studio album,

and the name of a fictional metal

exploring the messiness of breakups to

band created by Dave Grohl and

the heartbreak of cheating. Her voice

Foo Fighters. I appreciate FF trying

is as smooth as champagne on a Sunday. Through the despair, she

something new. I also recognize that this album may be the last

melts us with romantic love. She seduces us then spits us back out,

to feature the late Taylor Hawkins, RIP. Further, I’ll acknowledge

leaving us craving more. “Up At Night” (ft. Justin Bieber) is an angelic

that when Grohl (one of the biggest names in rock) makes a

vibe. Combined, their honey-butter vocals make you shiver with

metal album, it creates visibility for the genre. So why then does

ecstasy and excitement. The big standout though is her collaboration

this record fall flat in my view? There are some heavy riffs and

with Jessie Reyes on “More Than I Should.” They are the dream duo,

moments of speed and thrash, but this sounds exactly like what

complementing each other with ease while still letting the other shine,

you’d expect from FF doing a metal album. There is nothing

especially with powerful lyrics like, “Wasted time and money/ Tryin' to

revolutionary here, particularly when the offerings within the

treat you like a queen/ I might as well have just thrown matches at a

genre are vast these days. The songs on Dream Widow are often

tank of gasoline/ Well it all went up in a ball of flames/ Girl you torched

repetitive, and Grohl’s unmistakable shriek makes it clear that

me good/ Yeah, I got burned and learned that I loved you more than I

you’re listening to FF as they temporarily meander into the

should.” Burn it all down, ladies. - Marisa Patwa

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metal world. - Matt Alschbach

ARCADE FIRE WE Columbia Records

WOLFGANG FLÜR Magazine 1 Cherry Red Records

While WE isn’t necessarily a bad album,

Renowned as a pivotal member of German

the sixth studio effort by now-legendary

synthesizer

indie rockers Arcade Fire is certainly

the band's most influential period, circa

legends

Kraftwerk

during

underwhelming, and possibly their worst

1975-83, Wolfgang Flür has stayed active,

yet. Don’t get me wrong, there are some good moments on the

periodically releasing pleasant material with echoes of his former

record - “End of The Empire I-III” is a pretty good song, but it’s mostly

musical life. But with the help of some very talented friends - including

good because it sounds like a Beatles song and not like an Arcade

Midge Ure, Peter Hook, Claudia Brücken and techno duo U96 - the

Fire song. Here are the problems with WE: the production is too

innovative percussionist has put it all together on Magazine 1, creating

clean and lush, the lyrics are uninspired (and sometimes downright

an electronic masterpiece that proves he's so much more than the man

bad), and the album is boring overall. Arcade Fire no longer sound

with the beats. In fact, he's taken the Kraftwerk blueprint and expanded

like themselves but like a band trying to sound like Arcade Fire. Just

upon it on über-catchy tracks like "Birmingham" and the wickedly

a reflection of a reflection, or something like that. - Russ Finn

danceable "Zunkunftsmusik." Elsewhere, "Das Beat" gives a playful nod to the Beach Boys, "Electric Sheep" channels sci-fi author Philip K. Dick

SHARON VAN ETTEN We’ve Been Going About this All Wrong Jagjaguwar

and elegant closer "Say No!" implores us all to strive for peace in this

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Sharon

BLUES WITH BRAGIN

Van Etten is back with yet another great addition to her catalogue. The Los Angeles-based artist, who recorded We’ve Been Going About this All Wrong in her home studio, finds herself doubling down and experimenting more with the synth-pop sound she introduced on 2019's Remind Me Tomorrow. The resulting album is not Van Etten’s best work, but stands out as the being the most different from her other releases. Overall, this is a nice pop record that's equal parts uplifting and moody. Enticed? Check out standout tracks “Home to Me” or “Mistakes.” - Russ Finn

mad world. Brilliant across the board. - Johnny Fletcher

EMMA WILSON Wish Her Well EW Music Hailing from Teesside in the North of England, Emma Wilson kicks off Wish Her Well with the enticing title track featuring Adam Chetwood on guitar as the lauded blues vocalist sings about not harboring ill will towards her former lover’s new flame. Mark

FEEBLE LITTLE HORSE Hayday Julia's War Recordings Hayday, the second EP by DIY Pittsburgh band Feeble Little Horse, was released in October of last year. Through some algorithmic magic, it was shoved into my ears for the first time just a few weeks ago. Now I can’t get enough of it. Hayday is a really fun, lo-fi noise-pop EP full of youthful energy and imagination. Feeble Little Horse showcase a ton of ambition, while also not taking themselves seriously in the best way possible. Most of the lyrics aren’t deep, but they're all certainly cool and fun (check out EP standout “Chores” and you’ll know what I mean). Throughout Hayday, the band channels a hyperactive blend of Sonic Youth and Alex G. - covering so much ground in so little time, it begs for repeat

Neary’s bass at the end of the song is haunting. “Mary Lou” has a California feel, perfect for a lazy summer day. The heavy guitar on “Little Love Bite” matches the lyrics about a woman who found someone she wants to be with all the time. “Rack ‘Em Up” features a funky bass line from Neary and stellar guitar from Chetwood as Wilson sings about knocking back a few drinks. “Blossom Like Snow” offers steady drumming from Mat Hector. Neary’s terrific bass playing takes center stage on “She Isn’t You.” Chetwood’s psychedelic guitar solo takes the song to another level. “Not Paying” features a guest appearance from Alessandro Brunetta on harmonica. Wilson sings about doing anything to be with someone on “Nuthin I Won’t Do” as Hector drums up a great percussion section. “Back on the Road” boasts a jazzy feel with Wilson singing about the life of a traveling musician as the whole band soars. The melancholy feel of “Then I’m Gone” fits well with the lyrics about leaving after a tryst. - Paul Bragin

listens. - Russ Finn

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | BEER REVIEWS

JUNE BEER REVIEWS

This month’s beers are available depending on supply & demand at all 10 Liquor Locker locations. Visit our website at www.Liquor-Locker.com. GOOSE ISLAND HAZY BEER HUG

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3.5

This Hazy NEIPA pours a light, hazy yellow with a thin white head. The nose is full of tropical notes, with pineapple and grapefruit dominating. It has a light to medium body, with flavors of pineapple and stone fruit. It is lightly bitter on the finish with a light carbonation. Boasts a 6.8% ABV but tastes much lighter.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.5

A noticeable white head tops this hazy IPA and stays for some time. A burst of citrus fruit from the hops used during brewing dominates the scent profile. Carbonation hits the tongue, followed by the return of the citrus flavors in the very long finish. People who enjoy IPAs will want to drink this. Pair it with foods like fish tacos, Indian curry dishes or pad Thai with peanut sauce and lime.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4

This is a hazy, straw-colored beer. It has a nice hops flavor with some citrus and pine that come through. For an IPA this is very easy to drink despite the 6.8% ABV. Yes, IPAs are finally winning me over. I just think brewers like to see how much hops they can jam into a beer but less is more, in my opinion.

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THBC CITROGENESIS

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4

This wheat ale pours a cloudy yellow with a thin white head. Dank wheat ale notes on the nose, with citrus and a hint of banana on the palate. Nice carbonation and mediumbodied - a wheat beer aficionado will surely enjoy this.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.5

A thick white head crowns this wheat beer after pouring it into a wheat beer glass. Some light fruit notes accompany the strong wheat presence in the scent. Likewise, the wheat taste remains while drinking the beer, with some banana flavors also coming through in the finish. People who enjoy wheat beer need to try this. Pair it with a wide array of foods like scallops, shrimp, Kung Pao chicken or pad Thai.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 3

I like that it's a local beer from Terre Haute but it tastes more like a lager to me than a wheat. I was looking for more of a Blue Moon or another type of wheat but I don't think it quite measures up. It's easy to drink, though - just not what I was hoping for.

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LANDSHARK ISLAND STYLE LAGER

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4.5

This lager pours a clear yellow with a nice white head. Slightly sweet malty aroma with a hint of lemon. Light and slightly sweet on the palate with an abundance of carbonation. Clean finish, with very little bitterness. This is a refreshing “island style” lager.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4

A decent white head rests on this lager and dissipates somewhat quickly. The scent profile contains a good balance of malt and hops. A burst of carbonation coats the tongue as the malt and hop flavors wrestle with each other in the long finish. Summertime will lead to this beer seeing more space in coolers at cookouts. Pair it with a variety of foods like barbecue, Monterrey Jack cheese, shellfish or Indian food.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 3.5

This beer pours a light golden color with a nice head. It's refreshing and light. I always equate this with a Corona or like drinking a Budweiser with a little more maltiness. A very nice summer beer that is refreshing when you're outside.

NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | BEER REVIEWS

REVOLUTION FREEDOM LEMONADE

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3.75

Clear yellow coloring with a surprisingly long lasting white head. Light notes of lemon on the nose with no malty essence. On the palate it is sour and smooth, with a strong lemon finish. Light carbonation, no bitterness and very fresh - this sour would make a nice poolside refresher.

PAUL BRAGIN - 3.5

A thick white head forms on this sour ale and evaporates slowly. A decent amount of lemon scent fills the nose. A good amount of lemon flavor hits the tongue with the first sip, without overwhelming

the palate with lemon. This could see a rise in popularity during the hot summer months as a refreshing session beer. Pair it with a light breakfast or use it as an ingredient in lemon desserts like lemon meringue pie.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is a hazy, amber-colored beer that threw me for a loop. I'm not a fan of sour or fruitflavored beers but this one is great. It's sour and sweet at the same time and the lemon flavor is just right. Light and refreshing, this is a great summer beer.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

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NEWS4U JUNE 2022 | LOCAL HAPPENINGS

Ask an Attorney

WITH LANE SIESKY / SIESKY LAW FIRM, PC

Focusing on personal injury, civil litigation, whistleblower claims and workers' compensation law, Siesky Law Firm strives to provide excellent legal services while remaining client and community centered. The Evansville-based trio of top attorneys - including Lane Siesky, Daniel Gearhart and Douglas Briody - boasts years of invaluable experience inside and outside the courtroom. Highly-respected with an impeccable track record, the firm's aggressive representation of its clients continues to benefit the community in myriad ways.

I am very concerned that my child is being neglected and/or abused by my child care provider. What are the warning signs that I should be looking for?

Allowing a stranger to care for your children can be very stressful and scary for a parent. A parent’s worst fear is the possibility that a childcare provider could neglect or even physically or sexually abuse a child. This fear is especially true when the child is too young to explain to a parent what is going on. So, as parents, we must be alert and pay attention to

signs that a child may be being mistreated or abused. Even older children, at the pre-school or school age, may not tell you what is happening out of fear or shame. Knowing what to look for will make spotting abuse a lot easier.

SIGNS A CHILD HAS BEEN ABUSED, MISTREATED,

Sexual abuse can be even harder to identify as sexual abusers are master ma-

- Unchanged diaper

As a parent, you must be in tune with your child.

OR NEGLECTED:

- Dirty hands and face - Unusual hunger or thirst - Unexplained bruises, scratches, pinches, etc. - Unusually aggressive behavior exhibited by child - Unusually withdrawn behavior exhibited by child

nipulators and will often threaten their victims to keep them from speaking up.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR: - Unusual anxiety and fearfulness

- Displaying inappropriate sexual behavior or knowledge - Sleep disturbance or nightmares - Painful urination or bowel movements

BEHAVIORS THAT MAY POINT TO A

- Regression to infant-like behavior such as bedwetting or thumb sucking

- Reluctance to go to daycare

- Becomes unusually angry or aggressive

CHILD BEING ABUSED: - Unexplained injuries - Sleep disturbances

- Flinching in response to your movements - Becomes aggressive towards siblings or pets - Becomes clingy or fearful around others

- Becomes unusually shy or withdrawn

At Siesky Law, we have handled child abuse cases that involve physical abuse and child molestation. We offer free consultations that are confidential.

- Becomes shy or withdrawn - Unusually excessive crying Disclaimer: The above information provided by Siesky Law Firm, PC, is not legal advice and should not be taken as legal advice. Application of the law is highly fact sensitive and readers should consult with an attorney on legal matters.

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News4U June 2022

Articles inside

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Music

Beer

When Late Night Thoughts are Bourne

VHS Adoption Spotlight

VHS Animal Spotlight

Music: Rock & Metal Profs

Music: ARTSWIN

Books: Book Club

Screen Time

What's Cookin'

Tri-State Horrorscopes

True Crime Junkie

Not much to complain about