2019
JULY 2019 • A SUPPLEMENT TO LEADER PUBLICATIONS
2 | 2019 LEADER PUBLICATIONS BEST OF THE BEST
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Thank you, Niles
for Making Lakeland Your #1 Choice!
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2019 Gold W inner
BEST MEDICAL FACILITY Reader’s Choice
GOLD
SILVER
SILVER
BRONZE
BEST DOCTOR
BEST WOMAN’S CLINIC
BEST DOCTOR
BEST MEDICAL FACILITY
Reader’s Choice
Reader’s Choice
Reader’s Choice
Reader’s Choice
Doug Tacket, DO
Center for Women’s Health
Rosa Johnson, DO
Southwestern Medical Clinic
Family Medicine
Southwestern Medical Clinic
Family Medicine
Primary Care
Proud to be Part of a Top 15 Health System Spectrum Health Lakeland is honored to be named a Top 15 Health System among nearly 3,000 hospitals in the United States, by Truven Health Analytics, one of the world’s leading sources of tracking healthcare quality. If all health systems operated like Lakeland, more lives would be saved and patients would have fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and pay less for care. The 100 Top Hospitals® program is a registered trademark of IBM Watson Health.™
Stay connected: spectrumhealthlakeland.org
Spectrum Health Lakeland
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2019 LEADER PUBLICATIONS BEST OF THE BEST | 3
BEST OF THE BEST 2019 WINNERS RETAIL BEST GROCERY STORE Gold: Martin’s Silver: Shelton’s Bronze: Meijer
BEST GARDEN CENTER/NURSERY Gold: Shelton’s Silver: Vite’s Bronze: Varner’s
BEST GIFT BOUTIQUE SHOP Gold: Flowers by Anna Silver: Rosy Tomorrows Bronze: The Flower Cart
BEST CONSIGNMENT/THRIFT SHOP Gold: Goodwill Silver: Who kNew Bronze: Once Upon a Child
BEST LIQUOR/PARTY STORE Gold: Crocker’s Silver: Belmont Beverage Bronze: Sunset Liquor
BEST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP Gold: Tyler Automotive Silver: Campbell Ford Bronze: C. Wimberley
BEST TIRE STORE Gold: Zolman Silver: Tire Rack Bronze: Belle Tire
BEST FLORIST SHOP Gold: Flowers by Anna Silver: The Flower Cart Bronze: East Main Garden
BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP Gold: Tyler Automotive Silver: C. Wimberley Bronze: Campbell Ford & Murdock Used Cars
BEST FURNITURE/H OME DÉCOR STORE Gold: Imperial Furniture Silver: Rosy Tomorrows & Ashley Furniture Bronze: Big Lots
BEST FARMERS MARKET/ FRUIT STAND Gold: Shelton’s Silver: Buchanan Farmers Market Bronze: South Bend Farmers Market
BEST MOTORCYCLE/ATV DEALER Gold: McDaniel’s Harley Davidson Silver: Behind Bars Bronze: Hoosier Harley Davidson
BEST PLACE TO BUY MEAT Gold: Shelton’s Silver: Lowery’s Bronze: Martin’s
BEST HUNTING & FISHING STORE Gold: Rusty Hooks Bait & Tackle Silver: Rural King Bronze: Bass Pro Shop
BEST WOMEN’S APPAREL SHOP Gold: The Marshall Shoppe Silver: TJ Maxx Bronze: JC Penney
BEST HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER/LUMBER YARD Gold: Lowe’s Silver: Menards Bronze: Judd Lumber BEST APPLIANCE STORE Gold: Camden Silver: Lowe’s Bronze: Bill’s Used Appliances BEST ANTIQUE STORE Gold: Pickers Paradise Silver: Four Flags Antique Mall Bronze: ‘Cross the Street Collectibles BEST HARDWARE STORE Gold: Redbud Hardware Silver: Lowe’s Bronze: Hales True Value
BEST OF THE BEST 2019 WINNERS DINING & ENTERTAINMENT BEST RESTAURANT IN NILES Gold: Jim’s Smokin’ Cafe at Paris Soda Co. Silver: Prime Table Bronze: Iron Shoe Distillery
BEST RESTAURANT IN ST. JOSEPH/BENTON HARBOR Gold: Silver Beach Pizza Silver: Clementine’s Too Bronze: The Buck
BEST RESTAURANT IN MISHAWAKA Gold: Corndance Silver: Cheddar’s Bronze: Longhorn Steakhouse
BEST RESTAURANT IN DOWAGIAC Gold: Zeke’s Silver: Woodfire Bronze: Wounded Minnow
BEST RESTAURANT IN HARBOR COUNTRY Gold: The Stray Dog Silver: Redamak’s Bronze: Timothy’s
BEST RESTAURANT IN ALL OF MICHIANA Gold: Iron Shoe Distillery Silver: Pizza Transit Bronze: Fat Cam’s at Garver Lake
BEST RESTAURANT IN EDWARDSBURG Gold: Fat Cam’s Silver: Fireside Tap & Grill Bronze: Stacy’s
BEST RESTAURANT IN SOUTH BEND Gold: Hacienda Silver: LaSalle Grill Bronze: Crooked Ewe
BEST RESTAURANT IN CASSOPOLIS Gold: Lindy’s Silver: Broadway Cafe Bronze: McDonald’s
BEST RESTAURANT IN GRANGER Gold: Yesterday’s Silver: Salsa’s Bronze: Temper Grille
BEST BAKERY Gold: Baker’s Rhapsody Silver: Soulard’s Bronze: Country Bake Shop BEST ICE CREAM Gold: Swirlyz Silver: Dairy Queen Bronze: Jim’s Smokin’ Cafe at Paris Soda Co.
4 | 2019 LEADER PUBLICATIONS BEST OF THE BEST
BEST OF THE BEST 2019 WINNERS DINING & ENTERTAINMENT BEST DESSERT Gold: Swirlyz Silver: Soulard’s Bronze: Yesterday’s
BEST VEGETARIAN FOOD Gold: Iron Shoe Distillery Silver: Aladdin’s Eatery Bronze: The Brass Eye
BEST WINERY Gold: Round Barn Silver: Lemon Creek Bronze: Tabor Hill
BEST PLACE TO BUY CHOCOLATE Gold: Veni’s Sweet Shop Silver: South Bend Chocolate Factory Bronze: Caruso’s
BEST BURGER Gold: Iron Shoe Distillery Silver: The Tavern Bronze: Jim’s Smokin’ Cafe at Paris Soda Co.
BEST ITALIAN Gold: Pete’s Patio Silver: Olive Garden Bronze: Papa Vino’s
BEST COCKTAILS Gold: Iron Shoe Distillery Silver: The Brass Eye Bronze: Front Street Pizza Pub
BEST MOVIE THEATER Gold: Wonderland Cinema Silver: Cinemark 14 Bronze: Loma
BEST ASIAN Gold: Ho Ping & The Brass Eye Silver: Hot Wok Bronze: SoHo
BEST BAR Gold: The Brass Eye Silver: Front Street Pizza Pub Bronze: Jay’s Lounge
BEST LOCAL FESTIVAL OR EVENT Gold: Four Flags Area Apple Festival Silver: Hunter Ice Festival Bronze: Berrien County Youth Fair
BEST MEXICAN Gold: El Amigo Pepe Silver: Hacienda Bronze: Tacqueria Don Chepe
BEST BARTENDER Gold: Katie Oleson, Brass Eye Silver: Bryan Williams, Brass Eye Bronze: Joline Fortuna, Fat Cam’s at Garver Lake
BEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Gold: Front Street Pizza Pub Silver: Vegetable Buddies Bronze: Riverfront Park
BEST FRIES Gold: Five Guys Silver: McDonald’s Bronze: Iron Shoe Distillery BEST STEAK Gold: Longhorn Silver: Jim’s Smokin’ Cafe at Paris Soda Co. Bronze: The Shed BEST SEAFOOD Gold: Red Lobster Silver: Bonefish Bronze: Fat Cam’s at Garver Lake BEST WINGS Gold: Wings Etc. Silver: Buffalo Wild Wings Bronze: Jay’s Lounge BEST PIZZA Gold: Pizza Transit Silver: Front Street Pizza Pub Bronze: Silver Beach Pizza BEST SANDWICH Gold: Jim’s Smokin’ Cafe at Paris Soda Co. Silver: Soulard’s Bronze: Pizza Transit
BEST BREAKFAST Gold: Rise N Shine Silver: Prime Table Bronze: Hob Nob BEST LUNCH Gold: Jim’s Smokin’ Cafe at Paris Soda Co. Silver: Pizza Transit Bronze: Iron Shoe Distillery BEST PLACE FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER OUT Gold: Tabor Hill Silver: Corndance Tavern Bronze: Carriage House BEST BREWERY Gold: Sister Lakes Brewing Co. Silver: Evil Czech Bronze: Greenbush
BEST SERVER Gold: Emily Mokwa, Front Street Pizza Pub Silver: Hannah Schau: Front Street Pizza Pub Bronze: Sandy Gentry, Pete’s Patio BEST COFFEE Gold: Brew Ha Ha Silver: Soulard’s Bronze: Union Coffee House BEST OUTDOOR DINING Gold: Front Street Pizza Silver: Fat Cam’s at Garver Lake Bronze: The Strand BEST FAMILY DINING Gold: Prime Table Silver: Pizza Transit Bronze: Front Street Pizza Pub
BEST LOCAL FINE ARTIST Gold: Christina Casperson Silver: Nancy Drew Bronze: Anna Drew & Tom Rose
BEST PERFORMING ARTS THEATER Gold: Morris Performing Arts Center Silver: Beckwith Theatre Bronze: South Bend Civic & Tin Shop BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN/BAND Gold: 5th & Syc Silver: Blammo & P.S. Dump Your Boyfriend Bronze: Hey Annie & Whistle Pigs BEST LOCAL DJ/RADIO PERSONALITY Gold: Big Perm, U93 Silver: Deb Millin, U93 Bronze: DJ J Remy, Jeremy Vargo BEST GOLD & COIN/PAWN SHOP Gold: Nunemaker’s Coin Shop
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2019 LEADER PUBLICATIONS BEST OF THE BEST | 5
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WHAT YOUR FRIENDS
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2019 LEADER PUBLICATIONS BEST OF THE BEST | 7
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2019 LEADER PUBLICATIONS BEST OF THE BEST | 9
BEST OF THE BEST 2019 WINNERS LIFESTYLE & SERVICES BEST PLACE TO WORSHIP Gold: Hope Community Church Silver: Summit Church Bronze: Granger Community Church
BEST PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL Gold: Ring Lardner Middle School Silver: Brandywine Middle School Bronze: Edwardsburg Middle School
BEST GOLF COURSE Gold: Orchard Hills Country Club Silver: Brookwood Bronze: Plym Park
BEST PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL Gold: Niles High School Silver: Brandywine High School Bronze: Buchanan High School
BEST PLACE TO TAKE A HIKE Gold: Fernwood Botanical Gardens Silver: Warren Dunes State Park Bronze: Riverfront Park
BEST MEDICAL FACILITY Gold: Spectrum Lakeland Silver: St. Joseph Regional Medical Bronze: Southwestern Medical Clinic
BEST PLACE TO BIKE Gold: Niles Riferfront Park Silver: McCoy’s Creek Trail Bronze: Dr. TK Lawless Park
BEST EYE CARE PROVIDER Gold: Niles Vision Clinic Silver: Great Lakes Eye Care Bronze: Smoke Vision
BEST CAMPGROUND Gold: Fuller’s Resort & Campground Silver: Potato Creek State Park Bronze: Warren Dunes
BEST PHARMACY Gold: Walgreen’s Silver: Rite Aid Bronze: Martin’s
BEST PLACE TO WORK Gold: United Federal Credit Union Silver: Shelton’s Bronze: Southwestern Michigan College
BEST WOMEN’S CLINIC Gold: Cassopolis Family Clinic Silver: Southwestern Medical Clinic Bronze: South Shore Women’s Clinic
BEST SPA/MASSAGE CENTER Gold: YMCA of Southwest Michigan Silver: Evolve at Inner Journey Healing Arts Center Bronze: Massage Life
BEST DENTIST Gold: Dr. Beckermeyer Silver: Dr. Gourlay Bronze: Dr. McGill
BEST BANK/CREDIT UNION Gold: United Federal Credit Union Silver: Honor Credit Union Bronze: Teacher’s Credit Union
BEST DOCTOR Gold: Douglas Tackett, D.O. Silver: Dr. Rosa Johnson Bronze: Dr. Toby Mitchell
BEST AUTO REPAIR/BODY SHOP Gold: Millin Automotive Silver: Precision Auto Bronze: Marsh Auto
BEST RETIREMENT, ASSISTED LIVING, NURSING Gold: West Woods Silver: Brentwood Bronze: Woodland Terrace of Longmeadow
BEST PLACE FOR AN OIL CHANGE Gold: Sparkle Quik Lube Silver: Millin Automotive Bronze: G & G Auto Service
BEST BOSS Gold: Brian Pruett & Stacey DeMaio, Buchanan High School Silver: Greg Wright, Shelton’s Bronze: Jimbo Shelton, Shelton’s BEST TEACHER Gold: Donna Dodge, Northside Silver: Leslie Johnson Conyers, St. Mary’s Bronze: Bonnie Prenkert, Eastside BEST LOCAL COLLEGE Gold: Southwestern Michigan College Silver: Lake Michigan College Bronze: University of Notre Dame BEST PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Gold: Howard-Ellis Elementary Silver: Brandywine Elementary Bronze: Eastside Connections
BEST HEARING AID CENTER Gold: Harrington Hearing Aid Service Silver: Berrien Springs Hearing Center BEST COSMETIC SURGERY Gold: Dr. Stephen E. Zucker Silver: Center PC
BEST HAIR STYLIST Gold: Becky Lapham, Creative Cuts Silver: Michelle Johnson, Envy Hair Studio & Samantha Hamilton Fozo, Pure Rituals Bronze: Sonia Stancombe, Nicholas J. Salon
BEST REALTOR Gold: Brian and Debbie Floor, Integrity Real Estate Silver: Julie Capron, Listing Leaders Bronze: Kyle Zelmer, D. MottL Realty Group LLC
BEST HAIR SALON Gold: Nicholas J. Salon Silver: Pure Rituals Bronze: Envy Hair Studio
BEST LANDSCAPING SERVICE Gold: Owens Lawn Care Silver: MAAC Property Services Bronze: AJL Landscaping
BEST NAIL SALON Gold: Popular Nails Silver: Niles Nails Bronze: Envy Hair Studio & Nail Connections
BEST INSURANCE AGENCY/AGENT Gold: Hagen Insurance Agency — Meemic Insurance Agent Silver: Scott Stewart, State Farm Bronze: IMS
BEST FITNESS CENTER OR PLACE TO WORK OUT Gold: YMCA of Southwest Michigan Silver: SLR Pilates Bronze: Redbud Fitness
BEST VETERINARIAN Gold: Bergman Veterinary Small Animal Silver: River Valley Equine and Small Animal Clinic Bronze: Dr. Kenneth Seifert, Town and Country Veterinary
BEST HEATING AND COOLING SERVICE Gold: Michiana Heating and Air Conditioning Silver: Home Comfort Experts Bronze: Robert’s Service Company
BEST PET SERVICES/GROOMER Gold: Shampoochie Dog Salon Silver: Bittersweet Pet Resort and Stables & The Grooming Shop Bronze: Bunk & Biscuit BEST PLUMBER Gold: Hood’s Plumbing Silver: Robert’s Service Company Bronze: Krueger Septic Service BEST LIBRARY Gold: Niles District Library Silver: Buchanan District Library Bronze: Dowagiac District Library BEST FUNERAL SERVICE PROVIDER Gold: Brown Funeral Home Silver: Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Services Bronze: Hoven Funeral Home & Starks Family Funeral Homes BEST ATTORNEY Gold: Jim Mollison Silver: Bob Landgraf & Mowitt S. Drew III Bronze: Bill Landgraf
10 | 2019 LEADER PUBLICATIONS BEST OF THE BEST
BEST OF THE BEST 2019 WINNERS LIFESTYLE & SERVICES BEST HOME IMPROVEMENT Gold: Lowe’s Silver: Menards Bronze: Astrong Construction LLC & Epic Builders Roofing & Floyd Brown Remodeling
BEST WASTE REMOVAL Gold: Michiana Recycling and Disposal Silver: Borden Waste Away Service Bronze: Best Way Disposal & Republic Services
BEST COMPUTER SERVICES Gold: Custom Computer Company Silver: Fisher Innovative Technology Bronze: IT3 Computer Solutions
BEST SEASONAL ACTIVITY Gold: Niles Scream Park Silver: Fishing
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Thank you to the community for voting for Southwestern Michigan College as the Best Local College.
ONE COLLEGE
—Dr. David Mathews, President
SO MANY REASONS TO GO Go because we can get you started on nearly any degree for half the cost of universities. Go because we have the best housing and campus life around. Go because the 240-acre campus is safe, beautiful and always busy with activity. Go because you’ve got big plans for life.
There’s still time to apply, register and get scholarships and housing for Fall!
Go to swmich.edu today to fill out the free application.
2019
SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
As a Michigan public community college, Southwestern Michigan College operates under the supervision of a locally elected board of trustees. The seven board members serve six-year terms and represent a broad range of backgrounds and geographic locations within the college’s service area. Members of the board serve their constituents without compensation.
Thomas F. Jerdon Chairman
Keith H. McKenzie Vice Chairman
William M. White Secretary
Becky Moore Treasurer
Beth J. Cripe Trustee
Dr. Elaine Foster Trustee
Dr. Heidi M. Grabemeyer-Layman Trustee
Southwestern Michigan College is an equal opportunity institution. For the full statement visit swmich.edu/campus-services/safety. Southwestern Michigan College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.