Maybe it was Anthony Gouin’s childhood fascination with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that led to him eventually becoming a martial arts instructor. But whatever the reason, his journey has been remarkable, some would say miraculous.
    Anthony was stricken with leukemia when he was a child, and the disease and chemotherapy he had to go through to treat it left him with brittle bones and muscles so atrophied that he couldn’t walk. But by the time he was 11, he was in remission and began studying martial arts, eventually focusing on Jiu-Jitsu.
    Today he is a brown belt in the discipline and shares his knowledge and experience as an instructor at New World Arts in downtown Goshen. His inspiring story is featured in this edition of Elkhart County Living.
    As this issue was being put together, Elkhart County’s weather took a decided turn for the better, after a long and icy winter. While the sunshine and warm temperatures have many thinking of days on the lake or golf course, it also inspires others to undertake the annual tradition of spring cleaning.
    In this issue, experts give tips on giving your home a thorough cleaning, from washing windows and cleaning chandeliers to having your carpets professionally cleaned. And if your frenzy of spring cleaning leads to redecorating projects, local paint stores offer insight into the latest trends in wall paint.
    We also take a look this month at the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail in our regular “Places in the Park” feature. It offers miles of peaceful walking and riding options, and the weather is certainly just perfect for that.
    Also check out:
    a. The calendar of events highlights National Volunteer Week;
    b. Elcona Country Club apprentice chef Brett Jacobs recently won a Student Chef of the Year cooking contest;
    c. Restaurant columnist Angie Gingerich sampled the fare at several area Mexican restaurants, and The Scene this month looks at the Elkhart Optimist Club’s Safari Casino Night.
    Enjoy, and as always, let us know what you think.
   
    ~ Jim Kroemer, publisher