The Lakes of Kosciusko December 2021

FREE MONTHLY PRINT MAGAZINE WITH CORRESPONDING MOBILE APP AND SOCIAL MEDIA FEATURING THE PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND EVENTS IN AND AROUND KOSCIUSKO, ELKHART, NOBLE & LAGRANGE COUNTY

DECEMBER 2021

MAGAZINE

Potter’s Family Tree Farm CELEBRATES 30 TH ANNIVERSARY

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

There’s Plenty to Peruse at The Country Barn LET’S DISH

Dishes Can Be Both Festive and Functional

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Midwest Farm & Pet, LLC A DIFFERENCE YOU CAN SEE Trusted & Proven Performance

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Jerad (574)536-5418 • 6223 8th Road | Plymouth 2 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

Lopi Pacific Energy Kozy Heat

• Since 1982 • We aim to keep you warm!

We install & service what we sell.

Boilers • Fireplaces • Stoves • Furnaces Wood Pellets • Gren Heat • Bricks • Stove Boards

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 3

If your home is warm in the summer and cold and/or if you have icicles hanging on your roof in the winter, we can help you!

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We offer professional sales, installation, and service for new and existing homes as well as commercial buildings.

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Middlebury Hometown Holidays Next Grip

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102 S. Main St, Middlebury, IN 46540 574-849-6955 4 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

A TOWNE POST NETWORK PUBLICATION

IN THIS ISSUE

For advertising information, contact: PUBLISHERS JOHN & MANDI LEWANDOWSKI john@townepost.com mandi@townepost.com 574.249.9217 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS TAMI STOUT tami@townepost.com 765.434.4460 TINA KEAFFABER tina@townepost.com 574.371.7482

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER/CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com 317.496.3599 PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com 317.810.0011 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT JOSH BROWN CREATIVE DIRECTORS TONI EADS VAL HACKER GRAPHIC DESIGNER ROBBY BERRY COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS

DECEMBER 2021

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48

Middlebury Shop Puts the Focus on Health

Dishes Can Be Both Festive and Functional

CHUPP’S HERBS

13

51

Heston Supper Club Turns 40

Flickinger Farms Provides Trees & a Fun Experience for Customers

CLUB CULTURE

O CHRISTMAS TREE

19

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

There’s Plenty to Peruse at The Country Barn

New Kitchen Store Keeps Things Spicy

Take to the Sky With Mentone Flying Club

31

63

Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Reality Show Winner Operates Winamac-Based Forge Business

POTTER’S TREE FARM

STAYING SHARP

Flavor is Never in Short Supply at Old Hoosier Meats

42

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A TASTE FOR THE BEST

REALLY SMOKIN’

Scan the QR code to see this magazine’s real-time reach and distribution numbers.

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37 REAL-TIME ANALYTICS

LET’S DISH

Nonprofit Raises Funds and Awareness for SIDS

71

TAKE YOUR HOLIDAY COOKIE TRADITIONS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

77

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN DECEMBER AT THE LAKES

KEY CONTRIBUTORS ANGELA CORNELL / JUBILEE EDGELL / ABIGAIL HAKE / TIMOTHY HARE MATT KEATING / CARMEN MILLS / TONY STRAW / LOIS TOMASZEWSKI / JULIE YATES

2 LOCATIONS!

On the east side of Webster Lake and also on the Barbee Chain of Lakes.

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MILLER BOAT RESTORATION Most restorations completed in less than 30 days!

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Major Mike's Military Surplus & Camping Supplies Veterans, Collectors, Hunters, Campers, Hikers, Paint Ball Enthusiasts, Survivalists, and those looking to enhance their lifestyle are all welcome!

New and previously issued military gear from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and contemporary theatres.

We are an authorized Dealer of new military spec gear from Rothco, including boots, camping, and survival items.

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Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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6 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

CHUPP’S HERBS MIDDLEBURY SHOP PUTS THE FOCUS ON HEALTH Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided

Joann Miller, owner of Chupp’s Herbs, says her enthusiasm for natural supplements led her to make a living doing something she enjoys.

Miller grew up using natural supplements, and has always had an interest in the field.

She was interested in the various ways a person can improve their health.

job that suits her very well.

Throughout the last two centuries, many herbs have been used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes, especially for various chronic conditions. This was an area Miller wanted to pursue.

“I really enjoy helping people and just being around my customers,” she says. “If I’m not here, Vera or Corrina will be happy to help you. We are a natural supplements and vitamin shop. We are the leading health food store serving Kosciusko, Elkhart and LaGrange counties. It’s been that way since we started.”

“I have really been grateful for the opportunity to do this,” Miller says. “I thank my brother-in-law Ivan Chupp and his wife Ruth, owners of Chupp’s Herbs and Fabrics in Burr Oak, Michigan.”

Miller’s relatives helped her launch her business, an enterprise she has wholeheartedly enjoyed. She considers herself a people person, and she has found a TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 7

Chupp’s Herbs has earned a reputation for carrying vitamins, supplements and other products. Miller has been able to meet many different customers who have recommended Chupp’s Herbs to their family and friends.

Joann Miller

Mon - Fri 8:00am - 4:30pm Sat 8:00am - 12:00pm

108 S. Main St. • PO Box 610 • Middlebury, IN 46540 Ph: 574-825-1405 • Hours: M-F 9-5 • Sat. 9-2

tions Fabrics & No ems It Small Gift

Gary & Lorene Hostetler 290-593-0448 x1 4675 W 600 S, Topeka, IN 46571

The regions premier one stop shop for embroidery, screen printing (over 200 colors to choose from), textile laser embroidery, laser engraving, direct to garment, heat transfer, wide format printing, car, wall & window decals, vehicle wraps, yard signs, banners, and rhinestone designs.

Phone 260-463-7373 Fax 260-463-4950 4425 W US Highway 20 LaGrange, Indiana 46761 8 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

“We have a wide variety of products,” Miller says. “Some of our specialty products are probiotics for all ages. We also have immune boosters, and products for inflammation and allergies.”

Miller notes that Chupp’s Herbs also has a selection of supplements for children in liquid or chewable form, and prenatal supplements.

Many herbs possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and can potentially help to lower glucose and cholesterol levels.

“We carry essential oils and diffusers, teas, greeting cards, stationery, natural body care, the Trim Heathy Mama products, multivitamins and much more,” Miller says.

Miller has her own favorite products.

“My favorite products are collagen, and our alternative sweeteners,” she says. “I also

gathered

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102 N. Main St. · Topeka, IN 46571 · 260-585-2907 TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 9

like the active B complex vitamins and curcumin, but it really doesn’t end there.”

Miller adds that Chupp’s Herbs sells highquality products at a decent price. Her brands include Nordic Naturals, Nature’s Sunshine, LifeSeasons, Nature’s Fusions and many others.

Employees at Chupp’s Herbs also offer to order products when they aren’t available in the store.

“If we don’t have a product you want, we will definitely try to get it for you if it’s from a brand we carry,” she says. “If you call in an order, we will get it ready for you and bring it out for you if you want.”

Manufactured Home, Residential Supplies & Hardware 42,000 Sq. Ft. Full Line All Retail Hardware Store.

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Miller says Chupp’s Herbs is easy to find.

“We are located in the Middlebury Mercantile,” Miller says. “It’s the same building as Legacy Home Furniture and Legendary Grind.”

For more information on Chupp’s Herbs, call 574-825-1405 or check out their website at chuppsherbsmiddlebury.com.

Visit them at 108 South Main Street in Middlebury.

Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm 260-593-2769 5995 W. 200 S Topeka, IN 46571 At the 4-way stop in Emma

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Shipshewana, IN 46565 TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 11

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12 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

Owner Time Ohlund

CLUB CULTURE HESTON SUPPER CLUB TURNS 40 Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 13

Four decades later, the Ohlunds continue to serve hearty meals, generous portions and friendly service to their regular customers and new friends.

upper clubs are a Great Lakes tradition dating back to the 1930s. These dining establishments are usually designed to serve dinner only, in a welcoming environment.

The typical supper club menu is centered on meat and potatoes, with tasty food and excellent service. Tim and Jackie Ohlund, the owners of Heston Supper Club and the Heston Hills Event Center in LaPorte, are carrying on that legacy and creating traditions of their own.

Tim Ohlund is happy that families have made his restaurant part of their family celebrations, with generations celebrating milestones. The appeal for these family gatherings is the predictability that comes with the Ohlunds’ standards at Heston Supper Club.

“They know what they are going to get,” Ohlund says. “There is no change in meals, in menus - there’s nothing eclectic.”

And what customers get is dry-aged beef that is hand cut on-site, as well as pork chops, ribs and house-smoked barbecue, seafood, and frog legs. Sauces for all dishes are made in-house to strict standards. The In 1982 the Ohlunds purchased the former lake perch comes straight from the Great Heston Bar, the building for which had been Lakes, and desserts are made in-house part of the community since the 1920s.

by Jackie or under her supervision. There

INQUIRE ABOUT PICK UP & DELIVERY SERVICE WE CAN SHARPEN ALMOST ANYTHING!

14 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

are no burgers on the menu and no pasta dishes, but prime rib, a house specialty, is served daily.

“We want our Supper Club patrons to have the best we are able to offer,” Ohlund says.

“Fresh is always the best and we buy local when available.”

That promise is reflected in the awards Heston Supper Club has received through the years. These include the Best of Beef award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator.

“You just continue to do what you do, day in and day out, but you can’t just rest on your laurels,” Ohlund says.

When guests arrive for supper and are seated in one of the four dining areas, they are first served Heston Supper Club’s famous cheese spread and crackers. It is another nod back to the origins of supper clubs, and the Ohlunds’ special touch. It is also for sale in the restaurant and in local stores.

“I’ve heard people tell me, ‘I always have your cheese in my refrigerator,’” Ohlund says.

At the end of their meal guests can enjoy some of the desserts, such as Jackie’s chocolate mousse, bread pudding and cheesecakes, all of which are made in-house.

Supper Club diners want good food, Ohlund says, but they also want the warmth of the surroundings to make them feel

Locally owned and operated for over 30 years

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 15

welcomed. Some rooms have fireplaces, and others a garden-like view out the windows with leafy evergreens and ambient outdoor lighting.

At the Heston Hills Event Center, people can expect the same standards, Ohlund says. It has been open for about 20 years and is a direct extension of the Supper Club.

Situated on eight acres, the event center can accommodate parties of up to 350 people.

The picturesque grounds offer photo opportunities for brides and grooms.

Another of Ohlund’s secrets to success is the

longevity of his staff.

“All of my staff stay here and have been here for years,” he says, adding that reservations to dine at the Supper Club are only required for large parties. “No server is less than four years here and the others range up to 35 years. Don’t wait for a special occasion to visit. Any occasion is a good time to come to Heston’s.”

Heston Supper Club is located at 2003 East 1000 North, and Heston Hills Event Center is located at 1933 East 800 North, in LaPorte. For more information on the Supper Club, call 219-778-2938 or visit hestonsupperclub.com. For additional details on the Event Center, call 219-7789595 or go to hestonhills.com.

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Free Local Same Day Delivery on Orders of $250 or More!

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Norman M. Beechy VM (260) 463-2461 x1

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3460 W US 20 LaGrange, IN 46761

Mastering The Beauty!

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8094 W. 1050 N., Nappanee, IN (574) 354-7884 - Home (574) 356-6059 - Cell

New Homes • Restoration • Strip & Re-stain Garage • Closets • Decks • Pole Barns • Interior Remodeling • Log Home Maintenance Yoder’s Log & Timber Metal Roofs • Custom Traditional Homes • Custom Log Cabin Homes • Custom Log Railing Pros is a small, family owned and operated log home business.

We specialize in producing custom built log home with a strong belief in quality and integrity.

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Baldwin And Company

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Tile & Drain Line Trucking Sand Gravel Limestone Topsoil Fill Dirt

GLEN GRABER 814 Main Street Rochester, IN 46975

0065 S. S.R. 5 Shipshewana, IN 46565

Licensed for Septics in Noble, Elkhart, & Lagrange Counties.

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP Countrylane Enterprises, LLC

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All Harnesses form Minis to Draft All Horse Supplements Salve Blankets Collars Ph: (260)-463-2002 Bio Fax (260)-499-5126 Granite Brahma Hours: 7:30-4:30 M-F; 7:30-12 Sat Leather Oiling Leather Repair Owned by Marion Miller

2465 W 350 S | LAGRANGE, IN 46761 18 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

THERE’S PLENTY TO PERUSE AT THE COUNTRY BARN Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photography Provided

Rural communities are often challenged by not having convenient access to items needed for farms and homes. The Country Barn meets that challenge by offering practical goods and some unexpected items that can brighten a home or garden

anywhere. Housed just east of Middlebury on County Road 16, owners Laverne and Sue Graber, and Lamar and Amanda Lambright, welcome shoppers from the area and tourists who come to see what is stocked on the shelves.

The Country Barn opened about three and a half years ago, Lamar Lambright says. It

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 19

was started by his mother-in-law and fatherin-law, who sold birdhouses and home decor at a space in the former popcorn plant in Middlebury. His father-in-law enjoyed feeding the birds and started the store to appeal to folks who shared that same interest.

One year later, the store moved to its

current location. A second building is being constructed to help free up space in the current building, which Lambright describes as crowded. The new space will make the current building feel a bit roomier for shoppers, he says.

“Bird feeders are still a hot item, as is the home decor and Christmas decor,” Lambright says.

The bird feeders offered are not the everyday kind. Many are handcrafted locally with metal, wood and glass. The locally made, powder-coated metal tree is a great way to hang and display bird feeders in yards. It is 8’ tall with multiple branches.

The owners also sell their own birdseed mix and other selections of seed for bird feeders.

There is more going on than bird feeders and decor. The Country Barn stocks animal feed in 50-pound bags for all species of

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Our gift baskets and boxes are filled with the finest quality products, most made locally! We ship from our store to anywhere in the USA. Call now to order!

11351 County Rd 16, Middlebury, IN • 574-825-3594 • Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30, Sat 8:30-5 20 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

animals found in the area, from dogs, rabbits and goats to horses. Miller and Sauder feeds are stocked at the store, and delivery is provided to locations in the area. These products will eventually be moved to the building addition.

In the spring, The Country Barn is going to offer bulk mulch. This is another item that can be delivered to local addresses, Lambright says.

Also popular are the locally made firepits.

These are fitted with metal mesh rings for safety, with the added convenience of allowing food to be kept warm.

In addition to animal feed and eventually mulch, the fire pits can also be delivered, courtesy of Lambright’s brother-in-law.

Most of the customers who shop at the store come from the community. More and more tourists are also finding their way

Norine’s Herbs

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TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 21

to the store. It is often a stop for Amish ladies who are out on shopping sprees.

The variety of gift items, baby gifts, toys and other home decoration items can be a good mix to keep female customers interested, while many men gravitate toward locally made firepits or farmrelated supplies.

“It’s on the way to and from town,” Lambright says. “We are in a convenient location.”

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The Country Barn operates with the help of family. It is a family business, and now the ownership is shared by Lambright and his wife.

Lambright used to work in local factories and helped at the store in the afternoon.

Owning a store like The Country Barn was something he said he wanted to do in the future. The opportunity came sooner than expected, and he realized he could help his in-laws by freeing up some of the demands on the Grabers.

While some items appeal to women and some appeal to men, Lambright hopes people will stop in and see for themselves what the business has to offer.

“There is plenty to look at,” he says.

The County Barn is located at 11742 County Road 16 in Middlebury. For more information, visit facebook.com/ TheCountryBarnMiddlebury or call 574-825-4480.

CALL TO SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE!

Lee & Carolyn Eash 4922 W 1100 N | Ligonier, IN 46767 Ph: 260.593.0883 | Fax: 260.593.0884 22 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

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’S WELDING & REPAIR R E L L I M

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24 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

A Taste for the Best NEW KITCHEN STORE KEEPS THINGS SPICY Writer / Angela Cornell Photographer / Tony Straw

The last two years have been difficult for many of us. Small businesses have been hit especially hard. Unfortunately, many have had to close their doors for good. Those who still open their store every day and greet every guest with a smile are extremely grateful to the faithful customers who have made it possible.

New Kitchen Store in Walkerton is no exception. This specialty shop has almost any kitchen or dining room item a home could need, as well as several gourmet foods, making this an excellent stop for the Christmas gift list. That’s true whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift for that special

friend or that tricky relative who is always difficult to buy for.

When Phyllis Wille and her husband Chuck went into business more than 30 years ago, their attention was on selling antiques.

Kitchenware wasn’t even on the radar.

“In 1987 my husband was going to a lot of auctions, and we ended up having to find a way to get rid of some of the merchandise,” Wille says with a chuckle.

As someone who has always loved history, Wille enjoyed studying the different items that her husband brought home. The pastime quickly flamed into a passion, which led to selling antiques in downtown Walkerton.

Dinnerware became a particular delight for them. They especially loved matching designs for those who wanted to replace broken plates or bowls from heirloom collections.

Then they discovered that some older dinnerware shouldn’t be used, because it can contain harmful bacteria and viruses in microscopic cracks in the veneer.

“That caused me to start looking for dinnerware that does the same types of things that the old did,” Wille says.

That search started the Willes down a path to learn more about food in general. By the time they opened their new store, exclusively for dinnerware and cookware, they had

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com / 25

“WE TAKE A LOT OF CUSTOMER INPUT INTO CONSIDERATION. IF A CUSTOMER HIGHLY RECOMMENDS SOMETHING, WE WILL ORDER ONE TO TRY. THE EMPLOYEES WILL TRY THE ITEM, AND IF ALL GOES WELL, THEN WE WILL ORDER IT AND PUT IT ON THE SHELVES.” - PHYLLIS WILLE discovered more about health-conscious living than they ever expected. Soon after opening in 2006, they took their customers’ suggestions and broadened their inventory to include gourmet foods, high-end coffees, teas, spices and oils.

The more they learned, the more they wanted to provide the healthiest and most sustainable options. Today, customers from Walkerton and surrounding areas know New Kitchen Store for just that.

“We have regular customers that depend on us for their coffee, tea and spices,” Wille says. “We have customers who come in looking for a unique gift, knowing they will find it here. Many first-time customers remark that they can’t believe such a treasure can be found in such a small town.”

Through the years they have served several generations of customers.

“The children who came in with their parents years ago are now coming in and bringing their own children,” Wille says.

Wille has always felt strongly about being an asset to her beloved hometown. Every spring, summer and early fall, New Kitchen Store hosts a farmers market on Thursdays in the parking lot. She is also involved in philanthropy, contributing to local organizations like 4-H and other nonprofit groups.

New Kitchen Store is especially known for top-quality spices. Each one comes from its native land, whether that’s nutmeg and mace from the Spice Islands, red sea salt from Hawaii, mustard seeds from the 26 / THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

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574-586-2745 | NewKitchenStore.com | 330 Liberty Street Walkerton, IN 46574 Himalayas, or anise stars from China. They also have a variety of spice blends, from all-purpose steak rubs to specialty blends like herbes de provence and Chinese fivespice powder.

Wille is always looking for high-quality products to sell in her store.

“We take a lot of customer input into consideration,” she says. “If a customer highly recommends something, we will order one to try. The employees will try the item, and if all goes well, then we will order it and put it on the shelves.”

Thanks to her quest for the best, some of the products she offers come from across the world, Like Garnier-Thiebaut linens from France, Alessi teapots from the United Kingdom and WÜSTHOF knives from Germany.

Many of their products are made in the U.S., like 360 Cookware, Lodge cast iron, Nora Fleming decorative dinnerware, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Certified International tableware and more.

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com / 27

They also carry some smaller kitchen appliances like air fryers, stovetop meat smokers, blenders, multi-cookers and induction cooktops.

“We carry a wide variety of middle- to highend products, and almost everything is from country of origin,” Wille says.

Not only does the store offer a collection of the best kitchenware, but it also offers kitchen and dining room decor that is tastefully eye catching for any situation or season.

“I use several criteria in ordering dinnerware,” Wille says. “What is on trend? Is it made of safe materials? Is it fun to use and look at? If the answer is yes to all of those questions, then I will order the pattern.”

New Kitchen Store continues to wow new and returning customers alike.

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“We have clientele from all walks of life and from a wide range of the surrounding area,” Wille says. “People who love to cook, those who have loved ones who love to cook, those who are wanting to learn to cook - they are all customers that we see on a daily basis.”

In the past year, the community surrounding New Kitchen Store has meant more than ever to Wille.

“Our customers are our friends,” she says.

“They send us get-well cards and give us the

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biggest smiles and joy throughout the year.”

New Kitchen Store is located at 330 Liberty Street in Walkerton. For more information, visit newkitchenstore.com or call 574-586-2745.

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Potter’s Family Tree Farm CELEBRATES 3O TH ANNIVERSARY Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photography Provided

THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com / 31

or many families, a trip to a Christmas tree farm and the hunt for that perfect tree is a treasured holiday tradition. For the Potter family in Fulton County, helping families find that tree is not only their business, but their passion as well. They operate Potter’s “The Family Tree” Christmas Tree Farm in Akron.

Patriarch Brian Potter planted the first trees on his 20-acre property in 1991.

“Tree farming has been a secondary job,” Potter says. “I graduated from Purdue with a horticulture bachelor of science degree, and worked at a nursery through high school and college.”

His daughter, Laurel Whetstone, says the decision to start a tree farm was an economical one. It has always been a family-run business, with grandparents,

parents, children and grandchildren helping throughout the year, especially during the holiday sale season.

“Dad started planting the trees in 1991 as a way to save money for college for my sisters and me,” Whetstone says. “My husband Scott and I then started planting trees in 2010 to save money for our boys.”

The farm is all about family. At least four generations are involved in the tree farm, from helping with the care of the crop to being on hand for the holiday season.

“Dad has always kept everything going smoothly, even before each of us were old enough to know how to help,” Whetstone says. “He is the glue that holds us all together and is knowledgeable about every part of the tree farm. He has taught all of us everything we know.”

At 89, Whetstone’s grandmother Sherrill,

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Scotch Pines, White Pines, Norway Spruce, Fraser Fir, and tabletop trees. Fresh, fragrant pine and fir wreaths are available as well. The Family Tree offers grave blankets, pillows & a gift shop.

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her mother Debbie’s mother, makes bows for wreaths. Debbie Potter contributes to the bow-making process and provides meals when the tree farm is open, brewing up hot apple cider for the customers. Whetstone’s brother-in-law, Zac Kelly, handles social media, and is the first Potter family relation that customers see when arriving at the farm.

Whetstone’s sister, Heather Kelly, is the

main cashier who interacts with most of the customers.

The Kelly children - Ben, 18, Will, 14, and Claire, 12 - help as well. They are tasked with explaining the process, as well as shaking and netting the trees. Also lending a hand is Ashley Potter, the youngest daughter, with her children, Oliver, 15, Karson, 12, and Piper, 3.

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“My husband Scott and I also handle all the greenery items and manage the gift shop,” Whetstone says. “Our boys, Isaac, 15, Tucker, 12, and Wyatt, 10, help with what is needed. Isaac especially loves helping if farm equipment is being used to spread mulch around the trees in the summer or get firewood for grandpa.”

It’s not the kind of business from which the owners reap the rewards immediately. It takes years for the saplings to grow into sellable trees. For the fir and spruce variety that time is eight to 10 years, and for pine trees a minimum of six years is needed.

“We plant around 500 to 2,500 trees in the spring depending on how much room we have to plant new trees,” Whetstone says.

“The trees are two to three years old when we purchase them and plant them.”

A tree farm is, after all, a farm, which means that the crop must be taken care of all year long. From planting new trees to managing weeds, sheering the trees in the summer, fertilizing the trees and mowing, there are enough chores to keep the family busy.

Greenery is harvested from damaged trees that cannot be sold, and is used to make grave pillows, wreaths, swags and centerpieces for sale in the gift shop. The shelves in the gift shop also need to be stocked with holidaythemed merchandise before the tree farm opens in mid November.

That’s when things get busy. The public comes out to look over the selection, cut down their

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trees and take them home to decorate for the holidays. The Potter family is on-site to help with tips about the various trees, and provide tools and muscle for the process.

“Each tree is unique in the way it grows and fills in, so that allows everyone to have a tree that fits their preference and style,” Whetstone explains. “We make sure each summer that each tree has a leader as close to the center of the treetop as we can. Sometimes birds or deer break off the leader that would have worked best, so we choose a different leader to hopefully take over.”

One customer liked the story of a tree that was damaged from deer rubbing their antlers on it and chose that imperfect tree, Whetstone says.

Some trees have soft needles, such as white pine and Frasier firs. Others have firmer needles, such as the Scotch pine, concolor fir or Norway spruce varieties.

“People may choose their tree based on how heavy their ornaments are or what type of tree they prefer,” Whetstone says.

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The family atmosphere extends to those who visit as well. Games and a child-sized selfie spot are set up for children, and everyone visiting can enjoy complimentary peanuts to enjoy with their cider.

Last year was one of the busiest in the tree farm’s history, Potter says. The family is hoping this year will be busy too, and feels there are plenty of worthy trees to be selected and cut by families.

Working with family and friends and seeing repeat customers every year are the rewards the Potter family members receive from the business.

“Working with family is my favorite part,” Potter says. “Standing back watching my daughters, sons-in-law and grandkids working hard with little or no instruction from grandpa is fun.”

The farm is located at 2497 South 925 East in Akron. For more information, call 574-505-1306 or visit facebook.com/ PottersTheFamilyTreeFarm. Potter’s only accepts cash or local checks.

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REALLY SMOKIN’ Flavor is Never in Short Supply at Old Hoosier Meats Writer / Julie Yates Photography Provided

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O

ld Hoosier Meats in Middlebury is a northern Indiana gem. It’s a bit out of the way for some, but the staff ’s old-fashioned way of preparing smoked and fresh-cut meats makes it well worth the drive. Owned by Randy Grewe, the establishment is truly old school, right down to the building it’s housed in.

“It was built in 1923 as a stand-alone high school gym,” Grewe says. “When Middlebury School, which had its own gym, was built in 1938, this building sat empty for a while. Then in the mid ‘40s it became a cold-storage facility that also had a storefront. Not everyone had a freezer in their home, and people could rent lockers and freezer drawers.”

Back then, the business maintained a separate site where meat was processed.

Bulk quantities such as quarters and sides were sold in the building’s retail space.

Through the years the clientele dwindled

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down, and the need for freezer space diminished.

“Nowadays there is a pole barn about every country mile with freezers in it,” Grewe says. “It’s a lot easier for people to use these than hitch up and come into town. I knew the guy that owned the place and felt like I could do something with it when I bought it 17 years ago in 2004.”

When Grewe purchased the business, the freezer facility still had some customers but the equipment needed updating. He considered the cost of repairs versus customer volume, and decided to discontinue the service.

Instead he focused on butchering fresh cuts of meat and operating the smokehouse inside the building.

“The smokehouse is not stainless-steel walls with programmed temperature,” Grewe says. “It’s got 70 years of flavors in the block walls. There is real fire where the smoke goes through and we do it the old way by hand-feeding the fire. We make the decisions about how much wood to put on it. We use sassafras, which is kind of uncommon, but it gives a sweeter flavor. It’s very Indiana and grows on its own. Farmers don’t want it and they are glad to give it to us.”

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Grewe acquired the original 1940s recipes from the prior owner. Within the 6’x12’ smoker structure, barbecued ribs, bacon from pork bellies, brisket, pulled pork and even beef jerky are produced the same way they’ve been made for 70 years.

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The jerky is actually made from specially seasoned strips of meat, not molded and pressed together from ground beef. One popular side dish offered is smoked mac and cheese. It’s placed underneath the ribs so all the drippings fall into the pan.

The cowboy beans include chorizo and Daddy Sam’s BBQ Sauce.

“Daddy Sam’s has the best ginger and jalapeño barbecue sauce I’ve ever seen,” Grewe says. “We buy it directly from THE LAKES MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com / 39

them and sell it with our shelf staple items like unique craft sodas and brews, seasoning blends, candies, jams and soup mixes. In the fresh case we have high-end Boar’s Head sliced cheese and we do many special orders such as 2”-thick cut steaks. We also make our own specialty brats such as Hawaiian with pineapple, and jalapeño cheese beef sticks, in-house.”

For the holidays, customers can preorder smoked turkeys at $4.79 per pound, or old-country-style hams with a sugar and salt cure at $4.29. Even though 60 can fit in the smoker at a time, there is a limited amount so it’s best to call ahead.

Many people order gift boxes or steaks, especially for workers in the recreational vehicle industry or family members who have moved away and miss the special beef jerky. Grewe and his staff put together meat and cheese trays as well. Gift certificates are another option, allowing recipients to pick out exactly what they want.

“We smoke ribs pretty much every Thursday,” Grewe says. “They are made with a dry rub and sold fully cooked. The just need to be reheated to eating temperature and can be an appetizer or a side dish. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday we have pulled pork in half-pound containers. People come in and grab a couple pounds and some sides for dinner. Our products are unique and you won’t find them in big-box stores. We can put together custom gift boxes. The customer tells us what they are looking to spend and what kind of product.”

Old Hoosier Meats is located at 101 Wayne Street in Middlebury. Call them at 574-825-2940, or visit their website at oldhoosiermeats.com.

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Just in Case Foundation NONPROFIT RAISES FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR SIDS

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March 23, 2021, is a special day for Kayla Borton. It was the day that her twin boys, Chase and Case, were born. They were healthy and the doctors released them to go home with all positive reports.

May 12, 2021, is another momentous date, but one that has left a deep and abiding scar. Borton put the babies down for a nap around 10 a.m. Three hours later when she checked on them, Case

had passed away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

After the death of their son, Borton and her husband discovered that their boys had been at risk for SIDS - a fact no one told her until after it was too late.

“I don’t drink, I don’t smoke and I don’t do drugs,” she says. “I wouldn’t even drink caffeine when I was pregnant because I was worried about the adverse effects of it on my babies. We practiced safe sleep, and I still lost my child to SIDS. I did everything I could to prevent it.”

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 3,400 sudden unexpected infant deaths every year in the U.S. Some babies are statistically more high-risk than others, including those born before 38 weeks, twins and multiples, those with mothers who participate in drugs, alcohol or smoking while pregnant, babies who live with a smoker, those with certain birth defects, and boys. The more factors a child has, the more at risk he or she is.

Borton learned about Owlet Smart Socks the day after her son died when her best friend purchased one for Chase. These socks, which comfortably wrap around a baby’s foot, monitor a baby’s oxygen levels and heart rate. Unfortunately they can’t stop SIDS from occurring, but can notify the parents if something isn’t right so they can take the proper steps.

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future, and that’s what I do through this foundation. I don’t want anyone to feel this pain of losing their child, especially when it could be prevented.”

Borton started the Just In Case Foundation, naming it after her son.

“I purchase Owlet Socks and I give them to infants born in a higher risk for SIDS,” she explains.

“We also try to spread awareness for SIDS and tell them it can happen to anyone.”

Since starting her 501(c)(3) foundation the end of May, Borton has given away more than 200 Owlet Socks, with 100 names on a waiting list.

Ultimately Borton would like to see a decrease of SIDS deaths across the nation. On a local level, she would like to raise awareness of SIDS and the Owlet capabilities. One way that Borton has been doing this is by hosting fundraisers in Starke County, including benefit dinners and brewery tours. All of the money raised is funneled back into the foundation to buy more Owlet Socks. Donations can also be given on the official website.

“Without donors, my foundation can’t help anyone,” she says.

Another way she helps is through educational material. Borton

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has a couple of brochures that discuss SIDS and are free to anyone, especially family doctors.

infant isn’t breathing, but it does you no good if you don’t know how to [perform CPR] in that time of need.”

Eventually, she would also like to offer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes to parents.

To apply for an Owlet Sock or make a tax-deductible donation to the Just in Case Foundation, check out justincasefoundation.com.

Anyone interested in more information about the Owlet Smart Sock or SIDS can reach out to Borton by calling 574-298-0016 or emailing justincasefoundation@gmail.com.

“I think it’s important for parents to know how to administer CPR just in case they need it,” she says. “The Owlet notifies you if your

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LET’S DISH DISHES CAN BE BOTH FESTIVE AND FUNCTIONAL Writer / Carmen Mills Photography Provided

We all have to cook from time to time, whether it’s for fun or necessity. I personally have done it to feed my family, but after several years I found myself getting burned out. It seemed like I generally made the same boring menu week after week. Then it got to the point where I just didn’t want to cook at all, but still did. I had also started using practical plastic dishes because I had young children at the time, so on top of being bored with cooking, there was no excitement in setting the table for dinners. Since I wasn’t concerned about the way the table looked, it was easy to let everyone eat in front of the TV on the couch.

Put this all together and what do you think happens? Well, you stop eating as a family, catching up on the events of the day. Then, that moves into watching television and eating in the living room. I am by no means saying that eating in the living room is bad. It just seemed like my family was losing touch with each other due to lack of conversation. It seems to spiral from one problem into another.

There is a store in our town that I had never been to - New Kitchen Store in Walkerton. I had driven by it several times but never stopped in. On this particular cold winter day I thought, “Let’s take a look to see what this place has to offer.”

To my surprise, I couldn’t believe what I saw. There were beautiful dishes displayed in seasonal settings, different kinds of Christmas settings, cardinals, snowmen, and on and on.

The next display was Valentine-inspired with a touch of snowflakes. They even had Saint Patrick’s Day colors, followed

by Easter. My mind was reeling with visions of how my family meals could look and feel if I were to implement a few of these pieces on my dining room table. For the first time in a long time, I started to feel excited about the idea of setting a beautiful table for my family.

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There was one particular dinner pattern I quickly fell in love with (yes I know - falling in love with dishes when I didn’t even like to cook that much). I didn’t buy the whole set at one time, but rather slowly bought different pieces week by week until I had the entire set. In the meantime I was looking up new recipes I could serve once I had the dinnerware.

When I finally had enough pieces to put on the table, my attitude towards cooking had dramatically changed. By then my family was starting to notice. My daughters even wanted to know if they could help out with preparing some of the meals or setting the table. We were starting to have fun and looked forward to eating together as a family. To this day my kids expect me to use the Christmas set during the holidays.

It’s really hard to believe that a set of new dishes could have changed how I look at entertaining my family. I’m still not the best cook but at least I make an effort. I use the same set to decorate for the Holidays. I had never thought about using dishes as decorations. It’s a creative way to make your home festive and functional all at the same time.

I still like to go back to New Kitchen Store to see what new displays they have. There’s always a fresh, different item I want try out. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find something you like too.

New Kitchen Store is the largest gourmet kitchen supply store in Michiana, located at 330 Liberty Street in Walkerton. For more information, call 574-586-2745 or visit newkitchenstore.com.

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P.J. Gilsinger & Co. A Place to Visit!

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O Christmas Tree FLICKINGER FARMS PROVIDES TREES & A FUN EXPERIENCE FOR CUSTOMERS

Farms, which started in 1894. It’s a popular destination for many people who enjoy picking out a Christmas tree for the whole family. Flickinger Farms has become an annual holiday destination for many local residents, and for people from other parts of the Hoosier state.

Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided

Andy Flickinger, co-owner of Flickinger Farms, a Christmas tree farm in Wakarusa, says his well-known business is located on land that has been in his family for years.

“We own the Christmas trees, and operate on land that has been owned by my family for over 100 years,” Flickinger says.

Flickinger still enjoys seeing his supportive customers happy with their holiday purchases. Many people tell him they like being able to take their time picking out a tree that will please the whole family.

Four generations have operated Flickinger

They also enjoy taking in the fun holiday atmosphere.

Regular customers have told their friends about Flickinger Farms, and that has helped the business grow dramatically.

“We are a choose-and-cut tree farm that allows customers to choose their own Christmas tree from our field,” Flickinger says. “It is a small farm that caters to families wanting an intimate experience in choosing their own tree.”

He says it has been that way since the business began.

“We started planting trees in 2014,” Flickinger says. “The family farm has had multiple crops and livestock over the years, but has primarily grown corn and soybeans

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over the last few decades. We decided to also plant Christmas trees because there were not many small farms in the area any longer that offered real Christmas trees, and it was an opportunity we wanted to pursue in expanding our farm.”

Flickinger Farms has a wide variety of reasonably priced trees to choose from.

The Flickinger family primarily grows Scotch pine and white pine, and also grows smaller quantities of Canaan fir, Fraser fir, Douglas fir, concolor fir, blue spruce and Norway spruce.

“We bring in larger Fraser fir precut trees to offer customers the opportunity to get those if they like,” Flickinger says.

Flickinger notes that some trees are traditional holiday favorites.

“Fraser firs are currently popular trees in the eastern part of the country,” he says. “At our

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farm, our customers like Fraser firs that are precut, and they like Scotch pine if they wish to cut down their own.”

stands, tree preservative and removal bags, as well as other decor items,” Flickinger says.

Flickinger adds that each tagged tree is individually priced, with information on tree species, height and quality. Prices range from $25 to $55 for trees in the field.

Flickinger adds that the wreaths are sturdy and hold their short, soft needles very well.

In addition to having customers cut down their own trees, Flickinger Farms offers photo opportunities, tree stands, lights, Christmas items, hay rides and free hot chocolate. The Flickinger family also rents out the farm to local photographers throughout the year for family photo sessions. Many families have also made this another festive holiday tradition.

Flickinger says family pets are also allowed to participate in the holiday fun, but must be kept on leashes.

The Flickinger Farms gift and wreath shop is also highly popular, especially during the holidays.

“We offer fresh, live wreaths, and tree accessories such as tree

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Flickinger Farms is open for business right in time for the holidays.

“We open the day after Thanksgiving at 9 a.m., and are open each weekend as inventory allows,” Flickinger says. “We’re open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. This year we will also be open on Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. as staffing allows.”

Being a small farm, Flickinger Farms does have limitations on inventory and varieties.

“In order to keep enough trees in future years, we need to constantly monitor the number of trees we can harvest each year,” Flickinger says. “However, we feel we offer a local option that many people in our community enjoy, and we appreciate them for it.”

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Flickinger Farms is located at 30210 County Road 40 in Wakarusa.

For more info, call 574-850-1471, email flickingerfarms@yahoo. com, or check out flickingerfarms.com.

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LIFTING OFF TAKE TO THE SKY WITH MENTONE FLYING CLUB Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 57

t was an experience I never expected to have, nor is it one I will ever forget.

When I drove up to the hangar at the airport in Rochester, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk - and my imminent future - sat there as it was inspected for takeoff. Tim Peters, one of the flight instructors for Mentone Flying Club, introduced himself.

He finished the plane inspection with ease, cracking good-natured jokes the whole time.

I, on the other hand, was a bundle of excitement, eager to see Lake Manitou from the air. Fortunately I didn’t have to wait long. Within minutes, Peters and I were taxiing to the runway. Almost before I knew it, we were circling the town, the buildings looking like toys below us.

Since it was incorporated in 1957, the Mentone Flying Club has offered an economical way for people in Fulton and surrounding counties to achieve their dream of becoming a private pilot.

“A good friend of mine, and the general manager at the Plymouth airport, said about five years ago, ‘Why don’t you join our club?

You can learn how to fly and go to a free ground school,’” says Emeric Szalay, the club’s president. “I was like, ‘Why not?’ I chased that dream and now here I am.”

As Peters flew me in a wide loop around Rochester, I could see why someone would want to chase that dream. The sun was casting a golden glow toward the south and providing a stark contrast to the flashing storm clouds to the north. I’ve always been a nature enthusiast, and as Peters pointed out different landmarks I was filled with awe. I almost felt like a bird myself.

It’s little wonder that throughout the last 64 years, hundreds have enjoyed the education and opportunities the club offers to the public.

our mission. We like to teach the young, old, male and female. It doesn’t make any difference. If you have a passion, you should try it.”

“We are a teaching club,” Szalay says. “That’s

Even nonmembers can take the free ground

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school, offered at beginner and intermediate levels, and can enjoy a discovery flight around Rochester.

After we looped around town once, Peters looked at me, a twinkle in his eye, and said, “Your controls.” My palms were sweating slightly against my yoke, but I was too excited to say no. “My controls,” I responded. With that, Peters removed his hands from his yoke. At 800’ above ground, I was flying the plane.

After a prospective member has taken ground school, they have the opportunity to join the club as an owner-member. Then they can take private lessons from one of the licensed flight instructors, some of whom initially earned their wings at the flying club.

“People always think, ‘I can’t really afford this,’ but to buy in as an owner-member, it’s relatively inexpensive,” Szalay says.

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of Lake Manitou, now 1,800’ in the air.

The plane almost felt alive, responding to my lightest touch, with the engine’s purr echoing in the cockpit. “I could get used to this,” I thought.

All too soon, it was time to land. “Your controls,” I told Peters. “My controls,” he replied. I watched the world slowly rise to meet me as Peters set down the bird.

sunset.

Mentone Flying Club is located at 445 State Road 25 in Rochester. Contact them by calling Szalay at 574-298-4000. The next ground school will be offered on Thursdays from January 20 through March 17 in 2022, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit mentoneflyingclub.org.

As our discovery flight ended, my desire to take ground school was starting to take root.

“Don’t say you wish you did,” Szalay told me in the hanger. “Life is short. You should Since the members own the planes together, do the things that interest you, and that you much of the overhead is taken care of by enjoy and find meaning in. I did. I showed club dues. Once a member has their private up at a class and I’ve never looked back.” pilot license, they are welcome to schedule a plane whenever they want and go wherever I thanked both men and left the hangar, they want, even for overnight trips. my mind nearly bursting with euphoria.

As I passed the airport gate, the last of All of this went through my mind as I gently the sunlight winked out over the horizon. turned the plane around the southern tip Hopefully someday I will again fly into the

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STAYING SHARP REALITY SHOW WINNER OPERATES WINAMAC-BASED FORGE BUSINESS

Writer / Lois Tomaszewski Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

When the opportunity to apply for a spot on a reality television series came along, Rita Thurman jumped at the chance. She did appear on a reality show and walked away a winner, but it wasn’t the show she initially applied for.

Thurman appeared in October of 2020 as a contestant on the “Forged In Fire” competition show, which pits four blacksmiths against each other for the chance to win a cash prize and bragging rights. Thurman is one of only three women to win the competition.

“I actually applied to be on the show ‘Alone,’” Thurman says.

Before her appearance on “Forged in Fire,” Thurman was just beginning to learn how to operate a forge and make knives. It was a skill she quickly picked up on after attending a class in Missouri. To upgrade her technique and learn the required skill for “Forged in Fire,” she relied on her father Bob Smith to help her learn the skills she needed to compete, and he is still her mentor.

She won the show by forging a Japanese barbed weapon called a sodegarami.

She had four days to craft the weapon. Thurman, a Boy Scout leader, says she was pleased to be able to compete on the show wearing her scout uniform.

Her forge, located in a former lawn and garden store and subsequent auto repair shop, carries the name Pixie Smash Forge. Thurman named it after her roller derby name.

The building that houses her forge has been in the Smith family for decades.

It is now stocked full of oddities, curiosities and inventory of all kinds. Her family, Thurman says, is fond of holding on to things that may be reused in some creative work later.

Smith, who has done many projects at the shop throughout the years, began blacksmithing about 15 years ago. He accumulated many of the forges and presses in the shop from auctions. When the hydraulic press is working, the clanging is a sure sign that artists are at work.

Thurman worked at Hallmark in Kansas City as an artist. Ever since she could remember, Thurman says she was always drawing.

“Drawing is the basis for everything,” she says.

Hallmark provided employees an opportunity to take time off to explore creative opportunities. She chose to go to a living history museum where she experienced how knives were forged. She was hooked.

“Bladesmithing happened by accident,” Thurman says. “I thought it would be fun to do. [The blacksmith at the living history museum] told me what to do and I made a knife.”

After retiring from Hallmark, Thurman moved from Missouri to Winamac to work with Smith, who also forges in the back of the shop.

She is building her business there, specializing in knife making, custom fabrication, blacksmithing and other creative projects that come her way. She also does custom engraving and blade sharpening, and creates ornamental decor out of forged metal.

One recent project involved crafting a mid-

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century modern decorative metal frame to support a 14’ boardroom table. She has also made and repaired cast-iron railings and forged fireplace surrounds. For another project, a customer wanted her to reproduce a fire pit that had been made by his father.

Building a business that specializes in custom knives is not easy, as forgers like Thurman face competition from overseas. The difference is

that she can personalize a knife for each order to reflect that customer’s personality and needs.

For those who may be interested in learning how to craft a knife, Thurman offers classes.

Gift certificates are available as gifts for those who want to try their hand at learning how to forge metal into custom knives. She recently taught 25 Boy Scouts how to weld.

Her experience on the television show was fun, she says. It has also offered her the opportunity to use her win to promote her business.

Pixie Smash Forge is active on social media with the help of Thurman’s cousin Grace Rausch. For more info, visit facebook.com/ pixiesmashforge. The forge is located at 435 North Northwest Street in Winamac.

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FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CONTACT: JOHN LEWANDOWSKI • JOHN@TOWNEPOST.COM • 574.249.9217 TAMI STOUT • TAMI@TOWNEPOST.COM • 765.434.4460 TINA KEAFFABER • TINA@TOWNEPOST.COM • 574.371.7482 68 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

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We also install fireplace stonework

David Bontrager 5195 W 100 N LaGrange, IN 46761 260-768-3241 x1

COUNTRY GARDEN CENTER CHRISTMAS SUCCULENTS & HOLIDAY DECOR GIFT ITEMS & CERTIFICATES AT

4640 W 400 S TOPEKA (260) 593-3747

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HAVE YOU CONSIDERED INSTALLING A FIREPLACE TO TAKE OFF THE LATE EVENING & EARLY MORNING CHILL?

Where function meets pleasant.

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(Place your dealer information here) Note: features vary by model. * Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. See dealer for details. **Results of Suspension Comfort System™ depend on grass/yard conditions. †50 lb. capacity, do not overload; do not carry passengers. Standard on most models. See operator’s manual for details. ‡See operator’s manual or www.simplicitymfg.com for complete warranty details.

www.simplicitymfg.com

Note: features vary by model. * Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. See dealer for details. **Results of Suspension Comfort System™ depend on grass/yard conditions. †50 lb. capacity, do not overload; do not carry passengers. Standard on most models. See operator’s manual for details. ‡See operator’s manual or www.simplicitymfg.com for complete warranty details.

www.simplicitymfg.com

Note: features vary by model. * Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. See dealer for details. **Results of Suspension Comfort System™ depend on grass/yard conditions. †50 lb. capacity, do not overload; do not carry passengers. Standard on most models. See operator’s manual for details. ‡See operator’s manual or www.simplicitymfg.com for complete warranty details.

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180011C

CountyLineEngine.com

11400 N. 350 W. Ligonier, IN 46767

180011C

Jonas Yoder, Owner Mon-Fri 7:00-4:00 Sat 7:00-11:30

VM: 260-593-2792 Fx: 260-593-2791

SLABACH COUNTRY SALES NEW ATTRACTIVE BATTERY POWERED LIGHTS

MACRAME, SHIRTS, SEWING SUPPLIES, DOTERRA, CLOCKS, DIFFUSERS, FABRIC, TOYS, GAMES, GREETING CARDS, HOUSEWARES & MORE.

LAVON & MAUREEN SLABACH 11435 W. 700 S. · MILLERSBURG, IN 574-642-2686 Regular Hours: Monday - Friday: 8am - 4:30pm, Saturday: 8am-12pm

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 69

180011C

OVER 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS

Handcrafted staircases, doors and floors.

Complete package in hardwood for your home or office specializing in hardwood flooring.

260-768-4367

2695 S 1000 W ∙ Shipshewana, IN 46565

Eden Meadow

Banquets

Rock Bottom Resale

HOST PARTIES OR GATHERINGS OF 12-90 PEOPLE

• Breakfast Stack • Brunch • Thrasher Dinner • Chicken Dinner • Haystack Dinner • Pies

1745 S. 1000 W. Shipshewana, IN 46565 260-499-0150 ext. 1 or 2

Rock Bottom Resale is a resale shop with a huge variety of new and used items from video games to bed and bath and everything in between including furniture, bent and dent food and snacks, and much more!

We guarantee everything to work even the used products we sell. Come see us for great products at discounted prices!

10661 CR 32 Goshen, IN 46528 nate.rockbottomresale@gmail.com | 574-312-5661

70 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

TAKE YOUR HOLIDAY COOKIE TRADITIONS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Writer & Photographer / Abigail Hake

What is it about the holidays that just screams cookies? Can you imagine the holidays without thinking about all the different cookies out there at the same time? They go hand in hand. There’s no holiday without them. By the time you have gone to holiday parties, visited family, participated in a cookie swap, or just decided to leave some out for Santa, you’ve made your fair share and have probably eaten quite a few too.

Making holiday cookies each year is a great family tradition for lots of people.

Many people put this on their holiday or winter bucket lists. One of the best parts of this tradition is that if you do it as a family, you can watch the kids grow into their roles more and more each year.

Traditions don’t have to be complicated.

Actually, it’s better if some traditions are simple so they can easily be replicated year after year. There are so many cookies out there to choose from that baking together each year can be exactly the same or completely different.

The good news is that holiday cookies

don’t have to be fancy. The best part about baking around the holidays is that the cookies are homemade and baked with love. That said, for the cookies to turn out good enough to share with friends and family without embarrassment, you do need the right supplies and recipes.

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65730 State Road 13 Millersburg, IN Mon-Fri 8:00-4:30 Saturday 8:00-1:00 Closed Sunday

72 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

- PLEASE RESP

7205 N 675 W Shipshewana, IN 46565 P: 260-350-3506 F: 260-768-4218

(574) 642-4399

Our favorite cookies to make around the holidays are classic, decorated sugar cookies. These are the perfect cookies

to make with the kiddos because they are fairly simple and, obviously, sweet.

Did you know that sugar cookies have been around since the mid-1700s? They

Locally Made

are believed to have been created by German Protestant settlers in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and were originally known as Nazareth cookies.

CALLING LOCAL WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS! We would love to see YOUR work be part of our local publication!

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WE ARE LOOKING FOR LOCAL WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE AREA WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FREELANCE WORK! EMAIL YOUR RESUME AND PORTFOLIO TO OUR EDITOR AT JOSH@TOWNEPOST.COM!

We also like making chocolate chip cookies (which date back to 1938) and gingerbread cookies (which date back to Queen Elizabeth I during the 16th century), but it’s always fun to add in some new recipes. The holiday baking tradition continues this year as we will be in the kitchen taking on typical cutout sugar cookies, and trying some new ones like Santa’s trash cookies and holiday fudge.

With so many easy sugar cookie recipes out there, here’s a different type of cookie recipe to try by yourself or with your loved ones.

These Santa’s trash cookies have plenty of flavor to satisfy salty and sweet cravings. Can you really pass up cookies with potato chips in them?

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PH: 260-768-4707 FAX: 260-768-4933 6510W 450N · SHIPSHEWANA, IN 74 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

Duane Mil ler 17 Years E xperience

SANTA’S TRASH COOKIES What you’ll need: • 14 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature • ½ cup granulated sugar • ½ cup brown sugar • 1 large egg • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon baking soda (make sure it’s not expired) • ¼ teaspoon salt • ⅓ cup crushed potato chips • ⅓ cup crushed pretzels • ½ cup mini white chocolate Reese’s Cups • ½ cup mini chocolate Reese’s Cups • ⅓ cup milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips • ½ cup M&M’s (I used red, green and blue)

• ⅓ cup white chocolate chips • ¼ cup sprinkles of choice • Sprinkles of flaky sea salt for tops of cookies

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Next, in a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together until they are combined, then set aside.

With a mixer, cream the butter and sugars together in a large bowl until light and fluffy, usually about one to three minutes. Once the mixture turns pale yellow and has a light fluffy texture, it’s done. Make sure to not over-cream the mixture. Then, beat in an egg until it’s combined.

Next, add in the dry ingredients with the wet until they are combined. It will be very thick.

After that’s combined, add in the pretzels, potato chips, M&M’s, Reese’s Cups, chocolate chips and sprinkles, and mix together gently.

Using a cookie scoop, scoop your dough balls onto your sheets with parchment paper and slightly press them down. Before putting into the oven, sprinkle lightly with sea salt.

If you’d like, you can add additional pretzels, chips, candies and sprinkles to the tops of the cookies for a little extra pizzazz. If you prefer the cookies to be thicker, don’t press down as much.

Bake until the edges are just starting to get golden, usually about seven to eight minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool two to three minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Happy holidays from our kitchen to yours!

Happy Holidays from

The Lakes Magazine TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 75

Artistic Creations GRAND OPENING

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4340 W 450 N Shipshewana, IN 46565

76 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

Orva Eugene Miller

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G I N D E C E M B E R AT T H E L A K E S ELKHART COUNTY 3-5 GINGERBREAD JAMBOREE, MIDDLEBURY

Gingerbread Competition Display, Kids Snowman Making. Entries will be displayed at the Middlebury Historical Museum, Friday, December 3 from 5-7pm, Saturday, December 4 from 10am-3pm and 5-6pm, and Sunday, December 5, from 1-3pm. (574) 825-0978 | https://www.middleburythenandnow.org

3-5, 10-12, 17-23, AND 26 WELLFIELD BOTANIC GARDENS’ WINTER WONDERLAND HOLIDAY LIGHTS, ELKHART

Evening event that will transport you to magical setting with lights, sound and beauty, perfect for families to enjoy during the holiday season. 5:30 p.m. – Gates re-open for Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights, 8:09 p.m. – Admission gate closes for the night, 8:59 p.m. – LIGHTS OUT! (574) 266-2006 https://wellfieldgardens.org/winter-wonderland-holiday-lights-2021

4 MIRACLES AT MAIN & MARKET STREET, NAPPANEE

6:30 PM Parade Line-up begins on Clark Street at the North Main Mennonite Church, 7:00 PM Parade procession begins, 7:30 PM Parade ends at downtown pavilion, 7:40 PM singing of Silent Night, reading of The Christmas Story by Mayor Jenkins, live nativity scene and lighting of the city Christmas Tree.

(574) 849-3387 | https://www.mmmparade.com

10, 11 AND 17 FREE CHRISTMAS MOVIES, GOSHEN

The Goshen Theatre offers free Christmas movies at 7PM featuring: December 10: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, December 11: A Christmas Story, December 17: Elf (574) 312-3701 | https://goshentheater.com/events

16-19 MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, BRISTOL

Adapted from the 1947 Lux Radio Broadcast and performed inside the Bristol Opera House by the Elkhart Civic Theatre. It will be performed as a radio play, with most of the dialogue being read, recreating the look, feel, and sound of oldtime radio. Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 3pm (574) 848-4116 https://ci.ovationtix.com/36247/production/1076862

KO S C I U S KO C O U N T Y NOVEMBER 27, 2021 – JANUARY 1, 2022 WARSAW LIGHT SHOW, WARSAW

Put on your pajamas, grab a mug of hot chocolate and make a trip to the Crestview subdivision for this year’s 2021 Warsaw Light Show! Located at 1916 E Ridge Valley Drive this neighborhood has two houses that have a synchronized display of lights to up-beat Christmas music. Load up the family and enjoy the show in your car! Just tune in to 104.3 on your radio. But the fun doesn’t stop there! Approximately ten minutes north, four and a half miles away on the north side of Chapman Lake, you can also visit Hawthorn Estates where this subdivision has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland with over 30 homes decorated in Christmas lights. Light display times both locations: Sunday-Thursday 6:30-9:30pm and Friday-Saturday 6-10:30pm. FREE. NO ADMISSION | http://warsawlightshow.com

4 TREE LIGHT CEREMONY, WINONA LAKE

Bring the whole family for an afternoon of outdoor fun at The Village at Winona Tree Lighting Ceremony 3:30-6:30pm. Enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and train rides for the kids. Warm-up by the campfire with caroling before we light the Village Christmas Tree around 6:30pm. Santa will be onsite during the festivities.

As admission into the event, please bring a new and unwrapped toy to be donated to Toys for Tots. (574) 268-9888 | villageatwinona.com/events/treelighting-ceremony

4 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA, SYRACUSE

Santa is making his annual stop in Syracuse! Join us for a pancake and sausage breakfast to go. Participants can get their breakfast in to go containers and wave to Santa on your way back home. Cost is $4 per adult and free for children.

8-10am (574) 457-5637 | www.swchamber.com/community-events

4 HERITAGE GATHERING PRIMITIVES SHOW, PIERCETON

Located at the Pierceton Elementary School filled with primitive handmade crafts and antiques. The quaint shops in town will also be open and decorated for holiday shopping while enjoying the sights and sounds of Christmas. 9am-3pm (574) 797-3033 http://www.piercetonchamber.com/menu.html

11 LEESBURG CANDELARIA, LEESBURG

Over 1,300 luminaries will line the streets of Leesburg on VanBuren, Pearl, Prairie, Church, Jefferson and Hickory. Cookies, hot chocolate, and Santa at the old First Station on Pearl Street. 6-8pm The luminaries will remain lit until midnight.

Volunteers include the Leesburg Mighty Farmers 4H and Girl Scouts, Boy Scout Troop 729 and Cub Scout Troop 3729. (574) 453-4961 | www.leesburgindiana.com

S H I P S H E WA N A / L A G R A N G E C O U N T Y 10-18 NOEL, SHIPSHEWANA

Two full hours of nonstop Christmas excitement returns to the Michiana Event Center! Nonstop equestrian adventures, featuring some of the most beautiful horses along with incredibly talented riders from all around the world. See the Noel singers, dancers, aerialist, hogs, dogs and more! Saturdays 1:30pm & 7:30pm, Tuesday-Friday 7pm *Dinner begins 1.5 hours before the show (260) 768-3300 https://www.michianaevents.com/event/2021noel

27-28 WINTERFEST CONSIGNMENT AUCTION, SHIPSHEWANA

Located inside the 100,000 square foot Trade Show building at The MEC. Multiple auction rings going selling all types of items. From estate sales to tools, furniture and even RV’s. Vendors for all over the tri-county area will be displaying and offering their goods as well. This event to be held in conjunction with the 2021 Michiana Driving Horse Sale.

Winterfest hours: 8am-4pm (Auctions start at 9am) Driving Horse Sale 9am-4pm (260) 768-3300 | www.michianaevents.com/event/2020/1/2/winterfest-z8xdg-4eexa

NOBLE COUNTY 3 CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE, ALBION

Light Parade and Santa return to historic downtown at 6pm, one of the state’s Top 10 “Best Main Streets” at Christmastime! Meet Santa and take a photo. (260) 5640341 | https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasinAlbion

3-5 AND 10-12 WINTER WONDERLAND, KENDALLVILLE

Walking tour of lighted windmills and displays. Live Nativity on Saturdays. Baker Hall is filled with crafters, food and Santa (with gift bags for the children). Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 5:30 to 8:30 P.M (260) 347-2334 http://www.midamericawindmillmuseum.org/winterwonderland_ midamericawindmill.html

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / THE LAKES / 77

Two non-stop hours of Christmas excitement returns for the 4th year to the Michiana Event Center in Shipshewana

TICKETS STARTING AT $34.95 FOR ADULTS CHILDREN 4-11: $19.95 CHILDREN 0-3: FREE GROUP DISCOUNTS FOR 10+

V IP & DI NNE R / P R E -S HO W T I CKE T S AVA I L A B L E *PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE PROCESSING FEES*

SHO W T I M ES

Saturday, Dec 11 - 1:30pm & 7:00pm Sunday, Dec 12 - No Show Monday, Dec 13 - No Show Tuesday, Dec 14 - 7:00pm Wednesday, Dec 15 - 7:00pm Thursday, Dec 16 - 7:00pm Friday, Dec 17 - 7:00pm Saturday, Dec 18 - 1:30PM & 7:00pm

This amazing and uplifting show is filled with nonstop equestrian adventures, featuring some of the most beautiful horses anywhere, along with incredibly talented riders from all around the world.

See the Noel singers, dancers, aerialist, hogs, dogs and more!

WWW.MICHIANAEVENTS.COM

260-768-3310 455 E FARVER STREET SHIPSHEWANA, IN 46565

Looking for even more NOEL excitement?

Addition tickets available for VIP & Dinner/Pre-Show.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT WWW.MICHIANAEVENTS.COM 78 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

UPCOMING EVENTS DEC 2, 2021 – DEC 4, 2021 MICHIANA EQUINE EXPO

DEC 4, 2021

NATIONAL BREEDERS’ SHOWCASE ANNUAL AUCTION

DEC 10, 2021 – DEC 18, 2021

NO SHOWS DEC 12 - 13 SHIPSHEWANA’S MAJESTIC - NOEL

DEC 27, 2021

CHUPP PONY SALE

DEC 28, 2021 WINTERFEST

DEC 28, 2021

WWW.MICHIANAEVENTS.COM

DRIVING HORSE SALE

JAN 7, 2022 – JAN 8, 2022

260-768-3310

NO LIMITS MONSTER TRUCKS

JAN 13, 2022 – JAN 15, 2022 MIDWEST WINTER NATIONALS

455 E FARVER STREET

JAN 28, 2022 – JAN 29, 2022 MIDWEST TOOL EXPO

SHIPSHEWANA, IN 46565

JAN 28, 2022 – JAN 29, 2022 HEALTH & WELLNESS EXPO

FEB 1, 2022

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

FEB 4, 2022 – FEB 5, 2022 GRAZING CONFERENCE

FEB 4, 2022 – FEB 5, 2022 SUPERCROSS

FEB 11, 2022 – FEB 12, 2022 HOME AND YARD SHOW

Only 4 Miles south Shipshewana!

Only of 4 miles south of Shipshewana!

Only 4 miles south of Shipshewana!

260.768.4820 1150 S 700 W, Topeka

260.768.4820 260.768.4820

1150 1150SS700 700W, W,Topeka Topeka Also available at Homestyle 8am-4pm Monday-Friday: furniture Monday-Friday: Rentown/Nappanee 8am-4pm

Saturday: Saturday:9am-12pm 9am-12pm

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3070 W 350 S • Topeka, IN 46571 • (260) 463 - 4026 80 / THE LAKES / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com