Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 135, Number 40, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 5 October 2017 — Page 4

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Advance News • Thursday, October 5, 2017

Back to college I'm a college student again It's been a while. How long? Let's see.... I graduated from college in 1976. I graduated from seminary in 1979. So it's been thirty-eight years. Obviously my brain is calcified. It doesn't wok as fast or as

well. Nevertheless I was motivated to audit an American Sign Language (ASL) dass at Goshen College this fall. Auditing means you attend the dass, take part in the dasswork,

do the assignments, but you don't get a grade or credit You sit in on the course. I don't need another degree, so auditing is good enough for me. Now although I am not a linguist, I enjoy languages. Take English I love it! I went to college in 1972 in order to become a high school English teacher; only to become a Theater Arts Major who somehow ended up first at seminary, then in the ministry. Life has funny twists and turns. At seminary I learned Biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek. Those are reading skills, and I use those languages to this day. I can read Spanish and French, though I can't think fast enough to speak than very well. I guess I just like words. A language teaches you about the way people think. I like getting to know people. People in my church helped pay for the dass. They voted with dollars either for keeping my Amish-style beard or shaving it off. Shaving won. Does that mean they hated the beard or they like my face? So I went into the ASL dass with some optimism. It's been a hoot The teacher, my friend Amanda Flickinger; is fantastic. She's very expressive, quite dramatic, and knows all the latest techniques in teaching a dass by immersing them in ASL, thanks to her Master's Degree from Gallaudet University in Washington D.C No, my problem is that I have the beginnings of arthritis in my right hand, and while it's no problem to use the signs she is teaching us, it hurts to spell letters or make numbers. On the other hand, ASL is the best thing for me, because if you have arthritis you have to exercise that part of your body or you will lose the use erf it! Another problem is I have to pay attention. My train of thought is often derailed, but ASL requires that you give another person your full attention. You can't get drowsy or think about what you're going to have for lunch. This is good for me. My biggest problem was trying to figure out how to sign my excuse when I was the last student to sit down at dass because I got stuck behind huge farm vehides, and since I love farmers I always try to be polite to them. I finally mimed somebody steering a huge steering wheel, followed by me, hunched over in a small car craning to look up at the vehide in front of me. Amanda, being something of a genius, had no trouble figuring out what I was trying to say, even though I used FSL (Frank's Silly Language) instead of ASL.. Well, I'm making progress. The young people in dass are very patient with me. And in case you're wondering, the sign for "old" reminds me of stroking a very long beard. Like the beard I cut off to pay for this dass! Frank Ramirez is the Senior Pastor of the Union Center Church of the Brethren.

Restoration and Collision,LLC Ftm IsdmatK • CMMrteM & Castani Patot Wtik • Partarmance Partsa Accassarfas • lasaraace Claims Welcama 66485 State Raa« 19 * Wakarusa *ErS Continuous Publication Since 1879 Advance News fnnAin Siren n rm n L t » 1 - 1 serving Nappanee « woKarusa PaMMni Weakly • (USPS 370-960) Periodical postage paid in Nappanee, IN 46550 NtnuSTBI: Please send address corrections to P.O. Box 220, Plymouth, IN 46563 haaifr IMrtflMg Dfrector Cindy Stockton [email protected] MM«kg Edttor Greg Hildebrand [email protected] EftST Amy Lant-Wenger [email protected] S|NPtS Bator Rusty Nixon [email protected] BnfeMS Manager Michelle Louderback [email protected] GMcManaa Managers Jessie Hill [email protected] Sales CsnaMtant Angi Rodriguez [email protected] Classified Ads ™ 5 ?; 93 , 6 - 3101 through Fnday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All classifieds must be pre-paid. Deadline: Monday at 11.-30 a.m. Advertising Call Angi Rodriguez at 574-936-3101 for rate information or to place an ad. Deadline: Thursday at 5 p.m. Legal Notices Deadline: Wednesday at 5 p.m. (Week prior) Subscriptions Annual subscription price (52 issues) is S3O in-state and S3B out-of-state. To renew or start a new subscription, or to solve delivery problems, call the Circulation Department at 574-936-3101. Nows Email news items and photos to [email protected], or drop them off at the Bremen office, 126 E. Plymouth St For possible story ideas, please call 574-546-2941 or cell, 574-209-0704. Deadline: Friday at noon. Publisher reserves the right to reject -edit or cancel any advertising at any time without liability. Publisher’s liability for error Is fIBHBM limited to the amount paid tor advertising.

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County Road Seven By Frank Ramirez Pastor

Community

Summer air turning crisp, autumn colors growing deep

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." -Albert Camus Welcome to October! As 1 glance out the sliding glass door in my office I see the warm yellow glow of sun shining through the tree branches and lighting up the neighbor's yard. It is beautiful and inviting. Part of me wants to run out there barefooted and

in shorts like we did a week ago when the temperatures were in the 90s. But I know better as those summer-like temperatures have now given way to more traditional fall weather. It is still beautiful to watch as the autumn colors grow deeper, and witness milder temperatures become laced with a bit of a chill now and again. And I welcome all the wonderfulness fall brings with it each year. In recent days we received our first invitation to a fall campfire. And yes, even at age 46,1 still experience that little jump of exdtement at the thought of hot cocoa, s'mores and time with friends in front of an evening campfire. In imagining what is to come I can already feel the warmth of the fire in front of me while experiencing the chill on my back and seeing the surrounding darkness. Campfires are a wonderful fall tradition. My mom always made fall such a wonderful time in our household! My earliest memories are of her and I walking and collecting fall leaves which we carried home to mix with crayon shavings in! between wax paper. Then she used that magic hot iron that smoothed our clothing to suddenly create art masterpieces out of those leaves and crayons! Those are but a glimpse of the fun fall times of my youth. Anyone spending time around my family can tell what season of the year it is by the drink in our cup. We are a family of tea drinkers. Steaming hot tea is our drink of choice at breakfast, lunch and dinner—and all times in between—during the cold winter months. Hot tea slowly transforms into ice tea each spring. Giant gallons of ice tea fill our kitchens and are always available to pour from on any given summer day. But something magical happens each fall. We still consume our ice tea on the warmer days, and sip hot tea during cold temperatures, but late in the month each September apple cider is introduced and by Halloween we may have even sipped our way through a full gallon. And while we associate hot cocoa with Christmas and the occasional wintertime treat, if truth be told it is enjoyed during the fall as well. Cooler weather just brings out a natural craving for the heated chocolate treat. And what better time than during those fall campfires? This week as I sorted out all my flavored teas in preparation for the many upcoming chilly months, I reflected on the many life changes this fall represents. No longer do I hunt leaves with my mother to make colorful masterpieces. I am not still the newlywed eager to make her house festive... or a mother of young ones scurrying around in costumes and

100 YEARS AGO October 6,1917 Today, the citizens of Nappanee and vicinity will join with the public schools in a James Whitcomb Riley memorial and the laying of the comer store for the new school building. The Riley program will be given by the schools, the principal address by Hon. E.A. Dausman of Goshen, and the comer stone will be placed by Nappanee Lodge No. 566 F. & A. M. The general program will be given at the Auditorium following the placing of the comer stone. The exercises are free to all and will begin at 1:30. Music will be furnished by the Nappanee band. 75 YEARS AGO October 8,1942 County Defense Director Ira Church has issued a call for a county-wide blackout, to be held later this month. The executive council of Nappanee Defense Council met Saturday evening and worked out plans for the local community, as

PLAN ON ATTENDING THE MARSHALL COUNTY JOB FAIR October 18 • 11 am-6 p.m. Christos' Banquet Center 830 Lincolnway East, Plymouth LOTS OF LOCAL AREA BUSINESSES WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE! Sponsored by; Tug WgWl MAX Pilot News Or fa**, Tbogjeacler eaeeMHiM Sfceffcr Theßerk*] 98*3 FM

All Those Years Ago

Merrie’s Musings By Merrie Chapman Staff Writer

ever traditions we create will be successful in bringing joy and laughter today, and bright smiles and fond memories tomorrow. Whatever your fall activities, routines and traditions my wish for all of you is that you enjoy, share with others, and make your own wonderful experiences to reflect on later in life with great happiness filling your hearts. In the words of L.M. Montgomery, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

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Photo by Merrie Chapman It is time to break out the hot cocoa and ingredients for s'mores, stoke up the campfires and dig out sweaters and hoodies. May you each enjoy the sites and sounds of fall this October.

well as possible. People are advised to be prepared for a blackout in all homes as well as places of business, as orders are to report every case where any places are not blacked out during the test period. Owners of business houses must see to it that all lights in stores, including stove windows, are out during the blackout period. Turning off window lights by police in the downtown district will not answer as police will have their hands full without taking time to do this job in any store. 50 YEARS AGO October 4,1967 In what appears to be a horse race between the two candidates for Mayor of Nappanee, the lead changed on this week's Nappanee Advance-News poll. Everett Pippen took a slim lead to end at 32 1/2% over Mayor Robert Sinclair, reversing last week's percentages. Still the most significant is the large percentage of 33% who have no choice or refuse to tell their preference.

collecting treats. I am currently in a new season of life. In the past four months we have been blessed with our first two grandchildren —grandsons. Now it is time to revisit those fond memories for inspiration on creating special time with these two wee ones so that they too will have happy reflections in their adulthoods. My prayer is that what-

At the Common Council meeting, the members went on record as wishing that Nappanee could stay on eastern standard time all year around and decided to write Governor Branigin to that effect. They also decided to go ahead and do something about junk cars in town. There are 111 of them, and it was announced that the junk yard had special facilities to handle them, so Ralph Moore and Dean Middaugh said that their departments would cooperate in getting rid of the cars. 25 YEARS AGO October 7,1992 Members of the Nappanee Board of Parks and Recreation held a special meeting Thursday at the municipal golf course to vote in a new name for the beautifully sculptured 18 holes. With-Walters' Creek meandering through the course, it seemed appropriate to the board to include the water in the name, so it became "McCormick Creek," named after Short McCormick, who was instrumental in helping the dty develop the new nine holes. It was noted that McCormick Creek will still be a municipal golf course. The North Wood High School Scarlet Guard earned' a Division I rating at the Indiana State School Music Association's, Marching Band District Contest, held at Concord High School. The Guard advances to regional competition under the direction of Lisa A. McKamey and Mike Akers.