Newburgh Magazine February 2020

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F E B R UA RY 2020

THE

E V LO

ISSUE

NB

from the

EDITOR

MAGAZINE

EDITOR Megan Purazrang newburghmagazine@gmail.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Maegan Saalwaechter

CONTRIBUTORS Jodi Keen Julie Rosenbaum

If there is one thing that can help cure those winter blues, it’s definitely the aisles of pink and red candy packaging that has taken over every grocery store. I don’t even give out Valentine’s Day cards anymore and I’m jealous of how cute those tiny packages are!

Marisa Patwa Wyatt Squires

PHOTOS

This month, Newburgh Magazine is themed to help brides and grooms prepare for their big day and couples in love to celebrate a special holiday together.

J. Photography Lisa Polk Maegan Saalwaechter

We highlight the love of long-lasting couples like Steve and Lori Smith, of Newburgh, with a special Question and Answer piece while offering a truffle recipe that will be sure to catch the attention of your sweet tooth!

Newburgh business owner Laura Hatfield spoke with writer Marisa Patwa about her wedding cake business and shares memorable tiers she has created for brides and grooms.

While this edition has love pulsing at its core, we haven’t forgotten those who are enjoying personal time. Be sure to check out this month’s list of connecting apps from dating and mingling sites to Bumble for business purposes, writer Wyatt Squires created a group of must-tries. Local libraries have provided spotlight books to rent and the staff of Newburgh Magazine collaborated to make a list of our favorite romantic films.

In the meantime, don’t forget to connect with us this month!

Be on the lookout for our photo submission call outs on social media – we recently joined Twitter and can be followed @ NewburghMag. Submit photos, story tips and feedback to us in an email to Newburghmagazine@gmail.com

TO ADVERTISE Bob Rigg brigg@warricknews.com Phone: 812-641-2001

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ON THE COVER

Newburgh REALLY! TAKE ME!

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FREE MAGAZINE

F E B R UA RY 2020

THE

E

LOEV

ISSU

Megan Purazrang Editor

aechter

Maegan Saalw

table of

CONTENTS

February 2020

PHOTO BY: LISA POLK PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN

5

RELATIONSHIPS OF SORTS

20 PERFECT PROPOSALS

From dating to business – there’s an app for that

6

LASTING LOVE

22 WEDDING GUIDE

Newburgh resident shares memories of 72-year marriage

Thinking of popping the question?

Check out this list for ideas.

Find inspiration, local shops and tips for your wedding planning

10 BOOK CORNER

26 PIANOS AND SAILORS

Fall in love with these romantic book recommendations

16 Q AND A

Couple Steve and Lori share moments of love

A story of a young couple’s love

28 PARADISE CAKES

Newburgh shop owner discusses making custom cakes

Wyatt’s treats sweet PAGE 14

there’s an

APP

for that

4 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

WRITER: WYATT SQUIRES

In today’s world of dating a lot happens online or through apps. Sure we’ve all heard stories about Tinder, eHarmony and even the new Facebook Dating app, but what do you do when you aren’t looking to dive into traditional dating applications?

Here are four apps that link users with different methods.

Bumble This three-fold app is about meeting people, but not just for dating. While there is a dating side to the app, Bumble Bizz offers users the opportunity to pursue a career change, meet team members, or become a mentor, and Bumble BFF allows users to meet people and to create meaningful friendships. www.bumble.com.

Coffee Meets Bagel This app uses in-depth profiles to match community members with people who inspire them.

Users get a list of curated matches each day. www.coffeemeetsbagel.com.

Ship With this app, friends can set each other (or themselves) up on a date. Users add their friends to their crew. The crew then looks for prospective matches while discussing together. Users joining the app to help set up their friends can select, “I’m not single,” when setting up their profile. www.getshipped.com.

Tastebuds This app offers the opportunity to meet people based on taste in music. Users can chat with people nearby and find new music based on their interests. www.tastebuds.fm.

February 2020 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE 5

first lasting

kisses

memories

6 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

7 2 Y E ARS OF SMILES A

ND TEAR

WRITER: JULIE ROSENBAUM

S

On Thanksgiving Day, 1947, Blanche Peskin became Mrs. Irving Rosenbaum. To celebrate February, the month of Valentine’s Day and romance, this is a real love story.

After 72 years of marriage, Blanche became a widow on Thanksgiving Day 2019. As memories came flooding back, Blanche traveled back in time, with memories mixed with smiles and tears.

February 2020 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE 7

Both grew up in the Bronx, New York.

“Back then, we all lived in apartment buildings and hung out at the pizza place and socialized,” said Blanche, who met Irving when she was 12 and he was 14.

Two years later, she had her first kiss.

“That is the only person I ever kissed in all these years,” Blanche said.

One of Blanche’s fondest memories of that time in her life was of her friend, Lucille, whose uncle worked for a company that made televisions. They were the only family that had one. On Tuesday nights the whole gang would hang out at that house and watch Milton Berle.

Later, Blanche attended Walton, while Irving, who excelled academically, attended The Bronx High School of Science. The proximity of the schools allowed the couple to commute together on two trollies before going separate ways the final third of the route.

As Irving started college, the couple’s love continued to grow.

On June 16, Blanche’s birthday, the two traveled to Manhattan to pick up the engagement ring her cousin made for them.

“He was very handsome and smart but more importantly, he was a good honest man, and he loved me very much,” Blanche said. “It was an exciting time for me.”

Irving was just as excited. Both families got together for a big

wedding. The bride and groom were glowing, as were the parents, Helen and Joe Rosenbaum and Lou and Rose Peskin.

The couple have three sons: Alan, Mark and David.

Irving went on to become a teacher for New York City schools and later an arbitrator in the New York school system. Every summer, they would visit the Catskill Mountains, where Blanche would work and Irving would manage a day camp.

Prior to his passing, Irving suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

Taking care of him was very difficult for Blanche. Even with help, it was exhausting. However, the love she felt never faltered.

Blanche, 91, still remembers with so much warmth the first Broadway show they saw together, “Oklahoma,” and how Irving would bring home flowers every Friday for years.

Now, after spending more than 72 years with one special person, Blanche is alone. Her children and grandchildren visit often, but the visits don’t alleviate the loneliness that comes with losing a spouse.

However, she carries her loneliness with grace. Blanche lives a life much younger than her years would suggest. She drives to see friends and cooks big meals for her family.

For Blanche, the relationship she had with Irving and the decades she spent with the only man she has ever loved is a beautiful gift.

In this month of romance, her’s is a story that illustrates how beautiful love is.

“He was very handsome and smart but more importantly, he was a good honest man, and he loved me very much.”

— Blanche Rosenbaum

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: JULIE ROSENBAUM

8 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

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Book CORNER THE

10 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

WRITER: MARISA PATWA

From “Romeo and Juliet” to “The Notebook,” there are a plethora of romance novels throughout the centuries for readers to quench any aching hearts. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Newburgh Magazine asked local Warrick County libraries to submit one of their favorite novels about the affairs of the heart.

The Boonville, Chandler and Elberfeld libraries answered with tales of love lost and found, heartache and heartbreak and of course, those fairy-tale, happily-ever-after dreams.

Boonville-Warrick County Public Library “The Bookish Life of Nina Hill”

by Abbi Waxman (2019)

“I really loved this book because the main character is a whole person even without a relationship,” Brooke Bolton, MLS, director of the Boonville-Warrick County Public Library, said. “She gets thrown into some situations that make her come out of her shell of books and trivia, and eventually meets someone, but she doesn’t have to have him to be complete and happy. It’s a lighthearted rom-com that is a real treat.”

Chandler Public Library “What We Find”

by Robyn Carr (2016)

“In this book, talented neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan takes a leave of absence from her career to pursue the simpler things in life following a devastating loss on her operating table,” Diane Slater, branch manager for the Chandler Public Library, said. “She takes up residence with her charmingly odd father, but an unexpected incident leaves her with more than she bargained for.

Fortunately she meets Cal, a helpful camper with a mysterious background.

Will the ghosts from each of their pasts keep them apart? Or will love bloom in these unfavorable circumstances?” This romantic read is also quite the popular book at the Chandler Public Library. “We like this book because our patrons like it,” Slater said. “The characters have great chemistry, and the dramatic twists and turns keep the reader engaged. It is a good choice for those who want to read a book that is a nice, easy read, but also full of suspense and romance.”

Elberfeld Branch Library “Dear John”

by Nicholas Sparks (2006)

“This novel explores love, disappointment, life, death and sadness. All of the aspects of an excellent book. I highly recommend this book,” Elberfeld Branch librarian Holly Pillow said. “The main characters are John and Savannah and [the book follows] how their lives are intertwined quite by accident. John is somewhat of a rebel who is in the military and meets Savannah while he is home on leave and she is building a house for Habitat for Humanity with a group from college. They fall in love, but unfortunately and fortunately, life gets in the way. Even though there are some sad outcomes to this novel, it is an wonderful story that reads like it could be any of our lives.”

February 2020 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE 11

staff picks The Notebook My favorite romantic movie is “The Notebook,” based on the 1996 novel by Nicholas Sparks. Although the books (yes, books: “The Notebook” and “The Wedding”) were SO much better, the movie gives you a visual of life from another era when times

Romantic Films P.S. I Love

You

I have to start out by saying that the main character in this movie is named Holly Kennedy, which also happens to be my sister’s name. So am I a little biased? Maybe.

“P.S. I Love You” follows a widow who spends a year having a number of adventures based on surprise letters left by her late Irish husband before his passing – and while there are plenty of awe-inducing moments in the film there are an equal amount of laughs. The message is all about learning to love and embracing the uncertainty no matter what the next chapter in life holds. Don’t forget to grab a box of tissues on your

seemed to be simpler. The

way to the remote, and in a matter of minutes you’ll be looking up flights to Dublin.

movie begins in present time

Megan Purazrang, Editor

with portions from the book, “The Wedding.” An elderly Noah/Duke (I am still not sure why he went by Duke) is reading the timeless story of their love, hence “The Notebook,” to an elderly Allie, who has Alzheimer’s disease, and her memory is sparked by the story for only a few moments at a time. In South Carolina in the 1940s, young poor country

ide ss Br e c n i r Th e P

I’m going to be honest - romance movies aren’t really my thing.

However, my favorite would definitely be “The Princess Bride.” I am with the kid at the beginning about the mushy stuff, but there is so much more to the story. There’s fencing, fighting, chases, escapes, true love, etc. What’s not to love? I can remember chasing my brother around the house chanting, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!” I’ve watched the movie so many times that I can probably quote the entire thing from beginning to end.

Wyatt Squires, Staff Writer 50 First D ates

boy, Noah and young rich

There isn’t a romantic-comedy in this world that makes me laugh or cry more than the

city girl, Allie are in love, but

classic Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler film “50 First Dates” (2004). The dynamic

her parents don’t approve.

duo have demonstrated their innate chemistry throughout the years, first with “The

Noah goes off to serve in

Wedding Singer” (1998) and most recently, “Blended” (2014), but their second film

World War II, but when Noah

together is so perfectly curated, that I feel obligated to convince even the most

returns to their small town,

blackened of hearts to watch it. Set in the beautiful, tropical backdrop of Hawaii,

he finds Allie is engaged to

Sandler stars as womanizer and marine veterinarian Henry, who falls in love with free

marry another man. But their

spirit, artist Lucy played by Barrymore. The caveat? Lucy sustained a brain injury from

romance is far from being

a car accident, which wipes her memory clean every morning, meaning she forgets any

over and they are given a

encounter she’s had with Henry. Not only is the film so sweet — just wait until you watch

second chance at love. The

the scene where Henry serenades Lucy on the ukulele with “Forgetful Lucy” — it’s

story is a timely reflection of

beyond humorous, with Sean Astin playing Lucy’s roid rager brother and funnyman Rob

deep and lasting love.

Schneider as Henry’s goofy best friend. The premise of this film is insanely romantic,

LISA POLK, PHOTOGRAPHER

with Henry forgoing his playboy ways to dedicate his time and energy into making Lucy fall in love with him every single day. Man, it’s 2020 and most girls are still left on read.

Marisa Patwa, Staff Writer 12 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

Valentine/ Bridal Events FEB. 7-8

FEB. 12-14

4th Annual Newburgh Chocolate Walk

Petals for Paws

What could be more fun than shopping and chocolate?

Bring your sweetheart or just your sweet tooth out to join in the fun. The Downtown Newburgh Business Collective will be hosting the 4th annual Newburgh Chocolate Walk to benefit The Newburgh Area Food Pantry starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb 7 and ending at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb 8. Simply start in a participating retailer and for a $10 donation (cash only) Participants will receive a Chocolate Walk bag along with a Chocolate Walk guide listing all participating businesses. Then set out to enjoy the community: shop along the way, enjoy lunch in one of our restaurants and collect chocolates as you explore Historic Newburgh. Times of the event are the hours the participating retailers are open. Participating businesses can only accept cash for the Chocolate Walk bags. If you would like to use a card, we have created an online ticket for you to pay with card for the event. Online tickets can only be redeemed at the Historic Newburgh, Inc. office located at 333 State St, Unit B in Newburgh.

FEB. 8 Love Potions Class

The Beauty Room in Evansville is hosting a Love Potions Class at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. The theme for February centers around the Aristotle quote, “All friendly feelings for others are an extension of a man’s feelings for himself.” We will walk through different herbs and their benefits and you’ll go home with your very own custom body oil. Included in the $35 ticket is refreshments, brunch board, 4-ounce bottle for potions, oils & herbs for mixing.

Tickets are limited, RSVP by purchasing your ticket.

For The Love of Books Gala

Castle North Middle School’s generationOn Club is hosting the For The Love of Books Gala from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Rolling Hills Country Club in Newburgh on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Warrick County was launched in Jan 2017 thanks to the efforts of the Castle North Middle School Generation On Club. At this time, there are 750 children in Warrick County receiving a book every month from the Dolly Parton Foundation. As of Jan. 1, 2020, the program will be managed by a newly formed 501C3 organization, Warrick Literacy and Educational Connections (WLEC) and the gala is a fundraiser. We will have dinner and dancing and live entertainment. This is cocktail attire and doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person or $450 for a table of 10. Ticket price includes dinner and dessert; cash bar available. Mail checks made payable to WLEC at 6160 Pembrooke Drive, Newburgh, IN 47630.

For more information, contact WarrickLiteracy@gmail. com

It Takes A Village No-Kill Rescue is hosting Petals for Paws Feb. 12-14, 2020. Honor the person you love this Valentine’s Day while helping ITV with our Petals for Paws fundraiser. For $35, you can pick up a dozen roses in various colors, including a vase and a card wishing your loved one a Happy Valentine’s Day. We have available red, white, pink, bi-color and yellow. The card will show your support for homeless animals, making the roses much more meaningful to your loved one. As an added bonus, an ITV Rescue rescue dog can deliver the roses to your loved one’s home or office (Evansville or Newburgh) for $100 total, which includes the cost of the roses. Roses are handpicked, 16-18-inch stems with a bloom diameter of 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Roses will be ready for pick up Wednesday, Feb. 12-14, 2020.

FEB. 14 A Valentine’s Day Soirée

Funxion — A Wedding and Event Venue in Boonville is hosting A Valentine’s Day Soirée at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. There will be dinner and dancing, with music provided by Boonville’s own Cynthia Murray. For more info, visit www.funxionevents.com.

Valentine’s Day with Rodney Watts

Valentine’s Day with Rodney Watts is at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Newburgh American Legion Kapperman Post #44. Bring your sweetheart to the post and listen to Nashville Recording Artist Rodney Watts. The kitchen will serve a sweetheart dinner for two.

FEB. 15 Bridal Market at the Square

AnnaLe’s Twice Chosen Bridal Consignment is hosting the 1st Annual Bridal Market at the Square from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15 located inside Washington Square Mall. There will be hair and make-up artists, photographers, event planners, floral designers, information on limos, cakes, DJS and more. For vendor info, please message AnnaLe’s Twice Chosen or call (812) 473-023.

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February 2020 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE 13

14 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

sweet

treat WRITER: WYATT SQUIRES

Valentine’s Day is about candy and sweets, but what about adding a personal touch? These truffle recipes will give you an opportunity to deliver a sweet treat with a personal touch to your valentine. There are a variety of decorating options. Truffles can be dipped in melted chocolate or rolled in cocoa powder. If you decide to dip them in chocolate, they can also be covered in drizzled candy melts, sifted cocoa powder or freeze dried fruit, or your favorite sprinkles. For the strawberry recipe, sprinkle with freeze dried strawberry powder, the tiramisu is drizzled with red candy melts and the brownie truffles are covered in sifted cocoa powder.

Strawberry Cream Truffles INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS 8 oz. Strawberry Cream Cheese 1/2 tsp. strawberry extract 12 oz. white chocolate chips 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Place the cream cheese in a mixing bowl and mix with a hand mixer on high for about a minute before adding strawberry extract, mixing until well combined.

2. Melt the white chocolate chips with your preferred melting method. If you melt in the microwave, set to 50 percent power cooking for one minute at first. Stir and continue to microwave on 50 percent power for 15 to 30 seconds at a time until completely melted and smooth.

3. Add the melted white chocolate to the cream cheese and mix until combined.

4. Scoop the mixture with a spoon or a small cookie scoop and drop the balls onto a wax paper.

5. Refrigerate at least one hour until truffle balls become firm.

6. Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips. Dip in firm truffle balls and place back onto wax paper.

Refrigerate until hardened.

Tiramisu Truffles INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS 12 savoiardi or lady finger cookies, crushed 1/2 Tbsp. sugar 1/4 cup + 3 Tbsp. mascarpone (remove from fridge 30 mins before use) 1 Tbsp. whole or whipping cream 1.5 to 2 Tbsp. strong coffee PHOTO BY: LISA POLK PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN

6 oz. melting chocolate (dark, milk or mix)

1. In a mixing bowl and using a hand mixer, mix crushed savoiardi cookies, mascarpone and cream. Once blended, add coffee a little at a time and blend until thick dough sticks.

2. Cover bowl and refrigerate dough for three to four hours.

3. Remove from refrigerator and roll dough to preferred size. Place balls on wax paper and freeze for 15 to 20 minutes.

4. While truffle balls are in the freezer melt chocolate. Place half of the chocolate in a bowl over a pot of boiling water and stir until melted. Remove from heat before adding the remaining chocolate. Stir until smooth.

5. Remove truffle balls from the freezer. Place a toothpick in each ball and dip into the melted chocolate. Place on parchment paper and let cool. Remove toothpicks when chocolate is hardened.

Brownie Mix Truffles INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS 1 box brownie mix including all of the ingredients on the box (a home recipe for fudge brownies will work as well) 12 oz. melting chocolate

1. Follow directions on package or recipe for brownies and bake. Do not make substitutions as brownies will not have desired texture.

a fork to fluff. Scoop out one tablespoon at a time, roll into balls and place on wax paper.

2. Remove brownies from oven and let cool completely.

4. Melt chocolate. Dip truffles in chocolate and allow excess chocolate to drip off before returning to wax paper.

3. Once completely cool, cut off edges and use

5. Refrigerate until hard.

February 2020 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE 15

ITH PLE W A Q ANDURGH COU SMITH NEWB AND LORI STEVE ATWA RISA P

R: MA WRITE

16 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

Dating has changed over the decades, something Steve, 58, and Lori Smith, 52, of Newburgh, who started dating in the 1980s, have experienced firsthand.

The happy couple has been married 30 years and through meeting at church, surviving a wedding day that was nothing short of whimsical in the amount of small “disasters” that occurred —the church was not decorated when the bride arrived, the florist was late and Lori’s mom helped prepare appetizers and had her hair and makeup done while stirring pots, not to mention the groomsmen who needed help with their cummerbunds and ties — having successful careers — Steve is the vice president and retail manager of Old National Bank and Lori is a adjunct instructor at the University of Evansville and Ivy

Q How old were

you when you met your spouse?

STEVE: 28 LORI: 22

Q What was your first impression of each other?

STEVE: Lori smiled a lot, she laughed at my jokes, and I thought she was sweet.

LORI: I thought Steve was handsome and had a great personality.

Q

Tech and raising two daughters, Rachel is 26 and Sarah is 23 — they still find ways to keep that spark alive through fun dates, trips abroad and always putting each other first.

Lori asked out Steve first.

“We attended the same church. We both walked in late a lot at the same time and noticed each other,” Lori Smith said. “My friends knew him because they played on the church basketball team, so I called Steve and asked if he wanted to go to church with me that Sunday evening.

Our first ‘date’ was church. Then, Steve asked me out to a Christian concert for the artist Carmen. It went great.

Steve kissed me at the end of the date.”

So, dive in to find out the key ingredient to their fruitful marriage recipe.

Describe the proposal.

STEVE: I knew I wanted to marry Lori after about a month.

I bought the ring after dating about five or six weeks. Then, on her birthday — after dating eight weeks — I planned a trip to eat dinner at The Spaghetti Factory in Louisville. After dinner, I took her on a horse and carriage ride in downtown Louisville. I got down on one knee — the best I could — and asked, “Will you marry me?”

LORI: I was surprised, but my mother wasn’t. She had told my grandmother she thought Steve was going to propose. Of course, I was so excited. I knew Steve was the one I wanted to marry.

Q

What is your favorite thing about your significant other?

STEVE: We make each other laugh. I know Lori loves me by the little things she does.

LORI: He is my best friend. He makes me laugh. I can talk to him about everything.

Q What was the most memorable part about your wedding day?

STEVE: Seeing Lori walk down the aisle.

LORI: Walking down the aisle and seeing Steve smiling.

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Q Did your marriage

change after having children? If so, how did you adapt to having kids while still keeping the spark lit.

STEVE: Yes, it changed. We didn’t get a lot of sleep. We became a team. We had time together when grandparents babysat.

LORI: Marriage always changes after children. You have to be creative to keep the romance alive. Sometimes it is challenging to take care of small children and find the time to shower.

Q Now that both

girls are grown and you aren’t scheduling life around their extra curiculars, do you feel another shift in your marriage? If so, how are you adapting to “empty nest syndrome?”

STEVE: Now we are finally getting some sleep and getting to know each other again.

LORI: Both of our daughters moved out in the same year, so it took a little time to get used to having a quiet, empty house.

Steve and I spent more time together – going out to dinner, seeing friends and just talking more. We even took a vacation alone for the first time.

18 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

Q

Do you see and feel a difference in the way people date, court each other now versus the 1980s when you were dating?

STEVE: Oh, yeah. We had to learn about each other by dating in the ‘80s.

Today, through social media, people already know so much about each other in the beginning.

LORI: In the ‘80s, dating was more formal. Steve would pick me up at my house and talk with my parents before we went out. I came in at a decent time since I lived at my parents’ house. If you lived at home, parents were more involved in the “dating” process. Dating was generally a progression and led to something more serious like engagement/marriage. Dating took effort. Social media did not exist. We had to call each other on corded phones and make plans. Usually, dating plans were made with quite a bit of advance notice, rather than a spontaneous, short notice type date.

Contacting people was more challenging without cell phones. Another difference was closure in the ‘80s.

People talked about the status of the relationship and “breaking-up,” rather than the “ghosting” that happens today.

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Q What are some of your favorite/

current places to go to or activities to partake in for dates?

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STEVE: We like to play video games, watch Netflix movies and take short trips to places like Nashville, etc.

LORI: We like to go out to a nice quiet dinner, see a movie or spend time with our girls and friends.

Q

What advice can you give for young or newly engaged couples about making their relationship/marriage work?

STEVE: Our faith kept us together through the good and bad times.

LORI: Laugh and have fun together. Steve and I were coming home late one night on I-69, and the car completely shut down. We were stranded for around 5 hours (from 1-6 a.m.) on the side of the highway.

We laughed and had fun until the tow truck arrived.

Speak kindly to your marriage partner. You are each going to make mistakes. Forgive each other and move on. Once you’ve resolved an issue, “bury” it and don’t dig it back up in the future. Spend time together; there will be many things or people that demand your attention away from each other, but finding time for each other is super important. We’ve always made mealtime a nice time to catch up and relax. Our go-to is a good, Mexican restaurant after a long day. Try to take a vacation or short trip to get away from it all and relax. Pray for each other. Ask God to bless your marriage. The best type of love to have in a marriage is found in I Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

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P O P 20 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

THE QUESTION Popping the question isn’t all about the ring.

For some people, a proposal is all about the presentation. Here are some ideas to get your romantic creativity wheels spinning.

WRITER: WYATT SQUIRES

RIBBON OF MEMORIES

HOME

Write memories on notecards and print off pictures from your relationship. Attach the notecards and photos along a long ribbon or string. Make the last card contain a proposal. Tie a ring to the end of the ribbon. Put the ring in the bottom of a box allowing the photos and memories to cover the proposal and ring. As your significant other pulls out the ribbon they will be confronted with photos and memories from your relationship before coming to the proposal at the end of the ribbon.

SURPRISE JIGSAW PUZZLE Have a custom jigsaw puzzle made with your proposal and photos from your relationship.

Don’t make it so big that it would take days to finish, but allow enough pieces for a surprise.

Invite your significant other to work the puzzle with you. Have the ring ready once your significant other reveals the message.

KITCHEN/DINNER Make your significant other dinner and keep them out of the kitchen. While you’re making dinner use refrigerator magnets to write out proposal or write in flour spread on the counter.

After taking out dinner, send your significant other in for a forgotten item. Follow in with ring.

HOLIDAY

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Organize lights on the side of the house or in a room that spell out your proposal. Invite your significant other to see the display. Have the ring ready when you plug in the lights or flip the switch.

PUMPKIN CARVING Invite your significant other for pumpkin carving. When they aren’t paying attention, carve your proposal into the pumpkin. Have your ring ready when you turn the pumpkin to show your significant other.

EASTER EGGS Set up an Easter egg hunt with for your significant other. Fill most of the eggs with your significant other’s favorite candies. Leave a special egg containing the ring in a secret location for last.

PUBLIC

SURPRISE WALK

Write words of proposal on individual newspapers. Involve family and friends by having them station along the route of your favorite walking path. Have family sitting with newspapers in front of their face with the message facing inward. Invite your significant other to take a walk with you. Have the ring ready and have your family and friends turn their newspapers around when you and your significant other approach.

PHOTO SESSION Set up a couple’s photo session with a photographer. Using prepared props or sparklers in a long exposure photo, sneak the message into the photo. Ask the photographer to see the photo and show to your significant other. Have the ring ready when your significant other sees the photo.

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LAST MINUTE MEETING Work with your significant other’s coworkers to have them schedule a last minute meeting at the end of the day. With proper permissions, sneak in to your significant other’s workplace and “lead the meeting” by giving your proposal.

CUSTOM LABEL

ANYWHERE

Choose a beverage, candy or snack that your significant other would like as a gift. Print a custom label with your proposal that imitates the product you chose. Have the ring ready when you hand the custom item to your significant other.

BOOK CUTOUT Get an extra copy of your significant other’s favorite book or a book that symbolizes your relationship. Choose a page with a message you want to include in your proposal.

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NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE AD Buy an ad in her favorite newspaper or magazine. When it’s time to settle in and catch up on current events have the ring ready nearby for when she sees the ad.

February 2020 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE 21

THE SILO EVENT CENTER / PHOTO BY: J PHOTOGRAPHY

22 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

FIND YOUR ORGANIZATION METHOD

THE

G N I D D E W E GUID

DISCUSS YOUR BUDGET OPENLY Wedding costs can vary widely, and they’re not getting cheaper.

Couples should make every effort to sit down together to decide what they can afford, which elements of their special day are most important, and what they are willing to pay for.

MAKE PRIORITIES LIST Make a list of at least three things that are most important for each of you. It may be the ceremony location, the food and your attire — whatever it is, knowing what is important can help you negotiate prices and understand what to look for when planning.

WRITERS: JODI KEEN & MAEGAN SAALWAECHTER

TAKE YOUR TIME

DECIDE ON GUEST LIST

TRAVEL

Venues

20 West Newburgh, Indiana twenty-west.com

The Bauerhaus Evansville, Indiana thebauerhaus.com

The Silo Event Center Hopkinsville, Kentucky thesiloevents.com

House of White Newburgh, Indiana houseofwhitebridal.com

David’s Bridal Evansville, Indiana davidsbridal.com

Paradise Cakes Newburgh, Indiana @paradisecakesnewburgh

Photo

TRI-STATE

Gowns

Planning decisions are often based around the projected number of guests. You’ll need to have a ballpark figure regarding guests before you should commit to a venue and make other decisions, such as where guests will stay. And if the majority of guests are coming from a certain area, such as your hometown, you may want to bring the wedding to them instead of asking them to come to you.

Cakes

Do not — we repeat, DO NOT — rush to the altar. Feel free to extend the engagement long enough to keep stress levels down and get the location and ceremony of your dreams. Many recently engaged couples feel pressured to get married right away, but stretching out the engagement to save money or give yourself more time to plan will save you stress, uncertainty and regret in the long run.

LOCAL

Organization is the key to pulling off the wedding of your dreams.

Whether your organizational style is best served by jotting details like dates and deposit deadlines down in a notebook or utilizing an online spreadsheet or smartphone app, choose your method early on. Keeping information and reminders in one place can make it easier to manage all the tasks that lie ahead.

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LISA POLK PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN

24 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

F R E Q U E N T LY

FORGOTTEN

ACCOMMODATIONS

FOOD

PETS

• Is your wedding out of town for a lot of

• Have plenty of water available.

• If your pet isn’t in or attending the wedding,

family and friends? Consider blocking out rooms at a nearby hotel for them. These often come at discounted prices.

• Make sure plates, cutlery and napkins are available for food and cake tables, as well as

remember to have accommodations set for them.

something to cut and serve the cake.

BEAUTY

HONEYMOON

• Bring the cake topper if it wasn’t left with the

• Names on airline tickets and passports

• Never wait until the day or two prior to get

cake baker.

MUST match. Since those tickets are bought

hair colored, to tan, have lashes done or teeth

CEREMONY

pre-wedding, order each under your maiden

whitened. If something goes wrong, allow time

name. If your passport was issued less than a

to correct it without inducing panic.

• Don’t forget to bring the marriage license.

RECEPTION

• Have someone seated up front be in charge

changed. If it was issued more than a year ago,

of prompting people to stand and sit at the

then you need to apply for a passport renewal

• Some venues require you to obtain insurance

proper times.

and pay the appropriate fee.

bartenders will be serving the reception. Don’t

BRIDAL

OTHER

forget to ask if insurance is included or not and

• Popular for bridal parties are emergency kits

• Tradition calls for the bride and groom to

budget accordingly.

stocked with extra bobby pins, pain relievers,

purchase gifts for their parents.

• Venues may require cleanup before the

no show socks, etc.

end of the night. Assign cleaning duties to

TRANSPORTATION

for the event; others may only request it if

wedding party or to others who are able to help prior to event.

• How is the wedding party getting from the ceremony to the reception? Begin focusing

• Rental companies or venues may ask that

on transportation between four and six

tables and chairs be stacked and ready for

months before the ceremony and sooner in

pickup. Check to see what yours will require.

graduation, prom and peak wedding seasons.

year ago, there is no fee to get the last name

• Ease your mind and assign/ask for help on miscellaneous jobs like setting up reception area, dispersing favors, coordinating wedding party, transferring guest book, cutting and serving wedding cake or packing up gifts.

THE SILO EVENT CENTER / PHOTO BY: JEFF AND MICHELE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS

February 2020 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE 25

PIANOS&SAILORS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: THE BOWERS

HOW SEPARATION STRENGTHENED A YOUNG COUPLE’S LOVE

WRITER: JULIE ROSENBAUM

26 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

Adrianna and Denzel Bowers have overcome considerable separation with a lot of love and trust.

He came to Bosse High School for his senior year from Maryland as she was a junior.

“We had a psychology class in the fall, but did not speak until a music appreciation class in the spring,” said Adrianna, whose maiden name was Marsh.

They began dating on April 24, 2013. Denzel left for basic training in the Navy on April 1, 2015 and she left for the University of Southern Indiana.

Adrianna’s love affair with the piano began at age 4, taking classes with Henrietta Northcut. Her grandmother, whom she always called “Grams,” took her for lessons every week for the 14 years she studied with Northcut.

“Even when I had a car and could drive myself, ‘Grams’ still took me weekly,” Adrianna said.

However, she found herself stagnant musicwise at USI. Her beloved teacher had turned 93, but would not retire until Adrianna stopped being her student.

Adrianna transfer red to Mur ray State, where she started studying musical education and began piano lessons with Dr. Matthew Gianfor te. Under his guidance, Adrianna’s

STORY IDEAS? SEND THEM TO

understanding of the piano began to grow.

“He opened up a world of new concepts, technique and nuance that I had not learned about,” she said.

Though Denzel and Adrianna were often separated, they never lost their love and trust.

“Since we started dating, we were separated most of the time because of my education and his ser vice, but we were still a couple,” Adrianna said.

Separation wasn’t going to stop Denzel and Adrianna, who were married on July 3, 2019 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. But she had to depart for Murray State in August. He moved from Virginia Beach for his next assignment in Jacksonville, Florida.

After she graduated from Mur ray in December, Denzel rented a truck and drove to Evansville to pick up her beloved piano and other items. Adrianna is substitute teaching and planning to build a piano studio in Jacksonville. She is learning about the different school districts around them and is seeking a public school teaching position.

Although many young brides would feel a lot of negativity about their husband being deployed, she said it feels great to be together, but they knew from the beginning there would be separations.

“Both of us are secure enough and love each other to do our jobs and be alone until the deployment is over,” she said.

Denzel and Adrianna have been apart for the vast majority of their relationship. She feels the key is they were good friends before they started dating.

“That, and we made a promise to each other that we would always communicate, to never go to bed angry and with a solid foundation and trust, his deployment to other countries and out to sea would not be bearable,” Adrianna said. “I know there’s nothing we can’t handle or figure out. He gives me strength to conquer anything and makes me feel beautiful and wanted, no matter what. And we laugh all the time.”

Denzel said he fell in love with her passion for life and teaching.

“She loves to have fun and have new experiences and it has always been attractive to me,” he said. “I love being able to have conversations and always feel I can be myself.”

Denzel said a huge stress was lifted to finally be with Adrianna after all they’ve overcome.

“It’s surreal and finally here,” he said.

The love story between a pianist and a sailor seems to be a very romantic and pragmatic union.

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NEWBURGH BUSINESS BAKES UP DREAM CAKES FOR AREA WEDDINGS

28 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

Icing on the

cake WRITER: MARISA PATWA

From baking cakes in her home kitchen to opening the only custom commercial wedding cake business in Warrick County, Newburgh’s Laura Hatfield has had quite the success stor y over the past few years through Paradise Cakes, opening her brick and mortar in October.

Her passion for baking cakes started out more as a hobby, but after some supportive convincing from her husband Matt and a sudden influx of cake requests, Hatfield, 31, finally succumbed to the idea that she could be prodigious in opening her own business.

“I had been making cakes for friends and family for years and my husband actually thought I should open this way before I thought about it,” Hatfield said. “He always said, ‘You should make something out of this.’ And I told him over and over, ‘You are crazy. No one will ever buy cakes from me.’”

She then made a bachelorette party cake that became the catalyst for her take off.

“All of the bridesmaids took pictures of the cake and posted it on social media and it went viral like crazy,” Hatfield said. “They tagged me in it so people on Facebook were coming up to me like, ‘Can you make my cake?’ ‘My husband was like, ‘Here is your chance. Leap.’ And so, I did. And that is how I started Paradise Cakes out of my home kitchen.”

Though, she began doing cakes for all kinds of celebrations, Hatfield decided to exclusively bake wedding cakes in 2018.

“Brides book six, nine, twelve months in advance, so by the time people would call for birthday cakes, I would be booked with weddings,” Hatfield said.

“Every once in a while, I try to open up my calendar for a few other celebration cakes, but my wedding cakes just book so far in advance, it’s hard too.”

When she heard that a new story was going to be added to the building where Escape Salon is located, Hatfield jumped at the chance to open a business in

downtown Newburgh.

“I’ve lived here my whole life. I’m a Castle High School graduate and my husband and I grew up in the same neighborhood, our kids are in Newburgh schools, so it was really important for us when we decided to open the shop that we keep it in Newburgh,” she said. “I came to the owner, Tom Hartman, and said ‘What’s going upstairs?’ Tom said, ‘Well, I don’t have plans yet.’ And I said, ‘Well, what do you think about having a small, commercial kitchen?’ He was totally down for the project and we were able to draw everything out exactly how I needed it with the kitchen and the tasting room — it’s perfect.”

The effort took a village to help Hatfield build, furnish and decorate her new business, which is located at 333 State Street, Suite E. “Some of the DJs who I’ve worked with at weddings did my exterior sign. I had someone do the vinyl here, my brother built my counter, so it’s kind of like ever yone, friends and family have stepped up,” she said. “And the downtown businesses closer to the river have been super supportive. I’ve done a few cupcakes for some of their grand re-openings and it’s been awesome. It’s almost like a grassroots project.”

Hatfield believes she differs from other local bakeries due to her niche of only being open by appointment only.

“I don’t have to compete because I am not like the other bakeries in Newburgh or Evansville where they have cupcakes and cookies and pies, and you can come in,” she said.

Newburgh has become an imminent place to plan weddings.

“Downtown Newburgh especially is blowing up and there is 21 West, the wedding venue, House of White where you can get your wedding gowns, Bloom Flower Studio is now open,” Hatfield said.

“It’s kind of fun that we’re all here and a bride could

February 2020 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE 29

come to downtown Newburgh and practically plan her entire wedding.”

Hatfield is also proud to serve the couples of Warrick County.

“I think it’s really neat because the big bakers have historically been in Evansville and in all of Warrick County, like Boonville, you have to travel 30 or 40 minutes to get to a baker that can make you a beautiful, custom wedding cake,” she said. “So, since we are centrally located, I can kind of reach the outskirts of Newburgh and Warrick County.”

Every wedding is different and so is every cake.

“I meet with the bride and groom for a consult and tasting so I can get to know them and their personalities, but I have had some where the groom was big into Ninja Turtles, so we had Ninja Turtle heads coming out of the back of the cake,” Hatfield said. “The bride was like, ‘I do not want Ninja Turtles on my wedding cake.’ So, it was a sweet compromise.”

Another fun cake she enjoyed baking was for a “Beauty and the Beast” themed wedding at Tanglewood Weddings and Events Barn in Boonville last summer.

“We did a hand painted tier with the stained glass from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and Belle’s yellow dress was at the top.

So, I think weddings cakes are going away from the traditional white cakes and people are wanting color and putting their personalities into it.”

Although groom cakes are another wedding staple, Hatfield said she has watched them go out of style recently.

“Grooms cakes are typically super fun for the guy and they serve it to the groomsmen, so it’s not super big, it’s a smaller cake. I did a Green Bay Packers cake once. A lot of time, there is a funky flavor. One time I did a chocolate chip cake with bourbon butter cream,” she said. “Probably three years ago, 50 percent of the cakes for weddings I did also had groom’s cakes.

That’s not the case anymore. Although I am doing a grownup ‘Batman’ cake for a groom here soon.”

Hatfield’s favorite part of designing a custom wedding cake is getting creative with the fillings.

“A lot of time with birthday cakes, you get the regular, straw-

30 NEWBURGH MAGAZINE February 2020

berr y, chocolate, vanilla cake with vanilla butter cream, but what is fun to elevate the wedding cakes with are the fillings, so you can do fruit jams or chocolate ganache, different things like that,” she said. “With specialty cake flavors, I try to think outside of the box. Like, I was at Sonic one time and I was ordering a cherry limeade and I was like, ‘I could make this a cupcake.’

I had already made a cherry cake, so I started playing around with key lime butter cream.”

The cake has become a popular choice for brides to choose for the summer.

“Because they have that very light, refreshing flavor,” Hatfield said. “The custom side of it is very fun and it surprises the guests because whenever you bite into a cupcake, you don’t expect to see a filing. It’s just a way you can elevate the treats you are buying for and serving to your guests without a whole lot of extra costs.”

Typically, most couples order tier cakes for smaller weddings and sheet cakes for bigger weddings.

“The trend I see now is smaller tier cakes and tons and tons of cupcakes,” Hatfield said. “Cake pops or cake balls are super big too and that’s really fun, especially if you have kids at the reception — they can grab them from the desert table.”

When it comes to cost size matters - the taller the cake is, the more expensive the price.

“So, you can do dummy cakes under real cakes to give a look of a tall, elegant bridal cake,” Hatfield said. “25 percent of the cakes I do are dummy cakes, with gives the illusion you have this four to five-tiered cake, but you’re not actually paying for it.”

Baking that cake for a couple’s big day is special for Hatfield, who enjoys getting to attend a new wedding every weekend and seeing the happiness her cakes bring not just the newlyweds, but all of the wedding party and guests.

“The best part is after the wedding, they’ll text me something sweet,” Hatfield said. “A father came back with my cake stands and gave me the biggest hug and said, ‘Everything was awesome, everyone loved the cakes,’ which made me so happy.”

To order a consultation for a custom wedding cake from Laura Hatfield of Paradise Cakes, call 812-629-6002.

LOVE IS...

WRITER: JULIE ROSENBAUM

What do you think about when Valentine’s Day is approaching? Many people are making reser vations at their favorite restaurant. There are so many more flower deliveries than any other time during the year. Special people are hired to deliver for two days. The jewelr y stores are advertising constantly about what to buy your special person. Hearts and pictures of fancy things are all over malls and television. That is what many think about when this holiday approaches.

However, this day of love may have a different meaning to others. Love is not the shiny fancy things. It does not come in fancy bottles of per fume or big boxes of chocolate. Real love looks much different to a couple that has one person sick. Isn’t true love sitting at the bedside of your loved one when they are sick?

Love is coming home to that one person who means the world to you instead of going out for drinks with friends often. Love is a quiet evening at home watching a favorite television show and having some popcor n.

Expensive gifts are fun to receive but when you are working two jobs and your partner also is working frivolity is not what you need. Ever y woman loves pretty gifts

but they also appreciate a thoughtful loving person who shares all his time and his happy and sad thoughts with you.

When you have a person who shares their dreams and hopes with you, isn’t it worth as much as a lobster dinner? I feel that ever y day should be a show your love day.

Flowers and gifts should be given just because you are loved and it is being shown to you.

It is like New Year’s Eve. That is not the only night you can toast happy times ahead. Most of the people I know even if they could afford to go to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, stayed home and welcomed this new decade in pajamas and perhaps a glass of wine. They spent the evening with their loved one and pets.

Love is not for holidays and you should not be coerced into all the things that you are supposed to do. Love is the old couple sitting in the park. Love is the couple walking their baby. Love is the feeling that the person you are spending your life with is the person who completes your life. Commercialized persuasion is not real. Love is a deep feeling if it is storming or sunny. No holiday should be the day for lovers. Ever y day should be.

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