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Off The Water | The place to be entertained.

Volume 6, Number 22

Still Sailing Mike and Sarah Melcher celebrate 25 years of Captain Mike’s Fun Park

www.offthewater.com

Page 2 • Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014

TOURIST FOR A DAY

Off The Water, Michiana

Discover the local destinations right in your own backyard

Still Sailing Mike and Sarah Melcher celebrate 25 years of Captain Mike’s Fun Park

By JILL McCAUGHAN jill.mccaughan@leaderpub.com

B

RIDGMAN—“We’re family-oriented, and we cater to young families,” said Mike Melcher, who has been running Captain Mike’s Fun Park with his wife Sarah for the last 24 years. “This will be our 25th season.”

“It’s a place for all ages to have fun,” added Sarah. “All seven of my grandchildren have worked here over the years.

There’s always a family member present at the park.”

In fact, on opening day, May 24, Mike and Sarah were joined by three of those grandchildren—Mikey, Perry and Alex.

Remembering the fun they had growing up at the Silver Beach and House of David amusement parks, the Stevensville natives opened the fun park to provide that same sort of experience for newer generations of residents and tourists.

“We started it from scratch, my husband and I did,” recalled Sarah. “We’ve been very happy. We’ve seen children grow up.”

Captain Mike’s Fun Park took its name from Mike and Sarah’s other passion— sailing.

“Ever since we’ve been married, we’ve loved sailing, and we’ve had all different size sailboats,” Mike explained. “We wanted a theme, so we decided that a nautical theme would fit in this area. The lake is right across the highway and Warren Dunes is just down the road.”

In keeping with that theme, the park includes a mini golf course decorated with a lighthouse and several freshly-painted, salvaged boats. Flowers from Barbott Farms beautify the landscape as well.

Besides mini golf, the fun park also offers go-karts, junior go-karts for kids

Leader photos/JILL McCAUGHAN

Bumper boats and go-karts are just two of the ways families can have fun at Captain Mike’s Fun Park this summer. ages 5 to 10 and bumper cars.

“The big draw is the go-karts,” Sarah pointed out.

Perfect for warmer summer days, a water-fun area includes bumper boats, which can be piloted by children as young as seven years old, and “Water Wars,” a game that involves launching water balloons at an opponent.

“We have a lot of repeat customers who come just for that,” Mike said. “They show up in their bathing suits. People love it on hot days!”

A well-stocked game room, two “jumpshot basketball” games and batting cages round out the list of attractions.

While Mike and Sarah estimate that about 75 percent of their business comes from tourists, they also offer packages for birthday parties and other group outings that would appeal to area residents.

Furthermore, since there are no admission or parking fees, visitors can stop in for just one round of golf or a go-kart race,

or they can spend the whole day there.

“We have a picnic area, and they can bring their lunch in, or they can get food at our snack bar. We have hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, ice cream and ‘Snowies’—those are our snow cones,” Sarah said.

Located at 10975 Red Arrow Hwy., Captain Mike’s Fun Park can be reached at (269) 465-5747. They also have a website at www.captainmikesamusementpark.com.

The park is now open on weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. After June 9, they will be open daily during those same hours. Then, after July 4, the hours on Mondays through Saturdays will be extended to 7 p.m. On Sundays, the park will close at 5 p.m.

“We have a lot of repeat visitors, and they always remark on how clean it is here,” Sarah said. “That’s my thing. It has to be clean. It’s a safe environment, too.

People can feel safe bringing their kids to have fun here.”

Off The Water, Michiana

Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014 • Page 3

S Fernwood hosts S

summer camps W

hat are your kids doing this summer? Register them for one of several summer day camps, where they will learn about science, nature, and art while having fun in the gardens and preserve of Fernwood.

Fernwood's popular nature and art camps are joined this summer by our NEW science day camps. Camps run Tuesday through Friday, serving a different age group each week. Registration is easier than ever with our new online registration system.

The Jon Meyer Nature Day Camps use Fernwood's forests, ponds, river, and prairie as classrooms. Hikes along nature trails, fun games, educational activities, and crafts open children to the wonders of nature while encouraging appreciation of the plants and animals of our region. Ecology Explorers and Earth Day Adventurers camps include an overnight at Fernwood.

Animal Explorers: 5 and 6 year-olds

S

Nature's Sensors:

4 year-olds June 10-13; 9:30 to 11:30 am $60 (Members $48)

June 17-20 OR June 24-27; 9:30 am to 1:30 pm $75 (Members $60)

Habitat Happenings: 7 and 8 year-olds

July 8-11 OR July 15-18; 9:30 am to 2:00 pm $90 (Members $72)

Ecology Explorers: 9 and 10 year-olds

July 22-25 OR July 29-August 1; 9:30 am to 2:30 pm $115 (Members $92)

Earth Day Adventurers:

11 and 12 year-olds August 5-8; 9:30 am to 3:00 pm $130 (Members $104)

The Roy and Ethelbel Knauer Art Camps are an ideal complementary course to the Jon Meyer Nature Camps. These camps combine the arts with natural sciences and are designed to stimulate curiosity, appreciation, and knowledge of the natural world.

Cassatts:

S

New this year are three exciting Science Day Camps for kids. Students will learn valuable skills through hands-on experiments, activities, and exploration of the gardens and grounds.

Price for each camp is $130 (Members $104).

Register by the Friday before each camp.

Junior Botanists:

9-11 year-olds June 24-27; 9:30 am to 2:00 pm $100 (Members $80) 9-11 year-olds July 8-11; 9:30 am to 2:00 pm $100 (Members $80)

10-12 year-olds June 17-20; 9:30 am to 3:00 pm Explore the fascinating world of plants including plant life cycles, pollination, ecosystems, types of plants, and ethnobotany.

This class will also discuss hot topics like genetically modified plants.

NEW O'Keeffes: 12-16 year-olds

Mythical Monsters and Plants:

Rembrandts:

July 15-18; 9:30 am to 2:00 pm $110 (Members $88)

Monets: 6-8 year-olds

July 22-25; 9:30 am to 1:30 pm $90 (Members $72)

Audubons: 6-8 year-olds

July 29-August 1; 9:30 am to 1:30 pm $90 (Members $72)

10-12 year-olds June 24-27; 9:30 am to 3:00 pm Immerse yourself in the world of mythical and literary creatures. Students will learn about real life monster plants like the Corpse Flower as well as engaging in "potion" making through hands-on chemistry experiments.

Fernwood Planeteers:

S

10-12 year olds July 15-18; 9:30 am to 3:00 pm Get down and dirty (literally) in this camp when learning about geology, paleontology, and climate science. Students will conduct hands-on experiments to learn about the weather cycle, rock formation, and fossils and minerals.

Day camp T-shirts are available for purchase for $12 for youth sizes and $15 for adult sizes.

Visit Fernwood’s website for camp details and to register online, or call (269) 695.6491.

Off The Water | The place to be entertained.

Produced and printed by Leader Publications 217 N. 4th Street, Niles, MI 49120 Off the Water is available throughout southwest Michigan and the greater South Bend, Indiana area.

Michael Caldwell Publisher (269) 687-7700

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Jenny Yarbrough (269) 687-7726 jenny.yarbrough@leaderpub.com

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Page 4 • Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014

Off The Water, Michiana

Keep your wine just right this summer

A

bag of ice or the fridge can keep your wines chilled for any summer outing as easy as any geeky wine device.

But if you want something practical and even stylish for summer picnics there are lots of ways to chill your favorite beverage.

Wine education should always include some discussion on the proper serving temperature for red and white wine. A general rule of thumb is most people serve white too cold and red too warm. If you put your lighter bodied red wines in the fridge for 10-15 minutes, just to drop them to the upper 60-degree range, you'll be surprised how bright the fruit will taste.

The proper chilling temperature for white wine is a bit trickier. I recommend putting the bottle in the fridge for 30-45 minutes.

You'll have to experiment.

But a word of warning comes with the kitchen appliance solution. Over-

COLUMNIST

Howard Hewitt Grape Sense

Submitted photo

Keeping your wine the right temperature is important. There are lots of options to do so. chilled wines will not have the same mouth feel or fruitiness as when you get the temperature just right.

You want reds in the high 60s, while near 60 is a good

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temperature for your whites.

But if you're hosting guests on the patio, picnic table, or porch those wines will warm up in a hurry. A bucket of ice will do the trick but there are some inexpensive solutions which are stylish and fun.

The first of the many outdoor wine chillers is simply the wine bag. These are often give-aways for

wineries, wine-related promotions and such. It's a simple heavy plastic bag big enough for a wine bottle, water and ice. The wine bags are inexpensive, usually about $10. I've been given several through the years and they are eye catching on the outdoor table. Perhaps it's been my bad luck, but the 4 or 5 I've tried have all leaked and they're messy.

The next step up in the bag approach is "Chill It Bags" in colorful combinations and walls made of a safe chemical freezing component. You just throw them in the freezer and they'll keep your wine in great shape. The downside to these bags is when they freeze you must be careful in opening them back up for your bottle of wine. If you force a bottle into a frozen bag you will probably damage the bag. These bags come in multiple sizes and colors and work well.

They are also very affordable at less than $10 up to he mid teens.

The insertable chill

devices have been big the past couple of years. The insert device is often marketed as wine chiller, winesickle, and more. The devices have a long post which you freeze then insert into the wine. Most have a pour top or a pour/ aerator top for a non-messy chilling and glass of wine.

The insertable chill devices are usually under $20.

The last chiller is by far the most expensive but guarantees no mess. The Angle33 cement chiller does a great job with style.

Yes, it is made of poured cement and weighs about seven pounds. You put the cement chiller in the fridge for 45 minutes, stick the bottle in the cool concrete and your wine will stay nicely chilled for a long while – no water or ice!

The downside to the cement chiller is price at $64.99.

So no matter whether you use one of these nifty devices or a bucket and ice, get outside and enjoy those summer white and dry rose’ wines!

Howard W. Hewitt, Crawfordsville, Ind., writes about value wine every other week for more than 20 Midwestern newspapers.

Dave Carlock’s Unexposed Talent names 4th edition winners

T

he 4th and most recent edition of Dave Carlock’s Unexposed Talent has announced winners, including contestants who traveled from the Lansing and Chicagoland areas to participate. The contest showcases singing and rapping talent who record entries with Grammy-winning engineer Dave Carlock in his Benton Harbor Arts District production studio.

Round Four winners BEST FEMALE: Lindsey Lagestee, performing “Red” BEST MALE: Wes Shenker, performing “Don’t Wanna Be” BEST RAP: Austin Edick, performing his original song, “Choices” BEST UNDER-18 (overall): Madeline Schrock, performing “Defying Gravity” The winners’ videos can be viewed at www.youtube.com/dcunexposedtalent.

Carlock says the best part of the contest is the networking aspect.

“Meeting all the new talent and helping them discover what a pro recording studio experience is has been a lot of fun for everyone, including myself,” he said. “Participants get a glimpse of the self promotion and hard work necessary to succeed as a musical artist while networking with an established record producer at the same time.”

Dave Carlock’s Unexposed Talent records participants year round. If you know someone you think should be invited to participated in the monthly contest, email info to: talentspy@unexposedtalent.com

Off The Water, Michiana

Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014 • Page 5

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Leader photos/JILL McCAUGHAN

Roadside stands ready for season

N

By JILL McCAUGHAN jill.mccaughan@leaderpub.com

ILES—One of the things that makes life unique in southwest Michigan is the opportunity to enjoy the bounty of the many small farms that produce both flowers and food from the rich soil here.

Farm stands along the side of the road allow customers to buy the freshest produce while supporting small family farms at the same time.

The owner of one such farm stand, located at 201 E. Bertrand Rd., Mary Fraser grew up on a family farm in Vermont.

“My father had horses, and we had beef cattle and sheep and, of course, a huge garden,” Fraser said. “I learned a lot about gardening from both of my parents.”

After years of working as an executive secretary for a large engineering firm and raising three children, Fraser returned to her farming roots.

“I did this for 20 years back in Vermont, and I had a reputation for gorgeous mixed baskets of flowers,” Fraser said.

About 5 years ago, Fraser moved to Niles to be closer to one of her sons and his family, expanding her farm to raise and sell a wide variety of organic vegetables and cut flowers from seed. Depending upon the season, Fraser offers cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, onions, squashes, strawberries and a wide variety of perennials for sale.

“Customers will say, ‘Your plants are so healthy,’ and they are healthy! I try very hard to be as organic as I can,” Fraser explained. “In buying my own seed, I can get things that have not been genetically engineered, and I

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feel better about that.”

Little by little, Fraser has expanded her business and the services she offers. While customers can stop and buy plants to grow in their own gardens, she also makes custom planters and does landscape design. Produce from Fraser’s garden, organic eggs, salsas and pesto are also available at her stand.

“I also do this lettuce mix that people just love,” Fraser said.

Fraser is also expanding her customer base beyond the stand. Having started doing flower arrangements for weddings and parties last year, her newest activity will be raising fresh produce and flowers for Weiss’ Gasthaus in Roseland, Indiana.

“They opened about a year ago, and people tell me it’s just fabulous food,” Fraser said. “They do a lot of German food and other types of food as well. I’ll probably put in a couple hundred more red cabbages because they use a lot of cabbage. It’s just gong to work out so well!”

Fraser has also expanded by planting a garden in Galien, where she plans to grow squash, pumpkins, cucumbers and other vining plants.

While she loves working with her plants in the garden and in the seed room in her home, Fraser also appreciates the opportunity to meet new people through her stand.

“Gardening opens itself up to meeting new people and lots of wonderful experiences,” Fraser said.

Customers with questions can reach Mary at The Farm Stand on Bertrand by calling (574) 383-5569.

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Page 6 • Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014

Off The Water, Michiana

FOCUS

Find it all at Harbor Market

B

By JILL McCAUGHAN jill.mccaughan @leaderpub.com

ENTON HARBOR—At this time of year, farmers’ markets abound. On any given weekend, you’ll find one in just about every town in southwest Michigan.

What’s rare, though, is a market that includes a variety of vendors who specialize in farm produce, cottage food products, crafts, artwork and antiques.

What’s even more rare is a market that doesn’t charge the vendors a fee to participate, but rather provides them with tents, tables and help setting up—all at no charge.

Welcome to Harbor Market, where you’ll find all that—and more.

Originally the shared enterprise of Julie and Bob Montgomery and Thom Golba, Harbor Market will soon enter its third year, opening on June 6 at 510 W. Main St. in the parking lot next to Mosaic Resale Shop.

“Over the last two years, we’ve had over 150 vendors and almost 5,000 people come through the market,” said Bob Montgomery, a resident of Stevensville and an organizer of the market.

By purchasing a group vendors permit, Bob, Julie and Thom have been able to allow all vendors to come and sell their wares each summer Friday at no cost. This

Submitted photos/JULIE MONTGOMERY

At Harbor Market, shoppers can find all sorts of locally-made products—from these handmade stuffed animals from Gib’s Goods to these cupcakes from the Barfus Family. year’s hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

While the basic experience of the market will remain the same for both vendors and shoppers, something new at the market this year will be its funding structure.

“In the past, we were privately funded.

Now, we’ve joined a nonprofit, the OCCDA—the Overflow Christian

Community Development Association— which runs the Mosaic Resale Shop and Harbor Shine,” Bob explained. “That’s going to allow us to raise money through donations and sponsorships to allow for the long-term funding of the market.”

The idea for the market actually arose when the Montgomerys first heard about a

plan to raise the cost of water service in Benton Harbor.

“One trigger for starting the market came up three years ago when Benton Harbor raised the water bills. We wanted to help provide a way for people to earn the 50 extra bucks they were going to have to spend for water,” Bob recalled. “We realized that we have to bring money into Benton Harbor to get it into the pockets of the people in the community.”

Now, two years later, the Mongomerys feel as though they have achieved two of their own goals, and they are thrilled to see the success of the vendors at their market as well.

“Two goals were achieved with Harbor Market. One was that we’ve brought people into Benton Harbor, and we’ve shown them that there’s a fun, safe way to spend time there,” Bob said. “Second, we’ve provided a way for people to try out new ideas, whether it’s been cupcakes, or glassware, or many other products.”

Julie agrees, viewing the market as a community of vendors who have similar goals and who share information and ideas that lead to the greater success of all.

“It’s really hard to say which group of vendors I’m most excited about,” Julie said. “First, there are the vendors that are coming back. I just get thrilled when I see their applications coming in.”

Julie also loves welcoming new vendors to the market. They can apply and begin

Off The Water, Michiana

FOCUS grown their businesses. For example, Austin Bock now has a storefront on State St. in St. Joseph for his Bound for Freedom business,” Julie said. “Also, the Organic Gypsy started with us, and now she has her own space at Renaissance Athletic Club.”

The organizers of Harbor Market plan to continue having specially-themed market days, bringing back some favorites from last year, and trying out some new ones as well.

“We’ll be doing some new things—like Senior Day and Dog Day—as well as bringing back some of the things that were really popular,” Bob said. “The Pie Contest was really a big hit, and so was the Kids’ Day.” In fact, supervised chilSubmitted photos/JULIE MONTGOMERY dren are welcome to sell their In years past, Norleen LeClear has sold her wares—whether its lemonlocally-produced beeswax candles, lavender ade, handmade crafts, or and honey at Harbor Market. something unique—on every market day. selling at any time throughout the summer.

“I think that it’s really exciting when Applications are available at Mosaic as we see the kids getting involved in selling well as on the Harbor Market Facebook things, too,” Julie said. page or at www.harbor-market.com.

Bob and Julie hope that folks from all over “I love getting the emails from all of the area will make a visit to Harbor Market a the first-timers who are just so excited to part of their weekly routine this summer. be doing something new,” Julie said.

“It’s a simple, easy, fun way on Fridays Finally, there are the Harbor Market to come enjoy yourself, have a great success stories. lunch, and be inspired by—as well as “I just get such a kick out of people help support—small business people,” who have had success and who have Bob said.

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Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014 • Page 7

Page 8 • Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014

Off The Water, Michiana

Buchanan Art Center opens new exhibits

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UCHANAN—A public reception will be held on Sunday, June 1 from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Buchanan Art Center, and will feature four new exhibits by local artists: A Journey Through SelfExpression; Abstract Oils

by Erin Warner, Portraits;

by Alan Fore, Pure Michigan & Indiana; pastels by Mary Meehan Firtl, and Bling it On; Jewelry Design by Darlene Troyer.

These exhibits will run through Saturday, July 5th.

Painter Erin Warner (A Journey through SelfExpression) is a lifelong resident of South Bend. She graduated from St. Joseph's High School and studied at Indiana University at South Bend.

Drawing since she could grip a pencil, Warner worked mostly in charcoal, pen and ink until she experienced a "baptism by color" about eight years ago. After completing her first piece using oils, there was no turning back. Warner feels that this show is a culmination of her personal journey through the past two years – in her words, “These paintings are everyday

experiences that are expressed and put to canvas; from the joy of new life to the tragic loss of it, and everything in between.

These experiences are visual, and tangible through abstract expression.”

Portrait artist Alan Fore (Portraits by Alan) has been drawing and painting for as long as he can remember. After high school, he attended the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, where he studied for four years and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Illustration.

Over the next decade, Alan cultivated a steady freelance career doing web, literature and logo design work as well as illustration work for various publishing companies.

Five years ago, Fore turned his illustration skills and attention to the area of portraiture, where in addition to his design work; he offers portraits of adults, young people, animals and characters created in various styles. Though the process, and the nature of his story-telling are a little dif-

Submitted photo

The Buchanan Art Center’s new exhibits include works by Erin Warner (left) and Alan Fore (right) as well as pieces by Mary Meehan Firtl and Darlene Troyer. ferent than doing illustrations for publication, and his commissions are usually for a smaller audience, Fore uses traditional materials, usually pencil and paper. Fore enjoys to the one-on-one nature of portrait work to create one-ofa-kind pieces that tell a beautiful story and evoke a specific emotional meaning. Fore works out of his home studio in Buchanan, where he lives with his wife, Autumn.

An award-winning pastel artist, Mary Meehan Firtl (Pure Michigan & Indiana) received her BFA in

Painting from the Herron School of Art and is a charter member of the Northern Indiana Pastel Society.

As a former courtroom sketch artist she continues the habit of working quickly, capturing the essence of the scenery experienced on her travels via biking or hiking.

When not out on a trail or beach, Mary works as a Senior Graphic Designer at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame. Her paintings are available through CircaArts Gallery in South Bend, or the Dot Shop at the South Bend Museum of Art.

Jewelry artist Darlene Troyer (“Bling it On”) started working with precious metals over ten years ago and has recently added the element of glass fusing and copper etching into her jewelry designs. She has studied and learned from some of the best metal artists in the business including: Celie Fago, Linda Kaye Moses, CeCe Wire and J. Fred Woel. She holds a Level I & Level II certification in Metal Clay from PMC Connection. Troyer continually strives to learn the newest techniques that are available and believes

that her desire to continually learn and experiment with new techniques is what sets her jewelry apart from the ordinary.

Troyer lives in Vandalia with her husband on a beautiful 300 acre lake, which provides much of the inspiration for her jewelry designs made of fine silver, bronze and fused glass.

Each piece captures her spirit for wearable art and is unique, distinctive, and affordable and has been crafted with care to last for years of normal wear.

The Buchanan Art Center is located at 117 West Front Street in Buchanan, Michigan. The Center features three galleries with rotating exhibits of regional artists’ works, a program of educational art classes for all ages, and a gift shop offering works of local artists.

Current hours are Monday – Thursday 10 a.m.6 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Closed Sundays.

More information, including a schedule of classes, can be obtained at the Center by calling 269-697-4005, or by visiting their website at: www.buchananartcenter.org.

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Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014 • Page 9

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NOW HIRING REALTORS

Call today 269-683-4507 Coldwell Banker R. E. Specialists 1400 Chicago Rd Niles, MI 49120

TRUCK DRIVER TRAINEES

NEEDED NOW AT US XPRESS Earn $800/wk Local CDL Training NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Be trained & based locally!

1-800-882-7364

WHETHER BUYING OR SELLING

Elderly Care 307 KARE SERVICES

Compassionate Home Care Services (269)684-1984 (574)292-2900 email:KKaidanRay@aol.com www.KAREService.com

Instruction & Training

1139 Shady Shores, Niles Year round enjoyment on 200 acre, all sport, 3 bedrooms and 2 full bath home for sale. Spacious areas for entertaining both inside and out! 70’ of sandy beach. Come take a tour and see all this home has to offer!

Coldwell Banker, RWG Patty Lauten (574)340-4271 (269)663-8800

Firearm Instruction Concealed Pistol License Classes. Next Class Sat. June 21st, 8a-5p. Contact Paul: 269-462-2584 or Kelly:269-783-6570 pdkfirearms.com

Apartments 2 BEDROOM

412

Apartments Available $565/month (269)684-4500 tanglewood-niles.com Cassopolis

STONE LAKE MANOR

Senior Apartments.

2 months free on select units.

Spacious, two bedroom located on beautiful Stone Lake, Intercom entry building, elevator, emergency pull cords. Seniors 62 years or older. Rent starts at $631.00 (based on income).

Please call Toni at 269-4453333 or stop by today at 145 Stone Lake St. for more information. EHO. TDD 1800-649-3777 American Preferred 1-800-968-1792

Before selling your home in Berrien County Call Mike at (269)470-2995

Consignment

625

Turn your Closet into

CASH

Kids' clothing: newborn to teen, Baby gear & furniture, Maternitywear Accepting Spring & Summer wear Call for appointment.

Who kNew Consignment 269-782-9800 We are open Mon. - Sat. 10am-5pm, so you can replace the winter clothes your kids are outgrowing

Good Things to 636 SPRING SAVINGS ON Eat AFFORDABLE HOMES FREEZER BEEF •Preowned 2&3 bed homes

One Owner Home 2.89 Acres Pole Barn Near Baldwin Lake $136,000 Call or Text Chris Moore (269)362-5665 Freedom Realty (269)687-8484

Manufactured 502 Homes A GREAT HOME FOR LESS

309

P.D.K.

HOMES FOR SALE IN DECATUR

Integrity Real Estate Professionals would love the opportunity to serve you. Call any of our agents for professional For Rent 418 service you expect and deserve.

Dowagiac - 407 1/2 Front 269-684-5030 2 BEDROOM HOUSE Integrity Real Estate 3 Bed, 2 bath homes ready no pets, $525/month, waProfessionals to be moved into. Lease ter & sewer included.

Options at starting at $621 (574)323-1102 per month (includes lot rent, insurance, water, trash) Call Houses for Sale 500 269-423-7024 or visit 2 STORY HOUSE www.phelpscommunity.com UNION, Mi 3 bedroom, 2 car detached to view pictures garage, utility basement.

Call (269)683-2940 Mobile Homes 506

BARRON LAKE

MARKETING EXPERT

Leader Publications seeks a proven media seller.

Applicants should be able to develop advertising plansutilizing multiple platforms.

Qualifications preferred include: Advertising or other sales experience; excellent verbal and written communication skills; computer skills; and a drive for success. Valid driver’s license required.

Leader offers: competitive compensation, benefits.

E-mail cover letter, resume and references to

1729 Oak St., Niles (269)687-8340 2 Bedrooms Heat, Water, Hot Water & Trash All Paid www.coreleases.com

2 bd/1 bth, Newer appliances, New flooring throughout, Qualifies for $199 base lot rent For 24 months!

Riverside Estates Call 269-695-3119

•New 3 bed, 2 bath homes for $34,500 •Many standard features •Modular homes available Colonial Acres (269)663-2424

General Merchandise

595

NOW OPEN NILES FLEA MARKET Wed.-Sat. 10a-5p Sun. 12p-5p 111 E. Main St A few Vendor spots still available. For more info call 574-323-4187

Antiques 600 ALLEGAN ANTIQUE MARKET Sunday, June 29 8am to 4pm 400 Exhibitors Rain or Shine Located at the Fairgrounds, right in Allegan, Michigan $4.00 Admission. No Pets

PICKERS PARADISE ANTIQUE MALL

Huge Selection Of Treasures 2809 U.S. 33-M51 South, Niles (269)683-6644 10:00am - 5:00pm Daily

Cemetery Lots 617 2 BURIAL SPACES & 2 VAULTS

at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Niles. Current price $2,850. Asking $2,095. For details call (850) 878-6282

2 PLOTS & 2 VAULTS

in Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Niles, $1,900 negotiable, will pay transfer fees! (219)393-1977

CALL CLAssifieds

non GMO's, no hormones, vacuumed pack. (269)3620993

Things to Do 637 CASS DISTRICT LIBRARY http://cass.lib.mi.us (269)445-3400 Check out our online services: Freegal, Learn4Life, and more! Call for more info.

Household Merchandise FOR SALE

642

We buy, repair & clean up used appliances, refrigerators, washers, dryers, gas & electric ranges.

Geiger Refrigeration Service 841 Carberry Rd. Niles (269)687-8639 9am-5pm

HUGE SALE AT

BILL'S USED APPLIANCES Hours: Mon-Fri. 10a-5pm Sat. 10a-3pm Closed Sunday 2559 S. 11th St. Niles (269) 340-5952

Merchandise for 643 Sale YOUR E-CIG EXPERTS

Vaporizers & e-hookah Over 50 liquid flavors.

US 31 Tobacco 50552 US 31 N, South Bend (574) 271-0333

Lawn & Garden 648 OPENING FOR THE SEASON

Thursday, May 8th The Farm Stand On Bertrand Hanging Baskets, Mixed Containers, Plants Perfect Mother's Day Gifts 201 E. Bertrand, Niles

Page 10 • Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014

Garage-Yard 669 Sales 4 BIG SUBDIVISIONS!

Save time and gas!

Over 100 sales in Prairie Lane, Anderson Lake & Terri Brooke No. & So. subdivisions, Granger IN May 30-31, 9-5 Take M62 (IN 23) to Bittersweet and go south to 1st stop sign at Anderson Rd. Go east. There are 6 entrances off Anderson and Bittersweet plus 3 off Adams & Ash. Sale Maps available at 11910 Buttercup. Furniture, kids, antiques, records, housewares, collectibles.

FRYMAN'S SEAMLESS GUTTERS & SIDING FRYMAN’S ROOFING

Your home exterior experts.

Quality guaranteed! Locally Owned for 50 years. (269)7825008 (David & Terri Fryman)

HOME REPAIRS & REMODELING

Over 30 years of experience, tile work, kitchens, bathrooms, decks & porches, windows & doors, window wrapping, siding, fascia & soffit. Call Randy (269)7823139 (269)208-9838

HOME SERVICES & REPAIRS LLC

10 MARKETPLACE MIDWEST ROOFING THE CUTTING EDGE Family owned since 1984.

PRO TREE CARE Lifetime Warranty Shingles

Complete Tree Service SAME DAY ESTIMATES Insured, Competitive Rates.

269-687-4972

Pool Service 727 SWIMMING POOL LINERS & REPAIRS

Any size, great prices, all equipment, 35 years experience. Robertson’s Sales & Service, Niles. Call (269)6842669

Paving Service 739 C & C CONCRETE

RUMMAGE SALE

GIANT RECORD SALE

May 30-31, 8-6 Over 10,000 records Most LP’s $1-2, 45’s 2550C. All music types. No junk! 11910 Buttercup Ln, Granger. From M62 (IN 23), go south on Bittersweet to 1st stop sign at Anderson.

Turn left, ½ mile to Chicory, turn right. Info? (574)3291483

IMPROVEMENT

Repairs, Replacement, New Small Jobs welcome.

Licensed/Insured. Call John (269)445-7005

MK CONSTRUCTION

Pole barn & other garages specialist. Roofing Siding, Framing and more. Over 25 years experience. Licensed.

Contact Michael N. Knepple (269)476-9777

MR. MAINTENANCE FREE ESTIMATES

Roofing, Siding & Windows, Nile/Cassopolis62010 Light Hauling & Spring Anderson Rd. (Between Clean-Ups, No Inside or White St. and Pokagon Hwy) Outside job too big or small.

BARN SALE Low affordable rates.

May 30, 31 & June 1, 9-4 (269)591-1403 Ox yokes, Anvil, old steam heat radiators, vintage tools Plumbing Service 706 & glassware, kitchen items, collectibles & much more.

(269)684-4469

Wanted to Buy

672

ALWAYS BUYING

★★★★★★★★

•Junk Cars• •Free Pick Up• Cash Paid On The Spot Up to $1,500 (574)850-1222 24 hours, 7 days a week BUYING

repairable scrap and unwanted vehicles, top dollar paid. Call or text for a free quote today. Free towing.

Kevin (817)437-0450

WE WILL BUY

your junk car. We haul for free. Paying up to $1500 cash. Please call anytime 269-687-8098

Sewer Rodding• Drain Cleaning• Internal InspectionLocating• Sewer Replacement-Repair Licensed, Bonded, Insured.

(269)228-0496

POLE BARNS & GARAGES

BY NIEBOER

Quality Built (269)684-6673

POND LINERS

EPDM Rubber, Any size Lowest Prices, FREE Delivery, Huge Inventory, TRM Enterprises, South Bend.

(574)246-1922 (574) 329-9294

WEAVER CONCRETE

Turn that Junker in your yard to cash in your hand 801 Carberry Rd, Niles 269-687-5865

Misc. Services 747 BRADY CONCRETE

Specializing in Flat work of all type, seawalls, stamped concrete & Bobcat Service. Free estimates. Insured. Fast, dependable service. (269)4453349 or (269)591-0100

CASPER MASONRY

Brick/ Block/Stone. Custom & Insurance work. Insured & Bonded. (574)298-3520

COMPLETE CONCRETE

From start to finish.

Stamped, flat & dirt work.

Insured (269)663-8091

Cleaning Service

757

RICK'S POWER WASHING RVs, homes, decks, farm equip. & boat docks. Small commercial jobs. Serving Cass., Dow. & Niles. Free Estimates, Senior Discounts.

Will beat any competitors estimates.

Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Call 269-470-9507 or 269470-9498

Insurance 758 LOWER YOUR INSURANCE RATES! Home - Auto - Health - Life We do the shopping for you!

TCU Insurance Agency Call Deb Asmus today (269) 683-6700 x5901

Lawn Service 721 Horses-Livestock 809 GARDENING WITH GRASS ALFALFA CONCRETE SERVICES Driveways, Patios, Side- MIXED HAY FOR SALE INTEGRITY, LLC

walks, and Room Additions.

•Lawn maintenance, •Full Landscaping Service 15 years experience. Call Jay 269-635-4393.

• Spring Clean Ups clean beds, preen, mulch, GLEN'S HAULING & trim shrubs, edging, create GARDEN TILLING new beds & much more (269)683-8389.

Call Ellen (269)759-1012 Cell (269)340-4233 Topsoil•Stone•Etc. Landscaping 724

PEMBERTON LANDSCAPING

Spring Clean up, Mowing, Fertilization, Shrub Trimming, all Yard Maint. needed, Residential and Commercial. Licensed and Insured.

Call 574-876-1127

Tree Service 725 C & S MARSH TREE SERVICE

Trees, brush, stump removal,

BOAT FOR SALE

1999 Hurricane Sun Deck 2100 Deckboat & Shore Station Boatlift for Sale on Birch Lake in Vandalia Michigan. Selling the boat, trailer, boat cover & boatlift w/canopy as a package is my preference, however, I could sell just the boat, boat cover and trailer. The asking price for the package with the boatlift and canopy is $13,000. The price for the boat, boat cover and trailer only is $9800.

CONTACT GARY ESHLEMAN @ 317-752-2184 or garye@onesourcefinancial.info

And masonry, driveways, porches, patios, tear Motorcycles & 915 out/replace, all repairs, brick, block, stone, fire- ATV’’s places. Will fix wet base2003 YAMAHA ments big or small, inside TT-R 90, $600 or best offer, and out. All concrete flat- runs good, looks good. work $2.25 sq. ft. Land- (269)782-3139 HOPPER EXCAVATING scaping. Fast dependable McDaniel's service. Quality work. Aaron "Have Gravel Will Travel" Harley-Davidson Driveway, stone, slag, re- (269)655-4158 Stop in to check out the cycled concrete, asphalt, top Dyna Low Rider & Sportster Painting Service 754 soil, sand & fill. (269)782SuperLow 1200T. 1744/(269)783-1744 1910 Lincolnway East, South Bend Recycling Service 743 (574) 289-6650 or shop CA$H 4 JUNKERS www.mcdanielsharleydavidson.com J.M. HUNT ENTERPRISES, LLC Painting & Drywall. Insured.

Free Estimates.

Family Owned & Operated for Over RVs, Campers, 50 years. 269-683-4442.

921

Flat work of all kinds, All kinds of Project & Restamping, sidewalks, pairs. 30+ years exp. concrete patching, patios, DowagiacPokagonek Plumbing, Elect., Drywall etc. driveways and pole barns.

269-782-7919 Edawat on Daily Road No job too small. Free 269-357-4853 crossing Matthews.

Estimates.

Insured COMMUNITY JDS HOME (269)228-1163 May 30- June 1, 9am-5 Clothes, furniture, tools, appliances, and Heddon lures and reels.

Flat Roofs & Gutter Covers.

Call (269)684-7199

Off The Water, Michiana

JOE'S DUMP TRUCK

Also workers (269)782-3848

wanted

Boats, Motors 900 2005 24' ODESSEY PONTOON

40HP Honda with 6 hrs on motor. Call for details (239)322-6292 or (269)445-8801

Sand, Gravel, Top Soil, R/C BOAT AUCTION Concrete & Asphalt, Bush BUY one or SELL yours!!!

Hogging, Land Clearing.

Toons PWC Speeds Row (269)635-1143.

Motors joelowery1@gmail.com Saturday, 5/31, 3pm joesdumptruck.webs.com "Integrity - Teach it by example" Rain or Shine (Indoor) 64259 Calvin Center Road KLIMEK Cassopolis 49031 ENTERPRISES Info Dave 269 476-2222 Electrical Contracting, No Job dave@ Too Big or Small. Free Quotes. boatbutlermarine.com Affordable Pricing, Licensed & Insured.

(269)684-6290

or

(269)470-4097. high lift work, insured.

Home Improve700 (269)362-4331 or 683-1065 MICHIANA MASONRY ment leave msg.

CONSTRUCTION #1 GUTTERS DAN'S TREE SERVICE All & your Masonry needs!

We do seamless gutters. Excellent Cleanup, Insured. Chimney Cleaning. Insured & Free estimates, call Free Estimates. Visa/MC. Bonded. Senior discounts .

(269)782-0401 (574)361-9747 (269)362-1566

Trailers TRAVEL TRAILER

2010 Crossroads Zinger, 25 ft, 1 slide, full kitchen, full bath, like new, $10,000 obo.

Call 269-684-0744

Trucks, Vans, 942 4-Wh Drives 02 GMC YUKON XL

black, leather tan int., 2-4-all wh. dr., 5.3 liter, trailer equip., $5,900 (269)7827734

Autos for Sale FOR SALE

945

93 Ford Ranger Reg. Cab 4x2, 4 Cyl., 5 Spd., great runner, low mileage, and good mpg, $1,895.00 '96 GMC Sonoma Reg. Cab 4x2, 4.3 liter V-6, Auto., A/C, Cruise, Tilt, very clean, good transportation $3,495.00 '96 GMC Topkick with 20' Box Bed, $3,995.00 '93 GMC Topkick with 24' box bed, $3,995.00 2000 Feightliner, passes DOT, good tires, but now has no engine or trans. $3,000.00 2000 GMC Yukon Denali, luxury, fully loaded with heated seats etc. low mileage, $6,995.00 Please call 269-462-9260 or 269-262-6448

New Arrival at Scarlett Auto Sales!

Loaded 2010 Hyundai Elantra 36k Tax , Title and fees are your down payment $275/mo No Interest! No Credit Checks!

7979 Deans Hill Rd Berrien Center, MI 49102 (269) 461- 4197

i

and Nathaniel Paul Hoff, are the architects behind the vibrant sound known as The Bergamot. They make their first appearance on the Box Factory for the Arts stage on May 31 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, available online with PayPal at May 30 www.boxfactoryforthearts. org/calendar/#bergamot or at the door, are $10 general admission; $8 students and Jay Leno will visit the Four seniors; children 12 and unWinds Casino in New Buf- der free. falo at 9 p.m. Tickets for the event can be purchased beginning on Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. Eastern exclusively through the Ticket- Adults and teenagers can master Web site, www.tick- learn the basics of kayaking etmaster.com, or by calling with Sarett Nature Center at (800)745-3000. Ticket at North Lake Park in Steprices start at $75 plus ap- vensville at 2 p.m. The fee plicable fees. is $15. Call (269) 927-4832 to register.

May 30-31 Submit calendar events to Jill McCaughan, feature writer, by email at jill. mccaughan@leaderpub.com or offthewater@leaderpub. com or visit the Leader Publications office at 217 N. Fourth Street, Niles.

i

The Elkhart County Parks will offer a Family Campout on Friday and Saturday, May 30-31. Cost for the campout is $15 per person or $50 per family. Participants must preregister by 4 p.m. on May 23. For more information or to preregister please call the Elkhart County Parks at 574-5356458 May 31

The Everyday Angels Relay for Life team invite the public to join them for a girls’ night in from 5 to 8 p.m at the Community Church of Christ, located at 110 N. Cleveland Rd. in Galien. There is a $5 entry fee, which covers food and entry into a door prize drawing. Vendors include Thirty One, Origami Owl, Pampered Chef and more.

Brooklyn based husband and wife duo, Jillian Speece

Everyone loves animals.

Join the Curious Kids Museum from 12 to 4 p.m. for a live animal program with “Wild Tracks/Tom Moore,” featuring many species of reptiles.

June 2

Award-winning Elvis tribute artist Doug Church will provide the entertainment for the annual dinner benefitting the Frantz L. Dantzler Friends For Life Fund. The dinner will be held at Parisi’s Italian Restaurant, 1412 South Bend Ave., South Bend. A social hour will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 7 p.m. The cost is $45 per person. Come early to enjoy the social hour, raffle and silent auction.

Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014 • Page 11

WHAT'S HAPPENING? June 2 for the annual dinner benefitting the Frantz L. Dantzler Friends For Life Fund. The dinner will be held at Parisi’s Italian Restaurant, 1412 South Bend Ave., South Bend. A social hour will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 7 p.m. The cost is $45 per person. Come early to enjoy the social hour, raffle and silent auction.

June 6

The fifth annual Swinging for Sculpture Golf Outing and Party will begin with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. at Berrien Hills Golf Club.

Golfers will have the opportunity to participate in lively games and contests including the most loudly dressed and most artistically dressed golfer. Afterwards, fresh and filling food from Ray’s on the Green will be served buffet-style. A silent auction will offer unique combinations of art, food, sports and services and live music by the ever-popular Slim Gypsy Baggage will round out the evening. Cost is $140 per person. Proceeds will benefit the purchase of a new sculpture by the Krasl Art Center.

The Potawatomi Zoological Society will be hosting a wine tasting event, The Grape Escape from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Potawatomi Zoo. Tickets are on sale now and cost $35 per person and include a tasting glass, wine samplings and food sampling from area restaurants. Tickets can be purchased online at potawatomizoo.org, over the phone by calling (574) 288-4639 Monday through Friday, or by visiting any open admission gate at the Potawatomi Zoo. Proceeds Award-winning Elvis trib- from The Grape Escape will ute artist Doug Church will benefit wildlife conservaprovide the entertainment tion, new naturalistic exhib-

June 9-13 its and education programs.

For more information on Potawatomi Zoo please call 574-235-9800 or visit www. potawatomizoo.org.

The Elkhart County Parks will offer a Junior Indiana Master Naturalist Day Camp from 9 a.m. to p.m.

June 9-13. The Junior IndiRadio Harbor Country is ana Master Naturalist prohaving it’s second BikeN- gram is a state-sponsored Brunch ride. Riders will de- program designed to bring part from an artist’s private together natural resource country home near Three specialists with young peoOaks and ride 15, 30 or 45 ple ages 9-12. The camp fee mile loops through some is $90, if registered by May of Harbor Country’s most 15, or $110, if registered beautiful bike trails. Reg- after May 15. Registration istration begins at 8:30 and deadline is May 30. More the ride begins at 9 a.m. Af- information such as a tentaterward, a gourmet brunch tive schedule can be found of farm to table food from on the Elkhart County local restauranteurs and Parks’ Facebook page or by growers will be served at the calling our Administration farm There will also be a office at (574) 535-6458. tour of the artist’s studio and the WRHC radio station.

Berrien County Crime Stoppers will host a golf outing fundraiser with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The organization is seeking sponsors at various levels. Teams can sign up for $300. Send checks and entry forms to Berrien County Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 273 St. Joseph, MI 49085.

June 7

Songwriter and composer Bryan Edington will present a debut concert of his original work at the Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St., St. Joseph at 7:30 p.m.

Joining him on stage will be guitarist Joe Gyamati and singer Matt Baumgartner.

Tickets are available online with PayPal at /www.

June 10 boxfactoryforthearts.org/ calendar/#edington or at the door. Cost is $10 general admission; $8 students and The Berrien County Demoseniors; children 12 and un- cratic Women will host their der free. monthly meeting at the St.

i

Baker Park Downtown Coloma

Enjoy A Classic & Muscle Car and Motorcycle Cruise In, 9am-1pm Great BBQ Vendors and Amateur BBQ Contest

This event is organized by North Berrien Community Development For more information contact Chana Kniebes at 269-468-4430

Business

Movies

Community

Theatre

Crafts

Music

Religious

Food

i

Information

Tourist

Nature

Holiday

Parting Shots

Family

$

Shopping

Sports

Camping

Summer

Joseph Public Library. Social time will begin at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m. Benton Harbor resident, Samantha Jordan, campaign organizer, will speak. Samantha has a bachelor of arts degree in communication studies with a focus on public relations.

Samantha will speak about building relationships with the media, plugging into local women, and the social media and how to use it for political campaigning. The last event of the evening will be the regular monthly meeting of BCDW.

1,2 Bedroom apartments and 2,3 bedroom townhouses

(Rain date is June 15)

Entertainment: • Rum Boogie • Out of Favor Boys • Crossroads Resurrection • Gee Daddy’s BIG Blues Revue featuring Martila Sanders

Art

Apartments start at $435/mo.

SPECIAL: Move in by June 20th, 2014, pay your first month’s rent and security deposit, and receive your next month’s rent free!

Saturday June 14th Bring your lawn chairs & appetites to this non-alcoholic, free event, sponsored by the area merchants.

Alcohol

Spring is in the air

2014 Live Music from 2:00PM to 10:00 PM.

Kids On Stage is offering MADD Camp for beginning theatre students going into K-4th grade in the fall. The camp will take place Monday through Friday, at the Kids On Stage Theatre located at the Orchards Mall in Benton Harbor. Camp times are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campers will prepare and perform musical numbers and dance routines; make their own props, costumes and set pieces to create their own telling of Disney’s “Frozen” while performing several musical numbers from the popular movie. Registration fee for the camp is $185 with a $25 Early Bird Discount for those who register by June 1. For more information visit Doug Fordyce’s Kids On Stage at www.kidsonstage.com or call 269 313-2795.

LEGEND

$

Off The Water, Michiana

• SWIMMING POOL

• AIR CONDITIONING • 24 HR. MAINTENANCE

• COMMUNITY ROOM • SECURITY ACCESS INTERCOM SYSTEM • PLAYGROUND

Call for your own private tour of this great community

A little piece of Heaven, right here on Earth!

Arbor Trails

1615 N. 5TH St.• Niles, Mi 49120

(269) 683-1850

Page 12 • Week of May 30 - June 5, 2014

Off The Water, Michiana

GET OUT!

Tammy Umlauf, Tom Crook and their chocolate lab, Shooter, welcome both club members and the public to enjoy the facilities at Deer Creek Hunt Club.

Leader photos/JILL McCAUGHAN

Hunt club open to enthusiasts, newcomers

By JILL McCAUGHAN jill.mccaughan @leaderpub.com

T

HREE OAKS—Situated on 500 acres of fields, ravines, woodlands and rolling hills, Deer Creek Hunt Club is a beautiful location to spend a day or just a couple hours.

And, whether you have never shot a gun before in your life or you are a seasoned hunter, the club has something to offer for everyone.

“We can accommodate the whole gamut—from the beginner to the seasoned hunter,” said Tammy Umlauf, sales manager at Deer Creek. “You can come in with your own gun and your own shells and just purchase the targets that you’ll be shooting at, or you can walk in with nothing, and we can supply you with everything.”

Located at 18000 Basswood Rd. outside of Three Oaks, Deer Creek Hunt Club is a private hunting club, but the public is welcome to come in and use the facilities as well.

“We have three different structures of memberships, but you can just walk in off the street, too,” Umlauf explained. “If you want to just come in for the day and shoot, that’s an option. For

anybody who’s going to come in more often, we have memberships that will give you discounts.”

Umlauf and manager Tom Crook have been running the club since 2007, and they offer a wide variety of shooting activities for their visitors, including year-round sporting clay courses and skeet shooting, as well as live pheasant hunting from September through April.

“We have two full sporting clay courses set up. It’s like golfing with a gun,” Umlauf explained. “So, you’ll go from one shooting location to the next.

You can either walk or you can rent a cart, just like it would be if you were golfing, but you’re using a gun to shoot targets with.”

To accommodate both beginners and pros, the club has an easier course and a more difficult one.

“Every station has a different presentation of targets. There’s stations 1 through 12 on each course,” Crook said. “We have all different types of targets.

Some run along the ground

under the age of 50, you have to have a hunter’s safety course. You no longer need a preserve license in the State of Michigan,” Umlauf said. “We have safety instructors here who meet with people when they first come in and who guide them along because we get a lot of first-time shooters here.”

Like the sporting clay courses, Deer Creek’s pheasant hunts are designed with the capabilities and wishes of the hunters in mind.

“It’s a ‘put and take’ hunt. We crate the birds, and then we take them and plant them out in the field, and then the hunters will go out with the guides and the dogs and hunt them,” Umlauf explained.

Visitors can choose to have the birds planted in wild areas or in cultivated areas on the grounds of the club, and they can bring their own hunting dogs or choose to be accompanied by a professional guide and his dog.

They also offer European hunts, and they will clean the pheasants as well.

“For a pheasant hunt, 90 Leader photos/JILL McCAUGHAN percent of the time, you’ll to book it at least a day Deer Creek winds its way through the 500- want in advance, so that we can be acre hunting preserve located just outside of sure we have a guide here Three Oaks. Pheasant hunters are welcome for you,” Crook said. “Or, to bring their own hunting dogs or use a you can also come out on your own. You don’t have to guide and dog provided by the club. like rabbits, and some shoot up straight in the air.

Some twist and turn. The more difficult course changes all the time.”

On the spacious lawn in front of the c l u b house, a skeet shooting range is

set up.

“Skeet shooting is a specific game. We do that out front. It involves shooting ‘birds’—clay targets—that cross from the left and the right,” Umlauf explained.

A third option at the club is to arrange a live pheasant hunt.

“For the live bird hunting, the only thing that is required is that, if you’re

use one of our guides.”

While individuals are welcome to come out to the club and hunt or shoot the sporting clays, Deer Creek is also a great place to have corporate outings and other get-togethers, like bachelor parties. The club also offers monthly “fun shoots” throughout the summer.

“We do a lot of corporate outings here,” Umlauf said. “We can open up the restaurant for larger groups who plan their outings.

We’ve done pig roasts, or we do burgers. We can do just about anything people want.”

In fact, Crook says that many groups that used to go golfing now choose to come to Deer Creek instead.

“People just love it, and it doesn’t cost much more than golfing does either,” Crook noted.

In fact, visitors who bring their own guns and ammunition can visit the club and shoot 100 sporting clays for just $45.

More information about the services and memberships available at Deer Creek Hunt Club can be found at www.deercreekhuntclub.com, and they have a Facebook page as well. The club can be reached by calling (269) 756-6600.