inMiddlebury Magazine September 2014

September 2014

magazine

Celebrating Life in Middlebury, IN

fall

Dahlias at Bonneyville Mill Park

FESTIVAL TIME

dazzling

DAHLIAS

REMEMBER WHEN:

HISTORY OF THE ESSENHAUS

From the Heart of the RV Capital:

JAYCO Generations of Family Fun

picking

APPLES

2 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

THIS MONTH’S COVER:

September

Katie Brenneman captured the late-summer beauty of the dahlia garden at Bonneyville Mill Park.

Table of Contents

around town

04 Outdoor Living: Connecting to Nature through Apple Picking 05 Local Business Directory 06 Middlebury Gives Back: Sew Sisters 08 Boys & Girls Club: Meet Lindsay Saunders!

10 Middlebury Milestones 11 Community Calendar 14 Park Updates 15 Chamber News featured stories

12 Jayco: Family Fun, Generation after Generation 21 Dazzling Dahlias 24 Middlebury Fall Festival schools

16

Updates from Our Schools

living well

22 Remember When: The Essenhaus was Born coupons

27

The inMiddlebury Magazine Staff pictured (L-R): Carrie Boyer, Katie Brenneman, Melissa Troyer, Stephanie Salisbury, Amy Kristoff, Carla Gull, Gloria Salavarria, and Kris Mueller. Not pictured: Russ Draper & Tammy Tilley.

The kids are back to school and mornings have that invigorating, crisp feel to the air. Fall is right around the corner, and so is the Middlebury Fall Festival! Local artisans and crafters get together, there’s a farmer’s market, cornhole tournament, baking contest, tractor display, and even fireworks... what better way to ring in the new season? The colors of autumn are always dazzling, and there’s something about this month that puts our hearts at ease. Let’s celebrate September and the beginning of fall with our community!

- The staff at inMiddlebury Magazine

CONTRIBUTORS Publisher & Editor-in-chief Melissa Troyer

ACCOUNT MANAGERS Carrie Boyer, Amy Kristoff

STAFF WRITER & COPY EDITOR Stephanie J. Salisbury

Contributing writerS Tammy Tilley, Dr. Carla Gull

GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER Katie Brenneman

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Russ Draper, Amy Kristoff, Gloria Salavarria & Kris Mueller

OFFICE MANAGER Amy Kristoff

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Share your message with every home and business within the Middlebury School Corporation! We mail the magazine to over 10,000 addresses and publish it online! Your ad can reach each home for as low as 1.5¢ per address! Design is free with purchase of your ad. Our Account Managers are here to help, just give us a call at 574-304-3913.

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SEPTEMBER 2014 | inMiddlebury Magazine

3

outdoor LIVING

Connecting to Nature through

Apple Picking

By Dr. Carla Gull

Everyone knows Red Delicious and Granny Smith.

Do you know Earliblaze, Northern Spy, and Jersey Mac? Local apple picking introduces us to delicious varieties! Last year we picked juicy, tart Transparent apples at my aunt’s house in Middlebury. We made batches of applesauce with the kids seeing how food gets into jars!

Apple varieties are available for u-picking from mid-August to the end of October. We love going apple picking to spend time outside as a family, connect with our local food, and eat good, fresh apples. We talk about where our food comes from, life cycles, trees, decomposition, natural recycling efforts, seeds, taste, texture, color, and more!

Places to Pic

k

Kercher’s Sunrise Or chard, Goshen, IN www.KerchersOr chard.com Corey Lake Orchar ds, Th www.CoreyLakeO ree Rivers, MI rchards.com Falling Fruit www.FallingFrui t.org

We often enjoy our apples fresh; however, we also like a simple applesauce, apple crisp, apple pie, or baked apples. Apples go well with many savory dishes. Know the varieties that work well with how you like to eat your apples, typically available on the orchard’s website. ing Tips

Apple Pick

websites to at the orchard e lik u yo es pl variety of ap • Check the e to pick. bl la ai ur av be ill , check with yo know when it w picked nearby a un is t s ui ee Fr tr ng e es. Falli ce appl u pick the appl e• If you noti yo dl id if M d in in m es ey tre e if th . Add fruit in the area neighbors to se aces to ‘glean’ pl ts lis at it. th fru e websit ith unused other treats nnect others w el apples, and m bury to help co ra ca r, de ci essed apple • Try fresh-pr e, pumpkin ard. ch like a corn maz es while at the or ti vi ti ac r ds offer othe eat family fun!

• Many orchar ides, and fall festivals. What gr yr t you taste a ha , cider! They le patch, pictures nt lle ce ex r Mill offers rchasing.

• Miller’s Cide apples before pu of ix m nt rre sample of the cu

4 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

Carla Gull’s apple picking helpers

For more info visit Dr. Carla Gull’s blog: www.InsideOutsideMichiana.com.

She is often seen with her four tag-along explorers in the greater Michiana area.

Introducing...

The NEW Local Business Directory!

Support Local Businesses!

Call to ask about advertising in our Business Directory for as low as $50 a month!

SueAlbertDesign@gmail.com

825-1275 Invitations • Brochures Posters • Flyers • Business Cards

For more information call 574-304-3913 or email info@inmiddlebury.com

SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 5

around TOWN | Middlebury Gives Back

Sew sisters

By Tammy Tilley

Photos by Haley Checkley

rial from many people in the area to make the quilts, they work with local agencies that also have quilters.

Said Elaine, “We recently sent three large bags of cut fabric and everything else needed to make a quilt to Christian Aid Ministries in Shipshewana. They will make the quilts and send them to Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania.

“I also started a sewing group in Mississippi because my husband and I visit there each year. I supply all the material for that group as well.”

Hoosier Comfort Ladies, from Left to Right: Elaine Yoder, Iva Jean Kauffman, Mary Frye, Kathy Troyer, Marcia Kindy, & Nancy Jackson. Not pictured: Joan Love, LaVerda McGowen, Theo Outman, Fannie Schlabach, Karen Schmucker, Cheryl Yoder, Ruby Yoder, & Shirley Booth.

“Who’s ironing today?”

“Shirley is ironing. Iva Jean is sewing the strips together.”

And so the conversations go, some related to the task at hand, others knitting together the hearts of the ladies gathered in a garage-turned-sewing room filled with stacks of multi-colored fabric in different stages of projects.

Meet the Hoosier Comfort Ladies

These sixteen women call themselves the Hoosier Comfort Ladies, and since 2009, they’ve been meeting each Monday from April through November, diligently making quilts and sending them near and far to those in need.

Elaine Yoder started the group after visiting New Orleans. “I saw many homeless people who slept under the bridges. It gets cold in the evenings, even in New Orleans. So I came home and started making quilts. Mary was my first recruit, and we keep adding ladies each year.”

Mary, the eldest, estimates she’s been quilting for over 70 years.

“Goodness, I can’t remember exactly, it’s been so long. Ever since my mother taught me when I was a little girl,” she said.

The ladies have a well-formulated system: several cut strips of fabric, and one person sews the strips together. Another irons the strips, and then a group surrounds the quilting frame, knotting each square while keeping the top, middle, and bottom layers together. Not only does the group receive donated mate-

6 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

Who Benefits?

While some of the quilts help local individuals, most of them are shipped all over, from Colorado to Mexico, from Tucson to Kentucky. In the last two years alone, the Hoosier Comfort Ladies have shipped over 160 quilts to those in need.

Iva Jean Kauffman sews strips of fabric together to help make quilts.

“It feels good every time a box goes out, knowing we’ve done something to help someone,” said Elaine. Adds Nancy Jackson, “When people are in need, a blanket is a lot of comfort for a lot of different reasons.”

But the ladies admit they get a lot from meeting and making the quilts. Mary said, “I enjoy the friendship and getting to know others.”

“These are some special ladies,” concludes Elaine.

How Can You Help?

“We need hands,” said Ela ine.“ At least right now we have fabric, and we have sixtee n ladies, but we can alw ays use more help. More help me ans more blankets, which means more people get the he lp they need.” If you are interested in joining the Hoosi er Comfort Ladies, you can call Elaine at 825-2938.

SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 7

around TOWN | Boys & Girls Club “I look forward to continuing to develop the Club into a place where children truly want to be, and a big part of that will be working in partnership with the community to make that happen.”

MEET LINDSAY SAUNDERS! - Lindsay Saunders

By Stephanie J. Salisbury

The Middlebury community wants to welcome Lindsay Saunders, Associate Executive Director with the Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart County, Middlebury Unit.

Lindsay is married to Scott and is mother to Lilia, who turns three this month! She grew up in Sturgis and studied Political Science at the University of Michigan, focused on organizing for social justice and co-founding a student organization to mentor local first generation college students through the application process.

Lindsay was a Community Resource Coordinator on Chicago’s west side, Youth Programs Associate for the Elks National Foundation, and worked in Marketing and Communications for the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County.

Helping Youth Succeed “My career has always focused on youth programs and community development,” Lindsay says. “I was raised by a mom who worked two, sometimes three, different jobs to support my brothers and me. We didn’t have a Club to go to after school. After becoming the first person in my family to

8 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

Photo by Impressions Photography

graduate college, I decided to dedicate my career to helping youth achieve success and learn to take a productive approach to life’s challenges and obstacles. I am so honored to work for an organization that not only provides that type support and guidance, but also gives youth a safe place to go after school where they can learn and grow together.”

Happy to Be in Middlebury “Though very small, this community openly embraces our Club in big ways,” Lindsay says. “I am so honored to work for an organization that not only provides that type support and guidance, but also gives youth a safe place to go after school where they can learn and grow together.”

This Month at the Club Since September is the first full month of the school year at the Club, Lindsay says they are busy helping the kids kick off the school year right! In addition to preparations for their annual Youth of the Year competition, they are also launching a new Fine Arts program.

We’re excited to have Lindsay on board at the Boys & Girls Club here in Middlebury and grateful for her service and rapport with our youth. For more information, check out the website at www.BGCMiddlebury.org.

Rulli’s

Breaks World Record!

Rulli’s Italian Restaurant created the world’s largest calzone on August 9th. The event was filmed by a Guinness Book of World Records representative, and slices of the giant sandwich were sold to raise over $1,100 for the Middlebury Boys and Girls Club.

Rulli’s calzone • 100 pounds of pizza dough • 40 pounds of cheese • 25 pounds of pepperoni • 30 pounds of pizza sauce • 23 feet 7 inches long • 212 pounds Photos by Amy Kristoff

Financing that fits the pieces into place.

First Federal pays standard closing costs on any type of loan product for first time homebuyers.

Member FDIC

First Federal Savings Bank

2926 S. Main St., Elkhart, IN 574-524-8989 800-251-2618 www.firstfederalbanking.com

Borrowers must meet underwriting guidelines. A delivery fee may be applicable to the loan. Our loan originators can provide more information on how any delivery fee may impact the loan’s annual percentage rate.

NMLS# 399927

Insurance • Investment • Retirement Eugene Bontrager INVESTMENT ADVISOR REPRESENTATIVE

Branch Office Manager

(c ) 574.537.2534

426 N. Main St. • Suite 4 Middlebury, IN 46540 Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. (TFA), Transamerica Financial Group Division - Member FINRA, SIPC, and Registered Investment Advisor. Non-Securities products and services are not offered through TFA. TFG001880-10/13

SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 9

Have a celebration in October?

Middlebury

Let us know in 1 of 3 ways by Sept. 10: 1. Website: www.inMiddlebury.com/milestones;

Milestones

2. Facebook: www.Facebook.com/inMiddlebury Click on the blue (Submit) tab; 3. Mail: inMiddlebury, PO Box 1314, Middlebury, IN 46540.

Birthday Wishes to: 9/1 9/2 9/2 9/2 9/3 9/4 9/6 9/7 9/8 9/8 9/11 9/14 9/16 9/16 9/17 9/17 9/18 9/20 9/20 9/21 9/21 9/21 9/22 9/22 9/26 9/27 9/27 9/29 9/30

Joanna King Debbie Scott Deb Sallee Lee Bontrager Adelyn Graber Lily Scholl Audrey Crist Julie Borntrager Steve Miller Dora Woods Cindy Lederman Jessica Fry Kris Mueller Diane Miller Wheatley Juanita Friesen Heather Duncan Jennifer Richardson Annie Troyer Steve Salisbury Cindy Miller Kris Steele Gannon Michael Crist Gage Garber Jay Wilson Rich Troyer Bryan Fisher Marybeth Miller Mindy Schrock Brevin Scroggins

Anniversary Wishes to: 9/2 9/5 9/5 9/5 9/6 9/20 9/26 9/30

Jason & Tracy Wogoman Brittney & Kevin Lehman David & Kay Kimmel Steve & Stephanie Salisbury Andy & Marcy Showalter Lee & Dorothy Bontrager Jerry & Julie Bontrager Everett & Joan Grimm

10 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

Happy bir thday, Adelyn Gr aber!

Happy 50th birthday, Julie Borntrager!

ing! , Joanna K y a d th ir b Happy

Happy birthday , Kri

s Mueller!

e ve sary, St r e v i n n 10th a Happy Salisbury! anie & Steph

Happy 50th annivers ary, Jerry & Julie Bontrager!

Upcoming Events at

Essenhaus Heritage Hall Saturday, September 27, 7 pm

DAVID DEAN

David Dean has been making people laugh for 25 years. His early days of training took place at Second City School of Improvisational Comedy along with performing at numerous clubs throughout Chicago. He has worked alongside Ken Davis, Chonda Pierce and many more clean comics. David’s comedy can be heard on Laugh USA, Sirius Satellite Radio.

Community Calendar

September MONTHLY 1st & 3rd Fridays: Fish Fry @ American Legion – 5 - 7 pm 1st & 3rd Mondays: Town Council Meetings @ Town Hall – 6 pm

Weekly Mon – Fri: REAL Services lunch for ages 60+ @ Greencroft Tues: Euchre Night @ Greencroft – 6:30 pm WED: Middlebury Exchange Club @ Essenhaus – 6:30 am Thurs: Classic Car Cruise-In @ Essenhaus – 4:30 - 8 pm Fri: Optimist Club Breakfast @ Essenhaus – 6:30 am

Saturday, October 11, 7 pm

MARA LEVINE & GATHERING TIME

Called “one of the best singers of her generation” by Christine Lavin, folksinger and jewelry designer Mara Levine has been creating beautiful interpretations of fine traditional and contemporary folk songs for many years. She has an ear for both new songs and for classics that can be reshaped to sound fresh and new. Voted best band runner-up (and top folk band) in the 2011 Long Island Press readers’ poll, Gathering Time is like a high-energy Peter, Paul & Mary!

Essenhaus.com • 574-825-9471

1

Labor Day: No School

2, 15

Middlebury Town Council Meeting

4

Town of Middlebury Tree Board Meeting

6

Food Pantry Benefit Pulled Pork Dinner St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4-7 pm Donation of cash & canned goods.

11-13

Middlebury Clean-up Days*

15

Am. Red Cross Blood Donation Griner Community Church

17

Town of Middlebury Park Board Meeting

19

Community Firework Night, 7pm, Crystal Valley Missionary Church. Kids games & food. Free to the public. Donation of cash, hats, coats, boots & gloves.

23

NHS Homecoming

25

Town Redevelopment Commission

30 Senior Night at NHS football game 19

GLOW 5k Walk/Run to benefit the NHS choral department

Mark your calendars: October 5th, Middlebury Walks for a Cure

Mennonite Youth Choir Festival

March 1, 2015 at Sauder Hall, Goshen College Registration open through October 30th for all 3rd through 9th graders who love to sing sacred music.

Visit www.MennoniteYouthChoir.com for information.

*Town Clean-up Days Sept. 11 - 13 Items may be taken to the Public Works Building, 125 York Dr., from sunrise to sunset. The following items will NOT be accepted: paint solvents, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, anything with freon, TVs, computers, and tires. Hazardous waste may be taken to the Elkhart County Jail on the first Sat. of each month. Town Office: 825-1499 SEPTEMBER 2014 | inMiddlebury Magazine 11

Feature Story

Jayco:

Family Fun, Generation After Generation

By Stephanie J. Salisbury

In 1968, in the midst of two chicken coops and a barn on their family farm, Lloyd J. Bontrager and his wife Bertha started producing camping trailers and Jayco, one of the pillars of our community’s RV industry, began.

In the beginning: Jayco on the family farm

Lloyd had worked at Starcraft prior to this, and dreamed of beginning his own RV manufacturing company, helping families enjoy spending time together. By the end of their first fiscal year, they had fifteen employees and had produced 138 camping trailers. Lloyd would hitch them to his personal vehicle and travel to dealerships all over the U.S. A Family Connection “Jayco is a place where everyone is treated like family,” says Ashley Lehman, Director of Marketing. Lloyd and Bertha’s sons are leading the company today. Wilbur Bontrager is Chairman of the Board and his brother, Derald, is President Lloyd & Bertha Bontrager

12 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

3 Generations of Jayco Bontragers Derald, Bertha, Austin, Ashley, Jason and Wilbur Lloyd and the first finished unit

and CEO. Though Lloyd has passed away, Bertha remains an active board member and keeps up with company happenings. Ashley, along with Jason and Austin Bontrager, are third generation that work at Jayco.

Another third generation Bontrager, Mitchell Hawkins, and two in-laws, Roger Huffman and Matt Gorsuch, work at L&W, an engineering company founded by Jayco in 1975.

Passion for Community The Bontragers’ passion for Jayco and their influence on the community is unparalleled. “For 47 years, Jayco has been focused on building a better RV that allows families to enjoy time together. Jayco has been able to provide employment for people in the community and surrounding areas. Jayco takes great pride in starting in a small town like Middlebury and remaining in Middlebury over the years.

It’s the quality of people and the work ethic they bring that have played a key role in Jayco’s success today.”

An Environmental Pioneer Jayco is adamant about protecting the environment as well.

“We also focus on being a conscious corporate citizen by protecting the environment through our EcoAdvantage program. We’re focused on creating better ways to build better RVs using fewer natural resources or by using renewable natural resources. Our goals are: to be landfill

Entegra Coach celebrating 1,000 units built!

free by 2015, reduce freshwater use, use more sustainable materials, consume less energy, promote green efforts, streamline processes, and reduce product weight for better fuel economy.” And Jayco has some impressive statistics!

“In 2013, we recycled 1,284 tons of wood, 13,221 tons of scrap metal, and 1,801 tons of cardboard and paper. These efforts helped Jayco to conserve enough gas for Americans to drive more than 1,209,600 miles, enough electricity to power 6,689 homes for a year, enough water to meet the daily fresh water needs of 168,093 Americans, and saved 37,169 mature trees.”

Building an Empire Jayco Corp today includes four separate but whollyowned RV manufacturing operating divisions, according to Ashley. “In early 1991, Jayco purchased Starcraft RV; in 2008, Jayco purchased the assets of Travel Supreme, creating the new company Entegra Coach. In 2014, Jayco purchased certain assets of the former Open Range, now known as Highland Ridge RV.” These, in addition to L&W, and a manufacturing plant in Twin Falls, Idaho, to better serve Western dealers, give Jayco a total of nearly 2,500 employees.

Generations of Family Fun “Jayco, Inc. also launched a new tag line or, as we like to call it, a brand promise, last year – ‘Generations of Family Fun’,” Ashley explains. “It embodies why Jayco was founded and why we are still manufacturing RVs today.

My grandpa, Lloyd Bontrager, had a strong passion for building a better RV that would allow families to enjoy time together. He always said, ‘a family that plays together, stays together,’ and had a strong vision and a dream to make that happen. This new brand promise means more to us than just the end consumer, however. We have generations of Bontragers working in the business, and generations of community families working at Jayco. We aim to treat everyone – employees, suppliers, dealers, and the end-user – like family, and we want what we build to provide fun for families for generations.”

“Lloyd founded the company on the Golden Rule and that philosophy still drives the company today.”

-Ashley Lehman, Director of Marketing

Production workers

Jayco family barn today

SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 13

Trail Width Increase The narrow sidewalk section of the Middlebury Greenway along the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail adjacent to the Middlebury Historical Museum has been widened. This area has been a bit of a bottleneck for users of the trail. Last month, the five-foot sidewalk was removed and replaced with 10-foot wide asphalt to match the rest of the trail.

The cost of this improvement project was split between the Middlebury Parks Department and the Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail – yet another way that Middlebury Parks is making life better!

around TOWN | Parks

Park Updates

By Tom Enright, Park & Recreation Manager Photos by Gloria Salavarria

New Kiosks from Old Lumber There are two new kiosks in the parks! One is along the Greenway at Krider Gardens and another at East Park. Two more kiosks are planned to be installed: one at Riverbend Park and another along the Greenway just north of Wayne Street.

These kiosks are made from lumber recycled from trees removed from the parks. The kiosk at Krider Gardens is made from the Norway Maples removed from the same park just a few hundred yards away. The kiosk at East Park is made from Green Ash, as well as the future kiosk at Riverbend.

The dying ash trees were removed from Riverbend Park. The fourth kiosk will be made from Red Oak, which was removed during the clearing stage of construction of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail last year. These kiosks provide excellent ways to distribute information about our parks, trails, events and local businesses.

Please stop by one of the new kiosks to look at the information and take a flyer if you like.

14 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

Sue Ann Von Blon (le ft) and Terry Rheinhe imer were decked out in th eir argyles along with “Elkabet” for a roun d of mini-golf last ye ar.

Mini Golf at the Library Save the date for the 3rd Annual Mini Golf at the Library on Saturday, November 1st from 10 am - 5 pm at the Middlebury Community Library. Come experience the library transformed into an 18 hole miniature golf course. This is a blast for the entire family! Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids 12 years and under. Proceeds go to the Middlebury Community Enrichment Council, comprised of the Friends of the Library, Friends of the Parks, and the Historical Museum.

Chamber | around TOWN

Chamber News

By Julie Whitehead

FALL FESTIVAL TIME It’s hard to believe, but the official end of summer has just passed. The Chamber will once again host the Middlebury Fall Festival. The Festival Committee works year-round to create a festival that benefits area artisans and crafters and attracts tourists from many miles away. The events you have come to love over the years such as the big fireworks display on Friday night and musical entertainment will be joined this year by a larger cornhole tournament and downtown merchants staying open later on Saturday evening. A schedule of all the events can be found at www.

MiddleburyFestivals.com.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CHAMBER The Chamber has purchased window clings with the Chamber logo for members to place in their businesses. We would greatly appreciate members placing the clings in a spot where customers will see them.

It is important for members to do business with other members and to stay in touch with one another. If your Chamber logo is easy to spot at your business, it shows your customers and friends that you support the business community in Middlebury. Your visual support of the Chamber’s mission to enhance the economic opportunity of the community raises awareness and will help us grow our membership.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! It’s not just a phrase for selling real estate. All business owners know that location is one of the most important factors in a business’s success. The same is true in the ‘Chamber of Commerce business’: it’s important to have a location that is convenient to Chamber members as well as guests visiting Middlebury. With that thought in mind, the Board of Directors voted to move the Chamber offices from Heritage Square on Wayne Avenue to the Shoup Building on Winslow Street effective August 1st. The new office space gives the Chamber space to hold small meetings inside the office and a vestibule to house tourist information that guests can access throughout the day.

Facebook.com/MiddleburyChamberofCommerce www.MiddleburyInChamber.com SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 15

SCHOOLS | NHS

News from Mr. Troyer, Vice Principal:

OFF TO A GREAT START! The summer has come and gone and we here at NHS are excited to begin another school year. In early August, we registered approximately 1,250 students over two days. A huge ‘thank you’ goes out to our students, parents, teachers and staff, and the many volunteers who helped distribute laptops, student schedules, school pictures and IDs, and yearbooks in addition to collecting necessary information to help make our job possible for kids. This registration couldn’t have happened without the assistance and dedication of our wonderful staff. Thank You!

Upcoming Events at NHS September 1 – No School September 15-19 – School Safety Week September 17 – Parent/Teacher Conferences September 19 – OLWEUS Night at Football Game September 30 – Blood Drive (open to the community)

16 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

On August 13th, we officially welcomed students back and are now off to a great start! Mr. Wood, the new principal at NHS, expressed how impressed he has been by our community. The cooperation, positive attitude, and value placed on education is inspiring.

We look forward to seeing you at one of the many events taking place at Northridge during the coming months. The fall athletic seasons are in full swing and the Music Department is busy preparing for marching band competitions and choir productions that are just around the corner. Many of the other clubs, student organizations, and activities have started and are helping our kids and community in outstanding ways.

NHS is a busy place this time of year; come join us and experience the great things happening here!

For more info: 574-825-2142 • www.Facebook.com/nhsraiders

NHS

Athletics

There’s a great year of

high school sports ahead!

Keep Up-To-Date:

Senior Isaac Zickafoose

Check our website for updated schedules, reschedules, cancellations, and postponements: www.northridgeathletics.com

Special Football Nights: Sept 12 NHS vs. Plymouth: MYFL Night Sept 19 NHS vs. Warsaw: ‘OLWEUS’ Night - No Bully Zone Oct 10 NHS vs. Concord: NMS/NHS students enter free with student ID Oct 17 NHS vs. Memorial: Homecoming

Hosting Boys Soccer Sectional: Oct. 6, 8, and 11

Photos by Russ Draper

NHS SEASON TICKETS 2014 -15 Gate for Football: K-adult: $6

All other NHS Sports (Varsity/Jr. Varsity/Freshmen): $5. Pre-school: free All-Sports Tickets: (Best all-around deal: includes adult reserved seating for boys basketball) Student: (K-12) $40; Senior Citizen: (age 55+) $50; Adult: $70.

Family All-Sport Pass: A great deal for a family of 4 or more, available 9 am - 3:30 pm in the Athletic Office.

(2) adults (2) students: $220 Additional student passes: $30 NHS Athletics welcomes new athletic trainer, Alexis Holthues.

Examples: (2) adults (3) students: $250 ($10 savings); (2) adults (4) students: $280 ($20 savings); or (2) adults (5) students: $310 ($30 savings).

(Sharing athletic passes will not be tolerated, students can not use adult passes)

SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 17

SCHOOLS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY

Jefferson Fall Fling Our one and only fundraising event, Fall Fling, will take place on October 18 from 11 am - 3 pm. Please watch for volunteer information to come home from school in the next couple of weeks. To make this a successful event, we need support from every family at Jefferson. We will have great games, popcorn, cotton candy, baked goods, and silent and live auctions. Note: Fall Fling is replacing Spring Fling.

MIDDLEBURY ELEMENTARY At the beginning of the year, the staff at MES encourages all parents to support our schools by showing that education is important to your family. When your children come home from school, please talk to them about their day, give them a quiet place to study, and read to them (or encourage them to read) sometime during the evening. We appreciate all of your support!

ORCHARD VIEW ELEMENTARY: Our first day back to school went very well and it was exciting to see all of the students.

YORK ELEMENTARY York teachers and staff welcomed students and families back on Monday, August 11. Excitement was high as students practiced finding their classrooms, met teachers, and visited old friends. We look forward to a great new school year!

18 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

Welcome!

New Certified Faculty & Staff

New Classified Faculty & Staff (Elementary Schools)

Left to Right - Back Row:

Kelly Swank, OVE Autism Para; Tanya Trick, OVE Autism Para; Angela Loomis, JES Cafeteria; Vanessa Adcock, YES Autism Para; Lynette Krugh, JES Special Education Assistant; Darcy Ryall, YES Cafeteria; Crystal Ayres, JES Instructional Assistant

Christie Moss, YES Title I Teacher; Alexis Holthues, NHS Athletic Trainer; Kara Zook, YES Title I Teacher; Eric Lemmon, OVE Temporary Counselor; Michael Molohon, NHS Temporary Counselor; Terry Gagich, Academy Teacher; Tao Shen, NMS Chinese Teacher; David Wagner, NMS 8th Grade LA Teacher; Drew Wood, NHS Principal; Paula Gaylor, NMS 6th Grade LA Teacher

Left to Right - Front Row:

Left to Right - Front Row:

Left to Right - Back Row:

Karrie Randol, OVE Instructional Assistant; Pam Grevengoed, JES Noontime Assistant; Deb Stevens, YES Cafeteria; Andrea Henderson, OVE Instructional Assistant

Molly Malone, YES Kindergarten Teacher; Jan Modert, HIS 4th Grade Teacher; Margaret Lovan, HIS 5th Grade Teacher; Alisha Christner, HIS 5th Grade Teacher

New Classified Faculty & Staff

Left to Right - Back Row:

Andrea Boval, NMS Autism Para; Jill Hawn, HIS Autism Para; Chris Vollmer, NMS Building Assistant; Brian Peters, NHS Special Education Assistant; Nathan Chupp, NMS Autism Para; Sarah Payne, NMS Autism Para; Joan Bailey, NMS Special Education Assistant Left to Right - Middle Row:

Sherida Cross, NMS Special Education Assistant; Angela Oviedo, NHS Autism Para; Angie Frey, NHS Special Education Assistant; Jodi Koss, NHS Building Assistant, Music Department; Jamie Stuck, HIS Special Education Assistant; Tera Gascho, HIS Autism Para Left to Right - FRONT Row:

Stephanie Ritchie, HIS Special Education Assistant; Ann Parker, NMS Autism Para; Shayne Cripe, NHS Building Assistant; Lynn Van Daele, HIS Noon-time Assistant SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 19

RMEDIATE: HERITAGE INTEes New Staff Members

SCHOOLS

m : Miss Heritage Welco ree new teachers th of g rin hi e th d nounce Alisha Christner an s is M d HIS is excited to an an am te have the 4th grade . HIS is pleased to am Jan Modert joins te e ad gr h 5t e n join th e Ritchie, Miss Maggie Lova ell: Mrs. Stephani w as f af st t or pp Mrs. w su acei Lehman, and Tr . added several ne rs M n, aw H ll Ji le, Mrs. Mrs. Lynn VanDae Tera Gascho.

the PTO! rful PTO and all of de Thank You, HIS on w e th to u’ ‘thank yo ndraisers.

HIS extends a huge ted the school’s fu or pp su ly us io ac so gr ent a major parents who have tions, HIS underw na do d an s rt fo ef ucation Due to the PTO’s ! Each general ed er m m su e th er ov Promethean technology update a projector, and a s, op pt la w ne ed a third classroom receiv ge is also adding ita er H . d) ar bo t the te whi rs are excited abou he Board (interactive ac Te ll. fa is th e school even more computer lab to th making learning to gs in br gy lo chno O! possibilities the te ng. Thank you, PT gi ga en d an e iv ct intera

NORTHRIDGE MIDDLE:

dents ba

NMS stu

20 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

mer

r the sum

er afte ck togeth

Mrs. Magnuson’s class jumps right into activities on day 1

Dazzling

Dahlias

By Megan Miller Photos by Janae Troyer

A

startling array of blooms is grown each season in Middlebury. Jerry Schoenauer, with help from his wife, Jenny, produces a wonderland of dahlias in their backyard. It all started in the year 2000; that’s when Jerry took a stroll through a dahlia show at a local mall.

Observing the beauties being displayed, Jerry started Jerry and Jenny Schoenauer taking notes, writing down the names of the dahlias he liked the best. Next, he ordered a few to plant. With guidance from another local dahlia grower, his backyard was soon alive with miniatures, poms, and dinner plates.

Dahlias require some attention from their growers, but the winsome crop is worth the effort.

Attending a dahlia show is a good first step toward adding the flowers to your garden. Take down the names of the dahlias that most appeal to you, then purchase the tubers from a grower. Concord Mall in Elkhart will host a show September 5-7. For more information about local dahlia shows, visit www.midwestdahliaconference.org.

For Jerry, the best part of growing dahlias is seeing the reactions the flowers elicit in others. Delighted smiles or exclamations of ‘wow’ are common when glimpsing the charming blooms. Their colorful petals and playful shapes proclaim that Middlebury soil is good to grow in.

What started as a hobby has turned into a small business. Jerry now grows around 1,400 dahlias a year, selling the tubers to interested growers across the country. Fresh cut dahlias are also sold in season to florists who use them to craft lovely arrangements.

Introducing new varieties of dahlias is an exciting part of Jerry’s business. A new variety must be grown for three years to ensure consistency before it can be submitted to a trial garden. The closest dahlia trial garden is at Bonneyville Mill, and is where Jerry’s new dahlias go. Once a dahlia has proven itself, it can be named and introduced. Jerry has introduced several varieties that are now available for purchase through his online store at www.jsdahlias.com.

Healthy Pets

For information about growing dahlias, visit The American Dahlia Society online at www.dahlia.org.

SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 21

REMEMBER when

The Essenhaus Was Born

By Stephanie J. Salisbury

Der Dutchman in Walnut Creek, Ohio, could be considered the ‘mother of the Essenhaus’. Bob and Sue Miller’s business partner, Sue’s father, was in Indiana for a meeting. He stopped by the Curve In Restaurant for breakfast and asked the owner if it was for sale.

On January 4th, 1971, the Essenhaus was born. “We ler, 1978 il M thought we would move e u S Bob & to Middlebury for five years to get the operation going and then move back to Ohio,” says Sue. “We loved Middlebury, and never left!” The German teacher in Ohio gave them options for restaurant names, and they liked Das Dutchman Essenhaus (“The Dutchman Eating House”) best.

The current ‘Menu Dining’ area was the entire restaurant in 1971. “Bob’s day started at 4 am picking up Amish employees and ended at 10 pm taking them home,” says Sue. “He took care of the front of the house, ordering, banking, and maintenance.” She focused on food and scheduling, and they lived in a trailer in the parking lot with their five kids to be close to the restaurant.

“There was skepticism about the survival of our new venture,” Sue recounts. They removed cigarette

22 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

1971, First year of business, ori ginal Essenhaus building

Essenhaus, 1975 A young Jeff Miller making homemade ranch dressing

Family style dining, 1989

any picnic where 40th Anniversary comp like old times!

Bob & Sue dressed up

machines, began closing on Sundays, and ran their business with a focus on Christian principles. “It took a ton of hard work and much sacrifice; if we would have seen that beforehand, we might have been too fearful to try.”

The Millers are grateful for their family helping them run the business, giving back to the community, and taking over much of the responsibility for operations.

Bob still has his original green 1969 Chevelle (pictured above) that he used to transport employees with, and can sometimes be seen driving it around Middlebury today.

In their success, the Millers are very humble. “Great employees are what have made the Essenhaus successful. We are so grateful for the efforts they have all made to contribute towards the mission we felt was important.”

Jayco is proud to call Middlebury

home jayco

We’ve been building quality recreation vehicles right here in Middlebury since 1968. This community has not only had a hand in shaping us, but also shares the same “old-fashioned” values which have helped us grow. The Jayco family works every day to be a caring neighbor that supports community and society today and for generations to come.

Lance, Jeff, Joel, Sue, and Bob Miller

today The Essenhaus

903 South Main Street | Middlebury, IN 46540 www.jayco.com SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 23

Middlebury

Fall Festival

September 19 & 20

It’s a vibrant, colorful time to celebrate in Middlebury, and the Fall Festival is here! With so many things to see and fun activities for young and old alike, plan on being part of the Fall Festival this year.

We’d like to thank the members of th e Fall Festival Comm ittee for all their hard work througho ut the year to brin g something so spec ial to our commun ity: Sue Ann Von Blon Steve Ruple Rex & Nancy Gleim Lori Ann Von Blon Tom & Donna Carney Bi ll & Lynn Beier Sam & Sue Pohl

www.MiddleburyF estivals.com

Featured Fall Festival Vendor:

The Art of Language

By Stephanie J. Salisbury

Putting photography and words together is usually the job of writers, editors, and graphic designers for magazines or books. But taking pictures of objects that look like letters and turning them into art for sale is something totally different.

Greg and Dilynn Puckett, both raised in Middlebury, met in high school and really became acquainted a bit later in their lives. They’ve been married for nearly two decades and are the owners of Language Art at the bottom of the S curves where they create art such as this.

Greg & Dilynn Puckett

“I’ve always collected letters from vintage games, signs, and have a passion for photography,” says Dilynn. “Greg studied photography in college, and was an engineer for many years.” Thus, the business was birthed in 2006.

“We have sold to over 1,100 stores, including Hallmark & Francesca’s. We have been in every state and as far away as Germany and Aruba!” Locally, the word art can be found at the Cinnamon Stick in Middlebury of which Dilynn says, “Joanna King was our first wholesale store and really encouraged us to take this to the next level.

We are so thankful for her!”

At The Fall Festival “We are the big red tent! Customers may purchase wall art, Expressions tiles, magnets, or note cards. We have the word ‘Middlebury’ with all letters photographed in Middlebury!”

For more information, visit www.LanguageArtOnline.com or www.Facebook.com/LanguageArt

24 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

ry

Middlebu

val Fall Festi

4 1 0 2 e l u d e h c S

Tear out this page for your convenience!

Friday, September 19 10a - 8p Concessions, Vendor Booths Memorial Park 10a - 5p Antique Tractor Display

Middlebury Historical Museum 4:30p - 7:30p Community Smoked Pork Chop Dinner

Fire Station 4:30p - Dusk Classic Car Cruise-In

at Das Dutchman Essenhaus 6p - 8p Drop the Dawg Entertainment Tent 6p 5K Glow Run / Walk Registration American Legion 7:30p 5K Glow Run / Walk Begins

American Legion Dusk Fireworks Display

Das Dutchman Essenhaus

*This schedule was correct as of 8-20-14. To check for updated information, visit www.MiddleburyFestivals.com.

SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 25

*This schedule was correct as of 8-20-14. To check for updated information, visit www.MiddleburyFestivals.com.

Middle

bury F all Fes tiva

Schedule

2014

l

Saturday, September 20, 2014 7a - 10a Sausage Gravy & Biscuits Breakfast at Fire Station 8a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament (pre-registration required) Riverbend Park 9a - 6p Concessions, Vendor Booths Memorial Park 9:30a -11a The Grinning Man Entertainment Tent 10a Middlebury Garden Club & FOMP

Plant and Bulb Exchange

at East Park Pavilion 10a - 5p Antique Tractor Display

Middlebury Historical Museum 11a -2p Children’s Activities

Memorial Park by Gazebo

Starla & Suzi Sunshine (clowns, face painting) 11a - 12p Heartland Country Cloggers Entertainment Tent 11:30a Cornhole Tournament Check-In East Park 12p - 2p Lonesome Meadow Band Entertainment Tent 12p - 1p Accepting Entries for General Baking Contest

East Park Pavilion 12p Cornhole Tournament

East Park 1p Judging begins for General Baking Contest East Park Pavilion 2p - 4p The Guitar Banjo Band Entertainment Tent 3p Auction of Baking Contest Entries Memorial Park Bandstand 4p - 5p Aaron Stutzman, Yodeler Entertainment Tent

26 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

Easy tear-out pages!

deals

SEPTEMBER 2014

inMiddlebury

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inMiddlebury Magazine 27

deals

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28 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

Easy tear-out pages!

Easy tear-out pages!

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20% off Any One Item*

“The prettiest little store I’ve ever seen!”

*Excludes Fresh Floral.

Offer cannot be combined with other sales or discounts.

Must present coupon at time of purchase.

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SEPTEMBER 2014

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inMiddlebury Magazine 29

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30 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014

Easy tear-out pages!

Prepared by Todd Allen

But it doesn’t have to be that way. At IU Health Goshen Heart & Vascular Center, our team of doctors work as one, using sophisticated techniques to reopen blocked arteries and save dying limbs. Today, that could mean saving his leg.

But tomorrow, it could be what saves his life. For the whole story, visit GoshenHeartandVascular.org

THe sTrenGTH iT Takes.

Goshen Heart & Vascular Center IUH 0320 HV VASCULAR Ad_inMiddlebury.indd 1

SEPTEMBER 2014

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1/24/14 1:41 PM inMiddlebury Magazine 31

IUHG-1086 = Heart & Vascular

In a few days, he could lose his leg.