Contents
Contributors
Contents
12 WHERE IS IT? 13 SUBSCRIBE
16 Wagler Dairy ~ by Paige Langenderfer
22 Monroe Festivals ~ by Chrissy Alspaugh
26 Being in Ukraine ~ by Bob Gustin
32 Music Center Success ~ by Ryan Stacy
36 Musings: Belmont ~ by Mark Blackwell
38-39 Photos by Cindy Steele * 40-41 CALENDAR
42 Steve Miller, Architect ~ by Boris Ladwig
48 Brown Co. Model Trains ~ by Evan Markley
54 Field Notes: Mayapple ~ by Jim Eagleman
58 Quilt Exhibit ~ by Chrissy Alspaugh
62 M. A. Y. FEST! ~ by Chrissy Alspaugh
63 Ukulele World Congress ~ by Chrissy Alspaugh
64 Abe Martin & his Creator ~ by Julia Pearson
68-70 INFO PAGES
Cover: Steve Millerat his Nashville home, Anne Ryan Miller glass studio in the background
~ by Cindy Steele
Bob Gustin worked as a reporter, photographer, managing editor, and editor for daily newspapers in Colorado, Nebraska, and Indiana before retiring in 2011. He and his wife, Chris, operate Homestead Weaving Studio. She does the weaving while he gives studio tours, builds small looms, and expands his book and record collections.
Joe Lee is an illustrator and writer. He is the author of Forgiveness: The Eva Kor Story, The History of Clowns for Beginners, and Dante for Beginners. He is an editorial cartoonist for the Bloomington Herald Times, a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and a veteran circus performer.
Chrissy Alspaugh is a freelance writer and owner of Christina Alspaugh Photography. She lives in Bartholomew County with her husband, Matt and three boys. She can be reached at < christina _ alspaugh @ yahoo. com >. View photos < ChristinaAlspaughPhotography. com >.
Jim Eagleman is a 40-year veteran naturalist with the IN DNR. In retirement, he is now a consultant. His program“ Nature Ramblings” can be heard on WFHB radio, the Brown County Hour. He serves on the Sycamore Land Trust board. He enjoys reading, hiking, music, and birding. Jim and his wife Kay have lived here for more than 40 years.
Evan Markley was raised in Brown County. He has been a zipline guide at eXplore Brown County and a lifeguard at area pools. He graduated from Indiana University in 2019. He ushers for Pacers Sports and Marketing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. He enjoys hiking and following NBA basketball. He plans to start his own podcast.
Contributors
Mark Blackwell no longer makes his home in Brown County where“ the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines and present a meatless, barren, backbone effect.” He now resides within sight of the sixth green of an undisclosed golf course. He was born in the middle of the last century and still spends considerable time there.
Julia Pearson wrote for a Franciscan magazine for ten years and served as its human interest editor. She and husband Bruce now reside in Lake Woebegone Country for life’ s continuing adventures. Julia enjoys traveling and visiting museums of all types and sizes, with her children and grandchildren.
Boris Ladwig is a Columbusbased journalist who has worked in print, online and TV media in Indiana and Kentucky and has won awards for features, news, business, non-deadline news, First Amendment / community affairs and investigative reporting.
Ryan Stacy and his wife recently moved to Pennsylvania and continues to stay connected with our Brown County. He appreciates good movies, good food, and enjoys cultural events. His other interests include reading, photography, and playing music.
Paige Langenderfer is a freelance writer and communications consultant. She writes for numerous publications. She earned her Bachelor’ s degree in journalism from Indiana University and her Master’ s degree in public relations management from IUPUI. Paige lives in Columbus with her husband and daughters.
ourbrowncounty. com ourbrown @ bluemarble. net
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10 Our Brown County • May / June 2022
* Cindy Steele is the publisher and editor of this magazine. She sells and designs ads, sometimes writes, takes photos, and creates the layout. For fun, she likes to play the guitar or banjo and sing.
Thanks, Mom, for making it happen! copyright 2022
Michele Wedel is a photographer and visual imaging artist in Nashville. She is the house photographer for the new Brown County Music Center. She finds inspiration for her art in the natural beauty of Brown County and in the variety of amazing people that live here. You can view more of her work on Facebook at Michele Wedel Photography.