InMiddlebury Magazine - October 2022

TABLE

CONTENTS

By Laura Kurella

ON THE COVER – Enjoying the Middlebury Fall Festivities in the park.

Desirée

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OCTOBER

WEEKLY

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 Fry by the Legion

2nd Friday: Swiss Steak by the Auxiliary

3rd Friday: Shrimp or Chicken Tenders Dinner the SAL

4th Friday: Varied Menu by the Lion’s Club

5th Friday: Lasagna by the Boy Scouts

Last Saturday: Steak Grill by the Legion Call (574) 825-5121 for more information

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

Hello Middlebury,

Wow, and just like that the first day of fall arrived and with it the sweater weather. Here’s to hoping the winter is as mild as this summer was.

My favorite part of fall is prepping for all of the family gatherings and holidays. Be safe, be kind to yourself and stay warm.

– Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher

OCTOBER 8 - MIDDLEBURY PUMPKIN RACE

Grab your crew of family, friends & neighbors, purchase a race kit, design your pumpkin and have some serious fun! Two race categories: individuals/families/groups or Corporate/Civic groups. Pit Row and Registration opens at 1:00 pm for those wanting assistance with drilling holes/ assembling axles; Race begins at 2:00. Kits are now avail able at Varns & Hoover Hardware for $25. Visit www. middleburythenandnow.org for more information or email RacethePumpkin@gmail.com.

OCTOBER 21 - HOMETOWN HARVEST

Enjoy Hayride, campfire, hot dogs, s’mores, kids crafts and live music at the Trestle Terrace, 106 Pleasant St. Middle bury. 6:00-8:00 pm. Free. Visit middleburythenandnow.org for more information.

October

Birthday Wishes

Anniversary Wishes

Getting Outside with Tweens and Teens

OUTDOOR LIVING

Developmentally, tweens and teens are changing, Their connection to nature may need to shift from the nature play of earlier days. Youth may be looking toward community service, career connections, leadership opportunities, and individual study preferences outside. There are many groups within the state of Indiana and locally in Middlebury to help tweens and teens get outside.

Adding adventure to our family vacations is a hit for our teens.

Indiana Children and Nature Network recently hosted a webinar for parents and those who work with youth, sharing tips and ideas for getting outside. Time in nature for this age group often promotes opportunities to be physically active, a mental health boost, decreased stress, experience of awe and wonder, the healing power of nature, skill building, career exploration, and less screen time.

There are also challenges and opportunities to getting outside with youth. Tweens and teens are often showing more reliance on technology, seeking more independence, influenced more by peers, developing personal identity, and expanding independence. These trends can be harnessed to connect with nature, as we increase adventure, bring friends, allow youth to plan, involve food, harness outdoor family traditions, follow their interests, connect with special interest groups, include technology, and find ways to serve. Options for tweens and teens to get outside involve summer camps, volunteer work, specific programming, school clubs and groups, special classes and trips, citizen scientist activities, special interest groups, employment, and community groups. Find more about these opportunities on the ICAN website.

Locally, 8th grade field trips to Riverbend Park gives hands on opportunities for water quality

testing, Environmental professionals and special interest groups share at Riverfest. Many teens help volunteer during Riverfest as well—my son recently helped with the fish casting station. Scouts are also active in the area, getting my children out camping, volunteering, cooking over a fire, and even fishing with Scouts BSA Troop 007. Science Olympiad also gives opportunities to learn about birds, rocks and minerals, and other natural phenomena.

A teen holds a salamander at an Elkhart County Parks spring amphibian hike.

Do you know of a local group that helps youth get outside? Do you know a tween or teen getting outdoors to showcase in InMiddlebury Magazine and/ or ICAN? Contact me at insideoutsidemichiana@ gmail.com.

Resources: https://www.

Teens and young adults intern with the City of Elkhart biologist as part of Riverfest, sharing water quality, fish, and professional opportunities.

Dr. Carla Gull hosts the podcast Loose Parts Nature Play and leads local nature play sessions. She loves connecting children, families, and educators with nature. Find her at loosepartsnatureplay.org.

REMEMBERING RIVERFEST 2022

Volunteer Voices:

Kim Clarke

I’ve helped plant the quilt garden at Krider Gardens. I am a cofounder of Middlebury Then and Now, which proposed Trail Tails to the Park Board and with their partnership (along with other community partners) it became a reality and continues today. Middlebury Then and Now holds free community events each year in Riverbend Park and Memorial Park: Flower Power, Movies in the Park (June, July, August) and Feathered Friends. We also hold Hometown Harvest in Trestle Terrace, property of Friends of Middlebury Parks. Middlebury Then and Now partners with Middlebury Parks for the annual Tree Lighting event and we hold one of our popular events, Regatta of Recyclables, during Riverfest. Middlebury Then and Now organized tours of Krider Gardens where the proceeds from the tours were donated to the Parks. We’ve had several Faces of Middlebury cutouts in the parks throughout the project.

One of the benefits of volunteering is that I have met many new people from the Park Department, Town government, and residents. By attending a few board meetings and working together on projects, I’ve learned how the Middlebury Park Board tackles projects. I’ve gained patience because I know my ideas need to go through proper channels. I feel supported by the Middlebury Parks; they are willing to partner or consider partnering with me or Middlebury Then and Now on potential projects.

Don’t forget Middlebury Then and Now’s Pumpkin Race on Saturday, October 8.

ATTENTION: The Krider Rest Area will be closing for the winter on or about Nov. 1, depending on the weather. The restrooms will reopen around April 1.

SAVE THE DATE: The Middlebury Tree Lighting will be Saturday, December 3. Look for more information next month!

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Choppin' Broccoli

By Laura Kurella

When I was a child, if we didn’t like the food that was prepared for us our only op tion was to go to bed hungry.

Raised by parents that survived the Great Depression, eating nutritionallysound meals was foremost in their minds. However, since we never had to suffer such deprivations, the good eating habits our parents taught us slowly slid downhill. For many, the dip in nutrition also led to a dip in good health.

The inner battle that wages in us be tween eating healthy and eating junk is as old as time. There is nary a person out there who hasn’t had an inner dialog while standing in front of an ice cream shop, “I don’t want to eat that hot fudge sundae! I do want to eat that hot fudge sundae!”

When we find ourselves at odds such as this, our best choice is “No!” because more often than not, whenever we give into a fleshly temptation, we wind up re gretting it.

The best way to quiet that incessant bickering in your head is to strike a deal with your flesh instead. One that ensures that the body gets the nutrients it needs from healthy food choices before anything else, and by agreeing to be more furtive, especially with healthy foods that are not super amazing alone, like broccoli.

Offering us a complete powerhouse of nutrition in a single serving, broccoli is one of the most nutritious vegetables we can eat, and it’s economical too!

Rich in the compound sulfophane, which fights off cartilage-destroying en zymes, broccoli is a great natural anti-in flammatory, which also protects blood ves sels in the heart, keeping it healthier.

Extremely rich in Vitamin C, especially when raw, broccoli helps to build collagen, which helps our skin repair itself, healing wounds and cuts faster, and protecting the body from damaging free radicals.

Possessing the compounds lutein and zeaxanthin, broccoli helps improve eye sight, and fight off cancer cells, especially melanoma, certain types of leukemia, prostate cancer and stomach and intesti nal cancers, too.

High in fiber, broccoli also helps low

er cholesterol, aid digestion, and since it helps us to feel fuller, helps us to eat less food!

Boasting so many health benefits, broccoli is a sure-fire way to supercharge your body’s immune system so it’s ready for the cold and flu season that’s coming soon.

Here now are some crisp ways to get you choppin' broccoli. Enjoy!

Laura Kurella is a nationally awardwinning recipe developer and food colum nist who loves to share recipes from her Midwest kitchen. She welcomes your com ments at laurakurella@yahoo.com.

Bold Broccoli Bites/ Dip

Yield: 4 servings (about 15 tablespoonsize balls)

1 cup broccoli florets

1 cup cashew nuts

2 thin slices red onion

1 clove garlic

1 teaspoon avocado oil

1/4 to 1/2 a fresh jalapeno

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper pinch unrefined mineral sea salt

In the bowl of a food processor, add broc coli and cashews. Pulse process until chopped into small pieces. Do not over process. Add remaining ingredients and pulse just until everything is well combined and has a wet, crumbly consistency, about 20- 30 pulses. Season to taste then, using a tablespoon measure or scoop, measure and shape into small, bite-sized balls or squares, place on a serving dish and re frigerate to help set up.

Alternately, serve as a dip by simply plac ing mixture into a serving dish. Keep refrigerated until use. Serve with as sorted crackers, pita chips or toast points.

Easy – Cheesy Broccoli Soup

Yield: About 4 servings

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 bay leaves

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

A great step toward better health is to add more green foods to your plate, but if your body tends to fight you when it comes to eating green, just try prepar ing it in more pleasing ways!

(Laura Kurella)

freshly ground pepper, to taste

2 heads broccoli, divided use

1 large carrot, julienned

2 cups half-and-half

8 ounces sharp white and yellow cheddar cheese, grated

Trim broccoli florets off the stalks then rinse, drain and set aside. Rinse remain ing stalks then trim, discarding dry ends, and finely chop remaining stalks then set aside.

In a large, heavy-bottomed pan or pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic then whisk in the flour and cook un til golden, about 3 to 4 minutes. Gradually whisk in chicken broth then add bay leaves, nutmeg and pepper and bring to a boil. Add chopped broccoli stalks then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, remove bay leaves and discard, then whisk in the half and half. Using an im mersion blender or other cutter, puree soup until smooth then return to heat. Add broccoli florets and julienned carrot then bring to just under a simmer and cook, covered, until ten der, about 20 minutes. Add cheese and stir over medium heat until melted and smooth.

We deliver softer skin.

SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

GIA ROWAN

My name is Gia Rowan, my parents are Joseph Rowan and Leah Vetere. I am a Senior at Northridge High School.

I play volleyball and have been on varsity for all 4 years!

Outside of school I play travel volleyball at Krush in Niles and have been playing there all high school!

I committed to play volleyball in college at Adrian where I want to pursue a psychology degree!

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Middlebury Area 4-H Clubs

Written By Chris Wheeler

The 2022 Elkhart County 4-H Fair may be only recently in the rearview mirror for Middlebury area 4-H clubs, but club leaders are already look ing ahead. Registration for clubs in the area (including Middlebury 4-H, Crystal Valley Clovers, and Lucky 4-H clubs) opens October 1, and there’s never been a better time to join a club.

The leaders of the Middlebury 4-H Club carry over 80 combined years of experience leading 4-H clubs, not in cluding their times as members. Catherine Yoder, a 10-year 4-Her whose grandmother and mother were both 4-H leaders themselves, met her husband Craig (whose parents were also leaders) during the state fair leadership school where they were both coun selors. Craig’s parents, Cecil and Helen Yoder, were also long-time 4-H leaders. Shortly after moving to Middlebury in 1986, she began leading meetings her self, bringing along her boys (all of whom eventually achieved 10 years in 4-H) with her in their strollers. Some of Catherine’s primary projects included foods, sewing, home fur nishings, conserva tion, and recreation, the latter of which involved develop ing and creating a file of games which she used through out her teaching ca reer at Northridge.

Catherine was soon joined in her leadership by her sister Virginia Mansfield. Virginia also grew up doing 4-H, taking inspiration from her 10 years of foods, sewing, and interior design projects to pur sue a degree at Purdue in family consumer science. She also enjoyed demonstrations and fashion revues. After teaching for several years in Carmel, IN, she moved up to Middlebury with her husband in 2001, joining Catherine in leadership of the club the follow ing year. “The funny thing when we moved here was that we could not believe how people took the fair week off of work,” she said. “But for the last six years that’s exactly what my husband does, and for the last two years we’ve actually camped out at the fair!” Her

daughters grew up coming to the fair, and her eldest ran for fair queen the last two years.

Rachel Buckley, a recent 10-year 4-Her, is officially taking organizational leadership of the club this year. Her mother started homeschooling when Rachel was in 2nd grade, and was looking for programs for her. After an advertisement for a local club brought them to the Busy Bobcats in Elkhart, Rachel never looked back. “I was a pretty big over-achiever when it came to projects. I think one year I did al most 30 projects,” Rachel laughed, “and that was a rough summer. But it was a lot of fun!” If there’s a project a student needs assistance with, it’s likely that Rachel’s had re cent experience with it. Rachel also ran for fair queen and competed in the performing arts competitions.

After her 10-years, she participated in judging and other leadership oppor tunities, eventu ally being tapped to take over as or ganizational lead

Registration for clubs in the area opens October 1, and there’s never been a better time to join a club.

er at Middlebury 4-H. Cory Cripe, another assistant leader, offers her own 25 years of experience as well.

All of the leaders testify to the impact 4-H has had in their lives and in the lives of those in their clubs. “The exciting part for me is to see kids who have come through clubs giving back to the community –writing for a magazine, coaching a team, or teaching school,” Catherine said. Virginia added, “It goes way beyond the projects!” Both Catherine and Virginia at tested to the value of the fair queen pageant in the lives of the girls who participate, including the oppor tunity for contestants to experience mock interviews with local business owners. Catherine, who often en couraged the young women in her choirs at North ridge to participate, said, “The girls who went through that showed up to choir camp in August as different people. It contributed to their confidence and matu rity and helped them to look beyond themselves and work with a variety of different people.”

Beyond this, all three leaders find the creativity and work ethic the kids bring to their projects inspir ing in their own right, and appreciate the healthy competition and life skills 4-H brings to the table. Ra chel pointed out that these life skills are built into the meet ings themselves: “Our meetings are studentrun. We have a range of ages so the older students can share their knowledge with the younger ones.” Leadership opportu nities abound within the meetings, with officer opportunities like president, vicepresident, secretary, and recreation offi cer available, as well as committee heads. Often meetings will focus on various proj ects the students are interested in. “Last year, in the Novem ber meeting, we had a project fair,” Rachel

said. “They bring in past projects they are really proud of and present them, and others can ask questions if they want to do that project.” With an age range of grades 3-12 (and sometimes as young as K-2nd grade) and equal parts business and fun, the meet ings offer something for everyone.

Penny Stroup, leader of the Lucky 4-H Club, also has a long history with 4-H. Both her father and her husband Marty’s father showed cattle at the fair, and she and her four siblings were all 10-year members, as well as her children. Now she enjoys seeing exhib its at the fair from her four grandchildren – a full four generations of 4-Hers. She recalls going with her fa ther to saddle club meetings at the old NIPSCO build ing south of Goshen, and helping her grandfather (a maintenance man for the fair) to sweep out under the bleachers after events. “I didn’t know people worked during the fair,” she laughed, “Everybody took off and had vacation. That was just always my life.”

Amongst other projects, Penny showed horses; she recalls days on the drill team when they did square dancing on horseback. “But if I’m honest, I probably have to say that my fondest memory was when I was fair queen in 1972!” Her brother Corky Wagner, who now directs the tractor pull, was fair board president for a number of years. Penny now helps out as a building superintendent, managing check-in of proj ects, judging, and setting up displays. She also serves as assistant treasurer for the Elkhart County 4-H Cor poration and is in charge of geranium sales, a fitting role for a master gardener.

For Penny, the best thing about 4-H is how it strengthens family ties and provides invaluable life skills. She explained, “When you show cattle, you have a 9- or 10-year-old with this 1500-pound steer. That’s a lot of animal. Mom and Dad have to be there to show them how to do it. But by the time she was in 11th or 12th grade, our daughter was driving the truck and trailer to the fair on her own. You start with this total dependence and then it grows into total independence. You learn responsibility.” When her boys did woodworking projects, they would spend the night at her father’s house after working on their projects with him.

One of Penny’s primary goals is to teach members good citizenship and responsibility, and for 42 years she’s done just that. “A lot of those who have come up through the clubs are involved in their communities in many ways. That’s a great thing.” She was recom mended to lead the Lucky 4-H Club by none other than Helen Yoder (Catherine Yoder’s mother-in-law), and is assisted now by Jessica Lawrence. For many years they met at York Elementary, but now they meet January through July in her spacious, heated garage.

Penny loves seeing the creativity of the kids. “I’m involved in recycling projects, and those kids are just so creative. Last year we had a mobile shower made completely from recyclable items. It even had solar power to warm the water.”

All of the local 4-H leaders in the Middlebury area noted that 4-H has evolved over the years to meet the needs of the community, from inner-city issues to nutrition to STEM workshops. A new automotivefocus club in the area now offers training in every thing from changing tires to changing the oil. Cath erine said, “Most everyone would say that things they learned through 4-H have translated to their adult life. It’s much more practical than anything else.”

Virginia is excited about the community service offerings – something required for 8th graders in the Middlebury school system, the National Honor Soci ety, and most colleges. “I’m excited, this year, to open up some doors for the kids to see where there are op portunities in our community to give back.” Catherine adds, “It’s a win for the community too. 4-H benefits Middlebury and makes it a better place to live.” Add to this the opportunities for scholarships and free passes to the county fair for parents and children

alike, and it becomes very hard to find a reason NOT to be involved in 4-H.

For Penny, fair week is one big reunion. She en joys reconnecting with people whenever they stop by the exhibit building, much as she enjoyed hanging out with cousins and friends as junior leaders over a game of cards years ago. “That’s the fun part: work ing together, family time, setting a goal. It’s not about winning, it’s about doing and showing and participat ing.”

GET INVOLVED

MIDDLEBURY 4-H CLUB

Meets at Northridge High School Library, 2nd Monday of the month. Next meeting: Oct 10, 7:00 p.m. Contact: Rachel Buckley (574-361-7443, rabuckley00@gmail.com)

LUCKY 4 H CLUB

Meets at Penny Stroup’s home, Last Mon day of the month. Next Meeting: Oct 31, 7:00 p.m. Contact: Penny Stroup (574-536-5404, mpstroup@maplenet.net)

CRYSTAL VALLEY CLOVERS 4 H CLUB

Meets at the Middlebury Food Pantry, 3rd Thursday of the month. Next meeting: Oct 17, 6:30 p.m. Contact: Jennifer Prough (574-215-3348, jlpro22@aol.com)

MIDDLEBURY HALLOWEEN SCHEDULE

5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Trick or Treat

7:10 p.m.

Halloween Parade at Middlebury Fire Station

The Halloween Parade is sponsored by the Crystal Valley Exchange Club of Middlebury. The chicken costume in the above photo traditionally leads the Halloween Parade. Cash costume prizes are awarded for

Scariest / Ugliest

Cutest / Prettiest

Most Original

Funniest

Best Group

Cider and doughnuts will be available and served after the parade. The Exchange Club has been voted the # 1 service club in Middlebury.

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MCS RECEIVES SPECIAL VISITORS

On September 9th, all seven Middlebury Community Schools had some very special visitors.

Superintendent Dr. Jayson Snyder organized an event where the five MCS board members would spend most of the day traveling from schoolto-school. Board President Kate Hummel was excited to observe many of the things happening in MCS. As a former teacher, she welcomed the opportunity to be back in classrooms. Hummel said, “it makes our role much more meaningful when we get to see all of the smiling faces and positivity in the buildings.”

The group listened to principals share school-wide goals and areas of focus, and then observed many teachers in action. As a former school administrator and also the most veteran board member in MCS, Mitch Miller appreciated

the chance to thank staff members for their hard work and continued commitment to excellence. Miller was able to talk with many educators who were once his professional colleagues and now he embraces the opportunity to serve them as the school board’s Secretary. MCS board Vice President Gregg Eash is a Northridge graduate, who was previously the PTO President at York, and now serves as one of two representatives from Jefferson Township. Eash enjoyed visiting with numerous students and also many of his own kids’ former teachers. The newest MCS board member, Don Anderson, found the day incredibly enjoyable. Anderson said “it was powerful to see the work our educators are doing and all the smiling students. It was a great way to spend five hours.”

The group had a delicious lunch in the York Elementary cafeteria and had fun eating with some very excited first graders. Those same first graders then invited the group to follow them outside to recess. They briefly joined the students outside on the playground, where board member Mike Varner even attempted to go down the slide. Varner reflected on the busy day visiting all seven schools “I can’t tell you how fulfilling it is to see the teachers and students in action. What a blessing! We should do this every Friday!”

And while it might not happen every Friday, it is quite common to observe MCS district administrators and board members visiting schools and attending extra curricular events. Dr. Snyder summed it up, “we are blessed to have board members who enjoy visiting our schools and truly want to serve this community. Our board members understand what we all know- MCS is an incredible place for students, and we’re committed to engaging in the work required to keep it that way.”

Northridge

Photos by Russ Draper

Thank you to the volunteers who made the Middlebury Fall Festival possible.

you, Affairs to Remember and Legacy Furniture, for the beautiful downtown fall decorations. Also, to the downtown merchants for your storefront fall spirit.

The Flamingo Flock is back

Middlebury Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Center

LET’S FLOCK TOGETHER AND CREATE A FLAMBOYANT

FLAMINGO SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY CAMPAIGN. ALL FUNDS WILL BE CIRCULATED IN OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

GRAB YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY & WORK PEEPS. PURCHASE A FLAMINGO (MIN. $25 DONATION) FROM THE CHAMBER, DECORATE AND HAVE SOME FUN!

Flamingos available beginning October 10. 201 S. Main St. • 574-8285-4300

today to reserve your flock)

– Personalize – Bedazzle

migrate back to the chamber for display & judgding no later than November 18.

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

As always Great Job from the team that pulled together our Fall Festival. What a fun success.

– Jamie

Thank you to the boys that helped push my car out of the ditch on CR 35. I didn’t get your name but it was so nice of you.

– Sue Miller-Abbott

So blessed by all of my neighbors. When I was sick last month they all offered any help if I needed it and one brought me flowers.

– Desirée Beauchamp-Boucher

Shout to Tom Enright and all who worked on the Riverfest. My kids loved it!

– Mary G.