911 Franklin Street VVolumeoWklume 333,3, NumberN Number 5050 Thursday,Thursday, DDecemberecember 221,1, 22017017 THE Page 2 December 21, 2017 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 About the Cover e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] Our Christmas edition cover, which features Santa sneaking in a email: Classifieds - [email protected] sled ride before delivering presents, is by Betty Thomas. This is her http://www.thebeacher.com/ third Christmas cover for us, the inspiration taken from a friend’s photo PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by that she used for a watercolor painting. “When I was asked to do The Beacher cover with Santa in it, I knew just what I would do,” Thomas TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS said. “Santa would be taking that sled ride. Couldn’t resist putting in Mount Baldy and Lake Michigan in the background, and also the eve- Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden ning glow. I added the little evergreen tree in the meadow below to Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. represent the peaceful feeling of Christmas in the dunes.” Straight From the Heart by Andrew Tallackson Elizabeth Burnham (right) and Sara Studer have a ball discussing their new series of children’s books. The two are photographed by The Beacher’s James A. Conlin at Lakeshore Coffee & Specialties. Elizabeth Burnham and Sara Studer are more like sisters than cousins. The playful way they fi nish each other’s sentenc- es, or erupt with laughter when stories turn comical — the bond between them is tangible and in- disputable. As children, Elizabeth and Sara were inseparable, espe- cially during the holidays and vacations. When their mothers wished for them and their sib- lings to drift off to sleep, Elizabeth’s father took on the challenge. Rob- ert Burnham was a Long Beach resident and third-generation family member to own Michigan City’s Burnham Glove Co. To Sara, he was a surrogate parent — in the absence of her own father — who loved his THE December 21, 2017 Page 3 family like no other she’d met before. Over the years, Robert made up bedtime stories that enraptured his captive audience. These tall tales often revolved around zoo animals. Some- times, the creatures behaved. Other times, they did not, their mishaps wrapped around viable lessons, whether it be the importance of sharing, or eating as a family at the dinner table. Elizabeth and Sara were 4 or 5 when these bed- time stories fi rst emerged. Like most childhood memories, they were tucked away in the deepest recesses of their hearts as adults. Sara (left) and Elizabeth hold copies of the fi rst two books in their series, <($55281' “One Night Only” and “Trash is Art...Imagine That.” 2SHQ'DLO\ Robert passed away in October 2015 at age 85. ® At the memorial service, stories circulated among &ORVHG0RQGD\V friends celebrating what a “character” he was. Soon after, all the colorful stories he once told to his chil- &HQWHU6WUHHW6KHULGDQ%HDFK dren fl ooded back to Elizabeth, stories, she realized, not passed down to nieces and nephews. So, Elizabeth broached the idea of creating chil- (YRI&MPPMI´W7SYT'SVRIVMW2S[3TIR dren’s books based on Robert’s stories to Sara, a gift- )HDWXULQJ*RXUPHW*ULOOHG&KHHVH6DQGZLFKHV ed artist whose talents admittedly had languished over the years as work and family took precedence. “We both are big readers, and we loved the idea &VIEOJEWX)KKEGXP]=SYV;E] of reading to children,” Elizabeth said. “These were stories that came from the heart, and we didn’t (JJV7RDVWDQG%LOOLH³V%UHDNIDVW3RWDWRHV want them to become pedestrian. And Sara is such a great illustrator. She has a quirky aspect about %QE^MRK&VIEOJEWX 0YRGL7ERH[MGLIW her that really draws kids together.” %LOOLH³V%HQHGLFW'XQHELOOLH%UHDNIDVW:UDS Sara, in turn, could not wait to get started. :DNHQ%DFRQ7UDLO&UHHN6PRNHG6DOPRQ%DJHO “We jumped right in,” she said. “We weren’t sure 5D\WRZQ5HXEHQ+XQJU\+ROORZ)UHQFK'LS where we were headed...but I knew, just being with 9HJHWDULDQDQG*OXWHQ)UHH2SWLRQV Liz would be the greatest opportunity. As the sec- &$338&&,12 (635(662 02&+$ +RW&KRFRODWH ond act in our lives, we knew this is something we wanted to do. +RXVHPDGH )UHVK /RFDOO\2ZQHG “There’s been no limit,” she continued. “It’s been great to pick up that pen and see where it takes you. Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 December 21, 2017 Straight From the Heart Continued from Page 3 Oh my gosh, that has been wonderful.” And, the works are fl owing out of them. The fi rst two books in the series, “One Night Only” and “Trash is Art...Imagine That,” are avail- able now. “Ducks and Doughnuts” is on the way. “PJs for Giants,” which stresses how to overcome being different, is in the second draft phase. In development are: • “Sing the Cake!,” which celebrates and embraces cultural differences. • “The Gang of 8,” which centers on overcoming bullies. • “The Long Swim,” which highlights working to- gether as a family. • “Snakes with Hats,” about trying new things as a way to fi nd joy and happiness. Sara intently listens as Elizabeth discusses the Like the beloved works of Richard Scarry and Dr. story behind her father’s bedtime stories. Seuss, each story revolves around animals with hu- gan City’s Dance Art Unlimited, studied ballet at man-like qualities: elephants with names like Inky, IU before leaving to join Connecticut Ballet in New Pinky and Stinky, or a wise raccoon whose name Haven, Conn., then returning a year later to com- just happens to be Robert. plete her English degree. Professionally, her inter- As dear as Elizabeth and Sara are to each other, ests turned to marketing for corporations and non- it seems curious a collaboration between these two profi ts, including Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet and South would be years in the making. Indeed, they ven- Bend Symphony. Today, she serves on the Michigan tured along similar paths early in their lives. Eliz- City Chamber Music Festival board. abeth was born and raised in Michigan City, Sara Sara began creating picture stories at 14. She born in Fort Wayne, but raised in Michigan City. lives in South Bend, social services being her career They both graduated from Elston High School and focus. Save for designing the occasional greeting Indiana University. card, her skills as an illustrator have been on hold Elizabeth, however, who was a member of Michi- for a good 20 years. That’s why collaborating with Elizabeth through the company they created, 2Coz- ins Publishing, has been such a joy. The two would meet on weekends. Elizabeth would present her ideas, affording Sara the freedom to be creative with her illustrations. Elizabeth’s hus- band, Don Olson, served as the editor/manager/pro- moter, offering input as to what worked and what did not, “road testing” the material, as Don puts it, with the kindergartners in their grandchild’s class. It was through them, for example, that Elizabeth and Sara learned the character of Atticus the ant was too small, and that they didn’t like to see the characters in cages. The two also solicited input from those attend- ing the Indiana Division of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. There, a published author, Elizabeth said, described Sara’s creations as whimsical, with considerable appeal for children. Of Elizabeth’s writing, the author said she had “the voice of a child,” one youngsters can relate to. Don stressed it was important to get feedback on a professional level, to see, he said, “if the outside world agrees with you.” The books were assembled by Deb Handel, a graphic designer in the area Sara and Elizabeth say A thank-you letter the cousins received from Joann McCambridge, a resource teacher for fi rst through fourth grades at Devine Infant, gave the books care and polish. Westchester, Ill. Indeed, Sara’s fanciful watercolor drawings, THE December 21, 2017 Page 5 placed against a white back- to make a kite. That theme of ground, pop out at you, beau- recycling could not be more tifully accenting Elizabeth’s “now,” with upcycling a hot kindhearted tales, inspired not trend within today’s art world. only by her father’s inventions, Little inside family jokes but also from the memories she abound throughout the books. and Sara share of growing up Sandy the Snake, for instance, in the beach area, of afternoons is named after Elizabeth’s taking in the sights at Wash- mother, an old joke Robert ap- ington Park Zoo. plied to his long-ago tall tales. In “One Night Only,” for in- Her mother, Elizabeth said, stance, all the animals learn was a proper, “pulled together” through inventive means woman unamused at the time — leaves blowing across the by her husband’s jest. ground, for instance — of a What would Robert think of stage show planned later that “Trash is Art...Imagine That” follows the zoo animals the fi nished product, had he night, once the zoo is closed. as they recycle garbage into works of art. been alive to see them? The performance, itself, is a whimsical escapade of “He would love that his stories are going onward,” dancing and juggling elephants. The message at the Elizabeth said. “To bring these stories to life for my end conveys how to show proper appreciation after dad and pass them on, and to now be a published being suffi ciently entertained.