HORIZONS $
A gl impse of l i fe in Southwest Mi chigan
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Civic Pride Community spirit runs deep for citizens
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fun facts Things you didn’t know about Michiana
y happy living See what makes the region special
Unsung Heroes
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SHINING STARS
Individuals who go above and beyond
Meet some of the area’s brightest students
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b Leader Publications
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Horizons 2014
NILES COMMUNITY SCHOOLS www.nilesschools.org
Expanded CTE Eastside Connections School
Watch them shine
Making a decision about where you send your child to school is about more than textbooks, bricks and mortar. It’s about providing the vital preparation necessary to ensure successes as they take their place in the world. At Niles Community Schools, your child is important to us. You are important to us. We will work together with you for the best education for your child.
W-A-Y & W-A-Y Forward
Niles New Tech
9 - 12th grade experience combining problem-based learning with a culture built on trust, respect and responsibility.
Eastside Connections School
K - 8th grade magnet school experience with endorsed problembased learning instruction and an expectation of 100% parent engagement.
W-A-Y & W-A-Y Forward
6 - 12th grade virtual experience combining project-based and online learning with personalized face-to-face instruction.
Strive At Ballard
Strive & Aspire At Ballard
K - 5th grade experience combining whole-brain learning with problem and project based learning.
Early College
9 - 12th grade opportunity to receive college credit and experience through Lake Michigan College, Southwestern Michigan College and Andrews University.
Expanded CTE
9 - 12th grade experience that prepares young adults for careers in automotive technology, agriscience and natural resources, culinary arts, graphic design, health careers, and welding and fabrication.
Montessori PreSchool
Montessori Pre-School
3 - 6 year olds experience a classroom that is purposefully designed to accommodate sequence and order through practical life, sensorial, language, math and cultural exploration.
Professional Health Careers Academy
Niles New Tech
Early College
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At Lake Michigan College, you’ll find new opportunities and an inviting atmosphere where friendships are made. Living on campus you’ll experience the Lake Effect first-hand. Welcome to a quality education. Welcome to freedom. Welcome to college life at Lake Michigan College.
FEATURES: • • • • •
Free wireless access In-suite 42” flat panel TV, washer, and dryer Full kitchen including microwave and dishwasher Large outdoor recreation area 4-person and 2-person suites
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Horizons 2014
For Community Support!
By Giving Over... • $3.4 million to Advantages for Education program for local schools. • Nearly $2 million to child abuse prevention programs raised during Roofsit • Over $550,000 to churches, schools and other non-profit groups with our “Food Funds” fundraising program • College scholarships annually for employees and children of employees • Plus, ongoing support to area food pantries, little leagues, and many other community non-profit organizations!
Martin’s commitment to our communities began more than 65 years ago with our founders, Martin & Jane Tarnow. It continues today as our company’s main philosophy. Your locally-owned grocery store that has been investing in our communities for over 65 years!
Horizons 2014
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table of
CONTENTS stars 6 Shining Standout students recognized for efforts Brandywine’s superfan 11 Meet Nate Clark quietly supporting Bobcats since 1989 just a fish tale 15 Not Invasive species poses threat to Great Lakes is ‘Michiana?’ 19 What Locals weigh in on accuracy of description facts 22 Fun Community trivia sheds light on uniqueness a foundation 24 Laying Pipeliners boost area economy hope 27 Fostering Couple opens home to more than 30 children the road to freedom 30 On Underground Railroad leads to formation of church 32 Lakewatch Surfers enjoy extreme sport, help save lives years of fun 35 50 Botanical garden celebrates its milestone year life’ close to home 38 ‘College Area schools provide opportunities at low cost call of duty 43 Real Soldier realizes his dream in serving America love 45 Digital Tips for online dating success a Young American 47 Becoming CEO’s production roots began in Niles Michigan history 49 Preserving Legislation prevents demolition of lighthouses
Michigan or Hollywood? 56 Southwest Cass resident recalls experience as movie extra stores, one couple 58 Two Husband and wife carry on tradition brusher 60 Dragon Illustrator ‘drew’ inspiration from time at Ballard group puts kids first 63 Women’s Service League celebrates 80th anniversary local 66 Eating Trend in homegrown food takes root in Michiana mission 68 Rescue Family offers safe haven for four-legged friends league of their own 72 AProgressive movement leaves lasting effects Winds Dowagiac: 10 months later 74 Four Casino progresses in first year up for democracy 76 Standing League of Voters not just for women & cook 81 Catch Charter groups, restaurants partner on program food craze 84 Cottage New law empowers local cooks Then and now 86 Dowagiac: A look at the growth of the Grand Old City with Miss Blossomtime 88 Q&A Katlynn Kennedy talks about year of royalty bullying 90 Beating Area schools hard at work to combat growing issue heroes 92 Unsung Locals recognized for efforts in community
c Meet The
shining stars Most seniors spend their final year of high school eating up every second of their childhood they can before leaving their friends and family to begin the next chapters of their lives. Some students, however, have spent the better part of their high school years preparing for that next chapter, giving up their social lives to donate time to the community, study for advanced classes or create a legacy to leave behind when they go. These students are our community’s SHINING STARS.
By Ambrosia Neldon
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Eleanor “Ele” Hein Niles High School
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leanor Hein loves people. She loves learning about people, being around people, helping people and serving people. Which is probably why, when she graduates from Niles High School in the spring, “Ele” plans to pursue a degree in sociology or anthropology. “I’ve always had a passion for history, and I like the idea of being outside and working around other people who have similar interests. I’m interested how cultures have changed and become what they’ve become,” Hein said. Last summer, Hein raised nearly $900 for cancer research by selling her duck, “Chuck,” at the Cass County Youth Fair. “I like to see a difference made. I like touching other people’s lives with my own. It gives me a lot of self-worth to know that I can live and it can benefit other people as well,” Hein said. In addition to 4-H, Hein participates in the Future Farmers of America parliamentary procedure team, plays trumpet in the Niles marching and concert bands and is a member of the varsity golf team. Although her interests are more right-brained, Hein decided to attend the Math and Science Center at Andrews University in Berrien Springs. “A lot of the reason I did it is that a lot of my older sisters had done it before me,” Hein said. “I also liked the challenge. The classes are harder, and it gives me an opportunity to excel.” Hein has not decided which school she will attend in the fall. She is currently weighing the options of Western Michigan University, Lake Michigan College and Mercyhurst College.
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aculty members at Brandywine High School describe Sarah DeRosa as a student who strives for achievement and encourages others to do the same. Halfway through her senior year, DeRosa, 18, has already been recognized by numerous entities for her efforts in and out of the classroom, iincluding ncluding being chosen as her school’s representative for the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizen of the Year and a Rotary Student of the Month. In a letter of recommendation for the DAR award, David Roeder, a social studies teacher at Brandywine, wrote, “Sarah is gifted and talented in all facets of her high school career. She changes the lives of those she comes in contact with. Her leadership by example is unmatched at Brandywine High School. She represents what is good and honorable in today’s future leaders.” Sarah credits her accomplishments with a simple course of action. “I work very, very hard to accomplish all that I have,” she said. “I’ve been raised to work very hard for my grades. I always try to show good citizenship and volunteer service when I can.” Between school and her part-time job at Martin’s Supermarkets in Niles, DeRosa makes time to give back to her community. Some efforts include cleaning up Madeline-Bertrand Park in Niles and chaperoning middle school student council events. “I love volunteering because I believe that there are just so many things that come out of it. It builds a young adult’s character and helps them to experience good things. It really helps the community.”
Sarah DeRosa Brandywine High School
Cameron Hayden
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Horizons 2014
Cassopolis High School
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or an 18 year-old, Cameron Hayden has quite the list of achievements. Currently president of his Future Farmers of America Chapter, the Cassopolis senior is at the top of his class and has received statewide awards for FFA-related projects. “Literally, if I had to pick one person — student or staff member — to represent our school at a conference, seminar or what have you, I would not hesitate to nominate this student,” said Bob Sieko, principal of Ross Beatty High School. “Our high school is named after one of the major national FFA-leading teachers. I can tell you Ross Beatty would be proud of Cameron.” Sieko said Hayden is currently competing for several statewide awards for FFA, but is also “in the national conversation.” Last summer, Hayden worked with administrators at Cassopolis Public Schools to implement an agri-science program into the curriculum at the high school. “In interviews last year, one of the community members asked each of us what we wanted to leave as an impact when we left the chapter,” Hayden said. “It was in my interest to get more kids in the country to learn about the industry.” Hayden is currently in the running to become a member of the state executive board for FFA. “I’ve been participating as much as I can to get to that position. Right now, I’m just working with my advisors to show my ability to lead so I stand out,” he said. If Hayden is elected to the board, he will attend Lansing Community College to study business. If not, he will travel west to a junior livestock judging college. Outside of FFA, Hayden’s teachers say he studies hard in school and volunteers a lot in the community.
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hile many high school students place priority on social events and other extra-curricular activities, Kristen Miller has dedicated her attention to her studies, and her hard work has paid off. In the fall, the Edwardsburg High School student will begin her pre-medical studies at Grand Valley State University. “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. I just love how the human body works,” Miller said. “I’m so fascinated by it.” With an impressive 3.95 grade point average, Miller is currently number 11 in her graduating class. “I’m really dedicated to academics, but I also do cross-country and track. I’m in National Honor Society and 4-H,” she said. “I like the status of being in NHS. You’re looked up to from the younger kids. You’re a leader, and I like that.” Miller said she has participated in 4-H since she was 4 years old and has shown a number of animals, from dogs and sheep to rabbits and geese. In addition to academic honors, Miller has received athletic recognition for track and cross-country. She made all-conference squads in both, and the allregional squad her sophomore year. Despite her busy schedule, Miller said she is sure to keep the focus on her future, and she is excited to begin her studies at GVSU. “I haven’t decided what kind of doctor I want to be. Right now I’m thinking either an orthopedist or regular family physician,” she said.
Kristen Miller Edwardsburg High School
Nicholas Bogen
Horizons 2014
Dowagiac Union High School
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icholas Bogen has dedicated the majority of his life to becoming a leader. An extremely active member of his community, the Dowagiac Union High School senior class president can often be found directing traffic and teaching the public about safety with the Cass County Emergency Response Team (CERT), doing public relations for the high school musicals, volunteering for his church group or building robots with his school’s robotics team. “I don’t like being bored. I’m not very athletic, so I don’t play sports and stuff, and this gives me something to do to say that I’ve done it, and it looks good to the community,” Bogen said. Throughout high school, Bogen has been continuously recognized for his volunteerism. In 2011, he was named the CERT Volunteer of the Year and in 2012 he received the Youth Coordinator of the Year award at the Michigan Citizen’s Corp conference. His sophomore year of high school, Bogen was chosen by school administration to represent Dowagiac at the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership (HOBY) conference in Midland, Mich. Bogen said he especially appreciated his experience at HOBY because he was able to meet student leaders from all over the state. In the fall, Bogen plans to attend Central Michigan University to study meteorology. “It’s just something that interests me,” he joked. “Not many people can say that they’re a meteorologist. You can be wrong and still have a job.”
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hanks to a multitude of opportunities provided by the Buchanan school district, Luke Higgins is well on his way to accomplishing his dreams. Despite the intense coursework and lengthy amount of schooling, Higgins aspires to be a doctor. A senior at Buchanan High School, he is dual-enrolled at Andrews University’s Math and Science Center. “At the Math and Science Center I get to really explore science through college-level math labs. It’s high school honors courses taught by college professors, but we have access to really great labs,” Higgins said. In addition to his advanced courses at Andrews University, Higgins is enrolled in the Professional Health Careers Academy (PHCA) at Lakeland Hospital in Niles, where he spends much of his free time as well. “I do volunteer, primarily at Lakeland in the emergency room. I do general things. I’ll bring patients warm blankets and water and clean rooms when they’re dirty,” he said. Through PHCA, Higgins also participates in Health Occupations Students of America. In March, he will compete in the state-level speech competition for the second time. As for which school he will attend, Higgins said he is “leaning toward the University of Michigan,” to which he has already been accepted. “I think that by allowing me to go different places, Buchanan High School has really allowed for me to be in different environments and really find my strengths and find my weaknesses,” Higgins said. “It’s really allowed me to get the best education I possibly can, and I’m really grateful for the school allowing me to have these experiences.”
Luke Higgins Buchanan High School
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Meet Brandywine’s
Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT
SUPERFAN Nate Clark quietly supporting the Bobcats since 1989 By Craig Haupert
craig.haupert@leaderpub.com
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ate Clark might not be the loudest fan Brandywine has ever had, but he is certainly one of the most devoted. For the past 23 years, the 53-year-old Niles native has attended every one of Brandywine’s varsity home football games. Although he hasn’t kept an exact tally, Clark estimates he’s been to 90 percent of the school’s home games and 75 percent of its away games since 1989. That’s not just for football
— that’s for all varsity sports. If Clark isn’t the Bobcats’ No. 1 fan, he is certainly one of a few challenging for the title. “I don’t have a passion for anything but this,” said Clark. “Where it came from and how it happened, I don’t know.” Vance Stratton, the school’s athletic director, described Clark as his “go-to guy” when it comes to Brandywine sports history. “He does an absolute phenomenal job of research, just phenomenal,” Stratton said. “He’s not like a fan you would typically see on TV. He just comes to games and watches and supports our teams. He is
not real vocal, but he just is one of those people you love to have around a program.”
The love of the game
Clark wasn’t heavily involved in athletics while he was a student at Brandywine. Prior to graduating in 1980, Clark said he attended only four or five sporting events, while joining just one team — the track team — as a sophomore. “I think I was the only one on the team that didn’t score a point,” he said. Clark fell in love with sports while serving with the U.S. Navy from 1981-85. While stationed in Philadelphia on
the USS Saratoga, Clark said he and his Navy buddies would go to Phillies games and other professional sporting events on their breaks. “I got to see Pete Rose play while he was with the Phillies. It was exciting,” Clark said. “I think that’s when I got caught up in sports.” Clark returned home in time to catch the fever surrounding Brandywine’s state championship baseball team in 1987. “I didn’t watch that one, but I remember when they came back for the parade. I recognized they were good,” he said. After that, Clark began attending games and has been
hooked ever since. “I don’t know how I got addicted to it. I think it was just a big bang and it happened,” he said. Unless you are a coach, athletic director or longtime fan, you might not notice Clark, who describes himself as shy and reserved. “I’ll throw my fist in the air when something big happens, but I’m not that boisterous,” he said. Clark recently bought a spirit rag with the intent of waving it around his head at games. He took it to the first See FAN, page 12
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FAN
From page 11
football game in the fall of 2013, but it never left his pocket. “I thought, ‘I just can’t do it,’” he said. “I wish I was yelling and screaming more. I wish I was more fun to watch, but it’s just not me.”
Speak softly
Lacking a strong voice, Clark has found other ways to make an impact on Brandywine athletics. About 10 years ago, he began compiling a history of all school sports by combing through microfilm records at the library and scanning local papers. He keeps the statistics from every game he can find in a few binders labeled by sport. “Everyone who has ever scored a basket at Brandywine is in here,” said Clark, pointing to his boys basketball binder. “I keep updating them too. Every game. If the box score doesn’t show up in the paper, I’ll have a fit.” Clark is also notorious for paying too much at games for concessions or tickets. “I’ve been known to pay $20 for a pop and a hot dog, but it’s my way of donating,” he said. “Brandywine doesn’t have a lot of money for athletics, so I like to help out where I can.” Stratton said Clark is quick to volunteer whether he is asked or not, from working the team gate during football season to pulling weeds around the track in the offseason. “There are so many things he does that most people don’t know about,” he said. “He’s just a Brandywine supporter through and through. You couldn’t ask any more of a person than he does.” One of Clark’s biggest projects involved him making by hand miniature replicas of each Brandywine football helmet design. They are currently decorating a wall at his home on Fulkerson Road — the same home he has lived in since he was a child. “Vance thought that was so cool. They put them in the showcase for like six months,” he said. “If they have a reunion there they
Horizons 2014 will call me up and borrow them.”
Beyond the scoreboard
While Clark can’t pinpoint the reason he got hooked on Brandywine athletics, he knows why he keeps coming back — the stories behind the scores. For instance, one of Clark’s favorite moments happened during the championship game of the 2007 Matt Kurtis Memorial softball tournament, named after a former team manager who died of cancer in 2006. The game was played between Dowagiac and Brandywine and featured a Brandywine pitcher named Kendra Zache, who was a good friend of Kurtis. In the bottom of the ninth inning, with the game tied at 5, Zache hit a solo home run to win the game. Clark was there to see the whole thing. “You could see when she was coming off the field she was fighting back tears,” Clark said. “You knew what that game meant to her friendship with Matt. “Those are the best moments — when there are other things going on besides the score. There’s always things happening within a game.” Clark’s favorite team is the 2000 Brandywine girls basketball team that made it to the state semifinals, despite a regular season record that was barely over .500. “That team all of a sudden got hot for some reason. I just think it was unexpected — they were overachievers,” he said. “From 2000 on, the girls sports have just exploded. I think that 2000 girls basketball team may have been the igniter that got things going.” Clark plans on attending games as long as he can. He said his passion for Brandywine sports continues to grow every year. “What makes Brandywine special is the community. We don’t have a lot of money. You won’t drive around my neighborhood and mistake us for Beverly Hills,” he said. “It’s amazing what Brandywine has done over the years, especially the girls sports, winning all the time with so little. It makes them easy to root for.”
Leader photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ
Nate Clark, right, talks with longtime Brandywine coach and teacher, Jim Myers at a girls basketball game.
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Cass County COA: Enhancing Lives The story of the Cass County COA is one of perseverance and drive. It is also a testimony to a community dedicated to providing innovative services to adults who seek lives of purpose and action. In 1972, a hayfield sat on the corner of Decatur Road and Highway 60. Within a few short years that hayfield would be home to the 20,000 square foot Cass County COA. A group had gathered to ensure that they would no longer need to go from place to place in order to receive activities and services. They knew the future meant a large population would soon enter the ranks of 60 plus, making it a necessity. With the goal of a permanent facility in mind, they went to someone they knew might have seed money. In 1947, a young Ed Lowe was working at his father’s company that sold industrial absorbents. A woman came in one day asking for something other than sand for her cat box. Sand left a messy trail all over the house. She wanted something else. Ed had an idea. He put together a bag with a clay mixture. The rest is Kitty Litter history. Soon Lowe was perfecting and packaging his new product. The market for it grew to the point that soon it had annual sales of $210 million. Mr. Lowe had what you call seed money! The forward looking group approached Mr. Lowe about a $1 million matching grant. And with fortitude and perseverance, the group raised a matching amount in three short years. At that point, Ed Lowe could see the great things that the group had in mind so he donated the hayfield and an old school that sat on the property. Thus, the Lowe Center in Cassopolis became a reality. Today, the Lowe Center is home to hundreds of activities—adult learning programs, communal meals, parties, craft making, movies, dance clubs, bridge, euchre, cribbage, chess, book clubs, a thriving fitness center and more. And the drive and perseverance that was present in the founders is still alive and well. Innovation has not stopped either. The demand for programming is growing as never before throughout the county. In 2009, it was obvious that the Cassopolis facility was bulging at the seams, so the Cass County COA took on a capital campaign to build another facility in
Dowagiac. By 2011, the funds had been raised and Front Street Crossing opened. Programming is now doubled and meals, parties, clubs, exercise activities and innovative learning programs are offered at two state-ofthe-art facilities: the Lowe Center in Cassopolis and Front Street Crossing in Dowagiac. The Cass County COA is always planning and preparing to meet the needs in our county by offering first class programs and services with the goal of Enhancing lives. Through the Care Services department, the COA literally comes to the door of those who want to stay in their home. These services are designed to help older adults age in place, at home. There is nothing like a hot, nutritious meal delivered right to your door every day. The COA’s Meals on Wheels are delivered by volunteers who bring a hot meal, a smile and a daily check in for those who are home bound. If you or a loved one needs a little extra care, call Care Services and ask them to help you arrange InHome Care. An aide will come and help with bathing, light housekeeping, cooking and other non-skilled care activities. This program has allowed many Cass County residents stay in their home and enjoy life more. The Lowe Center features the only Adult Day Service program in the county. Clients enjoy the day in a beautiful living room setting and receive support from wonderful caregivers who plan daily activities and provide hot meals. With advance arrangements, the COA can pick up your loved one and drive them home as well. For caregivers, the Adult Day Service offers them much-needed respite from the stresses and anxiety of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. If you have never taken advantage of all the Cass County COA has to offer, please stop in at either the Cassopolis Lowe Center or Front Street Crossing in Dowagiac. There are more activities and services available than you can imagine. Call the Cass County COA today for more information, 269-445-8110. Stop by, we look forward to meeting you.
Cass County
COA
Enhancing Life Lowe Center 60525 Decatur Rd. Cassopolis, MI 49031
Front Street Crossing 227 S. Front Street Dowagiac, MI 49047
(800) 323.0390 • (269) 445.8110 • www.CassCOA.org
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Horizons 2014
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Horizons 2014
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Not just
a fish tale Invasive fish species poses threat to Great Lakes
By Jill McCaughan
jill.mccaughan@leaderpub.com
W
hen it comes to the subject of Asian carp, the doomsday warnings in the news are nothing new. It’s almost enough to make folks want to shake their heads and walk away. What is new is that scientists, environmental activists and government officials seem to have finally agreed that the invasive fish pose a threat to the Great Lakes and that something needs to be done to stop them. “Everyone I’ve spoken to understands that it’s a problem,” said Marc Smith, senior policy manager for the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center. “The Asian carp are at the core of the major threats to the Great Lakes. They are one of those threats you can really see,” Smith said. “We’ve all seen the videos of silver carp leaping out of the water.” Now, with the long-awaited release of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Great Lakes Mississippi River Interbasin Study (or GLMRIS), the news media has been flooded with articles about ways to keep the carp from getting into the Great Lakes, and how much this threat will cost. However, with so much attention being paid to the problem and the high cost of the possible solutions, residents of southwest Michigan may be wondering, “What does any of this really have to do with me?” To answer that question, we first have to look at how likely it is that they could wind up here — not just in Lake Michigan, but in the St. Joseph River and in the creeks and streams that feed it. In 2012, the Army Corps identified the two most likely paths for Asian carp to enter the Great Lakes. “The Chicago Area Waterway System and Eagle Marsh on the
Photo submitted by Dan O’Keefe
Dan O’Keefe, of the Michigan Sea Grant, poses with a big-head carp caught on a research expedition.
Wabash River are the two big concerns,” Smith said. “The Asian carp are on the brink of coming into the Great Lakes through the Chicago canals.” While the 2014 GLMRIS report presents eight plans for blocking that route, one has received the most
attention: The complete separation of the two hydrological basins. That full report can be read at www.glmris.anl.gov. “In their own report, they say that the separation of the two watersheds is the most effective way to stop the movement of the species,” Smith
said of the plan that would also allow for shipping to continue between the two waterways. But, is keeping the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes worth the $15.5 billion price tag? See CARP, page 16
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Horizons 2014
CARP From page 15
“What we do know is that, if the carp do come in, they’ll hug the shorelines and go into the river systems and use them to spawn, and they’d do very well there,” Smith said. Furthermore, in 2013 the U.S. Geological Survey identified the St. Joseph River as one of two most likely “first stops” on the carp’s journey northward into the rest of Lake Michigan. And, according to the Michigan DNR’s website, “It’s a safe bet that if they do hit Lake Michigan, they’ll wind up in the St. Joe. “ That is why the DNR chose the St. Joseph River as the location for the twoday carp fishing exercise they conducted in September 2013. With that said, if Asian carp do infest the St. Joseph River and its watershed, it will mean a great deal to all the residents of the region, not just to those who enjoy fishing or boating in general. Much of the talk about their impact has involved the threat that they pose to the salmon and steelhead sport fishery. “The way the Asian carp might affect salmon and trout fishing would be through influencing bait fish, and we already know that [the bait fish] are in trouble,” said Dr. Daniel O’Keefe, Southwest District Extension educator
at the Michigan Sea Grant. “They would eat the zooplankton that the baitfish eat.” That could cause the collapse of sport fishing in the Great Lakes, a $7.2 billion industry that supplied Michigan with 19,805 jobs in 2011, explained O’Keefe, citing a survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But the impact of Asian carp on fishing in Michigan would be felt much further inland. “As a southwest Michigan resident, what concerns me is the potential impact on inland fishing in lakes and rivers, and that’s huge, and it gets passed over,” said O’Keefe. “The walleye fisheries in the bays are also at great risk from this.” “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s national study ranked Michigan as the state with the third highest amount of money in angler expenditures — that includes everything people spend on
going fishing: boats, boat motors, tackle, everything. “Michigan is ranked number one in the Great Lakes for the economic impact of fishing on its economy, and it is number two in the country for expenditures made by out-of-state anglers,” O’Keefe said. “Michigan is second only to Florida in that.” The destruction of southwest Michigan’s inland fisheries would mean the end of a huge amount of tourism dollars as well as the loss of recreational opportunities for residents. And, fishing only accounts for a small portion of the recreational boating — and the money that it generates — in southwest Michigan. “The thing that doesn’t get talked about is the recreational boating. It would really change the way people recreate here. It would also place a stigma on this region as a vacation des-
tination,” O’Keefe said, referring to the tendency of Asian carp to congregate in the same types of areas where marinas are built. “If boating in the Great Lakes took only a 1 percent hit, 20,246 jobs would be lost in the Great Lakes region, and 513 would be lost in Michigan alone,” O’Keefe explained, citing his own research. In short, when experts talk about Asian carp getting into Lake Michigan, they are talking about these fish destroying a huge portion of the tourism economy, an economy that countless other industries rely on. “We have a unique economic engine here in the Great Lakes,” Smith said. “The impact of Asian carp would be great.” So, what can we do as residents of an area that could be so greatly impacted by the Asian carp? The U.S. Army Corps of engineers is accepting comments on the GLMRIS report through March 3 via www.glmris.anl.gov. “Voice your opinions to the Corps, and make sure you reference which of the eight options you prefer. State it clearly,” O’Keefe recommended. After that, concerned citizens can stay abreast of the latest developments and urge their representatives and senators to act quickly. “We’re not at the point where all is lost, by any means,” O’Keefe said.
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Community Events
• Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration • Craft Brew Festival • Santa’s Big Arrival Find out about all the fun at NilesMi.com
Providing a positive leadership role in our Community using Chamber resources to promote Member Businesses while developing new Business growth since 1919. Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to serving the needs of businesses and the community. Together, the Chamber does what no person can do by themselves. The Chamber acts as your voice and support in growing the community of Niles.
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Excellent Sponsorship opportunities
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Business information, maps and conference space
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Horizons 2014
Your community-owned electric utility is at your service.
Go Green with the City of Niles Use PSN (Payment Service Network) to make utility and tax payments by phone or online. Click on the link at www.ci.niles.mi.us. Taxes and Utility bills can be paid using our convenient drive-through service. The Utilities Department will be distributing CFL bulbs this spring to electric customers to encourage energy savings. Our Energy Smart Program offers recycling of your older model refrigerators and freezers. For more information, contact JACO at 877-270-3519. The Utilities Department offers rebates on the purchase of energy efficient appliances, air conditioning and commercial applications. For more information, contact Franklin Energy at 877-674-7281.
City Hall and the City of Niles Utilities Department are located at 333 N. Second Street Niles, Michigan 49120 269-683-4700
www.ci.niles.mi.us
Horizons 2014
What is
19
Locals weigh in on meaning, accuracy of description
‘Michiana?’ By Jill McCaughan
jill.mccaughan@leaderpub.com
I
f you’re looking to open a can of worms, or even start a fight, just start asking people about the word “Michiana.” Not only is there much confusion on the street as to what “Michiana” actually means, but there is disagreement as to its origin and whether or not it should even be used at all. That’s not to say that everyone takes issue with “Michiana.” Many people have no problem with the word, but when people do have a problem with it, it seems to be a pretty big deal. At the risk of starting a border war that could rival the great Michigan-Ohio War of 1835-1836, let’s take a look at the dark and mysterious history of “Michiana.” Of course, the word “Michiana” is a blend of Michigan and Indiana, but beyond that, where did it even come from? According to a number of sources, the word “Michiana” was the winning entry in a 1934 contest held by the Associated South Bend Merchants in an effort to rename the commercial region surrounding South Bend. That organization is long gone, having been replaced by other associations including the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce, but the word “Michiana” lives on. One town even took on the name when it incorporated in 1945 — Michiana, Michigan — a community of about 400 homes that sits just north of the Indiana border on Lake Michigan. However, chambers of commerce now appear to be rather ambivalent about the term, with little use of the word “Michiana” to be found on their websites. The St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce does define the word as referring to “a nine-county, bi-state (Indiana and Michigan) region with nearly one million people. Locals refer to this region as Michiana.” However, the chamber does not offer a listing of those counties, and other organizations include as few as two counties and as many as 15 counties in their definitions of the region. In fact, it seems that the only common thread is that all of the areas include South Bend as a central element. Some include counties in Michigan — specifically Berrien and Cass — and some do not. And, while Berrien and Cass were at one time members of the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), they left that association when the Southwest Michigan Regional Planning Commission was established in 1973. The St. Joseph County Airport did adopt the name in 1974, becoming the Michiana Regional Airport, “to reflect the regional character of the airport,” according to its website. However, that only lasted about 25 years before the entity dropped “Michiana,”
changing the name once again, this time to the South Bend Airport. And so, with no airport serving such a region, no chamber of commerce representing that specific area called “Michiana,” and no interstate governmental authority encompassing “Michiana,” the only place to go for a definition is to the people who use the word themselves. That would be the “locals” that the chamber referred to. But then, if we don’t know what the region is, who is local to it? Michiganders? Hoosiers? Both? Taking it to the 2014 equivalent of “the man on the street” — that would be Facebook — seemed to be the next logical step. Many responded to the question of “What is ‘Michiana’?” with a simple description of a region that runs along the boundary line of Indiana and Michigan, from roughly South Bend to Lake Michigan. “It’s the areas between Michigan S t . and Indiana, mainly along the Joseph lakeshore. You have the IndiRiver ana Dunes, Mt. B a l d y, further seems to and run through north,” said at least some one New Bufof Michiana: “I think ‘Michiana’ is a falo native. “It’s good term. …We are lucky enough to just a cute name be close to such a diverse and good for people from fishery that nobody should be biased out-of-town.” by a state line!” “I always Others added that they most comthought it remonly hear the term on television ferred to the news, and in fact that may be a reason Michigan/Inthat the term has continued to spread diana area — even as governments and other orgaSouth Bend, nizations have dropped “Michiana.” Niles,” re“I think the connections are related sponded anto the TV stations and the news meother Michidia,” said Jonathan Wuepper, mangander. ager of the local history branch of “The Michthe Cass County District Library. “I igan/Indiana use it because I work in Cass County, border,” a I’m in South Bend or Elkhart at least resident once a week, and I feel like a citizen of St. Joof Michiana. It really is a region.” seph, Mich. The connection to broadcasting agreed. seems plausible, with the rise of raO t h e r dio and television taking shape in the Michigan1930s and 1940s when “Michiana” was ders fostill new. And, since there are no commercial cused television broadcasting stations based in southwestern on the Michigan, residents are left to rely on stations based fact that See MICHIANA, page 20 Illustration by Cricket Nelson the
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Quick Facts CASS COUNTY, MICH.
MICHIANA From page 19
in Chicago, Kalamazoo, and most commonly, South Bend. However, some respondents did not seem to think that the use of “Michiana” is such an innocuous coincidence. One Michigan resident wrote, “It’s a marketing technique to try to make people from Michigan believe that businesses and news organizations from Indiana care about us. That term has always been a pet peeve of mine.” Another agreed: “I originally thought it was a term to describe a ‘buffer’ zone, the land on both sides of the state line between Michigan and Indiana that shared historical, cultural and economic interests and only technically live in separate geopolitical realities. But, then I started thinking of it as a subversive plot to allow people from Indiana to feel like they have some claim to us in Michigan.” Of course, those are the kind of inflammatory statements that could start
that border war mentioned earlier, so who better to turn to for the final word than a Michigan historian? “When you think about it, ‘Michiana’ does have a meaning to a certain extent. Northern Indiana is more like Michigan than it is the rest of Indiana,” said Rick Brill, professor of Michigan history at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. “We used to own that. If you put a dot on the southernmost tip of Lake Michigan and then go due east, that’s the original southern border. The original Michigan would have taken in Gary, South Bend, and Toledo.” “Indiana asked Congress if they could have just 10 more miles north so that they could have some of the lakeshore,” Brill explained. “It was very unsettled, marshy land at the time. Congress agreed, and the Territory of Michigan gave it up, almost peacefully.” With that said, perhaps the best option is to reserve “Michiana” specifically for that 10-mile strip that Michigan gave up almost 100 years before the term was even coined.
People Population, 2012 estimate Persons under 5 years, percent, 2012 Persons under 18 years, percent, 2012 Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2012 Female persons, percent, 2012
52,242 5.4% 22.5% 17.9% 50.1%
Business Private nonfarm establishments, 2011 Private nonfarm employment, 2011 Total number of firms, 2007 Women-owned firms, percent, 2007
734 7,023 4,140 S
Geography Land area in square miles, 2010 Persons per square mile, 2010
490.06 106.7
BERRIEN COUNTY, MICH.
People Population, 2012 estimate Persons under 5 years, percent, 2012 Persons under 18 years, percent, 2012 Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2012 Female persons, percent, 2012
156,067 6.1% 23.0% 16.9% 51.2%
Business Private nonfarm establishments, 2011 Private nonfarm employment, 2011 Total number of firms, 2007 Women-owned firms, percent, 2007
3,623 51,085 13,864 28.7%
Geography Persons per square mile, 2010 Land area in square miles, 2010
276.2 567.75
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, IND.
People Population, 2012 estimate Persons under 5 years, percent, 2012 Persons under 18 years, percent, 2012 Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2012 Female persons, percent, 2012
60,796 6.7% 25.3% 15.7% 50.4%
Business Private nonfarm establishments, 2011 Private nonfarm employment, 2011 Total number of firms, 2007 Women-owned firms, percent, 2007
1,182 19,492 4,656 24.4%
Geography Land area in square miles, 2010 Persons per square mile, 2010
500.59 122.4
S — Suppressed, does not meet publication standards Results compiled from the United States Census Bureau
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Celebrating 100 years of Niles Heritage E.X. Smith Residence, 1914
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Fun Facts By Scott Novak
scott.novak@leaderpub.com
W
hat makes each and every community throughout the world unique are the small tidbits of information. Things that may not seem impor-
tant to some are part of the history and heritage for others. In the end, when you sew all those tidbits together, you make up the fabric of a community. The same is true right here in southwest Michigan for the communities of Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg and Niles.
Cassopolis • The community may have been named after Lewis Cass, who was a prominent U.S. Senator from Michigan prior to the Civil War, but its claim to fame comes from Ed Lowe, who invented cat litter. The brand “Kitty Litter” is known throughout the United States. • Cassopolis was also the home of Iven
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Kincheloe, who was a test pilot and aviation pioneer, and Dennis Archer, a Michigan Supreme Court Justice and a two-term mayor of Detroit. • The community has produced many great athletes, including Kevin Loder, who was a first-round selection of the Kansas City Kings in the 1981 NBA draft.
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Dowagiac Fishing lures, drive-in theaters, an Olympian and a stove company all have put Dowagiac on the map nationally. • James Heddon was the inventor of the artificial fishing lure and anyone lucky to still own one has a very valuable piece of history. Heddon founded the company in
1894. The original lures were frogs carved from broomsticks. • The community is also famous for its Round Oak Stoves, which were created by Philo D. Beckwith. The Round Oak Stove Company was founded in 1871. The stoves are greatly sought after by collectors. • Dowagiac is also the former home of Tony Award winning actress Judith Ivy, Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist Webb Miller, and Kenneth Porter, who was a World War I ace credited with five enemy kills. • The city is also the home to the late Chris Taylor, whose wrestling career is legendary. He was a star at Iowa State and won the bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. A poster of Taylor being thrown by German Alexander Medved can still be purchased online. The controversial match can be viewed on YouTube.
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Edwardsburg • According to the last Census, the Edwardsburg area zip code was home to 10,000 residents. The Super Bowl was recently hosted in East Rutherford, N.J., a town that has just over 9,000 residents. Perhaps if someone would build a stadium, Edwardsburg could be the site of a future NFL championship game. • Edwardsburg is the home to a pair of former beauty queens that went on to become television news journalists. Deborah Knox, who was Miss Edwardsburg and Miss Blossomtime, went on to be the new anchor at WISH-TV in Indianapolis. Mary Parks, another Miss Edwardsburg, went on to work for NBC4 in Riverside, Calif. • Edwardsburg was also the home to a circus. Marie’s Circus was based in the community on M-62. Among the trained animals were bears, dogs and an alligator, which was kept in a pit where the Fireside Restaurant stands today. The circus performed across the country before returning to Edwardsburg each winter. • In 1915, a picnic held on the shores of Pleasant Lake drew
Niles 3,000 people, including then Michigan Gov. Nathan Ferris. It may not have been the pickle capital of Michigan, but in 1925, Edwardsburg’s school children picked 185 tons of pickles, which were then taken to the pickle-salting factory by the railroad tracks near Maple Street. • Edwardsburg is also the home of Megan and Liz Mace, better known as recording artists Megan & Liz.
Sheriff L. Paul Bailey
• The community got its name from the editor of a Baltimore newspaper — Hezekiah Niles. Its roots, however, can be traced back to the late 1600s when the French built Fort St. Joseph to protect the Jesuit Mission. It was also held by the British and Spanish forces as well as Native Americans, thus the name City of Four Flags. • Niles has been the home of legendary automotive pioneers — the Dodge brothers — John Francis and Horace Elgin. 919 Port Street • Music suJoseph, Michigan 49085 perstar Tommy James, who formed
the Shondells, calls the community home, as did Ring Lardner Sr., noted satirist and sports columnist, and son Ring Lardner Jr., who wrote the book and then the screenplay “MASH.” • The founder of Montgomery Ward, Aaron Montgomery Ward, also lived in Niles.
Berrien County Sheriff’s Department
CRIME PREVENTION UNIT St.
(269) 983-7141 ext. 7221 klaesch@berriencounty.org
Deputy Kelly Laesch
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LAYING A FOUNDATION Pipeliners boost area economy By Ambrosia Neldon
ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com
W
hen Berrien and Cass county residents were first made aware of the enormous construction project that the Keystone Pipeline would bring to the area, there was resistance. Stakeholders directly affected were unhappy that their land would be torn up and dissatisfied with the payouts offered to compensate for the inconvenience. One local man even waged a peaceful protest at the start of construction by sitting in a tree that was to be cut down. Nearly two years later, it is surprising to see how much the southwest Michigan community has welcomed, and even appreciated the presence of the Keystone Pipeline and the economic impact its employees have had on the city of Niles and surrounding communities. “I wouldn’t say there is always resistance in the beginning, but I would say there are always questions,” said Jason Manshum, senior advisor of public affairs for Enbridge, the company that oversaw the project. Initial notifications were sent to key stakeholders — landowners, businesses, etc. — in December 2011 to apprise them of the removal of the then 45-year-old pipeline, and the installation of a new and improved replacement. “The reason why we were replacing 6B in the first place is really two-fold,” Manshum said. “As part of our regular maintenance program, we have a tool that runs inside the pipe. It assesses things like possible dents, cracks and corrosion. Based on the data that came to us from the tool, we had to define 50 miles in total of pipe that would need future maintenance activities.” Manshum said that Enbridge was given the choice between repairing the pipe or replacing it altogether. The company chose the latter. “At roughly the same time,
or roughly thereafter that, we began hearing from our customers — refineries from Michigan and other parts of the Midwest, who essentially told Enbridge we need additional capacity,” Manshum said. “The existing line 6B from the late 1960s cannot produce or transport any more than it has been. In order to meet the growing demand, we elected to replace the balance of the pipe, so everything outside of those 50 miles.” The company will eventually replace all 285 miles of the conduit as part of the second and final phase of the project. The $1.6 billion project has brought with it a substantial amount of revenue to the Niles area, with an estimated $2 million impact on the economy, according to Tyanna Weller, President and CEO of the Four Flags Chamber of Commerce. “At first, when I first heard about (the pipeline coming to Niles), I was told that there would be about 400 people coming August through November,” Weller said. “Considering each person would spend roughly $400 on food and $400 on housing expenses, that gets to be quite an economic impact on Niles.” To Weller’s delight, the number of employees was severely underestimated, with staff exceeding 1,100 workers at the peak of the project in the summer of 2013. Bill Smock, the construction manager of the pipeline, moved his trailer to the Niles Pines mobile home park when the original crew first moved to the city in June 2012. “(Employees) moved into this RV park in Niles and in Spaulding Lake, and every apartment they can rent,” Smock said. “When they came in, everything was full. Every motel
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Submitted photos/graphic
PREVIOUS PAGE: The Enbridge pipeline runs from Griffith, Ind., to Marysville, Mich. ABOVE: Throughout the two years Enbridge has been in Niles, as many as 1,100 employees have migrated to the area, providing a significant boost to the city’s economy.
room, everything. So, monetarily we had a huge impact on Niles.” In his 40 years as a pipeliner, Smock said he has lived in between 80 and 100 cities, moving to two or more cities in each year of his career. “We’ve been treated very well here, and that’s always a blessing,” he said. “It seems to me that the friendlier people are to us in any given city, the more money we tend to spend in that city.” Smock said he and his co-workers frequent restaurants and other businesses in Niles daily. He said the business owners in Niles have welcomed
he and his crew with open arms. “Prime Table Restaurant even named an omelet after us. It’s called the Pipeliner’s omelet,” he said. “It takes three people to eat one. It’s filled with everything but the kitchen sink!” Prime Table co-owner Bill Giannakakis said he decided to create the “working person’s omelet” because several pipeliners frequently ordered the meal, filled with ham, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, jalapenos, onions and cheese. “All of them are very kind and gracious to the staff. We’re very happy to
Welcome to the kitchen. Where ideas thrive. Recipes are born. Meals turn into moments. And life is inspired.
serve them,” Giannakakis said. “It was a nice boost to the economy and we greatly appreciate it.” The Enbridge workers’ generosity did not stop at the local business level, though. Weller said employees of the pipeline have gone out of their way to give back to the community that they have called home for a short time. “At one safety meeting, they raised over $6,000 for the red backpack program,” Weller said, referring to a project to help feed area children. Weller said pipeliners have also donated $4,000 to Brandywine and
Niles schools, and will soon be making donations to several other school districts. She said most donations are collected at group safety meetings, and the employees take money out of their own pockets to give back to various projects. “This is not a project where they just show up, work and leave. They’ve been working 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. most days that they’ve been here — 14-hour days,” Weller said. “And they still find time to be a part of the community, to help give back. We’re going to miss them.”
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Horizons 2014
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Fostering
hope Dowagiac couple opens home to more than 30 children during the past eight years By Craig Haupert
craig.haupert@leaderpub.com
E
very night as she sits down for dinner, 9-year-old Carlee Gibson thanks her mother for making the meal. It’s a simple gesture, but one that tugs at her mother’s heartstrings. “(Carlee) says it every time — every single time,” said Jessica Gibson. “It’s hard because you know there’s an old life attached. ... There was a time when she didn’t know if food was going to be on the table.” Jessica, 29, and her husband, James, 30, became foster parents of Carlee and her biologi-
“
foster families for the Cass County Department of Human Services. According to the program’s child services supervisor, Kristen Williams, there are currently 150 youth in the county’s foster care system. Around 40 percent are placed outside the county, with many children being split from their siblings, because there aren’t enough licensed foster families to take them in Cass County. “There’s a real big need for foster families,” Williams said. “One of the real issues our children face when they are placed outside of the county is they lose their sense of community. They often can’t stay
Everyone feels like there’s a calling in their life, and this is mine. This is my heart. This is my passion.” — Jessica Gibson
cal sisters, Marissa, 11, and Jenna, 8, in 2006. They later adopted all three. Jessica didn’t want to dredge up the painful details of the sisters’ previous family life, but said they came from a traumatic situation. “When we got (Carlee) it was Feb. 28. Her birthday was March 2,” she said. “She never knew what her birthday was. ... She didn’t know a birthday cake, she didn’t know she got presents. Nothing.” The Gibsons are among the approximately 40 licensed
in the same school, participate in the same groups, like 4-H or little league. ... When you lose that it is very traumatic for a child.”
We don’t want kids
The Gibsons are the lead pastors at Victory Tabernacle PC of God in Dowagiac. Jessica, a Dowagiac native, and James, originally fron Flint, met at a youth camp in Hillsdale in the summer of 2001. They were married in 2004.
Neither wanted children. “We both knew we didn’t want our own children between us. That was something we agreed on when we got married,” Jessica said. “It’s not like I can’t have children — there really wasn’t a reason. I just wanted to be with him and he wanted to be with me.” That early decision changed a couple of years later when the two were driving to South Bend, Ind., to do some shopping. On the way, the radio played an advertisement about the need for foster families in the area. Neither one of them talked about it at first, but both remember hearing the ad and how it had stirred up an urge deep inside them. Being people of deep faith, the Gibsons believe God meant for them to hear the ad. Some three weeks later, the topic of fostering came up. “We both looked at each other and something sparked that conversation again,” James said. “We’d been tossing around the idea in our own heads, but neither one of us knew that.” Both quickly agreed to begin the process toward becoming a licensed foster family. They welcomed Marissa, Carlee and Jenna — their first foster placements — into their home Feb. 28, 2006. Since then, they’ve fostered approximately 30 children and adopted four, including Martha, 17, in 2009. Looking back on their original decision not to have children, James said it now makes perfect sense. God meant for
Submitted photo
Jessica and James Gibson decided early in their marriage to foster children instead of having their own.
them to be a foster family. “There was something else in store for us,” James said. “Everyone feels like there’s a calling in their life and this is mine,” Jessica said. “This is my heart. This is my passion.”
Full house
When the Gibsons welcome a foster child into their home, they make sure that child feels welcome. “We never make the foster children feel like foster children. They are part of our family right away,” said Jessica. “We don’t introduce them as foster children. They are members of the family.” The Gibsons’ adopted daughters help too, buying each new foster child a present before showing them around the house. “We try to teach our kids that they have the opportunity to give back,” James said. “Af-
ter all, the girls know what it is like to come into a strange home, not knowing what to expect.” The Gibsons currently have two foster children living with them, making for a full house. James said they have to be very structured and organized to make it work. “We live by calendars,” he said. “By 8:30 in the morning we’ve already been to five schools or day cares. Then we go to work, do what we have to do, and in the afternoon it starts again.” Jessica and James strive to take one day off a week — usually Monday — in order to make sure their marriage remains strong. “We try to do something together and usually it’s just us — unless school is cancelled,” James said. “Let’s just say it’s been a long January for us.” See HOPE, page 28
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HOPE From page 27
Marissa said she enjoys having so many people around the house. “You are never alone — there’s always someone to play with and talk to. I just feel happy,” she said. Despite the seemingly hectic lifestyle, the Gibsons say they wouldn’t change a thing. “I thought we were pretty cool seven years ago,” said James. “Now, our hearts are overwhelmed for the compassion of children. There’s not a child we see that doesn’t have potential.”
Impacting lives Jessica said most foster children come to them confused and scared, not knowing what is next or where they are going. Their job, Jessica said, is to make sure each child feels loved and cared for while they have them. “I love to see the transformation six months later when they are smiling and they are happy,” she said. The time in which the Gibsons have a foster child ranges greatly from a few days to several months. Ultimately, they are the caretakers until DHS determines what to do next, whether that be reuniting a child with his
Submitted photo
James and Jessica have adopted four of the children they have fostered — Marissa, Carlee, Jenna and Martha.
or her biological family, or terminating the parental rights of the biological parents altogether. “The truth is this is about getting the children back home,” James said. “We support that process. Until the very end of the case, until the last word is said, that’s what we believe in.” The Gibsons said it can be difficult to let go, especially if they’ve been
with a child for a long time. “There are tears, but what our family does is we pray for every child that has been in our home, for their safety and protection,” Jessica said. “After a year they become the product of something you’re really invested in, so yes, it is hard,” James said. Those interested in learning more about be-
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coming a foster family for the Cass County DHS should contact Kristen Williams at (269) 3034112. While being a foster parent isn’t for everyone, the Gibsons said it has been an extremely rewarding and worthwhile experience for them. “This is our heart and we will continue to do it,” James said. “The relationship with the DHS
is so important and I’m happy to say we have a great relationship. It’s never flopped on us.” The Gibsons recalled one foster child — a teenage girl — who stayed with them for only a few days before she could be moved to a relative’s home. The girl pinned a note to the wall before she left, telling the Gibsons how much she appreciated them and the
impact they had on her life in just two days. “We didn’t find it until about a week later. It just melted us, it broke our hearts,” James said. “Our sense is that whether they are here for a month or six months, if we can have that impact and they can look back in 20 years and say, ‘If it wasn’t for those foster parents I might not have made it.’ That’s why we do it.”
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Horizons 2014
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On the
Horizons 2014
Road to Freedom
Underground Railroad leads to formation of Chain Lake Missionary Baptist Church By Craig Haupert
craig.haupert@leaderpub.com
N
estled between rows of tall oak trees and tucked away on a country road near Cassopolis lies the Chain Lake Missionary Baptist Church. In its third iteration, the brick building looks a lot different than it did back in the mid-1800s. Even so, it doesn’t take long before the church’s rich history comes to life. “I’ve had Greyhound buses come here full of people wanting to learn. They were intrigued,” said the Rev. Norman Tubbs, who has been pastor there for 30 years. “I am excited about what has transpired here because I can see what the hand of the Lord has done.” The church’s beginnings can be traced back to the 1830s when southern runaway slaves seeking freedom in Canada came into Michigan near Cassopolis. At that
Leader photos/CRAIG HAUPERT
TOP: The Rev. Norman Tubbs stands in front of the third iteration of Chain Lake Missionary Baptist Church in Cassopolis. ABOVE: The church’s log cabin beginnings can be traced back to the 1830s when southern runaway slaves seeking freedom in Canada came into Michigan near Cassopolis.
time, Cass County’s Quaker community, which was sympathetic to the slaves’ plight, became an integral part of the
Underground Railroad. With their help, a group of free African Americans established the county’s first African
American church in 1838. Without a central place of worship, Chain Lake Church members conducted prayer
services in area homes. “Religion was very important to the slaves at that time,” Tubbs said. “Their faith that things would be okay was stimulated by going to church and to worship. They felt like a supreme being was looking after them and watching over them.” According to church history records, in 1848, a site was found in Calvin Township that would be the perfect home for a church. It was situated atop a hill surrounded by trees and overlooking Chain Lake, for which it was named. A log cabin was built there in 1850, becoming the church’s first home. “It would’ve been a celebration at the time for them to finally have a place of worship,” Tubbs said. The church became a beacon for those seeking safe haven from the oppression of the times, leading to the formation of the Michigan AntiSlavery Baptist Association there in 1853. Other cities
Horizons 2014 represented in the association were Niles, Detroit, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. According to a 1972 edition of the Cassopolis Vigilant, the association adopted the following resolution at a meeting at Chain Lake in 1853: “Whereas we believe that slavery is an evil in our land and contrary to the Bible, therefore, resolved: That we will use every laudable means to banish it and all its kindred miseries from our land. Also believing that there may be some among us, or belonging to our churches that wink at the sin of slavery, we would therefore recommend the churches to admonish such members and if they continue to favor such wickedness, visit them with the severest censure of the church.” Today, the Michigan AntiSlavery Baptist Association is known as the Chain Lake Baptist Association. The log cabin was eventually replaced by a woodframed structure that burned down in 1966, making way for the current brick church at 16853 Chain Lake Street. It seats 225. Tubbs said the church has attracted many visitors over the years, none more famous than the late black educator and author Booker T. Washington, who spoke there in the early 1900s. Also, Sojourner Truth, an African American abolitionist and women’s rights activist, spoke there in June of 1872. It is easy to see why they were attracted to Chain Lake, considering its rich history. In fact, the church was formed just one year after Michigan was granted statehood and two years after the first black church opened in Detroit. A short walk from the church lies one of the area’s oldest cemeteries, a resting place for some of the township’s earliest settlers and several black Civil War veterans. The land for the cemetery was donated by the late Rev. Turner Byrd and his wife in 1856. The church celebrated its 175th anniversary in August of 2013.
31
CHAIN LAKE MBC FOUNDING MEMBERS
• Rev. David Lett • Turner and Arena Byrd • Harrison and Sarah Ash • Wiley Madry • Irving and Dorothy James • Hartful Abrams
32
Horizons 2014
Surfers enjoy extreme sport, help save lives By Jill McCaughan
jill.mccaughan@leaderpub.com
T
here is a stereotype that persists about surfers. It’s present in nearly every film that features one: laid-back, easygoing, and interested in only one thing — catching a ride on the next big wave. There’s also a stereotype about Great Lakes surfing: That it’s a pretty poor substitute for “the real thing.” The fact is, the Great Lakes are known to serve up some very good rides to the surfers who make their homes here. “St. Joe’s got some excellent surfing, in part because of the pier,” said Joseph Hayman, a resident of Stevensville who started surfing at the age of 15. The problem is, most of the days that are great for surfing are also days that swimmers should stay out of the water. Those bigger waves bring with them dangerous rip currents. And, the pier that helps to make St. Joseph such a great place to surf also adds danger in the form of structural currents. “If there are surfers out there, you should not be in the water. People need to know that those are dangerous conditions for swimmers,” Hayman said. This combination — big waves and dangerous, hidden currents — has led many surfers like Hayman into life-saving roles that break all of the stereotypes that films so often play upon. “Surfers are the unofficial
Submitted photo/BRIAN TANIS
TOP: Surfers take advantage of Lake Michigan’s waves. ABOVE: The scene at the Grand Haven, Mich., pier after a surfer assisted in rescuing several drowning swimmers in 2007.
lifeguards of the Great Lakes,” said Bob Pratt, director of education and co-founder of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. “They make hundreds of rescues on the Great Lakes, many that you never hear about.” “‘Unofficial’ is a good word,” Hayman said. “We don’t assume the responsibility ourselves, but we take it because we’re there.”
According to statistics compiled by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue project, at least 328 people drowned in the Great Lakes between 2010 and 2013. Last year alone, 66 people drowned, with 23 of those deaths occurring in Lake Michigan. In 2012, Lake Michigan claimed 50 victims — more than any of the other Great Lakes for either of those two years. Why is it that Lake Michigan
claims so many lives? According to Pratt, there are several reasons. The first has to do with a combination of the type of waves found on Lake Michigan and the way that swimmers tend to perceive them. “Geographically speaking, all of our waves are wind-generated. The fetch — the distance that the wind travels over, and that a wave can therefore travel — on Lake Michigan
is only 300 miles, whereas in the ocean, a wave can travel thousands of miles,” Pratt explained. “Because of that, the waves are much closer together, from crest to crest, on Lake Michigan.” According to Hayman, the distance between wave crests, or the “period,” is often 25 to 30 seconds between waves in Hawaii. Here, the period is often only 3 seconds.
Horizons 2014 “The most dangerous waves have a relatively moderate wave height — 4 to 6 feet for adults and 2 to 4 feet for children,” Pratt explained. “A 4-foot wave every 3 seconds is not very big. It entices people to go out and play in the surf. But, when that wave comes over and over and over, it becomes more of a problem.” That is to say, the waves don’t look that big or dangerous, but the frequency with which they continue to wash over swimmers can quickly overwhelm them. On top of that, the energy that all those waves are bringing to the beach has to have an outlet, and that causes the rip currents that rush back out to the lake below the surface. “Another reason is the lack of lifeguards on Great Lakes beaches compared to other beach areas, like Southern California or Florida,” Pratt said. “There is a huge population at the southern end of Lake Michigan that’s using the beach, and there aren’t enough lifeguards to protect everybody.” So, why is it that surfers are there, saving swimmers in trouble, when others cannot? One reason that surfers are often the first responders is that
33 they are already in the water. While sheriff’s departments and the Coast Guard save many lives, they are usually not on the scene before an incident even happens. Second, surfers are looking back at the beach, at the swimmers, as they are waiting for a wave, and they often see people who are in trouble when others do not. “Surfers are always paying attention to their surroundings — looking for the next wave, and making sure they know where swimmers are so that they don’t hit them,” Pratt said. Hayman credits his own training and years of experience as a lifeguard to the watchfulness that led him into situations where he saved children from drowning. For surfers who don’t have Hayman’s experience, the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project teaches life-saving techniques, including ways to use a surfboard to save a drowning person. Hayman’s surfboard figured prominently in both rescues that he performed last summer. In both cases, he saw small children who were on the verge of drowning and whose parents were unable to help them. He
paddled over to the children, plucked them out of the water and placed them on his board. Both incidents occurred on days when swimmers should not have been in the water. “There’s a real good reason that beach managers throw up the red flag on a windy day,” Hayman said. “There’s a reason that people who don’t know how to swim should not be out there in the water.” While swimmers can be grateful that surfers like Hayman are out there, the best advice is to stay out of the water on days when the surf is too rough for swimming. Communities, schools and other organizations that would like to have presentations on rip currents and beach safety can contact the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project via their website at www. glsrp.org. “We’ve organized several events along the Lake Michigan shoreline, from Frankfort to New Buffalo. We do school assemblies, and we love to do events for communities,” Pratt said. “There are so many people who have lost loved ones, all of these tragic fatalities, and there are more every year. People need to respect the lake more.”
Submitted photo/BRIAN TANIS
A surfer takes advantage of waves on Lake Michigan.
34
Horizons 2014
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50 Horizons 2014
35
years of fun
Botanical garden ready to celebrate its milestone year By Craig Haupert
craig.haupert@leaderpub.com
As Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, it is appropriate to look back upon the history of one of the area’s most beautiful and popular destinations. It might surprise many to learn that the land now known as Fernwood almost became something else entirely — a Girl Scout camp. As told by founder Kay Boydston in her book, “Reflections,” the story begins on Oct. 12, 1938, when she and her husband, Walter, first “discovered” Fernwood. The area was then known as “Janeida” and was the vacation property of the L.L. Bomberger family of Hammond, Ind. The Boydstons were living in Illinois at the time but enjoyed taking trips to area. A realtor showed them the property, which, at first, didn’t impress them. That changed as they revisited it every year, eventually falling in love with the 12 1/2 acres. Kay wrote: “No longer able to resist our growing attachment to these hills and woods and water, first steps were taken toward a possible purchase.” So, on July 5, 1941, the Boydstons stopped in Hammond to give Bomberger a check for earnest money on the land. Upon arriving at their new property later that same day, the Boydstons found a realtor — the same one who had shown them the land — with three prospective buyers ready to lay down the cash and turn “Janeida” into a Girl Scout camp. The Boydstons — and the rest of us — nearly missed out on Fernwood. Kay wrote: “After 30 months of waiting, watching, hoping and planning we had first possession by just one hour! Do you wonder that we felt we were truly meant to live here?” The Boydstons were property own-
THEN
NOW ers for the next 33 years. Walter suggested they name it Fernwood because of his wife’s interest in ferns and “because we thought ferns should be happy, as well as appropriate, here.” Kay shared her love of nature, horticulture and the arts and crafts with neighbors and friends. She was an amateur horticulturist and a highly
Submitted photos
regarded fern expert in addition to a weaver, silversmith, printmaker, dyer, miniaturist and writer. In the early days, Kay wrote countless letters to colleagues in search of new plants for Fernwood. By 1964, Fernwood’s acreage had grown to 16. The Boydstons, now on a retirement income, felt like they could no longer care for the estate on their own.
Friends who were interested in seeing Fernwood continue as a garden and nature preserve introduced the Boydstons to Mary and Lawrence (Larry) Plym of Niles. The Plyms, civic leaders and philanthropists, bought Fernwood from the Boydstons on Aug. 1, 1964. On Aug. 18, the papers were signed, See FIFTY, page 36
36
Horizons 2014
Cont. from page 34
and Fernwood became incorporated. Kay was appointed as director, and Fernwood’s life as a public institution began. Today, Fernwood encompasses 105 acres, including subsequent neighboring purchases. Fernwood continues to keep many of Kay’s traditions alive in current day programming. Kay gathered at the holidays with friends and volunteers to make greens to sell in the community, and the organization’s greens classes remain the most popular holiday classes each year. Visit the website fernwoodbotanical.org to view upcoming programs as they are announced. Fernwood’s gallery hosts fine art exhibits, welcoming highly regarded experts in the fields of horti-
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This historic photo offers a glimpse of Kay Boydston working on a project at Fernwood. Boydston is pictured on the far right with her head down.
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Horizons 2014
‘College life’ close to home
Area institutions provide opportunities at low cost By Ted Yoakum
ted.yoakum@leaderpub.com
N
estled in a wooded nook on the outskirts of town is a 240-acre college campus, with three dormitory facilities that house 390 students, a massive student recreational center with basketball courts and a rockclimbing room and 359 different degree programs for students. While this may sound like a description of any number of small private colleges across the state, it is also an accurate depiction of Southwestern Michigan College’s Dowagiac campus, one of Southwestern Michigan’s community colleges. Over the last several years, SMC has set out to redefine the community college experience in the region. According to President David Matthews, the institution’s path to success is rooted in one simple objective: delivering the traditional four-year university experience, right here at home. “We decided that, on a fundamental level, SMC was going to be a college where you didn’t have to give up anything just because you couldn’t afford to attend a state university,” Matthews said. This philosophy has served the college well in recent years, the president added. Last year, the school led all 28 of the state’s community colleges in enrollment growth with 6.7 percent, nearly double the college with the second highest growth rate. “What we are experiencing is very atypical,” Matthews said. “Everything we’ve been doing has culminated in putting us where we wanted to be.” In addition, the school is among the top 8 percent of community colleges in the country in terms of student success, which is measured by student grades, both while attending community college and after transferring to a four-year school. For Matthews, SMC’s recent string of successes is not just a professional triumph, but a personal one
Submitted photos
TOP: Lake Michigan College offers recreation centers for students to spend time between classes. BOTTOM: Students at Southwestern Michigan pose for a picture.
as well. Matthews, the son of the school’s chairman, Fred Matthews, has grown up with school since it was founded. “My father, back in 1964, led the citizens’ campaign to establish a community college here in Dowagiac,” he said. “There’s a picture of myself as a small child at the groundbreaking ceremony.” Shortly after taking the reigns as president in 2001, Matthews and the board introduced a number of forward-thinking academic initiatives to drive the college forward in the new century. However, the results did not generate the immediate success that school leaders had hoped for. “While our student success rates went up, we were struggling to hold our own with enrollment,” Matthews said. “We thought that we had it. Yeah, we had
it on the academic side, but we didn’t have it on the student experience side.” Matthews and other administrators began researching other ways to attract students, especially high school graduates. In talking with them and their parents, they discovered that, while the affordability of community college was attractive, the fact they lacked on-campus living and other amenities found at four-year schools caused many prospective students to look toward other choices. “I had naively thought that, by only providing the best education at a good price, that students would come,” Matthews said. In response, SMC shifted its strategy and began construction of what would be the first of three resident halls on its campus. In addition, the school
Horizons 2014
39
began additional investments into its infrastructure, doubling its physical plant from $50 million to $100 million. “Our enrollment doubled after we began offering the total college experience,” Matthews said. “We learned that, no matter how high quality your programs are, you’re not on the radar without it.” Last year was one of the most successful years in SMC history. In addition to the opening of the school’s third residence hall, the school also opened up a new student service center on its Dowagiac campus and completed the first phase of renovations to its Niles campus. Administrators haven’t sat on their hands in terms of academic programs either, Matthews said. In the fall, the school began offering associate degrees in criminal education. Though it’s only been around for two semesters, it has already become the school’s fifth largest major, Matthews said. “We match our program to our region’s needs,” the president added. “We mold the community college to what
Submitted photo
Over the past several years, Southwester Michigan College has added three new residence halls. Lake Michigan College is in the process of building one now.
we perceive its needs are.” Southwestern Michigan’s other major two-year college, Lake Michigan College, is also an attentive listener to the needs of the students and busi-
nesses it serves. Like its neighbor to the east, 2013 was a banner year for LMC as well. The school opened up its new “Hawk’s Nest” student recreation cen-
ter, as well broke ground on its first set of residential halls on its main campus, in Benton Harbor. According to LMC President Robert Harrison, the
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school’s push toward enhancing its on-campus amenities came after discussions with parents of potential students. See COLLEGE, page 40
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COLLEGE From page 39
“They’re ready for their kids to be out of the house, but not too far away,” Harrison said. “It still gives them that socialization experience that they wouldn’t get living at home.” One of the things that Harrison believes makes the school standout is its athletics program. The school is one of the few community colleges in the region that fields organized sporting teams, which include men’s and women’s soccer and basketball. “We’ve seen some interest in students pretty far away because of our athletics,” Harrison said. “That residence hall, along with a strong athletics program, becomes very attractive to a recruit. We have two ladies from Colorado this year, and they came because of the success we had at the national level.” The school’s Bertrand Crossing campus in Niles also received a number of improvements last year as well, with administrators spend-
Submitted photo
SMC and LMC offer computer labs for students to work in between classes.
ing $7 million to renovate the building’s science labs. “The new science labs grew out of an investigation on how science should be taught,” said Barbara Craig, the executive dean of the campus. “It’s one of my favorite things that shows our commitment to stu-
dent success.” While the school still focuses much of its attention on improving its stalwart academic programs such as nursing, administrators have also invested in robotics, fabrication and other innovative programs in recent years to help prepare
students for the 21st Century job market. “We talk to employers constantly,” Harrison said. “Whirlpool, Lakeland, Four Winds Casino. We pride ourselves on being responsive to all employers, to sort out what we can, what we can’t do. If
we can’t do it, we try to line up someone who can meet their needs.” One of the next major steps that both schools are embarking on in the coming months is the implementation of new four-year programs, an idea that has caused some friction between the colleges and state universities, SMC President Matthews said. “It’s an interesting situation,” he said. “While some people see us as trailblazers, others feel we are encroaching on their domain.” Like all Michigan community colleges, both SMC and LMC have made their maneuverings in an era of reduced funding from the state. Despite this, the structure of their governing boards have allowed them to zig and zag with much greater agility than their university counterparts. “What sets the community colleges apart is the ability to move faster, to respond to local needs,” Harrison said. “The universities do a tremendous job, but you don’t see them talking to employers day in and day out.”
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Horizons 2014
Real Call of Duty Soldier realizes his dream in serving America By Michael Caldwell
the fact he joined the military wasn’t surprising to anyone. “Growing up, ever since I could remems thousands of Michiana resi- ber, I wanted to join the Army,” he said. dents gathered around their “I was always interested in the Army, beChristmas trees to open pres- cause my dad and grandpa had served. ents or relax with loved ones That was a big factor. I always liked sitthis year, 20-year-old Colten Evans was ting and listening to their stories growing stuck at work. up.” The big difference between the 2012 Although he has never regretted his Dowagiac High School graduate and the decision to enlist, Colten says it isn’t as countless others who have to punch a glamorous as you see in the movies. clock during the holiday is that Colten’s A typical day deployed consists of office is on the other side of the world and various guard shifts and patrols, truly lives up to the phrase “hostile work some coming in Strykers — a 22environment.” ton armored infantry carrier But that is life when you make the com- vehicle. Many days there mitment to defend our nation’s freedom. are lots of other tasks that Christmas day brought those sacrifices to need to get done. the forefront. What has been the “I was a little sad but at the same time most challenging thing I felt proud. The reason I was a little sad he has had to overcome? was because that was my first Christmas “You know, there are away from my parents and family, but I multiple patrols that felt proud at the same time because I have you can say pushed one of those jobs where taking a day off your limits but it’s hard isn’t an option,” Colten, the son of Guy to say. There have been a and Jackie Evans, wrote recently via email lot of situations where you’re tired, hungry, cold and wet and you I have a job to do, and it felt good just don’t think knowing that it was because of me it’s possible to drive on, but you dig down and my brothers that the American and keep movpeople can take the day off and enjoy deep ing because the guys the time with their families because to your left and right we’re here fighting the enemy on their depend on you to do your job,” he said. own turf.” “I’d have to say that overcoming this de— Colten Evans ployment overall is what I consider my from Kandahar Province in Afghanistan. biggest achievement.” “I have a job to do, and it felt good knowColten said he and his fellow soldiers ing that it was because of me and my often get the news late and try not to get brothers that the American people can hung up on whatever is going on with take the day off and enjoy the time with the politicians in Washington, D.C. their families because we’re here fighting There are other elements of what they the enemy on their own turf.” do that doesn’t show up on the news eiAs an infantryman in Fox Troop 2nd ther. Squadron of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Cavalry “Things the media wouldn’t pick up on Regiment home-based in Vilseck, Ger- would be how much work we do on a daily many, Colten has seen things most Ameri- basis, even when we’re not out on patrol cans only ever witness on television or in there are things that need to be done,” he the movies. said. “And another thing would be how The soldier may have come a long way much effort we put in to helping the peo— both literally and metaphorically — ple of Afghanistan, their army and their from some ride-alongs with the Dowagiac police.” Police Department during law enforcement class at Van Buren Tech Center, but See DUTY, page 44 mike.caldwell@leaderpub.com
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DUTY From page 43
The Afghan people are very different, Colten said, adding that it truly is a third-world country where the standard of living is very low. “Most homes are made out of mud and straw, or old storage containers,” he said. “But they are very hard workers. They are very committed to helping their communities and their country.” The most rewarding part of his job, he said, has been seeing the Afghan people going out to vote and seeing their police and military conduct their own operations. “It’s good to see that all the operations we’ve conducted with them and the presence of us has helped them become more independent and more unified,” he said. “Before, the Af-
Horizons 2014 ghan people only cared about their tribe.” Scheduled to return to his home base in Germany sometime in April, Colten hopes to set foot on the familiar streets of Dowagiac in mid June and chow on some of the homecooked food he misses badly. He will be welcomed with open arms by his parents, his cousin, Crystal Lozada, and her husband Corey; and his aunt and uncle, Billy and Marjorie Finn., among others. “I’d just like to say thank you to my friends and family who have been talking to me throughout the deployment and sending me care packages. Their support means a lot,” Colten said. “It means a lot that people in my hometown are still thinking about me and wondering what I’ve been up to when I’m thousands of miles from home.”
Colten has already been awarded the U.S. Army Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Army Commendation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal and the Overseas Service Award. But he didn’t enlist for the commendations. “What does it mean for me to be serving? To me, it’s a great honor. I’d make the same decision again if I had to. Coming from a family of military background, I always looked up to and had great respect for our veterans and I still do,” he said. “But I’m very proud that I was able to serve our great nation in the job that I did. Being in the infantry is kind of like being in a huge fraternity. We all come from different backgrounds but we all have the same reasons for joining the infantry. I’m proud to say that I served with this group and that we did our job well.”
Submitted photo
Specialist Colten Evans, a Dowagiac native, is currently based in Germany but serving in Afghanistan with in the U.S. Army.
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LOVE Tips for online dating success By Rachel Breden
rachel.breden@leaderpub.com
Just about everyone is familiar with the Manti Te’o fiasco of last year: Notre Dame’s star football player was the victim of a online scheme known as “cat fishing” in which a person will create a fake identity online and convince another person to fall in love with him or her. But online dating is not all horror stories. Just ask Kristen Wilshire, formerly of Niles. Wilshire met her husband,
Robert, through the popular site, Match.com. On Match.com, users create an online profile, sharing as little or as much about themselves as they’d like, and specify what they are looking for in a partner, everything from what degree he has earned to what his hobbies are and what body type you prefer. Users can even select “deal breaker” to show that a potential date has to meet certain qualifications. Once the profile is set up, users can browse through profiles or search for spe-
Submitted photo
cific types of people. The site will also suggest people who match the member’s criteria. As Wilshire shared, the first step in approaching someone is to send them a “wink.” The person can then respond with another wink, a message or an instant message. Creating a profile, browsing and winks are all free, but connect-
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ing with a person requires a subscription, which starts at around $12 a month. Hundreds have claimed success with online dating, so many in fact that Match.com created a “Match Guarantee,” granting users six months free if they do not find a match within six months. Wilshire said she liked that
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Horizons 2014
LOVE From page 45
share her number and start talking on the phone. “With my husband, I got bored so I was browsing profiles with my best friend and I thought, ‘He’s so cute,’” Wilshire said. “My best friend told me to send him a wink, but I said, ‘No, he’d never be interested in me.’ But she said, ‘Just send him a wink and if he doesn’t respond that’s it.’ So I did and he messaged back a long message about how interesting he thought my profile was. So we started with messaging, then we talked on the phone for over a month and I finally said, ‘Are we actually gonna meet?’” The two began dating in August 2007 and Robert proposed on Christmas Eve of that year. They married in June of 2008. “It’s the marriage I wish I would have had the first time,” Wilshire said. Though she admits she did meet some creeps, Wilshire has an overall positive view
Submitted photo
Kristen Wilshire, formerly of Niles, met her husband, Robert, on the popular dating site, Match.com.
of online dating. “I got to meet a lot of really nice people, some I still consider friends,” she said. “I would definitely recommend it. Just look at it as nothing more than another way to meet someone. It’s a great way to broaden your horizons.” Wilshire offered some tips for others considering online dating. First, meet in public places. “The stupidest thing I ever did is I went to watch fireworks with a guy in his hometown 45 minutes away. I was on a boat with him out on a lake and I just thought, ‘This guy could murder me and dump me in the lake, and no one would ever find me because no one knew where I was,’” she said. Next, tell people where you are going. Wilshire set up a safety clause with her best friend and always told her where she was going, when to expect her back, and with whom she was with. She also advises daters not to put themselves in precarious situations. “Don’t put yourself in a
position where you will have your judgment impaired — don’t drink too much on the first date. And don’t let them know where you live right away,” she said. Dating sites aren’t just for people pursuing long-term relationships. Wilshire said the websites can be a good way to make friends or even boost your self-esteem. “I was completely convinced that no one on the planet wanted to be with me, but after I had gone out a few times, I realized people are interested in you. They think you are attractive, and I thought, ‘Wow, maybe I do have something marketable in a relationship,” she said. “Look at it as nothing other than another way to meet someone and broaden your horizons.” No matter how many Manti Te’o stories are in the world, Wilshire would never take back her decision to meet someone online. “Without online dating, me and Rob never would have met, and I truly believe we were meant to be together,” she said.
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CEO’s production roots began in Niles Hezikiah?’ because the guy who Niles is named after is Hezikiah Niles. We thought it was funny,” ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com Brawley said. or the last 40 years, Bill Brawley has made In addition to the excitement of producing and a career of producing and directing musi- directing his own musical during his senior year of cal performances. Of the countless produc- college, Brawley received more great news later tions he has participated in, one piece that that year. sticks out in his mind is a musical that Brawley “In 1973, my choral director, Mr. Hamburger, produced in lieu of a got an invitation in the high school English mail to audition for this project. I got to perform with people group called the Young Today, Brawley is Americans,” Brawley like Bing Crosby and Fred the CEO of the Young said. “Needless to say, Americans, an interAstaire. I really got to learn I made it in. I was a national performing Young American for from some of the greatest arts group that travels three or four years.” the world teaching During his short reign singers.” students about music, as a performer, Braw—Bill Brawley theater and other arts. ley took the stage with Though he now lives many popular celebriin Long Beach, Calif., Brawley still considers Niles ties. his hometown, and he said he is thankful to have “Back in the ‘70s, we did a lot of television. I got lived there. So thankful, in fact, that he dedicated to perform with people like Bing Crosby and Fred one of his first major pieces to the city. Astaire. I really got to learn from some of the great“The principal was kind enough to let me direct est singers,” he said. a musical about our town,” Brawley said. “I got As a Young American, Brawley grew very fond of to spend a semester producing it, and we put it on the program and was determined to stay involved. many times.” Brawley said his passion for performing was suBrawley said “Time Will Tell” was the story of an perseded only by his love for directing, so, having old man who sold flowers outside the historic Niles accomplished one dream, he was determined to Amtrak station. achieve the next. “It told stories about everything, from how the “I kind of just started staging shows and assistriver was named, about that big house next to the ing, and it kind of just happened. You have your Ready (The Chapin Mansion), the Dodge Brothers element, what you’re good at and what you do. that came to Niles, everything. I remember one of This was kind of just natural,” he said. “I’ve known the songs was, ‘Aren’t you glad you’re not from what I wanted to do my whole life, and I’ve gone
By Ambrosia Neldon
F
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Bill Brawley
after it.” Brawley credits his parents for his achievements. “I think the key was that my parents sat me down as a young boy. They said, ‘son, you better do what you want to do. You should follow your dreams.’ I felt very open to do what I wanted to do, and I thought that was great parenting,” Brawley said. Since he joined the Young Americans in 1973, Brawley has worked his way up the ladder and is now CEO of the organization. “We have an outreach tour where the kids are performers and teachers. My job is to cast those tours and then keep them in good shape. For example, today we have a cast in Muskegon, Mich., a cast in Ireland, a cast in Japan, and there’s a cast out here in California. Every day I talk to all four casts,” he said. “The first thing is you cast the tours, and then you write the shows, and then you stage and teach the shows.” Brawley also teaches fine arts at the college level and makes an effort to stay in touch with all of the Young American alumni, many of whom have stayed with performing arts careers. “Once they’re with us, they’re with us forever. They’re in pretty much every walk of life. They’re leaders, whether it’s on broadway or television. They’re preachers or great moms,” he said. Brawley mentioned many Young Americans who have gone on to become famous, including ‘90s See CEO, page 48
48
Horizons 2014
CEO
From page 47
television host Mark Walberg, Vicki Lawrence of “Mama’s Family” and several leads in “Wicked.” Brawley said he makes every effort to keep in touch with all former students, no matter where they choose to go or which profession they decide to pursue. “It’s always really neat to mentor students who grew up in Niles,” Brawley said, listing off a number of Young Americans from Niles, including David Listenberger and his wife, both teachers at the Young Americans college, and August Garritano, a Brandywine graduate who joined in 2008. While Brawley said he enjoys the spotlight,
other aspects of the Young Americans have kept him around. “I think my favorite part is to see the growth in the young people who grow successful and more confident in themselves. Just what they become is the greatest to see,” he said. “That probably comes from my education family background.” Brawley said that he has been heavily involved in the Young Americans outreach program for 22 years. He credits the program, which he was instrumental in implementing, to his siblings. “My sister was a principal and my brother was a teacher and coach, both in the Niles school system. I think they’ve influenced me more than they know,” he said. Though Brawley has
Submitted photo
Several students from southwest Michigan have participated in the Young Americans since its implementation, including August Garritano, a Brandywine graduate (second from left).
spent the majority of his life outside of Niles, he is still very dedicated to
his hometown. “I always loved directing as a kid and put-
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Preserving
Michigan history St. Joseph community works to preserve the city’s historic lighthouses By Jill McCaughan
jill.mccaughan@leaderpub.com
S
ome historians estimate that Michigan has served mariners with as many as 247 lighthouses over the years. Made obsolete by more modern navigational technologies, more than half of those lighthouses eventually fell into disrepair and have been demolished. Now, only about 115 of Michigan’s lights remain standing, still more than any other state. To prevent the destruction of more such structures, the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act was passed by the federal government in 2000. The legislation provided a means by which local governments could obtain the deeds to the lighthouses that many see as central to their community’s identities. “If the city didn’t take the lighthouses, and nobody else wanted them, then they would go up for auction,” said Bob Judd, St. Joseph’s former mayor. “If nobody steps up and buys them, the lighthouses just sit there and become unsafe. Then, they rip them off the pier, and they send them to the scrap metal yard. They would just put up a pole on a tripod with a light, like they did on the south pier.” “Just a light — that’s what you’d see,” said Susan Solon, director of communications and marketing for the city. “The Coast Guard has no more use for houses.” Like so many other lighthouse communi-
ties, the city of St. Joseph was faced with a choice when the North Pier’s inner and outer lights were deemed to be surplus by the U.S. Coast Guard in 2008. “The federal government said they would not maintain them. They didn’t want any part of it,” said Richard Lewis, St. Joseph’s city manager. “Because the federal government is no longer maintaining them, the lighthouses would have continued to deteriorate until they were removed,” said Judd. “If we lose them, we lose a part of ourselves.” “It would be heartbreaking,” Solon agreed. Those lighthouses have come to take on an iconic significance for St. Joseph over the years. In 1995, the U.S. Postal Service featured the pair of lights on one of the five Great Lakes lighthouse stamps, the only Lake Michigan lights to be honored in that series. More recently, the lighthouses have garnered worldwide attention, with photographs of the frozen lighthouse appearing in USA Today, The Huffington Post, CNN and other news outlets around the world. They are, in fact, a favorite subject of many local photographers as well as tourists. Judd and other community leaders realized that losing the lighthouses would likely hurt the city’s economy because they serve as an important tourist attraction. And so, after many long years of wading through red tape and waiting, the city of St. See HISTORY, page 50
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HISTORY From page 49
Joseph became the proud owner of the lights when the deed was officially transferred to the municipality in August 2013. But, as so often happens when new owners acquire old structures, the city was also the recipient of a laundry list of necessary repairs, accompanied by a hefty estimate. After all, there’s no such thing as a “free” lighthouse. The results of a critical assessment performed by Smay Trombley Architecture, specialists in lighthouse restoration, called for a three-stage restoration of the lights. The first stage would simply prevent their further deterioration, a process estimated at $560,700. The second stage would maintain the structural integrity and enhance the safety of the lights, at a cost of $421,000. Finally, an estimated $754,000 would provide safe access to structures and possibly return them to their historical appearance. All total, the city was told that restoration would cost roughly $2 million. “This $2 million is all about renovation. It’s not about maintenance. It’s just so they’ll be here for 100 more years to come,” Judd said. “If we don’t raise the $2 million for maintenance, if we let it deteriorate, at one point, you’ll have to say, ‘It won’t be savable,” said Mike Garey, mayor of St. Joseph. “Financially, no one could save it. That’s only a few years down the line. And then, it will have to be torn down.”
For that reason, led by Judd, concerned citizens have joined together to create a fundraising committee to raise the necessary money, the Lighthouse Forever Fund. “Citizens from various communities will raise the funds, and then the city will take care of the renovation,” said Garey. “The City is the steward of the lighthouse,” explained Lewis. Once those renovations have been completed, the city has pledged to maintain the structures with monies from the general fund. Judd hopes that the money for all three stages will be donated during 2014, so that the lengthy process of shoring up the buildings can be accomplished in one fell swoop over the course of 2015. “The $2 million dollars is just to get us back to ‘go.’ This is not enhancements, it’s not a visitor center,” Garey said. “Someday, we’d like to have a visitor center, but that’s another project,” said Judd. When that time comes, the city plans to work closely with The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center. More information about the Lighthouse Forever Fund and the city’s plans for the upcoming renovation process is available at www.lighthouseforeverfund.org. “It’s not just about St. Joe. I think many communities in Berrien County recognize the value of the lighthouse. That’s why we’re reaching out to a larger audience,” Garey said. “So many people have an emotional attachment to the lighthouse. We’re just the ones who hold the deed.”
TOP: The St. Joseph Inner Light during a sunset. BOTTOM: “Wind and Waves” in St. Joseph, Mich. Only about 115 of Michigan’s lights remain standing, still more than any other state. To prevent the destruction of more such structures, the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act was passed by the federal government in 2000. The legislation provided a means by which local governments could obtain the deeds to the lighthouses that many see as central to their community’s identities. Photos by Dave Wheeler
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Horizons 2014
Dowagiac Union Schools embraces the concept that every student matters, and... ...so does every building. We need your help! To continue to provide a safe and secure learning environment Our schools are in need of updates and renovations.
Dowagiac Union Schools Pride
c Community!
Congratulations to our Dowagia
recipient c Union High School is the proud 1. For three years in a row, Dowagia the in g Bronze Medal Award for bein of the U.S. News and World Report ide. top 22% of high schools nationw dle schools 2362 Michigan elementary and mid 2. Sister Lakes ranked 75 out of are a y the , a ranking of Top 3%! Also by The Mackinac Center giving it ool.” Sch d war ent of Education’s “Re recipient of 2013 Michigan Departm and all Dowagiac elementary schools 3. The Mackinac Center report has and ary ent elem 30% of all Michigan Dowagiac Middle School in the top A grade. an g ivin rece es grade, with Sister Lak middle schools. All received a B for 2013-14 school year. 4. Increased student enrollment schools by ranked 91 out of 585 Michigan high 5. Dowagiac Union High School ected exp on ed bas les” “Apples to App The Mackinac Center comparing m. Exa ACT ance on the performance versus actual perform has cation’s 2012 Top to Bottom List 6. The Michigan Department of Edu e. stat the in 70% in the top 5 out of 6 of our schools ranked
We value your input and invite you to become involved. Each and every person is invited to be part of our continuous improvement. Four ways to become involved in Dowagiac Union Schools: 1. Stay informed of community updates via the district website and Facebook 2. Complete community surveys 3. Serve on committees 4. Attend community meetings
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ate yearly progress).
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agiac Union Schools 77 out of 540
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Is it Southwest Michigan or
HOLLYWOOD?
Cassopolis resident recalls experience as a movie extra By Scott Novak
scott.novak@leaderpub.com
N
iles has always been known as the City of Four Flags. But during the 1980s it looked a little bit like Hollywood East. That is because the historic Niles Train Depot was used to film portions of three movies — “Continental Divide,” “Midnight Run” and “Only the Lonely.” These weren’t just low-budget independent films either. These were bigbudget (for the times) productions featuring some well-known actors. “Continental Divide” was a romantic comedy featuring the late “Saturday Night Live” star, John Belushi, alongside Blair Brown. Brown was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance. It was released in 1981. “Midnight Run,” released in 1988, starred Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto and John Ashton. The action comedy followed De Niro and Ashton, who were bounty hunters trying to get Grodin (an accountant for the mob) to his trial on time to collect their money. “Only the Lonely,” released in 1991, was a romance about a love struck Chicago Police officer played by the late John Candy, who bumbles his way through a relationship with Ali Sheedy. Maureen O’Hara, Anthony Quinn and James Belushi also starred in the movie.
&
Comfort
Submitted photo
“Midnight Run,” released in 1988, featured scenes at the Niles Amtrak station.
Only 50 area residents were chosen for “parts” in the movie. More than 2,000 showed up at the Four Flags Hotel to try and land a role. Cassopolis resident and former Dowagiac football coach Bernard Thomas was one of those who was chosen as an extra, and he didn’t even attend the casting call. A photo of Thomas landed him a part. “I was really surprised to get the call,”
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Thomas said in a 1987 interview in the Niles Daily Star. “My (then) fiancée (Jenice Vanzant of Vandalia) had submitted my picture when she came down for the casting call, so I didn’t know anything about it. When they called me, I thought it was a hoax.” Thomas recalled that most of the time was spent “riding the rails” in the scene which he was supposed to be a sleeping passenger.
Thomas said the extras had to wait more than three hours before even being taken to the depot, and then there was a lot of waiting around for the crew to set up the scene, waiting for the right lighting and getting the actors in place. To this day, Thomas still says it was all worth it. “The thing that stands out in my mind is how repetitious movie making is,” he said. “We were all supposed to look
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Submitted photo
Many area residents, including Cassopolis resident, Bernard Thomas were cast as extras in the 1991 film “Only the Lonely.”
excited on the train as we pulled into the station because the FBI was there and all these police cars. We went down the tracks and rode in there 10 or 15 times for a scene that lasted about a minute in the movie. We did that most of the day.” Thomas also remembers Ashton coming onto the train and interacting with the extras. “I don’t remember Yaphet Kotto coming on the train, but John Ashton did,” he said. “He would get on the train sometimes and shout ‘boo’ and we would have to do the scene all over. But he knew there were going to be more takes anyway.” Thomas said the one thing he found really interesting about the process was how “our little minute of fame fit into the production of the movie,” he said. “I couldn’t wait to see the movie and see how it all came together.” The other thing that stuck out in his
mind was being told what was expected from the extras. “The number one thing about being an extra was never look at the camera,” he said. “We were told to act natural. They told us there was no guarantee we would make it into the movie, but a sure-fire way to end up on the cutting room floor was to look into the camera. I will always remember that.” Cathi Mervine, who was 19 at the time, landed a “role” in “Continental Divide.” She was one of about 20 area residents to become extras. She told the Niles Daily Star in November of 1980 about her “movie career.” “I was nervous at first, but I was afraid to be nervous, because I thought they might not use me,” she said. “All the people in the movie are just so nice — producers, directors, everyone. They talked to us all the time. They would
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come by you and say, ‘Hi. You’re going to be a movie star now, aren’t you?’ They made us feel important. It kept us from being nervous.” Mervine worked a total of 16 hours between Nov. 24 and Nov. 25, 1980. She was called back the following Monday when it was discovered they had to reshoot one of the scenes. Local “extras” were signed up at B&L and the former Franky’s on Lake Street. According to Mervine, they took the first 10 people who signed up at both locations. The extras also spent their time on the train. Most of it was sitting at the train windows to be picked up by the camera, while other scenes showed them standing or sitting at the depot waiting for the train. Jim Belushi was in Niles for just one day, and not for long, according to the Nov. 26, 1980, Daily Star article. The
comedy star spent several hours Tuesday morning filming takes for the Universal City Studios movie, “Continental Divide.” According to the Daily Star article, “This short sequence wrapped up in only five takes. Film crew members had high praise for the unidentified engineer who stopped the train so precisely on the mark for the benefit of the cameras.” While his stay wasn’t long, Belushi did take time to sign autographs for fans waiting nearby. Although the crew shot more than 1,000 feet of film, which depicted Niles as Rock Island, Ill., only about 20 seconds of the depot appeared in the film. Such is the life of an “extra.”
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Horizons 2014
Two stores,
one couple Husband and wife carry on tradition of operating family businesses in Dowagiac By Ted Yoakum
Ed was also working at the bar around the same that she was, though he was often on the morning shift while she itting on a chair near the back of worked in the evenings. Ed began workThe Marshall Shoppe downtown, ing at his family’s business after being Ed Kazlauskas quietly asked his laid off from his job as an electrician. wife, Sue, the name of the woman “Jim D, the owner of the body shop, talking to a store employee a few feet used to come there for lunch,” Ed reaway from them. called. “He used to ask me what I did after As if by reflex, Sue immediately tells I got off work at 2 p.m. I told him I would him the woman’s name. go home, sit around and do nothing until “See, I’m the one with the memory,” night shift. So he told me, ‘C’mon down, she quips. I’ll put you to work.’” However, it should With no prior expecome as little surprise rience in the field, Ed Funny thing that Kazlauskas rebegan working on prepwas, people members the names of ping cars and doing some who saw us her regulars. She purbasic body repair work. chased the woman’s together would He said he quickly deapparel store from her tell us, ‘Heard veloped a passion for the mother, Martha Deindustry, though he was you guys are Shazo, in 1991, after called back to his prior getting marworking alongside her career as an electrician for nearly 20 years. ried soon.’ We after two years of workBoth of Sue’s parents the body shop. looked at each ing“Iattold owned their own busi[my boss] that I other and we nesses in Dowagiac, as would rather work here, her father, Jim, opened since the work is more just laughed, up the aptly-named Jim interesting,” Ed said. “He because we D’s Body Shop in 1972. ‘I’d love to have you knew we were said However, Martha Destay.’ So, he matched my just friends. Andwage and I stayed.” Shazo eventually sold that business as well, It was also around this by God, they shortly after selling her time when Ed and Sue were right.” clothing store to her struck up a friendship, daughter. and began spending time — Ed Kazlauskas Perhaps it was only together outside of work. fitting that the buyer “Funny thing was, turned out to be Ed Kazlauskas. people who saw us together would tell Despite the fact that the couple fol- us, ‘Heard you guys are getting married lowed in the footsteps of her parents, it soon.’” Ed said. “We looked at each other wasn’t an intentional plan from the start. and we just laughed, because we knew Like their relationship, it just happened we were just friends. And by God, they over time. were right.” The two lifelong Dowagiac residents The two began seriously dating around have known each other for most of their Christmas Eve, Sue said. They were tolives and attended the same high school. gether for about two years before they “We had the same group of friends, but were wed in 1978. Although many men tend to avoid their him and I never really hung out,” Sue said. “We knew of each other, and we fathers-in-law as much as possible, not graduated together, but we didn’t do any- only did Ed and Jim DeShazo work together, they also became very close friends, thing past that.” After graduating high school in 1974, even before Ed and Sue tied the knot. Sue went to work for her mother at the “I didn’t know how he would take it Marshall Shoppe, which the woman had when I told him his daughter and I were bought from previous owner, Zolla Mar- dating,” Ed said. “He was OK with it. He shall. She also began working part-time was tickled.” at the Cottage Tavern, a bar owned by In the years following their nuptials, Ed’s parents. both Sue and Ed began to take on more ted.yoakum@leaderpub.com
S
“
Submitted photo
Ed and Sue Kazlauskas, life-long Dowagiac residents and business owners, have been married since since 1978.
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of the responsibilities in their respective businesses, as the DeShazos moved closer to retirement. By the time Ed and Sue Kazlauskas eventually purchased the businesses, they had already been essentially running them for years. “We worked into it so slowly, that it wasn’t like jumping off a cliff,” Ed said. “It just came naturally.” Despite the fact that Jim D’s and The Marshall Shoppe couldn’t be any more different in terms of their services and clientele, both Ed and Sue share a lot of the same philosophies when it comes to the operation of businesses: Focusing on customer needs while delivering the best experience possible. “We’re customer-driven,” Sue said. “Our top priority is making sure our customers are treated right.” This has served the two well over the last 20 years, as both businesses have developed a strong base of repeat customers. Both Ed and Sue admit they have strong, type-A personalities. While one might expect this to be a positive for their businesses but a detriment to their marriage, the couple said it hasn’t played a huge role in their personal lives. “We can tell each other what to do without making each other mad,” Ed said. “And we pretty much agree on things.” However, entrepreneurship has presented another challenges to their relationship: Finding personal time for themselves. While the two used to spend long
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weekends boating on Lake Michigan, they haven’t had a long vacation in many years, Sue said. “Being self-employed, you can’t really call in sick when you want to,” Sue said. Another challenge the couple faced recently was when Ed was diagnosed with colon cancer last summer. While doctors were able to successfully remove the tumor, the months of treatment left him unable to run the business effectively. However, their 33-year-old son, Jim, stepped up and ran the business during that time. “He jumped right in with no complaints,” Ed said. “I’d try to come in to work afterwards while not feeling well, and he’d tell me to go on home.” Ed hopes to one day hand the keys to the business to his son, just as his fatherin-law entrusted the business to him so many years ago. “He’s not your typical owner’s son,” Ed said. “He’s a hard worker, first and foremost.” Neither Ed nor Sue said they plan on hanging up their business hats for good in the immediate future, though. Instead, they will continue to do the same tasks they have for more than 30 years: Selling clothes, fixing cars and serving their customers with smiles on their faces. “I hear a lot of good things about [Sue] all the time from my customers,” Ed said. “Sue’s your wife? I just love her,’’ they tell me. I just tell them, ‘I love her too.’” Audible Art Musical Performances Author Talks Book Club for Developmentally Disabled Chess Club for All Ages Color Copier (fee) Computer Classes Delivery for Shut-ins Drew Art Gallery Employment Seeker Services Family Movies Family Storytimes Fax Service (fee) February Taste of Soul Fiction for Foodies Book Club Friends of NDL Book Sales Junior Garden Club Lardner Writers’ Group Mahjong and Board Games Meeting Space Available (fee) MeLCat Interlibrary Loan Notary Public Service
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Dragon brusher Successful illustrator ‘drew’ inspiration from time at Ballard Middle School
By Craig Haupert craig.haupert@leaderpub.com
D
an Monroe didn’t live in Niles very long, but the lessons learned there made a lasting impression on the Michigan-based artist. Monroe, whose most famous project might be illustrating a children’s book for former NBA star Dennis Rodman, lived in Niles for three years
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as a teen while his father pastored at the Church of God on Yankee Street. Although he can’t remember her name, Monroe said an art teacher at Ballard Middle School (now Ballard Elementary) gave him some valuable advice. She told him to ignore outside voices and stay true to yourself at all times. “I really took that to heart and have taken that with me all these years,” he said, adding that artists often endure people telling them nothing will ever come from their art. “There are so many negative people out there. You have to ignore that. She was really the one that put that in my mind.” That advice has helped propel Monroe to a successful career as a freelance artist. In 2012, he achieved international recognition as the illustrator of “Dennis the Wild Bull,” the children’s book written by Rodman, an NBA Hall of Famer. “That was an interesting project that fell on my desk,” said Monroe, who has also illustrated books for celebrities such as Baywatch actress Erika Eleniak
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and Babylon 5’s Robert Russler. Monroe attributes his success, in part, to his versatility. “I often joke that I’m a one-stop artist. I can do it all,” he said. “As an illustrator, you can’t just do one thing. One style might pertain to one story or project, but not carry over to another. I try to remain as versatile as possible to cover all bases.” Monroe’s many artbased talents include air brushing, a discipline picked up at a t-shirt shop in downtown Honolulu while stationed there with the U.S. Army. “They invited me into the shop to bust my chops on that, which was awesome,” said Monroe, whose nickname “Dragonbrush” came from his time working weekends as an airbrusher there. Monroe has also taught at Western Michigan University in addition to having artwork appear in galleries across the country. He is currently working on several projects while staying open to new ideas. “My advice for aspiring artists is to stay versatile. It seems like I get so many questions about how to develop your own style. It seems like everyone is too worried about that.”
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Dan Monroe has illustrated a number of children’s books, including “Dennis the Wild Bull” by Dennis Rodman. Monroe is a native of Michigan and spent a few of his teen years in Niles, where he attended Ballard Middle School (now Ballard Elementary). He currently lives in Paw Paw, Mich., with his wife and three children. For more information about Monroe and his work, visit the website dragonbrusher.com.
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Women’s group puts
kids first
Niles Service League set to celebrate 80th anniversary By Debra Haight
Special to Leader Publications
F
rom charity balls to pancake breakfasts, the Niles Service League has hosted many different kinds of activities over its history. Through it all, the service league has maintained one constant: Everything members do is for the children of the community. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Niles Service League. The group was formed in 1934 by a group of local women interested in helping the young people of the community. When the league was first formed, eight women met for the first meeting. They were each asked to each bring another woman to the next meeting, and so the group grew. Currently, members make a threeyear commitment to the organization before switching to being sustaining members who continue to support the group and their fundraising efforts. Right now, there are around 20 service league members with many more sustaining members. Lisa Wolff-Murdock is the service league president for this milestone year. “Women used to make a five-year commitment to the league and then we changed it to a three-year commitment with more women working,” she said. “It’s a big commitment for our members. We’re very busy through the fall and winter.” She said this year’s 80th anniversary kind of “crept up” on members, but she expects tthe organization will have some kind of special program this year to celebrate. “We’re so focused on raising money that it crept up on us,” she said. “We usually do a golf outing each spring. Maybe we’ll do a different kind of fundraiser.” In addition to the fact that more women are working, the type of fundraisers the service league holds has
Leader photo/DEBRA HAIGHT
Members of the Niles Service League pose for a photo at their pancake breakfast fundraiser during the annual Hunter Ice Festival.
also changed. For example, the league no longer holds its charity balls or rummage sales, instead having fundraisers like the recent pancake breakfast during the Hunter Ice Festival and their annual Christmas tree ornament sale. “We still do a lot of fundraising,” Wolff-Murdock said. She estimated that the league raises between $20,000 and $30,000 every year to fund programs helping children and youth. “We work hard for our money and a lot of local businesses help us in sponsoring events. We’re really blessed to have them.” Much like the original members of the Niles Service League, Wolff-Murdock was introduced to the group by another member. “A friend of mine encouraged me to join and I did,” she said. “I’ve really enjoyed it. I wanted to make a difference in the community and this is one way to do it.”
Other members have similar reasons for joining. Linda Ditto said she witnessed many of the service league’s efforts when her mother, Patricia Rupp, was a member several years ago.
“I had such wonderful memories of what she did in the group to serve the community,” Ditto said. See KIDS, page 64
SI L V E R B R O O K
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64
Horizons 2014
KIDS From page 63
Becky Kessler, another member, said being able to help children and youth is very rewarding. “One little girl just wanted a pillow for Christmas and we got her one,” she said. “My husband is a volunteer with the Howard Township Fire Department and if they have leftover trees, they will donate them to us so we can give them out to families.” The service league serves children and families in the Niles, Brandywine and Buchanan school districts. “Our name is the Niles Service League, but we serve all three school districts,” she said. One of the schoolrelated programs the service league sponsors is the Bundle-A-Buddy project where they partner with Martin’s Supermarket to provide not only hats, coats, gloves and mittens, but also other necessary items like glasses to local children. The league sponsors families at Christmas each year and works directly with the three school districts to provide students with items they might need throughout the year. In addition to fundraising, the Niles Service League also makes phone calls for the Red Cross bloodmobile on a regular basis throughout the year. Members also hold a babysitting clinic for teens at Lakeland Hospital in Niles every spring and give out scholarships and camperships to local youth. People may not know it, but the service league has also been instrumental in many different projects over the years, including having the idea to start the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, helping
with Meals on Wheels, starting an adult literacy council and establishing a library and Tiny Talkers program at Northside School. In recent years, the service league is likely best known for things like providing the games for the Apple Festival Youth Day activities and producing a new Christmas ornament each year that recognizes a local landmark.
The Niles Service League hosts fundraisers and other events to collect donations and raise money for children in the Niles and Buchanan area. Contributions are made to children through scholarships, camperships and other donations Leader file photos
Horizons 2014
65
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LIVING 50 1
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Pick up a copy of Living 50 Plus on March 6th in the Niles Daily Star, the Dowagiac Daily News, the Edwardsburg Argus or the Cassopolis Vigilant. Published five times a year, Living 50 Plus is THE resource for information to enrich the lives of senior citizens who want to enjoy their golden years. Leader Publications • Niles Daily Star • Dowagiac Daily News • Edwardsburg Argus • Cassopolis Vigilant
66
Horizons 2014
Eating local Trend in homegrown food takes root in Michiana By Scott Novak
scott.novak@leaderpub.com
T Leader file photo
here was a time when people didn’t care that much about how or where their food came from. Boy, have those days changed. In a little more than a decade, Michigan alone has grown from 90 farm markets to nearly 400. The Pure Michigan website has links to 399 farm markets throughout the state. If you factor in northern Indiana, that number is probably closer to 800. There are a variety of reasons why people are flocking to these markets and to stores that carry all-natural products. Among them are the fact that many places offer gluten-free products to help those who cannot eat processed foods. Another is that more people are eating healthier and preparing their own food, which
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Horizons 2014 means they need fresh products such as eggs, dairy and meat. People in Cass and Berrien counties may be more attune to locally grown products. For decades they have been able to stop at roadside stands and pick up fresh vegetables and fruits. But over the last 10 years, people from the region’s bigger cities are also learning about the value and nutrition available to them by purchasing locally grown, fresh products. The need has grown so much that the national chain Whole Foods opened a store in Mishawaka in 2013. Yet another reason is that people are trying to stay away from genetically modified fruits, vegetables and meats. “All too frequently we hear about a major food safety scare,” Niles DDA Main Street Program Manager and NECI
67 coordinator Lisa Croteau said. “From sprouts to tomatoes to lettuce to meats, it’s scary what happens when food gets lost in the ‘chain.’” Croteau said that eating locally produced foods is about creating a sustainable local food system so that, “We know where our food comes from, how it was produced and who grew it.” Niles is one of many area communities that features locally produced products during the summer. The Bensidoun French Market, which runs from the end of May through September, is a favorite among area residents. But just knowing about your food is not the only value in going to a local farm market. There is a greater cause involved, according to Croteau. “It’s about saving our small to medium farms by leveraging our limited resources to connect
them with local markets and restaurateurs,” she said. “It’s about working together to create a sustainable system that value and protect our local food sources, our farms and our farmers. “In doing this, we will not only be able to know and trust the food we are eating is safe and healthy and good for us, but we will be able to strengthen the local economy by putting our money back into our local economy. From the farmer to the market to the restaurateur, by supporting our local businesses, we become a stronger community.” Mark Thomas, innovation counselor at the Michigan State University Extension office in Cassopolis, said that creating a successful farm market involves a community effort. “Farm markets have been on the rise since 1976 in Michi-
gan,” he said. “The ones that are successful are well organized. You need to have enough growers to attract customers and you have to have enough customers to attract growers. Consumers want to buy locally.” Thomas added that must people are two or three generations off the farm, so they may not be as aware of where their food comes from or how it is grown. But in Cass County, that’s probably not the case. “People in the county are a little more aware of it than say in Lansing or Detroit,” Thomas said. “They probably know somebody who grows food. At the same time, we do draw a lot of people
from the cities like Chicago or South Bend who have summer homes in the area and appreciate having a farmer’s market.” With no end in sight to people wanting fresh produce and products, the need for local and farm markets should continue its upward trend.
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Horizons 2014
Senior Living Directory BETTER, FASTER
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Rescue mission Niles family offers safe haven for four-legged friends By Craig Haupert
craig.haupert@leaderpub.com
A
small orange and white colored kitten sat quietly on the top of a large cat playhouse in the family room of Becky Garwood’s home on Pine Street in Niles. About six feet below her, another cat squeezed through an opening in the door to the hand-made structure built with a series of plastic pipe tubes and chicken wire. “We call it a ‘cattery,’” Garwood said with a laugh. “The cats love to climb in it and it keeps the dogs from getting the cat food.” The “cattery” is not the type of pet accessory one finds in most homes, but, then again, Garwood and her husband, Alex Caban, aren’t your typical pet owners. For the past seven years, Garwood and her husband have been fostering cats and dogs for the non-profit animal rescue organization Animal Lovers, Inc., of Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana. Although Garwood works as a realtor with her husband, she said her true passion is for taking care of animals. “We’ve probably fostered hundreds of them over the years,” Garwood said. “We put a lot of time, effort and money into this, but it is worth it. I just love the animals. They can’t speak for themselves. They can’t tell you where it hurts and why they aren’t acting right. You have to find it out yourself.”
Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT
Becky Garwood and her husband, Alex Caban, foster a variety of types of animals for the rescue organization, Animal Lovers, Inc. The couple takes care of animals until the organization is able to find more permanent homes for them.
A love for animals When Garwood was a young child growing up in Pontiac and Niles Township, she found herself drawn to animals. “I always preferred animals to people. I probably shouldn’t say that because I work with people, but I do,” she said. More than a few times, Garwood would bring an injured or sick animal home and try to nurse it back to health. As a child, she recalls rescuing a baby squirrel, a duck and baby rabbits. “I was always bringing home stuff,” Garwood said. “I just felt like I needed to help.” As she got older, Garwood pursued a career as a veterinary technician, but never finished because she decided to help with the family heating and air conditioning business.
“If a furnace breaks down, I can still fix it,” she said. Still, Garwood’s love for animals never went away. When she and her husband moved from a 900-square-foot home to their current 2,000-square-foot home, Garwood finally had the space to pursue her love even further. “My husband said it was a conspiracy just so I could fit in more animals,” Garwood said while laughing. “He’s a good guy. He knows it’s my passion.” Garwood and Caban provide a foster home for both cats and dogs, but they focus mainly on cats. The day after Christmas, Garwood had four dogs and four cats walking around their home. She said it can make for a lively household. “When Alex comes home he will love on the dogs. Then when he sits on the recliner the dogs and cats will climb in his lap and he will set the laptop on top of the dogs,” she said. Although it is rewarding, Garwood See LOVE, page 70
70
Horizons 2014
LOVE From page 69
Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT
Photo: Beth Mandarino
said it is often difficult to let go of the animals she fosters. For instance, Garwood said she recently adopted out an orange tabby named Reggie she had fostered for approximately seven months. Reggie came to the home as a “bottle baby” at about three weeks old. “I loved his personality. You could pick him up and he was like a noodle. You could rub his belly and he was very affectionate. When you called his name he’d come running to wherever you were,” Garwood said. “I cried when he was picked up. It’s very hard but you have to keep in mind, you chose a very good home for this cat to go to. It’s just a wonderful feeling to take a kitten from a place it’s not wanted and be the bridge to finding a new home.” Garwood said Animal Lovers, Inc., relies solely on donations and grants to
survive. They take everything from food to blankets to cash donations. To find out more, visit the Facebook page for Animal Lovers, Inc., of Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana. The organization can be contacted by phone at (269) 756-9271. The organization posts its adoptable pets on petfinder.com. Garwood and her friend also created the Facebook pages “Lost or Found Pets of SW Michigan” and “Lost or Found Cats of SW Mich.” She said the pages are used as a network to reconnect people with their pets in Berrien, Cass and VanBuren counties. “Most people don’t know they can call their local animal control, humane society or police department to report lost or found pets. We also help network them on other lost and found FB sites,” she said. “We have helped to reunite many pets with their families. We started this page to help reduce the number of animals going to rescues becomes the owner could not be found.”
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72
Horizons 2014
A league
of their own
Progressive movement left lasting effects on Niles By Ambrosia Neldon
ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com
I
n the patriarchal society that was the early 1900s in America, women were to be seen and not heard, to sit quietly so as not to disrupt the progress the men in their lives were making. Despite the potential backlash, hundreds of women in Niles dedicated their lives to defeating that expectation. Without that dedication by the members of half a dozen book clubs that made up the Women’s Progressive League in Niles, the City of Four Flags would be lacking some of its most precious trea-
sures today. Though most members of the Women’s Progressive League have passed in the century since its prime, descendants of active members can still be found proudly honoring the efforts of their ancestors through their own actions today. Virginia Strayer, 98, of Niles, is the daughter of the late Kathryn Winter Eaglesfield, a member of the Women’s Progressive League. “They did wonderful things. It was kind of like a predecessor of the Niles Service League, except the Service League is mostly interested in the children. The Progressive League did work that was more for the whole city,” Strayer said. Strayer said that it was an honor to be a member of the Progressive
League, and women were competitive about who would get to participate each year. “The Progressive League was made up of representatives of each reading club, and I think each had two delegates, and they met on the first Monday of the month. And to this day there isn’t a reading club that meets on the first Monday of the month,” Strayer said. Strayer is still a member of the Seepawa Club, which meets monthly and carries the same rules as it did when her mother was involved in the group nearly a century ago. She said that, in their prime, reading clubs had to set a maximum of 30 members per group and most groups had waiting lists. Women in existing reading clubs work hard to preserve the
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history of their predecessors, who accomplished a great deal in a time when they were not even allowed to vote. One of the greatest achievements for the Niles Women’s Progressive League was perhaps their endeavors to erect a monument marking the oldest gravestone in Niles, the resting place of a Jesuit missionary whose name frequents the pages of history books about the Age of Discovery in the United States. According to documents written to preserve the history of this large project, the Progressive League became aware of the need for a monument when a lawyer named William Isaac Cummings solicited their assistance. Cummings’ ancestors date back to the earliest inhabitance of Europeans in Niles, with his father serving as a justice of the
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peace until his death in 1841. “Nov. 12 of 1916, a Mr. William Isaac Cummings of Niles, who is a descendant of one of our early pioneer families, asked of a Mr. and Mrs. H.O. Wilkinson a part of their land on which a priest was buried and on which a tall wooden cross had stood for 229 years,” read the notes by Mrs. W.L. Babbitt, referred to as the chair of the project.
“He had very strong feelings about getting a solid marker for Father Allouez and he worked hard to make sure it happened,” said Deb Barkman, Cummings’ great-great-niece, who resides in Niles. According to Babbitt’s notes, the goal was “to build a monument, not only to the memory of a noble man, but a monument to the thrift and energy of the Pro-
gressive League.” Babbit kept track of all progress made by the Progressive League in typewritten, detailed notes. Over the course of a year, women in the Service League collected donations from area businesses and philanthropic groups totaling $612.99 to have a monument built in honor of Father Claude-Jean Allouez.
Entities such as the Knights of Columbus, the Ladies of St. Mary’s Guild and the Notre Dame Catholic Church contributed large donations to fund the project, and the ladies of the Progressive League raised the rest through fundraising parties and rummage sales. Cummings donated a flag and flagpole to mark the gravestone and helped with the installation
of the monument. “I am very proud to say I am related to this man,” Barkman said. Today, the monument marking Father Allouez’s final resting place can still be found on Bond Street in Bertrand Township, Niles, Mich., thanks to hard work of Mr. William Isaac Cummings and the ladies of the Women’s Progressive League.
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74
Horizons 2014
Four Winds Dowagiac 10 months later By Ted Yoakum
ted.yoakum@leaderpub.com
W
hile the promise of a $10,000 jackpot may bring many customers through its doors, it’s not the only thing the Four Winds Dowagiac casino has to offer the community. Opening last April, the casino, located on M-51, made its presence felt in the community long before its first birthday. Owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, the casino provides the familiar gaming experience of two other Four Winds locations, in New Buffalo and Hartford, albeit in a more compact and local form. Smaller than the other other two casinos, the Dowagiac location features 300 slot machines and five table games, but is open 24 hours a day. Despite its stature, the local gaming establishment has provided the community with a number of benefits over the last several months, many of which are intangibles that can’t be easily measured. The casino created 150 new jobs upon opening, making an immediate positive impact on the local economy, said Frank Freedman, the casino’s general manager. “A large portion of our staff here is Pokagon and or a spouse, and an even larger proportion of those live in the community,” Freedman said. Many of the employees who were hired last year remain on the staff
10 months later, Freedman said. “What separates the Four Winds brand from our competitors is our service,” Freedman said. “Our service is driven by our staff. We have a really committed and loyal staff here.” While the casino offers a unique job experience for the Dowagiac community, it also offers an opportunity for leadership. Freedman is assisted Leader photos/TED YOAKUM by a staff of eight property managers who The Four Winds Casino in Dowagiac was the third of the Pokagon-owned casinos oversee the general op- to open. The casino is open 24 hours a day and features 300 slot machines and erations of the casino. All five table games. eight of these managers are Pokagon citizens, four of whom “It’s very rewarding to watch in“The majority of our play in our have been hired only recently. dividuals grow, find a career path two smaller facilities comes from “I like to call them conductors, and be successful at it,” Freedman about a 20-mile radius,” he said. and the musicians are all the em- said. “Even through the course of the ployees,” Freedman said. “They The casino has also provided a winter, [business] really isn’t cycliare the ones who are here day-to- boon to Pokagon artists, design- cal. We enjoy very robust business day, maintaining daily operations ers and architects. The new Four because it is localized.” for us.” Winds location features paintings, Part of what separates Four Part of Freedman’s responsibili- decorations, light fixtures and other Winds Dowagiac from its larger ties as general manager is to mentor design elements contracted out to cousin is its more intimate setting, his management team, to further such creators. right in the backyard of many of its hone the leadership skills that will “Whenever it makes sense to, and customers, the manager said. carry them into the next phase of whenever we can, we utilize local “You don’t necessarily need to their careers. vendors,” Freedman said. spend four hours here to have a good Freedman, who is also the general In terms of traffic, the casino has time,” Freedman said. “You can have manager of the Hartford casino and experienced a steady flow of daily your dinner at home, sneak over here the assistant manager of New Buf- visitors since it opened, many of at 7-8 p.m., play for a couple hours falo, said that many of Four Wind’s whom are drawn to the shared and be home for the 11 p.m. news.” senior leadership team were drawn jackpots with the other two Four Despite its popularity, Freedman from their pool property managers. Wind Casinos, Freedman said. said the casino hasn’t experienced
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Horizons 2014
75
a lot of problems in terms of rowdiness or theft, with security managing to maintain a safe, yet relaxed atmosphere for players. The money generated by the casino doesn’t just go to the Pokagon Band, though. The casino distributes 2 percent of its annual revenue from electronic gaming to the community’s Local Revenue Sharing Board. Last year, Four Winds Dowagiac contributed $183,014 to the board, which was distributed among the five communities that are members. The other two Four Winds casinos have similar revenue sharing boards they distribute money to, which has contributed to a number of projects within those areas, Freedman said. “It’s a pleasure to see a lot of good has come out of it,” he said. “Whether it’s additions to schools, parks or things for seniors, it’s been very good.”
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76
Horizons 2014
Standing up for League of Voters fight for rights of all citizens By Debra Haight
Special to Leader Publications
T
he days of marching for women’s right to vote might be long past, but the League of Women Voters is still on the front lines for many of the most pressing issues facing society today. For a little bit of history, what is now the League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties began as the League of Women Voters of Niles in 1957 and expanded to include Buchanan in 1971. The organization was expanded even farther to cover both counties in 1984. While much of the league’s early work centered around voter registration drives, local League of Women Voters members worked on other projects such as establishing the city manager form of government in the city of Niles and forming the Berrien County Board of Health. The league hosts a variety of forums every year to educate people about not only the views of area political candidates but also some of the hot topics of the day. Issues addressed in forums the last few
Submitted photo
The organization that is now the League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties began as the League of Women Voters of Niles in 1957 and expanded to include Buchanan in 1971. The organization was expanded even farther to cover both counties in 1984. League members work to register students at area high schools each year.
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Horizons 2014 years include the future of coal, fracking, pipelines and renewable energy, as well as the state economy, agriculture and the area’s changing demographics. Education has always been a major focus for the league, which member Susan Gilbert of Galien describes as “the gold standard” and “Cadillac” of the nation’s civic groups. Gilbert is a past president of the group and has been involved with the organization for more than four decades both here and previously when she lived in Illinois. “Men thought women were going to screw things up when they got the vote, so (suffragette) Carrie Catt said there had to be an organization to educate women,” she said. “That’s how the League of Women Voters got started.” For her part, Gilbert joined in 1970 when she was living in Evanston, Ill. and was a stay at home mom with young children. “I went back to work but kept my membership,” she said. “When we moved to Michigan, I sought out the league here and got involved.” Gilbert has witnessed the changing face of the league over the years. On the national level, the league no longer sponsors presidential debates as it did until 1988. In another change, the league began accepting men as members in 1974. In the local group, Earl Bickett of St. Joseph and John Ripley of Niles are two of the men who belong to the league. Bickett joined primarily because of his interest in voter registration efforts, while Ripley had belonged to the League of Women Voters in the past when he lived in Evanston and wanted to get involved in the local community when he moved here. “When we moved here, I decided to become active locally and one of the choices I made was to join Fernwood,” Ripley said. “I saw Susan and her husband and we renewed our acquaintance. She suggested I might like to help in voter service with voter registration and then with the debates and forums the league hosts.” “The beauty of it is when you’re involved with the league, you get to learn about how things happen and why things happen,” he said. “With our projects, we get to associate ourselves with local legislators and also learn about the candidates who run and don’t win. I joined not only to register voters, but to meet people.” Bickett had been involved with the Voters Involved in America group in Benton Harbor and decided to join the league after seeing they were doing similar work. He is on the voter ser-
77
vices committee Ripley chairs and has done everything from registering voters to educating himself about election procedures by interviewing township clerks. Bickett said he still runs into people who are taken aback by men belonging to an organization with the word “women” in its name. “It’s important for people to know that it’s open to men,” he said. “I come from a family of strong, smart women, so it’s totally normal for me to be around strong women. To me, the name is a conversation piece.” Gilbert noted that men make up 30 percent of the membership in the local league, sometimes joining alongside their wives and are often more active in the group than they are. She said people periodically talk about changing the name of the organization but haven’t yet. Besides the confusion over men belonging to a “women’s” organization, the three say that the question they face most often is about the group’s neutral status. “If there’s a major misunderstanding it’s that we are nonpartisan but are allowed to take positions on things,” Ripley said. Gilbert noted that being nonpartisan doesn’t mean being nonpolitical. “It was decided in the beginning that the league would be a nonpartisan but political organization,” she said.
Submitted photo
TOP: League members Fred Lighthall and Holly Wingard register voters at Lake Michigan College on National Voter Registration Day on Sep. 24, 2013. ABOVE: Then-president Liz Ennis opens the primary forum for the District 78 candidates. Pat Yoder was the moderator.
“We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office but we do encourage our members to be involved in the political process. We also take positions on issues and advocate based on those positions.” She called league members “citizen grassroots lobbyists” who don’t take positions for or against candidates but do take “common sense” positions on issues like healthcare and the environment. As Bickett noted, the league believes in doing research and presenting different viewpoints on issues. No matter what, league members
note that their most important job is to emphasize the importance of voting. In today’s world, the question is not about winning anyone’s right to vote but combatting voter apathy and lack of information. Believing in the importance of voting remains the reason why they continue to register people, hold forums and interview candidates about their views. This year. in addition to hosting issue and candidate forums, the local league has a grant to register all area youth who will be 18 by the day of the November election.
78
Horizons 2014
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Horizons 2014
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80
Horizons 2014
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269-429-2941
Family Owned
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We Take Reservations
1668 East Main Street • Niles • 269-684-1027 Mon-Sat 6am-2pm • Sun 8am-2pm
Mon-Thurs: Open at 3:30pm • Fri & Sat: Open at 11:30am • Closed Sunday
Come join us for fresh food, cold drinks, and plenty of fun! 269-422-1141
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EAT
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Horizons 2014
&cook
81
Catch Charter groups, local restaurants partner on program
By Jill McCaughan
jill.mccaughan@leaderpub.com
L
ocally-sourced foods have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and Michigan’s farms offer an abundance of fresh produce for consumers to enjoy. In fact, many restaurants now advertise their reliance on local farms. With Michigan boasting more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes’ coastline, it seems only natural that residents and tourists would seek to enjoy the bounty of those lakes while dining out. However, Lake Michigan is almost exclusively a sport fishery, so finding locally-sourced salmon on a menu is nearly impossible. To fill that need, several orga-
nizations came together in 2012 to present “Catch & Cook,” a program which allows charter fishing clients to enjoy their catch as prepared by chefs at participating restaurants in Michigan. “We’re one of several collaborators on it,” said Capt. Denny Grinold, state and federal affairs officer for the Michigan Charter Boat Association. The Michigan Sea Grant, the Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, the Michigan Restaurant Association, the Michigan DNR, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also partnered on the program. “It was modeled on similar
Submitted photo/DAVID KENYON
Lake Michigan salmon prepared as a part of the Catch & Cook program.
programs in Florida and Hawaii,” Grinold said. “It became very popular, and it has turned into something that Pure Michigan is promoting.” The project has been so successful that Catch & Cook was
awarded the Michigan Governor’s Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration in March 2013. In fact, Gov. Snyder himself participated in a Catch & Cook charter during the development
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phase of the program in July 2011. “The governor himself is a big fan, and you can’t get much better support than that,” said See CATCH, page 82
82
Horizons 2014
CATCH From page 81
Edward Golder, pubic information officer for the Michigan DNR. Over the last two years, the program’s popularity has grown among charter captains and restaurants throughout the state. “We have some restaurants and charters in all parts of the state,” said Adriane De Ceuninck, vice president of marketing and communications at the Michigan Restaurant Association. “We’re seeing increased interest in all of the coastal communities.” “We now have about 73 charter captains and about 45 restaurants listed on the website,” said Sandra Enness, communications manager for the Michigan Sea Grant Extension. In fact, southwest Michigan’s residents and visitors have some of the best opportunities for enjoying the “lake to plate” experience that Catch & Cook offers. “A lot of the charters on the website are on the west coast of Michigan,” Golder said. “There are some great restaurants that are partners in your part of the state,” said De Ceuninck. “Schu’s and Players are just two of them in St. Joseph.” Players Bar and Grill owner Robert Montgomery calls the program “a big success,” noting how much he enjoys the enthusiasm of patrons who have taken advantage of the Catch & Cook program. “We recently had a group of 15 or 16 guys. It was great seeing them chowing down on the
fresh salmon that they had just caught!” said Montgomery. Many charter fishing captains in southwest Michigan are climbing onboard as well. “The charter captains are very happy. They felt they had an increase in bookings due to their participation in the program,” Enness said. “It’s really helping both captains and restaurants.” And, because the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is a partner in the program, clients who book Catch & Cook charters can feel confident about the safe handling of the fish that they will consume. “One of the most important aspects is that the program established procedures for the chain of custody of the fish,” Enness said. “It gives the restaurant the right to turn the fish away if it appears to have been handled unsafely.” “We tried to create a structure for the safe handling of the food,” Golder said. More information about these safe handling requirements can be found on the program’s website at www.michigancatchandcook.com. That website also provides a searchable list of participants. “People can search it either way — through the restaurant or through the charter boat,” Grinold said. With Catch & Cook, charter clients now have the opportunity to enjoy professionally-prepared, locally-sourced salmon from one of the country’s best salmon fishing grounds. And, when a fish goes from lake to table within just a few hours, it doesn’t get much fresher than that.
TOP: A chef prepares salmon caught in Lake Michigan as a part of the Catch & Cook program. The program pairs fishermen with local restaurants, allowing the fishermen to have their catches cooked. LEFT: Participants in the Catch & Cook program enjoy a fresh meal of Great Lakes’ salmon. Photos by David Kenyon
Michiana’s ONLY Casket Store! We also carry Urns
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Your Local Plumbing Professionals You approve the price before we start the work
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Horizons 2014
83
Church Directory Worship Sunday at 10 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church
The Giving Section highlights those in the community who go above and beyond to help others.
Michiana Christian Embassy
Thursday,
Argus rdsburg
Giving Thursday,
February
13, 2014
February
13, 2014
• Page 7
Argus
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6 GIVING
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rdsburg
The Edwa
269- 423-4981
119 East Delaware Street, Decatur, MI 49045 • www.fpcdecatur.org
Our Service Times
or story idea Novak at Have an item page? Email Scott for the Givingleaderpub.com. scott.novak@
Sunday School
r Voluntee k of the Wee
(Christian Life Academy)
y Laylin
Shirle Dogwood Dowagiac l Fine Arts Festiva
od. h the Dogwo ing someth iac, throug of Dowagwith That is really city. Laylin, eered for a small has voluntiac Dogwood it impor the DowagFestival for 23 : Why is people to Fine Arts tant for the years. volunteer? each May, Fine Occuring Dogwood community Dowagiac l has risen to of it It helps the excitement more Arts Festiva as one of the the and more and recognition festivals in all with arts — there’s best fine y, backed by volunteers talking countr ment the al Endow more peoplebecomes a the Nation the Michi- about it. It the Arts thing for for the Arts, il for the growing unity. gan Counc al Affairs, St. whole comm are you and Cultur : What ation, and forward Deny’s Foundappreciated looking other greatly to most about sponsors. this year’s festival? you get hair : How did the wheelc in with the think ed I involv have people Fine ballet. You and people Dowagiac al? wheelchairs hairs dancArts Festiv IG HAUPERT in wheelc aweLeader photo/CRA start not It is such an They Natalie Lucero, y helped I actuall 23 years ago. ing. thing to see. Carter Hinkle,d by their school for l some classes fourth graders collecte which the festiva a friend from also have are in wheelleft, Howard show off the items -Bus fundraiser, from top A was with and we were Stuff-A Palmer people who Clockwise district’s them how south and Amara Schools n down coffee. That year chairs to teach nity rejust Darion Brown betwee is for games Niles Commu It dance. That basketball and Portage havinga beautiful year during the March 1. here. to something to see. h it was n and girls ally runs throug High SchoolFriday, Feb. 21. Dogwood around is concer moving. that we ed Niles said. “There Niles on anyone who suggested od Fes- is very again,” she weather and increasnot Central in said to She HAUPERT m do any a Dogwo to the Schneider rishable food item By CRAIG with the cold that people might : Do you @leaderpub.co eer receive neededI went back them bills non-pe aupert volunt would food. craig.h heating brings tival. for other game and told ng fastthe money way we can give donate to the to the game.do two Chamber idea of doing a work? shelves emptyi food have one nity beadmission With food are filling up at “This is about the they could just not our commumight be $2 off love let’s Niles come help things. they but of and area, ts l, l, . We’d “If they er than the Niles its back some of the studen the pan$3 a persongames while festivaa normal festiva I do all kinds posipantries acrossSchools is doing cause games for have ting from arts fes- I am in a paid for the she said. the house Methodist ones benefit have a fine . fill the Community out. the to cause,” let’s with coltheir agreed began tion aging the supporting a good I’ve been part to help s in the district areitems tries.” tival. They -Bus event g is encour Church — 30 years — All school rishable food Schneider help out by sendin The Stuff-A for you do to and I a nontreasurer ns have : What do of the month community l lecting non-pe Feb. 1. husband school with said donatio the rest but my choir. He is on for the festiva -Bus event. their child to item. Parents can Schneider far. throughout g came so special Stuff-A eer co- perishable food sing in the here in today? at each buildin during a been slow our buildings just ber, council der, volunt be are inthe city collection drop off items in Decem Darla Schneithe items would “A lot of iac, so we hours as school in Niles also said a food drive ber the but Dowag in so many things. each ordinator, equal parts to the First during school off doing have to remem set up at the board, Calvary, I was on off of it in volved donated in boxes are . but people there,” she said. Army, Mt. Mary’s food informathe opporis still Salvation the district I just went er, I wrote also have the boys need and St. For more Dogwood People will Presbyterian June. Howevthem for the about the al, visit out donate during tion for to need s. a the grant Festiv pantrie of the definitely almost bare tunity Council Fine Arts e dogwood“There is Michigan year. I’m also pantries are the websit or call (269) there. Food finanArts this s.org r way g out with in the fineart 15 from 10 a.m. to y Inc. is anotheUnion, helpin I work as diers matters. still 782-11 Monday, Tuesda as many in that Honor Credit and our cial ound and am p.m. day. To assist nities, com- 5 backgr serving and Thurs our commu shows apprestoryteller festival, members 0 troops on the around This year’sMay 9, feaCommunity phones to 290,00 military members the men and cell the U.S. Honor Credit mittee. eth which begins can donate Credit Union ciation for make up the the world, encouraging SUBMITTED you de- tures novelist Elizab that Honor rocker sville, is : Why do to women States military. or the time classic es in Steven and Union llmembers H —Hon Strout, United vote so muchl? Credit Union ST. JOSEP is partner- branch Kalamazoo community gently used Ryder, storyte Paw, festiva and Honor Mitch 41,000 to the fit Paw Weitkamp the donate their deservCredit Union more than the nonprors, Coldwater. er Kim by for Sol- cell phones to this The serves rs over 14 couning with thing for a performance ation. d in for Soldie Cell Phones s. is a good 15 an membeMichigan. t It Wheel ing organiz Cell Phones troops call diers Inc. was founde utes ng brough help ers Robbie program distrib calling ties in more information the city. We city Danci gently Inc., to or ist to the For 12,000 2004 by teenag donating y Bergqu 442-2800, average of week to bases sculptures home by and Brittan of providcall 1-800- onorcu.com. phones. cards each world. used cell from the with the goal www.h to serthe d Sol- visit Funds raised talk time sta- around Phones for of the donateto ing free Cell and women recycling used n are viceme world. cell phonespre-paid inter- tioned around the purchase cards. national calling
Q
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Q
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supports Food drive ries area food pant
Q
Sunday Worship Sunday Night
9:45am Wednesday
7:00pm
Powerhouse (youth)
11:00am Warriors (age 7-12) 6:00pm Bible Study (Adults) www.michianachristianembassy.com
1922 E. Main St., Niles, MI 49120 • (269) 683-3518
Trinity Episcopal Church
Q
www.reallifechurchniles.com
Sundays 9:00 am Niles YMCA No membership needed
Child care and Children’s classes available We also offer a Real Life Friends adults with special needs class
Pastor: Jared Eckerley Phone: 269-362-5415
g cell phones
ion collectin
Credit Un
for soldiers
Q
GIVING prints each Thursday in the Niles Daily Star, the Dowagiac Daily News, the Cassopolis Vigilant and the Edwardsburg Argus.
Have a story idea? Email Craig Haupert at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com
God Loves You...
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
306 Courtland St. • Dowagiac, MI • 269-782-7033
All are welcome and loved - NO exceptions! Sunday Worship 8 am & 10 am
2013 Other Services As Announced
Cass Fellowship Bible Church
All are welcome to worship with us. 64016 M-62, Cassopolis, MI 49031
(269) 445-2195 Sunday School: Sunday 9:30 am Church Service: Sunday 10:30 am and Wednesday 7 pm
Sunday Worship @ 9:30 Wednesday Healing Service @ 5:30 Saturday Lunch In at 11:30am
9 South 4th Street, Niles - Corner of 4th and Broadway 269-683-6060 • trinityniles.org
84
Horizons 2014
Cottage food craze
By Scott Novak
scott.novak@leaderpub.com
I
f there ever was a proponent for the cottage food law, Marianne Christy would be one of the biggest. Christy, who owns Christy’s Bakery and Produce and will open up Local Foods Bakery and Cafe in a matter of weeks, got her start thanks to the 2010 law. “I jumped on board when then-Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the bill,” she said. Christy started small with her madefrom-scratch organic oatmeal cookies. For two years she developed her reputation and built up a customer base, while all the time thinking forward. Thanks to the Niles Entrepreneurial and Culinary Incubator, Christy’s
Leader file photos Marianne Christy owns Christy’s Bakery and Produce, which she says was made possible by the cottage food law passed in 2010.
dream was allowed to grow, as was her business. She took her business from the local farm markets to retail. But the dream didn’t stop there.
“Because of the cottage food law and the Niles incubator, I realized I wanted to own my own bakery,” Christy said. “If it hadn’t been for cottage foods law and the incubator, I wouldn’t be where
I am today.” While the law helps those who want to take an old family recipe or something that friends always told them to sell, it doesn’t allow people to just open up a store and mass market their product. There are only certain foods that fall under the cottage food law. Products include breads and similar baked goods, cakes, cookies, dry herbs and herb mixes, popcorn, dry soup mixes and cotton candy. The law states that “non-potentially hazardous foods (time and/or temperature controls not required to assure food safety — meaning foods can safely be kept at room temperature and do not require refrigeration) meet the requirements for cottage foods and can be prepared in a home kitchen and sold directly to consumers
Brian P Watson Agency Owner Chairman’s Conference Brian Watson Agency, INC SILVER CREEK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Allstate Insurance Company 1218 Oak Street Niles, MI 49120
Sunday worship @ 9 a.m. 31994 Middle Crossing Rd. Dowagiac, MI
(on corner of Middle Crossing & Garret)
269-782-7061
Phone 269-684-5200 Fax 269-684-4334 brianwatson@allstate.com
We also offer: • Day & Evening Bible Studies • Music Ministry, Several Mission Opportunities • Fellowship: Strawberry Social (June 8th) Corn & Sausage Roast (August 2nd) Harvest Dinner (October 5th) and Winter Family Game Nights.
24-Hour Customer Service
www.allstateagencies.com/brianwatson/welcom Auto, Home, Business, Life
Horizons 2014
85
without a license.” Sold directly to consumer is a key part of the law. People cannot make products in their home kitchen and then sell them to another store or provide them to a restaurant. “It gives that person an opportunity if they wanted to get into the food business,” Christy said. Mark Thomas, innovation counselor at the Michigan State University Extension in Cassopolis, and Christy,
both remind people that they still need to ask questions about the products they are buying and what is in them. “It builds a level of trust and communication,” Thomas said about purchasing a product at a local farmer market or at a roadside stand. “You know who made it and what is in it, but don’t be afraid to ask questions about what you are buying and from whom.” “Ask questions because all things are not created equally,” Christy added.
More information about the cottage food law can be found at www.michigan.gov. The MSU extention office will hold a cottage food class May 21. Cost of the two-hour session is $20. For more information and times contact Thomas at mthomas@anr.msu.edu. And for those who want to go beyond the Cottage Food law and sell retail instead of directly to the customer, Lisa Croteau, Niles DDA Main Street
Program Director said the incubator is a good place to start. “If you are interested in making a product that is not on the cottage industry list, or if you would like to sell your product wholesale and not just face-toface with your consumer, give us a call. We can help. Through NECI — Niles Entrepreneurial and Culinary Incubator — we have developed a wonderful network of resources to help people get from idea to business.”
Pillars of the Community 150 Years
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Since 1902
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1631 Lake Street Niles, MI (269) 683-8100 www.nationalstandard.com
Leading producer of wire products since 1907 74 Years LOCAL SUPPLIER OF METAL COMPONENTS
Learn all the ways the American Legion can serve you.
We are here for our community. American Legion Post 26
st Main Gardens Ea1521 E. Main St. • Niles, MI
104 N. 3rd St., Niles 269-357-1411 Find us on:
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269-663-5345 Paul E. Mayhew, Owner
The only sole proprietor Funeral Home Director since 1958!
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86
Horizons 2014
Dowagiac
Then and now A look at the growth of the Grand Old City’s downtown By Ted Yoakum
ted.yoakum@leaderpub.com
M
ost Dowagiac residents agree that the city’s Victorian-style downtown has a lot of character and
charm. More than 130 years worth of character and charm, in fact. Since the city was first platted in 1848, the area around Front Street has been at the heart of Dowagiac’s economy, nightlife and entertainment world. However, while many of the structures built more than a century ago remain in use today, the face of downtown has undergone more than its fair share of transformations during that time. The fact that residents first built the area around Front Street is no coincidence or twist of fate, but instead a simple matter of logistics, said Steve Arseneau, the director of the Dowagiac Area History Museum. The museum houses an extensive collection of historic pictures of the area. “The railroad comes into Dowagiac in 1848,” Arseneau said. “Front Street immediately developed as the city’s commercial district. You’ve got Main Street, but that never took off as an area of commerce. Front Street was it.” In the years that followed, a number of small shops and hotels sprung up near the railroad depot. These structures were rather simple in design and construction, made from wood. However, a series of fires that broke out in the 1860s wiped out this first phase of development. A decade later, these buildings were replaced by the brick structures that would dominate the downtown for years to come.
Submitted photos
In the more than 130 years since Dowagiac’s downtown has been populated, the area has undergone many changes.
During these formative years, most of the businesses that sprung up downtown were general stores, hardware stores, clothing stores, saloons — typical establishments that served the needs of the general public of the time. “You could get just about anything needed right there in downtown,” Arseneau said. However, a large stretch of Front Street remained without buildings during this time. While the city had some plants growing inside the area, its appearance left much to be desired. “There was an East Coast journalist who visited town, and when she went back she complained about how there was no shade in Dowagiac, that it was a bad downtown with tree stumps in the middle of the streets,” Arseneau said. “The city fathers took that to heart, got the stumps out, planted shade trees and really tried to beautify the town a little
bit.” The result of this work was Michigan Central Park, which stood near the middle of downtown for decades. However, it was eventually paved over as the downtown expanded during the 1940s. Perhaps nothing stood out more in the early years of the city than the old Beckwith Building, which was built at the corner of Front and Beeson in 1893. The building housed a number of different offices and stores over the years, including office space for the Round Oak Stove Company and Wigwam Restaurant. “It loomed large in the downtown district,” Arseneau said. “You talk to people who remember it and everybody wishes that we still had it.” Unfortunately, the building was torn down in 1966, after years of neglect. The lot it occupied is now Beckwith
Park, which is still a fixture of the modern downtown landscape. Another thing that stood out downtown during the first half of 20th Century was the rapid development of movie theaters. At its peak, four different theaters were in the Front Street area. “I think that was lot for a city the size of Dowagiac,” Arseneau said. “For a city with the population of 6,000 to 7,000, four movie houses is pretty progressive.” This era of constant expansion would not last forever, though. With the birth of the shopping mall in the 1960s and 70s came the decline of many downtown areas around the region, including Dowagiac’s. Many of the hotels and stores that characterized Front Street during the first half of the century closed their doors as customers began shopping out of
Horizons 2014 town. “The world just changed as people became more mobile, they started going to malls instead,” said Mayor Don Lyons. In the decades that followed, a number of city leaders made it their goal to get downtown out of its slump and back on its feet, Lyons said. Their first step: Once again making shoes the primary form of transportation. “Every truck that came through Dowagiac came through downtown, which made for a very pedestrian unfriendly downtown,” Lyons said. The city moved its primary truck line from Front Street to Division, helping to create the rustic atmosphere that remains in the area today. Around the same time, the city received grant money to help create the Downtown Development Authority. The group began renovating some of the older buildings and attracting new businesses to the area. The leaders responsible for this rejuvenation knew that simply trying to recreate the downtown as it had been before would not succeed, so they came up with a new approach in how to bring businesses back, Lyons said. “We wanted to make downtown Dowagiac a place for people to live,” Lyons said. “We thought it would help bring a vitality to the area that it wasn’t previously getting.” Around $1.4 million has been spent over the years to turn the upper levels of many of the buildings downtown into apartments. Today, there are around 60 upstairs apartments, Lyons said. “There’s a huge demand for them. They have been eminently successful,” he said. Another way downtown has changed in recent years is that it has become more focused on attracting visitors from out of town. In addition to hosting festivals and other tourist attractions throughout the year, businesses have become more specialized, in order to draw customers in from around the area. “The successful owners are the ones who market to a fairly large area,” Lyons said.
87
Submitted and Leader photo/TED YOAKUM
The Amtrak station in Dowagiac in the early 1900s (TOP) and now (BOTTOM).
“Stores like The Marshall Shoppe or restaurants like the Wood Fire, they have become destinations, with a clientele that comes in from miles away.” The city itself has played a hand in keeping its downtown from going under, purchasing and restoring failing property
before selling it back to the private market. In nearly all cases, the city has seen a return on its investments, Lyons said. “Most cities don’t buy businesses,” Lyons said. “Dowagiac was about 20 years ahead of the curve.” Today, the downtown area
is continuing to march ahead. While some notable businesses, like the Round Oak Restaurant, have closed its doors in recent years, new businesses continue to emerge. The city plans to break ground later this year on a new office facility that will contain a new county dental
clinic. In addition, work continues on a new movie theater on Front Street. “From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night, you’ll only be able to find a handful of parking spaces downtown,” Lyons said. “People are living here. They are eating here. They are invested here.”
Q&A: 88
By Ambrosia Neldon
ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com
K
atlynn Grace Kennedy, a Buchanan High School graduate, was crowned Miss Blossomtime last spring. Unlike previous Blossomtime queens, Katlynn was not a community queen. Last year, the Blossomtime organization introduced the Miss Heart of Blossomtime pageant, a contest in which each community’s first runner-up competed one last time for the opportunity to compete in the Blossomtime pageant. Katlynn was crowned Miss Heart of Blossomtime and competed against 22 other queens for the title of Miss Blossomtime.
Q
: Where do you go to school? What are you studying?
Q
: What do you think makes Miss Blossomtime a special honor?
A
: Growing up I attended Miss Blossomtime pageants and always viewed the titleholder as such an important figure in our community. So, to be in that position is a dream come true. It has been something I have dreamt about since I was little.
Q
Q
A
: During the 2013 pageant year, Miss Spirit was a pageant held for the first runner ups for each community. The winner was given the opportunity to compete for Miss Blossomtime just like any other community queen.
Q A
: Which other titles have you held?
Q
: What makes you like participating in pageants?
: Miss Southwest Michigan’s Outstanding Teen 2012, first runner-up to Miss Buchanan, Miss Heart of Blossomtime
Katlynn Kennedy
: I love how not only pageants are fun, but they give you such an opportunity to take on a platform and represent particular things. Whether it be your community, a specific platform, etc. These are the important characteristics of wearing a crown, being able to make it a microphone for the things you are passionate about.
: Saint Marys College for computational mathematics and the University of Notre Dame for computer engineering.
A
Miss Blossomtime
A
A
: Could you explain how the Miss Spirit of Blossomtime pageant worked the year you were crowned?
Horizons 2014
: How has your reign as Miss Blossomtime been different than your reign in other titles? : Blossomtime is something particularly unique to our area. So that in and of itself makes it unique. But Blossomtime is just something so special. It is really hard to explain my love for the festival and all of the great things it brings to southwest Michigan and the girls that participate. I truly believe it is life changing.
Q
: What is your favorite memory of your reign as Miss Blossomtime?
A
: Tour week with my sister queens! Seeing all of the various communities and sharing that with the girls was just super special.
Q
: What are some of the service projects you are
Photo courtesy of Kristi Weston/K-West Photography
Horizons 2014 involved in (inside or outside Blossomtime)?
A
: I do a lot of service work at school. I am on Habitat for Humanity. I am on the University of Notre Dame pro-life group that just took a trip to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life. I have done events with the Special Olympics, Relay for Life and more during my year.
Q
: Why do you think you make a good role model to younger girls?
A
89
A
: While at college my main hobby is studying. ... But I also work on campus in the costume shop for the theater department. I am involved with clubs on campus such as the U of ND College Republicans Club, SMC Women Engineers Club, student government, the dance program, Notre Dame figure skating and I hope to try out for the U of ND cheerleading team this year.
Q
: What kind of reaction did you receive from the people of Buchanan when you were crowned Miss Blossomtime?
: I believe I make a great role model because I firmly believe in working hard for what you want and cherishing every moment of life because it is really beautiful. I think the most important thing is to always be yourself and that is something so hard in today’s society.
A o Q
Q
A
: What are some of your hobbies outside of pageants and school?
: I think everyone was very shocked! But I was given verwhelming support from my friends and family around me.
: Do you plan to participate in more pageants in the future? : Yes, most definitely! I would love to go and compete in the Miss America system again!
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BEATING BULLYING
Area schools hard at work combating growing issue Photo illustration
By Rachel Breden
rachel.breden@leaderpub.com
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or parents, educators and the children themselves, the statistics are eye opening. A 2008-2009 School Supplement report indicated that 28 percent of students in grades 6 to 12 experience bullying. A 2010 Bullyingstatistics.org study showed that about 160,000 children miss school every day out of fear of being bullied. But it doesn’t just happen at school. Bullying can occur in the classroom, on the way to school, in the neighborhood, on the Internet or even in a text message. This more modern form of harassment, which experts refer to as “cyberbullying,” is much more difficult to monitor. With statistics like these and so many stories in the media about children being bullied to the point of committing suicide, it’s easy to become apprehensive about sending children to school. Fortunately, area schools have extensive programs and procedures in place to prevent and deal with bullying. At the beginning of every school year, Edwardsburg Middle School gives handbooks to students and parents explaining bullying and procedures to report it. All students are re-
quired to sign an anti-bullying pledge. The school also uses a bully prevention program called “Project Wisdom.” They share anti-bullying messages every week either over the PA system or in assemblies and give real-world examples from the news about bullying. Teachers reinforce the stories in the classrooms and in bullying discussions. Niles High School has an assembly at the beginning of the school year to speak about bullying. Niles and state police liaison officers talk to students about bullying and cyberbullying and educate them about conduct expectations both in and out of school, including appropriate use of Facebook and cell phones. Niles schools also build bullying education into their curriculum in health, English and social studies classes. Niles’ Howard-Ellis Elementary School has a program called “Formula 4 Success” and emphasizes “The 4 A’s” formula: Atmosphere (example: honesty, compassion) + Attitude (being positive) + Appropriate behavior (following school expectations) = Achievement (becoming a successful citizen). Dowagiac Middle School takes similar measures and has an afterschool program called Five Star in which about a third of the students participate.
Atmosphere Attitude + Appropriate behavior
ACHIEVEMENT Principals say these efforts seem to work. Edwardsburg Middle School reported only two to three incidents of bullying in the last school year. Dowagiac Middle School reported that only 3 percent of incident reports filed this year were a result of bullying. Unfortunately, no matter how many preventive measures schools take, bullying still happens, probably more often than school administrators realize. “Bullies are smart,” said Matt Severin, principal of Dowagiac Middle School. “If they (bully) at school, they are going to do it places where
there’s not an adult watching.” Each school cited cyberbullying as a growing outlet for harassment that they have had to deal with, even though it does not occur on school grounds. “We see a lot of aftermath and the carry over. If we are talking about the bullying realm, most of our time is dealing with the aftermath of cyberbullying,” Severin said. When cyberbullying and other bullying occurs outside of the view of school officials, it is up to the students to report it. Most schools have incident reports that students are able to submit anonymously.
Horizons 2014
Submitted photo
TV. This is an important age where we teach them to act like adults. I think 4th and 5th and our grades (6th-8th) are key grade levels. It’s a challenging time for kids. Our job is to maintain and reinforce what parents are teaching at home. Parents are critical.” “Especially at the middle
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with feelings of anger and stress appropriately, the less bullying behavior we can have. The more we help students with successful classroom work habits, the more likely students are to treat their peers with respect.” Similarly, Dowagiac Middle School found that placing more emphasis on positive student-teacher interactions reduced instances of bullying. “We aren’t trying to catch kids being bad,” Severin said. “What we are trying to do is teach kids the right way to do things and then keep encouraging it.” “I will say it takes a lot of educating and reminding on our part as staff,” Langmeyer said. “[Teens] may recognize their actions or words are wrong, but have difficulty doing or saying the right thing. It takes time and practice … and maturity.” In the fight against bullying, it is essential that parents, teachers and school staff model positive and appropriate behavior. “The media is not our friend,” Dr. MacLean said. “Kids try what they see on
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“We really reinforce that you have to come forward. Students have to be effective bystanders,” said Brian Clements, assistant principal of Edwardsburg Middle School. “Our student body in general does look out for each other. We teach kids to intervene,” Dr. Jan MacLean, principal of Edwardsburg Middle School, added. While there is no singular reason why kids bully, many school administrators said that oftentimes students who torment their peers have previously been victims of bullying themselves. But other things can factor in as well. Niles High School administrators cited things such as stress as one reason children might resort to bullying and have found that managing such factors helps prevent bullying. “As teaching professionals, we understand that many of our interventions, seemingly unrelated to bullying, have far-reaching effects on the whole climate of our building,” said Joan Langmeyer, student support counselor at Niles High School. “The more we help students deal
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school, this is a time when kids are very reactive. They don’t always think things through,” Severin said. “What can parents do to help? Spending time with their kids, talking to them, asking them, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ And if something doesn’t feel right, if
something just feels odd, they should give us a call. We are going to respond to it immediately. The more information and the more time we as adults collectively are interacting with our kids, are checking on them, the more of an impact I think we can have.”
City of Real People, Real Community, Real Opportunity As you get to know Dowagiac, you’ll be impressed with its Victorian charm, embodied by our vibrant downtown and our many fine and stately older homes as well as our commitment to the exciting promises of the 21st Century.
college, a quality full service hospital, a healthy industrial and commercial base and a community wide commitment to the arts, Dowagiac has all the amenities of a city many times its size while retaining and enjoying its small town warmth and charm.
The citizens of Dowagiac are dedicated to saving and building on our historical heritage, while at the same time embracing and encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit that creates opportunities for all of her citizens.
Whether you’re a first time visitor or someone who knows us well, we invite you to take a little extra time to get to know us better. We are confident you’ll be impressed with Dowagiac’s commitment to building a better future on the solid foundation of our remarkable heritage.
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Ginger Brawley
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here isn’t enough paper to list all the things Ginger Brawley is so special at. But, for me personally, she was a great daughter-in-law and terrific wife. She is great in her church and with the community projects. Ginger is someone in the Card Club we all love and admire. I wish I could be 1/10th the women she is. — Sue Greaves, Buchanan
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inger Brawley is my Unsung Hero. Ginger is the most unselfish person I know. She plans, gets others to “want” to help, and works hard putting together meals for the homeless and fish fries for many benefits around Niles. She makes every person feel like they are “special.” Ginger’s favorite saying, if someone is feeling down or depressed, is to do something nice for someone and you will feel better. She worries and helps people in need. I don’t know where she gets all her energy. Ginger Brawley is truly a wonderful person! — Karen Arnold, Niles
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feel that Ginger and John Brawley are truly Unsung Heroes. They and their many “crews” have dedicated their time and resources to many organizations to assist in fundraising. Most local schools and/or ball teams have benefited from their hard work to put on “A Brawley Fish Fry” for the cause. They also have supported multiple local charities. In their spare time they are active in the weekly Saturday lunches provided by area churches. You can always find them at their grandchildren’s ball games or other community events. Niles and the surrounding communities are fortunate to have these giving and caring people so actively supportive of any good cause. — Jean Ann Harbaugh, Niles
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inger Brawley is a person who is unselfish and uncompromising in her life of giving unto others. Her volunteer efforts for the community range from her church’s free Saturday lunches to giving her time, talents and funding for the Brawley Fish Fry events held for charitable organizations and individuals in need. There are a myriad of other reasons too numerous to list. The following story about a “kind-hearted woman” is truly about Ginger: “In days past, hobos were a common sight in America. They traveled the land using a shared system of easy-to-understand signs and symbols to find food and lodging. These simple drawings were carved into signs and nailed to trees, scratched into fence posts, or chalked on the pavement in front of houses to advise or warn those who might follow. The symbol of the smiling cat meant a “kind-hearted woman” lived there. The kind-hearted woman symbol was a high compliment, used to denote that this was a home where a weary traveler could count on a friendly smile or handshake, a place to rest their weary bones, and many times, food to fill their empty stomachs.” This is Ginger Brawley! — Linda Neate, Niles
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Kayla Reth
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ayla Reth is an Unsung Hero. This young lady volunteers at the Salvation Army three days a week as one of the ladies cooking and serving meals for the “Lunch Bunch” program on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. She also cuts hair there once a week for anyone that needs a cut. Any time we need help with carrying food for Christmas baskets, the food pantry or for the backpack program, we can always count on her to be there. And, the best part is, she does it with a beautiful smile. — James Britton, Niles
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Jim Mahler
im Mahler is an Unsung Hero. He works in the food pantry at the Salvation Army five days a week, keeping the shelves stocked with food and making up bags of groceries for the people who need help. He spends about 30 to 40 hours a week making sure people have something to eat. — James Britton, Niles
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Dave Daniels
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im MacGregor is the director of Edward Jones Investment group in Dowagiac. She’s a fairly recent addition to the community, but she’s very involved. She just recently started the 100+ Women Club here in Cass County, and I think they’ve given away something like $5,000 so far. She’s the head of that and the inspiration behind it. While she’s relatively new to the community, she’s very active in it, and was recently named president of the Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce. We’re very happy to have her around.
— Don Lyons, Mayor of Dowagiac
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Niles
ave Daniels is retiring here in July or end of June, but he has 17 or 18 years with us. He has been amazing. He continuously supports the school district in so many ways. I hope he will continue in his retirement. Outside of school, Dave is involved with the Lions Club. He has been really creative in what to do with our buildings over the years. Now he’s leading part of the whole school improvement project in our buildings. He’s been really helpful in so many ways. He just is instrumental to our community. On top of all that, Dave mentors a student and has been doing so for the last year and a half. He has lunch with him on a regular basis, talks to him about grades and homework. He just really embraced that last year. He started when the student was an 8th grader, who is now a ninth grader. The student was voted one of the outstanding students of the year last year, and traditionally he had never had any kind of reward or approval. It was a great turnaround and very rewarding for both Dave and our district. Ultimately, Dave has been on heck of a leader in regards to our administrative team. He’s just really been empowered, and it has really helped lead us in this whole process right now. I don’t know what we’d do without him.
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Horizons 2014
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Rob Habicht
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ob Habicht has always considered the interests of our community a high priority. He does this through his work at the Gateway Foundation and as a leader of the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club. Rob got the Rotary youth group, Interact, started at Brandywine Senior High School. He also works with the Gateway Foundation’s Youth Board. Many area young people have learned what leadership and service mean through Rob’s efforts. — John Jarpe, Superintendent of the Brandywine Community Schools
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Andrew Meredith
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y father is my Unsung Hero because he has helped a lot of people in the Buchanan and Niles area. He was a volunteer firefighter for Howard Township. He is a hard worker at the Walmart Supercenter. My father loves his family and his communities.
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Kathy Moore
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astor Kathy Moore, the Youth Pastor at Michiana Christian Embassy, is definitely one of the Unsung Heroes of Niles and the surrounding communities. She tells her youth group, Powerhouse, that she is the oldest youth pastor in Michigan , and she very well may be. She’s only 102, or 112 — at least that’s what she’s told Powerhouse for at least the past ten years. Sometimes Powerhouse thinks she still has more energy than we do at times, and we know it’s only because of Jesus Christ and her passion for the youth of Southwest Michigan (and maybe her self-proclaimed ADHD). I would say she has a passion for all the youth in Niles (and kids and adults) to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, but that would be an understatement — she has a passion for all the youth in the world. Yet God has called her here, to her hometown of Niles , and she takes advantage of every opportunity God gives her.
She began reaching Niles and the surrounding areas as a teacher and coach at the school our church used to have when it was called First Assembly. Then she became the youth pastor. I can hardly begin to tell you all she has done for the youth of Niles . Yes, she prepares a message each week and teaches Powerhouse the Word of God on Wednesday nights. Yes, she counsels youth and adults on a regular basis. Yes, she plans youth events such as our Snack-n-Yaks and missions trips. Yes, she prays for each person in Powerhouse—a lot. Yes, she preaches multiple times a year during our Sunday services. I mean, that’s what a youth pastor does, right? Yes. And yet Pastor Kathy gives 100 percent almost 100 percent of the time when doing all of that stuff, in addition to helping homeschool two of her grandkids, working with a number of area youth pastors on all sorts of things, purposely checking Facebook multiple times a week to keep connected with her
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youth group (the youth of Powerhouse gladly accept her friend requests), spending time with family and friends and others who need or want to hang out with her, etc. Half of the time I have no clue how she (or our Pastor, for that matter) has time to do all the things she does in a week. Oh, and if any of the youth she knows plays a sport, is in a school band, is in a school choir, is in a school play or musical, Pastor Kathy tries to go to at least one game, match, or performance — if you give her your team schedule or the performance dates at least a couple weeks ahead of time. Pastor Kathy has even lead afterschool Bible studies and has been a substitute teacher and security guard in some of the local schools just so she can be out in the community and be available to help any and all youth who need it. She also, with the help of a few other youth pastors, puts together both the Niles and Brandywine baccalaureates, which are a gift to the graduating seniors.
As I hinted at earlier, I don’t know half of what Pastor Kathy does, and has done, in our community. All I know is that many lives have been changed for the better because of this Unsung Hero, and if all youth pastors (and we have many great ones here in Niles) were as amazing as Pastor Kathy — digging in the Word of God, seeking God’s face, willing and obedient to do what Jesus Christ calls her to do, willing to help almost anyone at a moment’s notice, willing to put almost every ounce of energy she has into seeing all the youth of Niles and the surrounding areas come to know Christ — then, wow. There would be no words to describe the awesome things God would do through them, and in all the world. — Rachael Clanton, Niles
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Tom Eagleson
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here are a number of Unsung Heroes that I know, and one of them is Tom Eagleson. Mr. Eagleson is a vital part of Michiana Christian Embassy here in Niles as the main sound technician. If you look in the sound booth before Sunday services for praise team sound checks, he’s there. If you look in the sound booth on Wednesday evenings for choir practice, he’s there — until he walks down to our youth chapel do run the sound for Powerhouse Youth. And, of course, he runs the sound for each of our Sunday church services. This is what our sound man does on a weekly basis. In addition to that, Mr. Eagleson takes care of most of the sound for any function outside of the church that involves our choir, Joyful Noize — our annual trip to Wal-Mart around Christmastime, when we sing at the
Bluegrass Festival, and anywhere else. He also takes care of the sound when we have church services down at the amphitheatre in Riverfront Park. All of this includes packing, loading, and transporting the sound equipment with the help of Willie Maxwell. Mr. Eagleson takes care of the sound for all the Christmas program rehearsals, too. Sometimes those are held for much of the afternoon on multiple Sundays after morning services, with dress rehearsal being on the Saturday morning before the next evening’s Christmas program from 9 a.m. until noon, just before the kids and the choir usually have to be at Wal-Mart by 1 p.m. If all of this isn’t enough, our sound man runs the sound for our annual Mother’s Day family lunch in our gym, our annual Sunday School Picnic/Hog Roast that we have in our gym, and for many weddings and some funerals that
are held at Michiana Christian Embassy. Not only that, but Mr. Eagleson is also one of our youth sponsors, which is a youth leader under our youth pastor. Because of all of this, and the fact that Mr. Eagleson likes candy, kids at M.C.E. learn quickly where to go when they have a sweet tooth — they go to the sound man. Many at M.C.E. have also learned who to turn to when they have a question about almost anything that pertains to our church — they go to our sound man. Without him, we’d get by (because the body of Christ works together), but we would sure have a difficult time doing so. Tom Eagleson is one of the maintenance workers for Edwardsburg Schools. Wait a minute; you mean helping out at the church isn’t his job? That is correct. Mr. Eagleson volunteers at Michiana Christian
Embassy and works for Edwardsburg Schools. As a maintenance employee, a few of his duties are to line some of the athletic fields, check the boilers at the schools (even on many weekends), and keep the school parking lots and sidewalks snow-free (even on many weekends). And these are just a few of the things he does around the school system. Mr. Eagleson is a huge asset to not just the Niles and Edwardsburg communities but also to each community that has anything to do with these two. And Mr. Eagleson doesn’t ask for anything…well, just maybe a bit of help or a thank you every once in while. This is why he is an Unsung Hero to almost anyone who knows him, including me.
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— Rachael Clanton, Niles
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Brent Wright
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rent Wright is a local father of two boys who formerly graduated from Niles. Brent, or “Pugsley” as many people affectionately call him, is a Niles boy, through and through. He grew up here and was big into traditional sports for this town. However, when Brent’s two boys took an interest in soccer rather than football at a young age, he embraced it and adapted his own sports expertise to embellish his boys’ dreams. Brent learned as much as he could about the sport and became a coach in our Optimist program helping his boys and many others. This passion grew in him. When his boys sought to take their soccer to another level along with many of their teammates, Brent sought answers to help them. … Brent became the main leader of our Niles Football Club travel soccer program and still works his tail off keeping the program running with boys and girls travel soccer teams. Brent’s own boys played in the program, along with several others, and the fruits of Brent’s of labors helped his sons, Dustin and Alex, go on to play soccer in the LMC program now. NHS soccer has greatly blossomed. ... Brent also helps out in our middle school programs, both girls and boys. He coaches several teams at many age levels... an amazing feat for a guy who grew up playing American football. Brent has for years paid money out of his own pocket to allow kids from struggling homes the opportunity to play more advanced soccer and fuel their dreams. His large van is often loaded with kids he picks up from all over the Niles area to take them to away games as far as Battle Creek. And throughout all of this, despite the fact his boys are now in college, Brent still finds time to help out with our high school program, announcing games and with fundraisers. I could go on and on about Pugsley. He is a symbol of the evolution of this town, through and through, and he has a heart for its youth like no other. — Ryan Bigelow, Ring Lardner Middle School
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Ginger Luxemberger
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n life, we are sometimes fortunate enough to be gifted with running into a person of light; and if we are extremely lucky, that light becomes part of our life. Ginger is such a being. She has within her a spark of energy that always keeps her in perpetual motion. The glow within her radiates warmth and is complemented by a bright smile, never far from her lips. To know her is to love her. To watch or join her in one of her tasks of volunteering and giving, is to be inspired. I only know of some things she does, cause I’ve been lucky enough to be a co-hort, such as in helping to gather the group to put together last year’s 5K Pioneer Log Cabin run to raise money for a new roof. Other things, well, I just happened to catch her doing. She is ninja like when it comes to planting lovely flowers in the Village. Ginger doesn’t waste time asking or wondering if it should be done, she just does it. Where once was a barren spot, all of a sudden, abracadabra, happy mums and sassy tiger lilies raise their faces to the sky. They, like Ginger, quietly enhance the community with their beauty and joy, never wishing to be thanked, not looking for attention, yet, by their very existence, enhancing our lives with light, vibrancy and a reminder — bloom where you are planted. Thank you, Ginger, for shining so brightly, for putting the “snap” in Ginger, and being such a good friend to the community but most of all, me. You, my beautiful lady, are a hero to me. — CeeCee Wilson, Organizer Cass Can, Inc. and Owner, Last Tagine in Paris, LLC
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Frank Maley
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is quiet, generosity of spirit and dedication to helping in any way possible here at the Cass County Council on Aging makes him the perfect candidate, to be an Unsung Hero. He is selfless and is never looking for the limelight. A wonderful example of an outstanding human being. An example we should all follow. — Patty Patano, Cassopolis
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Cliff Montgomery Barbara Wright
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arb has served on the board of directors and as treasurer of the Edwardsburg Area Chamber of Commerce for over 10 years. She has given countless hours of her time and energy toward making a success of the Edwardsburg Business Expo since its conception 5 years ago. Each year it has gotten bigger and better. She and her sister, Judy, are the owners of the former Union House Bed and Breakfast, both wonderful cooks and generous people who always have a thank-you gift for the speaker at every chamber meeting. Barb served our country in the military and is a proud veteran who has volunteered her time for several years as the treasurer of the Edwardsburg VFW. She made sure the VFW had a booth and was represented at the Memorial Day Festival each year. It has been over a year since Barb was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer and was given 4 to 6 months to live. She thankfully has beaten those odds and at the time of this writing is at the township hall helping Meryl get the figures right for the Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. I am sure she did something for the VFW today also. Like the energizer bunny, Barb just keeps going and going.
— Dawn Bolock, Edwardsburg
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y dad, Cliff Montgomery, is an Unsung Hero. He has been a certified auto mechanic for more than 60 years now, starting with Joe Hayden’s Ford, then with his own business, Niles Auto Clinic. He gave up meals to fix cars, allowed people to pay when they could, and still dashes off to help people stranded, even though his health isn’t the greatest right now. Through his examples, my brother Kerry and I have grown-up, willing to get involved with other people and try to help them. My thanks to all the Unsung Heroes out there who are trying to help others!
— Pam Montgomery, Niles
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Business Index
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