The Lakes East Magazine January 2026

Making Waves

A Look Inside Wyland’s Marine’s Legacy

COMFORT CLOSE TO HOME A GOOD NEIGHBOR HEATING & COOLING

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Avian Influenza: Staying Safe Avian influenza, known as bird flu, is a virus that can infect birds, other animals, and sometimes humans. The risk of humans becoming infected with avian influenza is low.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) and the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) are working together to monitor for avian influenza and the overall risk to the public.

How Avian Influenza Spreads People can become infected when the avian influenza virus is inhaled or gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth. People who have close contact with sick birds have the highest risk of becoming infected with an avian influenza virus.

Steps to Protect Yourself: • Avoid Contact with Wild Birds

· Do not touch sick or dead waterfowl · Observe wild birds and other animals from a distance. Avoid touching or feeding wild birds, even if they don’t look sick · Avoid coming into contact with bird droppings or surfaces that may contain bird droppings · If you keep birdfeeders and birdbaths on your property, clean them regularly with a 10% bleach and hot water solution, rinse thoroughly, and then allow them to completely dry before refilling. Clean up birdseed that has fallen below birdfeeders. · Do not feed wild birds, especially waterfowl, near domestic flocks. If you come in contact with any bird that appears unhealthy, wash your hands with soap and water and change clothing and shoes before coming in contact with a domestic flock or captive birds.

• Backyard Flock Guidance

· Hobby poultry owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and/or death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593. Callers will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Indiana for a case assessment. Dead birds should be double-bagged and refrigerated for possible testing. Keep dedicated boots/ footwear in the chicken coop and don't wear them other places.

• Report Sick or Dead Birds

· Report any cases of sick or dead wild birds to the DNR at on.in.gov/avian-flu.

• Practice Good Hygiene

· Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after any contact with birds or their droppings · Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands · If wild birds must be handled, protective equipment such as safety goggles, disposable gloves, and an N95 mask should be worn

• Keep Pets Away

· Keep domestic animals, especially poultry and cats, away from wild birds and areas where wild birds congregate

• Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk

· Cooked poultry and eggs and pasteurized dairy products are safe to eat. Pasteurization and cooking kills avian flu viruses.

If You Develop Symptoms:

If you experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat, or conjunctivitis after handling birds, contact your healthcare provider for guidance and inform them about your contact with birds.

Online Resources:

• Indiana Department of Health - Avian Influenza: https://www.in.gov/health/idepd/respiratory-disease/influen za/avian-influenza/#How_are_avian_influenza_viruses_spread_ • DNR - Avian Flu (Bird Flu): https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/wildlife-diseases-in-indiana/avian-flu-bird-flu/ • Updates are available from BOAH at: https://www.in.gov/boah/species-information/avianbirds/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza/

4 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

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GREET & TREAT

Local Dog Grooming Business Has Tails Wagging

13

COMFORT CLOSE TO HOME A Good Neighbor Heating & Cooling

19

CREATIVE CORNER

22

CRAFTED WITH PURPOSE Inside the Story of Manasses Henry Furniture

49

CASPER’S COINS

Local Shop Preserves History & Serves Collectors Across Michiana

54

BACK TO BETTER

MAKING WAVES

A Look Inside Wyland’s Marine’s Legacy

How Functional Medicine Partners is Redefining Wellness in Syracuse

29

59

31

Northern Lakes Overhead Door Company is a Trusted Local Name in Garage Door Service

JANUARY CROSSWORD

CUT WITH CARE

Four Woods Custom Butchering Preserves Tradition

36

THE PISTON DOCTOR

A Rural Craftsman Brings Vintage Equipment Back to Life

JANUARY 2026

44

40

PUBLISHERS JOHN & MANDI LEWANDOWSKI john@townepost.com mandi@townepost.com (574) 249-9217 KEY CONTRIBUTORS MEREDITH BAKER AMY BEAUCHAM JUBILEE EDGELL MIRANDA MEREIROS AMY LANT-WENGER DARCIE DODDS SCHOTT ASHLEY WATTERS JESSICA WHITEHEAD

BUILT ON INTEGRITY

64

THE FINISHING TOUCHES

Schwan Products Enhances Homes Across the Topeka Area

68

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599 PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ERIN TURK CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS EDITOR JOSH BROWN

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GREET & TREAT

LOCAL DOG GROOMING BUSINESS HAS TAILS WAGGING Writer / Amy Beaucham

In the fall of 2022, when local RV factories slowed down and life shifted for many families in the area, the Millers leaned into that new passion.

On a quiet stretch of County Road 35 outside Goshen, the day starts long before sunrise. Porch lights glow, coffee brews, and the first furry guests arrive at Greet & Treat Dog Grooming with “That’s when we decided to run an ad for grooming services sleepy eyes and wagging tails. with a delivery option for our Amish community,” she says. “It was a big hit.”

Greet & Treat is very much a family story.

Word spread, and the garage transformed into a well-equipped “Joas and I have been married for eight years and have been grooming salon that now serves dogs from Goshen and the blessed with three wonderful children, Jeslyn, Brendon and surrounding lake communities.

Allayah. They keep us on our toes and fill our home with lots of joy and energy,” says Owner Karen Miller.

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The grooming space sits just steps away from the house, so the children often peek in to say hello and admire the freshly fluffed dogs.

The Millers’ path to professional grooming began in 2019, when they started raising dogs and decided to handle the haircuts themselves. Karen remembers using an old set of garage-sale clippers at first, then investing in better equipment and realizing that grooming was something they genuinely loved doing together.

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Today, Greet & Treat welcomes big dogs, little dogs, curly coats and smooth coats alike. Karen and Joas see plenty of doodles, Maltese, Shih Tzus and Yorkies on their three main grooming days of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, when appointments begin bright and early at 5 a.m. The early hours work well for families heading to work and for neighbors in farming communities who are already starting their day.

Ask Karen which breeds she loves to work with, and she does not hesitate.

“Cavapoos and Goldendoodles are my favorite to groom,” she says. “Their coats are soft, wavy and easy to work with. Yorkies can have more temperamental personalities, but I’ve learned how to work with them too.”

Every dog, no matter the size or attitude, leaves with a treat and a kind word.

Keeping dogs calm is a shared priority for the Millers. The atmosphere is quiet and unrushed, with only a few pups in the salon at a time.

“We use hammocks for trimming paws and legs, grooming arms

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for stability, and we always call the dogs by their name,” Karen says. “That familiarity helps them relax.”

Greet & Treat’s full-groom appointments cover the whole dog from nose to tail. Each visit includes a bath in gentle shampoo, conditioner, blow-dry, ear cleaning, tooth brushing, nail care and a haircut tailored to the dog’s breed and lifestyle. Add-on services such as de-shedding treatments, flea and tick baths, hot-spot soaks, maintenance trims and anal gland expression are available for pups who need a bit of extra attention.

Karen is generous with tips that help pet owners keep their dogs comfortable between grooms.

“Groom your dog every 6 to 8 weeks,” she says. “Brush them after they get wet, paying attention to areas like the armpits that mat easily. Use a slicker brush and a finisher comb, and don’t bathe them more than once a week to avoid drying out their skin. For hot spots, I recommend using a shampoo with chlorhexidine.”

Regular brushing, she says, is one of the simplest ways owners can help.

Puppies get special attention at Greet & Treat, with short,

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positive first visits that set the tone for a lifetime of grooming.

“For puppies, early exposure is key,” Karen says. “Bathe and blow-dry them at home before their first professional groom. Take them in before mats form so their first grooming experience is pleasant. Handle their paws often so they’re used to being touched there.”

Karen also encourages pet owners to stay on a consistent schedule. When asked what helps the most, she is clear: “Stick to a regular grooming schedule. It keeps your dog comfortable and makes our job easier, which means a better experience for everyone.”

Local dog owners have taken notice of the care and consistency.

Regular client Eva Lambright shares, “I have been taking my toy poodle to Greet & Treat Grooming Services for almost a year and I have always left feeling so happy with her haircut! In my opinion, they have such a great price point considering all that a full groom includes.

You will not be disappointed with Greet & Treat!”

Alicia McLeod appreciates the way the Millers work with anxious pets, saying, “Greet & Treat Dog Grooming did an excellent job with my dog. He has some anxiety and they did a great job working with him!”

Those reviews echo what the Millers hope every guest will feel.

“For us, it’s never just about the haircut,” Karen says. “It’s about building trust with every dog that comes through our door, and making their owners feel confident and cared for too. Every wagging tail, every happy client and every pup that leaves looking and feeling their best, that’s what makes it worth it. Grooming is our craft, but at Greet & Treat, it’s also our way of showing love, one dog at a time.”

For local families, that combination of skill, kindness and practicality makes Greet & Treat Dog Grooming a reassuring 10 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

choice. Whether you share your home with a tiny Yorkie, a galloping doodle or a senior dog who needs a gentle touch, Karen and Joas are ready with warm voices, steady hands and a treat at the end of each visit.

Greet & Treat Dog Grooming is located at 64217 County Road 35 in Goshen. For more information, give them a call at 574501-4080 or visit them online at greettreatgroom.com.

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COMFORT CLOSE TO HOME M A N O R A PA R T M E N T A GOOD NEIGHBOR HEATING & COOLING MLAI V N IONRG AAT PA IRTTSM E N T L I V I N G AT I T S

Writer / Amy Beaucham Photographer / Jessica Whitehead

On a January night in the Lakes region, the wind cuts across open fields and lake ice forms in the dark. Inside, life feels much better when the furnace runs steadily and the air in each room feels clean and comfortable. For many families around Middlebury, Elkhart, Goshen, and the surrounding lake communities, that steady comfort comes from A Good Neighbor Heating & Cooling.

Owner Bob Dwyer likes to say he was “born into it.” His grandfather launched the family’s heating business in Chicago.

“It started originally in 1919,” Bob says. His father later stepped in, and Bob grew up in an apartment behind the heating shop.

with a driver’s license would take him to job sites so he could work, long before he could legally drive himself.

Bob remembers his father with deep respect.

“We had a heating shop in the front and an apartment there in the back so we lived behind “He just looked at his job as helping people. the heating shop,” he explains. “I was just sort Timbercrest Manor Timbercrest Manor He was a good man, ” he says. residents of raised in the business.”

Apartment School days meant walking through the shop to get home, cleaning sheet metal, and learning how things worked. By about 12 years old, he was already installing equipment. Someone

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in Chicago, he not only carried on the family’s heating and cooling work, but also tried his hand at other small ventures, drawing on that same willingness to work hard and serve people.

In time, though, city life no longer felt like the right place to raise his children. During a visit with friends who camped near Middlebury, he saw something very different from the inner city where he had grown up. Amish buggies shared the road with cars. Produce sat out in boxes in front of farmhouses. People waved to one another.

“I just fell in love with Middlebury,” he says.

When a real estate agent wrote down what Bob’s Chicago house might sell for, Bob laughed and told him to go ahead if he could get that price. About an hour later, the agent called back to say someone had written a check for the house. Bob sold his Chicago heating and cooling company, along with the other ventures he had built, and the family moved to Indiana in 1999.

At first, Bob worked out of his home. “I stuck a little sign in the front yard that said ‘A Good Neighbor Heating’ on it,” he recalls. Within days, the first customer called with a problem no one else had solved. That single service call became the first of several thousand.

A Good Neighbor later moved into a small storefront on Main Street. Then, about 12 years ago, it settled into its current building at 524 South Main Street in Middlebury.

The move turned out to be one of Bob’s best decisions. Customers now visit not only for service, but also to step into the HVAC room and see how modern systems sound and

operate. They can sit down with Bob over a cup of coffee, ask questions, and get clear explanations in everyday language.

The building itself reflects his willingness to notice what his neighbors need. In addition to heating and cooling, the shop has become a local stop for items like grills, spices, pool water testing, barbecue tank fills, and even knife sharpening. Bob laughs that it makes them “a kind of strange company,” yet that variety means people have a reason to walk through the door even when their furnace is working just fine. An industry leader who visited from out of state once told him he had never seen anything quite like the combination of services in a heating and cooling business.

Bob’s wife, Brenda, assists in the office and brings her own gifts to the business. During the economic downturn from 2007 to 2009, when the local newspaper closed and the RV industry slump hit Middlebury and nearby LaGrange County especially hard, she wrote

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and produced a monthly Christian-based “good news” paper that reached thousands of homes. It gave local businesses a place to advertise and gave neighbors something encouraging to open in the mail. That creative effort helped the company weather a difficult season and even drew national attention in the HVAC industry.

Family continues to be woven through the company. Bob’s son, Robert, works in the business and will one day take it over. His daughter-in-law, Anita, plays a central role in the office. Other relatives are involved as well. Bob notes that they are the last heating company in Middlebury still owned by the original owner.

While many competitors in the region have been purchased by large investment groups, Bob has no desire to sell or chase aggressive expansion. His hope is simpler: that the company “continues the same way it always has.”

That steady approach shows in the services A Good Neighbor offers. Core work includes furnace and air conditioner repair, replacement, and new installations. The team also installs heat pumps and ductless mini-split systems for homes that need flexible zoning or for older houses that never had central air. Easy-to-see thermostats with large numbers and a clear optional cover are available for anyone with impaired vision.

Those same models also help customers who live with arthritis because the straightforward controls do not require repeated, precise finger movements on tiny buttons.

Indoor air quality is a major focus. Bob’s crew can measure particle counts in a home and identify problems that most people cannot see. Often the issue is simple: “not enough fresh air coming in the building,” as Bob explains. The team may recommend better filtration, sealing leaky ductwork, or adding equipment that brings in filtered outdoor air while exhausting stale indoor air. For families with young children or older

adults, this can make a real difference in everyday life.

Duct cleaning is another important service.

Over time, dust and germs collect deep inside ductwork where a standard vacuum cannot reach. A Good Neighbor’s duct cleaning helps remove those irritants and stubborn odors. Dryer vent cleaning is an additional often overlooked service that the business takes seriously. Clearing built-up lint from the vent shortens drying times, protects clothes, improves energy use, and lowers the risks of house fires.

Once the air is cleaner and the equipment can “breathe” the way it should, comfort

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a standard furnace can choke airflow, raise internal temperatures, and shorten the life of the system. For most customers without significant medical issues, he recommends a basic filter that allows plenty of air to move.

“It’s sort of like if you’re trying to breathe and somebody’s choking you,” he says of highresistance filters in the wrong systems.

also depends on moisture in the air.

Humidity control makes homes far more comfortable. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers help keep houses in the “comfort zone,” protecting furniture, calming static electricity, and making coldweather breathing easier during long winters.

Education is one of Bob’s favorite parts of the job. He loves helping homeowners fully understand how their equipment works and what they can do themselves. That education often starts with something as simple as a furnace filter. Many shoppers buy the thickest, most expensive filter on the store shelf, assuming it must be the best. Bob explains to the client that putting a dense filter into

His goal is to help people protect both their indoor air and the equipment that conditions it.

For those who want extra peace of mind, A Good Neighbor offers a maintenance program with several levels. Homeowners can choose the plan that fits best, from basic furnace and air conditioning checkups to packages that also include water heater checks and dryer vent cleaning. Bob sums up the purpose clearly.

He firmly believes that knowing your equipment is safe ranks first, running efficiently comes next (which keeps utility bills lower), and longevity follows close behind, so systems do not need to be replaced as quickly.

Financing is available for new systems, including 0% options for set periods. Bob is frank with customers about how those plans work behind the scenes and walks them through several choices so they can understand the trade-offs. He wants people to spread the cost of a needed upgrade rather than face a single large bill, and his straightforward approach carries through to the way customers describe their experiences.

Customer reviews give a window into what that care looks like in real homes.

Betty Berkey shared that A Good Neighbor installed a complete heating and air system for her family in just two days.

She described the crew as “so polite and professional” and appreciated that they made sure she understood how the system worked before they left. She calls it “great service and product” and encourages anyone who needs a unit or service to give them a call.

Garrett Cupp wrote about a service visit, saying, “Bobby came out and inspected my whole system.” In his review, he

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explained that Bob walked him through the steps he could take to better maintain his air conditioner. After Garrett followed those directions, his AC was running again in less than an hour and a half. “Definitely recommend these guys!” he added.

Heather Brunswick contacted A Good Neighbor to install a mini-split AC unit. She noted how quickly Bob came out to give a quote, how smoothly the installation went, and how clean the crew left everything. Her family was “very pleased with the entire process” and plans to use the company again.

Bob thinks a lot about the future, not only for his own company but also for homeowners who may feel overwhelmed when comparing quotes. He has even imagined a retirement role where he would serve as a neutral consultant, simply helping people read through their furnace and air conditioning proposals and understand what they are being offered.

The idea fits his nature and principles.

He would share what he has learned over a lifetime in the industry, guide people

patiently, and leave the final decision up to them.

That dream of guiding future customers matches the way he already cares for current ones. Behind these stories is a way of doing business that Bob hopes never changes. He wants people to see who they are as a company, understand what they do, and feel at ease inviting them into their homes. When someone faces the classic question of whether to repair an older furnace or air conditioner or replace it, Bob gives honest information about age, condition, and expected lifespan, then lets the homeowner decide.

“It’s not about selling them expensive equipment,” he says. “It’s about just being honest.”

He wants customers to know that the decision about what to do with their system will always remain in their hands.

Today, A Good Neighbor Heating & Cooling serves a wide range of communities: Middlebury, Elkhart,

Goshen, Nappanee, Shipshewana, Syracuse, South Bend, and many smaller lake towns. Whether your concern is staying warm through a long winter, keeping the house cool and comfortable through July humidity, or breathing cleaner air all year, Bob and his familyrun team are ready to help you live and function in a home that truly feels like a haven.

A Good Neighbor Heating & Cooling is located at 524 S. Main Street in Middlebury. For more information, give them a call at 574-825-1677 or visit them online at AGoodNeighborOnline.com.

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Simplee Stated Gifts LOCAL CHARM, SIMPLY YOURS & WHERE HOLIDAY GIVING BEGINS Writer / Amy Beaucham Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

alk through the corner doors at Michigan and Garro in downtown Plymouth, and you’ll feel it right away. The space is warm and easy to wander. Tables are set with seasonal finds, shelves hold Indianamade treats, and a display of engraved gifts suggests a story behind every item. Owner Sandy Saenz greets customers like neighbors, remembering who loves Chala handbags, who

collects lake-themed décor, and who visited to discover the perfect teacher gift.

This is Simplee Stated Gifts — where thoughtfulness and creativity greet you at every turn.

Sandy’s path to retail began with a talent for making people feel seen, along with a knack for creative artistry and detail. Years

ago, she worked as an office manager for a construction company, where one of her many responsibilities was creating the company’s corporate gift baskets. The feedback was constant — everyone told her she should do it as a business. Encouraged by those compliments, she tested the idea with a sixweek pop-up inside Martin’s Super Market in Plymouth. After finishing her day job in South Bend, she would drive to the grocery store,

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open the small shop by mid-afternoon, and stay until 9 p.m.

People noticed. Before long, a downtown shopkeeper invited her to become a vendor.

The seed took root.

That location in downtown Plymouth has stayed constant, even as her role evolved.

“I tell people when I share my story that I have been in the same spot for 13 years, but it’s just been three versions: a vendor, a partner, and now a sole owner,” Sandy says.

In 2017, she purchased The Frame Shoppe, the longtime custom-framing business on the Michigan Street side of her L-shaped building. Today, Simplee Stated Gifts & The Frame Shoppe flow together as one welcoming experience with two entrances.

One door opens to gifts and apparel — the other to the framing studio, where custom designs and memory pieces take shape.

Sandy’s creative streak started at home. She learned wood crafts and wreath-making with her mother, then turned that eye for creative detail toward gifts and displays. The store’s décor is thoughtful yet relaxed — each product helps tell the story. Four streetfacing windows carry the seasonal theme throughout the year.

For December, they shine with Christmas charm, drawing passersby toward the sparkle within. Inside, customers linger on original wood floors and wander between women’s clothing and accessories, home décor, lake and cabin accents, children’s items, and a corner devoted to Indiana pride.

A feature wall labeled “We Are Indiana” grew from a simple question visitors kept asking: Do you have postcards or anything small that says Plymouth? That sparked a hunt for state-sourced and state-themed goods. You’ll find soup and cookie mixes from the Soup for Success Mission in Elkhart, salsa and jams made in Bremen, Ben’s Pretzels dry mix, Amish popcorn from Berne, and fudge and

chocolates crafted in Nappanee.

Shelves also feature well-known gift lines including Chala handbags, Dr. Squatch, Inis fragrances, P. Graham Dunn, Warmies, Stonewall Kitchen, Leanin’ Tree, and Studio M Art Poles.

Customization has become one of the store’s biggest draws. Sandy added on-site

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TownePost.com | December 2025 | 23

laser engraving nearly six years ago and now personalizes an impressive range of items.

“I have a laser engraver here on site,” she says.

“I have over 400 items that I can personalize.”

Customers bring ideas and leave with engraved mugs, tumblers, frames, cutting boards, ornaments, and plaques — each one ready to mark a milestone.

One memorable engraving story began when five sisters visited to shop for their eldest sibling’s 80th birthday. One sister had written a poem filled with family memories. When

they discovered the range of items Sandy could engrave, the shopping trip turned into a mission. They secretly planned with her to etch the poem onto a plaque they’d found in the shop — one featuring a graceful tree that reminded them of their family roots. When the birthday celebration arrived and the honoree opened the gift, everyone cried tears of happiness.

Memories are preserved in many different ways at The Frame Shoppe. People bring in everything from concert posters and children’s art to military medals, farm photographs and quilts. Sandy listens to each story first, shaping a design that honors the sentiment and stays within budget. One of her most memorable projects came from a retired pastor who wanted to frame a portrait of his late wife.

He and Sandy planned the mat and moulding together while he sat comfortably, sharing memories as they worked. When he later picked up the finished piece, he was moved

to tears. He told Sandy he has coffee with his wife every morning. Those moments remind her why custom framing matters.

When asked what stands out most about her business, Sandy shares that it all begins with connection.

“It has to be my customer service — the friendly atmosphere, one-on-one,” she says. “I might not know your name, but I’ll remember that you liked something in my store.”

She treats every customer like family and means it.

“You don’t ever, ever apologize for crying in my store. My store is a safe space,” she says. Sandy emphasizes how her business is very much a calling. “I know that I know that I know that I am where I’m supposed to be.”

When sharing life’s joys or struggles, many people find comfort in the safe, welcoming

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space Sandy has created — and in her listening heart.

Community has always been part of her story. As president of Discover Plymouth, the downtown merchants group, she helps plan collaborative events that bring people to the city’s heart.

When she first arrived as a vendor, empty storefronts were common. Today, those spaces fill quickly with new small businesses.

Her next-door neighbor is Gather, a restaurant created by the Gather 2 Graze team. The two spaces share a wide interior opening, so diners can step through to browse the gift shop while waiting for their meal, then return for dessert — or a second look at that perfect item they spotted earlier.

Seasonal events at Simplee Stated Gifts are both festive and engaging. December brings “12 Days of Christmas,” a daily spotlight where one in-store item or category features a special price for that day only. The popular

Red Envelope promotion begins on Small Business Saturday, the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Shoppers earn a sealed red envelope with a qualifying purchase. Inside is a coupon that might be 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30% off a total purchase, a discount on a single item, or even dollar savings.

year of shopping. It’s a tradition that brings cheer to the quieter winter weeks and gives customers something fun to look forward to after the holidays.

Hands-on creativity thrives in the store’s make-and-take area. The newest favorite is a crushed-glass and resin art class. Participants choose a shape template, place contact paper, select from a wide range of crushed-glass colors, and pour resin for a luminous stainedglass effect. Because Sandy uses a quick-set resin, participants can take their treasures home with them — a handcrafted keepsake as personal as it is beautiful.

The reviews say it best. “This is a cool store to stop in and check things out,” writes Steven Wheat. “The owner is friendly and very helpful … it’s a great place to pick up gifts for different kinds of parties.” Jennifer Criddle Guests bring the unopened envelope back in January or early February, open it at checkout, calls everything “so adorable,” from jewelry to clothing to household items. Amanda Lawson and often stack it with clearance pricing praises both the prices and the kindness: during the semiannual sale. Two grand-prize “Sandy was such a gem 1…6/8/25 she made envelopes include gift certificates for a full 3.5x4.75" V3.FINALE.6/8.LAKES Ad.qxp_Layout 8:29me PMfeel Page 4

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so comfortable.”

Yvonne Comeno appreciates the engraving and value, while Pam Lee sums it up perfectly — Sandy is phenomenal at helping find the perfect gift and “does so much for Plymouth.”

Another shopper, Heather Banas, captured the experience this way: “The store is full of Indiana-made products, squeaky hardwood floors, friendly smiles, and treasures you didn’t know you needed until you found them.”

Sandy’s calendar reflects that same community spirit. She hosts a holiday open house each November benefiting Blessings in a Backpack, a nonprofit that provides weekend meals to children who might otherwise go hungry when school is out. She also helps organize downtown traditions such as the Chocolate Walk and a music-themed scavenger hunt where families match holiday song titles to participating businesses. The goal is simple — to bring people downtown,

introduce them to local shops, and keep Plymouth’s small-town heart thriving.

The heart of it all still circles back to relationships. A customer once came in, quiet and weighed down by the recent loss of a son. She was preparing for a long-planned trip to Disney World with her other son and grandchildren but felt guilty about going. They talked for a while — about the trip, the grandkids, and the memories they would make together. Weeks later, she returned, saying the trip had been exactly what she needed. Before leaving, she turned to Sandy and said, “Thank you for making me smile.” It’s a moment that perfectly captures the difference between shopping small and shopping anywhere else.

At Simplee Stated Gifts & The Frame Shoppe, you’ll find engraved keepsakes, cozy home décor, women’s apparel, lake and cabin accents, Indiana goodies, and that hard-to-find something you’ll be so pleased and proud to give. Step into

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The Frame Shoppe next door for custom framing that treats your memories like art. Then stop by Gather for lunch before heading back to pick up the gift that caught your eye. You’ll leave feeling as if you’ve discovered something more than a store — something heartfelt, genuine, and worth returning to again and again.

Simplee Stated Gifts & The Frame Shoppe is located at 100 W. Garro St., Plymouth.

For more information, give them a call at 574-936-5259 or email them at simpleestatedgifts@yahoo.com.

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COMMUNITY AT THE COUNTER

THE CHUPP BROTHERS GROW E&S BULK FOODS INTO A SHIPSHEWANA STAPLE Writer / Meredith Baker Photographer / Jessica Whitehead

Step inside E&S Bulk Foods on State Road 5 in Shipshewana, and the first thing you’ll notice isn’t the neat rows of bulk bins or the scent of fresh pies cooling near the bakery counter — it’s the feeling. A warmth hums through the aisles, somewhere between the quiet rhythm of a small-town morning and the friendly chatter of shoppers swapping

recipes.

For locals, E&S isn’t just a grocery store. It’s a gathering place, a reminder that honest food and honest work still anchor the heart of northern Indiana.

Nearly four decades ago, Ervin “Butch” and

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Sarah Chupp opened their little country grocery. Now, the second generation of the Chupp family prepares for the store’s next chapter: a move into a brand-new building that will double retail space, bring back a beloved sandwich deli, and carry forward their legacy.

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brother-in-law, Levi Bontrager. But Butch wasn’t one to stay still for long. After a brief stint farming, he felt that pull again — the one that comes when a good idea refuses to sit quietly.

In 1986, he opened a new grocery store next to Eash Sales, a neighboring dry goods store in Shipshewana. He called it E&S Sales, for Ervin and Sarah, and ran it with the help of his sons and daughters.

From Basement Beginnings to a Beloved Landmark The story of E&S Bulk Foods started in 1970 in the basement of the Chupp home. Ervin and Sarah named their store Forks County Line Store, a nod to the “Forks” area where Elkhart and LaGrange counties meet.

As their business grew, they moved operations into a converted barn before selling to Ervin’s

Business grew fast. By the mid-1990s, the Chupps had built new warehouses, expanded their retail space, and begun employing locals who would remain for decades. Today, the business employs nearly 150 people, several of whom have been with E&S for more than 20 years.

Each one, says co-owner Kenny Chupp, plays a vital role in the store’s success.

“We’ve been blessed with good hardworking people. They’re like family,” Kenny says.

Faith Built on Family Running a second-generation business is no small feat. Studies show that only about 30% of family-owned companies make it past the founder’s generation. But the five co-owners — brothers Kenny, Jay, and Duane, along with brothers-in-law Merle and Larry — have found a rhythm.

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The brothers are grounded in the values passed down from their parents: faith, fairness, and fellowship.

everything from bulk baking items and dried herbs to homemade noodles, local honey, and candy by the pound. There are bins of flour and sugar for every holiday pie. Tubs of chocolates are perfect for gift baskets. In season, local produce fills the bins. The smell of bread baking draws a steady stream of regulars who swear by it.

“The biggest factor in our success is that we all share the same faith in the same God,” Jay says. “That doesn’t mean we always agree.

We’re five different personalities, after all. But we know we’re stronger together.”

During peak tourist season, the store bustles with out-of-towners exploring the heart of Amish Country. Yet the Chupps never forget who helped them build their foundation.

A commitment to communication, and a shared rule to “leave work at work,” helps keep both the business and the family healthy.

“We don’t drag disagreements home,” Jay says.

“That’s not fair to our families. We work it out and move on.”

“Our locals are the backbone,” Jay says. “And we don’t take that for granted.”

A New Chapter Rising

It’s an ethos that’s kept the business steady over time.

In 2025, the Chupp family broke ground on what will soon become the next home of E&S Bulk Foods — a 128,000-square-foot building just north of their current site. The new space will feature expanded bakery, produce, and deli sections, and the longawaited return of their sandwich counter.

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For the Chupps, though, bigger doesn’t mean impersonal. The move is about comfort, efficiency, and continuing to improve their customers’ experience.

“We’re excited,” Kenny says. “We’ve added on so many times over the years that things have gotten tight. This will help us serve everyone better.”

proclaimed “foodie”), there’s joy in dreaming about what comes next.

“I’d love to see us do old-fashioned taffy pulls again, maybe even add sushi or smoked meats as daily features,” he says with a grin. “But one step at a time. For now, we’re just grateful for where we are.”

Faith for the Future These days, E&S isn’t just a second-generation business. The third is already stepping in.

Eight of the owners’ children work at the store. They learn the ropes, take on responsibility, and carry the family’s values forward.

That legacy weighs heavily, but in the best way.

And for Jay, ever the visionary (and self-

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“Dad used to worry about us running the business into the ground,” Jay jokes. “Now it’s our turn to worry about them. But honestly, I think they’ll do great.”

As the community grows and Shipshewana continues to draw visitors from around the country, E&S remains exactly what it’s always been: a local anchor built on faith, family, and flour.

“God’s been good to us,” Kenny says.

“We’ve been given much, and our goal is to give back — through good food, good service and a good example.”

For the Chupp family, success isn’t measured in square footage or sales, but in the quiet satisfaction of serving others, one scoop, one loaf, one smile at a time.

E&S Bulk Foods is located at 1265 N. State Road 5, Shipshewana, Indiana. For more information, call 260-768-4736 or email eandssales@hotmail.com.

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ECHOED ART THE SOUNDWAVE BOOTH TURNS SPOKEN WORDS INTO LASTING VISUAL KEEPSAKES

Writer / Darcie Dodds Schott

Words are powerful. Sounds evoke memories. When words and sound combine to be translated from vocal to visual, the artistic result creates an emotionally moving experience. A treasured message from a loved one can linger for years, and thanks to an inspired business called The Soundwave Booth, any words you want can be captured in the visual art of soundwaves.

Owned and run by Joel and Cindy Pendl, The Soundwave Booth translates a favorite phrase, a celebrated quote or a custom sound into the vertical lines that represent the soundwaves of that particular audible.

Before you tap into your fear of hearing your own voice, the Pendls have created a line of products that are premade and ready for purchase.

Joel assures, “You don’t have to use your own voice. We do all the recording in-house.”

The phrases are spoken and then printed in the complex pattern of lines that make up the final visual art. These products have been recorded by the Pendls and translated into a printed version of the soundwaves using high-tech engineering software. With a background in radio and television, Joel uses his technical talent to morph engineering with art. The result is a carefully curated blend of popular phrases and custom prints

to capture a moment in time or personal statement.

The Soundwave Booth offers one-of-akind artwork based on printed words and phrases, from original messages to well-known favorites within the public domain. This line of artwork and accessories is available for purchase “off the shelf,” including phrases like “It is well with my

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soul,”

“Love you to the moon and back,” and “And so together they built a life they loved,” to name a few.

Products laser engraved with this artwork include coasters, cutting boards, baseball caps, keychains, newborn baby beanies with phrases like “You are my sunshine” engraved onto a leather patch, and more. To explore the complete product line of prints and accessories, visit thesoundwavebooth.com.

The Soundwave Booth’s American Flag series offers a selection of patriotic songs and documents displayed as a collection of soundwaves in the pattern of the stars and stripes. Each state abbreviation has been spoken to create the stars, and customers can choose from the Pledge of Allegiance, the Second Amendment, the Star-Spangled Banner and more that make up the stripes of this American Flag artwork.

In addition to preprinted and engraved items, The Soundwave Booth offers custom

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products. From unique words or sounds that capture moments such as a baby’s first heartbeat, a pet’s bark or meow, or a final voicemail from a loved one, the Pendls can take any audio a customer has and create a keepsake that will last a lifetime. A QR code can even be added so customers can hear a loved one’s voice any time. One option is a Memorial Card — a metal plate with the custom soundwave and QR code containing the audio clip that can be adhered to a gravesite headstone.

The ordering process is simple, and the product line offers a variety of style choices.

Customers choose a print, framed option or accessory for their custom soundwave.

All products are created, printed, framed or engraved by the husband-and-wife team.

children, who are now in their teens. Over the years, the couple has traveled to art shows from Florida to California — and many stops in between — creating an educational experience for their children, who have been to all 48 of the lower United States.

and travel with the family — from audio engineering software to everything required to do all of their own printing, product assembly, photography, website management and social media. The couple does everything themselves so they can literally live anywhere.

As unique as each piece of artwork, so is the lifestyle the Pendls have chosen.

Living entirely on the road in their camperturned-home-on-wheels-turned-classroom, they have raised and homeschooled their

Together the Pendls, along with their 15-year-old son, Kaden, and 14-year-old daughter, Avril, call Bass Lake home for much of the summer. All the tools and techniques for their business are portable

They enjoy going back on the road to southern states during the winter, where they enjoy the warmer weather while still running their business from home. In fact, they joke that “no one in our family owns

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winter clothes, because as the weather changes, so does our location!”

They plan to attend a select number of holiday art and craft shows to continue feeding their nomadic nature, and then after the holidays, they will spend a few months in a mid-Atlantic beach community that has sports facilities their son longs for while traveling. He plans to take a detour from the family travel plan once he turns 18 and attend college, living on campus for

the social and sports aspects of student life.

Avril, on the other hand, has expressed a desire to continue traveling once she finishes high school.

The Pendls are committed to creating beautiful artwork made of quality materials while maintaining reasonable prices ($16– $30) so that owning a unique, inspiring soundwave print can be accessible to anyone.

Also a priority for the Pendls is creating uplifting artwork that doesn’t profess negativity — something customers notice.

“We come as a breath of fresh air to many customers, and that is something we are proud of,” notes Cindy.

Beginning in 2025, the Pendls transformed their traveling art show business into a fully online enterprise. They are in the process of building their online presence and helping people understand how the custom side of their business works — using a customer’s audio of a loved one or beloved pet, etc. — while making sure customers know they

have a full line of products available and ready to ship.

If you are looking for a unique gift this Christmas season — or any time of year — visit thesoundwavebooth.com. The “Custom Soundwaves” tab on the website guides customers through ordering. As a husbandand-wife team, the Pendls are personally available to answer any questions.

Find out more by emailing thesoundwavebooth@gmail.com.

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BOB ROSS & THE JOY OF PAINTING IN MUNCIE THE LITTLE-KNOWN HOOSIER HOME OF A CULTURAL ICON Bob Ross, years before his television days, teaching art while in the Air Force

Writer / Jeff Kenney

Lakes-area readers of an age to remember the earlier days of legendary public television art instructor Bob Ross might have been somewhat surprised at the stature he’s attained nowadays as a nearly ubiquitous, international celebrity, defining an era and a style.

After all, his earlier television programs might be described as quaint: simple of production value, certainly not “high art,” — perhaps even kitsch — right down to his trademark perm-style hair; quiet, unassuming demeanor. His consistent themes of natural landscapes (dotted with “happy little trees,” as he famously dubbed them) and his speedy production of a painting from blank canvas to complete in less than his 30-minute time slot allotted, all of it punctuated by words of encouragement and affirmation for his viewers. A sort of Mr. Rogers of art as everyman therapy.

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But it might surprise many to learn of his strong ties to Indiana — specifically just down the road in nearby Muncie, which most of us in these parts associate almost exclusively with Ball State University.

Even there, there’s a tie to Bob Ross, as the house that became ground zero for Ross’ early TV endeavors once belonged to Lucius L. Ball, one of the Ball brothers best known for making their fortunes in the canning jar industry, though their philanthropy, of course, also generated the university which bears their name.

So how did an worldwide cultural icon like Bob Ross wind up in the Hoosier State, which was not his home state (he hailed originally from the area of Daytona Beach, Florida)? The route was perhaps an unlikely one.

Born in 1942, Bob Ross had a love of nature from his youth, inspired partly by the love his mother, Ollie, had for animals.

Ross completed only the 9th grade in school before dropping out to apprentice with his carpenter father, Jack, which is how part of one of Bob’s fingers was cut off.

At 18, young Bob Ross joined the Air Force, taking art lessons at a USO club on the base in Alaska at which he was stationed. He made money on the side

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painting landscapes on souvenir gold pans while his service continued. He retired as a master sergeant some 20 years later (it might further surprise readers to learn that Ross’s stint in the military involved his needing to yell and intimidate those under him in order to get jobs done, something he vowed not to do once he retired).

Back in Florida, Ross was exposed to a painting technique which would prove critical to his future television project: the “wet-on-wet” approach involved applying wet paint to an already wet surface, creating soft edges and transitions, especially helpful in rendering natural landscapes like skies.

It also helped facilitate a faster painting process, which would prove advantageous later for Ross.

some 60 PBS affiliate stations to sign on to carry the show. That was 1982, and as fate would have it, in 1983 co-investor Annette Kowalski booked Ross on a national tour of painting workshops which included the Indiana town of Muncie. Ross and company’s purchase of advertisements on Muncie’s PBS station, WIPB, paid off: his workshop was sold out by the time Ross’ camper arrived in Muncie.

Already having taught painting while in the Air Force, Ross worked as a tutor and traveling salesman once back in Florida, where one of his students pooled her and her husband’s money with that of Ross and his wife to start Ross’ company (his trademark permanent hairstyle — which Ross later admitted he’d never liked — was actually the result of cost-cutting efforts, though it would become permanent as part of the company’s logo).

Ross felt a surge of kindred spirits alive in the Muncie community and he and Kowalski made arrangements for his show, The Joy of Painting, to be filmed at local PBS affiliate WIPB, which was situated in the aforementioned Lucius Ball house, made of yellow brick and located at what would become Muncie’s museum and cultural center, Minnetrista, which was founded by descendants of the Ball Brothers.

A Virginia TV station recorded one of Ross’ painting lessons and aired it, prompting

As described on its website at minnetrista. net, the facilities encompass a “spacious

forty-acre campus and beautiful gardens, a nature area, a museum facility, a permanent museum collection and archive, historic homes, children’s play areas, and a portion of the White River Greenway.”

The facility hosts a “year-round roster of educational programs, engaging workshops,

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community events, and interactive exhibitions (and welcomes) tens of thousands of visitors each year and offer something new to experience on every visit,” according to the site.

From his first-floor studio, Ross quietly and gently took his TV audience through the process of creating a landscape painting marked by encouraging his viewers in (to quote the Minnetrista website again) “fearless creativity and life-affirming compassion.”

Ross, who did the show free of charge (making money instead from the sale of books, videos, and art supplies), taped each episode in Muncie even through his return move to Florida in 1989, the year after filming of The Joy of Painting had moved to a more modern filming space on the Ball State campus than the former farmhouse that became Minnetrista had been, though Ross admitted he missed the original space). Even after moving, he still made

the trek to Muncie every three months to tape new episodes, an arrangement which continued until the show’s original run ended on May 17, 1994.

Ross, who painted an estimated 30,000 paintings during his lifetime, did not live long beyond the final episode of The Joy of Painting. He died on July 4, 1994, at just 52 years of age of lymphoma, which he kept a secret to most people outside his family and close circle of friends (he had, in fact, prepared paintings for a planned 32nd season of the show).

Somehow, his persona, technique, and memory, though, are timeless. In the decade that the show aired, a generation grew up watching the unlikely legend that

was Ross, and an array of digital services have offered it in the years since, generating legions of fans.

According to an article on beltmag.com, “Bob Ross Was Here,” by Ashley Stimpson, the famous blue “X” on the floor of Ross’ art studio — marking where he should stand when creating paintings — somehow

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was left untouched long after his passing.

Writes Stimpson: “Every so often, George Buss, Minnetrista’s Vice President of Visitor Experience, would point it out to a guest. Their reactions always surprised him. ‘People would cry,’ he told me. ‘Lots of people would ask if they could stand on it.’ Betty Brewer, President and CEO of Minnetrista, experienced something similar when she mentioned the house in passing to some visitors from the Indiana Arts Commission on an abbreviated, after-hours tour. ‘Everyone freaked out,’ she recalled.

‘They couldn’t believe it.’ ” Such experiences led the staff to create a permanent museum experience including a “recreated WIPB-TV studio, a 1980s living room similar to those where so many welcomed Bob Ross into their homes, a gallery space designed for specially curated shows, and a workshop space designed to host Bob Ross Painting Workshops.

The exhibition is also home to many

original artifacts from Bob’s career, including his easel, palette, and brushes,” writes the the Minnetrista website. Opened in the fall of 2020, “The Bob Ross Experience” in Muncie is the only museum in the world dedicated to Ross.

As Stimpson notes, the museum will not only serve fans of Ross worldwide, but Hoosiers in the Muncie area who remember him having a home there, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, and assisting local fundraisers by donating his paintings (which are surprisingly rare on the art market, as he tended to keep them out of the commercial market, meaning many today are highly monetarily valued).

Bob Ross’ final television appearance was on the 1995 premiere episode of the

children’s show, “The Adventures of Elmo and Friends.”

As the show closes, Ross’ final words for his audience, after offering them “just thanks,” were fittingly similar to the end of many of the episodes of his own show: “One day soon our paths may cross again. Until then, God bless, my friend.”

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THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS Writer / Miranda Medeiros

When I think of Christmas I think of falling snow, Frank Sinatra, singing happy birthday to Jesus (hmm...maybe this is just my family?) and of course the claymation originals of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

on hosting, and cherishing the seasons.

Unlike most places, the New Kitchen Store is a firm believer in decorating for what season we are in, soaking up every wonder that time of year has to offer.

We don’t display any Christmas decorations or products until our Annual Christmas Open house, which It seemed to be that for a few years there is Saturday November 29 this year. But Christmas had shifted. The focus went once Thanksgiving is over, the magic from festivities and a celebration of Christ of Christmas is truly a sight to behold and all things good in our lives, to how here with sparkling Christmas trees, many people you can see at once to get magnificent Christmas dinnerware sets, it over with. There was a real shift in and of course a jolly tune to carry the the atmosphere all over the world. But ambiance throughout the store making it recently I’ve noticed websites and sales something to truly behold. advertising for a “vintage” Christmas, with the old rosey cheeked Santa and When the seasons and holidays get a focus on hosting and time well spent rushed by pulling everything out in rather than money spent.

September, it can sometimes take away the magic of such a special time of year.

This couldn’t be more exciting, especially It’s cherished and enjoyed by most people for a store that has such an emphasis so it’s understandable why such a thing 44 | December 2025 | TownePost.com

happens, but sometimes we appreciate the things we have the least of in our lives because of its rarity and awe. Taking the time to enjoy the fall and everything it has to offer is a good way to slow down and appreciate the now.

However, now that Halloween and Thanksgiving are over we welcome our big beautiful Christmas with adoring arms to let its merriment and excitement fill us with the hope of a holiday that represents such a gift of life. A baby born with a mission of saving the world and spreading love and light to all, how can such a beautiful story go without stirring such feelings in a heart?

Let that feeling of love and joy flow through you this season allowing you to open your heart and kitchen to all who enter so that everyone can feel that same joy. The holidays can go one way or another depending on what your focus is,

they can be a time of stress or a source of great joy and memories made with those who matter the most at the core of our lives. This Christmas season, I hope that all of you can focus on the good that is happening in this season rather than the background noise.

So I raise my coffee cup to you all and will leave you with a few words to wish a beautiful winter season into your life.

Let’s make this season filled with toasty drinks poured and shared with family and friends to represent our cups overflowing.

Let’s enjoy great food and charcuterie boards packed to the brim only to be picked clean and shared over belly laughs and moments that will last forever in our minds. I hope the snow brings back the childlike wonder that such a thing as a snowflake could exist, and that for all the care and thought that went into creating a snowflake even more was poured into you.

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I hope the Christmas lights you see feel extra spectacular and twinkle like stars in your eye, reminding us of a star that once burned bright in the sky to lead others to the light of the world. All in all, I hope you have the most wonderful Christmas

this year full of merriment and a grateful heart beyond words. Truly, from our hearts and kitchens to yours.

Please stop in to New Kitchen Store anytime Monday-Saturday 9-6pm EST

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with the exception of some holiday hours. We would love to share a cup of coffee and assist in picking out special items for your loved ones this season.

Call us at 574-586-2745 or email at nks@ newkitchenstore.com with any questions!

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Winter Hours: M - Thurs 6am - 4pm Friday 6am - 2:30 Closed Saturday & Sunday 46 | December 2025 | TownePost.com

New Kitchen Store Annual Christmas Open House!

November 29th 2025 | OPENS AT 9 AM

Please plan to join us as we look forward to passing on our appreciation to our customers, old and new! We will have wonderful samples and recipes available from countries around the world as we celebrate this special season together.

Gather up your friends, family, and neighbors and join us for our 1 day only, all day event to celebrate our favorite people-YOU!

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Marilyn Banfitch, Owner- Michael Bright, Owner- Kaden Rody, Siara Simon, and George Christ.

HOME STARTS HERE PLYMOUTH FURNITURE & MATTRESS MAKES HOME FURNITURE SHOPPING PERSONAL & STRESS-FREE Writer / Amy Beaucham Photographer / Tony Straw

he best furniture stores do more than sell sofas. They help people picture a life at home that feels comfortable, useful, and beautiful. That’s the promise at Plymouth Furniture & Mattress, led by owners Michael Bright and Kaden Rody.

Bright and Rody didn’t set out to own a second store this soon. They had recently opened Wabash Furniture & Mattress when a trusted sales rep shared a tip.

“A guy named Alan Fritz and his sister Marilyn Banfich owned it, and their dad had started the business,” Bright says. “They were wanting an exit strategy. They wanted to retire, and our La-Z-Boy rep came to us and said, ‘They were looking to step back, and we were looking to grow.’ ” Following the purchase, the store formerly known as Banfich Furniture became Plymouth Furniture & Mattress.

Customers who frequented the former store can still find the brands they’ve loved for years, with deeper inventory and an expanded service mindset. Bright puts it plainly: “We’re in it for the long haul … I’m only 37 and Kaden is 21, and we plan to do this till we retire.”

The store layout makes it easy to imagine a finished space. Vignettes are built with tables, lamps, rugs and pillows so you can see how pieces work together. Bring a pillow from home or a fabric swatch.

Snap a few photos of your room. The staff encourages it.

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a showroom. Plymouth Furniture carries lines the region knows and trusts — La-Z-Boy, Ashley, Bernhardt, Archbold VaughanBassett, Liberty, John Thomas, Uttermost, Oriental Weavers, Hunter Douglas, Carole Fabrics, and more.

Mattress shoppers can compare national leaders such as TempurPedic, Stearns & Foster, Sealy, and Serta.

Plymouth Furniture’s secret sauce might be a familiar name.

Marilyn Banfich stayed on after the sale to continue the in-home design services that have helped local families for decades. Bright can’t help but smile when he talks about her. He explains that Marilyn has designed everything from custom bunk beds to full built-ins, noting that “she does everything. She’s got over 40 years of experience.”

When you work with Marilyn, the process is simple but personal.

An appointment begins with a modest $200 deposit that goes directly toward your purchase—no extra design fee. She can meet you in the store, trade ideas by email or step into your home to take measurements and see the space firsthand.

From there, she brings in her decades of experience with window treatments, flooring, paint, lighting and the furniture that ties it all together. Customers appreciate her ability to listen closely and turn a

wish list into a plan.

If you prefer to shop on your own, that’s welcome too. The floor is set with mix-and-match settings so you can compare a sofa with different chairs and tables. The team can help you double-check clearances for doorways and stairwells and talk through layout choices before anything arrives at your home.

Bright has experienced stores where a salesperson shadows your every step, which is why he trains against it. “We’re not shadow stalkers,” he says with a laugh. “Some people don’t want help. Some do.” The team will greet you, ask how they can help, then give you room to breathe.”

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Service extends past the purchase. Delivery is free within 50 miles, and the crew will set up your furniture and remove the unwanted pieces you’re replacing. The personal help continues when special circumstances pop up. Bright shares simple examples: a customer needed a purchase dropped off at a son’s house, so the team made the extra stop. Another family needed help shifting heavy pieces from one room to another to make space for new items. “Other stores don’t do that,” Bright says. “That’s the personal touch that we have.”

Quality furniture is truly an investment. The store partners with Synchrony for customers with strong credit who want long promotional plans, and with Acima and similar leasing programs for shoppers building credit. Promotions change with the season, but the goal stays the same—spread out payments while you enjoy the furniture now.

If you’re new to financing, the staff will lay out the differences between interest-free promotions and lease-to-own plans, then help you choose what fits.

Bright hears it all the time — mattress shopping can feel overwhelming. He suggests a calm, simple approach. Start by deciding whether you prefer firm, medium, or plush. He encourages customers to try a few firm mattresses, then a few medium, then a few plush models.

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P.J. Gilsinger family museum will explain the history of the oldest John Deere Dealer in the world at it’s original store location. Since 1899 The Gilsinger family has served farmers in our area.

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“Just lie down on them and try it,” he says. “You’ll know more quickly than you think.”

No one rushes you at Plymouth Furniture & Mattress. You are welcome to take notes and return the next day to view or test your finalists again. The store keeps popular brands in stock, making it possible for most furniture items and mattresses to be delivered quickly.

Bright is aware that delivery is often where furniture shopping goes wrong at other stores. At Plymouth Furniture, reviews show it’s

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where the experience shines.

The level of care, combined with free delivery and haul-away service, helps explain why so many shoppers drive from other towns to purchase from Plymouth Furniture & Mattress.

If you like to plan ahead, Plymouth Furniture offers a short “quickstart” list that really helps: Measurements: jot down wall lengths, ceiling height, and door clearances. Measure the piece you’re replacing, too.

Simple floor plan: a sketch on notebook paper is fine. Mark windows, doors, and traffic paths.

Photos: a few snapshots of the room in daytime light tell the staff a lot about your style.

Swatches: bring a cushion or pillow if you’re matching existing tones.

Budget range: a flexible target keeps choices focused and avoids disappointment later.

There are often manufacturer specials tied to holidays. The team will tell you when a favorite line will run a promotion so you can

time your purchase well.

Customers visit from Bremen, Culver, Rochester, Knox, South Bend, Mishawaka and beyond. Part of that is selection, part is service, and the rest is logistics. With two locations — Plymouth and Wabash — the company enjoys the economies of scale that keep inventory deep and deliveries moving. Their warehouses hold far more than a single store can carry, which shortens wait times.

Bright also sees Plymouth Furniture as a neighbor, not just a retailer. The team supports local nonprofits, churches and community events. They contribute to school raffles and

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volunteer their time to community projects.

The store’s design work doesn’t stop at the front door. The team has furnished community spaces, lodge-style gathering rooms, and lake homes that welcome summer guests. They know that bunk rooms often need special attention since many families want sturdy built-ins with a clean look and durable finishes.

At Plymouth Furniture & Mattress, special attention is paid to all projects. Marilyn coordinates with painters, flooring installers and window-treatment pros so timelines make sense and projects stay on track.

If your plans are modest, you still get the same care.

Currently, recliners and lift chairs are two of the most popular items from the store’s vast selection. Those with features that make daily life easier — power headrests, lumbar support, USB ports, and gentle stand-assist — are particularly in demand.

Sectionals continue to shine, with open floor plans being so common in homes now.

As we head into the holidays, Mike advises shoppers to watch for Black Friday, December, and year-end promotions. The store posts specials online and in-store.

It is well-known that retail cultures are built by everyday habits. At Plymouth Furniture & Mattress, one habit stands out — respect for how customers like to shop. Bright returns to the idea often with standards such as no pushy chatter, no hovering, help when you want it, space when you don’t. From the first look to the final setup, the staff stays focused on comfort, function and value.

Bright and Rody are building their company in ways that will make it last.

Open the front door and you’ll feel it — easy smiles, tidy displays, and a pace that lets you think.

“Openness and friendliness, I guess would be my first thought,” Bright says.

Visit Plymouth Furniture & Mattress at 2127 N. Oak Dr., Plymouth, IN. For more information, give them a call at 574-9361299 or visit them online at plymouthfm.com.

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BACK TO BETTER HOW FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PARTNERS IS REDEFINING WELLNESS IN SYRACUSE Writer / Meredith Baker Photographer / Jessica Whitehead

For more than two decades, Dr. Carol White worked in some of healthcare’s most demanding settings, from ICUs and long-term care facilities to rehabilitation units. She’d seen the system up close, and while she helped countless patients recover, she noticed something troubling: the system wasn’t built for healing.

“I was becoming burned out,” Dr. White says. “It felt like we were just masking problems with prescriptions instead of making people better.”

The realization that something needed to change — along with her own health struggles — led White to functional medicine, a discipline that looks for the root causes of illness rather than treating only the symptoms. In 2025, she founded Functional Medicine Partners, a practice in Syracuse dedicated to helping patients regain their health through education, lifestyle changes, and science-backed treatments.

FROM FRUSTRATION TO FULFILLMENT White’s journey began when she faced her own health struggles and sought help.

“I needed hormone replacement therapy, but I was frustrated by the process,” she says. “That’s when I decided I could make a difference.”

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So she did. White retrained, earning functional medicine certification and creating a practice that combines medical precision with a personal touch.

At Functional Medicine Partners, the approach begins with listening — really listening.

“Most of my patients come in saying, ‘My doctor says my labs look fine, but I still feel awful,’” Dr. White says. “That’s when it’s time to dig deeper.”

A PARTNERSHIP IN HEALING True to its name, Functional Medicine Partners operates through collaboration. White doesn’t see herself as the authority but as a partner walking alongside her patients.

“They have to be ready,” she says. “Ready to stop feeling sick and start understanding what’s causing it.”

Each new patient begins with a discovery call to ensure the practice is a good fit. From there, the process becomes deeply personalized: comprehensive lab work, an hour-long consultation, and a tailored plan that may include dietitian-guided meal plans, personal training sessions, or targeted supplementation.

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The emphasis, White says, is on sustainability.

“If someone just wants a quick fix for weight loss, that’s not us,” she says. “We’re about creating habits that last.”

A TEAM APPROACH While White leads the medical side, she’s the first to admit she doesn’t go it alone. Her team includes two registered dietitians, a personal trainer, and a licensed counselor. Together, they design holistic plans that address every layer of a patient’s well-being.

“The gut, the mind, the body — they’re all connected,” Dr. White says. “Food is medicine, movement is therapy, and education is empowerment.”

Patients receive hands-on guidance, from grocery lists to personalized fitness programs. There’s even a small on-site gym for one-on-one training, adding accountability and encouragement to each patient’s journey.

BRINGING NEW LIFE TO AN OLD SPACE When White and her husband found an old pier shop for sale in Syracuse, they saw more than a rundown building — they saw potential. They renovated the space into a modern, welcoming clinic and the local community has taken notice.

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“The town has been behind us,” Dr. White says. “We wanted to create something special.”

Her husband, a wealth management adviser, will soon move his practice into the same building. The pairing, White joked, makes perfect sense.

“He focuses on financial wellness, and I focus on physical wellness,” she says.

“Together, we’re helping people build better futures.”

A GROWING VISION Though the doors opened this fall, White’s plans are expanding. In 2026, she hopes to introduce salt therapy and infrared sauna treatments, furthering her mission to make holistic wellness accessible in northern Indiana.

She also wants to host community education sessions — open-to-all gatherings that explore hormone health, digestive wellness and the long-term effects of common medications.

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“So many people don’t realize how everyday habits affect their bodies,” Dr. White says. “Education is where change begins.”

HEART, SCIENCE, AND HOPE So, what’s her secret ingredient to wellness?

“Gut health,” she says. “It’s amazing how much starts there — your mood, your immune system, your energy. What you eat matters.”

For White, the reward is watching her patients reclaim their vitality.

Functional Medicine Partners is located at 602 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, Indiana. For more information, call 877-241-7367 or visit functionalmedicinepartners.com.

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BUILT ON INTEGRITY NORTHERN LAKES OVERHEAD DOOR COMPANY IS A TRUSTED LOCAL NAME IN GARAGE DOOR SERVICE Writer / Meredith Baker Photographer / Jessica Whitehead

When you first meet Sam Brown, you’ll quickly learn three things: he’s been in the garage door world longer than most doors have existed, he’s not shy about telling the truth, and he takes pride in doing things right the first time — no shortcuts or leaving the job until it operates the way it should.

Northern Lakes Overhead Door, located in Topeka, is the kind of business that people mention with an approving nod. You know the type: quietly generous and run by owners who see their work as a calling rather than a career. Brown and his business partner, Kerry Frye, saw a need and kept consistently showing up in a way that forges long-term repeat customers.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND WISDOM The business started decades ago — two guys rolling up their sleeves because people needed garage doors installed by someone who cared.

“It was just the two of us,” Brown says. “We’ve been very fortunate.”

Brown got his start in the door industry in the late 1970s, with Kerry joining a couple of years later. Between the two, they bring years of valuable experience, which explains why they carry the kind of practical wisdom that comes only from doing the same job, day after day, in every type of weather.

They’ve seen a lot: doors mangled by user error (“that happens more than you’d think,” Brown notes), and doors that hit their limit after years of faithful service. Even so, he’ll be the first to tell Free Estimates Residential & Commercial Since 1921 Garage Doors in a Wide Variety of Styles & Designs Repairs on all Makes & Models Automatic Garage Door Openers

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you that he still sees new surprises.

“You think you’ve seen it all, and then something new shows up,” he says.

QUALITY WORTH INVESTING For years, a standard 16-by-7 quality door hovered around $1,100.

Now it’s closer to $3,500, an uncomfortable truth Brown delivers with the same honesty he’d give his own family.

He doesn’t sugarcoat or try to upsell products. He simply tells you what he genuinely knows will last.

Modern doors come in “good, better, best” tiers, and Northern Lakes stands firmly in the “best” camp — not because it’s fancier, but because Brown and Frye have watched what happens over 20 or 30 years. Better doors last longer, they function better, and they cost less overall in repairs.

White is still the most popular color around here, though manufacturers roll out new styles every year. And while smarthome openers are becoming more common, Brown laughs that he leaves the Wi-Fi magic to one of his trusted guys who “truly understands that stuff.”

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But installation? That’s where experience matters most.

PRINCIPLED WITH PRIDE Brown openly admits, with a bit of humor, that some people don’t love working with him because he’s “too picky.” He says it like a confession, but really, it’s the backbone of the business. That pickiness keeps doors balanced, safe, reliable and sturdy long after the installation truck leaves the driveway.

Christian values guide the company from the inside out — quietly, consistently, and without fanfare. You see it in the way they treat customers. You hear it in how Brown talks about his strong desire to do right by people. He doesn’t brag about those moments, he mentions them only when pressed, modestly highlighting the generosity that comes naturally to him.

“You just try to serve people’s needs,” he says.

COMMUNITY BUSINESS IN EVERY SENSE Northern Lakes hires slowly and deliberately, mostly through referrals from current employees. Just as finding the right products for your home matters, finding the right fit for their culture matters because good work is built on good crews. Their longest-tenured employee has been there for 6 to 8 years, and Brown remembers earlier seasons when the team was large, tight-

TownePost.com | January 2026 | 61

knit and rock-solid. Economic downturns come and go, especially in the RV industry they also serve, but the company resiliently rebuilds and keeps moving forward.

And their service area shapes the business in a simple way. Most people don’t buy new garage doors for fun. Customers buy them because something is broken or because they want security they can trust.

Northern Lakes Overhead Door Company is located at 7360 S. State Road 5 in Topeka. For installations, repairs or product questions, call 260-593-3496.

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THE FINISHING TOUCHES

SCHWAN PRODUCTS ENHANCES HOMES ACROSS THE TOPEKA AREA Writer / Ashley Watters

cabinet coves and the sturdy drawers. The small pieces bring a whole vision to life Many living spaces are elevated from and can help mark the difference between nice to beautiful because of the finishing a living space and a home. Most of us touches. It’s the little things that matter — don’t think about where these finishing the custom trim, the staircase finishes, the touches come from, but if you live in and

around the Topeka area, you’ll likely see the quality work of Schwan Products.

A former manager in the RV industry, Andrew Schwartz didn’t initially set out to own a business. When he was approached

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S

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four years ago by a friend looking to sell his business, Schwartz and his family decided it was the right time for a change.

Alongside his wife, Miriam, and their three daughters, Schwartz took over ownership of Schwan Products. With a

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background in the furniture industry, his wife was instrumental in helping to get the business up and running, and Schwartz has been supplying local furniture makers with custom wood finishings ever since.

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“The offer came up and we felt we had to take it,” he says. “It just fell into our hands. We always wanted to be actively involved in our community, and this was the perfect opportunity. It was too good to be true. So, we moved to the other side of the woods, put up new buildings and

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opened the shop.”

At its heart, Schwan Products is a rough mill shop, transforming lumber into smooth wood finishings for any home or RV. In the past, they’ve done custom kits for houses and now focus primarily on partnering with local artisans to provide the polished trimmings for furniture and other areas within the home. Schwartz and his team also apply his knowledge from the RV industry, supplying fascia, drawer sides and quality supplies for wooden ladders to companies that build recreational vehicles.

Schwartz sources his lumber from all over the country, requiring approximately two to three semi loads each week to meet local demand. He uses lumber of all varieties, with maple being a popular, sturdy, long-lasting choice.

Currently, Schwartz is also focusing his business on providing quality wood for

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beds, making bedrails, slats and trims, and building cabinet coves and moldings.

Additionally, he is providing custom trim for two houses in the nearby area.

“We really enjoy being the ones to put the finishing touches on the spaces where people spend most of their time,” he says.

“We consider it an honor.”

Schwartz recognizes that Schwan Products would not be able to supply quality products for living spaces without a reliable core team. He credits his brother-in-law, Nathan Yoder, along with his other employees, with helping meet business demand on a daily basis.

“We are supplying a large quantity of smooth lumber to local partners. My team is a true asset,” Schwartz says. “They’re always here helping me make all of this possible. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them.”

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JANUARY

AROUND THE COMMUNITY, 2026 Submit Your Events!

FOR UPDATES REGARDING EVENTS PLEASE CHECK THE LAKE ASSOCIATION’S/ ORGANIZATIONS FACEBOOK PAGES/WEBSITES. Note, ALL Times listed are EASTERN.

Shipshewana/ LaGrange County

drilling and shaving blocks of ice all over town. Several stores will have extended hours on Friday night

17 4 p.m.-7 p.m.– “Just One Bowl” Fundraiser at the LaGrange County 4-H fair. Tickets will be available for donation of hand made or painted pottery bowls - then enjoy soup & dessert for dinner! Or just come enjoy dinner for a donation! Everyone is Welcome!

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Elkhart County

5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. - First day Hike – A glow walk trail at Delta Church Park. Free family evening walk. We welcome family-friendly glow-in-the-dark clothing and accessories. RSVP’s are appreciated to help us plan supplies. 260-854-2225 or parks@lagrangecounty. in.gov

10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. – Resolution Run 5K run/walk and 1 mile stroll at the Essenhaus Inn & Conference Center.

January 2nd – 10 a.m.-Noon – Museum Game Day at the Elkhart County Historical Museum. Kids ages 5-16 are invited to come and play at the museum.

16-18 Ice Festival and Chili Cookoff. Ice carvers will be

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16 5 p.m.-7 p.m. – Grain Art at the Bonneyville Mill County

SCHMUCKER’S ANIMAL BEDDING Kenneth Schmucker 4220 S. 150 W. | LaGrange, IN 46761 260-463-9939

Premium Pine $6.65/bale

Hardwood $5.35/bale

68 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

Pine Pellets $6.35/bag = $317.50/ton 25¢ per bag off first order

Skid Priced Corn Cobs $75.00/tote bulk available

STEEL FRAME BUILDINGS James Hochstetler

7165 W. 650 N. Shipshewana, IN 46565 V.M 260-768-7996 | Fax: 260-768-7384

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Park. Attend this fun program and use the various grains to create artistic pictures/designs on posterboard backgrounds. All supplies will be provided. $10 per person.

in the cold and snowy months. Children ages 3-5, with younger siblings welcome to join.

St Joseph County

26 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Trail Trekkers: River Otter at the Baintertown Dam. Budding naturalists (ages 6-9) are invited to explore the winter landscape with a naturalist for tracks, slides and scat of river otter. $2 per child.

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6 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Night Snow Tubing at Brown Barn located at 50651 Laurel Road, South Bend, IN. Our snow tubing hills offer multiple supervised lanes and canvas-covered snow tubes with plastic bottoms and handles are provided. $5 per person.

Kosciusko County

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5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Kids Picture Bingo at the Warsaw Community Public Library. Enjoy an hour of BINGO fun using pictures instead of numbers.

Noble County

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Maple 101. Explore the magic and science of maple sugaring! We’ll explore the history of this local product, modern syrup-making methods, and how the sugaring operation works at the Harvest Room located at 50651 Laurel Road, South bend, IN

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– 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. - 8th Annual Michiana Regional Seed Swap at Goshen College Church Chapel located at 1900 S Main St. Goshen, IN. Exchange and gather seeds, compare and discuss varieties, attend educational sessions and more.

Participants are NOT required to bring seeds to the event.

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10 a.m. – Noon – Winter Fling for the Little Ones at Brown Barn located at 50651 Laurel Road, South Bend, IN. Join us for a special morning of activities for children five and under.

Experience the best of the season with a snowy adventure including crafts, stories, snacks, and tubing – weather permitting. This event is free, however registration is required by Friday, January 16th.

10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – January Tales & Trails at the Merry Lea Learning Center located at 2388 S 500 W Albion, IN. Discover the world of animals in winter and how they spend their time

Howie’s Steak & Baby

Indiana’s Premier Full Service Residential & Commercial Lawn & Landscaping Company

Six Mile

Restaurant Back Rib Dinners “Home Cooked Food At A Great Price” every Thursday night Dine in or carryout

260-463-2381 5975 US-20, LaGrange, IN 46761

MON, TUE & SAT 530AM-2PM WED, THURS & FRI 530AM-7PM

SUMMER ICE CREAM HOURS Mon-Sat 11am-9pm

• Landscape Lighting Solutions • Christmas Lights • Lawn & Landscape Care • Property Management • Snow & Ice Removal • Overgrowth & Vegetation Control

www.lawnsandmore.us 260-302-1135 4780 E. 415 N. Kendallville, IN TownePost.com | January 2026 | 69

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