| Issue No. 240 Serving the Entire Business Community August 2004 | ||
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Annual Chamber Picnic
The Florida Scramble What is Agri-TourismFrom the Desk of Mike Woolfington Marshall County Convention & Visitors Bureau Agri-Tourism may be a new word for many of you, even though its components have been around for ages. Agri refers to agriculture - the production of food and fiber. Tourism refers to people who are traveling for business or leisure. Agri-Tourism can be considered “a commercial enterprise on a working farm, a farmers market or agricultural plant that provides enjoyment, recreation or education to our visitors. The number one reason families take vacations are to build and strengthen relationships by being together as a family without the stress of home or work. Many of our seniors are seeking social interactions and to make new friends. Vacations can help improve health and well being by participating in rural outdoor activities. People also travel to learn, to explore and to discover. They want to see, touch and feel something unfamiliar. Marshall County has what visitors are searching for, from a trip through our food processing plants to a visit to a working farm or picking berries at one of our u-pick farms. Reactions from the groups we have hosted through plants such as Dean Pickle & Specialty Products, DelMonte Foods, and Pioneer HiBred have been expressed with delight and amazement. Visitors from outside of Marshall County need not be the only people to satisfy curiosity and learn what we have to offer. Continuing to expand our own knowledge about our community is just as interesting. Any group may contact the Marshall County Convention & Visitors Bureau and schedule visits by calling 936-1882. Not only do our visitors and locals want to see how their food is grown and processed, they would like to purchase it at a farm stand or farmers market where they know it is fresh and locally grown. The Marshall County CVB and the Cooperative Extension Service is working with the Indiana Department of Tourism and Indiana Department of Agriculture to promote Agr-Tourism in Marshall County. We are striving to increase the number of U-Pick Farms as well as to encourage people to produce products for the Culver Farmers Market. The creation of a farmers market in Plymouth is being proposed also. The Public Relations & Tourism Committee of the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce has been discussing ideas and details to contribute to this end. Many people have an abundance of produce, flowers and other decorative plants from their gardens that others would love to purchase. A farmers market would be the perfect location to share this bounty. Developing a farmers market near the downtown area would also encourage visits to our other downtown stores and businesses. Agri-Tourism will not be a new word for long! ------------   Plymouth Public Library201 N. Center St., Plymouth; 574-936-2324; www.plymouth.lib.in.us The Plymouth Public Library has OSHA Safety Training Videos available for checkout. The available tapes are: Back Injury Prevention-Lifting Safely Bloodborne Pathogens in the Workplace Confined Space Entry Cranes, Chains, Slings & Hoists Safety Employee Safety Orientation Fire Extinguisher Training & Use Fire Prevention Responsibility Forklift Operator Training Hand & Power Tool Safety Hazard Communications for Today's Workplace How to Investigate an Accident How to Prevent Slips & Falls Machine Guarding & Conveyor Safety OSHA's Hazardous Engery Source (Lookout/Tagout) Unsafe Acts-Human Behavior There is also a CD-ROM with the written materials included.  WTCA AM1050112 W. Washinton St., Plymouth; 574-936-4096; www.am1050.com Congratulations to WTCA Radio - Celebrating their 40th Anniversary Gibson Insurance GroupPO Box 610, 333 E. Jefferson St., Plymouth; 574-936-2122; www.gibsonins.com Anthony M. Johnston, MBA, has joined Gibson Insurance Group as an account executive in the Employee Benefits Division, specializing in group medical and dental plans, Health Reimbursement Arrangements, Health Savings Accounts, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Johnston began his insurance career at Aetna, Inc. where he worked in the areas of group sales, e-health, Medicare, provider relations, physician contracting, and claims. He later became director of employee benefits for a self-funded health plan in Chicago servicing colleges and universities nationwide. Johnston holds a bachelor of science degree in financial counseling and planning from Purdue University, and a master in business administration from the University of St. Francis Joliet, Illinois. He is pursuing his Registered Health Underwriter designation (RHU) through The American College. He is also a member of the Greater Northern Indiana Association of Health Underwriters. Ancilla Domini College9601 S. Union Rd., Donaldson; 574-936-8898; www.ancilla.edu Tara Minix of Knox and Summer Cress of Elkhart have joined Ancilla College as enrollment counselors in the Admissions Office. As enrollment counselors, both Minix and Cress will recruit and counsel prospective students, both traditional and adult learners. Minix received a bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from Purdue-North Central, and previously worked at Sprint in Plymouth. Cress is a recent graduate of Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, where she received a bachelor's degree. In addition to the position of enrollment counselor, she will serve as an assistant women's basketball coach for the Ancilla Lady Chargers. Cress brings four years of college basketball playing experience to Ancilla as a four-year basketball Letter Winner at Earlham and an All Conference player. Ancilla College is a private, two-year, co-educational, liberal arts college sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and located on the grounds of the PHJC Ministry Center at Donaldson, Ind. Morrow Insurance AgencyPO Box 1501, 850 E. Jefferson St., Plymouth; 574-936-8898; www.morrowinsuranceagency.com Morrow Insurance has moved and into a brand new building. After 21 years at 112 S. Michigan Street, Morrow Insurance has now relocated to 850 E. Jefferson Street. The mailing and website addresses and phone numbers stay the same. United Way of Marshall County2701 N. Michigan St., Plymouth; 574-936-3366  An evening of entertainment and information is planned at PaPa's, 824 N. Lake Shore Dr., Culver on Saturday, August 7th starting at 6:00 PM. The event is “Luau at the Lake” and a percentage of the evening's sales will be donated to the Marshall County United Way. At 8:00 PM, Steve and Ryan DeFord will entertain. Participants in this event will learn about the many programs and services that United Way provides with the funds raised in Marshall County, targeting for this event, those programs specific to the Culver area.------------ New Members
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Since 1895, Centier Bank has been providing financial services to businesses and families across Northwest Indiana. Family-owned for four generations, Centier remains and independent financial institution with 33 locations in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Marshall counties. Our full-service banking includes a full suite of commercial banking services, investment services, trust and retirement planning, and wealth management.
