Bristol Alumni committee members are pictured above, from left clockwise: James Teall, Treasurer; Dora B. Lyon, Rosina Carmien, Diane Erickson, Secretary; Janet Moyer, Lois Schmeling, Jim Wert, President; Edwin Sautter, Vice President; Jack Lyon, Dorothy Reber, Darlene VanWormer, Marilyn Miller, Diane Smith and Mary Winesburg. (Photo by Laurie Eads)

Members of the Bristol High School Alumni Association recently gathered to make plans for this year’s annual reunion.  The event will be held at the Elkhart County Historical Museum September 18.  Doors will open at 3:30 PM with a buffet dinner being served at 5 PM.  Entertainment will be provided by Shirk’s Piano and Organ Company.

The class of 1960 will be specially honored.  Addresses are still needed for class members, Robert Hartman, Alan Crume and Irvin Miller.  Please contact James Teall at 574-848-5507, with their contact information, if you are able to help.

Adrianna Riley is pictured above after being crowned as the 2010 Miss Bristol Teen. (Photo by Laurie Eads)

Senior Queen Harriet Edwards (left) stands with the 2010 Bristol Homecoming Queen, Toni Miller. (Photo by Laurie Eads)

Toni Miller was crowned Bristol’s 2010 Homecoming Queen. Miller will be a junior at Bethel College, where she is studying business marketing. She enjoys music, crafts, volunteering and helping at the Loftt music ministry at Bristol Church of the Nazarene. She was the 2009 Citizen of the Year for her community volunteerism.

Miller won Miss Queen Talent for performing a comedic monologue.  She also tied with Gracie Lyons for the Miss Community Service award. Miller received a full one-year scholarship to Ivy Tech Community College, $600 in Tiffany stock and several smaller prizes.

Lyons was chosen first runner-up, Miss Community Service and Miss Congeniality. Brittany Hollowell was chosen second runner-up and Miss Entrepreneur. Megan Ellis and Katy Ellis were tied for third runner-up.

Adrianna Riley was crowned as the Miss Bristol Teen. She is a freshman at Elkhart Central High School.

Katie Price was the first runner-up for Miss Bristol Teen. She also won Miss Teen Congeniality and Miss Teen Talent.
Harriet Edwards, sponsored by Russell Products, was crowned as the 2010 Senior Queen.

Kenny and Sandy Lingofelter were awarded as Bristol’s Citizens of the Year. The Lingofelters are active in helping ADEC, as well as other volunteer work they provide for the community. Kenny served on the Bristol Fire Department from 1965-1995. Sandy organizes events for the Moose Lodge and has been a member of the Tuesday Ladies group for 40 years. The Lingofelters also helped to organize the Bristol Community Garage Sale Aug. 12-14. They were the grand marshals in the Homecoming Parade.

The 2010 Lion’s Club Cutest Baby Contest was held during the Bristol Homecoming Festival. 1st place winner was Noah Muir pictured with his parents Nathan and Brittany Muir. (Photo provided)

The 2nd place winner was Kylie Moon with her parents John Moon and Kendra Alber and Lion President Michelle Hostetler is presenting her award. (Photo provided)

Pictured above, Tom and Chuck Feldman stand in front of the long rows of fireworks they set up to be set off at the 2010 Bristol Homecoming. Samples of this year’s fireworks are pictured at top left and inset above. (Photos by Laurie Eads)

Every year since 1971 Bristol residents Chuck and Helen Feldman and their son, Tom, have been involved in planning and carrying out the fireworks display at the Bristol Homecoming. Tom was only 12 years old when he started helping out with the preparations.

The Feldmans took over the fireworks show after Bud Hermance ended his many years of performing this service, even making his own fireworks. The annual display is now launched from Hermance Park, which is named in honor of Bud.
From 1971 to 1985 the Feldmans worked with Frank Perry of Princess Fireworks in Mishawaka in putting on the annual July presentation. Since 1988 they have teamed up with Mike Cartolano, president of Melrose Pyrotechnics, Inc. in Kingsbury, Indiana. (Website: www.melrosepyro.com.)

Tom says that Melrose is “an unbelievably great company,” which does 2,000 fireworks shows around the country each year. Working basically as contract employees of Melrose allows the Feldmans to be a part of the Homecoming fireworks without the hassles of licenses, permits, insurance, and other requirements that have come into being since they started almost 40 years ago.

Another thing that has changed is the manner of shooting off the fireworks. Instead of hands-on involvement in close proximity, the operators now use switches to ignite the fireworks electronically from 60 feet away. Several hours of loading and preparation are required for the 20-minute show.

In all their years of doing the Bristol fireworks, the Feldmans have only had one serious accident, when an explosion injured Bud’s leg, putting him in the hospital for three days. However, the next year he was right back on the job, not missing a Homecoming since then.

When not involved in their annual fireworks show, Chuck and Helen keep busy as owners and operators of Rainbo Lanes Bowling in Elkhart. Tom works for C & E Excavating. Tom has also helped Melrose Pyrotechnics with fireworks shows on New Year’s Day, and for the past nine years with the July 4 show at nearby Long Lake.

Both Chuck and Tom talk on occasion about retiring from their involvement with fireworks, but the allure and excitement keep drawing them back, just as their colorful shows do for so many spectators of all ages.

They believe that they are still on track for a September installation of the pirate ship. Bob Wojtysiak of the River Inn complimented Tom Russell and Kerry Smith of  the Bristol Business Council for the success of the raffle held for two sides of beef.

The winners, a Bristol resident who wishes to remain anonymous and Dave Michalak of Vandalia, MI.,  were awarded at the Bristol Homecoming Festival.    Donations are still encouraged and being accepted.   Contact Bob Wojtysiak at 848-7438 for more information.

At the July 15 meeting of the Bristol Town Council (BTC) Sandy Lingofelter reported on plans for a Bristol community yard sale to be held on August 12, 13, and 14. Any town resident is welcome to participate in this event.

Sandy and her husband, Kenny, who was also present at the meeting, were acknowledged by the BTC for their selection as citizens of the year at the 2010 Bristol Homecoming.

Town manager Bill Wuthrich reported that the new roof on the Congdon Park gazebo has been installed. He also noted that an individual inquired about leasing space at the town’s well field for storage. The BTC passed a motion declining to lease or rent this area for any purpose.

It was reported that Jeff Carmien has sought permission to repair asphalt on the parking lot and the cart paths at Raber Golf Course. He was asked to bring a quote for materials to the next work session.

Some discussion took place about establishing an ordinance violation bureau for the town. This will be pursued further at the next meeting.

Jack’s Feed Shack was selected as the recipient of the Bristol Beautification Award for this month.

The next regular meeting of the BTC will be held on Thursday, August 19, at 7:00 p.m. at the town hall.

Pictured left is Chris looking over the photos. Above is Marshal Mike Swallow, Chris’s granddaughter, Barbie (seated left) Chris, and Chris’s daughter, Donna. Donna traveled here from Florida and another daughter, Barbara came from California. (Photos provided)

The name Chris Brown is synonymous with generosity when it concerns anything in the town of Bristol.  Brown, who celebrated her 90th birthday in January has been a constant supporter of the Bristol community and several local organizations, especially the Bristol Marshal’s Posse and DARE programs to name a few.

The Bristol Police Department recently honored her  at the 4-H Fair grounds with a gift of a digital photo frame loaded with over 100 photos documenting her years of involvement and support of local organizations.

Kim is assisted at the Bristol office by Kay Kintigh, a retail clerk. Although listed as a part time employee, Kay can work up to 56 hours a week, if needed. Both Kim and Kay want customers to know that post office hours continue the same as always: 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday. They do not plan to close during the lunch hour, as was the case last summer.

When asked about the future of the Bristol post office, Kim responds that “it all comes down to revenue.” A facility that takes in enough revenue to pay its bills will have a better chance of surviving possible future closings, she says.

Kim noted that some small area post offices are losing money, even though some have only a postmaster, and no clerks. Rural deliveries have been moved from these facilities, in the same way that Bristol rural carriers were moved to Elkhart in January 2010.

Bristol revenues declined with that consolidation, partly because any stamps sold or packages handled by the carriers now produce revenue for Elkhart, not Bristol. Income at the Bristol service counter has declined somewhat, perhaps because of the uncertainty about hours and continued operation.

When asked about the current building, Kim said that the lease, which expires at the end of 2010, has not yet been renewed. This matter is not handled locally, but by officials at the Greater Indiana District of the USPS.

There are many concerned citizens who are hoping the Bristol post office can escape the closures that the U.S. Postal Service is considering in its long-range cost-cutting plans. The most important action such persons can take is to patronize the Bristol post office, while encouraging others to do the same.

Kim and Kay sincerely appreciate the friendliness and patience of their local patrons. They are determined to continue providing the friendly, helpful, and courteous service that has been a hallmark of the Bristol post office in the past.

Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because the body makes it from the ultraviolet light (specifically, UVB rays) in sunlight, then stores the vitamin for later use. Problem is, unprotected exposure to the sun’s rays can lead to skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United Sates. This is why Rick Fried, MD, PhD, a dermatologist in private practice in Yardley, PA, says the best sources of sunny D aren’t rays at all, but diet and supplements.

Because vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, it’s essential for maintaining strong bones. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, adults under the age of 50 need 400 to 800 international units of vitamin D3, daily (also known as cholecalciferol, vitamin D, is the form of vitamin D that best supports bone health);adults age 50 and older need 800 to 1,000 IU daily. Salmon, mackerel, and tuna are good sources of vitamin D, as are egg yolks, liver, and fortified foods such as cereal and milk.

Here in the Midwest we are getting limited sun exposure, says Michelle Spencer that is increasing our likeliness for vitamin D deficiencies. Studies are starting to show that besides bone health vitamin D is beneficial in other areas like preventing diabetes, hypertension, and cancers like prostate, colon and breast cancer.

Not sure you’re getting enough? Ask your doctor for a simple blood test. If you come up short, supplement. Michelle Spencer, does advise that before one begins supplementing Vitamin D they first do consult with their doctors as Vitamin D can interfere with certain medications like those taken for high blood pressure or multiple other medications.  If you choose not to, the prospects for your bone health may not be so sunny.

For more health information or tips about vitamin D you can contact Michelle Spencer at 574-848-4847.