Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 134, Number 53, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 31 December 2015 — Page 2

Page 2

• Advance News • Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015

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Photo provided Pictured is the 2014 Elkhart County Master Gardener class. Front row (from left to right): Marcia Chambers of Topeka, Roxanne Ewing of South Bend, Steve Ramer of Nappanee, Sue Bumgardner of Elkhart, Katie Madonna Lee of South Bend, Kerry Head of Middlebury, Madison Blue of Elkhart and Eva Ruiz-Nava of Elkhart. Back row (from left to right): Cindy Watson of Elkhart, Ginger Thorne of Middlebury,Tammy McDonald of Goshen, Kathy O'Reilly of Middlebury, Kathleen Moore of South Bend, Malinda Shekel of Middlebury, Lori Huynh-Porter of Mishawaka and Marsha Schrock of Elkhart.

Master Gardener students

16 people have completed the first phase of the Purdue Master Gardener program in Elkhart County. Jeff Burbrink, Extension Educator with the Purdue Extension Service in Elkhart County and coordinator of the local Master Gardener program, explained that Master Gardeners is a volunteer training program, not just a series of gardening classes. Participants have been attending training for the past four months and have passed an exam. <• i The participants will now be giving volunteer time back to the community in exchange for the knowledge they have gained. The focus of the volunteer time is education, with the intent of making our community a better place to live. "This is 'a very talented group of people with a wide variety of experience,' Burbrink said. "With interests

Kitson, from front

asked by City Chair Bobby Wilson if he would consider working in the government. Mulling over the choice to run for city council, Kitson turned to the sage advice of his grandfather, who had spent a majority of his adult life in politics. 1 "Tasked my grandfather what he thought,"Kitson said. "He told me that it would be a great way to give back to the community, but only if you serve to serve the citizens." Kitson says he has learned a lot and will take many things away from his tenure on the city council. Calling it one of the best experiences he has had, Kitson looks back on the ups and downs of his time on the council with fond regard, remembering all of the things about Nappanee that tirade him care so much for his community. i Recalling his election to the council shortly after the tornado of 2007, Kitson says it was the way that the community came together in their time of need that made him feel so strongly about serving his community to

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the best of his ability. "Coming in after the tornado of 2007 and seeing how local government didn't run amok, it was inspiring," Kitson said. "We were able to put the city and the community back together without any federal aid. It wasn't just, the elected officials, either. It was the community that really made the difference." But it was not always high notes and high praise for Kitson, who recounted a moment of backlash after he supported an initiative to allow for alcohol sales at McCormick Creek Golf Course in Nappanee. The motion to allow alcohol to be purchased at the course was not popular amongst residents, with Kitson saying that the motidn was met with an outpouring of citizens asking the council not to go through with the motion, specifically asking Kitson how he could support such a thing. But Kitson was not fazed by the backlash, and used the opportunity to better understand the intricacies of local politics. "Sometimes, what looks

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Community

ranging from landscaping, vegetables, to flowers and raising dahlias for competition, they kept me on my toes!" The Master Gardener class of 2015 is planning to offer several seminars this winter and spring on vegetable production, perennials and landscaping. Brochures for the Master Gardener seminars will be available soon at local garden centers, libraries and hardware stores in Elkhart County. In addition, Master Gardeners are available to help with groups in the community, including schools, service clubs and church groups. The Master Gardeners operate a horticultural hotline at the Extension Office from April through September each year. About 1000 horticultural questions were answered in 2015 through the hotline. This is the 21th Master Gardener class held in Elkhart County since the program was started in 1996. Burbrink

good for the bottom line doesn't reflect the wished of the citizens,,and I respect thjat," Kitson said. All in all, Kitson is optimistic about the future and plans to stay involved in his community as much as he can. Be it in the chamber of commerce or a possible foray into local politics in the future, Kitson is determined to continue supporting Nappanee. "There i are no sour grapes for me," Kitson said. "As of right now, I'm just stepping back from politics to focus on being a husband and a father. As for anyone who is thinking about getting into politics, all I can say is to remember that those who serve the citizens best have a listening bar and not a taking ihouth. I'm not going away or giving up on this city, and our besf years are still ahead of us." With Nappanee's best years possibly still ahead, citizens will remember Councilman Kitson and always have him to thank for eight of thb best years that Nappanee has seen.

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Chief, from front

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Photo/Merrie Chapman Chief Julie Dijkstra is pictured with Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson after announcing her retirement during the December 21, Common Council meeting. Dijkstra has agreed to remain in her position until Mayor-Elect Phil Jenkins appoints a new chief to the position.

Thompson. "She's done everything I Could have asked for in her years with Nappanee. And she will be missed." Chief Dijkstra's retirement was the highlight of a short meeting only featuring bookkeeping procedures regarding monthly i sewer adjustments, excavating permits and already budgeted contract information regarding local trash collection and city support of the Family Christian Development Center.

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suggested that interested people call the Purdue Extension Office in Goshen at (574) 533-0554 to be placed on a mailing list for an application for the next class to be offered this fall. Members of the 2015 Elkhart County Master Gardener class are Marcia Chambers of Topeka, Roxanne Ewing of South Bend, Steve Ramer of Nappanee, Sue Bumgardner of Elkhart, Katie Madonna Lee of South Bend, Kerry Head of Middlebury, Madison Blue of Elkhart and Eva RuizNava of Elkhart. Also Cindy Watson of Elkhart, Ginger Thome of Middlebury, Tammy McDonald of Goshen, Kathy O'Reilly of Middlebury, Kathleen Moore of South Bend, Malinda Stickel of Middlebury, Lori Huynh-Porter of Mishawaka and Marsha Schrock of Elkhart.

CHANGE OF MEETING DATES Beginning in January 2016 the Nappanee Board of Public Works and Safety will meet at 3pm, on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, inside Council Chambers at the Nappanee Municipal Building, 30C W. Lincoln Street. Meetings are open to the public.

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