Kokomo Magazine December 2022

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ON THE RIGHT PATH New Minister Starts at Center Road Church of Christ

THE MOST WONDERFUL

OF THE

Bill & Janice Roe Continue Role of Mr. & Mrs. Claus for 44th Year

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obby Price, the new minister of Kokomo’s Center Road Church of Christ, says he is pleased about being at the church and has exciting plans for the future.

“My plans are to pursue the motto of Center Road, ‘loving people one step closer to Christ,’” Price says. “In that pursuit, we will continue pursuing a Bible-first ministry emphasizing God’s word and seeking to be ‘Christians only,’ without any man-made traditions, teachings or concerns for labels. Second, we have created a welcoming place of love and truth for all people to find joy, comfort and guidance in living out the words of Christ.”

Price, who started at the church in August, has worked in Texas, Arkansas, and Illinois.

“Before coming to Kokomo, I worked for six years in Decatur, Illinois, with an older, loving congregation,” Price says. “It was there I pursued my Master of Biblical Studies at Sunset International Bible Institute, and here in Kokomo, I will pursue my doctorate.”

Price acknowledges that everyone is living in trying times and that right now, prayer is more important than ever.

“The recent chaotic state of our world, and specifically the covid lockdowns, demonstrated our inherent need for God as humans,” Price says. “God is the creator of life, meaning he knows how life should be lived. God knows what a good life is and how to achieve it. Living life his way is the best way to live life. You will never prosper more than when you follow his guidance.”

Price added that no one is free from problems.

Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided

“The prosperity God offers is not a life free from trouble - there is no such thing. Nor does the prosperity of God mean becoming financially wealthy. The best description of a ‘good life’ comes from his Word, ‘love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’ These are the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians, 5:2223, the product of living life God’s way.”

Price has witnessed a lot of positive things at both Center Road Church and in the Kokomo community.

“Center Road Church has proven itself as a place welcoming to all people and having a strong desire to serve the community,” Price says. “The people here want to serve the community, especially in being a place where parents feel comfortable bringing their children. We will continue to give families a place where they can enjoy themselves and learn about God.”

Price notes that he would be excited to see more people get involved at Center Road Church.

“Walk on in! Bible study is at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays and worship at 10:30 a.m. Come, make friends, volunteer, join our life groups or any of our ministries and be part of an amazing family.”

Price says he has been continually inspired by the church and the citizens of Kokomo.

“In my three months at this congregation, I have been impressed with how strong their desire to love God and love Kokomo is,” Price says. “We live in a world that needs love and truth. This is a place where you will find them.”

To find out more about Center Road Church of Christ, visit the church at 899 W. 300 S., Kokomo, Indiana or call (765) 453-1448. You can also check out their website at www.centerandpark.org.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Bill and Janice Roe have been a married for nearly five decades, but some might say they’ve been a power couple for the past 44 years. That’s because they’ve been playing Santa and Mrs. Claus since 1978. The two met when they both worked at the Howard Johnson restaurant. The first time he met her, Bill (who had previously been employed in Las Vegas), was dressed in a sequined shirt and black pants with a stripe down the side.

“I thought the outfit was kind of weird, and then he asked me out

for pizza,” recalls Janice. “But I was starving so I agreed!”

The two tied the knot in Kokomo in November 1973 and have lived here ever since.

The first time Bill played Santa was when he was in the Army National Guard and was instructed to dress up as St. Nick for the Guard’s annual Christmas party. Although he wasn’t thrilled at the thought of having to wear a wig and false beard and glue cotton onto his eyebrows, the moment he donned the red suit and black boots, he was hooked.

“I had so much fun with the kids,” says Bill, who got Janice involved playing Mrs. Claus. The couple has many great memories of time spent with little ones. For instance, one time they were at a military base when two little kids came up to sit on Bill’s lap. They were happy to see Santa and yet sad because they wanted to see their daddy for Christmas.

“I knew their dad was out back,” Bill says. “When he came in and those kids saw him, they forgot all about Santa!”

Another time when the couple was working at a mall when a terminal boy visited Santa.

“That tore me up,” Bill says.

Bill and Janice have a fondness for working with special needs children because they raised one of their own. When Janice was pregnant, she fell on black ice. Jamie was born an ultra-preemie, weighing barely two pounds.

“Doctors kept telling me he wasn’t going to make it, and I said, ‘You do your part, and we will accept God’s verdict,’” Janice says.

Jamie did survive and was born with cerebral palsy and a mild mental disability.

“We were told that his arms and legs would be crippled and that he would never be able to read or write, but I taught him to read at first grade level,” says Janice, who used to work as a full-time substitute special ed teacher. She was often booked for weeks in advance because everyone loved her and wanted her in their classrooms. Bill worked in sporting goods at Montgomery Ward, as a bakery truck driver and as a tool setter at Chrysler.

They raised seven children. Jamie passed away in 2003 at age 38.

“If you see special needs children and you aren’t choked up with tears coming out of your eyes, there’s something wrong with you,” Bill says.

For a long time, the couple played Santa and Mrs. Claus part-time. When Bill retired in 2006, he went to Midland, Michigan, to attend the CW Howard Santa School, the longest continuously running Santa Claus school in the U.S. The three-day training teaches participants the dos and don’ts of playing Santa.

Through the years, Bill and Janice brought Santa and Mrs. Claus to the Kokomo Armory, the We Care Park, various malls in Kokomo

Photo provided by Lynette Photography and Design

& Fort Wayne and December’s First Friday event in front of the Howard County courthouse in downtown Kokomo.

Four years ago, Bill got quite sick and wondered if the time was coming that he would have to hang up his red bag and retire the reindeer, as it were. But then he started feeling better and the jingle bells once again began to ring. This is not to say that they haven’t dialed back the appearances in recent years. After all, they are both 76 years old.

“We have trouble walking, and we get short-winded pretty quickly,” Bill says, noting that they didn’t participate in December’s First Friday parade last year because they couldn’t safely step onto the carriage.

The couple used to work with five different photographers, but it was getting to be too much so now they travel to a friend’s photography studio for a full weekend of 15-minute photo sessions with children and families.

“We start at 10 a.m. and finish around 7 p.m.,” Bill says. While it seems that their face muscles would be tired from all that smiling, they insist they are not.

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“We can smile for hours,” Janice says. “Doesn’t bother us at all!”

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It’s a good thing because they were already booking up back in the fall.

“In October, the photographer told me that she already had 150 kids booked,” Bill says. And that makes them happy.

“We have a ball with children. We’ll get down on the ground with them. Of course, these days we need help getting back up,” says Bill.

One day, the pair (who have 14 grandchildren and six great-

grandchildren),

“love you.”

Bill says the most difficult part about playing Santa is having the patience to wait for the next Christmas season to roll around.

“People have told us that we’re not charging enough, but it’s none of their business what we charge,” Bill says. “You can’t be in this for the money, and we’re not. We love being Santa and Mrs. Claus!”

may move to Florida, but for now they are happy to stay put in Kokomo with their four cats (Butterball, Sweetie Pie, Tigger, and Fiona) and their 25-year-old Quaker parrot who blows kisses and hollers,

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RESERVE NORTON

Blackhawk Winery’s Reserve Norton is a special treat for dry red wine lovers. Aged 2 years in American oak, fruit meets balanced tannins in a robust dry red.

SEYVAL BLANC

Enjoy the light citrus of this delightful Seyval Blanc. Vinted from grapes grown in our vineyards, a truly special, local treat.

SHERIDAN

Blackhawk Winery is the only winery in the world selling Sheridan wine! A fruity rose with notes of cherry and watermelon - versatile and pairs with cheeses and poultry! Perfect partner to the holidays.

LEMON

Find out why Blackhawk Winery’s Lemon is the most popular wine in the tasting room. Made from pure lemon juice, this wine brings liquid sunshine to the colder days.

Owner Brittany Sanchez

rittany Sanchez, the new coowner of Kokomo’s beloved Moore’s Pie Shop, says she is excited about taking over the popular pie place.

“We officially bought the building and business on Aug. 16, 2022,” Sanchez says. “We opened our doors on Oct. 7, 2022.”

Sanchez and her staff did a thorough cleaning of the shop before they opened.

“When we first bought the pie shop, there wasn’t much inventory to work with, so we spent a month and a half deep cleaning the kitchen while we waited for our ingredients and pie pans to come in,” Sanchez says.

Sanchez notes that there were some other challenges to overcome as well.

“Supply chain issues and COVID-19 really did prove to be a challenge in getting our supplies in to start making the pies,” she says. “Even when we had all the stuff, we still had to go through training with Gregg Lucas (prior Moore’s owner 2007-2020). We are not a part of the Moore family—the original owners—but we kept the name because we are using Moore’s pie recipes and the name is well known in Kokomo and the surrounding areas.”

Sanchez has made some positive new changes since taking over Moore’s Pie Shop.

“We have online ordering available now,” she says. “Plus, we have a replacement to the mini pies called ‘galettes’ (pronounced gul-lets). The galettes are pie crust tops with Moore’s fruit filling in the middle and then we fold the edges towards the middle to make a little window of the filling. We finish up with an egg wash to give a nice, golden-brown crust and a crispy, flaky outside. If you are a big fan of our pie crust, then you will love our galettes.”

Customers already have their favorite pies.

“Sugar cream and Dutch apple pies are our top sellers,” Sanchez says. “That will change with the holiday season when it becomes pumpkin. Sugar cream, however, is an Indiana staple.”

Moore has her own personal favorite pies. “I am a sucker for the classic apple or Dutch apple pie,” Sanchez says. “My husband and business partner, Joshua, loves the Dutch.

Sanchez and her husband have been Kokomo fans for a long time.

“We absolutely love the community of Kokomo,” she says. “We have gotten so much support from our friends, customers and from other community leaders in Kokomo. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Robb Blume at Community First Bank of Indiana and we probably would not have gone forward with this opportunity if not for Michael Grant, who owned the business in the early 2000’s. Mike is our realtor but has also helped us out in so many other ways… from finding our house to guiding us towards acquiring Moore’s.”

Sanchez added that their customers have also been outstanding, “A lot of our customers have been so helpful with getting the word out that

Moore’s Pie Shop is not closed and is here to stay,” she says. “I have never been in such a supportive community.”

Sanchez says she wants to get Moore’s pies

the customers who have tried Moore’s pies in the past. You are the people who have kept Moore’s alive, and we will try our best to keep that legacy going.”

KOKOMO DECEMBER EVENTS

DEC 1-24

PHOTOS WITH SANTA; MARKLAND MALL

Reserve your photo time slot in advance (walk-ins also welcome); Make your reservation here:

DEC 2-4

KOKOMO CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS THE PLAY “ONE CHRISTMAS EVE AT EVERGREEN MALL”

IU Kokomo Havens Auditorium

Performances on Friday & Saturday 7:30 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m.; This play follows eight intertwined stories in a Midwestern mall on the last day of shopping before the holiday. Experience the joys and sorrows of the season in one festive package. For tickets, call 765-454-8800 or visit kokomocivictheatre.org.

DEC 1-24

CITY

OF LIGHTS DISPLAY IN HIGHLAND PARK

Open nightly at dusk; Santa there from 6-10 p.m.; Free admission; Call 765-456-7275.

DEC 1-31

CHRISTMAS AT THE SEIBERLING

Seiberling Mansion; Open Tuesday-Sunday 1-4 p.m. and select evenings; Admission $10 adults, $5 K-12 students, children under age 5 are free; Tickets available online or at the door; Closed Mondays, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; Admission is free on select evenings (Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16); Call 765-452-4314 or visit howardcountymuseum.org/programs/christmas-at-the-seiberling.

DEC 1-JAN 8

FROZEN SANDLOT

Ice skating at Kokomo Municipal Stadium

Open select days only for public skate through Jan. 8; Visit their website to find a full schedule of skating times, ticket prices, online waiver form and more at frozensandlot.com.

DEC 2

FIRST FRIDAY “ELFCON”

Dress up like an elf and stroll through downtown for hot cocoa, caroling and an Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl Downtown Kokomo; 5:30-9:00 p.m.; Free admission; Visit firstfridaykokomo.com.

DEC 3

KHCPL RUDOLPH FAMILY FUN

5K RUN & 5K WALK

Downtown Kokomo starting at Kokomo-Howard Co. Public Library Main; Starts at 8 a.m.; Registration includes reindeer antlers and a Rudolph nose, while supplies last; Register at:

DEC 3

CHRISTMAS PARADE

Downtown Kokomo; Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. Those interested in parade entries or being a vendor, visit www.cityofkokomo.org or call Dave Trine, 765-456-7472.

DEC 5

PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA Markland Mall; 5-7 p.m. Reservations are highly encouraged; Make your reservation here:

ALL EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS, GO TO VISITKOKOMO.ORG

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