Columbus Magazine

WINTER 2015-16

Three generations of Wischmeiers serve community

Health: Cataract Surgery | Authentic Indiana: Glass | TRENDS: Green Kitchens | Style: Christmas Ornaments

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Winter 2015-16

contents

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Columbus Magazine

Colorado Ski Towns ABOVE: Crested Butte and the Elk Mountains

at the front

Editor’s Note 8 this & that 10

58

At Home with the Newell Family

16 20 28 32 36 40 46 50 54

style

Christmas Ornaments

taste

La Petit Caraibes

worth the trip

LaSalle Grille

authentic indiana

Glassmakers

personalities

The Wischmeier Family

health

Cataracts

goodwill

Psi Iota Xi Thrift Shop

culture

The Kondapi Family

home trends

Green Kitchens

out and about

weddings 72 our side of town 76 calendar of events 86

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a look back

A visit from Richard Simmons

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Winter 2015-16 | December 5, 2015 Volume 4, Issue 4

Publisher AIM Media Indiana Chuck Wells Editorial Editor Jenny Elig Copy Editor Katharine Smith Contributing Writers: Alisa Advani, Tim Brouk, Meghan McCormick Eddy, Teresa Nicodemus, Amy Norman, Nick Rassi, Jon Shoulders, Jennifer Willhite, CJ Woodring Art Art Director Amanda Waltz Advertising Design Emma Ault, Tonya Cassidy, Julie Daiker, Cassie Doles, Josh Meyer, Desiree Poteete Photography Carla Clark, April Knox, Joel Phillipsen, Adam Reynolds Image Technicians Dillon Howard, Matt Quebe Stock images provided by ©Thinkstock

Advertising Advertising Director Mike Rossetti Account Executives: Scott Begley, Kathy Burnett, Rhonda Day, Ike DeClue, Jan Hoffman-Perry, Cathy Klaes, Sara Mathis, Ian McGriff

Reader Services Mailing Address 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 Advertising Inquiries (812) 379-5655 Story Ideas jelig@hne-media.com Voices Please send letters to the address above or to ColumbusMag@therepublic.com. Be sure to include your full name, city, state and phone number. Letters sent to Columbus magazine become the magazine’s property, and it owns the rights to their use. Columbus magazine reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length.

Subscriptions To subscribe to Columbus magazine, please send $14.95 for 1 year (4 issues) to the mailing address above. Call (800) 435-5601 to subscribe by phone or email ColumbusMag@therepublic.com Address Change Please send any address changes to the address or email address listed above.

Back Issues To order back issues of Columbus magazine, please send $5 per issue (includes S&H) to the mailing address above or call (800) 435-5601. Please include the address to which your copies should be sent.

PDF files are available for a fee of $20 per page and are permitted for personal use only.

©2015-16 by AIM Media Indiana All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited.

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Columbus Magazine

Tipton Park PlazaStreet 436 Washington 380 Plaza Drive, Suite D Columbus IN 472501 Columbus, IN 47201 812-372-7892 812-372-7892

Washington St.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Hilliard Lyons *

US

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All of Tomorrow’s Parties One of my literary lines comes courtesy of “The Great Gatsby”: “I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.”

It’s Jordan, the female golf champion, who makes this observation while leaning into Nick, the novel’s narrator, at one of Jay Gatsby’s massive parties. Not to give anything away (we’ve all read this several times, right?), but Gatsby is throwing these huge parties in the hopes that his one true love, a flighty flapper named Daisy, will show up. Nick and Jordan, invited by the host and the love interest, respectively, find themselves tossed together, relative strangers surrounded by an even larger crowd of unknowns.

Parties can be quite the analogy; they are like an acute microcosm, a manufactured environment that will end; it’s important to note, too, that everyone will behave differently at every party. At a small party, we find our manners are more formal, unless it’s a small informal party with an acoustic guitar and a bottle of wine. When we sit down to dinner with our fancy friends, we might put on our best manner (of course, there’s always that one person). At a large party, it is easier to slip away, to be anonymous, to come and go as you please.

I’m still trying to decide, if we were to compare Columbus to a party, what kind of party it would be, exactly. With fewer than 50,000 at last count, Columbus is a small city. But because Columbus doesn’t seem to have an exclusionist bone in its body, everyone is invited to the get-together. I think it would be a big party, full of good food and drink, pretty decorations and music that runs the gamut from country western to bhangra beats master Panjabi MC. As I pen this note, I’m thinking about Columbus’ fundraiser season. Once we have reveled in our own holidays, we go on to raise money for others with events such as Dancing with the Stars Columbus Style (Jan. 16), in which some of our best and bravest community members shake and shimmy to raise money for Children Inc. and Family School Partners, both programs that assist area children. Then we have kidscommons Carnivale (Feb. 13) to benefit the children’s museum, followed by Bowl for Kids’ Sake (March 5), a day-long bowling event that raises funds for the local Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Let’s not overlook mid-November’s Volunteers in Medicine’s Reverse Raffle, a party that annually raises thousands of dollars for the clinic that provides health care to those in need.

Columbus has a big heart and likes to party. To the partygoers, it doesn’t matter if the forum is big or small; if there’s a cause attached, that’s the party people are heading to. What party philosophy could be better?

Party on, WINTER 2015-16

Jenny

Three generations of Wischmeiers serve community

On the Cover: The Wischmeier Family

HEalTH: Cataract Surgery | auTHENTIc INdIaNa: Glass | TRENdS: Green Kitchens | STylE: Christmas Ornaments

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Columbus Magazine

Photo by April Knox

this & that News | Views | Tidbits

Up, Up, and

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Columbus Magazine

with Chris Raskob Chris Raskob’s interest in hot air ballooning began when he was a kid. He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the site of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, an annual event that just celebrated its 44th year. This year, Raskob, a pilot whose day job is as Cummins’ director of corporate aviation, took a contingent of friends including his girlfriend, Vicki Griffin, and Columbus residents Lisa and Kurt Weisner and Michelle Aton, who braved the 19-hour drive to Albuquerque and then worked as Raskob’s balloon crew. Here’s more about ballooning and the 2015 trip to Albuquerque. You can find out more about Awaiting Inflation on the Awaiting Inflation Ballooning facebook page.

What got you into ballooning?

The balloons probably go back to my interest in aviation as a kid. I have an uncle who was interested in balloons, and anything that flies does intrigue me. As I got to be a couple of years older, I wanted to pursue a pilot’s license. I really focused on the airplanes. It’s hard to make money ballooning.

What do you like about ballooning?

I think the other thing about ballooning is that it’s a social activity.

You can’t fly a balloon by yourself. You need some other people to come out and help you launch and follow you on the ground. Otherwise it’s a long walk back.

The uniqueness of ballooning is important, the actual experience of a balloon flight. It’s a different type of flying; the world moves by much more slowly, so you can take in the world around you.

You can hear the world. Sounds carry up from below: voices, animals, a dog barking. They sound very small. Hearing a train go by below, you don’t hear all of the rumble and clacking; you don’t hear the abrasive noises. You don’t have all the noise of the vehicle, except for the burner fire.

When did you get your own balloon?

After getting a little more exposure to ballooning, I found a local instructor to lend me their balloon.

I finally decided I was going to start shopping for a balloon. You can buy balloons new and used, and there are a lot of preowned ones there. One day, the balloon I was looking for, the right make, set of features, popped up on the website. It was in Elkton, Maryland. I ended up pretty quickly making an offer. I set out on an early May day in 2012. I brought my balloon back and waited for the weather to improve. My balloon is named “Awaiting Inflation.”

What makes Albuquerque such a good place for ballooning?

Balloons started coming out there almost by accident. A local bought a balloon. They quickly learned that Albuquerque has some unique topography. You can really steer the balloon in flight, which doesn’t happen in a lot of the flight. That’s how we steer the balloon; we’re drifting with the winds.

What is amazing about the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta?

I had been around it since I was a little kid. As long as I could remember, it was one of my favorite weeks. It drew a lot of people to town. It’s breathtaking. It’s a very colorful event. When you’re a participant, you’re so busy you don’t stop to take in the sights. You’re surrounded by things going on.

How did flying a balloon at the fiesta play out?

We’d all go out, set up the balloon; they’d follow me. That’s when you know who your friends are. It was definitely a lot of fun. I enjoyed the time I spent with my friends. It was really fun to actually fly my own balloon and not just be a part of someone else’s crew, even though that’s a lot of fun, too. I chose not to fly on one day, so I helped my friends on the ground. The entire experience is exhausting, but it’s definitely worth it for the beauty of seeing all the balloons around you: the energy, the excitement and being able to share it with friends.

ABOVE: Chris Raskob gives a quick blast from the propane burners to begin final inflation of a balloon. Submitted photos.

Columbus Magazine

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>> this & that

Holidays?

Happy Days

As if there weren’t enough going on in Columbus this season, our performance arts groups fill the season with these events, guaranteed to get you in the holiday mood (unless you’re a Grinch):

2014

MUSIC Columbus City Band’s “Sounds of the Season and Christmas Classics,” 2 p.m. Dec. 6, The Commons, 300 Washington St. Free. Information: columbuscityband.org.

“Christmas!” with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and the Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir, 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13, Columbus North High School auditorium, 1400 25th St. Tickets: $10 to $35. Information: (812) 376-2638, ext. 110.

“An Anniversary Christmas Celebration,” part of the 10th annual St. Bartholomew Concert Series, 7 p.m. Dec. 19, St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 1306 27th St. Free, but donations accepted. Featuring choral music, brass numbers, children’s voices and the St. Bartholomew Choir and singers from the community.

FAMILY Holiday at the Farm, 5 to 7 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and through Dec. 20, plus Dec. 21-23, Shireman Homestead, 7060 W. County Road 200N, Columbus. Visit with Santa, get a treat at the Treat House, take a wagon ride and more.

Information: shiremanhomestead.com.

dance “The Nutcracker,” performed

by Dancers Studio Inc., 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 19, Columbus North High School auditorium, 1400 25th St. Tickets: Students, $10 in advance and $12 at the door; adults, $15 in advance and $17 at the door, available at the studio near Second and Washington streets.

Information: (812) 376-8080.

“Holiday Celebration Ballroom Dance,” presented by Dance Indiana, 7 to 10 p.m. Dec. 12, The Commons. Social time from 6:30 to 7 p.m., music provided by DJ Billy Crase, light appetizers included, cash bar. Admission: $20 per person. Information or to reserve tickets: danceindiana@gmail. com. Include your name, phone number and number of tickets desired.

THEATER “It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play” by Joe Landry, 7 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays Dec. 11, 12, 18 and 19 and 3 p.m.

Sundays Dec. 13 and 20, The Harlequin Theatre, 2380 25th St., inside Fair Oaks Mall. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door; children under 12, $10 at the door. Information: (812) 343-4597 and theharlequintheatre.com.

“Youth and Yuletide,” Mill Race Players’ children’s Christmas musical with Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman and other holiday characters, 6 p.m. Dec. 12, Columbus East High School auditorium, Marr Road and Indiana Avenue.

Admission: $5.

—Compiled by Brian Blair

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Creche the Halls Whether you’ve toured the Miller House or not, Creche the Halls is a chance to see the J. Irwin and Xenia Miller home in a special holiday context. In her day, Xenia Miller amassed a sizable collection of Nativity scenes, or creches, from around the world.

Now through Jan. 22, visitors will have a chance to see the creches on display at the Miller House. The guided tours through the Eero Saarinen-designed home last 90 minutes and will make for a fascinating experience for both architecture and design buffs, as well as for those who just love the holidays.

Tickets are $50; for more information, visit showclix.com/events/17692.

Wizard of Paws Join your human friends for an evening of fun and games while benefiting your furry friends during the Wizard of Paws Fur Ball 2015.

Chaired by April and Troy Williams and hosted by Wendy and Mark Elwood and Trudi and Bruce Smith, the event benefits the Bartholomew County Humane Society, an organization that helps homeless pets navigate the Yellow Brick Road of adoption into their forever homes. Set for 7 p.m. Dec. 11, the ball will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a live band and gambling entertainment. Tickets, available at the Columbus Area Visitors Center and Viewpoint Books, are $125.

Columbus Magazine

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>> this & that

BookNook Recommendations from Viewpoint Books

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‘Fire in the Water’

‘Pudge: The Biography of Carlton Fisk’

By James Alexander Thom

By Doug Wilson

James Alexander Thom’s new novel, “Fire in the Water” takes place in the early part of the Civil War and focuses on the doomed steamboat Sultana, the fate of which it describes as the worst maritime disaster in American history.

When Abraham Lincoln shook Paddy Quinn’s hand, grinned and winked at him, the war correspondent felt as if he’d been given a medal. At the end of the war, “Father Abraham” lies dead by an assassin’s bullet, but Quinn’s writing hand still feels that grip “like warm iron” pulling him. He gets himself assigned to cover the president’s burial in Springfield, Illinois, for Harper’s Weekly and boards the doomed steamboat Sultana to go up river and write Lincoln’s elegy.

Pvt. Robbie Macombie, a deathly sick prisoner of war, always felt that he was soldiering not for the Union, but for Abe Lincoln, who grew up just like him laboring in hardscrabble frontier Indiana. That sense of kinship makes him want to go to the funeral more than home, if he can stay alive long enough. It is with these backgrounds that the two war-addled men, each one’s strengths balancing the other’s weaknesses, join like converging rivers in a life-current strong enough to carry them through the sudden horror of the maritime disaster.

Local ophthalmologist Doug Wilson’s new book is about baseball player Carlton Fisk, who retired having played in more games and hit more home runs than any other catcher before him. A baseball superstar in the 1970s and ’80s, Fisk was known not just for his dedication to the sport and tremendous plays but for the respect with which he treated the game.

A homegrown icon, Fisk rapidly became the face of one of the most storied teams in baseball, the Boston Red Sox of the 1970s. As a rookie making only $12,000 a year, he became the first player to unanimously win the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1972, upping both his pay grade and national recognition. Fisk’s game-winning home run in Game 6 of the hotly contested 1975 World Series forever immortalized him in one of the sport’s most exciting televised moments. Fisk played through an epic period of player-owner relations, including the dawn of free agency, strikes and collusions. After leaving Boston under controversy in 1981, he joined the Chicago White Sox, where he played for 12 more major league seasons, solidifying his position as one of the best catchers of all time.

Wilson, a finalist for both the Casey Award and Seymour Medal for his previous baseball biographies, uses his extensive research and interviews with childhood friends and Major League teammates to examine the life and career of a leader who followed a strict code and played with fierce determination.

Columbus Magazine

Host your next event at

The Commons!

NOW BOOKING for 2016 EVENTS. • 8,000 square feet of performance and event space that accommodates up to 400 people for dining events; 650 people for theatre seating.

• Sky and street level views of beautiful downtown Columbus • Tables, chairs and set-up included with rental.

Karaoke, an import from Asia, hit the United States big time in the 1990s. Its popularity was almost predetermined; the simple setup allows anyone to be a star, even if for one song only. Like many ’90s trends, karaoke is having a strong comeback, and on just about any night in Columbus, you can belt out your favorite tunes. Here are downtown Columbus’ best bets for karaoke fun.

• Special weekday and weeknight rates for private and corporate events.

300 Washington St. Columbus, Indiana Learn about events, rentals, and more: (812)376-2681

www.thecommonscolumbus.com

Karaoke at 4th Street Bar and Grill with Sean Burton When: Starts at 8 p.m. Tuesdays Where: 433 Fourth St. Information: 4thstreetbar.com, (812) 376-7063 Karaoke at Jordy McTaggart’s When: 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursday Where: 310 Washington St. Information: Jordy McTaggart’s Facebook page, (812) 375-6739 Karaoke at The Garage Pub and Grill with “Party On” When: 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Thursdays Where: 308 Fourth St. Information: The Garage’s Facebook page, (812) 418-8918 –C–

Columbus Magazine

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In Style

Fashion | Trends | Decor

It ’s Ornamental Decorations capture the spirit of the season Compiled by Jenny Elig | Photos by April knox

Holiday ornaments spend most of their lives tucked away in storage. That they only shine for a set amount of time maximizes the thrill. Holiday ornaments are ephemeral; light and delicate, shiny and bright, they can stay with you for one season or for a lifetime.

In some countries, such as Germany and Poland, holiday ornaments are one of the last remaining cottage industries, says Jeff Baker, owner of Baker’s Fine Gifts & Accessories.

“Various families own various molds,” he says. “As a family, they work together to produce them.

Fathers usually are the glass blowers; mothers and children are the decorators. Each ornament could be picked up and worked on 10 different times before it’s finished.”

Here are some holiday offerings that encapsulate the season; make room on your tree for one or two of them.

PICTURED ABOVE: Polish ornament, $150, Baker’s Fine Gifts & Accessories

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Columbus Magazine

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>> in style

2 1

3

5

4

1. Hummingbird, $22.50, Baker’s Fine Gifts & Accessories

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Columbus Magazine

2. Swarovski crystal ball, $100, Von Maur

3. Ceramic snowflake, $8.50, Tri-State Artisans

4. Coton Colors ornaments, $21, Lockett’s Ladies Shop

5. Swarovski poinsettia, $43, Von Maur

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Where We Shopped: Baker’s Fine Gifts, 433 Washington St. (812) 372-9635, on Facebook at Baker’s Fine Gifts

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Lockett’s Ladies Shop, 426 Washington St. (812) 376-8363, lockettsladiesshop.com Tri-State Artisans, 422 Washington St. (812) 528-5748, tsartisans.com

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Von Maur, Greenwood Park Mall, 1251 N. U.S. 31, Greenwood.

(317) 885-9936, vonmaur.com

6. “’Twas the Night before Christmas” set of 10 ornaments, $370, Baker’s Fine Gifts & Accessories

7. Owl, $22.50, Baker’s Fine Gifts & Accessories

8. Lenox snowflake, $20, Von Maur

9. Columbus ornaments, $9.99, Tri-State Artisans

10. Christopher Radko puppy, $56, and kitten, $53, Von Maur

11. Waterford train, $55, Von Maur

Columbus Magazine

19

Taste

Local Food | Recipes | Cuisine

Dishes at Le Petit Caraibes 20

Columbus Magazine

Tropical Tastes Le Petit Caraibes brings some spice to Washington Street

As you walk along the west side of the 400 block of Washington Street, a bright, inviting mural is likely to catch your eye. And that is just what the owners of Le Petit Caraibes intended. Rawle Douglas opened the Caribbean restaurant in July when he realized island flair was the one element downtown was missing. Douglas, who co-owns the restaurants with Dennis Roberts II, says people need an escape from the everyday.

Walk into Le Petit Caraibes, open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, and you won’t find a menu, per se, but three options, petit (small), moyen (medium) and grande (large). Pick an option, and a server will load your plate with rice, sides and the entrée of your choice (options include curry, jerk and stew chicken).

Grab a table at this casual joint and you’ll be surrounded by happy diners devouring the ginger-infused rice, vegan-friendly sides, spiced meat and/or Indian-style sandwiches known as roti. Diners chat in languages from around the world. Le Petit Caraibes attracts an international crowd, in part, Douglas says, because of the history of his homeland, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

“The thing is, Trinidad and Tobago is a fusion of what started with local African slaves, Chinese immigrants, and over the years, we had a lot European immigrants coming in and becoming part of the landscape,” Douglas says. “So all those different tastes and names of food came and fell into one pot and gave rise to everything you see in my restaurant today.”

Story by Jenn Willhite Photos by Jenny Elig

Columbus Magazine

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Taste

Why open a Caribbean restaurant in Columbus?

It has been a dream of mine since I migrated here from Trinidad and Tobago some 14 years ago. Getting involved in the Ethnic Expo festival, people would always come up and say, “This food is awesome; how come you don’t have a restaurant?” or “If you open a restaurant we will surely come and buy.” So I started entertaining the idea about seven years ago. I started putting everything together, working on a marketing plan and surveying trends happening in Columbus, and I saw how the demographics were changing. So I knew the time was right.

What has the response been?

Overwhelmingly great; during our first two weeks we had lines all through the front door and it was literally jammed opened. We had to find creative ways to get more people inside, so we introduced the stanchion, or post and rope system, near the counter.

What do people say during their first visit?

“Thank you, this is what Columbus was missing.” We have young Indians coming in who tell me they’re missing home because of coming to my restaurant because it tastes so much like home.

How about children, what do they say?

They love it. I have parents come and tell me their kids are very picky eaters, and when you look at their plate it’s clean.

Describe the Caribbean style.

What the Caribbean offers every individual who lives on this Earth is an escape, a place to relax. To

Rawle Douglas 22

Columbus Magazine

talk to people you usually don’t talk to, to make friends and do things you usually don’t do. That is what this is, a place to come escape to, try something different and be relaxed.

One thing that makes your restaurant stand apart from others is there’s no menu. How did you decide what to offer?

I didn’t. I let the people do that.

I told my staff we weren’t going to do a menu, and everyone was looking at me with their jaws down, “No menu? Why?” I said, “First of all, this is Columbus, Indiana. I’ve lived here for 14 years, and I know what they like.

The quality of spices that we are accustomed to may be too harsh for them. Let’s give a wide range of

"We have young Indians coming in who tell me they’re missing home because of coming to my restaurant because it tastes so much like home."

— Rawle douglas

choices over the first two to three months and then narrow it down to favorites, and we just keep replicating the favorites and switch it up every day.”

So, no, we don’t have a true menu, we have daily items, like white rice, red beans, black-eyed peas, house rice, curried and stewed chicken and pork. We do lamb, fish, goat and ox tail as specialty items. And from time to time we throw in some noodles and minced beef.

How do customers order with no menu?

All we have are three sizes, small, medium and large, each with a number of sides and a meat option.

And each comes with a drink and is ideally set for the lunch crowd.

Columbus Magazine

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Taste

How will the introduction of a dinner menu change that approach?

We’ll have a one page menu that will probably have about five to six entrees, three appetizers, two dessert items and a soup. You pick what you want, and we will have a food runner just bring it out to your table.

Several items you offer are vegan; was that intentional?

Yes. I see us as a vegan destination now. In Trinidad and Tobago, we have 45 percent who are vegetarians, so they eat a lot of vegetables. When I recognized there was a large Indian population at Cummins, we decided we needed to have a lot of vegetarian options.

And they are true vegan options;

there’s no beef or chicken stock or bouillons used. And the rice is gluten free, also.

How would you describe the flavor? Spicy?

People ask me how spicy it is. I say, “It is Indiana spicy.” They can try anything. And for those who want a little more spice, we have some hot sauce to zing it up a bit.

Where do you get your spices?

There’s a place called Saraga, an international bazaar in Indianapolis, the Restaurant Depot in Indianapolis, and from Dawn Palmer at A Thyme for All Seasonings here in town.

What makes your house rice so different from others?

It has a hint of ginger in it.

How is the restaurant’s décor representative of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago?

It’s a lot about me on the inside and what I like. I’m a patriot at heart, and it is represented in my restaurant. It is me sharing myself and my culture and its best in a simple form with Columbus because I’m an ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago. For instance, one picture is of the Red House, which up until recently housed Parliament in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The two individuals draped on either side of the Red House are calypso icons; calypso being an art form we invented. On the right is the late Lord Kitchener and our living legend Mighty Sparrow, the calypso king of the world.

recipe for

pelau (pronounced pay-lauw)

If you want to bring a taste of the Caribbean to your home, Le Petit Caraibes owner Rawle Douglas offers this recipe.

3 tablespoons brown sugar 1 pound beef for stew, cut in 1-inch pieces 1½ cups water 1½ cups uncooked brown rice 1 cup coconut milk 2 cups fresh pigeon peas 1 cup chopped carrot 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh parsley Cook sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat until it begins to caramelize. Stir in the beef and cook until well browned. Bring the water, coconut milk, rice, pigeon peas and carrot to a simmer; cover and cook until rice is done, about 25 minutes. Stir in parsley to garnish.

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Columbus Magazine

For those who haven’t visited, what do you hope their first impression is?

What I can safely say is it is not just a restaurant, it’s an experience.

I’ll leave it at that.

An experience? How so?

When they walk in, people tell me they get hit with the smell of the food as soon as they come through the door, then the sight of the bright colors, and then the sounds, then the taste of the food and being around good-looking people and everyone looking happy and healthy.

How does the music add to the experience?

In Trinidad culture we are kind of loud and brash. One of the big things everyone has commented on is how vibrant the restaurant is when they come in. I wanted to create an atmosphere that would take you away from work and put you somewhere else for that 45 minutes to an hour and get you energized again to go back to work.

At lunchtime, it’s like a cornucopia of personalities in here. It gives the atmosphere of a busy market feel.

Will you offer entertainment in the future?

We plan to do a combination of live bands and music. We will probably do a reggae/Caribbean night on Thursday, house music on Friday night and probably an ’80s night on Saturday. We are going to be open from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays we will probably go a little later to 1 or 2 a.m.

5240 N. U.S. 31, Columbus, IN | 812.372.8834 | www.kennyglass.com

What are your hopes for the future?

To open restaurants in Bloomington, Louisville and Indianapolis and maybe franchise one of these days.

–C–

Wines & Cheeses for your holiday season

Our new wine vending machines have the perfect pour for you ~ by the taste or by the glass.

410 Washington St, Downtown Columbus 812.657.7752 | www.thesavoryswine.com

Columbus Magazine

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Taste

Wine, Dine

Find

W ine

D ine

For cooler weather wines, one should look for a big, bold wine, says The Savory Swine owner Lisa Abendroth. Stop in at 410 Washington St. to pick up her recommendation, Brassfield Estate Winery’s Eruption ($25.99), a proprietary blend that has had a home on The Swine’s shelves since the shop’s opening. Winter months make this wine experience that much richer. “(Eruption) fills your palate,” Abendroth says. “It’s very complex and deep. Some wines are light and refreshing. This one is deep. It’s full. It’s very warming.”

If you want to get out of the downtown area for a lunchtime carb load during these chilly winter months, head a little north for fresh baked bread. Addison Bakehouse, 1702 Pennsylvania St., features a glut of gluten goodies, as does Sweet Rose Bakehouse, 1604 Home Ave. Both businesses have lunch hours, in case you want to break out of your normal routine or find a new lunch spot. Both shops update their Facebook pages with their daily specials, which include soups and, of course, breads and other baked goods.

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Baked to perfection: Carb load at Addison Bakehouse.

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Columbus Magazine

HOLIDAY

Drink Recipe

F ind

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Another great way to warm up is a cup of coffee.

Sogno della Terra, 901 Washington St., has French press coffee.

It’s a process of brewing coffee by pouring hot water over ground beans; a plunger separates the grounds from the brewed coffee. Take the plunge on Sogno’s French press coffee, produced from fair trade beans that are roasted by hermitic Carmelite monks in Wyoming. Have it in shop, and owner Melissa Ammon sets a timer in front of you; after three minutes of steeping, your coffee is finished. Get it in shop or to go, $2.50 for a 16-ounce press, or $4 for a 32-ounce press.

“It’s a cozy, nutty, warm beverage on a chilly day,” says Ammon. sognodellaterra.com/

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Columbus Magazine

27

Worth the Trip

photos courtesy of lasalle grill

Story by CJ woodring

The LaSalle Legacy South Bend bistro is a popular downtown destination

outh Bend’s LaSalle Grill is a place where conversation flows and memories are made. Where urban professionals and cosmopolitan visitors meet. And where architecture, art and culinary artistry mingle to create an upscale, yet not uppity, ambience.

Founded nearly 25 years ago under Mark McDonnell’s proprietorship, the grill is a destination of choice for local and regional guests, who savor the overall dining experience McDonnell and his team have spent years perfecting.

And perfect it they have. LaSalle Grill is Indiana’s only restaurant to receive the Four Diamond Award for 19 consecutive years. It has been a recipient of the Wine Spectator 28

Columbus Magazine

magazine Award of Excellence for the past 10 years and garnered TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence the past three years.

The venue has become an institution, McDonnell says, through stability and consistency.

“Our goal is that every time you dine with us, it becomes a special occasion, and the food, presentation, service and atmosphere all contribute to that,” he explains. “We try to blow guests away on a consistent basis and always operate at the highest level we can.”

According to McDonnell, service and hospitality are two distinctly different things.

“Without warmth, genuine hospitality and welcoming, the service is nothing,” he explains. “We try to make a point of warmly

thanking people, as many times as possible, for choosing us. It causes us to be different, and people recognize that.”

commercial structure in the city.

Its saving grace was that a former tenant had invested in a major 1984 renovation.

High ceilings and neo-classical columns set the tone. A rotating gallery of work by regional artists, commissioned through Judy Ferrara’s Blue Gallery (judyferraragallery. com), has transformed the former hotel lobby into a veritable salon.

Local native Galloway was employed as Century Center’s cook when McDonnell tapped him for general manager. “He told me to just give it a try, and I’ve pretty much been here since the beginning,” Galloway says, crediting McDonnell for the grill’s success.

“You have to put it all to Mark, his drive, his vision,” Galloway says. “He’s the father figure to us, and we all jumped in there and stuck with him, because we have a goal to keep the doors open.”

Growing a Legacy LaSalle Grill operates under the umbrella of the LaSalle Hospitality Group, which also includes the South Bend Country Club-based Grill at the Greens and Events with Style, an outside catering service.

The grill (lasallegrill.com) opened in 1991 as an American bistro offering upscale cuisine paired with award-winning wines. Small plates, a raw bar and wood-fired steaks are guest favorites.

Opened in 2013, the third-floor LaSalle Kitchen & Tavern (lasallekitchenandtavern. com) tends to draw a younger crowd with its 30 craft beers on tap and bottle, more than 120 whiskeys and scotches, affordable wines and weekend entertainment.

The second level boasts a pergola-covered Locally Sourced deck, overflow space and two private dining areas.

Executive chef Tom Sheridan oversees the McDonnell’s ancestral roots are planted in grill’s chophouse menu and all LaSalle HospiNew Orleans; his background is in the corpotality Group’s operations. rate world. After working for Boar’s Head in Onboard for nearly 20 years, he was a the 1970s and ’80s, he became a manager at 2012 James Beard nominee who participated Tippecanoe Place, the former family manin the James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour held sion of the Studebaker at the Joseph Decuis family, which had been Farm in Roanoke. That transformed into a year he was named restaurant. winning chef among LaSalle Grill “I was told to, ‘Turn a dozen participants 115 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend it around,’” he says. in Greatest Chefs of (574) 288-1155 “‘Run this place like you Michiana, an annual lasallegrill.com own it.’” fundraiser for the local Challenging words YMCA. for a Michigan City Sheridan’s interest in native who grew up all things culinary was wanting to own a business. piqued as a youngster when his family owned McDonnell oversaw operations there from Chauncy’s restaurant, a former landmark on 1981 to 1987, leaving for an interim job at the South Bend’s west side. He received culinary city’s downtown Century Center, where he training at Vincennes University, followed by ran the food service concessions. It was there seminar courses at The Culinary Institute of he met Andrew Galloway, who one day would America in Hyde Park, New York, where he play a major role in LaSalle Grill’s operations. focused on regional French and Italian.

“I gained very valuable experience there,” But this is still the Midwest, Sheridan McDonnell says. “It also gave me time to develop says, and patrons love red meat, primarily the grill’s concept and to look for a building.” hardwood-grilled filet mignon. Which isn’t to When he left Tippecanoe Place, McDonsay beef dominates the grill’s menu. nell vowed he’d never again work in a four“Duck and game meat sell a lot,” he says. story, historic building.

“Sea bass is a number one seller, as is hardThe theory, of course, is never to say wood-grilled salmon. People are more health“never,” which came home to roost when he conscious now, and they’re looking at glutenfound himself eyeing the three-story historic free items and adhering to dietary restrictions, building that initially housed the St. Joseph so they expect a lot more these days.”

Hotel. Built in 1868 and located in the heart LaSalle Grill is renowned for its locally of downtown South Bend, it is the oldest sourced food. Think duck from Maple Leaf

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Columbus Magazine

29

>> Worth the Trip

South Bend is, perhaps, best known as home of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (which actually is located in Notre Dame). But whether or not it’s a blueand-gold football day, this north-central Indiana city offers a range of activities and go-tos definitely worth the trip.

Morris Performing Arts Center 211 N. Michigan St., South Bend, (574) 235-9190; morriscenter.org Whether you’re seeking a stage production, symphonic presentation, musical interlude or Notre Dame Glee Club performance, you’ll find it at the Morris, just a few blocks from the LaSalle Grill.

Built in 1922 as the Palace Theatre, part of the Orpheum Theatre chain, the venue has hosted entertainers from Frank Sinatra to Fleetwood Mac. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Morris is consistently named among top theaters in industry publications and is home to the Broadway Theatre League of South Bend, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and Southhold Dance Theater. Limited dinner/show ticket packages are available through the restaurant, with preferred theater seating for most concerts and shows.

Potawatomi Zoo 500 S. Greenlawn, South Bend (574) 235-9800; potawatomizoo.org Opened in 1902, the South Bend zoo is Indiana’s oldest and the city’s second-largest attraction after the University of Notre Dame.

The 23-acre setting is home to more than 400 animals, including amphibians and reptiles. The zoo hosts after-hours events and fundraisers throughout the year, including the Zoo Brew, Jack-OLantern Extravaganza and more.

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Columbus Magazine

South Bend Museum of Art Century Center 120 S. St. Joseph St., South Bend (574) 235-9102; southbendart.org The SBMA, founded in 1947, features historical and contemporary art in five galleries. A selection from the museum’s permanent collection is exhibited in the Carmichael Gallery. These include The Hoosier Group, The Brown County School, Regional and National, Chicago Imagists and the Print Collection, the latter being several series of prints that address socio-political work. “Sightlines,” running through May 14, 2017, showcases large public art works by regional artists located in or outside Century Center. Current exhibits include “WPA Prints: The Amity Arts Foundation Collection,” running through Jan. 10.

St. Joseph River southbendin.gov/sites/default/files/files/Mayor_RiverLightsPromo0815.pdf The namesake of St. Joseph County — South Bend is the county seat — the river plays an integral role in local activities, providing a waterfront backdrop for community and private events.

One of downtown’s newest attractions is the River Lights, ever-changing and living art that reflects the city’s natural resource.

The attraction is activated from 30 minutes prior to sunset until sunrise, going to “sleep” at midnight,

when it remains a natural color.

The lights also exhibit the time on the hour, blinking once for each hour. Visit the website for parking and best viewing locations.

Studebaker National Museum 201 S. Chapin St., South Bend (574) 235-9714; studebakermuseum.org If you’re old enough to remember when Studebaker, Bendix and Oliver Chilled Plow Works were South Bend’s industrial giants, or if you’re a classic auto or history buff, you’ll want to visit this repository of all things Studebaker.

Home to the Grant, Harrison, Lincoln and McKinley presidential carriages, the venue’s ongoing exhibit features an interactive Studebaker Super Service Center.

The museum also houses corporate archives of the Studebaker Corp., Packard Motor Car Co. and other area industries, and features an on-site store. Special 2016 events include Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January), Trivia Night (March) and Hall of Champions Dinner (April).

The History Museum 808 W. Washington St., South Bend, (574) 235-9664; historymuseumsb.org Exciting changing and permanent exhibits are hallmarks of

the museum, begun in 1867 as the Northern Indiana Historical Society, the state’s second oldest. Located on the grounds of Copshaholm, the former Oliver mansion, the museum features a changing exhibit on the history of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and a history of the University of Notre Dame. “The Masks of Lincoln,” a series of portraits, will be featured through Feb. 28; “The House that Rockne Built: Notre Dame Stadium” through Aug. 6.

Be sure to tour the 38-room mansion, the surrounding two-acre Historic Oliver Gardens and the modest Worker’s Home; guided tours conducted daily.

University of Notre Dame Notre Dame (574) 631-5000; nd.edu The Alumni Hall, Basilica of the Sacred Heart, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Snite Museum of Art, Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, Hesburgh Library and its iconic image — affectionately known as “Touchdown Jesus,” officially called “The Word of Life” –– and the Knute Rockne Memorial are just a few of the campus landmarks awaiting visitors to the Notre Dame campus north of South Bend. Thousands of visitors throng the campus each year to experience a cultural, historical and spiritual awakening. Visit the website and make your destination selections before heading out.

Farms (Leesburg). Bison from Cook’s Bison Ranch (Wolcottville) and poultry from Miller Amish Country Poultry (Orland). Meat and fish from Meats by Linz and Fortune Fish & Gourmet, both in the Chicago region. Then there are the vegetables: fresh, organic produce from local growers.

But Sheridan says it’s about more than cuisine. “Our management staff — about four people — has more than 120 years’ collective experience,” he explains. “We’re called ‘lifers.’

This is our job, and that makes a big difference because guests can walk in and see the same people who have been here all these years.

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Mark McDonnell

“LaSalle Grill is a destination restaurant for special occasions,” he adds. “People come here for their anniversary dinner, their birthday.

A lot of people propose here. So it’s not just a restaurant, it’s a brand. And it’s not just supper, it’s an adventure.”

Part of that adventure, he says, is guests’ willingness to order outside the Midwest time zone: Hardwood-grilled Black Buck Antelope has become a favorite, along with hardwood-grilled ostrich, formerly on the menu, which changes daily.

With winter around the corner, Sheridan says they’re looking at heartier foods. “We’re big on duck now, including duck bacon. Pork belly. More gastropub cooking and smoking our own meats. We’ll be serving more braised comfort food, such as homemade ravioli, or a nice New Zealand rack of lamb, a very consistent product.”

And all this paired with an award-winning wine list: More than 300 bottles are featured on the menu, a fraction of the cellar’s capacity.

It’s all about “flair, showmanship and knowledgeability,” McDonnell says. “These all lead to the value, and I want people to remember they had a great time, a memorable dining experience.” –C–

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Columbus Magazine

31

By Tim Brouk | Photos courtesy of artists

The stories of Hoosier artists, producers, merchants and entrepreneurs

heart of

Artisans work with heat to shape and craft a tricky medium Glass is a hot art medium in Indiana.

All over the state, artists train for years to master techniques to create vessels, figurines and jewelry. They bend or inflate glowing, molten glass as if it were clay or chewing gum. To keep the glass malleable, the artists have to work fast but effectively.

The techniques date back centuries to Europe and the Middle East.

The state itself has a long history of glasswork and is known for the Indiana Glass Trail. According to its website, indianaglasstrail.com, the Hoosier state’s love affair with the medium began in 1886, when a group of speculators in Howard County hit a deposit of natural gas once they had drilled down 900 feet. This wealth of gas led to the formation of gas companies, and glass workers harnessed the power of natural gas to create both practical and ornamental works in this unusual medium. In the spring of 1888, Henry Art Glass opened a large glass plant in Kokomo, sealing Indiana’s connection with this fragile material.

In contemporary glasswork, Hoosier artists are exploring new techniques. They are pushing the medium to new heights with inventive designs and ideas. These artists can be found at art fairs, galleries and museums, and many keep their medium alive by offering classes to adults and children. The art may be hot, but the cool results are something to behold.

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Columbus Magazine

Capehouse Glass

Columbus, capehouseglass.com Jerald Hatton, the artist behind Capehouse Glass, describes himself as “an old computer guy with a fascination with glass.” That fascination started with working in stained glass but has since escalated to flame and kiln work of functional vessels.

These glass pieces have become a favorite at Columbus art fairs and shows. Taking his business’s name from the nickname he gave his home (he calls it “The Cape” because it’s surrounded by water, a rare scene in Indiana), Capehouse Glass pieces are made with function in mind. They are dishwasher safe, but artistic enough that most pieces could still be hung on a wall. Hatton’s designs include whimsical glass birdhouses, cartoonish and colorful bugs, bowls, plates and funky platters.

One of his passions, he says, is reusing and repurposing found glass; working with donated glass, Hatton enhances his work with alcohol inks. When dry, the inks seem to pop off the glass to create eye-catching, interesting pieces that have been a new favorite for his customers.

A regular at the Columbus Downtown Farmers Market, Hatton has had a busy 2015 and expects to travel more in 2016 to display his glass art.

Sid and Coty McCammon Madison

Retirement brought out a new passion for stained and mosaic glass for Sid and Coty McCammon. What started as a few pieces for friends and family has expanded to a side business at downtown Madison shop Madison Buy Design. They accept custom orders and are proof positive that it’s never too late in life to discover art. They create large panels and windows, but their best-sellers are a little smaller in scale.

“It would seem one of the most popular items would be custom panel lampshades,” Coty McCammon says. In the future, she says, they will continue to expand their repertoire of glass techniques. “We may try some glass plating and continue to do more advanced pieces.”

Columbus Magazine

33

Fran Carrico

Mark Oberting

From glass beakers to glass baubles, Fran Carrico went from a chemistry teacher to one of Madison County’s top jewelry producers, specializing in colorful glass beads.

“There is a lot of chemistry, indeed, in glass working,” she says.

“All of the pretty colors are caused by heavy metals, so one has to be conscious of noxious fumes and work in good ventilation.”

Carrico uses a type of glass called soda lime glass; this means, she says, that the glass has a high sodium content. It causes a yellow “flame test” when the glass is introduced into the torch.

Flowers and leaves are common in her work; her necklaces often look like sculptures and could double as hanging artwork.

Carrico has become an adept metalsmith, coming up with creative fasteners and links for the glass beads on necklaces or bracelets. She was named an Indiana Artisan in 2014.

From fine art to functional, Mark Oberting’s glass vessels are fine examples of craftsmanship. Other pieces skew to the experimental.

Pieces look as if they’re melting. Others look as if they are disintegrating. Most of his glassworks boast vibrant, bold color, bordering on a retro pop feel. Other pieces are more soothing and inspired by nature. Oberting, who had been working strictly in metal, discovered his love of working in glass 12 years ago, after taking a class in the medium. Now, he often combines metal and glass in his works.

“Sometimes, the glass is the centerpiece, and other times it’s enhancing the metal,” he says.

A regular at Indiana art fairs, Oberting will get more exposure thanks to his soonto-be completed mobile gallery and studio, housed in a 1947 Grumman Olson van. The classic vehicle looks like an old-school bread truck, but it has been refurbished to hold his art and glass-blowing setup. He plans to sell his work and give demonstrations from the unique vehicle, which he has dubbed the “Indie Art Cart.”

“It’s so fun to drive, and the kids love it,” he says. “They think I’m selling ice cream.”

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Columbus Magazine

Morgan County, markoberting.com

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“It takes awhile in both ways of working,” Owens says. “You have to build up a working vocabulary in those areas, which I’ve done.”

To create her pieces, she brings her torches over to the furnace where the vessels are created through a metal tube. She uses molten glass, which, she says, has the consistency of honey from hell. When the glass is at just the right temperature, she manipulates it into elegant vessels, gossamer flowers, beads and even figural pieces. Owens also likes to pass along her knowledge; Inspired Fire offers classes, and the studio features eight workstations, 12 torches and four kilns.

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Columbus Magazine

35

Personalities

Story by Alisa advani photos by joel philippsen and april knox

John and Emmylou Wischmeier BELOW: Jerry Wischmeier pours grass seed into bags.

Wischmeiers nurture local landscapes and civic ties

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Columbus Magazine

Reesey Drizzle The Wischmeier family has affected Columbus in ways both subtle and obvious. To most, their name is synonymous with their family nursery, located on the stretch of land on Jonesville Road that John Wischmeier Sr. purchased from Irwin Management Co. in 1986.

The deal gave John Sr. a place for his dream to finally manifest, and with support from his wife, Emmylou, and sons, John Jr. and Jerry, the family could expand its thriving landscaping business. But the Wischmeier story includes a much more personal, touching thread to its fabric. Behind the rows of daylilies and pots of fall mums, they embody a multigenerational code of quiet philanthropy, purpose and humility.

“The real story is one of ministering to and of loving the people in our community,” Jerry says. “People trust us because we have integrity and honesty, and they see that we, as a family, are here to help. Most importantly, they know that we will keep their situation private.”

It’s a family that looks after one another, a family infused with a strong work ethic.

“To me, being a Wischmeier means being a hard worker and a leader while also being creative, compassionate and looking out for one another,” says Chase Wischmeier, who, as a granddaughter of John Sr. and Emmylou, is part of the third generation of Wischmeiers.

“Everyone in my family is so great at looking out for one another, even over the tiniest things,” Chase says. “And I love it.”

A heart for work A strong work ethic framed everything in the Wischmeier household. Of the many characteristics John Jr. and Jerry learned from their mother and father, the drive to put their heads down and complete a job is embedded within their personalities.

John Sr. and Emmylou, who married in 1963, led by example. Before the family opened the nursery, the couple ran their landscaping business together.

Emmylou acted as office and inventory manager, and the boys pitched in after school and on the weekends.

John Sr. worked during the day at the former Reliance Electric to make sure that he could raise the funds needed to become a small business owner. A love of nature, fostered since his youth, made horticulture a good fit.

“I had long dreamed of owning my own business. I grew up on a farm and worked at my Uncle George Schneider’s nursery as a young man. Emmylou and I started out tending to lawns and shrubs after working our daytime jobs.

We took the boys everywhere, and they worked alongside of us,” says John Sr. In fact, John Jr. majored in horticulture at Vincennes University. Though he’s since transitioned into selling real estate for Century 21 Breeden Group, it was John Jr. who helped his father establish Wischmeier Nursery. During high school and college, John Jr. managed the landscaping side of the business.

Jerry began working at Wischmeier Nursery when it opened. Initially hired as a “water boy,” his role evolved from watering plants to, by 1995, managing the garden center and gift shop. He was responsible for all of the ordering for both. Now, he keeps the business running behind the scenes by overseeing bookkeeping, accounting and payroll.

“I learned my work ethic from my dad,” John Jr. says. “He worked a lot to support our family. Like him, I like the outdoors, and I like plants, so I studied landscaping. I particularly enjoy the creative side of it; that’s where the design aspect comes into play. Dad and I are the dreamers. A lot of entrepreneurs are because they see what can be,” he says.

While the father and son dreamed of bigger things, Emmylou kept the business running, John Jr. says. “She’s the one that held things together through the years. Mom’s the structure in our family, and I learned that from her. She kept us grounded for steady growth, and now I run things in my life that way.”

Both John Jr. and Jerry married women named Kimberly. When it

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Columbus Magazine

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>> personalities range from buying groceries and giving vegetable seeds for struggling families to building a horse barn for Camp Lakeview. John Sr. took over fundraising for a drive to aid an economically depressed mining town in Kentucky, and on another occasion he donated time and money to the Orphan Grain Train, a Christian volunteer network that ships food, clothing, medical supplies and other items to people in 64 countries, including the United States.

John Sr. and Jerry refrain from too many details; both father and son discuss the need to keep even the smallest examples of kindness anonymous. It’s a chance to protect those who received the family’s assistance.

at top: Zane Wischmeier digs a hole for a tree. BELOW: Products available for purchase at the nursery.

comes to family talk, Jerry’s wife is Kimberly Jo; John Jr.’s wife is Kimberly D or Kimberly Diane. Each son has two children; John Jr.’s kids are Zane and Chase; Jerry’s children are Michaela and Evan.

Vines of giving As Jerry revisits the list of his father’s charitable acts, John Sr. listens quietly.

The elder Wischmeier’s good deeds

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The next generation John Sr.’s example has extended through his family. Not only have his sons followed in his footsteps with regard to generosity, his four grandchildren have, too.

“Just the other morning my son Evan came downstairs and said, ‘Thanks, Dad, for teaching me values and the importance of helping people,’” Jerry says. Working three days a week at his church, The Ridge, Jerry volunteers whenever possible. “It’s nice that a young man notices that some people out there don’t always handle others with compassion. I have tried to teach my kids anytime an opportunity presents itself. I always ask them, ‘What did that person do and how would you do it differently?’”

Evan, an engineering student at Purdue Polytechnic Institute, credits his father for his positive development as a young man and calls his grandfather his best friend.

“Without my dad, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today,” Evan says. “He is a very kind person who loves to help others out. My grandfather has taught me many lessons and values that I use every day. He has truly taught me the meaning of hard work and has helped me to have a great work ethic. I owe so much to my grandparents; they are some of the nicest, kind-hearted people that you will ever meet.”

Michaela, Zane and Chase are growing on their own paths while adhering to their family’s legacy. Michaela is major-

ing in English literature at IUPUC. Zane has worked at the family’s nursery for the last two years. He attended classes at Indiana University and Ivy Tech.

“I have learned quite a range working with my family,” Zane says. “Through the years I have been able to watch and learn about horticultural practices as well as the challenges of operating a small business. This has taught me to have a strong work ethic and to have the determination to find a solution when one isn’t immediately present.”

His sister, Chase, a sophomore at IU and a business management major, says that being raised at the nursery provided her with invaluable insight.

“Instead of being sent to day care like many kids my age at the time, I was able to grow up in a fun business setting that allowed me to grow and gain a great deal of knowledge for not only business, but life as well,” Chase says. “I wouldn’t have gained that otherwise.” –C– From left, Zane, Emmylou, John Jr., Jerry, John, Michaela, and Evan Wischmeier. Photos by April Knox

Columbus Magazine

39

Health

Story & photos

by Jenn willhite

Cataract surgery helps patients see clearly now

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Columbus Magazine

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>> health

bout one year ago, Columbus resident Robert Manley began having difficulty driving at night. The 79-year-old retired book publisher knew that he was in the early stages of developing cataracts.

“I first found out nearly four years ago,” he says. “But the doctor said the cataracts weren’t ready to be taken out at that time.”

Manley says the cataracts’ progression was a gradual process. He didn’t pay much attention to the changes in his vision until it impaired his ability to drive.

EYE ON THE PRIZE: Columbus opthalmologist Douglas Wilson (inset) scrubs in for cataract surgery.

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Columbus Magazine

The symptoms he experienced are not uncommon, says Columbus ophthalmologist Dr. Douglas Wilson. “Cataracts are a normal condition that happens to everyone eventually,” he says. “Over the years, the lens inside your eye turns cloudy and hazy.”

Typically the lens, which is located just behind the pupil, acts like the lens of a camera by shining light on the optic nerve. This allows the eye to focus so you see clearly. Essentially like an onion, the lens has layers that become cloudy and turn a yellowish-brown over time, Wil-

son explains. As cloudiness forms, it adds more layers to the lens, which affects the amount of light allowed into the eye.

In most cases, the faint cloudiness of cataracts can be detected up to 10 years before the onset of symptoms and well before surgery is necessary. “The risk for cataracts definitely increases with age,” Wilson says. “It can occur at any age, but definitely when you get about 60 to 65 years old is when we see them a lot more.”

The symptoms In typical cases, symptoms of cataracts initially manifest with blurry vision, Wilson says. The main thing you notice is you don’t see as clearly. As Manley experienced, driving at night becomes more difficult. The glare from headlights adopts a halo-glow, Wilson says. Reading in dim light can also become difficult.

“Those are the earliest symptoms,” he says. “And with time it just gets worse until you don’t see as well as you need to. It is at that point you have to consider taking (cataracts) out.”

Left untreated, cataracts can lead to irreversible blindness. Natural cataract progression leads to a thickening of the lens, which can cause inflammation and pressure within the eye. But once the procedure has happened, patients won’t need to undergo it a second time.

“Cataracts are like your appendix,” Wilson says. “You just get one in each eye, and once it’s removed, it can’t grow back.” A lens that becomes too thick can be difficult to remove, making the procedure more risky, he says.

Brown County resident Janice Gerth says she was apprehensive when she learned she would have to have her cataracts removed. Like Manley, she found it more difficult to drive at night because of the cataract-induced halos she’d see around streetlights and the headlights of oncoming traffic.

Due to the progression of her cataracts, 74-year-old Gerth had taken to wearing bifocals when she would read, knit or crochet, she says. “It was about eight years after the cataracts were first discovered before I needed surgery,” she says. “When I went in, I was at the point I couldn’t read interstate signs until I was directly underneath of them.”

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>> health

She had known several friends and family members who had the surgery before it became an outpatient procedure. Because Gerth works full time, the idea of having to take off work was not appealing. Fortunately, she was thrilled to learn that advances in cataract surgery have made the procedure less intrusive, with a shorter recovery time “The doctor explained the procedure to me, and I thought it was too good to be true,” she says. “It ended up exactly as he told me, and I couldn’t get over how easy it was to have it done.”

The solution Since the introduction of a technique called phacoemulsification in the late 1980s, which uses ultrasound to dissolve and remove the cataract, a mere 2.7-millimeter incision is all that’s required,

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Columbus Magazine

Wilson says. The incision is self-healing, which lessens the risk of post-operative complications. “The advantage is it is more predictable and safer,” he says. “The patient can get back to daily activities the next day.”

The 20-minute outpatient procedure is performed in the hospital under sterile conditions to lessen the risk for complications, such as infection. The patient is given a calming medication to ease his nerves, and eye drops are used to numb the eye. An additional injection of anesthetic is administered to the eye to ensure it is completely numb, making the entire procedure painless.

Once the cataract is removed, an artificial lens made of silicon and acrylic polymer is inserted. Similar to a hard contact lens in design, the replacement lens is anchored with hooks to hold it in place.

Overcoming fears Manley says he believes it’s natural to be apprehensive before any surgery. Of course, when you know someone is going to “poke you in the eye,” you’re worried about it, he says. But since experiencing the procedure, he says there is nothing to be concerned about. “You’re lying on a table, and the only eye that is open is the one being operated on,” Manley explains.

“You don’t feel anything. The great thing is, when you can open your eye the next day and all of a sudden you can see like you did before the cataract.”

Following surgery, patients are given antibiotic drops and, in some cases, drops to prevent inflammation. As a rule, if you have one cataract, you have a second one in the other eye, Wilson says. Surgery is performed in two sessions roughly two weeks apart to allow the first eye time to heal. “As with any procedure, there are risks involved,” he says. “Fortunately, bad things are rare with cataract surgery. The biggest risk is infection, so that’s why we perform the surgery in the hospital.”

If you have been told you have early-stage cataracts, the best thing to do is talk to others who have had them and undergone surgery, Manley says. And if you aren’t squeamish, it may also be helpful to check out videos of the procedure on YouTube, he says. Seeing the procedure performed can help alleviate apprehension. But the biggest thing, he says, is don’t be afraid to ask questions.

“Some people have wondrous thoughts about the doctor,” Manley says.

“I think the key thing is to establish a rapport with the doctor so you feel free to ask questions or discuss things. They are human beings just like we are.” –C–

Carol Shoultz, left, and Pat Legger

“Cataracts are a normal condition that happens to everyone eventually.

Over the years, the lens inside your eye turns cloudy and hazy.”

— Dr. Douglas wilson

Columbus Magazine

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Goodwill

Story by cj woodring photos by adam reynolds

A Psi Iota Xi’s resale shop supports philanthropic efforts

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Columbus Magazine

red, white and blue flag hung outside the small building at Eighth and California streets signals that the thrift shop is open for the day.

The spot is known simply as the Psi Iota Xi Thrift Shop. Inside, shoppers will find women’s, men’s and children’s clothing; housewares and holiday décor; videotapes, books, baskets and bibelots.

It is stocked with donations from community members and staffed by friendly, service-oriented women, each a member of the Epsilon Chapter of Psi Iota Xi, a philanthropic organization. The shop is designed with service in mind, from start to finish.

For these special women, who volunteer time and talent, staffing their shift at the thrift shop is all in a day’s service work. The chapter was founded in Columbus in 1904. Now at 62

SORTING IT OUT: Diane Brown, left, and Linda Heldt sort through donations.

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members, counting its auxiliary group, it has operated the thrift shop since the 1940s. One paid employee oversees the thrift shop, which has been in its Eighth Street location for 15 years.

Karen Glover and Joann Swank serve as 2015-16 chapter co-presidents. A longtime Columbus resident, Glover joined Psi Iota Xi following high school graduation. She was recruited by her mother, a longtime member.

“I wasn’t looking to volunteer at that age,” Glover says. “But as the years roll by, I can appreciate what my mother did, because now I enjoy volunteering, and this is a great way to do that and also reach a lot of people.”

All active Epsilon Chapter members work in the thrift shop, which is the organization’s sole means of fundraising in Columbus. Bylaws mandate members work in the thrift shop seven three-hour shifts each year; auxiliary

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>> goodwill

a beneficial board: From left, Linda Heldt, Karen Glover, Barb Dunlap, Janice Fisher, Jo-Ann Swank, Nancy Woodruff, and Diane Brown at the Psi Iota Xi Thrift Shop.

members four times a year.

In addition to holding special sales, members sort, price and display goods. Each spring and fall they completely clear inventory, restocking shelves for the upcoming season.

Linda Heldt and Diane Brown are this year’s thrift shop co-chairwomen. Monthly sales average about $2,000, Heldt says, noting the shop has a loyal customer base and offers clothing ranging from corporate attire to prom dresses.

“We have a service for the entire community,” Heldt says, adding that the September open house garnered more than $1,700 for the organization’s philanthropic fund. “In the past 10 years, we’ve given over $100,000 back to the community.”

A major portion of that money was donated to Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., which is, along with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, a primary beneficiary.

Within the past five years, the group has presented $44,500 to the local school corporation.

“What I like about volunteering at the shop is there’s no other place you can give back $50 to $100 every day that you work,” Heldt says.

Any unsold thrift shop items are re-donated to have global impact and reach. “Some of the clothes were sent to Guatemala, and this year we donated to AmVets and also gave a lot

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of the women’s clothing to a lady who’s collecting for Syrian refugees,” Heldt says.

“We don’t have a need to sell fruitcakes or cheese balls,” Glover says. “We generate more money through the thrift shop.”

History of Giving Psi Iota Xi’s roots are deep. In September 1897, a group of high school girls at Muncie Central High School founded the sorority. It was Indiana’s first Greek letter organization, and its mission was to guide members in personal growth and self-direction as they enriched others’ lives through charitable endeavors.

Ten chapters were sanctioned by 1910; at that point, Indiana state law banned from high schools “secret organizations” such as sororities

The Psi Iota Xi Thrift Shop is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Visit facebook.com/ PsiIotaXiThriftShop for more information, or call (812) 376-7136 for membership details.

and fraternities. In response, Psi Iota Xi grew up. Today, membership is open to any woman 18 or older. Though most of the sorority sisters have retired from their careers, younger women have also joined their ranks. The sorority boasts 135 chapters in five states: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky.

Throughout the years since its founding, Psi Iota Xi members have been at the forefront in philanthropic projects. Highlights include purchasing an ambulance for use in France during World War I; financially supporting Riley Hospital for Children, an ongoing beneficiary; purchasing an oxygen chamber for the hospital, thus bringing oxygen therapy to the Hoosier State, or assisting New Albany and Jeffersonville chapters in the aftermath of the 1937 flood.

In 1938, Psi Iota Xi found a special focus: It the first Indiana organization to recognize the need for speech and hearing correction in children and to appropriate funds for that purpose. It was also the first organization in the United States to actively support a traveling clinic that, within two years, visited every school in Indiana, testing more than 6,000 speech and/or hearing impaired children. Through scholarships and grants, it has enabled students to continue in their chosen fields, while opening up the world to youngsters who otherwise could not receive therapeutic measures.

Local chapters, including the one in Columbus, support their communities in speech and hearing, art, music and literature; each is also affiliated with statewide organizations. In Indiana, these include the Hoosier Art Salon, the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences Speech Language Pathology Program, Professional Preparation in Cochlear Implant and city orchestras in Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, South Bend and Louisville, Kentucky.

Community outreach Kathleen Sheehy has been a Psi Iota Xi member for about 35 years; these days, she heads the project committee, which reviews and approves applications, allocating money from the Philanthropic Fund accordingly. She says she enjoys giving back to her adopted hometown.

“We review requests and make recommendations to our membership. From there, we can accept a request as written, amend it or decide it doesn’t fit in with our mission statement,” she says.

Though the number of applications varies

annually, Sheehy says, the committee generally approves from 15 to 20 donation recommendations throughout the year. “Most requests are from public schools, the (Columbus Area) Arts Council and the like,” she says. “They show us a budget, and then we supplement what they’ve earned through fundraisers and various projects.”

Past recipients of the group’s efforts include the Foundation for Youth summer camp, Volunteers in Medicine Clinic and Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.

Psi Iota Xi has also helped subsidize children’s speech and language therapy through Columbus Regional Health; funded Philharmonic Strings and Choral Festival camp fees for foster children, who otherwise wouldn’t have enjoyed the cultural enrichment; and helped transport fourth-grade class members from Columbus to Indianapolis to attend a performance of “A Christmas Carol.”

Members also sponsor high school students to attend music camps at Indiana University and Ball State University. Several years ago, the sorority purchased grand pianos for Columbus North and East high schools, Glover says.

Seeking new members Savvy Psi Iota Xi members have maximized their visibility by marketing through radio advertising, an email list and Facebook. Still, members are looking to the community not only for thrift shop donations of clothing and other goods. They want to recruit more members.

Annual membership fees of $35 count toward national dues. Members also receive an organizational magazine and admission to the national convention, which will be held in Indianapolis each of the next three years.

Members pledge to be devoted to the community in which they live and to continue to seek ways in which to make it better. Their efforts are as relevant today in maintaining a healthy, vibrant community as they were 118 years ago when the organization was founded.

And along with the benefits of community involvement, there’s another bonus: camaraderie among members as they work toward common goals.

“It’s a great way to give back to the community in an organized fashion,” Glover says. “This is about more than just volunteering. We’ve all made a lot of good, lasting friendships.” –C–

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Columbus Magazine

49

Culture

Story by nick rassi photos by april knox

Importing

Tastes

The Kondapi family brings food and friendship to Columbus

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Columbus Magazine

In 1998, Gayatri Kondapi moved from southern India to Milford, Connecticut, with her husband, Prasad Kondapi. She didn’t speak English and had only known her husband for about eight months.

“Our marriage was arranged,” Gayatri says. “My father went to his home and saw Prasad’s picture and his family. He told me that they were really nice people.” Their families met a few more times before formally introducing them. “We met, and we like each other. That’s how we got married.”

Prasad earned a master’s degree in computer replications in India; this degree earned him a job in the United States. He and Gayatri had moved around to various major cities, such as Detroit, Los Angeles, before landing in Columbus in 2001. “I was nervous,”

Gayatri Kondapi created mehndi designs on her daughter, Sree Ramya’s hands for her half saree function.

OPPOSITE PAGE: The Kondapi family: Gayatri; Sasanka, 15; Prasad; Nagabhushana Kondapi, Prasad's mother; and Sree Ramya, 11.

Gayatri says of the moves. “But it felt like a long honeymoon.”

With little experience in speaking English, Gayatri began watching movies. “We were members at Blockbuster Video,” she says. The movies gave her a foundation for the language. In the larger cities they were briefly living in, she had rote conversations with her neighbors, exchanges that were short and routine. “But after moving to Columbus with my children starting school, I learned,” she says.

The couple quickly took to the town.

“Columbus is awesome,” Prasad says.

He and Gayatri are active. They love the parks, particularly for running. This year, Gayatri ran her first 5K, and Prasad completed the half marathon as a part of the Mill Race Marathon. They attend many

school events and Columbus Indiana Philharmonic concerts.

Adding some spice When they moved here, there were around 400 other Indian families already living in the area; today that number has doubled. Prasad and Gayatri saw Columbus as an opportunity to build a family and to create systems of support with other internationals, a home.

Prasad started working in Columbus at Dorel Juvenile, a company that manufactures products for children. He would stay at Dorel for almost a decade. He went back to school for an MBA at IUPUC and went to work for Cummins in 2011; he’s now the company’s IT regional manager for North America.

When the Kondapis first moved to

Columbus, Gayatri was home raising their family. They now have two children, Sasanka, who is 15 and a sophomore at Columbus North High School, and Sree Ramya, who is 11 and in sixth grade at Parkside Elementary School.

When the children were younger, the family would travel to larger cities, like Cincinnati, Indianapolis or even Chicago, looking for the authentic Indian ingredients to which they were accustomed. In 2006, Gayatri opened SRT International Bazaar, a shop featuring Indian goods. She used it to reach the international community and bring more of the Kondapis’ culture to Columbus.

Food is a central part of the family’s lives.

“One story I always remember,” Prasad says with a laugh, “is the first day my wife landed in the United States. She

Columbus Magazine

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>> culture

“We have made a new family in Columbus, a family away from our family. ...We help each other and support each other.”

— Prasad Kondapi

ABOVE: The Kondapi family temple room.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Prasad helps Sree Ramya with her homework.

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Columbus Magazine

took a piece of pizza and put an Indian chutney on it. She said, ‘Wow! This is nice food with the spices on top.’”

Prasad says he never misses the food from Ongole, his hometown, because Gayatri is an amazing cook. When they first moved to the United States, she was nervous to eat out because of their religious beliefs. “We don’t eat meat,” she explains. She thought it would be difficult to find and explain their needs to restaurants, but has grown to love the wide variety of American food. “We don’t go to Indian restaurants,” she says.

“At home we eat Indian every day.”

And faith on top Prasad also made efforts to connect the community of Indian people living in the Columbus area. He was a founding member of Columbus Area Multi-Ethnic Organization, which helps connect internationals with others in their community. In 2011 he also helped found the Hindu Society of Southern Indiana, a group that works toward a goal of building a Hindu community center.

“There are lots of Hindu people here,” Prasad says, “They don’t have a place to meet and chat. The first issue is language.

If we have an organization here, we can establish it, and everyone can come together and chit-chat. It will be helpful to continue growing the community.”

Prasad envisions it as an interfaith campus to celebrate festivals and promote an understanding of their culture.

For now, they occasionally travel to the Hindu Temple in Indianapolis.

As the Kondapis work to bring their faith group together, they have connected with many others in the international community. “Since we only get to go back to India about once a year, we miss our families,” Prasad says. “How we mitigate that is to have close relationships in Columbus, making a new family here.” The largest cultural celebration they have is for Diwali, or “festival of lights,” held in the first week of November. Diwali, Prasad says, is a celebration of the good and the bad. They also participate in the annual Ethnic Expo, which presents a way for the whole community, locals and internationals, to celebrate the diversity in the community.

“We have made a new family in Columbus, a family away from our family,” Prasad says. “We meet on weekends and sometimes on the festival times. We help each other and support each other.”

Community engagement With the international community in Columbus growing, the access to varieties of foods has grown, too. Gayatri sold SRT International Bazaar in 2011 to an Indian man who opened an Indian restaurant nearby. Gayatri, who earned a master’s degree in public administration in India, returned to school at Ivy Tech and received a database certification. She is now using her degrees in a position with United Way and AmeriCorps as a volunteer coordinator.

Katie Willett, who manages the United Way’s Money Strong program, was, until recently, the county volunteer coordinator for United Way. “United Way of Bartholomew County brought AmeriCorps in to engage the seniors of the community,” Willett says.

“The volunteers ended up engaging many different backgrounds.”

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AmeriCorps is now integrated into 14 host sites around Bartholomew County, with members helping various functions at these nonprofits.

Gayatri is eager to get more of the international community involved in volunteerism. She will assist with programs like Money Strong and the Financial Literacy Coalition; her primary role is supplying nonprofit organizations with volunteers. Another large event she will help coordinate is the Day of Service, which in its first year had almost 1,800 volunteers cleaning the community. They built playgrounds, painted walls, picked up trash. “A lot gets done on days like that when we coordinate so many volunteers,” Willett says, “There’s a direct impact.”

Gayatri wants to help other internationals learn English while continuing to learn it herself and, most importantly, to make them feel at home, just as she has felt in the city.

For all the Kondapis, there are few doubts that Columbus has become home.

“Columbus is a very quiet, welcoming community,” Prasad says. “It is a great community for children. It’s where we knew we wanted to be.” –C–

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Columbus Magazine

53

Home Trends

Story by Teresa Nicodemus

It’s Easier

Being Green Plenty of eco-friendly updates exist for the kitchen

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Columbus Magazine

Green, it seems, is the word for the modern-day kitchen. Earth-friendly fea-

tures such as recycling stations, energy-efficient appliances and sustainable materials in cabinetry and flooring are some of the more popular features builders and designers are asked to incorporate in kitchen remodels.

Cindy Hudecek, interior designer for Riverside Carpet One Cabinet Design Studio in Columbus, says homeowners, inspired perhaps by HGTV, are looking for green products and environmentally friendly home embellishments now more than ever before. Homeowners are more interested in do-it-yourself projects, and many have been inspired to ask how products are made and how production impacts the environment.

“We have more options to live green,” Hudecek says. “The question is, ‘How creative can we become to create a sustainable, enjoyable and healthy environment?’”

Rosemary Wagner, an instructor in the environmental design department at Ivy Tech’s Columbus campus and interior designer and owner of Wagner Design in Columbus, focuses her teaching and design work on evidence-based design techniques, a concept of using credible research to influence the physical design of a space.

Evidence-based design and sustainability

“We have more options to live green. The question is, ‘How creative can we become to create a sustainable, enjoyable and healthy environment?’”

— cindy hudecek

Columbus Magazine

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>> home trends

are relatively new in design theory, and she hopes the green concept in interior design is not just a trendy idea but rather a permanent focus in the design industry.

Wagner’s environmental design expertise is the hallmark of her interior design business, which focuses on transforming the traditional kitchen into an environmentally conscious space that includes green elements of design. One way she’s incorporated recycled material into the kitchen décor is the use of concrete aggregate countertops. “I had a client who had a wine bottle collection,” she says. “We decided to recycle the bottles and have them crushed and mixed with the concrete countertop. This added an unusual and personalized touch to the countertop, and we used a local source for the concrete project. It became an interesting conversation piece as the client entertained in her kitchen space.”

Wagner stresses the use of as much natural light as possible in her kitchen designs to save energy costs, which she calls daylight harvesting. “This involves strategic placement of windows,” she explains, “and an understanding of the direction natural light flows into your home. Southern-facing windows always have sun exposure.”

Many companies are redeveloping products for sustainability, including plumbing manufacturers. According to Wagner, many plumbing fixtures now sport a WaterSense label. This label, a seal similar to the Energy Star label for household products, indicates that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has certified that the product uses 20 percent less water and meets water efficiency requirements set forth by the EPA. Built-in recycling

Keeping a green mind in kitchen design includes factoring in ways to simplify recycling. “In-home recycling centers are quite popular,” says Hudecek. “They are often built in to cabinetry or a pantry, allowing for space for multiple receptacles.” Custom cabinetry can be designed with deep pull-out base cabinets for easy accessibility to several bins in one area, or tall corner cabinets with

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Columbus Magazine

Lazy Susans can be perfect for recycling baskets to easily sort and store recyclables.

Composting bins can be disguised under countertops with specially designed openings with stainless steel covers where scraps and compost material can be easily dropped into a hidden bucket below, she adds.

High-tech appliances

Over the past 10 years, Kari Dalrymple, a sales representative for Bishopp’s Appliance in Columbus, has seen firsthand the growing popularity and availability of energy-efficient kitchen appliances. For example, she says, today’s dishwashers are designed with recirculating pumps, which use much less water. “We are used to the dishwasher constantly filling with new water; however, the new dishwashers recirculate water for less water usage,” she explains. “And most dishwashers give you the option now to choose heated dry or nonheated dry, which is another way to save energy costs.”

Appliance manufacturers have made energy-conserving strides in refrigerator design as well, developing refrigerators with thicker casings for better insulation. Fans within the unit keep air circulating, thus reducing the amount of time the compressors run. The introduction of induction cooktops has also reduced energy consumption, Dalrymple says. “The average range has radiant burners that let heat escape into the air. With induction cooking, the heat is transferred from the burner to the pan with a magnetic force,” she says. “Specialized magnetic pots and pans should be used for

these stoves. Induction cooking controls heat going into the room.”

Repurposing and reclaiming

Rehabbing furniture and recycling old wood can enhance environmentally friendly kitchen design. Repainting, reupholstering and refinishing old bar stools or heirloom pieces can add a unique perspective to the furniture and your kitchen, Wagner says.

“My husband and I salvaged wood from the family barn, which was built in the 1800s.

We built a table with the wood. Not only has the table become a wonderful story to share with family and friends, it is a new addition to our kitchen space that did not disturb the environment,” she says.

Rob Weaver, owner of Weaver Fine Furniture & Cabinets in Columbus, is a proponent of using reclaimed wood for cabinetry projects. “We have done kitchen cabinetry designs with reclaimed lumber for one of our customers who used the wood siding from their old home. By using reclaimed lumber, you are not harvesting new wood, and you are giving the existing lumber new life,” he says. “Lumber from historic barns

MODERN OR RETRO: Whatever style you opt for, a green kitchen incorporates environmentally friendly fixtures.

and buildings can be a very beautiful wood from older, mature trees, unlike the trees used in modern lumber mills. This wood tends to have a tighter grain and deeper color.” Reclaimed lumber, he adds, can be left in the rough to resemble barn siding or planed and resurfaced for smoother detail.

Bamboo is another green option for cabinetry and flooring. Bamboo can be harvested every five years and is considered a renewable resource. It has a unique appearance and can be stained and cut like wood and comes in 100 percent bamboo sheets, just like sheets of plywood, Weaver says.

When compared to the domestic woods like walnut, cherry or oak, the grain in bamboo is more consistent. Bamboo is a durable product that can be used for flooring as well.

“Often we must rely on suppliers to harvest and prepare our lumber in a way that is considered green,” Weaver says. “Using waterborne finishes on the wood and proper disposal of waste is what we have come to expect from suppliers. Companies have become much more aware of recycling. Our company recycles every product we use, including packaging, paper and aluminum.” –C–

Columbus Magazine

57

Home & Family

Custom Comfort

A multiyear renovation yields beautiful results for Dan and Christina Newell Story by Jon Shoulders Photos by April Knox

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Columbus Magazine

Columbus Magazine

59

Home & Family

As Dan and Christina Newell began the process of renovating the four-bedroom, four-bathroom Columbus home they purchased almost 13 years ago, they knew the journey would be lengthy and laborious. The previous owner had begun constructing an addition to the home that was left largely uncompleted, an accident had left a sizable section of exposed dry wall broken, and there was even an owl living in a portion of the unfinished upstairs level. The Newells were anything but daunted, however.

Dan can still recall spending time at his grandfather Carl Fox’s cabinet shop on Goeller Boulevard with his three older brothers as a child, eventually working odd jobs there during the summers of his high school years. After graduating from Columbus North High School, he immediately embarked on a 10-year career with the Navy, distinguishing himself as a member of the special operations unit known as SEAL (an acronym for sea, air and land) Team One in the process. While stationed in San Diego, Dan met Christina, a California native and graduate of the University of California San Diego, at a church they both attended.

The couple relocated to the Midwest with their 1-year-old daughter, Taylor, after Dan decided to retire from the Navy and join Fox Custom Cabinets, a Columbus-based cabinet building company founded by his grandfather in 1955. “I convinced Christina that we could do some things to the house, which was a little farmhouse at the time, and that it would be great someday,” Dan says.

“As we started working on the home

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Columbus Magazine

Columbus Magazine

61

Home & Family

in phases, we would live in different areas of the house as we would finish them and then move on to a different area to work on. It was a lot of work.”

The home’s ground floor underwent a drastic facelift when they expanded the front living room to include the space formerly occupied by a wraparound porch. The removal of a wall that formerly separated the living room and kitchen further enhances the roomy feel of the open floor plan, which features hickory and sapele mahogany woodwork in the dining space, hanging pendant lighting and natural ash flooring

throughout. A spacious island with a granite countertop and secondary sink, and a paneled refrigerator that blends with the rest of the ribbon-striped sapele mahogany cabinetry help to strike a balance between style and function in the kitchen space.

Restructuring After applying renovations to the existing structure, the Newells decided to completely remove a portion of the original home construction and pour concrete for a basement installation.

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Columbus Magazine

“When we started we actually had to have a few feet of limestone pounded out for the basement since we’re near the quarry,” Dan says, adding that he and Christina plan on building a media room and a snack bar for the as-yet unfinished basement level.

“That’s probably why there wasn’t an original full basement.”

The woodworking skills Dan has acquired over the years with Jonesville-based Fox Custom Cabinets, of which he is owner and president, are on display in virtually every room of the home, which spans approxi-

mately 7,000 square feet including the basement and sits on 13 acres.

In addition to the kitchen and dining room cabinetry, Dan installed stained cherry cabinets and drawers under Jack and Jill sinks for the master bathroom, crafted extensive shelving and storage areas in the master bedroom’s walk-in closet and placed a hope chest, which he constructed for Christina during their engagement, at the foot of the master bed. “Dan worked hard on everything,” Christina says. “I really love the master walk-in closet, which has

an automatic light sensor for when you walk in, and a pole that extends out so you can hang more clothing.”

Upstairs, downstairs The Newells consulted Bruce Pollert, an interior designer and president of Columbus-based Pollert Design Associates, throughout each stage of their renovations for aesthetic input and feedback. “The main thing I tried to help with was to keep everything tied together stylistically, since they did the renovations in phases,” Pollert says. “It was important to choose the furniture layout and all the colors wisely to blend everything

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Home & Family

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throughout and have some consistency, especially since it’s a pretty open floor plan. Picking colors and pieces that complemented the cabinetry Dan worked so hard on was important.”

The upstairs level, which is occupied by the Newells’ four children – Taylor, 14, Matthew, 11, Brianna, 10, and Sierra, 9 – features the sort of custom touches that lend character to the ground floor, including a stained cherry booth with bench seating built by Dan, a custom aquatic-themed bathroom shower mural and a screened-in back porch. “The attic level above the upstairs is basically more recreation space for the kids,” Dan says of the home’s fourth and top floor. “It’s definitely a Lego and toy land most of the time.”

Dan says he had not considered returning to his hometown. “I never really thought I would come back and work at the shop here in Columbus where I grew up, but my mom mentioned that my granddad was hopeful that maybe one of his grandkids would take a look at the business,” he recalls. “After our kids arrived, I knew if I stayed in the military I wouldn’t be able to be around for my kids like my dad was for me.

He was at every function and every sporting event. So we agreed that we would move back here and try it out and see if I liked it at the business.”

These days the Newells devote most of their free time to the extracurricular activities of their children and enjoy regular family trips to the soccer complex in Blackwell Park and running sessions at Ceraland Park. “We’re big into fitness with the kids, especially track and cross country,” says Christina, who co-founded the Columbus Running Club’s youth cross country program last year. “We have an activity somewhere almost every night, so having this great house to come home to and relax in is so nice.” –C–

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Travel Story by Meghan McCormick Eddy

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Need a The winter blues have nothing on Colorado when it comes to ski season When the dipping temperatures start to bring you down, it’s best to embrace the weather, pack up the family and head for the hills, or mountains rather, of Colorado, where the state’s 300 inches of average annual snowfall and 300 days of sunshine make it an unparalleled travel destination.

Getting There

Each winter, more than 20 percent of all U.S. ski and snowboard visits occur in Colorado, but for those traveling the Interstate 70 corridor that stretches between Denver and some of the state’s largest, most popular ski resorts (think Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone), that trip is likely to come with significant traffic snarls. A recent population boom in the Denver area (many credit, in part, the state’s now-legal marijuana business) has contributed to gridlocked ski traffic on I-70, particularly during peak weekend hours. Our suggestion? Venture into the southern half of Colorado, where you’ll find a handful of former mining towns-turned-ski destinations, including Crested Butte, Durango and Telluride.

Though less glitzy than the resorts found west of Denver, these towns exude a certain charm you won’t find anywhere else in the state, plus significantly shorter lift lines.

While it’s possible to drive to these areas from Denver without traversing I-70, the reality is that winter driving conditions in the mountains can be daunting for Midwestern travelers. If your budget allows, we recommend flying into one of several smaller regional airports, all of which accommodate abundant ski traffic each year. < < Telluride, Colorado, during winter.

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Travel

CRESTED BUTTE

NEAREST AIRPORT: Gunnison/Crested Butte Regional (GUC)

Drive north out of Gunnison on Highway 135, which dead-ends in Crested Butte. Although it’s best known as a summer haven for mountain bikers and nature enthusiasts (the town will celebrate its 30th annual Wildflower Festival in 2016), Crested Butte has plenty to offer wintertime visitors, too, including 300 inches of annual snowfall.

where to stay

If you have first-chair aspirations — that is, being the first one on the ski lift when it opens in the morning — look no further than The Plaza (skicb.com/ lodging/plaza; 11 Snowmass Road; 877-547-5143), located a mere 100 yards from Crested Butte’s main lift, the Silver Queen. Here, families and groups will find two- and three-bedroom condominium-style lodging, many with exposed wood beams and cozy fireplaces.

If you’re looking for something a bit more luxurious, The Lodge at Mountaineer Square (skicb.com/lodging/ mountaineer-square; 620 Gothic Road; 877-547-5143) offers ski-in/ski-out access, as well as the all-important ski valet service and complimentary ski storage.

Accommodations range from upscale hotel rooms to more spacious one- to four-bedroom suites. The rustic-chic rooms at the recently renovated Nordic Inn (nordicinncb.com; 14 Treasury Road; 800-542-7669) are a charming alternative to the big on-mountain lodges. An inviting great room, heated ski boot dryers and an electric shuttle that carts guests to and from the base of the ski area are just a few of the perks at this chalet-style lodge.

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dining

After a long day of shredding the powder, indulge in an après-ski libation at The Dogwood Cocktail Cabin (thedogwoodcocktailcabin.com; 309 Third St.; 970-349-6338). With its sleek, modern interior and chichi martinis (try the Poco Loco, a vodka martini made with pineapple, habanero and honey), Dogwood blends a big city vibe with backcountry sensibility — aka, you can wear your ski pants here. Just around the corner, you’ll find Secret Stash Pizzeria (stashpizza.com; 303 Elk Ave.; 970-349-6245), which dishes up inventive pies like the Notorious F.I.G. (prosciutto, dried black mission figs and a drizzle of truffle oil) and Buddha’s Belly (a meat-and-veggie pizza with a Thai peanut and coconut curry base). But if a romantic dinner for two is more your style, make a reservation at Soupcon Bistro (soupcon-cb.com, 127 Elk Ave., 970-349-5448), a tiny (read: eight-table) French-American restaurant housed in a historic miner’s cabin. Heavy on seasonal ingredients, entrees include roasted Colorado lamb rack and elk tenderloin, as well as a dessert menu that would make any Parisian jealoux — foie gras and Frangelico-soaked French toast, anyone?

out & about

Crested Butte’s abundance of beginnerfriendly green and blue groomed runs makes it one of the state’s most kidfriendly ski resorts. Pint-sized skiers and boarders can unclip at the base of the mountain and walk directly to Winter Adventure Park (skicb.com/content/ winter-adventure-park, 12 Snowmass Road; 877-547-5143), where activities including mini-golf, a climbing wall and a bungee trampoline await them. Or head to town for free outdoor ice skating at Crested Butte Nordic Center (cbnordic.org/ice-skating/; 620 Second St.; 970-349-0974). Already mastered the toughest terrain on the slopes? Adrenaline junkie adults (and kids who meet the 70-pound weight minimum) can try a winter zip line tour (skicb.com/ content/winter-zipline-tours; 970-3492211), which sends them sailing from platform to platform, ranging from 120 to 400 feet in the air.

durango

where to stay

NEAREST AIRPORT: Durango/La Plata County (DRO)

Located on Highway 550 in the Four Corners area of remote southwestern Colorado, Durango is one of the tougher destinations for out-of-state travelers to access. Happily, this geographical barrier has kept crowds and cost to a minimum at the ski area, Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort.

Routinely praised for its family-friendly ski runs and all-around affordability (a one-day adult lift ticket will set you back $85), Purgatory sees about 260 inches of snowfall each year. It should be noted, however, that the resort, located about 25 minutes north of Durango, is limited on lodging and dining options. If you’re not staying at the resort, be prepared for a short commute each day.

If your main objective is to ski as many hours of your vacation as possible, then slopeside at Purgatory Resort (purgatoryresort.com; 24 Sheol St.; 800-525-0892) is the place to be. Since you may not feel like commuting to Durango every time you’re hungry, we suggest booking one of the resort’s updated condo units and stocking the kitchen on your inbound trip. As an alternative, Tamarron (tamarronvacationrentals.com, 314 Tamarron Drive North, 800-678-1000), which is located 10 minutes from the ski resort and 20 minutes from Durango, offers a bevy of rental options (most are condos), as well as a complimentary ski shuttle that carts guests to Purgatory and back twice daily. Or step back in time to Durango’s mining roots at the Strater Hotel (strater.com; 699 Main Ave.; 800-247-4431). This Victorian-era hotel, located in the heart of downtown Durango, was built in 1887 and retains its original Old West vibe. Guestrooms are heavy on antique furniture and authentic turn-of-the-century décor. Be sure to make a stop at the hotel’s Diamond Belle Saloon for some ragtime piano and a whiskey sour. dining

Wandering through Durango’s historic downtown yields a number of smart dining choices. Health-conscious families — that still like a big juicy hamburger from time to time — will appreciate Grassburger (eatgrassburger. com; 726½ Main Ave.; 970-247-1081). The fast-casual eatery dishes up grassfed beef burgers that are hormone- and antibiotic-free, plus black bean burgers and salads made from locally grown vegetables for the family vegetarian. For a more luxe night out, try Seasons Rotisserie & Grill (seasonsofdurango.com; 764 Main Ave.; 970-382-9790), an intimate bistro serving thoughtfully prepared dishes made from local ingredients. Cases in point: the Rainbow Springs trout with sides of local green beans and arugula, as well as the Colorado lamb sirloin sourced from nearby James Ranch. Cap off your trip downtown with a stop at Steamworks Brewing Co. (steamworksbrewing.com; 801 E. Second Ave.; 970-259-9200). The 20-year old brewery features more than a dozen microbrews on tap, many of which bear clever monikers in a nod to the surrounding area. Cases in point: Face Plant Lager, Conductor IPA, and the aptly named Prescribed Burn, which contains three kinds of chili peppers.

Strater Hotel

out & about

After a long day on the mountain, warm thyself at Trimble Hot Springs (trimblehotsprings.wordpress.com; 6475 County Road 203; 970-247-0212). Here, mineral-rich waters ranging from 80 to 100-plus F provide soothing relief to muscles and joints that have taken a beating on the slopes. For a scenic look at the San Juan National Forest that lies north of Durango, hop aboard the Cascade Train, part of the historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (durangosilvertonrailroad.com; 479 Main Ave.; 866-675-6900). You’ll ride in a heated coach 26 miles each way through Cascade Canyon and back, winding along the beautiful Animas River. Winter weather permitting, get in the car and venture 1½ hours to Mesa Verde National Park (nps.gov/meve; Mesa Verde; 970-529-4465) in Montezuma County. A veritable archaeological wonderland, Mesa Verde is where the Ancestral Pueblo people lived in cliff dwellings — many still marvelously intact — from the years 600 to 1300.

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Travel

telluride

NEAREST AIRPORT: Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ)

Our last stop takes us down Highway 145 to Telluride, another former mining town set high (elevation: 8,750 feet) in a box canyon. The town’s claim to fame lies both in its first-rate ski resort as well as its vibrant arts scene. In the summertime, festivals of every ilk reign supreme, with the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Telluride Film Festival gaining international recognition. But in the winter, it’s all about the powder. With 309 inches of annual snowfall and some of the most scenic — and challenging — runs in the state, it’s no wonder Telluride has been ranked the No. 1 ski resort in North America by Conde Nast Traveler for the past three years in a row.

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The Telluride Gondola

where to stay

As one of the oldest establishments in town, the New Sheridan Hotel (newsheridan.com; 231 W Colorado Ave.; 970-728-4351) has been an important part of Telluride’s landscape for the past 120 years. Renovated in 2008 with help from renowned British interior designer Nina Campbell, the 26-room Victorian hotel with brick exterior features tastefully appointed guestrooms, as well as a historic mahogany-paneled bar overlooking the town’s main thoroughfare. Up in Mountain Village, the pet-friendly Lumiere Telluride (lumieretelluride. com; 118 Lost Creek Lane; 970-3690400) boasts such posh amenities as Egyptian cotton linens, gas fireplaces and complimentary locally roasted Steaming Bean coffee, as well as massage therapists on-site, a ski valet service with boot warmers and the ultimate convenience: in-room equipment fittings. By contrast, San Juan Huts (sanjuanhuts.com/ski/skihuts; various locations; 970-626-3033) offers environmentally conscious travelers a unique way to experience the mountains — by trekking to and from their accommodations via backcountry skis. Each hut can hold up to eight people and features padded bunks, a wood stove, a propane cook stove and a composting toilet. Due to the length and somewhat strenuous nature of getting to the hut (treks in and out take multiple hours), this option is recommended for intermediate-level (or better) skiers.

dining

For a truly unforgettable on-mountain dining experience, travel by gondola (there are no roads leading here) to Allred’s Restaurant (tellurideskiresort.com/events-activities/dining/allreds-restaurant/; 970-728-7474). The menu, which is heavy on local cuisine such as bourbon-marinated elk strip loin with a juniper demi-glace, holds its own. But it’s the view — and perhaps the elevation — that will leave you breathless. In town, the curry and noodle dishes at Siam (siamtelluride. com; 200 S. Davis St.; 970-728-6886), an authentic Thai restaurant tucked in a Victorian house away from the town’s main restaurant row, provide a satisfying ending to a day spent outside in the elements. Cap off the evening with a well-earned drink or two at the Last Dollar Saloon (lastdollarsaloon.com; 100 E. Colorado Ave.; 800-728-4800), a tin-ceilinged hangout dating to the late ’70s that’s popular with locals and tourists alike.

out & about

Although most winter visitors come for the alpine skiing, those seeking a more cardiovascular challenge can rent cross-country skis from the Telluride Nordic Center (telluridetrails. org/html/nordic_ctr.html; 970-7281144). Drive Highway 145 past Mountain Village, to the top of Lizard Head Pass to access the Trout Lake trail (telluridetrails.org/html/trout_lake. html), the only pet-friendly groomed trail in the area. Although the trail is technically free to use, you’re encouraged to make a donation to the Telluride Nordic Association to offset the trail maintenance expenses. Ready for some seriously high altitude? Telluride is one of the few places in the state where you can experience heli-skiing — that is, being flown by helicopter to the top of a remote mountain, then skiing off-piste down tens of thousands of vertical feet to the base.

Not for the faint of heart, nor the inexperienced, tours can be arranged through Telluride Helitrax (helitrax. com; 877-500-8377). Of course, nobody would fault you for taking the easiest way down, the Telluride Gondola (telluride.com/gondola, 301 W. San Juan Ave.).

This complimentary ride, running 7 a.m. to midnight in the winter, glides between Mountain Village and Telluride while providing stunning 360-degree views of nearby Mount Wilson and Sunshine Mountain. –C–

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Weddings

Rachel Weigler and Christopher Benson May 30, 2015 Wedding and reception at The Apple Works Photos by Stacy Able, Stacy Able Photography

Columbus native Rachel Weigler met Chris Benson five days after she moved to Bloomington for work. She got tickets to the Big Red Beer Fest in downtown Bloomington. Her best friend bowed out, but her new roommate, Karlijn Keijzer, came along. At the beer fest, Keijzer ran into fellow Indiana University chemistry doctoral student Chris Benson; she introduced Rachel and Chris. A week later, Chris asked Rachel out via Facebook. “He messaged me to ask me on ‘an adventure,’ and we had our first date a few days later,” Rachel says.

After dating for a while, the couple talked about getting engaged, but the proposal was “a pretty good surprise,” Rachel says and happened in Puerto Rico. “On the Sunday after Christmas, we made a trip to Old San Juan to have dinner at this amazing restaurant. After a great dinner, we walked down the Paseo de la Princesa and stopped to look out over the water. Chris told me how happy he was that we were together and how much he was enjoying our little adventure,” she says. “I said that I would follow him anywhere, to which he said, ‘Forever?’ as he dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him.”

The couple chose The Apple Works as a wedding spot after Rachel’s mom, Sherry Wellman, suggested it.

“She had always thought it would be a pretty place for a wedding,” Rachel says.

The bride wore a raw-lace Simone Carvalli dress with a veil; Kate Spade shoes finished the look. The bridesmaids wore gray lace dresses.

The wedding colors, which evolved over time, were lilac, gray and ivory; most of the decorations were made by the bride and bridesmaids, including paper lantern chandeliers and faux mercury-treated glass vases. Rachel and crew lighted the venue with hundreds of strings of Christmas lights.

“I wanted the wedding to feel a little more formal and chic,” Rachel says. “My mom, dad and I spent days making the seat cushions to cover up the hard benches, and ivory tablecloths with lilac runners would cover the tables.”

Reception food included mini bison burgers, a taco station and even a “carb” station with mashed potatoes and gourmet macaroni and cheese. Rather than one giant cake, guests helped themselves from 300 cupcakes, with flavors including lemon, lavender, butter pecan and maple, all whipped up by Rachel’s mother.

The wedding featured a special memorial. The head table had an empty seat with a bouquet of sunflowers in honor of Keijzer, who had introduced the couple. Though she was a casualty of the Malaysia Air Flight 17 plane crash in July 2014 in Ukraine, the couple honored their friend by dubbing her an honorary bridesmaid. “Chris and I would never be together if it wasn’t for her,” Rachel says.

“This day was so amazingly special,” she says. “Friends and family came from all over the country to celebrate with us, and everything went pretty much according to a well-thought-out plan. We were so surrounded by love that I get a little teary just thinking about it.” –C–

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Weddings

Jessica Kruse and Tad Kilburn June 13, 2015 Wedding at The Inn at Irwin Gardens; reception at The Commons Photos by Brenda Pottinger, Pottinger Photography

Columbus native Jessica Kruse and Tad Kilburn met at Ball State University during a swimming class when she was a freshman and he was a junior. “Yes,” Jessica says. “This is a real class they offer.”

The pair quickly became a couple. Tad graduated and started working on his master’s degree at the University of Kentucky while serving as a graduate assistant with the men’s basketball team. Both finished their degrees in May 2012 but were still living in separate cities.

“Tad’s job requires a lot of international travel,” Jessica says. “So when he found out he had an upcoming work trip to Paris, he extended his trip and surprised me with a plane ticket to join him. In January 2014 we were running around Paris, enjoying all of the sights and celebrating five great years together. Midway through our trip we were watching the light show taking place on the Eiffel Tower from our hotel room when Tad dropped to one knee and proposed.”

The best part, Jessica says, was that they didn’t have cellphone service. “We had a few days to enjoy being engaged and celebrating before we shared our big news with the rest of the world.”

They selected Jessica’s hometown for their wedding location. “We chose Irwin Gardens for a ceremony site and The Commons for the reception because of their locations and the unique look of each venue,” Jessica says. “The rehearsal dinner was at Zaharakos because of Tad’s obsession with ice cream. Their event space on the second level was great for our guests; they toured through the museum-like rooms during the cocktail hour.”

Jessica’s dress was a feathered Maggie Sottero gown, inspired by “The Great Gatsby.”The tuxes came from That Special Touch and the cake from Ashlynn Leigh Cakes, both in Columbus.

“During our reception our photographer took us outside to take some great shots around town with the two of us. They were by far our favorite pictures from the day. It showcased our big day while showcasing Columbus as well,” Jessica says. “It was such an amazing experience to have all of our guests experience the great city I grew up in and love so much. Most of our guests had never been to Columbus, so it was the perfect opportunity to show them what they had been missing all this time. We got so many compliments from our guests on all the venues and of the city. It was exactly what we wanted when we pictured our big day.” –C–

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Not-So-Newlywed Game Sept. 17 | Columbus Learning Center 1. Norvin and Ginger Williams. 2. Clif and Wanda Simmen with Ursula Williams. 3. Volunteer Jacqueline Diaz. 4. The event benefited Turning Point Domestic Violence Services. 5. Rovene Quigley. 6. Alice and Rich Gold. 7. Emcee Mickey Kim. 8. Tom and Tina Vujovich.

9. Judy Smithson, Carol Evans, Andy Smithson and Bob Evans. 10. Edward and Kim Pence with Diane and Mike Robbins.

11. Srikanth Padmanabhan, Megna Chari and Usha Raghavan. 12. Tom and Gina Wetherald with Norm and Judy Johns Jackson.

13. Shannon and Josie Royer. 14. Carol and Jerry Pennington, Joe Shafran, and Brad and Jeannine Gonsalves. 15. Fred and Kathi Armstrong.

16. Bob and Cate Hyatt. 17. Hutch and Kevina Schumaker.

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ArtFest Sept. 12-13 | Downtown Columbus

2 1. Tim and Patsy Sheehan display their recently purchased Ron Arnold photograph.

2. Mark Miller.

3. Pieces created by Hot Blown Glass, Ltd. 4. Barbara Baker with her children, Marwa, Eamon and Ibar.

5. Lucy Innes and her daughter, Sasha, and Shelly Miller, with her daughter, Ella Blu, have lunch at Zaharakos.

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6. Ellen and Shawn Faye with Danica Hall and Addison Gettelfinger.

7. Clayton Benefiel of Hot Blown Glass, Ltd. shows Liz Worthington how to work with molten glass.

8. Ruben and Keith Guthrie perform.

9. Kirsten and Dan Douglass, with sons, Owen and Joe, with Heather and Ryan Wirtz and their daughters, McKenzie and Madilyn.

10. Alison Stier and Heidi the puppy.

11. The Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

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12. Emorie Kincer holds items her grandparents, David and Beverly Campbell, bought for her at ArtFest.

13. Deb Slone.

14. Marlee Moore checks out her face paint.

15. Justin, the artistic horse.

16. Ariane, Myka and Alex Woods.

17. Sculpture for sale by Marilynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clay Garden.

Photos by Carla Clark

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unCommon Cause Fabulous at Forty Gala Oct. 16 | The Commons 1. Kelsey Johnson and Anna Gilley. 2. Brittany Diebolt, John and Erin Bushouse, Lorena and Eric Baird, Roy Ice and Amy Counts.

3. Snickerdoodle cupcake with cinnamon frosting and rum chata pipette. 4. Christine Kuo and Elaine Wagner. 5. Elli and Dan McElroy.

6. Mike and Ellie Ryan. 7. Ryan and Tricia Brand. 8. This year's event celebrated 40 years of unCommon Cause.

9. Elegant table decor. 10. Kathy and Terry Molewyk with Scott and Kelly Benjamin. 11. Lloyd Brooks, Renae Haehl, Erin Hawkins and Jonathan Wilson.

12. John Pickett, Tami Sharp and Jeff Baker. 13. The appetizer table. 14. Emcee Mike Jamerson. 15. Victoria and Bill Glick.

16. Josh Ratliff with Brooke Hawkins. 17. Brianna Stainbrook assists Rob Forste in registering for bids.

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22 18. Nea Ritz with Bob and Barbara Stevens.

19. Norm and Judy Jackson with Chuck Boll.

20. Attendees enjoyed a main entree of lamb.

21. Kasey Johnson.

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22. Karen Shrode, director of the Columbus Area Arts Council, thanks the former chairmen of the unCommon Cause.

23. Cookie box favors made by Sweet Batar.

24. The Heartfelt Trio plays. Members are Michael Beck, Janiece Jaffe and Curtis Cantwell Jackson.

25. Suzanne and Chuck Wells.

26. A stay at the Irwin Gardens Inn was donated for the silent auction.

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“Stop Violence Against Women” Benefit Show Oct. 22 | Lockett’s Ladies Shop 1. Elaine Merkel, Brenda Merkel, Ginny Gilbert and Julia Orben. 2. The show benefited the Zonta campaign.

3. Models Katelyn Phillips and Jeri Cannon wait for their turn on the runway. 4. Cathy Klaes, Lynne Hyatt, Leah Essex, Annette Barnes and Joy Perry.

5. Barbara Stamper and Kay Shanes. 6. Annette Barnes holds a turquoise bag she won during the event.

7. Gwen Cord, Donna Sasse, Susan Egbert and Nancy Olson.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Evening at the Hotel California with Don Felderâ&#x20AC;? Hospice Concert Sept. 5 | Mill Race Park 1. Kim Knight with her mother, Connie Crouch. 2. (In back) Don and Chris Stepp, Rich Newton, Joe and Barb Gahimer, Jack and Lora Bodi and Joan Bickel. (In front) Barb Newton, Jim Bickel and Marlene Weatherwax. 3. Melanie Pickett blows bubbles. 4. Hotel Indigo was packed with fans waiting to meet Don Felder before the show. 5. Dave Shymkus. 6. Don Felder, ex-Eagles guitarist, performs. 7. Callee Harrison, Grace Brown, and Raven Rathburn, with Michael and Hannah Ruse. 8. Sam Rhodes, Fran Hessler, Kevin Rielley, Maggie Hessler, Lynette and Steve Browder.

9. Braving a summer rain. 10. Russell and Heather Hubbard with children Gavin and Melia. 11. Debbie DeWeese.

12. Dave and Vicki Pearison with Tammy and Tom Scott. 13. Olivia Birt dances. 14. Trish Ward and John Dickey.

15. Tracy Munn holds an album signed by Don Felder. 16. Roy Goode and Laura Hurt meet Don Felder.

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Calendar of Events Compiled by Amy Norman

MUSIC | ARTS | ENTERTAINMENT | OUTDOORS | SPECIAL INTERESTS

Through Dec. 20

Through Dec. 31

Take a ride to the holiday village or stroll through the Winter Wonderland trail during Holiday at the Farm at the Shireman Homestead. Enjoy surprises in each building and visit the Holiday Treat House. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will be a special mailbox for letters to Santa. For returned letters, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Time: 5 to 7 p.m. Location: Shireman Homestead, 7060 W. County Road 200N. Information: (812) 372-2946 or shiremanhomestead.com.

The Happy Halfy Book Sale offers half price on all fiction, adult, children’s and teen books in the ongoing book sale area. Proceeds benefit the Bartholomew County Library Associates. Location: Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St. Information: (812) 379-1266 or mybcpl.org.

intimate look at the holidays within the midcentury modern masterpiece. See the house in a whole new light while hearing stories of and getting an exclusive look at Xenia Miller’s global crèche collection. Times: 1 and 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Cost: $50. Reservations required by calling (888)718-4253 or columbus.in.us.

Through Jan. 22

Dec. 5

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“Creche the Halls: Christmas at the Miller House” gives visitors a unique perspective and an

The Festival of Lights Parade features up to 100 floats, animal units and walking groups created

by local corporations, businesses and community groups. The streets of downtown Columbus light up with thousands of twinkling lights. QMIX musical fireworks will follow the parade. Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Downtown Columbus.

Dec. 6 Enjoy the sounds of six organists coming together to play Christmas favorites during the Advent Organ Fest. Time: 3 p.m. Location: First Presbyterian Church, 512 Seventh St. Information: (812) 372-3783 or fpccolumbus.org.

Get in the Christmas spirit during the Columbus City Band Holiday Concert. More than 50 volunteer musicians from the community perform your favorite holiday selections. Time: 2 p.m. Location: The Commons, 300 Washington St. Information: columbuscityband.org.

Dec. 8 Enjoy a variety of fun-to-make-and-eat Christmas goodies during Sweet Christmas Treats. You’ll get to sample some and have some to share with family and friends. Ages 6 to 10. Time: 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. Cost: $14. Registration deadline: Dec. 4. Location: Donner Center, 739 22nd St. Information and registration: (812) 376-2680 or columbus.in.gov/ parks-recreation.

Dec. 9 Fans who want to know why basketball officials make calls the way they do should attend “Bas-

ketball Officiating for the Fan.” Timothy Molinari, a tournament-level high school basketball official, invites the public to ask questions during this session. Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St. Information: (812) 379-1266 or mybcpl.org.

Dec. 10 Pick up a new skill and learn to make baskets during basket-making classes through the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department. For all basket classes, students should bring a flat-blade screwdriver, scissors, a large towel and a spray bottle for water. Sample baskets will be on display at Donner Center and online closer to the class date.

Classes are taught by Pat Carothers. Time: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Cost: $36. Location: Donner Center, 739 22nd St. Information: columbus.in.gov/parks-recreation.

Meet with other writers to share ideas and learn during the Bartholomew County Writers Group.

Time: 6 p.m. Location: Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St. Information: (812) 379-1266 or mybcpl.org.

Dec. 11-13; 18-20 Don’t miss “It’s A Wonderful Life: Radio Play” for a unique way to enjoy this holiday classic. Times: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $15 in advance; $20 at the door; children younger than 12, $10 at the door. Location: Harlequin Theatre, Fair Oaks Mall, 2380 25th St. Information: (812) 343-4597 or theharlequintheatre.com.

Dec. 13 “Christmas!” features the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir.

The concert will get the entire family into the holiday spirit. Times: 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets: $10 to $35. Location: Columbus North High School auditorium, 1400 25th St. Information: thecip.org.

Don’t miss these classic movies on the big screen at the Historic Artcraft Theatre in Franklin. All movies start at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays unless indicated. Location: 57 N. Main St., Franklin.

Information: (317) 736-6823 or www.historicartcrafttheatre.org Dec. 5 & 6: “A Christmas Story” Dec. 11-13: “White Christmas” Dec. 18-20: “Christmas Vacation” Jan. 8 & 9: “Blue Hawaii” Jan. 22 & 23: “An American Tail” Feb. 12 & 13: “Funny Face” Feb. 26 & 27: “Dial M for Murder”

Dec. 17 Straight No Chaser returns to their alma mater for a night of festive holiday favorites, surprising pop arrangements and amazing vocals. Originally formed in 1996 at Indiana University, the group has reassembled and re-emerged as a phenomenon with a huge fan base. Time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $37 to $57. Location: IU Auditorium, 1211 E. Seventh St., Bloomington.

Information: iuauditorium.com.

Dec. 19 DEC. 22: Chaotic Tuesdays

Enjoy a celebration of Christmas at “An Anniversary Christmas Celebration” with the St.

Bartholomew choir and friends through choral music, brass numbers, children’s voices and singers from the local community. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: Free; but donations accepted. Location: St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 1306 27th St. Information: saintbartholomew.org.

Dec. 22 Don’t miss Chaotic Tuesdays when the “Chaos I” sculpture will be fully running. Enthusiasts of Jean Tinguely’s sculpture will be on hand to answer

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>> calendar of events

your questions and a few of Tinguely’s belongings will be on display. Time: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Location: The Commons, 300 Washington St. Information: thecommonscolumbus.com.

Dec. 31 The Yes Comedy Showcase features Mike Armstrong, a former police officer from Louisville, Kentucky. He’s a regular guest on “The Bob and Tom Show,” with TV credits ranging from “Oprah” to “CBS Morning News” to “Good Morning America.” Tickets: $20 in advance; $25 day of the show. Location: Yes Cinema and Conference Center, 328 Jackson St. Information: yescinema.org.

Jan. 5 Receive emotional support, practical assistance in coping with the issues you face and the latest information on research during the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group. Time: 4:30 p.m. Location: Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St. Information: (812) 379-1266 or mybcpl.org.

Jan. 8 First Fridays for Families features Bongo Boy Drum Circle. Drum to a different beat at this community drum circle. This is an interactive experience where participants learn how to play simple beats on drums in unison. Time: 6 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: The Commons, 300 Washington St. Information: artsincolumbus.org.

Jan. 11 Podiatrist Dr. Brandon Gumbiner covers exercise, stretching and your feet during “Fab Feet.” He will discuss proper warmup and stretches and shoe gear as you set out to accomplish your New Year’s resolutions. Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St. Information: (812) 379-1266 or mybcpl.org.

Jan. 16 The Minut Piano Duo, Mirabella and Bogdan Minut, will present a program of their favorite pieces composed for the piano duo medium during “The Best Of … The Minut Piano Duo.” Time: 7 p.m. Location: St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 1306 27th St. Information: saintbartholomew.org.

Jan. 30 The Yes Comedy Showcase features Dan St. Paul.

Tickets: $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Location: Yes Cinema and Conference Center, 328 Jackson St. Information: yescinema.org.

Feb. 5 First Fridays for Families features Hastey Pudding Puppets. Join in this left-handed salute to American history that would give Martha Washington a migraine. During this anachronistic tour de farce

FEB. 13: Cast-A-Way Sale

back through time, Thurston Osgood, host of the interview program “Meet the Patriots,” brings you face to face with the people who made our country what it is today. Time: 6 p.m. Cost: Free.

Location: The Commons, 300 Washington St. Information: artsincolumbus.org.

Feb. 6 The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and pianist Tianshu Wang will perform the “Yellow River Concerto” to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10 to $45. Location: Columbus North High School auditorium, 1400 25th St. Information: thecip.org.

Feb. 9-10 JAN. 5: Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group

Matchboxes, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters and more fill the stage with energizing beats at “Stomp,” the inventive and invigorating stage show that’s dance, music and theatrical performance blended in an electrifying rhythm.

Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $49 to $62. Location: IU Auditorium, 1211 E. Seventh St., Bloomington.

Information: iuauditorium.com.

Feb. 13 Get rid of stuff you don’t use anymore during the Cast-A-Way Sale. Admission is free. Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location: Location: Donner Center, 739 22nd St. Information and registration: columbus.in.gov/ parks-recreation.

Feb. 14 The Columbus City Band performs its Winter Concert. Time: 2 p.m. Location: The Commons, 300 Washington St. Information: columbuscityband.org.

Feb. 27 The Yes Comedy Showcase features Ron Feingold. He has performed in America’s finest

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comedy clubs, universities and theaters. After doing “straight” stand-up for five years, he decided to stir things up a little and bring his love for a cappella music to the comedy clubs. Tickets: $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Location: Yes Cinema and Conference Center, 328 Jackson St. Information: yescinema.org.

DEC. 31: Comic Mike Armstrong performs at YES Cinema

Feb. 28 The Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents “The People You Meet Along the Way.” Time: 3:30 p.m. Tickets: $10 adults; $5 seniors and children 12 and older; children younger than 12 free. Location: The Commons, 300 Washington St. Information: csoindiana.org.

Enjoy trombone, clarinet and piano excerpts from operas during “Deconstructing Opera.” Time: 3 p.m. Location: First Presbyterian Church, 512 Seventh St. Information: fpccolumbus.org.

March 1-2 The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic “42nd Street” is the song and dance fable of Broadway with an American Dream story that includes some of the greatest songs ever written, such as “We’re in the Money,”“Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle off to Buffalo,”“Dames,”“I Only Have Eyes for You” and of course, “42nd Street.” Time: 8 p.m.

Tickets: $39 to $65. Location: IU Auditorium, 1211 E. Seventh St., Bloomington. Information: iuauditorium.com. –C– FEB. 14: The Columbus City Band performs its Winter Concert

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The Republic file photos.

A Look Back

Sweatin’ to the Past In recent years Richard Simmons has taken to spreading his fat-fighting message of self-love via social media; he’s had something of a renaissance through Facebook, where he’s garnered a quarter of a million “likes.” But long before social media was in existence, this fitness guru made personal appearances around the United States.

On May 4, 1991, Simmons came to Columbus’ Fair Oaks Mall.

Clad in his signature short shorts and tank top, the curly-haired Pied Piper of Poundage made a high-energy appearance full of kind gestures (he passed out $100 bills to attendees) and celebration of success (“Don’t cry; you should be so happy,” he told a woman who had used his Deal-A-Meal program to lose 55 pounds). Simmons led local fans in an aerobic routine.

His visit left no small impression.

“He’s meant a whole new life to me,” said weight loss enthusiast Heather McAllister. “I get up in the morning, and I’m actually glad to be awake.”

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