The Lakes West Magazine December 2022

PUBLISHERS

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TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.

#SPOTLIGHTINGLOCAL

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KEY CONTRIBUTORS

Knox Winamac Community Health Center’s mission to provide comprehensive care to its community has been strengthened by the addition of some new team members.

Dr. John Bulger, and Nurse Practitioners

Roger Farris and Lesley Metts, have been hired to better serve the community, adding their combined years of experience and compassion to the team. Licensed Clinical Social Worker Lori Truesdell has also returned to the health center, according to Chief Financial Officer Eileen Blanke.

Bulger has 34 years of experience in family medicine. He obtained his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1984.

“I wanted to be a doctor since I was a child,” Bulger says. “There wasn’t any other family member in the medical profession. I was influenced by my childhood doctor.”

Family medicine means that Bulger’s patients will range from children to adults. This includes checkups, sick care and minor office surgeries. He is also trained in basic orthopedics, dermatology and gynecology.

Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

John Bulger - M.D.

Farris

years

years

“I have always had a desire and passion to help other people in need,” Farris says. “This desire and passion drew me into the health care field and ultimately into the nursing profession.”

Farris says he enjoys the work atmosphere at the Health Center. He finds his colleagues approachable and personable.

“I like the positive energy that Knox Winamac Community Health Center has in providing patient care for the community,” he says.

CHRISTMAS SHOWS

Bremen Missionary Church

Tuesday, November 29 7:30 PM Eastern

Argos United Methodist Church Thursday, December 1 7:30 PM Eastern

Plymouth Church of the Brethren Monday, December 5 7:30 PM Eastern

Rochester Grace United Methodist Church Wednesday, December 7 7:30 PM Eastern

Knox United Methodist Church Thursday, December 8 7:30 PM Eastern/6:30 Central

Plymouth Rees Theatre Saturday, December 10 6:00 PM Eastern

Culver Grace United Church of Christ Wednesday, December 14 7:30 PM Eastern

Knox Winamac Community Health Center Team

Metts is a nurse practitioner with 16 years of experience in nursing, and the majority of that time was spent in intensive care. She has been a nurse practitioner for one year. The first six months was in an emergencyroom setting. She was hired about five months ago.

“I truly enjoy family practice,” Metts says. Metts began working in the medical field at 17 years of age.

“I started out as a nursing assistant and just continued my path as a nurse practitioner,” she says. “I have always had a passion to care for others. I also enjoy the challenge that medicine gives me to learn more and strive to give the best care to my patients. I just love doing what I do. I could never see myself doing anything different.”

Truesdell is happy to return to the Health Center. She worked there for five years, providing counseling and behavioral

Lesley Metts - Nurse Practitioner & Lillie Combs - Medical Assistant

health management.

Her role is to assist patients in crisis situations or with day-to-day stress, helping them manage their mental health needs alongside colleagues who are attending to their medical needs.

With 30 years of practice experience, Truesdell is trained in the management of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief and loss issues, smoking cessation and weight loss. She was trained specifically to work in integrated care, which means that she works together with the other providers in the office to provide the best overall care to patients.

The mission of Knox Winamac Community Health Center as stated on the official website is “to provide quality, primary health care services, accessible to persons in our community including the medically underinsured and uninsured.”

It was founded by community leaders in 2006 and designated in 2010 as a federally qualified health center.

Knox Winamac Community Health Center provides primary and preventative care, offers wellness, Department of Transportation and sports physicals, provides laboratory services and children’s vaccination programs, and addresses behavioral health concerns.

The clinic is located at 1002 South Edgewood Drive in Knox. To make an appointment, call 574-772-6030. For more information, visit kwchc.net or email kwchc@kwchc.net.

Roger Farris - Nurse Practitioner

The new bowls at Knox Wood Shop have been a big hit with Christmas shoppers looking for a nice gift for the holidays.

Dick Shepperd, owner of Knox Wood Shop, says the bowls are made with extra care and he couldn’t be more pleased that his customers like them so much.

“We make all kinds of beautiful, custom wood bowls out of different tree trunks, and they are well crafted,” Shepperd says. “We make salad bowls and serving bowls that are both big and small. We have big and small

Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided

Owner Dick Shepard

complete sets. We offer a variety of different wood, shapes, stains and other things as well. We also have bowls that are made with resin highlights that are also very beautiful. We are really highlighting these bowls with customers.”

Shepperd notes that his customers also enjoy their wooden travel mugs.

“I have received some nice compliments on our travel mugs and wooden vases,” he

says. “We also make wooden platters and lazy Susan turntables that are nice. We also make high quality cake stands. The wood we use on our products is made from cherry, walnut and oak.”

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Shepperd says his goal since he started Knox Wood Shop has been to offer the absolute best product that people will be satisfied with for years to come.

“I opened the shop and started working in the custom cabinet business in 1972,” Shepperd says. “I always wanted to work with wood. My grandpa, William Marion, taught me everything I know. He was my hero. I started learning how to make things from wood when I was about five or six years old. I followed him everywhere, and he taught me everything I know about making high quality wood products. He taught me to take the time and make everything as good as it possibly can be.”

Shepperd enhanced his craft at Griffith High School where he was asked to teach a training program his senior year.

“That was a lot of fun,” he says. “I liked teaching other people how to make great things. I put some creativity into everything I make. I really want it to not just look great, but also be highly functional and be of the highest quality. If people like what I made, they will recommend me to others, and that’s the best and highest compliment you can get.”

Shepperd added that he also follows trends and finds about what is currently popular to stay in demand.

“We do a lot of commercial and residential work,” he says. “We make custom furniture and cabinets that have been consistently popular over the years because we listen to what people want and we still make it creative. We try to exceed their expectations. I’ve always had a small shop so I can focus on the high quality. At the most, I’ve had one

or two employees, or maybe three to four employees.”

Shepperd credits his wife, Judy, for helping him keep things running so smoothly.

“She balances the books, pays the bills, chases the checks and she also cooks a delicious supper too,” he says. “We have raised six wonderful daughters. We also have 15 grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren we love.”

CUSTOM WORK ON ROOMS

Shepperd says Knox Wood Shop also does custom woodwork on kitchens, bathrooms and other projects.

“We have had a lot of loyal customers who have been very pleased with their cabinets and have hired us when they move to a new home or business,” Shepperd says.

“We guarantee that they will be completely satisfied with their wood products. We have customers who have become like family to us.”

Shepperd notes that he still loves the creative part of the business as well.

“I really love to start a new project and I love to deal with people,” he says. “I’m very lucky to live in Knox and live in such a great place. Knox is a tight community. Many people who live here have been coming to me for quite some time, and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Knox Wood Shop is located at 1290 W 150 S, Knox, IN. For more information on the shop, call (574) 772-3358 or check out their website at www.knoxwoodshop.com.

IT’S

Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Tony Straw

Walking into Simplee Stated Gifts in Plymouth, one is greeted warmly by Owner Sandy Saenz. It is reminiscent of the old-time variety store so common in small towns, and her warm welcome is appreciated by her longtime customers as well as the new ones who come through the doors of the former Bosworth’s department store.

“I am definitely involved in the community and I want my business involved in the community,” Saenz says. “We help as much as we can.”

Saenz has been a small-business owner for about a decade, although not all of those years have been at her location in historic downtown. Her business started as a pop-up shop in the local grocery store. At that time she became known for the gift baskets she created.

While she still does gift baskets, her inventory has expanded and includes unique gift items for everyone. Focusing on American-made products, Saenz has the shop laid out in sections, as a slight nod to the vibe of the former department store. There is one section

Owner Sandy Saenz

devoted to lake-living decor, another that serves as a clothing boutique, and another that displays informational decor. Food products, cabin decor, jewelry and even a paint studio are tucked neatly into the L-shaped space.

The products she sells are made in the U.S. and many come from small businesses.

One product line she offers that has become popular includes slate and wooden gifts, personalized with laser engraving. Gift shoppers pick out a product and then have it engraved with a name and date, a meaningful saying, or anything else they would like. Some common items include slate coasters, wooden boxes and journals.

The store carries a line of popular Chala purses from California, and a line of stuffed animals called Warmies. These can be heated in the microwave to provide a warm bedtime companion, and they also release a soothing lavender scent.

“This is a great way to give someone a truly unique gift,” Saenz says. “This is not like anything you find in a big-box store.”

Another new experience for customers is the Make and Take corner. Customers select a wooden plaque to paint in the shop.

Paints and all supplies are available in the space. Artists of all ages and abilities can paint between the lines already on the piece, and create their own work of art to take with them.

Saenz has hosted paint parties in the store. Customers have also requested classes, and she hopes to offer them in the next few months. It is all part of the environment she wants to createone that is open to the community and her customers.

“My customers are part of my extended families,” Saenz says. “They know about my kids. They know about my grandkids. My store is a safe place for my customers.”

Saenz grew up in South Bend. After she married, she and her husband settled in Osceola and built a house in Argos in 2002. She likes the fact that her small business is located in downtown Plymouth. The small-town atmosphere meshes well with her own perspectives.

“It’s all about small towns,” she says.

Saenz is grateful that her business has grown and thrived. Her interests in crafts spurred her into small-business ownership and she has not hesitated to take advantage of the opportunities that have come her way.

When she acquired the framing shop that occupied the space previously, she took a hands-on approach to learning the framing process. She learned from the previous owner, took classes at national conferences and signed up for membership in a national framers association. With a background in the construction industry, Saenz says she is making a living, but

most of all, she has what she needs.

“This is my happy place,” she says. “I enjoy going to work.” Simplee Stated Gifts is located at 100 West Garro Street in Plymouth. For more info, visit facebook.com/simpleestatedgifts or call 574-936-5259.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

BAILEY’S CABINETS GIVES CUSTOMERS

A COMPREHENSIVE EXPERIENCE

Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

ccording to Owner Matt Bailey, the Bailey’s Cabinets operation inside Bailey’s Discount Center started by accident in 1990. Today, that accident has turned into a successful business and a line of cabinets bearing the Bailey name.

Bailey was only 19 back in 1990 when he purchased some unfinished cabinets out of the horse trailer of an Illinois-based seller that, to his surprise, sold out quickly.

Today the cabinet showroom covers a huge expanse of the Discount Center sales floor. An additional 100,000-square-foot warehouse stocks cabinets for same-day customer pickup. One hundred kitchen, bathroom, utility room and other room displays are available for customers to look at, helping them with the decision process for their own do-it-yourself project, or for that new home or major renovation project.

“With our massive showroom, we have one

of everything of our brands on display,” Bailey says.

Whether it’s door styles, finishes, hardware, sinks, or even lazy Susan styles (Bailey’s has more than 12 different lazy Susans on display), customers can have a hands-on experience when making their decisions.

“In the kitchen industry it’s important for customers to see the huge variety of styles and finishes, and also to be able

Matt & Becky Bailey - Owners

to open and actually use the options we offer,” Bailey says. “At the home centers, cabinet showrooms have become smaller and smaller, while the Bailey’s showroom has become the largest in the Midwest. The customer does not have to make those design choices alone. More than a dozen professional designers are available to help customers plan out and style the kitchen or bathroom they’ve been dreaming about. We design on the spot. No appointment is needed.”

Kitchen remodeling can be expensive, and many people have to save to be able to remodel their kitchen or bath. Due to the buying power of Bailey’s and years of relationships with their brands, customers can save up to 30% compared to the home centers.

Plus, customers have access to a range of services including free computer design, free in-house measuring, and delivery and installation services, all available up to a three-hour radius from North Judson. Deliveries and installs are made weekly as far as Chicago, Michigan and Indianapolis.

“We offer professional installation for all kitchens sold,” Bailey says. “This truly makes us a one-stop shop for your kitchen project and any other rooms in your home.” Bailey’s offers three lines of cabinets including BaileyTown USA, which is their very own cabinet brand made in Indiana, available at Bailey’s or at one of their 160 dealers throughout the Midwest.

“Our BaileyTown USA cabinet brand is proud to be American made, right here in Indiana,” Bailey says. “It gives our customers an excellent, quality cabinet at a price they can afford in the most popular styles and finishes.”

The other brands offered are Haas Cabinet and Dura Supreme Cabinetry. Both brands are made in the U.S., with Haas being a Hoosier-made cabinet and having partnered with Bailey’s for more than 30 years. Bailey’s is the largest Haas dealer in the U.S. “Our cabinet brands offer a good, better and best option for our customers,” Bailey says. “It covers every customer’s need at all price

points.”

Bailey’s stocks six styles of cabinets, along with hundreds of other styles available with their quick-ship program.

“Shaker-style painted white, or gray paints and gray stains, are the trend and most popular right now,” Bailey says. “With Haas and Dura Supreme brands, you can chose any paint color from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. This gives hundreds of color options.”

With the help of the Bailey’s design team,

customers can be confident that the choices they make are right for them.

“Our goal is to give our customers an awesome experience,” Bailey says. “I feel I have the best cabinet team in the industry that can help our customers turn their ideas into reality, save them money, give excellent customer service and see their project through to the end.”

Bailey’s is a one-stop shop for a customer who wants to design, buy and take the cabinets home that same day.

For custom-order cabinets, Bailey says the

company can beat the competition’s delivery times.

Currently the BaileyTown USA brand has a three- to five-week lead time, while semi-custom and custom brands are at an eightto 10-week lead time. “The last couple years, lead times have gone as far out as six months throughout the industry,” Bailey says.

In addition to cabinets, Bailey’s is one of the few cabinet dealers that has its own countertop shop. Bailey’s makes many of their customers’ countertops in-house, including laminate, Corian, quartz and butcher block.

Back in 1990 when that seller pulled up with a horse trailer of unfinished cabinets, it sparked Bailey’s interest in the potential it offered.

With no internet to help at the time, Bailey went to bookstores and the local library to read books and educate himself about cabinets and the kitchen and bath industry, learning how to design kitchens and getting to know how it all fits together.

“To help myself learn the business, I would go to my relatives’ homes to practice measuring and designing their kitchens,” Bailey says.

Bailey is a lifelong resident of North Judson. His family has been in business in the community for four generations.

His father Beecher has never slowed down, and is at the business or on the road buying and selling every day. Bailey’s is now a three-generation business, with generations working together every day.

“It truly is a dream come true to be able to work with my father and children every day,” Bailey says.

He and his wife Becky have been married for 30 years. The couple has three children.

Their daughter, Katelyn, is 24 and partners with her father to own the Biggby coffee shop inside the Discount Center. Their sons, Kolton and Karson, are involved in the family business also.

“Customers put their trust in us for a huge investment,” Bailey says. “We want to make sure they have a great experience from beginning to end. Our goal is to turn their dreams into reality and to save them money with the best service in the industry.”

Visit the showroom inside Bailey’s Discount Center at 5900 South Range Road in North Judson. For more information, visit baileyscabinets.com. The BaileyTown USA website can be found at baileytownusa.com.

IN THE FAMILY

LEGACY FAMILY HEALTH CARE AIMS TO ELEVATE PATIENT CARE & RELATIONSHIPS

Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger Photographer / Ali Snyder

Situated along the fringes of Warsaw’s most well traversed roadways, there is a modest facility with a decidedly higher purpose. The building itself is swathed in calming neutral tones, with entrance doors offering pops of yellow color as bright as daffodils in bloom. This is the place called Legacy Family Health Care. And while it is most definitely a resource to tap into a wealth of medical

services, it is quite possibly unlike any clinic that folks have ever seen. In fact, it is the first of its kind in the entirety of Kosciusko County. True, it does offer a similar array of healthcare needs as that of a traditional practice, but that is where the similarities end.

Legacy Family Health Care is where patients will be introduced to Lindsay Kreps, MSN, APRN, FNP-C. She is a proponent of a growing trend to simplify and personalize the patient experience by working with the whole individual, from mental health to minor medical emergencies to total wellness, and virtually everything else in between. Kreps is joined by a staff which includes Sara Larocque in nursing and Jenny Neer as a CMA.

Most folks would agree that the months within and beyond the pandemic have become increasingly frustrating regarding doctor and patient relationships. Stacks of complicated insurance paperwork to sift through, lengthy wait times to make appointments and overwhelmed physicians are all part of the new normal for far too many.

With this in mind, Kreps has instituted a methodology of

From left to right: Sara Larocque, RN, Lindsay Kreps, MSN, APRN, FNP-C and Jenny Neer, CMA

direct primary care.  With DPC, there is no insurance company involved. Patients are invited to pay a membership fee, one flat rate each month. Advantages of this membership include lower prices on medications, often at wholesale or greatly reduced prices; expedited appointment scheduling and more time allotted for visits and consultations with Kreps.

“I want my community to be healthy,” Kreps explains simply. “They just don’t feel heard.”

Among the range of services that Legacy Family Health Care is equipped to provide includes minor surgical procedures, urgent care issues, laboratory testing, mental health guidance, naturopathic and functional medicine, prescription medications

Sara Larocque, RN, begins

draw blood from a patient

Kreps has also worked to establish a network of specialists in the region for cases in which a patient presents health situations that are of an emergency nature or fall outside of the range of services provided. She knew in that first week of her business that she had created a logical and viable option in the health care field

and one that seemed to instantly draw people into her circle of compassion. At the conclusion of that first week, Legacy Family Health Care had tended to more than 160 patients.

Her years of medical training and perfecting skills has served the

Lindsay M. Kreps, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

practice well during a time of complex and evolving illnesses. Her calming mannerisms and personal touches bring a sense of serenity when patients are nervous and full of questions. Yet she is also a lifelong nurturing spirit, serving as a caretaker for her mother, who was diabetic. Kreps is also very candid about her experiences with mental health, as she witnessed one of her uncles deal with schizophrenia. In so many words, by definition, she gets it.

Kreps chose a very specific logo, one with a tree with many branches, to signify the family she honors daily by carrying on with her quest to help others achieve optimum wellness. And those yellow doors? Yellow was her mother’s favorite color. Thus, ensuring that as she comes and goes, and as her patients arrive and leave, a little bit of sunshine is lighting the path.

Legacy Family Health Care is open on Mondays from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. On Fridays, the hours are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesday appointments can be arranged by contacting the office. The business, located at 308 S. Scott Street in Warsaw, is closed on weekends. For more information about the services provided or to schedule an appointment, call (574) 575-4987 or check out legacyfamilyhealthcare.org.

HEART OF THE Holidays

Writer / Abby Renz Photography Provided by New Kitchen Store

The holidays mean gatherings of friends, family and friends who have become family. It means the twinkling of Christmas lights, the merriment of songs, crisp winter air and hot drinks to warm the heart. The holidays also mean festive meals, juicy turkey, honey roasted ham and hand mashed potatoes topped with simmering gravy, bread rolls, stuffing and pies of every kind. It’s the kind of feast that afterwards, you might unbutton the top button of your jeans, curl up with a good book with a mug of spiced cider and enjoy a fire in the hearth.

When I think of the holidays, I think of my grandma’s cooking. Growing up, I distinctly remember my grandma waking up early and making coffee before the sun came up and bustling in the kitchen all day. As a child, I couldn’t begin to fathom the

love and dedication that goes into preparing a meal for the holidays. All I knew was that the scents of the season filled the kitchen and throughout the house, and somehow, my grandma created magic.

Now, as a young woman and a new wife, I get to carry on the tradition and make the holiday meals. Together we can make new memories, compare recipes, and most importantly, I can help my grandmother. I now know how much work, prep and love goes into every dish to make the holiday spectacular…it isn’t easy! I now understand why she would wake up so early and why my siblings and I would be shooed from the kitchen for being underfoot.

I get it now! In my own kitchen, it drives me insane when my husband is standing

around. So much so, that I tell him if he wants food, he better get out of my kitchen. I have also learned the sense of pride that I feel when the food I make looks great and tastes amazing. I love seeing my family enjoy a good, homecooked meal.

It’s easy to get takeout or heat up a dinner in the microwave (hello college years), but to take the time to prepare a meal, grind the spices, follow a recipe and spend a few hours in the kitchen is truly a gift. When I cook, I like to play music. If I’m by myself, I take my time so I can truly enjoy the experience.

Cooking is more than mixing ingredients and stuffing food into an oven. I have

721 Main Street Rochester, IN 46975 574-223-3514

www.primosbarandgrill.com alexmartinez@primosbarandgrill.com Like us on Facebook!

NEW KITCHEN STORE HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

learned so much from cooking and how to make so many things that I love: handmade apple pies with lattice design or rosebuds, handmade cranberry sauce (SO much better than canned) and how

to recognize the best spices and herbs to perfect a meal.

The best part is that I can share these things with my grandmother, just as she

has shared them with me--we continue sharing this passion and making new memories. I’m honored to have been passed the torch this holiday and to take some of the pressure off her. She can enjoy

the things that I now realize she missed out on all these years.

This year, take the time to help your loved ones who spend hours in the kitchen. If the kids can help, let them! Take shifts in the kitchen, let the cook in on the festivities, play music and make cooking a wonderful experience instead of a burden. I couldn’t understand the work that my grandma put into each meal growing up, and now that I do, I cherish and respect each meal with her more and more.

Come to the New Kitchen Store for your holiday and cooking needs as we enter the holiday season. From spices to coffee and much, much more, we can help make your time in the kitchen a special time.

You can visit the New Kitchen Store at 330 Liberty St, Walkerton, IN 46574 or give them a call at (574) 586-2745. You can also shop online at www.newkitchenstore.com.

SUCCESSFUL

Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photography Provided

In 1988 a high school student from the Netherlands, Bianca Van der Gaag, stayed with two families in Goshen. She came bearing tasty treats from her homeland known as stroopwaffles, and discovered that people enjoyed these cookie-like treats.

“Every time I would come over, I would bring more and more,” she says.

That was the start of a business idea that would take years to bring to fruition. Fast-forward to 2019, and Bianca and her husband Patrick Letens were approved for a visa and began the process of establishing Dutch Waffle Company LLC.

Bianca is the sole owner of the locally based Dutch Waffle Company, which

was recently certified as a 100% womanowned business.

Dutch Waffle Company bakes stroopwaffles, which bear no resemblance to the pancake-type breakfast item that most Americans would expect when they hear the word “waffle.” Instead, this traditional treat from the Netherlands is flat and crispy with a soft caramel filling, more like a cookie than a waffle.

Thanks to the support of the late

LeRoy Hostetler, and Dennis and Leah Hochstetler from Rentown Country Store out of Bremen, Bianca was able to secure a commercial-grade kitchen and begin making the Dutch Waffle Company products for distribution to local stores. One of the first customers for the cookie was the Culinary Mill in Nappanee.

“Stroopwaffles are fun cookies because they can be used in a variety of ways and to each one’s creativity,” Bianca says.

IS INDEED SWEET FOR DUTCH WAFFLE COMPANY

People can eat them out of the package, or simply allow them to soften over a warm beverage and enjoy the cinnamon and caramel filling. Stroopwaffles can be cut up for an ice-cream topping and used as the base for s’mores.

They are also a “great grab-and-go snack,” Bianca says.

Dutch Waffle Company makes two sizes of the cookies - the standard size, which is about 3.5” in diameter, and the 5” Jimbo size, named for her exchange family’s patriarch. The cookies are packaged individually and in two-packs. The family pack is great to share and use as a gift. Patrick and Bianca can also be found at local festivals, often tweaking the flavors. For the Blueberry Festival in Plymouth, they created a blueberry-flavored stroopwaffle.

For Mother’s Day, the traditional round shape becomes a heart. Stroopwaffles in

STROOPWAFFLE

the shape of shamrocks were baked for the University of Notre Dame.

Custom orders for shapes and flavors are available for orders of 250 or more. The couple can also bake the cookies on-site for private gatherings.

Dutch Waffle Company also offers gluten-free organic product selections. This makes up 10 to 15% of overall sales, Patrick says.

A new product introduced this year is a one-pound package of No Bake Stroopwaffle Pie Crust, which consists of crumbs left over from the production of the stroopwaffles.

Although similar to graham-cracker crusts, stroopwaffle crumbs give desserts a thicker crust similar to cookie crumbs, Bianca says.

Customers have been sending the

Call 574-223-2020 for your appointment today.

Earning the right to care for you, your family, and our community.

company their recipes for this new product, which can be used for all kinds of pies and cupcakes, in bars, and as a crumb topping for other desserts.

Bianca and Patrick manage four employees, including their daughter Annelotte Tobongbanua. She handles social media and marketing for the company.

She is oldest of the couple’s three daughters at 24. Recently married, she lives in Hawaii. Their middle daughter, Leonie, lives in the Netherlands, and the youngest, Ilse, lived in the states for a time but has since moved back to the Netherlands.

The company has an online shop, developed by Annelotte. Bianca says the online store is not meant to compete with local stores that stock their products. It was a means of expanding their business to people outside the area.

For Bianca, it is encouraging to see the reactions of customers who try the product for the first time. They offer samples at their booths at festivals.

“We encourage them to try it,” Patrick says. “People pass us by and we encourage them to take a sample.”

That first bite is often all that is needed to make a sale and gain a new fan of the product.

Dutch Waffle Company products can be found in several local stores and supermarkets. Check out their products online at shop.dutchwafflecompany.us.

DOUBLE M POLY CREATES CUSTOM OUTDOOR PRODUCTS WITH UNIQUELY RUGGED MATERIALS

Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger Photography Provided

At first blush, the phrase “outdoor furniture” might seem like an oxymoron. Many traditional home accents would likely become withered and worn outside when not shielded from the elements.

However, there are plenty of folks who know better, and understand what it is to embrace outdoor relaxation. They see it as a means to expand upon their living space, to have an oasis without walls, and to sit

beneath a sky that stretches beyond the stars.

Matt Kramer, owner of Double M Poly in rural Nappanee, understands this way of thinking. He is a creator of beautiful yet durable outdoor seating and gathering places that are destined to last a lifetime. Kramer took on the lead role in the family business approximately a year and a half ago, taking over for a family member who opted to pursue another avenue. He is a lifelong resident of the area, and relocated to Nappanee after being raised on a farm

situated in Marshall County between Bremen and Bourbon. The name of the business is a nod to himself and his wife, Mary, as they incorporated the initials of their first names.

The chief material that establishes Double M Poly into a class of its own is known as Polywood, which is composed of materials gleaned from recycled plastics. The main components that Kramer uses in the business are manufactured in Chicago and shipped to Ohio, to be broken down into workable forms before they arrive at the

than wood. “You can bend it a little bit easier and it cuts a little easier - and no splinters,” he says with chuckle. This allows Kramer to offer a quick turnaround time for many of his creations. For example, he says a typical workday of eight hours can produce one picnic table or, within that same time, two or three gliders. The most timeconsuming aspect, he notes, is installing the aluminum framework.

Locally, Kramer has found retail success through sales at Rentown Country Store and Homestyle Furniture Shoppe, and he has also worked with dealerships in Michigan and Kentucky. Ideally, he would like to broaden his service region. “I’ll go wherever I can get work from,” he says with enthusiasm. “If I can get enough dealers interested, I could explore those options.”

Double M Poly is located at 27340 County Road 50 in Nappanee. For more info, call 574-773-0632.

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EXPLORE YOUR SENSES

ANNIE OAKLEY PERFUMERY STUDIO NOT SLOWING DOWN AFTER 40 YEARS

Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger Photographer / Kari Lipscomb

History has chronicled, at length, the workings of a renowned music producer who created a concept known as the “Wall of Sound.”

By comparison, it can very easily be said that Renee Gabet pioneered the ‘wall of fragrance.”

Just beyond the downtown thoroughfares of Ligonier, guests can step into the studio where Gabet launched the Annie Oakley Perfumery Studio. A few steps through the entrance is a transformative experience for the senses. The facility itself is colorful and classy, and the atmosphere is aromatic with the essences of naturally inspired sources. For Gabet, Annie Oakley was truly born as a labor of love, as she steadfastly believes that her calling is about so much more than just developing captivating aromas.

“Perfumery is a lost art,” she says.

The history of Annie Oakley Perfumery dates back more than 40 years, when Gabet launched the business in 1980. Prior to that time, she was traveling the art fair circuit to sell her handmade jewelry. Yet, there was a lingering wonder that she harbored about her lifelong interest in natural perfume.  Could she parlay that passion into a career?

She enlisted the assistance of a mentor that could offer guidance and advice that was aligned with her vision of offering high end elements, which she calls ‘the finest raw materials.’ During this entrepreneurial journey, she was inspired to create a cologne that was marketed for women as something of a companion scent for the popular Stetson brand. This creation was called Stampede, one of Gabet’s

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HOURS

Monday: 11:30-2:00 & 5:00-9:00

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 11:30-2:00 & 5:00-9:00

Thursday: 11:30-2:00 & 5:00-9:00

Friday: 11:30-2:00 & 5:00-9:00

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Saturday: 1:00-9:00

Sunday: 1:00-6:00

Climbing Co.

Renee Gabet

earliest commercial successes.

“From there, it really took off,” she says. “We were out there working with essential oils before people even knew what essential oils were.”

Gabet was very committed to learning everything she could about the art of fragrance, and she went to extraordinary lengths to accomplish her goals.  She has literally traveled the world in search of top tier chemists, distilleries, herbalists and bottle designers to ensure that her products not only delivered quality ingredients, but had a sleek, aesthetically dazzling appearance as well.

As a result, her studio carries a diverse inventory of home fragrance, aromatherapies, perfumes, colognes and therapies derived from essential oil blends. Gabet is happy to demonstrate how customizing mixtures of various scents can elicit sensory experiences, from serenity and balancing to energizing and euphoria. With a dab, a spritz or a drop of her oils, customers can infuse their own unique creations with limitless choices of oil. Gabet can share suggestions as to what scents work well together, like frankincense for grounding, lavender for calming and peppermint for reviving.

Gabet smiles when she speaks of her store.

“To smell beauty is to be happy,” Gabet says.

One of Annie Oakley’s top sellers is a line called BreathePure, which includes peppermint, eucalyptus and basil and is said to work well for relieving sinus issues. There is also a line of skincare products that feature anti-aging properties and natural emollients. Another popular creation that is found in studio is tea tree oil, which is cultivated from Australia. When used in very small proportions, one-half of 1% to be exact, it can be used to ward off germs and bacterial growth, including E. coli.

One specific warning that Gabet shares

Signature fragrances that helped launch Annie Oakley Perfumery over 40 years ago.

Annie Oakley has many scents to choose from.

Annie Oakley Perfumery Studio in Ligonier, Indiana.

with her clients is to never ingest essential oils. “It can kill both good and bad bacteria,” she says. Additionally, the oils can cause corrosion to the esophagus. To illustrate this point, Gabet

takes an eye dropper and squeezes a few droplets into a Styrofoam cup.  Minutes later, she holds up the cup to show how the bottom of the cup is riddled with holes. It’s a demonstration that

further shows how invested she is in the satisfaction and safety of her patrons.

So why did Gabet choose to call her business Annie Oakley? She explains

Journeys for Horse & Rider collection.

that she was drawn to the strength and independence that Annie Oakley exuded in her time. One of her newer series of fragrances is the Wild West Line, which features decanters with a triangle shape, “like stirrups,” she explains. As part of her commitment to maintaining Annie Oakley as a small family business, her son Charlie is the print model for the Wild West promotional materials.

Annie Oakley Perfumery is also proud to host sensory tours, designed to accommodate tourists and smaller groups. There is also a gift shop on the premises and the studio was recently lauded as a Top 15 Destination along the historic U.S. Route 6 by renowned travel writer Malarie Yolen-Cohen, a contributor for National Geographic Traveler and Newsday, among others.

Annie Oakley Perfumery Studio is located at 300 Johnson Street in Ligonier.  To arrange for a tour or to hear their hours of operation, call (260) 894-7219 or visit www.AnnieOakley.com.

The Christmas collection from Annie Oakley Perfumery.

GOT YOU COVERED

ELITE COVERS & INTERIORS OFFERS WIDE SELECTION FOR MARINE UPHOLSTERY

Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided

Mel Otto with Elite Covers & Interiors, LLC, an upholstery business located in LaGrange, Indiana, says his shop began through a favorite hobby he enjoyed.

“We started this business as a hobby in October of 2017,” Otto says. “I am the sole proprietor of the LLC, although my wife has been by my side from the start.”

Otto says he learned about covers and interiors as a child.

“I was raised in the business at Otto’s Canvas in Arthur, Illinois, where my grandfather started his business in 1972,” he says. “My dad and uncles continued it, and I helped out from a very young age until I moved to Indiana in December of 2014.”

After a few years of being away from the trade, Otto decided to start on his own as just a hobby.

“It seemed the more that word got around about what I was doing, the busier I got,” he says. “Soon it wasn’t a hobby anymore, but a business.”

Otto soon had to hire some employees to help him get everything done at Elite Covers & Interiors.

“Here we are five years later, with myself, my wife, and two highly skilled full-time employees,” Otto says.

Elite Covers & Interiors specializes in marine upholstery.

“We also do flooring, or anything else on a pontoon and lots of

other custom projects,” Otto says. “We do lots of pontoon seats, some wake board boat seat and even a few fishing boat seats. If your boat seats are getting old and faded or are cracking, we can Tribeca, New York, NY reupholster it so they look good as new.”

Elite Covers & Interiors can also rebuild or replace a customer’s boat seat foam if needed.

“Some boat seats have rotten wood that also needs replaced, and we can also put some new seats in if you are wanting to redesign your pontoon, or we can do custom add-ons to match your existing seats,” Otto says. “With our ability to create new pieces, the redesign of your pontoon is only limited to your imagination.”

Elite Covers & Interiors also offers many new flooring options, new fencing kits, stripe kits, wiring, lights, accessories, hardware, hinges, ladders and other hard-to-find pontoon parts for a complete restoration.

“Maybe we can custom build a brand new ‘AQUA-DANCE’

pontoon or tri-toon for you,” Otto says.

Otto notes that Elite Covers & Interiors also does custom enclosure options for boats, pontoons, patios, shops or whatever else they have in mind.

“Boat and pontoon enclosures are custom built to your Bimini, with lots of options from just a simple wind curtain all the way up to a window with screen and a privacy flap,” he says.

Otto added that these enclosures are great for spring and fall

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Caspers

Also located in South Bend, northwest of Notre Dame 214 North Dixieway (US933) 574-272-5554

Open Tues-Wed. 10a-5p Thur-Fri. 10a-6p | Sat. 9a-2p

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fishing or rainstorms on a family outing. “Families can get inside the closure and stay warm and dry while everyone else has to go home,” he says. “Then, after the rain, you have the lake to yourself. You can also imagine a peaceful night on the lake away from the bugs.”

Patio/shop enclosures at Elite Covers & Interiors range from a simple snap on curtain to manual roll ups to electronic retractable.

“We can build them out of bug screen, sunscreen, window or multiple fabric options,” Otto says.

Otto notes that they also have garage door screens that can also be just a simple snap on or a roll up with a zipper, rope and pulley system.

“Customers can open the zipper, pull the rope and then the screen rolls up,” he says. “You move your car outside and release the rope, close the zipper and then you have a screen again. Ta dah!”

Shop curtains at Elite Covers & Interiors also have many options from sliding tracks, roll up from screen options, or window to fire-retardant vinyl.

“We also offer replacement or new Biminis and travel covers,” Otto says. “We offer a five-year warranty on our Biminis, enclosures and covers. This does not mean your product only has a five-year lifespan, as we hope it will last you much longer than that.”

Otto stressed that he and his employees are so confident that

best

available that they are willing to be one of the few shops in the industry worldwide that warranties their products.

“This warranty covers any failures from normal wear and tear but does not cover abuse or neglecting, so don’t try to cut a hole in something in order to have it replaced, as we will most likely be able to recognize intentional abuse,” Otto says.

Elite Covers & Interiors also stocks a small selection of 303 and Norwex products to protect and clean fabrics and boats.

Otto encourages people to stop in and check out their large selection of vibrant colors to match their preference or to discuss their next project.

“Don’t forget to give the employs a little bit of a hard time while you are here anyway,” Otto says.

To find your next cover or interior that works for you, visit Elite Covers & Interiors at 630 S. 350 W., LaGrange, Indiana, or call (260) 463-6659.

Ed Christner, owner of OP1VET, stands in front of his van that transports wheelchairs to deserving Veterans

When you set foot inside the doors of Operation 1 Veteran Inc., better known as OP1VET, in Goshen, you’re greeted with smiling faces and bold, relentlessly patriotic apparel. Take a look around and you’ll find the walls lined with American products including military patches, engraved tumblers and mugs, not to mention locally sourced, live-edge woodburned products.

“Changing one veteran’s life at a time” has been the motto and vision of Owner Ed Christner since his business officially opened in 2018.

A veteran of Desert Storm, he knows the ins and outs of what the local area needs, not only to support our veterans, but also to rock American apparel with pride. While you shop, you’ll not only find amazing, unique items, but also feel fulfilled knowing that up to 50% of each

purchase flows back into communities to change the lives of our veterans. You can feel the passion the company has for giving back while you peruse the store, read testimonials on the shelves and speak to the highly knowledgeable employees.

After Christner served our country, he came back home and successfully ran several RV plants in the area, among other ventures. Later he got back to his military roots, and used the knowledge and experience he gained while serving our country. He decided to use those skills to give back to communities both near and far. He has even supported veterans as far as Texas by donating Action Trackchairs, to help veterans maneuver easier and do activities that a normal wheelchair might not allow them to.

“We focus primarily on giving back and giveaways,” Christner says. Typically the veteran recipients of his giveaways do not even know he’s coming.

Not only does the shop serve as a place where you can get T-shirts with bold phrases for brothers and sisters alike, but it also has a state-of-the-art laser printing machine. As you head to the back of the shop you’ll find the Boss Laser LS-3655 machine running at an incredibly fast pace, with green, yellow, orange and

Writer & Photographer / Ali Snyder

red lights beaming off of it. Christner didn’t always have a vision of owning this machine, but when he couldn’t find a source for his engraving idea, he took matters into his own hands.

Whether you’re looking for a special gift such as a decanter and glass set, or want to create your own engraved glass, the team at OP1VET will be of great assistance. They are even able to melt unique items into the glassware such as bullets, golf balls and arrowheads.

Their unique engraving service can meet almost any customer need. They provide a variety of colors for their insulated tumblers, from brands like YETI that you can choose from in-store. They also allow you to bring in your own tumblers for engraving. After you begin talking with the staff, they can make suggestions or take your own idea and run with it. Some customers might prefer a subtle look on

Veteran, Joe Reed, was the recipient of a track wheel chair from Ed Christner, owner of OP1VET

their engraved pieces while others may want a high-contrast finish.

Head back to the main retail space and you’ll find even more American-made products including emergency food kits, high-quality gloves, wood-burned plaques, hats, flags, patches, decals and more. You can even buy jewelry pieces from brands like Buffalo Girls Salvage that serve as great gifts or special pieces for yourself.

The Byrna launcher is an especially unique item you can purchase from OP1VET. It is an incredibly powerful, non-lethal self-defense weapon that is powered by compressed air. It shoots .68-caliber kinetic and chemical irritants from up to 60’ away. The business is one of the only locations in the area where you can find this item and the projectiles to go with it. You can find OP1VET on Facebook,

Instagram and YouTube, where they showcase their unique business and the process of giving back to the veteran community. Their live feeds are a great way to stay connected, get educated and support a small local business that is doing big things.

OP1VET is located at 117 South Main Street in Goshen. You can shop online anytime at op1vet.com.

Pictured from left to right are team members, Shana (engraving expert), Ed (owner), and Celia (store manager)

CHRISTMAS MORNING BREAKFAST BOARD

INGREDIENTS

• 3” Pancakes (Prepared according to mix or recipe)

• Scrambled Eggs

• Maple Syrup

• Chocolate Chips

• Butter

• Strawberries

• Blueberries

• Strawberries

• Christmas Sprinkles

• Whipped Topping

• Peanut Butter

• Sausage, Cooked

• Bacon, Cooked

• Powdered Sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

Place sausages near the bottom of the breakfast board in the shape of a tree trunk. Arrange pancakes on the board in a Christmas tree shape, starting with the bottom of the tree and going toward the top, so they’ll overlap each other. (Be sure to leave room for the star at the top!)

Next sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar over the pancakes to look like snow.

Add the bacon to create a garland, cutting it where needed so it doesn’t lay over the edge of the pancake tree. Place blueberry ornaments on the tree.

Place a star cookie cutter at the top of the tree and fill it with scrambled eggs.

Lastly, place the bowls of toppings on the board and fill in the empty spaces on the breakfast board with fruit.

M&M’S MARSHMALLOW DREAM BARS

INGREDIENTS

• 12 oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 11 oz package butterscotch chips

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter

• 10.5 oz bag mini marshmallows

• 1 cup M&Ms

INSTRUCTIONS

Line a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick foil. Set aside. Combine first three ingredients in a large microwave safe container.

Microwave on high heat in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the chips are fully melted and the mixture in smooth.

Stir in marshmallows until fully coated.

Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.

Sprinkle on M&Ms and press down slightly.

Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.

Cut into bars. Store leftovers in an airtight container.

EXPLORE LOCAL HISTORY

NAPPANEE CENTER IS A VAULT FULL OF HISTORIC EXHIBITS

Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger Photography Provided

Lyricists, poets and novelists the world over have been inspired by this unseen muse. It cannot be touched, yet it exists all the same.

It is the passage of time. And although going back and revisiting certain moments isn’t possible, there are places where images and mementos of the bygone days have been captured for people to linger over and appreciate.

The Nappanee Center is one such place. Within the walls of this historic structure there are several fascinating and informative rotating exhibits spanning nearly 150 years, all about the stories of Nappanee. While it’s a marvelous destination for education and enlightenment, the Nappanee Center has also evolved and includes a network of interactive experiences.

While the Nappanee Center in its current incarnation has existed for a relatively short period of time, the archival marvels within have been a part of a museum setting for more than 50 years. Back in 1971, the Nappanee Public Library created a separate suite of rooms designed to display and preserve their vast number of photographs, club records, school ephemera and other materials. The project was primarily under the auspices of Evelyn Lehman Culp, who was the beloved longtime director of the library from 1957 until 1977. Culp had a tremendous heart and passion for keeping Nappanee’s illustrious history alive and tangible for the community in which she was born and lived for the greater share of her life. Culp died at the age of 91 in 2002. In reverence to her contributions, the library museum that she worked so tirelessly to create was christened the Evelyn Lehman Culp Heritage Collection.

In the mid-2000s, an opportunity presented itself for the museum to relocate to a much more spacious facility. The Nappanee Public Library entered into an agreement with the City of Nappanee

the collection, an alliance which would bring together the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce and the museum under one roof. In 2007, the new museum debuted at its new home, 302 W. Market Street downtown Nappanee. The museum has a unique attached structure at its far west end, a building that served as the home of the John Hartman family. Hartman was a prominent Nappanee merchant and local community activist, who with his brothers became proprietors of the Hartman mercantile firm. The Hartman house sector of the Nappanee Center is a favorite element of the Nappanee Center. It features several antiques, photographs and other family treasures throughout several rooms of the homestead.

As the Nappanee Center was being established in its new location, another renowned citizen and key contributor to Nappanee’s legacy lent his talents and expertise to the cause. Charles “Chuck”

Grimm was an integral volunteer in working as a curator, spending countless hours coordinating the exhibits, loaning several items from his own personal collections and serving in a variety of capacities as a longtime local historian. Grimm spent his entire life as a Nappanee resident until his passing in 2016.

Fifteen years later, the Nappanee Center is as diverse and intriguing as ever to both residents and tourists alike. With curator and literal caretaker Martha Owen at the helm, the amenities that the Center offers can now be enjoyed in various digital formats, an endeavor that Owen has initiated and implemented over the past five years or so. The Nappanee Center now features Facebook Live history chats and presentations, an active presence on YouTube, walking tours and the creations of painter Emma Schrock, the latter of which was donated by the Doug Grant family. The Schrock gallery features more than 70 pieces of Schrock’s artwork and is believed to be the largest private collection of her works. The Grant family also contributed additional funds to the tune of approximately $200,000, which enabled the Nappanee Center to install new lighting and display walls, interactive screens and fresh carpeting and paint. Those enhancements were also used to upgrade the Nappanee Cartoonists exhibits, which showcases the illustrations of the six Nappanee men who achieved national prominence through their art.

Owen has also hosted several podcasts, lovingly titled “Evie’s History Bytes,” as a wink to Culp. She and the Nappanee Public Library have also joined forces to

create multiple family themed adventures like themed escape rooms, Museum Selfie Day and the popular production known as “Night at the Museum.” Every October, a group of local performers and volunteers come together to recreate well known moments and incidents of Nappanee history, complete with authentic character names of actual residents, period costumes and relevant trivia. Plans are already in the works for the 2023 production, which will feature a greatest hits format.  In 2024, “Night at the Museum” will be centered around the 100th anniversary of Nappanee’s establishment as a city.

The Nappanee Center is located at 302 West Market Street, just west of downtown Nappanee. Hours are Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.  The Center is closed on Sundays.  For more information about the facility, including a schedule of upcoming events, visit http://www.nappaneelibrary. org and click on the Heritage Collection tab, or call (574) 773-7812.

Compost: The ability to return to nature that which was borrowed from nature. Some refer to the soil as “Mother Earth.” Fertile soil is the source of what feeds us, clothes us, and shelters us. In so doing, we are borrowing that which makes the soil full of life; in the grains which takes its nourishment; in the forage which feeds our livestock; in the timber which provides our shelter.

Composting manures improves the fluidity of the manures by taking on the role of soil bacteria in breaking down the manure components (preconditioning) into molecular structures necessary for soil chelation and plant root absorption.

What we borrow we must replace.

If we continue to “take” and never return in equal share; if we borrow and never repay, we steal from the earth, from that which makes the soil fertile and able to nourish all things that grow from it.

If in greed we coerce the earth to give more through the overuse of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides without replenishing the organic structure, the soil ceases to provide.

The application of Boost™ preconditioned manures greatly increases the volume of beneficial soil bacteria

Lagoon

For those who live in Plymouth, the REES Theatre has been a part of the downtown landscape and a place of fond memories for generations since the early 20th century. It was beginning to show its age when it closed in 2009. The community stepped up, pitched in and brought the art deco marquee lights to life again. After several years of planning, fundraising and labors of love, a grand reopening was held in October.

“The REES is a cornerstone in the City of Plymouth, not just because it was built on the first lot of the first plat in the 1860s, but through the years it has offered a distraction to problems of the day - an escape, if you will - and a place where one could dream about visiting places they saw in the cinema,” says Donna Pontius, renovation project co-organizer. “It is the oldest building in Plymouth, built in 1865. It needed to be saved.”

And saved it was. While it normally might take seven to 10 years to restore a historic theater, the REES committee pledged to do it in three. That timeline was delayed a little by unexpected challenges, such as COVID-19 and the supply shortages that followed.

Pontius says the grand reopening was originally scheduled for the REES’s 80th anniversary in 2020. While that date was not met, the committee beat the typical restoration time frame, closing the project in five years. The grand reopening took place with a weeklong celebration from October 1 through 8.

“My word for the day was gobsmacked,” Pontius says of the grand reopening. “Even though I knew how many tickets had been sold and how many people we expected, it was indescribable - so many happy, smiling faces. I think the vendors were as happy to be there as we were to have them there. The planning team had high expectations to make this a grand celebration for our community, and reality exceeded all of those expectations.”

Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Tony Straw

The three-story building at the corner of Michigan and LaPorte streets that houses the REES today was purchased in August of 1939 by Stewart “Stewie” Rees and his wife Opal. It was known as the VanVactor Building. Renovations began and were completed seven months later at a cost of $75,000.

Under the guidance of 30-plus project

committee members, the required $3.4 million in funding was secured through grants and philanthropic community donations to the nonprofit The REES, Inc. More than 1,000 individuals, organizations, churches, foundations, businesses, media companies and government agencies supported the project, according to a previous press release from the REES.

This support included both financial contributions and words of encouragement.

Organized in four phases, renovations started in March of 2019 and the fourth phase was completed in September. With a new community-chosen logo and years of hard work from so many in the community, the project committee

Here When You Need Us

HOURS & LOCATION

Here When You Need Us

New Location

Effective 9-7-2021!

Here When You Need Us

HOURS & LOCATION

New Location

HOURS & LOCATION

115 E. 7th Street Rochester, IN 46975 evansagencyrochester.com

New Location

Effective 9-7-2021!

Effective 9-7-2021! 115 E. 7th Street Rochester, IN 46975 evansagencyrochester.com

115 E. 7th Street Rochester, IN 46975 evansagencyrochester.com

evansagencyllc.com

Tel: 574-224-6988 Fax: 574-224-6925

Hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Tel: 574-224-6988 Fax: 574-224-6925

Tel: 574-224-6988 Fax: 574-224-6925

Saturday By Appointment Evenings By Appointment

Hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Saturday By Appointment Evenings By Appointment

Hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Saturday By Appointment Evenings By Appointment

understood that their task was important. “The attention to detail was there from the start,” Pontius says. “There was great intent and purpose in keeping the art deco decor from the original theater built in 1940, and in a green initiative that is needed now to carry us into the future.”

That green initiative includes a solar

panel installed on the building’s roof. Pontius says there were some surprises found during the renovations.

“The seven kiddie pools in the ceiling were unexpected,” she says. “I’ve heard of folks putting out pots to catch rain from leaks in their house, so I suppose it would make sense that for that size of building, a kiddie pool would be the right size.”

The REES is located at 100 North Michigan Street in Plymouth. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit reestheatre.com or call 574-3377337. Tickets may also be purchased 30 minutes before any show at the ticket booth. Follow the REES on Instagram and Twitter.

LAKES AREA HAS FESTIVE TIES TO HOLIDAY TRADITIONS & MOVIES

Writer / Jeff Kenney Photography Provided

It’s December in the Lakes area, which means many readers are preparing for the holiday season. Perhaps unbeknownst to many, Indiana -- and the Lakes area specifically -- is home to a surprising array of Christmas-related phenomena.

Let’s start with the ubiquitous Christmas tree. Indiana ranks 11th in the nation with 200 tree farms that produce almost 200,000 harvestable trees per year.

Of those, the seven most common tree types are grown in Indiana: White pine, Canaan fir, Scotch pine, Fraser fir, Colorado blue spruce, Concolor fir and Douglas fir.

Nationally, 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold every year (for each of these, one-to-three seedlings are planted the following spring), on nearly 15,000 farms that employ over 100,000 people full or parttime. A typical tree takes four to 15 years to grow, with an average growing time of seven years.

Indiana is also home to at least two major Christmas-related phenomena -- one relating to a destination community and the other tied to a beloved Hollywood classic.

The Hoosier connections to the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story” run deeper than the contents of the movie itself. The late Jean Shepherd, a prolific writer and radio personality grew up in Hammond, Indiana, and incorporated his hometown into many of his stories, not least of all those that make up the movie itself (which utilizes his voice as narrator). It’s based on his short story, “In God We Trust; All Others Pay Cash.”

And while director Bob Clark had intended to film the production in Hammond, studio scouts chose the city of Cleveland, Ohio, as the filming location. This is slightly ironic since Shepherd grew up at 2907 Cleveland Street in Hammond.

Several real-life Hammond sites play at least a tangential role in the movie, including the childhood homes of Ralphie’s friends, Schwartz and Flick, his teacher Miss Ruth Shields, the (now

Lakes Mag Santa Claus postcard: This longstanding Santa Claus statue has been a fixture in the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, for decades.

Lakes Mag Santa Claus Ind: Santa Claus, Indiana, where Christmas rules all year long (Credit: Sarah Afshar/Wikimedia Commons).

defunct) Cam Lan Chinese restaurant and the defunct Goldblatt’s department store referred to as Higbee’s in the movie. Warren G. Harding Elementary, which has since been rebuilt, was also depicted in the movie.

Shepherd also began a lengthy broadcast and storytelling career at WJOB Radio Station in Hammond.

Nearly at the opposite end of the state from Hammond is the small, yet legendary town of Santa Claud, Indiana.

Rumor has it that in the mid-19th century, residents of the then tiny town originally chose the name Santa Fe for their community, only to discover that a Santa Fe, Indiana already existed. The night that news reached residents, says the legend, was Christmas Eve -- the same night a boy rushed into the town meeting to proclaim that the Christmas star was falling. And, in fact, a flaming mass allegedly crashed into a distant hillside, leading to the conclusion that a Christmas miracle had occurred. The apparently obvious implication was that the town should be renamed Santa Claus. The post office bearing that moniker was officially established on May 21, 1856.

Many years later, around 1914, Santa Claus Postmaster James Martin began answering mail sent to jolly old Saint Nicholas, leading postal employees nationwide to reroute letters addressed to “Santa Claus” to the only town bearing that name...the one in Indiana. Eventually, the tradition took hold of individuals routing notes and packages through the Santa Claus post office so they would bear the authentic postmark of the gift-bearing Saint Nicholas.

In 1935, a Vincennes businessman built Santa’s Candy Castle, the town’s premiere tourist attraction, which eventually led to a small holiday village of various businesses he dubbed Santa Claus Town.

On the other side of town, Chicago businessman Carl Barrett built a 22-foot statue of Santa Claus which served as the centerpiece of Santa Claus Park. All of this was the precursor to Santa Claus Land, which opened in 1946. As the first amusement park in the world with a specific theme, the park included a toy shop and related displays, a restaurant, themed rides, and of course, Santa himself.

Pulaski Memorial Hospital Senior Care

Over the years the theme park became increasingly elaborate. In 1984, the park expanded to include Halloween and the Fourth of July and changed its name to Holiday World (known today Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari) and now welcomes over 1 million people each year.

Residents of Santa Claus, whose population has increased from around 100 people to 2,400 people, might live on Candy Cane Lane or Poinsettia Drive and visitors can stay at Santa’s Lodge or Lake Rudolph Campground. During the Christmas season, the town is home to a multitude of festivals, parades, and Christmas-themed fireworks.

About midway between Santa Claus and Hammond, another Christmas landmark holds court in downtown Indianapolis. The post-World War II brainchild of architect Edward D. Pierre, the Christmas tree at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument came to fruition in 1962 when thousands of lights were strung from the base of the Lady Victory statue down 284 feet to the street below. These days, nearly 5,000 colored lights join more than two miles of garland in the downtown “circle” of the Hoosier state capitol.

The aptly named Circle of Lights was named, in fact, by Travelocity as one of the top five must-see Christmas trees in the US.

And so, the Lakes area -- and the Hoosier state in general -- may be a bit off the beaten path from the North Pole, but there’s plenty of significant Christmasrelated history to be found here.

Lock & Key Boutique is more than just another fun place to shop in downtown Plymouth. It is a place built on friendship and a passion for what’s trendy.

Owners Amy Berry and Tori Brown met eight years ago through their daughters, who were on the same cheer team. Now, they are co-owners of Lock & Key Boutique in Plymouth, sharing their fashion sense with the community.

“I was a stay-at-home mom who was ready to get back to work now that my children are all in school,” Berry says. “So, one day my husband saw the building up for sale and thought it’d make a perfect location for a boutique.”

After all, Berry says, downtown Plymouth is the right place to be.

“Who doesn’t love downtown Plymouth?” she asks. “The real quick

stunning.”

Berry says the business combines her love of little boutiques and old buildings. After discussing it with Brown, the business partnership was launched.

“From that moment on, Tori and I got to work planning, ordering and creating the business,” Berry says.

Berry and Brown had support and help

Writer / Lois Tomaszewski

Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

parents, siblings, friends and many more, they say.

One of those supporters, Berry’s niece Audrey helped come up with the name for the boutique. She suggested Lock & Key which suited the fact that there were vaults

in the building which had once been a bank.

In designing the space, Berry and Brown used some of the original details. Original brick is exposed on one wall, the only remaining remnants of a fireplace that was used in the early 1900s. One of the vaults

is used as open office space and historic photos are used in the décor.

The store features the type of clothing and accessories that are favorites of Berry and Brown. MudPie, Simply Southern, RuffleButts, RuggedButts, Swan Creek,

Duke Cannon, Ambre Blends, Natural Life, Charlie’s Project and more are examples of brands the boutique carries.

“We specialize in trendy women’s and children’s clothing, toys, accessories, candles and some home decor pieces,” says Berry. “We also have Kenzie, our amazing family friend running her own lash business inside the store…Lashed by Kenz.”

Berry and Brown want their boutique to be inclusive. They stock sizes from newborn to plus sizes.

“We welcome all into our store,” Berry says. “We have a variety of styles that we stock for all ages and sizes.  I want them to feel like it’s a warm and inviting boutique where they know they can always find something great and they want to tell all their friends about.”

In addition to the selection of styles offered in the boutique, customers can also order from the online store. Berry and Brown set

up the online store about a month after opening the doors to Lock & Key.

“Unfortunately, not all of our merchandise is online,” Berry says. “There are some items we feel that need to be hand-picked and we just aren’t comfortable shipping those items because it can jeopardize the overall product.

“We also feel that being a small business it’s important to allow our community to shop certain products in-person before it’s available for our online community,” she says.

Community is an important part of Berry and Brown’s motivation.

“My children all go to school in Plymouth and the community has been a great support to us this first year,” Berry says. “We want to continue to give back to the community too. The other downtown businesses and our customers have made

it possible for this business to exist and we hope to keep growing and serving the community for many years.”

While the business partnership is still new, Berry and Brown have a history of working together, thanks to their daughters who remain best friends. Over the past seven years, the moms have run North Central Elite, an all-star cheer gym in Kewanna.

“It was a no-brainer that we decided to run

the boutique together,” Berry says.

Lock & Key Boutique is located at 201 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth. The store is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays are open for pop up events only. Private shopping is also an option. For more information, call 574-400-5102 or visit lockandkeyboutique.com.

What’s Happening

IN DECEMBER AT THE LAKES

KOONTZ LAKE/WALKERTON

ALL Times listed are Central Time.

EVERY MONDAY – Bingo – 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.

KLA Board Meeting at the KLA Club house are the second Tuesday of the month. Meeting are open to the public and community support is needed! Come to a board meeting to see if you might be interested in helping!

DECEMBER 3RD - 5pm - Tree Dec orating Lighting and a visit from Santa. Families will receive a little gift and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. Koontz Lake Fire Department and Koontz Lake Association (7784 IN-23, Walkerton, IN 46574)

DECEMBER 6TH - 6PM - Koontz Lake Conservancy District Board Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Sewer District building located at 10625 EPrairie Ave in Koontz Lake.

Rent the Koontz Lake Clubhouse for your next party! The rental fee is $50.00. If in terested, please contact Cathy at 219-2294424. The facility holds up to 100 people and has a fully equipped kitchen. Like us on Facebook! – Koontz Lake Association

KNOX/BASS LAKE

ALL Times listed are Central Time.

DECEMBER 3RD - 9a-3p - Christmas Marketplace Sponsored by Bass lake Festival & Bass lake property owners association

DECEMBER 3RD – City of Knox Pep permint Parade

DECEMBER 8TH - 6:30p - The Maxinkuckee Players present The Sound Of Music at the Knox United Medthodist Church.

LAKE MAXINKUCKEE/ CULVER

ALL Times listed are Eastern Time.

DECEMBER 2ND - 6p-8p - Cook ie decorating, Christmas Tree Lighting, town-wide caroling, and Meet Santa at the Lake Max Beach Lodge and Train Depot

DECEMBER 3RD - Holiday HopShop and dine around town with a punch card and enter to win a gift basket.

DECEMBER 17TH - 7:30a - 11a - VFW Post 6919 Monthly Breakfast at 108 E Washington Street, Culver, IN

MARSHALL COUNTY

ALL Times listed are Eastern Time.

DECEMBER 1ST - 7:30p - The Max inkuckee Players present The Sound Of Music at the Argos United Methodist Church.

DECEMBER 5TH - 7:30p - The Maxinkuckee Players present The Sound Of Music at the Plymouth Church of the Brethren.

DECEMBER 10TH - 7:30p - The Maxinkuckee Players present The Sound Of Music at the Plymouth Reese The ather

DECEMBER 14TH - 7:30p - The Maxinkuckee Players present The Sound Of Music at the Culver Grace United

Church of Christ

ROCHESTER/FULTON COUNTY

ALL Times listed are Eastern Time.

DECEMBER 7TH - 7:30p - The Maxinkuckee Players present The Sound Of Music at the Rochester Grace United Methodist Church

BREMEN/LAKE OF THE WOODS

ALL Times listed are Eastern Time.

DECEMBER 3RD – 5pm – Santa at the Lake at the Bremen Conservation Club building on North Shore Drive.

DECEMBER 17TH – 9am – Bremen Conservation Club Meeting. This meeting will be held at the Bremen Conservation Club building on North Shore Drive.