Welcome to Reindeer Ridge

JOURNALPRESS

THE

2018

THEDCREGISTER.COM

Bright resident wins U.S. Capitol Christmas tree photo contest

By Sydney Murray Harrison Press Staff Reporter smurray@registerpublications.com

Bright resident Eoghan Reade is the winner of this year’s national U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree photo contest.

The tress came through Harrison on its journey from Oregon to Washington, D.C. Reade snapped the winning photo of his son, Liam, just as the tree was leaving downtown Harrison after its stop on Tuesday, Nov. 23.

“We went down as soon as I finished work and saw the truck lights come on as we sat at traffic lights a few blocks away,” said Reade.

“That led to the scramble to park, unload, and run to see the tree before it left.

Liam was there with just enough time to take a picture, wave to the driver and see the tree as it pulled away.”

Out of the initial entries, five finalists were chosen, and then the public had the chance to vote for their favorite by “liking” the photos on Facebook.

With more than 700 “likes” Liam finished way ahead of the other four finalists.

“Winning the contest is a fun addition to the whole experience,” said Reade.

Papé, an equipment rental company, sponsored the tree and the photo competition.

Dearborn County register

TUESDAY, DEC. 25, 2018

156TH YEAR ISSUE NO. 52 $1

Welcome to

Reindeer Ridge DENISE FREITAG BURDETTE/The Journal-Press

A visitor to Reindeer Ridge takes a monent to say hello to one of its three furry residents.

By Denise Freitag Burdette Assistant Editor newsroom@registerpublications.com

Bright resident Eoghan Reade won this year’s national U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree photo contest with this shot of his son, Liam, when the tree came through Harrison in November.

Greendale council passes temporary salary ordinance

By Chris McHenry Contributor Greendale City Council passed its 2019 salary ordinances but they are certain to be amended after union negotiations have been completed.

Clerk-treasurer Mary Jo Lynch explained that state law requires a salary ordinance to be in place by Jan. 1, or she would no longer have authority to issue paychecks.

After negotiations have been approved, the current ordinances will be amended to reflect the union agreement.

Approval was given for Mayor Alan Weiss and city attorney Anthony Smart to work up an agreement which would lead to establishment of a dog park and a threemile mountain bike trail at the city’s former landfill off Georgetown Ridge.

They would be the first steps in what could become a full-scale Lauren Hill Memorial Park.

A non-profit organization is hoping to raise $200,000

for construction, which would not be an expense to the city. The organization also would maintain the facility.

Final approval for the project will require permission from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and council acceptance of any agreement.

Meanwhile, beautification of the Interstate 275 U.S. 50 area could cost about $525,000 for construction and maintenance, which may be shared by Greendale and other Dearborn County municipalities.

Terry Randall, One Dearborn president, said some private businesses also are interested in supporting the proposed project.

Greendale Redevelopment Commission Executive Director Al Abdon announced that a $200,000 grant for the first stage of the city’s hiking and biking trail has been approved.

It will be located between Ridge Avenue and the sports fields below. Construction is scheduled to begin in early spring.

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By now, you pretty much know the song by heart.

So. OK. You’ve got Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Sven.

Waaaait a minute. How did Sven get in there?

Well, he is the newest addition to Reindeer Ridge in Guilford of course!

And anyone who has seen the movie Frozen, (probably a million times for anyone who has a daughter or granddaughter), knows what Sven is all about.

He joined ladies Comet and Cupid in August this year at the farm run by “Christmas” Cheryl and her husband PHOTO BY EVAN BURDETTE “Reindeer” Ron Reis, with the hope (oh how do I put this gently?) that the Free photos with Santa Claus in the craft barn also are available to Reindeer boy and one, or perhaps two, of the girls Ridge visitors. fall in love resulting in the pitter-patter thing special when the tours sold out terproof. The bigger sheltering issue of little hooves this summer. (Antlers every weekend in December. This year is the summer when the reindeer need crossed!) attendance has tripled, she said. somewhere to keep cool.

The farm has been a dream come They have even bigger plans for the The farm has baby pools and fans to true for Christmas Cheryl and Reinfuture. But since they both work full help keep their temperatures down as deer Ron, who always wanted to raise time, Christmas Cheryl as a teacher at summer heat arrives, said Christmas reindeer.

Mt. Airy Elementary School and Rein- Cheryl.

It became a reality in 2015 when deer Ron is a plumber with Apollo, both And while guests can feed the reinthe couple bought the farm and moved have a busy schedule. deer, do not expect to be handed items from Colerain Township.

They hope to add summer camps to such as apples or carrots because the Last year was the first for tours, help educate the public about reindeer, reindeer will choke. In the front of their which was kept low key because the said Christmas Cheryl. mouths they only have bottom teeth, couple was not sure what to expect.

For example? Reindeer cannot be but they do have teeth on the bottom “We were not sure if people wanted kept in air conditioning. They can catch and top in the back, she said. to come,” said Christmas Cheryl. pneumonia. Their fur is actually waSee REINDEER, Page 8 But they knew the farm was some-

Grant supports YES Home’s work with youth The Dearborn Community Foundation, Inc. recently awarded a $1,000 Lauren Hill Make A Difference Grant to the James B. Wismann Youth Encouragement Services Home, Inc. to support its work with youth.

As a part of its 20th Anniversary Celebration, DCF is awarding 20 proactive grants of $1,000 each to charitable organizations in Dearborn County throughout 2018.

Each of the Foundation’s 15 volunteer Board members is recommending a grant. Five lucky attendees at DCF’s 20th Anniversary Dinner in late July also were randomly drawn to recommend a $1,000 grant.

The $1,000 grant to the Y.E.S. Home was recommended by DCF Board member Cherie Maddin of Aurora. “I believe in the Y.E.S. Home’s mission to help children who need guidance, discipline and nurturing during difficult time when their families are

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Dearborn Community Foundation Board member Cherie Maddin, right, delivers a $1,000 grant check to Amy Phillips, Executive Director of the James B. Wismann Y.E.S. Home. The DCF grant funds will support the Y.E.S. Home’s work with youth. struggling,” said Maddin. “I also like the fact they help parents by offering classes to address issues they may be experiencing.”

INSIDE TODAY: OBITUARIES : Page 3 SPORTS: Page 6,7

The Y.E.S. Home, located in rural Dearborn County, is a residential group home for youths ages 13-18 that provides a structured, nurturing

environment for abused, neglected and abandoned children. The YES Home instills

See YES, Page 8

WEATHERforecast

Today: High: 46 Low: 38 Wednesday: High: 54 Low: 41

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2018

THE JOURNAL-PRESS

YES

REINDEER

hope and empowerment in a safe environment, offering choice and respecting life experiences.

Maddin has learned more about the Y.E.S. Home and its good works through her husband Ken’s work on the South Eastern Indiana Board of Realtors (SEIBR). The organization has supported the Y.E.S. Home through fundraisers over the years, she said.

“We are very fortunate to have this local facility,” said Maddin. “Our youth are our future. As legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, ‘Young people need models, not critics.’”

For 20 years, DCF, a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt public charity, has helped donors’ dreams come true by safeguarding endowments for the community through contributions large and small. Grants awarded by the Dearborn Community Foundation support the needs and interests in Dearborn County in the fields of Art, Culture and Humanities, Community and Public Benefit, Education, Environment and Animal Protection, Human Services, Public Safety and Youth Programs.

In January 2009, DCF received the nation’s highest philanthropic standards for operational quality, integrity and accountability: the seal of approval from the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Program operated by the Council on Foundations (COF), a national professional association based in Washington, D.C. DCF was reconfirmed for the National Standards by the COF in 2014.

To learn more about DCF, call 812-539-4115, stop by the office at 322 Walnut Street in Lawrenceburg, or visit the Foundation website at www.dearborncf.org. If you are interested in making a contribution to DCF, visit our website’s “Give Now” page to donate on line and to learn other giving options.

Graham crackers are given to guests to feed the reindeer.

On the farm, the reindeer also receive food such as shredded beets, alfalfa and food infused with garlic.

(I know what you are thinking. Why would you give reindeer garlic when you want them to fall in love?)

Well, turns out, garlic repels ticks, a huge enemy of the reindeer for the diseases the little creatures can spread.

That also is one of the reasons why reindeer must be behind fencing that keeps away whitetail deer, known tick buffets.

Christmas Cheryl and Reindeer Ron know a lot of this information as members of the Reindeer Owners and Breeders Association. They also are a fully licensed USDA facility.

Before opening their farm, they visited a lot of farms to learn the ins-and-outs of raising reindeer, said Christmas Cheryl.

In the summer, the reindeer will lose fur. What remains is really short and dark brown like their legs. They also lose their antlers every year. But each year they return even thicker, she said.

(For this next fun fact the guys may want to sit down.)

The males lose their antlers in December as the threemonth cycle to breed, October, November and December, winds down. That means the reindeer on Santa’s sleigh, often portrayed with antlers in tact, must all be girls, said Christmas Cheryl.

They lose their antlers in the spring. The longer they keep their antlers, the more likely that wish for the pitter-patter of little hooves will come true.

Female reindeer can have babies until they are 20. Babies usually are born in April or May, but their farm is hoping a little later, in June or July, when Christmas Cheryl is off for summer vacation.

They do not intend to sell any babies at this time. They

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The hope is the herd of two girls and one boy will increase at Reindeer Ridge in Guilford later this year. just want to build their herd.

Currently a baby reindeer costs $10,000. Next year, the price increases to $12,000, said Christmas Cheryl.

The farm is basically a two-person operation. Other people on the farm during the tours are volunteers, she said.

“There is a lot more work involved than they thought, but we have no regrets,” said Christmas Cheryl.

When she is away from home, she checks on the reindeer from a camera feed she can watch on her phone, she said.

“I like to watch them and make sure they are OK,” she said.

But a visit to Reindeer Ridge is more than just visiting the reindeer, there also is a barn with 16 crafters where guests can buy gifts. Santa also likes to visit and pose for photos.

In response to input from last year’s visitors, they also sell fresh cut trees from Mt. Pleasant Christmas Trees, and Fabulous Funnel Cakes sells some tasty treats.

The farm tries to educate visitors about reindeer.

They make an effort to keep the group sizes at a minimum so everyone has a nice time, without it being overcrowded.

Tours, however, sell out fast and advanced reservations are a must.

Located at 7621 North Dearborn Road, Guilford, you can learn more about Reindeer

Ridge at Facebook.com/reindeerridgerentals and at reindeerridgerentals.com.

But as much fun Christmas Cheryl and Reindeer Ron have had with their farm, there have been moments that have really touched their hearts.

They have been able to share the farm with people

with specials needs including three kids with Fragile X syndrome, a pair of kids who survived chemotherapy together, and a family with two autistic children, said Christmas Cheryl.

“Those stories we didn’t expect,” she said.

Lawrenceburg

Community Center

423 Walnut St. • 532-3535

GROUP FITNESS SCHEDULE MONDAYS

Yoga Body Toning Stretch &Strength SWET Dance Fitness

8:00am 9:00am 10:00am 6:00pm

NEW YEAR’S HOURS

Mon. 12/31/18: Closed Tues. 1/1/19: Closed 12/31 - 1/1: Cardiac Rehab and all exercise classes are cancelled

TUESDAYS

8:00am Yoga 9:00am Silver Sneakers BALANC3(Cardio/Core/Centering) 6:00pm

WEDNESDAYS Yoga Body Toning Stretch &Strength SWET Dance Fitness

THURSDAYS

Yoga Silver Sneakers

FRIDAYS

Yoga Body Toning Stretch &Strength

SATURDAYS Yoga

8:00am 9:00am 10:00am 6:00pm 8:00am 9:00am 8:00am 9:00am 10:00am 9:00am

Schedule is subject to change. All Morning Classes are $2 and evening classes are $3. You may purchase a monthly pass for the morning classes Monday-Friday for $35 per month.

GYMNASIUM SCHEDULE Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

RECOVERY/SELF HELP Tuesdays & Saturdays 10:00am

PICKLEBALL

This fun sport combines the elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:00 - 2:30pm Equipment is provided

SHALL WE DANCE?

Introduction to Swing Dance Singles and couples welcome! $10 per class Ages 16 & up. Wear comfortable clothing that moves well. No special shoes required.

Every Tuesday 7:00 - 8:00pm

WOODCARVING

Beginners and Experienced Carvers are Welcome!

Bring Your Own Wood and Tools Every Thursday 9:00am - 12:00pm

CLOSED DURING THE FOLLOWING 7:45 - 11:00am 4:45 - 8:00pm

7:45 - 10:00am NOON - 2:30pm (half court) 5:00 - 8:00pm 7:45 - 11:00am

3rd Wed. of every month: 6:00 - 8:00pm

7:45 - 11:00am Noon - 2:30pm (half court) 5:00 - 8:00pm

7:45 - 11:00am 4:45 - 8:00pm Beginning January 12th closed from 8:00am - 1:00pm

LCC Hours of Operation Monday-Friday 7:00AM-8:00PM • Saturday 8:00AM-3:00PM • Closed Sunday