Perry’s Country Store has moved from the Turtle Town Plaza just north of Churubusco to a site on the north side of town, near the Gun and Conservation Club, on U.S. 33. It was the former site of Orizon Real Estate.

Perry’s specializes in silk screening and embroidery and custom shirts, as well as tack, feed and pet supplies and pet food.

Scott and Teresa Perry own the store which is managed and operated by their children, Deanna and Bryan.

The store is located at 3530N. U.S. 33 and open six days a week.

Call the store at 693-0084 for more information.

Bryan, Teresa and Deanna Perry.

Deanna Perry rearranges a display rack at Perry\'s Country Store.

Perry\'s Country Store

Over the years, Michelle and Bob Tartaglia have come to know the community they  live and work in. They know the people. And, they know the needs of the people. And they know, especially in tough times, people are always looking for a bargain.

As a result, they established a successful business over a decade ago - the Bargain House on Main Street - where they sell

Michelle Tartaglia takes a break from working in the upstairs Bargain House to show off the new Bargain Basement, which features quality, used furniture.

Now, they have opened the Bargain Basement - which features quality used furniture at bargain prices. The Bargain Basement is located downstairs from the Bargain House with a separate outside entrance at 120 North Main Street.

“We thought there was a real need for this type of business,” Michelle Tartaglia said. “With the economy and all, it just seemed like a good idea.”

And the Tartaglias were right.

By the end of their first official day of business, much of the Bargain Basement stock was marked “sold.”

Both stores are open Monday-Friday from 9-6 and Saturday from 9-4, and  major credit cards are accepted.

Call the Bargain House and Bargain Basement at 693-2129 for more information.

Story and photos by Viv Sade

After reading the title of this article, you’re probably asking yourself “Why would the website manager of this site say such a thing?” I say that because it’s true, a website isn’t the end all solution to marketing and selling your business.

Probably 5 or 10 years ago a website was a luxury or novelty item to have, but in today’s market it’s almost a must. Reports suggest that more and more people are placing a value on a business based on the fact that a.) they have a website and b.) it provides them with the information they seek.

To keep it as simple as possible, think of building a website like you were building a house. Is it better to buy a low-cost template based site and run the risk of looking like anyone else who buys the same template? Similar to those housing additions that sprout up in a field and if you look down the street every other one looks nearly identical?

Or is it better to build your website (house) from the ground up and have it exactly the way you want from the start? Will you have the budget to build a custom made site and can the designer deliver all of your expectations within that budget and quite possibly your time line?

Your website needs to have a good color scheme that matches your company identity, it needs to have an easy-to-follow and consistent navigation system, it needs to have a purpose such as selling, entertaining or informing and most importantly have good quality content.

One part of that content would be the images and graphics that make up the structure of your site. If it contains boring images or none at all, will they even take the time to look further or will they move on to the next competitor? You really need to view the aesthetics of your site much in the same way you would view a sales person. If a guy leaps out at you from behind a dumpster in a dark alley and wants to sell you a Rolex, would you buy from him or the well dressed sales person in a classy retail environment?

Right about now you might be questioning why you need all of this, because you just read an article on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and know that 90% of all Internet users find the information they’re looking for via search engines such as Google or Yahoo. The article might instruct you to get some good keywords, get a title that is very descriptive, submit it to the top search engines and maybe ask for a link or two to your site. It is possible to increase your traffic with these tactics to a certain degree, but it can take weeks or even months to truly see these results. And even if you do see traffic increases are they also turning into more sales or inquiries?

As you can see a website is more than just a place where your business name and logo resides, it is a fully functional marketing tool that offers greater potential to sell your business than any other medium in history. But you will need to work at it and not just let it sit there, because just having it isn’t everything.

Jim Horne, owner of Parker Insurance, recently announced that he has purchased Bonar Insurance agency from David Bonar, who has retired.

Horne is owner and manager of the plaza south of Churubusco at 3985 N. U.S. 33 which houses not only Horne’s insurance agency, but several other individual businesses, including Subway, Gonink Design & Print and Hit the Floor Dance Studio.

Jim Horne

Horne has moved the Bonar office from its old home at 203 Main Street to his southside agency, and that move included Dee Dee McCoy, who was the office manager at Bonar Insurance.

Horne is a familiar face around Churubusco, having served as a Smith Twp. volunteer firefighter for 32 years.

He was a member of the Churubusco Town Council for five years from 1988-1993 and worked as superintendent of the town’s wastewater treatment plant for nine years during that same time. During Horne’s tenure, the wastewater treatment plant was recognized by the state for quality control and excellence in operation.

Horne also formed his own company, Horne And Associates Fire and Rescue, Inc., where he sold fire/rescue equipment for 13 years. After that he worked for the Allstate Insurance regional office in Dearborn, Mich. There, Horne was in charge of property inspections for northeast Indiana and part of southern Michigan.

Horne was forced to look for a new career when  he was diagnosed with severe heart problems. He has had two pacemakers installed in his chest and two heart ablation surgeries.

Since his most recent surgery just a few weeks ago - to install a new pacemaker - Horne said he feels a lot better.

“I feel really great and my heart doesn’t seem to race or skip or get out of whack like it used to,” he said.

Former site of Bonar Insurance

In August 1998 Horne graduated from Indiana Wesleyan with a degree in business. In 1999, Horne bought Parker Insurance from Marilyn Parker, who was retiring.

“It started as a smart remark,” Horne said. “Marilyn - who was good friends with my mom - said she would like to sell the business and retire. I jumped in and said, ‘I’ll buy it!’”

He operated Parker Insurance out of the old site at the corner of Tulley and Main streets, until June 2005 when he moved the business to its present site.

Parker Insurance

Other than the office move, Horne said Bonar Insurance will remain unchanged for the time being.

Horne and his wife, Mary Jo, are longtime Churubusco residents and have two grown children and two grandchildren.

Horne has been very active in the Churubusco Chamber of Commerce and is currently serving as president. He is a member of the Churubusco Rotary and has served as an officer in the past. He was supposed to be vice president of the Rotary this year, but health reasons forced him to step down.

This year Horne was the Churubusco coordinator for the United Way of Whitley County, where he serves on the board of directors.

His agency handles insurance “of every kind,” he said, and is open Monday-Friday, 8-5. Horne said he will meet with clients by appointment on weekends and nights and the agency has a 24-7 claim service.

In photo, from left, the office staff of Parker and Bonar Insurance, Kharissa Herendeen, Jacinda Winebrenner and Dee Dee McCoy.

Photos by Chris Tomlinson and Viv Sade

Story by Viv Sade

A 15-year-old Columbia City business announced Monday that they’d sold their assets to a Fort Wayne-based company.

Rick Williams, owner of Quality Inspection & Gage, announced the sale of the business assets, including the building located in the Blue River industrial park off East Van Buren Street, to Accutech Mold & Machine, Inc.

Accutech Mold & Machine, Inc., which currently owns two companies in the mold and production market, has taken ownership of the company as of October 1. Accutech Mold & Machine, Inc. is owned by Darrin and Kelly Geiger.

For more on this story go to our Whitley Web News partner, talkofthetownwc.com …

Story and photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano for Talkofthetown.com

Cuno Incorporated, a 3M Company, has announced that it will close its Churubusco facility, located at 12628 U.S. 33.

The company plans to relocate equipment to their Enfield, Conn., headquarters and to close the Churubusco plant by the end of the year, according to 3M public affairs representative Dave Wefring.

A Dun and Bradstreet profile on the company earlier this year listed annual sales at $5.1 million and the number of employees at 58, but Wefring said he was aware of only 23 employees currently working at the plant, down from 38 total.

“The Dun and Bradstreet number must be old,” Wefring said.

The Churubusco plant underwent restructuring in Nov., 2007, and 15 people lost their jobs at that time, Wefring said. Of the 23 left at the plant, five are salaried and the rest are hourly, he added.

The slower growth within the company is forcing 3M to consolidate, according to Wefring.

The company markets filtration products in the healthcare, industrial and drinking water markets, and operates a total of eight facilities in the United States, Brazil, Japan and Australia and has sales offices throughout the world.

Earlier this year the Churubusco plant closed the administrative offices and a sign on the locked front door now directs customers to an 800 number.

Twenty-three fulltime employees are currently working in customer service. According to employee Barb Davis, the employees are working four 10-hour days with a three-day weekend.

These employees have been informed of the company’s decision and are being offered outplacement assistance and severance packages, according to Alan Tio, director of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation.

Tio also asked WorkOne Northeast to plan a “rapid response” session for all affected employees, which is scheduled for the week of Oct. 13. The sessions will help educate displaced CUNO employees about no cost training and workforce development assistance, Tio said.

Wefring said the company is still looking at options as far as offering severence programs and/or transfers. “I think you will probably see a variety of actions,” he said. 

Cuno started in 1956 as Chemical Engineering Corporation.

Cuno’s closing comes on the heels of an announcement a few weeks ago that Autoliv North America is planning to close the doors on its Columbia City plant - resulting in a loss of more than 380 jobs.

The company, which manufactures airbag products for the automotive industry, opened in Columbia City in 1998. The local plant originally made steering wheels. Beginning in November, the airbag manufacturing process will be moved to Autoliv’s plant in Utah. They plan to complete the process by the fourth quarter of 2009.

Photos and story by Viv Sade

Running through straw mazes, carving pumpkins, gathering around a bonfire, jumping in piles of gloriously-colored leaves, bobbing for apples … where better to be than Indiana for a festive fall season?

For the fifth year, Christa Egolf  has handed out some of that Hoosier country fun by hosting a pumpkin patch and fall fest weekend at her pumpkin and gourd patch and parttime business, The Milking Parlor, just north of Churubusco.

Christa Egolf in her country shop, The Milking Parlor. Egolf makes many of the handcrafted country decor items and also stocks a variety of antiques.

Christa and her husband, Chad, and their children live at 758 East U.S. 33-57, Churubusco. The pumpkin and gourd market as well as the Milking Parlor gift shop are all located on their property near their house.

During the weekend event, Egolf offered a straw maze and games for children  and a large selection of pumpkins, gourds and fall harvest items for sale.

Egolf has converted a shed into The Milking Parlor - a retail shop with a variety of handcrafted items, quilts, antiques and country decor. The shop is seasonal, Egolf said.

Egolf will be selling the pumpkins, gourds and fall harvest and decorative items every weekend throughout October and the first week of November.

For specific hours of The Milking Parlor or for more information on the pumpkin patch, call Egolf at 693-3684.

A straw maze kept the kids busy during the weekend pumpkin patch events.

Christal and Toby Steele, owners of Sun Quest Tanning in Turtle Town Plaza since 2006, have remodeled and expanded their business. Stop in today to see the new look of Sun Quest Tanning and what they have to offer.

Sun Quest Tanning\'s new designer floor

Sun Quest new waiting area

Owners Christal and Toby Steele have added three bronzing beds and coming soon a full spray tan services, in addition to their five regular tanning beds.

Mega Tanning Bed

One of the new beds includes a Mega Bronzing bed - a 12-minute bed with 48 bronzing bulbs, four facial tanners, shoulder tanner, and a side tanner. Individual sessions are $9 but discount packages are available.

Super Tanning Bed

The Bronzing beds give clients quicker, but longer-lasting tans, according to the Steeles.

Another addition to the tanning beds Sun Quest will be offer Spray Tan, coming soon. For those that do not want to be exposed to sun rays or a tanning bed to get a sun-kissed look, Sun Quest is now offering Spray Tan. Get an instant, even tan without laying out in the sun or spending time tanning in a bed. Individual sessions are $25 but discount packages are available.

Hours are: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Sundays.

For more information call Sun Quest Tanning at 693-1433. They are located at Suite F, 8475 E. U.S. 33, Churubusco in Turtle Town Plaza.

A three-member panel of the Churubusco Planning Commission Review Board Thursday approved unanimously the construction of a new hardware and lumber store in Churubusco.

Owner of the store, J.R. Ford, said there are still several business details to finalize before he can break ground. The new store - Eagle Lumber & Hardware or Eagle Do It Best - will be located in close proximity to the site of the old Churubusco Woodworking Company, owned by J.R. Ford’s father, the late John Ford. The site, on U.S. 33 just south of Churubusco, currently also houses a Dollar General store.

Ford said his new store will be located just behind the old satellite television storefront, to the north of Dollar General.

If he gets state approval this week, construction could be completed and the store could open its doors by January 1, 2009, Ford said.

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 18, 2008) - Fifty companies from 19 Indiana counties have earned a place in Indiana’s inaugural field of “Companies to Watch,” including Columbia City-, Fort Wayne- and Angola-based companies. 

Micropulse Inc., a supplier of medical devices in Columbia City, eXcellon Technologies Inc., an electronics engineering firm out of Fort Wayne and Univertical Corp., manufacturer of metal-plating chemicals in Angola were all named in the “companies to watch.”

The accolade, presented by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, its Small Business Development Centers network, Purdue University and the Edward Lowe Foundation, recognizes the state’s top privately held businesses that employ up to 150 employees and have between $750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue or working capital.

“There is no better story to tell than that of a homegrown Hoosier company that continues to grow and create new jobs,” said Governor Mitch Daniels. “We’re committed to creating the best business environment we can so these 50 Companies to Watch and all the businesses across our state continue to succeed in today’s global economy.”

The 50 “Companies to Watch,” which were named after evaluating the more the 420 nominations for the awards, represent industries ranging from steel makers to software developers and laboratories to logistics firms.

Nearly 3,800 mid-sized companies with between $5 million and $100 million in annual sales operate in Indiana, according to a recent Indiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation study. Those companies employed more than 386,000 workers and produced more than $55 billion in annual sales.

Sponsored in part by KeyBank, Barnes & Thornburg LLP and Katz, Sapper & Miller, the “Companies to Watch” awards program is an initiative developed by the Cassopolis, Mich.-based Edward Lowe Foundation. The foundation hosts similar programs in Michigan and Arizona.

The 50 “Companies to Watch” will be honored at an Aug. 27 ceremony at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. Tickets for the ceremony and dinner are still available and may be purchased online at http://www.indianactw.eventbrite.com or by calling 888-472-3244.

Complete List of Companies to Watch Winners:

AIT Laboratories
Testing laboratory
Indianapolis

ANGEL Learning Inc.
Education software
Indianapolis

Backhaul Direct LLC
Freight transportation logistics
Indianapolis

ChaCha
Mobile answers service
Carmel

CIM Technology Solutions
Telecommunications integration
Columbus

Compendium Software LLC
Blog search engine
Indianapolis

Cook Biotech Inc.
Biotechnology R&D
West Lafayette

Custom Mechanical Systems Corp.
General contractor
Bargersville

Daman Products Co. Inc.
Hydraulic valve machinery
Mishawaka

DyKnow LLC
Educational software
Indianapolis

Elona Biotechnologies Inc.
Biotechnology R&D
Greenwood

Endocyte Inc.
Biotechnology R&D
West Lafayette

Exacq Technologies Inc.
Video surveillance software
Indianapolis

ExaroMed Inc.
Life sciences marketing
Carmel

eXcellon Technologies Inc.
Electronics engineering
Fort Wayne

Falk-PLI Engineering & Surveying
Industrial engineering
Portage

Hamilton Exhibits LLC
Event displays and marketing
Indianapolis

Helmer Inc.
Laboratory equipment
Noblesville

Indianapolis Jet Center
Aircraft servicing
Indianapolis

Information in Place Inc.
Training software
Bloomington

Intercambio Express Inc.
Financial services
Goshen

JFNew & Associates
Ecological consulting
Walkerton

Kountry Wood Products LLC
Cabinetry construction
Nappanee

Langham Logistics Inc.
Supply-chain management
Indianapolis

Lenex Steel Co.
Steel construction materials
Indianapolis

LGC Associates LLC
Staffing services
Carmel

MainGate Inc.
Sports merchandising, marketing
Indianapolis

Micropulse Inc.
Medical devices
Columbia City

Midwest Toxicology Services Inc.
Testing laboratory
Indianapolis

Midwest Tube Mills Inc.
Steel tubing products
Madison

Mursix Corp.
Metal-stamping machinery
Muncie

Next Wave Systems LLC
Defense system R&D
Pekin

NTsupply.com
Online building products
Indianapolis

Officescape Inc.
Business service center
Indianapolis

Orthodynamics Co. Inc.
Medical device brokerage
Noblesville

Oxygen Education LLC
Training software
Indianapolis

POLARIS Laboratories LLC
Testing laboratory
Indianapolis

Premiere Credit of North America LLC
Financial services
Indianapolis

ProCure Treatment Centers
Cancer treatment center
Bloomington

Professional Consultants Inc.
Engineering services
Evansville

Quadraspec Inc.
Laboratory equipment
West Lafayette

Reel Time Logistics Inc.
Freight transportation logistics
Terre Haute

Sensory Technologies
Telecommunications integration
Indianapolis

Simulex Inc.
Simulation software
West Lafayette

The South Bend Chocolate Co.
Chocolates and confectionaries
South Bend

T2 Systems Inc.
Parking management software
Indianapolis

Univertical Corp.
Metal-plating chemicals
Angola

VMS
Event planning, interactive media
Indianapolis

Warm Glow Candle Co.
Candle making and sales
Centerville

Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems
Defense system R&D
Anderson

Article contributed

Whitley County’s economic development director Alan Tio addressed a group of local business leaders Tuesday at the Columbia City Rotary meeting, drawing a positive picture of growth in the county.

“Community leaders are working together to support economic development,” Tio said. “We try to work very hard to support business growth in all areas of the county.” For more on this story, go to our news partner, talkofthetownwc.com.

(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) At top and bottom, Columbia City Rotarians listen intently to Whitley County Economic Development Director Alan Tio as he explains the importance of economic development in Whitley County’s future. Below, Tio shares some of his goals and recent successes of the EDC.

Shane Logan has been named as the new branch manager of Cleary Building Corp. at 530 N. Main St., Churubusco.

Logan and his staff hosted the company’s annual open house this weekend. The event is held every August, said Rachel Salemink, administrative assistant. The company also holds a customer appreciation days event in March, Salemink said.

The company designs, manufactures, delivers and constructs commercial , equine, farm, surburban and residential pre-engineered structures. For more information go to www.clearybuilding.com.

Shown in front of the Main Street business are, from left, Greg Hodges, regional manager, Shane Logan, Churubusco branch manager and Rachel Salemink, administrative assistant.

Photo by Buscovoice.com

Hit the Floor Dance Studio, owned by Jeff and Amber Upton of Churubusco, will open its doors this week.

The studio is located on the south end of Churubusco at 3985 North U.S. 33, Suite 106, behind the Subway restaurant.

The Uptons have rounded up a group of very talented dance instructors and plan to offer a wide variety of classes for all ages.

Upton has been dancing for over 20 years - beginning at age 5 in Colorado Springs, Colo. - and has competed in several competitions. She auditioned for well-known conventions such as the American Modeling Talent convention and made it to the finals as a dancer for Kings Island as a teen. She’s worked with several prominent choreographers who themselves have instructed people like pop singer Britney Spears.

A vast amount of experience would be an understatement, Upton said, when referring to the team she has gathered as instructors. Between the entire group of instructors and herself, there is over 50 years worth of experience in the studio, Upton said.

Stephanie Voss, one of the featured instructors, was named the 1999 Dancer of The Year. Jeff Upton was a dancer with a well-known break dancing group out of Ft. Wayne. Three other instructors - Stacy, Jenna and Jennifer - have a total of 48 years experience between the three of them.

The business features two studios with floating floors, wall-to-wall mirrors and adjustable ballet barres.

Fall classes begin Sept. 2. Hit The Floor is currently offering registration for the following classes:

• Pre-Combo • Combo • Tap • Ballet
• Jazz • Lyrical • Cheerleading • Hip Hop
• Tumbling • All boys Hip Hop

All classes are held in the evenings.

They plan to offer aerobics and yoga classes for adults in the very near future.

Age groups range from 18 months for tumbling only, with dance classes starting at age three and on up to teenagers. “We are looking for interest in starting adult classes”, Upton said. “We have had a warm welcome from the community and we are very excited to start the year!”

For further information contact Upton at 740-8737 or visit the studio online at www.hitthefloordancestudio.com.

Two new instructors have joined the staff at Center Stage Dance Academy in Churubusco.

James Anderson will be teaching hip hop classes. Lindsey Helmer will be instructing voice lessons - a new service offered at the academy, according to dance instructor Alexandra “Alex” Husk.

Registration for both Anderson’s and Helmer’s classes will begin Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 5-8 p.m. at the studio, 104 West Washington Street. Classes begin Aug. 18.

Visit the Center Stage Dance Academy Web site at www.DancingatCenterStage.com or contact the studio at 693-1057 for more information.

Helmer

Anderson

The Bargain House in Churubusco is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Owners Bob and Michelle Tartaglia of rural Churubusco will host a series of anniversary events beginning with a 3-day anniversary sale this week.

Watch this Web site to see an in-depth feature in the very near future on how the Tartaglias started with a garage sale and now own a thriving business that draws people from across the Tri-state area to their Bargain House on Main Street in downtown Churubusco.  

(photo by Brian Graham) 

Michelle (pictured) and Bob Tartaglia are the owners of the Bargain House on Main Street in downtown Churubusco. It is hard to believe, Michelle Tartaglia said, but the Bargain House will celebrate its tenth year in business this month.

A business column by Daniel Lee in the Indianapolis News this morning credits C & A Tool Engineering with being one of two success stories in rural Indiana.

In the column, “Tech startup sees its future in rural town,” Lee quotes John Sullivan, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue University and director of its Center for Advanced Manufacturing, who said Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis and precision metal component maker C&A Tool Engineering in Churubusco are two of the many manufacturing success stories in Indiana.

To read more about the article click here

View the feature article about C & A Tool’s recent expansion to Auburn on this site under Business News.

CHURUBUSCO - It may not be part of your normal Monday morning commute, but a local commercial complex has added on and changed the way you drive and park when visiting the local businesses.

As of Monday July 14th, the complex where the Subway is (3900 block of U.S. 33) will have a single entrance and exit point. Patrons of the businesses are asked to enter on the north side (closest to Star Financial Bank) and then proceed around behind the building. Parking spaces will also be changed so that you’re facing to the east which will allow you to back up and proceed directly to the south exit drive.

Patrons are asked to enter into complex from north end shown here and proceed around the building

Horne would also like to point out that if your vehicle is over 7′ tall, don’t attempt the new route. “The wires in the back are just too low to allow any sort of delivery vehicles access back there”, he said.

CHURUBUSCO – Take me out to the ballgame.

The Churubusco Chamber of Commerce is busy gearing up for the Annual Picnic in the Park & Firefighters vs Merchants Softball Game Saturday, Aug. 23.

Chamber members met Thursday, July 10, for their regular monthly luncheon at La Senorita Afortunada on Main Street, and finalized some of the details of the August event.

John Schmidt rounds third as the Chamber took yet another trophy home in the decade long battle

The picnic and softball game features live entertainment hosted by the Churubusco Public Library, a cruise-in hosted by the Churubusco Lions Club and an entertaining and fun-filled ballgame between area merchants and members of the Churubusco Smith Twp. Fire Department. Chamber members will be grilling up free hot dogs for the hungry crowd.

The Chamber also will have commemorative 60^th anniversary Turtle Days T-shirts available for purchasing at the picnic.

Watch this Web site for future articles and a detailed schedule of events.

In other Chamber business:

The Chamber currently has three fundraisers, including two programs to raise money for local scholarships.

Collecting used cell phones

Area businesses are collecting used cell phones that will be purchased from recycling companies, with all monies raised going to the scholarship fund.

These window decals are for sale by the Chamber at local businesses

The Chamber – through area businesses – is also selling window stickers or decals of Oscar the Turtle that say “Churubusco, IN” for $5. Stop by Gonink (behind Subway), K&K Video, National City and Bonar Insurance and pick up your decal today.

Place an ad on Chamber Web site

To raise money for business improvement in and around Churubusco, Chamber members are hosting an advertising campaign on the Chamber Web site at www.churubuscochamber.org.

Businesses can place an advertisement for their business on the Web site with all proceeds going to the Chamber Scholarship Fund.

The Chamber meets on the second Thursday of the month at noon at a different location in Churubusco. For more information on the meetings or joining the Chamber, call Chamber president Jim Horne at Parker Insurance, 693-2229 or Chamber executive secretary, Dee McCoy at Bonar Insurance, 693-9810.

CHURUBUSCO - Hit the Floor Dance Studio will be opening the doors with an open house July 15, 16 and 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. At this time, the studio will be taking enrollment for its summer camps and fall classes. Available classes include tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical and hip hop for kids ages 3 and up.

Hit the Floor Dance Studio is located at 3985 North U.S. Highway 33 Suite 106 behind the Subway south of Churubusco.

For more information please call Owner, Amber Upton at (260) 740-8737 or visit the Web site at www.hitthefloordancestudio.com

CHURUBUSCO - The Magic Wand has added a new outside dining area, but you may have to share a seat. That’s because when owners Max and Judy Myers recently added the area, it was an instant success with summer visitors.

On any given night, motorists, walkers, bicyclists and motorcyclists by the dozens stop by and enjoy ice cream and other treats at the umbrella-covered patio tables in front of the window service area.

Max and Judy Myers have owned the Magic Wand since 1964. Judy’s sister, Nila Ferguson is the manager, and assistant managers are Denise Murphy and David Hill, Myers’ grandson.

It was her grandson’s idea to add the outside patio, Judy Myers said. “I can’t take credit for it,” she said. “It was David’s idea.”

Ferguson said they will soon be adding speakers and music to the outside area.

This group of softball players from Snider High School in Fort Wayne stopped by to enjoy some ice cream treats Tuesday evening, July 2. \

The new outside dining area of the Magic Wand restaurant is a popular spot.