Mustang Mentality

What does it mean to be a State Representative? Or as Mike would simply say- a Public Servant.  We discuss his role for Munster and neighboring communities as our voice in the State House. He talks about his reasoning for running in 2020 and what passions keep him involved and seeking  reelection in 2024. This podcast was started for several little reasons but the main goal and focus has been to increase communication and show even when disagreeing we can talk to find common ground-  This is what Mike is doing for us in Indianapolis, we touch on what it’s like for a Democrat in a Super Majority Republican State and how finding the common sense, common ground through communication is key.  I look forward to a more in depth at length discussion down the road but I am immensely grateful for the time he took off the campaign trail to meet with today. 

Yet another great conversation as I wrap up the School Board candidate episodes. Scott and I sat down for an engaging and enlightening conversation, I learned his background and what experience he's looking to bring to the table. It was comforting to sit down with all candidates to be assured Munster is in good hands. There are 5 candidates and 3 seats open, I suggest everyone try and engage with all 5 and make the most informed decision possible. The School Board is responsible for policy and long term strategy so reach out the the candidates and see what plans align with your hopes for the future.

I had a wonderful time getting to know Johnny Craig and I believe if you listen to this episode you will too. Johnny and I discuss his  years in the education sector, his active role in Munster Sports/Extracurricular activities and much more.  This episode is #3 of 4 introducing the school board candidates and it’s great to hear the passion and dedication of all I’ve sat down with so far. The final episode will air next week. 

It was such a delight sitting down with Amy today and getting to know her more. Amy is 1 of the 5 school board candidates in this upcoming November election. We spoke on the current highlights of the STM and if given the opportunity the things she would like to see enhanced. Thank you once again for your time and for putting yourself out there in order to serve the community.

This November 3 of the 5 School Board seats will be up for election and my goal is to introduce and highlight each candidate. On the kickoff for Season 2 I had the pleasure of sitting down with two current STM board members. Ingrid and John have both recently launched re-election campaigns for their spots on the school board. As sitting members they provided a glimpse into what the school board is all about. We spoke about why they first ran 8 years ago and why they are compelled to keep serving Munster by seeking re-election. Id like to thank both of them again for their time and their commitment to Munster!

The last one on one conversation for the season is no time to shy away from a controversial topic so I attack it head on sitting down with Mitch from "For the Love of Munster". No name calling, no insults just a conversation breaking down legitimate concerns on the Ridge Road project. Mitch has decades of experience on trails, grants and funding among other things in relation to community development so as a resident, business owner and stakeholder on the original Streetscape plan I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. Without a doubt we both want improvements in this area of town as does all members of the town council. So what do those improvements look like- New light poles? New planters? Lane reduction? Some of that or none of that- Time will tell. No matter what you opinion is on the matter you deserve your voice to be heard and your concerns to be considered. This is not a simple subject and can quickly lead to a breakdown in constructive conversations but this is something that will affect Munster not only now but also for future generations. It needs to be discussed at length through various channels so i'm happy to keep the conversation going with people like Mitch even though we aren't fully in agreeance. To get more information about For the Love of Munster join them for their next cleanup event on Saturday May 25th. I will be having one more round table discussion before taking a summer break with the show-and as always those are open to everyone so come have your voice heard. Top Tier Nutrition- June 2nd at 1PM

With only 3 episodes lefts of season 1 I sit down with one half of the dynamic duo taking NWI by storm. Hear the story about how the Barnes got started in the Doughnut business and what it’s like opening in various locations around the state. Wes and I are both happy to be a part of a new small business committee through the Chamber of Commerce in town, we have also met with town staff in regard to making business code more streamlined and friendly for new and existing businesses. Wes was kind enough to make time to meet just as their Crown Point location is getting underway so I want to thank him for that and wish them well on their newest location.

In a follow up episode from our December conversation Katie and I discuss what’s changed over at the Chamber since her becoming Chairman. We talk about the new committees, events and real focus on small businesses in Munster. This time around we are also joined by Karen who has been with the chamber for over a decade of service, Karen gives us some insight on the mechanics of the chamber and information on exciting upcoming events such as the “Shop Small Crawl” this Saturday from 10am-2pm so be sure to listen for details!

This months recap of our previous speakers and a peek at what’s upcoming! The round table discussions are open at anyone that would like to attend. It gives an opportunity to raise questions, concerns and feedback with previous guests and have input on what you would like to see from the show in the future. Thank you to all that attended!

Members of the Choice Community Council- Officer Ghrist and Connie Karras stop by Top Tier and fill us in with information on past and an exciting upcoming project. This group is another great example of volunteerism in Munster. The Choice Community Council, founded in 1994 through the Munster Police Department and whose mission is drug, gang, crime, and violence prevention in Munster. For more information, please contact the Munster Police Department's Community Oriented Policing Unit at 219-836-6639.

Last week I had the pleasure and glowing experience of sitting down with two of the three Co-Owners of one of Munsters bright new businesses JEM MedSpa. What exactly is a MedSpa? Well that's where our conversation begins. It was enlightening to find out how many services and experiences are offered at this true JEM in the middle of Centennial Village. If you are unaware this is the third location for them so of course we discuss what it's like doing business in Munster compared to other communities(Orland Park, Elmhurst). Being a Munster native Dr. Galante is looking forward to growing communication and cooperation between Town, Chamber and Businesses so this made for a perfect episode of Mustang Mentality. As you know that's what this is all about- Fostering understanding through the easy and the hard conversations, building upon the community but not being naive to needed improvements.

Hall Monitor, Activist, WUM Overlord, Environmentalist, who exactly is Paul Nelson? Learn the background on how Paul starting Munster Safe Neighborhoods with the help of some friends and how it evolved (or devolved depending on who you ask) into the different pages you see and hear about today. Dedicating your free time and energy in creating and sustaining useful tools for the community most often go unnoticed; but in Paul's case, doing these things has shined a spotlight to some and a target for others onto his name and his personal life. We wrap up with information about Munster Earth day events and a new "Everything Munster Calendar" called- Munster Life.

Get to know The Musleh brothers. This dynamic duo has taken NWI by storm with multiple Anytime Fitness locations as well as their new project “Basecamp” located in Schererville with more on the way. In recent years they have also upped the game by developing and managing the properties those businesses are anchored at giving them a unique experience of tenant and landlord.

The more I dig to find what makes Munster tick it becomes more and more apparent its the level of community members dedicating their time and energy to volunteer. What does it mean to Volunteer? Well Webster would say- "Volunteering is the act of rendering selfless service to a cause, oftentimes for free and without coercion. It is about giving time to a good cause, specifically to help an organization, your community or an individual you are not related to." On this episode you get to find out what it means to Volunteer from one of Munsters most actively involved families, The DeMarios. You have probably seen them around in Munster VIPS vehicles helping direct traffic, conducting wellness checks and much more that you can hear about on this episode. I would like to thank Brian and Dawn along with all of our other VIPS and community volunteers for their time and passion in making Munster as great as it is today. "VIPS provide great assistance and support for our police department in a variety of ways: working in Records, directing traffic, providing funeral escorts, waiting for vehicle tows, performing vacation checks, and by actively patrolling the neighborhoods and business districts as extra eyes and ears for the police department. VIPS wear uniforms and patrol in specially-marked vehicles but are not armed. For more information about the VIPS Program, please contact Lt. Dan Broelmann at [email protected] or Sgt. Michael Silsby at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!"

A Lenten bonus episode before we reach Holy week. In this episode we start off in the Sanctuary of Munster's oldest Church with me telling the Pastor I don't really have a Religion, now that's not to say I don't have faith. But as far as Religion goes my status is the same as my political one- Independent. Now some Church leaders may have been offended or dismissive but Pastor Jim was not only accepting he was embraseve of this start to our open conversation. Which shows me a lot about his character and what Munster Church is all about- as their slogan goes "Loving God, Loving People" A person like Pastor Jim is such an asset to our community and I have really enjoyed the chance to get to know him more . Through our conversation I got to know who and what inspired his journey to where he is now. His vision and where Munster Church would like to be in the future. We touch on the role of a Church in a community to not only the parishioners but to all residents. Spoiler/Warning: There are 2 very profound "S" words in this episode- Scars and you already know the other one...Signs.

Come get the inside scoop on how “The Sweet Tooth” found its way to its home on Ridge Road. Hear what business owners would like to see happen on Ridge Road from actual business owners on Ridge Road. Spoiler alert this episode talks about signage …a Jelly Belly sign to be exact. Plus we wrap it up with how you can get involved and join Dan and other “young” (under 40) Republicans in the area.

A Fiscally Conservative Independent and a Progressive Democrat walk into a bar… There are probably a ton of bad jokes in there but this conversation isn’t one. -This episode is a perfect example of community members who may not always see eye to eye coming together and looking towards the future. Ryan and I got lost in conversation for 2hrs simply talking about life and politics (inside and outside of Munster) with little mention of the past election, which we are in agreeance that we as a town need to move on from. -One thing you will hear repeatedly is accountability and Ryan is fully aware I am going to be a thorn for leaders on both sides as I said in this episode and hold him and others accountable for not only their actions but their comments and engagement with negativity. -I call upon leadership from both parties to now come together and move forward, and to denounce the bitter and rude commentary when they see it. I call upon all of us to simply keep the conversations going, and to get involved. Go join Ryan for “Drinks with Dems”, go join Republican gatherings and get to know people on a personal level. -Than you to my guest for helping me show two people who don’t always agree can talk and talk…and talk- Hopefully this serves as an example of what’s possible and a stepping stone for the future.

An inside look into what a PTO is all about- We talk about what involvement looks like, the core purpose of the organization and everyone’s favorite event of the year- Carnival!! Thank you to Eads PTO President (Nicole Albright), Vice President (Katie Djuric), Treasurer (Liz Hoitsma), and Secretary (Alison Rio) for this quick and informative chat.

This months recap of our previous speakers and a peek at what’s upcoming! The round table discussions are open at anyone that would like to attend. It gives an opportunity to raise questions, concerns and feedback with previous guests and have input on what you would like to see from the show in the future. Thank you to all that attended!

Without criticism there is no progress and without progress there is no life. No one can deny Munster being a desirable place to live whether it’s because you want to be close to Chicago without those pesky IL taxes or if you came here to raise a family in the award-winning schools. We have great parks, lots of activates and excellent community engagement with our Police Department, these are all things that have so far been a focus of Mustang Mentality. All of that considered to say we cannot improve in certain areas would be a delusion. My guest this week is here to shed light on a topic that while uncomfortable to some is an everyday reality for others- Race issues in Munster. I had several people tell me to tread lightly and think twice before opening myself to conversations of this magnitude because it will draw criticism. That’s the purpose of this whole show, provide the community with new insights, give a voice to those who have felt unheard and dismissed which I can assure you is a feeling shared by more than just one race or group of people in town. We need to be able to listen to others at length before passing judgment we then can not only look inward but outward on how we can contribute to making Munster better than it already is. I admire and respect Candice for speaking openly with me for this episode and her willingness to take the heat for being the voice for so many as she normally does when posting about these issues publicly. While progress is being seen (Most recently the school classroom doors being decorated for Black History Month) and is appreciated there is still room for growth. We need to be more willing to come together and listen to each other’s experiences and ideas. We are all Munster.

Rosie the Executive Director and Aleesha the Director of K14 initiatives for Ivy Tech Community College provide details on the duel credit program available through Munster High School. We discuss the many benefits and any potential drawbacks of being involved in these courses throughout High School. This episode is a must listen for Munster parents!

Munster Resident and Business Owner Summer gives us an inside scoop on what it’s like to get started on a business dream. We talk about the excitement we both share with the focus of the Chamber on Commerce shifting gears to businesses like ours. Come cure those winter blues by learning all the things Summer Gold has to offer!

Come swing right into this conversation about Parks, Trails, and everything in between. We cover the staffing dilemma at the pool, talk about options to reboot the wine tasting event, and upcoming improvements and additions to trails. Want your voice heard? Head over to the Parks Department tab on the town website and submit your feedback for the Munster Parks and Recreation 5-Year Comprehensive Plan Survey, link is also easy to find on MunsterLife. Com (This survey will be available until February 6).

Round Table #1 was a great way to recap the first full month of Mustang Mentality. We discussed a-lot of topics including the Nominating Committee, steps to avoid conflicts of interests on Boards/Council and the new ticket quota for Munster PD. Thank you to the speakers (Chuck,Katie,Brad,Mike) and to all of those who came (some pictured- some not), asked questions and got engaged in a new and unique way. A special thank you to Paul Nelson of MunsterLife.com who saved the day with additional audio equipment, we had a recording issue but were saved by an extra recording. Bear with the audio this first time, it will be improved for round 2. All in all this was a great success for a first month and I’m excited for month 2!

This week I sit down and sip tea with former town council candidate and current park board member Mike Sowards. We reflect on his time campaigning and serving on the park board. We dive into some of the things he would like to see in Munster going forward (Like the return of wine tasting 🤞). And at the end of the day we focus on all of us being community members committed to a better future for Munster.

Author and Producer + Co-Host of the TomFoolery Fun Club swings by Top Tier to talk about his new book and his time as the previous Director of Munsters Chamber of Commerce. I Traveled the Road to Nowhere and I arrived safely hits shelves later this month!

In this episode I sit down with Munster Police Officer and FOP Member Brad Riemerts. These views and opinions given are his and his alone and do not represent Munster PD, FOP or any other affiliated entities unless otherwise stated. We cover the FOPs political endorsement, new town council, public safety and much more.

This evening I was able to sit down with Nick and Michelle the owners of Bean me up here in Munster. We talked about what it takes to follow a vision and open a business in this economic climate. We touched on things like parking and dare I say..signage at their vibrant business in the heart of Centennial Village. Give them a listen and give them a try if you haven’t already!

In this episode I talk shop with Dustin about various projects in the town and the Town Managers role in all of it. We tackle the highly debated Sign Ordinances (That may be changing 👀) in town and wrap things up with discussing Maple Leaf Crossing, Centennial Village, and what’s next for possible Venue space near Centennial Park.

Today I sat down with Katie Owner of The Gourmet Goddess and new Chairman of Munster Chamber of Commerce. We talked about the Chambers role in town and in the lives of the businesses they represent. If you are a member or are thinking of becoming one this episode is a must listen!

In the launch episode I sit down with Councilman Gardiner to talk about this past election and the future of Munster in regards to Ridge Road, Centennial Village and more

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