1. The act of accepting or the state of being accepted or acceptable.

   2. The act of assenting or believing.

   Believing in ourselves is the hardest acceptance of all. Our entire lives consists ultimately of accepting ourselves as we are.

   My job as a fitness instructor involves not only helping people feel better about their bodies, but also helping them believe in themselves. To accept their bodies for the powerful beings that they are. Not an easy task for any of us.

   We are swarmed daily with beauty tips, skin tips, how to look younger, how to lose weight fast. The media envelops us and saturates our every cell with thoughts of inadequacy. We are surrounded by beautiful, glowing actors in TV, movies and print. Even though we know the models are airbrushed in those magazines, somehow we find ourselves standing in the checkout lane at the market, gazing dreamily at the thought of looking “just like them.” We get disgusted by the fact that we have tried to look like them and failed. Instead, we grab a giant Snickers bar on sale for a dollar and stuff our mouths with chocolatey goodness to drown out the feelings of failure.

   We forget about it for a while until we turn on our HD televisions, which demonstrate even more so how beautiful those creatures are. (Which makes me think of something very random … why did anyone invent the makeup mirror with high magnification? Seriously, I don’t know one woman who really enjoys seeing herself at such magnification. Should be outlawed!)

   Have you ever thought that “they” (the beautiful, glowing actors) could feel less than adequate? I’m positive there are times when they don’t believe in themselves. They are only human.

   Just recently I viewed some pictures of myself. Instantly I felt horrible. I hated my body in these pictures. I was feeling very proud of myself for an accomplishment that I had achieved, but the sight of these pictures ruined that for me … for about an hour. I sulked, but then I pulled myself out of the funk. I still don’t like the pictures, but I can’t let them rule my thoughts and feelings. Not once did I think about other pictures that I actually liked. Funny how that works.

   Sometimes we just have to accept ourselves for who we are. Every one of our imperfections and flaws make us perfect. I’ll bet most of us would say we don’t think twice about accepting others just as they are. Our biggest challenge will always be accepting ourselves.

JANET NEVILLS owns Ladies Fitness Zone in LaPorte,　where she teaches Jazzercise, Pilates and Yoga.　She is　also a Certified Personal Trainer.

The Walking Dead and Other Mysteries

   — Wednesday, Sept. 8, 6 p.m., Coolspring Branch

   — Wednesday, Sept. 15, 6 p.m., Main Library

Bob Cutler

   Join Bob Cutler of Cutler Funeral Home for a free evening of questions and answers about the curious lives of human cadavers. Enjoy hearing about incidents when a person is pronounced dead and spontaneously comes back to life. Sound like a scene from a science fiction movie? Bob Cutler is here to set the record straight. He will also talk about New York Times bestseller, “Stiff; The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers” by Mary Roach.

Pirate Lore

   — Monday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m., Kingsford Heights Branch

   Ahoy, mateys! Explore pirate legends and tales at this program for landlubbers of all ages. From whence did Blackbeard hail? Who was the infamous Anne Bonny? Hear o’ famous battles and pirate hangouts! Get yer answers, ask yer questions, and make a smashin’ pirate craft. Thar’ll be plenty o’ fun and a treasure o’ treats for all. Come dressed as a pirate – IF YE DARE!

Tales of the Rails – All Aboard!

Le Monnier

   — Thursday, Sept. 16, 6 p.m., Hanna Branch

   Enjoy Daniel Le Monnier as he entertains us on his banjo with history, legends and songs reflecting America’s fascination with trains. Le Monnier has been caught telling stories all his life and has taken his combination of music, wit and animation around the world from the Shanghai Children’s Palace to the Smithsonian Institute. He performed at the 53rd Presidential Inaugural and was the Chicago Bulls mascot, Benny the Bull, for 18 years. For a sneak peek, visit his website at www.banjotales.com.

Rhythm Kitchen: Hobos and Folk Music

   — Saturday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m., Main Library

   Enjoy our second annual coffee house with featured guest, former Hobo Queen Sunrise, who is an authentic hobo! Sunrise will delight you with tales of a hobo’s life – past and present, fact and fiction. Discover how she became a hobo and be entertained with folk songs that are a part of the fabric of hobo history. Free samples of delicious coffee from LaPorte’s own Maple City Roasters, too!

The Legend and Lore of Johnny Appleseed

   — Thursday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m., Main Library

   Meet Scott Mertz, a multi-talented entertainer who, for over 20 years, has performed first-person interpretations of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) for the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne, IN. His portrayal has sparked interest from Disney Studios as well as newspapers, authors, radio, and television across the country. In 1995, Educational Management Group in Arizona produced and beamed Scott’s portrayal via satellite to schools across the nation as an interactive program on Johnny Appleseed. Dressed in historically accurate clothing, and with props, Scott will weave tales involving the legend and lore of Johnny Appleseed.

Monsters of LaPorte County Lakes

Fern Eddy Schultz

   — Thursday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m., Rolling Prairie Branch

   Does a seething serpent bask on the sandy shores of Fish Trap Lake, located between McClung and Severs roads? Find out whether it is fact or fiction when it comes to monsters in LaPorte County lakes. Presented by LaPorte County Historian Fern Eddy Schultz.

Eerie Indiana

   — Tuesday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m., Union Mills Branch

   Does the “supernatural” really exist? Storyteller Alice Mathew will raise goosebumps on your arms and hair on your head as she brings the truly odd and eerie from Indiana to you. Hear stories about a LaPorte doctor who made a house call on a ghost, the historic “Diana of the Dunes” apparition, the Hoosier “werewolf” and “wampus cat,” and a library’s see-through “lady in grey.”

An Indiana Juggler in King Arthur’s Court

   — Tuesday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m., Fish Lake Branch

   Stories about King Arthur, his knights, Guinevere, and brave Sir Lancelot have circulated for nearly 1,500 years. Sooner or later, anyone who encounters Arthur asks the question, “But, was he real?” There are many different opinions in answer to that question! For now? If King Arthur was a real person … and he lived in Fish Lake, Indiana … and he asked to be entertained … what would he ask for? JUGGLING! Pretend you’re in King Arthur’s Court. Come and enjoy juggler Kevin Winslow as he wows us with amazing juggling tricks!

Sunflower Fair Fun at the Library

   — Saturday, Sept. 18, Main Library

   The library is part of the community Sunflower Fair with fun for all ages! Kids can enter the coloring contest anytime from now until Monday, Sept. 14. Just pick up an entry in the Children’s Department. Prizes are awarded by the community Sunflower Fair Committee in three age brackets. On the day of the fair, the Friends of the Library will hold the final used book sale of the season on the sidewalk in front of the Main Library from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fall Film Fest Begins!

   — Tuesday, Sept. 21, 6 p.m., Main Library

   The Fall Film Fest will begin in September with the movie “Greenberg.” Ben Stiller plays Roger Greenberg, who is single, fortyish, and in search of a place to restart his life. Rated R /108 minutes. Admission is free and so are refreshments furnished by the Friends of the Library. The Film Fest is a collaboration of LaPorte County Public Library, Michigan City Public Library, and the Purdue North Central Odyssey Fine Arts Program. “Greenberg” will be shown at Michigan City Public Library on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m., and at PNC on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. Upcoming films: Oct. 19: “Babies”; Nov. 16: “Winter’s Bone.”

   Thank you to the Friends of the Library for providing all the prizes for this year’s BACK to SCHOOL BINGO program! Everyone had fun and appreciated winning the great school supplies.

LISA NIELSEN is marketing coordinator at the LaPorte County Public Library. For more information on library programs and materials, call 362-6156 or visit www.lapcat.org.

   It was Aug. 31, 2001. On that gorgeous, late-summer morning, I rolled my very pregnant self out of bed and immediately began anticipating the chocolate ice cream I was going to have for breakfast.

   But our son decided differently.

   Not due to arrive for another three or four weeks, he made up his tiny mind that he couldn’t wait any longer to show the world what he had to offer. Sparing the details, he made a fun entrance and hasn’t stopped showing his sense of humor since.

   I admit I was very nervous before his arrival. His big sister was 4 years old at the time and I had my hands full. I was nervous about whether I could handle another child. My world then revolved around our daughter — how in the world would I ever love another child as much as I did her?

   For several months before our son’s birth, I was convinced that this second child was doomed to a lesser status, well beyond the “second children have less pictures hanging on the walls” mentality. I feared I wouldn’t have the time to care for him as much as I did his big sister, and my heart could never hold enough love for both of them. These thoughts made me doubt my own abilities as a mom.

   Then he arrived, and everything changed.

   The moment I heard his cries and saw his head full of hair – and I mean head FULL of hair – I knew all of my doubts had been silenced. I immediately understood how moms with multiple kids evolve to care for each individual child. It’s as if my heart and brain immediately expanded, allowing for all the feelings and thoughts I needed to care for this new baby in addition to his big sister.

   Those first few weeks after Jack was born were hectic, but it became quickly obvious that the Harris family had been completed. Months before I wouldn’t have agreed with that thought, but after Jack joined us, it was apparent to me that he was our missing puzzle piece.

   Of course, that completed puzzle brought with it new fears, thoughts and anxieties. As anyone who has both a son and a daughter knows, they are very different creatures. This is especially true in our home. Gabby is the life of any party. She’s vibrant, outgoing and isn’t afraid to tell you what she thinks. Jack tends to be quiet around those he doesn’t know well. He’s reserved and sensitive, yet he has a sense of comedic timing that continues to amaze me.

   Loving these two individuals is something I continue to work hard at every day. There is a continual debate in our house about who is the favorite child. Having had a brother myself, I understand those anxieties. There’s a need to make sure everything is equal.

   Despite what they might tell you, I try hard to treat them equally, but there are days when one might seem favored over the other. It just happens. On those days, I picture them going to the scoreboard hidden in the closet and putting a notch in the appropriate column so that they can prove my indiscretions.

   I have to admit: Loving two children — and more to the point, making sure they know it — is a full-time job. There are days when I would much rather hide under the covers. Yet, sure as the sun will shine, I’m rescued by the sounds of the kids’ laughter and I remember that morning nine years ago. That morning when all of the fears I held were quickly extinguished and in their place came a never-ending supply of love and understanding.

   When things get tough, I hold onto that morning and remember that everything changed that day — including me.

STACEY HARRIS lives in LaPorte with her husband and two children. She is an account manager for a national advertising agency.

Available transportation mattered as much in the 1800s as it does now. Here's a stagecoach that traveled between LaPorte and Valparaiso from the 1840s to 1870. The coach carried nine people crowded inside, and 10 outside on top. The trip from LaPorte to Westville took about two hours. Photo courtesy of LaPorte County Historical Society (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

   Making real estate sound as enticing as possible is nothing new. In October 1832, LaPorteans A.P. Andrew Jr. and Walter Wilson, the proprietors of some lots in the town of LaPorte, advertised the sale of those lots.

   The area for sale, published information stated, “is situated in the center of LaPorte County, on the Door Prairie, which is acknowledged by all who have seen it to be one of the most healthful, fertile and beautiful prairies in the world.” Of course, the lakes were emphasized in the description: “The lakes can be easily connected, and will comprise 18 to 20 miles of navigation.”

   To get folks to respond quickly, the ad stated that “the surrounding country is settling very rapidly and will admit of a more dense population than any other county in the state, and every thing that the merchant or mechanic can ask to induce him to emigrate here, is here to be realized. Already an extensive settlement of wealthy Farmers and others are coming into the county daily.”

   As additional incentives, “materials for building can be easily procured; the best clay for brick immediately in the neighborhood can be had as experience has proven; timber is abundant immediately adjoining, and in the vicinity.”

   Established businesses and services available to the prospective buyers were also noted: “a Steam Saw-mill now in operation within half a mile of the town and two grist-mills and a saw-mill in progress in the vicinity, and will be in operation this fall and winter.”

   As always, available routes of transportation mattered: “The National Road from Detroit to Chicago is laid out within three-fourths of a mile and will no doubt pass through town, on which there is a line of stages from Detroit to Niles, and will in all probability be continued next season on through this place to Chicago. The great Michigan Road from the Ohio River to Lake Michigan, which is now in rapid progress and will soon be completed, passes about four miles north of, and terminates at Lake Michigan about twelve miles northwest of town — at the termination of which it is believed, a good harbor can be had on the lake.”

   Legalities were an important part of early life just as they are today. It was pointed out that “the town of LaPorte has recently been fixed as the seat of Justice of LaPorte County.” As an additional enticement, it was noted that the property was “about 20 or 25 miles west of the town of South Bend (the County Seat of St. Joseph County) and about the same distance from Niles, on the St. Joseph River.”

   But the best part of the sales pitch came in this descriptive paragraph: “The site is high and dry, and the scenery around I will not attempt to describe, but will remark that the person sitting on his porch with ‘Thompson’s Seasons’ in his hand, the lake clear as crystal hung with a heavy forest of trees on one side, and the extensive farms and yet uncultivated prairie interspersed with groves of timber on the other side, and could not enjoy the scene must have a soul so small that it could find more room in a tobacco seed than a frog would in Lake Michigan.”

   Now, who could turn that down?

FERN EDDY SCHULTZ is LaPorte County’s official Historian. Visit the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum, 2405 Indiana Ave., and its website, www.laportecountyhistory.org, to learn much more about LaPorte County’s history.

   – Make sure he’s cheap – after all, the best doctors and lawyers charge nothing, and you yourself work for free, don’t you?

   – Make sure she’s not local – what intelligent professional would choose to live or work around here? (Don’t look in the mirror.)

   – Make sure he’s not credentialed – continuing education can be a distraction from your needs. Besides, education and experience are highly overrated.

   Alright, you get the point. But when it comes to professional advice, I’ve seen too many folks decide “cheap is good, free is better” and “the grass is always greener in a different area code.” Truth is, I have experienced great medical care delivered locally (Mayo Clinic isn’t really unparalleled), I know many of the great legal minds in town (high-priced Chicago attorneys simply pay more rent for their office space), and there really are local advisors capable of delivering top-rate financial advice (but a free meal from an out-of-towner seems a perfect appetizer for financial advice).

   So, how does one find a good local financial advisor? Here are some simple steps (sans sarcasm):

   – Approach financial advisors with the same respect and expectations you would approach a doctor or lawyer. If you don’t feel that’s possible, then you’re approaching the wrong advisors.

   – Ask about their training and experience. You want gray-haired experience in a variety of economic cycles.

   – Ask how you pay for their services. How much you pay and how you pay (commission or fees) is secondary to how the answer is delivered. If can’t get a straight answer on cost, what other information isn’t fully explained?

   – Don’t allow a well-delivered pitch (or a well-served meal) to become the primary driving force for finding the person you’ll trust with your financial future.

   My tongue-in-cheek suggestions may sound like absurd criteria, but there is regrettable truth behind them all. With interest rates at historic lows, stock prices on wild rides and economic concerns at every turn, finding a good advisor has never been more important.

   And no, you can’t just pick the one wearing the nicest suit.

DRUMMOND OSBORN, CFP is lifelong LaPortean and partner in OSBORN Wealth Management a local financial advisory firm. Fed up with seeing the consequences of slick sales and out-of-town attitudes, he wrote the special report “Five Must Ask Questions Before You Invest.” If you have a question you’d like answered in a future column or would like a copy of his special report, e-mail him at Drummond@osbornwealthmanagement.com.

Otis (left), formerly a stray at the LaPorte County Small Animal Shelter, sits outside his new home with his new sister in Wisconsin.

   Rarely does a day go by at the shelter when we don’t take in an animal or multiple animals. So when an American bulldog came in, not much seemed out of the ordinary.

    We always have hopes that every animal will get reclaimed by his owner, and with this dog, it was not any different. When the four-day hold for an owner to reclaim came and went, we started the process to put him up for adoption.

   First he needed to be temperament tested, as we do with most dogs, to make sure we are adopting safe dogs back into the community. He passed with flying colors. Next we needed a name, which most would think would be an easy task, but we struggle daily.  We have two name books that we choose from. He became Otis and we took his picture and listed him on Petfinder (our Petfinder page is at http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=IN89) .

   We had several inquires about Otis and also learned that he could be a Old English bulldog, which is a cross between an American bulldog and an English bulldog. Several interested parties came and looked at him.

   Then we got an e-mail from Wisconsin. The family stated they currently have a dog that looks very similar to Otis and could we get them more information. After several e-mails and faxing an application, Otis had a solid hold placed on him. The interested people made the trip from Wisconsin with their dog to meet Otis, and then they went to another shelter to look at another dog before deciding which would be the best fit for their family. 

   We kept our fingers crossed that Otis would be their choice. They were very nice people and great pet owners.

Otis, now known as Buckley, cuddles with his new owner.

   Thankfully, Otis was chosen!

   Carl and Linda Jaeger became his new owners and he went to live with his new sister, Kira (also an American bulldog), in the land of cheese and beer! (I was born and raised in Wisconsin). 

   The Jaegers have kept us updated with Otis, who is now known as Buckley. They also confirmed that his breed is Old English bulldog. They absolutely love him, and he and Kira are becoming fast friends. From the pictures they sent, he certainly looks happy and is living a great life as a Cheesehead!

   This is what we work very hard for every day, and on this day, it truly paid off — not only for us, but for the Jaegers and most importantly, Buckley.

   Paws till next time – Jane

JANE BERNARD is director of the LaPorte County Small Animal Shelter. Visit the shelter at 2855 W. Ind. 2, LaPorte, on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 326-1637 or view the pets available for adoption at http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=IN89.

   A Bloomsburg University study found that women reported that their treadmill workouts seemed easier when they received positive feedback from another person. Encouraging words like “You can do it,” “Good job” or “Keep going” can come from a friend, trainer, instructor or buddy. Some said it distracted them from the difficulty, while others said it motivated them. Some of the statements could have been taken as an instructional command — “Keep going.” For some, not following directions or not wanting to let others down is enough to make them push through the pain.

   While watching “The Biggest Loser,” I used to get upset when the trainers would yell and scream at the contestants. I felt like that was the worst thing they could do. I do not know one person who likes to be screamed at. Especially when doing a seemingly insurmountable task. What is the saying … “You get more bees with honey!” This rings true with exercise as well.

   I recently participated in the LaPorte Triathlon and the Michigan City Olympic Distance Triathlon. I can’t express enough thanks to all the volunteers at both the events for their encouragement along the way. People I didn’t know encouraged me to keep going! Even other participants told me, “keep going,” “finish strong” and “looking good!” It seemed every time my energy would start to diminish, someone would give me encouraging words that instantly recharged me. It really does make a huge difference!

   The thing I found interesting is that it didn’t matter if it was a volunteer, a bystander, a friend, or a loved one. Each time I was encouraged, it all had the exact same effect. I smiled, I picked up my pace and I was filled with confidence. I knew I could do it. Not because I thought I could, but because even strangers thought I could! The power of positive, encouraging words can never be underrated.

   The next time you see someone struggling — not just in a race, but in life in general — offer some kind, encouraging words. You have no idea the power you will instill in the recipient.

JANET NEVILLS owns Ladies Fitness Zone in LaPorte, where she teaches Jazzercise, Pilates and Yoga. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer.

   Many times each week, sometimes several times a day, someone calls the LaPorte County Solid Waste District office and asks the question, “Can I recycle plastic bottle caps”? In the past, taking our direction from the recycler, the answer was, unfortunately, no. But that has changed. Now, feel free to throw those plastic caps in your recycling toter!

   There were two reasons why plastic caps were not accepted before. One: The material the caps are made from is usually different from that of the bottle. Different materials have different number codes, and workers at the recycling center have to separate the materials on the conveyor belt by their number code. The workers have to rapidly pick items from the line. Therefore, it was next to impossible for them to twist and separate the caps from the bottles while working on the line.

   Two: As small as most bottle caps are, if separated from the bottle, they hardly ever made it to Homewood, IL, without being lost in transit. Imagine if you can a cap the size on a 16-oz. soda bottle, being loaded on a semi for the ride to Homewood and not getting lost. They say miracles do happen, but I don’t think so if you are a little, loose bottle cap going from LaPorte County to Homewood Disposal and Diversified Recycling! Also, small, loose items used to get stuck and clog up the conveyor belts. So the only answer was to say no to diligent recyclers who wanted to recycle the bottle caps.

New recycling techniques allow plastic bottle caps to be recyclable.

   But that has changed. The lowly bottle cap can now be recycled along with the bottle. With new and advanced recycling processes in place, recyclers can now expand the lists of items they will accept. One of the new processes involves a machine that slits a plastic bottle, allowing air to escape so it won’t explode when being baled. Once the plastic material is sorted, marketed and shipped to a recycler, the cap and bottle can be separated and used to re-make articles from the different plastics.

   So the next time you finish that water or soda and are rinsing the bottle to put it in your recycling toter, don’t forget to replace the cap and give it a new home! Better yet, try reducing the number of plastic bottles you purchase and use at your next party or picnic. Try buying your soda in larger 2-liter bottles and using glasses than can be washed and reused. It will save you money when purchasing the soda and reduce waste because you will not find abandoned, half-full cans when everyone has gone home. 

   Have a lot of water drinkers invited? Next time, try filling a pitcher using tap water and adding your own lemon slices for a fresh taste and a classy host/hostess touch.

LEARN MORE about recycling and the Solid Waste District’s work at www.solidwastedistrict.com.

   As a kid, I loved to see summer break come to an end and the new school year start, because it meant my birthday was just around the corner. What kid doesn’t look forward to their birthday?

   However, now as a parent, the end of summer break is bittersweet. My birthday is still certain to arrive right after the start of the new school year, but it’s no longer as a big a celebration as you get older, is it? More importantly, the other consequences that come with the beginning of school far outshine birthday candles.

   On one hand, I’m excited for my kids to resume school. A new year means new teachers, new friends and new experiences. They’ll learn new skills and continue to grow both mentally and physically. Therein lie my mixed feelings.

   When you first bring home your new bundle of joy, all your hopes and dreams are wrapped tightly in a pastel receiving blanket. The children are so tiny that all the ideas of school, growing up and moving out seem far away. Then the first day of school arrives, and from the moment you watch your kindergartner wave from the school bus for the first time, life hits fast forward. All of a sudden years begin to fly by, measured by school grades, accomplishments and activities.

   It seems like yesterday that I watched our now 13-year-old skip happily into her new kindergarten classroom, her plaid skirt shifting and her pigtails bouncing. This year she starts the eighth grade, and I’m pretty sure she won’t be wearing a plaid skirt or pigtails.

   Life really does move faster than we anticipate. As new parents, we sit sleep-deprived listening to other experienced parents tell us how quickly our children will grow up and how soon we’ll be carting them off to college instead of carting them to the grocery store in a car seat. At the time, as we pray for a full eight hours of sleep, we can’t imagine the moment when we’ll have a peaceful house and our children will be grown up. In some ways we begin to wish for that quiet.

   Then we get what we wish for, and everything changes again.

   In five years my daughter will be in college, and responsible for her own decisions. My son turns 9 years old in a few weeks, and the other night I realized that I’m about halfway through the official period of raising him. Halfway? That just doesn’t seem possible.

   Where did the past nine years go? Did I sleepwalk through them? I’m not nearly ready for either of them to grow up. I’d like to press the pause button and keep them at the age they are right now. Yes, even when they are driving me crazy with their ridiculous requests and childish antics.

   As life moves along each day and week, I don’t really have the time to reflect on how quickly my kids are growing up. Sure, there are tiny moments when it hits me that my son has grown 2 inches or my daughter is becoming more mature. However, the beginning of a new school year allows me the space I need to reflect on the past year as well as to look forward — thus my reason for wanting to hit pause.

   I know each of my kids will have a fantastic year. I know that they need new experiences in order to grow healthy and strong, and I know that by embracing their growth, I’m helping them to become productive adults. But I still hope that while I watch them embark on their new adventures this school year, I can find some way to keep them young and close to me.

   I can’t prevent the day that will find me packing boxes to take to the new dorm instead of lunch boxes, but I can make the most of each school year now. Maybe that can be my new reason for embracing the end of summer break — the chance to share brand new experiences with my kids. The bittersweet feeling will most likely still be there, but at least I’m enjoying the time I have now with each of them.

STACEY HARRIS lives in LaPorte with her husband and two children. She is an account manager for a national advertising agency.

   At least during the years of 1910 and 1912, this was a crop grown in two locations in the county.

   Celery is grown from seed planted in hotbeds to obtain an early crop, and directly in the open for a late crop. It requires fertile soil and plenty of moisture. Probably the most difficult part of its culture is the blanching, or whitening, process. The method used for a summer crop is to place boards around the stalks to shut out the light, which destroys the coloring matter in the tissue, causing the stalks to whiten. To accomplish this for winter usage, dirt is heaped around the stalks.

   According to newspaper accounts, in 1910, on the 40-acre farm of Oscar L. Niemer south of Michigan City, there was a celery farm known as Niemer’s Crystal Springs Superb Celery Farm. Niemer had come to LaPorte County from Michigan. Although Kalamazoo was known as the “Celery City,” he boasted that his Indiana celery was far superior.

   The water system used was unique — there were three 60-foot wells from which sparkling water flowed by the barrel. This water was used to wash the celery and irrigate the land. Admittedly, no irrigation system is as good as genuine rain, but the Niemer system was said to surpass all systems known at that time. By mid-May, planting had already occurred and reached a height of six to nine inches. This crop was expected to be ready for market about July and to supply the wants of Michigan City until cold weather.

   Niemer’s celery had already established quite a name, and although dealers in Chicago wanted to contract for his entire crop, Niemer supplied the towns of Michigan City and LaPorte before shipments were made outside the county.

   During the same time period, a clipping from a county newspaper contained a story about plans further south in LaPorte County where the growing of celery on an extensive scale was started in the Kankakee marshes. It was believed that much of the wasteland of the Kankakee marsh could be used for this crop. Soil experts said this land was the best for celery raising, and so the “permanency of the industry” was practically assured.

   One enterprising gentleman, W.R. Calvert, owned 600 acres, which he was going to use for the first celery fields in that area. Hollanders from near Kalamazoo came to the area to oversee the work. It was noted that a five-acre tract was about all one man and his family could farm. Consequently, the plan was to divide the land into farms of this size and sublet them to the Hollanders. Work was to start in the near future on a number of houses for the celery farmers.

   The method of planting at the southern location was to place the plants three inches apart with three feet between the rows. The summer crops were placed in the center of the fields, with the fall and winter plants on each side.

   With Mr. Niemer’s plan using his system of irrigation and Mr. Calvert’s plan to colonize his entire property, you might think celery farming would have grown to rule LaPorte County. However, no further record has been discovered of the results of these two endeavors.