The grand opening of The Culver Family Wellness Center, located inside the North Webster Community Center, was held Friday night, Dec. 16. In the front row are Emily Shipley, Lisa Strombeck, Emily McGowen, Kyla Wolferman, Cinda Culver, Bart Culver, Emily Worrell, Sue Ann Mitchell and State Rep. David Abbott (R). In the second row are Sherman Goldenberg, Dennis Wagoner, Paula Kaiser, Lori Mark, and Lloyd Shroyer. In the third row are Chris Francis, Jon Yoder, Dr. David Coil, Phil Jenks, Kim Jones and Ron Shenkel. InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

NORTH WEBSTER — “Candy Canes and Cocktails” was the theme of The Culver Family Wellness Center’s grand opening Friday night, Dec. 16. The new wing is located at The North Webster Community Center.

The “Candy Canes and Cocktails” reception was the official ribbon cutting for the whole north wing that once housed the public library.
Those in attendance got a sneak peak at the Goshen Physicians Family Medicine North Webster Clinic, adjacent to the center in the north wing. The clinic will open for business Dec. 27. Dr. Chelsea Wolf will practice medicine at the new medical clinic.

Emily Worrell, executive director of the NWCC, addressed the audience.

“It is 11,000 square feet of opportunity,” said Emily Worrell, executive director of NWCC. “This space is truly the first step in our mission and driving this forward.”

She said there is a lot of future opportunities to offer low-cost wellness programs with the potential to change lives.

“This is a gift for our community,” Worrell noted. She thanked the NWCC board of directors, Goshen Health and several others for making the new wing a possibility.

“Let’s celebrate our new room. It’s a new beginning,” she said.

The community center’s celebration included comments from those close to the project.

“This future space is exactly what we needed,” said Dennis Wagoner, president of the NWCC Board of Directors.

He said he looks forward to creating many partnerships, like “the one we’ve developed with the Culver family, to provide as many opportunities as possible.”

Wagoner, who was raised in North Webster, helped start the community center 20 years ago. He applauded the Culver family as having a “caring nature.”

“Gladys (Culver) touched many lives. She was a very special teacher,” Wagoner stressed. “She cared about everybody.”

Jon Yoder, vice president of Goshen Health, said, “We are so grateful to be a part of this.”

State Rep. David Abbott (R) discussed the importance of the opening of the new wellness center.

State Rep. David Abbott, said, “I am excited about what you are doing here. Preventative health is very important, and I’d like to thank the Culvers.”

He said people are facing many health problems especially those with mental health issues. “This addresses this need in a positive way,” he added.

In addition to a tour, people feasted on a buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, mocktails and piano music by Joey Harper, a sophomore at Wawasee High School.

The center is home to the Kosciusko County YMCA, Senior Primelife Enrichment Center, The Watershed Foundation, Tippecanoe/Chapman Sewer District, NWCC Massage, Chubbies Pub ‘n Grub Catering, Goshen Physicians Family Medicine North Webster Clinic, plus youth and adult programs.