The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 11, Milford, Kosciusko County, 12 March 1986 — Page 7

Community Corner

Grodrians: Chemistry puts them at top of their craft

By MARK HUFFMAN Staff Writer Abbott had Costello, Laurel had Hardy, Lucy had Ricky, and they all had a certain chemistry that made them inseparable, combining their talents to emerge at the top of their craft. While Bill and May Grodrian are not comedians and admittedly are a far cry from being stars, a bond that was formed nine years ago has helped them appear at the top of their craft — that of “making” crafts. Profile “A secretary from where he (Bill) worked and I were talking about men one day and she called him on the phone and handed it to me,” May reflects, chuckling about the relationship that blossomed with the man (Bill) who had lived “about one-half block down the road” all along. The two widowers shortened that distance after marrying on Christmas Eve, 1976. “We got married in an ‘old folks’ home’,” Bill laughs, referring to the facility headed by a chaplain the couple knew and wanted to perform the ceremony. May quickly adds, “They didn’t keep us though. ” After spending three years in their native Fort Wayne, the couple moved to North Webster, having spent many weekends and summer days on the Barbee Lakes, after retirement in 1980. “We still call Fort Wayne our hometown, buf\ enjoy the quieter life of North Webster,” May says, adding, “There’s just too much crime in Fort' Wayne — we had to get away from the rat race.” Presently a self-designated “Neighborhood Watch,” May appears to have bene fitted somewhat from the “big city” life, as she explains while glaring out a window, “Others may call me nosey, but I like to keep track of what’s going on in our neighborhood.” While that neighborhood includes the area around the northeast corner of Sechrist Lake, the ,couple also adopted an area surrounding its sister waters in 1981, as they became chairmen of the planning committee responsible for making the Emergency Medical Service numbering system a reality for the Barbee Lake area. Nearly five years elapsed before the project was concluded, with the Grodrians and five other couples mapping out areas and determining a numbering system. “Dick and Sue Mitchell designated the

JRkO wMb ly ymk' *?/i ** ff I i r / f' : *fi r i WBk WW\ \ vNraßnfifi3Btts±»mWMßNiiiiliMlH K £ i i is IWW \ k\ rt 1 I ’ I \\\W \’. , . 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY — Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth (Cheryl) Fifer, r 2, Leesburg, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with an open house on Sunday, March 23, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. in the activity center at Mt. Tabor Church of God, r 1, Etna Green. The couple request the presence of friends and relatives to join them. The celebration is being hosted by the couple’s five children: Penny Adams, Claypool; Kelly Hart, Etna Green; Cathy Hoover, Syracuse; and Cindy and Richard at home. Fifer and the former Cheryl Harman were married in Warsaw on

March 22, miAnnual meeting at Webster on March 17 The annual dinner meeting of the North Webster/Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce will be Monday, March 17, at 6 p.m., in Camelot Hall. All interested individuals are invited to attend and tickets may be obtained from Alice Rinker. Among the agenda for the evening will be speakers representing local clubs and organizations as well as North Webster Schools. These speakers will be reporting on activities for each respective group

Happy 13th Birthday Lori! Love, * Mom, Dad, | Chris And Jenny

Mobile Meals drivers Volunteer drivers for Syracuse Mobile Meals have been scheduled for the week of March 17-21. They are as follows: March 17-21 MONDAY — Pauline Firestone TUESDAY- Ric Schaekel WEDNESDAY — Win Sroufe THURSDAY — FA. Rhoads FRIDAY - Dorothy Kitson

numbers, after we looked at the area from three different angles (from the road, lake, and on the actual spot), and we put them on posts with the help of a lot of ‘semi-retired’ men,” May comments, wiping her forehead as she reflects back. “It took a lot of work, but we got it done.” Ripple Effect Seen “There are over 100 lanes (or streets), with each lane having letters or numbers designated to each house,” May explains. While the system is relatively new, the ripple effect is noticeable, according to May. “Every now and then we hear of someone who says ‘if it hadn’t been for the numbers, the EMS wouldn’t have reached us so quick’,” she boasts, adding, “Now it’s being done all over the county.” Pleased that they were involved in “doing something for the people,” it’s not uncommon for an w. TEAMWORK — Bill Grodrian cuts out patterns while wife May does the needlework for an item the couple is preparing for a Florida resident. The North Webster couple have put their craftwork to use, making various decorative items for area as well as out-of-state customers. The Fort Wayne area natives were also responsible for the Emergency Medical Service’s numbering system in the Barbee Lakes area, allowing for quicker arrival of the EMS vehicle in the event of an emergency. (Photoby Mark Huffman)

CRC sees travelogue on Russia The Columbian Reading Circle of Milford met at the home of Evelyn Orn on Monday, March 10. Present were 15 members and three guests, Willa Kuhns, Cheryl Brunjes, and associate member Della Baumgartner. Bernice Ahrns, program chairman, introduced Mrs. Baumgartner, who presented a travelogue on her recent trip through Finland, Russia and Mongolia. Mrs. Baumgartner presented each member and guest with a book written by she and her husband, Arch, describing the countries they visited and relating their experiences. During the business meeting Cheryl Brunjes was voted into membership. The club, supporting Margie Brooks for mayor of Milford’s Sesquicentennial celebration, will hold an “invisible auction’’ at its next meeting. On April 19 a car wash will be held at the Milford Fire Department to raise money for its mayoral choice. The club voted to discontinue its participation in the Kosciusko County Federation of Clubs. Committees appointed were Elizabeth Tobin, Mary Duncan and Ruth Hoppus to serve on the committee for the drama to be presented on June 1. Serving on the committee for the book sale to be held during the week of the Sesquicentennial activities will be Nancy Wuthrich, Bernice Ahrns and Inez Beiswanger. The next meeting will be held on Monday, March 24, at the home of Margie Brooks.

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area resident to be quizzed by the Grodrians on their EMS number. “We try to get people to remember their numbers — it’s for their own good,” May remarks as Bill nods in agreement. That inclination to agree has helped them form a partnership over the past few years, as May has called on Bill to help her with the craftwork she began four years ago after seeing an advertisement in a craft magazine. While his previous partner helped him run a tire company in Fort Wayne, he looks forward to spending the rest of his time with his current business partner — May. “I was getting so many orders for crafts that I was falling behind, so I taught Bill how to cut out the patterns and do the background designs on the items,” the former secretary says while looking at her partner. Although he says that he enjoys making the various crafts, the 37-year veteran of the tire business also admits to entertaining another hobby, “I like to sleep,” he laughs, and while that may seem an expected luxury to most, a glance around the Grodrian household makes one wonder just how much rest the couple gets. “We stopped taking orders last October for Christmas,” May says, referring to the work overload the “partners” experienced. Citing people from as far away as Pennsylvania and California, May admits that the business gets hectic at times. “Sometimes people will look at the craft we’re making for them and decide they want several more.” No Conventional Items Not one to settle with the conventional “kleenex box covers,” the Grodrians produce craftwork to cover music boxes and plants, use as centerpieces and Christmas ornaments, and serve about any other purpose imaginable. “A lot of people like the ducks we make, they seem to go quick,” Bill says as May echoes, “Between the two of us we can usually make about two items a day.” With all of the couples advertising done by “word of mouth,” the quality of their craft work is known throughout the Barbee Lake area. “We try to make all of our items reversible, so one can see the design from all sides, and it’s made strong — it won’t fall apart,” May explains. Professing to continue with their craftwork “as long as the fingers don’t get stiff,” the couple admits that they once entertained ideas of opening a craft shop but could never get far enough ahead on orders. “If I was 20 years younger...” May ponders. In the meantime, like Laurel and Hardy, their craft (as well as the area’s EMS numbers) will exist long after they’re gone and like all good “partners,” after they’re gone — they’ll still be together.

LOUISA'S LETTER Dear Louisa, Answer: I am a woman of sixty-five It depends on a good many years of good health and I have things. If you are a person who five children all of whom are likes to travel — visiting far off married. My husband died a year places and meeting new people, ago and I have continued to live you might enjoy such a life. weZS ly at times but. orUhe twe, I lived in your borne for fbrty years tL a very pleasant Jde.w her at chaSabW * throughout the years; tfyou like change tor a t entertain your friends or to My income is enough to take children and EIftESXIS children gather around on special thehouse but for very e occasions; if you enjoy gardening 0..e t and pottering around the yard — But my children think I am j would beLnhapvery foolish to put so much * these money in keeping up the house J * still active and in and grounds and living as Ido. wtale you are still active and in They say that if I would sell the gooaheann. house I could live in a small Now, the time may come when apartment and have the money to you will be unable to look after travel or do what I wished with it. things and it might be wise to They even say I could visit give up your home at such a time around with them but I shouldn’t sell it on impulse if What do you think about this? I were you. Do you think I would be happier if Louisa I got rid of the house? Address: Louisa, Box 532, W.R.-N.C. Orangeburg, S.C. 29115

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hr f STUDENT TEACHING — Michele (Shell) Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Miller, Dewart Lake, is now doing her student teaching at Goshen High School. She is under the supervision of Micheal Ritter, teaching 10th grade combination B algebra and Marcia Yost, teaching women’s choir. Miller, a math major and vocal minor, will be graduating on May 10 from Indiana State University at Terre Haute. She is a 1982 graduate of Wawasee High School. While doing her student teaching, she is residing in Goshen with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Rider. Busy Homemakers meet March 5 The Busy Homemakers Club of Milford met March 5 in the home of Mrs. Frank Charlton with Hazel Johnson serving as cohostess. “Life Is” and “An Irish Blessing,” read by Mrs. Glen Pinkerton, opened the meeting. The group sang, “America The Beautiful” and repeated the Pledge of Allegiance. Nine members answered roll call naming their favorite vegetable in their garden. Mrs. Johnson gave, “There is no two people alike” and June Schermerhorn gave the health lesson on colds. Devotions was a poem by Helen Steiner Rice given by Mrs. Vernon May. She also gave the garden lesson on indoor gardens and new vegetables. Mrs. Pinkerton gave a report on a cough can save a life. The next meeting will be held April 2 at the home of June Schermerhorn with Anna Cripe as co-hostess.

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Wed., March 12,1986—THE MAIL-JOURNAL

Parents of Twins plan get-together

The Kosciusko County Parents of Twins Chib had its January meeting at the home of Dan and Anita Robinson of Warsaw. The club also hosted a toy party featuring Kim Conrad with Discovery Toys. The club earned several toys to be used as gifts to new parents of twins. ' There were plans made to begin collecting labels of Heinz baby foods until December 31. These will earn money to be sent to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Posters with cans will be placed in area grocery stores and the public is encouraged to please save these labels and deposit them or mail them to Sue Swick, 603 Charles Street, Winona Lake, Ind. 46590. Only the front of the label is needed, not the UPC code, for refunders. This includes all juices, foods, cereals, and instants. The club is planning a parents and twins family get-together for later this summer and the date and location will be announced. The Parents of Twins Club has taken off this year with new officers and more member participation. Officers Jean Bowser and Sue Swick have begun a new program of meeting with new

Lori McGowen — Corporate Sales PASSPORT HINTS It is not a good idea to pack your passport in your luggage. It is likely to end up in an enaccessable compartment. In addition, if the luggage is lost or stolen, so too is the passport. Always keep your passport in your money belt or check it at the hotel desk. When immigration officials in the U.S. or foreign countries take your passport, check to make sure that they have returned the correct one to you. If your passport is stolen or lost while traveling, contact the nearest consulate. The consulate can help you get a new one. leave your passport number at home and in your suitcase or other separate place. In case of loss, you will be able to tell the consulate immediately the number of the passport. When you make your travel arrangements with WARSAW TRAVEL SPECIALISTS (269-6771 or 1-800-342-5221) we make sure that you know all the dos and don'ts for making your trip that much more pleasant. For business or pleasure we are located at 1301 N. Detroit Street, Monday thru Friday 9-5:30 and Saturday 9-1. Most major credit cards are accepted. MINT. M e M M a fveM ni^el wlWe W wS uWWW WWW w* W WWTWvm Don't pvt it off. Now possports two now voM for 10 yoon.

parents of multiples in the hospital with pamphlets, complimentary newsletters and gift for the babies. The club also maintains contact with the area prenatal classes and furnishes information to expectant parents as well. The dub offers bi-monthly newsletters, bi-monthly meetings, lots of multiple related information and support, a chib library of books, magazines, and pamphlets, and much more. Anyone who is a parent or guardian or grandparent of twins is welcome to join. The club’s next meeting will be on March 18 at 7 p.m. at Steve* and Lea Ann Flenar’s home. For a ride or more information, feel free to call Sue Swick at 269-1887 or Jean Bowser at 658-9736, r 5 box 294, Syracuse. Special month March is observed as Mental Retardation Month by the Association for Retarded Citizens which has 160,000 members working through units in all 50 states to improve the lives of people with mental retardation.

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