Contents Contributors
Your Pics
Contents Contributors
13 COLORING CONTEST 15 HISTORY MYSTERY
SUBSCRIBE
16 A Family of Performers ~ by Brian Blair
22 A poem ~ by Michele Pollock
26 Bird’ s Nest Opening ~ by Bob Gustin
34 Age and Memory ~ by Mark Blackwell
38-40 CALENDAR / EVENTS
41 Stuff a Stocking Light Parade
42 Christkindl Market 44 Christmas in Brown Co. 46 YOUR PICS
50 The Growth of Cornerstone ~ by Boris Ladwig
58 Music Center Success ~ by Brian Blair
64 The Red Oak ~ by Jim Eagleman
68-70 INFO PAGES
Cover: Sidney Bolam at the Brown County Playhouse
~ by Brian Blair
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. He enjoys expanding 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.
Brian Blair is a former longtime features writer for The Republic in Columbus. His work has appeared in publications ranging from the Miami Herald to U. S. News and World Report.
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.
We invite you to share
Your Pics
Mark Blackwell no longer makes his home in Brown County where“ the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines.” 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.
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.
Michele Pollock is a poet and visual artist who works in several mediums, including fiber art, books arts, and photography. She loves living and working in the woods of Brown County.
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.
We want to include some of our readers’ favorite photos in every issue. If you have one or more you would like to share, email to: ourbrowncounty @ outlook. com with the subject“ PHOTO” along with your name and where you are from for photo credit. Publisher decides what gets published.
OUR BROWN COUNTY P. O. Box 157 Helmsburg, IN 47435
ourbrowncounty @ outlook. com ourbrowncounty. com
( 812) 988-8807
Thanks, Mom, for making it happen! copyright 2026
Nov./ Dec. 2026 • Our Brown County 9