The Lakes of Kosciusko December 2020

FREE MONTHLY PRINT MAGAZINE WITH CORRESPONDING MOBILE APP AND SOCIAL MEDIA FEATURING THE PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND EVENTS IN AND AROUND KOSCIUSKO, ELKHART, NOBLE & LAGRANGE COUNTY

DECEMBER 2020

MAGAZINE

STAINLESS REPUTATION Sunrise Metal Shop Has a Long History of Quality, Handcrafted Products

QUALITY IN GENERAL General Store of Middlebury Provides a Wide Selection

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pleased to be part of the renaissance.

“We had a lot of interest right from the start,” Myron says. “It’s humbling to have the community come out and support us the way they did.”

Myron is referring to his Amish community, as well as his neighbors and fellow business owners in Middlebury.

The General Store caters to the Amish community, but also offers merchandise the non-Amish appreciate. It offers fabric, clothing, footwear and more.

“What we have to offer is more secular stuff focused on the Amish community,” Myron says. “There is an equal amount of merchandise that interests our [nonAmish] customers who come in. I want to create an experience the customer wants to come back for - an experience that was fun, where the customer feels good about what is purchased.”

The Yoders previously owned Premier Optics, which specialized in binoculars and rifle scopes. That business opened in 2011. In 2015 Premier Optics moved downtown to a building at State and Warren streets, and added a footwear line.

That business was sold before the Yoders bought the building formerly occupied by the Cinnamon Stick from Levi and Joanna King. The purchase agreement was finalized in March.

QUALITY IN GENERAL General Store of Middlebury Provides a Wide Selection Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Mike Kanning

The downtown Middlebury business community welcomed a new business

to its neighborhood in June - part of a trend that has been revitalizing the town.

Myron and Luann Yoder opened the General Store of Middlebury, and they are 6 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2020 / TheLakesMagazine.com

The timber-frame building at 102 South Main Street has a history in the town, Myron says. He learns more about its importance in the community any time an older resident comes in to talk. The building’s age is reflected in its exterior construction and creaky floors. The building used to be the Bradshaw General Store many years ago, according to the stories Myron has heard.

Little renovation was needed for the building aside from some interior and exterior painting. The Yoders replaced the fabric awning outside the store with a timber-framed wood awning.

Most General Store customers come from the growing Amish population in the Middlebury area. The apparel line features the plain, everyday clothing made by the Amish in Charm, Ohio.

The footwear includes work, casual, dress and running shoes, as well as a line of hiking shoes. Myron says this product line has a crossover of customers, drawn by shoe companies like Brooks, KEEN and Wolverine.

Plush fabrics used to make baby blankets and cozy clothes are also popular with customers. The Yoders stock general fabric for clothes and a selection of muslin. This is also an area in which both Amish and non-Amish customers can find what they need.

Myron grew up in the Shipshewana community and Luann grew up in Goshen.

When they married more than 11 years

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ago, the couple moved to Middlebury from the far northwest area of the Amish community for two reasons.

First, it was almost halfway between both sets of parents - an easy driving distance for a horse and buggy.

Secondly, Myron says he was always intrigued by Middlebury.

Myron says new businesses and new owners have changed the atmosphere of the town for the better, resulting in a destination experience for visitors.

There are many small shops and restaurants tucked into the downtown area. Business owners meet once per month, and are supported by the Chamber of Commerce.

Come See Our Shed Selection Besides the need for a general store in the community, both Myron and Luann saw the potential for their children to grow up in a business that could eventually become theirs. The couple

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have three daughters – Leah, 9, Deann, 6, and Katie, 4 – and one son, Micah, 3.

Deann turns seven in November.

“The top priorities were staying in a retail business and providing a solid future work plan for my children,” Myron says. “Leah has already begun to show an interest.”

The Yoders’ decision to open their new business was built upon love of their family, love of their community, and an appreciation of support they received from downtown Middlebury merchants and the public.

The General Store of Middlebury is located at 102 South Main Street in Middlebury. Call 574-849-6955 for more information.

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Owner Sandy Saenz

The Frame Shoppe Helps to Preserve Memories and History Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

TheLakesMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2020 / THE LAKES / 11

T

reasures are in the eye of the beholder, and helping local people preserve and protect those treasures from the ravages of time is what Sandy Saenz, the owner of The Frame Shoppe, does best.

Her customers often bring in artifacts and memorabilia from a loved one, and wish to have their special items framed. When that

happens, Saenz is privileged to hear their stories, which bring an inanimate object to life.

One customer found their grandmother’s sweater from her high school band. They brought it to The Frame Shoppe to have it framed, and presented it as a gift on the grandmother’s 75th birthday. Another customer asked Saenz to frame menus, an apron and memorabilia from a Walkerton restaurant once owned by the family’s grandparents.

Saenz knows how framing a family heirloom can make a difference.

She has a 16” wrench her grandfather used at his job with Uniroyal displayed in a frame in her home.

Whatever the project may be, Saenz is confident that she can find an appropriate frame. There are challenges, including very

large or bulky objects, but she can call on her network of framers for suggestions.

Saenz has owned The Frame Shoppe for four years and is the third owner of the business, which has been around for 40 years. Her gift shop, Simplee Stated Gifts, is adjacent to The Frame Shoppe, and operated next to the shop for years. When she had the chance to purchase it, she jumped on the opportunity.

“I’m kind of a crafter,” Saenz says. “I did wood projects. My mom and I did sewing projects together - my bridesmaid dresses when I got married and the flower arrangements.”

As an office manager, Saenz discovered she had a talent for putting together gift baskets.

This led to a home-based gift basket business, which in turn led to a pop-up shop in Martin’s Super Market and finally a vender spot in a local gift shop.

Armed with hands-on artistic skills and experience running small businesses, Saenz

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honed her skills for her latest venture by attending framing school. There are also opportunities for those in the framing business to earn continuing education credits.

“There’s always something to learn,” she says.

“It depends on the project.”

Discussing a project with a professional framer can make a difference in the design and the longevity of the object being framed, according to Saenz. Light, moisture and other factors can cause fading or damage to artwork, documents, fabric and other more delicate objects. There are archival materials that can be used in matting and glass designed to minimize the effects of sunlight and other environmental conditions.

There are additional details that can give a project finesse, such as wrapping a paper mat with linen. Saenz used this technique when framing a collection of presidential papers for one of her repeat clients.

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“It’s been a fun process to watch him get his collection together,” she says.

Presenting a gift that features a family heirloom, a child’s piece of art, or an art piece created by a local photographer or artist, can be thoughtful and meaningful. A children’s drawing can make a grandparent smile, and framing war medals inside a shadow box can honor the contribution of a family veteran.

“Everything is unique in its own right,” Saenz says.

Saenz enjoys helping her customers with projects that mean a lot to them. Recently, she framed a 6’ panoramic photo of a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. She also worked with a local funeral home in presenting a framed memorial portrait of a deceased loved one.

“People come in to pick up the framed portrait and tell me the story of their loved one - the how and the why,” Saenz says.

Customers can expect to learn a lot from Saenz when they come to the shop. Some of these customers might have unrealistic expectations about how they would like an object framed, and Saenz sees her role as working with them to achieve a desired result and educating them along the way. This is a service larger stores and online framers cannot always provide. Whether it is a simple framing job or something more elaborate or complex, Saenz can find a way to make it happen.

Some of the popular family mementos she has framed include quilt squares and doilies.

Putting a frame around embroidery or crossstitch pieces can enhance their visual appeal, and their status as reflections of family history.

When a customer brings in a piece to be framed, Saenz is already thinking about the conservation of the piece. She can provide conservation-friendly glass that has UV protection. She endeavors to use paper matting and backing that is archival and

will not leach into the fabric or fibers of a document.

The Frame Shoppe also offers laser engraving.

There are about 400 options customers can use to personalize a gift.

Saenz is a native of St. Joseph County. She met her husband Greg in 1986, and lived in Osceola for many years. In 2005 the couple built a home outside of Argos.

Having a business location on Garro Street in downtown Plymouth is an advantage according to Saenz.

“The downtown businesses are big supporters of each other,” she says. “We work with each other and encourage each other.

Downtown Plymouth has a lot to offer.

There’s a great diversity of businesses here.”

The Frame Shoppe is located at 100 West Garro Street in Plymouth. Call 574-9365259 for more information.

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THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR HENSLER NURSERY’S CHRISTMAS FEST I S B AC K T H R O U G H D E C E M B E R 2 0 Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or at least, so the Andy Williams song goes. But what makes this time so magnificent? It’s not just the music, snowfall on Christmas Eve or the special dishes Grandma makes every year. It’s also the wonder in a child’s smile when they see Christmas lights.

Santa’s ho-ho-ho’s have it, too. And don’t forget the feeling when you find that perfect Christmas tree. Simply put, the magic of Christmas is in the unique experiences that come around only around this time of year.

That is exactly what Hensler’s Nursery has captured with its Christmas Fest over the last 25 plus years.

For the first few years, the concept of Christmas Fest was simple enough.

“We took the old barn and cleaned it out.

We did everything in there. We had some hot chocolate, offered wreath decorating and sold items out of there,” says owner John Hensler. “We kept growing and outgrowing everything here. As we needed more space, we just kept capturing buildings.”

16 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2020 / TheLakesMagazine.com

At first it was just the old milk shed, where Santa used to greet the children before he was moved to a larger building. Then they renovated other sheds and barns, adding more activities, refreshments and merchandise over the years to accommodate the growing crowds.

“We’ve tried to keep the same charm throughout the whole place,” Hensler says.

For the average customer, finding the perfect Christmas tree, chopping it down and getting it back to the car takes a little over 20 minutes. That includes a free horse-

drawn or tractor-drawn ride back to the pines and firs. So why do most of Hensler’s guests stay for three or four hours? Because no one wants to miss the Christmas village, the assortment of buildings bustling with fun activities like a petting zoo, refreshments provided by local organizations, beautiful ornaments and unique fresh wreaths and garlands. “We’re trying to captivate you,” Hensler says. “We’re trying to overload you with visual and olfactory sensory things.

Hopefully, it’s the kind of overload that makes you want to come back.”

The Christmas village is largely thanks to the creative minds that work there.

“It’s fascinating that I can walk up town and people will recognize me or they recognize the name,” Hensler adds. “I get the credit, but often it’s not me, but all of the talented people that put things together. They each have a strong degree of talent to be able to visualize and put things together. It’s

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certainly not the high pay, but they can get high enjoyment out of seeing the things they have crafted.”

Every Christmas party takes time, and Hensler’s month-long Christmas Fest is no exception. Months go into planning the activities, with animals to stock in the petting zoo, how many locally handcrafted items to buy and a hundred different details.

“Basically, we try to change it up each year and hopefully exceed your expectations,”

Hensler says. “By the time we’ve put everything up, the tree fields are the same, but you’re in a unique 300 acres. So, we want it to look exciting.”

Just like with most of us, Christmas to Hensler’s means more than just having a good time. This is a season of giving back to the community.

“We open up a building so that different organizations can provide food service,” Hensler says. “We provide the space and do not charge for that. Everything

those groups make goes back into their organization.”

So what happens at Hensler’s when Santa returns to the North Pole? Hensler and his employees focus on the tree nursery end of the business, raising dozens of varieties of trees — hardwoods and conifers — from seed for commercial and reforestation purposes.

“This was the root of the business,” Hensler says. “Then we got into raising Scotch Pine Christmas trees back in the 50s. The

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heart of the business is to raise trees. Fifty percent of our business here is handling the nursery crop. The other 50% would be the Christmas tree wholesale retail business.”

Nor is there much downtime between Christmas and preparing for spring.

“As soon as the holidays are over, after everybody has taken a break, they’re back to reordering to restock the barn in January and February,” Hensler says.

Around March, they’re ready to ship seedlings to customers as soon as the danger of frost has passed.

Throughout the Christmas season, though, Hensler, along with a dynamite team made of Santa and Mrs. Claus, their merry elves and the rest of the Christmas Fest crew are making magic happen.

more enjoyable to be here than going to the Black Friday Sales.”

Hensler’s Nursery is located at 5715 N. 750 East in Hamlet, Indiana. Christmas Fest has events running through Dec. 22. For more information and Covid-19 updates, visit them online at henslernurseryindiana.com or give them a call at 574-867-4192.

“People come because they like to feel something about a celebration that we’re creating here,” Hensler says. “It might be

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STAINLESS REPUTATION

Sunrise Metal Shop Has a Long History of Quality, Handcrafted Products Writer / Angela Cornell Photographer / Timothy Hare

I

n a day and age where big box stores and cheaply-made products abound, quality is something that all too often gets relegated to the “nice idea” category. Although tawdriness has become more common, it never goes unnoticed. As Benjamin Franklin pointed out, “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”

Lee Miller, Devon Kuhns, and John Kuhns, the Amish owners of Sunrise Metal Shop, a handcrafted metal products company in Topeka, believe so strongly in the importance of quality that they have adopted this quote by Franklin as their motto.

Nor is that something new for the present generation of owners. In 1958, Enos and Katie Kuhns started a custom sheet metal fabricating shop, naming it Topeka Metal Shop, changing the name to Sunrise Metal Shop after a few years.

Both names reflected the Kuhns’ vision for company growth. “It was important to [Enos], when he named it, that he didn’t call it something in particular that would narrow it down to what we do,” Miller says.

“He wanted it to be a wideopen thing so we’re not bound to anything. That has gone a long way.”

One of their main products is the impressive, top-of-the-line Silver Rocket Outdoor Charcoal Grill.

“When we designed the grill, we knew

THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 21

there was no room for a low-quality grill on the market, so we wanted to build something that would last somebody a lifetime instead of buying a grill and having it worn out in a couple of years.”

With that in mind, they designed the grill with food-grade 304 stainless steel.

“There’s almost nothing to wear out!”

Miller says.

As an added bonus, the grills are completely insulated, allowing for food to be evenly cooked and retain moisture consistently through the meat.

Over the years, they developed a wide range of grill add-ons and accessories, everything from hinged shelves, cabinets, and thermometers to griddles, pans, and racks. Each one is designed from the same pristine 304 stainless steel.

Unsurprisingly, the grill is good for more than just burgers and corn on the cob.

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“We can do anything from cinnamon rolls to pizza to steak,” Miller says.

The Silver Rocket experience wouldn’t be complete without the Silver Rocket stainless steel outdoor table for the patio and selection of Silver Rocket sauces and dry rubs in the kitchen.

Speaking of kitchens, Sunrise Metal also makes a wide range of household items. Their kitchen range hoods are particularly beautiful, offered in brass, copper, stainless steel, or zinc. The styles are also incredibly varied. There’s an aged polish for farmhouse style kitchens, a flat trim option for industrial style, as well as modern, antique, urban, and alternative models. Sunrise Metal also builds backsplashes, countertops and sinks, table bases, and cabinets.

In 2009, they applied their expertise to another line: maple syrup equipment.

Beautifully Handcrafted

Kitchen Range Hoods

1725

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Made in Topkea, Indiana S.S., Copper, Brass, Zinc, Aged, Hammered, Black, Coppervein, Silvervein and More!

DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME! 3070 W 350 S • Topeka, IN 46571 • Phone: 260-463-4026 • Fax: 260-463-4027 THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 23

3866

Like most of their products, this began with a run of the mill custom order for maple syrup evaporator pans.

“Somebody off the street came in and said, ‘hey, can you copy this pan for me?’” Miller says. Before the decade ended, Miller and his partners became a certified maple syrup equipment builder that specialized in evaporators, furnaces, arches and other items needed for small and large maple syrup operations alike across the nation.

Thanks to the similarities between the two industries, Sunrise Metal is also able to build custom-made honey equipment, too.

They do a lot of other kinds of custom metalwork for small businesses and hobbyists.

“Semi-trucks come in and we put polished stainless steel on their fuel tanks and stuff like that,” Miller adds. “We do a lot of

FISHERS OF THE WORLD HANDED CRAFTED CUSTOM FISHING RODS MANY COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM

CUSTOMIZE YOUR ROD EXACTLY HOW YOU WANT IT! • Rod Color • Handle Type • Rod Power • Decals • Thread Color • Guide Style • Rod Length • Reel Seats 514 W. Mill St. Culver, IN 46511 574-842-5000

www.culversportsidemarina.com 24 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

Built perfectly to your favorite reel!

Eugene Knepp 2570 W 700 S - Topeka, IN 46571 260-593-0856

custom tanks — just a huge variety.”

They build a lot of custom projects for the local dairy industry, too. One item that is on-demand, especially among Amish communities, is Sunrise Metal’s new twist on an oldfashioned butter churn. These userfriendly tools even have a variable drive, making it possible to control the speed of the paddles.

As their custom, high-quality work became more popular, the business continues to gain attention. In the last 20 years alone, the business has enjoyed explosive growth.

“By the grace of God, He provided us with a lot of work,” Miller says. “We can push all we want to, to try to grow and to try to make things happen.

And it’s important that we do! But if we are who we should be and our faith is what is should be, I think a lot of other things will fall into place.

That is important to us.”

From the moment that a potential client calls with a custom project, the guys at Sunrise Metal are dedicated to providing excellent customer service.

The first step in the process is to learn what exactly the customer wants to build by drawing up and bidding the project.

“We would make sure that the pricing was good before we moved forward,” Miller says.

After the client approves of the project and pays the down payment, THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 25

the shop takes over and makes the item to spec. For the clients who can’t pick up their equipment, delivery is available.

As they look to the future, the owners of Sunrise Metal are hoping to do more than simply add items to the catalog. Their main goal is what it always has been: provide their customers with the best quality products that they can build.

“Our vision right now isn’t so much with growing the business or numbers of employees. It’s more in doing more of the work that we like and creating good work for the guys that we have here as much as we can,” Miller says.

Visit Sunrise Metal’s storefront at 3070 W. 350 S., Topeka. Their hours are Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 3 PM. You can give them a call them at (260) 463-4026.

Industrial ∙ Agricultural Performance ∙ Automotive Marine ∙ Misc.

850 N. Taylor Dr., Shipshewana, IN 46565 260-768-7755 ∙ www.shipshecanvas.com

Good Quality Work at an Affordable Price Boat Covers, Truck Tarps, Grill covers, Pool Covers, New and Repairs, and Cargo Control Items

62104 CR 37, Goshen, IN 574-304-4174

precisionengineservice@gmail.com

Turbo Rebuilds, Injectors, Carbderators, Outboard Motors, Truck Engines, Engine Control Box with wire harness.

(No Small Engine Repair) Specializing in rebuilding or custom building diesel gas engines and components.

26 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

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

Kitchen Cabinets Bedroom Suites • China Hutches Bathroom Vanities • Curios & Custom Built Furniture 65438 SR 13 | Millersburg Ph. 574-642-9940 Fax 574-642-3602

Specializing in Interior & Exterior Concrete Pole Barns • Additions • Metal Roofing Remodeling • Commercial Roofing

HOMETOWN POWER WASH INC. HOME SOFT WASHING | PRESSURE WASHING ORGANIC & NON- ORGANIC STAIN REMOVAL CONCRETE CLEANING | RUST REMOVAL GUTTER CLEANING | RESTORATION HOMES | BUILDING | FENCES | DECKS | PIERS | BOATS RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL | INSURED

CALL OR TEXT JESSE JORDAN 574-806-1540

574-382-0162

www.dlhconcreteconstruction.com THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 27

TOYS OF THE TRADE Owl Toy Craft Owner Makes Unique, Handmade Items Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

It’s crunch time for the elves at the North Pole, as Christmas is around the corner and they are busy making last-minute toys for Santa to deliver.

They aren’t the only ones - Owen Wingard, the owner of Owl Toy Craft in Topeka, has been getting ready for the Christmas rush for the last 10 months.

Owl Toy Craft is a company that specializes in handmade wooden toys. Their catalog contains a range of items a child would want for a toy barnyard space - barns, stockyards and rail fences, as well as machinery like pickups and trailers, skid loaders and feed trucks, horse-drawn dump wagons and more.

All of their barnyard toys are around the same size, and just about perfect for Schleich-style horses (roughly 1:24 scale).

“It’s not an exact scale, but we do scale our toys so they can all fit together - 3” to 5” animals would be to scale,” Wingard says.

“Basically it’s a scale all our own.”

hour,” he says. “I didn’t have any tools at home for woodworking.”

Through the next few years, neighbors and friends asked him to make similar toy barns for their children.

“Then we added wagons and elevators, and bales,” Wingard says.

“We just added new items every year.”

At first, Wingard made toys in his barn after coming home from his day job.

“I used to get home at 3:45 in the afternoons, then in the evenings I’d work on the toys,” he says. “I told my wife, ‘If we ever make a business out of this, we’re going to call it Owl Toy Craft,’ because it was a night-owl thing.”

After five years his toy-making hobby outgrew the barn, expanding into a separate building in 1998. In 2003 Wingard took a leap of faith and went full time, although on paper Owl Toy Craft wasn’t making enough money to support his family.

“We picked up 20 new stores in that first year,” Wingard says. “It’s a gift. God gave the business to us. We work for him. That is the bottom line.”

Wingard got his introduction to the toy business 25 years ago, when he made a toy barn for his son from leftover lumber from his day Throughout the last 17 years business has increased. Every year job at a local cabinet shop.

Wingard adds more toys to his catalog.

“It took me three weeks to get it done over the course of my [lunch] “Right after the Christmas rush has passed - around January, 28 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

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

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

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FREE ADMISSION • Farm equipment • Local school memorabilia • WWII artifacts • Early household and farming tools • Several unusual exhibits

Toy Craft for girls and boys!

Owen & LeEtta Wingard 9555W 300 S Topeka, IN 46571 | 260-593-2651

Museum Hours:

May-October Friday & Sunday 1:00pm to 6:00pm

November-April Sunday’s 1:00-6:00pm

Contact Brenda Gilsinger for Inquiries or Appointments (574)595-7851 5641 S. Main St. Winamac, Indiana THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 29

February and March - it’s a slow time, so we don’t have a lot of customers coming in,” he says. “If we have new ideas in the back of our minds or on paper, we work on those and design the new toy, and get the cut made and ready for production.”

By summertime the new catalog is ready to come out with all the latest additions.

“We do anywhere between three and six new items a year,” Wingard says.

This year the catalog has more than 80 toys in it, all of which are handmade by Wingard or one of his children. “[My] favorite part of the business is just being at home, staying at home,” Wingard says. “My family’s here.”

His young grandchildren also enjoy coming to the workshop.

“When they come in they want a pile of sawdust, and a skid steer wagon or something to load and unload the sawdust,” he says.

Farmyard toys aren’t the only items in the Owl Toy Craft catalog. They also offer larger items like doll cribs, marble game toys, toddler pull wagons, rubber-band pistols and more. Some of their most popular items are toy kits and models.

30 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

12 Days of Open House Nov 30 th to Dec 12 th

Come in for fun and prizes, We will be giving out samples for you to take home and try.

There will be a 10% OFF all purchases and a few extra special deals.

574-586-2745 | NewKitchenStore.com | 330 Liberty Street Walkerton, IN 46574 Although the storefront has regular business hours, Owl Toy Craft also sells toys wholesale to 200 businesses across the United States and Canada. Since they begin preparing for the Christmas rush in January, it’s not uncommon for customers to consider the business a branch office for the North Pole.

“We get called Santa’s workshop all the time,” Wingard says.

As he looks to the future, Wingard hopes the business expands enough to support two families.

“We might add another set of buildings and have one of the kids move to the home place and run the shop, and I’d help them instead of them helping me,” he says. “I’m pretty confident that one of them will step in and continue with it.

They’ve all worked in it.”

Owl Toy Craft is located at 9555 West 300 South in Topeka. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. For more info and to receive a copy of their catalog, call 260-593-2651.

THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 31

Spray Polyurethane Foam | Attic Upgrades Wall Retrofits | Pole Barn Insulation New Residential Construction and Remodel On Top of Drywall | Tanks and Vessels

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574.773.2846 | 11092 N 600 W MILFORD , IN 46542 32 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

MILLER BOAT RESTORATION

Owner of Local Boat Business Specializes in All Things Restorative Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided

variety of restoration services.

JR Miller, owner of Miller Boat Restoration in Goshen, considers himself lucky.

“I work on the flooring of boats,” Miller says. “I install vinyl flooring that is very soft and waterproof. That’s really important. The flooring will last a lot longer. Vinyl flooring is very high quality. If you take care of it, it will last a lifetime. It’s such great flooring.”

He gets to do work he thoroughly enjoys, and loves where he lives.

“I tell people that I’m fortunate enough to do boat restoration work that is continually satisfying to me in a great place to be,” Miller says. “I’ve been able to get to know a lot of people in this area, and that has really helped me with my business.”

Miller believes his business has been successful because he offers a

Miller also installs seating in boats.

“I can reupholster seats, or work on installing new seats,” he says. “I can also clean boat seats that have too much mold on them. I use a good cleaner that helps me do a high-quality job. I can have boat seats looking as good as new. That’s important because you want your boat seats to be comfortable and look as nice as they can be.”

THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 33

Another key service Miller provides is electrical wiring for boats.

“I can work on boat lights, switches and gauges,” Miller says. “I have spent a lot of time making sure these important things will all be working on a boat. The lakes get crowded during the warm weather months, and you want your lights, switches and gauges working well. I’ll get your boat looking real nice. The only thing I don’t do is anything with boat motors.”

Miller is also able to work on boat railings.

“I can change the panels on a boat, or put new panels, new decals and new railing,” he says.

Miller works by himself, alongside his unofficial staffer - his 6-year-old son Andrew.

“My son is really a great helper,” Miller says. “He helps me carry my stuff, and he likes to work with his dad, which is really nice. It gives us time to be together, and he can see the work that I do.”

Miller loves living in Goshen, where he says the people are

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34 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

extremely friendly and always willing to help their neighbors.

“I also really love it here because there is good shopping in the area,” he adds. “You can get just about anything at the Goshen Walmart, and I love the ALDI store here too. There are also so many great, high-quality places to eat here too. The restaurants are outstanding, and the people working in places around here go out of their way to make you feel welcome. You can’t beat the people of Goshen.”

Miler also works at Fusion Designs, where he finishes furniture and ships it out to customers.

“It’s a great place, and the customers there are very satisfied,” he says.

Miller says he has enjoyed getting to know boat owners, and discussing how to improve the look and operation of each customer’s boat.

“I’ve had customers who have had me work on one of their boats, and then want me to work on another boat they own,” Miller says. “That’s a great compliment, and a great feeling. I like being able to take something old and make it new again.

Everyone around here knows me as JR. My real first name

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THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 35

is Danny, but my dad’s name is also Danny. I’m the junior, but the name JR fits me just fine.”

Miller says he always strives to do the best work he can.

says. “I can also put new lighting on a boat.”

Miller Boat Restoration is located at 62220 County Road 35 in Goshen. For more info, call 574-642-9928.

“I also pick up boats and then deliver them back to the owners,” he

RAINTEC Guttering, LLC

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Cambe Carts Your Local EZ-GO Dealer Local pick up & delivery New & Used Carts Parts & Service Trojan Batteries

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38 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

BRANCHING OUT HillTop Tree Service Handles Tree Removal and Much More Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

Having grown up around a family-owned sawmill, Derrick Harter has always known that he wanted a job that would allow him to spend time outside.

“I don’t like being cooped up in a factory,” he says.

After spending a few years cutting lumber, Harter decided to open his own business, HillTop Tree Service. Now, 16 years later, Harter and his team offer tree and shrub trimming and removal, cabling, stump removal, fence row clearing, and yard grading.

Thanks to servicing a 45-mile (and growing) area around Akron, Indiana, HillTop Tree Service would not be possible without Harter’s crew - Jason Lozano, James Lozano, Matt Keith and Damion Franklin.

“We get along like a family,” Harter says.

“Not everyone is related, but we do have that mentality.”

The team has a combined 45 years of experience in tree removal and landscaping.

Very few trees are too difficult for the company’s crew to deal with, especially since one of the crew members, Jason Lozano, specializes in climbing.

“A lot of times you’re working in places you can’t get a bucket truck into - they have a septic in the way or it’s a lakefront property,” Harter says. “So a climber is almost a THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 39

necessity to tree service.”

Harter and his crew pride themselves on providing excellent customer service from the very first phone call. As soon as they connect with a new client, they establish a time to meet and explain what the job will entail.

When the crew meets a client face to face and Harter has a chance to asses a project, he explains the job in more detail.

“We’ll meet with them at the property and determine what they’re wanting to do, and advise them,” Harter explains. “If they decide that they want to do the project with us, we’ll schedule it.”

At each job, Harter and his crew are devoted to providing their customers with an excellent experience, especially when it comes to their cleanup after the job - something that is clear from customer reviews on social media.

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574-773-0546 • sesindiana.com (574)773-2686 | 2570 Beech Rd • Bremen 8015 W 1350 N, Suite A Nappanee, IN 46550 40 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

Locally & Family Owned

Great Variety of Bicycles including

Cannondale Bacchetta Marin KHS Tandem Sales | Services | Accessories (574) 354-1632

www.tripleoaksales.com

7134 W 1300 North | Nappanee, IN 46550 Mon, Wed, Thurs, Friday 1PM-5PM | Saturday 8 AM- 1 PM THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 41

“We offer one of the best cleanups in the industry,” Harter says. “We make sure that the homeowners don’t have anything that needs to be done when we leave.”

They crew even goes as far as to truck in topsoil and patch up any holes in a yard made by falling limbs.

On the rare occasion that they receive a complaint, they deal with it as soon as possible.

“If somebody’s got a problem, we usually go out and get it addressed,” Harter says.

Once a tree is down, the staff at HillTop Tree Service will mulch as many of the branches as they can, and typically deliver it to those who have fruit trees in the area. They also make a lot of firewood. Both products are available to HillTop Tree Service customers.

“They call our number and we make arrangements with them to get some chips or firewood,” Harter says.

Stone Coated Metal Roofing, Metal Roofing, Asphalt Shingles Post Frame Buildings, New Energy Homes, Garages

Call (574) 773-0494 We are a Metstar Building Products Preferred Contractor.

dandjroofingandconstruction.com Proudly Serving Marshall County, Kosciusko County & Nearby Communities

Tree and shrub maintenance and removal are not the only services the business offers. During the winter months, they provide snow removal for businesses in the Akron and Rochester areas.

The company even offers emergency services - something that their customers deeply appreciate after experiencing wind or storm damage.

“Typically, we remove trees from houses or structures of any kind,” Harter says, adding that the business can also help customers by filling out insurance claims.

HillTop Tree Service is located at 9553 East State Road 14 in Akron, and their office hours are Mon. through Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. To get a free estimate for your tree project, call 574-377-2478 or email Derrick Harter at derrickjharter@yahoo. com. Visit hilltoptreeservice1.com to learn more about the company’s services, view testimonials, and more.

PULL APART CHRISTMAS TREE INGREDIENTS

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DIRECTIONS

• PREHEAT OVEN TO 450°. LINE A LARGE BAKING SHEET • WITH PARCHMENT PAPER. CUT MOZZARELLA STICKS INTO 1”PIECES AND SET ASIDE.

• ON A FLOURED SURFACE, DIVIDE PIZZA DOUGH INTO TWO PIECES. STRETCH AND ROLL EACH PIECE OF DOUGH INTO A LONG RECTANGLE, THEN CUT DOUGH INTO 2” SQUARES (YOU’LL NEED 33 TOTAL).

MELTED BUTTER, PARMESAN AND HERBS. BRUSH ON BAKED PIZZA BALLS. SERVE WARM WITH MARINARA FOR DIPPING.

• WRAP A DOUGH SQUARE AROUND EACH PIECE OF MOZZARELLA, FORMING A TIGHTLY SEALED BALL. PLACEBALLS SEAM-SIDE DOWN ON THE BAKING SHEET IN THE SHAPE OF A CHRISTMAS TREE (THEY SHOULD BE TOUCHING).

• BRUSH EGG WASH ON DOUGH BALLS AND BAKE UNTIL GOLDEN, 15 TO 20 MINUTES. • MEANWHILE, WHISK TOGETHER

CHRISTMAS PICKLE The tradition of the Christmas Pickle has got to be one of the strangest modern Christmas customs, in that no one is quite sure why it exists at all!

In the 1880s Woolworth stores started selling glass ornaments imported from Germany and some were in the shape of various fruit and vegetables. It seems that pickles must have been among the selection!

Around the same time it was claimed that the Christmas Pickle was a very old German tradition and that the pickle was the last ornament hung on the Christmas tree and then the first child to find the pickle got an extra present.

However, the claim that it’s an old German tradition seems to be a total myth! Not many people in Germany have even heard of the Christmas Pickle! (Similarly in Russia virtually no one knows the supposedly Russian story of Babushka!)

Some families now have the tradition of

hanging the pickle on the tree, with the first person/child to find it getting a present. But it probably didn’t start in Germany!

There are two other rather farfetched stories linking the pickle to Christmas.

One features a fighter in the American Civil War who was born in Bavaria (an area of what is now Germany). He was a prisoner, and starving, he begged a guard for one last pickle before he died. The guard took pity on him and gave a pickle to him. The pickle gave him the mental and physical strength to live on!

The other story is linked to St. Nicholas. It’s a medieval tale of two Spanish boys traveling home from a boarding school for the holidays.

When they stopped at an inn for the night, the evil innkeeper, killed the boys and put them in a pickle barrel. Thatevening, St. Nicholas stopped at the same inn, and found the boys in the barrel and miraculously bought them back to life!

There is an old legend about St. Nicholas rescuing boys from a barrel but the barrel was originally holding meat for pies - not pickles!

So it’s most likely that an ornament salesmen, with a lot of spare pickles to sell, invented the legend of the Christmas Pickle! www.whyChristmas.com

ALL THINGS FESTIVE LO C A L H O L I DAY E V E N T S F E AT U R E SO N G S , S A N TA , S H OW S A N D M O R E Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

We know the Whos in Whoville liked Christmas a lot And the Grinch tried to stop it, though his plans came to naught.

The tale is fantastic, full of holiday zeal, But this year, I think, it is a little too real.

Not that we’re worried the Grinch will come Christmas Eve, But that COVID will steal Christmas - “BOO-HOO!” we would grieve. ’Round here, in this Region, there are a few brave souls Planning fun things, though mindful of wellness controls.

There’s no way to know which or how many may cancel;

But never mind that, here are some on the schedule.

Some local businesses will host their open house With social distancing - no fears need to arouse.

Your Chamber of Commerce would know who, when and where, A report they would be more than happy to share.

To learn all you could want and more, give them a call Or check out ole Facebook to discover it all.

Capture the Christmas spirit with family photos In Plymouth with Santa, then have popcorn and hot cocoas.

It’s on the 9th from noon ’til 3 at River Park Square.

Come with your kids to enjoy some holiday flair.

For more information about Marshall County Tourism’s

44 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2020 / thelakesmagazine.com

holiday events, call Allison Shook at 574-936-7255 or go to visitmarshallcounty.org.

A couple places will host breakfast with Saint Nick And welcome the public to enjoy his magic.

Like the Barns at Nappanee - it’s sure to be swell On December 12. Buy tickets before they sell!

Beyond Santa and food, there will be songs, games and fun, It will be a super morning, second to none!

Reserve your ticket for “Breakfast With Santa” on Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Barns at Nappanee, located at 1600 West Market Street, by calling 574-773-4188 or visiting thebarnsatnappanee.com.

Just like in the Seuss tale, Christmas songs are a must.

Blue Gate Restaurant in Shipshewana is a place to trust To host great artists who will sing through the season.

Plus, get a Blue Gate meal to eat while you listen!

Blue Gate Restaurant and Theatre is located at 105 East Middlebury Street in Shipshewana. View their full list of concerts at thebluegate.com, or call them at 888-447-4725.

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THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 45

The Wagon Wheel in Warsaw will be showing “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but the theater’s staging Will be set for old-fashioned radio drama!

Don’t miss this diversion from a different era, With five talented actors playing all parts To live radio sound effects, to round out the arts.

The Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts will present “It’s a Wonderful Life” December 4 through 20. To get more information, call 574-267-8041 or visit wagonwheelcenter.org.

If you have never gone to a drive-through lights show, Start a new tradition! This is the year to go!

Shipshewana’s Lights of Joy is more than a mile long.

With all those lovely light scenes, you just can’t go wrong.

They’re open all month, only 20 bucks per car, At the Auction and Flea Market, it’s not that far To celebrate the season the holiday through, Whether you drive around it just once or a few!

The Shipshewana Lights of Joy is held at 345 South Van Buren Street from Dec. 1 through Jan. 2. Visit shipshewanalightsofjoy.com for more details.

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

Hensler Nursery, always a place of Christmas cheer, Will host their yuletide events for families this year.

There will be live pines and decor, wreaths and good eats.

Visiting Hensler, like always, will be a treat!

They’re open daily until December 20, So go with your family and a friend or three.

Hensler Nursery is located at 5715 North 750 East in Hamlet. If you have any questions, call 574-867-4192 or visit henslernurseryindiana.com.

This year has been tough, but Christmas can still be grand With yuletide charm, so let the thinking cap expand.

Enjoy these events, or find fun times of your own If these advent occasions have to be postponed.

It goes without saying, but I’ll tell you anyway, Have fun and stay safe, and have a great holiday!

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FINDING CHEER DURING DIFFICULT TIMES Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Let’s face it. These days, emotions are running high. And understandably so. In a society where we are used to Googling how to do life—e.g., “How to build a bird cage” or “How to get in shape,” we are suddenly at a loss since we can’t exactly type into a search engine, “How to navigate a COVID-19 existence.”

Because we have entered unchartered territories, we may alternate between moments of feeling fine and moments of total terror. Just so you know, if you awake in the wee hours of the morning thinking, “I don’t know what to do,” “I don’t know what to think,” or “I don’t know how to live,” you are totally normal. And that’s because our world suddenly feels inside out and backward. When we run into someone we know out in public, we can no longer greet them with a handshake or a hug. That feels odd. And when someone has passed away, we aren’t allowed to attend the funeral to console the mourning. That’s also sad and unsettling.

When the coronavirus spiraled into our world like an F5 tornado, it wreaked havoc on life as we knew it. I don’t think that any of us conceived of the day when schools would shut down, followed by churches, restaurants, gyms, doctor’s offices, beaches, parks, movie theaters, retail stores, barbers, hair salons, amusement parks. We didn’t anticipate concerts, sporting events, parties and even the Magic Maker itself, Disney World, halting indefinitely. On top of that, in the blink of an

THETHE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER LAKES MAGAZINE / OCTOBER2020 2020/ /thelakesmagazine.com thelakesmagazine.com/ 49

eye, we suddenly went from shopping with abandon to feeling uneasy partaking in completely mundane tasks like pumping gas and cruising the aisles of a grocery store.

As we tiptoe back into safely resuming normal life, let’s give each other grace, kindness and the benefit of the doubt.

The “we’re all in this together” mantra is meant to remind us that although we may be feeling lonely, disconnected, scared, frustrated or confused, we are not the

only ones harboring such feelings.

Below are five tips for picking yourself up when you’re feeling down: Explore nature. Inhaling fresh air, hearing the birds sing and watching the squirrels scamper brings true healing power. In today’s world where we are inundated with disheartening news stories, overwhelming statistics and heated opinions on social media, it’s smart to put down the phone and lace up your shoes.

Stepping outside has never been more important.

Connect with a pet or a vet or a jet. Not to get all Dr. Seuss on you, but the point is to try and get your mind off your own worries by focusing on something or someone else. That might mean playing with your dog or cat. It may involve dropping supplies at a VA center. Or it may be looking skyward to enjoy a flyover to boost societal morale. The idea is to get outside your own head, especially if

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

you tend to perseverate on negative or anxious feelings.

Listen to the music your parents used to play around the house when you were a kid. Trust me, it’s the closest thing you’ll get to a time machine, and transporting yourself back to a happier, simpler headspace is just what the doctor ordered.

Declutter a room. I know it doesn’t sound like fun, and it’s not necessarily fun while you’re in the midst of doing it, but wow — the joy you feel when a space is free of excess is truly exhilarating.

Even my 9-year-old, whose room was an unmitigated disaster, admitted that when it was picked up and organized, he felt less oppressed. He even claimed he slept better in a clean room!

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COUNTRY QUILT CREATIONS Custom and Ready-Made Products Are Available at Local Quilt Business Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photography Provided

Delores Schwartz, owner of Country Quilt Creations, is happy to be a source for quilting supplies as well as finished quilts.

Schwartz was widowed only months after purchasing an existing quilt shop and relocating it to her family home in Bremen in August of 2012. She had visited a local shop to purchase fabric and found out the shop would be closing. The owner was interested in selling it.

Schwartz celebrated eight years in business this August. The store features many different fabric choices, backing and batting, sewing notions, patterns, rotary cutters and thread - just about anything a quilter would need.

Her husband Jacob, whom she met in 1992 when her mother and There are also several quilts created by a pool of 10 local quilters, Jacob’s father married, passed away in November of 2012. He supported her idea of buying the shop’s inventory and establishing a which are available for purchase. Sizes range from a throw or lap quilt up to a king-sized bed covering. quilt shop at their home.

Jacob and Delores renovated an area of their home to accommodate Schwartz also offers opportunities for customers to preserve the shop, replacing cabinets with open shelving, removing walls and memories by ordering a custom-made quilt. One customer needed some repairs done on a quilt that her husband’s late mother made, a pantry, and making other alterations in the space. so the woman could give it to her husband as a gift. A memory quilt made from a deceased loved one’s clothing is also a popular way to “[ Jacob] put this in place so I would have something here, remember a departed friend or family member. something that was home-based,” Schwartz says.

54 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2020 / TheLakesMagazine.com

These special orders take at least four to six months according to Schwartz.

“I already have 10 on the waiting list,” she says. “It is a timeconsuming process to put these together.”

Schwartz says presenting a quilt as a gift is an important gesture, whether it is made to order or complete and ready to purchase.

“You don’t give a quilt to just anybody,” she says.

Those in need of a ready-made gift idea for someone who appreciates the art of quilting can find many items for sale in the shop. Some popular quilted gift items include bags, hot pads, wall hangings, rag dolls, and dolls with Amish-styled clothing. There is even a selection of quilted coasters, mittens, and ornaments to hang on a Christmas tree.

Schwartz learned how to make quilts as a child.

“It was something that we learned to do,” she recalls. “I like to get together sociably [with other quilters], but it’s been so many years since I have had time to do that.”

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Schwartz has offered classes for four to six people. She also hosts a monthly sewing circle in her kitchen, which she calls Sit and Sew. At this monthly meet-up on the second Tuesday of each month, those attending can work on quilts, do their mending or simply devote time to another sewing project.

Some do their work by hand and others bring along a sewing machine.

The Sit and Sew events are a throwback to the past.

“I remember going to sewing circles when I was out of school,” Schwartz says. “That was the social thing.”

While a small shop like hers has to compete with online businesses, Schwartz offers her customers the opportunity to provide input on the creation of their heirloom quilt. She can also help beginner quilters find the right tools and material to work with, such as precut quarter panels, which make it easier to piece together a quilt design.

Her favorite quilt pattern is the Lone Star pattern.

“I love stars,” she says.

Schwartz hopes customers will find their way to her small business despite the pandemic.

“It has been hard this year,” Schwartz says.

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SEW TERRIFIC WINDMILL FABRICS HAS SOMETHING FOR ALL AGES Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

Broadcloth is a preferred material for many people who sew. This sturdy, lightweight fabric is often used for quilting, but is frequently used in many other kinds of crafts as well. To the Amish, who make their clothes from broadcloth, it’s more than preferred - it’s essential.

Lorene Hostetler, the owner of Windmill

Fabrics, has been sewing most of her life.

“I’ve always enjoyed sewing,” she says.

“I enjoy sewing pants. That’s my favorite part.”

This certainly comes in handy in her own family, since she has six sons.

The desire to have her own shop is something that has followed Hostetler for most of her life.

“As a little girl I often played store, and I 60 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2020 / TheLakesMagazine.com

always would have liked to have a store just to wait on the customers,” she says.

Little did she realize as a girl that her dream would eventually come to fruition.

A few years ago Mary Yoder, the owner of Yoder Sales, a small store outside of Topeka that specialized in fabrics, approached Hostetler and her husband about the possibility of buying the business. A good friend of Hostetler’s,

Yoder cited a passing comment that Hostetler had made about her lifelong dream of owning a store.

“She knew I had made a remark the year before that it would be fun - I didn’t even tell her anything about buying this business, I just told her it would be interesting to have a store like this,” Hostetler says. “She remembered that and asked me. It was a big surprise for me that she actually asked us.”

That exchange happened about three years ago, and in October of 2017, Hostetler opened her business under the name Windmill Fabrics, as a nod to the windmill on the property.

“We thought we wanted a different name other than using our initials or Hostetler Sales,” she says. “We have a windmill right by the house and it still works. We use it too.”

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Hostetler expanded the business after buying it, to include more than just broadcloth and notions like buttons, thread and appliqués. The items she added to the shelves include Amish-styled clothes for young children, along with Amish bonnets, mittens, shawls and other small clothing items.

“I have a couple different ladies who sew for me,” Hostetler says. “They make the shirts, the baby jumpers and dresses, and sleepers.”

Beyond broadcloth, she carries several bolts of blanket fleece, tulle and quilted material. There’s also a selection of embroidery kits for quilt blocks, pillow cases, and other small needlepoint projects.

Hostetler loves helping her customers find what they need. What’s more, her

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customers know that they can find what they need at reasonable prices.

“I hear the compliment, ‘You don’t have a big store, but we really do like it. You have lots of things in here,’” she says.

She also enjoys working with her staff, which includes her daughter Mary Jane, who works in the shop after school and on Saturdays.

Although Windmill Fabrics is a fabric specialty store, the items that line the shelves aren’t all cloth or clothing related.

Some of the shelves have merchandise for children of all ages. In one corner there is a wide selection of baby gifts like rattles, teething toys, blankets and other items.

There are goods for older children as well, including learning toys, dolls, tractors, coloring books and picture books, and more.

Not all of the items that line the shelf are for younger people. Many are for adults.

These products range from the practical, like calendars and office supplies, to gift items like decorative clocks, journals and other trinkets. For those who decide to purchase a gift for a friend, colleague or family member, there is also a large display of greeting cards. The business also has a wide variety of cookbooks, many of which have Amish-inspired recipes.

Windmill Fabrics is located at 4675 West 600 South in Topeka. They are open Mon. through Fri. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sat. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more info, call 260593-0448.

4894 N BALDWIN RD, NORTH WEBSTER, IN

DAVIDSENSPIERSERVICE.COM • 574-834-1670 TheLakesMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2020 / THE LAKES / 63

Call About Our Display Discounts on Playsets Don’t forget about these other great departments Pumpkin Patch offers!

Bedroom | Living Room | Dining Room | Outdoor

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6505 S. 500 W. Topeka, IN HY 46571 S R HE

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64 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2020 / TheLakesMagazine.com

260-593-0325 x. 4 Fax 260-593-0692

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Delmar & Samuel Herschberger

ER

OVER 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS

Handcrafted staircases, doors and floors.

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New and Pre-owned Sales

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Owners: Harley & Inez Yoder 8770 W 400 S ∙ Topeka, IN 46571 260 - 593 - 3769

TheLakesMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2020 / THE LAKES / 65

Carla, Jordan & Matt Pratt

PRATT’S FLOOR COVERING OWNER TALKS FLOORING, FAMILY & GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

66 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2020 / TheLakesMagazine.com

Writer / Seth Johnson Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

Matt Pratt has been in the flooring business for a long time now — more than 30 years in fact.

“I started installing carpets for other companies in 1984,” says Pratt, who now owns and operates Pratt’s Floor Covering with his wife Carla. “I worked for other companies, but then I did a lot of side work.

My name got out there, and I got quite busy. When I was working that much day and night, I decided to go into [my own] business in ’92.”

Ever since, he’s been hard at work providing the Plymouth area with all of their flooring needs via Pratt’s Floor Covering. From carpet to tiling, Pratt’s Floor Covering offers a wide variety of products at affordable prices, while also

ensuring quality service and esteemed expertise.

Long before having their showroom space on North Oak Drive, Carla and Matt ran their business out of more humble headquarters.

“When we started our business in ’92, he started out of our house, so he had some displays in our house,” Carla says. “It was

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

Baldwin And Company

Book your family/business Christmas party ahead of time.

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 TheLakesMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2020 / THE LAKES / 67

814 Main Street Rochester, IN 46975

just a small house here in Plymouth.”

Over the years, the family-owned and operated business has established itself in the community, while also employing some familiar faces.

“All my kids have worked here, and their friends have helped with part-time jobs here and there,” Matt says. “We’ve employed a lot of local people, and we give back to the community.”

When it comes to products, Pratt’s Floor Covering carries it all — carpet, vinyl, tiles, hardwood, laminate and more.

Additionally, they offer some other services that you might not get from your average flooring company.

to size.”

“We do walk-in showers, and I see that setting us apart from different companies,” Carla says. “We also order custom area rugs or make them by buying and cutting them

When it comes to installing a custom tile shower, Pratt’s Floor Covering is fully equipped to get the job done from start to finish.

• Cookies • Pies • Breads • Sweet Rolls • Cakes Hours: Tuesday - Friday 5am-4pm Saturday 5am-2pm Ph: 574-825-7918 | Fax: 574-825-0209 59162 CR 43 Middlebury, IN 46540 68 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2020 / TheLakesMagazine.com

“A lot of times that involves a total remodel of the bathroom area,” Matt says. “We can handle everything from the electrical to the plumbing to the draining. We even do countertops and cabinets.”

WITH THIS MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW HOW TO HANDLE JUST ABOUT ANY SITUATION. When it comes to pricing, Pratt’s Floor Covering is part of the FCA Network, which helps keep their products affordable.

Manufactured Home, Residential Supplies & Hardware 42,000 Sq. Ft. Full Line All Retail Hardware Store.

Sliding Patio Doors for Mobile Homes ∙ Showers Sinks ∙ Bathtubs Windows ∙ Doors ∙ Mattresses ∙ Plumbing ∙ Faucets ∙Bulk Screws Bolts & Fasteners ∙ Well Tanks ∙ Flooring ∙ Furances ∙ Air Conditioners Finished & Unfinished Trim ∙ Full Line Appliances *Frigidaire Dealer Water Heaters ∙ Modular & Mobile Home Hardware & Skirting Cabot Stain ∙ Valspar Paint

“The FCA Network is a network for all businesses like ours across the United States and Canada,” Matt says. “We group together for buying power, so we can compete with big-box stores. Our prices, in a lot of cases, are even better than they are at the big-box stores.”

All in all, Pratt’s Floor Covering prides itself on selling quality products while also making sure customers have all of their flooring needs met.

“With this many years of experience, we pretty much know how to handle just about any situation,” Matt says.

Pratt’s Floor Covering is located at 303 N. Oak Drive in Plymouth. You can also call them at 574-935-5656 or visit them online at PrattsFloorCovering.com for more information.

Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm 260-593-2769 5995 W. 200 S Topeka, IN 46571 At the 4-way stop in Emma

TheLakesMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2020 / THE LAKES / 69

Free Local Same Day Delivery with a $100 Order!

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Trained by the Etchwood Company to Install Etchwood Products. We install any Etchwood products including: • Fireplace mantels • Beams & floating shelves • Family room decor

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We also install fireplace stonework.

Talk to us about ordering and installing your next Etchwood Project.

70 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2020 / TheLakesMagazine.com

NORTHERN INDIANA’S FLEET SPECIALISTS ALL MAKES AND MODELS • SERVICES INCLUDE FOREIGN & DOMESTIC CARS & TRUCK

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8608 North State Road 19 Etna Green, IN 46524 Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

TheLakesMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2020 / THE LAKES / 71

Custom Sheds Plus VARIETY OF COLORS AVAILABLE FOR BUILDINGS, ROOF, AND TRIM CUSTOM ORDERS COMPLETED TO YOUR SPECIFICATIONS

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13836 CR 48, SYRACUSE, IN • (260)215-3988 72 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2020 / TheLakesMagazine.com