North Manchester, Indiana – Peabody Retirement Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM:   Peabody Retirement Community • 400 West Seventh Street • North Manchester, IN  46962

CONTACT:   Sue Roesner • 260-982-8616 • www.peabodyrc.org

SIGNS OF SPRING HERALD 15^th ANNUAL TULIP FESTIVAL AT PEABODY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.

Free event on Saturday, April 27 to feature entertainment, prizes, food, a two-mile classic run, and of course, 10,000 blooming tulips.

North Manchester, IN — It all started when Peabody decided to beautify its campus by planting one of Mother Nature’s most beloved symbols of spring with tulip bulbs purchased from Holland, Michigan, a hamlet honoring its own heritage with a “Tulip Time Festival.”  The Peabody beautification effort continued each year as the season’s first warm days pushed the flowers through the ground, springing them to a rainbow of color and splendor. 

 In the spring of 1998, the tulips presented a particularly spectacular display practically begging Peabody to share the panorama with surrounding communities.  An old-fashioned ice cream social seemed to suit the occasion and the public enjoyed both a beautiful and delicious afternoon at Peabody.  The tulips of spring 1999 repeated their bountiful performance and so another ice cream social, this time accompanied by entertainment gave birth to Peabody’s Annual Tulip Festival.

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PEABODY TULIP FESTIVAL – ADD ONE

Each year as the tulips debuted, more and more came to see the spectacle and area businesses began to participate by donating prizes, raffles and equipment.  In 2003, and continuing to this day, a very generous gift from Roger and Judy Moore of The Hardware puts Peabody’s landscape crews to work each fall planting over 10,000 tulips throughout the grounds, creating an even more fantastic sight, and increasing interest and participation the following spring.  

Meet Grand Marshall of The 15^th Annual Tulip Festival, Mariana Reed.

Mariana Reed has seen many a Tulip Festival.  A happy Peabody resident for 20+ years, she loves the community and is thrilled to serve as Grand Marshall.  “I am so honored to have been chosen as the Grand Marshall for Peabody,” she says.   It comes as no real surprise Mariana was selected.  It seems service and honor has always been part of her life.   

A World War II Army WAC Nurse, Mariana was particularly glad to meet fellow WACs and WAVEs (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services) when she came to Peabody.  At age 25, she was sworn in to the 34^th WAAC (Women Army Auxiliary Corps, later changed by Congress to WAC), and sent to Fort Des Moines.  Then it was overseas to Cheltenham, England working in the Central Records Aggutant Unit for six months and becoming a corporal.  While no one in Mariana’s unit was allowed in Western England due to bombings, she did have to comply with curfews, and while on furlough in London, she viewed an air raid reenactment light and siren show near Buckingham Palace.  She ended her time as a WAC when her unit moved to Paris.  Remarkable to Mariana about WWII was how “everyone came together to help keep the country running.” 

Look for familiar favorites on Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Many favorites from previous Tulip Festivals will return such as the Used Book Sale, which benefits Peabody’s Caring Circle, however, this year, gently used puzzles, games, CDs and DVDs are also welcomed.  Home and party vendors will be on hand including Lia Sophia, Tupperware, Mary Kay, Gold Canyon Candles, Thirty-One Gifts and more.  The Children’s Area, an always-popular feature will host a petting zoo and carnival games.   A fun performance blending Americana, bluegrass, folk, old-time and Irish music by The Gold Mine Pickers will fill The Chapel from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, followed by The CHORDS, an ensemble of male voices singing traditional, contemporary and gospel music from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Plus, horse and wagon rides with Jim Shuler and his team will travel the campus, and plenty of food choices are on tap from The Mainview Inn, Portside Pizza, Amish baked goods and other festival treats such as cotton candy and elephant ears. 

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Second Annual Quilt Show and Tulip Two-Mile Classic Run/Walk

Two new events will be back for the festival a second year.  The Quilt Show awards People’s Choice in the following categories – Best Kids, Best Resident, Best Pieced and Best Appliquéd.  A $2.00 entry fee per quilt with a limit of two quilts per person will provide proceeds for the Alzheimer’s Association.  Contact Kim Fitzgerald at 260-578-8325 for more information. 

The Two-Mile Classic Run/Walk will benefit Disabled American Veterans, a national non-profit organization.  Packet pick-up begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 near the Peabody Bell Tower.  Pre-registration by mail information can be downloaded at www.peabodyrc.org, or on-line at www.runreg.com with $10 for the two-mile walk and $15 for the two-mile run.  Race day registration is $20.  The first 65 registrants will receive unique door prizes, with the overall Two-Mile Run Male and Female Champions awarded $35 in cash prizes, and Runners-Up, $15 in cash prizes.  Contact Laura Markham at 269-982-8616 for more information.

Mary Richey, Medical Records Coordinator at Peabody is this year’s Tulip Festival Chair.  To learn more, contact Mary at 260-982-8616.

Peabody is a continuing care retirement community offering complete residential and health care lifestyle options and resources, all in one location.

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