A helping hand

Yesterday I was taking photos of the flowers at CR 43 and east to Shipshewana. When I was finished, I stopped at the CR 43 rest room and discovered that there was no toilet paper there. There were four holders, but no paper. I saw many people on the trail and thinking about the forthcoming three-day holiday weekend, I decided it was a bad idea not to have any toilet paper in the restroom, so I emailed the Elkhart County Park Dept. to tell them about the situation. As I drove home, it occurred to me that at that time of day -- 3:30 p.m. on the day before a holiday -- it might be difficult for someone from the park department to run out with toilet paper, so I head west on US 20 to the CVS pharmacy, bought a 16-roll pack of toilet paper and went back and put in four rolls. It will be interesting to see how many are still there when we ride back that way today.

The Learning Corridor

The Middlebury Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Middlebury Parks and the Friends of the Middlebury Parks, announces the development of the Learning Corridor along the Middlebury Greenway on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.

The Learning Corridor is a special half mile section of the Greenway from the Little Elkhart River to the location of the former Middlebury railroad depot, near Wayne Avenue. It offers visitors many opportunities to learn about Middlebury’s history, nature, wildlife, and enjoy the diverse flora and fauna offered in different gardens.

The sites along the Learning Corridor includes; the historic trestle bridge, Krider Worlds Fair Garden, rain gardens, the Quilt Garden, the Middlebury Community Historical Museum, the Habitat Garden, the Blue Bird Trail, the Right Tree-Right Place Arboretum and the site of the former Middlebury railroad depot.

Monica Yoder, Secretary of the Middlebury Park Board, said “Along the Middlebury Learning Corridor you will find several informational signs explaining the different sites.  You will find this a place to exercise your mind, while taking a relaxing walk with history, nature and wildlife”.

A family enjoys the Middlebury Greenway on the Pumpkinvine.

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Take a guided walking tour along the Learning Corridor during the Trails of Middlebury Celebration on Saturday July 12, 6 to 9 PM. No pre-registration is necessary.  Parking will be available at Krider Garden Park, 302 West Bristol Avenue and at 104 Pleasant Street, located off of SR 13 behind the Chalet Party Shoppe.

For more information contact Tom Enright Middlebury Park and Recreation Manager, at 574-825-3283 or at parks@middleburyin.com

Spring wildflower walk -- April 27, 2014

We had an enthusiastic group of nine people on the spring wildflower walk. I think the cool weather and 20 mph wind discouraged people from the walk.

Here's an unedited video of John Smith that gives the flavor of the walk.

You save money on home energy costs and the Friends of the Pumpkinvine receive $25

The Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, Inc. have joined with Energizing Indiana in a program to reduce your home energy costs and also generates funds for the trail and.

Energizing Indiana will donate $25 to Friends of the Pumpkinvine for each household that completes a free home-energy assessment and designates Friends as their beneficiary. The assessment can lower your home’s energy consumption, improve your home’s air quality and increase your home’s value.

The best way to schedule an energy assessment with Energize Indiana is through a link to the Energizing Indiana website on our website homepage: http://www.pumpkinvine.org/.   This link will take you to the Friends-of-the-Pumpkinvine scheduling page. It gives you the opportunity to schedule the assessment at your convenience and select the best appointment time. Here are the steps in the process.

1. Schedule your energy assessment through the link at www.pumpkinvine.org.
2. After you schedule the energy assessment, Energizing Indiana will contact you by phone to set up a time to make the assessment.
3. Then a representative of Energizing Indiana will come to your home and make the assessment. It takes about an hour. On that visit, they will inspect your home’s exterior, attic, furnace and water heater and appliances for ways to reduce your energy bills. They will also bring an energy savings kit that includes 20 compact florescent light bulbs, energy-efficient faucet and shower heads and insulation for water heater pipes – all installed for free. 
4. Finally, the Energizing Indiana representative will give you an energy-assessment report outlining weatherization steps that could improve your homes energy efficiency. You may or may not follow up on their suggestions at your own expense.

In short, the assessment and the energy saving kit are free, further weatherization is up to you, and for every assessment made through our website, Energizing Indiana will donate $25 to the Friends of the Pumpkinvine.

There are a few limitations to the program: your home must have been built before Jan. 1, 2010 and have had no utility sponsored energy assessment in the past three years.

I hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to save on your energy bills and at the same time support the Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, Inc.

Jigsaw puzzle of the Pumpkinvine in Middlebury

Area to be widened along Railroad Street in Middlebury

Table Talk

The latest Pumpkinvine newsletter is online: Pumpkinvine Trail Talk

Elkhart Truth article on Sept. 5 fatal accident

Another article about the accident on the Pumpkinvine in September:  Elkhart Truth