Please join the Elkhart County Republican Party and Senator Carlin Yoder in the Middlebury parade on Saturday, August 10. You will be able to ride on the float. The parade starts at 1:00, so try be at the float at 12:00. The float will be near the corner of SR 13 and Orpha Dr. Look for a trailer with white railing and Republican banners on it. It will be close to the “Jackie” float. You can call Debbie Johnson (352-895-0656) to find out the exact location.
This Saturday we have two parades: Middlebury and North Manchester. With Jackie unable to attend either one, we will be walking with the county party and their trailer. We’d still love to have some Jackie supporters come and show their support!
Middlebury Parade Saturday, August 10th, Lineup at 12:30pm
Location: near the corner of SR 13 and Orpha Dr., Middlebury
North Manchester
Saturday, August 10th, Lineup at 4:30pm
Location: Manchester High School Parking Lot: 1102 N Market St, North Manchester, IN,
Please call me if you have any trouble finding us.
Frank Sinatra considered Kate Smith the best singer of her time, and said that when he and a million other guys first heard her sing “God Bless America” on the radio, they all pretended to have dust in their eyes as they wiped away a tear or two.
Here are the facts…
The link at the bottom will take you to a video showing the very first public singing of “GOD BLESS AMERICA”. But before you watch it, you should also know the story behind the first public showing of the song.
The time was 1940. America was still in a terrible economic depression. Hitler was taking over Europe and Americans were afraid we’d have to go to war. It was a time of hardship and worry for most Americans.
This was the era just before TV, when radio shows were HUGE, and American families sat around their radios in the evenings, listening to their favorite entertainers, and no entertainer of that era was bigger than Kate Smith.
Kate was also large; plus size, as we now say, and the popular phrase still used today is in deference to her, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings”. Kate Smith might not have made it big in the age of TV, but with her voice coming over the radio, she was the biggest star of her time.
Kate was also patriotic. It hurt her to see Americans so depressed and afraid of what the next day would bring. She had hope for America, and faith in her fellow Americans. She wanted to do something to cheer them up, so she went to the famous American song-writer, Irving Berlin (who also wrote “White Christmas”) and asked him to write a song that would make Americans feel good again about their country. When she described what she was looking for, he said he had just the song for her.
He went to his files and found a song that he had written, but never published, 22 years before – way back in 1917. He gave it to and she worked on it with her studio orchestra. She and Irving Berlin were not sure how the song would be received by the public, but both agreed they would not take any profits from God Bless America. Any profits would go to the Boy Scouts of America. Over the years, the Boy Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties from this song.
This video starts out with Kate Smith coming into the radio studio with the orchestra and an audience. She introduces the new song for the very first time, and starts singing. After the first couple verses, with her voice in the background still singing, scenes are shown from the 1940 movie, “You’re In The Army Now.” At the 4:20 mark of the video you see a young actor in the movie, sitting in an office, reading a paper; it’s Ronald Reagan.
To this day, God Bless America stirs our patriotic feelings and pride in our country. Back in 1940, when Kate Smith went looking for a song to raise the spirits of her fellow Americans, I doubt whether she realized just how successful the results would be for her fellow Americans during those years of hardship and worry….. and for many generations of Americans to follow. Now that you know the story of the song, I hope you’ll enjoy it and treasure it even more.
Goshen’s Celebrate America recently held its kick-off meeting at First Baptist Church in Goshen, Indiana. Celebrate America’s 2013 fireworks display and patriotic program will be held Sunday, July 7th, at Black Squirrel Golf Course. Two musical groups, Exalt Brass and Gold will perform during the evening.
The patriotic program will begin at about 8:00 PM and the fireworks will go off at dark (about 10:00 PM). There is no charge for admission and free parking will be available at the First Baptist Church of Goshen, or Goshen Middle School. Both are on the corner of Plymouth and Indiana Ave. and are just a short walk from the Golf Course. Handicapped parking is available at the Golf Course. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs, lawn games, and picnic for a relaxing and fun family friendly evening! Concessions will be available.
According to Goshen Celebrate America’s president, Greg Lanzen, Celebrate America’s annual firework display is just the icing on the cake. “We celebrate with a party,” Lanzen said, “but the rest of the year we are busy overseeing different parts of Celebrate America with a patriotism education program at Goshen’s middle and elementary schools and with our veterans program.”
As part of the veteran’s program, Goshen’s Celebrate America partners with local veterans organizations to help send WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans to Washington D.C. to tour the city and Washington D.C.’s military memorials.”
Here is a video of Goshen’s VFW Post’s 2009 trip. Maybe you’ll see yourself or someone you know on this video:
Beautiful produce from our beautiful Seed to Feed acre in Goshen. Our clients are so happy!
Fresh vegetables for Elkhart Counties food pantries.
Fresh air, exercise, good honest dirt, and service that helps sustains CCS’s food supply: From now till the end of harvest season, Seed to Feed will need at least 15 volunteers 2 days a week. We will pick the green beans and sweet corn at the Bullard Garden every Monday at 9:00am. It is located on C.R.17 and Middlebury St, directly across from Sorg Jewelers on the west side of C.R.17.
The Fresh Produce Garden in Goshen will be picked every Tuesday at 7:00pm. It is located at 14723 CR36. It is just east of CR33 about 1/8 of a mile on the north side of CR36. The gardens are really starting to produce nice yields each week and should until the end of the season. If you can help, please contact Church Community Services either by email (dhhooch@aol.com) or phone (574-349-4905).
Mark Tripp ‘s Family Magic Show is filled with magic, illusions, comedy, juggling, puppets and much more. This comedy magic show has been at company banquets, country clubs, cruise lines and comedy clubs nation wide.
– 11:00 a.m. Vendors Open
– 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mark Trip
– 6:30 p.m. Tractor Pullheld by Elkhart County Garden Tractor Pullers
– 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Kids Games!A variety of games and prizes for kids. Coordinated by Waypoint Community Church. (Beside Fire Station on Bristol Street.)
– 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Total Recallnot only remembers the glorious 60’s and 70’s. They were there. Let them take you back on their musical journey back in time. (Entertainment tent.
– 8:30 TO 10:00 p.m. Teen Dance(East Park Pavilion)
Saturday, August 11
– 7:00 to 10:30 a.m. Pancake and Sausage Breakfast
– 9:00 a.m. 5th Annual Fishing Tournament
– 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Hey Kids, Its Jammin
– 11:00 a.m. Vendors Open
– 11:00 to Noon Northern Lights and Starlights
– 1:00 p.m. Festival Parade
FOLLOWING THE PARADE:
– Tae Kwon Do Demonstration (East Park)
– Distinguished Young Women of Middlebury (Entertainment Tent)
– Presentation of Parade Awards(Entertainment Tent)
Velvet Water is a bluegrass/americana/rock inspired jam band from Winchester, KY.
-5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Velvet Water
– 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. DANG!
Hundreds of motorcycles will be rolling through the Elkhart community soon to honor the families of wounded and fallen troops. (Photo/Channel 16)
Hundreds of motorcycles will be rolling through the Elkhart community soon to honor the families of wounded and fallen troops. The Freedom Ride and Bike Night Rally will happen Saturday, August 11. Members of local law enforcement bike groups will ride through Elkhart, Bristol, Middlebury, Goshen, Nappanee, and Wakarusa escorting local families of soldiers killed in action.
Organizers say they aim to draw people out to line the roads in support of the families.
“What makes us do it is our patriotism,” said Jim Ballard, Corporal of the Elkhart City Police Department. “We believe in this community, we believe in what the soldiers did for this community”
“I have a lot of friends and buddies who have injures from previous wars and this one, who have served 20 years and to have my family involved in 3 different wars, it’s really kind of a key point to me,” said Jim Vance of the Elkhart Fire Department.
Have you ever seen a Goshen City Council member getting tazed by the Police Department?
Well, “Goshen’s Night Out,” in partnership with August’s First Fridays event, will give you the opportunity, according to Goshen Police Detective Kevin Miller.
“Councilman Jeremy Stutsman will be receiving an exposure from a Taser,” Miller said Friday. “He said he’d be glad to be in the demonstration.”
While being tasered is not on the top of his “fun” list, Stutsman said he hopes his participation will bring out a large crowd to the “Night Out,” an event that hopes to educate locals on available emergency resources and departments.
–Goshen Police Officer Kirk Maggert and Rocky, left, and Officer Phil Rissot with Hex participate in last year’s Night Out. (Photo/Goshen News)
On the First Friday of every month – throughout the year – businesses, artists, and entertainers throw a party in downtown Goshen. Hours are generally from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2012 EVENTS
Bring your family, friends and neighbors to Goshen’s Night Out – Taking a stand against crime. Organized by the City of Goshen Police Department. Free food! Prize giveaways! Family & Kids’ activities!
K-9 Demo
Child fingerprinting
Taser Demo
Fire Dept. Demo
ERT Demo
Neighborhood Association resources
Victims’ Assitance
Police Dept. vehicle & equipment
Area community service agency displays
Half-Pint Jones is a colorful five-piece project of sophisticated funk, jazz, and rock sprinkled with the musical flavors of New Orleans. This dynamic group was birthed during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and is rooted to staying true to all musical and spiritual influences; keeping their music honest and fresh. Based in South Bend, Indiana, these five musicians have come together to express a new, organic, manner of story-telling and musical improvisation, while maintaining a completely relatable sound.
The county fair may wind down this weekend, but the music scene won’t, and all a fantastic show will cost you is a canned good.
A recent Memorial High School graduate, Paxton Manly will perform in his third annual concert/food drive to benefit Church Community Services (CCS) Saturday, July 28 at 7:00 p.m. The concert will be at the First Baptist Church, 53953 C.R. 17, Bristol (on the edge of Elkhart in the Six Span Bridge area). Manly offers a night of live music entertainment covering artists including Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Coldplay, U2, The Beatles, David Phelps, the Gaith Vocal Band and many more.
Your admission price? A non-perishable food item or monetary donation to CCS.
An interview of the Food Services Director, Mary Kneller, about the services CCS offers, as well as interviews of food pantry clients about their experiences.