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Page 2B BRIGHT/ SUGAR RIDGE O By Debby Stutz Community Correspondent [email protected] Mary Bertke, daughter of Martin and Cathy Bertke of Bright, joined the Ohio National Guard. She has been assigned 13B Cannon Crewmember and will attend ten weeks of Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Okla- homa before she moves on to Advanced Individual Train- ing. Congratulations to Mary on her choice to serve. A big thank you to her parents for laying the groundwork and being a positive influence in her decision. Many long-time Bright- ites join Julius Huffman in Martin Bertke, Mary Bertke, Cathy Bertke mourning the death of his wife, Joyce. Joyce was a flo- rist in Bright for many years. She was an active member of Providence Presbyterian Church in Bright and Eastern Star Chapter #427 in Law- renceburg. Joyce formerly served on the Sunman-Dear- born School Board. Siblings she leaves behind are sisters Myrtle White of Bright, Linda Badore of Titusville, Florida along with broth- THE BEACON December 2018 ur Communities ers Art (Ruth Ann) Little and Lawrence Lyttle, both of Bright. Also mourning Joyce’s death are daughter Julia (Dennis) Sobchuk of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Stephen (Debra) Huffman of Aurora, Indiana as well as grandchildren and great- grandchildren. No need to go to the mall for Santa Pics. The Bright Lions Club (2160 Lamplight Dr.) will offer pictures with Santa on Saturday, Decem- ber 1 from noon until 3 P.M. The photos are free, and the kids will get a bag of goodies as well. Everyone is welcome. This event is one of the many community services offered by Bright Lions throughout the year. Please contact me if you are interested in becoming a member of this international civic organization. The holidays are upon us. Don and I are having lots of holiday cheer at the winery. Protect Your Pet from Winter Woes Like you, dogs and cats cannot withstand winter’s bitter cold and wetness. Here are a few tips to keep your pet happy and healthy during winter: 1. Do not leave your pet outdoors when the temperature drops sharply. It’s a common belief that dogs and cats are able to tolerate cold weather because of their fur, but it’s untrue. Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia. They would be safer inside. Longer- haired and thick-coated dog breeds, such as huskies, are more tolerant of cold weather; but no pet should be left outside for long periods of time in below-freezing weather. 2. Outdoor pets need a reliable shelter to avoid the elements. No matter what the temperature, wind chill can threaten a pet’s life. Provide him with a warm, solid shelter against wind. The floor of the shelter should be off of the ground and the bedding should be thick, dry and changed regularly to provide a warm, dry environment. The door to the shelter should be positioned away from the wind. Avoid space heaters and heat lamps because of the risk of burns or fire. Heating pads should also be used with caution because they are still capable of causing burns. If your pet is in a pen, you might block the wind and weather with bales of straw and stretch a canvas or tarp over the top of the pen. 3. Food and water during the winter months will need to be monitored. Routinely check your pet’s water dishes to make certain that the water is fresh and unfrozen. There are several heated and thermal dishes available on the market today. Some outdoor pets may need more calories during the winter to help provide enough energy to keep them warm, but this doesn’t mean you want them to gain extra weight. The health risks that are associated with extra weight gain are not worth it. Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s nutritional needs during the winter months. 4. Warm engines on parked automobiles attract cats. If you live in an area where unattended cats may seek out your vehicle for warmth, be sure and knock on the hood and honk the horn every time before starting your engine. 5. Salt and chemicals used to melt snow and ice can cause injury to the pads of pet’s feet. Make sure to read the labels and take necessary precautions. Keep these products stored in tight containers and out of reach of pets. Be sure and remove salt from your pet’s paws immediately. Holiday parties are so much fun! Our favorite is when families gather at the winery to relax and visit with out-of- town guests. Since the winery is family friendly, we usually have some toys or snacks for the little ones. After all, we do have nine grandchildren who frequently pop in to say hello. We try to stay stocked up for the kiddos. We are always amazed when I-74 travelers decide to stop at the winery for a break in their travels. The winery is only five miles off I-74, and they usually call an order in at Logan’s Su- permart before they continue their journey. Driving through downtown Bright is always an adventure with all the commercial con- struction going on. The sight of semi-trucks delivering building materials and cranes lifting beams and walls to their proper places seems almost commonplace now. Both commercial properties being built will be finished before we know it and will bring consumers more choices of where to spend money. The Future is Bright, Indiana. A Sign of the Times By Ruth Siefferman Schlemmer The owners of the newest restaurant in Bright asked me about the history of the site where it is located. Please enjoy a walk through time... The little town of Bright was not always Bright. Its first names were Saltillo and later Bunkum. Our community’s new restaurant sits on the site of the original ninety-eight-acre farm known as Megrue’s Woods and later Picnic Woods. Henry Bateman had a successful run at the gold rush in the West. He returned to Philadelphia where he sold his gold for $4149.65. In March 1856 he purchased the farm. Today the farm (or a portion of the farm) remains in the family. The farm was later owned by Mr. Bate- man’s daughter, Clara, and her husband Charles Megrue. The Megrues transferred the farm to their daughter, Leora, and her husband Clyde Siefferman in 1946. At this time the property was widely known as Megrue’s Woods where huge summer picnics were sponsored by the Bright Horse Detective Associa- tion and later the Bright Star Council #49 Junior Order of United American Mechanics were held. It included a stage for entertainment programs by local magicians, perfor- mances by Dearborn Rhythm Kings Orchestra and Tiffin Orphanage for Boys Band, space for buggy races, sack races and whistling contests along with a shelter house for food purchases and an area for displays by local business owners such as cars by Bright Motor Car Com- pany. Later known as Picnic Woods, the area had huge trees perfect for swings, name carving, and lots of relaxing shade. Through the years, the nearby Gibson Cemetery and Methodist Wesleyan Church obtained parcels of land from the farm. In 1967, Clyde and Leora sold the farm to their daughter, Ruth Ann, and her husband Ray Schlemmer, whose home (built in 1957) was already on the farm at the site of this restaurant. The property included a pond known as Megrue’s pond. The Schlemmer’s reconstructed the pond and later it became a gathering point for the community during winter for ice skating parties and huge bonfires with hot chocolate and coffee simmered in an- tique coffee pots. In warmer weather, area churches used the pond for baptism services. In the booming economy of the 1980s, Bright was quickly becoming a sought-after housing area for people from nearby Cincinnati. Jerry and Joellen Tucker purchased land from the Schlemmers, which became the subdivision now known as Picnic Woods. The streets in the subdivision are family names - Bateman, Megrue, Schlemmer, Renck. Picnic Woods was the first subdivision in the Bright area to be served by sewer, LMH Utilities, which later ex- panded to serve a much larger area. The last 13 acres of the original farm continued to be held in ownership by the Sch- lemmers. It was later platted and developed as Siefferman Estates. Today it is one street, Siefferman Court, and fam- ily members Ray and Ruth Schlemmer, their son Ron and wife Donna Schlemmer, and their daughter, Tonyia and husband Dan Cormican, along with Ray and Ruth’s granddaughter Lauren and her husband Eoghan Reade, own lots on the “family farm.” 6. Antifreeze poisoning is a threat. Even a very small amount of antifreeze can be fatal to your pet. Antifreeze tastes sweet, but it is a deadly poison to pets (and children). Precautions are necessary with all antifreeze products. Read labels and warnings carefully. Thoroughly clean up spills at once. Keep containers tightly sealed and stored where pets and children cannot get to them. Check with your local auto parts store for new products that are pet and environmentally safe. If you think that your pet has ingested antifreeze, call your veterinarian immediately. 7. Have a wellness check done on your pet. Pets with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, may have more trouble regulating their body temperature. Cold weather may also worsen some problems, such as arthritis. Yearly wellness checks are highly recommended. If you have questions or concerns about your pet, especially during the winter months, please consult your veterinarian. Bright Veterinary Clinic 24505 Stateline Rd. Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 812-637-1345 Dearborn County Animal Clinic 44 Doughty Rd. Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 812-537-3545 www.brightvetclinic.com IF YOU LIKE THE BEACON…PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS, AND TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR ADS IN THE BEACON. THANK YOU!