Interpreting nature at Rum Village Nature Center

By IAN BROWN Staff Writer

Garry Harrington has spent 29 years at Rum Village Nature Center in South Bend. Though his official title has changed throughout the years, currently his title is manager of the park.

He has lived in the St. Joe community his whole life. He was born and raised around the River Park area, and many years ago moved to the north side of Elkhart, but still considers himself a part of the community.

He attended John Adams High School and went across the street to earn a degree in biology at Indiana University South Bend. Although, there was so specific degree for it, his official title is an interpretive naturalist.

“I really like the subject matter a lot. I like learning about new things. It gives me a chance to pursue the things I personally like. I like everything related to nature, but reptiles and amphibians are a specialty,” said Harrington.

His diverse love for nature also led him to investigate the natural

Housecall Doctors

history of glaciation in St. Joseph County. “I did a lot of investigating … and said to my boss at the time, ‘You know, this information is too interesting. Let’s not just sit on this. Let’s share it,’” Harrington said.

As a result, they now offer a glaciation tour of St. Joseph County that includes a 20-minute lecture and a bus ride showcasing glacier land features. Harrington started his career at Sydney Wildlife Refuge in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula before working as a docent in the Smoky Mountains for six months. After a brief stint as a seasonal naturalist at Potato Creek State Park, he settled at Rum Village Nature Center. “So I kind of did a circuit. … I’m a natural history interpreter,” he said.

As the park manager, Harrington’s responsibilities include communicating with the public, interacting with people in various venues and working on projects for the exhibit area. He also enjoys his own research projects and shares his knowledge with school groups. “When school groups start coming in big numbers, as they do in the springtime, that’s my bread and butter — doing programming for kids,” Harrington said.

Attention

We ing on the St. Joseph River and the increased presence of whitetail deer, wild turkeys and coyotes returning to the area.

Harrington is a passionate naturalist, scientist and teacher who shares his love for nature with school groups and the public and continues to embrace and appreciate the opportunities of his position.

Attention

Attention

Creativity is Timeless

He explained it is crucial to engage children in science, particularly nature, by the age of fifth or sixth grade. Although the center used to offer more programs for older students, they now primarily cater to kindergarten through fourth grade students.

Despite having less assistance than before, Harrington has embraced the opportunities his position affords him. “There are a lot of great things about getting older. But one thing that’s really valuable for me as a naturalist, is because I lived in this area my whole life, I can say now at this age, authoritatively … I saw where we were, where we are and where we’re going.”

He highlighted and expressed his excitement of bald eagles nest-

Rum Village Nature Center is open 1-5 p.m. Sunday and offers free activities to the public from 2-3 p.m. on most Sundays throughout the year. The center will reopen Friday, May 5. For more information about their activities and when they are open, visit rumvillageadventures.com or call (800) 590-8347.

South Bend Civic Theatre presents ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’

South Bend Civic Theatre presents “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” May 12-28 at the Warner Studio Theatre.

In this next installment of August Wilson’s “Century Cycle,” ambition and art collide with the business of the blues in this red-hot play filled with music that made the 1920s roar.

An American masterpiece, Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” is set in 1927, in Chicago during a recording session at a whiteowned studio with the legendary singer — inspired by real-life mother of the blues, Gertrude “Ma” Rainey.

It is sponsored by KeyBank, 100 Black Men of Greater South Bend and The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County’s AfricanAmerican Community Fund. It is rated PG-13, as there is language, murder and talk of rape. Performances will take place at the Warner Studio Theatre, located at the South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main St., South Bend. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. May 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27. Sunday matinee show times are at 2 p.m. May 14, 21 and 28. Tickets can be purchased for $27 to $32 through sbct.org.

GREGG K. LAWSON

Senior Life says goodbye to longtime freelance writer

Gregg K. Lawson, a longtime freelance writer for Senior Life, passed away Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Mishawaka after an illness.

He was born Oct. 27, 1947, in Elkhart, the son of Herbert Jr. “Bernie” and Irmalee “Susie” (Bowers) Lawson. Formerly of Edwardsburg-Adamsville, Mich., he graduated from Edwardsburg High School. He had been a police officer with the Ontwa Township-Edwardsburg Police and, at one time, had been a park ranger for Oxbow Park.

He was a freelance writer for Senior Life, starting with the Elko edition in the late 1980s. He wrote many articles about area history and human interest stories. In May of 1994, he graduated from Bethel University with a master’s degree of ministries.

Surviving Gregg are his children, Christopher Lawson and twins, Tracy Lawson and Terese Lawson; granddaughters, Gracie and Julie LawsonWhite; and a son-in-law, Robert “Bobby” White. He also has two sisters, Debra Lawson-Fischer and Gloria Lawson-Bradfield.

Family and friends gathered for a memorial service Monday, April 17, at the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, 26863 W. Main St., Edwardsburg, Mich. The service was conducted by Pastor Douglas Cripe of First Christian Church, Mishawaka.

Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be in Adamsville Cemetery on the Lawson family lot.