[Southsider2k12]

This is an exerpt from the Save the Dunes newsletter I just received.

Thank you so much for signing the Petition to return animals to Chellberg Farm and to restore it to a "Living" Historical Farm. You may know the current Superintendent of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is unwilling to make any commitment to return the animals to Chellberg Farm. All summer he has stated in person and in written correspondence with supporters he will make no decisions to return the animals and open the farmhouse and barn more frequently than once a month until a new Interpretative Plan is completed which will take from 12 to 18 months, since the process will not start until January, 2010. There is not any money in the current budget for the farmer and given the length of time to complete the final Plan it is probable no monies will be in the budget for 2011 or 2012.

Over 3,000 individuals have signed our online or paper petition to return the animals and the Farm to a Live Historical Farm.

Resolutions have been passed by:



Beverly Shores Town Council

Chesterton Town Council

Dune Acres Town Council

Michigan City Common Council

Portage City Council

Porter County Commissioners

Town of Pines Council

Other letters of support have been sent to the Superintendent by the Portage Historical Society, LaPorte County Historical Society, Duneland Historical Society, International Friendship Gardens as well as the Historical Society of Porter County AND more letters are on the way.

The Save Chellberg Farm Taskforce will have a float at the Wizard of Oz Parade in Chesterton on September 19th at 10 A.M. Be sure to look for it if you are in the area.

Meanwhile the Farm is basically "Closed". It is without animals, without crops being planted to harvest, and the buildings are open only a few days a year. Further we have seen an interim Plan which states the Plan is to:

Replace Chellberg with a Heritage Center.

The Task Force is exploring ways we might get the animals back before 2012. I am attaching a copy of our recommendations which have been approved by Save the Dunes Council and the Save Chellberg Farm Taskforce.

It would be great if other organizations would endorse these Recommendations.

We are continuing to work on getting more signatures on Petitions, more Letters of Support and Resolutions from Govermental bodies. Please do what you can and let me know what happens. I am attaching again copies of the paper petition, Model Resolution as well as the Model Letter of Support. Or you can go to the Save the Dunes website and forward the site to other so they can sign online:

http://www.savedunes.org/

(You might want to join Save the Dunes at its annual meeting, the Bike Ride, or at other event. They are all listed on the Website)

Finally, we are willing to meet with the Superintendent to address our Recommendations and would like representatives from supporting organizations to join us at that meeting. Should he continue to resist returning the farm to Living Historical status we will have to pursue other avenues and strategies.

[Southsider2k12]

We didn't go for the first time in years because we didn't know if it would be worth going to without the animals being there. We went into Chicago on Saturday for the Blackhawks open practice, and then to Garwood on Saturday.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=55516.11

Animals were rented for Harvest Fest
There is an old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Chellberg Farm was not broken; for more than 30 years schoolchildren and visitors have come to see the animals and experience the farm atmosphere there.

Despite removal of the animals, the superintendent of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore insists Chellberg Farm is still open. And, in fact, animals were rented for the Harvest Fest, which gave an impression that something farm-like was happening there.

However, Hoosiers cannot grasp a definition of a farm that does not include crops, animals and a farmer.

Chellberg Farm was where urban children learned what some of us grew up knowing, i.e., what a farm is, and does.

Six Northwest Indiana municipalities and governments have passed official resolutions urging the superintendent to restore Chellberg Farm as it was. Well known local organizations and thousands of petitioners have echoed the same sentiment. It is a very valued program.

The Lakeshore can take pride that it has been so successful with this program.

Is it needed? Ask the farm boy on the Save Chellberg float in the Wizard of Oz parade who was amazed that some children his age did not know that the chickens on the float were not ducks!

No, Chellberg Farm was not broken, and the passionate request of so many Northwest Indiana Hoosiers who want it restored as a farm with animals, crops and farmer is testimony to this.

George Neagu

Michigan City

[donnaschindler]

I have not told my kids about the closing of Chellberg farm. It was one of our favorite places to go when we come home. I just want them to remember it like it was. It would be too sad to go back and see the animals gone.

[Ang]

I took a walk through there in June. It was pretty sad. Like a ghost town.

[Southsider2k12]

It doesn't sound good. This is out of an email send out by Save the Dunes

Save the Dunes has continued to lead the campaign for restoration of Chellberg Farm as a living history farm with live farm animals. On January 11th, we met with the Superintendent of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and presented him with resolutions from many local boards and councils and a petition with over 6,000 signatures asking for the restoration of the farm. However, he remains unwilling to take any positive action at this time. Now the park service is disposing of some of the horse-drawn farm equipment which would have to be replaced should Chellberg be restored. Moreover the park service has failed to maintain the property, despite our offers to help, allowing the buildings and fencing to fall into disrepair. Save the Dunes is committed to the restoration and will continue to work towards the return of the farm animals.



HOW CAN YOU HELP?



1. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper urging the return of the animals and

restoration of the living history farm.



2. Express your concerns for the Park by participating in an online survey conducted by the

National Park Conservation Association which addresses Park problems.



The survey can be found at: http://www.npca.org/midwest/dunes/



3. Participate in the development of the Comprehensive Interpretive Plan by attending meetings.

The Superintendent has stated that he will not consider returning the animals until

the new plan is complete and that even if the plan includes the restoration, he does not have to

follow the directives of the plan.



You can get on their notification list by emailing: Lynda_Lancaster@nps.gov



4. Join or donate to Save the Dunes to be an active supporter of our efforts.



Go to: http://www.savedunes.org/commerce



5. Contact your local government or board and ask it to pass a resolution for the restoration of

Chellberg Farm as a living farm with live animals.



A model resolution can be found at: http://www.savedunes.org/SaveChellbergFarm



Please call Jeanette Neagu if you would like further information on this matter: (219) 879-0431



Thank you for supporting our efforts to restore this important, culturally significant, educational

local resource to its previous splendor that lives in the heart of millions who bonded with nature

and history at Chellberg Farm.



Deborah Chubb, President

Save the Dunes