off the water - december 25-31, 2014

COA wins best gingerbread house .... p.4Top prize

Shakespeare Fest offers exciting slate ..p.5New season

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Week of December 25-31, 2014 Volume 6, Number 52Off The Water | The place to be entertained.

1

Get out!Lots to do at

St. Joseph County Parks

• Week of December 25-31, 2014 Off The Water, Michiana

2

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downtown chili tour

By NICK SHELTON

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. — Thousands of Michiana residents will

resolve to shed a few pounds in 2015. Luckily, St. Joseph County Parks is helping to make it a ‘walk’ in the park.

Starting on Dec. 26 (snow conditions permitting), Michiana residents will be able to partici-pate in several winter activities at St. Joseph County Parks, including cross-country skiing, innertubing and snowshoeing.

Evie Kirkwood, St. Joseph County Parks Director, empha-sized the benefits of participa-tion.

“Outdoor activity is a great way to beat the winter blues and get some exercise and laughter with friends and family,” Kirkwood said. “St. Joseph County Parks offers many opportunities to explore the out-doors in the snow.”

In addition to getting a solid workout, people who ski, tube and shoe at the parks will also experience the natural beauty the snow-covered beech-maple forests have to offer.

“Exploring these special

places in winter is a unique experience,” Kirkwood said. “On a quiet snowshoe hike, for example, you are likely to spot rabbit and squirrel tracks, or bird nests tucked in the trees/”

Activities will be offered at both St. Patrick’s County Park (South Bend) and Ferrettie/

Baugo Creek County Park (Osceola). For a small fee ($3 to $5 per person), park guests will be able to participate in the vari-ous outdoor activities.

Kirkwood said the parks will offer activities for various ages and skill levels.

“We strive to offer a mix of

active and passive recreation opportunities for a variety of ages. Most of those activities you can experience at different levels. For example, you can enjoy a slow-paced classic cross-country ski trek or really push it on our ‘skate-ski’ trails to get a terrific

aerobic workout.”The parks will also offer a

few special events throughout the season including the “Valentine’s Day Soup and Ski” and “Passport to Play: Innertubing.” Additionally, there will be a “Skiing Under the Stars” series which will include a Rainbow Glow Ski, a Wine and Cheese Ski, and a Cocoa and Campfire Ski.

While there are other places in Michiana to enjoy similar outdoor activities, Kirkwood said there is something special about St. Joseph County Parks.

“How many places can you ski by a barn that is on the National Register of Historic Places, like the big Red Barn at St. Patrick’s County Park, or whoosh on a tube down a fan-tastic hill created from what decades ago was a town dump and is now Ferrettie-Baugo Creek County Park?”

So in 2015, skip the tread-mill, strap on your skis or snow-shoes, and experience the beau-ty of St. Joseph County Parks.

For park hours, specific event details, prices, and directions, please visit http://www.sjcparks.org/.

FOCUS

Ski, shoe and tube at county parks

Off The Water, Michiana WeekofDecember25-31,2014•

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Ski, shoe and tube at county parksCUISINE SCENE

Tis the season and holi-day shoppers often find themselves grab-

bing last-minute gifts. If there is a wine drinker on your list pay attention. Don’t buy them wine.

That’s right, for the seri-ous red wine drinkers on your Santa sheet wine is probably not a good idea. Now, if you know wine and know the wine drinker well enough to understand what they really enjoy go ahead.

But every holiday season retail shops get bombarded with well-meaning custom-ers wanting recommenda-tions on wine as a gift. If you insist, there will be a few recommendations at the bot-tom of this column.

Instead of the fermented grape juice buy your friend or family member a great wine-related gift. There is one choice any wine drinker will appreciate and could use whether they know it or not. Almost any wine at any price point will benefit from decanting.

Decanters come at every imaginable price point. You can find a decanter at your local home store for around $20 or even less. You can shop the traditional wine glassware companies and pay more. You can buy a Riedel decanter at all price

points all the way up to more than $1,000. The top end are hand blown in the original Austrian factory.

Wine is decanted to add oxygen and allow the wine to ‘open up’ after all of that time in the bottle. This is particularly true for young wines — inexpensive or pricey.

Purchase a decanter with a large bowl. Those work best. Decanting wine can also lead to lots of questions about sediment. Some sort of strainer is often necessary when decanting or serving the wine from the decanter, especially for older wines. That stuff won’t harm you but it’s going to be bitter. Many aerators come with

some sort of filter to take care of that problem.

A young, lighter-style wine will really benefit from 30 minutes to an hour-long decant. A big red wine, like Cabernet, up to two hours. Some wine, like an Italian Sangrantino, may require several hours.

A great lesson in learn-ing more about wine can coincide with the decanting process. First, open a bottle of wine and pour a taste. Make mental notes of what the wine was like. Then pour a small taste again an hour later. The wine will be different and probably bet-ter tasting, less astringency and more pronounced fruit.

Older wines often require less of a decant and more attention to sediment. The taste test is important to learn what works best for your palate.

Now, if you insist a bot-tle of wine is a nicer gift than glassware go ahead and buy a bottle or two. If you know your friend or family member really likes wine but you have no idea what to buy, play it safe. Pinot Noir at the $20 and up price point makes an excellent gift. If they drink white wine try finding an unoaked Chardonnay. There are many good labels

of unoaked Chard around $15.

If you’re willing to splurge buy Pinot at the $40-$50 range for great wine. But French Chablis for the white drinkers at about the same cost.

Merry Christmas and a very Happy Holiday toast!

Howard W. Hewitt, Crawfordsville, Indiana, writes about wine every other week for more than 20 Midwestern newspaper. Reach him at: [email protected]

COLUMNIST

Howard HewittGrape Sense

Gifts forwine lovers


4

CASSOPOLIS — The Cass County COA entered the “Gingerbread Village” competition held annually in South Bend. For the second year in

a row, the COA won the Grand Prize. The event is sponsored by Downtown South Bend Inc.

The wonderful creation was conceived by COA Chef Kevin Stantz who drew the concept and created a template. He was assisted by creative co-workers Laura Canfield, of the IT department, and Terina Miller, a graphic designer. The trio put in more than 80 hours making Chef Kevin’s concept come to life. More than 30 different candies and confections were used for “Santa’s Wonderland Toy Factory.”

“We were in it to win,” Stantz said. “Our goal was to give every edible item a creative use and ‘repurpose’ it as something for Santa’s factory. This was not a one person job and my helpers, Laura Canfield and Terina Miller, added so much to making our entry truly amaz-ing.”

The entry featured M&Ms used as Christmas lights, melted peppermint candy as a roof, pretzels stacked to look like a log cabin and shredded wheat to form one of the buildings. The result is a colorful and beautiful display of culinary creativity and teamwork.

Chef Kevin is always very busy in the kitchen pre-paring all the wonderful meals at the COA, so most of the work on the gingerbread village was done in his spare time. The team of creators received the ultimate prize — ribbons reading “1st Place” and “Grand Prize.”

The Cass County COA Lowe Center is located at 60525 Decatur Road and Highway 60 in Cassopolis and Front Street Crossing is at 227 S. Front St. in Dowagiac.

The Cass County COA is a community organiza-tion offering programs and services for adults in all life stages.

ON DISPLAY

COA wins grand prize in gingerbread contest

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Author Tess Story announces the nationwide release of her new book, “A

Wanderer’s Soul,” where she shares an adventure filled with mystery and pur-pose.

“A Wanderer’s Soul” chronicles the perilous journey of two young adventurers as they become embroiled in a quest for answers to a mysterious relic entrusted to the lone survivor of the fall of St. Stephens.

Friar Benito, the keeper of the rare arti-facts and sacred texts of the monastery’s reliquary, must seek out the help of a renowned scholar to unlock the mysteries of the relic they carry. To find this scholar, the three will travel to the far reaches of the crumbling Eastern Byzantine empire.

St. Joseph author releases new adventure novel

Submitted photo

The Cass County COA competed with several other organizations in South Bend's annual gingerbread contest. The COA was awarded first place for its design featuring M&Ms for Christmas lights, a pretzel roof and shred-ded wheat siding for a building.


5

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Shakespeare at Notre Dame

announced its 2015 season recently. Offering a sub-scription of plays for the first time in the organization’s history, the 16th season will include one tragedy, two comedies and one romantic fairy tale, all following the theme: “Love, Loss, and Laughter.”

The year kicks off Feb. 11 with “Macbeth” per-formed by Actors From The London Stage (AFTLS) at Notre Dame’s historic Washington Hall. AFTLS, which is made up of a rotat-ing cast of five professional British actors from London’s most-prestigious stages, cel-ebrates its 40th year of con-tinuous touring in 2015. Previous AFTLS actors have included Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ben Kingsley. Notre Dame is the group’s American home.

It’s a year of growth for the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, which adds a sec-ond professional production for the first time in its histo-ry.

“I’ve wanted to commis-sion new work because

someone gave Will Shakespeare a go,” said Ryan Producing Artistic Director Grant Mudge.

Mudge has enlisted writ-ers Austin Tichenor and Reed Martin, stars of the PBS film The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) and authors of “The Complete History of America” (abridged), to return to their Shakespearean roots and create a brand new madcap comedy inspired by the Bard. Performances of William Shakespeare’s “Long Lost Play” (abridged) will begin Aug. 4 in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center’s Regis Philbin Studio Theatre.

To explain the thematic connection, Mudge said, “Shakespeare’s characters love too much, drink too much, crave too much, and are sometimes cruel to those closest to them. Shakespeare shows us our choices chart-ing not only our own lives, but even the path of history itself. And, in the wake of those decisions, sometimes the only thing left us is to laugh.”

The second NDSF

Professional Company pro-duction will be The Winter’s Tale, beginning Aug. 18 in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center’s Patricia George Decio Theatre, directed by Drew Fracher. According to Mudge, “Shakespeare put everything into this play: bears, ship-wrecks, musical numbers, comedy, tragedy, magic, great love stories, bitter betrayals, and one miracu-lous chance for redemp-tion.”

During the summer months, the NDSF also stag-es two free productions: ShakeScenes performed by community actors of all ages, and the annual Young Company production, fea-turing college and university students from Notre Dame, St. Mary’s, Holy Cross, and schools across the nation. This year, the Young Company will produce the comedy Love’s Labor’s Lost, directed by West Hyler, in his second summer lead-ing these early-career artists. Hyler is best known for his work on Broadway, includ-ing “Jersey Boys” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Learn more about all of

Shakespeare at Notre Dame’s 2015 productions at shakespeare.nd.edu.

Audiences can save 30 percent off full-price adult ticket prices when buying a season subscription to Shakespeare at Notre Dame’s three ticketed pro-ductions through Jan. 30, 2015. Visit shakespeare.nd.edu or call the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center Ticket Office at (574) 631-2800. (Note: online orders only during Notre Dame’s holiday break, Dec. 20 through Jan. 4.)

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Love, loss & laughter16th year of Shakespeare Festival at Notre Dame kicks of Feb. 11

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Author Tess Story announces the nationwide release of her new book, “A

Wanderer’s Soul,” where she shares an adventure filled with mystery and pur-pose.

“A Wanderer’s Soul” chronicles the perilous journey of two young adventurers as they become embroiled in a quest for answers to a mysterious relic entrusted to the lone survivor of the fall of St. Stephens.

Friar Benito, the keeper of the rare arti-facts and sacred texts of the monastery’s reliquary, must seek out the help of a renowned scholar to unlock the mysteries of the relic they carry. To find this scholar, the three will travel to the far reaches of the crumbling Eastern Byzantine empire.

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide, from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com or ama-zon.com.

Story is an arts educator and author residing in Southwestern Michigan. She is currently an adjunct instructor in the art department at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

She maintains a professional affiliation with Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph, Michigan, as an arts facilitator, providing artistic experiences to patients within med-ical environments. Writing is an outlet for her creative curiosity and is a mental escape from long, gray Michigan winters.

St. Joseph author releases new adventure novel


6

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Planning key to healthy lifestyle

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This upfront investment of bulk ingredients will last me months. The 5 pound bag of organic quinoa I pur-chase, for example, was only $30 compared to at least $8 for a 16 ounce bag at traditional grocery stores. Organic raw cashews were $15 for three pounds, anoth-er huge savings.

Sure, it’s an investment of time and money to order bulk ingredients, but it’s been over a year since I made my last purchase of this size, so the time and money savings in the long run is well worth it. It’s such a relief to have my pantry stocked with tahini, nuts, and other staples. It makes it a lot easier to just have to run to the store and spend a few dollars on fresh produce without hav-ing to tread too deeply into the grocery aisles.

Now that Christmas is over and you’re looking to the new year, I highly rec-ommend taking this step towards better meal plan-

ning and finding natural foods wholesaler near you. If you live in Southwestern Michigan, Country Life Natural Foods is well worth the trip. Just be sure you either order online or call ahead because it takes them a while to collect the bulk goods from the warehouse.

If you’re like me and live in an urban setting where space is limited, then organizing your bulk purchases is key to making this type of meal planning work to it’s fullest poten-tial. Buy bins from Target or Meijer, and store your pantry items in stack-able, easy to organize bins.

Raw nuts and seeds should be kept in the freez-er until you’re ready to use them. I usually portion out a few cups of these foods at a time and store them at room temperature in Mason Ball jar for quick access.

Taking the time to buy these foods and organize them has made healthy eat-ing on a budget so much more accessible. As you head into the new year, try-ing to think of ways to simplify your life and make meal planning and healthi-er eating easier is crucial to making positive changes. Having the healthy staples you need to throw together quick, satisfying home cooked meals will help you immensely.

Kat Barry, a St. Joseph, Michigan native, is owner of Kat’s Hot Cakes vegan catering, and co author of “The New Chicago Diner Cookbook: Meat Free Recipes from America’s Veggie Diner.” She also develops recipes for eHow.com, where you can find over 30 of her vegan instructional cooking vid-eos. She is also a certified yoga instructor. Kat cur-rently resides in Chicago, and in her free time she enjoys practicing yoga, sampling local spirits, lis-tening to live music, and getting outdoors. Follow @katshotcakes on twitter. Kat can be reached via email at: [email protected].

COLUMNIST

Kat BarryKat's Hot Talk

RECYCLEYOUR PAPER


7

BENTON TWP., Mich. — Get ready to participate in

some mid-winter laughs when Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy come to the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Mainstage on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.

With more than 30 years of experience and a stint on Saturday Night Live and Chicago’s famed Second City, Jim Belushi is now bringing to the stage an improvised com-edy sketch show featuring members of the Board of Comedy.

Accompanying Belushi are Megan Grano, Larry Joe Campbell, Brad Morris, and Joshua Funk, all of whom are classical-ly trained professional improvisers who tour reg-ularly nationwide.

“We are not stand-up comedians. Our show is not a passive, sit-back-and-watch experience. Most of the fun we have on stage comes from our inclusion of the audi-ence,” Belushi said. “We get suggestions from them to begin each scene we perform, and in certain instances, bring them on-stage with us to add to our performance. It's less a ‘show’ and more a party. At least it feels like one to me. This group of actors brings me right back to how I started out in com-edy — maybe that's why we have so much fun doing it."

Belushi starred on the ABC hit comedy According to Jim, on which he also served as executive producer, music composer and director. After wrapping 182 episodes for its eighth and final season, the family favorite series also hit a milestone when it launched into off-net syndication in 2007. A favorite of film, televi-sion, and stage audienc-es, Belushi is one of the great leading character

actors equally at home in drama and comedy, and a gifted performer who can also hold a room as front man of a rhythm and blues band.

Supporting cast may be subject to availability. Language may be offen-sive. Show recommended for audiences 18 and older.

Tickets for Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy start at $36 and are avail-able by calling the LMC Mendel Center Box Office at (269) 927-1221 or visiting www.lmc-mainstage.org. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. For information about group rates, pre-show party options, and other special arrangements, contact Mike Nadolski at (269) 927-8109 or [email protected].

Patrons may upgrade their experience by add-ing a VIP package to their Stage Side and Platinum seats for just $20. The VIP package includes private pre-show party area with bar, two com-plimentary drinks and snacks, as well as prize drawings. Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy are scheduled to visit the party for a brief meet and greet with VIP guests.

A cash bar will be open for all patrons one hour before show time and during intermission. Special Mendel Center drink cups are available for purchase, which

allow patrons to enjoy their beverages inside the theater.

Chemical Bank, Boulevard Inn and Bistro, and WNDU Channel are sponsoring Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy’s per-formance at the LMC Mendel Center.

The full line-up of LMC Mendel Center Mainstage entertainment can be found at www.lmcmainstage.org.

The Lake Michigan College Mendel Center is located just 40 min-utes from Kalamazoo and South Bend on the Lake Michigan College Napier Avenue Campus in Benton Township, Michigan, one mile east of I-94 (Exit 30) and one mile west of the US 31 Bypass (exit 24).

The LMC Mendel Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m., and one hour before show time. Tickets may be purchased in person, by phone at (269) 927-1221, or online at www.lmcmainstage.org.

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19th annual bird count Jan. 3ELKHART — The

Elkhart County Parks and the South

Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society are calling upon volunteers for the annual Elkhart County Christmas Bird Count, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Volunteer bird counters can participate several ways:

Field Observers will be assigned an area and given maps to count birds within a designated part of Elkhart County. Teams will birdwatch by car and foot from dawn to dusk.

Participants should dress for the weather, and bring binoculars and field guides. Field observers will meet at Ox Bow

House Shelter in Ox Bow County Park on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 a.m. Ox Bow County Park is locat-ed at 23033 County Road 45 in Dunlap.

Feeder Counters can count birds in their yards. Participants must live within the count circle and can count the highest number of species seen at

once in their yard on Saturday, Jan. 3. Feeder counts can take place any-time throughout the day.

The Elkhart County count circle extends from the state line on the north to Waterford Mills on the south end, and includes the towns of Bristol, Middlebury, Goshen, and eastern portion of Elkhart. The center of the 7.5 mile radius for the count circle is the intersection of County Roads 18 and 23.

Bird watchers can pre-register by contacting the Elkhart County Parks at (574) 535-6458 or e-mail [email protected] to register their name, address, and phone number and e-mail to receive further directions for the bird count.

After the count, data is compiled and submitted to the National Audubon Society along with over 2,300 bird counts that take place over a two-week period around the holidays throughout North America. The Christmas Bird Count is the longest running citi-

zen science survey in the world. Tens of thousands of volunteers throughout North America add a new layer to data that has shaped conservation and Congressional decisions for over a century.

Each year, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count uti-lizes the power of more than 70,000 volunteers to track the health of bird populations at a scale that

professional scientists could never accomplish alone.

Every local count is part of this vast volunteer network and continues a tradition that stretches back more than 100 years. For more information about the history of the count or to find results for past Elkhart County counts, visit www.christ-masbirdcount.org.

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HOMES FOR SALE IN DECATUR

3 bed, 2 bath homes readyto be moved into. Leaseoptions starting at $599 permonth (includes lot rent, in-surance, water, trash) Call(269)423-7024 or visitwww.phelpscommunity.comto view pictures

Collectibles 602FOR SALE

autograph baseball byMickey Mantle, PSA au-thentication with papers,totally mint, $600 firm.(269)782-8876 eveningsask for MikeNILES FLEA MARKET

111 E. Main St, Niles MINew vendors bringing manynew items weekly. OpenHouse Nov 28th-30th! ComeChristmas shopping with us!(269) 262-4333

Auctions 603NILES COMMUNITY

AUCTION HOUSEAntiques, collectables,furniture, & tons of newitems! Antique AuctionDecember 20th, 4pm.

802 Fort St, Niles MI(269) 635-0271

Cemetery Lots 6172 PLOTS & 2 VAULTSin Mission Hills MemorialGardens in Niles, valued at$4,600, asking $1,600negotiable, will pay transferfees! (219) 393-1977

Good Things to Eat

636

Sweet TexasOranges

5 lbs/$3.5018lb/$12.00HONEY CRISP

.50/lb, $8/half bushel $20/half bushel•#2 Honey Crisp $10/half bushel •Other Varieties

$7/half bushel & up•Potatoes

$5/half bushel•Sweet Potatoes

$10/half bushel .40/lb.•Walla Walla Sweet

Onions .35/lb., $15/50lbs.

•Texas Ruby red grapefruit5 lbs/$2.50

18 lbs/$9.00 •Honey

1 1/2 lbs. $7HOURS:

Mon. - Sat. 10-5,Sun. noon-5

Hunky Fruit Stand2054 M140

Benton Harbor, MI 49022(269) 944-3025

Household Mer-chandise

642

FOR SALE•Used and Reconditioned

Appliances•Washers & Dryers

•Ranges•Air Conditioners

•Refrigerators841 Carberry Rd. Niles

(269)687-8639

Wanted to Buy 672ADAMS JUNKERS

Adam buysJUNK CARS

Adam BuysRepairable CarsFixable Cars Wanted

adamsjunkers.comAdam Pays the most!!

FREE PICKUP7 days a weekTitle or not!!(574) 300-6556

ALWAYS PAYINGtop dollar for junk cars,trucks & farm equipment.Also buying repairables. Paulbuys junk cars & trucks.(574)993-1131

BUYINGrepairable scrap and un-wanted vehicles, top dollarpaid. Call or text for a freequote today. Free towing.Kevin (817)437-0450

9 CLASS


10 HALF CLASS

WANTED TO BUYCash paid for mediumsize refrigerators, workingor repairable. Also gas &electric ranges. Call(269)687-8639

WE WILL BUYyour junk car. We haul forfree. Paying up to $1500cash. Please call anytime269-687-8098

Home Improve-ment

700

FRYMAN'S SEAMLESSGUTTERS & SIDINGFRYMAN’S ROOFING

Your home exterior experts.Quality guaranteed! LocallyOwned for 50 years. (269)782-5008 (David & Terri Fryman)

HOME REPAIRS &REMODELING

Over 30 years of experience,tile work, kitchens, bath-rooms, decks & porches,windows & doors, windowwrapping, siding, fascia &soffit. Call Randy (269)782-3139 (269)208-9838

MKCONSTRUCTION

Pole barn & other garagesspecialist. Roofing Siding,Framing and more. Over 40years experience. Licensed.Contact Michael N. Knepple(269)476-9777

MR. MAINTENANCEFREE ESTIMATES

Roofing, Siding & Windows,Light Hauling & SpringClean-Ups, No Inside orOutside job too big or small.Low affordable rates.(269)591-1403

WILLIAMS HOMEIMPROVEMENT

Repairs, Remodel, Windows,Siding, Additions, Painting,Plumbing & More. SeniorDiscounts. Free Estimates(269)635-1527

Tree Service 725PAYNE'S TREE

SERVICETree Trimming & Removal.Stump Grinding & Firewood.Bobcat & Concrete Work.Insured. (269)663-8091

Antenna Service 737

WHY PAY TO WATCH TV?

Dozens of Free HD & Digitalchannels, use your ownwiring, complete installation& repair, tower removal,packages with antenna, ro-tor & amp starting at $340.Free estimates.

(269)357-6352antennasplus1.com

Concrete Service 739DEPROW CONCRETE

Concrete, bricks, blocks &stonework. Any type of tearout & replace. Basementrepairs, landscaping, bobcatwork. No job too small. 35years experience. Concrete$2.20 a sq. foot. Insured.Jerry (269) 352-4010

Recycling Service 743CA$H 4 JUNKERS

Turn that Junker in your yardto cash in your hand

801 Carberry Rd, Niles269-687-5865

Snow Removal 745SNOW PLOWING

Residential & Com-mercial. Free Estimates.Reasonable Rates. CallLarry at C & C Concrete(269)228-1163

Misc. Services 747HANDYMAN JOE

& WIFERetired electrician will doelectrical repairs, re-placements & other elec-trical needs, also painting,general house cleaning,garage & basement cleaning& light carpentry.

LET US DO IT FOR YOU!Call between 9am-7pm

(269)340-2064 or(269)340-2365

KLIMEKENTERPRISES

Electrical Contracting, No JobToo Big or Small. Free Quotes.Affordable Pricing, Licensed &Insured. (269)684-6290 or(269)470-4097.

Quality Clock RepairFront Street Framery

801 E. Front St. BuchananHouse Calls, Free Estimates

(269)409-1031

Painting Service 754

J.M. HUNTENTERPRISES, LLC

Painting & Drywall. Insured.Free Estimates. FamilyOwned & Operated for Over50 years. 269-683-4442.

Trucks, Vans, 4-Wh Drives

942

1993 FORD F250Ext. cab, Diesel, 4x4, 8 ft.box with contractors cap,198,000 miles, everythingworks, $4,500 OBO. Also redfiberglass Tonneau cover,fits 2007-2013 GMC-Chevy2500 long box, $400 OBO.(269)782-3139

Autos for Sale 945

04 Mini Cooper $8,88806 Pontiac G6 $10,685

07 GMC Canyon $13,88811 Jeep Cherokee $27,988Call (574) 264-1174 today!

2006 Dodge Dakota QuadCab (Red)

Engine: V8, 4.7 LiterCity 14/Hwy 19/Comb 16

MPG116k miles

Comfortably Seats 5 people$7,500.00

Call Scarlett Auto Sales(269) 461-4197

2010 Hyundai Elantra GLS46k grey in Color

Guaranteed 30 MPG/hwyFront Wheel Drive 4 Door

SedanNo Credit Checks

No InterestLow down Payment

Low monthly payments!!Free 6 month Warranty!

Call Scarlett Auto for moreinformation!

(269)461-4197

Celebrate Your

birthday or anniversary

with us!

Call(888)

725-0108

www.facebook.com/leaderpubcom

10 HALF CLASS

CLASSIFIEDS

WELCOME THE SEASON!

217 North 4th Street

Niles, Michigan 49120

phone 269.683.2100

fax 269.683.2175

There’s no time like Christmas to let

you know how much we value your

business and support.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Off The Water | The place to be entertained.


11

WHAT'S HAPPENING?iDec. 24

The Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Harbert, Michigan will host its Christmas Eve services on Wednesday, Dec. 24 with a Family Service and Children’s Pageant at 5:00 p.m. The late service will begin at 10:30 p.m. with Christ-mas carols followed by the Midnight Candle Lit Holy Eucharist at 10:45 p.m. All times are (EST). There will be no service on Christmas Day. The public is wel-come. The church is located at 14280 Red Arrow Highway, midway between Lakeside and Harbert

Dec. 26

Join Funk Harmony Park and Moveable Types for a #DAXmas or “Day After Christmas” benefit con-cert on Dec. 26, at 8:00 p.m. at The Brick in down-town South Bend to ben-efit Big Brothers Big Sis-ters of St. Joseph County. Funk Harmony Park will also be playing a free acoustic show on Dec. 17 at Bare Hands Brew-ery in Granger to benefit the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. In previous years they have raised a total of $15,000 in donations.

Whole Foods in Misha-waka will host a Com-munity Support Day for Unity Gardens, where 5 percent of after-tax prof-its of one day’s sales at Whole Foods Market Mishawaka goes to this community organiza-tion. Whole Foods Mar-ket is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 26.

Dec. 30

Weather permitting, kids (7 years and older) can sled on Pear Hill with Sarett Nature Center on Decem-ber 30 at 1 p.m. Cost is

$1. Please call (269) 927-4832 to register.

Dec. 31

Welcome in 2015 at The Acorn with the renowned and infamous Super Hap-py Funtime Burlesque troupe from Grand Rap-ids. Post show includes champagne toast and yummy nibbles. A bit outrageous, wonderfully entertaining and an alto-gether great night. Must be 21 or older.

Jan. 2

i Kids (6 years and older) can Celebrate Winter with Sarett Nature Cen-ter on Jan. 2 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The morn-ing session ($3) will include learning about animals in winter, snow and winter survival. The afternoon session (ad-ditional $3) will be spent snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Children should dress appropri-ately and bring a lunch. Please call (269) 927-4832 to register.

Lubeznik Center for the Arts is calling all poets, musicians, comedians, dramatists and storytell-ers! Start the New Year by sharing your talent at our open mic First Friday event hosted by Tim Rounds. Performers interested in participat-ing must register online at lubeznikcenter.org by Dec. 30. Check-in is at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 2, per-formances run from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Please note that we anticipate allow-ing 10 minute time slots per performance, how-ever, this is subject to change depending on the number of registrants. Questions? Call the cen-ter at 219-874-4900.

Jan. 3

The Elkhart County Parks and the South

Bend-Elkhart Audu-bon Society are calling upon volunteers for the annual Elkhart County Christmas Bird Count, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 3. Bird watchers can pre-reg-ister by contacting the Elkhart County Parks at (574) 535-6458 or e-mail [email protected] to register their name, address, and phone number and e-mail to receive further directions for the bird count.

Jan. 10

The artistry and time-honored tradition of epic storytelling through dance will delight audi-ences at the Lake Michi-gan College Mendel Center Mainstage when the Russian National Ballet Theatre presents Don Quixote on Satur-day, Jan. 10, 2015, at 4 p.m. Tickets for the Russian National Ballet Theatre presents Don Quixote start at $34 and are available by calling the LMC Mendel Center Box Office at (269) 927-1221 or visiting www.lm-cmainstage.org. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. For information about group rates, pre-show party options, and other special arrangements, contact Mike Nadolski at (269) 927-8109 or [email protected].

Artist and Pokagon Po-tawatomi tribal citizen Jason Wesaw will con-duct a workshop outlin-ing his unique process of producing work with clay directly harvested from the Great Lakes. Learn about historical native pottery while cre-ating your own one-of-a-kind artworks alongside the artist. Participants will use clay harvested in and around South Bend. Early bird tuition is $80 before Dec. 10.

After Dec. 10, tuition is $100.

Jan. 11

South Bend Civic The-atre is creating new op-portunities for bringing onstage and backstage talent to their produc-tions in 2015. On Sun-day January 11th and Tuesday January 13th, SBCT will hold audi-tions for four upcoming shows: Spamalot, A Be-handing in Spokane, Ve-nus in Fur, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Actors will have the opportunity to list their preference of shows to be considered for in this new format. The auditions will be-gin promptly at 6 PM and will be held at the Scottish Rite building (across the parking lot from South Bend Civic Theatre on Main Street). More information, in-cluding casting break-downs for all shows and downloadable sides are available at sbct.org.

Jan. 23

The second of three performances in the 2014-2015 Hanson The-atre Living Room Series is on tap for Friday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. at the LMC Mendel Center with Wild Ponies.Tickets for Wild Ponies are $15 and $10 for Mendel Center Mainstage series ticket holders, students, and seniors. They are avail-able by calling the LMC Mendel Center Box Of-fice at (269) 927-1221 or visiting www.lmc-mainstage.org. For in-formation about group rates, pre-show party options, and other spe-cial arrangements, con-tact Mike Nadolski at (269) 927-8109 or [email protected].

Jan. 24

South Bend’s fourth an-nual BrewFest will take

place at the Century Center on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, and will show-case specialty and craft beers from local brew-eries from South Bend and the surrounding areas. In concordance with South Bend’s 150th birthday celebration, at-tendees will have the opportunity to sample more than 150 beer va-rieties and flavors. The first 150 people through the door will also receive a special, commemora-tive gift. In addition to the beer tasting, BrewFest will also feature live mu-sic, pretzel necklaces, live home brew demon-strations and a charity auction.

Jan. 25

BrewFest, an annual beer sampling event hosted by Century Cen-ter will be held on Sat-urday, Jan. 24, 2015, in downtown South Bend. The collaboration be-tween Century Center and Transpo comes as an effort to promote safety and responsi-ble practices amongst BrewFest participants.

Jan. 30-31

Thrill on the Hill will start

on Friday the 30th with a 5-9 p.m. run and then an adult “midnight run” from 11 p.m. to 1 p.m. Then all day Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Unlimited runs for $3! We provide your sled-ding tube! Contact City Hall at 269-695-3844 for more details. Or click the picture above for the Thrill’s Facebook page.

Feb. 5

Get ready to partici-pate in some mid-winter laughs when Jim Be-lushi and the Board of Comedy come to the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Main-stage on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy start at $36 and are available by calling the LMC Men-del Center Box Office at (269) 927-1221 or visiting www.lmcmain-stage.org. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. For in-formation about group rates, pre-show party options, and other spe-cial arrangements, con-tact Mike Nadolski at (269) 927-8109 or [email protected].

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12

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off the water - december 25-31, 2014

Documents

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