EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Deb Patterson dpatterson@the-papers.com
EDITOR Lauren Zeugner lzeugner@the-papers.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Karen Johnson kjohnson@the-papers.com
Kristin DeVittorio kdevittorio@the-papers.com
BUSINESS
Annette Weaver aweaver@the-papers.com
Darlene Eichelberger deichelberger@the-papers.com
Reagan Nichols rnichols@the-papers.com
DIRECTOR
Jerry Long jlong@the-papers.com
Photo provided by Melanie Helmuth
March has arrived which means spring can’t be too far away. Hint, at press time, it was less than a month away.
I don’t know about you, but this winter seems to have dragged on forever, even though we haven’t had tons of ice and snow.
With hints of spring starting to crop up, that can only mean one thing, Home Show Season is upon us. In this issue we preview three home shows in HomeLiving: Places & Spaces distribution area. We have Home Show Michiana and the Builder’s Association of North Central Indiana’s two shows, the first in Warsaw and the second in Plymouth. All three offer great
Lauren Zeugner, Editor Lzeugner@the-papers.com
opportunities to get some ideas or inspiration for projects around your home, chat with some professionals or maybe even book an appointment with one or two to discuss a project you want to tackle this spring or summer.
In addition to previewing the home shows, writer BethAnne Brink-Cox wrote a piece about growing vegetables in the garden. Usually I do container gardening, plant some tomatoes, herbs, maybe some lettuce. I always try bell peppers with mixed results. Last year I had great success growing habanero peppers. Apparently I picked up the wrong plant. This year since I have a ton of empty cat liter containers, I’m thinking about trying my hand at carrots or scallions or both. We’ll see.
And for those who want to expand their gardening habit/
addiction into something larger, BethAnne also did a piece on what it would take to turn your property into a hobby farm, where you might have some chickens or a bee hive along with a vegetable garden.
Writer Julie Young interviewed Melanie Helmuth, Goshen’s urban forester. Melanie is very cool. In her spare time she does ceramics. I met Melanie at the Art on the Race art festival in downtown Goshen last fall and even purchased one of her cute elephant mugs.
So while we wait for the temperature to start creeping up and the snow to melt, I hope you enjoy this issue of HomeLiving: Places & Spaces.
Enjoy!
Lauren
HOMELIVING
Melanie Helmuth never planned to become the urban forester for the City of Goshen, but after traveling a long and winding road she’s exactly where she is meant to be.
Trees, please
Spring pruning — Melanie Helmuth, urban forester for the City of Goshen, gives a thumbs up as she prepares to start pruning one of the city’s many trees.
By Julie Young HomeLiving Feature Writer
“I went to college for theater and then decided to stay around Goshen after graduation. I got a job with a landscaping firm, but when COVID hit, I realized I wanted to do more environmental advocacy work,” she said.
Helmuth learned about the Indiana Master Naturalist program offered through the state’s Department of Natural Resources and signed up. As part of her coursework, Helmuth accrued her volunteer hours with the Goshen Environmental Resilience Department, where she learned more about the community’s tree canopy. Her passion for tree advocacy eventually led to a part-time job.
“The rest, as they say, is history,” she said.
As the urban forester for the city, Helmuth conducts a wide range of programming for those who want to learn more about how trees impact the local environment. She holds tree plantings at local schools, organizes hikes and nature walks, and even helps kids dissect owl pellets when they visit the Goshen Rieth Interpretative Center.
Helmuth said in order to bring about environmental change, it is important for people of all ages to make a connection with the world around them, especially the role trees play in the circle of life. Not only do they provide shade on a sunny day, but they can also help keep energy bills lower in the summer months. They also provide food and shelter for animals; help soak up rainwater and so much more.
“I think that the public education component is the best thing about my job,” Helmuth said. “It is so exciting to see people connect the dots and learn to appreciate what we have especially as it pertains to trees. However, it is also challenging because you have to impress upon them the importance of keeping up with all of the things that need to be done after you plant a tree like watering it, pruning it, and making sure that they stay healthy. It’s an ongoing process.”
Helmuth’s career continues to branch out and at the present time, she is studying for her International Society of Arboriculture cer tification – a credential that will showcase her commitment to properly caring for and main taining trees. The ISA Credentialing Council requires a candidate to have a minimum of three years of full-time experience in arbo riculture, or a combination of education and practical arboriculture experience before they can take the 200-300 question test. Once she passes the test, the credential will show that Helmuth has demonstrated a broad knowl edge about her field of expertise and the pub lic can feel good about the information she has to share with them.
“I really love trees,” she said. “Not only did I grow up climbing on them, but there is some thing so relaxing about walking through a for est and they create community because people congregate beneath them. They truly give us so much and we should appreciate them.”
Arbor Day Celebration — Mel- anie Helmuth, urban forester for the City of Goshen, mans her booth on the courthouse lawn during an Arbor Day Celebration.
Boys and Girls Club — Melanie Helmuth shows Boys & Girls Club members how she climbs a tree so she can prune it properly.
Photos provided by Melanie Helmuth
Warsaw Home & Outdoor Show
hosted by BANCI
By Lauren Zeugner HomeLiving Editor
Admission and parking are free. Show hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday, March 7; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 8; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 9.
The BANCI Home and Outdoor Show is your one-stop shop for your home improvement needs no matter if you plan to hire a professional firm or are eager to DYI. Thanks in part to premier sponsor Kosciusko Connect and gold sponsor Cottage Watchman Security Systems, at press time, nearly all the vendor booth space was sold, giving guests a chance to
ONESTOP SHOP
meet and speak with local experts in a variety of fields.
“It’s really a great show,” said Kim McKibbin, executive officer of BANCI. “We have remodeling firms, landscape professionals and vendors that specialize in flooring, windows, roofing and more. We’re especially excited to have RT Lawn Furniture this year. They are bringing a large display of polyvinyl outdoor furniture and I think that will be pretty exciting.”
The BANCI Home & Outdoor Show has been a Warsaw
If your plans for 2025 include home improvement, then you won’t want to miss the Builders Association of North Central Indiana’s Home & Outdoor Show March 7-9 at the Warsaw Community High School TRAC at 1 Tiger Lane.
staple for the past 46 years and regularly welcomes approximately 1,200 visitors throughout the weekend. McKibbin said there was a bit of a rebuilding period after the pandemic, but the show has steadily bounced back and grown as people rebalance their lives.
“Hopefully the weather will be decent and Mother Nature won’t be pyscho,” she said about the upcoming show weekend. On a more serious note, McKibbin said, “The Home & Outdoor Show is a great opportunity to do some planning and with free admission and parking, it’s a great
weekend to get out and get planning.”
Rachel Rhoades, partner and lead residential sales specialist for Cottage Watchman Security, said “For us it’s all about supporting our community.” The business offers services to residential, commercial and agricultural security. They offer a full range of security and fire suppression systems and can even customize solutions for customers.
Cottage Watchman Security is a family owned business that is now in its third generation with a half-century of expertise to show for it. n
Photos provided by BANCI
BANCI 2025 HOME AND OUTDOOR SHOWWARSAW
PROFESSIONAL ROOFING SOLUTIONS STRYKER LAWN SERVICE PRO IT SOLUTIONS HORIZON LANDSCAPE FOREVER LAWN
CENTURION EXTERIORS
SCHROCK OVERHEAD DOOR
PRO-TIME METAL ROOFING TRU-GREEN LAWN CARE ARTISTIC ROOFING A-1 CONCRETE LEVELING SCHROCK OVERHEAD DOOR
BACKYARD BUILDERS HOMETOWN MORTGAGECARDINAL FINANCIAL R & T LAWN FURNITURE PATIO ENCLOSURES EVERWISE CREDIT UNION/HAMILTON RE GROUP CULLIGAN WATER OF WARSAW HOME PRO WINDOWS, ROOFING, SIDING & DOORS SYNERGY SERVICES
DISTRIBUTING
& SONS
RIDGE HOMES & RENOVATIONS
GUTTER
WRSW RADIO CUSTOM CONCRETE LEVELING KOS. CO. REPUBLICAN WOMEN’S CLUB INDIANA FARM BUREAU KOS. CO. SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FOUCE SCAPES CITY OF WARSAW INSPECTORS SHADES TO SHUTTERS
BOOTH 17 & 18
BOOTH 15 & 16
BOOTH 19
BOOTH 22
By BethAnne Brink-Cox
As food prices increase, HOBBY FARMING becomes more on trend
Do you need a lot of property to farm this way? Emily Kresca, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator for the Purdue Extension of Kosciusko County, explained it beautifully. “The amount of property you need largely depends on the scope of your hobby farm. For small-scale hobby farming (fruits, vegetables, small livestock like chickens or bees), as little as a quarter to half an acre can be enough. This allows space for a garden, small chicken coop, or bee hives, and can still provide a satisfying harvest. If you plan to include more animals or expand your growing space, more land will be necessary— perhaps 1 to 2 acres.
“For a small hobby farm, harvest amounts can vary greatly depending on the crops, weather, and gardening practices. For example: a small garden (roughly 400-500 square feet) could yield anywhere from 100 to 400 pounds of vegetables per season (such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers). An apple tree could produce 50-100 pounds of fruit in its prime, while berry bushes like raspberries can yield two to five pounds per plant. A small herb garden can provide more than enough for personal use, typically yielding 1-2 pounds of herbs per sea son. A small chicken coop with four to six hens might yield one to two dozen eggs per week, while a couple of bee hives could produce
Could it be enough, in a small space, to feed a family? Kresca said, “Yes, in a small space, it’s possible to grow enough to supplement a family’s food needs. However, a small hobby farm might not fully replace grocery shopping, unless you’re maximizing the available space and growing a wide variety of foods. For example, with careful planning, you could grow enough vegetables to provide for most of your family’s needs during the growing season and have fresh herbs, eggs, and honey to round out the diet. However, staple foods like grains and meat would likely need to be purchased.”
Of course there are hoops to jump through! “The permits you need depend on your location and what you’re planning to farm,” Kresca explained. “Generally, you need zoning permits for raising animals or putting in a greenhouse. For chickens, bees, or any livestock, you’ll need animal permits. If you’re using irrigation systems, you’ll need to check out water rights, and if you’re going to sell or distribute in any way, you’ll need health permits.” She went on to say that, “You can obtain permits from your local city or county
An old term not much used these days is ‘gentleman farmer.’ It’s been pretty much replaced by ‘hobby farmer.’ Is there a difference? Not really; it just means that you’re gardening for the pleasure of it rather than making a living of it – which doesn’t mean you couldn’t sell or barter your finished work at local farm markets and stands!
cultural extensions, city zoning offices, and health departments will have information on the required permits and where to apply. Permit processing times vary by location and type. Typically, you should apply for any necessary permits at least one to three months in advance to ensure you’re ready to start by the growing season. Zoning or animal permits may take longer if public hearings are involved.”
While this kind of farming isn’t as time consuming as large farms would be, Kresca made it clear “Hobby farming requires
Hobby farming can absolutely be a fun pastime! It’s not as demanding as running a larger farm but still offers a rewarding experience. It’s more about enjoying the process of growing your own food or keeping small animals like chickens and bees. For those looking to keep it more low-key, small garden spaces and light care for animals can be manageable while still allowing for a hobbyist lifestyle.
“Many people are becoming more interested in hobby farming as a way to offset rising food costs. Growing your own vegetables, raising chickens for eggs, and even keeping a few bees for honey can help reduce grocery bills and provide fresh, local food. As food prices continue to rise, more families are likely to try out hobby farming. Regulations on bee hives can vary widely by county. Some counties encourage them due to their environmental benefits, while others may have restrictions due to health concerns. Check with your local zoning or agricultural department for specific rules.”
Kresca is an expert, and there are many classes and workshops
to share with you. “Yes, we have many beginner gardening and hobby farming workshops. You can usually find classes on topics like vegetable gardening, keeping chickens, beekeeping and organic farming. One that comes to mind specifically for this group is the “Rooted and Resilient Homesteading Conference” held in Kendallville. When asked if you should begin with seeds or established plants, she replied, “For beginners, seeds are a great way to start, especially for vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce. Plants are a better choice for more delicate crops, such as fruit trees, herbs, or perennials, which can take longer to establish from seed. Be mindful of the growing season and start seeds indoors in early spring for a head start, especially in cooler climates.” And there are some fun ways to try: “Potato boxes, sweet potatoes in buckets, and hay bale gardening are popular because they provide a way to grow more food in less space with less soil prep.These methods can be fun and effective! They’re great for small spaces and people who have poor soil.”
Take a look at your
photos: shutterstock.com
Every homeowner has those projects that they want to get accomplished, need to get accomplished and have to get accomplished this year. Luckily, the 2025 Home Show Michiana is ready to help! With over 140 exhib itors highlighting all of the latest products and trends for both the interior and exterior of the home, guests will have the chance to network with local experts and immerse themselves in a world of possibilities!
Home Show Michiana is March 14-16 SHOW TIME
By Julie Young HomeLiving Feature Writer
GET THE BALL ROLLING
The Home Show Michiana will take place March 14-16 at the Century Center in South Bend and according to Glen Whitt, president of Big Time Advertising, the show promises something for everyone. No matter if you are planning to remodel, redecorate, replace, or reimagine the features of your home and property, you will find a local professional who is ready to educate, advise and, most importantly, get the job done!
“This is our 48th year and we have some exhibitors who have been in the show since day one,” he said. “Our exhibitors get a lot of business from the show because our guests like having the opportunity to meet with them in person, make that connection and get the ball rolling on their project.”
Dave Herrli with Glass Doctor Elkhart is proud to be a member of the Neighborly Group, who is sponsoring this year’s event. He said the Neighborly Group is the very essence of the show because it is a community of trusted home service experts that are committed to quality and convenience.
“We consider ourselves as a hub for home services and in fact, that is our slogan,” he said. “We are so excited to be part of the Home Show Michiana, which is still rebuilding from the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year was our first year back and it went really well so I know this year will be even bigger and better than before.”
Kevin Bishop of Great Lakes Pleasure Pools has been part of the Home Show Michiana for 30 years and said it is the highlight of his year. He said visitors know that they are seeing the best that Michiana has to offer in terms of home improvement experts, and they are sure to see something that will spark their creativity.
“They know what they are getting at the Home Show Michiana and not only do they come out to enjoy themselves, but they also come out to do business,” he said. “The folks that visit us over the course of those three days aren’t just looking, they are looking to buy.”
The 2025 Home Show Michiana
When: March 14-16, 2025
Where: Century Center 120 S. MLK Jr Blvd South Bend, IN 46601
Admission: $8 for adults, kids 12 and under are free. Information: www.homeshowmichiana.com
A DREAM WITHIN REACH
No matter what you have in mind for 2025, let the Home Show Michiana be your guide. With so many professionals on site, you’re sure to find the perfect partner for your project. If you are ready to be encouraged, educated, and empowered – then your dream is within reach! n
Photos provided by Home Show Michiana
Home Show Michiana Vendors & Booth Numbers
aroundmichiana
YEAR ROUND | MIDDLEBURY TRAIL TALES
Bring the family outdoors to read a children’s book while walking a short path at Riverbend Park; book pages are placed in special kiosks along the path. New books are installed monthly. Event partners are the Middlebury Public Library and Middlebury Parks Department.
MARCH 1-31 | SOUTH BEND SOUTH BEND FARMERS MARKET
Indoor market featuring homegrown produce, dairy products, meats, eggs, maple syrup, jams and jellies, handcrafts, artwork, jewelry and more
7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Free admission
Bog Nature Preserve, 51455 CR 15, Elkhart 8 -11 a.m.
Spend the morning at Bog and Boot Lake searching for birds migrating then head to Book Lake for waterfowl watching. FREE.
MARCH 6 | WAKARUSA WAKARUSA BLUE GRASS JAMBOREE
A host of local musicians and bands gather to pick, play and sing bluegrass, country and gospel in an informal jam session. Meets the first Thursday of the month.
6:30-9 p.m.
Doc Able Pavilion, 116 W. Waterford St. Downtown Wakarusa, 1 block west of stop light.
Free Admission, free will offering (574) 862-2200 wakarusabluegrassjam.com
MARCH 7-9 | WARSAW
BANCI HOME & OUTDOOR SHOW
Warsaw Community High School TRAC
1 Tiger Lane.
Show hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday, March 7; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 8; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 9 Admission and parking are free.
MARCH 8-9 | NEW CARLISLE SUGAR CAMP DAYS
Bendix Woods, 56960 Timothy Rd. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Watch sap cook into syrup, enjoy a pancake and sausage breakfast, tour the Sugar Bush, purchase homemade baked goods made with pure maple syrup. Admission is $8. (574) 654-3155
MARCH 14-16 | WARSAW MAMMA MIA!
Warsaw Performing Arts Center
1 Tiger Lane, Warsaw
7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Matinee Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students.
MARCH 14-16 | SOUTH BEND HOME SHOW MICHIANA
Century Center, 120 S. MLK Jr. Blvd. South Bend
Show hours are: 3-7 p.m. Friday, March 14; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 16. Admission is $8 for adults; Kids 12 and under are free. www.homeshowmichiana.com
MARCH 15 | ELKHART ELKHART CHAPTER
INDIANA BLACK EXPO: 53RD
ANNIVERSARY BLACK TIE GALA
410 S. Main St. Elkhart • 6-11 p.m.
Tickets $60 per person or $480 for table for eight
For more information visit eventbrite.com/e/ elkhart-chapter-indiana-black-expo-53-year-anniversary-black-tie-gala-tickets-1195174070819
MARCH 14 | NORTH WEBSTER KIDS BUSINESS FAIR
North Webster Community Center 301 N. Main St. (574) 834-1600
Over 70 kids planning and promoting their business. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Admission is free.
MARCH 20 | NEW CARLISLE SPRING EQUINOX HIKE
Spicer Lake Nature Preserve 50840 County Line Road • (574) 654-3155
Admission is $5. Registration and payment due by March 18
MARCH 21-23 | PLYMOUTH BANCI HOME & OUTDOOR SHOW
Auto Park Sports Complex, formerly The Zone 2923 VanVactor Drive.
Show times are: noon to 6 p.m. March 21; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 22; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 23.
Admission and parking are free.
MARCH 28 | MILFORD MILFORD FOOD BANK NIGHT OF FAITH
Dinner and silent auction. 6-8 P.M. 1113 E. Camp Mack Road, Milford info@milfordfoodbank.org
Tickets are $100 per person
MARCH 29 | WINONA LAKE WORKSHOP: NATIVE VS. INVASIVE
Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams 800 Connection Circle • 10-11:30 a.m.
Admission is free but pre-registration is required at lakes.grace.edu/events/workshop-native-vs-invasive/ n
Spring will soon be here time to plan this year’s garden
By BethAnne Brink-Cox HomeLiving Feature Writer
Do you love seed catalogs? Just when winter seems endless, here they land in your mailbox, with pictures so vivid you could warm your hands on them, and it’s so easy to plan the garden to end all gardens (and the heck with zones and costs and all that, or any previous successes or failures–THIS garden will be the garden to end all gardens!)
The much-revered Old Farmer’s Almanac published a list of its newest 12 favorite vegetable and flowering plants. How many of these have you heard of? Emily Kresca, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator for the Purdue Extension of Kosciusko County, said she had not heard of any of these and I hadn’t, either, but they sure sounded interesting! Check out this list!
Purple Magic Broccoli
Konstance Kohlrabi
WonderStar Red Tomato
Tonatico Cherry Tomato
Kresca said, “The purple broccoli might appeal to gardeners looking for something unique and colorful. Pak choi can thrive in containers, making it perfect for smaller space gardening. And the cherry tomatoes are known for crack-resistant qualities, great for home gardeners who want high yields of sweet, early season tomatoes.”
never eat the leaves, as they are toxic. Harvest the stalks in the spring, but leave a few behind to help the plant grow. It grows well in cooler climates (zones 3-8) and prefers rich, well-drained soil. It needs a dormant period in winter to thrive.”
(this one is supposed to grow to five feet tall and can produce up to 200 fruits per plant!)
Zydeco Fire Zinnia
(this is one you’ll want if you’re trying to attract butterflies, as indeed we all should.)
Sea Shells Red Cosmos
And most interesting? Firefly Petunia, which is genetically modified from luminous mushrooms; these look like ordinary white petunias during the day, but at night, they glow greenish yellow! 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Guardian Angel Berry Sparkler Angelonia
(you might know them better as a summer snapdragon.)
Mango Tango Marigold
Skywriter Hosta
Fire Ball Seedless Euonymous the only sterile, non-invasive burning bush on the market.)
Asked about everyone’s favorites? Kresca replied, “Asparagus, rhubarb and strawberries. Asparagus can take two to three years to establish before it’s ready for harvest, but once it does, it can produce for 15-20 years! In the spring, you can harvest spears for about six to eight weeks before letting the plant rest and grow into ferns, which helps strengthen the roots. Asparagus prefers well-drained soil and full sun. It can grow in zones Four to Nine.
“Rhubarb is one of the first plants to be harvested in early spring, and can last up to ten years or more. Only the stalks are edible—
Kresca continued, “Strawberries are wellknown perennials that can produce fruit for several years once established. Depending on the variety, strawberries can yield fruit in early summer or throughout the growing season. They need well-drained soil, moderate watering, and full sun (Zones Three to Ten). Everbearing types are particularly good for continuous harvest.”
Given rising food prices, Kresca explained, “It’s likely that more people will turn to larger gardens, container gardening, or small animal coops as alternatives to help with food costs.” Start your lists and your plans now, and don’t be afraid to try new things in addition to your old favorites! n
— The Plymouth — Home & Outdoor Show is coming March 21-23
By Lauren Zeugner HomeLiving Editor
Let the Builders Association of North Central Indiana be your primary source for your home improvement needs at the Plymouth Home & Outdoor Show March 21-23 at the Auto Park Sports Complex, formerly The Zone, 2923 VanVactor Drive.
Sponsored by Bin There, Dump That and Cottage Watchman Security Systems, the Plymouth Home & Outdoor show is the best place to find local firms that deliver professional results no matter if you are looking to remodel a space, update your environment or replace something that is outdated. If you are ready to “spring” into a new season, the pros at the Plymouth Home & Outdoor Show are ready to take that leap with you!
The show is not only a one stop shop for finding the best pros for your project, but also knowledgeable suppliers that can answer questions for any DIYer. BANCI executive officer Kim McKibbin said about 42 vendors had signed up for the show at press time offering windows, flooring, landscape construction, roofing and more.
“We’re so excited that the show is three days,” McKibbin said. “Many of our vendors, who also participate in our Warsaw show,
have asked us to expand the Plymouth event and we think that the added day will give our guests the chance to enjoy a nice day out and get planning for the year ahead.”
Rachel Rhoades, partner and lead residential sales specialist for Cottage Watchman Security, said “For us it’s all about supporting our community.” The business offers services to residential, commercial and agricultural services. They offer a full range of security and fire suppression systems and can even customize solutions for customers.
Cottage Watchman Security is a family-owned business that is now in its third generation with a half-century of expertise to show for it.
Show hours are noon to 6 p.m. March 21; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 22; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 23. Admission and parking are free. n
BANCI 2025 HOME AND OUTDOOR SHOWPLYMOUTH
Plymouth BANCI’s Home & Outoor Show
Friday, March 21 Noon to 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 22 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 23 Noon to 4 p.m.
Auto Park Sports Complex, formerly The Zone, 2923 VanVactor Dr., Plymouth
Admission & Parking is FREE
Did You Know?
In folklore, it’s known if March comes in like a lion it will go out like a lamb. There’s lots of fun quirky facts about the third month of the year. Read on to learn more.
Some believe the number of foggy mornings in March indicates the number of rainy days in June.
The third Thursday of March is World Sleep Day, promoting the importance of healthy sleep.
March 31 is World Backup Day, reminding people to back up their digital data.
The Spring Equinox typically occurs on March 20 or 21 in the northern hemisphere. The Northern Lights are often more visible around the Spring Equinox due to geomagnetic activity.
In Sports: March Madness the NCAA Division I Men’s basketball tournament, typically begins in mid-March. It is also the start of the NFL’s new league year marking the start of free agency.
On March 2, 1933, the original “King Kong” premiered at Radio City Music Hall and The Roxy Theater in New York City.
from funworldfacts.com
The Six Nations Rugby
Albert Einstein, Michelangelo, Vincent Van Gogh, Dr. Seuss and Johann Sebastian Bach were all born in March.
The full moon in March is typically called the “Worm Moon” by some Native American tribes. In Roman times it was considered bad luck to marry in March.
The Hindu festival of colors, Holi, often falls in March. n
... and now you know!
The Book Nook
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Lauren chose books from Irish and Irish American authors. Did you know C.S. Lewis and Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels) were Irish?
ANGELA’S ASHES
by Frank McCourt
This is his memoir of his childhood in Ireland. His childhood was by his own admission miserable. Raised in the slums of Limerick, Ireland.
McCourt’s mother, Angela, had no money to feed her children as McCourt’s father, Malachy, rarely worked. But Malachy does provide McCourt with one thing, a story.
BROOKLYN
by
Colm Toibin
The story of Ellis Lacey who has come of age in small-town Ireland. An Irish priest from Brooklyn offers to sponsor her to America. Deciding she must go, she leaves, finds work and begins to fall in love when devastating news from home threatens the promise of her future.
Want to suggest a book for Book Nook? Send the title, author, a brief synopsis of the book and why you liked it to lzeugner@the-papers.com.
LYING IN WAIT
by Liz Nugent
Lydia Fitzsimons has the perfect life until her son discovers the house’s secret. Nugent is known for her psychological thrillers.
A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD
by Jennifer Egan
This story is about an aging former punk rocker and record executive and the troubled young woman he employs. This book was a national best seller and was a National Book Critics Circle Winner.
THE WITCH ELM
by
Tana French
The telling of a happy-golucky charmer whose life is turned upside down when after being attacked by burglars, he takes refuge at his family’s ancestral home to care for his dying uncle. Then a skull is found in the trunk of an elm tree in the garden.
NORMAL PEOPLE
by Sally Rooney
This book is now an Emmy nominated Hulu original series. It tells the story of Connell and Marianne who grew up in the same small town. It’s a story that takes readers from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart and find they can’t. n
Traditional Gaelic Irish Steak with Irish Whiskey
Recipe courtesy of The Oliver St. John Gogarty, Dublin, Ireland
DIRECTIONS:
Place steaks in a marinating dish. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, beef aromatics, bay leaf, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs, 1 glass of whiskey and 3-4 ounces of melted butter. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
Remove steak from marinade and place on hot grill or pan, searing both sides of the steak and cook to the required taste.
To make the Gaelic sauce, use the remaining marinade as a base and place in hot pan. Add 1 finely chopped large onion and allow to simmer until the
RESOURCE GUIDE
INGREDIENTS:
2 10-ounce prime sirloin steaks
Salt, pepper, bay leaf and beef aromatics (mix of basil, rosemary, sage, thyme and parsley) for seasoning
1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs of own choice, plus more for sprinkling into the sauce
2 glasses Irish whiskey
3-4 ounces melted butter
1 finely chopped large onion
3 large finely chopped fresh tomatoes
3 tablespoons tomato puree
1 cup fresh cream
Chopped fresh parsley to garnish
onions are tender. Add the three large finely chopped fresh tomatoes, 3 tablespoons of tomato puree, sprinkling of herbs and allow to simmer 5-7 minutes stirring gently. Add one cup fresh cream and stir gently with a wooden spoon for three minutes.
Add the steaks to the sauce and flame with 1 glass of remaining whiskey. If using a gas stove, turn the flame off before flambeing. n
