May 11, 2023

Ribbon is cut on Villwocks Outdoor Living expansion

PAGE 3

Rotarian embarks on ‘Epic’ journey to raise awareness about diabetes PAGE 5

New Buffalo school board elects two new board members PAGE 6

Bison sweep doubleheader at home

PAGE 10

Mustangs and Bison top finishers for boys in track

PAGE 11

Region of Three Oaks Museum celebrates continued growth at 2023 opening PAGE 22

PHOTO OF RICHARD EBERLY WITH A LONG BOARD WITH JAYDON BERGER, DRE BECERRA AND SAM WENDEL-SUPPA BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

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Ribbon is cut on Villwocks Outdoor Living expansion

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Just like the flowers, shrubs, trees and other plants that inhabit Villwocks Outdoor Living’s new greenhouse expansion, Mike Villwock’s dream of connecting community to gardening has blossomed before his very eyes.

The business, which opened a brick and mortar store with power equipment in Berrien Springs in 2017, broke ground on the 24,000 square foot state-of-the-art greenhouse last month.

The ribbon was officially cut on the expansion at a ribbon cutting with the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Friday, May 5.

The addition of the new year-round space expands the garden and nursery portion of Villwocks Outdoor Living and will allow for educational opportunities for beginning and advanced gardeners, planting classes and more.

In addition to the new greenhouse expansion,

customers can take advantage of current services including lawn maintenance, new landscaping creation, sprinkler systems installation, outdoor power equipment sales and service, fall clean up, snow plowing, pest control, fertilizers, and on-site nursery featuring fruit trees and bushes available in their planting season, as well as vegetable seedlings, annuals, and perennials that will continue to be available.

“The footprint is impressive but just how beautiful this is with all the plants you have arranged and how that’s going to spill over in beautifying this community is just incredible,” Arthur Havlicek, president and CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, said. Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kimberlee Wendt said that the expansion will allow Villwocks to continue its quality service “on a bigger scale.”

“We’re looking forward to

all the wonderful events I know you got planned down the road and we’re glad to be part of it,” she said.

Mike said he’s always had a dream to open a “landscape business, outdoor power equipment business, garden center and landscape supply – that kind of outdoor world sort of super center.”

He noted that the business has a multi-generational aspect to it. Sons Noah, Micah and Elijah and his wife, Jody, were next to him to cut the ribbon.

The Villwocks

Outdoor Living family stretches beyond immediate family, though.

“The people who invest their lives to grow the business in what we do, it’s powerful - the family we have and the culture and the people that come to work everyday to provide this kind of space but also to go out and beautify people’s homes and do all that we do,” he said.

“We’re so grateful for both sides of it - the customers

and the employees and the family members that are part of Villwocks Outdoor Living,” Mike, who grew up in the area and the farming and landscaping industries, added.

Jody said she most enjoys watching people’s faces as they enter the business.

“The people light up when they see flowers - their whole day can brighten just by some bright colors and pretty fragrances,” she said.

Before opening Villwocks, Jody and Mike acquired Turf Services in Dowagiac, which “helped our business grow.”

Jody added they can deliver mulcher or “whatever you might need for your own landscaping” and can even do your landscaping for you. More information can be found at www. villwocksoutdoorliving.com, or by calling or texting 269815-5415.

Visit them in person at 8008 M-139 Berrien Springs. Currently, hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

At the Chateau Marmont, a night is a Life time.

— Dino N. Fatouros

Gardeners purchase plants in the greenhouse

A view of the large greenhouse in Berrien Springs

Customers inspect the variety of flowers in the greenhouse Elijah (holding Josiah), Jody, Mike, Noah and Micah cut the ribbon

Local Government Meetings

New Buffalo Times

Democracy Requires Transparency

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO

JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL

MARK ROBERTSON, ROGER LIJESKI, JOHN HUMPHREY, BRIAN FLANAGAN, VANCE PRICE

City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS

Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 5:30PM

NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD

PETE RAHM, MICHELLE HEIT, JUDY H. ZABICKI, PATTY IAZZETTO, JACK ROGERS

Board meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7PM

NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP

PLANNING COMMISSION

Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM

SHERIFF BERRIEN COUNTY

L. Paul Bailey, Sheriff

Chuck Heit, Undersheriff NEW BUFFALO AREA

RECREATIONAL AUTHORITY

Meets at 10AM on the 2nd Wednesday of every other month at New Buffalo Township Hall, 17425 Red Arrow Highway New Buffalo

NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD

PAUL KELLER, LISA WERNER, JOHN HASKINS, DENISE CHURCHILL, BRADLEY BURNER, TRICIA NEWTON, VANESSA THUN

CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP

CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD

DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, BILL MARSKE

Chikaming Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30PM

CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP

PLANNING COMMISSION

Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM

THREE OAKS

THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP BOARD

Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7PM

VILLAGE OF THREE OAKS BOARD

Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7PM

GRAND BEACH

Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7PM

MARY ROBERTSON, CLERK

HARRY WALDER BLAKE O’HALLORAN, JAMES BRACEWELL, PETER DOERR, EDWARD BRANDES

MICHIANA

VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL

Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM

Politically embattled La Porte commissioners hire new attorney

BY STAN MADDUX

Anew attorney for La Porte County government was appointed Wednesday, May 10, by the politically embattled commissioners.

Scott Pejic, a veteran criminal defense attorney based in Michigan City, was hired in a 2 to 1 decision.

Commissioners Connie Gramarossa and Rich Mrozinski voted for Pejic a week after they terminated Andrew B. Jones as county attorney and removed Joe Haney as commission president.

Gramarossa, who’s now president of the commission, along with Haney verbally tangled with each other before the split decision for Pejic.

Haney kept commenting and asking questions while Gramarossa tried calling for the vote.

She then paused and accused Haney of political grandstanding.

“We’ll give you the floor. You can try and make a fool out of me. Go ahead. How long would you like to badger us,” she said.

“That’s not my intention at all. My intention is to simply understand what’s transpired here,” he said.

Haney said he was given the impression by his colleagues last week the position would be advertised and candidates interviewed prior to being filled.

It wasn’t and that’s why he didn’t recruit anyone for the job unlike the other two commissioners, he said.

Mrozinski said he approached three lawyers who all turned him down because of how the position has become so politically charged the past few years.

“They don’t want to be part of that,” he said.

Gramarossa said she was contacted by Pejic after he heard about the opening and talked to another lawyer from South Bend.

She also said it was Haney’s fault that he misunderstood the process followed for filling the seat.

“I think this was an open process and everyone had the ability to bring somebody to the table,” she said.

In early January, Gramarossa sided with Haney in deciding to replace Shaw Friedman with Jones as county attorney.

She said Jones’ handling of a dispute involving a request by La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan was a major factor in her decision to terminate him.

Fagan is seeking all of the emails from the former prosecutor and several of his staff members last year. He said he wants them to fill gaps in criminal cases where evidence was lost during his transition into office.

Gramarossa and Mrozinski went against the advice of Jones, who urged them to turn over the e-mails because they belong to whoever is prosecutor.

Jones also warned them to expect a lawsuit from the Indiana Attorney General’s Office for not granting Fagan’s request.

Gramarossa said she was more than happy to give Fagan access the emails he needs but not all of them over concerns about the privacy of others.

“We will not give him thousands of unrelated emails from the county server for a political witch hunt and that’s the bottom line,” she said.

Region of Three Oaks Museum to break ground on expansion project

TThe Region of Three Oaks Museum (TROTOM) will break ground on a major expansion project at noon Friday, May 19, at the museum, which is located at 5 Featherbone Avenue in Three Oaks.

TROTOM has been “drowning in history,” running out of space to store the artifacts, photos and documents that tell the rich history of Southwest Michigan. Thanks to a capital campaign that’s raised in excess of $80,000, help is on the way, in the form of a 1440-square-foot addition to the existing museum, in the heart of Three Oaks.

Museum board members and community supporters will celebrate this expansion at a groundbreaking ceremony just to the south of the museum building. Museum board members will be on hand, and we’ve invited village officials who have partnered with TROTOM on a grant application. There will also be representatives from the Pokagon Fund and Berrien Community Foundation, both of which awarded $10,000 grants to help make the project happen.

After the ceremony, the museum will offer attendees special guided tours of the museum, which opened for the season May 5.

There are two other storage sites where museum items are being temporarily housed while construction is completed:

• The attic of the Three Oaks Library houses dozens of large items, and has since the museum moved out of that building in 2013 and

• Storage area under the stands at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing has housed outsized artifacts from Three Oaks for decades, but now stadium officials are reclaiming that space, so large items including a hand-carved undertaker’s wagon, sleigh, and elegant carriage will be returning to Three Oaks this summer.

The museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday through the end of October. — STAFF

If you can judge where their self interest is, you can judge where their behavior goes.

Rotarian embarks on ‘Epic’ journey to raise awareness about diabetes

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

By the time Edwin Velarde rode his bike into the parking lot of Hummingbird Lounge in New Buffalo, he’d already covered around 70 miles on his journey from the Windy City to Cereal City.

Not just any journey, though – an “epic” one.

Following a diagnosis of diabetes, Velarde, a Rotarian, created the EPIC Journey Against Diabetes, during which he raises awareness of diabetes in hopes of elevating diabetes as Rotary’s next major health initiative.

So far, his epic journeys have taken him not only across the country but the world. Last year, he biked from Chicago to Houston.

Before that, he biked from London to Hamburg, Germany. Other journeys have included Chicago to Toronto and Busan to Seoul, South Korea.

This year, Velarde, who’s a member of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village in Ventura County, California, decided to ride from Evanston, Illinois – the site of Rotary International Headquarters - to Battle Creek, ending up at the conference for Rotary District 6360 (which is comprised of 13 counties in southwest Michigan) at FireKeepers Hotel.

Velarde, who’s also the chair for the Rotary Action Group for Diabetes and board member for Fellowship of Cycling, said his destination is usually the location of a Rotary district’s conference.

Joining him was Tom Drennan, a member of Rotary St. Louis – Club 11 and board member of Action Group for Diabetes, who had rode with him previously from Niagra Falls to Toronto for another conference because of his own personal experience with Type 2 Diabetes and Velarde’s wife, Cristina, who ensures he’s being healthy.

Along the way, he engages with fellow Rotarians.

“We have fellowship with Rotarians in the communities that we pass through but the biggest goal we have is to raise awareness of diabetes and how more than half a billion people have diabetes,” he said.

In 2021, studies revealed

that 6.7 million people have passed away worldwide from diabetes. In addition, 40% of people who passed from Covid-19 were inflicted with it.

That night, Velarde spoke to Rotarians at a dinner at Hummingbird Lounge. Along his winding journey to each convention, he speaks at symposiums of his own, similar journey with Type 1 diabetes.

It’s a journey that began in 2012, when a competitive “good golf buddy” gave him a bike.

“I said, ‘Hey, why not, I’ll take it, I have room in my garage - but he was actually challenging me to take it

(bicycling) up,” said.

Velarde started cycling –which opened his eyes to his deep-rooted health issues.

The turning point came when he was cycling one day and, unable to finish his ride, called Cristina to give him a ride home – only to be told that she was “doing errands” and he’d have to walk his bike home.

“That long walk kind of woke me up that I have to turn my life around a little bit because I wasn’t that old, I should be able to ride a bike around town, right?” he said.

He began experiencing “extreme hypoglycemia.”

Doctors and friends give him the same advice: back off cycling.

“I wasn’t going to have that - I’m trying to get myself healthy during the day and then dying at night,” he said, adding that he was getting low blood sugar.

He started researching about diabetes’ physiology as well as about different diets – the keto and carnivore diets, vegetarianism and pescetarianism. After he allowed himself to “move things around,” he found a plan that he deemed was a “nice fit” for him. Soon, he’d reduced his insulin by 85%. Through his research, he learned just how many lives have been taken worldwide by diabetes.

“I realized being a Rotarian, we’ve got to do somethingbut I can’t do this by myself, I need the help of Rotarians,” he said.

While he can’t take back the years that diabetes has taken from him, he can tell his story to others and encourage them to take back their lives with healthy habits.

“You got the health care, you got the pharmaceutical, you got the exercise community, the food industry and I think we need the humanitarian component… This epic journey is about awakening the hearts and minds of Rotarians,” he said.

To learn more about Velarde’s efforts to raise awareness for diabetes, visit www.epic-journey.org and www.rag-diabetes.org.

Cristina and Edwin Velarde and Tom Drennan arrive at Hummingbird Lounge

SCHOLASTICS

New Buffalo school board elects two new board members

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Members of the New Buffalo Area Schools

Board of Education elected two new members to the board at their Monday, May 8, meeting, after the resignation of Patricia Newton and Paul Keller.

Newton resigned from the board last month. Board members accepted the resignation of Keller at that night’s meeting.

Stephen Donnelly and Greg Vosberg will fill the unexpired terms left vacant by the two members until next November’s general election.

Other candidates were Ruth Breckinridge Church, Brian Dodge and Curtis Newton.

Donnelly said he grew up in New Buffalo and, after moving away for 15 years, has returned to the area with his wife and child, who’s in the second grade.

As an attorney who has practiced law for 12 years, Donnelly said he’s used to conflict resolution and “applying certain sets of facts to different policies or statutes or language or rules.”

With regards to issues facing the district, he’s concerned with children who struggle with substance abuse and he’s interested in seeing how the community can utilize its resources to “alleviate” some of it.

The teacher shortage is also a concern

“I think it’s very compelling that we now start to reach out to teachers here and everywhere to try to figure out what it is we can try to do to attract young teachers, ambitious teachers as well as retain those teachers we currently have,” he said.

Vosberg moved here from Chicago in 2020 with his wife and two children.

He’s the senior director of operations for AbbVie Pharmecueticals and oversees its learning and engagement functions so he has “quite a few learning and education programs, technological investment projects, etc. that I’m engaged in.”

Vosberg added that he has a “relentless need for difficult projects and I’m willing to take things on.”

He said he doesn’t have an “agenda” and would like to continue “what the district is doing.”

“I would consider myself to be a grown-up in the room when it comes to some of the debates happening across the country at this point and I’d like to bring some balance,” he said.

Middle school principal Dan Caudle gave an update on middle school happenings.

In terms of academic performance, the school’s summative growth rating is 96.3% and summative proficiency is 99%, with Caudle saying both ratings were through MI School Data.

The school was named one of the best middle schools through US News and World Report and a Reward School through the Michigan Department of Education. Niche.com has also rated it one of the best middle schools in the

country.

Caudle said the school is “sitting in the top 3 to 4% when you look at our scores.”

“Bright spots” at the school are the students receiving student of the month awards, students participating in activities such as the geography team and quiz bowl as well as “mix-it-updays,” like the Fall Harvest and Winter Wonderland,” during which students were grouped together with students outside of their peer groups.

Regarding next school year, Caudle said he’s looking forward to the new bell schedule, which will give students “more opportunities to explore” in the afternoon. Teachers will be going through Guaranteed and Viable curriculum, a yearlong workshop with Berrien RESA that will look at “vertically aligning our standards;” improving RTI courses and welcoming new classes, such as a student media class, choir and performing arts.

Sgt. Russ Tillery, school resource officer (SRO) for the high school and Dept. Rick Edgerle, SRO for the elementary school, gave an update.

This year, the district was awarded $60,000 in a safety grant; Five Star Window Coatings will be at the district next week to place safety film on all the exterior doors in all three schools; the Emergency Operations Procedure Plan for the district was updated; Tillery and Edgerle rewrote the district’s reunification plan; they worked with the elementary school’s PTO to start to purchase emergency buckets and supplies for every classroom in the district for lock downs and night lock security devices on high school classroom doors and other ones in the district were installed.

Five Star has already installed safety film on some of the elementary school’s windows and will be installing it on all the entrances to the school district next week and then every window after that (which was made possible through the safety grant).

Board members approved employing Elliana Panepinto as kindergarten teacher, pending background approval. The registration for Adam Bowen to attend the MASA New Superintendent Leadership Academy was approved.

A trip to Washington D.C. in May 2024, for next year’s senior and junior class was approved.

Board members adopted the resolution for the 2023-2024 Proposed Regional Education Service Agency’s General Fund Operating Budget.

The following openings for School of Choice for the start of 2023-2024 were approved: third grade: five; sixth grade, five; seventh grade, five; eighth grade, five; ninth grade, five and 10th grade, five.

Board members convened into Closed Session to conduct a superintendent periodic evaluation.

Greg Vosberg gets sworn in by Denise Tuszynsk

Stephen Donnelly gets sworn in by Denise Tuszynsk

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Victim of gunfire exchange identified

BY STAN MADDUX

Aman died from his wounds following a gun fire exchange in Michigan City while another man shot was seriously hurt.

A 17-year-old boy also accused of firing shots is being detained while prosecutors decide how to proceed with the case.

Those are the details police are just releasing in connection with the shootings that occurred about 7 p.m. on Monday.

La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson identified the victim this morning as Charles “Chocolate” Garrett Cox, 22, of Michigan City.

She said an autopsy of the body is scheduled this morning.

According to police, the investigation shows both shooting victims were 22 and involved in an altercation at 8th and Spring streets when gunfire erupted.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 10, police said one of the 22-year-old survivors didn’t fire any shots but just the deceased and juvenile.

Police didn’t specify which of the 22-year-old men fired.

A video of what appeared to be a gun battle revealed well over 20 shots were fired.

The video also shows one of the men was next to a car parked along the curb when he turned and began returning fire then dropped to the pavement.

That man fired a few more shots before crawling his way into the driver’s seat of the vehicle.

According to the video, several more gunshots fired from somewhere rang out about 30 seconds later.

Police said one of the injured men was found unconscious after leaving in his vehicle and crashing about three blocks away.

That man later died at the hospital.

Police said the other man found at the scene of the gun battle was later transferred to another hospital for advanced care.

So far, police have not released his name. According to police, the juvenile was present during the exchange and also fired shots.

He was being held at the La Porte County Juvenile Services Center while the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office after reviewing the evidence decides formal charges, police said.

HIKERS TO VISIT VINEYARD TRAILS

The Harbor Country Hikers will hike the hills and vineyards of Mt. Tabor Trails at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 20. Hike leader and Hikers President Pat Fisher will explain why Southwest Michigan’s terroir makes it ideal for growing grapes.

The group will cover a little more than two of the 3.5 miles of trails that loop through woods and vineyards. The hike is rated Moderate, with plenty of hills. Depending on the weather, the trails’ clayey soil could make for some slippery walking.

For more information about the May 20 hike, including driving directions, visit the group’s website, www. harborcountryhikers.com, or its Facebook page. — STAFF REPORTS

FILM GROUP TO WELCOME CHICAGO DIRECTOR AT MAY MEETING

Chicago director Kyle Leland Cullerton will present his film “Hammersmith” and lead a discussion at the Monday, May 22, meeting of the Harbor Country Film Group at 6:30 p.m. at the New Buffalo Township Library, located at 33 N. Thompson Street in downtown New Buffalo.

“Hammersmith” follows the behindthe-scenes chaos of fictional filmmaker Bayou Straights as he directs, stars and does his own stunts for his actionpacked film franchise. As the production spins out of control, the cast and crew try mightily to bring Bayou’s narcissism and delusions back to reality.

Cullerton’s dark comedy evolved from a contest-winning short that was selected to screen at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. Raised in Chicago, Cullerton spent his summers in Harbor Country.

All are welcome at Film Group meetings, and there is no charge for admission. Popcorn, fresh and free, will be served. — STAFF REPORTS

SPORTS

From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

This past Saturday, the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby took place and Mage, a 15-1 long shot from Venezuela, roared past Two Phil’s from Chicago, to capture the victory.

The race was the culmination of a tumultuous week at Churchill Downs In Louisville. During Derby week, seven horses died, including two that had to be euthanized prior to the race. The attendance set a record, as did the amount of money wagered.

Personally, I had a busy Saturday afternoon and thought that I missed the race, so I turned on the television about 5:45 to find out which horse had won and discovered that the race didn’t begin until 6:57. When I was a kid in college, three buddies and I hitch hiked from Carbondale Illinois to Louisville and attended the race. We were in the infield with about 100 thousand other young people and had the time of our young lives. Who knows, maybe I will be able to get back one day. For any of you that have the slightest inclination to attend, I urge you to do so.

The Cubs brought up rookie Matt Mervis this week, to the delight of Cub fans everywhere. I keep hearing people say that no other teams fans follow their minor league players like Cub fans, and I’m inclined to believe it. Mervis rewarded Cub fans in his first game with an RBI single and the fans at the game rewarded Mervis with a standing ovation.

The Cubs have a bunch of rookies who are on the verge of being ready for the big leagues and while the present looks good, the future is beginning to look wonderful.

We just touched on the present and the future, so let’s take a little stroll down memory lane. This week was the anniversary of a couple of iconic events in Chicago sports history. Twenty five years ago, Kerry Wood threw one of the best pitched games in baseball history. Wood struck out twenty Astros and a legend was born in Wrigley Field. Wood was a 20-year-old rookie and the Astros were in first place, but that day it was no contest. I was in sales at the time and the game was so captivating I couldn’t leave my car to make my sales call.

The other event was Michael Jordan coming into his own for the Bulls. I’ll never forget Michael cutting across the court and jumping as Craig Ehlo shadowed him. Ehlo started to come down but Jordan miraculously hung in the air and made “the shot” to lift the Bulls to a playoff win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The shot was just the beginning of the many miraculous things that Jordan performed on and off the court.

Will Rogers said, “Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.”

Be kind. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.

The New Buffalo High School baseball team moved to 7-4 on the season by sweeping a doubleheader at home against Eau Claire Friday, May 5.

The Bison defeated the Beavers 15-5 and 7-6.

In the first game, the Beavers scored three first inning runs off Bison starting pitcher Vaugh Nickkel but New Buffalo came back with six runs in the bottom of the inning.

Braden Huffer with the bases

Bison sweep doubleheader at home

loaded knocked in the first three runs with a double. Huffer then scored on a fielder’s choice.

Nicholas Wolfe and Jaydon Berger later scored on an overthrow to first base by the shortshop and a wild pitch.

Nikkel, who pitched his first game of the season, was taken out in the second inning after giving up a run scoring double and hitting three batters.

Berger took the mound with two outs and the bases loaded but got out of the jam on a ground ball out to the third

BY STAN MADDUX

baseman.

The Bison took a 12-5 lead by scoring five runs after Ethan Lijewski led off the fourth inning with a triple to deep right center field and crossed the plate on a single by Huffer.

New Buffalo scored four more times before the inning was over with help from a walk, hit batsman and overthrow to first base by the shortshop.

The Bison scored their final three runs with two outs in the fifth inning after Wolfe hit a sharp line drive single to left

field. He and Hagen Davis scored on a sharply hit double to left field by Sam Wendell-Suppa, who later crossed the plate.

Berger, who uses a submarine delivery with some of his pitches to keep the batters off stride, gave up just one run in 3 1/3 innings.

In the second game, both teams scored all of their runs in the first three innings.

New Buffalo Head Coach Adam Lijewski said it took

Berger about two years to master his submarine delivery.

“He just got locked in this year,” he said.

Lijewski said the team, which has a lot of players from the winless season two years ago, continues to improve each game in all aspects of the game. At the plate, for example, batters are hitting the ball much more consistently and with more authority.

“These guys are grinding. This is a really good team,” he said.

Mustangs and Bison top finishers for boys in track

BY STAN MADDUX

The River Valley High School boys took first place while the boys and girls from New Buffalo each grabbed second place in their most recent varsity conference track meet Tuesday, May 9.

In the men’s division, the Mustangs finished with 213 points while the Bison had 105 points during the Berrien Cass St. Joseph conference match up at New Buffalo High School.

Our Lady of the Lake won in the women’s division with 174 points compared to 107 for New Buffalo.

The girls from River Valley finished fifth out of six teams with 36 points.

Boys taking first place from River Valley in individual competition were Eli Thomas in the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash and long jump; Adam Slavens in the 800 meter run; Austin York in the 3200 meter run; Braiden Brooks in the 300 meter hurdles; Jaquan Pierce in the shot put and Cadden Krieger in the high jump. For New Buffalo, the winning boys were Giovanni Sanchez-Perez in the 400 meter run and Elliot Bourne in the 1600 meter run.

Finishing first for the New Buffalo girls were Sam Smith in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash; Eva Bauer in the 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and long jump and Jane Funk in the high jump.

Victories were also scored in the 200 meter relay for the team from New Buffalo consisting of Mnason Smothers, Dre Becerra, Giovanni Sanchez-Perez and Payton Lijewski.

Dre Becerra, Jack Lantz, Elliot Bourne and Giovanni Sanchez-Perez were on the winning team from New Buffalo in the 400 meter relay.

The team of Austin York, Adam Slavens, Charlie Gibson and Landon Rogers from River Valley took the 800 meter relay.

No team from New Buffalo or River Valley placed first in any of the girls’ relay competitions.

You need to keep raw irrational emotion under control. You need patience and discipline and an ability to take losses and adversity without going crazy. You need an ability to not be driven crazy by extreme success.

— Charlie Munger

Students fired up about machines in STEAM building

It’s been only about five months since the ribbon was cut on the New Buffalo Middle/High School Science Engineering Technology Art and Math (STEAM) building, and already, it’s become a high-energy hub of student activity.

“Engineering, environmental science and computer programming (students) have all moved in after they finished their written curricula and now they’re utilizing the space for machines and programming applications,” Richard Eberly, the science and Smart lab teacher at the high school, said.

Senior Ellie Cybulski, who’s a member of the school’s Envirothon club, is 3-D printing a bucket that will hang from the bottom of a drone.

The bucket will be lowered from the drone, which has a 5 kilometer range on it.

“So we can send it (the drone) out from a video, be flying it, dip up the water sample with a little carbon fiber bucket we’re going to 3-D print and bring it back and test the water off source and look for pollutants from the

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

industry in this area,” Eberly said.

Cybulski, who plans to major in marine biology in college, said that in the past, students have had to go out in waders in the water.

“Now, with the drone, it’ll be easier to go out there and take it from any water source, like the lake, and you can test pH, temperature, nitrogen, phosphate in the water to see what kind of organisms live there,” she said.

Savannah Periolat, a junior who’s taking the engineering class, had 3-D printed a giant bearing that uses marbles for the walls in it that goes on a lazy Susan for her makeup.

She said she didn’t “know what engineering was” until she started taking the class this past trimester.

“Now, I’ve worked on a whole bunch of machines – I’ve 3-D printed a whole lot, we work on the CNC machines,” Periolat, who cut in the CNC machine the wooden disk that goes on top of the Lazy Susan, said.

A junior who’s in the engineering class, Jaydon Berger was training junior Dre Becarra how to use the CNC

machine to cut out a skateboard.

Eberly said the long boards are “fully operational.”

“We cut it out so it’s quite precision –if you take your measurements, it’s very exacting,” he said.

Berger was taught by Eberly on how to use the machine.

“The thought for the long run is to get us all teaching each other so we can all understand and better ourselves and progress forward in endorsements as well and can also teach the lower class men,” he said.

Students practice on smaller printers and micro CNC machines in a classroom before moving on to the industrial ones in the STEAM building.

Eberly said a printer was sent to the elementary school. Engineering students designed a safety cage, which also was made for the micro CNC machines, for the printer.

“We’re going to get a cart for it so they’ll have a model 3-D printer to go to different classrooms for different

purposes with the safety cage,” he said. The elementary school is looking to create Makerspace in the media center, which Eberly said will also include 3-D printers.

He added that he hopes the safety cage on the printer at the elementary school will work, as cages can be made for other printers “so they can have a safe Makerspace.”

Eberly said that he challenges students to see if “anything in their imagination can be in their hands in 45 minutes.”

“That’s the goal - what did you dream up and can you make it in 45 minutes, can you make it in a class period by coming up with a construct in your mind, design it and then producing it,” he said.

Eberly said that in engineering, they test those components.

“That’s where material science and things like that come up because we sometimes have to change the material we’re using to handle the strengths and capabilities we need for that part,” he said.

Braden Hufferand Giovanni Sanchez work on a long board

Students work on the CNC machine

Dennis Charles “Denny” Beckman 1950-2023

Dennis Charles

“Denny” Beckman, 73, a lifelong resident of Three Oaks, passed away from complications while at the University of Kentucky Hospital, Lexington Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

His life began March 22, 1950 in St. Joseph, Michigan, the youngest of three children, born to William “Bill” and Martha Ackerman. He married Katherine Sue Krieger September 22, 1979 in Trinity Lutheran Church of Sawyer.

Denny was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He adored his daughter and cherished his grandchildren, who were his life. Denny was proud to be a veteran who served honorably in the United States Army 82nd Airborne from 1969 to 1972. He was at the Three Oaks American Legion Post 204 – of which he was a member for thirty-four years - everyday at 4:00 p.m. His wife and daughter tease that his other “families” were Three Oaks Volunteer Fire

OBITUARIES

Department for twenty-two years, and Trinity Lutheran Church of Sawyer where he served as head Trustee for many, many years.

Denny enjoyed being outdoors, whether hunting, fishing, gardening or tending to his fruit trees. He would “shoot the breeze” with friends (or anybody). He was a huge U of M fan, loved March Madness, and the Stanley Cup finals. Denny enjoyed road trips with his wife and watching live theater. Denny and Kathi loved being snowbirds, traveling to Barefoot Bay in Florida.

Denny will be greatly missed by family and friends. He is survived by his wife of forty-three years, Kathi Beckman of Three Oaks; daughter, Amanda (Aaron Bright) Beckman of St. Joseph; three grandchildren, Nolan, Caleb, Olivia; sister, Patti (Gene) Callahan of Sawyer; brother, Vernon (Melba) Beckman of Edwardsburg; mother-in-law, Jeannine Krieger of New Troy; sisters-in-law, Tammie (Jeff) Schmidt of Three Oaks, Sherri Hausmann of Three Oaks; brother-in-law, Tim (Ruth) Krieger of Berrien Springs; and a slew of nieces and nephews whom he thought the world of, as well.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law, Norman Krieger; and three brothers-in-law, Skip Krieger, Tom Hausmann, Kim Krieger. Family and friends will gather

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in Wagner Family Funerals Pobocik Chapel, 106 Ash Street East, Three Oaks. A funeral service will be held Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with an hour of

visitation prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church of Sawyer, 5791 Sawyer Road, Sawyer, Michigan, with the Reverend Brandon Wittig officiating.

Mr. Beckman will be laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Three Oaks, where he will be accorded full Military Honors. The family prefers contributions in memory of Denny be made to Trinity Lutheran Church of Sawyer, 5791 Sawyer Road, Sawyer, Michigan 49125.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagner Family Funerals Pobocik Chapel, Three Oaks. Please share a memory or a message online at www. wagnercares.com.

Barbara Helen McDevitt

1930-2023

Barbara Helen McDevitt, 92, of Clinton Township, MI, passed away at the Rittenhouse Senior Living Center in Michigan City, IN on May 1, 2023. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sommerfeld Chapel – 15 N. Baton St., New Buffalo, MI. Barbara was born in St. Charles, MI on September 20, 1930, to the late Frederick and Marian (Dobrovic) Clark.

Barbara is survived by her husband James, whom she married on July 28, 1962; her children – Gary Wensink of Arizona, Mark Wensink of

Macomb Township, MI, Karyn (Ron) Rogers of Indian River, MI, Donna (Tom) Ramsden of Mio, MI, Sherri (Ted) Kerhoulas of New Buffalo, MI and James Carter of Okemos, MI; ten grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; and a sister – Kathleen VanderVreken of Pennsylvania. She is preceded by her brother – Frederick Clark. Celebration of Life Services were held in Sterling Heights, MI, with the Wujek Calcaterra Funeral Home, at St. Ronald’s Catholic Church; burial took place at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Roseville, MI. Those wishing to make a contribution in Barbara’s name, may do so with any Humane Society of Choice. If you wish to leave the family a message of condolence, you can do so at www.sommerfeldchapel.com.

Nadja Anastasia Ritter 1925-2023

Nadja Anastasia

Ritter, 97, passed away, Monday, May 1, 2023 in New Carlisle, IN.

A Celebration of Life Service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sommerfeld Chapel, 15 N. Barton St., New Buffalo, MI. Memorial donations in Nadja’s name may be made to the Arbor Day Foundation www. shop.arborday.org (staciritter@ comcast.net). Those wishing to sign Nadja’s Memory Book online may do so at www. sommerfeldchapel.com.

Nadja was born September 1, 1925 in Chicago to Constantine & Caroline Melgin and moved to New Buffalo as a child. As an adult, Nadja dedicated her life to her family and her career. She was broker, owner of Ritter Real Estate, the first woman president of the Southwest Michigan Realtors Association, past-president of the New Buffalo Library Board, long-time resident and board member of Riviera HOA, and a founding member of the New Buffalo Yacht Club. She was a very social person who, over the years, made friends too numerous to mention. In her free time, Nadja was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles. Nadja is survived by daughter Staci (Brian Murdock) Ritter; daughter-in-law Marcie Ritter; four grandchildren-Blaine Pettke, Lexi (Kris Frye) Pettke, Tallie Ritter, Luna (Colton) Sandretti; two great-grandchildren-Liv & Sonny Frye; and numerous nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her former husband Charles Ritter in 1997, her son Chuck Ritter in 2005, and by siblings-Anne (Stanley) Howe, John (Harriet) Melgin, and Michael (Helen) Melgin.

THE CITY OF NEW BUFFALO ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT

WSSN # 04680

FOR THE YEAR 2022

In 1998, a new federal rule was passed to ensure that customers of community water supplies receive annual documentation of drinking water quality. The City of New Buffalo is your water supplier, and we are pleased to present you with this annual water quality report. Our goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable drinking water supply that meets all federal and state requirements. The results of this report show that we are reaching our goal.

Source Water Assessment

Your water comes from Lake Michigan (a surface water source). Our raw water is pumped to our Water Treatment Plant which treats and delivers finished water to storage tanks, distribution mains and finally to your household water tap. The State of Michigan performed an assessment of our source water in 2003 to determine the susceptibility or the relative potential of contamination. The susceptibility rating is on a sixtiered scale from “very-low” to “high” based primarily on geologic sensitivity, water chemistry and contaminant sources. The susceptibility of our source water is rated “moderately high”.

Susceptibility Determination:

The source water assessment for the City of New Buffalo’s Water Intake includes 8 listed potential contaminant sources within the susceptible area, plus agricultural, urban and industrial runoff from the New Buffalo River Source Water Area. Combining these

PUBLIC NOTICES

WATER QUALITY DATA

The table below lists the EPA’s regulated and unregulated contaminants detected in The City of New Buffalo’s drinking water during 2022. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented is from January 1,2022 to December 31, 2022.

Note 1: Definitions are on page 6.

Note 2: The EPA requires monitoring over 80 drinking water contaminants. Those listed above are only those contaminants detected in your drinking water. For a complete list contact the Water Filtration Plant

potential contaminant sources with the moderately sensitive intake yields a moderately high susceptibility determination for the City of New Buffalo’s source water.

This assessment provides the city with a basis to institute a source water protection program as another tool to assure the continued safety of our water supply.

A copy of the full Source Water Assessment Report can be obtained by contacting the City of New Buffalo at (269) 469-1500.

Health and Safety Information

Drinking water, including bottled water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of these contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk. The sources of both tap and bottled drinking water includes rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the

PUBLIC NOTICES

persons, such as persons undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. Federal guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are also available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline, (1-800-426-4791).

surface of land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances resulting from animal or human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water (untreated water) include: Microbial Contaminants , such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife; Inorganic Contaminants , such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring, or result from urban storm water runoff and residential uses; Organic Chemical Contaminants , including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, septic systems, and urban or agricultural runoff (i.e., pesticides and herbicides); or Radioactive Contaminants , which can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas

production and mining activities. All of these contaminants were below the level of concern in your water supply

More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (1-800-4264791 or visit https://www.epa.gov/ ground-water-and-drinking-water/ safe-drinking-water-information

To ensure that tap water is safe, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water, provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Information for Vulnerable Populations: Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised

Effects of Lead in Drinking Water: If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of New Buffalo Water Department is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you have a lead service line it is recommended that you run your water for at least 5 minutes to flush water from both your home plumbing and the lead service line. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or at http:// water.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

The City of New Buffalo maintains a State certified microbiological laboratory that tests your water 365 days a year. If you have any questions concerning your water utility or need a copy of this Water Quality Report mailed to you, please contact Mr. Ken Anderson, Water Superintendent, at (269) 469-0381 or by e-mail at waterdept@cityofnewbuffalo.org. You may also attend our monthly City Council Meeting on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 224 West Buffalo Street (New Buffalo City Hall).

PUBLIC NOTICES

DEFINITIONS

RAA — Running Annual Average.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) — The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of Microbial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Level Goal (MRDLG) — The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG’s do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

AL (action level) — The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceed, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

MCL — Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLG as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

MCLG — Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

NTU — Nephelometric Turbidity Units

ppb — Parts per billion

ppm — Parts per million

ppt — Parts per trillion

TT — Treatment Technique (TT) is a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Unregulated Contaminants — Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of the unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - Sampled at Water Filtration Plant

Note 1: Definitions are on page 6. Note 2: The EPA requires monitoring over 80 drinking water contaminants. Those listed above are only those contaminants detected in your drinking water. For a complete list contact the Water Filtration Plant.

EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.

90th Percentile — 90 percent of the samples were at or below the numbers listed. (Copper = 100 ppb, Lead = 3 ppb).

N/A — Not applicable.

*- Turbidity — Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.

100 percent of our samples met the required limits of less than or equal to 0.30 NTU in 95% of samples taken each month and shall not exceed 1.0 NTU at any time.

**- Lead & Copper — The state allows us to monitor for some contaminates less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, may be more than one year old. Copper and lead samples were collected on 8-07-21 through 8-25-21.

Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. Our water supply has zero lead service lines and zero service lines of unknown material out of a total of 1700 service lines.This concludes our report for the calendar year 2022. Your 2023 Water Quality Report can be expected before July 1, 2024.

ARIES MARCH 21—APRIL 19

HOROSCOPE

MAY

11-17, 2023

AS INTERPRETED BY SANDY “STAR” BENDT

Personalities could clash, and power struggles may ensue at the start of the week, but as the days pass and your energies become more balanced, a close friendship will develop. Stay focused on the what is needed to get the job done and be open to the idea of synthesizing talents and abilities.

TAURUS APRIL 20—MAY 20

Watch out for soothsayers and anybody selling curealls. Investigate what people claim and ask for facts, not suspicions or opinions. If you are asked to join forces with someone or commit to someone who has questionable character, limit the information you give about your personal resources.

GEMINI MAY 21—JUNE 21

This is the week to get realistic about your health and exercise routines. Get yourself in order mentally and physically. Take notice of you feel when you are around certain people. Be sure to honor what is good for you, don’t just go along with the crowd. It’s our differences that make us interesting.

CANCER JUNE 22—JULY 22

Find ways to get creative and put down some roots at the same time this week. Do things that get in touch with that inner child like painting, dancing, singing, or drama. The important thing is to do things that bring out your natural fluidity and that put you in the flow between earth and sky.

LEO JULY 23—AUGUST 22

Even though it’s time to get in touch with Mom, there are some topics that are better avoided. If you feel your buttons being pushed, or if you inadvertently say something off color, use humor to lighten the mood. At all cost do not react impulsively, listen to your inner voice before you speak.

VIRGO AUGUST 23—SEPTEMBER 22

If you have any problems with your neighbors or the environment you are in, it is important you start the conversation, rather than wait to be approached. You will get more respect and problems will be solved more rapidly through impromptu conversations that you initiate. You get to be the calm one.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23—OCTOBER 22

Watch getting caught in the middle of dueling friends or stuck between opposing forces. Avoid conversations that could draw you into choosing sides. If you sit between two family members that don’t like each other at Sunday brunch, keep your mouth full and visit the restroom frequently.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23—NOVEMBER 21

Maintain good boundaries and watch out for destructive patterns and people that would undermine the progress you have made. There are those that may not agree with all your choices. Remember you are in control of your situation and don’t have time for judgmental attitudes.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER22—DECEMBER21

There are somethings that just need to be released. Clean out your closets, detox, and investigate fears. It is time to get to the bottom of your apprehension and truly accept what needs to be changed. If you feel impulsive, do things that require courage rather than self-destructive behavior.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22—JANUARY 19

Be sure you are not overextending yourself with family and rescue situations. Family and loved ones could turn into a burden and it is important you let people figure things out on their own. Balance the time you spend helping family, by making time for yourself, or going out with friends.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20—FEBRUARY 18

You have a tendency to speak without thinking and sometimes you blurt things out that hurt or embarrass people. Even though you never mean to offend, you often do. You are easily misunderstood and when you try to explain it often leads to more arguments. Just nod and smile.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19—MARCH 20

This is the time to bring out more of your innovative ideas and get connected in the business world. Launch business ideas, get networking, and you will be surprised at how well your ideas are received. Any ideas that help make people’s lives easier will get more financial backing than others.

My friend...care for your psyche...know thyself, for once we know ourselves, we may learn how to care for ourselves. — Socrates

Prison guard charged with trafficking drugs in Cheetos bag

BY STAN MADDUX

Afemale correctional officer at the prison in Westville is accused of trying to bring a male inmate marijuana hidden in a Cheetos bag.

Adeja Cunningham, 24, of Calumet City, Illinois, is charged with level 5 felony trafficking with an inmate. According to court documents, authorities at Westville Correctional Facility discovered Cunningham and the offender had been chatting with

each other on Instagram.

In one of the messages, prison authorities said “they talked about picking up something and that it would be in the chips,” court documents revealed.

While reporting for duty on April 30, authorities at the prison allegedly found her in possession of two snack food bags, according to court documents.

Marijuana was located in the over

8 oz. bag of “XXTRA Flamin’ Hot Cheetos,” prison officials said.

The alleged marijuana weighed about three quarters of an ounce.

According to court documents, the investigation also turned up evidence of a possible sexual relationship between Cunningham and the inmate.

Cunningham offered no response to

her alleged drug related actions, but denied having sex with the offender, prison officials said.

Court records show Cunningham was released Wednesday, May 3, from the La Porte County Jail after posting $1,500 bond.

A trial date will be set at her next hearing scheduled June 30 in La Porte Superior Court 2. She could face anywhere from a one to six year sentence.

PUBLIC NOTICES

The Board of Education – New Buffalo Area Schools will be seeking bids for the following:

Fuel Products – One Year (2023-2024)

Deadline for Sealed Bids: June 2, 2023 (NOON)

Please submit to: Office of the Superintendent FUEL BID

P. O. Box 280, 1112 E. Clay Street New Buffalo, MI 49117

All bids must be clearly marked on the face of the envelope. If escalator clauses are included, de-escalator clauses should also be included at the same rate. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids and will select the successful bidder at its next regular meeting after the due date. For bid specifications, call 269 469-6010.

NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS

SCHOOLS OF CHOICE

ENROLLMENT OPENINGS FOR 2023-2024

3rd Grade: 5

6th Grade: 5

7th Grade: 5

8th Grade: 5

9th Grade: 5

10th Grade: 5

Registration: May 9 – June 15, 2023

Application on website: nbas.org

Contact: dwysocki@nbas.org

269-469-6010 LOCAL

Region of Three Oaks Museum celebrates continued growth at 2023 opening

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

It was in the front room of the Three Oaks Township Library where Ron Jelinek and several other supporters met to discuss the “dream of seeing a museum.”

Now, nearly 20 years later, those same supporters are seeing their sought-after museum continue to grow.

“Thank you to all of you that continue to work so hard to make this museum keep going - we all had a dream that this was going to mark history for the region of Three Oaks and I think it does and I think it’s just something great for the future,” Jelinek said at a special ceremony during which he had the agricultural display named for him at the museum Thursday, May 4.

Jelinek, who was a driving force behind the effort to bring a history museum back to the region of Three Oaks, was state representative from 1997-2002 and then state senator from 2003-2010.

The ChamberlainWarren Museum, which was in the building that houses the library, closed in 1952, after 36 years in existence.

Judy Jackson, a founding member and volunteer at TROTOM, said Jelinek helped them stay in contact with Michigan State University. Several of the large items from the original museum are stored underneath the

university’s football stadium.

“We want to thank Ron for everything he’s done for almost 20 years to help us with contacts from Michigan State and all these great connections and getting everyone in Three Oaks interested in getting the museum back home,” she said.

Having the display that celebrates agriculture named for him is fitting, as Jelinek taught agriculture and science at River Valley High School for 29 years before serving in the Michigan Legislature.

He was also a generous donor to the museum’s exhibits on agriculture, as many of the artifacts of farming were donated by Jelinek and his extended family.

Due to its continued growth, the museum now is raising money for a 36-foot-by-40-foot storage expansion on the south side of the museum building.

Board member Nick Bogert said that they’ve “run out of places to put things,” as the attic of the library has a lot of large items that the museum doesn’t have space for storing. In addition, Michigan State wants the following

items out of the stadium by the end of July: an old sleigh with red velvet seats, a carriage and a horse drawn undertaker’s wagon, with wooden carved curtains.

As of May 4, the museum has raised about $85,000 of the $104,000 project cost. Bogert said that the museum does have some more grants that it applied for and some programs this summer that will charge nonmembers a certain amount to raise the additional funds.

Until May 20, donations can be made through the Facebook fundraiser, “Help-- we’re drowning in history!”

Shelving is an additional expense; however, thanks to Three Oaks native Art Klute, Bogert said the museum has received a “big leg up” in terms of obtaining “fancy, museum quality, rolling” shelving: Klute, who used to sell shelving systems, discovered that Mike Cavasin of Professional Systems Installation has a unit available to the donate to the museum.

Klute also donated his

old Boy Scout uniforms to one of the museum’s new exhibits for 2023, “Girl and Boy Scouts and Campfire Girls,” which highlights the Scouts’ outings to Soni Springs, Lake Madron, or Dr. Valentiejus’ place in New Buffalo.

Other new exhibits include one highlighting beauty salons and barber shops of yesteryear, particularly the haircutting Covert family-Chuck Covert and his sisters Kathy, Cecil, Blanche, Babe, and Helen—who owned salons and barber shops in Michiana as well as one that focuses on the great immigration wave from Germany and Holland that transformed the region and brought some wellknown extended families to the area, such as the Driers, Hellengas and Klutes.

This year, the museum’s focus on local road names highlights the Gowdys of Union Pier, who prospered by first logging, then farming, and then developing Union Pier, once known as “Gowdytown”. Union Pier has several streets, such as Gowdy Parkway, that were named after the Gowdy family.

The museum is located at 5 Featherbone Avenue in Three Oaks and is open from noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, through the end of October.

Ron Jelinek and wife Dianne stand by the plaque in the agricultural display

Art Klute discusses the shelving system donation

A new exhibit pays homage to the area’s Boy and Girl Scouts

Merlyn Winsner, whose mother was the sister of Charles Covert, poses in a chair in the barbershop and salon exhibit

Mixing and mingling in the museum