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Celebrating Life in Middlebury, Indiana
DECEMBER 2020
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Outdoor Living Tackling the Pumpkinvine Dr. Carla Gull
Virtual 5K Resolution Run
Joyfully Said Signs Chris Wheeler
Art Spotlight Julie Shyposki
6 8 11 15
On the Cover – Who’s ready for all the sweet treats that come with the holidays!
Advertise with us Share your message with every home and business within the Middlebury School Corporation. We mail the magazine to homes and businesses throughout the Middlebury School District and publish it online. Your ad can reach each home for as low as 1.5¢ per address. Design is free with purchase of your ad. Our Account Managers are here to help, just give us a call at 574-825-9112.
Advertising deadline for the January issue
is December 10.
CONTRIBUTORS: PUBLISHER:
William Connelly
EDITOR:
Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher
ADVERTISING: Middlebury Parks Department, 7 Legion Auxiliary, 9 Scholar Athlete, 10 Carter Stoltzfus New Commit, 15 Chandler Brandes Winter Art Contest, 17
J.E.S. Recognized, 19 Raider Sport Complex, 20-21 Shouts, 22 Give a shout of gratitude Northridge Athletics, 24-25 Christmases Past, 27 Gloria Salavarria
Scott Faust
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Magdalena Franke
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Carla Gull, Chris Wheeler,
Julie Shyposki, Chandler Brandes,
Gloria Salavarria and Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Russ Draper, Linnea Wheeler and Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020 3
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
DECEMBER WEEKLY MON: TUES: WED: FRI:
Table Games, Greencroft – 6:30 p.m. Euchre, Greencroft – 6:30 p.m. Middlebury Exchange Club, Essenhaus – 6:30 a.m. Optimist Club Breakfast, Essenhaus – 6:30 a.m.
MONTHLY AMERICAN LEGION DINNERS 5 -7 p.m., Public welcome 1st Friday: All-You-Can-Eat Fish by the Legion 2nd Friday: Grilled Smoked Pork Chops by Legion Riders 3rd Friday: Bottomless Soup & Sandwiches with Dessert by Auxiliary, 2 soups to choose from, $8 4th Friday: Sandwich Baskets by SAL 5th Friday: Lasagna dinner by Boy Scout Troop 7 Last Saturday: Steak Grill – Call 825-5121 for more info 1ST & 3RD MONDAYS: Town Council Meetings at Town Hall – 6 p.m. 1ST & 3RD WEDNESDAYS: Middlebury Men’s Club Meetings at the American Legion – 7 p.m. 2ND AND 4TH MONDAYS: Middlebury Lions Club - 7 p.m., American Legion Hall
What’s Happening Online
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4 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020
Editor’s Note I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering how we’re already so close to the end of this 2020. It’s been a roller coaster of a year, and has flown by as such. Like many other life events of 2020 I’m sure this year’s holidays will look very different for a lot of us. With perhaps less traveling and smaller gatherings. Personally instead of focusing on the things I can’t have or can’t do this winter I am focusing on the things I can. Although our home won’t be abuzz with company we will be able to focus more of our attention on our immediate loved ones, and I’m quite ok with that. Inside this issue I hope you enjoy some articles about the holidays, some fun recipes as well as a story about a local company that invests all of it’s efforts to bring Joy into the homes of people through their work. I hope December finds you and yours blessed and full of love. - Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher
12/8
Birthdays
Payton Konecny, 12
12/23 Preston Konecny, 10
12/10 Tricia Bryan
12/26 Henry Knox, 11
12/15 Carrie Mayer, 42
12/26 Gracie Barksdale, 9
12/23 Isabella Furfaro, 14
12/29 Leland Barksdale
Henry, hope your birthday is da bomb! Love you! Mom & the Gang
Anniversaries
12/1 Billy and Tammy Wiesman, 20 years
Happy 20th Anniversary! Billy and Tammy Wiesman
Norman & Elma are celebrating 50 years of marriage!
12/19 Norman & Elma Miller, 50 years They have a son Rodney, wife Connie & two children (Goshen) and a daughter Teresa, husband Scott & three sons (Sebastian FL)
Have a celebration in January? Let us know by December 10.
inMiddlebury Magazine  | DECEMBER 2020 5
OUTDOOR LIVING
Brett Mitchell strolls with his rollator on the Pumpkinvine.
Tackling the Pumpkinvine
Step by Step
The Pumpkinvine is a multiuse trail used by many on wheels.
The Pumpkinvine passes along Krider “Worlds Fair” Garden.
Pass by the meandering Little Elkhart River on the Pumkinvine.
Photos by Carole Mitchell & Dr. Carla Gull Diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Ataxia in 2011, Brett Mitchell follows the call of nature, despite physical limitations which affect balance, coordination, and life functions. Self-described as a “A nature loving free spirit, and music fan, living in a disabled body, taking life one day at a time,” Brett took his goal to walk the entire Pumpkinvine trail this year one step at a time as it is one of his favorite places to battle his disability. Due to his disability, hard surfaces can be difficult to navigate; however, Brett pushes through with his heavy duty rollator on hard packed trails, sand, and grass. He mentioned, “Nature may have given me Ataxia, but Ataxia has not stopped me from enjoying nature. I’m just more careful.” He walks softly and takes a break in the grass when he needs it. Over the summer, he said, “I’m disabled, but healthy enough to outside and enjoy nature on warm sunny days. And lately, that has been AWESOME!” Brett started his journey to walk all the Elkhart County portions of the Pumpkinvine on June 4th at Abshire Park. He finished all the sections back at Abshire Park on August 4th, walking it a section at 6 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020
a time. He said, “It didn’t feel like work. I enjoyed the time, scenery, and the people I passed along the way.” Brett especially enjoys the area near Abshire park and the area near mile marker 4-5, between CR 26-33. He really enjoys the woods, scenery, and farmland. He grew up in East Goshen and has enjoyed this area for quite some time. Even after accomplishing his goal, Brett continued to walk. He mentions that nature is cheaper than therapy and is grateful for accessible trails he can use for an afternoon walk. He advocates for at least 20 minutes in nature daily, though will spend up to 2 hours on a hike if the weather is favorable. In fall he mentioned, “Another beautiful afternoon, another great nature walk!” Brett has a can do attitude and regularly connects to nature through walking the Pumpkinvine. He also encourages others to get outside, “Don’t wait to get outside until something happens that changes your life. Do it now, don’t wait for disability or retirement. Make time for it now.” Dr. Carla Gull blogs at www.insideoutsidemichiana.com and podcasts as Loose Parts Nature Play. She is often seen with her four tagalong explorers in the greater Michiana area.
2020 Accomplishments
Tree Lighting Cancelled
The Park Christmas Tree Lighting event scheduled for December 5th has been cancelled due to increased Covid instances and public gathering restrictions. The Town Christmas Tree will be lit at dusk on December 5th. Please make this part of your family tradition and come at your leisure to take family photos following proper social distancing.
2021 Flower Fund Drive
Town residents: Don’t overlook the annual request for donations to the Town Flower Fund which will be included with your December water bill. Thanks for your support to keep our town beautiful!
Although most of our park events had to be canceled this year due to the pandemic, that doesn’t mean the parks and staff were idle. People appreciated the opportunity to be outdoors more than ever this year. Here’s a partial list of the things that staff achieved this year: • The Dutch Windmill in Krider World’s Fair Garden received a facelift. Steel siding was placed over the wood siding, and the top and fans were repainted. • Lloyd Bontrager Gazebo in Memorial Park was rebuilt with recycled plastic poly lumber. • Trestle Bridge was resurfaced with new decking and extended railing. • A trail counter was added to Pumpkinvine Nature Trail (PVNT). Average weekly count this summer was 3,800 with the highest single day count of 1,527. • “Stop ahead” stencils were painted on PVNT to encourage trail users to be safe. • Volunteer Trail Stewards Program was initiated. • A new bathroom was designed to be built along the PVNT near Krider World’s Fair Garden in 2021. • The new landscaping project at East Park was begun. • We planted our 13th annual Quilt Garden and participated in the Elkhart County Quilt Garden Tour. • Vinyl ribs on the toadstool at Krider World’s Fair Garden were refurbished. • New gutters were installed on East Park Pavilion • A new kiosk was added at Olde Mill Park • Tree water bars were added along the trail at Riverbend Park • And, of course, park staff provided and maintained the light pole flowers and other annual plantings as well as the many lovely, trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, and other accessible outdoor spaces everyone needed this year more than ever!
Thank you!
Thanks to Star Fleet for once again sponsoring the Parks page in inMiddlebury. This page has proven to be our most effective means of communicating with the greater Middlebury community. Photo Credits: Tree Lighting photo by Gloria Salavarria Statue, Quilt Garden and Begonias photos by John McKee Giant Toadstool photo by Tom Enright THIS PAGE SPONSORED BY
SAFE
TIMELY
DEPENDABLE
inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020 7
My husband was raised on a farm in Shipshewana by his grandparents, Davis and Elma Norris. I had the incredible privilege of getting to know Elma and being welcomed into her family; she was a woman of faith and wisdom, witty, full of laughter, and a fantastic cook. Her pies were one of her specialties. I still remember making this pie with her, side by side in her farmhouse kitchen--she in her early 90s; me, a young wife trying to learn a recipe that my husband loved-both of us knowing that Elma was passing on the gift of a favorite dessert, one that was not only filled with delicious taste but which also nourished the soul with countless memories of family gatherings and love.
This is my favorite stuffing and has been in our family for generations:
Great Grandma Voeller’s Sausage Stuffing 2 Packages of Farmer John’s sausage ½ Onion minced 2 Stalks of celery sliced thin 1 Loaf of bread toasted Turkey neck, heart, gizzards Turkey broth from cooking the neck, etc. Cover the turkey parts completely with water and boil gently until tender. This takes about 10 minutes or so. Cut the turkey parts in to small pieces. Toast bread and tear into
small pieces. Cook sausage according to package directions. Remove from pan. Add the celery and onion to the pan and sauté in the sausage grease until tender, about 5 minutes. In a large bowl, mix the bread, celery and onion, turkey pieces, and sausage until well mixed. Add broth a little at a time until all the bread is moistened. You don’t want it soggy, but well moistened. Place the stuffing inside the turkey and roast until done. - Nicki Myers
Grandma Elma's Old Fashioned Cream Pie Ingredients: 3T Flour 3T Butter, cold, cut into six squares or so 1C Sugar 1/2C Half and half Enough whole milk to fill the pie pan the rest of the way 1 pie crust (homemade or store bought) Nutmeg for sprinkling on top
Green salad !
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line an 8 or 9" pie pan with pie crust. Pour flour, sugar, and butter on top of crust and mix these three ingredients together with your fingers until you have creamy and crumbly consistency. Pour cold half & half and milk to fill up the pie pan (I love her measurement there. The trick is to fill it to the bottom of the edge of the crust--too much milk and your pie will not set; so, err on the side of too little milk, not too much, the first time you try this recipe.) Stir the milk and the flour/sugar/butter together with your fingers. Sprinkle nutmeg on the surface of the pie.
Throw it in a bowl mix her up and chill over night.
Put the pie in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Then, turn the oven down to 350 and bake for an additional 50 minutes. Remove pie when it is beginning to brown and you can gently shake the pan and see that the cream is beginning to gel. Cool on a wire rack before slicing (it will get thicker as it cools). Enjoy the pie and the memories of making and sharing it! - Carrie Norris
Mmmmm family favorite. 1 Big tub of cool whip 1 Can crushed pineapple 1 Can mandarin oranges (Both drained of course) 1 Package of pistachio pudding mix. 1 Small package of mini marshmallows
-Melissa Williams
Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies 1C Brown sugar 1C white sugar 1C Soft butter (not melted) 2 Eggs 1 tsp. Baking powder 2 tsp. Baking soda 1C Sour cream 1 tsp. Vanilla 51/2 C Flour Cream sugars & butter together till creamy. Add eggs & beat well. Add rest of ingredients except flour & beat together till well blended. Add flour. Chill for an hour or more . Roll out on floured surface & cut with desired cookie cutter. Bake at 350° till edges are just starting to brown & middle is set but not brown . Frost when cooled.
8 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020
Frosting: 1/4 cup soft butter 8 oz soft cream cheese 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla Add water till desired consistency -Anna Chupp
First Virtual
5K
Resolution Run
benefitting the Middlebury Food Pantry SIGN UP ON RUNSIGNUP AT
https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Anywhere/ MiddleburyResolutionRun2016 • Complete your run/walk anytime on January 1st, 2021 • Submit a picture and/or time to FaceBook, "Resolution Run" page, @middresrun and be entered in a drawing for a variety of fun gift cards.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
RUN • WALK • GIVE
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP US HELP OTHERS, PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM AND RETURN WITH YOUR TAX DEDUCTABLE DONATION TO:
Middlebury Food Pantry / Resolution Run 13307 County Road 16 • Middlebury, IN., 46540
Sponsor Information Business Name Mailing Address Email Address Best Person to Contact Sponsorship Amount $ We would also like to encourage your participation in the virtual event! Please log on to RunSignUp at https:// runsignup.com/Race/IN/Anywhere/MiddleburyResolutionRun2016 to find out how you and/or your representatives can register for the Resolution Run this year. All participants that submit personal Virtual Run photos and / or Run times, will be entered in a drawing to win one of many gift card to shop and /or eat locally. Contact us TODAY!! Like us on Facebook at Resolution Run and Middlebury Food Pantry.
inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020 9
NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
SCHOLAR ATHLETE
OF THE MONTH
CARTER
STOLTZFUS My name is Carter Stoltzfus. My parents’ names are Chad and Eliza Stoltzfus. I am a senior at Northridge. The past three years I was in two sports, basketball and soccer. This year, my senior year, I decided to also try kicking for the football team. So I now play three sports, Basketball, Soccer, and Football (Kicking). There are a couple things I enjoy a lot about playing for Northridge. I really enjoy competing with my friends and representing the community of Middlebury. I also really appreciate the support the community gives to not just me, but all the athletes here at Northridge! My future plans are to play college basketball, and I am also leaning towards majoring in sports management.
Elite credit
10 inMiddlebury Magazine  | DECEMBER 2020
Joyfully Said Signs Investing in Joy Article by Chris Wheeler Photos by Linnea Wheeler Chelsea Gorsuch (Haarer) was born and raised in Middlebury, and spent her summers on entrepreneurial endeavors, such as a handmade bracelet business or a sprawling backyard library complete with individual library cards for every neighbor. She would go on to bring this enterprising spirit into a variety of ventures as an adult, until five years ago, when she began the adventure that would eventually become Joyfully Said Signs. The space they occupy now has grown to two floors in the old popcorn mill on East Warren toward Shipshewana, shared with the Mustard Seed Marketplace and Objects Antiques. In just five short years, co-owners Chelsea and her husband Wes have gone from renting out a small section in the east corner to taking over a majority of the building. Their vision for the future is like their business: bursting at the seams. On average, the Gorsuches and their growing team of over 17 employees (six of whom are full-time) ship out 200-250 packages a week - and that number ramps up significantly during the holidays. During sales, it can climb to 700 shipments per week. The team at Joyfully Said Signs design, paint, stencil, and frame all of their signs in-house; they also sell their favorites in home decor and unique gifts from local artisans. A visit to their workshop is like entering a cozy home, flowing naturally from exquisite displays of pottery, furnishings, art, and high-detail wooden photo signs into a workshop where you can watch the signs being made and framed. And all of this began with a few signs for their own home and a social media post. “It was the perfect combination - I loved
decorating our home, and the power of words. The words that you see get planted inside of you, and you have the ability to surround yourself in your home with words that mean something to you.” Chelsea grew up in Highland Hills, and Wes grew up outside of the township of Wawaka, near Ligonier. They met through a mutual friend at an anatomy class at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, where Chelsea was studying psychology and Wes studying nursing. Wes recalls: “I was not the most studious person, and I was questioning whether or not we would have an anatomy final. We ended up studying together. I still remember that night in the student center, seeing an angel...” Before he waxes too eloquent, Chelsea laughs and redirects him, “There was an instant connection. The rest is history!” For those readers who may doubt the value of anatomy class, consider that this encounter sparked many future study dates and culminated in a wedding, 16 years of
inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020 11
marriage in January, and three children (Claire, 10; Millie, 8; and Corban, 4). Chelsea went on to get her masters in school counseling, while Wes worked nights in critical care at Berrien General. Eventually their path led them back to Middlebury, where Chelsea worked as a school counselor at the middle school for 8 years. About five years ago, the Gorsuches were preparing to welcome Corban to their family when the seed of Joyfully Said Signs was planted. Chelsea began dabbling in making signs for her own home, and shared a few on social media. People started asking her to make signs for them, and she soon opened an Etsy shop and within six months moved the operation into the location on East Warren. Wes was a constant support, eventually transitioning into part-time at his nursing job and helping out framing the signs two days a week. “At the one-year mark, she was trying to make the decision to go back or make a go at the sign business, and I said, let’s just go for it and see what happens! I’m a dreamer, and I know she can do anything she puts her mind to.” As demand began to skyrocket, he transitioned into fulltime at the shop, driving loads of signs around to customers, framing, and generally taking care of anything extra
12 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020
that needed to be done. Chelsea would make the signs (with invaluable help from friends and family) in addition to marketing through social media, email, and connecting with influencers. Their most exciting challenge has been scaling up their operations to keep up with the demand, whether by inventing a sliding laser tool to ensure their stencils were level, or transitioning from recycled Pumpkinvine Cyclery boxes for shipping to custom packaging from Welch in Elkhart. They’ve collaborated with designers and influencers to create unique products, and curated seasonal collections called Joy Boxes, complete with style guides and favorite gifts from local artists. And they visit Varns and Hoover three times a week for paint. As they’ve grown, Chelsea has been able to work less on the day-to-day aspects and more on hiring, marketing, and building the business. Wes now focuses on general operations and helping to develop their growing staff, finding time to do three hours of sign-painting a day, run the forklift, and help manage the property. Both of them can’t say enough about how wonderful their people are. “We couldn’t do what we’re doing at all without our dedicated and talented team!” From the beginning, Joyfully Said Signs has been a community effort. Both sides of the Gorsuch family have been
available from the start to help stencil, stain frames, and market products. The kids come in to stain and trim signs, and help make up shipping packets. Both sets of parents are retired and live a mile in either direction, and often stop by to help out with staining, tending the plants in the window boxes, and arranging the seasonal displays. This sense of hospitality and community is core to the Gorsuches vision for Joyfully Said Signs, and is one of the reasons Middlebury is a perfect fit for them. “We both love the small-town atmosphere and community. There’s not a focus on the grind or hustle and bustle. It’s a slower pace of life; a beautiful place to live and work. It’s a place worthy of people coming in and investing. We’re excited to add to that.” The Gorsuches have a long-term vision for making the Mill into a community-driven space, hosting events like their summer artisan market, which (pre-COVID) hosted up to 1000 people, and Christmas at the Mill (check out their schedule at www.joyfullysaidsigns.com for the latest events). They hope to expand the farmer’s market, spark more collaborations with local artisans, and host live music events with local talent like Julia James and Sam Brown in the acoustic-friendly amphitheater the grain bins create. The Gorsuches’ focus on home-grown values and investing in Middlebury has served them well, as evidenced by a return customer rate well above normal industry standards and continually escalating demand, just shy of Joyfully Said’s fifth anniversary in February. The Gorsuches have rooted themselves in their community, determined to serve it, grow with it, and make products worthy of it. “We want to encourage people when they come in and help them find a sign that will make their home feel more like a refuge, a place where they can find rest. We want to inspire a life well-lived through the mediums of visual art and reminders that you can choose joy, you can be happy despite what’s going on. Our mission is to tend things well here and take care of our community.”
Do you know someone in Middlebury with a great story to tell?
Introduce us! Contact Chris at chriswheelerwrites@gmail.com with your recommendations, and they may show up in a future issue.
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14 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020
NEW COMMIT
The University of Louisville has scored their third early verbal commitment for the 2022-23 season from diver Jiselle Miller of Middlebury
Featured in Swimming World Written by: Chandler Brandes
represent Louisville in the Fall of 2022, GO CARDS!!”
She will join Jordan Durocher and U.S. National Junior Teamer Rye Ulett as a member of the Cardinals’ Class of 2026.
When she arrives on campus in the fall of 2022, Miller will add her talents to a diving squad led by Abigail Andrews, Ellie Dodd, Else Prassterink, and Kayla Wilson and coached by Ryan Rougeux. She’ll be joining a program that produced recent graduate Molly Fears, the first Cardinal diver to ever earn Honorable Mention All-American honors and represent Team USA.
Miller trains with the Indiana International School of Diving under coach Burns Robert. At the USA Diving Zone C Championships in 2019, she placed third on the 3-meter board. She then went on to compete on that board at the USA Diving Junior National Championships, advancing to the semifinals with a 13th-place finish. Currently a junior at Northridge High School, Miller dove to 13th place on the 1-meter board as a sophomore at the Indiana State Championships after taking eighth during her freshman season. Regarding her commitment, she said: “I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and diving career at the University of Louisville. The program’s commitment to team unity, hard work and excellence is what draws me to the “Ville.” Their facilities and staff are absolutely second to none. I want to give a special thank you to all of those who supported me along the way, my parents and family, friends, teammates, Coach Bob and the Indiana International School of Diving. I can’t wait to
Celebrating
History was made in 2019 for the Cardinals as they became the first ACC program in history to have both its men’s and women’s teams finish among the top-five in the team standings at the NCAA Championships in the same year. Highlighted by a pair of national titles for Mallory Comerford, the women’s team recorded their highest finish in program history with a fourth-place showing at the 2019 NCAA Championships. Their score of 235 points was the most points scored by a Cardinal team at NCAAs in history, and Louisville secured third place at the 2019 ACC Championships. Under head coach Arthur Albiero, the Cardinals finished third at the 2020 ACC Championships. If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
CELEBRATING
110 YEARS of caring for your Firsts.
YEARS 1910-2020
www.YourFirstMatters.com inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020 15
ArtSpotlight
By Julie Shyposki
Teachers have found themselves in an unprecedented circumstance this school year. The Northridge High School Art Department has had to find new ways to provide instruction to students. This semester, the department is offering the following courses: Introduction to Art, Painting, Drawing, Photography, Ceramics, Art History, Digital Design, IB Visual Art, Jewelry, and Interactive Media. High school students have the choice to attend school in-person or virtually. Julie Shyposki, Kristen O'Dell, and Sherry Sheppard have spent hours putting together supply kits for virtual students so that they are able to create art from home. And yes, that means that Ms. O'Dell has packaged many pounds of clay for her students attending Ceramics virtually!
16 inMiddlebury Magazine  | DECEMBER 2020
Our virtual students work "alongside" in-person students during class time. Teachers live stream their classes via Google Meet and assist in-person and virtual students simultaneously. This requires a new level of multi-tasking! Students attending class virtually follow the same bell schedule as their inperson peers, complete the same assignments, and submit photos of their artwork.
While teachers are spread thin this year, what matters to us most, is that all our students are safe and provided with numerous opportunities to learn and create.
R E T
N I W T R T A S E T N O C Rules: The art contest for December 2020 focuses on the theme of “Winter”. Artwork submitted should be inspired by and/or represent the winter theme. Artists may enter any art that can have a still digital image (painting, sculpture, drawing, collage, etc.) The subject of the photo must be created by the artist. Artists do not need to reside within Middlebury to enter the contest. Please do not attempt to drop off or mail art. Artists will submit an image of their artwork online via the Middlebury Arts Council (MAC) Facebook page, or email to middleburyartscouncil@gmail.com Submissions will need to be posted by December 30, 2020. Selected winners could have their artwork featured in the IN Middlebury magazine.
Please do not enter art from copyrighted sources such as pictures originated from Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, and Pixar. We do not catch them all but we try to filter out celebrity images that may have originated from a copyrighted material. When submitting your post on Facebook , include your photo in the comments section below the announcement along with a title for the artwork piece, and the medium used: drawing, painting, computer graphics, collage, photography, mosaic, mix media, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts, etc. You are welcome to explain the artwork more with the subtype used: graphite pencil, color pencil, pen, oil pastel, watercolor, oil, acrylic, metal, wood, etc. In entering any art or photo to this contest, I verify that this entry is my original work. I understand that entering someone else's work is against the law. Using someone else's copyrighted work may lead to pursuing legal damages. By entering this contest I agree to the above statement.
inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020 17
Jefferson Elementary School, Middlebury Community Schools has been RECOGNIZED AS A MODEL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY AT WORK® One of About 200 Schools and Districts in the US and Canada to Receive This Honor Jefferson Elementary School, Middlebury Community Schools was recently recognized by Solution Tree for its sustained success in raising student achievement. Jefferson Elementary School, Middlebury Community School’s successful implementation of the Professional Learning Communities at Work® process was a major contributing factor in the improved achievement of its students. PLCs are schools and districts in which educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is on-going, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students. The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to: 1. Focus on learning. 2. Build a collaborative culture. 3. Create a results orientation. Responding to news of the recognition, Jefferson Elementary, Principal, Mrs. Brickner said, “Our staff works hard as a team to ensure students get what they need to be successful. We are honored to receive this distinction for the fourth time.” Schools are recognized based on strict criteria, including demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least three years, and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. Once measurable results can be seen, the school must explain its practices, structures, and culture and submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee. 18 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020
According to the Champions of PLC at Work®, educators in the schools and districts selected for this recognition have shown “a sustained commitment to helping all of their students achieve at high levels. They have been willing to alter the structure and culture of the organization to reflect their commitment. We applaud them and congratulate them for achieving this very significant milestone on the never-ending PLC journey.” Recognized model PLC schools are listed on allthingsplc. info, where they share implementation strategies, structures, and performance with other educators interested in improving their schools. Tools for team collaboration, articles and research about PLCs, blog posts, and other related resources are also available on the site. The site was developed and is maintained by Solution Tree, a leading provider of educational strategies and tools that improve staff and student performance. For more than 20 years, Solution Tree resources have helped K–12 teachers and administrators create schools where all children succeed.
Legion Auxiliary We are pleased to report our continued poppy fund distribution. With the generous donations received this year with our poppy event at Middlebury Chalet Party Shoppe, we are able to help our local veterans and veterans hospitals and homes. We also donated $1000 to the Marion VA who plans to purchase iPads so veterans can keep in touch with their families and friends. In addition to donating $1000 to Miller vets we donated cleaning supplies and a vacuum cleaner.
Auxiliary member Marsha Taylor presented a local veteran, Damian Sparazynski $500 for his service dog training. Also pictured is Damians wife, Shannon (far left) service dog “garnet”, and a Top
Thank you Middlebury community for your continued support of our auxiliary events and in turn our veterans!
Auxiliary member Marsha Taylor (right) gave a representative from Miller Vets a check for $1000 from our poppy fund.
Auxiliary President June Wild and her auxiliary member daughter Valerie presented a check for $1000 to a representative at the Ft. Wayne VA inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020 19
RAIDER SPORTS COMPLEX been set up to allow marching bands to enter from the North end and exit through the South end to make hosting future marching band invitationals possible. In addition the old soccer fields have received updated parking, fencing and score boards as well as the tennis courts have been resurfaced and had new LED lights and bathroom facilities installed. With the expansion of the Administration Building and Boys and Girls Club much of the cross country path was removed and so a new and more diverse track is being cut through the woods that run along the Northern portion of the Sports Complex.
If you have been on the main school campus over the last year then you couldn't miss the extraordinary changes with the addition of the new sports complex. This 13.5 million dollar undertaking has added so many improvements and resources for our youth. Some of the features you may notice are things such as new baseball and softball fields and the state-of-theart Interra football field which will also accommodate track and field as well as boys and girls lacrosse and soccer. All of the new fields have had FieldTurf installed so now our athletes can use them year round rain or shine. The new football field has also been equipped with a digital video display board to allow videos of close-ups during play, replays or even perhaps family movie nights in the future. This new field seats four-thousand spectators with seating for up to three-thousand on the home side and an additional one-thousand in the visitors section. Along with many other improvements during the planning phase it was decided to have the track go from 8 to 9 lanes to allow the Raider Stadium to hold sectionals. Also the field has 20 inMiddlebury Magazine  | DECEMBER 2020
When Jeff Palmer, Middlebury Community Schools Director of Buildings and Grounds, was asked what he found most exciting about these new facilities he expressed that what he found to be the most important impact was the simple fact that the High School and Middle School would now both have their own separate facilities to practice and play. As a person who perhaps only visits the fields during games it may be easy to forget about how many students and coordination of times had to go into sharing the fields between two very active and involved student bodies. Often during the track and field season all of the athletes from both NMS and NHS had to share the old field daily during practices, which also made it difficult to plan any home games throughout the week. The same was true with all of the fields, and now with these new additions students will be able to get the most out of their athletic experience while attending Middlebury Community Schools. While this year was sort of a soft opening due to limitations on seating and social distancing regulations, we all look forward to the many ways this new and improved facility will enhance the community of Middlebury.
GO RAIDERS!
If you would like to be a part of Northridge history forever you can still contact the Administration building at
(574)825-9425
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Welcome to our
SHOUT PAGE!
If you know of a community member or group of people whom you would like to offer out a SHOUT of gratitude in a future magazine, please send your nomination to our editor Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher at Delightfullyhere@gmail.com The Miller’s Cider press article by Chris and Linnea Wheeler was awesome! I am a Stalter that grew up in Middlebiry, and still frequent the cider press when we come back to visit. -Darlene Kujawski
Thank you to Jane Allen and the other leaders in our district for doing everything needed to protect the children and teachers in our community. -Anonymous
I would personally like to give a shout out to the Wheeler’s! Their new contribution to the magazine has been refreshing and inspiring. Thank you! - Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher
A shout out to our wonderful students at Jefferson Elementary. You have all been so wonderful about being flexible with all of the changes this school year. -JES staff member
While not all of the restaurants and businesses in town have embraced or enforced the changes and protocols that have come up during our recent times, I am incredibly appreciative of those that have. Thank you to all of the local shop owners who have made changes to follow the mask mandate as well as altering their seating to provide space to be 6 feet appart. For those who have or love someone with immune compromised conditions, your efforts are recognized and greatly appreciated. - A proud member of our community
Wishing neighbors, friends and community members a very
Happy Holidays!
22 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020
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Fall Athletic
snap shots Photos by Russ Draper
Halloween Costume
MIDDLEBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & VISITORS CENTER INVITES YOU TO JOIN US AT THE HAMPTON INN & SUITES/MIDDLEBURY
Winners
Welcome Bright Star Reality and Auctions Team
Virtual PJ Contest
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN!
MIDDLEBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & VISITORS CENTER INVITES YOU TO JOIN US AT THE H A M P T O NOF INN & MIDDLEBURY M I D D L CHAMBER E B U R Y C H ACOMMERCE M B E R O F & VISITORS SINVITES U I T E SYOU / M ITO D DJOIN L E B U R AT Y CENTER C O M M E R C E & V I S I T O RUS S C E THE N T EHAMPTON R INN & SUITES/MIDDLEBURY INVITES YOU TO JOIN US AT THE H A M PSAFE T O N IHoliday NN & A DRIVE-THUR Meet S U I T E S / M I D D L EBURY and Greet with Santa Claus and his Elves!
SANTA CLAUS Does your family/kids wear holiday pj’s? Send us a picture IS COMING of your holiday pj’s! Make sure to include names of everyone in the photo, along with what you did this holiday! SANTA CLAUS VIRTUAL PJ CONTEST TO TOWN! We will post all of the photos on Middlebury Chamber of SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12TH ISFROM COMING Commerce & Vistors Center FB page, the photo that ac1 PM-3 PM quires the most “likes” by Jan. 4 will recieve a $50 holiday gift card. Does your family/kids wear pj's? Send us a TO TOWN! 105 CRYSTAL HEIGHTS BLVD Photos must be submitted by December 31 to (wearing their mask &
practicing social distancing)
A
DRIVE-THUR SAFE
Holiday Meet
and Greet with Santa Claus and his Elves!
picture of your holiday pj's! Make sure toAinclude DRIVE-THUR SAFE Holiday Meet and Greet with Santa Claus carmencarpenter@middleburyinchamber.com DRIVE-THUR and his Elves! Event subject toSAFE change pending CDC Guidelines. names of everyone in the photo, along withAll what youSATURDAY, participants must wear a mask and remain in your vehicle. DECEMBER 12TH Thank you in advance! FROM 1 PM-3 PM did this holiday! (wearing their mask &
practicing social distancing)
A
Holiday Meet
and Greet with Santa Claus and his Elves! (wearing their mask &
practicing social distancing)
105 CRYSTAL HEIGHTS BLVD
Congratulations to our Flamingo Contest Winners 1st Place Kristen O’Dell 2nd Place LoveWay,Inc 3rd Place Middlebury Animal Clinic Thank you to all who supported and participated.
26 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12TH FROM 1 PM-3 PM 105 CRYSTAL HEIGHTS BLVD
We will post all of the photos on Middlebury Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center FB page, the photo that acquires the most "Likes" by January 4th will receive a $50 Gift Card
Written by Gloria Salavarria Once upon a time, when I was a kid who still believed in Santa, I had a problem. Actually, I had two problems but first, let’s deal with one problem at a time and my real major concern was how Santa Claus was going to be able to get down our chimney— mainly because we didn’t have a chimney or a fireplace. What we had was a stove that ran on No. 2 Heating Oil and that stove had a metal pipe that ran up through the ceiling and through the roof. It was way too narrow for anyone to get down it from the roof—much less a fat guy like Santa Claus and then there was the question of how could he bring all those toys down a pipe with such a narrow diameter. Actually, the same quandary would have crossed my mind if we had a traditional chimney and fireplace. The chimneys and fireplaces that I had seen in other houses were a very tight fit but not as impossible as the pipe that did the work of removing the smoke from our heating stove. I was just a kid but I thought about things like this and asked questions when I saw where things didn’t make any sense to me. I wanted to believe in Santa Claus because I wanted the loot but this whole thing with Santa coming down a “chimney” instead of coming in through the front door like sensible folk bothered me but I wanted to believe anyway because if it weren’t true, then there wouldn’t be any presents spread out under the tree, ready for me to unwrap on Christmas morning. I also wanted desperately to believe what my parents told me but this tale struck me as a fairy tale and so I went to bed on the night before Christmas but I kept awake until the lights went out downstairs and my parents went to bed. In the dark, I quietly snuck down the stairs and saw that there were presents under the tree—and there had been no jingle bells and no fat guy struggling to make it down our stove pipe. I now knew it was my parents, and not Santa Claus who delivered the goods but I kept up this charade for my parents’ sake. If I got gifts out of this deal, who am I to object to their need for fairytales? As long as I was an only child, I had no need for further ques-
tions. I just enjoyed unwrapping my gifts at Christmas, and blowing out the candles on my birthday cake two weeks later. It wasn’t until my sister was born during the month of November and my brother during the month of April that I noticed something else was going on. They got presents not only on Christmas but on their birthdays, too! With my birthday occurring on January 7, I was being short changed! I finally asked about this and my parents replied that since my birthday was so close to Christmas, what they did was pool the two presents into one so they could buy me a more expensive Christmas present such as bicycle. It made sense of just what was going on here but I still felt short changed a bit. I would have liked to have unwrapped something on my birthday, too. As it turned out, I was supposed to have been born on December 25th but I took my own sweet time and Dad got cheated out of a 1946 tax deduction—and so we’re even. Neither of us liked it but we had to live with it. Now that I’m older and wiser, and I’ve got a house full of loot, I’m content with a card or a phone call. Neither of these two items needs to be dusted and they don’t end up forming excess fat on my hips—but at my age, what’s another ounce on my hips? I’m just grateful for whatever I get—a Christmas card and a letter, a recent photo of a loved one, a thoughtful gift for my upcoming trip, a delightful sample of tea or homemade fudge and brownies, an invitation to dinner and a warm hug. I may be alone but I’m not lonely. inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020 27
LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY Global Tax & HealthyPets accounTinG Jan Plummer, CPA
O:574-825-2277 • F: 866-385-7177 globalcpa@aol.com PO Box 1135 Middlebury, IN 46540
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851 US 20 • Middlebury 574-825-3238
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202 W. Spring St. • Middlebury, IN
851 US 20 Next To Rulli’s Middlebury 574-358-0146
Specializing in Residential Interior Painting Steve Nisley 574-849-4788
Advertise in our Business Directory for as low as $50 a month! For more information call 574-825-9112 or Advertising@inMiddlebury.com
28 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2020
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Reaching out looks different right now...
we can still show we care for those around us. During this time when we can’t be together in the same ways, we can still come together to care for others and inspire good in our community.
INSPIRINGGOOD.ORG | 574 295 8761
Holiday Open House Saturday, December 12 • 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Groomer - Chris Lead Groomer
Donation box collecting for Dogtown and Here Kitty Kitty — toys, treats and food
With 20 years of pet grooming experience, Chris is loved by her customers and their pets.
Call her at
574-849-6401
for an appointment.
851 US 20, Middlebury • 574-825-3238
Winter Warmth Collection Please help those in need by donating new (or gently used) coats, hats, gloves and blankets. We will make sure that the Middlebury Food Pantry gets them!
/ TCC 851 US 20 • Next To Rulli’s • Middlebury • 574-358-0146
