FIRST ANNUAL EVENT WILL BE WESTFIELD’S TWIST ON A BUSINESS EXPO
Writer / Julie Yates Photography ProvidedThe Westfield Chamber of Commerce is bringing the first annual Showcase and Taste of Westfield to Grand Park Events Center on September 27. You can expect all the best of what the city has to offer, and a twist on a traditional business expo. The event, which is open to the public from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., will be a show-and-tell of sorts for a vast variety of local businesses and community services.
A large array of businesses will participate. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about entertainment and event venues, as well as sample food from providers such as those in niche markets. Restaurants, caterers and beverage companies will also be in attendance to offer samples. In addition, the service sector will be represented. Local branches of national banks and health care providers are examples, as well as legal professionals.
Business community members will have the chance to increase their knowledge of Westfield. Besides getting exposure to potential customers, relationships between producers and suppliers will get a boost. The goal is to fuel the already thriving growth of Westfield.
“The Showcase and Taste of Westfield event is poised to redefine how Westfield residents, businesses and visitors connect
and thrive,” says Courtney Albright, director of partner and member engagement for the Westfield Chamber of Commerce. “Combining elements of both businessto-business and business-to-consumer interactions, the event offers an innovative fusion that celebrates entrepreneurship, creativity and local excellence.”
“For businesses, the event presents an unparalleled opportunity to network, collaborate and forge valuable partnerships.” Albright adds. “Startups, established enterprises and industry leaders will converge at the Grand Park Events Center to exchange ideas, showcase their strengths and explore potential collaborations.”
Visitors to this unique gathering will come away with an increased knowledge of the Westfield community, plus more. There will also likely be the chance to sample offerings from the culinary and beverage establishments.
The Westfield Chamber of Commerce website has a link for up-to-date information about the event. Ticket information is also on the website. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.
“The first annual Showcase and Taste of Westfield is not merely an event,” Albright says. “It’s a stepping stone toward a more vibrant and connected Westfield. By
uniting local businesses, entrepreneurs and residents, the event sets the stage for an annual tradition that will continue to celebrate the city's unique offerings and foster a spirit of growth and collaboration. This is your opportunity to connect with Westfield's finest and experience the best the city has to offer.”
Visit westfieldchamberindy.com or contact Albright at calbright@ westfieldchamberindy.com for more information on tickets and sponsorships, as well as info on the Chamber.
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and fruiting - for mushroom production.
With this design, the Downs are able to grow mushrooms in a climate-controlled, computerized unit. They can control humidity, lighting and fresh air exchange, which eliminates the need for additional chemicals in the cultivating process. The system also allows the Downs to produce mushrooms year-round.
The process is a quick one.
The Downs just completed their second harvest. Not only have friends and family raved over the quality of the mushrooms, but restaurant leaders are also expressing interest in using the mushrooms with their specialty dishes.
As more restaurants turn to organic and locally grown meat and produce, Mark and Julie Downs have mushroom production covered, but their future as gourmet mushroom farmers came as a surprise even to them.
“My niece, Peyton Downs, is staying with us and she has an agricultural background,” Mark says. “We have 15 acres and I asked her what she thought we should do with it. She suggested a mushroom farm and it really wasn’t anything we’d ever thought about, so we started doing some research.”
That research led the Downs to Farm Box Foods, a Colorado-based company that upcycles used refrigerator shipping containers and divides each container into three different rooms - lab, inoculation
“The restaurants have been a big draw,” Julie says. “They love the local, fresh and better taste. They are also better for you, and just not the same as what you’ll purchase at the grocery store.”
Angry Donkey, a local pub in Michigantown, has already begun serving blue oyster mushrooms on their salmon-mousse-stuffed halibut.
Cobblestone in Zionsville will begin serving the Downs’ specialty mushrooms soon.
“Every reaction we’ve received has been outstanding,” Julie says. “It’s exciting and humbling at the same time, and now we want to provide what we said we’ll provide.”
The couple is currently growing blue oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms. They plan to add shiitake mushrooms to the cycle soon.
“Each harvest produces about 100 pounds and we’re able to produce about 200 pounds per week - more if we need to,” Mark says. “For the volume and speed of growth, the quality is incredible.”
To put 100 pounds in perspective, the typical container sold at a grocery store is four to six ounces.
Mark recently retired from 40 years of construction remodeling, and Julie is still working at an orthodontist’s office. They believe the newly formed farm to be their future retirement goal.
“This isn’t something you see every day,” Julie says. “It’s unique and our area of the world is growing so fast. People are really interested in farm-to-table foods. It’s exciting to bring something like this to our city and to know the health benefits that go with it.”
While the majority of the Downs Farm harvest will be focused on restaurant needs, they’re also working on some individual sales of one or two pounds.
Visit the Downs Farm 2023 Facebook page for more information, or email downs_farm@yahoo.com.
Most lawns need less water than you may think. Reduce your usage to have a healthy lawn and conserve water. Adjust irrigation sprinkler systems to 30-minute sessions and only water twice a week.
Better for your lawn and Central Indiana’s water resources!
Find water saving tips at CitizensEnergyGroup.com/WaterWise
WHEN THE CALENDAR TURNS TO SEPTEMBER, THAT MEANS FALL IS NEARLY UPON US. PICTURE IT: CRISP AIR, THE CRUNCH OF LEAVES UNDER YOUR FEET, AND THE TREES SHOWING OFF THEIR SEASONAL COLORS. FIND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR FALL FESTIVAL ADVENTURES.
Sunflower Festival | Sept. 1-4, 8-10
Visit Stuckey Farm Orchard & Cider Mill in Sheridan to walk through acres of sunflowers of all shapes and sizes. It’s the best way to kick off the fall season.
Atlanta New Earth Festival | Sept. 23-24
This festival takes over downtown Atlanta and is celebrating its 50th year. Over 600 vendors offer handmade arts, crafts, antiques, collectibles, amusements and more.
| Sept. 8-10
Make your summer glow and celebrate the innovation of flight at Conner Prairie in Fishers during the colorful festival. With morning competitions and a balloon glow there are amazing sights to behold.
Arts Festival | Sept. 23-24
The Carmel Arts & Design District at Main Street and Rangeline Road hosts this two day event. This juried art fair features unique art of the highest quality.
Farms Country Fall Festival | Sept. 23 – Oct. 29
Visit Russell Farms Pumpkin Patch in Noblesville on Saturday or Sunday for a great, fall festival with fun activities for all ages. Activities include a petting zoo, hay wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, scavenger hunt corn mazes, miniature golf, whizzer and tumbleweed rides, jump pillow, bounce house and more.
Festival | Oct. 5-29
Conner Prairie in FIshers is celebrating 40 years of frights and delights. Take the iconic Haunted Hayride, Thursday – Sunday, through Conner Prairie’s grounds where you will encounter spooky frights around every corner...including the Headless Horseman himself!
Oct. 6
Enjoy a special autumn day at Potter’s Bridge Park in Noblesville. Listen to live music, visit the more than 70 arts, crafts, and food booths, or simply take in the natural beauty from the White River Greenway Trail.
For more seasonal events, check out our calendar at visithamiltoncounty.com/events.
WHAT’S ON YOUR FALL BUCKET LIST? TAG US IN YOUR FALL ADVENTURES USING #VISITHC, AND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.
September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, which is recognized every year as a chance to raise awareness. Two of these cancers are cervical and ovarian cancer.
Cervical cancer is a disease that is usually caused by infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Most precancerous changes and early cervical cancers do not cause symptoms, but they can be detected on routine health screening with Pap smears. Pap smears and HPV tests are performed during some pelvic exams. Guidance about frequency of Pap smears varies based on age and history of prior abnormal testing, so ask your doctor about how often you should have yours done. If the Pap smear results are abnormal, the next step is a colposcopy procedure done in the office. This involves a pelvic exam, looking
at the cervix with a magnifying glass and taking several biopsies. More advanced cervical cancers can cause irregular vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pain and bleeding after intercourse. When more advanced, these cancers are usually diagnosed through a pelvic exam and biopsy.
There is no screening test for ovarian cancer yet, and unfortunately the symptoms can be vague and may not occur until the cancer is in an advanced stage. The earlier the cancer is diagnosed, the better the outcomes. The symptoms can include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, constipation and increased urinary frequency. Usually, a pelvic exam is performed and imaging is done with a pelvic ultrasound or a CT scan. Ovarian cancer can look like small or large masses in the pelvis and abdomen but can also
cause increased fluid inside the abdomen. Typically, the first step is surgery to remove the masses and several lymph nodes to obtain a diagnosis and stage. The next step depends on the type of ovarian cancer, but most are treated with chemotherapy. Most people with ovarian cancer or a close family relative with ovarian cancer should have genetic testing done to determine whether they or their family members are at risk for ovarian and other types of cancers.
Cervical and ovarian cancers are diagnosed and treated very differently. Speak with your doctor to ensure that you are staying up to date on proper screening with pelvic exams, Pap smears and HPV tests. Do not hesitate to report new or different vaginal bleeding, bloating, constipation or pelvic pain to your doctor. For more information or to find a provider near you, visit iuhealth.org and search “cervical cancer” or “ovarian cancer.”
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Writer / Renee Larr Photography Provided
Prevail, Inc. recently appointed Tami Wanninger as the new executive director. She comes to the nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for victims of crime and abuse, with more than 29 years of experience in the nonprofit world at Noble, Inc. While there, Wanninger served various roles, most recently as assistant vice president of quality assurance, customer service and compliance.
“I oversaw all of our intake for the organization,” Wanninger says. “I handled all of our accreditation processes nationally and in states. I was the United Way liaison. I also handled the corporate compliance and governance of the organization for our board.”
Wanninger says her years at Noble helped with her transition to executive director of Prevail. She says she spent years co-mingling with other nonprofits and their employees. She also referred individuals to Prevail as needed. She says she is very much aware of Prevail and its mission.
“I’m a longtime resident of Hamilton County and we have an amazing nonprofit system here,” Wanninger says. “When I saw the role with Prevail, I knew my skill set in that nonprofit world would transfer, and it would be a natural fit for me.”
Wanninger says her first goal, and role, has been to learn from listening to and watching others at Prevail. While learning and
listening, she walked away very proud of the organization and its scope of services.
“In my first 90 days here I’ve noticed that, because of our location in Noblesville, people in other areas of our county may not know as much about Prevail and our services,” she says. “I want to get out into other communities, and provide educational awareness on our services and prevention of domestic violence situations.”
Funding is also a significant topic for the future of the organization. Wanninger says Prevail is experiencing substantial funding cuts from the federal government. She says it is critical for the organization to strategically plan for these cuts in the future by determining new areas for funding.
“The last thing any of us want to do is to tell an individual experiencing abuse and trying to leave their abuser that we don’t have the funds or resources to help them,” Wanninger says. “That’s non-negotiable for me. Another non-negotiable item is our 24/7 crisis line. We have to continue that service. There is a need there, and we need to fulfill the need.”
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Wanninger says that month is critical for Prevail to get out into the community to spread the word about their services. She says clients can’t come to them voluntarily if they don’t know how they can help.
On November 9 Hotel Carmichael is hosting Spotlight on Art, benefiting Prevail alongside Children’s TherAplay and the Boys & Girls Club.
market
Uptown Carmel
2271 Pointe Parkway (116th west of Keystone)
Uptown Noblesville
809 Conner Street (On the Courthouse Square)
Uptown Indy 6404 Rucker Road (64th & Binford)
Sunrise Fishers 9767 E 116th Street (116th & Cumberland )
Uptown Market
Enjoy our house-made items at home. Purchase breads, biscuits, muffins, rolls, salads, sauces, dressings, condiments, and more online at: www.uptowncafes.com/shop.
6 am – 2 pm daily • uptowncafes.com
“PROMISED LAND AS PROVING GROUND” IS CONNER PRAIRIE’S NEWEST PERMANENT EXHIBITION
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
Photographer / Sarah Browning
Several years ago, staff members at Conner Prairie began doing some research around black settlements and storytelling. In doing so, they decided that they wanted to introduce an exhibition that would tell a wholistic experience of the African American story - one that was not just a program that you could buy a ticket to, but rather a chance for it to be integrated throughout the grounds. They started the project with funding through a Lilly Endowment grant and began to look at the role religion played in African American history. It then began to develop further as they dove deeper. That’s how “Promised Land as Proving Ground,” Conner Prairie’s newest permanent exhibition, came to be.
“This story, viewed mostly through the lens of religion, begins in precolonial Africa and spans all the way to the 21st Century,” says Jesse Kramer, director of exhibits.
Kramer and Dr. Rich Cooper, Conner Prairie’s vice president and chief programs officer, worked with Board Member Dr. Clarence Newsome, a religion historian, and Dr. Charlene Fletcher, the curator of the experience.
“Dr. Fletcher took what was a largely Christian story that Dr. Newsome had put together and expanded out to all different types of religion, including Christianity, Islam, Ifa-Orisha, and Judaism,” Cooper says.
“Every material, every color, every moment of this exhibit is intentional,” Kramer says.
The exhibit, which has many symbolic “Easter eggs,” showcases how African Americans expressed spirituality through music, dance, activities and food.
“Africans who were being kidnapped into slavery would often braid seeds into their hair so that they would have the crops they needed to grow,” Kramer says. “We have okra, watermelon and black-eyed peas in the United States as a result.”
Conner Prairie is constructing a new, climate-controlled building to showcase artifacts and objects that otherwise couldn’t be shown on Conner Prairie’s grounds. Within that space, they’ve made a secondary space to house an artist-in-residence. Visual artist Israel Solomon was selected to be the first artist-in-residence. Solomon, who uses the human figure in the majority of his pieces, creates representational paintings that are geometric in nature, and selects colors that are vibrant and rhythmic. During his yearlong residency, Solomon will produce a body of work that coincides with “Promised Land as Proving Ground.”
“I’m taking the stories that come from the exhibit and creating a reflection of that story through my art,” Solomon says. “I’m thinking of the history in terms of growth, beauty and resiliency. Black people have had a trying and troublesome history here in the U.S. so I want to ask how we can make things better for our children.”
History can be dark, uncomfortable and difficult to digest, but Solomon’s artwork helps bridge a conversation.
“As an artist I’m sometimes able to create imagery that will pull at an individual and spark conversation,” Solomon says.
Cooper maintains that we are in a unique time period right now.
“We believe we have an important role to help bring people to the table so they can
“I’M THINKING OF THE HISTORY IN TERMS OF GROWTH, BEAUTY AND RESILIENCY. BLACK PEOPLE HAVE HAD A TRYING AND TROUBLESOME HISTORY HERE IN THE U.S. SO I WANT TO ASK HOW WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR OUR CHILDREN.”
— ISRAEL SOLOMON
have conversations,” Cooper says. “Our goal is to bring back civic dialogue.”
The artist-in-residence building will be a flexible space that’s constantly evolving.
“It’s the 20th and 21st century part of the story,” Kramer says. “If we’re talking precolonial Africa to present day, that’s an umbrella approach to a very complex, nuanced and important history, so this changing gallery space will enable us to showcase an artist-in-residence, while we work on other exhibits where we can do deep dives into certain facets of the story.”
Cooper notes that this allows for people to step into the story at their pace. “People may not see their individualized story, but they can create connections to what they have experienced,” Cooper says.
Even though the exhibit’s grand opening isn’t until March 2024, the public is already buzzing with excitement.
“People want to see how the story is going to be told,” says Cooper, who notes that a recent study by the American Alliance of Museums shows that many people trust museums more than libraries or universities.
“As we move forward to combat historic erasure of things that have happened in the past, ceding the microphone and ceding your voice to the communities whose stories are being told is incredibly important because these stories have often been hidden or buried, pushed away, and not been viewed as worthy of telling,” Kramer says. “As the field moves forward, a lot of these stories are finally coming to the surface.”
This new exhibit tackles some of the large stories that have shaped the human experience here in the U.S. and in the Midwest, making it an exciting time at Conner Prairie.
Perhaps this is why museums from all across
the country have been calling Cooper to ask how they are approaching the subject matter.
“Museums have always been the holders of knowledge,” Cooper says. “While we have been in a transition here, this is a community story, not a Conner Prairie story.”
And it goes beyond that.
“Museums have a responsibility to tell the full truth of history,” Kramer says. “If we aren’t doing that, then what are we?”
Conner Prairie is located at 13400 Allisonville Road in Fishers. For more information, call 317-776-6000 or visit connerprairie.org. For more information about Israel Solomon, visit israelsolomonart.com or find him on Instagram @israelsoloart.
More than 1,000 local children are waiting for mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana (BBBS), and over 80% of the waitlist is boys. In order to meet the need for adult volunteers, BBBS recently partnered with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).
“From March to May, we partnered with the IMS to recruit 500 bigs by the Indy 500,” says Jackie Lai, senior director of community engagement and justice, equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives. “With a huge waitlist, we needed to get the word out about our program. We needed a massive goal, and recruiting 500 people to hear about what we do is a big goal.”
At the end of May, Lai says the organization recruited 586 potential bigs, as they’re called. She says not all of those people will become a big brother or big sister, but sees it as a foot in the door for potential mentors. She says the waitlist used to be even longer before
partnerships like the current one with the IMS.
“We used to actually be closer to around 1,400 kids waiting for a mentor,” Lai says. “It goes down when we match mentors with kids, but we also have kids waiting so long that they age out of the program. Most of our kids are in Marion County but we also have kids waiting in Hamilton and Johnson counties.”
Lai says a common misconception is the time commitment for bigs. She says they only need to spend two to four hours per month for 12 months with their littles. She says the need for male bigs is more significant than ever. Potential bigs fill out a short inquiry form on the website to start the process of mentoring local children.
“We go through the application process and do background checks to ensure the safety of
Writer / Renee Larr Photography Providedthe children,” Lai says. “We take the information we gathered from the application process from the bigs and try to find commonalities between the applications of the littles. Our priority in matching is geographic location, and then we try to find the best match based on their likes.”
Lai was a mentor to a little for six years. She says their favorite shared activity was picking a recipe for dinner. She says she helped with homework or talked about life’s ups and downs. BBBS assists volunteers in finding exciting activities.
“We have an app our mentors can use to find ideas for their time with the kids,” Lai says. “We also host different events they can come to with their littles. We offer fun activities like game nights.”
There are additional options to get involved, for adults in romantic partnerships and adults in platonic friendships.
To become a big brother or big sister, visit bebigforkids.org.
If you are interested in hosting your next event at Harbour Trees, please contact Kay Bray at (317) 877-3612 or events@harbourtrees.com
Jackson Gilbert, a senior at Westfield High School as of this fall, enjoys his job with the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and has learned a lot.
“Contrary to popular belief, my job is not actually an internship, it is just a summer part-time job,” Gilbert says. “I first started working for the Chamber in 2021, the summer before my sophomore year of high school.”
Gilbert notes that it was an exciting time. “I had just turned 15 years old and I was looking for my first job ever,” Gilbert says. “After considering applying to some fast-food restaurants, I was contacted by Chamber CEO Steve Latour, who said he would be willing to have me in for an interview.”
Gilbert was thrilled that he was contacted by Latour.
“I agreed to the interview and the interview was a success, landing me my first job as an administrative assistant at the Westfield Chamber of Commerce,” Gilbert says. “This
is now my third year here, where I hold the new title of operations coordinator.”
Gilbert thoroughly enjoys his job and says he has learned a lot from the people he works with.
“My responsibilities have changed throughout the years, but in my years here I have been responsible for data management, event planning/logistics, communications, promotions, etcetera,” he says.
Gilbert particularly enjoys the Chamber events he participates in.
“My favorite things about working for the Chamber are the events we get to be a part of, and the exposure it gives me to the city and its people,” Gilbert says.
The Westfield Chamber of Commerce has several events throughout the year including Chamber lunches, State of the County lunches, Young Professionals Happy Hour events, Young Professionals Coffee and Networking events, golf outings and more.
Gilbert is looking at different options for his college plans and upcoming career.
“If I am being honest, I am still undecided
Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided SPONSORED BY:about what I want to pursue for a major or a career,” Gilbert says. “In terms of college I am also undecided, but it would narrow down the possibilities if a college would grant me the chance to play on their football team.”
Gilbert loves football and being part of a team that works together to meet a common goal.
“Football is my thing,” Gilbert says. “I play quarterback for Westfield High School. Last season we were pretty good with an 8-4 record. I am very excited for the upcoming fall season.”
When Gilbert isn’t busy with his job, school, work or football, he finds time for other school activities.
“I am the leader of the [Fellowship of Christian Athletes] club at my school,” he says.
EASY STREET INSURANCE
Writer / Julie Yates
Photography Provided
easystreetins.com justin@easystreetins.com
Depending on who you ask, Medicare can be a very confusing topic. Just ask one of the more than 1.3 million people in Indiana who are enrolled in Medicare, and you’ll get a myriad of thoughts and opinions. With plans changing on a yearly basis, it can be difficult for Medicare beneficiaries to stay informed and to determine which plan would best suit their needs. That’s where Easy Street Insurance, specifically Justin Kozlowski, can be of service to you. Easy Street has been assisting Medicare beneficiaries across the entire state of Indiana for 25 years, and Kozlowski has been a key part of Easy Street’s expansion in the northern suburbs of Indianapolis through the last three years.
Kozlowski was born and raised in Wisconsin, and attended Augsburg University in Minneapolis, where he double majored in finance and business management while being a leader for the men’s basketball program. He moved to Indianapolis in the summer of 2009, met his wife through his sister’s Bible study group in 2015, and moved to Westfield with his blended family just over a year ago.
“Family is very important to my wife and me, which is why we moved to Westfield,” says Kozlowski. “We want our kids to grow up near their cousins and to be a part of an excellent school system, while becoming integral parts of the community.”
Kozlowski has coached at Indiana Basketball Academy and will be coaching his kindergarten-aged son’s WYSI flag football team this fall.
Service is a core value of Easy Street and Kozlowski epitomizes this, whether it be with youths at a sporting event or practice, or in an
appointment with a Medicare beneficiary.
“I have only been able to accomplish the things I have in my life with the help of others along the way,” he says. “I want to be a leader for the youth of our community while giving back to the older generation, as a thank you for the help I’ve received on my journey.”
Whether you’re new to Medicare or just reviewing your plan during the Annual Election Period (October 15 through December 7), Easy Street will make sure you’re fully informed on how Medicare functions and what options are available to you. Each year Medicare options and plans change, so it’s crucial for anyone on Medicare to review their plan, ensuring the best individual option is chosen. Easy Street’s motto is “No cost. No pressure. Just sound advice.”
Kozlowski offers in-home appointments in addition to having office locations in Fishers, Fort Wayne and Greenwood. Medicare isn’t the only tool he has in his bag, as he also assists with life/final expense insurance, and safe money planning for retirement.
Don’t put yourself in a bad position by not reviewing your plan on an annual basis. Schedule a no-cost appointment with your local Medicare expert, Justin Kozlowski, this fall to give yourself peace of mind for your health plan in 2024.
To be considered, your business must be nominated by someone other than the owner(s) of the business. Those with the most nominations will be considered before others, so make sure you get your most loyal local fans to nominate your business. When being considered, Towne Post Network editorial staff will review the following criteria to insure these qualifications are met:
We are looking for your favorite local businesses to feature in our Towne Post Network magazines, website, and social media. Each month, we will acknowledge Townies’ Top Local Award recipients and list them in our monthly print publications. There is no cost to be recognized, we’re just looking for the businesses that locals feel are the best!
Online Ranking 4.5 Stars or Higher
Listing on TownePost.com
Supports Local Charities
Locally Owned
OWNERS:
ANDY AND NICOLE ARRENDALE
ADDRESS:
16156 SPRING MILL ROAD, SUITE 500, WESTFIELD 46074
WEBSITE:
QUACKDADDYDONUTS.COM
PHONE: 317-804-9932
RATING:
GOOGLE: 4.6 FACEBOOK: 5.0
Quack Daddy Donuts is a made to order gourmet donut shop where you choose from 7 different icings and 17 different toppings for your vanilla cake donut. We proudly serve local Dandy Breeze Milk & full service coffee offerings from Indie Coffee Roasters Coffee! We are a fun gathering spot in the community where you can enjoy refreshing treats, friendly conversations, and exciting events. Let us provide some sweetness for your next birthday party, bridal shower, or other event by hosting in our shop or placing a catering order!
This is our family favorite and our family of 5 has eaten a lot of donuts! Our boys love that they can pick the icing and toppings to individualize their donuts. The employees are friendly and helpful.
It’s a great concept and we love supporting a local, small business. (Kimberly H. Google)
SCAN THE CODE TO LEARN MORE AND LEAVE THEM A REVIEW
CONSUMERS
Nolan Hudson, co-owner of Four Finger Distillery in Westfield, says the highly successful company has attracted a large group of loyal customers since the distillery first opened.
He also notes that the name change for the business has been widely praised by customers.
“Brad Colver and I are the current owners,” Hudson says. “The company was started as 1205 Distillery by Teresa and Bill Webster, but Brad and I purchased it from them in 2017. We’ve been with the company from day one, but we had an opportunity to purchase it and run things our way, and we had to take it.”
“We have slowly been working on the name change for the last couple of years or so,” Hudson says. “We started with our Four Finger Rye Whiskey. Then we named all our whiskies the Four Finger Series and changed the label to be closer to our current label. We had that for about six months and then we fully rebranded to the Four Finger name.”
Hudson notes the story behind the name change is very significant.
“The story is a much more personal story to us than 1205 Distillery,
so we felt like it was the best decision for us,” Hudson says. “We got the name Four Finger because my business partner and head distiller, Brad Colver, cut his finger off while building our distillery. He was cutting a small piece of wood with a miter saw and the wood slipped, so he ended up cutting every bone and tendon in the back of his hand twice. After the accident they couldn’t save his pinkie. It was a bad accident, but Brad is a great sport, and it made for an even better name.”
Hudson says there are a lot of things that haven’t changed at Four Finger Distillery, including the popular spirits and cocktails.
“Everything about our business is the exact same as it was before the name change,” Hudson says. “We have the same ownership, same employees, and the same recipes for all our spirits. Our most popular spirits are our rhubarb liqueur, coffee liqueur, and our bourbon. Our most popular cocktails would have to be our old fashioned, and our giggle water, which is our name for our rhubarb mule. Those two cocktails probably make up close to 50% of our cocktail sales on any given night. We also have a seasonal cocktail menu that we change up every three months.”
Hudson has his own personal favorite drinks.
“My favorite spirits are our rye whiskey and coffee liqueur,” Hudson says. “Our rye whiskey is the perfect blend of spicy and sweet which is perfect for an old fashioned - which happens to be my favorite cocktail. Our coffee liqueur is made with Calvin Fletcher Coffee Company’s cold brew coffee and then sweetened with local maple syrup. I would put our coffee liqueur up against any coffee liqueur out there.”
Four Finger Distillery, which has a very successful Indianapolis location and an upcoming location in Lebanon, Indiana, also has popular merchandise.
“We just partnered with a third-party printer for merchandise, so now all of our merch is for sale on our website,” Hudson says. “The most popular merch has been our 4FD hat, logo shirt, and our shirt that says, ‘I know the owner’ (a very common phrase around here). We have some new designs for tie-dye shirts coming out in the next couple of days that I think will become very popular.”
Hudson is pleased with the success of Four Finger Distillery and says customers will be pleased they will be able to get their spirits and cocktails in more places.
“The biggest change that you will see with Four Finger Distillery in the near future is that we are hitting the streets with sales harder than ever,” Hudson says. “Most of our spirits have gone directly to our cocktail lounges due to the cocktail demand, but now we are able to produce more so we are beginning to ship more spirits out to stores around the state. Look for Four Finger Distillery at liquor stores and grocery stores near you today!”
Hudson is also excited about their new products.
“Our newest product is our bottled old fashioned,” Hudson says. “It is the same recipe that we use for our in-house cocktails, but now sold in a bottle. Just add ice and you’re ready to enjoy!”
Hudson notes that customers still enjoy the anniversary party at Four Finger Distillery.
“Every year we throw a party on the anniversary of Brad cutting his finger off,” Hudson says. “On Friday, Sept. 29, we will be celebrating at all of our locations with delicious cocktail specials and a very limited whiskey release!”
For more information on Four Finger Distillery, check them out at 120 Camilla Court, Westfield, Indiana, 46074, or at their website at fourfingerdistillery.com.
cuisine. connect.
12 - 3 p.m.
PRESENTED BY CENTIER BANK
SEPTEMBER 16 movies in the plaza
Explore diverse arts, entertainment, traditions, and food from all over the world at our annual Cuisine Connect Culture festival at Grand Junction Plaza!
PRESENTED BY COMMUNITY FIRST BANK
Movies begin at dusk at Grand Junction Plaza
September 15
RATATOUILLE
For more information and events, visit:
September 29 SPACE JAM
