The Lakes Magazine March

FREE MONTHLY PRINT MAGAZINE WITH CORRESPONDING MOBILE APP AND SOCIAL MEDIA FEATURING THE PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND EVENTS IN AND AROUND MARSHALL , FULTON, STARKE & PULASKI COUNTY

MAGAZINE

MARCH 2021

Rochester-Based Spider Beware Prevents Eight-Legged Invaders UNLIKELY CREATIONS Local Artist Turns Glass Trash Into Treasure CALL TO ACTION Nappanee Family to Embark on Missionary Work in Haiti TheLakesMagazine.com THE LAKES MAGAZINE 2021 THE LAKES MAGAZINE/ /MARCH MARCH 2021/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 1

Midwest Farm & Pet, LLC A DIFFERENCE YOU CAN SEE Trusted & Proven Performance

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Suet Cakes Pet Food & Supplies Food Plots Lawn & Pond Supplies Rodenticides

$5 OFF Purchase of $25 or more

www.midwestfarmandpet.com (574) 646-2509 | 535 5B Rd.• Bremen, IN 46506

Jerad (574)536-5418 • 6223 8th Road | Plymouth 2 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

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We Have Garden seeds, seed starting supplies and potato and onion sets

574-946-0998 • healeyshomecenter.com 800 N US 35, Winamac, IN THE LAKES MAGAZINE 2021 THE LAKES MAGAZINE/ /MARCH MARCH 2021/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 3

We are the longest Running Diamond Hustler dealer in Northern Indiana.

Stop in for the best overall deal and experience.

Sales and repair of zero turn & push mowers, tractors, trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, pressure washers, blades, parts, pole saws, snowblowers, tillers & more.

5 YEAR WARRANTY

• Rugs • Carpet • Laminate

• Vinyl • Hardwood • Showers

• Ceramic • Warehouse Specials

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www.prattsfloorcovering.com

303 N. Oak Dr. Plymouth IN. 46563 Top Quality • Real Compassion Personal Attention • Exceptional Service

FRAIN MORTUARY, INC.

Baldwin And Company

814 Main Street Rochester, IN 46975

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

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M AR CH 2021

Eve r y b od y In : Allie d Pools Can H an d le Cu stomize d Pool Con str u ction Ne e d Win d ow Won d e r s: Local Viny l Win d ow Shop Pe r son alize s S e r vice U n like ly Cre ation s: Local Ar tist Tu r n s Gl ass Trash In to Tre asu re S p id e r S e n se : Roch e ste r -B ase d S p id e r Beware Preve n ts E ig h t-Le g g e d Invad e r s S q u e aky Cle an : E xp lore All-Natu ral Products an d Dive r se S u p p lie s at New K itch e n Store Du st B e G on e : MY-T Du ct Cle an in g H e l ps to Imp rove Air Q u ality in H ome s U n iq u e In d e e d : U n iq u e Fu r n itu re Fashi ons Distin ctive Prod u cts Cu stom S h e d s Plu s: Sy racu se B u sin e ss Stre sse s Q u ality an d Var ie ty P u ttin g Th e ir B e st H oove s For ward Ple asan t Acre s H or se sh oe in g H e lp s Wi th H or se H oof Issu e s U ltimate B lastin g : Walke r ton Comp any Makes O ld Th in g s New Ag ain - With an Eco-Fri endl y Ap p roach Call to Action : Nap p an e e Family to E mbark on Mission ar y Wor k in H aiti Pad d le U p : B re me n Pickle b all Clu b G rowi ng i n Local Pop u lar ity H ow We G ot Arou n d : Th e H istor y of Travel i n th e Lake s Are a Wh at ’s H ap p e n in g at th e Lake s K E Y CO N TRI BU TO RS

ANGELA CORNELL / JEFF KENNEY / JUBILEE EDGELL LOIS TOMASZEWSKI / KARI CHITTENDEN

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Combined print + digital + social reach for the month of January, 2021. Visit theLakesMag. com for real-time analytics.

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EVERYBODY IN ALLIED POOLS CAN HANDLE CUSTOMIZED POOL CONSTRUCTION NEEDS Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

For many people, spring is a preparation season. Summer is merely months away and there is often much that needs to be ready by Memorial Day. Summer clothes need to be pulled out of storage, the lawnmower must be prepared and flower beds must be filled, to name a few tasks. Most people also make plans for recreation and relaxation, or to improve their property. This in particular is why Allied Pools in Rochester, owned by

husband-and-wife team Paul and Angie Caudill, exists.

A pool is an excellent way to add recreational value to a home.

“If you like to do entertaining, or if you have kids or grandkids, in-ground pools are wonderful,” Paul Caudill says. “They’re a permanent feature. They add a very nice look to your property. They’re very enjoyable. You can do a multitude of things with them.”

Caudill, who grew up helping with his dad’s excavation business, spent two years in the early 2010s installing pools with a different company as a way to supplement his own excavation business. When that partnership ended, Caudill was certain his pool installation days were over. However, he was in for a surprise.

“We had apparently built enough of a reputation in that couple of years that the phone kept ringing,” he recalls. “The owner of

Sales • Installation • Chemicals Parts • Liners • Winterization Above & Below Ground Pools Paul & Angie Caudill Rochester, Indiana

Call /Text Cell:(574)223-4855 or Home:(574)835-0387

Cell:

Call or Text Paul Caudill Cell: 574-835-0387 Home: 574-223-4855 6786 N 250 W Rochester, IN 46975

6 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

Trucking • Excavating Demolition • Ponds Septics • Water Line Site Prep Insurance Work Land & Fence Row Clearing Driveways Black Dirt • Gravel Sand • Fill • Limestone

Allied Pools called me up and wanted to sell it, and we decided to buy.”

That was in 2015. Since then, the business has grown and expanded to a service area spread over a radius of 50 to 60 miles.

Pools can provide a way to de-stress and unwind in a backyard. This is a trend that Caudill has seen a lot in the last year.

“People are saying, ‘You know what, I’m just going to spend the money this time, be done with it, and have an oasis at home,’” he says.

Nor is it only the youthful who find gratification in relaxing by an outdoor pool.

“I actually have a lot of retired customers who have in-ground pools,” Caudill says.

“They can just go out, float around and relax. Once they spend that money and they get their backyard the way they want it, they don’t have to go spend thousands of

Plymouth Family Dental Care

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(574) 936-8787 1409 N Michigan St • Plymouth Plymouth Family Dental Care

(574) 223-8950 • www.thedamlanding.com 1305 Ewing Rd • Rochester, Indiana

THE LAKES MAGAZINE 2021 THE LAKES MAGAZINE/ /MARCH MARCH 2021/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 7

“WE DO OUR BEST TO ALWAYS HELP OUR CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS - THE END RESULT BEING THEM BEING HAPPY, AND ME BEING HAPPY” -JULIE WOOLDRIDGEdollars on a vacation somewhere.”

The Gray Mill & Graybeal’s Carpet Plus 67 years in business, family owned for 3 generations Celebrating 68 years from March-May 2020 Over 16,000 sq. ft. of Quality Furniture, Mattresses, Home Accessories, Artwork, Residential and Commercial Floor-covering with Professional Installation Available

When a new customer contacts Allied Pools, Caudill will typically go to the install site to meet with them.

“I’ll take the brochures and things to show them, and we can actually meet and discuss, looking at their yard, what might work the best for them,” he says.

The pools, especially the in-ground variety, are extremely customizable with amenities like deck jets, colored lights, diving boards, slides, tanning ledges, fountains, and small, in-water bar tables.

“It’s not just, ‘Here’s a 16’x32’ rectangle. Like it or leave it,’” Caudill says. “It’s, ‘Here’s a 16’x32’, and here are the options. What do you want to do with it? What are your goals?

Do you have kids? Are you planning on parties?’ We’ll tailor it to fit the homeowner’s wants and needs.”

www.thegraymill.com Follow us on Facebook!

800-886-2215 500 E. Broadway Downtown Logansport American Built Brands like: Palettes by Winesburg, Comfort Design, Southern Motion Stearns & Foster & a wide variety of Amish built products 8 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

After that initial meeting, Caudill will draw up a rough layout for the pool and send it to the customer.

“We can start making changes and adjustments until we design the pool that you want,” he says.

Once the pool is completely installed, a process that can take up to three weeks after the construction begins for in-ground pools, an Allied Pools partner, Sroufe Landscape Nurseries, can finalize the aesthetics.

Even when a client isn’t quite sure what they want, Caudill doesn’t push an upsell.

“I like to give them the facts and let them make the decisions,” he says.

Ultimately, Caudill’s primary goal is making

sure the customer gets the pool they’ve always dreamed of.

“We do our best to always help our customers’ needs - the end result being them being happy, and me being happy,” he says.

Allied Pools is located at 6786 North 250 West in Rochester, and is open by appointment. To schedule an appointment to pick up pool chemicals, or to meet with Caudill to begin a pool plan, call 574-835-0387, or email CaudillServices@yahoo.com.

CULVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL

 1111 N Lake Shore Dr. Culver, IN  (574) 842-3155

NEW YEAR NEW CAREER Education is the Key to Success

Knox Beauty College 5 TIMES A YEAR ENROLLMENT

Tuition is under $8,000 Includes Textbooks, Kit, and Education

NOW ENROLLING for April and June Classes.

CULVER OVER 150 CRAFT BEERS THE BEST WINE SELECTION IN THE AREA FULL SERVICE DELI HOT FOOD TO GO MEAT BUNDLE DEALS FRESH CUT MEATS

219-508-7100 www.KBC.edu 320 East Culver Road Knox, IN

(574) 842-2450 1105 N LAKE SHORE DR | CULVER

THE LAKES MAGAZINE 2021 THE LAKES MAGAZINE/ /MARCH MARCH 2021/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 9

Hand Cut Steaks, Lobster, BBQ Ribs, Pork Chops, Crab Legs, Craft Made Burgers, Shrimp, Homemade Soups, Salads, Appetizers & Atmosphere.

Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are recommended.

Open 6 days a week (closed Monday) 4pm to 9pm Sun- Thurs ∙ 4pm to 10pm Fri & Sat

• Large Dining room & Bar room • Private Party /Banquet room • 2000 + sq ft outdoor Deck overlooking beautiful Bass Lake • Order online or call.

• Plenty of vehicle parking front & back • Harbour Pier Parking Available to use for those arriving by watercraft

www.harbourhousebasslake.com Follow us on Facebook for announcements For reservations email info@harborhousebasslake.com

(574)404-8900 3698 S. County Road 210 Bass Lake (Knox) 46534

10 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

W I N D OW WO N D E R S LO C A L V I N Y L W I N D OW S H O P PERSONALIZES SERVICE “The big thing is that these windows are maintenance-free,” Yoder says.

Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photography Provided

Wooden windows require regular painting to keep nature’s elements at bay.

Windows take a beating from hot-and-cold fluctuations, strong winds, rain and ice.

“Once rot starts, it is hard to fix,” Yoder says regarding wood-frame windows. “We have a saying, ‘Vinyl is final.’ All vinyl windows last much longer.”

Vinyl windows are also energy efficient.

Unlike other windows that are built with a wood frame that is then covered in vinyl, the company uses a vinyl multi-channel core, manufactured for strength and durability. That core is then cased in vinyl.

Colors can vary depending on customer

Harley Yoder has watched his business, Classee Vinyl Windows, grow from its beginnings in 1994 to the present day. He wasn’t always the owner. He started out working in production. That gives him the unique perspective on what it takes to make a quality window.

Yoder bought the business in 2011, but he began working there in 1995.

“I hardly do anything in production,” Yoder says of his new role as owner and business manager. “Sometimes it is necessary that I do, and I still enjoy it.”

The company has the capability to allow customers to choose from standard replacement window offerings or design their own. His customers include people who are renovating or updating their homes as well as builders of new construction.

THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE 2021 LAKES MAGAZINE/ MARCH / MARCH 2021/ thelakesmagazine.com / thelakesmagazine.com/ 11

preference, and wood-look or even real wood can finish off the windows, if desired by the homeowner.

Yoder says some homeowners often want a natural wood look on the inside of their homes, which is easily accommodated either with wood-grained vinyl, or actual wood products that can be painted and stained to match other wood trim in the home.

Yoder, his production team, and his installers are committed to making sure their customers are satisfied with the product - whether it is windows, entry doors or sliding doors - as well as the attention to detail in the sales and installation process. The person who provides the quote for a window or door installation is the same person who will be on-site when the products go in.

“We don’t do high-pressure sales,” Yoder

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12 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

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says. “I don’t want to sell something to a homeowner that they don’t want.”

Having someone who is familiar with the challenges that come with replacing windows in older homes is a bonus, according to Yoder.

“In some of the older homes, the foundation might have settled or the house shifts,” he adds. “The installer pays attention to that and can allow for any adjustments that need to be made. Every window is measured individually.”

The company’s customers come from throughout Michiana, usually in a 30-mile radius in all directions from Middlebury. They also sell vinyl window frames to customers in other states.

This is called a knock-down program, and allows other businesses to finish off the company’s windows with glass and handle their own installation.

Medical and Surgical Group

Production and installations happen year-round, but work picks up in the spring. Lead time is about six weeks on window orders.

Yoder’s team also sells and installs ProVia doors, made by a company in Sugarcreek, Ohio. These doors are “good replacement options, high quality and higher end,” Yoder says. These can be used in commercial as well as residential installations.

Yoder married his wife Sara in 1994. She grew up in Middlebury and he grew up in Shipshewana. The couple has eight children, two of whom are married, and Harley and Sara are enjoying three grandchildren.

“Our kids have all worked here in the shop,” Yoder says.

The staff of Pulaski Memorial Hospital Medical and Surgical Group works diligently to provide groundbreaking services and care to the residents of Pulaski and Starke Counties and the surrounding communities.

With twenty-four excellent physicians and nurse practitioners operating clinics in five convenient locations, our team is dedicated to providing “Quality Care, Closer To Home.”

Medical Office Locations Winamac • Francesville • North Judson • Monterey • Knox

For questions about services provided or to schedule an appointment, please call (574) 946-2194.

As they grew up and got married, the couple’s kids found their own path, with which Yoder is fine.

On average, about 3,000 windows per

616 E. 13th St., Winamac, IN • (574) 946-2100 • www.pmhnet.com THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE 2021 LAKES MAGAZINE/ MARCH / MARCH 2021/ thelakesmagazine.com / thelakesmagazine.com/ 13

year are produced at the shop. It is one of the few smaller shop operations in the area, but that is a win for their customers, Yoder says.

“We understand the mechanics of the window because we built it,” he says. “We are local and can take care of any issues.”

Contact Classee Vinyl Windows at 574-8257863 for more information or a personalized quote.

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IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS? Flooded with literature and you don’t know where to start?

Evans Agency is here to help!

• Multitude of companies to choose from since we are an indepenent agency.

• Products- Prescription Drugs, Medicare Supplements & Medicare Advantage Plans Make appointment approximately 2 months before the month of your birthday.

Judith D. Evans 410 Main St Rochester, Indiana 46975 (574) 224-6988

14 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

LO C A L A RT I ST T U R N S G L A S S T R A S H I N TO TREASURE

dreams did I think that a trip down our local river would lead to new adventures in my bead journey.

The beautiful Yellow River runs behind our home in Plymouth. I enjoy taking my Hello, I’m Kari Chittenden and I make glass grandkids to wade and play in the river. beads from my home studio in Plymouth, While doing so, I started to notice lots of Indiana. My designs are made by melting broken glass in and along the river. Thank glass over a torch, and then winding the goodness we always wear water shoes! It molten glass into beads - a craft called became a regular practice for me to pack lampworking. I find complete joy in a trash bag, and all of us would pick up exploring the unending design, technique a little trash while we played. We joked and creative possibilities that beadthat the prettier colors of broken glass we making presents. This hobby has been my found were “treasure.” The kids started passion since 2000. Never in my wildest asking if we could go “treasure hunting” Writer & Photographer / Kari Chittenden

whenever they came for a visit.

So far, during our treasure hunts we’ve found 11 beautiful colors of glass and many old bottles. The abundance of soda bottles piqued my curiosity, so I began to research them online and at the Marshall County Historical Museum. I discovered that some of the bottles were from the late 1800s.

I found several old Coca-Cola bottles with the names of Indiana cities embossed on them, including my own town of Plymouth. It turns out that there

THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE 2021 LAKES MAGAZINE/ MARCH / MARCH 2021/ thelakesmagazine.com / thelakesmagazine.com/ 15

DATE

REVISION TABLE REVISED BY DESCRIPTION

was once a bottling plant right along the Yellow River that opened in 1885. The plant bottled all sorts of soda and mineral water, Coca-Cola, and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.

These plans were designed with standard construction practices in mind. Due to variations in state, local, and federal codes, revisions may be required to these plans. It remains the responsibility of the builder to review the information, and assure that it is revised to become code compliant, appropriate, and complete.

I read that there were bottling plants dotted all over the state around that time

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period - nearly a bottling plant in every city. Indiana was a big state for bottling because our large natural gas fields provided a cheap fuel source to melt the glass.

During one of my weekly phone calls to my father, I told him about all the cool and interesting glass that the grandkids and I were finding. He asked if I could melt it and turn it into beads.

What an idea! My dad is a retired environmentalist, so of course he hoped I could recycle it. I read that it takes a million years to fully decompose glass in a landfill, so recycling is ideal.

I tried it. I went to my torch and held a broken shard with pliers in an attempt to melt the glass, and it melted just fine.

I could then wind the molten glass into beads. I enjoy working with the found glass so much that I’ve added recycled glass bead jewelry to my product line at

“FULTON COUNTY’S COMPLETE DECORATING CENTER”

Welcome to our House!

Custom Made Quilts Fabrics, Notions, Etc. Delores Schwartz 1611 3rd. Rd Bremen, IN 46506 574-546-5747

CUSTOM WALK-IN TILE SHOWERS HARDWOOD FLOORS L.V.P. CARPET HUNTER DOUGLAS BLINDS

Monday - Friday 10-4 Saturday 10 - 2 Closed Wednesday 401 E 9TH ST | ROCHESTER HOUSEOFDECOR401.COM (574) 223-2730 THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE 2021 LAKES MAGAZINE/ MARCH / MARCH 2021/ thelakesmagazine.com / thelakesmagazine.com/ 17

the Plymouth Farmers Market, where my husband and I have had a booth since 2006. People really liked that the glass was harvested right out of the river in our town, and the history lesson we share about the old bottling plant. Word has spread, and recently the recycled glass has dominated our sales.

You can find my beads year-round at King’s Jewelry in Plymouth, at the Vigo County Historical Museum in Terre Haute (just recycled Coke bottle jewelry there), and online via Etsy at etsy.com/shop/karibeads.

From May through October, you can find me in person on Saturday mornings at the Plymouth Farmers Market. If you’ve never been to our market, you will be in for a treat.

We average around 30 vendors each Saturday who sell locally grown produce, homemade baked goods,

MARK’S BODY SHOP marksbodyshop@centurylink.net

12 S. Prettyman Knox, IN 46534 Mon-Fri 7:30-5:30 Sat 8-Noon Mark Shell

ision Rep Coll air

574-772-7003 Fax 574-772-7004

W tom us C •

ork • Insura nce Wo rk

It is our expressed goal to provide Land Surveying and Civil Engineering services throughout the State of Indiana

(574) 586-3448 | teeng@te-llc.com 7908 N State HWY 23 Walkerton, IN

Celebrating 95 Years!

(574) 936-2323 www.plychamber.org 120 N Michigan St • Plymouth

Connect • Community • Business • Growth Join the Chamber Today!

18 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

fresh honey, plants, farm-raised meats, handmade soaps, dog treats and more.

At my booth you’ll find handmade glass fairy garden accessories and my recycled glass bead jewelry.

We invite the whole community to bring found glass to us at the Plymouth Farmers Market. I’m very low on purple glass, so if you find some, please bring that by. You could even bring glass that has special meaning to you. Maybe it was your grandmother’s Depression-era glass plate, glass you found while on a trip, beach glass from Hawaii, or the champagne bottle from a wedding.

I can make you a beautiful keepsake from that special glass, or I can make loose beads that you can use to make your own creations.

I also offer lessons a few times per year, where you can learn how to make your own glass beads, at MoonTree Studios in Plymouth (across from Ancilla College). Check the MoonTree website for availability of my fun, three-hour introduction class at moontreestudios.org.

I love melting glass so much that this next season, I’m hoping to expand my small business a little more. Our family has applied for booth space at the Culver Farmers Market that will be run mostly by my daughter Chelsea.

With the help from my grandkids and our whole community, we plan to continue to clean up the rivers and lakes in our area, and turn broken glass trash into treasure.

Quality Construction at an Affordable Price New Homes • Room Additions Roofing Shingles or Metal roofs Interior/Exterior Remodeling All Types of Residential Construction

www.jayhconstruction.com THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE 2021 LAKES MAGAZINE/ MARCH / MARCH 2021/ thelakesmagazine.com / thelakesmagazine.com/ 19

Mastering The Beauty!

Orva Yoder

8094 W. 1050 N., Nappanee, IN (574) 354-7884 - Home (574) 356-6059 - Cell

New Homes • Restoration • Strip & Re-stain Garage • Closets • Decks • Pole Barns • Interior Remodeling • Log Home Maintenance Yoder’s Log & Timber Pros is a small, family Metal Roofs • Custom Traditional Homes • Custom Log Cabin Homes • Custom Log Railing owned and operated log home business.

We specialize in producing custom built log home with a strong belief in quality and integrity.

20 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

Rochester-Based Spider Beware Prevents Eight-Legged Invaders Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

Jason Grube, Kelly Grube and Jeff Zellers

T

here are more than 400 species of spiders in Indiana. If that statistic isn’t enough to scare arachnophobes, consider that most common house spiders live their entire lives indoors. If you’re thinking that your home is not safe from these eight-legged terrors, a local couple makes it their business to protect your home from invasion.

not treat termites, fleas, ticks or bedbugs.

“The state of Indiana requires us to maintain multiple pest control licenses through the Office of Indiana State Chemist,” Jason Grube explains. “We are also required to meet a minimum number of hours of continuing education in order to hold these licenses.”

The chemicals engineered to keep spiders away is sprayed by Spider Beware technicians from a hose that is attached to a tank on a truck. The hose is long enough to reach around most houses. The water-based According to the owners, and as explained product does not stain furniture, and any on their website, it all started 20 years ago when Jason, a teenager, grew tired of the water spots left behind can be easily wiped chore of keeping his family’s house and boats away, Grube says. free of spiderwebs. He developed a way to keep the spiders away and eliminated the Most species of spiders are not poisonous, need for constant web clearing. but among the species common in Indiana, the black widow and the brown recluse Spider Beware opened in the spring of 2000, can cause sickness and even fatalities. A and still utilizes some of the methods Jason spider bite can cause itching, rashes, pain perfected at his family’s lake house. This and blisters. Those with allergies can also experience led to the creation of Spider experience reactions such as sweating, Beware, a pest control company that focuses headaches, difficulty breathing, fever or on spiders and also aids in the control of chills, and anxiety. Even more serious ants, flies, gnats, beetles and bees. They do injuries can occur, depending on the species.

Jason and Kelly Grube, the owners of Spider Beware, specialize in controlling these pests that can often become out of control.

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

Spiders can also cause food contamination, just like other pests. The presence of spiders is also a signal that there may be other insects making their home in your residence. Spiders eat other bugs and will be present where food supply is plentiful.

Those who are dealing with spider infestations, or even just an occasional spider sighting, can find relief with the Grubes and their team. The products they use are safe for pets and children.

Before dispatching a team to tackle a homeowner’s spider problem, the homeowner is asked to take a couple of steps to help the process.

“We recommend that you pressure wash your home prior to our first visit,” Grube says. “If that’s not possible, at least clean up the webs, as we do not cover that part.”

Once on site, an assessment is made of the areas of the home that are easiest for spiders to access. Some species of spiders prefer moist environments, such as those found in basements

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and crawl spaces. Others are attracted to areas that are drier, such as inside air vents, near ceilings and in corners.

“Windows will get some product on them, so we ask you to wait until after the first treatment for cleaning,” Grube explains. “It is important so we can make sure we take care of those areas. After the first round we can lessen the product around windows, but we can’t be sure to get the spiders if we can’t treat the area.”

Treated areas should be left to dry thoroughly before allowing children or pets access, Grube says. The team is trained to quickly apply the treatment, and do so with as little impact on the customer as possible.

distance, hose reach, and any additional requests by the property owner.

“You may not notice that they have been at your home,” Grube says.

“Technicians are trained to look for hot spots,” he says. “Spiders like to be warm, which is why they tend to congregate by water. They use the water reflection of the sun as a heat amplifier.

Spinning webs in corners or by windows can have the same effect.”

The company offers free quotes. The price is based on how much time and chemical will be needed to treat the problem. Other factors that can affect the cost include parking

A trained pest control technician is extremely helpful in handling spiders, Grube says.

Services provided include a one-time visit or a six-month seasonal application. The business closes in winter, as the chemicals need a specific temperature to work effectively.

“Our product only activates above certain temperatures,” Grube says.

That means they are closed for the winter and their employees get the season off.

There are some things customers can do to minimize the presence of spiders in their home or property. The most important, according to Grube, is to eliminate all the potential hiding places. These include woodpiles, cluttered storage areas and other places that may not be well-maintained.

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“Things could be worsened with the addition of large trees to an area, or with overgrown landscaping as well,” Grube says.

The Grubes handle the day-to-day operations, and are assisted by their licensed manager Jeff and a team of technicians. Schedules are arranged factoring in the weather and any other complications that might hinder the effective application of the spider deterrent.

Grube was born and raised on Lake Manitou in Rochester. Kelly is originally from Greentown and has lived in Rochester for almost 20 years. Her role in the company is handling the business management side of the operation.

Contact Spider Beware at 574-223-8900, visit their website at spiderbeware.com, or send an email to info@spiderbeware.com.

The business is located at 1495 Wentzel Street in Rochester.

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Call today for free estimate warranty that includes glass breakage (574) 825-7863 • 59323 CR 35, Middlebury THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

MARCH CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS

DOWN

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At the beginning of each new year, many people make resolutions to exercise more, eat better, or any number of other goals to improve their lives in some way. The beginning of a new year can also spark the drive to declutter and deep-clean.

There are many ways to achieve a sparkling clean throughout your home. One of the most tried-and-true ways to clean your home naturally is with white vinegar. It’s safe to use around pets and small children. It is an excellent all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner and grease cutter, and it can also be safely added to water to clean fresh fruits and vegetables. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, or want to try another form of all-natural cleaning, we at New Kitchen Store in Walkerton offer many all-natural cleaning products to help with this endeavor.

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all-natural products? On the whole, allnatural products are a safe choice for the environment. Most companies that choose to produce all-natural or organic products have the environment in mind, and are also animal-friendly.

As well as being safe for the environment and for animals, all-natural cleaning products are safer for your family than many alternatives. They are not made with harsh chemicals that can be toxic for young children and pets. If you or a member of your family are allergic or sensitive to certain fragrances, all-natural products are often either unscented or scented with safe, natural fragrances and essential oils. A good example of this is the Stonewall Kitchen Grapefruit Thyme All-Purpose Cleaner, which can be used as a safe and allergenfriendly air freshener.

What makes Stonewall cleaning products so special? They are made from only the finest all-natural, plant-based ingredients.

Both the dish soap and the all-purpose spray clean thoroughly and leave a sparkling shine, free from streaks. The hand soap and lotion are enriched with vitamins and will leave your skin feeling soft and supple. The rich scents are derived from natural fragrances and essential oils that will not usually bother those who are sensitive to many other fragrances. They also contain the least amount of preservatives possible, to keep them toxin-free and yet keep them moldfree as well.

Whether you are cleaning your house with Stonewall cleaners, or cleaning a pan with an EZ Brite product, don’t forget to use the correct brush with the correct cleaning product to get the expected and desired result.

Call for an appointment today!

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Whatever reason you choose to clean with all-natural products, we at New Kitchen Store are here to fill that need with the largest kitchen supply selection in Michiana.

New Kitchen Store is located at 330 Liberty Street in Walkerton. For more information, call 574-586-2745 or visit NewKitchenStore.com.

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3070 W 350 S | Topeka, IN 46571 Fax: (260) 463-4027 THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

DUST BE GONE

M Y-T D U C T C L E A N I N G H E L P S T O I M P R OV E A I R Q U A L I T Y I N HOMES Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photography Provided

Ever wonder why dust builds up in your home frequently? It could be a sign that your air handling ducts need cleaning.

“You would think that a brand-new house would be the cleanest,” says Mike Taylor, owner of MY-T Duct Cleaning.

In his experience, that is not always the case. Ducts in new construction can be filled with drywall dust and construction debris that can impact the air quality inside. Debris, dust and even mold can also accumulate in lived-in homes. Cleaning out the ducts in any home can benefit the health of those inside, he says.

Multiple studies suggest that people who suffer from asthma should have air ducts cleaned every five to 10 years. It is a simple process using a hose vacuum, and the result can be beneficial, Taylor says.

Taylor started his business one year ago, right before COVID-19 put a halt on many businesses. He used the first few months of downtime to set up his business, and went to work in June.

He and his wife Yulia, who represents the “Y” in the business name, have cleaned ducts for customers from Fort Wayne to Huntington to South Bend and Warsaw.

Taylor, who once worked as an installer for a telecommunications company, says he understands the importance of good customer service. He tries to make sure he schedules enough time between appointments, so customers are not impacted by late arrivals or jobs that take longer than expected.

Depending on the size of the home, duct cleaning can take from one to four hours. The price is based on the number of floors and the square footage. Taylor decided on this pricing structure because it seemed fairer than charging by the duct. It is often easy for a homeowner to overlook a duct when conveying the size of the job, he says.

Once on-site, Taylor uses a large shop vacuum with a 35’ hose.

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

A rotating brush attached to the end of the hose helps to clean the sides of ducts while dust and debris is sucked into the vacuum. He has hoses and attachments of various sizes to ensure that he can get into any duct within a residence.

“I like to spin the brush one way going in and the reverse direction when it is coming out,” he explains.

Dealing with mold requires a different process. The duct is inspected with a camera, then sanitized to reduce any mold. This is followed by a general cleaning.

The company also offers dryer vent cleaning. Taylor suggests doing this every 18 to 24 months.

There are other benefits to this service. Taylor says it can improve the performance of furnace and air conditioning systems within a home.

“By getting rid of the dust in the ducts, you are not sucking it into the air handler,” he explains.

This can make the heating and air conditioning more

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THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

efficient and reduce energy consumption.

does not have that worry.

Taylor learned the business by helping someone he knew who was doing similar work. Then he supplemented that on-the-job knowledge with online training. Indiana does not require training for this service, and as such, online training is important.

Taylor can handle residential properties and some businesses housed in former residences. He’s also considering an expansion into commercial operations.

“You don’t see much of this service,” he says. “More people should do this in their homes.”

To schedule a duct cleaning, call MY-T Duct Cleaning at 574529-4963, or send an email to my.tductcleaning@gmail.com.

For more info, visit mytductcleaning.com.

There are a couple of signs that might indicate a home’s air ducts need attention, and one sign is when the homeowner gets tired of dusting and cleaning frequently. An excessive buildup of dust can be a sign that ducts need attention. Another sign is a musty odor from the air flowing from the ducts.

Taylor wants his customers to be satisfied, and to improve the air quality in their homes.

“My hope is that we show up and we do our work, and you don’t know we were there,” he says.

He also strives to leave each worksite clean so the customer

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5549 S US 35 Star City | IN 46985

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UNIQUE INDEED

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Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

From time out of mind, cultures around the world have associated running water with life. And why not? After all, it’s critical for survival. Not only that, but there are few sights more inspiring or calming than a beautiful stream or lake. For artisans like Menno Schwartz, the owner of Unique Furniture in Milford, waterfront landscapes are so stirring that he and his staff recreate them in their furniture products.

Most of the furniture pieces made by Schwartz and his sons Caleb and Jonathan, along with employee Jeff Zimmerman, are live-edge, meaning the original character of the wood - including gnarls, knots and bark - is polished and preserved to create a signature, natural look.

“No one else anywhere is going to have a piece like it,” Schwartz says. “Each piece is different - each tree grows different.”

With waterfront landscape tables, more commonly known as river (or river run) tables, the idea is taken to the next level.

“You take a couple live-edge slabs and you THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

put them side by side, and leave a space in the center for epoxy to make it look like a river,” he says.

His specialty is making river tables that look like the ones found in northern Indiana.

“We put in sand and stone and stuff like that, then use a clear epoxy so that it looks like a small stream or a river, where the water is clear or shallow enough that you can look down into the water,” Schwartz says.

However, he’s also done other types of epoxy tables.

“There are a lot of different things you can do with epoxy,” he says. “Your imagination is the limit. It’s something that we really enjoy.

The other day, I had someone come in who had a couple slabs and they have bullet casings that they brought along, and they want those in the river run instead of stone and stuff like that.”

Unique Furniture started with a simple liveedge table that Schwartz wanted to make in 2019, which was reminiscent of the logo for his whitetail deer business.

“OUR NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY IS A HAPPY, SATISFIED CUSTOMER.” -MENNO SCHWARTZ-

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574.773.2846 | 11092 N 600 W MILFORD, IN 46542 WWW.CUSTOMUNIQUEFURNITURE.COM THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

“I’ve had that for years, and I wanted to build a table that looked basically like the logo,” Schwartz says. “I had this tree in the yard. I cut it down and took it to a mill.”

It was there that one of the millworkers introduced him to the concept of river tables. Schwartz was so enthralled with the idea that he decided to try his hand at making one.

pour and we’d end up scraping everything off and going back and sanding it down and redoing it,” Schwartz says. “There was a lot of trial and error to get to where we are today.”

Each piece made in the Unique Furniture workroom - whether a table, countertop, bathroom vanity, mirror, clock, or fourposter log bed frame - is individual and distinctive. Their tables in particular are

“A couple of those first pieces, we did a

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Each one is customized to the wants and needs of the client, whether they’re looking for a place for family dinners, an accent piece in the living room, or a stunning end table to grace the guest-room bed. Schwartz also offers delivery and installation for customers who need it, especially for their

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live-edge countertops and vanities.

“Our number-one priority is a happy, satisfied customer,” Schwartz says.

Most of the wood comes from local, sustainable sources. Every once in a while, Schwartz will have a request to make furniture from wood that the customer provides. He’s also been known to add a finishing touch to pieces that others have made.

“I’ve had some people who built their own table and they just want an epoxy poured on top of it,” he says.

One of Schwartz’s favorite parts of the business is working with the individuality of each piece.

“I love it,” Schwartz says. “I just love the way that wood looks.”

As the business grows, Schwartz hopes to eventually build a larger workshop with an attached showroom for finished and unclaimed pieces, as well as the various available slabs for making furniture.

To view some of the pieces Schwartz has created, visit Unique Furniture online at customuniquefurniture.com. To order your own signature piece, call 574-773-2846.

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CUSTOM SHEDS PLUS SYRACUSE BUSINESS STRESSES QUALITY AND VARIETY Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

Deciding that a yard needs a shed is simple. Deciding which shed to purchase, on the other hand, is not.

From the moment a customer orders from Custom Sheds Plus, the Millers concentrate on the buyer’s specifications. Once the customer signs off on the order form, the Millers get to work.

The foundation of any building is incredibly important, which is why the Millers take extra care to ensure quality.

There are several options to consider regarding a shed’s features.

How much of a footprint should it have? What type of frame should “We actually have a lot of people asking what’s in our floor,” Marvin it have? Will it need a loft? Does it need to be insulated? What says. color should it be? How many doors will it need? Should there be a window? Window boxes? A porch?

The runners are never more than 4’ apart, and the floor joists are always 16” apart.

Father-son team Michael and Marvin Miller, owners of Custom Sheds Plus, are expert craftsmen who put a lot of care into making “It makes for a strong floor,” Marvin says. backyard storage exactly the way customers want it.

The Millers specialize in high-quality stick-built sheds.

“When we started this, we agreed we want to make a nice-looking shed that will last,” Marvin says.

“That’s where the main wear and tear is, and we wanted to make the best floor possible.”

After that portion is assembled, it’s covered by an LP smart floor.

This material is not only incredibly durable and overlaid with a

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

Anyone who has done much yard work knows the discomfort of walking into a blistering shed on a hot summer day. The type of roofing on a Custom Sheds Plus outbuilding is designed to help alleviate the heat.

“The sheeting on the roof has the foil laminating on the inside to reflect the heating off of it,” Marvin says.

The owners put extra effort into the durability of their sheds in all areas of construction, even using screws instead of nails for extra longevity.

When the shed is finished, it is delivered to the customer’s home. beautiful finish, but the floor pieces also have a tongue-and-groove feature that allows them to interlock. It also comes with a 10-year warranty.

The walls and siding are also important, and come with a 20-year warranty. There’s no limit on paint color.

“We have our standard colors, but if they want a whole different color, that’s what they’re going to get,” Marvin explains.

“You get your site ready, and they’ll bring the shed out and set it down wherever you want it,” Michael says. “They can get it within inches of where you want it. If you’re building an 8’ shed, all you need is an 8’ opening.”

Depending on the kind of shed, it can take two to six weeks from the time the shed is ordered until delivery.

“The more customized it is, the longer it takes because we do not stock everything,” Marvin says. “Within a week we should have it

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done, but then there’s scheduling to get it delivered.”

The Millers, who have professional backgrounds in construction work, are proof of the adage, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

“My favorite part is just working at home and still doing something that I like,” Marvin says.

“As far as other builders are concerned, we’re pretty competitive,” Michael says.

Custom Sheds Plus is located at 13836 County Road 48 in Syracuse, and is open by appointment. Call 260-215-3988 to order your shed, or to see examples of sheds they’ve built in the past.

The workshop for Custom Sheds Plus isn’t only used to make garden sheds.

“We’ve made a three-sided wood shelter to store firewood in, we’ve made a 12’x16’ dog kennel, and we’ve done a couple different storage barns - one with a full-length porch on the side,” Michael says.

Both men enjoy the diversity of their projects, and they hope to eventually expand into making live-in cabins, complete with electrical and plumbing.

For all the extra work that goes into these outbuildings, their costs are comparable to other shed suppliers.

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PUTTING THEIR BEST H O OV E S F O R WA R D Pleasant Acres Horseshoeing Helps With Horse Hoof Issues

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The right shoe can help make working easy on the feet for humans. The same applies to the horses on whom humans rely for transportation or sport. Unlike a human, horses can’t buy their shoes from a store; their owners rely on the services provided by a farrier, such as Pleasant Acres Horseshoeing, operated by Emery Miller.

Miller says he’s always been interested in horseshoeing, even watching his uncle as a young boy. It wasn’t until he needed shoes quickly for the colts he was training that he decided to develop his interest into a business. He started shoeing horses for the public eight years ago, and doing his own farrier work four years before that.

Proper shoeing and hoof care are important in keeping a horse sound. Proper shoes can correct problems in conformation and ensure that a horse is able to perform tasks without harm.

“The Amish buggy horse is one of the most important to keep sound,” Miller says. “Families rely on these for transportation.”

The rhythmic pounding of horse hoof on pavement can cause lameness and other mobility issues if the horse is not properly shod. While wild horses do not need to be

shod, horses used by humans are a different matter, Miller explains.

“Shoes protect the horse who wears down the hoof growth too fast,” he says.

The right shoe can help correct problems from poor conformation. Regular hoof trimming can reduce potential problems that might keep a horse out of commission for a period. Neglecting a horse’s feet is also considered negligent care, depending on the severity of the hoof problem.

One of the first steps Miller takes when called to shoe a horse is to watch how it walks. He watches for conformation issues that may make the horse unsteady. He looks for the way the hoof lands when the horse walks and determines whether the horse is sound, meaning whether it can walk without issue.

Most of the time, a manufactured steel shoe can be used. It can be adapted to fit each hoof, and with proper trimming can serve the horse well. Other times, a horse may require a custom shoe to address issues with the foot or leg structure.

The shoe is then nailed in place into the hoof wall. There

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are no nerves or blood vessels in the hoof, so the horse does not feel any discomfort when the shoe is attached.

A store-bought shoe takes about 60 to 90 minutes to put on the horse. A handmade shoe on-site extends the time of the visit to up to three hours.

“This requires a very high skill level,” Miller says.

Miller honed his farrier skills watching his uncle. He has also pursued continuing education, to properly diagnose and correct defects or problems with the soundness of his customers’ horses.

“You have to keep on learning,” he says.

Continuing education can be costly, but Miller considers it vital to his business. Knowing the anatomy of the horse’s hoof, and being able to adapt shoeing techniques to address problems, ensure that the horse can continue to work or compete at its best.

“A horse does not stand on his foot,” he explains.

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The bone that makes up the foot is protected by the hoof, which extends beyond the bone like a fingernail. This hoof wall in not sensitive to trimming or shoeing, but the bone and the tendons that attach the hoof to the bone are. These areas of sensitivity and living tissue illustrate the importance of knowing the structure of the hoof, Miller says.

“We cannot change the sensitive structure,” he says. “The way we trim the hoof has a direct effect on this part of the foot.”

Regular shoeing is considered an important part of horse ownership. Most horses can go 10 weeks between shoeing but in some cases more frequent visits from a farrier may be required, Miller says. The process is designed to keep a horse’s feet in balance, which is a major benefit.

Miller raises and trains horses at his farm in Milford. He had a pony growing up, which sparked his interest in horses. He still shoes his own horses, but also works with the Amish community and hunter-jumper horses in the area.

To arrange a visit with Miller at Pleasant Acres Horseshoeing, call 800-213-1925, ext 5.

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any people experience a career change at some point, and some of those changes involve a surprising twist.

Take, for instance, Mark Lurie, who was a chef before the onslaught of COVID, and now owns his own sandblasting company, Ultimate Blasting.

When it became apparent in March of 2020 that a career change was necessary, he considered several options.

“I started thinking about things that I was doing, to see if I could generate something out of my hobbies and make it into a career,” ultimately set him on the course for Lurie explains. sandblasting.

One aspect of sandblasting that appealed to “I know the exact day,” he says. “I was Lurie was the scheduling versatility, which watching all the vandalism that was going works for his family as well as others. on in Chicago, and I saw how people were “I’m a single father,” he says. “To be able doing graffiti all over the walls, all over to work on the weekends or at night, I can everything all over the city. I thought to pretty much set my schedule for anything.” myself, ‘That’s going to take work to remove However, it was the evening news that

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All the materials used at Ultimate Blasting are made from recycled glass.

“All the materials that I use are eco-friendly and recycled,” Lurie says. “We’re not incorporating anything else into it. If there’s anything that we’re doing with lead paint or anything like that, we go by the guidelines in cleanup and disposal.”

Although Lurie is based in Walkerton, his equipment is on a trailer, allowing him to travel to any large job in a 100-mile radius a rather unique setup for his line of work.

Lurie has done a lot of work on antique cars.

“It’s cool to talk to those guys,” he says of the antique car owners he services. “They’re always doing old cars and are excited about it. It’s cool to see the finished product.”

He can do some repair work as well, especially on vehicles.

“I will do everything up to the priming stage,” he says. “I will blast them, I will fix them - fix any holes, corrosion, marks or breaks - then I will coat it.”

“I get things back to the raw state, so you prime and paint things,” Lurie says. “It’s the start of bringing something back to life that you thought was rusted or just done.”

Although sandblasting is typically believed to be hot, filthy work, Lurie uses equipment and a new system that makes his work easier.

“You incorporate water into the sandblasting, and it takes off the coating a lot easier,” he says.

His method also allows the abrasive medium to maintain a cool temperature while cleansing the surface, and keeps worksite dustiness to a minimum.

Not all of Ultimate Blasting’s jobs are of the automotive variety. In the marine world, sandblasting makes it easy to prepare boats and docks for a fresh coat of paint.

“Pretty much anything that has paint on it that needs to be refinished, I can do,” Lurie says. “It’s not just cars or the marina. It could be your house or your shed. It could be farm equipment you have sitting around

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Pavement on driveways and patios, and even some patio furniture, respond well to Lurie’s cleaning methods.

“That’s something I’m going to focus on this year, because I really think that’s an avenue that people need and would like,” he says.

Because of the nature of work available to Ultimate Blasting, Lurie works with several local contractors.

“I’m offering additional services,” he says.

“I work with local painters and concrete brick finishers. Not only can I provide the blasting, I can provide the finishing as well.”

For more info on Ultimate Blasting, visit ultimateblasting.com, and call or text 574780-3617 to schedule an appointment. The company can also be reached via email at info@ultimateblasting.com.

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Haiti and its people have a warm place in Kramer’s heart, especially after spending six years as a missionary there in the 1990s. In fact, he met his wife Stephanie there.

“Haiti has been through a lot in the last 200 years,” Kramer says. “Yet God really has a plan of redemption for Haiti. The evangelical church is growing, and yet there’s still a lot of darkness and suffering, but the Haitian people are just really beautiful people on the inside. They just sort of shine. It’s neat to get to know the Haitian people and invest in them.”

Nappanee Family to Embark on Missionary Work in Haiti Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

The Kramers and their five children, who range in age from 7 to 17, will fly down for a three-and-a-half-year term, and they will travel with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF).

Nappanee, believe their life purpose lies in having a relationship with the God of the Bible, and in ministering to other people’s needs - a lifestyle that brings them much joy.

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only by plane. Their mission is multifaceted, and includes providing medical evacuation and delivering medical supplies, delivering community development materials like building supplies, food, clean water, technology, and educational supplies, as well as providing natural disaster response and relief.

MAF does not limit itself to partnering with other Christian organizations.

“They work with 177 different organizations,” Kramer says. “Those are everything from government to non-governmental to humanitarian to church and pastors. MAFHaiti, and MAF from around the world, help carry burdens for other organizations as well, and help them do what they do.”

The Kramers’ specific purpose will be to serve other MAF teams and guests in the organization’s guesthouse in Port-Au-Prince.

“It’s basically being in charge of everything that’s not aircraft related,” Kramer says.

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facilities. There will be four other families plus us. I will actually be taking care of their things too. If their car has an issue or their house has an issue, that will be my responsibility.”

fit,” Kramer says. “Maybe it fit my wife but it didn’t fit me, or it fit me but didn’t fit my wife. This really fit. It was like the Lord had crafted our journey of the last 20 years and it just clicked.”

For the Kramers, who are gifted in hospitality, the trip is an opportunity to work together to encourage their colleagues in the name of Jesus Christ.

Even their children are excited about the venture.

“Over the years, every once in a while, an opportunity would pop up but it didn’t really

The Kramers are still seeking monthly support partners, both spiritually and monetarily.

“We definitely need people to pray for us,” Kramer says. “It’s a pretty dark atmosphere spiritually, and you can easily get sucked into doing, doing, doing, and easily get burned out. We really want to be focused on what God has us there for.”

“They’re on board,” Kramer says. “Some of it’s a bit scary, but they’re ready for the journey.”

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those making the trip and those supporting it from afar.

“We could not go without people back here supporting us on a committed monthly basis,” he says.

As far as Kramer is concerned, their supporters are just as much a part of the mission as they are.

“We just happen to be in Haiti, but they’re making it happen,” he says.

Read more about the Kramers and their story, and donate to their cause online, at maf.org/dkramer.

For mailed contributions, write the number 9058 and “Dan Kramer” in the check memo line, and mail it to: Mission Aviation Fellowship, P.O. Box 47, Nampa, ID 83653.

Contact Dan Kramer directly via email at dkramer@maf.org.

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PAD DL E UP B REM EN P I C KLE BAL L C LUB GROW I N G I N LOC AL P OP ULARI T Y Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

When the Bremen Pickleball Club meets at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, there are two games going simultaneously. Two nets, corresponding to white lines that mark out the courts, are set up in the middle of the gym. The players, two per team, are the picture of focus as they wait for their opportunity to prevent the other team from making a point or, even better, score a point themselves. The room reverberates with the echoing pops of the brightly colored balls as they rebound with staccato fervor between the players’ paddles and the floor.

Spectators wait their turn to play, ranging from youthful to elderly. All of them have at least one eye on the games. Every once in a while, one will call to the players. “Good shot Bay,” one shouts enthusiastically.

Another groans, “Nice try Eric! You’ll get it next time!”

It’s a comfortable crowd, with friends who have built a community around a common interest. When the winning points are scored, new teams take the courts for another round.

The Bremen Pickleball Club started in June of 2018. Local pickleball enthusiast Ken Ernsberger announced on Facebook that he was going to run a pickleball clinic for beginners, and caught Tami Hudson’s attention.

“I told my husband, ‘I’m going to go down to the park and check this out,’” Hudson recalls. “He said, ‘You don’t do any sports!’ and I said, ‘I know, but I’m really curious. My brother plays, so I’m going to go check this out.’”

Hudson fell in love with the game almost immediately.

The club started with the 10 people who showed up that night under the leadership of Ernsberger and George Cox, and has grown to 110 members since then.

“You play it, and then 15 minutes later you’re like, ‘Where do I get a paddle? How do I order? Do I need to get a net? Where can I play?’”

Hudson says.

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

Pickleball can be a sport for athletes and non-athletic types alike.

“I don’t like to exercise,” Hudson admits. “But I love it. I think people will surprise themselves. It’s very easy to learn.”

Everyone involved enjoys the game and the community within the club. There’s a third aspect of pickleball that makes the sport even more exciting - tournaments. Last year, the Bremen club held two tournaments in June and October.

This year they intend to host tournaments again around the same time. “[Last year] people loved coming to little Bremen, Indiana, for pickleball tournaments,” Hudson says. “We’re on the map of the pickleball world. We’re expecting huge tournaments, like 300 to 400 players both at our June and October tournaments this year.”

Residents in the town of Bremen are supporting the club however they can. Not only are there permanent pickleball lines drawn on the tennis courts in the Bremen city park, but there are also nets available for public use.

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has a paddle and ball can go down, put the net up and play,” Hudson says.

This was a huge stepping stone for the club to gain local notoriety.

“We want to make it accessible for people outside the club, because we know that will help us grow membership,” Hudson adds. “What is so unique about pickleball compared to other sports is that a 16-year-old and an 84-year-old can play together competitively. I don’t know of any other sport that exists where that can happen.”

Hudson believes the club will continue to grow. To accommodate this, the club needs to have its own courts, something club members are working on with town leaders.

They are also working in partnership with Bremen High School to get pickleball added to the physical education curriculum.

“We’re hoping that it builds to maybe a club sport or an intramural sport with high school students, because they’re the future of pickleball,” Hudson explains.

As for the bigger picture, there’s a global effort to make pickleball an Olympic sport.

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“Within 10 years you’re going to be seeing it everywhere,” Hudson says. “Once that happens, high schools, colleges - everybody’s going to be doing it.”

The club hosts group play in the Bremen city park throughout the week when weather permits, and will be open to new members this spring. To join the club or to sign up for the free beginners class, email bremenpickleball@gmail.com, or visit Facebook.com/ BremenPickleball.

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H OW W E G OT AROUND THE HISTORY OF T R AV E L I N T H E LAKES AREA Writer / Jeff Kenney Photography Provided

However the weather may seem on any given day, Old Man Winter is on his way out these days, and inevitably that means the appearance of potholes and cracks in the roads crisscrossing the Lakes area.

With the prevalence of COVIDrelated concerns over the past year, one can almost forget how the condition of roads, at least in Marshall County, remained a hot-button issue in local politics a few short years ago.

That said, whatever the state of area roads today, our ancestors not so long ago would not only have been amazed at their quality and quantity, but envious of their capacity as well.

About a century has passed since paved roads began to be the norm in the Midwest, and

between that shift and the near-simultaneous rise of the automobile as a must-have device in most every American’s driveway, the technology of travel has changed the landscape of the region immeasurably.

THE FIRST R OA D S

architectural trends in Indiana that reveal older-style houses and buildings in certain areas, you’re seeing the still-present imprint of travel routes of yore.

Of course the first “roads” in the Lakes area were rivers, initially for the Native American population, and, by the 17th and 18th centuries, for French trappers and fur traders as well.

Early settlers to Indiana, closer to the establishment of statehood in 1816, tended to travel north from the Ohio River, which had been the primary “road” for moving from the early-settled east coast of The Northwest Ordinance was America to the west. If you visit enacted in 1787, and with it came the adoption, by Congress, southern Indiana, observe the old brick and otherwise historicof the first public land survey looking structures closer to the system, which would later river. It’s no coincidence. provide for section line roads.

If you’ve ever noticed differing

The same is true of structures

nearer the earlier settlements along the old Wabash River, somewhat closer to home for Lakes-area readers.

Trails used by Native Americans provided the next layer of travel options after rivers, and in 1827, a treaty was approved

by Congress generating the Michigan Road, actually an old “Indian Trail” that ran north from Indianapolis and eventually through today’s towns of Rochester, Argos and Plymouth, and into South Bend.

In the case of the latter three communities, that street has even retained the road’s name until today: Michigan.

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In 1836, pioneers from southern Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio began using the Michigan Road to settle areas like Plymouth, Maxinkuckee Village, Wolf Creek, Twin Lakes, Leiters Ford, the future Monterey (then Buena Vista) and future Culver (earlier Union Town).

Similar to the architectural trends near Indiana’s big rivers, Lakes-area readers may have noticed that many of the houses nearest to the old Michigan Road - more recently known to many of us as “old 31,” the main drag through Rochester, Argos and Plymouth - are older than many of the surrounding

houses. Observe the beauty and ornamentation of some very old homes just off that street in Rochester and Plymouth.

and churches proliferated in towns and villages across the area - they were nearby and accessible.

Again, it’s easy to see the hand of history moving across the land, since people built houses, naturally enough, closest to the road, and the old Michigan Road is the oldest in the area.

In 1848, settlement of northwest Indiana got a big boost when George Eaton built a bridge spanning three-fourths of a mile across the Kankakee River at Pottawatomie Crossing. For a much deeper dive - no pun intended - on the fascinating story of the Kankakee as it once existed, check out the PBS documentary on the river, “Everglades of the North,” online or at a local library.

That’s not to say the growth of the Michigan and other roads made for speedy travel. In the 1840s, it took some two weeks to transport grain from this area to the larger mill in Logansport.

Even by car, a trip from St. Louis to this area reportedly took four days. Travel challenges make it easy to see why local businesses, schools

Even by the 1850s, there were still only a handful of bridges in the area, and the prevalence

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of marsh and swampland was a constant challenge before the draining of wetlands began in the 1870s.

RISE OF THE RAILS By this time the Wabash and Erie Canal, under construction by the 1830s and ‘40s, was waning as a possibility of systematic travel connecting Indiana with far-reaching

areas. Local folks with an interest can see a section of the old canal at France Park in Logansport, or visit the excellent museum dedicated to it in Delphi.

Instead, the “iron horse” was on its way.

In the fall of 1856, the Fort Wayne-Chicago Railroad line, better known locally as the Pennsy, reached Plymouth, though it

wasn’t until 1882 that the Nickel Plate line, which ran from Chicago to New York, was completed, with stations at small railroad towns like Hibbard, Rutland and Burr Oak sprouting up a few years later.

Of course, the town of North Judson was famously home to no less than four rail lines in its heyday, including the aforementioned Pennsylvania line in addition to the Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Railroad and the Erie Railroad, both in the early 1880s, and the Cincinnati, Richmond and Muncie Railroad of the early 1900s. The town’s rich railroad heritage is celebrated at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, which is definitely worth a visit.

The year 1883 saw the Erie Lackawanna Railway reach Rochester, and later Leiters Ford, Delong and Monterey, facilitating train travel to Chicago by 1890.

The completion of the Vandalia rail line to Culver (then Marmont) from Logansport in 1883 changed the course of the Lake Maxinkuckee area considerably, such that by the “golden age” of tourism to the lake in the 1890s and early 1900s, some 5,000 to 7,000 passengers each weekend day disembarked from trains at Vandalia Park, today’s town park.

These visitors, along with summer cottagers representing the well heeled and prominent of Indiana - even as Bass Lake cottagers represented a similar demographic from the Chicago region - traveled around the lake by steamboat, making a sort of water taxi system that circumvented the muddy, rutted roadways surrounding the area.

Of course, rail travel to the Maxinkuckee region also made possible the opening and growth of one of the most prominent institutions of the area, Culver Military Academy, starting in 1894.

The Lake Eerie and Western rail line, running from Peru to Michigan City by way of Argos-LaPorte, opened as well in 1887, but significant change was in the air.

64 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

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YO U “A U T O ” B E HERE While horse-drawn vehicles were the norm for centuries prior, by 1892, Duryea had patented the gasoline-powered auto engine, whose mass production was pioneered

by Elwood Haynes in nearby Kokomo, Indiana, even if Henry Ford became the first true master of auto production in the U.S. Haynes’ son and grandson, as it happens, would later spend summers in family cottages on Lake Maxinkuckee, part of an interesting automotive heritage on the lake that also included the long-standing presence of the Marmon family, whose company built the first winning Indy 500 car, and Herbert H. Rice, a prominent executive in General Motors.

By the early 1900s, “horseless carriages” (automobiles) began appearing in the

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area, even as gravel roads began to replace old dirt roads. By 1905, speed limits in the town of Culver topped out at eight miles per hour in business districts, 15 in residential areas, and 20 on rural roads.

Between 1910 and 1920, the paving of streets in area towns and roads became more and more common, and by 1920 virtually all of Lake Maxinkuckee’s oncestately steamboats had been dry docked or removed. As more and more people around Indiana gained the freedom to travel wherever they wished, and electricity reached more urban areas, the incentive to hop on a train for a weekend excursion to the cool waters of one of northern Indiana’s natural lakes was diminishing, and regular rail passenger service to the area diminished with it.

The early 1920s saw the paving of main roads between area towns as well as creation of a new east-west highway, eventually State

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Road 10. More state roads would follow including State Road 17 in the early 1930s, when its route took it straight through downtown Culver, and by 1940, State Road 110 connecting Marshall and Fulton counties.

DO YOU NEED

By 1947, construction was underway for the four-lane U.S. 31 between Plymouth and South Bend, a route already extending north from Indianapolis designed to bypass the many towns and delays on the existing highway, which was, of course, the old Michigan Road. Readers may note the irony of a massive project within the past decade to bypass that bypass by adding stretches of 31, aimed at avoiding stoplights along what was, in the 1950s, the new 31.

That same year, the last regular Pennsylvania Railroad train ran through Culver, though irregular trains would run sporadically for some years after, with all rail traffic on the Pennsy ending in 1976.

The 1950s saw the relocation and improvement of several area highways, while the era also brought newfound speed and long-distance travel capacity with the creation of the interstate highway system.

Photo: Tony Straw

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All of this, in addition to the rise of the internet and big-box stores, has dramatically changed the economic and cultural life of the area. What area residents, and Americans as a whole, have gained in speed, convenience and accessibility, they may have lost in experiencing local flavor and community.

Travel has gotten easier, but also more impersonal.

On the bright side, compared to the muddy slop of our old dirt roads and difficulty of managing horses and buggies, at least those potholes of today don’t seem so bad after all.

Author’s note: Appreciation goes to the late Bob Rust for his work in compiling some of the information in this article many years back.

68 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / thelakesmagazine.com

I N M A R C H AT T H E L A K E S KO O N T Z L A K E / WA L K E R TO N ALL Times listed are Central Time.

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ALL Times listed are Eastern Time.

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KOONTZ LAKE ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING 6:30pm CT – Koontz Lake Association Board Meeting at the KLA Clubhouse. We need the communities’ support. This is open to the public and they are looking for fill numerous open board positions.

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10:30am - Vonnegut Artist in Residency: Environmental Conservation at the Culver-Union Twp. Public Library. Avon Waters, Artist in Residence at the Historic Vonnegut House, will explain how five artists are painting major Indiana Waterways to bring attention to environmental conservation. There will be a time of questions and conversation.

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BASS LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION MEETING 9am - Bass Lake Property Owners Association Meeting at the Property Owners Building.

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