The Lakes Magazine January 2020

JANUARY 2020

MAGAZINE

LOCAL FITNESS FORUM USES MEDICALLY-INTEGRATED FACILITIES TO PROVIDE UNIQUE AMENITIES

TheLakesMagazine.com

ight to your home or office.

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VISIT CAMPUS & CHECK OUT THE ART GALLERY & CAMPUS STORE. STICK AROUND FOR FREE ADMISSION TO A HOCKEY OR BASKETBALL GAME.

SHOP FROM LOCAL BOUTIQUES & ARTISTS IN THIS 2500 SQ FT ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLECTIVE SPACE.

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Tom Krueger Construction and Handyman 4 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. THE LAKES MAGAZINE

24

THE LAKES MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS John & Mandi Lewandowski

John@TownePost.com / 574-249-9217 Mandi@TownePost.com

TOWNE POST CEO Tom Britt

Tom@TownePost.com

TOWNE POST PRESIDENT Jeanne Britt

Jeanne@TownePost.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Robert Turk

Rob@TownePost.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Austin Vance

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Valerie Randall

WELCOME TO LIFEPLEX: LOCAL FITNESS FORUM USES MEDICALLY-INTEGRATED FACILITIES TO PROVIDE UNIQUE AMENITIES

Well, 2020 is officially here, and that means people are deciding how to better themselves in the New Year. Across the nation, the foremost New Year’s resolution is to improve personal health and fitness in one way or another. Unfortunately, that is also one of the hardest resolutions to keep beyond a month or so, especially when a person is trying to do it alone.

7 A Helping Hand: United Way of

32 What a Catch: Bass Lake Pub &

11 Feel The Heat: Miller Stove &

36 Culver Winter Farmers’ Market

Marshall County Provides Help to Those In Need Fireplace Helps Create Cozy Moments

15 Webb’s Family Pharmacy

Celebrates Three Decades In Rochester

18 January Crossword Puzzle 20 M&J’s Spray Foam: Insulation

Solutions Business Celebrates Successful First Year

Ristorante Celebrates a Decade In Business Returns to Culver-Union Township Public Library

40 December Crossword Puzzle Answers

42 P&N Pawn Shop: Family-Owned

Pawn Shop Is a Plymouth Staple

47 Aiming For Success: Michiana

EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown

Josh@TownePost.com

JANUARY WRITERS

Angela Cornell / Ashley Miller Mary Lowry / Matt Keating

JANUARY PHOTOGRAPHERS Ashley Miller / Jubilee Edgell

SHOP LOCAL! Help our local economy by shopping local.

Advertising supporters of the The Lakes Magazine offset the costs of publication and mailing, keeping this publication FREE. Show your appreciation by thanking them with your business.

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS ARE SPONSORED CONTENT

The The Lakes Magazine is published by the Towne Post Network and is written for and by local area residents. Over 13,000 copies are distributed each month in The Lakes area.

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.

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Firearms Cultivates Solid Relationships With Customers

24 Welcome to Lifeplex: Local Fitness 52 On The Hunt: Northern Traders Forum Uses Medically-Integrated Facilities to Provide Unique Amenities

Offers Antiques & Collectibles For Casual Shoppers & Enthusiasts

54 What’s Happening In January At The Lakes

thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 5

TheLakesMagazine.com TownePost.com

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Executive Director Linda Yoder

A HELPING HAND UNITED WAY OF MARSHALL COUNTY PROVIDES HELP TO THOSE IN NEED

thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 7

Writer & Photographer / Ashley Miller

United Way of Marshall County has one mission — to continuously move their community forward by benefiting everyone.

They work hard to receive grants and to listen to not just problems but solutions from everyone, including those who are not often heard.

For United Way, all aspects of life affect each individual community member. This means everything from receiving free to affordable childcare and schooling to obtaining new convenient travel routes to work.

Linda Yoder, the executive director has a specific goal for her team and community.

“Building educational programs means benefiting the workforce,” she says.

Their reach extended farther when, in 2018, Marshall County was hit with historic flooding. United Way immediately launched successful initiatives to help those families affected to regroup, recover and rebuild.

“The need was so critical, this great organization learned quickly from last year and is putting plans into place to benefit and reach even more community members in the case natural disaster should strike again,” Yoder says.

The program helped 113 families rebuild 250 homes in about 13 months. United Way gave $1M back to the community just in relief funds, achieving a faster recovery rate than expected.

The last five years have brought tremendous success. A staggering total of $42.4M has been brought to Marshall County by United Way. There is a great collaborating team here between businesses, United Way and charitable donor foundations who 8 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

strive for excellence in community care. Their sole focus is to achieve maximum opportunities for not just their county but for the region as well. The energy they have gained is incredible.

Yoder heads up the county’s office and the Marshall County Philanthropy Center, which serves as an addition to the United Way office. The center provides office meeting spaces and training sessions to host teachers and many other great affiliates.

Other avenues United Way is taking to reach out to the needs of their community is by offering programs where hunters can donate a portion of the meat to local food banks.

In turn, their processing fees are waived. Not only does this reduce the cost for hunters, which ultimately means more income in their pockets for their families, but it means highquality meat for our local residents.

The program titled ALICE continues to reach out to 40% of the Marshall County population who are in need of assistance in any area of life.

Critical needs and gaps are being reduced, and United Way is at the helm of the operation.

If you are interested in ways to benefit your community, consider consulting your employer about donating a dollar per paycheck to United Way. Every little bit adds up and everyone can have a helping hand in moving this great community forward.

United Way not only cares but benefits any community member.

Their programs are specifically designed to achieve a more efficient and affordable quality of life.

United Way of Marshall County is located at 2680 Miller Dr. Suite 120 PO Box 716 in Plymouth. For more information, visit them online at marshallcountyuw.org or give them a call at 574-936-3366. thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 9

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MI L LE R STO V E & FIREP L AC E H E LP S CRE A TE C OZY MOMEN T S Writer / Angela Cornell Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

Many people find January to be the most depressing month of the year - and little wonder. The holidays are over, the weather is rarely better than gloomy, and often it’s bitterly cold. One way to beat such winter blues is to cozy up in front of a heartwarming fire with friends and family.

know benefits the community, benefits the For Ernie Miller, owner of Miller Stove & Fireplace near Bremen, creating those happy people, and hopefully saves them money and lasts their lifetime.” moments is the best part of his job.

“I get the satisfaction of having someone set up with a brand new fireplace, and just sitting around with the family and enjoying it,” Miller says. “That and dealing with the customers and the people. There’s a lot of satisfaction in doing something that you

Although Miller’s heart for his customers has never changed, the face of his business has. In 1989 Miller started a business that delivered anthracite coal, which is the most energy-dense coal in existence.

thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 11

“I always was interested in heating and stoves and stuff like that,” he says. “At the time I bought my first Franco Belge stove and I was pretty interested in that - very intrigued with it.”

After speaking with a coal company representative, Miller decided to sell the heat source locally.

“That’s how we got started,” he says. “Then people needed stoves, so we started selling stoves. Then we got so busy with our stoves that within eight or ten years, we sold the coal part of our business and just went to selling stoves and fireplaces.”

Miller and his team always strive to care for the needs of their customers.

“One of the most important things we ask is, ‘What is the customer needing?’,” Miller says. “Oftentimes they might be replacing something they already have. We try to get an idea of what the customer’s thinking, and try to satisfy those needs.”

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“I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY. I THINK WE HAVE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY IN THIS AREA. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE SUPPORT WE’VE HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.” - E R N I E MI L L ER -

Once they know the customer’s desires, Miller and his team deliver and install their products along with customized stonework and masonry to accent their stoves and fireplaces. They also go one step further, servicing their customers’ fireplaces and stoves.

The business offers a wide variety of stoves and fireplaces, including those that burn wood, gas, pellet and coal, to a customer base that spans from Valparaiso to Fort Wayne and as far north as southern Michigan.

“I appreciate the community,” Miller says. “I think we have a wonderful opportunity in this area. I appreciate that, and all our customers and the support we’ve had throughout the years.”

Miller Stove & Fireplace is an Amishowned and operated establishment located at 2570 Beech Road in Bremen.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information call 574-773-2686. thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 13

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Owner Harry Webb

WEBB’S FAMILY PHARMACY

CELEBRATES THREE DECADES IN ROCHESTER

Writer / Mary Lowry Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

Since 1860, the building located at 724 Main Street in Rochester has always held a pharmacy. Now, 160 years later, Harry Webb is proud to be the owner of Webb’s Family Pharmacy. In April he will celebrate 30 years as owner of the business.

Owning the pharmacy had long been a dream of his, so when the opportunity arose in 1990 to buy it, Webb knew he had to act.

“I love retail, and I love math and science, so a pharmacy was the perfect fit,” Webb explains. “I always had that goal of owning my own store one day.”

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Webb has transformed the store during his time there. In 1994 he undertook a major interior remodel.

In 2005 he removed a decades-old soda fountain and transformed the new space into a pharmacy area complete with a drive-thru window for customers on the go. In 2011 he expanded by purchasing the property next door. Even with the changes he’s made, Webb still works hard to preserve the history of the building.

“We have some historical photos hanging on the wall, and some artifacts going all the way back to the 1800s,” he says.

And that’s not all. In 2017 the store received a substantial grant for historic preservation that allowed Webb to completely renovate the building’s facade. Today, it stands out from other pharmacies.

Customers know as soon as they enter that they are not in a traditional chain store.

CONTACT US! (574)933-3805

MICAHBRADLEY@BARNWOODMASTERS.COM WWW.BARNWOODMASTERS.COM 16 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

The wide variety of products and services offered at Webb’s rivals chain stores, and the dedication to customer service is nearly impossible to beat. The staff is knowledgeable about all of the

nutritional supplements, home hospital gear and pharmacy needs within the store. Staff members work with customers in private consultation rooms to discuss respiratory issues or home medical care. Beyond the traditional pharmacy products, the store also hosts a sizable gift department with candy, toys, sports memorabilia, housewares and more.

Webb’s Family Pharmacy doesn’t solely serve customers - Webb is highly involved in the community, working with the Chamber of Commerce, the Health Department and various charities. He and his staff believe in giving back - they devote hundreds of hours toward volunteer work annually.

“Our proudest thing is back when there was a real problem with people making meth in their homes, making a dangerous environment for children,” Webb says. “A group of local people got together, and we got pharmacists to legitimize the production of Sudafed. And then Governor Pence came and signed legislation into law in our store. There are people still affected by it but the days of making it in their homes are thankfully done, and there’s been a 94 percent reduction in the state of people making meth in their homes.”

Visit Webb’s Family Pharmacy at 724 Main Street in Rochester. Call 574223-2216 or visit webbrx.com for more information.

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5282 N Old US Hwy 31 |thelakesmagazine.com Rochester •/ JANUARY 574.223.6915 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 17

JANUARY CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Performed 7. Clamber 8. Either yes or no 10. Strolling 12. Put at risk 14. Leer 16. Loading wharf 17. Decreed 20. Came (from) 23. Nude 24. Furthest limits 25. Malice DOWN 1. Respect 2. Flows away 3. Computer symbol 4. Palm fruits 5. Condensing 6. Jamaican music 9. Deserves 11. Perfectionists 13. Misjudge 15. Sanctuary 16. Speech extracts 18. Absent-minded scribble 19. Bee homes 21. Discontinued (project) 22. Moist

For the answers, visit our Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/TheLakesMagazine

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Writer / Mary Lowry Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

M & J’s Spray Foam Insulation Solutions, located in Winamac, recently celebrated one year in business. Since opening in October of 2018, owners Mike Craft and Jamie Murray have had a great response from the community.

They decided to open the business when Craft decided to take a new career path.

After working in construction for 20 years and working for a corn seed company for seven, Craft had hardly any time left for his family.

“Mike liked where he was working and what he was doing but it monopolized all of his time,” says Murray, who works full-time as a meat inspector for the State of Indiana, in addition to helping with the spray foam business. “In the spring and summer, he was working 12 to 15 hours a day.”

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WE HAVE SAGANAKI 10 N. MAIN ST. KNOX • 574-772-5888 • WWW.MOMMASPIZZERIA.COM thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 21

After taking a couple of years to research, Craft and Murray decided that purchasing equipment and starting the business was what they wanted to do. Over the past year, they have happily served their customers by offering closed-cell spray foam insulation. Closed-cell spray foam is used on new constructions, and it is one of the most effective forms of insulation. The spray foam not only prevents air from getting in, but it is also moisture, mold and pest resistant.

“You spray it onto the wall between the studs, and you seal all the air from filtering through the walls and the siding,” Murray explains. “Air cannot permeate through it. Open cell is where it breathes.”

Closed-cell insulation works to keep structures warm, making it more cost effective for customers. During last year’s polar vortex, Murray had the 96-by-96foot structure on her property sprayed with her product, and it stayed at 50 degrees or above all winter with only a small space heater used occasionally.

“We value what the customer wants and what they think, and we pride ourselves on being honest with people,” Murray says. “We want to make sure you know what you’re getting involved in, and we’re not just out to get money.”

Outside of work, Craft and Murray enjoy traveling around the world and spending time with Craft’s daughters.

Both are involved in the local VFW, and they consider themselves a patriotic family. They value the outdoors, with Craft in particular spending time hunting and fishing.

“We believe in working for what you want,” Murray adds.

Allison Kara 574.936.2556 | 2159 N. Oak Dr. Suite 3 | allisonkarainsurance.com 22 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

M & J’s Spray Foam Insulation Solutions is located at 85 North 400 West in Winamac. For more information and to schedule an appointment call 574-2420463. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Sun.

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Owners Dr. Byron Holm & Mary Holm

LOCAL FITNESS FORUM USES MEDICALLY-INTEGRATED FACILITIES TO PROVIDE UNIQUE AMENITIES Writer / Angela Cornell . Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

24 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

Well, 2020 is officially here, and that means people are deciding how to better themselves in the New Year. Across the nation, the foremost New Year’s resolution is to improve personal health and fitness in one way or another. Unfortunately, that is also one of the hardest resolutions to keep beyond a month or so, especially when a person is trying to do it alone.

For Dr. Byron and Mary Holm, helping people gain health and vitality through the community at LifePlex Fitness Forum has been their purpose for 46 years.

“Life is about two words, I think. It’s called time and touch. People need that,” Dr. Byron says. “Life is truly all about relationships. They’re looking for acceptance, relationships and affirmation.”

For the Holms, maintaining relationships is one of the key purposes of their medically-integrated fitness facility.

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Helping people achieve their personal goals toward health and wellness —physically as well as mentally, emotionally and spiritually — by providing medically-integrated fitness has been the Holms’ goal since the beginning. Byron, who has been a family medicine practitioner since 1974, wanted to open a clinic for medical specialists in Plymouth, sparing people in the area from having to drive to meet their medical needs.

But in 1982, the business concept grew.

“We introduced a fitness facility into a medical clinic, which was pretty much unheard of,” says Mary, who holds a degree in physical therapy.

“But with my background, we knew that it was pretty minimal risk because if the town didn’t respond to a fitness facility — which there wasn’t any, it was untested. I knew that I could open up a physical fitness clinic.”

They quickly attracted people who were interested in their understanding of the intricate dance of medicine and fitness, capping at 500 members in a relatively short time.

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“I remember Byron saying at one point, ‘You know, probably 70% of my patients wouldn’t even need to see me if they would exercise and eat right and manage their stress.’ Because that’s at the root of most of our illnesses,” Mary says.

According to Byron, that is still the case today.

The business continued to expand and, after 20 years, they knew it was time to find a new building. But as any business owner knows, that’s a risky financial leap.

“We kept dragging our feet,” Dr. Byron says. “We tried to do it just by ourselves.

You know, ‘How can we afford to do this? How can we afford to do that?’”

But in January 2000, the decision was made for them when their clinic burned to the ground.

It took six long, grueling years before construction began on their new facility.

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“It took all of those years to find the right combination of financial support, people support, the right contractor and the right architect,” Mary says. “Part of that was the heartache of the struggle. It was up and down from 2000 until we started construction in January of 2006.”

Finally, in 2007, LifePlex Fitness Forum had its ribbon cutting.

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“Because this is a small town, and it’s a large facility in a small town, we do play many other roles,” Mary adds. “We’re many things to different people.”

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The left half of this 70,000 sq. ft. facility is managed by Mary. It is complete with a collegiate-sized basketball court, aquatics department, dance academy, weight training and cardio area, racquetball courts, a spa and many other departments. They also employ personal trainers for those who need help with their fitness routines and offer

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“WE HAD A GOD-GIVEN VISION. WE’VE CHASED THAT VISION AND DREAM BUT ONLY TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE. AND THE WHOLE THING GIVES US A PURPOSE FOR LIVING.” D R . BY R O N H O L M

fitness, support and educational classes for their members as well as the community.

In-house childcare for kids six months through 13 years for employees, members and the community is also available.

The right half fulfills Dr. Byron’s dream of having a facility for acute care and medical specialists. There’s an urgent care, diagnostic imaging, and of course, Dr. Holm’s personal practice is there as well as other medical professionals.

Part of the LifePlex belief statement declares, “We believe that wellness is a state on the continuum of health, superior to being free of sickness, living with intensity and purpose, adopting behaviors that promote health and eliminating behaviors that are self-destructive.”

The whole facility, from the acute care end to the Fitness Forum, is designed to help people find and maintain vitality and quality of life.

“There are many testimonies on how people’s lives have changed,” Mary says.

At the end of the day, the Holms view their success as a blessing from God. “We had a God-given vision,” Dr. Byron says. “We’ve chased that vision and dream but only to make it better for the people.

And the whole thing gives us a purpose for living.”

LifePlex Fitness Forum is located at 2855 Miller Drive, Suite 100, Plymouth.

For more information on membership or the classes they offer, visit them online at fitnessforum.biz or call them at 574936-2333.

28 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

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Co-Owners Chester & Susan Smithers & Billy Cervone

WHAT A CATCH BASS LAKE PUB & RISTORANTE CELEBRATES A DECADE IN BUSINESS Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

When Chester Smithers, co-owner of Knoxbased Bass Lake Pub & Ristorante on South County Road 210, enters his establishment, he knows he’s going to get a warm reception from his friends.

“We are celebrating our tenth anniversary,” Smithers says. “We opened in January 2010 and we have enjoyed every minute. We have

met so many nice people over the years, and they have really been supportive to our success. We wouldn’t be here, still going strong, if it weren’t for the great regulars we have. They keep coming back, and they keep me smiling.”

Smithers and his co-owner, Bill Cervone, bought the business from a previous owner, and set out to make the establishment as welcoming as possible.

“Our big thing is delicious food in a casual atmosphere,” Smithers says. “We want you to come in, sit down, relax and have an excellent meal. There is not a lot of big history to the place, just great food, affordable prices and a lot of great service.

We have a great, friendly staff.”

Smithers, 71, knows a thing or two about running a successful business. He also owns Mister Joe’s Inc., a highly popular pub in Hammond, Indiana.

32 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

“I’ve learned that you really have to take care of the customer, and get them to come back and have a good time again,” Smithers says. “I’ve owned Mister Joe’s for 34 years and it made me want to open another place, which is how I got Bass Lake Pub & Ristorante going.”

Smithers, who is is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, previously worked for LTV Steel in East Chicago, Indiana.

“I started working there when I was 18 years old, and worked there for 30 years,” Smithers says.

Smithers says Bass Lake Pub & Ristorante is known for its wide variety of menu options.

“Our most popular meals are the fish specials,” he says. “Our lake perch, which is eight pieces of hand-breaded fillets served with lemon wedges and tartar sauce, is really big here. Our white fish dinner and fried shrimp are also big hits. Out of all the menu items we have, our fish is my favorite.

I love it.”

Smithers adds that their steaks and rib eyes are also highly popular.

“We also have a lot of Italian specialties, which is what we get a lot of good reviews on,” Smithers says.

“Our chicken parmesan, and our pizzas and raviolis, are just absolutely delicious. We have a lot of people come back for those. Our burgers, chicken, pork tenderloins and Italian steak sandwiches also get ordered all

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the time. You won’t go hungry when you leave here. That’s for sure.”

Smithers loves Knox, Indiana, and all of the great neighbors he has met over the last several years.

“I have met some of the best people in Knox,” he says. “I love living in the country. It’s very pretty.”

Smithers says he and his wife, Susan, and their son, John, love the laid back atmosphere of Knox.

“We love communicating with all of our great neighbors,” he says. “We get a lot of people in Bass Lake who want to catch up with their friends, watch a game and have a great meal with friends.”

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Bass Lake Pub & Ristorante is located at 2869 South County Road 210 in Knox.

For more info call 574-722-6668.

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thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 35

Tracy Fox, marketing coordinator for the Culver Farmers’ Market, and Don Fox

CULVER WINTER FARMERS’ MARKET RETURNS TO CULVER-UNION TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY Writer / Angela Cornell Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

Picture this: It’s the third Saturday in January and it’s snowing. Again. It’s been frigid all week and you’re suffering from a severe case of cabin fever. To make matters worse, that beef you were planning on cooking for supper mysteriously disappeared. Then you realize your salvation is at hand because the Culver Winter Farmers’ Market is today. Five minutes later, you’re walking out the door with a smile on your face.

The market is held on the ground level of the Culver-Union Township Public Library.

Despite Jack Frost’s bluster, the atmosphere inside the library is positively sunny, especially since everyone is smiling and chatting with each other.

There’s a vast array of products - microgreens and other fresh produce, locallyraised meats, baked goods of all types, locally-made crafts, high-end silversmith and other custom jewelry, hand-crafted wood products, custom services, soaps and artisan chocolates.

This is only the second season of the winter market, but its success has already been astronomical. When Chad Gard, market manager, considered starting a wintertime market he spoke with Tracy Fox, marketing coordinator for the Culver Farmers’ Market.

Once she was on board, they found a spot for it and spoke to potential vendors.

“I thought it would take years to really ramp up into anything of much value, but that first season the biggest struggle I had was trying to figure out how to fit everyone in the room,” Gard says.

36 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

For that reason, Gard and Fox coordinated with library leaders to hold the 2019-2020 winter market in their facility.

“The space we’re in this year is bigger, but it’s still a struggle to fit all the vendors into the room because there’s that much interest,” Gard says.

Considering the camaraderie among those involved with the farmers’ market - not only the winter market but also the outdoor markets Culver holds throughout the year - that interest is hardly a surprise.

“When I talk to people, they just like the connection of knowing where their food or craft was produced, grown or made,” Fox says. “It’s that local touch point.

Culver is like any other small, northern Indiana town. It gets cold, it gets dreary, it gets grey in the winter. So we have a place where you walk in and it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, this town is alive!’ There’s stuff going on. People are engaging. They’re

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able to get out of their house and have a purpose.”

The vendors also contribute to the camaraderie.

“Our vendors are very much interested in the community of the farmers’ market,” explains Gard, who is also a regular vendor.

“There’s a genuine, warm community there.

The vendors want to see each other, and want to see the customers. The customers want to see the vendors and the other customers. They’re coming to connect with each other and the community.”

The Culver Winter Farmers’ Market is located inside the Culver-Union Township Public Library at 107 North Main Street, and takes place on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m from now through April. For more info go to facebook.com/CulverFarmersMarket or call 574-968-7638.

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Owners Chris and Sue Firebaugh

P&N PAWN SHOP FAMILY-OWNED PAWN SHOP IS A PLYMOUTH STAPLE Writer & Photographer / Ashley Miller

Grandpa Ben “The Legend” Firebaugh and his wife Pearl were married for 50 years.

They started a pawn shop chain in Michigan City, Indiana almost 40 years ago after selling jewelry.

Today he is retired, but he has left a family legacy that keeps on growing. P&N Pawn Shop is currently owned by his grandson Chris Firebaugh, and Chris’s mom, Sue. Pearl and Nancy Hodges (Sue’s Mom), who have both passed due to cancer, are memorialized in the shop’s name.

The pawn shop business runs in this family’s Years later, Chris also started his own pawn blood. The current owners, Chris & Sue, shop brand in Knox, Indiana, but sold it six both grew up in the family businesses. years ago when he convinced his mom to sell her restaurant and co-own P&N after his Sue recalls her son Chris at three years grandpa’s retirement. old helping Nancy in Cal’s Pawn Shop in Forrest City, Arkansas. His first task This full-service pawn shop hosts their own was running the loan tags to the back jeweler, which is Chris’s wife Casey, and and “testing” out the original Nintendo coin specialist “Too Tall” Jon. They are also games whenever they would come through a firearms and gold and silver dealer. They the door. Chris fondly remembered one sell video games, movies, electronics, tools, special gift. music equipment and much more.

“I received my first dirt bike from that shop,” “The opportunity we receive to serve our he says. community and getting to know everyone

42 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

who walks through the front door is a real treat,” Chris says.

Each person has a story, and every piece that arrives through the shop is also intriguing. P&N Pawn proudly displays a rare newspaper that prematurely claimed Dewey’s victory over Truman. Truman was the actual winner, so all the misprints were supposed to be destroyed, but P&N have a genuine copy that survived.

This local business has had a number of celebrities that have come through as well. Back in 2013, Les and Seth Gold of the Hardcore Pawn Series came to Plymouth to raise awareness and funds for the community.

“They stopped in at P&N and spent four hours answering questions on item values, signing autographs and meeting fans,” Chris says.

“Speedo” is another famous face, who is local to the Plymouth community. He starred in American Pickers on Episode 183 titled, “Full Speedo Ahead.” He regularly visits the shop and is an avid picker. At 89 years old, he is most famous in this town for his Christmas photos. He is a great character with a wealth of knowledge which benefits the shop greatly.

P&N Pawn Shop is a family-owned wonderful place to visit in the community of Plymouth, Indiana.

They strive to grow and enjoy every unique treasure that comes through their door. They provide quick cash for anyone. If there is a need for $20 or even a present worth thousands for someone special, P&N Pawn is the place to go.

P&N Pawn Shop is located at 1842 W Jefferson St. in Plymouth. You can visit them online at pnpawnshop. com or give them a call at 574-5402155 for more information. thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 43

Custom-Built Cabinets & Furniture “There is No Simple Solutions... Only Intelligent Choices”

Kitchen Cabinets Bedroom Suites • China Hutches Bathroom Vanities • Curios & Custom Built Furniture 65438 SR 13 | Millersburg Ph. 574-642-9940 Fax 574-642-3602 We are the longest Running Diamond Hustler dealer in Northern Indiana.

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46 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

Sales Manager Noah Mechling

Aiming for Success MICHIANA FIREARMS CULTIVATES SOLID RELATIONSHIPS WITH CUSTOMERS Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

Noah Mechling, firearms manager for Michiana Firearms located inside Plymouth True Value hardware store, says he has been cultivating strong relationships with his customers since he started his business.

“Plymouth True Value has been open since 2015, but Michiana Firearms didn’t really form until almost three years later,” Mechling says. “Shortly after the store opened, we installed two-floor display cases and a rifle rack that held six rifles. We started off slow, trying to figure out what Plymouth would bear for a gun shop. The

original layout for the store didn’t have a sporting goods department on the print.

So we have rearranged and adjusted the store to accommodate Michiana Firearms.”

Michiana Firearms has a wide selection of items that come from multiple sources.

thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 47

“For most of our inventory, we get (firearms) direct from the actual manufacturer,” Mechling says. “About 20 percent comes from firearm distributors, and another five percent comes in from trade-ins. That market is growing fast.”

Mechling has worked hard to make his customers happy.

“We are a small shop, so we strive to have a great relationship with our customers, but we are large enough to be competitive on price and availability,” he says. “We normally get allocated guns as soon as they are released.”

Mechling notes that bringing on Tom Langdon, a certified gunsmith for more than 40 years, has helped the store’s success.

“We now have a full machine shop offering repairs and custom modifications right in the shop - from simple repairs or installing scopes to full trigger improvements,” Mechling says. “In 2020 we’ll be threading barrels and cerakoting.”

Tom Langdon The areas best Gunsmith is here doing Cerakote, Gun Customization & Repairs.

Mechling says his customers have been a major factor in the shop’s popularity.

GIFTS • HARDWARE • FISHING GEAR • FIREARMS AMMUNITION • SALES • GUNSMITHING

“Our customers are the reason why we can wake up every day and do what we do,” he says. “The firearm industry is so competitive, but we have great customers that help advertise for us.

They bring their friends and family in the store, which is the main reason we have been able to grow. With us growing, it’s letting us have more unique offerings in our store.”

The shop offers brands such as Browning, Winchester, Walther, Smith & Wesson, Taurus and many more.

574.935.3511 • 574.540.2268 1920 N. Oak Dr. • Plymouth 48 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

“There is not a greater feeling than when you have customers coming in and knowing you by name,” Mechling adds. “We enjoy hearing them talking

Tom Langdon, Gunsmith

about their last hunt, and having success in whatever they are striving for. From local hunts to competitive shooting, we are here to help any way we can.”

Mechling enjoys operating out of Plymouth.

“Plymouth is a great community to be in,” he says. “We feel like we are starting to become a pillar of the community. We love to do fundraising raffles or events to help anyone in the community. In Plymouth, and Marshall County, you still have that sense of community.”

Mechling plans to expand the shop and offer more services in the future.

“We now have an online website, michianafirearms.com, and we now offer Class 3 services with our Silencer Shop kiosk,” he says. “We also are growing our ties with local firearm instructors, like Dan Burch with Hoosier State Training, to build a bridge for our customers. We’re also expanding our consignment sales for collectors, and expanding services in our gunsmithing.”

Visit Michiana Firearms at 1920 North Oak Drive in Plymouth, inside Plymouth True Value. Call 574-5402268 and go to michianafirearms.com for more info. thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 49

Top Quality • Real Compassion Personal Attention • Exceptional Service

CONSTRUCTION FRAIN MORTUARY, INC.

Vinyl Siding Reroofs • Pole Barns New metal & shingle roofing

305 E Main St Winamac, IN 46996 574-946-3222 www.frainmortuary.com

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Exceptional Service!

We are the resource with knowledge on all of your pet needs.

574-842-5000

514-W. Mill St. Culver, IN www.culversportsidemarina.com

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535 5B Rd.• Bremen, IN 46506

50 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

Artistic Stone MFG . L L C

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wood chippers • log splitters • generators Heavy Duty Attachments for skid steer tractors and excavators

Check out all of our products at www.wallensteinequipment.com

or call us to send a catalog 574-892-5055

19167 Gumwood Rd | Argos • Monday - Friday 7:30-5:00

thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 51

Owners Sandra & Alan Bailey

ON THE HUNT NORTHERN TRADERS OFFERS ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES FOR CASUAL SHOPPERS & ENTHUSIASTS Writer / Julie Yates Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

Is Northern Traders an antique shop, a furniture store or a flea market? Regardless of how someone would classify it, people flock there to find treasures of various kinds. Located on Old U.S. Highway 31 in Rochester, it is owned and operated by Sandra Bailey and her husband Alan. Their gentle dog Roger is the store’s official greeter, and Roger is joined by their second dog Otis, who usually stays behind the counter.

Inside, vendors rent space and sell highly sought-after items such as vintage Pyrex and Fiesta ware. Due to the resurgence in popularity of mid-century modern furniture, many people come in hoping to find the perfect end table or lamp. Everyone usually finds something - there are vintage toys, tools and even hair straighteners.

“We have many usable household items,” Sandra says. “It’s a walk down memory lane.

People see a set of bowls like grandma had.

It brings back happy memories. We’ve sold

a camel saddle and once a man discovered a set of false teeth in a mixed bag he bought.

He came back and told us he got $300 for the gold fillings.”

While some people come to enjoy the thrill of the hunt for hidden gems, many are lured in by objects posted on the Northern Traders Facebook and Instagram pages.

Every Tuesday night at 9 p.m., Bailey appears on an interactive Facebook Live video to show off 20 items chosen from the inventory Northern Traders acquires daily.

52 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

“Lots of people hear about us just by word of mouth,” Sandra says. “We have had customers from as far away as California and St. Louis. Sometimes people going to Chicago will go out of their way to see us.”

“We have a full line of furniture with different brands that we get from American Wholesale, which is a company out of Indianapolis,” Sandra says. “Our mattresses are two-sided and can be flipped, which gives buyers more value for their money.”

When the couple got married in the summer of 2012, Alan was running Bailey’s Furniture in Rochester.

Sandra noticed that one of the two buildings was basically empty. She came up with the idea to start a flea market, and in January of 2013 held an indoor yard sale.

Sandra networks with other antique shops in the county, and adds that she’s grown fond of her various vendors over the years.

“I handed out flyers to recruit flea market vendors at the yard sale,” recalls Sandra. “From that, we got our first five vendors. By March we had 35 vendors and we officially launched Northern Traders.”

“I keep a list of area shops by the door,” she says. “I’d like to see Rochester become a destination as a great place to come for a day trip. People can shop, and also enjoy the scenery and the lake.”

Visit Northern Traders at 2801 North Old U.S. Highway 31 in Rochester. Call at 574- 223-5248 or go to facebook.com/ NorthernTraders for more info.

Guidance to cope with life’s challenges.

Bailey laughs as she explains where the Northern Traders name came from.

“Alan liked it because I’m southern,” she says. “Also, it was the northern building we started with.”

Northern Traders now accommodates more than 100 vendor booths, and because of demand for vendor space, the portion of the business devoted to new furniture has been somewhat condensed over the years. Today, customers can view a sampling of reclining chairs, bunk beds, couches and other pieces that can be ordered.

One line of products Northern Traders has always been known for is high-quality mattresses.

Pulaski Memorial Hospital’s Senior Care program is designed to help senior citizens cope with depression, grief, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, and changes in living habits such as eating and sleeping.

If you would like to discover how to handle life’s challenges, keep your body strong, and enjoy life once again. We can help!

To schedule a free consultation, please call (574) 946-0386.

NOR THER N TR ADER S  2801 North Old US Hwy 31 Rochester, IN  (574) 223-5248

Senior Care 525 E. 13th St. , Winamac, IN 46996 • (574) 946-0386 • www.pmhnet.com thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 53

I N J A N U A R Y AT T H E L A K E S KOONTZ LAKE

BASS LAKE

KOONTZ LAKE CLUBHOUSE Rent the Koontz Lake Clubhouse for your next party! $50.00 rental fee with refundable cleaning fee. The facility holds up to 100 people and has a fully equipped kitchen.

KOONTZ LAKE CRAFT CLASS Craft class every Friday afternoon 12-2 CDT at the Koontz Lake Library starting January 3rd. The crafts range from painting to crochet and knitting. Come get some new ideas and meet new people. The library will display different local artist work every month. Library hours are M,W,F 9-5 CDT and Saturday 8-12. Phone number 574-586-3353.

KOONTZ LAKE BINGO Every Monday night at the Koontz Lake Clubhouse 10870 Cherokee Road, Walkerton, IN. Doors open at 5pm CDT, early bird beings at 6pm, and regular bingo beings at 6:30.

14

BASS LAKE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT Bass Lake Conservancy District has a meeting every second Monday of the month at the Bass Lake Property Owners Building.

C U LV E R BASS LAKE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT Bass Lake Conservancy District has a meeting every second Monday of the month at the Bass Lake Property Owners Building.

1

UNOFFICIAL RESOLUTION RUN 5K

18

CLUB & ORGANIZATION FAIR

KOOTZ LAKE BOARD MEETING

 6:30 PM CDT Koontz Lake Board Meeting. This is open to the public, and they are accepting new board members.

EUCHRE NIGHT Koontz Lake Association to hose Euchre night. Watch the Koontz Lake Sandbar Facebook page for details.

 9:00 AM-1:00 PM EST Culver Union-Township Public Library will host a Club & Organization Fair in the lower lever of the library near the Culver Farmers’ Market. IF you’d like to participate, please contact Erin Schoberg at 574-842-2941 or eschoberg@ culver.lib.in.us.

LAST SATURDAY CORCERTS Koontz Lake Association “Last Saturday Concerts” will resume in April 54 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

Knox - Winamac Community Health Center Caring for your healthcare needs since 2007

Knox-Winamac Community Health Center is a private non-profit agency providing affordable high-quality, primary care to residents of Starke and Pulaski Counties.

Walter Fritz, MD

Lori Truesdell, LCSW

We accept Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurances. We have a Sliding Fee Scale available to qualified individuals which can significantly reduce the cost of your office visit.

Services Available Primary and Preventive care • Physical Examinations Employment • Sports • School Physicals Well Child Checks • Immunizations • Chronic Disease Mangagement Laboratory Service • Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings Management Women’s Health Screenings and Annual Exams • Behavioral Healthcare

Elizabeth Moerman, MSN, APRN, FNP

Tracy Haddix, NP

Open Monday thru Friday and every Saturday until noon

Kim McCullough, NP

1002 S. Edgwood Drive Knox, IN 46534 | 574-772-6030

MAGAZINE If you are not in our designated monthly mailing route you can find a few thousand paper copies of the Lakes Magazine spread over 100+ area businesses throughout the following region: Argos, Bass Lake, Bremen, Culver, Delong, Donaldson, Hamlet, Koontz Lake, Knox, Monterey, Nappanee, North Judson, Plymouth, Rochester, Walkerton & Winamac

DID YOU MISS AN ISSUE OR WANT TO READ THE LAKES MAGAZINE ON THE GO? Download our free FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES App on your digital CONTACT PUBLISHER JOHN LEWANDOWSKI device. Go to The Lakes Magazine on Google Play (574)249-9217 or The App JOHN@TOWNEPOST.COM Store. thelakesmagazine.com / JANUARY 2020 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 55

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