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Orchestra hosts dueling pianos evening............................. p.2

Week of January 17-23, 2014

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Volume 6, Number 3

Food Miles The distance food travels from the field to your table.......p. 2

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Food Miles

Page 2 • Week of January 17-23, 2014

Off The Water, Michiana

ON DISPLAY

The distance food travels from the field to your table

By JILL McCAUGHAN offthewater @leaderpub.com

THREE OAKS­—The idea of locally-sourcing foods is gaining increasing traction, especially in areas with rich agricultural histories like southwest Michigan.

While huge agribusiness corporations seem bent upon finding more ways to increase their profits by globalizing food production and distribution, concerned citizens and organizations are leading the way towards tying food production and consumption back into local communities.

One such initiative is the “Lexicon of Sustain-ability,” a multiplatform web-based project that advocates for sustainability in agriculture.

The project can be found at available at www.lexiconofsustainability.com.

Their premise is that a new collection of terms — such as “food miles” and “carbon footprint” — has sprung up around the concept of locally-sourcing foods, and by learning the meanings of those terms, people can learn more about the reasons for sustainable food production as well.

One way that organizers hope to achieve a greater awareness of this project is through a traveling exhibit

of 24 photographs.

“It’s art about food — about growing food and agriculture and their relationship,” explained Paula Bartholome, author of the blog “Garden to Table” and co-publisher of “Edible Michiana,” a quarterly magazine.

“I saw the show last summer in Goshen and was impressed by its message and the creative approach to telling it,” Bartholome said. “I think that the 24 photographs tell an important piece of the sustainability story and work together to provide a way to see the depth and breadth of

the topic.”

With a goal of sharing that message, Bartholome has organized a pop-up art exhibit in partnership with Journeyman Distillery, located at 109 Generations Dr. in Three Oaks, Mich.

There, guests will have the opportunity to view eight pieces of original photographic art created by Douglas Gayeton from 12 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 18 and 19.

“Journeyman is a perfect place to host an event like this,” said Mike Prelaske, general manger of the distillery. “We are a 100% organic

distillery. We are a grain-tobottle facility, and all of our grains come from Michigan, Illinois or Wisconsin. We try to keep it as local as possible with our menu, too.”

In honor of the event, Journeyman has created a unique cocktail, Owl in the Orchard, which will only be available on that weekend.

“It features our W.R. Whiskey, our house-made triple sec and fresh blood orange juice,” said Prelaske.

“It’s delicious, and it’s a beautiful drink.”

“There will also be representatives from other organi-

zations that are doing a variety of things related to sustainability there,” Bartholome said.

Among those organizations will be the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, whose “Keep It Blue” project works towards educating the public on issues of water quality.

In addition, a representative from Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve will be present to discuss their efforts at sustainability.

“Someone from the Village of Three Oaks will be on hand to answer questions about their community garden

as well,” Bartholome said.

“There will also be information regarding the Niles Entrepreneurial and Culinary Incubator.”

“There will be an opportunity to sign up for CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture. That is a program that enables people to pay a fee and then share in a farmer’s produce,” Bartholome explained. “There will be some folks there from different farms that people can talk to.”

Bartholome has planned two more similar events for the spring and summer of this year. Interested parties can find more information about them on the Facebook page for Art of Sustainability, a group for people concerned with sustainability in southwest Michigan.

“I would like for people to be able to see the posters and build some conversations around local food sustainability and start thinking about that in a new way,” Bartholome said.

“It’s going to be fun. A lot of cool people are going to be there,” Prelaske said. “It’s a good reason to break out of the house and get out in the middle of winter.”

SMSO hosts dueling pianos show

By JILL McCAUGHAN offthewater@leaderpub.com

ST. JOSEPH­—On Jan. 31, residents of Michiana will have the opportunity to enjoy a high-energy performance from Dueling Pianos International while supporting the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra at the same time.

“We’ve used this company in the past, and they’re wonderful, just wonderful,” said Loretta Holmes, marketing and education coordinator for the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. “People had a wonderful time last year.”

In fact, this event is so popular with audiences that the performers have played to capacity crowds the past two years.

“In past years, it has been sold out, so much so that this year, we’ve opened up the venue to expand the space for more people to attend,” Holmes said. “It will take place at the Vineland Center at 1155 Vineland Rd. in St. Joseph.”

For those who are unfamiliar with this genre of performance, a “dueling pianos” show involves two pianists who take turns playing requests from audience members, interspersing humor and sing-a-longs among the songs they play throughout the evening.

Audience members are invited to tip the pianists when they make a request, and the size of the tip may influence the priority the musicians give to that particular song. When it comes to college fight songs in particular, bidding wars between alumni and students of those colleges may arise.

“One of the highlights of the evening is the college fight

Submitted photo

Performers with Dueling Pianos International will entertain supporters of the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra on Jan. 31 songs,” said Holmes. “Audience members just love that part of the show.”

The pianists will also acknowledge special occasions that audience members are celebrating that evening, playing requests for songs that have special meanings for those who have requested them. The musicians may even call particular audience members up onto the stage.

“They do a shout-out for anniversaries and birthdays, and they kind of poke fun at the audience members in a fun way,” Holmes explained.

For that reason, event-goers are invited to use this performance as a venue for their own celebrations. It is possible to reserve an entire table that seats eight guests, but individual

tickets are also available at a cost of $30 each.

While the performance itself begins at 7 p.m. and doors for the show open at 6:30 p.m., audience members are invited to arrive earlier for an optional buffet dinner which begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $15 each, and they must be purchased in advance.

The dinner menu includes Italian herb chicken, mostaccioli, a house tossed salad, green bean amandine, red skinned potatoes and rolls with butter. A cash bar will also be available throughout the evening.

As a fundraiser for the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, the evening will also include a silent auction.

“One of the highlights is that we have a silent auction for gift certificates that we obtain from our sponsors, and people can bid on them,” Holmes said. “It’s one of our annual fundraisers that helps us tremendously.”

One auction item that has drawn intense bidding in the past is a $100 gift certificate to Four Winds Casino. Other businesses and organizations that will provide gift certificates include Renaissance Athletic Club, Celebration Cinema, Silver Beach Pizza and the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, just to name a few.

More information about the event is available by calling the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra office at (269) 982-4030 or by visiting their website at www.smso.org, where tickets can also be purchased. More information about the performers can be found at www.duelingpianoshows.com.

“It’s a great way to beat the winter blues, get out of the house, and have a really good time,” Holmes said.

Off The Water, Michiana

Week of January 17-23, 2014 • Page 3

GET OUT!

Snowmobilers loving wild winter, so far

By JILL McCAUGHAN offthewater @leaderpub.com

CASS COUNTY­—The abundance of snow in southwest Michigan this year has helped make it a great season for those who love all types of winter sports, and snowmobiling is no exception.

“This year’s been better than the last two years for snowmobiling,” said Norm Krupp, president of the Edwardsburg Snowmobile Club and owner of Krupp’s Power Sports in Edwardsburg, Mich.

And, when there’s more snow, interest in snowmobiling tends to rise as well.

“My email always picks up when the snow is good,” said Jeff Robinson, co-president of the Airline Snowmobile Club in Dowagiac, Mich.

With snow like we’ve had this year, southwest Michigan is a popular place to get involved in the sport.

There are a number of statesponsored and private clubs in the area, and the Michigan DNR has a well-regulated program that funds itself through trail permit sales.

“I venture to say that there’s no state in the country with such an extensive trail system that is kept up so well,” said Robinson.

Folks who would like to try snowmobiling for themselves have a few different options, one of which would be riding along with a friend or neighbor who owns a sled.

“That’s what gets a lot of people started,” Krupp said.

“They see their neighbor out there and say, ‘That looks like fun,’ and they talk to s them a little bit, maybe go d for a ride, and then, the next t thing you know, they’ll be in t to see us or some other dealer, looking to get started.”

- “I lived on a road with d snowmobile traffic, and one - of my neighbors had one,” Robinson said. “If you can go riding with a friend, that’s really ideal.” r Another way to get a taste e of the sport is to rent a snowmobile.

“Rental is not cheap, but it’s money well spent if you’re not sure if it’s somes thing you want to get into,” , said Robinson. “There is a y great place north of Baldwin called Wolf Lake Lodge. g There are also several places in the Cadillac area.”

“Most of the rental places e rent gear and everything right with it, and you can go out and try it,” Krupp said. “And if you like it, you may invest

in your own stuff.”

“That would be a great ‘try it before you buy it’ opportunity,” agreed Don Munro, a former president of the Airline Snowmobile Club.

The website for Pure Michigan, available at www. michigan.org, provides a list of locations where snowmobiles can be rented, including Leader Marine in Kalamazoo,

great place to get a used sled,” Robinson said. “Norm Krupp in Edwardsburg has been in it for many, many years. He’s a Ski-Doo dealer.

Also, Glenwood Snowmobile Sales in Dowagiac is a good one. That’s an Arctic Cat and Polaris dealer.”

“Talking to friends and neighbors is also a good way to find a used sled,” Robinson said. “If you’re smart about

Leader photo/JILL McCAUGHAN

Norm Krupp, owner of Krupp’s Power Sports and president of the Edwardsburg Snowmobiling Club.

Mich. The website for the Driftskippers Snowmobile Club, www.driftskippers. com, also has a number of links on it that can help people find more information on a range of snowmobile-related topics.

If a person tries out snowmobiling and wants to get further into the sport, the next step would be to buy a sled.

“I’ve always said, reputable dealers in the area are a

it, you can get a sled for under $2,000. It’s not going to be the biggest, it’s not going to be the fastest. …

But, are the people who paid a lot more for their sleds having any more fun than I am?”

Visiting the Michigan DNR’s website, at www. michigan.gov/dnr, is also an important step to take when getting involved in snowmobiling. All of the rules and regulations that govern the

sport are discussed there, including information about safety classes, trail maps, registrations and trail permit stickers.

“If you’re under 16, you have to take the DNR’s snowmobiling class,” Robinson said. “I took it with my children, and I recommend that everyone takes it.”

Joining a snowmobile club offers some advantages to people who are just starting out in the sport. There are two types to choose from: private clubs that have their own trails — like the Airline club, and state-sponsored clubs that are involved in the upkeep of state trails — like the Edwardsburg club.

“With a private club, like Airline, the trails are not groomed, but there is a lot less traffic. If you like to have the trail to yourself, and if you have younger kids, the private club is the way to go,” Robinson said. “We can ride on our trails and not pass anybody all evening. We’re more of a grassroots club.”

“We have 25 families in the club,” said Robinson.

“All of the members are like an extended family. We have 55 miles of trails. It’s a smaller-scale operation than the others around here.”

On the other hand, statesponsored clubs, sometimes referred to as “grant sponsors,” provide members with many more miles of groomed trails. Clubs like the Edwardsburg Snowmobile Club and the Four Flags Snowmobile Club provide the volunteer labor that keeps the state trails maintained and groomed.

“At last count, there were 68 grant sponsors in the state, maintaining about 6,500 miles of trails. It’s a multi-million dollar program, and it’s well maintained,” Krupp said.

“Our grant covers the 99 miles that we maintain. Four Flags in Niles has got about 55, I think, and there are four other clubs in the area that take care of different segments, and they all interconnect. We have the most of anybody in this part of the state,” Krupp said of the Edwardsburg club.

More information about several clubs can be found on their web pages, including www.airlinesnowmobile. com, www.edwardsburgsnow.com and www. fourflagssnowmobileclub. org. Most clubs also have a Facebook page.

Whether folks choose to rent a snowmobile for a weekend or to buy a sled and

join a club, snowmobile enthusiasts have many reasons to look forward to a winter full of snow.

“I’m passionate about it because it is my escape,” Robinson said. “I encourage people to get out and give it a

chance.”

“It’s just a really good time,” Munro agreed.

“There’s just something really fun about sliding across the snow under the stars at the end of the evening on a snowmobile.”

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Page 4 • Week of January 17-23, 2014

Off The Water, Michiana

CUISINE SCENE

Yesterday restaurant 'pops up' in Soe Cafe

By JILL McCAUGHAN offthewater @leaderpub.com

SAWYER­—There is some good news for local diners who may have been saddened to learn of the closing of the Soe Café in November of last year.

Chef Brandon Baltzley has made arrangements with the owners of the restaurant, located at 12868 Red Arrow Highway in Sawyer, Mich., to use the space for a pop-up restaurant, Yesterday, beginning on Jan. 17.

“We met up with the owner when we heard what happened,” Baltzley said, “and he agreed to let us use the property.”

The pop-up restaurant will only be open to serve dinners from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, and then a bar menu will be available from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. on those nights. A Sunday brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Baltzley strongly sug-

gests that guests make reservations in advance because he and his team have intentionally capped the seating capacity to 40 persons per night.

“We want to put out really well-executed food, thoughtfully and carefully,” Baltzley explained. “This is more for fun and teambuilding than it is to make a buck.”

“People should make reservations by calling (508) 367-9762. They can use the Soe Facebook page — we will post menus there every week — but they should definitely call to make reservations,” Baltzley said. “We will take walk-ins, but we’ve already had a really good response for the first two weeks, and we don’t want anyone to be disappointed because we’re full.”

The name, Yesterday, relates to Baltzley’s concept for the restaurant, which is a nostalgic approach to well-loved recipes from “The Joy of Cooking.”

However, he will be preparing each of them with an unconventional twist.

“We’re definitely tweaking the recipes,” Baltzley said of menu items such as the pigs in a blanket, which he plans to serve with bacon jam, fennel relish and hot pepper jelly. Similarly, the liver and onions will be prepared with calves’ liver, caramelized shallot and buttermilk juniper sauce.

If prospective patrons do not see a dish that catches their fancy on this week’s menu, Baltzley encourages them to return to view the offerings for the following week.

“We’ve put out the first week’s menu, but it’s going to change every week,” Baltzley said. “The entire menu will flip the following week.”

Baltzley’s desire to pay homage to the past while innovating can be seen not only in the menu for Yesterday, but also in his vision of the permanent farm-to-table restaurant that he plans to open later this year.

That restaurant, TMIP— which stands for “The Most Important Part”— will be housed in a century-old

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farmhouse that stands on Exterior Farm, located at 8734 W. 400 N. in Cool Springs Township, just outside of Michigan City, Ind. Baltzley purchased the farm in May 2013, and despite the shortened growing season, he was encouraged by the bounty of the first year’s crop.

Built on the idea of sustainability in food production, Baltzley hopes to create a restaurant that specializes in all-native American foods, the majority of which will come directly from the farm.

“I have Cherokee in my family — quite a bit — and we’re trying to catch the eye of Michelin, to achieve a Michelin star rating,” Baltzley explained. “There has been a big trend in doing native foods throughout the world, but nobody else is do-

ing Native American foods.”

With that goal in mind, Baltzley and his three associates—a farmer and two cooks—are working hard to balance extensive renovations in the farmhouse, the growing of their crops, and the running of the pop-up restaurant.

“Right now, we spend half of our week working on the farmhouse and half of it on cooking,” Baltzley said. “One of the cool things about doing this thing at Soe is that we’re ordering food from local farms and finding out the

best places to get certain ingredients. It’s good to be smoothing out those connections for when we open up TMIP.” At both restaurants, Baltzley hopes to cater to those diners who appreciate efforts towards sustainability and unique approaches to the dining experience.

“Although we’d like to supply everything for the restaurant from the farm, we’ve come to realize that won’t be entirely possible,” Baltzley said. “But, it will definitely be as local as possible.”

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Off The Water, Michiana

Week of January 17-23, 2014 • Page 5

FOCUS

Women’s Service League presents “A Night in White”

By JILL McCAUGHAN offthewater @leaderpub.com BENTON HARBOR­—For those in search of an elegant evening of dinner and dancing in support of a worthy cause, the Women’s Service League will be presenting its 55th Annual Charity Ball, “A Night in White,” on Saturday, Feb. 8.

“It’s a great night out in February, and it’s a little something different to do,” said Deb Akin, chair of the charity ball committee.

“This year, the charity that we have chosen to support is the HERBIE Clinic.”

“As a co-administrator of the clinic, it is an organization that is very near and dear to my heart,” Akin said.

“The HERBIE Clinic is named after the late Dr. Herb Atkinson, a well-known, caring and compassionate local doctor,” Akin said. “It provides medical care for people who slip through the cracks, those who don’t have private health insurance or government assistance.

Many of them do work, but for various reasons, they don’t qualify for insurance or any assistance.”

Housed in the Salvation Army in Benton Harbor, Mich., the clinic was founded by Dr. Sherry O’Donnell and Sandra Lemley four years ago.

Dr. O’Donnell and Dr. Michael Mayle are currently the co-directors of the facility, which is run entirely by volunteers. Therefore, all donations go directly to caring for the patients.

“We’ve had people who used the clinic when they needed it and then came back later as volunteers,” Akin said.

“Dr. Atkinson’s wife, Frieda, and his daughter, Effie, attend the clinic each month as well,” Akin said.

“They will be attending the ball as our as guests of honor. Majors Mike and Ruth McKee of the Salvation Army will also be guests of honor.”

The ball, which will be held at the Berrien Hills Golf Club, 690 W. Napier Ave. in Benton Harbor, Mich., will be a formal affair with suggested attire being white dresses; black tie is optional.

“It’s a wonderful event for current Women’s Service League members and our supporters to connect and enjoy an evening of dancing and delicious food - all while supporting and showcasing an amazing local charity like the HERBIE clinic,” said Nicole Coar, president of the club.

“Last year’s ball was fabulous,” Akin said. “It’s a really elegant, well-done event, but it’s also fun because it’s not stuffy. This year, it’s a white-themed evening, so decorations are going to be all white, like a winter wonderland.”

The evening will begin with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., with dinner served at 7:30 p.m.

“Ray Mays will be doing the in-house catering for the event,” Akin said.

“It will be a plated dinner and there will also be hors d’oeuvres.”

“Our entertainment will be Mike Struwin, a guitarist who is a well-known and popular musician.

He’ll be playing during the cocktail and the dinner hour,” Akin said. “Starting at 9 p.m., Mark Durocher, a D. J. from Midwest Family

Broadcasting, will be playing music for us and keeping the dance floor full.”

“We will also have a photo booth and a silent auction,” Akin said.

Tickets for the event are $80 per person or $150 per couple, and half of the ticket price is tax-deductable.

Tax forms will be available at the event. RSVPs will be accepted by Deb Akin at (269) 921-3427 or duakins@comcast.net. More information about the event and the Women’s Service League is also available online at www.womensserviceleague.org.

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3 Bed, 2 bath homes ready to be moved into. Lease Options at starting at $621.00 per month (includes lot rent, insurance, Household Mer642 water, trash) Call 269-4237024 or visit chandise www.phelpscommunity.com FOR SALE to view pictures Used & reconditioned washers, ranges, dryers, refrigerators & freezers.

Geiger Refrigeration Service 841 Carberry Rd. Niles (269)687-8639

UPDATED HOME

Only $490/MO! 2 bd/1 bth, Newer appliances, New flooring throughout, Call Riverside Estates Buchanan, 269-695-3119

Auctions

603

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YOU NEVER KNOW AUCTION HOUSE AH:21000020

53847 N. Park Ave. Elkhart, IN. Every Fri. at 5:30p.m. Now taking clean big & small consignment.

Drop off merchandise SatThurs Daily 10-5. Pick-up available. Someone here at all times. For more details call David (574)522-1020 or Trish (574) 206-6296 #AU01042788

medium size refrigerators working or not,

washers, gas & electric ranges. Call (269)687-8639

WE WILL BUY

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

Home Improve700 ment FRYMAN’S ROOFING FRYMAN'S SEAMLESS GUTTERS & SIDING

Your home exterior experts.

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

HOME REPAIRS & REMODELING

Over 25 years of experience, tile work, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, decks & porches, windows & doors, window wrapping, siding, fascia & soffit. Insured! Call Randy (269)782-3139 (269)208-9838

JDS HOME 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 TAX SEASON IS HERE years experience. Licensed.

BILL'S USED APPLIANCES Contact Michael N. Knepple Washers, Dryers, Stoves, (269)476-9777 Fridges for all budgets, start MR. MAINTENANCE at $100. Inventory always FREE ESTIMATES changing. 2559 S. 11th St. Roofing, Siding & Windows, Niles (269) 591-7922 Light Hauling & Spring Clean-Ups, No Inside or Merchandise for 643 Outside job too big or small.

Sale Low affordable rates.

(269)591-1403

YOUR E-CIG EXPERTS

Vaporizers & e-hookah Tree Service 725 Over 50 liquid flavors.

PAYNE'S TREE US 31 Tobacco 50552 US 31 N, South Bend SERVICE (574) 271-0333 Tree Trimming & Removal.

Stump Grinding & Firewood.

Bargain Buys 668 Bobcat & Concrete Work.

Insured. (269)663-8091

USED BOOKS FOR SALE

Jak's Books, 210 Water, Benton Harbor. (269)3694876

Wanted to Buy BUYING

Recycling Service

743

CA$H 4 JUNKERS

672

repairable scrap and unwanted vehicles, top dollar Turn that Junker in your yard paid. Call or text for a free to cash in your hand quote today. Free towing.

801 Carberry Rd, Niles Kevin (817)437-0450 269-687-5865

Off The Water, Michiana

i

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 St., Niles.

Range Line Rd., Niles, MI 49120. For more info, visit www.fernwoodbotanical. org or call (269) 6956491.12:15 to 1:30 p.m.

Now - Jan. 31, 2014

The Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce presents its 1st Annual Ice Ball during the Hunter Ice Festival at the Bell Building, 305 N. 3rd Street, Niles, MI. This Black Tie (optional) event features a silent auction fundraiser to support community non-profits and charities. Red carpet, paparazzi, music, dancing, drinks, food and fun. Tickets are $40 single $70 couple and available at www.nilesmi.com/ice-ball.html or (269) 683-3720. 7 p.m.

Michigan Apple Committee’s amateur apple recipe contest. More info at www.

MichiganApples.com Dec. 6-Feb. 2

South Bend Museum of Art Student-Faculty Exhibition. View the artwork 100 local artists— students and teachers—of all ages who have created art in our studios during the past 12 months. Jerome J. Crowley Community Gallery. SBMA, Century Center, 120 South Saint Joseph Street. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 12-5 p.m. For more info, visit www. southbendart.org or call (574) 235-9102.

Dec. 15 – Jan. 20 Registration period for the Krasl Art Center’s Winter 2014 classes for adults and children. For more info or to register, visit www.krasl. org or call (269) 983-0275.

Krasl Art Center, 707 Lake Blvd. Saint Joseph, MI.

Jan. 17

“Shoot” An All Photography Juried Show.

Opening reception and awards ceremony. Free and open to the public. Show runs Jan. 17-Mar. 1, 2014.

Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI. For more info, visit www.boxfactoryforthearts. org. 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Jan 9. – Feb. 27

1-year anniversary party at Players Bar & Grille. Free buffet at 5 p.m., drink specials all night, DJ and dancing from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

221 Main St., St. Joseph, MI. Visit www.playersstjoe.com or call (269) 9824000 for more info.

Winter Yoga at Fernwood.

Thursdays with Greta Hurst.

Walk-ins are welcome. $10 (Members $8). Fernwood Botanical Garden, 13988

Dowagiac Conservation​ Club. All you can eat fish fry. Open to the public. $9.00 for adults and carry outs, $4.50 for kids 12 and under. Fish, mashed pota-

7 HALF CLASS

WHAT'S HAPPENING? toes and gravy, mac and cheese, green beans, coleslaw and dessert. For carry Discover Winter Nights. $2 outs, call (269) 782-5508. admission per person for 4:30-7 p.m. cross-country skiing, sledding, refreshments, and Jan. 17-19 other activities. A small parking fee is also charged.

Dr. T.K. Lawless Park, 10th Annual Hunter Ice 15122 Monkey Run St., Festival, Downtown Niles, Vandalia, MI. Call (269) MI. Celebrate the legacy of 445-4456 or visit www.

The Hunter Brothers Ice & c a s s c o u n t y m i . o r g / Ice Cream Company as C o u n t y P a r k s / World Class Masters trans- DrTKLawlessPark.aspx form more than 27 tons of for more info. 5 to 9 p.m. ice into art. Events and activities include Texas Ice Fights, the Frigid 5k Run, a 5th Annual Winter Delights history of ice carving Festival. 23 Michigan winexhibit, a warming center, eries and several oocal resa kids’ craft area, an inter- taurants and business will be active family fun ice park, on hand to provide samples. a chillin’ ice bar, and a Bryan Lubeck will perform.

Sunday chili crawl. Call Tickets are $35 in advance, (269) 687-4332 or visit $40 at the door. Grand http://uncoverniles.com/ Upton Hall, Mendel Center, festivals-events/hunter-ice- LMC, 2755 E. Napier Ave., festival for more info.

Benton Township, MI. Visit www.winterdelightsfestival.

Jan. 17-Feb. 2 com or call (269) 927-1221 for tickets and more info.

5-9 p.m.

“Leading Ladies,” South Bend Civic Theatre, Wilson Theatre, 403 N. Main St., Annual Book and Bake South Bend, IN. Tickets Sale. Wesley United are $18 on Fridays, Methodist Church, 302 Saturdays and Sundays and Cedar Street, Niles, MI. All $15 on Wednesdays and books 50 cents. Warm bevThursdays. Performance erages while you browse. 9 times are 7:30 p.m. a.m.- 2:30 p.m.

Wednesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets available online at www.sbct.org or by calling (574) 234-1112. The Niles Service League’s annual pancake breakfast during the Hunter Ice Jan. 18 Festival. Bell Building, 305 N. 3rd St., Downtown Niles, MI. Proceeds will be Ski or snowshoe the full used to support the basic moon at Sarett Nature needs of children in our Center, 2300 Benton community. Tickets can be Center Rd., Benton Harbor, purchased ahead of time MI. Fee is $5. Call (269) for $5.00 or you can pay at 927-4832 for more info. the door. We will also be 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. raffling off a 23” TV at

CLASSIFIEDs Misc. Services 747 KLIMEK ENTERPRISES

Electrical Contracting, No Job Too Big or Small. Free Quotes.

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Painting Service

754

Motorcycles & ATV’’s 15% off!

915

Installation of Officially Licensed Harley-Davidson J.M. HUNT parts & accessories.

ENTERPRISES, LLC Through Feb. 28th only.

Painting & Drywall. Insured. McDaniel's Harley Davidson, Free Estimates.

Family 1910 Lincoln Way East, SB Owned & Operated for Over (574) 289-6650 50 years. 269-683-4442.

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Week of January 17-23, 2014 • Page 7

Auto. ServiceRepair

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Sell It FAST In the Classifieds 683-4804/888-725-0108

Autos for Sale 945 2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT

low mileage at 29,500, all power, V6, remote start, many extras. Excellent condition. $10,300. (269) 635-3694 or (269)9328431

2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4 Door Sedan Very nice 46K Miles No credit checks 0% Interest Call Scarlett's 269-461-4197

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Moving out of state. 2008 Mitsubishi, 2 door convertible, GS Spider, clean, retail price $10,125 or best offer. (269)921-3315

$5.00 per ticket. Visit us on Facebook for more information. 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

Chikaming Open Lands Winter Fun Outing. Crosscountry ski, snowshoe, or hiking outing and potluck at Love Creek Nature Center, 9292 Huckleberry Road, Berrien Springs, MI. For more info or to RSVP (before 1/17), call (269) 469-2330 or email jdrackley@chikamingopenlands. org. Ski rental: $10. Trail passes: $4 per person. Park entry fee: $3 per vehicle for Berrien Co. residents, $5 per for non-residents. Meet at 11:00 a.m. Return for Potluck lunch 12:30-1:30 p.m. Bring a dish to share.

Mark Dvorak. Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI. Ticket prices are $10 general admission; $8 students and seniors; children 12 and under are free. For more info, visit www.boxfactoryforthearts.org. 7:30 p.m.

Ornamental and Edible: A Garden Design Workshop.

Let us help you transform your landscape into an edible, eco-friendly, and downright delightful experience.

For gardeners of all skill levels. All necessary materials provided. $30 (Members $24) Fernwood Botanical Garden, 13988 Range Line Rd., Niles, MI 49120. For more info, visit www.fernwoodbotanical.org or call (269) 695-6491. Register by Jan. 17. 1-4:30 p.m.

LEGEND

Alcohol

Art

Business

Family

Community

Focus

Crafts

Music

Food

Religious

Information

Tourist

Nature

Theatre

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Parting Shots

Winter

Century Center, 120 S. Saint Joseph St., South Bend, IN. Call (574) 2359102 or visit www.southbendart.org/education for more info.

Jan. 21

Jan. 19 Knitted Critters. Knitting instructor, Nan Crofoot, will teach the techniques for knitting playful critters in two Sunday sessions.

Experienced young knitters also are welcome. Supply list provided. $50 (Members $40) Register by Jan. 7.

Fernwood Botanical Garden, 13988 Range Line Rd., Niles, MI 49120. For more info, visit www.fernwoodbotanical.org or call (269) 695-6491. 2-5 p.m.

Jan. 20 Jumpstart your Creative Engines at South Bend Museum of Art. Art Classes start the week of Jan. 20.

Our 8-session classes for adults and kids. Classes are offered in a variety of media from painting and drawing, to weaving, jewelry and ceramics. SBMA,

Snowshoeing for seniors (age 50+) Every Tuesday for four weeks on the trails of Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park in Osceola, IN. Warm up following the walk with coffee and a light snack. Instructions, snowshoes and poles will be provided. In the event of no snow, enjoy a winter walk in the woods. $12/ person for all 4 sessions Register by Jan. 15th by calling (574) 654-3155.

Program Dates are Jan. 21, 28, and Feb. 4, 11. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

South Bend Civic Theatre will hold auditions for The Wiz from 6-9 p.m. in the Social Hall at First United Methodist Church, South Bend, IN. Please enter through the West Door into the basement. For more info, visit www.sbct.org or call (574) 234-1112.

Page 8 • Week of January 17-23, 2014

TOURIST FOR A DAY

Off The Water, Michiana

Discover the local destinations right in your own backyard

Andrews University Museum offers unique collection

By JILL McCAUGHAN offthewater @leaderpub.com BERRIEN SPRINGS­—If you thought you had to travel all the way to the Field Museum in Chicago, Ill. to see a real wooly mammoth, think again. In fact, the most complete skeleton of a mammoth to be found in Michigan is on display in Berrien Springs, Mich., at the Andrews University Museum of Natural History.

“It’s not a Field Museum, obviously,” said Dr. H. Thomas Goodwin, professor of paleobiology and chairman of the biology department at Andrews, “but we do have quite a nice collection of stuff.”

“Certainly, our most famous draw is the mammoth. We have what we call the ‘Prillwitz mammoth,’ which was found on the Wesley Prillwitz farm back in the early 1960s,” Goodwin said. “By direct line of flight, it would be two miles away from here, but it’s slightly further by car.”

“When Mr. Prillwitz was having a pond excavated, dredging it to make it deeper, he ran across this mammoth, and it is the most complete mammoth ever found in Michigan up to this point,” Goodwin said. “It’s a very nice specimen.”

While the museum has a nearly-complete skeleton of a mammoth on display, it also has the tusk of a mastodon which was discovered in southwest Michigan.

“We have the tusk of a mastodon, what we call ‘the Carmichael Mastodon,’” Goodwin said. “These tusks were excavated near Watervliet back in the 1970s.”

According to Dr. Goodwin, “Mastodons were more common here in Michigan than the mammoths, in a ratio of about four to one, probably because of the environment.”

Visitors can learn more about the differences between the two species of extinct mammals when they visit the museum, and they can also learn about animals that currently live in both Michigan and in other parts of the world.

“We have two areas of better coverage,” Goodwin said. “One would be local specimens, and we have quite a collection of both mammals and birds from Peru.”

“The museum, really, is specimens, but it also has a cially mammals and birds,” and a shell collection.” really don’t have signifikind of an old-fashioned quite a nice teaching col- Goodwin said. “We also “The shells were donat- cant scientific value, but museum with the stuffed lection of specimens, espe- have quite a few insects ed by an individual. They they have a nice display value,” Goodwin said.

“They’re cool. They have nice variation.”

“We have a crocodile skull. We have bears, just lots and lots of different things. And then, we have a series of casts, including an extinct lion that used to live here in the United States, a saber-toothed cat — the smilodon, and a giant beaver. We have a number of Ice Age casts,” Goodwin said. “We have various teeth of mammoths and mastodons. We have a number of hominid skull casts as well.”

“If a school group is doing something on diversity, and they want to do something locally, we have quite a nice collection of specimens,” Goodwin said.

“Typically, when groups come here to visit, they spend a half an hour or 45 minutes,” Goodwin said. “We also have a green house up on the top floor that has a tropical room and a desert room and so on, so sometimes when school groups come, some of them will want to do that — visit the museum and the greenhouse.”

Individuals and families with children are also welcome to visit the museum.

Although it is not open on a regular basis, visits to the Andrews University Museum of Natural History can be arranged by calling Mayra Robertson in the Biology office at (269) 4713243 during normal business hours. The museum is located in G. McCready Price Hall, 4280 Administration Dr., on the Andrews University campus.

“With a little bit of Leader photos/JILL McCAUGHAN advanced notice, we’re Clockwise from top-left: Butterflies on display at the Andrews University Museum of happy to do that — to open Natural History; The Andrews University Museum of Natural History; Dr. Goodwin, Profes- it up and let people come sor of Paleobiology, with the Prillwitz Mammoth; A pangolin and an armadillo, specimens take a look,” Goodwin said. “We have that happen on display at the Andrews University Museum of Natural History. on a fairly regular basis.”