NOVEMBER 2019
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RICHARD’S OF TOTO LOCAL STORE CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF DEALS, DISCOUNTS & DEDICATION
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RICHARD’S OF TOTO: LOCAL STORE CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF DEALS, DISCOUNTS & DEDICATION
Considering Richard’s of Toto has become a premier discount shopping destination in the midwest, it might be hard to believe that the store was founded quite by chance three and a half decades ago.
7 Let Me Call You Sweetheart: Local
36 November Crossword Puzzle 38 Following a Little Girl’s Dream:
Couple Talks About the Musical History of Their Bass Lake Home
11 Distinguished Young Women of
Fulton County: Local Organization Promotes & Rewards Scholarships
16 A History of Lake Maxinkuckee Orchards
20 Building Rochester Homes: Local Home Installation Company Provides Unique Way to Build Homes
24 Richard’s of Toto: Local Store Celebrates 35 Years of Deals, Discounts & Dedication
Local Nurse Practitioner Achieves Life-Long Dream of Being a Medical Professional In Hometown
42 Momma’s Pizzeria: New Knox
Restaurant Serves Up Delicious Pies In a Family-Friendly Atmosphere
47 Alive! Aquaponics: Local Couple
Grows Fresh Produce Through a Unique Process
50 Frost on the Pumpkins, the Hoosier Poet, and Lake Maxinkuckee
54 The Chameleon’s Closet: New 28 #FallFun Photography Store Offers Something For Every Shade of Life 30 October Crossword Puzzle Answers tuffed! Unique Recipes For Classic 32 On The Market: Whitetail Properties 58 SThanksgiving Dishes Agent Talks Client-First Approach 62 What’s Happening at the Lakes thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 5
EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown
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EDITOR
Samantha Kupiainen
NOVEMBER WRITERS
Abigail Hake / Angela Cornell Jeff Kenney / Jon Shoulders / Julie Yates Mary Lowry / Matt Keating
NOVEMBER PHOTOGRAPHERS Jubilee Edgell
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Bill and Nancy Sonnemaker
LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART L OC A L C OU P L E T A LK S A BO U T TH E M U SI CA L H I S T OR Y OF TH E I R BA SS LA K E H O M E Writer / Mary Lowry Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
When Bill and Nancy Sonnemaker met in Chicago in 1954, there was no doubt that the couple was interested in each other. Fast forward 65 years, and they are still together, living happily in their Bass Lake home. With so much rich history in the area, it is unsurprising that their home has quite the history of its own.
Built in the late 19th century, the Sonnemakers’ home started out as a popular hotel. The Center View Hotel attracted visitors to the area from all over the country. It quickly became the favorite of famous musician Leo Friedman. Friedman is known for a variety of songs, but some of his more famous ones are “Meet Me To-Nite in Dreamland,” “When I Dream of Old Erin,” and “If I Should.” By far, though, his most famous song was
“Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” The waltz is popular to this day, and it was penned in the Sonnemakers’ home. On one visit to the lake in 1910, Friedman wrote the popular tune in order to woo a young woman. The owners’ daughter apparently caught Friedman’s eye, and so to catch her attention back, he wrote her the sentimental song. It was recorded by The Peerless Quartet later that year, and it
thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 7
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“I learned about [the history of the hotel] through my grandparents,” Nancy says. “[Friedman] was smitten by the owners’ daughter, and he wrote the song for her.” Beyond the musical history of the home, the hotel also contains a link to the famous book by L. Frank Baum in 1900: “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” While rumors have swirled before that Baum wrote part of the book there, Bill and Nancy say this was not true. “Frank Baum Jr. bought this and had it in 1960 to 1965 and renamed it the Oz Castle, and he ran it as a bed and breakfast at that time,” Bill says. “The Wizard of Oz was not written here. It was Frank Baum’s son who owned it, and he was just cashing in on his father’s name.”
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went on to gain massive popularity. “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” was a lasting song. It is still popular today at weddings for the traditional fatherdaughter dance. Part of its prominence can be attributed to some of the bigname stars that have sung covers of it throughout the years: Bing Crosby, Bette Midler and Barry White have all covered Friedman’s song.
10/2/19 10:25 AM
8 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
Besides the artistic history behind their home, Bill and Nancy have personal history in the area, too. Nancy’s family has lived around Bass Lake since 1919, and so when the couple was looking to retire in 1997, it just made sense to move to the area. Not only did they have family in the area, but Nancy had actually grown up nearby.
When they were living in California, Nancy would bring their children out to visit the lake. It was quite a far move from their home in the San Francisco Bay area back to Bass Lake but it was certainly nothing too drastic for them. The change of pace was welcome, providing respite from the busy, bustling world in a developing Silicon Valley.
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“There was a migration of people to the West Coast. We were married in October of 1958 and in January of 1959 we moved out to California, and we spent 40 years in the San Francisco Bay area, which is now Silicon Valley,” Bill says. “California, when we moved out there, we were living in the apricot orchards, and it was a beautiful area. Today, there is a mass of people, and that’s why we decided to retire back here. Over the years, we slowly fixed it up to make it livable, and we moved here permanently in 1997 when I retired.” Even though their house is known for Leo Friedman’s famous tune, the song does not get much playing time in the Sonnemakers’ home. “[We don’t listen to the song], not really,” Nancy says, laughing. “We had several music boxes that people have given to us over the years, but we do not listen to the song that often. We don’t have a favorite version. It’s from before our time.” thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 9
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LO C A L O R G A N I Z AT I O N P R O M OT E S & R E WA R D S S C H O L A R S H I P S
Writer / Angela Cornell Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Michaela Slisher, Local Chairman, & Charlee Schwenk
The auditorium was packed with attendees from all over the nation. When the eight finalists in the 2018 Nationals Distinguished Young Women (DYW) Program walked onto the stage, the emcee reminded the audience that, for this public speaking exhibition, these high school seniors would be judged on speaking ability, clarity in response and grace under pressure. The question posed to the Indiana representative was, “In America, should health care be considered a privilege or a right?” Confidently, she responded, “Land of the free, home of the brave and the healthy. I believe health insurance should be a right. Everyone has the right to a safe and healthy life, no matter your preexisting situation. Those with the most chronic illnesses to the simplest cold have the right to be cared for in a respectful way.” On June 30, 2018, the Kokomo native won the national DYW competition, earning a $30,000 scholarship. For 61 years, the DYW program has helped public, private and homeeducated high school seniors gain confidence and improve themselves, all at no cost to the participants. At the grassroots, DYW begins in late summer or fall and goes county by county, leading up to the state competition in February and Nationals in June. In Fulton County, DYW was nonexistent for 30 years until a native DYW alumna, Michaela Slisher decided to revive it with Lisa Becker. “This will be the first year that we’ve actually gotten it off the ground since 1989,” says Slisher, who is the local chairman. “It’s been a learning experience for all of us.” What sets DYW apart from similar programs is that it is a scholarship program, not a beauty pageant.
12 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
“We are not about the external beauty as much as we are about the internal,” Slisher says. “We’re strictly about a well-rounded individual.” Specifically, DYW focuses on five categories: scholastics, interview skills, talent, fitness and self-expression. “They’re competing against themselves, not against the other girls,” Slisher says. At the showcase, the participants will be evaluated on a scale of 0-10 in all areas by a panel of nonlocal judges who are chosen by the DYW state chairman. For the DYW of Fulton County team, it’s been a massive undertaking. Not only have they been preparing the girls for the local showcase on November 23, but they have also been looking for area businesses and organizations that would be willing to sponsor the county-level scholarships. This year, Slisher and her team want to award $3,500 overall to the participants, with a $1,000 scholarship to the local winner. These funds are available for any kind of further education, including 2-year programs, technology and trade schools. “We’re all about continuing education. So, we do not have strings attached,” Slisher says. “We want to be sure that we are catching those career paths or continuing education institutions that wouldn’t be normally covered in a scholarship.” Juniors in high school who are interested in competing next year or anyone curious about the program are encouraged to attend the local showcase at Caston High School on November 23 at 6 PM. For more information, visit DYW of Fulton County online at fulton. in.distinguishedyw.org. Businesses who would like to sponsor the program can reach Michaela Slisher at slisher@rtcol.com.
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Writer / Jeff Kenney Photography Provided
‘Tis the season for reaping the bounty of Indiana and Michigan orchards of all types and sizes, though many in the area still cherish fond memories of the sights, smells and tastes of several once-prominent apple orchards at or near the east shore of Lake Maxinkuckee —be it the tangy bite of cider, the warm sweetness of apple butter on bread or the simple pleasure of biting into an apple not long removed from a nearby tree.
A HISTORY OF LAKE MAXINKUCKEE ORCHARDS
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An unproven theory once prevailed that a sort of micro-climate — a kind of miniature version of the fruit growing ecosystem of Lake Michigan — existed off the high bluffs of Maxinkuckee’s east shoreline, conducive to apple growing. Myth or not, three major (and a handful of smaller, such as the Benedict Orchard) commercial orchards operated on the lake between the late 19th and early
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21st centuries, with Bigley’s Orchard on 18B and Queen Roads the best remembered by contemporary locals. Bigley’s operated from 1929 to 2000 and was designated a Hoosier Homestead Farm (which recognizes farms owned by the same family for 100 years) in 1978. Th e same status was more recently awarded to the Norris FarmMaxinkuckee Orchard near 18B and Peach Roads, which also was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The Norris home, in fact, still bears the date of its construction, 1855, in the shingles of its roof today and was built in the wake of the arrival of the first Norris to the area in the 1830s. According to the writings of Phyllis (Norris) Schoonover, who today still maintains the family’s historical legacy, the first orchard on the farm had been set out in 1850.
home can still be seen just off the wooded, southeastern edge of the Culver Academies Golf course, even today). Emma continued to oversee the business up to her death in 1939 at age 89, which brought an end to the orchard’s operations and within the ensuing decades, the last traces of apple trees from the once-prominent local landmark disappeared.
A tangible connection to the Vonnegut Orchard story saw something of a renaissance in recent years with the renovation, as close as possible to its original specifications, of the 1890 home of Emma Vonnegut and husband Clemens Vonnegut Jr by a group of Culver Academies graduates. The house, today known as The Clemens Vonnegut Jr. House, was Emma’s home with her husband before the latter died and Emma took up residence
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Maxinkuckee Orchards operated as a business from 1901 to 1965 under the leadership of Everett Norris and with the help of family members — including Phyllis herself — and hired laborers. Likely the longest-forgotten locally, but arguably most notable orchard on a more national scale (due to the fame of its name), was the Vonnegut Orchard, which was first purchased and laid out in 1910, though it began promoting its commercial operations in the early 1920s. Famous author Kurt Vonnegut Jr., who spent childhood summers on the lake and praised its impact on his persona and writing — was the great-nephew of Emma Vonnegut, who held court over orchard operations with the aid of her son, Walter. The Indianapolis Star hailed Emma as the “most successful woman orchardist” in a 1930s article. Vonnegut Orchard would eventually boast more than 1,000 trees and occupy a significant amount of land along the east shore of the lake south of and along 18th Road (in fact, the foundation of the orchard keeper’s
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at the orchard property across the road. The Clemens house is a rental home and is also opened from time to time for history tours. Surely the most widely-remembered Maxinkuckee orchard by area apple lovers was Bigley’s, headquartered on 18B Road at the site of the last east shore Potawatomi band, that of Chief Nees-Wau-Ghee. In fact, the Bigley family began its tenure on the land just two years after the 1838 removal of the Potowatomi (known as “The Trail of Death”) with the purchase of land by John and Susanna Bigley. Their son Thomas, born in 1851, would clear the land which resided in what became known as the Maxinkuckee Village (some readers may have noticed that recent research and informational efforts have begun regarding the Village, under the direction of the Antiquarian and Historical Society of Culver), along 18B and extending east past Queen Road.
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Thomas Bigley’s grandson, John Fisher Bigley, built a popular general store near the Maxinkuckee Landing whose iconic water wheel is still remembered by many locals. John also planted the family farm’s first apple and peach orchard in 1928, though it took another decade for fruit production to really take off. Initially selling apples in the family’s front yard, John Bigley’s orchard fame grew such that, by 1940, his photo was featured on the cover of Hoosier Horticulturalist Magazine for his innovation and success as an orchardist. By 1947, Bigley’s Orchard’s first storage building was constructed which also allowed for an orchard store, the farm now boasting some 3,000 apple trees and stretching across 65 acres along the west side of Queen Road. Bigley’s trucks began making the rounds not only to Culver buyers but stores in a variety of communities within a 75-mile radius. Eventually the business added a successful sales operation in Kentucky, where apple growing was difficult.
John’s son, David Bigley, who, with brother Bryce, has kept the family orchard’s history, told the Culver Citizen newspaper several years ago that crowds from as far away as Illinois flocked to the orchard store each fall, snapping up pies, donuts, Bigley-grown fruits and vegetables of all sorts, apples, apple butter (made by area Amish cooks from Bigley apples), and family-recipe apple cider, still recalled with abiding fondness by generations of locals. Orchard patriarch John Bigley passed away in 1994 and his wife, Bea, three years later. Sales had already begun to decline, with John’s sons chalking up the change in part due to people cooking less from scratch with apples but especially to the growth of a culture of supermarkets and ‘big box’ stores, wherein large, cheaper supplies of fruit are often transported across country or even worldwide, rather than from local producers. Bigley’s Orchard was too small to compete with such volume but too large
Orchard’s locale and its status as a Hoosier to sustain itself economically by selling to the handful of specialty markets still open to Homestead farm — in the same historic village where part of the great novel “Ben handling their fruit. Hur” was written in the 1800s — still hearkens passerby to cherished memories Labor, too, had become an increasing of leaf smoke in the air and the lilting challenge for the family and so the year sweetness of those most quintessentially 2000 saw the official end of Bigley’s as a autumn tastes and smells of all things apple commercial operation. — traces of a rich orchard legacy off the east shore of Lake Maxinkuckee. Today, the old sign designating Bigley’s
thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 19
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We would love to see YOUR work be part of our local publication!
MAGAZINE
WE ARE LOOKING FOR LOCAL WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE AREA WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FREELANCE WORK! EMAIL YOUR RESUME AND PORTFOLIO TO OUR EDITOR AT JOSH@TOWNEPOST.COM!
574.224.7348
Rob Carlson, Your Local Builder
rob@rochesterhomesbuilder.com 1345 N. Lucas Street P.O. Box 85 Rochester, Indiana 46975 /rochesterhomesinc
20 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
Writer / Mary Lowry Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Rob Carlson knows home construction. Since 1989, he’s been working on and building houses. He started with his father-in-law, and in 1995, he went out on his own. Today, Carlson is a local builder for Rochester Homes. Rochester Homes started in 1972, and today, the company is still familyowned and operated, enjoying its third generation of ownership. The business is recognized as Indiana’s Premiere Modular Built Home. Basically, a modular built home is one that is constructed at a plant, then shipped to the appropriate location for installation. It gets sent on a truck, and then a crane places the home on top of the foundation or basement. “Basically, [the house] is 90 to 95% complete,” Carlson says. “We still have work to do on-site, like a garage or a porch, but the house itself is pretty much done. It depends on the amount of sire work, but typically [people can move in] six to eight weeks after it’s set.” The six to eight-week wait includes not only site work like a garage or porch, but also necessities, like getting a well, a septic tank, heating, plumbing, and utilities. The wait time to move in actually takes much longer than the time needed to build the home. Carlson explains that once your production spot comes up at the plant where the homes are built, it typically takes about six working days to manufacture the house. Modular homes are popular because most people consider the process fairly smooth and easy in comparison to other ways of homeownership. They can visit the plant, walk through different model homes, and see the dedicated work put in by Rochester Homes’ employees on a facilities tour. Customers can select a floor plan, adjust a pre-made floor plan or bring in their own floor plan designs on their own. Depending on the choices made in that process, Carlson works up a quote for the project. After that, the
WE TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO AND TREAT PEOPLE IN THE MOST FAIR AND HONEST WAY POSSIBLE. RO B C ARL SO N
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thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 21
process is pretty much a waiting game — wait for your home to come up in the plant, wait for installation, and wait for the other on-site work to be done. All in all, it is a far easier project for people to go through. “We take pride in what we do and treat people in the most fair and honest way possible,” he says. “The modular industry has come a long way over the years, and we’ve been very progressive in keeping up with the latest trends and custom designs.” If you are interested in purchasing a home from Rochester Homes, feel free to give them a call at 574-224-7348, or send Carlson an email at rob@ rochesterhomesbuilder.com. Their model homes and plant facility is located at 1345 N. Lucas St. in Rochester. Model hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, with the plant tour starting at 10 a.m. You can also visit them online at rochesterhomesinc.com.
Affordable Insurance, Inc. Auto • Home • Business • Life
574-772-5370
www.insurancebyval.com 1512 South Heaton St Knox, IN 46534
A unique boutique filled with gifts & antiques
119 W Ninth St. • Rochester (574) 223-WEST
22 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
Hochstetler Storage Barns Call Now for Special November Discounts • Lowest Cost • Amish Built • 3/4 Tongue and Groove Plywood Flooring • All Custom Build to Order • All sizes Available • Several Windows and Door options • 2x4 walls • Standard Metal Roof • Treated Lumber Runners and Floor Joists EDS-5422D-A
574-642-0048
Russell ToddKietzman Clady Financial Advisor Financial Advisor 574-935-5647
John Chamberlin Financial Advisor 574-935-3909
1226 S Michigan St Suite 1 Plymouth, IN 46563 574-935-4183
Craig Wilson Financial Advisor 574-935-4108
Mark Bishop www.edwardjones.com Todd Clady SIPC Financial AdvisorMemberFinancial Advisor 574-935-0030 574-935-4138
www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC
palletfurnituredesign.com 69388 State Rd. 13 Millersburg
Amish made pallet Furniture. Pallets Sanded down for a Smooth Rustic Finish with 2 coats of clear coat. Several finishing Colors available.
574-702-0394 High-Speed Internet Service Security Systems
CALL NOW FOR SPECIAL NOVEMBER DISCOUNTS
nexgenhomesysystems@gmail.com thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 23
• • • • • • • • •
Bedroom Suites Coffee Tables Storage Benches Desks Bars Entertainment Centers Kitchen Island Changing Tables & more
Owners Adam Ebner, Ed Ebner and Carol Ebner
RICHARD’S OF TOTO LOCAL STORE CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF DEALS, DISCOUNTS & DEDICATION Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Considering Richard’s of Toto has become a premier discount shopping destination in the midwest, it might be hard to believe that the store was founded quite by chance three and a half decades ago. In the early 1980s, Valparaiso native Ed Ebner was working as a builder and learned of a property on South Range Road in North Judson (technically it sits in the unincorporated community of Toto) that had been heavily damaged by fire and was on the market. “I had a rug installer that I worked with and his brother owned the building,” Ebner
recalls. “It was offered to me and a partner of mine named Richard Hazelton, which is where the name of the store comes from.”
sold, and a lightbulb went off for me that we could do well selling all kinds of things at good prices.”
Hazelton was a long-time friend of Ebner and his family and felt the building was wellsuited to become a discount store. Ironically enough, it was during the fire restoration and repair process that the two realized just how ideal the spot was for such a business.
And that’s precisely the concept Ebner has stuck with to this very day. He still travels around the country sourcing discount inventory — everything from furniture, office supplies, toys and seasonal items like Christmas decorations, to hardware, cleaning products and automotive parts.
“People would stop by while we were doing the reconstruction work and offer to buy the equipment we were using for the repair work,” Ebner says with a laugh. “I realized that I’d been in the building business a long time and that maybe I could start selling a lot of the things I had used over the years myself and things I had in storage. It all
“There was no great plan — it was just a matter of buying our products at a good price and selling them at a markup that is still a fair price for the customer,” Ebner explains. “It was a small business at the start and it just took off. I’ve gotten more refined at buying and reselling, and our business
24 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
now has 31 employees and sells everything you can think of.” A year and a half after opening, Ebner decided to add a small cafe inside the store, after having to turn away countless customers who would ask where the nearest restaurant was. “Since we’re kind of in the middle of nowhere, I’d always have to send them out of town,” he says. “We thought we should do something about that. We started with a tiny, 16-seat cafe with hamburgers.” The Cafe Toto menu has grown through the years to include American-style breakfast, lunch and dinner items, including soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pulled pork, beef brisket, homemade chili and six different pie flavors for dessert. Anyone who’s driven by Richard’s of Toto has seen the 30-foot Native American statue standing sentinel out front, which Ebner
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APRIL 2019
MAGAZ INE
MEDIA KIT 2017
A WORK OF ART
MEDIA KIT MEDIA KIT2017 2017
7th Annual PlainfieldGuilford Township Public Libra Gala Returns April ry Arts 26-28 PR
IE EM
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Darren@PlainfieldMag.com
Darren@PlainfieldMag.com Darren@PlainfieldMag.com MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 2016
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Don’t forget to visit the Toto Cafe
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(574) 249-9217 Meteorolgist Meteorolgist
Chuck Lofton Chuck Lofton
loves life in Avon John@TownePost.com Chuck Lofton loves life in Avon
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loves life in Avon JANUARY 2017
MARCH 2017
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TAMIKA CATCHINGS
CATCHINGS Enjoying Retired TAMIKA Life Enjoying Retired Life on the West Side
GREEK RESTAURANT OWNER GUS DAGRES REFLECTS ON THE GUIDE TO GREEK CUISINE
AvonMagazine.com
GREEK RESTAURANT
AvonMagazine.com
GREEK RESTAURANT OWNER GUS DAGRES REFLECTS ON THE GUIDE TO GREEK CUISINE
AvonMagazine.com
on the West Side
TAMIKA CATCHINGS AvonMagazine.com
OWNER GUS DAGRES REFLECTS ON THE GUIDE TO GREEK CUISINE
AvonMagazine.com
Enjoying Retired Life on the West Side
www.richardsoftoto.com • (574)772-5923 RichardsOfToto@hotmail.com 3060 S. Range Road North Judson
Mon & Wed-Fri 9am to 5pm Sat & Sun 9am to 5:30pm Closed Tuesdays
AvonMagazine.com
thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 25
ALSO, I PROBABLY HAVE SOME OF THE BEST CUSTOMERS THIS COUNTRY’S EVER HAD. THEY’VE GIVEN ME A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT, AND IT’S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.”
Artistic Stone MF G. LLC
Interior • Exterior • Handcrafted • Stone Veneer Free Estimates • Customer Satisfaction
574-546-3771
Marlin & Rose Miller - Owners
5958 4th Road Bremen, IN 46506 26 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
acquired in 2001 in Michigan City. It’s become synonymous with the store, and like Richard’s of Toto itself, the statue has seen its share of challenges, including damage from a store fire in 2002 and vandalism that took one of its arms in 2015. Like the store, it’s weathered many storms and is still standing strong. “There are just a few around the country,” Ebner says of the statue. “They used to be in car dealers and muffler businesses, and it’s known as Muffler Man. There have been thousands of pictures taken of it. I can’t imagine us without it.” Ebner feels there’s been no secret formula to his long-term success and points instead to a simple process of finding strong deals on the buying end, combined with honest, reasonable markups on the reselling side. And it’s a winning approach — he says 80% of his sales are from repeat shoppers, and he gets regular customers appearing every single day. “My dad suggested that I mark things up enough to make some money and stay in business, but let the customer have a bargain,” he says. “That’s the way we’ve priced things from the first day. Also, I probably have some of the best customers this country’s ever had. They’ve given me a lot of encouragement, and it’s been a great experience.” Richard’s of Toto is located at 3060 South Range Road in North Judson. Call 574-772-5923 or go to richardsoftoto.com for more information.
Plymouth Family Dental Care James Ryan, D.D.S.
Proudly owned & operated by Tom & Carolyn Blackburn.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
Dental Care with a Gentle Touch
Sat & Sun Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Buffet, Catering, Meeting / Banquet Room for up to 74 people
(574) 936-8787 1409 N Michigan St • Plymouth Plymouth Family Dental Care
• Rugs • Carpet • Laminate
• Vinyl • Hardwood • Showers
• Ceramic • Warehouse Specials
Open Mon - Thur 11am to 9:00pm, Friday 11am - 10:00pm, Saturday 8am to 10:00pm, Sunday 8am to 9:00pm
(574)936-4128 | 2100 N. Michigan st. • Plymouth
Now Offering Dermaplaning
(574) 935-5656
www.prattsfloorcovering.com
303 N. Oak Dr. Plymouth IN. 46563 thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 27
28 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
302 N. Heaton Street, Knox, IN 46534 • 574-772-3802 JUST SOUTH OF THE YELLOW RIVER BRIDGE ON THE US 35 CORRIDOR
Not only do we have antiques... we have old stuff, new stuff, costume jewelry collectibles, candles, jams, jellies and don’t forget some downright ugly stuff!
REG. HOURS: THURS-FRI-SAT 10AM-4PM OWNERS: JERRY & VICKI COOLEY
Custom Cabinets | Kitchens | Bathrooms | Solid Surface Countertops
Voted Starke County’s BEST Breakfast, Lunch, French Fries, Soup, & Service!
Book Shelves, Entertainment Centers, Entry Doors, Interior House Door & Trim, Built in Closets, Tables & Chairs
Best Home style comfort food in our area.
Welcome Home NEW decorative & usable wooden bowls.
A Forever Keepsake made with Heirloom Quality.
(574) 772-3358 | www.knoxwoodshop.com | 1290 W. 150 S • Knox
2159 N. Oak Dr. Plymouth, IN 46563 www.gordonspetgrooming.com
www.birdiesknox.com
Poppin’ Off Popcorn
We provide the best possible care for your pet! We Groom all Breeds including Large Dogs & Cats
14 S. Main Street | (574) 772-4660
Several popcorn flavors All Beef Chicago Hotdogs Polish Dogs • Cowboy Beans
Call or Text 574-612-3524 for an Appointment!
Hershey’s Ice Cream Shakes • Floats • Malts
Tuesday - Friday 11AM - 6 PM, Saturday 11 AM - 4 PM 4 N Pearl St | Knox • (574) 772-5999 poppinoffpopcorn.com
thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 29
october CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS /thelakesmagazine
Mint City Millwork
A very fine selection of Clocks of all kinds
Living Room • Dining Room Mattresses • Accents • Office • & More!
Grandfather • Mission • Mantle • Wall & more
Open Mon- Fri 10am to 6pm Saturday 9am to 5pm 231 Apache Dr. • Rochester
(574)223-7632
www.townehomefurnishings.com
(574)209-1351
3121 Birch Rd. Bremen Open Mon - Fri 8am to 4pm • Saturday 8am to Noon
30 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
20 YEARS EXPERIENCE 5 YEAR WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY PROUDLY GIVING VETERAN DISCOUNTS
Fantastic Family-owned Restaurant!
Joseph Quail (574) 806-1211 joequail1982@gmail.com
Jennifer A. Korous is a CPA serving the area with 2 convenient locations. Delicious Choice Ribeye Steak & Eggs The Sunrise & Farmers Omelette Crepes, Pancakes, Burgers, Steak, Melts, Wraps, Salads & Much More all at LOW PRICES. Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, Sun: 6am to 3pm Friday & Saturday: 6am to 9pm
Proudly Owned & Operated by Bernardo Velazquez
574-935-0670
2882 Miller Drive • Plymouth, IN
(Restaurant faces South in the Strip Plaza right across from the Lifeplex)
Individual/Business Tax Services Payroll Services
4915 W. State Road 10 North Judson
(574)896-2204
Financial Statement Preparation Business Planning & Consulting
120 E. 17th Street Rochester
(574)223-1040
Jennifer@jlwidman.com | www.jlwidman.com
Somethin Fishy Pets & Gifts
574-806-2726 0245 E. Toto Rd | Knox somethinfishypets.com
Like our page! One Stop shop for: • Local signage • Banners • Lawn signs • posters • stickers • vehicle lettering & decals
• Commercial & Residential Service • Season Firewood • Lot and Fence Clearing • Stump Grinding and Removal • Trimming Topping • Storm Damage Fire Wood • 24-Hour Service
• window clings & film • magnets • T-Shirts • Signs • Wall Art • Interior • P.O.P Displays
Plus OUTSTANDING Tradeshow exhibit services!
(888) 735-4348 Info@otesinc.com | 5235 W. State Rd 10 North Judson OTES signs & graphics thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 31
www.otesinc.com
Rob Styka, Whitetail Properties Land Specialist
ON THE MARKET WHITETAIL PROPERTIES AGENT TALKS CLIENT-FIRST APPROACH Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Recreational, hunting, farmland and rural residential properties are increasingly popular, and Rob Styka, a land specialist with Whitetail Properties, says the company is successfully filling buyers’ demands for these properties. “Effectively, I am a real estate agent licensed in both Indiana and Illinois, with specialized training, education and experience in selling rural homesteads, recreational and hunting properties, farms, ranches and timber ground,” Styka says. “Whitetail Properties is headquartered in
Pittsfield, Illinois, but we have a team of 11 agents, all based and living in Indiana within the areas they serve.” Styka says that Whitetail Properties was founded almost 12 years ago because there was a huge need for specialized agents with the training, experience, education and passion for helping buyers and sellers with recreational, hunting and farmland as well as rural residential properties. “We saw there were many real estate companies that would list any type of property for sale, from a house in town to a gas station, or commercial building, up to a large farm, without having any expertise or
a passion in selling any of those,” Styka says. “We truly feel you cannot properly service your clients if you are trying to dabble in all facets of real estate sales and not focusing on what you do best to help clients.” Styka believes his clients will tell others that Whitetail Properties is one of the best to work with. “In terms of size and the experience of our company, we employ over 250 fulltime agents in 27 states and are constantly growing,” Styka adds. “In 2018 alone, our sales were $1.1 billion, with almost 300,000 acres of land being sold, and 2019 is proving to be even better.”
32 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
In addition to successfully closings on hundreds of thousands of acres of land, Whitetail Properties also marketed and sold, in record time, the 18,043 acre La Bandera Ranch in Texas for more than $54M. “Our company has also been repeatedly named one of ‘America’s Best Brokerages,’ by the Land Report, and our ‘Whitetail Properties’ television show has been previously awarded the prestigious ‘Best Educational/Informational’ show in the Sportsmans Choice Awards,” Styka says. Styka adds that Whitetail Properties only hires the most skilled, knowledgeable, honest and hard-working real estate agents in the country. “We also only hire full-time agents that work for Whitetail Properties and not some franchise brokerage,” he says. “Since we have so many agents in many states, the specialty or niche of each agent in each state may vary slightly, but we all keep in line with Whitetail Properties’ position as the premier land brokerage company. Here in Northern Indiana, we obviously have a higher population density and more developed areas, as well as a lot of farm, wooded and lake property. As a result, my sales and experience reflect that. My listings vary from a five or 10-acre rural homesite, a high-end lake property, a true recreational or hunting property up to several hundred acres of farm ground.”
MARSHALL COUNTY
Festivals! Festivals! MARSHALL COUNTY Culver Winter Fest
Culver Winter FestYellow River Festival Argos Summer Kickoff Festival Yellow River Festival Bremen Firemen’s Festival 4-H Fair Argos Summer Kickoff Festival Culver Lake Fest Bourbon Summer Fest Bremen Firemen’s Festival Blueberry Festival Rentown Old Fashion Days 4-H Fair Latino Festival Oktoberfest Culver Lake Fest Culver Fall Fest Bourbon Summer FestHoly Walk Christmas Fest at Hensler’s Nursery Blueberry Festival 2019 Dates Available at VisitMarshallCounty.org Rentown Old Fashion Days Latino Festival Oktoberfest Culver Winter FestCulver Fall Fest Blueberry Festival Yellow River Festival Old Fashion Days VisitMarshallCounty.org • 800-626-5353 Holy WalkRentown Argos Summer Kickoff Festival Latino Festival Christmas Fest at Hensler’s Oktoberfest Nursery Bremen Firemen’s Festival
4-H Fair Culver Fall Fest Culver Lake Fest Dates Available Holy 2019 at Walk Bourbon Summer Fest Christmas Fest at Hensler’s Nursery VisitMarshallCounty.org
2019 Dates Available at VisitMarshallCounty.org
VisitMarshallCounty.org • 800-626-5353 thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 33
MOBILE AUTOMOTIVE • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL
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ShadeMasterWindowTint.com 34 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
Some properties may have several of these property types all in the same tract, so Styka looks at different ways to market, or even split properties, to achieve the best and highest market value, and expose the listing to the most qualified buyers as possible. Whitetail Properties’ national television show sponsors include John Deere, Quality Deer Management Association, Winchester, Yeti Coolers, Lacrosse Footwear, Morton Buildings, Buck Knives, Mathews Archery, Banks Blinds, Whitetail Institute, Sitka Clothing, Hunter Safety and many more. “When a group of America’s leading brands choose Whitetail Properties as a business partner, it’s just another good reason buyers and sellers partner up with us every day all across the country,” Styka says. For more information on Whitetail Properties, visit whitetailproperties.com or give Styka a call at 708-837-0868.
CONSTRUCTION
514 W. Mill St. Culver, IN 46511 574-842-5000
www.culversportsidemarina.com
Vinyl Siding Reroofs • Pole Barns New metal & shingle roofing
574-223-3325 Enjoy many of the great benefits of health and wellness by becoming a member today. Your membership will give you access to our incredible facilities and many other fantastic advantages. Here are some you will enjoy:
Decorative Concrete Specialists
Colored, Stamped & Exposed Aggregate Foundations, Floors, Patios, Sidewalks & More *Free Estimates • Licensed & Bonded
All Group Exercise Classes (over 90 per week), AQ Excercise, Member Orientation, 25 Yard Lap Pool, Free Fitness Assessment, 1/7 Mile Walk/Run Indoor Track, Racquetball Courts, Gymnasium, Free Exercise Prescription, Equipment Orientation, Cardiovascular Equipment, TechnoGym Strength Training Equipment, Nautilus Strength Training Equipment, Two Free-Weight Lifting Areas, Punching Bag, Rock Wall, Community Outreach Education, Warm Water Therapy Pool, Steam Room, Dry Sauna, and Hot Tub. Call us today to get your membership started.
Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday: 5:00am - 9:00pm | Friday: 5:00am - 8:00pm Saturday: 6:00am - 3:00pm | Sunday: Closed
kingsmenconcrete@gmail.com (574)216-0354 • Culver, Indiana
2855 Miller Drive, Suite 101 | Plymouth Ph.574-936-2333 • Fx. 574-941-1074 www.fitnessforum.biz
thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 35
NOVEMBER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Proffered 5. Jest 7. A long time 8. Remarkable events 9. Refreshments booths 12. Pursued stealthily 15. Bewildered 19. Sponged 21. Swiftest 22. Open mouth wide 23. Poultry products 24. Calming drug DOWN 1. Appreciation 2. Brushes (off) 3. Cavorts 4. Straight 5. Wild African canine 6. Eventuated 10. Was obliged to pay 11. Ship’s spine 12. Lump of turf 13. Water 14. Door handle 15. Muslim temple 16. Dance nightclubs 17. Painters’ tripods 18. Stick (to) 19. Loved excessively, ... on 20. Prejudiced person
For the answers, visit our Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/TheLakesMagazine
MARK’S BODY SHOP marksbodyshop@centurylink.net
12 S. Prettyman Knox, IN 46534 Sat 8-Noon Mark Shell 36 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
ision Rep Coll air
574-772-7003 Fax 574-772-7004
W tom us C •
ork • Insura nce Wo rk
BUILDING BETTER FUTURES • New Construction • Remodeling • Decks • Kitchens • Bathrooms & More Tim Howard (574)806-3179 Clint Salyer (574)298-7277 Office (574)842-3595 Howard-tim@att.net
New Age Construction
BROCKEY INSURANCE AGENCY Auto • Home • Business • Life 3 Locations Culver, (574) 842-2388 Plymouth, (574) 355-3335 Rochester, (574) 224-8404 Larry Brockey, II Owner
larry@brockeyinsurance.com www. BrockeyInsurance.com BrockeyInsurance
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! 634 E Lake Shore Dr | Culver (574) 842-6326
thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 37
Liz Moerman, Family Nurse Practitioner at the Knox-Winamac Community Health Center
Local Nurse Practitioner Achieves Life-Long Dream of Being a Medical Professional In Hometown
38 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
Writer / Mary Lowry Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Since she was very young, Liz Moerman knew that she wanted to help people by working in the medical field. Her fervor for helping others was no phase — Liz carried her passion with her throughout her education. In middle school, her father became ill, and Moerman promised him that she would become a doctor. Unfortunately, he was unable to see her achieve her dreams, but Liz accomplished her goals anyway, working today as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the KnoxWinamac Community Health Center. “When I turned 16, I took the Certified Nursing Assistant classes and gained experience with the sick and the elderly,” Moerman says. “I worked at a local nursing home until I was 18 and able to obtain a position at my community hospital. I worked at the hospital long enough to gain experience and get through my first year of college. After I got through pharmacology, I was able to obtain a Qualified Medical Assistant certificate and I practiced for the remaining time of college at a local nursing home, passing medications to the elderly. As time went on, I never gave up on the ‘little girl’s dream,’ and I obtained the desired education to become an associate degree RN. While working full time, I continued with my education and obtained my bachelor’s degree.” After becoming a nurse, Moerman moved all throughout the hospital, working in various wings: medicalsurgical, surgery, critical care, pediatrics, and case management. Her true love as a nurse, though, came in the emergency department. Later, Moerman decided to go back to school. With four children, though, medical school seemed almost totally impossible. Instead, she followed the path to becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 39
METAL ROOFING FOR YOUR HOME
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40 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
My goal is to care for my patients to the best of my ability. “My youngest son was born one week prior to graduation, during finals week,” she says. “I did what I had to do and took some of my finals while I was in the hospital with my newborn. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges in my life but going through grad school with a family, and pregnant has been one of the most challenging times of my life. I’m lucky to have had a supportive husband who stood by me through it all and picked up all my slack. I couldn’t have done it without him.” Growing up in the area, Moerman says she gets chills working in the same place she spent time as a child, so fascinated by the doctors. “My goal is to care for my patients to the best of my ability. Being a provider in my hometown is an honor to me that I will cherish and grow with,” Moerman explains. “That is why I chose to be a nurse practitioner and spend my life helping others, caring for them, and earning their trust while they trust me with their lives.” Liz Moerman is a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Knox-Winamac Health Center. It is located at 1002 Edgewood Drive in Knox. You can schedule an appointment by giving them a call at 574-772-6030.
Cu s
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Welding • Machining CNC Plasma Cutting & Fabricating
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FRAIN MORTUARY, INC. 305 E Main St Winamac, IN 46996 574-946-3222 www.frainmortuary.com 574-842-5000
514-W. Mill St. Culver, IN www.culversportsidemarina.com thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 41
Owner Greg Wireman
MOMMA’S PIZZERIA NEW KNOX RESTAURANT SERVES UP DELICIOUS PIES IN A FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Greg Wireman, owner of the recently opened Momma’s Pizzeria 10 N. Main Street, Knox, Indiana, is ready to serve you the food he loved when he was growing up. “I purchased Momma’s Pizzeria from the Thayer family, who ran it for the past 13 years as Mikey’s Pizza Pit Stop,” Wireman says. “In the run-up to the opening, we did some interior remodeling to the current sports theme, where the Thayers, who are a racing family, had it decorated mainly with racing memorabilia. So we took about a month and added updated lighting and a
brick look to the interior. It was important for me to have our guests feel the whole experience of an old Italian pizzeria.” Growing up, Wireman’s mother cooked almost daily for his family and worked alongside his dad in their family business, which was a trucking company. “Even with a hectic schedule, my mother was from the south, and I am not sure if you have had the opportunity to eat real authentic Southern cooking, but if you have, you’ll appreciate what I am saying,” Wireman says. “I grew up on garden vegetables, biscuits and gravy, fried chicken, you name it, and when family holidays
came around the food was a hit. Whether they were family or friends, people would always say to me, ‘Greg, no one can beat your momma’s cooking,’ so when I explored a restaurant of my own, naming it Momma’s Pizzeria was a no-brainer.” Wireman always knew he wanted to open a pizzeria. “I knew that if this was the direction I was going to take, (opening) a pizzeria, I knew it would be the best,” he says. “Pizza seems to bring us all together. I wanted to create an environment where the best pizza you could buy would be enjoyed in a pizzeria setting that offered not only a great pie but
42 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
seven big-screen televisions to enjoy your favorite sports and a relaxing environment that allowed tranquility and yet made you feel at home.” Momma’s Pizzeria doesn’t know strangers. “In fact, as you enter the front door, it’s not unusual to hear a welcome from several staff, from servers to cooks, to myself, welcoming you to our pizzeria,” Wireman says. “That’s just the beginning of what makes Momma’s such a wonderful experience.” Wireman notes that the pride, the service and the quality that goes into every single pie they make, sets them apart from other pizzerias. “It is important to us that you leave full, happy and eager to return,” Wireman says. “This will sound cliché, but we don’t sell a bad choice of pizza, or for that matter, any of our other dishes. Everything is made fresh. Our sandwiches are made with fresh bread daily, too.”
Now Serving Delicious Deep Dish Pizza OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK
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10 N. MAIN ST. KNOX • 574-772-5888 • WWW.MOMMASPIZZERIA.COM thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 43
One of Wireman’s personal favorites is “The Big Pepperoni.”
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“The name says it all,” Wireman says. “This pie is loaded with our spicy pepperoni and the best mozzarella cheese you can find to put on a pie. It’s a hit, but most importantly, ‘The Deep Dish’ will be the defining dish for Momma’s. The reviews from the few lucky who have tried it are those that we expect from a Momma’s pizza. This thing will not only be everything a deep dish should be but even more.” While you’re eating some of Momma’s great creations, the restaurant serves draft beer, wine and craft beer supplied from local breweries. “I would be excluding another hit if I didn’t tell you about our ‘AwardWinning Wings,’ available in a number of sauces,” Wireman says. “I will stand behind these wings as the best anywhere, and our customers will back me up on that one.” The interior of Momma’s Pizzeria gives guests an Italian Pizzeria feel, and that was Wireman’s goal. “I get great satisfaction talking with guests as they look around, they make the comment to me, ‘This looks like a real pizzeria.’ I say to myself, ‘mission accomplished,’” Wireman says. Momma’s Pizzeria is located in the heart of downtown Knox, which was by design.
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Open Mon - Sat 7am to 8pm Sundays 9am - 6pm (Eastern Time) 858 N. Plymouth Rd. • Winamac 44 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
“We are surrounded by history,” Wireman says. “Some of the buildings were built in the late 1800s. They still stand today and represent the resiliency of this little town. I look ahead at the possibilities of expanding our pizzeria and serving to not only reshape but hopefully revitalize the downtown area.” Momma’s Pizzeria is located at 10 N. Main Street in Knox. You can give them a call at 574-772-5888 or visit them online at mommaspizzeria.com for more information.
Local family owned and operated for 30 years
Quality, Clean, Late Model & Pre-owned Vehicles
Purchase with peace of mind!
All vehicles come with a 3 month / 3000 mile warranty!
• Window Tinting • Auto detailing For inquiries contact Brad Allen at brad@fredallenauto.com (574)946-7145
www.fredallenauto.com thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 45
Celebrating 95 Years! (574) 936-2323 www.plychamber.org 120 N Michigan St • Plymouth
Plymouth is the 2019 Community of the Year
Grant Downs Sales / Service
Culligan Water Conditioning 129 E. 5th Street (574) 223-2420 (888) 294-5541
Rochester, IN 46975 Fax: (574) 223-2007 culliganfultoncounty.com
Midwest Farm & Pet, LLC
Roofing Remodeling Decks Patios Sun Rooms Pergolas Windows Doors Made on Site Seamless Gutters & more
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Mullets Fencing & Supplies LLC Family owned & operated since 1986
Exceptional Service! We are the resource with knowledge on all of your pet needs.
Mullet’s offers the Highest Quality Products and Installation of both Residential and Agricultural fencing.
(574) 646-2509
535 5B Rd.• Bremen, IN 46506
Vinyl • Wood • 4 Rail Farm • Board and High-Tensile Chainlink Fence Post Pounder Rental + Fencing Supplies Gates and Railroad Ties for sale.
Contact David & Jerad Borkholder for inquiries. 6223 8th Road | Plymouth • (574)536-5418
46 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
ALIVE! AQUAPONICS LOCAL COUPLE GROWS FRESH PRODUCE THROUGH A UNIQUE PROCESS
Writer / Julie Yates Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Most people don’t think of fish as a farmer’s friend, but Lamar Chupp and his wife, Kristine do. The aquatic creatures are an essential component in the practice of aquaponics, the method Chupp uses to produce 400 to 500 heads of leafy greens per week. The fish raised in his greenhouse not only work for him in supplying nutrients needed to grow lettuce, but they also end up on the tables of families and friends. “I first heard about aquaponics 10 years ago when I was a tour guide in Colorado,” Chupp says. “One night I got in a conversation with some college students who were there for white water rafting. They were talking about how an aquaponic system only uses 10% of the water that traditional soil farming does and that it strikes a perfect balance through the symbiotic relationship of the fish and produce. “I was captivated,” he adds. “I thought I’d really like to try it especially since I only owned four acres of land and didn’t have a lot of room to conventionally farm. Eventually, I contacted Purdue University for help and attended a seminar in Kokomo where I learned from the experts.” After gathering the knowledge, Chupp assembled his aquaponic system. First, he built a 30 by 96-foot greenhouse. Then, some commercial parts were ordered, but most of the operation was built from scratch. “On one side of the greenhouse, there are four fish tanks. The Blue Tilapia in each tank are in different stages, from fingerling (finger-sized) to two pounds. We harvest 100 mature fish every month,” Chupp says. “The water the fish are raised in is filtered. The ammonia in it is converted to nitrogen before being pumped over 48 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
to the raised lettuce beds on the other side of the greenhouse. The resulting water is sanitary, food-safe and full of nutrition.” Each of the three growing tank/ beds are lined with vinyl food-grade plastic. Floating on top of the water are foam rafts that house 15 heads of lettuce. The plants start as seeds in peat plugs before being placed in the rafts where their roots dangle down into the water. “We plant and harvest every Wednesday in a six-week cycle,” Chupp adds. “We grow both red and green leaf varieties of romaine, butterhead, bok choy, swiss chard and kale. Our biggest seller is Batavia. It is crunchy, sweet and sometimes known as French crisp.” At the present time, produce raised by Alive! Aquaponics is sold in two area shops and the Nappanee Farmers Market. Woodland Variety Store, located at 4133 East County Line Road in Bremen, is owned by the Chupps and sells local produce as well as bulk foods. Maple City Market is in Goshen at 314 South Main Street. When asked about the future of Alive! Aquaponics, Chupp says, “We aren’t quite at capacity yet, but we’d like to sell fish in the future. And, we’d like to find restaurants to sell our produce to.” Contact Alive! Aquaponics at 574646-2054 or visit them at 10388 N 900 W in Nappanee.
Allison Kara 574.936.2556 | 2159 N. Oak Dr. Suite 3 | allisonkarainsurance.com thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 49
Writer / Jeff Kenney Photography provided
If you’ve ever contemplated the sights, sounds, and smells of autumn in Northern Indiana and found yourself musing something along the lines of, “The frost is on the punkin’,” you might be recalling immortal lines written by Hoosier Poet and National Poet Laureate, James Whitcomb Riley. What you may not know is that Riley visited Lake Maxinkuckee and wrote a poetic tribute to its beauties during the height of literary popularity.
Frost on the Pumpkins, the Hoosier Poet, and Lake Maxinkuckee
Riley (1849 - 1916) was one of America’s most beloved poets and speakers, and during his lifetime was surely Indiana’s best-known and most popular writer. Riley’s poem, “When the Frost is on the Punkin,” first published in 1911, is still familiar to generations of Hoosiers who heard or read it each autumn in school (Indianapolis schoolchildren still make
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annual fall pilgrimages to his grave in Crown Hill Cemetery and hear the poem read aloud).
Ade also made visits to the lake, including annual Literary Society events held on the campus of Culver Military Academy.
His nearly equally well-known “Little Orphant Annie” poem was the inspiration (at least in name) for the “Orphan Annie” character later made famous through comic strips, theater, and movies (though in a much more developed form than Riley’s brief, spooky references to her in a poem whose catchphrase, “An’ the Gobbleuns ‘at gits you Ef you Don’t Watch Out!” chilled many a young reader).
The literary footprints along Maxinkuckee shores weren’t new to the “golden age” writers of the state capital. Just over a decade earlier, Gen. Lew Wallace, an avid fisherman who hailed from Crawfordsville, Indiana, relaxed in a fishing hotel on today’s 18B
Road in the Maxinkuckee Village, just off the lake’s east shore. The still-standing building, which dates back to 1852, was known as The Allegheny Hotel and was described in The Chicago American newspaper as, “an old tavern, sitting back from the roadside and looking as if it had stepped out of an English novel.” The paper noted that Wallace wrote the
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Riley was one of a passel of highlyregarded Indiana authors during the “golden age” of Hoosier literature from the 1890s through the 1920s, alongside the likes of George Ade, Meredith Nicholson, and Booth Tarkington, all of whom frequented Lake Maxinkuckee during that era. In fact, in the collection of the Antiquarian and Historical Society of Culver resides a July 1890 letter provided by Maxinkuckee cottager Ted Schenberg and written by Riley, encouraging its recipient to contact him “Care (of) Booth Tarkington -Maxinkuckee, Indiana.”
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Pulitzer-prize winning Tarkington frequented an East Shore Drive cottage which is today owned by David and Ginny Gibson but was long home, in its early cottage years, to the Judah family summer cottage. There, Tarkington wrote part of “The Gentleman From Indiana,” had a summer romance, and even signed the wall of the original house, a wall the Gibsons have retained in their 2010-built home on the site. Meredith Nicholson spent a winter in a cottage owned by the Vonnegut family on the northern end of East Shore Drive at Maxinkuckee and was there inspired to pen his 1905 novel, “The House of a Thousand Candles,” which became the best-selling novel in America in 1906 and spawned three film adaptations. For his part, George
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chariot race scenes of his novel, “Ben Hur” (the best-selling novel in America of the entire 19th century) in the hotel and pronounced Lake Maxinkuckee, “the most beautiful place in the world.”
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Hoosier Poet Riley even penned a poetic tribute to Lake Maxinkuckee titled, “Life at the Lake” in 1890. Describing it (in the 1890 letter referenced above) to a friend as “a jovial, devil-may-care sort o’ midsummer stave,” Riley’s poem opens with the lines: “The green below and the blue above The waves caressing the shores they love; Sails in haven and sails afar And faint as the water lilies are... The blue above and the green below would that the world was always so...” Perhaps the poem’s closing lines are fitting for the autumn season on Maxinkuckee, when busy summer days on boat and beach give way the more tranquil ethos of fall colors and crisp days:
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“The blue above and the green below! Shadow and sunshine to and fro. — Season for dreams — whate’er befall Hero, heroine, hearts and all! Wave or wildwood — the blithe bird sings, And the leaf-hid locust whets his wings — Just as a thousand years ago — The blue above and the green below.”
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514-W. Mill St. Culver, IN www.culversportsidemarina.com
(574)946-7501 1109 S. Monticello St. • Winamac www.braunchryslerdodgejeep.com
thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 53
Owner Erin Marden
- OWNERS -
We have something for all shades of life Hippie & Boho Inspired Incense & Candles Pet Gear | Gifts Apparel for All Ages Thrift | Rock Novelties Local Art | Decor Jewelry FLORIST AND BOUTIQUE
This Is NOT your traditional florist! Unique & traditional Wedding, Formal, Funeral, Birthdays, & Anniversaries Arrangements | Gifts | Balloons | Bath & Body Products Holiday and Lake Themed Decorations
917 East 9th Street | Rochester (574)223-1917 Cell:(574)549-4206 thechameleonsclosetllc@gmail.com
217 E. CULVER RD. • KNOX SILVERLEAFFLORISTANDBOUTIQUE.COM
54 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
TUXEDO RENTAL AVAILABLE
Writer / Angela Cornell Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is contagious, pass it on.” This is a concept that Erin Marden has taken to heart with every aspect of her boho-style boutique and gift shop, Chameleon’s Closet. “It’s very relaxed, very bright when you come in. Our workers are very bright and happy and cheery,” Marden says. Comfortable though the shop is, it can hardly be described as ordinary. “Our motto is ‘we have something for every shade of life,’ and that’s kinda where the Chameleon comes in because it changes shades,” Marden says. She offers anything that can fall under the category of “art,” from boutique clothing to handmade jewelry to incense, from more traditional disciplines like oil portraits to unique expressions like acrylic pour art, much of which is made by local artists. “People don’t realize what’s in the store when they walk in,” Marden says. “It’s kind of like a ‘wow’ statement.” What makes this gem of a store stand out, though, is the owner’s heart for artists. “Every month, I’ll pick someone who brings product to the store for consignment. We offer them a First Friday Reception,” Marden says. “Then, throughout that whole month, I promote them.” The incredible part is that 100% of the profit from the spotlighted art goes back to the artist. “I really like offering the reception and then just keep it going all month so you can talk about the artist,” Marden says. “Instead of just, ‘Oh, that’s a nice picture,’ you can really get a feeling for why the artist got into their style and why they enjoy it and what they feel art does for a community of people.” The inspiration for Chameleon’s Closet
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stemmed from Marden’s own journey to become a professional artist. “My best friend, Nikki, who works with me, we really started getting into our art,” Marden says. At first, they tried to sell their art at festivals while working part-time, but they quickly discovered how difficult it is to make decent money at those kinds of venues. After about a year, a store in Marden’s hometown, Rochester, came up for sale. After a few conversations with the then-owners, Marden and her partner decided to purchase it. “Our idea of the hippie-boho store came around March and we opened in June,” Marden says. For Marden, it’s a dream come true. “I don’t really have this huge goal of making millions or opening extra stores. I just want to live in my small town and support people,” Marden says. “As I get more income, instead of opening another store somewhere, I’d like to put it back into my community, to help build programs in our town.” Chameleon’s Closet is located at 917 E 9th St., Rochester. They are open 11-7:30 Tuesday through Saturday. Through the month of November, they have a 50% off one item coupon available for download on their website. Local artists who wish to sell with them are welcome to contact Chameleon’s Closet on Facebook or call them at 574-223-1917. Visit them online at chameleonsclosetllc.com for more information. 56 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
STOP IN FOR GREAT FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS!
Culver Dental Clinic Kurt N. Richeson, DDS Cleanings and Bonding Oral Exams Orthodontics Cancer Screening Fillings Crowns and Bridges Dentures Extractions & Oral Surgery
SATURDAY’S “STEAK NIGHT” Sirloin $12.99, Queen cut Ribeye $16.99 , King cut Ribeye $24.99
TACO TUESDAY .50 cent dine in .75 cent carryout
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thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 57
STUFFED!
UNIQUE RECIPES FOR CLASSIC THANKSGIVING DISHES Writer / Abigail Hake Photography Provided
Thanksgiving is such a great time to be with family, watch some football and stuff your face full of some of the best comfort food out there. But cooking a Thanksgiving Feast can be daunting, unless you do it year after year. It takes strategic planning, off the charts time management skills and the energy of a 6-year old — which is probably why most people leave it to their in-laws or friends. Those who take on this beast of a feast year after year after year really revel in the chaos and strategy of it. It’s a full day in the kitchen, staying up late the night before and getting up early to get that turkey started on the big day. And it’s always helpful to have tried and true recipes to round out the menu! “Vintage” recipes tend to be some of the best. I mean who doesn’t love their great grandma’s green bean casserole or
their aunt’s secret recipe pecan pie? But a good mix of old and new is sure to satisfy most of your guests. If you are ready to try something different, here is a stuffing recipe sure to please. It typically entices wanting seconds from non-stuffing lovers and is sure to satisfy your tastes.
DRIED CHERRY & SAUSAGE STUFFING: Ingredients -½ cup butter (1 stick) -6 celery stalks, finely diced -2 medium onions, finely diced -1 loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes and toasted (10 cups) -1 cup dried cherries -¾ pound Italian sausage, casings removed, cooked, and crumbled -¾ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped -1 teaspoon kosher salt -1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper -2 14.5oz cans of chicken broth
Directions (1) Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and onions and cook until they are translucent, about 5-7 minutes. (2) In a large bowl or pan, combine the celery and onions with the bread, cherries, sausage, parsley, salt, and pepper. Add the broth and stir until well combined. (3) If you want some inside your turkey, use a spoon to loosely stuff the mixture into the turkey just before roasting. (4) If not, pour the rest of the into a baking dish, cover and bake in a 325° oven for one hour; uncover and bake for another 15 minutes. Serve warm. After you’ve had your fill ( I hope you wore your stretchy pants), watched your team win, and then napped for a bit, it’s time for dessert.
58 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
Holiday desserts are seriously the best. There’s just something special that makes a pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving taste way better than one on any other normal day. Fall recipes are always delicious, but some of the best and favorite out there tend to be pumpkin related. If you haven’t tried a pumpkin roll before, you might want to. They aren’t really that hard to make and it might quickly become a Thanksgiving dessert table staple.
Cream Cheese Filling: -2 cups powdered sugar -8 oz cream cheese -¼ cup butter -½ tsp vanilla
PUMPKIN ROLL
(2) Pour and smooth evenly into a cookie sheet you have lined with parchment paper.
Here’s what you’ll need: -3 eggs -1 cup sugar -⅔ cup pumpkin -¾ cup flour -1 tsp baking powder -1 tsp ginger -½ tsp cloves -½ tsp salt -2 tsp cinnamon
(5) Once cooled, unroll and spread evenly with cream cheese filling. Gently roll back up. (6) Place on a platter, sprinkle with powdered sugar and refrigerate. Serve Chilled.
Sponge Cake:
Filling:
(1) Sift flour, spices, and baking powder in a large bowl. Add eggs and pumpkin. Mix until combined.
(3)Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. (4) While the cake is still warm, sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar, invert onto a clean tea towel and roll up. Let cool until room temperature or in the refrigerator. *You’ll want to roll while still warm to reduce cracks. And use powdered sugar on the towel to prevent sticking!
(1) Mix together room temperature cream cheese and butter, add vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat ingredients until creamy and smooth. And now that you’ve eaten your way through the table a few times, splurged on desserts and shared all the things you are grateful for, it’s about time for bed. Being around friends and family makes for some great memories, but all that turkey will probably have you ready to hit the pillow. May your day be filled with joy and laughter, and the best stuffing and pumpkin rolls you’ve ever had!
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REACHING MORE THAN 13,000 READERS EACH MONTH!
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Providing Expert Maintenance, Repair & Installation
• Plumbing • Heating • Air Conditioning • Water Heater • Air Quality • Light Commercial Services
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FINISHING • CUSTOM TEXTURES • PRIMING
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We Restore: Metal Roofs • Flat Roofs Low Slope Roofs (574) 382-0953, Levi Schwartz 13751 N 25 W Macy, IN 46951 60 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / thelakesmagazine.com
CULVER EVENTS 11/2, 11/16, 11/30
Saturdays 9AM - 1PM @ The Library
Produce, fresh baked goods, local honey, fresh beef & pork, crafts, artisans jewelry, and more!
• Ceilings • Walls • Trim • Fireplaces • Decks • Siding • Doors • Cabinets • Power Washing
NOVEMBER TBD: CULVER PARK’S THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION 11/11: VETERANDS DAY CEREMONY @ACADEMIES 11/28: UNOFFICIAL TURKEY TROT 11/30: SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
Angel @ 574.249.8892
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DOWNTOWN PLYMOUTH
SCAVENGER HUNT, ANNUAL PARADE & TREE LIGHTING
November 30th
SCAVENGER HUNT 10AM - 4 PM
1 2nd 3rd st
Visit the participating businesses and hunt for the item that represents the Christmas movie on the list
250
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DOWNTOWN DOLLARS GIFT CERTIFICATES
100
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DOWNTOWN DOLLARS GIFT CERTIFICATES
50
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DOWNTOWN DOLLARS GIFT CERTIFICATES
Check the Discover Plymouth Facebook page for more information and details. thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 61
I N N OV E M B E R AT T H E L A K E S
BASS LAKE
KOONTZ LAKE
PROPERTY OWNERS MEETING
BINGO
The last Property Owners Meeting of 2019 will be held at the Bass Lake Property Owners Building.
Bingo - every monday night. doors open @5, early bird begins @ 6 cdt, regular bingo begins @ 6:30
NOVEMBER 2 | 9:00 A.M.
NOVEMBER 4, 11, 18, 25 | 5:00 P.M.
FISH FRY
NOVEMBER 2 | 4:00 P.M.
C U LV E R
Fish fry at Grovertown Conservation Club
CULVER FARMERS MARKET
NOVEMBER 2, 16, 30 | 9:00 A.M. -1:00 P.M.
Culver Farmers Market at Culver-Union Township Public Library
CULVER FARMERS MARKET NOVEMBER 8-10
Annual Holiday Open House and Shopping Weekend
KOONTZ LAKE ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 12 | 4:00 P.M.
Open to the public. Accepting new board members
NEW KITCHEN STORE’S ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE
NOVEMBER 30 | 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
The store will remain open until 6. There will be free samplings, prize drawings, and all merchandise will be 10% off all day 62 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2019 / 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
Kim McCullough, NP
Open Monday thru Friday and every Saturday until noon
1002 S. Edgwood Drive Knox, IN 46534 | 574-772-6030 We are the exclusive Kolay Luxury vinyl Flooring sales & installation service in the Area Delivering high end but affordable flooring options right to your home!
Call Joseph @ (574) 564-5856 or (574) 773-2673 thelakesmagazine.com / NOVEMBER 2019 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / 63
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JayH Construction, LLC Quality Construction at an Affordable Price New Homes • Room Additions Roofing Shingles or Metal roofs Interior/Exterior Remodeling All Types of Residential Construction Fully Insured
574-453-7938 www.jayhconstruction.com
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Free Estimates