A Midsummer Night's Narrative

The Many Sides of Middletown: Warren Vander Hill’s story as told to Jim Connolly

I had a bifurcated existence. I grew up in New York City, in the borough of Queens, during the 1950s. My father was a Dutch Reformed minister. I always used to laugh about the fact that I was a minority Protestant because the vast majority of my friends, people I played basketball with and against, […]

Go West Young Man Proves to be Good Advice

Anthony (Tony) J. Costello’s story as told to Scott Truex As an Italian American growing up in New York, many in my family believed New Jersey was a western state. So, the idea that I would move to Indiana and to a place called Muncie was not on anybody’s radar. The only thing I knew […]

My Forever Home Sweet Home

Stacy Britton’s story as told to Dorica Watson I knew I was home before the offer was made, before I signed on the dotted line and even before being notified that I was selected for an interview. I remember being told that my dream job was available. I think it was early July 2016. A […]

You’ll Never Walk Alone

Laura Williamson’s story as told to Steve “Brownie” Brown In 2000, I was living in Flint, Michigan with my husband, Mike. I had studied acting and was pursuing a second degree in music therapy. On the weekends, I was performing in a dinner theatre production of a show called The Taffettas, which is a fictional […]

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Roni Johnson’s story as told to Kelly Shrock I didn’t realize it at the time, but my parents instilled in me the importance of being a part of your community. My dad owned a drugstore and my mom was a teacher. I remember working many, many hours at the drugstore instead of going to dances […]