It’s cold. You need soup. Not from a can. Not as an excuse to cast-off New Year’s Eve party leftovers. Soup that’s handmade, hearty, robust. And not just warm. No, no. Face-of-the-sun temperatures to fill your stomach, warm your bones, get the blood going, start 2019 off right.

It’s been nearly a year since Tipmont’s board unanimously voted to authorize the construction and delivery of fiber internet, video and voice services. In that time, we’ve completed a tremendous amount of work toward realizing the vision that you created for us. Your feedback through surveys, letters, phone calls, and in person was key to the board’s decision. Affordable high-speed broadband, in particular, is an essential service that so many of you need.

I’ve talked a lot about Tipmont’s mission of empowering the communities we serve. To empower is a recognition that you, our customers, are the engine of success. Our role is to simply provide the necessary raw materials like electric energy and very soon, broadband. When you have better tools at your disposal, more options with your local power supply, or integrated energy management systems in your home, you will have the capabilities to be more efficient and productive. We believe you shouldn’t be limited in how you utilize those tools.

It’s safe to assume most of us refer to restaurants by their names 95 percent of the time. But sometimes, maybe after a long and stressful day, it’s “you know, that place next to the grocery store!” Or in the case of Lafayette’s “Secret Chinese Restaurant” (which I’ve heard will reopen soon after renovations), you refer to it by its unexpected location at the back of a grocery store.

Tipmont’s board of directors held its regular board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 25. All directors were present. Also attending were CEO Ron Holcomb and Attorney Jeff Helmerick.

At Bistro 501, perhaps the only thing larger than the portions are those beckoning windows. If you’ve ever strolled down Main Street in Lafayette, you’ve no doubt gazed through them — curious about the fowl-themed interior décor … and likely envious of the food folks are enjoying inside.

After several months of planning to become an internet service provider, we’re finally ready to begin connecting our first members. In August, our engineering group selected Berry It as our fiber construction contractor. By the time you read this, the Kokomo-based contractor will be well underway building the first connections near our Linden office.

A friend’s recent Facebook callout for favorite eateries yielded some surprising choices and the opportunity to realize that our area’s culinary cachet is, indeed, mighty fine.

This is my first column opportunity since our July 28 Annual Meeting at McCutcheon High School. Officially, 899 memberships attended, an 18 percent increase from 2017. Thank you to all who took the time to visit with us. I want to also extend my congratulations to Jan Harlow on her re-election to Tipmont’s board of directors.

Although the deadline for this article was before our 2018 Annual Meeting, by the time it lands in your mailbox, we'll have another meeting in the books. As I write this, Tipmont’s staff is putting the finishing touches on what we hope will be an informative and engaging experience for all in attendance.