Seamless Transitions BLYE’S BRIDAL LOFT ENTERS A NEW CHAPTER
+ Built on Trust Relationships Drive Jenny Cole’s Financial Practice
FEBRUARY 2026
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SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS
Blye’s Bridal Loft Enters a New Chapter
10
VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT GUIDE
13
FEBRUARY CROSSWORD PUZZLE
14 FEBRUARY 2026
BUILT ON TRUST
Relationships Drive Jenny Cole’s Financial Practice
16
RENÉE LARR NATALIE PLATT
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FEBRUARY WORD SEARCH PUZZLE
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AWAKENING AGAIN
AMG Retreats Inspire Travel, Wellness & Adventure for Women
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FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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We regret the error in last month’s cover story, Casa de Caddie Grill, and sincerely apologize for incorrectly naming Cristian Paredes and Aneesa Paredes.
4 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
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SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS BLYE’S BRIDAL LOFT ENTERS A NEW CHAPTER Writer / Natalie Platt
Since 1948. We've proudly become a legacy store where generations of brides have found their perfect dresses! We offer bridal, prom, bridesmaids, mothers, flower girls and tuxes.
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or decades, Blye’s Bridal Loft has quietly been part of Kokomo’s milestones, from weddings and proms to family celebrations that bring people back through its doors years later. Now, under new ownership, the longtime bridal shop is entering its next chapter with a familiar sense of care and a renewed focus on the community it has served since 1948. Heather Duncan officially purchased Blye’s Bridal Loft in May 2025, following more than a year of working inside the business and learning its rhythms firsthand. Though she had never worked in the bridal industry before, Duncan says the transition felt natural once she stepped inside the store. “I really believe things happen for a reason, and people are placed in your life for a reason,” Duncan says. “I was at a point where I knew I needed a change, but I didn’t know what that change was going to look like. Somehow, this is where I landed.” Duncan grew up partly in Ohio before returning to Kokomo at age 21. Her professional background was rooted in health care, including work in
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physical therapy offices, long-term care, behavioral health and office management. Retail was never part of her long-term plan, and bridal was not on her radar. Still, she says Blye’s found its way to her at the right moment.
under one roof, including bridal gowns, prom dresses, formalwear, tuxedo rentals, shoes, jewelry and accessories.
One of the biggest challenges is visibility. Blye’s is located on the second floor of its building, which makes social media its primary storefront. Still, Duncan says Today, the store still offers those same feedback since the ownership transition has services, with one exception. Alterations are been overwhelmingly positive, especially no longer done in-house, but Duncan works around customer service and the relaxed She had known of the store for years and closely with several local seamstresses and atmosphere inside the shop. had even purchased a dress there in the past, refers brides directly to them. but like many residents, she had lost track “I’ve seen girls come in nervous and of it over time. Blye’s Bridal Loft changed Under Duncan’s leadership, Blye’s has overwhelmed,” she says. “By the time they hands in 2019, when Laura O’Donnell expanded its size range to include dresses leave, they’re hugging us and thanking us for purchased the business from the previous from size zero through 32 and has placed not pressuring them. This part of wedding owners. In early 2024, Duncan came across a stronger emphasis on affordability. She planning should be fun.” a post that O’Donnell might be considering says many brides today are paying for their selling. weddings themselves or working within Last month, Blye’s launched an exclusive strict budgets. bridal line called Marie Ike, available “I saw that and thought, that’s it,” she says. only at the Kokomo store. Each gown in “That’s what I want to do.” “I truly believe every woman deserves to feel the collection is named after women in beautiful, no matter her age, size or budget,” Duncan’s family and circle, a personal touch After several conversations, Duncan joined Duncan says. “Whether you’re a flower girl she says reflects what the store means to her. Blye’s as store manager in March 2024, with or a grandmother, that experience should be the intention of learning every part of the consistent and welcoming.” “It’s really special to offer something you can operation before making a final decision. only find here,” Duncan says. Over the next year, she handled daily Community relationships remain central operations, ordering and customer service to the store’s approach. Blye’s partners For Duncan, the most rewarding part of while working closely with O’Donnell. By with local businesses, including Olive Tree ownership is watching relationships come the spring of 2025, she and her husband Boutique for hand-poured candles given full circle. She recalls attending a wedding were ready to take ownership. to brides when they say yes, and White last fall and realizing eight of the guests were Lilies in Paradise, which provides roses for Blye’s brides. “It was important to me to make sure this bridal appointments. The store also runs was really the right fit,” Duncan says. “This an ambassador dress program with high “That was my moment,” she says. “It showed store has such a legacy in Kokomo, and I school students from seven area schools, me how much word of mouth matters and wanted to honor that.” who model prom dresses and participate in how much impact a good experience can community service projects. have.” Blye’s Bridal Loft has been part of the Kokomo community since 1948, long “These girls are smart, involved and confident,” Blye’s Bridal Loft is located in Kokomo at 321 before online shopping and fast fashion Duncan says. “Building relationships with N. Main St. The loft can also be reached at reshaped the bridal industry. Duncan says them has been huge for us.” heather@blyesbridal.com or 765-452-1219. its longevity comes from offering everything ON-DEMAND MOBILE NOTARY SERVICES
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BUILT ON TRUST
RELATIONSHIPS DRIVE JENNY COLE’S FINANCIAL PRACTICE Writer / Natalie Platt
As her children grew older and family schedules filled with sports and school activities, she stepped back from evening commitments, but her connection to Greentown remained steady. Today, she says more than a quarter of her clients still come from the area.
Much of Jenny Cole’s business has grown the way reputations do in small towns, through word of mouth and consistency. As a financial advisor with Edward Jones, Cole says referrals have never come from pitching herself, but from showing up and doing the work. That approach is most visible in Greentown, where more than a quarter of her book of business is based and continues to grow through long-standing relationships.
Cole says she has always been intentional about how she approaches her work. Traditional networking events and rehearsed sales conversations never appealed to her. “I never wanted to feel like a salesperson,” she says. “That was honestly my biggest hesitation when I said yes to Edward Jones.”
Instead, she focuses on listening and understanding what matters most to each client. Through Edward Jones, Cole helps clients plan for retirement and long-term financial goals, while making sure they “When people feel like you truly care about them, they naturally tell are connected with trusted professionals for estate planning and related needs. others,” Cole says. “I have never had to force it. It has always come from relationships.” “My job is to help people see the whole picture,” she says. “I want them to feel confident and supported, not sold to.” Cole became a financial advisor in 2014 after taking over a small Edward Jones office in Kokomo. As she reviewed the clients That mindset has led to relationships that extend well beyond the she inherited, she noticed that a significant number were from office. Cole says she has attended birthday parties, anniversary Greentown. She soon learned why. A former Edward Jones office in Greentown had closed, and those clients were absorbed into the celebrations, funerals and Christmas gatherings with Greentown clients. When she runs into clients around town, even outside of Kokomo location. What stood out was not just how many there Greentown, she is often greeted like family. were, but how closely connected they seemed to be. “They were incredibly loyal and incredibly kind,” she says. “I started getting referrals from Greentown almost immediately, and it felt very organic.”
“My husband laughs because people will say, ‘She could be our granddaughter’ or ‘She could be our daughter-in-law,’” Cole says. “Then they add, ‘Oh, and she’s our financial advisor.’ ”
Those relationships deepened as Cole became involved in the community through the Greentown Business Association and projects like Hometown Hero, including decorating near the police station and supporting efforts that mattered to her clients.
Those relationships are shaped by responsibility and trust. Cole was raised in Peru, Indiana, and earned her degree from Purdue University in social work and special education. She worked as a special education teacher before her path shifted unexpectedly.
14 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
From 2011 to 2013, she and her husband performed professionally with the circus in China, traveling with their children during that time. Their son was just a few months old when they left, and their daughter was 5. “That experience taught me a lot about planning and adaptability,” she says. “When you are far from home with kids, you learn quickly how important it is to think ahead and take care of the people around you.” When the family returned to Indiana, Cole knew she did not want to return to teaching. A friend encouraged her to join Edward Jones as a branch office administrator, filling in across multiple offices. About seven months in, she realized what drew her in was the trust between advisors and clients. “I remember thinking, I love this part of it,” she says. “I didn’t even know what an IRA was at the time, but I knew I loved the relationships.”
> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC
Edward Jones provided the training and structure, and Cole completed the required education and licensing. “In a town like Greentown, people look out for each other,” Cole says. “If you take care of people, they take care of you. That’s how this business has grown.” Cole can be reached at jenny.cole@edwardjones.com for financial planning needs.
Finding solutions for your financial needs. We can help you get there. Jenny Cole, CFP® Financial Advisor 1622 E Hoffer St Kokomo, IN 46902 765-868-7276 EJB-19325-A-E-DA-4 AECSPAD 26294190
TownePost.com | February 2026 | 15
Townin’ Around
ELWOOD
Located in central Indiana, Elwood is a historic city with deep ties to the American political landscape, the industrial natural gas boom, and tomato production. • Original Names: When it was first laid out in 1853, the town was known as Duck Creek. It was also briefly called Quincy before being renamed in 1869 to Elwood—the name of a founder’s son— to avoid confusion with another Quincy, Indiana. • R ailroad & Gas Boom: The arrival of railroads and natural gas discoveries fueled Elwood’s early growth and industrial development in the late 1800s. • The “Heart of Hoosierland”: This is Elwood’s modern nickname, reflecting its location and its celebration of quintessential Indiana culture. • Tinplate Pioneer: In 1892, Elwood was one of the first American cities to manufacture tinplate, which helped launch its early industrial reputation. • World’s Largest Ball of Paint: While often associated with the general area, this roadside attraction is located just outside of town in nearby Alexandria, but remains a popular stop for Elwood visitors.
•H istoric Architecture: The Elwood Downtown Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for its well-preserved late 19th-century commercial buildings. •C ounty Line Crossing: The city is unique in that it straddles two counties: most of it lies in Madison County, with a small portion extending into Tipton County. •C onnection to The Blues Brothers: Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd’s character) was named after Elwood, where the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, a filming location for Jake’s release from prison, is located, making Elwood the character’s namesake and tying him to a real place of significance for the film. •W ith a 2020 population of 8,368, it is the 91st largest city in Indiana and the 3508th largest city in the United States. •E lwood’s annual Glass Festival originated in 1972 as a tribute to the city’s rich heritage of locally produced, hand-blown
art-glass. Organized by the Elwood Chamber of Commerce, the three-day festival takes place in Elwood’s Calloway Park the third weekend of August and includes a parade, vendors, food, carnival rides, exhibits, demonstrations, entertainment and contests. RED GOLD FUN FACTS • The company has over 1100 employees working in four small-town Indiana facilities (Orestes, Geneva, Alexandria and Elwood) • Grover Hutcherson founded a canning company in 1942, which eventually became Red Gold. Grover and his daughter, Fran, rebuilt the abandoned canning factory and canned tomatoes for troops at the height of the war. The company remains a family-owned business. • Three out of four consumers drink Red Gold produced tomato juice. • Red Gold is the nation’s largest provider of retail private label tomato products
Content supplied by Elwood Chamber of Commerce and old.indianachampberblogs.com
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AWAKENING AGAIN
AMG RETREATS INSPIRE TRAVEL, WELLNESS & ADVENTURE FOR WOMEN Writer / Renée Larr
Gatz says she uses the word “retreat” loosely. Unlike traditional wellness weekends filled with workshops and worksheets, AMG Retreats focus on three simple pillars: travel, adventure and wellness.
same questions.” Friendships also shift during this stage. With kids grown and schedules changing, many women find themselves increasingly isolated. AMG Retreats create intentional spaces for new bonds to form — small groups of 15 to 20 women who will, as Gatz says, “walk away feeling like they just gained a bunch of new best friends.”
“These trips are not about working through your internal issues or doing deep therapy work,” she says. “They are an avenue for women to get outside the rat race, meet new friends, explore someplace new and step a little One of the cornerstone ideas behind AMG outside their comfort zone.” Retreats is removing the fear and logistics of solo travel while still giving women Each destination includes an element of the independence of going on a trip for adventure, such as hiking, snowshoeing, themselves. fat-tire biking or other experiences women may not encounter in their daily lives. The For years, Alison Gatz was accustomed to “You’re not carrying everyone else’s passports, traveling with her family for sports trips, spring Winter Reset Retreat, for example, takes you’re not managing anyone else’s luggage. You breaks, fall breaks and everything in between. participants to Colorado for snow-filled fun But when her oldest daughter moved overseas that Midwesterners rarely embrace back home. just get in the car, go to the airport, and it’s all for you,” she says. “That alone is exhilarating.” for veterinary school, Gatz found herself “People in Colorado love the snow. They go navigating international travel alone for the While the retreats offer the community out and play in it,” Gatz says. “I want women first time. of a women’s group, participants reap the to experience that freedom again, to let empowerment of traveling independently, themselves be like kids.” What began as a hesitant journey quickly something many have never done. became transformative. Ultimately, Gatz hopes women walk away The wellness component is intentionally feeling rejuvenated, brave and reconnected approachable, offering yoga, meditation and “I was renting cars in foreign countries, with a part of themselves they may have lost access to retreat centers with modalities such driving on the left-hand side of the road, along the way. as saunas, cold plunges, red-light therapy and exploring unknown places, all by myself,” she IV infusions. These elements give women says. “It was intimidating at first, but it was so “These retreats are for women who feel burnt a taste of new practices without pressure or empowering. I felt alive again.” out, stuck or like they’ve lost their spark,” she expectation. adds. “I want them to feel alive again.” That unexpected sense of aliveness lit a For Gatz, who recently became an empty spark. If solo travel could shift something so With plans to eventually host three to four nester herself, AMG Retreats speak directly profoundly in her, how many other women might be craving the same kind of awakening? to a need she sees among midlife women — a retreats each year, AMG Retreats is poised desire for friendship, identity and connection to become a beloved escape — one that The answer became AMG Retreats, a new blends adventure, wellness and sisterhood travel-focused experience designed specifically beyond motherhood and career titles. into something deeply meaningful for women for women entering a fresh season of life “For 26 years, most of my focus was being stepping boldly into their next chapter. — empty nesters, career shifters, newly mom,” she says. “Now that my daughters single women or anyone seeking renewed don’t need me as much, I’m asking myself: For more information or to sign up for the connection, confidence and joy. ‘What do I want to explore? What are my Winter Reset Retreat, visit amgretreats.com. passions?’ Many women are asking those 20 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
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2/21
KOKOMO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS ‘LOVE & TRAGEDY’, FEATURING SERGEANT FIRST CLASS GRACE BAUSON OF KOKOMO
KOKOMO
IUK Havens Auditorium, 2300 S Washington St, Kokomo 7 p.m. Purchase tickets at Kokomosymphony.net 765-236-0251
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FEBRUARY
AROUND THE COMMUNITY, 2026
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2/8
2/27 – 3/1
KOKOMO CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS ‘THE REVOLUTIONISTS’
IUK Havens Auditorium, 2300 S Washington St, Kokomo 7:30 p.m. 2/27 & 2/28; 2 p.m. 3/1 Get your tickets online at kokomocivictheatre.org
3/4 – 4/1
28TH HIGH SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION
IUK Art Gallery, 2300 S Washington St, Kokomo
TIPTON 2/7-2/8
TIPTON GUN & KNIFE SHOW
Tipton County Fairgrounds $H Building, 1200 South Main St, Tipton Sat: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. General Admission $6, Children under 12 Free with an Adult 317-379-3341
2/13
URBAN HOMESTEAD’S GALENTINE’S NIGHT Downtown Tipton 5-8 p.m. Follow Urban Homestead on Facebook for additional vendors and information.
STOUFFER’S STOCK FARM INDOOR VALENTINE PHOTOS WITH BABY HIGHLAND “PENNY”
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Family Farm and Home, 2136 E Markland Ave, Kokomo 10 a.m.–2 p.m. $10 per person; Photographer included.
2/21,3/13
TIPTON COUNTY FARMERS’ & ARTISANS MARKET
Tipton County Event Center at the Fairgrounds 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Host to a variety of local vendors providing Homegrown, Homemade, Handcrafted goods to our visitors! Follow on Facebook for more information.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Carpet • Hardwood ∙ Laminate ∙ Tile ∙ Lvt
The Perfect Home Deserves The Perfect Floor 1003 E. Jefferson St. • Tipton, IN 46072 765-675-3230 • Steve & Carolyn Swan
22 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
Pawpular Pets AP
COOPER
JAY
KANE
NORMA JEAN
NOVA
PEPPER
ROXY
TENNE
TITAN
WILLOW
WILMA
WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU: • 24-Hour storm damage repair • Roofing repair and installation • Siding repair and installation • Gutter repair and installation • Window and door installation • Remodels
TownePost.com | February 2026 | 23
Coming in March: Home Improvement Guide FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, CONTACT KIM SENKUS kim@townepost.com (317) 501-1743
FOR VALENTINES DAY GIVE THE GIFT OF WELLNESS & BEAUTY