Mother and daughters share love of flowers at farmers markets
THE PINK TEAM MEET THE FORCE BEHIND THE GROUP'S SUCCESS
WHAT'S OLD IS COOL
SHOPS PAY HOMAGE TO THAT VINTAGE VIBE
INTERN EXPERIENCE
SUMMER PROGRAM BUILDS CAREER, LIFE CONNECTIONS
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GREATER LAFAYETTE MAGAZINE
Editor
- Carol Bangert
Art Director/Graphic Designer
- Kara Bishop
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
- Chelsie Freeman
Content Marketing Specialist
- Shelby White
MISSION
Greater Lafayette Magazine captures the spirit and vitality of the people who call Greater Lafayette home and what it means to live, work and thrive here. It tells the region’s success stories, from business expansions, entrepreneurship, leadership and philanthropy to quality of life, arts and cultural events. Our hope is that readers of Greater Lafayette Magazine will become active participants in the world around them and join in our mission to make Greater Lafayette the place where progress, creativity and community come together.
AUDIENCE
Greater Lafayette Magazine serves as the leading quality-of-life and business trade publication for the area. Leveraging our award-winning team of writers and designers, Greater Lafayette Magazine attracts a diverse group of readers who are engaged in the community as consumers, visitors, business leaders, volunteers, residents and future residents of Tippecanoe County. This publication is for anyone that appreciates a good story that not only reveals something new about our community but offers insight and pride for the place we call home.
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Greater Lafayette Magazine is published four times a year (January/April/July/October), with a print distribution of 4,000, and up to 10,000 online subscribers/views. Distribution channels will include online, mobile, various newsstands, and pass-along venues including restaurants, businesses, organizations, community centers, hotel lobbies and healthcare facilities.
Greater Lafayette Magazine is a publication of Greater Lafayette Commerce
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That's me (second from left) with (from left) art director Kara Bishop, Rhoda and Addie Riffey. See story on Page 46.
Around here, there's always something we're ready to celebrate
We’re emerging from a season when fresh, locally grown produce and garden blooms have been scarce, so it should be no surprise that the cover story for the Spring issue of Greater Lafayette Magazine celebrates the return of the farmers markets and all that entails: early-season offerings from area purveyors, freshly made baked goods, artisan crafts, a place to socialize and meet friends. What’s not to love?
Our farmers markets are one of the more obvious signs of Greater Lafayette’s vitality. But even during the cold months of winter, there is always something or someone making a difference, often in ways we initially might not realize. Sure, we all love the buzzy opening of a new restaurant, art exhibit or concert season, but Greater Lafayette is much more than that. This issue of GLM celebrates the lesser known as well.
Each story, in its own way, reveals why Greater Lafayette has become a destination, not just for entertainment, shopping and events, but as a place to put down roots. Check out the story on the new Columbian Park Zoo Commissary (Page 60); the feature on Lafayette’s Public Works Campus (Page 66); a profile on Pink Team founder and CEO Alejandra Malo (Page 38); or the vintage clothing trend (Page 76). Each story is different, but ultimately the message is the same: There’s something pretty special going on around here.
There’s never a bad time to explore Greater Lafayette, but spring has its perks. Visit our parks and shops, walk the trails, play a round of golf, enjoy our restaurants and community events. If you call – or decide to call – Greater Lafayette home, you’ll find a vibrant, evolving community that strives, in ways big and small, to do its best every day to make its residents feel at home, safe and connected. There is indeed something special going on around here.
Oh, and speaking of celebrations, don’t forget that 2025 marks Lafayette’s Bicentennial. There are myriad ways to join the party. Check out the calendar on Page 16 for upcoming events.
Editor, Greater Lafayette Magazine
SUBSCRIBE TO GLM
Get to know the Greater Lafayette community by subscribing to Greater Lafayette Magazine. It’s easy! Go to greaterlafayettecommerce.com and click on the About Us tab. Then click on Greater Lafayette Magazine to view past issues and subscribe.
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ON THE COVER:
Addie and Rhoda Riffey are at home among the flowers in their Rossville-area gardens. |page 46 Photos by Christine Petkov
In this issue
Welcome Note|page 4
From Editor Carol Bangert
A sweet take on our Bicentennial |page 8
DRT Summit builds connections |page 18
The puzzling story of LUDO FACT |page 22
GLC launches Internship Experience |page 32
Meet the Pink Team’s Alejandra Malo |page 38
Ask the Experts |page 58
Area parks showcase updates |page 60
Public Works Campus combines city services |page 66
Local shops celebrate that vintage vibe |page 76
It’s tee time at area golf courses |page 88
Muna Oto shows off a plate of her Bicentennial-inspired gingerbread.
BY KATHY MATTER PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE PETKOV
Sweet memories
Gingerbread celebrates Marquis de Lafayette's impact on our community and the country
Time traveling back to 1825, what would you serve the carefully coiffed and elegantly attired Marquis de Lafayette if he came to your house for tea?
Have no idea?
Then take a tip from Mary Ball Washington, George’s mother, and try gingerbread. Not gingerbread men or broken bits of gingerbread houses, but cake-style gingerbread.
History records that Lafayette really liked Washington’s gingerbread, so much so that bakers are still making “Lafayette Gingerbread” today.
Muna Oto, who operates a home-based West Lafayette bakery called Snickle Snacks, is baking up that treat for official Bicentennial events in Lafayette and can bake it for those wanting to hold their own celebratory events during this special year.
In 1825, Lafayette was finishing up a 13-month, 24-state, 6,000-mile “victory lap” of sorts. The tremendously popular Frenchman was only 19 when he sailed for America in 1777 to fight for freedom with the Colonial Army. He earned the rank of major general. And he earned the respect and love of George Washington, who considered him to be a son.
It was President James Monroe who invited the aging Lafayette to return to the U.S. and once again receive the thanks of a grateful nation in 1824-25.
History did a poor job of recording what the Marquis de Lafayette liked to eat, or what was served to him at the dozens and dozens of special dinners in his honor back then.
Our city was named Lafayette during the tour, along with parks and streets and geographical features all over the country, testifying to the love and hoopla generated by the tour. Lafayette was in Kentucky and Indiana in May 1825 when founder William Digby chose the name Lafayette.
But back to food. Lots of food historians have poked into the topic of Lafayette’s favorite foods without much success. Gingerbread happened to be a trendy dessert in Lafayette's time, and he particularly liked the version served by Mary Ball Washington and Betty Washington Lewis, George’s sister.
“The recipe was forgotten until the 1920s when it was rediscovered in a diary in the attic of the Kenmore Plantation, Betty’s home, in Fredericksburg, Virginia,” Oto says.
Kenmore Plantation was badly in need of restoration, and the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution sold copies of the recipe as a fundraiser. That led to the Hills Brothers Company of New York purchasing the recipe and developing a packaged mix known as Dromedary Gingerbread Mix, with part of the profits going toward the restoration. Today, through the power of women and Lafayette’s gingerbread, you can still visit that plantation.
Few people today make that original recipe, which called for as much as four tablespoons of ginger and two whole cups of molasses, Oto says.
“It was one heck of a spicy cake,” she adds, not to mention dense and totally out of touch with 2025 taste buds.
Gingerbread pretty much tops Oto’s list of favorite desserts. So when she learned of the connection to the Marquis de Lafayette, she tackled a modern adaptation of the 18th century recipe by culinary historian Nancy Carter Crump (published in her book "Dining with the Washingtons") and added her own spin to the rich, aromatic cake.
Oto debuted the dessert at Lafayette markets in the fall of 2024, and she liked the fact that it gave her something to talk about. “George Washington, how interesting is that? People would come up and taste the gingerbread, and I’d tell the story and they were intrigued,” she says.
“Today you can find many variations of this recipe in cookbooks and online, with some adding dried fruits and different quantities of traditional gingerbread spices.”
So what else did Lafayette like to eat? Ham. He often ate ham at Washington’s Mount Vernon home, and it is an established fact that the Washingtons sent Virginia hams to him in France.
Another Washington family recipe associated with Lafayette is “Chicken and Rice Lafayette from Mount Vernon,” a fragrant casserole of chicken pieces and rice seasoned with salt, pepper and nutmeg. The original recipe, just a few lines of text, has enjoyed the scrutiny of culinary historians who offer up a more precise version for 21st century cooks.
There are various recipes — even a Manhattan-like cocktail — with Lafayette in their names but with no real proof of a link. World traveler and celebrity chef James Beard loved staying in the Berkeley Hotel when in London. There he discovered an unusual veal dish, named for the Marquis de Lafayette. The hotel still exists on Wilton Place in the Knightsbridge section of London, though “Escalopes de Veau Lafayette” probably does not.
Marquis de Lafayette history dinners have been staged in connection with the current celebration of Lafayette’s tour, and they offer presenters a chance to be creative. For a Vive Lafayette History Dinner in Marietta, Ohio, in March 2024, coordinator Kyle Yoho said the menu reflected both classical French and American cuisines appropriate for the time period of Lafayette’s return visit.
“There is no record of a meal served to Lafayette during his journey … What we included were food connections to Lafayette, such as hams that he was sent from Mount Vernon and a noted record of the nation’s guest enjoying ice cream at one of his stops. We have combined his encounter with ice cream with the fact that his French aristocracy was wild about oranges … hence orange sorbet,” Yoho said.
Curious about the menu? The first course was pate aux champignons (mushroom pate) and salade de bistrot (bistro salad). The second course was jambon à la sauce madère (ham with madeira sauce), haricots verts (green beans) and patates douces (sweet potatoes). The third course was fromage (cheese). The fourth course was baguette au beurre (buttered baguette). The final course was a dessert, sorbet à l’orange (orange sorbet) and a madeleine au chocolat à l’orange (orange chocolate madeline).
Getting back to our original question, “What would you serve the Marquis de Lafayette?”
Perhaps, using the menus and recipes attached to this story, or others found through your own research, you may be inspired to celebrate Lafayette’s Bicentennial with a French-American dinner of your own creation. ★
Bicentennialinspired recipes
Lafayette Gingerbread
(Modern adaptation of 18th century original)
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup plus 2 T. packed dark brown sugar
• 1 cup molasses
• Scant 2¾ cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1 T. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground cloves
• ¼ tsp. ground allspice
• 2 large eggs plus 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
• ¼ cup fresh orange juice
• 1 T. freshly grated orange zest
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square cake pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, or in a large bowl beating by hand, combine the butter and brown sugar, and beat until light and fluffy. Add the molasses and continue to beat until well combined. Sift the flour with the ginger, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Alternately add the eggs and flour to the butter mixture, beating very well after each addition.
Add the orange juice and zest. Continue beating for several minutes until the batter is smooth and light.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Set the cake on a rack to cool completely in the pan before slicing.
Chicken and Rice Lafayette
(from Mount Vernon)
• One whole chicken, 3½ to 4 pounds, cut into pieces
• 1 T. unsalted butter
• 1 T. vegetable oil
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup long grain rice
• 4 cups water (1 quart)
• 1 T. unsalted butter
• 3 eggs
• ½ tsp. nutmeg
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rinse chicken pieces and pat dry. Season generously with salt and pepper. Heat butter and oil in a large heavy skillet over medium high heat until golden and fragrant. Arrange the chicken pieces skin side down in a single layer in the skillet. Fry until chicken is browned on the bottom about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken with tongs and brown on the second side about 5 minutes more. Remove the chicken to a Dutch oven along with any juices. Pour in one cup of hot chicken stock.
Meanwhile, bring one quart of salted water to a boil. Add the rice to the boiling water, and cook for 6 to 7 minutes so that the rice is cooked but not too dry. Drain well and return to the pot. Add 1 tablespoon butter to the hot rice. Beat eggs with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Beat a small amount of the hot rice mixture into the egg mixture and then slowly add the egg mixture to the rice, beating well and being careful not to curdle the eggs. When combined well, pour rice over chicken and cover the pot.
Cook in a 325 degree oven for 45 minutes. Season to taste.
Escalopes de Veau Lafayette
(from James Beard)
• 4 large veal scallops, lightly pounded
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Flour as needed
• 5 to 6 T. butter
• 2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and sliced
• 1 small avocado, cut in crosswise slices
• Grated Parmesan cheese as needed
• ¼ cup port wine
• ½ cup veal, beef or chicken stock
Preheat broiler.
Season veal scallops with salt and pepper, dust them lightly with flour, and sauté them quickly on both sides in 4 tablespoons butter until golden brown. Remove to a hot ovenproof serving dish, but do not drain the pan.
Arrange four rows of the tomato and avocado slices on a baking sheet, overlapping them alternately, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle liberally with grated Parmesan cheese. Put under the broiler just until the cheese colors. Arrange a row of slices lengthwise down the center of each veal scallop. Dust with a little more Parmesan, and brown lightly under the broiler. Meanwhile, add port wine and stock to the cooking pan and bring to a boil over high heat, scraping with a wooden spoon to remove the brown glaze from the bottom. Let this sauce cook down and reduce, then blend in the remaining 1 to 2 tablespoon butter and pour the sauce around the veal. Yield: 4 servings
A CITY’S HISTORY IS THE STORIES OF ITS PEOPLE. Stories of their dreams that became reality. In 2025, Lafayette celebrates 200 years of history, of stories, past … present … and future. A citywide birthday for its people, the dreamers and doers of every era, every decade, every day — every innovative moment of belonging.
Jan. 23-April 26
Haan Museum | Legacy in Clay: Remembering Hay, Herrold, Kemp Kirchmann & Tuck
Feb. 1-July 13 Art Museum of Greater Lafayette Bicentennial Exhibition: Regionally Related Works from the Permanent Collection
Rock it Out | LSC + TSC will paint and distribute rocks
April 26
Walk & Talk Tour | Houses of Worship Part 2 | 1 pm
May 2-30 TAF Exhibit | Quilting Connection, Lafayette Quilters at the Bicentennial
May 3-31
Haan Museum | Generations 2025 Fine Art Exhibition and Sale
May 3
Walk & Talk Tour | Greenbush Cemetery Tour | 1 pm
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND COMMUNITY EVENTS AT COLUMBIAN PARK
May 24 Discount Day on pedal boats, train rides and zoo admission
May 25
City Founder’s Day Inflatable Amusements + Movie Night on Loeb Stadium field
May 26 Lafayette Citizens Band Concert | Columbian Park | 7:30 pm
May 30
June 8
June 12-Aug. 9
June 14
June 17
Duncan Hall Murder Mystery Dinner Night | 5:30 pm
Haan Museum Afternoon Tea | 2-4 pm
Haan Museum Celebrating 200 Years of Lafayette Art & Culture
Duncan Hall Open Mic Night featuring Poetry/Essay Winners | 7 pm
Walk & Talk Tour | A Photographic History of Downtown | Visit Lafayette200.com
The hoopla, the joy, the pride. Because a city’s history is its people. A city’s history is you!
June 21 Taste of Tippecanoe | TAF Downtown Lafayette
June 28 Bicentennial Costume Ball | Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds | 6 pm
JULY Walk & Talk Tour | Visit Lafayette200.com
July 1 Art in the Park: Bicentennial Birthday Bash | Columbian Park | 6-8:30 pm
July 4 Citizens Band Stars and Stripes Concert + Fireworks | Riehle Plaza
July 11-12 Sydney Pollack Film Festival Long Center
July 11-Aug. 1 TAF Exhibit | Grand and Gone: Lost Buildings of Lafayette Michelle Wood-Voglund
July 12 Wabash Riverfest | Tapawingo Park 9 am-4 pm
July 18 Blues Legend Buddy Guy | Loeb Stadium Tickets longpac.org
AUGUST Walk & Talk Tour | Visit Lafayette200.com
Aug. 2 Lafayette’s Past and Future Civic Theatre Youth Performance | Jeff HS
Aug. 21-Dec. 28 Haan Museum | Hoosier Heritage on Canvas: Indiana Farms & Gardens
SEPTEMBER Walk & Talk Tour | Visit Lafayette200.com
TCHA Bicentennial Book Launch Visit Lafayette200.com
aims for respectful communication, understanding and connections
For more than a decade now, the DRT Summit has brought together community members, organizations and civic and business leaders to explore issues of diversity, inclusion and connections.
“The DRT Summit is now in its 12th year and has been a biennial tradition since 2003,” says Steph Rambo, Summit Committee co-chair. “The theme of each Summit differs from year to year but traditionally brings in a speaker that has enriched the community’s knowledge and offered an opportunity for community networking and skill-building.”
The theme of this year’s event is a spotlight on the empathetic traits in harnessing a strong culture of inclusion. Guest speaker Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A., will incorporate this message and lead the discussion on how various conflicts can confidently be challenged and embraced through compassion.
The DRT Summit in Lafayette is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion within the community. Launched in 2003 following a community visioning project called Vision 2020, the first Summit was held in April of that year. This led
to the establishment of the DRT Summit. Since then, the DRT has met monthly, and organizers have held the Summit every two years, marking its 10th Summit in 2021.
The DRT operates as a committee under Greater Lafayette Commerce, providing leadership and promoting strategies to achieve a culture that values diversity. Its mission focuses on encouraging access, equity and respect for all, addressing conditions of prejudice and discrimination within the community.
This year’s committee consists of Steph Rambo; Katy Travis, Summit Committee co-chair; and Ebony Barrett, DRT Steering Committee Liaison. Every team member works to provide an engaging and impactful event full of problemsolving techniques to better enhance communication between all constituents throughout Greater Lafayette.
Barrett says, “Every Summit has had a different flavor to it. This is what makes the DRT Summit so special. We truly are inviting people from all walks of life to lead, participate and discuss what is most important when we think about cultivat-
ing a culture of inclusion in the Greater Lafayette community.”
She continues, “The main takeaway is connection. Attendees can meet others to connect their passion and work. There is information and resource sharing ultimately resulting in collaboration. We have seen spinoffs of groups that continue their conversations and move into action.”
This year’s DRT Summit is scheduled for Thursday, April 24. The event aims to bring together business leaders, nonprofit leaders, community volunteers and advocates to create spaces where every voice is heard, respected and valued. Featured speaker Kwame Christian will set the tone by inspiring attendees to embrace compassionate curiosity and engage in meaningful conversations about diversity and inclusion.
Christian is a renowned author, business lawyer and the CEO of the American Negotiation Institute (ANI). His TEDx-
Dayton talk gained viral attention, paving the way for the release of his best-selling book, “Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life,” in 2018. In addition to his writing, Kwame contributes regularly to Forbes and hosts the globally popular podcast Negotiate Anything, which has surpassed five million downloads. Under his leadership, ANI has helped numerous Fortune 500 companies master negotiation techniques to drive corporate success.
Christian’s accomplishments have been widely recognized. He received the John Glenn College of Public Affairs Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2020 and the Moritz College of Law Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award in 2021 — making him the only person in The Ohio State University’s history to earn consecutive alumni awards from both the law school and the Master of Public Affairs program. Rambo says of the Summit, “We are
Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A.
fortunate to live in a community where our leaders appreciate the rich diversity of Greater Lafayette and actively engage in meaningful conversations to create a stronger, more inclusive future.”
When looking at future summits, Rambo says the committee would like to see, “the meaningful connections and initiatives made at the 2025 Summit build, and for future summits to support those gains.”
Learning objectives for the 2025 Summit include developing skills for respectful communication, gaining practical tools to foster inclusive environments, understanding the importance of compassionate curiosity, overcoming the fear of misspeaking and empowering leaders to inspire positive change. The event also offers donation options to make it more accessible, supporting student-priced tickets and providing financial assistance to those in need.
Rambo says this year’s Summit will
draw in community partners, such as the United Way, that will be able to use the Summit to build on initiatives and conversations those organizations are already having. Through these summits and ongoing initiatives, the DRT and Greater Lafayette Commerce continue to work toward inclusion by encouraging access, equity and respect for all members of the Greater Lafayette community.
For more information or to register for the 2025 DRT Summit go to greaterlafayettecommerce.com. ★
Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A.
BY JANE McLAUGHLIN ANDERSON PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE PETKOV
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
- George Bernard Shaw
Fabian Walz, LUDO FACT owner and president
It all began in 1921, when businessman Donald M. Warren of Lafayette started a company to make paper boxes for producers of candy, apparel, jewelry and other items. But everything changed in World War II for people and manufacturers alike. The military’s high demand for metal and other materials caused shortages in everything associated with daily life, including children’s toys, posing a challenge and an opportunity.
Warren pivoted direction to begin producing toys from paper products under the trade name BuiltRite. Armed with paper and his imagination, Warren transformed highly lithographed cardboard into interlocking pieces to create 3-D dollhouses, forts, train accessory sets, and buildings of all types. He also created board games and puzzles that didn’t require cutting or pasting.
Warren Paper Products (later named Warren Industries) experienced such popularity that it expanded to an old remodeled wagon wheel factory on the corner of South Street and Earl Avenue. In 1986, the original company was purchased by Random House Publishing and later by Rose Art Industries and MEGA Brands, with the Warren brand seemingly retired by 2007. Jessup Paper Box in Brookston was the last entity associated with Warren Industries.
Meanwhile in Europe
In 1995, another businessman started a puzzle manufacturing company in his small town of Jettingen-Scheppach, Bavaria, Germany. Horst Walz, owner and president, named his family-owned company LUDO FACT, using Latin words meaning “play” and “make” to accurately reflect his main business of producing games. As the company grew, it partnered with other manufacturing entities in Europe to make wooden and plastic game pieces and specialized paperboard for game boards. It has its own printing, distribution and packaging facilities and creates its own renewable energy. Fabian Walz, the son of the founder, is the present owner and president.
LUDO FACT is the manufacturer of more than 200 game publishers worldwide. It produces up to 17 million units of board games and puzzles a year. It supports its customers in the development, production, shipping and sales promotion of its game or puzzle ideas. Its innovative solutions help create quality games that inspire, educate and entertain the players and bring them together in the joy of playing.
Putting the pieces together
When it came time to expand to the United States in 2016, the Walz family researched cities with expertise and experience in the world of game manufacturing. That was an easy puzzle to solve.
“Lafayette was known as the
Detroit of puzzle makers,” says JP Clauson, president of LUDO FACT USA.
Lafayette is a big deal, whether you know it or not, when it comes to game manufacturing. Its storied history and a workforce already familiar with the process are secrets to success in this specialized industry. Seven former Warren Industries employees, including Clauson, help steer the staff of 65 employees alongside Chief Financial Officer and Manager Eike Wrage from the corporate headquarters in Germany.
Tool and die experts Cary and Tyler Maley, and Max Cockerill, formerly from Warren Industries, are artisans in the puzzle business. Cary purchased equipment when he retired from the previous owners, and together they handmake the unique dies that precisely cut the paperboard into intricate patterns that create puzzle pieces.
This artform demands the highest standards to consistently stamp and cut paperboard for thousands of production runs. One puzzle die takes approximately one month to create. All employees diligently check for accuracy and high quality in every aspect of production. They take pride in continuing the tradition of making puzzles in the U.S., especially here in Lafayette. The company’s biggest competition is from China.
LUDO FACT is the U.S.’s leading board game manufacturer of creative cardboard packaging solutions. The U.S. facility produces
five million puzzles and one million board games a year for wellknown brands of large, established publishers, small developers, and Kickstarter clients from around the globe. However, you won’t see the company name on the packaging. Think of them as “ghost manufacturers” in the puzzle business. Catan, a popular board game with the 20-somethings, is but one of countless games produced at LUDO FACT USA. Its 65,000-square-foot facility is located on Dale Drive in Lafayette with an adjacent 50,000-squarefoot warehouse. It is FSC-certified (extremely green) with an entirely sustainable paper supply.
Local solutions for puzzling projects
For the individual who wants a unique gift for family or clients, LUDO FACT USA offers mypuzzle.com, a print-on-demand platform, to make personalized puzzles from your photos. They are made in Lafayette with the same quality as commercial puzzles with a turnaround time of 48 hours. In addition, hundreds of puzzles of every type are available online for sale.
Another mainstay of LUDO FACT USA is producing paper boxes for companies that make candy, such as Wolf and Donaldson's, and auto supplies. The options are endless if you need small-batch, personalized specialty boxes for your products. Ultimately, LUDO FACT is a premier creative paper processing company that creates joy out of paper. ★
We’re bringing better internet to Tippecanoe County
NEW ZONES ARE OPENING THROUGHOUT 2025!
Affordable, reliable, blazing-fast internet is coming to more people in Tippecanoe County, thanks to Wintek Powered by Tipmont.
Here is where service is newly available or will be soon!
• Colburn and Surrounding Area
• Shadeland and Surrounding Area
• State Road 26 West
Everyday
Great for: casual web browsing, streaming video and music, online shopping, social media
Download speed: 350 Mbps
Upload speed: 350 Mbps
Unlimited data usage: Yes
WiFi router included: Yes
WiFi extender: $3
Ideal for: up to 30 devices
• Stockwell and Surrounding Area
• Buck Creek and Surrounding Area (opening in April)
Surf & Stream Work & Play
Great for: families using multiple devices at once, serious streaming, basic work from home
Download speed: 600 Mbps
Upload speed: 600 Mbps
Unlimited data usage: Yes
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WiFi extender: $3
for: up to 50 devices
Great for: connected smart homes, fully remote workers, gaming, ultra fast downloads
Download speed: 1 Gbps
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Unlimited data usage: Yes
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WiFi extender: $3
Finding a career, building a future
Greater Lafayette Summer Internship Experience
As Greater Lafayette continues to grow and flourish, attracting and retaining top-tier talent to fill jobs is a priority, and while there’s no shortage of opportunity—there is a shortage of workers.
To help bridge the gap, Greater Lafayette Commerce (GLC) is partnering with the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) to launch the inaugural Greater Lafayette Summer Internship Experience. The program is designed to give college-aged students — who have secured internships across various sectors — a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore the many amenities the Greater Lafayette community has to offer.
“Regions like Greater Lafayette are perfectly poised to seize this opportunity—but it will take more than high-wage jobs. The real draw lies in something deeper: a sense of belonging. That’s the idea behind the Greater Lafayette Summer Internship Experience,” says Chelsie Freeman, vice president of marketing and communications at Greater Lafayette Commerce.
The program, which is on track to officially launch in May, is slated to take interns beyond the traditional workplace setting, offering them a firsthand experience of what life could look like if they choose to accept a job and live in the area following graduation.
“We see this program as an invitation to
helps with both experience everything that makes Greater Lafayette more than just a place on the map,” says Freeman. “By connecting interns with the people, places and opportunities that shape our community, we hope they’ll see what we already know—this isn’t just a great place to start a career. It’s a place to build a life.”
Freeman says this inaugural program serves as an impactful way to strengthen Greater Lafayette’s talent pipeline and drive long-term growth, presenting employers a prime opportunity to showcase the local quality of life and why it makes sense to put down roots in Greater Lafayette.
As for the program itself, activities will include exploring local amenities and attractions, building workplace skills through interactive exercises, participating in service/ volunteering activities, and building fellowship among other interns in the area.
“GLC has reached out to employers, Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette, Greater Lafayette Young Professionals, educational institutions and local philanthropy, who are all on board with this opportunity in order to highlight all the community has to offer to this demographic,” says Karen Momper, director of strategic initiatives at the Indiana Destination Development Corporation. The IDDC is tasked with promoting, branding and telling Indiana’s story in an effort to
attract and retain businesses, talent, students and visitors.
For its inaugural year, IDDC has granted money to pay for the program, but the hope is that it will prove to be successful, attracting local investment to sustain it.
As these young professionals prepare to transition from school to the working class, many might be wondering, “Why Indiana?” Momper says, “This program gives them experiences that will help inform their decisions as they discern where they want to live, start a family and build their careers.”
“Greater Lafayette is one of those places that just gets it right,” Freeman says. “A Big Ten town with small-town bones, Purdue University brings a level of excitement you don’t often find in a city this accessible. It’s big enough to have momentum—new businesses, major investments and a ton of opportunities—but it still has the feel of a community where people know and support each other.”
Currently, employer interest projects that more than 300 interns may be in the area, and this program hopes to attract about a third of those interns to participate in the program.
“By planning programming for interns across multiple sectors, we hope to attract them with complimentary food/beverage, while introducing them to fun local spots they might not have experienced otherwise while also providing an opportunity to connect with other young talent,” she says.
While this program may be a first for Greater Lafayette, it’s not the first of its kind.
IDDC has inaugurated two programming experiences for summer interns in communities over the past two summers. Past programs have included destination expe-
riences, complimentary refreshments, and opportunities for fellowship for interns from multiple companies in various fields.
“It helps them (students) see what life might look like, what their future friend and professional network could be,” Momper says. “We also believe a connection to leadership in the area, along with an exposure to local philanthropy, also contributes to the question of ‘What would life look like here?’
Furthermore, this demographic, unlike those before them, are more interested in work/ life balance, making where they live a more important part of the question of what they will do.”
As the program gains momentum ahead of its launch, GLC has established an advisory committee of more than 20 community members, representing local employers, educational institutions, government and tourism organizations to help shape, refine, and guide the program, ensuring it’s set up for success.
Freeman says this experience will undoubtedly offer these students a true taste of life in Greater Lafayette.
“It’s not just about growth for the sake of growth — it’s about making this a place where people want to be — whether they’re starting a business, building a career or just looking for a great community to call home,” she says. “And when you feel the itch to explore more? Indy and Chicago are just up the road, and our own airport makes travel a breeze. But the thing is, once you’re here, and you have the opportunity to see what makes us special, you get it.”
When it comes to measuring the success of the new program, IDDC will provide a surveying rubric to evaluate key markers, including changes in perceptions, and overall
satisfaction with the experiences. GLC also will evaluate the rubric and will look at the engagement with employer partners and offer/hires to measure success.
Momper notes that other communities have continued the programming after the inaugural year, and some have chosen to expand the scope to include leadership and other professional development programs for young talent in their area.
The end goal: sustainability. “Talent attraction is a priority for our community, and we hope to only build upon this program and others in the months and years to come to help attract and retain talent and new residents to Greater Lafayette,” Freeman says.
“One day, we’d like to see them (students) return, not as participants, but as mentors, helping to guide the next generation of talent,” Freeman continues.
Freeman encourages anyone interested in getting involved and supporting the program to get in touch with Greater Lafayette Commerce.
“Our vision is for this program to become a staple of summer internship experiences in Greater Lafayette, growing in impact year after year,” she says. “We want interns to walk away with a positive experience of Greater Lafayette through exposure to networking and fellowship, workplace skills development and fostering civic pride and belonging
through community-based volunteering activities.”
In addition to the Greater Lafayette Summer Internship Experience, GLC is hard at work tackling the talent challenge head-on with dynamic programs designed to attract, develop and retain top talent—starting long before students enter the workforce.
“Through the Career+ Ecosystem, K-12 students gain early exposure to real-world, in-demand skills that directly connect to
future career opportunities,” Freeman says. “Programs like Robotics in Manufacturing and Manufacturing Week spark curiosity and provide hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology.”
She says the message is clear: Greater Lafayette isn’t just a place to study—it’s a place to build a future.
“Greater Lafayette Summer Internship Experience offers a deeper connection to the community.” ★
To learn more visit: greaterlafayetteind.com/summer-intern-experience
► Employers that want to learn more about the program can contact: Chelsie Freeman, cfreeman@greaterlafayettecommerce.com
► See all there is to experience in our community, visit: homeofpurdue.com and visitindiana.com
Working together on jobs, housing, transportation, childcare, and prosperity.
Alejandra Malo
What do a commercial cleaning service, a shortterm apartment rental company and a nonprofit foundation that benefits children in Indiana and Mexico have in common?
They are all part of the vision of Alejandra Malo, founder, president and CEO of Pink Team Group, an umbrella organization that includes Pink Team Cleaning Services, Pink Team Rentals and Pink Team Foundation. A fourth entity, Pink Team Events, a special-events space and party-rental company, is in the works, with a roll-out planned for later this year.
Through the four divisions of Pink Team Group, Malo and her team strive to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities – by offering flexible hours to busy working moms at Pink Team Cleaning Services, for example, or by providing clean, safe and inexpensive short-term housing through Pink Team Rentals.
“It’s Alejandra’s vision for making an impact in the community: seeing a need and trying to fill it,” says Alma Chavez, director of Pink Team Foundation.
In 2011, when Malo founded Pink Team Cleaning Services, she never imagined that her business would grow into a multi-faceted organization with 100 employees across branches in five states and Mexico. Malo had moved to Lafayette with her new husband only a year earlier. A native of Querétaro, Mexico, an industrial city of about two million people 150 miles northwest of Mexico City, Malo knew no one in her new hometown.
Casting around for a project that would keep her busy and that would also have a positive impact on her new community, Malo decided to clean homes for women undergoing cancer treatment, free of charge. Then, through word-of-mouth, Malo eventually took on paying clients and was able to hire a small staff; one of her first employees was a person with disabilities.
“So, my idea was, ‘If this doesn’t work, it won’t matter, because I will have already done something good,’ ” Malo recalls.
According to Malo, entrepreneurial spirit runs in her blood. “My father is an entrepreneur,” Malo says. “I have five brothers, all of them entrepreneurs, as well. So, it was kind of natural to think about something entrepreneurial.”
In addition, Malo has a strong business background. In college, Malo studied finance and accounting. Early in her career, she worked in business and accounting in the U.S., Mexico and Germany.
But she also was influenced by her traditional upbringing. Malo always figured that, after a few years in the workforce, she would follow in the footsteps of her mother, who stayed home to raise seven children. “I saw myself like my mom: staying at home, raising my kids. I didn’t have anything else on my mind.” Her housecleaning project, she says, was just supposed to be a fun side job until she and her husband started a family.
Malo was in her mid-30s and had been running the residential cleaning business for a couple of years when she found out that she was pregnant with her daughter, Isabella, now 11. “I thought, ‘I’m going to close this business and do my real job, which is being a mom,” Malo recalls. But on the exact same day, she also learned that she was approved to move into new office space on 26th Street. Also around that time, she landed her first big commercial cleaning client, Southwire, in Lafayette.
She called her dad with the news. “I remember telling him, ‘We got the factory!’ And I was crying. And
"The bigger impact to the community is employing people and bringing them into a cause, and not just a job."
- Mark Dolfini
I’m like, ‘I can’t close right now. This is too good.’ ”
Through the years, Malo’s little family expanded with the addition of Alexander, now 9, while Pink Team Group also grew to include Pink Team Rentals, a portfolio of short-term rental properties.
Pink Team Cleaning services also has grown. Today, the company exclusively cleans corporate and commercial spaces for clients that include Wabash and Arconic in Lafayette. Pink Team also has opened branches in Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, Georgia and Malo’s hometown of Querétaro Mexico. While Pink Team is no longer a residential cleaning service, the company continues to offer free housecleaning services for cancer patients undergoing treatment.
That spirit of service and generosity undergirds everything that Malo takes on. She is dedicated not just to her clients, but also to her team of around 100 employees. After years of balancing the demands of work and family, Malo is especially sensitive to the needs of other women to seek purpose, to impact their community and to be available for their families. With a strong commitment to supporting minorities and mothers, Pink Team boasts a 96% retention rate year to year, in part through careful hiring, thorough training and flexible scheduling.
“We are very cautious on the hiring and very good at keeping the people that we have,” Malo says. “We do more marketing inside, with our employees [rather than to potential clients], trying to motivate them, trying to do events for them, and talking to them and really making them feel comfortable,” Malo says.
“Alejandra is extremely driven, and she has an infectious leadership style that makes you want to do good work for her,” says Mark Dolfini, a Lafayette business owner, consultant and strategist who met Malo through a networking group when Pink Team was in its infancy. They have been good friends ever since.
“Her whole sense of being is just about elevating others,” Dolfini adds.
In 2023, the Pink Team expanded again when Malo established Pink Team Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises money – primarily through an annual fundraising gala – to benefit children’s charities in Lafayette and in Querétaro.
It was a move that was inspired, again, by her father, as well as by a deep feeling of gratitude and a desire to help those less fortunate. “I grew up in a family that was privileged, because I didn’t have any needs of any sort,” Malo says. “But I remem-
"I think it, I do it. That is that. There is no process in between."
- Alejandra Malo
ber seeing my father always helping in different ways. He never said anything; it was just part of his life.”
It is important for Malo to send money back to her hometown in Mexico, where there are few resources available to help homeless or traumatized children. In the two years since its inception, Pink Team Foundation has given more than $30,000 to a Querétaro orphanage called La Alegria de Los Niños.
To honor Malo’s adopted hometown and the hometown of her children, Pink Team Foundation also supports local nonprofit agencies. In 2024, the organization raised $13,000 for Heartford House, a child advocacy center in Lafayette, where children who have been the victims or witnesses to crimes can be interviewed in a safe, secure and private environment.
“This is Alejandra’s vision of being able to give back some of the success that she’s seen in her life,” says Chavez, the foundation’s director. “This was something that’s been in her heart for a while, and she finally felt it was the right time to share some of that success that she’s experiencing as an entrepreneur and to be able to give back.”
With her can-do attitude and unstoppable energy, it doesn’t look like Malo will be finished building Pink Team Group anytime soon. When an opportunity presents itself, whether it’s the chance to take on commercial cleaning clients for the first time, to expand into other states, or to launch a charitable foundation, Malo jumps right in.
“I think it, I do it. That is that. There is no process in between,” Malo says.
However the Pink Team umbrella expands, Dolfini is certain that the organization will continue to quietly transform lives. “The bigger impact to the community is employing people and bringing them into a cause, and not just a job. I think Alejandra and Pink Team do that very well.” ★
Bountiful, beautiful bouquets
Riffey family shares love of flowers at farmers markets
BY CAROL BANGERT PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE PETKOV
visit to Rhoda Riffey’s family farm yields endless delights for the senses — a riot of color in meticulous rows; the perfume of summer blooms with hints of sweet and spice; and the buzz of bees providing a soothing soundtrack.
A mainstay at Greater Lafayette’s farmers markets for more than a decade, Rhoda & Girls — daughters Addie, Beth and Gina — offers a celebration of the summer’s most beautiful and fragrant blooms. Greater Lafayette Magazine toured the operation outside Rossville last August to see first-hand how the family consistently provides flowers from the first day of the markets in May until the first fall freeze in September or October.
Riffey, along with daughter Addie, husband, Kevin, and family dog, Mazie, accompanied us to the flower beds, where we were immediately greeted with dahlias standing in stunning rows next to fiery celosia and fields of proud sunflowers. Perennials included colorful spikes of veronica, Joe pye, sedum, purple and pink dara, silver artemisia, white and purple lisianthus.
Joining the color parade were snapdragons, marigolds, zinnias, coreopsis, gomphrena and other annuals, each adding their own bit of interest and identity to the flamboyant display.
The natural beauty of the Riffey property belies the hard work and planning that make the business a success – beginning with meticulous hand seeding in the still-dark days of March, then long, hot hours of weeding, watering, deadheading, more planting and selecting flowers for the market and other vendors. A large walk-in cooler set at 38 degrees holds the flowers cut and bundled for retail, wholesale and the farmers markets.
Left: Rhoda and Addie Riffey
Here, Rhoda Riffey talks about her love of flowers and plans she and her girls have for the upcoming farmers market season.
What sparked your interest in growing flowers as a business? Have you always been a gardener?
Visiting a friend in Pennsylvania, Kevin and I were intrigued by her sunflower patch. She sold sunflowers wholesale and provided me with product information and inspiration.
Rhoda & Girls is obviously a family affair. Describe the involvement of your daughters and other family members.
Raising, designing and marketing flowers is a way of life for my daughters. Although the business aspect has grown — our four daughters were backpacked to the patch from infancy. I am thankful that Kevin and my enthusiasm has spread and all of us play an essential role on the farm.
Detail a typical garden day for you in, say, mid-June.
Harvesting begins at daybreak. Especially as the humidity and heat rises, we attempt to cut all flowers in the cool of the day. We cut and bundle all ripened blooms, immediately hydrate them, and place them in the cooler to await delivery or pick up. Then we weed, plant, lay black plastic, adjust drip lines, mulch, etc. We try to complete most in-sun labor by lunch. Often evening finds us back in the patch — harvesting sunflowers, tying up dahlias or weeding the celosia.
On the first day of Greater Lafayette’s farmers markets, what should customers expect to see in your bouquets?
May is a wonderful season! At our first markets you’ll find bountiful specialty tulips, puffy white vibernum, purple poky allium, tall pastel larkspur, brilliant snapdragons, stately bells-of-Ireland, green bupleurum, sweet dianthus, blue bachelor buttons, and gorgeous bright ranunculus.
I’m going to put you on the spot. Name your top five blooms (I think in our conversations you’ve said there actually are eight?), and why you love them.
Hmmm … my top five blooms. Every season I pick and am reminded why I love the varieties available. I’ll try to narrow it to five, so here goes (no particular order): ranunculus, dahlias, lisianthus, sunflowers and peonies. But how can I leave out zinnias, bells-of-Ireland, snapdragons, celosia, cosmos, tulips, straw flower, glads …?
Any never-again flowers you’ve tried? Why did they not live up to your expectations?
Many flowers have only lasted one season in our patch. Growing is exhausting, and if a variety isn’t hardy in our growing zone or has a short vase life, we cull it. An example: sweet peas are a popular bloom, but it takes up space and requires a cool spring. We grew it for one season.
Sunflowers play a starring role in your summer bunches. How do you keep them in bloom consistently throughout the summer?
We grow thousands of sunflowers … Kevin stagger plants them so they’re available until our season ends with frost.
How do you deal with pests – deer, insects, lack of rain!
Deer — I’ve collected hair from our neighbor hairdresser and mulched with it. (It works until the first rain.) We use snow fence around our tulips. We spray pesticides when needed. Battery-operated apparatuses are used to repel moles and voles. We definitely donate some plants and blooms to wildlife, grudgingly.
Drip irrigation hydrates a large percentage of our flowers.
It’s often difficult for customers to pick just one bouquet at your farmers market stall, because your arrangements are always so eye-catching. How did you learn the art of arranging flowers? You clearly have an eye for color, texture and variety.
The farmers market is the highlight of our work week! We love putting together bouquets with the blooms we’ve handled from seeds. Arranging evolves from experience, practice and hard work. We are excited about what we do and enjoy sharing with our customers. The flowers speak for themselves.
In your 12 years at the markets, have you seen a shift in what customers are looking for in your bouquets? Do people ever have requests?
Trends shift and experience educates. So, yes, demand changes at market. For instance, we sell a large quantity of paper-sleeved bouquets, and we didn’t offer them five years ago. People often request specific flowers or sizes of arrangements. We usually have preorders for special events. Overall, customers like to look at our varieties and pick what strikes them. (Editor’s note: many of the bouquets sold by Rhoda & Girls are in vases or jars purchased at Goodwill or yard sales.)
On the last market day in October (or the first freeze) what can customers expect to find in your bouquets?
At the end of season our main focals are dahlias, sunflowers, lisianthus and celosia. Fall brings rusty amaranthus and quirky seed pods. At our last market you’ll find hot colors versus the soft pastels of spring.
Is the plan for Rhoda & Girls to be continued by your daughters once you’re ready to hang up the garden apron? Do your daughters want to keep the business going?
I can’t predict the future for In Season Flowers. But we plan to keep planting and hope you all come see us at the Lafayette farmers market!
Where can flower lovers find your blooms on days when the market is closed?
We do special orders during the off season. Our contact is my cell: 765-404-7860. ★
Greater Lafayette Farmers Markets: When and where
Lafayette Farmers Market
8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays, May through October
The market season opens Saturday, May 3, and runs Saturdays until October 25. The market sets up on Fifth Street between Columbia Street and mid-block between Main and Ferry. This year the market will extend onto Main Street between Fourth and Sixth streets. The market will also introduce a food truck court featuring six food trucks.
Brittany Matthews, director of chamber operations at Greater Lafayette Commerce, “The market is expecting 100 vendors this year, more than 25 of which are new vendors, and featuring more than 20 produce vendors.”
Purdue Farmers Market
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays, May through October
The Purdue farmers market is held on the Memorial Mall on Purdue’s campus each Thursday, starting May 1; it runs through October 30. This market is a concession-heavy market that allows for students, faculty and staff to have alternative lunch options in a unique outdoor setting. The Purdue farmers market saw record vendor enrollment at 35 season vendors in 2024, and that number is expected again this season.
West Lafayette Farmers Market
3:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, May through October
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the West Lafayette market, and market manager Amanda Jeffries says to look for giveaways, prizes and incentives throughout the season. The market is held Wednesdays, starting May 7, at Cumberland Park in West Lafayette, with more than 50 vendors.
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Isaac Alvarez - Alvarez Lawn Maintenance and Snow Removal
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A lush, green lawn is not just a dream; it can be a reality with the proper maintenance. For those in the Greater Lafayette area, Alvarez Lawn Maintenance provides expert advice and services to achieve that perfect summer lawn. Proper maintenance, smart landscaping choices and a few seasonal tips can transform any yard into a beautiful outdoor space.
Regular mowing is essential to keep grass healthy and vibrant. Maintaining the recommended height of 2.5 to 3.5 inches allows grass to thrive. Sharp mower blades make clean cuts, preventing damage that can lead to brown tips and disease. By mowing regularly, the lawn stays neat and encourages healthy growth, creating an inviting atmosphere for relaxation and play.
Fertilizing the lawn is another important step in ensuring its beauty. Using a high-quality, slow-release fertilizer tailored to the specific grass type provides the nutrients needed for optimal growth. Applying fertilizer in early spring and again in early summer helps the lawn stay strong and vibrant throughout the warmer months. A well-fertilized lawn is more resilient against pests and diseases, ensuring a lush appearance.
Watering properly is crucial for a thriving lawn. Deep watering, aiming for about 1 inch per week, promotes strong root systems. Watering in the early morning reduces evaporation and allows grass to absorb moisture efficiently. Overwatering, on the other hand, can lead to shallow roots and fungal issues. Finding the right balance ensures that the lawn remains healthy and green.
Aeration is a technique that can greatly improve soil health. By relieving soil compaction, aeration allows vital air, water and nutrients to reach the roots more effectively. This process is best done in early spring or fall, setting the stage for strong growth as the weather warms up. A well-aerated lawn is more robust and better equipped to handle stress from heat and drought.
await this spring at Greater Lafayette parks
It's spring, and many of us are champing at the bit to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. With that in mind, some exciting new projects and updates are taking shape throughout Greater Lafayette’s parks.
During your next visit to Lafayette’s Columbian Park Zoo, you’ll have a hard time missing the brand new 6,500-square-foot Commissary Building. Construction on the state-of-the-art facility wrapped up earlier this year and will pave the way for the zoo to continue providing high-quality care to its animals as new exhibits are constructed and new animal species make their debut in the Star City.
Lafayette Parks and Recreation
Superintendent Claudine Laufman says the new addition stems from a master plan developed many years ago, which serves as a critical role to the zoo.
“The beautiful new Commissary Building serves as the primary diet preparation area and feed storage space for the zoo,” Laufman says. “Our dedicated animal care staff
has worked for years out of a small kitchen located in the Animal House building.”
Laufman says while the old kitchen was functional, it was no longer practical as the zoo continued to grow. The new building features a spacious area for food prep, state-of-the-art appliances, large walk-in fridge and freezers, extensive dry-food storage and indoor animal holding areas.
“The new kitchen alone is approximately 275 square feet — not including the walk-in fridge and freezer and additional dry-food storage space — compared to the former kitchen, which was about 85 square feet,” Laufman says.
While the building is not accessible to the general public, Laufman notes that its impact will still be evident to visitors over the next few years, leading to greater efficiencies in diet preparation and feed storage. “As we continue implementing the zoo’s original master plan with new animal exhibits in the future, the Commissary will continue to support the zoo’s growth and
The zoo's new commissary building
enable us to care for new species in a way that wasn’t available previously,” she explains.
As for financing of the new facility, Laufman says the majority of this project has been paid for through tax increment financing (TIF) along with additional private gifts facilitated through the Lafayette Parks Foundation, Inc.
“This is such a dramatic improvement to our existing facilities that we will be able to better support and serve our growing zoo as we continue to work on our master plan,” Laufman says. “The new building enables our animal care staff to operate more efficiently with enough room for staff, volunteers and interns to be working simultaneously in the same location. Having a food prep and storage facility of this caliber helps Colum-
bian Park Zoo continue to provide high-quality care for its animal residents.” A dedication ceremony for the building was held in March.
New exhibits
Additionally, Laufman says the parks department is looking forward to wrapping up the design phase of its new primate and eagle exhibits.
“We are hopeful that the primate construction project will go out to bid early this summer with the goal of an early fall groundbreaking,” she says. “The eagle project is not far behind and we anticipate a similar timeline.”
The new primate exhibit will showcase four displays, featuring species such as spider monkeys, gibbons, lemurs and a fourth species yet to be decided. It also will
include spacious indoor holding areas.
The current bald eagle exhibit was constructed more than 17 years ago, and the planned upgrade replaces that exhibit. Visitors will notice improved viewing opportunities and amenities.
“We are always excited to enhance the visitor experience while providing high-quality care of our animal residents at the zoo, and we know that our community is going to love these new additions,” says Laufman.
New in West Lafayette
On the other side of the Wabash, the West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department is gearing up for exciting updates of its own, including the grand opening of Cason Family Park, marking the city’s 16th park and the newest to open since the 1980s.
Thanks to a generous donation of a 14-acre parcel of land from community member Lynn Cason, the regional park will occupy nearly 30 acres of retired farmland and old growth forest along Cumberland Road near U.S. 231.
“This effort not only preserves the iconic Morris Schoolhouse but also honors the dedication of community members like Sue Eiler, whose dedication was key in saving and restoring the beloved one-room schoolhouse,” says West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Superintendent Kathy Lozano. “Cason Family Park’s development reflects years of collaboration between city leaders, residents and advocates committed to protecting and celebrating West Lafayette’s green spaces and history.”
Some of the park’s amenities will include a 4.2-acre recreational pond, which offers an accessible fishing pier and kayak launch, playgrounds for children of all ages, the historic Morris Schoolhouse, which will be utilized as an outdoor classroom and interactive learning space, nearly 3.5 miles of paved and unpaved trails, and an event pavilion. The new trails within the park will connect to pre-existing trails along Cumberland Avenue and U.S. 231, and in the near future through the woods to the Celery Bog.
“Cason Family Park will be the first park in West Lafayette to offer
water sports such as fishing, kayaking, canoeing and water boarding,” Lozano says. “It is also uniquely set up to offer entertainment on the lawn and educational field trips full of Indiana history.”
The public is invited to join the ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 22, where a variety of activities will be held, including a fishing derby, boating, music, food and more. Additional details will be available soon.
“This new gem in our parks system reflects a beautiful blend of nature, history and community spirit,” Lozano says.
After nearly four decades without a new park, Cason Family Park’s status as the city’s newest park is expected to be short lived, as Lozano says plans are already in the works to open the city’s 17th park. A name still has yet to be decided upon, but the park is slated to open sometime in 2025-26 near the intersection of Navajo and Salisbury streets.
At Lommel Park, a five-acre park in the Bar Barry Heights neighborhood, Lozano says there are plans to install an additional restroom. ★
New Public Works Campus meets needs of a growing city
Following years of planning, the City of Lafayette’s Street, Sanitation and Fleet Maintenance departments are now consolidated in a central location on the city’s east side. This comes following the grand opening of a new $21.5 million, state-of-the-art Public Works Campus earlier this year.
“We are excited to bring our three public works departments to one location,” said Mayor Tony Roswarski in a press release. “This new location is more centralized as the city continues to grow and will be more time efficient and cost effective in meeting the needs of our citizens. Our facilities were outdated and cost prohibitive to renovate. This campus was designed to not only meet our needs now but well into the future!”
After breaking ground in fall 2022, the new 11.27 acre campus, located at 3601 McCarty Lane, nestled between Sagamore Parkway and Creasy Lane, officially opened on January 15 with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Dan Crowell, superintendent of the City of Lafayette’s Street and Sanitation Department, says almost 20 years ago the city developed a strategic plan for facilities, parks and recreation, and the downtown area, and it was determined that the Street Department facility had reached the end of its useful life.
“We had completed several other projects that had been identified as a higher priority,” Crowell says. “Significant growth of the city to the east and south had occurred, and with our ability to co-locate with our Fleet Maintenance Division, the time was right.”
As for the location of the campus, Crowell says that the city discovered that the land it now sits on was owned by Caterpillar, which sits adjacent to the campus, and with its central location within the city, it became an ideal location to relocate these three departments. “We approached them
(Caterpillar) about purchasing the land, and they sold it to us about 10 years ago,” he says. “Logistically, the new location is much better situated to allow us to serve all parts of the city.”
Planning for the campus began about three years ago, including the construction of a salt storage dome on the property. The development process included a wide range of individuals from employees to supervisors across the three departments, ensuring their input was considered throughout the planning and design phases.
The campus features three buildings spanning 8.9 of the 11-plus acres. The main building, covering more than 100,000 square feet, is divided into three sections: 66,000 square feet for the Street Department, 32,000 square feet for Fleet Maintenance, and 9,000 square feet for shared spaces.
The Fleet Maintenance Department oversees two dozen service bays for city vehicles and equipment, while the Street Department area consists of a large, open, multi-use space designed to hold all of the city’s motorized street vehicles and equipment.
The facility not only accommodates the modern
needs of equipment and vehicles, but also offers a range of amenities for employees. Crowell notes that features include men’s and women’s locker rooms, conference rooms for training, a spacious lunchroom, and a fitness center to support employee wellness. Rather than duplicating amenities for each department, this proves to be much more cost effective.
The Sanitation Department operates out of its own dedicated 16,000-square-foot standalone building, designed to accommodate up to 18 trucks, which allows for future growth as the city’s fleet currently consists of 16 vehicles, including two newly added electric trash and recycling trucks.
Lafayette is leading the way as the first city in Indiana to deploy EV trash and recycling trucks. The city secured these new vehicles with the support of a $1.025 million grant from the Volkswagen Settlement Allocation through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The facility also features charging stations specifically for the new electric trucks.
“Lafayette is excited to be an innovator in the industry and in leading the way for other municipalities in
The city's new ASL trucks use robotic arms to collect trash.
Indiana to lessen their environmental impact,” Crowell says. “Already other cities and towns have reached out to us to explore how they might incorporate EV trucks into their fleets.”
The Automated Side Loader (ASL) trash and recycling trucks use a robotic arm that can grab, lift and empty trash toters without the driver having to leave the truck. The vehicles are equipped to complete routes faster, not only boosting efficiency by reducing delays, but also increasing safety for both operators and the community.
Residents along the routes of the new trucks will see changes in how they prepare trash and recycling for pickup, but the rest of their sanitation service will remain unchanged, with more information soon to come.
Additionally, a 2,800-square-foot automatic vehicle washing station will keep city-owned vehicles of all sizes fresh and clean, including off-site department vehicles for police, fire and parks. For larger vehicles such as dump trucks and backhoes, a dedicated open wash bay is available for manual cleaning. As the city adapts to these new and improved facili-
ties and amenities, Crowell says leaders from the West Lafayette and Frankfort street departments already have toured the facility and expressed positive feedback. He notes that those who attended the ribbon cutting in January also expressed a lot of positive feedback.
As for the $21.5 million price tag, Crowell says funding came from tax increment funding, better known as TIF. He says the new campus will ultimately offer several benefits to the average resident.
“The new facility improves services to the residents of Lafayette, as it is more centrally located, allowing us to operate more effectively,” he says. “Our Fleet Maintenance Department is in the same spot instead of being four miles away. All our vehicles and equipment are housed indoors, which will improve the reliability and longevity of the city fleet.” ★
A ribbon cutting was held at the new facilities in January.
Yōkoso!
Greater Lafayette prepares to welcome visiting students from its sister city in Japan
An annual cultural exchange honoring a sister city agreement between Greater Lafayette and Ota City, Japan, will take place August 5-14. Around one dozen middle and high school students and two chaperones are expected to visit Tippecanoe County, continuing a tradition started in 1998, the first year Ota City sent students to Greater Lafayette.
“The sister city relationship was formalized in 1993,” says Collin Huffines, economic development manager for Greater Lafayette Commerce and program coordinator for the sister city student exchange. “The impetus for establishing the relationship with Ota City was the opening of the Subaru plant in Tippecanoe County in 1989. At the time, Subaru was headquartered in Ota City and although the headquarters has since relocated to Tokyo, the company’s main manufacturing presence remains in Ota City.”
Huffines was part of the Greater Lafayette cohort of 11 students and two chaperones who traveled to Ota City for the student exchange in July 2024. During their visit, students participated in a diverse range of activities, including visits to local police and fire stations, a traditional tea ceremony, meetings with local officials and tours of Subaru’s main manufacturing facility, the Museum of Kanayama Castle Ruin and city hall. They also experienced the Kegon Falls and the summer festival. Participants stay with host
families, providing for a more immersive experience and broadening the cultural exchange.
“My host family drove me to the drop off point every morning — that was my first experience in a Smart car,” Huffines says. “Ota City has more urban density than Greater Lafayette, so their streets are smaller, and therefore their vehicles are a lot smaller than what we’re used to. People avoid driving as much as possible. They spend more time walking and biking. Whereas for people who live here, especially in subdivisions, that might not be practical.”
The American students who visited Japan learned to observe cultural norms, such as using chopsticks, taking shoes off at the door or carrying around a hand towel because public restrooms don’t typically provide paper towels or hand dryers.
“I had never used chopsticks prior to my first visit to Ota City,” Huffines says. “The Japanese use chopsticks at every meal. My host family recognized early on that I did not have experience using chopsticks, so they’d always get a fork out for me, but I wanted to try and learn. By the end of the week they were pleasantly surprised with how capable I became.”
This year, it’s Greater Lafayette’s turn to show the students from Nippon the best of our community, and Huffines is looking for families willing to host visiting students. Activities are planned during the weekdays, so host families are
expected to provide transportation for students in the morning and late afternoon as well as provide dinner and breakfast. On the weekend, host families are encouraged to explore local attractions or introduce students to their favorite places in Greater Lafayette.
“Staying with host families is an important part of the program because it allows students to participate in American family life,” Huffines says. “They would not get the same cultural experience staying in a hotel.”
Recruiting volunteer host families also helps reduce the cost of the trip for participating students. Funding for the student exchange program also is provided by Tippecanoe County, the cities of Lafayette and West Lafayette, Duke Energy, Subaru of Indiana Automotive and Wintek.
Greater Lafayette Commerce organizes the weekday activities, which in past years have included meeting with the mayors of Lafayette and West Lafayette as well as the Tippecanoe County commissioners, touring Purdue’s campus, the Subaru plant and Cook Biotech and, of course, local delicacies such as the Original Frozen Custard and Arni’s pizza.
“In 2023, the Japanese students were playing Rock, Paper, Scissors to figure out who would have to finish the last few slices of pizza,” Huffines says. “They were obviously stuffed, but one of the chaperones explained that the Japanese aren’t
big fans of leftovers. If something is served at the table, you finish it. These are the types of moments where you learn little things that you could never pick up from a textbook.” ★
Interested in hosting?
Contact Collin Huffines, program coordinator, at chuffines@greaterlafayettecommerce.com
All host family applicants will be subject to a background check.
Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski takes questions from students visiting from Ota City.
Ella Seet, owner of Arondite Vintage
BY RADONNA FIORINI
CLAIRE PETKOV
is in vogue
clothes make the man, or woman, then current trends point to a wave of shoppers returning to their roots and stepping out in the clothes of generations past, choosing apparel that has stood the test of time.
Several locally owned vintage stores have popped up in Lafayette in the last two years, most of them downtown. The young store owners cite sustainability, quality and a disdain for fast fashion as motivating reasons for opening their businesses. Nostalgia also plays a big role for both owners and their customers.
Ella Seet, owner of Arondite Vintage on Columbia Street, has collected costume pieces and interesting clothing since she was a teenager involved in theater. She had a career as a stage actor in New York and worked in fashion merchandising in Chicago, all the while gathering beautiful clothing with a past.
About nine years ago, after moving to the Indianapolis area, she began selling some of her collection on the internet and eventually sold clothing, shoes, purses and costume jewelry at area pop-up markets. In 2023 she opened a store in Lafayette, convinced that college students would be interested in vintage apparel, she says.
Seet’s shop is in the City of Lafayette’s business incubator space at 619 Columbia St., where colorful dresses, pants and jackets from the 1980s, ’90s and what she describes as Y2K (early 2000s) vie for space with silk scarves, hats and shoes, along with a large collection of costume jewelry. Tucked in with items from the last 30 years are even older pieces, such as a pair of bright orange patent leather pumps from the ’60s.
While some people find the thought of wearing other people’s clothes “icky,” Seet believes everyone makes a statement with what they choose to wear, and where they choose to shop.
“I really want to help people understand that we’re connected to everything, and certainly to what we put on our bodies,” she says. “There is an energy attached to what we wear.” She expounded on that idea in a recent Facebook post:
“Vintage goods are not like new goods. They carry history and the hard lessons learned from it, they carry the hopes and triumphs of their previous owners, the inspiration of their designers, and the satisfaction of the people who made them, often by hand. They are alive with possibility. Perhaps for obvious reasons, I find the energy of new items, especially mass-produced ones, to be dull in comparison.”
And many younger people are entranced with the styles, and ethos, of the past. College students make up many of Seet’s customers.
“I’m encouraged by the enthusiasm younger people have for history,” she says. “They grew up with technology and are eager for a time before. And they often are thinking about what we can do to improve our lives and the lives of others.”
While some of Seet’s carefully curated inventory comes from folks who walk in off the street bearing items from their grandmother’s closet, much of it comes from others in the vintage world with whom she has cultivated relationships. She gathers clothing and jewelry from across the country and even from international connections, and loves connecting customers with a special piece that has been waiting for them.
Cody Easter and Kaylee McCandless take the hunt for vintage clothes seriously. Their Main Street shop Rags to Riches is populated with apparel curated from Indiana, but they’ve also gone on cross-country buying trips. The couple opened their store in July 2023, after collecting vintage wares and deciding that finding new homes for old things would be their passionate pursuit.
Vintage jackets and jewelry at Arondite Vintage
Rags to Riches has an eclectic offering for vintage lovers.
Kaylee McCandless and Cody Easter, owners of Rags to Riches
The couple, who hail from the region and whose families had connections back to their middle school days, are committed to sustainability and promoting environmentally friendly ways of living, says Easter. Decrying the “billions of pounds of clothing” that end up in landfills every year, they search down country roads and out-of-the-way homesteads to bring home vintage gold.
Rags to Riches features lots of Purdue shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, plus concert and band shirts, sweaters, hats and other pop-culture themed apparel. Easter and McCandless are true “pickers,” driving through the country and stopping at farmhouses unannounced, offering to buy from the homeowners. After patrons began asking for western-style shirts, they went picking in several western states, coming home with about 200 pearl-snap shirts for the shop.
Both came from large families and say they grew up with hand-me-downs so have always seen the value in previously worn clothing. Easter points out that the fabric and construction of t-shirts from the ’90s and before is far more durable and comfortable than new clothing being sold today.
“We want to keep clothes alive for as long as we can,” he says. “The older pieces are often from natural fibers and each era has its own feel and fit. We encourage people to find their own era and what complements their body. We can help them do that.”
All clothing that comes into the shop is cleaned on site. Some of the apparel is distressed and carries the wear and tear of a lifetime of use, but Easter believes these pieces have a charm of their own, and some patrons are looking for that kind of authenticity in their wardrobe, he says.
But it’s not just vintage clothing shoppers are seeking. Jordan Taylor and Michael Jaeger offer older video games and consoles, collectible cards and toys, and even VHS tapes and CDs at Vintage Vault, their shop on Wabash Avenue. And the store also fosters community by being a meeting place for gamers.
Taylor opened the shop in August 2023 primarily with clothing, shoes and toys because his private collection had grown large.
“I’ve always had a knack for finding vintage clothes and selling things online,” he says. “I wanted a place that sold vintage but was also a place to hang out and have an experience.”
Jaeger’s private collection of video games and vintage toys also had expanded, and the two men saw an opportunity to combine their efforts, so Jaeger joined Vintage Vault in 2024.
Vintage tees at Rags to Riches
Vintage Vault’s display of hats ranges from football to vintage race cars.
(From left) Tim Nichols (top level trades); Rodrigo Samano (store manager); Mike Jaeger (co-owner) and Jordan Taylor (co-owner) of Vintage Vault
“There’s certainly a nostalgia factor,” Jaeger says. “With vintage even certain smells transport you to your grandpa’s house. I can’t wait to see what comes in the door and then see who comes in and buys it.”
The men search flea markets and thrift stores for merchandise, buy from people who bring things to the shop, and even trade and barter store merchandise to fill the shelves. Vintage Vault specializes in streetwear, sports jerseys and Purdue gear, along with gaming merchandise and collectibles.
Lauren, Dustin and Viktor Miller, who hail from near Lebanon, were recent shoppers at the store, looking for Pokémon cards. All three are collectors and enjoy visiting different brick-and-mortar, locally owned stores in the region.
“It’s fun to see the video games I played as a kid; a real blast from the past,” says Lauren Miller. “I was also surprised by the clothing. I just realized I have money hanging in my closet at home!”
Vintage Vault hosts Pokémon tournaments every other Saturday and encourages people to stop by in the evenings to hang out and connect over games and conversation.
Austin Smith, owner of Broken Glass Vintage
Above: Pins, windbreakers and other finds at Vintage Vault
The newest downtown vintage store opened in February, also focusing on sportswear and pop culture. Broken Glass Thrifts, located on the second floor above Artists’ Own on Main Street, is the second store started by Austin Smith and Caleb Kennell. The young men began their vintage enterprise in Rossville after recognizing there were no retail outlets there catering to younger people.
“We’re excited to be in Lafayette now with the college students and the way the downtown is really booming,” says Smith. “Trends from the 1970s through the ʼ90s are coming back and people are interested in second-hand clothing, like the baggy pants that have come back in style.”
The store features a plethora of sports-themed shirts and jackets along with posters, VHS tapes and vinyl. Vintage pop culture is also represented with concert tour t-shirts and memorabilia. Smith acknowledges that vintage merchandise can be expensive, but he says Broken Glass Thrifts is committed to keeping prices affordable while finding new homes for much-loved older apparel.
You don’t have to go downtown to find the classics. Even the local home of fast fashion hosts a vintage store, Yette Thrifts, located at Tippecanoe Mall. Keaton Schreckengast and Brooke Bradford opened the store in August 2023, after Schreckengast’s hobby of collecting ramped up during the pandemic.
A signed Michael Jordan and a diverse range of VHS tapes at Broken Glass Vintage
Race car figurines are a huge hit at Yette Thrifts in the Tippecanoe Mall.
“I needed something to do with it, and I love to meet people,” he says. “It’s a lot of fun growing a small business,” adding that he finds merchandise at garage sales, thrift stores and just by offering to buy clothing off someone’s back.
A lot of people are looking for apparel from the ʼ90s because of the nostalgia factor and quality of fabrics, he says. But some of his most prized finds are from much longer ago. His grandmother gave him her senior cords (corduroy pants that were hand-decorated to commemorate a high school or college student’s senior year) from the 1960s, and Schreckengast has since been on the hunt for more, since each pair is unique and tells a story about the original owner.
Yette Thrifts also has a collection of sports memorabilia and artwork, from football to NASCAR merchandise. Carhartt and denim jackets are popular along with wind breakers and jogging suits.
And, by the way, the store name is derived from the last five letters of Schreckengast’s hometown, not from the name of a mythical hairy creature. This playful spirit, love for people and a longing for times past is emblematic of all these store owners. When you stop by to shop, plan to stay awhile and chew the fat about the good old days. ★
Keaton Schreckengast (left), owner of Yette Thrifts with Oliver Morgan
Purdue and Mickey Mouse items at Yette Thrifts
What is vintage?
The current rage over old clothing, housewares, video games and collectibles begs the question: What is vintage?
The owners of several local vintage stores say there are agreed upon industry definitions of what is vintage and what is thrifted, although the word “thrift” appears in some vintage store names. They note that vintage has a very specific meaning in the fashion and collectibles world. Surprisingly, anything 20 years old or older is considered vintage. This means your favorite pair of jeans and threadbare college sweatshirt may have more value than just weekend comfort. True vintage denotes items 30 years old or older. Antique items must be at least 100 years old.
Vintage stores carry carefully curated items that generally are presented for sale in organized ways, resembling retail outlets selling new merchandise. Vintage stores generally are for-profit. Thrift stores most often are operated by non-profit organizations and generally are a mishmash of clothing, furniture, household goods, books and jewelry.
Vintage merchandise may be more expensive than thrift store items, partially because of the effort required to procure quality products and clean and present the merchandise in an attractive way. Vintage store owners often specialize in a specific era of clothing or collectibles, but most also have an array of time periods and products represented.
Some vintage store owners find merchandise at thrift stores and garage or estate sales, but they also happily purchase items that people bring into the store if it fits their business model. Most also have established relationships with other vintage dealers in the state and even across the country. Some have regular 40-hour-a-week jobs to support their vintage habits, while others are trying to make a go with just their stores.
Intrigued? Let’s go shopping!
Arondite Vintage
619 Columbia St., Lafayette
Generally open Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m.
Follow arondite.vintage on Facebook and Instagram for current hours and specials. The shop will close April 30, but curated collections of Arondite clothing can be found online and at several downtown stores. Look for a collection of ‘90s and Y2K clothing, high-quality and natural fiber items and jewelry inside Urban Huntress at 525 Main St. Also, a collection of more retro/groovy/ kitschy vintage will be in the back mezzanine of McCord Candies. Collections also will be at shops in Indianapolis, at a booth in Sell It Here on Creasy Lane and at pop-up markets.
Rags to Riches
918 Main St., Lafayette
Generally open TuesdaySunday, noon to 8 p.m.
Follow ragsonmainvintage on Instagram for current hours and specials.
Vintage Vault
525 Wabash Ave., Lafayette Open Monday-Friday, noon to 10 p.m.
Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
Yette Thrifts
2415 Sagamore Parkway South, Lafayette, in the Tippecanoe Mall near the food court
Generally open TuesdaySunday, noon to 7 p.m.
Follow yette_thrifts_ on Instagram for current hours and specials.
Broken Glass Thrifts
516 Main St., Lafayette, on the second floor above Artists’ Own
Generally open ThursdaySunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Follow brokenglassthrifts on Facebook and Instagram for current hours and specials.
Springtime means tee time at area golf courses
BY KEN THOMPSON
Even during the coldest days of winter in Greater Lafayette, local golfers were looking forward to making the first tee time of spring.
The biggest changes have taken place at Purdue’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, which has emerged from the Cherry Lane realignment project to provide even more amenities for the golfer who likes the challenges of the Ackerman-Allen and Kampen-Cosler courses.
►Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex
This year’s home of the 2025 Dye Junior Invitational and the 49th Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championship will welcome golfers and their guests with upgraded dining options.
Boilerhouse Prime opened in March for dinner service only inside the Pete Dye Clubhouse. Boilerhouse Prime touts itself as a premier steakhouse with curated fine dining. The menu features USDA Prime, Linz Heritage, American Wagyu and A5 Japanese Wagyu cuts of beef. Boilerhouse Prime also boasts a unique-to-Lafayette raw bar alongside premium seafood and a curated selection of classic cocktails, rare wines and exclusive bourbons.
More casual dining is available in the Clubhouse Bar & Grill, which will have multiple TVs carrying sporting events.
The Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex offers membership options ranging from full ($3,150 a year) to $1,800 for Purdue students. Among the perks are a dedicated member practice area and overnight bag storage. Further details are available at purduegolf.com.
Booking tee times at Ackerman-Allen or Kampen-Cosler is now possible through the Noteefy app. Noteefy allows golfers to set playing preferences by days, time range and number of players. The app will then send notifications when the preferred tee time becomes available.
The Pete Dye Clubhouse honors the legendary golf course designer who oversaw the creation of Ackerman-Allen and Kampen-Cosler. Ackerman-Allen is a par-72 championship golf course featuring large bentgrass greens and fairways. The rolling hills, tree-lined fairways, white sand bunkers and a handful of water hazards will challenge even the most experienced golfer.
Kampen-Cosler has a 4.5-star rating on Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” and is one of the nation’s top collegiate courses. Few golf courses in Indiana are rated more difficult in Indiana than Kampen-Cosler. That’s because the course is lined with vast sand bunkers, native grasslands, ponds and a natural celery bog. Get through those obstacles and large bentgrass greens await.
►Coyote Crossing
The semi-private club is hoping its Coyote Crossing app will make it easier for guests to book tee times and sign up for events. The app allows golfers to set preferences and receive text/email alerts when the requested tee times become available.
Demand is high for the Hale Irwin-designed course that will celebrate its 25th anniversary on June 7. Golf Week has ranked Coyote Crossing the sixth-best course in Indiana. Built on the rolling terrain around Burnett Creek and within the Winding Creek neighborhood, Coyote Crossing follows Irwin’s mandate of maintaining much of the wildlife, native prairies, wetlands and forests. It’s this natural setting that challenges golfers.
Although it’s been a semi-private course since 2017, Coyote Crossing is open to the public. Each hole has five sets of tees. The par-72 layout is 6,839 yards from the exhibition markers to 4,881 yards from the forward tees.
Monthly and annual memberships are available without initiation fees, monthly minimums or long waiting lists. More information is available at coyotecrossinggolf.com.
►The Ravines
Created from a family farm that has been in the Ade family for nearly 150 years, The Ravines offers 18 holes of golf for reasonable prices: $38 with a cart Monday through Friday. Saturday-Sunday and holiday rates are $45 with a cart.
Memberships also are offered from a “25 Play Card” to Platinum Member, which allows unlimited play. For more information, contact the pro shop at 765-583-1550.
The Ravines was designed by Duane Dammeyer of Quality Golf and Construction in Greenwood. The goal was to provide an enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. Two distinctly different 9-hole layouts keep The Ravines a new experience during every visit.
The course features bentgrass fairways, tees and greens. Sand, water and ravine hazards provide challenges for golfers of all ages.
Amenities include a large driving range and practice facility, a snack bar and a clubhouse that is available for weddings, company outings and other large events.
►Lafayette Country Club
Greater Lafayette’s oldest golf course is also the most visible. Drivers heading north and south along S. Ninth Street can watch members play the wooded 9-hole course.
The members-only course is open weather permitting during winter hours (Labor Day to Memorial Day). Water hazards and sand bunkers line the bentgrass fairways leading up to bentgrass greens.
Amenities include a fine dining facility open to casual and formal dining, a full-service bar in the lounge and multiple TVs. A swimming pool and two outdoor lighted tennis courts also are available to members.
Membership information can be obtained at Lafayettecountryclub.net.
►Battle Ground Golf Course
Another of Greater Lafayette’s scenic courses, Battle Ground resides on 160 acres near Prophetstown State Park.
Battle Ground is designed to be fair to every golfer. Wide bentgrass fairways provide multiple target lines. Sizable greens and large surrounding areas allow an array of shots to be played from close range. Longer hitters will be challenged by thick rough and strategically placed bunkers. Water hazards also come into play on three holes.
Four sets of tees play from 5,100 yards in length at the front to nearly 7,100 at the back.
Amenities include a full practice facility featuring a putting green, a short game arena and a practice tee equipped with five target greens.
Rates are reasonable, with 18 holes and a cart for $35 Monday through Thursday, and $45 Friday through Sunday and holidays. Nine-hole rates with cart are $25 and $29, respectively. Nine-hole walking rates are $18 Monday through Thursday and $22 Friday-Sunday and holidays.
The driving range is open seven days a week. A half bucket of balls is $8, with a full bucket going for $15.
Memberships are available, ranging from $2,195 annually for adults ages 36-59 to $1,295 for Twilight (after 4 p.m.) golfers. For more information, call the pro shop at 765-567-2178 or email Clubhouse@golfbattleground.com. ★
