The Lakes Magazine March 2022

FREE MONTHLY PRINT MAGAZINE WITH CORRESPONDING MOBILE APP AND SOCIAL MEDIA FEATURING THE PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND EVENTS IN AND AROUND MARSHALL, STARKE, PULASKI, FULTON, WHITE & LA PORTE COUNTY INDIANA + BERRIEN COUNTY MICHIGAN

MAGAZINE

MARCH 2022

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IN THIS ISSUE

MARCH 2022

6

43

Creativity Rules at Blueberry Cottage Yarns and Wool

Michiana Wheel Polishing Thrives in Unique Niche

FABULOUS FABRICS

KEEPING THE WHEELS TURNING

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS TAMI STOUT tami@townepost.com 765.434.4460

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TINA KEAFFABER tina@townepost.com 574.371.7482

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Urey Middle School Sees Major Increase in Extracurricular Involvement

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

KEEPING THINGS POPPING

In March at the Lakes

Yoder Popcorn Has Flavor in Abundance KEY CONTRIBUTORS ABBY RENZ / ANGELA CORNELL / JEFF KENNEY / JUBILEE EDGELL JULIE YATES / KARI LIPSCOMB / LOIS TOMASZEWSKI / MATT KEATING

FABULOUS FABRICS

CREATIVITY RULES AT BLUEBERRY COTTAGE YARNS AND WOOL Writer / Julie Yates Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

Blueberry Cottage Yarns and Wool, open since August of 2020, has not only breathed life into an old building, but it’s also created

a sense of community for anyone who loves textile arts. Located in Plymouth, owner Susan Kessler renovated the site to make it cozy and inviting. The shop has become a spot where people feel free to pop in and gather while working on individual projects.

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“The building was built in 1907 and at one time was a neighborhood grocery store,” Kessler says. “It had been vacant for eight years, and half of the ceiling was coming down. We spent most of the end of 2019 and spring of 2020 working on it.”

In fact, the comfortable space partly became Kessler’s living area while she worked on getting the store ready for business. Since she was there every day, her house in South Bend was rented out and an apartment was Recovering from putan inaccident, above the shop. Any time she was

mom would have just loved this and would have been here every day. The shop has a knitting area named after her - Maxine’s Snug. Snug is a British word for a cozy living-room area.”

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“Life takes you different places,” Kessler says. “I was so used to being busy all the time. After my mother was gone, I felt I had to do something. Working with yarns and sewing is something I have done my whole life since high school. I had done some business in Plymouth with a place, now closed, that rented booths. At that time I knitted sweaters that were sold for British teddy bears. I decided I wanted to get back into knitting when I found the building. All I wanted was a way to support myself so I could buy yarn and pay the utilities. I never started this to make money. I’m so pleased how it has brought people together. My

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Kessler was a high school health careers teacher in South Bend for almost 30 years and still has a home there. When she found out her mother was seriously ill, she closed her two bed-and-breakfast locations and retired from teaching so she could care for her mother. Two years later her mother passed away.

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working out in the yard, people came out to express their excitement about the shop and asked when it would open.

As soon as it opened, the shop was welcomed by the surrounding community.

Supplies, tools, kits and projects available are not just for knitting and crocheting, but also for several different types of crafts such as appliqué, felting and rug hooking. Kessler hopes she will be able to add a spinner and a loom in the future. Plans are already being made to add on to the building this summer.

The shop sells a varied assortment of fibers.

For projects that are heirloom-worthy, natural animal fibers are offered such as cashmere from goats, mohair from rabbits and merino wool from sheep. The finished products from natural materials can be passed down to future generations since they last almost forever. However, manmade yarn such as acrylic is also available.

Kessler is careful to have a variety of price points that are affordable for everyone.

Classes offered can be seen on the shop’s Facebook page. Some classes feature a quick project such as Hat of the Month or Sock of the Month. Others are offered for those with a more advanced skill set, but classes for beginners and advanced beginners are offered as well. A fee is charged for most classes but there is a monthly Free Friday,

8 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com

for which all attendees need to do is to buy some yarn.

For anyone needing to purchase a gift, finished garments are for sale on consignment. Kits with everything needed to make a project are also for sale. Gift cards are available that can be used for classes or products.

“It’s really been something,” Kessler says. “Anyone can come in when we are open and sit down to work on a project.

Great friendships have been formed here.

Sometimes it’s just buzzing. It’s wonderful.

It feeds me.”

Blueberry Cottage Yarns and Wool is located at 825 North Center Street in Plymouth. For more info, call 574-261-3178 or visit facebook.com/fiberartsinplymouth.

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If you look for it, there’s a good chance you can find what you need without having to travel long distances. Once Upon A Person, owned by Ray and Marlene Miller, is just the kind of place to help with such a task.

“I had always dreamed of working in or owning a store,” Marlene Miller says. “I like

to organize and help people out. It makes me feel good to have something here that people need.”

Once Upon A Person is both a consignment store for the Amish community and a general household goods store. For many in the community, it saves a long trip to town for needed supplies. The store is located behind the house Miller grew up in on West 1100 North.

Baby items and household goods are also available in the consignment section of the store. There is also a large selection of used Amish clothing in children and adult sizes.

Miller says consignment provides an inexpensive way for people in the community to have what they need. It also helps the local families receive some income for clothes and items they no longer need.

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New fabric, sewing notions, buttons and thread fill up a section of the store. Other shelves are stocked with handkerchiefs, hair ties, socks, gloves and hats. Gift items and cards are part of the inventory, and her customers can also find household necessities like kitchen utensils.

The store’s toy section, which is 5-year-old Myra Miller’s favorite, includes Melissa & Doug toys, books, puzzles, games and fun stuff to do. The Millers’ only child is a good helper in the store according to Myra and her mom.

“My customers come in for the used items, but they can buy new items too,” Miller says.

Precious Melodies clocks are popular with customers. The chimes in the clocks can be traded out for other tones and chimes, such as holiday melodies. The clocks come in various styles, including traditional and decor-specific.

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Roni bags are also popular with customers.

These are insulated lunch boxes that can handle both hot and cold beverages and food.

Miller opened the store in March of 2021.

Her time in the store is spent organizing the stock and keeping the store clean.

Those are two of her priorities. She wants her customers to enjoy shopping in a clean environment with quality items.

Her attention to quality applies to the consignment items that she offers. She is careful to take only the items that are in good condition.

“I want to keep quality clothing in here that people want, so people will continue to come back and look through it,” she says. “I want to keep what will move.”

Marlene and Ray will mark nine years of marriage in June. Family is important to the Millers.

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She is thankful that she can still take time away from the store, such as on those Wednesdays when she gets together with her mother and sisters-in-law. Meeting with her family members regularly, as she did before she became a store owner, is very important to her.

“It’s wonderful to know that I have someone who can watch the store for me,” she says.

Becoming an owner of a store has been a positive experience for Miller. She did not have any experience, so even learning to operate the cash register was among the skills she has mastered in the last year. It is a task she enjoys.

“I do enjoy the people who come in here and talk with me,” she says.

She also enjoys getting in the products that people need. Miller finds out what her customers are looking for, and is always on the lookout for new products to bring into

www.davesenginerepair.com 10215 East SR 8 Knox, Indiana 46534 THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com / 13

her store. She will even make a special order to accommodate a need, such as the proper fabric color for a bride’s upcoming wedding.

That means planning so that she has enough supplies that will be available in time.

Visit Once Upon A Person at 8638 West 1100 North, southwest of Nappanee. Call them at 574-354-8452.

A STATEWIDE FIRST FIRST INTEGRATED HIGH SCHOOL TEAM IN INDIANA REFLECTS UNIQUE HISTORY IN CULVER

Writer / Jeff Kenney Photography Provided

Culver High School (CHS) quietly made Indiana and national history a century ago in an unlikely venue - on the hardwood of the basketball court.

Though no mention was made of it in publications of the day, thanks to the presence of two players, identified only as Whitted and Wade in the pages of the Maxinkuckee yearbook, the 1922 CHS basketball team was the first integrated high school basketball team in Indiana.

Graduation records indicate the two black players pictured must have been Wesley Wade, in the class of 1923, and Palmer Whitted, in the class of 1924. Another indication lies in the results of a 1936 survey undertaken by the Culver Citizen newspaper for fans to pick players for an all time CHS team of the greatest players the school had produced to date. Whitted and Wade both made the short list, with Wade receiving more votes than any other player.

The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame confirmed the team’s integrated status and published an article about it in 2009.

In many ways, that unique status should come as no surprise. The first black graduate of Culver High School, Clara Rollins, accepted her diploma at graduation exercises in May of 1906 - a remarkably early date for a school, especially a small, rural Midwestern one, to include an integrated population.

Even more remarkable was Rollins’ graduation speech, as reported in The Culver City Herald newspaper, which described a speech she gave during the commencement ceremony as “an instructive and thoughtful review of the development of the colored people of the South since the civil war.”

More to the point, the Herald reported that Rollins’ speech reflected her belief that “the time will come when the negro will not be socially ostracized” - an amazing prediction made decades before it began to come to fruition in the U.S.

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The earliest permanent members of what would become a thriving black community in Culver through the mid-20th century arrived on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee in the late 1890s, many of them members of the staff of the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri, which burned down in 1896.

Culver Military Academy Founder Henry Harrison Culver, whose school had recently opened in 1894, found his fledgling student population a bit on the small side and wired the Missouri school’s superintendent, Alexander Fleet, with the following message: “We have the buildings, you have the boys.

Let’s get together.”

Besides his teaching staff, Fleet brought trusted members of the school’s support staff, with more to follow. Eventually, Culver Military Academy’s staff included a number of black employees including several who became pillars of the local community.

Among these were Roy “Sheep” Scott,

a custodian and unofficial counselor to generations of cadets, and Charles Dickerson, head of the bustling Mess Hall waitstaff at the school. A bust of Dickerson holds a prominent place at Lay Dining Center on the academy’s campus today.

Scott was an esteemed member of the Culver community at large as well, known for gathering castoff sports equipment left behind by academy cadets to distribute to less fortunate children of all races in the community, and for his local baseball and softball coaching prowess.

Additionally, a number of Lake Maxinkuckee cottagers employed black staff members, leading to a thriving black middle class in the Culver area.

That reality can be seen in several unusual local endeavors. The Entre Nous Club (from the French meaning, “between us”) was comprised primarily of longstanding members of Culver’s black community, and

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combined social events similar to those popular, particularly among women, during the early- to mid-20th century. Tea and refreshments were served, conversation held and community outreach undertaken, including occasional dinners provided for members of the temporary black staff employed by Culver Academy during the summer months, and housed in small structures off-campus known as the shacks.

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Members of the academy staff formed a popular traveling baseball team, the allblack Culver Comics, modeled after the popular Negro League teams of the day (such as the Indianapolis Clowns - similar to basketball teams like the still-popular Harlem Globetrotters). Exhibition games drew crowds in the thousands as well as fairs and picnics around the region.

Clara Rollins’ father George, a member of Culver Academy’s staff, donated land near today’s Lake Shore Drive and Coolidge Court in Culver to start a church focused specifically on the spiritual, relational and material needs of the local black population.

Rollins Chapel opened in 1913, eventually became a member branch of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination and operated into the late 1960s.

Many of Culver’s black families of this period saw their children and grandchildren go on to levels of education and career status not only unusual for African Americans in the mid20th century, but also proportionately higher than many of their white peers in the area.

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Among others, Roy Scott’s daughter Thelma, for example, journeyed after graduating from Culver High School to Howard University in Washington, D.C., a historically black college, where she met and married Morsell “Bob” Hodges, a black man earning his master’s degree in German. She returned with her husband to Culver and raised a family in the area, rising to prominence as an antiques expert and dealer and in local politics.

Charles and Lela Dickerson’s children included a son who became an accomplished graphic artist in New York City and children in professional roles in the aviation and public relations fields.

Jim Harper, who with his wife Ina lives in Culver today (having returned after retirement in Chicago), earned his degree as one of the few black students at the time to attend North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Harper has been an active and revered member of the Culver community in recent decades, particularly with the local Lions Club, and also in gathering and sharing

16 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com

the story of Culver’s black community, and his positive experiences growing up here.

“I never considered myself pigeonholed because of my color,” Harper told a local audience in a 2013 event at the Culver Public Library. “Some others did, maybe, but I didn’t. I have always been a Culverite. I used to tell people, ‘I’m from a town where you were good until you proved yourself otherwise.’ ” The once-flourishing black community of the town of Culver dwindled as Culver Military Academy shifted from waiter service to cafeteria-style dining in the late 1950s, and as employment trends finally moved away from race as a determinant nationwide. Clara Rollins’ 1906 prediction of improvements in race relations was thankfully coming true, but that also meant employment was opening up across the U.S., and Culver was losing its status as a place unusually suited to provide employment and a safe, respectful living environment for African Americans.

The 1950s also saw developments on or near two small lakes south of Culver, King Lake and Langenbaum Lake, originally aimed at creating resort experiences for African Americans from the Chicago area.

Neither came to full fruition but they did foster new, rural black communities near the convergence of Fulton, Pulaski and Starke counties, though outside the town of Culver proper.

in 1960. Whether she knew hers was the last in a series of such reports dating back some 50 years, Jackson’s closing words that week, after detailing the Dickerson family’s efforts in driving many snowbound congregants to Rollins Chapel the previous week, seem to allude to the presence of the column itself: “We, being patrons of our only weekly paper, thank you for cordial treatment.”

The year 1960 saw an entry in one of the Culver Citizen newspaper’s regular columns that was perhaps a sign of the times. “In the Colored Circles,” as an indication of the unusual level of integration Culver saw at the time, regularly documented the comings and goings of the town’s black residents, much as similar columns reported on the social lives of residents of Burr Oak, Delong, Hibbard, and other small, nearby areas.

The very last appearance of the column that had, by then, become simply “Colored Circles,” was written by Mrs. Nellie Jackson

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Members of the Whitted (left) and Scott (right) families at the train station to see off Thelma (center) to Howard Univeristy in 1924.

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Haley Fox

PAYING IT FORWARD FAMILY OF HALEY FOX HONORS HER MEMORY THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP

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could do for the community.

ceremony.

Haley Fox of Winamac truly believed in giving back to others. As a cancer patient, she tried to buoy the spirits of those around her and had set her sights on the field of nursing. After a fundraiser was held to help pay for her medical expenses, she immediately started thinking of what she

Sadly, Haley passed away on April 13, 2021, before she could realize those goals. However, her spirit of giving goes on through the Haley Fox Memorial Scholarship. Winamac Community High School seniors Emily Rausch and Margaret Smith became the first recipients of the scholarship during the annual senior awards

Haley’s brother Parker Fox presented the scholarship with his parents, Darrell and Angie Fox.

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“It was kind of tough but we were going to do it no matter what,” Parker says. “After the community went above and beyond for her fundraiser, Haley’s goal was to give back. We

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got the paperwork going before she passed on, but at the time we thought she would pull through.”

Applicants for the $5,000 scholarship must write an essay on how cancer has affected their life. The next step is a short interview.

Ultimately the family couldn’t decide between the top two candidates, so each received $2,500.

Haley was diagnosed with leukemia during her freshman year at the University of

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Indianapolis. After receiving treatment, she had her heart set on being a pediatric oncology nurse. A year later she started to resume her studies, but suffered a relapse.

“Haley was the sweetest girl,” Parker says.

“She was treated at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and was the oldest patient at the time. She went around and treated all the other patients like she was their older sibling.”

Winamac pulled out all the stops when a benefit was held in February of 2020 to help offset Haley’s medical bills. With the tagline “Fight Like a Fox,” posters advertising the event declared, “In this community, no one fights alone.” Held at the Star City Community Center, the fundraiser featured a bake sale, a beef and noodle dinner, an auction, a 50/50 raffle and the Brandt Carmichael band.

donated from businesses and individuals.

Some objects such as cornhole sets were homemade. Auctioneers were supplied

by Kopka Auction Service. Carry-out was available for those who did not wish to participate in the sit-down beef and noodle dinner.

The community stepped up and contributed The scholarship was funded by money time and talents. Auction items were

raised by the fundraiser held for Haley, and from generous donations at her funeral.

Going forward, the Haley Fox Memorial Wiffle Ball Tournament will be held each year. Last July, Haley’s family was heartened by the large turnout at Star City Park for the inaugural tournament. In addition, car decals acknowledging Haley’s brave fight were made and sold by family friend Kacie

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ART IS IS IN IN THE ART THE AIR! AIR! ART IS IN THE AIR! Preliminary 2022 Culver Events Calendar Preliminary 2022 Culver Events Calendar Preliminary 2022 Culver Events Calendar

Ball. Funds generated from the sales were contributed to the scholarship fund.

The scholarship program has helped Haley’s family through the healing process. Another piece that has helped is the Facebook page titled “Haley’s Random Acts of Kindness.”

It was begun by Angie and her cousin. It is a public page that invites people to share stories of good works they have witnessed, and encourages paying it forward and giving back.

“We knew what Haley wanted - to help others,” Parker says. “Some days are harder than others but we are doing our best to live life to the fullest because Haley would want us to.”

Donations to the Haley Fox Memorial Scholarship fund can be sent to Alliance Bank or to Winamac Community High School. For more information on upcoming fundraisers, email haleyfoxmemorialscholarship@gmail.com.

2022 CULVER EVENT CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS THE CULVER AND LAKE MAXINKUCKEE February 11-13: Culver Winter Festival VISITORS CENTER’S 2022 THEME IS “ART May 7: Max Move -walk/run around LMAX IS IN THE AIR” AND LAKE MAXINKUCKEE THE CULVER VISITORS CENTER GIVES 202215-17: CULVER EVENT HIGHLIGHTS THE CULVER AND LAKE MAXINKUCKEE July Culver LakeCALENDAR Fest and Fireworks February 11-13: Winter VISITORS CENTER’S 2022MAXINKUCKEE THEME IS “ART 2022 CULVER EVENT CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS July 16: Waves of Culver Freedom Run Festival THEwill CULVER AND LAKE THANKS IN NOVEMBER We include programming and partnerships May 7: 6: Max Move February 11-13: Culver Winterand Festival August Lake Max Triathlon Duathlon, AHS VISITORS CENTER’S 2022 THEME IS Arts, “ART ISthroughout IN THE AIR” the year that focuses on the July 15-17: Culver Lake Fest and Fireworks May 7: Max Move We thanks those here first during American Indian Annual Fundraiser IS IN give THE AIR” culminating with the for return of thewho Pleinexplored Air July 15-17: Culver Fest and Fireworks Julywho 16: Waves of Lake Freedom Run September 3: “Gift of us Warmth” Film Festival at Weekend in Culver, September 23-25.

Plein vendors Air We will include programming and partnerships Heritage Month, for our farmers and nourish every Saturday July 16: 6: Waves ofMax Freedom September 23-25: Plein AirRun Weekend August Lake Triathlon and Duathlon, AHS We willbring include programming and partnerships events artists from around the region to throughout the year that focuses on the Arts, the Culver Farmer’s Market, for the right toAugust vote Fundraiser on Election Dayand - Moonlight November MaxFall Triathlon Duathlon,Paddle AHS2, October 8:Lake Culver Fest and Annual 6: throughout thefor year that focuses theAir Arts, Culver to paint over theon course of the culminating with theprizes return of the Plen Annual Fundraiser for our veterans on Veterans Day - November 11, for the to Film giveand thanks December 2:3:Christmas Tree Lighting Parade September “Giftchance of Warmth” Festival culminating with the return of the PlenPlen Air weekend.

Weekend in Culver, September 23-25.

Air September 3: “Gift ofPlein Warmth” Film Festival December 3: Holiday HopAir Shopping Event and September 23-25: Weekend Weekend Culver, September Plen Air on Thanksgiving -from November 25, andto for our small businesses, their owners events bringinartists around 23-25. the region September Air Weekend **This is a preliminary calendar of events.

Schedules may change. events from around the region October 8:23-25: CulverPlein Fall Fest and Moonlight Paddle Culver to bring paint for prizes over thehome course of to the families whoartists make Culver on SmallOctober Business Saturday -and November 27!

More dates/ events are being confirmed - including a Smithsonian 8: Culver Fall Fest Moonlight Paddle Culver to paint for our prizes over the course of the December 2: Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade Waterways exhibit!

Check website and social for updates! weekend.

December 2: Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade Please shop local this holiday season! weekend.

December 3: Holiday Hop Shopping Event December 3: Holiday Hop Shopping Event

**More dates/ events are being confirmed - including a Smithsonian **More dates/ events being Check confirmed including a Smithsonian For more information, visit our website at Waterways exhibit at theare Library! our -website and social for Waterways exhibit at the Library! Check our website and social for updates!** updates!**

www.findculver.com

Or call (574) 635-0054 Follow us on Instagram @findculver or Facebook

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For updates on the Haley Fox Memorial Wiffle Ball Tournament, visit facebook. com/haleyfoxbenefit.

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TWICE TREASURED, TIMES TWO LOCAL VENDOR MALLS FOSTER ENTREPRENEURIALISM AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES Writer / Angela Cornell Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

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recycling and upcycling. What’s more, resale say that there is an excitement and fun level shopping is just plain fun. in not knowing what they will find when they go resale shopping.”

“One out of two customers share that they enjoy the freshness of the items and the Given these factors, it’s no surprise that constant variety offered in resale,” explains Thompson decided to open a vendor mall Harriet Thompson, the owner of Twice when the opportunity was presented to Treasured and Twice Treasured, Too in her, especially since it would perfectly Plymouth. “One out of two customers also utilize her multiple degrees. Before 2020,

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she was a part-time adjunct professor with a Ph.D. in leadership, a master of business administration degree with focuses in marketing and management, master’s degrees in English and psychology, and multiple certifications.

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and education,” she said. “I determined that a vendor mall was the direction to go. This utilizes my knowledge and experience in such a way that I could focus on providing small entrepreneurs and artisans an opportunity to showcase their products in retail space, with retail services provided.”

When a vendor mall on Jefferson Street in Plymouth came onto the market, Thompson decided to go for it.

“With some consideration and long-term plans, I saw a different vision than the current flea-market model,” she says.

Instead of adopting the “multiple garage sales under one roof ” philosophy of many vendor malls, Thompson and her husband, Ken Pearl, decided to turn Twice Treasured into a premier vendor mall that showcases quality items, both pre-owned and new.

Twice Treasured is located in a large building that has been a vendor mall for many years. Under Thompson’s ownership and the management of Shelby Christeson, the business houses 100-plus booths tended by more than 70 vendors. Shoppers can find all manner of treasures from antiques and collectibles to furniture and decor, to small appliances and lighting. Other stalls have kitchenware, glassware, personal-care items, dolls and toys, instruments, records and more.

Thompson also saw this as an opportunity to help vendors grow entrepreneurially.

“We ask that the vendors come in at least twice a month to clean, organize and restock their booths,” she says. “We provide our vendors with retail support services.”

It’s not uncommon for vendors to grow in confidence as they learn how best to arrange their booth to catch the most attention, not uncommonly overgrowing their booth and needing more space.

It didn’t take long for Thompson and Pearl to realize they needed more space. Instead of expanding Twice Treasured, they decided to open Twice Treasured, Too across town under the management of Bonnie Hagen.

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com / 27

The second location still offers a variety of products along with quality furniture, natural gemstone jewelry, candy, lamps, glassware and home decor - all varying in style from mid-century modern to antique, vintage, rustic and new. There are also several booths that display artisan homemade or upcycled items.

Thompson and Pearl have several big plans for business growth and expansion. One plan is to put in a couple of other businesses under Twice Treasured, Too’s roof. Both will follow along with the store’s master plan to benefit the local entrepreneurial spirit. One business will be a group room with capacity for 15 to 20 people that will be used for small businesses and art classes.

As for the other business - well, those interested will have to watch the website and social media in order to catch the latest news.

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business, but it will create a fun and new experience for customers and entrepreneurs alike,” Thompson says.

Twice Treasured and Twice Treasured, Too have a lot of potential growth and renovations coming up in the next few years. Still, Thompson and Pearl continue to dream big.

“As we grow, we will include additional individuals dedicated to customer service and vendor support,” Thompson says. “The business plan is to grow opportunities for entrepreneurs who want to create a successful small business. As I see it, we are only limited in growth by our willingness to take chances and our ability to dream.”

Twice Treasured is located at 523 East Jefferson Street, and Twice Treasured, Too is located at 2005 Michigan Street, both in Plymouth. Check them out online at twicetreasuredvendorshoppe.com and reach out to them by calling 574-935-5460.

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explore our decadent specialty chocolates at New Kitchen Store that will really give your taste buds, and your brain, a treat.

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in gold wrapping - the Evergreen Mint with a peppermint crunch covered in dark chocolate. Get your tastebuds ready for a trail with the Green Mountain milk chocolate, with almonds and currants, appropriately wrapped and shaped as a mountain. Even bees can’t resist their Honey Caramel dark chocolate infused with local honey, in a gold tinfoil wrapper.

If you are really feeling adventurous, try B.T. McElrath’s assortment of chocolate bites, such as dark chocolate caramel, prairie dog, salty dog, 70% dark chocolate, buttered

toast, or salted butter caramel.

We all know that chocolate is a delicious treat that we can eat any time of day and it can instantly brighten a sour mood, but did you know that eating chocolate can actually make your brain feel happy?

Research shows that eating chocolate can produce happiness and joy. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a natural antidepressant, and tryptophan, an amino acid linked to the production of serotonin.

If are not a chocolate lover, we also have other delectable treats at New Kitchen Store such as Annie B’s popcorns in flavors such as Sea Salt Caramel, Jalapeño Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar and Original Caramel and the small caramel pieces to nibble on for the road. All are made as small-batch confections to enhance flavor and quality.

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Whether you are restocking on our flavored coffees, trying out a recipe with our fragrant spices or finding the perfect item for your kitchen, here at New Kitchen Store we can help take holidays, and every day, from ordinary to extraordinary. We are ready to assist you with a warm smile and an inviting atmosphere.

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Allyse and Russ Yoder

KEEPING THINGS POPPING YODER POPCORN HAS FLAVOR IN ABUNDANCE Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Kari Lipscomb

The first thing that happens when walking into Yoder Popcorn in Shipshewana is a warm greeting and the offer of a sample bag of freshly popped popcorn. Who says no to popcorn? Apparently not very many people, which is why this family-owned company has survived and thrived for generations.

“Our sample is delicious and does not taste like any other popcorn,” says Owner Allyse Yoder. “Popcorn is a nice snack, easy to make and it’s fairly healthy.”

Allyse and her husband Russ Yoder represent the fourth generation to run the popcorn business, and took over for Russ’s parents, Richard and Sharon, in 2018. In 2020, Russ and Allyse moved operations THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com / 37

from the family farm southeast of the current location to a brand-new building on State Road 5. This new space houses several other businesses the couple owns, with Yoder Popcorn front and center.

Here, the shelves are stocked with varieties of popcorn, oils, seasonings, salts and popcorn poppers in a brand-new building that consolidates business operations and

expands the retail space. The building is so massive that Russ stores his competition pulling tractor, a Minneapolis-Moline with the name Xtra Butter, in a corner of the popcorn store. It is an attention getter, both on the tractor-pulling circuit and for the customers who visit, Allyse says.

The Yoder Popcorn legacy began in 1936 with family patriarch Rufus Yoder. Mint was his cash crop. According to the family, it was Rufus Yoder who accidentally crossed two different varieties of mint, resulting in a new gum flavor for gum manufacturer Wrigley Company.

Rufus also grew popcorn on a much smaller scale and shared the excess with family, neighbors and friends. Yoder popcorn became known for its high quality, and the popcorn business was launched on the site of the farmstead where it all began.

Russ and Allyse farm 2,000 acres of land in the Shipshewana area. About 600 to 700

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acres are planted in corn each year. All Yoder Popcorn is non-GMO. Popcorn is a delicate crop, Russ says.

Planting and harvesting times vary from other varieties of corn. It grows in shorter stalks and does not take the same amount of time to grow. When harvesting, care is taken to not damage the hull, which protects the kernels and traps in moisture.

“It should be handled as little as possible,” he says.

Popcorn pops because the water trapped inside the kernels explodes when it is heated The red-kernel variety has a nutty taste, and to the right temperature. If that hard outer shell is compromised, the corn will not pop, blue-kernel popcorn tastes sweet. Another variety called ladyfinger has the smallest Russ explains. kernels and is almost completely hull-less.

Different varieties of popcorn have different All of these are grown on Russ Yoder’s farm flavors, Allyse explains, and Yoder Popcorn and stocked in the store. offers several varieties. Yellow-kernel The Yoders also produce a popcorn variety popcorn tends to have the strongest corn called Tiny Tender, which has small kernels taste and white-kernel popcorn is milder.

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and a mild taste. It has very little of the hard hull remaining, once popped.

In addition to the regular popcorn and microwaved varieties, Yoder Popcorn also has a selection of flavored popcorn. Caramel corn, white cheddar and yellow cheddar are available for purchase individually or blended together in the Try-Me-Mix bag.

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“We have had some of the same customers for decades,” she says.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, customers still found their way to the store, Allyse says. The new building opened for business in the middle of the pandemic.

In addition to a boost in online sales, foot traffic also increased because area businesses reopened sooner than in other places and many people were looking for somewhere to go.

There are multiple popcorn seasonings available, from butter, ranch, and salt-andvinegar flavors to pizza, bacon and cheese, and hot jalapeño. A sprinkle on top of justpopped corn adds variety to the snacking experience. Buttery toppings and oils are also sold alongside the un-popped kernels and seasonings. Gift baskets and popcornthemed novelties for popcorn-minded folks

are also available in the store and online.

The store attracts a wide spectrum of customers, Allyse says. Some are tourists visiting Shipshewana, and others are passing through the area heading east or west on U.S. Highway 20. Others are returning customers.

Yoder Popcorn is also distributed to stores throughout the region, and online ordering is available. Orders are processed within a day or two most of the time, and are shipped year round.

The Yoders have also supplied popcorn for school events, concession stands, special events and weddings. Often a student will stop in before school to pick up a big bag of popcorn to share with their class.

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Allyse and Russ credit their 10-person staff for the success of the family brand.

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“We have a good staff,” she says. “We couldn’t do this without them.”

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Some of the couple’s five children help from time to time. Their children range in age from 17 to 2. Russ learned the popcorn business from his parents, just like their children are doing now.

Allyse says she knew nothing about popcorn until she married Russ. It was a lot to learn, she says, and one of the most important things she learned was to keep the customer happy. That was good advice because Yoder Popcorn has an appeal beyond the taste and quality of the corn.

“People like the hometown feel of the store and our brand,” Allyse says. “People know us and we have plenty going on.”

Yoder Popcorn is located at 920 North State Road 5 in Shipshewana. For more info, call 260-768-4051 or 800-8922170, or visit yoderpopcorn.com.

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KEEPING THE WHEELS TURNING

MICHIANA WHEEL POLISHING THRIVES IN UNIQUE NICHE Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photography Provided

Before becoming the owner of Michiana Wheel Polishing in 2017, Wayne Miller had no idea that this type of business existed.

He had been looking for a business that provided the opportunity to work close to home and get out of factory work.

In five years, Miller learned the skills and techniques to run operations at his shop on State Road 13 in Middlebury. Michiana Wheel Polishing had been in business for 11 years before Miller bought it. The previous owner, Miller says, helped him learn the

“It was all new to me,” he says.

procedures.

“They led me and told me what to do and how to do it at first,” he says. “I had to learn a lot by myself too.”

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“It’s a good thing to keep track of so drivers know it’s there,” he says.

His equipment can handle wheel rims up to 30” in diameter. Most of the wheels he works on range from 22.5” to 24.5”. He has also done 14”-diameter rims. Michiana Wheel Polishing also specializes in most aluminum rims, as well as semi fuel tanks, semi steps, non-spoke motorcycle rims, battery boxes, tool boxes and bumpers.

“I’ve done all sorts of wheels,” he says.

What he does is clean, grind and polish semi-truck wheels for a steady group of regular customers and new ones who find their way to his shop. Wheel polishing is not simply for looks - it also is a part of regular truck maintenance.

Wheels with lots of designs etched in or spoke wheels, though, are not projects Miller can do. He tells a potential customer to send a photo of the wheel to make sure it fits into what he can do and what his equipment can handle. Quality work is his goal with every customer.

When he is in the process of polishing wheels, the wheels receive a thorough inspection. Miller is looking for cracks or flaws that could become hazardous to the drivers.

“I am looking for their satisfaction,” he says.

“I hope they are happy with the product when I am done.”

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Ninety percent of his business comes from truck drivers. He has a few commercial accounts, for which he provides wheel polishing for those companies’ fleets of 10 to 20 trucks.

Wheel polishing is a multi-step process. The wheels are taken through various polishing

speeds, with the grit count of the sanding fabric getting higher and higher each time.

It starts out slowly and progresses to a faster spinning head that allows the holes on the wheel to be cut and trimmed evenly and cleanly. Any cracks or dents in the wheel are polished out and the original shiny finish eventually comes through.

Each step in the process is designed to achieve a certain result, from cleaning off the debris and the pits to polishing out the wheel. Miller replaces the sanding wheel he uses in the process multiple times because it quickly gets worn out from the sanding.

Finally, the wheels are buffed. That brings

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out the shine. The wheels are then washed with soap and water.

customer will bring in the old wheel and Miller will exchange it for a new one.

The polishing will last about one and a half years to two years, Miller says. It is typically a more economical option to have wheel rims polished instead of replacing them.

“I try to keep all sizes in stock,” he says.

If needed, Miller can also arrange to have new rims available for purchase when a customer comes into the shop. The

Miller and his wife Luetta lived in Goshen before buying the business. They moved their family of seven to Middlebury. The

He also stocks valve stems, nut covers, hub covers and other hardware for wheels.

couple have four sons and one daughter.

Their children are Isaiah, 10, Seth, 7, Katlyn, 5, Lucas, 3, and Timothy, who is turning 2.

Michiana Wheel Polishing is located at 59653 State Road 13 in Middlebury. For more information, call 574-312-9449, visit michianawheelpolishing.com or find Miller on Facebook.

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FALCON PROUD

UREY MIDDLE SCHOOL SEES MAJOR INCREASE IN EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

Involvement in extracurricular activities can help children improve academically, increase their attendance, and be more socially and emotionally balanced.

At Harold C. Urey Middle School in Walkerton, 90% of the approximately 330 students are involved in one or more sports, clubs or co-curricular activities.

“One of our goals at the start of this year was to get as many of our kids involved in some sort of extracurricular activity,” says Athletic Director Pat Crone. “Just get them involved in something to where they can feel the connection or be a part of the school.”

The faculty and staff got behind the movement from the beginning of the school year and encouraged the kids as much as possible. The fruits of their labor became evident when they did a school-

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wide survey about student involvement in extracurriculars.

“We’re really happy with the 90%,” Crone says.

Athletically, there has been a lot of involvement throughout the year, especially in football, basketball, volleyball and soccer.

Much to the excitement of the athletic department and student body alike, the school was able to offer girls and boys

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soccer teams.

“In the past our soccer team has always been a coed,” Crone says. “We’re excited to offer that in the future.”

The e-sports teams program has also been extremely popular, to the point that elementary school children are looking forward to getting into seventh and eighth grades so that they, too, can participate in e-sports.

Even reluctant participants have been convinced to give extracurriculars a shot.

“They’re at least trying it,” says Max Blevins, seventh-grade health and physical education teacher. “Our principal likes to say, ‘Try it for two weeks. Give us two weeks.’ Most of the time when the kids come out for two weeks, they end up staying because they’re having fun.”

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“One of our goals at the start of this year was to get as many of our kids involved in some sort of extracurricular activity.”

Athletic Director Pat Crone

the part of the teachers in the athletic department.

“In P.E. class you can kind of see a kid’s talent and what they might be good at,” says David Lichtenbarger, eighth-grade health and physical education teacher. “Simply saying, ‘You’re really good at this. Have you ever thought about participating in track?’ I think identifying those kids in P.E. class and telling them what they might be good at,

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and exposing them to it and promoting it, goes a long way.”

four pages. This time around it was only one page.”

School involvement has done more than give teens holistic activities to enjoy after school. It has also brought about an improvement in academic pursuits.

With all of that, it’s hardly a surprise that student attitudes and classroom atmospheres have improved, which makes it easier for the teachers to encourage the best in their students.

“What we were really excited about was that when our first nine-week report card came out, the number on our F list was the lowest it’s been in several years and the lowest it’s been in the memory of some of our veteran teachers,” Crone says. “It’s usually three or

“What Mr. Lichtenbarger and I like to do is make sure that all the kids, regardless of their athletic ability, get to participate and have fun in our classes,” Blevins says. “Them having fun during P.E. class makes them

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think, ‘I might as well try.’ ” This makes the kids try harder, which brings about better results in the classroom and extracurricular arenas. This ends up forming an upwardly-mobile, circular trend that improves the school as a whole.

For more information, check out Urey Middle School online at www.jgsc.k12. in.us/urey-middle-school.html or follow them on social media.

James and Dawn Jones

ALL SYSTEMS GO

CUSTOMERS COME FIRST AT JAMES HEATING COOLING AND MORE Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com / 53

T

here are family businesses, and then there is a family business through which customers sometimes become like family.

Just ask James and Dawn Jones, the owners of James Heating Cooling and More.

When former customers see the couple

around town, greetings are exchanged, inquiries are made as to how everyone is faring, and invitations are issued for the Joneses to come and visit any time. The couple has earned accolades by treating customers like they would hope their own family members would be treated.

“We have a lot of great customers - great

people we have met throughout the years,” James says. “We don’t make customers. We make friends.”

The company has been in business since 1997. James and Dawn are partners “in business and in life,” they say. They work together on-site and sit next to each other in

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conditioner unit and help haul out an old boiler from a basement. Teamwork gets it done, they say.

James feels he was destined to work with heating and air conditioning systems. His father was in the same line of work, and he helped his father on the job beginning at age 8.

James says he dabbled in mechanics for a while, but always returned to heating and air conditioning work. the company van. Their recently redesigned logo features caricatures of the two of them, with tools of the trade in hand.

Dawn says she has always helped from the start, but as the couples’ two daughters became adults, she was free to do more.

James says she is one of the best assistants he has had because they both know each other so well. She can dismantle an air

“It’s second nature for me to do this without thinking,” he says. “It’s in my blood.”

Customers can also call the business for other systems too, such as air purifiers, duct work and even annual maintenance The company services customers in Marshall, Starke and Fulton counties, as well contracts. Keeping systems clean and changing filters are a few tasks homeowners as Kosciusko and Pulaski counties. Most can do to keep their systems operating of their jobs are residential, manufactured housing or light commercial. The company properly. A maintenance contract is one way to delegate the task to someone else, and services and sells heating and cooling gives the assurance that a trained technician systems, and handles installations. will inspect the system at least twice per

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year - before summer for air conditioning and before winter for heating.

As new technology comes about, changes happen in the heating and cooling industry.

James says today’s systems are smaller than old systems, but more can go wrong.

The couple’s business philosophy is to find solutions for their customers. That doesn’t always mean selling a new system, especially if the current one can be repaired.

“I don’t believe in taking every last dime,” he says. “I am highly trained and that costs money, but I’d rather gain a customer for life. That sets us apart.”

The Joneses pride themselves on customer service. They return phone calls and try to make their services affordable. James and Dawn strive for same-day service, and emergency calls are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The heating and cooling systems the company sells are American made and come with excellent warranties. Some equipment carries a lifetime warranty. Financing is also available to customers who need it. The company is licensed, bonded and insured.

James and Dawn are also ordained ministers. They have been married for 27 years, with their anniversary coming in June.

Dawn moved to Plymouth as a high school sophomore. They met when James’ mother, who was Dawn’s co-worker at the time, introduced them.

“We might be small, but I don’t think we’ve turned down a job in heating or air conditioning,” he says. “If someone is without heat, we do care.”

For more info, call 574-933-2194.

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HELP IS HERE

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BELLA VITA OFFERS A RANGE OF PREGNANCY RESOURCES Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photography Provided

Bella Vita means “beautiful life,” and that is the goal of a resource center in Starke County that offers compassion, help and encouragement for pregnant women.

It is a mission that literally saves lives and enriches families. It all started in 2010 when one young mother needed help, says Founder Becky Bailey.

That mother was planning on getting an abortion and even had an appointment set.

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Instead, Bailey told that mother-to-be that if she would see the pregnancy through and give birth, Bailey would take the child to raise. That promise was not fulfilled because the young mother did give birth to a daughter she named Bella, and she is raising her daughter herself.

“She told me we need a place like this for

many other people,” Bailey says.

That conversation and experience was the catalyst for developing Bella Vita into the resource center it is today. It continues to serve pregnant women from the community, as well as expectant mothers from outside of Starke County. Too often,

expectant mothers fear being shunned or ostracized from their family or community, and come to Knox for the support they need. Others are transient and have nowhere to go while they are pregnant.

Bella Vita operates under the philosophy that people need a hand up and not a hand

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out. The women in the program earn the resources that are provided, such as diapers, baby clothing and even cribs, by attending classes in parenting. They take tests, have homework to complete, and undertake other tasks to prepare them for childbirth and child raising.

such as finding a day care, finding work and other concerns can be addressed, which makes the transition to parenthood a more fruitful experience. Bella Vita also helps parents who want to regain custody of their children by working on parenting skills and other issues.

“A lot of the programs out there are just medical, like a clinic,” Bailey says.

The fathers are not left out either. Bella Vita operates a men’s mentoring program to help expectant fathers learn about parenting.

Mentors simply “do life” with the fathers-tobe, providing a role model and someone to talk to.

Her program offers ways to assist with the worries of becoming a parent, and helps with developing life skills for a better beginning for a young mother. These are provided free of charge to those in the program.

Evidence of the need is demonstrated in the number of clients served. In 2020 Bella Vita served 58 clients, 35 of whom completed the program, and 12 of these have given birth.

By working with other agencies, challenges

“They are just as scared about becoming a parent as the moms are,” Bailey says.

Women who have had an abortion are also part of the clientele Bella Vita serves. Many times women who have an abortion carry this as a secret, one that stays hidden for decades. Surrendering the Secrets, as the program is called, allows healing to occur and promotes mental health.

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Bella Vita also offers testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STD), and sonogram screens to confirm pregnancy. The staff members hope to expand their reach with a mobile unit that can visit communities outside of Knox to provide testing and help young women sign up for Medicaid and other resources. Infant mortality is high in

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rural communities, Bailey says, and a mobile moms attend classes. Nurses, especially, unit may be able to make a difference. are needed to assist in STD testing and Donations are still being sought for the pregnancy confirmations. mobile unit.

Donations are always appreciated, and There are many ways to help Bella Vita support of the organization’s inaugural golf continue its mission. Volunteers are needed tournament this year, annual bake sale, and to help in the office, serve as mentors or banquet is appreciated. peer counselors, and watch children while

Bella Vita is located at 801 South Heaton Street in Knox. For more information, call 574-772-2877 or email bellavitaprc@gmail. com. For more info, visit bellavitaknox.org or find the organization on Facebook.

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STRONGER THAN ADDICTION LOCAL RECOVERY PROGRAM HELPS PEOPLE RECLAIM THEIR LIVES Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided

Angel Bryant, founder of Stronger Than Addiction, an addiction recovery program located at Life Tabernacle Church in Elkhart, says the organization has helped multiple people.

“Stronger Than Addiction, a nonprofit organization, was started almost three years ago,” Bryant says. “I want people to know that I am in long-term recovery. I am also the mom of two sons with a substance use disorder [SUD]. Two of my four sons developed addiction early in their lives when they were 17 and 18.”

Bryant’s sons are now 28 and 31.

“During the latter part of their addiction, both of their lives were spiraling out of control,” Bryant says. “Both had been

arrested numerous times from crimes revolving around their addiction. Both had been to prison and both had been through a treatment program.”

Each time one of her sons would get sober, Bryant found that their community lacked resources for them.

“As I continued to watch this illness destroy their lives, I started doing things to advocate for those suffering from substance use disorder, as well as some who had lost

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their lives due to SUD,” Bryant says. “This is how it all got started. I saw the need in my community, as well as being the mom to four sons. I witnessed kids I had known their whole lives falling into addiction at a high rate.”

The inspiration behind Stronger Than Addiction for Bryant is being able to meet and love those struggling with addiction right where they are.

“I’m able to find people so beaten and

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inspires her to keep going.

“No one left behind is how I feel when it comes to helping someone struggling with substance use disorder,” Bryant says. “The number of people becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs is growing at a rapid rate, just as fatal overdose is at an all-time high.”

Bryant loves seeing people get better.

broken down, feeling like they are hopeless, and then able to love them and encourage them that there is a better life,” Bryant says.

“It shows them they can get their life back, and that they can learn to love themselves.”

Bryant loves getting that first phone call after people are in treatment somewhere, and hearing the glow in their voices.

“Getting to see someone for the first time after going through treatment and graduating a program sober is amazing,” Bryant says. “I like giving them a huge hug before they leave for treatment and telling them it will be all right, which leads to that huge hug when they return home sober.”

“When people say thank you, I always reply that there is no thanks needed - seeing them sober is all the thanks I need,” Bryant says. “I will say though, those suffering from substance use disorder are extremely grateful for all the love and support that they receive, from not only myself but our group as a whole.”

Bryant adds that Stronger Than Addiction is much more than a recovery meeting every Thursday night at Life Tabernacle Church.

Bryant’s sons are both sober today, and this

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“We are a recovery family, we stick together, we rally around each other, we love each other, and together we go to extreme lengths to help the next person looking for help,” Bryant says.

With donations from the Elkhart community, as well as sponsorships from local businesses and fundraising, the Stronger Than Addiction group is able to help provide transportation and resources for those seeking treatment.

“If you or a loved one is struggling, please reach out, come to a meeting or feel free to call me anytime,” says Bryant, who also distributes Narcan, a medication used for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid use, in Elkhart County.

“My phone is always on at 260-257-2675. I am not only the founder of Stronger Than Addiction, but I am also the patient care navigator for Pinnacle Treatment Center in the state of Indiana. We currently have two facilities in the state, with one more opening in late January in Martinsville.”

For more information, visit strongerthanaddiction.net or email Bryant at strongerthanaddiction1@gmail.com.

Total Care. Inside and Out.

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Pulaski Memorial Hospital’s Outpatient Surgery is committed to providing compassionate and uncompromising care that allows patients to return to their optimum wellness with as little impact on their personal lives as possible.

Our General Surgeons provide a wide array of services, including: • • • • • • •

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YELLOWSTONE TRAIL FEST HAMLET FESTIVAL PLANNED FOR AUGUST Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photography Provided

the volunteer Yellowstone Trail Fest board of directors.

What happens when you take history, and add small-town atmosphere and community pride? You get the Yellowstone Trail Fest in Hamlet.

“It brings the community together and offers a fun way to educate the younger generation on the history of the trail,” says board member Juanita Ketcham, acting as spokesperson for the festival board.

Hamlet has the historic distinction of being the only town in Starke County through which the historic Yellowstone Trail directly led. The population of Hamlet is estimated at about 800 people, but every summer that population expands thanks to the efforts of

The Yellowstone Trail was constructed in 1912 as one of the first transcontinental roadways in the United States. The destination of the road was the newly organized Yellowstone National Park. The

66 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com

impetus for the trail was the desire by South Dakota businessmen to bring people to the park from the east, especially through Ipswich, South Dakota. Planning that direct route brought it through northern Indiana and right through the center of Hamlet. It

remained a direct route until the 1930s.

According to the festival’s history as provided by the board, the current festival is the second festival to celebrate the town’s heritage and community. The first one

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / MARCH 2022 / TownePost.com / 67

came about in 1976 by a Dr. Leinbach, who was inspired by the blooms in his zucchini patch to suggest a festival be held near his birthday, on the third weekend of August.

Resident Marilyn Goodrich revived

the festival in 2008. A committee was formed and organized as a nonprofit in 2015. Partnering with the annual Hamlet Rendezvous organized by Hester’s Farm, a living history event that has been ongoing for 35 years, the Yellowstone Trail Fest continues to bring in locals and out-oftown visitors for some hometown fun. The rendezvous area was one of the designated campsites along the original Yellowstone

Trail, according to the Indiana Bicentennial Commission website.

parade, a huge car show organized by Dave Pearson, a repurposed metal sculpture contest, and a skillet toss, in addition to The original version of the Yellowstone Trail music and vendors. The Oregon-Davis Fest “was mostly an opportunity for the girls golf team organizes an escape-room rendezvous to gather and vendors to sell experience each year too. It wouldn’t be items,” Ketcham says. “It only took up about the same without the fireworks display a tenth of the size of the current layout.” sponsored by Larry Jernas, the Town of Hamlet and business supporters, Ketcham Today visitors to the festival can enjoy a adds.

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This year’s theme is “Back to the Future,” with the festival incorporating as much as possible from the movie. Thanks to the support of the business community, Ketcham says all events are free.

summertime community activity. It is also used as a fundraiser for local organizations such as Bikes for Kids, the Oregon-Davis FFA group, and local small businesses that exhibit and sell their wares that weekend.

“We will have a DeLorean there, hopefully with the flux time machine,” Ketcham says.

“A huge clock will be put up on a peak, and skits using a combination of a scene from one of the movies and some history of the trail thrown in there are planned.”

Ketcham explains what to expect for firsttime attendees.

“The size is perfect,” she says. “It is very family oriented with lots of personal touches and real bathrooms,” she says.

Follow the bright yellow Yellowstone Trail Fest signs to find the way to the fairgrounds.

The Hamlet organization offers trail marker signs for the Indiana counties through which the trail originally crossed, with the New additions this year are TV game shows, hopes that the signs can help travelers find their way along that original route. A map is Whip Guy demonstrations and laser tag, available at yellowstonetrail.org. which will replace the inflatables. Cooling stations will also be added to the grounds Volunteers are always appreciated during this year. the festival and throughout the year. Festival T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies are also The festival is more than just a fun Plans continue to develop ahead of the August 20 and 21 event dates. The festival will be held at the fairgrounds, located about two blocks off of the historic trail.

offered this year to make up for some loss of funding from the cancellation of annual fundraising activities due to COVID. Ketcham says an order form is available on the festival’s Facebook page or at Back to Basics Organics in the Knox mall.

To find out more about the festival, visit yellowstonetrailfest.com.

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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

EVERY MONDAY BINGO

L A K E M A X I N K U C K E E / C U LV E R

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Doors open at 5p, Early Bird starts at 6p, and regular games start at 6:30p at the Koontz Lake Association Community building. The KLA Clubhouse is COVID Friendly, face masks & social distancing is your choice.

CULVER KIWANIS FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE 7pm-9pm - Come to the Culver Cove and dance the night away your Dad, Uncle, Grandfather, or special person in your life. $12.50 per person, or $25 per couple.

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FISH FRY

BASS LA K E

4pm – Grovertown Community Building.

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KLA BOARD MEETING AT THE KLA CLUBHOUSE

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BASS LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS MEETING

6:30pm – Meeting are open to the public and community support is need- 9am - at the Property Owners Building. ed! Come to a board meeting to see if you might be interested in helping!

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MEET THE CANDIDATES EVENT FOR THE MAY 3RD PRIMARY ELECTION

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THE OPENING MEETING OF THE LAKE OF THE

Doors open at 9:30a, and speeches begin at 10 am. (Central Time). Please WOODS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION submit your questions in advance to Tori Chessor at t.chessor15@gmail.

9am – This meeting will be held at the Bremen Conservation Club com . We welcome the residents of Oregon and Davis Townships to building on North Shore Drive submit any questions they may have for the candidates. The submitted questions will be reviewed and the chairman from both the Democrat and Republican will pick 3 questions for each department together. Questions will not be given to the candidates before the event.

15

BREMEN CONSERVATION CLUB MEETING

9am – This meeting will be held at the Bremen Conservation Club Rent the Koontz Lake Clubhouse for your next party! The rental fee is $50.00. If interested, please contact Cathy at 219-229-4424. The facility holds up to 100 people building on North Shore Drive. The results of the annual charity fishing and has a fully equipped kitchen. Like us on Facebook! – Koontz Lake Association derby will be discussed.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE YOUR EVENTS FEATURED IN THE WHAT’S HAPPENING SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL MANDI@TOWNEPOST.COM

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