Check it out!!! Sledding down Front Street in Buchanan!
January 27 and 28 Front Street in Buchanan will be closed from the top of the hill to Red Bud Trail during tubing 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Snow will be packed down to create a toboggan run and barriers created with hay bales and snow.
The Moose Lodge will serve as a warming station, offering food and hot chocolate, and the Buchanan Fire Department will be holding a fundraiser lunch as well.
Marx said he is hoping people will make a day of it and visit downtown restaurants and businesses.
Bracelets can be purchased for $3 for unlimited tubing Saturday down the hill and onto Front Street — an 850-foot run. A shorter run for children will also be available.
**Only tubes purchased by the city will allowed on the hill.
http://www.cityofbuchanan.com/site/1/docs/thrill%20on%20the%20hill.pdf
LaPorte County Historical Society Museum
LaPorte County Historical Society Museum will reopen on at 10 a.m. Tuesday, the 27th, the regular opening time.
The same will be true on New Year’s Eve on Saturday. The museum again will close its doors at 2 p.m. and reopen at 10 a.m. Jan. 3.
The current exhibit, “Songs of the Holiday Season” and the Giese Church, will be on display until the middle of January. The church is celebrating its 65th season of bringing Christmas cheer to the residents of LaPorte.
The museum, at 2405 Indiana Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call ahead for admission prices at (219)324-6767, or visit the website at www.laportecountyhistory.org.
LaPorte is approximately 38 miles from Niles.
Fine Arts Inc. – Winter Classes
Fire Arts is a not for profit organization dedicated to the creation and appreciation of the three dimensional arts of sculpture, pottery, and jewelry.
We offer exhibitions, workshops, student summer programs, lectures, demonstrations, tours, and community events centered around 3-D art.
- Winter classes begin Jan. 7 at Fire Arts Inc., 305 E. Colfax Ave. in South Bend, IN.
- Subjects include ceramics, dichroic jewelry, beginning silversmithing, wax carving and casting, beginning and advanced wire wrap jewelry, basic precious metal clay, glass beads, individual stone sculpture workshops, sculpture: wax to bronze, clay tiles, copper enameling: small dish or bowl, functional and raku-fired ceramics, and a workshop on how to make a living as an artist.
- Sessions range from one day to 12 weeks. Costs range from $150 to $15, plus materials.
Skiing & Ice Skating
College Night
Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area
13421 Mann St. in Jones, MI
12/12/2011 – 3/30/2012
Approximately 30 miles from Niles
Show your current College ID at the ticket counter and get a lift ticket for $16, ski rental for $16 and snowboard rental for $16. Valid 3pm-10pm and all day Friday. For more information contact the office at (269)244-5635.
Home School Days
Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area
13421 Mann St. in Jones, MI
12/12/2011 – 3/30/2012
Approximately 30 miles from Niles
Special rates from 10am- 4pm all season long, excluding Presidents’ Day. $18 per person includes an all-area lift ticket and ski rental, good until 4pm. Snowboard rental is available for additional $10. For more information contact the office at (269 244-5635.
College Nights
07500 23 1/2 St. in Gobles, MI
12/12/11 – 03/30/12
41 miles from Niles
$14 lift and $14 ski rental with college ID. Valid from 6pm – 10pm. For more information contact (800)253-2928.
Homeschool Ski & Snowboard Days
07500 23 1/2 St. in Gobles, MI
1/01/12 – 02/29/12
41 miles from Niles
From 10am – 3pm, January through February. $18 skiing, $28 snowboarding. Check in with the coordinator between 9:30am – 10:30am. Blackout dates apply. Offered on Monday’s only (except MLK & President’s Day). For more information contact (800)253-2928.
The South Haven Ice Rink is located in downtown South Haven across from City Hall under the Pavilion.
11/24/11 – 03/06/12
40 miles from Niles
Open November 24. The South Haven Ice Rink offers family fun within a walking distance to all the stores and restaurants of downtown. Enjoy the beauty of a winter night while skating under the seasonal lighting. The Ice Rink has open skating hours almost every day throughout the winter. With a large pavilion over the top of the ice rink, weather conditions are rarely an issue. Day pass $3.50 all day, skate rental $3.50, curling $10 per person and skate sharpening $4.00. For more information, call (269)639-1113.
2414 Willa Dr. (Whittlesey Park) in St. Joseph, MI (269) 983-8795
23 miles from Niles.
The season opens at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day each year through mid-March. Because it is an outdoor facility, it is subject to the weather; unseasonably warm weather could affect the season. In hours when the facility is not available for open skating, it may be rented for private hockey games, parties, or other gatherings. May through October the facility may be rented for in-line skating. Season Passes and rentals may be purchased at the City Clerk’s office in City Hall or during Open Skate hours at the Howard Ice Arena office.
WE ONLY ACCEPT CASH OR CHECKS. NO CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDS PLEASE!
Daily admission is $ 5 with skate rentals $ 3 a pair. Two-for-one lunch hour skate, bring a friend and skate during your lunch hour, weekdays only.
1421 S. Walnut St. in South Bend, IN
18 miles from Niles.
Adults: $5, Students: $3, Skate Rentals: $3 per pair
The Ice Box has two skating surfaces and provides year round access for skaters of all ages and skill levels. Contact the office at (574)288-3300.
Coming up in Niles and Buchanan
Holiday Homecoming in downtown Niles!
- Lighting of the tree located in downtown, carriage rides, caroling, entertainment and shopping!
- November 26th, Saturday, 4-7 pm.
White Saturday in downtown Buchanan!
- Downtown shopping event; Buchanan High School Culinary Class bake sale; some businesses will have open houses.
- November 26, Saturday, 9 am-7 pm.
- (269)695-3844
- Check out their Facebookpage!
Fall Jazz and Christmas Antiquing
Fall Jazz and Percussion Night
- November 18th (Friday) 7:30 pm
- Bethel College: Everest-Rohrer Auditorium
1001 Bethel Cir. Mishawaka, IN
(574)807-7575
Join us for an evening of musical entertainment that the whole family will enjoy. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Bethel College Department of Music at (574)257-3393.
www.bethelcollege.edu/news/2011/jazz-and-percussion-ensembles-to-present-free-concert.html
21st Annual Christmas Open House
- November 19th & 20th (Saturday & Sunday) 10 am-5 pm
- Unique Antique Mall
50981 US 933 North, South Bend, IN
(574)271-1799
Join us for refreshments and special sales.
When Can We Use the Camp?
This was one of my biggest questions when we moved here. Here are the rules, straight from the Camp Staff:
During Summer Family Camp (June & July):
Waterfront:
* The beach, including the water slide and canoes, will still be available Saturday through Monday-anytime.
Services:
* We can accommodate a few adults in the chapel services. Space is limited, so please email Bill Harvey (bharvey “@” lifeaction.org) or call the camp office to see if there is room for you to attend.
* HOWEVER, we do not have any room for children in the clubs or nursery. Depending on the week, the children’s clubs are maxed out.
Meals/Snacks
* We cannot add anyone to the meal or snack times.
We understand that there are times when you wish to visit friends or ministry partners while they are here. We realize that there are extenuating circumstances. Please feel free to talk to Bill Harvey (bharvey “@” lifeaction.org)
Thank you for your understanding. As always, if you have any questions, please contact The Camp leadership (Mike & Jimmy). They will be glad to talk with you about this.
Non-Family Camp Season (August – May):
Use of the Camp amenities for all times other than Summer Family Camp, please contact Bill Harvey (bharvey “@” lifeaction.org) or call the office (269)695.2191. As always, if you have any questions, please contact The Camp leadership (Mike & Jimmy). They will be glad to talk with you about this.
Have a Great Day!
Need to Know the Facts?
When we first moved to this area a few months ago, we were clueless. You don’t realize how much is familiar at home until you are not there, and you realize there are many things you took for granted, like, where to grocery shop, where is the best pharmacy, and what is available in the area for fun? I am still learning “the ropes”, and I am hoping to help anyone along who is also new to the area.
So, I guess the first thing that comes to mind is, what is there to do here for fun in the summer?
There are tons of things to do in our area in the summer!
Every Friday night, behind the Wonderland theater in Niles, movies are shown on the back of the building. It is a beautiful setting with the park on the St. Joseph River for the kids to play and a big lawn to set up your chairs or blankets. We have enjoyed going early, setting up our “spot” to picnic, and watching the kids play until it is time for the movie to start. You can get the schedule for these movies, as well as learn about the Summer Concert series and other fun things happening, on the Niles community calendar.
Also, check out the links to other local cities to see what fun things are going on there:
St. Joseph (Silver Beach is our FAVORITE, but more about that later!)
South Bend, IN, home of Notre Dame
There will be much more to come in the coming weeks. I will talk about local attractions, my favorite spots to shop and get great deals, and homeschool helps. There is so much I still have to learn, and I will take you on the journey with me! If you are new to the area and have questions, please feel free to contact me at JNJBryant “@” att.net. (You will have to remove the quotation marks). If you have been here a hundred years and there are things you know of that need to be shared, please let me know that, too.
Have a Blessed Day!
Jeannie
Just the Facts Intro
- Around the town events, picking fruit, festivals, etc.
- Staff pictures, job titles, interviews, names with children and the year they were born
- Churches
- Schooling
- Camp, guidelines
- NMC
- Prayer/praise – IT dept. you can sign up for
Practically Helpful 
