the BEACON Newspaper, Indiana beacon 2-18 web | Page 15
February 2018
O
OLDENBURG
By
Sue
Siefert
Community
Correspondent
[email protected]
Page 15A
ur Communities
you enter the
‘Burg has suc-
cessfully en-
couraged me
to slow down
as I approach
the Holy City
each morning.
I hope the
new gazebo
situated on the northwest cor-
ner of the church’s property in
memory of Ed and Cleo Hirt
will not only provide a shady
resting place for those who
frequent it but also serve as
a peaceful space for personal
reflection to give thanks for
all the Burg’s blessings.
I hope Gary Munchel, Old-
enburg’s town historian, never
tires of sharing his knowledge
of the ‘Burg as he continues
the historian tradition of his
late father, Gilbert Munchel.
Although Gary has a Bates-
ville address, his heart is in
Oldenburg.
I hope Oldenburg Academy
will continue its commit-
ment to Franciscan values of
prayer, Gospel living, aca-
demic excellence and social
responsibility for its students
so they can excel in our ever-
changing world.
On a more personal note …
I hope the Sisters of St.
Francis find a solution to the
sale of Olivia Hall in 2018
that will be mutually benefi-
cial to the Sisters and the local
residents. When a community
becomes divided, little is
ever accomplished. When a
community comes together in
understanding, differences can
be resolved, and in working
together, the Village can move
forward in a unified direction
for its future.
Okay, I’m off my soapbox
… until next month.
Das ist alles von der ’Burg!
S
HARRISON
By
Nicole
Williams
Community
Correspondent
[email protected]
“One kind word can warm
three winter months.” This
Japanese Proverb stands true
as we wait for the heavy snow
to come and blanket our town
of Harrison. Frosty mornings
can offer brisk walks- the
perfect time to reconnect with
friends and family with the
bustle of the holiday season
behind us. Refresh.
Our community showed a
great example of kindness this
past Dec. 16. Local businesses
teamed up to serve deserving
kids and their parents who are
involved in the weekend back-
pack program. Local backpack
programs are designed to
provide needed nourishment to
children who would not other-
wise have adequate access to
food during the weekends or
holiday breaks. Local business-
es donated a catered lunch.
The event went beyond of-
fering just a meal by adding a
little Christmas magic as well.
Each child received his or her
very own Elf that went through
a “magical steam press” and
came out personalized on the
other end. Two little girls were
in tears over this as they have
always wanted their very own
elves and can now join in with
their classmate’s conversations
about the adventures the elves
get into while the adults are
fast asleep. The children wrote
their letters to Santa with special
snowmen pens. Boys were
gifted Nike and Under Armour
footballs, and girls received
Area residents and local businesses teamed up to bring
holiday cheer to the Local Backpack Program.
cute winter hats and matching
gloves. All gifts were donated
by a giving family right here in
Harrison. Santa and Ms. Claus
were there in full force and were
amazing. The “famous couple
in red” also reside here in Har-
rison and volunteered their time.
Do you need to get out-
side? Participate in the Park’s
Winter Hike Series this year
on Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. Hiking
is such a unique way to grab
some fresh air while hitting
those New Year resolutions.
The hike is more challeng-
ing, ranging between 4 to 5.5
miles. Every hike in this se-
ries concludes with a bowl of
hot soup and plenty of cama-
raderie. Beans and corn bread
will be available for warming
our stomachs.
Jennifer Loftus and Melissa
Wood assisted Santa and
Mrs. Claus.
I am looking forward to
covering our growing town this
year. Please feel free to reach
out to me with any news you
may have! A birthday or anni-
versary milestone of a Harrison
resident. A person going above
and beyond in our community.
A piece of history about our
town that we might not be
aware of! Email me at Harri-
[email protected]
Wagon Shed
Candle Company
Specializing in all natural soy candles
and gift baskets made to order
for all occasions
DOTTIE SCHIPPER, Owner
4717 Tall Oak Drive
Aurora, Indiana 47001-7735
812-926-1466 Home • 859-512-9792 Cell
In keeping with my “Hopes
for the New Year” column
that I penned for Batesville,
it’s only fitting that I share
my “Hopes for Oldenburg in
2018:”
I hope the Burg’s village
people continue to come
together to bring new projects
into reality. The Oldenburg
Maypole was erected in
2017, and during Oldenburg’s
Holidays Under the Spires,
the forty-foot Maypole was
illuminated with glistening
Christmas lights and serving
as a skyline beacon as visi-
tors descend the hill into the
village. The towering tree
of lights resembles the one
on Indy’s Monument Circle,
leaving locals wondering if
the Indianapolis folks may
have gotten their towering
tree of lights idea after visit-
ing the ‘Burg!
On a personal note, I dis-
covered that my cousin, Rob
Harmeyer, custom-painted the
pole (not the individual ban-
ners, just the pole)… so there,
folks, lies my claim to fame!
I hope the members of the
Oldenburg Freudenfest Com-
mittee know how much their
efforts are appreciated, not
only during the fest but all
year long as the committee
works with the community to
enhance its German heritage.
I hope that a “rumor”
circulating that a member of
the Kirschner family may
be interested in carrying on
the late Ed Kirschner’s love
of Christmas by keeping the
Crèche Shop open for busi-
ness. Reportedly when the
store briefly reopened during
Holidays Under the Spires,
visitors began to line up
outside the Crèche Shop at 6
a.m., giving testament to the
val