May/June 2023 OUR BROWN COUNTY

wild & tasty TIP

For a delicious spring salad vinaigrette combine our Basil Infused Olive Oil with our Strawberry Balsamic in a jar. Add honey, dijon mustard, garlic, salt or pepper, if desired. Shake until fully emulsified. The standard ratio for vinaigrettes is three parts oil to one part balsamic.

We’ve been bringing great taste to you since 2012 from our inviting little shop in the heart of Brown County, Indiana.

We have curated a flavorful collection for your tasting pleasure with plenty to offer for foodies, the experienced cook, or the novice. It goes well beyond the high-quality olive oils and balsamics we built our reputation on. We’ve added jams, pastas, dipping oils, salsas, sauces, and much more. Come in for a tour of tastes and let us be your guide. You’ll be wild about our shop. Shop us online from anywhere, anytime at www.thewildolive.com

DIRECTORY

~by Boris Ladwig 26 Brown

~by Chrissy Alspaugh

~by Mark Blackwell

Contributors

Jeff Tryon is a former news editor of The Brown County Democrat, and a former region reporter for The Republic. Born and raised in Brown County, he currently lives with his wife, Sue, in a log cabin on the edge of Brown County State Park. He is a Baptist minister.

Mark Blackwell no longer makes his home in Brown County where “the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines” He now resides within sight of the sixth green of an undisclosed golf course. He was born in the middle of the last century and still spends considerable time there.

Cover: Mountain Bikers Austin Kritzer, Danielle Wolter Nolan

~by Angela Jackson

Joe Lee is an illustrator and writer. He is the author of Forgiveness: The Eva Kor Story, The History of Clowns for Beginners, and Dante for Beginners. He is an editorial cartoonist for the Bloomington Herald Times, a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and a veteran circus performer.

Chrissy Alspaugh is a freelance writer and owner of Christina Alspaugh Photography. View her work at <ChristinaAlspaughPhotography. com>.She lives in Bartholomew County with her husband Matt and three boys.

Jim Eagleman is a 40-year veteran naturalist with the IN DNR. In retirement, he is now a consultant. His program “Nature Ramblings” can be heard on WFHB radio, the Brown County Hour. He serves on the Sycamore Land Trust board. He enjoys reading, hiking, music, and birding. Jim and his wife Kay have lived here for more than 40 years.

Boris Ladwig is a Columbusbased journalist who has worked in print, online and TV media in Indiana and Kentucky and has won awards for features, news, business, non-deadline news, First Amendment/community affairs and investigative reporting.

Cindy Steele is the publisher and editor of this magazine. She sells and designs ads, sometimes writes, takes photos, and creates the layout. For fun, she likes to play the guitar or banjo and sing.

copyright 2023

Julia Pearson wrote for a Franciscan magazine for ten years and served as its human interest editor. She now resides in Lake Woebegone Country for life’s continuing adventures. Julia enjoys traveling and visiting museums of all types and sizes, with her children and grandchildren.

Paige Langenderfer is a freelance writer and consultant. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University and her master’s degree in public relations management from IUPUI. Paige lives in Columbus with her husband and daughters.

Bob Gustin worked as a reporter, photographer, managing editor, and editor for daily newspapers in Colorado, Nebraska, and Indiana before retiring in 2011. He and his wife, Chris, operate Homestead Weaving Studio. She does the weaving while he gives studio tours, builds small looms, and expands his book and record collections.

Evan Markley was raised in Brown County. He has been a zipline guide at eXplore Brown County and a lifeguard at area pools. He graduated from Indiana University in 2019. He ushers for Pacers Sports and Marketing. He enjoys hiking and following NBA basketball.

*Monique Cagle, a Brown County artist, lives near Yellowwood State Forest, where she finds inspiration for her many branches of art. She began taking photos of the landscape for her paintings, and as her photographic eye improved, she went on to capture the story of her life in the countrythe seasons, the animals, and the farm where she lives. <sleepycatstudio.com>.

Thanks, Mom, for making it happen!

In 1923, Frank Hohenberger published a description and photograph of something in the center of Nashville in his column “From Down in the Hills O’ Brown County” for the Indianapolis Star newspaper. It became a famous point of interest to tourists. Some local women, however, considered it a symbol of laziness, and they destroyed it on Halloween night in 1929. What was it known as?

The answer to last issue’s mystery was Weed Patch Hill.

Mountain Biking

Mountain bikers Paul Tackett and Alyn Brown grinned as they steered their bikes around a slight left turn at the beginning of the Walnut Trail in Brown County State Park on a recent pleasant spring afternoon.

The cyclists had just taken a break at a lookout spot near the trailhead to admire the park’s beauty. They debated whether to take the Walnut Trail, for advanced riders, or go all in and tackle the double black diamond-rated Schooner Trace, probably the park’s most challenging trail, which has gained fame on YouTube.

They opted for the Walnut Trail in part because they had been delayed at the lookout point. Tackett had planned to be back home in Indianapolis at 5 p.m., and he already knew he was going to be late.

The mechanical engineer comes down to Brown County about two to three times per month, to enjoy the trails, the park, the camaraderie, and the exercise.

“I think it’s the best mountain biking in the Midwest by far,” he said.

He has ridden in lots of places, including Utah and North Carolina, and planned to head to Italy this fall. He said he even tells people in other states that they’d be pleasantly surprised if they came to south-central Indiana.

Brown, an intellectual property attorney who lives in Brown County, goes a step further in his praise for the local park.

“One of the best anywhere in the world,” he said.

Brown has ridden as far away as Spain and Costa Rica.

But he may be biased: Brown said he and his wife moved from Indianapolis to Brown

County to be closer to the trails. And he serves as president of the local Team Nebo Ridge cycling club.

Brown and Tackett used to be neighbors. And Brown said he and his wife found themselves coming to Brown County two to three times per week, for the restaurants, pubs, music, art, and trails. About two years ago they simply decided to move down here.

“It’s been fantastic,” Brown said.

Tackett and Brown praised the variety offered by the local trails.

“There’s really something for everybody,” Brown said. Eli Major, interpretive naturalist at the park, and an avid mountain biker, said the park offers nearly 40 miles of mountain biking trails, ranging from beginner to expert.

~story and photos by Boris Ladwig

Paul Tackett rides along the Walnut Trail in the Brown County State Park.

The area’s natural beauty and central location set the park apart, he said. The woods and hills provide spectacular scenery and the right topography to make for rides that range from easy to very tough. Meanwhile, proximity to major population centers including Indianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Chicago provide millions of people quick access.

Mike Sanders, of South Bend, recently came to the park with his wife and son. The family had camped at the park a few years ago and learned about the trails. This time, Sanders and his son brought along their mountain bikes.

Sanders chatted during a quick break at a lookout point north of the park office. He and his son had ridden about 20 miles during their visit. He described the trails as fun and occasionally demanding.

“You test your skills here for sure,” Sanders said.

He said his favorite trail is Weedpatch, a 2.4-miler for riders with intermediate skills. Sanders said he liked the really long downhill section with tight switchbacks.

Daniel Martinelli participated in a guided ride on a recent Tuesday. He lives in the Detroit area but has come to south central Indiana frequently in the last few months for work in Columbus. When he researched potential activities in the area, he learned about the park and made sure to bring his mountain bike in early spring.

His favorite trail, Bobcat, also features lots of downhill sections, but still proves challenging.

“Beats you up a bit,” he said.

Martinelli and other riders in his group whipped

in Brown County

State Park

around a sharp turn recently, some hooting with delight as their rear wheels kicked up dust.

The guided rides are organized by Brown County Bikes, 185 S. Jefferson St., in Nashville, which sells bikes and related gear and provides lessons for anyone from beginners to professional racers.

Kate Nolan, the shop’s co-founder, is a professional mountain bike instructor, and also one of 25 instructor trainers in the world who can certify teachers. She also teaches mountain biking at Indiana University.

Nolan said she has coached as far away as Whistler, British Columbia, but said Brown County is a great place to ride for beginners and professionals.

She said she rides in the park multiple times a week.

Mountain biking is a full-body workout, Nolan said, but it also exposes people to beautiful scenery, plant life, wildlife and, depending on the time of day, can offer time for reflective solitude.

“I ride the whole park,” she said. “I really love it.”

Mountain biking access to the trails costs $20 per year or $5 per day. Nolan and all other riders in this story strongly recommended that people wear helmets. The price of mountain bikes can vary widely, but they cost at least a few hundred dollars at the low end.

For people who aren’t sure they want to spend that much upfront, Major, the park naturalist, leads a free beginner’s course—though a $20 donation is

Continued on 20

Weed Patch Music Company

MOUNTAIN BIKING continued from

recommended—twice a month from May to September. Bikes are provided.

Brown County Bikes offers bike rentals for $95 per day, and if you end up buying a bike, you can credit the rental fee toward the purchase. Nolan also offers private classes that cost $150 for two hours, $300 for a half day and $500 for a full day, though she said a two-hour class is a good starting point for beginners.

Major said Brown County also is in the enviable position to have a dedicated mountain biking community that volunteers often to add new trails and clean existing ones of fallen branches and other debris, and to repack the soil on trails if they have been washed out by weather and use.

Major said that while some people deride Indiana as a flyover state, you won’t hear any state park enthusiasts say that.

“We have people travel for hundreds of miles to come to our trails,” he said. 

Links:

State Park: <https://www.browncountystatepark.net/assets/files/brown-co-trail.pdf>

YouTuber Schooner Trace: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBdj_GZJQxQ>

Team Nebo Ridge: <https://tnr.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_ id=151380>

Hoosier Buddy Liquors

Cold Beer, Fine Wines & Select Spirits

Cold Beer:

Hoosier Buddy o ers more than 150 di erent beers, including more than 80 craft, micro, and impor ts. We proudly o er a wide variety of beers from Indiana’s nest brewers.

Fine Wines:

Hoosier Buddy is a wine -lovers type of store With more than 200 wines to choose from, we’ve got something for ever yone. Check out our “A ordable Impor ts” and “90+ Point” selections

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Hoosier Buddy o ers an ever expanding array of top -notch spirits. Our whiskey categor y alone includes more than 75 di erent choices. Whether you’re look ing for a Single Barrel Bourbon or a Single Malt from Islay— we stock them.

It’s a Thursday evening, and the Brown County YMCA front lobby is ready for the rush.

Puppies and their owners whirl in like a noisy tornado, headed to obedience class. Swimmers skip toward the pool for their weekly lesson, while seniors catch up with friends on the way to aqua aerobics. A group of teens headed upstairs to pound punching bags in the fitness center ambles slower through the entrance, chatting while checking their phones.

“Most folks would never believe all the things that happen here at our Y,” said receptionist June Floyd, with a cheery smile. “It’s a wonderful place that connects our whole community.”

YMCA, originally named the Young Men’s Christian Association, is a worldwide youth organization that was founded in London in 1844. YMCA of the USA has a presence in more than 10,000 locations across the country. The nonprofit’s goal is to strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

“We always hear that we’re one of the smallest towns in the U.S. to have a full-service Y,” said Kim Robinson, CEO at the Brown County YMCA, at 105 Willow St. “It’s pretty amazing that we’re able to grow and thrive.”

Opened in 2001, the Brown County YMCA is the community hub for many of the services residents need, as well as the physical activities and social connections that help them flourish, Robinson said.

YMCA members aiming to improve their fitness can exercise independently or with a personal trainer in the spacious second-floor fitness center. Open gym times welcome basketball and soccer leagues. Individuals also

can sign up for classes in core conditioning, swimming, yoga, fencing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and more.

Seniors working to improve their health make frequent use of the Y’s salt-water pool, pickleball courts, Silver Sneakers fitness classes, and Life Line health screenings.

Located across the street from a seniors apartment complex, the Y welcomes retirees at a rate of roughly

~story and photos by Chrissy Alspaugh

Brown County YMCA

three-to-one compared to other members.

Working with weights during an aqua aerobics class, Brown County resident Pat Robinson said since retiring, she makes seven trips per week to the Y for fitness classes with friends. She said she’s lost weight and lowered her cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

“A lot of why I love to come is social, but I’m definitely a healthier and happier person because of the Y,” Pat Robinson said.

Brown County native Logan Fittz, 23, said he’s used the Y for nearly a decade, initially by lifting weights in the fitness center in high school. Since graduating from Purdue University and returning to Brown County, Fittz said he was excited to see “they’ve improved a lot in the fitness center. It seems like one of their top priorities is constantly making things better for members.”

Kim Robinson said one of her goals is for the Y to serve the community in as many ways as possible.

Some of the groups that use free meeting spaces at the Y include Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts troops, Ready to Read tutoring, Silver Strings dulcimer instruction for seniors, and Encounter Life

Ministries church. The Y also offers its spaces at no cost to the Brown County Sheriff’s Department for water-related training, the Brown County Playhouse for practices, and the American Red Cross for blood drives.

Alice Waltermire has offered dog and puppy training classes at the Y for nearly two years and said she donates her class fees back to the nonprofit because, “I think we’re all just here trying to build a better community.”

“And where else would things like this happen?” said Brown County resident Yolanda Toschlog, during a puppy-training class. She and her son, River, also have participated in the Y’s summer camps, aerobics classes, swim lessons, and are looking forward to Jiu-Jitsu.

For many community members, the role the Y serves is critical. Brown County YMCA serves as the community’s official Red Cross emergency shelter; houses the IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians Family and Internal Medicine clinic and the Access Brown County low-cost public transportation service; hosts clothing drives; and served as the community’s emergency hub during the COVID pandemic.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how many situations I’ve seen where people in our community need help, and the Y is the only one to step forward,” said Debbie Leach, who manages Access Brown County.

Continued on 28

Chelsea Mack cheers on Logan Fittz in the Brown County YMCA fitness center.

YMCA continued from 27

The myriad of services offered at the Y are funded through membership and program fees, as well as fundraising. Some of the Y’s annual fundraisers are the Mudders’ Day Jeep Ride, runs including the Reindeer Romp and the Hilly Half Marathon, and a food booth at the 4H fair.

Kim Robinson said the YMCA will continue evolving however it can to best serve Brown County, noting she

River Toschlog and his dog Azul work with Alice Waltermire.

Across from the Brown County Music Center

New

would love to add more enrichment classes and that the Y welcomes individuals interested in teaching a skill or craft.

David Duncan, aquatics supervisor, said he’s constantly inspired by watching the outreach that happens at the Y.

“Our mission is simple: to take care of our community. We focus on that goal and the people, not the bottom dollar like so much of the rest of society,” Duncan said. “You leave here knowing you definitely made a difference.”

For more information about the Y, visit <browncountyymca.org> or follow Brown County Community YMCA on Facebook. 

Brown County Antique Mall

Festival Season

Musings

~by Mark Blackwell

Brown County has a mess of seasons. There’s summer, or Outdoor Season; then there is everybody’s favorite, Leaf Lookin’ Season; and of course, there is the Holiday Season. After the holidays comes the Winter Doldrums, and then there’s Mud Season” (which we are just emerging out of). Coming right up is my personal favorite, Festival Season!

Festival Season is that magical time of the year when musicians come out of hibernation and put on displays of their musical finery, in an attempt to woo an audience. These musical courtship rituals often take place outdoors. That’s what makes Brown County a perfect location—it’s got a lot of outdoors. In fact, there exists a sort of sanctuary for the performance of these early summer practices, up at Bean Blossom. It’s the Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground.

Starting Thursday, June 1 and running through Saturday, June 3, the park will host the 2nd Annual Americana Bean Jamboree. This is billed as a celebration of “American roots music from the

Blues to Bluegrass and everything in between.” Leading the celebration is a great mix of national and local performers, a total of 18 acts on two stages.

The headline acts are The Henhouse Prowlers and “new grass” pioneer and mandolinist extraordinaire, Sam Bush.

The Henhouse Prowlers are a Chicago-based, four-piece Bluegrass band which has been playing for 17 years. The band has toured in over 25 counties and averages 175 shows a year.

If you don’t know who Sam Bush is—you ought to! Sam is one of the founding fathers of progressive bluegrass music. The music took its name from the band that Sam anchored, The New Grass Revival, back in 1971. He also backed up Emmylou Harris for five years, has been a sideman for Lyle Lovett, and was a member of Bela Fleck’s band the Flecktones.

The local talent includes The Hammer and the Hatchet, Jason Blankenship and Chuck Wills, Dave Sisson and Sam Love, Caitlin “Spanks” Spangler, Elkins Family, Lowlanders and many more.

The festival starts Thursday with a scheduled open jam. On Friday, the concerts begin at noon on two different stages, and they run through to 10:30 p.m. Saturday follows the same plan, but with a different band line up. There will be plenty of campsite jams—so don’t forget your instruments.

The next festival coming up is Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Festival, June 14–17. There has been a Bluegrass festival at the park every year, starting with the first one back in 1967. That adds up to 56 years of festivals and musical history.

The concerts get started at noon on Wednesday, June 14, and don’t stop until after 9:00 p.m. That leaves plenty of time for more parking lot and campsite pickin’.

The headliners for this year include: Audie Blaylock and Redline, The Little Roy and Lizzie Show, Ralph Stanley II, and Larry Sparks. Among the other 16 acts are: The Moron Brothers, Special Consensus, Larry Efaw, and a band that, to me, sounds like a super-group, Southern Legend featuring Williams, Rigsby, Vestal, Haynie, and Anglin.

The camping venues include everything from motor homes, RV’s and primitive tent sites and even log cabins. There are potable water, shower, and laundry facilities available. For those who don’t care to cook there are a variety of trucks and other comestible purveyors.

As usual, the festival is a mix of old and new, modern and traditional, both musically and in the park itself. The music park has been in existence since about 1940 and has evolved in a slew of positive ways.

My first festival was quite a ways back. The camping then was in a tent, in a field. There was one or maybe a couple of water spigots but no showers and no laundry. For those sorts of things you had to make your way down to Nashville. Sanitary facilities consisted of pit toilets dotted here and there inconveniently. You wanted to be sure to pitch your tent up wind.

There were no food trucks back then but there was McDonald’s—not the fast food drive-in but McDonald’s IGA store across the highway. You could always get a baloney sandwich, a bag of potato chips, a big dill pickle and bottle of pop.

Things have improved immensely over the last 50-odd years. The music has never been less than top notch but now the whole experience, while not luxury (unless you own one of those big old land yachts), is comfortable and convenient.

Tickets, campsite reservations, and golf cart rental are separate charges, so check out the <billmonroemusicpark.com> website for more info.

When festival season breaks, Brown County can’t be beaten, and Bean Blossom is the place to be. I hope to see you there come June. 

What is pickleball? You might have heard the name of this sport that is sweeping the nation, but you might not know enough about it to want to give it a try. If you are curious, let’s delve into the details of the game that is becoming so popular here in Brown County.

Pickleball has been around since 1965, but has seen its most recent boom in the last three years since the pandemic started. This fast-growing sport is low-impact, meaning it’s not real hard on your joints. The court is smaller than a tennis court, making it easier to return the ball. The equipment is low cost compared to other sports, and the nets are often portable and easy to set up.

Some pickleball players at the Brown County Community YMCA were asked what they liked best about the game. While a few said it was an exceptional workout, or called it undeniably fun, the most popular answer pointed to the social aspect of the game.

According to statistics provided by Brown County Pickleball Club president, Danny Key, there are over 36.5 million pickleball

Pickleball

players and over 10,000 places to play in the United States.

Pickleball is played on a 20ft x 44ft court, the same size as badminton. Players use special paddles to hit a hollowed ball over a net. It can be played indoors or outdoors—each with its own style of game and ball design.

It can be played in doubles or singles competitions. Doubles are played most often here due to local demand for court space.

There are two different types of hits when it comes to pickleball: groundstrokes and volleys. A groundstroke occurs when the ball bounces once on your side before you hit it over the net to the other side. A volley occurs when you hit the ball back to the other side without it hitting the ground on your side.

There are some rules that take away some competitive advantages one might have going into the game. These guidelines allow pickleball players to range in age, gender, and physical fitness level.

On both sides, closest to the net, there is a seven-foot section of court called the “kitchen.” Players cannot hit a volley while their feet are in the kitchen, even if it’s just a toe. This rule deters players from easily overpowering opponents at the net. Groundstrokes in the kitchen are allowed and are often called “dinks” because of the softer, repeated sound that’s made.

Every point begins with a serve and ends when there is a fault. A fault occurs when the ball does not cross the net, the ball lands out of bounds, or when the ball bounces more than once on one side. The serve is always underhand, and the

~story and photos by Evan Markley

ball must travel over the net, diagonally over the centerline, and bounce in the opponents’ service area before it can be returned. If the serve hits in the “kitchen,” does not cross the centerline, does not make it over the net, or lands out of bounds, it results in a fault. The ball must bounce on both sides before either team can volley.

Pickleball is played to a score of 11 (must win by 2), and the points can only be scored by the serving team. Each player on a team gets to serve at least once before it’s the other team’s turn to serve. One can continue serving as long as they have continued to win the point. If a point is scored, the server switches places with their partner and serves again. Once there is a fault due to the serving team, and both players on that side have served, control of the serve is given to the other players.

Pickleball in Brown County is currently played, mostly indoors, at the YMCA. The Y’s gymnasium is reserved for pickleball: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 5:30–9 a.m. and 12–3 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 5:30-8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.; and Saturday 7–9 a.m. There is also a time for beginners on Friday 3–5 p.m.

Anyone with a YMCA membership, day pass, or a pickleball punch card is welcome to come during these times to play. The Y is offering a pickleball punch card to non-members for $40, which grants 10 days’ worth of pickleball.

Pickleball has a bright future in Brown County. A recent story in the Brown County Democrat explained that Brown County Parks and Recreation has granted conditional approval for new pickleball courts to be built at Deer Run Park, on the west side of Nashville. This site would be funded by donors and grant money allocated by the Brown County Pickleball Club. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must approve the project before construction can begin because the park is in a designated flood zone. The proposal includes the creation of six courts.

Recently the Brown County Pickleball Club has been granted 501(c)3 non-profit status and currently has a board of four members. It hosts a blind draw, round robin pickleball tournament on the first Monday of every month at the Y. According to Key, in a few months people will be able to purchase a club membership for around $30 that would come with

a T-shirt and discounts to tournaments hosted at Deer Run. The fee would help pay to maintain the proposed outdoor courts and host tournaments.

Even though pickleball is increasing in popularity, it presents a few small issues: the competition over gym/ court space, the noise, and the misconception that it is only for older people.

While there has never been a turf war at the Y between pickleball and basketball, new courts at Deer Run would certainly decrease the demand on that gymnasium. Pickleball is often heard before it is seen, but it isn’t much louder than basketball. New outdoor courts, away from residential areas would solve any noise problem. To counter the point that pickleball is only for older people, the largest age bracket of pickleball players in the U.S. is 18-34 years old (28.8% of the total), according to Key.

Now that you know more about pickleball, it’s your turn to give it a try.

Who knows, Nashville might even see some economic growth from out-of-town “pickleballers” coming to play in tournaments. 

photos by Monique Cagle

Brown County Playhouse

May 5 Dave Dugan

May 6 Joe Cocker Tribute

May 12 Cody Ikerd & the Sidewinders

May 13 The Shootouts

May 19 The Carole King & James Taylor Story

May 20 Rich Hardesty & the Little Nashvilles

Boeing-Boeing (Live Theater)

June 2, 3, 9, 10 at 7:30

June 4, 11 at 2:30

70 S. Van Buren Street 812-988-6555

www.browncountyplayhouse.org

Brown County Music Center

May 10 Brit Floyd: 50 Years of Dark Side

May 13 Michael W. Smith

May 17 Chicago

June 3 Marty Stuart & his Fabulous Superlatives

June 6 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

June 9 Rodney Carrington

June 11 KC and The Sunshine Band

June 19 Jackson Browne

June 20 Lyle Lovett & his Large Band

June 24 The Drifters, The Platters & The Cornell Gunter Coasters

June 25 Elvis Costello & The Imposters

June 29 Trace Adkins

June 30 Here Come the Mummies

812-988-5323

www.browncountymusiccenter.com

Brown County Inn

Open Mic Nights Wed. 6:00-9:00

Hill Folk Series Thurs. 7:00-9:00

Fri. & Sat. Live Music 8:00-11:00

May 3 Open Mic

May 4 Nathan Dillon, Chuck Wills, Caitlin Spangler

May 5 Steve Plessinger & Friends

May 6 Otto & The Moaners

May 10 Rick Fettig

May 11 Jan Bell

May 12

Austin James Trio

May 13 Paul Bertsch Band

The schedule can change. Please check before making a trip.

May 17 Open Mic

May 18 Scott Cook

May 19 Steve Fulton

May 20 Jack Whittle Band

May 24 Open Mic

May 25 Tim Easton

May 26 Sean Lamb & Janet Miller

May 27 Black Cat & The Bones

May 31 Open Mic

June 1 Breanna Faith

June 2 John Kogge with David Sharp

June 3 J.C. Clements Band

June 7 Open Mic

June 8 Roger Banister & Denise Kocur

June 9 Caitlin Spangler & Dave Sisson

June 10 Acre Brothers

June 14 Open Mic

June 15 Feathered Mason

June 16 Andra Faye & Scott Ballantine

June 17 Piney Woods & The Strip Mall

Wonder Band

June 21 Open Mic

June 22 Scrapper & Skelton

June 23 Sean Lamb & Janet Miller

June 24 Homemade Jam

June 28 Open Mic

June 29 Benjamin Fuson

June 30 Arianna & The Bourbon Britches

51 State Road 46 East 812-988-2291

www.browncountyinn.com

Country Heritage Winery

Music Fri. & Sat. 6:00-9:00

May 5 Coner Berry Band

May 6 High Street Jack

May 12 Jason Dozier

May 13 Dan Kirk Duo (Don Hapner)

May 19 Michael Staublin

May 20 Forrest Turner

May 26 Frank Jones

May 27 Breanna Faith

June 2 Coner Berry Band

June 3 The Clearwater Band

June 9 Dylan Raymond

June 10 Gary Applegate & Joe Rock

June 16 Jason Wells

June 17 Tracy Thompson

Fun Bus Music Tour

June 23 Rob Lake

June 24 Bakersfield Bound

June 30 Ruben Guthrie

July 1 Homemade Jam

225 S. Van Buren Street 812-988-8500

www.countryheritagewinery.com

Sycamore Saloon at Harmony Tree Resorts

Wed. Trivia Night 6:00

Thurs. Karaoke & Open Mic Night 7:00

Fri. Live Music 8:00 | Sat. Live Music 9:00

May 5 John Ryan

May 6 Zion Crossroads

May 12 Forrest Turner

May 13 Random Eyez

May 19 Eric Hamblen

May 20 Nash Brown’s Roadhouse Revival

May 26 Married Band of Two

May 27 Bloomington Blues Jam

June 2 Craig Thurston

June 3 The Swing Rays

June 9 Jason Blankenship & David Sharp

June 10 The Hungarian Slacks

June 16 The Trio w/ Rose O’Neal

June 17 Brown Co Blues Brew & BBQ Fest

2:00-11:00

June 23 Derick Howard

June 24 Ruben Guthrie & Albert Nolting

June 30 TBD

1292 SR 135 S, Nashville 812-200-5650

www.harmonytreeresorts.com

Music at Abe Martin Lodge

Fri. & Sat. 5:30-8:00, in restaurant

Brown County State Park

1810 SR 46 East, Nashville 812-988-4418

Hard Truth Distillery Co.

Most music Fri.-Sat. 6:00-9:00, Sun. 4:00-7:00, other times listed

May 5 Dynamics

May 6 Wyatt Edmondson 11-2

Isaac Rudd & the Revolvers 2-5

Mellencougar 6-9

May 7 Tic Tac Flow 12-3

Keith Scott Blues 4-7

May 12 Big 80s

May 13 Steve Fulton 11-2

Pete Henry 2-5

Kickitlester 6-9

May 14 Rusted String Swindlers 12-3

JC Clements Band 4-7

May 19 Atlas of the Dogs

May 20 Tom Brown Music 11-2

Sean Lamb Janet Miller Band 2-5

The Toons 6-9

May 21 The Hammer & The Hatchet 12-3

BA Blues 4-7

May 26 Joe’s Truck Stop 6-9

May 27 Forrest Turner 11-2

ilyAIMY 2-5

Broken Reins 6-9

May 13 9 to 44

May 19 John Ryan

May 20 8 Bit Audio

May 26 Homemade Jam

May 27 Past Tense

June 2 Two for the Show

June 3 Karaoke

June 9 Doug Dillman

June 10 Clearwater Band

June 16 John Ryan

June 17 TBD

June 23 Ruben Guthrie

June 24 Past Tense

2359 East State Road 46 812-988-4323 www.saltcreekgolf.com

Nashville House

March Music Sat. 5:00-8:00

April Music Fri. & Sat. 6:00-9:00, Sun. 1:00-4:00

May 5 Keith Rea

May 6 TBD

May 7 The Roushs

May 12 Will Scott

May 13 Cody Williams

May 14 Shyaam Akasha

May 19 Austin James

May 20 Ciara Haskett

May 21 Jason Blankenship

May 26 Michael Staublin

May 27 Buck Knawe

May 28

Maybells 12-3

Jason Wells Band 4-7

June 2 Cody Ikerd & Sidewinders

June 3

Wayne Pennington Duo 11-2

Zion Crossroads 2-5

Zepparella 6-9

June 4 Street Pennies

June 9 Jerod Bolt

June 10 Ruben Guthrie 11-2

Pressed in Black 2-5

Karma 6-9

June 11 Shack #9 12-3

Gary Applegate & Joe Rock 4-7

June 16 Black Orchid

June 17 Craig Thurston 11-2

The Cold Hearts 2-5

Heartland 6-9

Ferguson House Beer Garden

Music Fri. 6:00-9:00, Sat. 1:00-4:00 AND 6:00-9:00, Sun. 1:00-4:00

May 5 Forrest Turner

May 6 Shyaam Akasha 1-4

Ciara Haskett 6-9

May 7 Rich Hardesty

May 12 Ross Benson

May 13 Ben Justus 1-4

Dave Sisson 6-9

May 14 Ben Fusion

May 19 Brooke Hall

May 20 Rich Hardesty w/ Foxxy & Friends

May 21 Kit Haymond

May 26 Brian Koning

May 27 Keith Rea 1-4

June 2 Brooke Hall

June 3 Brian Koning

June 9 Dave Sisson

June 10 TBD

June 16 Caitlin Spangler

June 17 Ben Justus

June 23 Travers Marks

June 24 TBD

June 25 Jason Blankenship

15 S. Van Buren Street 812-988-4554

www.nashvillehousebc.com

Madhouse of Mystery

Magic Shows

Fri. & Sat. 6:00

75 S. Jefferson - Antique Alley - Nashville 800-959-6401

June 18

Bloomington Blues Jam

June 23 Rich Hardesty & Little Nashvilles

June 24 John Ryan Music 11-2

Six Ways to Sunday 2-5

Dylan Raymond 6-9

June 25 Stampede String Band 12-3

Barney Muggers Street Band 4-7

June 30 Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra

418 Old State Road 46 812-720-4840

www.visithardtruth.com

19th Hole Sports Bar

Music Fri. 7:00-10:00 | Sat. 8:00-11:00

Karaoke nights till 12

May 5 Clearwater Band

May 6 Karaoke

May 12 Ruben Guthrie

Ed Frye 6-9

May 28 Ruben Guthrie

June 2 TBD

June 3 Married Band of Two

June 4 The Hammer & The Hatchet

June 9 Foxxy

June 10 Stant and Moore 1-4

Ciara Hasket 6-9

June 11 Allie Jean

June 16 Cody Williams

June 17 Buck Knawe 1-4

Michael Staublin 6-9

June 18 Rich Hardesty

June 24 Kara Cole 1-4

Dave Sisson 6-9

June 25 Ross Benson

June 30 Paul Bertsch

78 Franklin Street 812-988-4042

www.dennysmagic.com

Village Art Walk Fourth Fridays, 4:00-7:00 April-October

Free self-guided walking tour of downtown Nashville art galleries. Demonstrations. Make & take activities. Wine tasting.

Nashville Farmer’s Market

Sundays 11:00-2:00, Brown Co. Inn parking lot at State Road 135 & 46 intersection

Local produce, herbs, bedding plants, flowers, food, music.

Continued

Spring Blossom Parade

May 6, downtown Nashville

Sponsored by Brown Co Lions Club

Indiana Wine Fair

May 6, Story Inn, 1:00 to 5:00

Indiana wineries, food trucks, music.

6404 State Road 135 812-988-2273

www.storyinn.com

Lions Club Pancake Breakfast

May 13, Parkview Nazarene Church, 7-10:30

1750 State Road 46, Nashville

Dawg Gone Walk & Fiesta

May 21, Deer Run Park, noon-2:30 Brown Co Human Society fundraiser

www.bchumane.org

46th Shelby Spring Fling

May 19-20, Brown County State Park

Car show, vendors, picnic.

Info: 812-483-1818 www.insaac.org

Americana Bean Jamboree

June 1-3, Bill Monroe’s Music Park

Headliners Sam Bush, Henhouse Prowlers

5163 N. SR 135 812-988-6422

https://billmonroemusicpark.com

War in the Woods

Wildest No Prep Race in the Country

June 2-3, Brown County Dragway

480 Gatesville Rd. in Bean Blossom

317- 340-1789 War in the Woods FB

D.IN.O Mountain Bike Race

June 4, Brown County State Park

Expert to junior plus short option for kids. Registration opens at 8:00 am

Start/finish/registration near the pool

www.dinoseries.com

45th Indiana Heritage Arts Show and Sale

June 10-July 8, Brown Co. Art Gallery

June 9 Reception 6:00 Corner of Main Street and Artist Drive

Boeing-Boeing

812-988-4609

https://browncountyartgallery.org

Bill Monroe Bluegrass Fest

June 14-17, Bill Monroe’s Music Park 5163 N. SR 135 812-988-6422

https://billmonroemusicpark.com

Brown County

Blues Brew & BBQ Festival

June 17, Harmony Tree Resorts, All Day

Feat. Joanna Connor, King Bee & the Stingers, Black Cat & the Bones, Mark Robinson Band, Will Scott

1292 SR 135 S, Nashville 812-200-5650

www.harmonytreeresorts.com

3rd Art in the Garden

Brown Co Art Guild Benefit

Waltz Farmstead in Trafalgar

June 24, 5:00-8:00 Plein Air painting, fine artisan demonstrations, tour. Music, hors d’oeuvres, drinks. 812-988-6185

https://browncountyartguild.org

Joe

Cody Ikerd and the Sidewinders

CD Release Show “Dreamers Like Me”

May 12 at 7:30pm

The Shootouts

Honky-tonk, Americana, and traditional country

May 13 at 7:30pm

The Carole King & James Taylor Story Insight into the lives behind the music

May 19 at 7:30pm

Rich Hardesty and the Little Nashvilles

Independent artist from LaPorte, Indiana

May 20 at 7:30pm

Brown County Music Center

May 10 Brit Floyd: 50 Years of Dark Side

May 13 Michael W. Smith

May 17 Chic ago

June 3 Marty Stuar t & his Fabulous S uperlatives

June 6 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

June 9 Rodney Carrington

June 11 KC and The S unshine Band

June 19 Jackson Browne

June 20 Lyle Lovett & his Large Band

June 24 The Drifters, The Platters & The Cornell Gunter Coasters

June 25 Elvis Costello & The Imposters

June 29 Trace Adkins

June 30 Here Come the Mummies

For additional shows and tickets visit: www.BrownCountyMusicCenter.com

Since its opening in August 2019, the Brown County Music Center 2,000-seat live performance venue has hosted artists spanning world-class rock, blues, country, pop, jazz, oldies, throwback artists, and comedians, in an intimate setting with the farthest seat from the stage being only 106 feet away. This June is offering up the most big-name acts in a single month of the venue’s history:

June 3 MARTY STUART & HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES —Country Music Hall of Famer, fivetime GRAMMY-winner, and AMA Lifetime Achievement honoree.

June 6 KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND—

25 year career selling millions of albums, winning awards and nominations, and celebrating both No. 1 blues albums and No. 1 rock singles.

June 9 RODNEY CARRINGTON—one of the top 10 highest-grossing touring comedians for the past two decades. Recorded eight major record label comedy albums, followed by three albums on his own record label.

June 11 KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND—formed in 1973 with one purpose: to create instant happiness through music—succeeding with singles including “That’s the Way (I Like It),” “Get Down Tonight,” and “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty,”

June 19 JACKSON BROWNE—inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007, with a career of 15 studio albums plus collections of live and “best of” performances. His 2021 album was GRAMMY-nominated for Best Americana Album.

June 20 LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND— GRAMMY award-winner puts his personal stamp on elements of jazz, country, western swing, folk, gospel, and blues in a career spanning 14 albums.

June 24 DRIFTERS, PLATTERS, & CORNELL

GUNTER COASTERS—three of the world’s most beloved musical groups who were instrumental in creating the Rock & Roll/ Doo Wop sound.

June 25 ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS, opening with NICK LOWE & LOS STRAITJACKETS—Nick Lowe produced the Elvis Costello and the Attractions albums between late 1977 and 1980 and toured the U.S. with them in 1979.

June 29 TRACE ADKINS—a Grand Ole Opry member for nearly two decades, known for fiery live performances and a 25year career in country music, selling over 11 million albums.

June 30 HERE COME THE MUMMIES—a nine-piece funk-rock band with mysterious personas and cunning song-craft.

Tickets are available at www.browncountymusiccenter.com, and www.ticketmaster.com 

Harmony Palliative Arts Collective

~story and photos by Bob Gustin

Rick Clayton draws on his formal education, along with his years as a rock and roll musician, minister, and hospice chaplain, to lead the effort to establish a new approach to end-of-life services in Brown County.

“I was born for this,” he said.

The Harmony Palliative Arts Collective expects to open its facility in May at Harmony Church in Van Buren Township.

The church at 3999 Mt. Liberty Road has seen declining attendance in recent years. Historically, a church at the intersection of Mt. Liberty Road and Bellsville Pike has served the community for more than 170 years. The new version will house families whose loved ones are nearing death, providing a place to stay where nonmedical palliative music, therapeutic touch, aromatherapy, and other services will be offered at no cost to the patient or family.

Clayton graduated from Carmel High School and spent 20 years on the road as a guitarist with a band called “The Late Show.”

He and his wife Kimmie lost a baby in the mid-1990s, an experience that led him to change paths and earn a bachelor’s degree in Bible and comparative religion at Anderson University and later a master’s in theological studies at Butler University.

He is a minister focused on the lessons of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount as recounted in the book of Matthew. He retired as minister at Harmony Church to lead the new initiative.

A near-death experience led to another change in direction as he accepted a hospice chaplain position at Southern Care Indiana, based in Bloomington and covering seven counties.

Clayton is a multi-instrumentalist who plays the cello, harp, and Native American flute. He is trained in other neuroaesthetic areas, such as Reiki and aromatherapy. Neuroaesthetics is a growing field studying the impact art, music, and other sensory experiences a has on the human brain.

He uses his musical abilities in his hospice work, saying he wants to “dose” people with music, not perform. Hearing music can release serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin chemicals in the brain altering our biology and bringing balance to people close to death.

“The right music at the right time can make a difference,” he said, “helping people to hang on to life or to let loose of it.”

The Harmony initiative is being funded by grants and donations, but medical services will be administered by hospice providers. Nursing or medical teams will visit patients at least once a week, and medicines can be administered by family members or caretakers.

Based on the “doula” model sometimes used in childbirth settings, the goal is to “provide compassionate care, and maintain dignity and personal freedom for those at the end of life,” the non-profit’s literature states. The church’s basement has been remodeled into spacious living quarters which include a large kitchen, accessible shower, laundry facilities, a meditation or prayer room, computer space, sitting areas, and

patient quarters. Futons will provide sleeping space for family members or caregivers, and the church’s grounds provide places for enjoying the outdoors, including a labyrinth. The former church sanctuary will be used for group meetings, educational discussions, and other purposes. The entire 7,440-square-foot building has been dedicated to the new effort.

Initially, one family at a time will be served for approximately the last month of a patient’s life. Harmony’s model is based on these principles:

• Natural and drug-free reduction or alleviation of pain caused by stress and anxiety.

• Affirmation of life and the regarding of death as a natural process.

•The intention to neither hasten nor postpone death.

• Integration of psychosocial, psychological, cultural, and spiritual aspects of patient care.

• Offering a support system to help patients live as actively and die as peacefully as possible.

The board of directors for the Harmony organization includes a doctor, two hospice nurses, an arts advisor, and a licensed social worker.

“To me, the best way to find God,” Clayton says, “is to be of service to people.”

“Spirituality transcends ideology,” he said, and the palliative care initiative is nondenominational. Clayton, who is director of the facility, said he can minister to people of all faiths, or none. “We want to use arts to help people pass peacefully.”

Clayton believes Harmony is the first palliative care facility of its type in Indiana, though similar places have been attempted on the east and west coasts. Harmony differs from traditional hospice services because it is neither a medical care facility, nor a service which visits patients in their homes. In addition, most traditional hospice facilities “won’t do what they can’t bill for,” he said.

“Think of it as a change of address for the patient,” he said, as Medicare or other insurance policies pay for medical services rendered by teams that visit the patients for pain management or other medical care. He said the facility will be open to anyone with hospice benefits.

For more contact <wholenotes@mac.com>  or your hospice provider. 

”Spirituality transcends ideology. We want to use arts to help people pass peacefully.”

—Rick Clayton

Across from the entrance to the BROWN COUNTY MUSIC CENTER located inside

The Sycamore Saloon Sampler at

With the arrival of spring and a general post-pandemic lightness of heart, restaurants around the county are filling up for a little dinner. Sometimes, we must wander a bit farther afield to experience new dining destinations.

The new Sycamore Saloon, located just a short scenic drive down State Road 135 South, is worth the effort of finding it. Look for the sign on the old red Ford truck that says “Harmony Tree Resorts.”

We found the place lively, welcoming, and ultimately satisfying on a busy weekend evening.

The large dining area has a wall of windows on either end, revealing beautiful Brown County just beyond. A forest of ceiling lights adds to the warmth of the room. There’s a long bar that runs down one

whole side of the room, with a stage on one end—where a single cowboy-looking crooner did his best against the roar of the large, happy crowd.

When I am embarking on one of these little gustatorial adventures (we do it all for you, dear reader) I like to bring along some other convivial witnesses—amateur samplers. I invited my brother and his wife, who are not only delightful company, but well acquainted with the ways and means of these important dining expeditions.

It’s a big menu, and with four people at the table, you get a good cross section of what any average diner might order, not just what I am going to order—the steak.

There is a rhythm and a pace to these things; we order drinks, we get an appetizer, and during this process, we study the menu, offer suggestions, opinions, and insights.

Since the full bar is available, I was encouraged to pursue my ongoing quest for the perfect Old Fashioned—one just like dear old Dad used to make. The ladies had white wine.

I thought the service was outstanding considering that the place was packed on a Saturday evening, and it looked like everybody there was having a good time.

When it comes to appetizers, I can’t really help myself. I know that, usually, by the end of the meal, I will be wondering why I started out by stuffing my face—but that’s just the way it is.

The Sycamore has an “onion stack,” thinly sliced deep fried onions; seasoned “tater kegs;” and “mushroom fries,” fried strips of portabella mushrooms served with a sriacha ranch sauce. I also wavered briefly over the jumbo bone-in wings

before settling on a big tray of nachos with shredded chicken and bacon. Everyone agreed they were delicious.

Among the many wonderful menu items (which did not get a fair tasting on this particular outing) are the sandwiches; a brunch burger topped with bacon and an egg; a BBQ burger; a tenderloin breaded in Fire Cheetos and deep fried; and a caprese chicken sandwich with Buffalo mozzarella, seasoned tomatoes, and fresh basil drizzled with a balsamic glaze.

But most fearsome of all is a culinary monstrosity known as “The Sasquatch”—the Sycamore’s signature brisket chuck burger topped with a four-ounce breaded tenderloin, two strips of bacon and pepper jack grilled cheese, all on a potato bun. The thing arrives at your table secured with a steak knife driven right down through its heart.

There’s been a lot of loose talk and speculation about bigfoots (bigfeet?) roaming around down there in Van Buren Township. But once you’ve conquered The Sasquatch, you’ll never have to prove your bravery in any other way.

The Sycamore Saloon has a classic brick pizza oven. Pizzas are loaded with cheese, with just the right crisp on the crust. My brother opted for the “Tree Hugger” vegetable pizza with

spinach, tomatoes, and ricotta cheese, while Mrs. Sampler availed herself of the “Hoosier Handful” a Build-Your-Own-Pizza deal where you pick any four toppings from a twelve-item list.

All pizzas are twelve-inch and wood fired. These pies came to the table looking great and—just in the interest of accuracy, mind you—I had to try a slice. It was excellent.

When it comes to entrees, the Sycamore Saloon has plenty to offer the hungry and curious. There are pork chops with cinnamon apple chutney; lightly breaded raspberry chicken; and a grilled chicken smothered with mushrooms, cheddar jack, and bacon under a honey mustard glaze.

My brother’s wife opted for the salmon steak grilled on a cedar plank with a bourbon glaze and topped with green onion. It was big, beautiful, and delectable with wild rice and bourbon-bacon-jam Brussels sprouts on the side.

I chose the Rawhide Ribeye, expertly grilled with sauteed onions and peppers. I added a tasty little salad and mashed potatoes from a generous selection of side dishes.

What does a person want out of everyday life? What could be better than a wonderful, tasty meal, expertly cooked and served by hospitality professionals, and shared, not only with your nearest and dearest, your kitchen companion, and your blood kin, but with a whole large room full of boisterous, happy people having roughly the same experience on a weekend evening?

Dessert was on offer (cheesecake, s’mores pizza), but not necessary. I was already profoundly satisfied. 

~by Julia Pearson

John and Mildred Letsinger raised their daughter Lyn in Fort Wayne, Indiana for the first 14 years of her life. John was the assistant plant manager of International Harvester. The family moved to the Chicago area when he was promoted to overseas production manager.

Lyn found her career inspiration while studying journalism in high school. She was editor of the school paper and was chosen as the student reporter for the high school highlights page of the daily newspapers issued by Paddock Publications in the western suburbs of Chicago. After graduation in 1968, the same news organization hired her for a summer reporting job.

With press credentials and a news photographer alongside, Lyn embarked on an electrifying and historic experience, going to Grant Park a week before the fateful 1968 Democratic National Convention. She interviewed the gathering political operatives of all stripes, Yippies, and activist singers of the era, in essence scooping the rallies, protests, and the riot that are now in history books.

Entering Indiana University in Bloomington that fall, Lyn reported for the Indiana Daily Student, and decided to switch her focus from print journalism to radio and television.

For 20 years, Lyn became well-known in TV news broadcasting, breaking down barriers for other women to follow.

Two voices in Lyn’s life influenced her. Her father’s voice, always present, told her she could do anything, in spite of any restrictions. He had been an All-American football player at Purdue and played with the Pittsburg Steelers. She credits him for her drive and competitiveness, as well as her love of all sports.

Sylvia Begun, mother of her Fort Wayne roommate, Wynne Begun, has been an enduring role model. Sylvia found her way in a new country and had this steely wisdom: “Girls, you are responsible for your own happiness. Not a man, not a job. Just you.”

While working at a TV station in Fort Wayne, Lyn met her husband, Leo Miller, a news photographer. The couple was later hired by Channel 6, WRTV in Indianapolis, where Lyn was the first female news producer working in a variety of positions, including 11 p.m. show producer and on-location producer. Leo worked as photographer and editor.

They moved to Brown County in 1981 after building a cabin, commuting to the Indy station. Their son Blair was born in Bloomington Hospital and grew up in Brown County.

Lyn taught journalism at Indiana University for ten years, and Leo went into private production. Lyn worked for the Brown County Democrat for a year and a half, getting to know the area in a deeper way and writing features about the artists of the early art colony.

photo by Cindy Steele

Lyn Letsinger-Miller

A neighbor and friend, Margaret Colglazier, was the executive director of the Brown County Art Guild, as well as an appraiser and art dealer. Their relationship led to them starting Brown County Fine Arts, appraising and selling paintings.

With Margaret’s urging, Lyn wrote The Artists of Brown County. It was published by the Indiana University Press in 1994. It is for serious art lovers as well as those who like to learn about the men and women who made Brown County a hub of artistic activity from 1900 through the 1940s. The book is filled with reproductions of the early artists’ works and is currently in its fourth printing.

Lyn joined the Brown County Art Gallery’s Board of Directors in 2005. It was founded in 1926 by the early impressionists and has supported Hoosier artists past and present for nearly 100 years. In 2006, Lyn was instrumental in bringing back the Collectors Showcase. Statewide representation is seen in the permanent exhibition by the Indiana Heritage Arts, of which Lyn is a board member.

The expansion of the Art Gallery was finished and opened in 2015. The 15,000 square foot facility currently supports 60 working artists and an art education studio dedicated to workshops and community events. It also preserves and exhibits significant historic pieces of art. The gallery is the exclusive representative of the estate of artist Nancy Noel, and it has sold work by Hoosier music legend John Mellencamp.

Leo Miller sold his video production business in 2019 and has since been deeply involved as a volunteer with the technology that is part of the gallery’s exhibits and he oversees the physical plant.

Blair graduated from Brown County High School. He received his baccalaureate degree from Hanover College and then completed a law degree at the University of Louisville. He lives in Cincinnati where he works in risk management for a consulting firm.

For their constant vision, hard work, and volunteering for the Brown County Art Gallery, the lobby has been named for Lyn Letsinger-Miller and Leo Miller.

Lyn with Steve Miller, the architect, during the 2015 expansion. photo by Cindy Steele

Lyn and Leo, now, and in 1980 on the day they bought their Brown County property. courtesy photos

Survival of Quail

Field Notes

~by Jim Eagleman

As I was driving through country with my window open on a recent spring day, I thought I heard a quail whistle its iconic “bob…bob white” call. It made me think how little I’d heard them lately, and brought back memories of a class project I worked on when I was a student.

We had an assignment to pick a bird or animal and define all the things a biologist needed to

know for proper management. The project included describing its importance to mankind, its economic value, and survival requirements.

I chose the chunky, bobwhite quail since I recalled them as a kid on the Pennsylvania farm. My grandpa would point to a brushy ravine and say it looked “birdy.” I didn’t really know what that meant. Over time, though, I could identify the places where quail lived. Whatever the quail needed was provided there. Still, it was a mystery to me. Was it food, protection from predators, water?

When I was old enough to possess a license, I hunted quail—on the lookout for similar places where the habitat was right. I remember bringing home several birds for my mom to cook for supper.

My professor used the term “resilient” when lecturing about quail. They were common in that part of western Illinois.

My daily library search revealed many questions. Some kind of historical perspective was in order. I needed to know if my specie was native to the area, or like the ring-necked pheasant and red fox, introduced years before. If native, how are they doing? If introduced, how long ago, and what was their status?

Had quail numbers remained consistent over time? What determined highs and lows? Was it severe storms, cold spells, drought, summer heat, flooding? I needed to look at weather trends.

Where are quail normally found? If a farmland specie, is its habitat intermixed with woodlands, wetlands, or mature forest? How far and wide on the land is it found? Had this changed over time as development spread, impacting habitats?

My project list of quail details grew with even more questions.

What did quail eat and how often? Do diets change between young and mature birds? Where do they live if different foods are used between fledgling age and mature bird? I learned these transition zones helped established healthy populations.

Had quail moved from historic ranges to fragmented tracts? If so, what caused them to move? I knew they were originally found on small family farms. As these were gradually lost to big agribusiness operations, how had they fared in recent times? I searched county records for land changes, new subdivisions, stream alterations.

How often do they breed, at what age, and where are nests built? Do both male and females incubate the eggs? For how long, and how many eggs are laid versus how many survive? Typically we learned there is a high mortality in young quail, up to 80%. In a covey of 12 young, what limiting factors are at work?

Quail are precocial, up and mobile as soon as they are born. Young and fluffy, they can walk and follow the mother within minutes of being born. How might this help in survival compared to baby birds

like robins that are unable to fly, walk, or leave the nest when they are born?

When young are born, do coveys stay together or do they disperse soon after birth? If the young feed first on a high protein diet of insects, then switch to weed seeds and grains, when does this happen, and how will this determine where they live?

A mature bird’s diet is grass seeds and grains, clover, and ragweed. To digest this roughage, the stomach is composed of a crop and gizzard, like the Thanksgiving turkey. Along with this diet, some grit or small pieces of gravel is needed to help break down the tough seed coverings. But with this plant diet comes a chance for stomach parasites that can take its toll. I needed to know what these were, how they were ingested, and on what plants they are found. Could this be a major cause of quail decline?

What caused the decline? Despite what we know now to ensure survival and provide proper habitat, there are still questions.

Will they come back? I will listen for more quail along Brown County roads.

I remember they were called resilient. 

Mother’s Cupboard Community Kitchen

Langenderfer

Asmall group of people saw a need in the Brown County community and took action, the impact of which will never fully be measured.

“A few good friends of mine and I were having lunch one day and we were talking about the fact that there were some food insecurities in the rural parts of the county,” Diana Biddle said. “Someone brought up that we should start a soup kitchen. It sounded like a good idea, but none of us knew anything about starting a soup kitchen.”

Before fully committing to the idea, the group visited soup kitchens in surrounding communities to learn more.

“The first thing we decided was that we would never serve any food that we would not serve our own mothers,” Diana said.

While doing their research, the group noticed that participants were hesitant to share personal information.

“These people were on a downward spiral that they could not recover from. At the grocery store, and even the pharmacy, they would put back items they didn’t have the money for,” she said. “There were programs that could help them, but many places required qualification. That is how we came up with our first mission, ‘No questions, no forms, just food.’”

The friend group created a one-year plan. They needed a location, kitchen equipment, volunteers, and a lot of food. The work seemed almost impossible.

“A soup kitchen is a big undertaking. It doesn’t just happen overnight,” Diana said. “We had to find a place to rent—and kitchen equipment is expensive.”

Over the next few months, pieces started falling into place in dramatic ways. Diana’s mother, Nina Jo McDonald, called them “Divine Appointments.”

“It was crazy. The woman who owned the building we ended up renting said she had just asked God what he wanted her to do with the building,” Diana said. “Then, we got a phone call out of the blue from a camp director who said they were remodeling their kitchen and said we could have all their old equipment if we wanted it. A pastor of a local church dropped off several totes full of kitchen utensils. These things we

~story and photos by Paige

Kyle Marchuk and her daughter Rayana cooking at Mother’s Cupboard.

Ralph Carlberg, Kyle’s husband, stocking the pantry.

thought were going to take months to accomplish, we were able to check off in just a few weeks.”

Mother’s Cupboard Kitchen opened its original Bean Blossom location on October 1, 1999, less than six months after the group’s fateful lunch.

The founding group of friends and some volunteers ran everything until a new group stepped up in 2005.

In 2016, Mother’s Cupboard moved to its current location at 646 Memorial Drive, in Nashville by the fairgrounds.

“I got to take a tour of the new building before it opened to the public,” Diana said. “I went in and just cried. It was everything we had dreamed of.”

Today’s mission, “sharing the recipe for fighting hunger,” is different from the original, but the goal of helping close the gap on food insecurity remains the same.

“There are still a lot of food insecurities in this county,” said Kitchen Director Kyle Marchuk. “Nobody should go without food,” she said.

Mother’s Cupboard serves free hot meals to community members, no questions asked, from 4 to 6 p.m. six days a week. The kitchen is closed Sundays.

The kitchen also offers dry food staples, fresh dairy products, fruits and vegetables and other items clients can take home to stock their refrigerators and pantries.

“The reason I even started volunteering was because I saw a sign in the window that said they needed help cooking meals,” Kyle said. “I was there picking up meals for my family because we were in a rough patch, and I knew I needed to help.

“My kids basically grew up in the kitchen,” Kyle said. “While I was cooking, they would be stocking shelves or helping with other tasks.”

“I was probably 12 when I started coming with mom,” said Kyle’s daughter Rayana. “I love it here. I have always loved being in the kitchen. It is something I love doing with my mom.”

So far, in 2023, Mother’s Cupboard serves about 120 to 150 meals six nights a week. All meals are sent home in to-go boxes.

Kyle said. “For as small of a town as we are, we are really blessed. We have a great community backing us.”

Food donations come from restaurants, schools, churches, grocery stores and food banks. In March, the school system held a food drive and donated more than 10,000 pounds of food to the kitchen.

In the Mother’s Cupboard conference room, a striking painting hangs on the back wall. Standing in the center of the painting, welcoming clients to the kitchen, is Chef Sherry Houze. Chef Sherry was the heartbeat of the kitchen for nearly a decade, until her passing in 2022.

“I learned so much from Chef Sherry. She taught me everything,” Kyle said. “She was amazing. She put together this entire program that makes all of this work. And she pushed for a bigger facility. She even designed the kitchen.”

”I was there picking up meals for my family because we were in a rough patch, and I knew I needed to help .”

—Kyle Marchuk

MOTHER’S CUPBOARD continued from 63

Kyle said volunteers are always needed to cook and serve hot meals as well as stock and distribute goods in the pantry. Cooks are needed from 1 to 4 p.m. and servers from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

“Volunteers do not need to have experience. We try to make it as easy as possible. We put out all of the ingredients and the recipe and someone is always there to help if volunteers are nervous,” Kyle said.

To volunteer, or for more information, call 812-988-8038 or visit <sanrichardson.wixsite.com/ motherscupboard> You can also find Mother’s Cupboard Community Kitchen on Facebook. 

11 flavors of BEEF

3 flavors of TURKEY

3 flavors of BEEF BRISKET

4 flavors of BEEF STICKS

2 flavors of PORK

2 flavors of BACON

Also: Elk, Boar, Buffalo, Venison, Gator, Rabbit, Salmon, Kangaroo, Turtle, Ostrich, Trout, Camel, Python, Ahi Jerky Seasonings & Dips • Peanuts

125 S. Van Buren St. Artists Colony Shops (Between Toy Chest and Carol’s Gifts)

Nashville, IN • (81 2) 988-1592

houseofjerkybrownco.com