The Lakes East Magazine January 2024

LET’S GET IT STRAIGHT HUTSELL CHIROPRACTIC TAKES A WHOLE-PERSON APPROACH TO HEALTH AND HEALING

JANUARY 2024

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8

KEY CONTRIBUTORS ALI SCHNEIDER AMY LANT-WENGER KAYLA CLEMONS JEFF KENNEY KARI LIPSCOMB SARAH REYNOLDS TONY STRAW

LEADERSHIP AND LOYALTY

Girl Scouts Membership Fosters Creativity, Commitment and Community Caring

17

IT’S A FAMILY THING

Richland Farms Makes It Count Through Premium Products and Practices

23

LET’S GET IT STRAIGHT

Hutsell Chiropractic Takes a Whole-Person Approach to Health and Healing

29 JANUARY 2024

SHINING ON

Finding Inner Calm Through Cleaning

37

CATCHING FIRE

Fireside Craft Burgers & Brews Brings Flavor and Flair to LaGrange County

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE

How Electricity Came to the Lakes Area

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MAKING EVERY MEAL MATTER

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FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com 317.496.3599 PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com 317.810.0011 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK

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JANUARY EVENTS

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CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: 317-810-0011 FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT FRANCHISING.TOWNEPOST.COM CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?

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LEADERSHIP AND LOYALTY GIRL SCOUTS MEMBERSHIP FOSTERS CREATIVITY, COMMITMENT AND COMMUNITY CARING Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger Photography Provided

For today’s generation of young women, it may seem unfathomable that there was ever a time when certain freedoms and liberties were out of reach, once deemed only justifiable for men. Yet as the advent of the 20th century came about, these were the ways of the American girl.

Aspirations beyond the homestead were discouraged, voting was forbidden, and their strengths and talents were largely subdued and silenced.

Meanwhile, in heart of the deep south,

there was a revolution taking shape, spearheaded by a visionary named Juliette Gordon Low. With a gathering of like-minded girls, she launched the very first troop of what was to become the Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia, in 1912. The mission, then and now, was to empower girls and nurture the notion that they could achieve whatever goals they could dream of.

This was much more than creating a ripple in a small pond. This was destined

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to become a global movement that still resonates powerfully, more than 110 years later.

The local organization of Girl Scouts spans a vast territory that includes 20 counties in northern Indiana, along with two counties in southwestern Michigan.

The council is a consolidation of several “legacy” troops, and has held a strong presence in the Michiana area for more than 50 years. The membership is currently about 4,500 girls strong,

with an additional support network of volunteers numbering nearly 2,500. The opportunities for participation are many, and girls can begin their Girl Scouts journey as young as five years of age.

“The girls have the opportunity to

explore different learning styles, and we often collaborate with professionals and local organizations to provide programming, giving the girls exposure to various fields, including STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), entrepreneurship, and outdoor programming,” says Abby Schoonaert, Chief Membership Officer for the Michiana organization.

such as volunteering, summer camps, creating business models and putting them into practice, and mentoring.

As the Girl Scouts finesse their skills, they can earn badges of distinction. It is also one of the primary tenets of the Girl Scouts experience to invest in their communities, which in turn builds their confidence and gives them avenues to draw on their strengths.

The progression of membership in the Girl Scouts includes Daisies for youngsters in kindergarten through first grade, Brownies for the secondand third-graders, and Juniors at the fourth- and fifth-grade stages. As the girls approach their teenage years, they can become Cadettes in grades six through eight, Juniors in the ninth and tenth grades, and Ambassadors as high school juniors and seniors.

For Girl Scouts who not only wish to dream big, but to also power those visions into action, there is a level of accomplishment known as the Gold Award. This is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a young woman of high school age, one who has met a specific list of criteria and expresses a desire to earn this distinction.

Camaraderie amongst the members is bolstered through a variety of activities

To receive the Gold Award, a Girl Scout must select a project that fosters her abilities in leadership and contributes significant impact to her community.

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special patch to display their newfound knowledge on wellness.

This past summer there were seven young women celebrated at Goshen College for becoming Gold Award recipients. One of the honorees also was given a National Gold Award scholarship. Those who were feted at this occasion included: Colleen Britten, Columbia City - Britten saw a need for middle school students to further a love of music by implementing a show choir camp that would allow young people to embrace their talents for song and dance.

Heather Elwood, Leo - Elwood worked

10 | January 2024 | TownePost.com

to develop a peaceful place of respite for caregivers who look after loved ones who are struggling. By aligning with Image of Hope Ranch, she helped install benches for a simple oasis, along with brochures that detailed additional resources for families.

Isabella Habegger, Fort Wayne Habegger’s focus was on the mental health challenges that are so prevalent in a post-pandemic era, as well as its effects on children. She created coping kits for youngsters, along with literature to help others recognize warning signs, and a

Sarah Lynne Northrop, Claypool Northrop had long expressed an interest in the Potawatomi tribe and their traditions.

Upon learning that a building showcasing that heritage had sustained storm damage at the Fulton County Historical Society, she went to work rebuilding the affected parts of the structure, so that the building could once again be used for educational purposes.

Keely Roe, Warsaw - Roe noticed that the campaigns espousing breast health were tailored for adult women, and there was scant information for younger women and preteens to access. She went about developing virtual education workshops and informational literature to demonstrate the importance of self-exams and abnormal signs. For her work on this project, Roe was also honored with a Girl Scouts USA Gold Award Scholarship for $10,000.

Courtney Tobin, Columbia City - Tobin spearheaded an endeavor to aid families facing food security, who may not have access to food pantries when needed.

She created Kindness Boxes, which contained nonperishable items and other necessities, which can be made available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Megan Willis, Hartford, Michigan Willis’s work was for the benefit of emergency service workers, who are trained to deal with stressful situations.

Her goal was to enhance that training by providing kits and a specialized curriculum when dealing with patients who have sensory issues.

When many folks hear about the Girl Scouts, their minds automatically fill in a third word…cookies. And while it is certainly true that the beloved treats are legendary in and of themselves, they represent one of the most successful sales campaigns in not only the club’s history, but also for any organization nationwide.

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The tradition dates back to 1917, when a Girl Scout troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma, started baking batches of cookies in the local high school cafeteria.

The group, known as the Mistletoe Troop, began selling their creations locally as part of their hometown service project. By the early 1920s a council magazine called The American Girl published a recipe for cookies, which was in turn passed along to 2,000 Girl Scouts within the council.

Florence E. Neil, who was serving as a local director in Chicago, offered an estimate of 26 to 36 cents to purchase all of the ingredients to bake seven dozen cookies. Her suggestion to the girls was that they could then sell the cookies for a price of 25 to 30 cents per dozen - and the direct-sales revolution was born.

The newest round of annual cookie sales is just around the corner, set to launch in January. Customers can expect to see several of their favorites returning, including Thin Mints, Trefoils

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and Peanut Butter Patties. Making a comeback this year is the newest flavor, Adventurefuls, a brownie-style cookie with caramel cream and a hint of sea salt.

Through the cookie sales, Girl Scouts learn practical skills in business management, financial responsibility, and other valuable lifelong skills. All of the proceeds stay within the local community to benefit members. The troops use the proceeds to support various, programs, activities, and pay for membership dues. Girls can earn additional rewards by participating in the sales. The proceeds also help in maintaining Girl Scout camps and program sites, as well as in reaching out to underserved girls.

There are countless ways for people to offer their own gifts through volunteerism, donations, and collaboration. The need for kindness and compassion within the organization is especially important now, as the Girl Scouts organization is vigilant about focusing on mental wellness. Girl Scouts leaders and members are always seeking those who wish to take on leadership roles, as well as those who have other means to contribute, such as transportation needs or additional tasks.

To learn more about Girl Scouts, and how to enroll or become involved, visit gsnim.org.

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T

he idea of a family-founded enterprise seemingly speaks to a different, perhaps simpler, time.

Perhaps a concept born from necessity and expectations, when businesses changed hands from parents to children in a passing of the proverbial baton.

There is one institution that hearkens back to that idea of familial loyalty, where four generations have come together on a foundation of shared philosophies, principles and pride. And they call it Richland Farms.

“THERE WAS A NEED PRESENTED TO US IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT WAS REALLY REWARDING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT’S REALLY CREATED A WHOLESOME RELATIONSHIP AND WE’RE REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT.” - GARTH SIMPSON

One of the founders of Richland Farms is Dr. Dan Quinlan, DVM, who formed a business partnership back in 1990 to begin raising show cattle, and to be made available later for purchase. The arrangement was for one party to assist with the labor, and the other to furnish the cows. With Quinlan’s extensive background in veterinary medicine, it seems rather logical to determine which aspect he was tasked with.

For a time, the fledgling business members VOTED BEST OF MARSHALL COUNTY 2022

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rented land to facilitate their operations, before becoming financially solvent and secure to make the leap to ownership. They purchased acreage and structures in 1996, aptly named for the region in which the operation was located - Richland Township.

Over the course of the next several years, the existing buildings were dismantled one by one, to be replaced with newer facilities specifically tailored to match the objectives, goals and visions of a new era for Richland Farms.

“The basis of our operation is to raise showcattle products,” explains Garth Simpson, one of Quinlan’s grandsons. Simpson and his family are residents of Trent, Texas, where an auxiliary of the original Richland Farms is operating and flourishing.

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“All of the cattle we raise is meant to be show cattle, and we sell products from Maine to California,” he says. “Our purpose is to provide sustainable beef to the consumer through our meat sales. What we offer is not your everyday, run-of-the-mill product. It’s a high-quality, premium product that we raise, TownePost.com | January 2024

and it’s all raised on-site. That means giving the animals quality feed, and being involved in the process all the way to the finished product.

We’re really big on doing things the right way.”

Simpson is one of many family members who have grown up appreciating that farm-to-table sentiment. Everyone, including the wives and

January 2024 | TownePost.com

children, plays an integral role in ensuring that the operations are as seamless and transparent as possible.

All of the generations exhibit the strong work ethic learned by maintaining a farmstead, and even the youngest family members are up-and-comers through their involvement

in local 4-H. The family is invested in doing right by their customers, so much so that a significant share of their business has been elevated by positive word of mouth and feedback, fostering a trustworthy reputation that can be difficult to achieve in a society where mass production is often the norm.

Every step of the evolution is carefully

monitored, from securing the proper permits to having regular inspections to abiding by strict regulations. Every criterion is not just met - it is surpassed.

As the Richland Farms team members were building upon their success in raising locally grown steers and heifers for freezer beef, an unlikely happenstance gave them a reason to consider other sales avenues. When the COVID-19 virus brought customary business practices to a slow crawl, people needed to find creative ways to shop for grocery staples, including meats. What if Richland Farms could provide their buyers with individual cuts in addition to bulk purchases?

“That all came about due to the pandemic, when our customers started reaching out,” Quinlan says. “So many of them were asking about offering different cuts of meat.”

Without hesitation they stepped up, according Simpson. “There was a need presented to us in our community and it was really rewarding to be able to provide that for our community,”

he says. “It’s really created a wholesome relationship and we’re really thankful for that.”

2024 will see more of Richland Farms on a number of fronts, as they increase their profile by adding to their bulk sales, making appearances at area farmer’s markets, and staying apprised of innovations and advancements that will always keep the best interests of their loyal customers in mind and, quite likely, some new ones as well.

“Everything that we produce is all very, very good quality - the very, very elite in the genetic pool,” Quinlan says. “We’ve taken the industry a little bit further and I’m really proud of what we’re doing as a family enterprise.”

Richland Farms is located at 4999 North 50 West in Rochester. Call (574) 835-1481 for more details. Stay apprised of all of the business activities and events by liking Richland Farms on Facebook @richland.farms.

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LET’S GET IT STRAIGHT HUTSELL CHIROPRACTIC TAKES A WHOLE-PERSON APPROACH TO HEALTH AND HEALING Story Provided by Hutsell Chiropractic Photography Provided

Tucked away in the small town of Nappanee is a hidden gem of natural health.

It’s not new - Founder Dr. Mark Hutsell has been helping patients heal naturally for almost 40 years. His patients value something outside the traditional model of medicine: a loving, personalized experience combined with cutting-edge care.

Top row left to right: Esther Hochstetler, Elizabeth Schlabach, Meghan Hutsell, Desiree Yoder. Bottom row left to right: Eleya Dadson, Dr. Jordan Hutsell, Dr. Andrea Hutsell, Dr. Mark Hutsell, Maria Chupp

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When they arrive, they experience techniques designed to balance the body, nourish the system and allow the natural restoration of optimal health.

Many patients find themselves no longer needing medications to manage common health concerns as their bodies heal.

This balance releases toxic weight and inflammation, increases energy and produces a healthier life. Patients come from Goshen, Elkhart, Plymouth, Warsaw and South Bend, with some traveling from as far as Indianapolis and Chicago.

The staff also takes virtual appointments from New York to California, as clients experience Hutsell Chiropractic’s unique approach to health care.

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Mark felt drawn to his work from a young age.

“I remember as a child going to doctors with my precious mother, who was very sick,” Mark says. “Watching our family navigate her conventional treatment with drugs and surgery to mask the symptoms left us with the dire feeling of hopelessness and fear. It wasn’t until chiropractic care was introduced to our family that I remember feeling hope.

With the right education and support, we were improving our diet, juicing, resetting and balancing our bodies naturally. It was a positive health improvement for my mother and a major paradigm shift for our family. It was working and we were convinced, so much so that I have spent the rest of my life passing this gift on to my family and community.”

Mark believes he was called to serve others. “I felt called to help offer the world health and wellness for the body, soul and spirit,” he says.

A feverish learner, he studied natural modalities for restoring and maintaining

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health. He became a chiropractor after graduating from Palmer University of Chiropractic in 1984 and opened Hutsell Chiropractic that same year, focusing on pain relief, stress relief, nutrition and weight management. His passion for both learning and healing was contagious. In 2020 it became clear that two of his children shared his calling and would join him in the same practice.

“It was heartwarming to see my children so impassioned with health and wellness,” he says. “We are quite the team together.”

«Being born into the chiropractic lifestyle gave me insight into its power as a platform to create health, share inspiration, give hope and shift paradigms,” says Mark’s son, Dr. Jordan Hutsell. “I didn’t choose chiropractic.

Chiropractic chose me.”

Jordan graduated from Life University in March of 2022 and joined the family practice.

Jordan’s passion for pediatric and family care was a natural extension of the Hutsell Chiropractic offerings. While family care has

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always been the focus, Jordan’s specialized knowledge in pregnancy and pediatric care, genetic testing, quantum neurology (physical therapy for the nervous system), and nutrition were welcome additions. His kind, caring personality lends well to young families and their unique needs. There is something special about helping a couple conceive naturally, helping children boost and strengthen their

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immune systems, and helping families achieve and maintain health naturally.

And then there is Mark’s daughter, Dr. Andrea Hutsell. “Having your son inspired by your work is an honor,” Mark says.

“Having both your son and daughter inspired to become chiropractors and join the family practice is humbling.”

Andrea was thrilled to graduate from Life University as a chiropractor in December of 2022, where she immediately joined the Hutsell Chiropractic team and began caring for her community.

“I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a chiropractor, and I never swayed from that decision,” Andrea explains.

“When you grow up seeing chronic issues resolved and people’s eyes lighting up because they were given hope, that sparks a passion inside you. My dad taught us that the body is already equipped with everything it needs to heal itself naturally.

We are simply facilitating our bodies’ natural health, allowing it to flow. This support allows for true health and healing

on a deep level.”

Andrea facilitates healing by addressing her patients’ structural, chemical and emotional trauma or stressors. Her knowledge and certifications in multiple systems include quantum neurology, frequency medicine, neuro-emotional technique, and the Webster technique.

When you combine two generations of lifelong learners, a family with a mission of serving others by finding the root cause of disease and empowering the body’s natural ability to heal, you have something exceptional. They work together like a well-oiled machine, with a whole-person approach. This means they search to find the underlying causes of disease, discomfort and pain instead of just treating symptoms.

Hutsell Chiropractic is a leader in the health revolution, using muscle testing, energy and frequency.

“Many treatments or medications are not designed to heal the root cause or condition causing our symptoms,” Mark says. “They simply mask the symptoms by repressing

them temporarily. When we take medication for a headache, the headache might go away but it is likely to return later. This is because we did not treat what was causing the headache. We only masked the pain. When we work to find what is causing symptoms, we can treat the root cause and prevent further deterioration of your overall health.

That is our goal. That is our whole-person approach.”

It sounds simple, and in truth, it is. With the proper knowledge and support, simple lifestyle changes help restore and maintain our ability to heal, resolve root causes of disease and thrive.

Take a moment to stop in and see for yourself. Meet the Hutsells and their caring team. You will forget you are experiencing cutting-edge health restoration. It will just feel like being home.

Hutsell Chiropractic is located at 301 North Main Street in Nappanee. For more info, call 574-773-4423 or visit hutsellchiropractic.com.

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FINDING INNER CALM THROUGH CLEANING Writer / Kayla Clemons, New Kitchen Store Photography Provided

I have always found cleaning therapeutic, especially after dinner. My dad was always trying to keep up with cleaning the house after my siblings and I would wreak havoc on it.

Being the second oldest of my four siblings, I felt as if I had to help mediate the messes.

My dad was very hard-working and often did not have much time to cook. His go-to meal was pinto beans and ham in the Crock-Pot. That Crock-Pot was so terrible to wash afterwards. I’m not sure if Crock-Pot liners were around in the early 2000s, but they would have come in handy for those

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baked-on beans. He would let the pot soak for hours before even attempting to wash it. He would use a double-sided sponge to really scratch off the stuck-on messes. He would take that same sponge and wipe the counters down, saturating the surfaces with soap, and then use a rag to wipe it all away.

I could see something therapeutic overtaking him as he cleaned. I could feel stress rolling off his shoulders as he slid a rag across the stove, or as the broom threw dust and dirt out of the front door as things seemed to move in slow motion. The smell of bleach would permeate through the walls. I questioned if he would

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pour the bleach in the air vents. I seldom use bleach in my home. I will use it for the whites in my laundry and that is all, but it is a smell that reminds me of my first home with my brothers and my sister.

As an adult, I never thought I would appreciate cleaning so much. It feels like a healthy balance in my busy life.

It gives me a sense of control when the world moves faster than I can keep up with. I can have my world pause, and bring peace to something chaotic with just a small sponge and a simple cleaning spray. I have been using a multipurpose kitchen cleaner called Koala Eco. I like that it’s an all-natural spray, and I am a huge fan of lemon scent. It’s plant based, eco-friendly and nontoxic.

As a woman trying to become wellwatered in my Christian beliefs, I follow the book of Proverbs to help guide me

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through my journey of being the best wife and mom that I can be. Cleaning, cooking, and tending to my small family is what God has called me to do. This is why cleaning is therapeutic.

I can’t say that I am without my flaws because I do have hang-ups. I have obsessive tendencies, and my household says it very clearly, without saying a single word, that I might be getting to be a little too much for them.

I hope that someday, even through my flaws, my daughter can find a memory of me and carry it into her adulthood in her own way. May it bring her peace in a hectic world, and I hope the same for you reading this. God bless.

New Kitchen Store is located at 1100 Roosevelt Road in Walkerton. For more info, call 574-586-2745 or visit newkitchenstore.com.

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P.J. Gilsinger & Co. A Place to Visit!

P.J. Gilsinger family museum will explain the history of the oldest John Deere Dealer in the world at it’s original store location. Since 1899 The Gilsinger family has served farmers in our area.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FREE ADMISSION • Farm Equipment • Local School Memorabilia • WWII Artifacts • Early Household and Farming Tools • Several Unusual Exhibits Museum Hours: May-October Friday & Sunday 1:00pm - 6:00pm

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Contact Brenda Gilsinger for Inquiries or Appointments (574)595-7851 5641 S. Main St. Winamac, Indiana TownePost.com | January 2024

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25. Pub pints 28. British noble 30. Became mellow 31. Plain 32. Practice in the ring 35. Doesn’t go 38. Bark 42. Biblical patriarch 44. Stop 45. Extinction exemplar 46. Again, in different form 47. Whimper 48. Was a passenger 51. Flightless bird 52. Barbecue offering 53. Make like 54. Game show giveaway 55. Glade shade

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Free Subscriptions Residents and business owners in any of the communities being served by the Towne Post Network can now subscribe to our monthly print magazines for FREE! While we try to mail to as many people as possible, some are left out due to their proximity, demographics, or most recently COVID-19 restrictions on public racks. Now, anyone who wants our monthly print magazines can get them.

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CATCHING FIRE FIRESIDE CRAFT BURGERS & BREWS BRINGS FLAVOR AND FLAIR TO LAGRANGE COUNTY Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger Photographer / Kari Lipscomb

LaGrange County, nestled in northeastern Indiana, is a place where many folks can envision picturesque little vignettes of a peaceful Midwestern landscape. The rural setting holds a certain sense of fascination to folks, who become charmed and captivated by the bucolic, rural oasis of modesty and simplicity.

So it might seem a little unlikely that a business venture with a distinctive twist of sophistication, infused with a dash of sass, would become one of the region’s rising stars in the dining niche. But for Fireside Craft Burgers & Brews, that is precisely what is happening.

Situated in the heart of downtown LaGrange, this unique eatery is the place that this small village of nearly 3,000 residents never knew it needed. Over the course of its relatively short tenure, it is far from

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settling for being just another restaurant.

It is, by all accounts of customer tales, an experience and an adventure.

Marsha Gill-Dunker is the owner and originator of the Fireside brand, now in its third iteration after an initial run in Shipshewana, then a nearby location in LaGrange. In early 2020 an opportunity presented itself that Gill-Dunker could not dismiss - one that would allow the restaurant to shine in a historic and well-known landmark with ample space and an appealing ambience. The site was situated at 101 South Detroit Street, a building that had housed many longtime and well-known businesses.

Minor renovations evoke much of the vintage charm, such as exposed natural brick on the walls, industrial-style lighting, and textured tin ceilings.

The evolution process was a tremendous learning experience for Gill-Dunker, who is a former Chicago area resident. She says coming from a buzzy, urban environment

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to a place known for a modest way of living sometimes left her “learning what life would be like here,” when she made LaGrange County her permanent home more than 10 years ago.

But this much she believed - if she could create a welcoming place that she herself would enjoy, others would as well.

With the newer, more spacious environs at their disposal, the staff of Fireside were able to create amazing food - gastropub comfort-food staples infused with flourishes of the unexpected. Hence the vast selection of craft burgers, as uniquely named as they are designed. Specialties include the Kickin’ Cowboy, the Moo & Oink and the Hot Mess Express, along with meatless burger options in which mushrooms, onions or even pickles, are the main ingredients. All of the meats are smoked in-house, frequently with locally sourced meats, and the salads, condiments and appetizers are prepared on-site.

One of the primary goals for the Fireside team going forward into 2024 is to expand

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their brewery. Gill-Dunker was blessed with more good fortune when she formed a partnership with Chris Barnes, who currently oversees the management of that end of the business. As it stands, the addition of the brewery was an achievement unique to the region - it is now the first and only brewery in LaGrange County.

Barnes is enthusiastic and excited for what lies ahead. “People who’ve come in and said that they don’t like beer will leave feeling differently,” he says. “We now have 26 draft lines and we work with independent breweries, often local or regional. We offer a selection with many different flavor profiles.

We’re the place where people who don’t like beer will go to drink beer, and the people who love to drink beer go to drink beer. We have something for everyone, and we love helping people find their perfect beer. We also do have craft hard ciders on draft.”

The duo works to emphasize that their offerings are not strictly limited to beers, and

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Barnes also notes that folks are sometimes inclined to steer clear of craft beers, deeming them “too hoppy,” even comparing the taste to “motor oil.” The challenge comes in being

the ones who can change a customer’s mind.

Patrons have also popularized the recent addition of beer-based, smoothie-style fruit sours, with flavors like Caramel Apple and Orange Creamsicle.

Gill-Dunker and Barnes are as adept with conversation as they are with every part of their eclectic menu, and guests will certainly

feel that hospitality when they visit, dine and converse. To learn more about the extensive lines of food and beverages, along with details about catering for special events, take a browse at firesideindiana.com, or fireside. beer. Fireside Craft Burgers & Brews is open seven days a week, and all ages are welcome.

Call 260-768-FIRE (3473) for more information.

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE

HOW ELECTRICITY CAME TO THE LAKES AREA Writer / Jeff Kenney Photography Provided

Depending upon when you read this, the new year will either be soon on its way or in full swing, which means local readers have enjoyed the sight of Christmas lights for some weeks and likely made ample use of multimedia devices around the holidays (including ushering in the new year itself). While early winter was fairly mild, cold weather is inevitable in Northern Indiana, and most of us have staved off the worst of its effects due to the theme of this month’s history-related article: electricity.

Access to electricity for all of the above and many more reasons is something most of us take for granted, but of course it’s a relatively recent innovation in human - and Hoosier - history. That said, Indiana can boast of being home to the first electrically lighted city in the nation, just down the road in Wabash, Indiana, where four 3,000-candlepower lamps adorned the courthouse starting in March 1880, lighting the town until September of 1888.

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Another Hoosier electrical first lies with Jenney Electric of Fort Wayne, credited with bringing about the country’s first municipal lighting system. James A. Jenney of Michigan developed the first viable and affordable arc light in 1879, simultaneous to Thomas Edison’s introduction of the first commercial incandescent bulb.

Jenney relocated to Fort Wayne in 1881 and eventually partnered with local entrepreneur Ronald T. McDonald to form the Jenney Electric Light Company. McDonald, in fact, sold the first electric urban lighting system to the town of Wabash, and Jenney Electric was even hired to provide all outdoor lighting for the prodigious New Orleans World’s Fair in 1884.

By 1887, Purdue University had developed its School of Applied Electricity and opened its School of Electrical Engineering in 1888, with a focus on improving electrical systems during those days of Edison, Tesla and Westinghouse. And of course electrical plants were appearing across Northern Indiana around this time as well.

The Jenney company opened an electrical plant in Logansport in 1888. It was purchased by the City of Logansport in 1895, its electricity provided by generators turned by waterpower.

The South Bend Electric Company dates to July of 1882, with area businesses electrically lit by autumn of that same year, and the state capital of Indianapolis, not surprisingly, was widely electrified in the 1880s as well.

Over in La Porte, businessman AJ Stahl bought a half interest in a small electric lighting company in 1887, which was responsible at the time for six arc lights on the streets and a handful in businesses. In 1890 Stahl was behind raising the capital to start the La Porte Electric Company. As an aside (and perhaps the basis of a future article of its own), Stahl was one of a handful of businessmen who, in 1892, bought the local telephone company that provided the first automatic (or direct-dial) telephone system in the world!

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recently established electric light plant to light its main streets with electric arc lights, with expansion in subsequent years.

As early as 1889, Orven D. Ross pioneered electricity in Rochester via his one-man power company, which was soon followed by a full-out power plant. Eventually the Rochester Electric Light, Heat & Power Company provided power to the city. At first only Rochester’s business district utilized electricity, with carbon lighting in most businesses, houses and street lights. As was fairly typical of the time for most smaller Northern Indiana cities, by 1909 only one Rochester area home in 25 had electricity, though numbers grew steadily as the 1920s approached.

Starke County’s first electrical lighting service began in 1895 in Knox, with nearby North Judson following in 1896.

By 1916 another Starke County community, that of Hamlet, saw lights ablaze in its streets, this time via a contract with Plymouth Electric Light and Power. The same company contracted with several area municipalities including Culver as of May 1914, with cottages around Lake Maxinkuckee hooking in by 1916.

The Marshall County town of Bremen saw electricity reach its borders in 1915, but in its case from the power grid of Goshen.

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Thus, electrical lines gradually hummed from one Northern Indiana city and municipality to another to the extent that, by the 1920s, most were electrified to at least a large extent. However, the vast majority of rural residents and farmers in the area still lacked access to electrification.

In the 1920s, Purdue University’s Cooperative Extension Service (better known then and now as its Extension) began to reach out to rural areas to address the question of electrification, though long distances and little revenue potential continued to stand in the way of significant progress. Readers today might compare the situation to the spread of high-speed internet to non-municipal areas, something just now underway in this region.

As quoted on the Hoosier State Chronicles blog, one researcher wrote in 1925 that “in order to make a profit [power companies] have charged the farmers so high a rate that it has kept them from using the service.”

That same year, Purdue researchers experimented with electrification of two Hoosier farms including one in the northern part of Indiana run by the Calumet Gas & Electric Company, with a focus on use of electricity towards crops, animals and household operations. In the late 1920s, a widespread educational campaign on the potential

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benefits to farmers of electrification was undertaken by Purdue, with one 1933 pamphlet reporting that more than 30,000 farms in Indiana were utilizing electricity by then.

Perhaps ironically, it would take a national socioeconomic disaster to provide the impetus for widespread rural electrification in the Hoosier state and beyond.

As the Great Depression raged, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, elected as U.S. president in 1932, began to give shape to the New Deal he had promised the American people, with a wide array of social and economic stimulus programs. On May 11, 1935, Roosevelt signed Executive Order 7037 establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). The Rural Electrification Act passed a year later, allocating over $800,000 towards rural electrification projects.

On July 22, 1935, the Boone County Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) in Indiana became one of the first funded federal electric projects in the U.S., and the first in the Hoosier state.

Over the following four years, Purdue Extension agents helped create a number of REMCs across Indiana.

Marshall County’s case was typical of many. Its county REMC had been formed in 1935, and on November 10, 1936, an REA loan of $185,000 was granted to the Marshall County REMC (the same

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year, nearby Fulton County’s REMC, among many others, received its funding). The first electric pole of the program was set on the southwest corner of U.S. Highway 30 and King Road on September 30, 1937, with 25 miles of line installed. By April 30 of the following year, Roy Jacoby’s home was the first to receive electricity from the program. At the time, the minimum electrical charge was $2.50 per month (a number of farm families were concerned that they might not even use enough electricity each month to justify the cost!).

The process, nonetheless, was not an instantaneous one. In 1940 it was reported that only 437 of the approximately 1,500 farms in Starke County had electricity. By 1945, 1,108 of that county’s 1,409 farms had electrical current, a vast but quite gradual jump.

It’s estimated that almost all Indiana farms had electricity by 1965, meaning nearly 80 years had passed since concerted efforts began to assure that all Hoosiers had access to what by the 1960s was (and certainly today is) not only taken for granted, but also considered critical to contemporary life.

And so, whether you live in a busy area city, in a small town or on a farm, take a moment to appreciate the efforts it took in days of yore to bring you those Christmas lights, New Year’s Eve broadcasts, cell phone charges, or just the ability to read this article at night, in a warmly heated home.

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MAKING EVERY MEAL MATTER CULTIVATE FOOD RESCUE IS COMMITTED TO MINIMIZING FOOD WASTE AND FOOD INSECURITY Writer & Photographer / Ali Schneider

When Cultivate Food Rescue opened their doors in 2017, the team members knew they wanted to take a unique approach in their mission. Located in South Bend, Cultivate Food Rescue is able to serve a wide variety of individuals and volunteers locally and regionally.

Although food rescue is not a novel concept, this rescue program operates a little differently than many food rescue operations. First of all, it is not a franchised organization. They operate independently with the goal of providing fresh and delicious meals to those in the area. One of the many factors that set Cultivate apart from other food rescue programs is the focus on providing culinary education. This idea was sparked when the team visited a similar food rescue named Second Helpings to learn about their culinary training program.

“It was the day after the Indianapolis 500 and they were inundated with

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rescued food,” says team member Laura McNally. “They then brought the idea of food rescue back to South Bend.”

From there, they began working with the University of Notre Dame and discussing how the program and the school could collaborate. The discussions began when the new football stadium was opened and Cultivate officially became part of the university’s sustainability goals.

Fast-forward to today, and Cultivate serves 1,350 meals to students across 52 schools, and works with 121 food pantries across three counties. The food pantries range in size from small organizations open once per month to some of the largest in the area. The three primary counties include St. Joseph, Marshall and Elkhart. When it comes to serving backpack meals to students, the schools determine which kids are qualified for the program. The only qualification is that they are eligible for a free or reduced lunch.

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“Like many people, I did some soul searching during the lockdown of the pandemic,” McNally says when asked how she got involved in the program.

“I decided I wanted a career that gave back to the community that raised me.

I wanted to show my children that it is important to do what you can for others.”

After attending a corporate holiday party, she learned about Cultivate Food Rescue and knew it was her calling.

As previously mentioned, there are many ways that Cultivate is different than other food rescue programs. They have a passion for more than just providing food to the community with their “No Neighbor Hungry, No Food Wasted” motto. They also aim to educate students and volunteers about food waste, which is a huge problem in our country.

“As a country we waste 40% of the food supply, to the tune of 133 billion pounds annually,” McNally says. “The majority of this food is still fresh and delicious. Once people begin to learn the disappointing truth about food waste, they are more likely to choose their food with intention.

For instance, the greenhouse gasses released when food rots in landfills are detrimental to the environment. Reducing these emissions while feeding hungry neighbors is at the core of Cultivate Food Rescue’s purpose.”

Of course, it would not be a food rescue program without, well…food! Cultivate focuses on providing perishable produce, dairy, protein and other food. This

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makes for a healthier selection than what many other food pantries provide, which typically includes nonperishable canned and boxed items due to lack of cold storage. Cultivate is able to provide healthier meals by receiving donations of excess food from area restaurants, schools, grocery stores and food distributors.

By working with the community and creating healthy meals, the Cultivate team is proud to be the only food rescue program in the area that is able to provide frozen backpack meals for children. Their flagship program takes all the rescued and donated food and turns it into nutritious and delicious meals delivered directly to kids in need. This is especially important for food-insecure children who struggle to eat between school lunch on Friday and breakfast on Monday. Additionally, many kids may try a food for the first time that they may not have tried otherwise. Thus, their palate is expanded and they may even

gain interest in being a part of the culinary industry.

They are always accepting donations and volunteers as the program continues to expand. In fact, they recently hit two milestones. The first was when they reached one million backpack meal deliveries. The second was when they reached five million pounds of rescued food.

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Cultivate Food Rescue is located at 1403 Prairie Avenue in South Bend. To be a part of this remarkable program, you can sign up at cultivatefoodrescue.com, or email info@cultivatefoodrescue.com.

They can be reached by phone at 877725-2016. You can also follow them on Facebook @cultivatefoodrescue.

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THE BEST YOUR PET CAN GET FULTON COUNTY VETERINARY CLINIC TREATS EACH ANIMAL WITH A LOVING, LASTING TOUCH Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger Photographer / Tony Straw

Over countless years, the principles regarding the circle of life have been immortalized in everything from stories to songs.

Those principles encompass the value and virtue of tending to all of Earth’s creatures.

Those are the philosophies woven into Fulton County Veterinary Clinic’s manner of practice. The business has been a mainstay of the Rochester community and its environs since 1987, and although the management has changed hands in recent years, the mission remains very much the same - to provide state-of-the-art, quality care for animals with a loving, lasting touch.

Dr. Zach Coston purchased Fulton County Veterinary Clinic in 2021, and wasted no time bringing his longtime expertise and vision to fruition. He implemented renovations to the building, including upgrades to the lobby, new flooring and a redesigned interior. He is a skilled diagnostician who embraces the latest innovations in animal wellness and medicine, such as laser execution surgeries, microchipping, dental care, boarding services, grooming, emergency care, nutritional advisement, and routine check-ups.

The clinic also provides spay and neuter procedures, therapies, ultrasounds and X-rays, and in-house laboratory testing. Having such a broad range of services available to their clients is something that Coston is immensely proud of,

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lizards, snakes and chickens, as well as the “pocket pets” such as hamsters, guinea pigs and rats.

His affinity for veterinary medicine started early in his young life, and he first began building his hands-on approach when he was just 15 years old. “I’ve always loved animals,” he says. “I was fascinated with the medical aspect, and it was always my goal to someday have my own practice.”

Yet while the clinic is considered a frontrunner for technological advances with regard to animal health, the way that the staff is bonded through their commitment and ethics speaks to the underlying environment. Coston is committed to ensuring that his team is always aware of the contributions they provide, and often rewards them in tangible, unforgettable ways. “I protect the practice culture,” he explains. “I like to be the one to hold myself accountable. My staff are my family.

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to take care of them, and to make sure they know that they helped me build this. I would never trade my team in a million years. We’re a very consistent team.”

Coston can already see that his passion for animals is potentially wending its way to a new generation. He is a husband and father of two young children, a daughter and a son. He sees the fascination building in his son.

“He loves medical stuff,” he says with a laugh.

Back row: Alex Melms, Page Mann, Megan Sauberlich, Amber Curry, Hope Peters, Dr. Costin, Samantha Costin, Alyssa Nolan, Ann Baker, Erica Castro Front row: Dr. Martin, Mary Kapke, Shana Good, Makayla Riston, Amy Gamble

Although it may seem a bit premature to predict what his aspirations might be, it seems certain that he has an admirable group of role models to look toward.

Fulton County Veterinary Clinic is located at 1634 North Old U.S. Highway 31 in Rochester, and can be reached via phone at 574-223-4980. To visit their online store, view a complete list of available services, or see their hours of operation, head to fultoncountyvetclinic.com.

• Demolition • Building Site Prep • Septic System • Basements • Driveways • Poultry Barns • Hog Barns • Calf Barns • Duck Barns

• Tile & Drain Line • Trucking • Sand • Gravel • Limestone • Topsoil • Fill Dirt

GLEN GRABER 0065 S. S.R. 5 Shipshewana, IN 46565

Work: 260-350-0264 Home: 260-768-3282

Licensed for Septics in Noble, Elkhart, & Lagrange Counties.

TownePost.com | January 2024 | 59

Glen & Ruth Miller, Owners

Alfano’s Pier and Lift LLC Don’t stress we’re going to your house next!

New / used pier and boat lifts available

Tues-Friday 9-5 Sat 9-2 Closed Sunday and Monday 1 0 1 Wa y n e S t r e e t • P. O . B o x 2 7 M i d d l e b u r y, I N 4 6 5 4 0

Call now! 574-526-2650 8041 E. 400 N. Leesburg, In 46538

Phone: (574) 825-2940

UPGRADE AND RENEW YOUR PONTOON

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

MILLER BOAT RESTORATION Complete Restoration Including Electrical from the Pontoons Up Center Toon Installation Available | Boat Trailer Repair Mirror Look Pontoon Polishing

Pick up and Delivery

574.501.3113

62220 CR 35 Goshen, IN 46528 60 | January 2024 | TownePost.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY

Piano. Free event open to the public. https://visitkosciuskocounty.org/events/9th-annual-young-artiststate-wide-competition/

Elkhart County January 1 First Day Hike Boot Lake Nature Park All ages welcome at no cost or registration. https://elkhartcountyparks.org/events/first-day-hike-1-1-24/

January 27 Bringing Hope Home – A Morning with Kutoa Project - Warsaw This event is free to the public and includes brunch. https://visitkosciuskocounty.org/events/bringing-hope-home-amorning-with-kutoa-project/

January 1 Resolution Run 5K run/walk or 1 Mile Stroll - Essenhaus Inn & Conference Center, Middlebury Just $14 for timed entry with family pricing available. https://www.facebook.com/events/298019979352886

St. Joseph County January 7 39th Annual Bridal Spectacular Century Center, South Bend Admission is $5 at the door and there is pre-registration for Brides to sign up for door prizes. https://indianabridalspectacular.net/?fbclid=IwAR2vfax_ JVTHpOqUqxl4r1SHcGQ6HJI53Qta3-C46X_ H2wpz8GETQHaw8Wc

January 13 The Eras Skate- NIBCO Water & Ice Park, Elkhart Grab your scarf and cardigan and make the friendship bracelets for skating during daylight to midnight (or 10 p.m.) to all your favorite Taylor Swift eras. Show off your style and dress as your favorite era. https://www.facebook.com/events/847569567049200 January 13 Winter Astronomy Have fun learning about the exciting world of astronomy through a presentation on Greek and Roman mythology and make-n-take star chart which can show you the constellations at any time of year.Registration is required at $3 per person. https://elkhartcountyparks.recdesk.com/Community/ Program/Detail?programId=1208&fbclid=IwAR3P2PY3-0SWC 38tXBiR2iiryxjV_8hZlV7eaFwhfITafnw-5eRb2L5uYrY January 13 Kid’s Movie Night - American Legion Post 210 Middlebury Free for Kids of all ages are welcome as long as they are accompanied by an adult. https://www.facebook.com/ events/361681549622574/361681559622573/?active_ tab=about January 20 Elkhart Farmers Market Winter Pop Ups - High Dive Pavilion The Elkhart Farmers Market will host winter pop-up markets on the third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., running through February 17, . https://www.facebook.com/ events/674251234458604/674251251125269/?active_ tab=about Kosciusko County January 20 9th Annual Young Artist Competition - Warsaw Performing Arts Center The competition will offer opportunities for students grades 5-12 who play any of the following instruments: Orchestral Strings (including harp), Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion, and

January 19 ReFuel Conference 2024 Bethel College, Mishawaka ReFuel Conference is happening again in 2024! Worship leaders, musicians, vocalists, songwriters, audio engineers, creative designers, worship pastors and technical directors – there’s something for you!

Shipshewana/LaGrange County January 11-13 Midwest Winter Nationals The MEC, Shipshewana Be a part of the largest indoor tractor pull in the world! https://www.michianaevents.com/event/winternationals January 19-20 Ice Festival/Chili Cook-off Shipshewana https://visitshipshewana.org/events/ice-festival-chili-cookoff/ January 25 -27 Midwest Tool Expo & Auction The MEC, Shipshewana The annual Midwest Tool Expo & Auction is a huge tool, woodworking, construction and business solution trade show, auction and conference. https://www.michianaevents.com/event/toolexpo

KEVIN AND LORI YODER LAMAR AND AMANDA LAMBRIGHT

574-825-4480 11742 CR 16 MIDDLEBURY, IN 46540 MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00 - 4:30 SATURDAY 8:00 - 1:30

Riverbend

Harness & Horseshoeing

Calvin & Mary Kathryn Miller

56687 CR 116 Middlebury, IN 46540

THE FRUIT PATCH

574-825-0965x1

56687 CR 116 Middlebury, IN 46540 574-825-0965

Calvin & Mary Kathryn Miller

TownePost.com | January 2024 | 61

From Our Timbercrest Family To Your Family . . .

Best Wishes

’S WELDING & REPAIR MILLER

For The Happiest Of Holidays Seasons!

LIFE ON YOUR TERMS! Our warm and compassionate not-for-profit community is dedicated to providing meaningful living and personalized care in the spirit of loving service now and throughout the year. d Independent Living Neighborhood Homes d Assisted Living Apartment Homes

d Rehabilitation-to-Home, Skilled Nursing Care, and Memory Care

2201 East Street l North Manchester, IN 46962 l 260-982-2118 l www.Timbercrest.org

62 | January 2024 | TownePost.com

ALUMINUM & STEEL WELDING CUSTOM BUGGY TRAILERS 7565 N 1000 W • SHIPSHEWANA, IN 46565 260-336-7521

CENTURION BOATS DEALER SERVING MARSHALL, STARKE, LAKE, PORTER, LAPORTE, PULASKI, FULTON, WHITE, KOSCIUSKO, ST. JOSEPH, AND ELKHART COUNTIES

574-842-5000

514-W. Mill St. Culver, IN www.culversportsidemarina.com TownePost.com | January 2024 | 63

PRSRT STD

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No.144 Berne, IN 46711

NEW EXPANDED TARGETED MAILING AREA

THE WEST EDITION NOW INCLUDES BERRIEN COUNTY MICHIGAN, LA PORTE COUNTY & WHITE COUNTY INDIANA. THE EAST EDITION NOW INCLUDES ST JOSEPH, BRANCH & CASS COUNTY MICHIGAN PLUS STEUBEN COUNTY INDIANA

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CONTACT:

JOHN LEWANDOWSKI • JOHN@TOWNEPOST.COM • 574.249.9217