Pawpular Pets
WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU:
• 24-Hour storm damage repair
• Roofing repair and installation
• Siding repair and installation
• Gutter repair and installation
• Window and door installation
• Remodels
APOLLO CORA EMILY GUS
HANK HAWKEYE HUDSON LOUIE
LOUIE MITZI PIPER TUCKER & COPPER
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
AROUND THE COMMUNITY, 2024
OCTOBER
KOKOMO EVENTS
Oct. 4
FIRST FRIDAY
Masquerade; downtown Kokomo; 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Free artsbased, open-house tour of beautiful downtown Kokomo. Visit firstfridaykokomo.com.
Oct. 4-5
CEMETERY WALK HOSTED BY HOWARD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
during this event, attendees will be led through Crown Point Cemetery as they interact with actors playing various historical figures buried in the cemetery. Call 765-452-4314 or visit howardcountymuseum.org.
Oct. 5
KOKOMO WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S Visit alz.org/indiana.
Oct. 5
KOKOMO RIVERWALK CONCERT SERIES
featuring Jeremy Short and Davey & the Midnights; Riverwalk Stage in downtown Kokomo; free admission; live music from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Oct. 11
GLO IN THE ‘MO 5K NEON NIGHT RUN starts at Kokomo Family YMCA. Call 765-457-4447 or visit kokomoymca.org.
Oct. 12
PUMPKIN PAINTING
Jackson Morrow Park; 11 a.m.4 p.m.; Free community event hosted at the Kirkendall Nature Center; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult;
pumpkins and paints are free while supplies last, but you can also bring your own if preferred. Call 765-456-7275.
Oct. 26
HAUNTED TRAIL WALK & MONSTER MASH BASH
Jackson Morrow Park; fall activities from 3 p.m - 6 p.m.; Haunted Trail Walk 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.; free to attend; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
ECLECTIC ME FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Oct. 11-12
HUNT & GATHER MARKET Crown Point
Oct. 17,18,19
3RD YEAR ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE
1403 Home Ave
Oct. 31, Nov 1, 2
FRENCH KANDE PARTY 1403 Home Ave
TIPTON EVENTS
Sep. 28
HORTON’S AUTUMN MARKET
112 S. Main St., Tipton; 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; experience fall at Horton’s! The greenhouses and pergola will be filled with wonderful vendors for you to shop: vintage, artisan, boutiques, clothing, antiques and jewelry. Visit the shop for cozy boutique styles, fresh pumpkin fudge, fall home goods, and the garden center’s mums and pumpkins!
Sep. 28
URBAN HOMESTEAD FIFTH BIRTHDAY PARTY
114 E. Jefferson St., Tipton; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; special guest Karen E. Laine from HGTV’s “Good Bones”; first 30 attendees to receive a swag bag; pop-up art gallery 112 (next to Urban Homestead); music and appetizers.
Oct. 10
FALL CHORAL CONCERT BY TRI-CENTRAL CHOIRS
2115 W. 500 N., Sharpsville; 7 p.m.8:30 p.m. Join us for our fall choral concert featuring all four of our Tri-Central choral ensembles; come celebrate the fall season with us!
Oct. 12
RUN-4-RESCUE 5K FOR DESTINY RESCUE
Tipton 4H Fairgrounds; race time 9 a.m.; check-in starts at 8:15 a.m. Join us for a meaningful and active morning as we host a 5K to raise funds for Destiny Rescue, an organization dedicated to rescuing children from human trafficking. This event is open to everyone; whether you’re a seasoned runner or just looking for a good walk, you’re welcome to join us! Register today: trinitywesleyan.church/5k.
Oct. 19
TIPTON’S BIGGEST GARAGE SALE
Tipton County Fairgrounds; 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.; entry fee $1, with proceeds benefitting Blue Ribbon Chasers 4-H Club.
Events or Submit Your Own
SUSAN CONE
The Lakes Magazines
Publisher Mandi Lewandowski
Fishers Magazine
Publisher Alison Gatz
Kokomo/Tipton Magazine
Publisher Kim Senkus
Towne Post President Jeanne Britt
Carmel Magazine
Publisher Lyndsey Brown
TIKI’S FURNITURE AND MORE
Tiki’s Furniture and More honors their tagline, “Customization is our specialty,” and then some. From unique baby gifts like personalized blankets and onesies to custom quilts and memory bears, as well as reviving older furniture with restoration, painting and upholstery services, Tiki’s can transform almost anything into a unique piece of work.
Popular items include their Christian gift section with devotional and prayer books, gift baskets, and wall decor, along with baby shower baskets that are ready to go. Their custom quilting service offers unique and personalized blankets made with care and attention to detail, along with their customized memory pillows.
Located in the charming Side Street Mall in downtown Tipton, Tiki’s is owned by Paula Wolf and her husband, Steve. The store is a tribute to her parents, where they uphold values of honesty and hard work, just like she saw growing up. With their focus on faith, family and community, the local business owners welcome you to the unique, family-run store - and you’ll probably be greeted by the
The store came to life at a significant time for Wolf. Her parents passed away and she departed the corporate world shortly after. Once the holiday season passed, Wolf began job hunting, but pivoted to the idea of opening a store when her husband shared his dream of refinishing furniture. The couple started purchasing a few pieces, and then an opportunity arose to acquire the Jefferson Street location.
Steve, a Vietnam Navy veteran with over 50 years of construction experience, was previously a licensed general contractor, home remodeling expert and all-around handyman. He meticulously repairs, sands, paints and stains vintage furniture pieces, and will occasionally feel inspired to redesign pieces, crafting unique items with care that will last for decades. Tiki’s restoration and repair services, along with furniture painting, will bring your beloved pieces back to life.
store’s namesake, Tiki, a small Shih Tzu with a lively presence.
“We know by helping others, supporting nonprofits in the community like the Human Society, Salvation Army and various churches, among other groups, that there is nothing more gratifying than making someone’s heart happy, whether it is through a Bible, a memory bear, or restoring a family heirloom.”
—Paula Wolf
“After careful consideration and prayer, we felt this was where we were meant to be,” Wolf says.
Wolf is proud of opening and running a business in Tipton, especially one that offers a wide range of services, and just wants to give back to the community.
“Tipton is a small, friendly town,” she says. “The community has really shared our story information, and to us it’s not about the money. We know by helping others, supporting nonprofits in the community like the Human Society, Salvation Army and various churches, among other groups, that there is nothing more gratifying than making someone’s heart happy, whether it is through a Bible, a memory bear, or restoring a family heirloom.”
Tiki’s driving force is the knowledge that they are providing genuine service to the community by offering rare items, including Bibles and Christian gifts, along with high-quality, durable furniture pieces. The Wolf family, including daughters, Jena and Jesika, who are also actively involved with the store, is always ready to assist customers in finding the perfect book or gift, or helping you customize an item to bring your vision to reality.
CUSTOM FURNITURE
Even though Jiesue Phifer was born with arthrogryposis, a disability affecting the joints of her arms, wrists, hands and nerves, she pushes herself to never give up. Adopted from an orphanage in Nanchang, China, as a toddler, her first language was Chinese. Early on, she struggled with English besides learning how to do everyday tasks.
“I learned early on how to do things on my own,” she says. “When I was little, my arms did not bend, and I fed myself by laying my hand on my knee, bending over to eat food. I’ve had many surgeries, and my physical therapists were great in showing me how to manage.”
One challenge Phifer continues to face is being able to write and use a computer. It hasn’t prevented her from maintaining her grades or participating in school activities. She competes as a diver in both the Tipton swimming and diving program, and the RipFest diving program.
“My cousin, Megan, gave me the confidence to get on the board and dive,” she says. “I
was self-conscious because of my arms, but she told me to get out there and not care, because I could do it. I also get a lot of encouragement from my dad, stepmom and mom. It surprises me every day how the teachers are there to help me. Honestly, there have been times when I’ve just broken down and cried, but that’s not going to get me anywhere. It’s so much harder if I don’t do anything, and it makes me feel I have a purpose if I figure out how to do something.”
Phifer’s goal is to attend college to obtain a business degree. She is also interested in hospitality management. She would like to explore the possibility of diving in the Paralympic Games.
“I never quit,” she says. “I take time and use patience to solve problems. I have lived a challenging life, but I truly believe if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.”
tate strebIn
TRI-CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Tate Strebin is an example of how hard work and commitment pay off. He feels that if someone sets their mind to a goal, it can be achieved. During his freshman year, he worked his way up to becoming a starter on the varsity football team.
However, his path to athletic success was not an easy. After his mother passed on when he was 9, he was riddled with anxiety that affected his day-to-day life. Fortunately, he conquered his issues by pushing himself through them.
“It was a tough time,” he says. “From middle school to freshman year, I was in a state of worriedness. I was mentally in my head and constantly worried about what was going to happen. It was so hard that I quit football in sixth grade. My dad, Brian Strebin, knew that football would be important to helping me. He knew when to push me, but he also knew me as a person. Tri-Central is a small school, and teachers are very involved in students’ lives. They want us to grow as a person. Students can go to any one of the teachers or coaches for help. Coach Shane Arnold was very supportive to me.”
Strebin’s advice to those dealing with anxiety is to relax and try to distance themselves from anxiety. He feels it’s important to talk to family and friends, and get reassurance that the world isn’t going to end. Although he was on medication during middle school, he worked hard and is now completely off of it.
His love for math and science may take him to Purdue University. At the present time he is thinking of a career as either a mechanical or industrial engineer. However, he hasn’t ruled out business yet. Whatever he chooses, he wants to make sure that he would enjoy it and be happy doing it.
“I know now I can do anything if I work for it,” he says. “The work itself becomes a success. Keep moving forward toward mental stability. Keep family and friends close, not distant. Everyone is going through something.”