Shouts

I would like to give a “shout-out” to the kind gentleman who offered to pay for my purchase at Varns and Hoover. I had walked to the store, remembering to take my mask, but forgetting my wallet. You touched my heart. It’s persons like you who can change the world by thinking of others without hesitation.

Thank you – S Harshbarger 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

“Growing up, I was that kid who would bring two-foot stacks of books up to the counter at the library and be back in a week for more. We all knew it was a safe place and if we needed anything we could just ask the librarians. The culture Terry and the staff created was truly welcoming (and is even more so now!), and it’s one reason I am a voracious reader. It’s a cool full-circle thing that my kids are now the ones bringing twofoot stacks of books to the counter. To all the librarians at MCPL: you are awesome and we love you! “ – Chris Wheeler

I would really like to thank the Middlebury Animal Clinic for the safety precautions they have taken throughout this year. While Only allowing pets inside the building may be a slight inconvenience for some, it is comforting to know they are doing everything that they can to keep their staff, us and our fur families safe.

Over the last month I have experienced two separate occasions of people paying it forward. First when in line at Harding’s the gentleman in front of me offered for them to ring up my few items as well and paid for them. Then a few weeks later when I arrived at the pay window at the McDonald’s drive-thru I was told the car in front of me had already paid my tab. Both times it lifted my spirits to experience such generosity. Thank you to those anonymous strangers. – Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher Thank you to the Middle school and High school choir who came caroling on Lawrence Street. They rang our door bell and politely asked if we would like to hear some carols. In the season of isolation it was such a beautiful act of kindness and so appreciated! What a memory to cherish. – Anonymous

– Char and Ed Swoveland

Kristen O'Dell Art Educator

"The two mediums I tend to focus more on are ceramics and drawing, although I do paint, sculpt and do printmaking. I would say those are my top five. As an arts educator, I do a little bit of everything but me personally, that would be my pecking order. I like abstract but in the way that it still makes you think about what you’re looking at rather than making it so simplistic you’re trying to guess what it is. And in my drawings, I take an object and then I create a story and it’s got a lot

Congratulations Kristen O'Odell

of tangles and designs in it, a little more complex in thinking. I teach at Northridge High School in Middlebury and primarily I teach Intro to Art, Drawing all levels, Ceramics all levels, Photography all levels, Printmaking, Sculpture and that’s about it right now. As an artist, I’ve enjoyed being part of community settings and being able to collaborate and work with others. I tend to want to put myself in the background rather than stand out, to my own detriment sometimes, but as a teacher, I think I’ve been a little bit more outgoing in that way and the other year I got Teacher of the Year for High School Art in Indiana and that felt really nice. I absolutely love Goshen and its art and how everybody is helping make connections, whether it’s for a novice, a hobbyist, or someone who actually is developing an art business or a program. I take classes different places and I offer classes. I’ve gotten involved in the guilds also. I’m involved with both the Painters and the Photographers Guild currently. I help in those capacities for those two guilds. For the Photography Guild, I’m Vice President there and for the Painter’s Guild, I’m co-chair there. Again, it’s just trying to find opportunities to help bring in some of my talents as well as connections to make things better.”

Celebrating

110 YEARS

of caring for your Firsts.

CELEBRATING

YEARS 1910-2020