FALL 2014

people • entertainment • shopping • dining • art

JUNKEVOLUTION

Join the

in South Bend

Taste of FallBuchanan’s Wheatberry offers

unique cuisine, dining experience

Step inside one of Michiana’s

GREENEST homes!

MICHIANALife

On the CoverBuchanan’s Wheatberry Restaurant & Tavern offers unique cuisine and dining experiences. Serving regional American dishes prepared with local ingredients, Wheatberry features award-winning pit barbecue, fresh-caught fish and seafood, prime steaks, free-range poultry and vegetarian options. The up-scale tavern pours a unique selection of spirits, wines, small batch and craft beers that are perfect for fall or any season. - page 10

PublisherMichael Caldwell

Managing EditorAmbrosia Neldon

Creative DirectorAnne Johnson

ContributorsCricket NelsonCraig Haupert

Scott NovakTed Yoakum

MarketingSherina GonzalezJenny Yarbrough

Phil LangerNicole Bates

Donna KnightDayna Coquillard

Krystal Pipke

Contact InformationLeader Publications

217 N. 4th StreetNiles, MI 49120

www.MichianaLife.com

Advertising Inquiries269-683-2100

15

27

41

people • entertainment • shopping • dining • art

MICHIANALife

Homes5 Home Showcase7 In the Details9 DIY

Shopping12 In the Biz17 Local Treasures

Food20 In the Kitchen24 From the Cookbook Recipes

Arts & Culture34 On Display40 Have You Been Spotted?44 Calendar

Features10 Feature #155 Feature #230 Feature #3

In Every Issue11 Publisher’s Note16 Windows to the Past19 Purely Michiana28 How To50 20 Answers61 Why I Love Michiana

41

74

35

What’s Inside?

* All mock-ups are only examples of the content and may not represent actual stories or layouts.

18

homemadehot apple ciderQuarter the apples (no need to remove peel or seeds). In a large stock pot add apples and fill with water – just enough to cover the apples.

Add sugar. Wrap cinnamon and allspice in a doubled up cheese cloth and tie, and add this to the apples and water.

Boil on high for one hour (uncovered) checking on it frequently. Turn down heat and let simmer for two hours (covered). Take off the heat after two hours of simmering and let cool.

Remove spices and mash up the apples to a pulp like consistency (a potato masher works well for this).

Once cool pour into a strainer over a large bowl. When most of the juice has drained away, put the remainder of the pulp into a doubled up cheese cloth and squeeze over the bowl until no more juice comes out. (At this point either strain the juice to get out the little bits of pulp that remain with a cheese cloth draped inside the strainer to catch them or just leave it).

Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze it for later use. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

Ingredients• 8 -10 apples (Use gala for a less tart or intense taste)• 1/2-1 cup sugar

• 4 tablespoons cinnamon (or 4 cinnamon sticks)

• 4 tablespoons allspice

RECIPE

–Submitted by Joanne Smith, South Bend

autumnMichiana’s unique boutiques offer a collection of affordable autumn themed decor for your home.

Jar Lid PumpkinSorella’s Boutique,Granger, Indiana

$9

Mason Jar Flower VasesShawnee Road Antiques, Baroda, Michigan

$20

Fall PillowsFrench Twist, Bridgman, Michigan

$10 Each

Autumn WreathRUsT, Dowagiac, Michigan

$15

Rustic Fall SignBen Franklin’s, Bridgman, Michigan

$25

SHOPPINGhome decor for

A large meal is customary come Thanks-giving. Planning an impressive Thanksgiving menu can be enjoyable for many people, while others get a little nervous when tasked with such an undertaking. But getting a head start and staying organized can make planning a Thanksgiving meal much easier than it looks.

Begin by jotting down ideas of which dishes you want to make this year. Traditional foods like turkey and candied yams may be expected, but it’s perfectly acceptable to think outside the box as well. If you won’t be hosting a large crowd, you may want to serve more manageable Cornish hens in place of a larger turkey.

Root vegetables and squash are seasonal foods that can add some autumn flavor to your Thanksgiving dinner table. Potatoes, corn, turnips and parsnips can be served baked or turned into soups and casseroles.

Thanksgiving is a great time to celebrate local foods as well. If certain items are native to your area, such as grains or game, incorporate these foods into the planning.

Once you have established the menu, you

can make a list of what can be prepared in advance and what will need to be made shortly before the holiday or the day of. Separate your shopping accordingly. Any frozen or canned products can be purchased in advance of the holiday rush and stored until use. Frozen tur-keys also can be bought weeks before and then thawed out when they need to be cooked. Any dairy products or fresh produce should be purchased a few days before Thanksgiving and freshly prepared for optimal flavor.

Rather than spending all of your time cooking the night before the dinner, mashed potatoes and casseroles can be prepared and frozen, then reheated on Thanksgiving. Some foods actually taste better when flavors have had an opportunity to meld. Even some baked goods can be made in advance and refriger-ated or frozen until use. Think about preparing batters for cookies or cakes and then storing them in the refrigerator before finishing them on Thanksgiving. Any work you can handle in advance will save you time in the kitchen come the big day.

THANKSGIVING table setting

By: Ambrosia Neldon

GT

I

AHV

N K

E

S

Niles etiquette expert offers helpful tips

HOMES

Every night as she sits down for dinner, 9-year-old Carlee Gibson thanks her mother for making the meal.

It’s a simple gesture, but one that tugs at her mother’s heartstrings.

“(Carlee) says it every time — every single

time,” said Jessica Gibson. “It’s hard be-cause you know there’s an old life attached. ... There was a time when she didn’t know if food was going to be on the table.”

Jessica, 29, and her husband, James, 30, became foster parents of Carlee and her

biological sisters, Marissa, 11, and Jenna, 8, in 2006. They later adopted all three.

Jessica didn’t want to dredge up the pain-ful details of the sisters’ previous family life, but said they came from a traumatic situa-tion.

Fostering HopeLocal couple opens home to more than 30 children during the past eight yearsBy: Craig Haupert

FEATURE

Local couple opens home to more than 30 children during the past eight years

“When we got (Carlee) it was Feb. 28. Her birthday was March 2,” she said. “She never knew what her birthday was. ... She didn’t know a birthday cake, she didn’t know she got presents. Nothing.”

The Gibsons are among the approximate-ly 40 licensed foster families for the Cass County Department of Human Services.

According to the program’s child services supervisor, Kristen Williams, there are cur-rently 150 youth in the county’s foster care system. Around 40 percent are placed out-side the county, with many children being split from their siblings, because there aren’t enough licensed fos-ter families to take them in Cass County.

“There’s a real big need for foster fami-lies,” Williams said. “One of the real is-sues our children face when they are placed outside of the county is they lose their sense of community. They often can’t stay in the same school, par-ticipate in the same groups, like 4-H or little league. ... When you lose that it is very traumatic for a child.”

We don’t want kids

The Gibsons are the lead pastors at Victory Tabernacle PC of God in Dowagiac.

Jessica, a Dowagiac native, and James, originally fron Flint, met at a youth camp in Hillsdale in the summer of 2001.

They were married in 2004. Neither wanted children.“We both knew we didn’t want our own

children between us. That was something we agreed on when we got married,” Jessica said. “It’s not like I can’t have children — there really wasn’t a reason. I just wanted to be with him and he wanted to be with me.”

That early decision changed a couple of years later when the two were driving to South Bend, Ind., to do some shopping. On the way, the radio played an advertisement about the need for foster families in the area.

Neither one of them talked about it at first, but both remember hearing the ad and how it had stirred up an urge deep inside them.

Being people of deep faith, the Gibsons believe God meant for them to hear the ad.

Some three weeks later, the topic of foster-ing came up.

“We both looked at each other and some-thing sparked that conversation again,” James said. “We’d been tossing around the idea in our own heads, but neither one of us knew that.”

Both quickly agreed to begin the process toward becoming a licensed foster family. They welcomed Marissa, Carlee and Jenna — their first foster placements — into their home Feb. 28, 2006. Since then, they’ve fos-tered approximately 30 children and adopt-ed four, including Martha, 17, in 2009.

Looking back on their original decision not to have children, James said it now

makes perfect sense. God meant for them to be a foster family.

“There was something else in store for us,” James said.

“Everyone feels like there’s a calling in their life and this is mine,” Jessica said. “This is my heart. This is my passion.”

Full houseWhen the Gibsons welcome a foster child

into their home, they make sure that child feels welcome.

“We never make the foster children feel

like foster children. They are part of our family right away,” said Jessica. “We don’t introduce them as foster children. They are members of the family.”

The Gibsons’ adopted daughters help too, buying each new foster child a present be-fore showing them around the house.

“We try to teach our kids that they have the opportunity to give back,” James said. “After all, the girls know what it is like to come into a strange home, not knowing what to expect.”

The Gibsons currently have two foster children living with them, making for a full

house. James said they have to be very structured and orga-nized to make it work.

“We live by calen-dars,” he said. “By 8:30 in the morning we’ve already been to five schools or day cares. Then we go to work, do what we have to do, and in the afternoon it starts again.”

Jessica and James strive to take one day off a week — usually Monday — in order to make sure their mar-riage remains strong.

“We try to do some-thing together and usually it’s just us — unless school is can-

celled,” James said. “Let’s just say it’s been a long January for us.”

Marissa said she enjoys having so many people around the house.

“You are never alone — there’s always someone to play with and talk to. I just feel happy,” she said.

Despite the seemingly hectic lifestyle, the Gibsons say they wouldn’t change a thing.

“I thought we were pretty cool seven years ago,” said James. “Now, our hearts are over-whelmed for the compassion of children. There’s not a child we see that doesn’t have potential.”

Impacting livesJessica said most foster children come

to them confused and scared, not knowing what is next or where they are going.

Their job, Jessica said, is to make sure each child feels loved and cared for while they have them.

“I love to see the transformation six months later when they are smiling and they are happy,” she said.

“ ”Everyone feels like there’s a calling in their life, and this is mine. This is my heart.

This is my passion.–Jessica Gibson

HOUSE beautifulBy: Ted Yoakum

Kelli Ellis is an interior designer for all seasons. But when spring rolls around each year, she is truly in her element.

For Ellis, spring offers endless opportunities to update and refresh interior spaces with touches of color. While she always recommends starting with a neutral foundation that includes walls and major pieces of furniture in shades of white, beige or brown, Ellis loves to add seasonal flourishes by changing up accents and accessories.

“With a neutral foundation,” explains Ellis, “you don’t have to invest a lot of time or money to refresh. Once you have the basics -- those pieces of furniture that you absolutely love and will stand the test of time -- the sky’s the limit in terms of chang-ing accents such as valances, pillows, rugs, candle holders -- even the matting on a picture. A neutral foundation opens the door to a new look with mini-mal changes.”

According to Ellis, one of the best -- and easiest -- ways to add seasonal color and refresh a living space is with fresh flowers displayed in a variety of containers. Fresh flowers not only enliven a room and bring in the sights and scents of the outdoors, they are perfect for playing up color and color com-binations.

“A lot of people are afraid of color in their de-cor, so a less scary way of introducing color is with

flowers and vases,” Ellis notes. “Fresh flowers can go with any type of decor and generally last as long as your mood, so there are endless opportunities to experiment without making a long-term commit-ment.”

Decorating with flowers begins with choosing a container that is in sync with the season and the style of your home, counsels Ellis.

“There are so many container options for every type of decor,” Ellis says. “If your home leans to-ward country, think about using old decanters, tins or even wooden boxes. For contemporary homes, glass vases with clean lines work best. And for tra-ditional homes, go with urns or ornate vases.”

In the details of a Niles home

Home of Kelli Ellis, Niles, MI

HOMES

59% of readers took

action or plan to take actionas a result of

exposure to specific print magazine ads.

91% of Americans

read magazines

magazines read in the last six months (print and digital editions)

Magazine media grabs the attention of

affluent customers

71% of adults say they have

some interest in magazine advertising they have seen

in the past 30 days.

Magazines are #1 in reader engagement

the average reader spends

40 minutesreading each print issue.

Magazines influence,

inspire and endure

More than 150 print magazines have thrived for over 50 years.(only 9 tV programs can say the same).

47 titles have succeeded for more than 100 years.

Why magazine advertising?

Sources: Gfk MRI, Spring 2013, Fall 2012. Shullman Luxury and Affluence Monthly Pulse, March 2013. Gfk MRI Starch, January-December 2012. MPA Info Center,

Mediafinder.com, Serial Solutions, Ulrich’s web, Museum of Boradcasrt Commiunications; 2012 data.

Magazines outperform tV and online for critical purchase drivers when it

comes to brand awareness, brand favorability and brand

purchase intent.

Magazine readers recommend products and services to others.

trusted influencers are heavy print magazine users when it comes to telling others about vacation travel, healthcare,

automotive, finance, technology and food.

Sources: Experian Marketing Services, Simmons Multi-Media Engagement Study, Fall 2012. GfK MRI, Fall 2012. InsightExpress, 2013.

(Index) magazines websites ad-supported tv networks

i pay attention to or notice ads 145 85 90

ads fit well with the content 139 96 86

it is a way to learn about new products 135 100 77

inspires me in my own life 135 96 88

gets me to try new things 131 100 81

i get valuable info from the ads 130 96 83

ads help me make purchase decisions 130 100 85

i am more likely to buy products in ads 125 95 85

inspires me to buy things 122 109 78

i trust it to tell the truth 113 107 84it is an escape for me 111 77 114

people are most

influenced and inspired by magazine

media

100

80

60

40

20

0

-1 * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

* on-sale date weeks from on-sale date ➤ print digital

Monthlyaudience accumulation by week

Readership starts strong andkeeps growing – across platforms

Michigan and Indiana. Our Michiana region cre-ates one community, one home, one life. The region possesses a diverse histo-

ry and a future that’s one of the brightest. Michiana stands out, today, as a region known for its preservation of a small-town values and more temperate way of life.

Michiana Life magazine holds true to and celebrates these grand traditions while embracing the new perspectives, energy and vitality of the 21st Century. Like the region, Michiana Life magazine possess-es dignity and confidence enabling us to take readers on bold journeys through culture and history, and on to what lies ahead.

Our pages convey warmth of the people and style of this proud region. Our con-tent is intelligent, open minded, and as honest as down home cooking. Our foun-dation is in our editorial integrity which allows us to seamlessly integrate the thoughts and ideas of those that stretch over 1,200 square miles, and our under-standing of the time-honored perspec-tives that have helped shape this region.

We are … Michiana Life.

MarketLiving in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan has a deeper meaning than a mere “lifestyle.” This region holds an ap-peal to those who have lived here, and continues to draw others to move here because of its extraordinary legacy, re-warding quality of life and entertaining community.

Michiana Life magazine strives to repli-cate the true spirit of the region and those who call it home. Michiana boasts a di-verse economy that hosts businesses of almost any sector, and entrepreneurs of every stripe.

Michiana Life holds its homes and its readers in high regard, and will be pre-sented in beautiful photography, indepth and thoughtful articles on a range of top-ics, and use of the charm of this special place in an intelligent manner.

Reader/DemographicsMichiana Life magazine is for those who call the region home, and for those who may want to in the future. From young transplants to fourth-generation old hands, our readers are unified by an active interest in the world around them. Whether our readers are looking to shop local businesses or attend cultural events, they are plugged into the scenes around them. The readers of Michiana Life magazine value creativity and inno-

vation but also the distinctive elements of traditional life.

Of course, that’s why they are drawn to the special charm of the region. Our readers are intelligent, upwardly mobile, and realize the potential for business and cultural opportunities springing up around the region. They hold jobs in a variety of industries and are involved in their community.

They volunteer, start businesses, lead, vote and contribute to society. The read-ers of Michiana Life have a more open perspective than most, and travel when-ever they can. They spend time outdoors and take pride in their image and appear-ance. Our readers also possess the very best qualities of the region itself – confi-dence, curiosity and a desire to actively participate in a unique way of life.

Distribution and CirculationMichiana Life magazine circulates 8,000 copies, distributed across Michigan and Indiana to upper-income households and at more than 200 locations. It will reach those who’ve lived here for generations, those who’ve transplanted here over the years from other areas, and those who are traveling and could potentially be members of the community.

Moreover, all three of these segments of readers have a natural eagerness to learn more about Michiana and the com-munities within it. Michiana Life contains that sought after information about the re-gion’s lifestyles, those who live nearby as well as those who once did, the culture, the history, the shopping, the dining and opportunities in their future.

Michiana Life magazine will satisfy this curiosity with strategic placements into the hands and homes of interested and connected readers that advertisers will want to reach.

In addition, the majority of the circulation will be available free of charge at upscale locations and retail outlets reaching our select readership where they shop, as well as circulate in hotels, medical of-fices, banks, real estate and Chamber offices throughout the two states. It will also be available to subscribers of the magazine for a low yearly price.

Advertising InquiryTo receive more information on advertis-ing in Michiana Life magazine as well as to receive a complimentary copy of the most recent issue, please contact Mike Caldwell at 269-687-7700, or send an e-mail to: mike.caldwell@leaderpub.com.

SPRING 2014

Difference MakersVolunteers leaving imprint on Southwest Michigan and beyond

MICHIANALifePeoPle • eNteRtaINmeNt • ShoPPING • dINING • aRt

Have you beenSPOTTED?See who is out on the town

StartPlanting!Granger woman helps get your garden growing

FALL 2014

people • entertainment • shopping • dining • art

JUNKEVOLUTION

Join the

in South Bend

Taste of FallBuchanan’s Wheatberry offers

unique cuisine, dining experience

Step inside one

of Michiana’s

GREENEST homes!

MICHIANALife

WINTER 2014

Best local destinations for fun in the snow8

IT’S SUPAH!Niles woman turns love for felines into upscale artSheriff Paul Bailey opens up

pEoplE • ENTERTaINmENT • shoppINg • dININg • aRT

MICHIANALife

Why I Love Michiana

showcasing the best of northern indiana and southwest michigan.

Content

Food Restaurant profiles, local recipes and a guide to Michiana cuisine.

Homes Showcasing Michiana’s most unique homes and easy DIY projects

Arts & Culture Amazing artists, things to do and snapshots of residents who have been “spotted” on the town

Shopping Featuring unique businesses and discovering hidden treasures in local stores

Living Meet some of the region’s

difference makers, get helpful tips to make life easier and much more.

Spotlight Stories Get to know some of the amazing people, places and events in Michiana

Standing Features A diverse collection of topics in every issue

Readershipmore than 30,000 people will read each issue

8,000 copies mailed to

more than 4,000 readers with a household income of more than

$150,000; another 4,000 copies

free at over 200 locations

1,000+ readers of digital products

Demographicsprimarily females ages 30-70(But men will enjoy it, too!)

$150,000 or higher

household income

Active, engaged, vibrant citizens who

love living, working and playing in

northern indiana and southwest michigan

homemadehot apple ciderQuarter your apples (no need to remove peel or seeds). In a large stock pot

add your apples and fill with water--just enough to cover the apples.

Add your sugar. Wrap your cinnamon and allspice in a doubled up cheese

cloth and tie, and add this to the apples and water.

Boil on high for one hour (uncovered) checking on it frequently. Turn down

heat and let simmer for two hours (covered). Take off the heat after two hours

of simmering and let cool.

Remove spices and mash up the apples to a pulp like consistency (a potato

masher works well for this).Once cool pour into a strainer over a large bowl. When most of the juice has

drained away, put the remainder of the pulp into a doubled up cheese cloth

and squeeze over the bowl until no more juice comes out.(At this point you

can either restrain the juice to get out the little bits of pulp that remain with a

cheese cloth draped inside the strainer to catch them or just leave it like I do).

You can store in an air tight container in your refrigerator for up to a week or

you can freeze it for later use if you like. Reheat in the microwave or on the

stove.

Ingredients• 8 -10 apples (I used gala for a less tart or intense taste)• 1/2-1 cup sugar

• 4 tablespoons cinnamon (or 4 cinnamon sticks)

• 4 tablespoons allspice

RECIPE

–Submitted by Joanne Smith, South Bend

autumnMichiana’s unique boutiques offer a collection of af-

fordable autumn themed decor for your home.

Jar Lid PumpkinSorella’s Boutique,Granger, Indiana

$9.00

Mason Jar Flower VasesShawnee Road Antiques, Baroda, Michigan

$20.00

Fall PillowsFrench Twist, Bridgman, Michigan

$10.00 Each

Autumn WreathRUsT, Dowagiac, Michigan

$15.00

Rustic Fall SignBen Franklin’s, Bridgman, Michigan

$25.00

SHOPPING

home decor for

Every night as she sits down for dinner, 9-year-old Carlee Gibson thanks her mother for making the meal.It’s a simple gesture, but one that tugs at her mother’s heartstrings.“(Carlee) says it every time — every single

time,” said Jessica Gibson. “It’s hard be-cause you know there’s an old life attached. ... There was a time when she didn’t know if food was going to be on the table.”Jessica, 29, and her husband, James, 30, became foster parents of Carlee and her

biological sisters, Marissa, 11, and Jenna, 8, in 2006. They later adopted all three.Jessica didn’t want to dredge up the pain-ful details of the sisters’ previous family life, but said they came from a traumatic situa-tion.

Fostering HopeLocal couple opens home to more than 30 children during the past eight years

By: Ambrosia Neldon

FEATURE

HOUSE beautifulBy: Ted Yoakum

Kelli Ellis is an interior designer for all seasons. But when spring rolls around each year, she is truly in her element.

For Ellis, spring offers endless opportunities to update and refresh interior spaces with touches of color. While she always recommends starting with a neutral foundation that includes walls and major pieces of furniture in shades of white, beige or brown, Ellis loves to add seasonal flourishes by changing up accents and accessories.“With a neutral foundation,” explains Ellis,

“you don’t have to invest a lot of time or money to refresh. Once you have the basics -- those pieces of furniture that you absolutely love and will stand the test of time -- the sky’s the limit in terms of chang-ing accents such as valances, pillows, rugs, candle holders -- even the matting on a picture. A neutral foundation opens the door to a new look with mini-mal changes.”

According to Ellis, one of the best -- and easiest -- ways to add seasonal color and refresh a living space is with fresh flowers displayed in a variety of containers. Fresh flowers not only enliven a room and bring in the sights and scents of the outdoors, they are perfect for playing up color and color com-binations.

“A lot of people are afraid of color in their de-cor, so a less scary way of introducing color is with

flowers and vases,” Ellis notes. “Fresh flowers can go with any type of decor and generally last as long as your mood, so there are endless opportunities to experiment without making a long-term commit-ment.”

Decorating with flowers begins with choosing a container that is in sync with the season and the style of your home, counsels Ellis.“There are so many container options for every

type of decor,” Ellis says. “If your home leans to-ward country, think about using old decanters, tins or even wooden boxes. For contemporary homes, glass vases with clean lines work best. And for tra-ditional homes, go with urns or ornate vases.”

In the details of a Niles home

Home of Kelli Ellis, Niles, MI

PReMIuM LoCAtIonsCost per Insertion 4x

o Back Cover ........................................ $2,200

o Inside Front Cover ............................. $1,800

o Page Three ........................................ $1,600

o Inside Back Cover ............................. $1,500

o Center Spread ................................... $2,500

o Double Truck ..................................... $2,000

AnnuAL CoMMItMent ......... 4x ............................. 1xCost per Insertiono Full Page ............................................ $1,200 .................................... $1,800

o Half Page .............................................. $800 .................................... $1,150

o Third Page ............................................ $650 ....................................... $900

o Quarter Page ........................................ $500 ....................................... $700

eDItIon................... PubLIshes ...........AD CoPy DuePREMIERE ISSUE ................................October ...........................September 5

Winter .................................................. January ..........................November 14

Spring .....................................................March ............................. January 22

Summer .................................................... June ................................... May 22

Frequency: 4 times annually (Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall)

Circulation: Michiana Life magazine prints a minimum of 8,000 copies quarterly and is available for pickup in upscale locations including medi-cal offices, restaurants, banks, hotels, real estate offices and retail outlets throughout Michigan and Indiana. Readers may also purchase a yearly subscription to the magazine.

how to supply artwork: Print-ready ads may be sent in digitally to creative@leaderpub.com. Acceptable electronic art includes: High resolution PDF files; High-resolution CMYK TIFF files, 300 dpi at 100 percent ad size. Ads can also be created for your business at no additional charge.

Full Page8.626” x 10.5” or

9.125” x 11.125” (Full bleed)

Half Page4.228” x 10.5” or 8.626” x 5.1681”

1/4 Page4.228” x 5.1681”

1/3 Page2.875” x 10.5” or 8.626” x 3.5”