MiChild Magazine October 2011

The Local Parenting Resource for Expectant Parents and Families with Younger Children

OCTOBER 2011

Adorable

Halloween Costumes Preparing to Bring BABY Home Maggie is On a Diet...

Should Your Kid Be Too?

Finding the Right Way to Combat Childhood Obesity

9 Bargain Tips for a Kid’s Birthday Blowout!

Serving: Granger • Mishawaka • Elkhart • South Bend • Goshen • Niles • Edwardsburg • Middlebury

MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

e l b a r Ado Halloween Costumes

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mi Corner Our tips, picks, news and advice.

y.

Ellie, Josie & Code

Jamie at 9 months.

Quinn as a cowboy, ag e 3.

Zach age 11 & Spencer age 10.

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Sam as a giraffe, ag

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Ian at 16 months and sad that his candy bowl is empty.

costume. n o i l ’s r a last ye Torin in

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Story Time

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100 We hope you’re to get to your community Weconnected hope you’re WeDiane hope you’re Bennett to get connected to your community 574-968-4236 to get connected to your community Coming up May 14th: the LETTER CARRIER Coming up MayFOOD 14th : DRIVE th Coming up May 14 to STAMP OUT HUNGER in Northern Indiana. the LETTER CARRIER FOOD: DRIVE October is “National Place non-perishable foods by your mailbox the LETTER CARRIER FOOD DRIVE to STAMP OUTPrevention HUNGER in Northern Indiana.

Crime Month” for pick-up on Saturday, to STAMP OUT HUNGER in Northern Indiana.

Place non-perishable foods byMay your14. mailbox Be aware of these top14.

Place for non-perishable foods byMay your mailbox pick-up on Saturday,

Inspired Inspired Inspired

Knucklehead:

Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories About Growing up Scieszka BY JON SCIESZKA Reviewed by Mary Dlugosz Bittersweet Branch Children’s Services Supervisor Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library If your child is a reluctant reader and you are looking for a book that will not only engage but also inspire him, then Jon Scieszka’s autobiography, “Knucklehead: Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories About Growing Up Scieszka,” is an excellent choice. This laughout-loud narrative by the author of the “True Story of the Three Little Pigs” and the “Stinky Cheese Man” is filled with hilarious anecdotes from the author’s childhood in Flint, Michigan.

As the second of six brothers in a close-knit, middle-class family, Scieszka writes of various misadventures, from dirt clod fights to babysitting pesky little brothers, with plenty of references to broken bones and various bodily functions thrown in for good measure.

The cover deliberately resembles a vintage comic book. Inside, the chapters are short and filled with family photos and amusing graphics.

Although the subject matter will appeal more to boys, anyone who reads the book will definitely get a glimpse of how the author came to be so funny.

Parents will appreciate how Scieszka conveys the importance reading played in his adolescence and how it contributed to his development and success as a writer.

This is a book you will not have to encourage your child to finish.

Safety Tips

for pick-up on Saturday, May 14.

Sunday, May 15, 6:30-11:30am Sunday, May 15,#1 6:30-11:30am Tip Sunday, May 15, 6:30-11:30am Communication!

Talk to your For map and details: neighbors; share your schedules, http://www.bikethebend.com/ For map and details: especially for work & holidays!

For map and details: http://www.bikethebend.com/ http://www.bikethebend.com/ thTip #2 The Lighting!

Motion lights are especially th Thehelpful atthhindering prowlers.

The On Saturday, May Tip #321, 10:00am Head to Mishawaka Avenue On Saturday, May 10:00am Landscaping!

Trim21, overgrown On Saturday, May 21, 10:00am in River Park Headand to have Mishawaka Avenue bushes no bushes near the Head to Mishawaka Avenue door (a in possible Riverhiding Park place). in River Park

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100 Anniversary 100 River ParkAnniversary Day Parade 100 Anniversary River Park Day Parade River Park Day Parade TipDay #4 Parades Memorial House numbers! Size is key!

Memorial Day Parades Monday, May Make sure the Day numbers on30 your Memorial Parades house are BIG and lit, if possible.

8:00am Osceola Monday, May 30 Monday, May 30Avenue 8:15am South Bend, Western 8:00am Osceola 8:00am Osceola Tip #5 9:30am Downtown Mishawaka 8:15am South Bend, Western Avenue 8:15am South Bend, Western Avenue Neighborhood watch!

Pay close 9:30am Downtown Mishawaka attention.

Notice patterns, and keep 9:30am Downtown Mishawaka notes of any suspicious activity. Such logs assist police with case building.

Call or email with your Call or email withyour your real estate Callor oremail emailquestions. with Call with your real questions. realestate estate questions. real estate questions.

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mi Corner Our tips, picks, news and advice.

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Bargain tips for a Kid’s Birthday Blowout!

By Andrea Woroch

Kids’ birthday parties have gotten out of hand. Celebrities began the trend with birthday bashes that outsized Hollywood movie openings. Thanks to the trickle-down theory, private parties for the little people must now have everything from a guest performer to a theme with lots of bells and whistles.

Before you buy all-thematic accessories, consider the following nine bargain-basic tips.

1. Plan Ahead

Wait until the last minute and you’ll likely spend more on unanticipated extras. Decide what you want to accomplish, set a budget and slowly chip away at all you need to accomplish. You might also enlist the help of family and friends to keep your stress level down.

2. Limit the Guest List

Does the entire class really need to attend?

Invite only your child’s closest friends, but be tactful. Mail or email invites rather than have your child distribute them in school where everyone can see.

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3. Do-it-Yourself Invites

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es

4. Use Discount Gift Cards

Buy discount gift cards from sites like GiftCardGranny.com to pay for all the party supplies. You can use them to buy everything from cake mix to gas for running around town.

5. Dollar Store Décor

Party stores have unholy markups on the simplest supplies. Shop a dollar store for all your basics and save up to 70 percent on everything from balloons to party favors. You’ll also find a decent selection of wrapping paper and reusable gifts, as well as plates and cutlery for the birthday treats.

6. Keep it Simple

Don’t spend a fortune on those celebrity-style extras. Instead, hark back to a simpler day by organizing one of the many games at AmazingMoms.com.

7. Take Back the Cake

Kids look forward to the birthday cake, but not because of any icing artistry; they’re just interested in the sugar. Make your own cake or cupcakes, toss on a few sprinkles and add the candles. That should satisfy all but the pickiest child while saving you over 80 percent at the bakery for a custom order. For an added touch of excitement, let the kids play pastry chef with a cupcake decorating activity.

8. Simplify the Food

Kids don’t care about fancy appetizers. They’ll be equally happy with potato nuggets and other finger food. Buy generic -- they’ll never know -- and use grocery coupons to save a few extra dollars.

9. A Party for Two… or Three

If your son or daughter shares the same birthday (give or take a few days) with a school friend, neighbor or relative who is close in age, consider hosting a joint birthday celebration and share the costs with the other child’s parents. Make sure everyone is on the same page though as far as the budget, guest list and other party expectations to avoid any uncomfortable situations which may arise from a lack of communication.

Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc., which operates a group of money-saving brand sites called The Frugals. Andrea has been featured on NBC Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, CNNMoney and many more.

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Personalized invites are as close as your computer. Use a special photo or download free birthday clip art to make your own creation or if you want to go electronic, check out websites like AmericanGreetings.com or the very popular evite.com.

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Health

Maggie Is On a Diet...

Should Your Kid Be, T oo?

Finding the Right Way to Combat Childhood Obesity

By Chelle Costello

In the wake of increasing childhood obesity in America, Paul Kramer, self-published author of the children’s book “Maggie Goes on a Diet,” wrote the following: Losing the weight was not only good for Maggie’s health.

Maggie was so much happier and was also very proud of herself.

More and more people were beginning to know Maggie by name.

Playing soccer gave Maggie popularity and fame.

“Maggie Goes on a Diet” is a fat-to-slim, geek-to-popular narrative about a young girl who changes her life by dieting (and yes, all in rhyme). Whether you consider the above words wellmeaning and harmless or the beginning of an eating disorder for some young girl out there, these words started a firestorm among national news networks – and the book hasn’t even been released yet. (It’s set to release this month.)

Part of the controversy stems from the fact that while the main character is a 14-years-old girl, the reading level appears to be targeted to those much younger (Amazon states that the reading level is for ages 8 and up while Barnes & Noble labels it for those 8 to 12).

The book aside, this controversy brings attention to the health crisis confronting our nation’s kids and the varying approaches concerning what to do about it. To get a healthy perspective on childhood obesity, wellness and this upcoming children’s book, I spoke to Michelle LeCount, childhood obesity coordinator at the Community Wellness and Education Department at Goshen Hospital.

Is a dieting book for kids helpful or harmful?

“Every child will respond differently to the book, so I could go either way on this,” LeCount says. “But sending a “dieting” message in general is not really an appropriate message for kids. We have a lot of kids who are even normal or overweight who aren’t getting nutrients that they need. So the concern with the idea of

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“diet” may mean that they get fewer nutrients by cutting calories.”

Even for overweight kids, a message of weight loss isn’t always recommended – simply maintaining weight, or slowing down weight gain and growing into it instead of losing a lot of weight is an option. “We don’t want to set them up with a diet lifestyle – that is, going on and off a diet as many adults do. They see that modeled and copy it,” LeCount says.

So whether or not your child reads a particular book about dieting may be less important than how she sees you treating your own body.

How can we help our children achieve healthy living without devaluing them?

“The focus should be on health, not weight or size,” LeCount says. “Doing healthy things – eating right, exercising, washing our hands, brushing our teeth, getting adequate sleep – help us feel better about ourselves because we are taking good care of ourselves.”

However, LeCount warns, don’t single out one child in the family as the one who needs a loving dose of health and fitness. “Implement healthy habits for the whole family,” she says, “because the biggest reason that children become overweight is because they’re planted in an unhealthy environment and lifestyle.”

What are some of the problems our community is facing with obesity, and what have we done to combat those?

“Well, we’ve seen a lot of changes in the family in the last 40 years – more moms working, less physical activity, more fast food, access to junk food and kids playing inside instead of outside due to perceptions of danger,” LeCount says. “However, there are good things happening in our communities, too. Some schools are beginning to create wellness teams at the school to make their buildings healthier places through education, nutrition, extra play time and healthy fundraisers (instead of the traditional

MichianaFamilyMagazine.com | october 2011

bake sale), and in the cafeteria as well.” She adds, “Here in Goshen, walking and hiking trails have become more popular, and parks and open spaces are becoming more important to communities as they stay active.”

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Kudos, Goshen!

What tips do you have for helping create health and wellness in the home?

“Eat healthy, eat breakfast and eat together!” LeCount says. “In addition to helping prevent obesity, kids who grow up in families that eat together are less likely to get involved in drugs, alcohol and teenage pregnancies. This is because families who spend time together learn to communicate better with each other and are stronger. Eating dinner together is a prevention thing for a whole host of problems – it’s that simple. Kids model what they see parents doing. When kids see Mom and Dad eating veggies, they’re more likely to eat them, too.”

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“Limit restaurants, sugary drinks and TV time,” she adds. “Encouraging physical activity outside – and when you’re home, parents, make time to go outside together and be active. Model health!”

“Lastly, teach your children that beauty is inside,” LeCount says. “I have a friend who told me the story of how her daughter pointed at a magazine with a model on the cover and said, ‘Look, Mommy, isn’t she pretty?’ my friend responded, ‘I don’t know, sweetheart because I don’t know if she’s kind or mean.’ In a moment, she had turned the idea of beauty inside-out for her daughter.”

That’s a powerful lesson. So, while Maggie may be dieting her way to “popularity and fame,” let’s hope we see a few lines of kindness and inward beauty as well.

Chelle Costello lives in South Bend and teaches English at Indiana University.

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Expecting

Baby

Preparing to Bring Home

By Sorah Stein and Shanti Bradley

Preparing to have a baby is a big deal, and in the course of pregnancy and birth, some forget, or lose sight of, preparing to bring the baby home. This is an event that comes with big changes for everyone involved. While there are so many different circumstances and family dynamics today, here are some of the more common ones to help you in your preparations for bringing baby home.

Mommy

For first-time mothers, the adjustments can be major. First and foremost, making sure there is

a support system in place, not only for the initial weeks at home, but for the long term, is essential.

For some mothers, this includes a husband or significant other, parents, other family members and friends.

But for other moms, things are not so clear cut. For single moms, figuring out where to go for adequate support is even more important. Taking care of a newborn is very rewarding and also very exhausting – mentally, physically, and emotionally. Mothers need to be able to take some breaks. When a family member or friend is not available, some other means of support needs to be.

Seeking out mothers’ groups in the community or through church is often a good start. If nothing else, raising concerns early on with a care provider, such as a doctor or midwife, can lead to help and relief.

Daddy

Many dads wonder exactly how their lives will be affected or changed by the arrival of a child. Dads’ concerns might include everything from finances to fear about how to care for a baby and how to properly support mom. The best way to address all of this is to be vocal about it. Let your dad-to-be know that he shouldn’t be afraid to have frank discussions with you. Encourage him to express any concerns and worries he might have. Have conversations about what you expect from him, what level of support you will require and what responsibilities the new baby will be adding to life. If additional help is needed, by having these conversations early on, there will be time to arrange for it.

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Siblings

The arrival of a new baby is a big deal for the entire family. For other children in the home, it can be exciting as well as the source for much uncertainty. Regular discussion with your children throughout your pregnancy is a good way to start preparing them for the change in the family.

Preparing them for their new sibling will vary depending on their age, of course. For much younger children, using dolls to explain what the baby will be like and what the baby will need can be very helpful. Some families will find that for older children taking a sibling class is appropriate. Work at devising ways to make sure your older children still feel important, loved and have a special place within the family. Examples include setting aside a special story time with the other child, or making one evening during the week a family movie or game night that the other child gets to plan.

Adoptive Families

Adoptive families are in a special situation. The anticipation of bringing home a baby is incredibly exciting. However, adoptive families do not always take advantage of parenting classes or courses in what to expect after baby comes home. When preparing for the baby, seeking out these classes or the help of a postpartum doula is a wonderful strategy.

MichianaFamilyMagazine.com | october 2011

Also be sure to interview family doctors or pediatricians to select an appropriate doctor, and learn as much as possible about what to expect with a new baby. Having realistic expectations goes a long way towards making the family work, and having a support system in place is just as important for adoptive families as it is for biological ones.

While family and friends can provide a wonderful source of support, making connections with playgroups or mothers’ groups is also very important.

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Pets

Pets are a special consideration as their lives are also altered by

the arrival of a new child. Parents are often concerned about how their pets will adjust to the baby. Unlike with children, having discussions and conversations will not go very far! What can help is setting up for the baby sooner rather than later. Get the bassinette, crib and high chair set up early. You can even start using the stroller with a baby doll on walks with the dog, or walk around the house with a doll in a baby sling so that the pets in the home begin to get used to the change in routine and lifestyle. Many families get a sound recording of a baby crying and play it periodically throughout the day so that the sound of the new baby does not startle the pets.

Once baby is born, the first blanket can be brought home for the pets to sniff and become accustomed to the smell. While it may not be necessary to employ all of these suggestions, they do provide ample ways to make this transition as smooth as possible for both the pets and the baby.

Whatever your situation, planning ahead can help the transition be more enjoyable for everyone!

Shanti Bradley, BA, CD, CLS, lives in South Bend with her husband and two children. She is available for prenatal informational support, continuous labor support, postpartum care and education.

Sorah Stein, MA, BCBA, CSE, lives in South Bend with her husband and three children and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Certified Sexuality Educator, working primarily with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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Mommy & Daddy

Beauty

And Other Forms of Insanity

By Jane Suter

Ever Google an old boyfriend? It’s a terrible waste of time. I know this because I recently stayed up till 4 a.m. cyber-spying on mine like an insecure teenager. Don’t ask me why. Maybe I had PMS? Perhaps making that last PB&J sent me over the edge; I’m not sure. But I had clearly gone insane. Nevertheless, now that we’re here, wanna’ know what I found out?

Here’s the scoop. I discovered my college sweetheart married some old hag. That little Facebook morsel made me feel great!

So, I delved further and found another past squeeze. He’s now married to a younger woman. Let’s just say she’s not entirely unfortunate looking.

Even if you won’t admit it, I know you’ve done it, too. We all compare our previous relationships with our present loves. It’s what I like to call Springer Rehab, as in, watch “Jerry Springer” and, after seeing the freaks on that show, you’ll feel entirely better about yourself. While you’re at it, watch “Hoarders,” too. One hour of this program and your own home is definitely spotless by comparison.

Unfortunately, my therapeutic race down memory lane halted abruptly when I considered the unimaginable: what if an old boyfriend Googled me? Let’s face it – I cranked out two kids and am no longer the vixen I once was.

Luckily, I just read an article about how to go from frumpy to fabulous in four easy steps!

Let’s see here.

Step 1: Red lipstick is this season’s must have and a blondes BFF! (Don’t you just love how they pump up these stories with hokey phraseology? Like that’s gonna’ get me to buy this stuff.)

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After arriving to the store and comparing 37 different shades of red lip color, I gave up and chose based on name. My pick was titled Lady Danger. (Seriously, how could I make that up?) I couldn’t wait to get home and slap this on my kisser!

But here’s the thing about having the skin tone of Casper: even the slightest dot of color explodes off your face like a hand grenade. So, imagine crimson lips on me! Bravely, I put my fear of clowns aside and tried to convince myself I looked good. I moved on to Step 2: Eyebrow waxing = instant facelift. Hello gorgeous! I called a salon.

Imagine willingly employing a stranger to smear molten lava on your brows, pound a cloth strip down over this magma and then violently rip said strip off your face … TWICE! I almost passed out. Due to the resulting redness and swelling, it took me two days to convince my husband I wasn’t mugged.

Step 3: False eyelashes will play up your eyes for the camera!

Although I have never been burdened by paparazzi, I decided to try this one just in case. Who knew these ridiculously flimsy caterpillar imposters come with a tube of superglue to affix them to your eyelids? (For the record, if my child came to me and asked if he could put adhesive on his peepers, I would flip out, hollering, “Are you crazy? You’ll glue your eyes shut and go blind!”)

Within minutes my eyes were glued shut, and I was positive I was going blind. I had two choices: Call 911 or try to rip the wooly beasts off my mug and pry my pupils back open. It was agony, but I did it. Now I could read the directions. After a few more attempts, I finally got them on. Hello, Katy Perry! I must say, it was hard holding my eyes open with these humongous fern-like windshield wipers attached to them, but I was determined to look beautiful.

Finally, Step 4: Whip up your hair for a fun, flirty look! No problem.

I have scrunchies left over from the 80’s. Time for the big reveal…

Instead of fabulous I look deranged. So, I peeled the mud flaps from my eyes and scrubbed my face. Down the drain went any hope of transforming myself into a better, more glamorous version. Yet maybe that’s a good thing. I would be impossible to live with if I was suddenly dazzling. And maybe, just maybe, I’m a stunner without the hardware. I mean, my husband and kids think so – why shouldn’t I? Perhaps beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, and I was just sucked into some black hole of insecurity?

Tomorrow I’ll post a new pic on Facebook – one not guided by “expert” advice. It will just be me: normal lips, hair, eyes and glowing with happiness. Take that old boyfriends!

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Mommy & Daddy

The Secret to having aPeaceful Morning How You Can Avoid the Mad-Morning Dash with Your Preschooler

By Dr. John Petersen

Sick and tired of getting started on the wrong foot with the kids in the morning? Tired of herding them through the morning sequence: out of bed, dressed, fed, school supplies readied? If so, you are in good company. Some of the most common complaints I hear in my office are related to the painful morning routine. Before having children, it was difficult enough for us to get ourselves going in the morning. Now we feel responsible for getting the children going, too.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Your children can be responsible for themselves in the morning. And yes, you deserve to wake up to a calm household and even enjoy a cup of coffee in peace!

This cycle of morning stress endures partly because of two myths we live by:

MYTH #1: My children don’t like school, and I have to get

them to like it.

Usually one child will complain that they don’t want to go to school. They profess to hate it or just whine that they don’t want to go. We parents take up the challenge to remind and convince our little one that school is fun and the teachers are nice. Almost by instinct parents point to recess or playtime, lunch or a fun activity planned after school. Sometimes we remind our children of their unguarded admission from the previous week that their teacher is nice and school is fun.

If they like school, why do they whine and cry and insist that it’s awful? Because in a pre-conscious, behaviorally-conditioned way, they have learned that by displaying discontent, adults will get busy making their lives better. It’s more than the reminder of all the good things they can count on; we often “sweeten the pot” with something special for breakfast, a special activity after school or a promised favor.

Break this myth’s hold on your family by refusing to convince them to like school. Acknowledge their feelings and sentiments.

Just don’t try to make it better. Reflective listening is a powerful way out: “You don’t feel like going to school today. You’re not

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happy with your teacher at school. You would rather stay home.”

These words of acknowledgement affirm your child’s opinion and feelings without taking on the responsibility to change them.

Having side-stepped their invitation to get busy making their day better, simply move forward with the morning. Lead from the front and try not to coral from behind. Left face to face with the day and their feelings, children draw on their own resources to get out of bed and move forward with the day. You can always talk about their discontent another time, but refrain from the conversation in the morning. Remember that it is very common for preschoolers to complain about school in the morning, even though they clearly enjoy the time with friends and staff after being dropped off. You should see a marked improvement in less than one week.

MYTH #2: My child sleeps too deeply to wake on the first try.

If this myth is operative in your family, your child will require three, four or maybe seven attempts to rouse him. He can sleep through alarm clocks, too, even the loudest one in the house.

In truth, any of us can learn to sleep through familiar noise. It took me only three days to sleep through Chicago’s Brown Line train rattling past my bedroom window when I lived 20 feet from the tracks in graduate school. Similarly, our children learn to sleep through our calls and back rubs and threatening each morning, evidently waiting for signs that we mean business before getting up.

On the other hand, we can all learn to wake up to reliable cues, even our internal clocks. For example, I went a full academic year in college never hearing my morning alarm because I woke up exactly two minutes before the piercing beeping was set to sound each morning. And I’ve learned that our children can wake to alarms and parents’ common efforts to rouse them if we refuse to nag and repeat ourselves. But we don’t allow common efforts to be the reliable cues for waking. Our kids typically get up when we hit a certain pained and threatening tone or a level of frustration.

These are the real cues, the predictable signs that we are ready to start the day.

MichianaFamilyMagazine.com | october 2011

When helping a family in my office with morning problems, I routinely ask the deep sleepers how many times they can get their parents to call them in the morning before they get up. Almost all answer the question. None find it to be an absurd question. At some level, they know there is a payoff for getting Mom or Dad to work hard at this. They either get their parents busy focusing on them and, therefore, position their parents to give undue service for the rest of the morning, or they score a victory in demonstrating that their parents are relatively powerless and cannot call the shots every step of the way.

Breaking free of Myth #2 is more difficult than Myth #1, but can be done in a single morning. Sit down with your child at a calm time and explain you are tired of nagging and fighting with them in the morning. Then explain the new plan: The first step is to call to your child only once at the normal waking time and move forward with your morning. If you can refrain from the urge to repeatedly call to them or jostle and cajole them out of bed, they will learn to wake to your voice or an alarm clock.

Or, they might learn to wake to the noise of breakfast preparation.

Often, hearing their sibling amble down the hall to breakfast is a large motivation to get with the program. They don’t want siblings to enjoy Mom’s undivided attention. Whatever the cue, it must not be drowned out by nagging.

ers, have a bag of clothes at the door the night before. If your child is late the first morning of the new plan, take your child to the car and grab the bag on your way out. Once at school, they can choose to get dressed in the car or in the school.

If this is done without nagging, threatening and anger, you will see a vast improvement the next morning. I enjoy calling it “The One-Day Cure.” But be honest with yourself about nagging and anger. Are you prepared to risk sending them to school one day without breakfast? Are you prepared to feel unsettled about what the preschool staff might be thinking? Are you prepared to act as if you are not challenged by your child’s objections and possible tantrum in the car… for one morning?

If not, please do not attempt this. It will backfire, and your child will perceive it as a scheme to overpower them. If you can have confidence in your child and can stand up to these two unconscious myths, you can reclaim your peaceful mornings. Enjoy conversation with your children, the newspaper, and a cup of coffee in peace.

Dr. John Petersen is a clinical psychologist and the owner of Family Psychology of South Bend where he specializes in couples counseling and relationship issues, including parenting and child behavior challenges. He is a married father of three children and has recently taken up the piano.

To follow through on step one, you have to be ready to leave the house with your child in some state of unreadiness. For preschool-

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For Women Only offers obstetrics, reproductive analysis, endometriosis, gynecologic surgery, prenatal and postpartum care, labor and delivery management, hormone replacement therapies, family planning, and health consultations. Located in the beautiful West Wing of Elkhart General Hospital,

For Women Only combines the convenience and easy access of private physicians’ offices and the immediate proximity of important hospital-based services.

Booker T. Morris, MD

Enrique E. Infante, MD

Jeffrey L. Cain, MD

Lauren Outlaw, MD

Karey Jo Hogue, CNM

Amanda Winters, CNM

Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Michigan State Medical Society.

Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of several organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.

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COMPANY ADDRESS

CONTACT NAME PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE TIMES

AGES

COST PER CHILD

All Ages

Depends on content.

ANIMALS Cedar Lodge

47000 52nd st., Lawrence MI

Chris Cochrane 269-674-8072

www.cedarlodge.com 8am–9pm

We are a children’s summer camp that specializes in horse back riding. We offer a variety of field trips including horses, the out of doors, vaulting, group building, etc.

Matthys Farm Market 57754 Crumstown Hwy, South Bend

Terri Matthys 574-287-1935

www.matthysfarmmarket.com October Saturday 10am–4pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm

Preschool & Elementary School

Group rate $5 per child. Public $3 to zoo plus cost of pumpkins.

Enjoy a hayride to corn maze, venture thru and find the pumpkin patch. Visit the animal in the petting zoo, play on the wooden play structures.

Prairie Winds Nature Farm 21439 Osborne Rd, Lakeville

Charlotte Wolfe 574-291-9943

www.prairiewindsnaturefarm.com M-F 9-12; other times by appointment

All Ages

$5

Enjoy a hayride to corn maze, venture thru and find the pumpkin patch. Visit the animal in the petting zoo, play on the wooden play structures.

Center for Animal Health 69905 M-62, Edwardsburg

Dr. David Visser 269-663-3235

www.centerforanimalhealth.com M-F 9am–5pm, by appointment. 3-4 weeks may be ideal. 1-2 hours is ideal.

All Ages

No fee. Snacks and juice can be provided at actual cost.

We have a beautiful, brand new veterinary hospital for groups to tour, complete with a viewing window of the treatment and surgery suites. Seating and presentation areas are available for powerpoint or video presentation and our doctors love to answer questions! Dr. David Visser is the Pet Vet on WNDU-16 Saturday Morning Show!

Rum Village Nature Center 2626 South Gertrude Street South Bend

Garry Harrington 574-235-9455

www.sbpark.org M–F, 8:30am–4:30pm

All Ages

$2.00 per student only.

We offer spring and fall field trips, on a wide variety of topics. We also come to the classrooms for programs. The presentations are designed to be educational, and entertaining. The pace is fast-moving, showing large photos, mounts, some live specimens and calls. Call to find out!

ARTS Imagine That!

707 N. Main St., Mishawaka

Marlene Hollenkamp 574-254-1600

www.imaginethatstore.net M–F 10am–6pm

Preschool & Elementary School

$4–$6

All Ages

Free

Make and Take art projects. Puppet workshops. Theme parties. Educational games play dates.

Gene’s Camera Store

513 Lincolnway West, South Bend

Jack St. Pierre 574-234-2278

www.genescamera.com by appointment at almost any time.

We offer tours of our color lab, our large format printing and digital imaging department. We offer demonstrations of photo retouching, restoration, large format printing, film developing, & video transfer.

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COMPANY ADDRESS

CONTACT NAME PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE TIMES

Morris Performing Arts Center

Mary Ellen Smith 574-235-9160

www.MorrisCenter.org Tours are available by appointment only. Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call 574-2359198 to schedule tours

211 North Michigan Street, South Bend

83

AGES

COST PER CHILD

Elementary, Middle School & High School

Students K-12 = $2.00 per person Adults = $4.00 per person Groups of 20 or more 1/2 price.

Learn about the history of the Morris as a 1920’s vaudeville theater and historical landmark in downtown South Bend. Step backstage to learn about the stars who have performed at The Morris and get an insider's view of behind the scenes production. Approximate one hour tour includes lobby, theater, stage, backstage, star dressing rooms, and Palais Royale ballroom.

Debbie Werbrouck School of Dance & Music P. O. Box 50-A, Osceola

Debbie Werbrouck Jill Woolwine 574-247-1590

www.danceeducation.net Daytime, scheduled individually

All Ages

$2

Preschool & Elementary School

$1

"Discover Dance" a demonstration of various dance styles with student interaction.

La Porte County Symphony Orchestra P. O. Box 568, La Porte

Lee Bauman 219 362-9020

www. LCSO.net October 12, 2012 (second Wednesday of October annually) concerts begin at 9:30 am, 11:00 am, & 12:45 am.

Reservations are necessary.

On the second Wednesday in October the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra hosts three consecutive concerts that are created for Elementary age students. Maestro Phil Bauman creates a program that includes incredible symphonic pieces, interesting actors, live video projections of musicians performing and interactive activities such as sing along songs or rhythmic sections.

Bethel College

1001 Bethel Circle, Mishawaka

Barb Franklin 574-807-7747

www.bethelcollege.edu 9:30 A.M. - noon October 6

Elementary School Age Middle School Age High School Age

Children $5 - parent/teacher free

Mattinee performance of J.R.R. Tolkien's , The Hobbit October 6 at 9:30 A.M. for school age students. "The Hobbit" stirs the imagination and intellect of everyone. Bilbo, one of the most conservative of Hobbits, is asked to leave his home in order to set off as chief robber in an attempt to recover an important treasure. The epic journey, filled with dwarfs, elves, goblins and other adventures is sure to thrill one and all.

ENTERTAINMENT Southold Dance Theater 914 Lincoln Way West South Bend

Lori Allen (574) 233-9841

www.southolddance.org Friday, December 9th @ 9:30 & 12:30

Preschool & Elementary School

$3.50

SDT presents an hour-long and full-length version of our Nutcracker Ballet introducing young people to classical ballet, contemporary and modern dance in the magnificent surroundings of the Morris Performing Arts Center. Complimentary Concert Study Guides are provided to teachers to facilitate program previews, enrichment activities, and enhance core curriculum requirements.

Bremen Bounce and Concord Bounce

617 E. Plymouth Street, Bremen

Pam Brown 574-546-4396

www.bremenbounce.com Special open hours for field trips of 40 60 children to enjoy the facility.

Preschool & Elementary School

$5

We offer two hours of playtime in our unique indoor inflatable facility. Kids can bounce, jump, slide and play. We include a bottle of water and snack for each child. Parent chaperones are free or charge. Rain or Shine, we are your place in our Bremen or Concord Mall location.

Strikes and Spares

5419 N Grape Rd, Mishawaka

Katie Schoenfeld 574-243-2695

www.strikesandspares.us Monday–Thursday: 10am–11pm.

Friday: 10am–1am. Saturday: 10am–1am. Sunday: 10am–10pm

All Ages

Between $4.95 and $17.95 depending on what activities the schools choose to do.

We offer bowling, mini golf, and go karts. There are options where the kids can do only one activity or a mix of activites. We also offer food add on options.

SoccerZone

1435 University Dr. Ct., Granger

Kenny Taig 574 243-5777

www.soccer-zone.com 8am-5pm

Preschool and Elementary Ages

Call us for rates!

Come out and experience the excititng sports of soccer, flag football or dodgeball. We can even put on a unique SoccerZone Olympics for everyone to enjoy. We will do our best to accommodate your group!

Eby’s Family Fun

14583 State Rd 120, Bristol

Janice Maxey 574-848-4110

www.ebysfamilyfun.com Monday thru Thursday 9am–3pm

Elementary, Middle & High School Ages

Eby’s has several options available contact the skate center.

Preschool & Elementary School

$3.50 per child/ 10 kids or $35.00 minimum charge per field trip plus tax and gratuity. A $25.00 nonrefundable reservation fee required.

Eby's is available for daytime skating or laser tag parties. No class is to small, party packages start at just 20 kids.

FOOD Albano’s Villa

6492 Johnson Rd, LaPorte

Catie 219-879-4000

N/A 11am–2pm

We offer the chance for kids to come and learn how we make food at Albano's. They get to enjoy a tour of the kitchen and make their own pizzas. After watching the pizzas bake in the oven they get to enjoy eating them which is the best part!

Martin’s Super Markets 7355 Heritage Square Dr, Granger

Elise Kunkel 574-239-1391

www.martins-supermarkets.com Select Wednesday mornings and afternoons. Each tour is about 45-60 min.

Elementary School Age

There is no charge for this field trip

It's a backstage pass to see what happens behind the scenes at the grocery store. You'll get to see how long you could survive in the frozen foods freezer, and meet Larry the Lobster in our seafood department! Our managers will help kids and adults learn more about what it's like to work at Martin's and why we love what we do.

Blueberry Ranch

PO Box 647, Granger

John E Nelson 574-255-5773

BlueberryRanch.com In season Mon,Wed & Fri 7am–7pm Tue &Thur 7am–9pm.

Out of season by appointment.

All Ages

Dependent on in season or out of season.

We are a certified organic blueberry farm. We have in season, (July and August) trips with blueberry picking. Outside of season we have blueberry culture trips. Example, May we are in bloom and the honey bees are here pollinating!

COMPANY ADDRESS

CONTACT NAME PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE TIMES

AGES

COST PER CHILD

GOVERNMENT Edward Jones Investments 209 Concord Mall Drive, Elkhart

Scott Puckett 574-875-0828

www.edwardjones.com 9:30am–4:30pm

High School Age

Approximately $75

History Center at Courthouse Square

Robert C. Myers 269-471-1202

www.berrienhistory.org M-F 9-5

All Ages

$2.00 for tour and mock trial. $1.00 for log house program.

313 N. Cass St., Berrien Springs

Students conduct a mock trial of an 1843 counterfeiting case in a historic county courthouse. A pre-tour preparation package includes materials on roles of judge, lawyers, witnesses, etc. For lower-elementary age, we offer a program about early Michigan in our 1830 log house.

HISTORY Childs’ Farm

14118 Peach Rd, Plymouth

John or Sue Childs 574-936-9262

www.childsfarm.net M–F 8am–4pm for school groups Other groups by prior arrangement

All Ages

Depends on which trip chosen.

Pumpkin Patch, with Horsedrawn hay ride. Farm tours, chicken coop, horses. Historic horse drawn farm tillage implements Heirloom vegetables, in season Hayrides with bonfire Winter bobsled rides when snow call farm for details.

Fort St. Joseph Museum 508 E. Main Street, Niles

Carol Bainbridge 269-683-4700, x212

www.fortstjosephmuseum.org Wed–Fri 10am–4pm. Sat 10am–3pm.

All Ages

Free

Self-guided museum exhibits covering the history of Fort St. Joseph, the Underground Railroad, Sitting Bull pictographs, Potawatomi and Lakota Indians. Children's activity and craft available at all times and changes throughout the year.

The Field Museum

1400 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

Megan Gray 312-665-7300

http://fieldmuseum.org/ Everyday 9am–5pm

All Ages

$10.75

Come to The Field Museum in Chicago and stand face-to-face with SUE the T.rex, count the 23 mummies in Ancient Egypt, view artifacts from the Aztec Empire in Ancient Americas and more! There is always something new to discover at The Field Museum.

Great Wolf Lodge

3575 N US Hwy 31 South Traverse City, MI

Dawn Koszyk 231-941-3600

www.greatwolf.com 9am–9pm

All Ages

Varies based on travel cost and if there is a charge for entrance.

Elementary, Middle &High School Ages

$3 - $10

Kid Creek Natural Preserve; Buffalo herd; Lake Michigan Discovery; Sabin Pond; Great Lakes Children's Museum;

Indiana Landmarks

1204 North Park Avenue, Indianapolis

Gwendolen Raley 317-636-5409

www.indianalandmarks.org Walking tours: Daily (appointment), Mar. - Oct. Morris-Butler House: Tuesday-Saturday, Feb.-Dec.

History comes alive for students of all ages architectural walking tours of downtown Indianapolis and education programs at the Morris-Butler House, an 1865 house that brings students face-to-face with the nineteenth century. Through walking tours, hands-on demonstrations, activities, and critical discussions, students practice essential skills for learning.

New York Central Railroad Museum 721 S. Main St., Elkhart

Robin Hume 574 294-3001

www.elkhartindiana.org Tue–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 12pm–4pm

All Ages

Children 4-12 $4.00, Children 3 and under free, Ages 12-61 yr. $5.00

Guided tours walking the student through the history of the railroad in the US, with focus on Elkhart. Exhibits include: Rolling Stock (big trains) with a locomotive-one can get into, an observation car and a Mohawk steam engine, extensive model train layout, and other interactive exhibits for all ages.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

3000 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis

Customer Service Center 800-820-6214

www.childrensmuseum.org/teachers Sept–Feb 9:30am–5pm Tues-Fri March–May 9:30am–5pm Mon-Fri

Preschool, Elementary & Middle School

$5 per child; 1 adult per 10 students free; additional adults $7.50 per person.

The museum provides exhibits, enriching learning experiences, and inquiry-based programs. Professional educators design museum experiences around academic standards in science, math, social studies, language arts, and the arts to expand the museum visit into a cross-curricular experience. These activities are created for Grades K-8 and are free with museum admission.

Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum 1402 S. Main St., Mishawaka

Peggy Marker 574-254-4540

www.hlcm.org Tues–Fri 9:30am–3:30pm for tours.

Schedule in advance.

Elementary School Age

Groups of 10 or more: $1.50 per student with one adult admission free for every 10 students.

We are a hands-on Museum offering tours about Indiana, Native American, and early pioneer history. We also offer a tour about our sister city Shiojiri japan in our authentic Japanese Tea Room

Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort 1600 W Market St., Nappanee

Becky Cappert (800) 800-4942 ext. 213

www.amishacres.com May through December

All Ages

Prices range from $4.95 to $16.95 per child depending on activities selected.

Guided Tours Through the Historic Farmhouse, Demonstrations, Wagon Ride, Visit the German Schoolhouse for an old fashioned spelling bee, Barnyard Animals, Little Threshers Dinner, Theatre for Young Audiences

Michigan Flywheelers Museum Patrick Ingalls 06285 68th Street, South Haven

269-639-2010

www.michiganflywheelers.org 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Elementary School Age Middle School Age

Farm History Day - second Friday in May. Children learn about early settler life by churning butter, dipping candles, pressing fruit.

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the family magazine | october 2011

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COMPANY ADDRESS

CONTACT NAME PHONE NUMBER

WEB SITE TIMES

85

AGES

COST PER CHILD

All Ages

$3.50 per Student $5.00 per Adult

HOLIDAY Southold Dance Theater

914 Lincoln Way West, South Bend

Angela Leachman 574-233-9841

www.southolddance.org Dec 9, 2011 9:30am or 12:30pm

The Nutcracker blends the best in theatre with the artistry of ballet and the glorious music of Tchaikovsky. Your students will experience the ultimate holiday treat for a quarter of the cost of the general public! The full company of 30 dancers and hundreds of young children from the Michiana area present an eye-catching depiction of a fantasy world come alive on stage with amazing sets and over 200 festive costumes.

OUTDOOR/NATURE St. Joseph County Parks 32132 SR 2, New Carlisle

Maria Peacock 574-654-3155

www.sjcparks.org Primarly weekdays - school hours.

All Ages

Depending on program

Programs on nature and the environment, or cultural history, tied to State Science Standards including Pond studies, Habitat studies, Pioneer Skills, etc

Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve 13988 Range Line Road, Niles

Wendy Jones 269-695-6491

www.fernwoodbotanical.org 10am–5pm

Preschool & Elementary School Ages

Guided visits: $3 per student; adults & teachers are free. Selfguided visits: regular admission applies, 20% discount available for groups of 20+ who register 2 weeks or more in advance.

Guided hikes through woodlands and gardens are availalbe for preK-6th grade on a variety of natural history topics. Self-guided visits are also available. For more information, please visit our website.

A-Mazing Acres Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch

18430 U S 12 East, Edwardsburg

Rick Hoff 574-524-0278

Amazingacrescornmaze.com Must call for apt., Tue–Fri 9am–1pm

All Ages

$5 depending on tour

20 acres of corn maze trails,hayrides,gem mining,corn box, zip line, tractor trikes, mountain slide, huge spider web, out house row, and much more! Pumpkin Patch. Farm animals!

Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area

13421 Mann St, Jones MI

Jamie Stafne (269)244-5635

www.SkiSwissValley.com M–F 10am–4pm

Elementary, Middle & High School Ages

$17

Skiing builds confidence and self esteem! Our program encourages all to participate and excel at his or her own pace. Nobody "sits the bench"! The program is all inclusive and the memory lasts a lifetime.

Knollbrook Farm

15463 County Road 46, Goshen

Cynthia Adam 574-831-3090

www.knollbrookfarm.com M–Thur by appointment only. Fri 4pm– 8pm, Sat 11am–8pm, Sun 1pm–6pm

All Ages

$6 per person, $1 off in groups of 10 or more

School Tours to Knollbrook Farm offer many exciting and educational opportunities to the students, covering a variety of educational topics: Dairy Farming, Horticulture, How Pumpkins Grow, Beekeeping, Farm Safety, Tours include the Educational Program, Hayride, Scavenger Hunt Corn Maze, Petting Farm, Child Size Pumpkin for Each Student, and the Kids Play Area. Please allow approximately 1.5 to 2 hours for your group visit.

Thistleberry Farm

61391 Mayflower Rd, South Bend

Jenny Sipes 574-289-0164

www.ThistleberryFarm.com Mon–Fri, 9:30am–11 am, or 11:30am–1pm

All Ages

$5

Come out to the farm and take a hay ride to the pumpkin patch, see the farm animals, play in the corn box, jump on the jumping pillow, and more. The kids will be busy the entire time and have a blast!

Elkhart Environmental Center Tim Cataldo 1717 E. Lusher Ave., Elkhart

574-293-5070

www.elkhartindiana.org/eec Typical program is 1-1/2 hours

Preschool & Elementary School Ages

Request a $1.00 per child donation.

Environmental education programs for preschool through elementary (K-6) school children. Includes indoor activities and outdoor nature hike.

Elkhart County Parks

211 W. Lincoln Ave., Goshen

Admin Office 574-535-6458

www.elkhartcountyparks.org 8:30am–3:30pm Environmental Education: Mon–Fri Mill: Wed–Friday Museum: Tues–Fri School House: Mon–Fri

All Ages

$2/person in county, $3/person for out of county. Additional costs per program (Schoolhouse programs are $150 for all day.)

We offer environmental & historical education programs in four major parks, museum, old grist mill, or one room school house. Students can learn about anything from animals to local history!

Potato Creek State Park

25601 State Road 4, North Liberty

Tim Cordell 574-656-8186

www.interpretiveservices.IN.gov 8am–4pm daily

All Ages

$1

Preschool & Elementary School Ages

Free

A wide variety of natural history interpretive programs await you at Potatao Crteek State Park.

MICSELLANEOUS Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library

209 Lincoln Way East or 602 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka

Betty Strantz or Mary Dlugosz 259-5277, ext. 242 or 259-0392

www.mphpl.org regular library hours

Tours are available at the downtown Mishawaka Library and the Bittersweet Branch Library. Kids will receive an age appropriate tour which will include the children’s area. The tour downtown features the Heritage Center (bring your camera to take a picture in the jail cell) as well as the Japanese display.

Bridgman Family Dental Care 9151 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman

April 269-465-5151

www.NapDentistry.com 9am–3 pm

All Ages

Free

We welcome groups of all sizes to learn about dental health and the dental profession with observation and hands on experiences.

Healthworks! Kids’ Museum 111 West Jefferson, South Bend

Jacqueline Simmons 574-647-2693

www.healthworkskids.org M–F 9am–4pm

Preschool, Elementary & Middle School Ages

Cost per child is $7 a student.

Healthworks! offers all types of health realated field trips from Pre-K-Puberty. Topics include: nutrition, exercise, hygeine, sex education, body systems and the five senses.

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The Howe School

Great Lakes Montessori

Preparing Global Leaders Since 1884

3084 Niles Road St. Joseph, MI 49085 (269) 556-0354

Our Mission is

Preparation.

The Howe School is a co-educational, college preparatory school for grades 7-12. Howe is a traditional high school and middle school replete with vigorous classes, a wide variety of extra curricular activities, and sports & clubs with the added spiritual dimension that provides for a balanced student life experience.

Great Lakes Montessori is built on a foundation of three pillars: • Excellence in Education through the Montessori Teaching Method • Respect for our Country • Reverence for God

Offering half day and full day programs, total immersion Spanish program, before school care, and afterschool care for elementary aged children in St. Joseph schools

Enrolling children

2.5 years old – Kindergarten Age

School Director:

Marcie O’Connell

www.thehoweschool.org • 260.562.2131

www.greatlakesmontessori.com

Put your

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RESOURCE DIRECTORY – SPORTS

     

  RESOURCE DIRECTORY – REAL ESTATE

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PL ACEd

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Enjoy all the colors of Fall with your loved ones...

Thank You! Notre Dame Athletics

to our VIP Magazine Partners... who help in large part to provide these magazines and resources to you and our community:

Sally & Company H a i r

D e s i g n s

SureStep.net

Advanced Centers for Cancer Care ELKHART

MISHAWAKA

NILES

PLYMOUTH

SOUTH BEND

WESTVILLE

Advertiser Index: 32 Pearls Family Dentistry . ........................ 26

Hawkins Water Tech Inc ............................. 19

Once Upon a Child ..................................... 77

barbZappia photography . ........................... 73

Hesston Steam Museum ............................ 21

Once Upon a Child ................................27-28

Budget Blinds ...................Resource Directory

Inspired Homes . ...............Resource Directory

Physicians Hospital System ....................... 41

College Football Hall of Fame .Resource Directory

Inspired Homes . ........................................ 23

Re-max Excellence . ................................... 89

Debbie Werbrouck’s . ................................. 71

Inspired Homes . ........................................ 69

Sally & Co. ................................................ 79

Decorating Den .................Resource Directory

KathyFriend.com ........................................ 29

South Bend Clinic . ..................................... 11

DTSB, Inc. ........................Resource Directory

Kangaroo Klippers . .................................... 55

South Bend Clinic . ..................................... 26

Early Childhood Development Center,Inc. .Resource Directory

Kids Expo!.................................................. 80

South Bend Clinic . ..................................... 35

ECIC .......................................................... 25

Little Princess Treasures ............................ 57

South Bend Clinic . ..................................... 37

Elkhart General .....................................46-47

Lori’s Place................................................. 63

South Bend Medical Foundation ............30-31

Elkhart General .............................Back Cover

March of Dimes ......................................... 71

St. Joseph Animal Wellness Clinic............... 57

Elkhart General .......................................... 81

Matthys Farm Market ................................. 77

St. Joseph Today........................................ 53

Coach Charrise........................................... 29

Memorial Health Systems & Affiliates ......... 39

St. Thomas the Apostle School .................... 6

Fit Stop ...................................................... 37

Midwest Orthotics . .................................... 33

The Centre, P.C. . ........................................ 29

Fun F/X ...................................................... 24

Midwest Orthotics . .................................... 75

The Howe School . ............Resource Directory

Great Lakes Montessori ....Resource Directory

Momadvice.com ........................................ 75

Traditions Photography ......................... Insert

Gymnastics Michiana . ......Resource Directory

Niles Haunted House . ................................ 26

Power in Motion . ....................................... 55

Gymnastics Michiana . ............................... 73

Notre Dame Federal Credit Union .................. 3

Phoenix Realty............................................ 66

A Mammogram Could Save Your Life The numbers are all too familiar, and all too frightening. One in eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. And breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women ages 35 to 54.

The good news is that there are many things you can do to detect cancer early and reduce your risk of dying from this disease – the most important being regular breast exams. These include frequent self-exams, regular physical exams by your physician and an annual mammogram if you’re over 40.

To schedule a mammogram, call the Elkhart General Hospital Breast Care Center at (574) 523-7842.

600 East Boulevard • Elkhart, Indiana 46514 • (574) 294-2621

Accredited by the American College of Radiology as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence and recognized as a Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence, Certification Level III by NQMBC™