Tipton March 2021

MAGAZINE

MARCH 2021

GETTING A MOVE ON FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD MEAL PREP SERVICE ROLLS FORWARD WITH FOOD TRUCK

ALL SMILES

LOCAL PIZZA DELIVERER RECEIVES NEW CAR FROM LOYAL CUSTOMERS

WELLNESS FROM THE GARDEN

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ALL SMILES LOCAL PIZZA DELIVERER RECEIVES NEW CAR FROM LOYAL CUSTOMERS Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Jason Graves

atTipton.com / MARCH 2021 / TIPTON MAGAZINE / 3

Robert Peters, a Pizza Hut delivery employee, is so popular with his customers in Tipton, they raised money to buy him a new car.

“I’ve never felt more blessed,” Peters says. “I truly love my customers, and I was really touched by their kindness. I’ve been delivering pizza for Pizza Hut for the last 31 years. I always go out of my way to deliver all of my customers a free smile and a nice word. I’m known as Mr. Smiles.

I think a lot of people need a friendly face and a smile these days, especially with COVID-19 and all of the craziness in the world these days. I think this was their way of paying me back.”

Peters, 58, loves his new car, a red 2017 Chevy Malibu.

“Tanner Langley, who lives in Tipton, was the man who started the fundraiser,” Peters says. “I’ve known him since he was a kid, and I know his family very well. He knew my 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera was getting up there. I had put more than 250,000 miles on my car, and it was time to get a new one. The timing of me getting a new car was perfect.”

Langley, 28, said it was the least he and the Tipton community could do to repay all the kindness Peters has given them over the years.

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“I started a GoFundMe page to get people to donate money for a new car for Robert,” Langley says. “Our campaign goal was $12,000. We called the fundraiser ‘Driving Miles with Mr. Smiles.’ We wound up raising $16,000 in only four days. We eventually raised over $18,000. The people of Tipton really went out of their way to show their kindness to Robert, and show him how much he means to them. He loves the car.”

Langley says Peters is the kind of person who truly cares about others, and wants to boost a person’s spirits, especially during tough times.

“We thought it was our turn to really thank him for the kindness he has

shown over the years,” Langley says. “He deserves it. He has given a smile and a nice word to people when they really need both, especially these days.”

Peters was thrilled the car was a Chevy Malibu.

“Tanner is a wonderful person,” Peters says. “What Tanner did really reaffirms what a great person he is. I’ve known Tanner and his family for many years.

What he and the Tipton community did really made me feel good. They take care of me with their tips, and I’ve made a lot of nice friends over the years.”

Peters adds that many customers tell him he is the only friendly face they see all day.

“They have told me that seeing me really made their day,” Peters says. “The car they gave me was not just a material thing. It went straight to my heart. I hope I can pay back the kindness that Tanner and the Tipton community have shown me. God bless Tanner and Tipton.”

Peters says he was also blessed to have his story featured on CBS News.

“That was pretty awesome to be in a story on national news,” Peters says. “Some of my customers have talked about how they loved seeing me on CBS. I told them that when I was being interviewed for the story, it felt like we were filming a movie.

My customers have been treating me very well and giving me good tips.”

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GETTING A MOVE ON FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD MEAL PREP SERVICE ROLLS FORWARD WITH FOOD TRUCK

Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Jason Graves

Jama Fernung and Abby Ripberger, coowners of For the Love of Food in Tipton, are glad they expanded their successful food preparation business to include a food truck.

Ripberger says the truck provides a useful means of getting their nutritious food to families looking for a good meal.

“We have had a wonderful response from the community,” Ripberger says. “The

truck has been a great way to connect with folks in the community who we might not otherwise see. We look forward to seeing everyone each time we are out. We have been able to match faces with names and orders. It has been exciting to get to know our customers.”

and his wife help get the truck painted, and it took off from there.”

The owners started operating the food truck last fall.

Having a mutual love for both food and food preparation led them to prepare meals for themselves and their families.

Ripberger posted some Facebook photos of their meals, and she and Fernung were overwhelmed with requests to sell their food. They started For the Love of Food in

“We weren’t really sure where or how we were going to make a food truck happen, but once we had the trailer, it all sort of fell into place,” Ripberger says. “We had a friend 6 / TIPTON MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / atTipton.com

For the Love of Food began when Fernung and Ripberger became committed to living a healthier lifestyle, for both themselves and their families.

January of 2020.

Ripberger says she and Fernung have enjoyed taking the food truck out to meet new customers.

“This past fall and winter we parked primarily at Horton’s in Tipton,” Ripberger says. “This year we are excited to be at local festivals in Tipton and Hamilton County, as well as Horton’s.”

Burger. This is the best burger in town local beef, cheddar cheese, onions, lettuce and tomato. We also want people to know that our veggies come fresh from Teter Organic Farm in Noblesville.”

Ripberger notes that customers will also enjoy their breakfasts.

“We also have breakfast items like our famous biscuits and gravy, and hash brown casserole, just like grandma made,” A variety of dinner options are available on she says. “These are traditional breakfast items that are simple, but so good. the food truck.

They’re great for anyone, but we find that “The beauty of the truck is we have a flexible the kids love coming for breakfast.” menu, so we can change with the seasons,” Ripberger says. “Our primary goal is to take Ripberger says the food truck is a great fresh, high-quality ingredients and turn extension of the restaurant. them into delicious meals everyone will love.”

“It allows us to be face-to-face with the people enjoying their meals, which we love,” One staple is the Cuban, a traditional Cuban Ripberger says. “Bringing our love of food to sandwich made with carnitas, ham, Swiss Tipton has been a longtime dream, and the cheese, mustard and pickles. food truck is one more way for us to share our dreams with a community we love.”

“The Cuban is made to order, and finished on our flat top,” Ripberger says. “It’s one The owners’ kids enjoy the truck as well. of our best sellers. We also have a Smash atTipton.com / MARCH 2021 / TIPTON MAGAZINE / 7

“Both our boys think it’s pretty cool that their moms have a food truck,” Ripberger says. “They would probably like it more if we didn’t make them help set up and break down occasionally. The food truck really is a huge part of our dream. We love the idea of expanding the options here in Tipton. The community here is really trying to bring life to the downtown area, and we believe we can be a part of that in a positive way.”

To get your next fresh meal, call For the Love of Food at 317-385-2095, or visit fortheloveoffoodmealprep.com.

WELLNESS FROM THE GARDEN

Writer / Carrie Petty Photography Provided

There is one place where I am certain we can go and be perfectly safe. There is no mask needed, no threat of standing too close to one another, and no one coughing on you. There is great peace, and even great wellness, to be found in a garden.

My entire yard is fondly called “the garden.”

There is plenty of work and exercise to be found here year-round. It is where I find joy, and what I love teaching people about the most - how to grow a more beautiful life.

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March is the beginning. It is the time I wait for all year. The spring equinox will arrive on Saturday, March 20 at 5:37 a.m. I love how precise spring is. She knows right when to get here, and it is always when we need her the most.

Begin your work with taking stock of your property. With a cup of coffee in hand, walk your property and dream a little. What do you want to change? Would you like to grow more cut-flowers, and bring them indoors for family dinners? How about some more privacy - do you need to plant a screen of trees? I usually begin by looking for the

Dig your horseradish in the full moon for the best flavor.

damage the winter harshness has created.

With pruners along for the walk, I will discard any broken or unsightly limbs from woody plants. (Note: I always sharpen and clean all my tools prior to starting). This is a good place to begin.

Most importantly, begin to remove winter debris. Remove any remnants of last season’s garden. I always use a general granular, organic fertilizer and sprinkle around the base of the newly exposed green shoots. If the soil is thawed enough, I will edge the

beds and get a crisp, sharp outline around each area. I try not to rake too much, as this will expose the weed seeds lying just under the soil. I want to leave those dormant as long as possible.

Weeding comes soon enough!

A spring snow in the garden often causes some panic. Many worry that daffodils will start to sprout too early. Folks often ask me, “Will they be OK?” The answer is most often yes.

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Here’s the deal. Mother Nature has the whole timing thing down. She is all about timing. When you see those little crocus sprouts, or the tips of your tulips begin to emerge, don’t worry too much. They know what they are doing. If you want to cover them with a little newspaper or a sheet because a blanket of ice is coming, do it especially cover if the flower buds are well emerged.

I adore the perfect timing of it all. English gardeners have long believed in timing

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Wellness truly can come from the garden. when it comes to the moon’s incredible power, particularly the gravitational pull.

The Farmer’s Almanac reads, “Folklore is rich among farmers, given their close ties to earth and her natural rhythms.” The moon’s new and first-quarter phases, known as the Light of the Moon, are considered good for planting above-ground crops, putting down sod, grafting trees, and transplanting in the late spring. Also, you have to love this tip: “Dig your horseradish in the full moon for the best flavor.” This is good to know for that savory Bloody Mary. Now that’s wellness!

While I love the perfect timing of it all, it is OK to “force” a few things along the way.

Now is a great time to plant small vessels with wheatgrass seed to use indoors for your Easter table centerpieces. Wheatgrass is like regular grass seed, but the blade is thicker for a more pronounced tuft of green.

Also, get out and clip a few branches off your blooming trees, and place them in a vase of clean, warm water. Put them in some sunlight, and in about two weeks their buds will “break” and begin to swell. Soon you

10 / TIPTON MAGAZINE / MARCH 2021 / atTipton.com

will have fresh crabapple, cherry, dogwood or redbud blooms indoors - all good varieties for forcing. This is a great task for children to do and can inspire their curiosity in the garden.

Wellness truly can come from the garden.

Enjoy her beauty, the exercise and fresh air, and even the quiet time to think and ponder - all without a mask! Enjoy growing a more beautiful life my friends.

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