ENGAGEMENTS • ANNIVERSARIES •
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013
Ahlersmeyer — 60th Donald and Janet (Helms) Ahlersmeyer of Lake James recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The couple married Sept. 19, 1953, at Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne by Dr. Paul Krauss after meeting at Ball State University. The couple have six children and their spouses, Thomas and Janet Ahlersmeyer of Fort Wayne; Amy Ahlersmeyer of Zionsville; David and Shelley Ahlersmeyer of Warsaw; Steven and Kathryn Ahlersmeyer of Fort Wayne; Julia and David Clary of Angola; Laura and David Stahl of Gregory, Mich.; along with 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Ahlersmeyer retired as a full professor in special education from Ball State. Mrs. Ahlersmeyer is a retired first-grade teacher from the Muncie Community Schools. The couple was honored at a family dinner hosted by their six children.
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Stetler — 60th Leon and Dolores (Rosendaul) Stetler of Albion will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 3. The couple were married Oct. 3, 1953, at the Scott Center Church near Angola. Mr. Stetler owned and operated a barber shop in Albion and later was employed at Central Noble High School. Mrs. Stetler worked at Fischer Pharmacy in Albion for several years then in the recorder’s office in the Noble County Courthouse. They have two daughters, Linda and Mike Irelan of Tocoa, Ga., and Judy and Perry Gordon of Albion. They also have six grandchildren.
Leins — 35th Stobierski — 50th Daniel and Annette Stobierski of Angola celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 10 and renewed their wedding vows at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Angola. A reception followed. The couple married at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Temperance, Mich. The couple have five children, David and Andrea Stobierski of Las Vegas, Diane and Paul Stankewitz of Alma, Mich., Juliane and Mark Culver of Arlington Heights, Ill., Donn and Julie Stobierski of Glen Ellyn, Ill., and John and Missy Stobierski of Wyoming, Mich., and 12 grandchildren. The family celebrated with a vacation at Klinger Lake.
Randall and Robin (Greenfield) Leins of Auburn will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary on Monday. They were married on Sept. 30, 1978, at Auburn Presbyterian Church in Auburn. Mr. Leins is employed at New Millennium Building Systems in Butler. Mrs. Leins is employed at Dr. K. Michael Hayes, D.D.S. in Auburn. They are the parents of three children, Stacy and Andrew Schmidt of Auburn, Jessica Leins of Auburn, and Matthew and Tessa Leins of Auburn. They also have five grandchildren.
Schueler, Daluga
Hamilton, Bell Lisa M. Hamilton and Zachary E. Bell, both of Indianapolis, plan to marry Oct. 5, at the First United Methodist Church in Auburn. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Bruce and Jill Hamilton of Auburn. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Indiana University, Bloomington, and is employed at St. Vincent Hospital. Her fiance is the son of Edward Bell of Martinsville and Melissa Rowe of Indianapolis. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Ball State University. He is an associate broker at Century 21 Scheetz.
Kelsey Daluga and Ryan Schueler, both of Westfield, are engaged. The bride-to-be attended Indiana University and earned her master’s degree in school counseling at Butler University. She is employed at Northwestern Elementary School in Kokomo and is the daughter of John and Kathi Daluga of Angola. Her fiance earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and is a graphic designer at Duramark Technologies. He is the son of Steve Schueler of Fremont and Anne Schueler of Angola. An Oct. 26 wedding is planned at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Angola.
Faro, Portugal, from old town to scenic beaches FARO, Portugal (AP) — Nestled on the southern coast of Portugal, Faro is the heart of the country’s Algarve region, where cerulean waters and mouthwatering cuisine rival those of the French Riviera or Italy’s Amalfi coast. But unlike some beach towns that are all sun and no soul, Faro is more than postcard-perfect views. There are charming walkways, a walled historic town and pristine islands. Here are some tips for experiencing what the city has to offer.
History and art Enter Faro’s walled old town through the neoclassical arch of the Arco da Vila and traipse through cobblestoned streets, towering stone facades and the curved arches, some of which date to 13th century Moorish rule. From the Largo da Se, a square lined with orange trees and surrounded by an 18th-century Bishop’s Palace, there’s easy access to a 19th-century Town Hall and a cathedral. Ascend the tower for great views of the town, the Ria Formosa lagoons, and the trail of shrubs and flowers that crown the top edges of these historic walls. Seek inspiration for your own walls at the Faro Municipal Museum, Trem Gallery and other artistic haunts sprinkled throughout the old town, or at a number of shops, where iconic Portuguese tiles,
with intricate blue designs painted onto porcelain white backgrounds, start at 5 euros apiece. Outside the old city, a network of walkways without a car in sight provides a pleasant stroll through the litany of boutiques and restaurants. Sample local fare at the always bustling Pasterlaria Bijou, 33 Rua Santo Antonio, a popular café that offers regional delicacies like Florentinas, caramelized almond layers, and marzipan in twee shapes filled with sweet egg yolk. Walkways in and around this area are practically works of art, with black and white stones arranged in intricate patterns that form borders, shapes (such as fish and sea horses), building names, and important dates in the city’s history. Not to be missed but also not for the faint of the heart, the walls of the Capela do Ossos (Chapel of Bones) inside the Carmo Church are lined with skulls and human remains (1 euro; open weekdays). For modern versions of grit, scope out the impressively detailed graffiti murals, which range from political to flat-out funny and swath walls around town. Not even trains are spared from the spray painter’s mark, turning the transportation system into rainbow-hued blur as they chug along the tracks hugging the coastline. In summer, locals gather by the marina to watch free
AP
This image provided by the Portuguese National Tourist Office shows the cathedral in Faro, Portugal.
performances by beautifully costumed folk groups of traditional song and dance.
Beyond city limits Approximately 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) from the city center lies Praia de Faro, an easy bus ride (1.70 euros) away and the only beach in town that’s accessible by road. The beach is a spit of sand on the Ilha de Faro (Faro Island), with one side facing outward into the ocean and the other inland toward the lagoon. But the most breathtaking scenery can be found on Ilha Deserta—ilha-deserta. com — an island that is well-worth the half-hour boat ride. Round-trip ferry service is 10 euros, while longer guided tours of the island and surrounding lagoon go for 25 euros.
AP
Visitors flock to the Angel Oak on Johns Island near Charleston, S.C., on Friday, Sept. 20. The tree, a landmark in the South Carolina Lowcountry, is thought to be as many as 500 years old.
Charming Southern cities: Savannah and Charleston SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — In “Gone With the Wind,” Scarlett O’Hara, comparing Savannah and Charleston to the much younger city of Atlanta, called the older locales “aged grandmothers fanning themselves placidly in the sun.” Today the two waterfront cities are among the South’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors annually with their history, restaurants and streetscapes. Savannah, the oldest city in Georgia, was established in 1733, and Charleston, the oldest city in South Carolina, was founded in 1670. They’re located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) apart, so it’s easy to visit both on one trip. Savannah is a walkable city, from the waterfront on the Savannah River to the spacious downtown and historic district. Its streets are made from cobblestone and tabby (ground oyster shells, lime, and sand, mixed with salt water), and it’s known for a series of picturesque, park-like squares, lined with live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. The 22 squares include Oglethorpe Square, named for the founder of Georgia, James Oglethorpe, who laid out the city plan for the squares; Pulaski Square, for the Polish general of the Revolutionary War; and Lafayette, for the Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of the American Revolutionary War. Telfair Square, named for a prominent family whose roots stretched back to Colonial times, is home to two of the city’s most important museums: the Telfair Academy, an 1819 mansion that became a museum in the 1880s, and the contemporary Jepson Center, designed by the noted architect Moshe Safdie. The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), which has made the city its home since 1979, has restored or renovated dozens of old buildings around the city, many of which are now used as dorms and classrooms. Some student housing adjoins the squares; you can tell by all the bicycles parked in front. At City Market is a statue of favorite son Johnny Mercer, songwriter of “Moon River,” ”Days of Wine and Roses” and “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening,” among many others, who was born in Savannah. You can also tour the family home, now the Mercer Williams House Museum. Its later occupants included Jim Williams, whose trial for murder was the focus of John Berendt’s 1994 book, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Mercer and Savannah-born poet Conrad Aiken are buried in Bonaventure Cemetery, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) outside of
AP
This May 2, 1997, file photo shows The Mercer House, located in historic Savannah, Ga., and is the former home of the late antiques dealer Jim Williams whose story was the subject of author John Berent’s book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”
town in a beautiful setting alongside the Wilmington River. The cemetery, known for its spooky but romantic statues, memorials and more of those live oaks draping gravesites with Spanish moss, was also featured in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” The book’s famous cover image showed the cemetery’s hauntingly lovely “Bird Girl” statue, resulting in so much attention that “Bird Girl” was moved to the Telfair Academy. When you’re done with Savannah’s squares, Southern Gothic ambience and ghost stories, head through the tidal flats of the South Carolina lowcountry to Charleston, about a two-hour drive away. The city was voted the top tourist destination in the U.S. two years in a row by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Old-fashioned horse carriage tours offer overviews of Charleston’s architecture and history, and many historic homes and nearby plantations also offer tours. Middleton Plantation is known for its landscaped gardens as well. The City Market complex, a National Historic Landmark, is one of the city’s top attractions. Its open-air market buildings date to the early 1800s, but were given a $5.5 million facelift that was completed in 2011. The 150 vendors sell everything from tourist T-shirts to sweetgrass baskets, handwoven onsite.