The Hoosier Bat Company: a Source of Local Pride by Paula Mchugh

THE

911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360

Volume 22, Number 9 Thursday, March 9, 2006 The Hoosier Bat Company: A Source of Local Pride by Paula McHugh

With major league spring training in high gear, baseball fans are getting their chance to sing the endearing strains of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Little leaguers are out in the community raising funds for their 2006 season. College athletes are preparing for their days ahead on the ball diamond. And all the while, operations at the Hoosier Bat Company are gearing up for an onslaught of seasonal orders for their custom products. The Hoosier Bat Company in Valparaiso, owned and operated by Dave and Debbie Cook, will soon celebrate its 16th year in business come this May. With just seven employees, Hoosier Bat produces some 50,000 bats a year. And not just any old bats, either. Dave Cook, a former scout for the New York Yankees, had designed a bat that would be light- weight and durable—and most importantly—made of wood, not aluminum. Dave’s “Dream Bat” consists of ash, hickory and maple interlocked by saw tooth-looking grooves. The special, secret- formula glue used for the finger joints was formulated in Dave’s father’s adhesives factory in Chicago years before Dave’s patented invention came to market.

The Hoosier Bat Company will mark its 16th anniversary in business this May. The operation is open for tours by appointment only. The handle of Dave’s invention is traditional ash; hickory surrounds the sweet spot, and soft maple covers the barrel of his “Woodforce 2000.” The three different types of interlocking wood make the bat’s weight customizable for individual players. While Dave’s unique bat has still eluded approval for use in major league play, his invention has been sanctioned by the National Collegiate Baseball Association, National High Debbie Kerr-Cook, co-founder of Hoosier Bat Company, with her Westie, Laci. The School Baseball Federation, the American Softball inflatable batter is one of the first things one notices when entering the facility. Association and National Amateur Baseball Debbie recently received a Personal Achievement Award from the Porter County Federation. Visitor’s Bureau. Husband Dave was busy in Florida taking orders when the Beacher visited in late February. Hoosier Bat Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 March 9, 2006

THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.bbpnet.com/

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Hoosier Bat Continued from Page 1 recently returned for a visit after an initial tour five Hoosier Bat Company makes the traditional (and years ago. The company’s gift shop has expanded to major league sanctioned) ash bat, too. Fans can spot include numerous items that lovers of the game can a Hoosier Bat by their distinctive trio of circles near appreciate. The retail-grade wood products, accord- the handle, and dozens of major leaguers, not to ing to employee and tour guide Bo Bellows, is used mention Gary’s Railcats, college, and high school to fashion such items as bookends, candlesticks, teams, use the Valparaiso-made bats. Two Hoosier Bats stools, lamp bases, and numerous knick-knacks. Two have made their way to Cooperstown’s Hall of Fame. other grades of wood—major and minor, are carefully Sammy Sosa’s 66th hit over Mark McGwuire in 1998 sorted for turning out bats. came from a Hoosier Bat, as did one from Lance Bo led us to the copying lathe, where a block of ash Johnson. transformed before our eyes into a round bat form. The The Hoosier Bat Company opens its 6,000-square model for the bat being turned was chosen from a wall foot facility to tours by appointment, and the Beacher of bats of varying lengths and forms belonging to

Blocks of wood sit on a pallet waiting for turning on the lathe. The top- The sander smoothes the freshly-turned bat. A great deal of math is most piece is what the “Workforce 2000” looks like in its early stages. The involved to get the bat to its correct, custom-ordered weight. Bo said that company makes the unique 3-layered bat, invented by Dave Cook, along adjustments have to be made while sanding to allow for the weight of the with regulation full ash bats, too. (photo taken in 2001). paint dipping later.

An ash bat in the making. Bo rounds off the top of the barrel. THE March 9, 2006 Page 3

batters who want their particular models copied. To a non-baseball fan, and perhaps even to a baseball fan, Open ‘til 6 p.m. a tour of the Hoosier Bat Company reveals a facet of Evenings the game that many may pay little attention to. Many players prefer, for example, skinny, ice-cream cone-shaped handles. Lengths and weights of the bats differ, making precision mathematical mea- surements a big part of an employee’s responsibility. www.littlehousefashions.comElegant Apparel for the After the bat form has been turned on the lathe, Bo Fashion Conscious Woman [email protected] Women’s Apparel and another worker, Andy, are in charge of the sanding operation. Bo pulled out a caliper measure as he demonstrated sanding a barrel to custom size. Bo led us to another machine that indents the size (length) NEW SPRING of the bat for its intended owner. Near the lathe, 1 barrels of sawdust are collected for a local owner Buy 1 Get One ⁄2 Price!!! who uses it for lining his horse stalls. (of equal or lesser value)

Bo Bellow, our tour guide, explained that the sawdust from the lathe is recycled. It is used by a local horse owner who lines his stalls with it.

Soft and cozy two-piece set in a pretty mint print is perfect for sleeping, relaxing or puzzling over the Sunday crossword. This is a great pajama for all of the women on your shopping list. Button-front top with ribbed neckline and patch pockets. The laser machine at work engraving a bat ordered by a customer. Size S-XL $62.00 Plus 1W-3W $68.00. The operation for creating bats results in little or no waste: sawdust is recycled, and lesser-grade wood Fall & Winter Clearance gets used for other items. We were intrigued by a chair sitting in the workshop awaiting completion that Take an Additional 30% Off Clearance Prices! Dave Cook’s imagination had dreamed up. When fin- 409409 Alexander StreetStreet, LaPorte, IN 326-8602 ished, the “batty” chair will be on the gotta-have list On Hwy 35 - 5 Blocks South of Lincolnway of numerous baseball addicts, we figured. TurnTurn Rightright on AlexanderAlexander Monday-FridayMonday - Friday10 am 9:30to 6 pmto 7 Saturday Saturday 9:30 9:30 am to to5 5 pm Hoosier Bat Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 March 9, 2006

Hoosier Bat Continued from Page 3 Next, Bo showed us the blocks of glued ash-hickory-maple waiting to be turned into the “Woodforce 2000.” Dave’s invention, envisioned to help batters make the transition from aluminum bats, is less likely to flake or separate due to its sweet spot composition of hickory, rather than ash. Dave, who has been quot- ed often in the press stating that aluminum (bat) is “junk,” has designed his 3-piece model to be just as durable. Some might add that a player who hears a “ding” rather than a “crack” when the ball meets the sweet spot is missing out on the true baseball experience. Bo next took us into the room where the bats are “painted”. Or more accurately, they are dipped into A Hoosier Bat can be identified by its three distinctive “circles of excellence.” The circles are hand-painted, one bat at a time. tubes of regulation colors: hickory, black, natural or burnt orange. Dipologist Greg Miller dips each bat in The final step in the bat production process is the custom color and then hangs it on a rack very much adding the screened Hoosier Bat logo and the hand- like those found at the dry cleaners. Greg will dip it painted circles—“the three rings of excellence”-- that once again after the first coat is dry, allowing a shiny distinguish the product from some 13 other bat mak- coat. An array of other colors is used for custom- ing companies scattered around North America. ordered team fungos, or practice bats.

Greg Miller demonstrates the dipping process.

Dave’s patented 3-piece bat uses a combination of ash, hickory and maple woods glued first into a block. The glue is a secret formula that comes from Dave’s father’s adhesives factory in Chicago. Dave’s special bat allows for custom weight adjustments. Also, the hickory sweet spot is far less likely to flake or crack.

Batters have their own personal standards for length, barrel size, handle A special machine cuts the sawtooth parts. Assembling the patented bat grip, etc. These favorite bat models are put in the lathe copier to is sort of like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. fashion a custom bat. THE March 9, 2006 Page 5 Look no further than Dan Coffey

EXPERIENCE NATURE IN COMFORT through the windows located in the dining room and sunroom. Step outside and go down to the Andy Miller shows off a custom-lasered bat that will be sent to a branch of the Galena River baseball-related event in Oklahoma. where you can sit and con- template the peace and quiet. The Valparaiso company completes orders for This home is on a total of 6 numerous commemorative events, too. Graphics guru acres. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, Andy Miller is in charge of laser-engraving those cozy living room with fireplace, full basement, 2 car custom orders. We watched as Andy applied a silver attached garage, and an stain to a likeness of d’Angelo Jiminez for a large order attic that can be turned into to be shipped to Oklahoma. When the Valparaiso additional living space. School of Law held a Sports Law symposium recent- $470,000 ly, the school ordered specially-designed Hoosier Bats for the guest speakers, Andy said. The company pro- LIGHT, AIRY, ALMOST NEW condo with great design duces lasered premiums, gifts, awards, plaques, and features in all rooms. 2 has filled orders for weddings and births, too. An blocks to Lake Michigan addition to the gift shop is a line of fun, baseball-themed beach. 2 bedrooms, 3rd bedroom (or den) located jewelry crafted by a local artisan. on the roof top with open deck. Fireplace in living Hoosier Bat Company is located at 4511 East room, total of 1500 sq. ft. on main floor. 30 x 10 screen Evans in Valpo. Take Indiana 49 south to Vale Park porch. A place for you to Road and turn right. Turn left at the next street, spend all your weekends or Silhavy Road and continue to Evans Avenue. a place to generate rental 1 income 10 weeks + enjoy Turn left and continue approximately ⁄2 mile to yourself. $480,000 Hoosier Bat Company, which will be on your left. The gift shop is open weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., but tours must be arranged for ahead of time. WINTER OR SUMMER, To do so, phone (219) 531.1006 or 1-800-228.3737. at this classic getaway Log on to their website at www.hoosierbat.com for in the woods. Almost additional information. 3000 sq. ft. of living space with 2 fireplaces, 2 bedrooms, den/study, 900 sq. ft. Artist studio on second floor. Wooded lot in Camp Madron. Enjoy the 60 acre Lake, clubhouse, tennis court and trails through the woods. 2 car attached garage, full basement. $598,000

T: 269.469.5635 E: [email protected] W: remaxhc.com

A pair of bookends—just one of the unusual gift items harbor country for sale in the gift shop. THE Page 6 March 9, 2006 MCAS Forums on Cultural Diversity Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon “Failure Is Not An Option--We Will Do Whatever Chip Claussen, President of the Junior Achievement It Takes For Our Children To Succeed!” board of directors was the MC at this year's Bowl-a- As the Michigan City Area Schools progress with Thon, which was held on February 25 at Suburban their internal effort to improve as a school commu- Lanes. Volunteer bowlers secured pledges from their nity, they are finding that we have outstanding stu- friends, relatives and co-workers, and many area dents, teachers, support staff, school board mem- businesses donated prizes and sponsored lanes to bers, and families who all want the best for our help with the event. Over $7,500 was raised to sup- schools and our community. At the same time, they port the Junior Achievement program, which will have come to believe that in order for us to improve, reach 4,000 students in 180 Michigan City elemen- we need everyone in the Michigan City area to work tary school classrooms this school year. together with us to overcome our challenges and to reveal and promote the potential in our students, in our schools, and in our community. With the intent of taking the first steps to beginning the process of improvement, the Michigan City Area Schools are sponsoring a series of three community forums to identify the ways in which we can improve our skills and abilities in the areas cultural diversity and cultural sensitivity as a school system and as a community. The community forums will be held from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. in the Marquette Mall Community Room on three separate evenings: March 6, 13, and 20. They will be facilitated by Dr. Richmond Calvin, Professor at Indiana University. All community members are invited to attend. For more information, contact Michael Harding, Superintendent at 219-873-2000.

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NEWER 3 BEDROOM/2 BATH set in the mid- 4 SEASON HOME on a large wooded lot. HERON LAKE HILLS - 67 pastoral acres make dle of farm country w/fabulous pond/park setting Eat in kitchen opens to family room w/wood- up a secluded development of 8 building sites on 16 acres. Lower level is great family room w/wet burning stove. Hardwood floors, newly paint- in the midst of rolling hills, woods & a peace- bar & pool table included & high ceilings. Fishing, ed interior, & new carpet in living room. Enjoy ful 4-acre pond. The first country home has been hunting, swimming in above ground pool w/ nature from your screen porch overlooking completed w/4 bedrooms, 3600 sq ft of estate deck, trails for hiking, potential for horses, off road quality construction, combined w/natural mate- pond. Walking Distance to back entrance of riding, cross country skiing. Large pole barn fully $ rials, to be the headquarters for all of your insulated, & heating w/wood stove, $449K Warren Dune State Park! 299,900 weekend activities. $995K Call Pat Higgins-Glenday 269-469-8751 Call Debbie Jacobson 269-469-8727 Call Gail Lowrie 800-469-6360

DUNELAND BEACH - just one house from LOVINGLY KEPT John Lloyd Wright designed GATED DRIVE TO 33 ACRES of woods, rolling miles of private association beach on over estate on high dune top just one hour to Chicago, prairie & gardens bordered by the Little Calumet River. 12,000 sq ft of sloping corner lot w/trees & loads less than a block from private association beach- 4300 sq ft farmhouse boast a luscious master & enor- mous guest suite. 2 huge fireplaces warm a great open of parking, sits this 2 bedroom/2 bath cottage es. Spacious 4,600 SF, 4 bedrooms/4 baths & which provides the perfect location & the per- floor plan perfect for entertaining. Gourmet kitchen, hard- fect foundation for a beach house w/Lake MI 4 car attached garage; set on private wooded site, wood, decks, heated 40x24 pool & screened porch. 10 $ $ views. Asking $659K 895K min to Lake MI & an hour from the city. 789K Call Bonnie “B” Meyer 269-469-8735 Call Bobbie Cavic 269-469-8748 Call Bonnie “B” Meyer 269-469-8735

ENJOY LAKE VIEWS from nearly every room in the house. BEAUTIFUL WOODED half acre lot in UNION PIER, MI - Renovated ranch on 2 acre Fabulous retro wet bar overlooking Lake MI. Lower level Lakeside w/deeded beach rights 2 blocks away. sloping lot w/lots of trees. 3 level barn could be includes 2 lg bedrooms & rec room. Plumbing there for addit’l Must view lot to see fabulous potential. Lot is made into a guest house. Large sun filled living bathroom or wet bar. Updates include new furnace, win- in Gottlieb Gardens- beach access across from rm w/wood floors, office/guest room w/outside dows/doors, siding, carpet, appliances & baths. Windows Murphy Grove on Lakeshore Drive. In highly entrance, attached finished garage, woodburner in by Pella w/roll down screens. Feel like you have your desirable area of new homes and renovations. formal dining area, & all new kitchen. Price to own private beach with access just steps away! $1.299M $278K increase as renovations to barn proceed. $229K Call Debbie Jacobson 269-469-8727 Call Pat Higgins-Glenday 269-469-8751 Call Betty Ramsey 269-469-8743

GOLD COAST LINCOLN PARK LOOP SANDBURG VILLAGE NEW EASTSIDE HARBOR COUNTRY 980 N. MICHIGAN 2663 N. HALSTED ST 80 W. HARRISON 1355 N. SANDBURG TER 400 E. RANDOLPH 439 S. WHITTAKER CHICAGO, IL 60611 CHICAGO IL 60614 CHICAGO IL 60605 CHICAGO IL 60611 CHICAGO, IL 60601 NEW BUFFALO, MI 49117 (312) 368-5300 773.687-4663 SOUTH 312.980.5100 312.368-5336 312.540.9000 (888) 257-5800 THE Page 8 March 9, 2006 MCHS Presents “Grease” submitted by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey Fri., March 17th and Sat., March 18th at 7:30 pm and Sun., March 19th at 2:00 pm at the newly renovated Michigan City High School Auditorium. $5.00 at the door. No advanced sales, no reserved seating. “Grease” is a classic, 1950’s musical about the problems facing rebellious high-schoolers at Rydell High. Caught in the middle is the new girl in school, Sandy Dumbrowski. We find out that she and the leader of the Burger Palace Boy’s gang, Danny Zuko, had a romance the previous summer. While Sandy wants to rekindle the old relationship and form more emo- tional bonds with Danny, he is more interested in the physical side of their relationship. During the play Sandy, Danny, and the rest of the cast, including memo- rable characters like Rizzo, Kenickie, Frenchy, Marty and more, have to deal with teen-pregnancy, teen gang-violence, friendship, and love. In the end, will Danny and Sandy are able to reconcile their differ- ences and end up together? You’ll have to come to MCHS and see!! The musical is also filled with wonderful tunes like “We Go Together”, “Beauty School Dropout”, “Born to Handjive”, and “Greased Lightenin’” which have made “Grease” fun for the whole family. Those involved in making “Grease” happen are director, Michele Nauyokas; musical director, Sarah Cooper; choreographer, Kortney Brennan; set design and tech, Bob Nauyokas; orchestra director, Johann Sletto; publicity, Daena Sisk; costume designer, The Michigan City Sharon Klenitz; and pianist, Lee Meyer. Area Schools The Michigan City High School kids who are bring- invite you to a series of ing 1950’s Rydell High School to life are Iesha Brown In Our community forums on Please Join Us as Miss Lynch, Marge Povlock as Patty, Chris Havlin ove cultural diversity. EffortToImpr as Eugene, Allie Hillman as Jan, Alexandra Prast as The forums will be led Marty, Savannah Mize as Rizzo, Blake Vissing as Doody, by Dr. Richmond Calvin Nick Eaton as Roger, Will Dabkowski as Kenickie, Ben and will be held in the Corzier as Sonny, Crystal Schlegelmilch as Frenchy, Michigan City Marquette Mall Krista Pryzbylinski as Sandy, Kyle Nieman as Danny, Community Community Room. Mike Pasco as Vince Fontaine, Randy Hallett as Johnny Casino, Jenna Bevitori as Cha Cha, Adam All members of the Forums Pakuszewski as Teen Angel, and Dominque Bonheur community are as the Radio Voice. The girls who make up the rest on Cultural invited to attend. of the Teen Angels are Dominque Bonheur, Emily Cass, Diversity Britta Fitzer, Sara Hullings, Alexia Jordan, Kelly Meyer, Alyssa Prast, Amanda Weaver, and America

Whatever Zahn. The rest of the members of the Burger Palace It Takes! Boys are Erik Paniccia, Zac Roberts, and Brett Sims. Last, but not least, we have the wonderful members of our chorus, including Haley Biggerstaff, Madalyn Vance, Anna Boller, Grace White, Bailey Hallin, Asia Wilborn, Nicki Human, Brian Adams, Rachel Johnston, Dates: MDate:arch 6 March, 2006 ,13, M a2006rch 13, 2006, David Farmer, Ashley Kahn, Tom Firme, Brittany Kribs, andand MMarcharch 220,0, 22006006 John Gast, Michelle LaFollette, Zach Holzer, Chatice

Time:Time: 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. toto 88:30:30 pp.m..m. Lemon, Ethan Vail, Kalin Mize, Angel McGee, Jennifer

Location:Location :Marquette Marquette Mall Mal lCommunity Community R Roomoom Piotrowski, Jessica Sookradge, Kristyn Rice, Taylor Rodriguez, and Casey Seizys. THE March 9, 2006 Page 9

CHAD GRADOWSKI Licensed in Indiana and Michigan Check out all my listings on T 10 N. Whittaker Street, New Buffalo, MI 49117 choosechad.com RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE Office: 269-469-7248 • Cell: 219-241-9083 • Fax: 269-469-5445

BEST DEAL IN LAKESIDE! This cedar shake ELEGANT LAKEFRONT LIVING in Grand TRANQUIL & PRIVATE 5 ACRE SETTING over- cottage offers 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, great Beach. Custom designed with every detail in mind, looking a huge pond in the popular Heston room with fireplace, loft, 18 ft. pine ceilings, this home offers stunning lake and sunset views Corridor. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, fireplace, over gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops and in an unusually private, semi-wooded setting. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, custom gourmet kitchen, 2100 sq. ft., large deck with hot tub, beautiful flower stainless steel appliances, 2 screened porches gardens. $625,000 $ 2 fireplaces, 3,600 square feet of living space, and outdoor shower. Now only 599,900!! and all Grand Beach amenities. $4.4M

BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME on this private 5 BEAUTIFUL FRENCH FARM HOUSE on 11+ CUSTOM NEW CONSTRUCTION HOME ON 20 acre setting in the Heston/1000 North corridor acres in the Heston/1000 North corridor with ACRES just 40 minutes from Chicago. 4500 sq. ft. with a 1 acre springfed pond. You can enjoy coun- frontage on Spring Creek. Over 2500 sq.ft. with includes 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, gourmet kitchen, try living and still be just 10 minutes from down- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, wall of windows in liv- luxurious master suite with private balcony, great room town New Buffalo shopping, restaurants and Lake ing room, fireplace, walkout lower level, custom with fireplace & beamed ceilings. The list goes on $ Michigan. $175,000 features throughout. $435,000 and on! 1,595,000

FOREST BEACH BEAUTY. Created in the style of a ONE OF A KIND private country retreat on 40 rolling VACATION LIVING AT ITS BEST in this total- French Country Chateau, this lovely home offers 3 bed- acres just 1.5 hours from Chicago. A nice blend of apple ly renovated 2-3BR, 2BA end unit condo. Enjoy rooms, 3 baths, custom country kitchen, unique blend of orchards, woods, and prairies. Architecturally designed con- the gourmet kitchen, fireplace, 2 decks, patio and wrought iron and stone, massive stone fireplace in 2- temporary home with custom stained glass fixtures, a unique use of several natural woods, custom gourmet kitchen, boat slip. Many custom features throughout. story living room, wood flooring, large private landscaped huge light filled great room with massive stone fireplace, Association beach access, tennis court and lot with pool. Private Lake Michigan beach & tennis courts large screened porch, 2 luxurious baths, loft, and pool with swimming pool. $399,000 $1.1M poolhouse. $1,445,000 THE Page 10 March 9, 2006 Irshad Manji at the Sinai Forum Open Yourself Totally... Sinai Forum presents best- selling author and Canadian television host Irshad Manji to Wellness! on Sun., March 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Elston Middle School. SERVICES INCLUDE: The New York Times describes The Massage Therapy • Therapeutic massage Manji as “Osama Bin Laden’s & Wellness Center is the • Acupuncture clinic worst nightmare” and she area’s leader in providing was the first recipient of professional wellness • Chinese herbal medicine Oprah Winfrey’s Chutzpah programs. If you have Award for “audacity, nerve, experienced holistic care, • Heated stone therapy boldness, and conviction.” you’ll be impressed by • Salt scrub Ms. Magazine named her a the exceptional quality • Healing touch “Feminist for the 21st and scope of our services. • Personal fitness Irshad Manji Century.” If you’ve never even had • Qigong In her best-selling book, The Trouble with Islam a massage before, try us. • Reflexology Today: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith, Wellness is the total you! Manji asks arresting questions such as; “Who is the • Programs for business, including chair massage real colonizer of Muslims, America, or Arabia?” “Why are we all being held hostage by what’s happening • Pregnancy massage between the Palestinians and the Israelis?” And, • Gift certificates “Why are we squandering the talents of women, fully half of God’s creation?” 1026 North Karwick Road Michigan City, Indiana 46360 Manji then offers a practical vision of how the 219-879-5722 United States and its allies can help Muslims under- At The Harbor Grand Hotel take a reformation that empowers women, promotes 888-605-6800 www.wellness-specialists.com respect for religious minorities, and fosters a competition of ideas. The book challenges struggling Muslims worldwide to revisit the foundations of their faith. It will also compel non-Muslims to start posing important questions without fear of being deemed racist. Manji hosts Big Ideas, a weekly television show that features innovative thinkers in fields ranging from science to spirituality. She volunteers as a member of Seventeen magazine’s inter-faith editorial board, and is helping to launch a leadership center for young Muslim’s around the world. 208 Wabash Street • Michigan City, IN The final speaker for the Sinai Forum’s season (North of Lighthouse Mall) will be world-famous neurologist and best-selling Phone 219-TRY-HOPS (879-4677) author Dr. Oliver Sacks on Sun., April 9 at 7:30 p.m. We serve fresh foods and fresh beers! All programs will be held at Elston Middle School, 317 Detroit Street; beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Forum Sunday - $7 Pitcher • Monday - $8 Growler Refill is a season ticketholder series and individual program Daily Specials for Lunch & Dinner tickets may be purchased at the door subject to availability. Students will be admitted free. LIVE ENTERTAINMENT (No Cover) March 11 Accoustics X - 9 p.m. Night Landscape Demonstration March 18 Vital Support - 10 p.m. Mark VanderVinne will present a landscape painting demonstration at the Chesterton Art Center on March 24 Steel Waters - 10 p.m. Sun., March 12, 1:30 p.m. VanderVinne, who main- March 25 Planetary Blues - 10 p.m. ly paints in soft pastels and oils, will show how to paint a night scene. The artist graduated from the American April 1 Funk Shoe - 10 p.m. Academy of Art in Chicago and studied under master artists Irving Shapiro, Ted Smoskeiwiscz, Bill April 8 Percival Potts - 9 p.m. Parks, Bob Krajecki and Bill Kaufman. A former art director for a Chicago advertising agency, VanderVinne resides in Porter with his artist wife Kim. THE March 9, 2006 Page 11

Serving LaPorte County For 28 Years. Let Our Experience Work For You!

Larry Middleton, GRI Broker/Owner

2919 Lake Shore Dr., Long Beach 2326 Tinkers Way, Long Beach 297 Timber Ridge, LaPorte 1 Charming home high above the Drive with outstanding Lake The “Yellow House with Blue Shutters” is now on Beautiful 4 bedrooms, 3 ⁄2 bath home in Timber Ridge. Michigan views. Vintage character accents a year round the market in beautiful Long Beach Hardwood floors, crown molding, 2 fire- residence with exposed hardwood floors, Cove. This great 3 or 4 bedroom home French doors, entry and garage on Ridge offers many features, such as vault- places, beautiful kitchen with high end Road and built-in dining room cabinets. ed ceilings, screened porch, main appliances, 3 porches (1 screened), fin- Perfect for family gatherings with large floor master suite, sprinkler system and ished basement and 3 car garage. living area open to year 'round porches so much more, on the lake.#135435 overlooking the lake. The 46'x 155' lot is Fabulous buy! #116491 $439,000 surveyed and staked. #141612 $785,000 $689,000 Ask for Larry Middleton @ 874-2121 Ask for Rick Remijas @ 874-2121 Rick Ask for Larry Middleton @ Larry ext. 19 Larry ext. 36 Remijas 874-2121 ext. 19 Middleton Middleton

3711 Powhatan Trl., Michiana Shores 2 Lots on the Water Side of Lake Shore Dr., Long Beach 319 Maplewood Dr., Michigan City Beautiful 3388 sq. foot 4 bedroom home, minutes from the beach. Big beach looking for an inspired owner!! We offer two forty foot Lots of room in an attractive and functional floor plan. Two bed- Features include a screened porch, cement patio, 3 decks, wide building sites with septic permits, each about 380' deep, each rooms and a bath on the main level and two spacious bedrooms whirlpool, sauna, 22 x 40 great room, wood over 1/3 acre of beach and dune grass! Realize with another bath up. Kitchen opens to fami- stove, large dining room, fieldstone fire- your dream on your private Lake Michigan ly room. Full basement is unfinished, with some place, large L-shaped kitchen with 11 win- beach--savor morning coffee with the lake in stud walls erected, and suitable for improve- dows, all custom cabinets, unlimited pos- your living room, sunny days on the sand, and ment as recreation room, offices and bed- sibilities in the 2800 sq. ft. basement, garage evenings enjoying the sunset and lake breeze. rooms. Level 100'x100' lot front Maplewood and all on 4 lots. Take a look at this one! Call Rick for details and survey information. Drive and extends to Duneland Drive. Walk to #137652 $659,000 Upper Bracket. $1,400,000 & $1,450,000 public or association beaches at Stop 31. Ask for Larry Middleton @ 874-2121 Larry Ask for Rick Remijas @ 874-2121 Rick #147609 $329,000 Rick ext. 19 Middleton ext. 36 Remijas Ask for Rick Remijas @ 874-2121 ext. 36 Remijas

2708 Duffy Ln., Long Beach 5379 N. Barclay, LaPorte 2327 Tinkers Way, Long Beach 1 Lake Clare to the front, the Fairways of Long Beach Beautiful 4 bedroom, 2 ⁄2 bath, 2 story home in Rangewood Desirable home in Long Beach! 1 Hour from Chicago, close to Lake Country Club as your backyard and short walk to Subdivision. This home sits on a private lake. Some of the Michigan. The 4 or 5 bedroom home is located on Lake Clare with breath- Lake Michigan Beach. Enjoy this 3700 features include, a formal living & dining taking views. Open concept, family room with 1 sq. ft. 4 bedroom, 3 ⁄2 bath home with room, a beautiful kitchen looking into the fireplace, newly remodeled kitchen with all appli- 3 porches and all the 1st class ameni- family room with fireplace. There is also ances, Corian counter tops and hardwood floors. ties expected in a custom residence a hot tub room and 4 season porch. Full Main floor master bedroom, luxury bath, jetted tub of this quality. Call us for details. basement, partially finished is walk out. and separate shower. Vaulted ceilings on main and #147469 Great Family Home! #137157 $329,000 upper floors. Underground sprinklers, alarm sys- Offered for sale at $795,000 Ask for Larry Middleton @ 874-2121 ext. tem and main floor laundry. Perfect condition! Ask for Steve or Barb Beardslee @ Steve & Barb 19 Larry #150338 $659,000 Larry 874-2121 ext. 37 or ext. 20 Beardslee Middleton Ask for Larry Middleton @ 874-2121 ext. 19 Middleton THE Page 12 March 9, 2006 Great Lakes Tour is Eye-Opener for Writer

by William F. Keefe World War I had passed into history a couple of years The waterway, of course, is the future St. Lawrence earlier. The 1920s had barely begun to earn the title Seaway, completed 30-some years later. The seaway “Roaring.” Cities like Chicago were ballooning with made Chicago an ocean port--belatedly for the city’s ideas, projects, and an onward-and-upward spirit inhabitants. In the meantime, the city’s dwellers had inherited, some said, from the Columbian Exposition discovered their lake, made it their own. Invited to of 1893. “go up along the Lake Shore Drive on a hot afternoon,” In that young postwar world Webb Waldron and his Waldron went. wife Pat made a pilgrimage around the Great Lakes. “I did go, and saw the lake full of people”--proof enough Writer Webb recorded in words his impressions, some that Chicagoans had taken possession of their lake. of his conversations, and comments on special inter- But there was more: at the edge of the lake was the ests; artist Pat did her own recording with her pen- Field Museum, “planted there boldly.” Farther south, cil and sketchbook. “Beyond the museum, steam shovels were digging out the floor of the great city stadium that will seat one hundred thousand people.” The stadium would become Soldier Field. The World Beyond A 1905 graduate of the University of Michigan, Waldron had become famous during the war as a foreign correspondent. In that role he had traveled wide- ly, visiting much of the world. His work had appeared in such magazines as Collier’s. At the war’s end he had been present when Germany and the Allies signed the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. Starting their exploration of the lakes, the Waldrons had “hitched” a ride on an ore freighter from Buffalo, New York to Ashland, Wisconsin. They were on the return leg of their journey when they visited Chicago.

Webb Waldron, author.

Their collaborative work came out as a book in 1923. Titled simply, We Explore the Great Lakes, the volume touches on the highlights of a summer trip that may have covered 2,000 miles. In Chicago the Waldrons were revisiting scenes that they had seen and relived many times in the dim, dis- tant prewar days. They found change everywhere. “The “A figure seizes the first thing that caught our eyes…was the new Michigan bottom Avenue bridge, the imposing link between the North rung and and the South sides,” writes Waldron. “At the north climbs, transfer- end rises the new white Wrigley Tower.” ring from There was a story behind the tower. “The ‘World’s the mail Greatest Newspaper’ gave a prize of fifty thousand dol- boat in the Detroit lars to secure ‘the most beautiful office building in the River to world’.” That the goal eluded the paper is of little or the ore- no consequence. “The Tribune will have the most boat.” beautiful office building in Chicago; and, after all, that to Chicago is virtually the same thing.” Some exploration in the Windy City turned up other treasures worth descriptive text. “…There is no department store in New York of the size and distinction of Marshall Field’s book-shop,” he writes. And “Though Chicago has no ocean liners docking at its piers, [Chicago] confidently believes that the Great Lakes to Ocean Deep Waterway will bring them there.” THE March 9, 2006 Page 13

While Pat went on to Detroit, Waldron decided that he had to travel up Michigan’s western coast. An interurban train took him to the Indiana Dunes country, in those days a virtually deserted wilderness. A local trolley-like train dropped him at the Tremont stop. Walking the unfenced, unpopulated beach, he found “No trace of the foot or hand of man.” Unable to count the miles, he felt as if he had walked “a thousand miles from the Loop” in Chicago. At that moment he encountered a young man, alone, whom he identifies in his mind as the “Dune Faun.”

“Weather-beaten fish-houses line the shore near St. James, Beaver Island.” Lake Erie’s south coast followed for the reunited cou- “The ‘Dune- ple. One complex of memories remained special after Faun’ struts a mandatory stop in Bay City. across a He had grown up in this part of Michigan: he Lake Michigan remembered days on the Saginaw River. “It was the Beach, so river--my continual consciousness of the presence of alone that he the river…And its beauty came from so many things, seem s to own the from my memories of the launchings at Wheeler’s and universe…” Davidson’s shipyards long ago, of my adventures with toy boats along the docks, and then of real boats, those queer flat-bottomed craft…built in the shed back of the Rounds house and perilously sailed even out into the open lake…” The trip ends in Buffalo. Another cluster of memories assails the writer. “My memory of Buffalo,” he writes, “is divided between long shaded avenues, stone houses, and rose gardens…., and the waterfront loved by Pat for its fascinating, disreputable characters and its stunning group of medieval towers and bas- The two converse. The young man speaks “perfectly tions locally known as grain elevators.” good Chicagoese.” Over a delicious lunch of coffee and beans, the Dune Faun explains that he spends his summers alone in his dunes tent. “In the winter I teach violin to the kids of wealthy North Siders.” Parting from his new-found friend, Waldron takes his leave, still on foot. “I reached Michigan City at five o’clock, sunburnt and happy, with my shoes full of sand.” “On the But he has lost time and cannot tarry. “At six I Marquette, Michigan caught an interurban car eastward, and at eight- waterfront thirty reached Benton Harbor via South Bend.” there were In Benton Harbor, exploring the House of David numbers of old fish- amusement park and even riding the miniature train, ermen’s Waldron repeatedly sought a chance to interview shacks. Patriarch Benjamin. But the Patriarch was always busy, indisposed, or “out in the fields.” The author, thwarted, discovered later that the Patriarch had been dead four or five years. And secretly buried. Visits to shipyards, sawmill towns, automobile- free Mackinac Island, and the thriving harbors along THE Page 14 March 9, 2006 Audition Workshop for Youth Theatre Northwest Indiana's Premier Specialty Food &Wine Market The Young People’s Theatre Company is offering a free audition workshop on Sat., March 18, 2-4 p.m. Artisan Breads for those 13-20 years old. The workshop will help participants learn about the auditioning process and will preview the group’s Artisan Cheeses upcoming production of “Beauty and the Beast” which will be staged July 7-9 & 14-15 this summer. Imported Meats Local film and stage director John Hancock will attend, along with YPTC’s director Stan Holdcraft, co- Fine Wines music director Andrew Tallackson and tech director Tom Montgomery. Specialty Foods Light refreshments will be served; questions should be directed to Andrew at 874-7211, ext. 444 or email him at [email protected] 219-476-0700 • 76 S Washington St. • Valparaiso Lubeznik Art Center Guild WWW. OLDWORLDMARKETONLINE. COM The next meeting of the Art Center Guild is sched- uled for 9:30 a.m., Mon., March 13, at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W. 2nd. St., Michigan City. ty li S i a b t WILSON Following the general meeting, Bill Bolton of i i s s f n a Beachside Garden Center, will present a program o

t s

i CONSTRUCTION

o titled “Your Springtime Garden.” A landscape design-

e n R & RENOVATION er and horticultural consultant, Mr. Bolton will WI explain how to prepare your garden now for spring. n t y t e g r i Guests are cordially invited and there is no fee for the program which begins at 10:30 a.m. For more infor- 219-872-5110 • Cell: 574-320-0733 mation, phone the Center at 874-4900, or the program • Custom Home Design & Build chairman at 874-6359. • Framing Contractor St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon On Wed., March 15, at noon, there will be a St. • Condominium/Townhouse Patrick’s Day Luncheon at the Michigan City Senior Center, Washington Park. The Notre Dame Chorus Development will perform Irish dancing and song at 1 p.m. Cost is $6.00 per person and includes corned beef and all the fixin’s and beverages. Info: 873-1504.

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278 E. 1500 N. • Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 926-1551 (Closed Tuesday) THE March 9, 2006 Page 15

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Country Living On 3.88 acres complete with guest house and barn!

A winding driveway leads you back to this charming country retreat in a private setting surrounded by beautiful evergreens in front and mature woods in back. This 3580 sq. ft. home has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, an office (or 5th bedroom), plus a terrific floor plan and lots of room for family and friends. Amenities include a large country kitchen with stainless appliances, formal dining room, sunny living room, 26x28 rec room, family room, covered front porch, 2+ car attached garage and deck in back. Located just an hour from downtown Chicago. $495K. Contact: Donna Iwamoto 269.469.8726

Mary-Katherine with trophy and award at Homewood, Illinois.

At Bannockburn (l-r): Mark Baladad (tennis pro), Mary-Katherine, Charlotte Hagginson (2nd place winner), and Jeronie Barnes (tennis pro).

Tom Bour, NWC pro with Mary-Katherine. Mary-Katherine and Reggie Sanderson. THE March 9, 2006 Page 17

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Rebecca Miller Judy Crawford Judith Dillon-Farley Broker/Owner Realtor Realtor Specialists in Beach Area Condominiums! (219) 872-0588 • (800) 578-6777 THE Page 18 March 9, 2006 Musical Treats at The Acorn Theater LAKESHORE CONSTRUCTION Thurs., March 9: Carl Payne and his wonderful stringed instruments return to The Acorn Theater play- COMPANY ing music ranging from Ancient Celtic to Van Morrison. All phases of interior & exterior During Payne’s performance, listeners will hear him play as many as five instruments at once. Thanks to remodeling and add ons. the advances in live sound recording, Payne will start with one instrument and before the song is completed the audience will hear five or more instruments playing at once. Payne built many of the instruments himself. This unique one man show includes music from the mystical sounds of the Celtic harp to the gentle sounds of the mountain dulcimer and lightning fast instrumentals played on his flat-top guitar. Payne started playing guitar at age 10 and in his next years studied classical guitar. Tickets are $10. Kitchens • Bathrooms • Siding • Roofing Fri., March 10: This show features the world Sun Porches • Decks • Concrete Work beat of the CAbP, a dynamic musical collective root- Driveways • Sidewalks ed in ‘70s funk and jazz. CAbP mixes traditional Custom Concrete Stamping & Staining afrobeat with other dance-invoking musical motifs such as Chicago’s electronic house music, complex West Garages & Screen Rooms African percussion rhythms and upbeat funk. Afrobeat Quality Interior & Exterior Painting is a musical genre pioneered by Nigeria’s charis- Floors Leveled • Crawl Space Repair matic political activist Fela Kuti. Foundations CAbP consists of a full percussion section, a full horn section, keys, guitar and bass. The band’s live set con- Residential & Commercial sists of originals as well as carefully chosen classics Deal Direct with Owner, NO Salesman and obscure afrobeat covers. Tickets are $15. 3611 E. US Hwy. 12, Ste. B Wed., March 15: In preparation for St. Patrick’s Day, The Acorn will present Mithril, a high-energy Michigan City, IN 46360 Celtic/World music band at 8 p.m. MI time. Members Mobile 219/229-4995 include Andra Bohnet on flute and harp; Ben Harper, Office 219/861-1070 guitar; David Hughes, percussion and keyboards; Tom Morley (of LaPorte), fiddle. Tix are $15. Fax 219/861-1080 Tickets for all shows can be reserved at 269-756- Licensed • Bonded • Insured 3879 or purchased at the door. The Acorn Theater is Since 1979 located at 107 Generations Dr., Three Oaks, MI. Other info: www.acorntheater.com.

HARDESTY CARPET OUTLET *Compare Prices and Save with Us! IN-HOUSE 12 Months Free INSTALLERS! Financing COUPON No Payments - Mario Bibian & Steve Kabo Crews No Interest Ask your friends & neighbors *w/Credit Approval $ 25.00 OFF ANY 30+ Years Experience BIG MERCHANDISE PURCHASE Located 2 miles east of REMNANT of $250 or more Marquette Mall off Hwy. 20 Please Present Coupon SALE! 636 Longwood Dr., Michigan City HOURS: Mon-Fri 9-6 • Sat 9-3 • Sunday Closed Phone 219-879-3325 (879-DEAL) THE March 9, 2006 Page 19 THE Page 20 March 9, 2006 Flying Carpet Travelogue Series The next Flying Carpet Travelogue Series will be “Western Canada, Far and Wild,” narrated s by John Wilson on Thurs., March im ! p ng 16, 7 p.m., at the Elston ly thi sens ʼs clo Performing Art Theater, 317 ational women Detroit St., Michigan City. Single admission tickets are Adults $5.00, i’minaspringtasticmood&gonnagetmyfixatgladrags Students Grades 1-12 $2.50. From the wildest coasts of the Queen Charlotte Islands to the ice choked waters of the Hudson Bay...from the peaks of $25 off! the Rockies to the canyons of the Nahant River, experience the height, depth and breadth of Western Canada far and wild, as well as the most popular sights with this coupon and and cities that have lured traveler from around the world. your purchase of $75 more From Banff and Lake Louise to Victoria and the Butchart Gardens where you will stroll along the paths through the floral finery of manicured gar- march 11 & 12 ONLY dens. Enjoy the majesty of trumpeter swans in flight, scuba diving under the arctic ice to see sea lions and beluga whales cavorting in coastal kelp beds, and for- open everyday 10-5 aging grizzly bears. Travel from the big sky country 870 e. sidewalk road chesterton, in 46304 219-926-5557 in the prairies to the outer reaches of the northwest, www.gladrags.info with a time zone all its own.

First Communion Special Purchase any Communion Dress in the store, or with any order and receive a FREE VEIL Moraine Lake, Banff National Park Dresses Artist’s Work Featured on Public TV starting at $59 Local artist Dana Dabagia was recently featured on public television WNIT as part of their Open Also Gloves, Wraps, Studio program which was a series of shows that con- Shrugs Available centrated on arts, visual, music and cooking in LaPorte County. Dana’s appearance was televised Bridal 731 Franklin Street twice on the popular station. Michigan City, IN If you missed the show, you can view Dana’s oil paint- (219) 878-0411 ings in person at the Musikantow Gallery which is locat- Reflections Mon.-Thur. 10-6 ed in the Harbor Dunes Clubhouse on US Hwy 12, just Fri. & Sat. 10-5 south of New Buffalo. THE March 9, 2006 Page 21 Micky Gallas Properties 123 (219) 874-7070 Beach CRS (219) 874-5249 City T (269) 586-2350 Michigan 1-800-680-9682 Micky Gallas www.MickyGallasProperties.com ABR, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SRES Long Beach • Michigan City • New Buffalo Cell 219/861-6012 Just the Right Season Lots of Good Reasons

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2106 Oriole Trail • $565,000 429 W. Hwy 20 • $499,000 2507 Shorewood Drive • $479,000 1 Wonderful traditional 6 bedroom, 3 ⁄2 bath home Well established fast food restaurant located on New construction in desirable Long Beach Cove! 1 that can create a lifetime of memories. This clas- a highly visible intersection in Michigan City. Great Featuring 4 bedrooms & 2 ⁄2 baths, very open floor sic admired Long Beach property boasts of pride income potential with easy access & sufficient park- plan with lofted ceilings, skylights, hardwood in ownership. Grand deck with lower patio, ing. Drive thru service. Turn key operation. floors, stone fireplace & large screened porch. expansive interior space for a crowd. OPPORTUNITY’S KNOCKING - Purchase this dream home now & 1 Only 2 ⁄2 blocks to the beach at Stop 22! GREAT INVESTOR OPPORTUNITY! incorporate your personal design choices.

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4051 Creek Drive • $449,000 2204 Island Drive • $299,500 4968 N. Remington Square • $279,900 Bright & cheerful 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo with 3rd This 2-story home in Hunter’s Run is move in con- perfect condition. Cathedral ceiling, gleaming room for den/study or extra bedroom. Living dition offering 4 bedrooms with a possible 5th bed- wooden floors in living room, screen porch with room with vaulted ceiling & fireplace. Skylight room in the basement. Upper bathrooms have heat- canvas awnings on inside to keep rain away. Loft in kitchen with breakfast nook & bay windows. ed ceramic flooring. Sunroom with slider to two with skylights, generous storage. Beautifully landscaped throughout & tier deck leading to in-ground pool. Situated on 2 landscaped lots in Michiana. perfectly located on private Lake Claire. Beautiful home - A great place to call home! Shirl Bacztub, GRI 219/874-5642 Joe Gazarkiewicz 219/861-3750 Karen Kmiecik 219/210-0494 Randy Novak*, ABR, E-PRO, GRI, 219/877-7069 Megan Campbell* 219/861-3683 Linette Gresham 219/229-0312 Deb Kozachenko 219/324-5805 Barb Pinks 219/325-0006 Judi Donaldson 219/879-1411 Diana Hirsch* 219/363-0384 Ken Larson 219/873-7101 Pat Tym*, ABR, GRI, SRES 219/210-0324 Christine Facciponti 219/877-9662 Ellen Holloway* 219/878-3721 Fran Lysaught 219/879-3454 Stephanie Duffy Wisner 219/879-1998 Laurie Farrell 219/871-0526 Maria Jackson* 269/369-7477 Daiva Mockaitis*, GRI *Licensed in Indiana and Michigan Jamie Follmer 219/851-2164 Susan Kelley* 219/874-5610 219/670-0982 THE Page 22 March 9, 2006 King $1099 88 Queen $799 rm or Plush Perfect Sleeper Twin Set Twin ™ 599 99 $ $ Ultra Fi Serta Full $749 est Value! Perfect Sleeper, Perfect King ™ $879 Perfect Day and Perfect ™ Mattress Sets Mattress With minimum $599 purchase International Kool Touch ™ Serta Queen $599 All Serta Perfect Sleeper Twin Set Twin our everyday low prices on ™ 499 Serta Firm or Plush FREE LOCAL DELIVERY & SET UP FREE LOCAL DELIVERY $ • Full Serta $549 20% Off King Quality • Service • Low Prices The B $759 (219) 872-6501 or1-800-606-8035 • Mon. - Thur. 9:30 - 6, Fri. 8, Sat. 9 6 (219) 872-6501 or1-800-606-8035 • Mon. - Thur. MORE THAN JUST A FURNITURE STORE! ™ OPEN SUNDAY MARCH 12th 1 - 3:30 p.m. OPEN SUNDAY 1106 E US HWY 20, Michigan City • www.naturallywoodfurniturecenter.com Queen $559 Serta Twin Set Twin Pillowtop 399 Sale Now! Starting at $ Full $499 King $679 ™ Queen $459 ™ Plush Serta Twin Set Twin e 299 l $ a Full $399 S products! ™ e e t King COUPON $579 i Don’t Settle For Less! Don’t ™ on all Serta h The World’s Best Mattress The World’s Twin MattressesTwin On Queen $359 Firm 7 pc. Comforter Sets 7 pc. Comforter Serta Twin Set Twin • DIRECT SAVINGS FACTORY Sheet Sets, Pillows, and SOURCE FOR SERTA HURRY! Coupon Expires 3/15/2006 Coupon Expires HURRY! with purchase of any Mattress or Bedroom Set or Bedroom of any Mattress with purchase WE ARE YOUR LOCAL SAVE SOME GREEN SAVE • OVER 30 MODELS ON DISPLAY! All Serta Protect-A-Pads, All Serta W 199 40% Off $ programs to fit every need From 90 days to 3 years to fit every need From programs INTEREST FREE FINANCING Full $299 THE March 9, 2006 Page 23 AAUW Meeting March 13 Howard & the White Boys in Concert The Michigan City Branch of the American Association of University Women will meet at 4 p.m., Mon., March 13, at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City. Members will tour the museum and dine together following the tour. AAUW, founded in 1881, is an organization devot- ed to promoting equity for women and girls, lifelong education and positive societal change. Additionally, the organization funds research on girls and education, community action projects, and fellowships and Howard And The White Boys will appear in concert grants for outstanding women around the globe. at the Blue Chip Casino, #2 Easy Street, Michigan City, The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund provides funding on Sat., March 11. Showtime 9 p.m. No Cover Charge. for women seeking judicial redress for sex discrimi- Info: (888) 879-7711. nation in higher education. Members of the group are: Pete Galanis – Guitar; Rocco Calipari – Guitar; Howard McCullum – Bass, Locally, AAUW funds Reading is Fundamental Vocals; Jim Christopulos - Drums. which provides books for elementary school children. In their hometown of Chicago, a city steeped in blues Members also may participate in a number of inter- history, Howard & the White Boys have established est groups: antiques, crafts, readers. Through the a reputation as one of the city’s favorite attractions. Public Policy arm of AAUW, members are informed Between 1994 and 1997, the group made two high- of any legislation that is of interest to the organiza- ly acclaimed recordings, Strung Out On The Blues and tion’s goals. Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?, for Los Angeles Membership is open to any associate or baccalau- based Mighty Tiger Records. During this period, the reate graduate of an accredited college or university. band won a “National Blues Talent Search” where they Anyone who is interested in learning more about competed against hundreds of blues bands across AAUW may attend the meeting or phone membership the U.S. and Canada. The finals were held at the famed chairman Julie Krieghbaum at 872-3730. House of Blues in Los Angeles.

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Cub Scouts on the outing: back row: Park Ranger Justin Woldt, Alex Prascak, Austin Pitchford, Thomas Walinski, Dean Swider, Bradley Crnkovich, Matthew Fitzgibbon, Jack Leiby. Front row: Liam Roder, Jacob Stadler, Ryan Bausback. Not pictured: Jimmy Ohms.

Justin points out the Here’s some animal scat! puffball fungus.

Hands go up to ask Justin questions. THE March 9, 2006 Page 25

OPEN HOUSE Sun., March 11 • 12-2 pm Galien River home and slip. Lake Michigan access. 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2 car garge. Hillside quad-level. 15 Muirfield • St. Andrews Village $975,000 $200,000 Gated community, main floor living, open floor plan, Recorded Info 24 Hours Recorded Info 24 Hours vaulted ceilings, fireplace, 2 BR, 2 BA $250,000 800-757-9149 x 6422 800-757-9149 x 6591 Recorded Info 24 Hours 800-757-9149 x 6372 GEORGE POMEROY Licensed in Indiana and Michigan 10 N. Whittaker Street, New Buffalo, MI 49117 132 T RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE Direct: 219-874-5192 • Office: 269-469-8986

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foodstuff by carolyn mcconnell The English Lady Comes to Town Again....

Yes, my friend of more than twenty years, Valerie Gorzka, visited Michigan City again. We’d worked together at Osco Drug headquarters in Oakbrook, IL for a number of years and now, both retirees, we get together a couple times a year. When Val heard I was cov- ering two Beacher foodstuff stories in two days, she was delighted to drive in from Naperville, IL.

A lady from Bolingbrook, IL drove to Valpo to buy the Old World Market’s fine wine. Valerie enjoys And John Kowalski carrying my wines to the register. gourmet goodies. Then proprietors John and Dee Kowalski helped me choose the wines to serve my Small Plates guests next week. I will serve seafood entrees, and thus came home carrying handsome bottles named Rock Rabbit Sauvignon, Butterfield Station Chardonnay and Our first destination Saturday, February 25th, LaCroix Mauregard Bordeaux. All these were around was Old World Market in Valparaiso for a Mardi $10 each, not a bad price in a fine gourmet shop. And Gras celebration. They featured tastings all day and while admiring their suggested cheeses (hundreds!) awarded Mardi Gras prizes, treats for the winner’s I brought home a Wisconsin wild morel & leek jack. eight guests. Part of their sales that day were donat- Delicious. This friendly couple sponsors all sorts of enter- ed to Farm Aid, providing much needed assistance to tainment at their shop. Coming up: April 1 - Daylight the farms devastated by Hurricane Katrina. While there, Tasting Time, April 4 - Wine 101 Class, and May 3 - we enjoyed the customary Mardi Gras moonpies and Picnic Pairings Class. All well worth the twenty mile throw-beads. Also available were N’awlins goodies like drive to Valpo from Michigan City. 76 S. Washington Café du Monde, jambalaya, muffalettas, Zapp’s pota- Street, 219-476-0700. to chips and Bananas Foster. Everything was delicious.

Only a few of the many many cheeses. Yum. There’s Dee Kowalski, ringin’ up Mardi Gras. THE March 9, 2006 Page 27

Our next weekend meal entertainment was in the job. Coming up, the next Great Chefs program is at other direction, New Buffalo. The first in the series Timothy’s Restaurant (16220 Lake Shore Road, Union of the Great Chefs of Harbor Country cooking demos Pier - inside the Gordon Beach Inn) Thursday, March and food tastings was held at Casey’s. Chef Javier 9, 6:30 MI time (5:30 IN). At the third, Chef Sam Luna Cardenas prepared Tostadas de Ceviche atop Guacamole will prepare some tasty offerings on Monday, March which was outstanding (want the recipe? Email cmc 20 at 6:00 MI time (5:00 our time). His restaurant Mesa [email protected].) Chef Javier’s sous chef was Luna is located at 13 S. Elm Street in Three Oaks, his handsome young son Dante who did a truly fine MI. Reservations to these festivities are required and can be made by calling St. Mary’s school office in New Buffalo at 616-460-1515. Tickets are $25. All proceeds benefit the cultural enrichment of students at St. Mary of the Lake school. I attended these programs a couple years ago and thoroughly enjoyed them. Excellent chefs in excellent restaurants. I’ll hope to see you there.

Chef Cardenas, soon to feed us remarkably well, with his young son, Dante, a truly fine sous chef.

Some of the attendees at Harbor Country cooking session. Valerie and I ended our foody weekend at table with Valerie, smiling over the serviche. two of my Bridge buddies, Dorothy Barnett and Pauline Paul. I’d made a simple lunch of spaghetti pie, broiled tomatoes and an ancient orange Jell-o for a light calorie dessert. Those recipes can be e-mailed to you, too. Valerie has learned to play Bridge since her recent retirement and, by george, she won! That was a fine end to a fine food weekend.

Chris Karaitis, enjoying the Harbour Country program she’s putting on. Bridge at my house with Valerie, Pauline and Dorothy. Val won! THE Page 28 March 9, 2006

OPEN HOUSE Sunday • 1-3 pm Diggin' in the Earth with Maggie Beyer

The Gold rush and the snowy peaks of mountains at Torino as we watch the Gold rush of the past few weeks have a story to tell. But there’s another story to tell of mountains and ice that brings us closer to our own Indiana and Michigan countryside. It can take us back twenty thousand years ago when great glacial sheets of ice would slowly push their way across Canada and the upper reaches of North America. For another six thousand years they would push for- 210 N. Lake ward, leaving behind the crinoid fossils that would find LAKEFRONT ENGLISH TUDOR has loads of country charm! This 3 bedroom brick home offers 2 fireplaces, refinished hardwood & ceramic tile floors, their way to the shoreline of Lake Michigan, cornfields and 2 updated ceramic baths. A lovely kitchen has corian countertops and all that would hold the buried bones of mastodons, and appliances. You’ll enjoy year-round views of Lake Michigan from the mas- the early tools of paeolithic Indian tribes. ter bedroom. The deck, flagstone patio & beautiful lawn (w/ sprinkler system) make this a great place to play! $629,000 DIRECTIONS: Take Lake Shore Drive to California Ave; north to Colfax; east 1 block to intersection with Lake Avenue; follow signs!

Michele Meden Cell (219) 861-2073 MERRION & ASSOCIATES REALTORS, INC. Making the Moves 707 Washington Street, Michigan City, IN • (219) 872-4000 in Real Estate

The LaPorte County Historical Society Museum holds a fossil of the wooly mammoth left behind from glacier days. As the glaciers retreated they would leave behind a giant footprint on an area of Northwest Indiana, a river would flow as the Kankakee when it merged with another known as the Yellow. Over the centuries Indian tribes would inhabit the banks of its streams and the lakes that the glacier left behind. The waters would form a giant jigsaw puzzle of watery marsh and island rises of land teeming with fish and beavers and birds that rose from the marshlands in giant thun- der clouds. The river’s slow meander formed a forbidding maze to outsiders until it reached a rock ledge where it opened to a quiet, gentle flow. The Great Kankakee Marsh of a half million acres would spread from South Bend in Indiana through the boundaries of Momence in Illinois. From his journey on the St. Lawrence River, LaSalle would note its rich- ness in the 16th century. He would find the Parcovay, the portage point used by Indians as they brought their bales of beaver by canoe from the rich hunting lands formed by the Kankakee where the Yellow River found its outlet. The priests would come, bearing their crosses and learning to found a school that would be named Notre Dame, and a city that would be called South Bend. By 1850, sportsmen from all over the world would have discovered this hunting paradise. Then at the turn of the century, engineers would THE March 9, 2006 Page 29 Lakefront NEW BUFFALO-The yellow house on Marquette Dr. This Frank Lloyd Wright style home has all the amenities. Located on one of the biggest and nicest beaches. The home was designed for the owner with top of the line everything including granite counter tops and marble baths. Golden oak hardwood floors and cherry cabinets thru-out the home.

Earth’s last entry in the glacial Ice Age began Call Carie “O” 2.5 million years ago in the Quaternary period. For your private tour begin a project that had been long considered: to straighten the banks of the meandering 225-mile (269) 469-9813 Kankakee River and drain the surrounding marsh for farmlands. Dredges would turn the Kankakee into a (269) 612-0412 river made by man, just 90 miles long. Developers, land grabbers, railroads followed as immigrants eager for Carie O’Donnell acreage to replace the farms left behind would cross Associate Broker the Atlantic ocean for America and claim the land. They Licensed in Indiana & Michigan would pay for ditches to drain the land, dig deep Specializing in Lakefront, Beach Areas & into the muck lands of dark, rich earth left behind by Investment Property centuries of vegetation that grew and died, then grew and died again. Pockets of the Grand Kankakee would remain, some in a place called English Lake 10 N. Whittaker St. New Buffalo, MI 49117 and in other marshy swamps that refused to drain as the river overflowed its banks. The deep sanctuary of the Grand Kankakee Marsh, a place once foreboding and forbidding to outsiders where a man traveling by canoe would be lost forever, was opened up, its twists and trails and deep hidden pockets of lush growth, its teeming wildlife, would be gone forever. Except in ancient memory and legends of lost lives. That’s another story for another day. By 1600 A.D., the Potawatomi tribe of Native Americans -- who will soon be adding a new story in the history of Berrien County – came from northeastern Michigan and Ontario bordering Lake Huron along with the Ottawa tribe. By 1634, the Potawatomi moved to the opposite side of Lake Michigan and were living in northeastern Wisconsin according to George Quinby’s book, Indian Life in the Upper Great Lakes. (He uses the spelling Potowatomi.) They expanded southward along the Wisconsin shore of Lake Michigan and soon became the dominant tribe in the Chicago and southern Michigan area. They hunt- ed the forests and made summer camp along Lake Michigan where gathering points are still remembered by markers along their trail through Berrien and LaPorte Counties. I’ve forewarned gentle readers that stories about the Great Kankakee Marsh might appear in my column and since a remnant of the marsh still exists in Potato Creek Park, with its plans for a new lodge, it might be timely. Melting glaciers left a lot behind, including stories. And so it is. THE Page 30 March 9, 2006 Under the Big Top! Family Concert --LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra This Feb. 25th concert was sponsored by Shirley Lubeznik and family with the support of The Michigan City Community Enrichment Corp. and the Matthew Frank Moore Foundation.

Before the concert, families had the opportunity to try their hand at playing several instruments -- strings, percussion, brass and woodwind.

Bobby Komendera was the ringmaster for the three-ring circus atmosphere.

Ronald McDonald conducts the orchestra.

Magician Matt Kalita. The Michiana Clowns painted faces. Thomas Misch, the Juggling Fanatic. THE March 9, 2006 Page 31 COLOR COPIES From Your Original or CD, Disk, or Camera** ¢ * 79 + tax *8.5'' x 11'', 28#, Color Copier Paper

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Computer Security/MACs Meetings Responding to a suggestion by Michiana Area Computer Society media person Paul Nethammer, I am devoting this week’s column to the topic of com- THE CLIPPER SHIP GALLERY puter security. It is an important topic for all who use network connections (the Internet) with his or her com- • Paintings • Limited Edition Prints puter. Figures thrown out by online tech gurus from • Custom Framing • Nautical Gifts & Accessories the Internet Tourbus say that nearly 70% of computer Specializing in Marine Art by Charles Vickery & other artists. users are inadequately protected. See our fine selections of Wildlife, Florals, That is an astoundingly large number of users, would- Landscapes & Contemporary Art n’t you say? So the next question is, how well do you ta116 North Whittaker Street think your system is protected? iwNew Buffalo, Michigan Being a regular reader of Fred Langa’s online (269) 469-2590 newsletter (www.langa.com), and the Internet Tourbus (www.tourbus.com), I do my best to keep up with the expert advice that these knowledgeable men offer. Fred Langa favors—let’s be more exact and say strongly suggests—that computer users implement a multi-layered protection strategy for their machines. Langa (and numerous others in-the-know) is not a fan of packaged protection suites offered on the market, DINE IN • CARRY OUT except for one. It’s very often a case here of not get- DELIVERY INCLUDING THE BEACH COMMUNITY ting what you pay for, and some of the highest rated $200 Off Large Pizza FAMILY SPECIAL protection software is free, easily downloaded from the Large 1 Topping Pizza Net. Before I go further, let me explain that this $ 50 information is for PC users. I have little or no current 1 Off Medium Breadsticks Pizza experience with Macs. 2 liter Pop Here is what is needed for basic protection for $ 00 $ 99 Internet users: a). both a hardware and a software 1 Off Small Pizza 19 + Tax firewall; b) an antivirus program; c) an anti- Not Good With Any Other Offer Not Good With Any Other Offer spyware program; and d) Windows update. Sunday Noon-10 pm • M-Th 11 am-10 pm • F-S 11-12 Midnight Windows SP2 comes with a basic firewall, although 5184 S. Franklin St., Michigan City 872-3838 the experts agree that it is bare bones and not ade- We Deliver to the Whole Community! quate. If you don’t know about SP2, and lately I’ve run in to people who did not know, quickly run over to Microsoft.com and download it. It’s a lengthy download, and a c.d. used to be available that the company would mail free. I have the c.d. and am willing to ;le\cXe[ pass it on to anyone who needs it (first come, first served). SP2 has been out for over a year now, and no PC running Windows should be without it. =`e\?fd\j Back to the firewall. All the experts I check with online suggest that Zone Alarm’s (www.zonelabs.com) free firewall is the best of the bunch. Zone lab’s all- in-one Security Suite (not free) is rated very highly as a top all-in-one package. I have had this compa- Tom McCormick ny’s free firewall on my system for about 3 years. I’m Builder very happy with it, and it allows me to surf “under the radar”. Licensed in Indiana & Michigan Antivirus. As a standalone product, there are Voice: 219.928.2953 several very good free antivirus programs available. Some of the paid ones, by the way, are resource hogs Fax: 219.879.3536 and do not do as good a job (you don’t get what you email: [email protected] paid for). I’ve used the top-rated, free AVG, and I now use another highly rated program, Avast. The only down- THE March 9, 2006 Page 33 side for my choice of Avast is that I manually have to update my virus definitions. But I do that routinely, since I’m extremely security-conscious. Please keep in mind that whichever antivirus program you use, it—the entire software program—needs to be updated every 12-18 months. Antispyware. Microsoft’s Antivirus Beta 1 has been updated and renamed Windows Defender Beta 2. Langa and the other experts recommend downloading it as a first area of defense. Langa also suggests mul- tilayering with additional antispyware programs such as Spybot Search & Destroy. If one of these programs catches something, run the other one. If both catch something, then you can be sure you’ve been invad- ed with malware. There are more programs to mention, but I’m running out of space for this week and need to mention one other important protection strategy. Windows Update. Most people choose to have Windows Update run automatically so that they are assured all downloads go into their machine. These updates come in 3 flavors: they plug recently-discovered security holes or they are hot fixes for bugs, or they can be “toys” that offer extra bells and whis- tles to your computer. If you choose to update manually, you can choose not to download some of these extras. The most important thing is to plug known security holes, of course. So make sure your Windows Update is current. MACs Meetings: The Michiana Area Computer Society welcomes all computer users to its meetings, held the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Next meeting is March 21. They meet at Ivy Tech-M.C., room H115 at 7 p.m. Currently they are doing ongoing presentations Send a Copy of about Basic HTML. Visit their new website at THE www.MACshost.com . I am out of room and there is still much more to say. Guess I will save it for next week. Meanwhile, happy and safe surfing. to a Friend or Relative

Local Cable Show Goes Bird Watching BEACHER SUBSCRIPTION RATES Watch LaPorte County's “Beaches and Backroads” to find out about the many wonderful things you can Six Months ...... $16.00 see and do in LaPorte County. Join the LPCCVB's David Dabagia and Jane Daley, as they uncover the hidden One Year...... $28.00 gems of LaPorte County for all to see and enjoy. Tune in to Michigan City Public Access Channel 99, THE Thursdays at 3 & 9 p.m. In the city of LaPorte and the rest of LaPorte County, watch the show on Channel 43, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. You can also 911 Franklin Street see each month's episode on the LPCCVB website at VisitLaPorteCounty.com anytime. Join David and Michigan City, IN 46360 Jane as they stay at Holiday Inn Express in LaPorte, and eat at Shoreline Brewery and Restaurant in Phone: 219/879-0088 Michigan City on their way to view the migration of Fax: 219/879-8070 Sandhill Cranes at Jasper-Pulaski State Fish and E-mail: [email protected] Wildlife Area in Medaryville on this month's shows. THE Page 34 March 9, 2006 Women in Engineering and Technology The Purdue University North Central student organization Women in Engineering and Technology Program will meet on Wed., March 15, at 4:45 p.m. in Library-Student-Faculty Building Room 02. The meeting is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The meeting will feature Martha Garcia-Saenz, PNC associate professor of Building Construction Management Technology who will relate her experience in the relocation of the Cudecom Building in 1974. The move of the Cudecom Building was in the Guinness Book of World Records for 30 years as the heaviest building moved successfully. Information can be obtained by contacting Garcia- High fashion teamed with Saenz at 872-0527, ext. 5522, or at [email protected] 60% practicality! Over 300 or Madonna Tritle, 872-0527, ext. 5658 or at mtri- OFF exciting colors, vinyls and [email protected]. fabrics. Priced to make you smile. Loads of “Culinary Classics” at Michigan Thyme Outstanding exclusive quality features. Michigan Thyme Ltd. announces “Culinary Classics,” Vertical See them today! a series of cooking demonstrations and tastings with Chicago Chef Karen Horning to be held on Mondays, Blinds! mc-interiors.com 6-8:30 p.m. (MI time), and running April 10-June 12, at Michigan Thyme Cafe, 107 N Whittaker St., New Since 1950 Quality Products at Competitive Prices Buffalo, MI. Chef Horning received her culinary training at 1102 Franklin St., Michigan City 219-872-7236 • 1-800-949-4530 L’Ecole de Cuisine LaVarenne in Paris, France, and is a member of The International Association of Culinary Professionals. LIVE-IN CAREGIVERS AND MORE, INC. The “Culinary Classics” demonstrations will pro- Local Employment Agency vide for optional student participation and begins helps people maintain their independence in the on April 10 with Chef Horning’s specialty Artisan Breads security of their own homes since 1998 and Techniques. This class will feature popular and We provide: versatile yeast breads with special attention given to • 7 days/24 hours care and attention artisan techniques. • day or night shift assistance For fee information and to register, contact Michigan • limited medical/nursing services Thyme, 269/469-3470. • medication management • meal preparation • light housekeeping The Wind Symphony in Concert Michigan City: (219) 872-6221 Cell: (219) 221-1672 An alternative to nursing home On Sat., March 11, the Wind Symphony of the Wind and Percussion Institute of Carroll College, Waukesha, WI, will perform in concert with Lawrence Dale Harper as conductor. The concert will take place IS YOUR CPA YOUR at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 121 W. Ninth BUSINESS PARTNER? St., Michigan City. Admission is free. For more infor- WE WILL BE. mation, phone 879-4501. For your complimentary, no obligation copy of “Your Accountant – Your Partner,” Call 269.469.9300

DINNER SPECIALS WED. & THURS. $9.95 CPA & Business Advisory Services 23 N. Thompson Street Now Accepting Business and Open Wednesday - Sunday 5 pm (MI time) New Buffalo, Michigan 49117 Individual Clients U.S. 12 MICH.-IND. STATELINE • NEW BUFFALO MICHIGAN • 269.469.5300 THE March 9, 2006 Page 35 Ninth Annual Encores Musical Gala Thank You The Bruce Hornig Family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to all the wonderful people who attended the recent benefit for the family. Many dear friends organized the event, and their concern and hard work will forever be appreciated. The kindness of the individuals and businesses that donated time and resources will never be forgotten. The response to this event was amazing! It has been an honor to be part of such a wonderful community. The family sends their prayers and best wishes to all.

Sty each ling S g B al (L-R): Donna Blanchard, Brian Sherwinski, Laura Dooley, n on Bruce Berner, Jan Rees, Andy Urschel. o L Hair Party “Hooray for Hollywood” CTG’s Chicago Street Theatre (Valparaiso) is proud Monday, March 27th • 6:30-8:00 p.m. to present their ninth annual Encores musical gala, Join us for some fun, fashion & knowledge Hooray for Hollywood! Join them at Strongbow Inn, 20% Off 1st Time Guest Refreshments US 30, Valparaiso, on Sat., March 18th to celebrate Products 50% Discount Hollywood’s glorious heyday through the music that made us laugh, cry, dance, and fall in love! 219/872-6977 A featured part of the evening is the silent and live 2411 St. Lawrence Ave. • Long Beach auction. Many of the valued businesses in Valparaiso and the Northwest Indiana community donate items that are included in this very popular auction. At 6 p.m. there will be Cocktails (Cash Bar) and Silent Auction; 7 p.m. Dinner. Following dinner your toes will be tapping to the musical talent of local singers. Massage Community Theatre Guild, now in its 51st season Therapy of offering a diverse presentation of theatrical pro- Personal Fitness Training ductions, is one of the oldest and most successful organizations of its kind in Indiana. By its very def- inition, Encores is “a demand by an audience for … by Victoria LMT , CMT another performance”— and CTG’s annual Encores 219 . 861 . 9777 fundraising gala is CTG's way of saying thank you to 7654 E. Hwy. 20 • Michigan City the community for caring enough to ask for more! 100% of proceeds benefit Community Theatre Gift Certificates Available Guild's Chicago Street Theatre. Proceeds help support live theatre and building improvements at CTG’s Chicago Street Theatre. Ticket sales to CTG plays only cover 50% of expenses. Tickets are $50 per person. Tables of 8 are $400. enn ooff AAnng Only 300 tickets sold. A limited number of Celebrity QQuueee geellss Circle Tables in Preferred Seating are available for BookBook andand GiftGift $600. Reservations are requested by March 10 at “For All Your Religious Needs…” 219/462-4006. Hosted by Jim Henry, singers will include Donna Beautiful Communion Dresses, Veils, Rosaries, Blanchard, Laura Dooley, Stephanie Shappell, Jan Rees, Prayer Books, Jewelry, Gifts & Much More Bruce Berner, Karl Berner and Andy Urschel. Open (219) 872-7300 Reservations can be made by calling the Chicago Monday-Friday 10-5 Yes…We’re right next to Street Theatre box office at 219/464-1636 or by email Saturday 10-3 Tylisz Appliance at [email protected] or you may visit the web- 1605 E. Coolspring Avenue • Michigan City, IN 46360 site at www.ctgonline.org. THE Page 36 March 9, 2006 Judee’s 3rd Annual “For the Fight” Judee’s clothing store in LaPorte is the sponsor for this annual event which raises funds for the LaPorte Hospital Foundation Special Cancer Fund and Michigan City’s Open Door Clinic. Karen Ellison, event chairman, has announced that this year’s event Irresistible Mix of will take place on Thurs., April 27 in the Blue Chip ® ® Lionel , Thomas , Toys, Casino Ballroom in Michigan City. Books & Video During the hors d’oeuvres/cocktail hour beginning (269) 469-6811 at 5:30 p.m., guests will bid on many fabulous silent (800) 892-2822 auction items donated by many area merchants. A sit 16 S. Smith Street (across from Oink’s) down dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Local doctors New Buffalo, Michigan and business owners have volunteered to be waiters. The evening highlight will be a style show presented by Judee’s. The following websites have event information and silent auction items: judees.com; teamindiana.com and laportehealth.org/foundation Seating is limited to 300 people. Tickets are $50; $ WEDNESDAY - FAJITA’S FOR 2 14.95! send checks to The LaPorte Hospital Foundation, (Chicken or Steak) includes Quesadilla Appetizer & Alamo Ice Cream for dessert 1007 Lincolnway, LaPorte, IN 46350 or stop by their THURSDAY office. For more information, phone Karen Ellison, 219/362-2963 or Missy Grams, 219/871-0325. ALL “MEXICAN” DINNERS $9.99 (does not include Huachinango or Crockett Ribs) FALL HOURS: Wed.-Fri. Open at 5:00 P.M. • Sat. & Sun. Open at 1:00 P.M. • Closed Mon. & Tue. Music at the Box Factory 310 East Buffalo New Buffalo Mi The Riversong Music Society presents Cameo at the 269-469-9600 Box Factory for the Arts, Sat., March 11 at 8 p.m., MI time.Tickets at the door are $7; $5 for seniors over 60 and students. Cameo is a local band comprised of Riversong musicians Greg Ladewski on cello; Mary Czarnecki, guitar and vocals; and Gary Tope, mandolin. Their music kitchens, baths & flooring runs the gamut from Brahms to Bluegrass and will ï Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry include original tunes as well as traditional and folk. ï Custom Countertops ï Ceramic & Natural Stone Tile Other Riversong musicians will join the group on ï Carpet ï Wood & Laminate Flooring ï Window Blinds & Shutters some songs. ï California Closet Systems For more, visit www.boxfactoryforthearts.org or ï Interior Design, Planning & Consultation ï Complete Installation/Construction Services www.riversong.org or phone 269/983-3688. ï Kitchen/Bath Remodeling ï Room Additions, Decks, Porches, etc. ï Licensed in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois ï Free Estimates & Measuring 1916 E. Hwy. 20 ï Michigan City ï 219-871-0555 Innovations in Calligraphy www.dunelandinteriors.com Dunes Country Calligraphy Exploration is a new opportunity to explore your favorite media or learn the basics of a new one. Contemporary calligraphy goes beyond traditional “beautiful writing.” The art of color calligraphy combines letters and words with water- color, acrylic, pastel, and other media, techniques and applications used in this innovative art form. On Thurs., March 23 at 2 p.m., there will be a demonstration by Susan Schoech plus time to share calligraphy ideas and potential directions for a new calligraphy group at the Chesterton Art Center. The current calligraphy class at the Center will be traveling to Chicago later this month to see the annual juried calligraphy exhibition created by members of the Chicago Calligraphy Collective at the Newberry Library; phone 219/926-4711 for more details. THE March 9, 2006 Page 37 TCP Offering Scholarship Twin City Players has announced that applica- tion forms for the 2006 Brian Swiger Memorial Scholarship are now available at all Berrien County high schools. Students wishing to apply should contact their counselors. Established by Twin City Players in 1996 in memory of former member Brian Swiger, the $1000 schol- OPEN WEEKENDS Saturday/Sunday 11 am - 6 pm arship is earmarked for seniors graduating from DESIGN SERVICES AVAILABLE. Berrien County high schools who have demonstrat- Please call for an appointment ed a strong interest in theater-related activities dur- 14913 Lakeside Road, Lakeside, Michigan 49116 ing their grade school and high school careers. Tel 269-469-2344 • Fax 269-469-0254 Winners, however, can use the award money to pur- sue any field of study at any accredited college, university, trade school or arts education institution. Applications also can be obtained by phoning the Twin City Players box office at 269/429-0400. 219-874-2015 Applications should be mailed to Twin City Players, QUIETLY Box 243, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or hand delivered to CONDUCTING THE the TCP Playhouse at 600 W. Glenlord Road in St. BUSINESS OF Joseph, and must be received by April 1. The winner will be announced in late May or early June. PRODUCING Twin City Players was founded in 1932 and incor- FINE WORK porated in 1934. It is one of Michigan’s oldest, con- SINCE 1961 tinuously operating community theaters.

Looking for Playwrights WENTLAND CONSTRUCTION Twin City Players is extending an invitation to area playwrights to present samples of their work at the organization’s March membership meeting on Mon., March 13, at the Twin City Players Playhouse, Giving Furniture New Life Since 1939 600 West Glenlord Rd. in south St. Joseph, starting Lou Butcher’s at 7 p.m. MI time. Playwrights wishing to be included in the program are asked to call Susan Plee, TCP FURNITURE membership chairman, at 269/463-5308. F According to Plee, guest playwrights will have the WEINCRKS opportunity to present segments of their plays them- Refinish • Upholster • Restore selves or have them read by experienced Twin City Guaranteed Craftsmanship • Pick-Up & Delivery in IL, IN, MI Players actors. Visit Our Showroom with Over 15,000 Designer Fabric Choices Twin City Players was founded in 1932 and incor- 219-872-1700 porated in 1934. It is one of Michigan’s oldest, con- 4980 W. Hwy 20 • In “The Pines” • Michigan City, IN 46360 tinuously operating community theaters. www.furniturewerks.com

Harbor Country Book Club Thomas Mulcahy The Harbor Country Book Club meets the last Mulcahy Builders General Contractor, PE Tuesday of each month, except December, all year long. All readers are welcome to attend the meeting at QUALITY BUILT the Harbor Grand Hotel, New Buffalo, from 7:30-9 p.m. CUSTOM HOMES & MI time. Selections for the March 28th meeting are: Inherit the Wind, a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert MAJOR REMODELING E. Lee and What’s the Matter with Kansas? by PROJECTS Thomas Frank. A complete list of the books selected for 2006 is avail- Materials supplied by 219.241.1020 (cell) able at the New Buffalo Public Library or St. Mary Pioneer Lumber, Inc. [email protected] of the Lake School, New Buffalo. You need not have www.mulcahybuilders.com read the books to participate. THE Page 38 March 9, 2006

WARREN J. ATTAR Activities to Explore Agent In the Local Area: Representing State Farm Since 1971 March 9 -- Carl Payne in concert (Celtic music to My 24 Hour Good Neighbor Service Number is Van Morrison) at The Acorn Theater, 107 Generations (219) 874-4256 Dr., Three Oaks, MI. 8 pm MI time. Tix $10; reserve STATE FARM Auto 1902 E. US 20 • Evergreen Plaza at 269/756-3879 or purchase at the door. Story this Life Fire

INSURANCE Michigan City, IN 46360 ® issue. www.acorntheater.com Fax: (219) 874-5430 March 9-12 -- “Of Mice and Men.” Presented by the 4th Street Theatre, 125 N. 4th St., Chesterton. Curtain 8 pm except Sun at 3 pm. Tix $10; reserve at 219/926-7875. (219) 879-9528 Hair Studio New York March 9-13 -- “Transamerica” starring Felicity Huffman. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards and a Golden Globe. Rated R. 134 mins. Thurs, Fri, 6:30 pm; Sat, Sun, 4 & 6:30 pm; Mon, 6:30 pm. Also showing:

1101 Pine Street • Michigan City, Indiana 46360 “Mrs. Henderson Presents.” Nominated for 2 Academy Awards and a Golden Globe, starring Judi Dench. Rated Formerly of Vidal Sassoon/New York City E-mail: [email protected] R. Thurs-Mon, 9 pm only. (all MI times). Vickers Dennis Theatre, 6 N. Elm St., Three Oaks, MI. 269/756- 3522 or www.vickerstheatre.com March 10 -- Chicago Afrobeat Project (CAbP) in con- WURSTER FAMILY MARKET cert at The Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Dr., Three Oaks, MI. 8 pm MI time. Tix $15; reserve at FRESH MEATS 269/756-3879 or purchase at the door. Story this We Specialize in Custom Cutting and Home Freezer Processing issue. www.acorntheater.com 1904 E. US 20 - Evergreen Plaza, Michigan City March 11 -- Winter Farmer’s Market. 9 am-noon 219-872-0844 Mon.-Sat. in front of Top Dog Restaurant, 701 Washington St., 9 am-6 pm MC. Info: 874-3647. Save Time! Fax Your Order @ 878-0849 March 11 -- The Wind Symphony of the Wind and Percussion Institute of Carroll College (Waukeska, WI) in concert. Lawrence Dale Harper, Conductor. 7 pm THE THE LAST at First Presbyterian Church, 121 W. 9th St., MC. Adm. free. Info: 219/879-4501. BOOKSTORE TEMPLAR March 11-12 -- Maple Sugar Festival at Chellberg by Raymond Khoury Farm, Mineral Springs Rd., Porter, IN. 10 am-4 pm. hardback $24.95 Tours, refreshments and more. Parking fee of $3/cars and $20/buses. Info: 219/926-7561, ext. 225. 1203 LIGHTHOUSE PLACE MICHIGAN CITY March 11-12 -- Maple Syrup Time at Deep River 219/879-3993 County Park. 10 am-4 pm. Free. Guided tours, visit the Grist Mill and purchase cornmeal or maple syrup. Videos in the Visitor Center. Take US 30 west past ALL-PRO CONSTRUCTION CO. Valparaiso to Deep River Water Park; go past to next signal light, turn right and follow signs. Kitchens • Bathrooms • Garages • Roofing • Siding • Decks March 12 -- “Night Landscape” demonstration by Porches • Concrete Work • Exterior & Interior Painting artist Mark VanderVinne on how to paint a night scene. 20% DISCOUNT ON ALL REMODELING 1:30 pm at the Chesterton Art Center, 115 S. 4th “Improving With The Future” St., Chesterton. 219/926-4711. Cell: 919 Hwy. 212 Office: March 12 -- Sinai Sunday Evening Forum: Irshad 219-898-4069 Michigan City, IN 46360 219-874-2069 Manji. 7:30 pm at Elston Middle School, 317 Detroit St., MC. Tix at door subject to availability. March 13 -- Lubeznik Art Center Guild meeting. 9:30 am at the Center, 102 W. 2nd St., MC. Program at 10:30 am presented by Bill Bolton: “Your Springtime 19 Years of Garden.” Guests invited to attend. Questions: 874-4900. FREE DELIVERY March 13 -- AAUW meeting. 4 pm at Lubeznik LITTLE GIANT Center for the Arts, 102 W. 2nd St., MC. Featuring 87G - IANT coupon valuable tour of the center and dinner. To attend, phone Julie REAL PIZZA 874 - 4268 Name & Address

of Long Beach NOT VALID WITH OTHER OFFERS Krieghbaum, 872-3730.

$1.00 off 16'' LARGE any March 15 -- St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon at MC Senior 50¢ off 14'' MEDIUM any ia ______Phone Number: ______Center, Washington Park. Noon. $6 includes corned THE March 9, 2006 Page 39 beef and fixin’s. Notre Dame Chorus in song and dance at 1 pm. Info: 873-1504. Hours: 10:30 to 6 269/469-6151 March 15 -- Women in Eng. and Tech. meeting at The PNC in the Library-Student-Faculty Bldg. Rm 02. 4:45 pm. Free & open to the public; refreshments will be Villager served. Speaker is Martha Garcia-Saenz, PNC Assoc. Professor. Story this issue. GIFTS • ACCESSORIES March 16 -- Flying Carpet Travelogue: “Western 100 N. Whittaker Street New Buffalo, MI Canada, Far and Wild” presented by John Wilson. 7 pm at the Elston Performing Art theater, 317 Detroit St., MC. Tix $5/adults, $2.50/students grades 1-12 at the door. Ted Perzanowski, M.Div., B.A. Every Monday -- New Buffalo Chess Club. 6 pm (MI time) at the New Buffalo Public Library, 33 N. Essential Life Skills Training Thompson, New Buffalo. Open to all ages and skill lev- An effective alternative to counseling and psychotherapy els. Info: John Calo, 269/469-6507 or email jscalo@local- for individuals and couples net.com Michigan City, IN - 219.879.9155 • Chicago, IL - 312.938.9155 Places to Visit: [email protected] Barker Mansion, 631 Washington St., Michigan City. Adm. $4/adults, $2/kids 18 & under, free/kids under 3. Guided tours Mon.-Fri., 10 am, 11:30 am & 1 pm; Sat/Sun noon & 2 pm. 219-873-1520. Great Lakes Museum of Military History, 360 Country Care Living Dunes Plaza, Michigan City. Open 9 am-4 pm, Tues- Fri; 10 am-4 pm Sat; closed Sun & Mon. Adm. Donna Garrett, Owned & Operated $3/adults, $2/vets & senior citizens, $1/ages 8-18, LET US CARE FOR YOUR ELDERLY and free to under 8 and active military personnel. Info LOVED ONES IN OUR HOME 872-2702 or www.militaryhistorymuseum.org LaPorte County Historical Museum. Currently Indian Springs - Hwy 35 879-9701 closed for move to new location. Projected opening: Spring 2006. 219/326-6808, ext. 276 or www.lapcohistsoc.org Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W. 2nd St., Michigan City. Tues.-Fri., 10 am-5 pm; Sat-Sun, 11 De Vries Tire Co. 1260 E. Michigan Blvd. am-4 pm. Phone 874-4900. Michigan City, IN New Buffalo Railroad Museum, 530 S. Whittaker St., New Buffalo, MI. Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm; Sat-Sun, Serving the Michigan City Area since 1968 219 874-4261 10 am-3 pm (MI time). Info: 269/469-5409. Old Lighthouse Museum, Washington Park, Michigan City. Closed until spring. 872-6133. Firestone Tires Rag Tops Museum of Michigan City, 209 W. Michigan Blvd., Michigan City. A collection of classic, antique specializing in: & unusual vehicles & memorabilia. Open every day Computerized Alignments 10 am-7 pm. Adm. $6/adults, $5/sen. cit, $4/kids, free/under 3. 878-1514. Air Conditioning Repairs Washington Park Zoo, Michigan City. Closed until Mechanical Repairs May 1st. 873-1510. Farther Afield: March 11 -- “Shiloh Crossing” in concert at Espress VON DER HEIDE Yourself Cafe & Deli, 505 Silhavy Rd., Valparaiso. 7:30 ARCHITECTS pm. Adm. free; smoke-free facility. 219/531-9400. INCORPORATED March 15 -- Winter Video series at Krasl Art Creating unique living environments in the Center, 707 Lake Blvd., St. Joseph, MI. Noon MI Indiana & Michigan Lakeshore Communities time. This week: “The Line King-The Al Hirschfeld www.vdharchitects.com 269.857.8035 Story.” (63 mins.) Discussion following video. Take your lunch; coffee will be served. Free & open to the public. 269/983-0271 or www.krasl.org March 19 -- Poetry Reading at Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI. 1:30 pm MI time. Free & open to the public. Featuring John Poch and Laura Van Prooyen. www.boxfactoryforthearts.org or www.poetryfactory.net THE Page 40 March 9, 2006 Travels with Charley: A Cautious Sunday Afternoon Walk through “Cougar Country” by Charles McKelvy

An alert reader took me to task last year when I of the park, we spotted tracks of people, dogs, fox and laughed off reports that a cougar was believed to be red squirrels, but none from cougars. prowling around Warren Dunes State Park in Sawyer, Michigan. The anonymous correspondent said one should never — ever — never make light of cougar sightings, adding that one should always proceed with caution wherever cougars might be near. Well, I sure got my head turned all the way around since that firm reminder came in the mail, because there have since been many convincing cougar sightings in southwest Michigan. The local newspapers have been so full of them that Natalie and I started won- dering if it was safe to walk in what we fondly refer to as our “country club.” We were especially concerned considering that Natalie goes in search of the cougar at Warren Dunes State Park. some friends of ours who live near the state park had actually seen a cougar drinking from their pond on We looked about constantly and, if confronted by a Sunday morning in January. a cougar, we planned to do what the experts suggested Also known as a catamount, mountain lion, pan- by raising our arms over our heads and making a big ther, or puma, the large, powerful tawny cat appeared ruckus to convince the big cat that we were an even at about 7:30 a.m. on the opposite bank of a pond in bigger threat. the family’s backyard and calmly hunkered down But in the end, all our tromping up and down the for a drink as the family dog, a 95-pound German dunes, and along the beach, and through the remains Shepherd, barked furiously. of the old church camp, we never saw a single cougar. The cougar, according to the husband, was not troubled in the least by the big dog’s aggressive behavior. “That cougar is at the top of the food chain, and he knew it,” the man said later that same day. After calmly eyeing the family dog from the opposite side of a foot bridge, the cougar majestically padded back into the woods from whence it had come. The author The husband was kind enough to allow us to exam- searches the ine the scene of the cougar sighting, and, yes, there beach for were unmistakable cougar tracks in the snow lead- cougars. He saw none. ing back into a thick stand of woods in the adjacent Warren Dunes State Park. And that is precisely where Natalie and I love to take long Sunday afternoon walks. We wondered for a week or two if we should stay away altogether from our country club, but then we hearkened to the voices of reason that were saying that cougars are nocturnal and decidely shy of people. However, we did have the eerie sense that a single One letter writer to the local papers said folks who cougar might have certainly seen the two of us as we live in such known cougar states as Idaho can live their passed peacefully through its domain. Alas, we came entire lives without ever seeing one big cat in the wild. back with nothing on the Beacher camera but plen- So, taking a firm but cautious “live and let live” atti- ty of puma-less postcard shots of one of the most tude, Natalie and I set forth on a recent Sunday popular state parks in all of Michigan. afternoon for a long winter’s hike in our beloved Was a cougar really watching us as we walked dunes. Winter had made something of a comeback, so through its woods? there was a light dusting of snow with which to cap- Who knows? ture cougar tracks. But we knew when we got back to the car that we Well, after putting in at Floral Lane and tromping were not about to give up our Sunday walks in Warren way back into the remote “Great Warren Dune” area Dunes. THE March 9, 2006 Page 41 The Framing Station

View the area’s largest selection of his wellhouse is all that remains of the old church camp. It South Shore inspired a ghost story that Posters! you will one day read in the Great gift idea!!! Beacher. posters available framed or unframed

912 Franklin, Michigan City a Monday - Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 4 y 715 Indiana Ave., LaPorte We will certainly never laugh off another cougar sight- r Tuesday - Friday 9 to 4, Saturday 9 to 1 ing, and we will certainly be careful out there in Area’s largest selection of South Shore Posters. cougar country. But we will also go forth with gratitude that a magnificent creature that was once thought to be lost may still dwell among us. Residential After all, we are the ones the cougar has to fear. We are the ones who destroyed its habitat, felled New Construction the trees, drained the swamps, paved paradise, and sub-divided the meadows until there was practical- also additions, remodels, ly no place for a wild cat to go. decks and siding So it was actually quite exciting to us that glorious Sunday afternoon that we could actually be in a “Thoughtful building, place called “cougar country” and yet be only five miles away from home. And while we never saw a cougar, we sure did get start to finish” a fleeting look at a Cooper’s hawk as it swooped from one tree to another. Clearly, there was still room for BLUE LINE CONSTRUCTION that winged predator to ply its trade at Warren Dunes, and for that we were grateful. Chuck Henderson And as for that elusive cougar whose tracks we had 219-872-0688 so clearly seen in January, we had just this one clos- ing thought: Go in peace, brother/sister cougar, and please let us all do likewise. Michigan City’s newest Pub in one of its oldest neighborhoods! Choices for the whole family! Join us for the St. Patrick’s Weekend

Friday, FUN, FOOD, MUSIC March 17th Irish Dinner Features, Draft Beer Specials

Saturday, IRISH SODA BREAD CONTEST March 18th Applications may be picked up at the Bar

Sunday, IRISH BREAKFAST 10:00 am - 12:00 pm March 19thBLOODY MARY BAR 11:00 am - 2:00 pm 227 W. 7th St. • 872-8200 • www.mcginnispub.com This dazzling dunescape is there for all to enjoy. THE Page 42 March 9, 2006 Long Beach SLM Women’s Bowling February 28, 2006 Carpet & Floor TEAM STANDING WON LOST Services 1. The Gutter Golfers 25.0 11.0 2. Alley Cats 21.5 14.5 • Carpet Cleaning 3. Bowling Boobies 20.5 15.5 • Upholstery Cleaning HIGH TEAM GAME SCORE • Tile & Grout Cleaning 1. Gutter Golfers 666 • Hardwood Floor Cleaning 2. Bowling Boobies 644 • Oriental Rug Cleaning 3. Alley Cats 624 > Leaves rooms ready to use HIGH TEAM SERIES SCORE right away! 1. Gutter Golfers 1861 2. The Hopefuls 1769 Free Estimates 3. Bowling Boobies 1765 INSTITUTE HIGH INDIVIDUAL GAME SCORE of INSPECTION 1. Sue Luegers 209 host CLEANING 2. Kathy Osborne 190 and The Dry Extraction RESTORATION 3. Ellen Childres 170 Carpet Cleaning System CERTIFICATION 4. Char Cook 165 CALL 219-448-0224 HIGH INDIVIDUAL SERIES SCORE 1. Sue Luegers 575 or 574-654-0071 2. Kathy Osborne 477 3. Bev Else 431 4. Char Cook 430 STRIKES IN A ROW: Sue Luegers (3 twice), Kathy Osborne (3), Ellen Childers (3), Sue Wrenn (3) SPLITS: 3-7 split picked up by June Salmon 9-10 split picked up by Barb Macudzinski

La Lumiere School at Science Olympiad On February 18, the La Lumiere School Science team competed in the Indiana Science Olympiad Regional competition at Indiana University, Northwest. The team finished first in the small school divisions and fourth overall out of twelve competing schools. The following students won medals in the individual contests: First Place: Donny Chu and Aakash Sharma – Circuit Lab Second Place: James Chang and Donny Chu – Practical Problem Solving Third Place: Marly Tristano and Natalee Allenbaugh – Disease Detectives; Joe Grossbauer and Ted Stamp – Don’t Bug Me; Daniela Lopez and Jesse Jung – Health Science; Nate Lange and Ted Stamp – Robot Ramble; Charlie Siedlecki and Taylor Zobrosky – Rocks and Minerals; Josh Katz and Aakash Sharma – Storm the Castle. THE March 9, 2006 Page 43

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CLASSIFIED HIRE Sue’s HUSBAND CLASSIFIED RATES - (For First 2 Lines.) Is your list of household repair & maintenance projects growing? 1-3 ads - $7.00 ea. •• 4 or more ads - $5.50 ea. (Additional lines- $1.00 ea.) Small jobs welcome. - Quality Work. — Call Ed Berent PH: 219/879-0088 - FAX 219/879-8070. @ 219/879-8200. Email • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CLASSIFIED ADS MUST BE RECEIVED BY H & H HOME REPAIR FRIDAY - 4:00 P.M. - PRIOR TO THE WEEK OF PUBLICATION • Carpentry • Custom Decks • Doors/Windows/Siding • Home PERSONAL SERVICES Maintenance. 27 Years experience. Insured. — 219/326-8512. CUSTOM PC TECHNOLOGIES – Home/Office Calls, Computer Set-up, A.R.M. MECHANICALS INC. Phone 866-276-7556. Free estimates. System Restoration, File Transfers, Wired & Wireless Networks, Repairs, Plumbing Services, Repair, Remodel, New Construction. Upgrades, Dependable On Call Service. Sewer New, Repair, Replacement. Water and Drain Re-pipe. For all your computer needs, call 219/872-7478. Hot Water Heaters. Water Softeners. License #PC19400088. Service with YOU in Mind! BILL SMART – Home Repair & Remodeling • Carpentry • Electrical SAVE YOUR PRECIOUS MEMORIES DIGITALLY ON CDs OR DVDs The one man for all your big jobs too small for the big contractors. Home movies-slides-pictures transferred to CDs or DVDs You better call me now, because by May 1st, I will be booked up. Wedding & Event Documentation. Serving Harbor Country since 2001 • 269-469-4407. Corporate and Industrial Video Productions THOSE ONE GUYS CONSTRUCTION. Give us a call, no job too big or Contact: Patrick Landers at Midwest Video Communications too small. Insured. 10% senior discount. Free estimates. Specializing in: 219-879-8433 or email [email protected] roofing, siding, decks, fencing, drywall and lots more. Call 219-331-3480. IS YOUR PIANO FLAT AND OUT OF SHAPE? Call Marshall Gisondi, Piano Tuner/Technician TODAY and schedule your piano tuning. PAINTING-DRYWALL-WALLPAPER 574-360-6783 South Bend (free call on your Verizon cell phone) WISTHOFF PAINTING — REFERENCES Email: [email protected] Small Jobs Welcome — Call 219/874-5279 SKILLED, COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVER JEFFERY J. HUMAN INTERIOR/EXTERIOR PAINTING & STAINING to assist w/loved one in your home. Excellent ref. & reasonable rates. Custom Decorating - Custom Woodwork - Hang/Finish Drywall Call 219-874-3821 or 219-877-4302. Wallpaper Removal – Trim Carpentry TRAVEL SERVICES 27-Years experience. Insured. Ph. 219/326-8512. WEBER TRAVEL (Since 1956): Specialists in Apple-Funjet-Cruises- THE A & L PAINTING COMPANY — INTERIOR & EXTERIOR Disney-Las Vegas-Groups-Honeymoons-Europe Tours & Bargain Air. 20-YEARS EXPERIENCE. Also Power Wash, Seal & Paint Decks. For EXPERT SERVICE and THE BEST PRICE, call ROBERT 13 yr. anniversary 10% off labor discount for all of 2006. at 800-886-7012 or email [email protected] Seniors (65 +) 15% off. References. Reasonable. 219/778-4145. and ask for the $25 BEACHER BOOKING BONUS!- HALDY BROTHERS PAINTING - Interior & Exterior. Licensed & SELF IMPROVEMENT - INSTRUCTIONS Insured. Experienced & Reliable - Call 1-866/255-9266 • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• MUSIC TEACHER - Special Music, Parties, etc. MICHIANA PAINTING & PRESSURE CLEANING Lessons - Pop & Traditional — Call 219/872-1217. Winter Special on Interior Painting — Free Estimates HEALTH & PHYSICAL FITNESS Call 219/879-8017 or 24 hr. cell 219/861-3966. • • • MASSAGE THERAPY & WELLNESS CENTER • • • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Therapeutic Massage • Acupuncture • Brain Gym • QiGong Classes • DUNIVAN POWER WASHING AND PAINTING –Interior/Exterior. Local. Reflexology • Healing Touch • Feldenkrais® Experienced. Insured. Reasonable Rates. • Personal Fitness Training Call Brian at 219-741-0481. Dog Massage Classes • Gift Certificates www.wellness-specialists.com LANDSCAPE-Lawns-Clean Up, Etc. Call 219/879-5722. H & D TREE SERVICE and LANDSCAPING, INC. — ACUPUNCTURE & HERBAL MEDICINE CENTER Full service tree and shrub care. Trimming, planting, removal. Jennifer Huang, Licensed Acupuncturist — Call 219/879-2100. Firewood, snowplowing, excavating. — Call 872-7290. FREE ESTIMATES CLEANING - HOUSEKEEPING HEALY’S LANDSCAPE & STONE FINISHING TOUCH: Residential & Specialty Cleaning Service 219/879-5150 — FAX 219-879-5344 Professional - Insured - Bonded - Uniformed http://www.healysland.com - [email protected] #1 in Customer Satisfaction. Phone 219/872-8817. Voted: BEST LANDSCAPE SUPPLY YARD IN N.W. INDIANA! PERSONAL TOUCH CLEANING — Homes - Condos - Offices. 15+ Types of Flagstone, 30+ Types of Stone, Day and afternoons available. - Call Darla at 219/879-2468. Granite boulders, River Rock, Mulch, We Do It Right The Very First Time Landscaping, Stonescaping, Ponds, Patios, Walls, Pavers, Design! COOLSPRING CLEANERS WE NOW CARRY Bluestone Veneer (better than cultured stone) Beach Rentals - Homes - Offices - Apartments - Construction Because it’s REAL! Free Estimates - Insured - Excellent References Spring SALE: Canadian Hemlocks Starting @$150, Call 219/874-7635, or 219/861-6328. Pachysandra/English Ivy $24/Flat, Concolor, Pine, FINAL TOUCH HOUSE CLEANING & WINDOW WASHING. Serbian Spruce Ask! Reasonable. Quality service. Ref. avail. Call Debbie at 219-879-1429. JIM’S LAWN SERVICE & SNOW PLOWING ALDONA’S HOUSE LIKE NEW CLEANING SERVICE. Lithuanian lady Free est. Call 219-874-2715. Leave message! seeks more houses to clean. Excellent service. Refs. - 219/898-0109 HOUSE CLEANING. Reasonable rates. Dependable service. ADDIE’S LAWN MAINTENANCE • Residential & Commercial Call Kris at 219-363-8648. Yard Clean-Up • Mowing• Aeration• Thatching• We also do Ext. Power SUZANNE’S CLEANING Wash, Stain & Seal. Free Estimates. We Beat Any Written Price. 219/326-5578. Call 219-879-2017 or (cell) 219-210-8589 - Leave message. TIRED OF WORKING ALL DAY? No Nights or Weekends Free? Call Mrs. Clean for all of your cleaning needs. — 219-872-5745 POULARD LANDSCAPING SERVICE. Free Estimates…Landscape Design… HANDYMAN-HOME REPAIR-PLUMBING Spring Clean Up/Leaf Removal…Lawn Mowing, etc. QUALITY CARPENTRY: Expert remodeling of kitchens, bathrooms. Outdoor Fireplaces, Fire Pits, Ponds and Waterfalls. Also: doors, windows, skylights, ceramic tile, drywall, decks & repairs. Reasonable Prices, Licensed in Long Beach…Insured… Small jobs welcome. Call Ed at 219/878-1791. Home 219-879-3705…Cell 219-448-0907. Ask for Johannes. THE Page 44 March 9, 2006

H&S SERVICES —2621 E. US HIGHWAY 12 LONG BEACH HOUSE FOR RENT ON LAKE SHORE DRIVE Call 219/872-8946 3/BR. A/C. Fpl. Furn. Summer wkly. rentals avail. Also avail Sept thru Let Us Be Your One Stop Shop May. $750/mo + util. Call 708/424-8756, or 219/874-8428. Colored Mulch - Topsoil - River Rock FLINT LAKE – VALPARAISO. Charming home on wooded hillside. Retaining Wall Blocks - Natural Stone Spacious LR. Big frpl. Country kitchen. 1BR. Study. Steps to beach. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Peaceful. 1 hr. to Chicago, 10 mins. to Valparaiso University. $720/mo. Call 219-464-2499 or 310-398-0603. ATTENTION DRIVERS willing to train to obtain CDL! NO EXPERI- ENCE NECESSARY! TMC Transportation needs drivers. Guaranteed CHARMING MICHIANA SHORES COTTAGE. 1/4 blk. from lake, Stop weekly earnings. Premium equipment and benefits. Excellent earn- 37. 3 BR + loft., 2BA. Sleeps 8 comfortably. C/A, frpl, screened back ing potential and still be OFF WEEKENDS! It’s not a job, it’s a porch, wraparound deck. Porch off master BR. Grill, D/W. All util., cable future! FOR CDL Training through Commercial Driver Institute in included, except phone calls. Avail. June, July 8-22, July 29 thru Sept. 30. South Bend, IN. Call today. - 1-800-882-7364 AC0064 Call Judy, 847-814-8215 or Mike, 847-321-8661. MARKETING EXECUTIVES, earn a CEO level income without the Email [email protected] stress. Lucrative comp plan puts profits in your pockets. COZY KNOTTY PINE COTTAGE IN SHERIDAN BEACH. 4BR, 2BA Call for interview. 1-800-345-9688, ext. 1314. 1/2 blk. from beach. A/C, cable. Modern kitchen. Close to park and zoo. WANT TO SELL $1,000.00/wk. Call 708-383-2635. LAKEFRONT 1BR APARTMENT. Furnished, utilities and cable included. USED OFFICE FURNITURE AT FIRME’S No smoking, no pets. $800/mo. Call 219-872-6671. (2 Stores) 11th & Franklin Streets, Michigan City - 219/874-3455 Highway 12, Beverly Shores - Just West of Traffic Light. ***SUMMER RENTAL-HOUSE ON STOP 16*** 3BR, Fam. Rm., 2-1/2BA, A/C, W/D, BBQ, Cable. 1993 SEA RAY SEA RAYER and TRAILER Private Beach! Call 630-363-3176. 4 passenger. Looks & runs great. $2,900. Call 219-879-8239. HARBOR COUNTRY: Unique cottage with large, two story living 2 WOOD KINDERCRAFT CRIBS $125 ea.; JEEP DOUBLE STROLLER space. 2/BR, 2/Baths. Can sleep 6. Large screened porch. Lovely $100; 2 GRAYCO HIGHCHAIRS $50 ea. Call 219-879-1711. terrace & garden. Gourmet kitchen. W/D. A/C. Cable, TV/DVD, WANT TO BUY Stereo, Computer. All linens. Bicycles. 8 blocks to beautiful beach. Motivated Buyer for Commercial Property Sat./Sat. rental, $1,200/wk. Photos avail. A must see. 773/929-2295. Office/Retail/Apartments/Warehouse SHORELAND HILLS RENTAL. 3BR, 2BA, furnished, W/D. 2 blks. to Best Price for your property. Close quickly. 773-251-1714 Maggie. lake. Avail. to 6/30/06. $725 per month includes lawn/leaf maint., but not utilities. No pets. Call Bob N. at (800)899-2699 or Clare N. at (708) 579- REAL ESTATE 1193. Recently remodeled. “Must see to appreciate.” COMMERCIAL - RENTALS/LEASE/SELL SPACIOUS 5BD, 3BA LONG BEACH HOME. 1 blk. from Stop 28 GOLDEN SANDES STORE AND LOCK beach. Available for summer rental. Call for available dates. 4407 E. U.S. 12 (@ Hwy. 212) Michigan City, IN. 219/879-5616. Call 630-323-5941 or e-mail [email protected] FOR LEASE WITH IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY SUMMER HOUSE FOR RENT IN LONG BEACH Approximately 1,500 square feet of executive office space located at Large 4BR, 2BA rehabbed vintage Oriole Trail cottage. Screened porch. 1411 S. Woodland Ave., Michigan City, IN. Contemporary style, ample Short walk to Stop 28 beach. One week only avail. Aug. 6-13 @ $950/wk. drive up parking and energy efficient. Call 219/872-0318. Call 219-874-4316 or 773-871-7304. OFFICE SUITE. 3 private offices and reception area. Expenses, except BEVERLY SHORES SPACIOUS TREE TOP HOME. Perched on a dune, phone, paid. Well maintained, high traffic area. 2811 E. Michigan Blvd., short walk to sandy beach. 4BR, 4BA. Designer furnished. Sleeps 10+. Michigan City. (219) 879-9188, 879-2700. Weekly rental $2,495 (Beacher discount $100). WANTED – RENTAL ”Crate & Barrel meets pine trees and privacy.” Call 773-425-0554. LONG BEACH ON THE LAKE. RESPONSIBLE PERSON LOOKING FOR A 2-3BR RENTAL in the 3BR, 2-1/2BA, new appliances, A/C. beach area. Willing to pay $500-$700/month. Must be clean, relatively By week or month. Call 773-405-9879. new appliances, W/D, and accept well behaved 12 yr. old dog. Phone Susan 219-861-6188. CLASSIC BEACH COTTAGE IN SHERIDAN BEACH. Steps from beach. Sleeps up to 10. New carpet & furn. 5BR, 2-1/2BA. RENTALS INDIANA Call Linda at 708-784-1465 or www.vrbo.com/56490 HOUSE FOR RENT IN LONG BEACH MICHIGAN CITY HOUSE FOR RENT. 2BR, 2BA. 3/BR. Across from lake. Great view & beach. Call 219/874-8692. For viewing appointment, call evenings or leave message LONG BEACH COZY 4/BR HOUSE AT STOP 15 (Across from Beach) 269-469-8046. Fireplace and Large Deck. No pets. Call 708/370-1745. CHARMING POOLHOUSE. Walking distance to beautiful Lake Michigan. Sleeps 10. See our web listing at www.greatrentals.com DUNESCAPE BEACH CLUB or call 312-638-5197. LAKEFRONT CONDOS — 2 and 3 bedrooms. LUXURY LOG CABIN HOME. Walking distance to beautiful Avail. Sept.-June — $1,400 to $2,000 per month. Lake Michigan. Sleeps 8. See listing at www.greatrentals.com DUNESCAPE REALTY - 219/872-0588. or call 312-638-5197. SHERIDAN BEACH. Contemporary, spacious, furn. 3BR, 2-1/2BA home. 2-car garage. Outstanding lake vistas. Short or long term. Call 630-852- RENTALS MICHIGAN 5414, e-mail [email protected], www.michigancityrental.com ON LAKE MICHIGAN, NEW BUFFALO. 2BR condo Warwick Shores. LONG BEACH SINGLE FAMILY YEAR ROUND ON DOUBLE LOT 2 Also cottages. Private beach, pool, tennis, summer or year round rental. BLKS. FROM STOP 28. Well maintained open flr. plan with gorgeous Call 269-469-0300-wkdays, 269-469-2943-even. & wk. ends. hrdw. flrs. & frpl. Comfortably sleeps 12. New separate basement guest BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE MICHIANA COTTAGE FOR RENTAL suite with full bath, laundry & bunk beds. The best and biggest beach in One block from beautiful Lake Michigan Beach at Stop 39. Fully Long Beach. Call 847-251-7494 or visit http://vrbo.com/57932 furnished—Charming Deco decor. Air conditioned, forty windows to SHERIDAN BEACH EXECUTIVE RENTAL. Beautifully furnished and catch lake breezes. Sleeps up to eight persons. Three bedrooms. fully equipped large, modern, luxury 3BR, 1-1/2BA across from beach. Two full baths. Two woodburning fireplaces. New kitchen. Secluded Weekly, monthly or long term. Call 219-872-4446. forty oak tree landscape with Adirondack chairs and hammocks. THE PERFECT BEACH HOUSE IN SHERIDAN BEACH TVs with cable and movie channels. BBQ grill. Pets welcome. Prefer 3BR, 2.5BA. 1 blk. to beach. Great big eat-in kitchen. Pool table. multiple weeks but will consider weekly. Fireplace, 2 decks w/gas grill. Satellite TV w/DVR, DVD, VCR. W/D. A/C. Call [773] 528-0825 or [773] 281-7100, or 773-454-2200. REALLY COMFY BEDS! Sleeps 10. Rates negotiable. 3 BLOCKS TO BEACH. 5BR, 4BA HOUSE for rent. Contact Stacy, 312-282-1535 or email [email protected] For viewing appointment, call evenings or leave message for pictures and more info. 269-469-8046. THE March 9, 2006 Page 45

YEAR ROUND COTTAGE RENTAL IN NEW BUFFALO. Charming, newly-renovated. Sleeps 8. 3BR, 3BA, cable, fully equipped kitchen/new appliances, W/D, linens and C/A. Deluxe gas grill on large deck and outdoor play set. Overlooking the boat docks, a 2 block walk from the public beach and downtown. Weekly rental $1600. Call Maggie Bogue – 773-394-9496. VERY NICE LOVE NEST – 1BR CUTE AND COZY. On March 9, 1822, New York’s Charles M. Graham Fieldstone fireplace, W/D, C/A. $650/month + security deposit. Non-smokers. Single or couple only. Call 269-469-4544. was granted a patent for artificial teeth. SMALL 2BR HOME IN NEW BUFFALO. $600/month. On March 9, 1862, during the Civil War, the iron- Renter pays utilities. Call Al or Nadra at Nadra K Real Estate clad “Monitor” and the “Virginia,” formerly the for info & to see home. 269/469-2090. “Merimac,” fought for five hours off Hampton Roads, REAL ESTATE FOR SALE Virginia. Neither vessel was able to seriously dam- STOP 20, LONG BEACH. New Construction for a Family Home. Call Tom @ Mulcahy Builders for more information. 219-241-1020. age the other. BEACHFRONT ON LAKE MICHIGAN – SHERIDAN BEACH On March 10, 1785, Thomas Jefferson was named Magnificent views and fabulous beach. 4,000 sq. ft., 5BR, 5BA. to succeed Benjamin Franklin as United States 2 fireplaces, 2 car garage, additional parking for 9 cars. New construction 2000. Call 219-878-1724. Minister to France. HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER. 3BR, 3BA, walkout basement, 3-car On March 10, 1862, during the Civil War, paper money garage. 11 acres includes pond, out buildings. was first issued by the government of the United Galena Township. Call 219-325-8899. States. 10 YEAR OLD BRICK & VINYL 3BR, 3BA HOME FOR SALE. 3-car heated garage. Full finished basement. Covered deck. 1 acre with On March 10, 1880, the Salvation Army (which apple & pear trees. $298,500. Call 219-879-8886. originated in England) began operations in the United EASY BUILD OVERSIZED WOODED LOT less than 1.5 blocks to Stop 31 beach on Overhill Drive. Sewer and city water. States. Approx. 80 ft. x 200 ft. Call 219-878-1724. On March 11, 1847, American pioneer John Chapman, better known as “Johnny Appleseed,” died (in Indiana’s Allen County) at the age of 73. Winter Farmer Market On March 11, 1959, in New York, “A Raisin in the The next Michigan City Winter Farmer Market will Sun,” starring Sidney Poiter and Ruby Dee, opened take place on Sat., March 11 in front of Top Dogs on Broadway. Restaurant, 701 Washington St., 9 a.m.-12 noon. On March 12, 1925, the first transatlantic radio This once-a-month event is always on the second broadcast took place. Saturday of the month. Phone 219/874-3647 for more On March 12, 1954, in Cranston, Rhode Island, information. each player in a bridge game was dealt a perfect hand - 13 cards of the same suit. The odds against such Poetry Reading at Box Factory a happening goes to 69 digits - or about equal to “the sands of time.” Poets John Poch and Laura Van Prooyen will be fea- On March 13, 1781, English astronomer Sir William tured at the Sun., March 19 poetry readings at the Herschel discovered the planet Uranus. Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI. The 1:30 pm event, sponsored by the Poetry On March 13, 1852, a drawing by Frank Bellew, which Factory, is free and open to the public. A reception and appeared in the New York Lantern, was the first book signing will follow the readings. cartoon which depicted Uncle Sam as the symbol of John Poch's first book, Poems, was published by the United States. Orchises Press. He teaches in the writing program at On March 14, 1794, Eli Whitney was granted a Texas Tech University. His poems have appeared in patent for the cotton gin, an invention that was to rev- many publications. olutionize the cotton textile industry throughout the Laura Van Prooyen's first book, Open Me Like world. Wings, is forthcoming from Pecan Grove Press. Her On March 14, 1974, the government of Quebec poems have appeared in various magazines. She announced that, henceforth and forevermore, French lives in Illinois where she is writing, raising her would be the official language of the province. three young daughters and volunteering with incar- On March 15, 1820, Maine became the 23rd state to cerated youth in Chicago. be admitted to the Union. Sunday's readings are part of a monthly poetry reading series featuring both well-known and up-and- On March 15, 1919, the American Legion, now the coming poets. For more, visit the website www.box largest veterans’ organization in the United States, factoryforthearts.org or www.poetryfactory.net. was founded by a group of about 20 officers who served in France as part of the World War I American Expeditionary Forces. Support those who advertise in the Beacher! On March 15, 1956, “My Fair Lady,” starring Rex Tell them you saw their Ad! Harrison and Julie Andrews, opened on Broadway. THE Page 46 March 9, 2006

Off the Book Shelf by Sally Carpenter The Last Templar by Raymond Park, the police and EMS come in Khoury to count the dead and injured I had decided to ignore this and assess the damage. The FBI book as just another post-Dan come in shortly after, since in Brown Da Vinci Code copycat this post-9/11 world we live in, the until I noticed it remained num- first thoughts turn to a possible ber one on best seller lists for terrorist attack. many weeks. In fact, just last Enter 38 year old FBI agent week it was still at number four. Sean Reilly, “special agent in That kind of statistic makes me charge of heading up the field perk up and take notice. The office’s Domestic Terrorism Unit.” Dan Brown phenomenon has Upon meeting Tess, Reilly rethinks spawned more Knights Templar the terrorist angle as she explains books than socks in my drawer. the Templar outfits to him and how Leafing through them only made that would be the last clothing any me yawn, until I came to this Muslim terrorist would want to be one… associated with. She went on to Author Khoury is a screen- explain the role of the Knights writer for both TV and film and Templar in the Crusades and how this story shows that fact most they came to their final demise in dramatically. That’s a comple- France on a Friday the 13th back ment, by the way, and probably in the early 14th century. the reason why it has enjoyed Discussing religion and the pos- such popularity for so many sibilities associated with the weeks. Khoury’s writing is non-stop action that brings Templars to world history leads to interesting thoughts together interesting characters in an improbable sit- by Tess and Reilly as she is not a religious person and uation that begs you to follow it to its ending, no he is a Catholic. Still, there is a palpable connection matter what that might be. between the two even as they each retreat from their The situation in this case starts out on page one with growing feelings for each other. a gala opening of an exhibition of treasures of the Vatican Suddenly there is a break in the case as three of at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. the Templar wannabes are found…dead. That leaves Picture the glamorous and the rich dressed to the nines, one more to find. Did he kill the others? Or is there getting out of stretch limos and entering the muse- another factor to the equation who remains hidden um to the strains of a classical stringed quartet, and in plain sight? reaching for the requisite glass of champagne while Clues lead Tess and Reilly to the Mediterranean and seeing and being seen, with light bulbs popping all over the route the last Knights Templar took out of Acre the place. Very Manhattan, don’t you think? Suddenly, when Jerusalem fell to the Muslims in 1291.They were out of Central Park, ride four men on horseback, looking for--what? Letters, a codex perhaps, something dressed in chain mail and wearing the white cloth and so revealing that the Knights were willing to die red cross of the medieval Knights Templars. At first rather than have it fall into the hands of the Vatican. the crowd thought it was part of the evening’s enter- That’s right, I said “the Vatican,” not Muslims or tainment, until the four rode their horses up the Jews. Perhaps the Templars were tired of wars fought steps and crashed into the museum, scattering peo- in the name of God and found evidence that could unite ple like leaves in the wind. They smash up the dis- all religions. play cases, taking at will some of the treasures while The story climaxes with a diving expedition off destroying many others. Tess Chaykin, an archeolo- the coast of Turkey and a spectacular storm from which gist, barely was able to hide behind a display case when not all participants will return. one of the riders stopped close to her and broke open Don’t worry—this is no Holy Grail inspired story a case containing an ancient decoding device—”a and has nothing to do with Da Vinci Code’s Mary geared rotor encoder.” Holding it reverently for a Magdalene theory, but offers a fresh storyline involv- moment, he murmured the Latin veritas vos liberabit ing the Knights Templar that makes an exciting (the truth shall set you free) before riding off with the read. And, remember, while author Khoury does box. refers to real historical people and events, the storyline The whole scene is told in breathtaking clarity itself is a work of fiction, as was The Da Vinci Code, that I’m sure Hollywood would do proud on the big something that a lot of people seem to have overlooked. screen. After the horsemen take off back into Central Till next time, happy reading! THE March 9, 2006 Page 47

872-4000 FAX (219) 872-4182 Specializing in Distinctive Properties MERRION & ASSOCIATES REALTORS Indiana and Michigan Debbie Burke 707 Washington Street, Michigan City, IN Ed Merrion Owner Broker COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES!

US HWY 20 COMMERCIAL Vacant acreage with commercial POSITIVE CASH FLOW is the key to every successful invest- frontage is located east of Hwy 421 and just east of the new inter- ment! This multi-unit on Franklin Street has 2 stores or store-front section with Cleveland Avenue. 110' frontage on Hwy 20; 600' offices with excellent visibility. Five apartments are rented for a depth with access to Cleveland Avenue (north of the fire station) total of over $1700/month. Each unit has 100 amp electric ser- already approved by the city. Total site is 1.98 acres. Ideal for car vice and separate meters. Roof was updated in 1997. Call Ed Merrion wash, drive-in, quick-stop. Call Ed Merrion for traffic counts. for the financials on this smart investment opportunity! $198,900 $165,000

PROFESSIONAL CARE FACILITY offers over 2800 sq ft of OPPORTUNITY AWAITS! This 4700 sq ft building is handi- ADA compliant single level space, with commercial security & cap accessible, has a newer rubber roof & is in great condition! fire alarm, in-house wet sprinkler system, intercom system & more. The property contains 2 waiting rooms, 8 offices, 5 exam rooms, Currently set up with complete kitchen & laundry facilities. All- 4 half baths, a kitchen, large conference room, laboratory, dispensary, brick building is serviced by city sewer & water, high efficien- & parking on 2 streets! The former site of the Open Door Health cy furnace & central air. Located on 1 acre in Michigan City’s Center; financing options will be considered! Call Debbie Burke rapidly developing south side. $349,500 or Jim McGah for your own appointment! $140,000 LOOK FOR US ON THE INTERNET! • www.MerrionRealty.com Debbie Burke, GRI, ABR Ed Merrion*, CRS, GRI Liv Markle*, CRS, GRI Julie Gring Jim Laughlin Debbie Mengel Jim McGah*, Broker Associate Bill Moldenhauer Jerry Lambert Heather Melnyk Fran Merrion, GRI, ABR Michele Meden, ABR Jeff Meyer Jessica Storey John Hayes, GRI, ABR Dave Walsh Tricia Meyer *Licensed in Michigan THE Page 48 March 9, 2006

CENTURY 21 Long Beach Realty 1401 Lake Shore Drive ~ 3100 Lake Shore Drive 132 (219) 874-5209 ~ (219) 872-1432

T www.c21longbeachrealty.com Open 7 Days a Week

OPEN HOUSE March 12th, 2006 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 219 Adahi Michigana Shores

Secluded and Close to the Beach. 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, 2 fireplaces. Sunroom opens to screened-in porch. A lovely walk to Stop 37 beach. $389,900

1 Distinguished 1888 Brick Home on 3 ⁄2 acres of rolling lawns, Front Row Seat for the parade of colorful sails from com- colorful gardens, deciduous plants, and tall pines. A glis- pletely redecorated Dunescape Condo. Spacious tile floored tening spring fed pond and 1915 red barn add to the coun- deck overlooks Lake Michigan. Master bedroom, plus sec- try feeling. Huge living room has wood burning fireplace. Designer kitchen; windowed walled dining room. Three bed- ond bedroom, 2 baths. Den/laundry. Pool, sauna, exercise rooms include master suite, 2 baths. Red oak floors through- club. Private beach. Gated entry. $421,500 out. A perfect blend of nature and luxury. $450,000

June Livinghouse*, Broker Associate, ABR, GRI 800-957-1248 Sandy Rubenstein* 879-7525 Rosemary Braun 879-9029 Sylvia Hook*, Broker Associate, CRS, GRI 800-518-5778 Tom Cappy* 874-6396 Don Niven 708-259-9471 Phyllis Waters*, Owner/Broker, CRB, CRS, GRI Richard Klare 872-0947 Bill McNew 872-8254 Doug Waters*, Managing Broker 219-877-7290 Carrie Patton 872-2942 Debbie Chism*, Broker Associate 874-9093 Beverly Szybala 219-861-2066 Beverly Bullis*, CRS, GRI 800-518-6149 *Licensed in Michigan and Indiana

Phyllis T. Waters* Doug Waters* CRB, CRS, GRI Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated GRI Broker/ Owner Managing Broker