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Sitting on the bleachers at Community Park, friends and family watched Munster Babe Ruth baseball teams play games against each other on Summer nights in June, wrapping up their season with the final games on June 27.
“It’s something to do twice a week and it brings a whole community together, especially when we have double-headers,” Anthony Ornelas, Munster High School (MHS) class of 2024 and North Carolina team member, said.
This year Babe Ruth consisted of four teams - the University of Oregon (UO) Ducks, the Tennessee Volunteers, The Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers and the North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels. The Babe Ruth teams had high school aged teammates who picked out their teams named after colleges.
“I played baseball when I was younger so I thought coming back for a final season before leaving for college would be a fun coming-back story,” Ornelas said. “I also wanted to be outside with my friends more.”
Babe Ruth games were held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 and 8 p.m. These games rotated between teams in the regular season until the week of the 24th where they switched over to postseason tournament style games.
“My favorite memory was definitely the first game of the season,” Ornelas said. “I played with and against guys I grew up on the same travel team as, so being there on the field with them once again was pretty nostalgic.”
The first postseason games were LSU vs. Tennessee, with Tennessee winning, and UO vs. UNC, with UNC winning. The last games of the season, which determined the final standings, were held on Thursday the 27th at 5:30 and 8 p.m. The LSU Tigers lost during the 5:30 p.m. game against the UO Ducks, who claimed third place. The final game of the season was at 8 p.m. with a faceoff between the UNC Tar Heels and the Tennessee Vols, with the Tar Heels snagging the win and placing first.
“It’s fun,” Ornelas said. “Easy but not too easy. You don’t have to take things too seriously to have a good time, just play ball!”
What's coming up?
Halfway through summer break, community activities are still going strong.
Coming up this Saturday at Centennial Park, Munster is hosting Bark in the Park, a pet fair. All pet lovers are welcome to this fair along with their dogs from 2 to 8 p.m.
“I think community events are important because they provide opportunities to bring neighbors closer together,” Laura Patino, longtime Munster community member and parent, said.
Additionally, the second CIVIC Monday Concert of July will be held on the 15th and will feature Billy Elton. This concert will also be at Centennial Park and will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
“Community activities bring us together to help promote awareness of each other's needs and help build relationships to support each other in the community,” Patino said. “It helps you know the families as well as the needs of the community.”
The first Movie in the Park event of July will be held at Centennial Park starting at dusk on the 16th. This Movie in the Park night will feature “Elemental,” a movie that follows a water and fire main character duo in a city where everyone is made of the different elements - fire, water, air and land.
There will be a Summer Concert Series event on July 21 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This event, taking place at town hall, will feature John David Daily who is a Country/Rock artist.
Another CIVIC Monday Concert will be held on the 22nd and will feature The Dancing Noodles, a Motown and R&B band. This concert will be held at Centennial Park from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
There will be one more CIVIC Monday Concert, also at Centennial Park, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the 29th. This last concert of the month will feature the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.
Community member spotlight:
The Counter Ice Cream & Italian Ice, an ice cream shop in downtown Highland, is owned and run by Munster community member and parent Emily Foreit. Along with being a mom of three, Foreit runs The Counter, which is welcome to all.
“It was all a big learning process,” Foreit said. “I had never owned a food service establishment, so things like Food Safety Certification, equipment sourcing, and menu creation were all new. Since we only offered soft serve and fresh Italian Ice in the beginning, I was able to educate myself and sourcing ingredients which was fairly simple. It was definitely better to start small.”
Foreit, who has always had an entrepreneurial drive, started her first business in her 20s. With the majority of her work experience before being in retail or the food service industry, she was provided with important lessons in customer service and approaches to management.
“I love thinking up treats that I want to try and seeing others enjoying them as well,” Foreit said. “Probably the ‘less fun’ part of owning your own business is the administrative part- scheduling, payroll, doing inventory, etc.”
As a business owner, there are pros and cons, but there are things that have to be done, even if they’re on the less fun side of the business world.
“There’s a saying that goes something like, ‘If you’re too busy working in the business, there’s no time to work on the business,” which is why I hire staff to work in the shop so I can take care of all the important administrative and behind-the-scenes aspects,” Foreit said. “I will soon add baking to the ‘fun’ part.”
Baking will be added to The Counter when it moves across the street to a new home, possibly in late July.
“I love baking and have always wanted to add freshly baked goods to the menu but had zero room for a commercial oven,” Foreit said. “The new space allows for that and so much storage, I can’t wait.”
Businesses can take up a majority of time, but Foreit has been able to manage parenting and business owning.
“I feel like I’m always working in some capacity, but when I do make myself step back, I love to read and watch movies and cook with my family,” Foreit said.