The Mail-Journal, Volume 28, Number 25, Milford, Kosciusko County, 2 August 1989 — Page 10

10

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., August 2, 1989

Summer

1 •■* —" nw * **4 W !

LITTLE BARBEE — Little Barbee Lake serves as a “middle man” between Big Barbee Lake to the south and the northern lakes of Irish. Sawmill and Sechrist.

Barbee Lakes name changes through the years

By MITCHELL STINSON Staff Writer According to local literature, the Barbee Lakes name came about because of a mispronunciation. More than a century ago. a man named Barber bought the land around the lakes from the U.S. government. The lakes were then known as Barber's Lakes, but over time people began to mistakenly call them Barbee Lakes. The name stuck. The Barbee chain has six lakes, in addition to another small one that is connected, to the second largest lake in the area. Private residences line the shorelines of the popular vacation area. Two

I See The Summer Sale In Our Air I Jack De Jpt-N* Conditioned Showroom 9 Sales iHt < / 'I “A I Staff V V\EA\e For I |£ 2.5 Litre Fuel Injection, 5 Speed, Manual Transmission With Overdrive "Plus Freight & _AsZWs Sole Includes All Credits <> 0 0744* We Welcome All ■ 1 49 74 O g W Jfc # GM Employees E "10.9% For 60 Mos. To Qualified Buyers Option 1& 2 5 Thru GMAC With SI,OOO Cash Down C/D / Sl/I _______ Jack Di ■ U.S. 6 West Kendallville 347-1990 liJSO SUMMER SALE And Every ItemJs On Sale!! , I • Every bedroom • Every dining room • Every sofa • Every chair • Every wall unit • Every mattress • Every accessory PLUS NO TAX!!* ♦CHRISTIANSON’S WILL PAY YOl R SALES TAX ON ANY PURCHASE OVER *SOO DURING SALE FREE DELIVERY FREE INTEREST FREE DESIGNER SERVICE ON 90 DAV ACCOI NTS VI ITH YOl R PI RCHASE iMileE Os Grape Rd Hwy 20. Mish 255-IW4 Daily Till 8 30 Wed & Sat Till 5 30

area organizations, the Property Owners Association and the Barbee Conservation Club, are geared toward preserving the lakes for future generations to enjoy Both groups are active in the area's lake enhancement program and they have a number of activities that overlap. The conservation club stocks lakes and sponsors fishing contests as well as a conservation camp. The property owners group concentrates on lake enhancement such as weed control. "If the lakes go dead, the property value goes dead, it’s as simple as that,” said Irish Lake resident Jack Maule, who serves on

According to local literature, the Barbee Lakes chain was originally known as Barber’s Lakes before the name changed over the vears.

both organizations. Big Barbee Lake is the largest lake in the chain. Located to the southeast -side of the chain, it covers about 275 acres. Big Barbee is connected with Lake Kuhn, the eastern most L'.e in the chain, which is 60 acres big. Little Barbee Lake connects Big Barbee with the rest of the chain. It flows into Irish, Saw-mill and Sechrist lakes, the three northern bodies of water in the chain. Irish Lake is the western-most lake in the chain and is the second largest at 175 acres. Bannings Lake, measuring about 14 acres, is connected to it. Sawmill Lake lies to the east of Irish Lake and

directly north from Little Barbee. It is one of the smallest lakes, at 30 acres. Rounding out the list is Sechrist Lake, an 85-acre body of water on the northeast corner of the chain. The Barbee Lakes area population grows by leaps and bounds in the summer months. Seasonal residents and tourists have made the chain one of the more popular vacation areas around. Maule says people come from as far away as Muncie, Marion and Chicago. “It's a very popular area," he said. “One reason is there’s a little more to do than at other lake« in the area.” Indeed, there is a little bit of everything for people who enjoy recreation on the water Big Barbee is the site for fast-paced action like water skiing, while the other lakes have speed limit restrictions that make them more inviting to fishing and slowboating Maule says the lakes aren’t the only attraction to living around the Barbee Lakes. Friendly neighbors make the area a joy to reside in as well. "They are a good bunch of people out here," he said. "That's why I'm here.” MAD sets date for banquet John Replogle, president of the Milford Area Development Committee, has announced the fact that the annual MAD Banquet will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21. The banquet will be held to honor and recognize the Milford Fire Department. Although details are still sketchy. Replogle says tickets sales for the banquet will begin August 20. Replogle adds that they are hoping to beat last year's turnout of over 350 guests. “Were pushing for 500 this year,” he says. Although sponsored by MAD, only- two of its members. Replogle and Gary Hurd are on the banquet committee consisting of Pat Hurd. Bob Grove, and Bill Stieglitz. Further details of the banquet will appear in The Mail Journal as they develop

Band to give premiere performance The Lakes Area Symphonic Band is scheduled to give its premiere performance on Thursday. Aug. 3. at 7:30 p m at Syracuse Lakeside Park Those who would like to join in the fun are encouraged to take lawn chairs for this evening of music. There will be great numbers like “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Music Man," “National Anthem.” “Washington Post,” and “Hands Across the Sea." to mention a few.

Iceberg threat WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The world s largest iceberg, believed to be about the size of Hong Kong, is slowly melting in Antarctica but appears to pose no threat to shipping, a news agency reported. American Heart WPS FIGHTING FOR KXIPUFE

'Oklahoma!' is a success!

By BILL SPURGEON It’s a tribute to the combined creative genius of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Kammerstein II that their musical play “Oklahoma!,” which opened nearly 50 years ago on Broadway, is still going strong. As there's a lot to be said for the play, so there’s also a lot to be said for the version now playing at the Enchanted Hills Playhouse. The company holding forth in the barn of the former Doswell farm east of former Indiana Alternate 13 has put together a lively show, and it was off and running at a lively clip at the end of its first week. I’ve seen “Oklahoma!” a few times over nearly four decades so the story line is imbedded in my mind. The play is about life nearly a century ago in what was once the Indian Territory and which in a few years would be the nation’s 45th state. The music is some of the most durable ever composed for the American musical stage, including the title song. “People Will Say We’re In Love,” “The Surrey With the Fringe on Top.” “Many A New Day,” and certainly. “Oh What A Beautiful Mornin’.” The story is about young love and the age-old conflicts that snarl up people’s lives, including good intentions gone awry, good intentions that succeed and, marginally, the traditional plains state battle between farmers and cattle raisers for a chance to use the land. The principals are Curly and Laurey. Curly is sweet on Laurey, a young woman who lives with her widowed Aunt Eller. There's an enigmatic farmhand. Jud, who lives in Laurey's and Aunt Eller’s smokehouse, and who’s also sweet on Laurey. Neighbors of these people include Ado Annie Carnes and her dad, and Will Parker, a young bronco buster who has been run

WAWASEE AMERICAN LEGION POST 223 ’ CRAZY CAROL (Zany, Adult Entertainment & Dancing) LAUGH YOUR SOCKS OFF - FUN EVENING * \ I nJ _IXL M I W WA V. t u i Jo Saturday, August 5,1989 • 8-11 P.M. $15.00 Per Couple • SB.OO Single TICKETS AVAILABLE AT DOOR All Proceeds Go Towards Bringing The Sheldon Harkless Mier Car Home To Syracuse

off by Ado Annie’s father and told to stay away until he can accumulate SSO, at which time he can ask for Ado Annie’s hand. Ado Annie, however, is like a character in another play — when she’s not near the boy she loves, she loves the boy she’s near. Her most recent annexation is the fast-talking Ali Hakim, an itinerant Persian peddler who's getting uncomfortable as he sees the altar looming in Ado Annie’s mind. I had always thought of Curly as a huge fellow with a booming voice and a ponderous physical presence. Logan Bazar, who has the role at Enchanted Hills, is far from huge — but he has great stage presence, a fine voice and can move well. And he has the added ability to impart into the role the strange combination of male worldliness and social innocence that Curly must have. Kate Dowe is a dandy Laurey; she has a beautiful voice and approaches the part much as the young Florence Henderson (remember “The Brady Bunch?”) did in the version that I saw in early 1953 in San Francisco’s ancient Geary Theatre. Her lilting, gi aceful “Many a New Day” was a show-stopper. Cynthia Suarez and Whitney Spurgeon are great fun as Ado Annie and Ali Hakim. She plays Annie — the girl who cain’t say no —for every nuance, and with total success. Spurgeon s Hakim is delightfully restrained, confirming that the part has considerable potential without upstaging anyone. John Payonk, an operatic singer from Chicago, here only for the recent “Amadeus” and “Oklahoma!,” is as fine a Jud as I have ever seen He has size to convey the forbidding nature of the role without making it an absurdity, and his voice, in speech and in song, is a highlight of the production. Elizabeth Richmond and Craig Culp, EHP regulars, do good workmanlike jobs as Aunt Eller and Will Parker. Sure, there are others, members of the regular company plus several added just for this

large show. All are competent, and they handle themselves well on the rather confining stage of the old barn. Worth mention, especially, are Robert Kahn, Lisa Phipps, Kent Matthew Lewis, and Jerry O’Boyle, all of whom have strong supporting roles. “Oklahoma!” is a musical in which good choreography is essential, and Ron Morgan, who will be doing a revival of “Meet Me In St. Louis” this fall in Manhattan, has done it well. He has good material to work with, and there's action and motion aplenty — none of this standing around and singing that passes for choreography in some musicals. “Kansas City,” “Many A New Day,” the ballet sequence at the end of the first act as Laurey dreams before going to the basket social, “The Farmer and the Cowman’’ and “Oklahoma!” itself all testify to good planning, hard work and abundant talent. “It's A Scandal, It’s A Outrage,” the number done by Ali Hakim, is not in every version of “Oklahoma!,” and it's a delightful addition. The .costumes in “Oklahoma!” are quite satisfactory, the fight scenes are well played and authentic-looking, and the tiny stage is put to full use with facades on turntables, revolving as changes in location are designated.

44444444444444444444444 * MID-SUMMER SAVERS * * soon n« wil *’ An >' l "o r «’ nd * . '' Diving Pool Receive . I Ground Pool $ 1,000 Worth \ i in stock! of Free Options A SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION • MAINTENACE * 269-3141 111 EAST MAIN ST. Iral 4 457-453? — • SYRACUSE, IN 46567 4 4444444444444444444 4 •• 4

The musical accompaniment designed by musical director Richard Keitel is two pianos and an electric bass, proving once again that you don’t need philharmonic musical strength to have adequate music for a Broadway show. Artistic director Earl Reimer of Mishawaka’s Bethel College has done a good job with this show. But he has the material to work with, and strong help in design and staging, lighting and all the other departments that need to click before a play’s a success. And this one is. “Oklahoma!” continues this week; curtains are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. For information call 856-2328.

CHICO’S Features “The Best Tex-Mex Cook North Os The Border” STOP IN TODAY I CHICO’S * 457-5838 613 S. Huntington, SYRACUSE Mon.-Thurs. 6-9, Fri. & Sat. 6-10 Sun. 11-5 Os UKf UUICM t XUfKICAM IKUKFKT nOU (-10