Candidate for Governor has Greentown Connection
Greentown may seem like a small town to some, but for young John Gregg, it was considerably larger than his hometown, Sandborn, Indiana. Sandborn is in Knox County and had 547 residents in the 1960 census. By comparison, Greentown had 1,266 residents in 1960.
During the summer and on other occasions John would accompany his mother and brothers, and occasionally their father, to Greentown to visit “Aunt Mabe.” Aunt Mabe was Maybelle Mahon, his great-aunt on his mother’s side. Maybelle and her husband Ben lived on West Walnut Street in the home now owned and occupied by Joe and June Mason. John remembers that the neighbors on that block were Ross and Faith Wyrick and Don and Deloris Maple.
The Mahons were active in the community. Maybelle was a teacher in Eastern Elementary School in 3rd grade and then in the 2nd grade. She taught a Sunday School class at the Methodist Church and was a member of a church circle. She also was in the Research Club and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She often opened her home for meetings. Ben was a partner in the Kahl and Mahon Construction Company, bridge contractors. He served on the Greentown Town Board 1964-1968 and was a director of the Greentown Lions Club. The Mahons passed away in 1972 and 1973 and are buried in the Sandborn Cemetery. With the Mahons gone, there were few visits to Greentown; however, John’s mother kept in touch with a special Greentown friend, Vetta Pickett, as long as Vetta lived
John says his annual visits to Greentown began in infancy and continued until he was about 20 years old. The visits were usually one week in length until the boys’ summer jobs dictated shorter trips. They always planned the visits to coincide with the county fair, which John remembers as being “a great fair.” While in town, he would get his hair cut at a local barber shop and remembers it cost 75 cents. He was impressed with Mast Furniture Store. He is well aware of Greentown glass and one of his brothers is a collector. The family would attend church services at the Greentown Methodist Church. As was the custom, Aunt Mabe would ask her visitors to stand and be introduced and she would brag on each. Typical of a teenager, John found this embarrassing.
One special trip the Greggs made to Greentown was to check on the Mahons after the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado. John remembers that it was a couple days before the roads were cleared and they were allowed into town. John continued his visits to Aunt Mabe even when he was a college student, first at Vincennes University and then IU Bloomington. He would often travel to Greentown during Christmas break.
A current Greentown area resident also has a connection with the Gregg family. Local dentist, Bill Begeman, also grew up in Sandborn. His mother taught the young John Gregg in school and was a friend of John’s mother. John later became the family attorney to the Begemans.
John Gregg is running for the position of Governor of Indiana.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Not Your Father's School Lunch
Jody Alexander cuts bread while using the new safety glove.
With the start of the 2012-2013 school year, both Eastern school cafeterias saw some changes. Prompted by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and the first set of major changes in school meals initiated by the USDA in 15 years, the goal is to raise a healthier generation of children. Although its ranking has improved in recent years,
Indiana currently has the unenviable position of 21st in the nation in overall prevalence of children who are overweight or obese. The health ramifications of obesity have been well documented, with greater risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. This leads to more medical costs, absenteeism and loss of productivity.
The new guidelines emphasize calorie control while providing a well-balanced menu. A comparison of the former guidelines and the new ones quickly shows this is not your father’s school lunch. More fruits and vegetables with weekly requirements of vegetable subgroups, more whole grains, and no trans fats now
predominate. Changes the children immediately noticed are more choices, two entrees each day and a salad containing a meat. While students can no longer ask for seconds of the entrees, they can have as much as they like of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eastern School Corporation hired Sodexo, Inc. to help them meet the new standards. This followed several months of study and visitation to schools by a committee chaired by Assistant Principal, Lindsey Brown, school board members, and the cafeteria managers, Cheryl Cain at the high school, and Linda Hamilton at the elementary school. Sodexo can get better prices because of their large purchasing power but the cafeteria managers still order the food from the same suppliers they have been using. Sodexo employs a part time director, Beverly Goza-Holmes, who helps keep track of inventory, plans the menus, and does training including new food safety and personnel safety procedures. (One obvious safety measure is the wearing of a bright orange glove on the opposite hand when using a knife.) Sodexo is paid by the school on a fee- per-tray basis and the company guarantees a profit for the school. Mrs. Brown emphasized that the cafeteria is not a money making source. Any profit, however, might be used to increase salaries and benefits or might be transferred to the General Fund to offset utilities assumed used by the cafeteria.
Visitors to the cafeterias will immediately notice the brighter colors of the walls, the graphics of healthy food items, and some new equipment. One particularly popular piece of equipment is the pizza warmer at the high school. Visitors will also notice the uniforms of the cafeteria workers. They all now wear black slacks, white polo shirts with the school logo, and green aprons.
Mrs. Brown emphasized that the change is not a reflection of the Eastern cafeteria workers. She said they were experts in what they did but now have a partner to help them be even more safe and efficient. The school corporation has also guaranteed that Eastern cafeteria employees are secure in their jobs as long as they wish.
Feedback from the students has been positive. Danielle Reed, Sophomore, says, "I like (the new lunches) because I eat healthy anyways. My favorite part is the deli bar because you have more options. Certain options are there everyday!" Sarah Sharp, Sophomore, comments, "I like the school lunch this year because it's food I eat at home, but a lot healthier." She gave an example of the school pizza being tasty but having a whole grain crust unlike typical takeout pizza. Stephanie Millspaugh, 8th grader, stated, "We have so many more choices now!" Ricky Sample-Ward, a 5th Grader, reports his reaction to the changes in the Elementary lunch service “It's better now because we can choose the food we want instead of having something on our tray that we won't eat. I always like my lunch this year because it's fun and there's good food.”
When former students gather at reunions, the topic of conversations about memories might include teachers, sports, clothing, cars, and pranks. But seldom do they reminisce about the food in the cafeteria. This may be because they took it for granted or because they had other things on their minds while in line and eating. We asked some alumni to share information about their school lunch experiences:
Kent McQuiston, EHS class of 1961, ate in the cafeteria 4 days a week for 25 cents a day. One day a week his dad would give him an extra dime and he would go uptown to the Hamburger Inn, where he could get a hamburger and fries for 35 cents. A couple years he washed dishes at school for an hour and got his lunch free. He didn’t like spinach or harvard beets. Mrs. Doty, who was in charge of the cafeteria in grade school decided one day he was going to eat his spinach. He said he didn’t eat spinach at home and wasn’t going to eat it at school. He finally won and she let him leave.
Neal Wilson, class of 1956, ate at the cafeteria most of the time for 25 cents. He remembers it was really good and seemed home cooked. He says, “There was a "hot open beef" sandwich dish that I have never been able to duplicate and it was the tops. The ladies (cooks) were friendly, kind and nurturing. I have been convinced over the years that good food depends on the artist at the stove - those ladies in my elementary years were quite good. In high school, I, as did many classmates, relished flying out the door, running hard through the gravel parking lot, up town to the Comet Grill for a Hot Dog, French Fries and Soda all for 20 cents with a nickel left over for a candy bar. I know that nutritionists everywhere will cringe at that meal. However, it was that release of pent up energy and challenge of racing Merrill Shock to the grill that made it more than worthwhile. It wasn't just lunch, it was an adventure.” When he carried his lunch from home it was wrapped in newspaper, tied with a string. Sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper.
Sally Duke, class of 1982, remembers that in elementary the lunch lady would give you an extra bread & butter or peanut butter sandwich if you ate everything on your plate. “If there was something I did not like, I would stuff it inside my empty chocolate milk carton so I could still get the extra sandwich.” She liked the pizza burgers, the chicken & noodles, and the creamed rice. She also liked the fish sticks they served every Friday. By the 1980's a grade A lunch cost 55 cents and came with white or chocolate milk.
Sally Nicholson, student at Jackson, Union, and Eastern, and then teacher at Eastern, especially liked chicken and noodles and mashed potatoes as a child. As a teacher, she appreciated the salad bar with the variety of fresh vegetables and fruits.
It will be interesting to hear what memories today’s students have of their cafeteria experiences when they meet at reunions 20-30 years from now.
Bandstand Repeats at State Fair
Quartet members, Justin Colwell, Quinn Connolly, Logan Colwell, and Josh Evenson
The “Bandstand” barbershop quartet took top honors in the Indiana State Fair Youth Talent Competition Vocal and Instrumental Contest for the second year in a row. This year’s competition included a total of 60 acts divided among the categories of Female Vocal Solo, Male Vocal Solo, Instrumental Solo, Instrumental Group and Vocal Groups. Bandstand placed first in the Vocal Group category and was then chosen over the winners in the other 4 categories as the overall best act.
This year saw the return of founding member and bass singer Quinn Connolly to the group. Quinn, the son of Joe and Leslie Connolly, was not available for the contest last summer. Last year’s bass singer, Josh Evenson, son of Phil and Stacy Evenson, moved into the role of baritone. The quartet was completed by founding member and lead, Justin Colwell, and tenor, Logan Colwell, the sons of Bill and Jill Colwell.
The quartet competed this year with “Sold”, a fast-paced country tune that Justin and Quinn learned while attending the Harmony Explosion Camp on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University in June; the camp was presented by the Cardinal District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. On their road to the state fair, the group received coaching from Phil Griggs, a member of “Rip Chord” quartet and the Kokomo Men of Note.
Due to an unfortunate scheduling conflict, “Bandstand” will be not be performing at Music at the Fountain on Sept. 13. Another local quartet, “Dime Store Four” will be performing.
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