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Celebrating Life in Middlebury, Indiana
December 2018
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2 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
Table of
COntents Outdoor Living, 8 Through the Lens Middlebury Little League, 10 2019 Season The Scholar Athlete, 12 Ariana Stoltzfus Middlebury High School Reunion, 14 Searching for classmates Imaginarium Spectorium, 16 Brings the art out 4-H Fair Queen, 19 Emily Yoder
The Chicago Classic Brass Quintet performs a unique repertoire of light classical and popular selections including works by Bach, Bizet, Gershwin, Joplin, and Sousa. Hailed as “Sensational” and “Heartwarming:, this highly talented Chicago brass quintet performs in the northeast Illinois area and throughout the Midwest. For more details see page 3.
Veteran Spotlight, 20 Elmer Mast Saving Grace Advocacy, 23 Sponsored by 100 Women Who Care
December’s Cover: Dickens carolers Amber Pauls (left), Mary Norwood and Michelle Oyer (right) singing Christmas carols in Middlebury’s downtown Memorial Park last year. Photo by Gloria Salavarria
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.
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inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018 3
Community Calendar December
Monthly
1 & 2 Gingerbread House Diplay Middlebury Community Historical Museum Saturday, December 1 10 a.m. -3 p.m. & 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, December 2 - 1 p.m. -3 p.m.
American Legion Dinners 5:30 - 7 p.m., Public welcome
1 Middlebury Christmas Tree Lighting Memorial Park at 6:30 p.m. Free admission, cocoa, cookies, crafts and Christmas carols. Please bring a canned good to donate to the Middlebury Food Pantry. 4 Chamber Chat See details on Page 27 9 Chicago Classic Brass Quintet Open to the Public, Please join us as we celebrate the holiday season with music. First United Methodist Church 720 S. Main Street, Middlebury 3:30 p.m. 10 Santa Letters Last day to send in your letters to Santa 11 Chamber Chat 18 Chamber Chat
Weekly
Mon: Table Games, Greencroft – 6:30 p.m. Tues: Euchre, Greencroft – 6:30 p.m. WED: Middlebury Exchange Club, Essenhaus – 6:30 a.m. Fri: Optimist Club Breakfast, Essenhaus – 6:30 a.m.
y
4 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
1st Friday: All-You-Can-Eat Fish by the Legion 2nd Friday: Grilled Smoked Pork Chops by Legion Riders 3rd Friday: Chicken Fried Steak by Auxiliary 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
Editor’s Note: All good things… This December issue marks my last issue as editor for inMiddlebury Magazine, something I have really enjoyed doing for over two years. A highlight of this job is the chance to get to know so many people in the community. I especially enjoyed interviewing our area veterans and members of the Middlebury American Legion, as well as those who work throughout the Middlebury school district. I have said from the start that I know of no other community that could support a venture like this. It is just an example of what makes Middlebury special. And we have always worked to make this publication mirror the quality of the community that it documents. This month is no different, filled with examples of what makes Middlebury one-of-a-kind. And I hope that never changes. Guy Thompson, Editor
Milestones
Happy 3rd Birthday Finleigh! We love you so much! Mom and Dad
Birthday Wishes 12/6 Roger Nielsen, 83 12/7 Finleigh, 3 12/7 Sandi Nielsen 12/8 Payton Konecny, 10 12/10 Tricia Bryan 12/10 Trey Maracle, 12 12/17 Wilbur Arlin Bontrager, 80 12/19 Tylinna Maracle, 31
12/21 Derek Schultz, The BIG 40 12/23 Preston Konecny, 8 12/23 Isabella Furfaro, 12 12/26 Gracie Barksdale, 7 12/28 Alyssa Christine Grahl, 5 Mommy and Daddy’s Little Princess 12/29 Leland Barksdale, 39 12/30 Paris Bryan
Happy 10th Birthday Payton and Happy 8th Birthday Preston!
Happy Birthday Everyone! Anniversary Wishes 12/2
Bruce and Tracy White, 28 years
12/27 Pat and Becky McKenna, 38 years
Happy 80th Birthday Wilbur! How can it be - Love you! Your Family
Have a Celebration in January? Let us know by December 9.
1. Website: inMiddlebury.com/ milestones 2. Facebook: Facebook.com/ inMiddlebury. Click on the blue (Submit) tab 3. Call us at: 574-825-9112
4. Mail: inMiddlebury Magazine: PO Box 68 Middlebury, IN 46540. Please include a phone number or email address in case we have a question.
Happy Birthday Tylinna and Happy 12th Birthday Trey
inMiddlebury Magazine  | December 2018 5
NHS Choir Directors Dan Baker & Sandra Manglos Sandra Manglos put a post on Facebook that she was looking for a high school choir position and Mary Norwood from Northridge Middle School suggested looking at Northridge High School. The thing was, Manglos lived in Oakgrove, Minn., an 11-hour drive from Middlebury. She applied nonetheless and is now into her first year as choir director at the high school after she and her husband made the move to Middlebury. For Choir Director Dan Baker, NHS was familiar ground when he returned after he left the school to teach closer to Ft. Wayne. After a couple of years, though, with his wife now commuting to Mishawaka, it was time to look for a new school, and Northridge beckoned once more. “By the grace of God, a position opened up here,” Baker said. The department had changed, as it now had two fulltime directors. Manglos and Baker have an easy banter with each other and compare it to like being siblings. “To have someone to team teach with is great,” Baker noted. With up to 70 students in the choir room at one time, it’s a huge help to have that other person. “I’m blessed to work with Sandra. It’s awesome,” he added. “My husband says when I get home I’m tired, but so happy because of the people I work with,” Manglos said. The NHS program is still one of the top programs. “With excellence, the biggest challenge is maintaining that excellence,” Baker stated. Manglos was attracted to the school because of the support from the administration, community, and choir parents. “I wanted to be a part of a team like that,” Manglos
Dan Baker and Sandra Manglos direct the Northridge High School choirs, working to keep the level of excellence that has become a hallmark of the program over the years.
said. “The kids are great and excited to learn. They want to be as good as they can.” Baker noted that what they do is “impossible without the parent volunteers. Our success on stage is in proportion to the parents who help and those who show up to watch.” Manglos saw the support first-hand in November with the choir’s annual Swing Fry fundraiser. “I was blown away by how large it was and how everyone pulled together for it to be a success,” she said. The choir is putting the finishing touches on its Christmas concert, which will be Friday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. One of the biggest events of the year for the department is the annual Northridge Invite on February 16, which will feature 25 choirs.
Join. That one word says you’re not just a customer, you’re a member. When you join, you get all the rewards of membership - like fewer fees, great rates, personal service, 24/7 online banking, lightning-quick mobile check deposit and more. To join in, visit us online or at one of our convenient locations. inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018 7
Outdoor Living
h g u Thro the Lens
Heather Reser’s fascination for whales sparked early. As a child from Ohio, she always lived in landlocked states, but grew up visiting SeaWorld where she loved watching the dolphins and whales. After seeing her first humpback whale on a trip to Maui with her twin sister, she was hooked. Heather and her twin began planning trips around the whales, visiting the Silver Bank of the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Cape Cod, and more. Her “mom was very outdoorsy,” taking the kids on hikes and surrounding them with animals.
Heather Reser loves the ocean and photographing whales.
Photos provided by Heather Reser Heather used a Polaroid camera as a child, taking pictures at the zoo. As a young mother she began memory keeping using a film SLR camera. She upgraded to a DSLR, using it while traveling, whale watching, and photographing Northridge Lacrosse games when her son was on the team. Watch for her long lens at NHS band performances.
“I love taking pictures, it’s an innate need,”
she stated. When she’s not on a trip, Heather practices any time she can, taking pictures of birds in her backyard or on hikes. She even missed an exciting soccer goal made by her son by snapping a picture of a hawk flying overhead. She watches the sunrise and the sandhill cranes flying over as she drives her daughter to Northridge. To satisfy her passion for the ocean and whales, she travels and helps with social media for tour agencies Aquatic Adventures and Adventure Quest X. Her initial discounted trips turned into a remote part-time job helping manage the companies.
Taking pictures and exploring our local area give her a reason to get out in winter and helped through a divorce. She often meets with the South Bend Adventure Club, going snowshoeing, hiking at Potato Creek, and visiting Lake Michigan. She also enjoys Pipewort Pond and Pumpkinvine Trail. Last year, her quest to find the snowy owl yielded six owls. She meets the coolest people through photographing animals in nature. On a recent trip to Alaska, she was sitting next to Paul Nicklen, a renowned photographer, taking pictures of a bear. She learned that even “experts” don’t get all the shots, often having a couple of outstanding shots from thousands of clicks. However, the passion shows. The best photos come from those who are out there, passionate to take pictures, and who regularly practice their trade.
Heather found six snowy owls last winter!
Dr. Carla Gull blogs at www.insideoutsidemichiana.com. She is often seen with her four tag-along explorers in the greater Michiana area.
8 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
Sunlight highlights a bear in Alaska.
The winter season is a time of giving and thankfulness. We would like to take this issue to celebrate those who have done so much for our parks. The park staff and the park board could not give Middlebury its excellent park system without the help of so many others who volunteer their time and energy working on committees and in the parks. Here are a few of those indispensable volunteers.
What’s Happening in the Parks from your Middlebury Park Board
Sow a small seed of kindness, and enjoy the bounty of blooms! Our community’s beautiful petunia baskets are a gift to all from those who kindly contribute to the Town Flower Fund. Your tax deductible donations fund this project in full and your town thanks you for the generous gift. Flower Fund Flyers will be appearing in your mail soon. Be part of the caring folks in the Middlebury area who are “making life better.” For more information contact Parks Superintendent Tom Enright at 825-1499 or parks@middleburyin.com.
The Landscape Committee. This group meets seasonally and chooses annuals and designs for the Town Center baskets and other plantings. They choose the quilt garden pattern and decide which flowers to use to achieve the quilt effect. They assist with the actual planting, too, not just the planning phase. The Riverfest Committee. This group meets almost monthly, with a little time off in the fall after the festival ends. They secure sponsorships, come up with the theme for each year’s event, contact presenters, and are present on the day of the event to help things run smoothly. If there were no committee, there would be no Riverfest. We always need additional committee members. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also fun and rewarding. If you would like to join either of these committees, contact Parks Superintendent Tom Enright at 825-1499 or parks@middleburyin.com. We also would like to acknowledge the huge contribution that our seasonal staff makes to the success of our parks. Not only do they do the weeding, mowing, planting, watering, and maintenance jobs, but they greet the public, publicize the parks at area festivals, and supervise volunteers. They are enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Top Right Photo: Landscape Committee (seated) Char Swoveland and Marcia Cook. (standing left to right) John McKee, Monica Yoder, Crista Bontrager, Tom Enright, Marla Krider. Not pictured is Bonita Miller. Middle Right Photo: Riverfest Committee (left to right) Gail Baer, Gaye Yoder, Monica Yoder, Lou Anne Hostetler, Tom Enright, Kent Yoder. Not pictured are John McKee, Jeff Myers and Nick Christofeo. Bottom Right Photo: Seasonal park staff Crista Bontrager and Jim Cameron.
inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018 9
Middlebury
Little League Preparing for
2019 season Even as the weather outside is growing colder (and the word “snow” is showing up in the forecast), thoughts are already turning toward spring and the 2019 Little League season. The league is open to boy and girls ages 4-16, and has up to 50 teams. The season starts in early April with practices and goes until early July for the older players who play in the all-star games. “For the kids, it’s a way to get introduced to the fundamentals of the game,” said Middlebury Little League President Jim Bache. “It’s a great outdoor activity and something they can do at any skill level. That’s the key to Little League – everyone can participate.” The league is divided up by age groups, with skill levels increasing with each group. Ages 4-5 play off a tee, while ages 5-6 play with the coach pitching. Ages 7-8 play with a pitching machine. Ages 9-10 is the first age group where the players pitch. Other age groups are 1112, 13-14, and 15-16. Teams are co-ed through age 6, and the senior softball teams are for ages 13-16. “This is a way to get involved with a team sport. It has a great environment and is non-contact,” Bache stated. “It’s also a great opportunity to meet other kids.” In the younger age groups, players are generally grouped together by which school they attend. By the time they
Minor Baseball District 14 Champs 2018 10 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
Major Baseball District 14 Champs 2018 get into the older groups, they are “drafted,” or selected by each team’s coach. And while the players learn the game and meet other kids, the Little League experience is also one for the families. “You meet other families and spend a lot of time at the ball park,” Bache noted. The league itself is staffed entirely by volunteers. “Everything that makes the program function is done by volunteers,” Bache said. While some of the cost is covered by registration fees, the league relies on community support and sponsorships to cover the costs. Area businesses sponsor individual teams, with the teams being named for the business, as well as sponsors for the league. Bache noted that a lot of support has come from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County and the Bontrager Family Trust, who have been long-time contributors to the Little League program. Registration opens in late December at middleburylittleleague.website.siplay.com/. For additional information, email Middlebury Little League at middleburyll@gmail.com.
Major Softball District 14 Champs 2018
Middlebury Little League Supporters Community Foundation of Elkhart County Bontrager Family Foundation Culver Duck Farms Das Dutchmen Essenhaus Middlebury Fire Department Edward Jones USA Modular MSC Industrial, LLC Middlebury Hardwood Products Lippert Components
Team Sponsors
Akins Excavating Ameri-Kart Corp. Arbor Industries Ascendant Orthopedic Alliance Cardinal Buses Inc. Contemporary Images Culver Duck Farms Das Dutchmen Essenhaus Deer Grove Farms Dogwood Hills Tree Farm Edward Jones Edward Jones - Middlebury Elite Electrical Elkhart Emergency Physicians Inc. Evolve Farmers Exchange First State Bank First State Insurance Forks County Line Genesis Products, Inc. Goshen Family Dentistry Goshen Health Hardings Hawkins Water Tech IL Maust Remodeling Jayco Jefferson Fire Department Jenkins Automotive - NAPA Jerry's Standard Judd Family Dentistry K&K EARTHMOVING INC Kent Miller/Century 21 L&W Engineering LCI (Lippert Components) LeafGuard
MAX Insurance Max Myers Medallion Plastics Middlebury Animal Clinic Middlebury Fire Department MSC Industrial Supply Co. NAPA Auto/Jenkins Nikki's on Main Novabella ObeCo, Inc. Old Hoosier Meats OSMC Overholt Masonry Polywood Prairie Wood Products Priority One Construction Pumpkinvine Cyclery Rainbow International of Elkhart RE/MAX ResultsNicWyse.com Riegsecker Concrete Rise'n Roll RSM Rulli's Satellite Industries Sod Father Lawn & Landscape Southwestern Michigan College Squiers Ins - State Farm StarFleet Stuztman Power Equipment Sunnyland Construction TK Steel USA Modular Welch Packaging West on Warren Yoder Insurance inMiddlebury Magazine  | December 2018 11
The Scholar Athlete Mentoring Spirit, Mind, Body
Photo by Russ Draper
Ariana Stoltzfus Senior Ariana Stoltzfus is the daughter of Chad and Eliza Stoltzfus. She is on the soccer and track teams at Northridge High School. “I also volunteer with my soccer and track teams in the concessions or help host track camps during the summer,” Stoltzfus said. She enjoys the competitive atmosphere and how the teams she is on end up feeling like family. “I enjoy how the coaches are there and ready to listen to whatever you have to say. I also enjoy how much all the different teams support each other at their games,” she added. She also participates in her church’s youth group every Wednesday. “With my youth group I go on many mission trips and provide help to those in need,” Stoltzfus said. She works at Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn in Goshen. She plans to attend Spring Arbor University to continue her soccer career and major in criminal psychology.
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12 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
OUR CORE VALUES TRUST INTEGRITY RESPECT COMMITMENT TEAMWORK
ue Gifts q i n U
INDOT offers scholarships, employment to future engineers
for the
Holiday Season!
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is offering a number of scholarships and paid positions to civil engineering students for the 2019-2020 school year. The scholarship program offers $3,125 per semester or $2,083 per trimester for up to five years of postsecondary civil engineering education, which can be used on educational expenses, fees and books. Recipients will work in full-time, paid positions with INDOT during summer breaks and upon graduation. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be accepted or enrolled in one of Indiana’s certified civil engineering schools, which include Purdue University Fort Wayne, Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Trine University, University of Evansville, University of Notre Dame, University of Southern Indiana, and Valparaiso University.
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Middlebury High School
searching for classmates The Middlebury High School Class of 1969 will be celebrating its 50th Reunion on June 7 and 8, 2019. The Middlebury High School Class of 1969 is searching for people that were class members at any time during grades 7-12. Contact information is needed for:
Ken Bontrager Marlin Krider Lynn Miller David Jay Yoder Theresa Brown Gordon Detwiler Joan Gingerich Linda Gross Ken Norton Steve Kauffman Ruth Slabach Karen Stanley Mike Williamson Dallas Fireline
Middlebury Alumni Association President Mitch Miller (left) and Secretary Patti (Kindy) Wierich (right).
The women’s names listed above are all maiden names. Contact Mitch Miller at (574) 825-1100 or email mmiller766766@gmail.com if you have any information about the above-named classmates.
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Imaginarium Spectorium brings the art out
Desirée Beauchamp and Carrie Beachy have had a love for art as far back as they can remember. Collaborating an interactive art cart featuring sculptural puppets, these two friends, alongside their husbands, created the Imaginarium Spectorium. It is an installation piece that includes interactive sculpting with shadow boxes featuring puppets that rotate and change, and old fashioned stringed puppets. “We wanted to create noise contraptions to go with it, things that people could drop things into to create sound or music instead of just the visual. We did not want this to have a starting and ending point of a story, as in a production, where viewers walking by or up to it may miss the plot of the story. So people can come and play and tinker anytime. We wanted to break the rule that art cannot be touched, encouraging the viewer to touch the art,” Desirée shared. Desirée and Carrie, along with their husbands Marcus Boucher and Phil Beachy, are the founders of BeaBou Artist Collective. They have worked together to create something for the community of Middlebury to encourage others to be able to enjoy this unique, transferable, ever-changing display of art. Desirée has been drawing since she was a child. She would have drawing competitions with her friends.“My mom was an artist so art was 16 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
by April Givens
always encouraged. We have a lot of musicians in my family, but our immediate family had a lot of visual art and my mom really encouraged it,” Desirée stated. Desirée graduated from Herron School of Art in Indianapolis. In high school she took every class available in art, and it seemed the teachers even made up classes so there could be art available for her. “In high school I did a lot of ceramics. But in college I started to do more sculptural objects,” she said. The Imaginarium Spectorium is a culmination of that. Desirée had always worked with dolls and figures a lot as well as small installation pieces or multiples to make things bigger. One of the upcoming events was looking for an artist to make installation work. As the two friends started talking about puppets and figures, the more they wanted it to become more of a contraption that could move, rather then a stagnant box it would sit in. They wanted to be able to travel with it, so they got the cart itself and transformed it into what is now the Imaginarium Spectorium. “I cut out all of the hands and figures and pieces with a band saw. Other than the actual structure of the cart itself, which we had to refurbish to make it stronger, every item on it has been handcrafted. The front façade that has the paintings on it was all handcrafted also,” Desirée added.
Carrie’s dad is an artist and she grew up with art in the house. Carrie is a mural artist which has led her down the road to public art. “I’m passionate about art that the public can experience and I really want it to be hands-on. Whether they’re helping to make something or they’re tinkering and playing with it or just interacting with it. It’s important for me to see that and people can experience art in a real way instead of looking at it at a distance,” she noted. “In the creation of it, I was doing a two-dimensional installation, but knew I wanted to be a part of this, to dream it up,” Carrie added. “But Desirée had the time and the expertise to carry it out. When I could, I made time to come out and help with the little things, and paint, and organize, but we all work together helping when we have the time.” Carrie and Desirée are at the beginning stages of putting together an Arts Council in Middlebury. They are looking for ways to bring local artists together, to get to know each other and network. An artist generally has two full-time jobs in one – finding the jobs and creating the jobs. Having a resource center and communication would greatly help the artist community of Middlebury. The first unveiling of the Imaginarium Spectorium was at the Middlebury Fall Festival. It has been a part of many events this fall. Anyone who would be interested in having this at an event or following to other events can contact Carrie or Desirée via Facebook and Instagram.
WE WISH YOU A HAPPY
HOLIDAY
SEASON AND
Lasting Happiness 18 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
n e 2 e 0 t 18 fair quee y r u b e l d d i n M
Emily Yoder has spent a lot of time at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. But this past summer, she got the chance to experience it from a different point of view, serving as the 2018 4-H Fair Queen.
Yoder, a graduate of Clinton Christian School and daughter of Dennis and Jennifer Yoder, was crowned the fair queen during her very first outing in a pageant. “I grew up around the fair,” Yoder said. “I thought it would be cool to try it and be a role model for others.” The 10-year 4-H member has been involved with the Saddle Club as well as woodworking, cake decorating, electricity, and other non-livestock projects during her tenure. “It was so much fun,” Yoder said of the pageant experience. “It was amazing. The interview was great to set me up for real work experience. And I enjoyed modeling the evening and business outfits. I also loved getting to know each of the other contestants.” When asked why she bested the 40+ other contestants, Yoder admitted that “I honestly don’t know. I was myself and just let God shine through me.” As the Elkhart County 4-H Fair Queen, Yoder got to experience the fair in a different way and do a few things that she wouldn’t have as a 4-H’er, including a camel ride, a helicopter ride, and “I even got to participate in the tractor pull and sang the National Anthem.” Yoder would encourage other young women to enter the pageant with this advice: “Be yourself. Have fun. Enjoy the process. It’s an amazing experience.”
Yoder is currently attending Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tenn., studying commercial music and worship arts. She has her sights on going to Hillsong College in Australia after her studies here. “I want to be involved in ministry wherever God calls me to go,” Yoder stated.
American Legion
Veteran Spotlight
by Guy Thompson
Elmer Mast Elmer Mast was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army in late 1952 and did his basic training at Ft. Knox, Ky. Once that was done, he had a week back home in Middlebury before catching a train in Chicago. That took him to Seattle, Wash. But that wasn’t his last stop as he was assigned to a base in Fairbanks, Alaska. Mast was a tank driver assigned to the 44th Infantry Division and for him, the Cold War was as cold as it gets. “It was cold, very cold. We went on maneuvers when it was 55 below zero,” he said. For Mast, one of the great things about being in the Army was getting to make friends with so many other soldiers from around the country. As for the conditions they worked in, “It was what you made of it.” The was a board detailing each day what clothes should be worn based on the weather conditions, and Mast said it was a good idea to follow those orders. His time in the Army helped with discipline, he noted, and made him think about what he wanted to do. He received a Good Conduct Medal and was discharged in 1954, returning to Middlebury, where he got married. A few years later, he moved to San Diego, Calif., to work as a truck driver and then cement truck driver. After retirement, he moved back to Middlebury. He drove past the Middlebury American Legion Post and never thought much about it until someone suggested he join the local Legion Post. He’s been a member for 23 years now. He has enjoyed his time with the Legion as it is “a great way to support the community.”
20 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
Graham Neer and Andrew Gerber show off their mousetrappowered car, left. Below, the car powered by a pair of mousetraps that has to push a cup down a track and then back up, angling toward a specific spot in the shortest amount of time.
Northridge Science Olympiad Mousetrap power! It may not power your car, but students with the Northridge Science Olympiad team are designing and building a small car that will be powered by a pair of mousetraps. The objective is to have a car that can push a small cup down the track, stop at a certain point, and then reverse at an angle to come to a stop as close as possible to a dot that has been set by the judges. “Last year, the car only had to come straight back,” Coach Jeremy Gerber said. Each year, events see rules change to challenge students. “In the vehicle build events like this one, you see some different solutions to the problem,” Gerber noted. But by the time the state Science Olympiad event rolls around in the spring, most teams have the event figured out, Gerber added. A few students gravitate toward the building events like this one. “There is a lot of testing and problem solving with an event like this one,” Gerber stated. Sophomores Graham Neer and Andrew Gerber are tackling this year’s mousetrap car challenger. “It’s working pretty well,” Neer said. Still, it’s presenting a challenge for the pair. “It’s a smaller cup this year, which means we make the car smaller and the distance is longer,” Gerber added. The students are testing and testing and testing some more to dial the car in to make it hit the marks in the shortest time possible. “You find out what works and what doesn’t. It takes patience,” Gerber noted. Even then, they know that on the day of the competition, things can – and usually will – go wrong. That’s what separates the great teams from the pack. “You have to adapt to it,” Gerber emphasized. At a competition last year, the floor they competed on was sticky, which threw off a lot of their work and they had to work on finding a way to get the car to move. They ended up third in that event. Both Neer and Gerber enjoy the hands-on aspect of the event and see it leading them into what they pursue in college and for a career down the road. “I would recommend to other students to try this,” Neer said. inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018 21
Russ Draper Photography
Position oPen
www.flickr.com/photos/russ_draper
LaGrange Publishing Company is now accepting applications for the position of
editor
The person selected for this position will be responsible for editorial content in our four publications:
• LaGrange Standard • LaGrange News • Middlebury Independent • inMiddlebury Magazine Reports directly to publisher and is an exempt salaried position. If interested, email resume to: publisher@lagrangepublishing.com or call 260-463-2166, 800-552-2734, or 574-825-9112 to arrange an interview appointment. Résumé can be mailed to LaGrange Publishing Company P. O. Box 148 LaGrange, IN 46761
CONTACT draperruss@gmail.com 574.361.3903
Insurance •• Investment Investment • •Retirement Insurance Retirement Eugene Bontrager Eugene Bontrager
Investment AdvIsor representAtIve INVESTMENT ADVISOR REPRESENTATIVE Branch manager Branch Officeoffice Manager cell: 574.537.2534 (c) 574.537.2534 104 n. main street 426 N. Main St. • Suite 4 po Box 1127 Middlebury, IN 46540 middlebury, In 46540
Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. (TFA), Transamerica Financial Group Division - Member FINRA, SIPC, and Registered Investment Advisor. Non-Securities products and services are not offered through TFA. TFG001880-10/13.
y a d i l o D o c’s H November 23-December 15
Christmas Meals To-Go Order by 8 pm Friday, December 21, 8pm
Order online: essenhaus2go.com 240 US 20 • Middlebury, IN • 574-825-9471 • www.essenhaus.com 22 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
Saving Grace Advocacy supported by 100 Women Who Care with $10,000 donation In the summer of 2014, Karen Nicholson Jenny Welch and Sheila hadn’t been able to get Terlep organized the to a fundraising tea for 100 Women Who Care Saving Grace Advocacy, a Elkhart County chapter, a program at St. Paul’s United gathering of local women Methodist Church that who care deeply about offers a range of support Elkhart County and give and case management to generously to see their people in need. communities thrive. She felt guilty about Throughout the last three missing the tea and years more than 200 verified some information women have given to the about Saving Grace before Elkhart County chapter going to the quarterly to support local causes. “100 Women Who Care” The group has awarded event on October 16. She more than $200,000 to and others paid $100 to participate in the social A check for $10,000 from 100 Women Who Care will help the work of local organizations serving fundraising event that Saving Grace Advocacy. Pictured from left are Elli Strukel, Saving Grace Elkhart County residents. happens quarterly in board member; Karen Nicholson, who nominated the ministry to 100 The 100 Women Who Women Who Care; Rev. Tom Defries of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church; Care is a component Elkhart County. Chris Ulery, director of Saving Grace; Betty Nelson, board member; Sandy fund of the Community When she was selected Lindahl, board president; and Nancy Hagedorn, board member. Foundation of Elkhart as one of the three women County. The community to present a potential foundation partners with donors to support the small but effective ministry. charity for the $10,000 raised at the leverage their philanthropy in ways that event, she was ready. She told the It often needs diapers, sanitary wipes, transform lives. Since 1989, community group about how Saving Grace had prepackaged food, toilet paper, and foundation has connected the clothing. purchased a welding helmet for a man generosity of donors with community whose equipment had been stolen, Ulery works with other agencies to needs by providing scholarship how it had bought a pair of steel-toed aid men, women and children. Police opportunities to local students boots for someone in need. “Even if you referred the welder whose equipment and making grants to nonprofit don’t vote for the organization, I want had been stolen. Someone else needed organizations working to improve the you to be aware,” she said. money for a drug test as part of a quality of life in Elkhart County. The women in attendance did vote drug application and then got the job. more information, visit to give the money to the ministry. She helps people read mail, navigate For the website at www.100WomenWho disability paperwork, and worked two Nicholson called Sandy Lindahl, president of the ministry’s board, and years to get identification for a man CareElkhart.com. said, “I have some news. We won.” with mental illness. Community Foundation of Lindahl was so excited she hung up Saving Grace Advocacy spent about Elkhart County partners with donors on 4her friend. Even the next morning, $14,000 last year. The 100 Women Who to leverage their philanthropy in Lindahl thought it was a dream. Care donation, along with the $3,000 ways that transform lives. Since Chris Ulery started Saving Grace or so from the tea, will help the work 1989, the community foundation Advocacy in early 2014 in the old to continue. So far this year, Ulery has has connected the generosity of donors with community needs by parsonage of the historic Elkhart church helped 650 clients. where she attends. She was working for “The work Ulery is doing in Saving providing scholarship opportunities another non-profit and also getting Grace Advocacy is remarkable,” said to local students and making grants a Master’s degree in social work. Candy Yoder, chief program officer to nonprofit organizations working When she needed an internship, she for the Community Foundation of to improve Elkhart County. The convinced the church to back her work Elkhart County. “We’re so glad when community foundation strives to be a helping homeless in particular, but also the generosity of this community helps local entity known for inspiring good anyone with need. As the weather has fund the work of caring people meet and impacting success. To learn more, go to www.InspiringGood.org. turned colder, she’s been giving away the needs.” a lot of blankets and coats. Donations inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018 23
photos by Russ Draper
24 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
106 South Main Middlebury, IN 574-358-0265
Locally Brewed
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Please welcome the following individuals to the Middlebury Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center family, Chris Stauffer Middlebury Recycling Facilities, Inc. Amy Gathered Willow Cueto family Body on Cue Health & Fitness LLC
Front row, left to right Takiya, Tristan, Tatiana, Trinity, Jim Neff Chamber Member, Walter, Dania, and Gage Wiles(mgn).
Chamber Chat? December 4, 11, 18 Please join us at 11:30 hometown people... Good for the soul food... hot coffee
inMiddlebury Magazine  | December 2018 27
Local Business Directory NISLEY
/ TCC
Home Improvement
202 W. Spring St. • Middlebury, IN
Specializing in Residential Interior Painting Steve Nisley 574-849-4788
851 US 20 Next To Rulli’s Middlebury 574-358-0146
HealthyPets Pet Food and Accessories 851 US 20 • Middlebury 574-825-3238
Chris Gunn Groomer
574-849-6401
Retaining Walls • Outdoor Kitchens • Fire Pits Paver Patios & Walkways • Landscaping Decorative Concrete Curbing
(574) 370-4002
Crystal Valley Wellness Center, LLC Come try a session on us! 801 Wayne St. #6 Middlebury, IN 46540 (574) 358-0275 www.crystalvalleywellness.com
Advertise in our Business Directory for as low as $50 a month!
For more information call 574-825-9112 or email Advertising@inMiddlebury.com
Interested in being a volunteer writer or photographer? Have an idea for a story? We’d love to hear from you!
Need a logo or design project? Give us a call at 574-825-9112 or email editor@inMiddlebury.com
28 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
deals
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www.rullispizza.com • 574-825-7222
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inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018 29
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30 inMiddlebury Magazine | December 2018
KIDS EAT FREE 12-Piece chicken Dinner
23
erican Red Cross - Elkhart County Chapter Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary - Ross Ringenberg Memorial Bashor Children's H hor Children's Home - Mental Health Bashor Children's Home - Rieth Family Educational Bethany Christian Schools Bethel College B hers Big Sisters of Elkhart County Bill Swihart Creative Learning Award for Central HS Boy Scouts of America - Acivities & Special E Scouts of America - Camping Program Boy Scouts of America - Technology Boy Scouts of America - Youth in Need Boy Scouts of Amer alle Council Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart - Mark Mow Youth of the Year Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart Brady Unit Boys & Girls Clubs o nty - Staff Education Boys & Girls Clubs of Goshen Boys & Girls Clubs of Middlebury Boys & Girls Clubs of Nappanee Boys & Girls Club appanee - James Bias Youth of the Year Bristol Food Pantry - Dick & Linda Armstrong Bristol Little League - William Gude Memorial mily Charitable Camp Mack Camp Mack - Sel & Frankie Copeland Cancer Resources of Elkhart County CAPS - Child and Parent Servic e for Senior Citizens Carolyn J. Keefe Charitable Center for Community Justice Center for Healing and Hope Center for Healing and H k & Karen Kurtz Compassion Center for Hospice Care Church Community Services Church World Service City of Nappanee CJ & Gre er Education Fund Council on Aging of Elkhart County Crossing National Daniel & Josephine Sherman De Fries Gardens ECS Coachi ellence - David Emens Memorial Edward R. & Dorothy Borger Edwardsburg Sports Complex Elkhart Blue Blazer Football Elkhart Chil elopment Center Elkhart Christian Academy Elkhart City Health Department - Freida May Lobley Elkhart Civic Theatre Elkhart Cou Fair Foundation Elkhart County Historical Society Elkhart County Historical Society - William P. & Ruth Miller Elkhart County Mu ociation - Field Trip Elkhart County Symphony Society Elkhart County Women's Shelter Elkhart Education Foundation Elkhart Educ ndation - Daniel & Mary (Hisako) Henkin Elkhart Environmental Excellence Elkhart General Hospital Elkhart Jazz Festival Elkhart L b Elkhart Municipal Band Foundation Elkhart Public Library Environmental Educational - Christner Family Memorial ETHOS Scien ter Exchange Club of Elkhart Legacy Faith Mission of Elkhart Faith Mission of Elkhart Children's Fund Faithful Dads Family Christi elopment Center First Congregational Church - Howard & Elizabeth Cole First Congregational Church - Wilbert H. Budd First Congre rch Charitable First Presbyterian Church Foundation Fischoff Chamber Music Association Food Bank of Northern Indiana Frank & C liese Fred J. Bechtel Music Memorial Friends of the Lerner Friends of the Northridge Band Boosters Friends of the Pumpkinvine Natu nds of WVPE Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana - Michiana Goldenrod - Herbie Diener Memorial Goodwill Industries of Michiana Gosh ege Goshen College - Anne Rieth VanDyke Goshen College - Basil & Ethel Turner Goshen College - Blair Rieth Goshen College - Charles othy Ainlay Educational Goshen College - Frank & Marsha Martin Goshen College - Gunden Family Goshen College - Ina Latta Strass ine Biology Goshen College - Lloyd & Delotia Klose Memorial Goshen College - Science Building Goshen College - William & Toni John hen College Building - Wilbert & Alice Budd Goshen College Music Hall Goshen Historical Society Goshen Hospital & Oaklawn - Ned & ber Nursing Continuing Education Goshen Hospital Foundation - D. Stanley (Sam) Wolfe Estate Goshen Hospital Foundation - Imagi cation Goshen Hospital Foundation - Ken & Enid Swanson Nursing Award Goshen Interfaith Hospitality Network Goshen Kiwanis Fo hen Kiwanis Foundation - Roger Burger Goshen Public Library Goshen Theater: The Next Act Legacy Grace Lutheran Church - Ray L. erly A. Bachman Family Greencroft Communities Foundation - Fred A. Lobley Fund for Seniors Guidance Ministries Habitat for Hum lkhart County Harold & Marcile Whybrew Havilah Beardsley House Heart City Health Center Help-A-House LaCasa, Inc. Hoosier Re kshop - Christine E. Brown Horizon Education Alliance Howard S Brembeck Vision & Dental Health Hubbard Hill Retirement Commu mane Society of Elkhart County IUSB-Elkhart Career Services - John & Judith Goebel IUSB-Elkhart Special Projects - Robert & Peggy n W. Fisher Charitable James L. Letherman Memorial for Holy Cross University Jamestown United Methodist Church Jimtown Histor seum Junior Achievement of Elkhart County L. Craig Fulmer Leadership Promise LaCasa, Inc. Lerner Theatre Lifeline Youth Ministri Polk Legacy Literacy Network of Elkhart County LoveWay LoveWay - Darryl Abbott Student Rider Maurine Neterer Nature McGladre e greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.� Coretta Scott King "Best of Show west Museum of American Art - Robert & Joyce Clevel& Midwest Museum of American Art - William & Jeanne L Batten MJC Welch W thridge Area Aquatics Northridge HS Dollars for Scholars Administration Northridge HS Drama Dept. - Albin Foundation Northridge lawn Foundation - Harold C. Loewen Oscar & Barbara Schricker Family Patricia A. Smith Tribute Premier Arts Purdue Club of Elkha ph & Opal Gunden Fund RETA - Reason Enough to Act Ribbon of Hope Riverview Adult Day Care - Dick & Linda Armstrong Riverview Celebrate the season Army with aofdonation to a localCenter fund at- Kintner the Community hmere Museum Ryan's Place Salvation Army of Elkhart Salvation Goshen Samaritan Ross Schrock Nursing Foundation of Elkhart County. Each eligible St. donation will receive a 30% nity Hall Sonia Caldwell Teaching Excellence St. John's United Church of Christ Charitable Joseph Valley Camerata St. Peter's Lu Thomas Catholic Education - G. David Gundlach St.as Thomas the Apostle Church St. Thomas match we celebrate ourCatholic 30th year of Inspiring Joythe in Apostle ElkhartCatholic County.School Fellow Vincent DePaul Catholic Church St. Vincent DePaul Catholic School Stan & Sharon Hess Philanthropic Stanley Clark School Sweet Pea 574-295-8761 | INSPIRINGGOOD.ORG/GIVEONLINE et Pea Foundation Child Life Fund Ted Kolodziej Memorial Empowering Youth The Window Thomas & Mary Naquin Thomas E. & Ele mas R. & Joan E. Smith Musical Tommy's Kids Castle Trinity Foundation - Genevieve Ball Trinity United Methodist - Wesley Society AD United Way of Elkhart County Unity Church of Peace - Wilbert & Justine Sparks Budd Views on Learning Vistula Christian Chur
INSPIRE JOY
Give locally this holiday season. Celebrate with a 30% donation match for our 30 years of joy.
Open House Saturday, December 8
15% off Store wiDe free Nail trimS
9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.
HealthyPets Pet Food & Accessories
Chris Gunn Groomer 574-849-6401
851 US 20, Middlebury • 574-825-3238
Time for
Your pet can meet Santa and receive a free treat!
we are hiriNG a Part-time Groomer
/ TCC
Holiday Gifts Free HUM and Free Tablets ( with 2 yr. activation )
851 US 20 • Next To Rulli’s • Middlebury • 574-358-0146