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Celebrating Life in Middlebury, Indiana
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14441 US HWY 20 • MIDDLEBURY, IN 46540 2 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021
Table of Contents Outdoor Living, 6 Dr. Carla Gull Bringing Light to Darkness
12 Kicking off Holiday Festivities on December 4 Elma Chapman
7
Middlebury Parks Department
Scholar Athlete: Micah Hochstetler , 15
CONTRIBUTORS: PUBLISHER: Don L. Hurd
EDITOR:
Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher
ADVERTISING: Scott Faust
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Magdalena Franke
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Dr. Carla Gull, Chris Wheeler, Elma Chapman Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Russ Draper, Dr. Carla Gull, Elma Chapman Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher
10
Holiday Favorites, 8
16
Rosie Long: Member of Middlebury Chris Wheeler
Jack’s Snacks
Boys & Girls Club, 11 Keystone Club Gives Teens Leadership Opportunties
Middlebury Happenings, 20
27 Give a Shout of Gratitude! 27
The beat goes on as the Raiders hosted and won Sectional and Regional Championships at Interra Field in Middlebury – Photo by Russ Draper
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inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021 3
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Hello Middlebury!
DECEMBER
EVENTS
SAT., DEC. 4 SAT., DEC. 11 TUES., DEC. 14 JAN. 4, 2022
WEEKLY
Handmade Holiday Craft Fair MPL Community Room, 10a-4p Stuff the Truck with Santa Hardings Market, 1-5 pm Red Cross Blood Drive, First Mennonite Steve Poyser will be speaking on the 1619 Project in the community room at the library at 10:00. It is sponsored by the Peace & Justice Group of the Middlebury Church of the Brethren.
WED: Middlebury Exchange Club, Essenhaus – 6:30 a.m. FRI: 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: Shrimp or Chicken Tender Dinner by SAL 4th Friday: Manhattan Dinner by the Legion 5th Friday: Brats 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 4 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone throughout Middlebury. It often feels like this can be a great time of year or a really hard time of year for each individual. Whichever it is for you my heart is with you. - Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher
Gingerbread Jamboree, December 3, 4 & 5 Get ready to pre-heat the oven, pull out the cookie sheets and pastry bag, put on your creative chef’s hat and enter the gingerbread competition! Bring your completed items on November 30 (Times TBD). Closed judging will take place prior to December 3. All creations will be on display for viewing as well as a make and take craft for the kids at the Middlebury Community Historical Museum. (301 Bristol Ave.) Free. Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration, December 4 Join the Community at Memorial Park at 6:00 pm to experience the sights, tastes and sounds of Christmas: Cocoa, Cookies, Christmas Carols and a craft. Free.
Neighborhoods are the lifeblood of Elkhart County’s communities. From getting together for a holiday celebration, helping each other out while raking leaves, or just watching our kids grow up together, our neighbors often become our best friends. You may be awarded a $500 micro-grant to fund your neighborhood activity. So far in 2021, more than 20 neighborhoods in Elkhart County have done picnics, kids’ activities, and clean-up days with the help of a Vibrant Neighborhoods grant. You can get instant approval for your Vibrant Neighborhoods activity at these upcoming session:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021 • 6:00 P.M. MIDDLEBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & VISITORS CENTER • 201 S. MAIN STREET, MIDDLEBURY, IN
December Milestones
12/4 12/4 12/5 12/8 12/8
Erica Leisure Diana Hoke Michelle Rohrer Rebecca Hatfield Andrew Nagy, 3
12/11 12/12 12/14 12/15 12/24
Marla Miller Dalis Andrews Carris Norris Carrie Mayer, 43 Jen Purviance
Happy Birthday Rebecca!
Happy Birthday Carrie!
Happy Birthday Happy Birthday Happy Birthday Erica! Dalis! Jen!
Happy 3rd Birthday Andrew!!! We love you!
Have a celebration in January?
Let us know by December 10 . Email inmiddleburymagazine@gmail.com or call 260-463-3660. Be sure to include Name, Birth or Anniversary Date, Age or Years Celebrating. Don’t forget a photo and a short note if you like. inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021 5
OUTDOOR LIVING
Bringing Light to the Darkness Winter solstice is December 21st in the northern hemisphere. Leading up to this shortest day of the year, the evenings get darker earlier and earlier. Some of my children will return home from school in the dark, making potential time to play outside in the evening harder and harder. However, we have found illuminating ways to transition to these earlier evening by bringing light to the darkness in our greater community. We’ve enjoyed the transition to shorter days in years past by having a special lantern walk celebration through Tinkergarten. We invited the community together for a free lantern walk, gathering at dusk for simple outdoor activities, traditional songs, and a walk with our lights through the woods. A couple of weeks before the lantern walk, we gathered with other families to make individual lanterns. Using a pint mason jar, we used tissue paper and watered down glue to decorate our lantern. We let that dry, tied a twine handle on, and
popped in a battery-operated tea light. By creating our own special lantern, we were preparing for and celebrating the changing of the seasons and light. These lanterns then lit our outdoor exploration time as it got darker. We’ve made lanterns in a few different ways. We typically use battery operated tea lights, though regular candles can be used as well. Here are a few ways to try: • Mason jar, tissue paper, watered down glue, twine • Snow balls formed into a dome • Ice lantern — tin cans of two sizes, rocks to weigh the smaller can down, nature sprigs, water, freeze! Release with a quick dip in water and insert light. • Tin cans punched with holes • Recycled materials — create your own! • Paper bag luminaries
Beyond our own lantern celebrations, there are a few evening walks in our greater community to enjoy the dark, ranging from a simple lantern walk to a gorgeous display of holiday lights. Embrace the dark through an illuminating evening walk or celebration!
Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights, various dates in December, Wellfield Botanic Gardens, Fee
Middlebury Tree Lighting, December 4th, 6:30-8:00, Memorial Park, Free
Tinkergarten Lantern Walk, December 12th, Dusk, Free, sign up at Tinkergarten.com
Illuminated Hike, Dec. 14th, 5:30-7:30 pm, Bonneyville Mill Park, Feedlot Shelter, Free
Dr. Carla Gull blogs at www.insideoutsidemichiana.com and hosts the podcast Loose Parts Nature Play. She is often seen with her four explorers in the greater Michiana area. 6 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021
Volunteer VoicesDick and Marcia Cook
Marcia and Dick have volunteered with the Middlebury Parks for over 10 years. Marcia helps with park events, Riverfest, 8th grade work days, planning and planting the Quilt Gardens and serving on the Landscape Committee. Dick also helps with events, and he has been involved with Friends of the Middlebury Parks (FOMP) for many years. Marcia says, “I chose to volunteer when I was recently retired and looking for something with flexibility where I would not be locked in to a set schedule. The outdoors is my happy place and I love flowers and digging in the dirt--such a wonderful smell!” Dick says he has gained “the satisfaction of working with great people and the feeling of accomplishment toward reaching Park and FOMP goals such as the Ridge Run Trail, Trestle Terrace development, River Bend Park boardwalk and ten years of Mini-Golf at the Library.” They have gained new friends and enjoy meeting new people. They have a great appreciation for our Parks and staff, and our Park staff appreciates all their efforts!
Tree Lighting Saturday, December 4
Flower and Fixture Fund
This holiday tradition will begin at 6 p.m. with cookies and hot cocoa provided by the Middlebury Lions Club. Listen to the Victorian Singers, have your picture taken with the Grinch or Elsie the Elf, sing along with carols around the tree, and finally the tree lights will be turned on at 7 p.m. For details on related activities, see page 12.
A long-standing tradition has an expanded mission
For decades many individuals, businesses, service organizations and churches of Middlebury have shown their community care and pride by supporting the Middlebury Parks Flower Fund, the sole funding of the Town Center petunia baskets, Memorial Park’s stunning red, white and blue display, and many of the magnificent plantings in Kriders World Fair Garden. Though flowers remain the priority, the fund is expanding the use of your generous, tax-deductible donations to included “fixtures,” the longer term, more sustainable structures that both support and enhance your parks and downtown. Upgraded flower pots, landscape boulders and community art are some examples of “hardscape” that make your hometown vibrant. You can help Middlebury Parks “Making Life Better” in Middlebury by donating to the Flower and Fixture Fund.
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inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021 7
Holiday Favorites
Roasted Cornish Hen
This roasted Cornish hen recipe is an easy and elegant way to make a meal that’s quick enough for a busy weeknight, yet fancy enough for a special occasion. The hens are coated in butter, garlic and herbs, then cooked in the oven for perfectly tender and juicy results every time. Ingredients 2 Cornish hens 1.5 - 2 pounds each 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 2 sprigs fresh thyme 1/2 small onion cut into wedges 1/2 lemon cut into wedges 6 tablespoons butter softened 2 teaspoons garlic minced 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves minced 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves minced 2 teaspoons fresh parsley leaves minced salt and pepper to taste cooking spray herb sprigs and lemon wedges for garnish optional Instructions Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray. Tuck the wings underneath the breast of each hen. Stuff each hen cavity with the rosemary and thyme sprigs, onion and lemon. Tie the legs of the hens together with kitchen twine. Place the butter, garlic, minced thyme, rosemary and parsley, and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Stir to combine. Rub the butter mixture all over the hens, both on the outside of the hens and underneath the skin. Place the hens in the prepared dish. Bake for approximately 50-60 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F. The cook time may vary a bit depending on the size of your birds. If the skin is getting overly dark as the hens cook, them with foil. Let the hens rest for 5 minutes. Remove the lemon, onion and herbs from the hen cavities. Cut in half, then serve with pan drippings. Garnish with lemon and herbs if desired.
Spicy Cranberry Sauce Ingredients 2 jalapeños, diced 1/2 cup honey 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup water 12 oz fresh cranberries 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice 1 teaspoon lime zest Instructions In a large saucepan, combine diced jalapeño peppers, honey, salt, and water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add cranberries, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. The cranberries will burst during the cooking. Stir often. Remove from heat. Stir in lime juice and zest. Allow to cool. Refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.
8 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021
Oyster Stuffing
Ingredients 4 cups cornbread 2-8 oz. jars of fresh oysters, drained with liquid reserved 6 oz. Andouille sausage, diced 1 diced green pepper ½ onion, diced ½ to 1 cup chicken broth 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning 1 tablespoon butter Instructions Heat a skillet over medium heat and brown the Andouille sausage. Add the butter, green pepper and onion and cook until the vegetables are soft, about 2-3 minutes. Add the Cajun seasoning and oysters and cook about 5-10 minutes, or until oysters are fully cooked. If your oysters are very large, I recommend cutting them in half so they are more evenly distributed throughout the stuffing. If your oysters are smaller sized you can leave them whole. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oysters are cooking, crumble the cornbread and place in a large bowl. Add the oyster and sausage mixture and stir until combined. DO NOT OVER MIX. Just toss the mixture lightly. Add the reserved oyster liquid and chicken broth and toss to mix. Add the chicken broth ½ cup at a time to avoid over-saturation. Pour in a baking dish, cover (either with a lid or aluminum foil) and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the cover for the last 15 minutes of cooking to crisp up the top.
Sweet potato casserole
Ingredients 3 cups cooked sweet potatoes sliced or cubed 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 12 tablespoons butter melted, divided use 1 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup flour 1 cup chopped pecans cooking spray Instructions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9” square pan or 2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Place the sweet potatoes, granulated sugar, salt, vanilla extract, eggs and 6 tablespoons of butter in a mixing bowl. Beat with a mixer until well blended and fluffy. Spoon the sweet potato mixture into the prepared dish in an even layer. In a medium bowl, mix together the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter, brown sugar, flour and pecans. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the sweet potatoes. Bake for 3040 minutes or until sweet potatoes are hot and topping is lightly browned. If your topping browns too quickly, you can cover your dish with foil to complete the bake time. Let sit for 10 minutes, then serve.
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JACK’S SNACKS
BECAUSE GETTING WELL IS HUNGRY WORK!
Jack Dorbin is a fifth grader in Mrs. Welker’s class at Heritage Intermediate School. Jack’s Snacks is a way he and his family have found to help brighten the day of children, who like himself, are undergoing treatments for cancer. On Mother’s Day of 2021, Jack went to the emergency room where it was discovered he has a brain tumor. He was flown via life flight to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis where, over the course of the next 10 days, Jack underwent three brain surgeries and was diagnosed with a nongerminomatous germ cell tumor. Jack has since undergone 6 cycles of chemo, 3 emergency hospital stays and twice weekly lab appointments in addition to MRIs, countless blood and platelets transfusions and meetings with various doctors. Jack is currently undergoing daily brain and spine proton beam radiation treatments in Chicago and will be finished with those on December 20. Early in his journey, Jack and his family found that many groups were eager to give him toys and blankets and even a Make a Wish Trip which he is beginning to plan. However, often, what Jack wanted most, was something to eat that was not hospital food or something at all when appointments ran into each other and there was no time for meals. Many friends and family started sending their favorite snacks to Jack and he received so many, that he and his family decided to share with other children going thru treatment and the idea for Jack’s Snacks was born. Although Jack has been to Riley Children’s and Lurie Children’s Hospital often, his family considers Beacon Children’s at Memorial Hospital in South Bend to be home. It is where Jack visits weekly to have his labs drawn and where he goes if there is an emergency with his health. To date, Jack has donated, with the help of many friends and community members, 160 boxes of snacks to Beacon. The child life specialists and nurses there have shared stories of children who are comforted by the goodies Jack shares with them and he even heard from the mom of a girl who received one of his boxes on the day she was diagnosed with cancer. She told Jack that Jack’s Snacks was the best thing that happened to her daughter that day. Jack’s Snacks is currently on hiatus until January 2022 until Jack and his mom return home from his radiation treatments in Chicago. They do have a gofundme which benefits Jack and his family and is used for filling in Jack’s Snacks as well.
10 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021
If you are interested in helping, please email Shirley Dorbin jsdorbin97@gmail.com. She has an Amazon wishlist that can be shared again soon. https://www. gofundme.com/f/dorbin-medical-expenses?utm_ source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link_ all&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
Keystone Club Gives Teens Leadership Opportunities Step into one of the four Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County Clubhouses and you’ll find programs that are impacting local teens. One of those programs is called Keystone Club. It provides youth ages 14 to 18 with leadership development opportunities both inside and outside Club. The program focuses on three areas: academic success, career preparation and community service. At the Middlebury Club, teens are planning out projects for the new school year and developing bonds with their peers. On a recent Monday night, they were planning what items to sell in a “Keystone Concessions store” at the Clubhouse, expressing interest in running for leadership posts and playing games to build community. While it may appear at times from the laughter that it’s all fun and games, it’s far from that. “The goal is to teach them leadership, how to pour into the younger kids and how to encourage their peers,” said Leah Tuttle, Middlebury’s Teen Engagement Supervisor. Right now they are working on their campaigns and brainstorming fundraisers for later in the year. They’re also developing price points for their concession area, Tuttle said.
That concession area is a store that the teens like Andrew Deal operate every afternoon. Other Club members can purchase snacks and drinks as a fundraiser for the club. There is a core group of about eight members in Middlebury, but Tuttle hopes that number grows as the year progresses. The teens say they recognize what the Keystone Club can do for them as they prepare for life after high school. “This gives me volunteer hours for National Honors Society and it’s fun,” said sophomore Damian Godman. “I got to help out at the zoo the other day and it helps me out academically, too.” “I like to help around the Club. It’s helping me with social skills. I’m naturally a shy person but here I’m surrounded by people I trust,” said senior Olivia Elliott. Later in the school year, the group will do a community project or presentation that the teens develop. That will be part of the national program requirement. The fundraisers they do throughout the year, along with money raised by the concession area, will help pay for a trip to the national Keystone Conference.
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www.BFirst.bank | 574.825.2166 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021 11
Kick Off Holiday Festivities on December 4
by Elma Chapman Middlebury’s motto from the Town’s home page is “Grown from Tradition.” Tradition says that October belongs to Halloween and ghosts, November belongs to Thanksgiving and turkeys, and finally December is for several major religious holidays (Advent, Hannukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa) and trees and Santa and New Year’s Eve. In keeping with tradition, Middlebury doesn’t light its big tree until the first Saturday in December. Good things are worth waiting for! Start your day at the Middlebury Public Library’s craft fair. Find hand-made holiday gifts for your loved ones, enjoy hot drinks and cookies, and watch crafting demonstrations on how to make jewelry, greeting cards, crocheting, and more. A food truck, Party on the Patio, will be outside the library with food for purchase. The craft fair is from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. with the food truck available around lunch time and remaining until the tree lighting. The Gingerbread Jamboree is back this year, organized by Middlebury Then and Now. Contestants have been working hard on their gingerbread creations which will be on display at the Middlebury Community Historical Museum, 301 Bristol Ave, on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and again from 5–6 p.m., so you can visit the Gingerbread Jamboree before, during, or after the craft fair at the library. There will also be a craft table for
youngsters to create a bean bag snowman. And just in case your Saturday is too busy, you can also visit the Jamboree on Friday from 5-7 p.m. or Sunday from 1-3 p.m. Come be inspired to participate next year. When the Jamboree closes for the day, it will be time for the final event of Saturday: the lighting of the Christmas tree in Memorial Park. Starting at 6 p.m. the Middlebury Lions Club will be serving hot cocoa and a cookie to all attendees, while supplies last. Bring your camera and get your picture taken with the Grinch or with Elsie the Elf from Shipshewana. The Victorian Singers will be caroling in the gazebo, and there will be a carol sing-along by candlelight culminating in the final event: turning on the tree lights for the first time at 7 p.m. All these events are free, thanks to the generous support of our local businesses. Please support them when you need something you can get in town. These events could not happen without the organizational skills and cooperation of the Middlebury Public Library, Middlebury Community Historical Museum, the Middlebury Parks, Middlebury Then and Now, and the Middlebury Lions Club. Everyone working together is what makes Middlebury a magical place in December and throughout the year. Plan to be in Middlebury on Saturday, December 4, to jump start your holiday celebrations!
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Celebrating Life in Middlebury, Indiana
NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE MONTH MICAH HOCHSTETLER My name is Micah Hochstetler, my parents are Delmar and Jo Hochstetler. I’m a senior in high school and a part of the football and basketball teams at Northridge. I’m also a part of the National Honers Society. What I enjoy most about sports at Northridge is being with my teammates, they are family and I love being around them every day. Outside of school I am involved with my church, as I help with the children’s program, I also attend a Bible study every Wednesday with the seniors on the football team. In the mornings before school I work at Dogwood Hills Tree Farm. I plan to attend college, but am undecided on where I will continue my education and athletic career. My education major will be finances. I am excited for the that next phase of my life.
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ROSIE LONG Member of Middlebury Written by Chris Wheeler Photos by Rosie Long
When Rosealene (Rosie) Long and her husband Bill moved to a farm right outside of Middlebury, they intended to stay only a few years and then move back closer to their friends and family in the Nappanee and Wakarusa areas. One thing led to the other, however, and Rosie and Bill found themselves embarking on over 75 years of involvement in the Middlebury community. “Both of us like membership, I guess. I think it enhances your life,” Rosie said. “You’re a part of your community. I think you’re happy when you do something with other people. I think that’s one of the things that God teaches us is to be a friend to other people, do whatever you can do.” Rosie was born and raised in Harrison Township, west of Goshen. She attended Harrison Center, then Wakarusa High School where she met Bill for the first time. They fell in love despite their differences (she was studious and involved in the library club; 16 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021
he was into sports). In addition to their studies, they both learned invaluable working experiences on their parent’s farms. Rosie would often help her parents out driving the tractor or milking cows. Her father always had the radio on during milking. She especially recalls one Sunday afternoon in 1941, when the broadcast was suddenly interrupted by the news that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. After they both graduated from Wakarusa High School in 1943, Bill was drafted and stationed at Camp Stoneman in San Francisco in the signal corps, working in communications. Once married Rosie joined Bill in San Francisco, getting a job in the signal office. Bill was scheduled to go overseas, but was assigned state-side by his lieutenant due to his skill as a sergeant and Rosie’s skill as a secretary. “Bill always said I was the reason he never got to go overseas!” Rosie laughs. After the war ended (and after Rosie turned 21), they married and spent their honeymoon on a Greyhound bus headed back to Indiana. Rosie received a scholarship to attend
Goshen College, but decided instead to hone her business acumen at the Elkhart Business University. While Bill drove school buses and worked on the farm, she got a job at the Elkhart Public Library as a secretary. Her work ethic and sharp mind caught the eye of her straight-laced first employer, Miss Case. Only one year into her secretary position she was promoted to assistant children’s librarian, a job which usually required 6 years of college. She thoroughly enjoyed her work, ordering quality children’s books and bringing them to schools in York and Middlebury townships (among others) to read to the children. The learning opportunities she received as a librarian were invaluable. “I think about that many times, how this little girl from the farm was able to learn so much because she had the opportunities where she worked.” Her first remembrance of coming to Middlebury was to drop off books and help out at the Middlebury library when it was located in a house next to the post office.
One day, a regular patron of the Elkhart Library invited her to interview for a job at the Elkhart Credit Bureau. Rosie wasn’t looking for a job, and didn’t know what exactly a credit bureau did, but she was intrigued. She joked, “You know I talk a lot… but I also listen! After the interview, I told Bill, gosh, that sounds interesting! I thought it would be fun, and I was ready for anything and so was he. So I took that job… It was just too good to turn down, and I knew that I would learn something that I knew nothing about.” She was there for a little over a year when the city of Goshen asked her credit bureau to start one for them. “And by jiminy, Mr. Jones asked me to start it!” She got an office in the theater building on the second floor right behind the marquee, set up her desk and typewriter, and started out on what would be almost six decades of owning and managing the Credit Bureau of Goshen. Around the same time Rosie started the credit bureau, Bill was working as a rural letter carrier out of the Middlebury Post Office, where he would work for over 50 years himself. Rosie recalls, “He was a good rural letter carrier because he was a friendly man, and he always wanted to do the right thing. There were many times that he would come back late on Saturday so he could deliver something that needed to be delivered.” Bill was also active in the Indiana Rural Letter Carriers Association, and both of them were delegates to the state and national conventions, giving them not only the funds needed to travel but also an opportunity to visit almost every state. Fifteen years into marriage they adopted two children (Lucy and Charlie), and when the kids were old enough they joined their parents at the conventions as junior delegates. Growing up, the kids also enjoyed helping out on the farm, being involved in 4-H, and participating inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021 17
in church activities at the Methodist Church in Middlebury. Both Bill and Rosie are “joiners,” as she puts it. As soon as she moved to Middlebury, Rosie joined a women’s book club. Bill joined the American Legion and the Exchange Club, and both of them served on the school and township boards. Rosie eventually became involved in many other organizations, including but not limited to the Altrusa Club of Elkhart County, the Goshen Business & Professional Women, the Read-A-Bit Reading Club in Middlebury, and more. Bill and Rosie were married 60 years before his death in 2015; they made a point of making decisions together and supporting each other’s goals. When Greencroft was in the process of building in Middlebury, Bill found a lot where he thought they could live out the rest of their days together. Rosie remembers him calling her up and saying, “I want to take you over there to see it. I think that if you want to talk about it, this is the spot where we could live.” She said, “This would be an ideal place to live.” Rosie still lives there, and of course, was active on the Greencroft Board of Directors. These days, even after selling her business in 2015 and selling her parent’s old farm house in 2020, Rosie keeps very busy. She loves spending time with her four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren (Lucy and Charles passed away in 2017 and 2020, respectively), attending Exchange Club meetings and church events, playing euchre with friends, and going on walks along the Pumpkinvine with her miniature pinscher Fritz. She is an ambassador at the Middlebury Chamber of Commerce, helping out once or twice a week with everything from emptying unclaimed Trunk-or-Treat bags to assisting with events like the Fall Festival and the 18 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021
golf outing. Carmen Carpenter, Community Outreach Coordinator at the Chamber, says, “Rosie is a pillar of this community. We’re always doing something and Rosie is always right there next to us. I want to be Rosie when I grow up.” Rosie also reads non-stop, and particularly enjoys biographies. “I’m kind of a busy little lady. I like to do things. And I think people are happier when they can be doing something even if it’s not a glorious job. I can come here and do this...” she gestures at the Trunk-or-Treat bags on the table in front of her, “...and I can be happy.” Over 75 years after joining the Middlebury community, Rosie is convinced that their choice to stick around was the right one. “We have a lot of kindness in Middlebury. If someone were to ask me to do something, I would do it if I were capable. And I’m not hesitant to ask someone else to do something if they are capable of doing it and want to help. I like that friendliness. I like people. And I think that’s why God put us on this earth, to help someone down the line.”
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MIDDLEBURY HAPPENINGS
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inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021 21
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HOLIDAY HOPE DONATION DRIVE
Help make this Christmas merry and bright for the young boys and girls of Elkhart County in need while enjoying some free fun with your own family! Free pictures with Santa, hot cocoa and more. We will be collecting diapers, pull-ups, baby wash, toddler shampoo, free & clear laundry detergent, baby wipes and more
HARDINGS MARKET DECEMBER 11TH, 1-5PM For more information or to receive assistance yourself, email BBNC@BabiesBNC.org
22 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021
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BRINGING HOME
THE WIN! Photos by Russ Draper
24 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021
inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021 25
Middlebury Chamber of Commerce presented the Middlebury Food Pantry with a check for $667.50, the proceeds from the Chamber’s Fall Festival breakfast. Shown from left are Bob Hawkins, Sheri Howland, executive director Middlebury Chamber of Commerce, Don Keeler, Nancy Gleim, Jim Hansen and Jason Synder. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.
Nancy Gleim, who represents the Middlebury Chamber of Commerce, presents a check for $667.50 to Northridge Middle School teacher Jessica Cripe, who coordinates the Middlebury Community School Corporation Blessings in a Backpack program.
MIDDLEBURY CHAMBER AWARDED USDA GRANT
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced the Middlebury Chamber of Commerce as as a recipient of a $50,000 Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG). The success of this grant application comes from the strategic direction of the Town’s most recent updated 2030 Comprehensive Plan with strategies outlining enhancing the support for local businesses to grow and thrive and excelling the community’s “maker’s entrepreneurial spirit.” The Middlebury Chamber of Commerce will use this grant award to help create and run the Middlebury Makers Rural Incubator. Strengthening the local economy and the rurual entrepreneurship community are the primary goals of the new business incubator. The Middlebury 2030 Comprehensive Plan, coordinated by the Michiana Area Council of Govern-
ments (MACOG), listed creating a new business incubator in downtown Middlebury as one of its objectives. This grant is key to completing that objective. James Turnwald, MACOG Executive Director said “The vision of Middlebury community leaders during the comprehensive planning process helped make the execution and awarding this grant possible. We hope Middlebury and MACOG region will be amde stornger through these funds.” The USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Development Grant is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses in rural America. Entrepreneurs in the Middlebury area looking to benefit from this unique business incubation experience should contact Sheri Howland, Director of the Middlebury Chamber of Commerce at director@middleburyinchamber.com or 574-825-4300.
Happy Holidays! From the Middlebury Chamber Board of Directors, Staff, and Ambassadors
26 inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021
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 Thank you to everyone who came out to donate blood to the the Red Cross Shout to our city workers who keep are parks and streets clean and safe! Shout out to all of my neighbors on Lawrence St. Whether it’s a friendly smile, wave or being there for each other when one of us needs something, you are all the best! – Desirée
Huge shout to the Library. The Mini-Golf event last month was a blast! Thanks for holding this fun event for our town each year. – Middlebury Resident
We would like to thank everyone for all your prayers, love, and support during this difficult time. We appreciate all the phone calls, cards, flowers, and meals you sent. This entire community has been a blessing. We love living here. Much love,
Thank you to all of the teachers and staff who work so hard to keep our schools running smoothly.
Sheena, Shawn & Kelsie & The entire Puckett Family
– Northridge Parent
Thank you for letting your kindness shine!
inMiddlebury Magazine | DECEMBER 2021 27
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HOLIDAY CHEER HOLIDAY CHEER We are grateful for you all year long, but we are especially We are grateful for you all year long, but we are especially grateful for you this holiday season. Thanks for everything grateful for you this holiday season. Thanks for everything you do to make our county the wonderful place that it is. you do to make our county the wonderful place that it is.
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