By Tamara Taylor

Around the World In ...

The past month has been filled with world travels . I got to visit China , experience the excitement of moving to Italy , and even travel back in time . Phew .

On a beautiful summer day , I took the opportunity to drive to Madison , Indiana and enjoy the beautiful countryside along the way . As I daydreamed about all that was going on in the little towns I passed through , I got to see farmers working the crops , Amish families traveling in their buggies , cattle grazing in the fields and incredible horses standing regally in their pastures ( okay , so I ’ m a bit biased toward equines !).

I reached a spot that detoured me onto State Road 250 where I got to hear the calming sounds of picturesque waterfalls . Suddenly I realized that I had just passed a sign for a town called China . Really ?!! I backed up to be sure that it wasn ’ t time to get my eyes checked . Lo and behold I was definitely heading toward China .

China is a town of a few homes and a beautiful church that looks to have been stuccoed over during its life . Yes , a few cars were in the parking lot , so I know that life does exist in the town . My curiosity piqued , I came back to the office and researched the history of this quaint little town called China .

China , Indiana is located where Dry Fork meets the west fork of the Indian-Kentuck Creek in Jefferson County . A fulling mill was opened there in 1817 . Since I had no idea what a fulling mill was , more research ensued . A fulling mill utilized a water mill and was a process of stretching cloth , usually felted wool , on large frames called tenters .

( Please be patient- cloth and wool ties into this story later down the line .)

Rumor has it that the town of China was also home to a paper mill , grist mill , sawmill , and tanning shop at one time .

China was officially named in the early 1830 ’ s and has served as home to both Presbyterian and German Catholic religions .

My next trip came in a bit more unexpected fashiontime travel . I even got to hold an “ orange ” from the 1830 ’ s ! ( That should be enough of a teaser- see article on page 12A )

Finally , I got to witness the excitement of completely changing careers to pursue one ’ s lifelong passion and move to Italy . How exhilarating ! Italy is known as the birthplace of Western culture . It is home to delicious cuisine , an unrivaled fashion industry , and the future home of one of our own , Lisa DeHart Lehner .

I first met Lisa when she had just graduated from law school and was eager to make her mark in the world . Little

did either of us know how impactful that mark would be on Dearborn County .

Ms . Lehner was one of three pioneers of the Dearborn County Community Foundation . She has been quoted as saying , “ We knew we needed to take advantage of what Lilly was offering with the GIFT initiative . They provided so many resources to help us , including matching funds , but there was still a considerable amount of self-teaching involved on our part .”

Today the total assets of DCF that significantly help our community have reached $ 20 million .

“ Clearly Lisa had the ability to recognize that the development of a community foundation was a great opportunity for the community ,” stated Fred McCarter , executive director of DCF .

Judge Sally McLaughlin , who has known Ms . Lehner for most of her life , said , “ I have always admired her work for the Foundation . She took an opportunity and developed it into a long-lasting community organization .”

One program that touches the heart of all that Ms . Lehner stands for is the Women Empowering Women Program that was established by her mother , Diana Lehner , more than a decade ago . The program provides grants to organizations that positively impact women in our community . A scholarship affiliated with the program provides help to non-traditional female students who have not had the opportunity to attend college or to compete their postsecondary educations that they started earlier in their lives . Many of the scholarship recipients are working and raising children while also attending college . They are striving to earn degrees or skills to support their families by becoming qualified for better jobs .

As a child , Ms . Lehner learned the appreciation of handcrafted knitwear and needlework from her grandmothers . Old world techniques handed down from generation to generation were patiently shared with Lisa , many of

Lisa DeHart Lehner and her mother , Diana Lehner , have made a lasting difference in our community through the establishment of the Women Empowering Women Program nearly a decade ago .

which she has incorporated in her wardrobe throughout her life . As an adult , Ms . Lehner had the opportunity to visit Italy and discovered handcrafted items like those made by her grandmothers .

Ms . Lehner had a chance meeting with a designer who is now her business partner . The designer ’ s strength , courage , and sincere passion for her designs motivated Lisa to pursue her dream of being a part of the fashion world .

The rest , as they say , is history . Ms . Lehner and her family will be moving to Tuscany to grow her fashion design business that focuses on fashion by women , for women .

The face of Dearborn County was forever changed by one determined woman , Lisa DeHart Lehner . I genuinely believe that Tuscany will be able to say the same in a very short period of time . While I am excited for Lisa , I am sure that her heart will always hold a warm spot for the community in which she was raised and on which she had such a significant impact .

Best of luck to Lisa and her family . Her enthusiasm and love for Dearborn County will be missed , but her legacy is firmly entrenched in our future .